Chapter Summaries

Key plot points and events

• Jiang Sihai arrives at the clan elders’ meeting and appears unusually cooperative, leading the elders to wonder whether he is trying to gain favor because Jiang Xuan is nearing the True Martial Realm.
• Instead of discussing resources, Sihai announces that his son, Jiang Chen, has passed all Three Qi and Blood Gates. The elders and Jiang Junyue initially dismiss the claim as impossible.
• At Jiang Guiyuan’s request, Chen demonstrates his cultivation. His pure, powerful martial blood qi confirms that he has passed all three gates.
• The elders’ Medicine Dao expert examines Chen and finds no evidence of forbidden drugs; his blood qi is pure and his foundation sound.
• The elders briefly celebrate the possibility that Chen is an exceptional talent, then learn that his bone aptitude is still only ordinary.
• Junyue accuses Sihai of spreading false information about Chen’s earlier progress to manipulate the clan into granting resources. The elders reconsider their excitement, arguing that ordinary aptitude offers little return on investment.

Character developments and interactions

• Jiang Chen remains calm and lets his cultivation speak for itself, demonstrating both unexpected ability and confidence.
• Jiang Sihai shifts from seeming conciliatory to proudly presenting his son’s achievement. He enjoys Junyue’s shock and taunts him when the examination confirms Chen’s progress.
• Jiang Junyue moves from confident disbelief to embarrassment and suspicion. He questions the diagnosis, then reframes Chen’s achievement as a resource-grabbing ploy.
• Jiang Guiyuan watches Chen closely, suspects drug use, and orders both a demonstration and an examination. He ultimately accepts the evidence but remains skeptical that Chen’s talent exceeds Jiang Xuan’s.
• Seventh Granduncle verifies Chen’s condition and confirms both his remarkable progress and ordinary aptitude, leaving him puzzled.
• The elders’ reaction shifts from disbelief to excitement and then to disappointment, revealing how strongly they judge young cultivators by aptitude and practical value.

Significant themes

• Appearance versus reality: Chen’s supposed idleness and lack of progress may have concealed his true cultivation.
• Proof and trust: The clan demands direct evidence and medical verification before accepting extraordinary claims.
• Talent and prejudice: The elders celebrate Chen’s achievement only while they believe it signals exceptional aptitude, then dismiss its value once they learn his aptitude is ordinary.
• Family rivalry and status: Sihai’s public triumph over Junyue turns the meeting into a contest of pride as well as a dispute over clan resources.

Key plot points

• Jiang Sihai asks the Jiang Clan to provide cultivation resources for his son, Jiang Chen, who has reached the Three Qi and Blood Gates despite having Ordinary Bone Aptitude. He argues that the clan rules entitle any youth with a chance of reaching the True Martial Realm to support.
• Jiang Junyue objects, wanting the clan’s limited resources reserved for his son, Jiang Xuan, whose Medium Bone Aptitude makes him the clan’s favored prospect. The elders hesitate: rejecting Jiang Chen would contradict clan rules, but supporting him could hinder Jiang Xuan.
• Citing the clan’s poor finances, Jiang Guiyuan ultimately refuses immediate support for Jiang Chen. Sihai then asks what would happen if Jiang Chen caught up to Jiang Xuan. Guiyuan promises that, in that event, Jiang Chen would receive two-thirds of the resources. The elders agree.
• Sihai leaves with Jiang Chen, satisfied. The elders dismiss the possibility that Jiang Chen can catch up, assuming his rapid progress comes from secret medicine.
• Afterward, Jiang Junyue questions Guiyuan’s concessions. Guiyuan explains that a clan must uphold rules and unity rather than use authority to oppress its branches.

Character developments and interactions

• Jiang Sihai shows himself to be shrewd and persistent. Though he knows the clan is unlikely to support his family, he uses its own rules—and then a conditional promise—to secure a possible future claim for Jiang Chen.
• Jiang Chen remains mostly silent, but his unusual progress is the source of the dispute and a challenge to the clan’s assumptions about bone aptitude.
• Jiang Guiyuan prioritizes the clan’s long-term cohesion over favoring one branch. He also firmly believes Jiang Chen cannot realistically rival Jiang Xuan.
• Jiang Junyue is protective of his son’s position and accepts the use of authority more readily than Guiyuan does. He worries Sihai may have a hidden plan.

Significant themes

• Rules versus favoritism: Clan rules can restrain powerful figures, though scarce resources make impartiality difficult.
• Unity and leadership: Guiyuan argues that internal oppression would drive branches away and ultimately weaken the clan.
• Talent and assumptions: The elders treat bone aptitude as destiny, dismissing Jiang Chen’s progress as an exception explained by external aid.
• Scarcity and self-interest: Appeals to the clan’s greater good fade when members’ own descendants’ prospects are at stake.

Chapter Summary: “An Unexpected Turn”

Key plot points and events

• In a carriage, Jiang Chen discusses the clan’s decision to prioritize Jiang Xuan, whose medium bone aptitude makes him a safer investment. Jiang Chen recognizes that the choice is sensible for the clan as a whole, despite the elders’ personal interests, and sees his cousin Jiang Junyue as selfish and dangerous to the family’s future.
• Jiang Chen asks whether his father, Jiang Sihai, alerted the clan to the Azure Dragon Gang’s threats against their shops. Jiang Sihai confirms that he did, and the clan is prepared to help if the gang acts.
• Jiang Chen returns home and cultivates. After two days, he breaks through to the Third Aperture, raising his punch’s basic force to about 750 jin. He continues training and refining Origin Clear Qi.
• A shop assistant reports that Warehouse No. 3, which contains valuable medicinal herbs, is on fire. Jiang Sihai rushes there, suspecting arson.
• A wounded guard later reports that Jiang Sihai’s party was ambushed by hidden archers on the way. The warehouse fire was apparently a diversion, while Jiang Sihai was the real target.
• Lin Shuyun orders a group to rescue her husband and plans to take Jiang Chen to the Ancestral Residence for safety, sending three carriages by different routes to reduce the risk of another ambush.
• Jiang Chen detects a suspicious watcher in the household through his Soul Seal Perception. He tells his mother there may be a mole and insists on investigating before leaving, arguing that they cannot trust anyone until they know what is happening.

Character developments and interactions

• Jiang Chen shows political maturity by accepting that the clan’s decision is rational, while remaining ambitious about earning resources once he catches up with Jiang Xuan. His breakthrough confirms his steady progress, and his Soul Seal perception becomes crucial during the crisis. He also demonstrates initiative by choosing to confront the suspected mole rather than simply flee.
• Jiang Sihai remains protective of his family and has already informed the clan about the Azure Dragon Gang. He becomes the target of the apparent ambush.
• Lin Shuyun responds quickly and strategically, balancing the need to rescue her husband with the need to protect Jiang Chen. Though worried, she ultimately lets him act, recognizing that he is no longer a child who must be shielded.
• Jiang Chen and his parents share a trusting but tense exchange: Jiang Sihai is reassured by his son’s clear judgment, while Lin Shuyun fears for his safety but respects his resolve.

Significant themes

• Clan interest versus personal gain: Jiang Chen distinguishes between a decision that serves the clan and selfish behavior that threatens it.
• Aptitude, effort, and opportunity: Bone aptitude shapes social investment, but Jiang Chen’s exceptional cultivation and hidden advantage give him another path forward.
• Family loyalty and protection: The household coordinates under attack, with each family member taking responsibility.
• Vigilance and hidden threats: The Azure Dragon Gang’s apparent attack, the warehouse fire, and the suspected insider show that danger may come both from outside and within.

Key plot points

• Jiang Chen captures a household mole and learns the Azure Dragon Gang hired him to report on the Jiang Clan. The gang’s plan was to lure Jiang Chen’s father away by setting fire to a warehouse, then target Jiang Chen and use him to extort the family’s fortune.
• The mole reveals that the gang gave him a pill that awakened his martial blood qi, despite his previously ordinary status. Jiang Chen kills him and discovers through the Myriad Dao Chart that killing evil cultivators grants Origin Source.
• Jiang Chen disguises himself in the mole’s clothes and goes to Back Alley, where he finds and swiftly kills two more Azure Dragon Gang agents using heart-slaying poison. Each death yields one Origin Source.
• Spending the three points he has gathered, Jiang Chen advances his Soul Seal from the first tier to the second. The upgrade grants Soul Force Impact, a direct attack on an opponent’s soul, and extends his Soul Force Perception’s range from five to ten meters.
• Jiang Chen senses an approaching person in the true martial realm and eagerly prepares to test his new ability.

Character developments and interactions

• Jiang Chen becomes more calculating and aggressive: he interrogates the mole, exploits the information to set an ambush, and treats hunting evil cultivators as a way to strengthen himself.
• He shows no mercy to the mole, whom he regards as a traitor, and kills the two gang agents before they realize he is the intruder.
• The mole, facing death, reveals the gang’s scheme, the meeting place, and the source of his unusual martial ability.
• The two agents mistake Jiang Chen for the mole because of his disguise, giving him the chance to strike first.
• Jiang Chen’s confidence rises sharply after unlocking Soul Force Impact; he believes it may let him defeat opponents far stronger than himself.

Significant themes

• Betrayal and family loyalty: The gang targets Jiang Chen as leverage against his parents, while he punishes a household insider who betrays the family.
• Power and its cost: A mysterious pill can apparently awaken martial ability, but its connection to the agents’ strange, bloody qi raises questions about the gang’s methods.
• Strength gained through violence: Jiang Chen turns killing evil cultivators into a source of advancement, making combat both survival and a path to power.
• Ambition and overconfidence: His new soul technique offers a major advantage, but his eagerness to test it on a true martial opponent may also signal growing recklessness.

Key plot points and events

• Jiang Chen confronts the Azure Dragon Gang member who came to abduct him. The man initially prepares to flee, but charges when he realizes Jiang Chen is only in the Three Qi and Blood Gates.
• Jiang Chen uses Soul Seal Impact to incapacitate the much stronger True Martial Realm opponent, then disables him and searches his belongings.
• Jiang Chen learns that the gang’s Treasure Pills are refined using martial artists’ vital essence. The gang has been abducting ordinary disciples from multiple martial halls, especially those traveling from outlying areas.
• The captive admits he knows little about the gang’s leadership or possible ties to demons and evil entities. Jiang Chen kills him, gains two Origin Source points, and dissolves the bodies with Bone-Eroding Powder.
• Recognizing that Soul Seal Impact consumes nearly all his Soul Force in one use, Jiang Chen concludes he must strengthen himself rather than rely on the technique alone. He then sets his sights on the Azure Dragon Gang.
• Rumors of the gang’s involvement in the disappearances spread throughout the Prefecture City, placing it under public suspicion and speculation about wider political or supernatural connections.

Character development and interactions

• Jiang Chen displays composure, tactical judgment, and ruthless practicality. He exploits his opponent’s underestimation of him, interrogates him efficiently, and conceals evidence afterward. He also recognizes the limits of his Soul Force and adjusts his plans.
• The gang member shifts from confidence and aggression to confusion, pain, and fear as Jiang Chen gains control. Under threat, he reveals the gang’s abductions and pill-making practices.
• Their encounter highlights the sharp mismatch between Jiang Chen’s apparent cultivation level and his actual capabilities.

Significant themes

• Power and deception: Jiang Chen wins by using an ability his opponent does not anticipate, while the gang hides its crimes behind secrecy.
• Moral corruption and exploitation: The pills’ human origins reveal the gang’s willingness to turn captured martial artists into ingredients.
• Preparation and restraint: Jiang Chen learns that even a powerful trump card has costs and must be used carefully.
• Rumor and uncertainty: News spreads quickly, but people disagree over whether the gang is tied to evil entities, rebel forces, or conflict among major powers.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Disappearances of Outer Courtyard disciples from White Ape Martial Hall prompt investigation.
• Rumors link the disappearances to the Azure Dragon Gang, leading to a joint operation by the Yamen and major Martial Arts Halls.
• The Azure Dragon Gang plans to evacuate and regroup at Nine Eagle Ridge after learning of the operation.

Character Developments

• Zhou Rongfeng, Master of White Ape Martial Hall, shows concern for his disciples' safety and takes action to investigate their disappearance.
• The Azure Dragon Gang Leader demonstrates his ruthlessness and impulsiveness in his response to the mole situation.
• Jiang Chen, after returning home safely, decides to focus on his cultivation and studies two secret techniques: Ninefold Strength and Qi Concealment Technique.

Significant Themes

• The consequences of unchecked ambition and reckless actions (Azure Dragon Gang's downfall).
• The importance of trust and reputation in maintaining order and stability (White Ape Martial Hall's response to the disappearances).
• The value of strategic planning and adaptability in the face of adversity (Jiang Chen's decision to cultivate and prepare for future challenges).

Character Interactions

• Zhou Rongfeng and his direct disciple discuss the investigation and respond to the Azure Dragon Gang situation.
• The Azure Dragon Gang Leader interacts with his subordinates, displaying his volatile temper and strategic planning.
• Jiang Chen interacts with his family, reassuring them of his safety and discussing the Azure Dragon Gang's fate, before deciding to focus on his cultivation.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jiang Chen continues his cultivation at home, focusing on polishing his seven apertures and practicing the Qi Concealment Technique.
• He asks his mother to buy the available herbs for the Blood Essence Replenishing Soup, instructing her to keep it secret.
• After a month, Jiang Chen successfully opens his fourth aperture, reaching the peak of the Three Qi and Blood Gates.
• He heads to the Martial Arts Hall, where he meets Luo Yang and learns that Tang Mu has entered the True Martial Realm and mastered the White Ape Combat Method.

Character Developments

• Jiang Chen: He continues to improve his cultivation speed and techniques, reaching the peak of the Three Qi and Blood Gates. He remains humble and friendly towards Luo Yang despite his promotion to the Inner Courtyard.
• Tang Mu: Tang Mu has entered the True Martial Realm and mastered the White Ape Combat Method, showcasing his superior aptitude and combat prowess.

Significant Themes

• Cultivation and improvement: Jiang Chen's focus on cultivating and refining his techniques highlights the importance of continuous self-improvement.
• Talent and aptitude: Tang Mu's rapid progress and mastery of the White Ape Combat Method emphasize the significance of natural talent in martial arts.

Character Interactions

• Jiang Chen and Luo Yang: Despite Jiang Chen's promotion to the Inner Courtyard, their relationship remains friendly, with Jiang Chen offering Luo Yang advice on cultivation.
• Jiang Chen and Tang Mu: Although not interacting directly, Jiang Chen witnesses Tang Mu's impressive combat skills, further highlighting the gap between their talents.

Chapter Summary: “Dead End”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The disciples witness Tang Mu demonstrate an unfamiliar and highly advanced movement technique. Meng Wentao identifies it as likely belonging to the Zhou Clan, while Jiang Chen realizes it surpasses the White Ape Combat Method by several levels.
• Zhou Rongfeng dismisses the Inner Courtyard disciples and approaches Tang Mu warmly, revealing how much Tang Mu’s rapid advancement and martial talent have impressed him.
• Jiang Chen meets Sun Wu and the others to purchase more Aperture Breaking Pills, paying six thousand taels in silver notes.
• Sun Wu is shocked to learn that Jiang Chen has already opened his Fourth Aperture. Jiang Chen’s cultivation speed appears unnaturally consistent, despite the increasing danger and difficulty of tempering the Seven Apertures.
• Sun Wu warns Jiang Chen not to sacrifice his long-term health for rapid progress. Jiang Chen reassures him, confident that his Myriad Dao Chart and Soul Seal allow him to cultivate safely.
• Zhou Yuqing watches Jiang Chen leave and discusses him with her father, Zhou Rongfeng. She argues that Jiang Chen’s extraordinary comprehension could eventually qualify him for the True Sun Sect.
• Zhou Rongfeng rejects this possibility, explaining that the True Sun Sect has never accepted anyone with Ordinary Bone Aptitude through its normal selection process.
• He clarifies that Duanmu Yun Xi, another person with Ordinary Bone Aptitude who entered the sect, received special treatment because her grandfather died serving the True Sun Sect—not because of her clan or aptitude.
• Zhou Rongfeng concludes that Jiang Chen has no realistic future in the City Guard or the Upper Sect, effectively declaring his martial path a dead end.

Character Developments

• Jiang Chen: Reaches the Fourth Aperture at astonishing speed and grows increasingly determined to become stronger. His confidence stems from his unique abilities, which let him avoid the dangers normally associated with rapid aperture tempering. He also begins attracting the attention of important figures because of his exceptional comprehension.
• Sun Wu: Remains supportive of Jiang Chen and proud of his progress, but becomes concerned that Jiang Chen’s reckless pace may damage his body. His warning shows his continued care and mentorship.
• Tang Mu: Establishes himself as an extraordinary martial talent by displaying a sophisticated movement technique and advancing rapidly into the True Martial Realm. His abilities place pressure even on experienced disciples such as Meng Wentao.
• Meng Wentao: Feels threatened and pressured by Tang Mu’s talent. He reflects that joining the City Guard early was the correct decision, suggesting that he is anxious about falling behind.
• Zhou Yuqing: Recognizes Jiang Chen’s potential and actively advocates for him, valuing his comprehension more highly than his bone aptitude.
• Zhou Rongfeng: Shows a rigid belief in the importance of innate aptitude. Although he acknowledges Jiang Chen’s exceptional comprehension, he considers Ordinary Bone Aptitude an insurmountable limitation.

Significant Themes

• Talent versus innate potential: The chapter contrasts comprehension and effort with bone aptitude. Jiang Chen may understand martial arts exceptionally well, but the established system treats his physical potential as a fixed ceiling.
• Institutional prejudice and rigid hierarchy: The True Sun Sect’s admission rules reveal how thoroughly martial society prioritizes lineage-like aptitude over individual achievement.
• Rapid growth and hidden advantages: Jiang Chen’s unusual cultivation speed hints at the importance of his secret abilities, distinguishing him from ordinary martial artists.
• Pressure and competition: Tang Mu’s rise creates anxiety among other talented disciples, while Jiang Chen’s progress begins to draw attention from higher-ranking figures.
• Predetermined fate versus perseverance: Zhou Rongfeng sees Jiang Chen’s future as already decided, while Zhou Yuqing and Jiang Chen himself represent the possibility that exceptional ability can overcome supposedly fixed limitations.

Character Interactions

• A disciple asks Meng Wentao about Tang Mu’s movement technique, prompting recognition of its likely Zhou Clan origins.
• Sun Wu and the other disciples warmly welcome Jiang Chen back. Sun Wu sells him more cultivation pills and questions his rapid advancement.
• Sun Wu cautions Jiang Chen about the dangers of tempering the Seven Apertures too quickly, while Jiang Chen conceals the full extent of his special safeguards.
• Zhou Yuqing points Jiang Chen out to her father and praises his potential. Zhou Rongfeng dismisses her optimism, explaining why Jiang Chen cannot qualify for the Upper Sect.
• Their disagreement highlights the central conflict between Zhou Yuqing’s belief in cultivated ability and Zhou Rongfeng’s faith in inherited aptitude.

Key plot points and events

• Zhou Rongfeng suspects his daughter, Zhou Yuqing, has taken an interest in Jiang Chen, but she insists she only feels sorry that his Ordinary Bone Aptitude may limit him. She remains confident she can earn a True Sun Sect place, while Rongfeng dotes on Tang Mu, a gifted young disciple.
• Sun Wu delivers three bottles of Aperture Breaking Pills to Jiang Chen and warns him that the True Sun Sect has never accepted anyone with Ordinary Bone Aptitude. Jiang Chen is surprised but stays determined to pursue the Martial Exam and join the City Guard.
• Recognizing that Jiang Chen needs substantial resources, Sun Wu offers to seek sponsorship for him. Jiang Chen accepts, grateful for Sun Wu’s support.
• Sun Wu approaches Liu Qing’er, the mysterious pavilion master of Myriad Treasure Pavilion. Though initially skeptical of investing in someone with ordinary aptitude, she is intrigued by Jiang Chen’s rapid progress. She offers him a rare Lingxi Pill as a test: if he uses it to break through into the True Martial Realm, the pavilion may fund him further. She also orders a secret investigation into him, suspecting an unusual opportunity may explain his growth.
• Jiang Chen continues training and opens his fifth aperture, reaching nearly a thousand jin of force. He knows opening the final apertures around his eyes will be especially dangerous.
• Meanwhile, Jiang Xuan breaks through to the True Martial Realm at age fifteen. His father, Jiang Junyue, and the clan elders celebrate, convinced his success secures the clan’s future and dismissive of Jiang Chen’s chance of catching up.

Character developments and interactions

• Jiang Chen remains focused despite the sect’s aptitude rule. He is pragmatic about finding support beyond his clan and shows deep gratitude toward Sun Wu.
• Sun Wu acts as Jiang Chen’s advocate, risking his standing with a powerful faction to secure him resources. His experience of Jiang Chen’s progress has challenged his own assumptions about bone aptitude.
• Liu Qing’er moves from skepticism to cautious interest, offering a high-value pill while investigating Jiang Chen’s background.
• Zhou Yuqing is confident in her own prospects and expresses sympathy for Jiang Chen, while her father worries about whom she might favor.
• Jiang Junyue and the Jiang elders become more confident in Jiang Xuan and more dismissive of Jiang Chen after Xuan’s breakthrough.

Significant themes

• Talent versus innate aptitude: Jiang Chen’s rapid advancement challenges the belief that bone aptitude alone determines potential.
• Patronage and power: Advancement depends not only on effort but also on access to pills, resources, and influential sponsors.
• Perseverance amid exclusion: Jiang Chen refuses to abandon his goals even after learning that a major sect bars people like him.
• Rivalry and competing expectations: Jiang Xuan’s breakthrough raises the stakes in the clan’s comparison between the cousins.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jiang Xuan breaks through to the True Martial Realm.
• Jiang Xuan becomes a personal disciple of the White Ape Martial Hall.
• Jiang Xuan learns the White Ape Mountain-Suppressing Technique from Zhou Rongfeng.

Character Developments

• Jiang Xuan: Gains confidence after breaking through and becoming a personal disciple. Aims to enter the City Guard and potentially the Upper Sect.
• Zhou Rongfeng: Takes Jiang Xuan as his personal disciple and provides him with the White Ape Mountain-Suppressing Technique.

Significant Themes

• Talent and Aptitude: Jiang Xuan's breakthrough highlights the importance of talent in the cultivation world.
• Master-Disciple Relationship: Zhou Rongfeng taking Jiang Xuan as his disciple emphasizes the significance of this bond in cultivation and protection.

Character Interactions

• Jiang Xuan and Zhou Rongfeng: Their interaction showcases the respect and eagerness of a disciple towards his master, and the master's confidence in his disciple's potential.
• Jiang Xuan and Jiang Chen: Though not directly interacting, Jiang Xuan's thoughts about Jiang Chen reveal his underestimation and disregard for him.

Chapter Summary: “Ghost Market (Tuesday, Please Keep Reading)”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jiang Xuan, now revealed to have reached the True Martial Realm, encounters Jiang Chen in the martial hall. The two pass each other without acknowledging one another, emphasizing their growing estrangement and rivalry.
• Another Inner Courtyard disciple tells Jiang Xuan the rumors surrounding Jiang Chen:
  • Jiang Chen had initially been recommended by Zhou Yuqing for entry into the core circle.
  • His Ordinary Bone Aptitude caused the core disciples to reject him.
  • Instructor Zhou Rongfeng reportedly judged him to have no real cultivation value.
• Jiang Xuan dismisses Jiang Chen as someone who is overestimating himself by trying to associate with Zhou Yuqing despite his poor aptitude.
• Meanwhile, Jiang Chen recognizes that the martial hall will likely never invest in him, even if he reaches the True Martial Realm, because of the prejudice against his bone aptitude. He places his hopes in Senior Brother Sun’s possible solution to the problem.
• Jiang Chen spends several days cultivating with complete focus. He advances within the Three Qi and Blood Gates, reaching the sixth aperture and developing a force of approximately 950 jin.
• His martial Blood Qi becomes increasingly pure and begins to resonate with the energy of the outside world, reinforcing his theory that the True Martial Realm depends on drawing upon external energy.
• After mastering the Qi Concealment Technique, Jiang Chen decides to visit the Ghost Market to seek resources for cultivating Ninefold Strength. He believes this technique could allow him to challenge opponents above his level during the upcoming martial examination.
• At midnight, Jiang Chen disguises himself and travels cautiously to the Ghost Market, using Soul Seal Perception to detect threats.
• The Ghost Market is portrayed as a secretive and dangerous night market where masked cultivators and suspicious merchants trade quietly. Jiang Chen senses someone observing him but remains calm.
• An Old Daoist approaches him and claims he can improve Jiang Chen’s bone aptitude. Jiang Chen immediately becomes wary and realizes the Daoist is probably using a common sales trick, since most people visiting the Ghost Market would have poor aptitude and be vulnerable to such an offer.

Character Developments

• Jiang Chen: Becomes more disciplined, cautious, and self-reliant. He no longer expects support from the White Ape Martial Hall and focuses on increasing his own value through cultivation and secret techniques. His Soul Seal Perception and Qi Concealment Technique make him better equipped to survive dangerous environments.
• Jiang Xuan: Reaches the True Martial Realm, confirming his exceptional talent and strengthening his position within the clan and martial hall. He remains dismissive of Jiang Chen and accepts the prevailing judgment that poor bone aptitude limits Jiang Chen’s future.
• Zhou Yuqing: Though absent, her earlier support of Jiang Chen remains significant. Her recommendation could not overcome the martial hall’s prejudice against his aptitude.
• Senior Brother Sun: Becomes an important source of hope for Jiang Chen, as he may know how to resolve or compensate for Jiang Chen’s bone aptitude problem.
• The Old Daoist: Introduced as a suspicious and possibly deceptive figure. Although he appears to possess only First Qi and Blood Gate cultivation, his calm behavior and unexplained confidence suggest he may be more capable or mysterious than he appears.

Significant Themes

• Prejudice based on talent: The martial hall values bone aptitude above effort or potential, causing Jiang Chen to be marginalized despite his rapid progress.
• Self-reliance versus institutional recognition: Jiang Chen realizes that official support cannot be taken for granted and decides to build his strength independently.
• Hidden strength and deception: Jiang Chen conceals his cultivation, while the Ghost Market is filled with masked figures, secret identities, and people whose true abilities are unclear.
• The importance of preparation: Jiang Chen’s cultivation, mastery of concealment, and careful scouting show his determination to prepare for the dangerous martial examination.
• Value and power: The chapter emphasizes that status depends on demonstrated usefulness. Jiang Chen intends to prove his worth so that powerful factions will invest in him, regardless of his aptitude.

Character Interactions

• Jiang Chen and Jiang Xuan silently pass one another, avoiding direct confrontation but revealing mutual distance.
• An Inner Courtyard disciple flatters Jiang Xuan and fuels his negative opinion of Jiang Chen by recounting rumors about Jiang Chen’s rejection by the core circle and Instructor Zhou Rongfeng.
• Jiang Chen remains unaware of this conversation and focuses on his own cultivation and plans.
• At the Ghost Market, Jiang Chen cautiously engages with the Old Daoist, maintaining physical distance and using Soul Force Perception to assess him.
• The Old Daoist attempts to attract Jiang Chen by offering to improve his bone aptitude, but Jiang Chen recognizes the likely manipulation and remains suspicious.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jiang Chen visits the Ghost Market and meets an old Daoist selling an ancient manual, the Nirvana Sutra, claiming it can improve one's innate constitution.
• Jiang Chen uses the Myriad Dao Chart to verify the authenticity of the manual and finds it genuine.
• Jiang Chen haggles and buys the Nirvana Sutra for 50 taels of silver.
• Jiang Chen suspects the old Daoist's intentions and later sees him selling the same manual to another person for 100 taels.
• Jiang Chen buys medicinal herbs for cultivation and leaves the Ghost Market.

Character Developments

• Jiang Chen demonstrates his shrewdness and determination to improve his aptitude.
• The old Daoist is revealed to be a cunning and mysterious figure, possibly involved in something more than just selling ancient manuals.

Significant Themes

• The importance of innate constitution (aptitude) in cultivation and its impact on resources and opportunities.
• The presence of ancient techniques and secrets from the era of Gods and Devils.
• The theme of deception and hidden agendas in the Ghost Market.

Character Interactions

• Jiang Chen interacts with the old Daoist, initially skeptical but later determined to buy the Nirvana Sutra.
• The old Daoist interacts with another person, hinting at a possible conspiracy involving the Nirvana Sutra.
• Jiang Chen's interaction with the Ghost Market vendors and his awareness of potential dangers.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jiang Chen buys materials from the Ghost Market and returns to the Martial Arts Hall.
• He attempts to cultivate the Divine Phoenix Nirvana Sutra, experiencing an illusion of being burned by flames.
• After three days, Jiang Chen successfully opens his Seven Apertures and reaches the perfection stage of the Three Qi and Blood Gates.

Character Developments

• Jiang Chen's cultivation progresses significantly, reaching the perfection stage of the Three Qi and Blood Gates.
• Wang Qingzhu approaches Jiang Chen, offering sponsorship from the Wang Clan, but he declines as he has already accepted sponsorship from another force.

Significant Themes

• The importance of cultivation resources and sponsorship for cultivators with limited resources.
• The difficulty and potential power of ancient cultivation techniques like the Divine Phoenix Nirvana Sutra.
• The transformation of one's innate constitution and the pursuit of improvement.

Character Interactions

• Jiang Chen interacts with Wang Qingzhu, who offers him sponsorship, but he declines due to his existing arrangement with Sun Wu.
• Jiang Chen's cultivation progress is noticed by Inner Courtyard disciples, leading to gossip and speculation about his potential.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jiang Chen successfully perfected the Three Qi and Blood Gates, gaining a thousand catties of force.
• He senses the auras of heaven and earth but is cautious about absorbing them due to their chaotic nature.
• Sun Wu explains the True Martial Realm's cultivation, warning about the risks of failing to break through.
• Jiang Chen learns about the Myriad Treasure Pavilion, a faction backing him, and their test for sponsorship.
• Jiang Chen is followed by someone from the Zheng Clan, but he leads them to the old Daoist from the Ghost Market, suspecting a connection.

Character Developments

• Jiang Chen: Successfully advances to the peak of the Blood Qi Realm, gains physical strength, and understands the True Martial Realm's cultivation. He also learns about the Myriad Treasure Pavilion's sponsorship and the risks involved.
• Sun Wu: Reveals the Myriad Treasure Pavilion's sponsorship and the test for Jiang Chen. He also warns Jiang Chen about the risks of failing to break through to the True Martial Realm.

Significant Themes

• Cultivation: The focus is on Jiang Chen's advancement to the peak of the Blood Qi Realm and his understanding of the True Martial Realm's cultivation.
• Sponsorship and Backing: The Myriad Treasure Pavilion's sponsorship is introduced, highlighting the importance of factions in a martial artist's career.
• Risks and Caution: The theme of risks is emphasized, particularly the dangers of failing to break through to the True Martial Realm and the consequences of reckless cultivation.

Character Interactions

• Jiang Chen and Sun Wu: Sun Wu reveals the Myriad Treasure Pavilion's sponsorship and advises Jiang Chen on the True Martial Realm's cultivation.
• Jiang Chen and Jiang Sihai: Jiang Chen informs his father about his advancement and plans to attempt the breakthrough to the True Martial Realm.
• Jiang Chen and the unknown pursuer: Jiang Chen suspects the pursuer is from the Zheng Clan and leads them to the old Daoist from the Ghost Market, hinting at a potential connection.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jiang Chen decides to recuperate for a few days before attempting to break through to the True Martial Realm.
• He asks his father, Jiang Sihai, for supplies to aid in his cultivation of the Divine Phoenix Nirvana Sutra and the Ninefold Strength technique.
• Jiang Chen spends a night refining secret medicines and cultivating, achieving Pure Grade for both the Skin Healing Paste and the Blood Essence Replenishing Soup, and reaching the Firstfold Perfection of Ninefold Strength.
• He then begins cultivating the first volume of the Nirvana Sutra, Stone Skin, with the help of Head Guard Li and others using iron whips to lash his body.

Character Developments

• Jiang Chen demonstrates his determination and resilience in his cultivation, pushing himself to the limit.
• Jiang Sihai shows concern for Jiang Chen's well-being but ultimately supports his decisions.

Significant Themes

• The importance of perseverance and determination in cultivation.
• The role of secret medicines and techniques in enhancing cultivation speed and effectiveness.

Character Interactions

• Jiang Chen and Jiang Sihai: The father-son duo shares a mutual respect and understanding, with Jiang Sihai supporting Jiang Chen's decisions despite his concerns.
• Jiang Chen and Head Guard Li: Head Guard Li and the others follow Jiang Chen's orders, showing loyalty and trust in him, despite the unusual and dangerous task he assigns them.

Key plot points and events

• Jiang Chen’s family and Head Guard Li apply Skin Healing Paste after his brutal Stone Skin training. The medicine rapidly repairs and strengthens his skin, making it possible for him to endure the pain of contemplating the Divine Phoenix Nirvana Sutra more effectively.
• His progress accelerates: one session raises the Stone Skin Chapter to 25% and the Nirvana Sutra’s comprehension by 4%. He expects to master Stone Skin soon and hopes the Sutra will eventually improve his bone aptitude enough to qualify for the True Sun Sect.
• Jiang Chen continues training, perfecting the second layer of Ninefold Strength. He balances intense practice with meditation to strengthen his cultivation.
• Sun Wu visits and gives Jiang Chen a rare Lingxi Pill for his future breakthrough to the True Martial Realm. He cautions him not to rush. Jiang Chen explains the True Sun Sect’s bone-aptitude requirement and the Myriad Treasure Pavilion sponsorship trial to his parents.
• After five days of seclusion, Jiang Chen senses an intruder approaching at night. He pretends to fall unconscious after the assassin blows knockout smoke into his room, then incapacitates him with Soul Force Impact.
• Jiang Chen disables and binds the assassin, finds a movement manual called the Return to Void Technique, and deduces that the Zheng Clan sent the attacker in retaliation for the death of its son. When the assassin resists questioning, Jiang Chen produces a vial of Gut-Corroding Bone-Eroding Powder.

Character developments

• Jiang Chen shows exceptional discipline, endurance, and composure. He turns painful training into rapid progress, carefully plans for his future, and proves capable of outwitting and defeating a stronger assassin.
• Jiang Sihai and Lin Shuyun remain loving and anxious parents. Though they worry that Jiang Chen’s training is too dangerous, they support him through practical care, food, and concern.
• Sun Wu acts as a generous and responsible senior, providing a valuable pill while stressing the importance of a careful breakthrough.
• The assassin shifts from confident professional to helpless captive, startled by Jiang Chen’s abilities and frightened by the poison.

Significant themes

• Perseverance and self-improvement: Jiang Chen accepts pain and hardship in pursuit of a future beyond his current limitations.
• Preparation and resourcefulness: He combines medicine, cultivation, perception, and strategy to overcome opponents stronger than himself.
• Family support and ambition: His parents’ care contrasts with the demanding path Jiang Chen has chosen to pursue his aspirations.
• Retaliation and danger: Jiang Chen’s growing ambitions and past actions bring threats from powerful rivals, especially the Zheng Clan.

Character interactions

• Jiang Chen reassures his parents while they urge him to protect his health.
• Sun Wu gives Jiang Chen the Lingxi Pill and advises him on breaking through; Jiang Chen’s explanation helps his father understand the pressure driving his training.
• Jiang Chen uses Soul Force Impact to defeat the assassin, then calmly questions him. The assassin’s reaction to the Zheng Clan’s name confirms Jiang Chen’s suspicion that they arranged the attack.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jiang Chen captures and interrogates a spy from the Zheng Clan, who reveals information about the Zheng Clan's secrets and plans.
• Jiang Chen decides to break through to the True Martial Realm immediately due to the ongoing threat from the Zheng Clan.
• He consumes the Lingxi Pill and successfully separates, draws, and fuses the aura of heaven and earth with his martial Blood Qi, breaking through to the True Martial Realm.
• The Zheng Clan, realizing the failure of their assassination attempt, decides to seek help from mysterious, powerful individuals to deal with the Jiang Clan.

Character Developments

• Jiang Chen demonstrates his ruthlessness and determination by killing the spy without hesitation.
• He shows his strategic thinking by deciding to break through to the True Martial Realm immediately to strengthen his position against the Zheng Clan.
• Zheng Chengfeng, the leader of the Zheng Clan, shows his desperation and willingness to seek help from unknown sources to protect his household.

Significant Themes

• The theme of power and its importance in survival and protection is emphasized, as Jiang Chen seeks to strengthen himself and the Zheng Clan seeks external help.
• The theme of ruthlessness and decisiveness is shown through Jiang Chen's actions, contrasting with Zheng Chengfeng's hesitation and desperation.

Character Interactions

• Jiang Chen interacts with the spy, interrogating and ultimately killing him.
• Zheng Chengfeng interacts with his subordinate, discussing their next steps and deciding to seek help from mysterious individuals.
• Jiang Chen's actions and decisions are shown in isolation, as he meditates and breaks through to the True Martial Realm alone.

Chapter Summary: “Cultivation Method”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jiang Chen practices the White Ape Combat Method to familiarize himself with his newly acquired Martial True Qi. With fivefold force, Stone Skin defense, and no Soul Force Perception, he estimates that he can already fight a True Martial Second Layer opponent.
• He identifies speed as his main weakness and plans to cultivate the Return to Void Technique.
• When he attempts to cultivate using the White Ape Breathing Method, he finds that his progress is extremely slow because of his Ordinary Bone Aptitude. He decides to seek a stronger internal cultivation method from the martial hall.
• At breakfast, Jiang Chen announces to his parents, Jiang Sihai and Lin Shuyun, that he has successfully entered the True Martial Realm only six or seven days after opening his Seven Apertures. They are shocked and ecstatic.
• Jiang Sihai plans to inform the Jiang Clan Ancestral Branch, since Jiang Guiyuan had promised that Jiang Chen would receive two-thirds of the clan’s resources if he caught up to Jiang Xuan. Jiang Chen warns that the ancestral branch may withdraw its promise because the White Ape Martial Hall has judged him unlikely to enter the True Sun Sect.
• Jiang Chen gives his father a list of materials needed to cultivate movement techniques. Jiang Sihai also gives him ten thousand taels for emergencies before he leaves for the martial hall.
• At the ancestral branch, Jiang Guiyuan and Jiang Junyue react with disbelief and concern upon learning of Jiang Chen’s breakthrough. Rather than immediately honor the resource agreement, Guiyuan decides to have Jiang Xuan determine the White Ape Martial Hall’s attitude toward Jiang Chen.
• At the martial hall, Jiang Chen tells Sun Wu that he succeeded in breaking through. Sun Wu is initially stunned, then delighted, realizing that Jiang Chen’s rapid advancement could bring him significant future benefits.
• Sun Wu brings Jiang Chen to Zhou Rongfeng, who verifies both his True Martial cultivation and his Ordinary Bone Aptitude. Although impressed by the breakthrough, Zhou Rongfeng loses interest after confirming Jiang Chen’s limited potential.
• Zhou Rongfeng gives Jiang Chen the first three layers of the White Ape Mountain-Suppressing Technique, but offers no additional resources or special treatment. This confirms that the martial hall does not intend to cultivate Jiang Chen seriously.

Character Developments

• Jiang Chen demonstrates rapidly increasing confidence and combat ability. He remains realistic about his weaknesses, especially his slow cultivation speed and lack of movement techniques, while relying on the Myriad Dao Chart and the Myriad Treasure Pavilion for future support.
• He also becomes more independent and pragmatic, no longer depending entirely on the Jiang Clan or White Ape Martial Hall. He openly considers leaving the ancestral branch if it breaks its promise.
• Jiang Sihai and Lin Shuyun are overjoyed by their son’s breakthrough and remain devoted to supporting him, though Sihai’s faith in the ancestral branch is tempered by Jiang Chen’s warning.
• Jiang Guiyuan reveals his willingness to reinterpret or possibly break his public promise if doing so benefits Jiang Xuan and the wider clan. He seeks justification from the martial hall rather than honoring the agreement immediately.
• Jiang Junyue becomes anxious upon realizing that Jiang Chen has caught up with Jiang Xuan, threatening the advantages his branch had gained.
• Sun Wu shifts from concern that Jiang Chen may have failed to strong enthusiasm and investment in him. He recognizes Jiang Chen’s unusual potential despite the formal aptitude assessment.
• Zhou Rongfeng remains focused on bone aptitude and sect prospects. His brief interest in Jiang Chen disappears once Jiang Chen is confirmed to have Ordinary Bone Aptitude, exposing the martial hall’s rigid judgment of talent.

Significant Themes

• Aptitude versus actual potential: Jiang Chen’s rapid breakthrough challenges the belief that bone aptitude alone determines a martial artist’s future.
• Institutional prejudice: The martial hall values Medium or Superior Bone Aptitude over demonstrated achievement, treating Jiang Chen as having a low ceiling despite his extraordinary progress.
• Family loyalty and political interests: The ancestral branch’s promise is tested by the conflict between fairness to Jiang Chen and favoritism toward Jiang Xuan.
• Self-reliance: Jiang Chen increasingly places his trust in his own abilities and the Myriad Treasure Pavilion rather than clan resources or official recognition.
• Hidden advantages and destiny: The Myriad Dao Chart appears to have played a decisive role in Jiang Chen’s breakthrough, suggesting that his true potential cannot be measured by conventional standards.
• The value of recognition: Jiang Chen’s success attracts Sun Wu’s support, but Zhou Rongfeng’s dismissive response shows that achievement alone may not overcome entrenched hierarchies.

Character Interactions

• Jiang Chen reassures and cautions his parents, balancing their excitement with realistic expectations about the ancestral branch.
• Jiang Sihai supports Jiang Chen materially by arranging supplies and giving him money, while Jiang Chen encourages his father to prepare for possible betrayal.
• Jiang Guiyuan and Jiang Junyue discuss how to avoid giving Jiang Chen the promised resources, revealing their shared concern over Jiang Xuan’s position.
• Jiang Chen’s revelation to Sun Wu transforms Sun Wu’s attitude from sympathy to excitement and ambition.
• Sun Wu advocates for Jiang Chen by bringing him before Zhou Rongfeng, but Zhou’s assessment reduces Jiang Chen to his aptitude and denies him meaningful cultivation support.
• Jiang Chen remains respectful toward Zhou Rongfeng while recognizing that the martial hall does not consider him worth investing in.

Key plot points and events

• News spreads that Jiang Chen has entered the True Martial Realm just over two months after passing the Three Qi and Blood Gates. His fellow disciples are stunned, especially because repeated tests confirm his bone aptitude is only ordinary.
• At the martial hall, disciples wonder whether Jiang Chen used a forbidden drug or rare medicine. Master Zhou has taught him the first three levels of an internal technique but has not yet promised further support, leaving the others relieved that their own resources may be safe.
• Jiang Xuan, who had just received the news from his clan, struggles to accept Jiang Chen’s progress. He suspects Jiang Chen used some special medicine and urges his clan to investigate, hoping to obtain the same advantage for himself.
• The news reaches the Outer Courtyard. Wang Qingzhu regrets not having attached herself to Jiang Chen when she first recognized his potential; she now believes she has let a rare talent slip away.
• Sun Wu brings Jiang Chen to the Myriad Treasure Pavilion to meet Pavilion Master Liu Qing’er. When Jiang Chen discreetly probes Senior Luo with soul force, Luo senses something and reacts with a dangerous aura, warning Jiang Chen that others may detect his ability.
• Liu Qing’er has Jiang Chen’s aptitude examined again; Senior Luo confirms it is ordinary. Despite this, she offers him a bottle of Rare Grade Qi Gathering Pills each month, in return for his prioritizing work for the Pavilion once he succeeds in martial cultivation.

Character developments and interactions

• Jiang Chen remains composed amid the sudden attention and welcomes the Pavilion’s examination and sponsorship. His attempt to test Senior Luo reveals both his growing confidence and the risks of using his soul-force ability.
• Jiang Xuan shifts from disbelief to envy and calculation, determined to discover Jiang Chen’s supposed secret and use it to advance himself.
• Zhou Yuqing believes Jiang Chen deserves support and worries her father is underestimating him, while the other disciples mainly fear losing access to resources.
• Wang Qingzhu is consumed by regret over her earlier hesitation and recognizes how badly she misjudged Jiang Chen’s prospects.
• Liu Qing’er judges Jiang Chen by his exceptional results rather than his aptitude classification and makes a substantial offer. Sun Wu is surprised by the generosity and encourages Jiang Chen to accept.
• Senior Luo demonstrates formidable power and heightened perception, reacting sharply to Jiang Chen’s probing.

Significant themes

• Talent versus aptitude: Jiang Chen’s rapid breakthrough challenges the martial hall’s belief that bone aptitude determines potential.
• Envy and competition: His achievement unsettles peers and motivates Jiang Xuan to seek an advantage for himself.
• Missed opportunities: Wang Qingzhu’s regret shows the cost of judging talent too cautiously.
• Patronage and obligation: The Pavilion’s generous support offers Jiang Chen resources but binds his future service to a powerful institution.

Plot points and events

• Liu Qing’er rewards Jiang Chen for his potential with fifteen thousand taels per month, three bottles of Qi Gathering Pills, and the Wind-Thunder Precious Scroll, a rare high-tier True Martial saber art. She explains that the coming Martial Exam will involve lethal combat, making powerful techniques especially valuable.
• Jiang Chen asks to move his parents to a residence near the Myriad Treasure Pavilion after someone sneaks into his home. Unsure who was responsible, he suspects the Zheng Clan but keeps the details to himself. Liu Qing’er agrees to have Shopkeeper Yu help arrange housing.
• After Jiang Chen and Sun Wu leave, Liu Qing’er learns that a hidden observer had been spying on them. She and Uncle Luo suspect the Prefecture Capital’s Liu Clan Lineage, possibly because it has learned of her family’s True Sun Token.
• Liu Qing’er fears the lineage may have been responsible for the deaths of her parents and younger brother. She asks Uncle Luo to assess Jiang Chen and whether he should receive the token. He advises watching Jiang Chen’s progress before deciding.

Character developments and interactions

• Jiang Chen shows gratitude but remains self-possessed. He welcomes the valuable gifts, confident his Myriad Dao Chart can overcome the saber art’s difficulty. His concern for his parents prompts him to seek a safer home, while his private suspicion of the Zheng Clan hints at plans to retaliate.
• Liu Qing’er continues to invest heavily in Jiang Chen despite his ordinary bone aptitude, believing his unexplained opportunity may give him unusual potential. Her playful teasing contrasts with her growing suspicion and anger toward her own lineage.
• Uncle Luo demonstrates sharp instincts and offers a measured judgment: Jiang Chen appears unusually composed and promising, but must prove his worth over time.
• Sun Wu is astonished by the high-tier martial art and immediately connects Jiang Chen’s danger to the Zheng Clan.

Significant themes

• Potential beyond innate aptitude: Jiang Chen’s ordinary bone aptitude may not define his limits.
• Power, patronage, and opportunity: Liu Qing’er’s resources could greatly accelerate his development.
• Family protection and revenge: Jiang Chen seeks safety for his parents, while Liu Qing’er confronts suspicions surrounding her family’s deaths.
• Trust and hidden threats: Spies, uncertain enemies, and the coveted True Sun Token make both personal and political loyalties precarious.