Chapter Summaries

Zhou Chen transformed and brutally killed the Scorpion Brothers, recovering his dignity and looting their money. The next day, he began the painful first stage of the Bone-Eating, Spine-Nurturing Chapter, and an unexpected change occurred as he circulated his blood vitality.

• Zhou Chen transformed into a towering monster and smashed the two Second-Rank Martial Artists into the ground until they died.
• Zhou Chen searched the Scorpion Brothers' corpses, found more than a thousand taels of silver, and left in the rain.
• Zhou Chen read the Bone-Eating, Spine-Nurturing Chapter and cut open his left arm to expose a bone.
• Zhou Chen applied exotic beast blood to his bone and endured intense pain as he closed the wound and circulated his blood vitality.
• An unexpected change occurred while Zhou Chen practiced the cultivation method.

Zhou Chen used Mist Incense to cultivate the Bone-Eating, Spine-Nurturing Chapter as if he were tempering his bones with the blood of the Armor-Bearing Mystic Tortoise, gaining golden runes and greatly enhanced strength and defense. He planned to visit the Thunderclap Blood-Infusion Pool, while a blood-red light and heartbeat accompanied a grisly scene inside the Shen Clan estate.

• Zhou Chen discovered that Mist Incense could advance his cultivation method and imagined tempering his bones with Armor-Bearing Mystic Tortoise blood.
• Zhou Chen used Mist Incense to cultivate the first layer, turning his bones pale gold and causing golden inscriptions to appear.
• Over the following half month, Zhou Chen perfected the first layer and advanced through the second, strengthening his body and reaching the second-rank flesh tempering realm at major accomplishment.
• Zhou Chen tested his new golden bones by striking himself with an iron rod, which bent without injuring him, and decided to visit the Thunderclap Blood-Infusion Pool at daybreak.
• In the Shen Clan estate, several maidservant corpses lay in a room as a blood-red light flickered and a heartbeat sounded from within.

Zhang Shaojiu emerged from cultivating the Crimson Ring Art’s Second Ring as a powerful blood-red monster, and Shen Ao revealed that the city lord planned to use him and another cultivator to destabilize the Four-Family Alliance. After Zhang Shaojiu devoured Chun Yue, he demanded permission to kill Zhou Chen, and Shen Ao gave him a pill to help him pursue Senior Sister Su.

• Shen Ao entered the blood-covered room with Chun Yue and threatened her into silence as Zhang Shaojiu broke out of a cocoon of corpses.
• Zhang Shaojiu revealed his monstrous Second-Ring form, and Shen Ao congratulated him on completing the Crimson Ring Baleful Intent Gestation Scripture.
• Shen Ao offered Chun Yue as food, and Zhang Shaojiu tore her apart and ate her despite her pleas.
• Shen Ao told Zhang Shaojiu that he and another Crimson Ring cultivator would carry out the city lord’s plan to throw the Four-Family Alliance into chaos.
• Zhang Shaojiu asked to kill Zhou Chen after the mission, and Shen Ao agreed and gave him a pill intended to help him win Senior Sister Su.

Zhou Chen entered the Thunderclap Blood-Infusion Pool to temper his muscles and tendons while a Four-Family Alliance caravan secretly fed a drugged monster in a cliff passage. Zhang Shaojiu and a scar-faced man blocked the caravan, and Su Mengyao sensed danger as the two sides prepared to fight.

• Zhou Chen returned to the Mountain Cave, checked that no one had disturbed it, and immersed himself in the Thunderclap Blood-Infusion Pool to temper his body.
• Cheng He, Su Mengyao, and Li Min led a caravan carrying blood-soaked flesh to feed a monster and discussed how a special drug would make it dependent on them.
• Cheng He sensed a heavy breath nearby and revealed a hidden figure by striking stones toward the rocks.
• Zhang Shaojiu and a scar-faced middle-aged man emerged and confronted the Four-Family Alliance group.
• Cheng He and Li Min dismissed the two opponents, but Su Mengyao sensed an ambush and ordered everyone to attack.

Su Mengyao fled from Zhang Shaojiu and another monster after they killed Cheng He and Li Min, but a drug they had forced on her weakened her as she escaped. She hid in a cave and found Zhou Chen tempering his body in a Thunderclap Blood-Infusion Pool, and they recognized each other.

• Su Mengyao escaped through the storm after witnessing Zhang Shaojiu and his companion transform into monsters and kill Cheng He and Li Min.
• Zhang Shaojiu pursued Su Mengyao, confident that the pill he had forced her to swallow would make the chase more enjoyable.
• Su Mengyao grew weak from the pill and hid in a concealed cave to avoid capture and protect the Four-Family Alliance’s secret.
• Su Mengyao recognized the cave’s pool as the legendary Thunderclap Blood-Infusion Pool and saw that Zhou Chen had tempered his body to golden tendon flesh.
• Zhou Chen turned toward Su Mengyao, and they recognized each other as Senior Sister Su and Junior Brother Zhou.

Zhou Chen discovered Su Mengyao had been drugged and learned that Zhang Shaojiu was hunting her with a dangerous accomplice. As two blood-red figures entered the cave, Su Mengyao feared they had arrived to kill them.

• Zhou Chen emerged from the pool after reaching Major Accomplishment as a Second-Rank Martial Artist, and Su Mengyao stared at his unexpected strength.
• Su Mengyao, affected by a drug, tried to cling to Zhou Chen, who gave her drops of his blood to ease the poison.
• Su Mengyao regained some clarity and warned Zhou Chen that Zhang Shaojiu and an accomplice were hunting her.
• Su Mengyao explained that Zhang Shaojiu had learned a terrifying Cultivation Method and could track her scent, but Zhou Chen refused to leave.
• Two blood-red figures appeared at the cave entrance, and Su Mengyao realized they had found her.

Zhang Shaojiu and Brother Luo cornered Zhou Chen and Su Mengyao in a mountain cave, where Zhang threatened Zhou Chen and his loved ones. Zhou Chen revealed his Golden Seal Indestructible Body by withstanding Zhang’s attack, leaving Zhang furious and Su Mengyao stunned.

• Zhang Shaojiu and Brother Luo found Zhou Chen and Su Mengyao in the cave, and Zhang mocked Zhou Chen while threatening to kill him.
• Su Mengyao warned Zhou Chen to escape and offered to hold off both pursuers, but Zhou Chen stepped in front of her.
• Zhou Chen called Zhang Shaojiu trash, enraging Zhang and prompting him to threaten Zhou Chen’s family and attack.
• Zhang Shaojiu’s talons snapped against Zhou Chen’s chest, which was protected by his Golden Seal Indestructible Body.
• Zhou Chen brushed away the marks and mocked Zhang for attacking weakly, while Su Mengyao stared at him in disbelief.

Zhang Shaojiu transformed into a powerful blood-scaled monster and attacked Zhou Chen, only to find his first strike unable to penetrate Zhou Chen's defenses. When Zhang Shaojiu and the centipede-scarred man attacked together, Zhou Chen caught both their fists and revealed that he could transform too.

• Zhang Shaojiu transformed into a towering, blood-scaled monster and taunted Zhou Chen while Su Mengyao warned that his strength had surged.
• Zhang Shaojiu slashed Zhou Chen with his extended claws, but Zhou Chen's golden-patterned skin repelled the attack and shattered his nails.
• Zhang Shaojiu accused Zhou Chen of being an impostor, then ordered the centipede-scarred man to attack with him after the man transformed as well.
• Zhang Shaojiu and the centipede-scarred man struck together, and Zhou Chen caught both of their fists without moving.
• Zhou Chen told Zhang Shaojiu that he was not the only one who could transform.

Zhou Chen transformed and killed Zhang Shaojiu and his companion after they attacked Su Mengyao. When he asked Su Mengyao why she had come to the Outer City, she kissed him before answering.

• Zhou Chen grew into a hulking form, caught Zhang Shaojiu and the other man's fists, and broke their arms.
• Zhou Chen pummeled Zhang Shaojiu and the man with his Wild Bull Fist techniques, killing them.
• Zhou Chen returned to normal and asked Su Mengyao why she had come to the Outer City and why Zhang Shaojiu's group had targeted her.
• Su Mengyao kissed Zhou Chen, wrapped her arms around his neck, and pushed him to the ground.

Zhou Chen suppressed Su Mengyao’s rampaging blood vitality during a night together, then left before she woke. He returned to Black City after reaching Second-Rank Flesh Tempering Realm perfection, while Su Mengyao realized her Miasma Poison had vanished and hurried to report Tian Xuanwu’s actions.

• Zhou Chen found Su Mengyao’s blood vitality dangerously unstable and suppressed it by spending the night with her.
• The next morning, Zhou Chen left the cave before Su Mengyao woke and discovered that absorbing her Mist Incense had raised his cultivation past six thousand.
• Zhou Chen reached Second-Rank Flesh Tempering Realm perfection and headed back to Black City.
• Su Mengyao woke, remembered Zhou Chen had saved her, and reflected that she could not bring herself to blame him.
• Su Mengyao discovered that the Miasma Poison in her body had disappeared, wondered if Zhou Chen was responsible, and set off to report Tian Xuanwu’s actions to her family.

Su Mengyao returned to the Su Household and warned Zhou Chen that violence was about to erupt in the Outer City, while offering to shelter his family. After Nan Zhiyi invited him to the Moonlit Pavilion, Zheng Tu emerged from seclusion at third-rank perfection and ordered his men to find Zhou Chen.

• Su Mengyao told Su Hongdong that she had escaped the beast and reported the losses from their mission, while concealing Zhou Chen's role in saving her.
• Su Hongdong said the Four-Family Alliance's plan against Tian Xuanwu was nearly ready, and Su Mengyao later sent Zhou Chen a warning and offered protection for his family.
• Zhou Chen burned Zhang Shaojiu's Crimson Ring Art, hid the gold, and considered how to obtain more Mist Incense to advance his cultivation.
• Xiao Lü gave Zhou Chen Nan Zhiyi's invitation to meet at the Moonlit Pavilion, and he agreed to go.
• Zheng Tu emerged from seclusion after reaching third-rank perfection and ordered his followers to find Zhou Chen so he could kill him.

Zhou Chen met Nan Zhiyi for dinner at the Moonlit Pavilion, where Nan Yunyang arranged for them to be alone. Afterward, Zhou Chen took Nan Zhiyi by the hand toward a deserted garden, leaving her flustered about what he intended.

• Nan Yunyang welcomed Zhou Chen warmly and praised his success in becoming a Second-Rank Martial Artist.
• Nan Yunyang left the private room and ordered the staff to keep everyone off the second floor so Zhou Chen and Nan Zhiyi could be alone.
• Nan Zhiyi told Zhou Chen that Bai Liuli’s family had suffered serious losses and passed along Bai Liuli’s thanks.
• Nan Zhiyi suggested that she and Zhou Chen take a walk after dinner, and Zhou Chen agreed.
• Zhou Chen lifted Nan Zhiyi over a hole in the road, then noticed she was acting strangely.
• Zhou Chen took Nan Zhiyi’s hand and led her toward a deserted garden, leaving her flustered by his invitation to go somewhere with no one around.

Zhou Chen brought Nan Zhiyi into an abandoned garden to protect her from Zheng Tu, who had been following them. After Zheng Tu revealed his strength and threatened them, Zhou Chen tried to poison him and then launched Money Darts, leaving the fight underway.

• Zhou Chen led Nan Zhiyi behind a rockery, then kicked a stone into a tree to expose the person hiding there.
• Nan Zhiyi recognized the newcomer as Zheng Tu, the Black Armor Gang's Gang Leader, and warned Zhou Chen that he was a powerful Third-Rank Martial Artist.
• Zheng Tu accused Zhou Chen of killing Yin Mengbo and threatened to kill him and assault Nan Zhiyi.
• Zhou Chen denied killing Yin Mengbo and invoked his appointment by the Su Household and the danger of internal conflict against Tian Xuanwu.
• Zheng Tu spotted Zhou Chen scattering Poison Powder and retreated, but Zhou Chen followed by firing several Money Darts at his vulnerable spots.

Zhou Chen combined Crimson Baleful Transformation with Golden Seal Indestructible Body to withstand Zheng Tu’s powerful palm strike. He then unveiled a newly fused technique and launched Blood Bull Shakes the Mountain at Zheng Tu.

• Zheng Tu attacked Zhou Chen with Blood Sea Palm Technique-Great Vow Blood Seal, but Zhou Chen evaded the strike with his perfected leg technique.
• Zheng Tu used Spirit Bird Technique-Flying Crane Movement to catch Zhou Chen and struck him with Blood Sea Palm Technique-Sever the Meridians, Cut Off the Blood Flow.
• Nan Zhiyi feared Zhou Chen had been killed, but he emerged transformed and blocked Zheng Tu’s palm with his forearms.
• Zheng Tu recognized that Zhou Chen’s blood vitality now rivaled his own and vowed to kill him, while Zhou Chen prepared to test his strength.
• Zhou Chen fused Wild Bull Fist with Golden Seal Indestructible Body and attacked Zheng Tu with Black Tortoise Aspect-Blood Bull Shakes the Mountain.

Zhou Chen and Zheng Tu fought fiercely, with Zheng Tu’s attacks failing to overcome Zhou Chen’s resilience and healing. After Zhou Chen declared Zheng Tu the first person ever to hurt him, an eerie smile appeared on the statue in the black mist space in his mind.

• Zheng Tu countered Zhou Chen’s punch with Blood Sea Palm Technique-Blood Spirit Worships the Moon, then detonated his blood vitality with Blood Explosion to break their clash.
• Zheng Tu charged again, and he and Zhou Chen fought beneath the night sky as Nan Zhiyi watched, stunned and increasingly excited by Zhou Chen’s savage side.
• Zheng Tu discovered that Zhou Chen’s golden runes neutralized most of his attacks, while Zhou Chen’s punches and kicks caused him severe pain.
• Zheng Tu struck Zhou Chen’s chest and tore his muscles, but Zhou Chen stopped the bleeding and began healing before declaring Zheng Tu the first person ever to hurt him.
• The statue resembling Zhou Chen in the black mist space in his mind seemed to lift the corners of its mouth into an eerie smile.

Zhou Chen killed Zheng Tu after stopping him from escaping, then approached Nan Zhiyi, who was excited by his strength and appearance. Nan Zhiyi began to confess what she wanted to do, but her words trailed off.

• Zheng Tu tried to escape by using a sound attack to disorient Zhou Chen, but Zhou Chen seized his ankle and dragged him back.
• Zhou Chen slammed Zheng Tu into the ground, then punched through his chest and crushed his head.
• Zhou Chen walked over to Nan Zhiyi and asked whether he had frightened her.
• Nan Zhiyi told Zhou Chen that she thought he looked handsome and began to say what she wanted to do.

Zhou Chen rewarded his subordinates and returned to the Zheng Family Martial Arts Hall to hear Master Zheng explain the upcoming Flesh-Cutting Tournament. The tournament would include new rival schools, and Master Zheng was weighing Zhao Tianhong’s chances when a disciple rushed in with urgent news.

• Zhou Chen reviewed the district’s tax income, ordered the Nan Household’s taxes reduced, and gave Wang Shuisheng Blood-Boiling Pills and Powder to distribute as rewards.
• Wang Shuisheng told Zhou Chen that Master Zheng had summoned everyone to discuss the Flesh-Cutting Tournament, and Zhou Chen prepared to attend.
• At the Zheng Family Martial Arts Hall, Master Zheng explained that the tournament would include the Clearwind Sword Monastery and Black Dragon Sect, as well as strong competitors Jiang Qingshu and Ding Bing.
• Master Zheng praised Zhao Tianhong’s progress and suggested he could contend for victory, while overlooking Zhou Chen’s cultivation.
• A disciple stumbled into the hall and shouted that something terrible had happened.

Zhou Chen and the Zheng Family Martial Arts Hall learned that Ba Yong had killed Jiang Qingshu and badly wounded Yang De, then went to the Plum Rain Martial Hall to see the Clearwind Sword Monastery challenge Ding Bing. As Ding Bing and Liu Ao prepared to fight, a blood-soaked object was thrown onto the platform.

• A disciple reported that Ba Yong of the Black Dragon Sect had killed Jiang Qingshu and beaten Yang De despite being only a second-rank martial artist with a born horizontal body training physique.
• Old Zheng reassured Zhao Tianhong, while Zhou Chen privately judged that Ba Yong was no match for him.
• Old Zheng led Zhou Chen and the others to the Plum Rain Martial Hall after hearing that the Clearwind Sword Monastery's prodigy had challenged Ding Bing.
• Liu Ao asked Ding Bing about accepting a suitor who defeated her, and she rejected him as too ugly before they took their places on the platform.
• As Ding Bing and Liu Ao prepared to fight, a blood-soaked object was hurled onto the platform.

The Black Dragon Sect’s Ba Yong brought Yang De’s severed head into the arena, and Liu Ao fought Ding Bing after the two men boasted over who would claim her. Liu Ao revealed overwhelming sword force and shattered Ding Bing’s saber, but just as his sword threatened her face, a figure appeared and punched at its edge.

• Ba Yong arrived with Yang De’s severed head, and Su Sheng declared that Yang De had paid for attacking his prized disciple.
• Ba Yong and Liu Ao argued over Ding Bing and agreed that the loser of the upcoming Flesh-Cutting Tournament would withdraw.
• Ding Bing and Liu Ao exchanged blows, and Liu Ao’s attack snapped the tie holding her veil and exposed her face.
• Liu Ao used sword force to break Ding Bing’s saber and overwhelm her with his Wind Rises, Wind Falls technique.
• As Liu Ao’s sword continued toward Ding Bing’s face, an unidentified figure appeared in front of her and punched at the blade.

Zhao Tianhong stepped in to fight Liu Ao, but Liu Ao crippled his right arm and nearly struck him down. Just as Liu Ao’s next attack was about to land, Zhou Chen appeared and blocked it, leaving everyone stunned.

• Zhao Tianhong interrupted Liu Ao’s duel with Ding Bing and challenged him while Liu Ao was weakened.
• Zhao Tianhong boosted his blood vitality and tried to trap Liu Ao’s sword, but Liu Ao used sword fingers to shatter his right arm.
• Liu Ao evaded Zhao Tianhong’s counterattack and pursued him, while Old Zheng was held back by Zhang Qiyuan and Su Sheng.
• Liu Ao aimed a disabling strike at Zhao Tianhong’s waist, but a golden fist suddenly blocked his sword fingers.
• Zhao Tianhong recognized his rescuer as Junior Brother Zhou, and the watching disciples gaped in shock.