Recaps

Huo Yuhao tempered himself in the Extreme Cold Ice Spring, raised his soul rings, and unexpectedly condensed a soul core despite only being a Soul Saint. After Huo Qiu'er learned how he had gained his seventh soul ring, she urged him to consider sharing the method to reduce soul-beast deaths, and he agreed it should be spread if its principle could be understood.

• Huo Yuhao used the Extreme Cold Ice Spring to strengthen his body and raise his second through seventh Demon Eyes soul rings to one hundred thousand years.
• Huo Yuhao condensed an ice-attribute soul core in his lower dantian, astonishing the Ice Empress and Snow Empress, who explained what he had achieved.
• Huo Qiu'er noticed Huo Yuhao's new seventh soul ring and questioned him about how he had obtained it.
• Huo Yuhao told Huo Qiu'er that Jiujiu had given him the soul ring and recounted what had happened.
• Huo Qiu'er urged Huo Yuhao to take seriously the possibility of obtaining soul rings without killing soul beasts, and Huo Yuhao agreed the method should be spread if they could decipher it.

Huo Yuhao proposed sharing soul rings and discussed how the technology could reduce soul-beast hunting while letting soul masters choose known skills, then turned to researching a soul tool at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. Huo Qiu'er explained her concern for the soul beasts’ future to the Ice and Snow Empresses, admitted Tian Meng’s accusations against the Star Dou Great Forest were justified, and said she felt responsible for the Soul Beast Clan.

• Huo Yuhao explained that shared soul rings could pass on powerful, reliable soul skills, and Huo Qiu'er recognized their potential to reduce soul-beast hunting.
• Huo Yuhao said shared rings would retain about one percent of their original age and suggested their power could be increased, but refused Huo Qiu'er's request to test the experimental method because he had more important research to do.
• Huo Yuhao used the Yang Spring water and He Caitou's Sunflare Needles to begin secluded research into a soul tool, while Huo Qiu'er and the nearby soul beasts gave him space.
• The Snow and Ice Empresses approached Huo Qiu'er, who described Di Tian's fears that humanity's growth and demand for soul rings would threaten soul beasts' survival.
• Tian Meng accused Huo Qiu'er and the Star Dou Great Forest of eating and oppressing soul beasts, and Huo Qiu'er acknowledged his grievance and said her status gave her a responsibility to help the Soul Beast Clan.

Huo Qiu'er reflected on the soul beasts’ decline and the unequal power struggle with humans, while the Snow Empress revealed that the Far North would not submit to the sovereign of all soul beasts. The chapter ended with the Snow Empress openly challenging Di Tian to confront the Far North if he considered it a threat.

• Huo Qiu'er argued that soul beasts were divided among themselves and explained that Di Tian and his allies suppressed tiger-type soul beasts to prevent a Dark Demon Evil God Tiger bloodline from awakening.
• Huo Qiu'er recalled how humans had repeatedly hunted hundred-thousand-year soul beasts and why Di Tian avoided unleashing another devastating beast tide.
• Huo Qiu'er lamented that her status as Emperor Auspicious Beast had left others valuing her powers rather than her feelings, and questioned why humans had so many worries.
• The Snow Empress told Huo Qiu'er that the Dragon God had been the legendary sovereign of all soul beasts and that a surviving successor remained in the Star Dou Great Forest.
• Huo Qiu'er warned that the sovereign could unite soul beasts in a war that might destroy the continent, but the Snow Empress declared that the Far North would not obey it and would welcome Di Tian if he challenged them.

The Snow Empress revealed the Far North’s history and asked Huo Yuhao to become its Ice God and bless its people. Meanwhile, Huo Yuhao worked on a sun-replicating soul tool, and the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass offered to help if he took it with him.

• The Snow Empress told Huo Qiu'er, the Ice Empress, and Tian Meng that no Ice God had ever sent an oracle, and she suspected the god might not exist.
• The Snow Empress recounted how a million-year soul beast had failed its tribulation and perished, leaving the Far North without the blessings it might have gained from a god.
• The Snow Empress asked Huo Yuhao to become the Ice God and bless the Far North, and Huo Qiu'er chose not to tell Di Tian what she had learned.
• Huo Yuhao used He Caitou’s Sunflare Needles to address the materials problem in his sun-replicating soul tool and considered using water from the Scorching Yang Spring as its heat source.
• The Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass offered to help Huo Yuhao preserve the spring water’s ultimate fire attribute if he took it with him.

Huo Yuhao accepted the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass’s offer to become his soul ring and learned how blazing gel could preserve the Scorching Yang Spring’s ultimate fire. After successfully testing his Sun Soul Tool, he prepared to absorb Bajiao as his second martial soul’s third soul ring.

• Bajiao asked Huo Yuhao to take it with him as a soul ring, explaining that it wanted to leave the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well and pursue the chance to become a god.
• Huo Yuhao agreed to spare the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well and asked Bajiao how to preserve the spring water’s ultimate fire attribute.
• Bajiao revealed that blazing gel from A Jiao could preserve the spring water, and Huo Yuhao took A Jiao’s accumulated essence after reminding her that she had attacked him before.
• Huo Yuhao added blazing gel and Scorching Yang Spring water to his Sun Soul Tool, briefly illuminating the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well with powerful orange-red light.
• Huo Yuhao told Huo Qiu'er his research had succeeded and asked Tian Meng to help preserve Bajiao’s consciousness as he absorbed it.
• Tian Meng approved Bajiao as Huo Yuhao’s third soul ring, and Bajiao began transforming into blue crystal.

Huo Yuhao completed Bajiao’s sacrifice, gaining a third hundred-thousand-year soul ring, a right leg soul bone, and cultivation at rank seventy-four. As the Ice and Snow Empresses considered the risks of seeking more soul rings in the Far North, Huo Yuhao revealed his intention to pursue Di Tian for the right arm soul bone and prepared to return to the Sun Moon Empire with Huo Qiu’er.

• Bajiao sacrificed itself to Huo Yuhao, and Tian Meng helped preserve its consciousness within Huo Yuhao’s new third soul ring.
• Bajiao gave Huo Yuhao a hundred-thousand-year right leg soul bone, and its power raised his cultivation to rank seventy-four.
• The Ice and Snow Empresses discussed whether to return to the Far North for future soul rings, weighing the risk to the region’s soul beasts.
• Huo Yuhao told Huo Qiu’er he intended to confront Di Tian for the world’s most powerful right arm soul bone, and Huo Qiu’er acknowledged the grudge was between them.
• Huo Yuhao opened the Gate of the Undead to return to the Sun Moon Empire, and Huo Qiu’er agreed to go with him.

After Huo Yuhao left the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, the immortal herbs considered how they might survive by helping a human attain godhood. At the God Realm Committee, Tang San defended his actions in the Douluo Continent, while the God of Destruction resolved to investigate it through a neutral god.

• Huo Yuhao departed through the Gate of the Undead, and Youyou and the other immortal herbs relaxed while A Jiao lamented the loss of her blazing gel.
• Youyou reminded A Jiao that Bajiao had chosen to become a human's Soul Ring to seek eternal life, and the immortal herbs considered doing the same.
• The God of Destruction confronted Tang San at a God Realm Committee meeting about his destroyed Divine Sense avatar in the Douluo Continent.
• Tang San claimed he had been managing the fallen Love Goddess's Secret Realm and explained that a mortal expert had destroyed his avatar there.
• The God of Destruction argued that powerful mortals deserved access to the Divine Realm, then left the meeting without pressing Tang San further.
• The God of Destruction decided to find a neutral god to investigate the Douluo Continent without alerting Tang San.

The God of Destruction returned to the Divine Realm meeting and sought the support of the Gods of Good and Evil, while Tang San worried about his plans for the Douluo Continent. At Shrek Academy, Wang Dong was taken away by the Clear Sky Sect for treatment of a supposed hidden ailment, and she fainted while calling Huo Yuhao’s name.

• The God of Destruction told the Goddess of Life he would win over the Gods of Good and Evil rather than try to persuade Tang San to support expanding the Divine Realm.
• The exhausted Shrek students returned to the academy, where Tang Ya told Bei Bei she would remain Tang Sect’s sect master without worrying about its status.
• Zhang Lexuan told the students that Du Busi had left and that Xuan Zi and the others were convening a Sea God Pavilion meeting.
• Wang Dong felt dizzy and unsteady, but she denied that anything was wrong when Xiao Xiao tried to help her.
• Zhang Lexuan told Wang Dong that her family had come to take her home for treatment of a hidden ailment, and Wang Dong resisted going with them.
• Wang Dong fainted in Zhang Lexuan’s arms and murmured Huo Yuhao’s name as Zhang Lexuan carried her toward the academy gates.

Zhang Lexuan handed the sleeping Wang Dong over to Clear Sky Sect envoys, then helped Ye Guyi settle in at Shrek. At a Sea God Pavilion meeting, Shrek’s elders discussed Huo Yuhao’s allies, Ma Xiaotao’s condition, and the academy’s need to reform its Soul Tool Department.

• Zhang Lexuan verified the Clear Sky Sect envoys’ identity and handed Wang Dong over, learning that Sect Master Tai would treat her hidden illness.
• Zhang Lexuan confirmed that her past journey to Clear Sky Sect with Bei Bei and Tang Ya had been real, then arranged a room for the newly arrived Ye Guyi.
• Zhang Lexuan explained to Ye Guyi that Ma Xiaotao’s evil fire had been triggered when the Holy Spirit Cult abducted her, and Ye Guyi vowed to become a bane to evil soul masters.
• Yan Shaozhe proposed contacting the Northern Land Family and asking its Northern Douluo to help Ma Xiaotao, but Xian Lin’er and Qian Duoduo warned him not to pressure Huo Yuhao.
• Xian Lin’er demanded that Shrek invest more in the Soul Tool Department and teach Ye Guyi there, and Xuan Zi ruled that Ye Guyi would become a dual core disciple of both departments.

After Shrek's elders agreed to strengthen the Soul Tool Department, Wang Dong'er returned to Clear Sky Castle and confronted Tang Wutong, who claimed Dong'er was only her substitute. Gray light intervened and erased Tang Wutong from their shared inner world, but the girl who awoke afterward was still called Wutong, leaving Dong'er alone with the truth that others had denied her identity.

• Xuan Zi promised to raise the Soul Tool Department's status, and Shrek's elders approved more core disciple places and soul tool courses.
• Bei Bei recounted his group's trials in the Qiankun Asking Love Valley and suggested the power behind them might come from the gods.
• Wang Dong'er met Tang Wutong in a vision, where Tang Wutong claimed she was the original and tried to drive her away.
• After Wang Dong'er woke in Clear Sky Castle and insisted she was Dong'er, Niu Tian subdued her, but gray light later returned her to the vision.
• Wang Dong'er resisted Tang Wutong with her combined powers, and gray light swallowed Tang Wutong before Wang Dong'er collapsed.
• The girl later awoke calling herself Wutong and left Clear Sky Castle for Shrek Academy, then wept alone and insisted she was Dong'er; meanwhile, Electrolux entered a deep slumber after hinting at a connection between the girl and an unseen person.

At court, the old emperor announced his planned abdication, leaving Xu Tianran poised to take the throne despite the Third Prince’s protest. At West Mountain, Huo Yuhao revealed his plan to impersonate a member of the Sun Moon Imperial Family and claim the throne himself.

• The old emperor rewarded Jing Hongchen and the Hongchen Siblings for the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy’s tournament victory, while they concealed their resentment over the hollow championship.
• The old emperor ordered construction of the Sun Moon Altar and announced that he would abdicate after it was completed, delighting Xu Tianran and alarming the other princes.
• The Third Prince accused Xu Tianran of mishandling the tournament, but the old emperor only mildly admonished Xu Tianran and offered the Third Prince no protection.
• At West Mountain, Huo Yuhao told Huo Qiu'er, the Ice Empresses, and Tian Meng that Xu Tianran’s succession was imminent and revealed his intention to go straight for the throne.
• Huo Yuhao formed a spiritual clone that resembled a Sun Moon imperial family member, raised the Sun Soul Tool, and named his snow-covered domain Mountains and Rivers Change Color.
• Huo Yuhao declared that he would steal the empire as the Emperor Star vanished from the sky.

Xu Tianran turned the Holy Spirit Cult’s withdrawal into a chance to bolster his reputation and ordered Ju Zi to seize its abandoned businesses. As the cult relocated and Ye Xishui plotted revenge, Huo Yuhao proposed using its lingering presence in Mingdu for a disguise and asked Huo Qiu’er to become the Holy Maiden.

• Ju Zi advised Xu Tianran to publicly denounce the Holy Spirit Cult and take over its businesses, and he ordered her to claim them before his rivals could.
• Xu Tianran promised Ju Zi the empress’s position and future military authority after he ascended the throne, while making clear he would punish his brothers.
• Ye Xishui moved the Holy Spirit Cult’s headquarters to the Dou Ling Empire and vowed to use the Death God Soul Tool against the Northern Douluo.
• Ye Xishui abandoned the idea of personally gathering souls for the weapon and conceived a faster plan that alarmed Long Xiaoyao.
• Huo Yuhao discovered that the Holy Spirit Cult had evacuated its bases in Mingdu, and he explained that Xu Tianran was using the withdrawal to repair his reputation.
• Huo Yuhao told Huo Qiu’er that the Holy Spirit Cult had not completely left Mingdu and asked if she wanted to be the Holy Maiden; she agreed.

Huo Yuhao returned to the Green Hotel, took control of the Xishui Alliance’s operations, and promised manager Chen An a share of the Golden Hall’s auction commissions. As he considered rebuilding the Holy Spirit Cult and expanding his plans, he noticed Ju Zi arriving at the hotel with armed Soul Engineers.

• Chen An worried that the missing Xishui Alliance leaders had left the Green Hotel vulnerable, but Huo Yuhao returned and declared himself the new alliance leader.
• Huo Yuhao kept Chen An as manager, promised him commission-based pay, and assured him that his Imperial Palace backing would protect the alliance.
• Huo Yuhao explained that he sought a legitimate succession to avoid the trouble of taking territory by force, and he discussed preserving the Holy Spirit Cult as a refuge for Soul Masters with evil martial souls.
• Huo Qiu'er asked whether the new cult would still recognize her as its Holy Maiden, and Huo Yuhao agreed.
• Tian Meng complained about the Golden Hall restaurant’s food, prompting Huo Yuhao to consider opening a barbecue restaurant there.
• As nobles arrived for the evening auction, Huo Yuhao spotted Ju Zi leading a group of armed Soul Engineers outside the Green Hotel.

Ju Zi led the Fire Phoenix Soul Engineer Corps to seize the Green Hotel, claiming the Crown Prince had ordered a crackdown on the Holy Spirit Cult and its accomplices. Huo Yuhao confronted her as the Xishui Alliance’s new leader, then appeared disguised as Xu Sheng and warned Xu Tianran to give up both the alliance and the throne.

• Ju Zi and the Fire Phoenix Soul Engineer Corps sealed the Green Hotel while the Ordinary Alliance watched and considered taking over the Xishui Alliance’s other businesses.
• Xu Yue and his guards challenged Ju Zi, but she invoked Xu Tianran’s orders and threatened those who obstructed the investigation.
• Chen An asked what laws the hotel had broken, and Ju Zi declared it closed while she investigated its suspected ties to evil soul masters.
• Huo Yuhao emerged from the Green Hotel, identified himself as the Xishui Alliance’s new leader, and questioned why Xu Tianran had abandoned the Holy Spirit Cult after honoring its leader as Imperial Preceptor.
• The Snow Empress appeared beside Huo Yuhao, and Ju Zi recognized the other figure as Xu Sheng.
• Huo Yuhao, disguised as Xu Sheng, told Ju Zi to warn Xu Tianran to surrender the Xishui Alliance and the throne.

Huo Yuhao used his simulated identity as Xu Sheng to challenge Xu Tianran’s claim to the throne, publicly tying himself to the Northern Land and the defeat of the Holy Spirit Cult. After Ju Zi withdrew, Huo Yuhao prepared for the morning court session and discussed his many simulated identities with his companions.

• Huo Yuhao, posing as Xu Sheng, declared that he would end the disorder in Mingdu and reclaim the imperial throne from Xu Tianran.
• Huo Yuhao’s simulated Holy Son accused Xu Tianran of using the Holy Spirit Cult to eliminate political opponents, while the Snow Empress revealed that the Dragon Tiger Sect was the Northern Land.
• Xu Sheng displayed his soul rings and Sun Martial Soul, announced that he would confront the emperor at the next morning court, and forced Ju Zi and the Fire Phoenix Soul Engineer Corps to retreat.
• Huo Yuhao announced that the Xishui Alliance would become the Northern Lands Alliance and reorganize Mingdu’s underground industries, then returned to the Green Hotel.
• Huo Yuhao told Huo Qiu’er that Jing Hongchen and Xiao Hongchen knew about one of his identities, and his companions discussed how he had used Simulation to play several roles.

Huo Yuhao prepared to confront the Sun Moon royal family over the imperial throne, while Xu Tianran and the old emperor braced for his challenge. At morning court, Huo Yuhao appeared before the gathered officials and faced the emperor.

• At the Golden Hall, nobles speculated about Xu Sheng’s identity and awaited the morning court as Huo Yuhao reflected on Ju Zi and prepared for the next day.
• Ju Zi told Xu Tianran that Xu Sheng had the Northern Land Family’s support, and Xu Tianran resolved to confront him at court.
• The old emperor read a report about Xu Sheng and realized he might be the late emperor’s descendant, whose branch he had erased from the genealogy after the coup.
• The old emperor insisted that he remained emperor and went to morning court, where Xu Tianran and Ju Zi were present beside the empty dragon chair.
• Huo Yuhao appeared at the main entrance with the Ice and Snow Empresses, announced that he had a matter to raise, and locked eyes with the old emperor.

Huo Yuhao brought Xu Sheng before the Sun Moon court to challenge Xu Tianran’s claim to the throne and expose the former emperor’s bloody coup. The former emperor died during the ensuing confrontation, leaving the court in chaos.

• Huo Yuhao entered Morning Court as the Northern Douluo and agreed with Kong Deming that neither side would use violence in Mingdu first.
• Huo Yuhao presented Xu Sheng as a royal heir and accused the former emperor of killing the late emperor’s family in a coup ten years earlier.
• Kong Deming invoked the Xu Family Ancestral Instructions, deposed the former emperor, and allowed Xu Tianran and other royal descendants to compete for the throne at the Heaven-Worshipping Ceremony.
• Xu Sheng accused Xu Tianran of colluding with the Holy Spirit Cult, but the former emperor and Xu Tianran minimized the accusations and maintained Xu Tianran’s position as Crown Prince.
• The Third Prince sarcastically praised Xu Tianran’s alliance with evil soul masters, and Xu Sheng joined in, warning that the empire might perish under such leadership.
• The former emperor became enraged by Xu Sheng’s taunts, died on the Dragon Throne, and threw Morning Court into chaos.

Huo Yuhao watched the Old Emperor die during Morning Court as the succession crisis shifted toward Xu Tianran and Xu Sheng. Xu Tianran began preparing an ambush for the Heaven-Worshipping Ceremony, while Huo Yuhao planned to expose him publicly; Ju Zi arrived to recruit Jing Hongchen, who was shocked by news from court.

• The Old Emperor died after Huo Yuhao confronted him, and Xu Tianran feigned grief while recognizing that the death strengthened his political position.
• Kong Deming ordered the Old Emperor’s funeral and declared that a younger royal would ascend at the Heaven-Worshipping Ceremony, hinting that Xu Sheng could challenge Xu Tianran.
• Xu Tianran told Ju Zi to mobilize the army, the Illustrious Virtue Hall, and other forces for the ceremony, where he intended to ambush and kill Xu Sheng’s Limit Douluo ally.
• Huo Yuhao left the palace and planned to use Spiritual Detection to expose Xu Tianran before a huge audience, then vowed to destroy the Holy Spirit Cult.
• Ju Zi visited Jing Hongchen and began telling him what had happened at Morning Court, leaving him shocked.

Ju Zi told Jing Hongchen that Xu Tianran planned to seize the throne and asked the Illustrious Virtue Hall to help defeat Long Xiaoyao, but Huo Yuhao revealed his identity and confronted Jing Hongchen about taking the empire. After Huo Yuhao argued that he would replace the Xu Family and establish a Cabinet, Jing Hongchen ordered Ah Heng to summon the Hongchen Family, leaving his choice unresolved.

• Ju Zi briefed Jing Hongchen on the old emperor's death and Xu Tianran's plan to use the Illustrious Virtue Hall against Long Xiaoyao at the Heaven-Worshipping Ceremony.
• Huo Yuhao revealed himself to Jing Hongchen, who sent him ahead to the Hongchen Residence and claimed he needed to rest at home.
• Jing Hongchen confronted Huo Yuhao for falsifying a royal identity, and Huo Yuhao defended his right to take the throne and replace the Xu Family.
• Jing Hongchen summoned over a thousand Soul Cannon Barrels but fired them away from Huo Yuhao, then admitted his regret and listened as Huo Yuhao promised to establish a Cabinet and serve the continent.
• Huo Yuhao declared that a new sun would rise, and Jing Hongchen instructed Ah Heng to notify Xiao, Meng, and the rest of the Hongchen Family.

Jing Hongchen chose to support Huo Yuhao against Crown Prince Xu Tianran, asking him to spare Kong Deming. Huo Yuhao assured Jing Hongchen that he would prevent a fight at the Heaven-Worshipping Ceremony and revealed a secret about Xu Tianran, leaving Jing Hongchen astonished and committed to their alliance.

• Jing Hongchen sent Ah Heng to summon people to the Hongchen Residence, then reflected on why he had chosen Huo Yuhao over Xu Tianran.
• Jing Hongchen resolved to bear the blame of treason for the sake of Xiao and Meng and offered Huo Yuhao the support of the Hongchen Family and Illustrious Virtue Hall.
• Jing Hongchen asked Huo Yuhao not to attack Kong Deming, and Huo Yuhao agreed.
• Jing Hongchen asked how Huo Yuhao would handle Xu Tianran's planned ambush at the Heaven-Worshipping Ceremony, and Huo Yuhao said there would be no fight.
• Huo Yuhao revealed a secret about Xu Tianran, asked Jing Hongchen to keep it quiet, and left the Hongchen Residence.
• Jing Hongchen admitted to himself that he had truly boarded Huo Yuhao's pirate ship.

Huo Yuhao left Huo Qiu'er in charge of the Northern Lands Alliance while he went to meet Jing Hongchen. After Huo Qiu'er began handling a visit from the Ordinary Alliance, Xiao Hongchen learned that the new imperial heir, Xu Sheng, was Huo Yuhao.

• Huo Yuhao reviewed the Northern Lands Alliance's records with Huo Qiu'er and discussed the Sun Moon Empire's power and his ties to Jing Hongchen.
• Huo Yuhao appointed Huo Qiu'er acting alliance leader and left to discuss the Illustrious Virtue Hall's plans with Jing Hongchen.
• Huo Qiu'er read about the Evil Demon Forest and the Evil Emperor before Chen An told her the Ordinary Alliance had come to negotiate, and she went to meet them.
• Xiao Hongchen and Xuan Ziwen completed a Soul Tool Machine to speed up reconstruction of the Underground Base.
• Meng Hongchen told Xiao Hongchen and Xuan Ziwen that Xu Sheng had appeared as a rival heir to the Crown Prince, and Xiao Hongchen revealed that Xu Sheng was Huo Yuhao.

Xiao Hongchen, Meng Hongchen, and Xuan Ziwen learned that Huo Yuhao had disguised himself as Xu Sheng, a contender for the imperial throne, and went to Jing Hongchen’s residence for an urgent meeting. There, they found Huo Yuhao seated beside an imposing stranger as Jing Hongchen opened a conference about the future of Illustrious Virtue Hall and the Sun Moon Empire.

• Xiao Hongchen confirmed that Xu Sheng, the new imperial contender, was Huo Yuhao using his Simulation Soul Skill.
• Xuan Ziwen urged the Hongchen siblings to leave Illustrious Virtue Hall and discuss the matter at Jing Hongchen’s residence, away from Crown Prince spies.
• On the way, Xiao Hongchen realized Jing Hongchen appeared to support Huo Yuhao’s impersonation, and Meng Hongchen wondered if their grandfather planned to help him oppose the Crown Prince.
• The siblings and Xuan Ziwen arrived at the Hongchen Residence, where Ah Heng explained that damage to the Book Tower had been caused accidentally by Jing Hongchen.
• Huo Yuhao telepathically summoned them to the concealed conference hall, where they saw him seated beside an unfamiliar middle-aged man near Jing Hongchen.
• Jing Hongchen welcomed the trusted attendees and began the Hongchen Conference, declaring that its subject could determine the future of Illustrious Virtue Hall and the Sun Moon Empire.

Jing Hongchen introduced Huo Yuhao’s disguised Northern Douluo identity to Illustrious Virtue Hall’s trusted experts and declared his support for the Late Emperor’s Bloodline. The meeting ended with the hall committed to Jing Hongchen’s decision, while he kept Xiao Hongchen, Meng, and Xuan Ziwen behind.

• Jing Hongchen began a meeting with his trusted Illustrious Virtue Hall experts and introduced Huo Yuhao as the Northern Douluo’s successor.
• Jing Hongchen announced that he would lead Illustrious Virtue Hall in supporting the Late Emperor’s Bloodline against Xu Tianran.
• Elder Wu challenged Jing Hongchen over the danger of opposing the Crown Prince, and the Northern Douluo dismissed Xu Tianran as no threat.
• Jing Hongchen said he would support the Late Emperor’s Bloodline at the Heaven-Worshipping Ceremony and allowed anyone to withdraw, but no one opposed him.
• Jing Hongchen dismissed the meeting and asked Xiao Hongchen, Meng, and Xuan Ziwen to stay behind.

Jing Hongchen explained why the Illustrious Virtue Hall backed Huo Yuhao’s bid for power and asked the Northern Douluo to deal with any traitors. After Huo Yuhao and the Northern Douluo left, Jing Hongchen told Xiao and Meng that his decision was meant to protect the Hongchen Family.

• Jing Hongchen asked the Northern Douluo to hand over anyone who betrayed the Illustrious Virtue Hall so he could interrogate and punish them himself.
• Huo Yuhao revealed his disguise as the imperial heir, and Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen learned that Jing Hongchen had committed the Illustrious Virtue Hall to support him.
• Jing Hongchen thanked the Northern Douluo for saving Mingdu from the arsenal explosion, while neither man discussed the thirty Level 9 Fixed Soul Guidance Shells.
• Xuan Ziwen asked the Northern Douluo to spare Ju Zi if possible, and Huo Yuhao said her fate would be handled by the cabinet with Jing Hongchen’s wishes considered.
• The Northern Douluo and Huo Yuhao left the Hongchen Residence, and Jing Hongchen told Xiao and Meng that he had chosen what he believed was best for the Hongchen Family.

The Ordinary Alliance visited the Northern Lands Alliance to test its strength and propose cooperation, but its members were surprised to find Huo Qiu'er acting as alliance leader. Huo Qiu'er questioned the Ordinary Alliance’s practice of selling young women and left the visit on a tense note.

• The Ordinary Alliance’s Soul Douluo Shao Jie warned his subordinates not to underestimate the Northern Lands Alliance, though they hoped to gain control of its former Xishui Alliance industries.
• Shao Jie brought several young women as gifts when he visited the Northern Lands Alliance with his companions.
• Chen An introduced Huo Qiu'er as the acting alliance leader, startling the visitors who remembered her from the Underground Soul Engineer Tournament.
• Shao Jie thanked Huo Qiu'er for helping the Ordinary Alliance win the tournament and proposed future cooperation between the alliances.
• Huo Qiu'er asked how much the young women could sell for at the Ordinary Alliance’s Rose Auction House, then wondered aloud whether human lives were expensive or cheap.