Chapter Summaries

Du Gu Fu chose Five Elements Intergeneration for the control-focused path of the Five Venoms Art, and Chen Xiaojun agreed to help address its later weaknesses. They then considered the earth-element Nether Azure Serpent in Du Gu Fu's Second Soul Ring and began discussing a suitable soul beast for his next step.

• Chen Xiaojun explained the dangers and combat differences between Five Elements Counteraction and Five Elements Intergeneration.
• Du Gu Fu chose Intergeneration, citing his confidence in controlling its risks, its fit with his clan's fighting style, and his wish to develop a control-focused path.
• Du Gu Fu said Zhu Wuneng's choice of Counteraction could give less-talented clansmen a safer, attack-focused alternative, and he decided to tell his grandfather.
• Chen Xiaojun promised to help Du Gu Fu solve the control path's later attack-power problem.
• Chen Xiaojun pointed out that Du Gu Fu's earth-element Nether Azure Serpent Second Soul Ring complicated the choice of a soul beast, since a centipede or spider would usually suit earth best.

Chen Xiaojun discussed the Du Gu Family’s planned poisonous soul beasts for his future soul rings, then watched Chen Mu’s swordsmanship and reflected on his own recent losses. He accepted that his swordplay lagged behind his peers, but remained determined to pursue the peak of the sword path.

• Du Gu Fu described the Man Faced Demon Spider, Ice Jade Scorpion, Flying Centipede, and Mang Gu Zhu Toad as candidates for Chen Xiaojun’s third through sixth soul rings.
• Du Gu Fu explained that the Six-Winged Golden Centipede and Six-Winged Purple Light Spider would be better attribute matches, but were too rare to find easily.
• Chen Xiaojun offered to review the Du Gu Family’s plans and help locate soul beasts through the Chen Clan and its allied families.
• Du Gu Fu praised Chen Mu’s swordsmanship, and Chen Xiaojun clarified that Chen Mu had the advantage over him in swordplay alone.
• Chen Xiaojun recalled losing most of his recent sword matches against his peers and recognized that the training was deepening his swordsmanship.

After taking Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum and Narcissus Jade Muscle Bone, Chen Mu’s Soul Power rose to level 48 and his Soul Nests stabilized. He defeated Tang Xiao in a fierce contest, leaving Tang Xiao dissatisfied with the result.

• Chen Mu’s Soul Power increased from level 43 to level 48, his Lower Soul Nest’s rejection eased, and he opened his Middle Soul Nest for the Nethersea Seven Kill Sword.
• Tang Xiao used Clear Sky Power and Iron Blood Body to strengthen himself and briefly gain the advantage over Chen Mu.
• Chen Mu increased his speed with Sword Wings Like Flight and Sword Shadow Body, then struck Tang Xiao with Ninefold Plum Blossom.
• Tang Xiao blocked most of Chen Mu’s sword energy with Clear Sky Body Protection and launched Disorder Splitting Wind, thirty-six hammers, empowered by the Penetrate Word Tactic.
• Chen Mu countered with Skanda Typhoon, stopping Tang Xiao’s hammer storm and bringing the Seven Kill Sword to his neck.
• Chen Mu declared that Tang Xiao had let him win, put away his sword, and left the arena.

After Chen Mu defeated Tang Xiao, Tang Chen reflected on the Tang Clan’s limited resources and the Chen Clan’s growing strength. He and Tang Xiao recognized that the Chen Clan had developed a versatile inherited combat technique, leaving Tang Chen convinced the clan was no longer what it once was.

• The crowd discussed Chen Mu’s victory over Tang Xiao and the gap between the two clans’ young fighters.
• Tang Xiao told Tang Chen that Chen Mu had either lacked Yang Attribute Soul Power or had held back considerably during their match.
• Tang Chen praised Chen Mu’s calm judgment and linked the Chen Clan children’s experience to their survival of the Wolf Bandit attack four years earlier.
• Tang Chen prompted Tang Xiao to recall Chen Mu’s Sword Blade Storm, and Tang Xiao realized its Soul Power cost had been unusually low.
• Tang Xiao described seeing the same kind of inherited technique used with several attributes by the Chen Clan and its followers.
• Tang Chen concluded that the Chen Clan’s expanding martial arts legacy showed how little the Tang Clan knew about them.

Chen Feng’s victory revealed the strength and composure he and Chen Mu had kept hidden, while Zhu Wuneng explained the importance of the clans’ talented followers to Du Gu Fu. The chapter ended with Chen Yu, Chen Cong, and Chen Hong recognizing that they had neglected Chen Feng and Chen Mu and feeling guilty about their lack of support.

• Chen Xiaojun and Zhu Wuneng praised Chen Mu and Chen Feng’s calm mentalities and noted that Chen Feng had held back several techniques in his fight.
• Du Gu Fu recognized Zhu Wujiu’s Stone Armor Porcupine Martial Soul, and Zhu Wuneng described the strong followers from the clans and their future importance.
• Chen Feng proclaimed, “When I stand upon the highest peak, I look down on all mountains,” prompting Zhu Wuneng to reveal that he and Chen Mu had borrowed Chen Xiaojun’s lines.
• Chen Feng finished his battle, and the Chen Clan members admired his elegant bearing and reflected on his and Chen Mu’s standing among their generation.
• Chen Yu, Chen Cong, and Chen Hong realized they had given Chen Feng and Chen Mu less attention and fewer resources than other children, and they felt guilty about underestimating the brothers’ place on the Genius List.

Zhu Wuneng and Du Gu Fu discussed their fearsome older sisters before Chen Xiaojun learned that the Dugu and Chao families shared a mysterious martial soul fusion skill called the “Serpent Saint.” Its likeness and forgotten true name reminded Chen Xiaojun of an incomprehensible supreme powerhouse, leaving him shaken and questioning whether that being had left traces in this world.

• Zhu Wuneng admired Du Gu Yue until Du Gu Fu revealed that she was his older sister, then the two commiserated about their fierce sisters.
• Zhu Wuxin arrived and asked Chen Xiaojun to write entrance poems for the young members of her family, who offered to pay.
• Du Gu Fu explained that the Dugu and Chao families shared an unstable fusion skill that only women could use and that concealed its true name.
• Chen Xiaojun learned the skill appeared as a woman with a serpent tail holding a Serpent Cane, and that the families called it the “Serpent Saint.”
• Chen Xiaojun connected the skill to a supreme powerhouse and wondered whether that being was related to the world’s Dao Rhyme, the system, or Creation Energy.

At a gathering, Xi Li Dao Gao and Shen Lang discussed how to manage their families’ new construction projects and agreed to form an association with the Main Family’s support. They also discussed the Treasure Pavilion’s role in distributing goods, with Shen Lang aiming to expand its channels throughout Fasinuo Province.

• Chen Zhouzhao ate with Chen Jieqi while Xi Li Dao Gao comforted Chen Jieqi over the Wind Family’s absence.
• Shen Lang and Xi Li Dao Gao discussed which family branches had attended and the opportunities their families gained through projects backed by Young Master Xiao Jun.
• Xi Li Dao Gao explained that Young Master Xiao Jun had advised him to form an association, and Shen Lang suggested letting the Main Family handle its business operations.
• Xi Li Dao Gao invited Shen Lang’s family to join the association, and Shen Lang agreed to work with him to approach Young Master Xiao Jun.
• Shen Lang told Xi Li Dao Gao that the Treasure Pavilion had obtained the Southern Five Counties agency rights for Ice and Fire Dual Heavens and that he intended to expand distribution across Fasinuo Province.

Xi Xi challenged the Chen family, and Chen Mu met her in a fierce arena battle. Chen Mu unleashed his strongest sword strike, Solitary and Absolute Skyfall, while Xi Xi prepared to face it.

• Xi Xi entered the arena and demanded that Chen Mu and Chen Feng show how they had achieved their celebrated titles.
• Chen Mu accepted Xi Xi’s challenge, and their fight revealed his star-infused swordsmanship and her powerful Water Power.
• Chen Mu warned Xi Xi that he could not control the power of his next move, and she fearlessly invited him to use his strongest strike.
• Chen Mu declared himself the Jade Balance Sword of the Chen Family Seven Stars and launched Solitary Peak Fourteen Swords—Solitary and Absolute Skyfall.
• Xi Xi gripped her weapon and met Chen Mu’s earth-shaking sword strike with everything she had as the audience watched in suspense.

Chen Mu revealed a self-comprehended sword intent and matched Xi Xi’s powerful Water Control Art in a clash of ultimate moves. Chen Mu was knocked out of the arena and conceded the victory, while Xi Xi declared herself beyond first-rate.

• Chen Cong recognized Chen Mu’s Solitary Peak Fourteenth Sword as a rare achievement for a Soul Elder, and spectators marveled at its power and the Chen family’s Seven Stars.
• Ma Zhibin explained to Ma Liang that Chen Mu was his cousin, while Ma Suyun cried with joy at her son’s growth.
• Xi Xi unleashed Water Control Art—True Sky Piercer, charging Chen Mu’s Solitary and Absolute Skyfall with the intent of Once Gone Never Return.
• The two attacks collided in a burst of power that blasted Chen Mu out of the arena and forced Xi Xi back, though Chen Mu had not lost ground in their exchange.
• Chen Mu conceded the match and left the stage, and Xi Xi praised him as first-rate before declaring herself beyond first-rate.

Tang Chen and Tang Xiao discovered that the woman who defeated Chen Mu was Bo Saixi, the top-ten Sea God Holy Maiden on the Genius List. The match ended with both fighters earning acclaim, and Chen Mu brought honor to the Chen Clan Seven Stars.

• Tang Chen and Tang Xiao discussed Chen Mu’s defeat and concluded that his opponent was a freak-level genius.
• Tang Xiao found the woman on the Genius List and identified her as Bo Saixi, ranked tenth and ahead of Tang Chen.
• The crowd speculated about Bo Saixi’s connections to Xiao Hongchen, the Chen Clan, and a group that had fought a Soul Douluo of the Crimson Church.
• Tang Chen considered seeking an opportunity to make Bo Saixi’s acquaintance because she dealt with major factions across the continent.
• The crowd praised both Chen Mu and Bo Saixi, while Chen Mu’s self-created sword technique and performance brought honor to his grandfather and made the Chen Family Seven Stars known.

The academy members discussed Chen Mu’s hidden strength, their rising rankings, and the prodigies expected to join their team. They learned that Chen Cong had become the academy’s Chief Vice-Dean, making Chen Xiaojun’s future enrollment possible, and considered the political purpose behind the gathering.

• Yu Youwei and the others compared Chen Mu’s strength with their own, while Ji Boda and He Qiang acknowledged that few of them could confidently match him.
• Liu Ruyan revealed that she had risen to seventy-ninth on the Genius List after helping surround and kill a Soul Douluo from the Crimson Church.
• Shen Youchu confirmed that Chen Xiaojun had agreed to join their academy in two years, when he would be old enough, and said Zhu Wuneng and Ningxia might join as well.
• The group recognized Gu Wuyan’s Heavenly Strategy List ranking and discussed how their growing roster gave them a real chance of winning the Elite Competition.
• Liu Ruyan explained that Chen Cong had accepted the post of Chief Vice-Dean, allowing Chen Xiaojun to attend the academy.
• He Qiang and Chen Ze concluded that the contest and invitations had showcased the Chen Clan’s young generation and demonstrated its influence, while Ji Boda said learning from Chen Cong would benefit them.

Qian Daoliu and Qian Chongling took interest in Bo Saixi as the Sea God Island Saintess, while Chen Feng entered the arena to face Xi Xi. The fight continued as Chen Feng’s ever-changing swordplay met Xi Xi’s Sea God halberd technique, and he embraced the meaning of the Big Dipper Seven Stars names.

• Qian Daoliu discussed Bo Saixi’s potential with She Yaolei and Sa Gu'er, then welcomed Bei Ming Lingyu’s casual way of addressing him.
• Qian Chongling watched Bo Saixi from Moon Gazing Pavilion, revealing that he had only pretended to be uninterested in the matches.
• Chen Feng named himself the Kai Yang Sword and exchanged banter with Xi Xi before their duel began.
• Xi Xi attacked with the Sea God Art’s halberd technique while Chen Feng used Green Duckweed Swordplay, matching her with shifting offense and defense.
• Chen Feng recalled how the seven members of his generation had chosen the Big Dipper Seven Stars’ divine names and felt the mission and honor they represented.

Chen Feng and Xi Xi continued their duel, testing each other’s techniques as Xi Xi acknowledged him and Chen Mu as Xiao Jun’s fourth and fifth brothers. They resumed the unfinished match with Xi Xi’s sea bubbles clashing against Chen Feng’s sword qi.

• Xi Xi unleashed Water Control Art Pressure Harm, but Chen Feng blocked the current with Moon Soul Calamity Vortex and its circular Moon Blades.
• Xi Xi asked whether Chen Feng had tried to make her impatient; he denied it, and she said she believed him.
• Xi Xi praised Chen Feng and Chen Mu, acknowledging them as Xiao Jun’s fourth and fifth brothers, then insisted that their match continue.
• Xi Xi used Water Control Art Sea Bubble to send waves of bubbles at Chen Feng, who countered with Sword Qi Eternal Radiance.
• Chen Feng’s sword qi and Xi Xi’s bubbles collided in a fierce exchange that pushed their battle toward its climax.

Xi Xi defeated Chen Feng in a fierce arena battle by combining her water-control techniques and intentions into a powerful water dragon. Chen Feng accepted his loss, and Xi Xi praised his strength as he left the arena.

• Xi Xi summoned water tornadoes, but Chen Feng restrained them with a sword array and unleashed a rain of sword lights.
• Xi Xi empowered the tornadoes with her Mental Power Blessing and True Tide Manipulation, merging them into a massive vortex that clashed with Chen Feng’s Eternal Light Wheel.
• Xi Xi transformed the tornado into a water dragon that shattered Chen Feng’s sword wheel and struck him out of the arena despite his Golden Bell Shield.
• Chen Feng admitted defeat, and Xi Xi praised him as one of the strongest Soul Elders she had encountered.
• Chen Feng nearly staggered as he turned to leave, making Xi Xi giggle.

After Bo Saixi defeated Chen Feng and won the Soul Elder contest, the crowd admired their strength and learned that the Soul Ancestor champion would receive an Eighth Grade Purple Ganoderma. Chen Xiaojun revealed that he had arranged Xi Xi’s challenge to showcase his brothers’ abilities and boost publicity, then left her wondering what sword he used.

• Spectators praised Bo Saixi and Chen Feng’s contest, which ended with Chen Feng conceding after their powerful techniques were revealed.
• Zhu Yanfeng announced that the Soul Ancestor champion would receive an Eighth Grade Purple Ganoderma, with rewards for the top three contestants.
• Xi Xi offered Chen Xiaojun the Seventh Grade Purple Ganoderma she had won, but he told her to keep it.
• Xi Xi asked why Chen Xiaojun had arranged for her to challenge Chen Feng and Chen Mu, and he explained that he wanted to showcase their strongest abilities and publicize the next contest’s prize.
• Xi Xi asked which sword Chen Xiaojun represented in the Big Dipper Seven Stars Sword formation, and he teased her to guess before running off.

Chen Feng asked Chen Cong to guide him toward becoming a Sword Array Master, and Chen Cong agreed. Chen Mu chose to specialize in the Agility Attack Type lineage and asked Chen Cong to help develop his sword techniques, while Chen Xiaojun revealed that he had quietly arranged events to secure support for both young men.

• Chen Feng told Chen Cong he wanted to become a Sword Array Master, and Chen Cong agreed to guide him.
• Chen Cong recognized Chen Feng's talent and potential, along with the Chen Clan resources that could help him pursue the path.
• Chen Mu said he would carry the Agility Attack Type banner and planned to develop the fifteenth through eighteenth Solitary Peak Swords and make the fourteenth more widely teachable.
• Chen Mu asked Chen Cong to help deduce and perfect his sword techniques.
• Chen Xiaojun told Chen Mu that their efforts had basically succeeded and revealed that he had arranged events to win the elders' recognition and support for Chen Feng and Chen Mu.

Chen Xiaojun realized Chen Feng and Chen Mu had concealed more of their abilities after they teased him about explaining Xi Xi’s surprise appearance to Sea God Island. Meanwhile, the tournament continued, with Zhao Mingsheng defeating Hu Yanzan and several Chen Clan allies winning their matches.

• Chen Mu and Chen Feng credited Chen Xiaojun with arranging Xi Xi’s appearance and left him to explain it to the seniors from Sea God Island.
• Chen Xiaojun called after Chen Feng and Chen Mu about their unused techniques, and they hurried away when he exposed that they had held back more abilities.
• Zhao Mingsheng used his family’s martial techniques to defeat Hu Yanzan, winning honor for the Zhao Family and drawing attention to the Chen Clan’s support.
• Cheng Tai, Zhu Wukui, Liu Ruyan, Ma Wenyi, Shen Youchu, and Xi Li Deng Yuan won their matches, while Qin Huacheng lost to Yan Zaiyang.
• The Chen Clan’s Soul Ancestor contestants continued to win more matches than they lost as the tournament’s early rounds went on.

Zhu Wuxin, Chen Yanwu’s personal follower, stepped forward to face Ling Xinyao and showcased the strength she had built through the Zhu and Ding Clans’ support and her martial skills. The fight was underway, with Zhu Wuxin pressing her higher-ranked opponent using speed, defense, and unpredictable movements.

• Ling Xinyao challenged Chen Yanwu, prompting Liu Ruyan to prepare to accept the match.
• Zhu Wuxin appeared before Ling Xinyao and identified herself as Chen Yanwu’s personal follower, claiming the challenge first.
• Zhu Wuxin attacked aggressively with her Nine-Toothed Rake, while Ling Xinyao’s ice spikes failed to break through her defense.
• Zhu Wuxin used Spiral Nine Shadows to split into three figures and confuse the onlookers.
• Zhu Wuxin’s training and combat methods were revealed, including her Muscle and Bone Forging Sutra, Hand Waving Five Strings, and Sound Breathing Technique.
• Zhu Wuxin, now a level 45 Soul Ancestor, continued battling Ling Xinyao with speed and unpredictable attacks.

Ling Xinyao and Zhu Wuxin fought fiercely as Ling Xinyao’s ice skills met Zhu Wuxin’s fiery rake techniques. The battle escalated into a clash between Zhu Wuxin’s Fire Domain and Ling Xinyao’s secret ice skill, with neither fighter yet defeated.

• Ling Xinyao attacked Zhu Wuxin with a storm of icicles, but Zhu Wuxin’s clones used spinning wind techniques to break through and close the distance.
• Zhu Wuxin struck Ling Xinyao’s Ice Prison with Fire Wheel and Constant Resounding Slashes, shattering it as Ling Xinyao concealed herself in icy mist.
• Zhu Wuxin unleashed Prison Wheel, creating a Fire Domain that burned away Ling Xinyao’s mist and scorched her Ice Armor.
• Ling Xinyao used her secret skill, Three Thousand Miles of Ice Seal, to freeze the surrounding area and send massive ice formations crashing against Zhu Wuxin’s flames.
• Zhu Wuxin braced herself for the contest of ice and fire, recognizing Ling Xinyao’s formidable strength.

Zhu Wuxin broke through Ling Xinyao’s ice techniques with her twin Dragon and Phoenix Wheels, but Ling Xinyao used Arcane Absolute Zero and froze them both. Ling Yunxiao and the others intervened to save them, and the match ended in a draw.

• Zhu Wuxin summoned a second Nine-Toothed Rake and attacked with the Dragon Wheel and Phoenix Wheel, smashing through Ling Xinyao’s Three Thousand Miles of Ice Seal.
• Ling Xinyao unleashed Arcane Absolute Zero, freezing Zhu Wuxin as she advanced.
• Zhu Wuxin hurled both wheels at Ling Xinyao, who was also immobilized by the cold’s backlash.
• Ling Yunxiao and his clone knocked the wheels away and, with Ling Changchuan, absorbed the cold energy from Ling Xinyao.
• Zhu Yanfeng and Ding Bingyuan freed Zhu Wuxin and helped expel the cold; both fighters fainted and were carried away.
• Zhu Yanfeng declared the match a draw because Ling Xinyao and Zhu Wuxin had lost the ability to fight at the same time.