Chapter Summaries

After absorbing the Sky Dragon Horse's Soul Ring and reaching level forty-two, Ye Guyi challenged Xiao Hongchen, who defeated her by secretly sabotaging her Soul Tool sword. He agreed to make her a replacement as the group left, while Xiao Hongchen privately imagined Ye Guyi confessing to him.

• Ye Guyi explained that her fourth Soul Skill, Radiant Holy Body, strengthened her light attribute and physical power while speeding Soul Power recovery.
• Ye Guyi challenged Xiao Hongchen, and they released their Martial Souls to begin a sparring match.
• Xiao Hongchen and Ye Guyi exchanged close-range attacks, then Ye Guyi used Holy Hymn and Radiant Holy Body to launch a relentless assault.
• Ye Guyi attempted to finish the match with Holy Spirit Slash, but her longsword failed because Xiao Hongchen had used metal dust to damage its Core Array.
• Ye Guyi demanded compensation, and Xiao Hongchen promised to make her a level-five holy-attribute sword with a gold hilt and white scabbard.
• Jing Hongchen urged Xiao Hongchen to take the initiative with Ye Guyi, while Xiao Hongchen imagined her confessing to him and Meng Hongchen noticed his grin.

Xiao Hongchen was cornered into accepting Ji Juechen’s long-awaited duel, but tried to redirect the challenge toward Meng Hongchen and Ye Guyi before agreeing to fight. The chapter ended as the two faced off in the arena, with Ji Juechen’s sword intent rising and Xiao Hongchen preparing to meet him.

• Ji Juechen and Jing Ziyan blocked Xiao Hongchen in a corridor, and Ji Juechen demanded a fight.
• Xiao Hongchen agreed to duel Ji Juechen after eating, then introduced Meng Hongchen and Ye Guyi as better-matched opponents.
• Ji Juechen took an interest in Meng Hongchen and Ye Guyi, while Jing Ziyan greeted the two girls.
• Xiao Hongchen and Ji Juechen went to the Soul Fighting Arena, where a crowd gathered to watch.
• Ji Juechen merged with his Extraterrestrial Meteorite Sword and built up his sword intent as Xiao Hongchen activated both Martial Souls and prepared his counterattack.

Xiao Hongchen defeated Ji Juechen in a clash of sword and fist, while both fighters were injured. Ji Juechen entered Deep Meditation after admitting defeat, and Ye Guyi accompanied Xiao Hongchen to the infirmary.

• In the stands, students reacted with surprise and jealousy when Xiao Hongchen revealed five Soul Rings, and Meng Hongchen said either fighter could win if they tested their wills.
• Ji Juechen charged at Xiao Hongchen with his sword intent at its peak, and Xiao Hongchen flew forward with his Black Flash punch.
• Xiao Hongchen's fist collided with the Extraterrestrial Meteorite Sword, causing a massive explosion that injured both fighters.
• Ji Juechen admitted defeat and entered Deep Meditation, while Xiao Hongchen found he could not enter the same state.
• Meng Hongchen asked Ye Guyi to take Xiao Hongchen to the infirmary, then left to handle the damaged arena, hinting that she wanted to give them time alone.

Xiao Hongchen discussed Mingde Hall’s arrangement with the Holy Spirit Cult with Jing Hongchen and rejected his plan to use the Evil Soul Masters for the family’s future gain. He persuaded Jing Hongchen to expel every Evil Soul Master from the academy, and Jing Hongchen agreed to investigate them by the end of the semester.

• Ye Guyi treated Xiao Hongchen’s wound in the infirmary with ointment and her Holy Light Illumination soul skill, while Meng Hongchen watched from outside the door.
• After Ye Guyi and Meng Hongchen left, Xiao Hongchen planned to focus on cultivation until he reached level fifty and considered options for his fifth Soul Ring.
• Xiao Hongchen asked Jing Hongchen whether Mingde Hall had an arrangement with the Holy Spirit Cult, and Jing Hongchen admitted that the Xishui Alliance supplied rare metals in exchange for access to Mingde Hall.
• Jing Hongchen explained that he planned to let the royal family eventually move against the Holy Spirit Cult, allowing Xiao Hongchen, Meng Hongchen, and Ye Guyi to strike while the Hongchen Family gained credit.
• Xiao Hongchen rejected Jing Hongchen’s plan and urged him to expel the Evil Soul Masters, arguing that the Holy Spirit Cult could not openly retaliate without exposing itself.
• Jing Hongchen agreed to investigate every Evil Soul Master hiding in the academy and Mingde Hall by the end of the semester, and Xiao Hongchen vowed to drive them all out of the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy.

Tang San discovered that the Douluo Plane had been hidden and that he had lost contact with one fragment of Xiao Qi’s Divine Sense. After the God of Destruction refused to help uncover the plane, Tang San called for an early God Realm Committee meeting, and the God of Destruction agreed to attend.

• Tang San lost contact with Xiao Qi’s Divine Sense fragment and found no trace of the Douluo Plane, but later sensed Xiao Qi’s primary Divine Sense and confirmed she was unharmed.
• Tang San reassured Xiao Wu that he could handle a minor problem in the God Realm without telling her about Xiao Qi’s missing Divine Sense fragment.
• Tang San confronted the God of Destruction, who confirmed sensing a brief change in the Douluo Plane but warned against challenging whoever had concealed it.
• Tang San decided the God of Destruction had earned a death sentence and demanded that the God Realm Committee meet ahead of schedule.
• The God of Destruction asked why Xiao Qi had not visited and, after learning she was training in the Douluo Plane, agreed to attend the meeting.

After reaching Rank 50, Xiao Hongchen traveled with Jing Hongchen to the Jingyang Mountain Range to hunt a forty-thousand-year Quicksilver Morph Beast for his fifth Soul Ring. Jing Hongchen restrained the beast while Xiao Hongchen destroyed its core with a combined Super Energy-Gathering Soul Cannon, leaving the beast defeated.

• Xiao Hongchen reached Rank 50 after three months of training and prepared to hunt for his fifth Soul Ring.
• Jing Hongchen took Xiao Hongchen to the Jingyang Mountain Range, where three Level 7 Soul Engineers had tracked a forty-thousand-year Quicksilver Morph Beast.
• Jing Hongchen suppressed the beast as it shifted between solid and liquid forms, while Xiao Hongchen identified the moment it shaped its core as a weakness.
• Xiao Hongchen combined one hundred Level 5 Soul Cannons into a Super Energy-Gathering Soul Cannon and blasted through the Quicksilver Morph Beast's core.
• The Quicksilver Morph Beast shrieked and collapsed into a pool of silver-gray liquid.

After absorbing the Quicksilver Morph Beast’s forty-thousand-year Soul Ring, Xiao Hongchen reached level fifty-two and gained the ability to transform into poisonous liquid metal. Guided by the Eye of Fate, he and Jing Hongchen found a fifty-thousand-year Phantom Spirit Fox in a misty valley, where Xiao was drawn into its illusion.

• Xiao Hongchen endured the Quicksilver Morph Beast’s Soul Ring and absorbed his fifth Soul Ring, Attachment of Gold.
• Xiao Hongchen discovered that Attachment of Gold let him turn into liquid metal, resist most attacks, and poison attackers, while his Soul Power rose to level fifty-two.
• Jing Hongchen and Xiao Hongchen searched the Jingyang Mountain Range for a mental-type Soul Beast suited to Xiao’s Brain Martial Soul.
• Guided by the Eye of Fate, Xiao Hongchen found a pale-purple misty valley and followed its golden threads inside with Jing Hongchen.
• Xiao Hongchen and Jing Hongchen encountered a fifty-thousand-year Phantom Spirit Fox, and Xiao was trapped in its illusions.

Xiao Hongchen defeated the Phantom Spirit Fox and absorbed its Soul Ring, gaining the illusion-based Mirror Flower Water Moon skill. After returning to the Ming Capital, he reunited with Meng Hongchen and learned that Jing Hongchen had arranged his final assessment for next Friday.

• Xiao Hongchen used Fate, Judgment to expose and wound the Phantom Spirit Fox, and Jing Hongchen trapped it with the Dragon-Trapping Prison.
• Xiao Hongchen destroyed the fox’s Spiritual Power core and absorbed its fifty-thousand-year Soul Ring, raising his Soul Power to level fifty-four.
• Xiao Hongchen gained Mirror Flower Water Moon, which could perfectly mimic beings and create a Spiritual Power clone.
• Xiao Hongchen and Jing Hongchen returned to the Hongchen Duke Mansion, where Meng Hongchen greeted Xiao Hongchen and joked about serving him a bath.
• Jing Hongchen reminded Xiao Hongchen to attend the final assessment next Friday, and Xiao Hongchen relaxed after bathing.

Xiao Hongchen, Meng Hongchen, and Ye Guyi took their final examination at the academy, crafting Soul Tools before preparing for one-on-one combat. Xiao Hongchen made a Level Six armguard and earned a perfect score, and the chapter ended as the combat examination was about to begin.

• Xiao Hongchen, Meng Hongchen, and Ye Guyi arrived for their final examination and went with their class to the Public Laboratory.
• Lin Jiayi announced a two-hour Soul Tool crafting test followed by one-on-one combat matches chosen by drawing lots.
• Xiao Hongchen used Metal Control to refine rare metals and crafted a Level Six armguard with defense, ranged attacks, and close-combat capabilities.
• An invigilating teacher awarded Xiao Hongchen three hundred points, while Meng Hongchen and Ye Guyi crafted a rapier and a longsword that ranked among the best in their class.
• Lin Jiayi led the students to the Soul Fighting Arena, where spectators gathered and the combat examination was about to begin.

Xiao Hongchen fought graduating student Ma Rulong in an assessment match, with each restricted to the Soul Tool he had just made. After Ma Rulong’s powerful attack failed to stop Xiao Hongchen, he summoned the Demon Whisker Monkey, leaving the fight in a standoff.

• Jing Hongchen changed Xiao Hongchen’s assessment opponent to Ma Rulong and restricted him to his newly made Soul Tool.
• Ma Rulong used his Thunder Domain to block Xiao Hongchen while charging the Level 7 Soul Tool Light of Destruction.
• Xiao Hongchen transformed into golden liquid, slipped through the Thunder Domain, and dodged Ma Rulong’s beam by leaving behind a silver-mote decoy.
• Xiao Hongchen appeared behind Ma Rulong and overpowered him in close combat, despite Ma Rulong defending himself with his Soul Tool greatsword.
• Ma Rulong summoned the Demon Whisker Monkey, which grew into a giant Soul Beast, and the two fighters settled into a standoff.

Xiao Hongchen defeated Ma Rulong by trapping his greatsword with his liquid-metal arm and using poison to weaken him. After they reconciled, Ju Zi considered how Xiao Hongchen's rapid growth could reshape the imperial succession struggle.

• Xiao Hongchen used his enlarged liquid-metal arm to overpower the Demon Whisker Monkey and poison it.
• Ma Rulong attacked with his greatsword and flames, but Xiao Hongchen caught the blade in his arm and bound him with liquid metal.
• Jing Hongchen and the crowd applauded as Xiao Hongchen's victory over Ma Rulong established him as Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy's strongest student.
• Xiao Hongchen released Ma Rulong, who accepted his defeat and named him the next generation's captain; the two shook hands after Xiao Hongchen removed the poison.
• Ju Zi watched Xiao Hongchen and concluded that his rapid growth could make him a decisive force in the princes' struggle for the throne.

Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen completed their academy assessments, then Jing Hongchen summoned the academy and carried out a mass investigation, removing people suspected of having questionable identities. Xiao Hongchen recognized Ghost Nana among those taken away and believed she should not be treated as an Evil Soul Master.

• Meng Hongchen used Ice Refraction to evade Chen An's attack and defeat him in their assessment match.
• Ye Guyi defeated Li Yan after destroying his explosive shells with Holy Spirit Slash.
• After the assessments ended, Jing Hongchen called all students and teachers to the plaza and announced a thorough investigation.
• Teachers restrained and led away a group of students and staff while the gathered crowd watched in confusion.
• Xiao Hongchen recognized the frightened girl being taken away as Ghost Nana and recalled her tragic connection to the Holy Spirit Cult.

Xiao Hongchen secured Nana’s release and promised to help free her parents’ souls from the Holy Spirit Cult. The next evening, he and Nana reached the cult’s branch hall, where Xiao Hongchen entered the courtyard alone to investigate.

• Xiao Hongchen persuaded Jing Hongchen to release Nana and take personal responsibility for her.
• Xiao Hongchen told Nana the Holy Spirit Cult still held her parents’ souls and promised to help rescue them; he apologized for her detention and set her free.
• Xiao Hongchen asked Meng Hongchen and Ye Guyi to help rescue Nana’s parents when the opportunity arose.
• Nana contacted Xiao Hongchen the next evening, and they went together to the Holy Spirit Branch Hall.
• Xiao Hongchen climbed into the branch hall’s courtyard and told Nana to wait outside while he investigated alone.

Xiao Hongchen infiltrated the Holy Spirit Cult compound and planted a communicator with the gate guard Xu Haolong to learn when the elder left. After waiting two nights, he gathered Meng Hongchen, Ye Guyi, and Nana to attack, and they prepared to enter once he confirmed the elder was gone.

• Xiao Hongchen used Mirror Flower Water Moon to sneak past the gate, restrained Xu Haolong, and forced him to signal when the elder came out.
• Xiao Hongchen learned that the elder was inside with the Great Holy Spirit, then arranged for Nana to stay at Hongchen Mansion while they waited for news.
• At Hongchen Mansion, Meng Hongchen welcomed Nana, and Nana reunited with Ye Guyi in the upstairs hallway.
• Two nights later, Xu Haolong's communicator vibrated, and Xiao Hongchen gathered Meng Hongchen, Ye Guyi, and Nana to begin their planned attack.
• Xiao Hongchen scouted the compound with his Eye of Fate, confirmed the elder had left, and told the others they could go in.

Xiao Hongchen and the others infiltrated the underground hall and fought the Great Holy Spirit, the Second Holy Spirit, and their skeletons. Xiao Hongchen sealed the giant skeleton in Sand Iron while Ye Guyi destroyed three others, and the Great Holy Spirit turned his attention to her Holy Angel Martial Soul.

• Nana led Xiao Hongchen, Meng Hongchen, and Ye Guyi into the hidden passage after Meng Hongchen’s poison incapacitated the White-Clad Holy Servants.
• The Great Holy Spirit accused Nana of betrayal, then provoked Xiao Hongchen by demanding that he become his male servant.
• The Second Holy Spirit transformed into a giant skeleton, and the Great Holy Spirit summoned six more skeletons to attack the group.
• Xiao Hongchen trapped the giant skeleton inside a solid Sand Iron pyramid with Sand Storm Grand Burial.
• Meng Hongchen fought two skeletons while Nana struggled against another, and Ye Guyi purified three with her Holy Angel Martial Soul.
• The Great Holy Spirit recognized Ye Guyi as an angel and vowed to kill her before her wings had fully grown.

Xiao Hongchen and his companions defeated the Great Holy Spirit’s attacks and stopped him from escaping, while Ye Guyi purified him with a holy strike. Xiao Hongchen then opened the Iron Sand Pyramid so Ye Guyi could finish off the trapped Second Holy Spirit.

• The Great Holy Spirit unleashed the Holy Spirit Flag’s vengeful spirits against Ye Guyi, while Xiao Hongchen destroyed the skeleton attacking Nana and restrained the two fighting Meng Hongchen.
• Ye Guyi erased nearly five hundred vengeful spirits with three Golden Waves of holy power.
• The Great Holy Spirit transformed into a Blood-Colored Wraith and fled, but Xiao Hongchen trapped him inside a metal cage with Gold Piercing.
• Ye Guyi purified and killed the Great Holy Spirit with Holy Spirit Slash, absorbing the golden light that remained.
• Xiao Hongchen opened a narrow gap in the Iron Sand Pyramid, giving Ye Guyi a chance to strike the trapped Second Holy Spirit.

Ye Guyi destroyed the black skeleton and gained four levels, while Nana reunited with her parents’ souls and chose to serve Xiao Hongchen. After Xiao brought the surviving Holy Servants back to Hongchen Mansion, he began discussing Nana’s future with the others.

• Ye Guyi absorbed the Soul Power released when she destroyed the black skeleton and reached level forty-six.
• Xiao Hongchen urged Nana to see her parents’ souls before they dissipated, and she later emerged grieving but grateful.
• Nana promised to serve Xiao Hongchen for life, and the rescued Holy Servants also asked to follow him.
• Xiao Hongchen revealed that Xu Haolong had never been poisoned and planted timed explosives to destroy the black building.
• Xiao Hongchen brought the eight Holy Servants to Hongchen Mansion and told Pin Hongchen to arrange new identities and work for them.
• Xiao Hongchen sat down with Ye Guyi, Meng Hongchen, and Nana to discuss what to do with Nana next.

Xiao Hongchen welcomed Nana into the Hongchen Family as a maid while supporting her continued studies and cultivation. He then had Nana, Meng Hongchen, and Ye Guyi demonstrate maid duties and rated their uniforms and skills, leaving Nana set to begin work the next day.

• Xiao Hongchen asked Nana whether she wanted to join the Hongchen Family or return to a normal life, and Nana chose to serve him while continuing to study at the academy.
• Xiao Hongchen promised to provide Nana with resources to help her reach Soul Ancestor before the next Soul Master Tournament and assigned the head maid to help her learn the job.
• Meng Hongchen and Ye Guyi dressed in maid uniforms and joined Nana in demonstrating maid duties for Xiao Hongchen.
• Xiao Hongchen rated Nana and Ye Guyi eighteen and a half points each, while Meng Hongchen received sixteen points and accused him of bias.
• Xiao Hongchen told Nana she could begin serving him the next day and reminded Meng Hongchen and Ye Guyi to focus on cultivation and the upcoming Soul Master Tournament.

Xiao Hongchen and Xuan Ziwen brought a successful Sealed Milk Bottle to Kong Deming, who praised the invention and Xiao Hongchen’s research. The meeting ended with Xiao Hongchen proposing to make a Humanoid Soul Tool his Life-Bound Soul Tool.

• Xiao Hongchen woke, ate breakfast, and went to Xuan Ziwen’s laboratory, where Xuan Ziwen excitedly told him the Sealed Milk Bottle worked without losing Soul Power.
• Xuan Ziwen explained that the bottle could help solve the energy-loss problem in Humanoid Soul Tools and offered to share its patent with Xiao Hongchen.
• Xuan Ziwen took Xiao Hongchen to the Worship Hall to meet his master, Kong Deming, and show him the bottle.
• Kong Deming examined the Sealed Milk Bottle and praised Xuan Ziwen’s work after confirming that its Soul Power remained sealed.
• Xiao Hongchen explained his Milk Bottle research to Kong Deming, then said he wanted to make a Humanoid Soul Tool his Life-Bound Soul Tool.

Xiao Hongchen proposed a living, personalized Humanoid Soul Tool called Battle Armor and explained how he might give its metal life. Kong Deming judged the idea feasible in principle, but said they would need to develop Humanoid Soul Tool technology first, then gave Xiao his research manuscript to study.

• Xiao Hongchen described Battle Armor as a summonable Soul Tool tailored to its user and bonded to the owner's Spiritual Power imprint.
• Xiao Hongchen claimed his Three-Legged Golden Toad Martial Soul could purify metal and give it spirituality, while concealing the role of the Blade of Life's Watch.
• Xiao Hongchen revealed his Brain Martial Soul and two pitch-black Soul Rings, surprising Kong Deming and Xuan Ziwen.
• Kong Deming concluded that Battle Armor could be feasible for Xiao Hongchen but warned that its key technologies remained undeveloped.
• Kong Deming gave Xiao Hongchen his years-old Humanoid Soul Tool research manuscript, which he had previously refused to lend Xuan Ziwen.