Chapter Summaries

Gu Ci returned to Heaven Dou City, reunited with his family, and broke through to level forty-six, bringing him closer to completing the Thunder God's First Trial. The next morning, he helped Qian Sihai and Zhao Tieshan solve a circuit-layering problem in their Fourth-Grade Soul Armor design.

• Gu Ci returned to the Marquis Mansion, where Li Wanyue, Dugu Yan, and Ye Lingling welcomed him home.
• Gu Ci broke through from level forty-five to level forty-six with the help of his four Soul Spirits, and the Thunder God said he could complete the First Trial ahead of schedule.
• Gu Ci reunited with Dugu Yan, Ye Lingling, Gu Xiao, and Li Wanyue after the breakthrough and then went to sleep.
• Gu Ci went to the Heavenly Workshop, examined the failed Fourth-Grade Soul Armor Core Array, and identified interference between two circuits.
• Gu Ci advised Qian Sihai and Zhao Tieshan to place the interfering circuits on separate layers with insulating material between them, and Zhao Tieshan realized this was the source of their failures.

Gu Ci returned to academy training after helping the Heavenly Workshop develop Soul Tools, and his strength soon surpassed the Special Training Class. A year later, he reached Level 48 and agreed to lead Heaven Dou Royal Academy’s tournament team, insisting that Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling be included on the official roster.

• Gu Ci defeated Yu Tianheng, Shi Mo, Shi Mo, and Osler in a one-against-four training match, convincing Qin Ming that he needed a bigger stage.
• Gu Ci tested the fourth-grade Soul Armor, confirmed it could withstand Soul Emperor-level attacks, and ordered Qian Sihai to begin mass production for the front lines.
• Gu Ci continued his daily cultivation and training routine, eventually breaking through to Level 48 while the Thunder God warned him that the final two levels would be difficult.
• Qin Ming told Gu Ci that he would be the likely captain of Heaven Dou Royal Academy’s tournament team, and Gu Ci asked for Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling to join the official roster.
• Qin Ming agreed that Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling were qualified but said the remaining team members would be chosen through selection; Gu Ci agreed to return when it began.

Gu Ci reached level forty-nine, oversaw the Heavenly Workshop’s mass production of Fourth-Grade Soul Tools, and led Heaven Dou Royal Academy’s tournament team after its selection. His cultivation then stalled at a mental bottleneck, and Thunder God advised him to go out and seek a breakthrough.

• Gu Ci broke through to level forty-nine, and Gu Xiao and Dugu Bo praised his progress.
• The Heavenly Workshop began mass-producing Fourth-Grade Soul Tools for Cangyun Pass, and Xue Ye granted the workshop imperial support and honors.
• Gu Ci oversaw production and prepared for the tournament selection, where the academy chose Yu Tianheng, the Shi Mo brothers, Yu Feng, and Ning Tian to join the seeded students.
• Gu Ci became captain of the eight-person Heaven Dou Royal Academy team, and Qian Renxue read a report about his level and appointment.
• Gu Ci found himself unable to advance beyond level forty-nine, and Thunder God said his state of mind had become a bottleneck and told him to go out.

Gu Ci left Heaven Dou City alone to clear his mind and overcome his Soul Power bottleneck. After traveling west and entering the mountains, he camped beneath a starry sky, still unsure how to calm his heart.

• Gu Ci told Li Wanyue he wanted to travel alone, and Dugu Bo agreed after reminding him to return before spring for the competition registration.
• Gu Ci left Heaven Dou City on foot with Zi Dian and Night Shadow, carrying supplies and three Burst Bombs.
• Gu Ci traveled west through villages and towns, listening to locals and reflecting on Thunder God's advice about calming his heart.
• Gu Ci entered a mountain village and heard from an old man that Soul Beasts had recently injured several hunters.
• Gu Ci spotted a Stone Armor Bear Soul King, avoided its territory, and continued deeper into the mountains.
• Gu Ci camped beside a stream and looked at the stars, remembering his childhood with Dugu Yan while admitting his heart was not yet calm.

Gu Ci traveled through the mountains and grasslands, reflecting on his responsibilities and listening to news of the upcoming Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament. As he rode toward the sunset with his Soul Spirits, his level-forty-nine bottleneck loosened for the first time in half a year, bringing level fifty within reach.

• Gu Ci told Thunder God that he envied the peaceful lives of villagers but would not abandon his responsibilities to his family, the Heavenly Workshop, and Thunder God's inheritance.
• After half a month of travel, Gu Ci heard students in a restaurant discuss a young Heaven Dou Royal Academy genius identified as Gu Ci, and listened to their predictions about the tournament.
• Gu Ci missed home but continued west because he had not broken through his bottleneck.
• On a grassland, Gu Ci watched Zi Dian, Night Shadow, Thunder Emperor, and Silver Crown play, then sensed his level-forty-nine bottleneck beginning to loosen.
• Gu Ci rode Zi Dian across the grassland as the bottleneck cracked, and Thunder God confirmed that the door to level fifty was opening.

Gu Ci shattered the level-forty bottleneck and reached level forty-nine, but his attempt to break through level fifty failed. On his way back toward Heaven Dou City, he diverted to the Star Dou Great Forest, where Qian Renxue joined him and said she had come to see him.

• Gu Ci broke through the level-forty bottleneck, revealed four Soul Rings, and tested the level-fifty gate with Heavenly Execution, but could not open it.
• Gu Ci rode Zi Dian toward Heaven Dou City as Li Wanyue, Dugu Yan, Ye Lingling, Gu Xiao, and Dugu Bo awaited his return.
• Gu Ci changed course and traveled to the Star Dou Great Forest, where he rested outside its edge and spoke with the Thunder God about the requirements for meeting him.
• Qian Renxue emerged from the forest shadows and told Gu Ci she had come to see him after hearing he had run away from home.

Qian Renxue revealed her identity as Qian Renxue of Spirit Hall and helped Gu Ci recognize that his level-fifty breakthrough depended on overcoming a mental barrier. Gu Ci broke through to level fifty, completing the Thunder God’s First Trial and receiving a God-Bestowed Spirit Ring to condense.

• Qian Renxue told Gu Ci she belonged to Spirit Hall and revealed her real name, Qian Renxue, and he admitted he had guessed her identity.
• Qian Renxue asked whether Gu Ci would kill her if they became enemies, and he told her she was not his enemy.
• Before leaving, Qian Renxue urged Gu Ci to release his burdens and stop treating the level-fifty threshold as insurmountable.
• The Thunder God told Gu Ci that the breakthrough required a mental shift, and Gu Ci realized the opportunity had already arrived.
• Gu Ci traveled east through the night, sat on an empty plain at dawn, and broke through to level fifty with his four Soul Spirits present.
• The Thunder God announced that Gu Ci had completed the First Trial and received a God-Bestowed Spirit Ring, then told him to condense it according to what he could endure.

Gu Ci absorbed the Thunder God's inheritance and formed a ninety-nine-thousand-year Fifth Soul Ring, becoming a Soul King and awakening Thunder God's Wrath. After testing the devastating skill, he set out on foot for Heaven Dou City.

• Gu Ci endured the God-Bestowed Spirit Ring's power as it strengthened his body and raised his Fifth Soul Ring's age to ninety-nine thousand years.
• Gu Ci stopped the ring from reaching one hundred thousand years and reached level fifty, becoming a five-ringed Soul King.
• The Thunder God revealed that Gu Ci's fifth spirit skill was Thunder God's Wrath, a powerful group attack fueled by the Thunder God's Heart.
• Gu Ci tested Thunder God's Wrath, which devastated the surrounding plain but left the Thunder God's Heart needing a day to recover.
• Gu Ci left for Heaven Dou City and walked for three days toward home with Zi Dian on his shoulder.

After nearly a month away, Gu Ci returned to Heaven Dou City as a Level 50 Soul King with a ninety-nine-thousand-year fifth Spirit Ring and reunited with his family and academy team. He provided rare materials to the Heavenly Workshop and rejoined the Special Training Class.

• Gu Ci reached Heaven Dou City after traveling alone for three days and revealed his five Spirit Rings to the guards who came to investigate his tigers and lightning.
• Li Wanyue, Dugu Yan, Ye Lingling, Gu Xiao, and Dugu Bo welcomed Gu Ci home, and Gu Xiao praised his breakthrough to Level 50.
• Gu Ci ate with his family, then visited the Heavenly Workshop, where he reviewed Soul Tool production and gave Qian Sihai Silver Crown's scales for Fifth-Grade Soul Tools.
• Gu Ci returned to the academy, where Qin Ming welcomed him back to training with the Special Training Class.
• Yu Tianheng compared his own progress with Gu Ci's, while the other classmates greeted Gu Ci and Dugu Yan proudly held his hand.

Gu Ci led a special-training battle with Ning Tian and Ye Lingling supporting him, defeating the team in seconds and prompting Qin Ming to increase their training. The Thunder God then revealed Gu Ci’s second trial: within three years, he had to gather five materials from soul beasts over Fifty Thousand Years old and forge a Fifth-Grade Soul Tool to earn the Thunder God Hammer Forging Method.

• Ning Tian and Ye Lingling boosted and healed Gu Ci as he led the team against five attackers, swiftly knocking them back and making Yu Tianheng concede.
• Qin Ming assessed the team’s lineup, identified coordination as its weakness, and ordered two additional hours of daily training.
• Qian Renxue read intelligence about Gu Ci’s ninety-nine-thousand-year Fifth Soul Ring and wondered how far he could go.
• The Thunder God set Gu Ci’s second trial: within three years, he had to collect five materials from soul beasts over Fifty Thousand Years old and personally forge a Fifth-Grade Soul Tool.
• The Thunder God promised the Thunder God Hammer Forging Method, a technique for forging god-grade Soul Tools, as the trial’s reward.

Gu Ci accepted the Thunder God's training and worked to master forging and Soul Tool Core Arrays so he could create a Fifth-Grade Soul Tool within three years. After three months of intense practice, he had learned basic forging and successfully made First- and Second-Grade Core Arrays.

• Gu Ci began practicing forging at the Anvil, and Zhao Tieshan taught him how to vary his hammer angles to shape the iron.
• Gu Ci forged through the night, while the Thunder God encouraged him to work harder toward his three-year goal.
• After a month of training, Gu Ci had mastered basic forging techniques and impressed Zhao Tieshan with his skill.
• In the second month, Gu Ci successfully carved a First-Grade Soul Tool Core Array on his eighth attempt.
• In the third month, Gu Ci learned to make Second-Grade Core Arrays after more than thirty failures and a week of practice.

Gu Ci mastered Fourth-Grade Soul Tool Core Arrays, then led the Tiandou Royal Academy Team to victory over Spirit Hall Academy and won the tournament. After the championship, Qian Renxue told him her identity had been exposed and that she was leaving for Spirit Hall.

• Gu Ci succeeded in crafting a Fourth-Grade Soul Tool Core Array after months of practice, then considered the rare Soul Beast materials he still needed.
• A year later, eleven-year-old Gu Ci entered the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament as a level 51 Soul King, and the Tiandou Royal Academy Team advanced undefeated.
• Gu Ci and Qian Renxue clashed in the finals, and Qian Renxue conceded after his attack proved stronger.
• The Tiandou Royal Academy Team won the championship, and Gu Ci skipped the celebration to meet Qian Renxue on Heaven Dou City's wall.
• Qian Renxue told Gu Ci that her identity had been exposed and that she was returning to Spirit Hall.

After Qian Renxue left Heaven Dou City, Gu Ci learned that Spirit Hall had withdrawn its forces and was summoned to meet Xue Ye. The emperor rewarded him, appointed him as Xue Qinghe’s study companion, and began discussing a covert intelligence mission to Spirit City.

• Qian Renxue said she would meet Gu Ci again when she was strong enough to protect him, then warned him that Bibi Dong would not let him go and disappeared into the night.
• Dugu Bo told Gu Ci that Bibi Dong had disbanded the Spirit Hall Academy team, recalled Qian Renxue to Spirit City, and withdrawn Spirit Hall’s forces from Cangyun Pass.
• Xue Ye received Gu Ci at the palace and introduced him to the Crown Prince, Xue Qinghe.
• Xue Ye awarded Gu Ci the title of Honorary Academician of Heavenly Craft Academy, materials, Gold Soul Coins, and the Ten Thousand Year Thunder Wings Right Leg Bone.
• Xue Ye asked Gu Ci to cultivate alongside Xue Qinghe as his study companion, and Gu Ci agreed.
• Xue Ye said Bibi Dong was secretly mobilizing troops and began explaining why he needed a young, capable, loyal person to gather intelligence in Spirit City.

Gu Ci prepared to leave Heaven Dou City for Spirit City under the alias Little Thunder to gather intelligence on Spirit Hall. He departed after passing on the Heavenly Workshop’s Fourth-Grade Soul Tool techniques, leaving his friends behind as he began the long journey on foot.

• Xue Qinghe told Gu Ci that Xue'er had warned him not to trust anyone, then became his disciple and improved his Soul Power efficiency under Gu Ci’s instruction.
• Gu Ci taught Qian Sihai and Zhao Tieshan the core techniques of Fourth-Grade Soul Tools, boosting production and strengthening the Heaven Dou Empire’s army.
• Gu Ci finalized his plans to enter Spirit City as Little Thunder, suppressing his Soul Power and adopting the cover of a Heavenly Workshop apprentice.
• Li Wanyue, Dugu Yan, and Ye Lingling watched Gu Ci leave Heaven Dou City, while Li Wanyue’s Silver Mark burned faintly.
• Gu Ci traveled toward Spirit City on foot, cultivating Soul Power and practicing forging along the way.

Gu Ci traveled to Spirit City in disguise to gather information about Spirit Hall, then returned to the Star Dou Great Forest with five rare materials. He began setting up a secluded forge to craft a Fifth-Grade Soul Tool for his second trial.

• Gu Ci crossed into Spirit Hall's territory disguised as an ordinary four-ring Soul Ancestor and arrived in Spirit City, where the Thunder God warned him to avoid Qian Daoliu.
• Gu Ci spent several days listening around Spirit City and learned that Bibi Dong was reorganizing Spirit Hall, Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo were in the Star Luo Empire, and Soul Tool production was expanding, but he found no information about Qian Renxue.
• After two months, Gu Ci left Spirit City and returned to the Heaven Dou Empire before heading to the Star Dou Great Forest.
• Gu Ci entered the forest with materials from four high-level soul beasts, which he had purchased in Spirit City, completing a set of five attributes with Silver Crown's scales.
• Gu Ci found a cave on the forest's outskirts and set up a forge to begin crafting a Fifth-Grade Soul Tool.

Gu Ci completed the Thunder God Hammer Forging Method’s Second Trial by forging a Fifth-Grade Soul Armor after months of hammering and carving its core array. The chapter ended with Gu Ci wearing the armor as a Level fifty, five-ring Soul King and a qualified Soul Tool master.

• Gu Ci learned about Spirit Hall’s Golden Generation and spent a month gathering information about Spirit Hall and Bibi Dong.
• Gu Ci spent a month fusing five attribute materials into a single metal sheet through repeated hammer strikes.
• Gu Ci carved a twelve-layer array with one hundred thousand Soul Power Circuits, restarting after seven failures before completing it six months later.
• Gu Ci assembled the array into a silver-white Fifth-Grade Soul Armor that could withstand Soul Douluo-level attacks, absorb Soul Power, and repair minor damage.
• Thunder God declared the Second Trial complete and rewarded Gu Ci with the Thunder God Hammer Forging Method.
• Gu Ci put on the armor as his five soul rings emerged, confirming he had reached Level fifty and become a five-ring Soul King.

After completing the Second Trial in the Star Dou Great Forest, Gu Ci returned to Heaven Dou City after a year and six months away. He was welcomed by Captain Zhou at the city gate and continued toward the Marquis Mansion.

• Thunder God told Gu Ci that he had exceeded the Second Trial's requirements and instructed him to return home, promising to explain the Third Trial later.
• Gu Ci traveled from the Star Dou Great Forest across the plains toward Heaven Dou City, reflecting on how much he had changed during his absence.
• Gu Ci and his four Soul Spirits gathered on a hill outside the city, their lightning drawing the attention of the city guards.
• Captain Zhou recognized Gu Ci and knelt to welcome him home; Gu Ci recalled his Soul Spirits and entered the city.
• Gu Ci walked through the familiar, bustling streets toward the Marquis Mansion as night fell.

Gu Ci returned to the Marquis Mansion after a year and a half away and reunited with his family. The chapter ended with Gu Xiao noticing the fifth Golden Spirit Ring beneath Gu Ci’s feet.

• Li Wanyue waited at the Marquis Mansion gate and embraced Gu Ci when he arrived, checking his face and telling him he had gotten thinner.
• Dugu Yan ran out to greet Gu Ci and threw herself into his arms, while Ice Fire and Mo Jiao greeted his companions.
• Gu Ci approached Ye Lingling beneath the Corridor, told her he was back, and received her quiet reply before she returned to her room.
• Gu Xiao came out from the Training Ground, struck Gu Ci’s shoulder, and examined him before noticing the fifth Golden Spirit Ring beneath his feet.

Gu Ci returned to the Marquis Mansion after a year and a half, having reached Level fifty-one and gained a Golden Spirit Ring. He reunited with his family over dinner, while reports of rising border tensions showed that war was approaching.

• Gu Xiao welcomed Gu Ci home and returned to the Training Ground, while Dugu Bo noticed Gu Ci's Golden Spirit Ring and asked his level.
• Gu Ci told Dugu Bo he had reached Level fifty-one, and Dugu Bo invited him inside to eat rather than question him about his journey.
• Li Wanyue prepared Gu Ci's favorite dishes, and Gu Ci ate with his family while sharing food with Zi Dian and Night Shadow.
• Gu Xiao and Dugu Bo discussed Star Luo Empire troops gathering at the border and both empires equipping their armies with Soul Tools.
• After dinner, Gu Ci sat beneath the Corridor with Zi Dian and Night Shadow asleep beside him, while Thunder Emperor and Silver Crown rested in his Soul Spirit Space.

Gu Ci learned the Thunder God's Third Trial required him to reach Level 70 within three years, collect materials from eight Soul Beasts over fifty thousand years old, and forge a Level 6 Soul Tool. The reward would complete the awakening of the Thunder God's Heart and let him inherit the Thunder God Godhood at Level 100; the next morning, Gu Ci began preparing to meet the challenge.

• Gu Ci asked the Thunder God about the Third Trial and learned its three-year requirements.
• Gu Ci considered the difficulty of gaining Soul Power, forging a Level 6 Soul Tool, and obtaining rare materials, especially from a powerful Light Tiger.
• The Thunder God warned that failure would withdraw the inheritance and erase Gu Ci's memories of him.
• Gu Ci vowed not to disappoint the Thunder God and learned the reward would complete the Thunder God's Heart awakening.
• Before dawn, Gu Ci went alone to the Training Ground, walked three laps, and settled himself to cultivate.