Chapter Summaries

Chen Xiaojun purified Yu Zhijun’s enhancements, then Xiao Yi’s Thunder Forest devastated Yu Zhijun, Yu Jingzhe, and Lei Dong and freed Chen Xiaojun from their restraints. Elsewhere, Lei En trapped Chu Youwei in his Hurricane Thunder Domain, and she prepared to answer the attack.

• Chen Xiaojun used Azure Lotus Divine Light to strip away Yu Zhijun’s buffs and weaken his destruction spear, which the Yin Yang Tortoise Shield then repelled.
• Xiao Yi summoned Thunder Forest with his Thunder Hell Vine left arm bone, overwhelming Yu Zhijun, Yu Jingzhe, and Lei Dong with destructive lightning.
• With Lei Dong and Yu Jingzhe unable to maintain their techniques, Chen Xiaojun’s Yin Yang Dao Domain dispelled the lightning restraints around him.
• Lei En and Chu Youwei exchanged blows at high speed, while Lei En’s Swift Lightning Empowerment and Thunder Armor Protection balanced Chu Youwei’s enhancements from Gu Wuyan.
• Lei En unleashed Hurricane Thunder Domain, engulfing Chu Youwei in wind blades and lightning as she lit up her fifth soul ring.

Chu Youwei and Lei En withdrew from their clash as He Qiang and Lian Shouzhong broke through Ao Lie’s Red Lotus Lightning Prison with a coordinated attack. He Qiang’s Yellow Thunder Imperial Dragon overwhelmed Ao Lie and left him badly wounded on the Soul Duel Stage.

• Chu Youwei used Crane Shadow Nine Heavens to evade Lei En’s attacks, and both fighters withdrew briefly to recover.
• He Qiang summoned the Yellow Thunder Imperial Dragon to shield Zhu Wuneng, He Qiang, and Lian Shouzhong from Ao Lie’s Red Lotus Lightning Prison.
• Lian Shouzhong shaped gathered ice energy into a heavy sword and unleashed a torrent of frost that extinguished the lightning fire.
• He Qiang sent the Yellow Thunder Imperial Dragon diving at Ao Lie, who countered with Flame Dragon Sky Shatter Strike.
• The Yellow Thunder Imperial Dragon broke Ao Lie’s attack and defenses, struck his arms, and knocked him into a pit on the Soul Duel Stage.

Zhu Wuneng used his Five Elements Destruction Divine Light to break Long Qi’s defenses and leave him badly injured, while Chen Xiaojun’s team faced Thunder Team’s final combined attack. Xiao Yi stepped forward and unleashed a strengthened Thunder Forest to meet the incoming lightning torrent.

• Zhu Wuneng fired his Five Elements Destruction Divine Light, shattered Long Qi’s Immovable Dragon Wall and Dragon Turtle Armor Break Shield, and inflicted a heavy injury that left Long Qi unable to continue fighting.
• Yu Zhijun surveyed the injured Thunder Team and offered one final team attack before admitting defeat if Chang’an’s formation could withstand it.
• Chen Xiaojun accepted the challenge, and Yu Zhijun led Thunder Team in combining five area soul skills with Lei Jiuchong’s Myriad Thunder Guidance into a massive lightning torrent.
• Xiao Yi stopped Chen Xiaojun, awakened her Life Origin, raised her power to a level comparable to a Level 62 Soul Emperor, and released her left-arm-bone skill, Thunder Forest, against the torrent.

Xiao Yi used Tongtian Lu to summon heavenly lightning and help Chang'an withstand Thunder Team’s combined attack, leaving Thunder unable to continue. Chang'an won the match, and the chapter ended with the team returning to rest as spectators and rival teams reacted to Xiao Yi’s power.

• Xiao Yi drew on Tongtian Lu to call down tribulation thunder, strengthening her Thunder Forest against Thunder Team’s combined attack.
• Xiao Yi protected herself with the Star Bell as the collision devastated the arena and badly injured Thunder Team.
• Chen Xiaojun checked that Xiao Yi was safe, and Yu Zhijun admitted Thunder’s defeat and thanked Chang'an for holding back.
• The referee declared Chang'an Advanced Soul Master Academy the winner, prompting cheers throughout the arena.
• Chen Haokai, Yun Yingluo, Hua Xiyan, Chen Yanwu, and Zhan Ruoxi reacted to Chang'an’s strength and Xiao Yi’s abilities.
• Chen Xiaojun told Xiao Yi to rest, then led his teammates away from the arena.

Ming Xiangyun and Li Lingfeng discussed the threat posed by Chen Xiaojun, Chen Xinyi, and Zhu Wuneng after witnessing their abilities. At the Chen residence, Xia Yun warned Chen Xiaojun that the battle had exposed his unusual physical strength and sword control, leaving powerful onlookers to suspect he had opened the Upper Soul Nest or learned a rare secret art.

• Ming Xiangyun said Chen Xiaojun, Chen Xinyi, and Zhu Wuneng could not be allowed to remain, and Li Lingfeng recalled seeing Chen Xiaojun and Chen Xinyi grow rapidly stronger.
• Xia Yun and Chen Xiaojun discussed Xiao Yi's Fifty Thousand Year Soul Bone, her Five Thunder Talisman, and the Tongtian Lu, which few outside the Chen Clan could understand.
• Xia Yun praised Zhu Wuneng's Five Elements Destruction Divine Light, and Chen Xiaojun explained that it was a Rule Level Profound Meaning killing move the clan hoped to study.
• Xia Yun pointed out that Chen Xiaojun had endured powerful binding attacks and controlled divine swords while sealed, prompting suspicions that he had opened the Upper Soul Nest or cultivated a rare secret art.
• Xia Yun warned Chen Xiaojun that people might target him for revealing too much, and Chen Xiaojun showed concern about the danger to Xiao Yi.

Chen Xiaojun and Xia Yun assessed the National Competition and Five Mountains Academy’s chances of qualifying by exploiting upsets and tactical openings. Old Shi reported that Tang Yuchen had set out for Lankai Commandery, and Chen Xiaojun said events were finally about to begin.

• Xia Yun described the powerful sect-backed academies and warned that Five Mountains Academy would struggle to qualify without exploiting matchups and upsets.
• Chen Xiaojun and Xia Yun discussed how Five Mountains and Yue Si Academy might seize qualification spots if stronger teams faltered, while considering Qing Lin Academy’s prospects and reputation.
• Old Shi brought Chen Xiaojun Amethyst Osmanthus Crisps and reported that Tang Yuchen had departed Chang'an City for Lankai Commandery.
• Chen Xiaojun paused and murmured that it was finally about to begin.

Tang Jigen and Tang Jinghe prepared to receive the Chen Clan after learning that the visiting party included the long-missing Tang Yuchen. The Chen Clan arrived with two Soul Douluo and four Soul Sages, and the chapter ended with both families exchanging formal greetings in the Tang Manor hall.

• Tang Jinghe advised Tang Jigen to receive the Chen Clan according to etiquette after they sent a visiting card and announced their visit.
• Tang Yusheng reported that Chen Zhang led a party of seven and that Tang Yuchen, missing for four years, was with them and appeared to be there willingly.
• Tang Jinghe ordered the manor's central gate opened, and Tang Yusheng escorted Chen Zhang and five companions into the hall.
• Tang Jinghe and Tang Jigen recognized Chen Zhang and Xiong Mao Er as Soul Douluo, while Tang Yuchen and three others were Soul Sages.
• Chen Zhang and Xiong Mao Er greeted the Tang elders, and the families sat together and exchanged courteous pleasantries.

Chen Zhang proposed three forms of cooperation between the Chen Clan and the Mystic Yellow Tang Family, including long-term commissioned production, hiring Tang craftsmen, and research and development work. He outlined generous salaries and annual support payments, while Tang Jinghe and Tang Jigen weighed the offer.

• Tang Jigen asked whether Xiong Mao Er served the Chen Clan, and Chen Zhang explained that Xiong Mao Er assisted him as deputy head of the External Affairs Department.
• Xiong Mao Er relayed that Azure Sea Douluo planned to visit Lankai, and Tang Jinghe welcomed the prospect of meeting him.
• Chen Zhang told Tang Jinghe and Tang Jigen that the Chen Clan needed forging workers and proposed deep cooperation with the Mystic Yellow Tang Family.
• Chen Zhang presented three cooperation models: long-term commissioned production, employing Tang craftsmen for special military products, and hiring specialists for the Chen Clan's Research Department.
• Chen Zhang detailed the craftsmen's salaries, benefits, and annual talent support payments to the Tang Clan, then revealed that Tang Yuchen earned a base salary of five hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins as deputy technical director.

Chen Zhang presented the Mystic Yellow Tang Clan with proposals for forging cooperation and a new medicinal materials market in Lankai City. The Tang Clan agreed to consider the plans and promised an answer in three days, while Chen Zhang offered them a twenty-percent share in the market.

• Chen Zhang and Xiong Mao Er described the generous pay, benefits, and secret techniques available to the Chen Clan’s artisan technicians, impressing Tang Yusheng, Tang Jinghe, and Tang Jigen.
• Tang Jinghe questioned why the Chen Clan had chosen the Tang Clan over the Clear Sky Sect, and Chen Zhang said their cooperation would benefit both sides.
• Tang Jinghe said the Tang Clan needed to coordinate internally and would give the Chen delegation a clear answer in three days.
• Chen Zhang introduced Xia Ying and Ding Lang to explain the proposed forging work and then revealed the Chen Clan’s plan to establish a medicinal materials market in Lankai City.
• Chen Chen outlined the market’s location, operations, and cooperation plan, and offered the Mystic Yellow Tang Clan a twenty-percent share.

Tang Jinghe accepted the Chen Clan’s proposals for a Medicinal Materials Market and assistance securing warehouse land in Lankai, recognizing that the partnership could revive the Tang Family’s finances. Tang Jigen warned that deeper cooperation could make the clan dependent on the Chen Clan, so Tang Jinghe called a full clan meeting to review the terms before deciding.

• Tang Jinghe agreed to the Chen Clan’s proposal to establish a Medicinal Materials Market in Lankai with the Tang Family receiving a twenty percent share.
• Chen Zhang asked the Mystic Yellow Tang Clan to help secure land for a large warehouse, and Tang Jinghe agreed to assist with the land-use procedures.
• After the Chen Clan departed, Tang Yuchen read out their lavish gift list, including an Eighth Grade Water-Fire Twin Lotus, and Tang Jigen observed that the gifts likely cost the Chen Clan far less than their market value.
• Tang Yusheng urged his family to use the market share and hiring fees to strengthen the clan, while Tang Jigen cautioned that entrusted production and hiring craftsmen could bind the Tang Family’s economic lifeline to the Chen Clan.
• Tang Jinghe ordered the branch heads and clan elders to gather at the Ancestral Hall the day after tomorrow to hear Xia Ying and Ding Lang explain the proposals before the clan made its decision.

Xia Ying and Ding Lang presented the Chen Clan’s manufacturing requirements to the Mystic Yellow Tang Clan, then Xia Ying revealed the Chen Clan’s hypermarket expansion plans and guaranteed annual purchases of at least ten million gold coins. The Tang elders reacted with shock as the proposed partnership moved toward formal terms.

• Xia Ying outlined the civilian goods the Chen Clan wanted the Tang Clan to produce, while Ding Lang set strict technical standards for specialized components and materials.
• Tang Jigen, Tang Yusheng, and Tang Jinghe exchanged approving nods after the Tang Clan’s craftsmen recognized that the requirements matched their skills.
• Xia Ying and Ding Lang answered the elders’ questions, with Ding Lang refusing to discuss classified military applications.
• Xia Ying explained that the order volume would match the Tang Clan’s available surplus capacity and announced the Chen Clan’s plan to expand its hypermarkets across the continent.
• Xia Ying offered a guaranteed minimum annual purchase volume of ten million gold coins, leaving the Tang elders astonished.

The Chen Clan offered the Mystic Yellow Tang Family a guaranteed ten million gold coins in civilian-goods orders, a two-million-coin deposit, and quarterly payments, stirring both excitement and concern over the family’s capacity. Tang Potian arrived at the council and exchanged veiled barbs with Chen Zhang, insisting that the two Tang families shared the same ancestry as he probed Chen Zhang’s purpose in Lankai Commandery.

• Xia Ying announced the Chen Clan’s ten-million-gold-coin guaranteed civilian-goods contract, prompting the Tang Family elders to worry about whether their workshops could meet the demand.
• Chen Zhang promised a two-million-gold-coin sincerity deposit within ten days of signing and quarterly settlement of future payments.
• A steward announced Tang Potian’s arrival, and he entered the council chamber and greeted Tang Jinghe and Chen Zhang.
• Chen Zhang congratulated Tang Potian on his father Tang Feng becoming a Titled Douluo, while Tang Potian praised Chen Zhang and asked why he had come to Lankai Commandery.
• Tang Yusheng challenged Tang Potian’s claim that the two families were kin, but Tang Potian insisted they shared an ancestor.

Chen Zhang refused Tang Potian’s demand for the Chen Clan to share its business with the Clear Sky Sect, then secured the Mystic Yellow Tang Clan’s approval for cooperation plans. As Chen Clan personnel began the handover in Lankai Commandery, Tang Potian sent an urgent report to the sect master, warning that the Chen Clan’s commitment was firm.

• Chen Zhang rejected Tang Potian’s request to involve the Clear Sky Sect in Chen Clan business, citing the Heaven Dou Imperial Family’s suspicions.
• Tang Potian ended the failed negotiation and ordered his aides to report everything to the sect and await Eldest Uncle’s instructions.
• The Mystic Yellow Tang Clan approved the Chen Clan’s production and craftsman proposals with seventy percent support and its joint market plan with eighty percent support.
• Chen Zhang reviewed the vote and prepared safeguards for the Chen Clan’s designs, materials, and processes as cooperation moved toward contracts and handover.
• A Chen Clan team arrived in Lankai Commandery and began inspections, material transfers, and personnel placement.
• Tang Potian ordered an urgent eagle message using the Heaven Character Seal, reporting that the Chen Clan’s intent was no longer a probe and its resolve was firm.

Tang Yifei defeated Tang Xu in the Gao Ying Competition with the Nine Heavens Hammer Technique, while Chang'an Academy won a grueling battle against Heaven Dou Royal Second Team. As the injured Chang'an team reflected on the match, Ji Boda connected the rivals’ coming generation to a challenge match from four years earlier.

• Tang Yifei’s Nine Heavens: Rock Collapse overwhelmed Tang Xu’s Chaotic Cloak Forty-Nine Hammers, knocking Tang Xu down and winning the duel for Lan Kai Academy.
• Tang Chen reacted grimly to Heaven Mountain Academy’s defeat, while the chapter recounted how Chang'an Academy had broken Heaven Dou Royal Second Team’s formation and eliminated Hu Yanzan before winning.
• In Box 111, Zhu Wuneng and Chen Shurui reviewed Chang'an Academy’s recent second-cycle matches as Du Gu Fu described his hard-fought battle against Yu Zhengjun.
• Chen Mu praised Su Ningxia for holding off Hu Yanzan and Mu Xingyun, and Du Gu Fu acknowledged that she had borne a heavy burden.
• He Qiang called the battle an early clash between future leaders of Chang'an Academy and Heaven Dou Academy, and Ji Boda linked it to a temporary challenge match from four years earlier.

Chang'an Academy and Blazing Fire Academy agreed to decide their match with one formation battle technique each, combining their teams’ powers into two enormous suns that collided. The arena was devastated, and both teams remained visible after the blast, leaving the match’s winner unclear.

• Huo Ying proposed that the match be decided by a single formation battle technique, and Chen Xiaojun agreed.
• Blazing Fire Academy channeled its members’ flames through Huo Ying, who formed the incandescent Fire Dance Blazing Sun.
• Gu Wuyan boosted Chang'an Academy’s team, while Ma Wencai fused their attacks into Sunspot Sun and Chen Xiaojun joined it with his Nine Yang Great Thunderbolt to create World-Burning Sun.
• Huo Ying’s Fire Dance Blazing Sun collided with Chang'an Academy’s World-Burning Sun, unleashing a massive explosion that strained the arena barrier and shook the spectators.
• The smoke cleared to reveal a vast crater and scorched, melted paving, with both teams visible at the arena’s edge.

Chang'an Team defeated Blazing Fire Team, while spectators discussed how the National Competition exposed the limits of existing talent rankings. Five Mountains Academy then defeated Thunder Team in a costly battle, leaving Lin Chiluan severely wounded.

• Huo Ying conceded after Blazing Fire Team was badly hurt by Chang'an Team's attack.
• Xia Yun praised Ma Wencai's inventive Combination Skill, and Ma Zhibin credited Chen Xiaojun's guidance for his son's progress.
• Xia Yun, Wang Wei, and Lian Changzhi discussed how the Genius List struggled to assess young talents whose potential exceeded their current combat strength.
• Five Mountains Academy fought Thunder Team, with Zhu Luoxi directing her side while Xia Shuyao and Ye Fei used Combination Skills to disrupt Thunder.
• Lin Chiluan exploited an opening created by Xia Shuyao and Ye Fei to knock down Yu Zhijun, helping Five Mountains eliminate Thunder's remaining fighters.
• Five Mountains Academy won, but Lin Chiluan was severely wounded, Zhu Xuanming and Wei Yelin were moderately injured, and several teammates suffered light injuries.

As the tournament entered its decisive rounds, the leaders of Chang'an Academy discussed the rising stakes for Fasinuo Division and planned how to secure more qualifying spots. That night, Chen Xiaojun learned more about Old Shi’s unusual status when the old steward brought him rare medicinal wine.

• Ji Xiang and the others discussed the tournament schedule, rumors of eight additional finals spots, and the growing attention on Fasinuo Division’s strong results.
• The council compared the records and strengths of Fasinuo’s academies with those of Toske Province, noting Mystic Yellow Academy’s defensive, sonic-focused battle team.
• Wang Wei, Lian Changzhi, and Ma Zhibin agreed that the Fasinuo academies needed strong results, and Chen Xiaojun asked Wang Wei to arrange a meeting with the other clans’ decision-makers.
• Chen Xiaojun asked Yan Chengyi about the finalized third-round matchups while the team’s members listened.
• Old Shi brought Chen Xiaojun Seven-Turn Snow Fungus Wine to nourish his meridians after he used the Nine Yang Great Thunderbolt, and claimed that his seniority surpassed that of Yanfeng and Bing Yuan.

Chen Xiaojun discussed the empire’s provincial quota politics and Xue Jiqing’s pragmatism with Old Shi, who also challenged his excessive caution toward Xiao Yi. After Old Shi left, Xiao Yi agreed that Chen Xiaojun had been too protective and said Old Shi felt familiar.

• Chen Xiaojun asked Old Shi about his familiarity with Zhu Yanfeng and Ding Bingyuan, but Old Shi declined to discuss his background.
• Chen Xiaojun explained the tournament quota dispute, and Old Shi said the Imperial Loyalists were using provincial competition to contain the Chen Clan and Silver Plume Alliance’s influence in Fasinuo.
• Old Shi described Xue Jiqing as a pragmatic moderate conservative whose choices toward Xue Chuxin and Xue Churan had shifted with circumstances.
• Chen Xiaojun admitted he feared the Imperial Loyalists might ally with the Clear Sky Sect and worried the tournament would expose Xiao Yi’s hidden strength.
• Old Shi told Chen Xiaojun that the Chen Clan could protect its prodigies and warned that excessive protection would hinder Xiao Yi.
• After Old Shi left, Xiao Yi said her grandmother had made a similar point and that Old Shi felt familiar.

Chang'an Academy defeated Moon Bay Academy in a brutal third-round match after breaking through its coordinated defenses with combination attacks. The victory left most of Chang'an’s team injured, while Moon Bay fell to its third consecutive loss and highlighted the gap between the Fasinuo and Toske academies.

• Chang'an Academy allowed Five Mountains Academy to rest through their match, then the Golden Generation defeated Vast Sea Academy and Chang'an beat Flame Radiance Academy.
• Moon Bay Academy opened aggressively, using Dang Zuncheng’s defense and the control skills of Luo Qianji and Bao Jun to disrupt Chang'an’s attacks.
• Gu Wuyan weakened Moon Bay’s suppression, and He Qiang, Chu Youwei, Liu Ruyan, and Ji Boda used combination attacks to break its formation.
• Chang'an took control of the match, but Dang Zuncheng’s final blast injured He Qiang and Chu Youwei, while Chu Xiaoling wounded Ji Boda before Liu Ruyan stopped him.
• The match ended with only Shen Youchu, Chen Ze, and Gu Wuyan still standing for Chang'an, as Moon Bay suffered its third straight defeat in the tournament.

Wang Wei and the other leaders discussed the quota-driven battles between Fasinuo and Toske, while Xia Yun’s Five Mountains Academy victory over Godwind was explained through Yang Wenxiu’s archery and the team’s tactics. Chen Xiaojun then faced Skywater Academy, whose members transformed the arena into an ice rink before their match, leaving him wary of the battle ahead.

• Wang Wei, Xia Yun, and the others discussed the Ministry of Education’s quota exchange and the fierce regional sniping it had prompted, noting that Chang'an and Moon Bay’s teams had suffered heavy injuries.
• The leaders praised Xia Yun for defeating Godwind Academy, and the account revealed that Yang Wenxiu’s arrows and Luo Qianxue’s defense had helped Five Mountains Academy overcome the flying team.
• Chen Xiaojun considered Chang'an’s demanding match schedule and prepared to face Skywater Academy, one of Tianshui Province’s strongest teams.
• Skywater Academy’s members flooded the arena and froze it into an ice rink, then performed a skating routine as the spectators watched.
• Chen Xiaojun watched the transformed arena and recognized that the ice would shape the difficult match to come.