Recaps

After Zhou Chen returned to the martial hall, Lian Taoze explained how Miasma Poison hindered martial cultivation and revealed that Inner City families used costly Taisui Meat to limit its effects. Zhou Chen learned that even Black Taisui Meat was worth ten thousand taels of silver and asked whether Master Zheng had bought it.

• Zhou Chen returned to the martial hall, where disciples greeted him warmly after his breakthrough, and Lian Taoze took him to the waterside pavilion to discuss martial cultivation.
• Shen Ao told Sun Yingying that he had a fortuitous opportunity that might let him acquire Copper Sinew-Flesh.
• Lian Taoze warned Zhou Chen that Miasma Poison from food could obstruct meridians, weaken cultivation, and prevent advancement, so Martial Warriors should avoid Black Meat and limit Gray Meat.
• Lian Taoze explained that Miasma Poison kept Outer City martial artists from reaching the Fourth-Rank, while Inner City families used methods to expel it and fed talented descendants Taisui Meat.
• Zhou Chen learned that Black Taisui Meat cost ten thousand taels of silver per jin and asked Lian Taoze whether Master Zheng had bought the meat.

Zhou Chen learned about the Flesh-Cutting Tournament and the cultivation resources needed to advance, then accepted a warehouse guard post with the Lian Household. Lian Taoze secured him three extra monthly doses of Blood-Boiling Powder after Lian Yunfeng warned that Azure City’s arrival was putting the Outer City under pressure.

• Lian Taoze explained that the Flesh-Cutting Tournament determined the Outer City’s flesh-cutting quota and could offer a path into the Inner City, then described Gongsun Wuyang’s success and the Third Senior Brother’s preparations.
• Zhou Chen learned that cultivating Golden Skin could cost at least a thousand taels, and Lian Taoze offered him a warehouse guard post with five taels and ten jin of white meat each month.
• After considering other offers, Zhou Chen chose the Lian Household, learned the Wild Bull Fist, and registered to guard Warehouse Number Two in Qingtian District.
• Lian Taoze asked Lian Yunfeng to grant Zhou Chen five extra doses of Blood-Boiling Powder each month, but Lian Yunfeng refused, citing the Lian Household’s costs and the growing danger from Azure City.
• Lian Yunfeng relented and approved three extra doses per month for Zhou Chen.

Zhou Chen began guarding Warehouse No. 2 alongside Du Ruming and accelerated his cultivation by spending heavily on Blood Deer meat and Blood-Boiling Powder. After a month of progress and witnessing Du Song give up on martial arts, Zhou Chen used his accumulated Mist Incense to seek another boost from the Divine Statue.

• Lian Taoze told Zhou Chen he was getting married and brought him to Warehouse No. 2, where Chen He recognized Zhou as a newly promoted Martial Warrior.
• Du Ruming welcomed Zhou as his new fellow guard, showed him the warehouse and its procedures, and Chen He led him to his new residence.
• Zhou Chen sold his old residence, began eating Blood Deer meat, and used Blood-Boiling Powder to improve his training despite the expense.
• A month later, Du Song confessed his disappointment at failing to achieve Initiation and planned to run a sesame-cake stall with Cui'er.
• Zhou Chen saw his Wild Bull Fist and Skin Tempering progress on his panel, then lit the three chi of accumulated Mist Incense and called on the Divine Statue for experience points.

Zhou Chen reached minor accomplishment in Wild Bull Fist and killed a medicine rat threatening the warehouse, showing the force of his training to his subordinates. The chapter ended with Du Ruming reacting in astonishment to the news.

• Zhou Chen advanced Wild Bull Fist to minor accomplishment and considered reporting his progress to Master Zheng for greater support.
• Zhou Chen led a warehouse patrol and reminded Chen He and the others to guard against fire, medicine rats, and the Seven-Step Fragrance Mist Monster.
• A medicine rat attacked Zhou Chen, but he dodged its bite and killed it with one Wild Bull Fist strike.
• Zhou Chen ordered Chen He to dispose of the rat and sell its valuable parts.
• Chen He told Du Ruming that Zhou Chen had killed the medicine rat with one punch, and Du Ruming stared at Zhou Chen in disbelief.

Zhou Chen uncovered Du Ruming’s scheme to smuggle out medicinal herbs and frame him, then caught Chen He delivering a sack at the back gate. Chen He was left terrified when he saw Zhou Chen waiting to receive it.

• Du Ruming and Old Li discussed how they had falsified the storeroom accounts to frame Zhou Chen for the inferior herbs.
• Du Ruming ordered Chen He to smuggle out another batch of medicinal herbs and planned to defect to the Shen Clan once the thing in the storeroom matured.
• Chen He entered the warehouse through a hidden vent, took a sack of herbs, and carried it toward the back gate.
• Chen He handed the sack to the waiting receiver, only to see that Zhou Chen had taken it.
• Chen He fell to the ground in fear and stammered at Zhou Chen.

Zhou Chen exposed Chen He’s theft of medicinal herbs and learned that Du Ruming was behind it. Du Ruming tried to recruit him, but Zhou Chen tricked and defeated him, revealing his mastery of fist arts and Copper Skin.

• Zhou Chen caught Chen He stealing medicinal herbs, stopped his escape with Blood Bull Charge, and forced him to name Du Ruming as the mastermind.
• Du Ruming appeared and offered Zhou Chen a share of the profits, help covering the accounts, and guidance in exchange for cooperation.
• Zhou Chen pretended to accept Du Ruming’s offer and invited him to Clearwind Tower, then blinded him with a pouch of poisonous powder.
• Du Ruming drew his saber and swung blindly, but Zhou Chen struck his chest with a fist that broke his ribs and sent him crashing through a courtyard wall.
• Du Ruming realized Zhou Chen had reached minor accomplishment in fist arts and appeared to have tempered his skin to Copper Skin.

Zhou Chen killed Du Ruming and the others who knew about the Flesh Lingzhi, then secretly took the matured treasure for himself. He covered up the killings as an attempt to stop Du Ruming's theft and organized the warehouse's response.

• Du Ruming revealed that a Flesh Lingzhi had grown in the storeroom and threatened Zhou Chen with Shen Ao's backing, so Zhou Chen snapped his neck.
• Chen He told Zhou Chen where the Flesh Lingzhi was hidden and asked him to protect his family's reputation, then took his own life; Zhou Chen staged his death as a murder and killed the unconscious Zhao Yong.
• Zhou Chen noticed that killing Du Ruming had lengthened the Blood Incense, killed Old Li to keep the Flesh Lingzhi secret, and searched the bodies and Du Ruming's residence for money.
• Zhou Chen found the matured Flesh Lingzhi in the storeroom, captured it with iron chopsticks, and sealed it in an iron box.
• Zhou Chen sounded the highest-alert gong and told the gathered workers that Du Ruming and Zhao Yong had stolen medicinal herbs and murdered Chen He, then ordered them to inventory the storeroom and report to the Lian Household.

Zhou Chen killed Du Ruming after uncovering his theft from Storehouse Number Two, earning a reward and increased Blood-Boiling Powder from the Lian Household. The Lian elders praised his extraordinary comprehension but doubted his future because of his inferior innate aptitude, while worrying that Lian Taofei’s favor at the Plum Rain Martial Hall might bring trouble.

• Zhou Chen discovered that Du Ruming had stolen more than a thousand taels from Storehouse Number Two and that Old Li had helped falsify the accounts.
• A servant told the Lian Household that Zhou Chen had killed Du Ruming and brought back the account books and corpses.
• Lian Yunfeng rewarded Zhou Chen with twenty taels and three extra packets of Blood-Boiling Powder each month after learning he had reached Minor Accomplishment in the Wild Bull Fist in just over twenty days.
• Lian Yunfeng and Lian Yunhe discussed Zhou Chen’s inferior aptitude and the limits it might place on his cultivation.
• Lian Yunhe said Lian Taofei’s growing favor with the Plum Rain Martial Hall’s master might not be a good thing.

Lian Yunfeng warned Lian Yunhe that Azure City's refugees and the appointment of a new Outer City Lord could upend the Lian Household's fortunes, urging caution amid the coming struggle. Meanwhile, Zhou Chen rescued an old woman and her granddaughter from the Li and Shang families' violent procession, then noticed a carriage that caught his attention.

• Lian Yunfeng told Lian Yunhe that Black City's lords planned to settle Azure City's refugees in the Inner and Outer Cities and appoint a new Outer City Lord.
• Lian Yunfeng predicted that the new lord would recruit talented Martial Warriors such as Xiao Fei, while Lian Yunhe weighed the risks of pledging allegiance.
• Lian Yunfeng advised the Lian Household to avoid taking sides until the conflict between the Four-Family Alliance and the new lord became clearer.
• Zhou Chen saw the Li and Shang families' procession terrorize Outer City residents as it charged through the streets.
• Zhou Chen pulled an old woman and her granddaughter out of the path of a fast horse, then helped them leave safely.
• After the procession splashed him with mud again, Zhou Chen noticed a carriage that drew his gaze.

Zhou Chen witnessed the arrival of Azure City's people and learned that Black City faced growing pressure from the Heaven-Breaking Sect, then strengthened himself with flesh reishi and discovered the power of Crimson Baleful Transformation. He continued training, determined to grow stronger amid the coming turmoil.

• Zhou Chen saw a mysterious woman in a luxurious carriage enter Black City and realized the Heaven-Breaking Sect might soon attack.
• The woman ordered her followers to kill the riders who had run down civilians, then remarked that the world resembled the cultivation era from a thousand years earlier.
• Zhou Chen ate the flesh reishi and used the Coiling Python Stance Technique to temper his skin to pale gold and reach First-Rank Skin Tempering Realm (Minor Accomplishment).
• Zhou Chen lit the blood incense and triggered Crimson Baleful Transformation, gaining more than double his strength, speed, and defense before returning to normal without side effects.
• Zhou Chen resumed the Stake-Standing Exercise while the courtyard guards praised his diligence.

Zhou Chen returned to the Zheng Family Martial Arts Hall as its disciples discussed a new City Lord’s inauguration banquet and whether to choose sides. He revealed that his Wild Bull Fist had reached Minor Accomplishment in just over a month, impressing Old Zheng, who still worried that Zhou Chen’s limited physique would constrain his future.

• Zhou Chen saw Zhang Shaojiu receive praise for reaching Minor Accomplishment in his fist technique and spoke with Ye Lingtian about the upcoming banquet and their plans for the Eldest Senior Brother’s wedding gift.
• Old Zheng announced that disciples could register to attend the new City Lord’s inauguration banquet, while making clear that the Zheng Family Martial Arts Hall would not choose sides.
• Zhang Shaojiu and other disciples registered to attend, while Su Mengyao, Lian Taoze, Ye Lingtian, and Zhou Chen stayed out of the rush.
• Zhou Chen approached Old Zheng to report his progress rather than register, and demonstrated his Wild Bull Fist after revealing it had reached Minor Accomplishment.
• Old Zheng praised Zhou Chen’s rapid progress and compared his talent favorably with Zhao Tianhong’s, but regretted that Zhou Chen’s natural physique could limit his martial arts future.

Zhou Chen used Ma Pengcheng’s plan to hire an assassin as a reason to lure him into a secluded alley and attack him with pufferfish poison. The poison blinded Ma Pengcheng, and when he tried to fight back, his fists shattered against Zhou Chen, leaving their confrontation unresolved.

• Old Zheng praised Zhou Chen’s fist technique and granted him another three months of Qi-Blood Soup.
• Sun Yingying and Shen Ao dismissed Zhou Chen’s prospects, while Ma Pengcheng grew fearful of his talent and decided to hire someone to kill him.
• Zhou Chen intercepted Ma Pengcheng, feigned an apology, and gave him Qi-Blood Powder and the promise of Qi-Blood Soup to gain his trust.
• Zhou Chen led Ma Pengcheng into a secluded alley and hurled a pufferfish poison sac into his eyes, then warned him that water would intensify the poison.
• Ma Pengcheng charged with Wild Bull Fist’s Raging Blood Crashes the Mountain, but his fists shattered against Zhou Chen, revealing Zhou Chen’s overwhelming strength.

Zhou Chen tested his Golden Skin against Ma Pengcheng, then killed him and took a concealed-weapons manual. Back at home, he reunited with his family and discovered the manual taught verbal tricks for lowering an opponent’s guard.

• Zhou Chen revealed his Golden Skin and Crimson Baleful Transformation, then killed Ma Pengcheng with a single punch.
• Zhou Chen searched Ma Pengcheng’s corpse, took a booklet and silver, and destroyed the body to hide evidence of the Wild Bull Fist.
• Zhou Chen returned home and shared a warm reunion with Zhang Fang, Zhou Tian, and Zhou Yu, who gave him a handmade pouch.
• Zhou Chen hid the silver and read the Record of Concealed Blades, learning about poison techniques and verbal methods for deceiving opponents.

Zhou Chen continued preparing for danger as the New City Lord’s arrival stirred up the Outer City and Ma Pengcheng’s death cleared him of suspicion. The chapter ended with Zhang Shaojiu publicly rejecting and striking a woman who had trusted his promise to return for her.

• Zhou Chen made concealed sleeve weapons and coin darts, then kept practicing martial arts as the New City Lord took office.
• The New City Lord’s policies and arriving allies unsettled Outer City factions, while the Four-Family Alliance remained silent.
• Master Zheng ruled that a powerful Martial Warrior had killed Ma Pengcheng, clearing Zhou Chen and dismissing Ma Pengcheng’s grieving parents.
• Ye Lingtian told Zhou Chen that Shen Ao and Zhang Shaojiu had pledged themselves to the New City Lord, who was demanding profits and participation in the Flesh-Cutting Tournament.
• A woman came to see Zhang Shaojiu, but he slapped her, denied his old promise, and sent her away as the disciples watched.

Zhou Chen attended Lian Taoze’s wedding banquet, where he met prominent guests and learned that Zhao Tianhong was nearing a breakthrough. After two months of intense training, Zhou Chen stood on the verge of advancing his Skin Tempering Realm and used Mist Incense to attempt the breakthrough.

• Ye Lingtian warned Zhou Chen that Black City would remain dangerous and introduced several notable guests at Lian Taoze’s wedding banquet.
• Zhao Tianhong arrived, revealed that his Blood Vitality had reached Perfection, and said he might soon break through to Third-Rank Martial Artist.
• Lian Taofei thanked Zhou Chen for uncovering the Warehouse No. 2 shortages, then left to greet other guests.
• Lian Taoze toasted Zhou Chen and Ye Lingtian before being called away to attend to other guests.
• Zhou Chen devoted himself to martial training for two months and raised his First-Rank Skin Tempering Realm progress to 1871/2000.
• Zhou Chen ignited a foot of Mist Incense and shouted for a breakthrough.

Zhou Chen reached First-Rank Major Accomplishment and considered taking a covert Night Patrol Bureau post to explore the Black Flesh Forest and earn money. Meanwhile, Yin Mengbo learned Zhou Chen had a younger sister and decided to use her to draw him into a feud.

• Zhou Chen broke through to First-Rank Major Accomplishment after spending most of his silver on cultivation, and planned to improve his Wild Bull Fist next.
• Zhou Chen encountered Qin Feng on patrol, and Qin Feng explained that a covert Night Guard post would let him enter and leave Black City to seek opportunities in the dangerous Black Flesh Forest.
• Zhou Chen decided to visit the Night Patrol Bureau about taking a side post, hoping to explore beyond the city and gather Mist Incense.
• Yin Mengbo's concubine demanded vengeance for her brother Zhang Mingfei, whom she accused Zhou Chen of killing.
• Yin Mengbo learned Zhou Chen had a younger sister and resolved to avenge Zhang Mingfei by targeting Zhou Chen and his sister.

Zhou Chen obtained a Night Guard Token and supplies from the Night Patrol Bureau, where he briefly encountered Su Mengyao. After discovering that the Clear River Gang planned to abduct his sister, he killed the man spying on him and resolved to confront the gang despite its strength.

• Zhou Chen registered at the Qingtian District branch of the Night Patrol Bureau, paid five taels, and bought a Mist-Repelling Lantern and lamp oil.
• Zhou Chen encountered Su Mengyao, who noticed his Blood Vitality had reached First-Rank Major Accomplishment but doubted he could break through to Second-Rank.
• Zhou Chen realized a young man was following him, lured him into an alley, and forced him to reveal that Yin Mengbo had ordered him to spy.
• The young man revealed that the Clear River Gang intended to kill Zhou Chen and abduct his younger sister.
• Zhou Chen killed the spy and burned with anger at the Clear River Gang, though he knew Yin Mengbo and the gang's deputy leader were still stronger than he was.

Zhou Chen decided to seek a faster way to cultivate Wild Bull Fist after sensing danger, then attended training and revealed that he had reached First-Rank Major Accomplishment. As Zhao Tianhong demonstrated his Major Accomplishment fist technique, Jiang Yan, Wan Yingying, and Chu Lin approached Zhou Chen and Ye Lingtian.

• Zhou Chen planned to leave the city to test whether absorbing Black Mist could speed up his Mist Incense cultivation.
• Zhou Chen met Ye Lingtian at the martial arts hall, where Ye was astonished that Zhou Chen had reached Major Accomplishment in Blood Vitality.
• Zhou Chen observed that poorer disciples had made little progress and that Chu Lin appeared pale and had lost Blood Vitality.
• Zhao Tianhong arrived to guide the disciples, and Zhou Chen sparred with Ye Lingtian while sensing that Ye was still holding back.
• Zhao Tianhong noticed Zhou Chen's breakthrough, and Zhou Chen explained his rapid progress by crediting Qi-Blood Soup and rewards from the Lian Household.
• Jiang Yan, Wan Yingying, and Chu Lin approached Zhou Chen and Ye Lingtian as Zhao Tianhong demonstrated his Major Accomplishment Wild Bull Fist.

Jiang Yan and Wan Yingying tried to persuade Zhou Chen and Ye Lingtian to leave the Lian Household and join the Four-Family Alliance, but both refused. Their choice came into focus when Shen Ao and Zhang Shaojiu marched past with the Azure Guard, while the city’s factions continued drawing people to their sides.

• Jiang Yan and Wan Yingying explained the Outer City’s growing factional tensions and urged Zhou Chen and Ye Lingtian to join the Four-Family Alliance for better resources and opportunities.
• Zhou Chen and Ye Lingtian declined, saying they owed their posts to Eldest Senior Brother and did not want to abandon the Lian Household.
• Jiang Yan, Wan Yingying, and Chu Lin left, and Wan Yingying complained that the two had missed a chance to advance.
• Ye Lingtian warned Zhou Chen that turmoil might soon break out in the city, while Zhou Chen focused on growing strong enough to face the Clear River Gang.
• Shen Ao and Zhang Shaojiu led about a hundred Azure Guard soldiers past the martial hall, and Zhang Shaojiu was startled to see Zhou Chen had reached First-Rank Major Accomplishment.
• Jiang Yan praised Zhang Shaojiu’s success as an example of seizing opportunities, prompting some watching disciples to reconsider which side to join.

Zhou Chen watched the Lian Household lose retainers to rival factions, prepared for his first trip outside Black City, and studied a handbook on Mist Monsters. The next morning, his mother rushed in pale and frightened to tell him something terrible had happened.

• Zhao Tianhong saw the disciples split between factions and praised Zhou Chen and Ye Lingtian for remaining loyal to the Lian Household.
• Lian Taoze silently watched the Lian Household retainers fraternize with other factions before nodding to Zhou Chen and Ye Lingtian and leaving.
• Qin Feng told Zhou Chen that he was being transferred because many Martial Warriors had left the Lian Household for better-paying factions.
• Zhou Chen prepared supplies for his trip beyond Black City, read about Mist Monsters, and went to sleep.
• The next morning, Zhou Chen's mother entered his room pale and frightened and said something terrible had happened.

After learning that City Lord Tian had wiped out the Evil Tiger Gang, Zhou Chen suspected the purge was aimed at political rivals and decided his family needed to move closer to the Inner City. He left Black City to test whether he could gather Mist Incense faster outside its walls.

• Zhang Fang told Zhou Chen that the Evil Tiger Gang and several neighboring households had been slaughtered overnight.
• City Lord Tian’s men announced that the gang had been eliminated to protect the people, and the crowd praised the new city lord.
• Zhou Chen realized the purge targeted the Four-Family Alliance’s allies and decided his family should relocate closer to the Inner City.
• Zhou Chen presented his Night Guard Token and joined the Martial Warriors leaving through the city gate.
• Zhou Chen entered the Black Flesh Forest, examined a blood-filled writhing branch, then extinguished his lantern to test whether he could accumulate Mist Incense faster outside the city.

Zhou Chen absorbed Black Mist to strengthen himself, then saved Jiang Qin and killed a Blood-Horned Bear for a promised share of its remains. Lin Xuan offered him only ten percent after Jiang Qin disputed the agreement.

• Zhou Chen discovered that the Divine Statue converted Miasma Poison into Mist Incense and began training outside the city while eating dried Blood Deer meat.
• A mysterious fat man noticed that some Black Mist had vanished from his balance but dismissed the loss.
• Zhou Chen found Lin Xuan and Jiang Qin fighting a Blood-Horned Bear and rescued Jiang Qin from its corrosive blood attack.
• Lin Xuan promised Zhou Chen half the beast's bones and meat if he helped kill it, and Zhou Chen pursued the wounded bear.
• Zhou Chen killed the Blood-Horned Bear with a single Wild Bull Fist strike and met Lin Xuan and Jiang Qin at its corpse.
• Jiang Qin objected to giving Zhou Chen half the spoils, and Lin Xuan offered him ten percent instead.

Zhou Chen killed Jiang Qin and Lin Xuan after they tried to rob him, then brought the Blood-Horned Bear’s remains back to the city to sell. At the gate, he noticed merchants buying materials and Nan Zhiyi complaining to her father about having to help.

• Zhou Chen activated Crimson Baleful Transformation and charged at Jiang Qin after Lin Xuan and Jiang Qin threatened him.
• Zhou Chen shattered Jiang Qin’s sword, punched through her chest, and tore her body apart.
• Lin Xuan begged Zhou Chen for mercy, but Zhou Chen crushed his head and disposed of both bodies in the forest.
• Zhou Chen extinguished the Blood Incense, found a little over ten taels of silver on the two corpses, and packed the Blood-Horned Bear’s meat and bones for the city.
• At the city gate, Zhou Chen saw merchants buying materials and noticed Nan Zhiyi complaining to her father about being made to come along.

Zhou Chen sold Blood-Horned Bear meat to Nan Yunyang and accepted a paid nominal position at the Nan Family Medicine Shop. After Nan Zhiyi flirted with him, he left for his final warehouse shift while reflecting on his attraction to her and remembering Yin Mengbo.

• Nan Yunyang and Nan Zhiyi spotted Zhou Chen’s Blood-Horned Bear meat, and Nan Yunyang bought it for more than thirty taels of silver.
• Nan Yunyang asked Zhou Chen to serve as a nominal Martial Warrior for the Nan Family Medicine Shop, and Zhou Chen accepted five taels of silver per month in converted wages.
• Nan Yunyang paid Zhou Chen his first allowance, and Zhou Chen told him to leave messages at the Zheng Family Martial Arts Hall or Lian Household Warehouse No. 2.
• Nan Zhiyi squeezed Zhou Chen’s arm to feel his muscles, and Nan Yunyang pulled her away as she blushed.
• Zhou Chen said goodbye to Nan Yunyang and Nan Zhiyi, then suppressed his growing attraction to Nan Zhiyi when he thought of Yin Mengbo.

Jiang Tianming concluded that his sister and Lin Xuan had disappeared outside the city and began searching for whoever had returned with Blood-Horned Bear meat. After more than twenty days of training, Zhou Chen advanced Wild Bull Fist to Major Accomplishment and set out to kill Yin Mengbo.

• Jiang Tianming learned that his sister and Lin Xuan had left the city but had not returned, and suspected they had met with disaster.
• A gate guard withheld seeing someone bring back Blood-Horned Bear meat, advising his subordinate not to get involved.
• Jiang Tianming decided to question Martial Warriors one by one and vowed to punish whoever was responsible for his sister's disappearance.
• Zhou Chen continued training and patrolling while Tian Xuanwu's Azure Guard subdued gangs in the Outer City, though the Clear River Gang expanded under Black Armor Gang protection.
• Zhou Chen ignited his accumulated Mist Incense and advanced Wild Bull Fist to Major Accomplishment.
• Zhou Chen headed toward the Clear River Gang to kill Yin Mengbo.