Chapter Summaries

Kong Deming made Xiao Hongchen his grand-disciple, gave him access to the imperial palace and Worship Hall, and directed Xuan Ziwen to focus on Humanoid Soul Tools and Battle Armor. On their way out, Xiao Hongchen met Crown Prince Xu Tianran, whose pointed remarks led Xuan Ziwen to warn that the prince was keeping tabs on Mingde Hall.

• Kong Deming told Xuan Ziwen to set aside civilian Soul Tools and the All-Terrain Self-Propelled Artillery project to focus on Humanoid Soul Tools and Battle Armor, then gave Xiao Hongchen a badge granting access to the imperial palace and Worship Hall.
• Xuan Ziwen warned Xiao Hongchen that pursuing two paths could become a burden, but Xiao Hongchen explained that his metal and spiritual abilities worked together for Battle Armor.
• Xiao Hongchen and Xuan Ziwen encountered Xu Tianran in the imperial palace, where the Crown Prince praised their work, asked Xiao Hongchen to help bring his sister to the academy, and urged him to win the Soul Master Tournament.
• After they left, Xuan Ziwen told Xiao Hongchen that Xu Tianran's remarks about the Evil Soul Masters were a warning that the imperial family knew what Mingde Hall was doing.

Xu Tianran persuaded Xu Tianzhen to challenge Xiao Hongchen, expecting her defeat to bring her to Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy and strengthen his ties to the Hongchen Family. Meanwhile, Xiao Hongchen successfully Spirit Forged Sinking Silver, transforming it into a golden metal imbued with life.

• Xu Tianran visited Xu Tianzhen and suggested she transfer to Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy after challenging a stronger student.
• Xu Tianzhen agreed to transfer to the Royal Academy if she lost, while Xu Tianran anticipated that she would lose to Xiao Hongchen and grow close to him.
• Xiao Hongchen hammered a heated piece of Sinking Silver, then compared it with a second piece he refined using his Soul Skills.
• Xiao Hongchen infused the second piece with Soul Power, the Power of Destiny, life force, and Spiritual Power as he attempted Spirit Forging.
• Xiao Hongchen used his blood to complete the forging, and the Sinking Silver erupted in golden flame before revealing a gold-and-silver finish.

Xiao Hongchen successfully Spirit Forged Sinking Silver and showed Xuan Ziwen how it could merge with his body. He then proposed building a piloted Mecha Soldier from purified metal, and Xuan Ziwen agreed to help explore the design.

• Xiao Hongchen made Spirit-Forged Sinking Silver merge into his hand and reappear as a small plate of armor.
• Xiao Hongchen decided to avoid further Spirit Forging until he reached Soul Saint because the process consumed too much of his reserves and risked his Martial Soul Origin.
• Xuan Ziwen was shocked that Xiao Hongchen had achieved Spirit Forging in one afternoon and asked him to explain the process.
• Xiao Hongchen described his Spirit Forging method but concealed his use of the Gold of Life and the Eye of Fate.
• Xuan Ziwen accepted the Spirit-Forged Sinking Silver to study Core Arrays made with Spirit Metal and asked Xiao Hongchen to prioritize supplying him with it once he could Spirit Forge easily.
• Xiao Hongchen showed Xuan Ziwen his Mecha Soldier design, and they discussed building a prototype using Thousand-Rank rare metal.

Xiao Hongchen saw Mingde Hall’s enormous Experimental Subject No. 1 and tested its cockpit, discovering that it consumed far more Spiritual Power than he could safely supply. He offered to provide limited quantities of Thousand-Refined metal and secured approval for his preferred design, leaving him warned not to risk activating the machine again.

• Jing Hongchen brought Xiao Hongchen to Mingde Hall’s laboratory and showed him the fifteen-meter Experimental Subject No. 1.
• Xiao Hongchen examined the machine’s thousands of Core Arrays and suggested making it larger, then offered to supply at least twenty kilograms of Thousand-Refined metal each week.
• Xiao Hongchen gave Jing Hongchen a blueprint for the machine’s exterior, and Jing approved the design.
• Xiao Hongchen climbed into the cockpit and briefly connected his Spiritual Power to a Core Array, feeling as if he had become the machine while his energy was rapidly drained.
• Jing Hongchen warned Xiao Hongchen that an earlier test engineer had nearly been left a vegetable after operating the machine, and told him not to try it again.

After Xiao Hongchen received a powerful defensive Soul Tool from Kong Deming, he spent the month studying Humanoid Soul Tools. On the last day of break, Xu Tianzhen challenged him to a fight, and they faced off in the Soul Fighting Arena.

• Kong Deming gave Xiao Hongchen a silver Level 9 Soul Tool bracelet after criticizing Jing Hongchen for leaving him without strong protection.
• Xiao Hongchen agreed to study Humanoid Soul Tools with Kong Deming at least two days each week.
• After spending most of the month in the laboratory, Xiao Hongchen headed home on the last day before classes began.
• Xu Tianzhen introduced herself at the academy gates and challenged Xiao Hongchen, saying she would transfer to his academy if she lost.
• Xiao Hongchen and Xu Tianzhen went to the Soul Fighting Arena as students followed and speculated about their relationship.
• Xiao Hongchen and Xu Tianzhen took their positions opposite each other in the arena.

Xu Tianzhen challenged Xiao Hongchen to a fight, but his metal attacks and tactical adjustments overcame her Sun-based abilities. She surrendered after he contained her Sun God Light and began charging another Gold Piercing.

• Xu Tianzhen challenged Xiao Hongchen after reaching Soul Ancestor, and they agreed he would not use his Fifth Soul Skill or Soul Tools.
• Xu Tianzhen burned through Xiao Hongchen's metal claw with her Sun beam, burning his hand and forcing him to take the fight seriously.
• Xiao Hongchen's Gold Piercing split into molten droplets and exploded around Xu Tianzhen, but she survived with her Sunlight Barrier and Scorching Sun Heart.
• Xu Tianzhen accused Xiao Hongchen of holding back, and he confirmed that he had limited the attack to avoid seriously injuring her.
• Xu Tianzhen attacked again with Sun God Light, but Xiao Hongchen contained the beam and prepared another Gold Piercing, prompting her to surrender.

Xiao Hongchen defeated Xu Tianzhen in the Training Ground, and she publicly declared that she would pursue him. Xu Tianzhen transferred to the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy and began following him, leaving Ye Guyi troubled by the growing rivalry.

• Xiao Hongchen used liquid metal to bind Xu Tianzhen and defeated her before she could break free.
• Xu Tianzhen said she would transfer to the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy and announced in front of the spectators that she would pursue Xiao Hongchen.
• The news spread through the academy and Ming Capital, and Xu Tianzhen transferred the next day.
• Xu Tianzhen began following Xiao Hongchen around the academy, while Ye Guyi watched and felt increasingly uneasy.

Ye Guyi grew jealous as Xu Tianzhen grew close to Xiao Hongchen, while Xiao Hongchen hoped the rivalry would spur Ye Guyi to act. After hearing Kong Deming praise Xiao Hongchen’s extraordinary potential, Emperor Xu Guoren called for Xu Tianzhen, leaving her summoned to the palace.

• Xu Tianzhen and Meng Hongchen became close, leaving Ye Guyi alone across the cafeteria table and increasingly jealous of their closeness to Xiao Hongchen.
• Xiao Hongchen noticed Ye Guyi’s restrained jealousy and privately regarded Xu Tianzhen’s arrival as a way to push Ye Guyi into taking initiative.
• Word about Xu Tianzhen and Xiao Hongchen spread through Ming Capital and reached the imperial palace, prompting Emperor Xu Guoren to summon Xu Tianzhen.
• Xu Guoren reviewed Xiao Hongchen’s achievements and asked Kong Deming for his assessment; Kong Deming predicted Xiao Hongchen could surpass him and might reach Level 99.
• Convinced Xiao Hongchen could become a powerful asset to the Sun Moon Empire, Xu Guoren ordered the guards to summon the princess.

Xu Guoren agreed to consider Xu Tianzhen’s request to marry Xiao Hongchen if the Sun Moon Team won the championship a year later. With the tournament approaching, the Sun Moon Academy’s Main Selection Team and Reserve Team gathered to meet, and Xiao Hongchen arrived late.

• Xu Guoren reprimanded Xu Tianzhen for confessing to Xiao Hongchen in public, then promised to grant her request if the Sun Moon Team won the tournament in a year.
• Over the following year, Mingde Hall obtained a Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear Right Palm Bone, Xiao Hongchen reached level fifty-nine and completed a Humanoid Soul Tool, and Meng Hongchen and Ye Guyi gained new Soul Skills.
• On the day the academy’s Main Selection Team and Reserve Team met, Xiao Hongchen arrived late and joined the Reserve Team beside Meng Hongchen and Ye Guyi.
• Jing Hongchen began asking the two teams to introduce themselves.

Xiao Hongchen unveiled his Mecha Soldier and prepared to face the Main Selection Team alone in a spar. Jing Hongchen had made the match a test: if the Main Selection Team failed to last twenty minutes, Xiao Hongchen would control their tournament tactics.

• The Main Selection Team and Preliminary Selection Team introduced themselves, and the Main Selection members were stunned by the younger team's strength.
• Jing Hongchen announced that the Main Selection Team had to last twenty minutes against the Preliminary Selection Team or Xiao Hongchen would take over their tournament tactics.
• Xiao Hongchen revealed his Mecha Soldier, climbed inside, and showed off his year of research as Meng Hongchen and Xu Tianzhen reacted.
• The Main Selection Team summoned their martial souls and readied their Soul Tools after feeling ignored by the Preliminary Selection Team.
• Xiao Hongchen told his teammates not to move, saying he would keep all the experience for himself, and they retreated to the sides of the Training Ground.

Xiao Hongchen used the silver-and-gold Mecha Soldier to overwhelm the Main Selection Team, while Ma Rulong lured him into a prepared lightning trap. Xiao Hongchen sealed himself inside a metal fortress under the team’s fire and prepared a counterattack.

• The Main Selection Team unleashed its full firepower, but Xiao Hongchen sped through the barrage in his Mecha Soldier, absorbing or deflecting the attacks.
• Ma Rulong ordered Lin Xi to stall Xiao Hongchen, and Xiao Hongchen smashed Lin Xi’s Level 6 Soul Shield and knocked him unconscious with a Black Flash.
• Xiao Hongchen rushed Ma Rulong, who trapped them both inside four prepared Level 6 Triggered Lightning Nets as the other five teammates aimed their weapons at Xiao Hongchen.
• Xiao Hongchen raised a sealed metal fortress around himself, and the team’s crossfire failed to damage it.
• Xiao Hongchen declared his Absolute Defense unbreakable and gathered metal balls inside the fortress to prepare a counterattack.

Xiao Hongchen overwhelmed the Main Selection Team with his all-in-one Soul Tool Turret formation, then was appointed to lead the team’s tactics for the tournament. As the Sun Moon team prepared to leave for Star Luo City, Kong Deming joined Jing Hongchen to protect them.

• Xiao Hongchen revealed more than two hundred Level 5 Soul Cannons across the Metal Fortress and defeated the opposing team until Jing Hongchen stopped the barrage with a Level 9 Soul Tool.
• Xiao Hongchen rejoined the Preliminary Selection Team, where Meng Hongchen mocked his boastful act and Xu Tianzhen praised his hair flick.
• Jing Hongchen announced that he would lead the trip to the Star Luo Empire and assigned Xiao Hongchen full responsibility for tactical arrangements.
• Jing Hongchen ordered the team to gather at the academy’s main gate in one week and said they had to keep the championship in the Sun Moon Empire.
• Kong Deming volunteered to accompany the team to Star Luo City, explaining that he wanted to protect Xiao Hongchen from Shrek.

Jing Hongchen took the fourteen contestants toward the Star Luo Empire, while Xiao Hongchen and Ye Guyi shared a private, intimate moment during the journey. By the time they reached the empire's border, Ye Guyi had become sure Xiao Hongchen's feelings for her went beyond friendship.

• Jing Hongchen met the contestants and used a Simulation Flight Soul Tool to carry them toward the Star Luo Empire.
• Meng Hongchen and Xu Tianzhen chatted about Star Luo City while Xiao Hongchen reassured Ye Guyi that Kong Deming's protection made it safer for her to use her Holy Angel Martial Soul.
• Ye Guyi took Xiao Hongchen's hand, and he used Mirror Flower Water Moon so their companions would not notice.
• Xiao Hongchen teased Ye Guyi and brushed her hair aside, leaving her embarrassed and calling him a pervert.
• As they reached the Star Luo Empire's border, Ye Guyi reflected on Xiao Hongchen's tenderness and concluded that he liked her as more than a friend.

Xiao Hongchen and Ye Guyi arrived in Star Luo City with their team, while Xiao Hongchen anticipated Huo Yuhao’s coming danger. In the Mingdou Mountain Range, the Death God Envoy kidnapped Huo Yuhao, but Ice Empress helped him freeze the enemy before Xuan Zi arrived and killed him.

• Ye Guyi resolved to take the initiative with Xiao Hongchen, while he privately considered making a bolder move.
• After entering the Star Luo Empire, Xiao Hongchen’s team reached Star Luo City and settled into the Star Emperor Hotel.
• Xiao Hongchen wondered how Huo Yuhao would escape the Death God Envoy without Electrolux as the Shrek team suffered heavy casualties in a hidden cave.
• The Death God Envoy escaped Xuan Zi’s pursuit with Huo Yuhao, but Ice Empress took control of Huo Yuhao’s body and struck him with Ice Emperor’s Wrath.
• Xuan Zi crushed the frozen Death God Envoy, and the badly injured Huo Yuhao fainted before he could suggest capturing the enemy alive.

Xiao Hongchen dismissed the Shrek Team as no threat while the Sun Moon Team prepared for the tournament. The next morning, the teams gathered at Star Luo Plaza, where Xiao Hongchen saw Huo Yuhao still weakened and resolved to keep Meng Hongchen from becoming infatuated with Wang Dong.

• Jing Hongchen warned the Sun Moon Team about Shrek's incomplete roster, but Xiao Hongchen insisted they would win and brushed off tactical planning.
• Xiao Hongchen compared his hands with Meng Hongchen's, provoking her into tickling him until Jing Hongchen stopped their quarrel.
• Xiao Hongchen woke the next morning, changed into his school uniform, and left the hotel with the rest of the Sun Moon Team.
• Jing Hongchen had drawn the team's lot, and the fourteen Sun Moon Team members took their places at the tournament arena.
• Xiao Hongchen saw that only nine Shrek Team members had arrived and noticed that Huo Yuhao remained pale and weakened.
• Xiao Hongchen watched Meng Hongchen and resolved that Wang Dong would not win her affection this time.

The tournament opened with Shrek crushing Heaven Spirit Academy, while Xiao Hongchen entered Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy’s match alone and unleashed a barrage against Jiabei Academy. The chapter ended as his cannons fired, with the referee also caught in his sights.

• Emperor Xu Jiawei opened the tournament, and Jing Hongchen kept the Sun Moon team standing while the other academies bowed.
• Shrek’s seven Reserve Team members defeated Heaven Spirit Academy with Huo Yuhao supporting them through Spiritual Detection Sharing.
• Xiao Hongchen chose to face Jiabei Academy alone, despite Meng Hongchen’s offer to join him.
• The referee started the match early, and Xiao Hongchen secretly aimed cannons at him while preparing to attack Jiabei.
• Xiao Hongchen fired all one hundred Soul Cannons at once.

Xiao Hongchen overwhelmed Jiabei Team with a barrage of Soul Cannons, leaving even the Soul Sage referee badly injured. Shrek’s team feared facing him until Wang Yan devised a plan to use Xu Sanshi’s Black Tortoise Displacement against him.

• Jiabei Team surrendered, and the referee used his White Armored Elephant Avatar to shield them from Xiao Hongchen’s hundred Soul Cannons, suffering serious injuries.
• Xu Jiayin ordered Heavenly Fiend Douluo to replace the referees for the previous tournament’s top-four teams.
• Wang Yan asked Shrek’s team how they could counter Xiao Hongchen, and Xu Sanshi claimed he could use Black Tortoise Displacement against him.
• Jiang Nannan explained how her Soul Skills could help her approach and defeat Xiao Hongchen, but Wang Yan concluded Xu Sanshi’s displacement could instead switch him with Xiao Hongchen as the cannons fired.
• Huo Yuhao praised Wang Yan’s plan, while Wang Dong boasted that Xiao Hongchen would not be her match if they were the same age.

After his team’s victory, Xiao Hongchen returned to the hotel, where Kong Deming asked him to accept Princess Xu Tianzhen’s feelings for the sake of the imperial family. Xiao Hongchen agreed to try, though he remained uncertain about romance and resolved to focus on becoming stronger.

• Xiao Hongchen told the Sun Moon Team that he would sit out until the finals and let Ma Rulong arrange the upcoming matches.
• Xiao Hongchen returned to the hotel with Meng Hongchen, Xu Tianzhen, Ye Guyi, and Nana, then went to his room alone.
• Kong Deming asked Xiao Hongchen what he thought of Xu Tianzhen and urged him to accept her feelings, revealing that the emperor supported the match.
• Xiao Hongchen admitted he would try to accept Xu Tianzhen, reasoning that agreeing would keep him close to the imperial family.
• After Kong Deming left, Xiao Hongchen reflected on Xu Tianzhen and decided to take things as they came while pursuing greater strength.

Xiao Hongchen watched Shrek Academy face Zhengtian Academy and considered the limits of his divine beast bloodline. Shrek lost after Xiao Xiao’s Martial Soul was shattered and He Caitou unleashed a Super Energy-Gathering Cannon, leaving both unconscious as spectators applauded their courage.

• Xiao Hongchen watched Xu Sanshi defeat Yu Mengdi with a combination of his first three Soul Skills, then discussed Yu Mengdi and her Angel Martial Soul with Ye Guyi.
• Tang Xiaolei’s Arrow of Breaking shattered Xiao Xiao’s Three-Life Soul-Suppressing Cauldron, leaving her badly injured and unconscious.
• He Caitou compressed his Super Energy-Gathering Cannon’s charge and fired it across the battlefield, until Huang Jinxu intervened to stop it.
• He Caitou collapsed beside Xiao Xiao after shielding her from the cannon’s aftershock, while Blood Wolf remained standing and secured Tianzheng Academy’s victory.
• The spectators applauded Shrek despite its defeat, while Xiao Hongchen dismissed their admiration and criticized the team’s sacrifices.

Xiao Hongchen warned the Sun Moon Team not to imitate Shrek's willingness to risk permanent injuries, then Meng Hongchen became captivated by Wang Dong's appearance. Xiao Hongchen revealed that the Light Goddess Butterfly Martial Soul only belonged to female Soul Masters, leaving Meng Hongchen mortified to learn her supposed prince was a girl.

• Xiao Hongchen told the Sun Moon Team to value their lives and trust that they could win the tournament without reckless sacrifices.
• Xiao Hongchen advised Ye Guyi to avoid getting hurt, while Xu Tianzhen complained that he had not given her the same warning.
• Meng Hongchen admired Wang Dong's dazzling Martial Soul and used a Telescope Soul Tool to study her face.
• Meng Hongchen called Wang Dong handsome and praised his fairy-tale-prince-like air, while Xu Tianzhen teased her about her taste.
• Xiao Hongchen told Meng Hongchen that the Light Goddess Butterfly Martial Soul only appeared in female Soul Masters, and Meng Hongchen angrily turned on Xu Tianzhen after realizing Wang Dong was a girl.