Recaps

Old Man Feng brought Old Master Lin and Lin Tiansheng’s family to see the martial examination results, where they confirmed Lin Tian was the Top Candidate. Realizing they had planned to pressure him into abandoning martial training, the family rushed to retrieve their letter, while Lin Ci faced another round of mistreatment at the dyehouse.

• Zhang Cui and Lin Tiansheng reacted with disbelief when Old Man Feng announced that Lin Tian had passed the martial examination as its Top Candidate.
• Old Man Feng led Old Master Lin and Lin Tiansheng’s family through the crowd to the posted results.
• Old Master Lin found Lin Tian’s name and Jinghe Bend address in the Top Candidate spot, confirming that his eldest grandson had won.
• Old Master Lin and Zhang Cui urgently ordered the family to retrieve the letter meant to make Lin Tian give up martial training and work to support them.
• At an Outer City dyehouse, a woman berated Lin Ci, and the other female workers quietly remarked that she was being targeted again.

Lin Ci endured Zhang Mei’s abuse and pressure to submit to the dye workshop steward until Lin Tian’s examination success brought the shop’s young master to her rescue. The young master dismissed the steward, appointed Lin Ci as the new steward, and sent congratulations to Lin Tian, while a procession arrived at the Lin family home to announce that Lin Tian had passed the Martial Examination as Top Candidate.

• Zhang Mei bullied Lin Ci over her work and urged her to submit to the steward, threatening her livelihood if she refused.
• The shop’s young master arrived with guards, ordered them to break Zhang Mei’s hands, and dismissed the steward.
• The young master gave Lin Ci ointment and appointed her as the new steward, telling her to congratulate Lin Tian on becoming Top Candidate in the Martial Examination.
• Zhao Clan waited anxiously for Lin Tian to return, while neighbors gathered after hearing a procession of gongs and drums.
• A bailiff presented the Lin family with the announcement that Lin Tian had passed the Martial Examination as Top Candidate, astonishing the family and their neighbors.

Jinghe Bend learned that Lin Tian had placed first in the Martial Examination and surpassed the Inner City disciples, while his family received the congratulatory bailiffs. After leaving the martial hall, Lin Tian practiced Mountain-Shaking Fist by the river, with its Fate Grid progress nearing the limit needed for Transformation Force.

• An old man explained that Lin Tian was the Martial Examination's Top Candidate, and a bailiff confirmed that he had outperformed the Inner City disciples.
• The villagers congratulated Father Lin and Mother Lin, who gave red envelopes to the bailiffs.
• Zhao Cang asked Lin Tian about difficulties in cultivation, then regretted expecting him to break through to Transformation Force so soon.
• Lin Tian practiced Mountain-Shaking Fist by a deserted riverbank, and its Fate Grid progress reached 9995/10000.

Lin Tian completed Mountain-Shaking Fist at the Limit-Breaking realm, reached Transformation Force, and tested a devastating new strike. As he headed home, he saw three Water Bandit boats approaching shore, while the Bao Family faced a challenge from the rival Li Family.

• Lin Tian completed Mountain-Shaking Fist and broke through to Transformation Force as his Dark Force and Bright Force merged.
• Lin Tian unleashed a concentrated tenth boom that pierced a boulder from several zhang away, then decided to focus on cultivating Demon-Subduing Golden Body and improving his bone quality.
• Lin Tian started home as dusk fell, but stopped when he spotted three Water Bandit boats approaching the shore.
• Bao Shanhe and the Bao Family's important members discussed a scarlet-lettered Fist Duel challenge from the Li Family, whose strength had gained an advantage after Water Bandits injured one of Bao Family's Transformation Force experts.

The Bao Family faced a Fist Duel challenge from the Li Family after one of its Transformation Force retainers was badly injured. Bao Shanhe accepted the wager, and Bao Tianming proposed Lin Tian as a fighter, leaving the Bao Family’s selection unresolved.

• Bao Tianming explained that the Li Family had challenged the weakened Bao Family to a Fist Duel, wagering two core trade routes against one.
• A Bao Family elder said the Merchant Alliance would not intervene, and Bao Shanhe tore open the challenge letter to accept it.
• Bao Shanhe asked the family’s leaders to nominate three fighters, but they hesitated because the duel required a life-and-death contract and seemed unwinnable.
• Bao Tianming offered a candidate and named Lin Tian, the Outer City's Top Candidate.

Bao Tianming proposed that Lin Tian represent the Bao Family in a Fist Duel, revealing that Bao Tianhua had sponsored Lin Tian with only A-grade training. Bao Shanhe praised Bao Tianhua, while Bao Tianming maneuvered to put his eldest brother in a dilemma over whether to let Lin Tian fight.

• Bao Shanhe questioned whether Lin Tian, an eighteen-year-old Outer City youth, would dare take part in the Fist Duel.
• Bao Tianming told Bao Shanhe that Lin Tian had already accepted sponsorship from the Bao Family and would act without requiring further payment.
• Bao Shanhe discovered that Bao Tianhua had provided Lin Tian with A-grade training, prompting surprise and praise from the family members.
• Bao Tianming intended his proposal to trap Bao Tianhua, since agreeing would expose Lin Tian to a potentially lethal Fist Duel and refusing could cost the family face.
• Bao Tianhua faced the choice of whether to let Lin Tian step forward.

Bao Tianhua’s mother urged him to ask Lin Tian to join the Fist Duel, warning that refusal could endanger them both. Meanwhile, Lin Tian uncovered a looming Water Bandit assault on Qingchuan County and decided to move his family into the Inner City; the next morning, he sought Bao Tianhua’s help.

• Bao Tianming arranged for Lin Tian to take the final slot in the Fist Duel, leaving Bao Tianhua to ask him to participate.
• Bao Tianhua initially refused, but his mother explained that rejecting the request could get him expelled from the Bao Family and expose Lin Tian and his family to danger.
• Bao Tianhua agreed to speak with Lin Tian while insisting he would not force him to take part.
• Lin Tian killed a group of Water Bandits, learned that nearly all the river’s bandits were preparing to attack Qingchuan County, and sent their boats and bodies downriver.
• Lin Tian decided to move his family into the Inner City and went to find Bao Tianhua at the Martial Academy the next morning.

Lin Tian arranged for his family to move into the Inner City and agreed to fight for the Bao Family in a deadly Fist Duel. He stayed in the Outer City to train and watch for the Water Bandits, then received an unsettling letter from his grandfather's family.

• Lin Tian asked Bao Tianhua to arrange for his family to enter the Inner City, and Bao Tianhua agreed.
• Bao Tianhua explained that the Bao Family needed a substitute fighter for its life-and-death Fist Duel against the Li Family, and Lin Tian accepted.
• Lin Tian arranged five days of leave to train his Demon-Subduing Golden Body while keeping watch on the Water Bandits.
• Bao Tianhua brought Lin Tian's family into the Inner City that night, while Lin Tian chose to remain in the Outer City until his training and preparations were complete.
• Before departing, Zhao Clan gave Lin Tian a letter delivered by his grandfather's family and told him to read it.

Lin Tian visited the Lin Family Old Residence after his family moved into Qingchuan County’s Inner City, where his relatives greeted him warmly because of his new status. He brought the letter asking him to abandon martial training and support Lin Tiansheng, and began confronting the family about it.

• Lin Tian stayed home to cultivate the Demon-Subduing Golden Body and monitor the Water Bandits.
• Lin Tian went to the Lin Family Old Residence carrying the letter from his mother, of the Zhao Clan.
• Zhang Cui greeted Lin Tian enthusiastically and called the family to come out.
• Old Master Lin welcomed Lin Tian and asked after his parents, but Lin Tian said they had moved into the Inner City.
• Lin Tian said he had come to handle business, showed the letter, and asked whether Lin Tiansheng was short on money for martial training.

Lin Tian gave his younger aunt Lin Ci an exclusive pass to the Inner City and made clear he was severing ties with the rest of the family. After five days of cultivation, his Demon-Subduing Golden Body reached Silver Garment and triggered a painful flesh reconstruction that left him with greatly increased strength.

• Lin Tian gave Zhang Cui five taels of silver and handed Lin Ci an exclusive pass that let her stay and buy property in the Inner City.
• Lin Tian left the old residence without greeting the others, and the Old Master realized the silver was Lin Tian's final aid to the family.
• Lin Tian returned to his courtyard and cultivated the Demon-Subduing Golden Body for five days while the Water Bandits remained inactive.
• Lin Tian's Demon-Subduing Golden Body reached Silver Garment, and his qi and blood surged through his flesh, causing intense pain as his body underwent reconstruction.
• Lin Tian regained control of his body and crushed the wooden threshold into splinters with a light grip.

Lin Tian arrived at the Bao Family’s Fist Duel after keeping Bao Tianhua waiting, and the two discussed how much victory mattered to him. At the Bao Family’s packed Performance Stage, Li Family disciples mocked Lin Tian’s reputation as Top Candidate, leaving the Bao Family disciples embarrassed.

• Bao Tianhua waited anxiously for Lin Tian at Zhao Family Martial Academy, but Lin Tian arrived before he chose an escape route.
• Lin Tian and Bao Tianhua traveled to the Bao Family, where Lin Tian reviewed information about the Li Family’s three Fist Duel experts.
• Bao Tianhua warned Lin Tian to protect himself, and Lin Tian asked whether winning the Fist Duel mattered to him; Bao Tianhua said it did.
• Bao Tianhua guided Lin Tian to the crowded Performance Stage, where the gathered spectators turned to look at them.
• A Li Family disciple named Qin and his companions mocked Lin Tian’s Top Candidate title, making the Bao Family disciples feel ashamed.

Lin Tian arrived at the Bao Family’s Fist Duel, but the family’s disciples and leaders doubted him because of his reputation and Inferior Bone Quality. After the gong signaled the duel’s start, Lin Tian stepped onto the Performance Stage while Bao Tianhua watched with guilt.

• Bao Family disciples admired Lin Tian as the Martial Examination’s Top Candidate until an older disciple disparaged his achievement and explained his Inferior Bone Quality.
• Bao Shanhe blamed Lin Tian’s reputation for damaging Bao Family morale, and the other Bao Family higher-ups looked at Lin Tian and Bao Tianhua with disappointment.
• Bao Tianming welcomed the division within the Bao Family, while the Li Family patriarch mocked Bao Shanhe and urged him to personally welcome Lin Tian.
• Bao Shanhe refused to welcome Lin Tian and demanded that the Fist Duel begin, and the Li Family patriarch agreed.
• Bao Tianhua tried to apologize to Lin Tian for the lack of respect, but Lin Tian stopped him and strode onto the Performance Stage as the gong rang.

Lin Tian faced Zhao Kaijia, the Li Family Head Venerable, in the opening match of the Fist Duel, while the crowd assumed Lin Tian was too weak to contend. After Zhao Kaijia threatened to cripple him, Lin Tian revealed that he had reached Transformation Force, shocking both families.

• Lin Tian ignored the Li Family's taunts as he went onto the Performance Stage to face Zhao Kaijia.
• Zhao Kaijia warned Lin Tian that their Life-Death Contract allowed him to cripple Lin Tian and leave him near death.
• Lin Tian calmly accepted Zhao Kaijia's terms, and the surrounding disciples mocked him.
• Zhao Kaijia introduced himself as a Transformation Force fighter, and Lin Tian declared that he had also reached Transformation Force.
• Lin Tian released his Transformation Force, stunning the crowd and the people on the high platform.

Lin Tian revealed that he had reached Transformation Force, shocking the Bao and Li families. After the Li Family Master ordered Zhao Kaijia to kill him, Lin Tian defeated Zhao Kaijia and crippled both his arms and dantian, leaving his survival uncertain.

• The Bao and Li Family disciples realized Lin Tian had reached Transformation Force, while the Li Family Master recognized him as a threat to his plans against the Bao Family.
• The Li Family Master signaled a subordinate to relay an order to Zhao Kaijia to kill Lin Tian.
• Zhao Kaijia attacked Lin Tian, but Lin Tian's first two punches badly damaged Zhao Kaijia's arm and overwhelmed his strength.
• Zhao Kaijia used Iron Wall to defend himself, but Lin Tian smashed him into the arena floor, crippled his other arm, and pierced his dantian.
• Lin Tian left Zhao Kaijia unconscious and completely crippled, with his life uncertain.

Lin Tian defeated Zhao Kaijia in three punches, then requested consecutive battles against the Li Family's remaining opponents. The Li Family agreed, and Bao Shanhe discovered that both Li Family consecrates possessed Transformation Force, including a newly strengthened Second Consecrate.

• Lin Tian threw the defeated Zhao Kaijia out of the ring, and Bao Shanhe realized the Bao Family had a chance to win the Fist Duel.
• The Li Family head stayed calm despite Zhao Kaijia's defeat and focused on Lin Tian as a future threat.
• Lin Tian requested consecutive battles, and the Li Family head eagerly accepted before Bao Shanhe could stop him.
• The Li Family's Second and Third Consecrates took the stage and released Transformation Force auras, revealing that the Third Consecrate had broken through and the Second Consecrate had become much stronger.

Lin Tian faced the Li Family Second Elder and Third Venerable together in a Fist Duel and killed them both almost instantly. The Li Family’s backup plan failed, while the Third Venerable’s threat to Lin Tian’s family remained an ominous concern.

• Bao Shanhe realized the two Transformation Force experts gave the Li Family a decisive advantage and feared Lin Tian could not defeat them.
• The Li Family Second Elder and Third Venerable prepared to attack Lin Tian together, and the Third Venerable thought of Lin Tian’s family as a target.
• When the gong sounded, Lin Tian moved faster than the two attendants could react and struck them both with his fists.
• The Third Venerable died on the spot, while the Second Elder survived briefly by diverting some of Lin Tian’s force with Cloud-Entangling Palm.
• Lin Tian struck the Second Elder in the face and killed him, ending the fight.

Lin Tian defeated the Li Family’s two consecrated experts in two punches, securing the Bao Family’s victory and two core trade routes. As Lin Tian left with Bao Tianhua, Bao Shanhe caught up to apologize and befriend him, while Bao Tianming regarded Lin Tian with confusion and scrutiny.

• Lin Tian killed the Li Family’s two consecrated experts, and the gong marked the Bao Family’s victory in the Fist Duel.
• Bao Shanhe and the Bao Family’s other higher-ups celebrated gaining two Li Family core trade routes, while the Li Family’s leaders lamented their losses.
• Lin Tian noticed the gong-striking old man was a Transformation Force expert, then left the arena with Bao Tianhua.
• Lin Tian told Bao Tianhua that he had helped the Bao Family to repay Bao Tianhua’s past support.
• Bao Shanhe hurried after Lin Tian, apologized for not receiving him earlier, and prepared to bow while Bao Tianming watched Lin Tian with suspicion.

After Bao Tianming slighted Lin Tian, Bao Shanhe tried to appease him, but Lin Tian left and Bao Shanhe shifted his favor toward Bao Tianhua. The next day, news spread that Lin Tian had reached Transformation Force and defeated three Li Family experts in the Fist Duel.

• Bao Shanhe angrily rebuked Bao Tianming for disrespecting Lin Tian and ordered him to apologize.
• Lin Tian refused Bao Shanhe's invitation to a banquet and left after saying goodbye to Bao Tianhua.
• Bao Shanhe invited Bao Tianhua to dine with the Bao Family's senior members and excluded Bao Tianming.
• The next day, news spread through the Inner City and Outer City that Lin Tian had become a Transformation Force expert.
• People heard that Lin Tian had killed three Transformation Force experts from the Li Family in the Fist Duel.

After Lin Tian’s breakthrough to Transformation Force became known, he returned to the Zhao Family Martial Academy and confirmed his realm to Zhao Cang. With the Water Bandits growing more active, the academy closed and Lin Tian headed into the Inner City.

• Zhou Ya and Xiao Tian learned that Lin Tian had reached Transformation Force and killed three experts, leaving them terrified of his retaliation.
• Lin Tian entered the Zhao Family Martial Academy, where the disciples watched him with respect and fear.
• Zhang Ming brought Lin Tian to Zhao Cang, and Lin Tian revealed his Transformation Force to his master and the others in the Side Courtyard.
• Zhao Cang received a letter from the Commandery Captain’s Office warning that the Water Bandits were increasingly active, so he closed the academy and advised disciples to move closer to the Inner City.
• Zhao Cang arranged rooms for Lin Tian and Zhang Ming, and Lin Tian later walked straight into the Inner City.

Lin Tian returned to his family after news of his Transformation Force breakthrough brought a flood of gifts, then watched the Outer City grow tense as people sought refuge in the Inner City. When Water Bandits finally attacked, he sounded the warning bells and took up a prepared position, ready to evacuate his family if the defenses failed.

• Lin Zhen and his family marveled at the gifts sent by Inner City powers after Lin Tian reached Transformation Force, while Zhao worried about his five-day absence.
• Lin Tian returned home safely, spent the night with his family, and resumed watching the Outer City for Water Bandit movements.
• Over the following days, more people crowded beneath the Inner City walls seeking shelter, and Lin Tian grew increasingly uneasy.
• As a storm broke, Lin Tian spotted a vast fleet of Water Bandit ships on the river and rang a Bell Tower's great bell to warn the city.
• Lin Tian moved to a position where he could watch the attack and quickly evacuate his family if the city fell, as Water Bandits advanced directly on the Inner City.

Lin Tian watched the Water Bandits bombard the Inner City walls with Fire Thunder before cavalry and troops from the Commandery Captain's Office turned the battle into a slaughter. As the Water Bandits began to collapse, three Transformation Force experts fled in Lin Tian's direction.

• The Water Bandits used Fire Thunder to blast cracks into the Inner City walls, alarming Lin Tian.
• Three cavalry units charged the Water Bandits, but explosives and a Transformation Force martial artist caused casualties and disrupted their ranks.
• The Commandery Captain's Office opened the city gate and sent out soldiers wearing strange black armor that absorbed blood and turned dark red.
• The armored soldiers attacked without defending themselves and seemed able to rise again after devastating injuries, helping the cavalry slaughter nearly half the Water Bandits.
• Three fleeing Transformation Force experts headed in Lin Tian's direction, and Lin Tian recognized them as Water Bandits who might be leaders of the attack.

Lin Tian killed the three water stronghold chiefs before they could escape, then fled when the Commandery Captain's Office arrived. The commandant caught up with him, confirmed that he had killed them, tested his strength, and asked him to join the office.

• Lin Tian attacked and killed the Black Wind Water Stronghold chief with a single punch as the other two leaders tried to flee.
• Lin Tian caught up with the Flood Dragon Water Stronghold and Sharp Ship Water Stronghold chiefs and killed them with powerful punches.
• Hearing the Commandery Captain's Office approach, Lin Tian left the three bodies and fled before its soldiers arrived.
• The commandant inspected the corpses, noticed the unusual wounds, and pursued Lin Tian to discover who had killed the chiefs.
• Lin Tian admitted killing the three men, dodged the commandant's spear, and exchanged a punch with him without either man being injured.
• Impressed by Lin Tian's strength, the commandant asked him to join the Commandery Captain's Office.

Lin Tian chose a Prefecture City sect over the Commandery Captain’s offer and asked him to protect Lin Tian’s family in exchange for his military merit and a favor. The Commandery Captain agreed, then warned that Lin Tian’s entry quota might not guarantee admission if the sect had too many candidates.

• The Commandery Captain gave Lin Tian three days to decide whether to join his side, while Lin Tian tracked Wang Gu and his disciple to their underground hiding place.
• Lin Tian killed Wang Gu and his disciple, took a map, and returned to the Inner City after the Water Bandits were wiped out.
• Lin Tian reassured Bao Tianhua’s household about the Water Bandit invasion but withheld what he knew about the Lin Family Old Residence.
• Three days later, Lin Tian received his gilt-edged sect quota and told the Commandery Captain he preferred to pursue martial training in a Prefecture City sect.
• Lin Tian asked the Commandery Captain to protect his family in return for the merit from killing the Water Bandit leaders and a favor, and the Commandery Captain agreed.
• The Commandery Captain gave Lin Tian a letter and warned that his quota would not guarantee admission if the sect had many candidates and chose the best among them.

Lin Tian received a letter and joined Zhou Wanqian and Zhou Mingda on their journey toward Gaoyan Prefecture City, where they would seek entry into a sect. Their carriage traveled smoothly until a roar in the wilderness brought the two guards outside to face what appeared to be an exotic beast.

• The Commandery Captain gave Lin Tian a letter to use if he faced trouble entering the sect and arranged for him to travel with his children toward Gaoyan Prefecture City.
• Zhou Mingda complained about the detour, while Zhou Wanqian defended their father's decision and the Commandery Captain praised Lin Tian's talent and steadiness.
• Lin Tian said farewell to his family, met Zhou Wanqian and Zhou Mingda, and boarded their carriage with two middle-aged martial artists.
• Lin Tian and Zhou Wanqian discussed martial insights during the journey, while Zhou Mingda remained cold toward him.
• A beast roared in the mountain forest, and the two martial artist guards left the carriage to confront it.

Lin Tian left the carriage to face a Tiger-Headed Exotic Beast that was overpowering two guards and killed it with one punch through its heart. Afterward, Zhou Mingda and the others marveled at Lin Tian’s strength and asked whether he had a secret martial arts inheritance.

• Lin Tian saw that the Tiger-Headed Exotic Beast had put the two Transformation Force guards at a disadvantage and left the carriage to help.
• The beast pounced on Lin Tian, but he struck it with one punch and killed it before it could harm him.
• Lin Tian returned to the carriage bloodied but unharmed, then told the siblings that the beast had been slain.
• The siblings stepped outside and found the beast dead with a bloody hole through its heart.
• As the carriage continued toward Gaoyan Prefecture City, Lin Tian examined the beast’s ice-hard Blood Eyes.
• Zhou Mingda began calling Lin Tian Brother Lin and asked whether a secret martial arts manual explained his powerful punch.