Chapter Summaries

After transmigrating into the injured, impoverished fisherman Chu Fan, he returned to his ancestral home and decided he needed a way to escape the local thugs threatening him. While chopping firewood, he awakened the Mountains and Rivers Map, which tracked his Chopping Wood Saber Technique; he reached 99 progress and prepared to strike again.

• Chu Fan awoke in Qingyang County with memories of his drowning and the life of a young fisherman who had been beaten by Liu Da’s men.
• Chu Fan returned to his dilapidated ancestral home and reflected on how Huang Shouliang was pressuring him to sell it for far less than it was worth.
• Chu Fan decided to sell the house and flee rather than risk Liu Da and his men breaking his limbs.
• Chu Fan tried to prepare a meal but found no firewood, so he began chopping wood despite his injuries.
• Chu Fan awakened the Mountains and Rivers Map, which recorded his Chopping Wood Saber Technique and granted experience as he practiced.
• Chu Fan raised the technique’s progress to 99 out of 100 and brought his blade down for the next strike.

Chu Fan advanced his Cleaving Knife Technique to Minor Accomplishment and used Aunt Wang’s firewood to raise its progress while resolving to join the Seven Star Gang and learn True Martial Arts. After discovering a trace of Spiritual Essence, he left the chapter with 199/300 progress, injured hands, and a blood-red moon overhead.

• Chu Fan reached Minor Accomplishment in the Cleaving Knife Technique, ate fish porridge, and decided he needed to learn True Martial Arts.
• Chu Fan weighed his options and chose the Seven Star Gang over the Blood Saber Sect and Ironclad Sect as his best chance to practice martial arts.
• Chu Fan noticed his Spiritual Essence had risen to 0.1, then went to help Aunt Wang chop firewood.
• Chu Fan raised his Cleaving Knife Technique progress to 199/300, blistered his palm, and accepted Sweet potatoes and vegetable leaves from Aunt Wang.
• Chu Fan looked up and saw a huge Blood Moon hanging in the sky.

Chu Fan discovered that eating increased the Spiritual Essence on the Mountains and Rivers Map, then trained Chopping Wood Saber Technique until it reached Perfection. He learned that ten points of Spiritual Essence could break a skill’s limit and grant it a trait, but he had only 0.2.

• Chu Fan ate sweet-potato and wheat-cake porridge, raising his Spiritual Essence from 0.1 to 0.2.
• Chu Fan went to Granny Wang’s house and spent the day chopping wood to improve his saber technique.
• Chu Fan advanced Chopping Wood Saber Technique to Perfection, gaining faster, stronger, and more precise strikes.
• Chu Fan tested his new skill by splitting a moth-gnat in two and considered using his ability to enter the Seven Star Gang.
• Chu Fan discovered a plus sign beside the perfected skill and learned that breaking its limit required ten points of Spiritual Essence.

Chu Fan witnessed the brutal exploitation of ordinary people in Qingyang City and encountered a procession of the Moon Worshipping Sect on his way to the North City Gate. At the Seven Star Gang’s congee shed, he helped two hungry children and came face to face with the Fang Family’s Second Miss.

• Chu Fan finished chopping Zhao Hu’s firewood and received Wheat Cakes and a boiled egg in return.
• Chu Fan learned that the Fishery Bully had beaten Liu Family’s only son to death and stolen his Precious Fish, while the constables failed to pursue the culprit.
• Chu Fan hid from a Moon Worshipping Sect procession whose followers chanted in a trance as their leader rang a bell.
• Chu Fan reached the disaster victims’ congee sheds and directed a hungry girl and her brother to the Fang Family’s generous porridge.
• The Fang Family’s Second Miss stared at Chu Fan, and he recognized and greeted her.

Chu Fan returned to the Seven Star Gang to seek entry, but Cao Feng nearly rejected him again for his age and average aptitude. When Chu Fan demonstrated his perfected Chopping Wood Saber Technique, Cao Feng and Li Qingxue recognized its unusual fundamentals, leaving his admission uncertain.

• Chu Fan arrived at the Seven Star Gang's examination and watched Cao Feng assess young applicants alongside Li Qingxue.
• Cao Feng recognized Chu Fan from the previous month and ordered Li Qingxue to remove him, but Chu Fan pleaded for a chance to show his saber technique.
• Li Qingxue handed Chu Fan the Cold Moon Solitary Shadow Saber, and he saw that refining it required 20 Spiritual Essence to gain the Seven Stars Bead Cut.
• Chu Fan began demonstrating the Chopping Wood Saber Technique, and Cao Feng and Li Qingxue noticed the skill and precision beneath its ordinary-looking movements.

Chu Fan joined the Seven Star Gang after Cao Feng selected him for his improvised woodcutting saber technique, then began his life as a miscellaneous worker. While reading the Twelve Forms Boxing manual, Chu Fan gained experience in Literacy Technique but still could not understand the text’s deeper meaning.

• Chu Fan explained that he had developed his saber technique by imitating a Jianghu fighter, and Cao Feng selected him among eight recruits.
• Li Qingxue took back her saber, and the recruits entered the Seven Star Gang’s North City branch, where they watched youths train.
• Manager Liu explained the gang’s rules and assigned duties, but Cao Feng intervened so Chu Fan could chop wood with Zhao Tianxing instead of shoveling horse manure.
• Manager Liu arranged the recruits’ lodgings and brought them to the Library Pavilion, where Chu Fan received the Twelve Forms Boxing manual.
• Chu Fan read the manual and received a Literacy Technique Experience notification when he turned to the fourth page.

Chu Fan studied the Twelve Forms Boxing manual and discovered that reading it advanced his Literacy Technique, but the original manual was inaccessible. As he grew closer to Zhao Tianxing in the Library Pavilion, Zhao invited him to lunch and the Training Ground, then began explaining why he had joined the Seven Star Gang.

• Chu Fan found that the Mountains and Rivers Map had recorded the Literacy Technique and Twelve Forms Boxing, though the boxing method remained uninitiated.
• Chu Fan asked the Library Pavilion steward to see the original Twelve Forms Boxing manual, but the steward said only the Gang Leader could access it and warned him against probing into matters he should avoid.
• Zhao Tianxing asked Chu Fan to explain characters and forms in the manual, and the two gradually became more familiar as Chu Fan gained Literacy Technique experience.
• After more than an hour of study, Chu Fan had gained 25 Literacy Technique experience points but had memorized less than half the manual.
• Zhao Tianxing invited Chu Fan to lunch and then to the Training Ground to learn boxing, before asking why Chu Fan thought he had joined the Seven Star Gang.

Chu Fan and Zhao Tianxing arrived at the Seven Star Gang’s training ground for Cao Feng’s Twelve Forms Boxing lesson, where Cao Feng discussed the gang’s recruitment and internal decline with Li Qingxue. As Cao Feng prepared to teach, the celebrated young genius Ling Feng arrived and drew the crowd’s attention.

• Zhao Tianxing told Chu Fan that his experience among wild beasts would help him master the Twelve Forms Boxing, and Chu Fan teased him by asking whether he had ever seen a dragon.
• Chu Fan and Zhao Tianxing saw hundreds of young recruits gathered at the dining hall and training ground of the Seven Star Gang.
• Li Qingxue told Cao Feng that the Deputy Gang Leader and Punishment Hall Master opposed his strict limits on recruitment, and Cao Feng said he feared the gang was expanding beyond its supplies and being ruined by short-sighted leaders.
• Cao Feng left the pavilion and walked toward the waiting crowd to begin teaching, while Li Qingxue watched his weakened appearance.
• Ling Feng arrived late with an entourage, and recruits praised his rapid breakthrough into the Nourishing Blood Realm and his progress in the Eagle Form of the Twelve Forms Boxing.

Cao Feng demonstrated the Twelve Forms Boxing and explained how to train its forms, stances, and breathing. He tested several students with the Green Bamboo Stick, then singled out Chu Fan among the eight newcomers.

• Ling Feng greeted Cao Feng and Li Qingxue as he arrived at the Training Ground.
• Cao Feng demonstrated all twelve forms and taught the crowd their techniques, stance training, and breathing methods.
• Chu Fan understood the boxing manual more clearly as he watched Cao Feng's demonstration.
• Cao Feng corrected a thin youngster by striking his mistakes with the Green Bamboo Stick, then tested six more students.
• Cao Feng called out the eight newcomers and kept the Green Bamboo Stick pointed at Chu Fan despite his attempts to move away and hide behind Zhao Tianxing.

Chu Fan completed his first set of Twelve Forms Boxing and learned that the grueling practice circulated and tempered Qi and blood. After hearing about the Seven Star Gang’s medicinal soup and the obligations awaiting full disciples, he remained uneasy about the gang’s generosity.

• Cao Feng called Chu Fan to the Training Ground, where Chu Fan completed Twelve Forms Boxing and earned one experience point without making major mistakes.
• Cao Feng explained that boxing practice consumed the body’s essence, warned the recruits not to overtrain, and predicted Zhao Tianxing would reach Nourishing Blood before Ling Feng.
• The recruits practiced in turn, and Zhao Tianxing performed the forms impressively until Cao Feng corrected his exaggerated Monkey Form.
• Cao Feng told the recruits they could receive one daily bowl of medicinal soup containing Nurturing Blood Powder, and Chu Fan learned extra bowls cost one mace of silver each.
• A fellow recruit explained that the gang would later assign missions and take a cut, but Chu Fan still doubted the Seven Star Gang’s generous treatment of its new workers.

Chu Fan trained Twelve Forms Boxing, studied its manual, and discovered that medicinal soup restored his strength and increased his Spiritual Essence. The Mountains and Rivers Map also displayed his cultivation progress, leaving him wondering whether everything could have a progress bar.

• A gang member explained that Ling Feng had bought a hundred bowls of medicinal soup, highlighting the wealth gap between him and Chu Fan and Zhao Tianxing.
• Chu Fan went to the Library Pavilion, where studying the Twelve Forms Boxing manual raised his Literacy Technique experience to 63/100.
• Chu Fan practiced a full set of Twelve Forms Boxing and collapsed from exhaustion, while Zhao Tianxing said he had practiced four full sets and five extra rounds of Monkey Form.
• At dinner, Ling Feng paid a fifty-tael banknote to reserve a hundred Blood Refining Pills and taunted Zhao Tianxing about buying medicinal soup.
• Chu Fan and Zhao Tianxing drank their medicinal soup, and Chu Fan saw his Spiritual Essence rise to 1.3 and his cultivation appear as Foundation Establishment First Stage, Blood Nourishment 1%.

Chu Fan trained through the night after drinking Blood Nourishing Medicinal Soup, and Zhao Tianxing gave him Crimson-Scaled Blood Python meat that greatly increased his Spiritual Essence and helped his recovery. By morning, Chu Fan felt refreshed and resumed practicing the Twelve Forms Boxing, nearing Entry.

• Chu Fan practiced the Twelve Forms Boxing after dinner and decided he would sell his ancestral house to afford more medicinal soup.
• Exhausted in the communal lodging, Chu Fan received two pieces of Crimson-Scaled Blood Python meat from Zhao Tianxing and ate one.
• The python meat raised Chu Fan's Spiritual Essence by 1.5, and Zhao Tianxing explained how recruits could become official Seven Star Gang members and earn silver.
• Chu Fan slept soundly and woke with his fatigue gone, then returned to the Training Ground to practice the Twelve Forms Boxing.

Chu Fan reached Entry in Twelve Forms Boxing after intensive practice, then demonstrated its newfound power and agility. He finished his own firewood quickly and chopped Zhao Tianxing’s share before Zhao arrived, drawing the other workers’ anger and Zhao’s gratitude.

• Chu Fan reviewed his boxing, practiced until he gained four experience points, and advanced Twelve Forms Boxing to Entry as Blood Nourishment reached 4%.
• Chu Fan tested the Bear, Swallow, and Harrier Forms, showing powerful strikes and effortless evasions.
• After eating python meat and going to the firewood courtyard, Chu Fan split logs far faster than the three young men working there.
• Chu Fan finished his own pile, then used his perfected Chopping Wood Saber Technique to complete Zhao Tianxing’s pile while Zhao was absent.
• The three young men resented Chu Fan for taking their chance to curry favor with Zhao, who arrived late and thanked Chu Fan for the help.

Chu Fan trained Twelve Forms Boxing while Zhao Tianxing described the dangers and exploitation hunters faced outside Qingyang Ancient City. Cao Feng watched Chu Fan practice and was shocked to discover that he had reached Entry in the Swallow, Bear, and Tiger Forms in just one day.

• Zhao Tianxing told Chu Fan and the others that hunting Exotic Beasts and Monsters was dangerous, while powerful forces controlled safe hunting grounds and prey sales.
• Chu Fan considered selling his ancestral house to pay for Blood Nourishing Medicinal Soup and vowed not to spare Liu Da or the Huang Family.
• Chu Fan practiced the Soft Skill Twelve Forms and carefully worked on the Eighteen Elbows of Twelve Forms Boxing.
• Cao Feng watched Zhao Tianxing train and expected him to achieve Entry in the Monkey Form soon.
• Cao Feng noticed Chu Fan's improved technique and realized that the Swallow Form, Bear Form, and Tiger Form had all reached Entry.

Chu Fan impressed Cao Feng by reaching Entry in all Twelve Forms Boxing within a day, earning extra Blood Nourishing Medicinal Soup for himself and Zhao Tianxing. Four days later, Chu Fan reached Minor Accomplishment in the boxing technique, strengthened his Blood Qi enough to crack a stone with a punch, and prepared to use his growing Spiritual Essence to Break Limit in Chopping Wood Saber Technique.

• Chu Fan finished practicing Twelve Forms Boxing, and Cao Feng realized that all twelve forms had reached Entry within a day.
• Cao Feng acknowledged Chu Fan's talent and promised him and Zhao Tianxing three bowls of Blood Nourishing Medicinal Soup daily until they reached Blood Nourishment.
• Chu Fan asked Cao Feng for twenty taels of silver, then joked that he would not need to repay it; Cao Feng's irritation grew as Chu Fan slipped away.
• After four days of training and drinking medicinal soup, Chu Fan advanced Twelve Forms Boxing to Minor Accomplishment and raised his Blood Nourishment progress to 42%.
• Chu Fan cracked a bluestone with Bear Form Chop Fist and tossed a hundred-jin stone lock five meters into the air, gauging his growing strength.
• Chu Fan headed to the dining hall, expecting one more bowl of medicinal soup to raise his Spiritual Essence past ten and let him Break Limit in Chopping Wood Saber Technique.

At breakfast, Chu Fan ate with Zhao Tianxing and learned that Zhao planned to condense his first strand of Qi and Blood Force in seven days. After spending ten Spiritual Essence to break the limit of his Chopping Wood Saber Technique, Chu Fan gained the trait Knife Fast as the Wind.

• Chu Fan sat beside Li Qingxue in the quiet corner of the dining hall while Zhao Tianxing drew a crowd nearby.
• Zhao Tianxing defended Chu Fan when a woman mocked his talent, then told the gathering that Chu Fan's talent surpassed his own.
• Zhao Tianxing told Chu Fan that Cao Shi would teach him to condense Qi and Blood Force and that he would attempt it in seven days.
• Chu Fan collected enough Spiritual Essence from Blood Nourishing Medicinal Soup and spent ten points to break the limit of his Chopping Wood Saber Technique.
• Chu Fan's saber technique gained a new progress bar and the trait Knife Fast as the Wind.

Chu Fan’s Chopping Wood Saber Technique gained the Knife Fast as the Wind trait, making his strikes much faster as he finished the courtyard’s wood-chopping work. After learning that proper saber techniques were expensive and hearing warnings against studying one too early, he explained nothing about his unusual circumstances; Cao Feng then tested his skill by kicking a log at him.

• Chu Fan’s saber technique broke its limit and gained the Knife Fast as the Wind trait, which increased his striking speed.
• The Short Fat Youth watched Chu Fan split frozen logs with remarkable speed and decided to get closer to him.
• Chu Fan asked whether saber techniques were free and learned that even a common technique cost twenty taels of silver.
• The other young men warned Chu Fan to focus on the Twelve Forms Boxing before learning a saber technique, but he resolved to follow his own path.
• Cao Feng arrived at the courtyard and asked whether Chu Fan wanted to learn the saber.
• Cao Feng kicked a piece of round wood toward Chu Fan, who split it cleanly in midair with his cleaving knife.

Chu Fan impressed Cao Feng with his rapid progress in wood chopping and was moved to a private courtyard to train alongside Zhao Tianxing. Nine days later, Chu Fan’s Blood Nourishment had reached 97%, and he was poised to break through Twelve Forms Boxing as he prepared to condense Qi and Blood Force.

• Chu Fan split a frozen log with one slash, prompting Cao Feng to consider teaching him the Ninefold Thunderclap Saber.
• Cao Feng moved Chu Fan to a secluded courtyard, arranged Exotic Beast Meat soup for him and Zhao Tianxing, and warned Zhao Tianxing to keep his progress quiet.
• Zhao Tianxing shot Cao Feng’s white bird with his bow, and Chu Fan suggested he roast it and confess to Cao Feng afterward.
• After nine days of training and reading, Chu Fan reviewed his progress and learned from Records of Demons and Devils that Pollution was linked to martial artists transforming into Devils.
• Chu Fan noted that his Blood Nourishment had stalled at 97% despite continued gains in Blood Qi, and expected Twelve Forms Boxing to reach Major Accomplishment after two more practice sessions.

Chu Fan weighed the dangers within the Seven Star Gang while concealing his strength, as Zhao Tianxing condensed his first strand of Qi and Blood Force. Cao Feng announced he would teach them the Ninefold Thunderclap Saber, then challenged Chu Fan to prove his ruthlessness that night.

• Chu Fan considered Cao Shi's warnings about the Seven Star Gang's factions and resolved to keep hiding his cultivation while growing stronger.
• Cao Feng and Zhao Tianxing returned, and Zhao Tianxing revealed that he had condensed his first strand of Qi and Blood Force.
• Zhao Tianxing decided to hide his progress and delay registering his breakthrough to Blood Nourishment.
• Cao Feng praised their caution and said he would begin teaching Chu Fan and Zhao Tianxing the Ninefold Thunderclap Saber the next day.
• Cao Feng learned that Chu Fan carried a Cleaving Knife because Huang Shouliang's thugs had beaten him over the Chu Family Ancestral Mansion, then asked Chu Fan to show how ruthless he could be that night.

Chu Fan reached Major Accomplishment in Twelve Forms Boxing, gaining remarkable strength, senses, and agility. When he returned home and found it ransacked, he learned that Huang Shouliang’s men were forcing poor families from homes across several alleys, and he began considering what to do next.

• Chu Fan completed Twelve Forms Boxing and broke through to Major Accomplishment, sharpening his senses and greatly increasing his physical abilities.
• Chu Fan tested his new agility and strength by running along a wall and lifting a stone lock weighing over three hundred jin.
• Chu Fan returned home and found the gate and courtyard smashed and his belongings destroyed.
• Zhao Hu told Chu Fan that Liu Da and his men had beaten him and were targeting homes in several distant alleys on Huang Shouliang’s behalf.
• Chu Fan learned that the authorities had not pursued Big Brother Liu’s killer because the Fishery Bullies served the Blood Saber Sect, and he resolved to act carefully.