Chapter Summaries

Lin Xiao rejected Xue Qinghe’s offer to join her and lunged at her, but two Title Douluo restrained him before he could strike. Xue Qinghe ordered Elder Snake Spear and Elder Pufferfish to kill him, still wondering why the assassin seemed familiar.

• Xue Qinghe laid out the consequences of assassinating her and offered Lin Xiao a place in her ranks.
• Lin Xiao refused Xue Qinghe’s offer and said she was the one facing death.
• Lin Xiao lunged at Xue Qinghe, but two powerful men appeared and seized his shoulders.
• Elder Snake Spear and Elder Pufferfish revealed their nine soul rings and identified themselves as Title Douluo.
• Xue Qinghe ordered Elder Snake Spear and Elder Pufferfish to kill Lin Xiao.

Lin Xiao effortlessly subdued Snake Lance Douluo and Porcupinefish Douluo when they tried to kill him for refusing to serve 'Xue Qinghe.' He then revealed that he knew Qian Renxue and greeted her like an old friend, leaving her stunned.

• Snake Lance Douluo and Porcupinefish Douluo attacked Lin Xiao on 'Xue Qinghe's' orders.
• Lin Xiao released an overwhelming aura that froze the two Title Douluo and forced them to their knees.
• Lin Xiao walked past the defeated Douluo and approached the panicked Qian Renxue.
• Snake Lance Douluo threatened Lin Xiao with Spirit Hall's retaliation if he harmed their young master.
• Lin Xiao gently rubbed Qian Renxue's head and asked whether she had missed him.

Lin Xiao revealed himself to Qian Renxue as her long-lost brother after his overwhelming strength and Black Dragon gave him away. Snake Lance Douluo and Porcupinefish Douluo left them alone, and Qian Renxue embraced Lin Xiao in tears.

• Lin Xiao gently patted Qian Renxue's head and suppressed his aura, while the Black Dragon woke and recognized her familiar aura.
• Qian Renxue recognized Lin Xiao from his soul rings, appearance, and Black Dragon, and tearfully asked if he was her brother.
• Snake Lance Douluo and Porcupinefish Douluo realized Lin Xiao was Spirit Hall's Holy Son, apologized, and left at his request.
• Qian Renxue removed her disguise and revealed her true appearance to Lin Xiao.
• Qian Renxue embraced Lin Xiao and sobbed as he comforted her patiently.

Lin Xiao reunited with Qian Renxue in Heaven Dou City, comforted her over the hardships of her mission, and explained that he had come to help her. He planned to stay until he had improved her Soul Power and helped her complete her task in the Heaven Dou Empire.

• Lin Xiao comforted Qian Renxue as she cried and apologized for being absent during her difficult years in the Heaven Dou Empire.
• Qian Renxue regained her composure, teased Lin Xiao for disguising himself as an assassin, and complained that he had stormed into her residence without warning.
• Qian Renxue recalled Lin Xiao's reckless choice to absorb a ten-thousand-year Soul Beast's Soul Ring after awakening his Martial Soul.
• Qian Renxue played with Black Dragon and asked whether Lin Xiao had come to visit her.
• Lin Xiao reassured Qian Renxue that visiting her was his first priority and said he would help raise her Soul Power and complete her mission before leaving.
• Lin Xiao asked Qian Renxue to arrange a public identity for him.

Lin Xiao accepted Qian Renxue’s offer to become commander of her Royal Guard Knights, giving him a way to remain at her side in the Heaven Dou Empire. Their plans were interrupted when Xue Ye surrounded the Crown Prince’s Mansion, and Qian Renxue proposed a way to handle the crisis.

• Qian Renxue offered Lin Xiao the position of commander of the Royal Guard Knights, and he agreed to take the identity.
• Qian Renxue arranged for Lin Xiao to rest after his journey to Heaven Dou City.
• Snake Lance Douluo rushed in and reported that Xue Ye had surrounded the Crown Prince’s Mansion with troops, Royal Knights, and Soul Douluo.
• Lin Xiao suspected the alarm had been raised because he had entered the mansion after defeating its Soul Saint guards.
• Qian Renxue dismissed Snake Lance Douluo and outlined a plan to Lin Xiao.

Xue Ye surrounded the Crown Prince's Mansion after learning that an assassin had attacked Xue Qinghe, then offered a countship and ten million gold to whoever killed the culprit. Lin Xiao emerged from the mansion as the Royal Knights prepared to confront him.

• Xue Ye mobilized soldiers and the Royal Knights to surround the Crown Prince's Mansion while two Soul Saint guards begged him to punish them for failing to protect Xue Qinghe.
• Xue Ye rejected the guards' pleas and said they would die at the assassin's hands if Xue Qinghe had been harmed.
• A golden-armored commander urged Xue Ye to enter the mansion, explaining that the assassin had likely noticed the encirclement and was hiding inside.
• Xue Ye ordered all Soul Masters to charge into the mansion and promised the assassin's killer a countship and ten million gold, then collapsed.
• A Royal Knight spotted Lin Xiao leaving the mansion, and the knights turned their attention to him.

Lin Xiao emerged from Xue Qinghe’s residence as Xue Ye ordered the Royal Knights to kill him for the supposed assassination. A storm and a colossal Black Dragon interrupted the attack, and the Royal Knights commander began to suspect a connection between the dragon and Lin Xiao.

• Xue Ye ordered the Royal Knights to kill Lin Xiao and offered a count’s title and ten thousand gold as a reward.
• The Royal Knights commander arranged for Soul Saint captains to escort Xue Ye to safety, then ordered the knights to attack Lin Xiao.
• Dark clouds and a violent hurricane swept over the area, forcing the Royal Knights to pause their assault.
• A huge dragon roared above Heaven Dou City and revealed itself as a Black Dragon.
• The Royal Knights commander recognized that the Black Dragon was no ordinary soul beast and looked from it to Lin Xiao.

A Black Dragon and Lin Xiao’s overwhelming power shattered the Royal Knights’ encirclement, but Xue Qinghe emerged alive and declared the confrontation a misunderstanding. The chapter ended with Xue Ye and the others relieved yet confused as Lin Xiao stood beside Xue Qinghe.

• Xue Ye and the soldiers watched a Black Dragon descend onto the palace and roar, knocking many of them unconscious.
• Lin Xiao revealed his Title Douluo cultivation and six black and three red soul rings, frightening the Royal Knights and the three Education Committee Members.
• Xue Qinghe emerged from the palace and ordered everyone to stop, prompting Lin Xiao to withdraw his aura and the Black Dragon to shrink.
• The guards and surviving soldiers celebrated that the Crown Prince was alive, while Xue Ye ordered knight captains to help him approach Xue Qinghe.
• Xue Qinghe called the incident a misunderstanding, and Lin Xiao walked to her side.

Xue Ye learned that the attack on Xue Qinghe’s residence had been a test by Lin Xiao, a reclusive Super Douluo who had promised to serve the Heaven Dou Empire. The city’s alert was lifted, and Xue Ye welcomed Lin Xiao as a potential asset to the empire.

• Xue Qinghe explained to Xue Ye that Lin Xiao had come to join the Heaven Dou Empire and had tested the residence’s defenses.
• Xue Ye dismissed the officials and Royal Knights commander, then invited Lin Xiao and Xue Qinghe inside to talk.
• Lin Xiao asked Xue Ye to call him by his name, and Xue Ye agreed.
• The officials began lifting the citywide alert and arranging for the unconscious soldiers and Soul Masters to be revived.
• Lin Xiao explained that he had tested the heir’s residence because its defenses seemed strong, while Xue Ye noted that Title Douluo were rare in the empire.
• Xue Qinghe silently praised Lin Xiao’s skill at acting as he continued to present his story.

Xue Ye granted Lin Xiao the title of Black Dragon Duke and appointed him Protector of the Nation, unaware that Lin Xiao and the crown prince, Qian Renxue, served Spirit Hall. Lin Xiao then invited Qian Renxue to Sunset Forest the next day to rapidly increase her strength.

• "Xue Qinghe" persuaded Xue Ye to grant Lin Xiao a noble title, and proposed making him a duke.
• Xue Ye named Lin Xiao the Black Dragon Duke, the tenth duke of the Heaven Dou Empire, and Protector of the Nation, answering only to the emperor and crown prince.
• After Xue Ye left, Qian Renxue laughed over Lin Xiao's unexpected appointment, and Lin Xiao explained that he had revealed his strength when Xue Ye arrived.
• Lin Xiao invited Qian Renxue to Sunset Forest after the investiture ceremony, promising a way to raise her Soul Power Level without side effects and return the same day.

Lin Xiao became the Heaven Dou Empire’s tenth duke and Protector of the Nation, then told Xue Ye about a place that could improve Martial Soul quality and cultivation aptitude. Xue Qinghe agreed to travel with Lin Xiao to use its remaining opportunity, giving them a reason to leave Heaven Dou City.

• Xue Ye enfeoffed Lin Xiao as the tenth duke and Protector of the Nation, presenting him with a silver crown, scepter, and robe.
• Lin Xiao pledged loyalty to Xue Ye and promised to support Xue Qinghe and the Heaven Dou Empire.
• Lin Xiao told Xue Ye about a place that could improve Martial Soul quality and cultivation aptitude, but could only be used twice; he said he had used it once.
• Xue Ye asked Lin Xiao to take Xue Qinghe to the place so the Crown Prince could improve the Snow Swan Martial Soul.
• Xue Qinghe agreed to leave with Lin Xiao that night after Xue Ye approved the plan.

Xue Ye agreed to let “Xue Qinghe” travel with Lin Xiao to improve her Martial Soul, promising him any reward within his power if she gained strength. Lin Xiao carried her away on the Black Dragon, while Ning Fengzhi and Chen Xin watched and anticipated upheaval in the Heaven Dou Empire.

• Xue Ye agreed that “Xue Qinghe” could leave with Lin Xiao and promised to grant any request within his capabilities if her Martial Soul and cultivation aptitude improved.
• Lin Xiao awakened the Black Dragon and took “Xue Qinghe” aboard as it expanded and flew above Heaven Dou City.
• Ning Fengzhi and Chen Xin watched the Black Dragon depart, and Chen Xin said he could not judge Lin Xiao’s strength with certainty.
• Ning Fengzhi predicted that the Heaven Dou Empire would change after Lin Xiao’s arrival, while Chen Xin expressed interest in testing himself against him.

Chen Xin and Ning Fengzhi discussed the mysterious Black Dragon Duke and decided his sudden appearance posed no threat to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. As Lin Xiao and Qian Renxue flew over Heaven Dou City, they discussed whether the sect could be made to submit, and Lin Xiao concluded it should be destroyed if it could not be recruited.

• Chen Xin asked Ning Fengzhi why they had never heard of the Black Dragon Duke, and Ning Fengzhi considered whether he had been secretly cultivated by the Heaven Dou Imperial Family.
• Ning Fengzhi said the Black Dragon Duke’s service would strengthen the Heaven Dou Empire and benefit the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, while Chen Xin said he would spar with him if given the chance.
• Lin Xiao spotted Ning Fengzhi and Sword Dao Chen Xin in their carriage and asked Qian Renxue whether they could make the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect pledge allegiance.
• Qian Renxue explained that the sect would cooperate with the Heaven Dou Empire but would never submit, even under coercion.
• Lin Xiao concluded that destroying the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was the best outcome if they could not recruit it.

Lin Xiao brought Qian Renxue to Sunset Forest to search for the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well and its Immortal Grade Spirit Herbs, which he believed could strengthen her and Spirit Hall’s elders. The Black Dragon carried them over the forest as Lin Xiao and Qian Renxue began searching for Dugu Bo’s hidden poison array.

• Lin Xiao told Qian Renxue that Immortal Grade Spirit Herbs could rapidly raise Soul Power and might help Spirit Hall’s elders break through their limits.
• Qian Renxue and Lin Xiao discussed how stronger Spirit Hall elders and control of the Heaven Dou Empire could help them defeat the Star Luo Empire and unify the continent.
• Lin Xiao used Dragon Eye to scan Sunset Forest for the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well and Dugu Bo’s Psychedelic Poison Array.
• Lin Xiao ordered the Black Dragon to speed up, while he and Qian Renxue searched the forest below for anything unusual.

Lin Xiao and Qian Renxue searched Sunset Forest for the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, and Lin Xiao spotted Dugu Bo’s Psychedelic Poison Array with his Dragon Eye. They landed beside the array and prepared to enter, unsure what they would find inside.

• Lin Xiao grew impatient after half an hour of searching, but Qian Renxue reminded him they had plenty of time.
• Lin Xiao spotted faint green poisonous mist with his Dragon Eye and told Black Dragon to slow down.
• Qian Renxue could not see the array at first, and Lin Xiao explained how his Dragon Eye enhanced his vision.
• Black Dragon shrank and landed near the poison array, then reduced to palm size and perched on Lin Xiao’s head.
• Qian Renxue recognized the poison array as man-made, and Lin Xiao suggested they enter to investigate.

Lin Xiao and Qian Renxue crossed a Psychedelic Poison Array and discovered the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, surrounded by countless spirit herbs. Lin Xiao revealed that he had expected someone else to have found the place, but the untouched herbs showed that person did not know how to use them.

• Lin Xiao protected himself and Qian Renxue with Soul Power barriers as they entered the Psychedelic Poison Array and discussed the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
• Lin Xiao explained that the Well's spirit herbs required special harvesting methods and that the array only caused hallucinations.
• Lin Xiao and Qian Renxue passed through the array, found no Soul Beasts inside, and entered a small valley.
• Qian Renxue saw the blue-and-red spring and surrounding spirit herbs, and Lin Xiao confirmed they had found the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
• Qian Renxue suspected Lin Xiao knew someone had arrived before them, and Lin Xiao admitted he had inferred it from the array but said the herbs remained untouched because that Soul Master did not know their effects.

Lin Xiao and Qian Renxue encountered Dugu Bo at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, where he demanded knowledge of the spirit herbs and threatened to kill them. Dugu Bo summoned his Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor and revealed his nine Soul Rings, while Qian Renxue remained confident in Lin Xiao’s strength.

• Lin Xiao explained that Dugu Bo had acquired the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well without understanding the effects of its Immortal Grade Spirit Herbs.
• Lin Xiao sensed someone watching from the valley entrance, and Dugu Bo emerged after Lin Xiao and Qian Renxue called him out.
• Qian Renxue recognized Dugu Bo as the Poison Douluo and recalled his connection to Prince Xue Xing.
• Dugu Bo demanded that Lin Xiao and Qian Renxue explain the spirit herbs’ effects, promising them a swift death afterward.
• Qian Renxue refused to be intimidated, and Dugu Bo summoned his Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor and released his nine Soul Rings.

Dugu Bo threatened Lin Xiao and Qian Renxue for information about the spirit herbs, but Lin Xiao revealed himself as a powerful Super Douluo and trapped Dugu Bo with his eighth Soul Skill. Dugu Bo failed to escape the barrier, leaving him sealed inside Sunset Forest.

• Dugu Bo demanded the spirit-herb information and threatened to kill Lin Xiao and Qian Renxue with his poison.
• Lin Xiao protected Qian Renxue from Dugu Bo’s poisonous mist and dispersed it with a blast of air.
• Lin Xiao revealed nine Soul Rings, including three red rings, and Dugu Bo recognized that Lin Xiao was far stronger than him.
• Dugu Bo fled, but Lin Xiao used his eighth Soul Skill to form a barrier guarded by black dragons in ten directions.
• Dugu Bo tried several escape routes, then charged the barrier with his Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor Martial Soul and was left dazed when it held firm.

Lin Xiao and Qian Renxue trapped Dugu Bo, who accepted that he had been outmatched but refused to die without a fight. A system mission prompted Lin Xiao to abandon his plan to kill Dugu Bo and instead consider enslaving him, leaving Dugu Bo's fate undecided.

• Dugu Bo failed to break through the barrier and despaired over dying before he could help his granddaughter.
• Ten Black Dragons surrounded Dugu Bo as Lin Xiao and Qian Renxue approached and offered him a swift death.
• Dugu Bo admitted defeat but declared that he would not meekly await death.
• The system gave Lin Xiao a mission to recruit Dugu Bo and offered spirit herbs and an Enslavement Brand as rewards.
• Lin Xiao changed his mind about killing Dugu Bo and told Qian Renxue he could control him; she agreed that keeping him alive was acceptable if he could be controlled.

Lin Xiao offered Dugu Bo his life in exchange for submission, while Dugu Bo secretly planned to flee with his granddaughter once he had the chance. Lin Xiao then revealed he could control a Title Douluo, and Dugu Bo agreed to let him use the method, unaware that the Enslavement Brand had already been granted.

• Lin Xiao accepted the system mission and received the method for using the Enslavement Brand on Dugu Bo.
• Lin Xiao offered to spare Dugu Bo if he submitted, and Dugu Bo agreed while privately intending to escape later.
• Lin Xiao and Qian Renxue warned Dugu Bo that betrayal would bring a miserable death, and Dugu Bo insisted he would keep his word.
• Lin Xiao said verbal submission was not enough and claimed he could control a Title Douluo.
• Dugu Bo disbelieved Lin Xiao but agreed not to resist if he used the method.