Chapter Summaries

On the day of the Heaven Dou Great Soul Arena match, Gu You explained how he had helped Qian Renxue take power by exposing Xue Ye’s weakness and giving the nobles a sense of security. He argued that the tournament should continue because the continent needed entertainment, then gave Qian Renxue gifts and a written plan for the final winner.

• Qian Renxue watched the crowds gathering for the tournament and praised Gu You for his talent at stirring people’s hearts.
• Gu You told Qian Renxue and She Long that Xue Ye’s fall had been inevitable once his weakness was exposed, and that people had chosen to support a stronger ruler for their own security.
• She Long argued that Qian Renxue should postpone the tournament now that its political purpose had been achieved, and Gu You agreed that his reasoning made sense.
• Gu You explained that the tournament should continue because people across the continent had few forms of entertainment, and Qian Renxue recognized how widely the event drew attention.
• Gu You handed Qian Renxue three gold boxes and a written note, saying that he had prepared a gift for the tournament’s final winner.

Gu You tried to meet the other academy teams before the tournament, but instead intimidated the Heaven Dou Royal Academy Second Team and returned to rally his own teammates. With their first match approaching and no intelligence on their opponents, he ordered them to abandon tactics and defeat the other side as quickly as possible.

• Ning Rongrong dragged Gu You toward the other academies after explaining his duty as captain to represent the empire and build relationships.
• Gu You kicked open the Heaven Dou Royal Academy Second Team's lounge door, intimidated its fifteen members, and insulted them before leaving.
• Ning Rongrong told the First Team that Gu You had frightened the Second Team so badly that its members had wet themselves.
• Yu Tianheng and the other teammates backed Gu You's call to use their strength against the other academies.
• Gu You placed the team's named chess pieces on a table and ordered everyone to abandon tactics and take down their first opponents as fast as possible.

Gu You watched the Imperial Fighting Team prepare for the tournament and joined the opening ceremony, where Xue Qinghe announced that Gu You was donating three Thousand-year Artificial Spirit Bones as prizes. The ceremony ended with the crowd stunned by the unveiling, while Tang San had still not appeared.

• Gu You praised his teammates for planning together and dismissed Lanta’s worries about Tang San, guessing that Tang San had overslept.
• The Imperial Fighting Team entered the packed Spirit Fight Platform as the crowd cheered, and Gu You spotted Xue Ye, Xue Xing, Xue Beng, the academy’s education committee, and Meng Yiran’s grandparents in the VIP section.
• Meng Shu learned from Bai Baoshan that Meng Yiran had become a Soul Ancestor after eating Immortal Herbs, and Meng Yiran quietly admitted she had not told her grandparents about them.
• Xue Qinghe opened the Star of Heaven Dou Tournament and then announced that he would read a letter from Gu You.
• Xue Qinghe read Gu You’s letter, and three maids revealed three Thousand-year Artificial Spirit Bones as gifts for the tournament’s winners.

Xue Qinghe announced that Gu You had created artificial spirit bones, prompting excitement and suspicion across the arena. As Shui Bing'er weighed whether Skywater Academy should pursue the near-ten-thousand-year Ice-Attribute bone, Gu You realized she had taken the bait, while Yu Xiaogang pinned his remaining hopes on Dai Mubai.

• Xue Qinghe confirmed that the three spirit bones he presented were artificial and had been verified by the chief referees.
• Dugu Bo silenced Ling Xiaochen's challenge, and Xue Qinghe described the bones' attributes, skills, and estimated power.
• Skywater Academy's members asked Shui Bing'er what to do, and she worried that competing for the Ice-Attribute bone would expose their strength.
• Gu You recognized that Shui Bing'er had taken the bait and was pleased with the spirit bones he had chosen to draw out the academies' full strength.
• Yu Xiaogang despaired over Gu You's latest achievement, then decided Dai Mubai was his final chance to prove his theories.

At the Star of Heaven Dou Tournament opening, Ning Fengzhi diplomatically avoided choosing a favorite, and the preliminary matchups were drawn. Gu You learned that the Imperial Dou Team would face Elephant Armor Academy and headed to the pre-match press conference with Qin Ming, confident ahead of the battle.

• Ning Fengzhi answered a question about the likely champion by saying he would support whichever team his daughter belonged to.
• Salas drew the preliminary matchups, including Heaven Dou Royal Academy First Team against Elephant Armor Academy.
• Gu You exchanged looks with Elephant Armor Academy captain Huyan Li and sized up the imposing team.
• Qin Ming took Gu You to the pre-match press conference and warned him not to put too much pressure on himself.
• Gu You reassured Qin Ming that he was not the one who needed to be nervous, then entered the press conference venue.

Cai Hangshun joined the Heaven Dou Weekly and asked Gu You about his role on the Imperial Dou Team at a pre-match press conference. Gu You proclaimed himself the strongest and faced Huyan Li in the tournament’s opening match, where his sudden attack left Huyan Li unconscious.

• Cai Hangshun introduced himself as a new Heaven Dou Weekly reporter and asked why Gu You had come to the press conference instead of Meng Yiran.
• Gu You revealed that he was the Imperial Dou Team’s current captain and claimed he was stronger than everyone, provoking the Elephant Armor Academy leader.
• Huyan Li endorsed Gu You’s strength before challenging him, and Gu You named himself the strongest Soul Master in Heaven Dou Royal Academy.
• Zhao Wuji commentated that Gu You was the strongest among all 120 tournament competitors.
• Gu You and Huyan Li began their match, and Gu You attacked before releasing his Martial Soul, knocking Huyan Li unconscious and revealing a ten-thousand-year Soul Ring.

Gu You defeated Huyan Li and revealed a ten-thousand-year Fourth Soul Ring, shocking the tournament audience and drawing attention from Heaven Dou’s rulers and Spirit Hall. Xue Qinghe affirmed his friendship with Gu You as Xue Ye praised him, while Salas left to report the unprecedented Soul Ring to Bibi Dong.

• Gu You used his strength and momentum to knock Huyan Li unconscious, then the arena discovered that his Fourth Soul Ring was ten thousand years old.
• Zhao Wuji confirmed Gu You’s Soul Ring, and Liu Tianruo announced that the first Soul Master with a ten-thousand-year Fourth Soul Ring came from Heaven Dou Royal Academy.
• News of Gu You’s Soul Ring spread through the arenas as the crowd cheered for the Imperial Dou Team, while Shui Bing’er learned that a monster had appeared on the team.
• Xue Ye asked Xue Qinghe whether Gu You was the same person he had met before, and Xue Qinghe confirmed they were good friends.
• Xue Ye praised Xue Qinghe and left the arena, while Salas departed to report Gu You’s achievement to Bibi Dong.
• Xiao Wu kicked away her opponent, prompting the Grey Hood to marvel that an Agility Attack System Soul Master had beaten a Power Attack System Soul Master head-on.

Xiao Wu defeated Huyan Ba, and the Imperial Dou Team swept Elephant Armor Academy 8–0 as Huyan Li openly acknowledged Gu You’s superiority. After the team celebrated its victory, Thunder Academy defeated Blue Tyrant Academy, leaving Yu Xiaogang brooding over Yu Tianxin’s success.

• Xiao Wu used Huyan Ba’s slow reactions and limited speed to defeat him, then reported her assessment of his abilities to Gu You.
• The Imperial Dou Team won all its matches against Elephant Armor Academy, finishing with an 8–0 score and avoiding a team match.
• Huyan Li told reporters that Elephant Armor Academy lost because he was weaker than Gu You, and said he would visit Gu You to ask about his ten-thousand-year Fourth Soul Ring.
• Gu You praised Elephant Armor Academy during his interview and said the Imperial Dou Team would prepare for its next opponent, Thunder Academy.
• Yu Tianxin defeated Dai Mubai and Blue Tyrant Academy, while Yu Xiaogang watched and wondered why Yu Tianxin had succeeded where he had not.

After Thunder Academy defeated Blue Tyrant Academy, Yu Xiaogang drugged and killed Liu Erlong, then used her blood and the modified Blood Soul Secret Technique to strengthen Luo Sanpao and himself. Meanwhile, Gu You confirmed that his abilities remained largely unknown in Heaven Dou City and ordered the next stage of his plan.

• Liu Erlong entered the cabin to comfort Yu Xiaogang, who served her dinner and recounted how Spirit Hall and Flender had betrayed him.
• Yu Xiaogang persuaded Liu Erlong to promise she would stay with him, then drugged her with medicine from the Book of Awakening and killed her with an axe.
• Yu Xiaogang used the modified Blood Soul Secret Technique to feed Liu Erlong's flesh to Luo Sanpao, absorbing her Fire Dragon bloodline as the beast began transforming toward a dragon.
• The Imperial Dou Team celebrated its victory, while Yu Feng's attempt to order wine ended with Gu You punching him and Osler dragging him away.
• After returning to Dragon-Snake Manor, Gu You sat in darkness and concluded that few people in Heaven Dou City understood his abilities, then ordered his allies to carry out the rest of the plan.

After the tournament matches set up the semifinals, the teams’ coaches and leaders reacted to their defeats while Heaven Dou City’s newspapers publicized the competition and Xue Qinghe’s role in it. Gu You saw his campaign to strengthen the Crown Prince’s public image gaining traction, then prepared his team for recovery training and tactical lessons as Meng Yiran revealed her grandparents had gone to the Imperial Palace.

• Skywater Academy defeated the Heaven Dou Royal Academy Second Team eight to zero, while Blazing Fire Academy upset Godwind Academy in the team battle and secured a semifinal berth.
• Ling Xiaochen scolded Feng Xiaotian for losing, while Huyan Zhen questioned Huyan Li about a newspaper headline that Huyan Li calmly accepted as true.
• Newspapers across Heaven Dou City published stories about the tournament, artificial Spirit Bones, and the ten-thousand-year Fourth Soul Ring, drawing attention to Xue Qinghe and the Imperial Fighting Team.
• At Dragon-Snake Manor, Gu You learned how Sebastian had obtained the newspapers and concluded that his effort to shape public opinion in Xue Qinghe’s favor was working.
• Gu You told Xiao Wu to finish her report and set out the team’s training schedule, then asked Meng Yiran where her grandparents were; she said they had gone to the Imperial Palace to see Xue Qinghe.

Gu You and Yu Tianxin faced reporters before the semifinal, where Yu Tianxin admitted Thunder Academy was prepared to fight but privately wondered how Gu You’s body could surpass a True Dragon’s. As Gu You and Yu Tianxin entered the arena for the opening match, Cai Hangshun learned about Oscar’s survey-report idea and decided to investigate Gu You’s true combat power.

• At the press conference, Gu You praised Yu Tianxin’s likely performance, while Yu Tianxin said Thunder Academy would give everything to defeat the Imperial Dou Team.
• Cai Hangshun and Wang Ye discussed whether Gu You’s Ultimate Conductor Tyranno could beat Yu Tianxin’s Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, and Cai Hangshun argued that Gu You may have become captain by defeating Yu Tianheng.
• Cai Hangshun met Oscar in the stands and learned that a survey report combined fact-finding with a summary of the results.
• Oscar privately considered shifting the school newspaper’s focus toward supporting His Highness the Crown Prince, while Cai Hangshun decided to survey Gu You’s true combat power and asked Wang Ye to help.
• Xue Qinghe welcomed Huyan Zhen and Huyan Li to the student stands, and Gu You and Yu Tianxin entered the arena for the first round of the lower-bracket semifinal.

Gu You overwhelmed Yu Tianxin in the tournament match, revealing the Imperial Dou Team captain’s immense strength to the spectators and political observers. As the crowd hailed Gu You, Tang Yuehua realized how dangerous his potential could be for the Clear Sky Sect and the Star Luo Empire.

• Yu Tianxin released his Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul, while Huyan Li pointed out that Gu You still had not released his own Martial Soul.
• Yu Tianxin charged Gu You with Thunderbolt Dragon Claw, but Gu You met the attack head-on and sent him flying.
• Gu You battered Yu Tianxin with repeated attacks until Thunder Academy’s team leader conceded the match.
• Gu You asked the arena who was strongest, and Huyan Li led the crowd in cheering for the Imperial Dou Team.
• Tang Gui told Tang Yuehua that Gu You’s strength and potential rivaled Tang Hao’s at the same stage, then speculated that Gu You might die before reaching his peak.

Meng Yiran faced Lei Tian in the lower-bracket semifinal after Gu You chose not to coach from the arena edge. Lei Tian unleashed his powerful Fourth Soul Skill, but Gu You calmly anticipated Meng Yiran’s victory and sent Ata to tell the next Imperial Dou Team members to warm up.

• Gu You returned to the rest area, encouraged Meng Yiran before her match, and then went with Lanta and Xiao Wu to watch from the viewing area.
• The Imperial Dou Team sent Meng Yiran to face Thunder Academy’s Lei Tian, surprising Lei Tian and his team leader.
• Meng Yiran and Lei Tian introduced themselves as fourth-rank Soul Ancestors, and Lei Tian took to the air with his Thunder Eagle martial soul.
• Lei Tian used his Fourth Soul Skill, Brave Eagle Thunder Strike, and descended toward Meng Yiran with a massive Thunder Eagle.
• Gu You smiled as Lei Tian attacked and told Ata to summon Tianheng, Sister Yanzi, and Lingling to warm up.

Meng Yiran used her evolved illusion skills to defeat Lei Tian in the tournament, leaving him convinced he had broken through her attack before he flew out of bounds. After Xue Qinghe and Meng Shu discussed Meng Yiran’s new path, Huyan Zhen offered to arrange for Shi Nian to teach her.

• Meng Yiran summoned an enormous Mist Rain Snake with Snake Rain, and Lei Tian charged through it with his Fourth Soul Skill after his team leader urged him to stay calm.
• Meng Yiran’s Transformation illusion changed Lei Tian’s perception of her position and the arena, making him strike the ground and fly out of bounds; the referee declared her the winner.
• Meng Yiran explained to Skull Labyrinth that she had chosen illusion arts after Gu You gave her two paths, and she showed it the booklet he had written about illusions.
• Meng Shenji told Xue Qinghe that Meng Yiran had abandoned her family’s traditional cultivation method to explore battlefield control through illusions, and Xue Qinghe compared her to Shi Nian.
• Huyan Zhen offered to have the Elephant Armor Sect introduce Meng Shu to Shi Nian so Meng Yiran could study illusion arts under him.

Huyan Zhen tried to arrange for Meng Yiran to study illusions under Shi Nian, but learned that Shi Nian had mysteriously disappeared. After Bai Chenxiang was injured in a match, Gu You stopped Ning Rongrong from seeking revenge and considered how the Speed Clan could overcome its lack of combat power, leaving the prospect of change ahead.

• Huyan Zhen offered Meng Shu a way for Meng Yiran to learn illusion techniques from Shi Nian, but Bai Baoshan and Meng Shenji explained that Shi Nian had disappeared months earlier.
• Lei Dong and Thunder Academy lost their three-on-three match to Yu Tianheng and his teammates, while Bai Chenxiang endured for half an hour before exhaustion left her vulnerable to an electric shock.
• Ning Rongrong asked Xiao Wu to avenge Bai Chenxiang, but Gu You reprimanded her and explained that her actions could endanger her friend rather than protect her.
• Gu You sent Xiao Wu and Osler to compete, and Zhu Zhuqing took Ning Rongrong to visit Bai Chenxiang in the infirmary.
• Lanta asked Gu You whether they could help Bai Chenxiang, and Gu You said he would find a way to address the Speed Clan's lack of combat power as Douluo Continent approached change.

Heaven Dou Royal Academy defeated Thunder Academy 7–1 in the lower-bracket semifinal and advanced to the finals. After the match, Gu You defended Bai Chenxiang’s right to compete and rejected the idea of blaming a single teammate for a team defeat.

• Lu Chen and Xiao Yunju chose to focus their attack on Xiao Wu, but Xiao Wu dodged Lu Chen’s charge and kicked him off the platform.
• Osler broke free of Xiao Yunju’s lightning prison with his Fourth Soul Skill, Dark Ghost Transformation, and threw Xiao Yunju out of the match.
• The referee declared Heaven Dou Royal Academy the winner by an overall score of 7–1, sending the team to the finals.
• At the press conference, Qin Ming said Bai Chenxiang had competed because her condition was good, and Gu You argued that a loss would be the responsibility of the whole team, including him as captain.

After Skywater Academy defeated Blazing Fire Academy with a Martial Soul Fusion Skill, Gu You learned how Shui Bing'er had been countered and considered his wider plan. Xiao Wu asked him to help her challenge Shui Bing'er again in the finals, and he agreed without hearing her tactics.

• Blazing Fire Academy conceded after Skywater Academy won the semifinal eleven to two, using Shui Bing'er and Shui Yue'er's Martial Soul Fusion Skill to defeat its main team.
• Lanta told Gu You that Huo Wushuang and Huo Wu had competed in the two-on-two match, while Blazing Fire Academy had saved its strongest fighters for the team battle.
• She Long told Qian Renxue that Huo Wu had restrained Shui Bing'er by detonating her Ghost Lantern attacks before Shui Bing'er's control skills could land.
• Qian Renxue considered the Ai Family's interest in Shui Bing'er and wondered whether the family meant to influence the continent's affairs through Skywater Academy.
• Gu You reflected on how news of the Artificial Spirit Bone was spreading, then gave Xiao Wu eleven Gold Soul Coins when she visited him late at night.
• Xiao Wu asked Gu You to help her face Shui Bing'er again in the finals, and Gu You agreed, saying he wanted her to win her revenge.

Gu You rallied the Imperial Dou Team to take Skywater Academy seriously before the finals, warning them about Shui Bing’er and Shui Yue’er’s Martial Soul Fusion Skill and demanding they fight for the championship. As both teams studied their opponents, Ai Lijie urged Shui Bing’er to abandon conventional tactics and use true Ultimate Ice.

• Gu You led the Imperial Dou Team through recovery training while Yu Feng joked that Skywater Academy would be beaten badly in the finals.
• Qin Ming gave the team Skywater Academy’s scouting records, and the members laughed at the number of Soul Ancestors listed among their opponents.
• Qin Ming rebuked Dugu Yan and Yu Feng for underestimating Skywater Academy, then asked Gu You to share his assessment.
• Gu You warned the team about the Ice and Snow Fluttering Ice Phoenix’s power and the dangerous Ultimate Ice left on the field, then rallied them to win the championship.
• Shui Bing’er reviewed the Imperial Dou Team’s formidable roster and struggled to find a winning lineup.
• Ai Lijie tore up Shui Bing’er’s battle roster and told her to use true Ultimate Ice, saying their pleasant game time was over.

Gu You, Tang San, and Dawn returned to Holy Soul Village with a bucket of fish, and everyone gathered for a full-moon barbecue celebrating their advancement to Soul Elder. The friends shared stories and jokes, leaving Tang San laughing with them in the lively courtyard.

• Dawn caught a pile of fish in the creek while Gu You failed to catch any, and Tang San brought the chicken and fish back with Blue Silver Grass.
• Xiao Wu teased Gu You about returning with fish, while Tang San warned her to stop secretly snacking and finish chopping vegetables.
• Gu You, Tang San, Xiao Wu, Lanta, and Meng Yiran toasted their advancement to Soul Elder at a full-moon barbecue in Holy Soul Village.
• Gu You and Meng Yiran discussed the dangerous Feast they encountered in the Death Desert, while Xiao Wu and Lanta traded stories about hunting soul rings.
• Tang San cooked after losing rock-paper-scissors, and Gu You burned his tongue by eating a skewer before it cooled, making everyone laugh.

Tang Gui met with Red Disaster Star and Death Coffin to arrange a plan involving twenty twelve-year-old virgins and the Imperial Dou Team’s final match. Convinced Gu You had the potential of Tang Chen in his youth, Tang Gui agreed to help Death Coffin obtain an Artificial Spirit Bone, while his prospective recruit went spirit hunting.

• Tang Gui and Red Disaster Star bargained over a job, settling on twenty twelve-year-old virgins, ten of them nobles.
• Death Coffin joined them and urged Tang Gui and Red Disaster Star to stand together as members of the Holy Spirit Cult.
• Red Disaster Star asked why Tang Gui was certain the Imperial Dou Team would win, despite predictions favoring Skywater Academy’s Martial Soul Fusion Skill.
• Tang Gui said Gu You reminded him of Tang Chen in his youth, convincing Death Coffin to entrust the mission to him in exchange for an Artificial Spirit Bone.
• Death Coffin asked about Tang Gui’s prospective recruit, and Tang Gui explained that the scholar had gone spirit hunting.