Chapter Summaries

Gu Ci persuaded the eighteen-thousand-year-old Dark Night Thunder Tiger to become his second Soul Spirit, earning an eighteen-thousand-year Second Spirit Ring. He then learned of Ice Fire dual-element flood dragons in the Star Dou Great Forest and set out with Dugu Bo and Dugu Yan to find a suitable soul beast for her.

• Gu Ci fought the Dark Night Thunder Tiger and explained that becoming his Soul Spirit would let it keep its mind and continue cultivating.
• The Dark Night Thunder Tiger accepted Gu Ci’s offer, and he named it Night Shadow and gained an eighteen-thousand-year Second Spirit Ring.
• Gu Ci returned to Dugu Bo and Dugu Yan, and Dugu Yan eagerly prepared to seek her own soul beast.
• Dugu Bo revealed that an Ice Fire Swamp in the Star Dou Great Forest might hold a clan of roughly seven-thousand-year Ice Fire dual-element flood dragons.
• After Gu Ci judged that Dugu Yan could withstand a seven-thousand-year soul beast, the three set out for the Star Dou Great Forest.

Gu Ci, Dugu Yan, and Dugu Bo reached the Ice Fire Swamp, where Gu Ci approached the Ice Fire Flood Dragon and proposed a Soul Spirit Contract with Dugu Yan. After sensing that Dugu Yan’s Martial Soul shared its origin, the flood dragon asked whether she was willing to form a contract, and she agreed.

• Gu Ci and Dugu Yan cultivated as they traveled with Dugu Bo to the Star Dou Great Forest.
• Dugu Bo warned them about the forest’s dangerous Soul Beasts, and Gu Ci used his Heavenly Eye to guide them toward the Ice Fire Swamp.
• The trio found a roughly seven-thousand-year-old Ice Fire Flood Dragon resting between a lava pool and a frozen pond.
• Gu Ci explained the Soul Spirit Contract and offered the flood dragon a chance to grow alongside Dugu Yan without sacrificing its life or consciousness.
• Dugu Yan released her Ice Fire Flood Dragon Martial Soul, and the flood dragon sensed their shared origin.
• The Ice Fire Flood Dragon asked Dugu Yan if she would contract with it, and she agreed, saying she wanted to become stronger with it and had few friends.

Dugu Yan bonded with the Ice Fire Flood Dragon, gaining two External Soul Bones, and returned safely with Gu Ci and Dugu Bo. Gu Ci began crafting a Concealment Pendant to hide his cultivation and soul rings, and he started fusing the materials with the Void Stone.

• Dugu Yan accepted the Ice Fire Flood Dragon as a friend, and it agreed to follow her.
• Gu Ci formed the contract between Dugu Yan and Ice Fire, giving her a two-thousand-year soul ring from Mo Jiao and a seven-thousand-year ring from Ice Fire.
• Dugu Yan gained a pair of External Soul Bones shaped like ice-blue and fiery-red marks on her wrists.
• Gu Ci, Dugu Bo, and Dugu Yan returned safely to Thunder Tiger Marquis Manor, where Dugu Yan bonded with Ice Fire and Mo Jiao.
• Gu Ci selected the Concealment Pendant design and began crafting it from Void Stone and other metals.
• Gu Ci carved an extraction formation into the Void Stone, then placed it with molten materials and guided the fusion using his Heavenly Eye.

Gu Ci crafted Concealment Pendants that hid his and Dugu Yan’s auras and made their Soul Rings appear weaker, then used the last of his Void Stone to make a Storage Ring. Dugu Bo arrived with news that Gu Ci and Dugu Yan should prepare to attend Heaven Dou Royal Academy.

• Gu Ci completed and activated a Concealment Pendant, which concealed his aura, altered his Soul Ring colors, and held a cubic meter of storage space.
• Gu Ci showed the pendant to Dugu Yan, and she tested it and excitedly saw her Soul Rings appear yellow.
• Gu Xiao praised the pendant and told Gu Ci about Heaven Dou City’s dangerous Underground Black Market as a possible source of Void Stones.
• Gu Ci made a second Concealment Pendant for Dugu Yan, and Dugu Bo was startled by her changed Soul Ring colors before learning what Gu Ci had made.
• Gu Ci used the remaining Void Stone to craft a Storage Ring that could hold living things, then Dugu Bo told him and Dugu Yan to prepare for Heaven Dou Royal Academy’s admissions.

Gu Ci and Dugu Yan spent a month cultivating, studying Soul Tools, and practicing with their Soul Spirits before Dugu Bo took them to enroll at Heaven Dou Royal Academy. They reached the registration line with their strengths concealed, ready to begin academy life.

• Gu Ci persuaded Dugu Bo to let him and Dugu Yan wait a month before enrolling, and Dugu Bo warned them to keep their talents hidden.
• Gu Ci cultivated, studied First-Grade Soul Tools, and coordinated attacks with Zi Dian and Night Shadow while Dugu Yan practiced fusing ice and fire.
• After a month, Gu Ci and Dugu Yan prepared to enroll, concealing their cultivation and Spirit Rings with jade pendants.
• Dugu Bo took Gu Ci and Dugu Yan to Heaven Dou Royal Academy, where they waited in line until it was their turn to register.

Gu Ci and Dugu Yan enrolled at Heaven Dou Royal Academy, where their family ties and level 11 Soul Power earned them special attention from Chief Meng Shenji. As Meng Shenji led them into their elite class, a jealous young noble began plotting against them.

• Gu Ci and Dugu Yan registered as six-year-old level 11 Battle Spirit Masters, while disguising Zi Dian and Ice Fire as ordinary pets.
• The registration teacher recognized their backgrounds and summoned Meng Shenji, who personally welcomed them and assigned them to the Primary Academy Elite Class.
• A richly dressed youth watched Gu Ci and Dugu Yan leave and told his lackey to wait before teaching them a lesson.
• Gu Ci and Dugu Yan followed Meng Shenji to First Grade Class Three, where the students fell silent and greeted the Academy Chief.

Gu Ci and Dugu Yan enrolled in the academy and impressed their classmates with their Level 8 Innate Soul Power and First Spirit Rings. The next morning, Teacher Qin entered with five new students to introduce to the class.

• Meng Shenji assigned Gu Ci and Dugu Yan to Teacher Qin’s class, where they introduced their Martial Souls and Rank 11 cultivation.
• Teacher Qin had the students report their cultivation, and Lu Ming drew attention by revealing his Century Spirit Ring before Dugu Yan and Gu Ci each announced Level 8 Innate Soul Power and a First Spirit Ring.
• Lu Ming’s lackeys suggested scheming against Gu Ci and Dugu Yan, but Lu Ming warned them not to provoke the pair and left.
• After class, classmates crowded around Gu Ci and Dugu Yan with questions, while Zi Dian growled at Lu Ming’s retreating figure.
• The next morning, Gu Ci and Dugu Yan arrived early, and Teacher Qin entered the classroom with five new students.

Yu Tianheng, the Shi Mo brothers, Yu Feng, Osler, and Ye Lingling joined Gu Ci and Dugu Yan’s class at Heaven Dou Royal Academy, bringing the number of gifted students together to eight. Over the next half month, the new classmates gradually formed a circle, though Ye Lingling remained distant.

• Teacher Qin introduced Yu Tianheng, the Shi Mo brothers, Yu Feng, Osler, and Ye Lingling as new classmates, each with Level 8 or higher Innate Soul Power.
• Yu Tianheng sat beside Gu Ci, noticed Zi Dian, and later said he had remembered Gu Ci after learning about his Mystic Thunder Tiger Martial Soul and Level 8 Innate Soul Power.
• Gu Ci reflected that his true Level 21 cultivation, two powerful Spirit Rings, Ultimate Thunder, and Heavenly Eye remained unknown to the others.
• Over the next half month, Gu Ci and Dugu Yan grew closer to Yu Tianheng, the Shi Mo brothers, Yu Feng, and Osler through meals, cultivation, and sparring, while Ye Lingling continued to keep her distance.

After the Academy announced that Spirit Hall Pope Qian Xunji had died from his injuries at Tang Hao’s hands, the students were sent home for a month as tensions rose between Spirit Hall and the Clear Sky Sect. Gu Ci left with his father, while his classmates were collected by their families and clans.

• Yu Tianheng praised Gu Ci’s Thunderbolt before the Academy’s emergency bell summoned the students and teachers.
• Teacher Qin announced Qian Xunji’s death and identified Tang Hao as the one who had fatally wounded him; Meng Shenji ordered a one-month break and warned students to stay out of the conflict.
• Gu Ci reassured Dugu Yan that her grandfather Dugu Bo was safe, then reflected that Bibi Dong would become Spirit Hall’s next Pope and that the upheaval could create an opportunity for him.
• Gu Xiao arrived to collect Gu Ci and said Dugu Bo was waiting at the manor; Yu Tianheng departed with his Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan uncle after exchanging a farewell nod with Gu Ci.
• The families and escorts of Lu Ming, the Shi Mo brothers, Yu Feng, and Osler arrived to take them home, and Ye Lingling was the last to leave.

After Qian Xunji's death, Gu Ci and Dugu Yan returned to the Marquis Mansion and stayed there as Spirit Hall investigated Tang Hao and pressured the Clear Sky Sect. The chapter leaves the Clear Sky Sect facing Spirit Hall’s threat after its leader refused to hand over Tang Hao.

• Ye Lingling boarded a white carriage sent by her mysterious family, while Gu Xiao warned Gu Ci that the continent was entering turmoil and that he should remain in the manor.
• Gu Ci predicted that Spirit Hall would likely attack the Clear Sky Sect and said Bibi Dong might inherit the Pope’s position.
• Dugu Bo ordered Gu Ci and Dugu Yan to stay home and cultivate for a month as reports of the crisis arrived.
• Gu Xiao reported that Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan and Ghost Douluo Ghost Mi had gone to the locked-down Clear Sky Sect.
• Yue Guan demanded that Tang Nian surrender Tang Hao and publicly apologize to Spirit Hall, while Tang Nian insisted Tang Hao’s actions did not involve the sect.
• Ghost Mi threatened that the Clear Sky Sect would be destroyed if it refused Spirit Hall’s demand.

Spirit Hall’s campaign devastated the Clear Sky Sect’s allies, while the Clear Sky Sect sealed itself away and expelled Tang Hao. As Gu Ci returned to the academy, Dugu Bo decided to gather his old friends and visit the Nine-Heart Begonia Ye Family to build a force of their own.

• Yue Guan and Gui Mei gave Tang Nian ten days to surrender Tang Hao or face Spirit Hall’s full force, and Tang Nian died seven days later after the confrontation worsened his frail health.
• Spirit Hall slaughtered the Strength Clan, Defense Clan, Speed Clan, and Breaking Clan, leaving several clan leaders dead, missing, or fleeing with survivors.
• The empires and major sects reacted cautiously to the conflict, while Tang Xiao sealed the Clear Sky Sect for a hundred years and expelled Tang Hao.
• Spirit Hall expanded its influence across the continent, and Gu Ci and Dugu Yan returned to Heaven Dou Royal Academy with Ye Lingling after the month-long holiday.
• Gu Ci urged Dugu Bo to build an independent force, and Dugu Bo decided to reunite his old friends and visit the Nine-Heart Begonia Ye Family.

Dugu Bo traveled across the continent to recruit old companions and persuade the Ye Family to let Ye Lingling stay with Gu Ci. He returned to the Marquis Mansion with three Soul Douluos and five Soul Saints, while the old woman had yet to decide whether the Ye Family would leave seclusion.

• Dugu Bo visited the Ye Family's secluded valley and asked the old woman to let Ye Lingling stay by Gu Ci's side; she said she needed time to think.
• Dugu Bo recruited Zhao Tieshan, Shen Biyao, and Cang Lang, three old friends who were Soul Douluos.
• Dugu Bo found Liu Tieying, Li Guishou, Granny Sun, Qian Sihai, and Old Ghost, and each agreed to join him.
• Half a month later, Dugu Bo returned to the Marquis Mansion with the three Soul Douluos and five Soul Saints.

Gu Ci gathered Dugu Bo’s old allies at the Marquis Mansion and assigned them roles in a long-term plan to prepare for Spirit Hall’s growing power, including researching Soul Tools. After Granny Ye left Ye Lingling in Dugu Bo’s care, Ye Lingling stayed with Dugu Yan and the others.

• Granny Ye brought Ye Lingling to the Marquis Mansion and agreed the Ye Family could no longer hide in its valley.
• Gu Ci asked Dugu Bo’s assembled allies to help build a force that would cultivate strong soul masters and prepare for Spirit Hall’s future moves.
• Gu Ci assigned the seniors duties suited to their specialties, including having Zhao Tieshan and Qian Sihai research Soul Tools.
• The seniors began their work as Granny Ye treated Cang Lang, Li Guishou built an intelligence network, and Granny Sun trained Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling.
• Gu Ci used his Heavenly Eye to correct mistakes in the smiths’ Core Array design, surprising Zhao Tieshan and Qian Sihai.
• Granny Ye left Ye Lingling with Dugu Bo, and Dugu Yan comforted Ye Lingling as she watched Granny Ye depart.

After Bibi Dong took office as Pope and created the Martial Soul Hall Adjudication Department, Gu Ci urged his allies to build their strength discreetly while preparing for Spirit Hall’s expanding reach. The Marquis Mansion made early progress on Soul Tools, intelligence gathering, and elite training.

• Dugu Bo learned that Bibi Dong had established the Martial Soul Hall Adjudication Department to pursue Clear Sky Sect forces and potential threats to Spirit Hall.
• Gu Ci told his allies to keep the Marquis Mansion’s activities hidden while secretly developing Soul Tools, expanding their intelligence network, and training an elite squad.
• Dugu Yan promised Gu Ci she would cultivate hard and help him, while Ye Lingling watched quietly.
• Zhao Tieshan and Qian Sihai completed a First-Grade Soul Tool Ray Gun, which Dugu Bo tested by firing into the courtyard stones.
• Li Guishou expanded his network around Heaven Dou City and reported that Bibi Dong was replacing Qian Xunji’s former people with her own.
• Granny Sun began training talented young people from the Marquis Mansion, including Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling.

Gu Ci welcomed Wind Trace to the Marquis Mansion and reassured Dugu Yan that they would grow strong enough to face the Spirit Hall. At the academy, Qin Ming selected eight students for afternoon special training and began testing their combat abilities.

• Gu Ci met Wind Trace, Liu Tieying's disciple, who had a Wind Falcon Martial Soul and was already a Three-Ring Soul Elder.
• Dugu Yan admitted she feared the Spirit Hall might force them to hide like the Clear Sky Sect, and Gu Ci promised they would become strong enough to stop anyone from harming them.
• Qin Ming arrived at the academy as a specially appointed instructor and chose Gu Ci, Dugu Yan, Yu Tianheng, Shi Mo, Shi Mo, Yu Feng, Osler, and Ye Lingling for special training.
• Qin Ming led the eight students to the Special Training Area and ordered them to fight in pairs so he could assess their foundations.
• Yu Tianheng and Yu Feng fought evenly, while the Shi Mo brothers' defense withstood Osler's attacks.
• Dugu Yan hesitated to attack Ye Lingling, so Qin Ming challenged them about their battlefield roles, and Ye Lingling healed Dugu Yan with her Nine-Heart Begonia.

Qin Ming began harsh special training for Gu Ci and the other seven, addressing each Spirit Master's weaknesses and building their teamwork. After a week, Gu Ci's Red Team improved through repeated battles, and the chapter left the eight resting together as they looked ahead to training as a team.

• Ye Lingling healed and boosted Dugu Yan, and Qin Ming told them to practice protecting one another before testing Gu Ci against him.
• Qin Ming assessed the eight Spirit Masters and assigned individual training to address their weaknesses.
• The group trained harshly each afternoon, improving their combat skills and support while Gu Ci hid his true strength and practiced his fundamentals.
• Qin Ming split the group into Red and Blue Teams; Red Team lost its first two matches before Gu Ci led it to victory in the third.
• Qin Ming praised their coordination and urged them to keep training, and the eight rested together after sharing a few words.

Heavenly Workshop’s low-grade Soul Tools became popular in Heaven Dou City, earning huge profits and drawing attention. Gu Ci proposed keeping civilian tools public while guarding the combat-tool techniques, but strangers had already begun investigating the workshop.

• Soul Lights appeared on Heaven Dou City’s streets, and nobles flocked to Heavenly Workshop to buy lamps and other civilian Soul Tools.
• Qian Sihai reported strong sales while Zhao Tieshan oversaw production and planned to use profits for materials, expansion, and support for their allies.
• Qian Sihai warned Dugu Bo that Spirit Hall might discover the business, and Dugu Bo left the problem to Gu Ci.
• Gu Ci told Dugu Bo to openly sell low-grade civilian tools, keep combat Soul Tools for their own use, and limit knowledge of Core Array production.
• Dugu Bo told Gu Ci that Li Guishou had reported strangers asking about Heavenly Workshop’s background.

Gu Ci’s Soul Lights drew the attention of Spirit Hall, whose Deacon Wang Hong tried to summon Qian Sihai to meet the Pope. Qian Sihai refused with Zhao Tieshan’s backing and reported the threat to Old Poison so Gu Ci could decide what to do.

• Gu Ci spoke with Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling about how Soul Lights could brighten homes across the city.
• Old Ghost caught a Spirit Hall youth sneaking into the Marquis Mansion, and the youth claimed he had come to look at the Heavenly Workshop’s lamps.
• Old Ghost reported that someone from Spirit Hall had arrived.
• Wang Hong introduced himself as a Spirit Hall Deacon and invited Qian Sihai to visit the Pope, but Qian Sihai refused and hinted at powerful allies.
• Wang Hong warned Qian Sihai that good things belonged only to those who could keep them, then left the shop.
• Qian Sihai and Zhao Tieshan agreed to tell Old Poison about Spirit Hall’s approach and let Gu Ci decide what to do.

After Spirit Hall’s deacon tested Heavenly Workshop, Gu Ci proposed spreading word of its Soul Tools and securing the Heaven Dou Royal Family’s protection. The royal family agreed to cooperate, but the arrival of Spirit Hall’s Adjudication Department brought a more serious threat to Heaven Dou City.

• Gu Ci advised Dugu Bo’s group to publicize Heavenly Workshop’s Soul Tools and negotiate royal protection rather than confront Spirit Hall directly.
• Dugu Bo brought Gu Ci to the imperial palace, where Gu Ci secured Xue Ye’s agreement to protect Heavenly Workshop in exchange for supplying Soul Tools while retaining ownership of the technology.
• Old Ghost reported that Bibi Dong had sent Yin Wuji, Iron Face, and twelve elite Soul Masters from Spirit Hall’s Adjudication Department to Heaven Dou City.
• Gu Ci learned the group was staying at the southern Post House and concluded they were gathering information while awaiting orders and a response.

Gu Ci used Xue Ye’s decree to assert the Heaven Dou Empire’s protection over the Heavenly Workshop and its Soul Tool technology before two Spirit Hall envoys. The chapter ended with Yin Wuji pressuring Gu Ci to reveal where the technology came from, while Gu Ci remained unmoved.

• Dugu Bo and Gu Ci returned to the Marquis Mansion, where the group debated how to respond to Spirit Hall’s two Soul Douluos and their operatives.
• Gu Ci proposed visiting the Adjudication Department with Xue Ye’s decree to declare the Heavenly Workshop protected by the Empire and refuse to share its technology.
• The next morning, Gu Ci went to the post house and identified himself to Yin Wuji and Iron Face as Xue Ye’s representative.
• Gu Ci presented the royal decree and explained that the Heavenly Workshop’s technology was inherited, not for sale, and unavailable to outsiders.
• Yin Wuji agreed not to touch the Heavenly Workshop for the moment, then demanded to know where its Soul Tool technology came from.
• Yin Wuji used his Soul Douluo pressure on Gu Ci, but Gu Ci remained standing without fear.