Chapter Summaries

Han Li’s group prepared Zhu Zhuqing to face the Royal Fight Second Team after Dugu Yan’s revelations spread through Heaven Dou City and prompted Heaven Dou Royal Academy to dismiss the former Shrek teachers. As the highly anticipated match began, Zhu Zhuqing revealed five soul rings, including two black rings, leaving the arena stunned.

• Han Li reassured Zhu Zhuqing that Star Luo was the only remaining obstacle to her freedom, while Dugu Yan teased her and the group continued supporting Skywater Academy without taking competition spots.
• Heaven Dou Royal Academy issued public statements under Xue Ye’s name and dismissed the former Shrek teachers; Li Yusong and Shao Xin left the city, while Flender and Zhao Wuji stayed hidden under Salas’s surveillance.
• Dai Mubai secretly sought an eight-thousand-year Diamond Tiger soul beast, while Tang San’s body grew larger and rougher after his bone replacement.
• Skywater Academy and the Royal Fight Second Team entered the arena before a huge audience, and Dugu Yan announced that only Zhu Zhuqing would fight for Skywater.
• Tang San summoned his team’s Martial Souls and tried to intimidate Skywater, but Dugu Yan mocked his routine and Shui Bing’er warned him to control his killing intent.
• Zhu Zhuqing stepped forward and revealed five soul rings: two yellow, one purple, and two black.

Zhu Zhuqing faced Tang San’s team as a level 55 Soul King, while Han Li convinced the spectators that her transformation had come from a chance encounter in the Star Dou Great Forest. The match began with Zhu Zhuqing targeting Ning Rongrong, but Xiao Wu rescued her with Teleportation, and Zhu Zhuqing immediately turned toward Oscar.

• Han Li told Ning Fengzhi and the others that Zhu Zhuqing had evolved her Martial Soul after consuming a strange plant’s fruit and later obtained a suitable Soul Bone and ten-thousand-year Soul Ring.
• Zhu Zhuqing introduced herself as a level 55 Agility Attack System Battle Soul King and declared that she would treat Tang San’s team as strangers, though she would not hold back.
• When the match began, Zhu Zhuqing used her speed to bypass the front line and charge at Ning Rongrong.
• Ning Rongrong sent boosts to Tang San and Dai Mubai, and Xiao Wu used Teleportation twice to pull her away from Zhu Zhuqing.
• After forcing Xiao Wu to spend her Teleportation, Zhu Zhuqing turned and charged toward Oscar.

Zhu Zhuqing used her new martial soul and overwhelming speed to dismantle Shrek Academy’s formation and knock Oscar out of the arena. As Tang San’s group tried to pin her down, she used her clones to slip past them and flew toward the exhausted Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong.

• Tang San warned Oscar that Zhu Zhuqing was targeting him, but Oscar flew upward with a Rapid Flying Mushroom Sausage and Zhu Zhuqing followed with her own wings, knocked him unconscious, and threw him off the stage.
• Dai Mubai recognized Zhu Zhuqing’s new martial soul and demanded an explanation, but she ignored him and kept attacking while Tang San restrained him and gathered the team around Ning Rongrong.
• Zhu Zhuqing’s black blade overwhelmed Ma Hongjun’s Phoenix Fire Wire, so Tang San ordered him to use flames to limit her movement while the others prepared to fight at close range.
• Tang San sent Xiao Wu to guard Ning Rongrong and tried to stop Zhu Zhuqing with his soul skills, but she easily broke through his attacks and rendered his spores useless.
• Tang San had Ning Rongrong enhance Tai Long and led Dai Mubai and Tai Long in a charge, planning to trap Zhu Zhuqing with his Fourth Soul Skill.
• Zhu Zhuqing summoned three clones to attack the charging men with Netherworld Hundred Claws, then flew past them toward Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong.

Zhu Zhuqing eliminated Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong after Xiao Wu’s Charm backfired, leaving Tang San furious as the match continued. With Ma Hongjun exhausted and their support gone, Tang San refused to surrender and slipped back toward a savage rage.

• While Ma Hongjun hesitated, Zhu Zhuqing reached Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong, and Xiao Wu tried to attack her with Charm and her soft skill.
• Xiao Wu’s Charm failed against Zhu Zhuqing’s Spiritual Power, and she was knocked unconscious when the two collided.
• Dai Mubai attacked Zhu Zhuqing, who dodged, seized Ning Rongrong, and forced her to surrender.
• Tang San reached for his hidden weapons, but the referee stopped the match and escorted Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong off the arena.
• After the match resumed, Ma Hongjun withdrew and Zhu Zhuqing kept her distance from Tang San’s team.
• With his teammates eliminated or exhausted, Tang San refused to surrender and grew savage as he smelled the blood on his hand.

Zhu Zhuqing held off Tang San’s frenzied hidden-weapon barrage while Dugu Yan studied his techniques, then unleashed a massive formation of clones and afterimages to finish the match. The chapter ended as the forty-nine Zhu Zhuqings charged the opposing team.

• Han Li sensed that the King Kong Baboon’s aura had further merged with Tang San and watched as Tang San lost control of his killing intent.
• Tang San charged Zhu Zhuqing with Blue Silver Grass hidden weapons, and Dai Mubai and the others followed him into the attack.
• Dugu Yan asked Zhu Zhuqing to prolong the fight so she could study Tang San’s hidden-weapon techniques, and Zhu Zhuqing agreed while evading his attacks.
• Tang San unleashed several hidden-weapon techniques, but Zhu Zhuqing’s Elemental Shield neutralized the leaves that got through her black mist.
• After Dugu Yan finished studying the techniques, Zhu Zhuqing used her fourth and fifth soul skills to summon clones and afterimages and launch a forty-nine-member Netherworld Hundred Claws attack.

Zhu Zhuqing single-handedly defeated the Heaven Dou Royal Academy Second Team, and Skywater Academy won the match to thunderous cheers. After recovering from his injuries, Tang San brooded over his defeat and Xiao Wu’s humiliation as an unseen figure watched from outside his window.

• Zhu Zhuqing overwhelmed Tang San and the other three with a ten-second barrage of attacks, leaving all four unconscious.
• The referee announced Skywater Academy as the winner, while the host assured the audience that the defeated team’s injuries would not affect the tournament.
• Han Li and Xue Ye praised Tang San’s performance, and Han Li considered how Tang San’s new attack might help the team despite its limits.
• After receiving treatment, Sun Buyu encouraged the second team and left to scout their next opponent, while Oscar reluctantly tried to comfort his teammates.
• Han Li reunited with the four women, and Dugu Yan teased Zhu Zhuqing about being called the “Shadow Queen” as they headed home.
• Tang San lay awake, anguished over losing to Zhu Zhuqing and Xiao Wu’s red handprint, unaware that a figure had passed by his window.

Tang Hao wrestled with whether to take Tang San and Xiao Wu away from the Soul Master Competition, then unexpectedly reunited with Tang Yuehua at Moonlight Pavilion. He told her about Tang San’s Twin Martial Souls and a method that might help the Clear Sky Sect, leaving Tang Yuehua ready to contact their eldest brother.

• Tang Hao worried that Tang San’s growing exposure and Xiao Wu’s vulnerable disguise made it dangerous to continue the competition.
• Tang Hao encountered Tang Yuehua outside Moonlight Pavilion, and she tearfully embraced him before he took her to her room.
• Tang Yuehua offered to contact their eldest brother secretly, and Tang Hao admitted that the Soul Master Competition had brought him to Heaven Dou City.
• Tang Yuehua realized Tang Hao’s son was Tang San and learned that he had inherited the Clear Sky Hammer as a second martial soul.
• Tang Hao told Tang Yuehua about a method to increase the sect’s strength that might also help her cultivate, then shared his plans with her.

Tang Yuehua sent Tang Xiao news of Tang Hao and considered how the Clear Sky Sect might emerge from seclusion. Meanwhile, Ning Fengzhi realized Spirit Hall might have mastered a method for producing ten-thousand-year Fourth Rings and decided to have Ning Rongrong contact Han Li.

• After speaking with Tang Yuehua, Tang Hao left Moonlight Pavilion looking more composed, and Tang Yuehua secretly sent Tang Xiao a letter about him.
• Tang Yuehua weighed using her Heaven Dou Imperial City connections to test Spirit Hall's reaction, but decided to wait for Tang Xiao's support.
• Ning Fengzhi asked Chen Xin whether Han Li could solve the flaw in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda martial soul, then reconsidered Spirit Hall's lack of reaction to Tang San's ten-thousand-year Fourth Ring.
• Ning Fengzhi concluded that Spirit Hall might already know how to obtain ten-thousand-year Fourth Rings and feared its growing advantage over the other factions.
• After realizing he had no practical way to warn or unite the other powers, Ning Fengzhi regained his composure and proposed that Ning Rongrong contact Han Li, surprising Chen Xin.

Han Li reached level 79, stepped away from his duties as a competition guest, and watched as the tournament advanced to stronger matches. Before Blazing Fire Academy faced Godwind Academy, Huo Wu and Feng Xiaotian asked Shui Bing'er’s group to compete against their teams, and she agreed to discuss a challenge after the match.

• Han Li broke through to level 79 and predicted he might reach Soul Douluo before the competition ended.
• Yu Xiaogang won the revival match and returned to the Royal Fight Second Team, while Sun Buyu left after being freed from his duties.
• Han Li handed his guest duties to Salas and attended matches only when Skywater Academy competed.
• Huo Wu introduced herself to Han Li’s group before the Blazing Fire Academy and Godwind Academy match.
• Huo Wu requested that Shui Bing’er’s group face Blazing Fire Academy, while Feng Xiaotian proposed an individual challenge for Godwind Academy.
• Shui Bing’er said she would discuss the requests after returning, and the two teams went to begin their match.

Han Li agreed to reconsider Flender’s fate after Liu Erlong asked him to spare her sworn elder brother and promised compensation for his former students. He asked Liu Erlong to attend the Soul Master Competition finals as a guest, and she agreed.

• Dugu Yan, Shui Bing'er, and Han Li decided to postpone any match against Blazing Fire Academy and Godwind Academy until they could judge the official schedule.
• Blazing Fire Academy defeated Godwind Academy in a close team battle, and Skywater Academy’s members judged both teams weaker than them overall.
• Xiu'er pointed out Liu Erlong, who approached Han Li after the matches and asked him to spare Flender, offering to compensate the former Shrek Academy students.
• Han Li said Liu Erlong should have taken the matter to Archbishop Salas, then asked whether she would attend the finals in Spirit City.
• Liu Erlong agreed to attend the finals as Han Li’s guest, and he said Flender would remain in Heaven Dou City until the competition ended and the students were compensated.

Han Li left the tournament venue with the girls and later discovered Tang Hao meeting Tang Xiao and Tang Yuehua at Moonlight Pavilion. Tang Hao revealed the losses and secrets surrounding Tang San, ending with his uncertainty over what to do about Xiao Wu, who was a transformed soul beast like Ah Yin.

• Han Li left the venue with the girls and decided he would bring Liu Erlong into view of Yu Xiaogang and Bibi Dong during the finals.
• Tang Hao met Tang Xiao and Tang Yuehua at Moonlight Pavilion, where he said he had lived in Notting City and admitted that Wind Baboons had destroyed the cave and seed meant to revive Ah Yin.
• Tang Hao told Tang Xiao about Tang San's achievements and explained Bone Replacement, which had helped several people improve their cultivation.
• Tang Xiao demanded the full truth before deciding whether to support Tang Hao, who admitted that someone like Ah Yin was beside Tang San.
• Tang Hao revealed that Xiao Wu had transformed into human form and entered the human world, and confessed that he had concealed her aura but could not bring himself to stop her and Tang San from growing close.

Tang Hao urged Tang Xiao to let the Clear Sky Sect begin reemerging, arguing that Spirit Hall had eased its pressure and that the sect could support Tang San without acting openly. Tang Xiao remained wary, but grew serious after hearing about the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect’s hidden strength and hostility toward the Clear Sky Sect.

• Tang Xiao challenged Tang Hao over exposing the sect to Spirit Hall, and Tang Hao promised he would not run away again and revealed his blood-red soul ring’s ability to conceal Xiao Wu’s aura.
• Tang Hao said he wanted to discuss the Clear Sky Sect’s decline and proposed that it try reemerging after fifteen years in seclusion.
• Tang Xiao said the sect could not reemerge casually because it was no match for Spirit Hall, though he agreed to hear Tang Hao out as his brother.
• Tang Hao cited Spirit Hall’s lack of response to Tang Yuehua’s activities and the sects’ recent clashes with Spirit Hall as evidence that the situation had changed.
• When Tang Xiao still hesitated, Tang Hao proposed having Tang San test the waters while the sect publicly supported him.
• Tang Hao described the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect’s hidden Titled Douluo, powerful core force, and hostility toward the Clear Sky Sect, making Tang Xiao solemn.

Tang Hao persuaded Tang Xiao to consider bringing the Clear Sky Sect back into the world by having Tang San reveal his Clear Sky Hammer at the tournament, and he gave Tang Xiao the Bone Exchange Secret Method. After the brothers went to verify Tang Hao’s account, Han Li learned of their plan and prepared to inform Qian Daoliu.

• Tang Hao told Tang Xiao about Spirit Hall’s methods and proposed using Tang San’s Clear Sky Hammer reveal to test the reaction to the Clear Sky Sect’s return.
• Tang Xiao weighed the risks and benefits, accepted the Bone Exchange Secret Method, and said he would discuss the plan with the sect elders.
• Tang Xiao promised to personally bring Tang Hao and Tang San home if the plan failed, then asked Tang Hao to take him to see Xiao Wu.
• Han Li witnessed the siblings’ discussion through the Spiritual Space and realized the Clear Sky Sect might reemerge sooner than he had expected.
• Han Li wrote a letter to Qian Daoliu about the Clear Sky Sect’s plans and reflected that the God Realm’s gaze had not appeared for a long time.

Tang San’s team celebrated Dai Mubai and Tai Long reaching Rank 42, then learned that Thunder Academy had been eliminated by Canghui Academy’s Seven-in-One Spiritual Power attack. Yu Xiaogang decided they would forfeit their match against Canghui Academy and rely on the weakened Thunder Academy as they fought to secure a place in the finals.

• Tang Xiao returned to the Clear Sky Sect with hope, and Qian Daoliu left the decision about Han Li’s plan to Han Li.
• Tang San received a letter from Tang Hao praising his growth and telling him to use the hammer in his left hand to protect the grass in his right.
• Dai Mubai and Tai Long returned from a three-day break having both advanced to Rank 42, bringing their team’s number of Soul Ancestors to three.
• Yu Xiaogang reported that Canghui Academy had defeated Thunder Academy with a hidden Seven-in-One Fusion Skill that attacked Spiritual Power.
• Yu Xiaogang proposed forfeiting the upcoming match against Canghui Academy, and Tang San agreed while noting that their remaining matches had become more important.
• Yu Xiaogang told the team that Thunder Academy’s Spiritual Power had been badly damaged and that Canghui Academy would also weaken Elephant Armor Academy, giving them better chances in the next matches.

Ning Rongrong visited Han Li’s residence to approach Spirit Hall’s Holy Son on Ning Fengzhi’s orders, but her visit also let her reconnect with Zhu Zhuqing. After discovering Zhu Zhuqing and the others would skip the later tournament rounds, Rongrong asked Zhuqing to fight Dai Mubai for her, while Han Li suspected the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had begun making its move.

• Ning Rongrong left Heaven Dou Royal Academy, troubled by Ning Fengzhi’s order to approach Han Li and convey the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect’s goodwill.
• Han Li welcomed Ning Rongrong at his residence, where she quickly grew comfortable with Zhu Zhuqing and the other girls while concealing her curiosity about him.
• Ning Rongrong felt an odd familiarity with Han Li, but he hid his wristband after realizing her Martial Soul had reacted to his Storage Soul Tool.
• Ning Rongrong asked whether Zhu Zhuqing and the others would compete in the later rounds, and Zhuqing said they probably would not.
• Ning Rongrong asked Zhu Zhuqing to fight Dai Mubai in the Advancement Tournament so she could get revenge, and Zhuqing agreed after Han Li left the choice to her.

Ning Rongrong befriended the girls around Han Li, then left, while the competitors gathered to discuss Canghui Academy’s threat and Hu Yanzhi’s secret countermeasure. Thunder Academy lost heavily to the Heaven Dou Royal Academy Second Team, leaving Feng Xiaotian worried about Godwind Academy’s next draw.

• Ning Rongrong spent the afternoon with the girls, agreed to visit again, and chose to build friendships before seeking information for Ning Fengzhi.
• Han Li and the girls returned to the arena, where Huo Wu, Feng Xiaotian, Hu Yanzhi, and other competitors gathered to discuss Canghui Academy.
• Hu Yanzhi hinted that he had a way to face Canghui Academy, and Han Li revealed through Mental Sharing that Hu Yanzhi’s Head Soul Bone could defend against spiritual attacks.
• Shui Bing’er said Skywater Academy would keep working on its own countermeasure, while Han Li advised the team to forfeit if necessary.
• Tang San, Dai Mubai, and Tai Long helped the Heaven Dou Royal Academy Second Team defeat Thunder Academy, with Dai Mubai knocking Yu Tianxin down last.
• Feng Xiaotian hoped Godwind Academy would face Thunder Academy, and Huo Wushuang joked that Blazing Fire Academy would prevent his plan from succeeding.

Elephant Armor Academy used Hu Yanzhi’s Head Soul Bone to break Canghui Academy’s Seven Asura Illusion Realm and defeat them. After the match, Shi Nian secretly sent spiritual force toward Yu Xiaogang, while a black-robed figure followed him and Han Li followed the figure.

• Hu Yanzhi blocked Canghui Academy’s Seven Asura Illusion Realm with his Head Soul Bone, while Han Li told Plant Academy’s captain that Spirit Hall offered better chances of obtaining Soul Bones but made no promises.
• Hu Yanxiao and another teammate threw Hu Yan Jia into Canghui Academy’s formation, breaking the illusion and leaving Elephant Armor Academy to beat the remaining students.
• Shi Nian sent Canghui Academy’s defeated students back to the academy and left the venue after consoling himself that his team could still win later matches.
• Tang San discussed ways to counter the Seven Asura Illusion Realm as Shi Nian passed by, but Shi Nian refrained from confronting him because Tang San was protected.
• Shi Nian secretly directed spiritual force toward Yu Xiaogang, and a black-robed figure followed him out of the venue.
• Han Li saw the black-robed figure follow Shi Nian, whispered to Dugu Yan and the others, then concealed himself and followed the figure.

Han Li followed Shi Nian and Tang Hao to the outskirts of Heaven Dou Imperial City, where they both prepared to ambush each other. Shi Nian trapped Tang Hao in Remnant Dream, but recoiled after uncovering his face.

• Han Li recognized the black-robed pursuer as Tang Hao and followed him as Shi Nian entered a pavilion to drink and watch performances.
• Tang Hao waited outside the pavilion because he lacked enough money to enter, while Han Li took a room nearby and cultivated as he kept watch.
• When Shi Nian left, Tang Hao released a trace of killing intent, and Shi Nian pretended to be drunk before leading him out of the city.
• Shi Nian realized Tang Hao was following him and lured him into a small forest, where both men prepared to attack.
• Shi Nian used his Soul Bone skill, Remnant Dream, to trap Tang Hao in an illusion, then pulled back his hood and stepped away in shock at his face.

Tang Hao killed Shi Nian after Shi Nian’s illusion forced him to relive Ah Yin’s loss, but Ning Que intervened and escaped with Shi Nian’s Soul Bone. Tang Hao was left furious after Ning Que taunted him about the illusion.

• Shi Nian recognized Tang Hao, attacked him, and was thrown back when Tang Hao’s Soul Power erupted.
• Tang Hao realized Shi Nian had trapped him in an illusion about losing Ah Yin and brutally killed him.
• Ning Que appeared and attacked Tang Hao with Ice Crystal Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagodas.
• Ning Que used the threat of exposing Tang Hao’s identity to escape with Shi Nian’s corpse and Soul Bone.
• Ning Que revealed Shi Nian’s dying question about what Tang Hao had seen in the illusion, leaving Tang Hao enraged.

Han Li killed Shi Nian, took his Head Soul Bone, and returned home after disrupting Tang Hao’s plans. At the tournament venue the next day, Han Li wagered with the other young competitors that the Royal Fight Second Team would beat Elephant Armor Academy, offering to reveal his soul rings if he lost.

• Shi Nian died from fear, and Han Li burned his corpse and took his thirty-thousand-year Head Soul Bone.
• Tang Hao realized Shi Nian was dead and that the Soul Bone and information about the Seven-in-One Fusion Skill were lost, then left the woods vowing revenge against Ning Que and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
• Han Li returned home, recounted what happened, and agreed with Shui Bing’er that he could not use the Ning Que identity again.
• The next morning, Han Li and his companions saw the recovered Canghui Academy students at the venue and joined the other young competitors in discussing the upcoming match.
• Han Li predicted that the Royal Fight Second Team would beat Elephant Armor Academy, and Huo Wu proposed a wager that the group accepted.