Chapter Summaries

Lin Xuan awakened a paper Martial Soul and revealed Innate Full Soul Power, then declined Su Yuntao’s offer to join Spirit Hall so he could stay in Holy Soul Village. Tang San also awakened with Innate Full Soul Power, and Old Jack planned for both boys to attend Notting Academy using two Work-Study Student quotas.

• Lin Xuan awakened a blank paper Martial Soul, but the crystal ball showed he had Innate Full Soul Power.
• Lin Xuan concealed the Primal Beginning Talisman Scripture in his mind and declined Su Yuntao’s invitation to join Spirit Hall.
• Old Jack celebrated Lin Xuan’s talent, then learned that Tang San also had Innate Full Soul Power despite possessing Blue Silver Grass.
• Tang San declined Su Yuntao’s invitation, and Su Yuntao left to continue awakening children’s Martial Souls in other villages.
• Old Jack told Lin Xuan and Tang San that they would have two Work-Study Student quotas for Notting Academy and urged them to help each other.

Lin Xuan discovered the Clear Mind Talisman in his Martial Soul, the Primal Beginning Talisman Scripture, and spent weeks learning to draw it. He mastered the talisman but remained limited by his Spiritual Power and hoped to obtain a Soul Ring and a Meditation Method.

• Old Jack praised Tang San's prospects and urged him to tell Tang Hao to stop drinking.
• Lin Xuan discovered the Primal Beginning Talisman Scripture and learned the design and effects of the Clear Mind Talisman, but could not open its second page.
• Lin Xuan repeatedly failed to draw the talisman, exhausting his Soul Power and Spiritual Power during practice.
• After seven days, Lin Xuan completed and activated his first Clear Mind Talisman, which sharpened his mind and improved his control of Soul Power.
• Half a month later, Lin Xuan could draw the Clear Mind Talisman with an eighty-percent success rate, though he could make only five before his Spiritual Power ran out.

Lin Xuan discovered that talismans could be stored for months, though he chose to prioritize improving their quality over building a large stockpile. He left for Notting Academy with Tang San and Old Jack, where the gatekeeper mocked their certificates and refused to believe their Martial Souls had Innate Full Soul Power.

• Lin Xuan tested a Clear Mind Talisman's shelf life and found it remained intact after two and a half months.
• Lin Xuan compared old and new Clear Mind Talismans, saw that his newer ones were more effective, and decided to keep only a few in reserve.
• Old Jack told Lin Xuan that he and Tang San had been approved as Work-Study Students at Notting Academy and would leave the next day.
• Lin Xuan packed his clothes, spare talismans, and spending money, then traveled with Tang San and Old Jack to Notting City.
• The academy gatekeeper laughed at Lin Xuan and Tang San's Martial Soul certificates and accused Old Jack of presenting forged documents.
• Tang San clenched his fists as the gatekeeper insulted their Blue Silver Grass and Paper Martial Souls.

Lin Xuan and Tang San arrived at Nuoding Academy, where Yu Xiaogang concluded that both boys had Twin Martial Souls. Lin Xuan rejected Yu Xiaogang’s theory and left, leaving Yu Xiaogang alone with Tang San.

• The gatekeeper challenged Lin Xuan and Old Jack until Yu Xiaogang intervened, verified the certificates, and let the boys enter.
• Yu Xiaogang examined Lin Xuan and Tang San’s certificates and concluded that their Innate Full Soul Power meant they each had a second Martial Soul.
• Yu Xiaogang explained his theory to the boys, while Tang San realized he had uncovered the secret his father had warned him to conceal.
• Lin Xuan showed Yu Xiaogang his Talisman Paper Martial Soul, but Yu Xiaogang insisted it was a cover for a more powerful second Martial Soul.
• Lin Xuan refused to accept Yu Xiaogang’s theory and walked away, leaving Yu Xiaogang to turn his attention to Tang San.

Lin Xuan registered as a Work-Study Student and defeated Wang Sheng to become Dorm Seven’s leader. Meanwhile, Yu Xiaogang accepted Tang San as his disciple and confidently expected Lin Xuan to join them, while Lin Xuan settled into his new dormitory.

• Lin Xuan registered at the administrative office, received his Dorm Seven tag, and was assigned to sweep leaves for ten Copper Soul Coins a day.
• Yu Xiaogang accepted Tang San as his disciple, gave him the Twenty-Four Bridge Moonlit Night, and told him to return that evening to learn the Meditation Method.
• Yu Xiaogang told Tang San that Lin Xuan would eventually become his junior fellow disciple, and Tang San agreed that Lin Xuan would recognize Yu Xiaogang’s wisdom.
• Lin Xuan reached Dorm Seven, where Wang Sheng challenged him for the right to lead the dormitory.
• Lin Xuan used a Clear Mind Talisman and his fighting skills to throw Wang Sheng, who conceded and named him the new boss of Dorm Seven.
• Lin Xuan asked the other students to call him by name, then returned to the dormitory and made his bed.

Lin Xuan fought Xiao Wu for control of Dorm Seven and used a Clear Mind Talisman to help defeat her with close-quarters grappling. Tang San watched Lin Xuan’s skill with growing interest and wondered whether his Martial Soul was connected to the Daoist Sect’s Talismans.

• Tang San arrived at Dorm Seven, declined to challenge Lin Xuan for leadership, and privately planned to recruit him into the Tang Sect.
• Xiao Wu arrived, challenged Lin Xuan, and demanded that the winner lead Dorm Seven.
• Lin Xuan activated a Clear Mind Talisman before the fight, sharpening his awareness as he dodged Xiao Wu’s attacks.
• Lin Xuan used Xiao Wu’s momentum against her, pinned her to the ground, and won the match.
• Xiao Wu and Wang Sheng asked about Lin Xuan’s paper, while Tang San watched the fight and wondered whether Lin Xuan’s Martial Soul was Talismans.

Lin Xuan explained that his Paper Martial Soul could produce talismans and described his Clear Mind Talisman as a Self-Created Soul Skill. He drew two talismans for Xiao Wu and Tang San, and Xiao Wu activated hers.

• Tang San recognized Lin Xuan's talisman as resembling the Daoist charms he had encountered in his previous life, while Lin Xuan decided to reveal his talisman ability but keep its long-term storage secret.
• Lin Xuan told the Work-Study Students that his Paper Martial Soul had Innate Full Soul Power and that drawing on the paper activated its effects.
• Xiao Wu and Tang San both revealed that they had Innate Full Soul Power, leaving Wang Sheng and the other students astonished.
• Lin Xuan explained that his Clear Mind Talisman helped its user focus and calm down, and Tang San was impressed that he had created a usable skill without a Soul Ring.
• Lin Xuan drew two Clear Mind Talismans and gave one each to Xiao Wu and Tang San, and Xiao Wu activated hers by pressing it to her forehead.

Lin Xuan showed Xiao Wu and Tang San how his Clear Mind Talisman sharpened their senses, while Tang San tried to steer him toward Yu Xiaogang. After Xiao Wu pushed her bed beside Lin Xuan’s and shared his blanket, Tang San went to visit his teacher.

• Xiao Wu and Tang San tried Lin Xuan’s Clear Mind Talismans and praised their effects, but Lin Xuan refused Wang Sheng’s request for one.
• Tang San suggested Yu Xiaogang analyze Lin Xuan’s self-created soul skill, but Lin Xuan declined.
• Wang Sheng criticized Yu Xiaogang, and Tang San defended his teacher before leaving the dormitory.
• Lin Xuan told Wang Sheng not to gossip about Tang San’s choice of teacher.
• Xiao Wu pushed her bed beside Lin Xuan’s and insisted on sharing his blanket for the night.
• Tang San knocked on the door of a secluded courtyard and called out to his teacher.

Tang San told Yu Xiaogang about Lin Xuan’s Clear Mind Talismans, while Lin Xuan settled into academy life and watched Tang San and Xiao Wu obtain their first Soul Rings. Dean Reck then took Lin Xuan to hunt a Fire-Maned Lizard, and Lin Xuan absorbed its 380-year Soul Ring, reaching level eleven.

• Tang San reported Lin Xuan’s talisman ability to Yu Xiaogang, who concluded that Lin Xuan had unusually strong Spiritual Power and was likely to become a rare support-type Soul Master.
• Xiao Wu woke up clinging to Lin Xuan in his bed, then fled in embarrassment after realizing where she was.
• Lin Xuan studied the academy’s basic Meditation Method and spent the next several days cultivating, drawing talismans, and doing his Work-Study Student chores.
• Xiao Wu returned with a Soul Ring, and Dean Reck arrived to take Lin Xuan to hunt his first Soul Beast.
• Reck subdued a 380-year-old Fire-Maned Lizard, and Lin Xuan killed it and absorbed its yellow Soul Ring.
• Lin Xuan reached level eleven, felt fire-attribute warmth in his fingertips, and thanked Reck.

After absorbing a 380-year Fire-Maned Lizard Soul Ring, Lin Xuan unlocked three fire Talismans and tested their abilities. He returned to Dorm Seven, where Xiao Wu eagerly volunteered to try one the next day.

• Lin Xuan inspected the Primal Beginning Talisman Scripture and discovered the Fireball, Fire-Controlling, and Fire-Repelling Talismans.
• Lin Xuan drew all three Talismans and tested the Fireball and Fire-Controlling Talismans, finding he could make at least six Talismans with his current reserves.
• Xiao Wu waited for Lin Xuan in Dorm Seven and asked about his Soul Ring and new Talismans.
• Lin Xuan explained that others could use his fire Talismans, and Xiao Wu asked him to attach one to her so she could fight with flaming legs.
• Xiao Wu fell asleep beside Lin Xuan, who planned to test the Fire-Controlling Talisman's enchanting effect on her the next day.

After Wang Sheng reported that Xiao Chenyu had beaten Work-Study Students, Lin Xuan, Xiao Wu, and Tang San confronted him in the square. Xiao Wu challenged Xiao Chenyu, and Lin Xuan placed the Clear Mind Talisman and Fire-Controlling Talisman on her, leaving her surrounded by harmless flames before the fight began.

• Wang Sheng told Lin Xuan that Xiao Chenyu had beaten him and was bullying two other Work-Study Students.
• Lin Xuan, Xiao Wu, Tang San, and Wang Sheng went to the square and found Xiao Chenyu taunting the two students he had beaten.
• Xiao Chenyu challenged Lin Xuan, Xiao Wu, and Tang San to fight him and threatened to make Xiao Wu his maid if they lost.
• Xiao Wu accepted the challenge and asked Lin Xuan to use his soul skill on her.
• Lin Xuan created a Clear Mind Talisman and a Fire-Controlling Talisman and placed both on Xiao Wu, surrounding her with flames that did not burn her.

Lin Xuan’s talismans let Xiao Wu defeat Xiao Chenyu and his two lackeys, impressing Tang San with their support power. The group then went to a secluded clearing so Xiao Wu could test the Fire-Controlling Talisman against Tang San’s Blue Silver Grass.

• Lin Xuan placed the Clear Mind and Fire-Controlling Talismans on Xiao Wu, who activated her Soft Bone Rabbit Martial Soul and faced Xiao Chenyu’s group.
• Xiao Wu used her Waist Bow and flame-enhanced attacks to defeat Liu Long and Ling Feng, then slammed Xiao Chenyu to the ground and burned him.
• Tang San recognized how much the talismans increased Xiao Wu’s combat strength and resolved to recruit Lin Xuan into the Tang Sect.
• Xiao Wu drew in the flames by restraining her Soul Power, while Lin Xuan asked Tang San to help measure the Fire-Controlling Talisman’s effect on his Blue Silver Grass.
• Lin Xuan, Xiao Wu, and Tang San went to a secluded clearing to conduct the test, while Lin Xuan sent the injured Wang Sheng to get treated.

Lin Xuan’s Fire-Controlling Talisman boosted Tang San’s Blue Silver Grass, and Tang San measured the increase at about twenty percent. Xiao Wu learned that Lin Xuan’s support exceeded the usual standard and eagerly offered to protect him.

• Xiao Wu burned through Tang San’s Blue Silver Grass with repeated kicks, revealing its vulnerability to the Fire-Controlling Talisman’s flames.
• Tang San asked Lin Xuan to apply a Fire-Controlling Talisman to him so they could test its effect without relying on Xiao Wu’s kicks.
• Tang San struck a tree with his flame-enhanced Blue Silver Grass and estimated that the talisman increased its power by about twenty percent.
• Tang San compared Lin Xuan’s boost with Yu Xiaogang’s theory and realized it matched the level of a one-ring Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda.
• Xiao Wu learned how powerful Lin Xuan’s support was and offered to protect him while he supported her.

Lin Xuan accepted Tang San’s offer of help, and Xiao Wu arranged for her and Tang San to teach him combat skills. That night, Lin Xuan considered whether Tang San might someday become his ally while continuing to observe him and Yu Xiaogang.

• Tang San offered to help Lin Xuan, and Lin Xuan accepted his goodwill.
• Xiao Wu realized Lin Xuan could use his Fire-Controlling Talisman on himself and offered to teach him basic fighting skills.
• Tang San agreed to teach Lin Xuan practical close-combat techniques, and Xiao Wu scheduled lessons with both of them each afternoon.
• Xiao Wu and Lin Xuan went to the dining hall, where Lin Xuan bought her two carrots while Tang San considered Lin Xuan worth befriending.
• Back at Dorm Seven, Lin Xuan wondered whether Tang San could eventually break with Yu Xiaogang and become his ally, but decided to keep watching him.

Yu Xiaogang struggled to decide whether Lin Xuan’s Innate Full Soul Power meant he had Twin Martial Souls or a powerful Paper Martial Soul. After Tang San asked Lin Xuan about it during training, Lin Xuan challenged Yu Xiaogang’s own theory by pointing to his stalled cultivation.

• Yu Xiaogang reviewed Lin Xuan’s twenty-percent soul-skill boost and reconsidered his theory that Innate Full Soul Power with an ordinary Martial Soul indicated Twin Martial Souls.
• Yu Xiaogang recorded that Lin Xuan might instead have a single, high-quality Martial Soul, leaving the question unresolved.
• The next afternoon, Tang San taught Lin Xuan close-combat techniques before leaving to work at the Blacksmith Shop.
• Tang San asked Lin Xuan whether he truly had only one Martial Soul, and Lin Xuan reaffirmed that he did.
• Lin Xuan questioned Tang San about Yu Xiaogang’s saying that there were no worthless Martial Souls, then asked what Yu Xiaogang’s own level-two-nine stagnation made him.

Lin Xuan challenged Tang San’s faith in Yu Xiaogang by pointing out the contradiction between Yu Xiaogang’s theory and his own level-29 bottleneck. After spending the day training with Xiao Wu, Tang San ended the chapter considering asking Yu Xiaogang why he had never broken through level thirty.

• Lin Xuan argued that Yu Xiaogang’s inability to pass level twenty-nine undermined his theory that no Martial Souls were useless, and Tang San left to work at the forge without responding.
• Lin Xuan continued storing Soul Power in Fireball Talismans as his trump card.
• Xiao Wu arrived to train Lin Xuan in combining a side kick with a sweep, then said she also disliked Yu Xiaogang and wondered why Tang San trusted him.
• Tang San replayed Lin Xuan’s criticism while working at the Blacksmith Shop and recognized the contradiction between Yu Xiaogang’s theory and his level-29 bottleneck.
• Tang San decided he would ask Yu Xiaogang why he had never broken through level thirty.

Lin Xuan finished his first semester at Notting Academy with more than fifteen hundred Fireball Talismans hidden beneath his bed and agreed to travel to Holy Soul Village with Xiao Wu and Tang San. Meanwhile, Tang Hao confronted Yu Xiaogang at night and revealed his identity as the Clear Sky Douluo.

• Lin Xuan trained with Tang San and Xiao Wu for the rest of the semester and improved his martial techniques.
• Lin Xuan secretly drew five Fireball Talismans each night, stockpiling more than fifteen hundred beneath his bed by the end of the semester.
• After classes ended, Lin Xuan agreed to let Xiao Wu accompany him to Holy Soul Village, and Tang San joined their trip planned for the next morning.
• Tang Hao appeared in Yu Xiaogang's room, presented a Papal Decree, and identified himself as the Clear Sky Douluo.

Tang Hao revealed to Yu Xiaogang that Tang San was his son and instructed him to help Tang San befriend Xiao Wu and Lin Xuan. Lin Xuan brought Xiao Wu and Tang San to Holy Soul Village, where Tang San found his father gone and Xiao Wu settled into an empty house beside Lin Xuan's.

• Tang Hao told Yu Xiaogang that Tang San was his son, gave him the Papal Decree, and asked him to help Tang San get along with Xiao Wu and Lin Xuan.
• At dawn, Lin Xuan and Xiao Wu joined Tang San on the walk to Holy Soul Village, where Xiao Wu planned to stay for the break.
• Lin Xuan introduced Xiao Wu to Old Jack, who welcomed her and learned that Tang Hao had left the village without returning.
• Tang San told Lin Xuan and Xiao Wu that his father had left a note saying not to look for him, and they reassured him before Old Jack served them lunch.
• Lin Xuan helped Xiao Wu clean and furnish the empty house next door, and Xiao Wu thanked him before falling asleep.

Over five years at Notting Academy, Lin Xuan reached level thirty-five and developed powerful fire, wind, and ice talismans, while Tang San and Xiao Wu also advanced with his help. As the three prepared to leave for Shrek Academy, Yu Xiaogang remained convinced Lin Xuan would eventually become his disciple.

• Lin Xuan trained and sparred with Tang San and Xiao Wu during the holidays before the three returned to Notting Academy.
• Over five years, Lin Xuan reached level thirty-five, gained wind and ice Soul Rings, and evolved his Fireball and Wind Blade Talismans.
• Lin Xuan accumulated thousands of attack talismans and continued giving Tang San and Xiao Wu Clear Mind Talismans.
• Tang San reached level thirty-one and gained a third Soul Ring from a Nether Spider, while Xiao Wu reached level thirty-three.
• Yu Xiaogang stayed away from Lin Xuan under Tang Hao's instructions but expected Lin Xuan to become his disciple after joining Shrek Academy.

After graduating from Notting Academy, Lin Xuan agreed to travel to Shrek Academy with Tang San and Xiao Wu, partly to keep Xiao Wu safe from Tang Hao. Yu Xiaogang learned that Lin Xuan was coming and hoped Shrek’s training would finally persuade him to become his disciple.

• Tang San invited Lin Xuan and Xiao Wu to join him at Shrek Academy, and Lin Xuan agreed after Xiao Wu said she would follow him.
• Lin Xuan challenged Tang San to reconsider Yu Xiaogang’s claim that there were no useless Martial Souls, while Xiao Wu dismissed the Grandmaster and asked whether Shrek would be fun.
• Lin Xuan decided Shrek was the safest place for Xiao Wu while Tang Hao watched Tang San, and he and Xiao Wu debated how they would afford their expenses.
• The three packed their belongings, and Lin Xuan checked his large stock of talismans before Tang San went to inform Yu Xiaogang.
• Yu Xiaogang learned that Lin Xuan had agreed to attend Shrek and planned to use the academy’s combat training and his tactical expertise to win Lin Xuan over as a disciple.