Chapter Summaries

Feng Xiaotian and the Divine Wind Team learned that Neuvillette and Focalors were a famed referee and host, then received a warning not to provoke them. Two days later, the Heaven Dou City Soul Arena filled with spectators and contestants began arriving for the opening ceremony.

• Feng Xiaotian told the Divine Wind Team that Blazing Academy was their only serious threat in the Preliminary Competition.
• The Divine Wind Team saw nobles revere Neuvillette and Focalors, and Feng Xiaotian wondered whether they were dangerous opponents.
• The restaurant owner explained that Neuvillette was the Soul Arena’s Chief Judge and Focalors hosted matches, then warned the team not to provoke them.
• The owner recalled that the Strength Clan had been wiped out, but a Divine Wind Team member dismissed the warning as merely being singled out.
• Two days later, spectators gathered at the Soul Arena, Royal Knights helped maintain order, and contestants began arriving as the sun rose.

The contestants and spectators gathered at Heaven Dou City Soul Arena for the All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament, while prominent figures took their places in the VIP Seats. When the opening ceremony began, Dou Dou appeared as host instead of the expected Lady Focalors, puzzling Xue Ye and disappointing some spectators.

• Spectators cheered for favored Soul Masters such as Huo Wu and Shui Bing'er, while young women and nobles sought to attract or recruit promising contestants.
• Soul Arena staff offered the waiting teams cake and drinks, and contestants accepted the refreshments.
• Xue Ye, Ning Fengzhi, Chen Xin, the Platinum Bishop, and other prominent figures arrived in the VIP Seats.
• Xue Ye signaled for the opening ceremony to begin, and Dou Dou flew into the arena as host.
• Spectators and Xue Ye wondered why Lady Focalors had not appeared, while Xue Ye hoped the ceremony would still display the Heaven Dou Empire's national strength.

At the tournament opening ceremony, Xue Ye and Ning Fengzhi grew suspicious of the cautious new Platinum Bishop, Calhoun, while the lots paired Heaven Dou Royal Academy with Canghui Academy. Neuvillette wondered whether Tang San was on Canghui Academy's team.

• Xue Ye’s loyalty to Focalors and Neuvillette had strained relations between the Heaven Dou Empire and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect after he gave Neuvillette the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud.
• Calhoun, wary of Neuvillette and Focalors, avoided speaking or challenging Xue Ye and Ning Fengzhi during the ceremony.
• Xue Ye welcomed the tournament contestants and promised rewards, then Ning Fengzhi addressed the crowd.
• Calhoun declined to draw the lots, claiming his legs were inconvenient, so Ning Fengzhi drew them instead.
• The lots set Heaven Dou Royal Academy against Canghui Academy in the opening match, prompting Neuvillette to wonder whether Tang San was on Canghui Academy’s team.

Neuvillette recognized Tang San among the contestants and wondered why he had joined the tournament despite being hunted by Spirit Hall. Focalors took the stage to open the matches with a spectacular display, while Neuvillette appeared as the arena’s referee.

• Neuvillette spotted Tang San among Canghui Academy’s contestants and recognized his awakened Blue Silver Emperor Bloodline and fused soul bone.
• Focalors asked why Tang San had risked exposing himself by competing, and Neuvillette said he pursued his goals without considering the consequences.
• After the drawing ended, Focalors and Neuvillette prepared to take their places as commentator and referee.
• Hydro blue motes gathered over the Soul Arena, cooling it for the audience, and Focalors appeared above the arena on a floating bubble.
• Focalors welcomed the crowd and announced the start of the championship pursuit, drawing cheers from spectators and alarm from those who understood her power.
• Neuvillette appeared silently on the arena as referee.

Neuvillette opened the preliminary competition by restating its rules, while Royal Fight Team Two and Canghui Academy prepared to face each other. Tang San, competing as a substitute under the name Tang Yin, stunned the arena by revealing his ten-thousand-year fourth soul ring.

• Neuvillette silenced the Soul Arena and reminded the contestants that maiming, killing, and using weapons or Soul Tools were forbidden.
• Dai Mubai and Oscar were told to sit out for Royal Fight Team Two, whose members looked down on them as commoners.
• Neuvillette announced the match between Royal Fight Team Two and Canghui Academy and gave the contestants one minute to summon their martial souls.
• Royal Fight Team Two revealed a strong lineup, including a Soul Ancestor captain, while Canghui Academy fielded Tang San as a substitute.
• Tang San displayed his ten-thousand-year fourth soul ring, shocking the audience and VIPs.

Tang Yin stunned the opening ceremony crowd by revealing a ten-thousand-year fourth soul ring, but Heaven Dou City locals remained unimpressed because they had seen Neuvillette and Focalors display far greater power. The exhibition match was about to begin, with Royal Fight Team Two wary of their Canghui Academy opponent.

• Tang Yin revealed his unusual soul-ring configuration, shocking the crowd and drawing the attention of VIPs who coveted the secret behind his ten-thousand-year fourth ring.
• Xue Qinghe studied Tang Yin, wondered where she had seen him, and reacted with hostility to his surname.
• A Heaven Dou City local explained to an out-of-town spectator that Tang Yin's achievement seemed ordinary beside Neuvillette and Focalors, then joined the crowd in cheering for them.
• Focalors introduced Tang Yin as a Canghui Academy substitute with the Blue Silver Emperor martial soul, without disclosing that he was Tang San.
• Royal Fight Team Two members grew nervous about facing Tang Yin and worried they might lose the opening exhibition match.

Tang San’s Canghui Academy team faced Royal Fight Team Two, and he used his Blue Silver Emperor to restrain two opponents before their Support Type purified them and they broke free. The match continued with Tang San’s control ability on display, while Blazing Academy’s students remained confident that their fire attribute could suppress his plant-type martial soul.

• Neuvillette announced the start of the match, and Royal Fight Team Two’s five Power Attack Type Soul Masters charged Canghui Academy’s formation.
• Canghui’s captain told Tang Yin to lead the control while the rest of the team supported him and concealed their soul skills.
• Tang San used his first soul skill, which he called “Binding,” to restrain two Royal Fight Team Two members with his Blue Silver Emperor.
• Canghui’s captain and another Control Type Soul Master used their Chaos skills, but Royal Fight Team Two’s Support Type purified the affected fighters.
• The two Royal Fight Team Two members used enhancement skills to break free, while Blazing Academy’s students dismissed Tang San as vulnerable to their fire attribute.

Tang San fought Royal Fight Team Two under the name Tang Yin, revealing his ten-thousand-year Blue Silver Overlord Spear Soul Skill and swiftly injuring his opponents while showing mercy under the tournament rules. Yu Xiaogang grew convinced that Tang Yin was connected to Tang San, while Tang San left the match determined to get revenge on Neuvillette.

• Huo Wushuang, Huo Wu, and the others agreed that Blazing Academy’s fire attributes gave them an advantage against Tang Yin’s plant Martial Soul.
• Yu Xiaogang watched Tang Yin and wondered whether he was Tang San because of their similar Martial Souls and shared surname.
• Tang San unleashed his fourth Soul Skill, the Blue Silver Overlord Spear, and charged at Royal Fight Team Two.
• Tang San used Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track to wound a team member’s arm, then accepted the contestant’s thanks for showing mercy.
• Tang San recalled Neuvillette defeating him through sneak attacks and vowed to repay the humiliation.

Tang San used his newly awakened power to eliminate two Royal Fight Team Two members, but Canghui Academy’s numerical advantage forced the team to surrender. Neuvillette declared Canghui the winner, and the second team’s teacher asked him and Focalors to help the injured students.

• Tang San restrained his anger toward Neuvillette and charged into the match after gaining confidence from his Blue Silver Emperor abilities.
• Focalors joked that Tang San looked ready to attack Neuvillette, startling Tang San by exposing his fleeting killing intent.
• Tang San defeated two members of Royal Fight Team Two, leaving them unable to continue fighting under the rules.
• Canghui Academy gained the advantage, and the teacher leading Royal Fight Team Two surrendered on the team’s behalf.
• Neuvillette announced Canghui Academy’s victory, and Tang San passed him without speaking before heading to the resting area.
• The second team’s teacher asked Neuvillette and Focalors to help his injured students.

Neuvillette and Focalors refused to heal Royal Fight Team Two unless its injured members withdrew, explaining that special treatment would undermine the tournament’s fairness. After the arena cleared, Shui Bing’er and the Skywater Academy girls arrived to fulfill their old agreement to perform a passionate dance, and Neuvillette invited them to rehearse onstage.

• Royal Fight Team Two’s leader asked Neuvillette and Focalors to heal his injured students, but they declined because it would give the team an unfair advantage.
• Focalors offered to heal the injured contestants if they withdrew, and Royal Fight Team Two’s leader accepted the explanation and left with his team.
• The spectators and contestants departed as the arena staff prepared for the official matches to begin the next day.
• Shui Bing’er and the Skywater Academy girls approached Neuvillette and Focalors to honor their agreement to perform a passionate dance.
• Neuvillette remembered the agreement and invited Shui Bing’er, Shui Yue’er, Xue Wu, and the others to rehearse on the stage.

Neuvillette and Focalors watched the Heavenly Water Girl Group rehearse and discussed Skywater Academy's proposed partnership with the Heaven Dou Great Soul Arena. Moffett approved the cooperation and negotiated performance fees, leaving Shui Bing'er and the troupe with an agreement.

• Neuvillette praised Shui Bing'er and Xue Wu's dancing while telling Focalors that other women all looked the same to him.
• Shui Bing'er asked Focalors again to join Skywater Academy, but Focalors refused.
• Shui Yue'er proposed that Skywater Academy's dance troupe partner with the Soul Arena, and Neuvillette and Focalors said they could not decide the matter themselves.
• Moffett arrived and agreed that the Heaven Dou Great Soul Arena could cooperate with Skywater Academy.
• Shui Bing'er set the troupe's fee at one and a half times the market rate for ordinary appearances and three thousand Gold Soul Coins for major events.

Shui Bing'er negotiated a long-term performance contract for Skywater Academy with Heaven Dou Great Soul Arena, accepting one performance a week at twice the market rate. After learning Moffett was an Eight Great Families patriarch and seeing the manager’s deference to Neuvillette and Focalors, she realized the deal had come at the cost of her group’s closeness to them.

• Moffett offered Skywater Academy one performance opportunity per week at twice the market rate, and Shui Bing'er accepted his proposal.
• Moffett summoned a Soul Arena manager, who addressed him as Patriarch and Neuvillette and Focalors as Lord and Lady, revealing their powerful backgrounds to the Heavenly Water Girl Group.
• Moffett left the manager to prepare the contract and arrange its delivery to Shui Bing'er’s residence.
• Qiu Ruoshui asked Shui Bing'er whether they had achieved their goal, and Shui Bing'er said they likely had, though she might have acted too hastily.
• Shui Bing'er reflected that Skywater Academy had traded some of its connection with Focalors and Neuvillette for practical benefits, but she did not regret it.

Tang San reunited with Yu Xiaogang after nearly two years apart, while Shi Nian warned him not to underestimate powerful enemies. In private, Yu Xiaogang asked how Tang San had absorbed a Ten Thousand Year soul ring as his fourth soul ring.

• Shi Nian warned Tang San that revealing his strength could make him a target and advised him to stay close after the matches.
• Tang San thanked Shi Nian and recognized that his domain and Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone did not make him safe from powerful opponents.
• A waiter told Tang San that someone calling himself Master was looking for him, and Tang San hurried downstairs to meet Yu Xiaogang.
• Tang San and Yu Xiaogang left the hotel for a private room, where they exchanged news and apologized for their separation.
• Yu Xiaogang asked Tang San how he had absorbed a Ten Thousand Year soul ring as his fourth soul ring.

Tang San questioned Yu Xiaogang’s spirit-ring theories and explained that a soul master’s physical strength determined the age of spirit ring they could absorb. Yu Xiaogang accepted the idea but planned to claim it as his own, leaving Tang San’s insight at risk of being stolen.

• Tang San reflected on Yu Xiaogang’s flawed theories and kept secret that he had produced his own ten-thousand-year fourth spirit ring.
• Tang San asked Yu Xiaogang how he had developed his maximum spirit-ring-age theory, and Yu Xiaogang cited data from other soul masters’ experiments without revealing more.
• Tang San explained that a soul master’s physical strength determined how much spirit-ring energy their body could withstand.
• Yu Xiaogang decided Tang San would not mind if he published the theory under his own name and imagined the acclaim he would receive.

Focalors and Neuvillette discussed his growing strength and planned to visit the Star Dou Great Forest after the tournament. Meanwhile, Yu Xiaogang warned Tang San that the Soul Arena was dangerously powerful, though he called Neuvillette a mere stand-in.

• Focalors asked Neuvillette about his energy gains, and he said the tournament had helped him more than a month of hosting.
• Focalors revealed that she had recovered eighty-five percent of her strength and agreed to visit the Star Dou Great Forest with Neuvillette after the tournament.
• Tang San asked Yu Xiaogang about the Soul Arena, and Yu Xiaogang said it had multiple Title Douluo, including a terrifying ice-element expert.
• Yu Xiaogang warned Tang San not to make an enemy of the Soul Arena before reaching Title Douluo strength and fitting soul rings to his second martial soul.
• Tang San asked about Neuvillette, and Yu Xiaogang began describing him as a pitiful stand-in for a Title Douluo.

Yu Xiaogang dismissed Neuvillette as a minor opponent and promised Tang San he would bring him a method for cultivating Twin Martial Souls after the tournament. On the opening day of the tournament, Neuvillette appeared as referee while Focalors stayed away, and the Heavenly Water Girl Group's dance drew huge attention.

• Yu Xiaogang told Tang San to focus on cultivation, then left after promising to bring him the proper method for cultivating Twin Martial Souls after the tournament.
• Tang San questioned Yu Xiaogang's theories privately before returning to the hotel where Canghui Academy was staying.
• Neuvillette and Focalors joked together in the morning, and Focalors pounced on him after he said he was lazy because of her tender embrace.
• Neuvillette refereed the tournament's first day with Dou Dou commentating because Focalors was absent.
• The Heavenly Water Girl Group performed a fiery dance that sent their popularity soaring, and Neuvillette remarked that it was worth 5,000 Gold Soul Coins.

During the tournament, Xue Ye proposed a marriage alliance between Xue Qinghe and Ning Rongrong, but Ning Fengzhi gave an ambiguous response that stopped short of agreement. The first round ended with the next day’s draw pairing several strong academies against each other.

• Xue Ye praised Ning Rongrong and asked Ning Fengzhi what he thought of Xue Qinghe, then suggested that the Crown Prince marry Rongrong.
• Ning Fengzhi considered the political consequences but said Rongrong was young and that she and Xue Qinghe should decide their relationship themselves.
• Xue Qinghe overheard the marriage proposal and felt distressed because she was not the real Xue Qinghe.
• The first round of the Preliminary Competition ended, and the teams drew their opponents for the second round.
• The draw paired Thunder Academy with Blue Tyrant Academy, Heaven Dou Royal Academy with Flame Radiance Academy, Godwind Academy with Skywater Academy, and Canghui Academy with Blazing Academy.

Neuvillette and Focalors headed to the arena for a day of major tournament matches, where they encountered Tang Xiao, the Clear Sky Sect master who had come out of seclusion. Tang Xiao was stunned by their ability to detect him and identify his rank, while Neuvillette recognized why he had come.

• Feng Xiaotian encouraged Huo Wushuang about Blazing Academy’s match against Canghui Academy and worried that Godwind Academy might struggle against Skywater Academy.
• Neuvillette and Focalors left their dormitory after discussing the day’s tournament matchups, including Blue Tyrant Academy versus Thunder Academy and Godwind Academy versus Skywater Academy.
• Neuvillette sensed malice and identified the watching Tang Xiao as a rank-96 Super Douluo and Tang Hao’s older brother.
• Tang Xiao realized Neuvillette and Focalors had detected him despite his attempt to remain hidden and regretted trusting Yu Xiaogang’s description of them.
• Neuvillette and Focalors appeared before Tang Xiao, and Neuvillette explained that Tang Xiao’s resemblance to Tang Hao and his rank made him easy to identify.

Neuvillette confronted Tang Xiao at the Soul Arena, revealed that he knew about the Clear Sky Sect’s hidden Titled Douluo, and challenged him to flee before the hunt began. Tang Xiao was left to choose between retreating and facing Neuvillette’s threat.

• Neuvillette exposed Tang Xiao’s Soul Power Level, making Tang Xiao fear that he and Focalors were far stronger than expected.
• Tang Xiao tried to pass off his sweating and asked whether he could watch the tournament, while Neuvillette teased him about buying a ticket.
• Focalors revealed that Tang Xiao had come intending to pick a fight, and Neuvillette offered him a chance to run before hunting him.
• Tang Xiao warned Neuvillette to leave room for future dealings, but Neuvillette threatened to reduce the Clear Sky Sect’s numbers if Tang Xiao relied on its five Titled Douluo.
• Neuvillette told Tang Xiao that one minute had already passed, leaving him under pressure to flee.

Neuvillette caught Tang Xiao after he fled the Soul Arena and confronted him in the outskirts of Heaven Dou City. Neuvillette said he and Focalors would stop pursuing Tang Xiao if he survived until one minute before the competition began.

• Tang Xiao fled the Soul Arena at full speed while Neuvillette left to pursue him.
• Neuvillette transformed into water and caught up with Tang Xiao, whose speed was less than a tenth of his.
• Tang Xiao realized he could not escape and tried to stall Neuvillette by arguing they had no grudge and no reason to fight.
• Neuvillette exposed Tang Xiao's attempt to buy time and said the matter could not be settled immediately.
• Neuvillette told Tang Xiao that he and Focalors would abandon the pursuit if Tang Xiao survived until one minute before the competition began.