Chapter Summaries

Jiang Shu received an anonymous warning and suspected the Yao Family might target him or the Zhou Family Restaurant amid shifting county politics. After revealing his Iron Skin Realm breakthrough to Chou Hai and receiving the complete Hungry Tiger Howling Mountain Force, he encountered Zhou Yang, who offered to help with the restaurant as its supplies dwindled.

• Jiang Shu found a note reading “Be careful” and considered whether the warning concerned the Yao Family, the Zhou Family Restaurant, or Zhou Yang.
• Jiang Shu decided to keep a low profile and rely on Old Man Chou while he grew stronger.
• Jiang Shu visited the Hungry Tiger Martial Hall and told Chou Hai that he had reached the Iron Skin Realm.
• Chou Hai watched Jiang Shu demonstrate his martial arts, corrected his Hungry Tiger Family Severing Claw, and passed on the complete Hungry Tiger Howling Mountain Force.
• Zhou Yang approached Jiang Shu and asked for more salt, msg, and spices, offering to help the restaurant as its stock ran low.

Jiang Shu realized the Yao Family had pressured Zhou Yang into coveting his recipes, so he pretended to trust Zhou Yang and announced he would teach him how to make them. He publicly left Pingling County to hunt, then secretly returned in disguise to watch the Zhou Family Restaurant and investigate the people involved.

• Zhou Yang weighed the Yao Family's growing power against Jiang Shu and considered cooperating with them.
• Jiang Shu recognized that the Yao Family had prompted Zhou Yang to seek his recipes, but pretended to agree to teach him and demanded a larger share of the profits.
• Jiang Shu returned to his Small Courtyard and trained, his resolve to deal with the people targeting his business hardening.
• Jiang Shu visited Old Man Chou in public, then appeared to leave the city for the mountains.
• Jiang Shu secretly returned in disguise and watched the Zhou Family Restaurant for three days, linking Zhou Yang, Han Dali, and Yao Wenbai in his mind.

Jiang Shu overheard Zhou Yang and Yao Wenbai plotting to take his recipes and dismissing the danger of the Hungry Tiger Martial Hall. He killed Zhou Yang and confronted Yao Wenbai, demanding that he name the price of his life.

• Jiang Shu suspected Han Dali had thrown a warning stone into his courtyard but chose to wait rather than contact him.
• Jiang Shu disguised himself and followed Zhou Yang and Yao Wenbai to Cloud Sparrow Quarter.
• Jiang Shu overheard Zhou Yang promise to hand over Jiang Shu’s salt, monosodium glutamate, and spices, while Yao Wenbai proposed recruiting Jiang Shu and mocked the Hungry Tiger Martial Hall.
• Jiang Shu killed Zhou Yang as he left the room and knocked the Cloud Sparrow Quarter girl unconscious.
• Jiang Shu confronted Yao Wenbai and asked how much his life as a young master of the Yao Family was worth.

Jiang Shu interrogated Yao Wenbai about the Yao Family’s martial arts and strength, then killed him and concealed his actions at Cloud Sparrow Quarter. He left after paying the madam, with information about the Yao Family’s forces but no martial arts manual.

• Jiang Shu killed Zhou Yang and threatened Yao Wenbai into answering his questions.
• Yao Wenbai described the Yao Family’s Black Panther Brute Force Strength, its Hidden Scripture Pavilion, and its martial retainers.
• Jiang Shu learned that the Yao Family had around twenty Skin Grinding Realm martial retainers and at least four Bone Forging Realm experts.
• Jiang Shu snapped Yao Wenbai’s neck, then bound and gagged the unconscious women in the rooms.
• Jiang Shu paid the madam and left, claiming he would return in the morning.

Jiang Shu fled Pingling County after killing Yao Wenbai and trained in the mountains while building his strength. After repeated battles and practice, he broke through to Hidden Force.

• Jiang Shu learned the Yao Family's strength, killed Yao Wenbai, and left Pingling County before County Magistrate Nie ordered the city sealed and searched.
• Jiang Shu observed the Cold Pool and the beasts fighting over it, then explored the mountains and fought Variant Ferocious Beasts to study their strengths and weaknesses.
• Jiang Shu rested at Jiangnan Academy, kept up with martial arts developments and his friends and family, then returned to mountain training.
• Jiang Shu fought and trained for days until, in the rain, he mastered the final form of the Innate Guidance Technique and advanced to Hidden Force.

Jiang Shu comprehended Hidden Force, advanced his martial arts, and bought an Alloy Battle Blade to hunt stronger Variant Ferocious Beasts. After tempering every bone in both palms, he headed toward the Cold Pool.

• Jiang Shu comprehended Hidden Force and hunted five small Variant Ferocious Beasts to build his strength.
• Jiang Shu recalled Old Man Chou's teachings about the Bone Forging Realm and how martial artists tempered their bones.
• Jiang Shu certified himself as a Hidden Force martial artist on Xuanxing, then trained until he reached Minor Accomplishment in Hungry Tiger Howling Mountain Force.
• Jiang Shu spent eight hundred credits on an Alloy Battle Blade and used it to hunt stronger Variant Ferocious Beasts while studying their ranks and abilities.
• Jiang Shu ate a second-order Variant Ferocious Beast and tempered every bone in both palms.
• Jiang Shu gripped his Alloy Battle Blade and sprinted toward the Cold Pool.

Jiang Shu abandoned his attempt to claim the Python Bone after seeing a powerful Black Leopard guard the Cold Pool, then returned to Pingling County after more than half a month in the mountains. With the city gates sealed during the search for Yao Wenbai and Zhou Yang’s killer, Chief Clerk Zhao recognized him and ordered him to come to the County Government.

• Jiang Shu saw the Black Leopard defeat a challenger near the Cold Pool and decided the Python Bone was beyond his current strength.
• Jiang Shu returned to his cave, checked his traps, traveled to Jiangnan Academy, rested, and prepared to leave the mountains.
• Jiang Shu killed a Variant Ferocious Beast on his way down from Sanling Town and headed back toward Pingling County.
• Jiang Shu found the city gates shut and learned that officials were still investigating the deaths of Yao Wenbai and Zhou Yang.
• Jiang Shu announced his identity as a formal disciple of Hungry Tiger Martial Hall, and Chief Clerk Zhao verified his records before ordering the gates opened and summoning him to the County Government.

Jiang Shu was questioned about Yao Wenbai and Zhou Yang's murders, then convinced the County Government he had no involvement. He visited Zhou Yang's family before returning to train with Qi Yuan, whose worries about the county's turmoil contrasted with Jiang Shu's growing strength and hidden plans.

• Chief Clerk Zhao questioned Jiang Shu about his time in the mountains and told him that Yao Wenbai and Zhou Yang had been killed at Cloud Sparrow Quarter.
• Jiang Shu acted shocked at Zhou Yang's death, left the County Government, and vowed to Zhou Yang's father that he would find the murderer.
• Jiang Shu considered whether anyone could expose his involvement and decided he could reduce his supplies to the Zhou Family without drawing suspicion.
• Jiang Shu visited Qi Yuan's Small Courtyard, fed him moves, and shared grilled Exotic Beast Meat.
• Qi Yuan lamented his slow progress and the unrest surrounding the Yao Family, while Jiang Shu resolved to help him once he had enough power to do so openly.

Jiang Shu perfected the Hungry Tiger Family Severing Claw, reached the Bone Forging Realm, and told Old Man Chou a fabricated story about a treasure fruit to explain his rapid progress. He then asked his teacher to teach him weapon techniques.

• Jiang Shu assessed the Yao Family's growing power and continued training while planning to keep his Bone Forging Realm concealed until his claw technique was perfected.
• Half a month later, Jiang Shu perfected the Hungry Tiger Family Severing Claw and found that his bone tempering was slowing.
• Jiang Shu went to the Hungry Tiger Martial Hall and revealed his Bone Forging Realm to Old Man Chou, who tested his strength with a strike.
• Jiang Shu claimed that a red ape and a Cloud-Treading Ink Leopard had guarded an exotic fruit that greatly increased his Blood Qi.
• Old Man Chou accepted Jiang Shu's explanation and dismissed his maid, and Jiang Shu respectfully asked to learn weapons.

Old Man Chou taught Jiang Shu the Thirteen Forms of the Saber and explained the martial realms, Variant Ferocious Beasts, cultivation resources, and the Dragon-Tiger Rankings. As Jiang Shu practiced, his saber proficiency quickly reached Minor Accomplishment, and he learned how much broader the martial world was beyond Pingling County.

• Old Man Chou took Jiang Shu to his courtyard and explained why weapon techniques were essential for fighting powerful Variant Ferocious Beasts.
• Old Man Chou demonstrated the Thirteen Forms of the Saber, and Jiang Shu learned them quickly enough for his Panel to record Beginner proficiency.
• Old Man Chou told Jiang Shu that ordinary people needed a year of practice to execute saber basics properly, then promised to teach him a real saber technique in ten days.
• Jiang Shu asked about Variant Ferocious Beasts, and Old Man Chou explained the six martial realms, the beast orders, and the gap between Pingling County and the prefecture city.
• Old Man Chou described medicinal pills and the Dragon-Tiger Rankings, while Jiang Shu memorized what he heard and practiced until his saber proficiency reached Minor Accomplishment.

Jiang Shu practiced the Nameless Three Blades and Tiger Bone Mad Demon Fist, then returned to Jiangnan Academy after training in Pingling County. He planned to leave the county to seek stronger resources and deliver Old Man Chou’s letter, and the chapter ended as he attended a class taught by Xie Feichen.

• Jiang Shu reached the beginner stage in the Nameless Three Blades and Tiger Bone Mad Demon Fist, whose methods improved his killing power and bone-forging efficiency.
• Jiang Shu decided he needed to seek greater martial arts and resources beyond Pingling County, while also preparing to deliver Old Man Chou’s letter.
• Jiang Shu returned to Jiangnan Academy, where Xie Feichen taught a Health Preservation Fist Technique said to help Manifested Force Martial Artists develop softness before entering Hidden Force.
• Shou Junming told Jiang Shu that his improving strength made him think he could last until the second round of the University Martial Dao Genius Competition.

Xie Feichen taught Jiang Shu combat techniques and explained the dangers of Heaven and Earth Secret Realms. Shang Jibei called to say he had returned and was heading to Jiangnan Academy to meet Jiang Shu.

• Xie Feichen finished teaching the Health Preservation Fist and the Thirty-Six Forms of the Innate Guidance Technique, while Shou Junming hurried to the cafeteria.
• Xie Feichen noticed Jiang Shu’s rapid progress and invited him to practice combat techniques outside the classroom.
• Xie Feichen demonstrated the Stele-Splitting Hand and exchanged blows with Jiang Shu, who countered with the Tiger Bone Mad Demon Fist.
• Xie Feichen explained that Secret Realms held dangers such as extreme weather and advised Jiang Shu about weapons and survival.
• Shang Jibei called Jiang Shu and said he had returned and was on his way to Jiangnan Academy.

Shang Jibei invited Jiang Shu and Zhu Qingyun to form a squad for their next trip to the Heaven and Earth Secret Realm and told Jiang Shu about plans for a Martial Artist Alliance. After Shang Jibei left, Shou Junming realized Jiang Shu might have reached Hidden Force.

• Shang Jibei and Zhu Qingyun met Jiang Shu at the academy cafeteria, where Shang praised Jiang Shu's progress and explained the gulf between Hidden Force and Transforming Force.
• Shang invited Jiang Shu and Zhu Qingyun to join his squad for the next Heaven and Earth Secret Realm expedition, and Jiang Shu agreed.
• Shang told Jiang Shu that the Xia Kingdom government planned to establish a Martial Artist Alliance where members could earn points in the Secret Realm and exchange them for martial arts techniques and other items.
• Shang and Zhu Qingyun left for Shengjing, while Jiang Shu considered how the alliance might draw more Hidden Force martial artists into the Secret Realm.
• Shou Junming questioned Jiang Shu about Shang's visit, then guessed that Jiang Shu had reached Hidden Force.

Jiang Shu returned to Qingjiang Garden for the holiday, spent time with his family, and advised Jiang Yan Yue not to pursue a martial arts lecture. On New Year's Eve, Shang Jibei sent him instructions to register on the Martial Artist Alliance website, opening a new channel for their communication.

• Jiang Shu heard gossip from Shou Junming, then continued training while the situation in Pingling County grew tense and wealthy families recruited martial artists.
• Jiang Shu traveled home, where Xu Lizhi welcomed him with new clothes and Jiang Yongyi cooked his favorite dishes.
• Jiang Yan Yue asked Jiang Shu to give a martial arts lecture at her school, but he explained that changing examination requirements would make his experience unhelpful.
• Jiang Shu urged his family to practice martial arts for health rather than pursue dangerous opportunities, and Jiang Yan Yue stopped her Horse Stance to eat chips.
• On New Year's Eve, Shang Jibei sent Jiang Shu the Martial Artist Alliance website and told him to register with his ID number and share his account.

Jiang Shu joined the Martial Artist Alliance and learned how it worked, then bought two movement technique manuals to prepare for entering Heaven and Earth Secret Realms. He was left with little money and hoped to gain access to a Secret Realm soon.

• Jiang Shu logged into the Martial Artist Alliance and listened to an introduction to its sections, rules, and point system.
• Shang Jibei accepted Jiang Shu’s friend request and shared posts about surviving in Heaven and Earth Secret Realms.
• Jiang Shu reviewed the shared information and browsed movement techniques, deciding he needed explosive speed for hunting and escape.
• Jiang Shu bought Treading Snow Footwork and Minor Leap Technique for 800 points after topping up his account.
• Jiang Shu reflected on how quickly martial arts expenses consumed his money and wondered when he could enter a Heaven and Earth Secret Realm.

Jiang Shu, Shang Jibei, and Zhu Qingyun entered the Land of Extreme Cold and hunted Variant Ferocious Beasts, earning thousands of points while growing stronger. After their team suffered injuries fighting a Black Spring Water Buffalo, they rested and decided to venture farther into the realm.

• Jiang Shu, Shang Jibei, and Zhu Qingyun entered the Heaven and Earth Secret Realm after writing last letters and arrived in the Land of Extreme Cold.
• Jiang Shu killed an Iron-Boned Cold Boar in three exchanges and claimed its tusks, then shared the meat with Shang Jibei and Zhu Qingyun.
• Over the next half month, Jiang Shu and Shang Jibei hunted increasingly powerful Variant Ferocious Beasts while Zhu Qingyun treated their injuries and gathered Heaven and Earth Treasure Medicines.
• The trio defeated a Black Spring Water Buffalo, leaving Shang Jibei and Jiang Shu badly injured, and counted more than five thousand points in total earnings.
• Jiang Shu proposed resting for a few days before pushing deeper into the realm, and Shang Jibei agreed to consider pressing onward.

Jiang Shu stayed behind in the Heaven and Earth Secret Realm after Shang Jibei and Zhu Qingyun left, hoping to find an opportunity amid the battle between two Third-Order Variant Ferocious Beasts. He watched the Leopard-type beast defeat the Tiger-type beast, then saw it rise despite its own severe injuries.

• Jiang Shu refused Shang Jibei and Zhu Qingyun's advice to leave and accepted their binoculars, a Heavy Sword, and the plan to wait at the passage.
• After Shang Jibei and Zhu Qingyun departed, Jiang Shu prepared himself and followed the distant tremors to observe the beasts fighting.
• Jiang Shu recognized that the Leopard-type Exotic Beast might be close to giving birth and cautiously watched from a safe distance.
• The Tiger-type Exotic Beast gained the advantage, badly wounding the Leopard-type Exotic Beast and lunging for its throat.
• The Leopard-type Exotic Beast struck the Tiger-type Exotic Beast with a pillar of ice and tore into it, then rose and planted a paw on its opponent's body.

Jiang Shu tracked the badly wounded Third Order Leopard-type Exotic Beast to its cave and killed it in a fierce fight. He dragged its corpse across realms to the safety of his Pingling County Small Courtyard, leaving the arriving beasts to find only scraps.

• Jiang Shu watched second order Variant Ferocious Beasts swarm the wounded Leopard-type Exotic Beast and waited for it to flee after feeding on the Tiger-type Exotic Beast's flesh.
• Jiang Shu followed the Leopard-type Exotic Beast to its mountain cave and attacked it with his Heavy Sword and Three-Style Blade Technique.
• Jiang Shu stabbed through the Leopard-type Exotic Beast's head and killed it despite being only at Hidden Force and Bone Forging.
• Jiang Shu dragged the Leopard-type Exotic Beast's corpse across realms to his Pingling County Small Courtyard.
• Agile Variant Ferocious Beasts reached the cave and found only blood, white fur, scraps of hide, and shattered flesh.

After returning from the Heaven and Earth Secret Realm, Jiang Shu learned that the Yao Family was pressuring the Hungry Tiger Martial Hall and targeting his spice business. He left Pingling County expecting an ambush, then killed a pursuing martial artist with one strike and questioned whether the man had really reached Bone Forging.

• Jiang Shu ate the third-order leopard beast, advanced his bone tempering, and decided to return to Pingling County rather than immediately revisit the Secret Realm.
• Jiang Shu found Qi Yuan distressed because former apprentices had joined wealthy clans and returned to recruit from the Hungry Tiger Martial Hall; Jiang Shu urged him to keep practicing, and Qi Yuan soon reached Iron Skin.
• Old Man Chou warned Jiang Shu that the Yao Family was testing the martial hall and revealed that he wanted Jiang Shu to prove his strength by delivering a letter; Jiang Shu said he feared no one below Viscera Training.
• Jiang Shu left the Inner City after waiting several days for the Yao Family to act, and a stalker followed him toward the mountains near Sanling Town.
• Jiang Shu abruptly attacked the stalker with Fierce Tiger Leaps Ravine, killing him with one heavy-sword strike, then wondered whether the man had truly been a Bone Forging martial artist.

Jiang Shu killed another Yao Family martial artist, then defeated the Cloud-Treading Ink Leopard and explored the Cold Pool. A lightless, dangerously cold region below the pool forced him to retreat, reminding him that his strength was still limited.

• Jiang Shu looted and burned the Bone Forging Realm martial artist’s remains, then headed toward the Cold Pool rather than venturing to Yongning Prefecture’s city.
• Jiang Shu killed the Cloud-Treading Ink Leopard, harvested its valuable materials, and ate its meat.
• Jiang Shu found the remains of a harvested Heaven and Earth Treasure Medicine on the Cold Pool’s wall and descended farther into the water.
• Jiang Shu entered a pitch-black, intensely cold region beneath the pool, panicked, and escaped back to the surface.
• Jiang Shu reflected that the darkness could kill a Bone Forging Realm martial artist, traveled twenty li to a safe cave, changed into Xia Kingdom clothes, and crossed over.