Recaps

Lin Tian left the Lin Family Old Residence as his grandfather chose to keep investing in Lin Tiansheng instead of supporting him. Lin Tian then broke through to Dark Force and returned to the Martial Academy, where disciples whispered about his strength and the rumors surrounding him.

• Lin Tian bid farewell to Lin Ci and left the family residence, while the Old Master told Zhang Cui and Lin Tiansheng that supporting Lin Tian could wait until after the Martial Examination.
• Lin Tiansheng persuaded the Old Master to give him five taels for Blood-Qi Pills, then headed to the Inner City with the money for other expenses.
• Lin Tian broke through to Dark Force and tested its power by punching a hollow into a tree without force leaking outward.
• Lin Tian returned to the Martial Academy, where disciples discussed his breakthrough and warned one another not to speak carelessly about him.

Lin Tian sought work and possible support after entering the Inner Academy, and Zhang Ming arranged a temporary post for him at the Shipping Bureau. Zhou Ya’s family rivalry and resentment over Lin Tian’s Inferior Bone Quality stirred old regrets, while Lin Tian left with an envelope to claim his post.

• Lin Tian entered the empty Inner Academy early and practiced the Mountain-Shaking Fist while considering how to earn silver and find someone to support his cultivation.
• The Inner Academy disciples arrived and mostly ignored Lin Tian, while Zhou Ya’s frustration over her cousin’s alliance with a Wang Family Martial Academy genius resurfaced.
• Zhou Ya remembered that she had once considered bringing Lin Tian to the Lin Family for cultivation before his Inferior Bone Quality was revealed, and she began practicing far from him.
• Lin Tian asked Zhang Ming for help finding an external post and possible cultivation support.
• Zhang Ming described escort work and temporary dock-guard work, and Lin Tian chose the Shipping Bureau because it took less time and carried less risk.
• Zhang Ming gave Lin Tian an envelope for the Shipping Bureau in the Inner City and promised to watch for cultivation opportunities.

Lin Tian rejected Zhang Ming’s suggestion to seek resources from the Inner City clans and registered as a guard at the Shipping Bureau. As Lin Tian left with his uniform, saber, and token, Zhao Cui recognized the signs of his new post and realized Lin Tian had reached Bright Force.

• Zhang Ming suggested Lin Tian seek support from the Inner City clans, but Lin Tian decided their help would be too little and too costly to pursue.
• Zhang Ming reassured Lin Tian that the choice was his, then left after their day of fist practice ended.
• Lin Tian registered for a post at the Shipping Bureau and received his required robes, saber, and identity token.
• An old man warned Lin Tian to wear his uniform, report lost equipment, and avoid confronting trouble at the docks alone.
• Zhao Cui saw Lin Tian carrying the Shipping Bureau’s saber and token and realized that Lin Tian was a Bright Force martial artist.

Lin Tian found the Black Axe Gang surrounding his family’s black-awning boats, but Third Master Black Wind recognized him and apologized. Black Wind warned his men to stay away from Lin Tian because of his martial connections, then reminded them that they still needed to find Ma Dalong while the Shark Gang could recover.

• Lin Tian noticed the boats at Jinghe Bend had not gone out and hurried home when he saw Black Axe Gang members boarding his family’s boats.
• Scarface reached for his axe, but Black Wind arrived and introduced himself before ordering Scarface to apologize to Lin Tian.
• Black Wind gave Lin Tian silver, said the Black Axe Gang would take over Jinghe Bend, and left with his men.
• Black Wind rebuked Scarface for disrespecting Lin Tian and warned him about Lin Tian’s strength, fellow disciples, and master.
• Black Wind reminded Scarface that he had been sent to find Ma Dalong, since the Shark Gang could return as long as Ma Dalong remained alive.
• Lin Tian returned to the boat, where Madam Zhao anxiously asked whether he was safe.

Lin Tian watched the Black Axe Gang attack what he suspected was Ma Dalong’s hideout, then intercepted Ma Dalong as he fled into the forest. Their fists collided, and Ma Dalong realized Lin Tian had used Dark Force.

• Lin Tian considered moving his family somewhere safer after the Zhao Clan’s attack left his parents worried.
• While guarding the docks, Lin Tian spotted a Shark Gang member picking up goods as Black Axe Gang members secretly followed him.
• Lin Tian suspected Ma Dalong was hiding nearby and decided to let the Black Axe Gang search for him rather than act rashly.
• That night, Lin Tian followed the Black Axe Gang and saw them attack Ma Dalong’s hideout with fire and an explosion.
• Ma Dalong escaped into the forest, but Lin Tian blocked his path and struck him with a punch.
• Ma Dalong met Lin Tian’s punch, then panicked when he sensed Lin Tian’s Dark Force.

Lin Tian killed Ma Dalong and discovered that the copper plate he took from him contained the Demon-Subduing Golden Body technique, which could improve aptitude. His Fate Grid let him begin cultivating it despite lacking the required Bodhi Fruit, and he returned to the Martial Academy the next day.

• Lin Tian defeated Ma Dalong with Dark Force, confirmed his death, took his valuables, and escaped before the Black Axe Gang arrived.
• Lin Tian found money, two gunpowder-filled iron pellets, and a copper plate bearing the Demon-Subduing Golden Body technique.
• Lin Tian learned the technique could strengthen his body and organs, improve his aptitude, and required a Bodhi Fruit to begin cultivation.
• Lin Tian used his Fate Grid to start training Demon-Subduing Golden Body despite lacking a Bodhi Fruit.
• Lin Tian returned to the Martial Academy and heard disciples discussing a wealthy new Inner Academy Senior Brother who had joined the previous day.

Lin Tian focused on preparing for the Martial Examination and wanted to reach Transformation Force, so he welcomed the chance to gain cultivation resources. Zhang Ming brought him to Bao Tianhua, whose family could sponsor his training, but Bao Tianhua offered a spot without requiring a test, leaving Lin Tian puzzled.

• Lin Tian entered the Inner Academy and ignored disciples’ guesses about why he had arrived late.
• Zhang Ming reassured Lin Tian about the tea ceremony and told him he had found a possible source of cultivation funding.
• Zhang Ming introduced Lin Tian to Bao Tianhua, a new Inner Academy disciple from a wealthy merchant family.
• Bao Tianhua offered Lin Tian an unused family quota for cultivation resources without asking him to pass a test.
• Lin Tian accepted the offer with surprise and asked Bao Tianhua why he was helping him.

Bao Tianhua offered to sponsor Lin Tian, saying he wanted to help someone in the same difficult position. Lin Tian accepted, while Zhou Ya and Qian Wang dismissed the idea and focused on their own ambitions before the Martial Examination.

• Bao Tianhua told Lin Tian that his wealthy family had forced him to practice martial arts in the Outer City and offered to lend him a hand.
• Lin Tian accepted Bao Tianhua's offer while assuring him he could refuse if sponsorship would cause trouble.
• Zhou Ya sneered at the idea of anyone investing resources in Lin Tian.
• Qian Wang recalled refusing Zhang Ming's request to sponsor Lin Tian and judged Bao Tianhua's offer a foolish waste of resources.
• Qian Wang turned his attention to breaking through to Dark Force and winning his master's recommendation, a goal Lin Qian also pursued.

Bao Tianhua secured the Bao Family’s resource sponsorship for Lin Tian despite his younger half-brother’s contempt and his mother’s doubts. Lin Tian accepted the sponsorship and promised to repay Bao Tianhua’s kindness.

• The Inner Academy’s remaining nomination quota was described as a contest of strength unless someone broke through to Dark Force.
• Bao Tianming learned that Bao Tianhua had sponsored Lin Tian and ordered the household to give Lin Tian the highest standard of treatment so the choice would further discredit his elder brother.
• Bao Tianhua told his mother he had given the sponsorship to Lin Tian because he believed the poor youth could become extraordinary, and she reluctantly accepted his decision.
• Bao Tianhua brought Lin Tian the stamped sponsorship scroll and this month’s pills.
• Lin Tian accepted the items, thanked Bao Tianhua, and vowed to remember and repay the favor.

Lin Tian received a monthly sponsorship of ten Blood-Qi Pills from Bao Tianhua and resolved to repay his friend's favor. As the Martial Examination drew near, the Outer Academy disciples trained under mounting pressure, and six thunderous booms sounded from the Inner Academy.

• Bao Tianhua gave Lin Tian a contract for ten Blood-Qi Pills each month, though he privately wondered why the Bao Family had arranged its highest-level sponsorship.
• Lin Tian accepted the pills, thanked Bao Tianhua, and promised to repay him; the two then parted to train.
• Lin Qian and the other disciples envied Lin Tian's good fortune but dismissed his chances of reaching Dark Force.
• A month passed as the Outer Academy disciples intensified their training in anticipation of the Martial Examination.
• Six thunderous booms rang out from within the Inner Academy.

Xiao Tian broke through to Dark Force after four months at the Martial Academy, drawing admiration from the Inner Academy while Lin Tian continued his diligent training. Zhao Cang watched Lin Tian that night and doubted he could succeed at his second gate-knocking attempt.

• Xiao Tian achieved Dark Force with six echoes of the Mountain-Shaking Fist, and Zhao Cang congratulated his disciple.
• Zhou Ya and the Inner Academy disciples praised Xiao Tian, but he brushed past them and left to tell his elder sister, Xiao Hong.
• Lin Tian checked his Fate Grid and considered whether to reveal his own realm after seeing Xiao Tian's breakthrough.
• That night, Zhao Cang saw Lin Tian training and believed his hard work would not let him succeed at his second gate-knocking attempt.

After hearing repeated reports of Water Bandits near Jinghe Bend, Lin Tian became convinced the threat was real and worried that his family might be in danger. Bao Tianhua warned that government forces were responding to a major Water Bandit operation, leaving Lin Tian determined to gain strength and secure more resources.

• Lin Tian left the Martial Academy after Zhao Cang reminded him, and Zhao Cang watched him go with regret over his limited innate foundation.
• Lin Tian hurried home after seeing the fishing boats still moored, then relaxed when he found his family safe and learned they had stayed in because of Water Bandit rumors.
• Lin Tian heard Outer Academy disciples from multiple villages report Water Bandit boats, and he concluded the sightings were too widespread to be accidental.
• Bao Tianhua confirmed that Water Bandits had appeared and said Inner City government offices had dispatched men because the bandits were planning a major move.
• Lin Tian thanked Bao Tianhua, returned to training, and resolved that he needed more strength and resources than his monthly Blood-Qi Pills provided.

Lin Tian decided that he might need to reveal some of his talent sooner to gain resources and protect his family, but he continued hiding his cultivation. After Lin Tian left the academy on schedule for six days, Zhao Cang assumed he had given up and began deciding how to award the final Martial Examination nomination slot.

• Lin Tian considered seeking resources from Zhao Cang but chose to keep his cultivation hidden to protect the secret of his Fate Grid and avoid drawing suspicion.
• Lin Tian began leaving the Martial Academy on schedule, and the disciples and Zhao Cang mistakenly took his absence from extra practice as a sign that he had lost confidence after Xiao Tian reached Dark Force.
• Zhao Cang asked the Inner Academy disciples whether anyone had reached the threshold of Dark Force, and Lin Qian and Qian Wang recognized that he was considering the final nomination slot.
• When none of the disciples answered, Zhao Cang said the slot would be allocated according to their abilities.

Lin Tian completed the Iron Garment stage of the Demon-Subduing Golden Body and decided to reveal that he had reached Dark Force to gain more resources amid signs of Water Bandit activity. At the Inner Academy’s arena match to decide who would receive focused training, Lin Tian interrupted Zhao Cang and volunteered to fight.

• Lin Tian completed his final round of cultivation and advanced the Demon-Subduing Golden Body to Iron Garment.
• Zhang Ming asked Lin Tian why he had been leaving the Martial Academy early, and Lin Tian promised to be diligent.
• Zhang Ming told Lin Tian that Zhao Cang had arranged an arena match, and Lin Tian became excited at the prospect of focused training and resources.
• Zhao Cang brought the Inner Academy disciples to the Outer Academy and announced that one battle would decide the final spot.
• Zhou Ya and Qian Wang moved to take the stage, but Lin Tian called out to Zhao Cang and volunteered to compete.

Lin Tian revealed that he had broken through to Dark Force, stunning the academy disciples who had expected him to lose to Zhou Ya and Qian Wang. Zhao Cang praised him, while Xiao Tian and Lin Qian were left shaken by the comparison between Lin Tian's breakthrough and their own.

• Lin Tian stepped forward to challenge Zhou Ya and Qian Wang, drawing disbelief and disdain from the disciples and Zhou Ya.
• Zhao Cang told Lin Tian to spar with Zhou Ya and warned her to stop once the point was made.
• Lin Tian struck six times with Mountain-Shaking Fist, displaying the force of Dark Force and shocking Zhou Ya, Qian Wang, Xiao Tian, and Zhao Cang.
• Lin Tian explained that he had broken through to Dark Force the day before and said a spar might injure Zhou Ya.
• Lin Qian felt ashamed, and Xiao Tian realized Lin Tian had reached Dark Force only slightly later than he had, despite relying on himself.
• Zhao Cang congratulated Lin Tian as the disciples realized his talent rivaled or surpassed Xiao Tian's.

After Lin Tian revealed that he had reached Dark Force through his own cultivation, Zhao Cang retested his bone quality and still found it inferior. Zhao Cang attributed Lin Tian’s rapid progress to Heavenly Perception and granted him two Blood-Qi Pills each month, leaving Xiao Tian uneasy about Lin Tian’s talent.

• Zhou Ya, Qian Wang, and other Inner Academy disciples worried that Lin Tian’s strength could threaten their family ambitions because they had treated him poorly.
• Zhao Cang named Zhang Ming, Xiao Tian, and Lin Tian for the final nomination slot and took them to the Inner Academy’s Side Courtyard.
• Zhao Cang retested Lin Tian’s bones and again judged his bone quality inferior, leaving Zhang Ming disappointed and Xiao Tian relieved.
• Zhao Cang asked whether Lin Tian gained sudden insights while practicing the Mountain-Shaking Fist and concluded that Lin Tian had entered Heavenly Perception.
• Zhao Cang gave Lin Tian two Blood-Qi Pills each month for cultivation, while Zhang Ming furrowed his brow at the amount.

Lin Tian received only two Blood-Qi Pills from Zhao Cang because his Heavenly Perception could disappear as unpredictably as it had appeared. Back in the Inner Academy, Lin Qian offered him a bottle of pills to make amends, while Zhao Cang turned to Xiao Tian to explain the significance of Lin Tian's unstable talent and his status as the final disciple.

• Zhang Ming considered warning Lin Tian that Zhao Cang doubted the stability of his Heavenly Perception, but kept the information to himself.
• Lin Tian returned to the Inner Academy, where the disciples congratulated him on reaching Dark Force and he politely acknowledged Bao Tianhua's past generosity.
• Lin Qian offered Lin Tian a bottle of Blood-Qi Pills to apologize for her earlier offenses, and he accepted them before continuing toward Bao Tianhua.
• After Lin Tian and Zhang Ming left, Zhao Cang observed Xiao Tian's solemn reaction to Lin Tian's Heavenly Perception and prepared to address his misunderstanding of the final disciple's meaning.

Zhao Cang explained that Xiao Tian's Heavenly Perception was temporary and advised him to consolidate his Dark Force before the Martial Examination, while deciding to wait before giving Lin Tian more support. At the Bao residence, Bao Tianhua's mother confronted him about granting Lin Tian Grade A sponsorship, which exceeded his authority.

• Zhao Cang told Xiao Tian that Heavenly Perception would fade and that its breakthroughs were less stable than gradual cultivation, easing Xiao Tian's fear that Lin Tian would surpass him.
• Zhao Cang advised Xiao Tian to stay in the Inner Academy and consolidate his Dark Force ahead of the Martial Examination, and Xiao Tian accepted.
• Zhao Cang considered giving Lin Tian an additional Blood-Qi Pill but decided to wait and prioritize Xiao Tian until after the Martial Examination.
• Bao Tianhua returned home and found his mother anxious; she asked what level of sponsorship he had given Lin Tian.
• Bao Tianhua's mother revealed that she had discovered he granted Lin Tian Grade A sponsorship, despite lacking the authority to represent the Bao Family at that level.

Bao Tianhua’s mother discovered that his sponsorship of Lin Tian had been turned into a trap by the second branch, but learned Lin Tian had reached Dark Force and decided to strengthen their connection. She left Bao Tianhua with money and increased pill support to give him another safeguard against the family’s schemes.

• Bao Tianhua’s mother feared that the sponsorship records would make the family’s master furious and asked him to explain what had happened.
• Bao Tianhua revealed that a steward had unexpectedly raised the sponsorship level and said Lin Tian had recently broken through to Dark Force.
• His mother was astonished that Lin Tian had advanced so quickly and recognized that Bao Tianhua’s sponsorship had been a wise choice.
• Bao Tianhua praised Lin Tian’s gratitude, and his mother gave him a hundred-tael silver note to deliver as a family reward.
• She also arranged for Lin Tian’s monthly Blood-Qi Pills to increase from ten to fifteen, explaining that he could serve as Bao Tianhua’s fallback.
• Bao Tianhua’s mother left in a hurry to prepare against the second branch’s efforts to eliminate her son.

Lin Tian accepted fifteen Blood-Qi Pills from Bao Tianhua while the three Outer City water strongholds united and prepared to attack Qingchuan County. The county commandery captain ordered the city’s defenses ready but planned to abandon the Outer City, and Lin Tian began cultivating with the Water Bandits’ boats already on his mind.

• The Black Wind Water Stronghold leader announced that the Flood Dragon and Sharp Ship Water Strongholds had joined his alliance, uniting the three largest strongholds.
• A secret agent reported the alliance to the Qingchuan County Commandery Captain, who ordered preparations to repel an attack and left the Outer City’s people unprotected.
• Lin Tian received enthusiastic greetings at the Martial Academy, while Lin Qian greeted him with an oddly changed tone.
• Bao Tianhua told Lin Tian that his family had arranged fifteen Blood-Qi Pills for him and offered to cancel the arrangement if Lin Tian refused.
• Lin Tian accepted the pills as support from a fellow disciple, then began cultivating while thinking gravely about the Water Bandits’ boats he had seen the night before.

Lin Tian gave Xiao Tian the three Blood-Qi Pills returned from Zhou Ya, then listened as Xiao Tian tried to exploit what he believed was the temporary nature of Lin Tian’s Heavenly Perception. Lin Tian remained unmoved, knowing his progress came from the Fate Grid, while Xiao Tian’s plans to claim his other pills remained unclear.

• Zhao Cang summoned Lin Tian and two other Dark Force disciples to share information about the Martial Examination.
• Lin Tian encountered Xiao Tian on his usual route home and prepared for a possible fight, but Xiao Tian asked about the three Blood-Qi Pills from Zhou Ya.
• Lin Tian handed Xiao Tian the pills, and Xiao Tian planned to take the larger supply Lin Tian received from the Bao Family as well.
• Xiao Tian asked Lin Tian about his future and told him that his Heavenly Perception would eventually disappear.
• Lin Tian showed no reaction because he knew his strength came from the Fate Grid rather than Heavenly Perception.

Lin Tian realized Xiao Tian had revealed Heavenly Perception’s time limit to undermine his confidence, then learned Xiao Tian resented his apparent good fortune and wanted to offer him help. Xiao Tian framed his offer as mutual help and brought up Lin Tian’s monthly Blood-Qi Pills from the Bao Family, leaving his intended bargain unstated.

• Lin Tian suspected Xiao Tian had mentioned Heavenly Perception’s time limit to damage his cultivation and concluded that Xiao Tian might resent his success.
• Xiao Tian privately viewed Lin Tian’s progress as undeserved luck and admitted he wanted Heavenly Perception to end quickly.
• Lin Tian asked Xiao Tian to state plainly why he had come, and Xiao Tian urged him to prepare for the loss of Heavenly Perception.
• Xiao Tian offered to help Lin Tian advance on the Martial Way, and Lin Tian asked what he would have to give in return.
• Xiao Tian called the offer mutual help and said he had heard the Bao Family sponsored Lin Tian with fifteen Blood-Qi Pills each month.

Lin Tian rejected Xiao Tian’s demand for his cultivation resources, and the two fought after Xiao Tian threatened him. Their second clash was interrupted by an approaching voice.

• Xiao Tian claimed he wanted Lin Tian’s resources for their mutual benefit, but Lin Tian refused and said he would rely on himself.
• Xiao Tian threatened Lin Tian for refusing, and Lin Tian challenged him to explain himself.
• Xiao Tian demanded the resources outright, and Lin Tian mocked his reasoning by suggesting Xiao Tian give his own resources to him.
• Xiao Tian attacked Lin Tian, who dodged the punch, threw him to the ground, and struck his arms with a powerful fist.
• Xiao Tian recovered and prepared to attack again as Lin Tian readied himself, but a voice interrupted them and asked what they were doing.

Lin Tian and Xiao Tian stopped fighting when Zhang Ming interrupted them, and both concealed their conflict to avoid jeopardizing the coming Martial Examination. Lin Tian returned to his family, whose improved circumstances still seemed vulnerable to the increasingly active Water Bandits, and resolved to grow stronger to protect them.

• Zhang Ming interrupted Lin Tian and Xiao Tian's fight, and Xiao Tian made an excuse before leaving.
• Zhang Ming warned Lin Tian to be careful of Xiao Tian, while Lin Tian chose not to escalate their dispute.
• Lin Tian noticed that boats had remained moored for four days because people kept spotting Water Bandits.
• Lin Tian returned to the courtyard where his family had moved from their riverbank boat, and they checked him for injuries.
• Lin Tian saw his family's improved health and living conditions, but recognized that the Water Bandits could still threaten them and resolved to become stronger.

Lin Tian learned that the Water Bandits had vanished entirely and feared they were preparing a major attack, while he trained for Transformation Force. The Martial Examination was moved forward by half a month, and at the exam plaza Zhao Cang ordered Xiao Tian to the front and Lin Tian farther back.

• Lin Tian recalled how a fellow student failed to stir his blood qi, was expelled from the Martial Academy, and had grown idle after joining Cao Wei's group.
• Lin Tian learned that the Commandery Captain's Office had sent troops against the Water Bandits, but their complete disappearance made him suspect they were preparing a major attack.
• Lin Tian checked his Fate Grid and estimated he was about half a month from Transformation Force, hoping the Water Bandits would wait until after the Martial Examination.
• Zhao Cang announced that the Martial Examination had been moved forward to half a month away and told the Inner Academy disciples to prepare to visit the exam site.
• Lin Tian and the others arrived at Martial Examination Plaza, where Zhao Cang told Xiao Tian to move to the front and Lin Tian to move farther back.