Chapter Summaries

The Sheng Family held a banquet to celebrate Old Madam Sheng’s recovery and breakthrough, while guests tried to identify Xiao Yun’s role in the family’s reversal. The festivities were interrupted by Cardinal Salatos’s arrival with an arrogant young man and four powerful Soul Masters.

• Sheng Minglan led Xiao Yun into the banquet hall, where guests from the City Lord’s Mansion and the Four Great Academies watched him closely.
• Xiao Yun declined Old Madam Sheng’s offer of the seat of honor and sat inconspicuously behind the academy representatives.
• Old Madam Sheng opened the banquet with a toast and celebrated her breakthrough without mentioning the battle against the Yuan Family.
• Mo Chen and Yao Jinsong scrutinized Xiao Yun, and Yao Jinsong noted that he resembled the mysterious expert Ruo Yan had described.
• Cardinal Salatos arrived with a blond young man and four black-robed Soul Masters, prompting Old Madam Sheng to greet him.

At a banquet honoring Old Madam’s promotion to Soul Douluo, Salatos tried to force a marriage between Sheng Minglan and Loscartoma, but Xiao Yun challenged Loska after defending his own worth. The Sheng Family agreed to cover Xiao Yun’s 100,000 Gold Soul Coin wager, setting the stage for the match.

• Salatos arrived at Old Madam’s banquet and Loscartoma objected to Mo Chen receiving the seat of honor, but Sheng Minglan defended the seating arrangement.
• Salatos proposed that Sheng Minglan marry Loscartoma, and Old Madam refused, saying Minglan already admired someone.
• Sheng Minglan’s gaze revealed Xiao Yun as the person she favored, prompting Salatos and Loska to belittle him and demand that he withdraw.
• Xiao Yun answered Loska’s insults by criticizing his strength and accomplishments, then accepted Loska’s challenge for a wager of 100,000 Gold Soul Coins.
• Sheng Minglan offered to cover Xiao Yun’s wager, and Old Madam approved the Sheng Family’s support.

Xiao Yun accepted Loska’s challenge, with the Sheng Family and Salatos wagering valuable treasures on the outcome. The match began at the Sheng Family Training Ground, where Loska revealed his scorpion Martial Soul while Xiao Yun stood ready with a longsword.

• Salatos wagered a Ten-Thousand-Year Profound Ice Core against the Sheng Family’s one hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins and ordered Loska not to lose.
• The group gathered at the Sheng Family Training Ground, where Loska taunted Xiao Yun to enter the arena.
• Xiao Yun chose a standard Sheng Family longsword, and Shui Wuya and Yao Jinsong sensed unusual energy in its chime.
• Sheng Minglan told Old Madam Sheng that Xiao Yun had once killed a Soul King with a single strike.
• Loska activated his Martial Soul Possession, transforming with scorpion armor, pincers, tails, and four Soul Rings.

Xiao Yun effortlessly turned aside Loska Toma’s attacks without using Soul Power, alarming Bishop Salatos and the Spirit Hall Soul Masters watching. Salatos ordered an investigation into Xiao Yun’s origins as Loska began using his soul skills.

• Loska Toma attacked Xiao Yun with his twin pincers, but Xiao Yun deflected every blow with precise swordsmanship.
• Xiao Yun flicked Loska’s venomous Scorpion Tail Barb away with one finger and taunted him to concede.
• Bishop Salatos and the black-robed Soul Masters recognized Xiao Yun’s extraordinary control and suspected he had treated Old Madam’s injuries and aided her breakthrough.
• Salatos ordered his covert agents to investigate Xiao Yun’s background and connections to the Sheng Family.
• Loska began using his soul skills while Salatos accepted the cost of the wager as a chance to uncover Xiao Yun’s identity.

Mo Chen and the Academy Alliance commissioners reassessed Xiao Yun after witnessing his physical strength and swordsmanship, while the academies considered recruiting him and suspected he used an ancient Qi Practitioners system. Loska unleashed three spirit skills against Xiao Yun, who prepared to decide the fight with a single strike.

• Mo Chen concluded that Xiao Yun was the Sheng Family’s greatest strength and reconsidered Snow Spirit City’s balance of power.
• Yao Jinsong, Shui Wuya, Huo Yueyan, and Feng Huayun praised Xiao Yun’s combat techniques and resolved to approach him after the banquet.
• Feng Huayun suggested Xiao Yun’s power resembled the ancient cultivation system of Qi Practitioners, increasing the commissioners’ interest in him.
• Loska released Scorpion Venom Mist, Carapace Hardening, and Twin Tail Strangler together to attack Xiao Yun.
• Xiao Yun stepped forward and raised his longsword as the true contest began.

Xiao Yun defeated Loska in the Training Ground with seven streams of Sword Qi and won the Ten-Thousand-Year Profound Ice Core from Bishop Salatos. After the bishop and his men left, Xiao Yun retired to recover while Old Madam kept Sheng Minglan from following him.

• Loska engulfed the Training Ground in Poison Mist and attacked Xiao Yun with his Scorpion Tails.
• Xiao Yun used Spiritual Power to guide his sword and unleashed seven streams of Sword Qi, cutting off Loska's Scorpion Tails and knocking him unconscious.
• The Poison Mist cleared, revealing Xiao Yun unharmed and Loska defeated; Sheng Changbai and Sheng Changsong reacted to Xiao Yun's Sword Qi.
• Xiao Yun reminded Bishop Salatos of the wager, and Salatos threw him the Ten-Thousand-Year Profound Ice Core before leaving with his men and Loska.
• Xiao Yun left to regulate his breathing, and Old Madam stopped Sheng Minglan from chasing after him.

After witnessing Xiao Yun’s Sword Qi, Shui Wuya and the others suspected he cultivated the ancient Spiritual Power. Xiao Yun spent the night refining a powerful Ice Phoenix Hairpin for Shui Bing'er, then fell asleep as dawn broke.

• Mo Chen resolved to have the City Lord's Mansion investigate Xiao Yun after seeing his Sword Qi shatter the mist.
• Shui Wuya told Huo Yueyan, Feng Huayun, and Yao Jinsong that Xiao Yun’s energy might be Spiritual Power, and the group recognized his extraordinary value.
• Xiao Yun sealed Bamboo Rhyme Courtyard and sculpted an Ice Phoenix from the Ten-Thousand-Year Profound Ice Core.
• Xiao Yun added gold ornamentation and a Void Stone, then inscribed eighty-one Artifact Runes onto the hairpin.
• Xiao Yun completed the Profound Ice Gilded Ice Phoenix Hairpin, a storage tool with Ice Attribute attack and defense abilities intended for Shui Bing'er.
• Xiao Yun worked through the night and fell asleep from exhaustion as dawn arrived.

Xiao Yun told Sheng Minglan that he would leave Snow Spirit City for Heaven Dou City the next morning and arranged for her to cultivate at Skywater Academy. Before departing, he gave her medicine and business advice, leaving Minglan with a promise that he might return in three months.

• Sheng Minglan told Xiao Yun that merchants had resumed cooperating with the Sheng Family and that the City Lord's Mansion had increased its procurement order.
• Xiao Yun announced his departure and urged Sheng Minglan to cultivate at Skywater Academy with Shui Bing'er and Shui Yue'er.
• Xiao Yun revealed his true appearance and identified himself as the leader of the Heaven Dou Royal Team, who had to return for the tournament finals.
• Xiao Yun gave Sheng Minglan Healing Pills, Detoxification Pills, and Soul King-level Soul Replenishing Pills, warning her not to let anyone below Soul Elder take the latter.
• Sheng Minglan promised to stay and cultivate while Xiao Yun said he might return in three months.
• Xiao Yun shared business strategies with Sheng Minglan, who planned to apply them gradually to the Prosperous Dynasty Merchant Guild.

Xiao Yun left Snow Spirit City and watched the returning academy convoy before continuing toward Heaven Dou City. After Ming Lan found his farewell letter, Old Madam urged the Sheng Family to build ties with the academies and placed her hopes for the family on Ming Lan.

• Xiao Yun departed the Sheng Family estate before dawn and found the Three Great Academies’ convoy on the Imperial Road.
• Xiao Yun saw that Shui Ruoyan and Yao Yuerou had become level 62 Spirit Emperors, Shui Bing'er and Yao Zi were level 51 Soul Kings, and Shui Yue'er was a level 45 Soul Ancestor.
• Shui Ruoyan and Yao Yuerou recognized Xiao Yun's aura and recalled using their Dragon Soul Marks to kill two attacking Soul Douluos; Shui Ruoyan said they would pursue the merger of the Four Great Academies.
• Xiao Yun left the convoy and flew toward Heaven Dou City, while Sheng Minglan found his letter and told Old Madam that he had departed.
• Old Madam ordered Sheng Hong to prepare a gift and take Ming Lan to welcome the academy convoy, then told Ming Lan to cultivate well and support the Sheng Family.

Shui Ruoyan returned to Skywater Academy with Shui Bing'er, Shui Yue'er, and a haul of resources, then told the dean and two education committee members that she had found a powerful young backer. The chapter left them stunned as she began explaining that he was around twenty and already possessed strength comparable to a Titled Douluo.

• The Three Great Academies parted ways outside Snow Spirit City's eastern gate after Shui Ruoyan and Yao Yuerou discussed their proposal with the Blazing Fire Academy leader.
• Shui Ruoyan, Shui Bing'er, and Shui Yue'er returned to Skywater Academy with their team and carriages full of resources, drawing cheers and astonishment from the students.
• Shui Luan summoned Shui Ruoyan, Shui Bing'er, Shui Yue'er, Xue Yuzhi, and Gu Hengmei to her office to hear how the search for a backer had gone.
• Shui Ruoyan sealed the office against eavesdroppers and revealed that she had found a suitable backer, but not among the forces the others expected.
• Shui Ruoyan said the backer was a young man around twenty who had Titled Douluo-level strength through another Power System, and she described his feat of shattering a small mountain and repelling two Soul Douluos with a contingency measure.

Shui Ruoyan told Skywater Academy’s leaders about Xiao Yun’s power, gifts, and Meridian Cultivation Method, then offered the method in exchange for the academy joining his future faction. She revealed that she loved Xiao Yun, leaving the decision with Dean Shui Luan and the other elders.

• Shui Ruoyan described Xiao Yun’s status and said his Dragon Soul Marks had driven off two Soul Douluos who attacked her and Yao Yuerou.
• Shui Luan discovered that Shui Ruoyan had reached level sixty-one and was nearing level sixty-two; Shui Ruoyan credited Xiao Yun’s pills and gave pills to Xue Yuzhi and Gu Hengmei.
• Shui Ruoyan presented Xiao Yun’s Meridian Cultivation Method and explained how opening the Twelve Main Meridians could improve cultivation and strengthen Soul Power.
• Shui Ruoyan offered the method to Skywater Academy on the condition that it become an early member of Xiao Yun’s future faction.
• Shui Ruoyan told Shui Luan that Xiao Yun was the man she loved and insisted that her recommendation was based on the academy’s interests as well as her personal feelings.

Shui Luan and Yao Jinsong considered whether their academies should join Xiao Yun after hearing about his abilities, while Xiao Yun traveled to the Ancient Scar Hills to retrieve his Martial Soul Bead and plan its further development.

• Shui Luan decided to have trusted instructors test Xiao Yun’s cultivation method before making a decision about Skywater Academy.
• Yao Yuerou told Yao Jinsong that Xiao Yun had promised to marry her, and Yao Jinsong agreed to meet him before approving the match.
• Xiao Yun flew to the Ancient Scar Hills and spent the night in an abandoned Wooden House.
• Xiao Yun retrieved the Martial Soul Bead from a crevice and confirmed that its Five Elements origin auras were complete.
• Xiao Yun decided that Zhu Zhuqing’s Night Dragon Cat Martial Soul could supply dark-element aura, while sunlight could provide light-element aura.

Xiao Yun returned toward Heaven Dou City after a night at his Yunlai Tavern, then caught a ride with the Golden Ear Trading Company caravan. On the journey, he diagnosed innkeeper Lin Fu’s cultivation problem, gave him a pill and advice, and shared pointers with several guards.

• Xiao Yun reached the town where Yunlai Tavern stood, cleaned his room with Spiritual Power, and slept there.
• Xiao Yun joined a caravan bound for Heaven Dou City after innkeeper Lin Fu recognized him from the competition.
• Xiao Yun identified Lin Fu’s Ironwood Vine Martial Soul and explained that his third soul ring had caused his Soul Power attributes to clash.
• Xiao Yun gave Lin Fu a Moisturizing Pill and instructions for harmonizing his Soul Power so he could break through level thirty-nine.
• Xiao Yun offered cultivation advice to several caravan guards, and news of his guidance spread through the caravan.

Xiao Yun returned to Heaven Dou City and made his way to Heaven Dou Royal Academy, where his students and colleagues welcomed him. As news of his arrival spread, powerful allies prepared to see him while hidden enemies began setting a plan in motion.

• Xiao Yun entered Heaven Dou City with Lin Fu's caravan, accepted an Ice Heart Lotus from Lin Fu, and set off to explore the streets.
• After learning Xiao Yun had returned, Ning Fengzhi left with Chen Xin and Gu Rong to visit Heaven Dou Royal Academy.
• Xue Qinghe sent a generous gift to the academy and ordered increased patrols around it.
• When Tang Yuehua heard Xiao Yun was back, she planned to visit him before nightfall.
• Dugu Yan gathered Zhu Zhuqing, Ning Rongrong, Sylvia, Feng Hua, and the other team members to welcome Xiao Yun at the academy.
• Hidden figures confirmed Xiao Yun's identity and began putting their plan into motion as he reunited with the academy's people.

Xiao Yun returned to Heaven Dou Royal Academy and was persuaded by its committee members to compete in the tournament finals against Spirit Hall Academy. He agreed in exchange for noble rewards and access to the royal family's ancient texts.

• Xiao Yun reunited with the academy girls, instructed the Imperial Fighting Team to prepare for an assessment, and met with the three committee members.
• Meng Shenji, Bai Baoshan, and Zhi Lin told Xiao Yun that Spirit Hall had offered three powerful Spirit Bones as tournament prizes and that its Golden Generation posed a serious threat.
• The committee members urged Xiao Yun to compete, citing the academy's chance at a championship and rewards from the emperor.
• Xiao Yun agreed to enter only if Heaven Dou Royal Academy faced Spirit Hall Academy in the finals, and requested access to the royal family's ancient texts as an additional reward.

Xiao Yun returned to the apartment and told the girls about his trip to Snow Spirit City before giving each of them a special gift. Liu Erlong rushed home to greet him, and the chapter ended with her asking him to tie her hair with the ribbon he had brought her.

• Xiao Yun returned to the apartment, reunited with the girls, and recounted his trip to Snow Spirit City and his help for the Sheng Family.
• Xiao Yun gave Dugu Yan Snake Mark Golden Cones, Sylvia Ice Silkworm Silk Armor, Feng Hua protective butterfly ornaments, Zhu Zhuqing Shadow Tear cat claws, and Ning Rongrong a shield necklace.
• Liu Erlong hurried into the apartment, embraced Xiao Yun, and then fled upstairs in embarrassment when the girls teased her.
• Xiao Yun followed Liu Erlong to her room and showed her the Scarlet Dragon Ribbon he had brought as a gift.
• Liu Erlong admired the ribbon and asked Xiao Yun to tie it for her.

Xiao Yun gave Liu Erlong a ribbon and braided her hair, then treated the girls to a welcome banquet at Heavenly Fragrance Tower. After returning to Heaven Dou Royal Academy, he called for special training ahead of the Grand Finals and reflected on the approaching New Year as he walked toward the Training Ground.

• Xiao Yun braided Liu Erlong's hair and tied it with the Scarlet Dragon Ribbon, and Liu Erlong thanked him with a kiss.
• Xiao Yun took Liu Erlong, Dugu Yan, Ning Rongrong, Feng Hua, and the other girls to Heavenly Fragrance Tower for a lavish welcome banquet.
• Xiao Yun paid three hundred Gold Soul Coins for the meal, then told the girls to prepare for special training starting the next day.
• Xiao Yun returned to his room and thought about Spirit City, the Grand Finals, the three soul bones, and the Golden Generation.
• Xiao Yun noticed the academy's New Year decorations and walked toward the Training Ground.

Xiao Yun watched the team train, corrected their techniques, and announced a week of Trial Tower special training to prepare for the Grand Finals. He returned to the apartment and began cooking dinner while Dugu Yan, Feng Hua, Sylvia, and Ning Rongrong trained in the backyard, but the smell of food brought their practice to a halt.

• Xiao Yun arrived at the Training Ground and watched the team members spar.
• Qin Yue noticed Xiao Yun, and the team gathered around him; Golan explained that Yu Tianheng, Ye Lingling, and Ning Qing had gone home for the holidays.
• Xiao Yun observed the team spar again and gave each member advice on improving their techniques and coordination.
• Xiao Yun ended the session and told the team to prepare for a week of Trial Tower special training before the Grand Finals.
• Xiao Yun returned to the apartment and cooked dinner while Dugu Yan, Feng Hua, Sylvia, and Ning Rongrong practiced in the backyard.
• The four girls paused their training when the aroma from Xiao Yun’s cooking reached them.

Xiao Yun returned and cooked a celebratory New Year meal with help from Zhu Zhuqing, while advising her on improving Hell Stab. After dinner, Liu Erlong revealed that she had turned mahjong into martial arts practice, then pulled Xiao Yun upstairs, leaving the girls to keep playing.

• Zhu Zhuqing helped Xiao Yun prepare dinner and told him she was struggling to improve Hell Stab, so he suggested adding layered rotation to its Soul Power blade.
• Liu Erlong returned from overseeing the estate construction, and the group gathered for Xiao Yun's celebratory meal and an early New Year toast.
• During dinner, Zhu Zhuqing served Xiao Yun, Sylvia shared out the fish, and Dugu Yan and Liu Erlong debated training techniques.
• The girls practiced martial skills through mahjong, using their abilities to control, draw, sense, and discard the tiles.
• Liu Erlong explained the training idea to Xiao Yun, then dragged him upstairs while the girls continued their game.

Xiao Yun led Dugu Yan, Zhu Zhuqing, Ning Rongrong, Sylvia, and Feng Hua through specialized training before opening the Tower of Trials for the academy’s students. He sent the five girls in alone with instructions to challenge as high as they could and use their talismans to escape danger.

• Liu Erlong left Xiao Yun sleeping and went to inspect projects at the estate, while Xiao Yun woke and joined the girls downstairs.
• Xiao Yun trained Dugu Yan, Zhu Zhuqing, Ning Rongrong, Sylvia, and Feng Hua in separate simulated environments tailored to their Martial Souls.
• At lunch, the girls described their training gains and difficulties, and Xiao Yun reminded them to prepare for changing battlefield conditions.
• Xiao Yun manifested the Tower of Trials in the academy plaza and invited the remaining students to enter in teams of five for points and cultivation resources.
• Xiao Yun gave the five girls jade recording talismans and ordered them to challenge the tower alone, use their taught skills, and teleport out if they faced danger they could not handle.