Chapter Summaries

After two epiphanies, Chen Mo advanced his Health Cultivation Technique to Minor Accomplishment, grew stronger, and increased his lifespan. He returned home wondering whether his improved condition would let him learn the village’s cultivation technique.

• Chen Mo reflected on his new life and learned from his memories that martial artists were powerful and the village offered a cultivation technique to those who met its physical requirements.
• Chen Mo used an epiphany to advance the Health Cultivation Technique from Initiation to Proficient and gained five years of maximum lifespan.
• Chen Mo washed grime from his body in the river and used his second epiphany, which further strengthened him and advanced the technique to Minor Accomplishment.
• Chen Mo saw that his maximum lifespan had risen to thirty-four years, though his realm remained Trash Tier.
• Chen Mo returned home in clean clothes to test his improved body and consider whether he now met the village technique’s requirements.

Chen Mo perfected the Health Cultivation Technique, improving his aptitude, lifespan, and strength, then prepared to hunt because his food was running out. After raising Archery to Great Accomplishment, he left Chen Family Village alone at dawn and headed toward Mang Mountain.

• Chen Mo used three Epiphanies to bring the Health Cultivation Technique to Perfect Accomplishment, resolving his health problems and reaching the Strength Refining Realm.
• Chen Mo discovered that his remaining food would soon run out and decided he had to hunt in Mang Mountain's outer region.
• Chen Mo used two more Epiphanies to improve Archery to Great Accomplishment and tested his accuracy and range with the Hunting Bow.
• Chen Mo left home before dawn, greeted Chen Yu and Chen Hao at the village gate, and continued alone toward Mang Mountain.
• Chen Yu and Chen Hao discussed Chen Mo's sudden change and his dangerous plan, then decided to notify the village chief.

Chen Mo successfully hunted in Mang Mountain and returned to Chen Family Village, where Chen Chao discovered that he had reached the Strength Refining Realm through the Health Cultivation Technique. Chen Chao took Chen Mo aside after learning how he had become a martial artist.

• Chen Mo searched Mang Mountain, marked trees to keep his way back, and hunted two wild chickens and a wild rabbit with three precise arrows.
• Chen Mo returned to the village and noticed seven youths practicing a cultivation technique under Chen Chao's instruction.
• Chen Mo asked Chen Chao whether he could learn the village's technique, and Chen Chao tested his strength by striking his palm.
• Chen Mo showed that he could exert over three hundred jin of force and admitted he had become a martial artist through the Health Cultivation Technique.
• Chen Chao reacted with surprise and seriousness, then asked Chen Mo to come with him.

After Chen Chao confirmed that Chen Mo had become a Strength Refining Realm martial artist, he brought him to meet Chen Qun, the village chief. Chen Qun agreed that Chen Mo could learn Tiger Fist and began explaining the matter he wanted to discuss with him.

• Chen Mo lifted the three-hundred-jin stone lock with one hand, convincing Chen Chao that he had reached the Strength Refining Realm.
• Chen Chao took Chen Mo to meet Chen Qun at the village chief’s house.
• Chen Qun reflected on Chen Mo’s rapid transformation and explained the four stages of the Body Tempering Realm and Chen Chao’s limits.
• Chen Mo asked to learn Tiger Fist, and Chen Qun confirmed that his strength met the requirements.
• Chen Qun said he had another matter to discuss with Chen Mo and began explaining it.

Chen Mo accepted Chen Family Village’s sponsorship to study at the County Town’s Martial Arts School in exchange for supporting the village when he was able. After learning the basics of Tiger Fist, he returned home and began practicing it, hoping to see it appear on his panel.

• Chen Qun and Chen Chao offered to sponsor Chen Mo at the County Town’s Martial Arts School, asking him to support the village within his ability after growing stronger.
• Chen Mo agreed to the arrangement and learned Tiger Fist’s basic forms and key points from Chen Chao.
• Chen Mo exchanged a wild chicken for rice, returned home, and cooked a meal after realizing he had skipped breakfast.
• Chen Mo studied the Tiger Fist manual and learned that perfecting the technique could lead to the Inner Strength Realm.
• Chen Mo began practicing Tiger Fist in his courtyard and waited for the technique to appear on his panel.

Chen Mo hunted and practiced the Tiger Fist as he prepared to leave Chen Family Village for the County Town, but the Tiger Fist still had not reached Initiation. When a Giant Wolf confronted him in the forest, he used his Epiphany on Archery and killed it, securing meat and time to focus on training.

• Chen Mo practiced the Tiger Fist for hours but failed to reach Initiation, so he saved his Epiphany for the technique instead of using it on Archery.
• Chen Mo hunted alone near Mang Mountain and brought home two Wild Chickens, then considered joining Chen Chao and the village Hunting Team to improve his hunting yield and tracking skills.
• On his way home, Chen Mo encountered a one-eyed Giant Wolf and braced himself against a tree, checking that no other wolves were nearby.
• Chen Mo used his Epiphany on Archery, which sharpened his eyesight and allowed him to read the wolf's movements.
• Chen Mo approached the Giant Wolf and killed it with three arrows, then planned to spend the next week practicing the Tiger Fist.

Chen Mo returned to Chen Family Village with a wolf he had hunted, then focused on practicing Tiger Fist with the food villagers had delivered. After using all three Epiphany opportunities to advance the technique, he broke through to a higher realm.

• Chen Mo returned to the village carrying the Wolf King’s carcass and found three sacks of food outside his home.
• Chen Qun learned that Chen Mo had hunted the Wolf King, ordered villagers not to disturb him, and felt his support for the young martial artist had been worthwhile.
• Chen Mo butchered and smoked the wolf, then spent three days practicing Tiger Fist until its Breathing Method and movements fused and the technique reached Initiation.
• Chen Mo used an Epiphany to advance Tiger Fist from Initiation to Proficient, then another to reach Minor Accomplishment.
• Chen Mo ate to replenish his energy and used his last Epiphany, which tempered his body and allowed him to break through.

After reaching the Inner Strength Realm, Chen Mo tested his new strength and planned to learn combat and hunting skills before leaving Chen Family Village for the County Town. His display astonished the village youths and chief, who wondered whether he still needed to attend a Martial Arts School.

• Chen Mo celebrated his breakthrough but realized his increased appetite made ordinary food an inefficient way to meet his cultivation needs, strengthening his resolve to study martial arts in the County Town.
• Chen Mo washed, tested his improved body, and planned to master Tiger Fist, spar with Chen Chao, and learn tracking and hunting from the village Hunting Team.
• At the Training Ground, Chen Mo lifted a five-hundred-jin Stone Lock one-handed dozens of times and tested his endurance before heading home.
• The watching youths were convinced that Chen Mo was far beyond their ability, and word of his strength reached village chief Chen Qun.
• Chen Qun marveled that Chen Mo had reached the Inner Strength Realm at fifteen and questioned whether he needed to attend a Martial Arts School.

Chen Mo sparred with Chen Chao, gained combat experience, and arranged to join a hunting party in Mang Mountain to learn tracking. After hearing about the dangers beyond the village and reflecting on his past, Chen Mo resolved to grow strong and take his fate into his own hands.

• Chen Mo used his strength and endurance to gradually gain the upper hand against Chen Chao during their sparring session.
• Chen Chao told Chen Mo he would lead a hunting party into Mang Mountain the next day, and Chen Mo asked to join to learn tracking and find prey.
• Chen Chao warned Chen Mo that Mang Mountain was dangerous, then invited him home for dinner and spoke about his aging strength and hopes for his sons.
• Chen Mo remembered feeling neglected by his parents and regretted not returning home more often before he transmigrated.
• Chen Mo considered the dangers posed by Exotic Beasts, Demons, and Weird entities, then resolved to grow powerful and venture beyond Chen Family Village.

Chen Mo joined Chen Chao and the hunters on an expedition into Mang Mountain, where his perfected archery helped them bring down several animals. The group returned to Chen Family Village laden with prey, while Chen Chao recognized how far Chen Mo’s talent had surpassed his own experience.

• Chen Mo used an epiphany to raise Tiger Fist to Perfection and considered improving his aptitude by mastering more body-strengthening techniques.
• Chen Mo joined Chen Chao and the hunters as they traveled into Mang Mountain and learned about the dangers of Exotic Beasts.
• A large wild boar charged the group, and Chen Mo blinded it with three arrows before Chen Chao killed it.
• Chen Mo’s accurate archery helped the hunters find and bring down more prey, and Chen Chao admitted there was little left he could teach him.
• Chen Mo and the hunters returned to Chen Family Village at dusk carrying their haul, drawing the villagers’ attention.

Chen Mo discovered that Epiphany could transform his perfected Health Cultivation Technique into the Turtle Breath Health Cultivation Technique, which increased his lifespan but reset the technique to Initiation. With plans to leave for Hequ County the next day, he resolved to pursue strength and knowledge there while keeping his new ability secret.

• Chen Mo gained Tracking through hunting practice and noticed that Archery and the Health Cultivation Technique had become available for Epiphany again.
• Chen Mo spent ten Enlightenment Counts on the Health Cultivation Technique and experienced a breakthrough in its breathing method.
• Chen Mo’s panel showed the Turtle Breath Health Cultivation Technique at Initiation and his lifespan increased by five years.
• Chen Mo reasoned that Epiphany could raise techniques at a cost tied to their rank and considered quietly cultivating rather than seeking stronger techniques through dangerous connections.
• Chen Mo ate, packed clothes for the County Town merchant caravan, and resolved to leave Chen Family Village for Hequ County.

Chen Mo left Chen Family Village for Hequ County with the merchant caravan, carrying the village’s support and hoping to find stronger cultivation techniques. As he learned about the caravan’s business on the road, he realized it might offer a way to buy them.

• Chen Mo used an Epiphany on the Turtle Breath Health Cultivation Technique, but it did not reach Proficient, suggesting the technique was high-grade and bringing him hope of reaching the Divine Strength Realm.
• Chen Chao met Chen Mo at the Training Ground and escorted him to the village entrance, where Chen Qun asked Captain Wang to take him safely to the County Town.
• Chen Qun advised Chen Mo to consider joining the Zheng Family Martial Arts School, while Chen Mo planned to look for cultivation techniques before choosing a school.
• Chen Mo boarded the merchant caravan’s carriage and left Chen Family Village as Chen Chao and Chen Qun watched him depart.
• Chen Mo learned from the driver that the caravan belonged to the Shi Quan Merchant Association, which sold a wide range of goods, and wondered whether it also sold cultivation techniques.

Chen Mo arrived in Hequ County, explored its Outer City, and drove off two men who tried to rob him. He rented a house in the Commercial District and prepared to use his Epiphany opportunity on the Turtle Breath Health Cultivation Technique.

• Chen Mo entered Hequ County, explored the Outer City, and learned its districts, martial arts schools, and rules for entering the Inner City.
• Two men followed Chen Mo, but he lured them into an alley, knocked them unconscious, and took their silver.
• Chen Mo suspected the men had targeted him after noticing the money he carried and decided to find a place to settle.
• Chen Mo rented a courtyard house in the Commercial District for three months and planned to use his Epiphany opportunity on the Turtle Breath Health Cultivation Technique.

After strengthening his Turtle Breath Health Cultivation Technique and buying three more techniques, Chen Mo was attacked by a gang in an alley and easily defeated them. He left with their silver, planning to keep lying low.

• Chen Mo discovered that his Proficient Turtle Breath Health Cultivation Technique had extended his lifespan and improved his strength.
• Chen Mo bought the Body Hardening Iron Body Technique, Flying Cloud Steps, and Cleaving Wind Saber Technique from the Shi Quan Merchant Association.
• Chen Mo spent a week cultivating in seclusion and raised the Turtle Breath Health Cultivation Technique to Great Accomplishment, bringing his one-arm strength above a thousand jin.
• Chen Mo noticed he was being followed and was confronted by the Bandaged Man and more than ten men in green robes led by Zhuang Han.
• Chen Mo broke Zhuang Han's arms with one punch and overwhelmed the gang, sending most of them flying or knocking them unconscious.
• Chen Mo left the alley with more than thirty taels of silver after the remaining attackers fled.

Chen Mo defeated a Green Gang attack, accepted the gang leader’s apology gifts, and used the quiet days afterward to train. He raised the Turtle Breath Health Cultivation Technique to Perfect Accomplishment and broke through to the Divine Strength Realm.

• The Green Gang members returned to the alley, found their companions badly injured, and carried them away after their crushing defeat by Chen Mo.
• Chen Mo trained at home, then accepted apology gifts from a visitor sent by the gang leader and warned them not to disturb him again.
• Chen Mo noticed the gang had investigated his home and gathered supplies, then began digging a hole as a new daily task.
• Over several days, Chen Mo advanced the Iron Body Technique, Flying Cloud Steps, and Cleaving Wind Saber Technique to the beginner stage while saving Epiphany for the Turtle Breath Health Cultivation Technique.
• Chen Mo used Epiphany to bring the Turtle Breath Health Cultivation Technique to Perfect Accomplishment, then drank five bowls of Great Tonic Soup and ate a large meal to recover from the breakthrough.
• Chen Mo felt his strength surge and realized he had reached the Divine Strength Realm.

After reaching the Divine Strength Realm, Chen Mo checked his improved lifespan and talent, then spent the day exploring Hequ County and improving his security. He returned home with extra silver from robbers and woke to find that expanding his cellar had taught him excavation.

• Chen Mo saw that the Turtle Breath Health Cultivation Technique had raised his lifespan limit to 127 and improved his talent to Latent Dragon in the Abyss, then tested his Divine Strength by practicing Tiger Fist.
• Chen Mo had the medicinal ingredients from the Green Gang inspected, then wandered through the Commercial District and visited the Hundred Flowers Pavilion before deciding to wait until he reached the Divine Valor Realm to risk entering the Inner City.
• Chen Mo ate at a restaurant, deliberately displayed his wealth, and lured three groups of robbers into an alley, where he took their silver.
• Chen Mo expanded his cellar and improved its hidden entrance, then found the new excavation skill on his panel the next morning.

Chen Mo used epiphanies to bring the Iron Body Technique, Flying Cloud Steps, and Cleaving Wind Blade to perfection, while realizing that ordinary cultivation and low-tier techniques offered diminishing returns. He saved his Enlightenment Count and faced a choice between advancing the Turtle Breath Health Cultivation Technique or upgrading several other techniques.

• Chen Mo used an epiphany to raise the Iron Body Technique to Minor Accomplishment and found his improved aptitude made cultivation much faster.
• Chen Mo spent the next day training the Cleaving Wind Blade and Flying Cloud Steps, then used another epiphany to bring the Iron Body Technique to Perfect Accomplishment.
• Chen Mo counted his money, sold the Green Gang's medicinal herbs and ointments for forty-three taels, and concluded that buying more Trash Tier techniques was not worthwhile.
• Chen Mo visited the Hundred Flowers Pavilion and spent the next four days there instead of devoting himself to slow cultivation.
• Chen Mo used four epiphanies to bring the Flying Cloud Steps and Cleaving Wind Blade to perfection, then saved his Enlightenment Count for a technique advancement.
• Chen Mo weighed saving longer to advance the Turtle Breath Health Cultivation Technique against upgrading the Iron Body Technique, Flying Cloud Steps, and Cleaving Wind Blade.

Chen Mo advanced the Iron Body Technique into the Silver Armor Technique and visited the Zheng Family Martial Arts School to check on Chen Ying and Chen Yuqi. He revealed that he had already become a martial artist, leaving the two fellow villagers stunned.

• After five Epiphanies, Chen Mo advanced the Iron Body Technique into the Silver Armor Technique and found that even at Initiation it matched the Iron Body Technique at Perfect Accomplishment.
• Chen Mo decided to cultivate the Silver Armor Technique further and visited Hundred Flowers Pavilion, where he heard that the Green Gang and Wild Wolf Gang were fighting over territory.
• At an inn in the Inner District, Chen Mo heard that members of the Zhu Family Martial Arts School were likely going to help the Wild Wolf Gang against the Green Gang.
• Chen Mo went to the Zheng Family Martial Arts School and met Chen Ying and Chen Yuqi, who said they hoped to become martial artists and help Chen Family Village.
• When Chen Ying and Chen Yuqi offered to help Chen Mo become a martial artist, Chen Mo told them he already was one, surprising them.

Chen Mo revealed to Chen Ying and Chen Yuqi that he had reached the Inner Strength Realm, then questioned them about the Inner City and the black market. After parting with them, he considered finding work at an Outer City martial arts school and decided to strengthen himself before exploring the black market.

• Chen Mo proved his strength by leaving a fingerprint in a solid-wood table, and Chen Ying and Chen Yuqi realized he was an Inner Strength Realm martial artist.
• Chen Ying and Chen Yuqi advised Chen Mo to pursue training in the Inner City, where martial arts schools offered better resources and their masters could be in the Divine Valor Realm.
• Chen Mo asked about exotic beast meat and the black market, and Chen Ying explained that a dangerous night bazaar for stolen goods formed twice a month in the Slum District.
• Chen Mo told Chen Ying and Chen Yuqi about Chen Family Village and shared his residence with them before they parted ways.
• Chen Mo considered working as an instructor at an Outer City martial arts school and planned to improve his strength before visiting the black market.

Chen Mo perfected the Silver Armor Technique, strengthening his defense, then entered the Black Market to find money and goods. After looting the aftermath of a fight, he left with a large haul but was stopped by Zhuang Han.

• Chen Mo spent ten days perfecting the Silver Armor Technique and discovered that a blade barely hurt his hardened body.
• With his money running low, Chen Mo disguised himself and entered the Black Market in the Slum District.
• Chen Mo followed Zhuang Han after he left the market and watched him defeat a group of attackers.
• Zhuang Han offered Chen Mo the valuables on the corpses, and Chen Mo collected more than one hundred and thirty taels of silver, a Fist Technique manual, supplies, and a better blade.
• As Chen Mo left the area, someone blocked his path, and he sighed when he recognized the figure.