Chapter Summaries

Lin Ye and Zhu Zhuqing traveled together toward Suotuo City, where she considered whether to rely on his strength to change her family's succession system. On the night before they arrived, Lin Ye asked why she was going to the city, leaving Zhu Zhuqing unsure how to answer.

• Lin Ye and Zhu Zhuqing discovered they were both headed to Suotuo City and traveled there together with Golden Crocodile Douluo.
• During the month-long journey, Zhu Zhuqing learned that Lin Ye was a twin-martial-soul soul king with an extraordinary soul ring configuration, and he used the Fallen Heart Flame to aid her cultivation.
• Zhu Zhuqing considered relying on Lin Ye to help her defeat Zhu Zhuyun and change the Zhu family's succession system, but hesitated to ask him for help.
• On the night before their arrival, Lin Ye asked Zhu Zhuqing what she planned to do in Suotuo City, and she did not know how to respond.

Zhu Zhuqing told Lin Ye that she had fled the Nether Grand Duke's Mansion to escape her sister's attempts to kill her and had come to Suotuo City to find her betrothed, Dai Mubai. Lin Ye asked her to travel with him instead, and she said she would decide after seeing whether Dai Mubai met her expectations.

• Lin Ye asked Zhu Zhuqing why she was going to Suotuo City, and she revealed that she came from the Zhu Family of the Nether Grand Duke's Mansion.
• Zhu Zhuqing explained that she and her older sister were rivals in a brutal inheritance contest and that she had fled the Star Luo Empire to escape her sister's schemes.
• Zhu Zhuqing said she intended to find her fiancé, Dai Mubai, who had fled to Suotuo City three years earlier and joined Shrek Academy.
• Lin Ye questioned whether Dai Mubai could help Zhu Zhuqing and offered to protect her if she stayed with him.
• Zhu Zhuqing said she still wanted to meet Dai Mubai, but would follow Lin Ye if Dai Mubai failed to meet her expectations.

Lin Ye, Zhu Zhuqing, and Golden Crocodile Douluo arrived in Suotuo City and checked into the Violet Grand Hotel. Lin Ye asked about a tavern run by two women, and an attendant offered to lead him there for a reward.

• Lin Ye and the others entered Suotuo City and admired its busy streets as Golden Crocodile Douluo drove their carriage.
• The group chose the Violet Grand Hotel, where Lin Ye paid for three of its finest rooms for a month.
• Lin Ye asked the hotel attendants about a tavern run by an older and a younger woman.
• An attendant claimed to know the tavern, and Lin Ye showed him several dozen Gold Soul Coins as a reward for leading the way.

Lin Ye reunited with Su Ying and Xie Lin at the Phantom Shadow Tavern after returning to Suotuo City. Xie Lin welcomed him warmly and planned to celebrate their reunion that night and have Su Ying show him around the city the next day.

• A waiter led Lin Ye from the Violet Grand Hotel to the Phantom Shadow Tavern in exchange for Gold Soul Coins.
• Su Ying recognized Lin Ye at the tavern and happily took Tangyuan before bringing Lin Ye to see Xie Lin.
• Xie Lin opened her door in disarray, hurriedly shut it, and then tidied herself before welcoming Lin Ye and Su Ying into her room.
• Lin Ye told Xie Lin that he had studied and graduated in Spirit City before coming to Suotuo City as they had agreed.
• Xie Lin invited Lin Ye to celebrate with her that night and said Su Ying would show him around Suotuo City the next day.

Lin Ye reunited with Xie Lin and Su Ying in Suotuo City, heard how the former members of the Brute Bear Soul Hunting Group had fared, and spent the next day shopping with them and Zhu Zhuqing. When they joined a long line for the rare Illusion Dream Flower Brew, Lin Ye was struck by the claim that it let drinkers see the scene they most wanted to see.

• Xie Lin recounted that the Brute Bear Soul Hunting Group had disbanded after its members achieved their goals, with Shi Yue, He Feng, Luo An, and the others pursuing separate lives.
• Lin Ye carried the drunken Xie Lin and Su Ying to bed, then left the tavern with Tangyuan.
• Xie Lin and Su Ying took Lin Ye and Zhu Zhuqing around Suotuo City, where the women persuaded them to buy new clothes.
• Su Ying spotted the Illusion Dream Flower Brewery open, and the group joined its long queue.
• Xie Lin explained that the owner used her Illusion Butterfly martial soul to brew a limited supply of alcohol that showed drinkers the scene they most wished to see, leaving Lin Ye startled.

Lin Ye and his companions bought Illusion Dream Flower Brew, which Lin Ye hoped would let him see his unseen parents. When Ning Rongrong tried to take his cup and threatened him after he refused, Lin Ye knocked her down and left with the brew, but she stopped him from going.

• Lin Ye, Zhu Zhuqing, Xie Lin, and Su Ying bought Illusion Dream Flower Brew, though Zhu Zhuqing found it had sold out by her turn.
• Xie Lin and Su Ying drank their brew and praised its effects, while Lin Ye and Zhu Zhuqing saved theirs for later.
• Ning Rongrong asked Lin Ye for his cup and offered first one hundred, then one thousand Gold Soul Coins, but he refused because he wanted it himself.
• Ning Rongrong tried to snatch the cup, and Lin Ye dodged her and kicked her to the ground.
• Ning Rongrong demanded an apology and threatened to have Lin Ye punished, but he stored the brew and called for Xie Lin, Su Ying, and Zhuqing to leave.
• Ning Rongrong shouted that Lin Ye could not leave.

Lin Ye taught a spoiled girl from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect a harsh lesson after she attacked him, then went with Zhu Zhuqing, Xie Lin, and Su Ying to the Soto Great Spirit Arena. There, Lin Ye and Zhu Zhuqing prepared to register for spirit combat while concealing their identities with masks.

• The girl attacked Lin Ye from behind, and he dodged before cutting off a lock of her hair with his sword and warning her to change her behavior.
• Lin Ye left the crying girl behind and later went with Zhu Zhuqing, Xie Lin, and Su Ying to the Soto Great Spirit Arena.
• Lin Ye chose a black-and-gold dragon mask, while Zhu Zhuqing chose a black cat mask with purple accents.
• Lin Ye and Zhu Zhuqing went to the registration counter, where Lin Ye offered twenty Gold Soul Coins to register them for spirit combat.

Lin Ye and Zhu Zhuqing registered at the Soto Great Spirit Arena under the codenames Peerless and Spirit Cat, then formed teams with Xie Lin and Su Ying. After signing up for team spirit battles, they waited to watch Su Ying and Zhu Zhuqing compete in the Soul Grandmaster division.

• Lin Ye and Zhu Zhuqing chose codenames and received Iron Soul Fighter badges after registering at the arena.
• Su Ying explained that the four could compete in two-person teams, and they registered the Phantom Peerless Duo and the Cherry Spirit Cat.
• Xie Lin said weapons were permitted in spirit battles as long as fighters did not casually take lives, and Lin Ye considered using another identity for solo matches.
• Lin Ye and Xie Lin signed up for Soul King-level team battles, then accompanied Su Ying and Zhu Zhuqing to the Soul Grandmaster waiting area.

Zhu Zhuqing and Su Ying won their first Soul Grandmaster team duel easily, with Zhu Zhuqing defeating the Beast King Combination alone. Lin Ye and Xie Lin then entered their Soul King team match against the confident, five-match-winning Slay Absolute Combination.

• Zhu Zhuqing and Su Ying were called to the arena and faced the Beast King Combination.
• Zhu Zhuqing quickly defeated both opponents, while Su Ying did not use any soul-power food.
• Lin Ye and Xie Lin accompanied Zhu Zhuqing and Su Ying to the Soul King waiting area.
• After five teams were called, Lin Ye and Xie Lin were summoned to face the Slay Absolute Combination.
• The host introduced Xie Lin as Phantom and Lin Ye as Peerless, then Purple Spider and Absolute Sword boasted about their winning streak and expected an easy victory.

Lin Ye stunned the arena by revealing a soul ring configuration far beyond the accepted limit before the Spirit Combat match began. As Absolute Sword and Purple Spider attacked, Lin Ye boosted Xie Lin, leaving her ready to counter their assault.

• Absolute Sword and Purple Spider summoned their Martial Souls and displayed their soul rings before the match began.
• Xie Lin summoned her Ghost Leopard Martial Soul, and Lin Ye revealed the Nine Spirit Immortal Begonia with yellow, purple, and three black soul rings.
• The host and spectators reacted in shock to Lin Ye's unprecedented soul ring configuration, while Absolute Sword insisted it was an illusion and charged.
• Absolute Sword used Gale Shadow Stab as Purple Spider launched poison and spider-silk attacks at Lin Ye and Xie Lin.
• Lin Ye cast Crown of Blood Spirit, Ghost Shadow, and Diamond Overlord Body on Xie Lin, greatly enhancing her and making her immune to control.

Xie Lin and Lin Ye defeated the Slay Absolute Combination at the Soto Great Spirit Arena, then celebrated with Su Ying and Zhu Zhuqing. That night, Lin Ye drank Illusion Dream Flower Brew hoping to see his parents, but the illusion could not show him their faces.

• Lin Ye's enhancements let Xie Lin overwhelm Absolute Sword with Ghost Shadow Claws and force Purple Spider to surrender.
• The host declared the Phantom Peerless Duo the winners, and the spectators cheered their victory.
• After leaving the Soto Great Spirit Arena, Xie Lin praised Lin Ye's support skills and said she might be able to fight a Soul Emperor.
• Back at the Violet Grand Hotel, Lin Ye drank Illusion Dream Flower Brew and dreamed of a happy childhood with his parents.
• Lin Ye awoke disappointed that his parents' faces were blurred, but decided he would buy the brew again.

A month after arriving in Suotuo City, Lin Ye prepared a disguised identity, Sword One, so he could enter solo spirit battles and practice his swordsmanship. At the registration counter, he confronted Ma Hongjun, who was pestering a staff member.

• Zhu Zhuqing cultivated with Lin Ye's help and advanced from Rank 28 to Rank 29, nearing Rank 30.
• Lin Ye refined the Three-Eyed Demonic Fox's eye into the illusion-creating pendant Myriad Forms and named his sword Hidden Wind.
• Lin Ye went to the Soto Great Spirit Arena to register as Sword One, wearing a mask and disguising his appearance.
• At the registration counter, Lin Ye interrupted Ma Hongjun as he shamelessly pressured the pink-haired staff member to dine with him.
• Ma Hongjun angrily introduced himself and accused Lin Ye of ignoring the principle of first come, first served.

Lin Ye stopped Ma Hongjun from harassing the arena receptionist, beat him after he attacked, and registered as the Iron Soul Fighter Sword One. He entered the Soul Elder one-on-one division and waited for his first match.

• Ma Hongjun blocked Lin Ye and attacked him, so Lin Ye beat him and warned him not to harass people again.
• The pink-haired receptionist thanked Lin Ye and explained the spirit battle registration process.
• Lin Ye paid ten Gold Soul Coins, registered under the name Sword One as a level thirty-four Soul Elder, and received his Iron Soul Fighter badge.
• Lin Ye registered for a Soul Elder one-on-one battle, planning to team up with Zhu Zhuqing in the future.
• Lin Ye waited in the Soul Elder division and was called third when the battles began.

Lin Ye defeated Soul Elder Evil Eye White Tiger in the Soto Great Spirit Arena while practicing the Nine Swords of Dugu. Afterward, he heard an injured man pleading with Boss Dai to avenge him.

• Lin Ye entered the arena and noticed that Evil Eye White Tiger had unusual double pupils resembling his External Soul Bone.
• Lin Ye and Evil Eye White Tiger exchanged introductions, summoned their Martial Souls, and began their match.
• Lin Ye overwhelmed Evil Eye White Tiger with his swordsmanship, and knocked him out of the arena to win.
• Evil Eye White Tiger vowed to defeat Lin Ye next time, and Lin Ye said he would be waiting.
• Lin Ye heard an injured man beg Boss Dai to avenge him, claiming that they were close brothers.

Lin Ye overheard Dai Mubai promising to avenge Ma Hongjun, whom Lin Ye had beaten, and confronted them. He rejected Dai Mubai’s attempt to make peace and left after warning them, while Dai Mubai gave Ma Hongjun money for medicine.

• Lin Ye heard Dai Mubai agree to help Ma Hongjun get revenge if his opponent was around Dai Mubai’s age.
• Ma Hongjun described the tall fighter in a black tiger mask with gold patterns, and Lin Ye came out and asked if they were looking for him.
• Ma Hongjun identified Lin Ye as the man who had beaten him, and Dai Mubai hastily claimed his promise to help had only been a joke.
• Lin Ye refused Dai Mubai’s offered friendship and warned him to keep Ma Hongjun from harassing women again.
• After Lin Ye left, Dai Mubai admitted Lin Ye had defeated him and gave Ma Hongjun Gold Soul Coins to buy ointment.

After discovering that Dai Mubai had abandoned hard work, Lin Ye left the Soto Great Spirit Arena in a better mood and headed back toward the Violet Grand Hotel. He heard a girl crying for help and intervened just as three men attacked her, though his identity and the girl's fate remained unknown.

• Lin Ye realized Dai Mubai was Zhu Zhuqing's fiancé and decided to tell her that Dai had fallen into a debauched life.
• Lin Ye changed out of his masked identity in an alley and headed toward the Violet Grand Hotel.
• Lin Ye heard a girl's cry and found Bule, Old Goose, and Tianya cornering her on a secluded street.
• The girl claimed she was the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's Sect Master's daughter, but the three men mocked her and lunged at her.
• A black-clad figure rushed in and kicked all three attackers into a wall.

Lin Ye saved Ning Rongrong from Bule, Old Goose, and Tianya, killing all three before they could harm her. After warning Ning Rongrong to be less overbearing and more careful, he gave her his name and disappeared across the rooftops.

• Lin Ye confronted Bule, Old Goose, and Tianya after they attacked Ning Rongrong.
• Bule, Old Goose, and Tianya summoned their Martial Souls and rushed Lin Ye, but he cut apart Bule's Martial Soul and killed Old Goose and Tianya.
• Lin Ye caught Bule as he fled, killed him, and burned all three men's bodies to ashes with the Fallen Heart Flame.
• Ning Rongrong thanked Lin Ye and apologized for how she had treated him before, and Lin Ye warned her to be polite and avoid secluded places at night.
• Ning Rongrong asked Lin Ye for his name, and he introduced himself before leaping across the rooftops and vanishing.

Lin Ye accompanied Zhu Zhuqing to Shrek Academy and told her about Dai Mubai’s low cultivation and lecherous behavior, leaving her deeply disappointed in him. Though Zhu Zhuqing considered turning back, Lin Ye persuaded her to see Dai Mubai for herself, and they reached the crowded village where Shrek Academy was enrolling students.

• Lin Ye, Zhu Zhuqing, and Golden Crocodile Douluo ate breakfast before setting out for Shrek Academy outside Suotuo City.
• On the way, Lin Ye told Zhu Zhuqing about meeting Dai Mubai and overhearing him with Ma Hongjun, including Dai Mubai’s level-thirty-seven cultivation and talk of women.
• Zhu Zhuqing concluded that Dai Mubai had given up and felt disappointed, deciding she no longer needed to rely on him to escape her family’s fate.
• Zhu Zhuqing asked Lin Ye to turn back, but he urged her to see Dai Mubai herself so she would not be left with regrets.
• After walking for more than two hours, Lin Ye and Zhu Zhuqing reached the village and saw the crowd gathered outside Shrek Academy.

Lin Ye accompanied Zhu Zhuqing to enroll at Shrek Academy, where he learned that its shabby campus admitted only exceptionally gifted students. Zhu Zhuqing recognized Dai Mubai, while Dai Mubai noticed Lin Ye and suspected he resembled Sword One from the previous night.

• Lin Ye and Zhu Zhuqing arrived at Shrek Academy, where Ning Rongrong greeted Lin Ye and met Zhu Zhuqing and Tangyuan.
• A furious father demanded his registration fee back after learning his son failed the requirements, but Dai Mubai's Soul Elder display made them leave.
• Zhu Zhuqing fell silent when she heard Dai Mubai's name, and Dai Mubai sensed a highly compatible Martial Soul nearby before noticing Lin Ye.
• The old man announced that applicants had to reach Soul Power Level twenty-one before age twelve and possess only Hundred-Year Soul Rings.
• Lin Ye realized Shrek Academy's reputation came from admitting rare young geniuses, though he doubted the academy itself deserved credit for their future achievements.

Lin Ye watched Tang San and Xiao Wu register at Shrek Academy, then accompanied Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong as they reached the desk. Dai Mubai noticed Lin Ye standing close to Zhu Zhuqing and considered him a rival, while Lin Ye believed Zhu Zhuqing’s feelings—not Martial Soul compatibility alone—determined whether she and Dai Mubai could use their fusion skill.

• After most applicants left over Shrek Academy’s strict requirements, Lin Ye recognized Tang San and Xiao Wu in the shortened queue but chose not to approach them.
• Tang San paid the registration fee, demonstrated his Rank 21 Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul, and passed the test; Dai Mubai escorted him inside after learning they had fought before.
• Xiao Wu passed the registration test and joined Tang San.
• Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong reached the registration desk with Lin Ye beside them, drawing Dai Mubai’s attention.
• Dai Mubai felt little Martial Soul resonance with Zhu Zhuqing and viewed Lin Ye as a rival, while Lin Ye reflected that emotional connection was essential for a Martial Soul Fusion Skill.