Chapter Summaries

Yun Chuan used himself as bait to draw out Shi Nian, a Canghui Academy teacher who trapped him in the Remnant Dream illusion to kill him. Yun Chuan revealed that he had become Enhanced Dugu Qiubai and unleashed Fiery Eyes of Truth - Soul Seize, changing the scene around Shi Nian.

• Yun Chuan left the Heaven Dou Great Soul Arena after sensing a hostile watcher and let the watcher lure him away from the city streets with an illusion.
• Yun Chuan recognized flaws in the fabricated street and stopped in a remote forest, then demanded that his pursuer show himself.
• Shi Nian appeared and admitted he intended to kill Yun Chuan to remove Cupid Academy's strongest contestant from the tournament.
• Shi Nian explained that Yun Chuan remained trapped in his Remnant Dream and claimed even a Soul Master of equal rank could not escape it.
• Yun Chuan said his abilities had improved since his fight against Elephant Armor Academy, then activated Fiery Eyes of Truth - Soul Seize, causing the scene around Shi Nian to change.

Yun Chuan trapped Shi Nian in a series of torturous illusions until he broke down, then killed him and claimed his Ten Thousand Year head soul bone. He left Shi Nian’s ashes at the remote burial ground and stored the soul bone for possible use later.

• Yun Chuan used Might of Soul Seize to trap Shi Nian in a vivid illusion where monsters repeatedly devoured him.
• Shi Nian begged for death after repeated cycles, then endured more illusions before being subjected to an imagined surgery and decades of torment.
• Yun Chuan watched Shi Nian collapse after the illusion and judged that he had endured the second stage for decades.
• Yun Chuan killed Shi Nian with a fiery Sword Qi and burned his body to ashes.
• Yun Chuan found Shi Nian’s Ten Thousand Year head soul bone among the ashes and stored it in his Storage Soul Tool.

Cupid Academy faced Blazing Academy in the eleventh round of the Soul Master Competition preliminaries, with Dugu Qiubai leading his team into the highly anticipated match. The teams took their positions, and Blazing Academy captain Huo Wushuang challenged Dugu Qiubai before the fight began.

• Cupid Academy remained undefeated after ten matches, while Blazing Academy also entered the eleventh round with a perfect record.
• Cupid Academy and Blazing Academy were assigned to the central arena, drawing a huge crowd of spectators and fans of Dugu Qiubai.
• Dugu Qiubai and his six teammates entered the arena to face Blazing Academy's seven Soul Masters, led by Huo Wushuang and control-type Soul Master Huo Wu.
• Huo Wushuang mocked Dugu Qiubai's name and claimed that Blazing Academy would end his streak of victories.

Yun Chuan faced Blazing Academy alone, and Huo Wushuang launched a powerful boosted attack that appeared to pierce him. The strike hit only Yun Chuan’s afterimage, leaving him unharmed and standing elsewhere as the battle continued.

• The referee began the match, and Blazing Academy’s seven members summoned their martial spirits while Cupid Academy’s six teammates retreated to the arena’s edge.
• Huo Wushuang warned Yun Chuan not to expect an easy victory, then charged with the Fire Leopard Soul Master as Blazing Academy’s supports boosted their attackers.
• Huo Wushuang’s Dragon Flame Fist appeared to punch through Yun Chuan’s chest, astonishing the audience.
• Huo Wushuang realized he had struck an afterimage, and the Fire Leopard Soul Master spotted Yun Chuan standing calmly in another place.
• Yun Chuan judged that Huo Wushuang’s powerful attack could not hurt him unless it landed, since speed was his greatest strength.

Yun Chuan was trapped inside Blazing Academy’s fiery terrain, which Huo Wu believed had secured her team’s victory. As the flames surrounded him, Yun Chuan calmly drew his sword, leaving the spectators waiting to see how he would respond.

• Huo Wu recognized Yun Chuan’s apparent afterimage as an illusion and ordered the Fire Crane Soul Masters to surround him with flames.
• Blazing Academy’s support Soul Masters amplified the fire, turning the arena into a blazing trap that restricted Yun Chuan’s movement.
• Tang San and Shrek Academy watched Blazing Academy’s coordinated attack and discussed how dangerous the terrain would be for their team.
• Huo Wu prepared to counter any attempt Yun Chuan made to escape, confident that her team had already won.
• Yun Chuan decided the flames were no great threat and slowly drew his treasured sword as Huo Wu, her teammates, and the spectators watched.

Dugu Qiubai used his Frost Divine Sword to extinguish Blazing Academy’s fire and defeat the team before Huo Wu could unleash her ultimate attack. Cupid Academy won the tenth round, and the watching academies recognized Dugu Qiubai as a formidable enemy.

• Dugu Qiubai released Frost Descent, extinguishing Yun Chuan’s Blazing Hell and covering the arena in frost.
• Huo Wushuang and the Fire Leopard Soul Master charged Dugu Qiubai, but he struck them down with swift, frost-covered wounds.
• Huo Wu gathered her teammates to prepare her final attack and used Repelling Fire Ring to buy time, but Dugu Qiubai cut through the ring.
• Dugu Qiubai struck Huo Wu and the three Soul Masters supporting her before she could finish unleashing Huo Wu’s Radiance.
• The referee declared Cupid Academy the winner, and the audience cheered as rival academies regarded Dugu Qiubai as a formidable enemy.

After Blazing Academy lost to Cupid Academy, Huo Wu challenged Feng Xiaotian to defeat Dugu Qiubai in exchange for a chance to date her. As the Preliminary Competition neared its end, Cupid Academy prepared to face undefeated Tianshui Academy in the final round, while Feng Xiaotian continued cheering for Dugu Qiubai in hopes of winning Huo Wu.

• Blazing Academy recovered from the chill of their defeat, and Feng Xiaotian tried to console Huo Wushuang by blaming the loss on their disadvantage against Dugu Qiubai’s ice attacks.
• Huo Wu told Feng Xiaotian she would agree to date him if he defeated Cupid Academy and Dugu Qiubai, then left with Huo Wushuang.
• Feng Xiaotian became excited by Huo Wu’s condition, while the story noted that his years of accommodating her had not made him attractive to her.
• Cupid Academy and Tianshui Academy each reached twenty-six wins, setting up their showdown in the final round to decide which team would keep its perfect record.
• As the teams waited for the central-arena match, Feng Xiaotian approached Dugu Qiubai to cheer him on again, hoping to face and defeat him himself.

Tianshui Academy prepared to face Cupid Academy in the final match of the Heaven Dou City Preliminary Competition, with captain Shui Bing'er sizing up the mysterious Dugu Qiubai. The battle began with Yun Chuan left alone against Tianshui’s seven-member formation.

• A young Tianshui Academy girl admired Dugu Qiubai, while Shui Bing'er warned her teammates that Cupid Academy would be a difficult opponent.
• The teams entered the arena for the final match of the Preliminary Competition, and Tianshui’s members focused their attention on Yun Chuan.
• Shui Bing'er introduced herself as a Level 43 control-system Battle Soul Master, and Yun Chuan identified himself as a Level 45 assault-system Battle Soul Master.
• The referee ordered both teams to release their Martial Souls, and Yun Chuan’s six teammates retreated to the edge of the stage.
• Tianshui Academy formed its battle lineup, revealing that two members besides Shui Bing'er were above Level 40 and that all seven had water-blue Martial Souls.

Yun Chuan fought Tianshui Academy as Shui Bing'er and Xue Wu prepared their Martial Soul Fusion Skill. After Yun Chuan defeated five of their teammates, the two unleashed Ice and Snow Fluttering, trapping him in a deadly ice-and-snow vortex.

• Shui Bing'er froze Yun Chuan and gave her teammates crystalline armor while Xue Wu summoned rain over the arena.
• Yun Chuan broke free of repeated Ice Seals, and Shui Bing'er used them to buy time for her team’s attacks.
• Yun Chuan transformed his sword into Gold Sword mode and defeated the five attacking Tianshui Academy girls with one strike.
• Shui Bing'er and Xue Wu merged their Martial Souls and unleashed Ice and Snow Fluttering against Yun Chuan.
• The ice-and-snow vortex engulfed Yun Chuan and ravaged the arena.

Yun Chuan faced Shui Bing'er and Xue Wu’s Ice and Snow Fluttering, surviving its initial assault before meeting the Ice Phoenix with his fire technique. The collision destroyed the arena, and Shui Bing'er and Xue Wu were left standing while Yun Chuan remained uninjured.

• Yun Chuan protected himself from Ice and Snow Fluttering with a barrier of ice, while Shui Bing'er realized it might withstand the attack even after she and Xue Wu exhausted their Soul Power.
• Shui Bing'er revealed her Ice Phoenix Martial Soul and formed a massive phoenix from the storm, which she warned Yun Chuan she could no longer control.
• Yun Chuan removed his ice barrier and summoned a flame-formed Immovable Bright King with a divine sword.
• Yun Chuan and the Ice Phoenix struck each other, unleashing a blast that completely collapsed the arena.
• Shui Bing'er stood with Xue Wu’s support among the ruins, while Yun Chuan sheathed his sword without a disheveled hair or wrinkle in his clothes.

Yun Chuan defeated Shui Bing'er and Xue Wu, leading Cupid Academy to first place in the Heaven Dou City Preliminary Competition. At the awards ceremony, the top five teams received advancement certificates and imperial titles, and Xue Ye announced the Promotion Tournament would begin in a month.

• Shui Bing'er admitted defeat, and the referee declared Cupid Academy the winner of the Preliminary Competition.
• Yun Chuan returned backstage as the audience celebrated him and his alias, Dugu Qiubai.
• The captains and vice-captains of the top five teams received Promotion Tournament qualification certificates and prize money.
• Xue Ye granted viscount titles to the ten captains and vice-captains and baron titles to the other competing students, despite Bishop Salas's objection.
• Xue Ye announced that the Promotion Tournament would take place at the Royal Hunting Grounds in one month and promised Soul Rings to its three most victorious students.

Yun Chuan gave his tournament prize to Principal Brand and warned that he would face the upcoming Promotion Tournament alone. After leaving the arena, he was stopped by Huo Wu, who challenged him to fight without soul skills, but his swordsmanship intimidated her into stepping back.

• Yun Chuan handed Principal Brand his promotion certificate and gold card, asking him to distribute the coins among the other six students.
• Principal Brand warned Yun Chuan that the Promotion Tournament's one-on-one relay format would put Cupid Academy at a disadvantage, but Yun Chuan said he could overcome every obstacle with his sword.
• Yun Chuan waited for the crowd to thin before leaving the Heaven Dou Great Soul Arena, but Huo Wu called after him and blocked his path.
• Huo Wu challenged Yun Chuan to fight without soul skills, and he refused, claiming she would still be no match for him.
• Yun Chuan declared that Huo Wu knew nothing of true swordsmanship, and the piercing force of his gaze made her retreat several steps.

Yun Chuan used a mental illusion and his scabbard to fend off Huo Wu’s attacks, leaving her frightened and unable to overpower him. He walked away without acknowledging her, while Huo Wushuang urged her to keep training for the Promotion Tournament and Feng Xiaotian offered to help.

• Huo Wu recovered from Yun Chuan’s illusion and lunged at him in anger, but he blocked her sweeping kick with his scabbard.
• Yun Chuan’s irritated expression made Huo Wu timid, and she was left disappointed when he returned to his aloof manner and ignored her.
• Huo Wu shouted after Yun Chuan, but he continued walking, and Huo Wushuang stopped her from chasing him.
• Huo Wushuang told Huo Wu to improve her strength and look for Yun Chuan’s weaknesses before the Promotion Tournament.
• Feng Xiaotian offered to help Huo Wu defeat Yun Chuan, but Huo Wu glared at him and stormed away.

Cupid Academy arrived at the Heaven Dou Empire’s Promotion Tournament, which was being held in the Royal Hunting Ground under the protection of the Royal Knights. Dean Brand prepared the team for the individual-battle competition beginning the next day, while remaining concerned that Yun Chuan might tire if he had to defeat every opponent alone.

• Fifteen teams gathered for the Heaven Dou Empire’s Promotion Tournament, which barred spectators and used a round-robin format.
• The Royal Knights escorted Brand and the Cupid Academy team into the Royal Hunting Ground and showed them their assigned camp.
• Rockson explained that the tournament would begin the next day without an opening ceremony and that empire and Spirit Hall representatives would determine the results together.
• Brand assigned Yun Chuan a barracks of his own and divided the remaining students among four others.
• Brand visited Yun Chuan to discuss the matches and explained that he had brought substitutes in case Yun Chuan could not sustain successive battles.

Yun Chuan ignored warnings about the Promotion Tournament and encountered Huo Wu and her team while scouting the camp. At the tournament’s opening, the teams gathered to watch their opponents, and Cupid Academy was scheduled to face a Balak Kingdom academy in the third match.

• Headmaster Brand warned Yun Chuan that opponents might wear him down in successive matches and told him about the strongest rival academies, but Yun Chuan showed little interest.
• Yun Chuan went to observe the other teams and met Huo Wushuang, Huo Wu, and their teammates; Huo Wu said they would defeat him, and he calmly walked away.
• At the Royal Knights’ Grand Training Field, the fifteen teams assembled for the round-robin Promotion Tournament, whose matches used successive one-on-one bouts until one team had lost all seven members.
• The draw assigned Cupid Academy a match against an advanced Soul Master academy from the Balak Kingdom in the day’s third contest, and rival captains and Tang San watched Yun Chuan.

Blazing Academy crushed Fabia Academy, while Exotic Beast Academy narrowly won its match. Yun Chuan then began Cupid Academy’s match against Barak Academy, swiftly drawing his sword against their first competitor, who discovered he had been struck only after blood burst from his chest.

• Emperor Xue Ye opened the Promotion Tournament, and Huo Wushuang defeated three opponents before losing to Fabia Academy’s next fighter.
• Huo Wu defeated four opponents and pointed at Yun Chuan, but he remained indifferent to her provocation.
• Meng Yiran defeated three opponents for Exotic Beast Academy, which narrowly won the match after its other fighters struggled.
• Yun Chuan entered the arena as Cupid Academy’s first competitor against Barak Academy, drawing intense attention from the other teams.
• Barak Academy’s first competitor faced Yun Chuan, who drew and sheathed his sword in a flash before the young man realized he had been wounded.

Yun Chuan defeated Barak Academy’s first contestant with one sword strike, then faced a second Soul Ancestor whose Sunflower Martial Soul released poisonous mist. Yun Chuan burned away the poison with his flames, leaving his opponent stunned.

• Yun Chuan cut down Barak Academy’s first contestant with one strike, leaving him unable to continue fighting.
• Several Barak Academy members rushed toward Yun Chuan, but Platinum Bishop Salas stopped the confrontation and warned both teams to obey the tournament rules.
• Barak Academy sent a second Soul Ancestor to fight Yun Chuan, and he released his Sunflower Martial Soul and poisonous mist.
• Yun Chuan drew his sword and swept out powerful flames that erased the poison mist, shocking his opponent.

Yun Chuan defeated Barak Academy’s remaining opponents and led Cupid Academy to a perfect first day in the Promotion Tournament. After drawing Blazing Academy, Cupid Academy faced them, where Blazing’s first contestant used a strange arena-altering skill before conceding, leaving Yun Chuan unsure of its effect.

• Yun Chuan absorbed the Barak student’s sunflower attack with a Flame Barrier, then overwhelmed him with flames and knocked him unconscious while holding back to avoid serious injury.
• Yun Chuan defeated three more Barak Academy students, securing Cupid Academy’s victory in the first round without using any reserve members.
• Emperor Xue Ye rewarded the victorious academies with one thousand Gold Soul Coins and the defeated academies with five hundred, while Cupid Academy drew Blazing Academy for its next match.
• Yun Chuan observed Divine Wind Academy, Heaven Dou Royal Academy, Ferocious Beast Academy, and Plant Academy before Cupid Academy’s match against Blazing Academy began.
• Blazing Academy sent a Fire Star support-type Soul Master to face Yun Chuan first; he used his Third Soul Skill, Barren Land for a Thousand Miles, on the arena floor, then conceded.
• Yun Chuan suspected the skill was a charged, trigger-based technique but remained uncertain about what it did.

Blazing Academy’s Soul Masters prepared the arena to absorb and concentrate their fire energy, allowing Huo Wu to unleash Huo Wu’s Radiance almost instantly against Yun Chuan. Yun Chuan countered the attack with his Frost System abilities and forced Huo Wu to concede, though her parting words suggested the battle might not be over.

• Two Spark support-type Soul Masters and two Fire Crane Soul Masters used their Soul Skills to store fire energy in the arena before conceding.
• The Fire Leopard Soul Master charged Yun Chuan, took his sword strike, and fell as the arena absorbed the flames around him.
• Huo Wu stepped onto the stage and used the stored energy to release Huo Wu’s Radiance in less than a second.
• Yun Chuan destroyed Huo Wu’s Radiance with an ice crescent and placed his sword against Huo Wu’s neck.
• Huo Wu conceded, then told Yun Chuan that her Huo Wu’s Radiance had not only been meant to attack him.

Huo Wushuang absorbed the accumulated flame energy of Blazing Team and reached the limit of Soul Power rank, then challenged Yun Chuan with overwhelming strength. Yun Chuan switched to Heavy Sword Mode and blocked his attack, leaving Huo Wushuang to strengthen himself further and prepare to face one sword strike.

• Huo Wushuang stepped onto the arena and absorbed the flames, combining the strength of Blazing Team until his Soul Power rose to rank fifty and his body partially transformed.
• Huo Wushuang charged Yun Chuan with Explosive Flame King Fist, and Yun Chuan changed his sword into Heavy Sword Mode to block the punch without moving.
• Huo Wushuang realized Yun Chuan's heavy sword had stopped his attack and heard Yun Chuan offer to concede if Huo Wushuang could withstand one sword strike.
• Huo Wushuang accepted the challenge and activated Azure Flame Red Sun Body, doubling his abilities as he prepared to take Yun Chuan's strike.