Chapter Summaries

Injured Golden Sand Gang Leader Wang Jinshan rallied his followers to prepare for an unavoidable war with the Wild Dog Gang. The gang’s internal divisions remained tense as Wang Jinshan urged his son Wang Hai and his old allies to hold firm until the enemy was defeated.

• Wang Jinshan addressed the Golden Sand Gang, condemning the Wild Dog Gang’s attacks and insisting that losing an arm had not made him unable to lead or fight.
• Wang Jinshan ordered the gang to prioritize war preparations and warned that he would punish anyone who undermined them.
• Zhao Kun promised to restrain his subordinates and prepare for battle, then left with Zhao Wenfeng in a businesslike manner.
• Wang Jinshan told his old allies to endure Zhao Kun’s growing influence and avoid internal conflict until the Wild Dog Gang was driven back.
• Wang Jinshan urged Wang Hai to grow stronger, and Wang Hai agreed with renewed determination.

Zhao Kun planned to exploit a conflict between Wang Jinshan’s Golden Sand Gang and Tu Gang’s Wild Dog Gang, with secret backing from the County Lieutenant, to seize control of West City. He told Zhao Wenfeng to win a coming martial duel and use the victory to draw wavering members to their side.

• Zhao Kun told his trusted followers to provoke Wang Jinshan’s faction and Tu Gang’s men into fighting while Zhao’s forces preserved their strength.
• Zhao Kun revealed that the County Lieutenant had promised secret support and offered his followers West City’s businesses and cultivation resources as rewards.
• After the others left, Zhao Kun told Zhao Wenfeng he would have to fight in an early duel and publicly defeat important men under Tu Gang.
• Zhao Wenfeng agreed to win and attract wavering members, while Zhao Kun apologized for making him cripple his Internal Force and start over at the Iron Wire Fist Martial Arts School.

Zhao Kun explained that he served the County Lieutenant to obtain a Viscera Refining Pill and a chance to break through to the Fourth Turn, and Zhao Wenfeng pledged to help him seize the Golden Sand Gang. As the Golden Sand and Wild Dog Gangs clashed across Willow City’s Outer City, Li Xiao found Wang Hai looking troubled and asked whether the unrest was the cause.

• Zhao Kun told Zhao Wenfeng that his Third Turn bottleneck could prove fatal to cross without a Divine Intent Diagram, and that a Viscera Refining Pill could improve his chances.
• Zhao Wenfeng agreed to help Zhao Kun take control of the Golden Sand Gang and obtain the pill, hoping the Zhao Family would one day no longer answer to others.
• The Golden Sand Gang and Wild Dog Gang increased their patrols and fought more often, spreading fear and disruption through Willow City’s Outer City.
• The unrest affected the Martial Arts Hall: Zhao Wenfeng drew more followers while Wang Hai attended less often with armed Guards accompanying him.
• After training, Li Xiao approached Wang Hai beneath a tree and asked whether the turmoil outside had been troubling him.

Wang Hai warned Li Xiao that the Golden Sand Gang faced a looming war with the Wild Dog Gang and internal threats from Zhao Kun. While hiding his growing strength, Li Xiao targeted Zhao Wenfeng’s lackeys and ambushed Zhou Tong, leaving the outcome of the attack unresolved.

• Wang Hai told Li Xiao that the Golden Sand Gang was threatened by the Wild Dog Gang and might be undermined by Zhao Kun, then warned him to avoid Zhao Wenfeng.
• Li Xiao assessed his progress toward becoming a Second-Turn Martial Master and decided to collect a debt from Zhao Wenfeng’s followers while keeping his abilities concealed.
• Li Xiao acted respectfully toward Qian Li while secretly observing Zhao Wenfeng’s lackeys, Zhou Tong and Liu San, and learning their routines.
• Li Xiao followed Zhou Tong to an Outer City gambling den and waited until the drunken man entered a deserted alley.
• Li Xiao struck Zhou Tong with an Iron Sand Palm, breaking his crossed arms and driving the blow into his chest.

Li Xiao killed Zhou Tong and Liu San, then sought information from Qian Li about the dangers and power of Exotic Insects. He resolved to fuse with the Listening Wind Insect despite the risks, while Zhao Wenfeng secretly ordered an investigation into the deaths.

• Li Xiao killed Zhou Tong and Liu San in separate alley ambushes, took one ear from each, and concealed the evidence.
• Qian Li told Li Xiao that Exotic Insects granted rare abilities but required dangerous rituals and could cause injury, madness, or death if fusion failed.
• Qian Li described how Tu Gang used an Exotic Insect to communicate with and influence dogs, helping him establish the Wild Dog Gang.
• Li Xiao left the Quiet Room determined to fuse with the Listening Wind Insect and considered seeking a secluded place outside the city.
• Zhao Wenfeng flew into a rage over Zhou Tong and Liu San's deaths and ordered a secret investigation.

After Li Xiao left, Qian Li weighed the deaths of three Martial Masters against his larger plans for Willow City and decided the Iron Wire Fist Martial Arts School needed to assert its influence. He ordered a Martial Arts Tournament to unite and display the strength of the Outer City's martial arts halls, while privately preparing for the blood debt he sought to collect.

• Qian Li dismissed Sun Hong, Zhou Tong, and Liu San as expendable traitors, then considered who had killed them and whether Wang Hai or Li Xiao was involved.
• Qian Li judged that the deaths might reveal a capable, deliberate killer, but set the question aside as Willow City's gangs and factions grew increasingly tense.
• Qian Li ordered two trusted core disciples to invite the Outer City's martial arts halls to a Martial Arts Tournament at the Jiaoji Platform.
• Qian Li warned himself that the tournament could provoke a more dangerous response, then studied a patterned hide scroll and murmured that his long-awaited plans were near.

Li Xiao traveled to a secluded mountain peak and fused the Listening Wind Insect after feeding it the ears of two Martial Masters. He gained greatly enhanced hearing and faster recovery, with the story leaving him newly equipped to use his power.

• Li Xiao left Willow City and traveled through the mountains to a hidden platform on Lone Peak.
• He prepared the ritual site and fed the Listening Wind Insect the two Martial Masters' ears.
• The Panel confirmed the ritual requirements were complete, and Li Xiao chose to fuse with the insect.
• The insect crawled into Li Xiao's ear and dissolved into pale-blue light, sharpening his hearing during the process.
• The Panel confirmed the fusion had succeeded, granting Li Xiao enhanced hearing within twenty zhang and slightly faster healing.

Li Xiao tested the Listening Wind Insect’s abilities, discovering that Wind Listening let him detect nearby sounds while accelerated healing helped close his wound. He reflected on mental power and the Martial Dao’s deeper stages, then set off for Willow City with plans to improve his strength and find a movement technique.

• Li Xiao used Wind Listening to identify sounds and locate creatures throughout the surrounding area.
• Li Xiao cut his palm and confirmed that the Listening Wind Insect accelerated the wound’s healing.
• Li Xiao considered how qi and blood, mental power, and vitality might relate to the evolution of Martial Masters.
• Li Xiao decided to strengthen his qi and blood, train his mental focus, break through Iron Wire Fist to the Second Turn, and seek a movement technique.
• Li Xiao checked the area with Wind Listening, then left Lone Peak and headed toward Willow City.

At Lei Biao’s birthday banquet in Black Wind Stronghold, Lu Meng and Wu Tieshan secretly poisoned selected leaders while concealing their intentions. After Lei Biao returned to his quarters, the two confronted him together, leaving him to suspect a rebellion.

• Lei Biao celebrated his forty-fifth birthday with the stronghold’s headmen, while Lu Meng and Wu Tieshan exchanged guarded looks and their allies watched the revelry.
• The headmen presented gifts, including Lu Meng’s Fire Jade and Wu Tieshan’s Raging Bull Fist manual, which Lei Biao accepted without suspicion.
• Lu Meng poured Burning Saber for the gathering and secretly dropped a slow-acting paralytic toxin into designated bowls; Lei Biao drank several bowls and became heavily intoxicated.
• Lei Biao returned to his private courtyard, where he found an abducted young woman waiting, but Lu Meng and Wu Tieshan entered before he could approach her.
• Lei Biao recognized the two sober chieftains and demanded to know whether they were rebelling against him.

Lu Meng and Wu Tieshan revealed their betrayal and attacked Lei Biao to seize Black Wind Stronghold. After Lei Biao’s strength was weakened by poisoned wine, they overwhelmed him, leaving him close to defeat.

• Lu Meng and Wu Tieshan confronted Lei Biao and launched a coordinated Iron Wire Fist attack.
• Lei Biao recognized their martial arts and suspected that Qian Li’s Iron Wire Fist Martial Arts School was behind the plot.
• Lu Meng and Wu Tieshan kept Lei Biao pinned down while his guards outside the courtyard failed to answer his calls for help.
• Lei Biao unleashed his full strength and targeted Lu Meng, but Wu Tieshan struck him as he attacked.
• Lei Biao realized the Burning Saber wine had impaired his Qi and Blood, and Lu Meng and Wu Tieshan renewed their assault until he was badly injured and on the verge of defeat.

Lu Meng and Wu Tieshan killed Lei Biao and seized control of Black Wind Stronghold, then sent Qian Li a report awaiting his orders. Qian Li received the news and turned his thoughts toward the Feng Family and Inner City.

• Lu Meng and Wu Tieshan overcame Lei Biao's desperate final attack and killed him, while suffering injuries.
• Lu Meng severed Lei Biao's head, and he and Wu Tieshan cleaned the room before silencing a woman who had heard the fight.
• At dawn, Lu Meng displayed Lei Biao's head and the bodies of his loyalists, accused him of betraying the stronghold, and declared himself Stronghold Chief with Wu Tieshan as deputy.
• Lu Meng and Wu Tieshan suppressed resistance and took control of Black Wind Stronghold, redistributing positions and placing Martial Arts Hall disciples as Headmen.
• Wu Tieshan sent Qian Li a secret letter reporting Lei Biao's death and the change of power; Qian Li received it and resolved to settle accounts with the Feng Family in Inner City.

Li Xiao completed the Iron Wire Fist’s Great Accomplishment stage, advancing it to the Second Turn and transforming his Internal Force. He tested Wind Listening afterward, discovering that his perception range and ability to process sounds had improved.

• Li Xiao ate Mountain Baboon Meat and practiced Iron Wire Fist in his courtyard, steadily gaining experience.
• Li Xiao reached Great Accomplishment in Iron Wire Fist, and his Qi and Blood surged as the technique advanced to Perfection.
• Li Xiao’s body and Internal Force strengthened, giving him the confidence to protect his family and consider how to pursue Zhao Wenfeng.
• Li Xiao activated Wind Listening and found that his effective perception range had expanded from about twenty zhang to around thirty zhang, with sounds easier to filter and distinguish.

Li Xiao discovered that his Listening Wind Insect became easier to control after reaching the Second Turn and wondered whether it could eventually develop into a form of Divine Sense. He concealed his breakthrough at the Martial Arts Hall, where Wang Hai confided that the gang faced mounting pressure from the Wild Dog Gang and Zhao Kun.

• Li Xiao found that refining his wind-listening perception consumed mental power but lasted longer and felt easier after his breakthrough, prompting him to imagine the ability evolving further.
• Li Xiao went to the Martial Arts Hall and hid his Second-Turn strength, choosing to keep up the appearance of an ordinary First-Turn disciple.
• Li Xiao found Wang Hai distracted and learned that the Wild Dog Gang had killed seven or eight gang members and injured more than twenty at the West Wharf.
• Wang Hai explained that his injured father could only fight at sixty or seventy percent of his former strength, while Zhao Kun obstructed their plans and pursued his own interests.
• Wang Hai told Li Xiao about a hidden Inner City residence and savings prepared by his late mother as a possible refuge, and Li Xiao advised him to keep the matter private.

Li Xiao learned that the Golden Sand Gang and the Wild Dog Gang would settle their territorial dispute through a Martial Master contest in West City, giving him a chance to observe their fighters. As the two gangs gathered at the docks, Tu Gang addressed a man called Young Master Zhu, leaving Li Xiao wondering which Zhu Family member had become involved.

• Li Xiao overheard disciples discussing the approaching Martial Arts Tournament and the mounting troubles at the martial arts hall.
• The next morning, Li Xiao learned that the Golden Sand Gang and the Wild Dog Gang would contest control of West City's territories through one-on-one Martial Master duels.
• Li Xiao followed the disciples to West Street, where the two gangs and a crowd of spectators had gathered around the prepared arena.
• Li Xiao observed Wang Jinshan, Wang Hai, Zhao Kun, and Zhao Wenfeng facing Tu Gang and the Wild Dog Gang, whose ranks included a fearsome Rending Tooth Mastiff.
• Tu Gang taunted the injured Wang Jinshan, then turned to address Young Master Zhu, whose identity caught Li Xiao's attention.

Zhu Wenhuan arranged a three-round Martial Master contest to settle the dispute over West Street Wharf, presenting the fight as a fair way to keep peace in Willow City's Outer City. The first match ended with the Wild Dog Gang fighter killing Fu Qing, leaving the Golden Sand Gang under pressure as he challenged them to send another fighter.

• Zhu Wenhuan arrived as referee and announced that two wins in three rounds would decide ownership of West Street Wharf.
• Zhao Wenfeng and Fu Qing entered the arena for the Golden Sand Gang, while a short, sturdy First-Turn Martial Master represented the Wild Dog Gang.
• The Wild Dog Gang fighter attacked first, but Fu Qing dodged and countered with a rush of strikes.
• The Wild Dog Gang fighter killed Fu Qing with a blow to the throat and taunted the Golden Sand Gang.
• Zhao Kun remained composed while Wang Jinshan grew tense, and the victorious fighter demanded another opponent.

The Wild Dog Gang overwhelmed the Golden Sand Gang in the First-Turn Martial Master round, forcing Wang Jinshan to concede. In the Second-Turn round, Ghost Blade Cui Qi defeated Hu Yuan and then won again despite his injuries.

• A Bao and another Golden Sand Gang fighter lost to the short, sturdy Wild Dog Gang fighter, leaving Wang Jinshan to concede the first round.
• Zhu Wenhuan announced the Second-Turn Martial Master round, and Ghost Blade Cui Qi challenged the Golden Sand Gang.
• Cui Qi defeated Hu Yuan with his swift blade technique, and Hu Yuan conceded.
• A Golden Sand Gang fighter tried to exploit Cui Qi's exhaustion, but Cui Qi fought through his injuries and defeated him.

Zhao Wenfeng used Iron Wire Fist and Spirit Ape Steps to defeat three Wild Dog Gang fighters in succession, rallying the Golden Sand Gang and impressing the martial arts school disciples. He remained on the Arena as Li Xiao noticed that his Qi and Blood and striking force were beginning to weaken.

• Zhao Wenfeng entered the Arena and revealed his Second-Turn Martial Master strength and Spirit Ape Steps.
• Zhao Wenfeng defeated Cui Qi with Iron Wire Fist, earning loud cheers from the Golden Sand Gang and the martial arts school disciples.
• Zhao Wenfeng outmaneuvered and defeated a Wild Dog Gang Martial Master using a poisonous claw technique.
• Zhao Wenfeng fought an Eagle Claw Skill practitioner head-on and defeated him, making three consecutive victories.
• Li Xiao observed Zhao Wenfeng's technique and noticed that his Qi and Blood and punches had weakened after the battles.

After Zhao Wenfeng won the Second Turn round, the Wild Dog Gang conceded and the decisive Third-Turn battle began. Wu Zhen stepped up for the Golden Sand Gang and fought Du Biao, who had once ordered Lin Yue’s death.

• Tu Gang conceded the Second Turn round, tying the score at one to one and forcing the decisive Third-Turn battle.
• Zhao Wenfeng returned to Zhao Kun, whose son’s victory strengthened their standing within the Golden Sand Gang.
• When Zhao Kun stayed off the Arena, Wu Zhen volunteered to represent Wang Jinshan’s side despite his old injuries.
• Tu Gang sent Du Biao, a Third-Turn Martial Master, to face Wu Zhen.
• Du Biao attacked with Mountain Opening Palm, and Wu Zhen met his assault with his gauntleted fist and a defensive fighting style.

Du Biao defeated Wu Zhen, giving the Wild Dog Gang control of West Street and the docks, while Zhao Wenfeng gained prestige. Li Xiao decided to seek a nominal position in the weakened Golden Sand Gang in exchange for a movement technique, and asked Wang Hai to test his fighting ability.

• Du Biao overwhelmed Wu Zhen, who conceded after being badly injured.
• Zhu Wenhuan declared the Wild Dog Gang the victor and ordered the Golden Sand Gang to withdraw from West Street and the associated docks within three days.
• Zhao Wenfeng earned public acclaim for defeating three Second Turn fighters, while Li Xiao recognized the contest as a display of strength among Willow City's factions.
• Li Xiao decided to offer his help to the Golden Sand Gang in exchange for a movement technique while keeping his strength inconspicuous.
• Li Xiao told Wang Hai he wanted a nominal position in the Golden Sand Gang and asked him to attack so he could prove his ability.

Li Xiao demonstrated his refined Iron Wire Fist to Wang Hai and earned the chance to fight for the Golden Sand Gang in exchange for footwork training. After defeating three Wild Dog Gang fighters and helping the Golden Sand Gang retain South City Market, he received the Spirit Snake Steps manual and quickly reached Entry Level.

• Li Xiao evaded Wang Hai's punch and struck his shoulder, convincing Wang Hai that he could compete in the First-Turn matches.
• Wang Hai agreed to seek Wang Jinshan's approval for Li Xiao's participation and a footwork technique, while Li Xiao resolved to conceal his true strength.
• Li Xiao represented the Golden Sand Gang in a territory contest and defeated three First-Turn fighters from the Wild Dog Gang.
• Zhao Wenfeng won two Second-Turn matches, and the Golden Sand Gang retained management rights over South City Market despite losing the Third-Turn round.
• Wang Jinshan gave Li Xiao the Spirit Snake Steps manual, and Li Xiao declined to join the gang officially but agreed to serve as a paid guest retainer.
• After four days of training among wooden stakes, Li Xiao reached Entry Level in Spirit Snake Steps.