Chapter Summaries

Zhang Lingshan struggled to find a way to learn martial arts despite his poverty and lack of talent, then received ten taels of silver from his father before leaving for Jin City. On the road, he and his companions were confronted by Li Hu and two other young men demanding money.

• Zhang Lingshan reflected on his poor prospects, his father's objections to martial arts, and the Energy Panel that showed only 0.3 energy.
• Father Zhang gave Zhang Lingshan a ten-tael Silver Note from advance wages for a job at Golden Light Temple and asked him to care for his mother, younger brother, and younger sister while he was away.
• Zhang Lingshan warned Father Zhang to stay with the others and beware of unclean things, then set off toward Jin City with Wang Datou and Li Xiaole.
• Li Hu and two companions blocked the road and demanded money from Zhang Lingshan, Wang Datou, and Li Xiaole.

Zhang Lingshan killed three thugs who tried to rob him, then became trapped in a supernatural street loop with Wang Datou and Li Xiaole. After their heads detached and invited him to join them, he attacked them with his broken stone axe, then woke to distant footsteps.

• Zhang Lingshan ambushed Li Hu with a stone axe and knife, killing him, then stabbed a second thug to death.
• Zhang Lingshan ordered Wang Datou and Li Xiaole to corner the last thug, took the man’s clothes, and killed him for his silver and clothing.
• Zhang Lingshan changed clothes and fled to Jin City before nightfall, but could not find the turn to Changning Street and kept approaching Wang Datou and Li Xiaole.
• Wang Datou and Li Xiaole’s heads detached and swung before Zhang Lingshan as they urged him to join them.
• Zhang Lingshan roared and repeatedly smashed at Li Xiaole’s head with his broken stone axe, then jolted awake when distant footsteps sounded.

Zhang Lingshan encountered a terrifying woman from the Netherworld, then discovered that the Zhao Family and the woman had died overnight. Shaken by the deaths and the strange money in his possession, he went to the Hong Clan Martial Hall to take a master and learn martial arts.

• A crimson-clad woman carrying a green umbrella appeared on Qinghe Road and ordered Zhang Lingshan to keep away while the Netherworld conducted its business.
• Zhang Lingshan escaped and found two extra ten-tael Silver Notes in his clothes, then dreamed of a many-armed version of himself holding the notes.
• After waking with painful red welts, Zhang Lingshan headed to the Hong Clan Martial Hall and learned that dozens of Zhao Family members had died in an Evil Spirit incident.
• At the Zhao Family entrance, Zhang Lingshan saw that Wang Datou and Li Xiaole's heads had been smashed, and recognized the dead woman from the night before.
• Zhang Lingshan reached the Hong Clan Martial Hall, ignored the men's mockery, and asked to take a master with money he said he had not stolen.

Zhang Lingshan joined Hong Clan Martial Hall and learned the Righteous Yang Posture despite his injuries. After he entered the posture into his Panel, Shi Lei offered him medicinal soup to speed his recovery.

• Hong Zhengdao accepted Zhang Lingshan's twenty taels and made him a Hong Clan Martial Hall member, with three months to master the Standing Posture before becoming a Registered Disciple.
• Shi Lei taught Zhang Lingshan the first form of the Righteous Yang Posture, but Hong Zhengdao stopped the lesson after discovering Zhang's body was covered in red welts.
• Hong Zhengdao told Zhang to rest until he healed, but Zhang bribed Shi Lei to teach him all eighteen forms.
• Shi Lei corrected Zhang's postures and offered him medicinal soup for three mace of silver per bowl.
• Zhang discovered that the Panel had recorded Righteous Yang Posture at Entry Level+ and showed Energy at 0.3.

Zhang Lingshan upgraded his Righteous Yang Posture and found that it eased his pain and faded the red marks on his skin. After learning about the martial hall from Tie Feng, he ate his fill and paid Shi Lei for a bowl of medicinal soup, which he drank once his stomach settled.

• Zhang Lingshan spent 0.1 Energy to raise Righteous Yang Posture to Entry Level, which strengthened his body and reduced his pain and red marks.
• Zhang Lingshan practiced until noon, when he could perform every movement and the red marks had faded further, though hunger and fatigue set in.
• Tie Feng introduced himself and explained the martial hall’s meals, disciple ranks, and assessments to Zhang Lingshan.
• Zhang Lingshan ate a large serving of rice and stew, then Shi Lei brought him the medicinal soup and collected three qian of silver.
• After waiting for his stomach to settle, Zhang Lingshan gulped down the medicinal soup.

Zhang Lingshan advanced the Righteous Yang Posture to Minor Accomplishment after gaining energy from medicinal soup and food at Hong Clan Martial Hall. His red marks faded with training but returned after another nightmare, so he hurried back to the martial hall to seek more medicinal soup.

• Zhang Lingshan felt the medicinal soup raise his energy and help his digestion, then gained more energy after eating at Hong Clan Martial Hall.
• Zhang Lingshan spent 0.5 energy to advance the Righteous Yang Posture to Minor Accomplishment, which reduced his pain and faded his red marks.
• After Shi Lei failed to return, Zhang Lingshan bought Eight Treasures Soup, went home, and learned that Wang Datou and Li Xiaole's families were asking about them.
• Zhang Lingshan drank the Eight Treasures Soup and gained only 0.1 energy, then practiced the Righteous Yang Posture until he fell asleep.
• Zhang Lingshan woke from a nightmare with red marks and pain again, eased them by practicing, and hurried to Hong Clan Martial Hall to find Shi Lei.

Zhang Lingshan experimented with tiger meat and medicinal ingredients to find cheap ways to increase his Energy. After discovering Spirit Root Grass worked efficiently, he gained enough Energy to advance his Righteous Yang Posture and unlock further Stat Point increases.

• Zhang Lingshan bought tiger meat jerky from Tie Feng, ate it, and found it helped him practice the Righteous Yang Posture while increasing his Energy.
• Zhang Lingshan bought medicinal ingredients and tiger meat from a pharmacy, then tested how each affected his Energy and found that some herbs could increase or reduce it.
• Zhang Lingshan identified Spirit Root Grass, Iron Dendrobium, and Azure Ling as cost-effective Energy sources, while learning that his Panel warned him about poisonous ingredients.
• Zhang Lingshan continued testing herbs at home and refused Shi Lei's medicinal soup when Shi Lei tried to sell it again.
• Zhang Lingshan drank Spirit Root Grass paste and saw his Righteous Yang Posture advance to Minor Accomplishment+ with Energy at 5.

Zhang Lingshan improved his Righteous Yang Posture, grew taller, and demonstrated his skill at the Hong Clan Martial Hall. Hong Zhengdao accepted him as a Registered Disciple, while Tie Feng also passed his assessment.

• Zhang Lingshan spent five energy points to raise his Righteous Yang Posture to Greater Accomplishment and grew about five centimeters.
• Zhang Lingshan returned to the Hong Clan Martial Hall to watch Tie Feng's assessment and faced Hong Zhengdao's questions about his practice.
• Zhang Lingshan performed the Eighteen Forms of Righteous Yang Posture, impressing Hong Zhengdao and the apprentices.
• Hong Zhengdao made Zhang Lingshan his Registered Disciple and told him to call him Master Hong.
• Hong Zhengdao assessed Tie Feng and counted him as having passed, leaving Tie Feng with mixed feelings as he looked at Zhang Lingshan.

Zhang Lingshan learned the Primal Chaos Righteous Yang Posture and impressed Hong Zhengdao with his quick understanding, earning Shi Lei’s personal guidance. As they left for the afternoon meal, Zhang Lingshan asked Shi Lei what came after mastering the posture and whether he counted as a martial artist, but the chapter ended before he got an answer.

• Hong Zhengdao brought Zhang Lingshan and Tie Feng to the Middle Courtyard and had Shi Lei demonstrate the Primal Chaos Righteous Yang Posture.
• Shi Lei explained that practitioners used the intent of a fireball to guide and rearrange the Righteous Yang Posture’s eighteen forms.
• Zhang Lingshan demonstrated the new posture, and Hong Zhengdao praised his understanding and assigned Shi Lei to teach him.
• Zhang Lingshan checked his Panel and saw that his Primal Chaos Righteous Yang Posture was at Entry Level.
• After training and eating, Zhang Lingshan left with Shi Lei and asked what he should practice next and what level of martial artist he was.

Zhang Lingshan learned that he needed a Combat Technique to become a martial artist, then faced pressure from his neighbor Li Fu to help rescue Li Fu’s son from a gambling house. He agreed only to ask Senior Brother Shi for advice the next day, leaving the matter unresolved.

• Shi Lei explained to Zhang Lingshan that Cultivation Methods built the body while Combat Techniques were needed to become a martial artist.
• Shi Lei hurried away from Qinghe Road, wary of the site of the Zhao Family massacre and the danger of Evil Spirits at night.
• Li Fu invited Zhang Lingshan’s family to eat roast goose, then revealed that his son Xiao Dong had been caught cheating at the Three Rivers Gambling House and faced losing a hand unless Li Fu paid twenty taels.
• Zhang Lingshan refused to claim influence through the Hong Clan Martial Hall, but Li Fu knelt and pleaded while neighbors urged Zhang to help.
• Zhang Lingshan told Li Fu he would ask Senior Brother Shi the next day but could not promise to intervene, and Li Fu offered to bring over the roast goose.

Zhang Lingshan reassured his family about accepting Li Fu’s roast goose, then trained at the Hong Clan Martial Hall and asked Shi Lei to help Li Dong with his gambling-house debt. Shi Lei demanded twenty taels to settle the matter, leaving Li Fu and his wife distraught when they could not afford it.

• Zhang Lingshan told Mother Zhang and Zhang Lingyu that he had not promised to help Li Dong, and they ate the roast goose.
• After practicing the Primal Chaos Righteous Yang Posture, Zhang Lingshan noticed his pain had eased and trained intensely at the Hong Clan Martial Hall under Shi Lei’s guidance.
• Zhang Lingshan asked Shi Lei to intervene with Three Rivers Gambling House, and Shi Lei said he would settle the matter for twenty taels of silver.
• Zhang Lingshan relayed Shi Lei’s demand to Li Fu, who returned home unable to find the money.
• Li Fu’s wife blamed Zhang Lingshan for making an excuse, and the couple embraced and wept.

Li Fu confirmed that Three Rivers Gambling House would release Li Dong for twenty taels, while Zhang Lingshan advanced his Primal Chaos Righteous Yang Posture to Minor Accomplishment. Li Fu later arrived at the martial hall with the money and begged Zhang Lingshan to ask Senior Brother Shi to rescue his son.

• Li Fu visited Three Rivers Gambling House, saw Li Dong suffering there, and learned that the gambling house would ransom him for twenty taels before collecting the remaining debt.
• Li Fu regretted not sending Li Dong to the Hong Clan Martial Hall and focused on gathering the ransom.
• Zhang Lingshan used his Energy to advance the Primal Chaos Righteous Yang Posture from Entry Level to Minor Accomplishment, experiencing a surge of warmth and vitality.
• Li Fu came to the martial hall with the twenty taels and pleaded with Zhang Lingshan to ask Senior Brother Shi to save Li Dong.

Zhang Lingshan accompanied Shi Lei and Li Fu to Three Rivers Gambling House to secure Li Dong’s release, but the gambling house’s newly returned Master had taken control of the decision. Shi Lei insisted on confronting him, leaving the confrontation unresolved.

• Zhang Lingshan gave Shi Lei the twenty taels Li Fu had paid and arranged for them to go to Three Rivers Gambling House after dinner.
• Shi Lei told Li Fu he was helping only for Zhang Lingshan’s sake, then led the group to the gambling house, where the guard recognized Shi Lei and welcomed Zhang as Hall Master Hong’s favored disciple.
• Shi Lei nearly forgot their purpose when he heard the dice, but Zhang reminded him to hurry, and they followed Feng Zai to the backyard to ask for Li Dong’s release.
• Shi Lei greeted Old Fourth, who explained that the Gambling House Master had returned and now controlled the matter, and warned that he had a bad temper.
• Shi Lei refused to back down and demanded to meet the Gambling House Master, determined not to lose face before Zhang Lingshan.

Chen Hui challenged Shi Lei to a fight at the gambling house, defeated him in one exchange, and left Shi Lei disgraced. With Shi Lei gone, Old Fourth blocked Li Fu and Zhang Lingshan from leaving.

• Old Fourth cleared the backyard and summoned Gambling House Master Chen Hui after Shi Lei demanded to meet him.
• Chen Hui pressured Shi Lei into sparring, offering to erase his gambling debts if Shi Lei won and asking him not to invoke Hong Clan Martial Hall.
• Shi Lei and Chen Hui exchanged a single blow, and Chen Hui stood firm while Shi Lei staggered back, injured and defeated.
• Chen Hui mocked Shi Lei and left; Shi Lei spat blood and fled, while Zhang Lingshan wondered what the Skin Grinding Realm meant.
• Li Fu begged Zhang Lingshan to recover the money Shi Lei had taken, and Zhang promised to look for Shi Lei the next day.
• Old Fourth blocked Li Fu and Zhang Lingshan, declaring that Li Fu could not leave while allowing Zhang to go because of Shi Lei and Hong Clan Martial Hall.

After being forced to leave Three Rivers Gambling House, Zhang Lingshan focused on cultivating and improving his strength, while resolving to avoid getting involved in other people’s troubles. The next morning, he found his strange red mark fading, but learned that Li Fu’s family had hanged themselves, and neighbors suspected the Zhang family was involved.

• Zhang Lingshan left Three Rivers Gambling House after Shi Lei conceded defeat, then bought medicinal ingredients to accelerate his cultivation.
• Zhang Lingshan told Li Fu’s wife that Li Fu had been detained and warned his sister Zhang Lingyu that he would no longer get involved in the family’s troubles.
• Zhang Lingshan brewed medicine, practiced the Primal Chaos Righteous Yang Posture, and realized his improved digestion was making him consume supplies faster.
• The next morning, Zhang Lingshan saw that his red mark had faded and his pain had eased.
• Neighbors announced that all three members of Li Fu’s family had hanged themselves, and Zhang Lingshan went outside as they made way for him and avoided him.

Zhang Lingshan learned that Li Fu and his family had cursed him before they died, leaving him shaken and searching for a way to protect himself. He went to Hong Clan Martial Hall to confront Shi Lei, whom he blamed for helping bring the disaster upon him.

• Zhang Lingshan saw Li Fu and his family’s corpses hanging in the house, and the crowd realized their hateful stares were fixed on him.
• Feng Zai arrived on behalf of Three Rivers Gambling House, refused Zhang Lingshan’s silver, and warned him that the dead family had cursed him.
• Zhang Lingshan told Zhang Lingyu and Mother Zhang what had happened, then decided to seek a talisman at Red Leaf Temple and speak with Shi Lei.
• Zhang Lingshan went to Hong Clan Martial Hall, learned Shi Lei was in the Backyard, and rushed in to find him among the formal disciples.

Zhang Lingshan sought help at Red Leaf Temple after Li Fu’s family of three hanged themselves, but Du'e Zen Master declared his fate exhausted and refused to intervene. Hui Xiu offered him two talismans for money, but Zhang Lingshan rejected them and returned to Hong Clan Martial Hall, resolved to rely on building his own strength.

• After learning Li Fu’s family of three had hanged themselves, Zhang Lingshan took Shi Lei’s returned twenty taels and hurried to Red Leaf Temple.
• Zhang Lingshan used a hidden path to reach the temple, where Hui Xiu noticed the black qi and bloody radiance around him and brought him to Du'e Zen Master.
• Du'e Zen Master said Zhang Lingshan bore killing karma, had stolen a dead man’s wealth, and had run out of allotted fate, then sent him away without accepting his silver.
• On the way down the mountain, Hui Xiu offered Zhang Lingshan a Ghost Suppression Talisman and a Grievance Resolution Talisman in exchange for money.
• Zhang Lingshan decided Hui Xiu was trying to swindle him, rejected the talismans, and returned to Hong Clan Martial Hall to build his strength instead.

Zhang Lingshan pushed himself through exhausting Standing Posture practice while saving enough energy to advance his martial art. After breaking through to Greater Accomplishment, he felt his strength surge and asked Master Hong to assess him.

• Zhang Lingshan spent his money on Snow Silver Flowers and practiced day and night to build energy and experience.
• After five days of overwork, Zhang Lingshan nearly opened the door while sleepwalking, but Zhang Lingyu and Mother Zhang woke him and urged him to rest.
• Zhang Lingshan resumed his reversed day-and-night routine, and five days later he accumulated enough energy to break through.
• Zhang Lingshan advanced the Primal Chaos Righteous Yang Posture to Greater Accomplishment, growing taller and feeling his exhaustion vanish as his strength increased.
• Zhang Lingshan called to the main hall and requested Master Hong's assessment.

After mastering the Primal Chaos Righteous Yang Posture in less than a month, Zhang Lingshan earned Hong Zhengdao’s personal instruction. Hong Zhengdao warned him that martial arts could Exorcise Evil and Suppress Calamities only if he reached the elusive Perfection Realm, then began teaching him the Red Thread Fist.

• Zhang Lingshan performed the Primal Chaos Righteous Yang Posture so smoothly that Shi Lei recognized his mastery and hurried to notify Hong Zhengdao.
• Hong Zhengdao watched Zhang Lingshan perform, confirmed that he had mastered the posture, and welcomed him into the school.
• Hong Zhengdao brought Zhang Lingshan to his private residence and explained that reaching the Unknowable Realm, also called Momentum or Perfection, was necessary for martial arts to Exorcise Evil and Suppress Calamities.
• Hong Zhengdao demonstrated the Red Thread Fist by crushing a cup into powder with his fingertips.
• Hong Zhengdao began teaching Zhang Lingshan the Red Thread Fist’s Cultivation Method and showed him the lines of force on his body.

Zhang Lingshan learned the Red Thread Fist from Hong Zhengdao and moved his mother and younger sister to Hongwu Street. After several peaceful days of improved meals and accumulated Energy, his Panel showed 9.6 Energy, enough for him to use Stat Points again.

• Zhang Lingshan memorized the Red Thread Fist after Hong Zhengdao demonstrated and guided him through the full routine, and the Panel recorded it as not Entry Level.
• Zhang Lingshan gained Energy from the meal at Hong Zhengdao's home and asked his master to help his family move to Hongwu Street, where Hong Zhengdao granted them three months' grace on rent.
• Tie Feng returned more than two taels of silver to Zhang Lingshan for the Tiger Meat Jerky he had sold him earlier.
• Zhang Lingshan used some of the returned silver to buy Spirit Root Grass and hired a cart to move his family to Hongwu Street the next day.
• Zhang Lingshan's family settled safely on Hongwu Street, where they slept peacefully as his improved meals and Four Harmony Soup steadily increased his Energy.
• Zhang Lingshan's Panel reached 9.6 Energy, and he realized he could use Stat Points again.