Chapter Summaries

Xiao Wu brought Ning Rongrong to the main hall, where Yan Lingji was given three days to decide whether to accept Zhao Linchuan’s offer. Ning Rongrong learned what Zhao Linchuan meant by “bullying” Yan Lingji, while Xiao Wu reported that Jin Da had returned and Captain Sun had reached his assigned location.

• Xiao Wu told Ning Rongrong that Zhao Linchuan commanded thirty-six Golden Armored Attendants, with twenty-four guarding the estate year-round.
• Yue Shen told Yan Lingji that she could not expect resources, protection, and status without giving something in return, and demanded her answer within three days.
• Yue Shen sensed Ning Rongrong arriving, teased Zhao Linchuan, and vanished from the hall.
• Ning Rongrong asked Zhao Linchuan whether he had bullied Yan Lingji, and he said he had asked her to bear his child.
• Zhao Linchuan told Ning Rongrong that Yan Lingji had asked for time to think and had three days to decide.
• Xiao Wu reported that Jin Da had returned and that Captain Sun had led Jin Shan and his squad to the designated location.

Yan Lingji wrestled with Yue Shen’s demand that she marry Zhao Linchuan and bear his children in exchange for support, then decided to give herself to him. At the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Ning Fengzhi learned that an infiltrating Soul Saint had been brutally killed at Zhao Linchuan’s estate, while Ning Rongrong remained missing.

• Yan Lingji considered the status and resources she could gain by marrying Zhao Linchuan, but felt uneasy about being treated as an object.
• Yan Lingji worried that Xiao Wu or Ning Rongrong might claim a place beside Zhao Linchuan first, and resolved to accept Yue Shen’s proposal.
• Yan Lingji recalled Zhao Linchuan rescuing her from Bai Yifei’s crystal prison and decided to give herself to him soon.
• A disciple told Ning Fengzhi that Ning Rongrong had not emerged from Zhao Linchuan’s estate and that the sect’s surveillance had revealed little.
• The disciple reported that a burly man in dark gold half-armor had caught and torn apart the Soul Saint who tried to infiltrate the estate.

Ning Fengzhi learned that a mysterious man had torn apart a Soul Saint without showing a Martial Soul, and Gu Rong volunteered to investigate the mansion and check on Ning Rongrong. Meanwhile, Zhao Linchuan reprimanded Ning Rongrong for her lax cultivation and refused to sell her a Heaven-Deficiency Spirit-Replenishing Pill.

• A disciple reported that a burly man had torn apart a Soul Saint with his bare hands, without releasing a Martial Soul or Soul Rings.
• Ning Fengzhi dismissed the disciple and ordered that no one act against the mansion or Ning Rongrong without authorization.
• Gu Rong offered to investigate the mansion, and Ning Fengzhi told him to bring Ning Rongrong back if she was in danger or being coerced.
• Ning Fengzhi asked Chen Xin to follow Gu Rong discreetly, but Chen Xin reassured him that Gu Rong could escape danger with his spatial abilities.
• Zhao Linchuan scolded Ning Rongrong for neglecting cultivation and said she would waste the Heaven-Deficiency Spirit-Replenishing Pill.

Zhao Linchuan and Ning Rongrong argued over her slow cultivation before a commotion revealed an intruder at the estate, whom Zhao Linchuan suspected was Bone Douluo Gu Rong. After everyone left to investigate, Ning Rongrong vowed to cultivate in seclusion, while Zhao Linchuan and Xiao Wu secretly watched to see how long she would keep her promise.

• Ning Rongrong defended her slow progress by saying Auxiliary Soul Masters cultivated more slowly, and Zhao Linchuan revealed that he was an Auxiliary Soul Master too.
• A loud crash came from the outer courtyard, and Jin Wu reported that an intruder was being handled by Jin Da.
• Zhao Linchuan suspected the intruder was Gu Rong of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and left to investigate, followed by Jin Wu and Xiao Wu.
• Ning Rongrong tried to persuade Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing to take her along, but both refused and left her behind.
• Ning Rongrong vowed to enter closed-door cultivation until she reached Soul Saint, then went toward her quarters.
• Zhao Linchuan and Xiao Wu reappeared in the shadows and wondered how long Ning Rongrong would keep her vow.

Zhao Linchuan predicted that Ning Fengzhi would apologize after Gu Rong’s failed attack, while Jin Wu and Jin Da captured Gu Rong and prepared to punish him. At the Clear Sky Sect’s ancestral cemetery, two weary disciples complained about their grave-guarding duty.

• Zhao Linchuan told Xiao Wu and Yue Shen that Ning Fengzhi would likely respond to the estate’s strength by offering gifts and apologizing.
• Gu Rong fled after Jin Da shattered his defenses, but Jin Wu intercepted him and struck him down with a Golden Mace.
• Jin Wu ordered Jin Da to spare Gu Rong, strip him, and leave him on the square before the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace.
• At the Clear Sky Sect’s cemetery, Brother Ping complained to Xiao Guo about spending three months guarding the ancestors’ graves.

Captain Sun and Jin Shan led the Golden Armored Warriors into the Clear Sky Sect’s ancestral tomb and stripped its chambers of treasure. They reached the joint burial chamber of Tang Xiao’s parents and began looting it as well.

• Brother Ping complained to Xiao Guo that guarding the ancestors’ tomb was a thankless task.
• Captain Sun confirmed that the outer sentries were down, then ordered Jin Shan and the others to move in.
• Jin Shan smashed the tomb’s stone entrance with his Golden Crescent Blade, and Captain Sun’s team rushed inside.
• Captain Sun ordered the Golden Armored Warriors to take everything from the outer chambers, which they emptied completely.
• Captain Sun identified the joint tomb of Tang Xiao’s parents and ordered the team to loot its richer burial goods.

Jin Shan and Captain Sun’s group discovered a hidden chamber in the Clear Sky Sect’s burial ground and began plundering its vast treasures. After Jin Shan opened the central coffin, a hostile voice struck his mind, but no one else heard it, leaving him unsettled as the looters continued their work.

• A strongman found a concealed passage behind a mural, and the group descended into a lavish chamber filled with treasure.
• Jin Shan examined a memorial tablet whose faded surname looked like “Wei,” but Captain Sun assumed the deceased belonged to the Tang clan.
• Captain Sun ordered Jin Shan to open the largest coffin and told the group to take valuables, burn the chamber, and leave a memento for the Clear Sky Sect.
• Jin Shan found oddly shaped bones beneath the coffin’s burial goods and heard a voice threaten that he had earned his death.
• Captain Sun and the strongmen heard nothing, so Jin Shan dismissed the voice as an echo or hallucination and resumed looting.

Captain Sun’s group burned the emptied tomb and split up to sell its treasures, while Gu Rong’s humiliating return to the palace left Ning Fengzhi warning “Xue Qinghe” to avoid the mysterious Zhao Residence. The chapter ended with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect leaving the palace and the Crown Prince newly curious about what had happened.

• Captain Sun ordered the tomb doused with lamp oil and set on fire after his group removed its contents.
• Captain Sun instructed Jin Shan and the others to sell the valuable goods quickly through powerful businesses, especially those linked to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect.
• Jin Shan and the others split up to fence the goods and planned to regroup near the imperial mausoleum in the Star Luo Empire.
• Ning Fengzhi and Chen Xin found Gu Rong wrapped in a blanket after he had been thrown into the palace, and “Xue Qinghe” asked what had happened.
• Ning Fengzhi avoided explaining Gu Rong’s humiliation and warned “Xue Qinghe” to stay away from the Zhao Residence and not investigate it.
• Ning Fengzhi, Chen Xin, Gu Rong, and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect disciples hurriedly left the palace.

Xue Qinghe and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect tried to understand how the master of the Zhao Residence had defeated Gu Rong. Ning Fengzhi decided to visit the residence the next morning to apologize for Gu Rong’s intrusion and address Ning Rongrong’s presence there.

• Xue Qinghe asked She Long how Gu Rong had been injured and what he knew about the Zhao Residence, but She Long had only seen Gu Rong thrown near Emperor Xue Ye.
• Ning Fengzhi asked Chen Xin to estimate the attacker’s strength, and Chen Xin judged that the main attacker was likely at least Level 96 and possibly Level 97.
• Chen Xin described the destructive power of Level 97 and recalled how his father, Chen Jianjun, briefly broke through to Level 98 while fighting Qian Daoliu.
• Ning Fengzhi told Chen Xin to arrange a visit to the Zhao Residence the next morning so they could apologize for Gu Rong’s intrusion and address Ning Rongrong’s situation.

Xue Qinghe decided to move quickly to win over the Zhao Residence’s powerful master before Ning Fengzhi could. Meanwhile, Zhao Linchuan persuaded Yue Shen to agree to his proposed group activity by claiming Yan Fei had already accepted, leaving Yue Shen cautiously reassured.

• She Long judged that the Zhao Residence’s threat came from at least one Level 97 Super Douluo, and Xue Qinghe ordered him to prepare three generous gifts for an early visit.
• Xue Qinghe resolved to offer the Zhao Residence great rewards in hopes of gaining help with her plan to seize the Heaven Dou Empire.
• Zhao Linchuan told Yue Shen that Yan Fei had agreed to his proposed group activity, prompting Yue Shen to worry that refusing would make her seem less devoted to him.
• Yue Shen agreed to participate as long as Zhao Linchuan did not force her into anything too embarrassing and they followed the rules.
• Zhao Linchuan promised to put Yue Shen first and soothe her, and she relaxed against his shoulder.

Zhao Linchuan gave Yue Shen a God-King Grade, attribute-less Divine Core, but she worried that advancing further would make it harder for them to have a child. After Zhao Linchuan joked about taking more concubines, Yue Shen attacked him playfully, then asked whether Yan Fei also had a Divine Core.

• Zhao Linchuan presented Yue Shen with a God-King Grade, attribute-less Divine Core, and she recognized its extraordinary value.
• Yue Shen hesitated to accept the Divine Core because she feared reaching a higher cultivation level would reduce her chances of bearing Zhao Linchuan a child.
• Zhao Linchuan insisted that Yue Shen take the Divine Core, telling her that her safety and cultivation mattered and that they could wait to have a child.
• Zhao Linchuan joked that he could take eight or ten more concubines, prompting Yue Shen to pinch and bite him in anger.
• After their playful scuffle, Yue Shen asked whether Yan Fei had a Divine Core, and Zhao Linchuan said she did not have one yet.

After reconciling with Yue Shen, Zhao Linchuan learned that Ning Fengzhi and a visitor calling himself Young Master Qinghe had arrived to meet him. The system offered Zhao a choice about whether to meet Ning Fengzhi, leaving his response unresolved.

• Yue Shen accused Zhao Linchuan of changing her from an aloof goddess into a jealous, passionate wife, but he stopped her argument with a kiss and finished combing her hair.
• Zhao Linchuan told Yue Shen that guests had arrived, then left her to rest and went to the front hall.
• Xiao Wu told Zhao Linchuan that Ning Fengzhi and Sword Douluo Chen Xin were waiting outside so Ning could apologize for Elder Gu's offense.
• Xiao Wu also reported that a respectful visitor calling himself Young Master Qinghe had brought gifts and requested an audience.
• The system presented Zhao Linchuan with two choices: refuse to meet Ning Fengzhi or meet him to explore a possible deal; Zhao Linchuan considered the rewards without choosing.

Zhao Linchuan refused to meet Ning Fengzhi and Qian Renxue disguised as Xue Qinghe, then went out to explore Heaven Dou City with Yan Lingji. Meanwhile, Tang San and the Shrek group beat Xue Beng, who headed to Prince Xue Xing's Mansion and crossed paths with Zhao Linchuan and Yan Lingji.

• Zhao Linchuan declined to receive Ning Fengzhi and Xue Qinghe, and learned that Tang San and his group had arrived in Heaven Dou City.
• Zhao Linchuan invited Yan Lingji on a walk, leaving Xiao Wu jealous as they departed hand in hand.
• Ning Fengzhi and Xue Qinghe waited nearly two hours at Zhao Linchuan's residence, but the guards told them the master was unavailable.
• Xue Beng provoked Tang San and the Shrek group at Heaven Dou Royal Academy and was beaten badly.
• Xue Beng set off to seek help from his uncle, Prince Xue Xing, and encountered Zhao Linchuan and Yan Lingji on the road.

Zhao Linchuan chose to spare Xue Beng and received the Seal of the Five Kings, then explained Xue Beng’s reputation to Yan Lingji. When Xue Beng lusted after Yan Lingji and demanded that Zhao Linchuan hand her over, Zhao Linchuan warned him he might offend someone dangerous.

• Zhao Linchuan chose the option to spare Xue Beng and received the Seal of the Five Kings, a Great Master of Fate summoning card, and system points.
• Zhao Linchuan told Yan Lingji that Xue Beng was a vile wastrel who claimed to disguise himself to avoid his crown prince brother’s suspicion.
• Xue Beng noticed Yan Lingji, became consumed by lust, and approached Zhao Linchuan to demand that he surrender her.
• Zhao Linchuan warned Xue Beng that he might offend someone he should not, but Xue Beng boasted of his royal power and ordered Zhao Linchuan to hand Yan Lingji over.

Zhao Linchuan killed Xue Beng and arranged for his death to be blamed on injuries from an earlier fight. After Xue Beng's followers revealed his clash with Shrek Academy, Prince Xue Xing ordered its members arrested, while Xue Qinghe urged a full investigation.

• Zhao Linchuan killed Xue Beng with a golden streak that consumed his soul.
• Zhao Linchuan ordered two Golden Armored Warriors to guard the corpse and arrange a false coroner's report attributing the death to untreated fight injuries.
• Xue Beng's followers discovered his body, and Prince Xue Xing and Xue Qinghe arrived to question the coroner.
• The coroner delivered the fabricated explanation that Xue Beng had died suddenly after his injuries worsened during a long journey.
• Xue Beng's followers said he had fought people from Shrek Academy, prompting Prince Xue Xing to order their arrest and interrogation.

Flender and the Shrek group arrived at Heaven Dou Royal Academy and discussed their plans to recover the Immortal Herbs, but imperial soldiers suddenly surrounded them and ordered their arrest. Tang San’s claims that he had once suppressed Zhao Linchuan were cut short as the force closed in.

• Flender and the Shrek teachers celebrated their smooth admission to Heaven Dou Royal Academy while Tang San and his companions planned to approach Dugu Yan and recover the Immortal Herbs.
• Tang San encouraged Oscar with the Aromatic Silk Beauty and promised Dai Mubai that he would try to restore the part he had lost after passing the Sea God Trial.
• Tang San boasted that he had once suppressed Zhao Linchuan in a Soul Fighting match at Notting Academy.
• Imperial soldiers and Soul Masters surrounded Flender, Tang San, and the others on the academy avenue.
• An officer ordered the soldiers to seize the Shrek group and show no mercy to anyone who resisted.

The Heaven Dou Empire's soldiers accused Flender and the Shrek group of causing Xue Beng's death and arrested them despite Yu Xiaogang presenting the Pope Token. Yu Xiaogang escaped to seek the truth while the others were taken to the imperial family's private death cell.

• The leading officer claimed Xue Beng had died from injuries inflicted by the Shrek group and ordered their arrest.
• Yu Xiaogang presented the Pope Token, but the officer said it could protect only Yu Xiaogang and did not exempt the others from investigation.
• Flender told the group not to resist and urged Yu Xiaogang to leave and find a way to clear their names.
• The soldiers bound Flender, Zhao Wuji, Tang San, Dai Mubai, Oscar, Ma Hongjun, and the others in iron chains.
• Yu Xiaogang left the academy while the soldiers took the Shrek group to the imperial family's private death cell.

Zhao Linchuan used a blank card to strip Luo Sanpao from Yu Xiaogang and transform it into a complete Golden Sacred Dragon. Yu Xiaogang woke to find he had broken through to level thirty, but could no longer summon his Martial Soul.

• Yu Xiaogang worried that Tang San and the others had been framed for Xue Beng's death, then Zhao Linchuan knocked him unconscious.
• Zhao Linchuan activated a blank card and drew Luo Sanpao out of Yu Xiaogang.
• Luo Sanpao stopped resisting and entered the card, which transformed into a Golden Sacred Dragon Card as two yellow Soul Rings merged into Yu Xiaogang.
• Yan Lingji questioned how a Martial Soul could be stripped away, and Zhao Linchuan told her that higher-level rules made it possible before they left.
• Yu Xiaogang woke an hour later and discovered he had broken through to level thirty, but could not summon his Martial Soul.

Yu Xiaogang discovered that Luo Sanpao had vanished while his Soul Rings and Soul Power remained, and he concluded that his Martial Soul had held back his cultivation. He released a Soul Skill through his body, suffering painful and humiliating consequences, then set out to find a more suitable Soul Ring.

• Yu Xiaogang found that Luo Sanpao was gone, while his two Hundred-Year Soul Rings remained and his Soul Power had increased.
• Yu Xiaogang decided that Luo Sanpao had been a shackle that kept him from advancing and wondered how to use his Soul Skills without a Martial Soul.
• Yu Xiaogang recited a modified incantation and released a powerful, toxic blast through his body, killing nearby birds and insects and damaging plants.
• Yu Xiaogang realized he had used a Soul Skill without a Martial Soul, though the blast injured him and tore off his clothes.
• Yu Xiaogang shuffled toward a stream and resolved to seek a third Soul Ring that would strengthen him or grant offensive abilities without another painful, undignified skill.

Zhao Linchuan searched Tang San’s memories and took his secret manuals, then ordered Jin Da to establish a Tang Sect that would brand Tang San and his allies as rebels. As Zhao Linchuan left the prison, Jin Da prepared to give the unconscious prisoners a grim welcome.

• Dai Mubai was tortured and beaten alongside Tang San, Oscar, and Ma Hongjun, while Flender, Zhao Wuji, Li Yusong, and the other teachers remained in a separate cell.
• Zhao Linchuan and Jin Da arrived after two dark golden streaks knocked out the jailers and everyone inside the prisoners’ cell.
• Zhao Linchuan searched Tang San’s memories while Jin Da gathered copies of the Great Sumeru Hammer, Clear Sky Nine Absolute Arts, Mysterious Heaven Skill, and Hidden Weapons manuals.
• Zhao Linchuan ordered Jin Da to establish a Tang Sect under the name of Tang Lan and portray Tang San and anyone connected to him as traitorous rebels.
• After Zhao Linchuan left, Jin Da put away the manuals and took out vials labeled “Sow Gone Wild.”