Chapter Summaries

After absorbing the poison of Worldly Affection, Xue Xiao Ran realized that his bond with Wu Tong kept him from pursuing the Path of Ruthlessness. He woke among the school team, where Ma Ru Long welcomed two new trainees found by Old Zhou and warned them to prove themselves.

• Xue Xiao Ran absorbed the poison of Worldly Affection, gained a Soul Power level, and concluded that he could not enter the Path of Ruthlessness because he could not kill Wu Tong.
• Tang San explained to Xiao Wu that he had hoped Xue Xiao Ran would avoid the Path of Ruthlessness, and they discussed Lei Han and Wu Tong as bonds that could keep him from it.
• Xue Xiao Ran woke beside Ma Ru Long, joined the school team’s preparations, and impressed Chu Xia with his fast, skillful knife work.
• Old Zhou brought Yan Yuyan and Yu Ling Lin to the school team as prospective trainees, and Ma Ru Long ordered them to meet the team’s standards within a month.
• Ma Ru Long sent Yan Yuyan and Yu Ling Lin to light the fire pits while wondering why Old Zhou had chosen them.

Xue Xiao Ran joined the school team for an outdoor cookout, then began his new elite courses at Sun Moon Royal Soul Tool Academy. The chapter ended as Old Ma introduced himself as the team’s cultivation teacher.

• Xiao Hong Chen asked whether Xue Xiao Ran liked his betrothed and mistakenly concluded that his sister might have a chance to steal her away.
• Ma Ru Long gathered everyone for a cookout, where Xue Xiao Ran welcomed Yan Yuyan and Yu Ling Lin to the school team and urged them to pass the one-month assessment.
• Xue Xiao Ran reviewed his schedule, completed his morning routine, and hurried to his first class in the school team uniform.
• Old Ma welcomed Xue Xiao Ran, Xiao Hong Chen, Meng Hong Chen, Yan Yuyan, and Yu Ling Lin to their elite cultivation course and warned them not to be late.

Xue Xiao Ran asked Old Ma about creating his own Soul Power cultivation method, then planned to demonstrate that he could make a Rank 2 Soul Tool during self-study. He began engraving metal under Teacher Xuan’s watch, leaving the result unfinished.

• Xue Xiao Ran asked Old Ma whether he could develop his own Soul Power cultivation method, and Old Ma encouraged him to learn from experience while innovating.
• Xue Xiao Ran learned that Nana had taken a week of sick leave and noticed Wang Shaojie now avoided him.
• Xue Xiao Ran attended Teacher Xuan’s Soul Tool class alongside Keke and Ju Zi, then stayed after class to make a Rank 2 Soul Tool.
• Xue Xiao Ran began engraving a piece of metal while Teacher Xuan, Keke, and Ju Zi watched, using his Purple-grade Demonic Eye and Spiritual Power.

Xue Xiao Ran completed the Second-rank Soul Engineer assessment by crafting a Support System Soul Core and a diamond storage bracelet, then successfully demonstrated its function. Teacher Xuan congratulated him and kept the bracelet as proof of his promotion, while the students invited him to celebrate.

• Xue Xiao Ran engraved a Rank 2 Support System Soul Core and infused it with his Extreme Poison Soul Power.
• Xue Xiao Ran carved a patterned diamond bracelet using his Soul Power and inserted the Soul Core into it.
• Xue Xiao Ran activated the bracelet to make a textbook disappear and reappear, proving the Rank 2 Soul Tool worked.
• Teacher Xuan declared Xue Xiao Ran a Second-rank Soul Engineer and kept the bracelet as proof of his promotion.
• Zimu invited the students to celebrate, and Ju Zi and Keke agreed to join them.
• Teacher Xuan decided to ask Xue Xiao Ran about his unusual engraving technique and considered asking him to teach it.

After celebrating Xue Xiao Ran’s Second-rank Soul Engineer certification, he questioned Ju Zi’s unusual interest in the gathering and continued cultivating. In class, Old Ma assessed the students’ cultivation methods and warned Xue Xiao Ran that he could not advise him on his unusual method.

• Zimu hosted a gathering at the Canteen to celebrate Xue Xiao Ran becoming a Second-rank Soul Engineer, and Ju Zi attended.
• Xue Xiao Ran wondered why Ju Zi had shown unusual enthusiasm and revealed information about the Sun Moon Empire, then returned to cultivating his Sea of Consciousness.
• Xue Xiao Ran considered creating his own cultivation method, but Old Ma advised him to wait until his Soul Power reached Soul Emperor.
• Old Ma explained that cultivation methods could affect Soul Masters’ speed and assessed the students, warning Yu Ling Lin that her Crimson Flame Thorn was too slow and assigning her extra lessons.
• Old Ma found flaws in Yan Yuyan’s method, approved Xiao Hong Chen and Meng Hong Chen’s family method, and admitted he could not understand Xue Xiao Ran’s cultivation method.

Xue Xiao Ran received his Second-rank Soul Engineer badge and found Nana distressed after her leave, so he brought her to the school team residence and prepared a meal for her. As he cared for her, he vowed to destroy the Holy Spirit Cult someday without relying on his father's strength.

• Xue Xiao Ran finished circulating Soul Power while Xiao Hong Chen and Meng Hong Chen cultivated during the lecture.
• Xue Xiao Ran found a Second-rank Soul Engineer badge on his desk and pinned it on before Teacher Xuan's lesson.
• Xue Xiao Ran encountered a haggard Nana, insisted she come with him, and brought her into the school team's residential area.
• Xue Xiao Ran made tea for Nana and began cooking her a nourishing meal while she read the Soul Tool encyclopedia she had once given him.
• Xue Xiao Ran vowed to wipe out the Holy Spirit Cult without using the Carefree Sword Sect's strength.

Xue Xiao Ran learned that Nana had been coerced into working for the Holy Spirit Cult, which held her parents’ souls and threatened to torture them. He vowed to help her and grew furious at the cult’s use of soul curses, while Nana’s altered Martial Soul suggested the danger had reached her as well.

• Xue Xiao Ran served Nana dinner, and she cried because the food reminded her of her mother’s cooking.
• Xue Xiao Ran confronted Nana about the Holy Spirit Cult after revealing he had overheard her speaking with one of its members.
• Xue Xiao Ran promised to help Nana, and the Ice Empress sensed a malicious shackle had changed Nana’s Ghost Martial Soul into something like a Vengeful Spirit Martial Soul.
• Nana explained that the Holy Spirit Cult had cursed her parents’ souls, then possessed them and threatened to torture them unless she obeyed.
• Xue Xiao Ran learned that the cult used Mental System Spirit Masters to curse souls and became furious at its treatment of the dead.

Xue Xiao Ran promised Nana he would help save her parents and remove the shackle binding her, planning a rescue from a Holy Spirit Cult stronghold. After considering the cult’s possible infiltration of the Sun Moon Empire, he focused on helping Nana escape its control.

• Xue Xiao Ran consulted Ice Empress, who said his Ultimate Angel martial soul could remove Nana’s shackle, and he resolved to save her family.
• Xue Xiao Ran learned that Nana’s parents’ souls were held at a lightly guarded Holy Spirit Cult stronghold in Sun Moon Imperial City and told her they would act the following night.
• Nana stayed in Xue Xiao Ran’s room, and he let her sleep while he rested on the couch.
• The next morning, Xue Xiao Ran reached Soul Power level 32 and speculated that the Holy Spirit Cult might be infiltrating the Sun Moon Empire through Nana’s former noble family.
• Xue Xiao Ran decided he could not stop the cult’s broader plans with his current strength, prepared food for Nana, and left for training.

Xue Xiao Ran accompanied Nana on a nighttime mission to find her imprisoned parents in Sun Moon Imperial City. After they entered the building, Xue Xiao Ran knocked out the masked figures and revealed his golden eyes as he prepared to help Nana.

• Xue Xiao Ran and Nana ate, changed into dark clothes, and left the school team area for Sun Moon Imperial City.
• Nana led Xue Xiao Ran through the forest and city alleys to a building guarded by a black-clad disciple.
• Nana showed the guard a token and pleaded to visit her parents, while Xue Xiao Ran used Phantom Poison to pass unnoticed.
• Nana found her parents imprisoned beneath lanterns, and Xue Xiao Ran rendered the masked figures unconscious.
• Xue Xiao Ran asked Nana to keep his secret, then golden light burst from his golden eyes.

Xue Xiao Ran used his Ultimate Angel Martial Soul and Paradise Lost to remove the curses binding Nana and the other souls in the Holy Spirit Cult’s chamber, then helped Nana escape. They fled toward the Sun Moon Royal Soul Tool Academy, where Nana planned to hide at the Carefree Sword Sect before joining Shrek Academy, and she asked to spend another night in Xue Xiao Ran’s dorm.

• Xue Xiao Ran revealed his Ultimate Angel Martial Soul and used Paradise Lost to purify the curses on Nana and the souls trapped in the chamber.
• Nana said her final words to her parents as the freed souls began to fade, while the other souls thanked Xue Xiao Ran.
• Xue Xiao Ran hypnotized a black-robed disciple into believing he had released the souls and had never seen Xue Xiao Ran or Nana.
• Xue Xiao Ran and Nana escaped, and he told her to hide at the Carefree Sword Sect until he could take her to Shrek Academy after the Youth Soul Master Competition.
• Nana admitted she was frightened and asked to spend another night in Xue Xiao Ran’s dorm.

Xue Xiao Ran joined Ma Ru Long and the academy team on a shopping trip to Lingbao Pavilion before their departure for the Youth Soul Master Competition. There, Xu Tian Ran appeared and urged the team to bring honor to the Sun Moon Empire.

• Two months after Nana vanished from the academy, Xue Xiao Ran had reached Soul Power Level 33, and the competition was nearing.
• Ma Ru Long invited Xue Xiao Ran to visit Sun Moon Imperial City's auction house with the team to buy supplies for their journey.
• After Lin Xi arrived late, the nine team members walked through the city to Lingbao Pavilion.
• Palace guards parted the crowd, and Xu Tian Ran stopped his sedan before the group and addressed Xu Yuan Fei as his little brother.
• Xu Tian Ran wished the team success at the Youth Soul Master Competition, and Ma Ru Long replied that he would obey.

Xue Xiao Ran and the Sun Moon Imperial Academy team attended an auction at Lingbao Pavilion, where Ma Ru Long sought materials for a Class 6 Soul Tool. The chapter ended as the auction’s final item, a young welcoming girl, was presented.

• Xu Tian Ran arrived at Lingbao Pavilion in a sedan, and Xu Yuan Fei’s mood darkened at the sight of him.
• Ma Ru Long led the group into the auction, where they watched the bidding from a private room behind tinted glass.
• Ma Ru Long bid on Crimson Iron but stopped when the price climbed, and it sold for nineteen thousand seven hundred Gold Soul Coins.
• Ma Ru Long, Lin Xi, and Xu Yuan Fei bought other Soul Tool materials, then watched the auction present a young welcoming girl as its final item.

Xue Xiao Ran bought Wan'er at auction to save her from becoming a slave and later advised Xiao Hong Chen to keep the Hongchen Family out of the imperial family's power struggle. The chapter ended with Xiao Hong Chen considering his friend's warning.

• Xue Xiao Ran bid two hundred and ten thousand Gold Soul Coins to win Wan'er and arranged for her to join the Carefree Sword Sect.
• Ma Ru Long collected the auction items, and Wan'er followed the Sun Moon Royal Soul Tool Academy students after Yu Ling Lin invited her to shop with the girls.
• Ma Ru Long, Lin Xi, and Xu Yuan Fei left to process raw materials while Xue Xiao Ran and Xiao Hong Chen stayed behind.
• Xue Xiao Ran took Xiao Hong Chen to a shop and advised him to keep the Hongchen Family out of the imperial family's struggle for power.
• Xue Xiao Ran urged Xiao Hong Chen to choose a free life as a Soul Master rather than become caught up in imperial schemes.

Xue Xiao Ran sent Wan'er to the Carefree Sword Sect and prepared to travel with the Sun Moon Royal Soul Tool Academy team to the Star Luo Empire. The team departed by flying Soul Tools, leaving Xue Xiao Ran eager to get a set of his own.

• Xue Xiao Ran explained to Xiao Hong Chen why the Carefree Sword Sect avoided involvement in worldly affairs, and Xiao Hong Chen worried about persuading his grandfather.
• After the group's tour of Sun Moon Imperial City, Xue Xiao Ran gave Wan'er a letter and sent her to the Carefree Sword Sect to look after Senior Sister Nana.
• Four days later, Ma Ru Long led the thirteen-member school team out of the academy as students and citizens saw them off.
• Outside the city, Ma Ru Long assigned teammates to carry the reserve members, then led the group into the sky toward Star Luo City.
• As they flew, Xue Xiao Ran endured the wind and considered acquiring flying Soul Tools of his own.

The Sun Moon Royal Soul Tool Academy team arrived in Star Luo City and checked into the Star Emperor Hotel ahead of the competition. Ma Ru Long’s team drew attention and a taunt from Ling Yu Academy, which he answered with a pointed question about whether killing was allowed.

• After resting at the foot of the mountain, Ma Ru Long led the group onward, and Xue Xiao Ran continued studying the flying Soul Tool’s Soul Cores.
• The team entered Star Luo Empire territory on the fourth day and reached Star Luo City two days later, where Ma Ru Long registered them at the gate.
• Ma Ru Long led the team through the crowded capital toward the Star Emperor Hotel and learned that Shrek Academy had not yet arrived.
• At the hotel, students from other academies watched the Sun Moon Royal Soul Tool Academy team enter in silence.
• A student from Ling Yu Academy mocked the team, and Ma Ru Long asked Lin Xi whether killing was allowed in the competition.

Sun Moon Royal Soul Tool Academy discussed the competition rules and decided to field its reserve members in the opening team battle while keeping its Soul Tools hidden. As the tournament began, Xue Xiao Ran saw Wang Dong among Shrek Academy’s team but stayed silent.

• Ma Ru Long led Sun Moon Royal Soul Tool Academy to its hotel rooms and called a strategy meeting with Old Zhou and Old Ma.
• Old Zhou explained the knockout and round-robin formats, and Ma Ru Long said he expected Sun Moon Royal Soul Tool Academy to win.
• Ma Ru Long decided the reserve members would fight the opening seven-versus-seven battle without revealing the academy’s Soul Tools.
• Xue Xiao Ran became captain of the reserve team while the academy’s students spent the days before the competition cultivating and studying Soul Tools.
• At the tournament’s opening, Xue Xiao Ran spotted Wang Dong with Shrek Academy’s team but did not approach her.

The Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Fighting Tournament began in Star Luo Plaza, where Shrek Academy defeated Tian Ling Advanced Soul Master Academy with a startling display of power. After watching the match, Xue Xiao Ran was assigned to lead the Sun Moon Royal Soul Tool Academy’s upcoming battle against Azure Advanced Soul Master Academy.

• The Star Luo Emperor welcomed the academies and officially opened the tournament before a cheering crowd.
• The host announced Shrek Academy’s first-round match against Tian Ling Advanced Soul Master Academy.
• Shrek’s leading student revealed six simulated Blood-Red Soul Rings and froze the opposing team into ice sculptures.
• Xue Xiao Ran recognized the Shrek student from the Star Dou Great Forest, while Ice Empress identified his Twin Martial Souls and Mysterious Ice.
• Ma Ru Long assigned Xue Xiao Ran to lead the Sun Moon Royal Soul Tool Academy against Azure Advanced Soul Master Academy.

Xue Xiao Ran led the Sun Moon Royal Soul Tool Academy into a team battle against Azure Advanced Soul Master Academy. He defeated all seven opponents at once with a controlled cloud of poison and left the arena.

• Xue Xiao Ran told Ma Ru Long he would return Shrek Academy’s show of strength in kind, and Ma Ru Long entrusted him with command of the match.
• Xue Xiao Ran walked onto the arena first while Bei Bei, Ma Xiaotao, Wang Yan, and Wang Dong watched from the stands.
• Xue Xiao Ran ordered his teammates to stand behind him and faced Azure Advanced Soul Master Academy’s seven three-ringed Soul Masters alone.
• At the start of the match, Xue Xiao Ran released several poisons that filled the arena and caused all seven Azure Academy members to faint.
• Xue Xiao Ran declared the match over, called his opponents too weak, and left the arena.

Xue Xiao Ran led Sun Moon Royal Soul Tool Academy to a decisive victory over Azure Advanced Soul Master Academy using his Extreme Poison, drawing attention from the tournament’s spectators and rival teams. As Shrek Academy discussed his abilities and prepared to leave, the Shrek and Sun Moon teams unexpectedly met backstage.

• After Azure Advanced Soul Master Academy’s teacher accused Xue Xiao Ran of excessive force, Xue Xiao Ran defended his use of poison and the referee declared Sun Moon Royal Soul Tool Academy the winner.
• Star Luo Emperor Xu Jiawei praised Xue Xiao Ran’s performance while worrying about Sun Moon Royal Soul Tool Academy’s strength compared with Shrek Academy.
• In Shrek’s lounge, Wang Dong explained that Xue Xiao Ran’s Extreme Poison could take many forms and enter through the skin, while Huo Yu Hao remained unconscious after his battle.
• Wang Yan ended the discussion and led Shrek’s team back to the hotel to rest.
• Xue Xiao Ran and the Sun Moon team left the arena, and the Shrek and Sun Moon teams met backstage.

After Xue Xiao Ran faced Shrek Academy without holding back, both teams prepared for the round-robin stage. He and Xiao Hong Chen discussed Xiao Hong Chen’s sister’s feelings for him, while Sun Moon Royal Soul Tool Academy assigned Xue Xiao Ran, Xiao Hong Chen, and Meng Hong Chen to compete together.

• Xue Xiao Ran told Shrek Academy not to go easy on him, leaving Wang Dong distressed by his newfound emotional distance.
• Old Ma explained the round-robin format and schedule to the Sun Moon Royal Soul Tool Academy substitutes.
• Xue Xiao Ran and Xiao Hong Chen grew closer through their discussions of poison and Soul Tool research.
• Xue Xiao Ran told Xiao Hong Chen that his sister could not marry him because she was the eldest daughter of the Clear Sky Sect, and Xiao Hong Chen demanded that he accept her anyway.
• Old Zhou announced that Xue Xiao Ran, Xiao Hong Chen, and Meng Hong Chen would form a team for the round-robin matches.