Chapter Summaries

Nan Fusheng awakened an insect Martial Soul with rank-one Innate Soul Power and recognized Tang Wulin at Red Mountain Academy. He recalled how he had died as an infant before gaining Sefirah Castle and becoming a Sequence 9 Marauder, and continued training while living by strict rules about stealing.

• Nan Fusheng left Red Mountain Academy after learning his insect Martial Soul had rank-one Innate Soul Power, and he saw Tang Wulin arrive for his own awakening.
• Nan Fusheng returned home and reflected on his transmigration, including his death from neglect as an infant and his first contact with Sefirah Castle.
• Nan Fusheng explained that Sefirah Castle had helped him survive and that he had become a Sequence 9 Marauder.
• Nan Fusheng described his Marauder abilities and his rule of stealing only modest amounts from small-time thugs, never from poor or wealthy families.
• Nan Fusheng finished his training for the day and went to bed.

Nan Fusheng began his first day at Red Mountain Academy and used a staged display of abuse to attract Tang Wulin’s family’s sympathy. He revealed that he had secretly turned his mother, Lan Yuxi, into a marionette and planned to get close to Tang Wulin, while relying on his Soul Master path as well as his Beyonder abilities.

• Nan Fusheng set out to enroll at Red Mountain Academy as Tang Ziran led Tang Wulin from the neighboring house.
• Tang Ziran and Tang Wulin heard a woman roar at Nan Fusheng, who emerged pale and silent, and Tang Ziran recognized the scene as matching rumors about his family.
• Nan Fusheng explained that he could use high-Sequence Beyonder abilities, including Steal, to gradually build up soul power despite having only Innate Soul Power level one.
• Nan Fusheng revealed that he had turned his mother, Lan Yuxi, into a marionette after his resurrection, and that she no longer needed food or care.
• Nan Fusheng admitted that he had staged the morning’s display to win Tang Wulin’s family’s sympathy and prepare to get close to Tang Wulin.

Nan Fusheng and Tang Wulin began classes in Red Mountain Academy’s Soul Master Class, where their martial souls drew ridicule. Nan Fusheng encouraged Tang Wulin, and the two grew closer as they learned the basics of Soul Masters.

• Tang Ziran escorted Tang Wulin to Red Mountain Academy before leaving for work, while Nan Fusheng waited alone at the gate.
• A chubby student mocked Nan Fusheng’s bug martial soul, then bragged about his blade martial soul and rank-five Innate Soul Power while taunting Tang Wulin’s Blue Silver Grass.
• Nan Fusheng told Tang Wulin he could become a powerful Soul Master, and their classmates laughed when they introduced their martial souls to teacher Lin Ximeng.
• Lin Ximeng taught the class about martial soul classifications and Soul Master cultivation, and Tang Wulin’s resentment faded as he listened.
• At lunch, Tang Wulin ate an enormous meal and asked Nan Fusheng whether he truly believed Tang Wulin could become a powerful Soul Master.
• Nan Fusheng quoted Grandmaster’s saying about useless martial souls, and Tang Wulin took heart from it as the two became closer.

Tang Wulin struggled with being shunned at school but regained his confidence with Nan Fusheng’s encouragement. On their way to Tang Wulin’s home, they encountered Na’er, a silver-haired girl whom Nan Fusheng recognized as the Silver Dragon King, and rescued her from a group of young men.

• Tang Wulin resolved to work hard and become a great Spirit Master despite his Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul, while Nan Fusheng agreed to join him for dinner.
• Tang Wulin noticed a silver-haired little girl squatting by the roadside, and Nan Fusheng recognized her as the Silver Dragon King.
• Several young men tried to abduct the girl, but Tang Wulin protested and Nan Fusheng pulled him out of the way of a kick.
• Nan Fusheng claimed the boys were registered Spirit Masters, frightening the young men into releasing the girl and fleeing.
• Tang Wulin comforted the girl and learned that her name was Na’er.

Tang Wulin brought the lost Na'er home, where Lang Yue fed and cleaned the children before taking Na'er to look for her family. Back at home, Nan Fusheng tested his Martial Soul on his mother and considered how to use its blood-essence-absorbing ability.

• Tang Wulin took the hungry Na'er to his home, and Nan Fusheng followed after being left behind.
• Lang Yue scolded Tang Wulin for getting dirty, washed the children, and gave Na'er food while learning only that she was five and a half years old.
• Lang Yue took Na'er to the Administrative Officer to search for her family, while Nan Fusheng returned home.
• Nan Fusheng placed his insect Martial Soul on Lan Yuxi and sensed a strand of blood essence merge into his body.
• Nan Fusheng reflected on following Tang Wulin's group and recognized that his Martial Soul could absorb blood essence, an ability that could make him seem like an Evil Soul Master.

Nan Fusheng meditated, advanced to Sequence Eight: Swindler, and assessed his growing soul power and new abilities. He had saved a little over thirty thousand Federal Coin, enough for the cheapest Soul Spirit, but becoming a Spirit Master would leave him with little money.

• Nan Fusheng meditated and felt tiny presences merge with his soul power, bringing him close to level two.
• After hearing that Na'er had moved into Tang Wulin's home, Nan Fusheng entered Sefirah Castle and consumed the Swindler Potion.
• Nan Fusheng successfully advanced to Swindler and tested his abilities, including charm, persuasive speech, and mental interference.
• Nan Fusheng found that his physical constitution had improved and his cultivation speed now matched someone with level-five Innate Soul Power.
• Nan Fusheng considered the high cost of buying a Soul Spirit and counted the savings he had gathered through odd jobs and theft, totaling a little over thirty thousand Federal Coin.

Nan Fusheng hid the truth about his injuries while Tang Wulin and his family learned more about his painful home life. Nan Fusheng revealed that he had deliberately cultivated a tragic image to digest his Swindler Potion, which was now more than half digested.

• Tang Wulin noticed Nan Fusheng's bruises and wounds on their way to school, but Nan Fusheng refused to explain them.
• After school, Lang Yue saw Nan Fusheng's injuries and offered to help, but he thanked her and went home.
• Tang Wulin went with Lang Yue to Uncle Mang Tian's to begin learning Forging, while Nan Fusheng returned home and cultivated his Soul Power.
• At dinner, Tang Ziran told Lang Yue, Tang Wulin, and Na'er that Nan Fusheng's father had abandoned him and his mother mistreated him.
• Nan Fusheng sensed his Potion digesting and explained that he had fostered a tragic background to act as a Swindler, leaving more than half of the Potion digested.

Nan Fusheng realized that his Swindler Potion had digested rapidly after Tang Wulin and the others saw his deception, and he considered how to advance further without directly defrauding people. He resolved to keep building his relationship with Tang Wulin, suspecting that the boy’s meeting with Na'er had been arranged and deciding not to target him until Nan Fusheng gained greater power.

• Nan Fusheng linked the sudden digestion of more than half his Potion to the deception he had shown Tang Wulin and the others, and concluded that misleading people could count as Swindler acting.
• Nan Fusheng considered using legal deception, such as working as an Auctioneer, rather than directly scamming people or creating a Marionette Town for his future ritual.
• Nan Fusheng identified Tang Wulin’s sealed Golden Dragon King Divine Core and Na'er's Silver Dragon King status as reasons their Sequence Status made them valuable to him.
• Nan Fusheng recalled feeling a warning when Tang Wulin met Na'er and suspected Tang Hao, Ah Yin, or Tang San had arranged their encounter.
• Nan Fusheng decided to maintain his relationship with Tang Wulin and avoid acting against him until he reached Sequence Two or could safely borrow its abilities.

Nan Fusheng reached Level 10 and went to the Spirit Pagoda to obtain a Soul Spirit, hoping to enter Eastsea City’s Intermediate Academy alongside Tang Wulin. He chose a random draw because his family could only afford thirty thousand Federal Coin.

• Nan Fusheng reached Level 3, then spent three years cultivating and developing his Acting Method while waiting for Tang Wulin to reach Level 10.
• Tang Wulin rushed home to announce that he had saved enough money, and Nan Fusheng realized the time had come to obtain a Soul Spirit.
• Nan Fusheng had become a Sequence 5 Dream Stealer, able to steal dreams, memories, and ideas but unable to retain stolen ideas.
• Nan Fusheng visited the Aolai City Spirit Pagoda and asked to purchase a randomly drawn Soul Spirit.
• Nan Fusheng told the Spirit Transmitter that his mother had mental problems and that thirty thousand Federal Coin was all his family could spare, so he had to gamble on luck.

Nan Fusheng took a Spiritual Power test and scored seventy-two, then randomly drew a Ten-Year Soul Spirit that turned out to be a nearly dissipated parasite. The Spirit Transmitter warned him to reject it, but Nan Fusheng chose to accept it as fate.

• The Spirit Transmitter waived Nan Fusheng’s testing fee and explained the six Spiritual Power realms.
• Nan Fusheng’s Spiritual Power test showed a value of seventy-two, the highest the Spirit Transmitter had seen among Soul Scholars in recent years.
• Nan Fusheng randomly drew a snow-white Soul Spirit Ball and used the instrument to release its Soul Spirit.
• The Soul Spirit inside was a tiny parasite, a defective creation with no Soul Beast genes that was close to dissipating.
• The Spirit Transmitter urged Nan Fusheng to give up the parasite, but Nan Fusheng said he believed it was fate.

Nan Fusheng fused with the parasite Soul Spirit, broke through to level thirteen, and learned his Parasitism Soul Skill. He used its influence to engineer Zhang Erhe’s death and staged a public tragedy to test his Martial Soul and dispose of his burden.

• Nan Fusheng merged his Insect Martial Soul with the parasite Soul Spirit, replaced its weak consciousness, and broke through to level thirteen.
• Nan Fusheng learned that his Parasitism Soul Skill could create insects to drain, influence, erode, and control others through shallow or deep parasitism.
• Nan Fusheng decided to use his new ability against Zhang Erhe, a thug who relied on his brother’s position in the City Guard.
• Nan Fusheng manipulated Zhang Erhe into entering a home and committing a violent assault, after which Zhang Erhe was killed with his own Soul Guidance Gun.
• Nan Fusheng staged the aftermath as a tragic incident involving a child protecting his mother, and the story spread through Proud Arrival City.
• At Proud Arrival City First Central Hospital, Nan Fusheng told a healer he was fine and privately revealed that he had acted out the performance to test his Martial Soul and remove his burden.

Nan Fusheng left Aolai City after using Parasitism to make Lan Yuxi and Zhang Erhe’s deaths appear settled, then traveled to Eastsea City to enroll at Eastsea Academy. He arrived at the academy with Liu Yuxin and the other registrants.

• Nan Fusheng used First Soul Skill: Parasitism to influence Zhang Erhe and two passersby, leaving Lan Yuxi and Zhang Erhe dead in Aolai City.
• Nan Fusheng ignored his doctor's advice, obtained a recommendation letter from Lin Ximeng, and traveled to Eastsea City.
• Nan Fusheng met Liu Yuxin at Eastsea City’s train station, completed his registration form, and received an entry tag.
• Nan Fusheng boarded the academy shuttle bus, which Liu Yuxin led to Eastsea Academy.
• Nan Fusheng got off the bus and followed Liu Yuxin’s directions into the academy.

Nan Fusheng enrolled at Eastsea Academy and became roommates with Wang Ba, Yun Feng, and Zhao Xiao. He secretly used his Parasitism soul skill to take some of their soul power while encouraging them to cultivate, until a crash and an angry shout interrupted their routine.

• Liu Yuxin guided Nan Fusheng to the Academic Affairs Office, where he completed his admission to Eastsea Academy and was assigned to Grade One Class Five.
• Nan Fusheng found his dormitory and cleaned it with his three roommates, Wang Ba, Yun Feng, and Zhao Xiao, before they introduced themselves and learned his soul power was Rank 13.
• Nan Fusheng settled in and began cultivating, leading his roommates to follow his example.
• Nan Fusheng secretly used Shallow Parasitism to absorb some of his roommates’ soul power and influence them to cultivate without noticing.
• After the four ate, slept, and continued cultivating the next morning, Nan Fusheng heard a loud crash and someone shout, “Why are you city people so bad?”

Nan Fusheng attended Eastsea Academy’s Opening Ceremony and was assigned to Class Five with Tang Wulin and his three roommates. The class’s cold new teacher, Wu Changkong, led them to their classroom, where Nan Fusheng sat near the back and his roommates followed his lead.

• Nan Fusheng ate breakfast with Wang Ba and his other two roommates while students discussed a legendary big eater.
• Nan Fusheng attended Dean Yu’s Opening Ceremony speech and waited for the new students’ class assignments.
• Nan Fusheng, Tang Wulin, and Wang Ba’s group were assigned to Class Five, and Tang Wulin reacted with surprise and delight when he heard Nan Fusheng’s name.
• Wu Changkong introduced himself as Class Five’s teacher and led the students to their classroom.
• Nan Fusheng chose a seat near the back, and Wang Ba and the other two roommates sat beside him.

Wu Changkong began teaching Class Five and held a combat tournament to test his students. Nan Fusheng’s match against his roommate Zhao Xiao was about to begin when the chapter ended.

• Wu Changkong introduced himself as Class Five’s teacher, defended Tang Wulin from a student’s insult, and ordered the class to introduce themselves.
• Nan Fusheng introduced himself as a level-thirteen Time Worm Soul Master who wanted to become a Control System Battle Soul Master.
• The next morning, Nan Fusheng reached level fourteen through Parasitism and met Tang Wulin and Xie Xie in the cafeteria.
• Wu Changkong began the first class with a single-elimination combat tournament and scolded students for holding back in battle.
• Tang Wulin defeated his roommate Zhou Changxi in a contest of strength without using his Martial Soul, and Xie Xie quickly won his match.
• Wu Changkong paired Nan Fusheng against his roommate Zhao Xiao for the next match.

Nan Fusheng used his modified Soul Skill to defeat several classmates in Wu Changkong’s class battle, including Han Lan, whose Earth Element Martial Soul trapped him in a stone prison. With three students left, Wu Changkong ordered Nan Fusheng and Tang Wulin to fight, leaving the winner to face Xie Xie.

• Nan Fusheng used his modified First Soul Skill to make Zhao Xiao lose consciousness, then helped him up after Wu Changkong announced his elimination.
• Nan Fusheng’s next opponent collapsed before attacking, while Tang Wulin and Xie Xie defeated their opponents.
• Han Lan trapped Nan Fusheng in a stone prison, but she fell unconscious before Wu Changkong finished counting, and Nan Fusheng broke free.
• Tang Wulin defeated his opponent, Xie Xie received a bye, and Wu Changkong ordered Nan Fusheng and Tang Wulin to fight for a place against Xie Xie.
• Nan Fusheng and Tang Wulin exchanged a few words before Wu Changkong started their match.

Nan Fusheng defeated Tang Wulin and Xie Xie with his modified Soul Skill, while Wu Changkong tested Xie Xie with a belt sword and criticized the class. Wu Changkong then summoned Nan Fusheng, Xie Xie, and Tang Wulin to follow him to the Teaching Building.

• Tang Wulin charged Nan Fusheng, but Nan Fusheng used First Soul Skill (Modified): Steal to defeat him.
• Wu Changkong named Nan Fusheng the winner and assigned Xie Xie to fight him next, but first made Xie Xie take one belt-sword strike.
• Wu Changkong's strike sent Xie Xie flying and left him shaken, though he gained insight into how the attack sealed off his escape routes.
• Xie Xie fought Nan Fusheng in the final match, but Nan Fusheng used Steal to eliminate him before he could land a blow.
• Wu Changkong criticized Class Five, announced physical training for the next day, and summoned Nan Fusheng, Xie Xie, and Tang Wulin to the Teaching Building.

Wu Changkong criticized Tang Wulin, Xie Xie, and Nan Fusheng after their performances, challenging them to improve and warning them about their weaknesses. Nan Fusheng reflected on the limits and hidden risks of his Steal ability, along with how his Time Worm Martial Soul could help manage its costs.

• Wu Changkong told Tang Wulin to focus on cultivating as a Soul Master and not waste time on blacksmithing.
• Wu Changkong exposed Xie Xie's Twin Martial Souls and criticized his reliance on their advantages and his poor performance against his opponent.
• Wu Changkong explained the limits of Twin Martial Souls in the Soul Spirit era and argued that Xie Xie's daggers were less useful than Tang Wulin's control-type Martial Soul in mecha combat.
• Wu Changkong warned Nan Fusheng that his Soul Skill depended on targeting and Spiritual Power, and that opponents could counter it.
• Nan Fusheng reflected that his Steal ability could make him act on thoughts he stole, but his Time Worm Martial Soul or Soul Spirit could bear that cost instead.

Wu Changkong explained the Class Promotion Tournament and assigned Nan Fusheng, Tang Wulin, and Xie Xie to train together to raise their class’s rank. The next morning, Nan Fusheng saw upperclassmen cornering Tang Wulin and prepared to intervene.

• Wu Changkong explained how classes could challenge for higher rankings and rewards in the upcoming tournament.
• Wu Changkong selected Nan Fusheng, Tang Wulin, and Xie Xie for special training, setting the goal of reaching First Grade Class One.
• Xie Xie warned Tang Wulin not to hold him back, then challenged Nan Fusheng to fight without his Spirit Skill.
• The students learned Wu Changkong’s meditation technique, and Nan Fusheng later saw them quickly grasp its basic method.
• The next morning, Nan Fusheng spotted upperclassmen surrounding Tang Wulin, who was kicked back into the crowd by a tall student.
• Nan Fusheng decided to step in and help Tang Wulin.

Mu Xi challenged Tang Wulin to a Forging match, but the confrontation escalated when Nan Fusheng and Xie Xie threatened the upperclassmen. At the Teaching Office, Nan Fusheng explained his painful past, Tang Wulin defended fighting back against bullies, and Wu Changkong led his students away after standing up for them.

• Mu Xi stopped an upperclassman from hitting Tang Wulin and challenged him to a Forging match.
• Nan Fusheng and Xie Xie threatened Mu Xi and the tall student with a Soul Guidance Gun and a Dagger until an adult intervened.
• At the Teaching Office, Long Hengxu questioned the students, and Nan Fusheng explained that the gun was connected to his mother's death.
• Tang Wulin defended fighting back against older students who bullied him.
• Wu Changkong defended Tang Wulin, Nan Fusheng, and Xie Xie, then led them out while Long Hengxu issued warnings to Mu Xi's classmates.