Chapter Summaries

Zhu Wu discovered that Tang San had stolen his hundred-year-old Wolf Poison and killed his dog, Da Huang, so he brought the dog meat to Old Jack’s family and resolved to seek justice himself. Old Jack said the Spirit Hall Head Disciple would soon visit the village to conduct the Spirit Awakening ceremony, which Zhu Wu would attend.

• Tang San sneaked into Zhu Wu’s courtyard, stole the Wolf Poison, and killed Da Huang with a thrown stone.
• Zhu Wu found the stolen herb missing and Da Huang dead, recognized Tang San as the culprit, and vowed to take revenge.
• Zhu Wu processed Da Huang and brought the dog meat to Old Jack’s family, who promised to ask around about the theft.
• Old Jack told Zhu Wu that the Spirit Hall Head Disciple would soon arrive to conduct the Spirit Awakening ceremony and advised him to wait until afterward to slaughter the pig.

Zhu Wu secretly prepared gunpowder to protect himself and take revenge on Tang San, then attended the village’s Martial Soul awakening ceremony. He awakened a White Silkworm Martial Soul and, after it vanished at his command, waited to learn whether he had Soul Power.

• Zhu Wu made gunpowder at home and planned to use it against Tang San when he found a chance, while avoiding Tang Hao’s notice.
• Two days later, Zhu Wu joined Tang San and the village children at the awakening ceremony led by Su Yuntao.
• Su Yuntao awakened the children’s Martial Souls, but the first several had no Soul Power.
• Zhu Wu awakened a small White Silkworm Martial Soul, contrary to his expectation that he would inherit his father’s stronger Martial Soul.
• Zhu Wu called for the White Silkworm to return, and it disappeared from his palm before Su Yuntao tested his Soul Power.

Zhu Wu awakened a Silkworm Martial Soul and level 6 Soul Power, while Tang San awakened Blue Silver Grass with Innate Full Soul Power. Su Yuntao arranged work-study places for both boys, and Zhu Wu hurried home to investigate his Martial Soul.

• Zhu Wu discovered his Silkworm Martial Soul had level 6 Soul Power and worried that its unusual form might limit his cultivation.
• Su Yuntao invited Zhu Wu to join Spirit Hall, but Zhu Wu declined because he needed to care for his grandfather and instead accepted a work-study place at Notting Academy.
• Zhu Wu asked about Bai Jin'er, a woman with a Silkworm Martial Soul, and learned she had died in childbirth after gaining a Silk Spitting soul skill from a Long-legged Spider Soul Ring.
• Su Yuntao announced that Tang San had awakened Blue Silver Grass with Innate Full Soul Power, then gave Old Jack certificates and an additional work-study place for the village.
• Old Jack prepared to speak with Tang Hao and promised to take both boys to the academy, while Zhu Wu rushed home to examine his Martial Soul.

Zhu Wu discovered that his White Silkworm Martial Soul was a Treasure Hiding Beast with transformation, treasure-seeking, storage, and nurturing abilities, and he theorized that it carried Dragon God bloodline. He concluded that his Martial Soul had degenerated but could evolve by absorbing treasures, leaving him hopeful about its future.

• Zhu Wu practiced the Vajra Power Exercise and Longevity Exercise, sensing that both cultivated Soul Power and had different effects.
• Zhu Wu examined his White Silkworm Martial Soul and found a seven-colored scale, silver spiracle edges, and clawed legs.
• Zhu Wu's Martial Soul transformed into a yellow dog resembling his deceased Da Huang, but the transformation rapidly consumed his Soul Power.
• Zhu Wu learned that his Martial Soul could imitate creatures, sense treasures and danger, store plants, and nurture them within its body.
• Zhu Wu identified the Martial Soul as a Treasure Hiding Beast related to the Dragon God's Treasure Seeking Beast and theorized that its Dragon God bloodline had caused its mutation and degeneration.
• Zhu Wu reasoned that cultivation and Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures could help his Martial Soul evolve, and he felt fortunate that he had learned the Vajra Longevity Exercise.

Zhu Wu tested his martial soul, Little White, and discovered it could eat and store medicinal herbs, while planning how to use it to plant an explosive in Tang Hao’s forge. He continued training and preparing for the academy, leaving the plan for the forge uncarried out.

• Zhu Wu named his martial soul Little White and found that it rejected ordinary Blue Silver Grass but ate a Black Haired Root, then stored the remaining root inside its stomach space.
• Zhu Wu planned to train Little White to search for herbs and place a single concealed explosive in the slag outlet of Tang Hao’s furnace, but decided to wait a few days before acting.
• Old Jack and the villagers brought men to slaughter a pig, then bought pork and congratulated Zhu Wu before leaving; Zhu Wu invited Old Jack’s family and the Old Wang Family to dinner.
• Zhu Wu instructed Little White using a clay model of Tang Hao’s furnace, then practiced the Longevity Exercise and slept.
• Zhu Wu practiced the Vajra Power Exercise the next morning, helped his grandfather Zhu Gang with chores, and continued training Little White that evening.

Zhu Wu planted an explosive in Tang Hao’s Forging Room, and it detonated while Tang San was forging, injuring Tang San and Tang Hao and setting the house ablaze. Villagers rushed to respond as Zhu Wu headed over to watch.

• Zhu Wu sent Little White into Tang Hao’s Forging Room, where she concealed a fuse beneath clay near the furnace’s slag outlet.
• Tang San returned from the mountain, ate breakfast with Tang Hao, and began refining pig iron under his father’s instruction.
• Sparks from the furnace ignited the fuse, and the blast tore through the Forging Room, throwing Tang San and Tang Hao backward and injuring them.
• The damaged walls collapsed, flames spread through the house, and a second, smaller explosion followed.
• Villagers woke to the blast and hurried toward Tang Hao’s burning house, while Zhu Wu called to Zhu Gang and went to watch.

Zhu Wu’s homemade explosive destroyed Tang Hao’s home and badly injured Tang San, while Tang Hao and the villagers mistook the blast for an accident. As Tang San remained bedridden through the New Year, Zhu Wu celebrated with his grandfather, satisfied that only Tang San had suffered for now.

• Tang Hao rescued the bloodied Tang San from the rubble and took him to a neighbor’s home, where Zhu Wu saw that Tang San’s injuries included the loss of a testicle.
• Jerry found the medicinal herb Zhu Wu had lost beneath Tang San’s bed, realized Tang San had stolen it, and returned it without exposing him.
• Tang Hao decided against using Ah Yin’s Soul Bone to speed Tang San’s recovery because he feared it would disrupt his plans for his son’s future.
• Tang Hao searched the ruined Blacksmith Shop, found no evidence of sabotage, and concluded that the furnace explosion was probably an accident.
• Jerry told Old Jack that Tang San had stolen Zhu Wu’s herb, but Old Jack chose to let the matter end after Tang San’s injuries.
• When New Year arrived, Tang San remained wrapped in bandages while Zhu Wu celebrated with his grandfather, Zhu Gang.

Zhu Wu developed a theory that the Vajra Power Exercise and Longevity Exercise could complement each other by cultivating his body and spirit, then gathered medicinal herbs with Little White. After provoking Tang San and secretly taking the herbs Tang San had planted, Zhu Wu left the village with Old Jack and Tang San for Notting Academy.

• Zhu Wu concluded that the Vajra Power Exercise absorbed sunlight and tempered the body, while the Longevity Exercise absorbed moonlight and cultivated the spirit, though excessive practice of either caused discomfort.
• Over two months, Zhu Wu and Little White explored the mountains, found a large wild ginseng, and learned that Little White’s herb consumption could improve Zhu Wu’s health.
• Zhu Wu returned to the village, displayed cheap herbs and Kidney Essence Grass where Tang San could see them, and secretly had Little White collect Tang San’s planted herbs.
• Tang San discovered his herbs were missing, suspected Zhu Wu, and investigated him and the villagers without finding evidence.
• Several days later, Old Jack led Zhu Wu and Tang San out of the village to begin their journey to Notting Academy.

Zhu Wu, Tang San, and Old Jack reached Notting Academy, where an arrogant gatekeeper rejected their Spirit Hall certificates and insulted their village. After Tang San and Zhu Wu knocked the gatekeeper down when he tried to shove Old Jack, Yu Xiaogang arrived and asked to inspect the certificates.

• Old Jack brought Tang San and Zhu Wu to Notting Academy and prepared to return to Holy Soul Village.
• The gatekeeper mocked the boys’ village and accused Old Jack of presenting forged certificates, then threw the documents on the ground.
• Old Jack threatened to seek help from Su Yuntao, but the gatekeeper continued insulting him and raised a hand to shove him.
• Tang San deflected the gatekeeper’s attack and tripped him, while Zhu Wu kicked his calf and sent him tumbling to the ground.
• Yu Xiaogang arrived and asked Zhu Wu to show him the Spirit Hall certificates, which Zhu Wu handed over.

Yu Xiaogang brought Zhu Wu and Tang San into Notting Academy and speculated that Zhu Wu’s silkworm Martial Soul was a mutation with spiritual abilities. He left Zhu Wu uncertain about its potential after advising him against developing it as a Control System Martial Soul.

• Yu Xiaogang accepted the children’s certificate, apologized to Old Jack, and led Zhu Wu and Tang San into the academy.
• Tang San thanked Yu Xiaogang, who clarified that he was not an academy teacher and invited Tang San to accept him as a teacher.
• Yu Xiaogang questioned Zhu Wu about his silkworm Martial Soul and explained his theory that it was a mutation related to spiritual power and Illusion Transformation.
• Yu Xiaogang suggested Zhu Wu could develop toward the Control System but said he did not recommend it, prompting Zhu Wu to ask why.

Yu Xiaogang advised Zhu Wu to develop his Silkworm Martial Soul with spiritual and Poison Spider soul rings, then offered Tang San his research on Blue Silver Grass. After the boys enrolled and entered Dorm Seven, Tang San fought Wang Sheng, Xiao Wu became dormitory boss, and a young man arrived looking for Tang San.

• Yu Xiaogang recommended spiritual soul rings and later Poison Spider soul rings for Zhu Wu’s Silkworm Martial Soul, while Zhu Wu privately feared the poison could kill him.
• Tang San asked Yu Xiaogang about Blue Silver Grass, and Yu Xiaogang invited him to visit his dormitory room after registration.
• Yu Xiaogang registered Tang San and Zhu Wu at the Dean’s Office, then escorted them to Dorm Seven.
• Tang San defeated Wang Sheng, and Zhu Wu declined to challenge him.
• Xiao Wu arrived, fought Tang San, and became Dorm Seven’s boss.
• A young man carrying bedding entered and asked which student was Tang San.

Zhu Wu left the dormitory to buy bedding after Xiao Wu insisted on sharing Tang San’s, then sold herbs at the apothecary. The shopkeeper recognized him as someone from Holy Soul Village and asked whether he had awakened soul power.

• Mo Hen delivered bedding to Tang San and explained the work-study students’ duties and the opening ceremony.
• Xiao Wu persuaded Tang San to push their beds together and share his bedding, while Zhu Wu decided to buy his own.
• After changing into his school uniform, Zhu Wu startled his roommates with his feminine appearance and left the dormitory.
• Zhu Wu summoned Little White to retrieve fresh herbs, then carried them to the apothecary.
• The shop clerk recognized Zhu Wu as someone from Holy Soul Village, and the owner asked whether he had awakened soul power.

Zhu Wu enrolled at the academy, visited his former family without revealing himself, and began cultivating while settling into Dorm Seven. Tang San returned with news that he would leave for the Beginner Soul Hunting Forest, while Zhu Wu focused on reaching Level 10 and planned to join Wang Sheng for dinner.

• Zhu Wu sold his herbs, and the medicine-shop owner raised the purchasing price for herbs from Holy Soul Village.
• Zhu Wu watched his Bai Family relatives from outside their cloth shop but left without approaching them to avoid exposing himself or endangering them.
• Xiao Chenyu mistook Zhu Wu for a girl and offered help, prompting Zhu Wu to declare that he was a man and hurry away.
• Zhu Wu returned to Dorm Seven, learned from Wang Sheng that soul masters cultivated through meditation, and began practicing.
• Tang San returned after studying with his teacher and said he would miss the opening ceremony to obtain his first spirit ring; Zhu Wu resumed cultivating.
• When Wang Sheng called the group to dinner, Zhu Wu and the others left for the cafeteria while Tang San and Xiao Wu stayed behind with food.

Zhu Wu challenged Xiao Chenyu to a one-on-one fight and negotiated conditions for the work-study students if he won. When Xiao Chenyu attacked without using soul skills, Zhu Wu dodged his kick and countered.

• Xiao Chenyu approached Zhu Wu with his lackeys, intending to beat him after being embarrassed earlier.
• Zhu Wu stepped forward despite Wang Sheng's doubts and challenged Xiao Chenyu to fight one-on-one without soul skills.
• Zhu Wu demanded that Xiao Chenyu stop troubling Dorm Seven, arrange for the work-study students' cleaning, and provide a book about soul beasts if Zhu Wu won.
• Yu Xiaogang watched the challenge and judged Zhu Wu rash and unlikely to amount to much.
• Xiao Chenyu attacked with a feint and a sweeping kick, but Zhu Wu dodged and leaped toward his chest with a counterattack.

Zhu Wu defeated Xiao Chenyu by copying moves he had observed Tang San use, then won a wager that spared Dorm Seven from cleaning duties. After Wang Sheng recounted the fight to Tang San, Tang San grew troubled by Zhu Wu's imitation of his techniques.

• Zhu Wu struck Xiao Chenyu in the groin, then used another copied move to knock him down when he charged again.
• Zhu Wu said he had learned the moves by watching Tang San and Xiao Wu fight, and Xiao Chenyu admitted defeat and promised to provide books about soul beasts.
• Wang Sheng treated Dorm Seven to dinner, and the principal praised Zhu Wu while Yu Xiaogang credited Tang San's skill.
• Wang Sheng brought packaged meat to Tang San and Xiao Wu and described Zhu Wu's fight, making Tang San frown over the copied techniques.

After Zhu Wu’s victory over Xiao Chenyu earned benefits for the dormitory, Zhu Wu focused on training and concealing his secret exercises while Tang San declined to teach the other students. The next morning, Tang San and Yu Xiaogang were absent, and Xiao Chenyu approached Zhu Wu’s group after the opening ceremony.

• Tang San decided Zhu Wu’s use of familiar combat techniques was understandable, accepted the food, and refused Wang Sheng’s request for training because he planned to work at a blacksmith shop.
• Xiao Wu offered to teach Wang Sheng and the other students, while Zhu Wu said he would focus on running and cultivation before heading out for a night run.
• Zhu Wu secretly practiced the Longevity Exercise in a grove, returned to cultivate Soul Power, and rose before dawn to practice the Vajra Power Exercise.
• At the opening ceremony, Zhu Wu noticed Tang San and Yu Xiaogang were absent and guessed they had gone to obtain a Soul Ring.
• After the ceremony, Xiao Chenyu approached Zhu Wu and his dormmates with a book in hand.

Zhu Wu accepted a Soul Beast Illustrated Handbook from Xiao Chenyu, warned him that Xiao Wu liked picking fights, and continued his training while Tang San began his new routine. Yu Xiaogang explained the Soul Master Subsidy’s political arrangement to Tang San, and the chapter left the boys living busy but harmonious lives as Xiao Wu kept seeking sparring matches.

• Xiao Chenyu gave Zhu Wu a Soul Beast Illustrated Handbook and respectfully greeted Xiao Wu, who forgot her plan to challenge him.
• Zhu Wu warned Xiao Chenyu to avoid Xiao Wu if he wanted to escape being dragged into a fight, then returned to his daily reading and training routine.
• Yu Xiaogang explained to Tang San how Spirit Hall and the Two Great Empires shared the costs and benefits of the Soul Master Subsidy.
• Tang San found work as a blacksmith in Notting City and settled into a routine of classes, forging, and cultivating, while Zhu Wu followed his own schedule.
• Xiao Wu repeatedly sought sparring partners and disrupted the academy.

Zhu Wu reached level 10 and asked to leave the academy to obtain his first Soul Ring. The Dean offered to mentor him, then agreed to accompany him to the Soul Hunting Forest, where Zhu Wu entered with him the next day.

• Zhu Wu reached level 10 after months of cultivation and went to Director Su to request leave to hunt for a Soul Ring.
• The Dean asked Zhu Wu to become his student, but Zhu Wu declined and explained that he wanted to explore how to cultivate his Martial Soul on his own.
• The Dean agreed to accompany Zhu Wu to the Beginner Soul Hunting Forest and help him find a Fox-type Soul Beast for his first Soul Ring.
• Zhu Wu packed his things and left the academy by carriage with the Dean, while Teacher Mo Hen told Dorm Seven that Zhu Wu had gone to obtain a Soul Ring.
• The next day, Zhu Wu and the Dean entered the Soul Hunting Forest without trouble.

Zhu Wu and the Dean hunted a roughly four-hundred-year-old Three-Eyed Demon Fox so Zhu Wu could absorb its Soul Ring. During the absorption, Little White awakened an unusual ability, leaving Zhu Wu with a Martial Soul that could transform into the fox and use its abilities.

• The Dean showed Zhu Wu how his whip Martial Soul defeated Netherworld Wolves and introduced him to Soul Beasts throughout the forest.
• The Dean found a Three-Eyed Demon Fox and used his twin whips to cripple it, after which Zhu Wu killed it and began absorbing its Soul Ring.
• Zhu Wu endured the Soul Ring’s scorching energy and, through Internal Vision, watched Little White absorb and settle the power.
• Little White conveyed that Zhu Wu’s Martial Soul could transform into the Three-Eyed Demon Fox and inherit its abilities, including letting Zhu Wu fight in fox form while possessed.

Zhu Wu returned to Notting Academy after absorbing a Three-Eyed Demon Fox soul ring and began considering how to develop Little White’s skills while ensuring he could fight without relying on Martial Soul Possession. Back at the dormitory, he announced he would treat his roommates to dinner, and Xiao Wu promptly demanded a treat for the dorm’s boss.

• Zhu Wu told the Dean that his new soul skill was Clone, while privately reflecting that Little White had also gained Charm and that its abilities depended on the soul ring’s quality.
• On the journey back, Zhu Wu considered how Little White could acquire soul beast skills through soul rings and wondered whether he could use those skills without possessing his body.
• Zhu Wu resolved to develop his Vajra Longevity Exercise so he would retain combat ability when Little White fought independently, and he studied the surroundings for soul beasts Little White could imitate.
• The Dean advised Zhu Wu to register as a soul master at Spirit Hall and collect his allowance, then left him to return to the dormitory.
• Zhu Wu told Xiao Wu, Wang Sheng, and the other roommates that he had obtained a hundred-year Three-Eyed Demon Fox soul ring with a Clone skill and offered to buy them dinner.
• Xiao Wu called herself the dormitory boss and asked Zhu Wu to bring her something tasty when he went out.