Xie Yuan, clinging to the hope of his newfound system, dedicates himself to chopping the "scabby trees" in his yard. He focuses on his brother's old advice, and with a focused swing, a log splits effortlessly. The system registers "Chopping Wood: (1/100)." For three days, he chops relentlessly, his progress bar steadily rising, until it hits 100. A surge of ten years' woodcutting experience floods his mind, and he comprehends "Cleave," a martial art technique. He tests it, splitting a massive chopping block in two with a single, strength-amplifying strike. This revelation gives him the confidence to fell an Iron Poplar, a tree few villagers dare touch due to its hardness. He trades the valuable wood for food and a padded jacket, earning the surprised respect of his neighbors, Wang Lei and Li Lan. However, Zhang the Second's thugs continue to harass him. When Zhu Dongming, the village hunter, forces Xie Yuan to join a tiger hunt, Xie Yuan is initially hesitant. But when the hunt goes south, and the tiger nearly kills two hunters, Xie Yuan steps in. With a single, devastating "Three-Board Axe" strike, a new technique he gained at "Chopping Wood (1/1000)," he nearly cleaves the immense beast in two, saving his companions and earning the awe of the seasoned hunters. The tiger's death brings a huge financial windfall and elevates Xie Yuan's status from a bullied orphan to a tiger-slaying hero, but it also draws unwanted attention from the powerful Zhang brothers.

The village buzzes with Xie Yuan's new status, but Zhang the Second remains a persistent threat. He continues to press Xie Yuan to become a "page" in the county town, a thinly veiled attempt to sell him into servitude. Xie Yuan refuses, prompting Li Mazi to intensify his harassment. Confronted in the woods, Li Mazi reveals Zhang the Second's true intentions and the sordid rumor about Zhang Dalang's own path to martial arts. Enraged by the thought of being a sex slave and the continuous bullying, Xie Yuan brutally beats Li Mazi and, when the ruffian attempts a fatal sneak attack, kills him with a decisive axe blow. Zhu Dongming, having witnessed the burial, discreetly covers for Xie Yuan, demonstrating a ruthless pragmatism and forcing Xie Yuan to join a bear hunt. Amidst this escalating violence, a mysterious Daoist appears at Xie Yuan's hut, seeking his deceased brother, Xie Lun. The Daoist reveals Xie Lun's incredible martial talent and his refusal to leave Xie Yuan alone to pursue a martial path, a profound act of sacrifice. The Daoist, in an act of karmic fulfillment, bestows upon Xie Yuan a handwritten "Nourishing Body Skill" manual—a rare Inner Power technique, capable of strengthening the body from the inside out and remedying Xie Yuan's inherent weakness.

Armed with the "Nourishing Body Skill," Xie Yuan begins to cultivate, but the bear hunt looms. He confronts a massive black bear, a creature even more formidable than the tiger, alone in the woods. The bear, unnaturally cunning and out of hibernation, is guarding a strange, jade-green fruit. Xie Yuan engages in a desperate, cunning battle, using his improved agility and axe skills to slowly wound the beast, eventually killing it with a "Three-Board Axe" strike. The true prize, however, is the fruit. Upon consuming it, Xie Yuan enters a dream-like state, feeling his body cleanse and strengthen. He awakens three days later to find his "Iron Cloth Shirt" has advanced to the 2nd Layer and his "Nourishing Body Skill" has broken through to the 2nd Layer and is already halfway to the next, completely transforming his once-deficient physique. He is no longer the frail mountain boy; his skin is fairer, his bearing more imposing, and his strength vastly increased. The Spirit Fruit has not only healed his underlying weakness but has also propelled his cultivation forward at an astonishing rate.

Xie Yuan's transformation comes at a critical time. Li Lan, distraught, informs him that Wang Lei has been falsely imprisoned in Yunzhao County for breaking an expensive vase and is being forced to hand over his land deed. Xie Yuan, now flush with silver from the bear hunt and confident in his strength, travels to Yunzhao. He confronts the restaurant shopkeeper and Wang Ergou, who recommended Wang Lei for the job, immediately sensing the frame-up. Discovering Wang Lei chained in a woodshed, bruised and starved, Xie Yuan's rage flares. He intimidates the shopkeeper into releasing Wang Lei and exposes Wang Ergou's betrayal. Xie Yuan then uses his newfound wealth to pay off the fabricated debt, securing Wang Lei's freedom and his land deed. This decisive action, combined with his formidable presence, catches the attention of Zhao Xingyang, a Darts Master from the Longteng Escort Agency. Recognizing Xie Yuan's potential, Zhao Xingyang offers him a position as a guard, providing a legitimate and well-paying path into the martial world.

Xie Yuan's new role at the Longteng Escort Agency provides stability, but the shadow of the Zhang brothers still looms. Zhang Yufeng, Zhang Dalang's brother and a county bailiff, attempts to arrest Xie Yuan at the agency, but is thwarted by the Chief Escort, Shen Longteng. On New Year's Eve, Xie Yuan, returning to Little Stone Village, overhears Zhang the Second and Zhang Yufeng plotting to seize the village's land by exploiting Wang Lei's previous frame-up. Enraged by their ruthlessness, Xie Yuan confronts them. During the heated exchange, Zhang Yufeng chillingly reveals that he murdered Xie Lun, Xie Yuan's older brother, not wild beasts. The truth shatters Xie Yuan, unleashing a torrent of grief and fury. He engages Zhang Yufeng in a brutal fight, ignoring his own injuries, and in a desperate, retaliatory strike, kills Zhang Yufeng. He then discovers a hidden Fist Skill manual on Zhang Yufeng's body, which he recognizes as being in the mysterious Daoist's handwriting—a modified version of the "Nourishing Body Skill" he himself received.

The death of Zhang Yufeng means Xie Yuan is now a wanted man, forcing him to keep a low profile. He returns to Panlong Town and finds the Iron Cloth Gate in crisis, under attack by rival martial arts halls: the Black Tiger Fist Hall and the Divine Weapon Hall. Their masters, Wang Heihu and Fang Wei, are trying to drive the Iron Cloth Gate out of business. Xie Yuan, despite his status as a mere nominal disciple, steps forward to defend the sect. He first defeats the top Core Disciples of both rival halls with overwhelming ease, showcasing his greatly increased strength and skill. Then, he faces the two Hall Masters themselves, both formidable Second Training Martial Artists. With a combination of his "Nourishing Body Skill," "Iron Cloth Shirt," and "Three-Board Axe" techniques, Xie Yuan quickly defeats both masters, saving the Iron Cloth Gate from ruin. A deeply grateful Liu the Monk, the Iron Cloth Gate's Sect Leader, reveals his true background as a former lay disciple of Golden River Temple (a major Buddhist sect) and, in an act of profound gratitude, bestows upon Xie Yuan the legendary "Golden Bell Shield" technique.

Now a respected Darts Master at the Longteng Escort Agency and armed with the Golden Bell Shield, Xie Yuan is assigned to an important escort mission, protecting a young woman named Situ Qin. The journey takes him far from Yunzhao County, into new, dangerous territory. The convoy is ambushed by skilled assassins, all Third Training Martial Artists, far beyond what Xie Yuan has faced before. He fights fiercely, using his advanced Golden Bell Shield and saber skills to kill multiple assailants, impressing the seasoned guards. During the intense battle, Situ Qin unexpectedly intervenes, revealing she is also a powerful martial artist, capable of killing Third Training experts with ease. After the ambush is repelled, Situ Qin, intrigued by Xie Yuan's unique strength and talent, reveals her background as a disciple of a major sect and offers him a rare A-class cultivation technique as a reward, pushing him further into the higher echelons of the martial world.

Xie Yuan quickly masters the A-class saber technique, "Moon-Shattering Saber Skill," and is assigned to a massive escort mission led by Zhao Xingyang, transporting a vast quantity of grain. The mission takes them through Nine-Mile Gorge, a notorious ambush spot. As expected, they are ambushed by Boss Song's large bandit gang, which includes multiple Third Training martial artists. The battle is fierce, with heavy casualties on the escort's side. Xie Yuan, using his full array of skills—Golden Bell Shield, Moon-Shattering Saber Skill, and the "Black Celestial Book" (a mysterious power that recently manifested as a black mark on his arm)—fights with devastating effectiveness. He single-handedly turns the tide, killing Boss Song and routing the bandits. During the chaotic aftermath, he encounters the black-robed man from the spiritual land, who seems to be manipulating events. The "Black Celestial Book" is vaguely linked to this figure, suggesting a deeper, darker power at play.