Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary: “Money? The One Thing I Never Lack Is Money”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Yang Ming, Xiao Wu, and Ning Rongrong arrive at the enormous Heaven Dou City Auction House, whose size and lavish construction demonstrate its immense wealth and influence.
• At the entrance, four formally trained attendants greet them with flawless etiquette.
• Xiao Wu asks to enter, but the attendant explains that only people with bidding qualification certification may participate. The minimum requirement is proof of assets worth 10,000 Gold Soul Coins.
• Yang Ming easily satisfies the requirement by displaying a luxurious black card with gold trim, indicating a balance of at least 500,000 Gold Soul Coins.
• The attendant’s attitude becomes noticeably more enthusiastic, and she personally leads the group inside.
• Yang Ming, Xiao Wu, and Ning Rongrong complete their registration and link their auction account to Yang Ming’s stored-value card.
• The attendant explains the auction house’s rules:
  • Sellers’ identities and auction information must remain confidential.
  • Auctions operate continuously.
  • Premium auctions take place every night for two hours and require deposits exceeding one million Gold Soul Coins.
• While touring the facility, Yang Ming begins considering whether he might eventually take control of the auction house.

Character Developments

• Yang Ming: His enormous financial resources are emphasized. His wealth comes from gambling winnings, treasures taken from the imperial palace, and Snow Star Prince’s manipulated “sponsorship.” He also displays his ambition and strategic thinking by contemplating control of the auction house.
• Xiao Wu: Her curiosity and straightforwardness are shown when she innocently asks to enter without understanding the auction house’s financial requirements.
• Ning Rongrong: She accompanies Yang Ming and Xiao Wu but remains mostly in the background during this chapter.
• The welcoming attendant: She demonstrates professionalism and patience, but her attitude becomes warmer and more flirtatious once Yang Ming proves wealthy. This highlights the auction house’s association between status, money, and preferential treatment.

Significant Themes

• Wealth and social access: Money determines who may enter and participate, with the auction house using financial thresholds to exclude people without purchasing power.
• Power and influence: The auction house’s grandeur reflects the authority and resources of its owners, while Yang Ming’s wealth gives him immediate access and respect.
• Appearance versus reality: The attendants’ perfect courtesy appears universally welcoming, but their treatment becomes more enthusiastic once Yang Ming reveals his fortune.
• Ambition and control: Yang Ming’s thought of taking over the auction house hints at his growing desire to expand his influence beyond personal strength and wealth.
• Secrecy and organization: Strict confidentiality rules and tiered bidding systems show the auction house’s professional structure and importance within the empire.

Character Interactions

• Xiao Wu interacts directly with the entrance attendant, whose patient explanation prevents her ignorance of the rules from becoming embarrassing.
• Yang Ming asserts his status by producing the black-and-gold card, immediately changing the attendant’s attitude toward the group.
• The attendant subtly attempts to attract Yang Ming’s attention through flirtatious behavior while guiding them inside.
• The group receives a formal introduction to the auction house’s procedures, establishing their entry into a wealth-centered and politically significant environment.

Chapter Summary: “You So Beautiful” (First Update)

Key Plot Points and Events

• Yang Ming and his companions enter the Heaven Dou Auction House’s main auction center, where seating is divided by status and wealth. Yang Ming qualifies for the prestigious purple VIP section through his wealth.
• The auction house’s attendants are revealed to be commoner girls bought and trained from childhood, many of whom hope to be redeemed by wealthy nobles. One welcoming girl shows particular interest in Yang Ming.
• A decorative belt-shaped Soul Tool is auctioned. Although its practical value is limited, Xiao Wu admires its appearance.
• Yang Ming bids fifty thousand Gold Soul Coins—far above the original value—to purchase the belt for Xiao Wu. She is delighted and proudly shows it off.
• Ning Rongrong becomes increasingly jealous of Xiao Wu’s special treatment but is too embarrassed to ask Yang Ming for a gift herself.
• The auction host introduces the next item as an extremely valuable treasure with a starting price of one hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins.
• When the covering is removed, the “treasure” is revealed to be a beautiful young girl imprisoned in a large iron cage, setting up the chapter’s major conflict.

Character Developments

• Yang Ming: Demonstrates his wealth and generosity, particularly toward Xiao Wu. He is attentive to her feelings and willing to spend extravagantly to make her happy.
• Xiao Wu: Shows her affectionate attachment to Yang Ming and becomes openly delighted and proud when he gives her the belt. Her playful behavior toward Ning Rongrong reveals her competitive and possessive side.
• Ning Rongrong: Develops stronger romantic jealousy toward Xiao Wu. Though upset by Xiao Wu’s favored treatment, she suppresses her feelings and remains outwardly polite.
• The welcoming girl: Is portrayed as a victim of the auction house’s exploitative system. Her flirtatious behavior toward Yang Ming stems from her hope of being rescued from servitude.
• The auction house: Its luxurious and organized appearance contrasts with the underlying exploitation of attendants and captive people.

Significant Themes

• Wealth and privilege: The auction house ranks customers according to money and social influence, emphasizing the power and exclusivity of wealth.
• Slavery and exploitation: The attendants’ backgrounds and the imprisoned girl expose the auction house as an institution profiting from human suffering.
• Affection expressed through gifts: Yang Ming’s purchase of the belt illustrates his affection for Xiao Wu, while also intensifying rivalry between the girls.
• Jealousy and romantic competition: Xiao Wu’s teasing and Ning Rongrong’s resentment reveal the growing emotional tension surrounding Yang Ming.
• Appearance versus value: The belt is valuable primarily because of its beauty, while the auction house presents a human being as a “treasure,” highlighting the moral corruption of judging worth through price and appearance.

Character Interactions

• The welcoming girl repeatedly attempts to attract Yang Ming’s attention, provoking jealousy from Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong.
• Yang Ming responds to Xiao Wu’s admiration for the belt by buying it for her, leading to an affectionate embrace and a display of mutual closeness.
• Xiao Wu deliberately flaunts the gift before Ning Rongrong, while Ning Rongrong struggles to hide her anger and envy.
• The final revelation of the caged girl shifts the atmosphere from playful rivalry to shock and moral tension.

Chapter Summary: “When Floodwaters Reached the Dragon King Temple”

• During an auction, a young woman with catlike features is displayed in an iron cage and presented as a rare “Cat Girl.” Her physical mutation occurred after awakening her Martial Soul, but the auction house treats her as an object rather than a person, advertising her for domestic labor and sexual exploitation.
• The host deliberately humiliates and frightens her to emphasize her rarity, revealing her pointed ears and tail while describing her as a valuable commodity. The bidders respond enthusiastically, viewing her as a pleasurable possession.
• Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong are disgusted by the auction. They recognize that the Cat Girl is still human and are horrified that people can be sold into slavery. Xiao Wu is especially shaken because the event reveals that humans can be cruel not only toward Soul Beasts but toward their own kind.
• Yang Ming realizes that Spirit Hall is likely connected to the slave trade, since its widespread Martial Soul-awakening network would make it easy to identify and capture people with unusual physical mutations. Although he believes such exploitation cannot be completely eradicated while greed and dark desires exist, he cannot stand by and watch the Cat Girl be abused.
• Yang Ming begins bidding to rescue her. The price rises rapidly from 100,000 to 150,000, then to 250,000 Gold Soul Coins. His determined, repeated bids frighten away many competitors, who decide that other “rare” slaves will become available later.
• Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong are initially surprised by Yang Ming’s decision, apparently wondering whether he has improper motives. He explains that every life deserves respect and that no one should have their dignity trampled. His answer reassures and moves both girls, who feel ashamed for doubting him.
• Just as Yang Ming appears to have secured the Cat Girl, a masked-section distinction reveals that a guest in the white section bids 260,000 Gold Soul Coins. Yang Ming turns toward the bidder and recognizes a middle-aged man who openly smiles and acknowledges him. Ning Rongrong reacts strangely to the man, suggesting a personal connection or an important revelation to come.

Character Developments and Interactions

• Yang Ming: Demonstrates compassion, moral resolve, and willingness to spend a fortune to protect a stranger. His opposition to slavery places him in direct conflict with the auction’s wealthy patrons.
• Xiao Wu: Becomes more aware of the cruelty within human society and empathizes strongly with the imprisoned girl. Her reaction also reflects her own sensitivity as a Soul Beast living among humans.
• Ning Rongrong: Shares Xiao Wu’s outrage and comes to admire Yang Ming’s principles more deeply after realizing his intentions are purely protective.
• The host and bidders: Represent the auction’s dehumanizing culture, treating the Cat Girl as merchandise and entertainment rather than a living person.
• The middle-aged bidder: Enters as a mysterious competitor whose identity appears connected to Ning Rongrong and may complicate Yang Ming’s attempt to save the Cat Girl.

Major Themes

• Dehumanization and slavery: The auction exposes how greed turns a living person into a commodity.
• Prejudice against Martial Soul mutations: The Cat Girl is persecuted because her awakened Martial Soul altered her appearance.
• Moral responsibility: Yang Ming acknowledges that he cannot solve the entire slave trade, but still believes he must act when confronted with immediate injustice.
• Human cruelty and hypocrisy: The chapter contrasts humanity’s claims of civilization with its willingness to exploit both Soul Beasts and human beings.
• Compassion and trust: Yang Ming’s actions strengthen Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong’s trust in him while revealing their shared moral values.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• At an auction, Yang Ming competes for a Cat Girl against an unexpected rival: Ning Fengzhi, Sect Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and Ning Rongrong’s father.
• Ning Rongrong recognizes her father, creating an awkward situation because Ning Fengzhi is bidding on the Cat Girl in front of her.
• Yang Ming ultimately wins the auction with a bid of 270,000 Gold Soul Coins, after Ning Fengzhi stops competing.
• The auction staff escorts Yang Ming, Xiao Wu, and the Cat Girl to a private room, where Ning Fengzhi and Ning Rongrong soon join them.
• Ning Fengzhi examines Yang Ming and assumes, based on Ning Rongrong’s letters, that Yang Ming is romantically involved with his daughter.
• He jokingly—but seriously from his perspective—demands that Yang Ming call him “Dad” or “Father-in-Law.”
• Ning Rongrong becomes extremely embarrassed and forces her father out of the room, insisting that her relationship with Yang Ming is not what he thinks.
• Confused and protective, Ning Fengzhi decides that Yang Ming’s background must be investigated to ensure he cannot “take away” his daughter.

Character Developments

• Yang Ming: Demonstrates his wealth and determination by purchasing the Cat Girl despite Ning Fengzhi’s competition. He remains polite but emotionally distant toward Ning Fengzhi, which makes the older man suspicious.
• Ning Fengzhi: Reveals a humorous, overprotective fatherly side. Although outwardly dignified and composed, he is internally jealous and alarmed at the possibility that Yang Ming may become close to Ning Rongrong.
• Ning Rongrong: Shows intense embarrassment and anxiety when her father misunderstands her relationship with Yang Ming. Her attempts to deny the implication only make the situation appear more suspicious.
• Xiao Wu: Her wary reaction suggests she notices the awkward implications of Ning Fengzhi’s assumptions, adding to Rongrong’s discomfort.
• The Cat Girl: Is successfully purchased by Yang Ming, though the chapter focuses more on the social consequences of the auction than on her immediate introduction or development.

Significant Themes

• Overprotective parenthood: Ning Fengzhi’s concern reflects a father’s fear of losing his daughter, even though his assumptions are exaggerated.
• Miscommunication: Ning Rongrong’s letters and inability to explain herself clearly cause Ning Fengzhi to misunderstand her relationship with Yang Ming.
• Public dignity versus private emotion: Ning Fengzhi maintains the image of a refined sect master while internally reacting with panic, jealousy, and indignation.
• Romantic suspicion and embarrassment: The chapter uses the mistaken “father-in-law” assumption for comedic tension and highlights the growing emotional complexity between the characters.

Character Interactions

• Yang Ming and Ning Fengzhi meet as auction rivals before being introduced personally.
• Ning Fengzhi evaluates Yang Ming like a suspicious prospective son-in-law, while Yang Ming responds with formal courtesy.
• Ning Rongrong’s affectionate but exasperated exchanges with her father reveal their close relationship.
• Ning Fengzhi’s misunderstanding places Yang Ming and Ning Rongrong in an awkward situation, while Rongrong’s embarrassment and evasiveness deepen his suspicions.

Chapter Summary: “Scumbag?” — Fourth Update

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ning Rongrong drives her father, Ning Fengzhi, out of the auction house after his embarrassing interruption. Before leaving, Ning Fengzhi asks Sword Douluo to investigate Yang Ming’s background, concerned that Rongrong may be attracted to an irresponsible man.
• Yang Ming receives the Cat Girl he purchased at the auction. Horrified by the abuse and neglect she has suffered, he unlocks her cage and removes her shackles.
• The Cat Girl is initially terrified of Yang Ming and recoils from his attempts to help her. Yang Ming gently earns her trust, gives her a new name—Duoduo—and provides her with clean clothing.
• Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong sympathize with Duoduo’s suffering. Yang Ming recognizes that her trauma is severe enough to have caused her to forget her original name.
• Yang Ming takes Duoduo out of the auction house and leaves her at Old Jack’s home, hiring her as a maid to care for his grandfather. He then returns toward Shrek Academy.
• At the academy entrance, Tai Long’s father, Taino, confronts Yang Ming over the injuries his son suffered in their earlier fight. Taino loudly demands to know who hurt Tai Long and vows revenge.
• Tai Long attempts to prevent his father from intervening, admitting that he lost fairly and insisting that Yang Ming should not be blamed. Taino interprets this as cowardice and angrily insults him.
• Xiao Wu, already angered by Duoduo’s mistreatment, assumes Taino and Tai Long are trying to cause trouble. She openly challenges them and threatens that Yang Ming can defeat Tai Long again.

Character Developments

• Yang Ming: Shows compassion and moral outrage toward Duoduo’s abuse. Rather than treating her as property, he attempts to restore her dignity, gives her a name, clothes her, and arranges safe employment. His actions reveal a strong hatred of human trafficking and a protective nature.
• Duoduo: Initially traumatized, fearful, and distrustful of men, she gradually responds to Yang Ming’s kindness. Her forgotten name emphasizes the psychological damage caused by her captivity. She begins clinging to Yang Ming for security.
• Ning Fengzhi: Becomes cautious and protective of Ning Rongrong. He does not immediately condemn Yang Ming but orders an investigation into his origins and character.
• Ning Rongrong and Xiao Wu: Both react sympathetically to Duoduo’s condition. Xiao Wu, in particular, becomes emotionally charged and confrontational when she sees others threatening Yang Ming.
• Tai Long: Demonstrates humility and personal integrity by acknowledging his defeat and attempting to stop his father from seeking revenge.
• Taino: Is introduced as aggressive, overprotective, and quick-tempered. His fierce defense of Tai Long creates immediate conflict with Yang Ming and his companions.

Significant Themes

• Compassion versus exploitation: Duoduo’s treatment exposes the cruelty of slavery and human trafficking, while Yang Ming’s behavior represents an effort to restore her humanity.
• Trauma and healing: Duoduo’s memory loss and fear illustrate the psychological consequences of prolonged abuse. Small acts of kindness become the first steps toward recovery.
• Responsibility and character: Ning Fengzhi questions whether Yang Ming is responsible and trustworthy, while Tai Long proves his own character by accepting defeat rather than blaming his opponent.
• Family protection: Both Ning Fengzhi and Taino act out of concern for their children, though Ning Fengzhi responds cautiously while Taino reacts violently.
• Misunderstanding and escalating conflict: Taino’s confrontation and Xiao Wu’s interpretation of Tai Long’s gestures quickly turn a family dispute into another potential fight.

Character Interactions

• Ning Fengzhi and Ning Rongrong: Their exchange shows Rongrong’s assertiveness and her willingness to embarrass or dismiss her father, while Ning Fengzhi remains concerned about her romantic interest in Yang Ming.
• Yang Ming and Duoduo: Their interaction forms the emotional center of the chapter. Yang Ming’s gentle approach contrasts sharply with the abuse Duoduo previously endured.
• Yang Ming, Xiao Wu, and Ning Rongrong: The two girls share Yang Ming’s sympathy for Duoduo and support his decision to protect her.
• Taino and Tai Long: Their argument contrasts Taino’s impulsive, prideful protectiveness with Tai Long’s acceptance of responsibility and fair competition.
• Xiao Wu and Tai Long: Xiao Wu misreads Tai Long’s attempts to warn her away from the confrontation, provoking him and preparing for another conflict.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Taino, the Mighty King and Tai Long’s father, arrives outside the academy seeking revenge against Yang Ming for injuring his son.
• After seeing Xiao Wu and misinterpreting her role in the conflict, Taino blames her for “seducing” Tai Long and insists that Yang Ming pay medical expenses, emotional damages, and apologize.
• Taino attempts to seize Yang Ming, but Yang Ming effortlessly evades his grabs using precise footwork.
• When Taino insults Xiao Wu and threatens her as well, Yang Ming retaliates by firing a short sword aura at him.
• Taino blocks the attack with his bare fist, though the sword aura cuts his skin and draws blood. Impressed but angered, he decides to fight seriously.
• Taino activates his Mighty Gorilla Martial Soul and reveals five Soul Rings—two yellow and three purple—establishing himself as a powerful Spirit King.
• Confident in his overwhelming level advantage, Taino demands that Yang Ming surrender so he can break his limbs and take him before the academy’s teachers.
• Yang Ming refuses to be intimidated. He reveals two black Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Rings and one purple Soul Ring, shocking the spectators and Taino.
• Yang Ming summons the Mysterious Sword from the Gate of Babylon and declares, “Before me, enemies either flee in panic or suffer crushing defeat.”
• His statement triggers a system reward: one lottery draw for quoting a line from Super Beast Force, though Yang Ming postpones using it.
• Taino becomes enraged by Yang Ming’s confidence and resolves to crush his arrogance.

Character Developments

• Yang Ming: Remains calm, confident, and protective of Xiao Wu. His willingness to confront a Spirit King highlights his immense strength and fearlessness. His unusual Soul Rings and mysterious sword further emphasize his exceptional abilities.
• Taino: Initially appears to be a crude, muscle-bound bully, but he demonstrates perceptiveness and considerable combat skill. However, his arrogance and blind loyalty to Tai Long reveal the Taino family’s deeply ingrained belief that family members are never at fault.
• Xiao Wu: Speaks up boldly in Yang Ming’s defense and refuses to accept Taino’s unreasonable accusations. Her close relationship with Yang Ming is evident.
• Tai Long: Though mostly offstage, his actions continue to drive the confrontation. His father’s overprotective response reinforces how his family enables him.

Significant Themes

• Strength versus arrogance: Taino relies on his higher cultivation level and experience, while Yang Ming’s confidence comes from proven ability and extraordinary talents.
• Family loyalty and distorted justice: Taino believes Yang Ming is automatically wrong simply because he defeated Tai Long, exposing the Taino family’s biased, bandit-like sense of justice.
• Protecting companions: Yang Ming’s anger intensifies when Taino targets Xiao Wu, showing that insults and threats against his friends provoke him more strongly than personal attacks.
• Reputation and intimidation: Both fighters use displays of power—the Spirit King’s five Soul Rings and Yang Ming’s rare black Soul Rings—to establish dominance before the battle begins.
• Hidden power and confidence: Yang Ming’s apparently lower cultivation conceals abilities that make him far more dangerous than Taino expects.

Character Interactions

• Taino and Yang Ming: Their exchange quickly escalates from demands for compensation to an open battle. Taino tries to intimidate Yang Ming, but Yang Ming responds with mockery and defiance.
• Taino and Xiao Wu: Taino unfairly blames Xiao Wu for Tai Long’s defeat, prompting her and Yang Ming to ridicule his logic.
• Yang Ming and Xiao Wu: Xiao Wu openly supports Yang Ming, while Yang Ming reacts fiercely when Taino threatens her, demonstrating their mutual loyalty.
• Yang Ming and the spectators: Yang Ming’s extraordinary Soul Rings shock the observing students and undermine Taino’s assumption that he is merely an ordinary Soul Elder.
• Yang Ming and Taino: Their final exchange becomes a contest of confidence, with Taino determined to destroy Yang Ming’s pride after Yang Ming’s dramatic declaration.

Chapter Summary:

Extreme Strength VS Ultimate Technique

Key Plot Points and Events

• Taino recognizes Yang Ming as a serious threat after seeing him release his Martial Soul, so he chooses to attack first.
• Taino launches a powerful punch, but Yang Ming uses the Mangekyō Sharingan to briefly trap him in Genjutsu.
• Taking advantage of Taino’s momentary paralysis, Yang Ming leaps into the air and attacks with his Mysterious Sword.
• Taino activates his first two Soul Skills, alternately increasing and concentrating his already immense Strength. He blocks the sword with his arms, suffering deep cuts but surviving due to his exceptional physical toughness.
• Taino then activates his third Soul Skill, Source of Strength, greatly increasing his size, power, and pressure.
• He fires a compressed air attack at Yang Ming, but Yang Ming easily evades it using the Mangekyō Sharingan’s predictive vision and the Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track.
• Yang Ming counters with the Palm-Breaking Stance of the Nine Swords of Dugu. His refined sword technique exposes gaps in Taino’s crude, force-focused fighting style.
• Yang Ming lands several strikes, piercing Taino’s chest despite his powerful muscles. The wound shocks the crowd and humiliates Taino.
• Enraged, Taino activates his fourth Soul Skill, Strength Shock, smashing both fists into the ground and creating a devastating shockwave that destroys the bluestone floor across a thirty-meter area.
• The attack sends cracks racing toward Yang Ming, but Taino has overlooked Yang Ming’s ability to fly. Yang Ming activates his third Soul Ring, preparing to escape the ground-based attack.

Character Developments

• Yang Ming: Demonstrates composure, tactical intelligence, and versatility. Rather than relying on the Eight Gates Released Formation, he combines the Mangekyō Sharingan, Genjutsu, Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track, Nine Swords of Dugu, and flight. His superior technique allows him to exploit Taino’s weaknesses despite the large Soul Power difference.
• Taino: Reveals himself as a powerful but straightforward Spirit Master who relies almost entirely on overwhelming Strength, physical durability, and direct attacks. His confidence turns into anger and humiliation when Yang Ming repeatedly outmaneuvers and injures him. His escalating Soul Skills show both his power and his increasingly emotional response.
• Tai Long: Recognizes the danger of Taino’s fourth Soul Skill and warns the spectators to retreat, showing awareness of the attack’s destructive potential.

Significant Themes

• Strength versus technique: Taino represents overwhelming physical power, while Yang Ming embodies refined skill, precision, and adaptability.
• The value of versatility: Yang Ming’s combination of visual abilities, movement techniques, swordsmanship, and flight allows him to counter Taino’s specialized fighting style.
• Experience and tactical awareness: Yang Ming identifies the openings created by Taino’s crude attacks, reinforcing the idea that powerful abilities are less effective without technical refinement.
• Pride and humiliation: Taino’s rage grows as a younger and weaker opponent exposes his flaws, causing him to abandon restraint and unleash increasingly destructive attacks.
• Unequal expectations: The crowd expects the Spirit King to dominate, but Yang Ming’s performance overturns their assumptions.

Character Interactions

• Taino initiates the confrontation with an aggressive assault, while Yang Ming responds through deception and evasion rather than direct strength.
• Yang Ming’s Genjutsu briefly disrupts Taino’s attack and establishes the tactical difference between them.
• Taino blocks Yang Ming’s sword and withstands serious wounds, but Yang Ming’s subsequent sword technique exploits the openings in his defenses.
• The crowd reacts with shock when Yang Ming injures Taino, intensifying Taino’s humiliation.
• Tai Long acts as a warning figure for the spectators when Taino unleashes his devastating ground-based Soul Skill.

Chapter Summary: “Clever Use of Genjutsu”

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Taino uses his ultimate Strength-based attack, devastating the area within a thirty-meter radius and assuming he has defeated Yang Ming.
• Yang Ming emerges unharmed from the dust, standing in midair with the Mysterious Sword and his Mangekyō Sharingan revealed. The spectators are amazed that he survived a Spirit King’s full-powered attack.
• Taino activates the Soul Skill “Source of Strength,” firing numerous powerful air cannons to counter Yang Ming’s aerial mobility.
• Using the Mangekyō Sharingan to predict the projectiles’ trajectories, Yang Ming effortlessly weaves through the barrage.
• Yang Ming closes in and attacks with the Nine Swords of Dugu, aiming at Taino’s head and shoulders. Taino attempts to trade injuries, relying on his physical durability.
• Yang Ming combines Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track with his speed and footwork, creating two seemingly identical figures.
• Taino strikes both apparent Yang Mings, but they are only afterimages created through Genjutsu. The real Yang Ming attacks from behind, slicing off Taino’s right ear.
• Yang Ming places his sword against Taino’s neck, forcing Taino to surrender and securing victory.
• He explains that his eyes cast a Genjutsu causing Taino to hallucinate for one second, creating the illusion of the two afterimages.
• Yang Ming reflects that his growing mastery and foundation now allow him to defeat a Spirit King without using the Eight Gates Released Formation.

2. Character Developments

• Yang Ming demonstrates overwhelming versatility rather than relying solely on raw power. His flight, swordsmanship, predictive vision, movement techniques, and Genjutsu work together seamlessly.
• His confidence increases as he realizes he can now defeat powerful opponents without resorting to his most extreme techniques.
• Taino is shown to be extremely powerful and durable but limited by his slow speed and straightforward reliance on Strength. He adapts by using ranged air cannons, but still cannot overcome Yang Ming’s agility and deception.
• Taino becomes humbled and accepts that even prior knowledge of Yang Ming’s Genjutsu might not have changed the outcome.
• Tai Long is shaken by Yang Ming’s performance and begins to understand how far Yang Ming’s true abilities exceed what he had previously witnessed.

3. Significant Themes

• Skill versus raw power: Taino represents overwhelming physical Strength, while Yang Ming wins through precision, speed, technique, and intelligence.
• Deception and perception: The battle turns on Yang Ming’s ability to manipulate Taino’s senses, showing how a brief hallucination can decide an otherwise dangerous confrontation.
• Adaptability: Both fighters adjust their tactics, but Yang Ming’s broader range of abilities gives him the decisive advantage.
• Growth and mastery: Yang Ming’s victory illustrates his continued development and increasing ability to defeat stronger opponents without relying on his most dangerous transformations.
• The importance of timing: The fight emphasizes that battles can be decided in an instant, and even a moment of hesitation or misplaced certainty can lead to defeat.

4. Character Interactions

• Yang Ming and Taino engage in a tactical battle between aerial swordsmanship and ground-based physical attacks.
• Taino attempts to force a damaging exchange, believing his durability will allow him to win, but Yang Ming avoids direct confrontation and exploits his expectations.
• After surrendering, Taino asks how Yang Ming deceived him. Yang Ming calmly explains the Genjutsu, reinforcing the contrast between Taino’s straightforward approach and Yang Ming’s clever, multifaceted tactics.
• The spectators and students react with shock and admiration, while Tai Long watches with a mixture of alarm, awe, and discouragement.

Chapter Summary: “Super Beast Force! Black Tortoise Shield!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Yang Ming decisively defeats Taino, a Spirit King close to level 60, despite being only a Soul Elder in his thirties.
• Using a self-created sword technique rather than a Soul Skill, Yang Ming slices off Taino’s ear in a single attack.
• Tai Long helps his injured father, realizing with fear that Yang Ming could have killed him just as easily.
• Taino acknowledges Yang Ming’s overwhelming talent and admits that he has grown old, leaving the academy with Tai Long in a defeated and dispirited state.
• Academy teachers arrive too late to witness the full battle. They mistakenly assume Yang Ming is avoiding responsibility by leaving quickly, though they do not blame him.
• Flender, Grandmaster, and the other former Shrek teachers receive increased prestige when the new academy’s teachers question how they trained someone as powerful as Yang Ming.
• Yang Ming returns to the boys’ dormitory, where he discovers that he once again has a room to himself, allowing him to protect his secrets.
• He checks his system and finds that he has accumulated two lottery opportunities.
• Yang Ming uses one lottery chance and receives the ultimate technique Black Tortoise Shield from the Super Beast Force universe instead of one of the desired armors or more powerful techniques.
• The technique creates a complete spherical defense of translucent turtle-shell barriers. It consumes ten percent of his Soul Power and withstands Yang Ming’s full-strength sword strike, healing instantly when reinforced with Soul Power.

Character Developments

• Yang Ming demonstrates a massive gap between his apparent cultivation level and his true combat ability. His victory confirms his mastery of self-created techniques and further establishes him as an extraordinary prodigy.
• He remains humble and avoids public attention by leaving before the teachers can question him, though this causes them to misunderstand his motives.
• Yang Ming also shows strategic self-awareness: he recognizes that his main weaknesses are defense, control, and resistance to control, rather than offense or recovery.
• Taino suffers both physical and psychological defeat. More than losing his ear, he is shaken by Yang Ming’s swordsmanship, realizing that the younger fighter has surpassed him through personal comprehension rather than Soul Skills.
• Tai Long becomes more fearful and respectful of Yang Ming after witnessing his father’s defeat and imagining what might have happened if Yang Ming had attacked him earlier.
• Flender and Grandmaster gain greater recognition because of Yang Ming’s performance, enhancing their reputation as teachers.

Significant Themes

• Youth surpassing experience: Yang Ming’s victory over the much older Taino highlights the power of talent, innovation, and self-created techniques.
• The decline of the older generation: Taino’s admission that he is old symbolizes the passing of his era and the rise of stronger young cultivators.
• Hidden strength and humility: Yang Ming deliberately avoids fame and responsibility despite displaying overwhelming power.
• Balancing weaknesses: The Black Tortoise Shield represents Yang Ming’s effort to build a well-rounded fighting style rather than relying solely on offense.
• Respect earned through strength: The spectators, Tai Long, Taino, and the academy teachers all gain a deeper appreciation for Yang Ming after witnessing the battle.

Important Character Interactions

• Yang Ming and Taino: Their battle ends with Yang Ming’s effortless victory and Taino’s reluctant recognition of his superior swordsmanship.
• Tai Long and Taino: Tai Long tends to his wounded father and escorts him away, while privately processing his fear of Yang Ming.
• Yang Ming, Xiao Wu, and Rongrong: They leave the battle together, after which Yang Ming separates from them to return to his dormitory.
• The academy teachers and Flender/Grandmaster: The teachers question the former Shrek instructors about Yang Ming, unintentionally increasing their prestige.
• Yang Ming and the system: Yang Ming activates a lottery and obtains the Black Tortoise Shield, gaining a powerful defensive technique that complements his existing abilities.

Chapter Summary: “After Beating the Big One, the Old One Came”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Yang Ming continues his intense daily training at Heaven Dou Imperial Academy, running ten kilometers with a five-hundred-pound turtle shell and practicing with his spear.
• His Saiyan Bloodline is steadily strengthening his body, and he believes that continued training will eventually allow him to meet the requirements for becoming a Super Saiyan.
• Yang Ming and the other seven Shrek students maintain their usual routine of eating breakfast together in the cafeteria.
• Yang Ming attracts the attention of nearly every student in the cafeteria, especially the female students, because of his exceptional appearance, strength, and potential.
• Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong protectively drive away girls who show interest in Yang Ming. Their teasing also targets Ma Hongjun, who asks Yang Ming to introduce him to some girls.
• Several students rush into the cafeteria to warn Yang Ming that Tai Long has returned to cause trouble. This time, Tai Long’s father, Taino, is accompanied by Tai Long’s grandfather.
• Yang Ming recalls that he defeated Taino the previous day by cutting off his ear, yet the Strength Clan continues to pursue revenge because of its fierce loyalty and protectiveness toward its family.
• Accepting that another confrontation is unavoidable, Yang Ming stands up and releases the Sword Intent he developed during his battle with Taino, presenting himself like a newly unsheathed sword.

Character Developments

• Yang Ming: Remains disciplined and enthusiastic about harsh training. His Saiyan Bloodline continues to evolve, while his combat insight also improves; his Sword Intent has begun to take shape after his fight with Taino. He is increasingly confident and intimidating.
• Xiao Wu: Displays strong possessiveness and protectiveness toward Yang Ming. She acts playfully but aggressively when other girls show interest in him and readily confronts Ma Hongjun.
• Ning Rongrong: Joins Xiao Wu in teasing and defending Yang Ming, showing her mischievous and sharp-witted personality.
• Ma Hongjun: Continues to behave flirtatiously and pursue romantic opportunities, but becomes embarrassed and frightened when Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong turn the joke against him.
• Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing: Dai Mubai’s interest in having multiple girlfriends prompts Zhu Zhuqing’s silent disapproval, reinforcing tension and skepticism in their relationship.
• The Shrek group: Their friendship and familiar dynamic remain strong despite their move to the new academy.

Significant Themes

• Relentless self-improvement: Yang Ming’s extreme training illustrates his commitment to unlocking the Saiyan Bloodline and reaching a higher level of power.
• Power and reputation: Yang Ming’s strength and appearance have made him the center of attention, creating both admiration and jealousy among the academy’s students.
• Family loyalty and revenge: The Strength Clan’s continued pursuit of Yang Ming reflects the importance placed on defending relatives, even after one member has already been defeated.
• Romantic rivalry and possessiveness: Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong’s reactions to the girls admiring Yang Ming add humor while revealing their strong attachment to him.
• Comedic group dynamics: The breakfast scene uses teasing, innuendo, and exaggerated reactions to show the closeness and distinct personalities of the Shrek students.
• Emerging sword mastery: Yang Ming’s Sword Intent symbolizes his growing combat awareness and the refinement of his abilities after battle.

Character Interactions

• The Shrek students eat breakfast together as usual, with Ma Hongjun asking Yang Ming to help him meet girls.
• Xiao Wu physically reprimands Ma Hongjun and accuses him of trying to corrupt Yang Ming.
• Ning Rongrong escalates the joke by threatening to introduce Ma Hongjun to male partners instead, leaving him horrified.
• Zhu Zhuqing silently judges Dai Mubai after noticing that he seems interested in gaining more girlfriends.
• Unfamiliar students warn Yang Ming that Tai Long’s family has come to confront him.
• Yang Ming responds by rising calmly and releasing his newly developed Sword Intent, signaling that he is prepared for the next challenge.

Chapter Summary: “Trouble Comes Knocking”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The chapter explains the distinction between ordinary swordsmanship and mastery. While ordinary swordsmen can perfect techniques through practice, true sword masters must comprehend their own unique Sword Intent.
• Yang Ming has reached the fourth stage of the Green Lotus Sword Art, Green Lotus Seizes Splendor, where he must move beyond imitating Sword Immortal Li Bai and develop his own sword style.
• After his battle with Taino, Yang Ming has grasped the beginnings of Sword Intent—an extremely rare achievement that most swordsmen never attain. Its appearance briefly causes those nearby to feel as though their eyes are being pricked.
• Messengers arrive to summon Yang Ming. He calmly agrees to follow them, while the students, eager to witness the confrontation, leave the cafeteria and gather around him.
• At Shrek Academy’s gates, Tai Long and Taino await Yang Ming alongside Tai Tan, the domineering chief of the Strength Clan.
• Tai Long is embarrassed that his grandfather and father are confronting Yang Ming at the academy, fearing that others will think he relies on his family’s power. Tai Tan silences him harshly.
• Tai Tan had already punished both Tai Long and Taino with slaps after hearing about Taino’s defeat, calling their conduct disgraceful.
• When Yang Ming and the students arrive, Tai Tan releases an oppressive Soul Power aura that instantly silences the crowd and demonstrates his formidable strength.
• Yang Ming remains calm and unaffected by the pressure. He steps forward confidently and directly confronts Tai Tan.
• The chapter ends with Tai Tan demanding to know whether Yang Ming was responsible for injuring his son and grandson the previous day.

Character Developments

• Yang Ming: Shows significant progress in swordsmanship by beginning to comprehend his own Sword Intent. His confidence, composure, and resistance to Tai Tan’s pressure establish him as someone who cannot easily be intimidated.
• Tai Tan: Introduced as the powerful, authoritative chief of the Strength Clan. He commands absolute obedience from Tai Long and Taino and appears prepared to confront Yang Ming personally.
• Tai Long: Reveals embarrassment and anxiety over his family’s intervention, suggesting that he is less aggressive than his father and grandfather.
• Taino: His earlier arrogance has been replaced by fear and submission in Tai Tan’s presence. He has honestly reported his defeat and now avoids attracting attention.
• The students: Their curiosity turns the confrontation into a public spectacle. They admire Yang Ming’s confidence while gradually realizing the seriousness of Tai Tan’s strength.

Significant Themes

• Individual mastery versus imitation: True sword mastery requires creating one’s own Sword Intent rather than merely reproducing the techniques of a predecessor.
• Insight and perseverance: Sword Intent is presented as the result of rare understanding built upon years of practice and difficult combat experience.
• Authority and intimidation: Tai Tan’s presence demonstrates how power can silence and control others, while Yang Ming’s calmness contrasts with the fear he inspires.
• Honor and family reputation: Tai Tan considers Taino and Tai Long’s defeat disgraceful, emphasizing the Strength Clan’s pride and expectations.
• Confidence against overwhelming power: Yang Ming’s refusal to submit to Tai Tan’s pressure foreshadows a direct clash between his developing strength and the clan chief’s authority.

Character Interactions

• Yang Ming commands the respect of the messengers, who instinctively begin treating him like a teacher.
• Tai Long unsuccessfully asks Tai Tan to leave, but Tai Tan’s single rebuke forces him into silence.
• Taino and Tai Long both display deep fear and respect toward Tai Tan, highlighting his dominance within the family.
• Tai Tan deliberately suppresses the assembled students with Soul Power before addressing Yang Ming.
• Yang Ming answers Tai Tan’s intimidating challenge with calm defiance, setting up the confrontation that will drive the next chapter.

Chapter Summary: “The Overbearing Elder Tai Tan”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Elder Tai Tan confronts Yang Ming over Yang Ming’s defeat of his son, Taino, and grandson, Tai Long.
• Yang Ming openly admits defeating them and provocatively challenges Tai Tan, refusing to show deference despite Tai Tan’s age and status.
• Tai Tan releases overwhelming Soul Power pressure without using his Martial Soul. Everyone nearby is forced back or intimidated, including Taino and Tai Long.
• Tai Tan proposes that Yang Ming survive three attacks without being defeated; in exchange, he will overlook Yang Ming’s injuries to his family. The others recognize this as an unfair challenge from a powerful elder against a younger Spirit Master.
• Xiao Wu angrily condemns Tai Tan for bullying Yang Ming. Tai Long signals her to stop, but Xiao Wu’s contempt further wounds his pride and destroys his hopes of pursuing her.
• Tai Tan attacks Xiao Wu with Soul Power pressure after she speaks out. Yang Ming steps in front of her and withstands the full force of the attack, protecting her from serious injury.
• Tai Tan counts this pressure attack as his first move, surprised that Yang Ming remains standing.
• For his second move, Tai Tan shatters the stone ground with his foot and launches himself at Yang Ming using immense physical strength and speed, still without releasing his Martial Soul or Soul Rings.
• His movements become nearly invisible to the ordinary observers, but Tang San recognizes the terrifying physical power behind them.
• Yang Ming activates his Mangekyō Sharingan, allowing him to perceive Tai Tan’s rapid movements clearly. He realizes that Tai Tan’s circling afterimages resemble the deceptive technique Yang Ming used against Taino the previous day.

Character Developments

• Yang Ming demonstrates confidence, defiance, and strong protective instincts. Rather than backing down before Tai Tan’s intimidation, he openly challenges him and shields Xiao Wu from harm. His Mangekyō Sharingan also reveals his continued tactical advantage.
• Elder Tai Tan is established as extremely powerful, physically formidable, and aggressively protective of his clan. Although he claims not to use his Martial Soul, his body has already been transformed through years of cultivation. His pride and temper lead him to punish Yang Ming personally.
• Xiao Wu remains outspoken and fiercely loyal to Yang Ming. Her anger toward Tai Tan reveals how strongly she reacts to threats against those she cares about, though she must restrain herself to avoid exposing her true identity.
• Tai Long becomes increasingly humiliated. His defeat, Xiao Wu’s rejection, and his grandfather’s involvement all deepen his embarrassment and eliminate his chances of winning Xiao Wu’s affection.
• Tang San acts as an observer capable of recognizing the true nature of Tai Tan’s strength and movement, understanding that his speed comes from explosive physical power rather than Martial Soul abilities.

Significant Themes

• Pride and family loyalty: Tai Tan’s confrontation is driven by the Strength Clan’s intense protectiveness toward its members, even when they are clearly at fault.
• Power imbalance and unfair justice: Tai Tan frames the challenge as leniency, but his demand is fundamentally unjust because he uses overwhelming strength against someone far younger and weaker.
• Protection and sacrifice: Yang Ming willingly absorbs an attack meant for Xiao Wu, reinforcing his role as her protector and demonstrating the depth of their bond.
• Strength beyond appearances: Tai Tan’s refusal to use his Martial Soul does not make the fight fair; his body has already been fundamentally enhanced by cultivation. The chapter emphasizes that power can be concealed in physical ability alone.
• Strategy versus brute force: Tai Tan relies on overwhelming strength and speed, while Yang Ming depends on perception, composure, and specialized abilities to counter him.

Character Interactions

• Yang Ming and Tai Tan exchange hostile, provocative remarks, establishing the confrontation as a clash of pride.
• Xiao Wu openly defends Yang Ming and insults Tai Tan, while Tai Long reacts nervously because he knows his grandfather’s violent temper.
• Yang Ming protects Xiao Wu from Tai Tan’s pressure, and Xiao Wu responds with concern for Yang Ming and hostility toward Tai Tan.
• Tai Tan’s anger is directed both at Xiao Wu for humiliating Tai Long and at Tai Long for being unable to handle the conflict himself.
• Tang San silently analyzes Tai Tan’s technique, while Yang Ming uses his Mangekyō Sharingan to interpret the elder’s movements and recognize the similarity to his own previous tactics.

Chapter Summary: The God of Strength’s Predicament

Key Plot Points and Events

• Tai Tan attacks Yang Ming using overwhelming physical strength and Soul Power pressure. Although he uses only about thirty percent of his full strength, his speed is so great that he can circle Yang Ming and continuously restrict his movements.
• Tai Tan’s level-eighty-six cultivation and highly specialized strength-based Martial Soul make him vastly more powerful than Yang Ming, a level-thirty Soul Elder. The watching students believe Yang Ming has no realistic way to survive.
• Despite the dangerous situation, Yang Ming remains calm and shows no fear, frustrating those who secretly hope to see him fail.
• Instead of immediately releasing his Martial Soul, Yang Ming activates the Black Tortoise Shield, creating a thick, translucent shell of diamond-shaped plates around his body.
• The shield filters out eighty percent of Tai Tan’s Soul Power pressure, allowing Yang Ming to move more freely.
• Tai Tan takes advantage of Yang Ming’s momentary relaxation and strikes his abdomen with a massive punch. The shield blocks the attack, but the impact creates cracks and eventually breaks a hole through it.
• Tai Tan announces that this counts as Yang Ming’s “second move,” implying that Yang Ming has only one final defense remaining.
• However, Yang Ming continuously supplies Soul Power to the shield, causing the damage to repair itself almost instantly. Tai Tan is shocked by the shield’s regenerative defensive ability.
• Realizing that Yang Ming possesses abilities far beyond what he had been told, Tai Tan angrily looks toward his son and grandson, Taino and Tai Long, blaming them for failing to reveal Yang Ming’s strength.

Character Developments

• Yang Ming: Demonstrates exceptional composure, tactical awareness, and confidence. Rather than panicking or attacking recklessly, he chooses a defensive strategy that neutralizes Tai Tan’s greatest advantage—his overwhelming pressure. His ability to restore the Black Tortoise Shield also reveals that his defensive capabilities are much greater than expected.
• Tai Tan: Establishes himself as an exceptionally powerful Spirit Douluo whose strength-based cultivation has also produced remarkable speed. Although initially confident and in control, he becomes increasingly serious and surprised by Yang Ming’s hidden abilities.
• The students: Their confidence in Yang Ming’s ability is tested. Almost all conclude that he has no solution, making his calm defense even more impressive and forcing them to reconsider their understanding of his power.
• Taino and Tai Long: Their earlier assessment of Yang Ming is shown to have been incomplete. Tai Tan’s glare suggests that he believes they badly underestimated Yang Ming.

Significant Themes

• Strength versus adaptability: Tai Tan represents concentrated, overwhelming power, while Yang Ming survives through versatility, defense, and intelligent use of abilities.
• Hidden potential and underestimation: Yang Ming’s true capabilities exceed what others know, demonstrating the danger of judging someone solely by cultivation level or previous encounters.
• Composure under pressure: Yang Ming’s calmness contrasts sharply with the spectators’ fear and doubt, emphasizing the importance of mental control in battle.
• The advantages and risks of specialization: Tai Tan’s extreme focus on strength has allowed him to overcome the usual speed weakness of strength-type Spirit Masters, but such specialization can still be challenged by an opponent with unusual defensive abilities.
• Power beyond conventional limits: The scene highlights how Yang Ming’s unusual Soul Rings and skills allow him to ignore the normal limitations associated with Martial Soul types.

Character Interactions

• Tai Tan and Yang Ming: Their confrontation is the chapter’s central interaction. Tai Tan attempts to overwhelm Yang Ming through speed, pressure, and direct physical attacks, while Yang Ming counters by enduring and repairing his shield.
• Yang Ming and the spectators: The students silently observe the battle, expecting him to panic or fail. Yang Ming’s calm behavior challenges their assumptions and creates suspense.
• Tai Tan, Taino, and Tai Long: After witnessing the Black Tortoise Shield regenerate, Tai Tan looks accusingly at his son and grandson, clearly believing they failed to inform him about the extent of Yang Ming’s abilities.

Chapter Summary: “Secret Technique! Repeated Left-Right Hopping!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The spar between Yang Ming and Elder Tai Tan attracts the attention of Shrek Academy’s teachers, including Flender and Zhao Wuji.
• Zhao Wuji recalls his past conflict with Tai Tan and warns that the elder’s physical strength is extraordinary—even stronger than that of many Titled Douluo.
• Tai Tan attacks Yang Ming with a powerful punch while refusing to use his Martial Soul or soul skills.
• Yang Ming blocks the blow with a newly revealed Black Tortoise Shield, astonishing everyone. The shield is damaged but rapidly repaired as Yang Ming pours Soul Power into it.
• Tai Tan realizes that he cannot defeat Yang Ming through ordinary physical attacks alone. However, his pride and concern for the Strength Clan’s reputation prevent him from backing down.
• Tai Tan increases the pressure of his Soul Power, gradually overwhelming the shield. Yang Ming estimates that he can maintain it for only about three minutes before his Soul Power is depleted.
• Understanding that passive defense will eventually lead to defeat, Yang Ming decides to counterattack.
• He uses Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track in a rapid hopping maneuver called “Secret Technique! Repeated Left-Right Hopping!” His speed creates the illusion of numerous copies surrounding Tai Tan.
• Yang Ming simultaneously activates his Green Lotus Core Flame and Flame Demon Form, creating a ring of blazing fire around Tai Tan.
• The flames consume the surrounding oxygen, increasing carbon dioxide levels and turning the battlefield into a dangerous, oxygen-depleted enclosure. Tai Tan must escape or break the Flame Ring before the environment defeats him.

Character Developments

• Yang Ming demonstrates remarkable versatility, revealing both a powerful defensive ability and a sophisticated offensive strategy. He shows tactical maturity by recognizing that relying solely on the Black Tortoise Shield would guarantee eventual defeat.
• Elder Tai Tan is portrayed as immensely powerful but increasingly pressured by his pride. His inability to break through Yang Ming’s defense causes embarrassment and forces him to abandon his initial confidence.
• Zhao Wuji gains renewed respect for Yang Ming’s abilities. Even though he is accustomed to Yang Ming’s unusual techniques, the Black Tortoise Shield surprises him.
• Flender remains outwardly composed but is privately bewildered by Yang Ming’s continual growth and unexplained new abilities.

Significant Themes

• Offense versus defense: Yang Ming learns that merely surviving Tai Tan’s attacks is insufficient; he must seize the initiative.
• Adaptability and strategy: The battle emphasizes intelligence and creative technique over raw strength.
• Pride and reputation: Tai Tan’s determination is motivated not only by victory but also by his fear of humiliating himself and damaging the declining Strength Clan’s reputation.
• Hidden potential: Yang Ming’s expanding collection of abilities continues to astonish even those closest to him, reinforcing his mysterious and exceptionally gifted nature.
• Strength’s limitations: Tai Tan possesses overwhelming physical power, but Yang Ming exploits environmental control, speed, and endurance to challenge him.

Character Interactions

• Zhao Wuji and Flender discuss Tai Tan’s dangerous history and strength before witnessing Yang Ming’s defense.
• Tai Tan and Yang Ming engage in a tense battle of pressure and endurance, each assessing the other’s capabilities.
• Yang Ming’s shield forces Tai Tan to reconsider his strategy, while Tai Tan’s escalating pressure forces Yang Ming to abandon defense.
• The watching teachers serve as witnesses to Yang Ming’s unexpected development and the increasingly dramatic confrontation.

Chapter Summary: “A Son Should Be Like Yang Ming”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Yang Ming uses the Green Lotus Core Flame at full power against Elder Tai Tan, surrounding him with a ring of blue fire hotter than a thousand degrees.
• The flames become so intense that spectators must retreat, while Tai Long and Taino realize how overwhelmingly powerful Yang Ming truly is.
• Tai Long recognizes that Yang Ming had defeated him previously without even using his Martial Soul, proving that Yang Ming’s earlier confidence was justified.
• Taino also realizes that Yang Ming had shown mercy when he previously cut off only his ear instead of causing more serious harm.
• Trapped inside the Flame Ring, Elder Tai Tan suffers from extreme heat and rapidly diminishing oxygen. His clothes and hair begin to burn, and his body gradually weakens.
• Although using his Martial Soul would allow him to escape, Tai Tan refuses because doing so would violate the agreement and damage his pride.
• Tai Tan eventually collapses from suffocation. Seeing that he may actually die, Yang Ming extinguishes the flames and allows fresh air to reach him.
• Taino and Tai Long rush to Tai Tan’s side and confirm that he is still alive.
• Grateful that Yang Ming spared Tai Tan’s life, Taino formally acknowledges Yang Ming’s strength and says the Strength Clan owes him a favor.
• Yang Ming dismisses the offer, saying their conflict was merely a friendly contest and that there is no need to repay him.
• Tai Long nevertheless vows that the Strength Clan will carry out any task Yang Ming requests, regardless of its difficulty.

Character Developments

• Yang Ming: Demonstrates overwhelming strength, tactical intelligence, and restraint. Although he easily could have killed Tai Tan, he stops the attack once the lesson has been delivered, showing that he is not needlessly cruel or vindictive.
• Elder Tai Tan: His stubbornness and pride are emphasized. He would rather endure near-death suffocation than break the rules and use his Martial Soul, but this stubbornness also leaves him humiliated and defeated.
• Tai Long: Moves from defeat and bitterness to genuine admiration and loyalty toward Yang Ming. He now understands the vast difference in their abilities.
• Taino: His arrogance disappears. He feels guilt for previously underestimating Yang Ming and gratitude for Yang Ming’s mercy. He begins to view Yang Ming as an ideal son and person.
• The Strength Clan: Their attitude toward Yang Ming changes from hostility and pride to respect, indebtedness, and willingness to cooperate.

Significant Themes

• Strength combined with mercy: True power is shown not only through victory but through the ability to stop before causing unnecessary harm.
• Pride and stubbornness: Tai Tan’s refusal to use his Martial Soul highlights how pride can lead someone to endure needless suffering.
• Recognition of superiority: Both Tai Long and Taino are forced to reassess Yang Ming after witnessing his real abilities.
• Honor and gratitude: Yang Ming’s mercy earns him deeper respect than a simple victory would have, while Tai Long’s promise reflects the importance of repaying life-saving kindness.
• Family expectations: Taino’s thought that “a son should be like Yang Ming” contrasts Yang Ming’s composure, strength, and righteousness with Tai Long’s earlier immaturity and defeat.

Character Interactions

• Yang Ming and Tai Tan engage in a contest defined by both combat and pride, with Yang Ming ultimately controlling the outcome.
• Tai Long and Taino privately acknowledge Yang Ming’s superiority and their own previous mistakes.
• Taino formally bows to Yang Ming and changes the way he addresses him, signaling newfound respect.
• Tai Long openly praises Yang Ming and offers the Strength Clan’s service.
• Yang Ming responds modestly, refusing to exploit their gratitude, which further elevates him in the eyes of the father and son.

Chapter Summary: Establishing the Sky-Blasting Gang Headquarters

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ning Fengzhi and Bone Douluo secretly observe Yang Ming after his confrontation with Elder Tai Tan. Ning Fengzhi is pleased that Yang Ming defeats Tai Tan without killing him, interpreting this restraint as evidence of Yang Ming’s good character and suitability for Ning Rongrong.
• Bone Dououluo worries that Rongrong may suffer because Yang Ming is surrounded by several beautiful girls, but Ning Fengzhi takes a more tolerant view, believing Rongrong should be allowed to make her own choices as long as Yang Ming is not evil or promiscuous.
• Yang Ming leaves Shrek Academy and checks a system reward for quoting a line from Haven’t You Heard? I’m Sakamoto. He receives a lottery opportunity but declines to use it, judging the reward source too insignificant.
• Outside Heaven Dou City, Yang Ming meets Sister Bao, Tang Hao, and Snow Star Prince. They disguise themselves in the black robes and red masks of the Sky-Blasting Gang.
• Yang Ming reveals that he has selected a large tract of land outside the city as the gang’s headquarters. Tang Hao realizes that the gang may be preparing to emerge from secrecy and establish a visible presence.
• The land was obtained largely through Snow Star Prince’s influence and efforts with Heaven Dou City’s authorities.
• Yang Ming activates the Exploding Heavens Gang Founding Token. With a single command, the token magically constructs an enormous headquarters complex, complete with walls, roads, streetlamps, trees, major halls, and numerous specialized facilities.
• The headquarters includes the Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, and Black Tortoise Halls, as well as an academy, pharmacy, Hundred Herbs Valley, residential areas, secret passages, and other replaceable buildings.
• Tang Hao is stunned by the structure’s scale, unfamiliar Chinese-style architecture, and extraordinary durability. He tests a pillar with tremendous force but cannot damage it.

Character Developments

• Yang Ming demonstrates both moral restraint and impressive leadership. His decision not to kill Elder Tai Tan wins Ning Fengzhi’s approval, while his creation of a fully equipped headquarters reveals the extraordinary resources and abilities at his disposal.
• Ning Fengzhi becomes more accepting of Yang Ming as a potential partner for Ning Rongrong. He shows himself to be observant, politically cautious, and ultimately supportive of his daughter’s choices.
• Bone Douluo remains protective of Ning Rongrong and skeptical of Yang Ming’s romantic circumstances, particularly his many female companions.
• Tang Hao gains increased respect and awe for Yang Ming. His curiosity about the gang’s leadership turns into astonishment when he witnesses the founding token’s power.
• Snow Star Prince proves useful to the gang by securing the land and official approval needed for its headquarters.
• Sister Bao continues to act as a trusted member of Yang Ming’s organization, accompanying him and participating in its covert operations.

Significant Themes

• Moral character and restraint: Yang Ming’s refusal to kill an opponent influences how powerful outsiders judge him and strengthens his reputation.
• Parental protection and personal freedom: Ning Fengzhi and Bone Douluo represent differing attitudes toward Rongrong’s relationship—one cautious and protective, the other more accepting of her independence.
• Emergence from secrecy: Establishing a permanent headquarters signals that the Sky-Blasting Gang may be moving from a hidden organization toward an open and influential power.
• Power and mystery: The founding token demonstrates that Yang Ming’s abilities and resources far exceed ordinary expectations, deepening the mystery surrounding the gang.
• Creation and organization: The headquarters is not merely a building but a complete self-contained kingdom, reflecting the gang’s ambition to become a structured institution with military, educational, medical, and residential functions.

Important Character Interactions

• Ning Fengzhi and Bone Douluo discuss Yang Ming’s character and his relationship with Ning Rongrong while secretly observing him.
• Ning Fengzhi reassures Bone Douluo that Rongrong should be allowed to follow her own desires.
• Yang Ming gathers Sister Bao, Tang Hao, and Snow Star Prince to announce the headquarters’ establishment.
• Tang Hao observes Yang Ming’s authority and reacts with growing admiration when the founding token instantly creates the massive complex.
• Yang Ming’s actions indirectly strengthen both his relationship with Ning Rongrong and the Sky-Blasting Gang’s standing among powerful figures.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Yang Ming unveils the fully constructed Sky-Blasting Gang headquarters using the Founding Token. The elaborate classical complex appears instantaneously, leaving Tang Hao deeply shocked and reinforcing his belief that Yang Ming’s abilities are beyond comprehension.
• The group enters Azure Dragon Hall, the gang’s main meeting chamber, where Yang Ming announces two major priorities:
  1. Recruit civilian orphans through [Void], teach them Qi cultivation, build their loyalty to the gang, and use them to expand the organization’s talent base and maintain its headquarters.
  2. Expose and exploit Spirit Hall’s infiltration of the Heaven Dou Empire. Yang Ming reveals that the crown prince, Xue Qinghe, is actually Qian Renxue, Spirit Hall’s saintess in disguise. Spirit Hall intends to seize control of the empire through her long-term impersonation.
• Rather than directly stopping Spirit Hall immediately, Yang Ming plans for the Sky-Blasting Gang to take advantage of the situation and seize the benefits at the decisive moment.
• The members spend most of the day developing a strategy. Snow Star Prince contributes his knowledge of the imperial court and helps refine Yang Ming’s broad plan.
• The gang intends to increase Snow Star Prince’s political authority so that he may eventually control or mobilize the imperial city’s forbidden army.
• Snow Star Prince also agrees to send loyal deathsworn to protect the gang headquarters.
• With the major arrangements settled, the members leave to carry out their assignments, while Yang Ming enjoys being able to delegate responsibility.

Character Developments

• Tang Hao: His awe of Yang Ming and the Sky-Blasting Gang intensifies after witnessing the instant creation of the headquarters. He recognizes that the gang’s plans involve forces far greater than ordinary factions and feels reassured—and fortunate—to have joined it. He also begins suspecting that Snow Star Prince possesses a much more important identity than he appears to.
• Yang Ming: Demonstrates his extraordinary power and establishes himself as a strategic leader focused on long-term expansion and political manipulation. Although he admits little talent for detailed planning, his knowledge of future events allows him to direct the gang effectively. He prefers delegating practical work to capable subordinates.
• Snow Star Prince: Reveals himself as a skilled political schemer with extensive influence and knowledge of the imperial city. He becomes the primary planner and coordinator of the operation, while quietly strengthening the gang’s security through his personal deathsworn.
• Feng Baobao and Ning Rongrong: Are positioned as the gang’s principal high-level combat assets for the coming confrontation.
• Qian Renxue/Xue Qinghe: Though absent from the chapter, her secret identity and infiltration of the Heaven Dou imperial family become central to the gang’s next major operation.

Significant Themes

• Power and mystery: The instant creation of the headquarters magnifies the gang leader’s supernatural image and deepens the members’ dependence on him.
• Political infiltration and counter-conspiracy: Spirit Hall’s attempt to control Heaven Dou through Qian Renxue is met with a plan to undermine Spirit Hall and claim the resulting advantage.
• Organization and loyalty: Recruiting orphans and educating them in Qi cultivation reflects the gang’s effort to build a loyal institution rather than remain a small elite group.
• Delegation and leadership: Yang Ming leads by setting objectives while relying on subordinates—especially Snow Star Prince—to handle administration, strategy, and implementation.
• Hidden identities: Tang Hao’s uncertainty about Snow Star Prince parallels the broader atmosphere of disguises, secret allegiances, and concealed political motives.

Important Character Interactions

• Yang Ming addresses the entire group as the undisputed leader, while the others listen in silence and accept his authority.
• Snow Star Prince and Yang Ming collaborate closely during the strategic planning, with Snow Star Prince refining Yang Ming’s ideas and supplying political expertise.
• Tang Hao watches Snow Star Prince suspiciously, sensing that the prince is far more significant than he claims, but remains unable to identify him.
• The group collectively accepts Yang Ming’s revelation about Qian Renxue without questioning its credibility, showing their strong faith in his extraordinary abilities.

Chapter Summary: Ice and Fire Yin Yang Eyes Body Tempering

Key Plot Points and Events

• Yang Ming and Feng Baobao remain in Sunset Forest instead of returning immediately, searching for the legendary Ice and Fire Yin Yang Eyes.
• Relying on vague memories from the original story and lacking Dugu Bo’s guidance, Yang Ming eventually locates the treasure land atop a mountain in the heart of the forest.
• The Ice and Fire Yin Yang Eyes is revealed as a strange hot spring divided into two perfectly separate halves: one milky white and freezing cold, the other vermilion and unbearably hot.
• Yang Ming explains that the spring is a forbidden treasure ground capable of nurturing rare heavenly herbs, but its extreme spiritual energies can also destroy living beings.
• He decides to use the environment to temper his body and stimulate his Saiyan Bloodline, hoping to overcome the limits of ordinary physical training.
• After instructing Feng Baobao to guard him, Yang Ming removes his clothes and enters the fiery spring to begin cultivation.
• Protected by his Flame Demon Form and Green Lotus Core Flame, Yang Ming withstands the initial heat and submerges himself in the spring.

Character Development

• Yang Ming demonstrates initiative and ambition by seeking out the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Eyes not merely for its treasures, but as a dangerous training ground to strengthen his body and Soul Power.
• He applies lessons from his previous experience—particularly the way external pressure helped him level up—and develops a more experimental approach to cultivation.
• His Saiyan Bloodline, Flame Demon Form, and Green Lotus Core Flame are shown to work together, granting him resistance to the spring’s intense heat.
• Feng Baobao remains carefree, playful, and unusually fearless. She treats the dangerous descent into the valley like an amusement ride and accepts her role as Yang Ming’s guard without hesitation.

Significant Themes

• Growth through adversity: Yang Ming seeks extreme environmental pressure to force his body and bloodline beyond their natural limits.
• Risk and experimentation in cultivation: The Ice and Fire Yin Yang Eyes offers immense benefits but can easily kill those unable to withstand its power.
• Adaptation and resourcefulness: Yang Ming combines his existing abilities with knowledge of the Origin of Qi Body cultivation method to create a new training strategy.
• Nature as both treasure and danger: The hot spring is simultaneously a source of rare medicinal life and a lethal forbidden zone.

Character Interactions

• Yang Ming carries Feng Baobao down into the valley, prompting her exaggerated display of fear and his teasing observation that she is pretending.
• Feng Baobao is fascinated by the spring’s opposing temperatures and openly admires its beauty.
• Their playful exchange continues when Yang Ming tells her to turn around while he undresses; her teasing response embarrasses him.
• Despite the lighthearted banter, Feng Baobao cooperates fully, standing guard while Yang Ming begins his dangerous body-tempering cultivation.

Chapter Summary: “Dugu Bo on the Attack”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Yang Ming trains at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Eyes by sitting submerged in the scorching spring, relying on his physical strength, the Green Lotus Core Flame, and the Flame Demon King soul skill to survive the extreme heat.
• He uses the spring as a unique cultivation environment, circulating Grandmaster’s meditation method and absorbing the pure fire energy surrounding him.
• The intense pressure activates and strengthens his Saiyan Bloodline. His physical body improves, his Soul Power rises rapidly, and impurities are expelled from his body and burned away by the spring.
• While Yang Ming remains completely absorbed in cultivation, Feng Baobao waits outside, amusing herself by poking at an anthill.
• Dugu Bo arrives at his secluded residence in Sunset Forest. He is suffering from a severe flare-up of the poison within his body and intends to use the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Eyes to suppress it.
• Feng Baobao senses Dugu Bo’s sinister aura and blocks his path, refusing to let him disturb Yang Ming.
• Dugu Bo, already irritable and in pain, attacks without hesitation by releasing a highly corrosive purple poison mist.
• Feng Baobao avoids the poison rather than confronting it directly. Dugu Bo attempts to move past her, but then notices someone cultivating inside the spring and is left shocked.

Character Developments

• Yang Ming: Makes significant progress in both physical cultivation and Soul Power. His Saiyan Bloodline becomes purer and more active, suggesting that the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Eyes may produce a major breakthrough.
• Feng Baobao: Demonstrates vigilance and loyalty by guarding Yang Ming’s cultivation despite Dugu Bo’s overwhelming status as a Titled Douluo. Her simple, direct personality is shown through her casual amusement and blunt refusal to move.
• Dugu Bo: Is introduced in a weakened and highly irritable state due to the poison tormenting his body. Although he initially ignores Feng Baobao, his pain and temperament quickly lead him to launch a lethal attack. His surprise at seeing Yang Ming indicates that the boy’s presence in the spring is highly unexpected.

Significant Themes

• Cultivation through hardship: Yang Ming’s growth depends on enduring extreme pain and danger, with the spring serving as both a lethal environment and an exceptional opportunity.
• Physical transformation and potential: The activation of the Saiyan Bloodline emphasizes Yang Ming’s unusual abilities and rapidly increasing potential.
• Protection and confrontation: Feng Baobao’s defense of Yang Ming creates a conflict between loyalty and overwhelming power.
• Nature’s dangerous resources: The Ice and Fire Yin Yang Eyes is portrayed as both a deadly forbidden zone and a treasure capable of transforming cultivators.
• Clash of personalities: Feng Baobao’s straightforward defiance contrasts with Dugu Bo’s arrogance, impatience, and violent temper.

Character Interactions

• Feng Baobao notices Dugu Bo’s threatening presence before he reaches the spring and directly confronts him.
• Dugu Bo views her as an insignificant obstacle but attacks when she refuses to yield.
• Feng Baobao avoids his poison mist and prevents him from immediately entering the spring.
• The chapter ends with Dugu Bo discovering Yang Ming inside the scorching spring, setting up a major confrontation or revelation.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Dugu Bo discovers Yang Ming cultivating directly inside the blazing spring of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Eyes, a place normally lethal to all living creatures. He is shocked that Yang Ming, only a Soul Elder, can survive there.
• Feng Baobao attacks Dugu Bo when he approaches Yang Ming. She uses her lightning-based Awei’s Eighteen Forms, whose yang energy disperses and weakens Dugu Bo’s poisonous mist.
• Already severely weakened by the poison afflicting his body, Dugu Bo is unable to fight effectively. Feng Baobao relentlessly overwhelms him with a series of powerful attacks, reducing the dignified Titled Douluo to a battered, ragged state.
• Just as Dugu Bo prepares to release his Martial Soul and retaliate, Yang Ming emerges explosively from the spring after completing his cultivation.
• Yang Ming reveals that only half an hour in the spring increased his Soul Power by an amount equivalent to a week of ordinary training. His triumphant declaration also earns him a system-granted lottery opportunity.
• Feng Baobao throws a stone at Yang Ming to make him dress himself, embarrassed that he is unclothed in front of her and Dugu Bo.
• Dugu Bo’s poison suddenly worsens. He vomits blood and collapses, while Yang Ming innocently asks whether he is all right.

Character Developments

• Yang Ming: Demonstrates extraordinary physical resistance and cultivation potential by surviving the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Eyes. He becomes delighted by his rapid progress and gains another lottery opportunity through the system. His carefree attitude contrasts sharply with Dugu Bo’s desperate condition.
• Feng Baobao: Shows fierce loyalty and protectiveness toward Yang Ming. Her practical, ruthless fighting style allows her to suppress Dugu Bo despite his reputation as a Titled Douluo. Her brief embarrassment when Yang Ming emerges naked reveals a more human, modest side beneath her usually emotionless demeanor.
• Dugu Bo: Suffers a major loss of dignity and power. His poison has reduced him to less than a tenth of his normal strength, leaving him helpless against Feng Baobao and unable to control his worsening condition. His astonishment at both Feng Baobao and Yang Ming emphasizes how far beyond common understanding their abilities are.

Significant Themes

• Extraordinary cultivation and transcending limits: Yang Ming’s survival in the deadly spring represents his rapidly expanding potential.
• The reversal of power: A legendary Titled Douluo is humiliated and defeated because of his weakened state, showing that reputation alone cannot guarantee victory.
• Poison versus purity: Feng Baobao’s pure yang lightning naturally counters Dugu Bo’s poisonous mist, creating a clear elemental opposition.
• Comedy amid danger: The chapter mixes intense combat and life-threatening poison with humorous moments, including Yang Ming’s dramatic declaration, Feng Baobao’s embarrassment, and his oblivious reaction to Dugu Bo’s collapse.
• Loyalty and protection: Feng Baobao prioritizes Yang Ming’s safety and immediately attacks anyone who threatens or disturbs him.

Character Interactions

• Feng Baobao directly confronts Dugu Bo and taunts him while relentlessly attacking him.
• Dugu Bo is bewildered by Feng Baobao’s unknown strength and Yang Ming’s ability to cultivate in the spring.
• Yang Ming and Feng Baobao share a close, informal relationship: she protects him but also bluntly scolds him for appearing unclothed.
• Yang Ming treats the fallen Dugu Bo casually, poking his cheek and asking if he is fine despite the old man clearly being on the verge of collapse.