Chapter Summaries

Zhang Lingfeng and Zhang Laochong settled the immediate conflict with the Li Clan while Zhang Lingfeng continued cultivating toward Dark Force. At the martial school’s hiring demonstration, Zhang Lingfeng offered Chen Qing an honorary post guarding the Zhang Clan’s fields, leaving Ye Fan surprised and contemptuous.

• Zhang Laochong gave Zhang Lingfeng five hundred taels from the Li Clan and explained that rumors about Master Hong’s family had turned his supposed avengers against them.
• Zhang Lingfeng told Zhang Laochong he expected to cultivate Dark Force within a year, and Zhang Laochong promised to support his training while keeping the Li Clan in check.
• Zhang Lingfeng gave Liu Feng sixty taels in dividends from Warm Breeze Hall, and a month later the Zhang Clan’s water agreement with the Li Clan concluded for ten years.
• Wu Yun announced that employers would select martial artists for honorary posts, and Zhang Lingfeng asked Guo Wei for permission to recruit a disciple to guard his family’s fields.
• After Ye Fan secured a hundred-tael monthly stipend from the Yan Lineage, Zhang Lingfeng offered Chen Qing fifteen taels a month and meat to serve the Zhang Clan, and Chen Qing accepted.

Zhang Lingfeng hired Chen Qing as a martial instructor for the Zhang household and strengthened his family’s position in Zhang Family Gully. Three months later, Guo Wei warned him that breaking through to Dark Force meant undoing deeper bodily shackles, though Zhang Lingfeng remained determined to keep cultivating.

• Zhang Lingfeng arranged for Chen Qing to join the Zhang household, and Zhang Laochong welcomed him before showing him the fields.
• Word spread that the Zhang Clan had hired a martial instructor and controlled the water source on Little Moon Mountain, forcing even the Li Clan to pay water fees.
• Three months later, Zhang Lingfeng continued practicing the Twelve-Routine Iron Mountain Fist and had less than three months remaining before his expected Dark Force breakthrough.
• Guo Wei examined Zhang Lingfeng’s bone structure and explained that each martial breakthrough required undoing a deeper set of bodily shackles.
• Zhang Lingfeng thanked Guo Wei and vowed to cultivate harder, while Guo Wei worried that he had not understood the difficulty of breaking through.

Zhang Lingfeng learned that abundant blood and Qi improved the odds of breaking through, then watched Ye Fan fail an early attempt to reach Dark Force. Ye Fan escaped lasting harm and could try again after recovering, while Zhang Lingfeng quietly resolved to see who would break through first.

• Zhang Lingfeng asked Guo Wei whether even those with excellent bones and constitution needed to build up blood and Qi before each breakthrough, and Guo Wei confirmed they did.
• A month later, Ye Fan secretly attempted to break through to Dark Force, hoping to surprise Guo Wei, while Zhang Lingfeng and the others waited outside.
• Ye Fan failed and was left weak, but Guo Wei found no lingering damage and told him to recover before trying again.
• The disciples discussed Ye Fan's failure, and Zhang Lingfeng suspected Wu Yun and the others had helped provoke his premature attempt.
• Zhang Lingfeng took heart that Ye Fan could try again and privately decided to compete with him to reach Dark Force first.

Zhang Lingfeng secured official approval to open a Warm Breeze Hall gambling house by agreeing to give Huang Jiefu sixty percent of its proceeds, then spent over a month mastering Dark Force. As rumors reached the Baile Gambling House, Dong Wenhan began investigating, while Hei Hu denied the plan despite letting a gambler see evidence of the preparations.

• Zhang Lingfeng brought Chen Sanshi to Wu Yun and asked him to introduce them to Huang Jiefu, who could help secure permission for a gambling house.
• At a banquet, Zhang Lingfeng and Chen Sanshi won Huang Jiefu’s support, though he demanded sixty percent of the gambling house’s monthly proceeds.
• Zhang Lingfeng accepted Huang Jiefu’s terms and told Zhang Pingping to spread word that the gambling house would open in two months.
• After more than a month of training, Zhang Lingfeng reached Dark Force Entry.
• News of the planned gambling house reached Dong Wenhan, who sent Li Si to investigate, while Hei Hu denied the plan to Ma Sanyang even as the courtyard revealed the preparations.

Dong Wenhan tried to stop Warm Breeze Hall from opening a gambling house in Baile Ward, while Wu Yun accepted money from both sides and warned Zhang Lingfeng about the Baile Gang’s strength. Zhang Lingfeng pretended to abandon the plan, then Dong Wenhan learned what he believed was the weakness behind Warm Breeze Hall and grew furious.

• Dong Wenhan learned that Warm Breeze Hall had official approval to open a gambling house, failed to block it, and agreed to pay the authorities an additional share of his proceeds.
• Wu Yun accepted five hundred taels from Dong Wenhan to stay out of the conflict, then warned Zhang Lingfeng that Dong Wenhan and the Baile Gang would be dangerous opponents.
• Zhang Lingfeng told Chen Sanshi and Zhang Pingping to send Dong Wenhan a letter claiming Warm Breeze Hall would abandon its gambling house, while secretly preparing to draw him into trouble when it opened.
• Dong Wenhan sent Warm Breeze Hall a threatening letter bearing a bloody handprint and a thumb-bone pendant, then ordered Li Si to investigate Chen Sanshi’s connections.
• Li Si reported that Zhang Lingfeng was a failed Dark Force cultivator tied to the Zhang Clan and said Wei He wanted revenge on him, leaving Dong Wenhan convinced Warm Breeze Hall was weak.

Dong Wenhan offered Wei He gifts to recruit him into an attack on Warm Breeze Hall, and Wei He pretended to accept. The meeting ended with an ambush that shattered Dong Wenhan’s spine.

• Dong Wenhan rallied the Baile Gang to destroy Warm Breeze Hall and decided to recruit Wei He to help kill Zhang Lingfeng.
• Dong Wenhan and Li Si brought gifts to Wei He, who was training in his courtyard while trying to recover from his failed breakthrough to Dark Force.
• Wei He accepted Dong Wenhan’s proposal, claiming Warm Breeze Hall had humiliated him by detaining his sisters and forcing him to kill a martial master.
• Wei He grabbed Dong Wenhan’s hands and held him as three figures rushed from the side room.
• One of the ambushers struck Dong Wenhan behind the heart, shattering his spine and leaving him rigid.

Zhang Lingfeng and his allies killed Dong Wenhan and began taking control of the Baile Gang’s businesses. As the night’s operation continued, Zhang Pingping directed the takeover while Zhang Lingfeng returned to the martial arts school, keeping his new Dark Force cultivation secret.

• Zhang Lingfeng beat Dong Wenhan to death while Wei He restrained his hands, and Liu Feng killed the guards outside.
• Li Si thanked Zhang Lingfeng and Chen Sanshi after learning his family was safe, then left to help manage the Baile Gang’s gambling houses.
• Zhang Lingfeng, Chen Sanshi, and Wei He explained how they had lured Dong Wenhan to Wei He’s home and arranged his death.
• Zhang Pingping promised to search for precious medicines to help Liu Feng pursue a breakthrough, and he went to help subdue the Baile Gang.
• Zhang Pingping told Zhang Lingfeng to conceal his Dark Force cultivation until they had dealt with the Baile Gang and exposed any rival opportunists.
• As reports and spoils arrived through the night, Zhang Pingping assigned the others their duties, and Zhang Lingfeng headed to the martial arts school at dawn.

After the Warm Breeze Hall and the Baile Gang fought, Wu Yun arrived at the martial arts school fearing the worst for Zhang Lingfeng and Liu Feng. He revealed that Zhang Lingfeng secretly led the Warm Breeze Hall, just as someone greeted Senior Brother Zhang from the outer courtyard.

• The county yamen inspected the Baile Ward after the battle, removed injured gang members, and began clearing corpses and bloodstains.
• Wu Yun found Hei Hu, Sun Yan, Zhang Lingfeng, and Liu Feng absent from the martial arts school and feared the Warm Breeze Hall had lost.
• The inner courtyard disciples discussed the fight, and Wu Yun disclosed that Zhang Lingfeng was the true master behind the Warm Breeze Hall.
• Wu Yun explained that Zhang Lingfeng had provoked the Baile Gang by insisting on opening a gambling den in its ward, despite Dong Wenhan's warning.
• A respectful voice called out, "Good morning, Senior Brother Zhang!" from the outer courtyard.

Zhang Lingfeng arrived at the inner courtyard alive and revealed that Warm Breeze Hall had killed Dong Wenhan and taken over the Baile Gang. He invited his fellow disciples to a banquet at the Drunken Spring House, and they agreed to attend as Warm Breeze Hall’s growing strength became clear.

• Zhang Lingfeng greeted Wu Yun, Ye Fan, Zhao Hu, Liu Rushuang, and Ma Fei after arriving with Liu Feng, Hei Hu, Sun Yan, and the outer courtyard apprentices.
• Zhang Lingfeng said Warm Breeze Hall had killed Dong Wenhan and absorbed the Baile Gang after Dong attacked them.
• Zhang Lingfeng invited the disciples to a banquet at the Drunken Spring House, and Wu Yun accepted.
• Liu Feng explained that Zhang Lingfeng had killed Dong Wenhan with strikes to his back that shattered his internal organs.
• Ma Fei, Zhao Hu, Liu Rushuang, and Ye Fan congratulated Zhang Lingfeng and agreed to attend the banquet.

Warm Breeze Hall’s show of strength and government backing left the Li Clan isolated in its dispute with the Zhang Clan over Little Moon Mountain’s water. Li Mingtian sold the clan’s 763 mu of land to Zhang Laochong for 500 taels, then revealed that Wang Fang had misled them about the water source.

• Warm Breeze Hall held a banquet attended by Dark Force martial artists and Huang Jiefu, demonstrating its strength and government support to Baile Ward.
• Zhang Da had Xu Laiyi show Li Hongwei Warm Breeze Hall’s rise, prompting Li Hongwei to rush home and tell Li Mingtian what he had seen.
• Li Mingtian concluded that Zhang Laochong wanted the Li Clan’s 763 mu of land and agreed that they should sell it rather than risk losing access to water.
• Li Mingtian brought Li Hongwei and the land deeds to the Zhang Clan, where they sold the fields to Zhang Laochong for 500 taels and had a new deed drawn up.
• Zhang Laochong expanded the Zhang Clan’s holdings to 1,891 mu, and Li Mingtian told him that Wang Fang’s claims about Little Moon Mountain’s water had caused the conflict.

Wang Fang fled after confessing that she had instigated the Li Clan to cut off Little Moon Mountain’s water, while Zhang Lingfeng expanded his clan’s landholdings and arranged martial arts training for his cousins. After learning of Wang Fang’s role, Zhang Lingfeng decided to grant her wish and take action against her.

• Wang Fang learned that the Li Clan had sold its farmland to the Zhang Clan, realized the Li Clan would blame her for the water dispute, and fled overnight after telling Wang Biao what she had done.
• Zhang Lingfeng sent Zhang Fugui to Elder Zheng Martial Arts School and Zhang Fukang to Xu Clan Martial Arts School, paying their tuition and for three months of Qi and blood replenishing soup.
• Zhang Pingping read Zhang Laochong’s letter, which reported that the Zhang Clan had bought 763 mu of Li Clan farmland for five hundred taels, bringing its total holdings to 1,891 mu.
• Zhang Lingfeng learned that Wang Fang had urged the Li Clan to cut off Little Moon Mountain’s water and recalled how their broken engagement had damaged her reputation.
• Zhang Lingfeng said Wang Fang was both pitiful and hateful, then resolved to grant her wish.

Zhang Lingfeng watched Ye Fan break through into Dark Force and considered whether Qi and Blood Pills could help his own cultivation. He visited Guo Wei and revealed that he had attained Dark Force, leaving his master astonished.

• Zhang Pingping informed Zhang Laochong that Zhang Fugui and Zhang Fukang had entered the martial arts school and that Baile Ward was stable, while Chen Sanshi handled Wang Fang's matter.
• Ye Fan broke through into Dark Force and received congratulations from the other disciples as Mr. Yan delivered Qi and Blood Pills for Guo Wei.
• Ye Fan suggested Zhang Lingfeng use Qi and Blood Pills and recruit a Dark Force expert to support Warm Breeze Hall, while privately hoping Zhang Lingfeng would fund his cultivation.
• Zhang Lingfeng went to see Guo Wei and announced that he had attained Dark Force.
• Guo Wei examined Zhang Lingfeng's bone structure in disbelief and marveled at his breakthrough.

Zhang Lingfeng learned that a Qi and Blood Pill could accelerate his cultivation through his subsidy ability, giving him a chance to surpass Ye Fan and claim Guo Wei’s legacy. After receiving Wang Biao’s courtyard as payment to spare Wang Fang, Zhang Lingfeng discovered Sanshi planned to infiltrate the Wang Family residence that night.

• Guo Wei gave Zhang Lingfeng the lower part of the Twelve-Routine Iron Mountain Fist and a Qi and Blood Pill after Zhang Lingfeng hinted he needed cultivation resources.
• Zhang Lingfeng’s subsidy panel showed that the pill added two months of cultivation, sharply increasing his fist-training progress.
• Zhang Lingfeng realized that Qi and Blood Pills and similar resources could help him reach Transforming Jin before Ye Fan.
• Zhang Lingfeng returned home and told Zhang Pingping about the pill, prompting her to hand him the deed to Wang Biao’s courtyard.
• Zhang Pingping told Zhang Lingfeng that Sanshi planned to take Xiaohu and sneak into the Wang Family residence that night to find Wang Fang.

Zhang Lingfeng and Zhang Pingping considered how to secure cultivation resources and protect the Zhang Clan’s land, then moved into Wang Biao’s residence. Zhang Lingfeng discovered that Ye Fan hoped to win his sponsorship and welcomed him as a neighbor, while Ye Fan quietly resolved to use the Zhang Clan’s wealth to advance his cultivation.

• Zhang Lingfeng and Zhang Pingping discussed whether Guo Wei had redirected Ye Fan’s Qi and Blood Pill and how Ye Fan might react to losing his support.
• Zhang Pingping moved the siblings into the residence Wang Biao had given them after Chen Sanshi failed to find Wang Fang.
• Zhang Lingfeng saw Ye Fan leave Guo Wei looking glum and inferred that Guo Wei might now be supporting them both.
• Zhang Lingfeng met Ye Fan on Datong Street and revealed that he lived in a spacious courtyard residence next door.
• Zhang Lingfeng invited Ye Fan to share an expensive meal, and Ye Fan became more determined to persuade him to sponsor his cultivation.

Ye Fan tried to pressure Zhang Lingfeng into funding his Qi and Blood Pills, but Zhang refused. Zhang Lingfeng then revealed his breakthrough to dark force at the martial school, drawing Guo Wei’s approval and his fellow disciples’ congratulations as they arranged banquets in his honor.

• Ye Fan demonstrated the Iron Mountain Fist to Zhang Lingfeng and hinted that Warm Breeze Hall should prepare for government investigations, hoping to secure support for his cultivation.
• Zhang Lingfeng refused Ye Fan’s attempt to enlist Warm Breeze Hall, and Ye Fan left determined to make the hall regret it.
• After Ye Fan met Huang Jiefu, Zhang Lingfeng practiced the Twelve-Routine Iron Mountain Fist at full strength in front of the disciples and revealed that he had attained dark force.
• Guo Wei praised Zhang Lingfeng, while Ma Fei, Liu Rushuang, Yang Tao, Zhao Hu, and Wu Yun congratulated him and offered to host banquets.
• Zhang Lingfeng invited Ye Fan and the others to a banquet with Huang Jiefu, then signaled Hei Hu to hurry to the eastern district government office.

Huang Jiefu planned to pressure Zhang Lingfeng for a larger share of the Warm Breeze Hall’s profits, but Hei Hu told him that Zhang Lingfeng had cultivated Dark Force and invited him to a celebratory banquet. Huang Jiefu eagerly accepted, while Hei Hu arranged for Wang Ergou to turn away Ye Fan’s people.

• Huang Jiefu drilled his subordinates and planned to use the evening banquet to pressure Zhang Lingfeng into raising the yamen’s cut of the Warm Breeze Hall’s profits.
• Hei Hu arrived at the East District Yamen and invited Huang Jiefu to a banquet at the Drunken Spring House.
• Huang Jiefu initially refused, but Hei Hu explained that Ma Fei was hosting the banquet and that Zhang Lingfeng had cultivated Dark Force.
• Huang Jiefu agreed to attend and promised to bring gifts after hearing of Zhang Lingfeng’s breakthrough.
• Hei Hu gave Wang Ergou silver and asked him to send Ye Fan’s people away, saying Huang Jiefu had already received an invitation.

Huang Jiefu realized Ye Fan had used him to trouble Zhang Lingfeng and warned his men not to provoke the newly powerful disciple. At the martial arts school, Zhang Lingfeng impressed Guo Wei and outperformed a distracted Ye Fan, while Guo Wei advised him to cultivate diligently and preserve his primordial yang.

• Huang Jiefu realized Zhang Lingfeng had reached Dark Force and ordered his deputy to stop provoking the Warm Breeze Hall and prepare a generous gift.
• Hei Hu watched an outer courtyard apprentice fail to enter the eastern district yamen, while Tang Baihu's group seized the apprentice in an alley and knocked him unconscious.
• Guo Wei instructed the inner courtyard disciples, and Zhang Lingfeng demonstrated the Iron Mountain Fist before sparring with Ye Fan.
• Zhang Lingfeng struck Ye Fan and sent him staggering, prompting Guo Wei to bring Zhang Lingfeng inside while Ye Fan continued practicing anxiously.
• Zhang Lingfeng told Guo Wei that the Qi and Blood Pill had improved his Qi and blood and understanding, and Guo Wei praised his constitution while cautioning him against relying on pills.
• Guo Wei advised Zhang Lingfeng to cultivate diligently and preserve his primordial yang to improve his chances of reaching Transforming Jin.

At a feast celebrating Zhang Lingfeng’s breakthrough to Dark Force, Ye Fan felt increasingly overshadowed and isolated. After seeing Zhang Lingfeng celebrated again at Warm Breeze Hall, Ye Fan lashed out at a wall, then met Zhang Pingping, who praised him and invited him to drink.

• Guo Wei, the guests, and the disciples praised Zhang Lingfeng at Drunken Spring House, while Ye Fan brooded over their attention and Huang Jiefu’s coldness toward him.
• Ye Fan left the feast, but Hei Hu’s address of Zhang Lingfeng as “Master Zhang” further stung him as he walked back toward Datong Street.
• Ye Fan saw Warm Breeze Hall celebrating Zhang Lingfeng’s breakthrough and, overwhelmed by resentment, punched a wall with Dark Force.
• Zhang Pingping appeared and told Ye Fan she had long admired him and once hoped to invite him to work for her family.
• Ye Fan admitted he felt stifled and wanted company, and Zhang Pingping led him into a nearby alley.

Zhang Pingping used wine and a drug to bring Ye Fan and Wei Hong together, and Ye Fan woke the next day believing he had compromised his martial cultivation and reputation. The chapter ended with Wei He bursting into Wei Hong’s room and attacking Ye Fan.

• Zhang Pingping drank with Ye Fan, drew out his frustrations, and led him to Wei Hong, who embraced him.
• Zhang Lingfeng saw the drunken Ye Fan with Wei Hong and quietly left with Zhang Pingping.
• Guo Wei noticed Ye Fan was absent from the martial hall, and Hei Hu reported that Ye Fan had not returned home.
• Ye Fan woke beside Wei Hong, who accused him of refusing responsibility and threatened to kill herself.
• Wei He stormed into the room, saw Ye Fan gripping Wei Hong, and punched toward Ye Fan’s vital spot.

Ye Fan was accused of violating Wei Hong and trying to flee, so Zhang Lingfeng arranged an engagement to settle the matter without letting Guo Wei find out. The chapter ended with Ye Fan asking Zhang Lingfeng how to hide the loss of his primordial yang from Guo Wei.

• Wei He and Chen Sanshi confronted Ye Fan after he tried to escape, and Ye Fan asked to see Zhang Lingfeng.
• Zhang Lingfeng arrived and heard Wei Hong accuse Ye Fan of violating her and attempting to abandon her.
• Zhang Lingfeng warned Ye Fan that Guo Wei would punish him if he learned what happened, then told Wei Hong and Wei He to wait outside.
• Zhang Lingfeng proposed that Ye Fan and Wei Hong become engaged, with a formal wedding after Ye Fan succeeded in the martial examinations.
• Ye Fan agreed to the engagement, then asked Zhang Lingfeng how he could conceal his lost primordial yang from Guo Wei.