Chapter Summaries

Lu Qinghou chose an Armored Black Turtle for Yang Guyun’s sixth Soul Ring and led the group to its reef habitat. Zhou Qiubai froze the sea into a platform for himself and Yang Guyun, but the turtles’ leader charged at the ice to destroy their footing.

• Yang Guyun told Lu Qinghou he wanted a defensive sixth Soul Skill to complement his all-out offensive style.
• Lu Qinghou identified a forty-thousand-year-old Armored Black Turtle and steered the ship to its reef habitat.
• Zhou Qiubai and Yang Guyun dived beneath the reef and found the strange-looking turtles near their cave.
• Zhou Qiubai spread frost across the water and created an ice platform for the two men to stand on.
• The Armored Black Turtle leader opened its eyes and charged at the underside of the ice, aiming to destroy their foothold.

Yang Guyun and Zhou Qiubai fought the Armored Black Turtle and its clan on the ice, relying on their year of training to hold their ground. Zhou Qiubai froze the smaller turtles and stabilized the ice as Yang Guyun began a devastating spear thrust against the leading turtle.

• The Armored Black Turtle smashed into the ice, and Yang Guyun tested its shell with his spear while Zhou Qiubai kept his balance.
• The turtle swept its tail at Yang Guyun, who blocked it, as more Black Turtles gathered to create a whirlpool and crack the ice.
• Zhou Qiubai used Sword Intent to freeze the growing cracks and gather shattered ice into a sturdy wall.
• Yang Guyun gathered power with the Returnless Spear while the leading turtle charged and several smaller turtles leapt onto the ice.
• Zhou Qiubai spread cold mist across the ice, freezing the smaller turtles in place, as Yang Guyun thrust his spear at the leader.

Yang Guyun defeated an Armored Black Turtle and absorbed its Spirit Ring before he and Zhou Qiubai returned to Canghai City. After months of training, Zhou Qiubai reached level sixty, obtained his sixth Soul Skill in Star Dou, and came back to settle his meal expenses.

• Yang Guyun killed the Armored Black Turtle with Returnless Spear, and its smaller turtles fled as its Spirit Ring appeared.
• Yang Guyun absorbed the Spirit Ring while Zhou Qiubai guarded him, then Lu Qinghou led them back to Canghai City.
• Tong An welcomed Yang Guyun and Zhou Qiubai at Listening to the Waves Inn, where Zhou Qiubai complained about the food expenses.
• Zhou Qiubai and Yang Guyun resumed training against twelve opponents, and Zhou Qiubai later reached level sixty.
• Zhou Qiubai traveled alone to Star Dou, absorbed a ten-thousand-year Spirit Beast's Spirit Ring, and gained the sixth Soul Skill Returning Wild Goose.
• Zhou Qiubai returned to the inn and paid Tong An the exact amount of his outstanding meal expenses.

Zhou Qiubai and Yang Guyun returned to challenge the Twelve Guards of Canghai after more than a year of training. They began a carefully planned assault on Lu Qinghou’s team, and the battle continued as Qi Mingqian adjusted the formation.

• Zhou Qiubai and Yang Guyun arrived at the training ground, where Lu Qinghou and the other eleven guards were waiting.
• Zhou Qiubai and Yang Guyun agreed to begin their first move, planning to draw the formation’s attention toward Lu Qinghou before targeting Qi Mingqian.
• Zhou Qiubai rushed at Lu Qinghou while Yang Guyun thrust toward Wen Buyan and used the rebound from a stone pillar to return to Zhou Qiubai’s side.
• Qi Mingqian changed the formation with his chessboard, briefly noticing Yang Guyun’s strike against the pillar before focusing again on the battle.
• Zhou Qiubai pressed Lu Qinghou with forceful sword attacks while Yang Guyun moved through the formation as Qu Wuxian’s qin music interfered with the opponents’ judgment and reactions.

Zhou Qiubai and Yang Guyun defeated Qi Mingqian’s role in the Twelve Guards’ formation, then faced the remaining eleven under Lu Qinghou’s command. They released their soul rings as the battle entered its next stage.

• Zhou Qiubai slipped through the formation and held White Clothes Sword three inches from Qi Mingqian’s brow, forcing Qi Mingqian to concede.
• Yang Guyun exploited the formation’s delayed coordination and struck Mu Qianshan’s blade before withdrawing beside Zhou Qiubai.
• Lu Qinghou took command of the remaining eleven and changed the formation, replacing Qi Mingqian’s precise chess-game control with flexible tactics.
• Zhou Qiubai and Yang Guyun released their soul rings after saving their Soul Power, and Zhou Qiubai’s abilities spread across the training ground.
• Yang Guyun’s soul rings lit up with the same configuration as Zhou Qiubai’s, but gave off a different aura.

Zhou Qiubai and Yang Guyun fought Lu Qinghou’s eleven-person team, using coordinated attacks to keep pace despite the group’s numbers and experience. Realizing they could not win a drawn-out battle, they prepared to stake everything on one attack, and Zhou Qiubai activated all six Soul Skills.

• Lu Qinghou ordered his team to stop holding back, and Zhou Qiubai and Yang Guyun faced their rampaging formation.
• The team encircled Zhou Qiubai, but Yang Guyun attacked Qu Wuxian’s zither, giving Zhou Qiubai an opening to escape and counterattack with him.
• Lu Qinghou blocked Zhou Qiubai and Yang Guyun’s synchronized strike, and the collision sent them stumbling back.
• After nearly half an hour, Zhou Qiubai and Yang Guyun realized their Soul Power reserves could not outlast the eleven-person team.
• Zhou Qiubai activated all six Soul Skills and brought the power of his first five Soul Rings onto the same frequency.

Zhou Qiubai and Yang Guyun joined their sword and spear to defeat twelve powerful Soul Masters, leaving the training ground in ruins. Dantai Canglan appeared and told them they would not have to pay, and Zhou Qiubai asked whether they had passed the assessment.

• Zhou Qiubai and Yang Guyun combined their power into a single attack, clashing with the eleven others and blasting a crater into the training ground.
• The smoke cleared to reveal Zhou Qiubai and Yang Guyun still standing, while most of their opponents were injured; Lu Qinghou congratulated them on winning.
• Zhou Qiubai asked Yang Guyun whether they would have to pay for the damage, and Yang Guyun thumped him on the shoulder.
• Dantai Canglan appeared and said they did not have to pay.
• Zhou Qiubai asked Dantai Canglan whether they had passed the assessment.

After winning the battle at Canghai City, Zhou Qiubai and Yang Guyun postponed their Canghai Tower challenge to recover and joined Lower Cliff in celebrating. Dantai Canglan and Lu Qinghou surveyed the wrecked training ground, and Dantai Canglan decided to leave its rebuilding costs to the future city lord.

• Dantai Canglan allowed Zhou Qiubai and Yang Guyun to challenge Canghai Tower but warned them not to enter while exhausted and injured, so Zhou Qiubai chose to rest for a few days.
• Dantai Canglan reminded Zhou Qiubai that the people at Lower Cliff were waiting, and Zhou Qiubai went down with Yang Guyun to claim their promised free meal.
• Zhou Qiubai confirmed that the locals would pay for the feast, and he and Yang Guyun joined the celebration on Lower Cliff's main street.
• Lu Qinghou complained to Dantai Canglan about the cost of repairing the ruined training ground, and Dantai Canglan said the future city lord would handle the bill.

After recovering from their battle with the Twelve Guards, Zhou Qiubai and Yang Guyun set out to climb Canghai Tower. Lu Qinghou brought them to its entrance, where they learned the tower would open only if it acknowledged them.

• Zhou Qiubai recovered fully in a month and reached level 62, while Yang Guyun recovered and steadied at level sixty-six.
• Zhou Qiubai and Tong An joked over breakfast and the unpaid food bill before Zhou Qiubai and Yang Guyun prepared to leave.
• Zhou Qiubai and Yang Guyun rode the Elevator to Upper Cliff, where Lu Qinghou greeted them and led them toward Canghai Tower.
• Yang Guyun sensed Soul Power coming from Canghai Tower, and Lu Qinghou told them its gate would open only if the tower acknowledged them.

Tang San graduated from Tang Yuehua’s training and left the Clear Sky Sect to search for Tang Hao, whose whereabouts remained unknown. After failing to find his father at their meeting place, Tang San entered Star Dou Forest to grow stronger by killing and devouring Spirit Beasts.

• Tang Yuehua praised Tang San’s progress, warned him to protect his identity and safety, and arranged a farewell gathering with Tang Xiao.
• Tang San left the Clear Sky Sect at night and traveled to the pool where he had arranged to meet Tang Hao.
• Tang San found no sign of Tang Hao and considered that he might have been killed by a powerful enemy, possibly the person Tang San wanted revenge against.
• Tang San entered Star Dou Forest and killed a ten-thousand-year tiger Spirit Beast, then complained that devouring Spirit Beasts yielded little soul power compared with devouring Evil Soul Masters.

Shui Bing'er refused to marry a Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan disciple, while Shui Yuanbo and Shui Yuanming pressed her to accept the alliance. Shui Yue'er offered to take her sister’s place, but Shui Yuanbo remained torn between his daughters’ wishes and the Shui Clan’s political interests.

• Shui Bing'er told Shui Yuanbo and Shui Yuanming that she would not marry the Yu Clan disciple.
• Shui Bing'er challenged Shui Yuanbo to consider whether her mother had willingly entered her own arranged marriage.
• Shui Yuanming argued that Shui Bing'er had to marry to secure the Shui Clan’s alliance with the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.
• Shui Yue'er entered the hall and offered to marry in Shui Bing'er's place.
• Shui Yuanbo asked both daughters to rise, while privately weighing Shui Bing'er's feelings for Zhou Qiubai against the dangers of opposing the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.

Shui Bing'er faced pressure from her father to consider marrying into the Yu Clan, while Shui Yue'er decided to seek help from their friends. Shui Yue'er, Huo Wu, Huo Wushuang, and Feng Xiaotian discussed the Shui Clan’s dilemma but had not yet settled on a solution.

• Shui Yuanbo told Shui Bing'er that Zhou Qiubai’s absence and silence made him doubt the man could protect her, then gave her more time to answer the Yu Clan’s proposal.
• Shui Yue'er comforted Shui Bing'er by the lake, where Shui Bing'er said she had to keep moving forward rather than simply wait for Zhou Qiubai.
• Shui Yue'er visited Feng Xiaotian, who agreed to help and said Huo Wu would decide what to do.
• Shui Yue'er explained Shui Bing'er’s situation to Huo Wu, Huo Wushuang, and Feng Xiaotian at Blazing Fire Academy.
• Huo Wushuang described the political and economic pressures behind the Yu Clan’s proposal, while Huo Wu condemned the idea of trading Shui Bing'er for clan benefits.

Huo Wu proposed asking Dugu Bo for information about Zhou Qiubai, and she and Feng Xiaotian set out for Tiandou City to approach Dugu Yan. Huo Wushuang told Shui Bing'er about the plan so she could search for Zhou Qiubai if they learned where he was.

• Shui Yue'er said Shui Bing'er did not want to marry and that no one knew where Zhou Qiubai had gone.
• Huo Wu suggested asking Dugu Bo, reasoning that he might be willing to help because he had stood up for Zhou Qiubai.
• Huo Wu and Feng Xiaotian agreed to go to Tiandou City, while Huo Wushuang planned to inform Shui Bing'er and Shui Yue'er stayed behind to cover for them.
• Huo Wushuang sneaked into the Shui family estate and told Shui Bing'er the plan, which could help her find Zhou Qiubai or at least confirm he was safe.

Huo Wushuang helped Huo Wu and Feng Xiaotian set out to find Dugu Bo so they could help Shui Bing'er avoid marrying Yu, while Zhou Qiubai and Yang Guyun entered Canghai Tower. Dantai Canglan watched them begin their trial and wondered whether they were the people Canghai City had awaited for sixty years.

• Huo Wushuang told Shui Bing'er to wait for news and urged her not to hesitate if Zhou Qiubai found a way for her to leave.
• Huo Wushuang saw Huo Wu and Feng Xiaotian off as they rode out of Four Elements City to search for Dugu Bo.
• Lu Qinghou offered Zhou Qiubai and Yang Guyun a chance to quit before they entered Canghai Tower.
• Dantai Canglan predicted that Zhou Qiubai and Yang Guyun could reach at least the ninetieth floor on their first attempt.
• Dantai Canglan recalled Canghai City's purpose and wondered whether Zhou Qiubai and Yang Guyun were the people it had awaited.

Dantai Canglan worried that Bibi Dong’s ambitions would soon bring war to Canghai City, then Zhou Qiubai and Yang Guyun faced the first trial inside Canghai Tower. Their coordinated attacks briefly disrupted the silver phantom’s assault, but the first floor’s relentless sword formations left them facing a brutal battle of attrition.

• Dantai Canglan sensed an eerie aura around Bibi Dong and feared war would force Canghai City to choose whether to fight.
• Dantai Canglan accepted that the city’s Soul Masters could only defend it by their own choice and returned to his study.
• Zhou Qiubai and Yang Guyun entered Canghai Tower’s shifting inner world and found a silver phantom waiting on the first floor.
• The phantom attacked with countless short swords, and Zhou Qiubai and Yang Guyun fought together using swordsmanship, movement, and the No Return spear technique.
• Zhou Qiubai redirected the swords to open a gap, allowing Yang Guyun to strike the ground and shatter a ring of them with a shockwave.
• The surviving swords regrouped into layered formations, and Zhou Qiubai realized the first floor’s trial was already daunting.

Zhou Qiubai and Yang Guyun defeated the Silver Phantom and cleared the first floor, then were teleported into a trial on the second floor where eight elemental orbs attacked them. Zhou Qiubai closed his eyes and used Listen to Rain to sense threats through the fog.

• Yang Guyun used Pierce and Quake to hold back the Silver Radiance Sword Formation while Zhou Qiubai gathered power for a strike.
• Zhou Qiubai broke through five layers of the formation, shattered the Silver Light Shield Wall, and pierced the Silver Phantom, causing it and the suspended swords to disperse.
• A silver teleportation ring carried Zhou Qiubai and Yang Guyun to the second floor, where eight colored light orbs launched elemental attacks.
• Yang Guyun tried to strike the Golden Light Orb, but the other orbs deflected his spear as vines, fog, ice spikes, and lightning threatened the pair.
• Zhou Qiubai closed his eyes and activated his first soul skill, Listen to Rain, to navigate the fog by sound.

Zhou Qiubai and Yang Guyun cleared Canghai Tower's early trials through coordinated tactics and rapid adaptation, climbing past the forty-fifth floor in less than half an hour. As they continued upward, people in the teahouse began betting on how far the two Soul Emperors could go, and one person boldly wagered they would reach the hundredth floor.

• Zhou Qiubai dispersed the fog and disrupted the light-orb formation, allowing Yang Guyun to destroy the Red Orb and the pair to clear the second floor.
• Zhou Qiubai broke the third-floor illusion with his sword and found Yang Guyun waiting at the entrance to the fourth floor.
• Zhou Qiubai and Yang Guyun quickly passed trials testing basic abilities, elemental counters, Spirit Beast projections, and recorded human challengers.
• The tower's outer lights climbed beyond the forty-fifth floor as observers at the teahouse marveled at the pair's pace.
• The teahouse crowd started betting on the challengers' progress, and someone raised the wager to one hundred floors.

Zhou Qiubai and Yang Guyun pushed their challenge of Canghai Tower to the seventieth floor, where a new trial would test their hearts rather than their strength. Meanwhile, Tang San strengthened his Eight Spider Lances by devouring Man Faced Demon Spiders but still could not make them store energy.

• Old Ji placed a bet on Zhou Qiubai and Yang Guyun reaching the hundredth floor as they passed the fiftieth floor.
• Zhou Qiubai and Yang Guyun continued climbing, using a Qi Recovery Pill to recover before reaching the sixtieth floor.
• Zhou Qiubai and Yang Guyun slowed as the trials began attacking their mental strength and will, but they eventually reached the seventieth floor.
• A pair of giant eyes told Zhou Qiubai and Yang Guyun that the trials beyond the seventieth floor would test the heart, and Zhou Qiubai accepted the challenge.
• Tang San killed more than a dozen Man Faced Demon Spiders and absorbed their energy, evolving the Eight Spider Lances.
• Tang San found that the Eight Spider Lances still could not store energy and wondered whether he needed to devour more spiders or change his approach.

Tang San hunted humans in Star Dou Forest to raise his Soul Power to Rank sixty-six, then turned back after sensing the danger of an eighty-thousand-year Spirit Beast. Meanwhile, Huo Wu and Feng Xiaotian traveled toward Tiandou City, with Feng Xiaotian persistently trying to win her attention.

• Tang San killed three members of a spirit-hunting team and absorbed their Soul Power, reaching Rank sixty-six and sensing that his body had reached its limit.
• Tang San searched the forest for a Soul-Devouring Demon Spider, hoping its traits could help his Eight Spider Lances devour Spirit Beasts instead of humans.
• Tang San hid from an eighty-thousand-year Earth-Walking Dragon and decided to leave the forest's core region.
• Tang San reflected that he still needed to master three of the Clear Sky Nine Absolutes and that the agitation within him had not fully subsided.
• Huo Wu rode toward Tiandou City with Feng Xiaotian, who repeatedly tried to talk to her despite her telling him to shut up.

Huo Wu and Feng Xiaotian went to Heaven Dou Royal Academy to seek Dugu Yan’s help finding Zhou Qiubai. After meeting Chen Xuan, Huo Wu explained that Shui Bing’er’s family was forcing her to marry into the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.

• Huo Wu and Feng Xiaotian arrived at Heaven Dou Royal Academy and decided to look for Dugu Yan.
• A gatekeeper refused to let them enter without permission from Chen Xuan or an academy teacher.
• Chen Xuan came to the gate, recognized Feng Xiaotian and Huo Wu, and asked why they had come.
• Huo Wu told Chen Xuan that Shui Bing’er was being pressured into marriage and that they wanted help finding Zhou Qiubai.