Chapter Summaries

At nearly seventy, Zhu Residence groom Li Rui awakened a system that granted him a once-in-ten-thousand-years martial bone and achievements that could unlock further rewards. Hoping to extend his life and begin cultivating, he went to ask Yang Yong for the Eight Section Brocade.

• Li Rui reflected on his life as a transmigrator who had spent fifty years as a lowly groom in the Zhu Family.
• A system appeared, granting Li Rui the Martial Bone talent and revealing achievements that could earn him rewards.
• Li Rui reasoned that his martial bone might let him pursue longevity through cultivation and decided to learn the Eight Section Brocade from Yang Yong.
• Li Rui visited the Zhu Family's Martial Arts Arena and asked Yang Yong whether he could still teach him the Eight Section Brocade.

After gaining Martial Bones, Li Rui obtained the Eight Section Brocade and began training despite the young guards’ mockery. His first night of practice left him exhausted, and he turned to the stable’s food stores to sustain his training while Ma Yang shirked his duties.

• Li Rui ignored the guards’ jeers, accepted the Eight Section Brocade from Yang Yong, and returned to the stables.
• Li Rui checked the horses’ feed and watched Wang Zhao and Ma Yang prepare it before studying the exercise in his room.
• Li Rui completed a set of the Eight Section Brocade without sweating and felt that his Martial Bones gave him unusual strength.
• After training through the night, Li Rui woke late and realized that martial arts would require more food and eventually medicinal herbs.
• Li Rui learned that Ma Yang had left Wang Zhao to cover his shift, then retrieved eggs he had hidden in the fodder to help support his training.

After a month of practicing the Eight Section Brocade, Li Rui grew much stronger and went to the Black Market to buy herbs for Qi Nourishing Powder. He spotted his disciple Ma Yang there, but after buying the herbs, he realized a scarred man had marked him.

• Li Rui practiced the Eight Section Brocade for a month and secretly tested his strength by lifting a two-hundred-jin boulder.
• Li Rui and Yang Yong watched Master Zhu whip a young servant for stealing, and Li Rui reflected on the powerlessness of servants.
• Li Rui decided to buy herbs outside the Zhu household and disguised himself before entering the Black Market.
• Li Rui spotted Ma Yang but avoided approaching him, then bought herbs for Qi Nourishing Powder from a vendor.
• Li Rui noticed a scarred man watching the sky nearby and realized the man had marked him.

Li Rui used Jianghu code words and force to turn away a thief who had followed him, then learned Ma Yang had arranged the attack. He resolved to return to the Zhu Family, but a system message announced that he had completed the initial storyline of the Famous Throughout Jianghu achievement.

• Li Rui blinded Ding Liang with sand, beat him down, and questioned him until they identified each other through Jianghu code words.
• Ding Liang revealed that a young man had told him Li Rui was seventy years old and an easy target.
• Li Rui recognized Ma Yang as the person who had betrayed him and realized Ma Yang had sought his death to take his place as the Zhu Family's groom.
• Li Rui decided his master-disciple bond with Ma Yang was over and chose to return to the Zhu Family.
• A system message told Li Rui that he had completed the initial storyline of the Famous Throughout Jianghu achievement, First Entry into Jianghu.

After earning an S+ rating and 50 Achievement Points for his first steps into the martial world, Li Rui returned to the Zhu Family stable and saw through Ma Yang’s plot against him. Ma Yang died of a mysterious illness, and Li Rui and Wang Zhao buried him before resuming their ordinary lives.

• Li Rui received 50 Achievement Points and reflected that his seventy years of experience had helped him earn an S+ rating.
• Li Rui returned to the stable, instructed Wang Zhao about the horses’ feed, and noticed Ma Yang’s fear and concealed hostility.
• Li Rui realized Ma Yang had tried to have him killed in the Black Market to win the groom’s position with help from the Zhu Family.
• Two days later, Wang Zhao found Ma Yang dying, and Li Rui confirmed that he was dead.
• Li Rui and Wang Zhao buried Ma Yang outside the city, then returned to their usual routine.
• As they ate, Wang Zhao remembered Ma Yang taking his braised pork and wondered whether Li Rui had caused Ma Yang’s death.

Li Rui continued strengthening his body while looking for another cultivation method, then learned that Zhu Yue had returned to Zhu Residence with fellow Huaqing Sect disciples. Zhu Yue invited them to stay at his home, and they accepted.

• Li Rui reflected that he had secretly killed Ma Yang with ricin after Ma Yang tried to kill him.
• Li Rui recovered his strength through medicinal baths and training, while Yang Yong asked him for a remedy to restore his vigor.
• Li Rui asked Yang Yong about stronger cultivation methods, but gave up when he learned one cost eight taels of silver.
• Li Rui told Yang Yong that the firecrackers announced Zhu Yue's return and recalled the truth behind the Zhu Family's stories about him and Huaqing Sect.
• Zhu Yue arrived at Zhu Residence with three Huaqing Sect disciples and invited them to stay there for a few days.

Zhu Yue welcomed three Huaqing Sect disciples to the Zhu Residence as they prepared to hunt a defector in Clear River. After the visitors left the stables, Li Rui saw a message announcing that he had completed the beginner storyline of the Immortal Couple achievement—Meeting.

• Zhu Ping warmly welcomed Zhu Yue and Huaqing Sect disciples Han Qin, Zhou Hu, and Jiang Yan to the Zhu Residence.
• Zhu Yue led the three disciples through the family grounds and proposed asking County Magistrate Zhang to help locate the sect defector.
• Han Qin agreed to the plan, and Zhu Yue explained that they would have to confront the Ninth Rank, armed target themselves.
• Jiang Yan noticed that the groom Li Rui was nearly Entering Rank, but Han Qin judged that Li Rui's age and withered vital blood would prevent him from advancing.
• After the four disciples left, Li Rui saw a message congratulating him for completing the beginner storyline of the Immortal Couple achievement—Meeting.

Li Rui earned Achievement Points after gaining a Huaqing Sect girl’s appreciation and realized that goodwill from noble daughters could help him progress. After a month of rapid cultivation with Martial Bones, he broke through into the Stonehide Realm.

• Li Rui received 10 Achievement Points for completing the Acquaintance storyline and speculated that goodwill from people of high status could help him earn more.
• Li Rui decided not to curry favor with the Huaqing Sect girl and expected that stronger noble daughters would seek him out later.
• Li Rui listened as Zhu Residence guards guessed the cultivation ranks of Young Master Zhu and the Huaqing Sect disciples, and he recalled the martial arts realm divisions.
• Li Rui practiced the Eight Section Brocade through a three-day snowstorm and found that he could lift a four-hundred-jin stone block.
• Li Rui felt his strength more than double, noticed his skin had turned crystalline, and recognized that he had entered the Stonehide Realm.

Li Rui entered the Stone Skin Realm after only a month of practice and resolved to hide his strength until he could leave slavery legally. Zhu Yue brought him along as a horse minder while the Huaqing Sect disciples hunted a traitor, and Jiang Yan’s interest in him earned him an unexpected achievement.

• Li Rui realized he had entered the Stone Skin Realm and decided to conceal his martial talent until he turned seventy and could become a commoner.
• Zhu Yue praised Li Rui’s care of the Blood-Sweating Horses and promised to raise his allowance.
• Han Qin asked Zhu Yue to bring Li Rui along to watch the horses during the hunt for a traitor, and Zhu Yue ordered Li Rui to accompany them.
• Captain Liu reported that the traitor was hiding in an abandoned temple, and Han Qin assigned the group to surround it from different directions.
• Jiang Yan secretly watched Li Rui, and he gained the achievement for earning a Sect Noble Daughter’s appreciation.

Li Rui grew wary of Jiang Yan’s interest in him and suspected she wanted his martial bones, while Huaqing Sect’s group confronted Xu Hua at a ruined temple. When Li Rui saw Captain Liu and the constables surrounding the temple after the fighting continued, he stayed back to observe.

• Li Rui saw that Jiang Yan’s attention had earned him Achievement Points and decided to avoid the Huaqing Sect group.
• Han Qin confronted Xu Hua at the ruined temple and demanded the Cultivation Method stolen from Martial Uncle Ma.
• Xu Hua revealed his Eighth Rank strength by stopping Zhu Yue’s sword barehanded and knocking him back.
• Jiang Yan took out a Divine Weapon Talisman as Han Qin engaged Xu Hua, who appeared alarmed.
• After waiting an hour, Li Rui hid the four Blood-Sweating Horses and approached the ruined temple.
• Li Rui found Captain Liu and more than a dozen constables surrounding the temple and chose to watch from a distance.

Li Rui searched the abandoned temple after the Huaqing Sect disciples chased the renegade Xu Hua away, and found the secret art he had hidden there. After rejoining Zhu Yue and the others, Li Rui learned that Xu Hua had colluded with the Ghost Underworld Sect, and Zhu Yue ordered him to return to the residence.

• Xu Hua broke through the constables’ encirclement and fled down the mountain as Han Qin and the other Huaqing Sect disciples pursued him.
• Li Rui entered the abandoned temple and used lime to reveal Xu Hua’s footprints, which led him to a side hall.
• Li Rui found an oil-paper-wrapped item hidden beneath the Child-Giving Guanyin statue and took it, then erased the lime traces.
• Li Rui returned with the four Blood-Sweating Horses and told Zhu Yue he had hidden them during the fighting.
• Zhou Hu said Xu Hua had colluded with the Ghost Underworld Sect, and Han Qin urged the group to report the matter to their elders.
• Zhu Yue ordered Li Rui to return to the residence.

Li Rui secretly studied the Huaqing Sect’s White Ape Mantle Blade and began practicing with a borrowed blade, discovering that his martial bones made the technique come naturally. After an exhausting first session, he returned to his room aching and worried that he could no longer afford medicine.

• Li Rui sent Wang Zhao away to rest, then secretly unwrapped and read the White Ape Mantle Blade manual in his room.
• Li Rui spent three days and nights studying the blade technique and borrowed Yang Yong’s spare blade.
• Li Rui practiced White Ape Mantle Blade in a secluded spot and found that his martial bones gave him an uncanny feel for the blade.
• Li Rui struggled to stop the technique once he began swinging and practiced until he collapsed in the snow from exhaustion.
• Li Rui hid the blade beneath his coat and returned to his quarters, where he worried that his savings were gone and he could not afford medicine.

Li Rui kept a low profile at the Zhu Family estate while Xu Hua returned to Qinghe City seeking revenge and Zhu Lie pressured him for horses. After Li Rui buried his blade, Yang Yong warned him that Wang Zhao had been beaten.

• Xu Hua returned to Qinghe City after losing an arm and vowed to find those who had taken what he claimed was his.
• Li Rui resumed his stable duties and worried over Wang Zhao, who kept working despite his concern.
• Zhu Lie confronted Li Rui about Ma Yang's death and demanded horses, but Li Rui refused without a written token.
• Li Rui practiced the White Ape Mantle Blade, then buried his blade in the snow to keep it hidden.
• Yang Yong anxiously told Li Rui that Wang Zhao had been beaten.

Li Rui stopped Zhao Mazi from framing and taking away his apprentice, Wang Zhao, and revealed enough of his martial skill to deter the Zhu Family’s guards. He accepted that his training had made him an Entering Rank expert and considered fleeing with Wang Zhao if the Zhu Family pushed them too far.

• Zhao Mazi accused Wang Zhao of stealing Second Madam’s earring and prepared to take him before Master Zhu.
• Li Rui and Yang Yong arrived, and Li Rui helped Wang Zhao to his feet despite Zhao Mazi’s taunts.
• When Zhao Mazi tried to kick him, Li Rui struck first and knocked him unconscious with a single kick.
• The other guards carried Zhao Mazi away and fled, while Li Rui told the gathered servants he had achieved minor mastery in Eight Section Brocade.
• Li Rui reassured Wang Zhao and reflected that he could escape with him if the Zhu Family became dangerous.

Li Rui escaped punishment for the fight with Zhao Mazi, then secretly killed Zhao Mazi and staged his death as an accident. The Zhu Family failed to identify the killer, and Li Rui received a beginner achievement for entering Jianghu.

• Zhu Ping excused Li Rui from whipping and confined him to his quarters for three days, while Zhao Mazi received ten lashes.
• Li Rui decided Zhao Mazi could not be allowed to live and went to Zhao Mazi's room late that night.
• Li Rui smothered Zhao Mazi with a quilt, stole valuables, and staged the death to look like a fall followed by freezing.
• The guards found Zhao Mazi's frozen body the next day, and Second Master Zhu vowed to find the killer.
• Rumors blamed a vengeful ghost, the investigation fizzled out, and Li Rui received the achievement First Entry into Jianghu 2.

After killing Zhao Mazi, Li Rui received the complete White Ape Mantle Blade and began practicing its breathing method. Seeking money for medicine, he went to the Black Market to lure a thief, only to discover that his pursuer was Ding Liang, who said his boss wanted to meet him.

• Li Rui earned an A rating for completing First Entry into Jianghu 2, reached 100 Achievement Points, and received the complete White Ape Mantle Blade.
• Li Rui studied the breathing method for three days and found that it sharpened his senses and could be practiced through everyday activities.
• Li Rui heard that a murderous fiend had been killing constables in Clear River and decided he needed to increase his strength.
• Li Rui went to the Black Market to lure a thief and take his money so he could afford medicinal herbs.
• Li Rui threw Lime Powder at his pursuer in an alley and recognized him as Ding Liang, who said his boss wanted to invite Li Rui for a drink.

Li Rui refused Wu Tu’s offer to join the Rong Faction, and Wu Tu warned his men not to provoke the Ninth Rank martial artist. As the New Year approached, Li Rui planned to leave the Zhu Family and redeem himself, hoping to escape the leverage both factions held over him.

• Wu Tu invited Li Rui to join the Rong Faction, but Li Rui refused because he would not risk earning the faction’s money.
• Ding Liang urged Wu Tu to punish Li Rui, but Wu Tu revealed he had recognized Li Rui as an Entering Rank martial artist and ordered his men to avoid conflict with him.
• Li Rui realized the Rong Faction’s knowledge of his ties to the Zhu Family could put him in danger, but decided to take matters one step at a time.
• After seeing New Year fireworks, Li Rui resolved to use the coming holiday to leave the Zhu Family and redeem himself once he reached seventy.

Li Rui prepared to redeem himself from the Zhu Family as the household celebrated his approaching seventieth birthday. When Zhu Ping offered him the choice to stay or leave, Li Rui asked to have his slave status removed.

• Wang Zhao asked Li Rui whether the Zhu Family would serve braised pork for the New Year, then worried that Li Rui was preparing to die.
• Li Rui reflected that he could not take Wang Zhao with him when he redeemed himself and said he would do so the next day.
• Registrar Ma visited the Zhu Residence on behalf of County Magistrate Zhang to honor Li Rui, who would turn seventy when spring began.
• Zhu Ping praised Li Rui's fifty years of service and offered him the choice to remain with the Zhu Family or leave.
• Li Rui refused to stay and asked Zhu Ping to remove his slave status.

Li Rui redeemed himself from the Zhu Family by invoking filial piety, and Registrar Ma helped secure the release of his registration. After saying goodbye to Wang Zhao and Yang Yong, Li Rui left for the County Office, where his status was quickly changed to that of a commoner.

• Li Rui refused Zhu Ping’s offer of a larger allowance and explained that he wished to leave to mourn his parents for three years.
• Zhu Ping agreed to release Li Rui from his indenture and gave him thirty taels, while Registrar Ma promised to help remove his lowly registration.
• Li Rui told Wang Zhao and Yang Yong he was leaving, returned Yang Yong’s saber, and packed his few belongings.
• Li Rui left for the County Office before the New Year closure and presented his indenture contract to a clerk.
• The clerk crossed Li Rui’s name from the lowly household register and entered him in the commoner household register.

After settling into a rented room in Clear River, Li Rui rapidly improved his martial arts and accepted Wu Tu’s offer to recommend him to the Heaven and Earth Alliance. The chapter left Li Rui poised to join the alliance as a steward by revealing that he had Entered Rank.

• Li Rui registered with the Household Office, rented a tiny room, and began planning how to earn money.
• Li Rui practiced the White Ape Mantle Blade Art and reached mid-training in Stone Skin within half a month.
• Li Rui learned that Master Zhu had rebuked Zhu Lie, making life easier for Wang Zhao.
• Wu Tu visited Li Rui and offered to recommend him to the Heaven and Earth Alliance, which was recruiting in Clear River.
• Li Rui accepted Wu Tu’s offer and agreed to reveal his Entered Rank strength to qualify for a steward position.