Chapter Summaries

Chen Xiaojun and the others analyzed why Chen Xiaojun and Zhu Yanfeng had failed to awaken the Godly Venerable Body, comparing the difficulty of different Breathing Techniques and their physical strengths. They established Innate Soul Power, comprehension, meridians, and Blood Marrow as the Chen Clan’s Four Essentials of Cultivation, leaving the clan with a broader framework for training its Soul Masters.

• Chen Cong and the others examined the failed awakenings and concluded that the difficulty of the Breathing Technique affected the chance of success.
• The group compared Xiao Yi and Zhu Yanfeng, finding that Xiao Yi’s stronger meridians and collateral meridians had helped her progress further.
• Chen Xiaojun explained that abundant Blood Marrow supported a Soul Master’s potential and was central to activating the Godly Venerable Body.
• The group defined the Demon Slayer Mark as a secret art, the Godly Venerable Body as a Title Level profundity, and the Foundation Skill as a secret technique.
• The Chen Clan formally named Innate Soul Power, comprehension, meridians, and Blood Marrow its Four Essentials of Cultivation, elevating the Breathing Technique alongside soul power.

Chen Xiaojun brought Xiao Yi and his companions to visit the Gao Clan in Chang'an City, where he presented Gao Ying with a rare spirit herb. The visit continued as Su Ningxia brought forward another gift.

• Chen Xiaojun described Chang'an City's districts and traveled by carriage with Xiao Yi to the Gao residence.
• Gao Yunpeng and his family welcomed Chen Xiaojun and his companions, including the elderly Gao Ying, who had hurried over from the southern Gao Family Village.
• Chen Xiaojun greeted the Gao family and presented Gao Ying with a White Jade Splendor Lotus, a rare Seventh Grade Spirit Herb.
• Su Ningxia stepped forward with a carved wooden box containing another vibrant spirit herb.

Chen Xiaojun visited the Gao Clan with valuable gifts and explained that Gao Cuilan had earned further rewards through her contributions in the mountains. The visit ended with the clan warmly praising Cuilan and welcoming Zhu Wuneng, while Chen Xiaojun still had a second matter to discuss.

• Chen Xiaojun gave Gao Yunpeng two rare Seventh Grade Mental Spirit Herbs, and the Gao elders recognized their value and wondered what business he had come to discuss.
• Chen Xiaojun presented an eighth-grade Nine-Leaf Black Ginseng and a Forty Thousand Year Crimson Gold War Wolf right arm bone as rewards for Gao Cuilan's work during the mountain expedition.
• Chen Xiaojun explained that the expedition had yielded many treasures, including rare soul bones and valuable spoils, and said Gao Cuilan deserved the gifts.
• Chen Xiaojun praised Gao Cuilan's talent, competition record, and teamwork, while Zhu Wuneng agreed that she was a dependable companion.
• Gao Ying and Gao Yunpeng warmly praised Gao Cuilan and welcomed Zhu Wuneng, encouraging him to visit more often.

Chen Xiaojun proposed exchanging secret techniques with the Gao Clan so Xiao Yi could learn confinement arts, and Gao Ying agreed to a family-wide exchange of all five of the clan’s confinement techniques. The chapter left Chen Xiaojun asking to exchange for the Gao Clan’s other confinement methods as well, which Gao Ying also approved.

• Gao Cuilan and Zhu Wuneng grew bashful when their relationship came up, while their families and Chen Xiaojun supported the match.
• Cheng Yun and Gao Yunhe led the others on a tour, leaving Chen Xiaojun to discuss a matter privately with Gao Ying and Gao Yunpeng.
• Chen Xiaojun offered introductions to the secret technique inheritances of Heavenly Wolf Gate and others in exchange for the Gao Clan’s confinement arts for Xiao Yi.
• Gao Ying confirmed that Xiao Yi was Chen Xiaojun’s fiancée and agreed to a family exchange of all five Gao Clan confinement secret techniques.
• Chen Xiaojun asked to include other confinement methods the Gao Clan had collected, and Gao Ying agreed.

After Chen Xiaojun left the Gao Family, Gao Ying, Gao Yunpeng, and Gao Yunhe discussed the thirteen secret techniques he had exchanged and the gifts he had sent Gao Cuilan. They decided to help Cuilan reach Soul Ancestor before the Advanced Elite Competition and sent for her.

• Chen Xiaojun left the Gao Family as Su Ningxia and Cheng Yun discussed whether the family would understand his intentions.
• Gao Yunpeng regretted that the Gao Family's binding techniques had spread, but Gao Ying and Gao Yunhe argued that Chen Xiaojun's exchange showed goodwill.
• Gao Yunpeng reviewed the thirteen secret techniques, and Gao Yunhe identified Demon Soul Heart Refining as an inheritance of the Magic Sheep Sect, destroyed by Soul Fighting City.
• Gao Ying and Gao Yunhe concluded that the techniques would strengthen the Gao Family and its followers.
• Gao Yunhe reasoned that Chen Xiaojun had deliberately presented Gao Cuilan with an eighth-grade Nine-Leaf Black Ginseng and a forty-thousand-year-old soul bone to help her compete.
• Gao Ying ordered Gao Yunpeng to fetch Cuilan so the family could help her reach Soul Ancestor before the Advanced Elite Competition.

Gao Cuilan revealed that Xiao Jun had named her the main controller for the Provincial Preliminary Competition, and her family prepared her to absorb several rare resources to strengthen her. Gao Ying recognized Xiao Jun’s open strategy was prompting the Chang’an clans to invest more heavily in their younger generation, and the family went to guard Cuilan as she began her preparations.

• Gao Cuilan confirmed to Gao Ying and Gao Yunpeng that Xiao Jun wanted her to serve as the main force and primary controller in the Provincial Preliminary Competition.
• Gao Ying offered Cuilan Nine-Leaf Black Ginseng, a soul bone, Gold Dew Spirit Liquid, and Emerald Algae to help her reach Soul Ancestor and improve her Mental Power.
• Cuilan showed her family the Light and Darkness Intertwined Dew and Sixth Grade Spirit Light Grass that Xiao Jun had given her, explaining that he wanted her to absorb the resources together.
• Gao Ying ordered Cuilan to prepare to absorb the resources in half an hour, while Gao Yunpeng and Gao Yunhe praised Xiao Jun’s plan to spur the other clans into investing in their Golden Generations.
• Gao Ying led Gao Yunpeng and Gao Yunhe to stand guard while Cuilan prepared to absorb the medicinal power.

Gao Cuilan used rare spirit herbs gifted by Xiao Jun to evolve her Gold Silver Ring martial soul into a Dragon Phoenix Gold Silver Ring. She reached Soul Power level 38 and reflected that her martial soul could finally keep up with Wu Neng a little.

• Gao Cuilan consumed the Nine-Leaf Black Ginseng and Light and Darkness Intertwined Dew to increase her Soul Power and Mental Power.
• Gao Cuilan took the Dragon Phoenix Grass and ten stalks of Spirit Light Grass, enduring intense pain as their power transformed her martial soul.
• Gao Ying, Gao Yunpeng, and Gao Yunhe watched as Gao Cuilan's Gold Silver Ring evolved into the Seventh Grade Dragon Phoenix Gold Silver Ring.
• Gao Cuilan's Soul Power reached level 38, and she wept as she thought that her martial soul could finally keep up with Wu Neng a little.

Gao Cuilan cried with relief after her martial soul upgraded into a peak seventh-grade Dragon Phoenix Gold Silver Ring, giving her confidence that she could stand beside Zhu Wuneng. After learning Xiao Yi had given her the Dragon Phoenix Grass, Gao Cuilan prepared to absorb a spirit bone and Gold Dew Spirit Liquid so she could break through to level 40.

• Gao Cuilan wept as she realized her upgraded martial soul had lifted her out of her group's weakest position and eased her insecurity about Zhu Wuneng.
• Gao Yunhe drew Gao Cuilan out of her thoughts by asking who had given her the Dragon Phoenix Grass, and she said Xiao Yi had given it to her.
• Gao Cuilan praised Xiao Yi as her number-one idol, prompting Gao Yunpeng, Gao Ying, and Gao Yunhe to wonder at Xiao Yi's strength and potential.
• Gao Cuilan explained that Xiao Yi's Dragon Phoenix Grass had been grown from rare herbs gathered at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
• Gao Cuilan refused to wait and took out a forty-thousand-year-old Crimson Gold Wolf Right Arm Bone and Gold Dew Spirit Liquid to pursue a breakthrough to level 40.

Chen Xiaojun used Gao Cuilan to test whether Spirit Light Grass could enhance Dragon Phoenix Grass and planned to make the Gao Family his first move in consolidating Chang'an’s noble clans. The Gao Family recognized his intentions and resolved to handle their new connection carefully as Chen Xiaojun prepared to assess the other clans’ loyalty after Chen Cong’s injury.

• Gao Yunhe warned Gao Ying and Gao Yunpeng that Chen Xiaojun’s visit and Gao Cuilan’s Martial Soul advancement would draw attention, and urged them to guard their words and avoid provoking the Chen Family.
• Gao Ying agreed that the Gao Family should preserve its relationship with the Chen Family without seeming reckless or secretive, and Gao Yunpeng accepted his advice.
• Chen Xiaojun tested the combined effect of Dragon Phoenix Grass and Spirit Light Grass by helping Gao Cuilan advance her Martial Soul, believing her character and aptitude made her worthy of support.
• Chen Xiaojun chose the Gao Family as a benchmark and potential ally outside the Shen, Ji, and Liu clans, intending to strengthen its power and deepen its ties to the Chen Family.
• With Chen Cong gravely injured, Chen Xiaojun planned to watch whether Chang'an’s other noble families would distance themselves from the Chen Family under pressure from the Crimson Church.

Chen Xiaojun and his companions encountered Hu Qianning fleeing a group of pursuers, and the battle spilled into their path. After Zhu Changyun defended the group from an attack, one pursuer confronted Chen Xiaojun and warned him not to interfere.

• Cheng Yun went outside after hearing a commotion and saw Hu Qianning pursued across the rooftops by several Soul Masters.
• Hu Qianning resisted Liu Xinxin’s mental attack with the Illusion Grand Sect’s Heart Condensation Art and evaded the black vines cast by a young man with slanted bangs.
• A burly pursuer struck Hu Qianning with Blood Circle Slash, but her Fox Tail Sepal as Clothing deflected his bone blade.
• Zhu Changyun halted the carriage and shielded Chen Xiaojun, Cheng Yun, Xiao Yi, Zhu Wuneng, and Su Ningxia from the spreading battle.
• The slanted-bangs pursuer stopped his vines near the group, fixed his gaze on Chen Xiaojun, and warned him not to interfere.

Chen Xiaojun’s group encountered an arrogant Avici Hall soul master while Green Hill Forest fought members of Avici Hall in Chang'an City. As the confrontation escalated, Chen Xiaojun and Cheng Yun discussed the rival sects and the battle, while the Avici Hall man remained poised to challenge them.

• A slanted-bangs Avici Hall soul master threatened Chen Xiaojun’s group, but Zhu Wuneng mocked him and Zhu Changyun revealed his strength as a Soul Emperor.
• Hu Qianning urged Chen Xiaojun to leave, while Chen Xiaojun and Cheng Yun identified her as a talented Five-Tailed Spirit Fox from Green Hill Forest.
• The Avici Hall man demanded to know whether Chen Xiaojun’s group would interfere, but they ignored him until Zhu Changyun stepped forward with his shield.
• The man invoked Avici Hall to threaten the group, and Chen Xiaojun and Cheng Yun discussed the sect’s conflict with Green Hill Forest and the four Avici Five Veins present.

Hu Qianning defeated Gou Sheng in the arena and resisted Liu Xinxin’s mental attack before countering with a flaming fox-tail strike. Liu Xinxin was sent flying, leaving Hu Qianning in control of the battle.

• Hu Qianning blocked Gou Sheng’s bone blade with Fox Tail Sepal as Clothing and attacked with Fox Tail Bloom Like Flower.
• Gou Sheng used Shadow Splitting Slash, but Hu Qianning’s Fox Tail Desire Like Splendor unsettled him and let her break through his defense.
• Hu Qianning struck Gou Sheng with a fox tail, sending him crashing to the ground and knocking away his bone hook blade.
• Liu Xinxin attacked Hu Qianning with Lingering Dream, but Hu Qianning resisted the illusion with a focused mind.
• Hu Qianning countered with Fox Tail Entwined Like Fire, overwhelmed Liu Xinxin’s bell defense, and sent her flying.

Hu Qianning escaped Mo Lichen’s Mist Confinement Cage and defeated him with her foxfire techniques. Zhu Changyun continued to press Yu Mixuan, whose battle remained unresolved.

• Chen Xiaojun told Zhu Changyun to stop Yu Mixuan, and Zhu Changyun attacked him with his shield and Earth Vein Surge.
• Zhu Changyun forced Yu Mixuan to retreat under repeated attacks, leaving him increasingly endangered.
• Hu Qianning tried to reach Chen Xiaojun, but Mo Lichen trapped her in his Mist Confinement Cage.
• Hu Qianning used Phantom Fox Shadow Clone and Fox Tail Burns Like Me to break free of the mist and confront Mo Lichen.
• Mo Lichen attacked with Nether Ghost Claw, but Hu Qianning blocked it with Phantom Fox Sky Dance.
• Hu Qianning unleashed Fox Sky Vast Sea and burned Mo Lichen to ash.

Hu Lenghui and Murong Zhe battled while Hu Qianning fought off her attackers with help from Chen Xiaojun and his companions. Liu Xinxin, Gou Sheng, and Yu Mixuan retreated, and Hu Qianning thanked Chen Xiaojun for intervening.

• Hu Lenghui and Murong Zhe exchanged heavy blows, and Murong Zhe taunted her about the danger facing the candidate Holy Maiden.
• Liu Xinxin accused Hu Qianning of trying to kill Mo Lichen, then fled when patrol guards arrived, followed by Gou Sheng.
• Chen Xiaojun signaled Zhu Changyun to ease his attack, and Yu Mixuan escaped after threatening that Avici Hall would settle the score.
• Zhu Wuneng wondered whether the Soul Emperor had really died, and Chen Xiaojun suggested Mo Lichen had left behind a clone or secret-art construct.
• Hu Qianning approached Chen Xiaojun and thanked him and his companions for helping drive back her attackers.

Chen Xiaojun let Hu Qianning handle the aftermath of her battle before she left with the patrol guards. Elsewhere, Hu Lenghui and Murong Zhe exchanged devastating attacks, and both were injured but remained ready to fight.

• Chen Xiaojun told Captain Cen Yunqi that Hu Qianning should answer for the battle’s damage, and Hu Qianning left with the patrol guards.
• Hu Lenghui used Fox Shadow Clone to confuse Murong Zhe, who destroyed her clones with Nether Hundred Claws and Nether Ghost Spin.
• Hu Lenghui appeared behind Murong Zhe and attacked with Fox Fire Sky Rush, but he escaped using Nether Stealth.
• Hu Lenghui unleashed Fox Devour the World, and Murong Zhe countered with Nether Rebirth and Nether Soul Burst.
• The collision blasted Hu Lenghui and Murong Zhe apart, leaving both injured as they faced each other for another fight.

He Jingchuan, You Dongshan, and other Chang'an City experts intervened to stop Hu LengHui and Murong Zhe from fighting, enforcing the city’s ban on destructive battles. Although the pair agreed to withdraw, the nobles surrounded them and Chu Tianshu and Liu Yirong confronted them over the damage they had caused.

• He Jingchuan and You Dongshan attacked to halt Hu LengHui and Murong Zhe, and revealed themselves alongside Ji Chengjian, Chen Xuanqi, and Shen Lang.
• Dugu Lin arrived on behalf of Eminences Cosmos and Sword Shadow and warned Hu LengHui and Murong Zhe to stop fighting in Chang'an City.
• Ji Chengjian, He Jingchuan, and Chen Xuanqi urged the pair to settle their grievances elsewhere, and Hu LengHui and Murong Zhe withdrew their auras.
• Dugu Lin vanished after reminding them that Chang'an City had rules, but the noble experts continued to surround the pair.
• Chu Tianshu accused Hu LengHui and Murong Zhe of damaging Chang'an City, and Liu Yirong demanded an accounting for the destruction of her family’s clothing shop.

After Murong Zhe and Hu LengHui’s fight damaged shops and injured people in Chang’an City, Shen Lang and the other clan experts demanded compensation and an end to private battles there. Gao Ying mediated, but the Ten Great Clans established their authority by enforcing new rules, and Murong Zhe and Hu LengHui left to continue their quarrel at the Great Soul Arena.

• Yan Jinzhong separated Murong Zhe and Hu LengHui, while Shen Lang demanded that they compensate the damaged shops.
• Hu LengHui and Murong Zhe each paid one million, but Shen Lang and the other experts also demanded an explanation for the damage and injuries their fight caused.
• Gao Ying arrived and proposed setting aside compensation for the injured people and forbidding the pair from fighting privately in Chang'an City.
• Shen Lang and He Qingchuan declared that Chang'an City’s rules had applied since three years earlier and warned the pair against fighting there again.
• Murong Zhe challenged Hu LengHui to finish their fight at the Great Soul Arena, and they both left.

He Qingchuan announced a ban on private street duels by visiting Soul Sages and stronger soul masters, backed by the Ten Great Clans, the Chen Clan, and Chang'an City's authorities. Hu LengHui and Murong Zhe realized their clash had made them an example, while the Ghost King Sect's purpose in Chang'an remained unresolved.

• Gu Qianli and Chen Xuanqi celebrated as the Chang'an Families prepared to establish rules for powerful visitors, with the Chen Clan's support giving them greater strength.
• Shen Lang, Ji Chengjian, and Liu Yirong urged He Qingchuan to speak for the Ten Great Clans, and the gathered leaders lent him their Soul Power.
• He Qingchuan announced that visiting Soul Sages and stronger soul masters could not fight privately in Chang'an City and must settle grudges in the Great Soul Arena.
• Chen Menglin sent a vast Seven Kill Sword vision across the city, while a radiant swan appeared above the City Lord's Mansion to show the Chen Clan's and authorities' support.
• Chen Xiaojun recognized the announcement as a step toward integrating the Chen Clan with Chang'an's aristocratic families and reinforcing the rule of law.
• Hu LengHui and Murong Zhe stopped in the street, acknowledged that their families had been made an example, and exchanged barbs about the Ghost King Sect's presence in Chang'an.

Ma Zhibin and Ma Rulong discussed the Chen Clan’s growing influence in Chang'an City and the Ma Family’s plans for the upcoming Continental Advanced Soul Master Elite Competition. Ma Zhibin pressed for Wencai to follow Chen Xiaojun, leaving Ma Rulong silent and troubled.

• Ma Zhibin and Ma Rulong discussed how the Chen Clan had gained the support of powerful families and organizations, ushering in what Ma Zhibin called its era in Chang'an City.
• Ma Zhibin argued that the Ma Family could benefit by maintaining good relationships with the Chen Clan and other connected powers.
• Ma Zhibin asked Ma Rulong to ensure the family supported Third Child and Wencai for the Continental Advanced Soul Master Elite Competition, while Ma Rulong insisted they rely on their own abilities.
• Ma Zhibin said he planned to have Wencai follow Chen Xiaojun, prompting Ma Rulong to object that Wencai was still Ma Family blood.
• Ma Zhibin argued that Wencai had not been entered into the clan genealogy or given family support, and said following Chen Xiaojun could give the Ma Family another path to benefits.
• Ma Rulong fell silent and continued eating and drinking as Ma Zhibin toasted the Ma Family’s future.

Ma Zhibin tried to persuade Ma Rulong to help him secure the Chang'an Field General Manager position, but Ma Rulong warned that the role drew many rivals and did not belong to the Ma Family. At Spirit Hall, Bei Ming Xinghai and Luo Tian discussed the Chen Clan, the Crimson Church’s attacks, and the need for Spirit Hall to take a stance.

• Ma Zhibin urged Ma Rulong to return to the clan and pursue a breakthrough, then revealed he wanted to become Chang'an Field General Manager.
• Ma Rulong told Ma Zhibin that the position did not belong to the Ma Family and that many people were waiting for his term to end.
• Bei Ming Xinghai and Luo Tian discussed the Chen Clan’s growing influence and how public accounts of the Crimson Church’s attacks had obscured other details.
• Luo Tian reported signs of a top soul master battle in Five Mountains County and suspected Chen Yu had been injured while fighting the Crimson Church.
• Bei Ming Xinghai ordered a detailed report and said the Crimson Church and the Chen Clan were both sources of chaos in Fasinuo Province.
• Bei Ming Xinghai concluded that Spirit Hall had watched the Chen Clan expand for too long and that it was time to take a stance.