Chapter Summaries

Zhang Teng explained to Mu Qingyue how immortal cultivators tempered their Dao bodies and how their early stages compared with martial arts attainments. Mu Qingyue was stunned by the nine-tempering path, but mistakenly judged its early stages inferior because cultivators could not project spiritual power.

• Mu Qingyue challenged Zhang Teng for dismissing indestructible vajra, and he apologized while explaining that he considered it of limited use.
• Zhang Teng told Mu Qingyue that he had already reached high-grade bronze skin and iron bones before accidentally attaining indestructible vajra through cultivation.
• Mu Qingyue asked whether the Immortal Cultivation Method could help martial artists reach bronze skin and iron bones or indestructible vajra, and Zhang Teng explained that cultivators who began the method would pursue Dao body tempering instead.
• Zhang Teng described the first three Dao body temperings as roughly equivalent to blood refining qi gathering, bronze skin and iron bones, and indestructible vajra.
• Zhang Teng told Mu Qingyue that nine temperings led to the dao-method wielding realm and that spiritual power filled cultivators' bodies, though they could not yet use it.
• Mu Qingyue concluded that early-stage immortal cultivators seemed inferior to martial artists because they could not project power outside their bodies.

Zhang Teng secured the Martial Arts Grounds’ place in the martial hall alliance and asked the Central Hall to mediate his feud with the Nanyang Commandery Prince. The Central Hall agreed to intervene, while the prince ordered the Zhang Clan to capture Zhang Teng, leaving the clan debating whether to obey.

• Zhang Teng told Mu Qingyue that he had reached indestructible vajra through the Breath-Absorbing Art, and she asked to learn it before he explained his feud with the Nanyang Commandery Prince.
• Mu Qingyue confirmed the Martial Arts Grounds’ membership in the martial hall alliance and promised to ask the Central Hall to mediate Zhang Teng’s crisis.
• Lin Bei emerged after Mu Qingyue left, heard Zhang Teng’s report, and urged him to rely on his own strength.
• Mu Qingyue reported the Martial Arts Grounds’ abilities and Zhang Teng’s dispute to the Central Hall’s master, who sent her to the Nanyang Zhou Clan with a handwritten letter to attempt mediation.
• The Nanyang Commandery Prince ordered the Zhang Clan to capture Zhang Teng, promising them eligibility for the Demon-Hunting Ceremony if they brought him back.
• The Zhang Clan discussed obeying the prince’s order, and Zhang Teng’s grandfather wondered whether they had to leave him no way to live.

Zhang Xiaoxiao warned Zhang Teng that the Zhang Clan was sending Zhang Tao to arrest him, but Zhang Teng refused to flee. After learning why his clan had abandoned him, he told Xiaoxiao their ties were severed and apologized to Lin Bei, who asked why he felt he had disappointed him.

• The Zhang Clan patriarch ordered Zhang Tao to set out and bring Zhang Teng back.
• Lin Bei considered helping his apprentices progress and noticed Zhang Xiaoxiao hiding at the Martial Arts Grounds.
• Zhang Xiaoxiao told Lin Bei and Zhang Teng that the Zhou Clan had discovered his hiding place and that Zhang Tao was coming to arrest him.
• Zhang Teng refused to run and revealed that Zhang Tao had crippled his dantian and framed him, while the Zhang Clan chose to protect Zhang Tao.
• Zhang Teng told Xiaoxiao to return and inform their grandfather that he considered their ties severed, then she left.
• Zhang Teng apologized to Lin Bei for disappointing him, and Lin Bei asked why he thought that.

After Zhang Teng cut ties with his family, Lin Bei encouraged him to let go of his burdens and focus on cultivation. Zhang Teng revealed a remarkable way of analyzing combat, then asked Lin Bei to spar with him, leaving Lin Bei scrambling for time to simulate the fight.

• Lin Bei reassured Zhang Teng that severing ties with the Zhang family protected them and urged him to cultivate with an unburdened mind.
• Zhang Teng explained that the Central Hall's mediation might not have reached Nanyang before the Zhang family acted, and said Zhang Tao's strength made him a formidable opponent.
• Zhang Teng described how he had learned to identify an enemy's weaknesses and mentally consider many combat scenarios, impressing Lin Bei with how closely his insight matched Lin Bei's battle simulations.
• Zhang Teng asked Lin Bei to spar so he could better understand his fighting style, and Tieniu and the gathered apprentices eagerly supported the request.
• Lin Bei agreed to give Zhang Teng guidance after he regulated his breathing, using the delay to prepare for the spar.

Lin Bei sparred with Zhang Teng at equal strength, using the fight to teach him how to find and create openings. Zhang Teng realized Lin Bei was feeding him moves and prepared to continue attacking.

• Lin Bei finished thousands of mental combat deductions and told Zhang Teng he was ready to spar.
• Lin Bei promised to use the same strength as Zhang Teng, and Zhang Teng began circling him while searching for an opening.
• Tieniu told Zhang Teng to stop searching for a weakness and force one to appear by attacking.
• Zhang Teng attacked from behind, but Lin Bei evaded and lightly tapped his waist to show him the flaw in his movement.
• Zhang Teng understood Lin Bei was feeding him moves, gained insight into creating openings, and roared that he would fight.

Zhang Teng improved rapidly while sparring with Lin Bei, deepening his Tai Chi understanding enough to trigger its second limit break. Lin Bei discovered that the art could draw on Heaven-and-Earth Spiritual Power, while Tieniu considered asking Lin Bei how he could learn the Breath-Absorbing Art without Tai Chi.

• Zhang Teng sparred with Lin Bei, and Tieniu explained to the other apprentices that Lin Bei was feeding Zhang Teng moves as his fighting improved.
• After another hundred exchanges, Zhang Teng withstood Lin Bei’s attack for the first time, and Lin Bei stopped the spar, recognizing his talent.
• Lin Bei realized Zhang Teng had nearly pushed him to lose, then received a notification that Zhang Teng’s deeper Tai Chi understanding had caused Tai Chi’s second limit break.
• Lin Bei discovered that his newly profound Tai Chi could draw on Heaven-and-Earth Spiritual Power.
• Tieniu congratulated Zhang Teng on breaking Tai Chi’s limits and asked whether he might learn the Breath-Absorbing Art another way; Zhang Teng advised him to ask Lin Bei.

Lin Bei discovered that Tai Chi’s second Limit-Breaking had strengthened the Breath-Absorbing Art and sought Zhang Teng’s comprehension to combine them. He tested Tieniu’s unusual strength by giving him a cryptic Tai Chi exercise, then approached Zhang Teng to discuss the Breath-Absorbing Art.

• Lin Bei realized his Body Tempering had accelerated because Tai Chi’s second Limit-Breaking had enhanced the Breath-Absorbing Art, but his attempt to combine them failed without Zhang Teng’s comprehension.
• Tieniu asked Lin Bei to help him begin immortal cultivation, and Lin Bei suspected his natural strength might indicate a hidden talent.
• Lin Bei watched Tieniu perform Tai Chi and noticed that his movements showed only hardness and yang, with no softness or yin.
• Lin Bei wrote “Tai Chi” on paper, gave Tieniu a brush, and told him to think about his fists and return the paper the next day.
• Lin Bei arrived at Zhang Teng’s Quiet Chamber and asked whether he had been practicing the Breath-Absorbing Art; Zhang Teng said he had questions and asked Lin Bei to show him the way.

Lin Bei helped Zhang Teng comprehend the Tai Chi Breath-Absorbing Art, gaining major insights and a clearer direction for Dao-method wielding before both disciples pursued their cultivation. Meanwhile, Zhang Tao had Zhang Xiaoxiao seized and ordered his attendants to surround the Martial Arts Grounds to capture Zhang Teng.

• Lin Bei demonstrated Tai Chi and guided Zhang Teng to combine its principles with the Breath-Absorbing Art, helping him comprehend the Tai Chi Breath-Absorbing Art.
• Zhang Teng gained enlightenment, and Lin Bei’s Breath-Absorbing Art advanced to its second limit-breaking, giving him a clearer foundation for Dao-method wielding.
• Zhang Teng left for the Quiet Chamber to enter seclusion, while Lin Bei hoped Tieniu could understand the lesson he had set before him.
• Zhang Tao’s attendants dragged Zhang Xiaoxiao to the Prosperous Fortune Inn, where Zhang Tao accused her of warning Zhang Teng and slapped her.
• Zhang Tao ordered his attendants to seal the roads around the Martial Arts Grounds and prevent Zhang Teng from escaping.

After completing his fourth body refinement, Lin Bei encouraged Tieniu to pursue cultivation through his own natural strengths rather than force himself to understand Tai Chi. As Lin Bei prepared to teach him, a group carrying Zhang Xiaoxiao barged into the Martial Arts Grounds.

• Lin Bei completed his fourth refinement and estimated that his strength had reached at least the Dantian Sea Realm.
• Tieniu asked Lin Bei whether he lacked comprehension, and Lin Bei urged him to keep his mind unfettered.
• Tieniu crossed out the character for “Tai” in Tai Chi, explaining that he intended to push his natural strength and physique to their limits.
• Lin Bei praised Tieniu’s resolve and explained that the Dao had to be comprehended rather than simply taught.
• A group entered the Martial Arts Grounds carrying Zhang Xiaoxiao.

Zhang Tao stormed the Martial Arts Grounds and confronted Zhang Teng, mocking his master and threatening the school. Zhang Teng struck first and badly wounded Zhang Tao, then declared that they would settle the matter with their lives.

• Zhang Tao arrived with thirteen attendants, and one of them knocked a Martial Arts Grounds apprentice unconscious.
• Zhang Teng confronted Zhang Tao, while Zhang Xiaoxiao denied betraying her brother; Lin Bei gave Zhang Teng permission to settle their grudge.
• Zhang Tao tried to provoke Zhang Teng and ordered his attendants to surround Lin Bei and the apprentices.
• Zhang Teng used Tai Chi Steps to feint and strike Zhang Tao, sending him crashing into a wall and making him cough blood.
• Zhang Teng told Zhang Tao that they would settle not only victory and defeat but life and death.

Zhang Teng fought Zhang Tao in the Martial Arts Grounds, using his defensive skills to survive Zhang Tao’s overwhelming attacks. When Zhang Teng began to falter, Lin Bei called out guidance that showed him how to turn the fight around and defeat his stronger opponent with one blow.

• Zhang Tao armed himself with spiked brass knuckles and charged at Zhang Teng, ignoring Zhang Xiaoxiao’s warning to bring him back alive.
• Zhang Teng dodged Zhang Tao’s attacks and landed three counterstrikes, drawing blood and provoking Zhang Tao to unleash more of his true qi.
• Zhang Tao accelerated into a relentless assault, forcing Zhang Teng to rely on Tai Chi Steps and wait for his opponent to tire.
• As Zhang Teng began to lose strength, Lin Bei called out instructions about Tai Chi and Bagua, prompting Zhang Teng to recognize a way to defeat Zhang Tao with a single blow.

Zhang Teng followed Lin Bei’s guidance to defeat Zhang Tao and destroy his dantian, then rejected Zhang Tao’s offer to confess and clear his name. Convinced that Lin Bei would protect him from any consequences, Zhang Teng killed Zhang Tao at the Martial Arts Grounds.

• Zhang Teng used Tai Chi footwork and the Supreme Ultimate Pushing Palm to redirect Zhang Tao’s attack and expose his dantian.
• Zhang Teng struck Zhang Tao’s dantian with both bright and hidden force, destroying it and winning the fight.
• Zhang Tao’s attendants refused to intervene because they feared Lin Bei, while Zhang Teng confronted Zhang Tao over his past crimes.
• Zhang Tao begged for his life and offered to confess to framing Zhang Teng, but Zhang Teng dismissed his warnings about the Zhang Household and Nanyang Zhou Clan.
• Zhang Teng told Zhang Tao that their debts were settled and snapped his neck.

After killing Zhang Tao, Zhang Teng secured Zhang Xiaoxiao and Zhang Tao’s attendants while discussing the danger of the Zhang Clan’s retaliation with Lin Bei. Zhang Teng prepared to use mediation to buy time, and Lin Bei chose to stay and face the threat as he began teaching Tieniu.

• Zhang Teng freed Zhang Xiaoxiao but told her to stay because he feared she might alert the Lineage, and she agreed.
• Zhang Tao’s attendants surrendered after realizing they could not resist Zhang Teng and feared Lin Bei’s power; Zhang Teng had them bound and locked in the woodshed.
• Zhang Teng told Lin Bei that the Central Hall’s mediation was unlikely to succeed and that the Zhang Clan might send an Intent Gathering elder to capture him.
• Zhang Teng warned that Zhang Conglong, Zhang Tao’s great-grandfather and a peak True Intent expert, could return from the Frontier Battlefield to avenge Zhang Tao.
• Lin Bei encouraged Zhang Teng to face danger and decided not to flee, then praised Tieniu and promised to teach him the Immortal Cultivation Method.

Lin Bei taught Tieniu an aperture-opening method for cultivating through physical training and encouraged him to pursue the Dao. He rejected Zhang Xiaoxiao’s request to intervene in Zhang Teng’s conflicts with the Zhang Household and Zhou Clan, and Zhang Teng warned her not to offend his master again.

• Lin Bei explained the risks of pursuing the ultimate way, and Tieniu resolved to cultivate despite the possibility of failure.
• Lin Bei taught Tieniu to train his body until its apertures could sense and absorb Heaven-and-Earth Spiritual Power.
• Zhang Teng asked to study the aperture method, and Lin Bei told him to test it through practice.
• Zhang Xiaoxiao asked Lin Bei to persuade the Zhang Household and Nanyang Zhou Clan to stop targeting Zhang Teng, but Lin Bei rejected her request.
• Lin Bei warned Zhang Xiaoxiao not to interfere in Zhang Teng’s affairs, and Zhang Teng threatened to disown her if she offended Lin Bei again.

Lin Bei completed his fifth refinement as Zhang Teng broke the Tai Chi Breath-Absorbing Art’s limits a second time and reached his fourth refinement. After Mu Qingyue reported that mediation with the Nanyang Zhou Clan had failed, she offered the Martial Arts Grounds protection beside the Central Hall, but Zhang Teng refused to move.

• Zhang Teng cut off Zhang Xiaoxiao’s defense of Lin Bei and ordered her to be quiet or go to the woodshed.
• During Lin Bei’s fifth refinement, he learned that Zhang Teng had gained insight into the Zhou Tian Acupoints and broken the Tai Chi Breath-Absorbing Art’s limits a second time.
• Lin Bei completed his fifth refinement and found Tieniu practicing punches after pushing himself through the night; he told the apprentices not to disturb him.
• Zhang Teng told Lin Bei that he had reached the fourth refinement and broken the Breath-Absorbing Art’s limits a second time, and Lin Bei encouraged him to keep working hard.
• Mu Qingyue reported that the Nanyang Zhou Clan had rejected mediation and offered to move the Martial Arts Grounds beside the Central Hall for protection.
• Zhang Teng refused Mu Qingyue’s offer and insisted that the Martial Arts Grounds would stay where they were.

Mu Qingyue failed to persuade Lin Bei and Zhang Teng to move the Martial Arts Grounds to the Central Hall, leaving Zhang Teng to face his troubles alone. After learning Zhang Xiaoxiao had secretly contacted their grandfather, Zhang Teng severed their sibling bond and vowed to show no mercy if the Zhang Household came to capture him.

• Mu Qingyue asked Lin Bei to move the Martial Arts Grounds to the Central Hall, but Lin Bei and Zhang Teng refused.
• Zhang Teng told Mu Qingyue that the Martial Arts Grounds had its own way of dealing with the situation, and she left.
• Zhang Xiaoxiao secretly sent a message by pigeon to their grandfather, and Xiao Liuzi told Zhang Teng what he had seen.
• Zhang Teng confronted Zhang Xiaoxiao and accused her of betraying him by contacting their grandfather.
• Zhang Xiaoxiao explained that she had hoped their grandfather would help, but Zhang Teng reminded her that he had abandoned him and declared their bond severed.
• Zhang Teng said he owed neither Zhang Xiaoxiao nor the Zhang Household anything and vowed to show no mercy if their grandfather came to capture him.

Zhang Teng shut Zhang Xiaoxiao in her room, then took Tieniu’s advice to heart and found renewed resolve. He proposed Heavenly Gate Opening to help the other disciples sense spiritual power, and Lin Bei judged the method feasible.

• Zhang Teng shut Zhang Xiaoxiao inside her room and ordered Xiao Liuzi to seal the doors and windows.
• Tieniu told Zhang Teng that strength could resolve the problems troubling him, helping Zhang Teng move past his doubts.
• Zhang Teng advised Tieniu to focus on breaking through a single aperture point, and Tieniu returned to training with new confidence.
• Zhang Teng reassured Xiao Liuzi that he might be able to help the junior brothers awaken their potential through Heavenly Gate Opening.
• Zhang Teng proposed forcibly channeling spiritual power into the disciples to activate their aperture points, and Lin Bei thought the plan could work.

Lin Bei completed the sixth refinement and discovered that the seventh refined the spirit, revealing a path toward dao-method wielding. At the Martial Arts Grounds, Zhang Teng’s grandfather arrived seeking him and was surprised by the ordinary-looking disciples.

• Lin Bei criticized Zhang Teng’s plan to open his junior brothers’ Heavenly Gates but agreed to teach him dao-method wielding once his cultivation was sufficient.
• Zhang Teng told the apprentices that Lin Bei had approved his idea and urged them to practice the Breath-Absorbing Art diligently.
• Lin Bei completed the sixth refinement and found that the seventh refinement tempered his spirit and sharpened his perception, thinking, and reflexes.
• Two days later, Lin Bei saw signs that Tieniu was nearing cultivation, while Xiao Liuzi reported that Zhang Teng had reached the fifth refinement.
• Zhang Teng’s grandfather arrived at the Martial Arts Grounds, asked for Zhang Teng, and left Xiao Liuzi stunned by his arrival.

Zhang Yong came to the Martial Arts Grounds to take Zhang Teng home, but Lin Bei defended his disciple and dispelled Zhang Yong’s martial intent. After Zhang Yong warned that the Nanyang Zhou Clan and the Nanyang Commandery Prince would pursue them, Zhang Teng declared that Zhang Yong would not leave.

• Xiao Liuzi and Tieniu challenged Zhang Yong’s arrival, and Lin Bei allowed him to approach.
• Zhang Yong said he had come to bring Zhang Teng home, but Lin Bei argued that Zhang Teng had repaid the Zhang Household and ordered Zhang Yong to leave.
• Zhang Yong released his martial intent, and Lin Bei swept it away with the Tai Chi Breath-Absorbing Art.
• Zhang Teng arrived and rejected Zhang Yong as his grandfather, while Zhang Yong offered to take Zhang Xiaoxiao away and report that Lin Bei would protect Zhang Teng.
• Zhang Yong warned that the Nanyang Zhou Clan and the Nanyang Commandery Prince could hunt them down, and Zhang Teng angrily declared that Zhang Yong would not leave.

Zhang Teng fought Zhang Yong at the Martial Arts Grounds and overcame his superior martial intent by sealing his aperture points. He knocked Zhang Yong down and prepared to strike his skull as Lin Bei watched.

• Zhang Teng blocked Zhang Yong from leaving and challenged him to a fight, with Lin Bei allowing the match to proceed.
• Zhang Yong used martial intent to rush Zhang Teng and cut his chin, but Zhang Teng recovered and charged at him.
• Zhang Teng anticipated Zhang Yong’s attacks and struck his aperture points, disrupting the flow of his true qi and martial intent.
• Zhang Teng gradually gained the advantage, landing nine consecutive Tai Chi Eight Trigrams Palm strikes and knocking Zhang Yong down.
• Zhang Yong looked up as Zhang Teng’s palm hurtled toward his skull.