Chapter Summaries

Xiao Yun and the Imperial Fighting Team received rewards from Emperor Xue Ye, with Xiao Yun granted an earldom, an estate, and a choice from the Royal Treasury. He chose a rare Void Spirit Divine Stone instead of the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud, then returned toward Heaven Dou Royal Academy with plans to build a training base.

• Xue Ye granted the Imperial Fighting Team members the title of Imperial Baron and awarded Xiao Yun the title of Earl, an estate, and one treasury treasure.
• Xue Qinghe led Xiao Yun to the Royal Treasury and told him about the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud, which Xiao Yun recognized as the Sea God's Heart.
• Xiao Yun sensed the Sea God's sleeping will within the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud and chose a large Void Spirit Divine Stone instead.
• Xue Qinghe praised Xiao Yun's choice and offered to help him with his estate before they left the treasury.
• Xiao Yun reunited with Yu Tianheng and the others and headed back to Heaven Dou Royal Academy, considering how to use his estate as a base for training and technological development.

Xiao Yun and Imperial Dou Team One returned to Heaven Dou Royal Academy and received a public welcome for winning the Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament. Xiao Yun was named an Honorary Committee Member and rewarded with a Gold Soul Coin card and his apartment, while the team members were named Outstanding Students and received rewards and guidance.

• Xiao Yun and Imperial Dou Team One arrived at Heaven Dou Royal Academy, where students and staff welcomed them as heroes.
• Xiao Yun wondered how soon Spirit Hall might begin a war and concluded he still had several years to prepare.
• Meng Shenji awarded Xiao Yun the title of Honorary Committee Member, a badge, ten thousand Gold Soul Coins, and ownership of his Teacher's Apartment.
• The academy named all nine members of Imperial Dou Team One Outstanding Students and added their names to its Roll of Honor.
• Bai Baoshan and Zhi Lin gave each team member one thousand Gold Soul Coins and offered them individual praise and advice.

After Imperial Dou Team One won the championship, Xiao Yun praised his students and urged Heaven Dou Royal Academy’s next generation to carry on their achievement. Returning to the Teacher’s Apartment, he reunited with Liu Erlong and welcomed his teammates home.

• Meng Shenji invited Xiao Yun to address the academy after the awards ceremony, and Xiao Yun praised each team member’s courage and teamwork.
• Xiao Yun told the students that Imperial Dou Team One had become Heaven Dou’s first champions and urged them to strive to become the next generation of champions.
• The students crowded around the team on their way to the Teacher’s Apartment, and Dugu Yan helped them push through the excited crowd.
• Liu Erlong ran to Xiao Yun and embraced him, welcoming him home as he returned her greeting.
• Liu Erlong welcomed the rest of the team into the apartment, where Xiao Yun found comfort in its familiar surroundings.

Xiao Yun welcomed Liu Erlong and the girls home, gave Liu Erlong a Flame Dragon Coiled Hairpin, and listened as they recounted the Spirit City tournament and Tang Hao’s fate. As Xiao Yun finished preparing dinner, someone knocked at the door.

• Xiao Yun gave Liu Erlong a Flame Dragon Coiled Hairpin and helped her put it on.
• Dugu Yan, Ning Rongrong, Zhu Zhuqing, Xivia, and Shenghua told Liu Erlong about the tournament, Tang San and Xiao Wu’s identities, and Tang Hao’s battle and reported death.
• Dugu Yan told Liu Erlong that Yu Xiaogang had tried to disqualify Xiao Yun, and Liu Erlong said Yu Xiaogang’s affairs had nothing to do with her.
• Xiao Yun, Ning Rongrong, Zhu Zhuqing, Xivia, and Shenghua prepared a welcome-home dinner while Liu Erlong and Dugu Yan waited.
• After Xiao Yun called everyone to dinner, someone knocked at the door.

Tang Yuehua visited Xiao Yun after learning of Tang Hao’s death, and he comforted her as she grieved for her Second Brother. She asked how Tang Hao had died, and Xiao Yun said he suspected Tang Hao had chosen to die.

• Tang Yuehua arrived at Xiao Yun’s apartment, and Liu Erlong welcomed her to dinner.
• Tang Yuehua toasted Xiao Yun and Liu Erlong repeatedly, then Liu Erlong collapsed and the others took her upstairs.
• Tang Yuehua broke down in Xiao Yun’s arms and recalled how kind Tang Hao had been to her when they were young.
• Tang Yuehua asked Xiao Yun to tell her how Tang Hao died, and he suggested Tang Hao may have chosen to die.
• Tang Yuehua stared at Xiao Yun in shock and asked why Tang Hao would do that.

Xiao Yun told Tang Yuehua that Tang Hao may have exposed Ah Yin’s identity and whereabouts because their father sought power for the Clear Sky Sect, and that Tang Hao later chose death from anger and guilt. The next morning, Xue Qinghe visited Xiao Yun to discuss his fief.

• Xiao Yun suggested that Tang Hao and Ah Yin had met the Clear Sky Sect leader, who may have exposed them to secure Tang Hao’s power for the sect.
• Xiao Yun reasoned that Tang Hao later suspected his father’s role and deliberately sought death rather than repeat his father’s actions.
• Tang Yuehua thanked Xiao Yun, collapsed from exhaustion, and fell asleep as he soothed her with Immortal Spirit Qi.
• The next morning, Xiao Yun anticipated Xue Qinghe’s visit and welcomed the Crown Prince into his study.
• Xue Qinghe said she had come to discuss Xiao Yun’s fief.

Xiao Yun chose Dragon Ascending Town as his fief despite Xue Qinghe’s warnings about its remoteness, dangerous Soul Beasts, and entrenched local powers. He planned to make the Dragon Ascending Mountain Range the base for a sect and a growing Soul Master training center, preparing for future upheaval.

• Xue Qinghe explained that prosperous lands near Heaven Dou City were already claimed and suggested distant Snow Spirit Province as an option.
• Xiao Yun asked whether he could choose Snow Spirit City, and Xue Qinghe explained that it was reserved for the imperial family.
• Xiao Yun chose Dragon Ascending Town, and Xue Qinghe warned him about the dangerous mountain and coastal Soul Beasts, poor farmland, small population, and local powers.
• Xiao Yun told Xue Qinghe that Dragon Ascending Town suited him, and Xue Qinghe granted him the fief without seeking the emperor’s approval.
• After Xue Qinghe left, Xiao Yun planned to persuade the Four Elements Academy deans to relocate and build a center for Soul Master cultivation and other disciplines.

Xiao Yun told the women that he was leaving Heaven Dou Royal Academy and would build an estate outside the city for them to live in. They visited the unfinished Xiao's Estate, where Xiao Yun thanked Uncle Fu for guarding the property and saw the foundations of its outer courtyard buildings.

• Xiao Yun learned from Liu Erlong that the estate grounds and construction materials were ready, though the main buildings had not been built.
• Xiao Yun explained that he planned to leave Heaven Dou Royal Academy and move to the estate with Zhu Zhuqing, Ning Rongrong, Dugu Yan, Xivia, Shenghua, and Tang Yuehua.
• Zhu Zhuqing, Ning Rongrong, Dugu Yan, Xivia, Shenghua, and Tang Yuehua each said they would follow Xiao Yun, and he invited them to visit the estate after breakfast.
• Xiao Yun and the women arrived at Xiao's Estate, where Uncle Fu congratulated Xiao Yun, received Healing Pills, and opened the gate for them.
• Xiao Yun and the others entered the vast outer courtyard and saw the laid foundations for its planned buildings.

Xiao Yun showed the group the seasonal layout of the Inner Court and explained how he could build without visible stone. He assembled a complete two-story house in Beginning of Spring Courtyard through supernatural control of the building materials, leaving the group stunned.

• Liu Erlong led Ning Rongrong, Xivia, Shenghua, Dugu Yan, Tang Yuehua, and Zhu Zhuqing through the Inner Court’s five sections and their season-themed gardens.
• Dugu Yan asked Xiao Yun why the Inner Court had four seasonal gardens and twenty-four smaller courtyards.
• Xiao Yun led the group to Beginning of Spring Courtyard and explained that he could build despite the apparent lack of stone.
• Xiao Yun lifted timber, Column Base Stones, boards, doors, and roof tiles into place, assembling a complete two-story house in the time it took an incense stick to burn.

Xiao Yun showed the group the finished Beginning of Spring Courtyard and assigned the women their preferred courtyards. He then began constructing his much larger Central Main Courtyard, raising its wooden frame and laying out the estate’s buildings.

• Xiao Yun revealed that the small courtyard was built from durable Iron Birch Wood after Xivia and Shenghua questioned its strength.
• Ning Rongrong, Dugu Yan, Zhu Zhuqing, Liu Erlong, Tang Yuehua, Xivia, and Shenghua chose or shared courtyards, and Xiao Yun reserved them all.
• Xiao Yun told Ning Rongrong that he would live in the largest foundation in the Central Main Courtyard.
• Xiao Yun used his power to raise and fit the pillars, beams, and rafters of the main house.
• Xiao Yun completed the two-story frame and planned its annexes and six separate utility buildings.

Xiao Yun showed the completed Central Main Courtyard to the women, including its rooms and the pavilion Tang Yuehua named View Mountain Pavilion. He then invited them to build their own courtyards, and they agreed to start with Rain Water Courtyard.

• Xiao Yun led everyone through the newly completed Central Main Courtyard and its auxiliary buildings.
• Xiao Yun showed the group the rockery pavilion, and Tang Yuehua named it View Mountain Pavilion.
• Xiao Yun explained the mortise-and-tenon method and offered to teach the women to build their own courtyards.
• Ning Rongrong, Zhu Zhuqing, Dugu Yan, Xivia, Shenghua, Liu Erlong, and Tang Yuehua agreed to try building, starting with Rain Water Courtyard.

Xiao Yun taught the women to assemble a timber frame, and they worked together to build a two-story house in Rain Water Courtyard. After laying the final roof tile, they admired the building they had made themselves.

• Xiao Yun explained how to match the mortise-and-tenon joints and demonstrated assembling a frame.
• Tang Yuehua, Ning Rongrong, Shenghua, Liu Erlong, Dugu Yan, Zhu Zhuqing, and Xivia practiced joining the timber under Xiao Yun's guidance.
• Liu Erlong and Dugu Yan raised pillars, while the others lifted the remaining pillars and Tang Yuehua directed their placement.
• Ning Rongrong and the others installed the crossbeams, completing the house's frame.
• Shenghua, Zhu Zhuqing, and Xivia laid roof tiles while the others passed them up, and the group finished the two-story house.

After the girls finished building a house together, Xiao Yun prepared them lunch and then constructed the Winter Garden’s six solar-term courtyards and covered walkways. He installed six corresponding Magic Tools, leaving the garden ready to join the larger Twenty-Four Solar Terms Spirit Gathering Array once the other gardens were finished.

• Ning Rongrong, Shenghua, Dugu Yan, Zhu Zhuqing, and the others celebrated their completed house after Xiao Yun inspected it and confirmed there were no flaws.
• Xiao Yun cooked a large lunch in the new kitchen, and the girls praised the food as they ate together.
• Xiao Yun went to the Winter Garden and used the Imperial Object Technique to build six courtyards corresponding to the winter solar terms, then linked them with covered walkways.
• Xiao Yun installed the Concealment Box, Jade Dust Fan, Mountain Sealing Seal, One Yang Pendant, Lingbing Soul, and Year-End Bell in their designated courtyards.
• Xiao Yun sensed the six Magic Tools resonating with one another and anticipated that the full estate array would activate once the spring, summer, and autumn gardens were completed.

Xiao Yun and the girls completed the Spring, Summer, and Autumn Gardens’ fourteen small courtyards, while Xiao Yun built the Front Courtyard’s functional buildings with his Imperial Object Technique. The manor’s construction advanced substantially, with six small courtyards in the Winter Garden still awaiting completion.

• Xiao Yun inspected the completed Jingzhe and Chunfen Courtyards, praised the girls’ work, and led them back to the academy because the houses still lacked furnishings and daily necessities.
• Over the next three days, Tang Yuehua organized the girls as they built the fourteen small courtyards in the Spring, Summer, and Autumn Gardens.
• Ning Rongrong, Shenghua, Liu Erlong, Dugu Yan, Zhu Zhuqing, and Xivia helped complete the courtyards, taking pride in buildings they had made together.
• Xiao Yun used his Imperial Object Technique to construct the Front Courtyard’s gatehouse, Carriage House, Training Ground, warehouses, library, guest rooms, Ju Xian Hall, and stables.
• Tang Yuehua noted that Xiao Yun would build the Winter Garden’s six remaining small courtyards, while the completed Front Courtyard stood ready.

Xiao Yun activated the Twenty-Four Solar Terms Spirit Gathering Array, drawing vast amounts of spirit qi into his estate and creating a pillar of light visible across Heaven Dou City. Dugu Bo, Meng Shenji, and Xue Qinghe arrived to investigate, and Xiao Yun confirmed that the array was his.

• Xiao Yun activated the twenty-four Magic Tools, forming a huge pillar of light and a spirit-qi vortex above his estate.
• Xue Qinghe saw the pillar from the Crown Prince's Mansion and ordered a horse so she could leave the city.
• Meng Shenji sensed the surge in Soul Power at Heaven Dou Royal Academy, recognized Xiao Yun's estate as its source, and headed there.
• Prince Xue Xing and the Imperial Guard reacted to the pillar, while Chen Xin sensed its unusual energy and vanished toward it.
• Dugu Bo arrived at the estate and asked Xiao Yun whether he had caused the phenomenon; Xiao Yun said he had activated an array.
• Meng Shenji and Xue Qinghe arrived at the estate, and Xiao Yun confirmed to Xue Qinghe that the light had come from there.

Xiao Yun’s estate drew attention after the Twenty-Four Solar Terms Spirit Gathering Array caused a spectacular pillar of light, which Dugu Bo claimed came from his breakthrough to rank ninety-four. Dugu Bo discovered the array had concentrated Soul Power throughout the estate, and Xiao Yun left the others with the promise that this was only the beginning.

• Prince Xue Xing, the imperial guards, Meng Shenji, and Xue Qinghe arrived and congratulated Dugu Bo on his supposed breakthrough to rank ninety-four before departing.
• Sword Douluo Chen Xin questioned Dugu Bo’s rapid rise in rank, examined Xiao Yun’s estate, and said he would visit with Sect Master Ning.
• Dugu Bo entered the estate and learned that Xiao Yun’s Twenty-Four Solar Terms Spirit Gathering Array gathered Soul Power from several dozen li around it.
• Dugu Bo found the Soul Power in the backyard twice as dense as in the Front Courtyard and comparable to the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace’s special Training Areas.
• Dugu Bo praised Xiao Yun, told him to treat Dugu Yan well, and departed.
• Ning Rongrong asked whether the estate would remain so impressive, and Xiao Yun replied that it was only the beginning.

Xiao Yun began activating the Four Seasons Rotation Defense Array by embedding three seasonal treasures into the Spring, Summer, and Autumn Gardens, strengthening their spiritual energy and giving each a distinct quality. He headed toward the Winter Garden to complete the array.

• Xiao Yun embedded the Azure Dragon Mengzhang Seal into the largest peach tree in the Spring Garden, sharply increasing the garden's Soul Power.
• Xiao Yun activated the Vermilion Bird Lingguang Feather in the Summer Garden's fountain sculpture, creating a warm, spiritually charged Hot Spring.
• Liu Erlong showed interest in bathing in the newly formed Hot Spring.
• Xiao Yun embedded the White Tiger Jianbing Banner into the Autumn Garden's rockery, filling the garden with sharp, martial Soul Power.

Xiao Yun installed the Black Tortoise Zhiming Lamp and activated the Four Seasons Protective Array, sealing and concentrating Soul Power throughout the manor. The intensified energy enriched all four gardens, and Ning Rongrong asked when everyone could move in.

• Xiao Yun installed the Black Tortoise Zhiming Lamp in the Winter Garden, completing the placement of the Four Symbols magic tools.
• Xiao Yun activated the array disk in View Mountain Pavilion, raising a pale blue barrier over the manor and forming the Four Seasons Protective Array.
• Ning Rongrong, Dugu Yan, Liu Erlong, and the others sensed Soul Power flowing into the manor and remaining sealed inside.
• The flowers and trees in the four gardens flourished as Xiao Yun explained that the array made the seasons more distinct rather than disrupting them.
• Ning Rongrong asked Xiao Yun when everyone could move in, and he said they could do so at any time after arranging their own furnishings and supplies.

Xiao Yun adjusted the estate’s defensive array to keep its Soul Power density impressive but inconspicuous, then the young women began choosing their courtyards. By the end, most had settled into places that suited them, while the estate continued preparing for their move-in.

• Dugu Yan asked whether anyone had noticed the formation, and Xiao Yun explained that its quiet operation could be mistaken for the Spirit Gathering Array; Liu Erlong then urged him to rest.
• Xiao Yun weakened the defense array until the estate held about twice the surrounding Soul Power density, planning to strengthen it again after outside factions stopped watching him.
• Xue Qianren, disguised as Xue Qianren, chose the Jingzhe Courtyard in the Spring Garden.
• Liu Erlong chose the Major Heat Courtyard, Tang Yuehua chose the Winter Solstice Courtyard, and Dugu Yan chose the Minor Heat Courtyard.
• Zhu Zhuqing chose the Autumn Equinox Courtyard, Ning Rongrong chose the Bai Lu Courtyard, and Xivia chose the Beginning of Autumn Courtyard.
• Shenghua chose the End of Heat Courtyard beside Xivia’s, so the two could visit one another easily.

As the girls furnished their courtyards in Spring Garden, Xiao Yun visited Heaven Dou Royal Academy to resign as leader of the Imperial Fighting Team. He declined an offer to stay as a senior instructor because he planned to take up his fief in Dragon Ascending Town, and invited the committee members to his housewarming banquet.

• Ning Rongrong, Zhu Zhuqing, Dugu Yan, Liu Erlong, Tang Yuehua, Xivia, Shenghua, and Xue Qianren furnished or arranged their assigned courtyards.
• Xiao Yun visited Heaven Dou Royal Academy and formally resigned as leader of the Imperial Fighting Team.
• Meng Shenji and Bai Baoshan praised Xiao Yun's service and offered him a permanent team leader position, but he declined.
• Meng Shenji offered Xiao Yun a senior instructor post, but Xiao Yun said he would leave for his fief in Dragon Ascending Town.
• Xiao Yun invited Meng Shenji, Bai Baoshan, and Zhi Lin to his housewarming banquet, and they accepted.