Chapter Summaries

The Masked Man and Tie Xiongfei entered Lingwu City Prison to meet Yang Cai and assess his strength. Yang Cai warned them to leave because it was the anniversary of his mother's death and he did not wish to kill.

• The Masked Man and Tie Xiongfei passed through Lingwu City Prison's defenses and were escorted to Yang Cai's cell.
• The Masked Man sensed Yang Cai's powerful martial aura and entered the cell with Tie Xiongfei, who carried a lantern.
• Tie Xiongfei saw Yang Cai bound in heavy chains and recognized him by his imposing bearing.
• The Masked Man asked Yang Cai if his dragon roars and tiger howls came from his breathing technique.
• Yang Cai sensed the visitors had no hostile intent and told them to get lost, saying he did not wish to kill on his mother's death anniversary.

Tie Xiongfei and the Masked Man confronted Yang Cai in the Dragon Prison, where Yang Cai attacked and demonstrated his overwhelming strength. After Tie Xiongfei left them alone, the Masked Man claimed to know Yang Cai’s weakness, leaving Yang Cai stunned.

• The Masked Man offered Yang Cai freedom from his confinement in exchange for serving him.
• Yang Cai attacked the Masked Man, and Tie Xiongfei intercepted the blow with his iron qi.
• Yang Cai said he had used only thirty percent of his strength and ordered Tie Xiongfei and the Masked Man to leave.
• The Masked Man sent Tie Xiongfei out of the cell to speak with Yang Cai privately.
• Yang Cai prepared to attack again, but the Masked Man said he knew where Yang Cai’s weakness lay, and Yang Cai was stunned.

Song Zhiwen learned that Tie Xiongfei had vanished from the Hundred Fragrances Garden, but chose not to search for him to avoid exposing himself to Meng Zhao. In prison, Tie Xiongfei learned that the Masked Man had recruited Yang Cai, and the group turned toward confronting Meng Zhao.

• Song Zhiwen inspected Tie Xiongfei’s abandoned room and concluded that something or someone had prompted him to leave.
• Wan Niang asked whether they should search for Tie Xiongfei, but Song Zhiwen refused to risk drawing Meng Zhao’s attention.
• Song Zhiwen decided to let Tie Xiongfei go and wait to see what he would do without protection.
• Tie Xiongfei asked the Masked Man how he had persuaded Yang Cai to leave prison, and the Masked Man said he had offered something tied to the old boxing master Yang Cai respected.
• Tie Xiongfei realized the Masked Man’s group had gathered its forces and anticipated a chance to avenge the Iron Hand Society by dealing with Meng Zhao.

After receiving a warning that Tie Xiongfei planned to take revenge, Meng Zhao suspected the letter came from the person who had previously arranged to poison him. He refused to launch a broad search, instead choosing to prepare quietly and wait for Tie Xiongfei to strike.

• Meng Zhao received a letter warning that Tie Xiongfei might be plotting against him.
• Bai Shicheng urged Meng Zhao to mobilize the Great Banner Gang and Iron Hand Society to search for Tie Xiongfei.
• Meng Zhao reasoned that the sender was likely the person behind Tie Xiongfei's earlier attempt to poison him, who had fallen out with him.
• Meng Zhao rejected a citywide search to avoid provoking others and revealing their vigilance.
• Meng Zhao told Bai Shicheng to deliver several letters and prepare arrangements while they waited for Tie Xiongfei to come.

Meng Zhao received Zhao Hun’s demand for a private meeting and went alone to Erniu Peak Summit, where he faced the Masked Man. The Masked Man challenged him about curing the Rouge Red poison and leaving the Meng Family, leaving their dispute unresolved.

• Meng Zhao received Zhao Hun’s letter summoning him to Erniu Peak Summit and burned it after reading it.
• Meng Zhao considered the risks and his lack of leverage, then left the manor alone for Guangping Mountain.
• The Masked Man recognized Meng Zhao at the summit and remarked that he looked younger than before.
• Meng Zhao credited his rejuvenated appearance to comfortable living and thanked the Masked Man for his help.
• The Masked Man accused Meng Zhao of breaking their arrangement, and Meng Zhao admitted the Rouge Red poison had been cured by a treasure.
• The Masked Man questioned why Meng Zhao had left the Meng Family for Lingwu City and asked whether he had forgotten his instructions.

Meng Zhao tried to persuade the Masked Man to replace poison-based control with cooperation, while the Masked Man offered him a Snow Toad Pill to secure his obedience. The two remained at odds, with Meng Zhao insisting his identity and standing could not be taken from him.

• Meng Zhao explained that he had left the Meng Family to escape the struggle between Meng Xi and Meng Wen, and said he was still willing to repay the Masked Man's kindness.
• The Masked Man offered Meng Zhao a Snow Toad Pill, explaining that its poison was difficult to remove and that he would provide an antidote if Meng Zhao served him.
• Meng Zhao refused to take the pill and proposed that he and the Masked Man cooperate instead of controlling each other with poison.
• The Masked Man mocked Meng Zhao's claim to be his equal and threatened to expose his identity, which would cost him his power and allies.
• Meng Zhao rejected the threat, declared that he was Meng Zhao regardless of what the Masked Man said, and reaffirmed his promise to help him.

Meng Zhao confronted the Masked Man, who had helped create his current identity and now resolved to kill him. The Masked Man’s sound attack failed to harm Meng Zhao, leaving him shocked by how far Meng Zhao’s martial arts had advanced.

• Meng Zhao explained his confidence that he could protect his identity and survive, while the Masked Man warned that another person could take his place.
• The Masked Man decided to kill Meng Zhao, fearing that his growing strength would become a grave threat.
• The Masked Man unleashed a powerful Sound Wave Skill across Erniu Peak Summit, but Meng Zhao remained unharmed.
• The Masked Man realized Meng Zhao’s martial arts had advanced far beyond what he expected in less than two years and felt relieved that he had not come alone.

Meng Zhao faced Tie Xiongfei and the Masked Man on Two-Ox Mountain, then tried to recruit Tie Xiongfei rather than fight him. Tie Xiongfei was genuinely tempted but could not bring himself to betray the Masked Man.

• Meng Zhao’s Sound Wave Skill summoned Yang Cai and Tie Xiongfei to his sides, and he remained composed despite their overwhelming auras.
• Meng Zhao recognized Tie Xiongfei as the former leader of the Iron Hand Society and revealed that someone had warned him of the plot.
• Tie Xiongfei confronted Meng Zhao over the destruction of the Iron Hand Society and the bounty placed on him.
• Meng Zhao offered Tie Xiongfei leadership of the Iron Hand Society under the Meng Family and promised to expand it within two years.
• Tie Xiongfei considered accepting Meng Zhao’s sincere offer, but the Masked Man’s presence brought him back to his senses.

Tie Xiongfei revealed that Song Zhiwen had ordered Meng Zhao’s assassination, giving Meng Zhao a clear target for revenge. When Meng Zhao offered Tie Xiongfei a chance to leave, the Masked Man ordered the attack, and Yang Cai charged at Meng Zhao.

• Tie Xiongfei refused Meng Zhao’s offer to join forces against the Masked Man but agreed to reveal who had ordered the assassination.
• Tie Xiongfei named Song Zhiwen of the Song Family as the man behind the attempt on Meng Zhao’s life.
• Meng Zhao connected Song Zhiwen to Wu Kaijing’s revelation about Wu Zunyuan’s illegitimate son and resolved to target him.
• Meng Zhao forgave Tie Xiongfei for the assassination attempt and offered him the choice to leave or fight.
• The Masked Man ordered Meng Zhao killed and cautiously moved nearer the cliff while Tie Xiongfei hesitated.
• Yang Cai attacked Meng Zhao from above, eager to test himself against him.

Meng Zhao used the Vajra Celestial Eye Technique to break Yang Cai’s mental pressure and manipulate Tie Xiongfei into blocking Yang Cai’s attack. After Yang Cai explained the mental technique, Tie Xiongfei steadied himself and charged at Meng Zhao, while Meng Zhao and the Masked Man each believed they held the advantage.

• Yang Cai’s attack threatened Meng Zhao, but Meng Zhao used the Vajra Celestial Eye Technique to resist the pressure and influence Tie Xiongfei into intercepting the strike.
• Tie Xiongfei blocked Yang Cai’s attack, then protested that Meng Zhao had used sorcery.
• Yang Cai identified Meng Zhao’s method as Mental Martial Arts and warned the others to guard their minds.
• The Masked Man realized Tie Xiongfei had not betrayed him, while Meng Zhao inferred that the Masked Man was Zhao Hun and considered himself the hunter.
• Tie Xiongfei calmed his mind and launched a fierce attack at Meng Zhao, aiming for his crown and throat.

Meng Zhao blocked Tie Xiongfei’s palm blade with his fist, revealing strength that appeared to reach the Innate Realm. The confrontation left Tie Xiongfei marked with the character “Death,” and the others realized Meng Zhao could have killed him without his noticing.

• Meng Zhao held his ground against Tie Xiongfei’s attack and met the palm blade with Luohan Fist.
• Tie Xiongfei’s fingers were injured by the impact, while Meng Zhao dodged his descending palm.
• Tie Xiongfei retreated and asked whether Meng Zhao had cultivated Innate Martial Dao.
• The Masked Man feared that Meng Zhao’s strength meant he had lost control of the situation.
• Yang Cai noticed the character “Death” cut into Tie Xiongfei’s clothing and bloodied chest.
• Yang Cai and Tie Xiongfei realized Meng Zhao had counterattacked so quickly that he could have killed Tie Xiongfei outright.

Meng Zhao spared Tie Xiongfei and offered him one last chance to submit, but Yang Cai turned his attention toward Meng Zhao, eager to fight. By studying Yang Cai’s Dragon Tiger Vajra Great Qi Art, Meng Zhao grasped its deepest principles and immediately advanced his martial understanding and combat power.

• Tie Xiongfei asked Meng Zhao why he had not killed him after seeing the Death Character marked on his chest.
• Meng Zhao warned Tie Xiongfei that he still had one final chance to turn back and serve under him.
• Yang Cai ignored Zhao Hun and Tie Xiongfei, focusing entirely on Meng Zhao and raising his battle intent.
• Meng Zhao used his dragon eyes to perceive Yang Cai’s Vajra Dharma Form and understand the essence of the Dragon Tiger Vajra Great Qi Art.
• Meng Zhao gained a deeper insight into his own martial path, and his body and true qi transformed as his combat power rose.

Meng Zhao impressed Yang Cai by absorbing the essence of his martial arts and offered him a wager: fight, and serve Meng Zhao if defeated in exchange for a chance to pursue martial mastery. Yang Cai accepted, leaving Tie Xiongfei stunned and fearful that he would be abandoned.

• Meng Zhao refined his Dragon Tiger Vajra Great Qi Art after discerning the essence of Yang Cai's martial path, and Yang Cai marveled at his talent.
• Yang Cai wondered whether Meng Zhao had hidden his extraordinary abilities since the days when he was controlled by Zhao Hun.
• Meng Zhao praised Yang Cai's ambition and offered to help him face experts and discuss martial arts if Yang Cai agreed to work under him after losing a fight.
• Yang Cai considered the offer and agreed to fight Meng Zhao.
• Tie Xiongfei froze, fearing Yang Cai had agreed too quickly and might leave him without help.

Yang Cai and Meng Zhao began their battle while Zhao Hun quietly prepared an escape, uncertain whether Yang Cai would win or join Meng Zhao. After Meng Zhao revealed Heavenly Cycle Realm skill, Yang Cai unleashed his Dragon Tiger Vajra Great Qi Art and hurled a massive boulder at him.

• Yang Cai's agreement with Zhao Hun was limited to killing Meng Zhao, and he was prepared to side with Meng Zhao if he lost.
• Zhao Hun realized Yang Cai might turn against him and secretly considered fleeing, while eyeing Tie Xiongfei as a possible asset.
• Meng Zhao attacked Yang Cai with a concealed, wind-carried Qi Blade, which Yang Cai narrowly evaded.
• Yang Cai recognized that Meng Zhao's strike demonstrated Heavenly Cycle Realm cultivation and grew more wary of him.
• Yang Cai activated the Dragon Tiger Vajra Great Qi Art, enlarged his frame, and hurled a huge boulder at Meng Zhao.

Meng Zhao revealed the North Sea Dragon Fighting Hand and overwhelmed Yang Cai and Tie Xiongfei, leaving Yang Cai to launch a final head-on attack. Meng Zhao met Yang Cai’s punch without dodging, as primordial qi surged through his body.

• Meng Zhao caught Yang Cai’s hurled boulder in a qi net and crushed it with the North Sea Dragon Fighting Hand.
• Yang Cai and Tie Xiongfei recognized Meng Zhao’s overwhelming strength, while Tie Xiongfei began planning a safe escape.
• Yang Cai set aside his doubts and charged Meng Zhao with a forceful Dragon Tiger Vajra punch.
• Meng Zhao summoned primordial qi and met Yang Cai’s punch head-on.

Meng Zhao and Yang Cai fought a brutal fist-to-fist contest on Erniu Peak, where Meng Zhao’s superior physique and Blood Qi eventually gave him the advantage. Yang Cai acknowledged Meng Zhao’s strength, and the chapter ended with Meng Zhao explaining why he had met Yang Cai’s challenge directly rather than relying on evasive techniques.

• Meng Zhao pierced Yang Cai’s qi fist and met his Dragon Tiger Vajra Fist head-on.
• Meng Zhao and Yang Cai exchanged 372 punches, shaking the summit and breaking the stones beneath their feet.
• Yang Cai emerged battered and strained, while Meng Zhao remained composed and had suffered only minor signs of exertion.
• Yang Cai praised Meng Zhao’s solid foundation and admitted that Meng Zhao had suppressed him.
• Meng Zhao explained that their exchange amounted to repeated single punches and that Yang Cai’s fist intent punished hesitation and evasive tactics.

Yang Cai unleashed his Dragon-Tiger Vajra Real Form for a final strike, and Meng Zhao answered by manifesting a Purple True Dragon Dharma Form. Their enormous forms towered over Erniu Peak as they prepared to clash.

• Yang Cai gathered his strength and formed the Dragon-Tiger Vajra Real Form, whose pressure astonished Zhao Hun and gave Tie Xiongfei insight into his Martial Dao.
• Meng Zhao sensed the threat, summoned the power of his Ziwei Star, and manifested a Purple True Dragon Real Form.
• The two Dharma Forms grew to colossal size, with Yang Cai's Vajra reaching ten zhang and Meng Zhao's dragon stretching fifteen zhang.
• A Beast Tide fled from Erniu Peak, while Tie Xiongfei marveled at the power of the Martial Dao.

Meng Zhao defeated Yang Cai in a destructive battle between their Dharma Forms, then told Yang Cai to join the Meng Family. Yang Cai collapsed to heal his severe injuries, and the storm over Erniu Peak cleared.

• Meng Zhao and Yang Cai fought fiercely as their True Dragon and Vajra Dharma Forms battered Erniu Peak and forced Tie Xiongfei and Zhao Hun to dodge the destruction.
• Tie Xiongfei realized Meng Zhao's True Dragon Dharma Form was growing stronger while Yang Cai's injuries and the strain of sustaining his form worsened.
• Meng Zhao declared the outcome decided, dispersed his Dharma Form, and told Yang Cai to join the Meng Family.
• Yang Cai ended his Dharma Form and collapsed on the mountainside to circulate his cultivation and heal his wounds.
• The dark clouds and rain vanished after the battle, leaving a rainbow over Erniu Peak.

Meng Zhao defeated Yang Cai, but Zhao Hun drained Tie Xiongfei’s cultivation and escaped with the Heavenly Demon Blood Escape. Meng Zhao realized Zhao Hun might become an Innate Martial Dao expert, though he remained confident he could defeat him.

• Zhao Hun admitted that Meng Zhao had beaten him and vowed that they would fight again.
• Zhao Hun stabbed Tie Xiongfei and used the Blazing Demon Furnace to drain his True Qi and strengthen himself.
• Meng Zhao attacked Zhao Hun with the North Sea Dragon Fighting Hand, but Zhao Hun hurled Tie Xiongfei’s corpse into the attack and escaped in a burst of blood light.
• Meng Zhao recognized Zhao Hun’s escape as the Heavenly Demon Blood Escape and suspected that absorbing Tie Xiongfei’s cultivation might help Zhao Hun enter the Innate Martial Dao.
• Meng Zhao regretted letting Zhao Hun escape but remained confident that he would still be stronger when they met again.

Meng Zhao learned why Yang Cai had helped Zhao Hun and offered to use his connections to find the old boxing master's missing grandniece. Yang Cai joined the Meng Family, and Meng Zhao promised to address the danger from the Ding Family while assigning him to fight as a weapon for the family.

• Meng Zhao told Yang Cai that Zhao Hun had drained Tie Xiongfei's true qi and escaped, leaving Meng Zhao unable to kill him.
• Yang Cai explained that Zhao Hun had recruited him by promising to find the missing grandniece of the boxing master who raised him.
• Meng Zhao promised to mobilize his connections and offer a reward to help locate the woman, while warning that success was uncertain.
• Yang Cai joined the Meng Family and asked whether Meng Zhao would protect him from the Ding Family and the City Lord's Mansion.
• Meng Zhao decided to seek the Xun Family's help against the Ding Family and told Yang Cai to focus on martial arts and serve as the family's blade.