Recaps

Zhao Er handed Wu Xing the manuals and Human-Skin Masks he had found, then returned from the mountain range with the White Marten. On the way, he detected an ambush and killed the attackers with his Twin Iron Halberds.

• Zhao Er gave Wu Xing the manuals and Human-Skin Masks and told him who the two disguised men had been.
• Wu Xing took the evidence to complete his mission, promised Zhao Er a share of the benefits, and left.
• Zhao Er gathered the transparent nets, left the pools of poisonous slime untouched, and started back with the White Marten.
• Near the outskirts of the Mountain Range, Zhao Er spotted traps and dodged them as a spear-wielding attacker emerged.
• Zhao Er killed the first spearman with Heavy Halberd and skewered a second attacker despite a spear thrust against his Copper Body.
• Zhao Er hurled his Twin Iron Halberds after the fleeing saber wielder, impaling him and piercing two trees.

Zhao Er killed three ambushers, then discovered that the pills he had taken from them included a Detoxification Pill that threatened to disperse the yin toxin in his blood. Wu Xing investigated Zhao Er’s unusual poisonous blood and learned he had killed a powerful martial artist with it; after recovering and testing the stolen pills, Zhao Er was visited by Wu Xing.

• Zhao Er killed three coordinated attackers in an instant, took their belongings, and used toxin to dissolve their bodies before leaving.
• The ambushers’ branch leader and his subordinates arrived, mistook the toxin-dissolved corpses for victims of Corpse-Dissolving Water, and realized too late that the substance was poisoned.
• Zhao Er returned to his courtyard, found pills from both sets of attackers, and swallowed a Detoxification Pill that began dispersing the yin toxin in his blood, so he tried to vomit it up.
• Wu Xing asked Dian Zhang about the Five Poisons Art and confirmed that Zhao Er had poisoned a martial artist at greater mastery of sinew transformation to death.
• Zhao Er recovered, learned to identify common pills and poisons, and found a corrosive toxin among the stolen supplies that could help him fight tough variant beasts.
• Wu Xing came to see Zhao Er while he was cultivating.

After Wu Xing paid Zhao Er for helping expose two Caiyuan Sect members, Zhao Er returned most of the silver to build goodwill and received valuable intelligence about variant beasts. He planned to seek new poisons before entering the Mountain Range and approached Sun Yuanying, whose appraisal of a spider silk sac prompted him to offer another item.

• Wu Xing told Zhao Er that the Caiyuan Sect members had been identified, gave him fifteen hundred taels from their seized spoils, and warned him about the strength needed to enter the Martial Academy or become a Martial Guard.
• Zhao Er suggested turning the Manor House into an inn, then returned five hundred taels to Wu Xing, who gave him intelligence slips listing five variant beasts near town.
• Zhao Er recognized that the Witch Toad and Tranquilizing Giant Bee could provide useful toxins, but decided to absorb the Red-Patterned Poison Spider's Poison Gland before venturing into the mountains.
• Zhao Er contacted Sun Yuanying to ask about the Witch Toad and brought her the spider's Silk Sac and Transparent Nets; she arrived quickly and valued the Silk Sac at fifty taels.
• Zhao Er took out another item after Sun Yuanying appraised the Silk Sac.

Zhao Er sold the Transparent Nets to Sun Yuanying and learned that the Sun Family's Witch Toad hunt had gone wrong, while the Sun Family Head gave Sun Yuanying Jade Lingzhi to support her breakthrough. A month later, as Zhao Er focused on absorbing poison, the factions grew increasingly tense ahead of the Grand Exam, with resources, breakthroughs, and nighttime violence escalating.

• Zhao Er sold his remaining Transparent Nets to Sun Yuanying, then learned the Witch Toad hunt was no longer her responsibility and heard her warning about missing martial artists and the Red Tiger Gang.
• Sun Yuanying told the Sun Family Head that her Fourth Uncle and the hunting party had not returned; he refused to send another party and gave her Jade Lingzhi to help her break through.
• Zhao Er decided to absorb the Red-Patterned Poison Spider's Poison Gland before entering the mountains again, and a month passed.
• As September arrived, the four major factions grew more desperate to secure resources and a top-three place in the Grand Exam.
• Reports spread of spirit materials, breakthrough attempts, and faction preparations, while deadly fights increasingly broke out in the city at night.

Zhao Er learned that the Sun Family’s missing hunting party was connected to a Martial Academy Steward and decided to investigate the Witch Toad. After he entered the Mountain Range, news of Sun Yuanying’s breakthrough triggered plots among the County Town’s powers.

• Zhao Er finished absorbing the Red-Patterned Poison Spider’s toxins and weighed hunting the Mind-Calming Giant Bees or the Witch Toad.
• Sun Yuanying visited Zhao Er, revealed that the Sun Family’s Witch Toad hunting party had disappeared, and offered the toad’s location in exchange for an investigation.
• Zhao Er showed Sun Yuanying a note from a Martial Academy Steward, and she left after realizing the disappearance involved forces beyond the Sun Family’s reach.
• Zhao Er concluded that the Witch Toad was the better target, packed his gear, and entered the Mountain Range with the White Marten.
• News of Sun Yuanying’s breakthrough to the Sinew Transformation Realm spread, and rival powers ordered investigations and plans to test or cripple her.

Zhao Er found the Witch Toad’s swamp hollow and used Blackwater Strange Serpent Toxin to lure it into attacking, then killed it and collected its valuable parts. Before leaving the swamp with his haul, he found and buried the corpse of a Sinew Transformation Realm martial artist and took a Sun Family short saber.

• Zhao Er reached the swamp and used his remaining Blackwater Strange Serpent Toxin to poison the Witch Toad’s water and draw it out.
• Zhao Er resisted the Witch Toad’s toxin, caught its tongue, and killed it with his halberd and powerful kicks.
• Zhao Er collected the Witch Toad’s toxin and dismantled it, packing its skin, essence blood, organs, and meat.
• Zhao Er found a Sun Family short saber in the mud and discovered a skeleton and the corpse of a Sinew Transformation Realm martial artist nearby.
• Zhao Er buried the corpse, marked the spot, and left the swamp with White Marten and his supplies.

After Sun Yuanying warned Zhao Er that the Sun Family could no longer buy his goods, he sought a new buyer and met Steward Zhang of the Green Mountain Merchant Association. Zhang offered 1,300 taels for Zhao Er’s Witch Toad parts, leaving Zhao Er skeptical of the association’s claim to fair dealing.

• Zhao Er returned from the Mountain Range and learned from Sun Yuanying’s note that the Sun Family had stopped buying variant beast materials and that his dealings might draw dangerous attention.
• Zhao Er decided to approach Zhao Cai, but Zhao Cai arrived first with Steward Zhang of the Green Mountain Merchant Association.
• Steward Zhang explained that the major factions knew of Zhao Er’s transactions and offered either paid hunting work or a partnership that charged a thirty-percent commission.
• Zhao Er rejected the hunting-work option and showed Zhang the Witch Toad parts, keeping its essence blood and venom for himself.
• Steward Zhang offered 1,000 taels for the Witch Toad hide and 300 for the remaining parts, and Zhao Er mocked the association’s promise of willing buyers and sellers.

After selling a Witch Toad to the Green Mountain Merchant Association, Zhao Er discovered that Yuchan Toad Venom let him cultivate comfortably as his poison resistance absorbed it. The leaked sale drew a crowd of attackers to his courtyard, where four intruders were poisoned and immobilized while more martial artists entered.

• Zhao Er accepted Steward Zhang’s offer of thirteen hundred taels for the Witch Toad, and Steward Zhang secretly ordered the sale publicized to pressure him into becoming a regular supplier.
• Zhao Er swallowed undiluted Yuchan Toad Venom, and his level 2 poison resistance absorbed some of it while he used the rest to temper his body.
• The Green Mountain Merchant Association’s leak and a Red Tiger Gang martial artist’s claim that Zhao Er was only in the Bone Tempering Realm drew numerous attackers to his courtyard.
• The Sun Family Head refused Sun Yuanying’s request to warn Zhao Er, judging that helping him could endanger the family.
• Four Bone Tempering Realm martial artists entered Zhao Er’s courtyard and became poisoned and unable to control their bodies as he continued cultivating.
• Three more martial artists sprang into the courtyard after the first four failed to return.

Zhao Er used Yuchan Toad Venom to immobilize martial artists who entered his courtyard, then killed the Red Tiger Gang deputy leader in a direct fight and cut down the trapped attackers. After gaining strength from the settlement and looting the bodies, he heard someone approaching his bloodied courtyard.

• The Red Tiger Gang deputy leader sent a newly promoted martial artist into Zhao Er's courtyard, where the lackey became immobilized like the others.
• The deputy leader charged into Zhao Er's cultivation chamber, but Yuchan Toad Venom slowed his Qi-Blood and movements.
• Zhao Er counterattacked with his Twin Iron Halberds, killed the deputy leader, and struck down eight immobilized martial artists.
• The remaining onlookers fled, and Zhao Er received experience and skill points from the settlement.
• Zhao Er absorbed the settlement's power, looted the dead, and called out when he heard someone approaching.

After the Prefectural Office guards removed the bodies from Zhao Er’s courtyard, Zhao Er reassured Zhao Da and gave him Witch Toad Essence Blood to help with his breakthrough, while revealing how dangerous his poison-based cultivation had become. Elsewhere, Green Mountain Merchant Association president Yan Tao stripped Steward Zhang of his authority after his scheme against Zhao Er failed; as Zhao Cai and others approached to repair the courtyard, Zhao Er prepared to receive them.

• Prefectural Office guards silently collected the bodies from Zhao Er’s courtyard and left without explanation.
• Zhao Da and Ning Mu visited Zhao Er, and Ning Mu apologized for keeping Zhao Da from learning about the attack sooner.
• Zhao Er gave Zhao Da Witch Toad Essence Blood and revealed that his poison cultivation made him deadly to anyone who came into contact with his blood or poison.
• Yan Tao told Steward Zhang that the Green Mountain Merchant Association would punish him for his failed plan against Zhao Er, and rejected his proposal to incite others against Zhao Er.
• Ning Mu arranged for the courtyard to be cleaned, and Zhao Er spotted Zhao Cai arriving with people he said would repair it.

Zhao Er accepted compensation from Yan Tao and learned more about the County Town's factions, while the Red Tiger Gang considered how to handle him. With his house repaired and the immediate danger settled, Zhao Er resumed cultivation to test whether Yuchan Toad Venom could ease the pain of the Nine-Turn Golden Body Art.

• Zhao Er rejected Yan Tao's bait about competing for a top-three Grand Exam place and said he had other aspirations.
• Yan Tao apologized for the Green Mountain Merchant Association's role in leaking news of their transaction, paid Zhao Er five hundred taels, and promised to repair his house and dismiss Zhang Bin.
• Zhao Er questioned Yan Tao about the County Town's factions and learned that the sinew transformation martial artist he had killed was the Red Tiger Gang's deputy leader.
• Red Tiger heard about Yan Tao's visit and reviewed Zhao Er's history, deciding that Zhao Er might become a threat before the Grand Exam.
• The craftsmen repaired Zhao Er's house, and he resumed cultivating to find out whether Yuchan Toad Venom could reduce the pain of the Nine-Turn Golden Body Art.

Zhao Er endured a painful Nine-Turn Golden Body Art session, then visited Dian Zhang at the Martial Pavilion and obtained the hidden-weapon technique Starry Scatterhand. After discovering that opponents were learning the Tortoise-Breath Technique to guard against poison, Zhao Er practiced using Starry Scatterhand to launch toxin-laced Ice Needles.

• Zhao Er cultivated the Nine-Turn Golden Body Art with Yuchan Toad Toxin and yin qi, finding that the toxin intensified his perception of the pain instead of easing it.
• Zhao Er visited the Martial Pavilion, where Dian Zhang told him martial artists had bought the Tortoise-Breath Technique to resist toxins.
• Zhao Er asked Dian Zhang for a hidden-weapon cultivation method and received Starry Scatterhand, along with advice about more advanced ways to wield weapons.
• Zhao Er returned to his courtyard, added Starry Scatterhand to his panel, and practiced forming and launching Ice Needles with it.
• Zhao Er found that the Ice Needles could carry corrosive toxins and began devising ways to use them against opponents despite their efforts to block poison.

Zhao Er improved Starry Scatterhand and learned that the Red Tiger Gang’s leader, Red Tiger, was a former outer sect disciple of the Clear Source Sect. As Red Tiger headed north to ambush a bone tempering martial artist, an unseen challenger confronted him and appeared on a rooftop.

• Zhao Er upgraded Starry Scatterhand and tested its Ice Needles, which pierced through his wooden window.
• Sun Yuanying visited Zhao Er, recognized her fourth uncle’s saber, and heard where Zhao Er had reburied his corpse.
• Sun Yuanying warned Zhao Er that the other town factions were pushing him toward a clash with the Red Tiger Gang.
• Sun Yuanying revealed that Red Tiger had likely been an outer sect disciple of the Clear Source Sect and described his speed and saber skills.
• Red Tiger left the gang headquarters at night and headed north, where a voice called out and drew him into a saber clash.
• An unknown challenger appeared on a rooftop and taunted Red Tiger for using the Clear Source Sect’s tricks.

Dian Zhang forced Red Tiger to postpone his attack on Zhao Er for two months, but Zhao Er fled into the mountains to avoid him. A month later, Zhao Er began using yin toxin and Yuchan Toad Toxin to temper his internal organs and attempt the Sinew Transformation Realm.

• Dian Zhang confronted Red Tiger and secured his promise not to attack Zhao Er personally for two months.
• Zhao Er packed his poisons, materials, and weapons and went deep into the Mountain Range with Little White Marten.
• Three Sinew Transformation martial artists from the Red Tiger Gang entered Zhao Er's empty courtyard, while other factions' lookouts watched them.
• A month later, Zhao Er separated the toxins in his body and prepared to begin visceral tempering in a cave north of town.
• Zhao Er guided yin qi, Yuchan Toad Toxin, and blood-energy force into his kidneys, then circulated them through his internal organs as the process consumed much of his qi-blood.

Zhao Er broke through to the Sinew Transformation Realm and discovered that his strengthened organs could absorb toxins to cultivate automatically. While traveling through the yellow miasma toward the Tranquilizing Giant Bees, he was ambushed at night, and his halberds failed to kill the attacker.

• Zhao Er reached the Sinew Transformation Realm, tested his increased strength, and found he could reinforce an Ice Needle with his force.
• White Marten returned with a rusty longsword, and Zhao Er packed up and set out to seek Tranquilizing Giant Bee toxin.
• Zhao Er entered the yellow miasma and discovered its toxin flowed directly to his liver; swallowing Yuchan Toad Venom sent it to his kidneys.
• Zhao Er guided residual toxins into his organs and realized they could strengthen continuously without dedicated cultivation.
• White Marten warned Zhao Er of an ambush, and Zhao Er swung both Iron Halberds at the attacker, but they did not kill it.

Zhao Er survived a deadly fight with a Rockhide Tiger by poisoning it, then killed it and harvested its essence blood. After absorbing the blood, he discovered that doing so greatly increased his Essence Reaping Art experience.

• Zhao Er's halberd strike failed to pierce the Rockhide Tiger, and the beast pinned him and clamped its jaws around his head.
• Zhao Er flooded the tiger with corrosive toxins until it released him, then held onto its tail as it dragged him through the woods and injected it with yin toxin and Yuchan Toad Toxin.
• White Marten bit the tiger's ear while Zhao Er weakened it, and Zhao Er poured Yuchan Toad Venom into its mouth before killing it.
• Zhao Er retrieved his weapons, butchered the tiger, kept its hide, essence blood, bones, and tiger whip, then roasted some meat.
• Zhao Er smeared the tiger's essence blood over himself and drank the remainder, recovering from his injuries and gaining 180 Essence Reaping Art experience.

Zhao Er discovered that Tranquilizing Giant Bee venom caused unbearable pain when injected but was mild and nourishing when swallowed, so he spent a month harvesting it in the Peach Blossom Forest. He left with a supply of venom and headed home, intending to use it against Red Tiger.

• Zhao Er ate and packed Rockhide Tiger meat, then traveled through the woods until he found a peach grove filled with Tranquilizing Giant Bees.
• Zhao Er let one bee sting him to test its venom, then was stung by two more and collapsed from pain that overwhelmed his senses.
• Zhao Er collected the three bees and swallowed their venom glands, discovering that the venom was mild when ingested and accumulated in his heart.
• Zhao Er learned to use wind-carried Yuchan Toad Toxin to incapacitate bees and spent a week capturing lone bees and small swarms.
• Zhao Er found the enormous hive but avoided attacking it, then left the Peach Grove after a month with bee venom and set off toward home to use it on Red Tiger.

Zhao Er tested ways to make Tranquilizing Giant Bee Venom take effect, then returned to the city and secretly studied Red Tiger’s routines. After discovering the Red Tiger Gang was watching his courtyard, Zhao Er hid on Red Tiger’s roof to prepare his next move.

• Zhao Er tested the venom on wild boars and found it worked when delivered through an Ice Needle or into an existing wound, while combining it with corrosive poison caused a delayed effect.
• Zhao Er left the woods disguised by his ragged clothes and the Rockhide Tiger hide, drove away merchants with his aura, and entered the city without approaching his courtyard.
• Zhao Er watched Red Tiger’s headquarters at night and identified Red Tiger while he instructed a young martial artist, then withdrew and continued scouting over the next two days.
• Zhao Er learned that Red Tiger kept a regular schedule and that the Red Tiger Gang was surveilling Zhao Er’s courtyard, so he decided to act.
• Zhao Er entered Red Tiger’s courtyard, hid on the roof, and listened as Red Tiger advised a disciple about the coming Grand Exam and the importance of combat-ready saber techniques.

Zhao Er assassinated Red Tiger with poisoned halberds, escaped the ensuing commotion, and returned to the mountains before the killing became known. Back in Zhao Family Village, his family waited for him as Zhao Shan struggled with her lessons and hurried out to greet him.

• Zhao Er poisoned Red Tiger in his room, wounded him with a halberd, and killed him with a final blow as gang members arrived.
• Zhao Er escaped the Red Tiger Gang, learned his skills had gained experience, and reflected on keeping his poison methods secret.
• After news of Red Tiger's assassination spread, Zhao Er returned to the mountains and kept a low profile.
• At the Zhao Family home, Zhao Shan complained about studying while Zhang Xuan'e reminded her that Zhao Er wanted her to learn.
• When the family heard that Zhao Er had returned, Zhao Shan and Zhang Xuan'e rushed toward the door.

Zhao Er returned to the county town after visiting his family, where he sold the Rockhide Tiger’s remains and received a peace offering from the Red Tiger Gang. By accepting the Light Swallow Art and silver, he settled their feud and could focus on cultivation and the Martial Academy.

• Zhao Er promised the village chief he might arrange martial arts instruction for the village’s young people, then spent two days at home with his parents and Zhao Shan.
• Zhao Er returned to the county town and asked Ning Mu to buy metal and find a craftsman to forge two iron halberds.
• Yan Tao bought the Rockhide Tiger’s hide, leg bones, and tiger whip from Zhao Er for three thousand taels.
• Sun Yuanying asked Zhao Er whether he had killed Red Tiger, then explained that Red Tiger’s former deputy had sent a peace offering through her.
• Zhao Er opened the box, found two hundred-tael silver notes and the Light Swallow Art, and accepted the gifts to settle the misunderstanding.

Zhao Er learned the Light Swallow Art and discovered that Hundred-Forged Fine Iron greatly accelerated his cultivation of the Nine-Turn Golden Body Art. As Ning Mu arranged to buy more iron for him, Zhao Er revealed that he had reached the Sinew Transformation Realm, leaving Zhao Da stunned.

• Sun Yuanying told Zhao Er that the Qian Family planned a banquet for promising young martial artists, but Zhao Er refused to attend.
• Zhao Er studied the Light Swallow Art, tested its increased leaping ability and quiet movement, and practiced until its proficiency rose to 23/80.
• Ning Mu delivered metal to Zhao Er, including Hundred-Forged Fine Iron, which he used to cultivate and greatly increase his Nine-Turn Golden Body Art experience.
• After learning that the Hundred-Forged Fine Iron cost fifty taels per piece, Zhao Er gave Ning Mu two thousand taels to buy more for his cultivation.
• Zhao Da revealed that he had reached the Bone Tempering Realm, and Zhao Er told him that he had broken through to the Sinew Transformation Realm, shocking Zhao Da.

Zhao Er broke through to the third layer of the Nine-Turn Golden Body Art, gaining a silver body and discovering its Fine-Gold Energy trait. He began testing how the energy could enhance weapons before visiting Dian Zhang for the promised surprise.

• Zhao Er told Zhao Da and Ning Mu that his breakthrough to the Sinew Transformation Realm would not draw much attention, then left to see Dian Zhang.
• Zhao Er gave Dian Zhang the silver he had received from the Red Tiger Gang, and Dian Zhang inferred that Zhao Er had killed Red Tiger and could qualify as a Martial Guard.
• Zhao Er spent a month cultivating in his courtyard while the county town grew busy with the autumn mountain season.
• Zhao Er broke through to the third layer of the Nine-Turn Golden Body Art and discovered that its Fine-Gold Energy could be expelled as a projectile.
• Zhao Er’s panel identified Fine-Gold Energy as a level trait that could blend only with things of the metal attribute, and he found that it increased the sharpness of his halberds.

Zhao Er received the next three layers of the Nine-Turn Golden Armor Art and a high-grade halberd technique from Dian Zhang, then began cultivating them while preparing for the Grand Exam. The chapter ended with Zhao Da and Ning Mu sharing news of her pregnancy and wondering whether Zhao Er had sent them away to protect them from his poison.

• Zhao Er tested his new Hundred-Forged Fine Iron twin halberds and found he could not merge Fine-Gold Energy with his toxins.
• Dian Zhang gave Zhao Er the fourth through sixth layers of the Nine-Turn Golden Armor Art and the Golden Metal Sky-Rending Halberd, asking him to return before leaving for Ningjin Prefecture for a favor.
• Zhao Er read the manuals, saw the Nine-Turn Golden Body Art rise to gold grade and the halberd art register as yellow grade, then began studying the halberd technique.
• Zhao Da and Ning Mu visited Zhao Er and told him that Ning Mu was pregnant, making him an uncle.
• Zhao Er ushered Zhao Da and Ning Mu out of his courtyard, and Ning Mu suggested that he had done so to keep them away from his poison, leaving Zhao Da troubled.

Zhao Er visited Hundred Herbs Hall and learned that Zhao Xiaohu planned to risk joining Medicine King Valley rather than return to farming or endure martial training. After spending time with his family, Zhao Er resumed training, and half a month later the Grand Exam arrived.

• Zhao Er visited Hundred Herbs Hall, met Zhao Xiaohu, and offered to hire a martial artist to teach the younger generation in Zhao Family Village.
• Zhao Xiaohu refused to return to the village and said he wanted to join Medicine King Valley, where Zhao Cai explained he could be recruited because of his spirit blood.
• Zhao Xiaohu told Zhao Er that Laitou had died after serving as the Wang Family's young master's training dummy and attempting a breakthrough.
• Zhao Xiaohu said he could not endure martial training or return to farming, and Zhao Er accepted his choice; Zhao Cai promised to give the Medicine King Valley referral profits to Zhao Xiaohu's father.
• Zhao Er's parents and younger sister visited him, and the family later gathered at Zhao Da's courtyard in the Ning Family estate.
• Zhao Er returned to training, and after half a month of rain and cooling weather, the Grand Exam arrived.

Zhao Er delayed taking the Grand Exam preliminary test so he could keep training, then arrived the next day as his brother Zhao Da described the leading contestants and his own upper-D result. After Sun Yuanying earned an upper-A result by throwing the two-thousand-jin stone lock six times, Zhao Er stepped up to attempt it himself.

• Zhao Er refused to wait in line on the first day, so Zhao Da went ahead to gather information while Zhao Er trained.
• Zhao Da picked up Zhao Er the following afternoon and told him that eight contestants had earned grade A and that Zhao Da himself had received upper D.
• Zhao Er and Zhao Da arrived at the testing grounds, where spectators discussed contestants and Zhao Da warned Zhao Er away from the betting pools.
• Sun Yuanying lifted and threw the two-thousand-jin stone lock six times, earning an upper-A result.
• When the examiner called his name, Zhao Er passed the lighter stone locks and gripped the two-thousand-jin stone lock as the crowd watched.