Chapter Summaries

Li Bufan learned that Lin Zhiyan had been gravely injured fighting Xiong Ba, leaving her cultivation reduced to the peak of the Blood Tempering Realm. As the Lin and Xiong families moved toward open conflict, Li Bufan left Lin Manor to settle his family before returning to train for the Prefectural Competition.

• Li Bufan, Doctor Liu, and Li Ping'an arrived at Lin Manor while Yang Kai departed for the Songhe Martial Arts School.
• Lin Gong told Li Bufan that Lin Zhiyan had killed several Xiong Family elders and then fought Xiong Ba, who lost an arm before escaping.
• Lin Gong revealed that Lin Zhiyan's injuries had reduced her cultivation to the peak of the Blood Tempering Realm, and that the Lin Family had vowed to retaliate against the Xiong Family.
• Lin Gong said the Lin Family would refuse service to Xiong-connected businesses and that the Songhe Martial Arts School would reward students for seriously injuring Xiong Family or Thunderclap Martial Arts School opponents.
• Li Bufan vowed not to hold back against the Xiong Family and said he would return to the Songhe Martial Arts School after settling Doctor Liu and Li Ping'an at home.
• Li Bufan left Lin Manor with Doctor Liu and Li Ping'an and headed toward his courtyard.

Li Bufan settled Doctor Liu and Li Ping'an into their new courtyard while keeping them cautious because of the Xiong Family. At the martial arts school, Lin Chun revealed the Zhang Family’s suspected role in Eldest Miss Lin’s injuries, passed on the headmaster’s support, and ordered Li Bufan to fight the Xiong Family fiercely at the Prefectural Competition.

• Li Bufan admitted to Doctor Liu that he had brought them to the Prefectural City partly to deal with the Xiong Family and asked them to keep a low profile.
• Li Bufan took Doctor Liu and Li Ping'an through the night market to explore the city and buy household supplies.
• Doctor Liu warned Li Bufan against hiring unknown servants, and Li Bufan told Li Ping'an to stay home and study with Doctor Liu until it was safe to attend the Academy.
• Li Bufan returned to Songhe Martial Arts School, where Lin Chun told him the Zhang Family was suspected of involvement in Eldest Miss Lin’s severe injuries.
• Lin Chun explained the Zhang Family’s history of opposing the Lin Family and said Tianxiang Tower had supplied the information, specifically naming Li Bufan as someone who should know.
• Lin Chun announced that the headmaster had granted Li Bufan five thousand resource credits and ordered him to show no restraint against the Xiong Family at the Prefectural Competition.

Li Bufan cultivated through the night, fused the Heart-Piercing Palm’s soft drilling force with the Flying Crane Fist’s sharp force, and named the resulting technique the Flying Crane Fist. After discovering that his crystal might have absorbed a beast’s icy true qi, he trained intensively for ten days and strengthened his martial skills and cultivation.

• Li Bufan swallowed a Qi and Blood Pill and cultivated the Pine Crane Overflowing Qi Skill through the night.
• While practicing the Flying Crane Fist, Li Bufan combined its force with the Heart-Piercing Palm’s, creating a new technique that he named the Flying Crane Fist.
• Li Bufan found that the crystal in his clothes had developed a faint blue radiance and suspected it had absorbed the dying Boa Constrictor’s icy true qi.
• Li Bufan spent ten days practicing the Stacking Waves Palm and Flying Crane Fist, cultivating the Pine Crane Overflowing Qi Skill, and tempering his body with the Iron Wall Skill.
• Li Bufan reviewed his improved skill levels and gained a vague understanding of how to condense a cultivation body.

Lin Gong returned to the courtyard with Lin Zhiyan, who revealed that her true qi had vanished after she sacrificed her Qi Seeds to defeat Xiong Ba. Li Bufan tried to investigate her condition with his Blood Qi Power, but Lin Zhiyan mistook his probing for a lewd offense and attacked him.

• Lin Gong returned to Li Bufan and explained that his family had settled the Xiong Family’s affairs and had made him stay home to cool his temper.
• Lin Zhiyan revealed that she had joined Songhe Martial Arts School as an Inner Disciple to keep an eye on Lin Gong.
• Lin Zhiyan explained that detonating her two Qi Seeds to wound Xiong Ba had erased her true qi, though her body and blood qi remained unusually strong.
• Li Bufan examined Lin Zhiyan’s pulse and cautiously sent a thread of Blood Qi Power into her body to investigate.
• Lin Zhiyan forcefully repelled Li Bufan’s probe and attacked him, believing he had behaved indecently despite his explanation.

Li Bufan fought Lin Zhiyan and, under her pressure, fused Tiger Roar Fist with Flying Crane Fist into Tiger Crane Twin Forms Fist, eventually forcing her back a step. Lin Zhiyan accepted that he had helped Lin Gong awaken, and Li Bufan prepared to examine her injuries.

• Li Bufan used Tiger Roar Fist and Stacking Waves Palm to withstand Lin Zhiyan’s Crane Fist as they exchanged attacks in the courtyard.
• Under Lin Zhiyan’s increasingly forceful attacks, Li Bufan combined Tiger Roar Fist, Flying Crane Fist, and Stacking Waves Palm, then comprehended Tiger Crane Twin Forms Fist.
• Li Bufan and Lin Zhiyan fought evenly until he used Explosive Steps and Tiger Crane Mutual Destruction, forcing her back a step while he was thrown backward.
• Lin Zhiyan praised Li Bufan’s strength and accepted most of Lin Gong’s explanation that Li Bufan had used a special method to help him awaken.
• Li Bufan regulated his blood qi, reached Great Mastery in Tiger Crane Twin Forms Fist, and returned to examine Lin Zhiyan.

Lin Zhiyan explained how the Silkworm Skill’s repeated recultivation stored energy in Blood Beads and Qi Beads, which she detonated to defeat Xiong Ba. Li Bufan suspected the lost true qi had instead reshaped her Origin Essence, and Lin Zhiyan gave him the secret manual and permission to examine her body more closely.

• Li Bufan questioned Lin Zhiyan about her unusually strong physique, and she explained that cultivating the Silkworm Skill had involved repeated recultivation since childhood.
• Lin Zhiyan described how recultivation condensed her Blood Qi into Blood Beads and later formed Qi Beads, which she detonated to gain the power to severely wound Xiong Ba.
• Li Bufan proposed that the dissipated true qi had merged into Lin Zhiyan’s body, replenishing her Origin Essence and explaining her improved vitality and strength.
• Lin Zhiyan agreed to let Li Bufan study the Silkworm Skill manual, provided he kept his oath not to cultivate or share it.
• Li Bufan asked to send Blood Qi into Lin Zhiyan’s body for a deeper diagnosis, and she consented before handing him the manual.

Li Bufan examined Lin Zhiyan with blood qi and discovered traces of dormant true qi throughout her body, especially near her Shanzhong acupoint. He explained that acupuncture might address her condition, but Lin Zhiyan reacted with fury when he said the treatment required removing her upper garments.

• Li Bufan studied the Silkworm Skill for two hours while Lin Zhiyan waited and Lin Gong practiced outside.
• Li Bufan brought his golden needles into Lin Gong's room and used blood qi to examine Lin Zhiyan's body.
• Li Bufan sensed pure true qi remnants throughout Lin Zhiyan's body and found the greatest concentration near her Shanzhong acupoint.
• Li Bufan explained his findings, and Lin Zhiyan acknowledged that she had sensed energy fused with her body but could not mobilize it.
• Li Bufan said acupuncture would require Lin Zhiyan to remove her upper garments, and she reacted with a fierce, icy glare.

Li Bufan used the Spring Autumn Needle to stimulate Lin Zhiyan’s three vital acupoints and guide their dormant true qi through her body. Lin Zhiyan completed a profound transformation, while Li Bufan collapsed after the true qi invaded and overwhelmed him.

• Lin Zhiyan agreed to let Li Bufan remove her upper clothing so he could precisely needle her vital acupoints.
• Li Bufan inserted a golden needle into Lin Zhiyan’s Shanzhong acupoint and guided the awakened true qi through her body.
• After half an hour, Li Bufan inserted two more needles into her Juque and Zhongting acupoints and continued guiding the true qi.
• Li Bufan unleashed his remaining Blood Qi Power, causing the true qi in all three acupoints to surge into him and inflict intense pain.
• Lin Zhiyan awakened with her strength transformed and closed the three acupoints, and Li Bufan withdrew the needles before collapsing unconscious.

Li Bufan recovered from the strain of treating Lin Zhiyan and discovered that her Silkworm true qi had greatly strengthened his skills and advanced him to Blood Tempering Great Accomplishment. After confirming Lin Zhiyan was improving in seclusion, he and Lin Gong headed to the martial arts school dining hall, determined to face the Xiong Family at the Prefectural Competition.

• Li Bufan woke after three days unconscious, prescribed spirit-nourishing medicine, and fell asleep again while Lin Gong went to fetch it.
• Lin Gong cared for Li Bufan as he recovered over the next three days and reported that Lin Zhiyan's condition had improved and she had entered seclusion.
• Li Bufan examined himself and found that his fist art, Pine Crane Overflowing Qi Skill, and Iron Wall Skill had advanced, while his qi and blood had reached Blood Tempering Great Accomplishment.
• Li Bufan and Lin Gong joked about celebrating at Tianxiang Tower, then agreed to eat at the martial arts school dining hall and confront the Xiong Family at the Prefectural Competition.

Li Bufan reunited with Yang Kai and Lin Gong, then reflected on the challenge of condensing a cultivation body before entering the Qi Condensation Realm. He devised a plan to use the Silkworm Skill’s principles to create and fuse five cultivation body Blood Beads, and began recovering for the work ahead.

• Li Bufan told Lin Gong that the Hall Master now treated him like a Core Disciple, and Yang Kai explained that Li Bufan had narrowly defeated Zhang Yu in a match.
• Yang Kai, Lin Gong, and Li Bufan discussed the upcoming Prefectural Competition, their cultivation, and Li Bufan’s recovery from treating Eldest Miss Lin.
• Li Bufan declined to spar because his mental strength had not fully recovered, then returned alone to his room.
• Li Bufan reviewed the three trials of entering the Qi Condensation Realm and identified condensing a cultivation body as his main obstacle.
• Li Bufan planned to use the Silkworm Skill’s principles to create five cultivation body Blood Beads from his different methods and eventually fuse them into one.
• Li Bufan began circulating the Pine Crane Overflowing Qi Skill to restore his strength.

Li Bufan fully recovered and was summoned to meet Lin Zhennan, who thanked him for treating Yan'er and offered support for his family. Li Bufan declined to move into Lin Manor but accepted a Storage Bag, then returned to the martial arts school determined to improve before the Prefectural Competition.

• Li Bufan's mental strength and injuries fully recovered as his martial skills continued to improve.
• Lin Gong brought Li Bufan to Lin Manor, where Lin Zhennan and Madam Lin thanked him for helping Yan'er and welcomed him as family.
• Lin Zhennan arranged for Doctor Liu to work at Huichun Hall and for Ping'an to study at the Lin Family academy; Li Bufan declined the offer to move his family into Lin Manor.
• Lin Zhennan told Li Bufan to give his all in the Prefectural Competition against the Xiong Family and to watch the Zhang Family without acting rashly.
• Lin Zhennan gave Li Bufan a Storage Bag, and Li Bufan returned with Lin Gong to the martial arts school, eager to train for the competition.

Li Bufan spent seven days training, improving his martial arts and strengthening his foundation ahead of the Prefectural Competition. A letter from Yun Niang summoned him to Tianxiang Tower, where she began discussing serious business after teasing him.

• Li Bufan trained intensively for seven days, advancing his Pine Crane Overflowing Qi Skill, Tiger Crane Twin Forms Fist, Iron Wall Skill, and Po Jun Saber Technique to Great Mastery while improving his Stacking Waves Palm.
• Li Bufan received a letter from Yun Niang asking him to meet her at Tianxiang Tower, then left the school without telling Lin Gong why.
• A maid escorted Li Bufan to a private room, where Yun Niang arrived and asked about the Lin Family eldest miss's injury.
• Li Bufan claimed the eldest miss had suffered only slight depletion, while Yun Niang privately recognized that her cultivation had declined.
• Yun Niang teased Li Bufan for not saying he missed her, then dropped the act and said she had proper business to discuss.

Yun Niang told Li Bufan that Lie Tianjiao was manipulating the Xiong Family to expand its power and secretly supplying its fighters with pills that could force breakthroughs at a terrible cost. Li Bufan remained confident about the Prefectural Competition, but Yun Niang stopped him as he was leaving and hinted that she had a trump card of her own.

• Yun Niang explained that Lie Tianjiao was using Tianxiang Tower’s resources to fuel the Xiong Family’s expansion and stoke its conflict with the Lin Family.
• Yun Niang said the Prefectural Competition could undermine the Xiong Family’s growing influence if Li Bufan and Songhe Martial Arts School defeated its disciples.
• Yun Niang revealed that Lie Tianjiao had supplied Xiong Family and Thunderclap Martial Arts School disciples with Blood Burning Barrier Breaking Pills that could boost their strength while damaging their foundations and lifespan.
• Li Bufan assessed his own cultivation and combat skills, then told Yun Niang he was not afraid of opponents relying on forced breakthroughs.
• As Li Bufan prepared to leave, Yun Niang called him back and hinted that she had a trump card of her own.

Yun Niang brought Li Bufan to Tianxiang Tower’s rear courtyard and assigned her niece He Wanxing to train him before the Prefectural Competition. He Wanxing launched their first sparring session, and Li Bufan braced himself to fight.

• Li Bufan worried Yun Niang might use a harmful method to boost his strength, but she assured him she would not.
• Yun Niang led Li Bufan through Tianxiang Tower’s secluded rear courtyard to meet her niece, He Wanxing.
• Yun Niang told He Wanxing to train Li Bufan until the Prefectural Competition and arranged for him to stay in the courtyard.
• He Wanxing introduced herself and explained that she would give Li Bufan pointers and spar with him.
• Li Bufan accepted the challenge, and He Wanxing vanished from sight as their training began.

Li Bufan fought He Wanxing, whose movement and skill overwhelmed his attacks until he forced her to meet his punch. After she revealed that she was Tianxiang Tower’s Courtesan Queen, Li Bufan asked why she and Sister Yun had arranged to instruct him for the Prefectural Competition.

• Li Bufan launched a fierce barrage of Tiger Crane Twin Forms Fist and Stacking Waves Palm attacks, but He Wanxing evaded every strike.
• He Wanxing teased Li Bufan, who stayed composed and used Explosive Steps to greatly increase his speed and press his attack.
• He Wanxing advanced and tapped the fist eye of Li Bufan’s punch, but he forced his four kinds of force together and met her strike head-on.
• The clash sent Li Bufan staggering back, and He Wanxing recognized the four forces in his fist art while praising his skill.
• He Wanxing revealed that she was Tianxiang Tower’s Courtesan Queen, and Li Bufan asked what she and Sister Yun intended by arranging to instruct him.

He Wanxing assessed Li Bufan’s martial weaknesses and taught him to combine his mastered techniques fluidly before he forged his own martial body. Li Bufan accepted her offer to train him as a combat “mirror,” and their sparring resumed in earnest.

• Li Bufan considered why Yun Niang had arranged for He Wanxing to train him and decided to accept her support.
• He Wanxing called Li Bufan clumsy and slow but praised his force control and the foundation of his final punch.
• Li Bufan explained that his individual techniques worked well but lacked harmony against opponents with refined movement and control.
• He Wanxing advised him to break apart and recombine his techniques in response to opponents instead of completing fixed sets in sequence.
• He Wanxing offered to attack Li Bufan under pressure until he learned to combine his skills, and Li Bufan eagerly accepted.
• He Wanxing’s demeanor shifted as she resumed the sparring, beginning Li Bufan’s real training.

Li Bufan trained against He Wanxing through an exhausting battle, trying to combine the forces of his martial techniques under her precise attacks and guidance. By twilight, his movements had grown smoother and his skills had made significant progress, though he remained tired and battered.

• Li Bufan sensed He Wanxing’s attack, deflected most of its force, and countered with a punch combining Tiger Crane Twin Forms Fist and Stacking Waves Palm.
• He Wanxing evaded and dispersed the layered force in Li Bufan’s punch, then explained that his transitions were stiff and his final stacking force had been attached too forcibly.
• Li Bufan kept attacking while He Wanxing exposed weaknesses in his movements and offered guidance, helping him experiment with combining his martial techniques.
• As the battle continued into twilight, Li Bufan’s control and transitions improved, while his body grew bruised and exhausted.
• Li Bufan’s skills advanced during the training, especially Tiger Crane Twin Forms Fist, Iron Wall Skill, and Stacking Waves Palm.

Li Bufan sparred with He Wanxing, gained valuable combat insight, and then went to sleep exhausted. Yun Niang explained that she arranged for He Wanxing to train him because his humble, unattached background and loyal nature made him a useful ally to support; He Wanxing stayed with her for the night.

• He Wanxing ended the sparring session after Li Bufan showed improved footwork and defense, then told him to wash because he smelled.
• Li Bufan regulated his breathing, bathed in cold well water, changed clothes, and fell asleep before he could digest his training gains.
• He Wanxing went to Yun Niang and asked why she had chosen her to teach Li Bufan.
• Yun Niang explained that He Wanxing's involvement would seem natural to outsiders and that Li Bufan's clean background made him easier to support than the scions of powerful families.
• Yun Niang said Li Bufan's loyalty and gratitude made him a promising long-term investment, while He Wanxing complained about his smell and asked to stay with her.
• Yun Niang agreed to let He Wanxing stay with her that night.

Li Bufan exchanged his remaining martial school allowance for cultivation pills, then ran into Zhang Ze and Zhang Yu, who challenged him to a public sparring match. He agreed, and the disciples gathered at the training grounds to watch.

• Li Bufan recovered from his battle and practiced the Tiger Crane Twin Forms Fist before deciding he needed more qi and blood resources.
• Li Bufan exchanged his remaining martial school silver allowance for ten Great Qi and Blood Pills and ten Grain Abstinence Pills.
• Zhang Ze and Zhang Yu confronted Li Bufan at the Martial Pavilion, and Zhang Yu challenged him to exchange pointers.
• Zhang Ze publicly questioned Li Bufan's strength and argued that the martial school's competition candidates needed to be tested.
• Li Bufan accepted Zhang Yu's challenge, and the three went to the training grounds as a crowd gathered around the central arena.

Zhang Ze wagered Li Bufan’s Martial Pavilion pills against a five-hundred-year Blood Ganoderma on Zhang Yu’s duel with Li Bufan. Li Bufan overwhelmed Zhang Yu in their opening exchange, leaving Zhang Yu hurt and convinced he was no match for him.

• Zhang Ze proposed wagering Li Bufan’s newly exchanged pills against his five-hundred-year Blood Ganoderma, and Li Bufan accepted.
• Zhang Ze handed the pill bottles to a disciple for safekeeping and urged Zhang Yu to fight at full strength.
• Zhang Yu opened with five stacked waves of the Stacking Waves Palm, but Li Bufan evaded the strikes and redirected Zhang Yu’s wrist.
• Li Bufan countered Zhang Yu’s next palm with a spiraling elbow strike, then struck from behind with a powerful punch.
• Zhang Yu was driven back to the arena’s edge, while Li Bufan remained steady and asked whether they should continue.