Chapter Summaries

After five years of intense cultivation at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, Xuan Hao reached Level 67 and reunited with Dugu Yan, Ye Lingling, and Na'er. Dugu Yan told him that Ning Rongrong had run away from home after repeatedly missing him, leaving Xuan Hao bewildered by the news.

• Xuan Hao spent five years cultivating, reaching Level 67 while Dugu Yan, Ye Lingling, and Na'er also advanced greatly.
• Xuan Hao emerged from the valley and reunited with the three girls at their residence.
• Dugu Yan told Xuan Hao that Xue Qinghe and Sect Master Ning had urgently asked to see him.
• Dugu Yan explained that Ning Rongrong had repeatedly visited the academy hoping to see Xuan Hao, but kept missing him while he was cultivating elsewhere.
• After believing Xuan Hao was avoiding her, Ning Rongrong fought with Sect Master Ning and ran away from home.
• Xuan Hao was stunned to learn that his absences had contributed to Ning Rongrong's decision.

Dugu Yan explained that Ning Rongrong had cultivated relentlessly to earn Xuan Hao’s praise, but his repeated absences left her feeling ignored and led her to run away. Xuan Hao learned that she was in Suotuo City and promised Ning Fengzhi and Gu Rong he would find her and bring her home.

• Dugu Yan told Xuan Hao that twelve-year-old Ning Rongrong had reached Rank 42 and had worked hard because she wanted his recognition.
• Xuan Hao hurried to Heaven Dou City with Na'er and Dugu Yan to meet Ning Fengzhi and Gu Rong.
• Gu Rong scolded Xuan Hao for neglecting Ning Rongrong, while Ning Fengzhi explained that she had run away from home a month earlier.
• Ning Fengzhi said scouts had tracked Ning Rongrong south to Suotuo City, where she was staying beyond the sect’s reach.
• Xuan Hao accepted responsibility and promised to go to Suotuo City and bring Ning Rongrong back safely and happily.

Xuan Hao confronted Qian Renxue at the Crown Prince's Mansion over her schemes to drive Ning Rongrong and his other companions away. Qian Renxue denied being in love with him, but her jealousy showed as Xuan Hao left to find Ning Rongrong in Suotuo City.

• Xuan Hao suspected Qian Renxue had manipulated Ning Rongrong into thinking he was avoiding her, causing her to run away from home.
• Qian Renxue shed her Xue Qinghe disguise and admitted she had tested Ning Rongrong to expose her lack of trust in Xuan Hao.
• Xuan Hao confronted Qian Renxue about trying to drive Dugu Yan, Ye Lingling, and Na'er away, and teased her about being jealous and in love with him.
• Qian Renxue denied her feelings and claimed she wanted Xuan Hao to focus on serious matters, but she blushed when he offered her a chance to compete for Main Wife.
• Xuan Hao left for Suotuo City to look for Ning Rongrong, while Qian Renxue privately declared that if she became his Main Wife, she would be the only one.

Xuan Hao and Na'er traveled to Suotuo City to find Ning Rongrong, who had run away from home and was staying at the Suotuo Grand Hotel. Xuan Hao reunited with her, but she tearfully ordered him to leave and said she did not want to see him.

• Xuan Hao sent Ye Lingling and Dugu Yan back with Qin Ming while he and Na'er headed for Suotuo City.
• Xuan Hao used a Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect token to locate Ning Rongrong at the Suotuo Grand Hotel.
• The hotel manager told Xuan Hao that Ning Rongrong had stayed in the top-floor suite for half a month and had repeatedly destroyed things over complaints.
• Xuan Hao entered Ning Rongrong's suite and embraced her from behind before revealing who he was.
• Ning Rongrong recognized Xuan Hao, burst into tears, shoved him away, and told him to leave because she did not want to see him.

Xuan Hao confronted Ning Rongrong after she ran away from home to find him, then comforted her and blamed Xue Qinghe for repeatedly keeping them apart. He claimed Xue Qinghe liked him, leaving Ning Rongrong stunned and questioning what she believed about the Crown Prince.

• Xuan Hao let Ning Rongrong vent while he sat with Na'er, and Ning Rongrong eventually demanded that he speak to her.
• Xuan Hao scolded Ning Rongrong for running away from home and risking her safety, then held and comforted her as she cried.
• Xuan Hao told Ning Rongrong that he had wanted to see her but someone had arranged for them to miss each other whenever she visited.
• Xuan Hao accused Xue Qinghe of manipulating their meetings because he liked Xuan Hao, leaving Ning Rongrong shocked.

Xuan Hao fooled Ning Rongrong into believing that Xue Qinghe was pursuing him, then reassured her and shared a meal with her and Na'er. He revealed that he was Level 67 at fourteen and expected to become a Soul Sage the following year, while Ning Rongrong vowed to stay by his side and train hard.

• Xuan Hao and Na'er convinced Ning Rongrong that Xue Qinghe had been trying to get Xuan Hao alone, and Xuan Hao claimed he endured the situation to protect the Heaven Dou Empire’s stability.
• Ning Rongrong apologized for doubting Xuan Hao, vowed to avoid Xue Qinghe, and promised to protect Xuan Hao from him.
• Xuan Hao, Na'er, and Ning Rongrong ate at the Suotuo Grand Hotel, where Ning Rongrong peeled prawns and removed bones for Xuan Hao.
• Xuan Hao told Ning Rongrong he was Level 67 at fourteen and expected to reach Soul Sage before the Continental High-Rank Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament.
• Ning Rongrong admired Xuan Hao, vowed to train toward Soul King and Spirit Emperor, and promised to follow him wherever he went.

Ning Rongrong complained to Xuan Hao about Shrek Academy and Dai Mubai, so he took her and Na'er to confront the academy. After finding it empty, they encountered Zhu Zhuqing, whose abrupt escape prompted Na'er to reveal Xuan Hao had once tried to kidnap her.

• Ning Rongrong explained that she had enrolled at Shrek Academy the previous day but was angry at Flender and looked down on Dai Mubai's cultivation.
• Xuan Hao decided to delay taking Ning Rongrong home and went with her and Na'er to Shrek Academy to stand up for her.
• The group found the academy deserted, so Xuan Hao planned to return to Suotuo City and confront its people at the Great Soul Arena that night.
• Zhu Zhuqing spotted Xuan Hao and fled into the woods, prompting Na'er and Ning Rongrong to question their history.
• Xuan Hao said he had met Zhu Zhuqing in Star Luo City, and Na'er recalled that he had once tried to kidnap her for the Self-Strengthening Society.

Ning Rongrong discovered that Xuan Hao and the others had gone to Star Luo City without her, and Na'er explained why they had kept the trip secret. After promising to include Ning Rongrong in future outings, Xuan Hao tried to check on Zhu Zhuqing, but Ning Rongrong insisted on accompanying him.

• Ning Rongrong learned that Xuan Hao, Na'er, Dugu Yan, Ye Lingling, and Hu Liena had spent a month in Star Luo City watching the tournament without her, and she burst into tears.
• Na'er explained that Ning Rongrong's father had stopped them from seeing her during her cultivation, and that they hid the trip to avoid provoking her into a tantrum.
• Ning Rongrong accepted that her father had acted for her sake, then questioned why they had brought no gifts; Na'er explained that gifts would have revealed the trip.
• Na'er promised that the group would include Ning Rongrong in future outings, and Ning Rongrong calmed down.
• Xuan Hao suggested checking on Zhu Zhuqing, but Ning Rongrong accused him of being interested in her and insisted on going along.

Xuan Hao visited Zhu Zhuqing with Ning Rongrong and Na'er, but she refused to open her door because she feared him from a childhood encounter. After Dai Mubai tried to pull Na'er away, Xuan Hao knocked him unconscious with a slap, and Zhu Zhuqing finally opened the door cautiously.

• Ning Rongrong and Na'er knocked on Zhu Zhuqing's door while Xuan Hao waited under a tree, but Zhu Zhuqing hid inside, remembering his frightening visit years earlier.
• Dai Mubai arrived, questioned Ning Rongrong, and tried to pull Na'er away when she ignored him.
• Xuan Hao rushed in and slapped Dai Mubai into a haystack, knocking him unconscious.
• Xuan Hao reassured Na'er, who hugged his arm and praised him, while Ning Rongrong reacted with shock at his violence.
• Zhu Zhuqing cautiously opened her door, and Xuan Hao asked why she had run from him, insisting he was not going to eat her.

Xuan Hao confronted Zhao Wuji after Zhao found Dai Mubai beaten unconscious at Shrek Academy. Xuan Hao overwhelmed the Soul Sage in a one-sided fight, leaving Zhao Wuji unconscious while Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing watched in shock.

• Zhu Zhuqing confronted Xuan Hao about frightening her by trying to put her in a sack three years earlier.
• Zhao Wuji discovered Dai Mubai unconscious and demanded to know whether Xuan Hao had beaten him; Xuan Hao admitted it and explained why.
• Zhao Wuji released his Soul Sage pressure and attacked Xuan Hao with his first and second Soul Skills.
• Xuan Hao transformed through his Bloodline Power, broke Zhao Wuji's Unmovable Ming King Body with a punch, and interrupted his Gravity Crush with Golden Dragon Roar.
• Xuan Hao beat Zhao Wuji unconscious in under three minutes, stunning Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing.

Xuan Hao brought Zhu Zhuqing to Suotuo Grand Hotel and questioned why she had left Star Luo City. After she admitted her uncertainty about what to do without Dai Mubai, Xuan Hao offered an unexpected solution: she should be his son.

• Xuan Hao stopped Zhu Zhuqing from fleeing and made her walk with him to Suotuo City.
• At the hotel, Na'er reassured Zhu Zhuqing while Xuan Hao, Na'er, and Ning Rongrong ate together.
• Xuan Hao guessed that Zhu Zhuqing had come to find Dai Mubai and asked about her plans.
• Zhu Zhuqing condemned Dai Mubai for abandoning his responsibilities and admitted she did not know where else to turn.
• Xuan Hao held out his hand and told Zhu Zhuqing to be his son, leaving her stunned.

Xuan Hao’s strange offer to make Zhu Zhuqing his “son” revealed his power as the president of the Heaven Dou Self-Improvement Association, a force Star Luo feared could reshape the empire. He explained that Emperor Xue Ye tolerated the association as a tool for the crown prince, while Xuan Hao quietly pursued his own ambitions.

• Xuan Hao offered to take Zhu Zhuqing in as his “son,” and Na'er and Ning Rongrong explained that the title marked members protected by his association.
• Na'er and Ning Rongrong described the association’s protection fees, including the thousand Gold Soul Coins Xue Beng paid each month.
• Zhu Zhuqing recalled her father’s warning that the Heaven Dou Self-Improvement Association could become a political threat to Star Luo, and realized Xuan Hao was its president, Brother Hao.
• Xuan Hao confirmed his identity and explained that Xue Ye viewed him as a blade serving Crown Prince Xue Qinghe, though he intended to build power of his own.

Xuan Hao persuaded Zhu Zhuqing to join the Heaven Dou Self-Improvement Association and gave her the Narcissus Jade Bone Immortal Herb. Zhu Zhuqing began absorbing it while Ning Rongrong grew jealous of Xuan Hao’s generosity and teased him in return.

• Xuan Hao offered Zhu Zhuqing the Narcissus Jade Bone and a chance to gain power outside her political marriage and failing engagement.
• Zhu Zhuqing accepted the herb and joined Xuan Hao’s association, agreeing to call him Brother Hao rather than Boss.
• Xuan Hao assured Zhu Zhuqing she could trust him and instructed her to eat the herb’s petals before absorbing its power.
• Zhu Zhuqing followed his instructions and began cultivating as the herb’s energy filled her body.
• Ning Rongrong resented Xuan Hao giving Zhu Zhuqing such a valuable herb, and Xuan Hao teased her about Zhu Zhuqing’s figure.
• Ning Rongrong lunged at Xuan Hao in anger after he mocked her.

After eating the Narcissus Jade Bone, Zhu Zhuqing reached Level 30 and discovered that the Immortal Herb had changed her appearance and physique. Ning Rongrong revealed the girls’ feelings for Xuan Hao and challenged Zhu Zhuqing over whether she wanted to join their competition for him.

• Zhu Zhuqing woke after consuming the Narcissus Jade Bone and realized her Soul Power had reached Level 30, with enough stored power to rise beyond Rank 35 after she obtained a Soul Ring.
• Ning Rongrong admired Zhu Zhuqing’s enhanced appearance and figure, then teased her that Xuan Hao had given her the herb because he wanted her body.
• Zhu Zhuqing asked whether Ning Rongrong had also eaten an Immortal Herb, and Ning Rongrong said the Aromatic Silk Beauty had evolved her Martial Soul into the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda.
• Ning Rongrong told Zhu Zhuqing that Xuan Hao was fourteen and a half with Level 67 Soul Power, while twelve-year-old Na’er had reached Rank 42 without an Immortal Herb.
• Ning Rongrong explained that Na’er wanted the Lovesick Heartbreak Red, a flower said to be plucked only by someone with unwavering love, and implied that Na’er loved Xuan Hao.
• Ning Rongrong declared that she, Na’er, and Yanzi had feelings for Xuan Hao, then warned Zhu Zhuqing that she would have to get past her if she wanted to compete for him; Zhu Zhuqing insisted she saw him only as her boss.

Xuan Hao gave Zhu Zhuqing a rare Dragon Tiger Beast Soul Bone to strengthen her for battle, and she successfully absorbed it. He then took her and Ning Rongrong to the Suo Tuo Great Soul Arena to test her new power.

• Xuan Hao gave Zhu Zhuqing a sixty-thousand-year Dragon Tiger Beast Torso Bone and urged her to absorb it.
• Zhu Zhuqing accepted the Soul Bone, resolved to repay Xuan Hao, and began absorbing it as Ning Rongrong accused him of keeping fish.
• After two hours, Zhu Zhuqing completed the absorption and gained greatly increased toughness and explosive power.
• Xuan Hao examined Zhu Zhuqing's strengthened body and said she could now withstand attacks and rival powerful Soul Masters.
• Xuan Hao led Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong to the Suo Tuo Great Soul Arena to test her strength in combat.

Xuan Hao arranged for Zhu Zhuqing to fight Tang San at the Suo Tuo Great Soul Arena and urged her to use her Soul Bone Skill without holding back. After learning that Dragon Tiger Transformation granted a powerful, long-lasting boost to all her attributes, Zhu Zhuqing went to face Tang San.

• Xuan Hao had the manager arrange Tang San as Zhu Zhuqing's opponent, despite the manager's concerns about the matchup.
• Xuan Hao told Zhu Zhuqing to use her Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone Skill if necessary and promised to protect her from anyone who coveted it.
• Zhu Zhuqing revealed that Dragon Tiger Transformation increased all her attributes by fifty percent and could last at least half a shichen at her current Soul Power.
• Xuan Hao explained that the Soul Bone's low consumption came from its efficient Soul Power circulation and suggested the skill might become nearly permanent as Zhu Zhuqing grew stronger.
• Xuan Hao sent Zhu Zhuqing to the arena to show Tang San what a real monster was.

Zhu Zhuqing defeated Tang San with the speed and strength granted by her soul bone, then concealed it as the arena crowd eyed her greedily. Xuan Hao watched from backstage, intending to use the exposed treasure as bait for anyone who dared target her.

• Tang San asked Zhu Zhuqing why she had left Shrek Academy, and she told him she planned to withdraw after the match.
• Zhu Zhuqing overwhelmed Tang San with her enhanced speed and Dragon Tiger Transformation, defeating him in ten breaths.
• The spectators reacted with greed and malice after seeing Zhu Zhuqing's sixty-thousand-year Torso Bone.
• Zhu Zhuqing put away her soul bone and left the platform without showing fear.
• Xuan Hao watched backstage and said he had cast the bait to see who would take it.

After Zhu Zhuqing revealed her rare Ten Thousand Year Torso Bone, Xuan Hao took her, Ning Rongrong, and Na'er into the wilderness to teach them about real combat. He slaughtered the ambushers who came for them and returned to the hotel, leaving Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing shaken by what they had witnessed.

• Xuan Hao criticized Zhu Zhuqing's control of her newfound power and advised her to practice basic control.
• Ning Rongrong feared the attention Zhu Zhuqing's Soul Bone had attracted, but Xuan Hao welcomed the danger and took the three girls out at night.
• On a secluded trail, Xuan Hao warned the girls about the deadly nature of the Soul Master world just as an assassin attacked Zhu Zhuqing.
• Xuan Hao killed the assassin with one punch, activated his Golden Dragon Martial Soul, and hunted down the other ambushers, killing them all.
• Back at the hotel, Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing vomited and discussed how brutal and frightening Xuan Hao had been.

After comforting Na'er following the bloody attack, Xuan Hao took her, Ning Rongrong, and Zhu Zhuqing to Shrek Academy so the two girls could withdraw. As they prepared to leave, Xiao Wu suddenly threw herself into Xuan Hao’s arms, shocking everyone and leaving Tang San devastated.

• Na'er pretended to be frightened so she could sleep beside Xuan Hao, while privately admiring his strength.
• Xuan Hao brought Na'er, Ning Rongrong, and Zhu Zhuqing to Shrek Academy to withdraw the two girls.
• Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing told Flender they were leaving, and he agreed after Xuan Hao silently warned him not to object.
• Xiao Wu rushed out of the girls' dormitory and clung to Xuan Hao, stunning the onlookers and breaking Tang San's heart.

Xiao Wu reunited with Xuan Hao and revealed that he had visited her every half year, leaving Ning Rongrong devastated by the comparison. Xuan Hao comforted Ning Rongrong until she forgave him and demanded he spend every day with her, while the others watched in stunned silence.

• Xiao Wu clung to Xuan Hao, scolded him for staying away for a year, and revealed that he had visited her every half year.
• Ning Rongrong broke down after learning Xuan Hao had seen Xiao Wu more often than he had seen her.
• Xiao Wu let go so Xuan Hao could comfort Ning Rongrong, and he apologized and promised to stay with her.
• Ning Rongrong stopped crying, demanded that Xuan Hao make up for the time they had lost, and happily embraced him.
• Flender and Tang San stared in shock as Na'er explained to Zhu Zhuqing how Xuan Hao could quickly calm Ning Rongrong.