Chapter Summaries

Xu Peinian awakened the powerful Netherworld Blade, Innate Full Soul Power, and a second martial soul called the Qili Belt, along with a system that offered soul rings for it. He declined Bi Yuntao’s invitation to join Spirit Hall and returned home to inspect the belt and continue the system’s soul ring selection.

• Xu Peinian awakened the Netherworld Blade, and the system activated his second martial soul, the Qili Belt, while revealing his Innate Soul Power was level ten.
• Xu Peinian tested his Soul Power and discovered he had Innate Full Soul Power.
• Bi Yuntao invited Xu Peinian to join Spirit Hall, but Xu Peinian firmly declined and received his martial soul certificate.
• Bi Yuntao watched Xu Peinian leave and decided to report his potential so a higher-ranking Spirit Hall representative could recruit him.
• Xu Peinian went home, summoned the Qili Belt, and told the system to continue the soul ring selection.

Xu Peinian chose Paddi the Lazy Goat as his first growth-type soul ring, then arrived at Notting Academy and met Xiao Wu and Tang San in Dorm Seven. After Xiao Wu defeated him in a brief spar, Xu Peinian resolved to focus on getting stronger while avoiding trouble with Tang San.

• Xu Peinian rejected Jiao Tailang, chose Paddi the Lazy Goat, and locked Pretty Goat for his next selection.
• Xu Peinian received a pale yellow soul ring a little over a hundred years old and considered seeking a strong first soul ring for his Netherworld Blade.
• Xu Peinian enrolled at Notting Academy as Dihun Village's work-study student and discovered Tang San and Xiao Wu in Dorm Seven.
• Xiao Wu challenged Xu Peinian to a spar, kicked at him twice, and accepted his surrender as he acknowledged her as Dorm Seven's boss.
• Xu Peinian noticed Tang San's hostile stare and decided to focus on cultivating and avoid provoking him.

After learning that Xu Peinian had Innate Full Soul Power, Yu Xiaogang tried to recruit him as a disciple, but Xu rejected him and challenged his expertise. Tang San then demanded a fight on Yu’s behalf, but Xu refused, leaving Yu to retreat with Tang San as onlookers watched.

• Yu Xiaogang heard that Xu Peinian had Innate Full Soul Power and went looking for him, bringing Tang San along.
• Yu asked Xu to summon his Netherworld Blade and offered to take him as a disciple, but Xu refused and criticized Yu’s limited strength and experience.
• Tang San briefly doubted Yu after hearing Xu’s arguments, then defended his teacher and challenged Xu to a fight.
• Xu refused the challenge and loudly accused Yu and Tang San of acting lawlessly, drawing attention from nearby students and teachers.
• Yu grabbed Tang San and left the training grounds, angrily declaring that he wanted to see how far Xu’s cultivation could go without his guidance.

After Tang San and Yu Xiaogang disrupted Xu Peinian’s plans at Notting Academy, a Spirit Hall elder arrived to recruit him as a disciple. Xu Peinian agreed in principle to join Spirit Hall but asked Qian Jun Douluo to accept one condition.

• Xu Peinian left to clear his head after realizing Tang San and Yu Xiaogang might make life at Notting Academy difficult.
• Wang Sheng told Xu Peinian that the headmaster and dean wanted him to meet an important guest from Spirit Hall.
• Qian Jun Douluo asked Xu Peinian to summon his martial soul and praised the Netherworld Blade.
• Qian Jun revealed that he was Spirit Hall’s Sixth Worshipper, a level ninety-six Peak Douluo, and asked Xu Peinian to become his disciple.
• Xu Peinian decided to accept Qian Jun’s offer and join Spirit Hall if Qian Jun agreed to one condition.

Xu Peinian became Qian Jun Douluo’s disciple after asking him to improve life in Dihun Village, then arranged a plan concerning Tang San. As Yu Xiaogang guided Tang San into the Soul Hunting Forest to find a soul beast, Xu Peinian watched from hiding, waiting for his plan to unfold.

• Xu Peinian asked Qian Jun Douluo to look after Dihun Village, then formally became his disciple and left with him for Spirit Hall.
• Outside Notting City, Xu Peinian quietly told Qian Jun Douluo his plan concerning Tang San and said he wanted to defeat Tang San fairly himself someday.
• Yu Xiaogang brought Tang San into the Soul Hunting Forest and summoned his mutated martial soul, Luo Sanpao, to scout ahead.
• Yu Xiaogang showed Tang San a twenty-year Slug but rejected it as a poor choice for a first soul ring.
• Yu Xiaogang explained that a fallen Solitary Bamboo could strengthen Tang San’s Blue Silver Grass, then continued searching for a soul beast of at least a hundred years.
• Xu Peinian watched Tang San and Yu Xiaogang from a distant tree and thought that the actors were in position.

Yu Xiaogang failed to find Tang San a suitable Soul Ring in Soul Hunting Forest and settled for a twenty-year Slug. As Tang San began absorbing its white Soul Ring, Xu Peinian watched with delight while the secretly following Tang Hao seethed at Yu Xiaogang’s choice.

• Yu Xiaogang and Tang San spent half a month searching Soul Hunting Forest but found no suitable soul beast, so Yu Xiaogang decided Tang San would absorb a twenty-year Slug.
• Tang San killed the Slug and produced a white Soul Ring, and Yu Xiaogang explained that his Martial Soul Mimicry Theory allowed a plant Martial Soul to absorb a beast-type Soul Ring.
• Tang San began absorbing the Soul Ring while Xu Peinian watched from hiding, pleased that his plan had worked.
• Tang Hao, who had secretly followed Tang San and Yu Xiaogang, grew furious when he saw his son about to absorb the Slug’s Soul Ring.

Tang Hao attacked Yu Xiaogang for making Tang San absorb a weak soul ring, but Yu Xiaogang convinced him the choice would help Tang San develop his Twin Martial Souls. Tang Hao left Tang San in Yu Xiaogang’s care, and Tang San awoke to reveal his first soul skill, Blue Silver Mucus.

• Tang Hao struck Yu Xiaogang with his Clear Sky Hammer, and Yu Xiaogang landed on a broken Solitary Bamboo, injuring himself.
• Tang Hao confronted Yu Xiaogang over Tang San’s white soul ring, but Yu Xiaogang defended his training by citing his knowledge of Twin Martial Souls and the slug soul ring’s protective qualities.
• Tang Hao accepted Yu Xiaogang’s explanation, gave him a Spirit Hall token, and told him to keep caring for Tang San without revealing Tang Hao’s visit or identity.
• Qian Jun Douluo recognized Tang Hao and felt relieved that Xu Peinian had stopped him from confronting Tang San and Yu Xiaogang.
• Tang San finished absorbing the soul ring, and Yu Xiaogang concealed the severity of his injury while asking about Tang San’s first soul skill.
• Tang San said his first soul skill was Blue Silver Mucus, which slowed enemies with sticky liquid, but he did not mention that it also made the user secrete mucus.

Tang San and Yu Xiaogang left Soul Hunting Forest after Tang San obtained a Slug soul ring, while Xu Peinian and Qian Jun traveled to Spirit City. After Xu Peinian revealed his second martial soul to the Elder Hall priests, Jiang Mo and Qian Jun began fighting over him.

• Yu Xiaogang praised Tang San's mucus-spraying soul skill, and they left the forest after learning that officials had cleared it because of a suspected ten-thousand-year soul beast.
• Xu Peinian and Qian Jun arrived at Spirit City and met Grand Priest Qian Daoliu and Jiang Mo in Elder Hall.
• Qian Daoliu examined Xu Peinian's Netherworld Blade and recognized it as a powerful beneficial martial soul mutation.
• Xu Peinian revealed his second martial soul, the Qili Belt, astonishing Qian Jun, Jiang Mo, and Qian Daoliu.
• Jiang Mo demanded that Qian Jun hand over Xu Peinian, and the two priests took their fight outside Elder Hall.

Xu Peinian accepted Qian Daoliu as another master and revealed that Whale Rubber could raise the age of soul rings a soul master could absorb. After Spirit Hall tested his claim and confirmed its effects, Qian Daoliu offered him a reward.

• Qian Daoliu offered Xu Peinian unlimited resources to become his master, and Xu Peinian agreed while remaining Qian Jun Douluo’s disciple.
• Xu Peinian explained that his Qili Belt’s soul rings could grow stronger as he did, astonishing Qian Daoliu, Qian Jun, and Jiang Mo.
• Xu Peinian told Qian Daoliu that Whale Rubber, prepared as a fluid with intense heat, could strengthen the body and increase the soul-ring absorption limit.
• Qian Jun and Jiang Mo trained Xu Peinian in blade techniques and physical conditioning over the following days, while he practiced the Netherworld Blade’s basic moves.
• Qian Daoliu told Xu Peinian that Spirit Hall’s test subjects had absorbed soul rings several hundred years older than expected after consuming Fluid Whale Rubber, then offered him a reward.

Xu Peinian accepted Qian Daoliu’s protection while using Whale Rubber to strengthen his body and raise his Qili Belt soul ring’s age. Three months later, he traveled with Qian Jun and Jiang Mo into Star Dou Forest to find a suitable first soul ring for his Netherworld Blade, and Qian Jun spotted a promising target.

• Xu Peinian asked for the people close to him to remain safe, and Qian Daoliu offered to guard him while he consumed Whale Rubber.
• Xu Peinian increased the age of his Qili Belt soul ring, and Qian Daoliu arranged to supervise his future doses.
• After three months of blade practice, body training, and taking Whale Rubber, Xu Peinian set out with Qian Jun and Jiang Mo to hunt his first Netherworld Blade soul ring.
• Xu Peinian searched Star Dou Forest for a shadow- or death-type soul beast suited to a strong assault style, while Qian Jun and Jiang Mo protected him from attacks.
• Qian Jun spotted a soul beast that he said should meet Xu Peinian’s requirements and could be an exceptional find.

Xu Peinian absorbed a five-hundred-year Nether Demon Wolf soul ring with help from the Qili Belt and Paddi the Lazy Goat’s ability. Elsewhere, a cat-eared girl and her unconscious protector faced a charging Mountain-Splitting Kui Ox.

• Qian Jun Douluo captured a Nether Demon Wolf for Xu Peinian, who killed it and began absorbing its soul ring.
• The Nether Demon Wolf’s energy nearly destroyed Xu Peinian’s meridians, but the Qili Belt activated Paddi the Lazy Goat’s ability and redirected the energy.
• Xu Peinian successfully absorbed the soul ring, then heard a furious beast roar from several miles away.
• A Soul King woman fled a thirty-thousand-year Mountain-Splitting Kui Ox while carrying a little girl, but its charge knocked her unconscious and sent the girl into a tree.
• The Mountain-Splitting Kui Ox charged at the injured cat-eared girl, who feared she would die before escaping her family or avenging herself against Zhu Zhuyun.

Xu Peinian rescued Zhu Zhuqing and her attendant in the Star Dou Forest, then helped Zhu Zhuqing obtain her first soul ring. After they parted at the forest’s edge, Zhu Zhuqing learned she could find him in Spirit City.

• Xu Peinian saved Zhu Zhuqing and her attendant from the Mountain-Splitting Kui Ox, and Zhu Zhuqing mistook him for an angel.
• Xu Peinian gave Zhu Zhuqing medicine and learned that she had traveled from the Star Luo Empire because people could be more dangerous than soul beasts.
• Xu Peinian helped Zhu Zhuqing hunt a soul beast, and she absorbed its soul ring to gain Hell Stab.
• At the edge of the Star Dou Forest, Xu Peinian told Zhu Zhuqing that people could shape their own destinies and said he would be waiting for her in Spirit City.
• Zhu Zhuqing called after Xu Peinian to ask where she could find him, then watched him leave.

Xu Peinian spent two years training and growing close to the Elder Hall worshipers before Qian Daoliu reluctantly agreed to let him attend Spirit Hall Academy. Meanwhile, a girl awoke in the academy after being reborn and vowed to claim A-Nian for herself.

• Xu Peinian practiced the Netherworld Three Forms and mastered the first form, Netherworld Soul-Luring.
• Xu Peinian visited Golden Crocodile Douluo and then met Qian Daoliu, who asked whether he was certain about attending Spirit Hall Academy.
• Xu Peinian reassured Qian Daoliu that he would visit the Elder Hall often, and Qian Daoliu gave him permission to go.
• A girl woke in Spirit Hall Academy's girls' dormitory, realized she had been reborn, and declared that Qian Renxue and the other girls would not take A-Nian from her.

Xu Peinian began studying at Spirit Hall Advanced Academy and challenged its students to test his strength. After defeating several older students, including a Soul Elder, he earned the respect of his gifted peers.

• Xu Peinian enrolled at Spirit Hall Advanced Academy and settled into a standalone courtyard, having been admitted for his own talent rather than Elder Hall's influence.
• Xu Peinian challenged Yan Ji, a level-twenty-eight Soul Grandmaster, and defeated him with his Netherworld Blade without using a soul skill.
• Xu Peinian invited more students to fight and won several battles, leaving the Soul Grandmasters unwilling to challenge him.
• A high-ponytailed female Soul Elder stepped onto the platform, and Xu Peinian defeated her by opening with his purple second soul skill, Cold Nether Maelstrom.
• Xu Peinian stood victorious on the platform as the academy students recognized his strength.

After Xu Peinian’s victories spread through the academy in increasingly exaggerated rumors, he recovered with his new Song of Purification soul skill and went to sleep. Hu Liena secretly drugged him and climbed into his bed, leaving him puzzled by a milky scent when he woke.

• Rumors of Xu Peinian’s victories spread throughout the academy, growing more outrageous with each retelling.
• Xu Peinian reviewed his second soul-ring choices, used Song of Purification to recover, and noticed the charm granted by Descent of the Beauty Goddess.
• Xu Peinian went to bed early while someone from the neighboring courtyard slipped outside after dark.
• Hu Liena used Soul-Entrancing Incense to incapacitate Xu Peinian, entered his room, and crawled beneath his covers.
• Xu Peinian woke after a deep sleep and wondered why he could smell milk.

Xu Peinian met Hu Liena by Autumn Bright Lake, where she insisted on calling him A-Nian while he tried to keep their relationship formal. After he returned to his room and fell asleep, Hu Liena secretly entered again and used Soul-Confusing Incense.

• Xu Peinian practiced his blade by the lake, where Hu Liena approached him in a golden dress and introduced herself.
• Hu Liena asked to call Xu Peinian A-Nian and encouraged him to call her Sister or Nana; he settled on Sister Liena.
• Hu Liena watched Xu Peinian practice until evening, and they parted before he returned to his courtyard.
• Xu Peinian washed up, went to bed, and fell asleep content after a fulfilling day.
• Hu Liena slipped out of the neighboring courtyard, released Soul-Confusing Incense through Xu Peinian's window, and entered his room.

Xu Peinian’s diary chronicled his first month at Spirit Hall Academy, where Hu Liena repeatedly sought him out and grew increasingly possessive of him. After reaching Soul Power level twenty-seven, he ended the diary and went outside to meet Hu Liena, who took his hand as she teased him.

• Xu Peinian complained that rumors about his sparring match had damaged his reputation and wondered why Hu Liena kept visiting him.
• Xu Peinian defeated Ye Bufan in a duel, then refused Hu Liena’s demand that he swear off anything connected to angels.
• Xu Peinian woke aching and tasting salted fish, suspected Hu Liena had come to him during the night, and later found that patting her head made her cling to him.
• Xu Peinian learned that Xie Yue and Yan wanted to confront him over Hu Liena, but Hu Liena stopped them before a fight began.
• Xu Peinian discovered Hu Liena was his next-door neighbor and advanced to Soul Power level twenty-seven, then endured her teasing reward without getting more than a look.
• Xu Peinian locked away his diary and went outside, where Hu Liena took his hand and called herself his older sister.

Xu Peinian learned that Yu Xiaogang and Tang San had gone to Star Dou Forest and arranged a trap for them while pursuing another opportunity in Sunset Forest. In the forest, Tang San and Yu Xiaogang followed two brothers searching for a rare Heaven-Devouring Demon Toad, and Yu Xiaogang struggled to compare it with the Ghost Vine he had planned to find.

• A Spirit Hall scout told Xu Peinian that Yu Xiaogang had taken Tang San toward Star Dou Forest to hunt for a second soul ring.
• Xu Peinian ordered the scout to arrange a trap involving a rare but poorly suited soul beast, then remembered an opportunity waiting in Sunset Forest.
• Yu Xiaogang assured Tang San that he planned to find him a Ghost Vine over five hundred years old as the Notting Academy principal accompanied them.
• Tang San and Yu Xiaogang overheard two brothers searching for a Heaven-Devouring Demon Toad and secretly followed them, with the principal trailing behind.
• The brothers found a roughly six-hundred-year-old Heaven-Devouring Demon Toad, and Tang San asked Yu Xiaogang how it compared with the Ghost Vine.
• Yu Xiaogang admitted the demon toad was rare and claimed he had not considered it, while Tang San waited for his answer.

Tang San and Yu Xiaogang joined two men in trying to claim an injured Heaven-Devouring Demon Toad, and Tang San killed it to absorb its soul ring. Its pustules then burst, releasing pink mist that overwhelmed everyone nearby and left them acting on primal instinct.

• Tang San urged Yu Xiaogang to help him claim the Heaven-Devouring Demon Toad, but Yu Xiaogang hesitated until the two men attacked it and revealed it was injured.
• Yu Xiaogang agreed to attack, and Tang San shot the scar-faced brute with a poisoned crossbow bolt while the demon toad wounded the skinny man.
• The dean of Notting Academy subdued the demon toad, and Tang San killed it and began absorbing its soul ring before Yu Xiaogang could stop him.
• The demon toad's pustules burst, releasing pink mist that seeped through the skin and overwhelmed Yu Xiaogang, the dean, and the two men.
• The pink mist drove everyone into a delirious state, and miserable howls rose from the forest outskirts.

Xu Peinian and Golden Crocodile Douluo confronted Dugu Bo at the Sunset Forest hot spring, and Xu Peinian demanded the spring and its rare herbs. Dugu Bo agreed to join Spirit Hall after Xu Peinian offered to cure his poison, then began absorbing an Earth Dragon Golden Melon.

• Xu Peinian and Golden Crocodile Douluo descended into the valley and found Dugu Bo cultivating beside the hot spring.
• Xu Peinian told Dugu Bo he wanted the hot spring, and Golden Crocodile Douluo forced Dugu Bo to his knees when he tried to resist.
• Xu Peinian threatened Dugu Bo and invoked the safety of Dugu Yan, then offered to spare them if Dugu Bo handed over the spring and herbs and joined Spirit Hall.
• Xu Peinian promised to cure Dugu Bo’s poison and explained how Dugu Yan could manage hers, convincing Dugu Bo to cooperate.
• Xu Peinian gave Dugu Bo an Earth Dragon Golden Melon, which Dugu Bo swallowed before sitting down to absorb it.