Recaps

Xu Ran and Zhu Zhuqing returned to Star Luo City on a docile Thousand-Year Soul Beast, impressing Dai Weisi, Zhu Zhuyun, and the city guards. The chapter ended with Xu Ran exchanging flattering greetings with Dai Weisi while secretly admiring Zhu Zhuyun.

• Xu Ran and Zhu Zhuqing rode the Black Steed toward Star Luo City after Xu Ran's feeding had raised its cultivation to a thousand years.
• Zhu Zhuqing spotted Zhu Zhuyun and Dai Weisi waiting at the city gate, while Xu Ran reflected on his longing for Zhu Zhuyun and the danger of exposing their relationship.
• Dai Weisi and the guards marveled that Xu Ran could ride a docile Thousand-Year Soul Beast.
• Zhu Zhuqing dismounted and embraced Zhu Zhuyun, who envied their closeness and wished she could be with Xu Ran openly.
• Xu Ran and Dai Weisi exchanged praise at the gate as Xu Ran watched Zhu Zhuyun.

Xu Ran reunited with Zhu Zhuyun and Zhu Zhuqing, then joined Dai Weisi for a meal while secretly teasing Zhu Zhuyun and encouraging Dai Weisi to trust him. He left with Zhu Zhuqing before Dai Weisi got fully drunk, while Zhu Zhuyun remained affectionate and waited for Xu Ran to become powerful enough for them to be together openly.

• Xu Ran and the sisters Zhu Zhuyun and Zhu Zhuqing followed Dai Weisi into the city, and Xu Ran secretly pinched Zhu Zhuyun while they walked.
• Dai Weisi invited Xu Ran to a tavern and spoke about welcoming him at the Royal Banquet, unaware of Xu Ran's relationship with Zhu Zhuyun.
• During the meal, Xu Ran chatted and drank with Dai Weisi while teasing Zhu Zhuyun beneath the table.
• Dai Weisi became tipsy and praised Xu Ran, but Xu Ran left with Zhu Zhuqing before Dai Weisi was fully drunk.
• After Xu Ran left, Dai Weisi praised him as an unmatched talent, while Zhu Zhuyun watched him go and longed for their relationship to become possible.

Xu Ran visited the Zhu Family, where Zhu Ao tested his strength and discovered that Xu Ran possessed a hundred-thousand-year External Soul Bone. After Xu Ran wounded Zhu Ao in their first exchange, Zhu Ao released his Martial Soul to continue the test.

• Zhu Ao waited with Zhu Zihao and the elders to meet Xu Ran and decided to test him.
• Xu Ran entered the hall with Zhu Zhuqing, and Zhu Ao launched a sudden attack.
• Xu Ran revealed his hundred-thousand-year Soul Bone and knocked Zhu Ao back, injuring his hand.
• The Zhu Family elders recognized Xu Ran's Soul Bone as a hundred-thousand-year External Soul Bone and celebrated his strength.
• Zhu Ao reassured Zhu Zhuqing that he would not hurt Xu Ran, then released his Martial Soul to test him further.

Xu Ran demonstrated his immense Soul Power and swordsmanship during a spar with Zhu Ao, the Zhu Family’s rank eighty-eight Soul Douluo. His first strike shattered Zhu Ao’s eighth Soul Skill barrier and sent him crashing across the hall, leaving Zhu Ao stunned by Xu Ran’s strength.

• Zhu Ao released his Hell Spirit Cat Martial Soul and invited Xu Ran to attack first, expecting his junior to be far weaker than himself.
• Xu Ran revealed four black Soul Rings and Soul Power reserves comparable to a Soul Saint’s, astonishing Zhu Ao, Zhu Zihao, and the elders.
• Xu Ran showed signs of unity with his sword and warned Zhu Ao before unleashing his Slaughter Sword Intent.
• Zhu Ao hastily used his eighth Soul Skill, Hellish Demon Barrier, but Xu Ran’s sword light shattered it and struck him, sending him through the hall and into a pillar.
• Zhu Ao swore in disbelief and realized Xu Ran might be his equal even if he fought at full strength.

Xu Ran demonstrated his overwhelming strength to the Zhu Family, then revealed Zhu Zhuqing had reached Level 37 thanks to immortal herbs he found. He presented the family with three rare dark-attribute soul bones before taking Zhu Zhuqing to their room.

• Xu Ran's slash sent Zhu Ao flying, but Zhu Ao's defensive soul skills kept him from suffering serious injuries.
• Zhu Ao praised Xu Ran's strength and discovered Zhu Zhuqing had reached Level 37.
• Xu Ran explained that immortal herbs from a Heaven Dou Empire secret realm had raised Zhu Zhuqing's cultivation without side effects.
• Xu Ran gave the Zhu Family three dark-attribute soul bones, each at least forty thousand years old, and Zhu Ao and Zhu Zihao praised his marriage to Zhu Zhuqing.
• Xu Ran took Zhu Zhuqing by the hand and headed to their room.

Xu Ran prepared to visit Empress Zhu Liya with Zhu Zhuqing and learned how she had helped protect them from Emperor Dai. Zhu Liya promised Zhu Zihao that she would intervene if the emperor moved against Xu Ran, and she looked forward to meeting the couple.

• Zhu Zhuqing woke Xu Ran and told him they would visit her aunt, Empress Zhu Liya.
• Zhu Zhuqing explained that Zhu Liya had helped persuade the imperial family to spare them and try to win Xu Ran over.
• Xu Ran dressed and reassured Zhu Zhuqing as they prepared to leave for the visit.
• Zhu Zihao warned Zhu Liya that Xu Ran's growing strength might alarm Emperor Dai and prompt him to act against Xu Ran.
• Zhu Liya vowed to protect Xu Ran from the emperor and welcomed the chance to see Zhu Zhuqing and meet Xu Ran.

Xu Ran and Zhu Zhuqing visited Empress Zhu Liya, who summoned Xu Ran alone after speaking with her niece. Zhu Liya revealed her concern that Xu Ran could threaten her son Dai Weisi’s position and tested him by asking him to massage her legs.

• Xu Ran and Zhu Zhuqing paid their respects to Empress Zhu Liya in her residence.
• Zhu Liya welcomed Zhu Zhuqing as her aunt and spoke with her behind the gauze curtains while Xu Ran waited outside.
• Zhu Zhuqing told Xu Ran that Zhu Liya wanted to speak with him, then left to wait outside.
• Zhu Liya invited Xu Ran to sit beside her and laid her legs across his knees, asking him to massage them.
• Xu Ran realized Zhu Liya wanted to protect Dai Weisi’s future position, but he agreed to massage her legs.

Xu Ran reassured Empress Zhu Liya that he would never threaten Dai Weisi, and she came to trust his loyalty and value to the Zhu Family. He left her private chamber to reunite with Zhu Zhuqing, while Zhu Liya believed Xu Ran would help secure Dai Weisi and Zhu Yun’s futures.

• Xu Ran’s massage eased Zhu Liya’s long-standing minor ailments, and he explained that he had learned the technique from an expert.
• Zhu Liya warned Xu Ran not to harm Dai Weisi, revealing her fear that Xu Ran’s talent could threaten her son’s position.
• Xu Ran pledged loyalty to Dai Weisi and Zhu Liya, saying he would never forget their kindness or turn against them.
• Zhu Liya accepted Xu Ran’s assurances and decided that the imperial harem and First Prince’s residence should feel like home to him.
• Xu Ran took his leave to return to Zhu Zhuqing, while Zhu Liya watched him go convinced he would help secure Dai Weisi and Zhu Yun’s futures.

Xu Ran attended a banquet with Zhu Zihao, where Dai Weisi publicly treated him as an ally and Emperor Dai and Zhu Liya judged him a valuable friend to the empire. The feast’s focus shifted to Zhu Zhuyun’s dance, which Xu Ran praised while Dai Weisi believed she was his future wife.

• Xu Ran spent the day shopping around Star Luo City with Zhu Zhuqing before going to the evening banquet with Zhu Zihao.
• Xu Ran paid his respects to Emperor Dai, then took the seat Dai Weisi had reserved for him beside the First Prince.
• Dai Weisi called Zhu Zhuyun his future empress and told Xu Ran to watch her performance, while Xu Ran concealed that he had already won her over.
• Emperor Dai and Zhu Liya agreed that Xu Ran was kind and loyal to Dai Weisi, and Emperor Dai set aside his thoughts of eliminating him.
• Zhu Zhuyun entered in a red dress and danced before the guests, and Xu Ran praised her beauty as Dai Weisi watched with pride.

At Dai Weisi’s banquet, Xu Ran played the guqin while Zhu Zhuyun danced, impressing the imperial family and their guests. Afterward, Xu Ran secretly visited Zhu Zhuyun in a palace room and kissed her despite her fears that they might be discovered.

• Dai Weisi praised Zhu Zhuyun’s beauty as she danced at the banquet.
• Xu Ran played a song on the guqin to accompany Zhu Zhuyun’s dance, and the guests admired their performances.
• Dai Weisi and Emperor Dai interpreted Xu Ran’s talent and demeanor as signs that he could benefit the Dai family.
• After the performance, Xu Ran left the banquet and found Zhu Zhuyun in an elegant room.
• Zhu Zhuyun warned Xu Ran that they were in the imperial palace, but Xu Ran embraced and kissed her.

Xu Ran secretly met Zhu Zhuyun and promised to protect their relationship while planning to visit her again that night. Back at the banquet, he used a joke about women and brotherhood to win Dai Weisi’s admiration.

• Zhu Zhuyun urged Xu Ran to leave before anyone noticed their relationship, and he promised to be careful about exposing it.
• Xu Ran said he would visit Zhu Zhuyun that night after getting Dai Weisi drunk, while she warned him not to cross a final boundary.
• Xu Ran returned to the banquet, where Dai Weisi asked why he had been gone so long.
• Xu Ran implied he had been admiring a dancer, and Dai Weisi offered to send her to him.
• Xu Ran said brothers were like hands and feet while women were like clothes, and Dai Weisi praised his words as wisdom.

Xu Ran got Dai Weisi drunk at the banquet so he could be alone with Zhu Zhuyun. After Dai Weisi fell asleep, Xu Ran and Zhu Zhuyun kissed and left for her room.

• Xu Ran asked Dai Weisi whether brothers or women mattered more, then drank with him while the guests admired their apparent friendship.
• Emperor Dai and Empress Zhu left Xu Ran and Dai Weisi together, expecting their friendship to benefit Dai Weisi.
• Xu Ran helped the drunken Dai Weisi back to his residence, misleading him about the surname of the dancing girl and joking about drinking with Zhu Zhuyun next time.
• Xu Ran laid Dai Weisi on the bed, where he immediately fell asleep, and Zhu Zhuyun confronted Xu Ran about his behavior.
• Xu Ran kissed Zhu Zhuyun, persuaded her to say she would love him forever, then carried her to her room.

Xu Ran reassured Zhu Zhuyun after she worried about his risky behavior around Dai Weisi, then gave her poison to use against the First Prince if needed. They agreed she would secretly try a small dose of the mind-affecting toxin in Dai Weisi’s food.

• Zhu Zhuyun scolded Xu Ran for getting handsy with her in front of the drunk Dai Weisi, and Xu Ran promised to be more careful.
• Xu Ran asked whether Dai Weisi had mistreated Zhu Zhuyun while he was away, and she said she had rejected Dai Weisi’s advances and would kill him if he forced himself on her.
• Xu Ran gave Zhu Zhuyun a bottle of poison and explained that its mental toxin could interfere with a target’s consciousness or turn them into a puppet.
• Zhu Zhuyun suggested putting the mental toxin in Dai Weisi’s food, and Xu Ran agreed she could try a small amount the next day.

Xu Ran secretly left Zhu Zhuyun’s room and practiced swordsmanship, revealing a frightening level of mastery that Dai Weisi witnessed. At breakfast, Zhu Zhuyun served a feast with poison meant for Dai Weisi, but Xu Ran avoided the dishes he had touched as the three sat down to eat.

• Zhu Zhuyun urged Xu Ran to leave before dawn and reminded him of their plan to poison Dai Weisi, warning him not to use the wrong toxin.
• Xu Ran went to the guest quarters and practiced swordsmanship, displaying several sword intents and entering the realm of unity of heaven and man.
• Dai Weisi saw Xu Ran’s sword practice and realized how terrifyingly powerful he was, but felt relieved that Xu Ran was his friend.
• Dai Weisi invited Xu Ran to breakfast and praised Zhu Zhuyun for preparing a lavish meal.
• Zhu Zhuyun indicated that Dai Weisi’s bowl and chopsticks were poisoned, so Xu Ran ate only dishes Dai Weisi had not touched.

Xu Ran learned that the mental poison affecting Dai Weisi could make him obedient without harming him, and he tested his influence by taking Zhu Zhuyun away with Dai Weisi’s permission. The chapter ended with Xu Ran planning to keep Dai Weisi under their control rather than kill him.

• Xu Ran praised Zhu Zhuyun while toasting Dai Weisi, who offered Xu Ran a permanent place to stay at the First Prince's Residence.
• Zhu Zhuyun urged Dai Weisi to eat more, and Dai Weisi took her concern as a sign of growing affection.
• Xu Ran asked System Lady about the Myriad Demon King's mental poison and learned that it could gradually turn Dai Weisi into a puppet.
• Xu Ran said he was leaving and asked to take Zhu Zhuyun with him; Dai Weisi agreed despite Xu Ran putting an arm around her waist.
• Xu Ran formed a mental imprint that let him control Dai Weisi, then left with Zhu Zhuyun and planned to keep poisoning Dai Weisi.

Emperor Dai appointed Xu Ran as an envoy to the Heaven Dou Empire, hoping to strengthen ties and counter Spirit Hall. Xu Ran prepared to leave Star Luo City with Zhu Zhuqing, eager to meet Qian Renxue and provoke Yu Xiaogang.

• Dai Weisi explained that Spirit Hall’s growing power and the weakened Upper Three Sects made war a serious threat, and Xu Ran inferred the purpose of Emperor Dai’s summons.
• Emperor Dai gave Xu Ran a booklet for Xue Ye and appointed him an envoy to the Heaven Dou Empire.
• Xu Ran returned to the Zhu Family and told Zhu Zhuyun and Zhu Zhuqing he was leaving; he comforted Zhu Zhuyun and planned to travel with Zhu Zhuqing.
• Xu Ran looked forward to obtaining his fifth soul ring and using his promise with Liu Erlong to enrage Yu Xiaogang.

At Shrek Academy, Tang San tried to reconcile with Xiao Wu while insisting that he had never meant her harm. Xiao Wu blamed him for Xu Ran’s injuries and mentioned his father, the Clear Sky Douluo, leaving Tang San wondering who had set him up.

• Liu Erlong handed Blue Tyrant Academy over to Flender, and the newly arrived Shrek Academy geniuses stirred excitement among its teachers and students.
• Tang San dressed carefully and decided to speak sincerely with Xiao Wu while Xu Ran was away.
• Xiao Wu rejected Tang San and accused him of attacking her and Xu Ran under the protection of his father, the Clear Sky Douluo.
• Tang San claimed Xu Ran had staged his injuries, but Xiao Wu ordered him to stop slandering Xu Ran.
• When Xiao Wu mentioned the Clear Sky Douluo, Tang San realized his misunderstanding might involve a Titled Douluo and wondered who had set him up.

Tang San realized Xiao Wu believed he and his father had planned to kill her, leaving their misunderstandings nearly impossible to resolve. Xu Ran returned, flaunted his closeness with Xiao Wu, defeated Tang San, and warned him that worse awaited in Heaven Dou City.

• Xiao Wu accused Tang San of plotting with Clear Sky Douluo to kill her and said she wanted him to stay away.
• Tang San realized Xiao Wu's suspicions explained her hostility, then blamed Xu Ran for manipulating their relationship.
• Xu Ran returned, and Xiao Wu affectionately embraced him while Tang San watched in anguish.
• Tang San attacked Xu Ran with concealed weapons, but Xu Ran deflected them, kicked him into a tree, and pinned his head beneath his foot.
• Xu Ran warned Tang San that more suffering awaited him and his teacher in Heaven Dou City, then left with Xiao Wu.

Xu Ran learned that Liu Erlong was giving Yu Xiaogang the Nine-Grade Purple Ganoderma he had provided to cure Yu Xiaogang’s Martial Soul defect. He appeared in the office while they discussed the treasure, leaving Liu Erlong panicked as he approached her under their two-year agreement.

• The system alerted Xu Ran that Liu Erlong was meeting Yu Xiaogang and preparing to give him the Nine-Grade Purple Ganoderma.
• Liu Erlong showed Yu Xiaogang the treasure, and he grew excited when he sensed its medicinal power could address his Martial Soul defect.
• Yu Xiaogang suspected the treasure came from Xu Ran, and Xu Ran appeared to confirm that he had given it to Liu Erlong.
• Liu Erlong remembered her agreement to obey Xu Ran for two years and feared what he might demand in front of Yu Xiaogang.
• Xu Ran greeted Liu Erlong, lifted her hair, and sniffed it as she stood in growing panic.

Xu Ran forced Liu Erlong to sit on his lap in front of Yu Xiaogang, making Yu Xiaogang believe she had fallen for Xu Ran and that the treasure she gave him was breakup compensation. After Xu Ran struck Yu Xiaogang, Liu Erlong remained silent to avoid provoking him, while Yu Xiaogang's accusations deeply wounded her.

• Xu Ran ordered Liu Erlong to come to him and pulled her onto his lap despite her pleas.
• Liu Erlong tried to explain herself to Yu Xiaogang, but Xu Ran warned her not to break their agreement, and she stayed silent.
• Yu Xiaogang concluded that Liu Erlong had stopped loving him and called her shameless for being with Xu Ran.
• Xu Ran slapped Yu Xiaogang from a distance, and Liu Erlong did not intervene because she feared angering Xu Ran.
• Yu Xiaogang's insults made Liu Erlong feel as if knives were twisting in her heart.

Xu Ran traded Yu Xiaogang the Nine-Grade Purple Ganoderma on the condition that he leave Liu Erlong, and Yu Xiaogang accepted, devastating her with his cold dismissal. The herb awakened Yu Xiaogang to the truth that his Martial Soul was the Golden Sacred Dragon, while Xu Ran received a system mission to extract it and turn him into an ordinary person for an Ancestral Dragon bloodline and 3,000 skill points.

• Xu Ran offered Yu Xiaogang the Nine-Grade Purple Ganoderma as a breakup payment and demanded that he stay away from Liu Erlong.
• Yu Xiaogang agreed to give up Liu Erlong, and she was heartbroken by his callous response.
• Xu Ran comforted Liu Erlong while Yu Xiaogang swallowed the herb and sensed its power awakening his Martial Soul.
• Yu Xiaogang realized that his true Martial Soul was the Golden Sacred Dragon, incompletely awakened as Luo Sanpao, and that he could now cultivate normally.
• The system assigned Xu Ran a mission to extract Yu Xiaogang's Martial Soul and offered an Ancestral Dragon bloodline and 3,000 skill points as rewards.

Liu Erlong mourned Yu Xiaogang’s cruel outburst while Xu Ran persuaded her that he had acted to help her see Yu Xiaogang clearly. Xu Ran then claimed Yu Xiaogang’s Martial Soul might shatter if his heart conflicted with the Nine-Grade Purple Ganoderma, and Liu Erlong agreed to return to Xu Ran the next day as promised.

• Liu Erlong sat crying over Yu Xiaogang’s heartless words and wondered whether her years of devotion had meant nothing to him.
• Xu Ran told Liu Erlong that he had provoked Yu Xiaogang to reveal his true character, and she accepted his explanation.
• Liu Erlong thanked Xu Ran for restoring Yu Xiaogang’s Martial Soul and promised to honor their agreement.
• Xu Ran warned that the Nine-Grade Purple Ganoderma could damage Yu Xiaogang’s Martial Soul if his heart clashed with its righteous Qi.
• Liu Erlong insisted Yu Xiaogang was not crooked, while Xu Ran predicted his Martial Soul would shatter if he was a hypocrite.
• Xu Ran asked Liu Erlong to dress the same way and visit him the next day, and she agreed to keep her promise.

Liu Erlong visited Yu Xiaogang to warn him that anger and wicked thoughts could make the Immortal Herb’s power destroy his restored Martial Soul. Yu Xiaogang accused her of conspiring with Xu Ran to harm him, and she left heartbroken, deciding she had done all she could.

• Liu Erlong knocked on Yu Xiaogang’s door and tried to reassure herself that his earlier cruelty had been spoken in anger.
• Yu Xiaogang coldly accused Liu Erlong of becoming Xu Ran’s woman and condemned her for their intimacy.
• Liu Erlong warned Yu Xiaogang to keep a steady, upright mindset or the Immortal Herb’s power might damage his Martial Soul.
• Yu Xiaogang suspected Liu Erlong and Xu Ran had tampered with his Martial Soul and accused her of plotting against him.
• Yu Xiaogang slammed the door, and Liu Erlong left in tears, believing she had done everything she could for him.

Xu Ran spent the day having Liu Erlong serve him, while she found comfort in his company and let her worries about Yu Xiaogang fade. As dusk fell, Xu Ran told Liu Erlong to be his woman and pushed her down onto the grass.

• Xu Ran watched Liu Erlong and Yu Xiaogang from behind a tree and decided to wait until the next day before confronting Yu Xiaogang.
• Liu Erlong went to meet Xu Ran on a secluded lawn behind Shrek Academy and agreed to take off her shoes and walk on his back.
• Liu Erlong massaged Xu Ran for hours, finding the quiet time together soothing as she reflected on her debt to him and Yu Xiaogang's hurtful words.
• When Xu Ran woke at dusk, he asked whether Liu Erlong was tired, then told her to be his woman and pushed her onto the ground.

Xu Ran pursued Liu Erlong, who remained torn between her lingering attachment to Yu Xiaogang and her growing feelings for Xu Ran. After returning to the dormitory, Xu Ran reunited with Ning Rongrong and carried her into his room.

• Xu Ran pinned Liu Erlong down and insisted that she belonged to him despite her protests.
• Liu Erlong watched Xu Ran leave, reflecting on how Yu Xiaogang’s actions and their long separation had weakened her feelings for him.
• Ning Rongrong reproached Xu Ran for staying away after returning to the academy, and he flirted with her.
• Xu Ran scooped up Ning Rongrong, carried her into his room, and shut the door behind them.