Chapter Summaries

After arriving in Great Xuan Kingdom, Ji Xiu struggled to survive as a household slave while protecting his younger sister, Ji Wei. When a runaway horse endangered the Lin Residence’s Second Miss, Ji Xiu used a mysterious Dao Talisman to tame it and glimpsed a path toward gaining power.

• Ji Xiu refused Ji Wei’s suggestion that he sell her and promised to keep her from starving, then went to serve at the Lin Residence.
• Qin Biao warned the new servants that the Lin family could punish them harshly and demonstrated his strength by shattering a stone stele with his whip.
• The Lin Residence’s Second Miss arrived as her horse, Thousand Mile Snow, charged through the gates and threatened to trample her and the servants.
• Ji Xiu leapt onto the runaway horse and brought it under control, shocking Qin Biao and the Second Miss.
• Ji Xiu realized that his Primordial Dao Talisman had activated Horsemanship, granting him a chance to tame horses and advance his abilities.

Ji Xiu discovered that the Dao Register had granted him beginner horsemanship, enabling him to tame Thousand Mile Snow and save Lin Ruyue from danger. Grateful, Lin Ruyue ordered his transfer to the stables to care for her horse, and Qin Biao agreed to take him there.

• Ji Xiu realized the Dao Register had advanced his horsemanship to beginner level, making him able to calm Thousand Mile Snow.
• Qin Biao ordered Ji Xiu off the horse, but Ji Xiu apologized to Lin Ruyue when she arrived.
• Lin Ruyue approached Thousand Mile Snow and saw that it was gentle; Ji Xiu suspected the horse had been drugged with something like a Saffron Pill.
• Lin Ruyue ordered Qin Biao to transfer Ji Xiu to the stables as Thousand Mile Snow's groom and reward him with silver.
• Qin Biao praised Ji Xiu's luck, sent the other servants back to work, and offered to escort him to the stables.

Ji Xiu began work in the Lin Residence stables, where Old Yao tried to burden him with the East Stable’s horses while keeping the useful work and profits for himself. Ji Xiu used his horse-taming skill to make rapid progress and resolved to pursue the Martial Dao once he received Lin Ruyue’s promised reward.

• Qin Biao brought Ji Xiu to the stables and warned Old Yao that Ji Xiu had been personally chosen by Lin Ruyue and was his equal in rank.
• Old Yao decided to make Ji Xiu fail, then assigned him more than twenty fine horses in the East Stable while reserving the apprentices for cleaning manure.
• Ji Xiu accepted Old Yao’s arrangement politely and saw that his Horsemanship skill could improve through repeated horse-taming attempts.
• Ji Xiu tended the horses through the night and raised his Horsemanship progress to 26/1000.
• Ji Xiu planned to repay the cost of advancing Horsemanship and then ask Qin Biao about the Martial Dao.

Ji Xiu demonstrated extraordinary horsemanship at the Lin Residence, mastered the skill and gained the Waist-Horse Unity trait. With his reward money and confidence growing, he set out to meet Qin Biao and seek a way to practice martial arts.

• Yao Shi discovered Ji Xiu had calmly exercised and fed the East Stable’s horses, and he fetched Old Yao to witness it.
• Ji Xiu explained how Old Yao could improve the horses’ feeding and exercise, and Old Yao accepted his skill and began helping him.
• Ji Xiu’s horsemanship advanced to mastery, granting him the Waist-Horse Unity trait and enhancing his strength during horse stances and Pile Stance.
• Old Yao secretly gave Ji Xiu several eggs and reflected that the young servant might have the potential to become an Entering the Ranks martial man.
• Ji Xiu remembered Lin Ruyue’s five-tael reward and set off to meet Qin Biao to ask how he could begin practicing martial arts.

Ji Xiu learned that martial arts were tightly controlled and costly, but Qin Biao pointed him toward a reclusive instructor who might offer a chance to learn. The chapter left Ji Xiu determined to seek out Duantou Duan and face his test.

• Qin Biao warned Ji Xiu that teaching or circulating martial arts without authorization was a capital crime and that ordinary schools charged more than Ji Xiu could afford.
• Qin Biao explained that most poor students could not afford proper instruction or the costs of training, and that learning martial arts rarely changed a person’s fate.
• Ji Xiu insisted on pursuing martial arts and offered Qin Biao a piece of silver for guidance, but Qin Biao refused to take it.
• Qin Biao told Ji Xiu that some elderly martial instructors might teach for a few taels of silver, then described a skilled one-armed man surnamed Duan who tested prospective students.
• Ji Xiu memorized the directions to Duantou Duan’s home east of the county and resolved to seek him out.

Ji Xiu visited Duantou Duan to seek martial training and faced a trial on the Plum Blossom Stakes. His Waist-Horse Unity let him pass impressively, and Duantou Duan produced the Heaven River Saber manual.

• Ji Xiu brought gifts to Duantou Duan’s residence and asked to train under him.
• Duantou Duan examined Ji Xiu and initially dismissed him as too frail for martial arts.
• Duantou Duan tested Ji Xiu’s horse stance and stake walking on the Plum Blossom Stakes.
• Ji Xiu held his stance for a quarter-hour and swiftly crossed the stakes twice without falling.
• Duantou Duan recognized Ji Xiu’s natural Waist-Horse Unity and showed him the Heaven River Saber manual.

Ji Xiu offered his last savings to Duantou Duan for the Heaven River Saber and agreed to serve in his household while learning it. After receiving the manual, Ji Xiu discovered that his Primordial Dao Talisman could advance the saber technique once his horsemanship was complete.

• Duantou Duan explained that the Heaven River Saber contained knowledge of Saber Force and demanded payment for the manual.
• Ji Xiu offered six taels and seven mace and promised to work for Duantou Duan to cover any shortfall.
• Ji Xiu revealed that he was a Lin Residence groom with Slave Status and had only his younger sister for family.
• Duantou Duan accepted the money, set Ji Xiu a work schedule, and gave him the Heaven River Saber manual.
• Ji Xiu's Primordial Dao Talisman registered the Heavenly River Saber Manuscript and said the technique could be advanced once his horsemanship was complete.

Ji Xiu completed his Horsemanship training and used the ordination register to advance the Heavenly River Saber Technique, gaining a saber wielder’s memories and mastering the technique. He left with his new skill while Yao Shi was shaken by the sharpness in his eyes.

• Ji Xiu finished tending the horses and saw that his Horsemanship had reached 1000/1000.
• Ji Xiu reflected on his exhausting routine and his lack of progress practicing the saber.
• Ji Xiu advanced the Heavenly River Saber Technique and experienced memories of a saber wielder who had mastered it through relentless practice.
• Ji Xiu saw that he had gained saber calluses and sharp eyes, and the register listed the technique as Beginner with ten thousand saber draws required for advancement.
• Yao Shi was startled by Ji Xiu’s gaze, and Ji Xiu caught him before he fell.
• Yao Shi wondered about Ji Xiu’s strange eyes and continued his work, left with a lingering sense of respect.

Lu Yu learned that Duantou Duan could sell him a Bone Refining Method capable of tempering silver bones, but Duantou refused to take him as a disciple. When Ji Xiu demonstrated the Heavenly River Saber Technique, Duantou recognized that he had entered the gate of saber technique, leaving Lu Yu stunned by his rapid progress.

• Duantou Duan assessed Lu Yu's Sinew Tempering progress and offered to sell him a silver-bone refinement method for five hundred taels.
• Lu Yu agreed to buy the method and asked Duantou Duan to accept him as a disciple, but Duantou refused and said it was for Lu Yu's own good.
• Ji Xiu arrived at the courtyard, and Duantou Duan stopped him as he was about to start a fire.
• Duantou Duan handed Ji Xiu a saber and told him to take a stance, so Ji Xiu practiced the Heavenly River Saber Technique and advanced his skill.
• Lu Yu dropped his saber in shock after realizing Ji Xiu had entered the gate of saber technique in only six days.

After Ji Xiu advanced his saber technique, Duantou Duan offered him a chance to become Lu Yu’s servant, but Ji Xiu refused because he wanted to be treated as an equal. Duantou Duan revealed his name, promised to make Ji Xiu his Registered Disciple if he became a true martial artist, and began explaining the Three Gates and Nine Realms.

• Lu Yu recognized that Ji Xiu’s saber talent was extraordinary, then left to investigate his circumstances.
• Duantou Duan told Ji Xiu to join him at the table and explained the wealth and status he could gain by serving Lu Yu.
• Ji Xiu refused, saying he would rather become an honored guest than trade one servant’s life for another.
• Duan Chenzhou revealed his name and said Ji Xiu could become his Registered Disciple after becoming a true martial artist.
• Duan Chenzhou began teaching Ji Xiu about martial artists and the Three Gates and Nine Realms.

Duan Chenzhou taught Ji Xiu the ranks and potential of the Martial Dao, explaining the Three Gates and the practical rewards of the Strength Threshold. He left Ji Xiu with a map of the path ahead, from earning freedom and status to ruling Anning County if he reached Skin Refinement.

• Ji Xiu prepared tea and listened as Duan Chenzhou asked how strong a martial artist could become.
• Duan Chenzhou explained that the Martial Dao was boundless and urged Ji Xiu to set his aspirations higher than merely changing his circumstances.
• Duan Chenzhou described the Three Gates as the Strength Threshold, Qi Threshold, and Intent Threshold, and explained the formidable abilities attributed to each.
• Duan Chenzhou said the Strength Threshold consisted of Sinew Tempering, Bone Tempering, and Skin Refinement.
• Duan Chenzhou told Ji Xiu that Sinew Tempering could earn him freedom from Slave Status, Bone Tempering could let him open a martial hall, and Skin Refinement could make him the ruler of Anning County.

After learning from Duan Chenzhou that mastering saber technique could let him Enter Force, Ji Xiu resolved to practice with a wooden saber despite his poverty. Ten days later, he achieved Minor Accomplishment in the Heavenly River Saber Technique, comprehended Saber Force, and entered the Strength Threshold as a martial artist.

• Ji Xiu returned home and reflected on Duan Chenzhou's teaching about the stages of body cultivation and the path to Entering Force.
• Ji Wei served Ji Xiu their scarce food and water, revealing how little she had and how carefully she endured their hardship.
• Ji Xiu shared leftover food from Duan Chenzhou's home, promised to improve their lives, and carved a wooden saber to practice with through the night.
• Over the next ten days, Ji Xiu trained relentlessly while working at the Lin Residence stables and studying under Duan Chenzhou.
• Ji Xiu's wooden saber shattered the willow branches into powder, and he reached Minor Accomplishment in the Heavenly River Saber Technique, comprehended Saber Force, and became a martial artist.

Ji Xiu entered force and began planning to change his status, while Steward Lin and Lin Du plotted to drive him out of the Lin Residence and replace him. The chapter ended with Ji Xiu heading to Duan Chenzhou’s home, determined to visit the yamen the next morning and change his register.

• Ji Xiu stood through a thunderstorm with his Wooden Saber until Old Yao brought him inside, then Old Yao noticed that Ji Xiu seemed transformed and carried an intimidating presence.
• Old Yao warned Ji Xiu that Steward Lin wanted to replace him for neglecting work, but Ji Xiu reassured him and went out to feed the horses.
• Lin Du asked Steward Lin about Ji Xiu, and Steward Lin proposed using a dispute over firewood money to punish and dismiss him, then install one of their own people in his place.
• Ji Xiu reflected that entering force had made him a martial man in the Sinew Tempering Realm and that he could change from the Slave Register to the Martial Register.
• Ji Xiu decided to visit Duan Chenzhou for saber practice and go to the yamen the next morning to change his register.

Ji Xiu returned to his home and discovered that Qiao Jin, a Fire Kiln steward, was extorting his sister Ji Wei under the pretense of collecting Autumn Rent. Ji Xiu struck Qiao Jin with his Wooden Saber, revealing his saber force and martial-artist strength to the stunned crowd.

• Zhang Qing warned Ji Xiu that Qiao Jin was demanding three taels of Autumn Rent from Ji Wei and threatening to take her away if she could not pay.
• Ji Xiu arrived to find Qiao Jin’s men threatening Ji Wei and Qiao Jin had kicked Uncle Shuanzi into the mud for trying to intervene.
• Ji Xiu recognized that a steward from the Lin Residence had likely sent Qiao Jin to target his family.
• Ji Xiu helped Uncle Shuanzi up, then advanced on Qiao Jin with his Wooden Saber despite Zhang Liu Zi’s warning.
• Ji Xiu’s saber force smashed into Qiao Jin’s arm, leaving it limp and forcing him to his knees.
• Qiao Jin realized that Ji Xiu had become a martial artist, and the gathered villagers fell silent.

After reaching Entering Force, Ji Xiu defeated Qiao Jin and drove off the thugs who had threatened his sister, then reflected on the power his saber gave him. He helped Uncle Shuanzi and continued training through the night, ending with his Heavenly River Saber Technique at 3501/10000.

• Villagers praised Ji Xiu for becoming a martial warrior, while he recognized how powerless he and his family would have been without his strength.
• Ji Wei joined Ji Xiu, and he warned Qiao Jin that his sister could not be used to settle a debt; Qiao Jin admitted his wrongdoing and promised three taels as an apology.
• Qiao Jin revealed that Steward Lin had sent him to control Ji Xiu, then made the thugs apologize before leaving with them.
• Ji Xiu gave his last one hundred copper coins to Liu Zi for Uncle Shuanzi's medicine and sent them home.
• Ji Xiu trained through the night, completing five hundred saber strikes and raising his Heavenly River Saber Technique to 3501/10000.

After Ji Xiu entered the ranks as a martial man, Duan Chenzhou urged him to claim his slave contract and change his registration. Ji Xiu headed to the Lin Residence, where a hostile middle-aged man and guards had arrived at the stables.

• Ji Xiu told Duan Chenzhou he had grasped force and entered the ranks, and Duan praised his rapid progress.
• Duan Chenzhou advised Ji Xiu to retrieve his slave contract from the Lin Residence and change his registration so he could pursue martial work and earn silver.
• Ji Xiu hesitated because he had no money, but Duan urged him to act boldly and reminded him that his life as a slave was already in danger.
• Ji Xiu left for the Lin Residence, while Lu Yu arrived to report progress with the Bone Tempering Method and Duan Chenzhou gave him a task.
• At the Lin Residence stables, Ji Xiu saw Old Yao and his apprentice facing a cold-faced man in blue robes and a group of guards.

Ji Xiu arrived at the stables expecting to settle his slave contract peacefully, but Steward Lin ordered him whipped and sent guards to restrain him. Ji Xiu defeated the guards, gave Steward Lin exactly thirty lashes, and left, revealing that he had reached Entering Force.

• Steward Lin threatened Ji Xiu with thirty lashes for arriving late and mocked his hope of becoming a martial man and escaping his slave contract.
• Ji Xiu lost patience and attacked when Steward Lin ordered the guards to hold him down.
• Ji Xiu struck the guards aside and told Qin Biao that their bond was settled before passing him.
• Ji Xiu seized Steward Lin, beat him, and gave him exactly thirty lashes while he begged for mercy.
• Ji Xiu nodded to Old Yao and left, while Qin Biao realized he had reached Entering Force and regretted underestimating him.

After whipping Steward Lin, Ji Xiu tried to flee the Lin Residence before Lin Zhenhai could retaliate. Lu Yu arrived and offered to free Ji Xiu from his slave status, leaving Ji Xiu protected by Lu Manor’s influence and determined to strengthen his saber skills.

• Ji Xiu decided to flee the Lin Residence and seek refuge with a powerful group before word of his attack on Steward Lin spread.
• At the manor gates, Ji Xiu met Lu Yu, who had arrived with retainers from Fire Kiln.
• Instructor Du and the Lin Residence guards pursued Ji Xiu, but stopped when they recognized Lu Yu as the young master of Lu Manor.
• Lu Yu declared Ji Xiu his brother and offered to pay redemption money to free him from his slave contract.
• Instructor Du sheathed his saber and agreed to take Lu Yu and Ji Xiu to meet Lin Zhenhai.
• Ji Xiu recognized that his protection depended on his saber skill and vowed to practice eight hundred strikes every day.

Lin Zhenhai freed Ji Xiu from his slave contract after hearing of his talent, then offered to adopt him. Ji Xiu was left facing the choice of becoming Lin Zhenhai’s adopted son.

• Steward Lin complained to Lin Zhenhai about Ji Xiu, and Lin Zhenhai said he would punish Ji Xiu under the residence’s rules while also recognizing his promise.
• An attendant told Lin Zhenhai about Lu Yu’s request to free Ji Xiu, prompting Lin Zhenhai to fetch the slave contract.
• Ji Xiu entered the main hall with Lu Yu, where Lin Zhenhai assessed his composure and martial potential.
• Lin Zhenhai tore up Ji Xiu’s slave contract and declared him free.
• Lin Zhenhai offered to take Ji Xiu as his adopted son, and a cup of tea appeared beside Ji Xiu.

Ji Xiu refused Lin Zhenhai’s offer to become his adopted son, insisting on keeping the Ji surname and leaving the Lin Residence with Lu Yu. As the Lin family celebrated the return of its Eldest Miss, a veiled swordswoman who had passed Ji Xiu at the gate looked back at him.

• Lin Zhenhai offered to adopt Ji Xiu, teach him martial arts, and give him a place in the Lin family, while Lin Du objected and worried Ji Xiu might expose his scheme against Lin Ruyue.
• Ji Xiu pushed away the tea and refused to change his surname, saying his young sister needed an elder brother of the Ji family and promising to repay the Lin family’s kindness in the future.
• Ji Xiu left the Lin Residence with Lu Yu, who praised his resolve and promised to seek him better terms at Lu Manor.
• Lin Zhenhai watched Ji Xiu depart and threatened to put obstacles in his way, but then heard that the Lin family’s Eldest Miss had returned.
• At the gate, Ji Xiu and Lu Yu passed a veiled woman carrying a longsword without noticing her, while she stopped and looked back at Ji Xiu before entering the residence.