Chapter Summaries

Tang San realized Tai Tan had called his father, Tang Hao, Master, while Xiao Wu feared the two Soul Douluos would discover her true form. Zhao Wuji arrived with Yu Xiaogang, whose unexpected reunion with Liu Erlong had to wait until the confrontation between Tai Tan and Yang Wudi was resolved.

• Tang San pieced together that Tai Tan and Yang Wudi had once been comrades and wondered what status his father held among them.
• Tang San comforted Xiao Wu, unaware she was suppressing her Soul Power to hide that she was a Soul Beast in human form.
• Zhao Wuji arrived with Shrek Academy teachers and students, including Yu Xiaogang.
• Liu Erlong recognized Yu Xiaogang and silently greeted him, while he indicated that the ongoing standoff was not the time to speak.

Flender discovered Ma Hongjun buried beneath rubble and demanded to know who had injured him. After uncovering Ma Hongjun and finding him barely alive, Flender saw his chest injuries and froze.

• Yu Xiaogang confirmed Tang San was unharmed, then noticed he had revealed the Clear Sky Hammer.
• Flender asked where Ma Hongjun was, and Ning Rongrong pointed him toward the rubble.
• Flender accused Dai Mobai of harming Ma Hongjun, but Dai Mobai told him to check the rubble.
• Flender uncovered Ma Hongjun, found him barely breathing, and froze when he saw his chest injuries.

Flender discovered that Ma Hongjun’s chest had been crushed by Tang San’s Clear Sky Hammer and demanded an explanation. He left with the unconscious Ma Hongjun rather than remain to protect Tang San, ending his friendship with Yu Xiaogang on cold terms.

• Flender stabilized Ma Hongjun’s injuries and recognized the Clear Sky Hammer’s mark in his chest.
• Flender confronted Tang San, while Yu Xiaogang argued that they should deal with the danger to Tang San first.
• Flender rebuked Yu Xiaogang for treating Tang San’s safety as more important than Ma Hongjun’s life.
• Flender refused to stay and protect Tang San, then carried Ma Hongjun away into the sky.

After Flender left Suotuo City, Zhao Wuji led Dai Mubai, Oscar, and Ning Rongrong away while Dai Mobai let them pass. Tai Tan escaped with Tang San and Xiao Wu, and the street confrontation ended temporarily, leaving Yu Xiaogang to face the unresolved fallout.

• Dai Mobai regretted that Flender and Yu Xiaogang had not turned against each other, while Zhao Wuji pieced together the conflict surrounding Ma Hongjun and the Clear Sky Hammer.
• Zhao Wuji gathered Dai Mubai, Oscar, and Ning Rongrong and led them out; Dai Mobai signaled the Breaking Clan elites to open a path.
• Tai Tan feinted at Yang Wudi, seized Tang San and Xiao Wu, and leaped away from the crowd.
• Yang Wudi prepared to pursue Tai Tan, but Dai Mobai told him to prioritize the important matter, and Yang Wudi withdrew his Soul Power.
• Yu Xiaogang recognized that the conflict with Flender and the consequences of Tang San revealing the Clear Sky Hammer remained unresolved, while Liu Erlong led him and Tai Long away.

After Liu Erlong led Yu Xiaogang and Tai Long away from the street, Dai Mobai quietly revealed his intention to use Tang San before departing with Li Yue and Yang Wudi. The group regrouped at the hotel, where Yu Xiaogang asked Zhao Wuji to take him to the city’s best clinic.

• Liu Erlong carried Yu Xiaogang away, and Tai Long followed, troubled that Tai Tan had protected Tang San instead of him.
• Dai Mobai said he intended to drain Tang San’s usefulness, then left with Li Yue and Yang Wudi.
• Suotuo City's guards arrived after the fighters had departed, and the centurion ordered men to seal off the damaged street and arrange repairs.
• Liu Erlong brought Yu Xiaogang and Tai Long to Tai Tan in a secluded alley, where Tai Tan checked on Tai Long before focusing on Tang San.
• After seeing Xiao Wu’s injuries and hearing what had happened with Ma Hongjun, Yu Xiaogang took the group back to their hotel.
• Yu Xiaogang found Zhao Wuji, Oscar, Dai Mubai, and Ning Rongrong at the hotel and asked Zhao Wuji to take him to the best clinic in the city.

Yu Xiaogang persuaded Zhao Wuji to take him to the clinic where Ma Hongjun was being treated. After the physician said she could keep Hongjun alive but could not heal his injuries, Yu Xiaogang faced Flender and said he knew someone who could save him.

• Yu Xiaogang asked Zhao Wuji to take him to see Flender and Ma Hongjun, while Liu Erlong stayed behind to help Tai Tan guard the others.
• Zhao Wuji led Yu Xiaogang to Apricot Grove Spring, where Flender learned the physician could only stabilize Ma Hongjun's severe injuries.
• The physician explained that shock force had damaged Ma Hongjun's meridians and internal organs, and then left the ward.
• Yu Xiaogang entered the ward and found Ma Hongjun unconscious as Flender warned him to leave.
• Yu Xiaogang told Flender he knew someone who could save Hongjun.

Yu Xiaogang persuaded Flender to take the injured Ma Hongjun to Heaven Dou City for treatment and arranged for the others to follow. After the group agreed to leave, Tang San noticed Xiao Wu did not want to go and asked her why.

• Yu Xiaogang told Flender that the bearer of the Nine-Heart Begonia martial soul could save Ma Hongjun and offered Liu Erlong's academy in Heaven Dou City as a place to stay.
• Flender carried Ma Hongjun toward Heaven Dou City, while Zhao Wuji went to notify Li Yusong and the others.
• Yu Xiaogang returned to the hotel and announced that they would leave for Heaven Dou City, where Tang San would be safer.
• Liu Erlong and Tai Tan supported the move, while Xiao Wu stayed silent and clutched Tang San's clothes.
• Tang San noticed Xiao Wu's distress and asked why she did not want to go to Heaven Dou City.

Xiao Wu feared that Heaven Dou City’s many powerful Soul Masters would expose her true form, but Tang San mistook her silence for fear after the day’s events. Reassured by his promise to protect her, she agreed to go with him to Heaven Dou City.

• Xiao Wu stayed silent because she feared Title Douluo in Heaven Dou City might discover she was a transformed Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast.
• Tang San asked Yu Xiaogang and the others to leave so he could speak privately with Xiao Wu, and Yu Xiaogang warned they had to depart within half a shichen.
• Tang San asked Xiao Wu what troubled her, and she asked whether he would always protect her.
• Tang San promised that protecting Xiao Wu would always be his first principle.
• Xiao Wu remembered how Tang San had defended and comforted her, then agreed to go with him to Heaven Dou City.

Tang San and his companions left Suotuo City, while Dai Mobai led Yang Wudi, Li Yue, and the Breaking Clan's elites to the city lord's manor. The group silently killed the guards, entered the manor, and surrounded its key routes as City Lord Moro studied reports in his office.

• Yu Xiaogang urged Tang San to leave immediately, and Tang San's group departed Suotuo City quietly.
• Dai Mobai led Yang Wudi and the Breaking Clan's elites through the deserted streets toward the city lord's manor, with Li Yue absent from his side.
• Li Yue emerged from concealment and killed the two guards at the manor gate.
• Li Yue opened the gates, and Dai Mobai and the Breaking Clan's elites entered the manor and took control of its key areas.
• Moro remained awake in his study, frowning over reports submitted by his subordinates.

Moro worried that Suotuo City was defenseless after most of its garrison had been transferred and feared conflict over a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone. Dai Mobai entered Moro’s study and revealed himself as the Star Luo Crown Prince, leaving Moro to decide whether to attack him.

• Moro reviewed a report about the Soul Master standoff and noted that it omitted the identity of the young man who had watched it.
• Moro reflected on Ge Long’s transfer of ninety percent of Suotuo City’s guards and worried that the city could not withstand the Star Luo Empire’s interest in the Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone.
• After a disturbance outside his study, Moro summoned whoever was responsible, and Dai Mobai calmly entered.
• Dai Mobai introduced himself as the Star Luo Crown Prince, shocking Moro and making him suspect that the Star Luo Empire had targeted Suotuo City.
• Moro judged that Dai Mobai could be no stronger than a four-ring Soul Ancestor and considered striking first with his own six-ring Soul Emperor strength.

Moro realized that capturing Dai Mobai, the Star Luo Crown Prince, could bring him immense power and status, so he launched a lightning-fast attack to seize him alive. The chapter ended with Moro closing in, convinced Dai Mobai's calm expression meant he had been stunned by his speed.

• Moro recalled how his Lightning Leopard martial soul had let him outrun Soul Masters of his rank.
• Moro recognized Dai Mobai as the Star Luo Crown Prince and imagined the rewards he could gain by capturing him.
• Moro concealed his intentions, then possessed his Lightning Leopard martial soul and destroyed the desk with the force of his Soul Power.
• Moro dashed at Dai Mobai and reached for his shoulder, intending to capture him alive.
• Moro noticed Dai Mobai remained calm and concluded that his speed had frightened him senseless.

Dai Mobai’s ambushed Moro in his study, where Yang Wudi stopped the attack and killed Moro with the Soulbreaking Spear. With his forces already controlling the City Lord’s Manor, Dai Mobai took the jade seal as Suotuo City changed hands.

• Moro charged Dai Mobai, but Dai Mobai remained calm and smiled at him.
• Yang Wudi burst into the study and pinned Moro to the wall with the Soulbreaking Spear.
• Moro recognized Yang Wudi, realized Dai Mobai had been protected all along, and died after declaring that Suotuo City was about to change hands.
• Yang Wudi told Dai Mobai that their people had taken the City Lord’s Manor.
• Dai Mobai praised Yang Wudi, opened a redwood box, and retrieved an exquisite jade seal.

Dai Mobai gave Yang Wudi the City Lord's Seal and ordered him to take control of Suotuo City's defenses by sunrise. Yang Wudi took the Breaking Clan's elites to the main gate, where he relieved the guards and stopped Luo Bu before he could leave.

• Dai Mobai gave Yang Wudi the City Lord's Seal and ordered him to raise the Star Luo Empire's White Tiger flag over Suotuo City by sunrise.
• Dai Mobai told Yang Wudi to postpone the Breaking Clan's revenge and promised he would later face the true culprit.
• Dai Mobai watched crimson-tinged Sirius and murmured that he would shoot the Heavenly Swan instead.
• Yang Wudi led the Breaking Clan's elites to the main city gate and used the seal to take over the guard posts.
• Luo Bu recognized that the strangers likely had seized the city, but handed over the watch without asking questions.
• Yang Wudi stopped Luo Bu and the city guards as they headed toward the barracks, then landed before them and demanded their attention.

Yang Wudi revealed himself as an eight-ringed Soul Douluo and forced Luo Bu and the city defense troops to obey his order to seal Suotuo City's remaining gates. Luo Bu survived the encounter and hurried to organize the guards while the Breaking Clan remained on the wall.

• Yang Wudi questioned Luo Bu about what he had seen, then manifested his Soulbreaking Spear and revealed eight Soul Rings.
• Luo Bu recognized Yang Wudi as the Soul Douluo who had clashed in Suotuo City earlier that day and feared for his life.
• Yang Wudi spared Luo Bu on the condition that he guard the remaining three city gates and prevent anyone from entering or leaving.
• Luo Bu and the city defense soldiers knelt, pledged to obey, and watched Yang Wudi vanish.
• Luo Bu ordered his troops to split into three teams and guard the gates, then left the main gate as the Breaking Clan stood on the wall.

Suotuo City awoke to find the Star Luo Empire’s White Tiger Flag flying over its gates, revealing that the city had changed hands from Balak Kingdom. The stunned residents began to grasp the takeover, and a cloth merchant turned his mule around to flee.

• New, silent guards stood at Suotuo City's main gate while its doors remained shut.
• A cloth merchant arrived at dawn and noticed that the gate had not opened and the usual guards were missing.
• The merchant spotted the Star Luo Empire’s White Tiger Flag atop the gate tower and froze in shock.
• A farmer and the gathered residents saw the flag and realized Suotuo City had changed hands.
• The cloth merchant recovered enough to turn his mule around and head back.

After Suotuo City came under Star Luo control, its residents and merchants fled or hid as rumors of the occupation spread across the Balak Kingdom. In Nuoding City, Ge Long learned the news and warned that his old rival Zhu Song might already be responding.

• After seeing the Star Luo flag over Suotuo City, a mule owner hurried to an inn, prompting others to seek shelter as the city emptied.
• Merchants outside Suotuo City fled, spreading increasingly alarming reports that the city had fallen to Star Luo.
• A scout reported Suotuo City's occupation to Ge Long in Nuoding City, and Ge Long smashed the council table in fury.
• Xue Beng argued that the Star Luo force was likely small and urged Ge Long to march on the city, but Ge Long said it was already too late.
• Ge Long warned that Zhu Song, his old opponent, would act in response and might already know Suotuo City had changed hands.

Zhu Song received Dai Mobai’s signal that Suotuo City had fallen and ordered the Star Luo army to break camp and attack Nuoding City. At a Heaven Dou border outpost, Xiaofei and Brother Liu felt the watchtower shake as the approaching army advanced.

• Zhu Song recognized the White Tiger Flag over Suotuo City as Dai Mobai’s signal to move north.
• Zhu Song ordered the hundred-thousand-man Star Luo army to break camp and attack Nuoding City.
• The Star Luo troops surged across the border toward Nuoding City as horns and war drums sounded.
• At a Heaven Dou border outpost, Xiaofei noticed ripples in a cup of water and then felt the watchtower shake.
• Xiaofei spilled water over Brother Liu, who remained rigidly focused on the border.

Xue Beng learned that Star Luo had invaded and that Nuoding City needed to retake Suotuo City to secure its army’s supplies. Ge Long began assigning Xue Beng a role in the campaign, but hesitated over how many troops to entrust to him.

• Xiao Fei spotted the Star Luo army advancing across the border and rang the outpost alarm bell.
• The outpost guards fled toward Nuoding City, but Star Luo’s cavalry caught and slaughtered them before advancing onward.
• Ge Long received word of the invasion and ordered Nuoding City’s gates sealed and its defenses prepared.
• Ge Long explained that the hundred-thousand-strong army depended on supplies from Suotuo City and would collapse if the city was not retaken.
• Ge Long began to offer Xue Beng twenty thousand troops, then reconsidered and held out his entire right hand instead.

Xue Beng accepted command of fifty thousand troops from Ge Long and marched to retake Suotuo City, while Ge Long stayed in Nuoding City to face Zhu Song’s hundred-thousand-strong Star Luo army. As Zhu Song’s forces camped outside the city, Ge Long prepared for a battle he knew would be difficult.

• Ge Long gave Xue Beng fifty thousand city guards and ordered him to retake Suotuo City quickly.
• Xue Beng eagerly promised to restore the Heaven Dou Empire’s Swan Flag within seven days and imagined using the victory to strengthen his claim against Xue Qinghe.
• Xue Beng led the fifty-thousand-strong army out of Nuoding City and marched toward Suotuo City.
• Ge Long remained with the other fifty thousand troops, knowing they would have to hold Nuoding City against Zhu Song’s hundred thousand while Suotuo City’s provisions were essential.
• Zhu Song’s Star Luo army arrived and established a camp ten miles from Nuoding City beneath the White Tiger Flag and Zhu Song’s Spirit Cat Flag.
• Ge Long watched Zhu Song’s command flag and reflected on their past battles as he prepared for the coming confrontation.

As Suotuo City slowly returned to normal, Dai Mobai warned Li Yue that the recruited city guards were only waiting for their backers to arrive. He spotted those reinforcements approaching, and a vast wall of dust began advancing toward the city.

• An army in black tiger-marked armor marched along a perilous ancient trail in the Border Mountains.
• Over three days, Suotuo City's residents gradually reopened shops and resumed daily activities under the city's restrictions.
• Dai Mobai told Li Yue that the city guards' good behavior would end when their backers arrived.
• Dai Mobai pointed toward the horizon, and the bowl of osmanthus soup began to tremble as distant dust rose.
• Li Yue saw a huge wall of yellow dust advancing toward Suotuo City.