Chapter Summaries

Di Hong foiled an assassination attempt on Xue Ye at the Crown Prince's Mansion, and Xue Ye identified Xue Yu's man Yin Xuan as the attacker. After Xue Yu lost the court's support and his faction's finance minister was executed, he began preparing to rebel.

• Di Hong spotted a concealed Soul Emperor flying toward the Crown Prince's Mansion and hurried there after recognizing a crow feather.
• A Black-cloaked Masked Man attacked Xue Ye with black feathers, but Di Hong raised a wall of fire and protected Xue Ye and the Crown Princess Consort.
• Xue Ye identified the attacker as Yin Xuan, one of Xue Yu's men, and vowed to stop holding back against his brother.
• Xue Ye spread news of the attempt through Heaven Dou City, and the court imprisoned and executed Xu Han while ending its support for Xue Yu's claim to the throne.
• Xue Yu summoned generals from his faction and sent a trusted man to the Hagendas Kingdom as he prepared to rebel.

Di Hong reached level seventy as he continued supporting the secret State-Seizing Plan from Heaven Dou City. Tang Hao, Tang Xiao, and Tang Yuehua visited him, and Tang Hao and Tang Xiao asked him to look after Tang Yuehua while they traveled to Sea God Island.

• Di Hong broke through to level seventy while the State-Seizing Plan continued progressing in secret.
• Meng Yuan told Di Hong that two men and a woman from the Clear Sky Sect had come to visit.
• Tang Hao, Tang Xiao, and Tang Yuehua met Di Hong, and Tang Xiao noted that Di Hong had reached level seventy.
• Tang Hao and Tang Xiao asked Di Hong to look after Tang Yuehua while they went to Sea God Island to deliver Tang Chen's letter.
• Di Hong heard how Tang Chen had defeated Qian Daoliu, left the Clear Sky Sect, and pursued a higher realm.

After Tang Xiao and Tang Hao left Tang Yuehua at Di Hong’s home, Di Hong and Tang Yuehua discussed the Clear Sky Sect and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect’s history, strength, and internal troubles. Di Hong came to recognize that the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect remained powerful despite lacking a Titled Douluo, and he learned Tang Yuehua would attend the Royal Hunt in half a month.

• Tang Xiao and Tang Hao left Tang Yuehua with Di Hong, and Tang Xiao teasingly urged Di Hong to take care of her.
• Tang Yuehua explained that she had come to Heaven Dou City to learn from its nobles and experience a different environment from the Clear Sky Sect.
• Di Hong described the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect’s dependence on the empire and its current internal power struggle.
• Tang Yuehua explained how a former Titled Douluo won the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect a place among the Upper Three Sects and how its wealth and many Soul Douluo helped it retain that position.
• Di Hong reconsidered his view of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and concluded that it should not be underestimated.
• Di Hong asked whether Tang Yuehua would attend the Royal Hunt, and Tang Yuehua confirmed that she would.

Di Yang learned that Xue Yu planned to rebel and sent word to Di Hong, who was in Heaven Dou City. Di Hong received the warning, kept his intelligence source secret, and decided to watch how Xue Yu would act during the Hunting Competition.

• Di Ming told Di Yang that Xue Yu had asked the Hagendas Kingdom for military support, but it had refused and arrested his envoys.
• Di Yang ordered the news sent to Di Hong and learned from Di Ming that Di Hong had grown close to Tang Yuehua.
• Di Hong listened to Tang Yuehua play the guqin and suggested that she combine her domain with her music.
• Di Hong found a note warning that Xue Yu would rebel during the Hunting Competition and burned it.
• Di Hong decided not to tell Xue Ye directly, but planned to guide him toward the danger while observing Xue Yu's preparations.

Xue Ye gathered his allies after learning that Xue Yu planned to rebel during the Hunting Competition, and they decided to prepare quietly rather than warn the emperor. Di Hong accompanied Xue Ye to the Imperial Palace as his personal bodyguard, where he spotted Xue Yu and wondered why he had come.

• Xue Ye learned that the Hagendas Kingdom had rejected Xue Yu’s request for support and pledged its loyalty to him.
• Ning Fengzhi advised Xue Ye not to alert the emperor, since they lacked proof and the emperor would likely not believe them.
• Di Hong suggested transferring part of the Imperial Guard Legion under the pretext of military drills, and Xue Ye agreed.
• Ning Fengzhi argued that Xue Yu could not mobilize border or local armies, leaving him with only about thirty thousand Imperial Guard soldiers.
• Di Hong accompanied Xue Ye to the Imperial Palace as his personal bodyguard and saw Xue Yu there.

Xue Ye and Di Hong learned that Xue Yu planned to lead thirty thousand Imperial Guards out for training, while the Emperor appeared to be testing whether his son would rebel. Back at the Earl's Mansion, Di Hong warned Tang Yuehua to avoid the Hunting Competition, where he expected Xue Yu to act.

• Xue Yu greeted Xue Ye warmly in the palace while privately worrying that Di Hong might obstruct his plans.
• Xue Ye told Di Hong that Xue Yu had requested thirty thousand Imperial Guards for training and that the Emperor had approved his request.
• Di Hong realized the Emperor had anticipated a possible rebellion after several generals, including the Royal Knights commander, entered the palace.
• Di Hong returned to the Earl's Mansion, where he and Tang Yuehua joked about their future marriage and her family in the Clear Sky Sect.
• Di Hong warned Tang Yuehua that Xue Yu might rebel during the Hunting Competition and told her not to attend; she offered to ask the Clear Sky Sect for help, but he declined.

The Old Emperor attended the Royal Hunt despite his declining health, reflecting on the Heaven Dou Empire’s repeated failures and his own mistakes. As the procession left Heaven Dou City under heavy guard, Yin Xuan watched and sent a message, while the threat of Xue Yu’s rebellion remained unresolved.

• The Old Emperor dressed for the Royal Hunt and regretted backing Xue Yu, who had failed to challenge Xue Ye.
• The emperor, Xue Ye, Xue Xing, Di Hong, and Heaven Dou City’s nobles set out for the hunting ground with a large military escort.
• Xue Ye worried that Xue Yu might replace the hunting ground’s guards, but Di Hong reassured him that the Royal Knights and the emperor’s preparations made this unlikely.
• Heaven Dou City imposed martial law after the procession departed, closing its gates to prevent trouble during the rebellion.
• Yin Xuan watched the procession from a high building and released a crow carrying a message.

Xue Yu prepared to seize Heaven Dou City while Emperor Xue Tang and the nobles attended the Royal Hunting Competition. As the hunt began, Di Hong spoke with Ning Fengzhi about pursuing a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast for his seventh spirit ring.

• Xue Yu waited in Heaven Dou City with regional generals and kept fifty thousand troops concealed outside, planning to seize the city after Emperor Xue Tang had gone far enough away.
• Emperor Xue Tang arrived at the Royal Hunting Ground, fired the opening arrow, and officially started the Hunting Competition.
• Xue Ye, Xue Xing, and the noble youths rode into the forest to hunt while Di Hong and Ning Fengzhi stayed with Xue Tang at the camp.
• Ning Fengzhi invited Di Hong to visit the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect after he obtained his seventh spirit ring.
• Di Hong confirmed that he intended to hunt a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast, and Ning Fengzhi warned that such a spirit ring was exceptionally difficult to obtain.

Xue Yu rebelled, captured Heaven Dou City, and left Emperor Xue Tang unconscious after the news reached the hunting grounds. Xue Ye and his allies faced the challenge of retaking the capital while protecting the families held there and concealing the emperor’s condition.

• Emperor Xue Tang waited anxiously for news as Di Hong and Ning Fengzhi discussed how to handle Xue Yu and whether the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect might be involved.
• A cavalryman reported that Xue Yu had rebelled, seized Heaven Dou City with local troops and Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect elders, and that the Imperial Guards were returning; Emperor Xue Tang collapsed unconscious.
• Xue Ye returned to the main tent and learned that the emperor had been stabilized but remained unconscious, with no certainty about when he would wake.
• Di Hong and Ning Fengzhi explained that Xue Yu’s fifty thousand troops held the fortified capital and its residents’ families, making a direct attack dangerous.
• Xue Ye and Di Hong warned that Xue Yu might forge orders to summon local armies and agreed they could not let him learn that Emperor Xue Tang was unconscious.

As rebels seized Heaven Dou City, Tang Yuehua escaped the Earl's Mansion with Taino and found refuge at the Strength Clan's headquarters. Meanwhile, Xue Yu's forces controlled most of the city but still faced resistance at the Imperial Palace, and he awaited news about the emperor at the Royal Hunting Ground.

• Meng Yuan urged Tang Yuehua to flee the Earl's Mansion as rebels closed in, and she realized the Strength Clan could protect her.
• Taino arrived with twenty Strength Clan disciples, sent by Tai Tan to escort Tang Yuehua to the clan's headquarters.
• Tang Yuehua traveled through chaotic streets with Taino's protection and reached the unaffected Strength Clan grounds.
• Xue Yu learned that the Imperial Palace still resisted and that scattered defenders elsewhere might take another hour to eliminate.
• Xue Yu asked for news from Yin Xuan and the Royal Hunting Ground, since he needed to know the emperor's condition before deciding what to do.

Tang Yuehua wanted to help Di Hong despite Tai Tan urging her to stay safe, while Xue Ye sent Di Hong to infiltrate Heaven Dou City and learn what was happening there. As Di Hong flew toward the city, Yin Xuan infiltrated the Royal Hunting Ground and followed a physician away from Xue Tang’s tent.

• Tai Tan reassured Tang Yuehua that the Strength Clan would protect her and advised her to avoid the rebellion, but she insisted she wanted to help Di Hong.
• At the Royal Hunting Ground, Xue Ye and Ning Fengzhi discussed how the hostages in Heaven Dou City made a direct assault impossible and how they needed information from inside the city.
• Di Hong volunteered to infiltrate Heaven Dou City, claimed he was ninety percent certain he could succeed, and left with his Vermilion Bird Wings.
• Yin Xuan evaded the guards and Spirit Masters, watched Xue Tang’s heavily guarded tent, and followed a physician after suspecting the emperor was near death.
• Yin Xuan seized an opportunity to knock the physician unconscious and took him away.

Di Hong infiltrated Heaven Dou City, rescued the Crown Princess Consort, and learned that the Imperial Palace was the last stronghold still resisting. Meanwhile, Xue Yu learned that the Emperor was unconscious and used the news to brand Xue Ye a traitor before hearing that the palace had fallen.

• Yin Xuan told Xue Yu that the Emperor was unconscious and near death, and Xue Yu ordered the news spread that Xue Ye had taken him hostage.
• Di Hong entered Heaven Dou City in disguise and found rebel troops searching the streets and clearing away corpses.
• Di Hong rescued Wang Shen and the surrounded Imperial Guards by burning hundreds of rebel soldiers with scarlet feathers.
• Di Hong met the Crown Princess Consort, who told him that the Crown Prince's Mansion had fallen and that the Imperial Palace was still resisting.
• Xue Yu received word that the Imperial Palace had been taken and celebrated the news.

Xue Yu occupied Heaven Dou City and held the officials’ and nobles’ families hostage, demanding that Xue Ye surrender the emperor. After Di Hong reported the situation and found the Crown Princess Consort, Ning Fengzhi proposed a coordinated attack to retake the city.

• Xue Yu spread word that Xue Ye had kidnapped the emperor, gathered hostages in the Imperial Palace, and ordered regional armies to mount a Royal Rescue.
• Xue Yu sent an envoy to negotiate with Xue Ye and sought to secure control of the emperor while tightening the city’s defenses.
• Xue Ye received Xue Yu’s demands and, with Ning Fengzhi, discussed how the hostages were making his supporters hesitate to attack.
• Di Hong returned and reported that Xue Yu had occupied the city and taken the officials’ and nobles’ families, while the Crown Princess Consort was safe and gathering resistance forces.
• Ning Fengzhi proposed that Di Hong join the Crown Princess Consort to attack the south gate while Xue Ye’s forces struck from outside, using the approaching thirty thousand Imperial Guards.

Di Hong and the Crown Princess Consort led nearly a thousand loyal soldiers toward the South Gate, hoping to seize it and hold it until the Crown Prince arrived. After Di Hong defeated several rebel forces with his fire-based soul skills, Xue Yu reinforced the gate with ten thousand troops and two Soul Saints, while Tang Yuehua learned of the assault.

• Di Hong told the Crown Princess Consort about Ning Fengzhi's plan to capture the South Gate, and she agreed to lead the attack despite the danger.
• The Crown Princess Consort rallied nearly a thousand soldiers, and Di Hong used his Li Fire Array to destroy a force sent by Xue Yu.
• Di Hong fought two Spirit Kings and other rebels, using his Vermilion Bird Roar, Li Fire Bodyguard, Fire Feathers, and fireballs to defeat them.
• Di Hong and the Crown Princess Consort continued toward the South Gate as Xue Yu sent ten thousand troops and a second Soul Saint to reinforce its defenders.
• Tang Yuehua of the Strength Clan learned that the remaining resistance forces were attacking the South Gate.

Tang Yuehua sought a way to help Di Hong seize the South Gate without risking the Strength Clan, while Di Hong led his dwindling force into battle against the defenders. The chapter ended as the Azure Soul Saint intervened to stop Di Hong from finishing off the rebel Spirit Masters.

• Tang Yuehua refused Tai Tan's offer to send the Strength Clan into the royal conflict and asked him to gather hiding nobles, ministers, retired Imperial Guards, and former Royal Knights.
• Tai Tan pointed out that Tang Yuehua's gathered forces lacked a commander, leaving her to proceed without a clear plan for leading them.
• Di Hong and the Crown Princess Consort fought their way to the South Gate with only a little over five hundred soldiers remaining.
• Di Hong used his fifth spirit skill, Vermilion Bird Aspect, to restore his soul power before the Azure Soul Saint ordered the defenders to attack.
• Di Hong charged the rebel Spirit Masters, defeated two with Li Fire, and prepared his sixth spirit skill before the Azure Soul Saint interrupted him with blades of soul power.

Di Hong defeated the Azure Soul Saint and captured the South Gate, forcing the rebel soldiers to surrender. When Xue Yu’s reinforcements arrived, Di Hong blocked their advance and offered them the same choice: surrender or die.

• The Azure Soul Saint broke Di Hong’s flaming shield, but Di Hong expanded his Vermilion Bird Domain and used his Li Fire Array to kill rebel Spirit Masters.
• Di Hong tracked the Azure Soul Saint with his soul bone skill, cornered him with pursuing fireballs and a Flame Vortex, then killed him with a sword strike.
• Di Hong held up the Azure Soul Saint’s head and demanded that the rebel soldiers lay down their weapons, and they surrendered.
• The Crown Princess Consort organized the surrendered rebels and defenses at the South Gate as Xue Yu’s reinforcements arrived.
• Di Hong threw the Azure Soul Saint’s head before the reinforcements, barred them with his sword, and ordered them to surrender or die.

After Di Hong seized the South Gate, Xue Yu sent Elder Sun to retake it and brooded over how his rebellion had ruined him. Di Hong then received unexpected reinforcements led by Tang Yuehua as Xue Ye’s army advanced toward Heaven Dou City.

• Xue Yu ordered Elder Sun to lead men to retake the South Gate after hearing Di Hong had routed more than ten thousand soldiers.
• Alone in the palace, Xue Yu regretted competing with Xue Ye but blamed both his father and Di Hong for his downfall.
• Di Hong sent word of the South Gate’s capture to Xue Ye, who was advancing with his army and had dispatched the Imperial Guards commander to bring thirty thousand guards into the fold.
• A crowd of nobles, ministers, former Knights, and Imperial Guards arrived at the South Gate, and Di Hong recognized Tang Yuehua among them.
• Tang Yuehua explained that she had gathered the people to reinforce the gate and said Uncle Tai Tan was protecting her.

Di Hong and his allies secured Heaven Dou City's southern gate, and Xue Ye entered the city to suppress Xue Yu's rebellion. Xue Yu gathered his remaining forces in the Imperial Palace for a final stand, leaving the hostages there as the main concern.

• Tai Tan arrived to protect Tang Yuehua and overwhelmed Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect Elder Sun with his pressure.
• Elder Sun fled the city, and Di Hong persuaded the leaderless soldiers and Spirit Masters at the southern gate to surrender.
• Xue Ye and Ning Fengzhi arrived with their army, and Di Hong credited Crown Princess Consort, Tai Tan, Tang Yuehua, and the retired soldiers for their contributions.
• Xue Ye's forces entered Heaven Dou City, where Xue Yu's remaining troops either fled or surrendered, while two Soul Saints continued resisting.
• Xue Yu gathered his remaining forces in the Imperial Palace to make a final stand.

Xue Ye’s forces defeated Xue Yu’s rebellion by rescuing the hostages and breaching the Imperial Palace. Xue Yu was captured, while Xue Ye began restoring order and pursuing the remaining rebels; Di Hong returned home and planned to obtain his seventh Spirit Ring once affairs in Heaven Dou City were settled.

• Xue Ye rejected Xue Yu’s demands and adopted Ning Fengzhi’s plan to infiltrate the Imperial Palace and secure the hostages.
• Di Hong and the infiltrating force attacked the guards in the Imperial Garden, rescued the hostages, and sent Xue Ye the signal to attack.
• Xue Ye’s army stormed the Imperial Palace with help from within, defeated the rebel troops, and captured Xue Yu.
• Xue Ye began restoring order in Heaven Dou City and sent forces to arrest regional supporters of Xue Yu’s rebellion.
• Di Hong returned to the Earl’s Mansion, told Tang Yuehua he would seek his seventh Spirit Ring after the city’s affairs were settled, and rested as she massaged his shoulders.

Di Hong gathered powerful allies to hunt a Hundred-Thousand-Year Blazing Fire Earth Dragon for his seventh Soul Ring. After a month of travel, the group reached the barren canyon near the volcano, where their hunt was about to begin.

• Di Hong found a Hundred-Thousand-Year Blazing Fire Earth Dragon in a volcano in the northeastern Heaven Dou Empire and requested help from his father.
• Ning Fengzhi, Xue Ye, and Di Yuan each sent support, including Soul Douluos, while Ning Fengzhi joined the expedition himself.
• Tang Yuehua brought the Clear Sky Sect Seventh Elder to help Di Hong, and the elder praised Di Hong's talent before agreeing to accompany the group.
• Di Hong and his companions set out for the volcano, leaving Tang Yuehua behind at the Earl's Mansion.
• After a month of travel, the group reached a barren canyon near the volcano and entered a small village with fewer than a hundred residents.