Chapter Summaries

Dugu Yan stunned the Soul Master Tournament audience by revealing two 100,000-Year Soul Rings, overshadowing Shrek Academy’s powerful lineup. As Shrek prepared to face her alone, Tang San tried to counter her poison with liquor and fire.

• Dai Mubai led Shrek Academy in releasing their Martial Souls, and Tang San revealed a black 10,000-Year Soul Ring.
• Dugu Yan released six Soul Rings, including two red 100,000-Year rings, shocking the audience and the VIP platform.
• Xue Ye learned that Heaven Dou Royal Academy’s First Team was stronger than its already formidable Second Team, while Salas worried Spirit Hall had underestimated the academy.
• Tang San rallied Shrek after the team faltered at Dugu Yan’s display, and the members realized she was the only opponent who had released her Martial Soul.
• Dugu Yan threw poison-filled balls toward Shrek, and Tang San tossed liquor bags into position, intending to ignite them and burn away her poison.

Dugu Yan’s Heaven Dou Royal Academy Second Team defeated Shrek by freezing all seven of its members, though Tang San’s use of strong liquor earned the team a two-match suspension. The victory stunned the spectators and VIPs, who turned their attention to the even more mysterious First Team.

• Tang San coordinated with Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun to ignite the liquor he threw, but Dugu Yan detonated her spheres and spread white ice powder that froze the Shrek team.
• Yu Xiaogang conceded the match, and Dugu Yan’s Calamity Poison Dragon removed the icy energy and thawed the Shrek members, who had suffered severe frostbite.
• The referee declared Dugu Yan’s team the winner and suspended Shrek for two matches because Tang San had used external items.
• Flender and Yu Xiaogang carried the injured Shrek students away, while spectators and rival academies discussed the Heaven Dou Royal Academy teams’ strength.
• Xue Ye asked Meng Shenji to arrange a meeting with both Heaven Dou Royal Academy teams, Salas sent an attendant away, and Dugu Yan grew displeased as attention shifted to the First Team.

After Dugu Yan’s impressive performance drew attention to Zhao Mu, Ning Fengzhi unsuccessfully tried to recruit members of Heaven Dou Royal Academy’s second team. That night, Zhu Zhuqing came to Zhao Mu’s room seeking strength and a way to change her fate.

• Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing watched Dugu Yan’s performance, and Zhu Zhuqing grew more determined as she observed her.
• The opening ceremony ended with Heaven Dou Royal Academy Second Team ranked first and Shrek Academy ranked twenty-eighth after three losses.
• Ning Fengzhi praised the second team and tried to approach Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling, but both brushed off his offers.
• Zhao Mu returned to his dormitory and cultivated with his Time Acceleration skill while waiting for Xue Ye’s reception the next day.
• Zhu Zhuqing entered Zhao Mu’s room and began to undress, but Zhao Mu restrained her with his pressure and demanded to know what she meant.
• Zhu Zhuqing told Zhao Mu that she wanted to become stronger and change her fate.

Zhu Zhuqing agreed to help Zhao Mu challenge the Star Luo Empire’s rules in exchange for a chance to change her fate. The next day, after the tournament matches ended, Zhao Mu entered the imperial palace and met Emperor Xue Ye.

• Zhao Mu told Zhu Zhuqing that offering herself was not enough and suggested she become empress of the Star Luo Empire so they could change its rules.
• Zhu Zhuqing resolved to break free of her fate and change the Zhu Family’s future, and Zhao Mu withdrew the pressure holding her down.
• As Zhu Zhuqing tried to dress and leave, Zhao Mu stopped her and claimed he was collecting a little interest before she became empress.
• The next day, Heaven Dou Royal Academy Second Team’s opponent forfeited, while suspended Shrek Academy was declared defeated as its members treated their injuries.
• After the matches, Zhao Mu went to Tiantou Palace City and met Emperor Xue Ye in his study.

Xue Ye promised Zhao Mu a choice from the Empire Treasury if he won the Soul Master Tournament, and Zhao Mu accepted, hoping to obtain the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud. He later helped Zhu Zhuqing raise her Soul Power to Level 40 and offered her the chance to obtain a 100,000-Year Soul Ring, leaving her unsettled when a little doll called him Daddy and he said he had several like it.

• Xue Ye asked Zhao Mu to win the Soul Master Tournament and promised him a treasure from the Empire Treasury; Zhao Mu agreed, thinking of the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud.
• Zhao Mu stayed away from the tournament matches and told Zhu Zhuqing that the Heaven Dou Royal Academy Second Team would win the Preliminary Tournament.
• Zhao Mu took Zhu Zhuqing to a secluded ravine and gave her an Immortal Herb to absorb.
• Zhu Zhuqing finished absorbing the herb and raised her Soul Power from Level 36 to Level 40.
• Zhao Mu asked Zhu Zhuqing whether she wanted a 100,000-Year Soul Ring, and she eagerly said she did.
• Zhao Mu took out an Immortal Herb with a little Lan Xixi doll on it; the doll called him Daddy, and Zhu Zhuqing grew troubled when Zhao Mu said he had several dolls like it.

Zhu Zhuqing formed a Soul Spirit Contract with Xiaoyu, gaining a 100,000-Year Soul Ring and reaching Soul Power Level forty-eight. After learning her new skill, Instant Prison Shadow Kill, she tested it against Zhao Mu.

• Zhao Mu explained that Xiaoyu could become Zhu Zhuqing’s Soul Spirit without sacrificing its life, and Xiaoyu eagerly agreed to the contract.
• Xiaoyu entered Zhu Zhuqing’s body with its true form, the Narcissus Jade Bone, and the contract transformed her as a scarlet 100,000-Year Soul Ring appeared beneath her feet.
• Zhu Zhuqing discovered that her Soul Ring had one skill, Instant Prison Shadow Kill, which let her dash to an enemy, mark it, and deal damage before returning or switching positions and detonating the mark.
• Zhao Mu offered to be Zhu Zhuqing’s sparring target, and she used Instant Prison Shadow Kill to attack him with her claws.

Zhao Mu demonstrated his overwhelming strength to Zhu Zhuqing after helping her test and understand her new 100,000-Year Soul Skill, and they spent several days together. Back at Heaven Dou Royal Academy, Ning Rongrong confronted Zhao Mu about helping Zhu Zhuqing obtain a 100,000-Year Soul Ring while refusing to give one to her.

• Zhao Mu tested Zhu Zhuqing's Instant Prison Shadow Kill, explained how it could work with Hell Hundred Claws, and healed the wounds she had inflicted on him.
• Zhu Zhuqing asked Zhao Mu to reveal his full strength, and he displayed his three red Soul Rings, Body Martial Soul, and Domain of the Wood Emperor.
• After seeing Zhao Mu's power, Zhu Zhuqing said she was still unsatisfied and embraced him, and they spent several days together.
• Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing visited Zhao Mu at Heaven Dou Royal Academy, where Ning Rongrong demanded to know why he had given Zhu Zhuqing a 100,000-Year Soul Ring but would not give one to her.

Ning Fengzhi tried to learn how Zhao Mu gave Zhu Zhuqing a 100,000-Year Soul Ring, prompting Zhao Mu to head to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect after Zhu Zhuqing was taken there. Zhu Zhuqing refused to reveal his secret, leaving Ning Rongrong unsettled by her friend’s defiant silence.

• Ning Rongrong confronted Zhao Mu about helping Zhu Zhuqing, but he refused to explain himself, and she returned to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect in tears.
• Ning Fengzhi abandoned Sword Douluo’s plan to teach Zhao Mu a lesson and arranged for Zhu Zhuqing to be brought to the sect so they could question her about her 100,000-Year Soul Ring.
• Zhao Mu told Dugu Bo and Zhao Wuji that he was not afraid of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, while Zhao Wuji supported him and teased him about Zhu Zhuqing.
• Dugu Yan told Zhao Mu that the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had taken Zhu Zhuqing, and Zhao Mu left to demand her return.
• At the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Ning Rongrong urged Zhu Zhuqing to explain Zhao Mu’s help, but Zhu Zhuqing stayed silent and stared at her resolutely.

Zhao Mu rescued Zhu Zhuqing from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and wagered his secrets against rare Soul Bones and metal materials in a duel with Sword Douluo. The two prepared to fight in the sect’s arena, where Zhao Mu revealed his Body Martial Soul and three 100,000-Year Soul Rings.

• Ning Fengzhi tried to persuade Zhu Zhuqing to reveal how Zhao Mu had helped her, but she refused.
• Zhao Mu entered the reception hall, took Zhu Zhuqing away, and rejected Ning Fengzhi’s explanation that she had only been invited as a guest.
• Zhao Mu challenged one of the sect’s Douluo, wagering his secrets if he lost against Soul Bones and raw metal materials if he did not.
• Ning Fengzhi accepted the bet and chose Sword Douluo to fight Zhao Mu.
• Sword Douluo summoned his Seven Kill Sword and nine Soul Rings, while Zhao Mu revealed his Body Martial Soul and three blood-red Soul Rings.

Zhao Mu unleashed his Domain of the Wood Emperor against Sword Douluo, replenishing his Soul Power from the sect’s plants and filling the arena with a forest. Sword Douluo repeatedly cut through Zhao Mu’s Wood Dragons and Wood Golem, while Zhao Mu kept attacking without pause.

• Sword Douluo’s Seven Kill Sword trembled at Zhao Mu, and Zhao Mu realized Sword Douluo’s weapon Martial Soul might be vulnerable to him.
• Zhao Mu and Sword Douluo unleashed their domains, but Zhao Mu replenished his suppressed Soul Power by drawing energy from the plants around the sect.
• Zhao Mu covered the arena with trees and vines, prompting Sword Douluo to use his Fourth Soul Skill to carve a clearing through the forest.
• Zhao Mu sent three Wood Dragons at Sword Douluo, who cut them apart with his First Soul Skill.
• Zhao Mu summoned a Wood Golem, and Sword Douluo pierced through it with his Third Soul Skill.
• Zhao Mu continued sending attacks through the forest despite Sword Douluo destroying them, leaving the spectators puzzled.

Zhao Mu revealed that he had spent the fight building his strength with Blue Silver True Body and the Jiuli Yaotian Flag, then summoned a massive Thousand-Hand Buddha to challenge Sword Douluo head-on. After Sword Douluo activated his Seven Kill Avatar, the two unleashed their strongest attacks and clashed in a destructive battle that left the spectators stunned.

• Sword Douluo cut through Zhao Mu's forest and struck him with Ten Thousand Swords Return to Origin, but Zhao Mu emerged uninjured after activating Blue Silver True Body.
• Bone Douluo and Ning Fengzhi realized that Zhao Mu's aura had grown powerful enough to challenge Sword Douluo as he canceled his Void state.
• Sword Douluo activated his Seven Kill Avatar, and Zhao Mu summoned a towering Thousand-Hand Buddha with his Domain of the Wood Emperor.
• Sword Douluo unleashed an empowered Ten Thousand Swords Return to Origin while Zhao Mu used True Several Thousand Hands, and their attacks clashed for over a minute.

Zhao Mu battled Sword Douluo as the Jiuli Yaotian Flag steadily strengthened him, prompting Sword Douluo to create and unleash his Unity of Man and Sword technique. The strike shattered Zhao Mu’s Thousand-Hand Buddha Statue, and the chapter ended with Sword Douluo and the onlookers believing the battle was over.

• Sword Douluo used God and Demon Slash to sever the Thousand-Hand Buddha Statue’s giant hand, but Ning Fengzhi noticed Zhao Mu’s strength was still rising.
• Ning Fengzhi warned Sword Douluo that the Jiuli Yaotian Flag was strengthening Zhao Mu, but Zhao Mu retrieved the flag before Sword Douluo’s attacks could reach it.
• Sword Douluo merged with his Seven Kill Sword and created the self-made Soul Skill Unity of Man and Sword, while Ning Fengzhi chose not to stop his potentially lethal attack.
• Sword Douluo sent his giant Seven Kill Sword at Zhao Mu, and Zhao Mu activated his second Soul Skill, Void.
• Sword Douluo’s strike shattered the Thousand-Hand Buddha Statue, leaving him kneeling with his sword as Ning Fengzhi and Bone Douluo thought the battle was over.

Zhao Mu survived Sword Douluo’s Unity of Man and Sword attack, then his newly formed Demonic Rhyme Seed awakened and let him seize and transform the Seven Kill Sword. Sword Douluo refused to surrender and summoned the Chen family’s Nine Killing Characters, leaving the battle unresolved.

• Ning Fengzhi deduced that Zhao Mu’s soul skill made him intangible and immune to attacks, but prevented him from attacking until he returned to a tangible state.
• Zhao Mu’s Demonic Rhyme Seed cracked open, surrounding him in black mist and awakening a terrifying killing intent that made Sword Douluo’s Seven Kill Sword tremble.
• Zhao Mu called for the sword, and the Seven Kill Sword broke free from Sword Douluo and flew into Zhao Mu’s grasp.
• Black mist and Zhao Mu’s Soul Power transformed the Seven Kill Sword into a black saber, while Sword Douluo’s connection to his Martial Soul was gradually severed.
• Sword Douluo refused to admit defeat and used sword qi to form nine Killing Characters, the Chen family’s Killing Character Formula.

Zhao Mu defeated Sword Douluo in a single clash, leaving him without his right arm and damaging his Seven Kill Sword. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect surrendered the wager’s Soul Bones and metal, and Ning Fengzhi apologized to Zhu Zhuqing before Zhao Mu left.

• Zhao Mu’s killing-intent slash shattered Sword Douluo’s nine “Kill” characters, severed his right arm, and cracked his Seven Kill Sword.
• Sword Douluo collapsed after coughing blood, while Zhao Mu regained his senses and realized the Demonic Rhyme Seed had sprouted.
• Ning Fengzhi conceded defeat and agreed to hand over three Soul Bones and the promised metal materials.
• Zhao Mu gave Ning Fengzhi a list of metals for forging the Jiuli Soul-Severing Blade and ignored his questions about the Jiuli Yaotian Flag.
• Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect disciples delivered the three Soul Bones and requested metals, which Zhao Mu stored in his ring Soul Tool.
• Zhao Mu reminded Ning Fengzhi that the wager was not complete, and Ning Fengzhi bowed to Zhu Zhuqing and apologized for the sect’s earlier offense.

Zhao Mu left the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect with Zhu Zhuqing after defeating Sword Douluo, while Ning Fengzhi planned to secretly turn Spirit Hall against him. Back at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, Zhao Mu reunited with his companions and promised to protect Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling if they were ever threatened.

• Zhao Mu warned Ning Fengzhi that the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect would be destroyed if it tried to attack him again, then departed with Zhu Zhuqing.
• Ning Fengzhi refused to challenge Zhao Mu directly and proposed secretly giving Salas information about him so Spirit Hall would confront him.
• Zhao Mu brought Zhu Zhuqing to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, where she saw the Immortal Herbs, the children, and Dugu Bo's group freed from the Wood Cage.
• Dugu Bo and Zhao Wuji learned that Zhao Mu had defeated Sword Douluo, and Dugu Yan teased him about rescuing Zhu Zhuqing for love.
• Zhao Mu told Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling that he would turn Spirit Hall or the Clear Sky Sect upside down if either harmed them.

Zhao Mu advised Zhu Zhuqing, Dugu Yan, and Ye Lingling about their Soul Bone prospects while Heaven Dou Royal Academy Second Team continued its tournament run. After Dugu Yan led the team past Skywater Academy, Salas reported intelligence about Zhao Mu and Tang San to Bibi Dong, who focused on the 100,000-Year Soul Rings linked to Zhao Mu.

• Zhao Mu told Zhu Zhuqing to wait for her next breakthrough before choosing whether to absorb the three seized Soul Bones, and said Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling might also gain Soul Bones with their next 100,000-Year Soul Rings.
• Dugu Yan told Zhao Mu that Heaven Dou Royal Academy Second Team had won twenty-four matches in a row, and he learned they were leading the Heaven Dou preliminary tournament.
• Dugu Yan led Heaven Dou Second Team to defeat Skywater Academy, securing the preliminary championship two rounds early.
• Tang San revealed his External Soul Bone and Clear Sky Hammer during the preliminary tournament, prompting reports that Clear Sky Sect disciples had returned to the Soul Master world.
• Salas sent Bibi Dong reports about Zhao Mu's strength, the 100,000-Year Soul Rings, and Tang San's Clear Sky Sect connection.
• Bibi Dong read that several 100,000-Year Soul Rings were linked to Zhao Mu and considered their significance.

Spirit Hall changed the Soul Master Tournament finals to a dangerous seven-day battle in Lost Canyon and published a ranking that placed Zhao Mu first and Tang San fourth. After the Preliminary Tournament ended, Zhao Mu appeared publicly at the award ceremony as the sole member of Heaven Dou First Team.

• Spirit Hall announced that the advancing teams would compete for points in Lost Canyon and released its Heavenly Pride Ranking, with Zhao Mu first and Tang San fourth.
• Ning Fengzhi suspected Spirit Hall had an ulterior motive, while Shrek Academy and Spirit Hall's team reacted to the rankings and the danger of Lost Canyon.
• The Preliminary Tournament concluded with Heaven Dou Second Team, Godwind Academy, Blazing Academy, Thunder Academy, and Shrek Academy qualifying; Skywater Academy was eliminated.
• The award ceremony welcomed six teams because Heaven Dou First Team entered the Grand Finals as a seeded team.
• Zhao Mu stepped into the public eye, surprising the crowd with his changed appearance and revealing that Heaven Dou First Team had only one member.

After Zhao Mu received a count’s title, he traveled with the advancing teams to Lost Canyon for the Grand Finals. On entering the canyon, he sensed its sinister fog and went exploring with Heibai, only to be surrounded by mutated wolves.

• Xue Ye granted noble titles to the advancing teams, giving Zhao Mu the title of count, while Salas objected and Xue Ye defended the empire’s right to bestow them.
• After three days of preparation, the six teams departed under imperial escort; on the journey, Feng Xiaotian asked Huo Wushuang and Huo Wu about Spirit Hall’s confidential letter and their decision.
• The group reached Lost Canyon, where Spirit Hall required participants to sign life-and-death waivers before entering the Grand Finals.
• Zhao Mu entered the canyon with the first batch, sensed that its cold, oppressive fog was made of energy, and went deeper with Heibai to investigate.
• Wolves surrounded Zhao Mu and Heibai, and Zhao Mu recognized them as creatures resembling mutated Wasteland Wolves.

Zhao Mu and Heibai fought through Lost Canyon, following black mist toward a mysterious presence that seemed to attract the Demonic Rhyme Seed. After Bibi Dong mobilized a hidden force and Xue Qinghe questioned her plans, a massive figure emerged from beneath the earth before Zhao Mu.

• Zhao Mu killed the Dark Wasteland Wolf King and he and Heibai routed the wolf pack, while black mist drifted from the corpses deeper into Lost Canyon.
• Zhao Mu and Heibai defeated the attacking Dark Phoenixes, whose corpses also produced black mist that flowed toward the canyon's depths.
• Bibi Dong ordered a group of kneeling figures to move after seeing lightning flare in the distance, while Xue Qinghe wondered why she had borrowed powerful people and thought about recruiting Zhao Mu.
• Zhao Mu followed the thickening black mist and sensed that the Demonic Rhyme Seed in his body regarded something ahead as food.
• The ground shook and split open beneath Zhao Mu and Heibai, and a massive, powerful figure crawled out.

Zhao Mu and Heibai defeated a Dark Giant Beast in Lost Canyon and discovered the Dark Dragon Corpse that had created the canyon’s darkness. As Zhao Mu approached the corpse, another Dark Giant Beast attacked and transformed into a Dark Giant Dragon under the corpse’s dark energy.

• Heibai used Zhao Mu’s vines to trip the Dark Giant Beast, then shattered its horns and blasted its head apart with a multicolored energy sphere.
• Zhao Mu realized the Dark Giant Beasts’ dark energy returned to a massive dragon skeleton deep in Lost Canyon, which had created the canyon’s darkness.
• Zhao Mu approached the Dark Dragon Corpse, sensing that its dark energy could mature his Demonic Rhyme Seed.
• A larger, one-horned Dark Giant Beast attacked Zhao Mu and Heibai beside the corpse.
• The Dark Dragon Corpse infused the beast with dark energy, transforming it into a winged Dark Giant Dragon.