Chapter Summaries

Ye Chen explored Ming De Hall and discovered a strange, highly sensitive door that he planned to investigate later. Jing Hongchen watched him attempt a Rank 4 soul tool, mistaking Ye Chen’s deliberate failure for proof that he lacked skill with soul tools.

• Ye Chen surveyed Ming De Hall, found that surveillance soul tools covered nearly every area, and detected a mysterious metal door that reacted to his Spiritual Power.
• Ye Chen decided to investigate the door at a better opportunity, then studied a Rank 7 experiment table and the books nearby.
• Ye Chen told Huo Yuhao to observe the other soul engineers’ research and asked him for help with a plan.
• Jing Hongchen watched Ye Chen through a soul guidance screen and asked Yin Fan to assess his abilities.
• Yin Fan called Ye Chen mediocre with soul tools, and Ye Chen deliberately shattered rare metal while attempting a Rank 4 core formation.
• Jing Hongchen concluded Ye Chen lacked soul tool talent, while Yin Fan realized Ye Chen had staged the failure to ease Jing Hongchen’s suspicions.

Ye Chen concealed his Rank 5 Soul Tool practice from Jing Hongchen while waiting for the Body Sect to make a move, but none of its people appeared. The next day, Yin Fan brought Yue to Ming De Hall as a new student, where she remained cold toward Ye Chen.

• Jing Hongchen asked Yin Fan to choose a side in the royal family's conflict, but Yin Fan refused to get involved in politics.
• Ye Chen used Huo Yuhao's Simulation skill to disguise their work as Rank 3 Soul Tool crafting while he practiced making Rank 5 Soul Tools.
• Ye Chen returned to his dormitory, recorded Soul Tool designs, and considered seeking a fifth soul ring after reaching the limit of his four-ring cultivation.
• Ye Chen, Huo Yuhao, and He Caitou entered Ming De Hall the next morning and found Yin Fan and Yue waiting at his worktable.
• Yin Fan said he had arranged for Yue to study at Ming De Hall on the same schedule as Ye Chen, and Yue rejected Ye Chen's offer to help her.

Ye Chen demonstrated his soul-tool talent while Yin Fan refused to take sides in the imperial family conflict. The next day, Yin Fan brought Yue to Ming De Hall as a new student, where she rejected Ye Chen’s offer to help her.

• Yin Fan recognized Ye Chen’s skill and concluded that he had reached Level 5 Soul Master.
• Jing Hongchen asked Yin Fan to choose a side in the imperial succession struggle, but Yin Fan said he would stay out of politics.
• Ye Chen used Huo Yuhao’s Simulation skill to conceal his Rank 5 Soul Tool practice while appearing to craft Rank 3 tools.
• Ye Chen returned to the dormitory, recorded the soul-tool designs he had studied, and considered his future fifth soul ring.
• Ye Chen, Huo Yuhao, and He Caitou entered Ming De Hall, where they found Yin Fan and Yue at Ye Chen’s workbench.
• Yin Fan said Yue would study at Ming De Hall during the final week of each month, and Yue rejected Ye Chen’s offer to take care of her.

Ye Chen completed a Rank 5 Energy-Gathering Soul Ray in the research base before four explosions struck, and he shielded Yue Shen from the blast. More than a hundred black-clad Seven Rings Soul Sages then launched an attack, and Ye Chen pulled Yue Shen toward the darkness to escape.

• Yin Fan introduced himself to Huo Yuhao and He Caitou, then left Ye Chen to show Yue Shen the experiment manual.
• Ye Chen finished assembling a Rank 5 Energy-Gathering Soul Ray designed for long-range attacks.
• Ye Chen sensed danger and prepared to defend himself as Huo Yuhao took cover beneath the experiment table.
• Four explosions tore through the research base, and Ye Chen used his wings to shield Yue Shen from the shockwave.
• Ye Chen scolded Yue Shen for failing to protect herself, and she apologized.
• More than a hundred black-clad attackers with at least Seven Rings Soul Sage cultivation emerged and attacked the researchers, so Ye Chen grabbed Yue Shen and fled toward the darkness.

Yin Fan met Huo Yuhao and He Caitou at the research base, where Ye Chen completed a Rank 5 Energy-Gathering Soul Ray. Four explosions then struck the base, and as more than a hundred powerful black-clad attackers emerged, Ye Chen grabbed Yue Shen and fled into the darkness.

• Yin Fan interrupted Ye Chen's introduction, greeted Huo Yuhao and He Caitou, and then swaggered away.
• Ye Chen completed a Rank 5 Energy-Gathering Soul Ray while Yue Shen began settling in with the group.
• Ye Chen sensed danger, and he and Huo Yuhao took cover just before four explosions tore through the research base.
• Ye Chen used his wings to shield the unprepared Yue Shen from the blast and scolded her after they landed.
• More than a hundred black-clad attackers emerged and began killing researchers, so Ye Chen grabbed Yue Shen and ran toward the darkness.

Ye Chen and Yue entered a hidden passage beneath Ming De Hall after Yue destroyed its Rank 9 Soul Tool door, then pressed deeper underground in search of the secret beyond it. They hid from an approaching person, but a terrified man in black soon came running toward them from farther down the passage.

• Ye Chen brought Yue to a concealed door while Ming De Hall remained under attack, but discovered it was a Rank 9 Soul Tool that he could not safely open.
• Yue drained the door of its vitality and turned it to dust, revealing a dark passage behind it.
• Ye Chen and Yue entered the passage as the lights in Ming De Hall went out, and Ye Chen used his dark energy to conceal them in the darkness.
• After traveling deeper underground, Ye Chen sensed someone ahead and stopped Yue from attacking, then cloaked them both in darkness.
• A ragged man in black ran toward them in terror, apparently fleeing something deeper in the passage.

Ye Chen and Yue entered a hidden passage beneath Ming De Hall after Yue destroyed its Rank 9 Soul Tool door. As they traveled deeper underground, they encountered a terrified man fleeing from something ahead.

• Ye Chen brought Yue to the hidden door, but discovered its Rank 9 defenses could not be opened by ordinary means.
• Yue drained the life force from the door, reducing it to dust and revealing a pitch-black passage.
• Ye Chen and Yue entered the passage as Ming De Hall’s lights went out and a massive figure appeared above the hall.
• After traveling deeper, Ye Chen sensed someone ahead and concealed himself and Yue in darkness rather than attack.
• The pair found a breach dug into the passage wall, then saw a terrified man in black sprinting toward them from farther inside.

Ye Chen and Yue discovered a vast underground archive containing Ming De Hall’s Soul Tool designs, research, and records, including more than four hundred Rank Nine designs. Ye Chen began moving the materials into his Small World while suspecting the Body Sect member had fled because of something beyond another opening.

• Ye Chen persuaded Yue to accompany him deeper into the passage, and they reached a plaza connected to many hidden routes.
• Ye Chen and Yue entered a brightly lit underground hall filled with bookshelves and found an opening whose door had been smashed from outside.
• Ye Chen discovered that the shelves held Rank Nine and Rank 8 Soul Tool designs, Soul Engineer insights, and records of Ming De Hall’s secret experiments.
• Ye Chen wondered why a Body Sect member who had searched the shelves had fled without taking any of the valuable books, and he suspected the answer lay beyond another opening.
• Yue refused Ye Chen’s offer of a share of the materials, and Ye Chen began transferring them into his Small World before Jing Hongchen could search their belongings.

Ye Chen and Yue discovered Ming De Hall’s underground archive, packed with Rank Nine Soul Tool designs and other valuable records. Ye Chen began securing the materials in his Small World, while the smashed opening beyond the hall left the reason for the Body Sect member’s flight unresolved.

• Ye Chen persuaded Yue to explore the passage with him, and they reached a plaza connected to many hidden routes.
• Ye Chen and Yue followed a passage into a vast underground hall filled with bookshelves and a smashed doorway.
• Ye Chen found hundreds of Rank Nine Soul Tool designs, along with lower-ranked designs, Soul Engineer insights, and records of secret experiments.
• Ye Chen offered Yue the originals after copying them, but she declined and told him to keep them.
• Ye Chen began storing the records in his Small World before Jing Hongchen could discover what they had found.

Ye Chen and Yue entered a reinforced underground passage despite sensing danger, and Yue said she wanted to tell Ye Chen something after they escaped. They reached the passage's end, where a dim crimson glow and overwhelming corpse stench awaited them.

• Ye Chen gathered everything in the room and chose to enter the passage with Yue despite the danger they sensed.
• Ye Chen asked Yue to return, but she insisted on continuing and agreed to follow his commands for their safety.
• As they entered the Chromium Gold-reinforced passage, Yue warned Ye Chen that her instincts urged her to leave and said she wanted to tell him something after they got out.
• Ye Chen and Yue descended deeper underground, blocking the worsening corpse stench from affecting their judgment.
• Ye Chen and Yue reached the passage's end, where a dim crimson glow shone and the corpse stench peaked.

Ye Chen and Yue entered a dangerous, reinforced passage beneath the underground facility, despite sensing that something was wrong. They reached its end, where a dim crimson light and overwhelming stench awaited them.

• Ye Chen gathered all the materials in the room and found a damaged passage beyond it.
• Ye Chen and Yue agreed to continue together, with Yue promising to follow his commands for their safety.
• As they entered the Chromium Gold-reinforced passage, Yue warned Ye Chen that her instincts urged her to leave and said she wanted to talk after they got out.
• Ye Chen and Yue descended deeper underground, blocking the corpse-like stench from affecting their judgment.
• Ye Chen and Yue reached the passage's end, where a dim crimson glow shone amid the strongest stench yet.

After the Body Sect devastated Ming De Hall, Jing Hongchen learned that Experiment Subject One was missing and the archive room’s data and Experiment Subject Two were unaccounted for. In the underground laboratory, Ye Chen and Yue discovered a writhing creature in a crystal tank that Ye Chen recognized from descriptions as an Abyss creature.

• Jing Hongchen surveyed the ruined Ming De Hall and blamed Du Busi and the Body Sect for the attack.
• Lin Jiayi told Jing Hongchen that Experiment Subject One was missing and that the archive room had been breached, leaving Experiment Subject Two and its data unaccounted for.
• Jing Hongchen spared Lin Jiayi and ordered him to accompany him to inspect the situation.
• Ye Chen and Yue found a laboratory containing rotting remains that writhed inside a crystal tank and stared at them with dark-green eyes.
• Ye Chen recognized the creature as an Abyss creature, distinct from the Abyss in Douluo Dalu Three.

After the Body Sect devastated Ming De Hall, Jing Hongchen learned that Experiment Subject One was missing and the archive and Experiment Subject Two were unaccounted for. Meanwhile, Ye Chen and Yue found a grotesque creature in a laboratory, and Ye Chen recognized it as something connected to the Abyss.

• Jing Hongchen surveyed the ruins of Ming De Hall and vowed revenge on Du Busi and the Body Sect.
• Lin Jiayi told Jing Hongchen that Experiment Subject One was missing and that the archive door had been breached, leaving the records and Experiment Subject Two's status unknown.
• Jing Hongchen spared Lin Jiayi and ordered him to accompany him to inspect the damage.
• Ye Chen and Yue found a laboratory containing a crystal tank filled with writhing, dismembered remains whose dark-green eyes turned toward them.
• Ye Chen recognized the creature as connected to the Abyss.

Ye Chen learned that Ming De Hall’s Experiment Subject Two was an immortal creature discovered near the Extreme North, and that the emperor had ordered Jing Hongchen to study it in hopes of achieving eternal life. After deciding he needed to investigate the creature’s origin, Ye Chen and Yue found themselves trapped in the laboratory when Jing Hongchen arrived and blamed the Body Sect.

• Ye Chen searched the records stored in his Small World and found the experimental notebook for Experiment Subject Two.
• Ye Chen learned that the Sun Moon Empire’s military had found the creature near the Extreme North and that the emperor had secretly ordered Jing Hongchen to research it as part of the Eternal Life Plan.
• Ye Chen decided to return to the Extreme North and investigate whether the island’s black rocks had caused the creature’s regenerative ability.
• Jing Hongchen shouted that he would take revenge on Du Busi and the Body Sect, leaving Ye Chen and Yue blocked inside the laboratory.
• Ye Chen persuaded Yue to stay still and use his control over darkness to hide them until their way out was clear.

Ye Chen discovered that the immortal creature in Ming De Hall’s laboratory was Experiment Subject Two, found near the Extreme North and studied as part of the emperor’s Eternal Life Plan. After Jing Hongchen arrived and blamed the Body Sect, Ye Chen and Yue hid in darkness, waiting for a chance to escape.

• Ye Chen searched Ming De Hall’s records in his Small World and found the journal for Experiment Subject Two.
• Ye Chen learned that the creature had been found near the Extreme North and that the emperor had ordered Jing Hongchen to study it in hopes of achieving immortality.
• Ye Chen decided to return to the Extreme North with more companions to investigate whether the island’s black rocks had caused the creature’s regeneration.
• Jing Hongchen arrived at the library and angrily vowed revenge on Du Busi and the Body Sect, blocking Ye Chen and Yue’s route out.
• Ye Chen told Yue to stay still and merged with her into the darkness to avoid detection.

Jing Hongchen discovered that the Body Sect had destroyed Ming De Hall’s archive and feared the imperial family’s response. When he found signs that Ye Chen and Han Yue were hiding near Experimental Subject No. 2, Ye Chen prepared to fight his way out with the God Slayer Spear.

• Jing Hongchen surveyed the ruined archive and worried that the loss of its Soul Tool blueprints would bring disaster on his clan.
• Jing Hongchen led Lin Jiayi to Experimental Subject No. 2, hoping its research could help them plead their case to Crown Prince Xu Tianran.
• Jing Hongchen noticed two sets of footprints and used a Rank 9 detection Soul Tool to search for the intruders.
• Ye Chen sensed the danger, gathered dark energy, and prepared to attack before Jing Hongchen could expose him and Han Yue.
• Jing Hongchen drew the Divine Edge to protect the crystal container, while Ye Chen formed the God Slayer Spear from his wing feathers and committed to a single strike.

Jing Hongchen discovered that the Body Sect had devastated Ming De Hall’s library and feared the Sun Moon Empire would punish his clan for the stolen soul-tool blueprints. When he uncovered Ye Chen and Han Yue hiding in the laboratory, Ye Chen prepared to use the God Slayer Spear for a decisive strike.

• Jing Hongchen saw the ruined library and realized the loss of its soul-tool blueprints could implicate his entire clan.
• Jing Hongchen took Lin Jiayi to check No. 2 Test Subject, hoping its research could help him appeal to Crown Prince Xu Tianran.
• Jing Hongchen spotted two sets of footprints and used his Rank 9 detection soul tool to search for intruders.
• Ye Chen sensed he was about to be exposed and prepared to attack Jing Hongchen, while shielding Han Yue with his wings.
• Ye Chen formed the God Slayer Spear from his sword feathers and unleashed its dark, murderous aura, committing to a single decisive strike.

Ye Chen was trapped by Jing Hongchen’s attack until a mysterious person supplied the Darkness Attribute energy he needed. A pale golden ring then swallowed Jing Hongchen’s Divine Edge, and the unseen helper appeared only as a gaze fixed on him.

• An old man in Mingdu sensed the dense Darkness Attribute energy near Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy and vanished from his chair without anyone noticing.
• Ye Chen struggled to gather enough Darkness Attribute energy to use the God Slayer Spear, while Yue watched from behind his wings.
• Jing Hongchen charged Divine Edge and attacked, unaware that the powerful presence he suspected was Ye Chen.
• A massive surge of Darkness Attribute energy flowed into Ye Chen, allowing him to overcome the shortage as he suspected someone was helping him.
• A pale golden ring appeared before Jing Hongchen, swallowed Divine Edge, and dragged at his hand until he let go.
• The mysterious helper’s figure appeared to Jing Hongchen only as a gaze that regarded him like a dead man.

Ye Chen struggled to gather enough Darkness Attribute energy to survive Jing Hongchen’s attack without exposing his Small World to Yue. An unknown helper supplied the energy and stopped Jing Hongchen’s Divine Edge, leaving him facing a chilling gaze.

• An old man in Mingdu sensed dense Darkness Attribute energy coming from the Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy and recognized that Ye Chen was in trouble.
• As Jing Hongchen charged his Divine Edge, Ye Chen weighed transforming other energy or escaping into his Small World, but hesitated to reveal his secrets to Yue.
• A vast surge of Darkness Attribute energy poured into Ye Chen, giving him the power he needed and making him suspect who was helping him.
• A golden ring appeared before Jing Hongchen and swallowed Divine Edge, severing his connection to the Soul Tool and forcing him to release it.
• Jing Hongchen saw the helper’s figure—or, more precisely, their gaze—which regarded him as a dead man.

Ye Chen struck Jing Hongchen at Ming De Hall, destroying three Rank 9 defensive Soul Tools before escaping with Yue. Back with the Shrek Academy students, Ye Chen recovered and arranged their cover story while considering whether Jing Hongchen would identify him.

• Jing Hongchen survived Ye Chen's attack but lost three Rank 9 defensive Soul Tools and Divine Edge, while Experiment Subject Two remained intact.
• Ye Chen returned to Ming De Hall's top floor, badly weakened after exhausting his Soul Power, and Yue helped him reach the experiment table.
• Ye Chen confirmed that Huo Yuhao, He Caitou, and the other Shrek Academy students were safe, then told them to claim they had never left the room.
• Ye Chen revealed that he had obtained Soul Tool blueprints, documents, and Divine Edge, and warned the group to stay silent if questioned.
• As Ye Chen began recovering, he considered how Jing Hongchen might connect the attack to the God Slayer Spear he had used in the tournament.