Chapter Summaries

Rota defeated Tang Xiao in a serious duel, then helped him recognize his wavering resolve and accept the gap in their strength. After saying farewell to Clear Sky Sect, Rota set off for Balak, leaving Tang Xiao to reflect on the fight as Tang Yuehua treated his injured hand.

• Rota overwhelmed Tang Xiao in their duel, and Tang Xiao briefly rallied after taking Rota's advice to face the fight with courage.
• Rota stopped when Tang Xiao's hand was badly cut, and Tang Xiao admitted defeat and thanked him for clearing away his confusion.
• Tang Xiao showed Rota how to turn Starfall into a ring by channeling Soul Power into its hilt.
• Tang Yuehua and the elders came to see Rota off, and Rota transformed into specks of light and flew toward Balak.
• Tang Xiao reflected that Rota had still been holding back, while Tang Yuehua bandaged his hand.

Rota waited near the central square in the Balak Kingdom for a chance to find Tang Hao, then met Ah Yin, Tang Hao’s lover, at a nearby restaurant. Before Tang Hao arrived, Sly Sigg harassed Ah Yin, and Rota confronted him.

• Rota reached the Balak Kingdom’s capital and learned that the Blacksmith Competition was being held in the central square.
• Rota waited outside a nearby restaurant and met Ah Yin, who said her lover was competing in the event.
• Ah Yin explained that Tang Hao had gone to register and would join them soon.
• Sly Sigg approached Ah Yin and tried to get her to go on a date with him.
• Rota told Sigg to leave, provoking the portly man.

Rota killed Sige after the Soul Sage harassed Ah Yin, then reunited Ah Yin with Tang Hao and encouraged him before the Blacksmith Competition. Rota left the couple to prepare for the contest and accepted Tang Hao’s offer to treat him afterward.

• Rota confronted Sige, who boasted of being a level 73 Soul Sage, and immobilized him with his light power.
• Rota repeatedly shot Sige with Lasers, killing him as his lackeys fled.
• Ah Yin warned Rota that Spirit Hall and the Balak Kingdom’s enforcement team might pursue him, but Rota remained unconcerned.
• Tang Hao rushed out to check on Ah Yin, learned Rota had helped her, and thanked him.
• Tang Hao told Rota he had entered the Blacksmith Competition, and Rota wished him success and accepted his offer of a meal afterward.

Rota left Tang Hao and Ah Yin after learning Tang Hao had entered the upcoming Blacksmith Competition, then watched from his inn as knights handled Sige’s corpse. The knights disposed of Sige without investigating Rota, while curious onlookers gathered at the restaurant to ask what had happened.

• Tang Hao told Rota he had signed up for the Blacksmith Competition to pursue its rare forging hammer, and Rota promised to watch him compete.
• Tang Hao offered to help Rota after the competition, while Rota kept his recruitment mission secret and left to find an inn.
• Rota watched knights surround the restaurant and identify the dead thug as Sige.
• The knight captain ordered Sige’s corpse removed, and the knights cleaned the scene without pursuing who had killed him.
• Curious customers gathered outside the restaurant and pressed the owner to reveal whom Sige had provoked.

Rota attended the Blacksmith Competition and chose premium seating so Tang Hao would notice him and he could ask for an autograph for Reid. He met Ning Fengzhi beside him and predicted Tang Hao would win.

• Rota bought a premium seat for 5 Gold Soul Coins and entered the competition venue.
• The premium section filled as nearly twenty thousand spectators gathered for the competition.
• The host announced that the Heavenly Dou Imperial Family sponsored the competition, which would be held every five years, and that the winner would receive the title of Divine Craftsman.
• Ning Fengzhi introduced himself to Rota, who gave his name as Borsalino and said he could be called Kizaru.
• Ning Fengzhi asked Rota who he favored, and Rota predicted Tang Hao would win.

Rota watched the Blacksmith Competition with Ning Fengzhi, unlocked a Glint-Glint Fruit Limit-Breaking Awakening, and saw Tang Hao enter as one of the favorites. The competition’s introductions continued as Tang Hao quietly acknowledged Ah Yin in the audience.

• Rota asked Ning Fengzhi who he favored to win, and Ning Fengzhi said he had another contestant in mind but would reveal him when he appeared.
• Rota crossed his legs and unlocked the Glint-Glint Fruit Limit-Breaking Awakening, allowing him to exceed the speed of light.
• Tie Gutong entered as the first contestant, and Ning Fengzhi explained that he had once tried to arrange cooperation with the blacksmith for the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
• Tang Hao entered as the second contestant, drawing cheers from the crowd and attention from Rota and Ning Fengzhi.
• Tang Hao nodded toward Ah Yin, who returned the gesture discreetly while watching from among the audience.

The Blacksmith Competition began with an elimination round in which nearly a hundred contestants had to forge an offensive weapon within two hours. As the blacksmiths started work, Tang Hao, Xinglan, and Tie Gutong stood out as calm favorites, while Rota and Ning Fengzhi expected them to claim the top three places.

• The host introduced Xinglan as a celebrated master blacksmith, and Ning Fengzhi told Rota that Xinglan was reputed to be a Soul Sage.
• The host explained that contestants had to forge a designated item before time ran out, and professional evaluators would rank finished pieces before they were auctioned.
• The host announced that the first round required every contestant to forge an offensive weapon within two hours using materials prepared at the venue.
• Most contestants hurried to choose materials, while Tang Hao, Xinglan, and Tie Gutong waited before selecting Black Gold Iron, Mithril, and Fine Steel, respectively.
• The contestants lit their furnaces, and a heat-insulating barrier protected the audience as the competition got underway.
• Rota and Ning Fengzhi observed that Tang Hao, Xinglan, and Tie Gutong were far more composed than the other blacksmiths and seemed likely to take the top three spots.

Blacksmiths competed under mounting pressure, and several faltered as the deadline approached. Tang Hao, Xinglan, and Tie Gutong submitted their work first, while the other contestants faced the final stretch.

• A blacksmith over-smelted his chosen material, lost his composure, and withdrew from the competition.
• Rota and Ning Fengzhi observed that the remaining blacksmiths were growing anxious as the pressure mounted.
• Tang Hao used the Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer and finished his piece before Xinglan and Tie Gutong.
• Xinglan and Tie Gutong submitted their work shortly after Tang Hao, making them the first three contestants to finish.
• Rota announced that thirty minutes remained, and the host's reminders further unsettled the contestants.
• After another ten minutes, a blacksmith submitted his work while the rest continued forging.

After the elimination round ended, the appraisers began judging the submitted works while Tang Hao remained confident about his chances. Rota and Ning Fengzhi discussed recruiting Master Xinglan and recognized that Rota was a Spirit Hall elder.

• The host announced that time was up, gathered the blacksmiths, and praised them as the appraisers began evaluating their works.
• Tang Hao stayed relaxed while awaiting the results and regarded Master Xinglan as his only notable rival, dismissing Tie Gutong.
• Rota considered recruiting Master Xinglan, and he and Ning Fengzhi agreed to compete fairly for the chance to approach him.
• Rota asked Ning Fengzhi who would win, and Ning Fengzhi acknowledged Tang Hao's unexpected forging talent.
• Rota questioned why Ning Fengzhi traveled without protection, and Ning Fengzhi explained that the sect's elders were nearby and that he was a Soul Sage.
• Ning Fengzhi asked about Kizaru's identity and correctly guessed that he was an elder from Spirit Hall.

Ning Fengzhi guessed that Kizaru had come to recruit Tang Hao for Spirit Hall, while the blacksmith competition’s elimination round concluded with Tang Hao in first place, Xinglan second, and Tie Gutong third. The ten remaining contestants prepared to meet the premium audience as the auction was about to begin.

• Rota’s hint helped Ning Fengzhi recognize Kizaru as Spirit Hall’s newly appointed elder, and Kizaru said he had come to the competition for business and personal reasons.
• Ning Fengzhi guessed that Spirit Hall intended to recruit Tang Hao and worried that Kizaru’s involvement could strengthen Spirit Hall and upset the continent’s balance of power.
• The appraisers finalized the elimination-round rankings, placing Tang Hao first, Xinglan second, and Tie Gutong third, with seven other blacksmiths filling the remaining spots.
• The host announced the start of the auction, and excited spectators argued over whether they could afford Xinglan’s work.
• The host directed the ten remaining contestants, including Tang Hao, to proceed through the upper passage to meet the premium audience.

Tang Hao greeted Rota after the blacksmith competition, signed an autograph for Rota’s admirer Reid, and encountered Tie Gutong’s hostility. The competition moved on to its auction, where the premium-seat guests prepared to take part.

• Tang Hao greeted Rota, and the host improvised an explanation for their familiarity.
• Rota told Tang Hao that Reid admired him and asked for an autograph, which Tang Hao signed.
• Xinglan shook Rota’s hand, and Rota noticed that Xinglan’s hand had no blacksmith’s calluses.
• Tie Gutong glared at Rota, ignored Ning Fengzhi, and passed by without greeting them; Rota and Ning Fengzhi agreed to avoid further contact with him.
• The host announced the auction, and the audience and premium-seat guests stayed to watch.

Rota and Ning Fengzhi watched the auction begin, while wealthy young heirs competed for the weapons. When Furensi was challenged by an ordinary spectator, he ordered his Soul Emperor guards to beat the man unconscious and intimidated the crowd.

• Rota told Ning Fengzhi that he had no need for the weapons because he already had suitable ones.
• The host began auctioning the displayed weapons, and Furensi bid 2,000 Gold Soul Coins on the first item.
• An ordinary spectator raised the bid to 2,100 Gold Soul Coins, prompting Furensi to confront him.
• Furensi ordered his Soul Emperor bodyguards to attack the spectator, who was beaten unconscious.
• Furensi threatened the audience, and Rota remarked on how frighteningly hot-tempered the young heir was.

At an auction, Kizaru and Ning Fengzhi agreed to bring down the corrupt Furensi Clan, with Kizaru handling the clan while Ning kept the Heaven Dou Imperial Family from interfering. Kizaru learned that the clan’s Titled Douluo was rank 95 and wielded the Flying Cloud Great Serpent martial soul.

• Ning Fengzhi explained that Furensi was a marquis of the Heaven Dou Empire and that his clan abused its noble privileges.
• Kizaru told Ning Fengzhi that he also wanted to eliminate the Furensi Clan, and they agreed to work together.
• Kizaru asked Ning Fengzhi to keep the Imperial Family steady while he dealt with Furensi alone, avoiding implicating the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
• Ning Fengzhi said the Furensi Clan’s Titled Douluo was rank 95 and had the inherited Flying Cloud Great Serpent martial soul.

As Xinglan’s sword received a high starting price at the auction, Tie Gutong grew furious and secretly formed murderous intentions toward him. Rota spotted the threat, planned to eliminate Tie Gutong, and coordinated with Ning Fengzhi on an operation against the Furensi Clan after the competition.

• Rota dismissed Ning Fengzhi’s warning about a level 95 Super Douluo as the auction approached its finale.
• The host set the starting price for Xinglan’s longsword at 6,000 Gold Soul Coins, and the audience compared his craftsmanship favorably with Tie Gutong’s.
• Tie Gutong became enraged at Xinglan’s success and secretly considered killing him in a sneak attack.
• Rota noticed Tie Gutong’s murderous intent with Observation Haki and decided to deal with him before he could threaten Rota’s plans to recruit Xinglan.
• Rota told Ning Fengzhi about Tie Gutong and agreed to handle the Furensi Clan around the second day after the competition ended, while Ning Fengzhi stabilized the imperial family.

At Master Xinglan’s auction, Young Master Furensi’s bidding feud escalated when his uncle Hugu arrived and revealed himself as Flying Cloud Douluo. Hugu brutally killed a bidder, while Ning Fengzhi and Rota held back, leaving another man to challenge the Douluo’s claim that his title let him do whatever he wanted.

• Young Master Furensi drove the bidding on Xinglan’s work higher, then threatened the other bidders and summoned his uncle Hugu.
• Hugu arrived to defend Furensi, and a bidder mocked him before learning he was Flying Cloud Douluo.
• Flying Cloud Douluo severed the bidder’s legs and then tore his body apart, terrifying the auction crowd.
• Ning Fengzhi restrained himself from intervening, while Rota decided to let Hugu continue for now.
• A man protested that being a Titled Douluo did not give Hugu the right to do whatever he wanted, and Hugu claimed it did.

Flying Cloud Douluo threatened to seize the auction’s remaining items and take two master craftsmen until Kizaru intervened on Ning Fengzhi’s behalf. The two powerful men faced off, with Flying Cloud Douluo preparing to attack Kizaru.

• Flying Cloud Douluo intimidated the host and auction attendees, then demanded that the auction stop.
• Flying Cloud Douluo changed his demand and announced that he would take the two master craftsmen instead of the final auction items.
• Ning Fengzhi offered Kizaru an extra ten thousand Gold Soul Coins to intervene, and Kizaru accepted.
• Kizaru challenged Flying Cloud Douluo, warning him to stop making trouble or face him.
• Flying Cloud Douluo threatened Kizaru and vowed to leave him an intact corpse, while Kizaru prepared to teach him a lesson.

Rota fought Flying Cloud Douluo at the tournament, revealing strength and swordsmanship that astonished the spectators. After wounding Flying Cloud Douluo, Rota began gathering power for a Light Speed Kick as his opponent soared into the sky.

• Rota challenged Flying Cloud Douluo and struck at him with a laser before meeting his charge with Ama-no-Murakumo-no-Tsurugi.
• Rota's Kizaru imitation rate rose to 80%, strengthening his template and unlocking Martial Soul Mode for his main body.
• Rota cut through Flying Cloud Douluo's pythons and wounded him with a fast horizontal slash when Flying Cloud Douluo attacked from behind.
• Chen Xin watched Rota's swordsmanship and told Ning Fengzhi it was on par with his own.
• Flying Cloud Douluo launched his Ninth Soul Skill, Cloud Fall, and soared into the sky while Rota gathered golden light around his right leg for a Light Speed Kick.

Rota killed Flying Cloud Douluo with a devastating Flash Kick explosion that scattered the clouds over the Balak Kingdom’s capital. After Ning Fengzhi and Chen Xin recognized Rota’s overwhelming strength, Chen Xin asked him for a spar, and Rota agreed to visit the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect in one week.

• Flying Cloud Douluo gathered the clouds into a Sky-Swallowing Python and attacked Rota, while Ning Fengzhi asked Chen Xin whether he could withstand the strike.
• Rota’s Flash Kick detonated in the sky, killing Flying Cloud Douluo and sweeping the capital with a massive shockwave.
• Ning Fengzhi and Chen Xin feared Rota’s power and agreed that the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect must not make him an enemy.
• Rota returned to his seat, and Ning Fengzhi praised his victory and introduced Chen Xin to him.
• Chen Xin asked Rota for guidance in a spar, and Rota agreed to visit the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect in one week.

After eliminating Flying Cloud Douluo, Rota recruited Master Xinglan and discovered his newly unlocked Golden Lion Martial Soul. He returned to his Kizaru form, with only 20% left before unlocking another character.

• Rota killed Flying Cloud Douluo, and the auction continued without the Furensi Clan's intimidation.
• Master Xinglan's and Tang Hao's works sold for 10,000 and 12,000 Gold Soul Coins, and the host announced the final showdown for the next day.
• Rota invited Xinglan to join his organization, while Ning Fengzhi revealed that he had also tried recruiting him; Xinglan asked for time to decide.
• Rota asked the system about Original Body Martial Soul Mode and awakened a Golden Lion Martial Soul at Soul Power Level 98.
• Rota tested Golden Lion's normal form and its Eighth Soul Skill, Fervent Fighting God, then transformed back into Kizaru.

During the Blacksmith Competition’s final round, Xinglan and Tang Hao pushed themselves to showcase their forging skills, but Xinglan suddenly coughed up blood after Tie Gutong made a suspicious move. Rota suspected Tie Gutong had sabotaged Xinglan and urged him to withdraw, leaving Xinglan believing Rota doubted his ability.

• Rota and Ning Fengzhi watched as the host announced a five-hour forging round to determine the top blacksmiths.
• Tie Gutong took material from beside Xinglan, prompting Rota to watch him cautiously for signs of a scheme.
• Tang Hao and Xinglan began forging with greater force, impressing the other contestants with their powerful, crisp hammer strikes.
• Xinglan coughed up blood while working, but insisted he was fine and refused to stop competing.
• Rota suspected Tie Gutong had caused Xinglan’s injury, entered the arena, and advised Xinglan to withdraw; Xinglan asked if Rota thought he was not good enough.