Chapter Summaries

Ning Chen entered the Star Dou Great Forest and found three Qian Jun Ant Emperors, each with more than ninety thousand years of cultivation. Seeing them as ideal spirit ring material for his Heart Martial Soul, he began testing them and then unleashed his full strength to fight them.

• Ning Chen traveled into the Star Dou Great Forest’s Core Area, using his spiritual power to seek out the strongest concentration of soul beast blood energy.
• Ning Chen discovered three Qian Jun Ant Emperors hiding in a lair and recognized them as the defeated rivals of the Sky Azure Bull Python and the Titan Giant Ape.
• Ning Chen decided the three Qian Jun Ant Emperors could provide compatible spirit rings for the first three rings of his Heart Martial Soul.
• Ning Chen fought the three Qian Jun Ant Emperors in a mobile skirmish, studying their attacks and using the Thousand Mountains Formula to disrupt their movements.
• Ning Chen activated his Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda’s six amplifications and summoned the thirty peaks of the Thousand Mountains Formula as he prepared to fight at full strength.

Ning Chen fought the three Qian Jun Ant Emperors and unveiled the Nine Treasures Invincible Robe, combining it with the Thousand Mountains Formula to overpower the eldest. He left the eldest badly battered while standing unharmed, as the battle continued.

• The three Qian Jun Ant Emperors attacked Ning Chen together, but he disrupted their assault and injured the second and youngest with his fists and palm.
• The Ant Emperors regrouped and renewed their attack, prompting Ning Chen to unleash the Nine Treasures Invincible Divine Light as the close-fitting Nine Treasures Invincible Robe.
• Ning Chen merged the thirty phantom mountains into the robe and spread the Thousand Mountains Formula’s suppressive aura across the battlefield.
• Ning Chen charged the eldest Ant Emperor and struck his pincers, blasting him backward, cracking his shell, and slowing his soul power while the robe absorbed the recoil without harming Ning Chen.

Ning Chen used the Nine Treasures Invincible Robe and Thousand Mountains Formula to overwhelm and kill the three ninety-thousand-year Qian Jun Ant Emperors. He dragged their corpses to a secluded mountain hollow to prepare for a temporary cultivation session.

• The second and third Qian Jun Ant Emperors attacked Ning Chen, but his robe withstood their strikes, and he battered both of them to the ground.
• Ning Chen’s Thousand Mountains Formula unfolded its suppression domain, slowing the three Qian Jun Ant Emperors and weakening their soul power.
• Ning Chen killed the eldest brother with a single punch, then crushed the second brother’s foreclaw and fatally struck him.
• The third brother tried to flee, but Ning Chen stomped through his back armor and killed him.
• Ning Chen dismissed his robe and suppression domain, then dragged all three corpses to a secluded mountain hollow.

Ning Chen absorbed the three Qian Jun Ant Emperor Spirit Rings, and the Thousand Mountains Formula and his heart Martial Soul refined all three ninety-thousand-year rings into hundred-thousand-year rings. He awakened three powerful soul skills and left the Star Dou Great Forest having surpassed his goals for the journey.

• The three Qian Jun Ant Emperor Spirit Rings converged and entered Ning Chen's heart Martial Soul together.
• Ning Chen's Thousand Mountains Formula and bloodline power purified the rings, transforming them from ninety-thousand-year rings into hundred-thousand-year rings.
• Ning Chen gained the first soul skill, Ant Emperor Heart Hammer, which concentrated the Ant Emperors' strength into subtle, powerful strikes.
• Ning Chen discovered that Blood Furnace Golden Body enhanced his physique and accelerated his recovery.
• Ning Chen learned that Qian Jun Heart Wall defended his vital areas, reflected attacks, and could form a low-cost protective field.

Ning Chen encountered the Sky Azure Bull Python and Titan Giant Ape after defeating the Three Qian Jun Ant Emperors. He provoked the beasts over Xiao Wu, and their combined attack began as their domains clashed with his.

• Ning Chen sensed two powerful auras approaching and stood ready at the mountain hollow’s entrance.
• The Sky Azure Bull Python and Titan Giant Ape arrived, recognized Ning Chen as the man who had abducted Xiao Wu, and demanded to know where she was.
• Ning Chen claimed he had killed Xiao Wu and absorbed her Spirit Ring and Soul Bone, enraging both beasts.
• Ning Chen activated his defenses and Thousand Mountains Formula domain, which collided with the beasts’ Slow and Gravity Control domains.
• The Sky Azure Bull Python charged from the front as the Titan Giant Ape descended from above, combining their domains to trap Ning Chen.

Ning Chen fought the Sky Azure Bull Python and Titan Giant Ape, blocking their combined attacks and holding his own against both hundred-thousand-year soul beast overlords. As their coordinated assault failed to defeat him, the Sky Azure Bull Python ignited its soul beast essence and grew even more dangerous.

• Ning Chen activated his Blood Furnace Golden Body and defensive abilities, then stopped the Sky Azure Bull Python’s charge with a punch and caught the Titan Giant Ape’s blow with his palm.
• Ning Chen suppressed the damage from their attacks and recognized that the two overlords’ combined strength approached that of a ferocious beast.
• The Sky Azure Bull Python and Titan Giant Ape launched a coordinated pincer attack using their domains, but Ning Chen countered the gravity field and struck the python near its head.
• The Sky Azure Bull Python and Titan Giant Ape grew enraged when they could not overpower Ning Chen, and the python ignited its soul beast essence, boosting its speed, strength, and domain.

Ning Chen fought the Sky Azure Bull Python and Titan Giant Ape as they burned their origins to unleash increasingly powerful attacks. Though his Heart Martial Soul’s Silver Awakening granted him Endless Life and rapid recovery, he realized he could not defeat them yet and began planning his escape through the Myriad Treasures Spirit Realm Seal.

• The Sky Azure Bull Python and Titan Giant Ape burned their origins and attacked Ning Chen with the strength of peak Super Douluo strikes.
• Ning Chen activated Silver Awakening, gaining the Endless Life ability, which boosted his attributes and rapidly healed his injuries.
• The two frenzied Soul Beasts battered Ning Chen, but he used his recovery to keep fighting while recognizing that his own stamina and Soul Power had limits.
• Ning Chen decided that retreating and returning after he grew stronger was wiser than risking his life against the two beasts.
• Ning Chen considered escaping into the Myriad Treasures Spirit Realm Seal, but opening its cave-heaven gate required a moment of concentration under their assault.

Ning Chen escaped the Sky Azure Bull Python and Titan Giant Ape through a Light Gate, while the two weakened beasts abandoned the pursuit and returned to the Lake of Life. After recovering in the Myriad Treasures Spirit Realm Seal, Ning Chen left for Heaven Dou City, planning to return for the two hundred-thousand-year Soul Beasts once he grew stronger.

• Ning Chen opened a Light Gate and escaped the Sky Azure Bull Python and Titan Giant Ape, leaving them astonished and unable to follow.
• The Titan Giant Ape tried to pursue Ning Chen, but both beasts collapsed from the effects of burning their Soul Beast essence.
• The Sky Azure Bull Python persuaded the Titan Giant Ape to return to the Lake of Life so they could survive and preserve a chance to help Sister Xiao Wu.
• Ning Chen recovered overnight beside the Seven-Colored Spirit Spring, changed his robes, and returned to the mountain hollow through a Light Gate.
• Ning Chen set off for Heaven Dou City, reflecting on his gains and resolving to claim the Sky Azure Bull Python and Titan Giant Ape as Soul Rings for his Heart Martial Soul when he became stronger.

Ning Chen returned to the Earl's Residence and reviewed Ning Hua's careful management of the Research Institute, praising him for his work. Ye Lingling discussed the children's potential as body martial soul cultivators with Ning Chen, who recognized that discovering the secret method of second awakening could greatly increase their value.

• Ning Chen returned to Heaven Dou City and found Ning Hua had kept the Earl's Residence and Research Institute in good order.
• Ning Hua presented Ning Chen with the Research Institute's daily management records, and Ning Chen praised him for his efforts.
• Ning Hua left the study delighted by Ning Chen's praise, while Ning Chen reflected on his loyalty and usefulness.
• Ye Lingling praised Ning Hua's dedication and told Ning Chen that the children with body martial souls had promising potential.
• Ning Chen considered the danger of a body martial soul being crippled and recognized the strategic importance of discovering a second-awakening method.

Ning Chen learned that Ye Lingling’s father, Qin Yue, wanted to meet him and accepted the invitation, understanding it as an appraisal of a potential match. He visited the Nine-Heart Begonia Sect the next day and greeted Qin Yue, who studied him as he entered.

• Ning Chen reflected that his research into second awakening still needed more children and samples, though he believed he would eventually succeed.
• Ye Lingling told Ning Chen that her father wanted to meet him after hearing how often she visited the Earl’s Residence.
• Ning Chen agreed to visit, recognizing that Qin Yue might be assessing him as a prospective match for Ye Lingling.
• Ning Chen brought medicinal wine and a hundred-year-old spirit ganoderma to the Nine-Heart Begonia Sect’s residence.
• Ning Chen entered the main hall and introduced himself to Qin Yue, who appraised him in silence.

Ning Chen met with Qin Yue, who approved of his relationship with Ye Lingling and agreed to help him find children who might awaken Body Martial Souls. After lunch, Ye Lingling showed Ning Chen around the Nine-Heart Begonia Sect residence.

• Qin Yue questioned Ning Chen about his feelings for Ye Lingling and accepted his claim that he had reached Soul Emperor cultivation.
• Qin Yue agreed that Ning Chen and Ye Lingling could see each other and potentially become betrothed later.
• Ning Chen asked Qin Yue to use the Nine-Heart Begonia Sect's resources to find children who might awaken Body Martial Souls, and Qin Yue agreed.
• After lunch, Ye Lingling joined Ning Chen, blushing and asking whether her father had made things difficult for him.
• Ye Lingling took Ning Chen through the residence's garden and told him that her father personally tended the begonias her mother had planted.

Ning Chen left Ye Lingling’s residence after she agreed to visit him at the research institute, then ran into Ning Rongrong, who provoked him over his research and their past tournament fight. Ning Rongrong tried to slap him, but Ning Chen caught her wrist.

• Ye Lingling learned that Qin Yue had agreed to help and quietly accepted Ning Chen’s promise to treat her well.
• Ye Lingling walked Ning Chen to the residence gate and told him she would visit his research institute the next day.
• Ning Chen left, pleased that his relationship with Ye Lingling was established and that Qin Yue would help him find children with Body Martial Souls.
• Ning Rongrong encountered Ning Chen on the street and taunted him about his research institute and the children he had gathered.
• Ning Chen told Ning Rongrong to scram, and she swung at his face before he seized her wrist.

Ning Chen attacked Ning Rongrong with lethal intent and crippled the Soul Sage who tried to protect her. Just as Ning Chen’s second punch was about to land, a gaunt gray-robed man stopped it with one hand.

• Ning Rongrong struggled as Ning Chen seized her wrist and raised a fist charged with the Thousand Mountains Formula.
• The Soul Sage guarding Ning Rongrong stepped between them, but Ning Chen’s punch shattered his defenses and sent him crashing into the street.
• Ning Chen turned back to Ning Rongrong and prepared to strike again, while she froze in terror and begged him to stop.
• Ning Chen’s fist descended, but a gaunt gray-robed man appeared and caught it before it hit Ning Rongrong.

Bone Douluo Gu Rong intervened after Ning Chen struck Ning Rongrong, then offered to settle the dispute with three palm strikes. Ning Chen accepted, and Gu Rong’s first strike hit his crossed arms.

• Gu Rong stopped Ning Chen’s punch and confirmed Ning Rongrong was unharmed.
• Ning Chen said he had struck Ning Rongrong in self-defense, while Gu Rong challenged his account and questioned his strength.
• Gu Rong offered to erase the matter if Ning Chen endured three palm strikes, and Ning Chen accepted.
• Gu Rong gathered soul power into his palm and struck Ning Chen’s crossed arms as Ning Chen used the Thousand Mountains Formula to brace himself.

Ning Chen endured three palms from Gu Rong while concealing how little damage he had actually suffered. Gu Rong left with Ning Rongrong, believing the matter settled, while Ning Chen returned to the Earl's Residence unharmed enough to walk steadily.

• Ning Chen resisted Gu Rong's first palm and retreated three steps without bleeding.
• Ning Chen used the Starlight Bracer to block Gu Rong's second palm, then fell back and spat blood.
• Gu Rong struck Ning Chen with a third palm, sending him through a wall and leaving him buried in rubble.
• Gu Rong declared the three-palm agreement fulfilled and took Ning Rongrong away.
• After they left, Ning Chen revealed that he had exaggerated his injuries to prevent further suspicion and walked toward the Earl's Residence.

After Ning Chen’s clash with Gu Rong, Ning Rongrong and Gu Rong wondered why he seemed to hold such a deep grudge against her. Ning Chen returned to the Earl’s Residence injured, where Qian Renxue arrived to check on him and offered him support.

• Gu Rong questioned Ning Rongrong about whether she had offended Ning Chen, but she could recall no grievance beyond their match at the All-Continent Elite Soul Master Competition.
• Gu Rong told Ning Rongrong to avoid Ning Chen, and she left with him while still shaken by Ning Chen’s cold gaze.
• Ning Chen returned to the Earl’s Residence, revealed bruises from Gu Rong’s palm strikes, and swallowed a healing pill.
• Ning Chen learned that Qian Renxue was waiting for him and went to meet her despite his injuries.
• Qian Renxue expressed concern, blamed Ning Rongrong for provoking him, and promised to demand an explanation, though she doubted she could challenge Gu Rong.