Chapter Summaries

The Preliminary Competition draw paired Heaven Dou Royal Academy Second Team against Yu Tianheng's Thunder Academy, and Platinum Bishop Salas used the event to recruit promising students for the Martial Soul Temple. Thunder Academy crushed Second Team in their match, and Yu Tianheng stopped short of attacking defeated opponents only after Yu Tianxin reminded him of the rules.

• Meng Shenji announced the draw, which matched Heaven Dou Royal Academy Second Team against Thunder Academy in the first round.
• Salas declared that students who reached the finals could join the Martial Soul Temple, darkening Xue Ye's mood.
• Thunder Academy revealed a lineup of five Soul Ancestors and two Soul Elders, while Second Team faced them with a clear disadvantage.
• Yu Tianheng and Yu Tianxin broke through Second Team's defense, leaving one student seriously injured and two unable to fight.
• Yu Tianxin stopped Yu Tianheng from using Thunder Dragon Claw on defeated opponents, and Thunder Academy won the match.

Lin Jin watched Shrek Academy defeat Fire Star Academy and judged that, without Immortal Herbs, Shrek lacked the strength to secure a Promotion Tournament slot against the Five Elements Academy. Ning Fengzhi wondered whether Ning Rongrong should leave Shrek for Royal Academy Team One, while Sword Douluo said her safety mattered more than advancing.

• Dugu Yan expressed disappointment in Yu Tianheng, and Dugu Bo warned that he would destroy Yu Tianheng if he provoked her again.
• Shrek Academy fielded Dai Mubai, Tang San, Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, Tailong, Jing Ling, and Jiang Zhu against Fire Star Academy, leaving Oscar and Ning Rongrong out.
• Tang San directed Shrek's coordinated attack, and the team defeated Fire Star Academy in less than three minutes.
• Lin Jin judged that Shrek's teamwork and Tang San's skill remained strong, but their lack of Immortal Herbs left them too weak to earn a Promotion Tournament slot without Tang San using the Clear Sky Hammer.
• Ning Fengzhi asked Sword Douluo whether Ning Rongrong should join Royal Academy Team One, and Sword Douluo said he cared only that she stayed safe.

Tang San planned for Shrek Academy to use its strongest tactics against Blazing Academy in the sixth round, and the match began with Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing unleashing their Hell White Tiger fusion. As Shrek’s trump cards surprised their opponents, the officials and spectators discussed Ning Rongrong’s presence and the origins of the fusion skill.

• Tang San decided Shrek should field its strongest lineup against Blazing Academy, with Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing using their Martial Soul Fusion Skill and Ning Rongrong supporting them.
• Flender, Dai Mubai, Zhu Zhuqing, Ning Rongrong, Oscar, Xiao Wu, and the others backed Tang San’s plan.
• At the start of the match, Huo Wu ordered Blazing Academy to target Ning Rongrong, while Huo Wushuang charged Shrek’s formation.
• Tang San spread Blue Silver Grass across the arena as Ning Rongrong empowered Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing with her Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda.
• Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing unleashed the Hell White Tiger, startling Huo Wushuang and Huo Wu.
• Salas questioned Ning Fengzhi about Rongrong joining Shrek, and Ning Fengzhi and Qian Renxue explained her choice and identified Dai Mubai as the Star Luo prince driven into exile.

Tang San used the Clear Sky Hammer to interrupt the Blazing Academy’s ultimate attack, helping Shrek win while revealing his twin Martial Souls to powerful observers. As Shrek prepared to face Canghui Academy next, Lin Jin ordered surveillance of Shi Nian, Salas, and the team’s route back to the academy.

• The Hell White Tiger overwhelmed the Blazing Academy until Huo Wu and Huo Wushuang combined their Soul Power to prepare a powerful attack.
• Tang San threw the Clear Sky Hammer at Huo Wu, interrupting her attack and knocking her and the supporting fighters out of combat.
• Shrek defeated the Blazing Academy, while Ning Fengzhi, Salas, Sword Douluo, and Qian Renxue recognized the Clear Sky Hammer and suspected Tang San had twin Martial Souls.
• Tang Hao watched Tang San leave with relief and concern, while Salas tried to provoke Ning Fengzhi and Xue Ye about Shrek’s members.
• The draw paired Shrek Academy with Canghui Academy for the seventh round, and Lin Jin ordered Shadow to watch Shi Nian, Salas, and Shrek’s route back to the academy.

Bishop Salas ordered Shi Nian to eliminate Shrek Academy’s key members before their match against Canghui Academy, while secretly assigning a Shadow Guard to cover the Spirit Hall’s tracks. Shi Nian trapped Shrek in a deadly illusion, but Duke Heavenly Wolf intervened and struck him down.

• Salas told Shi Nian to ensure Shrek would not appear in the next round, especially targeting Tang San and Ning Rongrong, and promised Spirit Hall rewards.
• Salas ordered a Shadow Guard to watch Shi Nian and prevent Lin Jin from finding evidence linking the Spirit Hall to the attack.
• Shi Nian found Tang San and the others alone near Shrek Academy and used his Remnant Dream Martial Soul to ensnare them in illusions of their deepest fears.
• Tang San struggled against the illusion as his teammates’ mental defenses began to collapse.
• Duke Heavenly Wolf tore apart the illusion with Titan Sky-Tearing Claw and killed Shi Nian before he could finish pleading for his life.

Lin Jin killed Shi Nian after the Soul Sage trapped the Shrek Academy team in an illusion, then met Tang Hao in a nearby forest and proposed an alliance. Tang Hao was left weighing Lin Jin’s offer against his plans to take Tang San to Spirit City and the danger posed by Spirit Hall.

• Lin Jin killed Shi Nian, ending the Remnant Dream Domain and freeing Tang San and the Shrek Academy team.
• Lin Jin told the shaken students he had acted to uphold tournament rules, then left with Shi Nian’s corpse.
• Tang San acknowledged that Lin Jin had been performing his public duty and urged the others to resume cultivating.
• Lin Jin stopped in a forest and called out Tang Hao, who emerged from the shadows.
• Lin Jin proposed cooperation and argued that Tang Hao should focus on avenging his deceased wife rather than pursuing a blood feud involving others.

Lin Jin confronted Tang Hao and argued that cooperating against Spirit Hall would protect Tang San and give them a better chance at revenge. Tang Hao lowered his hammer but remained wary after Lin Jin left with Shi Nian's corpse.

• Tang Hao's killing intent surged when Lin Jin invoked Ah Yin, and he summoned the Clear Sky Hammer.
• Lin Jin challenged Tang Hao to weigh his anger against protecting Tang San and opposing Spirit Hall.
• Lin Jin warned that Bibi Dong would target Tang San for possessing Twin Martial Souls and proposed cooperation against Spirit Hall.
• Tang Hao withdrew the Clear Sky Hammer and admitted to himself that Tang San needed protection, but he doubted Lin Jin's motives.
• Lin Jin carried Shi Nian's corpse away and gave Tang Hao until the finals to consider cooperation.

Lin Jin exposed Shi Nian’s attempted assassination of Shrek Academy’s students and used his death to force Canghui Academy’s removal from the tournament. Salas publicly supported the punishment, while Tang Hao resolved to watch Spirit Hall, Lin Jin, and Xiao San over the next two months.

• Tang Hao accepted the need to cooperate with Lin Jin and decided to observe Spirit Hall, Lin Jin, and Xiao San for two months.
• Lin Jin took a seven-colored Head Soul Bone from Shi Nian’s corpse and ordered Shadow to increase surveillance of Salas rather than arrest him.
• Salas ordered his Shadow Guard to eliminate contact with everyone recently connected to Shi Nian or Canghui Academy.
• Lin Jin dropped Shi Nian’s corpse onto the tournament platform and announced that Shi Nian had tried to assassinate Shrek Academy’s students.
• Flender confirmed Shi Nian’s attack, and Salas declared Canghui Academy disqualified and ordered its personnel investigated.
• Lin Jin ordered Canghui Academy to leave and submit to the City Defense Force, and Meng Shenji announced that Shrek Academy advanced.

After obtaining Canghui Academy’s Seven-in-One Soul Skill Fusion method, Lin Jin urged the Heaven Dou Royal Academy team to use it against the Spirit Hall Academy Team in the finals. Dugu Yan agreed to attempt the dangerous technique, and Lin Jin gave her two Spirit Bones and Lin Xue one as they prepared to train.

• Lin Jin obtained Canghui Academy’s Seven-in-One Soul Skill Fusion method after visiting the Heavenly Prison with Shi Nian’s corpse.
• Lin Jin explained that Lin Xue should coordinate the team’s Soul Power and spiritual power to strengthen Dugu Yan, who would bear power comparable to a Soul Sage.
• Dugu Bo and Qin Ming worried about the danger, but Dugu Yan insisted that she wanted to try the technique and her teammates supported her.
• Qin Ming agreed to proceed gradually, beginning with small groups and carefully increasing the amount of Soul Power, while Dugu Bo agreed to oversee the training.
• Lin Jin gave Shi Nian’s Wisdom Soul Bone to Lin Xue and gave the Deep Sea Head Soul Bone and Lava Right Leg Bone to Dugu Yan.

After Salas reported Tang San's Twin Martial Souls and Lin Jin's hostility to Spirit Hall, Qian Renxue sent Pufferfish to ask Qian Daoliu to protect Lin Jin if the Pope moved against him. Pufferfish reached the Worship Hall and began reporting to Qian Daoliu.

• Dugu Yan and the others returned to the academy to study the Seven-in-One Fusion Skill, while Lin Jin hoped to win the tournament and claim its Spirit Bone rewards.
• Salas returned to the Martial Soul Temple and urgently sent Spirit Hall headquarters a report about Tang San and Lin Jin.
• Qian Renxue ordered Pufferfish to tell Qian Daoliu everything about Lin Jin and request the Worship Hall's intervention if the Pope planned to assassinate him.
• Lin Jin learned from Shadow that Qian Renxue had chosen to support him and considered cooperating with Tang Hao against possible attackers.
• Pufferfish secretly reached the Worship Hall, where Qian Daoliu asked why Qian Renxue had sent him.

Qian Daoliu heard Porcupinefish Douluo’s report about Lin Jin and approved Qian Renxue’s plan to reveal her identity to him, while warning her to choose the moment carefully. Meanwhile, Bibi Dong learned that Tang San had twin martial souls and ordered the tournament to proceed without interference as the teams came to Spirit City.

• Porcupinefish Douluo told Qian Daoliu about Lin Jin’s abilities, Qian Renxue’s concern, and her fear that Bibi Dong would target him.
• Qian Daoliu praised Lin Jin and considered how Qian Renxue’s confession could build trust whether or not Lin Jin had already guessed her identity.
• Qian Daoliu approved Qian Renxue’s plan, told her to avoid regrets and choose the right moment, and declared that Spirit Hall belonged to the Qian Family.
• Porcupinefish Douluo left the Worship Hall to carry Qian Daoliu’s message to Qian Renxue.
• Bibi Dong learned from Salas’s letter that Tang San had twin martial souls and ordered the tournament to proceed as usual without an attack.

Bibi Dong ordered an assassination attempt on Lin Jin outside Spirit City despite Qian Daoliu’s ban on harming him within the city. In Heaven Dou City, Qian Renxue learned that her grandfather supported her choice to reveal her identity, but she decided to wait for a better moment and considered getting closer to Lin Jin.

• Qian Jun delivered Qian Daoliu’s order forbidding anyone from Spirit Hall from attacking Lin Jin or his companions in Spirit City.
• Bibi Dong directed Yue Guan and Gui Mei to arrange an assassination at a canyon outside the city and vowed to eliminate Lin Jin and his allies.
• Pufferfish told Qian Renxue that Qian Daoliu approved of her choosing what would bring her no regrets, provided she chose the right timing.
• Qian Renxue postponed revealing her identity to Lin Jin until after the competition and instructed Pufferfish and Snake Lance to support him and monitor Spirit Hall.
• Qian Renxue wondered when Lin Jin would be most relaxed and thought that she might need to get closer to him.

Lin Jin prepared for a suspected ambush on the route to Spirit City while the Heaven Dou Royal Academy Team developed a powerful new fusion skill. The Preliminary Competition ended with five teams qualifying, and Emperor Xue Ye openly clashed with Salas as he offered the student leaders noble titles and promised Soul Beasts for top performers.

• After receiving Bibi Dong's reply, Salas grew eager for Lin Jin and Tang San to reach Spirit City, unaware that Shadow had tracked his reaction and that the Pope's plan targeted a canyon along the route.
• Lin Jin ordered three elite Blood Blade reconnaissance squads to secretly survey the canyons and watch for suspicious activity.
• The Heaven Dou Royal Academy Team learned to channel four members' Soul Power through Lin Xue to empower Dugu Yan briefly, and Qin Ming reported the breakthrough to Lin Jin.
• Shrek Academy defeated Elephant Armored Academy and joined Thunder, Godwind, Heaven Water, and Blazing Academies as the five teams that qualified for the finals.
• At the qualification ceremony, Emperor Xue Ye offered Viscount titles to the regular and Vice Captains who joined the empire, but Salas objected and Xue Ye rebuked him.
• Xue Ye announced that the Promotion Tournament would take place at the Royal Hunting Ground and that its three top performers could choose Soul Beasts under thirty thousand years, leaving Salas visibly furious.

After the Preliminary Competition, Lin Jin learned that Spirit Hall planned to ambush the delegation in One Line Sky Canyon and devised a counter-ambush. He presented his plan to Xue Ye, Ning Fengzhi, Qian Renxue, and Sword Douluo, leaving the response to Spirit Hall’s trap ready for coordination.

• Qian Renxue announced that the Promotion Tournament would begin in thirty days, and Salas left the Great Soul Arena in anger.
• Lin Jin received reconnaissance reports identifying One Line Sky Canyon as the likely ambush site and learned that high-ranking Soul Masters were nearby.
• Lin Jin ordered A Tu to have Tie Shan send twenty thousand Blood Blade soldiers to camp near the canyon and encircle Spirit Hall’s ambushers.
• Lin Jin informed Xue Ye of the threat and proposed turning the ambush against Spirit Hall with the cooperation of Ning Fengzhi and other high-ranking Soul Masters.
• Ning Fengzhi, Qian Renxue, and Sword Douluo joined the discussion, and Lin Jin began explaining his full counter-ambush plan.

Lin Jin won Ning Fengzhi's support for his plan to counter Spirit Hall's ambush, and Xue Ye authorized him to make the necessary preparations. Meanwhile, Tang San questioned whether to keep cultivating Blue Silver Grass and considered adding Soul Rings to the Clear Sky Hammer.

• Ning Fengzhi praised Lin Jin's strategy and asked how confident he was; Lin Jin said he had a seventy percent chance of success.
• Lin Jin requested Sword Douluo's help against Spirit Hall's Titled Douluo and Ning Fengzhi's support for the forces in the Delegation.
• Ning Fengzhi agreed to send sect disciples, accompany the Delegation, and have Sword Douluo secretly confront the strongest enemies.
• Xue Ye authorized Lin Jin to arrange the personnel, supplies, and powers needed for the plan, while Qian Renxue pledged to coordinate with him.
• Lin Jin began preparations while Ning Fengzhi and Qian Renxue kept their involvement quiet enough that Salas noticed nothing unusual.
• Tang San brooded over Blue Silver Grass's shortcomings and considered attaching Soul Rings to his Clear Sky Hammer.

Tang San struggled with whether to abandon Blue Silver Grass for the Clear Sky Hammer until Tang Hao appeared and urged him to cultivate both Martial Souls. Tang Hao warned that Tang San was not yet strong enough to add a high-age Soul Ring to the hammer, leaving him to focus on understanding Blue Silver Grass and strengthening his foundation.

• Tang San doubted Blue Silver Grass's strength and considered focusing solely on the Clear Sky Hammer, but remembered Yu Xiaogang's belief that no Martial Soul was useless.
• Tang Hao appeared after nearly eight years apart and challenged Tang San for wavering and seeking a shortcut to strength.
• Tang Hao told Tang San that Blue Silver Grass had untapped potential and that his twin Martial Souls came from his mother and father, so he must cultivate both paths.
• Tang Hao dismissed Tang San's concerns about Blue Silver Grass's bottleneck and said Tang San needed to discover its nature and its proper fighting style.
• Tang Hao warned Tang San not to add a high-age Soul Ring to the Clear Sky Hammer because his Soul Power and physical constitution were not ready.

Tang Hao restored Tang San’s confidence in Blue Silver Grass and then took Xiao Wu to the Sunset Forest to help her safely condense her Fourth Soul Ring. Xiao Wu formed a powerful Thousand-Year Soul Ring and broke through to level 41.

• Tang Hao told Tang San to trust Blue Silver Grass and promised to protect him from the shadows while leaving him to face his matches on his own.
• Tang San meditated with renewed resolve, while Xiao Wu asked Tang Hao whether he was all right.
• Tang Hao noticed Xiao Wu was nearing her Fourth Soul Ring bottleneck and offered to protect her while she condensed it in the Sunset Forest.
• Tang Hao escorted Xiao Wu to a secluded valley, where she began guiding the power within herself into a Soul Ring.
• Xiao Wu formed a roughly five-thousand-year purple Soul Ring and successfully reached level 41.

Xiao Wu successfully broke through with Tang Hao’s help, then remembered how he had discovered her identity and agreed to protect her secret. She left determined to grow stronger and protect herself and Tang San.

• Xiao Wu completed her breakthrough, and Tang Hao escorted her back near the academy before disappearing.
• Xiao Wu recalled meeting Tang Hao two years earlier, when he revealed that he knew she was a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast and identified himself as Tang San’s father.
• Tang Hao agreed not to expose Xiao Wu if she became stronger and promised to protect Tang San.
• Tang Hao gave Xiao Wu a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Bone to conceal her Soul Beast aura and warned her not to use its Soul Bone Skill.
• Xiao Wu finished reflecting on the memory and vowed to become stronger and protect herself and Tang San.

The Promotion Tournament concluded with Thunder Academy in first place, while Lin Jin and the Heaven Dou leadership prepared to travel to Spirit City and counter Spirit Hall’s scheme. Xue Ye approved Lin Jin’s plan to split the escort into visible and covert forces before their departure.

• At the Promotion Tournament, Barak and Silvesi captains sarcastically challenged Qian Renxue, who calmly defended her relationship with Lin Jin and emphasized unity under the Heaven Dou Empire.
• Lin Jin noted the kingdoms’ growing independence ambitions as Spirit Hall intelligence arrived and the Blood Blade Army and Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect’s support forces prepared in secret.
• Thunder Academy placed first, Godwind Academy second, and Shrek Academy third when the Promotion Tournament ended.
• Xue Ye assigned Royal Knights and members of the Royal Soul Master Corps to escort the group traveling to Spirit City.
• Lin Jin proposed taking a smaller visible escort with Ning Fengzhi while Scotty and Meng Shenji secretly followed later with the remaining forces, and Xue Ye approved the plan.

Lin Jin prepared a covert escort plan and formed a temporary alliance with Tang Hao for the Elite Competition, agreeing that Tang Hao would protect Lin Xue and Tang San if Bibi Dong intervened. Five days later, the academy teams departed for Spirit City under the public escort of Lin Jin, Duke Heavenly Wolf, and the Royal Knights.

• Shadow reported that Salas had secretly questioned a Soul Master about the empire's strength, and Lin Jin ordered him to let the false impression stand while keeping the covert route concealed.
• Tang Hao told Lin Jin that their cooperation would last only through the Elite Competition, and Lin Jin accepted the limit despite their unresolved blood feud.
• Lin Jin asked Tang Hao to protect Lin Xue and Tang San and help them flee if Bibi Dong personally attacked, while Lin Jin covered their retreat.
• Tang Hao agreed to protect both children even at the cost of his life, as long as he remained standing.
• Five days later, Xue Ye addressed the academy teams gathered before the Imperial Palace and sent them toward Spirit City with Lin Jin, Duke Heavenly Wolf, and one hundred Royal Knights.