Recaps

Jiang Ning discovered that breaking the limit of Five Animals Fist let him draw five-element qi into his body, strengthening his qi and blood while tempering his organs. The improved organs also accelerated his Inner Elixir Life-Nourishing Technique, bringing him within reach of controlling inner breath.

• Jiang Ning examined his new Essence Stored in the Five Organs trait and sensed it slowly strengthening his internal organs.
• Practicing the newly advanced Five Animals Fist, Jiang Ning drew five-colored particles into his body and realized they represented the qi of the five elements.
• Jiang Ning found that each round of Five Animals Fist now increased his qi and blood by ten strands while also tempering his organs, so he practiced until sunrise.
• After drinking herbal essence, Jiang Ning absorbed the sun's vital essence and gained experience in the Inner Elixir Life-Nourishing Technique nearly twice as fast as usual.
• Jiang Ning calculated that he could reach minor attainment and gain command of inner breath in about half a month, potentially giving him a chance to kill a seventh-rank opponent with a sudden attack.

Jiang Ning’s transformed Five Animals Force and Golden Body Soup greatly accelerated his skin-tempering, bringing him closer to the Divine Strength Realm as he prepared to attend Wang Jin’s apprentice banquet. At Myriad Splendor Tower, Lin Qingyi reunited with Lin Jia'er and decided to introduce her to Jiang Ning that afternoon.

• Jiang Ning found that his breakthroughs in Five Animals Fist and Five Animals Force sharply increased his Indestructible Vajra Body experience, and he planned to buy more Herbal Essence and a better saber.
• Jiang Ning took a Golden Body Soup medicinal bath, then gained another surge of skin-tempering efficiency while practicing the Indestructible Vajra Body.
• Over the next two days, Jiang Ning’s Source Energy rose to 21.1 and his Indestructible Vajra Body advanced to 650 experience as he continued training before Wang Jin’s apprenticeship banquet.
• Lin Jia'er visited Lin Qingyi at Myriad Splendor Tower and gave her a costly box of rouge after arriving in Luoshui County for her Inspection Office assignment.
• Lin Qingyi asked whether Lin Jia'er had a man she fancied, then offered to introduce her to Jiang Ning at the banquet that afternoon.

At Wang Jin’s disciple-taking banquet, Jiang Ning and Xiao Peng fought with sabers to decide who would become Wang Jin’s personal disciple. Jiang Ning won in a flash, leaving his blade at Xiao Peng’s neck as the gathered guests looked on in shock.

• Influential figures, including Constable Wang, Lin Qingyi, and Shi Xiaoyuan, arrived at Blue-Wave Martial Academy for Wang Jin’s banquet.
• Lin Qingyi confirmed that Jiang Ning was the person Shen Congyun had asked her to look after, while Shi Xiaoyuan resented Jiang Ning for killing Hong Chengtao.
• Xiao Peng challenged Jiang Ning to a saber duel, believing weapons gave him his best chance to overcome Jiang Ning’s greater strength.
• Wang Jin declared that the winner would become his personal disciple and gathered the guests to watch the duel.
• Jiang Ning defeated Xiao Peng almost instantly, pressing his saber to Xiao Peng’s neck and drawing a bead of blood.

Jiang Ning defeated Xiao Peng’s surprise attack with overwhelming strength, prompting Wang Jin to expel Xiao Peng from Blue-Wave Martial Academy. Shi Xiaoyuan discovered that Jiang Ning was born with Spiritual Wisdom and began plotting to sacrifice him to the God of Flesh.

• Jiang Ning defeated Xiao Peng in their first saber exchange and greeted Wang Jin as his master.
• Shi Xiaoyuan’s compass pointed at Jiang Ning, revealing his Spiritual Wisdom, and Shi Xiaoyuan decided he could use Jiang Ning to gain another divine blessing.
• Xiao Peng attacked Jiang Ning by surprise, but Jiang Ning disarmed him with one strike and kicked him several zhang away.
• Wang Jin expelled Xiao Peng from the academy, and Xiao Peng admitted defeat before leaving the courtyard.
• The disciples and martial academy leaders praised Jiang Ning’s strength, while Shi Xiaoyuan continued eyeing him with concealed killing intent.

After defeating Xiao Peng, Jiang Ning officially became one of Wang Jin’s direct disciples, then discussed Cheng Ran’s decision to leave martial arts for business. He bought more Herbal Essence and headed to the outer-city Weapon-Forging Shop to find a durable saber.

• Jiang Ning and four other disciples offered tea to Wang Jin and officially became his direct disciples at the banquet.
• Cheng Ran congratulated Jiang Ning and admitted he could not match Jiang Ning’s martial talent.
• Cheng Ran said he would stop focusing on martial arts and build his family’s restaurant business, and Jiang Ning gave him several recipes.
• Jiang Ning bought forty bottles of Herbal Essence from Myriad Splendor Tower for delivery to his residence.
• Jiang Ning hired a carriage and headed to the outer-city Weapon-Forging Shop to buy a sturdy saber.

Jiang Ning visited the Weapon-Forging Shop to find a heavier saber, impressing deputy manager Yang Kai with his strength and stamina. Yang Kai revealed the hidden vault containing his finest forged weapons and led Jiang Ning below to see them.

• Jiang Ning rejected the shop’s lighter sabers and easily tested a five-hundred-thirty-seven-forged saber weighing fifty-three pounds.
• Jiang Ning swung a pair of roughly one-hundred-fifty-pound hammers, surprising Yang Kai, who recognized his exceptional strength.
• Jiang Ning introduced himself as a disciple of Blue-Wave Martial Academy, and Yang Kai connected him to Tower Master Shen’s departure and the dispute with the Cao Family.
• Yang Kai said his treasured blades required a worthy owner, then opened a concealed passage beneath the shop.
• Jiang Ning followed Yang Kai into the lit passageway to view the ten weapons Yang Kai had forged and treasured.

Jiang Ning explored the Weapon-Forging Shop’s underground vault, where Yang Kai showed him the heavy saber Cold Radiance. A mysterious call led Jiang Ning to an ancient spirit weapon that no one else could draw, and he awakened it, received it from Yang Kai, and found that his blade-related trait let him draw it again.

• Yang Kai showed Jiang Ning the vault’s divine weapons and lent him Cold Radiance, which Jiang Ning tested and found manageable despite its weight.
• Jiang Ning followed a growing inner call to an ancient, dust-covered longsaber beneath a weapon rack.
• Yang Kai explained that the longsaber was a dormant spirit weapon that no one had been able to draw for decades.
• Jiang Ning drew the blade, heard it roar like a dragon, and sensed that it wanted him to recognize it as its master through a blood sacrifice.
• Yang Kai failed to draw the blade himself, then gave the spirit weapon to Jiang Ning in hopes of earning his favor.
• Jiang Ning suspected his Unity of Man and Blade trait had awakened the weapon and drew it again in front of Yang Kai.

Jiang Ning received an ancient spirit saber from Yang Kai in exchange for a promise of future help, then returned home and considered how his growing reputation and strength had brought both danger and opportunity. He decided to test the saber’s blood-recognition refinement, while Lin Qingyi arranged for Lin Jia'er to meet him.

• Yang Kai gave Jiang Ning the spirit saber after Jiang Ning promised to help the Weapon-Forging Shop if he was able, explaining that only Jiang Ning could draw it.
• Lin Qingyi asked Lin Jia'er what she thought of Jiang Ning, then proposed arranging a meeting that could lead to marriage.
• Jiang Ning took the muddy Little Doubao to wash in the courtyard pool before bringing her to Liu Wanwan.
• Back in his room, Jiang Ning counted the forty bottles of herbal essence and reflected on the Cao Family’s threats, his concealed strength, and the benefits of revealing some of his abilities.
• Jiang Ning recalled the words about claiming and refining the saber with blood, then carried it outside to try.

Jiang Ning claimed the ancient spirit weapon Dragon Abyss, discovered its new spirituality could be nurtured with his blood, and tested its power by breaking a refined-iron saber. After the Weapon-Forging Shop’s shopkeeper Qiu learned Jiang Ning had drawn the blade, he came with Yang Kai to demand it back, arriving at Jiang Ning’s residence as Jiang Ning prepared to meet the intruders.

• Jiang Ning drew Dragon Abyss, cut his fingers on its edge, and claimed it by letting the blade absorb his blood.
• Jiang Ning learned that Dragon Abyss’s ancient spirituality had perished and that its new spirit needed his blood to grow stronger.
• Jiang Ning struck Dragon Abyss against the Blackwood Long Saber and snapped the saber in two.
• Yang Kai told shopkeeper Qiu that Jiang Ning had drawn Dragon Abyss, and Qiu insisted they retrieve the valuable weapon despite Yang Kai’s objections.
• Jiang Ning sensed intruders, grabbed Dragon Abyss, and prepared to face Qiu and Yang Kai as they climbed into his courtyard.

Jiang Ning defended the spirit weapon Dragon Abyss when Qiu Shilong and Yang Kai came to reclaim it, killing Qiu Shilong with two slashes. He spared Yang Kai but warned him to keep the killing secret, while Yang Kai carried the corpse to seek advice from the retired former shopkeeper Gong Mingyuan.

• Jiang Ning heard Yang Kai and Qiu Shilong enter his residence and drew Dragon Abyss to announce his presence.
• Qiu Shilong demanded the spirit weapon back, then attacked Jiang Ning and revealed his intent to cripple and capture him.
• Jiang Ning severed two of Qiu Shilong’s fingers with a slash and pursued him as Qiu Shilong tried to flee.
• Jiang Ning killed Qiu Shilong with a blade-force attack, then spared Yang Kai and ordered him to keep the incident quiet.
• Yang Kai carried Qiu Shilong’s corpse toward Gong Mingyuan’s home to report the death and ask the retired shopkeeper what to do.

After Jiang Ning killed Qiu Shilong for breaking into his home, Gong Mingyuan and Yang Kai visited to apologize and gave him a Dragon-Tiger Strength Pill. The Weapon-Forging Shop recognized Jiang Ning’s ownership of Dragon Abyss and appointed Yang Kai its chief shopkeeper.

• Jiang Li checked on Jiang Ning after hearing a disturbance, and Jiang Ning assured him that intruders had been driven away.
• Yang Kai told Gong Mingyuan how Qiu Shilong died, and Gong Mingyuan decided they should apologize to Jiang Ning and leave the spirit weapon with him.
• Gong Mingyuan made Yang Kai the Weapon-Forging Shop’s chief shopkeeper and prepared a Dragon-Tiger Strength Pill as an apology gift.
• Jiang Ning continued tempering his skin membrane and practicing literacy before Jiang Yiming summoned him to meet the visitors.
• Gong Mingyuan apologized to Jiang Ning, affirmed that Dragon Abyss belonged to him, and gave him the Dragon-Tiger Strength Pill.
• Jiang Ning accepted the apology and pill, offered to return the Weapon-Forging Shop’s favor, and saw Gong Mingyuan and Yang Kai depart.

Jiang Ning met Lin Qingyi at Myriad Splendor Tower, where she arranged a meeting between him and Lin Jia'er. Lin Jia'er rejected him because of his humble background, and Jiang Ning told her she was not the companion he wanted either.

• Jiang Ning stored the Dragon-Tiger Strength Pill and continued training while waiting for the Inspection Office to be established.
• Xiao Lü summoned Jiang Ning to meet Lin Qingyi at Myriad Splendor Tower late at night.
• Lin Qingyi teased Jiang Ning before revealing that she had found him a potential wife, Lin Jia'er.
• Lin Jia'er and Jiang Ning walked together while Lin Qingyi secretly followed them.
• Lin Jia'er admitted she did not want to marry someone of Jiang Ning's status and asked him to help spare Lin Qingyi embarrassment.
• Jiang Ning replied that Lin Jia'er was not the companion he wanted, though she assumed he was only saving face.

Jiang Ning dismissed Lin Jia’er’s rejection and learned that Shen Congyun had protected him despite being a future Grandmaster seed. After days of training, Jiang Ning broke through to major completion in skin tempering, achieving skin like bronze and setting his sights on reaching the eighth rank before the Inspection Office was established.

• Lin Qingyi apologized to Jiang Ning for Lin Jia’er’s words and reassured him that Shen Congyun would only face a period of secluded cultivation for breaking the rules.
• Lin Qingyi rebuked Lin Jia’er for judging Jiang Ning by his birth, but Lin Jia’er insisted she would only marry a refined man whose merits she could already see.
• Jiang Ning returned home, trained, and focused on tempering his skin so he could safely use the Dragon-Tiger Strength Pill to advance his martial rank.
• Several days later, Jiang Ning reviewed his progress and decided to strive for the eighth rank before the Inspection Office was established.
• Jiang Ning’s Indestructible Vajra Body advanced from Proficient to Minor Achievement, transforming his skin membrane from stone-like gray to bronze and completing his skin tempering.

After completing skin tempering, Jiang Ning confirmed that he could still gain experience in the Indestructible Vajra Body and began cultivating beyond the fragment’s recorded limit. He then took a Dragon-Tiger Strength Pill to enter the Divine Strength Realm, and its power began tempering his muscles.

• Jiang Ning tested his copper-like skin membrane with a broken saber and found that it resisted the blade, though a forceful cut still wounded his skin.
• Jiang Ning gained experience in the Indestructible Vajra Body beyond the fragment’s recorded limit, confirming that he could continue progressing toward the Immortal Golden Body.
• Jiang Ning soaked in the Luo River to ease his fatigue and increase his Water Affinity experience.
• Jiang Ning reviewed the requirements of the Divine Strength Realm and concluded that his three Bull Demon Strength Fruits had already brought him close to entering it.
• Jiang Ning swallowed the Dragon-Tiger Strength Pill, whose fierce medicinal power began tempering the muscles throughout his body.

After consuming the Dragon-Tiger Strength Pill, Jiang Ning officially reached the eighth-rank Divine Strength Realm and tested his greatly increased strength and saber power. Confident in his new abilities, he decided to search Luo Water Lake for overlooked sunken treasure to fund his cultivation.

• Jiang Ning finished absorbing the Dragon-Tiger Strength Pill and measured his strength at about two thousand five hundred jin, comparable to an eighth-rank expert at minor accomplishment.
• Jiang Ning fed Dragon Abyss his blood, then tested a five-layer Canglang Saber Art slash and found that his strengthened arm could withstand the force far better than before.
• Jiang Ning checked his Source Energy, considered which skills would be worthwhile to limit-break, and resolved to keep accumulating wealth and Source Energy.
• Jiang Ning reviewed information from Myriad Radiance Pavilion and concluded that his best chance of finding treasure lay in overlooked sunken ships and forbidden parts of Luo Water Lake.
• Jiang Ning left a note at home and ran toward the Luo River with his saber to begin searching for treasure.

Shi Xiaoyuan learned from Huang San’er about a sunken ship filled with iron ore and a powerful White Dragon Fish guarding it, and decided to explore the site for the fish and a possible heavenly treasure. He forced Huang San’er to join the Green Snake Gang and lead him there, keeping Huang San’er’s family as leverage.

• A Green Snake Gang subordinate brought the wounded Huang San’er before Shi Xiaoyuan and reported that he had found a sunken ship.
• Huang San’er described how a White Dragon Fish had attacked his group at the ship, leaving him as the sole survivor.
• Shi Xiaoyuan concluded that the intelligent White Dragon Fish might guard a heavenly treasure and resolved to capture it.
• Shi Xiaoyuan made Huang San’er join the Green Snake Gang and ordered him to lead an expedition to the sunken ship.
• After Huang San’er’s wound was bandaged and preparations were complete, he returned to the deck with the others.

Jiang Ning followed Shi Xiaoyuan and the Green Snake Gang underwater as they searched for a sunken ship guarded by a White Dragon Fish. The group reached the wreck and spotted the fish, while Jiang Ning remained hidden behind them.

• Shi Xiaoyuan prepared the Green Snake Gang to dive, carrying fish bladders filled with fresh air for breathing underwater.
• Jiang Ning overheard the gang's plans and decided to follow them, ready to withdraw or take advantage of their encounter with the White Dragon Fish.
• Jiang Ning trailed the divers downriver, using his underwater breathing, vision, and hearing to remain undetected.
• Shi Xiaoyuan and the others followed Huang San'er into deeper water until they reached the sunken ship.
• Huang San'er spotted a white streak inside the wreck and signaled the others; Shi Xiaoyuan recognized it as the White Dragon Fish.

Shi Xiaoyuan and his men entered the sunken ship to capture the White Dragon Fish and claim its iron ore, but the fish slaughtered the Green Snake Gang fighters. Left alone against it, Shi Xiaoyuan began a monstrous transformation.

• Shi Xiaoyuan led his men into the sunken ship while Huang San'er stayed back, and Jiang Ning watched from outside the wreck.
• The White Dragon Fish attacked the intruders, broke their nets, and proved too fast and strong for their ninth-grade Martial Dao skills.
• The fish killed Shi Xiaoyuan's men one by one, leaving Shi Xiaoyuan alone in the cabin.
• Shi Xiaoyuan decided to fight the White Dragon Fish for its spirit-fish value, the iron ore, and a suspected nearby treasure.
• Shi Xiaoyuan's bones and muscles twisted as he grew taller than seven chi and transformed into a monstrous figure.

Shi Xiaoyuan transformed through a gift from the God-Worship Cult and nearly killed the White Dragon Fish before Jiang Ning struck him. Shi Xiaoyuan’s wound rapidly healed, and after revealing that he had gained his gift by sacrificing a soul born with innate spiritual wisdom, he charged at Jiang Ning.

• Shi Xiaoyuan transformed underwater, gaining immense strength and speed, and overpowered the White Dragon Fish.
• Shi Xiaoyuan seized the White Dragon Fish and battered it against the sunken ship as Jiang Ning waited for an opening.
• Jiang Ning ambushed Shi Xiaoyuan with a slash that cut deeply into his chest, but Shi Xiaoyuan’s wound began healing rapidly.
• Shi Xiaoyuan told Jiang Ning that the God-Worship Cult worshipped the God of Flesh and rewarded sacrifices, with souls born with innate spiritual wisdom being the most precious.
• Shi Xiaoyuan admitted he had received his gift by sacrificing such a soul and offered to leave, but Jiang Ning refused to let him go.
• Envious of Jiang Ning’s soul and consumed by greed for another divine gift, Shi Xiaoyuan charged at him while still gripping the White Dragon Fish.

Jiang Ning killed Shi Xiaoyuan, claimed the sunken ship’s iron ore and weapons, and discovered a strange pool of water he believed had transformed the White Dragon Fish. After swallowing a droplet from the pool, he saw his Swimming Experience rise rapidly before the effect faded.

• Jiang Ning cut through Shi Xiaoyuan’s arms and beheaded him before he could retrieve his heavy saber.
• Jiang Ning collected the White Dragon Fish and examined the sunken ship’s iron ore and Shi Xiaoyuan’s weapon, confirming the weapon was unusually sturdy.
• Huang San’er chose to keep waiting because the Green Snake Gang held his wife and daughter under its control.
• Jiang Ning searched the ship and its surroundings for a heavenly treasure, then found a small pool of unusual water in an underwater cave.
• Jiang Ning swallowed a droplet from the pool and watched his Swimming Experience increase rapidly before returning to its usual pace.

In the underwater cave, Jiang Ning absorbed the silver-flecked Water Within Water and broke through Water Proficiency twice, gaining the supernatural traits Water Manipulation Art and Water Spirit Affinity. He consumed the remaining treasure and reached the experience requirement for a fourth limit break, but lacked the Source Energy to activate it.

• Jiang Ning absorbed the peculiar water, filled his Water Proficiency experience, and spent twenty Source Energy to gain Water Manipulation Art.
• Jiang Ning tested his new ability by controlling the cave water and lifting a heavy rock, then felt physically and mentally tired.
• Jiang Ning absorbed more Water Within Water and spent fifty Source Energy to break through again, gaining Water Spirit Affinity and enhanced underwater senses, recovery, and healing.
• Jiang Ning tested his rapid recovery by cutting his arm with his spirit weapon and watched the wound heal in fewer than ten breaths.
• Jiang Ning refined all the remaining Water Within Water, bringing Water Proficiency to 4000/4000 for its fourth limit break while remaining short of the required Source Energy.

Jiang Ning discovered that a silver-flecked black stone was likely the source of the strange water he had refined, then used his water-controlling divine power to slaughter the Green Snake Gang aboard its tower ship. He left the sole surviving captive alive and sailed home with the gang’s spoils.

• Jiang Ning found a soot-black stone flashing with silver light in the underwater cavern and suspected it had produced the water within water.
• Huang San'er hid beneath the tower ship as screams and bodies revealed that someone was killing the Green Snake Gang above.
• Jiang Ning killed the gang members aboard the pleasure barge with water-controlling divine power, leaving Huang San'er as the lone survivor.
• Jiang Ning searched the barge, gathered its silver and banknotes, and used his divine power to carry the loaded skiff toward his residence.

Jiang Ning returned from the Luo River with valuable spoils and prepared for a possible confrontation when Liu Qingsong of Medicine King Valley came to question him about Tian Buyi's death. After denying that he had seen Tian Buyi, Jiang Ning watched Liu Qingsong leave and quietly followed him.

• Huang San'er treated his wounds aboard the tower ship, then headed for shore after finding the crew dead with blood streaming from their seven orifices.
• Jiang Ning brought back a spirit fish, silver, Shi Xiaoyuan's saber, and other spoils, and considered testing the dull black stone he had recovered.
• Liu Qingsong waited at Jiang Ning's residence and told his companions that he doubted Jiang Ning had killed Tian Buyi, though he had come to ask what Jiang Ning had seen on the deserted island.
• Jiang Ning learned that Liu Qingsong had arrived, hid his family away as a precaution, and met the elder in the front hall.
• Liu Qingsong questioned Jiang Ning about his visit to the deserted island and whether he had encountered Tian Buyi, but Jiang Ning denied seeing him.
• After Liu Qingsong departed, Jiang Ning picked up his saber and quietly followed him.

Jiang Ning overheard Liu Qingsong’s suspicions and ambushed Wang Jiu and Wu Sheng in the Luo River to draw Liu Qingsong into an underwater fight. After Liu Qingsong realized the blood-red serpent was a deception and attacked with his Flicking Finger Divine Art, Jiang Ning’s strongest blade strike met Liu’s iron beads.

• Liu Qingsong concluded that Jiang Ning had hidden his family and likely consumed a Leopard Womb Form-Transmutation Body-Tempering Pill, but chose to return at noon rather than confront him openly.
• Jiang Ning, who had secretly followed Liu Qingsong’s group, used the water to ambush Wang Jiu and Wu Sheng and dragged them into the Luo River’s depths.
• Jiang Ning used their blood and his Water-Control Divine Ability to make a false blood-red serpent, luring Liu Qingsong underwater while keeping the wounded men hidden.
• Liu Qingsong chased the serpent, believing it was a demon creature, and discovered Wang Jiu and Wu Sheng were dead when he caught their bodies.
• Jiang Ning revealed himself with a powerful blade strike, and Liu Qingsong countered with his Flicking Finger Divine Art, firing iron beads that clashed with the blade as he retreated.

Underwater, Jiang Ning fought Liu Qingsong, a Martial Dao seventh-rank expert, and survived his fierce sword arts by relying on his strength and Water Spirit Affinity. As Liu Qingsong’s attacks sharpened Jiang Ning’s combat instincts, the elder realized he was becoming Jiang Ning’s whetstone.

• Liu Qingsong drew his flexible sword after Jiang Ning survived his iron-bead attacks, and the two clashed underwater with their weapons.
• Jiang Ning and Liu Qingsong exchanged blows, and Liu Qingsong’s sword gained a nick while Jiang Ning judged that he was still no match for the veteran in a fair fight.
• Liu Qingsong unleashed his Torrential Rain Sword Art, and Jiang Ning blocked the entire assault without injury.
• Jiang Ning confirmed that he had killed Tian Buyi and possessed the Leopard Womb Form-Transmutation Body-Tempering Pill, while Liu Qingsong resolved to kill him before he could grow stronger.
• Liu Qingsong exploited Jiang Ning’s lack of combat experience with a flexible-sword feint, but Jiang Ning sensed the change through the water and evaded the killing strike.
• As Liu Qingsong pressed his attack, Jiang Ning adapted and began anticipating his sword moves, leaving Liu Qingsong shocked to find himself serving as Jiang Ning’s whetstone.