Chapter Summaries

Ming Jiang passed the Sun God's fifth trial after enduring a year of heart-burning torment, which tempered his body and let Little Lotus absorb divine solar power. He gained Fiery Golden Eyes and immediately received the sixth-trial tasks from the Sun God and God of War.

• Ming Jiang accepted the sun's power by merging with Little Lotus, then the Sun God bound him and sent fiery dragons to burn his heart as the fifth trial began.
• The Sun God explained that the fiery dragons were tempering Ming Jiang's Golden Heart and body, while Little Lotus absorbed the solar power and helped the Small World evolve.
• Ming Jiang endured the pain for a year and began comprehending the laws of flame, sun, light, and heat within the divine power.
• Jing Hongchen waited a year outside West Mountain, feared Ming Jiang was dead, and left in sorrow.
• Ming Jiang passed the fifth trial, received Fiery Golden Eyes, and discovered that his vision had become exceptionally clear.
• Dai Mubai announced the sixth trials: Ming Jiang had to comprehend the God of War Domain and condense its Soul Core, as well as comprehend Sun Power and condense the Sun Soul Core.

While Ming Jiang completed the Scorching Sun Burning Heart trial, the War God and Sun God argued over whether he should inherit both their divine positions. They agreed to merge the trials and make Ming Jiang a dual successor, and the sixth trial began as he entered the next floor.

• The Sun God proposed that Ming Jiang inherit his divine position as well as the War God's, prompting Dai Mubai to attack him.
• Yue Shen admitted to Zhu Zhuqing that she had summoned the Sun God because Ming Jiang could bear two divine positions and she wanted to free herself and her husband from their roles.
• Dai Mubai and the Sun God fought until Zhu Zhuqing and Yue Shen called them back to discuss the inheritance.
• The four deities agreed that Ming Jiang would inherit the War God and Sun God positions through a merged trial, with Yue Shen's inheritance offered as the reward for its eighth trial.
• Ming Jiang completed the Scorching Sun Burning Heart trial, received Fiery Golden Eyes, and opened the gateway to the sixth floor.

After completing the fifth trial, Ming Jiang chose to pause his trials and returned to the Sun Moon Empire after a year away. He reunited with Jing Hongchen at Bright Virtue Hall, while the mystery of the three Rank 9 Fixed Soul Cannonballs remained unresolved.

• Ming Jiang asked to continue condensing his Soul Core outside the God of War Tower and decided to take time to strengthen his foundation.
• The Sun God and War God Dai Mubai brought Ming Jiang out of the tower, then left with Zhu Zhuqing and the Moon God to seek a potential inheritor for the God of Speed.
• Ming Jiang returned to the snowy West Mountain, flew to the Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy, and headed for Bright Virtue Hall.
• Jing Hongchen and another Rank 9 Soul Master discussed Ming Jiang's disappearance, the lost Experimental Subject One, and rumors that the Holy Spirit Cult had supplied the three Rank 9 Fixed Soul Cannonballs.
• Jing Hongchen hurried to meet Ming Jiang when he learned Ming Jiang had returned, and Ming Jiang greeted him at Bright Virtue Hall.

After returning from the Valley of Qiankun's Love Inquiry, Ming Jiang told Jing Hongchen about his trials, revealed his new cultivation and Soul Rings, and agreed not to risk returning to West Mountain. The chapter ended with Jing Hongchen asking him to resume Soul Tool work in the laboratory.

• Jing Hongchen welcomed Ming Jiang to Bright Virtue Hall and asked what had happened during his year away.
• Ming Jiang recounted his dangerous trials and said he had broken through Level Eighty and gained other rewards.
• Ming Jiang revealed his eight Soul Rings—Four Purple, Two Black, Two Red—and Jing Hongchen excitedly praised his prospects.
• Jing Hongchen urged Ming Jiang not to return to the Valley of Qiankun's Love Inquiry, and Ming Jiang agreed.
• Jing Hongchen asked Ming Jiang to demonstrate his Soul Tool skills, and Ming Jiang picked up Rare Metal to begin carving.

Ming Jiang discovered that Fiery Golden Eyes greatly improved his precision and Spiritual Power while he carved a perfect Rank 8 Core Magic Array. After Jing Hongchen promised to speak with Elder Kong about guiding him toward Rank 9, Ming Jiang began investigating Soul Core cultivation and was interrupted by Snow Empress.

• Ming Jiang activated Fiery Golden Eyes and found that they enhanced his perception and control while inscribing a Core Magic Array.
• Ming Jiang completed a Rank 8 Core Magic Array without errors, and Jing Hongchen praised its near-perfect quality.
• Ming Jiang told Jing Hongchen about Fiery Golden Eyes, and Jing Hongchen agreed to speak with Elder Kong about guiding him.
• Ming Jiang returned to his room and struggled to find reliable information about cultivating a Soul Core.
• Snow Empress appeared in Ming Jiang's room, freezing its surfaces, and asked whether he was thinking about Soul Cores.

Ming Jiang learned how Soul Cores were condensed and decided to make the God of War Soul Core first, despite the risks of eventually forming two specialized Soul Cores. After Jing Hongchen secured another chance for him with Kong Deming, Ming Jiang was summoned to meet the Rank 9 Soul Master.

• Snow Empress explained that she had failed to condense a second Soul Core and described the dangers and principles of forming Soul Cores.
• Ming Jiang studied Soul Core cultivation with Snow Empress and learned that a failed compression could unleash power comparable to a Rank 9 Fixed Soul Cannonball.
• Ming Jiang decided to study the process before attempting it and considered the requirements for his God of War Soul Core and Blazing Sun Soul Core.
• Snow Empress advised Ming Jiang to condense the God of War Soul Core first because it would strengthen his Spiritual Power and make forming the Blazing Sun Soul Core easier.
• Jing Hongchen asked Kong Deming to give Ming Jiang another chance, and Kong Deming agreed to see him.
• Jing Hongchen contacted Ming Jiang and told him that Elder Kong wanted to meet him.

Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen discussed Zhang Lexuan’s interest in Meng and learned she hoped to reconcile Ming Jiang and Jiang Ming. At a secret meeting, the Sun Moon exchange students reviewed what they had learned at Shrek, then wondered whether Jiang Ming’s two-year seclusion meant he was nearing Titled Douluo; Xiao Hongchen rejected the possibility in disbelief.

• Xiao Hongchen warned Meng Hongchen that Zhang Lexuan might be trying to deceive her, but Meng explained Zhang wanted to use her to ease the rift between Ming Jiang and Jiang Ming.
• Meng Hongchen told Xiao Hongchen that Zhang Lexuan had revealed the brothers’ parents were killed by Evil Soul Masters and that they had grown up wandering before entering Shrek Academy.
• Elder Ma gathered the Sun Moon exchange students in a Shrek City hotel room, where they shared their cultivation progress and other information gathered at Shrek.
• Elder Ma urged the students to keep a low profile and remain vigilant until their return, and Meng Hongchen asked whether anyone had seen Jiang Ming.
• Xiao Hongchen said an Inner Court teacher had told him Jiang Ming had been cultivating in seclusion for two years.
• A student suggested Jiang Ming might be breaking through to Titled Douluo, and Xiao Hongchen loudly insisted that the idea was impossible.

Ming Jiang demonstrated his mastery of Rank 8 Soul Tool Core Arrays to Kong Deming, who agreed to train him toward becoming a Rank 9 Soul Master. As Ming Jiang studied, the Sun Moon Empire and the other factions prepared for a possible war, while the Body Sect and Shrek Academy advanced their own plans.

• Kong Deming brought Ming Jiang to his personal laboratory and asked him to engrave a Rank 8 Soul Tool Core Array on Cloud Patterned Red Steel.
• Ming Jiang used Fiery Golden Eyes to engrave a flawless array, impressing Kong Deming, who said Ming Jiang was ready to attempt a Rank 9 Soul Tool and invited him to study at the laboratory for several months.
• Ming Jiang began learning Rank 9 Soul Engineer techniques from Kong Deming and put his Soul Core research aside while he pursued the next rank.
• Jing Hongchen returned as master of Bright Virtue Hall, where research into special Soul Tools accelerated under Crown Prince Xu Tianran’s ambitions for a war of unification.
• The Star Luo, Heaven Dou, and Dou Ling Empires prepared for possible conflict, while the Body Sect reached a cooperative agreement with the Heaven Dou Empire and planned its return to prominence.
• Shrek Academy expanded its Soul Tool Department with new funding, recruits, and blueprints brought back by Jiang Ming and Huo Yuhao, though it still lagged behind Bright Virtue Hall.

The Heaven Dou Emperor continued investigating Jiang Ming’s origins while learning that Princess Vina was progressing quickly with the Body Sect. Meanwhile, Ming Jiang trained under Kong Deming, created a Rank 8.5 Soul Tool Core Array, and began studying Rank 9 blueprints as he prepared to advance his craft.

• The Heaven Dou Emperor ordered continued investigation into Jiang Ming and asked about Princess Vina, who had achieved a Silver Second Awakening while cultivating with the Body Sect.
• Xuan Ziwen learned that Ming Jiang had returned and was secluded with Kong Deming, possibly on his way to becoming a Rank 9 Soul Master, so he left to cultivate.
• Jing Hongchen reflected on Ming Jiang’s return and imagined arranging a marriage between him and Xuan Ziwen.
• Ming Jiang completed a Core Magic Array that Kong Deming rated as Rank 8.5, and Kong Deming urged him to build a solid foundation rather than rush toward Rank 9.
• Kong Deming gave Ming Jiang several Rank 9 Soul Tool Core Array blueprints and planned to help him find a better carving knife, while Ming Jiang decided to sell some Soul Tools to repay his debts and fund the purchase.

Ming Jiang brought several Soul Tools to the Ming Capital Grand Auction House to raise money for the Blade of Light and Holiness. After Kong Deming confirmed that Ming Jiang’s unusual Soul Tool was Rank 8.5, the auction house made it the finale lot, while Ming Jiang watched the ranked engraving knife come up for bidding.

• Ming Jiang asked the auction house to sell his Rank 6 Impact Ray, Rank 7 Invincible Shield, and Rank 8.5 Soul Tool.
• The appraiser questioned the unusual Soul Tool’s rank, and Ming Jiang said Kong Deming had evaluated it as Rank 8.5.
• The auction house director consulted Kong Deming, who confirmed the rank and told him to price it like a Rank 8 Soul Tool.
• Ming Jiang’s Impact Ray sold for eighty thousand Gold Soul Coins, and his Invincible Shield sold for more than a million.
• The auctioneer introduced the Blade of Light and Holiness, ranked seventeenth among Ranked Engraving Knives, and opened bidding at five hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins.

Ming Jiang won the Blade of Light and Holiness engraving knife, then watched the auction introduce his Flame Devouring Sky Blade as the final lot. The blade's bidding began at one million Gold Soul Coins, with the price rising rapidly.

• Ming Jiang bid one million one hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins and won the Blade of Light and Holiness engraving knife.
• Kong Deming advised Ming Jiang to practice with Rank 8 Soul Tool Core Magic Arrays before using the engraving knife on Rank 9 arrays.
• The auctioneer unveiled the Flame Devouring Sky Blade, a Rank 8.5 Soul Tool evaluated by Kong Deming, prompting wealthy guests to rush to gather funds.
• The auctioneer described the blade's two powerful skills and their limits, while Ming Jiang judged that it could not reliably let a Soul Douluo defeat a Titled Douluo.
• After a half-hour viewing period, the auctioneer opened bidding for the Flame Devouring Sky Blade at one million Gold Soul Coins, and the bids began to climb.

Ming Jiang sold his Soul Tools, began training to make Rank 9 Soul Tools, and captured a Holy Spirit Cult Evil Soul Master who had been following him. Months later, Bright Virtue Hall and the Holy Spirit Cult were jointly hunting the mysterious spatial powerhouse behind the disappearances and robberies, unaware that he was Ming Jiang, sitting with Jing Hongchen.

• Ming Jiang sold the Flame Devouring Sky Blade for 4,250,000 Gold Soul Coins and bought the Blade of Light and Holiness without paying an auction commission.
• Kong Deming told Ming Jiang to practice with the carving knife and study Rank 9 Soul Tool Core Magic Arrays over the next month.
• Ming Jiang forced a shadow-wielding Evil Soul Master out of hiding, captured him with Golden Pull, and learned the Holy Spirit Cult wanted the carving knife kept from others.
• Ming Jiang stored the Evil Soul Master in his Small World and returned to Bright Virtue Hall, where he planned to repay Jing Hongchen.
• Over the following months, the Radiant City Thief raided wealthy families and the Holy Spirit Cult, leaving nearly one hundred cult members missing.
• Bright Virtue Hall and the Holy Spirit Cult searched for the spatial powerhouse, unaware that Ming Jiang was sitting in Jing Hongchen's office.

Ming Jiang repaid Jing Hongchen and learned that the mysterious spatial Super Douluo was still evading capture, then met Crown Prince Xu Tianran. Xu Tianran praised Ming Jiang’s talent and discussed bringing him under the empire’s control.

• Ming Jiang repaid Jing Hongchen the Gold Soul Coins he had borrowed, and Jing Hongchen warned him to stay inside Bright Virtue Hall while the spatial Super Douluo remained at large.
• Ming Jiang decided not to risk going out, but a month after completing his first Rank 9 Soul Tool, Jing Hongchen told him that the Crown Prince wanted to see him.
• Ming Jiang arrived at a hotel guarded by Imperial Guards, Soul Engineers, and powerful Soul Masters, then met Xu Tianran.
• When an Imperial Guard captain demanded that Ming Jiang kneel, Xu Tianran allowed him to remain standing.
• Xu Tianran asked Ming Jiang about Shrek Academy and Bright Virtue Hall, praised his talent, and predicted he could become the youngest Rank 9 Soul Master in history.
• After Ming Jiang left, Jing Hongchen asked Xu Tianran what he thought of him, and Xu Tianran said that controlling such a genius would help their future plans.

Ming Jiang agonized over whether to leave Radiant City and return to Zhang Lexuan or remain undercover to help prevent a possible war. After Xuan Ziwen helped him clear his head at the testing ground, Ming Jiang asked for advice and was urged to seek a way to achieve both goals.

• Ming Jiang weighed leaving Bright Virtue Hall after achieving his goals against staying close to Crown Prince Xu Tianran and gathering intelligence about a possible war.
• Ming Jiang returned to Bright Virtue Hall in distress, and Xuan Ziwen noticed his mood and took him to the Soul Gun and Cannon Testing Ground.
• Ming Jiang and Xuan Ziwen fired their Rank 7 Energy Gathering Soul Cannons at the metal targets, and the explosions helped ease Ming Jiang's sorrow.
• Ming Jiang asked Xuan Ziwen whether he should risk letting down the person he loved to prevent something terrible, and Xuan Ziwen advised him to consider the consequences and seek a way to do both.

Ming Jiang decided to create a clone so he could remain undercover in Radiant City while returning to Shrek Academy. After discussing his requirements with Snow Empress, he learned that the idea might be possible.

• Ming Jiang thanked Xuan Ziwen for helping him rethink his choice and hurried back to experiment with a solution.
• Xuan Ziwen returned to his laboratory to continue developing Sealed Milk Bottle and Humanoid Soul Tool technology.
• Ming Jiang entered his Small World, checked Mu En's growing body, and surveyed its Soul Engineers and other inhabitants.
• Snow Empress experimented with a Rank Seven Soul Cannonball, then emerged carrying a Rank 8 Fixed Soul Cannonball when Ming Jiang called for her advice.
• Ming Jiang told Snow Empress he wanted a clone that could carry his memories or be controlled remotely, and she said his idea might be possible.

Ming Jiang created and trained a memory-bearing clone to pose as him at Bright Virtue Hall, allowing him to operate undercover while remaining elsewhere. After the clone passed tests with Xuan Ziwen, Jing Hongchen, and Kong Deming, Ming Jiang prepared to leave Radiant City and return to Sister Lexuan.

• Ming Jiang used his Left Arm Bone, a body created by Little Spirit, and his Head Soul Bone to make a clone that could absorb Soul Power, carry implanted memories, and think independently.
• Ming Jiang watched the clone practice interacting with Bright Virtue Hall's Soul Engineers and adjusted its behavior when needed.
• Ming Jiang tested the clone with Xuan Ziwen, who accepted its advice on Humanoid Soul Tools and grew more comfortable with it.
• Ming Jiang had the clone meet Jing Hongchen and Kong Deming, and both noticed something unusual but eventually accepted it.
• After several days of training, Ming Jiang told the clone to contact him if it encountered trouble and prepared to leave Radiant City to see Sister Lexuan.

Jiang Ming left Radiant City and returned to Shrek Academy after ending his undercover mission and entrusting his clone with his duties. At the academy, he met three students who were struggling despite their hard work and offered to help them.

• Jiang Ming left his clone in charge of Bright Virtue Hall and departed Radiant City in disguise, avoiding its spatial-fluctuation detection system.
• Jiang Ming crossed into the Heaven Dou Empire, noticed its border soldiers lacked Soul Tool equipment, and used his spatial abilities to reach Shrek City.
• Jiang Ming returned to Shrek Academy after twelve years away and walked through its quiet grounds at night.
• Jiang Ming met three Outer Court students exercising in the plaza and shared Milk Tea infused with Water of Life with them.
• The students told Jiang Ming they had been training nightly for a month but remained near the bottom of their class, so he touched their foreheads and offered to help.

Jiang Ming returned to Sea God Island after two years away and reunited with Zhang Lexuan, promising that he would not leave again. The next morning, he planned to inform the Sea God Pavilion Elders, advance his Soul Tool research, and begin condensing a Soul Core.

• Jiang Ming opened three students’ meridians, told them his name, and explained to Snow Empress that he had helped them simply because he wanted to.
• Jiang Ming crossed Sea God Lake and returned to his home, where Zhang Lexuan recognized him and welcomed him with tears.
• Jiang Ming promised Zhang Lexuan that he would not leave again, and they spent the night together before falling asleep in each other’s arms.
• Zhang Lexuan left to teach Inner Court Disciples, while Jiang Ming got up, ate breakfast, and considered his plans for the day.
• Jiang Ming decided to notify the Sea God Pavilion Elders, organize his Rank 9 Soul Tool research, and attempt to condense a Soul Core as he pursued his next War God trial.

Jiang Ming returned to Shrek Academy after two years in the Sun Moon Empire and told the Elders he had become a Rank 9 Soul Master and reached level eighty-nine. They agreed to help him condense a Soul Core in Sea God Pavilion, where he worried a failed attempt could destroy the building.

• Jiang Ming visited Yan Shaozhe, who was delighted to learn he had returned and summoned the Sea God Pavilion Elders.
• The Elders asked about Jiang Ming's time in Radiant City, and he said he had survived the Body Sect's attack on Bright Virtue Hall by playing dead and hiding beneath the ruins.
• Jiang Ming revealed that he could produce Rank 9 Soul Tools and had reached level eighty-nine Soul Power, shocking the Elders.
• Jiang Ming explained that he had spent more than a year preparing to condense a Soul Core, and the Elders agreed to share their experience and protect him.
• Xuan Zi took Jiang Ming to a seclusion chamber in Sea God Pavilion, where Jiang Ming worried that a failed Soul Core condensation could cause an explosion.

Jiang Ming began the joint sixth Deity Trial, which required him to condense two Soul Cores and fuse them with the God of War Will and Sun Power within seven days. With Xuan Zi, Elder Song, and Elder Lin guarding him, he formed a solid golden-red Soul Power funnel that began devouring Heaven and Earth Yuan Power.

• Jiang Ming reassured himself that the three Super Douluo, Mu En, and the Golden Ancient Tree would protect him during Soul Core condensation.
• Jiang Ming told Xuan Zi, Elder Song, and Elder Lin that condensing his Soul Core was part of his Deity Trial, prompting the Elders to meditate and prepare carefully.
• Jiang Ming decided to place the War God Soul Core in his upper dantian and the Blazing Sun Soul Core in his middle dantian, and accepted Xuan Zi's advice to condense both at once.
• Jiang Ming activated the War God Mark and Sun God Mark, beginning the joint sixth trial to condense two Soul Cores and fuse them with the God of War Will and Sun Power within seven days.
• Jiang Ming compressed and accelerated his golden-red Soul Power until it formed a solid funnel that rapidly absorbed Soul Power and Heaven and Earth Yuan Power.