Chapter Summaries

Wei Sheng accompanied Xiao Ran and his companions to a banquet in Black Glory Ward, where he observed the Hong Family residence and watched Xiao Ran avoid a confrontation over a reserved room. After returning home to cultivate, Wei Sheng completed his skin refinement and saw the talent panel update his method to beginner level.

• Wei Sheng passed the alley where Sun Li and his mother had died and spotted the Hong Family residence near the restaurant.
• Xiao Ran arrived with Wang Yuelun, Brocade-Furred Rat, and members of the High Bridge Branch Hall.
• The restaurant manager told Xiao Ran that Huang Man'er had taken Bing Room One, and Wang Yuelun suggested they use Bing Room Two instead.
• Wei Sheng surveyed the Hong Family residence from the private room's window while Xiao Ran's companions toasted and praised him.
• Wei Sheng returned home to cultivate and, after refining his last dose of ointment the following evening, saw [White Crane Skin Refinement Method (Beginner)] on his talent panel.

Wei Sheng used his Ox Demon training insights to reach the Third Refinement in the White Crane Skin Refinement Method, then sought more methods to strengthen his cultivation. A Chang brought him to Lao Xu, who offered the method for free and promised two more if Wei Sheng accepted a condition.

• Wei Sheng completed five years of cultivation and reached the Third Refinement in the White Crane Skin Refinement Method, increasing his strength to thirty-five hundred jin without developing copper skin and golden muscles.
• Wei Sheng asked Fire Ox for another Skin Refinement Method, but Fire Ox refused and criticized him for being impatient; Xiao Ran overheard Fire Ox’s account and asked about his own Tiger-Howling Saber practice.
• Wei Sheng asked A Chang about branch hall members who knew martial arts, and A Chang said he might help him find more Skin Refinement Methods.
• Two days later, A Chang took Wei Sheng to meet Lao Xu, a retired Third Refinement expert who had once intended to pass his Skin Refinement Method to A Chang.
• Lao Xu changed his offer after meeting Wei Sheng, saying he would give him a Skin Refinement Method for free and find two more if Wei Sheng agreed to a condition.

Wei Sheng obtained the Black Jade Skin Refinement Method from Lao Xu by agreeing to kill Hong Chengdu, and he began helping A Chang with his Savage Bull Fist. Lao Xu sought two more methods from Zhou Huan, but Zhou Huan's wife had already given one to Xiao Ran, who dismissed Wei Sheng's chances of mastering another method.

• Wei Sheng agreed to kill Hong Chengdu in exchange for Lao Xu's Skin Refinement Methods and received the Black Jade Skin Refinement Method.
• Wei Sheng explained to A Chang that he intended to honor his promise and offered to repay him by teaching him the Savage Bull Fist.
• Lao Xu visited Zhou Huan to buy a Skin Refinement Method, but learned that Zhou Huan's wife had secretly given it to her cousin Xiao Ran.
• Zhou Huan refused Lao Xu's request after his wife argued that supporting Wei Sheng would undermine Xiao Ran, who she hoped would become a Five Tiger General.
• Zhou Huan invited Xiao Ran to dinner, congratulated him on reaching the Third Refinement, and told him Lao Xu had offered twenty taels for the method.
• Wei Sheng memorized the Black Jade Skin Refinement Method and practiced it until he reached beginner proficiency.

Wei Sheng fused five Skin Refinement Methods into the Black-Membrane Skin Refinement Method, reached the pinnacle of skin refinement, and condensed the Skin Abyss and Jin Force. After mastering the Heart-Breaking Palm, he set out at night to meet Hong Chengdu.

• Wei Sheng advanced the Black Jade Skin Refinement Method but remained short of condensing copper skin.
• Lao Xu gave Wei Sheng the Black Snake Skin Refinement Method, the Force-Discharging Skin Refinement Method, and the Heart-Breaking Palm, explaining that he could not obtain the other promised method.
• Wei He told Wei Sheng that two suspicious men, including a red-clad steward, had been asking about someone and watching their home.
• Wei Sheng fused five Skin Refinement Methods into the Black-Membrane Skin Refinement Method, reached Third Refinement Perfection with five thousand jin of strength, and condensed the Skin Abyss and Jin Force.
• Wei Sheng practiced the Heart-Breaking Palm and used his remaining Dao Origin to advance it to Major Accomplishment.
• Wei Sheng dressed in dark clothes and headed to the Hong Family's location in Black Glory Ward to meet Hong Chengdu.

Wei Sheng raided the Hong Family residence and interrupted the Eldest Master of the Hong Family as he tortured captives, then faced Old Yuan, a fourth-refinement martial artist. After breaking Old Yuan’s arm with a single punch, Wei Sheng watched him gather his vital energy for a powerful counterattack.

• Wei Sheng killed one Hong Family guard and forced another to reveal that the residence had recently abducted many people because someone was coming.
• The Eldest Master of the Hong Family tortured a captive boy and a girl in his bedchamber, and Wei Sheng arrived and killed the two servants who had brought the girl.
• Wei Sheng caught the Eldest Master’s whip, but a clash with Old Yuan’s sudden attack caused the girl to die from the shockwave.
• Old Yuan recognized Wei Sheng as a third-refinement martial artist, while Wei Sheng identified Old Yuan as fourth refinement.
• Wei Sheng shattered Old Yuan’s arm with a punch and dismissed his strength, prompting Old Yuan to gather his vital energy into a threatening counterattack.

Wei Sheng killed Old Yuan and Hong Chengdu, looted the Hong Family residence, and escaped after sensing a White-Clad Man approaching. The White-Clad Man found the Hong family dead and a sect treasure missing, then set off to pursue Wei Sheng and reclaim it.

• Wei Sheng defeated Old Yuan's Spirit Ape Force, chased him down, and killed him with a punch.
• Wei Sheng killed Hong Chengdu with a Heart-Breaking Palm, then took the valuables from the room and left the Hong Family residence.
• Wei Sheng sensed the approaching White-Clad Man near Black Forest Ward and hid in the darkness.
• The White-Clad Man entered the Hong residence, found Old Yuan and Hong Chengdu dead, and searched unsuccessfully for the sect treasure.
• The White-Clad Man blamed the Black-Clad Man for taking the treasure and hurried off to pursue him.

Constable Chen investigated the slaughter of the Hong Residence and discovered a hidden dungeon holding corpses and abused captives. As the Inner City's Hong Chengyuan ordered the killer hunted and the White-Clad Man searched for the culprit, Wei Sheng found a strange red jade token in his belongings.

• Constable Chen found that all thirty-two important members of the Hong Residence had been killed, then discovered a dungeon containing rotting corpses and chained youths and young women.
• Lao Xu saw the Eldest Master of the Hong Family's body and recognized the Heart-Breaking Palm, then thanked his dead son for witnessing the man's downfall.
• The White-Clad Man searched the crowd outside the Hong Residence for the Black-Clad Man, then wrote a letter after failing to find him.
• Hong Chengyuan learned that Hong Chengdu had been killed and received a letter bearing a White Lotus emblem that ordered him to investigate.
• Hong Chengyuan ordered his guards to find the killer within three days and swore to avenge the Hong Family.
• Wei Sheng discovered a cold, blood-red jade token bearing a lifelike Red Lotus in his bundle.

After destroying the Hong Family, Wei Sheng examined his spoils, began training with the Spirit Ape Flesh-Refining Method, and learned that the Inner City Hong Family Guard Team was investigating the killing. Three days later, Che Zhenzhong arrived with news that Xiao Ran had been beaten after being accused of the murder.

• Wei Sheng counted his valuables, obtained the Spirit Ape Flesh-Refining Method and Form-Transmutation Art, and put away the mysterious blood-red jade token.
• Che Zhenzhong told Wei Sheng that the Hong Family had been wiped out and that authorities had rescued captives from its dungeon.
• Wei Sheng admitted to Wei He that he had attacked the Hong Family, then began studying the flesh-refining method and bought medicinal ingredients for training.
• After three days of practice, Che Zhenzhong urgently told Wei Sheng that the Hong Family Guard Team had identified Xiao Ran as the killer and beaten him badly.

After Xiao Ran was framed for the Hong Family heir’s murder and crippled by the Hong Family Guard Team, Fire Ox rescued him and ended the dispute. With Xiao Ran out of the Five Tiger Generals selection, Fire Ox gave Wei Sheng a treasure fish to help him advance his cultivation.

• Che Zhenzhong told Wei Sheng that Xiao Ran had seized a treasure fish and was falsely accused of murdering the Hong Family’s Eldest Master.
• The Hong Family Guard Team captured and severely beat Xiao Ran, but Fire Ox defeated the guards and brought him home.
• Wei Sheng saw Xiao Ran crippled and learned that his distant cousin accepted silver from Fire Ox before leaving with him.
• Fire Ox said Xiao Ran could no longer compete for the Five Tiger Generals and considered choosing a replacement.
• Fire Ox gave Wei Sheng an oxhorn pomfret and urged him to strengthen his qi and blood and reach the third refinement.

Fire Ox explained that he gave Wei Sheng the Treasure Fish because the Five Tiger Generals Selection offered a chance to obtain a sinew-refining method and a Leopard Fetus Sinew-Transforming Pill. After eating the fish and using its medicinal potency to improve his cultivation, Wei Sheng set out as the selection began.

• Fire Ox told Niu Yong that he had given Wei Sheng the Treasure Fish in hopes Wei Sheng could win the selection and help him reach the Third Refinement.
• Wei Sheng invited Che Zhenzhong to share the fish soup, but Che declined and wished him success.
• Wei Sheng explained the Treasure Fish’s value to Wei He and decided to help Fire Ox by entering the selection.
• Wei Sheng and Wei He cooked the Oxhorn Pomfret, and Wei Sheng consumed most of the fish and soup.
• Wei Sheng spent three days refining the Treasure Fish’s medicinal potency, then changed into his gang uniform and left as the Five Tiger Generals Selection began.

Fire Ox brought Wei Sheng, Che Zhenzhong, and Niu Yong to a meeting at Weiyuan Hall’s branch, where he confronted Violent Bear over Xiao Ran’s downfall. Black Tiger arrived with two imposing men, and Wei Sheng recognized the white crane patterns on one of them as belonging to White Crane Martial Arts Hall.

• Fire Ox brought Wei Sheng, Che Zhenzhong, and Niu Yong to the branch, where they found Shanjia and Brocade-Furred Rat waiting.
• Golden-Eyed Biao arrived with Ximen Bao, followed by Violent Bear and his men, including the gifted Huang Man’er.
• Fire Ox accused Violent Bear of stirring up trouble that led to Xiao Ran’s crippling, and Violent Bear mocked Fire Ox for lacking a Third Refinement expert.
• Golden-Eyed Biao and Shanjia bowed as Black Tiger entered, prompting the others to follow suit.
• Wei Sheng noticed that the young man beside Black Tiger wore white crane patterns associated with White Crane Martial Arts Hall.

Wei Sheng entered the Five Tiger Generals selection after Fire Ox nominated him, despite Violent Bear mocking him as only a second-refinement fighter. Huang Man’er defeated Brocade-Furred Rat and Ximen Bao with ease, leaving only himself and Wei Sheng in the contest.

• Li Fenghua announced that the selection’s last man standing would become a Five Tiger General and receive silver, Golden Body Paste, and a Flesh Refinement Method.
• Wei Sheng decided to compete for the rewards and accepted Fire Ox’s nomination after Violent Bear taunted Fire Ox for having no qualified fighter.
• Huang Man’er singled out Wei Sheng as a worthy opponent, and Wei Sheng replied that Huang Man’er still had to prove himself.
• Huang Man’er knocked Brocade-Furred Rat out of the contest with one punch, then revealed his copper skin and defeated Ximen Bao after three punches.
• Huang Man’er faced Wei Sheng as the only other fighter left and asked whether he was now qualified to challenge him.

Wei Sheng dominated Huang Man’er in the Five Tiger Generals selection, revealing strength far beyond the crowd’s expectations. Just as he unleashed a devastating punch, Violent Bear intervened to protect Huang Man’er, leaving Fire Ox stunned.

• Black Tiger warned Jiang Liuchuan against risking his foundation to force a breakthrough, and Jiang Liuchuan thanked him for the advice.
• Huang Man’er revealed his copper skin after defeating Ximen Bao, while the crowd learned Wei Sheng had reached the third refinement in only three months.
• Wei Sheng caught Huang Man’er’s punches one-handed, then struck him hard enough to scatter his copper glow and send him flying.
• Wei Sheng launched his full-strength Ox Demon Gores with Its Horns technique at Huang Man’er, but Violent Bear rushed in and blocked his path.

Wei Sheng defeated Huang Man’er and earned Black Tiger’s appointment as the fifth Tiger General, receiving a reward and invitations to join the White Crane Martial Arts Hall. Wei He learned of his brother’s success, and Wei Sheng returned home to find a visitor waiting.

• Wei Sheng struck Violent Bear back and was recognized by Jiang Liuchuan as having perfected skin refinement.
• Master Qin and Jiang Liuchuan argued over recruiting Wei Sheng, but Black Tiger named him the fifth Tiger General and gave him a banknote, Golden Body Paste, and a Flesh Refinement Method.
• Black Tiger hosted a banquet for Wei Sheng, where Jiang Liuchuan invited him to the White Crane Martial Arts Hall, though its hall master was away.
• Wei He practiced the Savage Bull Fist while worrying about Wei Sheng until Che Zhenzhong and Niu Yong told him that Wei Sheng had become a Tiger General.
• Wei Sheng returned home after the banquet, and a visitor arrived before he could drink the tea Wei He brought him.

After Wei Sheng became one of the Five Tiger Generals, Shanjia, Golden-Eyed Biao, Violent Bear, Fire Ox, and the Gaoliu Branch Hall members brought him gifts and congratulations. The news reached Lao Xu and Zhou Huan, leaving Lao Xu eager to see Wei Sheng and Zhou Huan and his wife regretting that they had turned him away.

• Shanjia visited Wei Sheng with Medicinal Wine, followed by Golden-Eyed Biao's gift of Wild Ginseng.
• Violent Bear came with Huang Man'er and Black Vajra, apologized for the Gaoliu Street incident, and gave Wei Sheng an Oxhorn Pomfret.
• Fire Ox congratulated Wei Sheng with another Oxhorn Pomfret and advised him to stay in and pursue the fourth refinement while preparing to take over Changyou's territory.
• Che Zhenzhong, Niu Yong, Cao Defa, and the Gaoliu Branch Hall members came to congratulate Wei Sheng, who wondered why A Chang had not visited.
• A Chang told Lao Xu about Wei Sheng's achievement, and Lao Xu concluded that Wei Sheng had avenged the Eldest Master of the Hong Family and rushed to find him.
• A friend told Zhou Huan that Wei Sheng had become a Tiger General, and Zhou Huan and his wife regretted turning Wei Sheng away.

Wei Sheng used a month of cultivation and Dao Origin to reach fifth refinement perfection, then went looking for Fire Ox to learn martial arts that could unleash Jin Force. He learned Black Tiger had summoned the Five Tiger Generals and hurried to Weiyuan Hall, where he heard Black Tiger shouting furiously.

• Wei Sheng reflected on the attention his battle might attract, then used Golden Body Paste to aid his cultivation.
• Wei Sheng spent a month practicing, refined the last of the paste, and used Dao Origin to advance the Spirit Ape Flesh-Refining Method to perfection.
• Wei Sheng rose to fifth refinement perfection with eight thousand jin of strength and realized he needed martial arts that could use Jin Force.
• Wei Sheng went to find Fire Ox but learned Tiger Lord had summoned him and the other Five Tiger Generals.
• Wei Sheng headed to Weiyuan Hall and heard Black Tiger's furious voice from inside.

Wei Sheng revealed that he had reached the fourth refinement, prompting Black Tiger to teach him the Tiger's Roar saber art. With Changyou's territory under threat, Wei Sheng offered to hold East Prosperity Street, but Black Tiger began his lesson by lunging at him with a saber.

• Wei Sheng arrived at Black Tiger's courtyard and learned that Wind and Cloud Hall and the Firewood-Fisher Gang had seized two of Changyou's streets and were targeting the last one.
• Wei Sheng demonstrated his fourth-refinement Jin Force by striking a jujube tree, impressing Black Tiger and the other tiger generals.
• Black Tiger praised Wei Sheng's breakthrough, while Fire Ox explained that Black Tiger had considered assigning him Changyou's territory but had delayed because of concerns about his strength.
• Wei Sheng offered to hold East Prosperity Street, but Black Tiger set the matter aside and chose to teach him a saber art for entering Jin Force.
• Black Tiger named the saber art Tiger's Roar and lunged at Wei Sheng's throat with his saber.

Wei Sheng learned the Tiger-Howling Saber Technique from Black Tiger and was tasked with taking over Changyou’s territory on East Prosperity Street. He set out the next morning with Che Zhenzhong, despite Fire Ox’s warnings that the assignment was dangerous.

• Black Tiger taught Wei Sheng the four moves of the Tiger-Howling Saber Technique and challenged him to reach minor attainment in a month for a surprise.
• Fire Ox warned Wei Sheng that Gu Diao and Chu Dongjiao might have been involved in Changyou’s death and advised him to protect his core holdings and avoid confrontation.
• Wei Sheng told Fire Ox he planned to leave for East Prosperity Street the next day.
• Wei Sheng set out with his saber and found Che Zhenzhong waiting to guide him around the street.
• Wei Sheng and Che Zhenzhong joked about fleeing danger, then agreed to take up the post together.

Wei Sheng took charge of Changyou Tea Shop and learned that Chu Dongjiao and Gu Diao had seized most of its territory and income. He confronted their gambling-house enforcer at Zhenglong Gambling House and crushed the dice in his hand, setting up a clash.

• Ding Ying and his men welcomed Wei Sheng as their new boss after discovering he had reached Fourth Refinement.
• Wei Sheng reviewed Changyou Tea Shop’s accounts and learned that its monthly revenue had fallen from about five hundred taels to less than twenty after Changyou’s death and Chu Dongjiao and Gu Diao’s takeover.
• Ding Ying urged Wei Sheng to win over East Prosperity Street’s shopkeepers, but Wei Sheng chose to take the initiative and went to Zhenglong Gambling House.
• Shrimp Head challenged Wei Sheng to gamble, and Wei Sheng bet that the dice cup was empty despite Shrimp Head revealing three dice inside.
• Wei Sheng grabbed the dice and crushed them into fine ash, then asked Shrimp Head what he thought now.

Wei Sheng took control of East Prosperity Street by defeating the gambling house’s enforcers and injuring Bald Brother Meng, then ordered Chu Dongjiao’s men to leave within three days. Snake Eye learned of the defeat and decided to set a trap for Wei Sheng when he returned.

• Wei Sheng and Ding Ying’s men smashed the Zhenglong Gambling House, and Wei Sheng defeated Bald Brother Meng with a single palm strike.
• Wei Sheng ordered Ding Ying to break one leg each of the gambling house’s men and sent a three-day ultimatum to Chu Dongjiao’s forces.
• Wei Sheng left with three hundred taels of silver from the gambling house.
• Snake Eye learned that Wei Sheng had defeated Bald Brother Meng and threatened to drive the Azure Dragon Hall from East Prosperity Street.
• Snake Eye rejected an immediate counterattack and agreed to set a trap at the gambling house for Wei Sheng’s return in three days.