Chapter Summaries

Qian Renxue, Ning Fengzhi, and Bibi Dong each considered how to win Zhongli’s favor after learning he had returned to Heaven Dou City. Bibi Dong sent Yue Guan to investigate Zhongli and invite him to Spirit Hall, but she had yet to decide what to do if he refused.

• Qian Renxue said she would visit Zhongli again after finishing her accumulated work, while Ci Xue worried about her ambitions and competing superiors.
• Ning Fengzhi learned Zhongli had returned and told Ning Rongrong not to approach him unless he needed something, hoping to recruit him for the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
• Salas’s report told Bibi Dong that Zhongli was Qian Renxue’s guest elder, a Titled Douluo with Twin Martial Souls and a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring.
• Bibi Dong concluded Zhongli could become a threat to Spirit Hall if he remained outside its ranks and ordered Yue Guan to assess him and invite him to join, bringing Hu Liena and the others along.
• Yue Guan asked what to do if Zhongli refused, and Bibi Dong hesitated because Yue Guan could not defeat Zhongli alone.

Bibi Dong decided not to provoke Zhongli unless he showed hostile intentions, while Yue Guan prepared Hu Liena and her companions to meet him. The chapter ended with Zhongli and Paimon examining stones in Heaven Dou City, unaware that Yue Guan and the others were approaching.

• Bibi Dong agreed that Yue Guan could test Zhongli's strength if an opportunity arose, but resolved not to attack him without cause.
• Bibi Dong recalled her painful relationship with Qian Renxue and warned herself that she would kill Zhongli if he approached her with ulterior motives.
• Yue Guan told Hu Liena, Yan, and their companion to change their itinerary and meet Zhongli, warning Yan not to offend the formidable guest elder.
• Yue Guan and the three young Soul Masters set out on foot to carry out the Pope's task.
• Zhongli and Paimon examined stones at a stall in Heaven Dou City, unaware that the others were on their way.

Zhongli bought a Raw Jade Ore stone for one hundred Gold Soul Coins after recognizing that it had once been a rare Gem-type Soul Beast. He revealed that the stone concealed a Soul Bone, then left the jade shop with Paimon and the ore.

• Zhongli chose a stone from the shopkeeper's Raw Jade Ore and paid one hundred Gold Soul Coins for it.
• Paimon questioned the price, but Zhongli paid without haggling and took the stone away unopened.
• After they left the shop, Paimon asked Zhongli why the stone had caught his interest.
• Zhongli explained that the stone had once been a Gem-type Soul Beast that had taken stone form after death.
• Zhongli revealed that the creature had left behind a Soul Bone, whose aura its sealed body had concealed.

Paimon considered selling the Soul Bone, but Zhongli persuaded her to keep it and see whether it might eventually give rise to life. Meanwhile, Ma Hongjun persuaded Dai Mubai to stop pursuing Zhu Zhuqing, and a bespectacled middle-aged man watched them with concern.

• Paimon asked how much they could get for the Soul Bone, but Zhongli argued that they should preserve it rather than sell it.
• Paimon agreed to keep the Soul Bone for now, though she still planned to sell it if it failed to give rise to life.
• Zhongli reflected on the three Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bones and the Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone in his collection.
• Ma Hongjun and Dai Mubai returned to Heaven Dou City after spending the night out, and Ma Hongjun advised Dai Mubai to give up on Zhu Zhuqing.
• Dai Mubai agreed to return to his old ways and ignore Zhu Zhuqing, while a bespectacled middle-aged man wondered whether Ma Hongjun was leading him astray.

Zhongli and Paimon forgot to bring money to breakfast, and Paimon had to fetch coins before rejoining him with “Xue Qinghe.” After Paimon hinted at a reward for Zhongli’s rescue, “Xue Qinghe” began to tell them about the Heaven Dou City Grand Auction House.

• Zhongli and Paimon realized they had left their money behind after breakfast and could not pay the stall owner.
• Paimon went home for Gold Soul Coins and ran into “Xue Qinghe,” who accompanied her back to the stall.
• Paimon paid for Zhongli’s tea, then teased him about its ten Gold Soul Coin price as the three left.
• Zhongli asked “Xue Qinghe” why she had come, and she sincerely thanked him for saving her life.
• Paimon hinted that Zhongli deserved a reward, and “Xue Qinghe” began to mention the Heaven Dou City Grand Auction House.

“Xue Qinghe” invited Zhongli and Paimon to the Heaven Dou City Grand Auction House, while Tang San and Xiao Wu independently wandered to the same venue. The chapter left Tang San and Xiao Wu outside as a passerby mocked them and hinted that Xiao Wu’s status might keep them from entering.

• “Xue Qinghe” explained how the auction house worked, offered Paimon an auction item, and invited her and Zhongli to visit.
• Paimon eagerly accepted, and “Xue Qinghe” set aside her work to spend more time with Zhongli.
• Tang San, newly aware of his feelings for Xiao Wu, took her shopping and told her he wanted to spend more time with her.
• Tang San and Xiao Wu realized they had arrived at an auction house and considered going inside.
• A passerby mocked Tang San and Xiao Wu, then leered at Xiao Wu and remarked that her Advanced Soul Master Academy status could prevent them from entering.

Tang San and Xiao Wu entered the auction house to have an item appraised after learning they needed a large savings card or something to sell to get inside. Zhongli, Paimon, and “Xue Qinghe” arrived soon after, were recognized by the greeters, and agreed to wear masks as part of the auction house’s procedure.

• Tang San felt uneasy about the auction house and the man who had stared at Xiao Wu, but he agreed to go inside when she pleaded to look around.
• The greeters told Tang San and Xiao Wu that entry required an invitation, a savings card worth at least one hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins, or an item that passed appraisal.
• Tang San said that he and Xiao Wu had something to auction, so a greeter led them toward appraisal and asked whether they wanted masks.
• Zhongli, Paimon, and “Xue Qinghe” entered, drawing the greeters’ attention when they recognized the Crown Prince and Zhongli.
• “Xue Qinghe” told the greeters to lead them through the auction house, and Paimon agreed to wear masks after hearing the offer.

At the Heaven Dou Empire’s auction house, Zhongli and Qian Renxue confronted the exploitation of its female staff, while Qian Renxue considered reforms that might honor the Vago Rock Emperor. The chapter ended with Zhongli giving a measured assessment of the auction house to “Xue Qinghe.”

• Paimon and Zhongli saw nobles mistreating the auction house’s female staff, and Zhongli decided he could not save them without changing their circumstances.
• Qian Renxue wondered whether concern for commoners had shaped Zhongli into the Vago Rock Emperor and considered addressing people’s livelihoods after taking the throne.
• “Xue Qinghe” led Paimon and Zhongli to a black private room and explained how the auction house’s room colors marked status and wealth.
• Paimon eagerly ate the room’s fruit and snacks, while Zhongli noticed that she had grown since they first met.
• “Xue Qinghe” asked Zhongli what he thought of the auction house, and he said it sold things the Heaven Dou Empire officially forbade while acknowledging its adoption of orphans as a good deed with twisted intentions.

Zhongli advised “Xue Qinghe” on developing the empire and caring for its people, while she considered how to overcome the nobles’ control of the land. Elsewhere, a masked man confronted Tang San and Xiao Wu, and the old man behind him recognized Xiao Wu as a target he could expose.

• Zhongli explained to “Xue Qinghe” how to develop agriculture, manufacturing, industry, and commerce to make the empire prosperous.
• “Xue Qinghe” raised the problem of nobles owning nearly all the land, and Zhongli told her to keep training and gather enough strength and support to act.
• Paimon admitted she could not follow their discussion, so “Xue Qinghe” offered her more food.
• Xiao Wu complained that the auction-house attendants had ignored her and Tang San because they lacked Gold Soul Coins, and a masked middle-aged man said they could not afford the merchandise.
• The old man behind the masked man, identified as a level ninety-six Super Douluo, became excited after recognizing Xiao Wu, who sensed that something was wrong.

At the Heaven Dou City Grand Auction House, Qian Renxue recognized Tang San and Xiao Wu, while Chen Xin discovered Xiao Wu was a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast and decided to wait until they left before acting. The auction began with Tang San’s Hidden Arrow Shooting Shadow, which attracted a high bid from the white section.

• Zhongli noticed Chen Xin reacting to Xiao Wu’s revealed aura, while Qian Renxue watched Zhongli from Black Room Number One.
• Qian Renxue recognized Ning Fengzhi and Chen Xin, then identified Tang San and Xiao Wu in the white section.
• Chen Xin realized Xiao Wu was a Hundred-Thousand-Year Shapeshifting Soul Beast and decided the auction house was the wrong place to attack her.
• The auctioneer began the auction by presenting Hidden Arrow Shooting Shadow and explaining that it needed no Soul Power and could strike with the force of a Soul Grandmaster.
• Ning Fengzhi considered the weapon’s potential for the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, while Tang San was pleased with its starting price of one thousand Gold Soul Coins.
• A bidder in white section seat 65 offered five thousand Gold Soul Coins for Hidden Arrow Shooting Shadow.

Ning Fengzhi won Tang San’s Hidden Arrow Shooting Shadow for five thousand Gold Soul Coins, and Tang San gave him a Silent Sleeve Arrow in return. When the auction’s finale turned out to be a captive Cat Girl, Paimon, Xiao Wu, and “Xue Qinghe” wanted to help her, and a bid from Private Room Number One interrupted the auction.

• Ning Fengzhi won the Hidden Arrow Shooting Shadow for five thousand Gold Soul Coins, and Tang San gave him a Silent Sleeve Arrow.
• “Xue Qinghe” asked Paimon whether she wanted any auction items, but Paimon said none appealed to her.
• The auctioneer revealed a Cat Girl in an iron cage, and “Xue Qinghe” explained that she had likely been captured and sold.
• Paimon and Xiao Wu urged “Xue Qinghe” and Tang San to help the Cat Girl, but the starting bid was one hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins.
• Ning Fengzhi bid one hundred ten thousand Gold Soul Coins, and Private Room Number One spoke up as Private Room Number Two prepared to bid.

Crown Prince Xue Qinghe and Prince Xue Xing competed for the Cat Girl at auction until Xue Xing realized Zhongli was present and changed course. Xue Xing then bid two hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins to buy the Cat Girl as a gift and apology to Zhongli, leaving Tang San and Xiao Wu alarmed by the Titled Douluo’s presence.

• Xue Qinghe bid one hundred and twenty thousand Gold Soul Coins for the Cat Girl, and Xue Xing reluctantly raised the price to keep up his playboy persona.
• Ning Fengzhi suspected that Xue Qinghe was bidding on someone else’s behalf while Xiao Wu asked why he was not saving the Cat Girl himself.
• Xue Xing angrily challenged the bidder in Black Room Number One, then learned from the conversation that Zhongli was there with Xue Qinghe and Paimon.
• Xue Xing broke off the bidding standoff and offered two hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins to buy the Cat Girl for Zhongli as an apology.
• Tang San frowned and Xiao Wu turned pale when they realized Zhongli was at the auction.

Zhongli accepted Xue Xing’s offer to pay for the Cat Girl, and the auction ended with her sold for two hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins. After Zhongli opened her cage backstage, she remained wary of him, “Xue Qinghe,” and Paimon.

• Tang San reflected on Zhongli’s strength and resolved to become stronger, while Xiao Wu trembled beside him as Chen Xin watched her.
• Zhongli accepted Xue Xing’s offer to pay for the Cat Girl, easing the prince’s concerns.
• Xue Xing paid two hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins, and the auctioneer declared the Cat Girl sold to the guest in Black Box No. 2.
• “Xue Qinghe,” Zhongli, and Paimon went backstage to collect the Cat Girl after the auction ended.
• Zhongli opened the Cat Girl’s cage, but she stayed inside and watched the three of them warily.

Zhongli and Paimon comforted the nameless Cat Girl after she was bought at auction, and Paimon asked Zhongli to give her a name. Zhongli considered her white cat martial soul and named her Chiyu, Xiaofeilian.

• Zhongli asked Xue Qinghe to find clothes for the Cat Girl, and auction house staff brought her a white dress.
• Zhongli asked whether the Cat Girl had a home, and she said she had nowhere to return to and feared what he might do to her.
• Paimon explained that she had asked Xue Qinghe to buy the Cat Girl because she felt sorry for her.
• The Cat Girl said she had no name or plans for the future, and Paimon suggested that Zhongli name her.
• Zhongli asked about the Cat Girl's white ears, tail, and martial soul, then named her Chiyu, Xiaofeilian.

Zhongli gave the rescued Cat Girl the name Xiao Feilian, with Chiyu as her courtesy name, and agreed to let her temporarily serve as a maid at his residence. Outside the auction house, the group encountered Tang San, Xiao Wu, Ning Fengzhi, and Chen Xin, and Ning Fengzhi appeared alarmed after receiving a message about Xiao Wu.

• Zhongli offered Cat Girl the names Xiaofeilian and Chiyu, and she asked to have both.
• Zhongli named her Xiao Feilian, with Chiyu as her courtesy name, and she thanked him by bowing and offering to serve him.
• Zhongli agreed that Chiyu could temporarily work as a maid and leave whenever she wished.
• Zhongli, Paimon, Cat Girl, and Xue Qinghe left the auction house and encountered Tang San, Xiao Wu, Ning Fengzhi, and Chen Xin.
• Ning Fengzhi greeted Zhongli and praised Chiyu’s good fortune at being near him.
• Chen Xin secretly told Ning Fengzhi something, prompting him to glance at Xiao Wu and then check whether Zhongli had noticed her.

Ning Fengzhi refused Zhongli’s invitation after Chen Xin warned him that Xiao Wu was a hundred-thousand-year soul beast, and he left with Chen Xin. Chiyu revealed that her fused Martial Soul let her sense intense emotions, and Zhongli began asking about her innate Soul Power.

• Chen Xin warned Ning Fengzhi that Xiao Wu was a hundred-thousand-year soul beast, and Ning Fengzhi refused Zhongli’s invitation to avoid provoking him.
• “Xue Qinghe” hoped the discovery would turn the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and the Clear Sky Sect against each other for Spirit Hall’s benefit.
• Xiao Wu urged Tang San to leave, and they departed before Ning Fengzhi and Chen Xin hurried away as well.
• Chiyu said she could sense intense emotions and roughly judge whether people were good or evil, unsettling “Xue Qinghe.”
• Zhongli asked Chiyu about her innate Soul Power, and she answered that she had Innate Level Eight.

Xue Qinghe and Zhongli learned that Chiyu had Innate Level Eight Soul Power but had spent years without a Soul Ring because her family and Spirit Hall’s steward neglected her. Zhongli offered to take her to Sunset Forest after their meal, leaving Chiyu overwhelmed by his kindness.

• Xue Qinghe reacted angrily to learning Spirit Hall had failed to recruit Chiyu and reflected on other talented people its stewards had overlooked.
• Chiyu explained that the steward who awakened her Martial Soul had taught her basic meditation but dismissed her mutated Martial Soul as useless.
• Xue Qinghe asked Chiyu’s age and whether she had a Soul Ring, and Chiyu said she was fifteen and had never obtained one.
• Zhongli offered to accompany Chiyu to Sunset Forest after their meal so she could obtain a Soul Ring safely.
• Chiyu realized Zhongli had been helping her without demanding anything and began to cry.

Zhongli, Paimon, and Chiyu visited the Seven Treasure Hotel, where Xue Qinghe explained the soul master ranks and why Zhongli was called Your Excellency. Outside Heaven Dou City, Ning Fengzhi and Chen Xin confronted Tang Hao, who claimed he had discovered the rabbit first.

• The group arrived at the Seven Treasure Hotel, where the owner greeted Zhongli, Paimon, Chiyu, and Xue Qinghe and led them to a private room.
• Chiyu asked what Your Excellency meant, and Xue Qinghe explained the soul master ranks and that the title was reserved for Titled Douluo like Zhongli.
• Ning Fengzhi and Chen Xin followed Tang San and Xiao Wu's aura toward the outskirts of Heaven Dou City after receiving a voice transmission.
• Chen Xin called out their pursuer, and Tang Hao appeared with a domineering aura and a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring.
• Ning Fengzhi and Chen Xin recognized Tang Hao, who said he had discovered the rabbit first.

Tang Hao used Tang San’s connection to Ning Rongrong to make Ning Fengzhi and Chen Xin reconsider confronting him over the hundred-thousand-year shapeshifting soul beast. Zhongli and Paimon arrived on their way to Sunset Forest, and Paimon’s blunt questions about Tang Hao’s appearance and the Clear Sky Sect left him embarrassed and lonely.

• Ning Fengzhi asked Tang Hao to offer the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect a way to retreat without losing face.
• Tang Hao pointed out that Tang San and Ning Rongrong were classmates and warned Ning Fengzhi that he knew her identity, prompting Ning Fengzhi and Chen Xin to reconsider.
• Paimon arrived with Zhongli and said that Chiyu needed a soul ring from Sunset Forest.
• Paimon mistook Tang Hao for a beggar, counted his nine soul rings, and learned that he was the Clear Sky Douluo.
• Paimon asked what the Clear Sky Sect was, and Ning Fengzhi explained that it was the world's strongest sect, currently in seclusion.

Zhongli took Chiyu to Sunset Forest to find a suitable soul ring, but judged that her damaged body could only withstand one of about four hundred years. He left briefly to retrieve two restorative herbs and returned to give them to her.

• Zhongli ended his conversation with Ning Fengzhi and headed to Sunset Forest with Chiyu and Paimon, while Ning Fengzhi, Chen Xin, and Tang Hao resumed their negotiations.
• Zhongli assessed Chiyu's physical condition and told her that her injuries limited her to a four-hundred-year soul ring.
• Zhongli shielded Chiyu and Paimon before briefly returning to his residence, leaving Chiyu to explain that soul beasts had not caused her suffering; people had.
• Zhongli returned with Nine-Rank Purple Ganoderma and Narcissus Jade Muscle and Bone for Chiyu.