Chapter Summaries

While shopping in Spirit City, Xiao Yun met Xie Yue outside Angel's Judgment, and the two exchanged polite but probing words about their teams and the tournament. An argument between two girls inside the shop interrupted them, and they rushed in to find out what had happened.

• Xiao Yun waited outside Angel's Judgment while the seven girls shopped inside.
• Xiao Yun recognized the Spirit Hall Academy Soul King Xie Yue, who also identified him as Heaven Dou Royal Academy's captain.
• Xie Yue greeted Xiao Yun, and they compared Spirit City and Heaven Dou City while discreetly probing each other's strength and tournament plans.
• An argument broke out inside the shop over who had picked up an item first.
• Xiao Yun and Xie Yue rushed inside and saw two girls facing each other by a display stand.

Dugu Yan and Hu Liena argued over a roll of Gilded Streamer Illusionary Gauze until Xiao Yun and Xie Yue calmed them down. Hu Liena then tried to charm Xiao Yun, but his sword intent broke through her power and left her collapsing.

• Dugu Yan and Hu Liena fought over the Gilded Streamer Illusionary Gauze, each claiming the right to it.
• Xiao Yun and Xie Yue arrived, persuaded their companions to release the silk, and exchanged apologies.
• Hu Liena approached Xiao Yun, apologized, and unleashed her Charm Power to test him.
• Xiao Yun remained unaffected and countered Hu Liena's charm with the Azure Sword Lotus in his Sea of Consciousness.
• Hu Liena's charm collapsed against Xiao Yun's sword intent, and the backlash made her pale and fall backward.

Yan confronted Xiao Yun at the Heaven Dou Empire barracks, accusing him of harming Hu Liena and attacking when Xiao Yun denied it. Xiao Yun evaded Yan’s furious assault without landing a blow, leaving the confrontation unresolved.

• Yan arrived at the barracks and demanded that Xiao Yun answer for Hu Liena’s unconsciousness.
• Meng Shenji questioned Yan’s accusation, and Xiao Yun privately explained the earlier dispute at Angel's Judgment.
• Xiao Yun told Yan that Hu Liena had only argued with a student and suggested her condition might have another cause.
• Yan dismissed Xiao Yun’s explanation, activated his Flame Lord Martial Soul, and attacked him.
• Xiao Yun dodged Yan’s repeated strikes, while Yan grew winded and more furious.

Xiao Yun stopped Yan from attacking him, and Moon Guan intervened before the fight could escalate. After learning that Hu Liena’s Charm had backfired against Xiao Yun, Bibi Dong ordered a reassessment of his abilities, leaving Spirit Hall wary of him ahead of the tournament.

• Yan began gathering a powerful soul skill to attack Xiao Yun, but Moon Guan appeared and suppressed him.
• Xiao Yun warned Moon Guan that Spirit Hall’s members could damage its reputation by causing trouble before the tournament, and Moon Guan took Yan away.
• Moon Guan told Yan to reflect on his actions and barred him from leaving the Training Area without permission until the tournament ended.
• Hu Liena awoke in Pope's Palace and described the terrifying Green Lotus she had seen when her Charm backfired against Xiao Yun.
• Bibi Dong cautioned Hu Liena not to underestimate Xiao Yun and ordered an attendant to investigate his Martial Soul and Spiritual Power.

Xiao Yun and the Heaven Dou teams prepared for the Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament as Shrek Academy arrived and the first-round draw was held. On the morning of the matches, Xiao Yun helped prepare breakfast for the teams before the tournament began.

• Xiao Yun led the Imperial Dou teams in training at the Sacred Soul Arena while Meng Shenji worried about Shrek Academy's delayed arrival.
• Shrek Academy arrived in Spirit City on January 29, battered and wary, and Flender and Yu Xiaogang took their team into their assigned courtyard.
• At the January 30 draw, Heaven Dou Royal Academy Team One drew Hagen Das Academy, Team Two drew Star Luo Noble Academy, and Shrek drew Spirit City Fire Soul Academy; Spirit Hall Team One received a bye.
• Meng Shenji urged Xiao Yun to lead both Heaven Dou teams to victory, and Xiao Yun said they were prepared for the matches.
• At dawn on February 1, Xiao Yun joined Li Dequan in preparing a hearty breakfast for the academy teams.

Xiao Yun prepared the Heaven Dou Royal Academy teams for the tournament opening ceremony and led them to Angel Plaza. The ceremony culminated in Pope Bibi Dong's dramatic appearance, illuminated by a beam of sunlight.

• Xiao Yun cooked breakfast, woke the female team members, and reminded everyone to wear their uniforms for the opening ceremony.
• Meng Shenji led the assembled Heaven Dou Royal Academy teams to Angel Plaza, where fifteen competing teams and tens of thousands of spectators had gathered.
• A crimson-robed bishop opened the tournament, and the ceremony proceeded through formalities and team introductions.
• Hu Liena delivered the competitors' speech and briefly met Xiao Yun's gaze, showing a flicker of complex emotion.
• Bibi Dong emerged from the Pope's Palace in ceremonial robes, and sunlight through the Six-Winged Angel statue cast her in a pillar of light.

Bibi Dong opened the tournament and announced three Spirit Bone rewards before the first match began. Xiao Yun led Heaven Dou Royal Academy Team One against Hagen Das, revealing their formidable lineup and launching a coordinated strike at the opposing rear.

• Bibi Dong welcomed the teams, announced three Spirit Bones as the champion’s reward, and scheduled Heaven Dou Royal Academy Team One versus Hagen Das for the opening match.
• Xiao Yun reviewed Hagen Das’s abilities and ordered his team to win quickly while concealing his, Yanzi’s, and Zhu Qing’s strengths.
• Heaven Dou Royal Academy Team One revealed three Soul Kings and four Soul Ancestors, shocking the crowd and unnerving Hagen Das.
• After the referee started the match, Ning Rongrong enhanced Yu Tianheng and Xivia, who charged through Hagen Das’s formation toward its support and healing Soul Masters.
• Yu Tianheng tore through the defensive line with Tyrant Dragon’s Claw while Xivia slipped past the defenders and lunged at the Healing Type Soul Master.

Heaven Dou Royal Academy Team One defeated the Häagen-Dazs Team decisively, while the tournament’s remaining matches determined all eight top contenders. The chapter ended with the semifinals set to begin after a one-day break, as tensions continued to rise in Spirit City.

• Feng Hua’s Dream Butterfly Powder disrupted the Häagen-Dazs Team as Yu Tianheng and Xivia knocked out its healer, and Heaven Dou Royal Academy Team One went on to win in under three minutes.
• Star Luo Royal Academy defeated Barak Academy, and Heaven Dou Team Two narrowly beat Star Luo Noble Academy to advance to the top eight.
• Shrek Academy overcame Fire Soul Academy after Tang San and Xiao Wu broke through its core attacker in a difficult match.
• Star Luo First Military Academy, Star Luo Hundred Schools Academy, and Martial Soul City Thunder Advanced Spirit Master Academy won their matches to claim the remaining open top-eight spots.
• The Organizing Committee announced a one-day break before the top-four matches began on March 4.

Xiao Yun secretly followed Yu Xiaogang to a meeting with Bibi Dong, after Yu Xiaogang used a Spirit Hall Elder Token to request an audience. The chapter ended as Bibi Dong arrived alone and dismissed a Spirit Hall Soul Master who had been watching Yu Xiaogang.

• Xiao Yun noticed Yu Xiaogang slipping out of the barracks and secretly attached a thread of Divine Sense to him.
• Xiao Yun disguised himself and followed Yu Xiaogang through Spirit City to an old courtyard in the third-ring district.
• Yu Xiaogang told Granny Mei that he regretted abandoning Dong'er, but she rejected his appeal and called him faithless.
• Yu Xiaogang showed Granny Mei a Spirit Hall Elder Token and asked her to tell Your Majesty that he had an important matter to discuss.
• Xiao Yun hid inside the courtyard and watched Granny Mei use a concealed passage and a Communication Soul Tool.
• Bibi Dong arrived alone in a Black Cloak and signaled for the Spirit Hall Soul Master who had followed Yu Xiaogang to withdraw.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Bibi Dong (Black Shadow) meets Yu Xiaogang at Granny Mei's courtyard.
• Yu Xiaogang attempts to rekindle old feelings and persuade Bibi Dong to help his disciple, Tang San, by using nostalgia and shared history.
• A series of comedic mishaps disrupt Yu Xiaogang's plans, leading to a failed attempt at emotional manipulation.
• Bibi Dong retrieves the Elder Token from Yu Xiaogang, symbolizing the severance of their past connection.

Character Developments

• Yu Xiaogang: Initially attempts to use sentimentality to sway Bibi Dong, but his desperation and frustration become evident as his plans fail. He ultimately reveals his true purpose and accepts defeat.
• Bibi Dong: Initially shows a brief softening at the sight of Yu Xiaogang, but quickly regains her composure. She remains unmoved by Yu Xiaogang's attempts to rekindle their past, ultimately retrieving the Elder Token and severing their connection.

Significant Themes

• Nostalgia and its limitations: While nostalgia can evoke strong emotions, it cannot change the present or alter one's path.
• Power and ambition: Bibi Dong's focus on power and her journey to godhood leaves no room for sentimentality or attachments from the past.
• The past's influence on the present: Yu Xiaogang's attempts to leverage their shared history highlight the enduring impact of their past relationship, but ultimately, it fails to sway Bibi Dong.

Character Interactions

• Yu Xiaogang and Bibi Dong: Their interaction is tense and awkward, with Yu Xiaogang's attempts at emotional manipulation falling flat. Bibi Dong remains unmoved and eventually retrieves the Elder Token, signifying the end of their connection.
• Xiao Yun and Yu Xiaogang: Xiao Yun subtly interferes with Yu Xiaogang's plans, causing minor mishaps that disrupt his attempts to sway Bibi Dong.

Yu Xiaogang received Bibi Dong’s method for safely cultivating his second Martial Soul, then tried to use a pair of Red Thread Puppets to restore their bond. Xiao Yun stopped him and sealed the curse, freeing Bibi Dong from her lingering attachment as Yu Xiaogang lay unconscious.

• Bibi Dong gave Yu Xiaogang the Martial Soul Temporary Sealing Art in exchange for his Elder Token and ordered him to leave.
• Yu Xiaogang revealed two puppets linked by a fading red thread and tried to strengthen it with his Essence Blood.
• Xiao Yun struck away the blood, knocked Yu Xiaogang unconscious, and took the puppets.
• Xiao Yun sealed the curse energy in the red thread, breaking its connection to the puppets.
• Bibi Dong felt relief and saw Yu Xiaogang clearly as a mediocre, selfish, and irresponsible man.

Xiao Yun left the unconscious Yu Xiaogang after severing the curse’s connection, then explored Spirit City’s Outer City to learn how ordinary residents lived under Spirit Hall’s rule. He found that the commoners’ districts were poor but orderly, with basic relief, education, and protections in place.

• Xiao Yun hid Yu Xiaogang in an abandoned crate, and Bibi Dong left for the Pope’s Palace without noticing it.
• Xiao Yun bought gifts for Liu Erlong, Shui Bing'er, and the other girls, then sealed away the lifeless red thread and puppets.
• On February 4th, Xiao Yun disguised himself as a common traveler and went to Spirit City’s Outer City Commoners’ District.
• In Dawn District, Xiao Yun saw relief stations, schools, and residents discussing work opportunities, land allocations, and punishments for abusive officials.
• Xiao Yun visited the other four commoners’ districts and found that residents had basic safety, food support, medical care, education, and public order.

Xiao Yun observed Spirit Hall’s governance and compared its laws and opportunities for commoners with the corruption of the Two Great Empires. He returned to the Barracks with a clearer view of Spirit Hall’s strengths and flaws, and of the gods who might become his future opponents.

• Xiao Yun watched Gray Armor Guards stop a drunken Spirit Hall deacon from whipping an old farmer and enforce the law by making the deacon pay compensation.
• Xiao Yun reflected that Spirit Hall offered civilians more protection and clearer paths to advancement than the Two Great Empires, helping explain its popular support.
• Xiao Yun considered how Spirit Hall’s rise to empire might have corrupted its ideals and how the Angel God’s possible absence had left it vulnerable to the Sea God and Asura God.
• Xiao Yun observed further abuses by low-ranking Spirit Hall personnel and noted that fear of talented descendants seemed to limit the severity of their misconduct.
• Xiao Yun returned to the Barracks, recorded his observations, and regarded Spirit Hall as a complex force worth studying as he prepared for a future that could involve gods.

The Star Luo Royal Academy faced the Star Luo Hundred Schools Academy in a fierce Grand Finals match. Dai Weisi and Zhu Zhuyun’s Hell White Tiger fusion was interrupted, but the Royal Academy narrowly won and advanced to the semifinals.

• Long Pojun, Tie Shan, and Feng Linger attacked Dai Weisi while Feng Linger’s rings restricted Zhu Zhuyun and Li Yingren searched for an opening.
• Dai Weisi and Zhu Zhuyun unleashed the Hell White Tiger, which severely wounded Long Pojun, Tie Shan, and Feng Linger.
• Li Yingren used Extreme Point Flash to strike the fusion’s unstable energy node and disperse the Hell White Tiger, leaving Dai Weisi and Zhu Zhuyun weakened by backlash.
• The Star Luo Royal Academy’s remaining fighters outlasted the Hundred Schools Academy and won the match, advancing to the semifinals despite serious injuries to Dai Weisi and Zhu Zhuyun.
• Dai Mubai watched Zhu Zhuqing focus on Xiao Yun and felt resentment, while Tang San welcomed the prospect of gaining Dai Mubai as an ally against Xiao Yun.

Heaven Dou Royal Academy Team One faced Team Two in an internal match, with Zhu Zhuqing debuting as a fifteen-year-old Soul King wielding the evolved Night Dragon Cat Martial Soul. Team One crushed its opponents and advanced to the top four, leaving Zhu Zhuqing’s former allies and the Star Luo delegation stunned by her strength.

• Xiao Yun selected Zhu Zhuqing to replace Ling Ling and told her to secure a quick victory while concealing the team’s strength.
• Zhu Zhuqing revealed her Night Dragon Cat Martial Soul and five Soul Rings, shocking the spectators, Dai Weisi, Zhu Zhuyun, and the Star Luo Zhu Family delegation.
• Team Two opened by having Golan restrain Yu Tianheng and target Ning Rongrong, while Zhu Zhuqing used Shadow Clone to hold off four Agility Attack Soul Ancestors.
• Yu Tianheng broke free and fought Golan, while Xivia and Feng Hua suppressed Team Two’s support fighters and the Shi Mo brothers protected Ning Rongrong.
• Team One defeated Team Two in less than a quarter of an hour, advanced to the top four, and publicly revealed Zhu Zhuqing’s combat power.

Shrek Academy fought Star Luo First Military Academy in a quarterfinal, overcoming the opposing ranged fighters but suffering heavy injuries when the last two spearmen launched a desperate attack. Tang San protected Oscar and Ning Yunshan, and the battle remained unresolved as Shrek faced the two shield wielders with much of its strength depleted.

• Star Luo First Military Academy opened with a coordinated attack aimed at Shrek's attackers and support members, while Ning Yunshan boosted Shrek's fighters and Oscar supplied Flying Mushroom Sausages.
• Yang Zongbao attacked the archers from the air as Tang San evaded and restrained the spearmen, and Ma Hongjun countered the ranged attacks with Phoenix flames.
• Tang San used Blue Silver Prison to briefly bind two enemies, allowing Ma Hongjun to strike them out of the match; Yang Zongbao then drove the final archer off the Arena.
• The two shield wielders launched their spearmen at Oscar and Ning Yunshan with a combined attack, and Tang San blocked the spinning spears with his Eight Spider Lances and arms, fracturing his bones.
• Tang San assessed both teams' remaining strength and concluded that Shrek could not afford to prolong the fight.

Tang San revealed the Clear Sky Hammer and led Shrek Academy to victory, drawing alarmed attention from powerful factions. Later, Hu Liena and Xie Yue unveiled their Martial Soul Fusion Skill, Demon Charm, as the top-eight battles continued.

• Tang San recovered with Oscar's sausages and Ning Yunshan's support, then used the Clear Sky Hammer and Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer to knock out the two Shield Soul Ancestors and defeat the remaining opponents.
• The referee declared Shrek Academy the winner, and spectators recognized Tang San as the wielder of the Clear Sky Hammer and a Twin Martial Soul user.
• Bibi Dong, Spirit Hall's elders, Dai Weisi, and Heaven Dou Empire officials reacted gravely to Tang San's revealed identity, while Xiao Yun remarked that a storm was beginning.
• Spirit Hall Advanced Spirit Master Academy Team One faced Martial Soul Hall Thunder Advanced Spirit Master Academy, with Hu Liena and Xie Yue taking the field together.
• Hu Liena and Xie Yue performed their Martial Soul Fusion Skill, Demon Charm, filling the battlefield with crimson mist and forming a powerful, demonic fusion figure.

Demon Charm stunned the Great Soul Arena with the powerful fusion of Xie Yue and Hu Liena, provoking awe and alarm among the competing factions. It overwhelmed Thunder Academy, sending Spirit Hall Team One into the semifinals, where the four finalists would meet in two days.

• Demon Charm's appearance shocked Prince Xue Xing, Ning Fengzhi, and the representatives of the rival academies and empires.
• Spirit City's spectators erupted in celebration as they recognized Demon Charm as Xie Yue and Hu Liena's Martial Soul Fusion Skill.
• Demon Charm taunted Thunder Academy's seven fighters, vanished into their midst, and defeated them with Spiritual Impact and Moon Blade attacks.
• Spirit Hall Team One advanced to the semifinals alongside Heaven Dou Royal Academy Team One, Shrek Academy, and Star Luo Royal Academy.
• The semifinal matches were set to take place two days later.

The four semifinal captains gathered to draw lots and determine the matchups. Dai Weisi drew the crystal ball marked one, leaving Dai Mubai to draw next under his brother’s taunting gaze.

• A Spirit Hall Bishop announced that the semifinal captains would draw lots to decide the matchups.
• Xie Yue, Dai Weisi, Dai Mubai, and Yu Tianheng entered the arena to represent their teams.
• Xiao Yun refused Meng Shenji’s suggestion that he draw in Yu Tianheng’s place, and Yu Tianheng took his position as captain.
• Xie Yue offered to let the other captains draw first, and Yu Tianheng redirected the choice to the Dai brothers.
• Dai Weisi drew the crystal ball marked one and challenged Dai Mubai to draw the next lot.

The semifinal draw paired Dai Mubai’s Shrek Academy against Dai Weisi’s Star Luo Royal Academy and Yu Tianheng’s Heaven Dou Royal Academy against Spirit Hall Academy. As the teams prepared for the February 9 matches under a new substitution rule, Xiao Yun planned for the Spirit Hall confrontation and placed bets on the tournament outcomes.

• Dai Mubai drew the same rune as Dai Weisi, setting Shrek Academy against Star Luo Royal Academy, while Yu Tianheng’s draw paired Heaven Dou Royal Academy with Spirit Hall Academy.
• The purple-robed Bishop announced the semifinal schedule and a new rule allowing each team to register one substitute and make one approved substitution during a match.
• Xiao Yun told Yu Tianheng’s team to refine its tactics against Spirit Hall’s Demon Charm and Yan’s Flame Lord, and considered using Dugu Yan, Zhu Qing, or himself as a substitute.
• During the two-day break, Xiao Yun used several identities to bet on Shrek Academy and Heaven Dou Royal Academy, including a wager on Heaven Dou winning the championship.