Chapter Summaries

Li Xiao tested his newly learned Chasing Wind Arrow Technique and considered cultivating a second type of Internal Force, then surprised his father with a powerful shot. The next morning, he practiced his stance at the martial arts ground, where Wang Hai checked on him after the trip to Great Green Mountain.

• Li Xiao considered cultivating both Iron Wire Force and Chasing Wind Force, but prioritized advancing Iron Wire Fist while building experience in Chasing Wind Arrow Technique.
• Li Xiao shot through a target from thirty zhang away and decided he needed a stronger Iron-Fetal Bow.
• Li Youde witnessed the shot, questioned Li Xiao about it, and expressed happiness at his son's progress without pressing him for details.
• Li Xiao arrived early at the training ground and practiced the Firm as a Rock stance, refining his control of Qi and Blood.
• Wang Hai brought Li Xiao a warm meat bun and asked whether he had been hurt on the trip to Great Green Mountain.

Li Xiao returned from Great Green Mountain and trained with the Iron Wire Fist while Wang Hai prepared to break through. Wang Hai successfully condensed Internal Force, becoming a Martial Master before the watching disciples.

• Li Xiao told Wang Hai about the successful Great Green Mountain expedition and their encounter with bandits, and Wang Hai advised him to maintain his connection with Zhou Kun.
• Li Xiao practiced the Iron Wire Fist, using the strength from Exotic Beast Meat to increase his experience.
• Wang Hai told Li Xiao that his Internal Force was about to form, and Qian Li gave him Blood Vitality Soup and instructed him to regulate his Qi and Blood.
• Zhao Wenfeng watched Wang Hai's breakthrough from a distance and told his followers not to interfere while Qian Li was present.
• Wang Hai endured the surging Qi and Blood, condensed his Internal Force, and rose with a newly powerful presence.

Wang Hai became an official Martial Master, but Zhao Wenfeng tried to humiliate him by arranging a spar against the more experienced Liu Wu. Zhao Hu stopped the confrontation and urged Wang Hai to consolidate his new realm, while Li Xiao reflected on the growing strain between the Iron Wire Fist Martial Arts School and the Golden Sand Gang.

• Qian Li recognized Wang Hai as an official Martial Master after he formed Internal Force.
• Zhao Wenfeng challenged Wang Hai’s new status by urging him to spar with Liu Wu, a more experienced First-Turn Martial Master.
• Wang Hai prepared to accept the unfair spar rather than show weakness, while Li Xiao worried that he lacked the strength to intervene.
• Zhao Hu arrived, warned that sparring could damage Wang Hai’s unstable foundation, and ordered Zhao Wenfeng and Liu Wu to leave.
• Wang Hai thanked Zhao Hu, who advised him to consolidate his realm before pursuing other opportunities.
• Li Xiao considered how Zhao Wuji’s ties to the County Lieutenant were disrupting the balance among Willow City’s Outer City powers.

Wang Hai explained why Zhao Hu opposed Zhao Wenfeng’s growing influence in the Golden Sand Gang and martial arts school, then warned Li Xiao that he might be drawn into their conflicts. Li Xiao sparred with Wang Hai to experience a Martial Master’s internal force and, despite losing, left with a clearer understanding of the gap and stronger determination to improve.

• Wang Hai told Li Xiao that Zhao Wuji’s growing influence and Zhao Wenfeng’s behavior had angered the Master of the Hall, prompting Zhao Hu to intervene.
• Wang Hai warned Li Xiao that Zhao Wenfeng might target him because of his friendship with Wang Hai, and Li Xiao vowed to focus on gaining strength.
• Li Xiao asked Wang Hai to spar so he could experience the power of a Martial Master, and Wang Hai agreed.
• Wang Hai’s internal force overwhelmed Li Xiao’s attacks, but Li Xiao held his ground for more than twenty exchanges and found chances to counterattack.
• Li Xiao conceded when Wang Hai’s punch stopped short of his chest, and Wang Hai praised his skill and predicted he would reach the Martial Master realm.

After sparring with Wang Hai, Li Xiao visited the Hundred Refinements Workshop to find a stronger bow. He tested a Four-Stone Iron-Fetal Bow, was impressed by its power, and agreed to buy it for forty-five taels with twenty Armor-Piercing Arrows.

• Wang Hai treated Li Xiao to a meal to celebrate his breakthrough and shared insights about the Martial Master Realm.
• Li Xiao went to the Hundred Refinements Workshop and asked to see Iron-Fetal Bows with draws of at least three stones.
• The shopkeeper offered Li Xiao a Four-Stone Iron-Fetal Bow for fifty taels, then lowered the price to forty-five taels.
• Li Xiao drew the Four-Stone Iron-Fetal Bow to seven-tenths draw and shot through a thick wooden target, burying the Armor-Piercing Arrow in the courtyard wall.
• Li Xiao accepted the forty-five-tael price and decided to buy the bow and its twenty Armor-Piercing Arrows.

Li Xiao bought a Four-Stone Iron-Fetal Bow and commissioned custom hollow arrows for a lime-powder trick. He practiced the Chasing Wind Arrow Technique at home, gaining experience quickly and leaving Li Youde proud of his progress.

• Li Xiao bought a Four-Stone Iron-Fetal Bow and twenty Armor-Piercing Arrows, then commissioned ten hollow arrowheads from a blacksmith.
• Li Xiao planned to fill the custom arrows with lime powder so he could blind enemies while using the Chasing Wind Arrow Technique to protect himself from the powder.
• Li Xiao returned home and showed the bow to Li Youde, who admired it despite its forty-five-tael price.
• Li Xiao practiced with the bow and scored a perfect hit, gaining two experience points in the Chasing Wind Arrow Technique.
• Li Xiao kept firing arrows until his experience reached thirty, while Li Youde watched with a gratified smile.

Li Xiao continued training while Wang Hai settled into his new Martial Master realm, and Chen Long and Chen Hu plotted to kill Li Xiao and exploit his sister. At home, Li Xiao broke through the Chasing Wind Arrow Technique to Minor Accomplishment and formed Chasing Wind Force, while his Iron Wire Force remained untransformed.

• Wang Hai told Li Xiao about his breakthrough and encouraged him to reach Martial Master so they could spar and receive Qian Li's guidance.
• Chen Long reassured Chen Hu that Li Xiao had little standing at the Martial Arts Hall, then plotted to kill him and gain Zhao Wenfeng's support.
• After several days, Li Xiao stayed home, ate Black Silk Snake Meat, and practiced archery with his Four-Stone Iron-Fetal Bow.
• Li Xiao's fifteenth arrow coincided with the Chasing Wind Arrow Technique reaching Minor Accomplishment and his Chasing Wind Force forming.
• Li Xiao sensed the difference between his new Chasing Wind Force and the still-incomplete Iron Wire Force.

Li Xiao became a First-Turn Martial Master and prepared to ambush Chen Long using specially made lime arrows. Meanwhile, Chen Long secured Sun Hong’s approval to kill Li Xiao, setting the two schemes against each other.

• Li Xiao’s Chasing Wind Force tempered his body, and he entered the Skin Refining Realm as a First-Turn Martial Master.
• Li Xiao resolved to improve Iron Wire Fist and eliminate the threat posed by the Chen Long brothers.
• Li Xiao filled hollow arrows with lime, gathered his other equipment, and planned to lure Chen Long into an ambush.
• Chen Long bribed Sun Hong with wine and maids and asked for support in dealing with Li Xiao.
• Sun Hong approved Chen Long’s plan, telling him to leave no evidence and keep Zhao Wenfeng uninvolved.

Chen Long left a costly dinner with Sun Hong and headed toward his mistress's village, unaware that Li Xiao was following him to kill him. Li Xiao's first arrow missed when Chen Long tripped, and Chen Long took cover behind a tree.

• Chen Long suppressed his anger at Sun Hong's extortion and resolved to use Zhao Wenfeng's influence to rise through the Clear Water Gang, starting by killing Li Xiao.
• After leaving the restaurant, Chen Long decided to visit Xiao Tao on the outskirts of the city.
• Li Xiao followed Chen Long from the restaurant and waited until he reached a secluded country path.
• Li Xiao shot an Armor-Piercing Arrow at Chen Long, but Chen Long tripped and the arrow struck a tree instead.
• Chen Long shook off his drunkenness, scrambled behind a roadside tree, and braced himself for the ambush.

Li Xiao used Lime Arrows to blind and injure Chen Long, turning the Martial Master’s charge into a desperate struggle. Chen Long’s survival instincts warned him of another attack as Li Xiao pressed forward.

• Li Xiao secretly circled Chen Long while keeping him pinned behind a tree with precise arrows.
• Chen Long recognized Li Xiao and charged at him, convinced he could overpower him at close range.
• Li Xiao fired a Lime Arrow that Chen Long dodged, leaving a trace of powder in his eyes.
• Li Xiao shot a second Lime Arrow at the ground, and Chen Long shattered its hollow shaft with his hand, releasing lime powder into his face.
• Chen Long was blinded and coughing, then took an arrow to the shoulder as Li Xiao attacked again.
• Chen Long sensed another threat and tried to flee despite his blindness and injured arm.

Li Xiao defeated and killed Chen Long after blinding him with lime-filled arrows and overwhelming him in close combat. He left the scene intending to kill Chen Hu as well.

• Chen Long fled toward the bushes, but Li Xiao shot him in the back and pursued him.
• Chen Long realized Li Xiao had become a Martial Master and demanded to know how he had advanced so quickly.
• Li Xiao kicked Chen Long in the chest, crushing his breastbone and leaving him unable to fight.
• Chen Long pleaded for Li Xiao to spare Chen Hu, but Li Xiao refused and said he would send Chen Hu to join him.
• Li Xiao mocked Chen Long's impure Internal Force and killed him with a final blow.

Li Xiao killed Chen Hu after killing his brother Chen Long, then took their hidden silver and returned home. He reassured his father, Li Youde, that no one would harass Eldest Sister again, and ended the night reviewing his two fights.

• Li Xiao cleaned up the scene of Chen Long's death and went to Chen Long's residence in West City, where Chen Hu was staying.
• Li Xiao broke into Chen Hu's room and told him Chen Long had already died.
• Chen Hu begged for his life and revealed silver hidden beneath a floor brick, but Li Xiao killed him by snapping his throat.
• Li Xiao took the valuables and set the bed on fire before returning home.
• Li Youde noticed the scent of blood on Li Xiao, and Li Xiao assured him that no one would harass Eldest Sister again.
• Li Xiao helped his father to bed, then sat down to regulate his breathing and review the night's battles.

Li Xiao concealed his breakthrough to Martial Master and continued to hide his strength at the martial arts hall. Meanwhile, He Ming discovered evidence that Chen Hu had been murdered and ordered the Clear Water Gang to find Chen Long’s killer.

• Li Xiao hid his silver and jewelry, ate Black Silk Snake Meat, and decided not to reveal his breakthrough because it could expose his secrets and link him to the Chen brothers’ deaths.
• Li Xiao practiced Iron Wire Fist while concealing his strength, and Wang Hai noticed nothing unusual.
• Disciples at the martial arts hall discussed the fire at Chen Long’s home and said someone had died inside.
• He Ming arrived at the burned residence and learned that the only body found appeared to be Chen Hu’s, while Chen Long was missing.
• A coroner reported that Chen Hu’s throat bone had been shattered before the fire, leading He Ming to conclude that the blaze had covered up a murder.
• He Ming ordered the Clear Water Gang to investigate Chen Long’s enemies and movements, promising a headman’s position for whoever found the murderer.

Li Xiao’s family continued recovering as he approached a breakthrough in Iron Wire Fist. At the Martial Arts Hall, his Qi and Blood surged, and Qian Li confirmed his foundation was strong before giving him Blood Vitality Soup to help him Condense Inner Force.

• Li Xiao took Li Youde to a physician, who said his leg was healing well and he could soon walk without a crutch.
• Li Xiao shared a warm meal with Li Youde and Li Yu, encouraging them to eat well as their health and spirits improved.
• After several days, Li Xiao’s Iron Wire Fist practice pushed his Qi and Blood to the brink of breakthrough at the Martial Arts Training Ground.
• Nearby Disciples noticed Li Xiao’s surging Qi and Blood, and one hurried to report his imminent breakthrough to Qian Li.
• Qian Li examined Li Xiao’s foundation, judged it solid, and gave him Blood Vitality Soup with instructions to guide his Qi and Blood into his dantian and Condense Inner Force.
• Li Xiao drank the soup, whose medicinal power merged with his surging Qi and Blood.

Li Xiao successfully condensed Iron Wire Force, becoming an official Martial Master of the Iron Wire Fist Martial Arts School. As he headed to the Inner Courtyard, Zhao Wenfeng and Sun Hong plotted to frame him for Chen Long’s disappearance and death.

• Li Xiao condensed Iron Wire Force and stabilized it alongside his Chasing Wind Force, reaching the Martial Master rank.
• Qian Li praised Li Xiao’s breakthrough, examined his foundation, and wondered whether he had a hidden special physique despite his ordinary innate frame.
• Qian Li officially recognized Li Xiao as a Martial Master and sent him to the Inner Courtyard to complete the procedures.
• Zhao Wenfeng and his disciples watched Li Xiao leave, alarmed by how quickly he had advanced.
• Sun Hong suggested blaming Li Xiao for Chen Long’s disappearance and his younger brother’s death, and Zhao Wenfeng ordered him to handle the plan discreetly.

After breaking through to Martial Master, Li Xiao entered the Inner Courtyard with Wang Hai, who offered to share precious Foundation-Cultivating Pills with him. Li Xiao met several welcoming senior disciples and considered how long it would take to reach the next realm.

• Wang Hai congratulated Li Xiao on his breakthrough and offered him a Foundation-Cultivating Pill from his own share, but Li Xiao declined and thanked him for the kindness.
• Wang Hai brought Li Xiao into the Inner Courtyard and explained that its few disciples were all Martial Masters who trained or sparred there.
• Wang Hai introduced Li Xiao to Zhang Meng, Liu Ping, and several other Inner Courtyard disciples, who welcomed him warmly.
• Wang Hai promised to support Li Xiao if trouble arose, and Li Xiao recognized that the Inner Courtyard was less openly hostile than the Outer Courtyard.
• Li Xiao checked his Panel and saw that Great Accomplishment required 1,000 experience, then wondered whether his daily experience gain would increase.

After settling into the Inner Courtyard, Li Xiao learned about its benefits and rules from Wang Hai, then tested his strength against him in a spar. Li Xiao proved stronger than an ordinary First-Turn Martial Master, and Wang Hai predicted that Zhao Wenfeng would soon have reason to fear him.

• Wang Hai explained that Inner Courtyard disciples received Exotic Beast Meat and Qi Replenishing Powder, then warned Li Xiao to respect the hall’s rules and avoid provoking powerful Inner City Lineages like the He Family.
• Li Xiao drank the Qi Replenishing Powder and learned that its Exotic Beast Meat came from a plant-type creature called Iron Leaf Vine.
• Wang Hai invited Li Xiao to spar so they could test their strength after Li Xiao’s breakthrough to Martial Master.
• Li Xiao matched Wang Hai’s techniques with his solid Iron Wire Force and swift Chasing Wind Force, then grazed Wang Hai’s neck with an Eagle Claw Throat Lock variation.
• Wang Hai ended the spar and praised Li Xiao’s strength, saying he would soon make Zhao Wenfeng wary of him.

After Li Xiao broke through to the Martial Master Realm, he celebrated with Wang Hai, who advised him to seek paid work to fund his cultivation. Wang Hai described increasingly lucrative missions, including dangerous bandit suppression, leaving Li Xiao interested in the opportunity.

• Wang Hai congratulated Li Xiao on entering the Martial Master Realm and invited him to a meal, but Li Xiao insisted on paying.
• Wang Hai took Li Xiao to Guest Come Again, where they shared grilled Red-striped Pig, other dishes, and Spring Burn millet wine.
• Wang Hai praised Li Xiao's martial foundation and explained that advancing as a Martial Master required resources beyond the hall's basic provisions.
• Wang Hai advised Li Xiao to start with safe missions for Outer City gangs or an escort agency, then seek higher-paying Inner City work as his strength grew.
• Wang Hai explained that bandit-suppression missions offered silver and Pills for eliminating bandits, and Li Xiao took an interest.

Li Xiao learned from Wang Hai that the County Lieutenant might be connected to an attack on Wang Hai’s father, and he promised to keep his old grudge hidden until he was strong enough. After several peaceful days of training, Sun Hong told He Ming that Chen Long had planned to deal with Li Xiao before disappearing.

• Wang Hai warned Li Xiao that organized rebels had made bandit-suppression missions deadly and shared his suspicion that someone from the County Lieutenant Mansion had attacked his father.
• Li Xiao admitted he had an old grudge against the County Lieutenant, and Wang Hai urged him to lie low and keep their conversation secret.
• Li Xiao continued taking Qi Replenishing Powder and training Iron Wire Fist while remaining cautious after Chen Long’s death.
• Sun Hong met with He Ming, who was investigating Chen Long’s death, and revealed that Chen Long had named Li Xiao as someone he intended to deal with shortly before disappearing.

Sun Hong told He Ming that Li Xiao might have caused Chen Long’s disappearance, hoping to turn the Clear Water Gang against him. After consulting Mr. Wu, He Ming decided to avoid provoking Li Xiao and the Iron Wire Fist Martial Arts School, abandon the investigation into Chen Long, and keep Sun Hong in check.

• Sun Hong told He Ming that Chen Long had likely gone to confront Li Xiao shortly before Chen Long vanished and Li Xiao became a Martial Master.
• He Ming thanked Sun Hong for the information, while Sun Hong admitted that he held a grudge against Li Xiao and hoped for He Ming’s help.
• After Sun Hong left, Mr. Wu confirmed that Li Xiao was suspicious but pointed out that Sun Hong wanted the Clear Water Gang to kill by proxy.
• He Ming concluded that Qian Li likely valued Li Xiao and refused to risk antagonizing him or the Iron Wire Fist Martial Arts School over Chen Long.
• He Ming ordered Mr. Wu to end the gang’s investigation into Chen Long and to make Sun Hong suffer if he continued scheming.