Chapter Summaries

Jiang Shu left a stunned Jiang Family after Section Chief Guo showed him unusual respect, then continued teaching Ye Zhenzhen the Horse Stance in Jicheng. When a venomous viper attacked her on a mountain path, Jiang Shu used the Tiger Form Three Styles to kill it and protect her.

• Section Chief Guo gave Jiang Shu his business card and treated him with conspicuous respect, leaving the Jiang Family shocked.
• Jiang Shu declined to explain his standing to his relatives and took his parents home.
• Jiang Shu continued practicing the Horse Stance while teaching Ye Zhenzhen, who wondered why he showed no interest in dating her.
• Ye Zhenzhen suggested they climb the mountain, and Jiang Shu chose an open spot there for more stance training.
• A viper lunged at Ye Zhenzhen, and Jiang Shu struck it with the Tiger Form Three Styles before pulling her behind him and crushing its head.

Jiang Shu advised Ye Zhenzhen to take her martial arts training seriously, and she soon mastered the Horse Stance and began filming the Martial Arts Promotional Video with him. When he demonstrated his stance on a drifting boat, Jiang Shu suddenly kicked off the bow and raced toward shore, stepping across the water.

• Jiang Shu warned Ye Zhenzhen that she needed to rely on her own strength and master the Horse Stance to sense Blood Qi.
• Ye Zhenzhen trained diligently and got started with the Horse Stance in about ten days as filming for the Martial Arts Promotional Video began.
• Ye Zhenzhen urged Jiang Shu to change his hairstyle and pose for the camera, but he refused to cut his hair.
• Jiang Shu arranged to film on a lake, stood in a Horse Stance on a small boat, and let it drift toward shore.
• Jiang Shu kicked the boat's bow and leaped onto the water, racing toward Ye Zhenzhen and the crew.

Jiang Shu demonstrated his speed across the lake while filming a Martial Arts Promotional Video, then returned to Pingling County and warned Zhou Yang not to abandon martial arts for the restaurant business. The chapter ended with Jiang Shu asking Zhou Yang about his investigation into the Yao Family’s upcoming birthday banquet.

• Jiang Shu ran across the lake, used a small boat to regain momentum, and reached shore as the cameraman recorded him.
• Jiang Shu explained to Ye Zhenzhen that he had borrowed force from the boat and said his Horse Stance had reached perfection.
• After filming for two more days, Jiang Shu left Ye Zhenzhen and crossed from Xia Kingdom into the Great Jing Dynasty.
• Jiang Shu visited Zhou Family Restaurant, where Zhou Yang praised the restaurant’s booming business and urged him to join the enterprise.
• Jiang Shu reminded Zhou Yang that martial arts were the Zhou Family’s foundation and warned that the great households would take advantage of them without Old Man Chou’s protection.
• Jiang Shu asked Zhou Yang how his investigation into the Blood Nourishing Medicinal Cuisine for the Yao Family’s birthday banquet was going.

Jiang Shu learned more about Pingling County’s power structure, then trained with his senior brother Qi Yuan, who explained the gap between Whole Body Qi and Blood Great Circulation and the Skin Grinding Realm. Qi Yuan offered to take Jiang Shu somewhere to learn how martial artists earn the money needed to advance, and Jiang Shu guessed it was the Black Market.

• Zhou Yang told Jiang Shu that Yao Wenbai had suggested Blood Nourishing Medicinal Cuisine as a birthday gift and that Luo Yongcheng had reached the Whole Body Qi and Blood Great Circulation without becoming Old Man Chou’s official disciple.
• Jiang Shu used Zhou Yang’s information to prepare gifts for his senior brothers and grew especially close to Qi Yuan.
• Jiang Shu sparred with Qi Yuan, who taught him to gather his strength into a single point and explained how force distinguished Skin Grinding Realm martial artists.
• Jiang Shu trained with Qi Yuan almost daily, improving his martial methods and learning about Pingling County’s martial arts scene.
• Qi Yuan advised Jiang Shu to rest and said he would take him somewhere to broaden his horizons and learn how martial artists obtained the money needed for cultivation.
• Jiang Shu guessed that Qi Yuan intended to take him to the Black Market.

Qi Yuan brought Jiang Shu to the Black Market in Pingling County, where Jiang Shu learned how its trade worked and surveyed goods that could support martial artists. He left the market stalls focused on finding a dagger capable of helping him fight Skin Grinding Realm opponents.

• Qi Yuan disguised himself and Jiang Shu, then led him through a hidden entrance into the Black Market.
• Qi Yuan explained the market’s entry requirements, trading rules, and divisions, then arranged to meet Jiang Shu again in half an hour.
• Jiang Shu inspected medicinal powders and questioned whether the stall’s products were genuine.
• Jiang Shu examined Exotic Beast meat and other wares, reflecting on the resources he hoped to find at the Academy.
• Jiang Shu stopped at a weapon stall and decided he needed a dagger that could cut through a Skin Grinding Realm martial artist’s skin membrane.

Jiang Shu bought a dagger at the Black Market and learned from Qi Yuan how Exotic Beast Meat could accelerate martial arts progress. Qi Yuan explained that the mountains around Pingling County made travel to the prefectural city perilous, leaving Jiang Shu with a clearer sense of the limits on his advancement.

• Jiang Shu bought a dagger for thirty taels of silver at the Black Market and planned to sell goods from Xuanxing there once he could travel alone.
• Jiang Shu and Qi Yuan left the Black Market and returned to the Small Courtyard, where Qi Yuan unpacked several chunks of Exotic Beast Meat.
• Qi Yuan told Jiang Shu that suitable Exotic Beast Meat could greatly increase a martial artist’s progress, while access to it depended on wealth and resources.
• Qi Yuan shared Fox Bear meat with Jiang Shu, who ate a slice and circulated Hungry Tiger Breathing.
• Jiang Shu asked whether they could travel to the prefectural city for more Exotic Beast Meat, and Qi Yuan warned that Skin Grinding Realm martial artists could not safely cross the mountains because of the Variant Ferocious Beasts.

Jiang Shu and Qi Yuan sparred and talked about the limits imposed on martial artists in Pingling County. Jiang Shu persuaded Qi Yuan to aim beyond the county, and they ended the night challenging each other in martial arts and cooking.

• After lamenting that Pingling County trapped martial artists, Qi Yuan challenged Jiang Shu to fight, and they exchanged blows for two quarters of an hour.
• Jiang Shu praised Qi Yuan for sharing Fox Bear meat and sparring with him, then declared that he would escape the county and bring Qi Yuan along.
• Jiang Shu urged Qi Yuan to seek better wine and a wider world beyond the mountains, and Qi Yuan agreed to stop drinking until he reached the Organ Refining Realm.
• Qi Yuan boasted that his full strength made Jiang Shu like a frog at the bottom of a well, but Jiang Shu teased him about the Fox Bear meat and promised to make barbecue the next day.

Jiang Shu perfected the Tiger Form Three Styles in Pingling County, while Qi Yuan broke through to the Stone Skin Realm. Back on Xuanxing, Jiang Shu discussed Academy choices with Zheng Yanbo and asked which school could provide the best martial arts resources.

• Jiang Shu reached perfection in the Tiger Form Three Styles as he and Qi Yuan trained and ate Fox Bear meat.
• Qi Yuan explained that Hungry Tiger martial arts required killing intent, then struck a stone post and broke through to the Stone Skin Realm.
• Jiang Shu returned to Xuanxing and called Zheng Yanbo after learning that a promotional video had revealed his perfected Horse Stance.
• Zheng Yanbo warned Jiang Shu that competition at Shengjing Academy would be intense and urged him to prepare for being outmatched.
• Jiang Shu said resources mattered more to him than competition and asked Zheng Yanbo to compare Shengjing, Jiangnan, Donghai, and Tianshu Academies.

Jiang Shu negotiated with Jiangnan Academy admissions teacher Li for early access to martial arts resources, using his potential and the Academy’s credit system to argue for a loan. Teacher Li returned with approval to advance Jiang Shu one thousand credits, leaving the agreement ready for him to sign.

• Zheng Yanbo arranged a meeting between Jiang Shu and Jiangnan Academy admissions teacher Li to discuss the Academy’s treatment of new Martial Arts Students.
• Teacher Li described Jiangnan Academy’s Martial Dao Department, resource exchanges, credit rewards, and a system that advanced freshmen one hundred credits.
• Jiang Shu challenged Li’s comparison with Shengjing Academy and argued that credits could be treated like money and borrowed from the school.
• Jiang Shu asked to borrow three thousand credits, then accepted Li’s offer to seek approval for a smaller advance.
• Teacher Li returned with approval for Jiangnan Academy to advance Jiang Shu one thousand credits and presented an agreement restricting their use to Jiang Shu personally.

Jiang Shu signed an agreement to join Jiangnan Academy and borrow one thousand credits, then learned from Xie Feichen’s lesson that Xia Kingdom’s martial arts realms matched the stages he had trained through in the Great Jing Dynasty. The chapter ended with Jiang Shu realizing that Ming Jin, Hidden Force, and Transforming Force posed no threshold for him.

• Jiang Shu carefully reviewed and signed Jiangnan Academy’s agreement for an advance loan of one thousand credits.
• At Jicheng Fifth High School, Xu Shuhui discussed Jiang Shu’s prospects with a classmate and wondered where he would study.
• Principal Zhang and Teacher Yan arranged banners congratulating Jiang Shu on his recommendation to Jiangnan Academy.
• Jiang Shu ordered Blood Flower Pig meat through Jiangnan Academy’s credit exchange website.
• Jiang Shu watched Xie Feichen explain the Martial Dao realms and recognized their correspondence to the Great Jing Dynasty’s Skin Polishing, Bone Forging, and Organ Refining stages.

Jiang Shu practiced the first thirty-six forms of the Innate Guidance Technique, but his exhausted effort did not update the Panel. Meanwhile, the martial arts promotional video featuring Jiang Shu and Ye Zhenzhen aired across Jicheng, and Xu Lizhi learned about it from Cai Yu.

• Jiang Shu followed Xie Feichen's demonstration of the first thirty-six forms, struggled through them, and collapsed from exhaustion.
• Jiang Shu decided to wait until his three methods reached perfection and he entered the Skin Grinding Realm before trying the forms again.
• Jiang Shu's martial arts promotional video with Ye Zhenzhen began airing on television and gained attention at Jicheng Fifth High School.
• Cai Yu approached Xu Lizhi and asked whether Jiang Shu had returned, explaining that her child wanted Ye Zhenzhen's autograph.
• Cai Yu showed Xu Lizhi the promotional video, and Xu Lizhi was stunned to see Jiang Shu practicing beside Ye Zhenzhen.

After reassuring Xu Lizhi and Jiang Yan Yue about his Martial Arts Promotional Video with Ye Zhenzhen, Jiang Shu focused on training with Blood Flower Pig meat and secret medicine. Fifteen days after the College Entrance Examination ended, he perfected two techniques, comprehended force, and officially became a Manifested Force Martial Artist.

• Xu Lizhi and Jiang Yan Yue confronted Jiang Shu about Ye Zhenzhen, and he explained the promotional video and its payment.
• Jiang Shu gave Jiang Yan Yue Ye Zhenzhen's autographed card, easing her anger.
• Jiang Shu trained for several days with Blood Flower Pig meat and Hungry Tiger Secret Medicine, rapidly improving his proficiency.
• Fifteen days later, Jiang Shu perfected the Hungry Tiger Sitting Cave Stance and Hungry Tiger Breathing Method beside a river.
• Jiang Shu circulated force through his body, practiced the Thirty-Six Style Guidance Technique, and produced a crisp crack with his punch.
• On June 15, 2027, after seven months of martial arts practice, Jiang Shu officially became a Manifested Force Martial Artist.

Jiang Shu understood how the Martial Dao of Xuanxing differed from the Great Jing Dynasty’s, and considered how his new Ming Jin strength could help him progress. After catching up on messages, he learned that Class Eight was planning a Teacher Appreciation Banquet and was asked whether he would join.

• Jiang Shu reflected on breaking through to Ming Jin and realized the transformation had broken a shackle in his body.
• Jiang Shu studied the differences between the two worlds’ martial arts and concluded that Xuanxing’s realm breakthroughs depended on talent, while Great Jing’s techniques offered powerful force-enhancing effects.
• Jiang Shu turned on his phone and read messages from Ye Zhenzhen, who teased him about trending online and suggested filming another promotional video together.
• Jiang Shu replied to Long Cao Yan Tuanzi, who complained about studying for the Jiangnan Academy entrance exam.
• Xu Shuhui invited Jiang Shu to join Class Eight’s Teacher Appreciation Banquet, tentatively scheduled for the morning of June 20, 2027.

Jiang Shu traveled to Jiangnan Academy after telling Zheng Yanbo that he had manifested force, and Xie Feichen tested him as soon as he arrived. The chapter left Jiang Shu about to demonstrate the first Thirty-Six Forms of the Innate Guidance Technique.

• Jiang Shu accepted Teacher Yan's invitation and told Zheng Yanbo that he had manifested force.
• Zheng Yanbo drove Jiang Shu to Jiangnan Academy and shared that future academy competitions might determine resource allocation.
• Jiang Shu entered the Martial Arts Building and evaded a sudden punch with the Tiger Form Three Styles.
• Xie Feichen revealed himself, confirmed Jiang Shu had manifested force, and asked him to perform the first Thirty-Six Forms of the Innate Guidance Technique.

After training at Jiangnan Academy, Jiang Shu returned to Jicheng for his class’s Teacher Appreciation Banquet. He arrived in a government car, leaving Wang Han’s plan to embarrass him in tatters.

• Jiang Shu trained the Thirty-Six Forms for three days under Xie Feichen’s guidance, rapidly increasing his proficiency while Xie practiced the Seventy-Two Forms.
• Xie Feichen gave Jiang Shu his ID and bank card and explained that the government would cover ordinary expenses for martial artists.
• Jiang Shu rode to Fengchun Hotel in a government Magotan after recalling Xie Feichen’s warning that the Martial Dao was ultimately empty without reaching Transforming Force.
• Wang Han arrived at the banquet in his new BMW and planned to mock Jiang Shu for supposedly arriving in a cheap car.
• Jiang Shu arrived in a government Magotan with the license plate Jiang D 00009, and the driver respectfully addressed him as Mr. Jiang.

Jiang Shu shocked his former classmates with his new status, then returned to martial arts training and rapidly grew stronger. After testing him with the Hungry Tiger Family Severing Claw, Qi Yuan proposed gathering friends for a sparring session.

• Jiang Shu arrived at the Teacher Appreciation Banquet in a government car, leaving Wang Han speechless and the gathered classmates subdued.
• Jiang Shu declined Xu Shuhui's indirect invitation to spend the summer together, returned home, and told his family he received ten thousand a month in Martial Arts Support Fund.
• Jiang Shu trained for half a month in Pingling County, improving his combat skills through practice with Qi Yuan and consuming Scarlet Armor Tiger meat.
• Qi Yuan demonstrated the Hungry Tiger Family Severing Claw, and Jiang Shu narrowly avoided a dangerous strike during their exchange.
• Qi Yuan praised Jiang Shu's strength and suggested inviting friends over for a sparring gathering.

Jiang Shu exchanged fists with martial artists from several halls and learned how their techniques differed. Qi Yuan explained that the County Government and great households held far more martial arts and resources than commoners, urging Jiang Shu to broaden his knowledge.

• Qi Yuan introduced Jiang Shu to martial artists from the Antelope, Red Ape, and Spinning Turtle Martial Halls.
• Jiang Shu sparred with Zhao Li and concealed his advantage while studying the Spinning Turtle Martial Hall's techniques.
• The other martial artists took turns sparring with Jiang Shu, giving him a chance to observe their methods.
• Jiang Shu described his impressions of the Red Ape and Antelope martial arts to Qi Yuan.
• Qi Yuan explained the halls' specialties and warned Jiang Shu that the County Government and great households had superior martial arts and resources.

Jiang Shu kept training as Pingling County’s wealthy Yao Family threatened the Zhou Family Restaurant, then set up a stall at the Black Market to sell imitation treasures. After a masked man ambushed him for the diamond, Jiang Shu threw lime in his eyes and attacked with a dagger.

• Jiang Shu advised Zhou Yang to lower the Zhou Family Restaurant’s prices and resist cooperating with the Yao Family.
• Jiang Shu went to the Black Market and sold several jade pendants and a copper mirror while buyers balked at the diamond’s price.
• A masked man followed Jiang Shu home and demanded that he hand over the diamond.
• Jiang Shu appeared to surrender the diamond, then threw lime into the man’s eyes and lunged with a dagger.

Jiang Shu fought a masked martial artist who tried to steal his treasure and killed him after exploiting his Stone Skin opponent’s exhaustion and disarming him. He stood over the dead man, having survived the battle through a desperate final strike.

• Jiang Shu drew his dagger and attacked the masked martial artist, who wielded an iron staff and demanded the treasure.
• Jiang Shu dodged the staff and traded blows with the stronger masked martial artist, waiting for his Blood Qi to wear down.
• Jiang Shu feigned exhaustion, then used Hungry Tiger Howling Mountain Force to smash the masked martial artist’s staff arm and make him drop the weapon.
• Jiang Shu stabbed the masked martial artist in the heart, kicked the iron staff away, and continued striking him as he resisted.
• Jiang Shu crushed the masked martial artist’s eye socket with repeated punches, pulled the dagger from his chest, and stabbed him again.

Jiang Shu recovered from his fight with a masked martial artist, learned the Wandering Snake Step, and strengthened his ties with Qi Yuan. When Qi Yuan invited him to hunt Variant Ferocious Beasts in the mountains for scarce martial resources, Jiang Shu agreed, and Qi Yuan decided to teach him the Hungry Tiger Family Severing Claw.

• Jiang Shu killed the masked martial artist, took his money, Yao token, and Wandering Snake Step manual, then burned the manual and his bloody clothes and buried the token.
• Jiang Shu recovered from his wounds over ten days and practiced the Wandering Snake Step while keeping watch on the Yao Family and the Zhou Family Restaurant.
• Qi Yuan visited Jiang Shu and explained that beast meat had grown scarce in Pingling County, leaving a mountain hunt as his best chance to advance from the Stone Skin Realm.
• Jiang Shu agreed to join Qi Yuan on a trip into the mountains' Outer Area with a local hunter as their guide.
• Qi Yuan laughed at Jiang Shu's agreement and decided to teach him the Hungry Tiger Family Severing Claw before they entered the mountains.