Ch. 301Plane Spirit

Key plot points and events

  • After Tian Chen leaves, Mu En doubts whether appointing him Pavilion Master was wise, but wonders how Tian Chen will lead Shrek.
  • Inside the Golden Tree, Tian Chen meets the being that has repeatedly summoned him: the plane spirit of Douluo Continent. It admits that it has been draining Tian Chen’s soul power for years, using the strength of his Blood Emperor Body Martial Soul to resist Tang Hao’s attempt to seize control of the plane.
  • The plane spirit explains that Tang San is the ultimate threat and asks Tian Chen to help defeat him. Tian Chen agrees, since he already intends to oppose Tang San.
  • To make law power easier to use, the plane spirit teaches Tian Chen to store it in simulated Soul Rings. Tian Chen begins condensing the rings himself, with the plane spirit’s assistance.
  • At a Sea God Pavilion meeting, Xian Lin’er reports that Shrek’s group was ambushed by powerful Evil Soul Masters but survived thanks to Tian Chen’s allies, including a Limit Douluo and two Super Douluos. Mu En recognizes how valuable their support could be to Shrek.
  • Mu En conceals what he knows about the Holy Spirit Cult, promising only to investigate. He then punishes Xuan Zi for abusing his duties to pursue a personal grudge against Tian Chen, ordering him into confinement.
  • At the Holy Spirit Cult, Ye Xishui angrily confronts Zhang Peng over the failed mission and the loss of an offering elder. Long Xiaoyao confirms that the attackers included an unfamiliar Limit Douluo with ultimate ice and reveals that Tian Chen has six Hundred Thousand Year Soul Rings and a Soul Core.

Character developments and interactions

  • Tian Chen is understandably angry at the plane spirit for secretly slowing his cultivation, but accepts its explanation and training once he learns the larger danger and gains a practical way to use law power.
  • The plane spirit shifts from a self-interested, secretive force to a reluctant ally, depending on Tian Chen to counter Tang San.
  • Mu En becomes more confident that Tian Chen’s connections may help protect Shrek, while continuing to keep his knowledge of the Holy Spirit Cult to himself.
  • Xuan Zi remains resentful despite being disciplined, and his hatred of Tian Chen deepens.
  • Ye Xishui responds to the failed operation with fury and intimidation. Zhongli Wu tries to calm her but is sharply rebuffed; Long Xiaoyao’s account gives her—and the gathered cult leaders—reason to take Tian Chen and his allies more seriously.

Significant themes

  • Power and its costs: Tian Chen’s growth has been slowed without his consent, raising questions of fairness even when the sacrifice served a broader purpose.
  • Hidden threats and alliances: Conflicts over control of the plane connect Tian Chen’s personal fortunes to the struggle against Tang San and the Holy Spirit Cult.
  • Duty versus personal grievance: Mu En condemns Xuan Zi for letting resentment corrupt his responsibilities.
  • Leadership and uncertainty: Mu En weighs Tian Chen’s potential as Shrek’s leader while Shrek’s future depends increasingly on outside support.

Ch. 302Du Busi Attacks

Key plot points and events

  • Long Xiaoyao reports that Tian Chen possesses six hundred-thousand-year soul rings, a condensed soul core, and a secret technique that briefly let him reach Super Douluo strength—and even suppress Long Xiaoyao. The elders of the Holy Spirit Cult are stunned.
  • Ye Xishui explains that Tian Chen’s martial soul seemed to overwhelm her Blood Soul Demon Puppet. She suspects it is a legendary god-level evil martial soul and believes he may be the long-sought holy son. Since Long Xiaoyao is protecting him, she decides they must wait for another chance to capture him.
  • At Shrek’s Golden Tree, Tian Chen successfully manifests a scarlet-gold fire-law soul ring. The Plane Spirit says its energy rivals a Million-Year Soul Ring, though creating further law rings will be increasingly difficult.
  • After days of cultivation, Tian Chen’s companions have advanced substantially: Tang Ya, Jiang Nannan, and Wang Dong’er reach Level 60, while Tian Qiu’er nears the Seven-Ring Soul Sage realm.
  • Du Busi and the Body Sect arrive at Shrek, demanding that the Academy hand over Tian Chen. Tian Chen explains that the sect claims all body-martial-soul users as its disciples and has a special technique for awakening those martial souls a second time.
  • Du Busi transforms using his gold-level awakened body martial soul and threatens to destroy Shrek. He easily drives back Elder Song and Elder Lin. As he demands to know why Shrek’s Xuan Zi has not appeared, Xuan Zi arrives to confront him.

Character developments

  • Tian Chen continues developing his unusual powers, successfully creating his first law soul ring. He remains calm when the Body Sect comes for him and explains its motives to his friends.
  • Ye Xishui becomes more convinced of Tian Chen’s extraordinary importance, viewing him as both a potential holy son and an asset the cult must eventually secure.
  • Du Busi is portrayed as intensely determined to recruit Tian Chen, whose abilities and body martial soul make him an exceptional prize for the Body Sect.
  • Tian Chen’s companions show growing strength and concern for him, with several reaching a major cultivation milestone.

Significant themes

  • Power and exceptional talent: Tian Chen’s rare abilities attract powerful organizations and make him a target as well as a potential ally.
  • Protection versus control: The Body Sect presents its claim over body-martial-soul users as support and instruction, but Du Busi’s threats reveal its coercive side.
  • Rival factions and shifting loyalties: Both the Holy Spirit Cult and the Body Sect seek Tian Chen for their own purposes, while Shrek stands between them.
  • Gradual growth: Tian Chen’s new power is immense, but the Plane Spirit emphasizes that further progress will require patience.

Character interactions

  • Long Xiaoyao’s candid report shocks the Holy Spirit Cult elders; Zhou Bojun backs up his account, while Ye Xishui explains her suspicions and plans.
  • Tian Qiu’er reassures the others that Tian Chen is safe, and his companions gather around him when he emerges from the Golden Tree.
  • Tian Chen tells the girls why the Body Sect wants him and describes its second-awakening system, prompting their surprise.
  • Du Busi confronts Shrek’s elders, dismisses their authority, and attacks when they refuse to hand Tian Chen over. The chapter ends as Xuan Zi arrives to face him.

Ch. 303Taking On Four Titled Douluo Alone

Chapter summary

  • Du Busi confronts Shrek: The Body Sect leader arrives demanding that Shrek hand over Tian Chen. Xuan Zi refuses, and the two level-98 Titled Douluo trade a brutal, fist-only round. Du Busi claims his superior soul-ring configuration gives him the advantage and threatens to use poison.
  • Tian Chen intervenes: He flies in despite Xian Lin’er urging him to stay back. Du Busi is immediately impressed by Tian Chen’s body and strength, declaring him perfectly suited to the Body Sect and offering him the position of future sect master, along with any resources or techniques he wants.
  • Tian Chen proposes a trial by combat: He refuses to be persuaded by rewards and reveals six red soul rings. He challenges four Body Sect elders below level 95, promising to consider joining if they can withstand ten moves or defeat him. Du Busi accepts, expecting the elders to expose Tian Chen’s overconfidence.
  • The fight begins: The four opponents are Kuang Quan, a fist martial-soul user; Xu Yao, whose martial soul is his eyes; Mo Hai, who uses bones; and Gu Liuli, whose Glazed Heart creates binding chains. Their soul-ring configurations are unusually strong.
  • Tian Chen takes the initiative: Kuang Quan’s fist attacks are cut apart by Tian Chen’s Blood Demon Saber Technique. Tian Chen then counters with multiple blades; Mo Hai’s bone defense shatters, forcing all four elders back. Tian Chen calmly counts the first move. Mo Hai and Gu Liuli launch their next attacks as the chapter ends.

Character developments and interactions

  • Tian Chen displays confidence and independence: he refuses both Shrek’s protection and Du Busi’s offers, choosing to prove his strength on his own terms. His playful confidence also shows in his flirtatious wink at Xian Lin’er.
  • Du Busi shifts from threatening Shrek to eagerly recruiting Tian Chen. His admiration borders on obsession, and he sees Tian Chen as the Body Sect’s ideal heir.
  • Xuan Zi stands firm against Du Busi despite their equally high cultivation, demonstrating Shrek’s refusal to surrender its students.
  • Xian Lin’er is protective of Tian Chen, but his teasing catches her off guard.
  • The four elders initially approach the fight with confidence and respect, but Tian Chen’s opening counterattacks immediately challenge their assumptions.

Significant themes

  • Strength and self-determination: Tian Chen insists that his choices be settled through a test of ability, not promises or pressure.
  • Loyalty and protection: Shrek refuses to hand over a student, even when faced with a powerful rival.
  • Legacy and belonging: Du Busi views Tian Chen as the Body Sect’s potential successor, while Tian Chen remains unconvinced by the status and rewards offered.

Ch. 304Emperor Blood Explosion

Key plot points and events

  • Tian Chen clashes with four Body Sect fighters: Kuang Quan, Mo Hai, Gu Liuli, and Xu Yao. He breaks Kuang Quan’s heart-linked restraint with Voidless Shaking Domain, then wounds Kuang Quan and Mo Hai.
  • The four activate their martial-soul second awakenings, but Tian Chen counters with the Blood Soul Nine Heavens Transformation, strengthening himself to an extraordinary level.
  • Fighting in the sky gives Tian Chen an advantage: he draws power from the storm and uses blood demon heart-devouring thunder to overwhelm Kuang Quan and pressure Mo Hai’s bone defenses. He also suppresses Gu Liuli’s restorative domain with his Double Pupils.
  • Mo Hai and Gu Liuli mount a coordinated attack while Xu Yao prepares a spiritual strike. Tian Chen defeats all three: his fire law burns through the pair’s attacks, and his Destruction Divine Light shatters Xu Yao’s spiritual assault.
  • Though badly beaten, the three refuse to surrender, hoping to secure the Body Sect’s future by capturing Tian Chen. Tian Chen answers with Emperor Blood Explosion, unleashing ultimate fire as the chapter ends.

Character developments and interactions

  • Tian Chen demonstrates tactical foresight, overwhelming power, and growing command of new abilities—including fire law. He deliberately chooses the sky as the battlefield to exploit the storm.
  • Kuang Quan, Mo Hai, Gu Liuli, and Xu Yao coordinate increasingly powerful techniques but are individually and collectively outmatched. Their determination persists despite defeat.
  • Du Busi catches the injured Kuang Quan and reassures him that the failure is not his fault. Impressed by Tian Chen’s vastly superior body martial soul, he privately resolves to recruit him.

Significant themes

  • Strategy and environment: Tian Chen’s choice of battlefield turns the weather into a weapon.
  • Power and potential: His strength suggests he could become a major force, prompting Du Busi to consider the Body Sect’s future.
  • Loyalty and sacrifice: The defeated fighters are willing to die for their sect’s prospects.
  • Escalation and uncertainty: Despite Tian Chen’s apparent victory, the opponents’ refusal to yield leads into a climactic new attack.

Ch. 305Negotiating Terms

Key plot points and events

  • Du Busi tries to take Tian Chen to the Body Sect after the battle. Tian Chen’s Emperor Blood Explosion detonates while Du Busi is holding him, but Du Busi shields the others and survives unharmed.
  • Song Yunzhi carries Tian Chen to safety and tells Du Busi to leave. Du Busi refuses, saying he will use force if necessary.
  • Mu En reveals himself through the Sea God’s Light. Du Busi recognizes the Dragon God Douluo, but insists the Body Sect cannot abandon Tian Chen, whom he sees as the sect’s future. He prepares for a last stand.
  • Tian Chen, recovered enough to intervene, urges everyone to stop fighting and proposes a conversation over a drink. Du Busi agrees, and they move to the Sea God Pavilion.
  • Students who witnessed the confrontation are impressed by Tian Chen’s strength. The incident also boosts interest in his faction, the Soul Hall.
  • During negotiations, Tian Chen reminds Du Busi of his promise to accept several conditions if Tian Chen won. Tian Chen asks for territory in the Heaven Dou Empire and permission for two girls, Susu and Luo Luo, to study at the Body Sect. Du Busi readily agrees to the land request and listens to the second condition.

Character developments

  • Tian Chen shows both immense power and composure: after surviving an explosive attack and exhausting himself, he chooses negotiation over further violence. He also uses Du Busi’s eagerness to secure practical benefits.
  • Du Busi is revealed as fiercely devoted to his sect’s survival and willing to risk a fight with Mu En. Yet Tian Chen’s unexpected offer to talk softens his resolve, and he becomes cooperative.
  • Mu En reasserts his authority and protects Shrek Academy, while showing restraint by offering Du Busi a chance to leave without punishment.
  • Song Yunzhi acts quickly to rescue Tian Chen and defend the Academy’s position.

Significant themes

  • Conflict versus negotiation: Tian Chen breaks a dangerous standoff by proposing conversation rather than combat.
  • Legacy and survival: Du Busi’s determination comes from the Body Sect’s need for a successor and future.
  • Power and influence: Tian Chen’s strength inspires students and raises the Soul Hall’s reputation, while his victory gives him leverage in negotiations.

Character interactions

  • Du Busi’s clash with Song Yunzhi escalates until Mu En intervenes, forcing Du Busi to confront the limits of his power.
  • Tian Chen’s calm, respectful approach changes Du Busi’s mood and turns a near-battle into a negotiation.
  • At the Sea God Pavilion, Tian Chen invokes their wager, while Du Busi—eager to recruit him—readily accepts the first condition and prepares to hear the next.

Ch. 306Princess Vina

Key plot points and events

  • Tian Chen introduces his lovers, Lan Susu and Lan Luoluo, to Body Sect leader Du Busi and asks him to take them in so they can learn to develop their hair-based body martial souls.
  • Du Busi initially doubts the sisters’ potential because hair martial souls are generally considered weak. Tian Chen argues that a martial soul’s user matters as much as its innate quality, and Du agrees to help them.
  • When Du invites Tian Chen to name his final condition, Tian Chen asks to meet Princess Vina. Du is alarmed: Vina is both a Body Sect disciple and a Heaven Dou princess, and she is close to Du’s favored disciple, Long Aotian.
  • Du tries to persuade Tian Chen to visit the sect first, but Tian Chen refuses to be drawn into a vague promise.
  • Tian Chen offers Du a rare soul core from a Heavenly Poison Scorpion Dragon Beast, claiming it could help him stabilize a second soul core and reach Limit Douluo. Du is tempted but says he must consult others.
  • Tian Chen gives Susu and Luoluo medicinal resources to support their cultivation. They happily accept and kiss him, explaining that they want to build strength through their own effort and stand beside him.

Character developments

  • Tian Chen shows confidence in his ability to negotiate, using both persuasion and a valuable treasure to press his request. He also recognizes the limits of his own expertise and supports the sisters’ independent growth.
  • Du Busi shifts from dismissing the sisters’ martial souls to agreeing to cultivate their potential, though his response to Tian Chen’s request for Vina is constrained by loyalty and political obligations. His ambition to reach Limit Douluo makes the soul core powerfully tempting.
  • Susu and Luoluo demonstrate affection for Tian Chen while expressing a desire for independence, mastery, and strength of their own.
  • Vina, though absent, is established as important to the Body Sect, the Heaven Dou Empire, and Long Aotian.

Significant themes

  • Potential versus reputation: A martial soul’s apparent quality does not determine what its user can achieve.
  • Self-reliance and growth: The sisters want to develop their abilities rather than rely solely on Tian Chen.
  • Power and bargaining: Tian Chen uses a rare resource to influence Du, while Du must weigh personal ambition against duty.
  • Politics and relationships: Vina’s romantic and political ties make a seemingly personal request consequential.

Character interactions

  • Tian Chen and Du Busi negotiate over the sisters’ training and Vina’s introduction, with Tian Chen challenging Du’s assumptions and refusing his attempt to postpone the issue.
  • Du’s concern for Vina, Long Aotian, and the Heaven Dou Empire complicates his willingness to help.
  • Tian Chen’s affectionate exchange with Susu and Luoluo reinforces their bond, while their stated goal of becoming strong underscores their independence.

Ch. 307Mingde Hall

Key plot points and events

  • The Body Sect leaders discuss Tian Chen’s offer to help Du Busi complete a second soul core. Du Busi is torn between Long Aotian, whom he regards like a son, and the chance to recruit Tian Chen, whose talent and resources could greatly strengthen the sect. He plans to consult the emperor and asks Yun Xi to find out what Vina wants.
  • Back at Shrek’s Sea God Pavilion, the elders have departed, impressed by Tian Chen’s victory. His teacher, Xian Lin’er, embraces him and praises his strength.
  • Cai Mei’er privately challenges Xian Lin’er over her closeness to Tian Chen. Their exchange reveals that both women are attracted to him, and Cai Mei’er regrets not pursuing him sooner.
  • Mu En watches the scene and concludes that Tian Chen has the power and political skill to lead the Sea God Pavilion. He hopes Tian Chen will not retaliate against Bei Bei and trusts that his ties to Lin’er will keep him from harming Shrek.
  • At Mingde Hall, Jing Hongchen and other Soul Engineers study footage of Tian Chen’s unusual Soul Tools. They determine the devices are beyond Shrek’s likely capabilities and suspect they come from Tian Chen’s mysterious faction, Soul Hall. Jing Hongchen resolves to visit Shrek and investigate the technology.

Character developments and interactions

  • Du Busi remains conflicted: affection for Long Aotian competes with his recognition that Tian Chen could transform the Body Sect’s strength.
  • Yun Xi is wary of Tian Chen as a prospective match for Vina, despite acknowledging his exceptional ability.
  • Xian Lin’er and Cai Mei’er trade jealous, provocative remarks, each privately considering a relationship with Tian Chen.
  • Mu En shifts toward supporting Tian Chen as Sea God Pavilion Master, judging him capable of combining strength with strategy.
  • Jing Hongchen moves from curiosity to a determined effort to acquire or understand Soul Hall’s technology.

Significant themes

  • Talent versus loyalty: The Body Sect weighs its long-standing bonds against the advantages of recruiting Tian Chen.
  • Power and leadership: Tian Chen’s strength and cunning persuade even cautious figures that he may be suited to lead.
  • Political maneuvering and rivalry: Personal jealousy and institutional competition shape how characters respond to him.
  • Technological advancement: Tian Chen’s Soul Tools reveal a gap in knowledge and power, prompting Mingde Hall to seek access to their source.

Ch. 308Jing Hongchen's Plans

Plot points and events

  • Jing Hongchen learns more about Tian Chen from Elder Ma, including his interest in soul-tool technology. He considers trying to recruit him, but becomes alarmed when he hears that Meng Hongchen has fallen for him.
  • A subordinate suggests exploiting Meng’s feelings to obtain Tian Chen’s technology. Jing immediately strikes him down, rejecting the idea of using his granddaughter that way.
  • Jing questions Meng about Tian Chen. She admits she likes him and defends his many girlfriends, praising his kindness and generosity.
  • Remembering the extraordinary soul rings Tian Chen gave his companions, Jing realizes his methods might help cure Meng’s painful cold-poison condition.
  • Jing warns Meng that she barely knows Tian Chen and that their political loyalties could put them on opposite sides. Meng says she will remain loyal to her own faction but would face Tian Chen honorably rather than demand that he join it.
  • Jing agrees not to forbid the relationship and proposes visiting the Soul Hall when it publicly reveals itself in a month. The visit will let him assess Tian Chen—and pursue its soul-tool designs and technology.

Character developments and interactions

  • Jing Hongchen is protective of Meng and refuses to treat her affection as a tool. Though suspicious of Tian Chen’s background and romantic history, he becomes more open after considering his character and the possibility that his techniques could help Meng.
  • Meng Hongchen is openly infatuated with Tian Chen, viewing his many relationships positively. She also shows resolve and loyalty, refusing to betray her faction or pressure him to abandon his.
  • Elder Ma reports both Tian Chen’s background and Meng’s feelings, while another official’s opportunistic proposal provokes Jing’s anger.
  • The affectionate bond between Jing and Meng is clear: he worries over her, listens to her, and ultimately allows her to make her own choice.

Significant themes

  • Family protection and autonomy: Jing wants to shield Meng but recognizes that he should not dictate her romantic choices.
  • Love and political loyalty: Meng’s feelings may conflict with the obligations of her faction, yet she insists on handling any conflict honorably.
  • Technology, power, and ambition: Jing’s interest in Tian Chen is partly strategic, since soul-tool technology could benefit Mingde Hall and potentially strengthen its position.
  • Care versus exploitation: Jing’s rejection of using Meng to obtain technology contrasts with his own calculated interest in visiting the Soul Hall.

Ch. 309Seeing Zhang Lexuan Again

Key plot points and events

  • Two weeks after Du Busi’s attack, Tian Chen has been making powered armor and condensing rings of law. He has completed his second law ring, though his Soul Power is still too low to finish the rest.
  • With the Blood Emperor Body now holding two Soul Rings, he decides it is time to obtain its Seventh Soul Ring.
  • Tian Chen encounters Elder Mu, who interprets his polite manner as a sign that he has let go of his resentment toward Bei Bei. Tian Chen privately makes clear that he has not forgotten his promise to someone.
  • He visits Zhang Lexuan, embraces her, and comforts her over the slow progress of her cultivation and her desire for revenge.
  • He gives her a luminous Starlight Gauze Garment. Moved by its beauty, Zhang Lexuan puts it on, and Tian Chen invites her to dance. They share a close, graceful dance that ends with Zhang Lexuan in his arms.

Character developments

  • Tian Chen remains ambitious and focused on building his technology-based Soul Hall, while using charm and affection to strengthen his relationships. His outward respect for Mu En conceals unresolved intentions.
  • Zhang Lexuan is exhausted by the difficulty of advancing beyond rank eighty and driven by revenge. Though initially resentful of Tian Chen’s attention to other women, she responds warmly to his reassurance and thoughtful gift, allowing herself to be emotionally vulnerable with him.
  • Mu En believes Tian Chen may have softened toward Bei Bei and hopes the two can coexist, but this confidence appears misplaced.

Significant themes

  • Ambition and preparation: Tian Chen’s engineering and cultivation work are both steps toward larger plans.
  • Affection and jealousy: Zhang Lexuan’s frustration with Tian Chen’s other partners coexists with her pleasure at being reassured that she is special.
  • Trust and hidden motives: Tian Chen’s courteous behavior toward Mu En masks his continuing resolve.
  • Comfort and vulnerability: The gift and dance offer Zhang Lexuan a rare respite from her exhausting pursuit of revenge.

Character interactions

  • Tian Chen respectfully reassures Mu En, who leaves believing their relationship has improved.
  • With Zhang Lexuan, Tian Chen shifts from teasing affection to comfort, gives her a celestial garment, and leads her through her first partner dance. Their closeness deepens as the dance ends with her looking softly at him.

Ch. 310Sky City

Key plot points and events

  • Tian Chen and Zhang Lexuan confess their love and become lovers. Zhang, previously anxious about being forced into a match with Bei Bei, feels relieved that she has chosen someone she trusts.
  • They discuss Mu En’s attempts to pair Zhang with Bei Bei and pressure her to bear Bei Bei a child. Zhang has kept her discovery of the past hidden because she knows she cannot yet challenge Mu En.
  • Tian Chen promises to protect her and hints that his plans include opposing Mu En and Bei Bei. Zhang agrees to support him, while privately wondering whether she might already be pregnant.
  • After leaving Zhang, Tian Chen receives a system reward for winning her affection: Sky City, a technologically advanced city suspended in the air.
  • Cai Mei’er tells Tian Chen that Ning Tian’s father and members of the Clear Sky Sect have arrived and want to see him. She is hurt that Tian Chen has not acknowledged their past intimacy, but a private message in which he calls her “darling” leaves her delighted.

Character developments and interactions

  • Zhang Lexuan moves from guarded uncertainty to committed trust in Tian Chen. She is willing to help with his plans and considers having a child with him, though she worries about concealing it from Mu En.
  • Tian Chen deepens his bond with Zhang while asserting that his backing makes him a threat to Mu En. He also maintains an unresolved, flirtatious connection with Cai Mei’er.
  • Cai Mei’er reveals that she feels neglected and wants Tian Chen to recognize their relationship; his affectionate message reassures her.
  • Zhang and Tian Chen discuss Mu En and Bei Bei directly, while Tian Chen’s brief exchange with Cai Mei’er shifts from awkwardness to renewed warmth.

Significant themes

  • Love and trust: Zhang’s commitment is framed as a choice made freely, in contrast to the political and familial pressures around her.
  • Power and inheritance: Mu En’s interest in Zhang is tied to producing a talented heir for Bei Bei’s lineage, while Tian Chen seeks to protect her and undermine Mu En’s plans.
  • Secrecy and strategy: Zhang hides her knowledge and feelings from Mu En until she is strong enough to act.
  • Competing relationships: Tian Chen’s intimacy with Zhang unfolds alongside Cai Mei’er’s expectations, setting up potential romantic tension.

Ch. 311God of Destruction: "What? I planted a wild card? How come I didn't know?"

Key plot points

  • Ning Qingxuan, sect master of the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, arrives at Shrek with Sword Douluo and Red Dragon Douluo to see his daughter Ning Tian. The Clear Sky Sect’s Niu Tian and Tai Tan are also there to see Wang Dong’er.
  • Ning Tian and Wu Feng reunite warmly with their families. When Wang Dong’er arrives holding Tian Chen’s hand, Tai Tan nearly attacks him, but Niu Tian restrains him.
  • Sword Douluo tests Tian Chen with Spiritual Power. Tian Chen resists so effectively that Sword Douluo is forced back, revealing the extraordinary strength of Tian Chen’s mind.
  • Ning Qingxuan challenges Tian Chen’s suitability for Ning Tian, objecting to his many romantic attachments. Tian Chen admits he cannot give Ning Tian exclusive devotion, but says he will not abandon those he cares for.
  • Ning Tian defends her choice, explaining that she accepts Tian Chen’s other relationships. When her father warns that this could cost her the sect-master position, she offers to give it up rather than leave Tian Chen.
  • Tian Chen promises to prove himself and boasts that becoming a god would be easy for him. His confidence, immense talent, powerful soul rings, and lightning ability convince Niu Tian and Tai Tan that he may be the God of Destruction’s mysterious “wild card”—though the God of Destruction himself apparently knows nothing about it.

Character developments and interactions

  • Ning Tian stands up to her father for the first time, choosing love over the role prepared for her and showing how deeply committed she is to Tian Chen.
  • Ning Qingxuan shifts from welcoming father to protective, angry skeptic. His concern is rooted in both his daughter’s happiness and her future as sect leader.
  • Tian Chen is confident and unapologetic about loving several people. He comforts Ning Tian and acknowledges Ning Qingxuan’s perspective while refusing to surrender his relationships.
  • Sword Douluo tests Tian Chen, then recognizes his formidable Spiritual Power; Ning Tian’s immediate protest also shows her protectiveness toward Tian Chen.
  • Tai Tan reacts aggressively to Wang Dong’er’s closeness with Tian Chen, while Niu Tian acts as the calmer, restraining older brother. Ning Tian and Wu Feng also share affectionate reunions with their fathers and grandfathers.

Significant themes

  • Love versus duty: Ning Tian must choose between her relationship and the future her father planned for her.
  • Acceptance and nonexclusive love: Tian Chen’s many attachments challenge conventional expectations, while Ning Tian willingly accepts them.
  • Family protection and parental expectations: Ning Qingxuan’s resistance reflects genuine love, but also the pressure of dynastic responsibility.
  • Exceptional power and destiny: Tian Chen’s abilities fuel speculation that he has a divine role, capped by the irony that the supposed divine sponsor is unaware of the plan.

Ch. 312A Clash of Intent

Key plot points

  • Tian Chen tells Ning Qingxuan that he intends to become a god and claims he could defeat the two Titled Douluos accompanying him. To prove himself, he proposes challenging each on their strongest ground; if he wins, Ning Qingxuan must accept his relationship with Ning Tian.
  • Ning Tian reveals that she and Tian Chen have already consummated their relationship, shocking her father and the two elders. Wu Feng then admits she is also Tian Chen’s partner, surprising her grandfather, Wu Yun.
  • Though angered and concerned about the sect’s reputation, Ning Qingxuan recognizes Ning Tian is unlikely to change her mind. He agrees to the test, privately asking Sword Douluo and Red Dragon Douluo to teach Tian Chen a lesson.
  • The group moves outside. Niu Tian and Tai Tan choose to observe rather than interfere, while reassuring Wang Dong’er that they will not harm Tian Chen.
  • Tian Chen faces Sword Douluo first in a contest of intent, with no Soul Skills allowed. Sword Douluo unleashes his “Myriad Swords Return to the Origin,” but Tian Chen answers with “Man and Blade as One,” using a single blade strike to cut through the incoming swords. The duel’s outcome is left unresolved.

Character developments and interactions

  • Tian Chen is confident and openly committed to Ning Tian and Wu Feng. He challenges powerful elders rather than backing down, then demonstrates formidable control and intent.
  • Ning Tian openly chooses love over family and sect expectations, despite the embarrassment and consequences of disclosing her relationship.
  • Ning Qingxuan shifts from alarm and fury toward reluctant acceptance, but insists Tian Chen prove himself before he can win his approval.
  • Wu Feng publicly acknowledges her relationship with Tian Chen, while Wu Yun reacts with surprise.
  • Sword Douluo begins dismissive but takes Tian Chen seriously after his initial attack is effortlessly dispersed; he then fights in earnest.
  • Wang Dong’er is protective of Tian Chen and initially fears the observers may attack him. Niu Tian and Tai Tan honor their promise to observe only.

Significant themes

  • Love versus family and social duty: Ning Tian and Wu Feng assert their right to choose their partners despite elders’ objections.
  • Proving worth through action: Tian Chen’s claims and relationships are tested through combat.
  • Confidence and mastery: The clash contrasts Sword Douluo’s overwhelming numbers with Tian Chen’s belief that supreme intent needs only one blade.

Ch. 313Blade Intent Against Sword Intent

Plot points and events

  • Sword Douluo is astonished to discover that Tian Chen has reached the rare state of oneness with his weapon. Their first clash shows that Tian Chen’s red blade energy can damage Sword Douluo’s Heaven-Breaking Sword.
  • Sword Douluo eagerly continues the spar, and the two unleash their weapon spirits and their respective intents: Sword Douluo’s Heaven-Breaking Sword Intent against Tian Chen’s Slaughter Blade Intent.
  • Tian Chen’s Emperor-Slaying Ghost Blood Blade and Blood Demon Saber Technique gradually overpower Sword Douluo, forcing him back. Sword Douluo then reveals his sword-intent domain, but Tian Chen counters with a domain of his own.
  • After an hour of fighting, Tian Chen’s pressure destabilizes Sword Douluo’s weapon. Tian Chen’s “Blood Blade Soul-Sunder” cracks it, prompting Sword Douluo to activate his Martial Soul Avatar—an apparent breach of the match’s rules.
  • Sword Douluo concedes defeat, acknowledging Tian Chen’s strength. Before Tian Chen can fight Wu Yun, Ning Xuanqing ends the contest and concedes on the sect’s behalf. He agrees not to oppose Tian Chen’s relationship with Ning Tian.

Character developments

  • Tian Chen demonstrates extraordinary weapon mastery, a powerful martial soul, and a blade-intent domain despite his youth. His victory establishes him as a genuine peer—or superior—in combat.
  • Sword Douluo begins by testing Tian Chen, but soon fights out of genuine admiration and competitive pride. He accepts defeat honestly and without resentment.
  • Ning Xuanqing shifts from evaluating Tian Chen to accepting his talent and relationship with Ning Tian once Sword Douluo is defeated.
  • Ning Tian is relieved by the decision and openly embraces Tian Chen.

Significant themes

  • Mastery and age: Tian Chen’s exceptional skill challenges assumptions about what a young fighter can achieve.
  • Respect through combat: The duel becomes a contest between equals, and Sword Douluo’s admiration grows even as he loses.
  • Power and identity: The contrasting sword and blade intents—and the imposing force of the Emperor-Slaying blade—define the duel’s struggle for dominance.
  • Honor and acceptance: Sword Douluo’s candid concession and Ning Xuanqing’s eventual approval show respect for ability and fair judgment.

Character interactions

  • Tian Chen and Sword Douluo exchange increasingly intense attacks while recognizing each other’s skill; Sword Douluo asks the name of Tian Chen’s weapon and ultimately admits defeat.
  • Ning Xuanqing and the others watch in shock as Sword Douluo is driven back.
  • Ning Xuanqing stops the proposed match between Tian Chen and Wu Yun, concedes, and gives Tian Chen permission to be with Ning Tian; Ning Tian responds by embracing him.

Ch. 314Niu Tian and Tai Tan's Thoughts

Key plot points and events

  • Ning Xuanqing and Wu Yun confirm that Ning Tian and Wu Feng’s martial souls and soul rings have evolved, thanks to Tian Chen and the Soul Hall. Both girls now have four ten-thousand-year soul rings; Ning Tian’s Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda has become the Nine-Aperture Exquisite Pagoda.
  • Tian Chen explains that the Soul Hall’s secret method can evolve martial souls and soul rings, much like the Body Sect’s second awakening. The revelation impresses Ning Xuanqing, while Wu Yun is delighted by the strengthened Red Dragon Martial Soul and its implications for his family’s future.
  • Tian Chen gives Ning Xuanqing an Electromagnetic Cannon, a powerful soul tool that can be fired without soul power. Seeing its potential to protect his clan, Ning Xuanqing asks what Tian Chen wants in return.
  • Tian Chen proposes that the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect help the Soul Hall locate rare ores using its treasure-appraisal talent and commercial network. In return, the sect will receive half of the mass-produced cannons, and Tian Chen offers to evolve its martial souls as a betrothal gift.
  • Ning Xuanqing eagerly accepts the partnership and acknowledges Tian Chen as his son-in-law. He leaves Shrek with Wu Yun and Sword Douluo, asking Ning Tian to visit home and noting that her mother wants to meet Tian Chen.
  • After the visitors leave, Niu Tian and Tai Tan discuss Tian Chen’s mysterious power. They cannot determine whether the God of Destruction is involved, but suspect a god may be backing him. Niu Tian teleports to confront Tian Chen.

Character developments and interactions

  • Ning Xuanqing moves from skepticism about Tian Chen to respect and acceptance, persuaded by his sincerity, achievements, and offers that could transform and protect the sect.
  • Wu Yun shifts from doubt to enthusiasm. He sees Wu Feng’s evolved martial soul as a restoration—and improvement—of the family’s legacy, and welcomes her relationship with Tian Chen.
  • Ning Tian and Wu Feng proudly display their transformed abilities and remain close to Tian Chen. Ning Tian prompts him to call her father “Father-in-law.”
  • Tian Chen demonstrates both generosity and strategic ambition: he reassures the families while securing the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect as a resource-gathering partner.
  • Niu Tian and Tai Tan remain suspicious of Tian Chen’s extraordinary strength and decide to test him before attempting recruitment.

Significant themes

  • Power, legacy, and family: Martial-soul evolution promises to restore and strengthen family lineages across generations.
  • Affection and acceptance: The elders’ approval grows as they see Tian Chen’s care for the women and his value to their families.
  • Reciprocity and alliance-building: Personal relationships become the basis for a mutually beneficial political and economic partnership.
  • Hidden power and uncertainty: Tian Chen’s abilities invite suspicion about divine involvement, setting up the next confrontation.

Ch. 315Niu Tian and Tai Tan Depart, Cai Mei'er's Resolve

Plot points and events

  • Niu Tian confronts Tian Chen, using concentrated soul-power pressure to test him. Tian Chen withstands it with only a slight reaction, drawing Niu Tian’s attention to his unusual eyes.
  • Wang Dong’er defends Tian Chen, insisting that she chose him and will not leave him. She even kisses him to make her commitment unmistakable.
  • Niu Tian and Tai Tan claim they only came to assess Dong’er’s boyfriend. They warn Tian Chen that her family background is exceptional and that being her partner will involve severe trials.
  • Niu Tian invites Dong’er and Tian Chen back to Clear Sky Castle. Dong’er refuses because she wants to remain at the Academy, and Niu Tian does not force her.
  • After they leave, Tai Tan learns that Tang San had instructed them to observe rather than interfere. Their report will help determine what Tian Chen should face next, including a new trial meant to prove himself.
  • Dong’er thanks Tian Chen for standing by her, and the two share a kiss. Later, Tian Chen returns to his dorm, where Cai Mei’er is waiting for him.

Character developments and interactions

  • Wang Dong’er openly asserts her independence and devotion to Tian Chen, resisting pressure from her guardians and accepting his complicated romantic life.
  • Tian Chen remains confident under Niu Tian’s test and refuses to be intimidated by the promised trials, though he suspects Tang San may be setting a trap.
  • Niu Tian is protective but restrained: he tests Tian Chen, warns him, and ultimately respects Dong’er’s choice.
  • Tai Tan is more openly hostile and emotionally protective of Dong’er, but follows Niu Tian’s lead.
  • Cai Mei’er’s appearance at Tian Chen’s room closes the chapter by setting up a new, intimate interaction.

Significant themes

  • Love and personal choice: Dong’er insists that her relationship is her decision, not her guardians’ to control.
  • Protection versus autonomy: Niu Tian and Tai Tan want to safeguard Dong’er, but must balance that instinct with her wishes.
  • Power and hidden motives: The apparent family visit doubles as an assessment ordered by Tang San, foreshadowing further tests and possible schemes.

Ch. 316Cai Mei'er Was Still a Virgin?!

Plot points and events

  • Cai Mei’er chooses Tian Chen over returning to her husband, Yan Shaozhe. She and Tian Chen become lovers, and the system rewards him with an Automatic Alchemy Cauldron, which can make pills from medicinal ingredients.
  • Tian Chen is surprised to learn that Cai Mei’er remained a virgin throughout her marriage. She explains that Yan Shaozhe’s earlier lover had a Dark Phoenix martial soul that turned into an Evil Phoenix during intimacy, nearly consuming Yan Shaozhe’s martial soul. The experience traumatized him, leaving him afraid to be intimate despite his womanizing reputation.
  • Cai Mei’er asks Tian Chen to take responsibility for her and not abandon her; he agrees, and she settles into her new relationship with him.
  • A week later, Tian Chen prepares to obtain his seventh and eighth soul rings. Accompanied by the Ice Empress, Snow Empress, Zi Ji, Bi Ji, and Qiu’er, he heads into the Star Dou Great Forest. Their broader aim is to meet Di Tian and the other great ferocious beasts, establish the Soul Hall, and spread the symbiotic spirit method.
  • The Scarlet King escorts the group to the Lake of Life, where Di Tian recognizes Qiu’er and welcomes her back.

Character developments

  • Cai Mei’er leaves an emotionally empty marriage and openly commits herself to Tian Chen, whom she regards as her true love.
  • Tian Chen accepts Cai Mei’er’s commitment and moves forward with his plans to gain soul rings and build the Soul Hall.
  • Yan Shaozhe is recontextualized: his apparent restraint was caused by trauma from a dangerous past encounter, not a lack of desire.
  • Qiu’er returns to the Star Dou Great Forest, where her importance to its inhabitants is immediately evident.

Significant themes

  • Love and commitment: Cai Mei’er chooses a relationship in which she feels genuinely wanted and cared for.
  • Trauma and misunderstanding: Yan Shaozhe’s behavior has a hidden cause that contrasts with his public reputation.
  • Ambition and alliance-building: Tian Chen’s journey links his personal advancement to establishing the Soul Hall and sharing the symbiotic spirit method.

Character interactions

  • Cai Mei’er tests Tian Chen’s feelings by asking him to compare her with Xian Lin’er; he avoids choosing between them, saying he likes them both.
  • She asks for reassurance that he will take responsibility for her, and he promises not to abandon her.
  • Bi Ji greets the Scarlet King as an old acquaintance and explains that the group has come to pursue their earlier plans.
  • Di Tian’s first response to the visitors is to greet Qiu’er, underscoring her special status in the forest.

Ch. 317Gu Yuena the Vampire

Key plot points and events

  • Tian Qiu’er warmly reunites with Di Tian, while Xiong Jun greets Bi Ji and Zi Ji, whom he is attracted to.
  • Tian Chen returns to the Star Dou Great Forest to honor his agreement and request an audience with Gu Yuena.
  • Gu Yuena’s wound, once aggravated by Asura Divine Power, has improved substantially thanks to the Eastern Emperor Bell and her own life energy. The artifact returns to Tian Chen when it sees him.
  • Tian Chen reveals that he has reached Soul Power rank seventy and asks Gu Yuena to help him obtain a Seventh Soul Ring powerful enough to suit him.
  • Gu Yuena says she can help, but abruptly bites Tian Chen and drinks his blood. She explains that his Dragon-Phoenix blood is highly nourishing to soul beasts, even though she cannot directly absorb his bloodline powers.
  • She proposes that Tian Chen provide blood in exchange for Soul Rings and other favors, including Bi Ji and Zi Ji as lovers. She then pins him down and continues drinking, despite his protests.

Character developments

  • Tian Chen returns stronger and seeks a ferocious-beast-level Soul Ring. He is startled by Gu Yuena’s discovery that his blood can benefit her, and protests being treated as a source of nourishment, though he is also flustered by her closeness.
  • Gu Yuena shows renewed vitality as her wound heals, but also reveals a calculating, playful, and forceful side. She sees Tian Chen’s blood as a valuable resource and tries to bargain for continued access to it.
  • Di Tian remains a protective, father-like figure to Tian Qiu’er.
  • Xiong Jun openly pursues Bi Ji and Zi Ji, though neither returns his interest.

Significant themes

  • Power and dependence: Gu Yuena’s recovery relies partly on Tian Chen’s artifact, while her strength and status let her overpower him in person.
  • Bargaining and obligation: Tian Chen’s request for a Soul Ring becomes entangled with Gu Yuena’s demand for access to his blood.
  • Desire and comic role reversal: Gu Yuena takes control of the encounter, turning Tian Chen’s usual confidence into embarrassment and frustration.

Character interactions

  • Tian Qiu’er embraces Di Tian, and Xiong Jun greets Bi Ji and Zi Ji despite their lack of interest in him.
  • Tian Chen and Di Tian discuss his return before Di Tian escorts him to Gu Yuena.
  • Gu Yuena acknowledges Tian Chen’s help and the Eastern Emperor Bell’s role in her healing, then uses his blood as a bargaining point.
  • Tian Chen objects to being pinned down; Gu Yuena ignores his protests, leaving him vowing to reverse their positions someday.

Ch. 318The Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well

Chapter Summary

Plot and events: Tian Chen asks Gu Yuena to take him to Sunset Forest, explaining that the remains of the Ice and Fire Dragon Kings lie beneath the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. Gu Yuena is astonished but opens a spatial gate so they can investigate. Protected by the Eastern Emperor Bell, they cross a poisonous miasma and find countless Soul Beast remains. Tian Chen identifies the miasma as an artificial barrier, blaming Tang San for guarding the treasure ground, and he and Gu Yuena bury the dead beasts before proceeding.
At the well, Gu Yuena confirms that the Ice and Fire Dragon Kings’ skeletons are beneath it. An aromatic silk beauty challenges the intruders, but Tian Chen uses the Map of Mountains and Rivers to remove the entire well and all its immortal-grade herbs, leaving a vast pit. He and Gu Yuena return through a spatial gate. Soon afterward, two powerful auras arrive to find the well gone; in the Divine Realm, Tang San senses its energy has vanished and reacts in alarm.

Character developments and interactions

  • Tian Chen reveals the Dragon Kings’ remains as the reason for the trip, condemns the slaughter of Sunset Forest’s Soul Beasts, and demonstrates the astonishing power of his divine artifact by taking the entire treasure site.
  • Gu Yuena shows compassion for the dead Soul Beasts and helps bury them. Tian Chen’s abilities deepen her respect for him, and she becomes more determined to secure his loyalty to the Soul Beast Clan—even as she privately chafes at his commanding manner.
  • The aromatic silk beauty tries to challenge and question the pair but is caught off guard when the entire site disappears.
  • Tang San, though absent from the main events, is blamed by Tian Chen for protecting the well through the deadly poison barrier; his alarm at its disappearance closes the chapter.
    Significant themes: The chapter contrasts the exploitation of nature and Soul Beasts with Tian Chen and Gu Yuena’s act of honoring the dead. It also raises questions of ownership and power: Tian Chen argues that the well belongs to the Dragon Clan because the Dragon Kings’ remains created its abundance, then claims it in an instant. Gu Yuena’s growing trust reflects the political value—and potential danger—of Tian Chen’s extraordinary, still-mysterious capabilities.

Ch. 319Sky City Emerges

Chapter Summary

Key plot points and events

  • The Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well mysteriously disappears, leaving Niu Tian and Tai Tan to report the loss to Tang San. Enraged, Tang San orders an immediate search, since the site and its immortal herbs were central to his plans for Huo Yuhao and the Emperor Auspicious Beast.
  • The setback prompts Tang San to accelerate his plans: he orders Huo Yuhao brought to Clear Sky Castle and decides to pursue Tian Chen and the emerging Soul Hall. He also recalls a backup plan involving a trial in Qiankun Asking Love Valley.
  • Tian Chen and Gu Yuena return to the Lake of Life. Tian Chen explains his plan for the Soul Hall: gather injured or dying Soul Beasts, turn them into symbiotic spirits, and establish the organization in the Star Luo Empire before expanding across the continent.
  • His longer-term goal is to bring Soul Beast leaders from other regions into the effort and create lasting peace between Soul Beasts and Soul Masters.
  • Gu Yuena agrees to accompany Tian Chen to the human world, claiming she will protect him. Di Tian gathers the grievously injured and dying Soul Beasts, and the group prepares to leave for the Star Luo Empire.
  • Tian Chen reveals a vast, advanced structure above the Lake of Life, equipped with buildings, weapons, drones, and robots.

Character developments and interactions

  • Tang San reacts with fury and anxiety to the loss of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, revealing how deeply it was tied to his schemes. He shifts to backup plans and moves to act more directly.
  • Tian Chen demonstrates that he has already built a broad network and has a clear strategy for the Soul Hall’s rapid expansion and for easing the conflict between the two peoples.
  • Gu Yuena admires Tian Chen’s planning but is wary that he may be manipulating events—including her. She remains motivated partly by her own interests and injuries, yet chooses to stay close to him, framing it as protection.
  • Di Tian follows Gu Yuena’s orders without hesitation, gathering the injured Soul Beasts even though he does not know Tian Chen’s purpose.
  • Tang San’s subordinates, Niu Tian and Tai Tan, are left to deliver the bad news and carry out his orders.

Significant themes

  • Power and manipulation: Tang San’s plans treat others and valuable resources as tools, while Gu Yuena wonders whether Tian Chen is equally calculating.
  • Coexistence and reform: Tian Chen’s symbiotic-spirit plan offers a practical path toward peace between Soul Beasts and Soul Masters.
  • Ambition and uncertainty: The lost treasure disrupts Tang San’s strategy, while the advanced structure hints that Tian Chen’s capabilities—and plans—may exceed what others expect.

Ch. 320Arrival in Star Luo

Key plot points and events

  • Tian Chen brings Di Tian, Gu Yuena, and the injured soul beasts aboard Sky City, a vast, weapon-equipped technological city. Its machines astonish the beasts; Xiong Jun even breaks a small transport robot.
  • As Sky City sets course for the Star Luo Empire, Tian Chen reveals the purpose of the gathering: publicly introducing symbiotic spirits. Soul beasts can become Soul Masters’ Soul Rings while remaining alive, sharing their power and cultivation potential with their hosts.
  • Tian Chen says a symbiotic spirit can revive unharmed if its host dies and gains half the host’s spiritual power. He also proposes establishing the Soul Hall to oversee contracts and protect soul beasts if the process fails.
  • Di Tian recognizes the invention’s potential to reduce hunting and help aging soul beasts, and agrees to have suitable beasts cooperate.
  • Sky City arrives near Shrek Academy to collect Tang Ya, Wang Dong’er, and others. Its appearance impresses the students.
  • The city then reaches Star Luo City. The capital’s guards raise a top-level alarm, and Emperor Xu Jiawei goes out to investigate. Tian Chen appears before him, greeting him as his “Imperial Brother.”

Character developments and interactions

  • Di Tian shifts from concern about human technology threatening the soul beasts’ future to cautious optimism about a way for humans and soul beasts to coexist. He asks about the method’s risks before agreeing to support it.
  • Tian Chen presents himself as both technological innovator and mediator, reassuring Di Tian that the Soul Hall will supervise contracts and protect participants. He also teases Xiong Jun about paying for the robot he broke.
  • Xiong Jun reacts with childlike curiosity to Sky City, while Gu Yuena is also visibly impressed.
  • Wang Dong’er takes charge of bringing the Shrek group aboard.
  • Xu Jiawei responds to Sky City’s arrival as a potential invasion, but Tian Chen’s familiar greeting suggests a personal or political connection.

Significant themes

  • Human advancement and the balance of power: Di Tian fears technology may further disadvantage soul beasts.
  • Coexistence through innovation: Symbiotic spirits offer a possible alternative to Soul Masters hunting soul beasts for Soul Rings.
  • Trust and safeguards: Di Tian’s support depends on protections against failure, making oversight central to the proposed alliance.
  • Awe and disruption: Sky City’s arrival demonstrates how dramatically technology can alter the world—and unsettles even powerful rulers.
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