Chapter Summaries

Lian Youming practiced Earthly Fiend Stance in a thunderstorm and discovered that its sequence let him use the thunder’s vibrations to develop Heavenly Dipper Strength. After making a partial breakthrough, he met the mysterious young man, who warned him that realm wardens would threaten anyone trying to advance and suggested that both Du Xinwu and Lian Youming’s master might be involved.

• Lian Youming climbed to the mountain summit and narrowly avoided being struck by lightning as it hit a metal-like rock.
• Lian Youming practiced Earthly Fiend Stance to the thunder, realized its prescribed sequence could reveal a pattern of muscular force, and spent three days exploring it.
• Lian Youming produced a brief internal rumble of thunder and felt the force travel from his spine through his muscles before pain forced him to stop.
• Lian Youming demonstrated a sharp, sword-like note, then noticed the mysterious young man waiting across the snowfield.
• The young man warned Lian Youming that realm wardens targeted people attempting to break through a realm and identified Du Xinwu and Lian Youming’s master as possible threats.
• The young man left, urging Lian Youming to be careful and saying he hoped they would someday fight their enemies side by side.

After returning to Xijing, Lian Youming learned that the Junk King had come home safely, though he had been wounded fighting Eyeless Monk, a Mountain Guardian involved in Du Xinwu’s death. The two discussed the hidden guardians and resolved to kill them, while the Junk King secretly admitted that the coming struggle would demand caution.

• Lian Youming called Yang Lian, who reported that martial sects were watching activity in Shanxi and warned that the White Lotus Sect, Overseas Green Gang, and Hongmen were pursuing Boss Du’s resources; Yang Lian also explained Gu Chan’s connection to the White Lotus Sect.
• Lian Youming returned home and found Yan Lingyun, their child, and the Junk King waiting; relieved to see his master safe, he joined the family for a meal.
• The Junk King showed Lian Youming the palm injury he had suffered while fighting Eyeless Monk at Xuankong Temple and explained that the blind monk had become a Mountain Guardian after destroying his own eyes.
• The Junk King revealed that Eyeless Monk had taken part in Du Xinwu’s encirclement and killing, and Lian Youming recounted how Mr. Corpse, another of the Five Elders, had escaped him.
• The Junk King declared that they would kill the Mountain Guardians rather than merely cripple them, and Lian Youming agreed that the battle was unavoidable.
• After Lian Youming left, the Junk King spoke privately with someone in the room behind him, admitting that Eyeless Monk had nearly defeated them and warning that the other Mountain Guardians would not wait passively.

Lian Youming returned home as his family prepared to travel south for New Year, while Yan Lingyun’s suggestive medicinal wines left him flustered. Elsewhere, Xue Hen faced three martial artists at the Hanging Temple, Gong Wuer met Gu Feiyan at Mount Lu, and Wu Jiu stood with allies against an intruder seeking Yang Shuang.

• Lian Youming reunited with his parents and Yan Lingyun, learned Master was fine, and noticed the Tiger Bone Wine and Seahorse Wine she had set out.
• At the Hengshan Hanging Temple, Xue Hen promised the dead old monk he would challenge the summit again, then confronted three visitors who tried to recruit him and announced they had targeted several martial artists.
• Xue Hen recognized the attackers’ fighting styles and leapt from the temple railing as the swordsman and the other two pursued him across the cliff.
• Gu Feiyan introduced herself as Gu Chan’s elder sister and challenged Gong Wuer after recognizing her Elixir Skill; Gong Wuer answered with Five Phoenixes Cry in Unison.
• An old man demanded that Wu Jiu hand over Yang Shuang, but Xie Ruomei, Yang Shuang, and A Xing joined Wu Jiu, who revealed his Dragon Roaring Iron Shirt and challenged the intruder.

Lian Youming accepted an overseas martial arts challenge as attacks on prominent young disciples threatened to plunge the martial world into chaos. After Junk King explained the power of Mystic Connection, Lian Youming heard an injured person moving through the snow that night and went out to pursue them.

• Lian Youming learned from Yang Lian that young disciples from fifteen schools had been attacked, while Xue Hen and Gong Wuer had disappeared.
• Yang Lian told Lian Youming that overseas Hongmen and Green Gang experts had challenged him, and Lian Youming accepted in exchange for two hundred thousand.
• Junk King explained that Mystic Connection martial artists could sense and evade dangers before encountering them, beyond the reach of ordinary Foresight.
• Lian Youming heard faint footsteps in the snow and suspected an injured person he knew was being hunted.
• Lian Youming left the house to follow the footsteps, while Junk King stood beneath the eaves.

Tian Dayong was pursued through the snow by two Foresight Martial Artists seeking Lian Youming and his Gall-Illuminating Sword. Lian Youming arrived and confronted the pair, who revealed that Gu Chan wanted him; when they attacked, he met them with sword and fist.

• Tian Dayong fled with Lian Youming's Gall-Illuminating Sword as two fighters chased him and demanded that he lead them to the Taiji Demon.
• The woman used Snow Treading Without Trace and Cotton Palm to disrupt Tian Dayong's balance and knock him down.
• Tian Dayong taunted his pursuers about their missing companion, and Lian Youming suddenly appeared and drove the pair back with both fists.
• Tian Dayong gave Lian Youming the Gall-Illuminating Sword and explained that Martial Uncle Xu had sent him to deliver a warning and return the blade.
• The woman said Gu Chan had invited Lian Youming to join them, but he refused and questioned the pair about their base at sea.
• The woman attacked Lian Youming from behind as the man drew his sword and struck from the front; Lian Youming dodged and recognized the Wudang Sword Technique.

Lian Youming fought two foreign-trained martial artists who used advanced techniques and injected themselves with drugs to boost their strength. After Tian Dayong noticed they lacked Foresight despite their power, Lian Youming realized they followed a different path, and the man launched a Baji Boxing attack.

• Lian Youming exchanged attacks with the man’s swordsmanship and the woman’s Taiji techniques, then used Xue Hen’s Imitative Form Art to counter her Cannon Punch.
• Lian Youming matched the man’s Wudang sword technique and turned his own move against him while the woman threw concealed weapons and scattered iron spikes.
• Lian Youming wounded the man and exchanged a punch with the woman, then challenged their claim that greater progress meant greater strength.
• The man and woman injected themselves with syringes, rapidly increasing their strength, and demanded that Lian Youming come with them.
• Tian Dayong warned that the pair lacked the Ability of Foresight, and the man claimed their leader had created a new path before charging Lian Youming with Baji Boxing.

Lian Youming fought a man and woman whose unusual strength came from an alternative path, defeating the man and capturing the woman alive. He learned that the pair's offensive and defensive formation depended on three people, while the captured woman remarked on how quickly his strength had improved.

• Lian Youming used Taiji to deflect the man's punch and assessed that both opponents had tremendous bodily mastery but lacked foresight.
• The woman attacked Lian Youming with Taiji techniques, and he met her assault before countering as the man charged back in.
• The man and woman tried to seize Lian Youming and attack his chest, but he used a Toad Croak to injure the man and make the Pulse Gate Nail pierce the woman's hand.
• Lian Youming pulled both opponents off balance and kicked them away, but the man recovered with twin swords and charged at him.
• Lian Youming blinded the man with blood and killed him with a Phoenix Eye strike to the lower back.
• Lian Youming stopped the woman's attack and struck her Shanzhong Acupoint, leaving her alive as he said their formation required three people.

Lian Youming and Tian Dayong discovered that a mysterious group was using injections to boost their fighters, while the cost of the power seemed to be bodily collapse. After learning that the group had abducted Li Yinhuan and that the sects were forming an alliance, Lian Youming returned home, where Yan Lingyun revealed her father had once experimented with injecting Old Medicine.

• Lian Youming and Tian Dayong found an unused injection and discovered the fighters bore the numbers 011 and 012.
• Lian Youming realized the woman’s body was breaking down because her mind and body could not sustain the injected power.
• Shorty Xu and Senior Li arrived and said the sects were organizing against the mysterious force, which had also abducted Li Yinhuan.
• Lian Youming returned home and reunited with Yan Lingyun and their son.
• Yan Lingyun told Lian Youming that her father had once tried making Old Medicine into injections and suggested he ask him about it.

Lian Youming learned that Yan Beitong’s old-medicine experiments were connected to a Hong Kong doctor who tested a mind-stimulating formula on people and animals. Before Lian Youming left for the South, Junk King announced he would pursue a dangerous breakthrough to mystic connection and vanished after saying farewell.

• Lian Youming asked Yan Beitong whether the old medicine could be made into an injectable formula, and Yan recalled failed experiments and a Hong Kong White Eyebrow Fist doctor who had tested similar formulas.
• Yan Beitong revealed that the doctor had brain cancer, experimented on living people, and possessed an old medicine prescription that seemed to stimulate the mind.
• Lian Youming agreed not to interfere unless necessary, but decided to alert Xu Tian and the others about the doctor.
• Junk King dismissed the formula as a paltry method of strengthening qi-blood and asked when Lian Youming would leave for the South.
• Junk King told Lian Youming he intended to pursue mystic connection, and Lian Youming knelt and kowtowed as they parted.
• Junk King urged Lian Youming to treat Lingyun well, mentioned the Daoist scriptures and medical classics he had left behind, and then vanished from the meditation cushion.

Lian Youming left his family to investigate the Green Gang and found the Baji Martial Arts Hall deserted after a fight. In Foshan, he disguised himself and found Yang Lian facing a group of overseas challengers at the barbershop.

• The Junk King watched Zhao Lanxiang’s family leave, then spoke with the ageless woman from the tomb and said he would make his attempt after the New Year.
• Lian Youming separated from his family in Guangzhou and went to the Baji Martial Arts Hall, where he found damage, blood, and signs of a fight.
• Lian Youming traveled to Foshan and noticed people watching the barbershop, so he changed his appearance before entering.
• Lian Youming stayed for a haircut as night fell, while Yang Lian and Zhang Asi prepared for six or seven approaching figures from overseas.
• Yang Lian told Lian Youming she could handle the challengers and played a Cantonese duet on the gramophone.

Miss Situ tried to buy Yang Lian’s information about the Green Gang token and recruit her, but Yang Lian refused and called for a battle date. When Miss Situ’s group attacked, Lian Youming intervened and struck down Feng Kui.

• Miss Situ arrived with six men and asked Yang Lian about the Green Gang token and the Tong-generation master who held the Hongmen token.
• Miss Situ offered Yang Lian gold bars for information and invited her to join forces, but Yang Lian refused and demanded that they set a battle date and location.
• A burly man lunged at Lian Youming, but recoiled after touching him, prompting Miss Situ to recognize him as a master.
• Lian Youming challenged Feng Kui, then used the Six-Syllable Mantra to disrupt the old man’s attack.
• Lian Youming deflected Feng Kui’s crane claws and struck him with Xingyi Pounding Fist, sending him flying.

Lian Youming defeated an old man and met Situ Wudi, who revealed the secrets behind the Three Teachings’ reserves and proposed an alliance to claim them. Lian Youming agreed but proposed that he, Situ Wudi, and the White Lotus Sect Master fight to determine who would lead the Three Teachings.

• Lian Youming sent the old man crashing into a wall and exposed that he had altered his appearance.
• Situ Wudi revealed himself as the man shielding Miss Situ, and Yang Lian and Miss Situ led their people to the back courtyard.
• Situ Wudi explained that the reserves contained ancient treasures and medicine intended to help counter the Mountain Guardians.
• Situ Wudi proposed joining forces with Lian Youming to reach the overseas reserves, offering to make the Overseas Green Gang serve Lian Youming if he lost.
• Lian Youming agreed to an alliance but proposed that he, Situ Wudi, and the White Lotus Sect Master settle who was strongest and become head of the Three Teachings.
• Situ Wudi accepted, and Lian Youming saw that he had the double pupils recorded in ancient texts.

Lian Youming accepted the Hongmen Token and prepared to arm his group while teaching them the Six-Syllable Mantra to strengthen them for the battles ahead. After guiding four people through the art overnight, he left at dawn to celebrate the New Year.

• Lian Youming explained that he and Situ Wudi would form an alliance against the Mountain Guardians, then asked Yang Lian to use the gold bars to buy powerful weapons and explosives.
• Yang Shuang gave Lian Youming the Hongmen Token, and he noticed that A Xing was pregnant and learned that she and Wu Jiu planned to marry after New Year.
• Lian Youming discovered that Xie Ruomei was practicing Iron Sand Palm and offered to teach everyone the Six-Syllable Mantra.
• Lian Youming guided Xie Ruomei and three others through the mantra, using their practice to help them develop their inner strength.
• After meditating through the night, Lian Youming left the courtyard at dawn and wished everyone a happy New Year.

Xu Tian and the assembled martial arts factions examined drugs used by the Mysterious Force and learned they granted temporary strength at the cost of the users’ vitality. Gu Feiyan arrived at the Baji Sect and confronted Xu Tian over an old grudge tied to the White Lotus Sect Holy Son.

• Xu Tian presented syringes and blue pills left by the Mysterious Force and explained their effects to the gathered martial artists.
• Gong Qitian described encountering three drug-enhanced fighters and showed corpses whose vitality had dispersed after the drugs wore off.
• Gu Feiyan and three companions entered the courtyard, provoking the assembled factions to demand answers about missing people.
• Gu Feiyan said she was Gu Chan’s older sister and offered to answer for her younger sister’s actions.
• Gu Feiyan told Xu Tian she had come to settle an old grudge and asked whether he remembered the White Lotus Sect Holy Son.

Gu Feiyan confronted the martial arts leaders over the fate of her grandfather, the White Lotus Saint Son, and challenged the martial world to a tournament. Xu Tian accepted the challenge for ten fighters, with the contest set for the end of April at an undisclosed location, while the captured disciples and leaders remained in Gu Feiyan’s custody.

• Gu Feiyan argued with Xu Tian and the other leaders that her grandfather had been condemned while his followers, including the elderly, women, and children, were also slaughtered.
• Gu Feiyan revealed that she had captured thirty-seven true disciples, five elders, and three sect leaders, and that their lives depended on the leaders’ choices.
• Gu Feiyan announced a martial arts tournament to challenge experts from across the world, and Xu Tian agreed to participate on behalf of the Northern and Southern Martial Arts World.
• Gu Feiyan set the contest for the end of April outside the country and offered to release her captives if one of the ten selected fighters defeated her.
• After Gu Feiyan left the Baji Sect, Xu Tian and the Xingyi Sect elder discussed her resemblance to her grandfather and feared that Fist Challenges the World and another demon-extermination war could devastate the Martial Way.

During New Year's celebrations, Lian Youming embraced his family ties as a way to temper his martial intent, then learned that Sun Duhe had gone missing after acquiring antique paintings and agreed to investigate. He prepared to return to Guangzhou with Yan Tao to protect her and her child while searching for Sun.

• At the Yan family’s New Year’s Eve dinner, Lian Youming accepted his love for ordinary family life as a path to strengthening his martial intent, and he and Yan Lingyun exchanged affectionate words.
• After the holidays, Lian Youming took his family sightseeing in Guangzhou, hoping his parents would broaden their horizons and prepare for changing times.
• At the Yan Medical Hall, Yan Tao arrived with her young daughter and told Lian Youming that Sun Duhe had been missing for half a month.
• Yan Tao explained that Sun had acquired three paintings said to have come from Cixi’s tomb, and that someone had searched their home for them.
• Lian Youming suspected a martial-world connection and agreed to return to Guangzhou with Yan Tao to investigate and protect her and her child.

Lian Youming went to Guangzhou with Yan Tao to rescue Sun Duhe and found enemies waiting at the hidden compartment in Sun’s home. After defeating two Muay Thai fighters and confronting a numbered man who fled, Lian Youming pursued him to the Pearl River, where another opponent challenged him as Liu Wudi.

• Yan Tao brought Lian Youming to Guangzhou, explained that Sun Duhe had disappeared, and asked to become his disciple; Lian Youming told her to ask again after the rescue.
• At Sun Duhe’s home, Lian Youming found the hidden compartment and its paintings as armed figures gathered outside.
• A bald young man marked with the number 13 confronted Lian Youming alongside two Muay Thai fighters and demanded the paintings.
• The two fighters swallowed blue pills and attacked, but Lian Youming killed them with quick strikes; the young man recognized him as Liu Wudi and fled.
• Lian Youming summoned Green Gang disciples to collect the bodies and protect Yan Tao, then pursued the fleeing man to the Pearl River.
• A voice from a lighted fishing boat called Lian Youming Liu Wudi and challenged him, and Lian Youming answered defiantly.

Lian Youming arrived on Sun Duhe’s fishing boat and faced the numbered martial artists seeking the Antique Paintings. After Sun Duhe escaped, Lian Youming stunned the attackers with his Witnessing Art and challenged them to fight together.

• Lian Youming boarded the boat carrying the Antique Paintings, and Sun Duhe recognized him and warned him to flee.
• Lian Youming told Sun Duhe to leave, then confronted the young man in the Tang suit, who bore the number 6, and his three companions.
• The short, muscular fighter and the Muay Thai expert attacked Lian Youming, while the Tang-suited man moved toward the paintings.
• Lian Youming used a Buddhist chant and sword-like flashes from his eyes to halt the attackers and drive them back.
• Lian Youming spared the two fighters once and challenged all four men to attack him together.

Lian Youming fought four drug-enhanced martial artists and uncovered that the young man in Tang attire had learned an incomplete Dragon Roaring Iron Shirt. When Lian Youming's mask shattered, his opponents recognized him as the Taiji Demon.

• The young man in Tang attire and his three companions used pills and injections to boost their strength before attacking Lian Youming together.
• Lian Youming recognized the young man's Dragon Roaring Iron Shirt and questioned where he had learned the lost martial art.
• Lian Youming used Taiji Hua Jin to redirect the young man's powerful Taizu Long Fist, then tested the unstable Iron Shirt with Taiji Listening Jin.
• After the four men surrounded him, Lian Youming used Half-Step Crushing Fist to knock the three attackers backward and make them spit blood.
• Lian Youming exchanged a blow with the young man in Tang attire, and his mask shattered, revealing his identity as the Taiji Demon.

Lian Youming fought the Tang-suited young man and his three companions after recognizing that the young man’s martial art might be connected to Dragon Roaring Iron Shirt. He left the bald renegade alive long enough to learn that the young man had learned the art from a Female Daoist imprisoned on a Sea Island.

• The Tang-suited young man hinted that his martial art had a deep connection to Lian Youming, then attacked him.
• Lian Youming exchanged a powerful punch with the young man and countered as the three companions joined the fight.
• Lian Youming struck the short man with Striking Force Across the Air and wounded the Muay Thai expert despite his Ability of Foresight.
• Lian Youming tore off the bald young man’s arms and seized him as the others were overwhelmed.
• The bald young man revealed that the Tang-suited young man learned Dragon Roaring Iron Shirt from a Female Daoist imprisoned on a Sea Island, leaving Lian Youming shocked.