Chapter Summaries

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.

Huo Qiu'er attacked an Ordinary Alliance envoy after he made lewd remarks about the girls he had brought and offered her a dragon-girl. With the Ice Empress's intervention, the Ordinary Alliance withdrew, and Huo Qiu'er arranged safe lodging and work for the girls.

• Huo Qiu'er initially accepted the Ordinary Alliance's welcoming gift, but the brawny Soul Emperor's comments about the girls and dragon-girls enraged her.
• Huo Qiu'er slammed the brawny man into the VIP Room wall and ordered Shao Jie and the other Ordinary Alliance members to leave the girls behind.
• Shao Jie challenged Huo Qiu'er, but the Ice Empress appeared and gave the Ordinary Alliance three seconds to depart.
• Shao Jie apologized and left with his unconscious subordinate, while Huo Qiu'er thanked the Ice Empress for intervening.
• Huo Qiu'er ordered Chen An to give the girls living quarters and train them as hotel attendants, then left with the Ice Empress.

Shangguan Wei'er decided the Ordinary Alliance would maintain friendly ties with the Northern Lands Alliance while secretly helping the Crown Prince exploit Huo Qiu'er's presence there. Xu Tianran received the same news from Prince Xu Guoli and resolved to use it to accuse his rival of treason and turn Mingdu against him.

• Shangguan Wei'er reprimanded Shao Jie over the incident with Miss Qiu'er and ordered him to discipline the subordinate who had offended her.
• Shangguan Wei'er concluded that the Ordinary Alliance should bet on both sides, keep relations with the Northern Lands Alliance, and use the rare metal business as an apology.
• Shangguan Wei'er told Shao Jie that the Prince should pass news of Huo Qiu'er to the Crown Prince through palace subordinates rather than through the Ordinary Alliance.
• Xu Tianran received a letter from Prince Xu Guoli reporting that Body Sect member Huo Qiu'er had appeared in the Northern Lands Alliance, possibly indicating Tianhun Empire support for his rival.
• Xu Tianran ordered Ju Zi to spread accusations that his rival colluded with Tianhun and Star Luo, and to stir antagonism among the people of Mingdu.

After the Red Dust Conference, Huo Yuhao discussed soul-bone hunting and the tensions between humans and soul beasts with Huo Qiu'er, while Xu Tianran prepared to exploit hostility toward immigrants in Mingdu. The chapter ended with Ju Zi warning that the scheme could expose Xu Tianran as its instigator.

• Huo Yuhao declined to use the treasury's young soul bones and speculated that soul bones might someday be manufactured.
• Huo Qiu'er described how Soul Bone Hunters slaughtered large numbers of soul beasts for Secret Art Soul Bones, and she and Huo Yuhao discussed easing conflicts between humans and soul beasts.
• Huo Qiu'er asked Huo Yuhao to help her obtain her seventh soul ring through his new method, while Huo Yuhao warned that cooperation depended on the Star Dou Great Forest not becoming hostile.
• Chen An told Huo Yuhao that Huo Qiu'er had arranged for girls from the Ordinary Alliance to work as attendants after the alliance's people came to the hotel.
• Xu Tianran told Ju Zi that they had arranged to spread claims that the Northern Lands Alliance colluded with Tianhun and the Star Luo Empire and to stir up Mingdu's people.
• Ju Zi warned that bloodshed could make others suspect Xu Tianran had engineered the unrest, but he insisted that the grievances were genuine and that he represented the people's will.

Huo Yuhao worried that the Northern Lands Alliance lacked capable personnel to manage its businesses, then learned that Ji Juechen and Jing Ziyan had come to the Green Hotel looking for him. He recognized the sword fanatic and planned to recruit him, ensuring he would have plenty of opponents without having to chase Huo Yuhao for duels.

• Huo Yuhao considered the difficulty of managing the Northern Lands Alliance’s businesses without enough subordinates, while Huo Qiu’er offered to help as acting alliance leader.
• Chen An reported that a fierce man and woman had entered the Green Hotel and would not leave until they found Huo Yuhao.
• Huo Yuhao used Spiritual Detection to recognize the disguised Ji Juechen and Jing Ziyan in the VIP Room.
• Huo Yuhao told Huo Qiu’er that Ji Juechen had repeatedly challenged him for rare-metal stakes and decided to give him a job in the alliance.
• Huo Yuhao opened the VIP Room’s doors to meet Ji Juechen and Jing Ziyan.

Huo Yuhao reunited with Ji Juechen and Jing Ziyan, tested Ji Juechen’s resolve with a Soul Shock, and recruited him to help the Northern Lands Alliance protect its new interests in Mingdu. After Ji Juechen challenged Huo Qiu’er, Huo Yuhao explained why he admired the sword fanatic’s rise from Innate Soul Power Level 3.

• Ji Juechen challenged Huo Yuhao, who used Soul Shock to overpower his Sword Intent and confirmed that he had also reached Soul Saint.
• Ji Juechen accepted Huo Yuhao’s bet and agreed to help guard the Northern Lands Alliance’s properties amid signs of trouble from the Aodu Chamber of Commerce.
• Jing Ziyan explained that she and Ji Juechen had disguised themselves before visiting Huo Yuhao, and Ji Juechen used a soul guidance sword in public.
• Ji Juechen recognized Huo Qiu’er and challenged her, but Huo Yuhao sent him and Jing Ziyan back to the Illustrious Virtue Hall before a fight could begin.
• Huo Yuhao told Huo Qiu’er that Ji Juechen had only Innate Soul Power Level 3 and had once hunted a Hundred-Year Soul Beast alone at age eight.