Recaps

Tie Li escaped a clash over the Thunder Dragon Meditation Method, but the wounded gaunt man tracked him to the inn and attacked. Tie Li killed him with his Soul Bone, took his treasures and the Meditation Method, then left for Gengxin City.

• Tie Li fled after seeing the gaunt man fight off a group of Soul Masters who sought his Meditation Method.
• The gravely wounded gaunt man followed Tie Li to the inn, but attacked a decoy and was met by Tie Li's ambush.
• Tie Li used his Right Leg Bone Soul Skill to destroy the gaunt man's spear and kill him.
• Tie Li searched the corpse, finding a three-gem Storage Soul Tool and the Thunder Dragon Meditation Method.
• Tie Li burned the corpse outside town and reached Gengxin City at sunrise.

Tie Li arrived in Gengxin City to improve his forging and found an apprenticeship at Mu Xin’s blacksmith shop. Mu Xin accepted him warily, while Tie Li settled in and continued practicing the Thunder Dragon Meditation Method.

• Tie Li entered Gengxin City seeking thunder-attributed ore and a chance to improve his forging skills.
• Tie Li found a quiet blacksmith shop recruiting Soul Master apprentices and met Mu Qianqian, who arranged a room for him.
• Mu Qianqian introduced Tie Li to her father, Mu Xin, who confirmed his two Soul Rings and accepted him as an apprentice.
• Mu Xin planned to make Tie Li’s first day of forging difficult, believing he would soon quit.
• Tie Li returned to his room and practiced the Thunder Dragon Meditation Method as he recalled how the Wind Thunder Sect developed its Martial Souls and techniques.

Tie Li trained as a blacksmith under Mu Xin for three years, using his forging hammer to improve his strength and cultivation until he reached rank thirty. Mu Xin arranged for Tie Li to seek his third, millennium-level soul ring in the Golden Iron Forest.

• Mu Xin tested Tie Li's forging and taught him to use his legs to conserve strength while striking iron.
• Tie Li discovered that forging with his lightning-attributed martial soul imbued metal with lightning and gave him a slight increase in soul power.
• Tie Li endured the blacksmith's work for three years, learned from Mu Xin, and broke through to rank thirty.
• Mu Xin offered to help Tie Li obtain his third soul ring, and Mu Qianqian revealed that he had already asked Uncle Yu to assist.
• Tie Li said he needed a millennium-level third soul ring, and Mu Xin identified the Golden Iron Forest as a suitable place to hunt for one.

Tie Li entered Golden Iron Forest with Mu Xin and Yu Can to search for a suitable third Soul Ring, but after several fruitless days they encountered Soul Masters fleeing a swarm of Thousand Jun Ants. The chapter left the Viscount Fino steward facing Yu Can’s arrow as the ants closed in.

• Tie Li prepared his reinforced inner armor and lightning-enhancing arm guard before leaving with Mu Xin and Yu Can for Golden Iron Forest.
• Yu Can warned Tie Li to stay close, then used his Soul King strength to drive away several Soul Beasts, none of which suited Tie Li.
• After three days without finding a suitable Soul Beast, Yu Can and Mu Xin led Tie Li deeper into the forest.
• The trio came across Soul Masters pursued by Thousand Jun Ants, and Yu Can recognized that a thousand-year ant could provide Tie Li with a fitting Soul Ring.
• The Viscount Fino steward demanded help, but Yu Can aimed an arrow at him; the steward used a Soul Skill to block it, delaying his escape from the ants.

Tie Li and his companions lured the Thousand Jun Ant swarm away so Yu Can could enter its nest and capture the thousand-year Thousand Jun Ant Queen. Tie Li absorbed its spirit ring, drawing nearby soul beasts with a strange fragrance, and emerged with a lightning-wreathed Forging Hammer that had become much heavier.

• Tie Li persuaded Yu Can to enter the Thousand Jun Ant nest while he and Mu Xin distracted the swarm using the terrain and falling boulders.
• Yu Can fought his way out of the nest carrying the severely wounded Thousand Jun Ant Queen, and the group escaped to the forest’s outer region.
• Tie Li killed the Thousand Jun Ant Queen and began absorbing its thousand-year spirit ring while Yu Can and Mu Xin guarded him.
• A fragrance from Tie Li attracted nearby soul beasts, which Yu Can and Mu Xin fought until the scent faded and the beasts retreated.
• Tie Li completed the absorption and revealed a new spirit skill as his lightning-wreathed Forging Hammer became more than twice as heavy.

Tie Li tested the strength of his new third Soul Skill, then obtained a false identity through Gengxin City's black market. He prepared to leave for Nuoding City to learn the Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer before Tang San arrived, leaving the blacksmith shop with Mu Xin and Mu Qianqian expecting his eventual return.

• Tie Li discovered that Qian Jun Transformation boosted his strength, defense, and attributes by fifty percent, and Yu Can and Mu Xin admired its power.
• After returning to Gengxin City, Yu Can, Mu Xin, and Tie Li caught up on the blacksmith shop's piled-up orders while Mu Qianqian glared at them for leaving her to work alone.
• Tie Li bought a genuine Soul Master booklet and imperial certificate under the false identity Wan Li from a black-market merchant.
• Tie Li planned to travel to Nuoding City before Tang San arrived so he could secretly learn the Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer and avoid raising suspicion.
• Tie Li told Mu Xin and Mu Qianqian he was leaving temporarily, packed the clothes Mu Qianqian had made, and departed with his completed lightning-enhancing arm guards.

Tie Li rode a stolen Hornscale Horse toward Nuoding City, avoiding guarded roads by planning to cross into the Heaven Dou Empire near the Star Dou Great Forest. He stopped at a remote inn, where he discovered the innkeeper and bandits were plotting to rob him, and killed them when they attacked.

• Tie Li bought a Hornscale Horse in an underground black market and escaped its former owners, then fed it Thunder Python meat to keep it moving.
• Tie Li chose a route around the Star Dou Great Forest to avoid border soldiers and reached a remote town with only one inn.
• The innkeeper led Tie Li's Hornscale Horse away and told a group of bandits about Tie Li's two storage rings; they prepared drugged food and planned to rob him.
• Tie Li noticed the inn's knife marks and killed the innkeeper when the man returned with food.
• A burly bandit and several accomplices attacked Tie Li, but Tie Li smashed the leader aside, broke their weapons, and killed three attackers with his Forging Hammer.
• The remaining bandits saw Tie Li's two yellow soul rings and one purple soul ring and realized he was a Soul Elder.

Tie Li traveled through the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest, where he helped a poor boy obtain his first Soul Ring. He then intervened when a Soul Hunting Group betrayed Steward Liu and a young noble lady, killing their leader with his Forging Hammer.

• Tie Li entered the Star Dou Great Forest to cross between the two nations and gave a dying Ironclad Rat to a young boy, who absorbed its Soul Ring.
• After several days of travel, Tie Li heard Steward Liu and a young noble lady confronting a Soul Hunting Group that had killed their servants and planned to rob them.
• Tie Li attacked the nine Soul Masters with arrows, killing three and severely wounding three others while the short leader burrowed underground to evade him.
• The Soul Hunting Group's leader burst from the ground beneath Tie Li, but Tie Li leaped away and struck him with his lightning-charged Forging Hammer.
• Tie Li shattered the leader's defensive barrier and smashed him into the ground, leaving him spitting blood and broken organs.

Tie Li killed the hunting party’s attackers, escorted Steward Liu and the noble young lady back to Ancient Sword City, and refused their invitation to join them. After he settled into an inn, masked Soul Masters broke in to kill him, and Tie Li fought back.

• Tie Li killed the short man and one fleeing Soul Grandmaster, then helped Steward Liu capture the remaining attacker and return to Ancient Sword City with the noble young lady.
• Tie Li handed the captive to Steward Liu, refused his invitation to visit the family, and checked into an inn.
• Masked Soul Masters burst into Tie Li’s room and attacked him while he slept.
• Tie Li killed one intruder with his Forging Hammer and used his first and third Soul Skills to fight the four surviving Soul Masters in the cramped room.

Tie Li killed the remaining attackers and fought a dangerous Blood Sword wielder who could rapidly heal from his injuries. Tie Li escaped when the man did not pursue him, and Dolangbu revealed that he had given the young man his power.

• Tie Li killed the wounded attacker, then faced a handsome young man who questioned his origins and admitted to gaining power by killing relatives.
• The young man summoned a Blood Sword and attacked Tie Li, whose Thunder Hammer and forging techniques countered the sword’s sharpness.
• The young man attempted a surprise strike, but Tie Li’s armor blocked the blade as Tie Li crushed his chest with a hammer blow.
• The young man healed his severe injuries in moments, and Tie Li escaped on the Hornscale Horse when he did not give chase.
• Dolangbu emerged from the shadows, seized the young man by the neck, and reminded him who had given him his power.

After escaping Ancient Sword City, Tie Li traveled to Nuoding City and joined Shi San’s blacksmith shop to learn Tang San’s Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer. Tang San arrived seeking work, and Shi San challenged him to lift a forging hammer.

• Dolangbu told Tie Li he had dealt with the three men, and Tie Li left Ancient Sword City for Suotuo City.
• Tie Li treated his wounds, repaired his inner armor in Suotuo City, and continued on to Nuoding City.
• Tie Li found Shi San’s blacksmith shop and took a job there, hoping to learn the Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer from Tang San.
• Tang San came to the shop looking for work, changed out of his academy uniform, and explained that he was a work-study student.
• Tang San insisted he could forge, and Shi San offered to let him try if he could lift his forging hammer.

Tie Li secretly watched Tang San use the Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer and tried to learn the technique by practicing alone at the smithy. As Tang San continued balancing academy, forging, and study, Tie Li gradually grasped part of the hammer technique and began attempting to forge higher-grade metals.

• Tang San impressed the smithy’s blacksmiths by refining iron with the Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer, and Shi San recognized the technique.
• Tie Li stayed late to imitate Tang San’s hammering, but his attempts failed as the hammer’s rebound threatened to escape his control.
• Shi San arranged a forge beside Tie Li’s so he could observe Tang San, who came to the smithy each afternoon to refine iron.
• Tie Li continued practicing at night and watching Tang San, while Tang San attended Nuoding Academy in the mornings and studied under Grandmaster at night.
• Through repeated observation and practice, Tie Li grasped part of the technique’s essence, improved rapidly, and began trying to forge higher-grade metals.

Tie Li left Nuoding City after forging new defensive equipment and saying goodbye to Shi San, then registered under a new identity at the Great Soul Arena in Fikes City. He entered an individual soul battle against the streaking Soul Elder Deng Shan, and the fight began with Deng Shan attacking Tie Li.

• Tie Li forged diamond-and-Thunder-Tin inner armor and leg guards that increased his defensive attributes.
• Tang San left the blacksmith shop to focus on cultivation, and Tie Li later bade Shi San farewell.
• Tie Li collected his Spirit Hall stipend and traveled toward Fikes City to establish a new identity at its Great Soul Arena.
• Tie Li successfully registered under the name Wan Li and entered an individual soul battle against Deng Shan.
• Deng Shan began the match by activating his martial soul and charging at Tie Li, who responded by summoning his forging hammer.

Tie Li defeated Deng Shan in the Great Soul Arena without using a Soul Skill, then refused Ning Ning’s offer to team up for two-on-two fights. After leaving the arena, he went to a famous restaurant in Fikes City to find a meal.

• Deng Shan attacked Tie Li, but Tie Li built up the force of his Forging Hammer strikes and knocked him off the Soul Fighting Platform with his eighteenth blow.
• The spectators accused Deng Shan of throwing the match, and the referee declared Tie Li the winner before the crowd could grow more unruly.
• Ning Ning asked Tie Li to partner with her in Second Team two-on-two soul fights and demonstrated her powerful support abilities, but Tie Li rejected her offer.
• Tie Li left the Great Soul Arena, asked locals about restaurants, and chose Fikes City’s most famous restaurant.
• Tie Li studied the menu and ordered dishes he saw on other tables that looked appealing.

Tie Li encountered Chi Ru and Big Ox over the Iron Flower Bracelet, then met Ning Ning, who offered him an ancient book of body-tempering formulas in exchange for teaming up in spirit fights. He agreed to help her earn the money she needed, while learning about her branch-family background and Ruyi Pagoda martial soul.

• Chi Ru accused Tie Li of stealing her Iron Flower Bracelet, and Big Ox revealed himself as a five-ring Soul King before Tie Li returned the bracelet for compensation.
• Ning Ning arrived and showed Tie Li an ancient book containing the Ice and Fire Tempered Golden Body formula, but took it back after noticing his reaction.
• Ning Ning offered to give Tie Li the book if he teamed up with her in spirit fights and helped her earn enough Gold Soul Coins.
• Tie Li agreed to help Ning Ning earn eight thousand Gold Soul Coins, and Chi Ru brought them to a private room to talk.
• Tie Li learned that Ning Ning came from a branch family of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and had awakened the Ruyi Pagoda martial soul.

Ning Ning recruited Tie Li as her teammate for two-on-two spirit battles at the Great Soul Arena so she could earn Gold Soul Coins. The Heavy Pagoda Team faced two of Ning Ning’s academy classmates, who recognized her and plotted to expose Tie Li’s identity.

• Ning Ning asked Tie Li to team up with her for a two-on-two spirit battle, and he agreed to meet her at the Great Soul Arena the following evening.
• Tie Li refused Chi Ru’s offer to stay at her home and rented a room in Filis City’s commoner district instead.
• Tie Li and Ning Ning registered as the Heavy Pagoda Team, wore masks, and received a match assignment for sub-arena thirty-seven.
• Ning Ning recognized their opponents as two academy classmates who had been recruited by soul master clans, and they recognized her despite her mask.
• The two teams summoned their martial souls and soul rings, and Ning Ning used her Ruyi Pagoda to boost Tie Li’s strength and speed.

Tie Li and Ning Ning won their two-on-two soul battle, then built stronger coordination through a run of team victories. As rumors about Ning Ning spread through the academy, two watchers saw her dining with Tie Li and went to report it to their boss.

• Tie Li carried Ning Ning into battle, shattered the female soul master's flame attack, and knocked both opponents off the Soul Arena platform.
• Tie Li won an individual soul battle after Ning Ning left, and the pair improved their coordination over the next seven team battles.
• Kexi questioned Chi Ru about Ning Ning, but Big Ox blocked him; afterward, Chi Ru decided to seek Ning Ning's advice about the rumors harming her reputation.
• Ning Ning treated Tie Li to noodles near West Street, where two hidden watchers saw them together and decided to tell their boss.

Ning Ning confronted Kexi after he spread rumors about her and Tie Li, and Big Ox drove off the two Soul Kings Kexi sent to attack them. Afterward, Ning Ning weighed how to handle the rumors, while Chi Ru urged her to return to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

• Tie Li sensed someone watching them, then finished Ning Ning’s leftover noodles as Chi Ru arrived with Big Ox and warned that rumors about Ning Ning and Tie Li were spreading through the academy.
• Kexi confronted Ning Ning and offered to use his family’s influence for her, but she rejected him and told him not to speculate about the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
• Kexi ordered two Soul Kings to attack, but Big Ox fought them while Ning Ning boosted him with her Ruyi Pagoda.
• Big Ox injured both Soul Kings with his fifth soul skill, and Kexi led them away after Chi Ru stopped Big Ox from crippling them.
• Ning Ning asked Tie Li what she should do about the rumors, and he advised her to ignore them if she did not care about her reputation before leaving.
• Chi Ru asked Ning Ning why she did not return to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect for protection.

Seventh Master Ning punished Kexi and Jiersi over their offenses, then forced Tie Li to fight a four-ringed Soul Ancestor for the right to leave. Tie Li struck first, but his later hammer blows weakened, leaving his opponent puzzled.

• Seventh Master Ning killed Kexi’s two Soul King escorts and demanded an explanation from the Ke family and Jiersi.
• Kexi admitted his wrongdoing and crippled both of his arms to appease Seventh Master Ning.
• A blond Soul Sage and a four-ringed Soul Ancestor confronted Tie Li on Seventh Master Ning’s orders.
• Tie Li attacked the Soul Ancestor with Thunder Strike, cracking his protective shield before following with a series of weaker hammer blows.

Tie Li defeated Jin You with a powerful hammer strike, but a golden-haired elder intervened before the fight could finish and later revealed a plot involving Ancient Sword City and Wind Sword Sect. Back at the Great Soul Arena, Tie Li and Ning Ning extended their team winning streak to ten victories, though tougher opponents and the arena supervisor's efforts threatened their run.

• Tie Li gathered the force of his previous hammer strikes into one blow, but the golden-haired elder stopped it before it could hit Jin You.
• The golden-haired elder rebuked Jin You for dwelling on his loss, then discussed with Seventh Master and the Eighth Elder why they had spared their targets and said Wind Sword Sect would pay.
• Tie Li returned home, decided the visitors' encounter had been a test, and continued entering team battles with Ning Ning.
• Tie Li and Ning Ning achieved ten consecutive team victories, earning two hundred Gold Soul Coins per win, while their opponents increasingly targeted Ning Ning and nearly defeated them.
• Ji Fei agreed to arrange tougher opposition because spectators kept betting on Heavy Pagoda Team, and Tie Li suggested having Chi Ru bet on their victories.

Tie Li and Ning Ning faced the Double Cat Team, two level-thirty-nine agility-attack Soul Elders, in their next team soul fight. As the battle began, they followed a plan to keep Youhe occupied while Tie Li attacked her teammate.

• Tie Li and Ning Ning discussed the growing difficulty of their opponents, and Tie Li later discovered that he could no longer absorb energy from the Thunder Python inner core.
• Tie Li asked Ning Ning to take him to her academy library, and she agreed to bring him the next day.
• At the Great Soul Arena, Tie Li recognized Youhe, a former teammate whose Night Ghost Cat martial soul had reached level thirty-nine.
• The host announced the undefeated Heavy Pagoda Team against the Double Cat Team, and Tie Li realized their opponents were both agility-attack Soul Elders.
• Youhe and her teammate attacked Ning Ning from both sides, while Ning Ning enhanced Tie Li and ran to intercept Youhe.
• Tie Li charged at Youhe's teammate according to their plan, while Ning Ning wore the metal inner armor he had lent her.

Tie Li defeated Bai Jiang and Youhe in the Great Soul Arena, prompting Supervisor Ji to consider taking measures against their winning streak. The next day, Tie Li entered Fiya Advanced Soul Master Academy's library to research soul beast inner cores, while Ning Ning learned that the Fire Pulp Fruit on White Mud Mountain was nearing ripeness.

• Tie Li used his Thunder Hammer and a shield to eliminate Bai Jiang, then defeated Youhe in a one-on-one fight.
• Supervisor Ji complained about the Great Soul Arena's losses and said he would take necessary measures.
• Tie Li warned Ning Ning that the arena would try to stop their winning streak, and she returned his heavy metal inner armor.
• Ning Ning took Tie Li to Fiya Advanced Soul Master Academy and asked Chi Ru to help him gain access to the library.
• Tie Li began searching the library for books about soul beast inner cores while Chi Ru told Ning Ning that rumors against her had vanished and Kexi and Liu Zhuqing had stopped coming to the academy.
• Chi Ru told Ning Ning that the Fire Pulp Fruit on White Mud Mountain was about to ripen.

Tie Li joined Chi Ru, Ning Ning, and Big Ox to collect ripe Fire Pulp Fruit on White Mud Mountain, where they discovered a Flame Wolf trap. The chapter ended with Tie Li, Chi Ru, and Ning Ning surrounded while Big Ox was separated from them.

• Tie Li spent the night reading in Fiya Soul Master Academy's library, and Chi Ru and Ning Ning waited for him.
• Chi Ru, Ning Ning, and Big Ox brought Tie Li to White Mud Mountain to help collect Fire Pulp Fruit.
• Ning Ning explained the mountain's White Ground, and Chi Ru warned Tie Li about the dangerous Manwu Valley.
• Tie Li's Thunder Python Inner Core pulsed as he looked at Manwu Valley, and the Fire Pulp Fruit suddenly ripened before nightfall.
• Big Ox charged toward the fruit to drive off the Flame Wolves, while the Wolf King's howl revealed dozens of wolves surrounding Tie Li, Chi Ru, and Ning Ning.

Tie Li and his companions escaped the Flame Wolf pack after Big Ox killed its king, but the injured Fire Spirit Wolf fled with a Fire Spirit Fruit. Tie Li pursued it to the dangerous White Ground, where the Thunder Python Inner Core began absorbing lightning, and he returned to the others planning to come back and cultivate there.

• Tie Li carried Ning Ning through the Flame Wolf encirclement while Chi Ru covered them and Ning Ning boosted them with her Ruyi Pagoda.
• The Flame Wolves abandoned their attack, and a tremor and the wolves' cries revealed that Big Ox had killed the Flame Wolf King.
• Big Ox told the group that the Fire Spirit Wolf had escaped with a Fire Spirit Fruit, so Tie Li followed its trail.
• The wounded Fire Spirit Wolf entered the White Ground, and Tie Li stayed outside as the Thunder Python Inner Core began absorbing its lightning.
• Tie Li returned to Big Ox, Ning Ning, and Chi Ru, who were gathering Fire Pulp Fruits, and Big Ox explained that the Fire Spirit Wolf might not survive the White Ground.

After selling the Flame Wolf spoils, Tie Li bought two thousand-year lightning spirit herbs and went to White Ground to attempt mimetic cultivation. As the Thunder Python Inner Core strengthened his lightning, his Forging Hammer transformed into a Thunder Hammer, while a sleeping super plant-type spirit beast stirred.

• Tie Li and his companions sold the Flame Wolf corpses and divided the earnings, with Big Ox receiving five thousand Gold Soul Coins, Ning Ning and Chi Ru four thousand each, and Tie Li two thousand.
• Ning Ning told Tie Li she was leaving on a long journey and would not join team spirit battles for a while.
• Tie Li bought two thousand-year lightning spirit herbs, then rested before traveling to White Mud Mountain.
• Tie Li surveyed White Ground and began mimetic cultivation, synchronizing his lightning with the plant-type spirit beasts there.
• Tie Li swallowed both spirit herbs as his lightning intensified, and his Forging Hammer entered Thunder Hammer form without a soul skill.
• The Thunder Python Inner Core fed Tie Li a special strand of Soul Power, turning the Thunder Hammer violet as a sleeping super plant-type spirit beast sensed him.