Chapter Summaries

Xiao Yun visited Lou Gao’s workshop and examined the Soul-Guided Single-Cylinder Engine Lou Gao had built from Xiao Yun’s steam engine blueprints. Xiao Yun invited Lou Gao to join Dragon Ascending Territory, then left him studying a flying sword and was confident he would come.

• Xiao Yun and the three women visited Lou Gao, who showed them his Soul-Guided Single-Cylinder Engine and explained how it used soul power to drive a piston.
• Xiao Yun praised the engine and discussed its design and possible uses in vehicles, ships, and factories with Lou Gao.
• At lunch, Xiao Yun invited Lou Gao to become the first blacksmith of Dragon Ascending Territory.
• Lou Gao asked to examine Xiao Yun’s flying sword, and Xiao Yun let him keep it for study.
• Xiao Yun left the workshop with Shui Bing’er, Zhu Zhuqing, and Spirit Flame Maiden, telling Shui Bing’er that Lou Gao would join him.

Xiao Yun took Shui Bing'er, Zhu Zhuqing, and Spirit Flame Maiden around Gengxin City before beginning their journey back toward Heaven Dou City by way of Star Luo City. As they traveled through the Star Luo Empire, Zhu Zhuqing reflected on returning to the country she had fled.

• Xiao Yun let Shui Bing'er and Zhu Zhuqing show Spirit Flame Maiden around Gengxin City while he bought gifts for the women back at the manor.
• Zhu Family spies recognized Zhu Zhuqing but followed the group instead of confronting her because fighting was forbidden in Gengxin City.
• Xiao Yun and the three women ate dinner at the Star Crown Hotel, where he ordered double portions to satisfy Spirit Flame Maiden.
• Xiao Yun, Shui Bing'er, Zhu Zhuqing, and Spirit Flame Maiden left Gengxin City at dawn in Old Zhou's carriage and took the eastern route toward Star Luo City.
• Xiao Yun observed the harsh living conditions of Star Luo's commoners, while Zhu Zhuqing looked out at the fields and recalled her childhood and flight from the empire.

Xiao Yun and Zhu Zhuqing were ambushed by death warriors from a branch of the Star Luo Zhu Family while walking through a small town. After they defeated the attackers, they continued toward Star Luo City, where Zhu Zhuqing faced the turmoil stirred by her family’s betrayal.

• Xiao Yun and Zhu Zhuqing walked through the town and agreed to let the followers who had tracked them make their move.
• More than thirty men in black fired crossbows at Xiao Yun and Zhu Zhuqing, but the two dodged the bolts and counterattacked.
• Zhu Zhuqing killed several attackers with her sword while Xiao Yun defeated the rest and captured their leader.
• Xiao Yun read the leader’s memories and learned that Zhu Family branch elders had ordered the ambush to punish Zhu Zhuqing for leaving Dai Mubai.
• Xiao Yun and Zhu Zhuqing returned to the inn, and Zhu Zhuqing said he did not need to hold back if they attacked again.
• The next morning, Xiao Yun, Zhu Zhuqing, Spirit Flame Maiden, and Shui Bing'er left for Star Luo City, with Zhu Zhuqing quiet during the journey.

Zhu Zhuyun invited Xiao Yun and Zhu Zhuqing to the Zhu Family residence in Star Luo City, and Zhu Zhuqing chose to go despite her strained relationship with her sister. Xiao Yun sent Zhu Zhuqing, Shui Bing’er, and Spirit Flame Maiden into the Xuantian Pagoda for safety before the visit, which he expected to be dangerous.

• Xiao Yun met Zhu Zhuyun, who invited him and Zhu Zhuqing to visit the Zhu Family at her father Zhu Debiao’s request.
• Xiao Yun asked Zhu Zhuqing whether she wanted to go, and she agreed after he reassured her that no one could force her.
• Zhu Zhuqing told Xiao Yun that Zhu Zhuyun had once been kind to her but changed as they grew older.
• Shui Bing’er, Spirit Flame Maiden, and Zhu Zhuqing agreed to enter Xiao Yun’s Xuantian Pagoda so they would be safe during the visit.
• Xiao Yun sent the three women into the pagoda and watched Star Luo City from the inn, anticipating trouble the next day.

Shui Bing'er, Zhu Zhuqing, and Spirit Flame Maiden entered Xiao Yun's Medicine Garden and met Tianmeng, its guardian. Tianmeng showed them the garden and explained its spiritual herbs, leaving Spirit Flame Maiden waiting for the Crimson Flame Grass to mature before Xiao Yun could refine it into pills.

• Shui Bing'er, Zhu Zhuqing, and Spirit Flame Maiden entered the Medicine Garden and saw its spring, spiritual herbs, butterflies, and courtyard.
• Tianmeng introduced herself as the leader of the Sky Dream Ice Butterfly clan and welcomed the three women as Lord Xiao Yun's madams.
• Tianmeng showed the women her residence, including Xiao Yun's pill-refining room and medicinal herb warehouse.
• Tianmeng guided the women through the Medicine Garden and identified Silver Frost Grass as helpful to Shui Bing'er and Crimson Flame Grass as useful to Spirit Flame Maiden.
• Spirit Flame Maiden asked to pick Crimson Flame Grass, but Tianmeng said it had not matured and Xiao Yun would harvest it for pills later.

Xiao Yun brought Tian Meng out of the Medicine Garden, where she enjoyed human food and spent the night with Shui Bing'er, Zhu Zhuqing, and Spirit Flame Maiden. In Star Luo City, Zhu Zhuyun reported on Xiao Yun to Zhu Debiao, who decided the Zhu Family should seek cooperation with him.

• Shui Bing'er persuaded Tian Meng to leave the Medicine Garden and join the others for dinner.
• Tian Meng tried a variety of dishes, delighted in the food, and agreed to stay with the women and visit Star Luo City the next day.
• Shui Bing'er, Zhu Zhuqing, and Spirit Flame Maiden brought Tian Meng to their room and began teaching her mahjong.
• Zhu Zhuyun returned to the Zhu Family Courtyard and told Zhu Debiao that Xiao Yun would visit the next day and Zhu Zhuqing was with him.
• Zhu Zhuyun described Xiao Yun's unfathomable strength and his companions, then proposed bringing him to the Zhu Family's side.
• Zhu Debiao said the Zhu Family should cooperate with Xiao Yun rather than try to win him over.

Xiao Yun and Zhu Zhuqing traveled with Zhu Zhuyun to the Zhu Family estate in Star Luo City, while Xiao Yun hid Shui Bing'er, Spirit Flame Maiden, and Tian Meng in the Pagoda Space. They reached Spirit Cat Castle and waited for the Duke to arrive.

• Zhu Debiao asked Zhu Zhuyun about Xiao Yun and Zhu Zhuqing, then told her to arrange their welcome without embarrassing Zhuqing.
• Xiao Yun concealed Shui Bing'er, Spirit Flame Maiden, and Tian Meng in the Pagoda Space before boarding Zhu Zhuyun's carriage with Zhu Zhuqing.
• Star Luo Empire spies found the inn room empty and could not explain how the three women had disappeared.
• The carriage crossed Star Luo City and entered the Zhu Family estate, where Zhu Zhuqing described the training grounds from her childhood.
• Steward Lin welcomed Xiao Yun, Zhu Zhuyun, and Zhu Zhuqing to Spirit Cat Castle and escorted them to the living room to await the Duke.

Xiao Yun and Zhu Zhuqing met with Zhu Debiao, who accepted her choice to remain with Xiao Yun and agreed to protect her from the Dai Family’s response. Zhu Debiao then arranged a monthly trade for Xiao Yun’s pills, and they toasted their new partnership.

• Zhu Debiao reprimanded Zhu Zhuqing, but Xiao Yun defended her and said no one could interfere with her decision.
• Zhu Debiao agreed not to pursue Zhu Zhuqing’s departure and warned that the Dai Family would seek revenge over the loss of the Hell Spirit Cat Martial Soul Fusion Skill.
• Xiao Yun said he could handle the Dai Family unless a Limit Douluo intervened, prompting Zhu Debiao to suspect he had powerful backing.
• Zhu Debiao agreed to provide ten thousand-year-old Spirit Grass, medicinal herbs, and Gold Soul Coins each month in exchange for fifty Soul King-level Soul Replenishing Pills.
• Zhu Debiao privately asked Xiao Yun not to let Zhu Zhuqing down, then toasted him for saving her, guiding her cultivation, and forming a partnership with the Zhu Family.

Zhu Zhuqing showed Xiao Yun around her family’s ancient castle and training grounds, where her cousin Zhu Zhuyan confronted her over old grievances. Xiao Yun exposed Zhu Zhuyan’s resentment over Dai Mubai’s choice, leaving the confrontation poised to escalate.

• After lunch, Zhu Debiao told Zhu Zhuqing to show Xiao Yun around the estate and said he felt at ease with her following Xiao Yun.
• Zhu Zhuqing showed Xiao Yun the ancient castle’s kitchens, bedrooms, dining rooms, reception rooms, cultivation facilities, and outdoor training ground.
• Zhu Zhuyan approached Zhu Zhuqing with several branch-family young women and accused her of stealing her chance to marry Dai Mubai and bringing shame on the Zhu Family.
• Zhu Zhuyan mocked Xiao Yun and compared him unfavorably with Dai Mubai while the young women laughed.
• Xiao Yun asked Zhu Zhuyan’s age and rank, then mocked her poor talent and suggested that no clan had chosen her for a marriage alliance.
• Zhu Zhuyan was stung by Xiao Yun’s words, which touched on her resentment that Dai Mubai had chosen Zhu Zhuqing and later left the empire without choosing her.

Zhu Zhuqing defeated Zhu Zhuyan and twelve guards without summoning her martial soul, impressing Zhu Debiao. After dinner at the Ancient Castle, she told Xiao Yun she wanted to return to Years Manor, and they agreed to leave the next morning.

• Zhu Zhuyan attacked Xiao Yun, but Zhu Zhuqing blocked her Nether Claw and kicked her down.
• Zhu Zhuyan summoned twelve guards and accused Zhu Zhuqing and Xiao Yun of trespassing and spying.
• Zhu Zhuqing used her movement and combat techniques to defeat all twelve guards in less than ten minutes, then caught Zhu Zhuyan as she tried to flee.
• Zhu Debiao ordered Zhu Zhuqing to release Zhu Zhuyan, reprimanded her for attacking a member of the main line, and had her confined for three months with a year's stipend docked.
• Zhu Debiao praised Zhu Zhuqing's progress and invited her and Xiao Yun to dinner at the Ancient Castle.
• Zhu Zhuqing told Xiao Yun that her home was at Years Manor in Bai Lu Courtyard, and they agreed to leave the next morning.

Xiao Yun was summoned to a family banquet and discovered that someone had arranged a trap to ruin his reputation. He avoided being found in the room with a drugged Zhu Family girl, leaving Zhu Debiao to discover that the accused guest had vanished.

• Xiao Yun rejected the clothes delivered for the banquet and donned his concealed Ancient equipment set.
• A maid led Xiao Yun away from the banquet route and locked him in a room beside a drugged young lady from the Zhu Family’s third branch.
• Xiao Yun recognized the setup as an attempt to frame him and entered the Pagoda Space.
• Zhu Debiao arrived with nobles, found the drugged girl, and ordered the room searched, but Xiao Yun was nowhere to be found.
• Zhu Debiao ordered the maid who claimed to have seen Xiao Yun taken away, then apologized to the nobles for the household’s disorder.

Xiao Yun attended a welcoming banquet at the Zhu Family’s Ancient Castle with Zhu Zhuqing, while trying to identify who had arranged an earlier attempt to harm him. After the dinner, Zhu Zhuqing said they would leave the next morning and thanked him before returning to her room.

• Zhu Zhuqing arrived in a formal gown and escorted Xiao Yun to the banquet hall, where she asked whether someone had tried to harm him.
• Zhu Debiao welcomed Xiao Yun as Zhu Zhuqing’s teacher, and the banquet began with toasts from the gathered Zhu Family members and nobles.
• Xiao Yun watched the guests and considered that the person who ordered the attack was likely still in the banquet hall.
• Zhu Debiao apologized for the incident and asked Xiao Yun to treat Zhu Zhuqing well, and Xiao Yun agreed.
• After the dinner, Zhu Zhuqing told Xiao Yun they would leave the next morning, thanked him, and went back to her room.

Xiao Yun explained that Zhu Zhuqing’s techniques were Martial Skills he had taught her, and Zhu Debiao offered ten rare Spirit Grasses, including a legendary Hundred-thousand-year Purple Gold Dragon Spirit Flower, in exchange for the Zhu family’s cultivation methods. Xiao Yun accepted and gave him the meridian diagrams and the Basic Internal Cultivation Method.

• Zhu Debiao asked Xiao Yun whether Zhu Zhuqing’s techniques were Self-Created Soul Skills, and Xiao Yun confirmed that he had taught them to her as Martial Skills.
• Xiao Yun explained that Martial Skills relied on the body and technique, and said Zhu Zhuqing had used less than thirty percent of their power.
• Zhu Debiao asked to obtain the methods for the Zhu family and placed ten precious Spirit Grasses, including a Hundred-thousand-year Purple Gold Dragon Spirit Flower, on the table as payment.
• Xiao Yun warned Zhu Debiao that the Zhu family would need to learn a complete system of meridians, acupoints, and True Qi cultivation, and Zhu Debiao firmly accepted.
• Xiao Yun gave Zhu Debiao diagrams of the human Meridian System and a booklet titled Basic Internal Cultivation Method.

Xiao Yun learned why Zhu Debiao was strengthening the Zhu Family and then secretly flew into Star Luo City to scout it. He crossed the city walls and surveyed the guarded, militaristic streets from above.

• Zhu Debiao accepted the Jade Slips, meridian diagrams, and cultivation method, then explained that he feared Spirit Hall would eventually attack the Star Luo Empire.
• Zhu Debiao said he wanted the Zhu Family to gain enough strength to defend itself and urged Xiao Yun to travel carefully beyond Star Luo City.
• Zhu Debiao asked Xiao Yun to treat Zhu Qing well before leaving the reception room.
• Xiao Yun created a Wood Clone to make it appear he was asleep, put on a Fox Mask and Black Cloak, and flew toward Star Luo City on his Flying Sword.
• Xiao Yun bypassed the closed city gate by flying over the walls and observed Star Luo City's orderly streets, stone buildings, and patrolling soldiers.

Xiao Yun surveyed the Star Luo palace and uncovered how the royal succession duels strengthened the winners by devouring the losers’ power and luck. He discovered that the Star Luo Emperor was a Rank 95 Titled Douluo and that an ancient Rank 98 Super Douluo guarded the empire from a hidden chamber.

• Xiao Yun flew over Star Luo City and used his Spiritual Sense to inspect the imperial palace.
• Xiao Yun found a Luck Devouring Array beneath the Prince Duel Arena that absorbed defeated princes’ luck, talent, vitality, and souls to nourish the victor.
• Xiao Yun sensed that the sleeping Star Luo Emperor was a Rank 95 Titled Douluo, not the Rank 89 Soul Douluo he appeared to be.
• Xiao Yun searched the palace’s back garden and found a hidden underground chamber beneath an abandoned side hall.
• Xiao Yun discovered a Rank 98 Super Douluo in turtle-breath hibernation, whose life-threatening state made him a dangerous last resort for the Star Luo Empire.

Xiao Yun discovered Dai Xiaozhao being abused in a remote courtyard and found that fierce Geng Metal Qi was tearing through her body. He taught her the Geng Metal Body Refining Art, and the chapter ended with her first successful refinement sending a powerful tiger roar into the night sky.

• Xiao Yun sensed a sharp fluctuation of energy in a secluded courtyard of the Star Luo Imperial Palace.
• Dai Qisi and her maids beat and insulted Dai Xiaozhao before leaving her alone in the courtyard.
• Dai Xiaozhao returned to the Firewood Room, where pain from the Geng Metal Qi left her trembling in the darkness.
• Xiao Yun entered the Firewood Room, suppressed the Geng Metal Qi in Dai Xiaozhao's meridians, and passed her the Geng Metal Body Refining Art.
• Dai Xiaozhao guided a strand of Geng Metal Qi into her Dantian, triggering a tiger roar that Xiao Yun redirected into the sky.

Xiao Yun helped Dai Xiaozhao refine the Geng Metal Qi in her body, then accepted her as his disciple and promised to take her to the Heaven Dou Empire. Dai Xiaozhao escaped the Star Luo Imperial Palace with Xiao Yun and headed toward Zhu Family Manor.

• Dai Xiaozhao’s White Tiger Roars at the World phenomenon awakened the Star Luo Emperor and the palace, while Xiao Yun concealed their auras with a protective formation.
• The Star Luo Emperor ordered the guards to withdraw and forbade them from spreading news of the phenomenon after their search found nothing.
• Dai Xiaozhao recovered after absorbing the Geng Metal Qi, and Xiao Yun explained the Geng Metal Body Refining Art and offered to take her away if she became his disciple.
• Dai Xiaozhao accepted Xiao Yun as her master, and he revealed that he was Earl Longteng of the Heaven Dou Empire and Lord of Dragon Ascending Territory.
• Xiao Yun carried Dai Xiaozhao out of the palace on a Flying Sword, let her look back at Star Luo City, and flew toward Zhu Family Manor.

Xiao Yun returned Dai Xiaozhao to his companions, made her his disciple, and left Star Luo City with Zhu Zhuqing and the others. Meanwhile, Star Luo Emperor Dai Tianci denied that the previous night’s White Tiger Roaring at the Sky phenomenon involved a royal genius, leaving the dukes and Spirit Hall’s representative to discuss what had happened.

• Xiao Yun introduced Dai Xiaozhao as his new disciple and had Shui Bing'er and Spirit Flame Maiden clean and change her in the Pagoda Space.
• Xiao Yun and Zhu Zhuqing returned to their inn, then departed Star Luo City by carriage with Shui Bing'er and Spirit Flame Maiden while Dai Xiaozhao remained in the Pagoda Space to cultivate.
• Zhu Debiao, Xu Xinghe, Sun Dajian, and Hong Quanxiu questioned Dai Tianci about the White Tiger Roaring at the Sky phenomenon, but Dai Tianci said it had been caused by a startled Soul Beast and denied that a genius or new cultivation method had appeared.
• Zhu Debiao warned Dai Tianci not to let a genius’s talent go unrecognized, and the emperor ended the council meeting without responding.
• After leaving the palace, Zhu Debiao stopped with Xu Xinghe, Sun Dajian, and Hong Quanxiu and asked what they thought about the previous night’s events.

Xiao Yun examined Dai Xiaozhao’s mutated Martial Soul after helping her leave the palace, and discovered it had transformed into a Geng Metal White Tiger. The chapter ended with Dai Xiaozhao revealing that her Innate Soul Power had been tested as below rank one and that the Star Luo Emperor had deemed her unworthy of support.

• Zhu Debiao, Xu Xinghe, and Sun Dajian suspected that the Star Luo royal family was hiding the source of the previous night’s powerful tiger roar, while Hong Quanxiu offered Spirit Hall’s help investigating it.
• Xiao Yun opened a passage to the Pagoda Space inside the carriage, and Dai Xiaozhao emerged after receiving care during the journey.
• Xiao Yun asked Dai Xiaozhao to summon her Martial Soul, which appeared as a healthy young White Tiger with golden markings and cloud-patterned feathers.
• The White Tiger’s roar frightened the carriage horses, so Xiao Yun suppressed its aura before it settled beside Dai Xiaozhao.
• Xiao Yun explained that Dai Xiaozhao’s Martial Soul had become a Geng Metal White Tiger with extraordinary potential, and Dai Xiaozhao said her Innate Soul Power had been measured below rank one.

Dai Xiaozhao discovered that her Innate Soul Power had reached rank ten, but Xiao Yun told her to strengthen her body before seeking a soul ring. As the group traveled north, they reached the dangerous Star Luo Mountain Range and stopped outside Dragon Gate Town for the night.

• Xiao Yun tested Dai Xiaozhao and found her Innate Soul Power had reached rank ten, then advised her to train her body before hunting for a soul ring.
• Dai Xiaozhao returned to the Pagoda Space, and Zhu Zhuqing asked Xiao Yun to let her cultivate there as well.
• Over the next few days, the girls cultivated inside the Pagoda Space while Xiao Yun listened to Old Zhou's travel stories.
• Old Zhou warned Xiao Yun that bandits and Evil Spirit Masters plagued the Star Luo Mountain Range along the border with Hadrian.
• Xiao Yun agreed to spend the night at Dragon Gate Inn after Old Zhou found the town gates closed.