Chapter Summaries

Qin Shi repeatedly killed and was killed in his mental training, trying to understand Whale Killer Hand and improve his fighting style. After waking, he met Lin Yunqing, agreed to guide her around Dangyang Eastern Suburbs for a fee, and the chapter ended as a bulldozer entered Baogong Street.

• Qin Shi practiced killing Lin Yunqing and fighting the Boxer-Clad Naked Man, learning that combat required decisive killing moves as he was repeatedly wounded and killed.
• Qin Shi woke with his Old Martial Arts Fighting Style progress ahead of his cultivation method and set a goal of reaching twenty Life Force to attempt breaking the second limit.
• Qin Shi decided to test a muscle-building meal and headed out to buy ingredients.
• Lin Yunqing arrived in her Vast Sea Conqueror and asked Qin Shi to guide her around the Dangyang Eastern Suburbs; he charged her two hundred an hour, then reduced it to one hundred and eighty when she offered him a meal.
• Qin Shi and Lin Yunqing walked and talked until a bulldozer drove into Baogong Street.

Qin Shi and Lin Yunqing witnessed gang members pressuring Old Factory Street residents to sell their property ahead of a rumored redevelopment, while Cheng Ze appeared to yield to Luo Ji’s demands. As Qin Shi left with Lin Yunqing, he recalled the dangerous aura he had sensed from Cheng Ze and doubted that the North Pass Street Boss had truly become a sick cat.

• Qin Shi and Lin Yunqing heard rumors of land grabs and redevelopment around Old Factory Street before official demolition paperwork had been issued.
• Luo Ji ordered Abiao to force local families to sell shops and homes, then slapped him when he objected.
• Cheng Ze arrived, asked Luo Ji to spare Abiao, and agreed to speed up land purchases and watch a warehouse shipment.
• Qin Shi noticed Li Yuan and Xie Yucheng looked disappointed by Cheng Ze’s apparent submission, while the neighbors discussed his restraint.
• Qin Shi agreed to treat Lin Yunqing to beef shaomai, then wondered whether Cheng Ze’s menacing aura meant he was not truly a sick cat.

After seven days of training, Qin Shi comprehended the spirit of Hundred Forms Cultivating Momentum and turned the Whale Killer Hand’s inner momentum into a fierce Wind Fist Style. His achievement panel unlocked the Fighter profession and offered him a choice of technique to enhance.

• Qin Shi raised his Old Martial Arts Cultivation Method to Level 5 while refining his body and meditating on the Spirit Cultivation Technique.
• Qin Shi realized that the speed and force of his punches could embody wind and shape his inner momentum.
• Qin Shi unleashed a storm of punches, astonishing Old Liang with the power and grandeur of his Whale Killer Hand-derived inner momentum.
• Qin Shi unlocked the Fighter profession and extracted the Wind Fist Style combat method.
• Qin Shi’s achievement panel offered him a choice between enhancing Wind Chime, Instant Shadow, or Raging Surge.

Qin Shi mastered Wind Fist Style and chose its Wind Cry technique as he prepared to raise his Life Force to twenty and attempt his second limit. On his walk home, he found the shop he usually visited sealed and under demolition, then wondered if trouble was about to find him.

• Qin Shi completed a hundred punches, and Old Liang realized his disciple had developed a personal state of mind rather than following the traditional assassination-fist path.
• Qin Shi reviewed Wind Fist Style’s three techniques and activated Wind Cry, enduring the mental shock with his Life Force at eighteen.
• Old Liang steadied Qin Shi and began preparing materials for his second limit while Qin Shi said he expected to reach twenty Life Force after a few more days of training.
• Qin Shi told Old Liang he had paused his part-time work and planned to focus on training and advancing Deep Sleep.
• Qin Shi left Old Liang and headed home, thinking he could vent his restless energy on Lin Yunqing and eventually defeat the Boxer-Clad Naked Man.
• Qin Shi found the shop he usually visited sealed with paint as excavators and drills demolished it, then wondered whether someone would soon disrupt his peaceful life.

Qin Shi trained while unrest over Old Factory Street’s redevelopment continued, then joined Li Yuan and Xie Yucheng on a visit to the Nursing Home. There, Smiling Tiger Luo Ji’s men attacked the residents, and Qin Shi confronted their leader at the stairwell.

• Qin Shi trained through the night and continued improving his Old Martial Arts and fighting skills.
• Li Yuan and Xie Yucheng invited Qin Shi to deliver fruit and money to the Nursing Home before returning to work at the Midnight Palace.
• The three brought supplies to the Old Factory Street Nursing Home, which Cheng Ze had established for injured members of the Righteous Fist Society.
• A yellow-haired man and Luo Ji’s men barged in, announced plans to turn the home into a Dog Fighting Arena, and beat Baldy when he resisted.
• The yellow-haired man threatened Qin Shi at the stairwell, and Qin Shi prepared to confront him.

Qin Shi defeated Luo Ji’s men at the Nursing Home, while Cheng Ze confronted Qin Lihao over Abiao’s death and the fate of the Righteous Fist Society. As Qin Zhijie and Luo Ji vanished after being abducted, Qin Lihao rushed out, leaving Cheng Ze behind as a storm broke over the city.

• Qin Shi beat Dao Zai Ming and the other men who came to shut down the Nursing Home, and Li Yuan learned that Brother Biao had died in a fight arranged by Qin Lihao.
• Cheng Ze visited Qin Lihao at the Black Flame Grand Hotel and asked to preserve the Nursing Home, but Qin Lihao reassigned him to the docks and gave Old Factory Street to Brother Ji.
• Luo Ji met Qin Zhijie outside the hotel and offered to arrange access to girls at a school, but a disguised attacker knocked both men unconscious and loaded them into a van.
• Qin Lihao received a call demanding something from him, failed to reach Luo Ji, and told Cheng Ze that Qin Zhijie and Luo Ji were in trouble.
• Qin Lihao left the suite, while Cheng Ze watched lightning and torrential rain through the windows.

Qin Shi trained to raise his Life Force while Qin Lihao searched for his kidnapped younger brother and ordered Cheng Ze to find him. Cheng Ze revealed that he had captured Luo Ji and Qin Zhijie, then demanded a ransom from Qin Lihao.

• Qin Shi ate his muscle-building meal, completed an intense workout, and dreamed of fighting the Boxer-Clad Naked Man as his Wind Fist Style grew more practiced.
• Qin Lihao learned that his younger brother Qin Zhijie and Luo Ji had vanished, suspected Cheng Ze, and ordered him to find Qin Zhijie within two days.
• Jiang Hao drove Cheng Ze home and secretly planted a tracker in the umbrella he gave him.
• Cheng Ze retrieved a family photograph, entered a hidden cellar, and revealed that he had bound Luo Ji and Qin Zhijie there.
• Cheng Ze injured Qin Zhijie and called Qin Lihao, demanding supplies and threatening to cut off one of Qin Zhijie's fingers for every hour he delayed.

Director Shen used a covert network card to pass along Cheng Ze’s demands to the Qin family and discovered that his fellow Traveling Merchant Ronin was stranded in Hengzhou and struggling to pay rent. After waking refreshed, Qin Shi headed to Lin Yunqing’s mansion to confront the New Martial Arts Faction.

• Director Shen discussed Cheng Ze’s demand for five bottles of Mineral Essence, a batch of Load Fluid, and ten High-Energy Batteries with members of his secret group.
• Altar told Director Shen that the Inspection Department was pursuing him after a contract on “Murder Me,” and that a delivery-job fine had left him short on rent.
• Director Shen arranged a food delivery and an extra tip to help Altar without attracting suspicion.
• Qin Shi woke after a night of fighting the Boxer-Clad Naked Man and realized he could increasingly predict his opponent’s moves.
• Qin Shi set off for Lin Yunqing’s mansion, intending to strike the first blow in the Old Martial Arts Faction’s fight against Qiguang Hengda’s New Martial Arts Faction.

Lin Yunqing brought Qin Shi to the virtual Combat Room, where he accepted a challenge from Luo Wenbin, a Martial Arts Department student who expected an easy victory. Qin Shi dodged Luo Wenbin’s opening attack and prepared to counter with Wind Fist Style—Wind Cry.

• Lin Yunqing picked Qin Shi up and brought him to her basement Combat Room, where he logged in and saw a flood of friend requests.
• Qin Shi accepted [Cat Head Killer]’s request, and Luo Wenbin challenged him to a match while arranging a paid livestream for spectators.
• Qin Shi entered the arena and found more than a hundred spectators watching as Luo Wenbin introduced himself and announced his confidence.
• Luo Wenbin unleashed Limit Flow—Giant Wave Strangulation, but Qin Shi anticipated the attack and evaded it.
• Qin Shi activated Wind Fist Style—Wind Cry as Luo Wenbin realized his attack had been read.

Qin Shi defeated Luo Wenbin in a brutal online arena match, shattering his Vibrating Barrier and earning eighty Victory Points. After logging off, Qin Shi searched the Martial Arts Association website for Old Liang and found a warning that Liang Zhengxiong was extremely dangerous and should be kept under observation.

• Luo Wenbin attacked Qin Shi with Limit Flow, but Qin Shi dodged and knocked him down with a Wind-Chime Style punch.
• Luo Wenbin activated his Vibrating Barrier, but Qin Shi shattered it and finished him with a backbreaker.
• Qin Shi won the match and earned eighty Tough Black Iron Victory Points, while Ji Yuqi wondered whether Qin Shi was an Old Martial Arts master.
• Qin Shi logged off after ten matches, having spent all his Victory Points, and noticed Lin Yunqing had left.
• Qin Shi searched the Martial Arts Association website for Liang Zhengxiong and found a red warning calling him extremely dangerous and ordering that he be kept under observation.

Qin Shi read the public record of Liang Zhengxiong’s decorated but disgraced military career and learned that his past remained mostly hidden behind access restrictions. Afterward, Chen Yun told Qin Shi and Lin Yunqing about a suspected Psionicist behind a custody death and revealed that Qin Zhijie had been kidnapped, prompting Qin Shi to suspect Cheng Ze.

• Qin Shi found that Liang Zhengxiong had been a war hero and Professional Third Stage martial artist, but his medals had been stripped after a disastrous mission that killed 172 officers.
• Qin Shi read that Liang had served time in Qincheng Prison and was considered dangerous, yet he remained loyal to his teacher.
• Chen Yun met Qin Shi and Lin Yunqing and described how a suspect in the counterfeit medicine case had apparently used a psychological suggestion to kill a detainee.
• Chen Yun explained that undocumented Star Sea Refugees and Traveling Merchant Ronin had been stranded in Hengzhou and were linked to many unsolved cases.
• Chen Yun said Qin Zhijie had been kidnapped, and Qin Shi narrowed his eyes as Cheng Ze came to mind.

Qin Shi learned more about Hengzhou’s blockade and the purpose of Eastern Xia’s expedition and reclamation from Chen Yun. Lin Yunqing showed him a vial of Level 4 Energy Liquid, which immediately triggered his [Overgrowth] ability.

• Qin Shi tried to coax Chen Yun into explaining the Qin family kidnapping, and she warned that desperate people in Hengzhou could be dangerous.
• Chen Yun explained that Eastern Xia’s expeditions were rescue missions and described the electronic and energy restrictions imposed in Hengzhou.
• Qin Shi wondered whether Eastern Xia was reclaiming lost territory and asked what happened when people used phones or computers in the wilderness.
• Chen Yun warned Qin Shi that he needed to reach the Metropolitan Area to glimpse places beyond Hengzhou, while Lin Yunqing defended his potential.
• Lin Yunqing brought out a vial of Level 4 Energy Liquid, and Qin Shi’s [Overgrowth] revealed its effects as she teased him about wanting it.

Qin Shi learned about potential ceilings and promised to help Lin Yunqing defeat Yu Li, then brought Level 4 Energy Liquid to Old Liang for advice. Cheng Ze invited Old Liang to join his venture against the Metropolitan Area, but Old Liang did not give him an answer before Qin Shi arrived.

• Lin Yunqing explained how Flesh Activity tests revealed a person's potential ceiling, and Chen Yun revealed that Yu Li had bullied Lin Yunqing as a child.
• Qin Shi promised Lin Yunqing that he would help her beat Yu Li if they met in the Stellar Cup, making her flustered.
• Qin Shi went to Old Liang's dormitory to ask for supervision while using the Level 4 Energy Liquid.
• Cheng Ze told Old Liang that he had kidnapped someone from the Qin family and invited him to join a venture against the Metropolitan Area, then said goodbye and left.
• Qin Shi showed Old Liang the Level 4 Energy Liquid, and Old Liang described several ways to use it, including an unconventional method.

Qin Shi endured twelve injections of Level 4 Energy Liquid, strengthening his major sinews and forming a seed of energy sense as his Life Force surged. Meanwhile, Cheng Ze questioned his hostages and learned that Qin Renying had sent contraband textbooks to Chen Ruofu through Brother Hao.

• Qin Shi refused Old Liang’s proposed rectal absorption method, and Old Liang prepared twelve syringe injections of Level 4 Energy Liquid.
• Old Liang injected Qin Shi at the junctions of his major sinews, causing intense pain and a dangerous rise in body temperature.
• Qin Shi used [Overgrowth] to refine the Energy Liquid, strengthened his twelve major sinews, and formed a seed of energy sense.
• Cheng Ze found evidence that someone had searched his house, then kept up his ordinary routine before returning to the cellar at four in the morning.
• Cheng Ze threatened Qin Zhijie and Luo Ji, and Luo Ji revealed that Qin Renying had arranged for Brother Hao to deliver contraband textbooks to Chen Ruofu.

Cheng Ze learned that Qin Hao had hidden a valuable textbook intended for Chen Ruofu and planned to investigate its delivery route. Meanwhile, Qin Shi advanced his Life Seed through Old Liang’s dangerous Steal Heavenly Secrets method, then upgraded Deep Sleep and unlocked the ability to construct a Mind Palace.

• Cheng Ze questioned Luo Ji about the missing textbooks and learned that Qin Hao had sent a valuable one mixed with medicine because the Metropolitan Area’s Iron Curtain detected mental fluctuations.
• Cheng Ze sedated Luo Ji and Qin Zhijie, then focused on Jiú Sōng Port, Pier No. 5 as he watched dawn break.
• Qin Shi absorbed the Level 4 Energy Liquid, and Old Liang taught him about Steal Heavenly Secrets as a way to strengthen a Life Seed through danger.
• Old Liang feinted an assassination strike at Qin Shi, whose heightened senses let him evade it and gain one point of Life Force.
• Qin Shi partially completed the Disaster Always One Step Behind Me task, then upgraded Deep Sleep the next morning and unlocked a mental space for building a Mind Palace.

Qin Shi used his upgraded Mind Palace to train rapidly, advancing his martial arts to True Essence One Qi and learning to launch forceful ranged attacks. Meanwhile, Qin Lihao agreed to a kidnapper’s ransom demands to protect Ajie, then ordered Jiang Hao to watch Cheng Ze.

• Qin Shi discovered that his Mind Palace could reproduce lifelike people and objects, but his simulated Level 4 Energy Liquid had no medicinal effect.
• Qin Shi trained in the Mind Palace, rapidly advancing Old Martial Arts Fighting Style to Level 10, where it evolved into True Essence One Qi.
• Qin Shi learned to shape True Essence One Qi into powerful attacks, but Old Liang’s simulated killing move pierced his head and expelled him from the Mind Palace.
• Qin Lihao followed Qin Renying’s instructions to accept the kidnappers’ demand for Mineral Essence, Load Fluid, and High-Energy Batteries in exchange for Ajie.
• Qin Lihao arranged the ransom exchange and told Jiang Hao to keep watch on Cheng Ze.

Chen Yun’s insomnia worsened under work stress while Qin Shi continued training and explored his talent for both physical and mental cultivation. After upgrading Muscle Memory, he discovered he could assess Chen Yun’s muscle fatigue and considered treating her with massage.

• Lin Yunqing left early for a morning workout with Qin Shi, while Chen Yun stayed behind, exhausted and unable to sleep.
• Chen Yun received a call from her director and angrily gave up on resting after being summoned to work on her day off.
• Lin Yunqing explained that Chen Yun had been awake for more than forty-eight hours, and Qin Shi sensed that her symptoms seemed abnormal before heading to the basement.
• Qin Shi asked Teacher Lin about cultivating the mind alongside Old Martial Arts, then used the Combat Room until Muscle Memory reached 100%.
• Qin Shi checked the upgraded skill and saw detailed readings of Chen Yun’s muscle fatigue, prompting him to consider working as a massage therapist.

Qin Shi used his newly advanced Muscle Memory to massage Chen Yun, curing her insomnia long enough for her to fall asleep and unlocking the Massage Technique skill. He then entered the virtual Combat Room and received a message from Luo Wenbin, who was secretly trying to steer him toward easy opponents.

• Chen Yun snapped at Qin Shi, but listened when he suggested her insomnia came from hidden muscle injuries.
• Qin Shi massaged Chen Yun, eased her pain, and watched her fall asleep peacefully.
• Qin Shi unlocked the Technician Profession and the Massage Technique skill after completing the session.
• Lin Yunqing returned with medicine and found Chen Yun asleep while Qin Shi ate before heading to the Combat Room.
• Qin Shi accepted a friend request from a Tiger Fist practitioner and later read Luo Wenbin's advice to target weaker Martial Arts Department students.

Qin Shi challenged Xu Dong to test his recent improvements and, after enduring Xu Dong’s powerful attacks, used a vibrating Wind Fist palm to break through his defense and win. Luo Wenbin watched the fight and realized Qin Shi’s victory could bring a humiliating start to the school year for Qiguang Hengda University’s Martial Arts Department.

• Qin Shi ignored Cat Head Killer’s list of weak opponents and invited Xu Dong to battle in the virtual Combat Room.
• Xu Dong accepted after Luo Wenbin offered him high-definition VR Uma Musume content in exchange for spectator privileges.
• Xu Dong charged Qin Shi with his Tiger Tank Body, but Qin Shi met him head-on and repeatedly slammed his head into the arena floor.
• Xu Dong recovered and struck Qin Shi with Cannon Fist, breaking his arm, while Qin Shi used a high-frequency Wind Fist palm to cut through Xu Dong’s neck and win.
• Luo Wenbin celebrated Qin Shi’s victory and worried that it would leave Qiguang Hengda University’s Martial Arts Department facing a disastrous start to the school year.

After defeating Xu Dong, Qin Shi reviewed his progress and continued training, while Lin Yunqing and Chen Yun recovered from his treatment. Chen Yun then revealed that a Qin family shipment had exploded at Jiú Sōng Port, leaving Qin Lihao in trouble.

• Xu Dong asked Luo Wenbin to hide his defeat, but Luo posted a recording and proposed they use alt accounts to make future losses seem justified.
• Qin Shi left the Combat Room, checked his Monument progress, and decided to seek more Old Martial Arts books to develop Overgrowth.
• Qin Shi treated Chen Yun, who felt much better and offered to help him through her Inspection Department connections.
• Lin Yunqing teased Qin Shi about what he and Chen Yun had done, then asked him to treat her neck and sleep problems.
• Chen Yun received a call and reported that a Qin family shipment had burned and exploded at Jiú Sōng Port before Qin Lihao could collect it.