Chapter Summaries

At the National Elite Soul Master Competition finals, Han Tao used layered illusions and poison to face Feng Xiaotian and his Godwind teammates as they prepared a powerful combined attack. Tang San broke Han Tao’s illusion from the spectator stands, angering Bibi Dong, and Yu Xiaogang stepped forward to ask her to spare Tang San.

• Han Tao’s team arrived at Spirit Hall for the finals, where the first match was announced between the Seven Treasure Team and Godwind Academy.
• Han Tao cast fused illusions over Godwind Team, while Ning Rongrong strengthened his soul skill with a real-time buff.
• Feng Xiaotian and his teammates formed a combined martial soul attack, and Feng Xiaotian began his Gale Devil Wolf Thirty-Six Consecutive Slashes as Han Tao read his thoughts and countered him.
• Tang San recognized similarities between Feng Xiaotian’s technique and Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer, then used Purple Demon Eyes to break Han Tao’s illusion from the stands.
• Bibi Dong rebuked Tang San for interfering in the match, and Yu Xiaogang went to the stage to ask her to spare him.

Han Tao deduced that Spirit Hall had marked the Blue Silver Emperor Soul Bone, which had made Tang Hao afraid to use it, and learned that Tang San’s Mysterious Heaven Skill cultivated innate Soul Power. Yu Xiaogang tried to use a Pope’s Decree to protect Tang San, but Chrysanthemum Douluo humiliated him, leaving him struggling to regain his composure.

• Han Tao used an illusion to deduce that Bibi Dong and Tang Hao had exchanged favors over the Blue Silver Emperor, then concluded Spirit Hall had marked her Soul Bone for tracking.
• Han Tao reasoned that Tang Hao hid the Soul Bone because absorbing it would make him an enemy of both Spirit Hall factions, and he read fragments of Tang San’s thoughts revealing the Mysterious Heaven Skill cultivated innate Soul Power.
• Yu Xiaogang answered Bibi Dong’s challenge by presenting a Pope’s Decree as grounds to plead for Tang San.
• Chrysanthemum Douluo demanded to know who had given Yu Xiaogang the decree, then crushed him with Soul Power when Yu Xiaogang ignored him.
• Bibi Dong’s warning made Chrysanthemum Douluo release Yu Xiaogang, while Ning Tian mocked him as he tried to restore his dignity.

Bibi Dong took back Tang Hao’s Pope’s Decree and compensated Han Tao with an Elder Decree, then allowed the tournament to continue. Two days later, Han Tao defeated Feng Xiaotian’s Godwind Team fusion attack by exposing flaws in its technique, leaving Feng Xiaotian stunned and Huo Wu dismissive.

• Yu Xiaogang revealed that Tang Hao had given him the Pope’s Decree, and Bibi Dong ordered Ghost Douluo to take it back.
• Bibi Dong gave Han Tao an Elder Decree as compensation for his injury and announced that the match would continue.
• Two days later, Han Tao faced Godwind Team in the tournament while using a piece of Hard Bamboo instead of his weak Blue Silver Bamboo.
• Han Tao used his Mental Network to identify flaws in Feng Xiaotian’s Gale Devil Wolf Thirty-Six Consecutive Slashes and redirected its accumulated force to defeat him.
• Feng Xiaotian realized Godwind Academy had lost, and Huo Wu dismissed him before vanishing as an illusion when he reached for her.

Han Tao used an Illusion to speak with Feng Xiaotian and advise him to focus on foundational theory, then defeated Godwind Academy with Ning Rongrong. After the match, Han Tao began studying Feng Xiaotian’s Gale Devil Wolf Thirty-Six Slashes and considered how to strengthen its strikes without hitting an enemy.

• Han Tao revealed that Feng Xiaotian’s conversation with him had taken place inside an Illusion and advised him to prioritize Soul Power Cultivation and foundational theory.
• Feng Xiaotian refused to abandon his research and accepted Han Tao’s textbook before the Illusion vanished.
• Han Tao and Ning Rongrong defeated the remaining Godwind Academy members, and the referee declared the Seven Treasure Team the winner.
• Yu Xiaogang complained about Han Tao’s Elder Decree, while Tang San offered to steal it back and Yu Xiaogang refused.
• Han Tao bought two Refined Iron Longswords and began testing Gale Devil Wolf Thirty-Six Slashes, wondering how to improve a strike without colliding with an enemy.

Han Tao explored how to control force and speed, then went to Godwind Academy to ask Feng Xiaotian for help understanding the coordination behind Gale Devil Wolf Thirty-Six Slashes. He left unsure whether Feng Xiaotian could be the right partner for his experiments.

• Han Tao tested his cross-slashes and found he could sustain sixteen before the growing force exceeded his control.
• Han Tao concluded that speed and the coordination of Soul Power with movement might improve the technique, and realized Feng Xiaotian's slashes could provide a model.
• Han Tao visited Godwind Academy and learned from Huo Wu that Feng Xiaotian was training at the practice ground.
• Han Tao corrected Feng Xiaotian's connection between the 14th and 15th slashes by identifying how force should travel through his shoulder, back, and waist.
• Feng Xiaotian admitted that Han Tao's book on physique and muscle was difficult to understand, then asked him for an overwhelmingly powerful Self-Created Soul Skill.
• Han Tao wondered whether Feng Xiaotian's pride and disregard for fundamentals made him unsuitable as a tool for his research.

Han Tao learned from Feng Xiaotian that Beast Martial Soul skills required coordinating Soul Power Flow with bodily movement, and saw a way to advance their research together. He gave Feng Xiaotian access to Spirit Hall records and 500,000 Gold Soul Coins, leaving him tasked with researching battle Soul Power.

• Han Tao asked Feng Xiaotian how he had coordinated his body and Soul Power Flow while developing Gale Devil Wolf Thirty-Six Slashes, and Feng Xiaotian said he had adapted the flow from his First Soul Skill.
• Feng Xiaotian demonstrated Wind Blade Array in Martial Soul Possession and explained that Beast Martial Soul advancement involved studying Soul Power Flow through different muscle modules.
• Han Tao proposed that Feng Xiaotian research Soul Skills for different body parts, offering resources to support the work.
• Han Tao gave Feng Xiaotian an Elder Decree for Spirit Hall's library and a card containing 500,000 Gold Soul Coins.
• Feng Xiaotian accepted the resources and promised to study battle Soul Power, while privately thinking about buying Huo Wu a book as a gift.

Han Tao sought research funding from Ning Fengzhi and presented theories on soul power frequency and microscopic structure. Ning Fengzhi struggled to understand the new concepts, and Sword Douluo asked Ning Rongrong to explain them.

• Han Tao calculated that he had only 600,000 Gold Soul Coins left and went to find Ning Fengzhi for research funding.
• Ning Rongrong suggested removing Ye Lingling from the team before their match against Heaven Dou Royal Academy, but Han Tao refused.
• Han Tao asked Ning Fengzhi for 3 million Gold Soul Coins to fund Feng Xiaotian’s research, and Ning Fengzhi requested a useful result in return.
• Han Tao gave Ning Fengzhi manuscripts on Soul Power Same Frequency Penetration, Microscopic Force, and Reverse Wave Frequency.
• Ning Fengzhi and Sword Douluo struggled to understand the manuscript’s explanation of soul power’s Microscopic Structure, so Sword Douluo asked Ning Rongrong to explain it.

Han Tao explained the microscopic structure of Soul Power by trapping Ning Fengzhi, Ning Rongrong, and Sword Douluo in an illusion and comparing the Soul Power of different Jade Phosphor Flowers. His demonstration revealed that Soul Douluo Soul Power grew closer to a Soul Master’s Martial Soul, and Ning Fengzhi’s recent breakthrough gave Han Tao an idea for studying the transformation further.

• Han Tao questioned Ning Fengzhi and Sword Douluo for not understanding the microscopic structure of Soul Power, so Ning Rongrong asked him to explain it.
• Han Tao revealed that the group was inside his illusion, and Ning Fengzhi and Sword Douluo realized they could not reliably distinguish false guidance from reality.
• Han Tao demonstrated that Soul Douluo-level Soul Masters could not escape his illusion, leaving Ning Fengzhi and Sword Douluo astonished by his strength.
• Han Tao compared Soul Power from Jade Phosphor Flowers of different ages and explained that Soul Power at the Soul Douluo stage moved closer to the nature of its owner’s Martial Soul.
• Ning Fengzhi sensed that his Soul Power’s structure had changed after reaching Soul Douluo, prompting Han Tao to consider studying the transformation from level 80 to 90.

Han Tao explained to Ning Rongrong and Ning Fengzhi how Solitary Bamboo’s Soul Ring revealed the benefits of studying the Microscopic Structure of soul power and how differences in Martial Soul quality and Soul Skills shaped combat. He used an illusion of Tang Hao fighting Qian Xunji to show how Qian Xunji’s Angel Roar exploited Tang Hao’s weak Mental Power.

• Han Tao told Ning Rongrong to observe Ning Fengzhi’s changing soul power and argued that studying its Microscopic Structure mattered more to her than an Immortal Herb.
• Han Tao explained that his white Soul Ring came from a ninety-six-year Solitary Bamboo and could provide an extra 0.2 Growth Base when a Soul Master broke through.
• Han Tao described the Growth Bases of different Martial Souls, and Ning Rongrong realized that her Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda had a Growth Base of 0.9.
• Han Tao explained that Tang Hao could match Qian Xunji through the Clear Sky Nine Wonders and Ring Detonation, despite differences in their Growth Bases and attributes.
• Han Tao used an illusion to show Qian Xunji gaining the advantage through Martial Soul quality and Angel Roar, which targeted Tang Hao’s weak Mental Power.

Han Tao explained that Solitary Bamboo’s Bamboo Joint Structure could increase a Martial Soul’s Growth Base, but learning it too late meant Ning Fengzhi and Ning Rongrong had already lost potential gains. He persuaded them to help study soul power’s Microscopic Structure, leaving Ning Fengzhi amused at being pressed to repay a favor.

• Han Tao told Ning Fengzhi and Ning Rongrong that Solitary Bamboo could raise Growth Base, though its absorption requirements ruled it out for them.
• Han Tao calculated that Ning Fengzhi could gain only 14.4 additional attributes from his remaining levels, less than the benefit of a Soul Bone, but encouraged him to learn the structure anyway.
• Ning Rongrong realized that advancing too quickly had cost her potential attributes, and Ning Fengzhi lamented that he had learned the theory so late.
• Ning Rongrong and Ning Fengzhi imagined how delaying level growth after evolving the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda could have given her a Growth Base exceeding that of a God-level Martial Soul.
• Han Tao encouraged Ning Rongrong to study Microscopic Structure, and she agreed to ask Ning Fengzhi to find a newly advanced Soul Douluo for observation.
• Ning Fengzhi recognized that Han Tao was using his own favor-repayment tactic on him, but felt proud of his disciple.

Han Tao secured funding from Ning Fengzhi for research into the Bamboo Joint Structure, while Ning Rongrong planned ways to study it further. Ning Fengzhi suggested searching Spirit Hall records for Lonely Bamboo Soul Masters, but Han Tao revealed that he had lent Bibi Dong’s Elder Decree to Feng Xiaotian.

• Han Tao used the Bamboo Joint Structure theory to persuade Ning Fengzhi to provide ten million Gold Soul Coins each for Han Tao and Ning Rongrong.
• Ning Rongrong took the money card from Ning Fengzhi and admitted she had long seen through his attempts to control his expressions.
• Ning Rongrong outlined three research directions for studying the Bamboo Joint Structure, and Han Tao agreed to wait for her before his next Soul Power Level breakthrough.
• Ning Fengzhi suggested using Bibi Dong’s Elder Decree to search Spirit Hall records for Lonely Bamboo Soul Masters.
• Han Tao said he had lent the Elder Decree to Feng Xiaotian, and Ning Rongrong was pleased that the research would not involve Ye Lingling.

Ning Fengzhi gave Han Tao ten million Gold Soul Coins for theoretical research, prompting Sword Douluo to challenge Han Tao after discovering him holding Ning Rongrong’s hand. Han Tao trapped Sword Douluo in an Illusion and won by exploiting his fear of harming Rongrong, then celebrated the victory with her.

• Ning Fengzhi explained that Han Tao’s ten-million-coin research grant required reports and approvals, while Sword Douluo questioned the expense and struggled to understand Han Tao’s financial report.
• Sword Douluo spotted Han Tao holding Ning Rongrong’s hand and summoned his Seven Kill Sword, challenging Han Tao for his attitude.
• Han Tao’s Illusion confused Sword Douluo’s senses with false images and voices of Ning Rongrong, preventing him from locating Han Tao or attacking without risking her safety.
• Sword Douluo admitted that Han Tao deserved the research funding, and Han Tao released the Illusion after exhausting his Soul Power.
• Ning Rongrong celebrated their victory and insisted that Han Tao remember her support, while Han Tao said Sword Douluo had held back to avoid hurting her.

Han Tao reviewed how his Illusion had overcome Sword Douluo and considered ways powerful Soul Skills could counter it. At Spirit Hall, Bibi Dong learned about Han Tao’s training methods and the Immortal Herbs taken by members of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, while Chrysanthemum Douluo admitted he feared confronting Han Tao for the Lovesick Heartbreak Red.

• Han Tao concluded that a Titled Douluo could detect an Illusion but might not find its caster, and he worried that wide-area soul attacks could counter his technique.
• Ghost Douluo told Bibi Dong that Xiao Yuan had learned Microscopic Treatment from Han Tao and passed it to Xiao Chenyu, improving the cultivation of a Soul Master with innate level-one soul power.
• Chrysanthemum Douluo reported that Ning Tian, Ning Fengzhi, and Ning Rongrong had taken Immortal Herbs, and that Ning Fengzhi’s martial soul had evolved into the Eight Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda.
• Bibi Dong learned that Han Tao still possessed the Lovesick Heartbreak Red and asked why Chrysanthemum Douluo had not demanded it from him.
• Chrysanthemum Douluo revealed that he had learned Han Tao and Ning Rongrong defeated Sword Douluo, and he feared confronting Han Tao alone.

Chrysanthemum Douluo investigated the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect for Spirit Hall and discovered that Ning Tian had consumed a Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum. After confronting him, Chrysanthemum Douluo offered to teach him in exchange for information about the sect.

• Bibi Dong told Chrysanthemum Douluo to keep investigating the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect after Ning Rongrong disappeared and Dugu Yan proved not to have consumed an Immortal Herb.
• Ning Tian reluctantly exchanged the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower with Yang Wudi and followed his instructions to consume the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum.
• After three months of watching the sect, Chrysanthemum Douluo tracked Ning Tian to a foot bath club using information from the Tea Seller Girl and sensed the chrysanthemum's aura.
• Chrysanthemum Douluo dragged Ning Tian outside, questioned him about the Immortal Herb, and learned that the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had issued it to him.
• Chrysanthemum Douluo offered to teach Ning Tian how to refine the herb and master the Secret Method of the Indestructible Body if Ning Tian became his disciple and shared intelligence about the sect.

Han Tao used the Illusion to reconstruct past events and deduced that Ning Tian had become a pawn in Ning Fengzhi’s plan to protect Ning Rongrong. He also realized Ning Rongrong had left the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well with him, disrupting that plan, and received compensation from Ning Fengzhi as his research advanced.

• Han Tao used the Illusion to revisit Ning Tian’s past and pinpointed her exchange with Yang Wudi and theoretical assessment as the beginning of the changes.
• Han Tao deduced that Spirit Hall had learned about the Immortal Herbs through Xue Feng, and that Ning Fengzhi used Ning Tian to draw Chrysanthemum Douluo away from Ning Rongrong.
• Han Tao realized Ning Tian might have revealed his Immortal Herb information to Chrysanthemum Douluo to protect Ning Rongrong, and feared he might be an expendable pawn too.
• Ning Rongrong chose to leave the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well with Han Tao after seeing him crawl in from underground, disrupting Ning Fengzhi’s plans.
• Ning Fengzhi gave Han Tao two million Gold Soul Coins as compensation, while Han Tao repaired his Spiritual Body by gazing at the Mother Tree and began applying Soul Power Frequency Theory.

Han Tao used his Illusion to disguise himself as Qin Ming and coached the Heaven Dou Empire Royal Academy team on countering the Seven Treasure Team. He introduced Shen Xinshui as the key to escaping Han Tao’s Illusions, leaving the team newly hopeful before the match.

• Han Tao interrupted his simulation of Tang Hao and Qian Xunji because he could not accurately deduce their soul-power structures.
• Disguised as Qin Ming, Han Tao asked Yu Tianheng’s team about the Seven Treasure Team and learned they could not understand its fighting methods.
• Han Tao gave the team information from Canghui Academy and instructed Shi Mo and Shi Mo to combine their Black Tortoise Turtle Martial Souls into Composite Soul Power.
• Han Tao told Dugu Yan to use her Jade Phosphor Poisonous Barrier to counter Han Tao’s Jade Phosphor Poison, then explained that Shen Xinshui could help the team escape his Illusions.
• Han Tao introduced Shen Xinshui to the team, and Yu Tianheng welcomed her after she said she could help them escape an Illusion.

Han Tao explained his approach to learning through battle and agreed to write a book with Ning Rongrong, then began analyzing Yu Tianheng’s team during their match in Spirit City. He uncovered Yu Tianheng’s plan to target Ye Lingling and Ning Tian before confronting Han Tao and Ning Rongrong.

• Ning Rongrong recalled Han Tao’s progress from a weak Martial Soul and poor Innate Soul Power, and admitted she had learned from watching him.
• Ning Rongrong asked Han Tao for a book, and he proposed that they write one together titled “Essence of Soul Power.”
• Han Tao considered Innate Soul Power as a new property of soul power, then set those thoughts aside to prepare for the next battle.
• At the Soul Duel Stage in Spirit City, both teams summoned their martial souls, and Han Tao surrounded the arena with Illusion Space and Divine Acupoint Illusion.
• Han Tao recorded Yu Tianheng’s Thunder Fury and synchronized its effects in the illusion.
• Han Tao read Yu Tianheng’s thoughts and learned that he planned to target Ye Lingling and Ning Tian before having his team resist Han Tao and Ning Rongrong.

Shen Xinshui helped Heaven Dou Empire Royal Academy escape Han Tao’s Illusion, while Ning Rongrong proposed combining her martial soul with Han Tao’s to counter their opponents’ composite defense. As the battle continued, Yu Xiaogang was mocked by spectators after they learned he was only a rank twenty-nine Soul Grandmaster, but he reassured himself by thinking of Tang San.

• Shen Xinshui warned Dugu Yan not to waste her Jade Phosphor Poisonous Barrier and cautioned that Han Tao might imitate her Real Vision Sharing through the Illusion.
• Shi Mo and Shi Mo combined their Black Tortoise Armor, blocking Ning Rongrong’s Soul Power Penetration.
• Ning Rongrong proposed a Martial Soul Fusion Skill with Han Tao to create composite soul power, but Han Tao refused to experiment during the competition.
• Han Tao and Ye Lingling coordinated to pull her out of Yu Feng’s attack range after Heaven Dou Empire Royal Academy broke free from the Illusion.
• Yu Xiaogang insulted the spectators, but they mocked him after an old man identified him as a rank twenty-nine Soul Grandmaster and a sturdy man revealed his Soul Emperor strength.
• Yu Xiaogang decided that the humiliation would not shake his confidence because he still had his proudest disciple, Tang San.

Tang San broke Han Tao’s illusion and killed Prince Xue Beng with a Hidden Weapon, while Han Tao’s team defeated Heaven Dou Empire Royal Academy. The match ended with the Seven Treasure Team declared winners, and Tang San faced accusations of violating tournament rules and murdering a prince.

• Tang San rushed to Yu Xiaogang’s defense and killed three men with Dragon Beard Needles after they insulted his teacher.
• Tang San realized the scene was an illusion and discovered that he had killed Prince Xue Beng; Han Tao claimed victory after concealing the illusion from Tang San’s Purple Demon Eyes.
• Han Tao used a Dragon Beard Needle to crack Heaven Dou Royal Academy’s defensive formation, and Ning Rongrong’s Soul Skill immobilized most of the opposing team.
• Han Tao pulled Ye Lingling out of Yu Feng’s attack and helped his team dominate the match; Bibi Dong ordered the referee to declare the Seven Treasure Team the winner.
• Ning Fengzhi and Salas confronted Tang San, accusing him of interfering with the match and murdering Prince Xue Beng.

After Tang San killed Prince Xue Beng, he blamed his actions on Han Tao’s illusion, but Han Tao exposed contradictions in his story and presented evidence of Tang San threatening a referee after losing another match. Xue Ye turned against Tang San, whose position grew increasingly precarious under the emperor’s pressure.

• Tang San killed Prince Xue Beng, then claimed an illusion had guided his actions, while Yu Xiaogang hesitated to defend him.
• Han Tao judged Tang San’s remaining allies and safeguards, then decided to expose his hidden cards.
• Han Tao challenged Tang San’s account, arguing that Tang San could have broken the illusion and therefore could not blame it for his actions.
• Yu Xiaogang refused to accept blame to protect his own reputation, and Xue Ye concluded that Tang San’s explanation was false.
• Han Tao and Salas recalled Tang San threatening a referee after Shrek Academy lost to Skywater Academy, and the Image Stone broadcast the scene to the audience.
• Xue Ye manifested his Swan Martial Soul and used his Soul Emperor aura to pressure Tang San, who began sweating under the strain.