Chapter Summaries

Xia Tianling and Zhu Zhuqing arrived in Star Luo City with Spirit Hall’s support to discuss annulling Zhu Zhuqing’s engagement to Dai Mubai. The Netherworld Zhu Family’s leaders backed the match with Xia Tianling and decided to welcome him with a banquet the next day.

• Xia Tianling’s group arrived in Star Luo City and met Sword Douluo at the Spirit Hall Sanctuary, where he and Chrysanthemum Douluo exchanged jabs.
• Spirit Hall sent the Netherworld Zhu Family a formal notice that Xia Tianling would visit the next morning to discuss Zhu Zhuqing’s marriage.
• The Nether Duke convened the family leaders, who agreed that Zhu Zhuqing’s marriage to the Holy Son could benefit their family and free them from the Dai Family’s control.
• The Nether Duke recalled Xia Tianling’s tournament victory and Zhu Zhuqing’s talent as he considered the family’s interests.
• The Nether Duke decided the Zhu Family would secretly decorate its residence and host a banquet for Xia Tianling.

Xia Tianling and Zhu Zhuqing visited the Zhu Family, where a hostile welcome outside the gates gave way to warm hospitality within. As they headed to meet the Nether Duke, Xia Tianling explained that Zhu Zhuqing’s changed perspective and strength had altered how the clan treated her, and promised to work toward changing the family and society.

• Xia Tianling, Zhu Zhuqing, and three Super Douluo arrived at the Zhu Family estate, where the guards appeared hostile despite Xia Tianling’s divination predicting a smooth visit.
• After the group entered, chief steward Zhu Lanxing warmly welcomed them and apologized for the reception at the gate.
• Zhu Zhuqing explained that the Zhu Family allowed illegitimate descendants who reached Spirit King to gain direct-descendant status, unlike the Dai Family’s stricter system.
• Zhu Lanxing led the visitors toward the Assembly Hall, where the Nether Duke was waiting.
• Xia Tianling told Zhu Zhuqing that her changed strength and backing had changed how the clan treated her, and said he intended to change the Zhu Family, the continent, and its social structure.

Xia Tianling forced Zhu Meilin to bring the Netherworld Family into a secret alliance with Spirit Hall, securing cooperation while leaving Zhuqing’s engagement to the Dai Family unresolved. At the banquet afterward, he noticed a resentful middle-aged man who resembled Zhu Zhuqing and wondered if he was her father.

• Zhu Meilin welcomed Xia Tianling, Zhu Zhuqing, and three Super Douluo, then agreed to dissolve Zhuqing’s engagement but tried to make Xia Tianling negotiate with the Star Luo emperor.
• Xia Tianling challenged Zhu Meilin’s evasions and demanded that the Netherworld Family choose between supporting Spirit Hall and remaining neutral.
• The three Super Douluo pressured Zhu Meilin until he agreed to side with Spirit Hall, and Xia Tianling negotiated secret cooperation while planting a Spirit Seed in Zhu Meilin’s Sea of Consciousness.
• At the banquet, Xia Tianling said he and Zhu Zhuqing would formalize their engagement but wait until they were at least eighteen to marry.
• Xia Tianling sensed a resentful gaze and spotted a middle-aged man who resembled Zhu Zhuqing, suspecting he was her father.

Xia Tianling and Zhu Meilin arranged for Zhu Zhuqing’s engagement to Dai Mubai to be broken off while avoiding an immediate conflict with the Star Luo Empire. After the White Tiger Great Emperor announced Dai Mubai’s return and talent, Zhu Meilin asked the emperor to approve the broken engagement, and Xia Tianling arrived with Zhu Zhuqing and three Super Douluo.

• Xia Tianling and Zhu Meilin agreed that Zhu Meilin would raise Zhu Zhuqing’s broken engagement after the next morning’s court session, with Xia Tianling present.
• Zhu Zhuqing worried about the court meeting, but Xia Tianling reassured her and brought her to the palace with three Super Douluo.
• The White Tiger Great Emperor announced Dai Mubai’s cultivation and tournament achievements to the court, signaling his favor while considering Dai Weisi better suited to rule.
• After the court session, Zhu Meilin asked the White Tiger Great Emperor to approve breaking Zhu Zhuqing’s engagement to Dai Mubai, citing her pledge to Spirit Hall’s Holy Son and the powerful Douluo backing her.
• Dai Mubai secretly overheard Zhu Meilin’s request and vowed revenge on Zhu Zhuqing and Xia Tianling.
• Xia Tianling entered the palace with Zhu Zhuqing and the three Super Douluo, then mocked Dai Mubai about his prospects of becoming crown prince.

Xia Tianling and the others confronted the White Tiger Great Emperor over Zhu Zhuqing’s engagement to Dai Mubai, using the families’ ancestral rules and Dai Mubai’s misconduct to justify ending it. Zhu Zhuqing rejected Dai Mubai, and the emperor apologized as Dai Mubai left in hatred.

• Xia Tianling led the group into Star Luo Palace, where Ghost Douluo and Chrysanthemum Douluo subdued the guards and warned the White Tiger Great Emperor not to disrespect Spirit Hall.
• Sword Douluo announced that Zhu Zhuqing was betrothed to the Spirit Hall Holy Son and that they had come to annul her engagement to Dai Mubai.
• Xia Tianling cited the ancestral rules, and Zhu Meilin produced the stone tablet showing that either family could seek a new match if a partner withdrew or died.
• Zhu Zhuqing refused to marry Dai Mubai and accused him of frequenting brothels and seducing women while living in Suotuo City.
• Xia Tianling named people who could confirm Zhu Zhuqing’s claims, and Dai Mubai admitted they were true.
• The White Tiger Great Emperor struck Dai Mubai out of the hall and apologized to the others, while Dai Mubai left harboring murderous hatred.

Xia Tianling and Zhu Zhuqing secured the annulment of Zhu Zhuqing’s engagement to Dai Mubai, then spent a week exploring Star Luo City before returning toward Spirit City. Dai Weisi learned of the broken engagement and planned to use it against Dai Mubai as he pursued the Crown Prince Position.

• The White Tiger Great Emperor accepted the annulment letter and sealed it, allowing Xia Tianling, Zhu Zhuqing, and the Spirit Hall elders to leave the palace without obstruction.
• Zhu Zhuqing’s Soul Power surged to Level 56 after she left the palace, and Xia Tianling joked with the Titled Douluo elders during their carriage ride.
• Xia Tianling took Zhu Zhuqing around Star Luo City for a week, where they visited its venues, streets, and food shops before setting off for Spirit City.
• Dai Mubai resented the White Tiger Great Emperor and his daily instructor after the engagement was annulled, while continuing to trust Yu Xiaogang.
• Dai Weisi rejoiced at Dai Mubai’s broken engagement and contacted officials and supporters to exploit it and strengthen his claim to the Crown Prince Position.

After returning to Spirit City, Xia Tianling showed the blacksmiths how Spirit Hall’s assembly lines mass-produced standardized Hidden Weapons and armor, then assigned training paths to the leading craftsmen. The chapter left Tang Hao eager to learn forging for Ah Yin’s sake, Lou Gao studying materials science, and Tang San beginning chemistry and biology lessons.

• Xia Tianling returned to Spirit City and found Lou Gao, Titan, Tang Hao, and Tang San observing the factory’s assembly-line production.
• Xia Tianling explained that assembly lines offered standardized, interchangeable parts as well as faster production, and warned the blacksmiths that factories would replace traditional shops.
• Xia Tianling appointed three Level Six blacksmiths to lead a teaching group and ordered them to train recruited blacksmiths in science and forging.
• Xia Tianling persuaded Tang Hao to study forging by promising to accelerate Ah Yin’s growth and eventually help her take human form.
• Xia Tianling set Lou Gao to study materials science and assigned Tang San to chemistry and biology lessons with Dugu Bo and Dugu Yan.

Xia Tianling expanded lessons in Spirit City into a public education program, while Tang San endured an exhausting schedule of science and engineering studies. As classes settled into a regular system, Xia Tianling turned to building a newspaper staff, a task he still had to manage himself.

• Tang San struggled to understand Xia Tianling's lessons on biology and chemistry, while Dugu Bo and Dugu Yan eagerly followed along and Xiao Wu slept through class.
• Xia Tianling assigned Tang San further study in science, mathematics, physics, and forging, leaving him with almost no time to rest.
• Xia Tianling opened the Spirit Arena as a public lecture hall and offered promising students the chance to work for Spirit Hall, drawing crowds of citizens to class.
• Xia Tianling recruited institute researchers as teachers and organized regular courses, with several outstanding students advancing to smaller classes.
• Xia Tianling began training future teachers among the ordinary students and took on the work of establishing a newspaper staff after the printing factory was completed.

Xia Tianling launched Spirit Hall Monthly to spread news, promote Spirit Hall, and gradually introduce his political ideas across Douluo Continent. Its first issue became wildly popular, leaving Spirit Hall’s newspaper network poised to influence people throughout the Two Great Empires.

• Xia Tianling organized journalist training and arranged for Demon Soul Horses to carry newspapers and gather news.
• Spirit Hall printed the first issue of Spirit Hall Monthly, combining tournament coverage, stories, and a cooking section.
• Spirit Hall distributed the paper cheaply in cities and free in villages across the Two Great Empires.
• Readers flocked to the paper for detailed news of the tournament, entertaining stories, and recipes, while restaurant owners copied its dishes.
• Spirit Hall Monthly spread rapidly, and scarce copies became prized and were resold at higher prices.

Dennis read a newspaper story about a noble who imitated a rooster to wake his servants and admired the idea, while ordinary readers saw it as an attack on the nobility. The rulers of Heaven Dou and Star Luo recognized the newspaper’s political threat but found they could neither suppress it nor reproduce it.

• Dennis read the newspaper’s account of Xia Tianling winning the tournament and its story about a noble surnamed Zhou who woke his servants by crowing like a rooster.
• Dennis decided the story belonged in the news and thought he could imitate the noble’s method without getting caught.
• Servants and ordinary residents circulated the story and condemned the nobles’ treatment of their subordinates.
• Xue Ye and the White Tiger Great Emperor recognized the story’s implication, but they could not challenge Spirit Hall over it.
• Officials in Heaven Dou and Star Luo held emergency meetings and discovered that they lacked Spirit Hall’s printing materials, technology, factories, and paper supply.

Ning Fengzhi recognized Xia Tianling’s propaganda in Spirit Hall Monthly, while Qian Renxue returned from a mission to hunt Evil Soul Masters and hurried to reunite with him. At Xia Tianling’s home, she and Zhu Zhuqing mistook each other for intruders until he explained that Qian Renxue was his sister and introduced Zhu Zhuqing as her sister-in-law.

• Ning Fengzhi told Bone Douluo that Xia Tianling’s story in Spirit Hall Monthly criticized nobles and others, then calculated how much paper and ink the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect needed.
• Qian Renxue led the Judgment Army in defeating a group of Evil Soul Masters and burned their remains with her Angel Sacred Sword.
• Qian Renxue returned to Spirit City, reported the mission to Bibi Dong, and rushed to Old Jack’s home to see Xia Tianling.
• Zhu Zhuqing arrived home and confronted Qian Renxue after Qian Renxue claimed the house was hers, and both women summoned their weapons or Martial Souls.
• Xia Tianling stopped the confrontation, explained that Qian Renxue was his sister, and introduced Zhu Zhuqing as her sister-in-law.

Qian Renxue brought Xia Tianling a rubber-producing Plant Soul Beast she had found near the Hagen-Dazs Kingdom, and he realized its sap could solve his tire problem. He called Wang Jianshe to bring a large Soul Tool and promised Qian Renxue twenty chocolate cakes as a reward, while she invited Zhu Zhuqing to go exploring.

• Qian Renxue and Zhu Zhuqing put their misunderstanding behind them and talked happily over dinner.
• Qian Renxue released a weak hundred-year Plant Soul Beast in the courtyard and made it produce a bucket of white sap, which she solidified with Angel Sacred Fire.
• Xia Tianling recognized the material as likely rubber and learned that a whole forest of the trees grew near the Hagen-Dazs Kingdom.
• Xia Tianling called Wang Jianshe to bring his largest Soul Tool and offered Qian Renxue twenty chocolate cakes for finding the trees.
• Qian Renxue invited Zhu Zhuqing to explore Spirit City with her, and Zhu Zhuqing hesitated because she usually spent the afternoon training.

Xia Tianling brought Qian Renxue and Zhu Zhuqing to see a stage play and introduced them to a troupe performing adapted Red Songs. The chapter left the troupe preparing to use song, dance, and theater to reach ordinary people.

• Xia Tianling invited Qian Renxue and Zhu Zhuqing to visit his workplace and see the performance he had been preparing.
• Wang Jianshe inspected the rubber tree soul beast and promised to organize his team to work through the night on it.
• Qian Renxue saw the Defense Clan building a reinforced-concrete Grand Theater with modernized materials and machinery.
• Xia Tianling took Qian Renxue and Zhu Zhuqing to a rehearsal space, where Shui Yue'er and Shui Bing'er led a troupe in singing an adapted Red Song.
• Xia Tianling applauded the performance and explained that he had formed the troupe to spread songs and educational messages among ordinary people.

Xia Tianling watched Shui Yue'er and the Spirit Hall Art Troupe rehearse The White Haired Girl, whose story made Zhu Zhuqing furious enough to nearly attack the actors. He praised the performance, warned the troupe to arrange security, and left them to prepare for their public debut at the Grand Theater in a month.

• Shui Yue'er and the Art Troupe performed Xia Tianling's adaptation of The White Haired Girl for him, Zhu Zhuqing, and Qian Renxue.
• Zhu Zhuqing became enraged by the noble's abuse of Xi'er and nearly rushed onto the stage before Xia Tianling stopped her.
• The play ended with Spirit Hall punishing the noble, and Zhu Zhuqing demanded to know where the story had happened until Xia Tianling explained it was fictional.
• Xia Tianling warned Shui Yue'er and Shui Bing'er that future performances would need security because audience members might react violently.
• Xia Tianling told the troupe to keep practicing for a public performance at the Grand Theater in a month, then pulled Zhu Zhuqing out of hiding and left.

Xia Tianling’s reforms reshaped Spirit Hall’s academies and restricted its benefits to Soul Masters with Spirit Hall credentials, drawing commoners and grassroots talent into its ranks while squeezing rival factions. The Two Great Empires and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan objected, but Spirit Hall declared it would fund the subsidies itself and dared its opponents to challenge it.

• Spirit Hall announced that affiliated academies would merge or reorganize, abolish Intermediate Academies, remove noble enrollment privileges, and offer expanded Work-Study Student support.
• Spirit Hall limited subsidies and other basic services to Soul Masters with its academy diplomas or employment, prompting many commoners and small organizations to join Spirit Hall.
• The reforms alarmed noble factions and the Two Great Empires, which faced greater costs to educate and protect their own Soul Masters.
• Xue Ye, the White Tiger Great Emperor, and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan criticized Spirit Hall’s actions, while the Two Great Empires said they would stop jointly funding subsidies.
• Spirit Hall replied that it would pay the subsidies itself and challenged anyone who opposed the decision to fight, leaving its rivals with little appetite for escalation.

Spirit Hall’s theater performances and reforms spread through Spirit City as Xia Tianling advanced schools, rubber research, crafting, cultivation, and military training. The chapter left Spirit Hall’s influence growing while its people continued preparing for broader change across the continent.

• The Spirit Hall Art Troupe’s performance of The White Haired Girl enraged the audience, and a Titled Douluo stopped them from rushing the stage; Spirit City residents grew more sympathetic to Spirit Hall and more hostile toward nobles.
• The Art Troupe began rehearsing Liu Sanjie, while Spirit Hall planned to promote stage plays and eventually tour the Two Great Empires.
• Xia Tianling made the Commoner School and Vocational Skills School permanent, and the Defense Clan began building a teaching building as Spirit Hall sought technicians for its research projects.
• Qian Renxue brought the Rubber Tree tribe to Spirit City, where researchers developed a tough semi-synthetic rubber formula suitable for tires.
• Tang Hao, Lou Gao, and Titan joined the Spirit Research Institute as Zhu Zhuqing reached Level 58 and Xia Tianling neared Level 66.
• Xia Tianling introduced modern military doctrines and strict discipline practices to Spirit Hall’s forces, and officers saw their troops’ cohesion and execution improve.

Spirit Hall’s education reforms forced most Soul Master Academies to adopt moral character classes, while Heaven Dou Royal Academy and Star Luo Royal Academy refused and lost students and staff. At the Lan Ba Campus, Liu Erlong scolded Flender and Zhao Wuji for failing their moral character exam and ordered them to study for retakes.

• Spirit Hall used exams, school subsidies, and Soul Master identity documents to enforce moral character classes and prevent students from avoiding the curriculum.
• Most Advanced Soul Master Academies signed cooperation agreements, while Heaven Dou Royal Academy and Star Luo Royal Academy refused, prompting many students and teachers to withdraw.
• Flender resigned from Heaven Dou Royal Academy out of guilt alongside several old brothers, and Spirit Hall-leaning students and teachers also left.
• Liu Erlong threw Flender’s exam paper at him and scolded him for scoring 53, while comparing his result to Shao Xin’s perfect score.
• Liu Erlong told Zhao Wuji that his score of 79 failed the student standard and ordered him to study for next month’s retake.

In 2645, Spirit Hall celebrated the first large-scale electric lighting system on Douluo Continent, and Xia Tianling commissioned Niu Gao to begin building the aboveground Spirit Research Institute. The plans impressed Niu Gao, but he warned that the Defense Clan lacked enough workers to take on the project.

• Spirit Hall officials admired the new electric lighting system, which used Soul Power generators to power bulbs throughout the Papal Palace.
• Xia Tianling praised Niu Gao and the Defense Clan for renovating the Assembly Hall, then asked Niu Gao to accompany him to the Spirit Research Institute site.
• Xia Tianling showed Niu Gao the finalized plans for the institute’s aboveground buildings, and Niu Gao praised their detailed design.
• Xia Tianling told Niu Gao to gather workers and begin construction, assuring him that Spirit Hall had ample cement and steel.
• Niu Gao explained that most of the Defense Clan’s workers were already building railways, roads, and stations, leaving too few people for the new project.

Xia Tianling organized construction workers for the Spirit Research Institute and expanded Spirit Hall’s infrastructure plans to include cement roads and its first railroad. After the locomotive Era One passed its trial, Huyan Zhen joined the railroad project, hoping to earn a breakthrough to Titled Douluo.

• Xia Tianling told Niu Gao to recruit trusted construction partners for the classified Spirit Research Institute, warning him to ensure they passed background checks.
• Niu Ben led craftsmen and Elephant Armored Sect disciples in building a cement road to Nuoding City using their soul skills to compact and level the ground.
• Spirit Hall’s Elder Council unanimously approved building its first railroad in a remote kingdom near the eastern edge of the Heavenly Dou Empire, linking its iron mines to transportation routes.
• Wang Jianshe and the Research, Spirit Guide, and Forging Departments tested the Soul Power-powered locomotive Era One and found it powerful enough to prompt plans for trains carrying at least a thousand tons.
• Xia Tianling promised Huyan Zhen a chance to break through to Titled Douluo within five years if he built the railroad properly, and Huyan Zhen personally led his disciples in the work.

Xia Tianling inspected the railroad construction and found Huyan Zhen working alongside ordinary craftspeople, whose knowledge and gratitude had changed his outlook. After Xia Tianling explained that serving the people gave his work meaning, Huyan Zhen advanced to Titled Douluo and renewed his promise to finish the railway.

• Xia Tianling secretly inspected the railroad and saw Huyan Zhen carrying tracks and working methodically with the craftspeople.
• Xia Tianling visited Huyan Zhen at night, and Huyan Zhen described how working with Chief Engineer Li Dongliang and receiving the craftspeople’s thanks had changed him.
• Xia Tianling called most Spirit Masters parasites who relied on ordinary people, and Huyan Zhen understood that he needed to repay the people whose labor had supported him.
• Huyan Zhen resolved to serve future generations, and his aura surged as he advanced to rank 90 and became a Titled Douluo.
• Xia Tianling gave Huyan Zhen a red book to study and teach, and Huyan Zhen promised not to leave the railway project until it was complete.