Recaps

Liu Zhixiang of the Fourfold Merchants Association sought promising Blue-Wave Martial Academy disciples for investment, while Cheng Ran received an invitation. Cheng Ran invited Jiang Ning to the Association’s banquet and promised to recommend him, leaving Jiang Ning ready to pursue the resources he urgently needed.

• Liu Zhixiang identified Cheng Ran, Xiao Peng, and Zhao Hu as the academy’s best prospects for investment and gave Cheng Ran an invitation.
• Cheng Ran told Jiang Ning he would favor the Fourfold Merchants Association’s offer if its terms were better than Zhou Xing’s.
• Cheng Ran, concerned about Jiang Ning’s talent and need for resources, invited him to the Association’s banquet and offered to recommend him for investment.
• Jiang Ning accepted Cheng Ran’s offer and thanked him, hoping to secure resources that would speed his martial progress and help protect his family.

Wang Jin brought Shen Congyun to the martial hall courtyard, where Shen inspected the disciples while considering Wang Jin’s character but expecting no exceptional talent among them. Zhou Xing recognized a chance to win Myriad Splendor Tower’s favor and resolved to show his abilities in the arena.

• Cheng Ran told Jiang Ning that Shen Congyun’s favor could transform his future, while Jiang Ning questioned how much it could help someone already wealthy.
• Wang Jin asked Shen Congyun to assess his disciples, and Shen agreed, appreciating Wang Jin’s concern for them despite expecting no investment-worthy talent.
• Shen Congyun reflected that Myriad Splendor Tower sought disciples with the potential to become first-rate experts and that grandmaster-level prospects were exceedingly rare.
• Zhou Xing saw Shen Congyun and renewed his hope of gaining Myriad Splendor Tower’s support for himself and the Zhou Family.
• Zhou Xing clenched his fists and resolved to enter the arena and prove himself.

At the martial hall, Shen Congyun assessed the gathered disciples and initially dismissed Jiang Ning as mediocre. After sensing Jiang Ning’s powerful heartbeat and the lingering aura of Sun Essence, Shen Congyun realized Jiang Ning had mastered the Inner Elixir Life-Nourishing Technique and concealed his surprise.

• Wang Jin told the disciples to carry the tiger’s cage to the western courtyard, and several eager disciples lifted it, waking the tiger with a roar.
• Cheng Ran hoped to fight the tiger and attract Shen Congyun’s attention, while Jiang Ning considered how to gain Myriad Splendor Tower’s support.
• Shen Congyun judged Cheng Ran and Jiang Ning to be ordinary, then noticed Jiang Ning’s unusually steady breathing and forceful heartbeat.
• Shen Congyun sensed the lingering aura of Sun Essence on Jiang Ning and concluded that Jiang Ning had entered the Inner Elixir Life-Nourishing Technique and tempered his internal organs.
• Wang Jin asked Shen Congyun what he had noticed, but Shen Congyun concealed his discovery and said nothing was wrong.

Shen Congyun recognized Jiang Ning’s exceptional aptitude for the Inner Elixir Life-Nourishing Technique and decided to investigate him as a potential investment. Meanwhile, Cao Bin refused to abandon the plan to pressure Jiang Li, despite Jiang Ning’s protection at Wang Jin’s academy.

• Shen Congyun sensed that Jiang Ning had cultivated the Inner Elixir Life-Nourishing Technique without secret medicine and judged his innate spiritual wisdom extraordinary.
• Shen Congyun decided to consider investing in Jiang Ning after investigating his martial arts experience and talent.
• Wang Jin asked Shen Congyun what he thought of his disciples, and Shen Congyun replied that they were not bad.
• Xu Yunfeng told Cao Bin that Jiang Ning had moved into Blue-Wave Martial Academy after becoming Wang Jin’s disciple, blocking the plan to use him against Jiang Li.
• Cao Bin warned that Wang Jin was not someone to confront directly but insisted that they continue targeting Jiang Li to force the county magistrate to take a position.

Cao Bin ordered Xu Yunfeng to frame Jiang Li and target Jiang Ning before the Inspection Office arrived. After watching the academy’s disciples fight a tiger, Jiang Ning studied the battle and prepared to improve his Tiger Form Fist with newly delivered wild ginseng.

• Cao Bin told Xu Yunfeng to use the God-Worship Cult as a charge against Jiang Li and his family, and ordered him to arrange Jiang Ning’s arrest and death as well.
• Wang Jin and Shen Congyun watched as the martial academy’s disciples fought a tiger in an iron cage.
• Cheng Ran told Jiang Ning that he had fought the tiger to improve his Tiger Form Fist and attract Shen Congyun’s favor.
• Cheng Ran planned to study the battle and invited Jiang Ning to the Fourfold Merchants Association’s banquet the following evening.
• Jiang Ning received ten wild ginseng roots from Zhou Xing and reviewed the tiger fight, seeking to master the spirit and form of Tiger Form Fist.

Jiang Ning practiced the Five Animals Fist through the night, using half a wild ginseng root to restore his strength and deepen his understanding of the tiger's spirit and form. He reached great mastery in Tiger Form Fist and ended the night heading to eat with Auntie Sun, excited by his improved training gains.

• Jiang Ning practiced the Five Animals Fist while recalling the tiger's pounce, but his experience gains initially remained at one point per set.
• Jiang Ning ate half of the wild ginseng, which quickly restored his energy, and resumed training through the night.
• Jiang Ning's practice began yielding two experience points per set, showing that his Tiger Form Fist had reached great mastery and qualifying him to become Wang Jin's true disciple.
• Jiang Ning trained until late at night, gaining 23 experience points in total and raising his Five Animals Fist to Minor Mastery 78/500.
• Auntie Sun brought Jiang Ning to eat the dinner she had repeatedly reheated, while he looked forward to practicing with greater efficiency the next day.

Jiang Ning broke through the limit of the Wood-Chopping Saber Technique and gained the Drawing Parallels trait, which improved his ability to learn saber techniques. He decided to tell Wang Jin that his Tiger Form Fist had reached major mastery so he could become Wang Jin’s true disciple.

• Jiang Ning ate a large meal at the martial academy’s back kitchen, practiced his fist techniques, and went to sleep with 9.2 Source Energy points.
• Jiang Ning woke to find his Source Energy had risen to 10.1 after absorbing wild ginseng.
• Jiang Ning used his Source Energy to break the Wood-Chopping Saber Technique’s limit and gained the Drawing Parallels trait.
• Jiang Ning resolved to find a saber and learn a saber technique, believing Wang Jin could help him obtain both.
• Jiang Ning decided to tell Wang Jin that his Tiger Form Fist had reached major mastery and that he had passed the assessment to become a true disciple.
• Jiang Ning sensed increased strength from the breakthrough and left his room to find Wang Jin.

Jiang Ning tested his strength and found his right arm could exert about 350 jin and his left arm 300 jin, then continued training before drawing in the sun’s essence with the Inner Elixir Life-Nourishing Technique. Shen Congyun watched from afar and was stunned that Jiang Ning dared to practice the technique without knowing what came next.

• Jiang Ning lifted the 300-jin stone weight with each arm and found he could not lift the 400-jin weight clear of the ground.
• Jiang Ning estimated his right arm’s strength at about 350 jin and his left arm’s at 300 jin, and considered how his saber technique might let him challenge Xu Yunfeng.
• Jiang Ning returned to his courtyard, practiced the Five Animals Fist, and gained four experience points and six wisps of blood and qi.
• After sunrise, Jiang Ning drew in the sun’s essence and gained experience in the Inner Elixir Life-Nourishing Technique.
• Shen Congyun watched Jiang Ning from a distant building and reacted with shock that he was practicing without a guiding method for what came next.

Jiang Ning cultivated the Inner Elixir Life-Nourishing Technique while Shen Congyun watched and questioned how he had learned it. He demonstrated his Tiger Form Fist to Wang Jin, passed his test, and became Wang Jin’s true disciple.

• Shen Congyun observed Jiang Ning absorbing sunlight to cultivate the Inner Elixir Life-Nourishing Technique and decided to await an investigation report.
• Jiang Ning gained experience in the technique, ate breakfast, and brought Wang Jin his meal so he could reveal his progress.
• Jiang Ning told Wang Jin that his Tiger Form Fist had reached major accomplishment, and Wang Jin asked him to demonstrate it.
• Wang Jin recognized Jiang Ning’s mastery after watching his demonstration and learned that seeing a fierce tiger fight had helped him comprehend the form.
• Jiang Ning offered Wang Jin tea in a formal ceremony, and Wang Jin accepted him as his true disciple.

Wang Jin showed Jiang Ning the mid-grade Canglang Saber Art but said he was not yet qualified to learn it because he had not mastered force. Jiang Ning resolved to train for the Inspection Office opportunity and, wondering whether he could enter the saber art early, turned back to ask Wang Jin for a saber.

• Wang Jin explained that Jiang Ning had to master a Five Animals Fist stance before he could qualify to learn the Canglang Saber Art.
• Wang Jin gave Jiang Ning the manual, and Jiang Ning read and memorized its instructions for the powerful Ninefold Force.
• Jiang Ning realized that entering the Canglang Saber Art required mastering force, which he could only pursue after advancing the Five Animals Fist.
• Wang Jin encouraged Jiang Ning to reach perfection in the Five Animals Fist and promised to help him seek a place in the Inspection Office if he succeeded in time.
• Jiang Ning saw that the Canglang Saber Art had appeared on his panel, considered using it to master Ninefold Force early, and turned back to ask Wang Jin for a saber.

Jiang Ning borrowed Wang Jin’s Blackwood Long Saber and tested the Canglang Saber Art, discovering that his panel could help him advance the mid-grade technique. He left determined to practice the saber art while continuing to prioritize the Five Animals Fist as the foundation of his strength.

• Jiang Ning asked Wang Jin for a saber, and Wang Jin lent him the Blackwood Long Saber while permitting him to try the Canglang Saber Art.
• Jiang Ning swung the saber and found it felt natural in his hands, then split a drifting leaf with a casual stroke.
• Jiang Ning practiced the Canglang Saber Art and gained one experience point, sensing an invisible force circulating within him.
• Jiang Ning practiced the saber art a second time, reaching 2/10 experience toward initiation and confirming it used less stamina than the Five Animals Fist.
• Jiang Ning decided to train the Canglang Saber Art without neglecting the Five Animals Fist, which he regarded as essential to building his physique and qi and blood.

Jiang Ning initiated the Canglang Saber Art and discovered that its Ninefold Force gave him immense power but injured his arm. He continued practicing to reach proficiency, hoping to gain a stronger trump card against Xu Yunfeng.

• Jiang Ning practiced the Canglang Saber Art until it reached the initiated stage and he gained Ninefold Force.
• Jiang Ning tested the force on an ironwood training post, nearly destroying it with one saber strike.
• Jiang Ning realized Ninefold Force had torn the muscles, skin, and blood vessels in his right arm, though his blood and qi quickly eased the injury.
• Jiang Ning decided to keep training toward proficiency so he could wield two layers of force and face Xu Yunfeng with a stronger killing move.

Jiang Ning spent the day practicing the Canglang Saber Art, consuming wild ginseng to support his training and nearing the next stage. He left for a banquet with Cheng Ran, carrying a saber from Wang Jin as protection while Cheng Ran privately wondered whether Jiang Ning could survive his predicament.

• Wang Jin watched Jiang Ning practice and concluded that the intermediate Canglang Saber Art was beyond his current level, but chose not to discourage him.
• Jiang Ning practiced all day, ate a root and a half of wild ginseng, and raised his Canglang Saber Art to Beginner 43/100.
• Jiang Ning finished the day expecting to reach proficiency soon and believing his improved saber skill could let him kill Xu Yunfeng with one strike.
• Cheng Ran arrived by carriage to take Jiang Ning to a banquet, and Jiang Ning brought the Blackwood Long Saber Wang Jin had given him for protection.
• Cheng Ran inspected the saber, recognized it as resembling the one Master Wang had given Xiao Peng, and privately wondered whether Jiang Ning had become Wang Jin's true disciple.

Cheng Ran brought Jiang Ning to meet Liu Zhixiang of the Fourfold Merchants Association and tried to secure Jiang Ning an offer matching the association’s terms. Liu Zhixiang refused, claiming he lacked the authority, and Cheng Ran left with Jiang Ning.

• Two Green Snake Gang members spotted Jiang Ning leaving the martial academy, and one went to notify Master Xu.
• At Bright Moon Tower, Liu Zhixiang welcomed Cheng Ran, Jiang Ning, and Elder Zheng into a private room.
• Liu Zhixiang presented the Fourfold Merchants Association’s terms, which Jiang Ning saw were worse than Zhou Xing’s offer.
• Cheng Ran said he would accept the association’s terms if Liu Zhixiang offered Jiang Ning an identical deal, and Jiang Ning promised to repay the favor.
• Liu Zhixiang claimed he lacked the authority to grant Jiang Ning an offer, angering Cheng Ran, who left with Jiang Ning.

Cheng Ran refused the Fourfold Merchants Association’s offer and chose to stand by Jiang Ning despite Cao Bin’s threat. As Cheng Ran escorted Jiang Ning toward the Martial Academy, Xu Yunfeng blocked their carriage in the street.

• Liu Zhixiang dismissed Cheng Ran’s request to invest in Jiang Ning and decided to spend more resources cultivating Xiao Peng instead.
• Cheng Ran apologized for the failed investment, but Jiang Ning thanked him and urged him to keep his distance from Cao Bin; Cheng Ran refused to abandon their friendship.
• Xu Yunfeng spotted Jiang Ning outside Bright Moon Tower, and Jiang Ning prepared himself while Cheng Ran offered to escort him back to the Martial Academy.
• Cheng Ran and Jiang Ning took a carriage toward the Blue-Wave Martial Academy, but a black-uniformed constable halted it and frightened the horses into stopping.

Xu Yunfeng stopped Cheng Ran’s carriage on orders from Cao Bin, intending to seize Jiang Ning and frame Jiang Li as an accomplice of the Evil God Church. As Elder Zheng’s strength failed him, Jiang Ning stepped out and prepared to fight Xu Yunfeng himself.

• Xu Yunfeng demanded to inspect Cheng Ran’s carriage, but Cheng Ran challenged his authority and Elder Zheng emerged to confront him.
• Elder Zheng recognized that Xu Yunfeng had entered the ranks of the Martial Dao and warned Cheng Ran that he could not protect Jiang Ning as he once could.
• Jiang Ning calculated that his strength and saber skills might let him kill Xu Yunfeng, then decided to rely on himself and stepped out of the carriage.
• Xu Yunfeng planned to take Jiang Ning as part of a scheme with Cao Bin to force Jiang Li to confess to fabricated charges and win a place in the Inspection Office.

Jiang Ning faced Xu Yunfeng after the constable tried to seize him, but Wang Jin arrived and forced Xu Yunfeng to back down. Wang Jin left Jiang Ning with a warning to grow stronger, and Cheng Ran took him back toward the academy.

• Jiang Ning climbed down from the carriage and prepared to fight Xu Yunfeng, while Cheng Ran tried to stop him.
• Wang Jin arrived, confronted Xu Yunfeng, and ordered him to leave Jiang Ning alone.
• Xu Yunfeng stabbed himself to apologize and deny Wang Jin a reason to punish him, then limped away.
• Wang Jin told Jiang Ning to train hard and left, while Jiang Ning reflected on Xu Yunfeng's ruthlessness and his own chance to grow stronger.
• Cheng Ran apologized for failing to protect Jiang Ning, warned him to stay at the academy, and offered to take him back.

After Master Wang rescued Jiang Ning from Xu Yunfeng, he urged Jiang Ning to stay at the martial arts hall and grow stronger. Jiang Ning practiced through the next day, advancing his Canglang Saber Art to Mastery and learning to wield a second force, though his body could not safely withstand it.

• Cheng Ran apologized to Jiang Ning for nearly getting him killed, while Elder Zheng explained why he had not dared to challenge Xu Yunfeng.
• Wang Jin told Jiang Ning that strength was the only real truth and warned him to remain inside the martial arts hall for the next few days.
• Jiang Ning wondered why Xu Yunfeng had dared to attack him, then decided to focus on improving his strength.
• Jiang Ning trained his Canglang Saber Art until it advanced from Beginner to Mastery.
• Jiang Ning realized his mastered saber art let him unleash a second force, but his physique could not withstand the combined power without risking severe injury.

Jiang Ning reviewed his rapid progress, concealed his proficient Canglang Saber Art, and decided to focus on strengthening his physique while aiming to join the Inspection Office. At Myriad Splendor Tower, Shen Congyun read a report about Jiang Ning and recognized him as an exceptionally promising talent.

• Jiang Ning saw that his source energy had risen to 2.0 and his Canglang Saber Art had reached proficiency after consuming wild ginseng and practicing through the day.
• Jiang Ning kept his saber progress secret, judging that he could now kill Xu Yunfeng with a full-power strike but that his body could withstand no more than two layers of force.
• Jiang Ning shifted his training toward the Five Animals Fist and strengthening his qi, blood, and physique so he could qualify for the Inspection Office within three months.
• Jiang Ning resolved that he would not spare those who deserved no mercy, despite his longer-term plan to seek safety and influence through the Inspection Office.
• At Myriad Splendor Tower, Shen Congyun read the records and concluded that Jiang Ning had extraordinary Spiritual Wisdom and Martial Dao talent, making him a promising grandmaster prospect.

Shen Congyun showed Deputy Tower Master Qingyi his information on Jiang Ning, but Qingyi was unimpressed by the young man’s apparent talent. Meanwhile, Jiang Ning rapidly built up source energy and qi and blood through intensive training and wild ginseng, as Cheng Ran rushed to warn him that Cao Bin was coming for him and county constables gathered outside the academy.

• Shen Congyun shared Jiang Ning’s profile with Qingyi, who judged him ordinary despite hearing that his qi and blood had reached minor attainment.
• Jiang Ning’s source energy rose to 5.8 after two days of intense Five Animals Fist practice fueled by wild ginseng, and he focused on strengthening his body rather than practicing the Canglang Saber Art.
• Jiang Ning saw that his wild ginseng was running low and decided he would need to find a way to earn money for more medicinal nourishment.
• Cheng Ran rushed into Blue-Wave Martial Academy, warning that Jiang Ning was in danger and needed to leave town before Cao Bin’s men took him.
• More than twenty county constables, led by two head constables, arrived outside the academy, drawing the attention of people at nearby stalls.

Cao Bin arrived at Blue-Wave Martial Academy with constables to arrest Jiang Ning, accusing his elder brother Jiang Li of colluding with the Evil God Church. Wang Jin intervened, and Jiang Ning secretly transferred Ninefold Force to him, revealing his extraordinary saber talent and strengthening Wang Jin’s resolve to protect him.

• Cao Bin brought constables to Blue-Wave Martial Academy and announced that he would arrest Jiang Ning because of Jiang Li’s alleged ties to the Evil God Church.
• Cheng Ran warned Jiang Ning to flee, but they reached the front courtyard after Cao Bin’s force had arrived.
• Jiang Ning prepared to fight or escape as Cao Bin ordered Xu Yunfeng and the constables to seize him.
• Wang Jin leaped into the courtyard and stood between Jiang Ning and the constables.
• Jiang Ning addressed Wang Jin as his master and transferred Ninefold Force into his arm.
• Wang Jin recognized Jiang Ning’s mastery of Ninefold Force and resolved to protect him, even at the cost of breaking with the Cao Family.

Wang Jin protected Jiang Ning from Cao Bin’s attempt to arrest him, then faced Cao Rong, the Cao Family’s seventh-rank archer. As Cao Rong attacked, he shifted his aim from Wang Jin to Jiang Ning, forcing Wang Jin to react.

• Cao Bin demanded that Wang Jin hand over Jiang Ning’s elder brother, but Wang Jin ordered him to leave and rejected his authority to arrest anyone on academy grounds.
• Cao Bin accused Wang Jin of shielding a wanted criminal, and Wang Jin seized him by the throat while the constables drew their sabers.
• Wang Jin released Cao Bin by hurling him into a stone pillar and challenged Cao Rong to come down and fight.
• Cao Rong appeared on a distant tower and fired a supersonic arrow at Wang Jin, who dodged it and called him down to face him.
• Cao Rong advanced with his bow drawn and aimed his next arrow at Jiang Ning, knowing Wang Jin would want to protect him.

Cao Rong used Jiang Ning to force Wang Jin to block his arrows, but Shen Congyun and Lin Qingyi intervened and stopped the attack. Cao Rong agreed to spare Jiang Ning and accompanied them toward Blue-Wave Martial Academy.

• Cao Rong shot at Jiang Ning, forcing Wang Jin to intercept the arrow with a saber and revealing Wang Jin's difficulty protecting Jiang Ning while fighting back.
• Cao Rong prepared to shoot Jiang Ning again, but Shen Congyun aimed an inner-breath-infused leaf at him as a warning.
• Shen Congyun asked Cao Rong to spare Jiang Ning, and Cao Rong lowered his bow and ended his attack.
• Lin Qingyi questioned Shen Congyun's decision to violate Myriad Splendor Tower's neutrality, but Shen Congyun said he had chosen to help Jiang Ning.
• Cao Rong asked why Shen Congyun had intervened, and Shen Congyun said he had taken a liking to Jiang Ning.
• Cao Rong, Shen Congyun, and Lin Qingyi walked toward Blue-Wave Martial Academy.

Jiang Ning feared Cao Rong’s arrival had made his family’s danger unavoidable, but Shen Congyun intervened and brought Cao Rong to a halt. Shen Congyun treated Cao Bin and showed how strongly he valued Jiang Ning, while Cao Rong accepted that decision.

• Jiang Ning hid behind the academy wall and realized the Cao Family might already have arrested his brother’s family, leaving him trapped between protecting them and seeking strength.
• Shen Congyun and Lin Qingyi arrived with Cao Rong, and Shen Congyun privately told Wang Jin to bring Jiang Ning outside.
• Wang Jin told Jiang Ning that Shen Congyun had come to help him, and Jiang Ning followed him toward the gates in surprise.
• Shen Congyun used internal breath to ease Cao Bin’s injuries and gave him a bottle of healing pills.
• Cao Rong recognized how highly Shen Congyun valued Jiang Ning and accepted the situation.

Shen Congyun secured Jiang Ning’s family’s release from the Cao Family, then revealed that Jiang Ning’s rapid progress in the Inner Elixir Life-Nourishing Technique came from his innate spiritual insight. He gave Jiang Ning the technique’s later cultivation methods and told him to visit Myriad Splendor Tower by the next day, warning that they might soon be separated for a long time.

• Shen Congyun persuaded Cao Rong and Cao Bin to release Jiang Li and his family and investigate the arrest again.
• Cao Bin questioned whether they should comply, but Cao Rong ordered him to release the family because Shen Congyun had intervened.
• Shen Congyun explained that Jiang Ning had reached beginner level in the Inner Elixir Life-Nourishing Technique in about a week because he possessed innate spiritual insight.
• Shen Congyun revealed that the technique was a supreme art and asked Jiang Ning for a favor from his future self.
• Shen Congyun gave Jiang Ning golden sheets containing the technique’s methods up to great mastery and instructed him to memorize them and visit Myriad Splendor Tower by the next day.
• Shen Congyun assured Jiang Ning that the Cao Family would no longer threaten him, then departed after sending a voice transmission with another reminder to visit soon.