Chapter Summaries

After the gang battle, Li Xiuwen supported his sick uncle-in-law, learned to use Killing Aura Song to strengthen Whale-Killing Fist, and advanced his Sleeping Shark Art. The chapter ended with Liu Chun warning that the escalating feud between Thunder God Shed and Heshengtu was deadly for anyone below the Second Gate.

• Li Xiuwen reassured his aunt-in-law after the street brawl and gave her fifty thousand dollars to continue his uncle-in-law’s treatment, urging the family to close the Rice Noodle Factory.
• Li Xiuwen studied Killing Aura Song, imagined Dao Youming as his enemy, and formed a Blood Sword that boosted his Whale-Killing Fist.
• Li Xiuwen exchanged the Killing Aura Song manual with the Black-and-White Two Elders for five Treasure Tokens and used them to obtain potent medicine.
• After refining the medicine, Li Xiuwen reached the late stage of flood-dragon muscle, with his Sleeping Shark Art at 79% proficiency.
• Liu Chun praised Li Xiuwen’s strength to A Zhen and Big Silly Qiang, then warned them that the gang feud had already killed seven people and that weaker members were especially vulnerable.

Li Xiuwen learned that the Crossing River Association tournament would be unusually competitive, while Hesheng Tu prepared for a coming war with Thunder God Shed. Lion-Head Buddha taught him the Iron Buddha Art, and the chapter ended with the Heavenly-Liang Old Man and Lion-Head Buddha considering whether to strike before Ming Youdao reached tiger elephant.

• Huang Sihai showed Li Xiuwen the tournament roster, and Li Xiuwen said he had a chance to qualify if he reached tiger elephant.
• Little Loudspeaker told Li Xiuwen that Longlegs Seven had secretly reached flood dragon muscle, and Li Xiuwen congratulated them both.
• Lion-Head Buddha told Li Xiuwen that Thunder God Shed planned a Deer-Chasing War after Dao Youming reached tiger elephant, and Twelfth Madam said she would attempt her own breakthrough.
• Lion-Head Buddha revealed that his grandfather was Shi Jin, the Lion Arhat, and began teaching Li Xiuwen the Iron Buddha Art.
• Lion-Head Buddha told the Heavenly-Liang Old Man that he had taught Li Xiuwen the art, and they discussed launching a war before Ming Youdao succeeded in breaking through.

Li Xiuwen advanced his Iron Buddha Art, recruited Liu Chun to help with his conditioning, and drew the attention of the 4K Gang after learning that he had killed Bucktooth Zhen. As the Crossing River Association approached, Hua Nan prepared to assassinate Li Xiuwen, while Zhou Eying gathered powerful contenders at the committee office.

• Heavenly-Liang Old Man and Lion-Head Buddha discussed Hesheng Tu’s need for a fourth Tiger Elephant to gain the advantage in the Deer-Chasing War.
• Li Xiuwen practiced the Iron Buddha Art, found that its indigo sheen concealed the Binding Armor Skill’s patterns, and asked Liu Chun to take over his striking conditioning.
• Liu Chun began conditioning Li Xiuwen and revealed that she was training in Shattered Sea; Li Xiuwen encouraged her and said he had perfected the technique.
• Big Bi Zai learned that Li Xiuwen had killed Bucktooth Zhen and Monkey Ghost, then sent Hua Nan to prepare a disguised assassination attempt.
• Seven days later, Zhou Eying stood with Qiu Xiang, Heaven-Blasting Lad, and other powerful contenders at the Crossing River Association committee office.

Li Xiuwen advanced his Binding Armor Skill to great mastery, reinforced vulnerable parts of his body, and sought more resources to continue his training. After taking a mission from Lion-Head Buddha, he tracked down and killed Ling Ling San, a Child Tower assassin disguised as an actress.

• Zhou Eying assigned the Learning Society's prodigies to patrol the Enclave and protect contenders from Heaven's Will assassins ahead of the Crossing River Assembly.
• Li Xiuwen reached great mastery in the Binding Armor Skill and learned to move its black-gold patterns across his face, eyelids, and crotch.
• Li Xiuwen bought the available ingredients for his training at Spring Peace Hall, but they cost thirty thousand and covered only half his formula.
• Li Xiuwen showed Lion-Head Buddha that he had reached entry level in the Iron Buddha Art, and she offered to consider teaching him the hereditary Vajra Lion Body if he mastered it within two years.
• Lion-Head Buddha sent Li Xiuwen after Ling Ling San, a peak Flood Dragon Muscle assassin from the Child Tower, and he found her performing at Fragrant Snow Sea House.
• Li Xiuwen fought Ling Ling San after she tried to flee, and she killed herself by severing her meridians before he stomped through her chest and asked Chen Jia to buy him new shoes.

Li Xiuwen defeated the Child Tower assassin Ling Ling San, then began purifying his qi and blood to initiate the Tiger Elephant gate under Huang Sihai’s protection. On the ninth day, Huang Sihai sensed an immense aura blooming from Li Xiuwen’s chamber.

• Li Xiuwen returned to Hesheng Tu after defeating Ling Ling San, searched her belongings, and received twelve Tongbao from Heavenly-Liang Old Man.
• News of Li Xiuwen’s victory spread, while he prepared for the River Crossing Assembly and chose to attempt gate initiation at the Four Seas Martial Arts Hall.
• Huang Sihai explained the Tiger Elephant gate initiation, and Li Xiuwen began secluded cultivation in the hall’s chamber.
• Lu Yu asked Huang Sihai to take her back as his disciple, but he refused; Lu Xing then said he would sponsor Tianyi Hao to seek her a place at the Number One Heavenly Academy.
• Li Xiuwen perfected the Sleeping Shark Art and began refining his qi and blood, continuing his seclusion for nine days without food.
• Huang Sihai waited outside Li Xiuwen’s chamber, then sensed an overwhelming aura blooming within it.

Li Xiuwen recovered from his breakthrough and revealed to Huang Sihai that he had reached Tiger Elephant, while Dao Youming also reached the realm and set a Deer-Chasing War against Hesheng Tu in motion. With the battle set for the next morning and Twelfth Madam still secluded, Li Xiuwen secretly tested his strength against Dao Youming in the Great Void Illusion Realm and decisively defeated him.

• Li Xiuwen emerged from seclusion after condensing his first blood-qi seed, restored his body with food, and returned to Chen's Noodle Factory.
• Li Xiuwen gave Liu Chun two Treasure Tokens, reassured his relatives, and read a letter from Li Nanshu encouraging him to pursue the Learning Society.
• Huang Sihai confirmed that Li Xiuwen had reached Tiger Elephant, and Li Xiuwen declared that he would enter the Learning Society before agreeing to team up with Ao Jiu for the Lion King Championship.
• Dao Youming condensed his first blood-qi seed and vowed to kill Li Xiuwen, Twelfth Madam, and Little Loudspeaker as Thunder God Shed prepared to launch a Deer-Chasing War against Hesheng Tu.
• Hesheng Tu's leaders learned that the war would begin the next morning, while Twelfth Madam remained in seclusion and Crown Prince Ren agreed to help Li Xiuwen enter the Learning Society if he performed adequately.
• Li Xiuwen disguised himself, visited Wangguang Street, and fought Dao Youming in the Great Void Illusion Realm, overpowering him and crushing his testicles with a final kick.

Li Xiuwen prepared for the Deer-Chasing War, killed a 4K Gang assassin who sought the Wumeng Scripture, and joined Hesheng Tu’s battle against the Thunder God Shed. He revealed his Tiger Elephant strength by killing Dao Youming, while Heavenly-Liang Old Man confronted Thunder God Lo.

• Li Xiuwen repeatedly defeated Dao Youming in the Grand Void Illusory Realm and resolved to kill him quickly during the Deer-Chasing War.
• Li Xiuwen reassured his relatives and fellow disciples, while Ao Jiu learned that Li Xiuwen had reached Tiger Elephant.
• Hua Nan of the 4K Gang ambushed Li Xiuwen for Bucktooth Zhen’s belongings and the Wumeng Scripture, but Li Xiuwen killed him and fed his corpse to crocodiles.
• Hesheng Tu and the Thunder God Shed assembled for the Deer-Chasing War as Lu Jia Sa Dazhuang and Shi Xiaoxiao announced the rules.
• Li Xiuwen killed Ma Ya, then broke Dao Youming’s Golden Bell Shield by striking his crotch and killed him despite Thunder God Lo’s intervention.
• Heavenly-Liang Old Man blocked Thunder God Lo from reaching Li Xiuwen and prepared to resume their fight.

Li Xiuwen killed Dao Youming and helped Hesheng Tu defeat the Thunder God Shed, then accepted a Red Pole’s share of the gang’s profits while preparing for the Crossing River Association. Huang Sihai gave him the Sea Sand Style’s Whale-Swallowing Art and began explaining the five elements.

• Li Xiuwen killed Dao Youming, then killed Chang San when he tried to shoot him, before joining Lion-Head Buddha to drive Purple Lightning Hand into calling for surrender.
• Thunder God Lo conceded, and Lu Dazhuang ended the battle; the Thunder God Shed dissolved and its territory went to Hesheng Tu.
• Shi Xiaoxiao and Lu Dazhuang learned Li Xiuwen had inferior aptitude, while Li Nanshu and Huang Sihai’s disciples reacted to his unexpected advancement to Tiger Elephant.
• At Hesheng Tu’s victory feast, Heavenly-Liang Old Man offered Li Xiuwen control of Thunder God Shed’s territory and a share of its profits, and Li Xiuwen accepted while asking his brothers to look after his family.
• Li Xiuwen reunited with Little Loudspeaker, who said she was likely to secure a Junior Division place, then returned to Four Seas Martial Hall and discussed his training with Huang Sihai.
• Huang Sihai gave Li Xiuwen the Whale-Swallowing Art, explained its three stages, and began answering Li Xiuwen’s questions about the five elements.

Li Xiuwen studied the Whale-Swallowing Art and continued cultivating while rumors spread that his Sea Sand Style background made him a danger to the Learning Society. As the Crossing River Association approached, the committee ignored calls to put him under observation, and Li Xiuwen resolved to pursue both a place and the Martial Champion title.

• Huang Sihai explained Inner Heaven and Earth, the Five Elements, and the risks of dual-element training to Li Xiuwen.
• Li Xiuwen learned the Whale-Swallowing Art, raised it to entry level, and began cultivating it through heavy meals and an elixir.
• Twelfth Madam emerged from seclusion having reached Tiger Elephant, learned that Li Xiuwen had defeated Dao Youming, and became Hesheng Tu’s fifth Red Pole.
• Fatso proposed a rumor campaign against Li Xiuwen, and the Iron Wire Martial Arts Hall spread claims linking the Sea Sand Style to the Thirteenth Young Master.
• The rumors stirred protests and anger across the Enclave, but Tiger Granny told her assistant to ignore calls to place Li Xiuwen under observation.
• Li Xiuwen continued training, learned that Blood-Coagulating Elixirs were scarce, and heard from Heavenly-Liang Old Man that only extraordinary experts like Mr. Ming could remain at their peak indefinitely.

As the River-Crossing Assembly approached, Li Xiuwen strengthened his martial arts while factions across the East District weighed his rise and his chances of entering the Learning Society. The chapter left him facing the upcoming competition, while powerful enemies and rivals made plans around him.

• Hong Sanquan vowed to make Li Xiuwen regret entering the Learning Society and planned to challenge him in its arena.
• Li Xiuwen mastered several arts, including the Iron Buddha Art, Fight to the Death, Sand-Containing Book, and the first level of Killing Aura Song, while training against the event’s youth division fighters.
• Crown Prince Ren confirmed that Li Xiuwen’s admission to the Learning Society was assured, and Big Brother Mo agreed to keep an eye on him.
• Liu An-zai refused to recruit Thunder God Lo, Purple Lightning Hand, and Little Fenglian, suspecting their Powder-Smuggling Gang connections could lead back to Heaven’s Will.
• The Black Tiger Master and Elder Wonderful Crane discussed Li Xiuwen’s slim chances of entering Inner Heaven and Earth, with Elder Wonderful Crane identifying the Golden Prize Grand Elixir as his only likely path.
• Big Bi Zai concluded that Hua Nan had probably died and decided to wait for Heaven’s Will to attack the Walled City before trying to capture Li Xiuwen himself; the eve of the River-Crossing Assembly then arrived.

Li Xiuwen completed his training in Whale-Killing Fist and arrived at the Crossing River Assembly, where he and Ao Jiu advanced through the opening arena challenge. The Lion King Championship began, leaving Li Xiuwen and Ao Jiu set to compete as a team.

• Li Xiuwen defeated Wang Yingzhao in the Grand Void Illusory Realm and advanced Whale-Killing Fist to its second layer.
• Li Xiuwen received encouragement from Aunt-in-law and Uncle-in-law, then left with Huang Sihai and the Sihai Martial Hall group for the Crossing River Assembly.
• Hesheng Tu sent Twelfth Madam and gang members to support Li Xiuwen, while Zhao Dalong and Ding Sheng reacted to news of his Tiger Elephant breakthrough.
• Tigress explained the Crossing River Assembly's trials and announced that the Lion King team could skip the Wandering Gods trial by claiming the token atop the Heaven-Reaching Tree.
• Li Xiuwen and Jiu Ao passed the Nine Dragons Grand Arena challenge, and the Lion King Championship began.

At the Crossing River Association’s Lion King Contest, Li Xiuwen and Ao Jiu teamed up and fought their way through rival lions while a hidden Tiger Elephant from the Turtle King Style emerged as a dark horse. After collecting twenty-four Lion Greens, the brothers decided to climb the Heaven-Piercing Tree and seize the Lion King Token.

• Tiger Granny explained the Lion King Contest rules and began the match with a Hedong Lion’s Roar, which Li Xiuwen and Green-Haired Turtle resisted.
• Wang Yingzhao and Vegetable Monk formed a team, while Hong Changwei partnered with Liu Yiyi, and Li Xiuwen and Ao Jiu entered together.
• Li Xiuwen noticed Green-Haired Turtle, who secretly possessed Tiger Elephant cultivation and advanced Black Tortoise Style techniques.
• Li Xiuwen and Ao Jiu collected Lion Greens while Green-Haired Turtle overwhelmed other teams and revealed himself as a powerful contender.
• Li Xiuwen and Ao Jiu defeated several attacking lions, gathered twenty-four Lion Greens, and then decided to climb the tree for the Lion King Token.

Li Xiuwen and Ao Jiu won the Lion King title for the Sea Sand Style, and Li Xiuwen dominated the youth division round-robin to secure a place in the Learning Society. After defeating several renowned-school fighters, he faced the other dark horse, Gui Xuanling, in the final match for Martial Champion.

• Li Xiuwen and Ao Jiu seized the Lion King Token, and Li Xiuwen defeated Vegetable Monk and Wang Yingzhao to claim the Lion King title after Liu Yiyi and Hong Changwei held back.
• Little Loudspeaker advanced in the junior division, while Han Feiyu won its Lion King title; Su Ming and other Heavenly Courtyard prodigies discussed Li Xiuwen as a potential target.
• Li Xiuwen defeated Hong Changwei, Vegetable Monk, and Wang Yingzhao in the round-robin, while Liu Yiyi conceded; he later beat Ao Jiu, leaving only Gui Xuanling as his remaining opponent.
• Gui Xuanling swept through the other contenders, and Tiger Granny announced that Li Xiuwen, Gui Xuanling, Ao Jiu, and Wang Yingzhao had secured Learning Society places.
• Li Xiuwen and Gui Xuanling began the final match, trading a furious barrage of kicks and palm counters as Li Xiuwen tested Gui Xuanling's unfamiliar Turtle King Style.

Li Xiuwen celebrated winning the Youth Division Martial Champion title and prepared to enter the Learning Society, where he hoped to earn a chance to compete for the Golden Prize Grand Elixir and travel to the Dragon-Raising-Head Dharma Assembly. Meanwhile, Thunder God Lo joined Heaven's Will after murdering Purple Lightning Hand, and Li Xiuwen continued training as new dangers gathered around him.

• Tiger Granny announced Li Xiuwen as the Youth Division Martial Champion, while the Humpbacked Elder warned Gui Xuanling to respect Li Xiuwen and avoid becoming his enemy because the Sea Sand Style came from a ruthless ancient tradition.
• Li Xiuwen celebrated with Four Seas Martial Arts Hall, learned that the Learning Society's Golden Prize Grand Elixir could improve his martial constitution, and resolved to pursue a chance at the Dragon-Raising-Head Dharma Assembly.
• Li Xiuwen trained against Black Tortoise Ling in the Great Void Dreamscape, then watched Little Loudspeaker secure a River-Crossing Slot while Longlegs Seven failed to advance through the repechage.
• After major Halls rejected Thunder God Lo and his companions, Thunder God Lo revealed his connection to Heaven's Will, murdered Purple Lightning Hand, and persuaded Little Fenglian to join him in the 4K Gang.
• Pomegranate Madam predicted that Li Xiuwen would help change the balance of power in the East District, while Li Xiuwen settled his relatives into a larger household and continued practicing The Butcher's True Understanding and Whale-Killing Fist.

Li Xiuwen discovered the fast-slow principle in Cook Ding's True Interpretation and used it to kill Thunder God Lo in the Grand Void Illusory Realm. News of Li Xiuwen's Martial Champion title reached several acquaintances and martial figures, while the chapter ended with Tianming discussing Ah Hao and the Enclave on Dragon-Tiger Mountain.

• Li Xiuwen realized a slow, well-timed strike could catch Thunder God Lo, advanced Cook Ding's True Interpretation to Great Mastery, and killed him with Fast-Slow Blade.
• Li Xiuwen sensed his baleful aura growing and recalled warnings about people nicknamed Crown Prince, including Crown Prince Ren and Crown Prince Bai.
• Zhao Dalong learned that A Wen was the Martial Champion, while Ding Sheng reacted angrily when Zhao told him the news.
• Ye Tiannan discussed Li Xiuwen's prospects with Li Nanshu, and Su Ming called Su Cha to mock the Enclave before learning Su Cha had entered the Inner Heaven and Earth.
• On Dragon-Tiger Mountain, Tianming told the old man in blue robes that Ah Hao would not dare enter the Enclave and could be killed if he tried.

Mr. Ming learned that Li Xiuwen, a servant-physique martial champion and Sheng Jiu’s successor, might have a chance to advance through the Gold-Seizing Tournament, while Wang the Fat successfully initiated the Tiger Elephant gate and planned to join Heaven’s Will. After Li Xiuwen sensed the shopkeeper’s hidden strength, he confronted Wang the Fat in the Great Void Illusory Realm.

• Mr. Ming discussed a girl with seventeen-year cicada bone and explained why comprehension and martial will mattered more than physique at higher levels of martial cultivation.
• Mr. Ming reviewed Li Xiuwen’s information, recognized the Quicksand Sea’s true identity, and hoped Li Xiuwen would qualify to represent his tradition at the Dragon-Raising Assembly.
• Wang the Fat succeeded in initiating the Tiger Elephant gate and planned to stabilize his cultivation before joining his former associate Big Cock in Heaven’s Will.
• Li Xiuwen visited Wang the Fat’s pork offal congee shop, sensed the shopkeeper’s powerful baleful aura, and decided to investigate him through the Great Void Illusory Realm.
• Li Xiuwen entered the illusory shop that night and beckoned to Wang the Fat, who answered with a surge of Tiger Elephant power.

Li Xiuwen uncovered Wang the Fat’s disguise in the Grand Void Illusory Realm and planned to track him while preparing to enter the Learning Society. He said farewell to his family, master, and friends before leaving, while Lu Yu learned he had become Martial Champion and found Little Dragon devastated after failing her breakthrough.

• Li Xiuwen defeated the disguised Wang the Fat in the Grand Void Illusory Realm, recognized his true face, and arranged for a subordinate to watch the pork offal congee shop while he prepared to strengthen himself.
• As enrollment approached, Li Xiuwen reassured his uncle-in-law and aunt, while the Hesheng Tu leaders discussed supporting him and Lion-Head Buddha agreed to watch over his family.
• Li Xiuwen said goodbye to Huang Sihai, promised to seek a treasure that could help his master advance, and received advice to compete boldly while keeping some strength hidden.
• Li Xiuwen left Four Seas Martial Arts Hall after embracing Huang Sihai and bidding farewell to Old Chen, A Zhen, Big Silly Qiang, Liu Chun, Chen Jia, and Jiu Ao.
• Lu Yu overheard that Li Xiuwen had won the youth division Martial Champion title and left without telling Little Dragon, who had failed her Flood Dragon Muscle breakthrough and broke down in despair.

Li Xiuwen entered the Learning Society and learned its ranking system and Challenge Arena rules before a senior disciple challenged him. He defeated Wang Dafu decisively and demanded his ten-Tongbao wager, leaving the gathered students to judge the new Martial Champion.

• Thunder God Lo and Little Fenglian gave Big Bi Zai Purple Lightning Hand's head as their pledge to join the 4K Gang and revealed their plan to kill Li Xiuwen.
• Crown Prince Ren learned that Little Fenglian intended to target Li Xiuwen, but dismissed the threat and praised Li Xiuwen's patience and ruthlessness.
• Tiger Granny issued the new students their tokens and explained Azure Hall's ranks, protection arrangements, and Challenge Arena rules as she led them into the Learning Society.
• Li Xiuwen hurried toward the Dragon-Tiger Pavilion, but Wang Dafu intercepted him and challenged him in the Challenge Arena despite Wang Yingzhao's warning.
• Li Xiuwen countered Wang Dafu's Mountain Lord Fist with Hanging Sail, kicked him off the platform, and demanded payment.

Li Xiuwen defeated Hong Sanquan three times in the Learning Society and earned Tongbao while drawing the attention of potential allies. Hong Sanquan returned to the Iron Wire Society, where Wang Wu offered to send Three-Leaf recruits after Li Xiuwen.

• Li Xiuwen defeated Hong Sanquan three times, earning thirty Tongbao and forcing him to retreat with his lackeys.
• Wang Dafu and Wang Yingzhao discussed recruiting Li Xiuwen into the Tiger Crane Society, while Xiang Zilan asked Li Xiuwen to become his master.
• Wang Dafu explained that Xiang Zilan was twenty-four, timid, and nearing the end of his time in the Learning Society.
• Hong Sanquan reported his losses to Fatso and Wang Wu at the Iron Wire Society, and Wang Wu offered to send Three-Leaf recruits to settle the score.

Li Xiuwen joined the Winter Division after Mr. Long arrived as its temporary head instructor and accepted him as a disciple. Mr. Long also took Ling Xuangui and Little Loudmouth, while Li Xiuwen and Ling Xuangui began telling him about their martial arts schools and cultivation methods.

• Hong Sanquan vowed to challenge Li Xiuwen after the next Placement Exam, once his strength improved.
• Li Xiuwen bought fourteen Flood-Dragon Elixir pills at the Dragon-Tiger Pavilion and learned that the Blood-Coagulating Elixir was unavailable.
• The four divisions began selecting newcomers, and Li Xiuwen chose Mr. Long after he arrived to lead the Winter Division.
• Mr. Long accepted Li Xiuwen, Ling Xuangui, and Little Loudmouth as disciples, and nine newcomers ultimately joined the Winter Division.
• At the Winter Repository Tower, Mr. Long asked Li Xiuwen and Ling Xuangui about their schools and cultivation methods.