Chapter Summaries

Chen Xiaojun, Zhu Yanfeng, and Ou Ya defeated the black-clad attackers who ambushed their group in a valley, then suspected that the assassins had been targeting Ji Boda. The chapter ended with Ji Boda inviting everyone to his engagement celebration, while Chen Xiaojun anticipated trouble.

• The Soul Emperor and several Soul Kings engaged Zhu Yanfeng while the other attackers charged Chen Xiaojun’s group.
• Ou Ya drove the attackers back with his second soul skill, then struck them with his eighth soul skill, killing or injuring many as Chen Xiaojun’s group followed up.
• The attackers retreated, but Zhu Yanfeng, Ou Ya, and the others caught and killed them; the survivors had taken poison rather than be captured.
• Chen Xiaojun told Ji Boda that the attackers had probably targeted him, and Ji Boda vowed to investigate.
• Liu Ruyan helped the injured Yin Tengcheng toward the tents while Ji Boda invited Chen Xiaojun’s group and the two seniors to his engagement celebration on the eighteenth.

Chen Xiaojun returned safely to the Chen Clan’s residence with Xixi and told Chen Cong about their journey to Mount Li and the First-Generation Angel God’s secret realm. After studying the faith-based godhood method, Chen Cong learned Chen Xiaojun’s master viewed gods as one power system among many, part of the universal heaven tier.

• Ji Boda, Liu Ruyan, and the injured Yin Tengcheng returned to Chang'an City and left the others after saying farewell.
• Chen Xiaojun and the others returned to the Chen Clan’s secondary residence, where Chen Cong and Long Ma welcomed them and heard about the secret realm and the black-clad attackers.
• Chen Cong called Chen Xiaojun into the inner hall, where Chen Xiaojun showed him a rubbing of the faith-based godhood method.
• Chen Cong studied the method and learned that godhood required divine power, divine sense, a divine body, and a divine office to advance together.
• Chen Xiaojun explained that his master considered gods one tier in a wider cultivation system, with comparable powers across the heavens and myriad worlds.
• Chen Xiaojun described the nine transcendent stages, nine heaven tiers, and nine Dao realms, while noting that higher tiers beyond the Dao realms remained unknown.

Chen Xiaojun explained his ideas about gods, immortals, and Martial Souls to Chen Cong, then discussed the Black-Clothed Men and their likely targets. Meanwhile, Xin Mengshen bought an antique porcelain piece to bring when she visited Luo Zhenjun’s grandfather.

• Chen Xiaojun told Chen Cong that gods were bound by divine offices and the Divine Realm, while immortals offered Soul Masters a freer cultivation path.
• Chen Xiaojun explained that Martial Souls were souls at their core and that true Martial Souls at the Titled Douluo level became Dharma Forms.
• Chen Cong warned Chen Xiaojun to be cautious about the force behind the Black-Clothed Men, and Chen Xiaojun proposed spending more time with the Ji Family and Liu Family youngsters while preparing for different possibilities.
• Xin Mengshen chose and bought a piece of antique porcelain as a gift for Luo Zhenjun’s grandfather.
• Xin Mengshen wrapped the porcelain and prepared to return to Chenlin Village with Luo Zhenjun.

Chen Xiaojun visited the Ji Family, warned Ji Boda that the Black-Clothed Men might be Evil Soul Masters using Bloodthirst Dew, and gained an opportunity to spend more time in the household. The next day, he taught Old Kong how to use the spices and arranged for several new dishes to be served at the engagement banquet.

• Chen Xiaojun brought spices to Ji Boda and warned him that the Black-Clothed Men were likely Evil Soul Masters who had taken Bloodthirst Dew.
• Ji Boda agreed the engagement celebration could be a target and invited Chen Xiaojun to teach the Ji Family chef how to use the spices.
• Chen Xiaojun returned to the Ji Residence and explained the spices’ properties and combinations to Old Kong.
• Chen Xiaojun demonstrated recipes and cooking techniques, helping Old Kong learn to use the new spices.
• Old Kong asked to serve several of Chen Xiaojun’s new dishes at the engagement banquet, and Chen Xiaojun agreed.

At Liu Ruyan and Ji Boda’s engagement banquet, Ito Makoto interrupted the ceremony and demanded that Liu Ruyan leave with him. Liu Ruyan rejected his romantic claims and affirmed her love for Ji Boda, but Ito Makoto vowed to make trouble for them.

• Chen Xiaojun and his companions attended Liu Ruyan and Ji Boda’s engagement banquet at the Ji residence.
• Ito Makoto arrived with a bouquet and begged Liu Ruyan to leave with him, claiming she loved him.
• Ji Boda told Ito Makoto to stop pestering Liu Ruyan and leave, while Ito accused Ji Boda of stealing her.
• Liu Ruyan kissed Ji Boda to stop him from ending the engagement, then explained that she had treated Ito Makoto as a younger brother and loved Ji Boda.
• Ito Makoto refused to accept Liu Ruyan’s rejection and threatened that he would not let the couple live in peace.

At Liu Ruyan and Ji Boda’s engagement banquet, Liu Ruyan exposed Ito Makoto as the one who arranged the attack by the Black-Clothed Men and faked his weakness to help them strike. Ito Makoto’s schemes were revealed, and Liu Ruyan left him to face the consequences as the banquet moved toward a happy ending.

• Liu Ruyan accused Ito Makoto of sending the Black-Clothed Men to kill her and Ji Boda.
• Liu Ruyan explained that Ito Makoto had feigned weakness to delay their return to Chang'an City and had pretended to run slowly so Ji Boda would be injured saving him.
• Liu Ruyan revealed that Ito Makoto used a thirty-thousand-year Illusion Fox skull to disguise his condition, and the guests recognized the gravity of the accusation.
• Ito Makoto admitted he was wrong but said he loved Liu Ruyan, while she refused to sympathize and walked away.
• Chen Xiaojun privately praised Liu Ruyan’s cleverness and thought the banquet would still end happily.

After Liu Ruyan exposed Ito Makoto, a masked Soul Douluo and over a hundred men in black stormed the Ji Family engagement banquet. Ji Boda identified the attackers as members of the Crimson Church, and both sides began a fierce battle.

• Ji Boda asked Ji Sijian to protect Yin Tengcheng, but a masked Soul Douluo arrived and blasted the Ji Family guards away.
• More than a hundred men in black entered the venue, and Ji Chenglie, Ji Chengjian, and Liu Yirong joined the Ji and Liu Families.
• Ji Boda recognized the attackers' clothing and Bloodthirst Dew as signs of the Crimson Church, prompting the guests to ready their martial souls.
• Ji Chenglie ordered everyone to kill the Crimson Church members, and Ji Boda asked Chen Xiaojun and his companions for help.
• Zhu Yanfeng went to face the enemy Soul Douluos while Ou Ya stayed to protect Chen Xiaojun and the others.
• The masked leader ordered an attack, and the Ji and Liu Families and their guests clashed with the men in black.

The Ji and Liu Families fought the black-clothed attackers as eight Soul Douluos paired off across the courtyard. Ji Chenglie’s clash with He Tiancheng escalated into a spectacular collision between nine phoenixes and a storm of black feathers.

• Ji Chenglie and Ji Chengjian used their Nine Phoenix Arrival Flutes while Zhu Yanfeng and Liu Yirong helped repel the attackers, and Liu Yirong bound a black-clothed Soul Saint with her Drizzle Needles.
• The eight Soul Douluos paired off: Ji Chenglie fought He Tiancheng, Ji Chengjian fought Pang Yanfeng, Zhu Yanfeng fought Xiong Li, and Liu Yirong fought Yan Shenglong.
• Ji Chenglie unleashed his sixth soul skill, Nine Phoenixes Soar to Heaven, sending nine flaming phoenixes toward He Tiancheng.
• He Tiancheng answered with his fifth soul skill, Black Feather Storm, and the phoenixes and black feathers collided in a towering pillar of light.

The Ji Residence battle continued as Ji Chengjian, Zhu Yanfeng, and Liu Yirong fought their opponents with powerful defensive and offensive soul skills. The chapter left Liu Yirong trapped and nearly immobilized inside Yan Shenglong’s demonic crystal.

• Ji Chengjian used Flying Phoenix Barrier to withstand Pang Yanfeng’s Shadow Traceless attacks.
• Zhu Yanfeng expanded his Stone Armor Shields and collided with the Black Iron Giant Bear Soul Douluo’s Giant Bear Iron Wall.
• Liu Yirong launched Drizzle Piercing the Clouds, while Yan Shenglong used Darkness Devour to draw in most of the needles.
• Yan Shenglong transformed and unleashed Hell’s Breath, encasing Liu Yirong in a demonic crystal that left her struggling to move.

Liu Yirong and Yan Shenglong traded powerful Soul Skills in a fierce battle, with neither gaining a decisive advantage. Both were injured and drained, and Yan Shenglong prepared to keep fighting, confident in his Dark Demon Dragon Martial Soul.

• Liu Yirong struck Yan Shenglong with her Eighth Soul Skill, Divine Needle Dawnbreaker, piercing his defenses and driving him back.
• Yan Shenglong unleashed Demon Dragon Transformation Across Heaven and Earth, sending black dragon afterimages at Liu Yirong and knocking her into the air.
• Liu Yirong combined Origin Spirit Thunderbolt Break with her right arm Soul Bone skill, Origin Spirit Power, to launch an enhanced attack.
• Yan Shenglong met Liu Yirong's lightning-wreathed needle with a dragon claw, and their collision created a violent explosion.
• After the dust cleared, both fighters were injured and exhausted, but neither had been defeated, and Yan Shenglong remained confident he would win.

Liu Yirong and Yan Shenglong fought an evenly matched duel while the Ji and Liu families resisted the Black-Clothed Men, whose strength surged after they took Bloodthirst Dew. Nearby Soul Masters joined the battle, turning the tide against the Crimson Church attackers.

• Liu Yirong countered Yan Shenglong’s fierce attacks with her Drizzle Needles as he unleashed his Eighth Soul Skill, Demon Dragon Transformation Across Heaven and Earth.
• Ji Sijian and Liu He led the Ji and Liu forces and their guests in a counterattack against the Black-Clothed Men.
• A Black-Clothed Soul Saint ordered his men to take Bloodthirst Dew, boosting their strength and putting the defenders under greater pressure.
• Ji Boda shielded Liu Ruyan from a Black-Clothed Soul Emperor’s attempt to seize her, giving her time to retreat.
• Several dozen nearby Soul Masters arrived and fought alongside the Ji and Liu forces, pushing the Black-Clothed Men toward a disadvantage.

Chen Xiaojun and Xixi urged Ou Ya to support Liu Yirong against Yan Shenglong, shifting the battle against the Black-Clothed Men. Liu Yirong wounded Yan Shenglong with her Divine Needle True Form and launched her Eighth Soul Skill at him, leaving his fate unresolved.

• Chen Xiaojun asked Ou Ya to help Liu Yirong while he and Xixi remained with the other fighters.
• Ou Ya attacked Yan Shenglong with his Fifth Soul Skill, but Yan Shenglong blocked it with Dark Aura and was driven back.
• Liu Yirong activated her Divine Needle True Form and soul bone skills, then pierced Yan Shenglong's defense and sent him crashing into a tree.
• Liu Yirong used her Eighth Soul Skill, Divine Needle Dawnbreaker, against the weakened Yan Shenglong.

Yan Shenglong used his inherited Torso Bone Soul Skill to withstand Liu Yirong’s attack and counterattack, but Ou Ya protected her and struck Yan with his strongest Soul Skill. Yan Shenglong was sent crashing to the ground, leaving Liu Yirong and Ou Ya with the overwhelming advantage.

• Yan Shenglong activated Torso Bone Soul Skill-Demon Dragon Protection and endured Liu Yirong’s divine needle attack.
• Yan Shenglong absorbed Soul Power with his Skull Bone Soul Skill and fired a black energy wave at Liu Yirong.
• Ou Ya pulled Liu Yirong to safety and blocked Yan Shenglong’s counterattack with Sixth Soul Skill-Heavenly Sea Azure Shield.
• Ou Ya seized the opening and unleashed Eighth Soul Skill-Comet Vast Sea Setting Sun Fist against Yan Shenglong.
• Ou Ya’s water fist broke through Yan Shenglong’s defenses, shattered Demon Dragon Protection, and sent him crashing to the ground.

Yin Tengcheng unleashed Breeze and Jade Dew Paralytic Fragrance at the engagement banquet, incapacitating many guests and turning the battle against the Ji and Liu families. Ji Chenglie discovered that Chef Kong, whose real name was Kong Youde, had spent twenty years serving the Ji Family as a Crimson Church infiltrator, leaving the families in grave danger.

• Yan Shenglong called on Ito Makoto to make his move as Ou Ya prepared to deliver a final blow.
• Yin Tengcheng revealed bloodred nether blood lilies and released their fragrance, poisoning guests who had drunk Drunken Life Dew.
• Liu Yirong identified the resulting Breeze and Jade Dew Paralytic Fragrance, while Ou Ya and Zhu Yanfeng protected those who had not drunk the wine.
• Ji Chenglie confronted Yan Shenglong about the poisoned wine and spotted Chef Kong watching from the corner.
• Chef Kong revealed his resentment toward the Ji Family, and Ji Chenglie realized that Kong Youde was a Crimson Church infiltrator who had served the family for twenty years.

Chen Xiaojun’s group tried to turn the battle by mixing Drunken Life Dew with the paralytic fragrance, but Ito Makoto and Yan Shenglong revealed that Bloodthirst Dew protected their men from its effects. With the defenders weakened and outnumbered, Ji Chenglie ordered everyone to flee as the black-clothed men attacked again.

• Chen Xiaojun had barrels of Drunken Life Dew hurled at Kong Youde and the black-clothed men, and Ou Ya shattered them to spread the liquor and nether blood lily scent.
• Ito Makoto and Yan Shenglong revealed that Bloodthirst Dew suppressed the paralytic fragrance, leaving their men unaffected.
• Liu Yirong distributed Clearheart Potion to ease the poison’s effects, and Liu Ruyan helped Liu He swallow a bottle.
• Ito Makoto raised more nether blood lilies, and Yan Shenglong ordered the black-clothed men to attack again.
• Ji Chenglie told everyone to escape and asked them to avenge the Ji Family, prompting them to attempt a desperate breakout.

Ji Chenglie, Ji Boda, Liu Yirong, Liu Ruyan, and Chen Xiaojun’s group were trapped by Yan Shenglong and the Black-Clothed Men as they tried to escape. Zhu Yanfeng intervened, but Xiong Li destroyed his shield and exposed the group to a lethal attack, leaving their fate uncertain.

• Ji Chenglie and Ji Boda urged Liu Yirong, Liu Ruyan, and Chen Xiaojun’s group to flee while they held off the Black-Clothed Men.
• Yan Shenglong blocked their escape and used his Sixth Soul Skill, Hell's Breath, to unleash a chilling dragon's roar.
• Ji Boda’s Fourth Soul Skill, Sonic Shockwave, failed against Yan Shenglong’s roar, and the backlash injured him before Xiao Yi and Rhea helped restore him.
• Yan Shenglong formed a Dark Dragon Ball and sent it toward the group as Zhu Yanfeng arrived and used his Stone Armor Shield to protect them.
• Xiong Li attacked the shield with his Third Soul Skill, Iron Bear Claw, shattered it, and continued his strike into the exposed group.

Chen Xiaojun struck Xiong Li with three Fish Intestine Sword attacks, but Xiong Li recovered and charged at him and the others. Xiao Yi and Xixi restrained him with vines and crushing seawater, and the chapter ended with their attacks struggling against his Giant Bear Iron Wall.

• Chen Xiaojun used Sweep Through a Thousand Armies to send Xiong Li crashing to the ground and inflict minor injuries.
• Xiong Li used Giant Bear Charge to attack Chen Xiaojun, Xiao Yi, Xixi, and the others.
• Xiao Yi cast Everlasting Vitality and trapped Xiong Li in draining Green Vine Cages.
• Xixi used Water-Control Art-Crushing Pressure to enclose Xiong Li in heavy seawater and impede his movement.
• Xiong Li activated Giant Bear Iron Wall, weakening the restraints, while Xiao Yi and Xixi adjusted their attacks to seek a way through.

Chen Xiaojun’s team coordinated their soul skills to overwhelm Xiong Li, with Zhu Wuneng unleashing a powerful five-element attack. Xiong Li raised a soul power shield against Zhu Wuneng’s final fused strike, leaving the result unresolved.

• Chen Xiaojun ordered Ji Boda to slow Xiong Li, and Ji Boda used his flute’s second soul skill to reduce Xiong Li’s speed.
• Liu Ruyan attacked the slowed Xiong Li with her Drizzle Needles, piercing his defenses and keeping him under pressure.
• Chen Xiaojun called on Zhu Wuneng, who struck Xiong Li with the Five Elements Annihilation Divine Light.
• Zhu Wuneng transformed the divine light into a five-colored vortex that absorbed Xiong Li’s soul power before forming a fused elemental attack.
• Xiong Li gathered his remaining strength into a soul power shield as Zhu Wuneng’s five-colored strike hurtled toward him.

Zhu Wuneng wounded Xiong Li, who answered with a roar that disrupted the group and empowered his allies. Xixi launched a powerful attack with Rhea’s blessing, but Xiong Li blocked her Golden Trident and counterattacked, leaving the battle unresolved.

• Zhu Wuneng shattered Xiong Li’s shield with Five Elements Annihilation Divine Light and sent him crashing to the ground.
• Xiong Li used Raging Bear’s Roar to disorient Chen Xiaojun’s group and strengthen the Black-Clothed Men around him.
• Ji Boda countered Xiong Li’s roar with Sonic Shockwave as their sound-based soul skills clashed in a deadlock.
• Rhea used Source of Power to boost Xixi’s soul power, attack, and defense by 50%.
• Xixi hurled her Golden Trident at Xiong Li with Water-Control Art-Sky-Piercing, but he blocked it with Iron Bear’s Claw and slashed toward her with his left hand.

Xixi battled Xiong Li with water-based soul skills, eventually breaking through his Black Iron Body. Chen Xiaojun then launched a surprise attack, wounded Xiong Li's right eye with the Hanguang Sword, and prepared to press his advantage.

• Xixi used Tide Manipulation and the Waterspout Technique against Xiong Li, who activated Black Iron Body to withstand her attacks.
• Xixi's waterspout broke through Xiong Li's Black Iron Body, but he endured the blow without falling.
• Chen Xiaojun returned to the battlefield and struck at Xiong Li's left eye with Fleeting Light, Passing Shadow, leaving a shallow cut on his cheek.
• Chen Xiaojun summoned the Hanguang Sword and thrust at Xiong Li's right eye.
• Xiong Li failed to dodge the second strike, suffered a deep wound in his right eye, and screamed in pain as Chen Xiaojun prepared to continue attacking.