Chapter Summaries

Zhongli and Xue Ye assessed Shrek Academy’s worsening position against Skywater Academy, while Xue Ye ordered the Empire to cut its support for Shrek. He then nudged “Xue Qinghe” to court Chiyu and draw her toward the Royal Family, leaving Prince Xue Xing fearing that Xue Beng had lost his chance.

• Zhongli judged the match between Shrek Academy and Skywater Academy to be close, while “Xue Qinghe” and Paimon predicted Skywater’s victory.
• Xue Ye canceled imperial funding for Shrek Academy and announced that advanced Soul Master Academies would face a reassessment.
• Xue Ye explained his hostility toward Shrek Academy and told “Xue Qinghe” to consider matters beyond watching matches.
• Xue Ye urged “Xue Qinghe” to take Chiyu to the Seven Treasure Hotel for good food and visit often, signaling that he wanted her close to the Royal Family.
• “Xue Qinghe” accepted Xue Ye’s advice, while Prince Xue Xing worried that Xue Beng would lose any chance with Chiyu.

Qian Renxue, disguised as Xue Qinghe, met Xiaofeilian to discuss Xue Ye’s proposal, and Xiaofeilian agreed to cooperate on the condition that the Crown Prince keep her distance. Meanwhile, Tianshui unleashed its Ice Crystal Phoenix Martial Soul Fusion Skill against Shrek, leaving Tang San’s team to decide whether to surrender.

• Xue Qinghe found the Imperial Dou First Team in the stands and approached Xiaofeilian, inviting her to dinner and offering her something.
• Zhi Qing created a private Mental Power chat room so Qian Renxue and Xiaofeilian could speak without being overheard.
• Qian Renxue explained that Xue Ye wished to give Xiaofeilian something, and Xiaofeilian agreed to cooperate after confirming that the guest official knew, but warned Qian Renxue not to get too close.
• Xue Ye watched the two leave the Soul Fighting Arena and was pleased that Qian Renxue had acted on his hint.
• Shui Bing’er’s team completed its Ice Crystal Phoenix Martial Soul Fusion Skill, putting Tang San and Dai Mubai’s team under intense pressure.
• Shui Bing’er warned that her team could not precisely control the fused skill’s power, and Tang San hesitated over whether to admit defeat.

Tang San and Dai Mubai admitted defeat after Shui Bing'er’s control left them no chance of winning. Meanwhile, “Xue Qinghe” and Xiaofeilian kept up their public act while discussing the Heaven Dou Royal Family’s attempt to recruit Xiaofeilian, leaving her ready to accept its gifts as compensation.

• Tang San reflected on his choices and admitted that Shrek had no chance, so he and Dai Mubai surrendered.
• Xiaofeilian and “Xue Qinghe” walked to the Seven Treasure Hotel, where “Xue Qinghe” ordered every new dish to maintain their cover.
• After they were alone, “Xue Qinghe” thanked Xiaofeilian for cooperating and said Xue Ye had offered a valuable incentive to win her over.
• “Xue Qinghe” explained that Xue Ye wanted Xiaofeilian to join the Royal Family and hoped her talent would strengthen the family’s martial souls.
• Xiaofeilian said she would accept the Royal Family’s benefits as compensation for its role in her being sent to the auction house.

Xue Qinghe gave Xiaofeilian a Hundred Thousand Year Torso Soul Bone as payment for her help, and the two continued sightseeing in Heaven Dou City. There, Zhongli and Paimon heard a storyteller retelling an altered version of Zhongli’s encounter with Wang Chen, and the storyteller challenged someone who questioned his account.

• Xue Qinghe revealed that the royal family had provided a Hundred Thousand Year Torso Soul Bone and told Xiaofeilian to accept it as payment for playing along.
• Xiaofeilian put the soul bone box away, and Xue Qinghe called her Miss Chiyu before inviting her to browse the streets.
• Paimon spotted a storyteller in Heaven Dou City, and Zhongli approached after recognizing a familiar feeling in his performance.
• The storyteller recounted a distorted tale about Zhongli helping a boy against a ten-thousand-year soul beast, which reminded Zhongli of Wang Chen’s hometown.
• When someone suggested Martial God Douluo had helped the boy without a particular purpose, the storyteller demanded to know whether they understood Your Excellency Martial God better than he did.

Zhongli urged a storyteller to spread hopeful stories and affirmed that people made the world wonderful, leaving the crowd inspired. At Shrek Academy, Tang San blamed Yu Xiaogang for his weakness and decided to cultivate the Clear Sky Hammer before adding Soul Rings to his Blue Silver Grass.

• Zhongli calmed the storyteller who had challenged him and encouraged him to write uplifting stories that reminded people they were the world's future.
• The storyteller vowed to spread Zhongli's words, while the crowd found hope in his message that people made the world wonderful.
• Paimon asked whether the stories told about Zhongli were true, and Zhongli said they carried people's wishes before heading toward Zhongli Manor.
• Leaders of the major powers heard about Zhongli's concern for ordinary people and considered the breadth of his vision.
• Tang San and the others at Shrek Academy concluded they had lost because they were too weak to dominate their opponents.
• Tang San blamed Yu Xiaogang and decided to cultivate the Clear Sky Hammer first, then add Soul Rings to his Blue Silver Grass.

Tang San decided to add several Soul Rings to his Clear Sky Hammer and traveled to Sunset Forest with Liu Erlong, Zhao Wuji, and Yu Luomian to hunt Soul Beasts. Yu Luomian and Liu Erlong found him suitable strength-type beasts, and Tang San began absorbing his first ring while the group continued preparing for the next one.

• Tang San insisted on cultivating his Clear Sky Hammer despite Liu Erlong warning him about the risks of absorbing several Soul Rings.
• Liu Erlong, Zhao Wuji, Yu Luomian, and Tang San arrived at Sunset Forest, where Tang San requested Soul Rings between five thousand and nine thousand years old.
• Yu Luomian bypassed a Dark Gold Bear and captured a five-thousand-year-old Earth Savage Bull for Tang San.
• Tang San killed the Earth Savage Bull and began absorbing its Soul Ring while Yu Luomian returned to search for more Soul Beasts.
• Liu Erlong bypassed another Dark Gold Bear and brought back a Great Strength Vajra Bear as Tang San finished absorbing the first ring.

Azure Radiance Team prepared to use its match against Divine Wind Team to prove its worth and seek the soul bone Shi Nian had possessed, now believed to be in Zhongli's hands. Meanwhile, Tang San returned to Shrek Academy with new confidence, and Azure Radiance Team's captain revealed that the team had deliberately analyzed and narrowly defeated its earlier opponents.

• Azure Radiance Team's members discussed Shi Nian's likely death and planned to prove their value to Zhongli in hopes of obtaining his head soul bone.
• Azure Radiance Team faced Divine Wind Team, while Feng Xiaotian dismissed his vice-captain's warning to be cautious.
• Tang San returned to Shrek Academy after obtaining a soul ring and promised his teammates that they would not lose again.
• Tang San said Elephant Armor Academy would see the strength behind his confidence, while Ma Hongjun recalled his defeat by Shui Bing'er.
• Before the match began, Azure Radiance Team's captain told Feng Xiaotian that his team had precisely analyzed opponents and won through carefully planned narrow victories.

The Azure Radiance Team revealed a Seven-in-One Fusion Skill against Feng Xiaotian’s Divine Wind Team, stunning the tournament venue. Zhongli explained that it was not a Martial Soul Fusion Skill, while Tang San claimed he could break its illusion as the teams prepared for the battle.

• The Azure Radiance Team challenged Feng Xiaotian’s Divine Wind Team and released their gem-type martial souls.
• The Azure Radiance Team combined their lights into the Seven Asura Illusory Realm, which Feng Xiaotian recognized as a possible Seven-in-One Martial Soul Fusion Skill.
• Ning Fengzhi explained that the skill fused complementary soul skills rather than martial souls, and Zhongli confirmed it was a Seven-in-One Fusion Skill.
• Zhongli said the team had forced the fusion despite their low compatibility and warned that it could overwhelm opponents of the same level or cause backlash against stronger Mental Power.
• Tang San claimed his Purple Demon Eyes and Mental Power could shatter the illusion, prompting Ma Hongjun and the others to doubt his confidence.

Tang San defended his confidence in Shrek Academy’s strength, but an old vice dean’s warning about talent and discretion made him question whether he had been too eager to prove himself. He ultimately recommitted to winning the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament, while the battle between Canghui and Divine Wind Team ended in Canghui’s favor.

• Tang San reminded Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun that their young age and talent gave them an advantage, restoring some confidence among the Shrek Academy team.
• An elderly vice dean warned Tang San that talent alone could not make someone strong and urged him to keep a low profile and develop quietly.
• Tang San reflected on his former life in the Tang Sect and wondered whether he had been wrong to expose his abilities and seek recognition in this life.
• The old man declined Tang San’s thanks, noting that Tang San was the son of the powerful Titled Douluo Tang Hao.
• Tang San vowed to prove himself to Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun and declared that he would claim the tournament championship.
• The battle between Canghui and Divine Wind Team ended, leaving Feng Xiaotian and his teammates terrified.

Azure Radiance Team’s victory over Divine Wind Team alarmed the other tournament teams, while Imperial Dou Second Team prepared for the possibility of facing its seven-man fusion skill. On the VIP platform, Zhongli and the others noticed Tang San’s sudden rise in Soul Power, and Tang San faced Elephant Armor Academy with revenge on his mind.

• After Divine Wind Team lost, Dugu Yan said she might withstand Azure Radiance Team’s fusion skill if it targeted Mental Power, while Yu Tianheng ordered the substitutes to serve as cannon fodder if needed.
• On the VIP platform, Zhongli noticed Tang San’s abnormal Soul Power fluctuations, and Chen Xin concluded that Tang San must have absorbed many Soul Rings.
• Zhongli reasoned that a divine power had likely enabled Tang San to absorb the Soul Rings and increase his strength.
• The VIP platform learned that Tang San’s Soul Power had reached the Soul King level, and the observers concluded that his Twin Martial Souls were effectively crippled by half.
• Facing Hu Yan Li and Elephant Armor Academy, Tang San vowed to make them pay for their earlier mockery.

Hu Yan Zhen tried to use praise of the Innate Sect to encourage a renewed Sect Ranking Tournament, but Zhongli saw through his intentions and silently warned him off. Meanwhile, Tang San took an unexpected position against the Elephant Armor Team and revealed a soul ring on his second Martial Soul.

• The Elephant Armor Team released their Diamond Mammoth Martial Souls, showing three Soul Ancestors and four Soul Elders, while Hu Yan Zhen basked in praise for his team.
• Hu Yan Zhen praised the Innate Sect and suggested it should lead a reopened Sect Ranking Tournament, privately hoping his own sect could compete for second place.
• Zhongli's glance made Hu Yan Zhen realize his scheme had been noticed, and Hu Yan Zhen abandoned thoughts of challenging the Innate Sect.
• The Shrek Team released their Martial Souls, and spectators noticed Tang San had taken an assault-type position at the front.
• Tang San challenged Hu Yan Li and revealed his second Martial Soul, a warhammer with a purple soul ring already attached.

Tang San revealed five soul rings on his Second Martial Soul and challenged Hu Yan Li’s team, but their coordinated defense knocked back his Clear Sky Hammer. Tang Xiao arrived too late to change Tang San’s choice and planned to take him for a second Martial Soul awakening after the tournament, while Tang Yuehua lamented that Tang Hao had not visited her.

• Tang San displayed four purple soul rings and one black soul ring, but Hu Yan Li and the spectators were unimpressed and compared him unfavorably to Du Siji.
• Angered by their reaction, Tang San charged Hu Yan Li’s seven-person formation with the Clear Sky Hammer and used the Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer, but the team repelled his opening strike.
• Tang Xiao watched from outside the arena and realized Tang San had already added soul rings to his Second Martial Soul.
• Tang Xiao reflected that Tang San’s choice could not be undone and planned to take him to awaken Ah Yin’s bloodline after the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament.
• Tang Yuehua recognized Tang San as Tang Hao’s son and wondered why Tang Hao had come and gone from Heaven Dou City without visiting her.

Tang San fought Hu Yan Li and the Elephant Armor Team, while Hu Yan Li kept praising Du Siji and provoking Tang San. Elephant Armor Academy eventually conceded, and Tang San vowed to win the tournament; Du Siji and Zhi Qing also wondered why Xiaofeilian had not appeared.

• Tang Yuehua reflected on Tang San's early soul ring for his second martial soul and worried that he was wasting his Twin Martial Soul talent.
• Tang San attacked Hu Yan Li and the Elephant Armor Team with the Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer while Dai Mubai, Ma Hongjun, and the others stayed out of the fight at his request.
• Hu Yan Li compared Tang San unfavorably with Du Siji, enraging Tang San, while Du Siji and Zhi Qing discussed their plans to spar after obtaining a soul bone.
• Du Siji and Zhi Qing noticed Xiaofeilian was absent, and a companion reassured them that an elder was secretly protecting her.
• Hu Yan Zhen declared that Elephant Armor Academy conceded, and Tang San withdrew his Clear Sky Hammer before vowing to become the tournament's overall champion.

After Shrek Academy drew ridicule for Tang San’s championship declaration, Zhongli and Paimon dined at the Seven Treasure Hotel while Chiyu absorbed a soul bone nearby. Their conversation turned to their time away from Teyvat and the bonds they had formed on the Douluo Continent, and the chapter ended with Chiyu awakening and greeting Zhongli as her master.

• The audience mocked Tang San’s promise to clear the path and win the tournament, while praising Shrek Academy for making the event entertaining.
• Zhongli and Paimon ate alone at the Seven Treasure Hotel, where Zhongli explained that Chiyu was next door absorbing a soul bone and She Long had finished guarding her.
• Zhongli reflected on the bonds he had formed on the Douluo Continent and asked Paimon whether she had thought about going back, but Paimon said they could not return.
• Zhongli sensed that Chiyu had awakened, and Paimon rushed to the next room to see her.
• Chiyu entered the private room with Paimon and called Zhongli her master, moved that he had guarded her while she absorbed the soul bone.

After Chiyu emerged from cultivation, she reunited with Zhongli and Paimon, ate an enormous meal, and received advice about stabilizing her Soul Power after absorbing a soul bone. Zhongli offered to teach her a method for condensing her Soul Power.

• Chiyu met Zhongli and obediently sat beside him at the table with Paimon.
• Zhongli urged Chiyu to eat after her day of cultivation, while he drank tea and Paimon began eating.
• Chiyu finished two tables of food, leaving Paimon astonished by her appetite.
• Zhongli told Chiyu to stabilize her Soul Power and avoid the Soul Fighting Arena for now.
• Zhongli offered Chiyu a method to help condense her Soul Power.

Zhongli taught Chiyu the Soul Core Condensation Method, and she began cultivating it while he and Paimon moved to the next room. At the tournament, Zhongli’s absence prompted speculation, while Tang San mistook it for fear and then refocused on the obstacles he believed he had to overcome.

• Chiyu resolved to become the world’s second strongest so she could stay with Zhongli longer, and Zhongli taught her how to condense a Soul Core.
• Chiyu accepted the precious method and began cultivating in the private room while Zhongli and Paimon went next door.
• At the tournament, Du Bafang said Zhongli had taken Chiyu out of the city, and he privately celebrated her promise as a future powerhouse.
• “Xue Qinghe” worried that Chiyu might become a stronger rival, but she remained confident she would win.
• Tang San decided Zhongli had skipped the tournament because he feared being surpassed, then recognized Spirit Hall and Zhongli as the two great obstacles before him.

The competition reached its decisive matches as Shrek Academy prepared to face Azure Radiance, with both teams needing a win to secure advancement. Zhongli returned with Xiaofeilian and a frightened Paimon, who vowed never to visit the Soul Beast Forest again.

• The Imperial Dou Second Team defeated Azure Radiance after Dugu Yan countered their Seven-in-One Fusion Skill with widespread poison attacks.
• Tang San confidently assured Shrek Academy that they would beat Azure Radiance, while his teammates worried his boasting would bring trouble.
• Yu Tianxin, Shui Bing'er, and Huo Wushuang discussed which teams could advance, and Huo Wu asked Feng Xiaotian to speak with her about Blazing Fire Academy's chances.
• Zhongli returned to the competition with Xiaofeilian and Paimon after Chiyu took extra time absorbing her soul ring.
• Paimon ate beside Zhongli, still shaken by what she had seen in the Soul Beast Forest, and said she would never go there again.

The Azure Radiance Team faced Shrek in the final preliminary-round match, with both sides entering the battle confident in their chances. As the Azure Radiance Seven activated their Seven-in-One Fusion Skill and Tang San charged forward using his Purple Demon Eyes, Zhongli predicted that Azure Radiance would lose.

• The audience cheered for Azure Radiance as the team prepared to face Shrek, while Liu Erlong encouraged Tang San and his teammates to accept defeat if necessary.
• Dai Mubai asked Oscar why he seemed listless, but Oscar concealed his worries and followed the others to the stage.
• The Azure Radiance captain warned Tang San that he would fall within the Seven Asura Illusory Realm, and Tang San replied that his team would eliminate Azure Radiance.
• The referee started the match, and the Azure Radiance Seven immediately used their Seven-in-One Fusion Skill.
• Tang San told his teammates to stay still, activated his Purple Demon Eyes, and charged toward Azure Radiance.
• Zhongli set down his teacup and predicted that Azure Radiance would lose the match.

Tang San led Shrek to defeat the Azure Radiance Team in under a minute, while Shui Bing'er admitted she wanted to become Zhongli's disciple. Zhongli awarded the Imperial Dou Second Team its promised soul bone, and Dugu Yan urged Yu Tianheng to prove her grandfather had not misjudged him.

• Tang San saw through the Azure Radiance Team's illusion and defeated them with his Clear Sky Hammer while his teammates stayed in place.
• Shui Bing'er said she regretted not becoming Zhongli's disciple, rather than failing to reach the top five.
• Zhongli announced that he would honor his promise and award a five- to six-thousand-year left leg soul bone to the first-place team.
• Dugu Yan told Yu Tianheng to accept the award as captain and challenged him to prove that her grandfather had chosen the wrong person for her.

Yu Tianheng approached Zhongli at the arena and received a five- or six-thousand-year-old left-leg soul bone as a reward for the Imperial Dou Second Team. As Zhongli left with Paimon, Yu Tianheng and Dugu Yan faced the question of who should absorb the soul bone, and Dugu Yan urged him to take it.

• Yu Tianheng overcame his doubts and walked to the arena, while Dugu Bo watched and questioned whether he was worthy of Dugu Yan.
• Zhongli presented Yu Tianheng with an ancient box containing a left-leg soul bone, and Yu Tianheng thanked him on behalf of the team.
• Zhongli returned to the VIP seats, beckoned Paimon, and left the Soul Fighting Arena with her.
• Yu Tianheng showed the soul bone to his teammates, who admitted they only wanted to touch it rather than compete for it.
• Dugu Yan told Yu Tianheng to absorb the soul bone because she already had a ten-thousand-year head soul bone, leaving Dugu Bo heartbroken in secret.