Recaps

Jiang Ning used his Water Manipulation Art to kill Liu Qingsong underwater, then recovered and examined the spoils, discovering Medicine King Valley’s Furnace Alchemy Art. After testing it on two Strength-Boosting Pills, he sensed an unexpected change within his body.

• Liu Qingsong used the Blood-Burning Forbidden Art, but Jiang Ning trapped him in a water prison and drowned him after Liu broke free once.
• Jiang Ning tied Liu Qingsong and the two eighth-rank martial artists to stones and sank their bodies, then returned to his residence.
• Jiang Ning searched the spoils and found Strength-Boosting Pills and a parchment scroll containing Medicine King Valley’s Furnace Alchemy Art.
• Jiang Ning memorized and practiced the Furnace Alchemy Art, using it to refine two pills into medicinal liquid within his abdomen.
• Jiang Ning sensed something unexpected while looking inward at his body.

Jiang Ning refined pills to increase his strength and improve his innate bones, then visited Blue-Wave Martial Academy with White Dragon Fish for dinner. The fish strengthened everyone who ate it, and Wang Jin sensed that it might help him break through after years at the peak of the seventh rank.

• Jiang Ning used the Furnace-Refining Alchemy Secret Art to absorb Strength-Boosting Pills, gaining over ten jin of strength, then refined four layers of the Leopard Womb Form-Transmutation Body-Tempering Pill and gained nearly a hundred jin more.
• Jiang Ning checked his Source Energy and resolved to pursue Water Aptitude’s fourth limit break if his points exceeded a hundred by morning.
• Jiang Ning visited Blue-Wave Martial Academy, reassured Jiang Li and Wang Jin that his troubles were resolved, and brought White Dragon Fish meat to share.
• Wang Jin noticed Jiang Ning’s strengthened aura and reminded him that the Inspection Office’s establishment assessment conference would take place in three days; Jiang Ning promised not to disgrace his master.
• Jiang Ning tested the White Dragon Fish on himself and Little Doubao, cautioned the family to eat it sparingly, and shared the meal with Jiang Li, Wang Jin, and the others.
• After dinner, Wang Jin felt his body and innate limits changing and realized the White Dragon Fish had caused the change.

Jiang Ning trained underwater, used the Furnace-Refining Alchemy Secret Art to strengthen himself, and grew wary of the Medicine King Valley and Cao Rong. The next morning, he spent source energy to break through Swimming’s fourth limit and gained the Summon Clouds and Rain divine ability, which he decided to test.

• Jiang Ning stored White Dragon Fish meat for his family and himself, then ate several jin and practiced Five Animals Fist underwater at Chaotic Era Shoal.
• Jiang Ning refined three Strength-Boosting Pills and part of his Leopard Womb Form-Transmutation Body-Tempering Pill, bringing his strength close to three thousand jin.
• Jiang Ning worried that the Medicine King Valley might send a stronger expert after Liu Qingsong disappeared, and resolved to grow stronger.
• The next morning, Jiang Ning spent source energy to break through Swimming’s fourth limit and gained the Summon Clouds and Rain divine ability.
• Jiang Ning wondered how much the new ability would cost and how large an area it could affect, then decided to try it.

Jiang Ning tested his Cloud-Raising Rain-Bringing Divine Ability, confirming that he could summon a storm and use rain to strengthen his Water-Controlling Divine Ability. After discovering that a black stone in his wine granted Water Affinity experience, he trained and grew stronger, then brought Yang Kai to a sunken ship containing iron ore.

• Jiang Ning summoned clouds and torrential rain over Luo Water Lake, finding the ability required little mental energy and that rain enhanced his body and water-control powers.
• Jiang Ning tested water needles on a boulder and found they could pierce stone, then watched the storm quickly clear.
• Jiang Ning discovered silver starlight in his wine and gained Water Affinity experience from drinking it and eating White Dragon Fish meat.
• Jiang Ning trained his Inner Elixir Life-Nourishing Technique and consumed pills, raising his strength to three thousand jin as he neared a breakthrough to minor accomplishment.
• Jiang Ning offered Yang Kai iron ore, then led him underwater to a sunken ship, astonishing Yang Kai with his lung capacity and underwater vision.

Jiang Ning refined the Leopard Womb Form-Transmutation Body-Tempering Pill while waiting for Lin Qingyi, increasing his strength and proving his bronze skin could withstand a deformed dagger. Lin Qingyi gave him the item Shen Congyun had left: a Golden Body Pill and a Vajra Token.

• Jiang Ning entrusted the sunken iron ore to Yang Kai, who promised to pay him after the ore was counted.
• Jiang Ning went to Myriad Splendor Tower and refined the pill in his body while waiting for Lin Qingyi to wake.
• Lin Qingyi recognized Jiang Ning's Furnace-Refining Alchemy Secret Art, and Jiang Ning's strength rose to about three thousand one hundred jin.
• Jiang Ning twisted a bronze dagger apart in his palm without injuring himself, confirming his skin had reached great completion of the ninth rank.
• Lin Qingyi opened Shen Congyun's wooden box and revealed a Golden Body Pill and a gold Vajra Token.

Jiang Ning decided not to join Vajra Temple, but learned the Vajra Token could secure a request from the temple and took the Vajra Pill Lin Qingyi gave him. He sold two weapons at Myriad Splendor Tower, where Lin Jia'er arrived with the payment, and Lin Qingyi rebuked her for overstepping.

• Lin Qingyi explained that the Vajra Token could make Jiang Ning a true disciple of Vajra Temple, but Jiang Ning chose to remain with the Inspection Office rather than risk joining the strict sect.
• Lin Qingyi told Jiang Ning he could use the token to request a favor or borrow the Indestructible Vajra Body, then gave him the Vajra Pill to help him reach the eighth rank.
• Jiang Ning asked Lin Qingyi to buy the flexible sword and heavy saber he had brought, and she offered him a total of five thousand five hundred taels after accounting for their damage.
• Lin Qingyi used Inner Breath to summon Xiao Lü and request the payment, but Lin Jia'er arrived with the banknotes and handed them to her aunt.
• Lin Qingyi passed the money to Jiang Ning, then told Lin Jia'er that she had overstepped.

At Myriad Splendor Tower, Jiang Ning secured intelligence about the Inspection Office and set his sights on winning its Deputy Commander position and a Subordinate Eighth-Rank post. He returned home to cultivate, and two days of intensive training greatly increased his strength and Source Energy as he prepared to compete.

• Lin Qingyi punished Lin Jia'er and Xiao Lü for breaking the tower's rules, then shortened Xiao Lü's punishment after Jiang Ning pleaded for her.
• Lin Qingyi gave Jiang Ning intelligence about the Inspection Office and told him that reaching Eighth Rank would make him eligible for the squad captain assessment.
• Jiang Ning decided to pursue the Deputy Commander position, hoping its official rank and protection would help him advance and shield him from Medicine King Valley.
• Jiang Ning returned home and spent two days training, refining pills, eating White Dragon Fish, and staying immersed in water.
• Jiang Ning's Source Energy rose to 143.7, his strength reached 3,700 jin, and his Indestructible Vajra Body improved as he continued refining the Leopard Womb Form-Transmutation Body-Tempering Pill.

Jiang Ning met Liu Wanwan’s younger brother, Liu Sansheng, who came with an offer to help the family and urged Liu Wanwan to return to her maiden home. Jiang Ning judged that Liu Sansheng’s plans would chiefly benefit Liu Wanwan and the children while leaving Jiang Li to suffer, and resolved to protect his family and heal Jiang Li’s arm himself.

• Jiang Ning brought Little Doubao to the front hall and learned that Liu Sansheng had come to visit Liu Wanwan.
• Liu Sansheng learned that Jiang Li’s right arm was crippled and offered Jiang Ning a place at the Inspection Office if he won a captain’s position in the assessment the next day.
• Liu Sansheng urged Liu Wanwan to bring Jiang Li and the children back to the Liu Family, promising family resources, protection for the children, and a possible cure for Jiang Li’s arm.
• Jiang Ning suspected Liu Sansheng was pressing the family’s vulnerabilities to persuade Liu Wanwan to return, and decided he would provide for the children and seek a cure for Jiang Li himself.
• Liu Sansheng agreed to stay for a meal, and Jiang Ning left to prepare White Dragon Fish slices after taking offense at his remarks about Liu Wanwan’s life with Jiang Li.

Jiang Ning hosted Liu Sansheng and his family, served valuable spirit-fish meat, and gave Jiang Yiming money for martial training. Yang Kai delivered 11,700 taels from the iron ore sale, while Liu Sansheng left still hoping to persuade his sister and nephew to return to the Liu Family.

• Jiang Ning served White Dragon Fish slices, and Liu Sansheng recognized their exceptional value after tasting the meat from a fish weighing over a hundred pounds.
• Liu Wanwan insisted that whether she and Jiang Yiming returned to the Liu Family was her decision, and Jiang Yiming declared that he wanted to stay in Luoshui County.
• Yang Kai arrived with 11,700 taels for Jiang Ning, and Liu Sansheng was surprised by Yang Kai's deferential attitude toward him.
• Jiang Ning gave Liu Wanwan three gold leaves and seven banknotes to help fund Jiang Yiming's martial training, and Liu Wanwan accepted after Jiang Ning insisted.
• Liu Sansheng praised Jiang Ning but again urged him to send Jiang Yiming to the Liu Family; Jiang Ning gave no answer as Liu Sansheng departed.

Jiang Ning brought White Dragon Fish meat to Wang Jin, who learned how powerful the near-demonic fish had been and asked whether Jiang Ning would contest for an Inspection Office captain position. Jiang Ning agreed, and Wang Jin led him and the other disciples to the assessment.

• Jiang Ning swallowed a Leopard Womb Form-Transmutation Body-Tempering Pill, reached three thousand nine hundred catties of strength, and carried ten catties of White Dragon Fish meat to the martial academy for Wang Jin.
• Wang Jin accepted the fish meat and explained that a hundred-catties White Dragon Fish was likely close to becoming a demon and that its meat could aid his own cultivation.
• Wang Jin asked whether Jiang Ning would contend for the captain position, and Jiang Ning confirmed that he intended to try.
• Cheng Ran and Li Qing arrived to support Jiang Ning, followed by Zhao Hu, Zhou Xing, and Zhang Tiesheng.
• Wang Jin led Jiang Ning and the other disciples out of the martial hall to attend the Inspection Office assessment.

Jiang Ning joined the Blue-Wave Martial Academy disciples on their way to the Inspection Office assessment, where his killing intent unsettled Zhao Hu and drew Zhou Xing’s notice. Meanwhile, Medicine King Valley’s Third Elder recovered Liu Qingsong’s corpse and learned that Liu had gone to question Jiang Ning, while the assessment gathered a crowd and set up a contest for squad leader.

• Wang Jin led the Blue-Wave Martial Academy disciples toward the assessment, where Zhao Hu challenged Jiang Ning and Zhou Xing noticed Jiang Ning’s killing intent.
• Medicine King Valley’s Third Elder used Liu Qingsong’s life token to find Liu’s and two others’ corpses in the Luo River, then learned Liu had gone to question Jiang Ning.
• At the training grounds, Wang Jin and Yu Yuan discussed their eighth-rank disciples, Zhou Xing and Du Yang, competing for squad leader.
• Jiang Ning spotted Lin Jia'er and Liu Sansheng in the viewing stand, while Lin Jia'er made a proud gesture toward him and Zhao Hu grew jealous of Li Qing’s closeness to Jiang Ning.
• Jiang Ning looked toward the empty seat reserved for the head of the Luoshui County Inspection Office as the assessment gathering continued.

Prefect Hong Minghu arrived at the training ground and began the Inspection Office examination, where candidates had to lift an eight-hundred-jin iron lock. Jiang Ning’s turn came as Gongsun Yu, seeking information about Elder Liu’s death, recognized his name.

• Hong Minghu arrived with Constable Wang and several imposing companions, then ordered the examination to begin.
• Candidates from the Martial Academy and various factions attempted the iron-lock test, and many failed to hold it for three breaths.
• Gongsun Yu told Hong Minghu that Elder Liu had died while pursuing the bandit who stole King Huai'an’s tribute, and said Jiang Ning might know something.
• Zhou Xing, Zhao Hu, and Zhang Tiesheng passed the test, while Lin Mu and Li Qing failed.
• Wang Jin rejected Yu Yuan’s taunts and said he still expected Jiang Ning to pass.
• The examiner called Jiang Ning’s name, and Gongsun Yu focused on him from the viewing stands.

Jiang Ning passed the Inspection Office assessment by effortlessly lifting an eight-hundred-pound iron lock, revealing eighth-rank strength and drawing attention from allies and Medicine King Valley elder Gongsun Yu. Wang Jin examined Jiang Ning afterward and discovered his bone structure had become superior.

• Jiang Ning noticed Gongsun Yu watching him and recognized him as a powerful elder from Medicine King Valley, while Gongsun Yu asked Hong Minghu to question Jiang Ning about Liu Qingsong's death.
• Jiang Ning lifted an eight-hundred-pound iron lock with ease and passed the assessment, astonishing the officials and martial academy disciples.
• Wang Jin and Yu Yuan praised Jiang Ning's talent, while Zhou Xing, Li Qing, and Zhao Hu reacted to his newly revealed strength in different ways.
• Li Qing told Wang Jin she would leave for the Sword Pavilion in Bashu Commandery after failing the assessment, and Wang Jin encouraged her.
• Wang Jin examined Jiang Ning's physique and exclaimed that his bone structure was superior.

Jiang Ning learned that his bone structure had become superior, then prepared for the Inspection Office’s arena assessment. As the Martial Academy students entered the competition, he identified He Jinyun, a young count famed for his innate divine strength, and waited to see him fight.

• Wang Jin confirmed Jiang Ning had superior bone structure, drawing envy from those nearby and praise from Yu Yuan.
• Hong Minghu announced that contestants would fight in groups of ten, with five survivors from each arena entering the Inspection Office.
• Wang Jin urged Jiang Ning, Zhou Xing, and the others to support one another, but Zhao Hu left to join a different group.
• He Jinyun mocked Liu Sansheng and headed toward an empty arena, while Jiang Ning persuaded Zhou Xing to wait and observe the Martial Academy students.
• He Jinyun joined four others on the arena, and Jiang Ning recognized him by his voice as the fighter with innate divine strength.

He Jinyun overwhelmed five Ninth Rank fighters and announced he would compete for Deputy Commander, while Jiang Ning, Zhou Xing, and Zhang Tiesheng took the stage for the assessment. Lü Renyao tried to recruit Jiang Ning and Zhou Xing into his future squad, but the presiding official unexpectedly declared all four men had passed before they fought.

• He Jinyun sent five opponents flying from the platform, received a temporary Inspection Office token, and said he would compete for Deputy Commander rather than Squad Leader.
• After a protest against the assessment rules, Jiang Ning, Zhou Xing, and Zhang Tiesheng stepped onto a platform, but the crowd refused to join them because of Jiang Ning and Zhou Xing's strength.
• Lü Renyao leaped onto the platform and offered to let Jiang Ning and Zhou Xing pass if they agreed to serve in his future squad.
• Jiang Ning and Zhou Xing refused Lü Renyao's offer and prepared to test their strength against him.
• The presiding official announced that Jiang Ning, Zhou Xing, Zhang Tiesheng, and Lü Renyao had all passed the assessment before their fight began.

Jiang Ning, Zhou Xing, and Zhang Tiesheng passed the Inspection Office assessment without fighting after the arena failed to gather enough contestants, and Wang Jin revealed that he planned to stop teaching to pursue a breakthrough in Martial Dao. As the assessment ended and the squad leader contest approached, Jiang Ning offered Cheng Ran hope of joining the Inspection Office, and Zhao Hu arrived to announce that he had also passed.

• The assessment overseer declared that everyone on the arena passed because it had failed to gather ten fighters, and Lü Renyao collected his identity token while inviting Jiang Ning to join his command.
• Jiang Ning, Zhou Xing, and Zhang Tiesheng received temporary identity tokens, then returned to Wang Jin, who praised them and said he might close Blue-Wave Martial Academy to pursue Martial Dao.
• Wang Jin confirmed that his Martial Dao had advanced, drawing congratulations and envy from Yu Yuan and the martial academy disciples.
• Jiang Ning told Cheng Ran that he might be able to help him enter the Inspection Office, though he could not promise success.
• The assessment overseer rejected other contestants who tried to pass without fighting, and Jiang Ning and the others ate Marching Pills before the drums announced the assessment's end and the squad leader contest's start.
• Zhao Hu rushed into the wooden shelter and proudly told Wang Jin that he had passed the assessment and become an Inspection Guard.

Jiang Ning watched He Jinyun, Qin Xuan, and Liu Sansheng secure squad leader positions before deciding to compete for one himself. After Liu Sansheng tried to recruit him, Jiang Ning refused and leaped toward the arena.

• He Jinyun and Qin Xuan each held the arena for an incense stick without being challenged and claimed squad leader positions.
• Liu Sansheng took the stage, defeated Fu Shiquan with a swift sword strike, and earned a squad leader position.
• Jiang Ning decided not to challenge Liu Sansheng, partly because he considered his family ties to him.
• Liu Sansheng invited Jiang Ning to join his command and offered him a marriage alliance, but Jiang Ning refused and declared that he would compete for a squad leader position.
• Jiang Ning launched himself toward the arena.

Jiang Ning entered the squad leader contest and stunned the crowd by defeating Martial Academy student Lu Yuan in one strike. Xie Xiaoj iu then challenged him, while Lin Qingyi judged that the powerful swordswoman would likely knock him off the arena.

• Jiang Ning stepped onto the arena first, drawing concern and curiosity from the spectators and Martial Academy students.
• Martial Academy student Lu Yuan challenged Jiang Ning, but Jiang Ning moved too quickly for him to see and sent him flying with a single strike.
• He Jinyun, Qin Xuan, Cao Zijian, and Liu Zhaonan recognized Jiang Ning's extraordinary speed and reconsidered his potential.
• Xie Xiaoj iu leaped onto the arena and introduced herself as Jiang Ning's next challenger.
• Lin Qingyi assessed Xie Xiaoj iu's rank, strength, and sword skills, then decided to warn Jiang Ning before the fight.

Jiang Ning defeated Xie Xiaoj iu in a weapon bout, earning her promise to join his command if he won. As the crowd reacted, Lü Renyao stepped forward to challenge Jiang Ning, while Qin Xuan predicted he might lose.

• Lin Qingyi apologized to Jiang Ning, and Xie Xiaoj iu challenged him because she wanted to prove her talent matched his.
• Jiang Ning and Xie Xiaoj iu agreed that she would listen to him if she lost, and they began a saber-and-sword duel.
• Jiang Ning blocked Xie Xiaoj iu’s strongest thrust, then outmaneuvered her and knocked her off the arena with a palm strike.
• Xie Xiaoj iu conceded and left, while Jiang Ning hoped she would honor their agreement and the onlookers discussed his victory.
• He Jinyun and Qin Xuan assessed Jiang Ning’s chances of becoming squad leader as Lü Renyao approached to challenge him.

After defeating Xie Xiaojiu, Jiang Ning faced Martial Academy student Lü Renyao in a fist-and-foot match and knocked him off the arena with one punch. His overwhelming strength astonished the spectators and drew even more interest from Hong Minghu and Lin Qingyi.

• Lin Qingyi realized Jiang Ning had defeated Xie Xiaojiu despite practicing martial arts for only three months and considered his future potential.
• Hong Minghu warned Gongsun Yu not to harm Jiang Ning and promised to let him question the young fighter after the assessment.
• Lü Renyao challenged Jiang Ning to a fist-and-foot match, believing Jiang Ning's lack of experience in those techniques would give him an advantage.
• As Lü Renyao attacked with Cloud-Stacking Palm, Jiang Ning met him with a punch that broke his arm and sent him flying off the arena.
• The spectators, Hong Minghu, Lin Qingyi, Li Qing, Zhou Xing, and Wang Jin reacted with astonishment at Jiang Ning's strength.

Jiang Ning won a squad leader position by defeating Lü Renyao, while Zhou Xing failed and asked to serve under him. After the thirteen squad leader contests ended, the candidates began competing for four deputy commander posts, and He Jinyun challenged the crowd first.

• Jiang Ning defeated Lü Renyao and accepted a silver identity token, but declined the presiding official’s offer to serve under him because he planned to compete for deputy commander.
• Wang Jin praised Jiang Ning, and Zhou Xing congratulated him before later losing his arena match and asking to work under him.
• Jiang Ning welcomed Zhou Xing, who regretted having passed up an earlier chance to build a closer relationship with him.
• Only three Luoshui County martial artists, including Liu Zhaonan and Ruan Hongmei, won squad leader positions, and the fifteen squad leaders gathered to hear the deputy commander contest rules.
• The presiding official announced that four Subordinate Eighth Rank deputy commander posts would go to the final four victors, and He Jinyun stepped forward to challenge the others.
• The crowd, including Jiang Ning, avoided challenging He Jinyun as the deputy commander contest began.

He Jinyun, Yuan Hua, and Tang Miaomiao claimed three deputy commander positions after no one challenged them. Jiang Ning defeated a Martial Academy student to advance in the contest for the last position.

• The assessment host awarded He Jinyun a deputy commander token when no one stepped forward to fight him.
• Yuan Hua and Tang Miaomiao each automatically claimed a position after the crowd declined their challenges.
• Qin Xuan defeated Ruan Hongmei in a weapons fight, though she injured his right arm and urged Jiang Ning to win the remaining position.
• Jiang Ning accepted a Martial Academy student's challenge and knocked him off the arena with Blind Man Hits Tree.

Jiang Ning fought Feng Ji in the second round of the captain selection, steadily reading her Blazing Prairie Spear Art before overpowering and disarming her. Feng Ji stumbled into his chest, leaving the bout's immediate outcome unresolved at the chapter's end.

• Liu Zhaonan and Cao Zijian discussed Jiang Ning's strength and what his rise could mean for their families.
• Qin Xuan defeated his first opponent in the second round without being wounded.
• Jiang Ning requested a saber and accepted Feng Ji's challenge to a weapon match.
• Feng Ji pressed Jiang Ning toward the arena's edge with her fierce Blazing Prairie Spear Art, but he read her attacks and blocked them all.
• Jiang Ning unleashed five layers of force, knocked Feng Ji's spear aside, seized it, and wrenched it from her hands.
• Feng Ji stumbled into Jiang Ning's chest, pushed herself away, and said, "S-sorry!!"

Jiang Ning arranged to meet Feng Ji and befriended Qin Xuan as the assessment narrowed to three contenders for deputy commander. After Jiang Ning revealed he was only eighteen, Qin Xuan and Yuan Fei fought for the chance to face him, and Yuan Fei defeated Qin Xuan with his staff.

• Feng Ji agreed to meet Jiang Ning at Moon-Perching Residence that afternoon, and Qin Xuan approached Jiang Ning to strike up a friendship.
• Yuan Fei won the fist-and-foot contest and joined Jiang Ning and Qin Xuan as one of the final three contenders.
• The assessor decided that eighteen-year-old Jiang Ning would wait while Qin Xuan and Yuan Fei fought, and Yuan Fei chose a weapon battle with Qin Xuan.
• Yuan Fei overwhelmed Qin Xuan with a rapid series of staff strikes, forcing Qin Xuan to concede and step off the arena.

Jiang Ning faced Yuan Fei in the deputy commander assessment and overwhelmed him with a heavy saber, forcing Yuan Fei to unleash a forbidden art. Jiang Ning then revealed fifth-rank body-limit removal and blade force, leaving the spectators astonished as the clash continued.

• Yuan Fei challenged Jiang Ning after Qin Xuan conceded, and the elders recognized Yuan Fei's Ape Demon True Body.
• Jiang Ning chose a weapons battle, took up a three-hundred-pound broadsaber, and repeatedly drove Yuan Fei backward with powerful slashes.
• Yuan Fei activated a forbidden art and struck Jiang Ning hard enough to make him retreat three steps.
• Jiang Ning removed his body's limits, displaying power that Hong Minghu and Gongsun Yu recognized as a fifth-rank technique.
• Jiang Ning's next slash manifested blade force, astonishing Hong Minghu and Gongsun Yu.