Chapter Summaries

Jiang Li received compensation for his injuries, while Constable Feng explained that he had shown Jiang Ning respect because Shen Congyun favored him. At the eastern city gate, Shen Congyun departed for Guangning Prefecture after warning Jiang Ning about the Cao Family and directing him toward the Inspection Office.

• Constable Feng gave Jiang Li a hundred taels of compensation and apologized to Jiang Ning for failing to protect his elder brother.
• Jiang Li planned to spend some of the compensation on his wife and offer Jiang Ning fifty taels, but Jiang Ning declined.
• After leaving the meal, Constable Feng told Yang Zong that he had accommodated Jiang Ning because Shen Congyun's favor could make Jiang Ning a future great figure.
• Jiang Ning and Wang Jin waited at the eastern city gate and met Shen Congyun and Lin Qingyi as they prepared to leave Luoshui County.
• Shen Congyun warned Jiang Ning to guard against the Cao Family, revealed Cao Rong might reach the sixth rank, and told Jiang Ning to seek a place in the Inspection Office.
• Shen Congyun departed for Guangning Prefecture, leaving Jiang Ning to rely on his own strength while he was away.

After Shen Congyun left Luoshui County, Jiang Ning strengthened his Wood-Chopping Saber Technique through a second limit-breaking and gained the Blade Like Gale trait. He tested his new speed and strength, then planned how to continue improving his skills and cultivation.

• Lin Qingyi accepted Jiang Ning as someone she would help within reason, and Jiang Ning happily began calling her Sister Lin.
• Cao Bin learned Shen Congyun had left and hoped his elder brother’s future progress would free the Cao Family from fearing him.
• Jiang Ning practiced the Five Animals Fist, gained experience, and calculated that his blood and qi could reach perfection within a month.
• Jiang Ning spent twenty source energy to break the Wood-Chopping Saber Technique’s limits a second time, gaining the Blade Like Gale trait and greatly increasing his saber speed.
• Jiang Ning tested his strength by lifting a five-hundred-jin stone lock with each arm, then planned to keep training and build source energy.

Jiang Ning reached Great Accomplishment in blood and qi, impressing Wang Jin, who promised to support his martial training and encouraged him to pursue the Inspection Office. Ten days later, Jiang Ning continued building his skills and prepared to reach blood and qi Perfection before the Inspection Office opened.

• Jiang Ning's punches shook a wooden post, and Wang Jin realized his strength was extraordinary.
• Jiang Ning told Wang Jin that his blood and qi had reached Great Accomplishment and flowed through his limbs.
• Wang Jin offered to provide everything Jiang Ning needed for martial training and urged him to work toward joining the Inspection Office.
• Ten days later, Jiang Ning reviewed his skill progress and continued reading until his Literacy experience neared its next limit break.
• Jiang Ning practiced the Inner Elixir Life-Nourishing Technique by absorbing sunlight and estimated it would reach its next realm in about a week.
• Jiang Ning judged that his blood and qi Perfection was only days away and planned to temper his skin afterward.

Jiang Ning cultivated his Inner Elixir Life-Nourishing Technique and advanced Literacy to its second limit-breaking, gaining the Extraordinary Senses trait. He discovered that the trait dramatically heightened his senses and granted internal observation, leaving him eager to use these abilities to improve his martial training.

• Jiang Ning reflected on the martial ranks in Luoshui County and resolved to grow strong enough to protect himself and join the Inspection Office.
• Jiang Ning absorbed solar essence for over two hours, gaining 44 experience points in the Inner Elixir Life-Nourishing Technique.
• Jiang Ning read until Literacy reached its first limit-breaking cap, then spent source energy to break through again.
• Jiang Ning gained internal observation and realized he could see his organs, blood, muscles, and bones from within.
• Jiang Ning tested Extraordinary Senses and found that his vision, hearing, and smell had become remarkably sharp, while a mosquito landing on his arm triggered an immediate response.

Cao Rong hired the eighth-rank River-Roaming Dragon, Tian Buyi, to kill Jiang Ning, while Jiang Ning’s blood and qi neared completion and Wang Jin publicly recognized him as a true disciple. Cheng Ran offered Jiang Ning an investment in exchange for a favor, but tore up the offer after learning Jiang Ning already had Shen Congyun’s support.

• Cao Rong spared Tian Buyi and used the favor to order him to kill Jiang Ning discreetly in Luoshui County.
• Three days later, Jiang Ning completed a set of Five Animals Fist and sensed that his blood and qi would soon reach completion.
• Cheng Ran told Jiang Ning that Wang Jin had officially accepted him as a true disciple and that the registered disciples would now call him Senior Brother.
• Jiang Ning encouraged Cheng Ran to focus on surpassing himself and warned that strength mattered as the world grew more chaotic.
• Cheng Ran revealed that he had prepared an investment for Jiang Ning in exchange for a favor, then tore up the offer after deciding Jiang Ning no longer needed it.
• Jiang Ning agreed to go to the front courtyard and meet the junior brothers who wanted to see him.

Jiang Ning demonstrated his mastery of Five Animals Fist to the martial arts school's disciples, earning their admiration and gifts. He continued training the next day, gaining experience and strengthening his qi and blood while refusing a banquet so he could keep practicing.

• Jiang Ning agreed to let the disciples observe him and demonstrated all five forms of Five Animals Fist, impressing them with his mastery.
• Cheng Ran watched Jiang Ning's skill and regretted that his father had not invested in Jiang Ning earlier.
• Jiang Ning continued practicing, gaining experience and qi-and-blood strength, while noting that the school's heaviest stone lock could not measure his current power.
• The next day, Zheng Yongtao and other disciples offered Jiang Ning medicinal herbs, wine, and pills in thanks for letting them watch him practice, and Jiang Ning accepted their gifts.
• A disciple invited Jiang Ning to a banquet at Hundred Flowers Tower, but Jiang Ning declined and returned to training, feeling close to perfecting his qi and blood.

Jiang Ning perfected his qi and blood, raising his barehanded explosive power to the level of an ordinary ninth-rank martial artist and making a one-layer Ninefold Force burst safe enough for regular use. The next morning, he checked his progress and looked forward to advancing his Inner Elixir Life-Nourishing Technique.

• Jiang Ning perfected his qi and blood and found he could draw strength from his whole body, increasing his force by roughly thirty percent.
• Jiang Ning shattered a training post with a punch, then destroyed it completely with a one-layer Ninefold Force burst.
• Wang Jin witnessed the damage and mistook Jiang Ning's explosive power for the result of Ninefold Force before quietly leaving.
• Jiang Ning sensed Wang Jin approaching and realized his extraordinary senses could help him detect ambushes.
• Jiang Ning noted that his right arm had withstood one layer of Ninefold Force with only lingering pain and estimated he had a ninety-nine percent chance of defeating Xu Yunfeng.
• The next morning, Jiang Ning checked his panel and saw that his Inner Elixir Life-Nourishing Technique was close to advancing.

Jiang Ning broke through to the Proficient level of the Inner Elixir Life-Nourishing Technique after enduring intense pain as the technique tempered his organs. He discovered his organs had grown far stronger and began using spiritual perception to accelerate his heartbeat, unleashing a surge of blood and qi.

• Jiang Ning practiced the Five Animals Fist and then used an Organ-Protecting Pill before absorbing the great sun’s essence.
• Jiang Ning gained the final experience point needed to advance the Inner Elixir Life-Nourishing Technique from Beginner to Proficient.
• Jiang Ning endured severe pain as his five viscera and six bowels were tempered, then recovered with his organs greatly strengthened.
• Jiang Ning used spiritual perception to make his heart beat faster, causing blood to surge through his body and his skin and muscles to visibly change.

Jiang Ning tested the power and strain of unleashing his body's potential, then measured his strength and decided to visit Myriad Splendor Tower and give his savings to Jiang Li. Meanwhile, Cao Bin ordered Xu Yunfeng to kill Jiang Ning and Jiang Li and bring Liu Wanwan to him, while Xu Yunfeng secretly resolved to use the assignment to advance his own ambitions.

• Jiang Ning recovered from unleashing his body's potential with medicinal wine and concluded that the method was powerful but taxing.
• Jiang Ning counted about 138 taels, decided to visit Tower Mistress Lin Qingyi and give the money to Jiang Li, and rested instead of cultivating.
• Jiang Ning lifted a five-hundred-jin stone weight with one arm and estimated that his strength already rivaled an ordinary ninth-rank martial artist.
• Cao Bin ordered Xu Yunfeng to join the Inspection Office by taking command of the Green Snake Gang's fourth hall and killing Jiang Ning and Jiang Li, then bringing Liu Wanwan to him.
• Cao Bin gave Xu Yunfeng a token and ordered him to seek cooperation from Shi Xiaoyuan, while emphasizing that Jiang Ning must die without witnesses.
• Xu Yunfeng left contemptuous of Cao Bin but accepted the mission, privately deciding to use it to change his fate and enter the Inspection Office.

Jiang Ning demonstrated his superior strength to Xiao Peng at the martial arts school, leaving Xiao Peng worried about competing with him for a place in the Inspection Office. After delivering silver to Jiang Li and Liu Wanwan, Jiang Ning went to Myriad Splendor Tower to claim Shen Congyun’s promised gift and requested an audience with Lin Qingyi.

• Jiang Ning declined Xiao Peng’s challenge and beat him in a test of strength during a handshake, then let go before humiliating him.
• Xiao Peng admitted Jiang Ning was stronger and left the school, while the disciples debated how Jiang Ning compared with him.
• Xiao Peng examined the marks on his palm and worried that Shen Congyun’s support would make Jiang Ning a formidable rival for the Inspection Office.
• Jiang Ning returned home, gave silver to Jiang Li and Liu Wanwan, and then went to Myriad Splendor Tower to collect Shen Congyun’s gift.
• Jiang Ning showed Xiao Lü Shen Congyun’s white jade token and asked to see Lin Qingyi, after which Xiao He escorted him to a VIP room to wait.

Jiang Ning visited Lin Qingyi to claim the gift Shen Congyun had left for him, and she verified that his qi and blood had reached full perfection. Lin Qingyi gave him the gift and told him to return after mastering Skin Refinement to receive another.

• Xiao Lü led Jiang Ning to Lin Qingyi, who arrived after bathing and teased him while asking why he had come.
• Jiang Ning asked for Shen Congyun’s gift, and Lin Qingyi checked his qi and blood after he said he had reached full perfection.
• Lin Qingyi confirmed Jiang Ning’s claim and realized she had underestimated his talent.
• Lin Qingyi took Jiang Ning into her chamber and retrieved Shen Congyun’s gift from a secret compartment.
• Lin Qingyi gave Jiang Ning the wooden box and told him to return after mastering Skin Refinement for another gift.
• Jiang Ning left pleased with the box and wondered what Shen Congyun had prepared for him next.

Xu Yunfeng gathered Azure Gang members outside Myriad Splendor Tower to ambush Jiang Ning, while Jiang Ning opened Shen Congyun’s gift and discovered it was a fragment of the powerful Indestructible Vajra Body. Lin Qingyi explained the manual’s origins and Vajra Temple’s overwhelming strength, leaving Jiang Ning aware of the formidable forces behind the martial art.

• Xu Yunfeng ordered an Azure Gang member to summon Deputy Gang Leader Hong Chengtao to help kill Jiang Ning, despite Little Jade and Brother Yuan insisting their own strength was enough.
• Jiang Ning opened Shen Congyun’s box at Myriad Splendor Tower and found the Indestructible Vajra Body manual alongside several small jars.
• Jiang Ning finished reading the fragment and gained 438 Literacy experience, learning it could temper his skin to great success and help him reach the Divine Strength Realm.
• Lin Qingyi recognized the manual and explained that the complete Indestructible Vajra Body was Vajra Temple’s sect-defending martial art, far beyond Shen Congyun’s reach.
• Lin Qingyi described Vajra Temple’s Grandmasters and political power, and Jiang Ning silently committed her warning to memory.

Jiang Ning left Myriad Splendor Tower with the Indestructible Vajra Body memorized and realized Xu Yunfeng and Hong Chengtao were following him to kill him. He lured them into the woods outside Luoshui County and revealed himself as they searched for his trail.

• Jiang Ning left the Indestructible Vajra Body manual with Lin Qingyi, packed the remaining supplies, and heard Xu Yunfeng’s group planning to attack him.
• After learning that Hong Chengtao was the Green Snake Gang’s deputy leader, Jiang Ning decided to stop enduring their threats and headed toward the city outskirts.
• Xu Yunfeng, Hong Chengtao, and their companions followed Jiang Ning out of Luoshui County, expecting to kill him and hide his body in the wilderness.
• Jiang Ning led his pursuers onto a quiet mountain path and stopped behind a large tree.
• When Xu Yunfeng noticed Jiang Ning’s tracks had ended and began searching, Jiang Ning stepped out and announced himself.

Jiang Ning ambushed Xu Yunfeng and his companions in a mountain forest, where he used a devastating saber slash to cripple Hong Chengtao. After activating a new method that unleashed his body's potential, Jiang Ning killed Hong Chengtao and beheaded Xu Yunfeng, while the other two companions fled.

• Jiang Ning drew his saber and crippled Hong Chengtao's right hand with a powerful slash, sending him flying.
• Xu Yunfeng and the two deputy hall masters tried to flee, while Hong Chengtao urged them to attack Jiang Ning and claimed he had exhausted himself.
• Jiang Ning activated a new method that swept away his fear and tension, then pursued Hong Chengtao.
• Jiang Ning cut Hong Chengtao in two with a second slash.
• Jiang Ning caught up with Xu Yunfeng, knocked away his saber, and beheaded him.

Jiang Ning killed Xu Yunfeng and the other fleeing attackers, then collected their valuables and reflected on how the Indestructible Vajra Body could help him advance. He remained in the mountains to begin tempering his skin, confident that his panel would eventually let him master the technique’s missing stages and form an Immortal Golden Body.

• Jiang Ning pursued and killed the fleeing sinister-eyed man after the leopard-clad woman was killed, then used wild ginseng to recover from the backlash of his enhanced state.
• Jiang Ning searched the dead attackers and gathered their money and valuables, including Hong Chengtao's Iron Sand Palm manual, while discarding the notched sabers to conceal his involvement.
• Jiang Ning counted a windfall of roughly 2,420 taels of silver and planned to use his wealth to buy a house in the inner city for his elder brother and sister-in-law's family.
• Jiang Ning stayed in the mountains, prepared a fire and rabbit, and reviewed the stages of the Skin-Tempering Realm and the Indestructible Vajra Body.
• Jiang Ning resolved to use his panel to advance beyond the technique's available stages and eventually condense an Immortal Golden Body.

Jiang Ning began tempering his skin membrane in the mountain forest, using skin-grinding sand and the Indestructible Vajra Body to build progress toward the ninth rank of Martial Dao. He planned to remain outside Luoshui County until he reached that rank and the rumors about Hong Chengtao and Xu Yunfeng’s deaths had faded.

• Jiang Ning ate a roasted rabbit, then stripped and rubbed skin-grinding sand over his body to begin skin tempering.
• Jiang Ning practiced the first three stances of the Indestructible Vajra Body, gaining 3 experience before stopping to let his injured skin recover.
• Jiang Ning washed away the blood scabs and applied the medicinal paste Shen Congyun had left him.
• The next day, Jiang Ning used force while practicing the stances and gained 5 experience, then trained his fist techniques and the Inner Elixir Life-Nourishing Technique.
• After his wounds healed that evening, Jiang Ning repeated the skin-tempering routine and reached 13 experience in the Indestructible Vajra Body.
• Jiang Ning decided to stay in the forest until he reached the ninth rank, expecting the rumors about Hong Chengtao and Xu Yunfeng’s deaths to fade by then.

Jiang Ning spent fifty source energy to break the Wood-Chopping Saber Technique through its third limit break, gaining a new blade-related trait. He initiated the Indestructible Vajra Body, officially entered Martial Dao Ninth Rank, and planned to return to Luoshui County after one more day of training.

• Jiang Ning used fifty source energy to advance the Wood-Chopping Saber Technique to its third limit break and gained the Wielding a Blade Like a God trait.
• Jiang Ning practiced the Indestructible Vajra Body until it initiated and formed a continuous skin membrane beneath his skin.
• Jiang Ning tested his new defense with a sharp branch and confirmed that it could not pierce his skin.
• Jiang Ning realized he had officially reached Martial Dao Ninth Rank and could qualify to join the Inspection Office.
• Jiang Ning planned to perfect the Five Animals Fist the next day and return to Luoshui County to replenish his martial arts tonics.

Cao Bin learned that Xu Yunfeng and Hong Chengtao had died and chose to halt the pursuit of Jiang Ning, while Shi Xiaoyuan remained intent on revenge. Jiang Ning returned to Luoshui County and found a wanted notice offering a vast reward for River-Roaming Dragon Tian Buyi, an eighth-rank practitioner accused of a grave crime against Medicine King Valley.

• Cao Bin concluded Jiang Ning was connected to the deaths and ordered men to watch the city gate, planning to apologize if Jiang Ning returned.
• Wang Jin told Jiang Li that he was helping search for Jiang Ning and vowed to punish whoever was responsible if harm had come to him.
• Shi Xiaoyuan rejected Cao Bin’s order to let the matter go and vowed to avenge Hong Chengtao if Jiang Ning returned.
• Jiang Ning arrived back at Luoshui County after more than ten days away, thinking his family must be worried.
• Jiang Ning read a notice offering one hundred taels of gold for capturing River-Roaming Dragon Tian Buyi or providing useful information about him, and wondered what had enraged Medicine King Valley.

Jiang Ning returned to Luoshui County after twelve days away, confident in his greatly increased strength and aware that spies were reporting his arrival. He reunited with Jiang Li and Little Doubao, gave Jiang Li money, and proposed that the family move to the inner city.

• Jiang Ning memorized the wanted notice for River-Roaming Dragon Tian Buyi, then entered Luoshui County as watchers sent word of his return.
• Jiang Ning reflected on his breakthroughs in martial arts and judged that he could defeat his former self within ten exchanges.
• Jiang Ning found Jiang Li and Little Doubao safe at home, greeted them, and said he would stay for lunch.
• Jiang Ning gave Jiang Li a pouch of silver, showed him four hundred taels in banknotes and two gold leaves, and proposed buying a courtyard in the inner city.
• Jiang Li accepted the silver and went to buy roast chicken and roast duck, while Liu Wanwan realized Jiang Ning had likely killed skilled Martial Dao fighters.

Jiang Ning returned to Blue-Wave Martial Academy and told Wang Jin he had spent more than ten days studying animals in the mountains to deepen his Five Animals Fist. Wang Jin, impressed by Jiang Ning’s safe return after killing Hong Chengtao, sent Zhou Xing away and asked whether Jiang Ning had perfected the fist art.

• Jiang Ning returned to Blue-Wave Martial Academy, where the disciples welcomed him and hoped to resume learning from his demonstrations.
• Jiang Ning visited Wang Jin, who learned that he had met Hong Chengtao and returned unharmed after killing him.
• Wang Jin said he would protect Jiang Ning if the Cao Family acted against him, and Jiang Ning thanked his master.
• Jiang Ning explained that he had spent more than ten days observing animals to improve his Five Animals Fist, and Wang Jin suspected he had reached perfection.
• Wang Jin sent Zhou Xing away and asked Jiang Ning directly whether he had perfected Five Animals Fist.