Chapter Summaries

Li Xiao reviewed his rapidly improving martial skills and arrived at the Iron Wire Fist Martial Arts School, where the disciples admired him for defeating three Wild Dog Gang masters. Zhao Wenfeng noticed Li Xiao’s growing reputation and approached him as Li Xiao finished training.

• Li Xiao saw that his Iron Wire Fist, Chasing Wind Arrow Technique, Iron Sand Palm, and Spirit Snake Steps had all advanced, and expected the upcoming Martial Arts Tournament to be dangerous.
• Li Xiao entered the Martial Arts School and heard disciples praise his victory over three Wild Dog Gang fighters at the South City arena.
• Li Xiao noticed that Qian Li and Wang Hai were absent, while Zhao Wenfeng practiced with disciples and new lackeys.
• Li Xiao and Zhao Wenfeng exchanged nods, and Li Xiao sensed that Zhao Wenfeng was wary of his rise.
• Zhao Wenfeng approached Li Xiao after he finished a set of Iron Wire Fist, and Li Xiao turned to greet him.

Li Xiao rejected Zhao Wenfeng’s offer to join the Zhao Family and continued training, then advanced Spirit Snake Steps to Minor Accomplishment. Qian Li summoned him and tasked him with representing the Iron Wire Fist Martial Arts School at the upcoming city tournament.

• Zhao Wenfeng offered Li Xiao resources and a copy of the Startling Swan Steps in exchange for his support, but Li Xiao firmly refused and returned to training.
• Zhao Wenfeng warned Li Xiao to consider the dangers of standing alone, then left in anger after Li Xiao dismissed him.
• Over the next five days, Li Xiao improved his Spirit Snake Steps to Minor Accomplishment and gained greater mobility and evasive ability.
• Qian Li praised Li Xiao’s performance at the South City arena and his mastery of Iron Wire Fist.
• Qian Li told Li Xiao to prepare for the upcoming Martial Arts Tournament and represent the school among its strongest First-Turn disciples.

Lu Meng and Jiang Jing formed a wary alliance between Black Wind Stronghold and the Yellow Robe Cult, each intending to exploit the other while pursuing ambitions in Willow City's Outer City. The chapter then introduced the five influential Martial Arts Halls preparing to hold a joint Martial Arts Tournament.

• Jiang Jing proposed that the Yellow Robe Cult and Black Wind Stronghold cooperate to seize territory in Willow City's Outer City, and Lu Meng negotiated a preliminary alliance.
• After Jiang Jing left, Lu Meng and Wu Tieshan discussed using the cult to create turmoil and aid their master's plans in Willow City.
• Jiang Jing privately recognized Black Wind Stronghold's ambitions and resolved to use its members for his own purposes.
• News spread that five major Martial Arts Halls would jointly hold a Martial Arts Tournament.
• The chapter described the Iron Wire Fist Martial Arts School, Mad Demon Staff Martial Arts Hall, Qingshi Martial Arts School, Feiyan Martial Arts School, and Subduing Demon Leg Martial Arts School and their influence in the Outer City.

Willow City's five major martial arts schools gathered for their joint tournament, drawing the attention of gangs, officials, and Inner City families. As the tournament began, Li Xiao noticed Qian Li’s concealed reaction to a young man from the Feng Family.

• News of the tournament stirred the five schools and prompted the Golden Sand Gang, Wild Dog Gang, Inner City families, and County Lieutenant's Office to make secret moves.
• Li Xiao kept up his regular training as the schools prepared for the exhibition.
• The five schools assembled in East City with their Masters of the Hall, Martial Master disciples, and powerful spectators in attendance.
• Qian Li briefly revealed hatred, killing intent, and wariness as he looked toward a young man from the Feng Family, and Li Xiao sensed the change.
• An old man announced the start of the Five Great Martial Arts Schools Joint Tournament.

Li Xiao won a First-Turn spar for Iron Wire Fist School, then faced Lin Zhi of Feiyan Martial Arts School, who had been involved in the Lin Family's attack on his former self. The chapter ended as Lin Zhi launched a merciless assault, and Li Xiao prepared to answer her challenge.

• Mad Demon Cudgel Hall's disciple defeated Subduing Demon Leg Hall's disciple in the opening match.
• A Qingshi School disciple beat Iron Wire Fist School's first fighter, prompting Qian Li to send Li Xiao into the arena.
• Li Xiao used his perception and Iron Wire Fist to defeat the Qingshi School disciple and restore Iron Wire Fist School's standing.
• Lin Zhi recognized Li Xiao as the hunter's son and insulted him over the old dispute involving Lin Yue and the Lin Family.
• Li Xiao declared he would collect the old debt, and Lin Zhi attacked him with Flying Swallow Shadow Dodge and a barrage of palm strikes.

Li Xiao defeated Lin Zhi and destroyed her martial arts foundation during their match, then defended his actions as self-defense. Liu Feiyan threatened him, but Qian Li stepped in and offered compensation while warning her against escalating the dispute between their schools.

• Li Xiao read Lin Zhi's movements, broke her wrist, and struck her dantian with Iron Wire Force, crippling her.
• Liu Feiyan rushed to Lin Zhi's side, then accused Li Xiao of deliberately destroying her Martial Dao and threatened to seize him.
• Li Xiao claimed Lin Zhi had attacked viciously and that he had injured her while defending himself.
• Qian Li protected Li Xiao, agreed that the Iron Wire Fist Martial Arts School would cover Lin Zhi's treatment and provide gifts, and warned Liu Feiyan against turning the incident into a conflict between their schools.

Li Xiao’s victory over Lin Zhi brought Liu Feiyan into conflict with Qian Li, but she withdrew her school from the tournament rather than risk a larger feud. Li Xiao then defeated two more challengers, and the tournament awarded him first place.

• Qian Li defended Li Xiao, and Liu Feiyan withdrew the Feiyan Martial Arts School from the tournament with Lin Zhi.
• Qian Li ordered Li Xiao back into line, and Li Xiao returned to the competition after realizing his performance had secured Qian Li’s protection.
• Cai Yan challenged Li Xiao, but Li Xiao’s skill overwhelmed him and he conceded.
• Wu Yi attacked Li Xiao with his staff, but Li Xiao struck through his defense and forced him to concede.
• After no one else accepted the challenge, the host declared Li Xiao of the Iron Wire Fist Martial Arts School the winner of first place.

The martial arts schools’ sparring advanced from the Second-Turn bouts, where Zhao Wenfeng earned shared honors, to the Third-Turn tournament. Wu Tieshan faced Shi Zhuang in the opening duel, and his old injury appeared to hinder him as Shi Zhuang pressed his attack.

• Zhao Wenfeng won two Second-Turn matches and drew with Yang Han, earning shared top honors.
• The announcer revealed that four Third-Turn disciples would compete in paired duels, with the winners advancing to a final showdown.
• Wu Tieshan and Shi Zhuang began the first duel, and Shi Zhuang’s opening punch forced Wu Tieshan back three steps.
• Shi Zhuang noticed Wu Tieshan’s brief stiffness, while Wu Tieshan concealed the pain from an old injury and continued fighting.
• Shi Zhuang’s powerful punches left Wu Tieshan’s Qi and Blood churning as their duel continued.

The Five Great Martial Arts Schools Joint Tournament’s Third-Turn matches ended with Shi Zhuang defeating Wu Tieshan and Tan Ming to win First Prize. The tournament concluded with Li Xiao and Zhao Wenfeng bringing major honors to the Iron Wire Fist Martial Arts School, while the schools considered what the results might mean for their reputations.

• Shi Zhuang defeated the injured Wu Tieshan, giving the Qingshi Martial Arts School the opening Third-Turn match.
• Tan Ming defeated Hong Feng after nearly two hundred exchanges, leaving both fighters injured.
• Shi Zhuang overpowered Tan Ming in the final match and won Third-Turn First Prize.
• The tournament awarded First-Turn First Prize to Li Xiao, Second-Turn First Prize jointly to Zhao Wenfeng and Yang Han, and Third-Turn First Prize to Shi Zhuang.
• The Iron Wire Fist Martial Arts School celebrated its First-Turn and Second-Turn victories, while the Mad Demon Cudgel Hall regretted its poor showing.

After the tournament, Qian Li praised the Iron Wire Fist disciples and asked Li Xiao to stay behind. He tested Li Xiao’s technique and pointed out how unusually quickly he had advanced, leaving Li Xiao awaiting his explanation.

• Li Xiao received a bottle of Skin Refining Pills, while Zhao Wenfeng and Yang Han each received three Tendon Refining Pills and Shi Zhuang received fifteen hundred taels of silver.
• Qian Li congratulated the Iron Wire Fist disciples after the tournament and advised Wu Tieshan to recover and Zhao Wenfeng to use his pills to advance.
• Qian Li dismissed everyone except Li Xiao, then ordered him to perform the Iron Wire Fist.
• Li Xiao demonstrated polished technique while concealing his true strength, and Qian Li noted that his progress and combat talent were extraordinary.
• Qian Li told Li Xiao that only two possible reasons could explain his rapid advancement, then paused before revealing them.

Qian Li offered Li Xiao a place as his True Disciple after attributing his rapid progress to a special physique and an unusual affinity for Iron Wire Fist. Li Xiao accepted, while remaining wary of Qian Li’s motives and his insistence that disciples consume their Exotic Beast Meat.

• Qian Li suggested Li Xiao’s talent came from a special physique and exceptional compatibility with Iron Wire Fist.
• Qian Li warned Li Xiao to be cautious after offending Feiyan Martial Arts School, then offered to make him a True Disciple.
• Li Xiao accepted Qian Li as his master and received an additional monthly allowance of twenty jin of Exotic Beast Meat.
• Qian Li questioned Li Xiao about the meat, and Li Xiao claimed he had eaten it and described its effects.
• Li Xiao served Qian Li tea to formalize their master-disciple bond, then left the Quiet Room suspicious of Qian Li’s motives.

After Li Xiao left, Qian Li entered a hidden underground chamber and fed his own flesh to a strange plant, which grew into a monstrous, flesh-eating form. He harvested dozens of bark-like fragments from it, driven by his hatred of the Feng Family, Feng Tianying, and Feng Yulong.

• Qian Li opened a hidden passage behind the bookshelf in the Quiet Room and descended into an underground Secret Chamber.
• Qian Li examined a strange emerald plant growing in a vat of Dark Green water and vowed revenge on the Feng Family, Feng Tianying, and Feng Yulong.
• Qian Li cut a piece of flesh from his thigh and dropped it into the vat.
• The plant absorbed the flesh, transforming into a sprawling, bark-covered monster with thick, twisting vines.
• Qian Li cut dozens of hardened fragments from the transformed plant, then treated his wound and took Pills to replenish his Qi and Blood.

Qian Li privately examined an ancient scroll connected to the Exotic Insect · Zhi and left with Blood Vine Tree Bark. The next morning, he named Li Xiao his True Disciple and increased the Exotic Beast Meat allotment, leaving Li Xiao suspicious of the meat as fellow disciples congratulated him.

• Qian Li examined the ancient parchment marked Exotic Insect · Zhi, apologized to his deceased master, collected Blood Vine Tree Bark, and left the basement.
• Qian Li announced that Li Xiao had won first place in the First Turn at the Martial Arts Tournament and accepted him as his True Disciple.
• Qian Li raised the monthly Exotic Beast Meat allotment to twelve jin for Martial Master disciples and twenty jin for True Disciples.
• Li Xiao received his twenty-jin portion of strange, bark-like meat and resolved not to eat any until he learned the truth.
• After Qian Li left, disciples congratulated Li Xiao, who responded modestly while remaining wary of the meat.

After becoming a True Disciple, Li Xiao heard Wang Hai warn him about the Golden Sand Gang’s worsening troubles and offered to help. At the Clean Clothes Workshop, Li Yu was suddenly appointed steward with five times her wages, leaving her and the other workers stunned.

• Wang Hai congratulated Li Xiao on becoming a True Disciple and warned him to be careful after he crippled Lin Zhi.
• Li Xiao offered to help the Golden Sand Gang, but Wang Hai said its conflict with the Wild Dog Gang and problems involving Zhao Kun could not be settled in an arena.
• Li Yu continued washing clothes at the Laundry Room despite her brother’s success, while the other workers criticized his choice to study martial arts.
• Old Woman Li scolded Li Yu and complained about her to Shen Yang when he arrived with Steward Zhang.
• Shen Yang ignored Old Woman Li’s complaint, announced that Li Yu would become steward of the Clean Clothes Workshop, and raised her wages fivefold.

Li Yu learned that her younger brother Li Xiao's success at the martial arts tournament had earned her a promotion to Steward at the Clean Clothes Workshop. She left work proud and happy, bought a celebratory meal, and shared it with Li Xiao and Li Youde at home.

• Shen Yang fired Old Woman Li and appointed Li Yu Steward, explaining that Li Xiao had won first place at the Five Great Martial Arts Schools tournament and become Master Qian's True Disciple.
• Li Yu accepted the position and promised to fulfill her duties, while the workshop women changed their attitude and crowded around to flatter her.
• Li Yu calmly set boundaries with her coworkers, then picked up the Steward's roster and account book.
• After work, Li Yu bought braised meat, wine, pastries, and fruit to celebrate with her family.
• Li Yu returned home to find Li Xiao practicing, then served a meal for him and Li Youde.

After celebrating Li Xiao’s Martial Arts Tournament victory with his family, he took a Skin Refining Pill and tested his improved strength with his Iron-Fetal Bow. He decided to use the pill’s effects to bring Chasing Wind Arrow Technique to Perfection and pursue the Third Turn.

• Li Yu told Li Xiao and Li Youde that Boss Shen had made her a steward and raised her wages.
• Li Xiao described his tournament victories to his family, who celebrated his success over dinner.
• Li Xiao swallowed a Skin Refining Pill and felt its medicinal power nourish his Qi and Blood.
• Li Xiao drew his Iron-Fetal Bow to its full span and struck the center of a target, gaining experience in Chasing Wind Arrow Technique.
• Li Xiao chose to focus on perfecting Chasing Wind Arrow Technique with the pill’s help before improving Spirit Snake Steps.

Li Xiao used a Skin Refining Pill to accelerate his Chasing Wind Arrow Technique training and drew close to Perfection. Meanwhile, the Lin Family confirmed Lin Zhi was permanently crippled and decided to kill Li Xiao when they found an opportunity.

• Li Xiao gained fifty experience points in one day and anticipated reaching Perfection within ten days.
• Lin Yuanshan examined Lin Zhi and told the Lin Family that her Martial Dao foundation was irreparably destroyed.
• The Lin Family Second Elder and other members demanded revenge, while Third Master blamed their earlier attack on Li Xiao and his father for creating the feud.
• Lin Yuanshan decided to negotiate with Liu Feiyan and ordered the Lin Family to wait for a chance to kill Li Xiao when he was alone.

The Lin Family decided to use Lin Yue’s relationship with Zhu Wenjun to enlist the Zhu Family against Li Xiao, since Qian Li’s protection made direct revenge too dangerous. Lin Yue entered the hall while the family discussed forcing her to help, wearing a mocking smile.

• Lin Family’s Third Master warned Lin Yuanshan that attacking Li Xiao could provoke Qian Li and bring ruin upon the family.
• Lin Yuanshan proposed having Lin Yue persuade Zhu Wenjun to pressure or eliminate Li Xiao.
• Third Master questioned whether Lin Yue would help because she had little affection for the family and resented Lin Zhi.
• Lin Yuanshan declared that Lin Yue must act for the family and her unborn child, threatening her place with both the Lin and Zhu families.
• Lin Yue entered the hall, visibly pregnant and smiling mockingly at the gathered family.

Lin Yue confronted the Lin Family elders over their past mistreatment of her and the attempted assault by Fourth Elder Lin Mo, exposing their hypocrisy as they sought her help against Li Xiao. Patriarch Lin Yuanshan appealed to her family ties and warned that Li Xiao’s threat could weaken her standing, leaving her to decide whether to help the family.

• Lin Yue mocked the elders for demanding unity after they had ignored her suffering and opposed her marriage to Li Xiao.
• Lin Yue recalled how Fourth Elder Lin Mo had tried to force himself on her and had killed servants who discussed the scandal.
• The Lin Family had crippled Lin Mo and confined him to a secluded courtyard to appease Lin Yue and avoid trouble with the Zhu Family.
• Lin Yue regarded the family with cold contempt while Third Master understood her lack of loyalty to it.
• Lin Yuanshan urged Lin Yue to think of the family’s future and warned her that Li Xiao had to be dealt with.

Lin Yue refused to help the Lin Family deal with Li Xiao unless they showed genuine sincerity toward her. She demanded that the family kill Fourth Elder Lin Mo, leaving Third Master to weigh her condition.

• Lin Yue rejected the Lin elders’ attempt to pressure her into confronting Li Xiao and warned them not to underestimate him.
• After returning to her room, Lin Yue wept over her precarious position between the Lin and Zhu Families and resolved to protect her own interests.
• Third Master asked Lin Yue to help the Lin Family by persuading Zhu Wenjun to deal with Li Xiao.
• Lin Yue said she would help only if the Lin Family killed Fourth Elder Lin Mo for his past abuse and the deaths of innocent servants.
• Third Master hesitated over killing a former family Martial Master, and Lin Yue challenged him for treating Lin Mo’s crimes as forgivable.