Chapter Summaries

Ye Han investigated the suspicious divine-test rumor and reached the ruins near Mo Han City, where he discovered that the gate’s keyholes matched the shapes of the Golden Lightning and Esdeath’s Ice Flower. He chose to keep the discovery secret and wait for Luo Xi’s explanation.

• Ye Han warned Qian Renxue not to act rashly and agreed with Kurumi that the publicized God Test seemed deliberately staged.
• At Mo Han City, Heaven Dou Empire soldiers initially barred Ye Han’s group, but an officer recognized him and escorted them to Xue Qinghe.
• Xue Qinghe told Ye Han that Heaven Dou and Star Luo had occupied nearby cities while soul masters flooded the area around the rumored ruins.
• Ye Han and Xue Qinghe met Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing at the ruins, where Dai Mubai explained that even powerful soul masters could not force the sealed gate open.
• Ye Han recognized the Golden Lightning’s shape in one keyhole, and Esdeath reported that another matched the Ice Flower Luo Xi had given her.
• Ye Han told Esdeath to keep quiet and decided to observe the ruins while waiting for news from Luo Xi.

Ye Han investigated the strange ruins and learned that two of their keys were Luo Xi’s Ice Flower and the Golden Lightning from a lightning tribulation, though even the Main Gods could not detect the ruins. The four major factions agreed to jointly control the ruins, and they awaited Ye Han’s response.

• Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing proposed that Anle City, Star Luo Empire, and Heaven Dou Empire cooperate on the ruins, while Xue Qinghe argued that Spirit Hall should be included.
• Esdeath summoned the Ice Flower, and Luo Xi told Ye Han that no god had bestowed a God Test at the ruins and that the Main Gods had sensed nothing there.
• Ye Han realized the Ice Flower and his Golden Lightning were keys to the ruins, then asked Luo Xi to search the God Realm for clues about lightning-related gods.
• Ye Han returned to inspect the ruins, followed by Dai Mubai and Xue Qinghe, while Yue Guan and Ghost Charm appeared and offered to pay for information.
• Xue Qinghe proposed joint control of the ruins by the four major factions, Dai Mubai and Yue Guan agreed, and everyone waited for Ye Han’s answer.

Ye Han tested the eerie ruins with his allies and concluded that they reacted to the keys themselves, not merely their strength. He planned to leave and pursue the real keys through Luo Xi while misleading the other factions into continuing their experiments.

• Ye Han told the gathered factions that Anle City would enter the ruins only once and would not compete to control them, then offered to demonstrate his tests.
• Yoruichi found no living creatures inside the ruins but sensed dissipating souls on the stone monument, while Todo and Honjou Kaede tested the entrance’s durability and recoil.
• Ye Han’s Demon Piercing Red Rose could not penetrate the gate, and Esdeath’s imitation keys triggered pillars of light before a third key shattered along with the others.
• Ye Han shared his test report with Dai Mubai, Spirit Hall, and the Heaven Dou Empire, then told his allies that the ruins had recognized their two keys.
• Ye Han decided to wait for Luo Xi to identify the keys’ God Realm owners and ordered Esdeath to stage another failed key test before the group returned home.

Ye Han staged his departure from the ruins and secretly told Qian Renxue he had two real keys, asking her to help conceal that fact. Spirit Hall, the Star Luo Empire, and Heaven Dou Empire pursued Lou Gao’s help in Gengxin City, while Ye Han waited for their efforts to fail.

• Esdeath’s Ice Flower and lightning both shattered when placed in the ruins, and Ye Han announced he would leave the search to the others.
• Ye Han arranged to leave through the east gate with Xue Qinghe, then told Qian Renxue he had two real keys and asked her to make others believe he had none.
• Qian Renxue agreed to keep up appearances by having Spirit Hall act in step with the other forces.
• Ghost Charm and Yue Guan decided to seek Lou Gao’s help in Gengxin City, and Dai Mubai and Qian Renxue sent their own people to invite him.
• Lou Gao refused to help any of the three forces, while Ye Han welcomed the delay and anticipated that their next attempt might also fail.

Ye Han learned that five symbols were marks of gods and received the gods’ territories as leads for the search. Meanwhile, Yue Guan and Ghost Charm turned their attention from Lou Gao to Titan, with Spirit Hall preparing to pressure the blacksmiths and target Titan.

• Luo Xi complained to Ye Han about being forced to handle a century of official business, then accepted his suggestion to delegate minor work to a guard.
• Luo Xi identified five symbols as the marks of the Thunder God, Ice God, Fire God, Water God, and Earth God, but could not identify the other two.
• Luo Xi placed the gods’ territories in Esdeath’s mind before ending the conversation, giving Ye Han and his companions targets for their search.
• After Lou Gao refused to help the factions in Gengxin City, Yue Guan decided that Spirit Hall would go to Heaven Dou Imperial City to seek Titan.
• Yue Guan ordered Spirit Hall to monitor Lou Gao, kill him if he agreed to help another faction, and suppress the Blacksmith Association; Dai Mubai remained unaware of the plan as Titan faced an unexpected threat.

Yue Guan and Ghost Charm seized the Strength Clan to force Titan to forge insignias for Spirit Hall. After Titan agreed under threat, he sent a plea for help to Anle City, while the two Spirit Hall elders trusted Qian Renxue’s intelligence that Ye Han would not interfere.

• Yue Guan and Ghost Charm took the Strength Clan members hostage after Titan refused Spirit Hall’s forging request.
• Titan returned to find his clan missing, then confronted Yue Guan and Ghost Charm, who demanded he forge for them without payment.
• Titan agreed to use all his skill and begged Spirit Hall not to harm his clansmen.
• Titan wrote an urgent letter asking Old Rhinoceros and the others in Anle City for help.
• Ghost Charm worried that Ye Han might intervene, but Yue Guan reassured him using Qian Renxue’s intelligence that Ye Han was away training.

Yang Wudi, Niu Gao, and Bai He asked Ye Han to help Titan’s Strength Clan after Spirit Hall took its clansmen hostage, but Ye Han refused to involve Anle City. The three old friends decided to go themselves, while Titan regretted turning down Ye Han’s invitation.

• Yang Wudi, Niu Gao, and Bai He received Titan’s letter asking them to persuade Ye Han to help the Strength Clan against Spirit Hall.
• The three clan leaders brought the letter to Ye Han, who said Anle City would not intervene but allowed them to go help Titan on their own.
• Yang Wudi, Niu Gao, and Bai He decided to tell Titan to stall Spirit Hall and promised to arrive in a few days.
• Yue Guan intercepted their reply and showed it to Titan, who learned that Ye Han would not help and that only his three friends were coming.
• Titan saw that his friends had become Titled Douluo while he remained an eighty-eighth-ranked Soul Douluo, and regretted refusing Ye Han’s invitation.

Ye Han stayed in Anle City while the other three clans confronted Spirit Hall over Titan, and Yue Guan revealed that Ye Han’s presence was protecting them. The clans withdrew after Titan agreed to forge Spirit Hall’s emblems, while Dai Mubai realized Spirit Hall was pursuing a hidden plan and turned to Lou Gao for help.

• Ye Han and Esdeath studied Luo Xi’s map locations and decided to wait until the Strength Clan matter ended before setting out.
• Yang Wudi, Bai He, and Niu Gao demanded Titan’s release at the Spirit Hall branch, where Yue Guan and Ghost Charm confronted them.
• Titan tried to join the fight, but Jin E arrived and his overwhelming power forced the three clan heads to reconsider.
• Yue Guan told the three that Ye Han had stayed in Anle City to protect them, and Titan agreed to forge Spirit Hall’s item in exchange for his clansmen’s release.
• Yue Guan released the Strength Clan members, while Titan returned to the forge to make the emblems.
• Dai Mubai learned of the battle in Gengxin City and sought Lou Gao’s help after realizing Spirit Hall was acting on a hidden plan.

Ye Han learned that Spirit Hall planned to open the ruins, but he knew the forged keys would fail. Spirit Hall’s public attempt collapsed, leaving its reputation in ruins as Yue Guan and Ghost Charm fled the angry crowd.

• Ye Han ordered preparations to leave Anle City and later told the city to stay alert after hearing Spirit Hall’s announcement.
• Bibi Dong announced that Spirit Hall had found a way to enter the ruins, and Qian Renxue criticized her for acting without testing the keys.
• Yue Guan presented the Deep Sea Sinking Silver keys before a crowd, claiming Spirit Hall would open the ruins to everyone.
• Yue Guan inserted the keys into the monument, but each one cracked and shattered without opening the ruins.
• Dai Mubai mocked Spirit Hall, and the furious crowd turned against its representatives as Yue Guan and Ghost Charm escaped.

Ye Han and his companions reached the impoverished Vine City, where they learned that its former city lord had taken the water orb that once kept the city supplied with water. Ye Han promised to ask Xue Qinghe to return it when they went back to Heaven Dou Empire, then continued south toward the active volcanoes.

• Ye Han and his companions entered Vine City and found its gate, buildings, and defenses in ruins.
• Ye Han asked an old man about the City Lord's Mansion and an inn, then revealed his six Soul Rings when the old man questioned whether he was a Soul Master.
• The old man explained that Vine City's former city lord had taken its water orb and presented it to the emperor, leaving the residents without reliable water.
• The old man warned Ye Han and his companions that active volcanoes lay ahead, but Ye Han waved goodbye and continued onward.
• Ye Han reassured Honjou Kaede that he would ask Xue Qinghe to return the water orb when they got back to Heaven Dou Empire.

Ye Han and his group traveled through extreme heat until Bing Haoyu discovered a strange energy that heated and eroded everything without damaging it. After retreating to recover, they returned by Vimana and found the energy grew so dense ahead that they could not safely proceed, leaving them to seek advice in Vine City.

• Ye Han had Bing Haoyu build an ice house so the group could rest in the scorching heat, then Yoruichi and Esdeath made Ye Han leave the next morning.
• Bing Haoyu realized that a strange force was heating their Ultimate Ice and eroding their bodies, so Ye Han led the group back to Vine City aboard Vimana.
• The group rested in Vine City, and Bing Haoyu used his Soul Power to shield them before they flew deeper the next morning.
• Ye Han stopped Vimana when everyone sensed that moving farther forward could kill them, and Bing Haoyu warned that the energy was increasing exponentially.
• Ye Han decided to return to Vine City and ask its residents how to withstand the energy's erosion.

Ye Han and Kurumi returned to Vine City after the energy in the southern depths stopped them, then learned that Tang Yu had once entered and survived the deepest area. Tang Yu agreed to explain how if Ye Han brought back Vine City’s missing water orb.

• Ye Han and the others abandoned their attempt to go deeper and returned to Vine City, where Ye Han and Kurumi sought local advice.
• An old man warned Ye Han about the south, then took Ye Han and Kurumi to meet Tang Yu, the only person known to have entered the deepest part and returned alive.
• Ye Han appraised Tang Yu and discovered that she was an ordinary person who had completed the first Fire God Test and received longevity.
• Tang Yu revealed that everyone else who entered the dangerous area with her burst into flames, but she asked Ye Han to bring back Vine City’s water orb before she would explain how she survived.
• Ye Han accepted the deal and left with Kurumi to return to their camp.

Ye Han returned to the North Pole Land to find a water orb needed for his plan, discovering that Xue Ye wore it and arranging a Mercenary Guild bounty to provoke a contest for it. Qian Renxue agreed to join Ye Han in searching for the keys after they handled matters in the empire.

• Ye Han and his companions teleported back to Second Dimension Academy, where Bing Haoyu suffered spatial teleportation sickness, and Ye Han headed for the North Pole Land.
• Ye Han met Qian Renxue in Mo Han City and asked her to find a water-producing, cooling bead in the Heaven Dou Empire's National Treasury.
• Qian Renxue asked to travel with Ye Han in exchange for helping him, and he agreed on the conditions that she alone would come, follow his orders, and settle her affairs first.
• Qian Renxue searched the National Treasury and discovered that Xue Ye wore the water orb on his clothes.
• Ye Han ordered Todo to advertise a Mercenary Guild reward of one Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum for the water orb, intending to draw Xue Ye and Yue Guan into a struggle over it.

Ye Han’s publicity about an immortal herb drew the attention of Spirit Hall and the Heaven Dou Empire, while Qian Renxue misled both sides about its connection to Ye Han. Xue Ye agreed to let Qian Renxue leave with Ye Han, deepening her tangled role as a spy for several factions.

• Ye Han publicized an old farmer’s offer to trade a Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum for an ice blue orb, stirring interest across the continent.
• Yue Guan recognized the herb in the Mercenary Guild’s notice, and Ghost Charm urged caution; after Qian Renxue denied Ye Han’s involvement, Yue Guan set out to find the orb and claim the herb.
• Qian Renxue misled Dai Mubai, then hurried to Heaven Dou Imperial City after Xue Ye summoned her to discuss the immortal herb with Ning Fengzhi.
• Qian Renxue told Xue Ye and Ning Fengzhi that Ye Han’s group would soon leave after dealing with the Heaven Dou Empire’s National Treasury, and they believed her despite lingering doubts.
• Qian Renxue proposed that Fourth Brother replace her at the ruins so she could travel south with Ye Han, and Xue Ye agreed after advising her on how to spy.

Ye Han arranged for Yue Guan and Ghost Charm to steal Xue Ye’s water orb in exchange for the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum. Yue Guan obtained the herb, Ye Han got the orb, and Ye Han prepared to leave Anle City.

• Ye Han told Qian Renxue to give Yue Guan a clue about the water orb before informing Xue Ye, and explained that the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum had been secretly poisoned.
• Ghost Charm told Yue Guan that the water orb was on Xue Ye’s clothes, prompting Yue Guan and Ghost Charm to head for the Heaven Dou Empire.
• After finding the orb and preparing to take it to the Mercenary Guild, Xue Ye was ambushed by Yue Guan and Ghost Charm, who stole it and escaped.
• Bibi Dong received word of the operation and chose not to punish Yue Guan and Ghost Charm.
• Ye Han arranged an exchange at a Mercenary Guild: Yue Guan received the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum, and Ye Han received the water orb.
• Ye Han notified Qian Renxue and prepared to depart with the water orb.

Ye Han reunited Qian Renxue with his group, retrieved the water orb’s history from Tang Yu, and used the orb to shield everyone as they prepared to enter the depths. The group set off aboard Vimana, where Qian Renxue’s accidental fall into Ye Han’s arms sparked Esdeath’s suspicion.

• Ye Han stopped Qian Renxue and Esdeath’s group from bickering and led them back to Vine City.
• Tang Yu explained that the water orb had protected her during her father’s failed expedition and could shield the whole group when powered by Soul Power.
• Zhao Lei activated the water orb, confirmed its barrier consumed little Soul Power, and Ye Han summoned Vimana for the journey.
• Qian Renxue questioned whether Vimana was an Anle City Soul Tool, and Ye Han explained it came with his Martial Soul.
• Vimana accelerated suddenly, Qian Renxue fell into Ye Han’s arms, and Esdeath accused her of copying a move from her book.

Ye Han and his companions entered the Death Boundary to investigate the Fire God’s ruined temple and found that its pillar was secretly absorbing Soul Power. After destroying it, Ye Han claimed the Flame Key and survived its fiery safeguard, leaving the group with the key and the Death Boundary’s corrosive energy gone.

• Zhao Lei raised the blue barrier, and Ye Han led the group into the Death Boundary wearing Karna’s Golden Armor.
• The group searched the ruined temple and tried touching its stone pillar, but it initially showed no reaction.
• Yoruichi noticed the pillar had accumulated energy from the water orb, and Ye Han had Bing Haoyu destroy it, revealing the Flame Key.
• When Ye Han grabbed the key, a hidden fire safeguard engulfed him, but he countered it with Karna’s flames and overcame it.
• Kurumi revived Ye Han, and the group discovered that the corrosive energy had vanished and the temperature had fallen.

After escaping the Fire God Test, Ye Han returned the water orb to Tang Yu, and rain finally fell on Vine City. He traveled with his companions to Clearwater City to investigate Azure Water Lake, while the Star Luo Empire sent Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing to meet him.

• Ye Han gave Tang Yu the water orb and told her Vine City would receive rain regularly after the Fire God inheritance’s effects ended.
• Ye Han and his companions left Vine City for Clearwater City, which he believed had once been the Water God's territory.
• Qian Renxue and the others accompanied Ye Han around Clearwater City, while Zhao Lei and Bing Haoyu took money and went off on their own.
• Ye Han was dragged shopping and fled a lingerie shop when the assistant tried to recommend items to him.
• The Emperor of the Star Luo Empire recalled Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing from the North Pole Land and sent them to Clearwater City to meet Ye Han.

Ye Han investigated Azure Water Lake, where Zhong Xiu tricked him into paying for a bottle of water before admitting he was only mocking him. Honjou Kaede found godlike energy in the water matching the water orb’s power, leaving Ye Han and his companions to investigate the lake’s connection to the Water God.

• Ye Han paid Zhong Xiu for a bottle of water, then learned Zhong Xiu had only been teasing him and had never asked for money.
• Ye Han met Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing, explained that he had come to rest and investigate Azure Water Lake, and declined to let them follow him.
• Honjou Kaede tested the water and found traces of divine energy identical to the energy in the water orb and at the Fire God’s place.
• Honjou Kaede reported that the water’s energy was harmless, extremely scarce, and accumulated over time, while Yoruichi and Lia considered where it might originate.
• Ye Han decided to investigate further because he doubted the Water God had left the water solely to benefit people.

Ye Han investigated Azure Water Lake for traces of the Water God and discovered that its visible bottom concealed a much larger area. He persuaded Zhong Xiu to let Bing Haoyu freeze the lake, drawing the attention of Soul Masters across Clearwater City.

• Ye Han and his companions visited Azure Water Lake, where Zhong Xiu explained his family’s generations-old duty to guard it and recounted the legend of the Water God.
• Ye Han assured Zhong Xiu that the Water God had truly existed, then searched the lakebed but found only loose stones.
• After Zhong Xiu said the lake could be seen at a glance, Ye Han tested the distance with an ice path and discovered that the area beneath the lake extended far beyond what was visible.
• Ye Han asked Zhong Xiu for permission to freeze the lakebed, and Zhong Xiu agreed.
• Bing Haoyu froze the lake’s surface and poured out his Soul Power to reach its seemingly bottomless lakebed, creating a blue beam that drew Soul Masters toward Clearwater City.