Chapter Summaries

Lu Yu worried that Li Xiuwen’s rapid cultivation might threaten her recommendation chances, while Dao Youming plotted to kill Li Xiuwen and Little Loudspeaker during a staged gang clash. Hesheng Tu’s trap exposed Dao Youming and He Sheng as spies, and Twelfth Madam offered a potent pill for He Sheng’s head.

• Lu Yu decided to seek great elixirs and push her cultivation after discussing Li Xiuwen’s progress with Little Dragon.
• Dao Youming planned to use Twelfth Madam’s mission to ambush Heaven’s Will and have Golden Leopard and Copper Hammer kill Li Xiuwen and Little Loudspeaker.
• Twelfth Madam led her team into Blackwater Alley, but they discovered the operation had been leaked and rushed toward a supposed Heaven’s Will stronghold in White Cloud Alley.
• Lion-Head Buddha confronted Dao Youming in Blackwater Alley, injured him, and forced him to flee; Dao Youming then told Golden Leopard and Copper Hammer to abandon their attack.
• Twelfth Madam returned to find He Sheng missing and revealed that he had been a Thunder God Shed spy, offering a potent medicinal pill to whoever brought back his head.

Li Xiuwen hunted down He Sheng, a Thunder God Shed mole, and killed him despite He Sheng’s gunfire and grenade. He returned with He Sheng’s head, received a Great Elixir, and left Little Loudspeaker believing he might have been killed in the explosion.

• Twelfth Madam revealed that He Sheng had betrayed the Club and worked for the Thunder God Shed, so Li Xiuwen and the others set out to kill him.
• Li Xiuwen ambushed He Sheng in the sewers, shot and wounded him, then fought him with his Shattered Sea technique.
• He Sheng threw a grenade, but Li Xiuwen survived the blast and pursued him through the sewers.
• Li Xiuwen caught He Sheng and killed him with the Slaughtering Dragon Roll, then took his head as proof.
• Li Xiuwen returned within five minutes, and Twelfth Madam rewarded him with a Great Elixir.
• Little Loudspeaker called Twelfth Madam, unaware He Sheng was dead, and warned that he had a grenade while fearing for A Wen.

Li Xiuwen killed He Sheng, exposed him as a mole, and earned a major reward from Hesheng Tu. As the rival gangs assessed the fallout and Li Xiuwen prepared to pursue Flood Dragon Muscle, Master Ye learned that Li Xiuwen had turned down an invitation to Tiger Crane Martial Arts School.

• Li Xiuwen told Twelfth Madam, Little Loudspeaker, and Pretty-Toothed Kid that his bulletproof vest and quick reaction had saved him from He Sheng's grenade, then credited his victory partly to Palm Thunder.
• Heavenly-Liang Old Man displayed He Sheng's head at Hesheng Tu's Dragon-Head Meeting, identified him as a mole, and awarded Li Xiuwen ten Ever Joy Treasury Coins.
• Lion-Head Buddha offered to teach Li Xiuwen the Iron Buddha Art if he reached Flood Dragon Muscle, while Thunder God Shed's leaders ordered their members to avoid provoking Hesheng Tu.
• Dao Youming accepted the order to lie low but privately planned to kill Li Xiuwen during a future Deer-Chasing War after reaching Tiger Elephant.
• Heavenly-Liang Old Man and Big Brother Mo discussed Li Xiuwen's talent and the low odds of his advancing without a rare great medicine.
• At Night Heron Martial Arts School, Redhead Eight told Master Ye that Li Xiuwen had killed He Sheng with a gun and grenade, and Longlegs Seven revealed that Li Xiuwen had refused Master Black Tiger's invitation to Tiger Crane Martial Arts School.

Li Xiuwen used a Flood-Dragon Elixir to reach python muscle peak, then survived the transformation into flood dragon muscle while Lu Yu prepared to secure the River-Crossing Meet recommendation slot. After testing his new strength in the Grand Void Illusory Realm, he discovered how decisively flood dragon muscle outclassed python muscle.

• Master Ye regretted letting Li Xiuwen leave the Tiger-Crane Martial Arts Hall, while Longlegs Seven decided he would accept Li Xiuwen as Little Loudspeaker’s brother-in-law if he entered the Learning Society.
• Li Xiuwen secluded himself at Chen's Rice Noodle Factory, told Chen Jia and Huang Sihai he was recovering from injuries, and continued absorbing the Flood-Dragon Elixir.
• Seven days later, Li Xiuwen reached python muscle peak and began the python-to-flood-dragon transformation, which lasted three days.
• Lu Yu used a Three Saints Elixir to advance toward flood dragon muscle pinnacle and learned that Li Xiuwen had stopped attending the martial arts hall and his Club.
• Li Xiuwen completed his transformation, reaching flood dragon muscle and great mastery of the Sleeping Shark Technique, and found he could temporarily change his build.
• Li Xiuwen tested his new strength in the Grand Void Illusory Realm, killing a Child Tower assassin and crushing a Tiger-Baleful Fist fighter with ease.

Li Xiuwen reached the end of the Second Grand Arena but failed to defeat Murong Yun, then trained his blade technique until he could kill Golden Leopard with one strike. After discovering Golden Leopard and Copper Hammer planned to murder him, Li Xiuwen ambushed Golden Leopard and cut his throat.

• Li Xiuwen defeated Huang Shan on the seventh platform, lost his first fight against Yu Qian on the eighth, then won five of their ten rematches and reached the ninth platform.
• Murong Yun knocked Li Xiuwen off the ninth platform, but Li Xiuwen later defeated Lu Yu and found Golden Leopard weaker than she was.
• Li Xiuwen practiced Cook Ding's True Interpretation against Golden Leopard in the illusory realm until his blade technique reached minor mastery and could kill Golden Leopard in one strike.
• Golden Leopard and Copper Hammer plotted to kill Li Xiuwen and planned to stake out Chen's Rice Noodle Factory.
• Li Xiuwen disguised himself as a Dragon-Chasing Duke, ambushed Golden Leopard in a dark alley, and slashed his throat with twin blades.

Li Xiuwen secretly killed Golden Leopard, concealed the murder, and let the rival gangs blame Hesheng Tu and Heaven's Will. While he continued pretending to recover, he trained toward the Tiger Elephant realm and planned to pursue more Great Elixirs.

• Li Xiuwen used Cook Ding's True Interpretation to kill Golden Leopard, took the Golden Leopard Technique manual, and disposed of the body in the Sewers.
• Ming Youdao and Copper Hammer found Golden Leopard's blood trail and leopard-print underwear, concluded he was dead, and blamed Hesheng Tu.
• Thunder God Lo pretended to threaten Hesheng Tu but privately avoided escalating the conflict to protect his secret alliance with Heaven's Will.
• At the Dragon Head meeting, the members speculated about Golden Leopard's killer while Li Xiuwen feigned ignorance and continued claiming he was injured.
• After a month of apparent recovery, Li Xiuwen had consolidated his Flood Dragon Muscle realm and planned to tell Huang Sihai he had just reached it.

Li Xiuwen reached Flood Dragon Muscle, earned Huang Sihai’s praise as a possible fourth hero, and received the Fight to the Death secret technique. As he trained and weighed how to deal with the Five Tigers who threatened him, Zhao Dalong called and invited him to Hongyun Tower.

• Li Xiuwen visited the Galaxy Bar, confirmed that Heaven's Will had claimed responsibility for Golden Leopard’s death, and gave Chen Jia and Redhead Eight cash bonuses.
• Li Xiuwen told Huang Sihai that he had reached Flood Dragon Muscle, and Huang Sihai praised his progress while warning him to stay humble and prepare for the Tiger Elephant gate.
• Huang Sihai gave Li Xiuwen the Fight to the Death manual and explained its qi-and-blood boost, its risks, and the need to keep the technique secret.
• Li Xiuwen and Lu Yu discussed the upcoming Recommendation Battle while each concealed their confidence and intentions.
• Li Xiuwen quickly advanced Fight to the Death to its second level and resolved to wait for a safer opportunity to kill Copper Hammer and Dao Youming.
• Zhao Dalong called Li Xiuwen and invited him to Hongyun Tower.

Li Xiuwen attended Zhao Dalong’s gathering, refused to join Heaven’s Will, and declined a raid on a supposed Python Muscles criminal. Three days later, Ding Sheng returned from that raid battered and terrified after discovering that Wang the Fat was far stronger than Zhao Dalong had claimed.

• Li Xiuwen met Zhao Dalong, Ding Sheng, and Li Nanshu at Fortune Tower, where Ding Sheng offered him a head instructor position that he politely declined.
• Zhao Dalong explained that Heaven’s Will was backed by foreign devils and invited the others to join; Li Xiuwen refused, and Li Nanshu said she would remain neutral.
• Zhao Dalong proposed robbing Wang the Fat’s Snake-Catcher Group, but Li Xiuwen passed while Ding Sheng agreed to go for combat experience.
• Li Nanshu thanked Li Xiuwen for their friendship and urged him not to rush his cultivation; he thanked her for the Thunderheart Palm and letter.
• After returning to the Enclave, Li Xiuwen resumed his routine, while Ding Sheng later came back from the raid bruised and shaken after learning Wang the Fat was a flood dragon muscle pinnacle fighter.

Ding Sheng and Zhao Dalong learned that Wang the Fat was a dangerous, concealed expert, while Li Nanshu warned A Wen to avoid him until he reached Tiger Elephant strength. Li Xiuwen completed the first tempering of Heart Furnace Three Forgings, used its Heavenly Dragon apparition to seal the medicine poison in his heart, and entered the Great Void Illusory Realm to test his strengthened martial way aura.

• Fat Tiger told Ding Sheng that Wang the Fat had escaped badly injured and warned Ding Sheng that his weak combat skills had left him vulnerable.
• Zhao Dalong decided to enlist Li Nanshu's help against Wang the Fat in hopes of obtaining a look at his rare Hard Qigong manual.
• Li Nanshu discussed Wang the Fat with Li Xiuwen and warned A Wen not to seek him out before attaining Tiger Elephant strength.
• Li Xiuwen advanced his Sleeping Shark Technique and completed the first tempering of Heart Furnace Three Forgings, strengthening his will and summoning a Heavenly Dragon in his niwan palace.
• Li Xiuwen used the Heavenly Dragon to bind the medicine poison in his heart, then entered the Great Void Illusory Realm and found Yu Lu on the second floor of the Four Seas Martial Hall.

Three days before the Recommendation Battle, Li Xiuwen tested his Martial Way Aura against Lu Yu and accepted a job to raid a Tianyi base. As he scouted the base in the Grand Void Illusory Realm, Bucktooth Zhen poisoned his hand, leaving his arm numb.

• Li Xiuwen used his Red Whale Momentum to disrupt Lu Yu’s attacks in the Grand Void Illusory Realm, improving his odds against her while seeking to raise his qi and blood before their match.
• Lu Yu told Little Dragon that she had reached her cultivation limit and needed time to stabilize after taking Great Elixirs, while underestimating Li Xiuwen’s progress.
• Twelfth Madam asked Li Xiuwen to lead a team against Bucktooth Zhen’s 4K Gang base, and he chose Little Loudspeaker, Chen Jia, and Redhead Eight to accompany him.
• Bucktooth Zhen revealed her Five Poisons Cult inheritance to Thunder God Lo, who obtained a martial poison from her and hired Monkey Ghost to assassinate Little Loudspeaker.
• Li Xiuwen entered the Grand Void Illusory Realm to scout Bucktooth Zhen’s clinic, but her poisoned palm strike made his right arm go numb.

Li Xiuwen led a raid on Bucktooth Zhen’s clinic, captured the hidden Heaven’s Will agent despite her flood dragon muscle, and gained a Wumeng Scripture and Tongbao rewards. After refining a Flood-Dragon Elixir, he advanced to early-stage flood dragon muscle and planned to pursue more missions before the Crossing River Association.

• Li Xiuwen gathered Little Loudspeaker, Chen Jia, Redhead Eight, and several dozen Forty-Niners to surround Bucktooth Zhen’s Nameless Clinic and ordered them to watch the sewers.
• Chen Jia charged into the clinic, but Bucktooth Zhen revealed her flood dragon muscle and injured him with a powerful palm strike.
• Li Xiuwen pursued Bucktooth Zhen into the basement, shot her legs, evaded her poisonous attacks, and subdued her before crippling her limbs.
• Li Xiuwen found a gold sheet labeled the Wumeng Scripture on Bucktooth Zhen, then returned with her to Hesheng Tu and received fifteen Tongbao for his part in the mission.
• Li Xiuwen exchanged Tongbao for a Flood-Dragon Elixir, refined it to reach early-stage flood dragon muscle, and resolved to seek more missions and prepare to fight Yu Lu and enter the Crossing River Association.

Li Xiuwen perfected Thousand-Wave Floating Radiance and gained Wave-Climbing Force ahead of his match against Lu Yu for a Crossing River Association slot. The chapter ended at dawn, with the martial arts hall awaiting the contest and Huang Sihai still doubtful that Li Xiuwen could win or qualify for the Learning Society.

• Li Xiuwen reviewed his martial arts, studied the dangerous Wumeng Scripture, and decided to keep the poison-based cultivation method for later.
• At Four Seas Martial Arts Hall, Huang Sihai assigned Jiu Ao a guaranteed slot and scheduled Li Xiuwen, Lu Yu, and Little Dragon to compete for another recommendation.
• Lu Yu and Little Dragon complained about the hall's bias, while Lu Yu insisted she could still defeat Li Xiuwen.
• Li Xiuwen used the Grand Void Illusory Realm to spar with Lu Yu, perfected Thousand-Wave Floating Radiance, and gained Wave-Climbing Force.
• After mastering the movement technique, Li Xiuwen evaded Lu Yu's attacks and judged that he could now defeat her reliably.
• Huang Sihai worried that Li Xiuwen would struggle against Lu Yu and other strong candidates, while the martial arts hall grew lively before the morning match.

Li Xiuwen won the Martial Arts Hall’s recommendation tournament and earned a slot to compete at the Crossing River Association. Qiu Xiang gave him a White Tiger Great Elixir to improve his chances of reaching tiger elephant, leaving Li Xiuwen weighing whether to attempt the dangerous breakthrough.

• Qiu Xiang arrived at the Martial Arts Hall and encouraged Li Xiuwen to pursue a recommendation slot.
• Li Xiuwen defeated Little Dragon and then overcame Lu Yu, winning the tournament’s second slot while Jiu Ao held the first.
• Wang Lang approved Li Xiuwen’s recommendation but judged that he was not yet ready to enter the Learning Society.
• Li Xiuwen’s aunt and uncle congratulated him, and Huang Sihai urged him to prepare for the Crossing River Association in two months.
• Qiu Xiang gave Li Xiuwen a White Tiger Great Elixir, explaining that hidden Tiger Elephant Experts made the coming competition especially fierce.
• Huang Sihai warned Li Xiuwen that medicine poison might leave his odds of passing the tiger elephant gate only slightly above thirty percent, and Li Xiuwen said he would consider the risk.

Li Xiuwen’s success earned him a raise, praise from his allies, and promotion to Hesheng Tu’s fourth Reserve Red Pole. The chapter ended with Heavenly-Liang Old Man offering him a Tongbao Mission to hunt Monkey Ghost, a powerful broker for Child Tower Killers hiding in Lei Gongshed territory.

• Li Xiuwen hid the White Tiger Great Elixir and planned to save it for his future Gate Initiation or sell it discreetly if he needed resources.
• Chen Beiwang, Xiao Tianhong, and Qiu Xiang discussed Li Xiuwen’s talent and hoped the elixir would help him reach tiger elephant.
• Big Brother Mo raised Li Xiuwen’s monthly pay, while Little Loudspeaker clarified that they were sworn siblings.
• At Hesheng Tu’s Dragon-Head Meeting, Heavenly-Liang Old Man proposed Li Xiuwen as a Reserve Red Pole, and every Straw Sandal and Reserve Red Pole voted in favor.
• Heavenly-Liang Old Man gave Li Xiuwen his identity plaque, increased his income, and offered him first pick of Tongbao Missions.
• Heavenly-Liang Old Man told Li Xiuwen that Monkey Ghost, a flood dragon muscle pinnacle broker for Child Tower Killers, was hiding on Guangwang Street in Lei Gongshed territory.

Li Xiuwen prepared to lead Hesheng Tu against Monkey Ghost, while the Thunder God Shed considered how to deal with his growing strength. In the Grand Void Illusory Realm, Li Xiuwen perfected Sea Shatter by defeating Dao Youming, but he decided to wait until he mastered the Armor Binding Art before acting.

• Heavenly-Liang Old Man ordered Li Xiuwen to lead a team into Guangwang Street to capture Monkey Ghost while Hesheng Tu kept the Thunder God Shed's experts occupied.
• Chang San despaired over his injuries and Li Xiuwen's promotion, while Dao Youming said he would seek revenge after entering Tiger Elephant.
• Thunder God Lo and Purple Lightning Hand discussed recruiting Li Xiuwen or arranging his accidental death, and Wang the Fat recovered from injuries in the Enclave.
• Li Xiuwen fought Dao Youming repeatedly in the Grand Void Illusory Realm and perfected Sea Shatter's Whirlpool Devouring Frenzy.
• After roughly a dozen bouts against Dao Youming, Li Xiuwen decided to master the Armor Binding Art before making his move.

Li Xiuwen perfected Shattered Sea and prepared to scout the Enclave’s Tiger Elephant contenders before the Crossing River Association. Huang Sihai agreed to teach him the Sea Sand Style’s highest-level combat method, Whale-Killing Fist, despite Li Xiuwen not yet meeting the usual requirements.

• Li Xiuwen decided to postpone killing Dao Youming until he was stronger and could avoid suspicion, then perfected Shattered Sea in the Grand Void Illusory Realm.
• Lin Qing and Wang Yingzhao recognized Li Xiuwen as the servant-physique fighter who had earned a Crossing River Association ticket, while Master Black Tiger and Elder Wonderful Crane discussed his chances of entering the Learning Society.
• Li Xiuwen reassured his friends that he was not worried about the crowded Youth Division, then invited Liu Chun, A Zhen, and Big Silly Qiang to follow him as Straw Sandals if they advanced to the Second Gate.
• Li Xiuwen told Huang Sihai that he had perfected Shattered Sea and planned to scout the Enclave’s martial arts halls and hidden Tiger Elephant practitioners before the competition.
• Huang Sihai waived the usual eligibility rules and agreed to teach Li Xiuwen the Sea Sand Style’s signature advanced combat method, Whale-Killing Fist.

Li Xiuwen received the Whale-Killing Fist manual from Huang Sihai and trained until he reached its first layer, while learning about the art’s power and unusual dependence on killing intent. After testing the nominated fighters in the Grand Void Illusory Realm and discovering several tiger elephant contenders, he realized he needed to advance further to qualify for the Crossing River Association; he then summoned Chen Jia and his men to the Galaxy Bar.

• Huang Sihai gave Li Xiuwen the Whale-Killing Fist manual and explained its five forms, its extreme realm, and how killing intent strengthened it.
• Li Xiuwen practiced the Whale-Killing Fist until he reached entry level in a day, and Huang Sihai said he and Ao Jiu were competing for the Fourth Prodigy position.
• Tiger Granny Zhou Eying reviewed the Youth Division nominees and paid special attention to Ao Jiu and Li Xiuwen from the Sea Sand Martial Arts Hall.
• In the Grand Void Illusory Realm, Li Xiuwen challenged Wang Yingzhao and was killed by her Tiger Fiend Fist, then found that Vegetable Monk and Liu Yiyi were also tiger elephant contenders.
• Li Xiuwen concluded that he needed to reach tiger elephant to secure a place in the Learning Society, then woke at Chen's Noodle Factory and told Chen Jia to gather his men at the Galaxy Bar.

Li Xiuwen led Hesheng Tu’s forces into Guangwang Street to capture Monkey Ghost, while Thunder God Shed mobilized to stop them. As the two gangs clashed, Li Xiuwen killed Copper Hammer in midair, leaving Little Loudspeaker spattered with blood.

• Monkey Ghost rejected Hua Nan’s offer to kill Li Xiuwen for three hundred thousand, then told Thunder God Lo he would wait until he had accumulated enough killing intent to target Little Loudspeaker.
• Li Xiuwen met Little Loudspeaker, who revealed her real name was Mo Qingqing and that she had reached Flood Dragon Muscle, then led their gang toward Guangwang Street.
• Thunder God Lo sent Dao Youming to block Hesheng Tu’s procession, and both sides gathered their Reserve Red Poles at the street entrance.
• Li Xiuwen entered Guangwang Street while Twelfth Madam engaged Dao Youming, then headed toward the opium den where Monkey Ghost was watching the fight.
• Copper Hammer attacked Li Xiuwen with a hammer, but Li Xiuwen dodged him and killed him with a Slaughtering Dragon Roll, sending blood raining onto Little Loudspeaker.

Li Xiuwen killed Copper Hammer, then hunted down Monkey Ghost, the Child Tower Broker, while the gang battle escalated across Guangwang Street. Monkey Ghost killed himself before Li Xiuwen could capture him, but Li Xiuwen recovered a secret manual and returned with the corpse and evidence.

• Li Xiuwen killed Copper Hammer with a single move, prompting Dao Youming to rage and attack Hesheng Tu’s fighters.
• Heavenly-Liang Old Man blocked Thunder God Lo from pursuing Li Xiuwen, and the two Red Poles began fighting as the other leaders joined in.
• Li Xiuwen pursued Monkey Ghost across the rooftops, shot his legs, and fought him inside a shop after identifying him as the Child Tower Broker.
• Li Xiuwen overwhelmed Monkey Ghost, but Monkey Ghost ruptured his meridians and died rather than be captured.
• Li Xiuwen searched Monkey Ghost’s bundle, found the Killing Aura Song manual and a Child Tower token, then returned to Wangguang Street and announced that he had caught Monkey Ghost.

Li Xiuwen returned from Guangwang Street after killing Copper Hammer and Monkey Ghost, winning praise and rewards from Hesheng Tu. As Thunder God Shed planned its next move, Li Xiuwen strengthened his standing by sharing money with his men and preparing for the Crossing River Association.

• Heavenly-Liang Old Man confronted Thunder God Lo about Monkey Ghost, while Dao Youming fought Li Xiuwen and failed to overcome his footwork or baleful aura resistance.
• Dao Youming withdrew with Thunder God Shed and vowed to avenge Copper Hammer and Chang San, then planned to reach tiger elephant and help Thunder God Lo attack Hesheng Tu.
• Li Xiuwen returned to Hesheng Tu carrying Monkey Ghost's head, and Heavenly-Liang Old Man rewarded him with twenty Tongbao and recognized him as the gang's top Straw Sandal.
• Li Xiuwen gave Heavenly-Liang Old Man Monkey Ghost's valuables and Killing Aura Song, and Heavenly-Liang Old Man encouraged him to cultivate loyal followers and offered him a future Red Pole position.
• Li Xiuwen distributed eighty thousand in cash among his men and ordered Chen Jia and Redhead Eight to support the wounded and the families of those killed.