Chapter Summaries

Zhao Feng learned the Wind God Leg Technique, heard how Chu Fan had fallen out with Wang Yu and Zhou Xue, and discovered that his aunt and cousin had been mistreated at the Treasure Brocade Workshop. After promising to collect them, he arrived at Jiazi Ravine Village, where the Three Harmonies Gang was violently demanding security fees.

• Zhao Feng practiced the Wind God Leg Technique through the night and reached beginner mastery.
• Wei Yuan told Zhao Feng that Chu Fan had punched Wang Yu during patrol after Wang Yu joked about Chu Fan and Zhou Xue, and explained that Chu Fan had gained the Zhu Family's support.
• The Treasure Brocade Workshop owner dismissed Granny Wang and made Zhao Youfang the new overseer after learning she was Zhao Feng's aunt and hearing of Granny Wang's scheme to sell Qiao'er.
• Zhao Youfang told Zhao Feng that Qiao'er's father had agreed to sell her, so Zhao Feng told them to wait at the workshop while he came to get them the next day.
• At Jiazi Ravine Village, Wang Kui and the Three Harmonies Gang beat villagers and seized valuables while demanding security fees, despite Village Head Old Chen pleading for a lower charge.

Zhao Feng returned to Jiazi Ravine Village and stopped the Three Harmonies Gang from extorting its residents. Wang Kui recognized Zhao Feng as a hidden force expert, returned the villagers’ money, and led his men away.

• The Three Harmonies Gang thugs ransacked Zhao Youfu’s home after discovering that Zhao Sheng was not listed as a Martial Master.
• The thugs beat Uncle Old Zhong, seized money meant for his sick child’s medicine, and threatened the villagers.
• Zhao Feng arrived by carriage and reunited with his father, Zhao Youlin, and his nephews, Zhao Bao'er and Zhao Zihuai.
• Wang Kui recognized Zhao Feng and learned that the village being extorted was Zhao Feng’s home.
• Wang Kui ordered his men to return the money they had taken and withdrew from Jiazi Ravine Village.

Zhao Feng returned to his village, drove off the Three Harmonies Gang, and took his family to the county seat. There, he learned that his elder brother Zhao Shuo had disappeared after bandits scattered his group in Pine River County, giving him a place to begin searching.

• Zhao Feng made the Three Harmonies Gang thugs withdraw without collecting more money, while Qian Shi continued insisting that Zhao Sheng was a martial master.
• Zhao Feng reunited with his parents and sister-in-law, accepted Zhao Youlin's explanation for lending money and grain to relatives and neighbors, and invited the family to the county seat.
• Zhao Feng brought his family to the courtyard in Willow Tree Alley, where they reunited with Zhao Youfang and Qiao'er.
• Zhao Youlin told Zhao Feng that Zhao Shuo had gone missing after bandits scattered his group in Pine River County.
• Zhao Feng suspected Black Cloud Stronghold might have taken Zhao Shuo and decided the county was a starting point for his investigation.

Zhao Feng arranged schooling and support for his family, then returned to the County Seat to prepare for the approaching Martial Examination. At the Huo Family Martial Arts School, Huo Shan improved Zhao Feng’s technique and gave him a medicinal-bath formula, while Chu Fan remained the school’s strongest hope for the rankings.

• Zhao Feng offered to pay for Qiao'er, Bao'er, and Zihuai to study, and proposed that Qiao'er stay with him while attending a private school in the county.
• Zhao Feng took his family to the County Seat, escorted them back to the village with food and money, and told his parents to send Bao'er and Zihuai to the village school.
• Zhao Feng told Tao Qing that Qiao'er would attend school, and Tao Qing's family reluctantly agreed.
• As the Martial Examination approached, Huo Shan corrected Zhao Feng's combination of Sky-Piercing Cone and Tiger Pounce and gave him a formula for medicinal baths.
• Huo Shan privately focused his hopes on Chu Fan, while the master's wife called for everyone applying for the Martial Examination to register.

Zhao Feng prepared for the Martial Examination by training his fist, stance, and leg techniques, while Qiao'er settled into her studies and hoped to learn martial arts. After reaching minor attainment in the Wind God Leg Technique, Zhao Feng left for the three-day County Trial, where Huo Shan and Huo Yao also arrived.

• Zhao Feng trained his stance and Eight Extremes Fist by day and practiced the Wind God Leg Technique by night, while Qiao'er cooked for him and studied.
• Zhao Feng bought rare medicines and Vitality Pills at the Four Seas Trading House, where a young woman warned him not to take the pills near his medicinal bath.
• Zhao Feng reached minor attainment in the Wind God Leg Technique and resolved to improve its coordination with Eight Extremes Fist before the examination.
• On the morning of the County Trial, Zhao Feng reassured Little Aunt and Qiao'er before heading to the Martial Arts School.
• Zhao Feng entered the Militia Corps drill ground with the other candidates as Huo Shan arrived with his disciples and Huo Yao.

At the County Trial, Zhao Feng watched the Huo Family Martial Arts School candidates struggle with Foot Archery before demonstrating his own skill. He hit the bull’s-eye with six consecutive arrows and passed, while Xue Xiangling watched in surprise.

• Xu Commandant served as chief examiner, with County Magistrate Cheng as deputy, and the candidates heard the Archery and Horsemanship rules.
• Wang Yu, Zhou Xue, and two bright strength disciples failed Foot Archery, while Shi Mao passed with seven hits.
• Chu Fan scored four hits and failed, and Wei Yuan fell one hit short with five.
• Zhao Feng took his place at the range and struck the bull’s-eye with his first six arrows.
• Xue Xiangling noticed Zhao Feng’s accuracy and wondered whether his early hits were luck.

Zhao Feng impressed the examiners and candidates with nearly perfect foot archery, then took part in the mounted archery assessment. After Chu Fan failed, Zhao Feng missed his first mounted shot, leaving his overall result uncertain.

• Zhao Feng hit nine bull's-eyes and one eight-point ring in foot archery, drawing admiration from Huo Yao and attention from the examiners.
• Xue Jun told Xue Xiangling that Zhao Feng had attained hidden force, but predicted he would not place without strong results in the arena bouts.
• The mounted archery assessment began, and most candidates struggled; Shi Mao hit three targets, while Wei Yuan hit two, Zhou Xue hit one, and Wang Yu missed all of them.
• Chu Fan missed three targets, hesitated through his remaining opportunity, and was declared a failure when time ran out.
• Zhao Feng mounted a chestnut warhorse and missed his first target, disappointing the watching candidates and relieving Xue Xiangling.

Zhao Feng impressed the examiners with five hits out of six in mounted archery and became the only candidate awarded Top Grade in the first event. As the candidates prepared for the second event, Chu Fan and Xue Jun grew resentful of him, while Xue Xiangling felt a trace of regret about rejecting him.

• Zhao Feng adapted to the horse’s movement and hit five of six targets, earning praise from the candidates and Examiner.
• Xu Commandant was impressed by Zhao Feng’s mounted archery, while Huo Shan and Wei Yuan celebrated his chances of advancing.
• Chu Fan grew jealous of Zhao Feng’s performance and Huo Yao’s admiration, and Zhao Feng sensed his hostility.
• Xue Jun criticized Zhao Feng as an unsuitable match for Xue Xiangling and vowed to teach him a lesson in the second event.
• The Examiners announced that Zhao Feng was the only candidate to receive Top Grade, one of just three first-class ratings.

After the first event, Huo Shan prepared his disciples for the arena bouts by reviewing the styles of their strongest opponents. The next day, Zhao Feng entered the preliminary rounds in the Eighth Arena, where he learned the groups had been arranged to keep leading fighters apart.

• Zhao Youfang and Qiao'er waited outside the drill grounds to give Zhao Feng warm eggs and ask how he had done.
• Huo Shan explained the techniques and possible counters for leading fighters including Lu Ye, He Mingchuan, Shen Yan, and Wu Peng, then coached his disciples in combat.
• The arena bouts began with more than two hundred and fifty examinees split into eight groups, each sending four fighters to the finals.
• Zhao Feng was assigned to the Eighth Arena and considered how his first-event score could help him qualify as a Martial Scholar.
• Wei Yuan told Zhao Feng that each arena had one hidden force peak fighter and that the schools' leading disciples had been separated among the groups.

Zhao Feng watched the Arena Trial begin at the Eighth Arena, studying the fighters and wondering why Xue Jun seemed hostile toward him. Jiang Chuan and Xue Jun both won their opening matches with displays of superior hidden-force skill, and Xue Jun glanced at Zhao Feng as he left the platform.

• Wei Yuan warned Zhao Feng to concede if an opponent proved too strong, and Zhao Feng assured him he understood.
• At the Eighth Arena, Zhao Feng sensed hostility from a brocade-clad young man and suspected he was Xue Jun, Xue Xiangling's older brother.
• Jiang Chuan defeated Wen Sanyong by countering his feints with the Binding Tiger Form and overwhelming his bright strength with hidden force.
• Zhao Feng studied the matches at his arena and saw his Third Senior Brother, Wang Yu, win easily at the neighboring Seventh Arena.
• Xue Jun defeated Yue Shengdong with a fast hidden-force strike, then glanced toward Zhao Feng as he left the platform.

Zhao Feng defeated Yu Tao in one exchange during the Martial Examination, while Wu Peng showed his skill by knocking Yang Quan off the platform. After the first round, Zhao Feng judged his chances of advancing and Huo Shan remained wary of sabotage during the break.

• Xue Jun's Back-Penetrating Fist impressed the candidates, and Zhao Feng studied its timing and range.
• Zhao Feng defeated Yu Tao with Iron Mountain Lean and Heart-Top Elbow, revealing his strength in close combat.
• Xue Jun dismissed Zhao Feng as a brute and promised Xue Xiangling he would punish him if they met in the next round.
• Wu Peng used an elusive Flowing Cloud Fist strike to send Yang Quan flying off the platform.
• After the first round ended, Zhao Feng aimed for a high ranking while Huo Shan and Huo Yao discussed guarding the food against tampering.

Zhao Feng advanced in the County Trial after defeating Zhang Wei in the second-round opening match, while Huo Shan weighed his students’ prospects and worries about the examiners. During the noon break, Huo Yao brought Zhao Feng food, prompting Chu Fan to react with jealousy.

• Huo Shan told Huo Yao that Chu Fan had the best chance of making the rankings, while Zhao Feng still needed experience.
• Zhao Feng defeated Zhang Wei with Iron-Pincer Strength and Pagoda-Bearing Triple Opening, sending him out of the Eighth Arena.
• Xue Jun recognized Zhao Feng’s clever technique but still believed his own Hidden Force was stronger.
• Zhao Feng reviewed his fight as Huo Yao and Xue Xiangling watched him from the stands.
• Huo Yao served Zhao Feng bear and tiger meat, and Chu Fan squeezed his fingers until they turned white.
• Huo Shan praised the eliminated Manifest Force disciples for representing the Huo Family Martial Arts School well.

Zhao Feng defeated Xue Jun in the eighth arena by overcoming Back-Penetrating Fist’s range advantage and trapping him in close combat. Xue Jun was injured and eliminated before the final thirty-two, while Zhao Feng advanced.

• Before the afternoon matches, Huo Shan advised Zhao Feng to close in on Xue Jun and use coiling force against Back-Penetrating Fist.
• Xue Jun drew Zhao Feng and threatened him, confident that his long-range attacks and Wind-Chasing Leg Technique would give him the advantage.
• Zhao Feng countered Xue Jun’s whip-like strikes and kicks, using his own legwork to repeatedly close the distance.
• Zhao Feng landed an elbow strike to Xue Jun’s shoulder well acupoint and a knee strike to his waist, leaving him injured and kneeling.
• The examiner declared Zhao Feng the winner, and Xue Xiangling helped Xue Jun from the platform after he lost his chance to reach the final thirty-two.

Zhao Feng placed third on his platform and learned that he would face Zhu Mingshou in the Martial Examination’s elimination matches. To prepare him for Zhu Mingshou’s Iron Sand Palm, Huo Shan began teaching him Lifting-Character Force so he could combine Eight Extremes with mobile fighting.

• Zhao Feng conceded his ranking match against Jiang Chuan after holding back, then defeated Wei Xiong and placed third on the eighth platform.
• The lot results matched Zhao Feng against Zhu Mingshou, Shi Mao against a renowned expert, and Chu Fan against Han Dong in the next day’s elimination matches.
• Huo Yao gave Zhao Feng a medicinal Treasure Fish soup recipe, while Chu Fan grew gloomy watching them speak.
• Huo Shan advised Chu Fan on facing Han Dong and Zhao Feng on facing Zhu Mingshou, but Chu Fan claimed to know nothing about Zhu Mingshou’s style and then left on personal business.
• Huo Shan examined Zhao Feng’s kicking technique, recommended mobile fighting against Zhu Mingshou’s Iron Sand Palm, and began teaching him Lifting-Character Force.

Zhao Feng trained in Lifting-Character Force before the final day of the Martial Examination, where He Mingchuan defeated Liu Chang and Lu Ye faced Zheng Yu. The chapter ended with Zheng Yu pressing Lu Ye with a powerful barrage of Zheng Family Fist.

• Huo Shan taught Zhao Feng to use Lifting-Character Force and evasive footwork against Zhu Mingshou's Iron Sand Palm.
• The final day of the Martial Examination began, and Zhao Feng aimed to reach the top eight to secure a place on the list.
• He Mingchuan used Surging Waves Palm to overcome Liu Chang's Vajra Fist and win their match.
• Zheng Yu attacked Lu Ye with a rapid combination of Zheng Family Fist, seemingly gaining the upper hand before an abrupt change occurred.

Lu Ye defeated Zheng Yu with Breaking Void Fist, while Zhao Feng studied the technique and later faced Zhu Mingshou in a dangerous match. Zhu Mingshou exploited Zhao Feng’s knowledge gaps and launched a killing blow, but Zhao Feng evaded it with Wind God Leg Technique and began fighting on the move.

• Lu Ye pierced Zheng Yu’s defense with Breaking Void Fist, broke two of his ribs, and won the match.
• Zhao Feng considered how to counter Breaking Void Fist and realized he needed more martial arts and a stronger finishing move.
• Shi Mao lost his match, and Huo Shan placed his hopes on Chu Fan as Zhao Feng was called to fight Zhu Mingshou.
• Zhao Feng and Zhu Mingshou exchanged attacks, and Zhao Feng realized Zhu Mingshou knew the openings and habits of Eight Extremes Fist.
• Zhu Mingshou unleashed a killing palm strike, but Zhao Feng evaded it and used Wind God Leg Technique with Lifting-Character Force to outmaneuver him.

Zhao Feng defeated Zhu Mingshou with a long-range fighting strategy and advanced to the final sixteen, while a Lesser Restoration Pill helped him recover. Chu Fan then lost to Han Dong, leaving Zhao Feng as the Huo Family Martial Arts School’s only remaining contender.

• Zhao Feng used the Wind God Leg Technique and Long-Range Pigua to keep Zhu Mingshou at a distance, then struck him with Pagoda-Bearing Triple Opening and swept him off the platform.
• Zhao Feng won his match, and Huo Shan gave him a Lesser Restoration Pill to restore his strength for the next round.
• Chu Fan faced Han Dong, who defeated him with Seven Killings Fist and mocked his reputation as Big Stone County’s youngest hidden force practitioner.
• Huo Shan comforted Chu Fan after his loss, while Zhao Feng expressed confidence that Chu Fan would pass the next county examination.
• Huo Shan told Zhao Feng to recover and stay safe, since he was the Huo Family Martial Arts School’s only remaining contender.

After Chu Fan lost to Han Dong, Zhao Feng fought his way into the final eight of the Arena Trial before conceding his next match to Lu Ye. Back at the Huo Family Martial Arts School, the disciples learned that Chu Fan had argued with Huo Shan over his defeat but had only been confined to reflect on his mistakes.

• Chu Fan left the grounds after his defeat, while Shi Mao and Wei Yuan suspected Han Dong had deliberately exposed false weaknesses to lure him into a trap.
• Zhao Feng narrowly defeated Meng Bo after a grueling match, advancing to the final eight of the Arena Trial.
• Zhao Feng drew Lu Ye in the next round and conceded because he was exhausted and expected to lose.
• Zhao Feng, Shi Mao, and Wei Yuan returned to the school and learned that Chu Fan had argued with Huo Shan about challenging Han Dong again.
• Wang Yu explained that Huo Shan had confined Chu Fan to reflect rather than expelling him, and Zhao Feng quietly lowered his head.

After Zhao Feng made the top eight in the Martial Examination, Huo Shan praised him and the disciples worried that conflict between the Han and Zhu Families could involve their school. Zhao Feng returned home to share the news with his aunt and Qiao'er, then learned they may have seen Zhao Sheng collecting fees for a gang.

• Shi Mao told Wang Yu and the other disciples that Zhao Feng had made the top eight, while Zhao Feng suspected his match against Zhu Mingshou had been arranged amid the Han and Zhu Families' conflict.
• Chu Fan left the school in disgrace, and Zhao Feng believed he was heading to the Zhu Family despite the danger of drawing the school into the feud.
• Huo Shan urged the disciples not to worry about the conflict, then learned Zhao Feng had reached the top eight and warmly congratulated him.
• Zhao Feng went home, where his aunt and Qiao'er served him chicken soup and relaxed after hearing he had made the top eight.
• Qiao'er told Zhao Feng that she and Zhao Youfang had seen someone resembling Zhao Sheng collecting stall fees with gang members, and Zhao Feng accepted that Zhao Sheng may have joined a gang.

Zhao Feng learned that he had passed the Martial Examination in seventh place and become a Martial Scholar, while Chu Fan left the school without congratulating him. In Jiazi Ravine Village, villagers faced another round of corvée labor as Zhao Feng’s family awaited news of his result.

• Zhao Feng reassured Huo Shan that he held no grudge against Chu Fan, and Huo Shan admitted he had let Chu Fan’s arrogance go unchecked.
• Sun Qing announced that Zhao Feng had passed the Martial Examination in seventh place and become a Martial Scholar, drawing congratulations from the disciples and Huo Shan.
• Chu Fan brushed past Zhao Feng and left the Martial Arts School without congratulating him, prompting criticism from the other disciples.
• Huo Shan sent Zhao Feng home on his swift horse after learning that officials had likely gone to deliver the news to his family.
• Old Chen told the villagers of Jiazi Ravine Village to report who would perform corvée labor or pay silver in its place.
• Qian Shi boasted that Zhao Feng had passed and that the family would be exempt from corvée, while villagers demanded that she repay her debts before the New Year.