Chapter Summaries

Shen Xiu, a labor disciple at the Golden Rainbow Martial Arts School, secretly fed medicine dregs to his Nine Transformations Golden Cicada as it neared its first transformation. After a day of grueling work, he took more dregs from the rear kitchen to feed it for the next two days.

• Shen Xiu watched the Golden Cicada eat medicine dregs until its satiety reached 99.7%, then sent it into his dantian.
• Wang Si called Shen Xiu to fetch water and warned him against eating medicine dregs, but Shen Xiu said he knew what he was doing.
• Steward Yu berated Shen Xiu and Wang Si as they filled the rear kitchen's water vats, then they ate a meager meal and moved training equipment while Formal Disciples sparred.
• Shen Xiu worked until night and then took over a kitchen task, saving an earthen jar of medicine dregs as the Golden Cicada's food for the next two days.

Shen Xiu learned that Golden Rainbow Martial Arts School would teach its Labor Disciples martial arts after a year of service, and he decided to choose the Dragon Subduing Tiger Taming Art. The Golden Cicada completed its first transformation, granting Shen Xiu the Heaven Rewards Diligence talent.

• Shen Xiu heard the Labor Disciples discuss their upcoming martial arts instruction and the story of Han the Fierce, whose betrayal had improved their treatment.
• Shen Xiu told Wang Si he planned to choose the Dragon Subduing Tiger Taming Art, valuing its modest physical demands and potential to produce Dragon Subduing Qi.
• Shen Xiu fed medicinal dregs to the Golden Cicada, which reached full satiety and entered its first transformation inside a golden shell.
• Two days later, the Golden Cicada emerged from its shell as a larger, jade-white cicada, and Shen Xiu received the Heaven Rewards Diligence talent.

Shen Xiu learned the Dragon Subduing Tiger Taming Art and used his Heaven Rewards Diligence talent to rapidly improve despite his clumsy movements. He devoted his scarce free time to the technique, hoping to pass the assessment and leave his life as a Labor Disciple.

• Shen Xiu discovered that his transformed status had granted him the Heaven Rewards Diligence talent, which made practice yield steady progress without regression or bottlenecks.
• Instructor Duan Hongfei demonstrated the Thirteen Stances of the Dragon Subduing Tiger Taming Art to the Labor Disciples and instructed them to practice.
• Shen Xiu completed a clumsy set of the stances, saw his martial arts panel record his progress, and quickly corrected many of his mistakes through repeated practice.
• Duan Hongfei noticed Shen Xiu completing the set and gave the Labor Disciples further guidance before ending the lesson.
• Shen Xiu spent his free time practicing the Dragon Subduing Tiger Taming Art while continuing his chores, determined to pass the assessment in half a year.

After two months of training, Shen Xiu reached the second level of the Dragon Subduing Tiger Taming Art and began earning money by tutoring a Registered Disciple. His new student, Jian Shuhao, repeatedly tried to abandon his studies for martial arts, only to be dragged back by his father.

• Shen Xiu continued training despite other Labor Disciples quitting or reducing their practice after one disciple crippled his leg from overtraining.
• Several Labor Disciples watched Shen Xiu practice, and he decided to charge wealthy Registered Disciples for guidance.
• Shen Xiu began tutoring the frail Jian Shuhao and earned one qian of silver every two days.
• Jian Shuhao's father repeatedly dragged him back to his academy, but Jian Shuhao returned to the martial arts school and kept paying Shen Xiu.

Shen Xiu drank Monster Beast Tonic Soup and used its medicinal power to advance to the first realm of Body Tempering. Eager to test his new strength, he went to the riverbank and spotted a grazing yellow ox.

• Jian Shuhao practiced the Dragon Subduing Tiger Taming Thirteen Stances under Shen Xiu’s guidance and paid him one qian of silver.
• Shen Xiu bought a bowl of Monster Beast Tonic Soup at the martial hall’s Canteen.
• After drinking the soup, Shen Xiu practiced the Dragon Subduing Tiger Taming Thirteen Stances and broke through to initial Body Tempering.
• Shen Xiu realized his strength had greatly increased and left the martial hall to test it.
• At the riverbank, Shen Xiu saw a yellow ox grazing beside the shallow river.

Shen Xiu tested his new Body Tempering strength, then struggled with the increased cost of food and Steward Yu’s attempt to claim a share of his teaching earnings. He kept training and instructing disciples, and a month later the martial arts school’s atmosphere suddenly changed.

• Shen Xiu lifted and carried the Big Yellow Ox, confirming his strength while recognizing how far Senior Brother Lin Yuan surpassed him.
• Shen Xiu returned to the dormitory, where Wang Si noticed a change in him and regretted choosing White Tiger Fist.
• Shen Xiu found that Body Tempering made his chores easier but greatly increased his appetite, so he took on more paid instruction.
• Steward Yu demanded a share of Shen Xiu’s earnings, but Shen Xiu argued that the school’s profit-sharing rule applied only to Formal Disciples and went to draw water.
• Shen Xiu continued practicing and teaching disciples, and after a month the school’s atmosphere became strange.

Shen Xiu discovered that Labor Disciples were secretly eating medicinal dregs after a rumor credited them with his rapid progress, while the Golden Rainbow Martial Arts School announced that only five Labor Disciples would advance. On assessment day, the school replaced combat matches with a strength test using a Resonance Stone, and Deputy Pavilion Master Xiang Shou arrived as the test was about to begin.

• Shen Xiu found the medicinal dregs gone and later learned that many disciples, including Wang Si, had started eating them because of a rumor about Shen Xiu's training progress.
• The Golden Rainbow Martial Arts School announced that only five Labor Disciples would be selected, intensifying competition among the disciples.
• Shen Xiu continued training and reached the Third Level of the Dragon Subduing Tiger Taming Art before the assessment.
• On August 19th, Shen Xiu and Wang Si joined the other assessment candidates at the training ground, where they learned that strength would be measured with a Resonance Stone instead of matches.
• Deputy Pavilion Master Xiang Shou arrived with the instructors, quieting the crowd with the imposing presence of a Third Realm Bone Marrow Cleansing expert.

Shen Xiu took the martial arts assessment and earned Three Resonances Power, securing a place among the new Formal Disciples. The assessment ended with Xiang Shou exposing and punishing Gao Xiaozong for using a Great Strength Pill, and the selected disciples learned their results.

• Tai Pengfei and the other disciples struck the Resonance Stone Pillar as the instructors measured their strength.
• Shen Xiu used the Dragon Subduing Tiger Taming Art to strike three resonances and drew the instructors’ attention.
• Gao Xiaozong struck the pillar with three resonances, but Xiang Shou knocked him into a wall and revealed that he had used a Great Strength Pill.
• Xiang Shou ordered Formal Disciples to remove Gao Xiaozong and send him to the Gao family servants outside the gate.
• The instructors chose the successful disciples, and the steward read the names, including Shen Xiu’s.

Shen Xiu settled into his new quarters as a Formal Disciple, received training advice from Instructor Duan Hongfei, and was offered a powerful saber art. Duan explained that he wanted to pass on the kindness once shown to him, leaving Shen Xiu poised to learn the technique.

• Shen Xiu collected his Formal Disciple token and new robes, moved into a private courtyard, and packed his few belongings from the Labor Disciples' quarters.
• Shen Xiu visited Instructor Duan Hongfei, who praised his progress and corrected his Dragon Subduing Tiger Taming Art, raising its proficiency by two percent.
• Duan Hongfei explained that Formal Disciples had to complete three tasks each month and reminded Shen Xiu to collect five monthly servings of Qi Cultivation Soup.
• Duan Hongfei recommended that Shen Xiu learn a saber art and offered him one close in power to a Mysterious Grade martial skill.
• Duan Hongfei recounted how a stranger had saved him during a famine and given him the saber manual, then said he wanted to pass that kindness on through Shen Xiu.

After receiving the Blood Battle Saber Technique from Instructor Duan, Shen Xiu practiced it and made use of his new life as a Formal Disciple to eat freely and collect medicinal dregs for his Golden Cicada. He later drank Qi Cultivation Soup and trained the Dragon Subduing Tiger Taming Art, bringing himself close to the Body Tempering Mid-Stage.

• Shen Xiu returned from Instructor Duan’s courtyard with the Blood Battle Saber Technique and practiced until he added it to his techniques panel.
• Shen Xiu ate two basins of food at the Formal Disciples’ Canteen, then collected a jar of medicinal dregs from the back kitchen while Steward Yu silently watched.
• Shen Xiu continued practicing the Dragon Subduing Tiger Taming Art despite no longer needing to do chores, determined to grow stronger before beginning his Formal Disciple duties.
• Shen Xiu visited the apothecary hall and collected Qi Cultivation Soup from Elder Yu.
• Shen Xiu drank the soup and practiced the Dragon Subduing Tiger Taming Art with its medicinal power, approaching the Body Tempering Mid-Stage.

Shen Xiu advanced his Blood Battle Saber Technique and went looking for an affordable metal saber. He left Yang Family Blacksmith Shop with a crude saber after bargaining Blacksmith Yang down to one tael of silver.

• Shen Xiu practiced with a wooden saber until he broke a stone table and raised his Blood Battle Saber Technique to the second level.
• Shen Xiu collected his two-tael monthly pay from the External Affairs Hall and learned that ordinary sabers at Hundred Refinements Hall cost about five taels.
• Shen Xiu found a crude saber at Yang Family Blacksmith Shop and bargained with Blacksmith Yang.
• Blacksmith Yang agreed to sell the saber for one tael, and Shen Xiu paid and left with it.

Shen Xiu collected his first mandatory mission from the Golden Rainbow Martial Arts School and traveled to Guiyan Town to hunt a Demonic Energy-mutated wild boar. After learning it usually appeared after dark, he decided to return to the medicinal fields at night.

• Shen Xiu collected his three required missions from the External Affairs Hall, and the female steward gave him a report about a destructive wild boar near Li Family Manor.
• Shen Xiu learned the boar was likely mutated by Demonic Energy and prepared his weapons and armor before leaving Taixi City for Guiyan Town.
• Li Yongnian welcomed Shen Xiu to Li Family Manor and explained that the boar had injured hunters and escaped their traps.
• Shen Xiu questioned the men who had seen the boar and learned it usually appeared every few nights after dark.
• Shen Xiu examined the damaged fields and decided to return after dark to hunt the boar.

Shen Xiu failed to catch the mutated wild boar after wounding it, but later devised a trap using medicinal herbs and a white sow. The boar took the bait and ran toward the sow, leaving Shen Xiu and the Li Family Manor men waiting in hiding.

• Shen Xiu ambushed the mutated wild boar at the medicinal field, wounded it with his blade, and watched it escape into the forest.
• The boar avoided Shen Xiu for several days, so Shen Xiu devised a new hunting plan and gained the Li Family Manor manager’s approval.
• Two evenings later, Shen Xiu and several men hid near a pile of medicinal herbs beside a tied white sow.
• The mutated wild boar cautiously approached, checked its surroundings, and began eating while watching the sow.
• The white sow edged toward the boar, and it ran toward her after eating several mouthfuls of herbs.

Shen Xiu killed the Mutated Wild Boar for Li Family Manor and discovered that eating demon beasts greatly increased the Golden Cicada’s satiety. As he left for Taixi City with the processed meat and Li Yongnian’s gift, he learned that the Crimson Fire Bandits were active near White Tiger Ridge and that Li Yongnian feared trouble was coming.

• Shen Xiu used poison to immobilize the Mutated Wild Boar, then killed it with a series of broadsword strikes and completed Li Family Manor’s commission.
• Shen Xiu released the Golden Cicada to feed on the boar, raising its satiety to 24.5%, and had the manor’s people process the remaining meat.
• Li Yongnian gave Shen Xiu a bundle of medicinal herbs and five taels of silver, then warned him about the Crimson Fire Bandits near White Tiger Ridge.
• Shen Xiu recalled the bandits’ strength and their past clashes with Taixi City, including the losses suffered by Yang Jinhong and Golden Rainbow Martial Arts School.
• After Shen Xiu departed, Li Yongnian told Steward Li that he gave the gift to forge a bond and revealed his unease about two valuable shipments of medicinal herbs headed for Shanglin City.

Shen Xiu returned to Taixi City amid a search for the abducted Chen Mo, then focused on strengthening himself at the martial arts school. After days of training and drinking Monster Beast Tonic Soup, he advanced to Body Tempering Mid-Stage and tested his new strength on the Big Yellow Ox, drawing the young cowherd’s angry shout.

• Shen Xiu learned that Chen Mo had been abducted and saw Chen Family members searching Taixi City.
• Yang Jinhong offered disciples a reward and five chances to obtain Qi Cultivation Soup for finding Chen Mo’s trail.
• Shen Xiu turned in his mission, received three taels of silver, and decided to rest and improve his cultivation.
• Shen Xiu trained with Monster Beast Tonic Soup and continued guiding Jian Shuhao in the Dragon Subduing Tiger Taming Art.
• Shen Xiu broke through to Body Tempering Mid-Stage and caught the Big Yellow Ox to test his strength.
• The young cowherd shouted angrily after Shen Xiu returned the cow to the riverside.

Shen Xiu received the Thousand Gold Jade Pendant from Jian Shuhao and discovered that two Azure Dragon Gang men were following him. He killed the fat pursuer, whose fortune slip had predicted both a windfall and a deadly calamity.

• Golden Cicada devoured the Mutated Wild Boar, raising its satiety to 36.1%, and Shen Xiu took the remaining bones toward a restaurant.
• Jian Shuhao gave Shen Xiu the Thousand Gold Jade Pendant he had found in the Lishui River and said his father had allowed him to practice martial arts again.
• Two men in blue robes followed Shen Xiu, and the fat man pressed on alone after trusting a fortune slip that promised a windfall.
• Shen Xiu turned back, struck the fat man with Charging Fist, and killed him after the man attacked with a dagger.
• Shen Xiu found the fat man's fortune slip, which read “windfall from heaven, calamity of death.”

After killing an Azure Dragon Gang member who tried to seize the Chen Family jade pendant, Shen Xiu entrusted it to Duan Hongfei and stayed at the martial arts school while Taixi City was shaken by Chen Mo’s death and the Chen Family’s revenge. Shen Xiu reached the peak of First Realm Body Tempering, and Duan Hongfei began teaching him Muscle Tendon Training.

• Shen Xiu returned the jade pendant to Duan Hongfei for safekeeping and agreed to remain at the martial arts school for two months.
• Azure Dragon Gang members searched Willow Leaf Alley, while the Chen Family found Chen Mo’s bloodless corpse by the Lishui River and wiped out the Giant Whale Gang.
• Shen Xiu completed the Dragon Subduing Tiger Taming Art’s fourth level and advanced to the peak of First Realm Body Tempering.
• Duan Hongfei tested Shen Xiu’s sensations during Muscle Tendon Training, and Shen Xiu felt a tendon moving through his arm.

Shen Xiu advanced to Second Realm Muscle Tendon Training under Duan Hongfei’s guidance, then spent his money on food, a new saber, and monster beasts for the Golden Cicada. He took five more missions at the External Affairs Hall, leaving other disciples wondering how he could afford his appetite.

• Duan Hongfei kneaded and guided Shen Xiu until he entered Second Realm Muscle Tendon Training, then gave him the banknotes collected from the Chen Family.
• Shen Xiu left five banknotes for Duan Hongfei in thanks, ate four bowls of Monster Beast Tonic Soup, and headed to the External Affairs Hall.
• Jian Shuhao and his father apologized and left Shen Xiu a Hundred-Refined Saber, which Shen Xiu tested and used to practice the Blood Battle Saber Technique.
• Shen Xiu bought eight monster beast corpses for the Golden Cicada, raising its satiety to 67.6% and spending all five hundred taels he had received.
• Shen Xiu accepted five missions at the External Affairs Hall, while nearby disciples remarked on his rapid cultivation, huge appetite, and lack of spare money.

Shen Xiu arrived at Yang Family Town on his way to collect a Face-Preserving Fruit from Crimson Blood Peak. After dealing with suspicious locals, he reached the mountain and entered the forest toward the marked stone forest.

• Shen Xiu reached Yang Family Town and paid a red-robed youth one qian of silver to enter.
• Shen Xiu ate and drank at a tavern, where the locals eyed his Hundred-Refined Saber with greed.
• Two thieves followed Shen Xiu after he left the tavern, but they fled when he punched a hole through a wall.
• Shen Xiu spent the night at an inn, then left town and headed for Crimson Blood Peak.
• Shen Xiu followed the map into the forest, heading toward the stone forest where the Face-Preserving Fruit was said to grow.

Shen Xiu found the Face-Preserving Fruit in a hidden hollow in the Stone Forest, but Old Ghost Head tried to kill him and steal it. Shen Xiu defeated the archer and decapitated him, leaving the fruit still uncollected.

• Shen Xiu found a nearly ripe Face-Preserving Fruit in a concealed hollow and waited nearby.
• Old Ghost Head arrived, noticed the fruit, and pretended to leave after Shen Xiu identified himself as a disciple of the Golden Rainbow Martial Arts School.
• Old Ghost Head turned and shot at Shen Xiu, grazing his arm, but Shen Xiu stayed alert and charged him.
• Old Ghost Head fired again, but Shen Xiu cut the arrow apart with his blade and dodged a third shot.
• Shen Xiu closed the distance and cut off Old Ghost Head's head.