Chapter Summaries

After the dispute at Heaven Dou Royal Academy, Zhou Qiubai and Yang Guyun declined the education committee members’ invitation to join, then spoke with Chen Xuan, who gave Zhou Qiubai a bamboo bookmark. Xie Ru and Chen Xuan reflected on Zhou Qiubai’s independent path as a storm approached.

• Dugu Yan left to comfort Yu Tianheng, while Zhou Qiubai and Yang Guyun remained at the academy with the education committee members and Chen Xuan.
• Meng Shenji and Bai Baoshan offered Zhou Qiubai and Yang Guyun help and a place to stay, but they said they wanted time to explore Heaven Dou City.
• Chen Xuan praised Zhou Qiubai’s remarks, discussed his own view of Martial Soul theories, and gave Zhou Qiubai a bamboo bookmark from a senior.
• Zhou Qiubai and Yang Guyun concluded that Chen Xuan was both powerful and clear-headed before leaving the academy.
• Xie Ru told Chen Xuan that Zhou Qiubai might forge a different path, then remarked that a storm was coming.

The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan’s elders debated how to respond after Yu Xiaogang publicly offended Heaven Dou Royal Academy and powerful figures there. Yu Yuanzhen acknowledged that Xiao Gang was still his son but recognized that his actions had put the clan at serious risk.

• Yu Yuanzhen convened the elders to discuss the news that Chen Xuan had refuted Yu Xiaogang and Shrek Academy had been expelled from Heaven Dou Royal Academy.
• The elders condemned Yu Xiaogang for disgracing the clan and offending Xie Ru, Dugu Bo, and others.
• Yu Yuanzhen recalled his son’s hardships and admitted that he had failed to protect him, but said Xiao Gang had gone too far this time.
• Yu Luomian warned that Xie Ru’s influence among scholars could damage the clan’s reputation and obstruct its descendants throughout the empire.
• Yu Luomian argued that outsiders still regarded Yu Xiaogang as a member of the clan, so his offense could draw the Heaven Dou Imperial Family and scholars against them.

Yu Yuanzhen expelled Yu Xiaogang from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, while Yu Luomian secretly resolved to deal with him and Liu Erlong himself. Seven days later, Zhou Qiubai and Yang Guyun had won seventeen arena matches, leaving the Heaven Dou City Soul Fighting Arena unable to find challengers for them.

• Yu Luomian urged Yu Yuanzhen to expel Yu Xiaogang, and Yu Yuanzhen removed his name from the clan registry and disclaimed responsibility for his actions.
• Yu Luomian privately decided that expulsion was not enough and set out to Heaven Dou City to prevent Liu Erlong from becoming involved with Yu Xiaogang.
• At the Great Soul Arena in Heaven Dou City, Zhou Qiubai and Yang Guyun defeated two Soul Kings and claimed their seventeenth consecutive victory.
• Zhao Wuji told Zhou Qiubai and Yang Guyun that Soul Kings were avoiding them and Soul Emperors would not risk the loss, so he could no longer arrange matches.

After leaving the Soul Fighting Arena, Zhou Qiubai and Yang Guyun planned to visit Heaven Dou Royal Academy to find opponents. Yu Tianheng and Dugu Yan met them there the next morning, and Dugu Yan began explaining a problem facing the Imperial Fighting Team.

• Zhao Wuji doubled Zhou Qiubai and Yang Guyun's prize money and bid them farewell from the arena.
• Zhou Qiubai and Yang Guyun returned to their inn, planning to visit Heaven Dou Royal Academy and see Yu Tianheng the next day.
• Yu Tianheng read Yu Yuanzhen's letter confirming that Yu Xiaogang had been struck from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's family register and that the clan hoped he would befriend Zhou Qiubai and Yang Guyun.
• Yu Tianheng and Dugu Yan discussed Yu Xiaogang's expulsion and Qin Ming's departure, then decided to invite Zhou Qiubai and Yang Guyun to the academy for sparring.
• Yu Tianheng and Dugu Yan visited Zhou Qiubai and Yang Guyun at their inn, thanked them for speaking up about Yu Xiaogang, and began describing a problem facing the Imperial Fighting Team.

Zhou Qiubai and Yang Guyun agreed to spar with the Imperial Fighting Team to gain combat experience. They overwhelmed the team in a two-against-seven match, then Zhou Qiubai told Yu Tianheng that his team needed more life-and-death combat experience.

• Dugu Yan and Yu Tianheng asked Zhou Qiubai and Yang Guyun to spar with the Imperial Fighting Team, and the pair agreed to fight that afternoon.
• At the Heaven Dou Royal Academy training ground, the Imperial Fighting Team attacked Zhou Qiubai with a coordinated formation.
• Zhou Qiubai dodged the team's attacks, shattered the Shi brothers' Black Tortoise defenses, and sent Osler flying without using a soul skill.
• Yang Guyun broke the team's defensive triangle with one spear strike, knocking back the Shi brothers and Ye Lingling.
• Yu Tianheng surrendered, and Zhou Qiubai praised the team's coordination while telling him they lacked experience in life-and-death combat.

Zhou Qiubai and Yang Guyun reflected on their clash with the Imperial Fighting Team while Yu Xiaogang rejected criticism of his theories. In Spirit City, Bibi Dong received a report about the incident and took particular interest in Zhou Qiubai, Yang Guyun, Chen Xuan, and Xie Ru.

• Zhou Qiubai offered to spar with the Imperial Fighting Team in the future, and Yu Tianheng and his teammates thanked him respectfully.
• At a tavern, Yang Guyun praised Yu Tianheng for accepting defeat, while Zhou Qiubai warned that Tang San, Dai Mubai, and Xiao Wu seemed suspicious and that the conflict might not be over.
• Yu Xiaogang insisted to Flender that his theories were correct and vowed to prove it, despite Flender urging him to reconsider.
• A Red-Robed Bishop reported the Heaven Dou City incident to Bibi Dong, including Yu Xiaogang's expulsion from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan and the strength of Spear and Sword Peerless.
• Bibi Dong heard details about Chen Xuan, Xie Ru, Zhou Qiubai, and Yang Guyun, and showed interest in the young men's abilities and unusual records.

Bibi Dong ordered Salas to warn Zhou Qiubai and Yang Guyun after Zhou challenged Yu Xiaogang’s theories, while privately revealing her unresolved feelings for Yu. In the Worship Hall, Qian Daoliu learned that Xie Ru had appeared in Heaven Dou City and warned Golden Crocodile Douluo not to provoke him before Qian Renxue’s plan was complete.

• Bibi Dong heard that Zhou Qiubai called Martial Souls tools and said Soul Master cultivation should not be limited by records, then ordered Salas to find a suitable reason to warn Zhou and Yang Guyun.
• Bibi Dong recalled her past with Yu Xiaogang and admitted to herself that she still wanted to help him, despite her resolve to abandon her feelings.
• Golden Crocodile Douluo told Qian Daoliu that Xie Ru had appeared in Heaven Dou City and that Bibi Dong had ordered Salas to warn two juniors.
• Qian Daoliu learned that Zhou Qiubai had a thousand-year second ring and Yang Guyun was the grandson of Yang Wudi, but dismissed the need to watch either of them.
• Qian Daoliu warned Golden Crocodile Douluo not to provoke Xie Ru before Qian Renxue’s plan was complete and told him to let Qian Renxue decide how to respond to Bibi Dong.

Zhao Wuji arranged a spar between Zhou Qiubai and Yang Guyun and two Soul Emperors from the Strength Clan. The match was set for five days later, and Heaven Dou City prepared for the contest as Yu Tianheng received orders to observe it.

• Zhao Wuji told Zhou Qiubai and Yang Guyun that the Strength Clan wanted to spar with them, and they agreed to meet at the Soul Fighting Arena in five days.
• Zhao Wuji explained that Tai Tan wanted to see Yang Guyun, the grandson of his old acquaintance Yang Wudi, test his abilities.
• Tai Tan instructed Taishan and Taihai to fight Zhou Qiubai and Yang Guyun without holding back, and the two Soul Emperors agreed.
• News of the upcoming match spread through Heaven Dou City, where people debated whether the two young men could face Soul Emperors.
• Yu Tianheng received a message from his family ordering him to observe the spar and record Zhou Qiubai's and Yang Guyun's performances.

Zhou Qiubai and Yang Guyun faced Soul Emperors Taishan and Taihai of the Strength Clan in a packed arena. Zhou effortlessly deflected Taishan’s opening blow, leaving the match’s outcome undecided.

• Yu Tianheng, Dugu Yan, and Yu Feng discussed the pair’s chances, and Yu Tianheng decided their group would watch the match.
• Heaven Dou City filled with spectators and betting favored the Strength Clan, while the reclusive Confucian Sage watched from the VIP section.
• Taishan and Taihai released their Martial Souls and attacked, while Zhou Qiubai and Yang Guyun approached without revealing their Soul Rings.
• Zhou slipped through Taishan’s fist wind and tapped his wrist with the White Clothes Sword, redirecting the Soul Emperor’s full-force strike into the arena barrier.
• Chen Xuan praised Zhou’s use of softness to overcome hardness.

Zhou Qiubai and Yang Guyun fought Taishan and Taihai, countering the Strength Clan brothers’ coordinated Soul Skills with precise movement and attacks. As Yang Guyun charged through Taishan’s second Earthquake toward Taihai, the fight remained unresolved.

• Yang Guyun stopped Taihai’s Soul Skill-imbued punch with a single spear thrust, and Taishan and Taihai realized they had underestimated their opponents.
• Taishan unleashed Earthquake to disrupt their footing while Taihai used Void-Breaking Fist to attack Yang Guyun from behind.
• Zhou Qiubai rode the Shockwaves into the air, while Yang Guyun blocked Taihai’s punch with his spear and forced Taishan to defend against a counterattack.
• Zhou Qiubai circled Taihai and wounded his wrist with his sword, numbing his arm with sword aura as Yang Guyun thrust toward his chest.
• Taishan used Earthquake again to force Yang Guyun back, but Yang Guyun charged through the Shockwaves toward Taihai without slowing.

Zhou Qiubai and Yang Guyun defeated the Strength Clan brothers, Taishan and Taihai, in the arena without using Soul Skills. After their victory, Zhou dismissed a young challenger who questioned the result, leaving him with a daunting test before he could claim a rematch.

• Taihai blocked Yang Guyun's spear but was immobilized by its force, allowing Zhou Qiubai to pin him with his sword until he conceded.
• Taishan conceded as well, and the referee declared Zhou Qiubai and Yang Guyun the winners, stunning the crowd and impressing Chen Xuan.
• Taishan helped Taihai off the arena, while Taihai invited Zhou to visit the Strength Clan on Tai Tan's behalf; Zhou accepted.
• A young Soul Ancestor accused Zhou of using a hidden Soul Skill and challenged him to fight, but Zhou said he was not qualified.
• Zhou told the young man to return when he could survive one punch from Taishan without Soul Skills, then left with Yang Guyun.

Zhou Qiubai and Yang Guyun defeated two Strength Clan Soul Emperors without using Soul Skills, drawing attention from Heaven Dou City's powers and Qian Renxue. Qian Renxue considered recruiting them as she learned Zhou Qiubai’s origins remained unknown.

• Chen Xuan watched Zhou Qiubai and Yang Guyun’s victory and left, believing they could forge an unprecedented path.
• Zhou Qiubai warned Yang Guyun not to risk his life with the unfinished Abandon Self spear technique, and Yang Guyun agreed.
• People across Heaven Dou City discussed how the pair had beaten Taihai and the other Soul Emperor without using Soul Skills.
• Qian Renxue learned that Tai Tan had accepted the Strength Clan’s defeat and asked She Long about Zhou Qiubai’s background.
• She Long reported that Zhou Qiubai’s origins were completely blank and said both men would be difficult to recruit, while Qian Renxue decided they were worth pursuing.

Qian Renxue planned to learn Zhou Qiubai’s preferences and use Salas’s expected warning as a chance to win his favor, while Yu Xiaogang and the Shrek group argued over the battle’s legitimacy. The chapter ended with Niu Gao laughing over Tai Tan’s letter about Zhou Qiubai and Old Goat’s grandson defeating two Soul Emperors without Soul Skills.

• Qian Renxue ordered Chi Xue to secretly investigate Zhou Qiubai and considered mediating if Salas provoked him with a warning.
• Yu Xiaogang rejected the possibility that a Soul Elder could defeat a Soul Emperor, while Flender urged him to accept what had happened.
• Tang San, Dai Mubai, Ma Hongjun, and Xiao Wu insisted the Strength Clan had held back or that Zhou Qiubai had used an unknown method, while Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing privately admired the fighters.
• Flender ended the argument and told the Shrek group to rest before going to Blue Tyrant Academy the next day.
• Niu Gao received Tai Tan’s letter saying that two Soul Emperors from his clan had been defeated without Soul Skills, and laughed as a clansman read it in disbelief.

Niu Gao and White Crane learned that Yang Guyun had defeated a Soul Emperor without using Soul Skills and considered what it might mean for the scattered Four Great Clans. Meanwhile, Zhou Qiubai explored Heaven Dou City and stopped before Wanjin Pavilion, whose name seemed familiar to him.

• Niu Gao decided to have his people in Heaven Dou City watch Yang Guyun while he waited to see whether Tai Tan would try to reunite the Four Great Clans.
• White Crane wrote to Yang Wudi, praising Yang Guyun and inviting him to Heaven Dou City for a gathering of the old clan chiefs.
• Zhou Qiubai left Yuelai Inn while Yang Guyun stayed behind to recover from his injuries.
• Zhou Qiubai wandered through Heaven Dou City, bought a sugar painting, and noticed Wanjin Pavilion.
• Zhou Qiubai recognized the name Wanjin Pavilion from somewhere.

Zhou Qiubai visited Wanjin Pavilion and played Pai Gow, using his sharp observations to win several rounds before losing five hundred Gold Soul Coins on one final wager. He left calmly, while the dealer watched him go with a complicated gaze.

• Zhou Qiubai entered Wanjin Pavilion and looked around its crowded gambling hall.
• Zhou Qiubai joined a Pai Gow table and used the dealer’s movements to win most of his bets.
• Zhou Qiubai’s winnings grew to five hundred Gold Soul Coins, drawing attention from nearby gamblers and unsettling the dealer.
• The dealer challenged Zhou Qiubai to wager all five hundred coins on one round, and Zhou Qiubai accepted.
• Zhou Qiubai lost the final hand to the dealer, then left without showing frustration.

Zhou Qiubai won repeatedly at Wanjin Pavilion before Second Master lured him into a high-stakes Pai Gow round and took all his money. Over tea, Second Master revealed that he had tested Zhou Qiubai’s skill and greed, leaving Zhou to face the fact that he had been deliberately drawn into the wager.

• Zhou Qiubai won several rounds of dice, building his chips to about three thousand Gold Soul Coins.
• Second Master invited Zhou Qiubai to wager all his chips in one round of Pai Gow, and Zhou accepted.
• Second Master beat Zhou Qiubai with a Heaven Card and a Goose Card, taking his chips and remaining money.
• Second Master invited Zhou Qiubai upstairs for tea and explained that he had observed Zhou’s gambling and deliberately tested his greed.
• Second Master told Zhou Qiubai that he had not gone easy on him and that Zhou lost because his skill was inferior and he was greedy.

Zhou Qiubai met with Second Master of Wanjin Pavilion, who offered him a loan and friendship, but Zhou refused to borrow money while accepting the goodwill behind the tea. After Zhou left, Second Master explained to his attendant why he considered Zhou a promising figure worth befriending.

• Second Master offered Zhou Qiubai an interest-free loan, but Zhou refused because he did not want to owe him a favor.
• Second Master urged Zhou to accept his goodwill and warned that he needed friends more than money, and Zhou accepted the tea and friendship.
• Zhou Qiubai and Second Master chatted over tea before exchanging blessings and parting on friendly terms.
• After Zhou left, Second Master told his attendant that Zhou's defeat of a Soul Emperor as a Soul Elder hinted at hidden secrets and future influence.
• Second Master explained that he had offered Zhou help in advance so their connection might matter when Zhou truly needed it.

Zhou Qiubai admitted that he had lost all 3,500 Gold Soul Coins gambling at Wanjin Pavilion, and Yang Guyun confronted him over their vanished savings. Zhou Qiubai offered to sell his Swift Wind Falcon Spirit Bone to repay the loss, leaving Yang Guyun conflicted by his willingness to give it up.

• Zhou Qiubai ran into Yang Guyun outside Wanjin Pavilion after losing 3,500 Gold Soul Coins gambling.
• Yang Guyun pressed Zhou Qiubai to reveal his losses, then attacked him with spear feints as Zhou Qiubai dodged and apologized.
• Yang Guyun reminded Zhou Qiubai that they could not spend the 50,000 Gold Soul Coins or Sword Talisman from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
• When Yang Guyun asked how he would repay the money, Zhou Qiubai proposed selling his thousand-year Swift Wind Falcon right leg bone.
• Yang Guyun said his own nearly eight-thousand-year Ice Crystal Pangolin right arm bone could not be sold, and looked conflicted when Zhou Qiubai insisted on selling his.

Yang Guyun stopped Zhou Qiubai from selling the Spirit Bone, so they considered other ways to get money. Xue Qinghe approached them, offered a loan, and tried to recruit them for the Heaven Dou Empire, but Zhou Qiubai refused both offers.

• Yang Guyun decided to keep the Spirit Bone and suggested that Zhou Qiubai borrow money from the owner of Wanjin Pavilion.
• Zhou Qiubai proposed earning money at the Great Soul Arena, but their victories had made opponents surrender and audiences disappear.
• Xue Qinghe stopped his carriage and introduced himself as the Crown Prince of the Heaven Dou Empire.
• Xue Qinghe offered to lend Zhou Qiubai money, but Zhou Qiubai refused because he did not want to owe him a favor.
• Xue Qinghe praised Yang Guyun and invited both men to serve the empire, but Zhou Qiubai said they were not suited to that relationship.

Zhou Qiubai and Yang Guyun declined Xue Qinghe’s attempt to win them over, though Zhou accepted her jade token. Xue Qinghe ordered him watched after learning he had been visiting Heaven Dou Royal Academy and might be contacting Xie Ru and Chen Xuan, while Zhou and Yang discussed how to handle her and their own ambitions.

• Zhou Qiubai and Yang Guyun refused to become Xue Qinghe’s subordinates, and Zhou accepted her token after she called them friends.
• After Xue Qinghe’s carriage left, Zhou told Yang Guyun that entanglement with the crown prince was dangerous, then wondered whether the token could be sold for money.
• She Long told Xue Qinghe that Zhou had visited Heaven Dou Royal Academy and sparred with the Imperial Fighting Team, and that Chi Xue suspected he was contacting Xie Ru and Chen Xuan.
• Xue Qinghe ordered She Long to keep observing Zhou without alarming him, intending to let him approach her willingly.
• On the way back to the inn, Zhou and Yang agreed that Xue Qinghe was both magnanimous and calculating, and Zhou began saying they were neither saints nor fools.