Chapter Summaries

Jiang Nannan sought a safe way to enter the Sun Moon Empire and found that the Black Dragon Merchant Association offered identification and stable work. She joined its Skybright City branch as an applicant and prepared to reveal her face and take a strength test.

• Jiang Nannan explored Skybright City and learned that Soul Masters and Soul Engineers had an easier time entering the Sun Moon Empire.
• Jiang Nannan found a Black Dragon Merchant Association recruitment notice offering identity documents, salary, and accommodation to employees.
• Jiang Nannan decided to apply to the association rather than trust unknown merchants with her money.
• Jiang Nannan arrived at the association’s crowded Skybright City branch and was directed to a separate inspection because of her Soul Master rank.
• A middle-aged interviewer asked Jiang Nannan to remove her mask and enter a testing Soul Tool, and she agreed.

Jiang Nannan passed the Black Dragon Merchant Association’s assessment with an SSS+ appearance rating and a Soul Power Level of forty-eight, earning generous terms and a place on a caravan to Mingdu. The story then shifted to Mingdu, where Regent Prince Xu Tianran celebrated his birthday while quietly reading a document in his study.

• The interviewer judged Jiang Nannan’s appearance exceptional and rated it SSS+, pending the branch president’s review.
• The testing device reported that Jiang Nannan was seventeen and had a Soul Power Level of forty-eight, prompting the interviewer to urge her to join the association.
• The branch president approved Jiang Nannan’s recruitment and arranged for her to travel to Mingdu with a caravan the next morning.
• Jiang Nannan left Skybright City with the Black Dragon Merchant Association caravan and headed for the Sun Moon Empire.
• Influential guests gathered at Xu Tianran’s birthday banquet in Mingdu while Xu Tianran read a document alone in his study.

Xu Tianran investigated the rapidly rising Black Dragon Society and invited its representative to meet him privately at his birthday banquet. The chapter ended with Tang Ya approaching a quiet young man instead of following the invitation, revealing that he was the figure she treated as her superior.

• Xu Tianran questioned Zhongli Wu about the Black Dragon Society, while Zhongli Wu concealed his knowledge of Long Wushang's role in it.
• Xu Tianran left the banquet after his speech and met privately with selected faction leaders.
• A maid invited Tang Ya to meet Xu Tianran on behalf of the Black Dragon Society.
• Tang Ya ignored the expected route to Xu Tianran and respectfully approached a quiet young man seated in a corner.

Long Wushang and Tang Ya met Xu Tianran after the banquet, where Long Wushang introduced himself as the Black Dragon Society’s president and pledged the society’s loyalty to the Sun Moon Empire. Xu Tianran then raised the empire’s shortage of rare metal ores and asked the gathered commerce leaders to help address it.

• Tang Ya quietly summoned Long Wushang to Xu Tianran’s study, leading banquet guests to suspect that he controlled the Black Dragon Society.
• Long Wushang and Tang Ya entered Xu Tianran’s study, where Long Wushang and the regent formally met.
• Long Wushang explained that he and the Long Family had moved from the Heaven Dou Empire and established the Black Dragon Society in Mingdu.
• Long Wushang pledged the society’s support for the Sun Moon Empire and swore that his assurances were truthful.
• Xu Tianran accepted Long Wushang’s pledge and described how the shortage of rare metal ores was hindering Soul Tool research.

Long Wushang negotiated an alliance between the Black Dragon Merchant Association and Xu Tianran by offering priority access to rare ores in exchange for support expanding his cross-border business. Xu Tianran then tested whether Long Wushang would help move tightly controlled military Soul Tools, leaving the answer unresolved.

• Xu Tianran asked Long Wushang about the Black Dragon Society’s rare-metal supply and influence across the Three Great Empires.
• Long Wushang confirmed that he could obtain Mithril, heavy silver, Crimson Demon Essence, and two restricted ores.
• Long Wushang promised to prioritize Xu Tianran’s orders, and Xu Tianran agreed to support the Black Dragon Society’s business operations.
• Long Wushang requested help with customs, business permits, identity guarantees, and troublemakers, offering to handle goods Xu Tianran could not sell through official channels.
• Xu Tianran asked whether Long Wushang would also take military Soul Tools under strict imperial control.

Long Wushang explained the Black Dragon Merchant Association’s reach and his family’s background to Xu Tianran, who granted the association commercial privileges. Xu Tianran then gave Long Wushang a dossier of retired military Soul Tools to sell, testing the association’s capabilities.

• Long Wushang told Xu Tianran that the Black Dragon Merchant Association would sell prohibited Soul Tools only if Xu Tianran ordered it.
• Long Wushang described the Heavenly Soul Dragon Family and explained that its connections and the association’s own force had driven the Black Dragon Society’s expansion.
• Xu Tianran granted the Black Dragon Society the highest-level business license in Mingdu and promised tax relief and support at checkpoints.
• Xu Tianran handed Long Wushang a dossier of retired military Soul Tools and asked him to sell them, testing the association’s reach.

Long Wushang and Xu Tianran agreed to trade retired Sun Moon Empire Soul Tools for special metals, while Xu Tianran offered the Black Dragon Society limited protection. After Long Wushang left, Xu Tianran and Zhongli Wu assessed the society as powerful and untrustworthy, and agreed it must not gain control of the empire’s core interests.

• Long Wushang and Xu Tianran arranged for the Black Dragon Society to transport decommissioned military Soul Tools abroad in exchange for special metals.
• Xu Tianran offered the Black Dragon Society support in Mingdu as long as it remained useful and loyal to him.
• After Long Wushang and Tang Ya left, Xu Tianran summoned Zhongli Wu from a hidden room and asked his opinion of Long Wushang.
• Zhongli Wu warned that Long Wushang served his own interests and that the Black Dragon Society likely had powerful backers beyond the Heavenly Soul Dragon Family.
• Zhongli Wu advised Xu Tianran to use the Black Dragon Society without giving it control of the empire’s core or cross-border networks, and Xu Tianran agreed it was too dangerous to trust fully.

Xu Tianran explained how he planned to keep the Holy Spirit Cult, Black Dragon Society, and other factions in balance while retaining control over them. Long Wushang met Feng Ling at the Black Dragon Merchant Association, and Zhongli Wu later learned she had gone to get her hair done.

• Xu Tianran assured Zhongli Wu that he would support the Black Dragon Society without letting it replace the Holy Spirit Cult, and said the factions would keep one another in check.
• Long Wushang returned to the Black Dragon Merchant Association and learned from Ma Xiaotao that Deputy Cult Leader Evil Phoenix had come to see him.
• Feng Ling told Long Wushang that Mother wanted him to return that night and that she had sent people to handle the merchant association he had mentioned.
• Long Wushang flirted with Feng Ling and massaged her shoulders as she complained about Zhongli Wu.
• Zhongli Wu returned to the Holy Spirit Cult and learned that Feng Ling had gone to get her hair done by a newly arrived master, which made him suspicious.

Long Wushang decided to seek a powerful dragon-type Soul Beast in the Star Dou Great Forest for his seventh Soul Ring, despite the risk of facing Di Tian. He left Mingdu alone, while a caravan bearing the Black Dragon Merchant Association’s seal entered the city.

• Long Wushang weighed possible hunting grounds and chose the Star Dou Great Forest because it held the strongest and most varied dragon-type Soul Beasts.
• Long Wushang planned to use his Water and Fire Dragon Kings inheritance to negotiate with Di Tian if discovered, while keeping the gods’ support as a last resort.
• Long Wushang prepared his equipment, left Ma Xiaotao in charge of the headquarters’ defenses, and flew from Mingdu toward the Evil Demon Forest.
• A caravan from the Heaven Dou Empire passed through Mingdu’s western checkpoint using documents sealed by the Black Dragon Merchant Association and the Regent’s Manor.

Jiang Nannan arrived in Mingdu with the Black Dragon Merchant Association caravan and was fascinated by the city's widespread Soul Tools. Xu Tianran noticed her during his convoy's passage and ordered his staff to discover her identity and invite Chairman Long to meet him.

• Jiang Nannan entered Mingdu with the Black Dragon Merchant Association caravan and marveled at the city's Soul Tools and machinery.
• Xu Tianran's imperial convoy cleared the street, and Jiang Nannan studied his heavily armored soul-powered vehicle.
• Xu Tianran noticed Jiang Nannan watching his vehicle and observed her unusual composure and beauty.
• Jiang Nannan recognized Xu Tianran as the Sun Moon Empire's regent, then lowered her head as the convoy passed.
• Xu Tianran ordered his maid to identify Jiang Nannan and invite Chairman Long to meet him.

Jiang Nannan arrived at the Black Dragon Merchant Association and discovered that its Executive Director was her former classmate Tang Ya, whom she believed had joined the Evil Soul Masters. After Jiang Nannan tried to escape and invoked Beibei, Tang Ya bound her and took her toward a secret chamber, intending to hand her over to her master.

• Jiang Nannan presented her identification and introduction letter at the association headquarters, and the receptionist escorted her to meet the Executive Director because of her SSS+ rating.
• Jiang Nannan recognized Tang Ya and suspected the association was connected to the Holy Spirit Cult and the dark dragon wielder who had attacked Shrek City.
• Jiang Nannan attempted to flee, but Tang Ya’s Bluesilver Grass bound her and dragged her back.
• Tang Ya taunted Jiang Nannan about their reversed fortunes, then reacted angrily when Jiang Nannan mentioned Beibei.
• Tang Ya decided to hand Jiang Nannan over to her master and took her toward a secret chamber on the association’s top floor.

Long Wushang and Long Xiaoyao searched the Star Dou Great Forest for a suitable Soul Beast for Long Wushang’s seventh Soul Ring and found an Annihilation Demon Dragon cub with a powerful mother. They prepared to attack the mother, while Di Tian was away from the Lake of Life searching for the Three-Eyed Golden Lion, who had taken human form.

• Long Xiaoyao urged Long Wushang to return with him to the Long Family after obtaining his Soul Ring, and Long Wushang considered accepting the family’s protection.
• After searching the forest for days, Long Wushang and Long Xiaoyao followed a young dragon to its hidden nest and identified it as an Annihilation Demon Dragon cub.
• Long Wushang used bionic mechanical spiders to scout the nest and found the cub sleeping beside a roughly 150,000-year-old female dragon, with no other adult dragons present.
• Long Wushang and Long Xiaoyao decided to attack the female dragon quickly before she could call for help from Di Tian.
• Di Tian had left the Lake of Life to search for the Three-Eyed Golden Lion after the Auspicious Beast took human form.

Long Wushang and Long Xiaoyao killed the Annihilation Demon Dragon and took her hatchling, Soul Ring, and Soul Bones. After Long Wushang absorbed the rewards and advanced to rank 73, they fled the Star Dou Great Forest, while Bi Ji discovered the dragon’s destroyed nest.

• Long Xiaoyao attacked the Annihilation Demon Dragon while Long Wushang seized her hatchling.
• The wounded Annihilation Demon Dragon begged Long Wushang to spare her child, and he promised to do so if she surrendered her Soul Ring and Soul Bone.
• Long Wushang used the Water and Fire Dragon Kings to kill the Annihilation Demon Dragon, then absorbed her Soul Ring and obtained the Annihilation Eye and Annihilation Demon Dragon Left Leg Bone.
• Long Wushang’s Soul Power reached rank 73, and he noticed that his Greed Divine Trial had begun without an apparent task or illusion.
• Long Xiaoyao and Long Wushang left the Star Dou Great Forest with the hatchling before Di Tian learned of the hunt.
• Bi Ji found the Annihilation Demon Dragon’s devastated nest and discovered that the dragon was gone.

Long Xiaoyao and Long Wushang returned to the Hidden Dragon Clan, whose elders hoped to continue the Dark Sacred Dragon bloodline and restore the family’s fortunes. Hidden Dragon Douluo welcomed them and granted Long Wushang full access to the clan’s resources.

• The Hidden Dragon Clan’s elders summoned Long Xiaoyao and Long Wushang, hoping Long Wushang would continue the Dark Sacred Dragon bloodline, or that Long Xiaoyao would do so if his son refused.
• Long Xiaoyao led Long Wushang into the clan’s ancestral hall, where the clan’s core members had gathered to welcome them.
• Hidden Dragon Douluo greeted Long Xiaoyao as his nephew and welcomed him back without reproaching him for leaving a century earlier.
• Long Xiaoyao introduced Long Wushang to Hidden Dragon Douluo, who sensed the young man’s exceptional dragon bloodline and welcomed him into the family.
• Hidden Dragon Douluo promised Long Wushang access to the clan’s records, soul bones, medicinal herbs, and cultivation resources, warning the assembled clansmen not to object.

Long Wushang returned to the Hidden Dragon Clan and completed the ancestral rites and bloodline verification. His Dark Sacred Dragon and three hundred-thousand-year Soul Rings stunned the clan, who were left wondering how far he might rise.

• Long Xiaoyao introduced Long Wushang to the clan head Long Jingyuan, the ancestors Long Xuanming and Long Xuanying, and the clan’s younger members.
• Long Jingyuan opened the genealogy at the ancestral hall, and Long Wushang patiently completed the clan’s rites before the ancestral tablets.
• Long Wushang released his Dark Sacred Dragon, whose Ultimate Darkness and bloodline purity stirred the ancestral formation and made the clan’s dragon-type Martial Souls submit.
• Long Wushang revealed seven Soul Rings, including three hundred-thousand-year rings, astonishing the clan members and ancestors.
• Long Xuanming asked about the rings, and Long Xiaoyao confirmed that the seventh was one hundred fifty thousand years old and had been hunted in the Star Dou Great Forest just days earlier.

Long Wushang attended the Dragon Gathering Conference in Hidden Dragon City and met Earth Dragon Sect leader Nan Shuishui and her daughter, Nan Qiuqiu. After rewarding the young Long Family disciples who introduced them, he approached the pair, while the disciples decided to seek work with his Black Dragon Merchant Association.

• Long Wushang stayed in Hidden Dragon City at his father's urging and attended the century-old Dragon Gathering Conference.
• Long Wushang watched the younger generation's matches but stayed out of them to avoid revealing his strength and identity.
• At the evening banquet, Long Linghao introduced Long Wushang to Yu Tianlong of the Sky Dragon Sect and then to Nan Shuishui and Nan Qiuqiu of the Earth Dragon Sect.
• Long Wushang gave Long Linghao and the other accompanying disciples one million Gold Soul Coins and walked over to meet Nan Shuishui and Nan Qiuqiu.
• Long Linghao and the other disciples decided to join the Black Dragon Merchant Association and followed Long Wushang at a distance to guard his courtship.

Long Wushang approached Nan Shuishui at a banquet and used his charm to win her attention while his powerful bloodline suppressed the Rouge Dragon Martial Souls of Nan Shuishui and Nan Qiuqiu. The Long Family elder revealed that Long Wushang was the Hidden Dragon Clan leader’s younger brother and an elder of Nan Qiuqiu’s generation, leaving her stunned at being told to call him Uncle Wushang.

• Long Wushang introduced himself to Nan Shuishui and praised her strength and work as Earth Dragon Sect master.
• Nan Qiuqiu noticed that Long Wushang was focused on her mother and demanded to know his Martial Soul and why it suppressed her Rouge Dragon.
• Long Wushang said his Martial Soul’s bloodline rank made it an existence the Rouge Dragon could not offend, angering Nan Qiuqiu.
• A Long Family elder explained that Long Wushang was the clan leader’s younger brother and an heir who had spent years cultivating in the ancestral grounds.
• Nan Shuishui accepted Long Wushang’s suggestion that they address each other by name, while the elder told Nan Qiuqiu to call him Uncle Wushang.

Long Wushang gave Nan Qiuqiu a valuable Class 6 Soul Tool barrier and offered to spar with her. He then asked Nan Shuishui to help the Black Dragon Merchant Association establish a branch in Dragon City by partnering with the Earth Dragon Sect.

• Nan Qiuqiu reluctantly greeted Long Wushang as her uncle, and he gave her a Class 6 Soul Tool barrier as a meeting gift.
• Long Wushang invited Nan Qiuqiu to spar with him, and she eagerly accepted the challenge.
• Long Wushang told Nan Shuishui that the Black Dragon Merchant Association planned to establish a branch in Dragon City.
• Nan Shuishui questioned why the association would partner with the Earth Dragon Sect instead of the more influential Sky Dragon Sect.
• Long Wushang explained that he preferred an alliance with the Earth Dragon Sect to challenge the Sky Dragon Sect's influence and avoid future conflicts.

Long Wushang traveled to Shrek City to oversee the Black Dragon Merchant Association’s new branch as Shrek rebuilt and expanded its Soul Tool industry. At Sea God Island, Xuan Zi confided in Yan Shaozhe about Huo Yuhao’s growing distance from the academy and the changing balance of power in the Sea God Pavilion.

• After Nan Shuishui returned to Dragon City, Long Wushang changed his plans and followed a Black Dragon Merchant Association convoy toward Shrek City.
• Long Wushang entered Shrek City disguised as a merchant association staff member and a member of the Long Family of Hidden Dragon City.
• At Sea God Island, Yan Shaozhe told Xuan Zi that Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong'er had gone to see His Majesty Azure Douluo, but Xuan Zi stopped him from saying more.
• Xuan Zi recalled that Huo Yuhao increasingly relied on the Clear Sky Sect for cultivation and no longer reported his decisions to Shrek Academy.
• Xuan Zi lamented that the Sea God Pavilion had lost its former unity and that the Clear Sky Sect’s growing influence made Shrek’s future harder to control.

Xuan Zi urged Yan Shaozhe to guide the Martial Soul Department, support cooperation with the Soul Tool Department, and make time to cultivate for Shrek Academy’s future leadership. The next morning, Long Wushang’s Black Dragon Merchant Association entered Shrek City and began expanding its commercial foothold.

• Xuan Zi told Yan Shaozhe not to restrain Huo Yuhao from following his own path, then urged him to guide the Martial Soul Department and stop opposing the Soul Tool Department’s expansion.
• Xuan Zi admitted he had little hope of advancing beyond level ninety-eight and urged Yan Shaozhe to cultivate so he could eventually lead Sea God Pavilion.
• Yan Shaozhe promised to delegate more Academy affairs and make time for cultivation before leaving Xuan Zi alone by Sea God Lake.
• Xuan Zi took out an unsigned secret letter sealed with a black dragon pattern and reflected on Long Xiaoyao’s words about the secret of becoming a Limit Douluo.
• The Black Dragon Merchant Association’s convoy passed Shrek City’s inspections, and Long Wushang observed the rebuilt city from his carriage.
• Long Wushang continued the Association’s expansion plan by acquiring local merchant groups while keeping their managers in place and centralizing control of their accounts and funds.