Chapter Summaries

Chen Zhang and Li Xunhuan exposed their disguises while confronting Bao Nansong and the hidden Titled Douluo Ming Xingyun. Ming Xingyun attacked Chen Zhang with his fifth soul skill, Black Nightmare Ghost Claw.

• Bao Nansong recognized that Zhang Tianhua and Li Manqing were impostors and demanded to know why they had attacked the Bao Family.
• Zhang Tianhua identified the old servant as a man surnamed Ming, prompting him to reveal his Titled Douluo power.
• Zhang Tianhua shed his disguise and revealed himself as Chen Zhang, identifying the old servant as Black Nightmare Douluo Ming Xingyun.
• The false Li Manqing revealed himself as Li Xunhuan, Superintendent of the Bureau of Imperial Wardrobe and Li Manqing's father.
• Ming Xingyun challenged Chen Zhang and Li Xunhuan, then unleashed his fifth soul skill, Black Nightmare Ghost Claw, at Chen Zhang.

Chen Zhang, Zhu Yanfeng, and Xia Yun attacked Ming Xingyun together, but his Black Nightmare Battle Armor absorbed their assault and held firm. Their battle destroyed the Bao Family’s main hall, and the four combatants faced off atop the ruins.

• Zhu Yanfeng blocked Ming Xingyun’s Netherworld Ghost Claw with his Stone Armor Shield while Xia Yun and Chen Zhang launched coordinated attacks.
• Ming Xingyun used Eternal Night Protection to create a dark defensive domain that swallowed Xia Yun’s cherry-blossom blades and withstood Chen Zhang’s Sword Lotus.
• Zhu Yanfeng renewed the assault with three stone shields, and the fighters’ clashes brought down the Bao Family’s main hall.
• Chen Zhang, Zhu Yanfeng, Xia Yun, and Ming Xingyun took positions atop the wreckage, with Ming Xingyun staring at Chen Zhang through the swirling black mist.

Chen Zhang trapped Ming Xingyun and several allies inside a sword-light formation while Xia Yun intercepted Bao Family reinforcements. Li Xunhuan wounded Bao Nansong with his flying dagger, and Bao Nansong recalled the stacked soul skills behind its lethal strike.

• Xia Yun rushed out to intercept the Bao Family soul masters coming to reinforce Ming Xingyun.
• Chen Zhang used Sword Body Tribulation to summon four sword-intent clones, which joined Zhu Yanfeng in surrounding Ming Xingyun.
• Chen Zhang summoned thirty-six sword lights and sealed Ming Xingyun, his allies, and the ruins within a vast formation.
• Li Xunhuan faced Bao Nansong, who stood wounded by a flying dagger embedded in his shoulder and suffering spiritual pain.
• Bao Nansong recognized Li Xunhuan's famous flying dagger and recalled how Li combined four soul skills with his fifth soul skill to deliver the strike.

Li Xunhuan’s attack pierced Bao Nansong’s defense and left him suffering from its soul-burning effect. Elsewhere, the Heaven Dou Knight Order fought its way into the Bao Residence, where it encountered the Black Nether Guard.

• Bao Nansong activated Silk Mountain Layers, but Li Xunhuan’s Flame Prison Realm-Breaking Shuttle broke through and wounded his shoulder.
• Bao Nansong endured the throwing knife’s Soul Scorching Lure effect and was intimidated by Li Xunhuan’s calm gaze.
• Xue Hongtao led the Heaven Dou Knight Order in a surprise assault on the Bao Residence instead of deploying the Sunset Legion.
• The Heaven Dou Knight Order advanced through the forecourt in coordinated formations, killing Bao Family guards with its shields and Soul-Breaking Spears.
• The Black Nether Guard emerged from the courtyard’s shadows and confronted the knights with Nether Shadow Black Armor and sinister defensive spells.

The Heaven Dou Knight Order was stalled by the Black Nether Legion’s poison, corruption, and brutal attacks until Ning Hai strengthened the imperial troops with his Treasure Pagoda. His support began to break the deadlock, leaving the knights advancing through the enemy’s ranks.

• The Black Nether guards and aerial cavalry inflicted heavy casualties on the Heaven Dou Knight Order with thorn spikes, Corrupt Blood Javelins, poison, and soul attacks.
• The Knight Order’s Soul-Breaking Spear Formation was pinned in place as both armies fought amid mounting losses.
• Ning Hai used his Treasure Pagoda to grant the Heaven Dou knights powerful boosts to strength, speed, and defense.
• The enhanced knights repelled enemy attacks and began pushing through the Black Nether Legion’s lines.

The Heaven Dou Knight Order and the Black Nether Guard fought a brutal battle of attrition as dark curses met layered support magic. With Ning Hai’s enhancements reinforced by the Knight Order’s defensive and purifying support, the knights maintained a fragile advantage and continued their slow advance at enormous cost.

• Dark Soul Chanters strengthened the Black Nether Guard with secret arts that improved its defenses, speed, and attacks.
• Curse Casters struck the advancing knights with Bone-Eroding Acid Rain, Quagmire of Heaviness, and Soul-Shocking Scream, worsening casualties and disrupting their formation.
• The Black Nether Guard’s enhanced attacks tore through armor and killed knights with corrosive weapons and soul-rending blades.
• The Heaven Dou Knight Order’s Support Soul Masters raised Divinity Protection, used Clear Mind Spell to purge curses, and erected barriers to shield vulnerable troops.
• Ning Hai’s enhancements combined with the Knight Order’s support system, allowing the knights to hold their front line and gain a slight battlefield advantage as they advanced through heavy losses.

Black Nether Soul Douluos pinned down the Heaven Dou Knight Order’s strongest fighters on both wings, halting its advance. The right wing was left without its defensive barrier as imperial knights struggled against the incoming Black Nether Guards.

• Three Black Nether Soul Douluos used their coordinated abilities to trap Ximen Wenming and Zhong Feng in a deadlock on the left wing.
• Four Black Nether Soul Douluos attacked Gui Minghao and Fang Tingbo, wearing down their defenses and disrupting their abilities on the right wing.
• The Black Nether Soul Douluos’ attacks kept both defensive fighters occupied and unable to support the Knight Order’s advance.
• With its high-level fighters isolated and the right-wing barrier cut off, the Knight Order’s offensive stalled on both wings.

Xue Hongtao and Ma Zhibin discussed the Black Nether Legion’s strength and the Crimson Church’s hidden forces while watching the battle at Bao Family Manor. Their conversation ended with Ma Zhibin eager to join the fight below.

• Xue Hongtao explained that the Black Nether Legion at Bao Family Manor was a major force, unlike the detached Demon Dragon Legion outpost Ma Zhibin had fought in Fasno.
• Ma Zhibin said the Chen Clan had uncovered that the Bao Family was a branch of the Ming Family, and Xue Hongtao described how deeply the Ming Family had infiltrated the Empire Central District.
• Xue Hongtao estimated that the Crimson Church controlled tens of thousands of evil soul masters and said its legions had helped cause the age of calamity.
• Xue Hongtao and Ma Zhibin traced several enemy families and legions to the Three Ancient Heavenly Sects and argued over the consequences of their ancestors’ choices.
• Ma Zhibin asked why the Abyss Faction had traded postings with the Demon Dragon Legion, but Xue Hongtao said he did not know and reminded him that their men were dying below.
• Ma Zhibin stopped questioning Xue Hongtao and watched the battlefield, eager to fight.

Ma Zhibin and Xue Hongtao attacked Black Nether Guard Soul Saints while Han Yiyu and Xuan Qingya joined forces against Wan Hanyou. The battle continued as the two Divine Maidens suppressed the Ghost Demon Douluo with their ice and moon powers.

• Ma Zhibin challenged Xue Hongtao to a contest and dove into the battlefield.
• Ma Zhibin used his Sixth Soul Skill to kill one Black Nether Guard Soul Saint and cripple another.
• Xue Hongtao followed Ma Zhibin and launched his Wind Beak Sky-Rending Thrust at two more Soul Saints.
• Han Yiyu summoned her Heavenly Mountain Snow Lotus and transformed the front courtyard into an ice domain.
• Xuan Qingya manifested the Maha Moon as she and Han Yiyu jointly suppressed Wan Hanyou.

Han Yiyu and Xuan Qingya combined their ice and moon powers to trap and steadily weaken Wan Hanyou. Their attack left the ghost realm demon unable to escape or overcome the natural suppression of their coordinated techniques.

• Han Yiyu used Cold Jade Heavenly Seal to freeze the battlefield and slow Wan Hanyou’s black mist.
• Wan Hanyou attacked Han Yiyu with Netherworld Ghost Claw, but Xuan Qingya’s moonlight purified and destroyed the claws.
• Xuan Qingya shifted her lunar phase to create spatial vortices, while Wan Hanyou used Vengeful Soul Substitute to draw them away and flee.
• Xuan Qingya’s new-moon blades shredded the substitute and disrupted Wan Hanyou’s escape attempt.
• Wan Hanyou unleashed Hundred Ghosts Devouring Souls, but Han Yiyu froze and destroyed most of the apparitions, and Xuan Qingya’s moonlight vaporized the rest.
• Han Yiyu and Xuan Qingya kept Wan Hanyou trapped within their combined ice-and-moon domain, steadily wearing down his strength.

Xue Dingshi and Yang Guisan led the allied force's assault on the Bao Family's backyard defenses, but four Black Nether Legion Soul Douluos arrived and turned the battle. With the front line under threat, Chen Qingrui faced Qiu Ba alone to hold the attackers back.

• Xue Dingshi carved through the Black Armored Soldiers with her Blazing Light Art and Bright Light Sword Art while Yang Guisan bombarded the defenders with his Soul Breaking Spear.
• Chen Qingrui, Chen Gushan, Xia Lechuan, and Fei Shen advanced behind them as the Bao Family's defenses began to falter.
• A Black Nether Guard company and four Soul Douluos arrived, reversing the battle's momentum.
• Darkfire Lizard and Viper Dagger pinned Xue Dingshi down while Dark Wind Spear forced Yang Guisan into a direct duel.
• Qiu Ba led the Black Nether Guard in a counterattack against Chen Qingrui's forces, and Chen Qingrui ordered his troops to hold formation before confronting Qiu Ba himself.

Chen Qingrui used Xia Lechuan’s support and the Cloud Sea Seven Kill Domain to blunt Qiu Ba’s Mountain Cleaver and wound him, then redirected the attack with a precise sword strike. Qiu Ba transformed and unleashed an even deadlier secret technique, leaving Chen Qingrui wounded but ready to fight on.

• Qiu Ba attacked Chen Qingrui with his Eighth Soul Skill, Blood Sacrifice Fury: Mountain Cleaver, while Xia Lechuan used Lotus Flower Flame Blessing to reinforce and restore Chen Qingrui.
• Chen Qingrui deployed Cloud Sea Seven Kill Domain, weakening Qiu Ba’s axe aura and cutting his wrist while denting the armor beside his heart.
• As the domain collapsed, Chen Qingrui used Piercing Kill: A Single Point of Cold to strike a weak point in Qiu Ba’s axe and divert its blow into the ground.
• The blast injured Chen Qingrui and depleted much of his protective barrier, but he remained standing with his sword ready.
• Enraged by his wounds and the damage to his axe, Qiu Ba used Ironblood Avatar and unleashed the secret technique Bloodthirsty Berserker at Chen Qingrui.

Chen Qingrui unleashed three secret arts to counter Qiu Ba’s attack, but was badly wounded and nearly killed before Chen Gushan shielded him. Qiu Ba was injured by Chen Qingrui’s sword qi but remained standing and launched another deadly strike at him.

• Xia Lechuan healed his husband Chen Qingrui, who then activated Seven Kill True Body and three secret arts to fight Qiu Ba’s Bloodthirsty Berserker.
• Qiu Ba’s attack overwhelmed Chen Qingrui’s sword, leaving him unable to defend against the remaining force.
• Chen Gushan stepped in with Immovable Barrier and took the blow, suffering grievous injuries while Chen Qingrui barely survived.
• Chen Qingrui’s sword qi cut Qiu Ba’s chest and arm, inflicting moderate injuries.
• Qiu Ba swung his axe at the gravely wounded Chen Qingrui, intent on cleaving him in two.

Qin Lüguang arrived in time to save Chen Qingrui from Qiu Ba’s killing blow and launched a series of blood-corroding spear attacks. Qiu Ba answered with his Mountain-Cleaving Nine Strikes as Qin Lüguang activated his Blood Shadow Avatar and countered with Red Tassel Storm.

• Qin Lüguang interrupted Qiu Ba’s axe strike and saved Chen Qingrui with Blood Shadow Divine Speed Spear.
• Qin Lüguang revealed his sublimated Blood Shadow Demon Spear and steadied the Chen Clan’s defenders with his arrival.
• Qin Lüguang attacked Qiu Ba with Bloodburst Divine Spear, but Qiu Ba deflected most of the spear rays with Whirling Blade Sky-Rending Slash and suffered several wounds.
• Qiu Ba unleashed Mountain-Cleaving Nine Strikes, enveloping Qin Lüguang in a devastating storm of axe blows.
• Qin Lüguang activated Blood Shadow Avatar and spun his spear into a defensive Red Tassel Storm.

Qin Lüguang exploited a brief opening in Qiu Ba’s axe assault to land a devastating spear thrust, leaving the enemy critically wounded and turning the rear courtyard battle in the Chen Clan’s favor. As Qin Lüguang and Qiu Ba traded threats, a thunderous blast erupted to the right.

• Qin Lüguang escaped Qiu Ba’s collapsing storm of axe strikes and drove his spear into the old wound on Qiu Ba’s chest.
• Qiu Ba’s wound burst open under the blood corrosion, and his Ironblood Avatar dispersed, leaving him unable to fight.
• Qin Lüguang’s defeat of Qiu Ba relieved pressure on the Chen Clan’s fighters, and they began to counterattack.
• Qin Lüguang apologized to Chen Qingrui for arriving late, while Chen Gu lay badly wounded nearby.
• Qiu Ba insulted Qin Lüguang’s family and threatened that others would seek revenge, and Qin Lüguang replied that he would be waiting.
• A thunderous blast suddenly erupted in the distance to the right.

Long Jing'an and Yu Yongyuan fought Zhai Henbai, whose Xuanwu defenses withstood their attacks and countered with bone-eroding needles. The two dragons coordinated a powerful assault, but Zhai Henbai answered with Return to the Abyss, leaving the outcome unresolved as their attacks struck his swirling black-water bulwark.

• Long Jing'an and Yu Yongyuan attacked Zhai Henbai with their eighth soul skills, but his Xuanming Black Marsh absorbed and slowed their blows.
• Zhai Henbai used his Stillness conception to halt Long Jing'an's follow-up strikes, and Long Jing'an cursed their bad luck while Yu Yongyuan urged him to attack again.
• Zhai Henbai launched Blackwater Bone-Eroding Needles, which Long Jing'an and Yu Yongyuan blocked with their respective defensive skills.
• Long Jing'an struck Zhai Henbai's shell with Reverse Scale-Silver Break as Yu Yongyuan unleashed Burning Sun Descends.
• Zhai Henbai invoked Return to the Abyss, dispersing Long Jing'an's claw strike and meeting Yu Yongyuan's fireball with his swirling black-water bulwark.

Zhai Henbai survived Long Jing'an and Yu Yongyuan’s combined assault without injury. Zhi Mengze joined the fight and used his Shadow Tree domain to help Zhai Henbai suppress the two dragons, who prepared to unleash their full strength.

• Zhai Henbai’s Abyssal Return Barrier withstood Long Jing'an and Yu Yongyuan’s attacks until their assault exhausted itself, leaving him unharmed.
• Zhi Mengze appeared and spread his Shadow Forest Dream Prison domain across the battlefield, ensnaring the dragons’ minds and attacking them with heart-eroding thorn vines.
• Zhai Henbai used Mysterious Water Yin Thunder to attack while Zhi Mengze’s vines and illusions kept the dragons under pressure.
• Long Jing'an countered with Silver Dragon Sky-Rending Wave, and Yu Yongyuan burned through the vines with Heart-Burning Fire before striking with Red Dragon Rageflame Claw.
• As the dragons’ attacks were suppressed and the illusions and assaults continued, Yu Yongyuan urged Long Jing'an to use the Overlord Dragon Art’s Profound Art, and Long Jing'an prepared to break through their predicament.

Zuo Tinggang and Chen Weizhe watched a massive battle at the Bao Residence and realized the Crimson Church’s forces were hiding a pattern. They concluded that its high-level Soul Douluo were training to break through to the Titled Douluo realm.

• Zuo Tinggang and Chen Weizhe observed four Titled Douluo and more than a dozen Soul Douluo fighting at the Bao Residence, an unexpectedly large gathering.
• Chen Weizhe inferred that Chen Zhang had timed the attack to exploit the distraction caused by Donghuang’s coronation and the Gaoying Tournament.
• Zuo Tinggang and Chen Weizhe compared the forces at the Bao Residence, the Chen Residence, and Sea Lake Manor and noticed that none included high-level Soul Douluo.
• Chen Weizhe pointed out that the Crimson Church’s legions had never openly deployed fighters above level 87 in recorded battles.
• Zuo Tinggang concluded that the Crimson Church’s high-level Soul Douluo were undergoing advanced training to break through to the Titled Douluo realm.

Chen Weizhe and Zuo Tinggang realized the Crimson Church might be using the Ancient Death Spiral Magic Formation and victims’ blood essence to create dozens of new Titled Douluos before the coming calamity. Their deductions later reached Chen Xiaojun, who understood that this scheme could explain the soul master world’s decline in later generations.

• Chen Weizhe calculated that the Ancient Death Spiral Magic Formation could let high-level Soul Douluos force breakthroughs to Titled Douluo.
• Chen Weizhe concluded that the Crimson Church’s repeated early attacks might have gathered blood essence to fuel the formation and estimated its Titled Douluos could eventually number in the dozens.
• Zuo Tinggang imagined the Crimson Church overwhelming the soul master world and leaving it vulnerable to returning otherworlder forces.
• Chen Weining judged that the Chen Clan’s three Titled Douluos were not enough to face the threat.
• Chen Xiaojun later heard Chen Weizhe and Zuo Tinggang’s deductions and connected the Crimson Church’s scheme to the decline of Soul Masters in later generations.

Chen Weizhe explained how the Crimson Church used the Ancient Death Spiral Magic Formation to create Titled Douluo and proposed a two-pronged strategy to limit its growth. He and Zuo Tinggang turned their attention to the four Crimson Titled Douluo surrounded below.

• Chen Weizhe slapped Zuo Tinggang out of his troubled thoughts about the soul masters who could be lost to the Crimson Church’s formation.
• Chen Weizhe reasoned that the formation required enormous amounts of blood essence, especially from powerful soul masters killed in battle.
• Chen Weizhe urged the forces to secure high-rank soul master remains and conduct reconnaissance to prevent the Crimson Church from harvesting them.
• Chen Weizhe proposed killing Crimson Titled Douluo faster than the formation could produce replacements, noting that four were surrounded below.
• Chen Weizhe concluded that cutting off the formation’s blood essence supply and killing existing Titled Douluo could force the Crimson Church into numerical decline.