Chapter Summaries

Grandmaster arranged for Tang San and Xiao Yan to obtain their first soul rings, and Nuoding Academy headmaster Mang Tianchi agreed to accompany them. The group left the academy for the Soul Hunting Forest, while Xiao Yan wondered why the headmaster’s name sounded familiar.

• Grandmaster treated Tang San to a lavish meal and persuaded him to follow his instructions for martial soul cultivation and meet him the next morning.
• Xiao Yan asked Director Su for help obtaining his first soul ring, but Director Su worried Grandmaster could not protect the children from a hundred-year soul beast.
• Mang Tianchi offered to accompany Grandmaster and the two boys to the Soul Hunting Forest, and Director Su agreed to let Xiao Yan go.
• Xiao Yan learned that the headmaster was named Mang Tianchi and found the name vaguely familiar.
• Mang Tianchi, Grandmaster, Tang San, and Xiao Yan left Nuoding Academy early the next morning and set out for the Soul Hunting Forest.

Grandmaster took Tang San and Xiao Yan to the Soul Hunting Forest to prepare for a soul-beast hunt, giving Tang San a special belt along the way. After entering the forest, Grandmaster summoned Luo Sanpao, and Mang Tianchi explained his view of the bond between a person and their martial soul.

• Grandmaster bought waterskins, food, and twenty jin of white radishes before the group left Nuoding City by carriage.
• Grandmaster gave Tang San a blue belt set with twenty-four jade stones during the journey.
• The group reached the Soul Hunting Forest, where Xiao Yan noticed his martial soul reacting to the forest.
• Mang Tianchi presented a token that let the group pass through the guarded entrance to the Soul Hunting Forest.
• Grandmaster summoned Luo Sanpao, and Xiao Yan laughed at the pig-dog-like creature before petting it.
• Mang Tianchi told Xiao Yan that martial souls were twins to their owners and grew through mutual acceptance.

The Grandmaster led Tang San, Xiao Yan, and Mang Tianchi into the Soul Hunting Forest to search for a soul beast, while Xiao Yan sensed unusually intense fire energy deeper in the woods. Their discussion of Tang San’s first soul ring was interrupted when a massive, flame-wreathed creature emerged between the trees.

• The Grandmaster introduced Luo Sanpao’s tracking abilities and gave Tang San a short sword for protection.
• Xiao Yan used his spiritual power to sense the forest’s energies and detected familiar, scorching fire energy deeper within.
• Luo Sanpao mistook a snake vine flower for a Mandala Snake, and the Grandmaster explained that Tang San should keep searching for a suitable soul ring.
• Xiao Yan questioned the Grandmaster’s plan to give Tang San an Entanglement skill, but Tang San defended his teacher’s theories.
• Luo Sanpao sensed an approaching soul beast, so Mang Tianchi released his Lie Shan Spear martial soul and four soul rings.
• A huge creature surrounded by flames emerged between two trees, leaving everyone stunned.

Mang Tianchi confronted a thousand-year Vajra Demon Ape while Grandmaster fled with Tang San and Xiao Yan. Drawn to an erupting volcano, Xiao Yan found and absorbed the Green Lotus Core Flame, a Heavenly Flame that recognized him from his past life.

• Mang Tianchi charged the Vajra Demon Ape so Grandmaster could escape with Tang San and Xiao Yan.
• Xiao Yan sensed a call from an erupting volcano, broke away from Grandmaster, and headed toward it alone.
• Xiao Yan released his Emperor Flame Martial Soul, which drew a burst of green flame from the volcano and revealed the Green Lotus Core Flame.
• The Green Lotus Core Flame calmed before Xiao Yan, transformed into a Fire Lotus Seed, and entered his body.
• Xiao Yan learned that the Green Lotus Core Flame ranked nineteenth on the Heavenly Flame Ranking and could trigger devastating volcanic eruptions.

Xiao Yan absorbed the Green Lotus Core Flame, which strengthened his body and Heavenly Flames Martial Soul and gave him a Soul Ring and memories of three Dou Techniques. Hours later, Tang San and Grandmaster rested beside a campfire as they fled through the mountains.

• Xiao Yan merged the Green Lotus Core Flame into his body and received memories of Eight Extremes Collapse, Suction Palm, and Explosive Step.
• Xiao Yan condensed a deep yellow Soul Ring and found that his Heavenly Flames Martial Soul had become pure green.
• Xiao Yan realized the skills recovered from the Heavenly Flame's memories counted as Self-Created Soul Skills.
• Tang San fed two white radishes to Grandmaster's Martial Soul, Luo Sanpao, while he and Grandmaster rested beside a campfire.

Tang San and Grandmaster encountered a Mandala Snake while hunting in the Soul Hunting Forest, and Tang San killed it with a short sword. Xiao Yan arrived in time to interrupt Tang San’s attempt to silence Grandmaster, and the chapter ended with Xiao Yan questioning whether the snake’s Soul Ring was right for Tang San.

• Tang San asked Grandmaster how Luo Sanpao recovered its fart attacks, and they noticed a venomous creature nearby.
• Xiao Yan sensed danger in the forest, heard Tang San and Grandmaster fighting a Soul Beast, and went to investigate.
• Tang San struck the Mandala Snake in the mouth with Grandmaster’s short sword and escaped its counterattack.
• Tang San considered killing the poisoned Grandmaster to hide that his soul did not belong to this world, but Xiao Yan’s arrival stopped him.
• Grandmaster realized the dying Mandala Snake could provide Tang San’s first Soul Ring, and Xiao Yan questioned whether it was the best choice.

Tang San accepted the Grandmaster’s proposal to absorb a Mandala Snake’s soul ring, despite Xiao Yan questioning the choice. As Tang San began absorbing it, the Grandmaster collapsed and dreamed that Tang San blamed him for choosing the ring and killed him; Xiao Yan then found the unconscious Grandmaster poisoned.

• The Grandmaster argued that the Mandala Snake’s toughness, toxicity, and entangling ability made it suitable for Tang San’s Blue Silver Grass, while Xiao Yan challenged his reasoning.
• Tang San trusted the Grandmaster’s theory and began absorbing the Hundred-Year Mandala Snake’s soul ring.
• The Grandmaster collapsed into semiconsciousness and dreamed that Tang San accused him of choosing a pointless soul skill and testing his theory on him.
• In the dream, Tang San bound the Grandmaster with Blue Silver Grass, rejected his excuses, and engulfed him despite his pleas for mercy.
• Xiao Yan checked the unconscious Grandmaster and concluded that he had been poisoned, possibly by the Mandala Snake.

Xiao Yan purged the Mandala Snake’s poison from the Grandmaster and killed another Mandala Snake with his Green Lotus Core Flame. After discovering he could summon a Soul Ring from the snake but choosing not to absorb it, he concluded that Soul Rings were external energy-storage mediums and wondered whether they could be created through cultivation.

• Xiao Yan examined the poisoned Grandmaster, found that the venom had not reached his heart, and used Green Lotus Core Flame to purge it.
• Xiao Yan lit a campfire beside the still-unconscious Grandmaster while Tang San continued absorbing his Soul Ring.
• Xiao Yan discovered a newly molted Mandala Snake hiding among snake vine flowers, and the snake attacked him to avenge its mate.
• Xiao Yan used Explosive Step and Eight Extremes Collapse, infused with Green Lotus Core Flame, to kill the Mandala Snake.
• Xiao Yan summoned his Heavy Xuan Ruler and drew the snake’s yellow Soul Ring toward himself, but withdrew his soul power before absorbing it.
• Xiao Yan reasoned that Soul Rings stored energy and considered whether a special cultivation method could create them without hunting Soul Beasts.

After Tang San absorbed the Mandala Snake Soul Ring, Mang Tianchi brought the poisoned Grandmaster back to Nuoding City for treatment. Grandmaster praised Tang San’s new control ability and disparaged Xiao Yan, leaving Tang San convinced that he should keep his distance from his brother.

• Mang Tianchi found Tang San carrying the unconscious Grandmaster out of the Soul Hunting Forest and took Grandmaster back to Nuoding City for treatment.
• Xiao Yan returned to Nuoding Academy and went alone to the library to study martial soul theory.
• Grandmaster woke three days later, and Tang San showed him his blue silver grass, yellow Soul Ring, and Entanglement skill.
• Tang San explained that his Soul Ring had strengthened his blue silver grass and given it a numbing poison effect.
• Grandmaster criticized Xiao Yan’s intelligence and predicted his cultivation would be limited, while praising Tang San’s potential to reach the Titled Douluo realm.
• Grandmaster advised Tang San to associate with Xiao Yan as little as possible, and Tang San agreed.

Grandmaster told Tang San to study his soul beast research and explained Spirit Hall’s soul master stipends as a scheme to win loyalty and undermine the Two Great Empires. Tang San agreed to distrust Spirit Hall and left with Grandmaster’s badge to collect both of their stipends.

• Grandmaster gave Tang San an untitled book of research and urged him to keep cultivating while he recovered.
• Grandmaster instructed Tang San to visit Spirit Hall in Nuoding City for an assessment and to collect his monthly stipend.
• Grandmaster claimed Spirit Hall continued paying stipends to win soul masters’ loyalty, while the Two Great Empires were reducing their funding.
• Tang San accepted Grandmaster’s explanation and began to feel aversion toward Spirit Hall.
• Grandmaster handed Tang San his soul master badge and asked him to collect his stipend as well.

Xiao Yan challenged Tang San’s view that Spirit Hall’s stipends were a tool of rebellion, arguing that it served commoners and that Tang San was hypocritical to take its money while condemning it. Their disagreement strained their relationship, and Xiao Yan went to Spirit Hall in Nuoding City to have his Soul Master level assessed and claim his stipend.

• Tang San told Xiao Yan that Grandmaster had instructed him to register at Spirit Hall in Nuoding City and collect a Soul Master stipend.
• Xiao Yan defended Spirit Hall’s free martial-soul awakenings and support for commoners, while Tang San argued that its stipends showed rebellious intentions.
• Xiao Yan told Tang San not to take Spirit Hall’s benefits while cursing it, leaving Tang San angry and driving a wedge between them.
• Xiao Yan said their paths differed and left for Spirit Hall to undergo his Soul Master assessment.
• At Spirit Hall, Xiao Yan showed his martial soul certificate to the guards, who let him enter and directed him to Master Ma Xiunuo.

Xiao Yan underwent a Soul Master assessment at Spirit Hall, revealing a green-flame Martial Soul, a Yellow Soul Ring, and level fourteen soul power. Ma Xiunuo invited him to join Spirit Hall, and Xiao Yan asked what benefits membership offered.

• Xiao Yan entered Spirit Hall and asked Ma Xiunuo to conduct a Soul Master assessment.
• Xiao Yan released his green lotus core flame and revealed a bright Yellow Soul Ring, astonishing Ma Xiunuo.
• Xiao Yan’s soul power lit Ma Xiunuo’s crystal ball, showing that he had reached level fourteen.
• Xiao Yan claimed he had obtained his Soul Ring from a fire-attribute Soul Beast and gave Ma Xiunuo his Martial Soul certificate.
• Ma Xiunuo invited Xiao Yan to join Spirit Hall and described its resources and opportunities, while Xiao Yan asked what benefits membership offered.

Xiao Yan declined Ma Xiunuo’s invitation to join Spirit Hall for now but received his soul master badge and stipend. After Tang San also registered as a soul master and Ma Xiunuo reported both boys to Spirit Hall’s higher-ups, Xiao Yan went to the academy cafeteria, where Boss Xiao’s lackeys surrounded him for eating upstairs.

• Xiao Yan refused to join Spirit Hall until after graduating from Nuoding Academy, and Ma Xiunuo gave him a soul master badge and his stipend.
• Tang San visited Spirit Hall, refused Ma Xiunuo’s invitation, and collected stipends for himself and Yu Xiaogang.
• Ma Xiunuo mocked Yu Xiaogang for living on Spirit Hall’s stipend, embarrassing Tang San.
• Ma Xiunuo reported Xiao Yan and Tang San’s innate full soul power to Spirit Hall’s higher-ups, where Bibi Dong would receive the news.
• Xiao Yan went to the academy cafeteria to buy meat, and Boss Xiao ordered his lackeys to surround him for eating upstairs.

Xiao Yan defeated Xiao Chenyu’s two lackeys after Xiao Chenyu tried to bar work-study students from the cafeteria’s second floor. Tang San then defeated Xiao Chenyu, leaving the work-study students’ challenge settled as Xiao Wu announced her level to the gathered students.

• Xiao Chenyu told Xiao Yan that work-study students were not allowed to eat on the cafeteria’s second floor, and Xiao Yan insulted him.
• Xiao Yan burned Liu Long’s staff martial soul and knocked him unconscious, then used Suction Palm to defeat Ling Feng.
• Xiao Wu arrived with Wang Sheng and challenged Xiao Chenyu after Xiao Yan taunted her.
• Tang San returned from the Spirit Hall, accepted Xiao Wu’s challenge on behalf of the work-study students, and defeated Xiao Chenyu with Entanglement.
• Xiao Wu introduced herself as Tang San’s boss and revealed that she was a level twelve, one-ring Battle Soul Master.

Xiao Yan trained with his second martial soul, a heavy Black Ruler that suppressed his soul power, while Pope Bibi Dong reviewed reports about Xiao Yan and Tang San. Suspecting a connection between Tang San and someone from her past, Bibi Dong summoned Yue Guan.

• Xiao Yan practiced Eight Extremes Collapse and discovered that his Black Ruler was extremely heavy and slowed his soul power, so he strapped it to his back for training.
• A cardinal from Fasinuo Province reported that Xiao Yan had an unusual flame martial soul and innate full soul power, but had refused Spirit Hall’s invitation to study.
• Bibi Dong read Xiao Yan’s report and noticed that he was born in Holy Soul Village.
• Bibi Dong found a second report about Tang San, whose Blue Silver Grass martial soul and innate full soul power also came from Holy Soul Village.
• Bibi Dong grew suspicious after seeing Tang San’s surname and martial soul, dismissed the cardinal, and summoned Yue Guan.

Bibi Dong ordered Yue Guan to investigate Tang San after suspecting he was the son of a missing man and a soul beast. Tang San demonstrated his forging talent in Nuoding City, while Xiao Yan began designing an iron Black Ruler at the academy.

• Bibi Dong read reports about Xiao Yan and Tang San, then sent Yue Guan to investigate Tang San's background in Holy Soul Village.
• Bibi Dong connected Tang San's age, surname, and Blue Silver Grass martial soul to the missing man and soul beast who had disappeared six years earlier.
• Tang San convinced a blacksmith shop owner to take him on as an apprentice and impressed the workers by using the Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer technique.
• A burly man in a black robe watched Tang San forge with a pleased smile before vanishing.
• At Nuoding Academy, Xiao Yan and Tang San gave brief introductions as One-Ring Soul Masters, while Xiao Wu spoke at length to their class.
• Bored during class, Xiao Yan sketched a design for an iron Black Ruler to use in place of his heavy second martial soul.

Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan learned that Tang Hao had lived in Holy Soul Village with his sons, then went to report his suspicions to Bibi Dong. Tang Hao visited Yu Xiaogang, asked him to care for Tang San, and left him a Pope Token.

• Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan questioned Old Jack about Tang Hao and learned that Tang Hao and his sons had arrived in Holy Soul Village six years earlier.
• Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan connected Tang San's blue silver grass Martial Soul and birth timing to Tang Hao and a hundred-thousand-year Soul Beast, then hurried to report to Bibi Dong.
• Yu Xiaogang lamented his stalled cultivation before Tang Hao entered his room and revealed his identity.
• Tang Hao asked Yu Xiaogang to look after Tang San and dismissed Xiao Yan's changed surname and unusual Martial Soul.
• Tang Hao told Yu Xiaogang that a teacher was like a father and left him a black token that Yu Xiaogang recognized as a Pope Token.

Bibi Dong learned that Tang San might be Tang Hao’s son and might possess twin martial souls, then decided to take the danger to Qian Daoliu. The chapter left Bibi Dong and Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan on their way to the Elder Hall.

• Grandmaster watched Tang Hao leave and lamented that his former idol had changed.
• Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan gave Bibi Dong a report on Tang San’s background, including his father Tang Hao and his Blue Silver Grass martial soul.
• Bibi Dong reasoned that Tang San’s Blue Silver Grass could be a powerful inherited martial soul and considered that he might also possess the Clear Sky Hammer.
• Bibi Dong rejected Yue Guan’s suggestion to kill Tang San immediately because Tang Hao’s whereabouts and Tang San’s abilities remained uncertain.
• Bibi Dong ordered Yue Guan to accompany her to the Elder Hall to bring the problem to Qian Daoliu.

Bibi Dong visited the Elder Hall to tell Qian Daoliu that Tang San was likely Tang Hao’s son and might possess twin martial souls, hoping to turn him against the boy. Qian Daoliu saw through her scheme and continued to regard Bibi Dong as useful until Qian Renxue inherited the Angel God’s divine seat.

• Golden Crocodile Douluo urged Qian Daoliu to seize Bibi Dong’s authority, but Qian Daoliu refused because he believed she could help Spirit Hall and serve until Qian Renxue matured.
• Bibi Dong entered the Elder Hall despite Golden Crocodile Douluo’s soul-power pressure and told Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan that Tang San was a greater threat than the other child with the flame martial soul.
• Bibi Dong gave Qian Daoliu information about Tang Hao and his sons, and she deduced that Tang San was likely Tang Hao’s son with twin martial souls.
• Qian Daoliu recognized that Bibi Dong wanted him to deal with Tang San, but he dismissed the boy as no present threat and let Bibi Dong leave.
• After Bibi Dong departed, Qian Daoliu resolved not to let her use him against Tang San and wondered whether Tang San would disrupt Bibi Dong’s long-running plan in the Heaven Dou Empire.

Xiao Yan visited a Nuoding City blacksmith shop to commission a heavy black-iron ruler for training and discovered that Tang San worked there. Tang San agreed to forge it, though he kept their relationship at the level of classmates.

• Xiao Yan went to a blacksmith shop near Nuoding Academy to have a Black Ruler made for weighted training.
• Xiao Yan showed the shop owner his design and arranged to pay ten Gold Soul Coins in monthly installments after proving he was a Soul Master.
• The shop owner led Xiao Yan to Tang San, who had recently joined the blacksmith shop as a worker.
• Xiao Yan and Tang San recognized each other, and Tang San said they were only classmates.
• Tang San examined the design and estimated that forging the two-hundred-jin ruler from black iron would take about a week.