In the brutal, martial law of the Xuan Realm (玄界), strength is the only currency that matters. For Shi Mu (石牧), a lowly clan adoptee with no backing and a target on his back, survival was never guaranteed. His early journey was a tightrope walk over a chasm of certain death. While his fierce determination and raw combat skill were vital, they weren't his true lifeline. That distinction belongs to a seemingly unremarkable tome: the Zhong Gong Secret Manual (钟工秘典). Left to him as part of Zhong Xiu's (钟秀) dowry, this manual of so-called "niche techniques" became his most critical asset, a silent partner in his desperate climb from prey to predator.
More Than Muscle
Shi Mu's initial power level was negligible. Against mounted pursuers from powerful families or skilled rivals in martial halls, brute force would have meant a quick end. The manual provided a different path. It taught him the craft of forging incredibly powerful bows and the art of precision archery. In one defining encounter, facing down hundreds of cavalry, he didn't just escape.
He used a seven-stone bow to punch arrows through shields, picking off key targets with chilling accuracy. This display of lethal skill, not just brawling power, forced his enemies to hesitate and turned a rout into a strategic retreat. The animated adaptation captures this perfectly, showing his arrow barrage in a darkened forest, establishing a reputation that extended beyond his "Fierce Fist."
This knowledge was multifaceted. During a crucial inter-school competition, opponents like Wang Tianhao (王天豪) possessed greater innate power. The manual's weapon-tempering methods allowed Shi Mu to enhance his Sun-Moon Blades, giving them an unexpected edge. Combined with agile footwork, this let him overcome the power gap, secure victory for his school, and make his name. When ambushed or betrayed, its instructions on creating traps and non-lethal chemical agents gave him control of chaotic situations, enabling clean getaways where a direct fight was suicide.
It redefined combat for him. Where others saw only cultivation stages and martial prowess, he saw angles, tools, and environments. The manual didn't just help him fight; it taught him to engineer outcomes. A forest became an arsenal, a narrow pass a kill zone, and a common item a source of disarray. It was the intellect behind the instinct, transforming him from a mere combatant into a tactical problem-solver who used every available resource to survive.
Funding the Ascent
In the Xuan Realm, progress is bought with resources: spirit stones, pills, and rare materials. For a penniless outsider, this was an insurmountable wall. The Zhong Gong Secret Manual became his financial engine. Its sections on crafting basic talismans were a revelation. While other apprentices struggled with consistency, he achieved a remarkably high success rate. This skill made him a sought-after commodity within factions like the Black Demon Sect.
Organizations such as the Venerable Spirit Pavilion and the Blood Dragon Society competed to pay him handsomely for his work. A steady stream of silver and spirit stones flowed in, ending his days of scarcity. The animation hints at this economic shift through his newfound ability to purchase rare materials like Demonic Qi and commission custom gear. This wealth was the foundation upon which his later advancement to Star-level Spellcaster was built, freeing him from the desperate scramble for basic resources that stifled so many others.
The manual's self-sufficiency extended beyond talismans. Its principles for modifying weapons and crafting concealed devices meant he rarely needed to buy finished, expensive equipment. He could repair, enhance, and create. Every resource saved on gear was a resource invested directly into his own growth, creating a powerful, self-sustaining cycle: skill generated wealth, wealth accelerated cultivation, and enhanced cultivation unlocked deeper understanding of the manual's secrets.
This financial independence was psychological armor. It removed the fear of destitution, allowing him to take calculated risks and make choices based on long-term gain rather than immediate need. He wasn't just building a stockpile; he was building the freedom to choose his own path, a luxury almost unknown to those starting at the bottom.
The Hidden Advantage
The manual's greatest gift may have been its subtle, long-term dividends. It prevented Shi Mu from becoming a one-dimensional fighter. While peers hyper-focused on a single martial path, he absorbed a broad education in forging, mechanics, chemistry, and sigil-craft. This eclectic knowledge base became a unique form of literacy.
Later, whether identifying sinister traps set by the Moonless Cult or navigating crises in auction houses, his early "miscellaneous studies" provided context and solutions that pure strength could not. The skills had unexpected applications, allowing him to see the underlying mechanisms of the world, both literal and social. In a delightful narrative twist, the manual even fueled his personal resolve. Misinterpreting a certain "Dual Cultivation Method" as a standard technique, his awkward confession to Xue—though rejected—crystallized his drive to become someone worthy of respect, turning a personal moment into powerful motivation.
Furthermore, the manual was a nexus for relationships. His guardianship of it forged a profound, unbreakable bond with Zhong Xiu. Their reunion in Tianyu City (天誉城) was no accident of fate; it was a connection rooted in this shared trust. Her subsequent assistance was key to his entry into the Immortal Reception Assembly, gateway to a higher realm of cultivation. The competence and potential he demonstrated by applying the manual's teachings also made Xue view him in a new light, leading to gifts like the Soul-Calming Pill that directly accelerated his breakthroughs. The book opened doors that raw talent alone could not.
For the early Shi Mu, the Zhong Gong Secret Manual was more than a tool. It was a survival guide, an economic strategy, and an educational foundation. Without it, he would likely have fallen to a blade in the woods, remained trapped in poverty, or never gained the leverage to shape his destiny. His story underscores a central truth: true power isn't just about innate talent or inherited advantage. It's about recognizing the potential in unexpected places and having the wisdom to transform a timely aid into the means for profound change.
