Chapter Summaries

After six months of cultivation, Lin Ye reached the peak of the second layer of the Nine Yang Divine Skill and became ready to hunt for his second soul ring. Meanwhile, soul hunting groups began vanishing around Evernight City, and the discovery of dried corpses revealed that the disappearances were not ordinary hunting accidents.

• Violent Tiger stopped Shouhou from seeking revenge on Lin Ye, explaining that Lin Ye’s strength and Blood Rose’s protection made him too dangerous to provoke.
• Over the next half year, Lin Ye cultivated in Evernight Forest and visited Blood Rose’s tavern, advancing his martial arts and becoming strong enough to pursue his second soul ring.
• Soul hunting groups began disappearing throughout Evernight City, including one with a Soul King among its members.
• A soul hunting group found dried corpses in Evernight Forest that belonged to a missing group, confirming that the disappearances had a sinister cause.

Lin Ye learned from Shi Yue that Evil Soul Masters were behind the recent disappearances of soul-hunting groups in Evernight Forest. Shi Yue explained that the Brute Bear Soul Hunting Group could not simply stop taking missions, leaving Lin Ye’s warning unanswered.

• Lin Ye heard that the Brute Bear Soul Hunting Group had returned from a mission and went to meet Shi Yue at the Blood Rose Tavern.
• Lin Ye noticed that Shi Yue, Xie Lin, and He Feng were troubled and asked what had happened.
• Shi Yue told Lin Ye that soul-hunting groups had been disappearing unusually often in Evernight Forest.
• Shi Yue revealed that Evil Soul Masters were responsible for the disappearances.
• Lin Ye urged Shi Yue to stop accepting missions until Spirit Hall dealt with the Evil Soul Masters, but Shi Yue said the group could not.

Lin Ye learned that the Evernight City Spirit Hall Branch had ordered soul hunting groups to investigate Evil Soul Masters in Evernight Forest, but he still headed there to hunt a beast for his second Soul Ring. He left the city alone and entered the forest’s inner perimeter, searching for a soul beast whose Soul Ring would enhance all his physical attributes.

• Shi Yue told Lin Ye that the Evernight City Spirit Hall Branch was forcing top soul hunting groups to investigate Evil Soul Masters or lose their qualifications.
• He Feng explained that the local Hall Master served the nobles’ interests and was sending the groups to investigate without alerting Spirit Hall Headquarters.
• Lin Ye left the Brute Bear Soul Hunting Group without revealing that he had reached level twenty, and decided to hunt in Evernight Forest despite the danger.
• Lin Ye set out early, reached Evernight Forest in a little over an hour, and traveled toward its inner perimeter with Tangyuan.
• Lin Ye planned to find a suitable soul beast whose second Soul Ring could improve all his physical attributes.

Lin Ye found a seven-thousand-year Bloodthirsty Wolf King in Evernight Forest and used a fleeing Sprout-Horned Deer Herd to draw the wolf pack away from it. He killed the Bloodthirsty Wolf King with the Xuanyuan Sword, leaving its soul ring available for his second soul skill.

• Lin Ye searched Evernight Forest for a soul beast whose soul ring could enhance his physical abilities, while Tangyuan urged him toward a group of Bloodthirsty Wolves.
• Lin Ye spotted a Bloodthirsty Wolf King over seven meters long and decided to hunt it for his second soul ring.
• Lin Ye threw his iron sword into the Sprout-Horned Deer Herd, startling the deer and prompting the Bloodthirsty Wolf Pack to chase them.
• Lin Ye used the Phoenix Dance Six Illusions movement technique to reach the Bloodthirsty Wolf King while it stayed behind the pack.
• Lin Ye evaded the wolf king's claw and pierced its skull with the Xuanyuan Sword, killing it.

Lin Ye absorbed the Bloodthirsty Wolf King's seven-thousand-year soul ring, overcoming its remnant will with the power of the mysterious Dragon Martial Soul. He discovered that his second soul skill, Crown of Blood Spirit, could grant a single target a powerful boost to attack power, speed, and strength.

• Lin Ye killed the Bloodthirsty Wolf King, causing the Bloodthirsty Wolf Pack to scatter while the Sprout-Horned Deer Herd escaped.
• Lin Ye absorbed the Bloodthirsty Wolf King's soul ring with little physical pain, and the Dragon Martial Soul in his Sea of Consciousness destroyed the beast's remnant will.
• The resulting Dragon Might swept through the surroundings, frightening Tangyuan and forcing nearby soul beasts to bow toward Lin Ye.
• Lin Ye sensed that his second soul skill doubled a single target's attack power and speed and increased its strength, and he named it Crown of Blood Spirit.

Lin Ye broke the jade pendant’s third seal and found his father’s letter and an External Soul Bone called the Symbiotic Battle Suit. After learning about its abilities, he accepted it into his body, leaving its powers to be explored.

• Lin Ye channeled his Nine Yang True Qi into the jade pendant and shattered its third seal.
• Lin Ye retrieved two wooden boxes from the pendant’s storage space and read his father’s letter.
• Lin Ye learned that the Symbiotic Battle Suit could replicate creatures, devour and simulate materials including soul bones, and split off controlled sub-bodies.
• Lin Ye tested the black, ink-like External Soul Bone and found it caused no discomfort.
• Lin Ye poured Nine Yang True Qi into the Symbiotic Battle Suit, which flowed into his right hand and disappeared into his body.

After testing his newly fused Symbiotic Battle Suit, Lin Ye followed Tangyuan through Evernight Forest to search for the Brute Bear Soul Hunting Group. He discovered Evil Soul Masters conspiring with a noble to obtain victims’ blood for Lord Blood Infant’s plan, then watched the groups disperse.

• Lin Ye summoned the Symbiotic Battle Suit, confirmed it felt like a second layer of skin, and withdrew it into his body.
• Lin Ye gave Tangyuan Xie Lin’s scarf to track the Brute Bear Soul Hunting Group, then followed the mouse through the forest.
• Lin Ye spotted hooded figures in black and blood-red robes and hid nearby to observe them.
• Lin Ye used the Nine Yang Divine Skill and Dragon-Elephant Prajna Skill to sharpen his hearing as the Evil Soul Masters met a group of nobles.
• Blood Bat demanded that the Thousand-Faced Man find more victims for their blood supply, and the Thousand-Faced Man reluctantly agreed before the groups dispersed.

Lin Ye discovered that the Evil Soul Masters used a disguised agent called Thousand-Faced Man to lure soul hunting groups to their deaths in Evernight Forest, then followed Tangyuan deeper into the forest. Meanwhile, the Brute Bear Soul Hunting Group was driven into a desperate flight by an enraged Adamantine Ape, until an unknown figure struck the beast aside as it attacked Su Ying.

• Lin Ye realized the Evil Soul Masters had a second group infiltrating Evernight City under changing noble identities, and learned their agent was codenamed Thousand-Faced Man.
• Lin Ye let Tangyuan speak again and followed him farther into Evernight Forest.
• The Brute Bear Soul Hunting Group accidentally triggered an Adamantine Ape's rage when Luo An destroyed a blood-filled barrel containing a young black ape's corpse.
• Su Ying exhausted her soul power creating recovery cherries, collapsed, and was nearly struck by the pursuing Adamantine Ape.
• Luo An trapped the ape briefly with his Iron Vine Net, but it broke free and lunged at Su Ying before a black shadow rammed it aside.

Shi Yue and the Brute Bear Soul Hunting Group fought a powerful Adamantine Ape while the Violent Tiger Soul Hunting Group watched, hoping their enemies would be killed. As the Brute Bear group neared defeat, Lin Ye arrived and struck the ape in the eye with an arrow.

• Shi Yue used four soul skills to hold off the Adamantine Ape, while Xie Lin rescued Su Ying and the hidden Violent Tiger Soul Hunting Group watched.
• Shi Yue activated his fifth soul skill and called Xie Lin, He Feng, and Luo An to help drive the ape back.
• As their soul skills waned, Shi Yue urged Xie Lin and He Feng to flee with Su Ying and Luo An, but they refused to abandon him.
• The Violent Tiger Soul Hunting Group celebrated as the Brute Bear group fell into danger, but an arrow from Lin Ye pierced the Adamantine Ape's eye.
• Shi Yue and the others turned toward Lin Ye as he emerged from the forest holding a bow.

Lin Ye joined the Brute Bear Soul Hunting Group after killing the Adamantine Ape and healing the group's injuries. Meanwhile, the Violent Tiger Soul Hunting Group faced the Evil Soul Masters they had tried to blame for their schemes.

• Lin Ye killed the Adamantine Ape with a poisoned arrow and explained how the poison reached its brain.
• Lin Ye revealed his Thousand-Year second soul ring and used the Nine Spirit Immortal Begonia to heal the Brute Bear Soul Hunting Group.
• Shi Yue invited Lin Ye to join the Brute Bear Soul Hunting Group, and Lin Ye agreed to discuss it after they returned.
• Violent Tiger decided his group would deny its crimes and blame Evil Soul Masters.
• An Evil Soul Master appeared behind Violent Tiger's group and attacked them for trying to pin their misdeeds on Evil Soul Masters.

Lin Ye and the Brute Bear Soul Hunting Group reported their findings to the Evernight City Spirit Hall Branch, where Lin Ye exposed the truth about the Evil Soul Masters. Deputy Hall Master Mu Yan confronted Hall Master Austin and revealed that Spirit Hall Headquarters had sent Envoy Hu Liena.

• Lin Ye led the Brute Bear Soul Hunting Group out of Evernight Forest and agreed to take four hundred and fifty thousand Gold Soul Coins from the mission reward, sharing the rest with the group.
• Shi Yue brought Lin Ye and the others to the Evernight City Spirit Hall Branch to report their findings, while other soul hunting groups said they had found no Evil Soul Masters.
• A noble representative berated the soul hunting groups for finding nothing, and one Soul Master accused the nobles of forcing them into danger while withholding news from Spirit Hall Headquarters.
• Deputy Hall Master Mu Yan accused Hall Master Austin of concealing the Evil Soul Masters' presence and failing to notify headquarters.
• Mu Yan challenged Austin by announcing that headquarters had sent Envoy Hu Liena and inviting her into the office.

Hu Liena arrived from Spirit Hall Headquarters, removed Austin as Evernight City's branch Hall Master, and took charge of dealing with the Evil Soul Masters. After thanking the Soul Hunting Groups for their help, she watched as Mu Yan stopped a noble from leaving before the groups had received their payment.

• Hu Liena entered the office and officially dismissed Austin for concealing reports of Evil Soul Masters, naming Mu Yan as the new Hall Master.
• Spirit Hall Headquarters enforcers took Austin away, while Lin Ye asked Shi Yue whether the Soul Hunting Groups would still receive their reward.
• Hu Liena introduced herself as the envoy assigned to eliminate the Evil Soul Masters and thanked the Soul Hunting Groups for investigating them.
• A noble middle-aged man tried to leave, but Mu Yan stopped him, and unpaid Soul Hunting Group members demanded their payment.

Hu Liena questioned the Soul Hunting Groups and learned from Lin Ye that Evil Soul Masters were luring soul masters into the Evernight Forest to collect blood for Blood Infant. Realizing the threat might involve a powerful Evil Soul Master, she decided she needed to inform her master.

• Hu Liena stopped a noble middle-aged man from leaving before he paid the promised reward, then resumed questioning the Soul Hunting Groups.
• Shi Yue introduced Lin Ye, who said he had overheard Evil Soul Masters discussing their operations in the Evernight Forest.
• Lin Ye reported that Thousand-Faced Man and Blood Bat were luring soul masters into the forest, collecting blood for Blood Infant, and planning to break Spirit Hall's suppression.
• Hu Liena recognized Blood Infant as the Evil Soul Hall's leader and suspected the plan was intended to help him become a Titled Douluo.
• Hu Liena concluded that her group might be too weak to handle the threat and resolved to inform her master.

After reporting the Evil Soul Masters to Spirit Hall, Lin Ye collected a five-million-Gold-Soul-Coin reward, celebrated his breakthrough and joined the Brute Bear Soul Hunting Group. With soul hunting missions suspended, he cultivated and searched for medicinal herbs while the group investigated who had caused their crisis in the Evernight Forest.

• Hu Liena thanked Lin Ye for his information, helped him collect the reward, and expressed interest in recruiting him to Spirit Hall before she had to summon reinforcements.
• Lin Ye treated the Brute Bear Soul Hunting Group to lunch, then gave five hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins to the group’s five members.
• Shi Yue celebrated Lin Ye’s admission to the Brute Bear Soul Hunting Group at the Blood Rose Tavern, where Blood Rose congratulated him and made drinks costing ten Gold Soul Coins or less free for the night.
• Lin Ye began cultivating and searching Evernight City’s herb shops because the Evil Soul Masters had made soul hunting missions too dangerous.
• The Brute Bear Soul Hunting Group investigated the danger in the Evernight Forest, but their first suspect, the Violent Tiger Soul Hunting Group, had not appeared in Evernight City.

Hu Liena announced that Evil Soul Masters were in Evernight Forest and led Spirit Hall searches, but they found no trace of them as the city's economy and public trust declined. With no clear plan, Hu Liena and Mu Yan identified the young informant as Lin Ye, whose name shocked her.

• Hu Liena publicized the Evil Soul Masters' presence in Evernight Forest and took Spirit Hall forces into the forest to search for them.
• After nearly half a month of fruitless sweeps, Evernight City's economy worsened and residents began doubting Spirit Hall's claims.
• Mu Yan suggested finding the young man who had reported the Evil Soul Masters and revisiting the place where he encountered them.
• Hu Liena agreed, and Mu Yan searched Spirit Hall's records for the Brute Bear Soul Hunting Group's members.
• Mu Yan found the informant's name, Lin Ye, and Hu Liena reacted with surprise.

Hu Liena visited Lin Ye and asked him to help Spirit Hall search Evernight Forest for the Evil Soul Masters he had discovered before. Lin Ye refused to risk his life without compensation, and Hu Liena promised a reward and protection.

• Hu Liena asked Mu Yan to investigate Lin Ye's age and circumstances, suspecting he might be the boy she had once been sent to find.
• Hu Liena found Lin Ye at the Tulip Hotel and entered his room, where she delighted in meeting his pet Tangyuan.
• Hu Liena asked Lin Ye to lead Spirit Hall to the place where he had previously found the Evil Soul Masters in Evernight Forest.
• Lin Ye said he no longer remembered the location and objected to risking his life as a Soul Grandmaster.
• Hu Liena offered compensation and promised to keep Lin Ye safe if he joined the search.

Lin Ye proposed a plan to exploit Spirit Hall's public warning about the Evil Soul Masters in Evernight Forest and lure the hidden enemies into revealing themselves. Hu Liena listened as he outlined how to mislead them and ambush them through fake soul-hunting missions.

• Hu Liena explained that Spirit Hall could not control everyone entering Evernight Forest and needed to stop the Blood Infant from reaching rank ninety.
• Lin Ye recognized that Spirit Hall had little time to find the Evil Soul Masters before local resentment grew, and Hu Liena confirmed his assessment.
• Lin Ye suggested spreading rumors that Spirit Hall doubted the Evil Soul Masters existed and had halted its purge, making the enemies lower their guard.
• Lin Ye proposed relaxing supervision in selected areas and arranging for disguised Soul Hunting Groups to enter the forest and return safely.
• Lin Ye advised watching for supposed outsiders posting soul-hunting missions, then sending a large disguised group to accept one and ambush the Evil Soul Masters when they emerged.

Hu Liena praised Lin Ye’s plan to use false rumors and a disguised soul hunting group to lure out the Evil Soul Masters, and Lin Ye offered to find a suitable group. After learning Lin Ye was seven, Hu Liena recognized him as the boy she had been searching for and resolved to take him back to Spirit Hall.

• Hu Liena considered how Spirit Hall could use the nobles’ rumors to bait the Evil Soul Masters, but worried about finding a convincing soul hunting group for the final step.
• Hu Liena promised each cooperating soul hunting group member a treasure from the Evernight City Spirit Hall Branch and offered Lin Ye three treasures there plus one at Headquarters.
• Lin Ye decided he could recommend the Brute Bear Soul Hunting Group, trusting his Titled Douluo Experience Card to protect his friends, and planned to choose treasures based on what the vault contained.
• Hu Liena asked Lin Ye his age, and he told her he was seven.
• Hu Liena realized Lin Ye was the boy she had been searching for and privately resolved to bring him back to Spirit Hall.

Hu Liena and Lin Ye set a trap to lure the Evil Soul Masters out by spreading rumors that Spirit Hall had abandoned its search. After the Evil Soul Masters took the bait in Linxing Town, Lin Ye prepared to lead the Brute Bear Soul Hunting Group after them.

• Hu Liena presented Lin Ye’s plan to the Evernight City Spirit Hall Branch, and the Spirit Hall Soul Masters agreed to carry it out.
• Lin Ye persuaded Shi Yue and the Brute Bear Soul Hunting Group to help, promising that one of his elders would guarantee their safety.
• Spirit Hall staged a retreat and spread rumors that headquarters doubted the Evil Soul Masters existed, while nobles and soul hunting groups publicly claimed Evernight Forest was safe.
• The Evil Soul Masters believed the rumors and decided to lure soul hunting groups into Evernight Forest again.
• Hu Liena told Lin Ye that disguised Evil Soul Masters had posted a soul hunting mission in Linxing Town, and Lin Ye planned to set out with the Brute Bear Soul Hunting Group the next day.

Lin Ye and the Brute Bear Soul Hunting Group met Viscount Lawrence, his daughter Ivory, and their guards at Linxing Town, pretending to be hired soul hunters. Lin Ye recognized them as the Evil Soul Masters from before, but the group set off together toward Evernight Forest without revealing his suspicion.

• Lin Ye left Tangyuan in Blood Rose's care, then traveled with the Brute Bear Soul Hunting Group to Linxing Town according to Hu Liena's plan.
• Lin Ye reminded the group that their packs held supplies both to mislead the Evil Soul Masters and to help them endure a possible soul beast rampage.
• At the town gate, Shi Yue met Viscount Lawrence, who introduced Ivory and his armed guards as his companions for a soul beast hunt.
• Lin Ye recognized Lawrence's manner and Ivory's suppressed aura as belonging to the Evil Soul Masters he had encountered before.
• Lawrence had the group board five rented carriages, and they set off toward Evernight Forest.