Chapter Summaries

Shen Xiu killed the hunter who tried to seize the Face-Preserving Fruit, disposed of the body and his belongings, then carried the ripened fruit back toward Yang Family Town. After noticing a plump stranger following him into an alley, Shen Xiu prepared to strike, but the man spoke first and asked if he wanted to buy medicine.

• Shen Xiu searched Old Ghost Head's corpse, took a few supplies, and threw the body and everything else, including the bow, into a ravine.
• The Face-Preserving Fruit ripened, and Shen Xiu wrapped it in cloth and descended toward Yang Family Town.
• He Lao Jiu wondered why Old Ghost Head had missed their tavern meeting as the other patrons joked about the hunter's fate.
• After drinking at the tavern, Shen Xiu left and noticed a plump young man stealthily following him.
• Shen Xiu led the follower into a deserted alley and readied his saber, but the man hurried up and asked, “Hehe, brother, buying medicine?”

Shen Xiu accepted Cao Hongzhuo's invitation to join a hunt for Black Demon Bears in exchange for a share of their corpses. The hunt's arrangements were set, and Cao Hongzhuo fled after making one last attempt to sell him medicine.

• Cao Hongzhuo frightened Shen Xiu by approaching him with an awkward offer of medicine, then introduced himself as the young master of Sifang Medicine Workshop.
• Cao Hongzhuo invited Shen Xiu to join a group hunting Black Demon Bears near Mount Da Wu, and Shen Xiu recognized the opportunity to feed the Golden Cicada.
• Shen Xiu agreed to join the hunt and negotiated to receive one bear corpse for every ten killed, with the bones and internal organs excluded.
• Shen Xiu and Cao Hongzhuo agreed on a time and place, and Cao Hongzhuo departed satisfied with his new recruit.
• Cao Hongzhuo tried to sell Shen Xiu Rejuvenation Pills again, so Shen Xiu drew his saber and sent him fleeing.

Shen Xiu joined Sifang Medicine Workshop’s expedition to hunt Black Demon Bears in a hidden valley, hoping to gain combat experience and improve his saber skills. The group lured three bears from the woods and waited for them to enter the encirclement.

• Shen Xiu met Steward Chen and the other hunters before they set out from town toward the Black Demon Bear stronghold.
• The expedition reached a hidden valley, where Shen Xiu paired with Dong Qi and was assigned to support the side and rear of the group.
• Shen Xiu asked Dong Qi to let him take the lead against the bears, and Dong Qi agreed after hearing that Shen Xiu wanted experience.
• Steward Chen arranged an encirclement as two men entered the gloomy woods to draw out the bears.
• Three Black Demon Bears emerged behind the fleeing men, and Shen Xiu drew his saber as the group prepared to fight.

Shen Xiu fought the Black Demon Bears in Nether Valley Gloom Forest and helped the group clear out the valley. As they left, he saw a terrifying red figure that vanished before anyone else could confirm it, leaving its origins unknown.

• Shen Xiu fought a Black Demon Bear and killed it after eighteen strikes, impressing Dong Qi with his strength.
• Shen Xiu’s Blood Battle Saber Technique proficiency increased as he and the group killed more Black Demon Bears.
• Steward Chen and Cao Hongzhuo ended the mission after the group found no more bears in the forest.
• Shen Xiu saw a tall red figure with hollow, ghostfire-like eyes on a mountaintop, but it disappeared when he turned to speak to Dong Qi.
• Cao Hongzhuo denied knowing of such a creature and then tried to sell Dong Qi the Sifang Medicine Workshop’s new Rejuvenation Pill.

Shen Xiu and his companions fled a forest after a deadly Red Shadow ambushed them, killing several members of their group. Cao Hongzhuo’s taunts drew the creature away from him, but it ended up pursuing Shen Xiu, who was already at the edge of the fleeing group.

• Shen Xiu sensed danger in the forest, and the Red Shadow killed the burly man who had mocked him.
• Cao Hongzhuo and Shen Xiu fled, while the Red Shadow killed more men who lagged behind.
• Steward Chen struck Cao Hongzhuo forward to help him escape, then slashed at the Red Shadow and retreated.
• Cao Hongzhuo shouted for the Red Shadow to chase him, and it abandoned Steward Chen to pursue him.
• Cao Hongzhuo begged the creature to chase the men ahead instead, and it left him behind to pursue Shen Xiu.

Shen Xiu faced a red skeletal monster that pursued him across the wilderness, and his enhanced strength let him fight back but barely scratch its bones. As Cao Hongzhuo and Steward Chen fled, Steward Chen recognized the creature as one of the demons and monsters, leaving Shen Xiu to face it alone.

• The red figure abandoned its pursuit of the others and rapidly closed in on Shen Xiu as Cao Hongzhuo fled ahead.
• Shen Xiu unleashed his Dragon Subduing Strength, boosted his speed, and saw that his pursuer was a red skeleton with black ghostfire in its eyes.
• The red skeleton appeared in front of Shen Xiu, and he struck it with the Hundred Refinements Saber, only to be knocked backward by the rebound.
• Shen Xiu repeatedly attacked and retreated, but his blows left only a few scratches on the red skeleton.
• Cao Hongzhuo urged Steward Chen to help Shen Xiu, but Steward Chen refused and identified the creature as a demon or monster that only the Night Watchers of the Suspended Sword Division could properly handle.

Shen Xiu discovered that the Golden Cicada’s cry made the red skeleton pause and examine his dantian. He used the Golden Cicada to keep it at bay and escaped toward Yang Family Town, where he saw other survivors fleeing and realized Dong Qi was likely dead.

• Shen Xiu’s Golden Cicada rang out, causing the red skeleton to halt its attack and scrutinize him.
• The red skeleton pointed to its earth-filled abdomen, then to Shen Xiu’s dantian, and Shen Xiu guessed it was seeking the source of the cicada’s cry.
• Shen Xiu released the Golden Cicada, and the wary red skeleton backed away from it.
• Shen Xiu used the Golden Cicada to deter the red skeleton while he fled, and the creature stopped at the edge of the woods.
• Shen Xiu ran toward Yang Family Town and saw Cao Hongzhuo, Steward Chen, and other battered men escaping; Dong Qi was nowhere to be seen.

Shen Xiu survived an ambush by the Crimson Fire Bandits, collected the abandoned Black Demon Bear corpses, and returned to Yang Family Town. At the town entrance, a gatekeeper demanded five taels under the Yang Family’s new rules, setting up a confrontation.

• The Crimson Fire Bandits admitted they had lured the White Bone Demon toward Steward Chen’s group, and their scar-faced leader attacked Shen Xiu as he rode past.
• Shen Xiu blocked the scar-faced leader’s saber and struck his horse, while Steward Chen and the others joined forces to deter the bandits.
• The scar-faced leader withdrew, and Steward Chen distributed the agreed rewards before the group abandoned the corpses left in the valley.
• Shen Xiu returned to the valley and carried two remaining Black Demon Bear corpses back toward Yang Family Town.
• At the town entrance, the young man in the tattered red robe demanded five taels from Shen Xiu and claimed the Yang Family had changed the entry fee.

Shen Xiu’s Golden Cicada completed its first feeding and transformed again, granting him the Innate Martial Body and greatly increasing his physical strength. As he tested his new power, members of the Yang Family arrived in town and were directed to his inn.

• Shen Xiu returned to the inn with two demon beast corpses and let the Golden Cicada feed on the Black Demon Bear.
• After finishing the corpse, the Golden Cicada entered its cocoon, and Shen Xiu underwent a painful transformation that strengthened his body.
• Shen Xiu discovered that his talent list now included Innate Martial Body and tested his enhanced strength by shattering a wooden stool.
• A young man in a worn red robe led Steward Lin and the Yang Family party to Shen Xiu’s inn, identifying him as the outsider they sought.

Shen Xiu fought off red-robed enforcers who came to his inn room under the pretext of investigating a demon beast corpse. After killing their leader, he confronted the shabby red-robed youth about the silver he had taken.

• The sinister man accepted a tael of silver from the innkeeper, cleared the inn, and demanded to know which room Shen Xiu occupied.
• The enforcers surrounded Shen Xiu’s room, and Shen Xiu wounded one through the window and killed another when they forced their way inside.
• The sinister man entered the room and attacked Shen Xiu, but Shen Xiu met his blows without giving ground.
• Shen Xiu charged into the sinister man, knocked him into the air, and cut him in half with his Hundred-Refined Saber.
• Shen Xiu asked the stunned shabby red-robed youth, “Is my silver burning your hands?”

Shen Xiu killed Steward Lin and his men after they targeted him, but Yang Tiandong arrived and settled the conflict with an apology, the culprit’s eyes, and fifty taels of silver. Shen Xiu left Yang Family Town for Taixi City, while Yang Tiandong ordered the blinded youth tortured and killed.

• Shen Xiu learned that the young man in the faded red robe had told Steward Lin about the demon beasts he carried.
• Yang Tiandong arrived with the Yang Family, apologized to Shen Xiu, and ordered a subordinate to blind the young man in the faded red robe.
• Yang Tiandong returned the five taels the youth had taken and paid Shen Xiu fifty taels, ending the confrontation without another fight.
• Shen Xiu packed the two remaining Black Demon Bear corpses and left Yang Family Town for Taixi City.
• Yang Tiandong returned to Yang Manor and ordered the young man in the faded red robe thrown into a river or a Man-Eating Ant nest.

Shen Xiu stayed in Taixi City, advanced the Dragon Subduing Tiger Taming Art to its fifth layer, and improved his saber technique while rumors of a White Bone Demon unsettled the region. The chapter ended with two Suspended Sword Division members arriving at Golden Rainbow Martial Arts School and meeting Deputy Pavilion Master Xiang Shou.

• Shen Xiu returned to Taixi City, submitted the Face-Preserving Fruit, and collected his mission reward.
• Shen Xiu practiced the Dragon Subduing Tiger Taming Thirteen Stances along the Lishui River as snow blanketed the city.
• Shen Xiu reached the fifth layer of the Dragon Subduing Tiger Taming Art and began practicing his saber on the frozen river.
• A carriage arrived in Taixi City on February 10th, making the city’s residents and its city lord uneasy.
• Shen Xiu’s saber technique reached the third realm as spring arrived and his Innate Martial Body increased his cultivation speed.
• Two Suspended Sword Division members visited Golden Rainbow Martial Arts School, where Xiang Shou humbly offered them assistance.

Shen Xiu learned that the Suspended Sword Division had arrived in Taixi City to deal with the White Bone Demon, but he wanted to avoid getting involved and focus on becoming stronger. While training in the Lishui River, he discovered that the water struck back at his punches with an uncanny force.

• Shen Xiu ate breakfast at Old Man Han’s stall and overheard customers discuss the White Bone Demon’s massacre of Tianshui Village and the Suspended Sword Division’s arrival in Taixi City.
• Shen Xiu decided to keep his distance from the Suspended Sword Division and concentrate on growing strong enough to resist the White Bone Demon.
• Shen Xiu advanced the Dragon Subduing Tiger Taming Art to its Fifth Layer after Instructor Duan taught him the next supporting mental cultivation method.
• Shen Xiu trained in the turbulent Lishui River, where he noticed the water answered his punches with an identical or even stronger force.

Shen Xiu overwhelmed Duan Hongfei during a cultivation test, prompting the instructor to suspect he possessed an Innate Martial Body. After a month of training, Shen Xiu learned that the mission to eliminate the White Bone Demon had failed, leaving him worried it might reach the city.

• Duan Hongfei tested Shen Xiu in combat, but Shen Xiu’s growing strength and Dragon Subduing Tiger Taming Art forced Duan to admit defeat.
• Duan Hongfei praised Shen Xiu’s progress and suspected his powerful physique was an Innate Martial Body.
• Shen Xiu demonstrated his Blood Battle Saber Technique, and Duan Hongfei found that Shen Xiu had nearly surpassed him in its mastery.
• Duan Hongfei decided Shen Xiu most needed a movement technique and told him to seek guidance when he had questions.
• Shen Xiu spent a month completing school tasks and training his fists and saber techniques in the Lishui River.
• Shen Xiu heard that the Suspended Sword Division’s operation against the White Bone Demon had failed and that two Golden Rainbow Martial Arts School disciples had disappeared in the mountains.

Shen Xiu learned that the Crimson Fire Bandits were targeting the Li Family Manor in Guiyan Town and rushed there to confront them. As Wang Bao revealed his intent to kill everyone at the manor, Shen Xiu had yet to arrive.

• Instructor Duan explained that Taixi City's foundation charms kept major dangers at bay, and Shen Xiu continued training without worrying about the White Bone Demon.
• Shen Xiu reached the Peak Second Realm and further improved his Dragon Subduing Tiger Taming Art while practicing in the Lishui River.
• Jian Shuhao told Shen Xiu that Wang Bao and the Crimson Fire Bandits were heading for the Li Family Manor, so Shen Xiu grabbed his saber and rode toward Guiyan Town.
• Wang Bao's bandits killed two martial cultivators and demanded two thousand taels from Li Yongnian, who handed over one thousand taels and checked that his son was still alive.
• Wang Bao declared that he preferred to eradicate every root and raised his saber to attack the people at the manor.

Shen Xiu rescued Li Yongnian and his son, then fought Wang Bao, the Third Boss of Crimson Fire Stronghold, and killed him despite Wang Bao's Third Realm cultivation. The witnesses were left stunned, and the Wind Thunder Martial Arts School Town Guard hoped Shen Xiu would join their school.

• Shen Xiu hurled a huge boulder at Wang Bao, knocking him from his horse and giving Li Yongnian and his son a chance to reach the manor gate.
• Wang Bao charged Shen Xiu, and their saber clash showed that Shen Xiu's strength could match or surpass the Third Realm bandit boss's.
• Shen Xiu struck Wang Bao in the chest with a powerful punch, badly injuring him, then fought off the Crimson Fire Bandits who rushed to intervene.
• Shen Xiu pressed his attack and beheaded Wang Bao with his saber.
• The people at Li Family Manor's gate were stunned by Shen Xiu's victory, while the Wind Thunder Martial Arts School Town Guard hoped to recruit him.

After helping defeat the Crimson Fire Bandits, Shen Xiu received a strange talisman from Li Yongnian and learned from a streetwise old daoist that it was a valuable Mysterious Grade Spirit Talisman. He discovered it could briefly confine martial cultivators below Fifth Realm Marrow Washing, leaving him with a powerful new tool.

• Shen Xiu looted the Crimson Fire Bandits, collected their silver and weapons, and took Third Boss Wang Bao's head for the bounty.
• Li Yongnian thanked Shen Xiu with one thousand taels in silver notes and an old bluish-green talisman he had received from a beggar.
• Shen Xiu showed the talisman to a familiar old daoist in Taixi City and paid him to identify it.
• The old daoist identified it as a Confinement Talisman made by Grand Talisman Master Lu Mingshan and explained that Shen Xiu could activate it with vital energy and blood.
• Shen Xiu learned that the talisman could trap a martial cultivator below Fifth Realm Marrow Washing for one breath and was exceedingly valuable.

Shen Xiu sold his weapons, claimed a bounty by presenting the head of Crimson Fire Stronghold’s Third Boss, and earned more than fourteen hundred taels. Instructor Duan then invited him to the Wind Thunder Martial Arts Gathering, where attendees could experience a heavy stone said to hold traces of a sixth-realm martial cultivator.

• Shen Xiu sold his Horse-Slaying Sabers at Hundred Refinements Hall and learned that Mysterious Grade spirit talismans cost hundreds of taels.
• Shen Xiu brought Wang Bao’s head to the Taixi City yamen, startling the crowd and earning the one-hundred-tael bounty.
• A bearded man mocked Shen Xiu, so Shen Xiu sent him crashing into a tavern wall and left the waiter to collect compensation.
• Shen Xiu returned to the martial arts school with more than fourteen hundred taels and asked Instructor Duan about obtaining a movement technique.
• Instructor Duan gave Shen Xiu an invitation to the Wind Thunder Martial Arts Gathering and explained that its hosts were displaying a heavy stone bearing traces of a sixth-realm martial cultivator.

Shen Xiu trained by the Lishui River, ignored Yang Jinhong’s apparent interest in taking him as a Personal Disciple, and broke through into the Bone Tempering realm. When he struck at what he thought was a huge fish, a gigantic creature appeared above him and spoke.

• Shen Xiu continued training at the Lishui River while Yang Jinhong’s plan to take a Personal Disciple stirred excitement at the Golden Rainbow Martial Arts School.
• Shen Xiu realized Yang Jinhong might favor him, but he remained committed to becoming Instructor Duan’s disciple.
• Shen Xiu watched a wary black-and-white tabby kitten drag fish away while he practiced and ate by the river.
• Shen Xiu refined his surging vitality and blood and broke through into the Bone Tempering realm.
• Shen Xiu punched the river to strike a huge fish, but his blow had no effect, and a gigantic figure addressed him from the night sky.

Shen Xiu met a white python Great Demon in the Lishui River and later learned that the Wind Thunder Martial Arts Gathering had been ruined by theft and an attack on its master. After refusing Yang Jinhong’s offer to become his Personal Disciple, Shen Xiu was named among the group heading to White Tiger Ridge to fight the Crimson Fire Bandits.

• Shen Xiu encountered a talking white python in the Lishui River, which said his punches had helped it sleep and warned him not to let people throw things into the river.
• Shen Xiu learned from historical records that the python had lived in the city for sixty years and that Taixi City had escaped several severe droughts.
• The cultivation-technique stone was stolen, the Wind Thunder Martial Arts School’s master was attacked and left unconscious, and the Wind Thunder Martial Arts Gathering was canceled.
• Yang Jinhong saw through Shen Xiu’s cultivation and offered to make him his Personal Disciple, but Shen Xiu politely refused; a disciple surnamed Li was chosen instead.
• Yang Jinhong announced that he had entered the Fourth Realm Return to Hiding, then planned an expedition to White Tiger Ridge to attack the Crimson Fire Bandits.
• Shen Xiu’s name appeared on the expedition list, and he accepted the dangerous mission because Yang Jinhong offered a generous reward.