Chapter Summaries

Huo Yuhao gained the Water Dragon King's authority over ice, bringing his plan to become a god halfway to completion, but ascending to the Divine Realm remained uncertain. After glimpsing new possibilities in the starry sky, he left the Water Dragon King at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well and ordered Youyou to clear a patch of flowers, setting the treasure site on the path to opening to the world.

• Electrolux explained that the Water Dragon King's authority gave Huo Yuhao one requirement for godhood, while breaking through the world's restrictions and ascending remained the greater challenge.
• Huo Yuhao told Electrolux and the others that the legendary Ice Dragon King was actually the Water Dragon King, and described the Dragon God's failed ritual involving the God Star.
• Huo Yuhao considered how the Divine Realm might block his ascension and wondered whether the vast worlds beyond the stars offered another path.
• Huo Yuhao decided to leave the Water Dragon King at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well and told Youyou to clear the outer patch of Jade Phosphorus Seven-Absolute Flower.
• Huo Yuhao departed through the Gate of the Undead, and the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well was poised to open to the world.

Huo Yuhao tested the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well’s ability to strengthen Body Sect disciples, then turned to planning Mingdou Academy at the meeting point of the three empires. He left the chapter considering the academy’s future role in the next Youth Soul Master Tournament.

• Huo Yuhao brought Body Sect disciples to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, where Long Aotian endured its opposing energies and raised his soul rings to one purple and six black.
• Huo Yuhao reassured Du Busi that the immortal herbs would remain protected, with the dragon souls and his ability to return guarding the well.
• Huo Yuhao traveled to the Mingdou Mountains, where he and Du Busi surveyed the planned site for a city and academy jointly established by the three empires.
• Huo Yuhao named the academy Mingdou Academy and offered Du Busi the position of honorary dean.
• Du Busi noted that the next Youth Soul Master Tournament would be held in five years and asked Huo Yuhao what plans he had for the academy.

Huo Yuhao explained his plan to establish Mingdou Academy and draw talent away from Shrek Academy through political and economic cooperation with the Star Luo and Heaven Dou Empires. Ye Yulin accepted his appointment to lead the new academy, which Huo Yuhao named Mingdou.

• Huo Yuhao told Du Busi that a new academy could not surpass Shrek in five years, then argued that talent mattered more than an old foundation.
• Ye Yulin arrived after monitoring Huo Yuhao and Du Busi, and Huo Yuhao explained his plan to redirect Shrek's recommendation quotas to a new academy.
• Huo Yuhao described how royal families could encourage students to choose their own countries' academies, while economic concessions would persuade Star Luo and Heaven Dou to cooperate.
• Du Busi agreed to take Huo Yuhao's offer to the Heaven Dou Emperor and flew away.
• Ye Yulin praised Huo Yuhao's plan and resolved to make the new academy surpass Shrek; Huo Yuhao named it Mingdou.

Huo Yuhao outlined his Peaceful Evolution Strategy, using trade, technology, and sect alliances to extend the Sun Moon Empire’s influence without war. As Xuan Ziwen prepared to lead Mingdou Academy’s soul guidance department, Huo Yuhao took up his old Soul Ring Storage Device blueprints and left Ju Zi to choose whether to abandon her revenge.

• Huo Yuhao appointed Ye Yulin dean and Xuan Ziwen vice dean of Mingdou Academy’s soul guidance department, and Xuan Ziwen agreed to go to Mingdu while Ju Zi and Ke Ke stayed behind.
• Huo Yuhao explained that he would expand Sun Moon’s influence by winning over factions and major sects through trade rather than war.
• Huo Yuhao proposed making the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect the exclusive foreign distributor of Illustrious Virtue Hall soul tools in exchange for sending its descendants to study at his academy.
• Huo Yuhao offered shared soul rings as another incentive for the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, and Xuan Ziwen realized his Soul Ring Storage Device could support that research.
• Xuan Ziwen gave Huo Yuhao the device’s blueprints and left to make arrangements at the Illustrious Virtue Hall before traveling to Mingdu.
• Huo Yuhao told Electrolux that Ju Zi would bear the consequences if she pursued revenge, even if she managed to assassinate the White Tiger Duke.

Huo Yuhao discussed Sun Moon Empire policy and future projects with Jing Hongchen, directing Illustrious Virtue Hall to prioritize Soul Guidance Satellite research and planning action against Mingdu’s underground forces. He also looked ahead to Mingdou Academy’s tournament debut and his next recruitment trip to the Dou Ling Empire.

• Huo Yuhao met Jing Hongchen at the Cabinet and learned that the Sun Moon Empire had remained stable under the new government.
• Huo Yuhao ordered Illustrious Virtue Hall to suspend outdated wartime projects and focus its research on the Soul Guidance Satellite as its new Plan Zero.
• Huo Yuhao and Jing Hongchen discussed making the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect an exclusive distributor and addressing smuggling after export restrictions were relaxed.
• Huo Yuhao told Jing Hongchen to warn officials connected to the Ordinary Alliance and Aodu Chamber of Commerce before moving against the two underground forces.
• Jing Hongchen predicted Mingdou Academy would compete in the next Youth Soul Master Tournament, and Huo Yuhao revealed the Dou Ling Empire was his next recruitment destination.

Huo Yuhao observed a martial soul awakening ceremony in a town in the Dou Ling Empire and recognized Qian Feng as a boy with an evil martial soul. He awakened Qian Feng’s martial soul, discovered it was a massive black trident accompanied by innate full soul power, and learned the boy’s name.

• Huo Yuhao sensed that the solitary boy waiting for the ceremony had unusual soul power and an evil aura, recognizing him from their previous encounter involving the Holy Spirit Cult.
• The mayor explained that the town could only invite a Soul Master to awaken children every few years, while Xiao Feng challenged the mayor’s belief in the Sea God.
• Huo Yuhao offered to awaken Xiao Feng’s martial soul and invited him to come along, and Xiao Feng agreed because Huo Yuhao had saved him.
• Huo Yuhao awakened Xiao Feng’s martial soul, revealing an enormous purplish-black trident and a surge of sinister malice.
• Huo Yuhao tested Xiao Feng’s soul power and determined that he had innate full soul power, then learned that the boy’s name was Qian Feng.

Huo Yuhao confirmed that Qian Feng had an unusual halberd martial soul and innate full soul power, then arranged to take him to the Sun Moon Empire for training. After proposing an organization to provide free martial soul awakenings across the continent, Huo Yuhao opened a strange doorway and invited Qian Feng through it.

• Huo Yuhao told the town chief that Qian Feng had an outstanding martial soul and full soul power, and learned that the town chief had found him as an abandoned baby.
• Huo Yuhao promised to train Qian Feng and left him with the town chief for three days while he sought out other children with evil martial souls.
• Huo Yuhao returned, and Qian Feng explained why leaving the town too many Gold Soul Coins could put its people at risk.
• Huo Yuhao revealed his plan to establish an organization that would awaken children's martial souls for free, and Qian Feng questioned how it could reach every village.
• Huo Yuhao told Qian Feng they were going to the Sun Moon Empire, then opened an ancient gray doorway and invited him inside.

Huo Yuhao brought Qian Feng to Mingdu and arranged for him to study at Sun Moon Academy, where Qian Feng’s suggestion to study the brain gave Huo Yuhao a new research direction. The Snow Empress then pointed out that Huo Yuhao still lacked a head soul bone, leaving him concerned that his development might be limited without a suitable mental-attribute one.

• Huo Yuhao brought Qian Feng from the Gray Gate to Mingdu and explained that Qian Feng would need to work hard to learn Undead Magic without a mental attribute.
• Qian Feng asked whether studying his brain could let him gain a mental attribute, prompting Huo Yuhao to consider the brain an unexplored link between flesh and soul.
• Huo Yuhao enrolled Qian Feng in the junior division of Sun Moon Academy and advised him to build a strong foundation rather than rush or misuse medicinal pills.
• The Snow Empress reminded Huo Yuhao that he had not obtained a head soul bone and warned that lacking one suited to his mental attribute could restrict his development.

Ning Tian received a secret letter ordering her and Wu Feng back to the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, where the sect was preparing to deepen its cooperation with the Sun Moon Empire. At the sect, Huo Yuhao and Xuan Ziwen arrived to negotiate on behalf of the Illustrious Virtue Hall, while Huo Yuhao began questioning how the sect chose its master.

• Ning Tian struggled with a soul tool core array, then received a confidential letter from her father, the sect master.
• Ning Tian told Wu Feng they would seek leave and return to the sect, keeping its plan to deepen cooperation with the Sun Moon Empire secret.
• Huo Yuhao and Xuan Ziwen arrived at the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect to discuss closer cooperation with Sect Master Ning and his senior relatives.
• Huo Yuhao assessed the sect’s strength and noticed its direct-lineage members all seemed to have nearly identical cultivation.
• Huo Yuhao wondered how the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect settled on its sect master when its senior members were so evenly matched.

Huo Yuhao and Xuan Ziwen negotiated a partnership between the Illustrious Virtue Hall, Mingdou Academy, and the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect. Huo Yuhao saw the sect’s internal factional rivalry and began considering a way to secure its allegiance.

• Ning Chen welcomed Huo Yuhao and Xuan Ziwen before Ning Tian and other direct-line disciples joined the meeting.
• The Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect agreed to cooperate with the Illustrious Virtue Hall and settled on a ninety-ten profit split.
• Ning Chen’s younger brother asked Xuan Ziwen to teach his son, and several other senior members also offered to send their children to Mingdou Academy.
• Ning Chen invoked Ning Tian’s experience studying under Xuan Ziwen to affirm her standing, while Huo Yuhao recognized the three factions vying for influence in the sect.
• Huo Yuhao remembered the cleared path to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well and considered using something there to win the sect’s allegiance.

Huo Yuhao discussed cooperation between the Illustrious Virtue Hall and the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, then revealed that the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well could increase soul ring age. Ning Chen reacted with intense excitement, suggesting he knew the secret realm’s connection to evolving the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda.

• Huo Yuhao judged Ning Tian the best candidate to lead the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect and focused on securing control of the sect.
• Xuan Ziwen and Ning Chen concluded their meeting, then Ning Chen invited Xuan Ziwen, Huo Yuhao, and Ning Tian to speak privately.
• Ning Chen and Xuan Ziwen discussed the sect’s history, its lost method for evolving the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, and cooperation on shared soul ring research.
• Ning Chen warned that shared soul rings could produce weaker soul skills because they lacked the soul power gained from absorbing soul beasts’ rings.
• Huo Yuhao revealed that the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well could strengthen soul masters and increase their soul ring age, and Ning Chen reacted with excitement.

Huo Yuhao told Ning Chen about the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well and offered to negotiate exchanges for its Immortal Herbs, while warning that the plant-type soul beasts must not be threatened. Ning Chen then revealed to Ning Tian that an Immortal Herb there could evolve her Martial Soul and urged her to become strong enough to claim leadership and choose her own future.

• Huo Yuhao described the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well to Ning Chen and explained its dangers and the agreement with its plant-type soul beasts.
• Ning Chen asked about the Immortal Herbs, and Huo Yuhao offered to negotiate exchanges with the plants for suitable treasures.
• Ning Chen questioned Ning Tian about Huo Yuhao and learned that she felt only friendship for him because of Wu Feng.
• Ning Chen told Ning Tian that personal strength mattered more than relying on others and explained why he had supported her study of soul tools.
• Ning Chen revealed that an Immortal Herb from the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well had once evolved Ning Rongrong's Martial Soul, then urged Ning Tian to become a Titled Douluo and a Level 9 Soul Engineer.
• Ning Tian firmly promised to meet her father's expectations.

The Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect publicly partnered with the Illustrious Virtue Hall and backed Mingdou City, prompting Shrek Academy to protest. Ning Tian weighed her divided loyalties and her prospects of advancing as a soul engineer, while Huo Yuhao considered the political shift and his work ahead in Mingdou.

• The Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect announced strategic cooperation with the Illustrious Virtue Hall, plans for a Mingdou City branch, and a move toward studying soul tools.
• Shrek Academy denounced the partnership, but the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect defended it as commercial and royal-family business while insisting it would maintain its ties to Shrek.
• Xuan Zi and the others questioned Ning Tian about her sect’s decision, but she said she had no knowledge of or influence over it.
• Ning Tian reflected on using Shrek for connections, her loyalty to the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, and her uncertainty about becoming a Level 9 Soul Engineer before resolving to keep going.
• Huo Yuhao heard about the dispute and concluded that Shrek depended on the sects more than they depended on Shrek.
• Huo Yuhao reviewed his plans, including handling Mingdou City’s underground forces, the imperial court, Mingdou Academy, and retrieving an immortal herb for the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect.

Huo Yuhao confronted Shangguan Wei'er and An Litong over Mingdu’s underground industries and the corruption and trafficking tied to them. He declared that their removal mattered more to Mingdu than their money or influence, leaving Shangguan Wei'er deathly pale.

• Shangguan Wei'er and An Litong discussed Jing Hongchen’s crackdown on Mingdu’s underground businesses and their shrinking influence.
• Huo Yuhao appeared in the hall and identified himself as a special cabinet member able to convey the Sun Moon Emperor’s orders.
• Huo Yuhao accused the Ordinary Alliance of trafficking people and both organizations of corrupting officials and the military.
• Shangguan Wei'er tried to use her charm technique on Huo Yuhao, but recoiled in terror when it failed.
• An Litong offered Huo Yuhao five percent of the Aodu Chamber of Commerce, but Huo Yuhao said Mingdu needed their absence, leaving Shangguan Wei'er pale.

Huo Yuhao subdued the leaders of the Ordinary Alliance and the Aodu Chamber of Commerce, condemning their abuses and arranging for the Illustrious Virtue Hall to take control. He planned to use the crackdown to expose the royal and ministerial network backing them and purge the underground powers across Mingdu.

• Shangguan Wei'er and An Litong pledged allegiance to Huo Yuhao, but he stripped them and their associates of their soul power and subjected them to intense pain.
• Huo Yuhao condemned the Ordinary Alliance for its trafficking and exploitation, then rendered everyone in the hall unconscious with spiritual power.
• Huo Yuhao contacted Jing Hongchen and ordered him to send the Illustrious Virtue Hall to take over and handle the captured leaders.
• Huo Yuhao planned to gather evidence against the royal family members and ministers connected to the two organizations and purge the powers behind them.
• Huo Yuhao stood on a hotel rooftop overlooking Mingdu and reflected that the city's problems would cease to exist.

Jing Hongchen and Huo Yuhao used evidence of the Ordinary Alliance’s crimes to purge officials connected to it, while also weakening the Aodu Chamber of Commerce. As the court’s power shifted and Jing Hongchen gained public favor, Ye Guyi returned to Mingdu and saw the alliance’s downfall as justice.

• Jing Hongchen accused the Ordinary Alliance and Aodu Chamber of Commerce of crimes, and Huo Yuhao ordered an evidence-based investigation into their associates.
• Jing Hongchen and Huo Yuhao arrested or dismissed officials tied to the Ordinary Alliance, alarming the princes who had supported it.
• The princes appealed to Kong Deming, but he declined to oppose the purge and returned to seclusion after advising Huo Yuhao to treat his clansmen kindly.
• Jing Hongchen extracted a large payment from military commanders before releasing Aodu Chamber of Commerce members, while its businesses remained weakened.
• Ye Guyi returned to Mingdu, heard that the Ordinary Alliance had been destroyed, and concluded that its fall was justice.

At a Sea God Pavilion meeting, the Elders reviewed the recovery from the beast tide and discussed reforms to strengthen Shrek Academy. Xuan Zi called for soul tool courses and declared that Shrek would reclaim the tournament championship in five years.

• Elder Song reported that Di Tian and Bi Ji had agreed not to launch unjustified beast tides, the city was recovering, and academy classes had resumed.
• The Elders regretted Ye Guyi’s disappearance, while Xian Lin'er blamed Yan Shaozhe and worried that the Martial Soul Department would take another Soul Tool Department core disciple.
• Elder Song proposed screening incoming students for interest in soul tools and introducing soul tool courses early, but Cai Mei'er warned that this could hinder soul power cultivation.
• Xuan Zi declared that Shrek’s next challenge was defeating the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy and the new Mingdou Academy in the next Youth Soul Master Tournament.
• Xuan Zi ordered first-year soul tool courses for the next incoming class and vowed that Shrek would reclaim its glory in five years.

Elder Song discussed how Shrek Academy could recruit more students with Soul Engineer talent, but Du Weilun explained the obstacles and warned that Mingdou Academy would be a strong competitor. She decided to visit the imperial cities and grew concerned that Ning Tian’s transfer to the Soul Tool Department might have implications for the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect.

• Elder Song met with Du Weilun and the recruitment teachers to discuss finding Soul Engineer talent during admissions.
• The teachers explained that they lacked the expertise to identify Soul Engineer talent and that lowering admission standards could bring complications.
• Du Weilun described the shortage of Soul Engineer training in the Three Great Empires and warned that Mingdou Academy would recruit students with support from the Illustrious Virtue Hall.
• Elder Song decided to visit the imperial cities and persuade interested students to join Shrek.
• Elder Song remembered that Ning Tian had transferred to the Soul Tool Department and resolved to visit the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect.

Elder Song visited the Star Luo court to persuade Xu Jiawei to send more soul-tool-talented students to Shrek Academy. Shrek graduates among the ministers rallied behind her, while Xu Jiujiu recognized how strongly their loyalty shaped the debate and Xu Jiawei weighed the empire’s interests.

• Xu Jiawei and his court welcomed Elder Song, who explained that Shrek wanted cities to recommend more students talented in soul tools, even if their soul power levels were slightly lower.
• Xu Jiawei and Xu Jiujiu pointed to Mingdou Academy’s two Level 9 Soul Engineer deans and resources, arguing that Star Luo students might have a better option than Shrek.
• A Shrek-graduate minister defended Shrek’s foundations and future prospects, and other Shrek alumni joined him in pressing for Shrek’s selection.
• The ministers proposed ways to identify and select soul-tool students for Shrek, while Xu Jiawei listened and considered how to balance the academy’s request against Star Luo’s needs.
• Xu Jiujiu observed that Shrek’s graduates had overwhelmed dissenting voices and understood that Xu Jiawei was still weighing how much talent to send to Shrek.

After Elder Song secured Star Luo Empire's support for Shrek's reforms, Xu Jiawei, Xu Jiujiu, and Manyi discussed the influence of Shrek graduates in the court. Xu Jiawei decided to strengthen Star Luo's ties with Mingdou Academy and gradually reduce Shrek's influence without openly severing relations.

• Elder Song thanked Xu Jiawei for the ministers' support, declined his hospitality, and left for the Heaven Dou Empire.
• Xu Jiujiu recommended recruiting Sun Moon Empire soul engineers and improving talent discovery through junior academies.
• Manyi warned Xu Jiawei that Shrek graduates in the court acted as a faction and let their loyalty to Shrek outweigh their duties to Star Luo.
• Xu Jiawei said Star Luo would maintain relations with Shrek but prioritize Mingdou Academy and Star Luo Imperial Academy when selecting talent.
• Xu Jiawei decided to gradually reduce Shrek recommendation slots and favor graduates of Star Luo Academy and Mingdou Academy for appointments.