Recaps

After artillery breached Lin Family Fortress, the Lin Family Ancestor unleashed a third-tier White-Browed Tiger to cover his attempt to transplant its heart. Xiao Yuqing charged the beast as Lu Zhen watched from a safe distance, leaving their fight about to begin.

• Xiao Yuqing ordered the artillery to blast open Lin Family Fortress, and Huo Tianxiao led the assault and killed three Lin Family hall masters.
• Lu Zhen kept Third Station's men cautious while Xiao Ran spotted him holding back.
• Lin Fu reported the breach to the Lin Family Ancestor, who ordered the Black-Scaled Giant Ape's heart transplanted and used a secret technique to free the White-Browed Tiger.
• The White-Browed Tiger burst into the courtyard, shrugged off gunfire, and killed several constables, forcing Huo Tianxiao to order a retreat.
• Xiao Yuqing charged the White-Browed Tiger with her spear as Lu Zhen watched her make her first move.

Xiao Yuqing killed the third-tier Demon Tiger at Lin Family Fortress, and Xiao Ran ordered the constables to search the stronghold for the missing Lin family leaders. Lu Zhen discovered a concealed passage beneath a rockery and slipped inside, leaving the search underway above him.

• Xiao Yuqing used her spear and Dark Force to kill the Demon Tiger, while Lu Zhen realized how great the gap was between Bright Force and the Grandmaster realm.
• Xiao Ran ordered the constables to surround Lin Family Fortress and search for Lin Fu and the Lin Family's old ancestor.
• The constables searched the fortress, while Xiao Ran and Xiao Yuqing ignored them pocketing small valuables.
• Lu Zhen heard an unusual echo beneath a ruined rockery, found a concealed crack, and entered the underground passage alone.

Lu Zhen confronted the demonized Lin Family Ancestor in the secret passage and fought him with the River-Severing Blade Art. As the Ancestor’s body failed under the transplanted beast heart’s rejection, he prepared a desperate secret technique to escape death.

• Lu Zhen encountered the half-demonized Lin Family Ancestor in the passage and recognized him as the source of the blood and Western Potion stench.
• The Lin Family Ancestor mistook Lu Zhen for a low-ranking squad leader and lunged at him, but Lu Zhen blocked the claw with a Force Extreme Fifth Layer strike.
• Lu Zhen claimed Xiao Yuqing had sent him to intercept the Ancestor, startling him and disrupting the already unstable beast heart in his chest.
• Lu Zhen pressed the attack, cutting scales from the Ancestor’s arm as the Ancestor struggled against his worsening rejection and offered to reveal his family’s secret treasury.
• Lu Zhen ignored the offer and used Flow-Intercepting to pierce the Ancestor’s defense, forcing him to prepare a dangerous secret art that could worsen his injuries.

Lu Zhen survived the Lin Family Ancestor’s soul attack and killed him, then secretly kept a parchment roll and booklet from the corpse. Xiao Yuqing awarded Lu Zhen ten Merit Points while noticing he had hidden something, and Yu Wenbo also suspected it as Lu Zhen left the passage.

• The Lin Family Ancestor struck Lu Zhen with a soul attack, but a pipa melody steadied Lu Zhen’s spirit and let him recover.
• Lu Zhen killed the Lin Family Ancestor with a slash to the neck and secretly took a parchment roll and booklet from his coat.
• Constables arrived, and Xiao Ran and Huo Tianxiao identified the corpse as the Lin Family Ancestor.
• Xiao Yuqing explained that Western doctors had transplanted a demon beast’s heart into the Ancestor, then awarded Lu Zhen ten Merit Points for killing him.
• Lu Zhen claimed the Ancestor’s strength had fallen and that he had barely won; Xiao Yuqing noticed a bulge under his uniform but said nothing.
• Yu Wenbo searched the corpse, found it empty, and suspected Lu Zhen had hidden the Ancestor’s belongings.

Lu Zhen examined a map and an incomplete spirit-refining manual taken from the Lin Family, then began cultivating its techniques. His unusually powerful spirit let him master the first three levels in one night, adding the Nameless Spirit-Refining Art to his status panel at Lv.3.

• Lu Zhen carried weapons from the Lin Family Fortress cleanup before secretly taking a sheepskin map and a thin booklet back to his room.
• Lu Zhen recognized the map’s red circle as a possible secret vault location in the Great Wilderness Mountain, but decided to wait until he was stronger before investigating.
• Lu Zhen read the manual’s seven levels of spiritual cultivation and learned that its detailed instructions covered only the first three levels and part of the fourth.
• Lu Zhen practiced Calm Spirit and found that his spirit gathered effortlessly, then mastered Startle Spirit as his spiritual pressure dimmed the lamp and radiated fear.
• Lu Zhen compressed his spiritual power into a needle and mastered Soul Piercing, completing three levels in one night.
• Lu Zhen received settlement rewards, and his panel listed the Nameless Spirit-Refining Art at Lv.3.

Lu Zhen turned in the incomplete Spirit-Refining Art, earned ten more great merits, and was appointed squad leader of Third Station. As Xiao Ran brought him to assume his post, Zhao Chongguang and the other constables were celebrating a promotion they expected him to receive instead, when Lu Zhen arrived.

• Lu Zhen visited Xiao Yuqing at the East City General Bureau and handed over the incomplete Spirit-Refining Art found on the Lin Family Ancestor.
• Xiao Yuqing awarded Lu Zhen ten great merits for turning in the art, bringing his total to twenty, and appointed him squad leader of Third Station.
• Xiao Yuqing ordered Xiao Ran to take Lu Zhen to Third Station and read out the warrant promoting him over Chen An.
• At Third Station, Chen An told Zhao Chongguang that Young Master Huo had recommended him for the squad leader position, and Zhao believed the promotion was assured.
• Zheng Hu and other constables congratulated Zhao Chongguang, who basked in their praise while admitting the appointment was not yet official.
• Military boots sounded at the courtyard entrance as Xiao Ran brought Lu Zhen to Third Station.

Xiao Ran delivered the General Station’s order removing Chen An and promoting Lu Zhen to Squad Leader of the Third Station. After taking command and laying down his rules, Lu Zhen asked Old Qian for the Red File Directory to learn how to redeem major merit.

• Xiao Ran announced that Chen An would step back from active duty and Lu Zhen would immediately become Squad Leader of the Third Station.
• Zhao Chongguang protested Lu Zhen’s promotion, but Xiao Ran warned him against questioning Director Xiao’s military orders, and he reluctantly recognized Lu Zhen as Squad Leader.
• Monkey and the other guards saluted Lu Zhen, while Chen An reflected on how his schemes had cost him his position.
• Old Qian provided Lu Zhen with a dark blue squad leader’s uniform, and Lu Zhen ordered the station to follow orders and get things done.
• Lu Zhen asked Old Qian how to redeem major merit, and Old Qian brought him the General Station’s Red File Directory.

Lu Zhen spent eighteen major merits on a Yin Spirit Flower and a Marrow-Cleansing Pill, then drove to the East City General Bureau to collect them. After he refused Yu Wenbo’s offer to buy one merit, Yu Wenbo suspected he had taken the Lin Family Ancestor’s treasures and decided to sell that information to Ocean City’s underworld.

• Lu Zhen exchanged eighteen major merits for a Yin Spirit Flower and a Marrow-Cleansing Pill, which he planned to use to nourish his spirit and improve his body.
• Old Qian gave Lu Zhen a voucher for the treasures and offered him an old jeep, which Lu Zhen drove skillfully to the East City General Bureau.
• Lu Zhen met Yu Wenbo, who offered him a thousand Silver Dollars for one major merit, but Lu Zhen refused because he had already planned how to use his merits.
• Yu Wenbo recalled the Lin Family Ancestor’s looted corpse, suspected Lu Zhen had taken the ancestor’s treasures, and decided to sell the information to black-market contacts.

Lu Zhen exchanged his merits for an Yin Spirit Flower and a Marrow-Cleansing Pill, then celebrated his promotion with Gu Yanzhi at the Spring Harmony Troupe. Their conversation revealed Gu Yanzhi’s involvement with the Iron-Blooded National Salvation Society, while Huang Suyin considered using Lu Zhen’s new rank to deter Master Wang from harassing her.

• Lu Zhen collected an Yin Spirit Flower and a Marrow-Cleansing Pill from Manager Sun at the Military Affairs Pavilion.
• Lu Zhen met Gu Yanzhi, discovered he had reached Bright Force, and agreed to visit the Spring Harmony Troupe with him.
• Lu Zhen listened to Huang Suyin play the pipa while Gu Yanzhi described the costly resources behind his breakthrough.
• Lu Zhen indirectly warned Gu Yanzhi that the Iron-Blooded National Salvation Society’s assassinations could bring ruin, and Gu Yanzhi admitted that some things had to be done.
• After Lu Zhen and Gu Yanzhi left, Xiao Huan noted Lu Zhen’s promotion, and Huang Suyin planned to spread word of his interest in her music to discourage Master Wang.

Zhou Shichang and Jin Wujiu plotted to undermine Xiao Yuqing by having Zhao Chongguang challenge Lu Zhen at the Spring Grand Review, while Zhou arranged to train Zhao to late-stage Bright Force. At home, Lu Zhen received six Yin Spirit Flowers and six Marrow-Cleansing Pills from his settlement rewards, leaving him poised to strengthen his physique and soul.

• Jin Wujiu proposed that Zhao Chongguang challenge Lu Zhen publicly at the Spring Grand Review to discredit Xiao Yuqing if Lu Zhen lost.
• Zhou Shichang ordered Jin Wujiu to summon Zhao Chongguang and personally train him with bureau secret medicine until he reached late-stage Bright Force.
• Shen Yun waited up to serve Lu Zhen chicken soup and noodles, then wondered whether he had grown distant from her and decided to buy him medicinal tonics.
• Lu Zhen opened his daily settlement and received six Yin Spirit Flowers, six Marrow-Cleansing Pills, and increases to his martial skill, physique, and general experience.

Lu Zhen used a Marrow-Cleansing Pill and a Yin Spirit Flower to strengthen his body and spirit, then rejected a neighbor’s proposal that Lu Wan work at a dangerous factory. After several quiet days, he took another dose of each and anticipated the next Daily Settlement.

• Lu Zhen absorbed a Marrow-Cleansing Pill, expelled impurities, and felt his flesh, sinews, and bones grow stronger.
• Lu Zhen used a Yin Spirit Flower and the Nameless Spirit-Refining Art to sharpen his spiritual needle and senses.
• Lu Zhen encountered Lu Wan speaking with their neighbor, a young woman surnamed Lin, who urged her to work at the Western Machinery Factory.
• Lu Zhen refused to let Lu Wan take the dangerous factory job, sent Lin away, and decided to find his sister a suitable internal training method.
• After seven or eight peaceful days, Lu Zhen swallowed a third Marrow-Cleansing Pill and another Yin Spirit Flower, expecting the next settlement to raise his Physique experience.

Lu Zhen’s physique and mental arts advanced, giving him overwhelming strength and deadly control over throwing knives. Meanwhile, Black Sun Corporation ordered the assassin Mist Hidden to kill him and recover the Lin Family’s hidden treasure.

• The Daily Settlement raised Lu Zhen’s physique to Tiger-Leopard Thunder Sound Lv.6, and he estimated his basic strength at eighteen thousand jin.
• Lu Zhen used his mental power to drive three throwing knives through a steel target with force comparable to his strongest technique.
• A subordinate told Black Sun Corporation’s president that Yu Wenbo suspected Lu Zhen had taken the Lin Family Ancestor’s secret treasure.
• The president ordered Mist Hidden to retrieve the treasure and dispose of Lu Zhen.

Lu Zhen deployed the Third Station to suppress a student protest, using force to keep the crowd from being caught in a deadly clash while pursuing the people stirring up the unrest. After killing three fleeing fighters, he confronted a ninja who recognized him as the killer of the Lin Family Ancestor.

• Monkey reported that armed Hetero-Martialists had turned a student protest near Yongan Department Store into chaos, and Lu Zhen ordered the Third Station to deploy.
• Lu Zhen told Gu Yanzhi to use force against anyone resisting, explaining that he wanted to prevent the students from being killed by the Hetero-Martialists or arriving troops.
• Lu Zhen and the constables charged into the street and knocked down students and Hetero-Martialists as several covert instigators retreated through the crowd.
• Lu Zhen pursued three fleeing fighters, killed two with his blade, and beheaded the third near a ruined temple.
• Lu Zhen sensed a ninja hiding by an old locust tree, and the ninja recognized him as the killer of the Lin Family Ancestor before drawing his weapon.

Lu Zhen killed Yinwu, a Koga Clan Chunin who had attacked him, then ordered an investigation into the riot and made the shop managers pay for the injured students’ medical care. The Black Sun Corporation’s branch president learned of Yinwu’s death and ordered his agents to watch Lu Zhen without approaching him, before writing to Keiko.

• Yinwu attacked Lu Zhen from above, but Lu Zhen’s three flying knives overwhelmed his defense and killed him.
• Lu Zhen searched Yinwu’s body for clues, found nothing, and returned to Yongan Department Store, where he made the shop managers pay for the students’ medical expenses.
• Lu Zhen ordered Gu Yanzhi to take the drugged Hetero-Martialists to the station and interrogate them, but they knew nothing about who had hired them.
• The Black Sun Corporation’s branch president learned that Yinwu had been killed and ordered his agents to monitor Lu Zhen without making a move.
• The branch president wrote to Keiko to report Yinwu’s death.

Lu Zhen advanced his Daily Settlement level and refined his blade skill until his strength rivaled a Dark Force Grandmaster. At the Garrison Bureau’s Spring Grand Review, Zhou Shichang’s allies provoked a public match between Lu Zhen and Zhao Chongguang, who revealed that he had reached late-stage Bright Force.

• Lu Zhen spent 10,000 General Experience to raise Daily Settlement to Lv. 6, then used his River-Severing Blade Art to reach Force Extreme Sixth Layer.
• Lu Zhen attended the Spring Grand Review, where Ma Sanyuan warned him that Inspector Chen Jingxing distrusted young martial geniuses who advanced quickly.
• Jin Wujiu proposed that Zhao Chongguang challenge Lu Zhen, acting on Deputy Director Zhou Shichang’s signal.
• Chen Jingxing endorsed the Bureau’s rule that strength decided advancement, and Xiao Yuqing accepted the match.
• Zhao Chongguang answered the challenge with a thunderous voice, revealing that he had broken through to late-stage Bright Force.

Lu Zhen defeated Zhao Chongguang in the Spring School Grand Competition despite Zhao’s late Bright Force cultivation, securing his Squad Leader position and restoring Xiao Yuqing’s standing. The competition ended with Xiao Yuqing penalizing Zhao and warning Jin Wujiu, while the crowd left impressed by Lu Zhen’s sword strike.

• Zhou Shichang used his resources to push Zhao Chongguang into late Bright Force, hoping he would defeat Lu Zhen and humiliate Xiao Yuqing.
• Lu Zhen ignored Lei Zhenshan, Gu Yanzhi, and Ma Sanyuan’s warnings and entered the arena to face Zhao Chongguang.
• Zhao Chongguang attacked with his Refined Iron Great Hammer, but Lu Zhen’s Sea-Parting slash disarmed him and stopped at his throat.
• Xiao Yuqing praised Lu Zhen, told Chen Jingxing the bureau’s rule remained intact, and deducted five great merit credits from Zhao Chongguang.
• Xiao Yuqing rebuked Jin Wujiu, ended the competition, and the crowd departed discussing Lu Zhen’s astonishing sword strike.

After Lu Zhen impressed the military academy by defeating Zhao Chongguang, Xiao Yuqing rewarded him with a rare saber and ordered the release of his uncle, Li Changgeng. Xiao Ran delivered both gifts but left irritated by Lu Zhen’s composure and planned to challenge him.

• Xiao Yuqing praised Lu Zhen’s advancement and ordered Xiao Ran to deliver him a weapon worth about fifty great merits.
• Xiao Yuqing ordered Li Changgeng released from the General Station jail, reasoning that Zhou Shichang would not dare interfere after his defeat.
• Lu Zhen returned to the Third Station, accepted praise from his constables, and sent them back to work.
• Xiao Ran brought Lu Zhen a rare saber from the General Station Secret Vault and told him that Li Changgeng would be released that afternoon.
• Lu Zhen thanked Xiao Yuqing through Xiao Ran, while Xiao Ran left annoyed at his calm demeanor and resolved to challenge him.

Li Changgeng returned home after being released from the Garrison Bureau, while Charlie falsely claimed credit for securing his release. Li Changgeng recognized Charlie’s lies and praised Lu Zhen, but Li Qingyue rejected her father’s suggestion that she consider Lu Zhen and stormed out.

• Aunt and Li Qingyue trusted Charlie’s claim that the church was working to free Li Changgeng, while Charlie secretly planned to exploit Li Qingyue and her family’s property.
• Li Changgeng arrived home, and Charlie took credit for his release despite having had no part in it.
• Li Changgeng told his family that Lu Zhen had helped him in prison and said they should visit him to show their gratitude.
• Li Qingyue credited Charlie instead, but Li Changgeng warned her that Charlie was dishonest and said Lu Zhen was a dependable young man.
• Li Qingyue rejected her father’s suggestion that she consider Lu Zhen, argued for free love, and stormed out.

Lu Zhen obtained a rare new blade and arranged for Ding Xuan to teach the women in his household martial arts. Afterward, Yan Tieqiao asked him to persuade Yan Shanshan to stop following Gu Yanzhi, and Lu Zhen suspected his master feared Gu Yanzhi’s ties to the Iron-Blooded National Salvation Society.

• Lu Zhen admired the Cold Iron Essence Gold blade he had acquired.
• At the Iron Arm Martial Arts Hall, Lu Zhen hired Ding Xuan for fifty Silver Dollars a month to train his sister and the women in his household.
• A handsome apprentice grew jealous when he saw Ding Xuan eagerly accept Lu Zhen’s offer.
• Yan Tieqiao praised Lu Zhen’s recent promotion and asked him to talk Yan Shanshan out of following Gu Yanzhi.
• Lu Zhen agreed, suspecting Yan Tieqiao feared Gu Yanzhi’s secret connection to the Iron-Blooded National Salvation Society.

Lu Zhen broke through to the Force Extreme Seventh Layer and entered the Control Realm, unleashing a strike powerful enough to destroy part of his courtyard wall. After the settlement panel rewarded his breakthrough, he decided to travel to Great Wilderness Mountain and search the Lin Family's secret vault for resources.

• Ding Xuan patiently trained Lu Wan and Shen Yun while Lu Zhen used medicinal soup to help build their strength.
• After a week of practicing the River-Severing Blade Art, Lu Zhen broke through to the Force Extreme Seventh Layer and entered the Control Realm by drawing on the power of Heaven and Earth.
• Lu Zhen's first Control Realm strike demolished part of the courtyard wall, frightening Lu Wan and Shen Yun and drawing a Constabulary patrol to Anping Street.
• Lu Zhen realized his Control Realm strength could add about two million pounds of force, though his body could not sustain the state for long.
• The daily settlement panel rewarded Lu Zhen for his breakthrough, and he chose to seek medicines and other treasures in the Lin Family's secret vault at Great Wilderness Mountain.

Lu Zhen left the city disguised as a hunter and joined a party bound for the Great Wilderness Mountain, where he was secretly suspected of seeking the Lin Family Treasury. After learning of his journey, Yagyu Setsusai set out to follow him.

• Lu Zhen told Shen Yun and Lu Wan to stay cautious, then informed Old Qian and Monkey that he would be away before leaving the city.
• Lu Zhen disguised himself as a weathered hunter and paid Zhao Laocai ten Silver Dollars to join his party heading into the Great Wilderness Mountain.
• Lu Zhen set out with guide Chen Shouye, apprentice Wang Tiezhu, Zhao Laocai, and Doctor Sun after Chen warned them about the dangers of the deep forests.
• The Black Sun Corporation branch president learned that Lu Zhen had gone north and suspected he was seeking the Lin Family Treasury, so he sent word to Yagyu Setsusai.
• Yagyu Setsusai read the report, dismissed the possibility that Xiao Yuqing was protecting Lu Zhen, and left to pursue him.

Lu Zhen led the group into the mountains, where his archery impressed them and Little Pebble asked him to teach him martial arts. After the group found the Snake-Carrying Grass, Lu Zhen slipped away and discovered a hidden cave beneath a cliff.

• Chen Shouye used trees and signs in the forest to guide the group and warn them to watch for recent animal tracks.
• Lu Zhen shot a wild rabbit through an Iron Birch tree, leading Zhao Laocai to recognize him as a Lianli-stage martial artist.
• Chen Shouye angrily rebuked Little Pebble for wanting to learn martial arts, but Lu Zhen later taught him a standing-posture exercise.
• Lu Zhen matched the sheepskin scroll's map to the mountains and identified a nearby peak shaped like a crouching tiger.
• Doctor Sun and Zhao Laocai found Snake-Carrying Grass in a valley, while Lu Zhen slipped away and uncovered a cave hidden behind vines.

Lu Zhen found a rare concealment mask and a Yaksha token among the Lin Family’s last reserves, then returned to the valley as Doctor Sun led the Black Tiger Gang to seize the Snake-Carrying Grass. When Yagyu Setsusai attacked, Lu Zhen deflected the knives aimed at the group and faced the Dark Force Grandmaster as he unleashed his blade aura.

• Lu Zhen discovered a hidden compartment containing a mask, a black iron Yaksha token, and a letter explaining the mask’s powers and how to contact the killer organization.
• Lu Zhen returned to the valley and noticed that Doctor Sun was missing while Zhao Laocai, Old Man Chen, and Little Pebble gathered Snake-Carrying Grass.
• Doctor Sun returned with the Black Tiger Gang, whose bald leader demanded the herbs and Zhao Family grain shops in exchange for sparing Zhao Laocai.
• Yagyu Setsusai launched throwing knives at the group, but Lu Zhen used three flying knives to deflect the attacks and kill the gang members.
• Yagyu Setsusai identified Lu Zhen as a Heart Cultivator and drew his sword, unleashing blade aura as Chen Shouye realized he was a Dark Force Grandmaster.

Lu Zhen killed Yagyu Setsusai in the Great Wilderness Mountain, then used a false story to keep the witnesses silent and concealed his identity while investigating the surveillance on his home. After several days away, he returned openly to Ocean City, where Black Sun Corporation’s branch president chose to wait for Yagyu Setsusai before acting.

• Lu Zhen entered the Control Realm, evaded Yagyu Setsusai’s attack, and killed him with River-Severing.
• Lu Zhen convinced Zhao Laocai and the other villagers to conceal what they had seen, while Little Pebble found Silver Dollars and asked Chen Shouye to teach him martial arts.
• Lu Zhen used a cicada-wing mask to return near his home, killed a Genin lookout, and discovered that Black Sun Corporation had tracked him with a Mechanical Bird.
• Lu Zhen spent seven or eight days tempering his qi and blood in a cave, then returned openly through Ocean City’s north gate to draw out the watchers.
• Black Sun Corporation’s branch president learned Lu Zhen had returned and decided to wait for Yagyu Setsusai before sending anyone after him.

Lu Zhen used a Faceless mask to enter the Yaksha and seek lucrative assassination contracts, then challenged its strongest swordsmen to earn a gold medal. He revealed himself as a Heart Cultivator and faced the Nether Three Swords in the assessment.

• Lu Zhen named the concealment mask Faceless, wore it to disguise himself, and slipped past the Eastern Island spies watching his home.
• Lu Zhen used the black-iron token to gain entry to the Yaksha and chose a direct assessment instead of starting with low-level contracts.
• Lu Zhen called himself Faceless and demanded to be tested for a gold-medal assassin rank by fighting all three members of the Nether Three Swords.
• Lu Zhen summoned a sword from across the courtyard with a gesture, revealing himself as a Heart Cultivator, then taunted the three swordsmen to attack.