Chapter Summaries

Qian Renxue waited outside a tavern while Niu Batian delayed arranging her entry into Beast Spirit Hall so he could eat. After forcing roasted meat into her hands, Niu Batian announced they were leaving, but he still had not explained what would happen next.

• Niu Batian stalled Qian Renxue’s request to enter Beast Spirit Hall, promising to speak with his superiors after eating.
• Qian Renxue refused Niu Batian’s invitation to sit inside the tavern and waited outside as he ate.
• Niu Batian emerged after half an hour and tried to give Qian Renxue two skewers of roasted meat.
• Qian Renxue refused the food and asked to discuss business, but Niu Batian shoved the skewers into her hands and said they were leaving.

Qian Renxue entered the Beast Spirit Hall’s outer area with Niu Batian’s help and asked him to help her reach the Arbitration Elder. Niu Batian panicked at the request, pointed her toward a knowledgeable supervisor, and fled.

• Qian Renxue tasted the meat skewers Niu Batian had bought and followed him through the streets to a busy side entrance of the Beast Spirit Hall.
• Niu Batian brought Qian Renxue through the gate without inspection and led her through the Hall’s outer cargo area.
• Niu Batian asked Qian Renxue who she was looking for, and she said she wanted to meet the Arbitration Elder for personal business.
• Niu Batian refused to get involved, directed Qian Renxue toward Old Wang in the Bone Material Processing Area, and hurried away.

Qian Renxue searched Beast Spirit Hall’s outer district for a way to meet the Arbitration Elder but found no useful information. She asked Lin Xingyao for help, and he refused, leaving her with only a slow formal process and no immediate path forward.

• Qian Renxue spent the day observing Beast Spirit Hall’s outer district and questioning its workers, but learned nothing about the Arbitration Elder.
• Qian Renxue recognized Lin Xingyao, a former Beast Spirit Hall tournament teammate, and asked him to help her meet the Arbitration Elder.
• Qian Renxue appealed to Lin Xingyao with a vague claim about old grievances and an old acquaintance, but he said he lacked the authority to relay her request.
• Lin Xingyao described submitting a visiting card through the External Affairs Hall as a possible formal route, warned Qian Renxue not to linger, and left.
• Qian Renxue watched Lin Xingyao go, with her hope of gaining access through him gone.

Qian Renxue finally encountered Bibi Dong, whom she had searched for, but her mother kept her face masked and avoided answering her questions. Their confrontation ended with Qian Renxue accusing Bibi Dong of abandoning her and refusing to admit who she was.

• Qian Renxue sat alone beneath an old tree at night, exhausted and frustrated after failing to find Bibi Dong.
• Bibi Dong silently approached and draped a warm coat over Qian Renxue’s shoulders.
• Qian Renxue recognized Bibi Dong and demanded to know why she had hidden from her and whether she was truly her mother.
• Bibi Dong said they could not talk there, but Qian Renxue insisted they settle things immediately.
• Qian Renxue accused Bibi Dong of being irresponsible and abandoning everything rather than admitting who she was.

Bibi Dong confronted the painful memories that kept her from accepting Qian Renxue, while Qian Renxue took her silence as rejection. Qian Renxue vowed never to disturb her again and flew into the night, leaving Bibi Dong watching her go with a clenched fist.

• Bibi Dong recalled how Qian Renxue's appearance and martial soul reminded her of the past she could not face.
• Qian Renxue concluded that Bibi Dong had never wanted to be found and let go of her hope for a relationship.
• Qian Renxue told Bibi Dong she understood and would never disturb her again.
• Qian Renxue awakened her Soul Power, spread four golden wings, and flew into the night.
• Bibi Dong remained behind, watching Qian Renxue disappear and clenching her fist beneath her sleeve.

After Qian Renxue reunited briefly with Bibi Dong and returned exhausted, Jia Youcai comforted her as she accepted that their relationship could not be forced. Her Angel's Third Trial then demanded that she establish an army of at least thirty thousand within three years, and she revealed that her travels had already gathered a small circle of loyal followers.

• Qian Renxue hugged Jia Youcai and told him that Bibi Dong had worn a mask, refused to acknowledge her, and heard her promise not to disturb her again.
• Jia Youcai comforted Qian Renxue and supported her decision to let go of the strained bond with Bibi Dong.
• Qian Renxue's Angel's Third Trial appeared, requiring her to lead at least thirty thousand people who were devoted to fighting for the light within three years.
• Qian Renxue and Jia Youcai discussed building an army to protect peace, uphold order, and resist enemies, and Jia Youcai vowed to support her.
• Qian Renxue revealed that her travels had gathered roughly one or two thousand followers, some of whom passed information, supported her secretly, or received basic training.
• Jia Youcai recognized these followers as the first seeds of the army.

Jia Youcai and Qian Renxue planned to seize a small border state and build a workable government, then Qian Renxue retired while Jia Youcai studied maps. Yan Lingzhuo joined him in his study, asking him to keep her company.

• Jia Youcai proposed using Qian Renxue’s one or two thousand recruits to take over a corrupt border state rather than building a movement from scratch.
• Qian Renxue said conquering a small state would be easy, and Jia Youcai warned that ruling it would be harder than seizing power.
• Jia Youcai planned to seek Old Ghost’s help for a Titled Douluo deterrent and told Qian Renxue to identify recruits with fighting, administrative, and specialized skills while retaining the old guard.
• Jia Youcai urged Qian Renxue to rest, and she went to the eastern courtyard reserved for her.
• Jia Youcai studied maps in his bedroom-study, where Yan Lingzhuo embraced him and asked him to keep her company.

Jia Youcai discussed his plan with Yan Lingzhuo to take control of the Ze Lan Kingdom and complete Qian Renxue’s third trial. After Yan Lingzhuo described the kingdom’s corruption, unrest, and weak defenses, Jia Youcai decided it was an ideal target.

• Jia Youcai explained to Yan Lingzhuo that he and Qian Renxue planned to become rulers of the Ze Lan Kingdom.
• Yan Lingzhuo revealed that her family’s merchant caravans had once traded in Ze Lan but abandoned the route ten years earlier.
• Yan Lingzhuo teased Jia Youcai into kissing her, and he kissed both her cheeks before asking for information about the kingdom.
• Yan Lingzhuo described Ze Lan’s remote location, scarce resources, oppressive nobles, internal conflicts, and weak Soul Master forces.
• Jia Youcai concluded that Ze Lan’s instability and isolation made it an ideal target for their plan.

Jia Youcai and Yan Lingzhuo discussed enlisting the chamber of commerce to support their plans to seize power, then shared a tender evening as she grew tired. At dawn, Yan Lingzhuo found Jia Youcai asleep at his desk and quietly covered him with her shawl.

• Jia Youcai asked Yan Lingzhuo to arrange the chamber of commerce’s help with intelligence, supplies, and future trade, and she eagerly agreed to speak with her father.
• Jia Youcai pulled Yan Lingzhuo into an embrace, and the two returned to studying the map together.
• When Yan Lingzhuo grew sleepy, Jia Youcai carried her to bed, helped her prepare for sleep, and kissed her forehead.
• Jia Youcai kept working over the maps and books until he fell asleep at his desk.
• At dawn, Yan Lingzhuo woke to find Jia Youcai asleep at the desk and draped her fleece shawl over his shoulders.

Ning Wanning visited Qian Renxue to learn how she controlled her Dark Spirit Bone, but their clash showed that Qian Renxue had mastered its power far better. Qian Renxue left Ning Wanning questioning how she viewed the power within her.

• Qian Renxue noticed that Ning Wanning's Dark Power had grown sharply and that her right arm carried a concentrated dark aura.
• Ning Wanning asked Qian Renxue how she controlled her Dark Spirit Bone and proposed that they test their powers by clasping hands.
• Qian Renxue and Ning Wanning's Dark Powers collided, and Qian Renxue gained the advantage before blasting Ning Wanning into the doorframe.
• Ning Wanning asked why Qian Renxue controlled the same Spirit Bone so much better, and Qian Renxue asked whether she saw its power as a tool, a curse, or an opponent to conquer.

Ning Wanning visited Qian Renxue to learn how she controlled the Dark Spirit Bone, then left believing Qian Renxue's Light Spirit Bone explained the difference. At breakfast, Qian Renxue and Jia Youcai discussed Ning Wanning's arrival and her future, before Jia Youcai asked whether Qian Renxue would govern a country; she said she would rather hand over power once a new regime was stable.

• Qian Renxue explained that she had understood and redefined the Dark Spirit Bone's chaotic power, and Ning Wanning concluded that a Light Spirit Bone must have given Qian Renxue an advantage.
• Ning Wanning left without waiting for Qian Renxue's reply, while Qian Renxue returned to combing her hair.
• At breakfast, Qian Renxue told Jia Youcai and Yan Lingzhuo that Ning Wanning had come to probe her about controlling the Dark Spirit Bone.
• Jia Youcai explained that Luo Xingyan had brought Ning Wanning to them three days earlier and then left, and said the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect could not force her to return.
• Qian Renxue agreed to let Ning Wanning stay as long as she caused no trouble.
• Jia Youcai asked whether Qian Renxue could govern a country, and Qian Renxue said she would prefer to hand over a stable new regime to more capable people.

Jia Youcai, Yan Lingzhuo, and Qian Renxue set their plans in motion to target the Ze Lan Kingdom, splitting their work and agreeing to meet again in a month. Jia Youcai received detailed intelligence and support from Yan Tianxiong before preparing to travel with Yan Lingzhuo.

• Jia Youcai assigned himself and Yan Lingzhuo to scout the Ze Lan Kingdom while Qian Renxue reorganized her forces and recruited capable administrators.
• The three agreed to meet in one month to exchange intelligence and refine their plan.
• Jia Youcai and Yan Lingzhuo returned to the Yan Family and prepared to travel under false identities.
• Jia Youcai asked Yan Tianxiong for current information about the Ze Lan Kingdom and the reasons the merchant association had withdrawn ten years earlier.
• Yan Tianxiong described Ze Lan's resources, rulers, Soul Master forces, and unstable trade conditions, and offered the merchant association's support while urging Jia Youcai to protect Yan Lingzhuo and himself.

Yan Lingzhuo and Jia Youcai prepared to travel to the Ze Lan Kingdom, and her parents filled their luggage with warm clothes and supplies before sending them off. After spending a final night with the Yan family, the pair left early the next morning with Qing Yuexi's last-minute additions packed into their storage Soul Artifacts.

• Qing Yuexi warned Yan Lingzhuo about Ze Lan Kingdom's cold, dangerous wilderness and arranged warm clothing, medicine, and other supplies for her and Jia Youcai.
• Qing Yuexi urged Jia Youcai and Yan Lingzhuo to stay overnight, and Jia Youcai agreed to join the family for dinner.
• Qing Yuexi cooked a lavish meal while Yan Tianxiong shared wine and played chess with Jia Youcai.
• Jia Youcai and Yan Lingzhuo rose early, ate breakfast with Yan Tianxiong and Qing Yuexi, and prepared to depart.
• Qing Yuexi checked their luggage and packed it full of hand warmers inscribed with warming runes.

Jia Youcai and Yan Lingzhuo crossed the Wind Snow Mountain Range toward the Ze Lan Kingdom, riding a tamed Ice Soul Mad Wolf through the blizzard. They approached a border town disguised as merchant siblings from the Star Luo Empire.

• Jia Youcai trapped a pack of Ice Soul Mad Wolves with Blue Silver Grass and subdued their thousand-year leader with his Soul Sage pressure.
• Jia Youcai and Yan Lingzhuo rode the Ice Soul Mad Wolf across the mountain range and reached its leeward side.
• Jia Youcai restored some of the wolf's strength and released it to return to its pack.
• Jia Youcai reminded Yan Lingzhuo that they were merchant siblings named Jia Yun and Jia Ling, and she agreed to keep up the disguise.
• Jia Youcai and Yan Lingzhuo set off for the border town, passing snowbound shrubs and frozen animal corpses.

Jia Youcai and Yan Lingzhuo entered a remote border town and were directed to the Old Crow Tavern, where local toughs targeted them. After Jia Youcai swiftly beat two attackers, Yan Lingzhuo seized a third by the throat, leaving the tavern crowd stunned.

• Jia Youcai bribed the town guards and entered with Yan Lingzhuo, while the guards decided to tell Boss Hei about the strangers.
• Jia Youcai and Yan Lingzhuo went to the Old Crow Tavern and paid for an ordinary room and food.
• A drunken man reached for Yan Lingzhuo, and Jia Youcai kicked him across the tavern.
• Jia Youcai broke another man's wrist and knocked him unconscious with a wine bottle.
• Yan Lingzhuo grabbed the last attacker by the throat and lifted him off the ground.

After Yan Lingzhuo and Jia Youcai drove off an attacker and settled into their shabby tavern room, they ate and fell asleep. Jia Youcai awoke when someone began pumping a colorless gas through a bamboo tube beneath the window.

• Yan Lingzhuo hurled the man who attacked Jia Youcai through the tavern doors, and Jia Youcai told the owner to give them their room key.
• The one-eyed owner warned Jia Youcai that the Black Snake Gang would retaliate, then directed the pair to a room upstairs.
• Jia Youcai and Yan Lingzhuo cleaned the room, made the bed more comfortable, and ate the hot stew and bread brought by a waitress.
• Yan Lingzhuo fell asleep beside Jia Youcai, who stayed lightly alert and drew her closer when she moved against him.
• Jia Youcai woke when a bamboo tube was pushed beneath the window latch and began releasing colorless, odorless gas into the room.

Jia Youcai protected himself and Yan Lingzhuo from tranquilizing smoke, then beat three masked intruders who broke into their room. After throwing them into the snow and warning them not to return, he checked the room’s locks and called them noisy rats.

• Jia Youcai used his Fallen Angel Martial Soul to shield himself and Yan Lingzhuo from the tranquilizing smoke.
• Three masked men entered through the window and discussed robbing them and taking Yan Lingzhuo.
• Jia Youcai attacked the intruders, knocking one unconscious, breaking another’s wrist and dislocating his jaw, and throwing the third into the snow.
• Jia Youcai tossed all three intruders into the back alley and warned them not to come back.
• Yan Lingzhuo asked Jia Youcai if he was letting the intruders go, and he checked the locks before calling them noisy rats.

Jia Youcai and Yan Lingzhuo left the tavern and encountered a group of strange Ze Lan guards who tried to arrest them for lacking a travel pass. After Jia Youcai trapped the guards, a black-clad Six-Ring Soul Emperor attacked him from behind, leaving Jia Youcai ready to fight back.

• Jia Youcai and Yan Lingzhuo left the tavern after breakfast and traveled toward Ze Lan City.
• Five guards blocked their road and demanded a travel pass, but Jia Youcai sensed their Soul Power was corrupted and their behavior was puppet-like.
• Jia Youcai tried to bribe the guards for advice, but the squad leader ordered them arrested.
• Jia Youcai used Blue Silver Cage to trap the five guards and formed his Blue Silver Overlord Spear.
• A black-clad Soul Emperor attacked Jia Youcai from behind with a short spike, and Jia Youcai blocked the strike with his spear.

On his birthday, Jia Youcai worked late, bought himself a small cake, and imagined Yan Lingzhuo and Qian Renxue celebrating with him. After the fantasy faded, he ate all three portions alone and went to bed beside his Virtual World helmet.

• Jia Youcai woke alone in his rented apartment and spent the day going through his work routine.
• A China Mobile birthday text reminded Jia Youcai that it was his birthday, and he decided to buy himself a cake after work.
• Jia Youcai asked his manager to leave on time, but the manager wished him a happy birthday and he stayed late until nine thirty.
• Jia Youcai bought a small cake and imagined Yan Lingzhuo sharing it with him while Qian Renxue sang him a birthday song.
• After the imagined celebration disappeared, Jia Youcai ate all three portions of cake, cleaned up, and went to sleep beside his Virtual World helmet.

Jia Youcai battled the Black-Clad Soul Emperor, first binding him with Blue Silver Grass before the enemy transformed and overwhelmed him with brute force. Jia Youcai adapted with precise footwork and spirit abilities, wound his opponent, and kept disrupting his attacks as the fight continued.

• The Black-Clad Soul Emperor attacked with multiple afterimages, but Jia Youcai used Parasite to bind him and struck him into a snow pit.
• The Black-Clad Soul Emperor activated a restriction that covered his body in dark-red markings, broke free, and drew a massive broadsword.
• Jia Youcai clashed with the empowered enemy and noticed his crude technique and a faint fluctuation that seemed to carry divine aura.
• Jia Youcai evaded a powerful slash, pulled the Black-Clad Soul Emperor off balance, and wounded his left shoulder with a spear thrust.
• The Black-Clad Soul Emperor fought more wildly, but Jia Youcai used Entanglement and Parasite to disrupt and restrain him again.