Chapter Summaries

Lin Fan pushed his Body Tempering Art progress forward by buying extra medicinal food, aiming to become a martial artist that night. He also began serving as Young Master Tang’s live sparring dummy and discovered that sparring rapidly increased his technique progress.

• Lin Fan practiced the Body Tempering Art until hunger forced him to stop, then bought a bowl of medicinal food outside the school to avoid relying on the portion taken from him at the dining hall.
• Lin Fan returned to his dormitory and practiced until his Body Tempering Art reached entry level 300/800.
• Lin Fan bought another bowl of medicinal food the next morning and raised his Body Tempering Art progress to 530/800 by lunchtime.
• Young Master Tang began using Lin Fan as a live sparring dummy to help break through the plateaus in his Gang-Breaking Fist and Gale Leg.
• Lin Fan countered Young Master Tang while concealing his strength and watched his Gang-Breaking Fist and Gale Leg progress rise faster than it did during solo practice.

Lin Fan advanced his martial techniques and completed the first level of the Body Tempering Art, becoming a martial artist. As he resolved to grow stronger and kill Zhang Yu and the martial arts hall’s higher-ups, Zhang Yu received word that outer court disciples were needed to guard a medicinal garden from bandits.

• Young Master Tang taught Lin Fan about the grades of martial arts, intent, and Gang Qi, then resumed sparring with him.
• Lin Fan reached minor mastery in Gang-Breaking Fist and continued improving both techniques before receiving two taels of silver from Young Master Tang.
• Lin Fan practiced the Body Tempering Art until he generated Qi and blood, becoming a martial artist and gaining another thousand jin of strength.
• Lin Fan vowed not to grow complacent, set his sights on the pinnacle of martial arts, and reaffirmed his intent to kill Zhang Yu and the higher-ups who obstructed him.
• Senior Brother Tan told Zhang Yu that bandits had attacked nearby towns and that Shopkeeper Tang had requested help guarding a medicinal garden, so the hall would send twenty outer court disciples.

Zhang Yu arranged for Lin Fan and nineteen other outer courtyard disciples to guard Shopkeeper Tang's herb garden against the Greenwood bandits, sending them on a perilous mission. While Lin Fan and a household guard patrolled a hillside at night, two arrows struck them from behind.

• Zhang Yu ordered Han Feng to recruit twenty outer courtyard disciples, including Lin Fan, for the herb-garden mission.
• Senior Brother Tan told the disciples they would guard Shopkeeper Tang's herb garden against the Greenwood bandits, and Zhang Yu silenced their protests.
• The group rode to the estate outside the city, where Senior Brother Tan sent the outer courtyard disciples to patrol the herb fields without resting.
• Lin Fan and a household guard patrolled a hillside by moonlight, carrying a signal flare and hoping they would be safe.
• Two arrows flew from behind and struck Lin Fan and the household guard in the back.

Lin Fan survived a bandit ambush, killed his attackers, and returned to the manor, where he saw the losses among the outer courtyard disciples and was ordered back to patrol. Determined to survive, he practiced Gale Leg through the night and reached major accomplishment.

• Lin Fan played dead after being shot, then killed the two bandits with his Gang-Breaking Fist and took their silver and an arrowhead.
• Lin Fan fired a signal flare, reported the ambush to a senior brother, and carried the servant's body back to the manor.
• Lin Fan saw the dead outer courtyard disciples marked with the word “trash,” then was rebuked by Senior Brother Tan and sent back to patrol.
• Lin Fan practiced Gale Leg alone on his assigned hill through the night, reaching major accomplishment by dawn.

Lin Fan rested and cultivated during the day, then patrolled the medicinal fields at night as fireworks signaled attacks on the outer court disciples. After realizing the bandits might be using them as bait for the inner court disciples, he hid in the herbs, avoided a bandit's bluff, and watched a bandit and the rugged senior brother prepare to fight.

• Lin Fan ate medicinal food, rested in his own training room, and cultivated the Body Tempering Art until his progress reached 520.
• Lin Fan practiced Gale Leg while patrolling, but stopped when fireworks signaled that outer court disciples were being attacked.
• As more fireworks appeared, Lin Fan suspected the outer court disciples were bait for the bandits to draw out the inner court disciples and hid among the medicinal herbs.
• A bandit claimed to have found Lin Fan, but Lin Fan realized he was bluffing and stayed hidden as the bandit fired a signal flare.
• The rugged senior brother arrived to confront the bandit, and the two prepared to fight.

Lin Fan helped Yang Kuan defeat a bandit and nearly died in the fight, but the two survived and returned toward the manor. Yang Kuan offered to introduce Lin Fan to his master so they could become true fellow disciples.

• The bandit used Lin Fan as bait to ambush Yang Kuan, breaking his ribs with a palm strike.
• Lin Fan stabbed the bandit in the back of the head with a broken arrow and kicked it deeper, but the bandit wounded him in return.
• Yang Kuan struck the bandit from behind, killing him, then asked Lin Fan to give him a healing pill.
• Lin Fan looted the bandit's pouch, and Yang Kuan let him keep the money.
• Yang Kuan told Lin Fan his name and offered to introduce him to his master as a potential fellow disciple.

After surviving an attack, Lin Fan cultivated through a night of mounting deaths and perfected Gale Leg. Yang Kuan then revealed that the martial arts hall had been trapped in a deadly trial, leaving Lin Fan resolved to fight back despite the overwhelming odds.

• Lin Fan treated his injured shoulder with Broken Bone Salve and practiced Gale Leg while cries announced the deaths of several disciples.
• Lin Fan perfected Gale Leg before sunrise, then continued cultivating toward its intent level.
• Yang Kuan told Lin Fan he could no longer introduce him to his master because he expected not to survive the mission.
• Yang Kuan explained that the Green Snake Bandits' young chief was undergoing a trial and that a powerful protector had trapped everyone in town.
• Yang Kuan warned Lin Fan to flee when battle began and asked him to carry a final message to his master if he survived.
• Lin Fan clenched his fists and resolved to make his enemies pay, even if he died fighting them.

Lin Fan reached Intent Realm in Gale Leg and discovered he could use his blood Qi to temper his body directly, making his cultivation far faster despite his injured shoulder. After attaining lesser accomplishment in the Body Tempering Art, he joined the outer courtyard disciples in protesting Senior Brother Tan’s order to patrol the medicinal fields again.

• Lin Fan completed Gale Leg at Intent Realm and realized his speed still might not be enough to escape an Eighth Grade Greater Accomplishment martial artist.
• Lin Fan discovered that his control of blood Qi let him temper his body without practicing the Body Tempering Art normally, and the Fate Panel recorded his progress.
• Lin Fan rapidly advanced the Body Tempering Art until his sinews and bones rang in unison, then continued cultivating toward Ninth Grade Perfection.
• Lin Fan saw the inner courtyard disciples grieving the four deaths from the previous night at dinner.
• Senior Brother Tan ordered the outer courtyard disciples to patrol the medicinal fields again, and they protested that the bandits would kill them.

Lin Fan hid from the Green Snake Bandits while cultivating until he reached body tempering major accomplishment and unlocked Gang Qi. When a bandit found him and attacked, Lin Fan killed him with a single strike.

• Senior Brother Tan killed an outer court disciple who questioned his orders, then sent Lin Fan and the others to patrol as bait.
• Lin Fan hid in a herb field and continued practicing the Body Tempering Art while Senior Brother Tan and the inner court disciples prepared to attack the bandits.
• A bandit set the herb field on fire to flush Lin Fan out, but Lin Fan kept cultivating as the flames spread toward him.
• Lin Fan reached body tempering major accomplishment and discovered that he could wield Gang Qi.
• The bandit attacked Lin Fan, and Lin Fan killed him with a blast of Gang Qi.

Lin Fan returned to the manor after killing a bandit and found the mission force nearly wiped out. As the survivors prepared for a final battle, he cultivated desperately and resolved to help Yang Kuan escape if he could.

• Lin Fan found two gold leaves on the bandit, destroyed the corpse in the fire, and returned to the manor.
• Lin Fan learned that a bandit ambush had killed most of the disciples, leaving only seven survivors, including Yang Kuan and Tan Lin.
• Lin Fan cultivated through the night and into the next day, reaching five thousand progress in Body Tempering Art and gaining tremendous strength.
• Yang Kuan told Lin Fan that the final battle would come that night and that the outer court disciples would flee in separate directions.
• Lin Fan learned that the manor’s mole had been dealt with, vowed to help Yang Kuan if possible, and continued cultivating as the survivors ate their last supper.

Lin Fan escaped the town, killed two bandits, and hid in the hills to cultivate, but he discovered Tan Lin fleeing the same pursuit. As the bandit chasing Tan Lin was weakened by poisoned needles, Lin Fan prepared to kill Tan Lin in the woods.

• Lin Fan accepted Yang Kuan’s bundle of silver and letters, then left through the south gate after nightfall.
• Lin Fan killed two bandits who blocked his path, took their money pouches, and fled into the hills to cultivate.
• Lin Fan saw two eighth-rank bandits approaching and learned that one of them was chasing Tan Lin, who had disguised himself as an outer courtyard disciple to escape.
• Tan Lin fought the bandit, was badly injured, then struck him with poisoned Torrential Rain Pear Blossom Needles and fled into the woods.
• Lin Fan watched Tan Lin enter the woods and resolved to kill him.

Lin Fan killed the wounded Tan Lin and took his gold, then pursued the poisoned Green Snake Bandit guardian. He defeated the guardian with repeated Gang Qi attacks, leaving his corpse behind.

• Tan Lin ordered Lin Fan to help him, but Lin Fan refused and killed him with Gale Leg Gang Qi.
• Lin Fan took eight gold leaves from Tan Lin, destroyed his corpse, and set the weeds on fire to erase the evidence.
• Lin Fan approached the poisoned guardian, who mistook him for Tan Lin before recognizing his Intent Realm Gale Leg.
• The guardian tried to flee as Lin Fan kept his distance and struck with Gang Qi, worsening the poison in the guardian’s body.
• The guardian’s Golden Bell Shield broke under Lin Fan’s attacks, and the guardian fell dead.

Lin Fan killed the Green Snake Bandits’ protector, then returned to the manor and slaughtered the bandits who had captured Yang Kuan. He left with ten thousand taels of silver and found Yang Kuan still alive.

• Lin Fan killed the protector, buried his body to hide the evidence, and took a pouch full of gold leaves.
• Lin Fan discovered Yang Kuan and another inner court disciple tied up in the manor while bandits celebrated Zheng Huai’s rise as young chief.
• Lin Fan attacked the courtyard with Gang Qi, killing the bandits and badly injuring Zheng Huai.
• Zheng Huai mistook Lin Fan for Yue Shan and tried to leave, but Lin Fan killed him and looted his gold leaves.
• Lin Fan collected the bandits’ money, bringing his haul to ten thousand taels of silver, then checked Yang Kuan and found him alive.

After Lin Fan rescued Yang Kuan and another disciple from the burning manor, Yang Kuan offered him a chance to become Yue Shan’s nominal disciple if he achieved greater mastery of Iron Cloth Shirt. Zhang Yu and Li Feng then plotted to cripple Lin Fan and sabotage his treatment before he could meet that condition.

• Lin Fan brought Yang Kuan and another disciple safely back to Qingshan County, and Yang Kuan thanked him for saving his life.
• Yang Kuan told Lin Fan that Yue Shan would take him as a nominal disciple once he achieved greater mastery of Iron Cloth Shirt.
• Han Feng told Zhang Yu that Lin Fan might become Yue Shan’s disciple, and Zhang Yu sought Li Feng’s advice.
• Li Feng ordered Zhang Yu to ensure Lin Fan never achieved greater mastery of Iron Cloth Shirt.
• Zhang Yu told Han Feng to have Lu Hao break Lin Fan’s arms and legs, then secretly put Bone-Eroding Powder in Lin Fan’s medicine.

Lin Fan trained with Young Master Tang, helping him improve his martial arts while advancing his own skills and earning silver. At an assembly celebrating Li Feng’s promotion, Lin Fan defied Zhang Yu and mocked him for demanding applause despite Lin Fan’s injured shoulder.

• Lin Fan waited for Young Master Tang, then sparred with him until Young Master Tang’s Gang-Breaking Fist reached major accomplishment, earning Lin Fan ten taels of silver.
• Young Master Tang continued sparring with Lin Fan, and his Gale Leg also reached major accomplishment, earning Lin Fan another ten taels.
• Zhang Yu’s lackeys announced that Li Feng’s Iron Cloth Shirt had reached major accomplishment and that Li Feng would become Hall Master Ma’s disciple.
• Han Feng brought Lin Fan to the assembly, where Zhang Yu led the outer court disciples in congratulating Li Feng.
• When Zhang Yu berated him for not clapping, Lin Fan said his shoulder was cracked and mocked Zhang Yu by asking if he should clap with his buttocks or fart like firecrackers.

Lin Fan humiliated Li Feng in front of the outer courtyard disciples, revealing his unexpected mastery of martial techniques. After Zhang Yu and Li Feng plotted to cripple him, Lu Hao returned to the dormitory, where Lin Fan’s next confrontation was about to begin.

• Zhang Yu stopped himself from slapping Lin Fan and let Li Feng challenge him instead.
• Lin Fan dodged Li Feng’s punch, struck him in the face, and knocked him down, earning the laughter and gratitude of the outer courtyard disciples.
• Zhang Yu helped the humiliated Li Feng leave, and the two resolved to have Lin Fan crippled.
• Lin Fan trained the Body Tempering Art in his dormitory until his progress reached 8200, then heard the senior brothers return from disaster relief.
• Lu Hao arrived at the dormitory, and the disciples feared for Lin Fan as Zhang Yu appeared to watch him get beaten.

Lin Fan effortlessly outmaneuvered Lu Hao in a dormitory fight, prompting onlookers to recognize his combat instincts as those of a possible combat prodigy. Lu Hao fled in humiliation, while Zhang Yu left determined to kill Lin Fan.

• Lu Hao confronted Lin Fan in the dormitory and attacked him, but Lin Fan tripped him and slapped him.
• Lu Hao pursued Lin Fan outside and attacked with his Gang-Breaking Fist, but Lin Fan dodged and kicked him in the groin.
• Lin Fan repeatedly evaded Lu Hao's attacks and struck openings in his defenses, stunning the crowd with his combat skill.
• The onlookers called Lin Fan a combat prodigy, and Zhang Yu feared how quickly Lin Fan might grow stronger.
• Lin Fan knocked Lu Hao down, and Zhang Yu left vowing to kill him; Lu Hao then fled the crowd in humiliation.

Lin Fan reached Body Tempering Perfection and demonstrated that his Iron Cloth Shirt had reached major accomplishment. Yue Shan confirmed his achievement and accepted him as a disciple, opening the way for Lin Fan to enter the inner court and pursue Bone Forging.

• Lin Fan completed Body Tempering Art, reaching perfection and gaining the strength of a hundred thousand jin.
• Yang Kuan told Lin Fan that the Green Snake Bandits' lair was deserted and warned him to respect the martial arts hall's rules.
• Lin Fan revealed his major accomplishment in Iron Cloth Shirt, and Yang Kuan tested his arm with a cleaver before taking him to Yue Shan.
• Yue Shan tested Lin Fan, confirmed his Iron Cloth Shirt achievement, and accepted him as his disciple.

Lin Fan became Yue Shan’s disciple and entered the inner courtyard, where he began learning the Body Tempering Art while hiding how quickly he could master it. After hearing that Martial Dao Monsters with Divine Ability Bones were hunted for their bones, he resolved to keep his talent secret and looked for a way to obtain a Bone Forging method.

• Yue Shan accepted Lin Fan as his disciple, gave him a welcoming gift, and ordered Yang Kuan to register him and teach him the Body Tempering Art.
• Zhang Yu and Li Feng reacted with jealousy and anger to Lin Fan’s rise, and Zhang Yu decided that Lin Fan had to die.
• Yang Kuan registered Lin Fan as an inner courtyard disciple and showed him his private training room, where he began teaching him the Body Tempering Art.
• Yang Kuan described Martial Dao Monsters with Divine Ability Bones, and Lin Fan recognized that their talents resembled his own and feared his secret could make him a target.
• After lunch, Lin Fan asked Yang Kuan about Bone Forging, learned that Yang Kuan had not started it, and worried that he would need another way to obtain a Bone Forging method.

Lin Fan learned that Qingshan County had a black market and planned to seek a bone forging technique there, then returned to the rear courtyard with Yang Kuan. After reuniting with Wang Wu, Meng Lin, Sun Ming, and Fang Xiang, Lin Fan discovered Hu Gao had been stealing their medicinal food and mistreating them, so he and Yang Kuan planned to arrest him.

• Yang Kuan told Lin Fan that Qingshan County's black market was near the south gate and warned him about its dangers, but Lin Fan secretly decided to go there that night for a bone forging technique.
• Lin Fan returned to the rear courtyard with Yang Kuan to visit his friends and confront the instructor who had treated them badly.
• Wang Wu, Meng Lin, Sun Ming, and Fang Xiang worried about Lin Fan and complained that Hu Gao had reduced their medicinal food while doubling their training.
• Lin Fan reunited with them and revealed that he had become an inner courtyard disciple under Head Steward Yue Shan and had publicly beaten Li Feng.
• Wang Wu and the others told Lin Fan that Hu Gao had skimmed their medicinal food and used the money to visit Pleasant Spring Pavilion; Yang Kuan entered and agreed to arrest Hu Gao with Lin Fan.