Chapter Summaries

Li Xiuwen joined Hesheng Tu as Little Loudspeaker’s Head Instructor after meeting her father, Heavenly-Liang Old Man, and Big Brother Mo. He learned he had six months to reach the Second Gate, while privately planning to do it that month, and left with Little Loudspeaker after encountering her younger brother, Longlegs Seven.

• Little Loudspeaker brought Li Xiuwen to her family’s residence and introduced him to Heavenly-Liang Old Man as her new Head Instructor.
• Heavenly-Liang Old Man recognized Li Xiuwen but privately dismissed his martial potential, believing the Second Gate would be his limit.
• Big Brother Mo praised Li Xiuwen’s progress and warned that Little Loudspeaker should not rush her Third Gate initiation.
• Big Brother Mo approved Li Xiuwen’s appointment on the condition that he enter the Second Gate within six months, and Little Loudspeaker gave him a communicator.
• Li Xiuwen and Little Loudspeaker encountered Longlegs Seven, who was revealed to be her younger brother and a frequent rival.
• Li Xiuwen asked Little Loudspeaker if he could receive his monthly pay in advance.

Li Xiuwen learned that the Thunder God Shed backed the Longjin Road thugs and that Dao Youming had protected the Thirteen Guardians, so he sought stronger allies while Little Loudspeaker offered her support. After a week of training, Za Jiu was still recovering, and Li Xiuwen continued honing his skills in the Great Void Illusory Realm.

• Little Loudspeaker gave Li Xiuwen a thousand-dollar bill, explained that the Straw Sandals might fight the Thunder God Shed, and promised to back him if trouble arose.
• Little Loudspeaker told Li Xiuwen that Dao Youming had protected Brother Ji of the Thirteen Guardians, helping Li Xiuwen understand why the gang had controlled Longjin Road.
• Seven Feet Tall urged Big Brother Mo to rein in Little Loudspeaker, but Big Brother Mo defended her choice to support Li Xiuwen and make connections for Hesheng Tu.
• Over the next seven days, Li Xiuwen cultivated and practiced on the Second Floor while Za Jiu recovered from his injuries.
• Li Xiuwen repeatedly fought Za Jiu in the Great Void Illusory Realm, enduring many defeats while improving his movement techniques and combat methods.

Li Xiuwen reached minor mastery in Thousand-Wave Floating Radiance and used a Refined Fish Ball to advance his Sea of Stake Training. Za Jiu grew suspicious after learning that Li Xiuwen’s family had moved near the Four Seas Martial Arts Hall, while Li Xiuwen’s spar with Chen Jia left him sensing an ocean behind Chen Jia’s palm technique.

• Li Xiuwen reached minor mastery in Thousand-Wave Floating Radiance and survived a hundred exchanges with Za Jiu before being killed.
• Li Xiuwen told Huang Sihai he had reached minor mastery, and Huang compared his progress with Lu Yu’s.
• Li Xiuwen consumed a Refined Fish Ball and practiced Sea of Stake Training until its proficiency rose by nine percent.
• Za Jiu learned Li Xiuwen’s family had moved near the Four Seas Martial Arts Hall and wondered whether the boy had a secret.
• Li Xiuwen lost a Sand-Turning Palm spar with Chen Jia and asked why he sensed an ocean behind Chen Jia’s technique.

Li Xiuwen learned that martial presence could be strengthened through martial will and mental power, then focused on training and studying as he neared the limit of the Skin Membrane Gate. The chapter ended with him reading a treatise on the head’s qi channels and noticing something that caught his interest.

• Chen Jia explained martial presence to Li Xiuwen, who realized Heart Furnace Three Forgings might help him cultivate martial will and strengthen his presence.
• Ao Jiu judged Li Xiuwen to be complacent and refused Lu Yu’s offer to become her family’s Head Instructor.
• Lu Yu approached Chen Jia about recruiting him, while Li Xiuwen continued practicing without interest in joining her circle.
• Over the next week, Li Xiuwen took four refined fish balls on alternate days and trained until his Sea-Sand Stance reached great mastery at 98% and his black membrane reached 98%.
• Li Xiuwen reviewed his progress, then read Treatise on the Qi Channels of the Head and spotted something that interested him.

After reading an old master's notes on transforming medicine poison through Martial Will, Li Xiuwen considered how the method might help him. At the Four Seas Martial Arts Hall, he learned that his chances of passing Gate Initiation were low, but he remained determined to pursue his ambitions.

• Li Xiuwen finished the Treatise on the Qi Veins of Associations and considered transforming greed, hatred, and delusion into three forms of Qi to cure medicine poison.
• Huang Sihai warned Li Xiuwen that reaching the limit of the Membrane Gate did not mean he was ready for Gate Initiation and revealed his chances of success were below thirty percent.
• Li Xiuwen recognized that Huang Sihai had concealed his servant physique to keep him training, but said he did not resent his master.
• Huang Sihai explained that Li Xiuwen’s comprehension and inner bone structure seemed closer to an average physique, yet urged him to prepare rather than rush.
• Li Xiuwen told Huang Sihai he wanted to pass the third gate and reach the other world, and Huang Sihai stopped trying to dissuade him.
• Chen Jia also cautioned Li Xiuwen against impatience, and Li Xiuwen said he understood the risks.

Li Xiuwen perfected Sea-Sand Stance and completed Worshiping the Second Gate, becoming a Snake Muscles expert. He arranged to fight the Thunder God Shed in three days, hoping to settle matters with Za Jiu before his arm healed.

• Lu Yu and Little Dragon watched Li Xiuwen train and decided he was too impatient and reckless to recruit.
• Li Xiuwen completed Sea-Sand Stance and used its golden smoke to transform into a Second Gate martial artist with Snake Muscles.
• Li Xiuwen concealed his new strength from his aunt and uncle and decided to ask Huang Sihai for a Flood-Dragon Muscle training method and an aura-concealing technique.
• Li Xiuwen called Little Loudspeaker and learned that their people would provoke a fight at the Jinghai gambling den in three days to reclaim Longjin Road from the Thunder God Shed.
• Little Loudspeaker told Li Xiuwen to wear a mask and spare anyone who surrendered; Li Xiuwen prepared to face Za Jiu before his arm healed.

Li Xiuwen returned to Four Seas Martial Hall after passing the Membrane Gate challenge, while Za Jiu weighed whether to ignore Aji’s death or pursue a chance to earn more Flood-Dragon Elixir. Huang Sihai learned that Li Xiuwen had passed the gate challenge without preparation.

• Dao Youming visited the injured Za Jiu, urged him to leave Aji’s death alone, and gave him a Flood-Dragon Elixir.
• Za Jiu decided to wait until his arm healed before taking the elixir and considered forcing Li Xiuwen to hand over his Hard Qigong manual.
• Li Xiuwen returned to Four Seas Martial Hall and sparred with Liu Chun, defeating her after ten moves and warning her to cut back on fish balls.
• Li Xiuwen told Huang Sihai that he had passed the gate challenge, and Huang Sihai was astonished that he had challenged it without preparation.

After Li Xiuwen succeeded at the Second Gate, Huang Sihai warned him about the risks of pursuing flood dragon muscle and advised him to seek a club’s Flood-Dragon Elixir. Li Xiuwen agreed to help the hall challenge the Night Heron Martial Arts Hall, while Huang Sihai privately considered him a candidate for the fourth Hero; that night, Li Xiuwen sought herbs for his next stage of training.

• Huang Sihai scolded Li Xiuwen for gambling on his Second Gate initiation, then agreed to keep his success confidential.
• Li Xiuwen told Huang Sihai he intended to enter next year's Crossing River Association, and Huang explained how club contributions could earn him the scarce Flood-Dragon Elixir.
• Huang Sihai invited Li Xiuwen to challenge the Night Heron Martial Arts Hall in two months, and Li agreed in return for training rewards.
• Huang Sihai told Xiao Tianhong that Li Xiuwen might surprise him as a candidate for the fourth Hero.
• Li Xiuwen visited Spring Peace Hall to order three batches of herbs for the second level of the Binding Armor Skill and worried that his remaining money would cover only three days of training.

Li Xiuwen unlocked the Nine Dragons Grand Arena in the Grand Void Illusory Realm and began learning the Sleeping Shark Technique from Huang Sihai. He reached Entry in a single morning, and Huang Sihai urged him to attain Great Mastery within six months to compete in the River Crossing Assembly.

• Li Xiuwen explored the Nine Dragons Grand Arena and its betting arenas in the Grand Void Illusory Realm, planning to use its fighters to study combat styles and judge future bets.
• Huang Sihai gave Li Xiuwen the Sleeping Shark Technique manual and explained its levels and its power to conceal cultivation and presence.
• Li Xiuwen practiced the technique and reached Entry, consolidating his Snake Muscle realm in a single morning.
• Huang Sihai recognized Li Xiuwen's rapid progress and described the technique's hidden abilities, including concealing his cultivation and changing his appearance at higher levels.
• Huang Sihai told Li Xiuwen to reach Great Mastery within six months if he wanted to participate in the River Crossing Assembly.

Li Xiuwen advanced his Sleeping Shark Technique and prepared to join the gang brawl outside Jinghai Casino. The two factions assembled in Guangwang Lane, where Twelfth Madam and Dao Youming traded insults before the fight began.

• Li Xiuwen raised his Sleeping Shark Technique proficiency to 11% and continued training his other martial skills.
• In the Grand Void Illusory Realm, Li Xiuwen defeated Za Jiu for the twentieth time and increased his Sand-Turning Palm proficiency.
• Little Loudspeaker summoned Li Xiuwen to the street brawl outside Jinghai Casino and warned him to bring a weapon and watch for guns.
• At Jinghai Casino, Little Loudspeaker confronted Za Jiu, and the two sides moved their dispute into the street after Za Jiu’s underling fired a gunshot.
• Ming Youdao led the Thunder God Shed group to face Twelfth Madam, Little Loudspeaker, and Hesheng Tu’s fighters in Guangwang Lane.
• Twelfth Madam and Dao Youming exchanged taunts as their groups prepared to fight.

Li Xiuwen infiltrated Hesheng Tu’s forces and watched the street battle between Hesheng Tu and Thunder God Shed, where Twelfth Madam fought Dao Youming. As Li Xiuwen followed Za Jiu into an alley, he found Za Jiu had beaten Liu Chun, A Zhen, and Big Silly Qiang.

• Li Xiuwen disguised himself as a masked Membrane Gate member and assessed Dao Youming’s baleful aura and formidable Golden Bell Shield.
• Little Loudspeaker attacked Za Jiu, and the two gangs clashed on Guangwang Street as Twelfth Madam fought Dao Youming.
• Twelfth Madam exploited Dao Youming’s vulnerability with a kick to the groin and struck his chin, but he continued attacking her.
• Li Xiuwen slipped away from the main battle and followed Za Jiu into an alley after knocking a Thunder God Shed fighter down.
• Liu Chun, A Zhen, and Big Silly Qiang beat one of Za Jiu’s lackeys for getting A Zhen’s cousin hooked on opium.
• Za Jiu dropped into the alley, knocked all three youngsters down, and calmly lit a cigar.

Za Jiu and his men attacked A Zhen, Big Silly Qiang, and Liu Chun in an alley until the Pai Gow Masked Man intervened. He killed Za Jiu with a powerful elbow strike, leaving the others unconscious.

• Za Jiu beat Big Silly Qiang and Liu Chun, then ordered his lackey to strip A Zhen.
• Liu Chun tried to protect A Zhen, but Za Jiu and his lackey beat her unconscious.
• The Pai Gow Masked Man dropped into the alley, killed the lackey, and attacked Za Jiu.
• Za Jiu tried to escape the masked man's attacks with hidden weapons and quicklime, but the masked man saw through his tricks.
• The Pai Gow Masked Man stabbed Za Jiu and crushed his head with a hard-qigong elbow.

After killing Za Jiu, Li Xiuwen looted his private stash and returned to the street fight, where Dao Youming blamed Hesheng Tu for the death and reignited the brawl. As Li Xiuwen slipped away with Little Loudspeaker’s retreating lackeys, the Dragon Heads’ conflict escalated into a fight to the death.

• Li Xiuwen killed Za Jiu, searched his body, and sneaked into the Jinghai Casino to steal cash, fish pills, jewelry, and a Flood Dragon Ascension Pill from Za Jiu’s quarters.
• After hiding his spoils, Li Xiuwen returned to the street fight and pretended to trade blows with a Four-Nine so his absence would not draw suspicion.
• A Thunder God Shed lackey discovered Za Jiu’s corpse, and Dao Youming accused Hesheng Tu of orchestrating the deaths of Za Jiu and Rotten-Life Ji.
• Dao Youming charged at Little Loudspeaker, prompting Twelfth Madam to intervene as the street brawl turned into a battle to the death.
• Little Loudspeaker ordered her lackeys to retreat while she covered them, and Li Xiuwen left with the fleeing group as Dao Youming lunged at Twelfth Lady with a tiger-headed broadsword.

Li Xiuwen swallowed the Flood-Dragon Elixir and rapidly advanced his Sleeping Shark Technique while the Thunder God Shed and Hesheng Tu clashed over Za Jiu’s death. He continued training toward greater strength, and the chapter ended with A Zhen, Big Fool Qiang, and Chun Liu recovering from their injuries and lamenting the beating they had suffered.

• Dao Youming fought Twelfth Madam with weapons and guns until Thunder God Lo and Heavenly-Liang Old Man stopped the confrontation, after which Dao Youming accused Hesheng Tu of killing Za Jiu and stealing the Great Elixir.
• Li Xiuwen hid Za Jiu’s valuables and swallowed the Flood-Dragon Elixir, increasing his qi and blood and raising his Sleeping Shark Technique proficiency to 15%.
• Huang Sihai told Li Xiuwen to reach Python Muscle before joining a gang and warned him not to use Sea Sand Sect martial arts outside the Enclave; Li Xiuwen obtained five Refined Fish Balls.
• After absorbing the elixir’s power, Li Xiuwen reached 41% of Snake Muscle and fought Longlegs Seven in the Great Void Illusion, where Longlegs Seven killed him with Waterbird Fist’s perfected killing move.
• Hesheng Tu questioned A Zhen, Big Fool Qiang, and Chun Liu about Za Jiu’s death, but they knew nothing; later, Li Xiuwen found them bandaged and dejected at the martial arts hall.

Li Xiuwen advanced his martial arts through intense training, defeating Longlegs Seven in the Grand Void Illusory Realm and perfecting Sand-Turning Palm. After Little Loudspeaker brought him an extra payment, he learned that Hesheng had stopped investigating Za Jiu’s death, leaving him free to train without immediate suspicion.

• At the Four Seas Martial Arts Hall, Li Xiuwen’s fellow students discussed the difficulty of reaching the Second Gate and speculated that a powerful fighter had killed Za Jiu.
• At a gathering of Hesheng’s leaders, Little Loudspeaker suspected Li Xiuwen might have killed Za Jiu but concealed her thoughts; Heavenly-Liang Old Man assigned her to manage Longjin Road.
• Li Xiuwen gave his uncle-in-law ten thousand dollars to help with his recovery, then reflected on the expense and slow progress of training Binding Armor Skill.
• In the Grand Void Illusory Realm, Li Xiuwen broke through the final bottleneck of Hard-Soft Palm and defeated Longlegs Seven in a forceful clash.
• Li Xiuwen woke to find Sand-Turning Palm perfected and wondered about the Crimson Giant Whale aura he had seen, deciding to ask Huang Sihai about it.
• Little Loudspeaker visited Li Xiuwen, paid him an extra thousand dollars, and said Hesheng was no longer investigating Za Jiu’s death.

Little Loudspeaker confirmed that Li Xiuwen had hidden Hard Qigong and revealed that she had killed Za Jiu, then told him her family would test its Head Instructors. Li Xiuwen showed Huang Sihai that he had perfected Sand-Turning Palm and comprehended Red Whale Momentum, earning the name Child of the Red Whale, while learning more about the dangerous Thirteenth Young Master.

• Little Loudspeaker asked Li Xiuwen about his Hard Qigong, admitted she had killed Za Jiu, and swore a secret pact with him before the Martial Saint Lord's statue.
• Little Loudspeaker told Li Xiuwen that her father planned to test the family's Head Instructors and asked him to patrol Longjin Road.
• Li Xiuwen told Huang Sihai he wanted to learn an advanced Combat Method, then demonstrated that he had perfected Sand-Turning Palm.
• Huang Sihai realized Li Xiuwen had comprehended Red Whale Momentum and explained that it marked him as a potential Child of the Red Whale.
• Huang Sihai warned Li Xiuwen about Medicine Poison and revealed that his former disciple Bai Lang had become the feared Thirteenth Young Master.
• Huang Sihai promised to teach Li Xiuwen advanced combat techniques later, but told him to keep his mastery secret for now.

Li Xiuwen impressed Huang Sihai by reaching entry level in his leg technique and learned that he was being considered for a martial arts hall challenge. Later, he reunited with his friends at dinner while concealing his true cultivation, and Ding Sheng invited him to visit the Spring and Autumn Group Tower.

• Li Xiuwen told Huang Sihai he had reached entry level in his leg technique, and Huang identified Ao Jiu and Lu Yu as the likely contenders for the hall’s recommendation slots.
• Li Xiuwen chose Lu Yu as his target, while Little Dragon privately plotted to provoke him into a failed gate initiation.
• Huang Sihai told Xiao Tianhong, Chen Beiwang, and Qiu Xiang that Li Xiuwen was a Child of the Red Whale, and Chen warned that he would eliminate any threat to their school.
• Li Xiuwen joined Zhao Dalong, Li Nanshu, and Ding Sheng at dinner, where he downplayed his martial arts progress and let Zhao believe he was only at Purple Membrane.
• Ding Sheng invited Li Nanshu to visit the Spring and Autumn Group Tower, then extended the invitation to Li Xiuwen.

Li Xiuwen received a Palm Thunder from Li Nanshu, continued cultivating, and entered the evolved Grand Void Illusory Realm to improve his combat skills through sparring. The next day, he went to the Nine Dragons Grand Arena, where Ye Xu and Wang Wu began a match as spectators placed their bets.

• Li Xiuwen declined Ding Sheng’s invitation to the Spring and Autumn Tower, and Zhao Dalong invited the new members to join the Cai Zi Gang under Heaven’s Will’s association banner.
• Li Nanshu gave Li Xiuwen a Palm Thunder and ten bullets, advising him to train hard and look beyond the Enclave.
• Li Xiuwen resumed cultivation while the Four Seas Martial Arts Hall prepared to visit the Night Heron Martial Arts Hall, and Little Trumpet fought delinquents on Longjin Road.
• After his martial arts knowledge reached great mastery, Li Xiuwen entered the evolved Grand Void Illusory Realm and improved his Shattered Sea and Thousand-Wave Floating Radiance techniques by sparring with its fighters.
• Li Xiuwen went to the Nine Dragons Grand Arena, where Ye Xu and Wang Wu announced their fighting styles before beginning a match as the crowd bet on the outcome.

Li Xiuwen earned money betting at the arena, advanced his Shattered Sea technique, and attended the Mo Family’s martial arts assessment after passing the Second Gate. Longlegs Seven led the assessment and eliminated weaker fighters, while Little Trumpet protested as her instructors were dismissed.

• Li Xiuwen bet on Wang Wu to defeat Ye Xu, then made two thousand dollars over ten bets while deliberately keeping his winnings modest.
• Li Xiuwen trained until Shattered Sea reached minor mastery and defeated Long'er in the illusory realm, then resolved to earn money for cultivation and medicine.
• Little Loudspeaker learned that Li Xiuwen had passed his Gate Initiation and invited him to the Mo Family assessment.
• Big Brother Mo appointed Longlegs Seven to test the family’s Head Instructors, requiring each to withstand three moves to pass.
• Longlegs Seven defeated several candidates, including Little Trumpet’s resident fighters, and Little Trumpet accused him of bullying the weaker contestants.

Li Xiuwen passed Longlegs Seven’s test by revealing his perfected Sand-Turning Palm while concealing his full strength, earning Little Loudspeaker’s protection and a higher salary. Longlegs Seven prepared to challenge the Four Seas Martial Arts Hall at next month’s Hall Challenge, while Li Xiuwen worried about funding his costly training.

• Little Loudspeaker’s father warned her against hiring instructors based on sentiment but agreed to keep promising candidates under observation.
• Li Xiuwen entered the ring after the other candidates, survived Longlegs Seven’s attacks, and countered his perfected Waterbird Fist with his own perfected Sand-Turning Palm.
• Longlegs Seven admitted Li Xiuwen had passed, and Little Loudspeaker secured him a monthly salary of three thousand as her sole Head Instructor.
• Big Brother Mo told his sons that Li Xiuwen’s rapid progress suggested better potential than people assumed, despite his ordinary reputation.
• Master Ye learned that Li Xiuwen had entered the Second Gate and perfected Sand-Turning Palm, while Longlegs Seven vowed to win next month’s Hall Challenge.
• Li Xiuwen calculated that his work now brought in five or six thousand a month, but his training, medicine, and uncle’s treatment continued to strain his finances.