Chapter Summaries

Golden Crocodile Douluo offered to take Cheng Xiao as his disciple, but Cheng Xiao preferred pursuing Soul Cores over learning a Titled Douluo’s cultivation insights. After Cheng Xiao revealed that Tang Hao had tried to kill him, Qian Daoliu and Golden Crocodile reacted with anger, and the chapter left them focused on Tang Hao’s threat.

• Golden Crocodile Douluo asked Cheng Xiao to become his disciple and promised to pass on his experience, while Qian Daoliu explained the value of a rank ninety-eight Titled Douluo’s comprehension.
• Cheng Xiao weighed the offer against his plans to advance through Soul Cores, which he believed would get him to higher ranks faster than gaining enlightenment.
• Qian Daoliu suspected Cheng Xiao had a way to ensure his future breakthroughs, but Cheng Xiao denied it and said becoming a Titled Douluo was still far away.
• When Golden Crocodile promised to protect him, Cheng Xiao asked whether that protection extended to Tang Hao.
• Cheng Xiao told Qian Daoliu and Golden Crocodile that Tang Hao was his classmate’s father and had tried to kill him after learning Cheng Xiao was Spirit Hall’s Saint Son.
• Qian Daoliu and Golden Crocodile reacted coldly to Tang Hao’s return and his threat against Cheng Xiao.

Cheng Xiao learned that the Beast Tide had destroyed Suotuo City and likely erased Shrek Academy, then negotiated the terms of becoming Golden Crocodile Douluo’s disciple. Qian Daoliu agreed to Cheng Xiao’s final request to visit Spirit Hall’s ancestral burial ground, leaving Golden Crocodile Douluo astonished.

• Cheng Xiao told Qian Daoliu that Tang Hao was connected to Shrek Academy, but learned that Suotuo City had fallen to the Beast Tide and the academy might no longer exist.
• Cheng Xiao agreed to become Golden Crocodile Douluo’s disciple on the condition that Spirit Hall did not restrict his freedom.
• Cheng Xiao demanded that all his soul rings and Soul Bones be at least a hundred thousand years old, and said he knew where to find such soul beasts.
• Golden Crocodile Douluo promised to capture any hundred-thousand-year soul beasts Cheng Xiao located.
• Cheng Xiao asked to see Spirit Hall’s ancestral burial ground, and Qian Daoliu approved the request despite Golden Crocodile Douluo’s objections.

Qian Daoliu agreed to let Cheng Xiao enter Spirit Hall’s burial grounds, accepted him as a disciple, and revealed that Spirit Hall had arranged his engagement to the Saintess. Bibi Dong, unable to challenge Qian Daoliu, decided to engage Hu Liena to Cheng Xiao as part of Spirit Hall’s plans.

• Qian Daoliu allowed Cheng Xiao to enter the burial grounds, hoping he could summon the shadows of Spirit Hall’s deceased Titled Douluo.
• Cheng Xiao accepted Qian Daoliu as his teacher, but a messenger reported that the Saint Son and Saintess would hold an engagement ceremony in half a month.
• Qian Daoliu told Cheng Xiao about the ceremony, and Cheng Xiao realized he was to be engaged without having been informed.
• Bibi Dong suppressed her anger at Qian Daoliu after recognizing the gap between their strength and resolved to wait until she completed the Rakshasa Nine Trials.
• Bibi Dong asked Hu Liena what she thought of Cheng Xiao, then told her that she intended to arrange their engagement for Spirit Hall’s plans.

Bibi Dong persuaded Hu Liena to accept a temporary engagement to Cheng Xiao, hoping to draw him onto her side in the struggle with Qian Daoliu. After Hu Liena left, Bibi Dong resolved to use the engagement ceremony to draw other powers into confronting the soul-beast threat.

• Bibi Dong told Hu Liena that Cheng Xiao needed to be won over and proposed that they become engaged.
• Hu Liena reluctantly agreed after Bibi Dong promised the engagement could be canceled before the ceremony, scheduled for half a month later.
• Hu Liena left the Pope's Palace, and Bibi Dong privately recognized that she had manipulated her disciple much as Qian Xunji had manipulated her.
• Bibi Dong summoned Yue Guan and Gui Mei and ordered them to prepare for the engagement ceremony.
• Bibi Dong instructed Yue Guan and Gui Mei to invite other powers to the ceremony so she could pressure them into helping against the soul beasts.

As Spirit City prepared for Cheng Xiao and the Saintess's engagement, Dugu Bo's group stormed the gates and clashed with Yue Guan over Cheng Xiao. The standoff was interrupted by Ning Fengzhi's arrival, when Sword Douluo sensed that Dugu Bo had grown stronger.

• Li Yuan defended Cheng Xiao's strength and the honor of the Saint Son against a jealous guard before reporting to the city gate.
• Dugu Bo's group attacked Spirit City's gate with poisonous fog, and Ye Renxin healed the injured guards with his Nine Heart Begonia.
• Dugu Bo demanded an explanation from Yue Guan, accusing him of misleading him about Cheng Xiao, while Yue Guan insisted he had only promised Cheng Xiao would not be harmed.
• Ning Fengzhi arrived with Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo, and Sword Douluo sensed Dugu Bo's formidable aura and asked whether he had broken through.

Ning Fengzhi learned that Dugu Bo had reached Rank 96 and Ye Renxin had become a Titled Douluo after taking immortal herbs, prompting him to fear for the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and renew his search for the Aromatic Silk Beauty. He set aside his hostile thoughts for now and headed into the city as Dugu Bo and Ye Renxin left ahead.

• Sword Douluo confirmed that Dugu Bo had reached Rank 96, shocking Ning Fengzhi.
• Yue Guan revealed that Dugu Bo and Ye Renxin had taken immortal herbs, and Ye Renxin confirmed his Titled Douluo title was Nine Hearts.
• Ning Fengzhi feared that Ye Renxin and the Nine Heart Begonia could threaten the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, but hesitated to act because Dugu Bo was Rank 96.
• Ning Fengzhi asked Yue Guan about the Aromatic Silk Beauty and resolved to search for it after returning home.
• Dugu Bo left for the city in anger, and Ye Renxin followed with Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling after excusing his temper to Ning Fengzhi.

Harris led a group of Spirit Hall elites toward the Saint Son’s engagement ceremony while a Beast Tide pursued them. Cheng Xiao learned that the Beast Tide threatened Spirit Hall and that Qian Daoliu had released him, leaving him to decide whether to flee before it was too late.

• Harris and his group fled across the plains as a Beast Tide chased them, and a giant bird seized one of their companions.
• Harris abandoned the captured man, scattered powder that enraged the pursuing beasts, and hurried toward the engagement ceremony to carry out Bibi Dong’s plan.
• Cheng Xiao prepared for his engagement to Hu Liena, resenting Bibi Dong and Qian Daoliu for keeping him under house arrest.
• Qian Daoliu and Golden Crocodile Douluo told Cheng Xiao that the Beast Tide threatened Spirit Hall and that he could leave if he wanted.
• Cheng Xiao realized Bibi Dong’s scheme was ruthless and stood stunned after Qian Daoliu left the door open.

Cheng Xiao realized Bibi Dong planned to use the Beast Tide to weaken rival factions and fled Spirit City before it arrived. He reached the outskirts but was spotted by Ye Lingling, leaving his escape in jeopardy.

• Cheng Xiao deduced that Bibi Dong had used his engagement ceremony to gather powerful figures in Spirit City and make them share the cost of fighting the Beast Tide.
• Cheng Xiao rejected Gu Yue's demand that he stay and quietly slipped out of the Worship Hall.
• Qian Daoliu and Golden Crocodile Douluo watched Cheng Xiao leave, deciding not to stop him because they did not want him caught in the coming battle.
• Near the city wall, Cheng Xiao saw Ye Lingling and Dugu Yan on the main street, and Ye Lingling recognized him as he hid in the shadows.

Ye Lingling slipped away from Dugu Yan to meet Cheng Xiao, who reassured her that his engagement was a misunderstanding. After they embraced and kissed, he warned her that the ceremony was a conspiracy and urged her to help the Ye and Dugu families leave the city quietly.

• Ye Lingling chose a congratulatory gift for Cheng Xiao despite Dugu Yan’s anger over his engagement.
• Dugu Yan waited in the shop, then realized Ye Lingling had disappeared and feared the worst.
• Ye Lingling slipped out through a side door and met Cheng Xiao in a dark alley.
• Cheng Xiao denied that he would marry someone else, and Ye Lingling said she trusted him and kissed him.
• Cheng Xiao told Ye Lingling the engagement ceremony was a conspiracy and urged her to warn Grandpa Ye and Grandpa Dugu to leave the city without alerting Bibi Dong.

Chrysanthemum Douluo discovered that Cheng Xiao had disappeared before the engagement ceremony and suspected Worship Hall’s involvement. Ye Lingling returned to Dugu Yan, Dugu Bo, and Ye Renxin with Cheng Xiao’s warning that Spirit Hall planned to use the ceremony to trap powerful figures into fighting the Beast Tide, and they prepared to leave the city.

• A maid told Chrysanthemum Douluo that Cheng Xiao had vanished after the Great Worship, the Second Worship, and Deacon Nie sent his attendants away.
• Chrysanthemum Douluo ordered a search for Cheng Xiao and began preparing a backup plan to keep the guests in Spirit City.
• Dugu Bo scolded Dugu Yan after she revealed Ye Lingling had gone missing, while Ye Renxin urged him to focus on finding out who was responsible.
• Ye Lingling returned and told Dugu Yan, Dugu Bo, and Ye Renxin that she had met Cheng Xiao and relayed his warning about Spirit Hall’s conspiracy.
• Ye Lingling said Cheng Xiao had escaped in disguise and would meet them outside the city, so Ye Renxin decided they should leave immediately.

Ye Renxin and Dugu Bo tried to leave Spirit Hall before the engagement ceremony, but their escape was obstructed and the ceremony was brought forward. Ghost Douluo blocked their way as the city gates closed, leaving them trapped among the guests.

• Dugu Bo killed a Soul Emperor who tried to stop him and Ye Renxin from leaving, drawing the attention of the gathered guests.
• Yu Yuanzhen mocked Dugu Bo, then blocked his path; Dugu Bo revealed his breakthrough to rank ninety-six, and the two prepared to fight.
• Ye Renxin intervened and promised Yu Yuanzhen a favor, persuading him to let Dugu Bo pass without a fight.
• Ghost Douluo appeared and announced that the Pope had summoned the guests to the engagement ceremony.
• The city gates were declared closed, and Ye Renxin and Dugu Bo realized Spirit Hall had likely discovered their plan and moved to stop them.

Cheng Xiao tried to leave Spirit City in disguise, but an alarm announced the arrival of a massive Beast Tide before he could escape. He rushed back through the closing gates and saw the city’s defenses overwhelmed by fear as the beasts approached.

• Cheng Xiao used Tian Meng Skull's Simulation and the Aromatic Silk Beauty to disguise himself and left Spirit City.
• Yan attacked Cheng Xiao with a riding whip, but Cheng Xiao caught it and pulled Yan from his horse before apologizing.
• Yan and Xie Yue hurried toward the city to find Hu Liena, but alarm bells rang and Xie Yue ordered the gates closed.
• Cheng Xiao saw the Beast Tide approaching and rushed back through the closing gates, crashing into Yan along the way.
• Cheng Xiao climbed the city wall and saw the enormous Beast Tide nearing as the guards panicked.

Bibi Dong halted the engagement ceremony to reveal that eight Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts were leading a Beast Tide toward Spirit City, then coerced the gathered factions into fighting alongside Spirit Hall. The guests learned that the city was already surrounded, and Bibi Dong promised Spirit Hall would not compete for the Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts.

• Bibi Dong stopped the engagement ceremony and told the guests that Soul Beasts had organized the Beast Tide attacking humanity.
• Bibi Dong named eight Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts as the Beast Tide's leaders, prompting the guests to consider the chance of obtaining their soul rings and bones.
• Ning Fengzhi questioned why Bibi Dong had revealed the information, and she asked the gathered factions to help Spirit Hall defend Spirit City.
• Bibi Dong announced that the Beast Tide had already surrounded Spirit City, leaving the guests unable to escape and fueling their anger at Spirit Hall.
• Bibi Dong warned that the Soul Beasts could attack other factions next, then promised Spirit Hall would leave the Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts for the guests to divide among themselves.

Bibi Dong united the sects by warning them of the Beast Tide and promising them a chance to obtain hundred-thousand-year Soul Beast rewards, then assigned defenses around the city. As the battle began and casualties mounted, Cheng Xiao remained disguised and calmly tended the boiling dung water on the wall.

• Bibi Dong persuaded the assembled sects to cooperate by offering each sect a chance at one hundred-thousand-year soul ring or Soul Bone and appointed leaders to defend the city gates.
• Dugu Bo, Ye Renxin, Ye Lingling, and Dugu Yan chose to wait rather than attempt a breakout, concerned that harming the Soul Beasts could draw the Emerald Swan's attention.
• Soul Beasts attacked the city walls, and the fighting intensified as stronger beasts arrived and both sides suffered growing casualties.
• Cheng Xiao continued adding firewood beneath the boiling dung water, unmoved when a human was struck dead beside him.

Cheng Xiao watched Spirit City's defenders falter against the Beast Tide before killing the Yama Baboon directing the soul beasts. Sword Douluo Chen Xin and Ning Fengzhi then joined the battle, turning its tide as Cheng Xiao anticipated Di Tian's response.

• Cheng Xiao stayed hidden while the soul beasts overwhelmed the defenders, and he spotted a Yama Baboon directing them from atop a Flame Demon Lion.
• Cheng Xiao killed the Yama Baboon with Hand of the Dominator, disrupting the beasts' coordination and helping the soul masters destroy the group.
• The soul beasts maintained their overwhelming advantage until a powerful Soul Power attack wiped out a wave of them.
• Sword Douluo Chen Xin arrived with his Seven Kill Sword, while Ning Fengzhi used his Seven Treasure Glazed Pagoda to strengthen the defenders.
• The empowered defenders pushed the soul beasts back, and Cheng Xiao wondered whether Bibi Dong's plan had succeeded and whether Di Tian would act.

As soul beasts overwhelmed Spirit City's eastern gate, Li Yuan witnessed the deaths of civilians and then found his friend Old Xiao dead in front of Old Xiao's son. Just as the beasts broke through into the inner city, a blue lightning-wreathed dragon appeared and destroyed them.

• Li Yuan tried to clear grieving relatives from the eastern gate, but saw a dying man and his family plead for help.
• Old Xiao's son told Li Yuan that his mother's illness had relapsed, and Li Yuan offered to take him to a Healing Soul Master.
• A corpse fell in front of them, and Li Yuan recognized it as Old Xiao; Old Xiao's son collapsed over his father's body.
• A neighbor told Old Xiao's son that his mother had died, and the boy fainted after losing both parents.
• Soul beasts broke through the defenses and charged into the inner city, but a blue lightning dragon struck them down.

The Soul Masters repelled the beast horde at the walls after reinforcements arrived, but Li Yuan mourned Old Xiao and resolved to seek the Saint Son’s help in bringing the dead back. As the battle turned in humanity’s favor, Bear Lord struck the eastern gate and heavily wounded Chen Xin.

• The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon arrived at the northern gate, helping the Soul Masters clear the walls and drive the Soul Beasts away.
• Li Yuan grieved over Old Xiao’s death, then decided to take Old Xiao’s son to the Saint Son, believing he could reunite the boy with his parents.
• Cheng Xiao watched Chen Xin and Ning Fengzhi’s support help the Soul Masters push the beast horde back, while he worried that the savage beasts had not yet joined the battle.
• Bear Lord attacked Chen Xin with a claw strike that broke through his sword qi and left him badly wounded.
• Cheng Xiao recognized the attacker as a Dark Golden Dreadclaw Bear, and Bear Lord charged at Chen Xin again.

Three Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts confronted the defenders at South City Gate while Dugu Bo and Ye Renxin held West City Gate. Bi Ji neutralized Dugu Bo’s poison and revived the soul beasts, then the Myriad Demon King attacked him, leaving him in serious trouble.

• Bone Douluo, Chrysanthemum Douluo, and Ghost Douluo saw the Scarlet King appear with the Azure Ox-Python and Titan Giant Ape at South City Gate.
• Dugu Bo poisoned soul beasts at West City Gate while Ye Renxin healed wounded soldiers and regrew their severed limbs.
• Bi Ji arrived and healed the soul beasts, restoring the dying and dissolving Dugu Bo’s poisonous mist.
• The Myriad Demon King attacked Dugu Bo with roots, forcing him to retreat and sever them with his venomous fangs.
• Dugu Bo saw that the Myriad Demon King had recovered from his poison and realized that it had come for him with Bi Ji.

Li Yuan and Xiao Yu sought the Saint Son at the Pope’s Palace, hoping he could bring Xiao Yu’s parents back, but the guards refused to let them in. Their desperate appeal drew Zhang Sisheng and a growing crowd into the square, where their collective calls began to inspire hope across the city.

• Li Yuan brought Xiao Yu to the Pope’s Palace, but the guards said the Saint Son was absent and refused their request to see the Pope.
• Xiao Yu tried to rush inside after learning the engagement had been canceled, and Li Yuan stopped him before kneeling to request an audience with the Saint Son.
• Xiao Yu joined Li Yuan in shouting for an audience, but he eventually fainted from heatstroke as the guards ignored them.
• Zhang Sisheng arrived and joined Li Yuan in calling for the Saint Son, and other former members of the welcoming group gathered in the square.
• More than a hundred people and then countless grieving residents joined the calls, as a sense of faith began to form across the city.

Chen Xin and Ning Fengzhi launched a final attack against Bear Lord as the vicious beasts overwhelmed the defenders at the city gates. Bear Lord's Sky-Rending Claw shattered Chen Xin's sword strike and left him gravely wounded, with one arm torn off.

• Bear Lord injured Sword Douluo, and Ning Fengzhi caught him as he fell.
• Chen Xin asked Ning Fengzhi to support one final strike, and Ning Fengzhi used Seven Treasures True Body to amplify him.
• Chen Xin unleashed God-Devil Dual Slash, sending a torrent of sword energy at Bear Lord.
• Bear Lord countered with Sky-Rending Claw, which shattered the sword energy and struck Chen Xin's Seven Kill Sword avatar.
• Chen Xin's avatar collapsed, and he reappeared with one arm torn off.