Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary: “River Office Quota”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Hong Ming reviews his martial-arts progress. His Eight Extremes Golden Body, Coiling Dragon Stake, and Frost Sky Fist have advanced significantly, but he recognizes that merely perfecting the Coiling Dragon Stake will not fulfill the Fate Grid’s requirement of reaching the True Qi Realm.
• Since he has not received an invitation to the Vast Sea Sect’s Fish-Dragon Assembly, Hong Ming decides that his best remaining path is to obtain a River Office quota through Thousand-Commander Qi Ruhai.
• At Qi Ruhai’s residence, Qi Yu’er reports that Jiang Yingfeng has disappeared, just as Huang Yucheng did. She suspects Jiang Yingfeng may have killed Huang Yucheng, while Qi Ruhai remains cautious and refuses to act without proof.
• Qi Yu’er wants to exploit the situation to eliminate Jiang Yingfeng and help her father seize control of the River Bureau. Qi Ruhai warns that the River Office and the forces connected to the Liang Prince would intervene if he made a sudden move.
• Hong Ming arrives and directly requests a River Office quota. Qi Ruhai warns him that association with him could provoke the Liang Prince’s faction, but Hong Ming insists that he has no better option. Qi Ruhai asks him to reconsider and return in a few days.
• Afterward, Qi Yu’er and Qi Ruhai discuss Hong Ming’s future. They acknowledge that entering the River Office may be Hong Ming’s only opportunity to obtain a method for cultivating True Qi, since the Fire Cloud Temple is unlikely to accept him.
• Hong Ming encounters Qiu Yang, who offers him Vast Sea Sect sponsorship. The sect would help him earn merits and obtain a True Qi cultivation method, but only for three months. If Hong Ming fails to break through, he would have to repay the sponsorship. He would also eventually be expected to use his River Bureau position to facilitate the passage of Vast Sea Sect cargo ships.
• Hong Ming declines to commit. He recognizes that allowing sect cargo ships through could expose him to serious risks, especially if they carried contraband or involved him in political or criminal trouble.
• Hong Ming then meets Zhong Shaoying, who congratulates him on becoming a Commander and confirms that he has already reached Transformation Force. Zhong Shaoying takes him to the Ten Thousand Gold Chamber of Commerce.
• Zhong Qingxue offers another opportunity: Hong Ming can travel to the prefectural city and undergo the Chamber of Commerce’s sponsorship assessment.

Character Developments

• Hong Ming becomes more strategic and determined. He understands that his future advancement depends on finding a True Qi cultivation method and refuses to passively wait for opportunities. At the same time, he shows caution by rejecting sponsorship terms that could compromise his position.
• Qi Ruhai is shown to be restrained and politically burdened. Although he sympathizes with Hong Ming and appreciates his talent, he fears provoking the Liang Prince’s faction and destabilizing the River Bureau.
• Qi Yu’er becomes increasingly proactive and vengeful. She wants to use Jiang Yingfeng’s disappearance to avenge the attacks against her father and secure Qi Ruhai’s control over the River Bureau.
• Qiu Yang reveals the Vast Sea Sect’s pragmatic and transactional approach. His outwardly generous sponsorship is actually an investment that could later bind Hong Ming to the sect’s interests.
• Zhong Shaoying and Zhong Qingxue continue to support Hong Ming. Their reaction to his rapid cultivation highlights how extraordinary his recent progress has been.

Significant Themes

• Limited choices and political pressure: Hong Ming’s path is constrained by his identity as a court official and by Qi Ruhai’s enemies. The River Office is presented as his only realistic route forward.
• The hidden cost of opportunity: Both the Vast Sea Sect and the Ten Thousand Gold Chamber of Commerce offer sponsorship, but such assistance may carry obligations, risks, or hidden motives.
• Talent versus institutional exclusion: Despite Hong Ming’s remarkable progress, his position prevents him from easily joining major sects or receiving their best resources.
• Power struggles and suspicion: Huang Yucheng’s death and Jiang Yingfeng’s disappearance deepen tensions within the River Bureau, while competing factions maneuver behind the scenes.
• Independence and caution: Hong Ming refuses to exchange short-term assistance for dangerous long-term obligations, emphasizing his desire to control his own future.

Important Character Interactions

• Qi Ruhai and Qi Yu’er: They debate whether to use Jiang Yingfeng’s disappearance as justification for taking control of the River Bureau. Their conversation also reveals their shared resentment toward the Liang Prince’s faction.
• Hong Ming and Qi Ruhai: Hong Ming requests the River Office quota, while Qi Ruhai warns him of the danger. Their exchange shows Qi Ruhai’s concern and Hong Ming’s firm determination.
• Hong Ming and Qiu Yang: Qiu Yang proposes Vast Sea Sect sponsorship, but Hong Ming interrogates the terms and recognizes the risks behind the offer.
• Hong Ming and Zhong Shaoying: Zhong congratulates Hong Ming and expresses astonishment at his rapid rise to Transformation Force.
• Hong Ming and Zhong Qingxue: Zhong Qingxue presents a new potential path by inviting him to undergo the Ten Thousand Gold Chamber of Commerce’s sponsorship assessment in the prefectural city.

Key plot points and events

• Zhong Qingxue explains the Ten Thousand Gold Chamber of Commerce’s sponsorship assessment. Support comes in three tiers: Third-Class offers money and merit-earning information; Second-Class adds pills; First-Class can provide the resources and method needed to reach the True Qi Realm, but requires exceptional aptitude.
• Hong Ming asks whether sponsorship would affect his plan to enter the River Office. Zhong Shaoying warns him about Qi Ruhai’s history with Liang Jing, daughter of the powerful Liang Prince. After Qi Ruhai rejected her, she ruined his cultivation and aptitude, and Clear River City’s Water Soldiers were shut out of the River Office.
• Zhong Qingxue clarifies that Liang Jing is unlikely to remember Hong Ming, though people seeking favor with the Liang family may obstruct him. Merit exchanges should remain protected by formal rules, but advancement to office may be blocked. Hong Ming decides the risks are acceptable.
• Back home, Hong Ming reunites with his family and enjoys a warm, lavish dinner. He tells his grandfather he plans to travel to Prefecture City soon; his grandfather supports him and hopes to visit one day.
• Hong Ming spends 100 Fortune to become a Level Four Word Master. His Trait-inspection range grows from three to five zhang, and he discovers that Exceptional Comprehension can now stack with Photographic Memory. Making it permanent would cost 200 Fortune, which he does not yet have.
• Hong Ming later tells Qi Ruhai he has decided to take the River Office position. Qi Ruhai accepts and advises him to conceal the full pace of his cultivation, keeping it within the range expected of Average Aptitude. He also gives Hong Ming a one-use letter to Thousand-Commander Xiao Buhuo and directs him to Liu Ruxing of the Liu Family for more serious difficulties—so long as they do not involve the Liang Prince.
• As Hong Ming leaves the River Bureau, he encounters Qi Yu’er, who appears to have something she wants to tell him.

Character developments and interactions

• Hong Ming weighs the Chamber’s sponsorship against the danger surrounding the River Office, but remains focused on securing cultivation methods and training rather than pursuing rank. His resolve strengthens after learning that merit exchanges are unlikely to be openly blocked. He also advances his Word Master ability and prepares to leave for Prefecture City.
• Zhong Qingxue gives Hong Ming candid information and respects his decision. She believes he is unlikely to qualify for First-Class Sponsorship because of his measured aptitude.
• Zhong Shaoying worries that Hong Ming is putting himself at risk and would prefer he join the Chamber. Qingxue points out that Hong Ming has already made up his mind.
• Qi Ruhai supports Hong Ming’s choice despite his own painful history. He offers practical advice, contacts, and a one-use favor to help protect Hong Ming.
• Hong Zheng and the family welcome Hong Ming warmly. His grandfather recognizes that Hong Ming is preparing to leave but supports him without trying to hold him back.
• Qi Yu’er appears poised to speak with Hong Ming, setting up their next interaction.

Significant themes

• Ambition and risk: Hong Ming accepts that advancement may bring political danger, but judges the opportunity worth taking.
• Power and institutional influence: The Liang family’s reach has shaped River Office policy and harmed people who were not involved in Qi Ruhai’s original conflict.
• Merit versus connections: Official rules may protect Hong Ming’s access to cultivation methods, while informal influence may still limit his promotion and resources.
• Family and belonging: The loving, peaceful homecoming contrasts with the competitive world Hong Ming is preparing to enter.
• Caution and hidden ability: Qi Ruhai urges Hong Ming to conceal his extraordinary cultivation speed, underscoring the danger of attracting attention.

Plot points and events

• Qi Yu’er warns Hong Ming that Jiang Yingfeng had sent Jiang Xuan to the River Office after Jiang Yingfeng’s original plan for his daughter, Jiang Yuru, fell through. Her remarks suggest Hong Ming should be cautious around the Jiang family there, though she leaves her suspicions about Jiang Yingfeng’s death unstated.
• Hong Ming investigates the Cold Pool but finds he is still too low-level to solidify the Dragon Viscera and Tiger Bowels Trait. At the Huang Family’s water field, he senses that the Black Tortoise guarding the Treasure Lotus is at least as strong as a True Qi Realm martial artist and wisely retreats.
• After accumulating enough fortune, Hong Ming stacks the Exceptional Comprehension Trait with Photographic Memory. The panel combines their effects: he retains everything he reads and understands martial arts more quickly. His training accelerates, especially in the Coiling Dragon Stake and Frost Sky Fist, raising hopes of reaching Transformation Force Grandmastery.
• Hong Ming departs Clear River City aboard the Wu Family’s merchant ship, saying goodbye to his grandfather, uncle, aunt, and friend Su Qiang. Su promises to look after his grandfather.
• During the journey, Hong Ming trains almost constantly. Near Prefecture City, he joins Wu Lingshan’s other sponsored candidates on deck and sees a nearby Vast Sea Sect vessel carrying familiar Fish-Dragon Assembly participants.
• On the Vast Sea Sect ship, Zeng Liang and others discuss Hong Ming’s plans. They learn he may be entering the River Office as a Commander representing the Clear River City River Bureau—a dangerous choice because River Office factions have a history of targeting its soldiers. Qu Yun suggests Hong Ming may instead seek the Ten Thousand Gold Chamber of Commerce’s sponsorship assessment, though Zeng Liang warns that winning its Inner Qi Inheritance will be difficult.

Character development and interactions

• Hong Ming shows prudence by withdrawing from threats beyond his current ability, but remains ambitious and disciplined. His strengthened comprehension promises faster martial progress.
• Qi Yu’er acts as a discreet ally, giving Hong Ming information that may protect him at the River Office.
• Hong Ming’s family and friends share a warm, emotional farewell; Su Qiang takes responsibility for supporting Hong Ming’s grandfather.
• Zhou Hongying, one of the sponsored candidates, teases Hong Ming about his relentless training and guides him onto the deck.
• Zeng Liang, Wang Zhendong, and Qu Yun interpret Hong Ming’s presence and debate his likely destination. Zeng Liang understands the River Office’s danger; Qu Yun offers a less ominous alternative explanation. Wang Zhendong and Wu Lianzhou know more than they reveal.

Significant themes

• Caution and limits: Hong Ming recognizes when powerful opponents exceed his capacity and retreats rather than risking needless defeat.
• Growth through understanding: Exceptional Comprehension turns study and experience into faster, clearer martial progress.
• Institutional hostility and factional danger: The River Office’s treatment of Clear River City soldiers makes advancement there perilous, even before Hong Ming arrives.
• Departure and uncertainty: Hong Ming’s journey begins with a caring farewell and opens onto a wider world of new opportunities, rivalries, and risks.

Key plot points and events

• The disciples discuss the Ten Thousand Gold Chamber of Commerce’s sponsorship assessment. Qu Yun explains that an A grade requires Superior Aptitude, so Hong Ming’s known Low-Grade Bone Structure rules him out. Wang Heng is relieved and takes satisfaction in Hong Ming’s disadvantage.
• Qu Yun reveals that he earned a B grade on his first assessment. Zeng Liang praises this as impressive because Qu Yun has only just entered Transformation Force, and predicts he can earn an A once he becomes a Grandmaster of that realm. Zeng also pointedly compares him with Hong Ming, who cannot qualify.
• Aboard the Wu Family merchant ship, Hong Ming and Zhou Hongying meet three recruits from the Jing River Bureau. Kong Wu describes Prefecture City’s dominant powers: the Four Sects and Three Families. The group discusses a rumor that the Vast Sea Sect has gained a True Origin Realm martial artist under thirty, possibly someone with the potential to become a Grandmaster.
• Wu Lingshan gives the recruits maps and information about Prefecture City’s forces, warning them to avoid offending the powerful Three Families. After listening, Hong Ming returns to his room and searches for useful Traits among the recruits aboard the nearby Vast Sea Sect ship.
• Hong Ming discovers that Level Four Word Mastery allows physical and martial-arts Traits to combine—not just comprehension Traits. Fist, palm, and leg Traits can be paired, as can weapon-related Traits. He lacks the fortune to combine the blade Traits he wants, so he spends 99 fortune points to gain Fist and Palm Mastery, which improves practice efficiency for fist and palm martial arts.

Character developments and interactions

• Wang Heng grows more confident in his decision to join the Vast Sea Sect and enjoys the prospect of surpassing Hong Ming.
• Qu Yun is proud of his B grade and confident he will earn an A later. Zeng Liang reinforces that confidence while disparaging Hong Ming; Qin Hao objects inwardly but does not speak up.
• Hong Ming remains calm when teased and accepts Li Xuan’s advice politely, though without engaging. His attention is focused on learning and advancing his abilities.
• Zhou Hongying explains Hong Ming’s solitary training habits and later clarifies the significance of True Origin and Grandmaster realms. She also notices the other men’s interest in Wu Lingshan and quietly approves that Hong Ming shows none.
• Wu Lingshan acts as a helpful guide, sharing practical information about the city and its power structures.

Significant themes

• Aptitude and opportunity: Hong Ming’s low aptitude limits access to formal rewards, while Qu Yun’s prospects are tied to his potential and status.
• Ambition and hierarchy: The chapter emphasizes the prestige of cultivation realms and the political influence held by powerful sects and families.
• Knowledge as preparation: Understanding local powers and rivalries is presented as essential for newcomers navigating Prefecture City.
• Self-directed growth: Despite setbacks and limited resources, Hong Ming finds a practical way to improve by adapting his Trait-combination ability.

Key plot points and events

• Hong Ming experiments with consolidating his martial-arts traits. Combining level-2 Fist Technique Expert with level-1 Palm Technique Expert lowers the resulting trait’s level, but his fist-training speed barely suffers, suggesting the combined trait retains both abilities.
• He spends his remaining fortune stacking fist-related traits. The result, level-2 cyan Fist and Palm Mastery, restores his previous Frost Sky Fist progress and improves it, letting him train it as quickly as Coiling Dragon Stake.
• Hong Ming reflects on how trait stacking has expanded since reaching level 3 and sorts traits into five broad categories: physical, innate constitution, elemental, mental, and auxiliary.
• The merchant ship reaches the River Office, a vast, prosperous city at the meeting point of the Six Rivers. Its enormous waterways and shipping traffic impress Hong Ming and his companions.
• At the wharf, Liu Ruxing waits for Hong Ming, whom she knows through her connection to Thousand-Commander Qi Ruhai. She privately welcomes him, offers to help him earn battle merits and advance, and warns him to keep their connection secret.
• Before Liu Ruxing can host him, she is urgently summoned back by her family. She asks her younger cousin, Liu Churan, to look after Hong Ming.

Character developments and interactions

• Hong Ming shows growing understanding of his trait system and becomes more ambitious about gaining fortune to improve his abilities. He is practical and receptive to Liu Ruxing’s support, while agreeing to keep their connection confidential.
• Liu Ruxing reveals genuine concern for Qi Ruhai and warmth toward Hong Ming. Though influential, she approaches him personally and offers practical assistance.
• Liu Churan is curious about her aunt’s mysterious guest and surprised that he comes from Qing Province. She is left to supervise him after Liu Ruxing is called away.
• Hong Ming and Liu Ruxing establish a discreet alliance through their shared connection to Qi Ruhai. Liu Ruxing’s support could help Hong Ming overcome the River Office’s early merit requirements.

Significant themes

• Progress through experimentation: Hong Ming tests the consequences of trait consolidation rather than relying on assumptions.
• Ambition and resource management: Fortune is limited, so he chooses traits that best serve his immediate training goals while planning for future growth.
• Networks and advancement: In the River Office, personal connections may help newcomers gain access to merit and opportunity.
• Scale and regional power: The River Office’s wealth and strategic position contrast sharply with Qing Province’s relative backwardness.

Liu Churan escorted Hong Ming to the River Office, where he registered as a water soldier and drew attention because his credentials came from the Qing Province River Bureau. Thousand-Commander Lei Xiong examined Hong Ming’s bones and discovered his aptitude was only above average, leaving him suspicious of why Qi Ruhai had given him a slot.

• Liu Churan led Hong Ming toward the River Office, tried unsuccessfully to lose him, and Hong Ming followed by tracking her traits.
• Hong Ming marveled at the River Office’s size and the rare cultivation traits among its water soldiers before Liu Churan directed him to the Internal Affairs Hall.
• Liu Churan met Zhou Ting, then agreed to go with her to the Natural Residence and left instructions for the guards to assist Hong Ming.
• A registrar recognized Hong Ming’s credentials as coming from the Qing Province River Bureau and reported the unusual registration to Lei Xiong.
• Lei Xiong verified Hong Ming’s identity, asked who had given him the slot, and examined his bones, finding only above-average aptitude.

Hong Ming secured a place at the River Office by surrendering his grade D battle merit and benefits, then settled into Courtyard Nine with the other newcomers. After learning how resources and factions worked, Hong Ming and his companions agreed to form an alliance, and Kong Wu proposed establishing rules for it.

• Lei Xiong told Hong Ming that Qi Ruhai's entry quota was invalid and offered him a way to stay in exchange for his battle merit and benefits; Hong Ming agreed and was registered without future resources.
• Hong Ming learned that Liu Churan had left, then met Zhou Hongying, Li Xuan, Kong Wu, and Luo Haitang and discovered he had been assigned to Jing River Residence's Courtyard Nine.
• The group learned that low-numbered courtyards offered cultivation benefits, and Hong Ming noticed the sandalwood incense near Courtyard One before settling into his own room.
• At dinner, Kong Wu proposed an alliance to help the newcomers share information and earn battle merit, and Hong Ming and the others agreed.
• Kong Wu suggested drawing up rules for the alliance to prevent future conflicts of interest.