Chapter Summaries

Zhang Lingshan learned that the rumor of Hong Zhengdao’s serious injury was true and that the Hong Clan Martial Hall served the Yuan Family. Song Dazhuang brought him to meet his Fifth Sister, whom Zhang found training in the courtyard.

• Zhang Lingshan joined the disciples gathering to ask about Hong Zhengdao, while Zhu Wei and Pan Mingzhong reassured them that the injury rumors were likely false.
• Song Dazhuang took Zhang Lingshan aside and confirmed that Hong Zhengdao had been seriously injured, losing the use of one arm.
• Song Dazhuang explained that the Hong Clan Martial Hall and several local businesses were affiliates of the Yuan Family, one of the Four Great Families of the Inner City.
• Song Dazhuang brought Zhang Lingshan to his family’s courtyard, where his Fifth Sister was training with six burly men.
• Song Dazhuang’s Fifth Sister shouted and kicked one of the men with tremendous force.

Song Dazhuang brought Zhang Lingshan to meet Song Lian, who offered to recommend him to Zhao Hongying at the Hongying Martial Hall. Zhang Lingshan refused, choosing to remain at the Hong Clan Martial Hall out of gratitude to Hong Zhengdao, and Song Lian reacted angrily.

• Song Lian defeated six burly men in a training session and dismissed them from the courtyard.
• Song Dazhuang introduced Zhang Lingshan to his fifth sister, Song Lian, and explained that Zhang had completed skin grinding in just over three months.
• Song Lian tested Zhang Lingshan with a kick, and he managed to withstand it despite the strength gap between them.
• Song Lian offered to introduce Zhang Lingshan to Zhao Hongying and argued that transferring to the Hongying Martial Hall would not betray Hong Zhengdao.
• Zhang Lingshan declined Song Lian's offer because Hong Zhengdao had shown kindness to him, and Song Lian's expression turned hostile.

Zhang Lingshan learned Gale Wind Leg from Wu Zheng and used the Panel to reach Entry Level, while Hong Clan Martial Hall’s disciples grew anxious over Hong Zhengdao’s injuries. The chapter ended with Hong Zhengdao summoning Zhang Lingshan, the six Inner Disciples, Zhu Wei, and Pan Mingzhong to meet him.

• Song Dazhuang explained why Song Lian had invited Zhang Lingshan to join Hongying Martial Hall, then offered to help him find a tutor after the new year.
• Zhang Lingshan returned to Hong Clan Martial Hall and found disciples leaving because Hong Zhengdao was too injured to receive visitors.
• Zhang Lingshan paid Wu Zheng to teach him Gale Wind Leg and used ten energy points to bring the technique to Entry Level.
• Zhang Lingshan continued training as the martial hall resumed distributing Four Harmony Soup, while Hong Zhengdao remained unavailable to see him.
• Hong Zhengdao’s steward invited Zhang Lingshan to meet his master alongside the six Inner Disciples, Zhu Wei, and Pan Mingzhong.

Hong Zhengdao gathered his disciples while recovering from his injury, but Zhao Qing rejected his proposed marriage to Hong Wenjuan and left the Hong Clan Martial Hall. Hong Zhengdao accepted Zhang Lingshan and Pan Mingzhong as Inner Disciples, and after the evening’s dinner he asked Zhang Lingshan to stay behind.

• Zhao Qing refused to marry Hong Wenjuan, rebuked Hong Zhengdao, and left with Tian Fei; Hong Wenjuan ran out in tears, and Wu Yuanqing followed her.
• Hong Zhengdao accepted Zhang Lingshan and Pan Mingzhong as Inner Disciples and ordered Xu Liang to test them and teach them the Blood Claw Hand if they qualified.
• Xu Liang demonstrated his skill by defeating Pan Mingzhong’s attack and confirmed that Pan Mingzhong had passed the test.
• Zhang Lingshan displayed Blood Threads during his test, passed, and learned the Blood Claw Hand alongside Pan Mingzhong.
• Hong Zhengdao announced the new Inner Disciples and, after dinner, dismissed everyone except Zhang Lingshan.

Zhang Lingshan advanced his Blood Claw Hand, trained with Xu Liang, reunited with his family for the New Year, and began learning to read. After a gambler’s debt brought the Great River Gang’s Chen Hui to challenge Hong Clan Martial Hall, Hong Zhengdao assigned Zhang Lingshan and Pan Mingzhong to respond, and Pan Mingzhong pushed the task onto Zhang Lingshan.

• Hong Zhengdao offered Zhang Lingshan regular meals of strengthening meat and set a deadline for him to reach Entry Level in Blood Claw Hand, while warning him to be careful of Pan Mingzhong.
• Zhang Lingshan advanced Blood Claw Hand to Entry Level, gained Copper Hide, and practiced combat techniques with Xu Liang and Pan Mingzhong.
• Zhang Lingfeng returned home for the New Year, and Zhang Lingshan offered to teach him and Zhang Lingyu martial arts before asking Lingfeng to teach him to read.
• A disciple reported that Shi Lei had been stripped and hung at Hong Clan Martial Hall’s entrance over his gambling debts; Xu Liang identified Chen Hui of Three Rivers Gambling House as the man responsible.
• Hong Zhengdao assigned Zhang Lingshan and Pan Mingzhong to face Chen Hui, and Pan Mingzhong claimed he was too ill after drinking to go, leaving Zhang Lingshan with the challenge.

Zhang Lingshan prepared to challenge Chen Hui at Dongyang Gathering, training with Hong Wenjuan and receiving Hong Zhengdao’s Gold Silk Inner Armor. As the factions gathered to watch, Zhao Qing revealed he had alerted the Great River Gang to the armor, while Feng Ji decided he would invite Zhang Lingshan into the Hunting Squad if he won.

• Hong Zhengdao chose Zhang Lingshan to fight Chen Hui and gave him Gold Silk Inner Armor, while the martial hall disciples pooled money to bet on his victory.
• Hong Wenjuan sparred with Zhang Lingshan, helping him practice against Iron Arms and improve his use of leg techniques before the match.
• At Dongyang Gathering, Hong Wenjuan rebuked Zhao Qing for abandoning Hong Clan Martial Hall, and Song Dazhuang stood by Zhang Lingshan.
• Zhao Qing told Song Lian that he had informed the Great River Gang about Zhang Lingshan’s armor so they could counter it.
• Song Dazhuang worried that Zhang Lingshan might not match Chen Hui’s combat experience, while Feng Ji resolved to recruit Zhang Lingshan into the Hunting Squad if he won.

Zhang Lingshan defeated Chen Hui in the Dongyang Gathering, then Hong Zhengdao intervened to kill Chen Hui’s Master when he attacked. The onlookers assessed Hong Zhengdao’s lingering strength, while Zhao Qing saw his worsening injuries as an opportunity to claim what he believed was his.

• Zhang Lingshan fought Chen Hui on the terrace, using Red Thread Fist and Gale Wind Step to overcome Chen Hui’s Iron Arms and evade his counterattacks.
• Chen Hui threw lime powder and drew a dagger, but Zhang Lingshan landed a decisive punch that crushed his face and left him dead.
• Chen Hui’s Master charged at Zhang Lingshan while he was blinded by the lime powder, but Hong Zhengdao leaped in and kicked the attacker to death.
• Hong Zhengdao revealed himself and warned the crowd not to use force against his disciple; spectators recognized that he remained powerful despite his injuries.
• Song Lian and Zhao Qing discussed Hong Zhengdao’s damaged right hand, and Zhao Qing declared he would try to achieve Tendon Changing and reclaim his former position.
• At River Moon Tower, Fu ordered Chen Hui and his Master buried, sent an apology to Hong Zhengdao, and arranged to waive Zhang Lingshan’s debts; Feng Ji remained uncertain about recruiting Zhang into the Hunting Squad.

After receiving his gambling winnings, Zhang Lingshan used the money to buy medicinal ingredients and began Flesh Refining under Xiao Ming’s guidance at Hong Clan Martial Hall. The chapter ended with Zhang Lingshan battered and bleeding, being placed in Red River Soup to recover and absorb its medicinal potency.

• Three Rivers Gambling House repaid Shi Lei’s IOU and delivered the gambling winnings, and Xu Liang gave Zhang Lingshan more than a thousand taels of silver.
• Hong Zhengdao told his disciples to cultivate while he feigned continued illness, then assigned Xiao Ming to help Zhang Lingshan and Pan Mingzhong reach Flesh Refining.
• Zhang Lingshan welcomed Tie father and son for New Year’s, then visited Feng Shaolong to buy medicinal ingredients and prescriptions for experiments.
• Xiao Ming explained that Flesh Refining involved hammering the body and soaking it in Red River Soup, then beat Zhang Lingshan until his skin and flesh split.
• Xiao Ming and the servants placed the exhausted Zhang Lingshan in Red River Soup so his body could absorb the broth’s medicinal potency.

After ten days of flesh tempering, Zhang Lingshan found two medicinal options that increased his Energy Points and used his accumulated Energy to advance Wind Stabilizing Posture. The breakthrough triggered a painful transformation that made him leap from the Red River Soup, and Xiao Ming rushed to add medicine.

• Zhang Lingshan endured Xiao Ming's increasing number of strikes while Pan Mingzhong struggled through his own tempering, prompting Xiao Ming to shift more medicinal ingredients into Zhang Lingshan's bath.
• Over ten days, Zhang Lingshan tested medicines and found that Eight Flavor Seed granted one Energy Point per seed while Three-Dang Astragalus Decoction provided fifteen Energy Points per dose.
• Zhang Lingshan checked his 216 Energy Points and decided to advance Wind Stabilizing Posture and Gale Wind Leg before investing more in Red Thread Fist or Mountain Splitting Axe Technique.
• While soaking in the Red River Soup the next day, Zhang Lingshan spent one hundred Energy Points to raise Wind Stabilizing Posture to Minor Accomplishment.
• A surge of power and pain transformed Zhang Lingshan's body, making him leap from the bath with bleeding legs, and Xiao Ming shouted for more medicine.

Zhang Lingshan combined the Wind Stabilizing Posture with the Red Thread Fist while preparing to break through to Flesh Refining. After improving the Gale Wind Leg with his Panel, he underwent the transformation and discovered that his senses had sharpened; Xiao Ming noticed his breakthrough.

• Zhang Lingshan returned home and found that the Wind Stabilizing Posture had strengthened his whole body and more than doubled his combat power when combined with the Red Thread Fist.
• Zhang Lingshan learned that Xiao Feng had returned to the Jiang Family and was engrossed in reading Buddhist scriptures, while Zhang Lingyu showed off her progress in stance training.
• Over the next three days, Zhang Lingshan's legs grew strong enough to withstand 120 strikes, and Xiao Ming told him he was close to Flesh Refining.
• Zhang Lingshan used his Panel to improve the Gale Wind Leg during a Red River Soup medicinal bath, triggering a powerful physical transformation.
• Zhang Lingshan's hearing and vision became sharper, allowing him to follow Xiao Ming's Blood Claw Hand movements, and Xiao Ming recognized that he had broken through to Flesh Refining.

After Zhang Lingshan broke through to Flesh Refining, Hong Zhengdao made him the fifth disciple and arranged for him to learn the Red Cloud Saber Art. Zhang Lingshan prepared to leave on an escort run to Golden Light Temple to find his father, and used energy points to improve his saber art before the journey.

• Zhang Lingshan broke through to Flesh Refining, and Hong Zhengdao named him the fifth disciple after Pan Mingzhong failed to advance.
• Xu Liang taught Zhang Lingshan the Red Cloud Saber Art, and Hong Zhengdao arranged a post for him at the yamen.
• Zhang Lingshan asked to visit his father at Golden Light Temple, so Hong Zhengdao sent Xu Liang to question the Lei Family and wrote a letter to Lü Three Blades of the Zhenwei Escort Agency.
• Lei Bao and Lei Tao arrived with information about Golden Light Temple, and Lei Tao agreed to lead Zhang Lingshan there on the escort run.
• Zhang Lingshan prepared for the journey and spent 20 energy points to improve his Red Cloud Saber Art.

Zhang Lingshan joined the Zhenwei Escort Agency on a journey to find his father at Golden Light Temple, while studying Fang Qiuyue’s booklet and trying to open the Nether Palace. After the group camped at a Mountain God Temple, a Scorpion-Tailed Leopard stole a horse, and Lü Three Blades led Zhang Lingshan and others up the mountain to hunt the beasts.

• Zhang Lingshan advanced his Red Cloud Saber Art to Entry Level, studied Fang Qiuyue’s booklet with help from the Song Family’s teacher, and wondered how to open the Nether Palace.
• Zhang Lingshan joined the escort party with Lei Bao and Lei Tao, and Lü Three Blades arranged for Lü Feng to teach him to ride.
• The group traveled for a day, but Lei Tao admitted Golden Light Temple was still at least two days away and he was unsure of the route.
• At a Mountain God Temple, a Scorpion-Tailed Leopard stole and ate one of the escort’s horses during the night.
• Lü Three Blades took Zhang Lingshan, Lei Bao, Lü Feng, and others to track two Scorpion-Tailed Leopards, then brought Zhang Lingshan along to confront one.

Zhang Lingshan and Lü Three Blades found the hidden Golden Light Temple while searching for Zhang Lingshan’s father. After Lei Tao rushed into the Buddha Hall to retrieve his father, Lü Three Blades warned that the Golden Powder Bronze Men were moving to surround him.

• Zhang Lingshan killed one Scorpion-Tailed Leopard, and Lü Three Blades killed the other before teaching Zhang how to use its tail as a hidden weapon.
• Zhang Lingshan learned that the group had lost the route to Golden Light Temple, so they completed their escort to Ping Jiang City and asked around for clues.
• Lü Three Blades met Zhou Lin, the Little Saber King, in Bo Yang Town and learned that Zhou Lin was pursuing rebel troops bearing a Shan banner.
• A middle-aged man pointed Zhang Lingshan toward a mountain where strange golden light had appeared, and the group later found the red-marked tree that revealed Golden Light Temple.
• Zhang Lingshan, Lü Three Blades, Lei Bao, and Lei Tao reached a hall filled with eighty-one seemingly bronze figures, which Lü Three Blades recognized as living people.
• Lei Tao recognized his father among the figures and rushed into the hall, prompting Lü Three Blades to warn him that the figures were moving to surround him.

Zhang Lingshan and his companions fled Golden Light Temple after Lei Tao became a Bronze Man and his father vanished, then returned to Jin City. After resuming his training, Zhang Lingshan reached Greater Accomplishment in Red Thread Fist and appeared to open his Nether Palace, leaving him eager to test the change.

• Lei Tao was seized by the Bronze Men, and an explosion left him in his father's place as a Bronze Man while his father disappeared.
• Lü Three Blades carried Zhang Lingshan and Lei Bao away from Golden Light Temple, and ordered the escort team to avoid it from then on.
• Back in Jin City, Zhang Lingshan told Hong Zhengdao what had happened, reunited with Mother Zhang and Zhang Lingyu, and resumed his medicine and training.
• Zhang Lingshan broke through to Greater Accomplishment in Red Thread Fist, and its power seemed to strengthen his Primal Chaos Righteous Yang Posture.
• After training through the night, Zhang Lingshan sensed that he had opened the Nether Palace and went to the yamen at dawn.

Zhang Lingshan joined the Strong Squad after defeating Hou Cheng in a test of strength, then learned how Flesh Refining martial artists could travel at night and how the yamen mapped dangerous Lands of Turbidity. He realized the map could help him find evil beings to absorb for energy and decided to claim the night watch shift.

• Pang Hu proposed Zhang Lingshan for deputy squad leader of the Strong Squad, but Hou Cheng challenged his qualifications and demanded he take a palm.
• Zhang Lingshan countered Hou Cheng's attack with his Red Thread Fist techniques and forced him to admit defeat.
• Pang Hu confirmed Zhang Lingshan's appointment, and Wang Yue explained the Strong Squad's duties, including keeping night watch.
• Wang Yue explained that Flesh Refining martial artists could move around at night outside Lands of Turbidity, while Ma Hong showed Zhang Lingshan the yamen's color-coded map of those dangerous areas.
• Zhang Lingshan recognized the map as a way to seek out evil beings for energy and resolved to take the night watch shift.

Zhang Lingshan exploited the Strong Squad’s lax night patrols to hunt evil spirits, gaining Energy Points and improving his martial skills. His progress was interrupted when Yan Yuqing of the Demon Suppression Division arrived and demanded that the yamen find a rebel-army Demon Person within three days.

• Wang Yue assigned Zhang Lingshan night-watch duty with Liu Feng, Hao Yun, and Hao Lei, who promptly abandoned their patrol to drink and frequent places of pleasure.
• Zhang Lingshan used the patrols to slip away and absorb evil spirits from white-dot Lands of Turbidity, gaining more than 500 Energy Points in a night.
• Zhang Lingshan spent Energy Points to advance the Mountain Splitting Axe Technique, then improved the Wind Stabilizing Posture and Gale Wind Leg during subsequent hunts.
• A summons brought the yamen staff together to welcome the Demon Suppression Division, and Liu Feng explained its authority and the dangers of its orders.
• Yan Yuqing arrived with two attendants and ordered the yamen to find a Demon Person from the rebel army within three days, threatening to kill everyone if they failed.

Yan Yuqing ordered Zhang Lingshan and the yamen runners to hunt the injured Tendon Transformation Realm rebel Dan Xiong, offering rewards and teaching them the Demon Subduing Saber Technique and a defensive Combined Attack Technique. That night, the teams set out with Bone Whistles, and Zhang Lingshan hurried toward the first signal, where an angry shout greeted him.

• Pang Hu questioned whether the yamen runners could capture Dan Xiong, and Yan Yuqing revealed his injuries, offered silver rewards, and promised to teach them a Demon Suppression Division technique.
• Yan Yuqing ordered Xiao Wei to teach the Demon Subduing Saber Technique and Combined Attack Technique, while Zhang Lingshan spent Energy Points raising his saber skill to Minor Accomplishment.
• The runners complained about the techniques and the danger, but Pang Hu urged them to practice the Combined Attack Technique to protect one another.
• Yan Yuqing distributed Bone Whistles, promised to provide support, and sent the runners out in teams to search for Dan Xiong after dark.
• Zhang Lingshan searched with Liu Feng, Hao Yun, and Hao Lei until a whistle sounded, then led them toward it and heard someone shout, "Trash!"

Zhang Lingshan hunted Evil Spirits through the night, then learned Dan Xiong had killed four yamen runners and left another afflicted by evil qi. Preparing for a possible encounter with Dan Xiong, Zhang Lingshan spent his energy to improve his saber and other martial arts, ending the chapter ready for the next patrol.

• Zhang Lingshan left Ma Hong's group to hunt alone and absorbed several gray-level Evil Spirits, raising his energy above 3,000 by dawn.
• Zhang Lingshan returned to the Squad Office Courtyard and learned that Dan Xiong had killed four swift-squad runners and that another runner had been afflicted by evil qi.
• Yan Yuqing stopped the afflicted runner from cutting open his stomach, dispersed the evil qi, and reprimanded Hou Cheng for abandoning his subordinate.
• Zhang Lingshan decided to prepare for Dan Xiong by spending 2,000 energy to raise the Demon Subduing Saber Technique to Greater Accomplishment.
• Zhang Lingshan used more energy to improve the Red Cloud Saber Art and Blood Claw Hand, leaving himself with 865 energy points.

While patrolling for evil spirits, Zhang Lingshan killed a powerful stranger with a single saber strike and discovered the man carried Dan Xiong’s Bear Body Refining Technique. He chose not to cultivate the dangerous manual for now, leaving the hunt for Dan Xiong unresolved as he continued to rely on his Panel.

• Zhang Lingshan patrolled alone, gathered energy, and noticed that several marked Land of Turbidity locations were false.
• A burly stranger suddenly attacked Zhang Lingshan outside a courtyard, and Zhang Lingshan killed him with one strike of his Demon Subduing Saber Technique.
• Zhang Lingshan took two oil-paper packets and a money pouch from the corpse, then fled to a real Land of Turbidity to absorb its evil spirit.
• Zhang Lingshan found silver notes and the Bear Body Refining Technique in the packets, and realized the dead man was probably Dan Xiong.
• Zhang Lingshan read that the manual could strengthen its practitioner through bear-derived ingredients but could also make them seem increasingly beastlike, so he decided not to cultivate it yet.

After Zhang Lingshan secretly killed Dan Xiong, Yan Yuqing investigated the murder while Xiao Wei tested the night patrols, forcing Zhang to hide his involvement and stop refining evil beings. Half a month later, Hong Zhengdao told him Yan Yuqing had left Jin City and sent him to meet someone with a proposal.

• Zhang Lingshan helped carry Dan Xiong's corpse back to the yamen, where Yan Yuqing and Dong Shan concluded the killer had used the Demon Suppression Division's Demon Subduing Saber Technique.
• Yan Yuqing rewarded the yamen runners and left Jin City, but Xiao Wei secretly stayed behind to watch Zhang Lingshan and the other patrols.
• Zhang Lingshan noticed Xiao Wei following his patrol and called her out, then kept up his guard after she tested the night watchmen.
• Zhang Lingshan spent the next half month practicing the Blood Claw Hand and Red Cloud Saber Art while visiting Hong Zhengdao for food and guidance.
• Hong Zhengdao told Zhang Lingshan that Yan Yuqing had been transferred away and instructed him to meet someone at the third courtyard east on Chrysanthemum Garden Road.