Recaps

Jiang Ning showed Wang Jin that he had reached proficiency in the Five Animals Fist and earned medicinal soup and personal instruction. After studying Wang Jin’s demonstration of the minor accomplishment realm, Jiang Ning said he would try the fist himself.

• Jiang Ning demonstrated his proficient Five Animals Fist, astonishing Wang Jin with how quickly he had advanced.
• Wang Jin regretted that Jiang Ning had started martial training too late to qualify for the Inspection Office, but considered making him his final disciple.
• Wang Jin told Jiang Ning to collect medicinal soup from the back kitchen three times a day, then agreed to explain the minor accomplishment realm.
• Wang Jin demonstrated the Five Animals Fist’s changes in force and muscle patterns while Jiang Ning watched closely.
• After replaying the demonstration in his mind, Jiang Ning opened his eyes and said he would try the fist himself.

Jiang Ning practiced the Five Animals Fist under Wang Jin’s guidance and gained insight that increased his experience. Wang Jin told him he could observe the caged tiger fight in eight days, leaving Jiang Ning eager to improve his skills and pursue entry into the Inspection Office.

• Jiang Ning practiced the Five Animals Fist after watching Wang Jin demonstrate how force changed his movements.
• Jiang Ning gained a small insight into the fist technique and earned two experience points from a round of practice.
• Jiang Ning realized Wang Jin’s guidance could improve his experience-gaining efficiency even though it did not increase his blood and qi refinement.
• Wang Jin told Jiang Ning that the tiger in the courtyard would fight someone in eight days and encouraged him to observe it closely.
• Wang Jin promised to pass on his lifetime of learning if Jiang Ning passed his test and reached major achievement.

Jiang Ning gained permission to use Wang Jin’s study after explaining his ambitions to improve in both martial arts and literature. He entered the study expecting to find useful books, including possible Martial Dao manuals, and began examining its shelves.

• Jiang Ning confidently told Wang Jin that he would soon master the Five Animals Fist, and Wang Jin advised him to rest for the night.
• Jiang Ning asked to borrow books so he could study during breaks, explaining that he hoped to earn scholarly honors for protection and pursue both literature and martial arts.
• Wang Jin praised Jiang Ning’s aspirations and allowed him to enter the study whenever he wished, instructing him to get a key from Auntie Sun.
• Auntie Sun gave Jiang Ning the key and was pleased to hear that Wang Jin had granted him medicinal soup three times a day.
• Jiang Ning entered the study, lit a candle, and began looking through its books, first spotting shelves devoted to medicine and pharmacology.

Jiang Ning found a fragment of the Inner Elixir Life-Nourishing Technique in Wang Jin’s study and realized its potential, while considering how his panel might let him advance the incomplete method. He then read a dossier of rebellions and learned that unrest had plagued Zeshan Prefecture and the wider Great Xia.

• Jiang Ning examined Wang Jin’s books and reaffirmed his plan to focus on Literacy and a small number of skills.
• Jiang Ning discovered the Inner Elixir Life-Nourishing Technique fragment and read how it could cultivate inner breath, strengthen the body, and potentially form an inner elixir.
• Jiang Ning memorized the fragment, saw that the technique required one hundred experience points to begin, and decided not to let it slip away.
• Jiang Ning read the Great Xia Rebellion Summary and found that six rebellions had occurred in Zeshan Prefecture in the previous year.

After realizing the rebellions were part of a realm-wide struggle to force the imperial clan to loosen military control, Jiang Ning decided to join the Inspection Office for protection and a chance to advance in Martial Dao. He studied Luoshui County’s factions and concluded he had to reach the Martial Dao ranks within three months.

• Jiang Ning read that factions were using rebellions and evil-god shrines to pressure the imperial clan into loosening military control.
• Jiang Ning decided the Inspection Office was his best shelter and route to Martial Dao advancement.
• Jiang Ning studied intelligence on Luoshui County, including the power of Constable Wang, the county magistrate, and the Cao, Liu, and Xie Lineages.
• Jiang Ning learned that Xu Yunfeng was close to entering the Martial Dao ranks and questioned why he was targeting Jiang Ning’s elder brother.
• Jiang Ning resolved to reach the Martial Dao ranks within three months so he could join the Inspection Office.

Jiang Ning prepared to study both the imperial examinations and Martial Dao, then tested the Inner Elixir Life-Nourishing Technique at sunrise. After absorbing its warmth and gaining experience, he felt his organs and qi and blood respond before his body returned to normal.

• Jiang Ning gathered books on the imperial examinations and Martial Dao, hoping to earn scholarly honors and strengthen his prospects with the Inspection Office.
• Jiang Ning saw that his Source Energy had risen to 6.0 after eating wild ginseng and concluded that greater energy intake increased his daily gains.
• Jiang Ning sat in the courtyard before sunrise and began practicing the Inner Elixir Life-Nourishing Technique as the sun appeared.
• Jiang Ning repeatedly absorbed warmth through the breathing method and gained experience in the technique.
• Jiang Ning stopped two breaths before the sun fully rose, then sensed warmth spreading from his organs as his qi and blood circulated before his body returned to normal.

Jiang Ning advanced his Inner Elixir Life-Nourishing Technique, gained experience by chopping wood, and improved his Five Animals Fist practice. By the end of the day, he had found a way to double the experience he gained from each fist-training round.

• Jiang Ning's Inner Elixir Life-Nourishing Technique reached 13/100, and he experienced a purge that convinced him the technique was working.
• Jiang Ning chopped wood until his Wood-Chopping Saber Technique reached 633/1000, nearing its next breakthrough.
• Auntie Sun fed Jiang Ning ten meat buns and medicinal soup before he headed off to practice his fist technique.
• Jiang Ning adjusted his Five Animals Fist routine and gained two experience points per round by grasping softness within hardness and hardness within softness.
• Jiang Ning spent the day practicing his fist technique and reading, pleased with his doubled training efficiency.

Jiang Ning continued cultivating and grinding experience, bringing his Wood-Chopping Saber Technique to the brink of completion. The final experience point triggered a change in its status panel entry.

• Jiang Ning reviewed his progress and noted that his reduced Source Energy gains showed how much wild ginseng had helped him.
• Jiang Ning practiced the Inner Elixir Life-Nourishing Technique at sunrise, increasing its experience and feeling its benefits to his energy and stamina.
• Jiang Ning went to the kitchen courtyard and chopped firewood, raising his Wood-Chopping Saber Technique from 633 to 999 experience.
• Jiang Ning gained the final experience point, and the Wood-Chopping Saber Technique entry on his panel changed.

Jiang Ning perfected the Wood-Chopping Saber Technique and raised Five Animals Fist to minor mastery while continuing to build his strength. Cheng Ran told him the martial hall would release a tiger into the courtyard in six days for the disciples to observe, and Li Qing might take part.

• Jiang Ning perfected the Wood-Chopping Saber Technique, making his swings faster and stronger, and decided he should acquire a proper saber for self-defense.
• Over the next four days, Jiang Ning advanced Five Animals Fist to minor mastery and increased his qi and blood through practice.
• Jiang Ning reviewed his progress and noted that he still needed to reach the Martial Dao and prove himself in combat before the Inspection Office opened.
• Cheng Ran told Jiang Ning that a fierce tiger would be released into the martial hall courtyard in six days so disciples could observe its fight.
• Cheng Ran said Li Qing might enter the arena as she prepared to break into the ranks of Martial Dao.

Jiang Ning watched Cheng Ran and Xiao Peng fight and compared their abilities with his own. The exchange convinced him that his balanced cultivation of all Five Animals had made him stronger than he realized.

• Jiang Ning learned that Li Qing had been making a final push toward entering the ranks of Martial Dao.
• Cheng Ran said that observing a fierce tiger might help him complete Tiger Form Fist, while Jiang Ning listened.
• Xiao Peng challenged Cheng Ran to exchange moves, and the two began fighting before the academy’s outer-courtyard students.
• Xiao Peng met Cheng Ran’s strongest strike head-on, surprising Cheng Ran by keeping the difference between them small.
• As their fight continued, Jiang Ning judged their strengths and weaknesses and realized that his own cultivation of all Five Animals had given him balanced abilities and considerable strength.

Jiang Ning saved Cheng Ran from being badly injured after Xiao Peng defeated him, and his strength surprised Cheng Ran. Xiao Peng dismissed Jiang Ning as a threat to the Inspection Office quota because of his ordinary family background, while Cheng Ran said he expected to enter the Martial Dao within a month.

• Xiao Peng struck Cheng Ran with a powerful Bear Form Fist move and sent him flying toward a courtyard wall.
• Jiang Ning caught Cheng Ran in midair and redirected his fall, preventing him from crashing into the wall.
• The onlookers praised Xiao Peng's technique and discussed Jiang Ning's progress after learning his name and ordinary family background.
• Xiao Peng decided Jiang Ning could not threaten his Inspection Office quota and resolved to improve his own blood-qi and combat skills.
• Cheng Ran thanked Jiang Ning, said he would enter the Martial Dao within a month, and realized Jiang Ning's strength exceeded two hundred catties.

Cheng Ran realized Jiang Ning had extraordinary Martial Dao talent and gave him fifty taels of silver to thank him for preventing an injury. Jiang Ning accepted the money to support his training as he prepared to pursue a place in the Inspection Office, though he remained unsure whether he could attain Martial Dao rank in the three months he had left.

• Cheng Ran estimated Jiang Ning's strength exceeded two hundred catties and privately concluded that his Martial Dao talent and fist technique had advanced remarkably.
• Cheng Ran gave Jiang Ning a fifty-tael silver note in gratitude for helping him avoid a serious injury, and Jiang Ning accepted it.
• Disciples nearby discussed Cheng Ran's wealth and the importance of the upcoming Inspection Office selection in Luoshui County.
• Jiang Ning planned to use the money to resume more intensive training and improve his chances of joining the Inspection Office.
• Jiang Ning assessed the requirements for reaching Martial Dao rank and recognized that attaining it within three months remained uncertain.

Jiang Ning helped the injured Cheng Ran recover and agreed to spar with him, while keeping his rapidly growing strength secret from Xiao Peng. The next morning, Jiang Ning waited for his Inner Elixir Life-Nourishing Technique to reach initiation and hoped his panel could help him master the incomplete technique.

• Jiang Ning helped Cheng Ran rest after Xiao Peng's vicious strike, and Cheng Ran said his injuries would heal with a few days of recuperation.
• Cheng Ran confirmed Jiang Ning's strength exceeded two hundred jin, agreed to keep it secret, and invited him to spar after recovering.
• Jiang Ning and Cheng Ran agreed to build their combat experience through regular sparring, and Cheng Ran promised to investigate a matter Jiang Ning had entrusted to him.
• The next morning, Jiang Ning waited for the sun as his Inner Elixir Life-Nourishing Technique stood at 91/100 experience points.
• Jiang Ning speculated that the technique could refine his organs and eventually form a golden elixir, and hoped his panel would let him perfect it despite possessing only a fragmentary page.

Jiang Ning initiated the Inner Elixir Life-Nourishing Technique and discovered that it greatly strengthened his organs. He cautiously practiced with the newly risen sun, survived a surge of scorching essence, and gained experience despite missing the technique’s later guidance method.

• Jiang Ning practiced the breathing method until the Inner Elixir Life-Nourishing Technique reached initiation, causing his heart, breathing, and body temperature to surge.
• Jiang Ning expelled a breath that sent fallen leaves flying and recognized that his organs and stamina had grown stronger.
• Jiang Ning considered how inner and outer cultivation could complement each other and wondered whether he could progress without the technique’s missing later methods.
• Jiang Ning practiced before the morning window ended and drew scorching essence into his abdomen, where it threatened to burn his organs.
• Jiang Ning felt an invisible force calm the essence, gained a point of experience, and concluded that further inner strengthening could become a powerful trump card.

Jiang Ning continued cultivating the Inner Elixir Life-Nourishing Technique and resolved to grow strong enough to protect his brother’s family. Cheng Ran reported that the Green Snake Gang was watching the martial arts hall, described the threats surrounding Jiang Ning’s family, and suggested a cheaper source of wild ginseng as Jiang Ning prepared to pursue a place in the Inspection Office.

• Jiang Ning cultivated the Inner Elixir Life-Nourishing Technique until it reached Beginner 6/1000 and decided to repay the twenty taels his elder brother had borrowed for him.
• Cheng Ran told Jiang Ning that two Green Snake Gang members had been watching the martial arts hall and that increased patrols were keeping his brother’s family safe for now.
• Cheng Ran reported that Xu Yunfeng was likely a martial artist close to entering the ranks and was connected to Cao Bin and the Cao Family.
• Cheng Ran advised Jiang Ning to buy ten-year wild ginseng from Zhou Xing for ten taels of silver when Zhou demonstrated Fierce Tiger Leaves the Cage.
• Cheng Ran said his father’s Great Restoration Pill had healed his injuries and strengthened his qi and blood, and he vowed to compete with Xiao Peng for the Inspection Office position.

Jiang Ning and Cheng Ran sparred at Blue-Wave Martial Academy, and Cheng Ran discovered Jiang Ning’s extraordinary strength and fist technique talent. Their bout continued as Jiang Ning used the Deer Form Fist and learned that fighting increased his Five Animals Fist experience.

• Cheng Ran challenged Jiang Ning to a spar, and Jiang Ning agreed so he could gauge Xu Yunfeng’s strength.
• Jiang Ning struck Cheng Ran with a palm that unleashed a thousand jin of force, startling him with Jiang Ning’s Tiger Form Fist mastery.
• Cheng Ran recognized Jiang Ning’s talent and decided he should be treated as a friend, then continued sparring with him.
• Jiang Ning and Cheng Ran exchanged repeated blows, and Jiang Ning saw that sparring increased his Five Animals Fist experience.
• Jiang Ning used the Deer Form Fist’s shifting speed to exploit Cheng Ran’s defense and stagger him, prompting Cheng Ran to demand another round.

Jiang Ning sparred with Cheng Ran and showed how his Five Animals Fist, nimble footwork, and stamina let him evade and pressure a stronger opponent. After Cheng Ran overwhelmed him with full force, Jiang Ning reflected that he might beat Cheng Ran with a blade but was not yet confident against Xu Yunfeng.

• Jiang Ning used his unpredictable movements and precise footwork to land strikes on Cheng Ran while avoiding most of his attacks.
• Cheng Ran unleashed his full strength and drove Jiang Ning back, forcing him to leap onto a wall and concede the spar.
• Cheng Ran recognized Jiang Ning's exceptional talent and felt relieved that only about three months remained before the Inspection Office opened.
• Jiang Ning saw that fighting had raised his Five Animals Fist experience, while his qi and blood had not increased.
• After Cheng Ran left, Jiang Ning judged that a blade might let him defeat Cheng Ran but doubted he could yet defeat Xu Yunfeng.

Jiang Ning continued strengthening his martial skills and body while anticipating a visit from Zhou Xing to buy wild ginseng. At lunch, deputy tower master Shen Congyun arrived at Blue-Wave Martial Academy, and Wang Jin eagerly welcomed him because Shen had helped him glimpse a path beyond the peak of the seventh rank.

• Jiang Ning reviewed his progress and planned to use accumulated energy to break through his Wood-Chopping Saber Technique and strengthen his Literacy skill.
• Jiang Ning practiced Five Animals Fist repeatedly and noticed that his growing endurance and appetite helped him train more.
• A disciple announced that Shen Congyun had come to visit, surprising Wang Jin and drawing the attention of Jiang Ning and the other disciples.
• Cheng Ran explained that Myriad Splendor Tower rarely invested in Martial Dao talents and questioned why Shen Congyun had personally visited.
• Wang Jin greeted Shen Congyun at the academy gates and invited him inside, encouraged by the opportunity Shen had given him to advance beyond the peak of the seventh rank.

Shen Congyun explained the Inner Elixir Life-Nourishing Technique’s origins and limitations to Wang Jin, who had begun cultivating it with the help of secret medicine. Shen decided to invest in Wang Jin, while Wang Jin learned that the technique’s perfection method was missing.

• Shen Congyun asked Wang Jin how he had found the Inner Elixir Life-Nourishing Technique, and Wang Jin said it had restored many of his bodily functions.
• Wang Jin said he had begun cultivating the technique after using Shen Congyun’s secret medicine, and Shen praised his Spiritual Wisdom and talent.
• Shen Congyun explained that the technique was an ultimate art derived from ancient Immortal Dao methods and that its incomplete version could only be cultivated to major accomplishment.
• Wang Jin asked what Shen Congyun wanted in exchange for teaching him, and Shen said he was willing to invest in him but lacked the method for perfection.
• Shen Congyun described how perfecting the technique could form a golden elixir and extend one’s lifespan, while Wang Jin regretted that the crucial method was lost.
• After confirming Wang Jin had successfully begun cultivation, Shen Congyun resolved to support him as a promising talent.

Shen Congyun valued Wang Jin as a rare Martial Dao genius and hoped to invest in his future, while Jiang Ning continued training and focused on improving his Five Animals Fist. The chapter ended with Jiang Ning heading to watch Zhao Hu demonstrate his perfected Tiger Form Fist.

• Shen Congyun judged that Wang Jin could recover his strength, advance through the Martial Dao ranks, and perhaps even become a Grandmaster, which justified Shen Congyun's investment in him.
• Cheng Ran told Jiang Ning that Myriad Splendor Tower's support could transform a Martial Dao genius's prospects, though he thought he had little chance of receiving it himself.
• Jiang Ning practiced the Five Animals Fist, gained one experience point, and noted that his stamina and strength had improved after cultivating the Inner Elixir Life-Nourishing Technique.
• Cheng Ran rushed to tell Jiang Ning that Li Qing had entered a Martial Dao rank and Zhao Hu had perfected his Tiger Form Fist and mastered Fierce Tiger Force.
• Jiang Ning went with Cheng Ran to the front courtyard to watch Zhao Hu demonstrate the perfected Tiger Form Fist.

Jiang Ning and Cheng Ran watched Zhao Hu praise Xiao Peng at the Blue-Wave Martial Academy, while Cheng Ran worried about their competition for a place in the Inspection Office. Outside the academy, Liu Zhixiang and Zhou Xing clashed over the academy’s talented disciples, and Zhao Hu led the disciples away to demonstrate Fierce Tiger Force.

• Jiang Ning and Cheng Ran saw Zhao Hu compliment Xiao Peng’s mastery of Tiger Form Fist, and Cheng Ran vowed to surpass him.
• Liu Zhixiang arrived at the Blue-Wave Martial Academy to meet Academy Master Wang Jin.
• Zhou Xing arrived with Zhang Tiesheng, accused Liu Zhixiang’s Four Harmonies Trading Company of overreaching, and entered the academy.
• Liu Zhixiang resented Zhou Xing’s rebuke and hoped to use his powerful allies to teach him a lesson.
• Zhao Hu invited the disciples to watch him demonstrate Fierce Tiger Force and felt pleased when Li Qing followed the group.

Jiang Ning’s changed physique and concealed skill impressed Li Qing, while Zhao Hu grew jealous of his friendly exchange with her. Zhao Hu confronted Cheng Ran, but Zhou Xing and Zhang Tiesheng arrived before the dispute was explained.

• Zhao Hu demonstrated the explosive Fierce Tiger Force to the martial arts hall disciples while watching Jiang Ning speak with Li Qing.
• Li Qing praised Jiang Ning’s physical transformation and offered to test his Five Animals Fist, while Jiang Ning worried that Zhao Hu had taken notice of him.
• Cheng Ran called Jiang Ning his sparring partner, but Jiang Ning and Cheng Ran played down their training, leading Li Qing to suspect that Jiang Ning had exceptional talent.
• Zhao Hu challenged Cheng Ran to fight, then leapt across the courtyard and confronted him and Jiang Ning.
• Zhou Xing and Zhang Tiesheng arrived as Cheng Ran demanded to know why Zhao Hu had challenged him.

Zhou Xing stopped Zhao Hu from forcing Cheng Ran into a spar and offered Cheng Ran and Li Qing invitations to discuss joining forces ahead of the Inspection Office opening. Jiang Ning bought wild ginseng from Zhou Xing, who decided he was not worth a major investment, and Li Qing left to pay respects to their master.

• Zhou Xing arrived and learned Zhao Hu wanted to spar with Cheng Ran, then pointed out that Zhao Hu’s greater skill made the challenge unfair.
• Li Qing rebuked Zhao Hu, who left after threatening Cheng Ran, and Zhou Xing advised Cheng Ran to be careful.
• Zhou Xing invited Cheng Ran and Li Qing to Fenghua Tower and offered them terms to join his plans for the Inspection Office.
• Jiang Ning exchanged a fifty-tael banknote and twenty taels of silver for ten wild ginseng roots, with Zhou Xing adding three as a goodwill gesture.
• Zhou Xing decided against investing heavily in Jiang Ning, then left; Li Qing went to pay respects to their master.

Jiang Ning and Cheng Ran discussed Zhou Xing’s generous offer to invest in Cheng Ran in exchange for a future favor, while Jiang Ning regretted missing out on the resources such backing could provide. Meanwhile, Li Qing greeted Shen Congyun at the martial arts school, and Wang Jin invited him to inspect his disciples.

• Cheng Ran read Zhou Xing’s invitation offering silver, premium ointment, and century-old wild Earth Ganoderma for a future favor, then said he would compare offers before accepting.
• Jiang Ning considered how Zhou Xing’s investment could increase his resources and source energy, which he needed to break the Wood-Chopping Saber Technique’s limits.
• Li Qing greeted Wang Jin and Shen Congyun, feeling nervous at the prospect of being noticed by the powerful Myriad Splendor Tower deputy tower master.
• Shen Congyun praised Li Qing’s physique, and Li Qing understood from his response that he was unlikely to invest in her.
• Wang Jin told Shen Congyun that the disciples had assembled and invited him to inspect them, and Shen Congyun agreed.

At Blue-Wave Martial Academy, Liu Zhixiang tested Zhou Xing with a pointed greeting, but Zhou Xing concealed his displeasure and went to pay respects to Wang Jin. Liu Zhixiang resolved to avoid offending Zhou Xing too deeply while carrying out the Fourfold Merchants Association’s plan to support promising candidates for the Inspection Office.

• The disciples gathered to watch Wang Jin’s captured tiger be released, hoping to learn from its fighting spirit and improve their Tiger Form Fist.
• Liu Zhixiang entered the academy and greeted Zhou Xing, who suspected the Fourfold Merchants Association’s business was tied to the Liu Family.
• Zhou Xing held back his anger, encouraged Xiao Peng, and headed to the rear courtyard to pay his respects to Wang Jin.
• Liu Zhixiang recognized Zhou Xing’s talent and composure, deciding he should find a way to ease their relationship.
• Liu Zhixiang reviewed his assignment to invest in promising Blue-Wave Martial Academy disciples who might join the Inspection Office.