Chapter Summaries

Huo Yuhao attended Xu Tianzhen’s birthday banquet, gathered information about the Sun Moon Emperor’s planned succession announcement and Xu Tianran’s scheme, and frightened off a noblewoman who flirted with him. He left the banquet with Meng Hongchen after the two slipped away together.

• Huo Yuhao greeted Xu Tianran from across the hall, ate his way through the banquet, and drew Xu Tianran’s warning that Xu Tianzhen must stay away from him.
• Xu Tianzhen gave her birthday speech, while Huo Yuhao considered seeking Star Luo Empire support against the Evil Soul Masters.
• Huo Yuhao overheard the Fourth Prince discussing a physician with a middle-aged nobleman and learned that the emperor planned to announce his successor in three days.
• Huo Yuhao deduced that Xu Tianran planned to use the Fourth Prince and the supposed physician to hasten the emperor’s death and secure the throne.
• Huo Yuhao terrified a noblewoman who tried to seduce him, then rejoined Meng Hongchen, who teased him and took him away from the banquet.
• Xiao Hongchen asked where Huo Yuhao and Meng Hongchen had gone, and Meng Hongchen said they had stepped out because the banquet was boring.

Huo Yuhao and Jing Hongchen let Xu Tianran believe his scheme to provoke them had worked, while Xu Tianran sought Kong Deming’s protection ahead of the succession announcement. Huo Yuhao arranged for Ye Xishui to hold Kong Deming off in three days, then visited Ye Guyi, who asked him to spend the night and teach her more.

• Jing Hongchen refused Xu Tianran’s offer to reconcile, then pretended to be angered by his threats so Xu Tianran would not suspect Huo Yuhao’s plans.
• Xu Tianran ordered more guards and tried to recruit Kong Deming to stay at the Crown Prince Hall, but Kong Deming refused the gifts and promised the Worship Hall would defend the palace from outside enemies.
• Xu Tianran accepted Kong Deming’s promise and returned to his palace, convinced that his preparations would lure his opponents into a trap.
• Huo Yuhao visited Ye Xishui with food and asked her to hold Kong Deming at the Worship Hall in three days; she agreed and ate the meal after he left.
• Huo Yuhao brought Ye Guyi another lunchbox, and she invited him to sleep with her so she could learn more about their intimate knowledge.

Ye Xishui kept Kong Deming occupied at the Worship Hall while Jing Hongchen attacked Crown Prince Hall as a diversion for Huo Yuhao’s attempt to kill Xu Tianran. Kong Deming stopped Huo Yuhao, who ended the chapter watching Xu Tianran experience a dream in the Undead Demiplane.

• Ye Xishui visited Kong Deming at the Worship Hall, provoked him, and used her power to keep him from leaving.
• Xu Tianran’s spiritual defense Soul Guidance Device shattered under an unseen attack, and Jing Hongchen launched a bombardment on Crown Prince Hall.
• Jing Hongchen fought a Ninth Level Soul Guidance Device Master outside while Huo Yuhao slipped into Xu Tianran’s study to attack him.
• Xu Tianran escaped Huo Yuhao’s sword strike using his hidden Titled Douluo cultivation, and Kong Deming captured Huo Yuhao after suppressing Jing Hongchen.
• In the Undead Demiplane, Snow Empress and Qiu’er watched Xu Tianran grin in his sleep as Huo Yuhao said he seemed to be having an incredible dream.

Huo Yuhao trapped Xu Tianran in a strange realm, crippled him, and revealed his plan to impersonate him and take the throne. Two hours later, Ju Zi returned to Crown Prince Hall under the pretense that Xu Tianran had summoned her.

• Xu Tianran awoke in a strange realm and learned that Huo Yuhao had brought him there.
• A Golden-haired Woman shattered Xu Tianran’s barriers with a spear, and a sword strike severed his prosthetic legs.
• Huo Yuhao rejected Xu Tianran’s offers, transformed into his likeness, and explained that he planned to take his place and claim the throne.
• Huo Yuhao stabbed Xu Tianran through the mouth, congratulated him on becoming heir and soon emperor, then prepared to extract information from him.
• Ju Zi returned to Crown Prince Hall with a fire-dragon token and was admitted after claiming that Xu Tianran had sent for her.

Huo Yuhao impersonated Xu Tianran, killed him, and worked with Ju Zi to secure her path to power. At the succession announcement, Jing Hongchen stunned the gathered officials by openly pledging Mingde Hall’s support for the crown prince.

• Huo Yuhao told Ju Zi that his plan had succeeded and Xu Tianran was dead, then she tested his ability to act like a wheelchair-bound person and they spent the night together.
• Ye Xishui collected the promised tea leaves from the Worship Hall and went with Kong Deming and the other worshippers to the main hall.
• Princes and ministers gathered at the main hall, where many officials tried to win Jing Hongchen’s support against the crown prince.
• The emperor announced that Xu Tianran would inherit the throne and manage state affairs in his place.
• Jing Hongchen applauded, praised the crown prince, and declared that Mingde Hall would support him, leaving the officials who had courted Jing Hongchen feeling betrayed.

Xu Jiawei and Xu Jiujiu learned that sects would be allowed into the next Soul Master Competition, while Huo Yuhao prepared a hundred-thousand-year Soul Spirit for Ju Zi. Niu Tian entered Tang San in the tournament as part of his plan against Huo Yuhao, and Xuan Zi and Yan Shaozhe decided to attend in hopes of reconnecting with Tang San.

• Xu Jiawei explained to Xu Jiujiu that the sects would not be deterred from entering the competition and teased her about bringing Huo Yuhao into the Star Luo Royal Family.
• Huo Yuhao told Ju Zi that a hundred-thousand-year plant-type Soul Beast would form a Soul Spirit Contract with her after she reached rank sixty.
• Niu Tian decided to use Tang San as bait to draw out the forces supporting Huo Yuhao and avenge Er Ming.
• Niu Tian ended Tang San's two-year Soul Power suppression and ordered him to lead a Haotian Sect team in the competition.
• Xuan Zi and Yan Shaozhe decided to accompany Shrek's team to the tournament, hoping to persuade Tang San to return to the academy.

Ju Zi successfully fused with Youxiang Qiluo Immortal Treasure, gaining poison immunity and detoxifying Soul Skills, while Huo Yuhao celebrated her transformation with her. In the Star Dou Great Forest, Tang San used the life force of a sixty-thousand-year Biluo Ink Flower Vine to prepare his body to absorb its Soul Ring.

• Ju Zi awakened after fusing with Youxiang Qiluo Immortal Treasure, and You You described her poison-resistant Soul Bone and detoxifying Soul Skills.
• Huo Yuhao realized Ju Zi's pink-orange Soul Skill could help Ke Ke remove bodily impurities and improve her cultivation potential.
• Ju Zi and Huo Yuhao returned to intimacy in the Crown Prince's bedroom after discussing her transformation.
• Fourth Elder defeated a sixty-thousand-year Biluo Ink Flower Vine and questioned whether Tang San should attempt to absorb its Soul Ring as his Sixth.
• Tang San drained the vine's life force through his Eight Spider Lances, healing his hidden injuries and preparing to endure the Soul Ring's power.

Tang San and Fourth Elder followed the sounds of a battle in the Star Dou Great Forest, hoping to claim a powerful soul beast for Tang San. Tang San killed a hundred-thousand-year Soul Splitting Centipede and prepared to absorb its soul ring, but another Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear roared nearby.

• After absorbing a sixty-thousand-year soul ring, Tang San reached the level-seventy bottleneck and agreed to investigate the roars with Fourth Elder.
• Tang San and Fourth Elder found signs of a fight and spotted a pregnant female Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear near a cave, realizing its mate was fighting to protect its family.
• The ten-thousand-year Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear fought the hundred-thousand-year Soul Splitting Centipede and was poisoned, but it managed to grievously wound the centipede.
• Fourth Elder struck the weakened bear aside, and Tang San killed the Soul Splitting Centipede with his Haotian Hammer, causing its hundred-thousand-year soul ring to appear.
• As Tang San prepared to absorb the Soul Splitting Centipede's life force and soul ring, another Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear roared from behind them.

Tang San rescued Fourth Elder after the Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bears crippled him, then decided to kill him and absorb his vitality to help obtain the Soul Splitting Centipede’s Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring and Soul Bone. The chapter ended with Tang San stabbing Fourth Elder with his Eight Spider Lances and promising to avenge him.

• The pregnant mother bear attacked Fourth Elder, but her wounded mate suddenly struck from behind and severed Fourth Elder’s spine as the Clear Sky Hammer hit him.
• Tang San used Blue Silver Entanglement to pull Fourth Elder away from the mother bear, who chose to carry her injured mate back to their nest instead of pursuing them.
• Tang San brought the unconscious Fourth Elder to the relocated Soul Splitting Centipede corpse and considered how to obtain the vitality needed to absorb its Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring.
• Tang San decided that Fourth Elder’s life and Soul Power would help him grow stronger, and rationalized that he might resurrect the elder after becoming a God King.
• Tang San stabbed Fourth Elder with his Eight Spider Lances, silenced him by piercing his throat, and began devouring him while promising to avenge him.

Tang San reported Fourth Elder’s death to Niu Tian and concealed the truth behind his account. Meanwhile, Huo Yuhao prepared Meng Hongchen for a dangerous Soul Spirit Ritual with the Snow-Colored Swan Kiss, but their preparations turned into repeated kisses that delayed the ritual.

• Tang San told Niu Tian that Fourth Elder had died protecting him from two Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bears, and claimed he had absorbed a dying Hundred Thousand Year Soul Splitting Centipede’s soul ring while escaping.
• Niu Tian accepted Tang San’s report, told him to rest before competition training, and warned him not to reveal or casually use the Eight Spider Lances’ Devouring Ability.
• Huo Yuhao explained that Meng Hongchen must avoid touching the Snow-Colored Swan Kiss until she gained its poison immunity by fusing with its voluntarily separated soul bone.
• Huo Yuhao gave Meng Hongchen the Qiluo Heart to protect her from toxins during the ritual, and she admitted she was afraid but trusted him to keep her safe.
• Meng Hongchen pounced on Huo Yuhao and repeatedly prolonged their kissing, insisting that each three-minute interval had not been enough.

After becoming emperor, Xu Tianran openly allied the Sun Moon Empire with the Holy Spirit Church, granting Evil Soul Masters legal status and turning them into law enforcers. Their success in reducing crime alarmed rival powers as the Soul Master Competition approached.

• The Old Emperor died, and Xu Tianran inherited the throne despite other princes suspecting he had played a role in the death.
• Xu Tianran stood and walked on restored legs during his succession ceremony, then declared the Holy Spirit Church the State Religion and appointed its leader Imperial Preceptor.
• Xu Tianran authorized Original Sin City near the borders of the Star Luo and Tianhun empires, drawing nearly a thousand Evil Soul Masters and their families within three months.
• Xu Tianran transferred the empire's law enforcement authority from the Royal Family Patrol to the Holy Spirit Church, allowing Evil Soul Masters to punish criminals under strict rules.
• Holy Spirit Church law enforcers sharply reduced crime, unsettling rival forces that had expected the Evil Soul Masters to bring disorder.
• As rival powers discussed how to block the Sun Moon Empire's gains, the Soul Master Competition's opening day drew closer.

Xu Jiawei and Xu Jiujiu discussed the continent’s response to the Holy Spirit Church and inferred that Huo Yuhao was acting independently of the other powers. Meanwhile, Huo Yuhao completed a powerful Soul Guidance Device for Ye Xishui, who took it despite its potentially lethal full-power setting.

• Xu Jiujiu learned that Star Luo would stay out of the conflict, and Xu Jiawei explained that Shrek Academy had refused to attend the secret meeting because its young Sea God Pavilion Master did not want to intervene.
• Xu Jiawei teased Xu Jiujiu about supporting Huo Yuhao during her upcoming trip to the Sun Moon Empire, and she stormed out after he encouraged her to bring consecrated elders.
• Huo Yuhao, now a Bright Virtue Hall researcher with his own Experimental base, showed Ye Xishui the Blood Soul Crystal Soul Guidance Device he had made for her.
• Ye Xishui tested the device and found it amplified her power while providing defensive functions and Soul Power recovery; Huo Yuhao explained that he had removed the original crystal’s mind-corroding toxin.
• Huo Yuhao warned that using the device at full power could kill even Ye Xishui, but she chose to keep it and left with it against her Soul Core.

The Spirit Pagoda team discussed Original Sin City’s harsh rules and Gu Yue Na explained how its Evil Soul Masters and criminals could eventually reach a balance. Qiu’er refused to stop in the city, but Xu Jiujiu arrived looking for Huo Yuhao, who appeared at the end of the chapter.

• Niu Tian praised the Clear Sky Sect team and secretly arranged to follow them to the Soul Master Competition.
• Ma Xiaotao explained how Original Sin City punished rule-breaking Evil Soul Masters, and Gu Yue Na described how the city’s system could keep their population in balance.
• Qiu’er rejected the team’s suggestion to visit Original Sin City so they could continue toward Mingdu without delaying her planned fight with Huo Yuhao.
• Xu Jiujiu met the Spirit Pagoda team, asked about Huo Yuhao, and learned that they were competing for the Spirit Pagoda rather than Shrek Academy.
• Huo Yuhao appeared before the group, and Xu Jiujiu recognized him.

Huo Yuhao registered the Spirit Pagoda for the Soul Master Competition and learned that the Clear Sky Sect had entered as well. After returning to his room, he found the Spirit Pagoda women preparing to compete for the empty bed, while Gu Yue Na made sure the contest began.

• Xu Jiujiu questioned Huo Yuhao about the Spirit Pagoda, Soul Spirit Technology, and his role in the Holy Spirit Church incident, then left after he told her he considered her a friend.
• Huo Yuhao assessed the Spirit Pagoda, Sun Moon Royal Soul Guidance Device Academy, Shrek, and other likely contenders as he waited to register.
• Huo Yuhao registered the Spirit Pagoda team and spotted Tang Hong's form, which showed that the Clear Sky Sect had entered the competition.
• Huo Yuhao returned to his room with Gu Yue Na and the others, where Tang Ya proposed using dice to decide who would claim the empty bed.
• Gu Yue Na enveloped the room in Space Power and told the women to begin their contest for Huo Yuhao's room.

Huo Yuhao learned from Gu Yue Na that a powerful, unfamiliar Dragon King’s remains lay somewhere west of Mingdu, but they agreed not to investigate until they could do so safely. Two days later, the Soul Master Competition’s opening ceremony began with the Spirit Pagoda team seated comfortably and the Clear Sky Sect publicly humiliated over its poor accommodations, before the arrival of the emperor silenced the venue.

• Huo Yuhao woke beside Gu Yue Na, who told him she sensed a Dragon King’s aura west of Mingdu that differed from those she knew and would resist her control.
• Huo Yuhao decided that he and Gu Yue Na should not approach the Dragon King’s remains until they were better prepared, and Gu Yue Na persuaded him to spend the morning with her.
• Two days later, Qiu'er led the Spirit Pagoda team to its seats at the opening ceremony while Tang Ya and Jiang Nannan speculated about Ma Xiaotao’s bad mood.
• A servant directed the Clear Sky Sect team to a shabby Rest Area, and Sixth Elder angrily demanded a better location before the servant challenged the sect to prove its strength.
• Sixth Elder and Tang San reacted furiously to the servant’s insults, but an overwhelming pressure swept across the venue and the servant announced that His Majesty had arrived.

The Sun Moon Empire’s display of power deepened the other empires’ alarm as Xu Tianran arrived with Ye Xishui. At the competition, Elder Xuan decided Shrek should leave Tang San to compare the Clear Sky Sect’s poor treatment with Shrek’s comforts, hoping he would choose to return.

• Ye Xishui’s overwhelming pressure subdued the competition venue, while Mu Xue and Long Xiaoyao discussed the Sun Moon Empire’s ambitions and Long Xiaoyao’s plan to oppose Spirit Ice.
• Xu Tianran arrived at the main platform beside the Empress, Jing Hongchen, and Ye Xishui, whom Du Busi and Long Xiaoyao recognized as the Death God Douluo.
• Elder Xuan and Yan Shaozhe identified Tang San among the Clear Sky Sect’s team, seated in a remote area on broken stools.
• Yan Shaozhe proposed using Shrek’s influence to help the Clear Sky Sect, but Elder Xuan refused because a failed attempt could further damage Shrek’s relationship with Tang San.
• Elder Xuan told Yan Shaozhe to let Tang San notice Shrek’s comfortable pavilion and seats, believing the contrast would make him regret leaving Shrek and want to return.

Huo Yuhao opened the competition, and Meng Hongchen swept the Dragon Slaying Sect with her poison-based ability, stunning the audience and worrying the rival teams. Tang San assessed the threat and told the Third Elder that his side would win.

• Huo Yuhao finished his address and watched the first match begin while Ju Zi reassured him and teased him in front of the Spirit Pagoda team.
• Meng Hongchen entered the arena as a seven-ring Soul Sage with a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring, drawing deafening cheers from the Sun Moon Empire spectators.
• Meng Hongchen used her Ice Poison Ring to incapacitate the Dragon Slaying Sect vice-captain, then defeated all seven opponents and swept the individual match.
• Tang San identified Meng Hongchen's instant poison as a serious threat and told the Third Elder that winning the individual battles would keep her from fighting in the team battle.
• Tang San exchanged glances with his teammates and confidently declared, "We will win."

After the first day of the Soul Master Competition, Huo Yuhao watched the major teams and factions make plans while enduring a dice game in which he was the prize. Meanwhile, Wei Na approached the Clear Sky Sect elders to propose cooperation against the Sun Moon Empire.

• The first day of the competition ended after twenty-six matches, with the Sun Moon Battle Team, Body Sect, and Clear Sky Sect drawing attention for different reasons.
• Huo Yuhao kept watch in the Rest Area and noted the Body Sect's aggressive victory and the Clear Sky Sect's deliberate restraint, while Wei Na hoped to recruit the latter against the Sun Moon Empire.
• Gu Yue Na and the others tied Huo Yuhao up and made him the prize in a dice game, ignoring his protests as he resigned himself to the contest.
• Wei Na visited Sixth Elder late at night and offered to cooperate with the Clear Sky Sect against the Sun Moon Empire.
• Third Elder asked how they would cooperate, and Wei Na invited the elders to discuss the matter in the Skysoul Empire's meeting room.

Huo Yuhao led the Holy Spirit Church team into its first match while concealing his identity, and Xu Jiujiu suspected the mysterious captain was the man she had met before. Watching from the stands, Xuan Zi decided Huo Yuhao was Ye Xishui’s agent plotting against Shrek and resolved to join efforts against the Holy Spirit Church, while Long Aotian declared that only Huo Yuhao could defeat him.

• Huo Yuhao told the Holy Spirit Church contestants to protect themselves, avoid unnecessary killing, and enter their match against Mad War Sect.
• Xu Jiujiu recognized the captain’s Wind Coat as possibly belonging to Huo Yuhao and recalled her attraction to the white-haired man she had met in Original Sin City.
• Xuan Zi and Yan Shaozhe suspected the Holy Spirit Church captain was Huo Yuhao, and Xuan Zi imagined that Ye Xishui had arranged Huo Yuhao’s past actions to infiltrate and undermine Shrek.
• Xuan Zi decided he could not expose his suspicions without proof and resolved to help destroy the Holy Spirit Church by joining the Skysoul Empire’s efforts against it.
• Long Aotian told Wei Na that he most wanted to fight Huo Yuhao and claimed that no Soul Saint other than Huo Yuhao could defeat him.

After resting in Ye Guyi’s room, Huo Yuhao returned to the competition grounds and encountered Nan Qiuqiu, who tried to recruit him into the Earth Dragon Gate. When Huo Yuhao asked her to introduce him to her mother, Nan Qiuqiu realized he admired Nan Shuishui and wondered if he meant to become her stepfather.

• The Holy Spirit Church defeated the Mad War Sect, and Huo Yuhao returned to the team hotel to sleep in Ye Guyi’s room.
• Ye Guyi watched Huo Yuhao sleep and considered kissing him, while Gu Yue Na hinted to Tang Ya that someone might share her interests.
• Three days later, Nan Qiuqiu dismissed her mother Nan Shuishui’s warnings and headed to the competition, confident that the Earth Dragon Gate would defeat the Spirit Pagoda.
• Nan Qiuqiu spotted Huo Yuhao, became captivated by him, and decided to recruit him into the Earth Dragon Gate after the match.
• Huo Yuhao wagered that he would join the Earth Dragon Gate if the Spirit Pagoda lost, but asked Nan Qiuqiu to introduce him to her mother if the Earth Dragon Gate lost.
• Huo Yuhao said he had long admired Nan Shuishui, leaving Nan Qiuqiu stunned by the possibility that he wanted to become her stepfather.