Chapter Summaries

Key plot points and events

• Ning Rongrong arrives at Suotuo City and pays her coachman generously, attracting attention with her wealth and appearance.
• Ma Hongjun spots her and tries to ingratiate himself under the pretense of offering protection. When she rejects him, he threatens her with his Soul Grandmaster status.
• Rongrong remains unimpressed, but Ma Hongjun loses his temper and prepares to attack her with his Phoenix fire.
• Xiao Wu intervenes, kicking his wrist and extinguishing the attack. She condemns him for harassing a girl and disgracing Soul Masters.
• Ma Hongjun turns his aggression toward both girls, while Xiao Wu takes a fighting stance. Just as a confrontation seems imminent, someone grabs Ma Hongjun’s shoulder and threatens him; the chapter ends before the newcomer is identified.

Character developments

• Ning Rongrong shows her pride, temper, and confidence in her powerful family’s status. Though she has little combat ability, she refuses to be intimidated.
• Xiao Wu demonstrates quick reflexes and a strong instinct to defend others, intervening without hesitation.
• Ma Hongjun is portrayed as predatory, entitled, and quick to violence, using his Soul Master status to intimidate women.

Significant themes

• Power and intimidation: Ma Hongjun assumes his rank lets him control others, but Rongrong’s confidence and Xiao Wu’s intervention challenge that belief.
• Courage and protection: Xiao Wu risks a fight to defend a stranger.
• Abuse of authority: Ma Hongjun twists his teacher’s “cause trouble” maxim to excuse his own selfish, harmful behavior.

Character interactions

• Rongrong dismisses Ma Hongjun’s advances and refuses to be cowed by his threats.
• Xiao Wu and Rongrong share a brief moment of gratitude after Xiao Wu steps in.
• Xiao Wu confronts Ma Hongjun directly, escalating their exchange into an impending fight.
• An unidentified person intervenes at the cliffhanger, stopping Ma Hongjun with a threatening grip.

Plot points and events

• Ning Rongrong pays her coachman extravagantly after arriving at the city gate, drawing attention to both her wealth and appearance.
• Ma Hongjun spots her, approaches under the pretense of offering protection, and is rebuffed. When she insults his status, he threatens her with his Soul Master power.
• Ma Hongjun summons his Soul Rings and reaches for Ning Rongrong with his Evil Fire. Before he can touch her, Xiao Wu rushes in and knocks his wrist aside.
• Xiao Wu confronts him for harassing and attacking a girl. Ma Hongjun escalates, and Xiao Wu prepares to fight him.
• Just as the confrontation is about to turn into a battle, an unseen person grabs Ma Hongjun’s shoulder and threatens him.

Character developments and interactions

• Ning Rongrong is shown as wealthy, proud, and quick-tempered; she refuses to be intimidated by Ma Hongjun’s Soul Master rank, though she is vulnerable when he attacks because she is a support-type Soul Master.
• Ma Hongjun acts as a predatory bully, using his Soul Master status to intimidate women. His temper and Evil Fire drive him from harassment to physical aggression.
• Xiao Wu demonstrates courage and a strong sense of justice by intervening immediately. She protects Ning Rongrong despite being a stranger to her, and readily faces Ma Hongjun in combat.
• Ning Rongrong thanks Xiao Wu for helping her. Their brief exchange begins a connection between the two.
• The final, unidentified figure’s intervention cuts off the impending fight and leaves the outcome unresolved.

Significant themes

• Abuse of power: Ma Hongjun exploits his strength and status to threaten someone less capable of defending herself.
• Courage and solidarity: Xiao Wu risks a fight to defend a stranger.
• Pride and status: Ning Rongrong’s confidence comes from her prestigious family, while Ma Hongjun expects his Soul Master rank to command respect.

Key events

• Li Yuan returns just as Ma Hongjun is threatening Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong. He pins Ma Hongjun, forces him to his knees, and knocks him several metres away with one punch.
• Li Yuan warns Ma Hongjun to stop bullying girls or face worse consequences. Ma Hongjun, frightened and injured, flees.
• Li Yuan checks that Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong are unharmed, then sets off with them. Ning Rongrong quietly follows, claiming she needs lodging in the same direction.
• Seeing Xiao Wu eat a raw carrot, Ning Rongrong connects her to the group-chat identity “Carrot” and shares a photo with the others.
• Bibi Dong offers to send someone to meet Ning Rongrong, but the chat’s “Single Academy-Running Housewife” warns her that Bibi Dong is an enemy of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and may have ulterior motives.
• Angered by the warning and the housewife’s taunts, Bibi Dong orders Gui Mei to investigate Soul Master academies and identify the mysterious chat member.

Character developments and interactions

• Li Yuan displays overwhelming strength and a protective streak, while remaining calm and gentle toward Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong after the fight.
• Xiao Wu is delighted by Li Yuan’s return and openly celebrates Ma Hongjun’s defeat.
• Ning Rongrong is impressed by Li Yuan’s looks and strength, develops an immediate crush, and eagerly stays near him. Her curiosity about Xiao Wu’s carrot-eating links her to the group chat.
• Ma Hongjun shifts from aggressive arrogance to fear and retreat after Li Yuan decisively overpowers him.
• Bibi Dong becomes increasingly frustrated at being mocked and obstructed, turning her anger into a search for the “Single Academy-Running Housewife.”
• The group-chat members tease and warn one another, especially cautioning Ning Rongrong against trusting Bibi Dong.

Significant themes

• Protection and justice: Li Yuan intervenes against Ma Hongjun’s bullying, though his response is forceful and threatening.
• First impressions and attraction: Ning Rongrong’s admiration of Li Yuan quickly becomes a crush.
• Suspicion and political rivalry: The chat’s warning highlights the conflict between Bibi Dong and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
• Humor and mystery: The carrot clue and the “Single Academy-Running Housewife” reveal blend playful banter with an ongoing identity hunt.

Plot points and events

• Bibi Dong orders Gui Mei to investigate Liu Erlong, who publicly challenged her in the group chat. Gui Mei is startled by Bibi Dong’s apparent interest in the married Liu Erlong, then hurries off to obey.
• In Suotuo City, Xiao Wu realizes that Ning Rongrong was the one who posted a photo of her and Li Yuan in the group. She teases Ning Rongrong for documenting the moment, especially after Ning Rongrong had just been harassed by a lecherous man.
• Ning Rongrong proposes that she and Xiao Wu temporarily unite against Zhu Zhuqing, whom they call “Big Cat.” Xiao Wu initially refuses, boasting instead about her own figure and teasing Ning Rongrong’s lack of curves.
• The two soon spot Zhu Zhuqing waiting in a pavilion. Intimidated by her striking appearance, Xiao Wu immediately changes her mind and persuades Ning Rongrong to join forces against their new rival. They seal their alliance with a high five.

Character developments and interactions

• Bibi Dong remains commanding and impatient, while Gui Mei’s private shock at her supposed romantic interest contrasts with his dutiful obedience.
• Ning Rongrong and Xiao Wu move from competitive rivals to temporary allies. Their exchange is playful and sharp: Xiao Wu needles Ning Rongrong, who defends herself with stubborn pride, but both quickly recognize a greater common “threat.”
• Zhu Zhuqing does not speak, but her imposing presence is enough to prompt Xiao Wu’s sudden change of strategy.
• Li Yuan stays out of the girls’ argument, wisely avoiding involvement.

Significant themes

• Rivalry and shifting alliances: Competition for Li Yuan gives way to cooperation when a more formidable rival appears.
• Appearance and insecurity: The girls jokingly compare their figures, revealing their self-consciousness and competitive attitudes.
• Comedic misunderstanding and teasing: Gui Mei’s reaction to Bibi Dong and the girls’ exaggerated “war” over Zhu Zhuqing provide much of the chapter’s humor.

Key plot points and events

• A group-chat discussion jokes about multiple women competing for Li Yuan. Bibi Dong angrily rejects the idea that she ever competed with Liu Erlong for Yu Xiaogang, while Liu Erlong nearly reveals her identity before catching herself.
• The chat turns to Xie Yue’s romantic preferences. After seeing him laughing closely with Yan, Hu Liena mistakes their friendship for a romance, assumes her brother is gay, and gives the pair her heartfelt blessing.
• Xie Yue and Yan are left confused and embarrassed by Hu Liena’s misunderstanding and their classmates’ knowing looks. Hu Liena flees, lamenting that the Xie family will have no heirs.
• Li Yuan brings Xiao Wu, Ning Rongrong, and the injured Zhu Zhuqing back to the Rose Hotel, where Zhu Zhuqing can recover. Ning Rongrong is uneasy about the hotel’s suggestive reputation.
• When Xiao Wu casually says that she and Li Yuan stayed there the previous day, Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing both assume they are lovers. Ning Rongrong fears she has lost her chance with Li Yuan, while Zhu Zhuqing pulls away, hurt that he seemed to encourage her despite already being involved with Xiao Wu.

Character developments and interactions

• Hu Liena reveals how strongly she cares about her brother, but her confidence in her own interpretation leads to a comic, misguided attempt to support him and Yan.
• Xie Yue and Yan are shown as close friends whose easy familiarity is easily misread; both are baffled by Hu Liena’s pronouncement.
• Ning Rongrong becomes anxious and jealous, viewing Xiao Wu’s remark as proof that Li Yuan is unavailable.
• Zhu Zhuqing, already emotionally vulnerable after Li Yuan helped her, feels misled and retreats from him.
• Bibi Dong and Liu Erlong trade sharp insults through the group chat, revealing lingering resentment and pride.

Significant themes

• Miscommunication and mistaken assumptions: Hu Liena misreads friendship as romance, while Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing misinterpret Li Yuan and Xiao Wu’s hotel stay.
• Romantic rivalry and jealousy: The group-chat banter and the women’s reactions underscore competition for Li Yuan’s attention.
• Comic exaggeration: Hu Liena’s dramatic fear that the Xie family will die out turns an ordinary misunderstanding into farce.

Plot points and events

• After Xiao Wu clarifies that she and Li Yuan slept in separate rooms, Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing relax. Ning Rongrong books the hotel’s best room.
• Dai Mubai arrives with two women and insists the room is reserved for him. He claims the Rose Hotel’s best room is always kept for him, though he offers no proof.
• Zhu Zhuqing recognizes Dai Mubai, her betrothed, and is devastated to see him living decadently rather than training as she had hoped. She nearly collapses, but Li Yuan steadies and reassures her.
• Ning Rongrong argues that the room should go to whoever arrived first. Li Yuan backs her up and asks Dai Mubai to show evidence of a reservation.
• Dai Mubai tries to intimidate the group, then summons his three Soul Rings. Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong step forward to defend Li Yuan, while Zhu Zhuqing watches Dai Mubai coldly. The chapter ends with both sides poised for a confrontation.

Character developments

• Zhu Zhuqing is shaken by the realization that Dai Mubai has abandoned the disciplined future she expected of him. Her distress reveals how deeply she still cares about their relationship.
• Li Yuan remains calm under provocation and supports both Zhu Zhuqing emotionally and Ning Rongrong in the dispute.
• Ning Rongrong shows her pride and quick temper, refusing to back down even when faced with Dai Mubai’s status and threats.
• Xiao Wu is eager to protect her friends and readily challenges Dai Mubai.
• Dai Mubai appears boastful and entitled, using his reputation and strength to get his way.

Significant themes

• Expectation versus reality: Zhu Zhuqing’s image of Dai Mubai as a determined, honorable partner collapses when she sees how he has chosen to live.
• Entitlement and power: Dai Mubai treats the hotel room as his by right, while Li Yuan appeals to fairness and proof.
• Loyalty and solidarity: The group closes ranks to defend one another, despite the danger of confronting a Soul Elder.

Character interactions

• Li Yuan gently catches and reassures Zhu Zhuqing after she recognizes Dai Mubai.
• Ning Rongrong openly challenges Dai Mubai over the room, and Li Yuan supports her position.
• Dai Mubai’s companions try to intimidate Li Yuan but also flirt with him.
• Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong stand beside Li Yuan when Dai Mubai prepares to fight; Zhu Zhuqing silently fixes her attention on Dai Mubai.

Key plot points and events

• Li Yuan unexpectedly pulls Zhu Zhuqing into an embrace and asks her to play along to provoke Dai Mubai.
• Zhu Zhuqing agrees, driven by anger over Dai Mubai’s past and her suffering in the Star Luo Empire. At Li Yuan’s prompting, she kisses his cheek in front of Dai Mubai, Xiao Wu, and Ning Rongrong.
• Li Yuan reveals Zhu Zhuqing is Dai Mubai’s fiancée and taunts him. Dai Mubai recognizes her and reacts with jealousy and fury.
• Zhu Zhuqing confronts Dai Mubai, saying she remembers their childhood promise but that he abandoned it. She declares she is not merely ending their engagement—she is repudiating him.
• Enraged, Dai Mubai attacks Zhu Zhuqing. Li Yuan intercepts his strike, crushes Dai Mubai’s wrist, and follows with a powerful elbow to his abdomen, leaving him sprawled and incapacitated.

Character developments

• Zhu Zhuqing moves from quiet complicity in Li Yuan’s scheme to openly asserting her independence. She makes clear that Dai Mubai’s choices have destroyed their bond.
• Li Yuan shows confidence, protectiveness toward Zhu Zhuqing, and considerable physical strength. He deliberately provokes Dai Mubai, then swiftly stops his attack.
• Dai Mubai shifts from arrogance to shock, humiliation, and uncontrolled rage when he learns Zhu Zhuqing is repudiating him. His attempted violence ends in defeat.
• Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong are caught off guard by the sudden kiss; Ning Rongrong is especially disappointed because it disrupts her hopes for romance with Li Yuan.

Significant themes

• Agency and rejection: Zhu Zhuqing refuses to be defined by an inherited engagement and claims the right to reject Dai Mubai.
• Consequences of neglect: Li Yuan argues that Dai Mubai lost Zhu Zhuqing through his own failure to cherish her.
• Pride and humiliation: Dai Mubai’s sense of entitlement makes Zhu Zhuqing’s rejection intolerable to him.
• Protection and power: Li Yuan’s intervention turns Dai Mubai’s violent attack into a decisive reversal.

Character interactions

• Li Yuan and Zhu Zhuqing coordinate a staged display of affection to provoke Dai Mubai, though the kiss genuinely flusters them both.
• Li Yuan taunts Dai Mubai about losing his fiancée; Zhu Zhuqing directly challenges Dai Mubai’s version of their shared past.
• Dai Mubai’s attack on Zhu Zhuqing prompts Li Yuan to protect her and overpower him, while Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong watch in alarm.

Plot points and events

• At the Rose Hotel, Li Yuan defeats Dai Mubai—a level-37 Soul Elder with the White Tiger Martial Soul—with a single unarmed grab and elbow strike. The onlookers are stunned.
• Li Yuan books rooms for the group. When the hotel has only three available, Ning Rongrong tries to arrange a room with him, but Zhu Zhuqing claims she needs Li Yuan to treat an injury in a private area. Li Yuan backs her up, and Rongrong reluctantly takes the hotel’s luxury suite alone.
• Once separated from Li Yuan, Rongrong realizes Zhu Zhuqing may have used the injury as an excuse to monopolize him. Frustrated, she vents in the group chat and shares a photo of Li Yuan standing calmly beside Dai Mubai on the floor.
• The photo sparks reactions across the chat. Bibi Dong recognizes Dai Mubai’s connection to the Star Luo imperial family and begins considering how Li Yuan’s appeal might help her gain leverage over the group.

Character developments and interactions

• Li Yuan displays overwhelming physical strength and remains calm afterward, treating the incident as routine. He readily agrees to Zhu Zhuqing’s claim that she needs his help.
• Ning Rongrong reveals her competitive, scheming side as she tries to secure time alone with Li Yuan. Her excitement turns to jealousy and comic indignation when Zhu Zhuqing outmaneuvers her.
• Zhu Zhuqing acts decisively to keep Rongrong from sharing Li Yuan’s room, using her injury as a pretext. She also looks at Li Yuan with admiration.
• Xiao Wu is impressed by Li Yuan’s strength and surprised by Rongrong’s bold proposal, but does not object to it.
• Dugu Yan admires Li Yuan after seeing the photo, then reminds herself that she is considering Yu Tianheng’s attentions.
• Bibi Dong shifts from amusement at Rongrong’s jealousy to strategic interest in Li Yuan, imagining how his influence over the chat could be exploited.

Significant themes

• Strength and reputation: Li Yuan’s effortless victory instantly changes how the others—and the group chat—view him.
• Romantic rivalry and jealousy: Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing compete indirectly for Li Yuan’s attention, while other women react to his charm.
• Power and manipulation: Zhu Zhuqing’s excuse and Bibi Dong’s plan both show characters using information or circumstances to gain an advantage.

Plot points and events

• Bibi Dong announces in the group chat that she is “done being human,” alarming Qian Renxue and the other women. In truth, she has simply realized that maintaining the Pope’s stern, dignified image is exhausting—and enjoys unsettling people by acting eccentric.
• Hu Liena rushes to check on her, but Bibi Dong interprets her concern as doubt about her sanity. Hu Liena’s attempts to coax her into resting only make matters worse.
• Bibi Dong asks the group how to punish someone without causing serious injury. Li Yuan suggests coating a weapon in alcohol for “disinfection.” Bibi Dong eagerly adopts the idea and gives Hu Liena a mock “massage” with an alcohol-dipped ruler, scolding her for questioning her teacher. She also blames Li Yuan for the suggestion.
• Later, at the Rose Hotel, Zhu Zhuqing emerges from the bathroom in a sheer nightgown. Li Yuan openly admires her, then jokingly pretends to be heartbroken because she has mistaken him for a brother rather than a romantic interest. Zhu Zhuqing sees through the act and catches him staring at her legs.

Character developments

• Bibi Dong shows a more playful, mischievous side, using humor and theatrical threats to escape the strain of her public persona. Her pride remains strong, and she reacts sharply when Hu Liena doubts her.
• Hu Liena is devoted enough to rush to her teacher’s aid, but her concern turns into wary suspicion. She becomes the target of Bibi Dong’s comic retaliation.
• Li Yuan remains flirtatious and mischievous, provoking Bibi Dong through the group chat and teasing Zhu Zhuqing in person.
• Zhu Zhuqing is shy and self-conscious around Li Yuan, but comfortable enough to laugh at his antics and challenge him when she catches him staring.

Significant themes

• Public image versus private self: Bibi Dong is tired of the burden of always appearing dignified and embraces a freer, more playful persona.
• Misunderstandings and comic exaggeration: Concern for Bibi Dong’s well-being is repeatedly mistaken for insult, while Li Yuan’s dramatic “heartbreak” is plainly a joke.
• Teasing within close relationships: The chapter’s humor comes from affectionate but provocative exchanges among characters who know one another well.

Character interactions

• Bibi Dong’s group-chat declaration alarms her friends, and Hu Liena’s attempt to care for her becomes a comic clash of pride and suspicion.
• Li Yuan’s advice indirectly leads to Hu Liena’s punishment, prompting her to blame him.
• Li Yuan and Zhu Zhuqing share a flirtatious exchange: he compliments her appearance, she calls him a pervert, and she exposes his exaggerated performance by pointing out that he is still staring at her.

Key events

• Li Yuan uses elaborate, shameless wordplay to convince Zhu Zhuqing that his interest in her legs is innocent, then invents a tragic childhood to win her sympathy.
• He asks to “taste what a mother tastes like,” making clear he means her breasts. Zhu Zhuqing realizes the implication, turns scarlet, and attacks him.
• Her foot slips on the damp floor, and Li Yuan catches her. He teases her about being heavy, provoking another angry outburst.
• Zhu Zhuqing heads to bed, but Li Yuan stops her and insists on treating the waist injury she had mentioned. He massages her and carefully applies ointment, then plans to sleep on the sofa.
• Feeling guilty that he would be uncomfortable after helping her, Zhu Zhuqing tentatively offers to share the large bed. Li Yuan’s surprised response leaves her flustered again.

Character developments and interactions

• Li Yuan is irreverent and sexually teasing, but also quick and attentive when Zhu Zhuqing falls. His insistence on treating her injury shows genuine concern beneath the jokes.
• Zhu Zhuqing shifts between anger, embarrassment, and growing warmth toward Li Yuan. His care makes her reconsider him, and her offer to share the bed suggests increasing trust and affection—though she immediately becomes uncertain.
• Their relationship is defined by playful provocation and awkward intimacy: Zhu Zhuqing repeatedly rebukes Li Yuan, while his practical kindness complicates her view of him.

Significant themes

• Trust and vulnerability: Li Yuan claims trust matters most, while Zhu Zhuqing gradually lets him care for her.
• Affection expressed through care: His treatment of her injury contrasts with his crude teasing and reveals a more sincere side.
• Comedy and romantic tension: Misunderstandings, outrageous excuses, and Zhu Zhuqing’s embarrassment drive the chapter’s humor and budding closeness.

Plot points and events

• Zhu Zhuqing offers Li Yuan a massage, ostensibly to repay him for his long effort. Li Yuan eagerly lies down and nudges her into leaning closer, turning the massage into a source of flirtatious physical comedy.
• Zhu Zhuqing realizes he maneuvered her into it. She tries to retaliate by massaging him forcefully, but Li Yuan enjoys it and praises her technique, leaving her unsure whether she has gotten revenge or helped him.
• Later, Zhu Zhuqing falls asleep wrapped around Li Yuan. He wakes from a dream of being smothered by “ice-cream mountains,” realizes she is lying on top of him, and tries to slip away before she wakes.
• Zhu Zhuqing spots a conspicuous bulge in his trousers and mistakes it for a breakfast fried dough stick. Li Yuan hastily heads to the bathroom, while she remains confused.
• Next door, Ning Rongrong, having barely slept, messages the group chat to ask whether Zhu Zhuqing did anything to Li Yuan. When Zhu Zhuqing answers, Rongrong threatens to cry rather than confront her.
• The chat mocks Rongrong’s lack of courage and urges her to reclaim her pride and avenge Zhu Zhuqing’s apparent “stealing” of Li Yuan. Rongrong admits she is afraid because she is a support-type Soul Master and expects Zhu Zhuqing to easily defeat her.

Character developments

• Li Yuan is shamelessly playful and quick to exploit Zhu Zhuqing’s offer, though the encounter also reveals his physical attraction to her.
• Zhu Zhuqing moves from awkward politeness to exasperated suspicion, then ends up sleeping curled around Li Yuan like a source of comfort and security.
• Ning Rongrong is jealous and wants to stand up for herself, but her fear and lack of fighting ability undermine her confidence.
• The chat group acts as a teasing chorus, pushing Rongrong toward confrontation while exposing the contrast between her proud status and her insecurity.

Significant themes and interactions

• Flirtation and comic misunderstanding drive the chapter, especially through the massage, Zhu Zhuqing’s affectionate sleeping pose, and her innocent misreading of Li Yuan’s arousal.
• Jealousy and rivalry surface as Ning Rongrong worries about Zhu Zhuqing’s closeness with Li Yuan.
• Vulnerability and security appear in Zhu Zhuqing’s unconscious clinginess and Rongrong’s fear of a direct fight.
• The chapter’s humor comes from the gap between how characters present themselves—Li Yuan’s apparent innocence, Zhu Zhuqing’s sternness, and Rongrong’s proud title—and their private reactions.

Plot and events

Ning Rongrong regains her confidence and heads to Zhu Zhuqing and Li Yuan’s suite, intending to surprise Zhu Zhuqing with a punch and prove she can compete for Li Yuan. She streams the attempt to the group chat. But her punch misses its intended effect: Zhu Zhuqing is unharmed, while Rongrong falls over. A glimpse of Zhu Zhuqing’s chest leaves Rongrong stunned; when Zhu Zhuqing tries to help her up, Rongrong bumps into a wall. Finally, overwhelmed and upset, Rongrong clings to Zhu Zhuqing and buries her face in her chest, insisting it is Zhu Zhuqing’s fault that her “heart hurts.” The group watches in bafflement.
In a separate scene, Tang San wakes in a thatched cottage and discovers that his genitals have turned black and become unresponsive. He panics and begs them to wake up.

Character developments and interactions

• Ning Rongrong shifts from bravado to defeat, then finds comfort in the very person she meant to attack. Her jealousy and competitive resolve give way to embarrassment, fascination, and childish self-pity.
• Zhu Zhuqing remains calm and kind, offering to help Rongrong, but becomes flustered when Rongrong clings to her.
• The group chat members provide a running chorus of teasing, surprise, and commentary, while failing to predict Rongrong’s abrupt change of heart.
• Tang San ends the chapter in a separate, distressed predicament.

Significant themes

The chapter plays its rivalry for comic reversal: Rongrong’s confident plan collapses into an unexpected embrace. It also uses jealousy, insecurity, and physical comparison for humor, contrasting Rongrong’s small frame and bravado with Zhu Zhuqing’s imposing presence.

Plot points and events

• Ning Rongrong again tries to win Li Yuan over by offering the advantages of marrying into her wealthy family, but he refuses. She remains determined to pursue him.
• Rongrong and Xiao Wu buy new clothes and show Li Yuan their outfits, each hoping he will prefer hers. He avoids choosing between them, declaring them both equally lovely and teasing them until they playfully chase him.
• Zhu Zhuqing watches their easy, cheerful closeness with quiet envy. Noticing her loneliness, Li Yuan asks the shopkeeper to choose well-made, modest outfits for her, including pale purple pieces, and insists she try them on.
• Zhu Zhuqing is initially hesitant, but Li Yuan’s considerate encouragement moves her to accept. As she changes, Xiao Wu and Rongrong jokingly accuse Li Yuan of treating Zhu Zhuqing more generously than them. The fitting-room door opens, leaving the reveal of Zhu Zhuqing’s new look for the next moment.

Character developments

• Li Yuan remains playful and quick-witted, but also shows sensitivity: he notices Zhu Zhuqing’s isolation and makes an effort to include her.
• Ning Rongrong is persistent in her romantic interest in Li Yuan, while her playful competitive streak surfaces when she and Xiao Wu seek his approval.
• Xiao Wu joins the fashion rivalry with enthusiasm and humor, and quickly allies with Rongrong when they tease Li Yuan about buying Zhu Zhuqing clothes.
• Zhu Zhuqing reveals a yearning for warmth and companionship beneath her reserved exterior. Accepting Li Yuan’s gift marks a small step toward trusting and joining the group.

Significant themes and character interactions

• Belonging and loneliness: Zhu Zhuqing’s quiet envy contrasts with the lively friendship among the others; Li Yuan’s gesture offers her a chance to feel included.
• Care expressed through action: Rather than merely reassuring Zhu Zhuqing, Li Yuan takes practical steps to make her feel valued.
• Playful rivalry and affection: Rongrong and Xiao Wu compete for Li Yuan’s attention, while his joking refusal to rank them keeps the mood light. Their teasing temporarily turns into a shared complaint when they perceive favoritism.

Key plot points and events

• Ning Rongrong admits she had tried to win Li Yuan over with money, but he again refuses her proposal to become a live-in son-in-law.
• Rongrong and Xiao Wu buy new clothes. When they each model their outfits, they ask Li Yuan to choose whose looks better. He playfully declares them joint winners, sparking a lighthearted scuffle.
• Zhu Zhuqing watches from the side and feels envious of their easy closeness with Li Yuan. He notices her loneliness and asks the shopkeeper to select tasteful new clothes for her, including light-purple pieces.
• Zhu Zhuqing initially objects, but Li Yuan’s firm encouragement makes her accept and go to the fitting room to try them on.
• While she is changing, Xiao Wu and Rongrong tease Li Yuan for buying Zhuqing clothes but not them. Their argument is interrupted when the fitting-room door opens.

Character developments

• Li Yuan remains playful and confident, but shows attentiveness by noticing Zhuqing’s isolation and making an effort to include her.
• Ning Rongrong is still interested in Li Yuan despite his rejection and continues to pursue his attention.
• Xiao Wu and Rongrong share a competitive but affectionate dynamic; they briefly unite to complain that Li Yuan is treating Zhuqing differently.
• Zhu Zhuqing reveals a longing for companionship beneath her reserved exterior. Accepting the clothes is a small step toward trusting Li Yuan and joining the group.

Significant themes

• Belonging and inclusion: Li Yuan recognizes that Zhuqing feels left out and gives her a way to participate.
• Affection and attention: The characters seek one another’s approval, while Li Yuan’s gesture suggests care beyond playful flirtation.
• Loneliness versus companionship: Zhuqing’s quiet solitude contrasts with the group’s lively warmth.

Character interactions

• Li Yuan deflects the fashion contest between Xiao Wu and Rongrong with humor, and they respond with mock indignation.
• He gently but decisively encourages Zhuqing to accept the clothes, and she responds with shy gratitude.
• Xiao Wu and Rongrong tease Li Yuan about playing favorites, turning their earlier rivalry into temporary solidarity.

Key plot points and events

• Li Yuan takes Zhu Zhuqing, Xiao Wu, and Ning Rongrong shopping. Zhuqing tries on several outfits Li Yuan picked, including a pale purple dress, a tailored silver-gray outfit, and a pale blue dress.
• The others praise how each look suits her. Li Yuan encourages her to keep trying clothes, and ultimately buys her the outfits along with matching shoes, stockings, and accessories.
• Back at the hotel, Zhuqing photographs her shopping bags and posts them to the group chat. Her happy post sparks teasing and envy, especially when the conversation turns to whether the group’s powerful, wealthy Pope has ever received clothes from a boyfriend.

Character developments

• Zhu Zhuqing is shy and unused to being dressed up, but gradually accepts the attention and enjoys seeing herself in new styles. She is touched by Li Yuan’s generosity and no longer pulls away when he ruffles her hair. Her playful group-chat post reveals a growing desire to share her happiness.
• Li Yuan shows affection through attentive, practical gestures: he chooses clothes, offers confident compliments, and treats the shopping as a joyful group outing.
• Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong enthusiastically support Zhuqing, though their praise carries a trace of envy.
• Ye Lingling admits she is jealous of Zhuqing’s gift.
• The Pope reacts defensively to teasing about never receiving clothes from a boyfriend, suggesting the joke hits a sensitive spot.

Significant themes

• Clothing serves as a way to express different sides of Zhuqing’s personality, from graceful and gentle to poised and formidable.
• The chapter emphasizes friendship, affection, and the happiness of being seen and cared for.
• Playful envy and teasing show how the group’s friendships extend beyond the shopping trip into their online conversations.

Character interactions

• Li Yuan’s candid compliments and encouragement help Zhuqing feel more comfortable in unfamiliar outfits; Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong reinforce her confidence.
• Zhuqing’s quiet thanks is met with Li Yuan’s easy insistence that friends need not be formal.
• In the group chat, Zhuqing’s post prompts friendly envy, while Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong turn the discussion into a playful challenge about the Pope’s romantic life.

Plot points and events

• Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong tease Bibi Dong in the group chat by showing off clothes Li Yuan gave them. Their jokes hit a sore spot: Bibi Dong recalls Yu Xiaogang’s neglect and empty promises.
• Rather than retaliate directly, Bibi Dong summons Hu Liena. She plans to have her charm Li Yuan—and hopes to use the match to outshine Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong. She also considers the advantages Li Yuan might bring to Spirit Hall, while warning herself that he must cooperate.
• In Heaven Dou City, Dugu Yan compares Li Yuan’s thoughtfulness toward the girls with Yu Tianheng’s awkwardness during their shopping trip. Frustrated that he never thinks to surprise or indulge her, she kicks him, declares there is no future for them, and leaves for Dugu Manor.
• Yu Tianheng follows the departing carriage, confused and pleading for her to explain what he did wrong. Dugu Yan, meanwhile, admits to herself that Li Yuan’s charm and attentiveness have made an impression, though she recognizes he is already surrounded by women.

Character developments

• Bibi Dong reveals both her resentment over past romantic neglect and her competitive, manipulative side. She decides to use Hu Liena to pursue Li Yuan and provoke Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong.
• Dugu Yan realizes how much she values being noticed and considered in a relationship. Her irritation with Yu Tianheng turns into a dramatic breakup—though her attraction to Li Yuan unsettles her.
• Yu Tianheng is shown as sincere but socially clumsy: he wants to make Dugu Yan happy, yet understands her complaint only after she is already furious.
• Hu Liena has not appeared yet, but Bibi Dong’s plan places her in a potential rivalry for Li Yuan.

Significant themes

• Thoughtfulness versus material value: The clothes themselves matter less than the attention and affection they represent.
• Romantic competition and jealousy: Bibi Dong, Xiao Wu, Ning Rongrong, and Dugu Yan are drawn into comparisons over Li Yuan’s appeal.
• Miscommunication: Yu Tianheng’s failure to understand Dugu Yan’s unspoken expectations turns a routine outing into a breakup.
• Status and ambition: Bibi Dong views Li Yuan as both a romantic prospect for Hu Liena and a possible asset to Spirit Hall.

Character interactions

• Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong playfully provoke Bibi Dong, prompting her to involve Hu Liena.
• Bibi Dong privately imagines Hu Liena winning Li Yuan and eclipsing the two girls.
• Dugu Yan lashes out at Yu Tianheng over his lack of romantic initiative; he is left confused and begs her to return.
• Dugu Yan privately compares Yu Tianheng unfavorably with Li Yuan, while resisting the idea of joining his already crowded circle of admirers.

Plot points and events

• Xiao Wu recounts how she and Li Yuan first met at Notting Academy and how they grew closer. Zhu Zhuqing is surprised to learn that Li Yuan’s martial soul began as a small white snake, since she has seen its later, enormous form.
• Ning Rongrong notices Xiao Wu’s nervous reaction and connects the martial-soul clue with Li Yuan’s identity as the chat group’s Li Yuan. She keeps her theory to herself and gleefully imagines using it to blackmail him, though she has not confirmed it.
• The scene shifts to Li Yuan, who finishes cultivating at level 28. He asks the group system about its activity points and learns the chat has met the requirements for another upgrade. He immediately upgrades it from level 2 to level 3.
• The upgrade prompts lively messages from group members anticipating rewards. Their teasing turns to Bibi Dong, who previously failed to draw anything and had claimed she would never take group rewards. Despite that vow, she is determined to try again.

Character developments and interactions

• Ning Rongrong becomes more intrigued by Li Yuan and privately convinced she has uncovered his secret identity. Her imagined leverage reveals her mischievous, self-interested side. Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing notice her strange laughter and drooling, but she covers by claiming she is thinking about dinner.
• Xiao Wu openly shares her history with Li Yuan, then realizes she may have revealed too much.
• Zhu Zhuqing listens with curiosity and is startled by the contrast between Li Yuan’s original and current martial soul.
• Li Yuan continues progressing steadily in cultivation and takes the initiative to upgrade the chat group.
• Bibi Dong is stung by the group’s jokes about her poor luck, but her eagerness for rewards outweighs her earlier promise. Other members tease her, especially the “Single Academy-Running Housewife” and “Viper-Hearted Big Sister.”

Significant themes

• Secrets and leverage: Ning Rongrong sees Li Yuan’s possible identity as a tool for future influence, while Xiao Wu’s accidental disclosure creates the risk of exposure.
• Growth and transformation: Li Yuan’s martial-soul evolution and steady cultivation reflect ongoing personal power growth.
• Competition and comic hypocrisy: The group’s reward draw prompts playful boasting, teasing, and Bibi Dong’s willingness to abandon her own stated principles for a chance at rewards.

Key plot points and events

• The Chat Group’s upgrade rewards arrive for Li Yuan: two invitation attempts, two Soul Power levels, a growable God-Given Soul Ring, and an inheritance in legendary alchemy. The power boost brings him to level 30, where he must obtain a third Soul Ring to advance.
• Ning Rongrong spies on Li Yuan and realizes he may be viewing a private Group Leader interface. She decides to use this apparent secret to pressure him into signing an unfair agreement, but Li Yuan remains unaware she was watching.
• Li Yuan uses the two new invitations to recruit one person from each of the first two Douluo eras.
• Ah Yin, a weakened Blue Silver Emperor who has been isolated in a cave for over ten years, is invited. She is confused and initially reluctant, but the system accepts on her behalf. She longs for Tang Hao and worries about her son, Tang San.
• Wang Dong, a student at Shrek Academy, receives the other invitation while running laps. Suspecting a mind-affecting Soul Tool or a scheme, she sees that nobody else reacts and cautiously investigates the group.
• The newcomers are welcomed, and Li Yuan describes the members as family who help one another. Wang Dong rejects the idea internally, while Bibi Dong impatiently pushes Li Yuan to distribute rewards.
• Ning Rongrong needles Bibi Dong and flatters Li Yuan with an absurd story about him battling Heavenly Soldiers in the Divine Realm. Bibi Dong becomes furious, protesting that she has an early-morning class.

Character developments and interactions

• Li Yuan is newly empowered and reaches a major cultivation milestone, but he is oblivious to Ning Rongrong’s spying and scheming.
• Ning Rongrong shows her manipulative, teasing side: she plans to exploit Li Yuan’s presumed secrecy and provokes Bibi Dong while ingratiating herself with Li Yuan.
• Ah Yin is emotionally worn down by isolation, yet her love and concern for her husband and son remain her main source of hope.
• Wang Dong is wary and proud, distrusts the group’s quick claim of “family,” but is curious enough to observe before acting.
• Bibi Dong is fixated on the group’s rewards and grows increasingly irritated by Ning Rongrong’s taunts.
• The group’s members welcome Ah Yin and Wang Dong, with Li Yuan presenting mutual aid and kinship as the group’s guiding spirit.

Significant themes

• Connection amid isolation: The chat group reaches Ah Yin and Wang Dong in very different circumstances, offering the possibility of contact and support.
• Family and belonging: Li Yuan’s warm welcome contrasts with Wang Dong’s distrust and Ah Yin’s aching separation from her family.
• Power and hidden knowledge: Li Yuan’s new rewards strengthen him, while Ning Rongrong’s attempt to leverage what she believes is his secret sets up future conflict.
• Humor and rivalry: The group’s teasing, exaggerated claims, and squabbling—especially between Ning Rongrong and Bibi Dong—lighten the chapter’s more melancholy moments.

Plot and events

• The group changes its reward-drawing method from a wheel to Lucky Poker, at the members’ request. Li Yuan notes that cards are still a matter of chance but agrees.
• The rules deal each online member three virtual cards. Their points determine the prize order: the top five win Growable God-Given Soul Rings, three more receive Soul Power Boosting Pills, and ninth place gets a Breath Concealing Pill.
• The group reacts with excitement and apprehension. Newcomer Wang Dong is fascinated by the apparently godlike rewards, while Ah Yin considers saving a Soul Ring for Hao Ge or Xiao San.
• The cards are dealt. Li Yuan scores 23; the Heaven Dou heiress claims 28, prompting suspicion, but the system confirms the draw is valid.
• Hu Liena, hoping to reverse her past bad luck and impress Bibi Dong, reveals a 10 and then a 7. The chapter ends as she turns over her final card and freezes in shock; its value and the outcome remain unrevealed.

Character developments and interactions

• Li Yuan accommodates the group’s preferences and joins the draw, though he already owns a God-Given Soul Ring.
• The Heaven Dou heiress displays conspicuous confidence after drawing an exceptionally strong hand.
• Bibi Dong eagerly hopes Hu Liena will win but fears her disciple’s reputation for bad luck. Hu Liena is determined to prove herself and earn her teacher’s praise.
• Wang Dong is wary of the unfamiliar system but increasingly curious; Ah Yin is more focused on how the rewards might benefit others.

Themes

• Luck versus fairness: The new format is still chance-based, and an unexpectedly high score leads the group to question the result before the system verifies it.
• Anticipation and rivalry: The members’ reactions turn a simple draw into a tense contest.
• Loyalty and recognition: Hu Liena wants to succeed partly to make Bibi Dong proud, while Ah Yin thinks of using a prize for loved ones.

Plot points and events

• Hu Liena reveals a total of 18 points (10, 7, 1), lamenting her terrible luck. The group teases her, while Bibi Dong worries about Spirit Hall’s reputation.
• Qian Renxue announces 29 points (10, 10, 9), edging past Ning Rongrong’s 28 and raising hopes that Spirit Hall’s mother-daughter team will dominate.
• Li Yuan turns Bibi Dong’s boast about “mother and daughter joining forces” into a suggestive double entendre. Bibi Dong blushes in embarrassment and anger; several others catch the joke, while Zhuqing and Qian Renxue react innocently—or ambiguously.
• Li Yuan redirects everyone to the card game. Bibi Dong reveals three nines for 27 points, currently placing third behind Qian Renxue and Ning Rongrong.
• The chapter ends as Wang Dong excitedly prepares to reveal her own cards.

Character developments

• Hu Liena is crushed by another poor result and retreats into self-pity.
• Bibi Dong swings from disappointment over Hu Liena’s score to confidence after Qian Renxue’s, then triumph when she scores 27. Li Yuan’s joke briefly punctures her composure.
• Qian Renxue reinforces her reputation for exceptional luck and shares Bibi Dong’s confidence in their combined success.
• Li Yuan remains the group’s irreverent instigator, using humor to unsettle Bibi Dong before bringing the game back on track.

Themes

• Luck and competition: Scores determine status, and fortunes shift sharply with each reveal.
• Public teasing and embarrassment: The group turns bad luck and suggestive remarks into comedy.
• Family pride and rivalry: Bibi Dong’s delight in Qian Renxue’s score fuels her confidence and competitive spirit.

Character interactions

• The group alternates between consoling, mocking, and competing with Hu Liena over her low score.
• Bibi Dong proudly praises Qian Renxue, then boasts about their prospects as a mother-daughter team.
• Li Yuan’s innuendo embarrasses Bibi Dong and prompts amused reactions from Dugu Yan and others, while Zhuqing and Qian Renxue’s responses leave Bibi Dong uncertain.
• Bibi Dong’s 27-point reveal draws envy and dismay from the other players, especially those worried about making the top five.