Recaps

Zhou Chen infiltrated the Clear River Gang headquarters and learned Yin Mengbo planned to abduct a girl from the Zhou Household for his superiors. He ambushed and killed Yin Mengbo and the two women with him, leaving the gang’s headquarters in darkness.

• Zhou Chen crossed the rooftops and discovered the Clear River Gang had taken over the Evil Tiger Gang’s headquarters.
• He overheard Yin Mengbo discuss collecting another girl for the people above and planning to abduct the Zhou Household’s younger sister.
• Zhou Chen posed as a bloodied messenger claiming the Azure Guard had surrounded the gang, then attacked Yin Mengbo.
• Yin Mengbo’s palm broke against Zhou Chen’s punch, and poisonous powder burned his face as Zhou Chen transformed and resisted his iron caltrops.
• Zhou Chen overwhelmed Yin Mengbo with his Wild Bull Fist and smashed him into the ground.
• Zhou Chen killed the two women after they begged him to spare them, and the room went dark.

Zhou Chen's Blood Incense-fueled rampage left several gang members dead, while his martial prowess impressed the Zheng Family Martial Arts Hall. After demonstrating Major Accomplishment in Wild Bull Fist at the First Grade, he earned a larger stipend, Blood-Boiling Powder, and five Blood-Boiling Pills, leaving him poised to polish his Blood Vitality and pursue a breakthrough.

• Zhou Chen, driven by the Blood Incense's murderous urge, killed the two deputy gang leaders and their guards before he lost control.
• Zhou Chen fought evenly with Lian Taoze after Lian Taoze suppressed his strength to First Grade, revealing that Zhou Chen had cultivated Wild Bull Fist to Major Accomplishment.
• Zhang Han, Liu Fei, and Sun Yingying reacted with shock, while Sun Yingying privately doubted Zhou Chen could break through to the Second-Rank Martial Artist realm.
• Lian Taoze praised Zhou Chen and raised his monthly stipend by three taels, adding three portions of Blood-Boiling Powder.
• Master Zheng inspected Zhou Chen's skills and gave him five Blood-Boiling Pills to help him polish his Blood Vitality.
• Second Senior Sister Su Mengyao watched Zhou Chen with curiosity.

Old Zheng suggested that Sun Yingying marry Zhou Chen, but she rejected the idea, and Zhou Chen later accepted an apology from Zhang Han while refusing several recruitment offers. As classes ended, a sinister young man attacked Zhou Chen, and Lian Taoze stepped in to defend him.

• Old Zheng suggested Sun Yingying consider Zhou Chen as a husband, but she refused and stormed away.
• Lian Taoze encouraged Zhou Chen to consider marriage and warned him about the Clear River Gang's destruction; Zhou Chen recalled the money and Wind-Riding Steps manual he had found.
• Zhang Han apologized for his past involvement with Ma Pengcheng and gave Zhou Chen twenty taels, which Zhou Chen accepted.
• Jiang Yan, Wan Yingying, and Chen Feng tried to recruit Zhou Chen, but he declined their offers.
• A sinister young man attacked Zhou Chen near the martial hall, and Lian Taoze blocked the strike and challenged him.

Jiang Tianming confronted Zhou Chen over the deaths of Jiang Qin and Lin Xuan, but Lian Taoze intervened and Zhou Chen talked his way out of suspicion. Jiang Tianming later revealed he had returned to eavesdrop, leaving after deciding Zhou Chen was innocent.

• Jiang Tianming attacked Zhou Chen and demanded to take him back, but Lian Taoze blocked him and defended his junior martial brother.
• Jiang Tianming explained that he suspected Zhou Chen because he returned with Blood-Horned Bear meat on the day Jiang Qin and Lin Xuan died outside the city.
• Zhou Chen claimed he had found and killed an injured, berserk bear, and argued that he could not have killed both people and brought the meat back openly.
• Lian Taoze challenged Jiang Tianming's reasoning, and Jiang Tianming accepted that he had misunderstood Zhou Chen before leaving.
• Lian Taoze warned Zhou Chen that Jiang Tianming might retaliate, then secretly asked whether Zhou Chen had killed Jiang Qin and Lin Xuan; Zhou Chen denied it.
• Jiang Tianming revealed that he had circled back to eavesdrop and said he now believed Zhou Chen was uninvolved before walking away.

After his confrontation with Jiang Tianming, Zhou Chen trained in Wind-Riding Steps and used Blood-Boiling Pills to strengthen himself. The Jiang Household plotted to capture him, and after Zhou Chen’s progress drew Lian Taoze’s attention, he arrived at the Lian Household to meet him.

• Zhou Chen returned home, began studying Wind-Riding Steps, and resolved to grow stronger while preparing for the Jiang Household’s retaliation.
• Jiang Tianming told Jiang Chuan what had happened, and Jiang Chuan ordered a quiet attempt to seize Zhou Chen in a few days.
• Zhou Chen practiced Wind-Riding Steps and consumed Master Zheng’s Blood-Boiling Pills, advancing his technique and cultivation over the following weeks.
• Zhou Chen bought more Blood-Boiling Pills and invested his saved Mist Incense in Wind-Riding Steps, reaching Minor Accomplishment.
• A guard told Zhou Chen that Young Master Lian wanted to see him, so he went to the Lian Household, where Lian Taoze greeted him after Jing Yue left.

Lian Taoze found Zhou Chen three marriage prospects while explaining the troubles facing the Lian Household. After the Cheng Household rejected Zhou Chen and Ding Xian'er insisted he marry into her family, Bai Tangyin remained willing to meet him, and Lian Taoze went to arrange their meeting.

• Lian Taoze showed Zhou Chen portraits of Cheng Xiaoxiao, Ding Xian'er, and Bai Tangyin, and Zhou Chen agreed to consider them as long as he would not marry into his wife's family.
• Lian Taoze told Zhou Chen that Jing Yue was pregnant and that Shen Ao's backing from the new city lord had cost the Lian Household nearly thirty percent of its profits.
• Cheng Xiaoxiao and her father, Cheng Xun, judged Zhou Chen's below-average aptitude a poor fit for their declining household and politely declined the match.
• Lian Taoze criticized the Cheng Household's rejection, while Jing Yue advised him not to take it personally.
• Lian Taoze explained that Ding Xian'er required Zhou Chen to marry into her family, leaving Bai Tangyin as the only willing prospect, and set out to bring Zhou Chen to meet her.

Zhou Chen and Bai Tangyin met and grew fond of each other, but Bai Qingtian rejected their match and planned to marry her to the Second-Rank Martial Artist Li Guiyi. Bai Tangyin was confined to the inner courtyard and decided to keep the situation from Zhou Chen.

• Zhou Chen reflected on the Outer City's political tensions and the Four-Family Alliance's silence while waiting for Bai Tangyin.
• Bai Tangyin met Zhou Chen, and the two talked warmly as she expressed admiration for his perseverance and interest in him.
• Bai Tangyin returned home and told Bai Qingtian about Zhou Chen, but her father rejected the match and said the Bai Household needed a Second-Rank Martial Artist's support.
• Bai Tangyin refused to marry Li Guiyi, and her maid pleaded on her behalf before Bai Qingtian ordered her to be confined and dismissed Zhou Chen as unworthy.
• Bai Tangyin felt helpless and decided not to tell Zhou Chen, believing it would only distress him.

After the Lian Household’s trading firm was sealed, Lian Yuanhong chose to endure the Shen Clan’s pressure, following advice from Master Zheng. Zhou Chen received a rejection from Bai Tangyin, then learned Lian Taoze had found him a residence; he set out to inspect it with a real estate broker.

• Lian Taofei summoned Lian Taoze to a lineage meeting, where Lian Yunfeng revealed that the Shen Clan had sealed the Lian Household’s largest trading firm.
• Lian Yuanhong refused to side with either the New City Lord or the Four-Family Alliance, explaining that Master Zheng had warned him months earlier to stay neutral.
• Zhou Chen returned to Warehouse No. 2 and continued cultivating while worrying about Jiang Tianming.
• Zhou Chen received a letter from Bai Qingtian saying Bai Tangyin had rejected the matchmaking session.
• Lian Taoze told Zhou Chen that a real estate broker had found him a residence, and Zhou Chen told his family he planned to buy it.
• Zhou Yu celebrated the prospect of having her own room, and Zhou Chen left with the real estate broker to view the Flying Bear District residence.

Zhou Chen moved his family into a spacious house in Flying Bear District and received two maids from Lian Taoze. Though he enjoyed their attentive service, he refused their offer to warm his bed, leaving them afraid they had displeased him.

• Zhou Chen bought a house in Flying Bear District, paid fifty taels up front, and moved in with Zhou Tian, Zhang Fang, and Zhou Yu.
• Zhou Yu explored her new room and marveled at its size and large bed.
• Lian Taoze sent Xiao Qing and Xiao Lü to serve Zhou Chen, and Zhou Chen repaid him for their cost.
• Xiao Qing and Xiao Lü helped Zhou Chen wash after his training, and he reminded himself not to let comfort distract him from hard work.
• Xiao Qing and Xiao Lü entered Zhou Chen's room dressed in sheer gauze and offered to warm his bed, but he refused.
• Xiao Qing and Xiao Lü knelt and asked Zhou Chen whether they had done something wrong.

Zhou Chen reassured Xiao Qing and Xiao Lü that he would not demand intimacy from them, while the Black Armor Gang faced pressure from the Jiang Family to provide more untouched women. Zheng Tu ordered a broader investigation into the unknown killer who destroyed the Clear River Gang.

• Zhou Chen explained to the frightened Xiao Qing and Xiao Lü that he only expected them to care for his daily needs and wanted to preserve his virginity.
• Xiao Qing and Xiao Lü discussed their relief and gratitude, then fell asleep, while Zhou Chen regretted refusing their attention but decided to build affection first.
• Zheng Tu told a black-robed Jiang Family member that he had found no likely suspect for the Clear River Gang massacre and had recaptured women the killer had freed.
• The black-robed figure demanded five more untouched women and told Zheng Tu to obtain them by any means.
• After the black-robed figure left, Zheng Tu ordered his men to investigate the killer and hire skilled case-solvers.

Zhou Chen used his accumulated Mist Incense to perfect his First-Rank Skin Tempering Realm and raise Wind-Riding Steps to major accomplishment, greatly increasing his strength. After he left the city to hunt, Jiang Tianming followed him, intent on killing him.

• Zhou Chen spent his silver on Blood-Boiling Pills and hunted strange beasts outside the city to build strength and accumulate Mist Incense.
• Zhou Chen used half his Mist Incense to reach perfection in the First-Rank Skin Tempering Realm, then invested the rest in Wind-Riding Steps.
• Zhou Chen continued hunting and cultivating until Wind-Riding Steps reached major accomplishment, leaving him confident he could face a minor-accomplishment Second-Rank Martial Artist.
• Jiang Tianming arrived at the city gate, watched Zhou Chen leave, and followed him outside, planning to kill him for his sister's sake.

Zhou Chen confronted Jiang Tianming, who had secretly followed him over suspicions about his sister’s death, and used deceptive attacks to wound and poison him. Jiang Tianming forced the darts from his body and roared in fury as the fight continued.

• Zhou Chen detected someone following him and discovered that it was Jiang Tianming.
• Zhou Chen pretended to offer to return with Jiang Tianming and swear to his innocence, then blinded him with poisonous dust.
• Zhou Chen followed the dust with poisoned Money Darts, and Jiang Tianming used his Blood Vitality and a Detoxification Pill to limit the poison’s effects.
• Zhou Chen feigned a fair fight before launching another volley of darts, which burst against Jiang Tianming’s sword and peppered his exposed skin.
• Jiang Tianming forced the darts from his body with his Blood Vitality and roared at Zhou Chen.

Zhou Chen defeated Jiang Tianming in a fight, exposing the gulf between Jiang Tianming’s Second-Rank cultivation and Zhou Chen’s strength despite his First Grade realm. After Jiang Tianming threatened Zhou Chen’s family and begged for his life, Zhou Chen made clear he would not tolerate threats.

• Jiang Tianming attacked Zhou Chen, but Zhou Chen used his mastered leg technique to dodge behind him and smash through his sword with a Golden Skin-enhanced punch.
• Jiang Tianming got back up and fought Zhou Chen for more than twenty moves, but Zhou Chen overwhelmed him and broke his back with another strike.
• Zhou Chen dismissed Jiang Tianming’s strength and reflected on the fight, deciding that his poison needed improvement to affect Second-Rank Martial Artists.
• Jiang Tianming warned that his father would seek revenge and then begged Zhou Chen to spare him, offering to end the dispute and cooperate.
• Zhou Chen stopped before Jiang Tianming and said he hated threats as killing intent filled his eyes.

After killing Jiang Tianming and taking his gold, Zhou Chen infiltrated the Jiang Household to strike first against Jiang Chuan. His Crimson Baleful Transformation let him overwhelm Jiang Chuan’s defenses, but the fight was still underway when the chapter ended.

• Zhou Chen killed Jiang Tianming, searched his body, and took three taels of gold before returning to the city.
• Zhou Chen decided to attack the Jiang Household before they could move against him and spent the day preparing his mist incense.
• At night, Jiang Chuan sensed Zhou Chen hiding on the rafters and hurled a brush through the roof at him.
• Zhou Chen activated Crimson Baleful Transformation, burst into Jiang Chuan’s study, and attacked him with a golden-skinned fist.
• Jiang Chuan’s sword could not penetrate Zhou Chen’s tough skin, and Zhou Chen drove him into the courtyard with a relentless assault.
• Jiang Chuan roared that Zhou Chen should face his next move, as their fight continued.

Zhou Chen killed Jiang Chuan in the Jiang Household and looted his treasures before escaping. Zhao Tianhong’s night patrol arrived afterward, unaware the killer was his own junior martial brother.

• Zhou Chen used his speed and reinforced golden skin to withstand Jiang Chuan’s sword attacks and identify an opening.
• Zhou Chen revealed his mastery of Wild Bull Fist and killed Jiang Chuan with Raging Blood Crashes the Mountain.
• Zhou Chen searched Jiang Chuan’s body, forced the household servants to reveal where his treasures were kept, and escaped with a bundle of loot.
• The Jiang Household’s servants realized the family would soon be destroyed without Jiang Chuan to protect it.
• Zhao Tianhong waited until the fight was over before leading his night patrol into the Jiang Household to clean up, not knowing Zhou Chen was his junior martial brother.

Zhou Chen hid the wealth he had looted from the Jiang Household and returned to cultivating, while Zhao Tianhong used the aftermath of Jiang Chuan’s death to pursue the family’s fortune. At the Nan Family Medicine Shop, Nan Zhiyi discovered Zhou Chen had perfected his blood vitality and was preparing to break through to the second rank.

• Zhao Tianhong investigated Jiang Chuan’s death, identified the killer from a portrait, and ordered the household protected while planning to take some of its wealth.
• Zhou Chen stashed his stolen gold, silver, jewelry, and sword manual in a hidden compartment, bringing his available funds to about a thousand taels of silver.
• Zhou Chen returned to Warehouse No. 2 and decided to buy Blood-Boiling Pills and keep a low profile while suspicion faded.
• At the Nan Family Medicine Shop, Zhou Chen bought thirty Blood-Boiling Pills, and Nan Zhiyi realized he had perfected his blood vitality and was preparing to break through to the second rank.

Amid the Outer City’s growing factional violence, Zhou Chen focused on staying safe and protecting his family while Nan Zhiyi’s friend Bai Liuli urged her household to seize new opportunities. At the martial arts hall, Zhou Chen discovered Ye Lingtian had also perfected his blood and qi, then asked an exhausted Lian Taoze how the Lian Household was faring.

• Nan Zhiyi told Zhou Chen that her family preferred to keep its herbal medicine business steady, and he urged her to stay cautious amid the turmoil.
• Bai Liuli boasted that the Bai Household’s alliance with the New City Lord had increased its profits, then gave Nan Zhiyi’s family access to herb supply contracts.
• The Four-Family Alliance counterattacked the New City Lord’s supporters as fighting and winter hardship left civilians and refugees suffering across the Outer City.
• Zhou Chen bought hot buns for starving children and women before hurrying to the martial arts hall for Lian Taoze’s instruction.
• While sparring, Zhou Chen realized Ye Lingtian had perfected his blood and qi, then asked Lian Taoze how the Lian Household had been doing.

Lian Taoze struggled to keep the Lian Household afloat while Zhou Chen and Ye Lingtian reaffirmed their loyalty, and they learned that Jiang Yan had been crippled in a mission. Shen Ao then recruited disciples for the stronger Shen Clan by showcasing Zhang Shaojiu’s rapid advancement, leaving Lian Taoze unable to match its offers.

• Lian Taoze told Zhou Chen and Ye Lingtian about the Lian Household’s hardships, and both promised not to leave despite its troubles.
• Lian Taoze revealed that Jiang Yan had been crippled and that Wan Yingying was recovering, while Chu Lin practiced alone after leaving the Four-Family Alliance.
• Chu Lin reflected on the dangers of the mission system and resolved to advance more cautiously after seeing Jiang Yan’s condition.
• Shen Ao and Zhang Shaojiu arrived, and Shen Ao mocked Lian Taoze’s cultivation and promoted the Shen Clan’s rewards.
• Zhang Shaojiu displayed his progress toward second rank, prompting two newly initiated disciples to join the Shen Clan for its higher compensation.

Shen Ao celebrated Zhou Chen and Ye Lingtian choosing to remain with Lian Taoze, while Zhou Chen decided to help his senior martial brother against Shen Ao. Elsewhere, a hired investigator concluded that the Clear River Gang and Jiang Household murders might have been committed by someone hiding their strength and ordered Zheng Tu to investigate people with grudges against the victims.

• Zhou Chen and Ye Lingtian turned down Shen Ao’s offer to join the Shen Clan, and Lian Taoze accepted their decision before leaving.
• Shen Ao and Zhang Shaojiu mocked Zhou Chen and Ye Lingtian for choosing friendship over the resources and connections offered by the Shen Clan.
• Zhou Chen resolved to help Lian Taoze because Shen Ao’s hostility was tied to the Flesh Lingzhi, then returned home to cultivate and continued absorbing black mist outside the city.
• The goateed investigator told Zheng Tu that the Clear River Gang and Jiang Household killer may have recently advanced in strength while disguising his physique.
• The investigator urged Zheng Tu to investigate everyone with a grudge against Yin Mengbo or the Jiang Household, and Zheng Tu sent his subordinates to carry out the order.

Zhou Chen continued advancing his cultivation before Zhang Shaojiu visited to recruit him with the promise of a Pure Profound Pill. Zhou Chen refused, and Zhang Shaojiu threatened to force him into submission.

• Zhou Chen burned his accumulated Mist Incense and raised his first-rank skin tempering cultivation to 1890/4000.
• Zhang Shaojiu arrived at Zhou Chen’s quarters and revealed that he had broken through to the second rank with help from a Pure Profound Pill.
• Zhang Shaojiu offered Zhou Chen a chance to earn a Pure Profound Pill if he pledged loyalty to him.
• Zhou Chen declined, explaining that he would not risk leaving his family without support.
• Zhang Shaojiu grew angry and challenged Zhou Chen to exchange moves so he could force him to submit.

Zhou Chen broke through to the Second-Rank Flesh Tempering Realm and discovered that his strength, defenses, digestion, and Mist Incense accumulation had improved. The chapter ended with Bai Tangyin receiving a red-envelope letter.

• Zhang Shaojiu tried to seize Zhou Chen and urged him to join the Azure Guard, but Zhou Chen refused, and Zhang left after threatening the Lian Household.
• Zhou Chen wrote to the Lian Household about Zhang Shaojiu’s threat and continued training for half a month.
• After taking his last Blood-Boiling Pill, Zhou Chen broke through to the Second-Rank Flesh Tempering Realm and reached copper sinew-flesh.
• Zhou Chen tested his increased strength, then ate a large meal and found that he could accumulate six inches of Mist Incense per day.
• A servant brought Bai Tangyin a red-envelope letter, and her maid looked saddened when she saw it.

Bai Tangyin sent Zhou Chen her saved gold and jewelry to support his martial arts practice but concealed that her family had betrothed her to Li Guiyi as a concubine. After Zhou Chen refused the gift, he caught up with Xiao Rou and asked whether something had happened to Bai Tangyin.

• Bai Qingtian arranged Bai Tangyin's betrothal to Li Guiyi in exchange for resources, while Bai Tangyin accepted the arrangement because she felt indebted to the Bai Household.
• Bai Tangyin gave Xiao Rou her savings and asked her to deliver them to Zhou Chen without revealing her plight.
• Xiao Rou delivered the parcel to Zhou Chen, who suspected Bai Tangyin was hiding something but declined to keep the valuables.
• Xiao Rou left in tears and cursed Zhou Chen for not asking more about Bai Tangyin's circumstances.
• Zhou Chen caught up with Xiao Rou and asked her to tell him whether something had happened to Bai Tangyin.

Zhou Chen learned that Bai Tangyin was in trouble because Li Guiyi had arranged an unwanted engagement, and he went to the Li Household to intervene. Li Guiyi readily canceled the engagement and gave Zhou Chen a hundred taels, leaving the matter resolved while they awaited the Bai Household’s reaction.

• Zhou Chen told Xiao Rou he had reached the Second Rank, and she explained Bai Tangyin’s predicament with Li Guiyi.
• Zhou Chen went to the Li Household and asked to speak with Li Guiyi.
• Li Guiyi recognized Zhou Chen’s strength and received him humbly.
• Zhou Chen explained Bai Tangyin’s situation, and Li Guiyi agreed to cancel the engagement and offered an apology.
• Li Guiyi gave Zhou Chen a hundred taels, and the two parted on friendly terms as they waited for the Bai Household’s response.

Bai Tangyin learned that Zhou Chen had reached the second rank and gone to the Li Residence, but she believed she could no longer hope to marry him. After Li Guiyi withdrew the betrothal and sought Zhou Chen’s favor, Bai Qingtian regretted rejecting him and planned to invite him to a banquet; the chapter then shifted to Cheng Xun telling Cheng Xiaoxiao about Zhou Chen.

• Xiao Rou told Bai Tangyin that Zhou Chen had broken through to the second rank and gone to the Li Residence to help her.
• Bai Tangyin worried Zhou Chen would be hurt confronting Li Guiyi, then decided that his new status made her an unsuitable match and proposed inviting him to a banquet instead.
• Bai Qingtian arrived with Li Guiyi’s letter withdrawing the marriage arrangement and apologizing while praising his friendship with Zhou Chen.
• Bai Qingtian admitted his regret and left to invite Zhou Chen to the evening banquet, while Bai Tangyin sat alone in sorrow.
• At the Cheng Household, Cheng Xun asked Cheng Xiaoxiao whether she remembered Zhou Chen, the man she had rejected.

Cheng Xiaoxiao regretted rejecting Zhou Chen after learning he had become a Second-Rank Martial Artist, while Cheng Xun took control of her marriage decisions. At dinner in the Bai residence, Bai Tangyin confessed her feelings to Zhou Chen and kissed him, as Xiao Rou listened outside.

• Cheng Xun told Cheng Xiaoxiao that Zhou Chen had reached the second rank and scolded her for rejecting him.
• Cheng Xiaoxiao regretted her choice, but Cheng Xun forbade her from deciding her own marriage.
• Zhou Chen accepted Bai Qingtian's gold and Blood-Boiling Pills as an apology at the Bai residence.
• Bai Tangyin toasted Zhou Chen and struggled to hide her feelings, while Bai Qingtian arranged for them to be left alone.
• Bai Tangyin asked whether Zhou Chen had feelings for her, then confessed her love and kissed him.
• Xiao Rou heard sounds from inside the room, covered her ears, and then edged closer to listen.