Chapter Summaries

Huyan Zhen visited Niu Gao to recruit the Defense Clan into the Elephant Armor Sect, but Niu Gao refused and rejected his ties to Spirit Hall. As Huyan Zhen lost his temper, Su Chen interrupted him and stood firm against his attack.

• Niu Gao learned Huyan Zhen had arrived with four elders, and he went to meet the Elephant Armor Sect master with Tai Tan and Bai He.
• Huyan Zhen explained that Spirit Hall planned to select the Seven Great Sects anew and offered Niu Gao a deputy sect master position and a marriage alliance to secure his support.
• Tai Tan accused Huyan Zhen of trying to absorb the Defense Clan, while Niu Gao rejected the offer and refused to serve Spirit Hall.
• Huyan Zhen grew angry and threatened Niu Gao, but Su Chen interrupted from behind the group.
• Huyan Zhen sent a fierce gust at Su Chen, but it failed to move him, leaving Huyan Zhen visibly shocked.

Su Chen revealed that he was the Pope of Spirit Hall while Tang San tried to persuade Niu Gao to join the Tang Sect. Niu Gao treated Su Chen with open hostility, leaving Tang San convinced that the four clans would side with him.

• Huyan Zhen left after Su Chen gave a subtle signal, while Niu Ben reported that the Elephant Armor Sect had stationed disciples around the Defense Clan's estate.
• Tang San urged Niu Gao to join the Tang Sect, citing Heaven Dou's preparations for war and his own strength, while Tai Tan appealed to their old friendship.
• Niu Gao began to soften toward Tang San, but Su Chen challenged the clans' history of being abandoned by the Clear Sky Sect.
• Su Chen admitted that he was the Pope of Spirit Hall, shocking Niu Gao, Tai Tan, Bai He, and Yang Wudi.
• Niu Gao formally greeted Su Chen but remained cold and hostile, while Tang San took satisfaction in the clans' reaction.

Su Chen disrupted Tang San’s effort to recruit Niu Gao’s Defense Clan into the Tang Sect, then offered the clan a way to join Spirit Hall while keeping its independence. Niu Gao was tempted but had not yet accepted when his son and grandson urged him to agree.

• Su Chen asked whether Niu Gao’s refusal to join a faction also applied to Tang San’s Tang Sect, and Niu Gao reluctantly said it did.
• Tang San offered to establish a Defense Hall for Niu Gao, but Su Chen argued that the arrangement was no better than Huyan Zhen’s offer and reminded Niu Gao of his oath against the Clear Sky Sect.
• Su Chen said he would not stop Niu Gao from joining the Tang Sect, then pointed out that Tang San was Tang Hao’s son and a member of the Clear Sky Sect’s direct line.
• Niu Gao declared that the Defense Clan would not join the Tang Sect, and Su Chen invited it to join Spirit Hall without dissolving the clan.
• Niu Gao hesitated over Su Chen’s offer, while Niu Ben and Niu Bei eagerly urged him to accept.

Su Chen persuaded the chiefs of the Breaking Clan, Defense Clan, and Speed Clan to join Spirit Hall, arguing that it would preserve their clans and blaming the Clear Sky Sect for their past hardships. The Strength Clan remained undecided, leaving the four former affiliated clans divided between Spirit Hall and Tang San’s Tang Sect.

• Su Chen clarified that Spirit Hall had ordered the Wind Sword Sect not to attack the Breaking Clan, then invited Yang Wudi to join Spirit Hall.
• Yang Wudi accepted after Su Chen promised not to harm the Breaking Clan if he refused, and explained that preserving his clan mattered more to him than joining Tang San’s Tang Sect.
• Su Chen defended Spirit Hall’s actions toward the Upper Three Sects and argued that the Clear Sky Sect, not Spirit Hall, had forced the four clans from their homes.
• Niu Gao joined Spirit Hall after Yang Wudi and his own family urged him to accept the opportunity to protect and strengthen the Defense Clan.
• Bai He consulted Chen Xiang and Chen Mu, then accepted Su Chen’s invitation and pledged the Speed Clan to Spirit Hall.

Tang San and Tai Tan hurried to Gengxin City to secure the Blacksmith Association’s help for the Tang Sect before Su Chen arrived. At the city gates, soldiers arrested them for attacking six girls, revealing that someone from Spirit Hall had paid more to ensure their capture.

• Tai Tan rejected Tang San’s suggestion that he join Spirit Hall and warned that Su Chen and Ren Lao might be heading to Gengxin City.
• Tang San, Tai Tan, and their party reached Gengxin City after twenty days of hurried travel, hoping to meet Lou Gao and commission hidden-weapon components.
• Tang San insisted that they visit Lou Gao immediately, but soldiers at the city gates stopped them and identified them from portraits.
• Tai Tan explained that he was a vice president of the Blacksmith Association, but the soldiers ordered him and Tang San arrested for harming six girls.
• Tang San offered a soldier Gold Soul Coins to let them finish their business, but the soldier threw the money back and had them taken to prison.
• After the soldiers led Tang San and Tai Tan away, one revealed that someone from Spirit Hall had paid him five hundred Gold Soul Coins.

Su Chen arrived in Gengxin City and used Spirit Hall’s influence to delay Tang San and Tai Tan while visiting the Blacksmith Association. Si Long led him toward President Lou Gao, who was studying an unknown object behind the association’s fifth-floor door.

• Su Chen met Bishop Miles, who reported that Tang San and Tai Tan had been arrested, and ordered Miles to keep them detained for another day.
• Su Chen and Ren Lao visited the Blacksmith Association headquarters, where Ren Lao used his vice-president’s credentials to gain access to the upper floors.
• Si Long and Si Yu recognized Ren Lao, and Ren Lao introduced Su Chen as the Pope of Spirit Hall.
• Si Long offered to take Su Chen to Lou Gao, then tapped a distinct pattern on the alloy door leading to the fifth floor.

Su Chen met Lou Gao at the Blacksmith Association headquarters and recruited him into Spirit Hall by offering the Godly Zhuge Crossbow blueprints. Lou Gao became the Artifact Refining Sect’s sect master and eagerly began studying the plans, while Su Chen urged him to create new hidden weapons and avoid the tragic fate he knew awaited him.

• Si Long led Su Chen and Ren Lao to Lou Gao’s private forging room, where Lou Gao eagerly asked Su Chen for another Godly Zhuge Crossbow.
• Su Chen explained that the crossbow could not be repaired after disassembly and offered Lou Gao its forging methods if he joined Spirit Hall.
• Lou Gao immediately accepted, appointed Si Long president of the Iron Sword Association, and became sect master of the Artifact Refining Sect.
• Ren Lao explained that Lou Gao would receive privileges comparable to an Elder Hall elder despite his level seventy-nine soul power.
• Su Chen gave Lou Gao the Tang Sect Hidden Weapons blueprints and encouraged him to innovate rather than merely recreate existing weapons.

Su Chen secured Si Long’s agreement to supply Spirit Hall and refuse cooperation with other forces for ten years, disrupting Tang San’s plans for the Tang Sect. Tang San arrived with Tai Tan just as Su Chen was leaving, then learned the Blacksmith Association would not help them.

• Su Chen persuaded Si Long to help Spirit Hall obtain hidden-weapon materials, forge components for its Hall Guard Knights, and refuse cooperation with other forces for ten years.
• Si Long agreed after Su Chen argued that the Blacksmith Association could help reduce casualties in the coming war.
• Si Yu arrived with Tai Tan, Tang San, and Miles, and Su Chen left with Ren Lao, Lou Gao, and Miles after exchanging a tense look with Tang San.
• Tai Tan told Si Long that he and Tang San had come to seek the Blacksmith Association’s help gathering materials for Tang Sect Hidden Weapons.
• Si Long refused their request, citing his new ten-year agreement with Spirit Hall, and overruled Tai Tan’s protest by accepting his resignation as vice president.
• Tang San worried that without the association’s help, he would not be able to forge the Tang Sect Hidden Weapons.

Su Chen announced the new Seven Great Sects at Spirit Hall, then heard Tuoba Xi propose replacing Spirit Hall with the Spirit Hall Empire. The sect masters and the rulers of the kingdoms and duchies present pledged their support, leaving Su Chen poised to establish the empire.

• Su Chen formally named the Holy Dragon Sect, White Tiger Sect, Ten Thousand Snake Sect, Elephant Armor Sect, Fire Leopard Sect, Wind Sword Sect, and Star Crown Sect as the new Seven Great Sects.
• Su Chen noted that Niu Gao, Yang Wudi, Bai He, and Lou Gao had not joined the re-election but held distinguished positions under the Pope.
• Tuoba Xi proposed retiring the name Spirit Hall and establishing the Spirit Hall Empire, arguing that it would bring peace and oppose slavery and Evil Soul Masters.
• The masters of the other six sects endorsed Tuoba Xi's proposal.
• The rulers of the kingdoms and duchies offered their lands and asked Su Chen to establish the Spirit Hall Empire.

Su Chen founded the Spirit Hall Empire and became its First Emperor as a mysterious seven-colored light appeared over Spirit Hall. After completing his Dragon God's Seventh Trial, he learned that he had to destroy Heaven Dou and bring down the Star Luo Empire, and he planned to achieve it without declaring war.

• Su Chen proclaimed the Spirit Hall Empire, declared the era of Origin, and took the title of First Emperor.
• The Silver Dragon King created a seven-colored spectacle to congratulate Su Chen, and Xiao Xingyue recognized her aura.
• Su Chen completed his divine trial, received a God-Given Soul Ring, and later distributed rewards and issued new rules.
• Hu Liena asked Su Chen about his Dragon God's Seventh Trial, and he said it required him to destroy Heaven Dou, bring down the Star Luo Empire, and unify the Douluo Continent.
• Su Chen rejected declaring war and told Hu Liena he would devise a just cause for the campaign through careful maneuvers.

Su Chen reunited with the Golden Generation, who had advanced in their cultivation and were preparing to leave Spirit City for divine trials. As three young women from Skywater Academy and Plant Academy arrived, Yan, Li Kai, and Xu Yu revealed that they were their girlfriends.

• Hu Liena told Su Chen that she had completed her Fifth Trial of Lust and needed to hunt a soul beast in Lost-Track Grand Canyon for her eighth soul ring.
• Su Chen reviewed the Golden Generation’s cultivation and divine trials as Hu Liena and the others prepared to leave Spirit City.
• Su Chen gave the departing group Soul Power Crystals and reminded them that the Spirit Hall Empire was their home.
• A Hall Guard announced that three young women from Skywater Academy and Plant Academy wanted to see Su Chen.
• Yan identified Shui Bing'er, Li Kai identified Shui Yue'er, and Xu Yu identified Mu Yan as their girlfriends.

Su Chen welcomed Shui Bing'er, Shui Yue'er, and Mu Huo'er, giving each the locations of Divine Thoughts so they could pursue Deity trials and grow stronger. After seeing their relationships could help the Spirit Hall Empire politically, he encountered a mysterious figure rushing at him from the shadows.

• Shui Bing'er, Shui Yue'er, and Mu Huo'er greeted their partners and paid respects to Su Chen, the Spirit Hall Empire's emperor.
• Su Chen gave each woman six locations of Divine Thoughts and explained that they could build strength by completing lower-ranking Deity trials before attempting higher ones.
• Su Chen warned the women that failing a trial before the nine divine trials could cost them their lives, but they resolved to pursue the opportunity.
• Su Chen promised Zhang Ping, Hu Liena, and Xie Yue similar information if they later found partners; Zhang Ping and Hu Liena said they were not seeking marriage, while Xie Yue focused on becoming a god.
• Su Chen realized the women's ties to the Golden Generation could draw Skywater Academy and Plant Academy toward the Spirit Hall Empire, then a dark figure rushed at him from a shadowy corner.

Su Chen was ambushed by Tang Yan, the Clear Sky Sect elder who had survived being buried beneath the sect’s ruins. Su Chen ordered the Imperial Guards to stand back and chose to face Tang Yan alone, intending to demonstrate that assassins could not threaten him.

• Su Chen considered recruiting Shui Bing'er, Shui Yue'er, and Mu Huo'er while planning the Spirit Hall Empire’s future and preparing for his Dragon God's Seventh Trial.
• Tang Yan launched a Clear Sky Hammer at Su Chen, who blocked it with a qi barrier and recognized his attacker.
• Tang Yan explained that he had survived seven days beneath the Clear Sky Sect’s rubble and vowed to avenge the sect’s dead.
• Imperial Guards rushed to protect Su Chen, but he ordered them to retreat and leave the fight to him.
• Su Chen agreed to fight Tang Yan one-on-one, intending to show the world that he could defend himself against assassination attempts.

Su Chen faced Tang Yan, the Clear Sky Sect’s Blazing Sun Douluo, during his coronation and displayed the growth he had gained from the Dragon God's Sixth Trial. Tang Yan’s attacks failed to harm him, and Su Chen remained aloft after the destruction caused by their clash.

• Su Chen revealed his six-ring cultivation, rank-eightieth soul power, four soul bones, and enormous Five-Clawed Golden Dragon as he introduced himself to Tang Yan.
• Tang Yan attacked with Blazing Flames Across the Plains and Clear Sky Blazing Sun, but Su Chen stood unharmed and mocked him.
• Tang Yan used Clear Sky Clone and Gravity Control to double his hammer attacks and launch two flaming Clear Sky Hammers at Su Chen.
• Tang Yan redirected the hammers with Hammer Soul Control, and their collision destroyed nearby buildings and injured Imperial Guards.
• Tang Yan declared that Su Chen would die on his coronation day, but Su Chen appeared hundreds of meters overhead, unharmed, and asked whether that was all.

Su Chen evaded Tang Yan’s devastating attacks and wore down the level 96 Titled Douluo, leaving Tang Yan defeated in Spirit City. Tang Yan then revealed that he had never intended to leave alive.

• Tang Yan used the Great Sumeru Hammer-Ring Detonation and said his strength had reached level 96 after surviving on rainwater mixed with the blood of Clear Sky Sect disciples.
• Su Chen unleashed a lightning storm, while Tang Yan empowered his Clear Sky Hammers with his own blood and launched a flaming Whirlwind Hammer.
• Su Chen dodged Tang Yan’s attacks and countered with repeated fire techniques, gradually leaving Tang Yan battered and weakened.
• Su Chen declared Tang Yan defeated, and Snake Lance Douluo ordered the Hall Guard Knights to seize him, but they waited for Su Chen’s command.
• Tang Yan asked Su Chen whether he thought Tang Yan had ever intended to leave alive.

Su Chen defeated Tang Yan’s suicide attack with his self-created Lightning Release: Kirin, then received the acclaim of Spirit Hall’s army. Two years later, Xue Qinghe warned Xue Ye that oppressive nobles were driving commoners to flee to the Spirit Hall Empire, while secretly helping them escape.

• Tang Yan began detonating himself, but Su Chen summoned the lightning gathered in thunderclouds and shaped it into a kirin.
• Su Chen’s Lightning Release: Kirin struck Tang Yan and obliterated him, leaving Su Chen unharmed as Spirit Hall’s forces hailed him.
• Two years later, Xue Qinghe told Xue Ye that barren fields and fleeing commoners threatened the Heaven Dou Empire.
• Xue Qinghe blamed the nobles’ heavy taxes, forced labor, and abuses, while concealing that she was Qian Renxue and had helped commoners reach the Spirit Hall Empire.
• Xue Ye asked the assembled nobles for a solution as the exodus threatened the empire’s food supply and military strength.

The Heaven Dou Empire declared war on the Spirit Hall Empire as refugees and economic troubles weakened it, while Su Chen prepared for the invasion and arranged to keep potential rebels away from the fighting. The chapter ended with Su Chen intent on protecting the outcome of the coming war, which was tied to his Seventh Trial of the Dragon God.

• Heaven Dou ministers warned Emperor Xue Ye that refugees, declining grain reserves, and trade sanctions were weakening the empire.
• Yu Xiaolong and Xue Qinghe urged Emperor Xue Ye to declare war, while Yu Xiaogang argued that Heaven Dou needed three more years to prepare.
• Emperor Xue Ye declared war on the Spirit Hall Empire despite Yu Xiaogang's objection.
• Salas reported that Heaven Dou troops were gathering at the border and that Heaven Dou was seeking an alliance with the Star Luo Empire.
• Su Chen ordered Salas to invite landed nobles, kingdoms, and duchies to the Great Elder of Judgment's birthday celebration, intending to keep them away from the coming war.

At Jialing Pass, Su Chen assessed the Spirit Hall Empire’s dire position against the allied Heaven Dou and Star Luo Empires and proposed a daring strike on the exhausted Heaven Dou army’s main camp. He left his commanders stunned and ready to follow his orders, though he had not yet revealed how he would overcome the enemy’s overwhelming numbers.

• Snake Lance Douluo reported that the Heaven Dou army had begun making camp and described the forces gathered at Shuiyun Pass against the Star Luo Empire.
• Su Chen and his commanders reviewed the Spirit Hall Empire’s troop numbers and the threat posed by the million-strong Heaven Dou army and its alliance with Star Luo.
• Snake Lance Douluo and Flame Eagle Douluo proposed raiding the Heaven Dou army’s supply lines, while Qian Jun Douluo advised waiting until the enemy advanced closer to Jialing Pass.
• Su Chen rejected a supply-line raid and pointed out that the newly arrived, exhausted Heaven Dou army’s main camp was vulnerable to a surprise attack.
• Snake Lance Douluo warned that attacking the vastly larger army could endanger Jialing Pass, but Su Chen claimed he could wipe out more than half the enemy troops before the decisive battle.

Su Chen led four Titled Douluos on a nighttime raid against the Heaven Dou Empire’s camp, where Flame Eagle Douluo’s flames and Su Chen’s sword rain devastated the army. Xue Qinghe persuaded Emperor Xue Ye to retreat, and the chapter ended with the confirmed losses reaching 193,451 dead and 34,000 wounded.

• Su Chen persuaded Qian Jun Douluo, Demon Subduing Douluo, Snake Lance Douluo, and Flame Eagle Douluo to accompany him on a raid, using intelligence supplied by Qian Renxue.
• The five left Jialing Pass at night, and Snake Lance Douluo eliminated the guards and sentries near the Heaven Dou Empire’s camp.
• Flame Eagle Douluo set the camp ablaze with his eighth soul skill while Su Chen summoned a rain of swords that killed thousands of soldiers.
• Xue Qinghe urged Emperor Xue Ye to move the camp thirty kilometers away, and he ordered the retreat.
• Xue Qinghe reported that 193,451 soldiers had died and 34,000 had been wounded, leaving Emperor Xue Ye furious at Su Chen and the Spirit Hall Empire.

After the Heaven Dou Empire’s defeat, Yu Xiaogang persuaded Dugu Bo to launch a poison attack on Jialing Pass that night, despite Dugu Bo’s concern for civilians. Xue Qinghe volunteered to accompany him, and Emperor Xue Ye approved the mission.

• Yu Xiaogang argued that the Spirit Hall Empire’s forces would be weakened after their attack and urged Emperor Xue Ye to strike the next day.
• Yu Xiaogang proposed that Dugu Bo raid Jialing Pass alone and spread his poison, but Dugu Bo initially refused because civilians could die.
• Emperor Xue Ye and Xue Qinghe appealed to Dugu Bo to protect the empire, and the generals knelt to plead with him until he agreed.
• Yu Xiaogang recommended launching the poison attack that night, while the enemy celebrated and its defenses were lax.
• Xue Qinghe asked to accompany Dugu Bo on the raid, and Emperor Xue Ye granted permission while ordering him to bring Dugu Bo back alive.