Chapter Summaries

Su Ran accompanied Ye Qingyu to her village to meet her parents, then diagnosed the failing rice crop and suggested ways to restore the soil. As he stood in the field, he sensed a faint vibration in the soil and froze.

• Ye Qingyu reassured Su Ran as they approached her village and told him her parents would welcome him.
• Su Ran met Ye Qingyu's parents and gave Mother Ye rice cakes he had made from Wind Grain rice.
• Su Ran noticed the village's rice crop was unhealthy and asked Father Ye to show him the fields.
• Su Ran explained that the soil's fertility was depleted and advised leaving it fallow, returning straw to it, and rotating crops.
• Father Ye agreed to test Su Ran's suggestions on a small plot, and Su Ran sensed something respond beneath the soil.

Su Ran stayed with Ye Qingyu and her family to help Father Ye restore his exhausted fields, while neighbors doubted his methods. He also discovered that Shitou had Soul Power and promised to perform his awakening ceremony the next morning.

• Su Ran told Father Ye he would stay to help improve the fields, and Ye Qingyu decided to stay with him.
• Ye Qingyu explained that Father Ye was grateful Su Ran had given him hope for the fields, and Su Ran began turning the soil with him the next morning.
• Neighbors criticized Su Ran and Father Ye's shallow tilling, but Father Ye defended the new method and continued working alongside Su Ran.
• A woman from Willow Tree Village brought Shitou to the Ye home after his Martial Soul Awakening was delayed.
• Su Ran tested Shitou, found that he had Soul Power, and told his mother to bring him back the next morning for an awakening ceremony.

Su Ran tested three children’s Martial Souls and Soul Power, then asked to take Shitou as his disciple because Shitou’s earth-type plant Martial Soul suited his research. Shitou agreed to stay with Su Ran and followed him to help Uncle Ye turn the soil.

• Su Ran awakened Xiao Man’s water-plant Martial Soul and measured her Innate Soul Power at level two.
• Su Ran awakened Shitou’s earth-type plant Martial Soul, measured his Innate Soul Power at level three, and noted that it could help grow crops.
• Su Ran awakened A Yuan’s farming-tool sickle Martial Soul and found his Innate Soul Power was level zero.
• Su Ran offered to take Shitou as his disciple, and Shitou and his mother agreed.
• Shitou’s mother left him with Su Ran, who took him to help Uncle Ye turn the soil.

Su Ran taught Shitou to sense the soil and helped Father Ye improve an experimental rice plot, whose success prompted the villagers to ask for guidance. After teaching them, Su Ran received his First Trial: to revive the surrounding fields, starting with the land.

• Su Ran guided Shitou in sensing the soil, and Shitou felt his earth-type Martial Soul resonate with it.
• Shitou practiced in the fields as Su Ran and Father Ye improved the soil, and after half a month the experimental rice plot grew greener and fuller than the neighboring fields.
• The village chief apologized on behalf of the villagers and asked Su Ran to teach them his methods, and Su Ran agreed to instruct them the next afternoon.
• Su Ran taught the villagers about crop rotation and nourishing the soil, answering their questions about fieldwork.
• After the villagers left, Su Ran heard a voice from the soil declare his First Trial: to bring the surrounding fields back to life.
• Su Ran and Shitou returned to the courtyard, where Ye Qingyu gave them bowls of water.

Su Ran followed the God of Rice’s guidance by expanding his work from the experimental plot to nearby abandoned fields, while teaching Shitou to channel Soul Power into the soil. As the villagers joined in and the land began to respond, Su Ran felt certain he had found his path.

• Su Ran sensed the soil’s warmth at dawn and decided to cultivate more of the surrounding fields to deepen his understanding of his Martial Soul.
• Father Ye agreed that Su Ran could use the abandoned plots, and Su Ran taught Shitou to try channeling Soul Power into the soil.
• Su Ran and Father Ye cleared and turned neighboring fields, while several village households followed Su Ran’s advice on preparing their plots.
• Su Ran told Ye Qingyu that he now knew where he should go, and she sat beside him quietly before returning inside.
• Su Ran sensed a faint warmth from the earth and watched his experimental rice field sway in the evening wind.

Su Ran helped villagers improve their fields and guided Shitou as he practiced cultivating his Soul Power through working the soil. Ye Qingyu’s zither eased the farmers’ work, and the next day Su Ran sensed a quiet response from the land as more households began turning their fields.

• After seeing the improvement in Uncle Ye’s experimental plot, villagers began preparing their own fields, and Su Ran advised them on how to work the soil.
• Su Ran reflected on the steady rhythms of village life as he helped farmers, while Shitou’s hoeing became more practiced.
• Ye Qingyu played her Wind Zither from the courtyard, calming the workers and helping Shitou keep a steadier rhythm.
• Su Ran inspected a neglected field and told its owner to clear the weeds, turn the soil, and let it air before adding plant ash.
• Su Ran told Shitou that his Soul Power was beginning to seep into the earth and circulate more smoothly, marking the first step in his cultivation.
• The next day, more villagers worked their fields, and Su Ran sensed a simple warmth from the soil as he pressed his hand against it.

As the village fields recovered, Su Ran taught Shitou to keep his Soul Power flowing steadily through the soil. The lesson succeeded, and Su Ran and Ye Qingyu spent a quiet evening together as the story remained in the village.

• Su Ran found that the villagers could now manage most fieldwork themselves, while Shitou continued practicing with soil in the courtyard.
• Su Ran took Shitou to a field and taught him to let his Soul Power remain in the soil instead of drawing it back too quickly.
• Shitou sensed that a fine thread of Soul Power had stayed in the soil, and Su Ran told him to practice the exercise every day.
• Su Ran listened to Ye Qingyu play the zither, looked out at the recovering fields, and sat quietly with her as evening fell.

The author explained that health problems and severe self-doubt caused the long hiatus, then said they had regained their resolve and would resume regular updates tomorrow. They apologized to waiting readers and promised to finish the story with care.

• The author said the hiatus began with health problems and exhaustion that made writing difficult.
• The author explained that negative feedback and fear of disappointing readers led to self-doubt and avoidance.
• The author decided not to abandon the story and gradually worked through their anxiety.
• The author apologized for the long delay and promised consistent updates beginning tomorrow.
• The author clarified that AI had polished the announcement’s wording, while its feelings and decisions were their own.

Feng Xiaotian passed the Eye of the Storm trial and learned that his next trial required finding three Wind Traces within three days. Shui Bing'er passed her own trial and joined him, and they set off together for the first trace in the eastern ice plains.

• Feng Xiaotian endured the Eye of the Storm until he could run through it without falling, passing the Wind God’s Second Trial and unlocking the Third Trial.
• Shui Bing'er returned on Little Frost after passing her trial, and she and Feng Xiaotian compared their next challenges.
• Feng Xiaotian explained that he had three days to find three Wind Traces, while Shui Bing'er described her task of striking one bull’s-eye with a hundred ice crystals.
• Shui Bing'er decided to help Feng Xiaotian find the Wind Traces before practicing for her own trial, since his route was difficult and time-limited.
• Shui Bing'er and Feng Xiaotian rode Little Frost east toward the first Wind Trace.

Shui Bing'er practiced forming the Hundred Crystal Array at an ice cliff while Feng Xiaotian reflected on the wind traces. After reaching ninety-nine crystals and enduring a force that shook them, Shui Bing'er resolved to continue without telling Feng Xiaotian that her Ice God Mark promised a reward after the trial.

• Little Frost carried Shui Bing'er and Feng Xiaotian to an ice cliff, where Shui Bing'er began condensing crystals for her array.
• Shui Bing'er’s crystals destabilized when she tried to control them with too much Soul Power, but Feng Xiaotian reminded her that the first crystal had formed with less force.
• Shui Bing'er followed the ice’s grain and formed ninety-nine stable crystals, but her hundredth crystal shattered before it was complete.
• Feng Xiaotian sensed that the icy mist followed the wind and wondered whether the wind traces shifted by following rather than resisting.
• An oppressive force swept over the cliff and shook the crystals, but Shui Bing'er held them steady with her Soul Power.
• Shui Bing'er decided to keep practicing and privately resolved not to tell Feng Xiaotian about the reward she expected from passing the Third Trial.

Shui Bing'er passed the Ice God's Third Trial and received the embryonic Ice God Bow, then used it to uncover a way to suppress the divine force blocking Feng Xiaotian. They prepared to try again to let the Spirit of Wind reach the third wind trace.

• Shui Bing'er successfully condensed and directed one hundred ice crystals, passing the Third Trial and receiving the embryonic Ice God Bow while her third Soul Ring's age increased by 500 years.
• Shui Bing'er offered to use the Ice God Bow to suppress the force blocking Feng Xiaotian, who realized that it might be divine power rather than ordinary Soul Power.
• Feng Xiaotian identified the wind trace's recurring point of stillness, and Shui Bing'er tested the bow, finding that it suppressed the oppressive force for three breaths.
• Feng Xiaotian said three breaths would be enough for the Spirit of Wind to enter, and he and Shui Bing'er prepared to attempt the Third Trial again.

Feng Xiaotian completed the third Wind Trace by connecting with the Spirit of Wind while Shui Bing'er used the Ice God Bow to suppress the pressure. He concluded that his Fourth Trial most likely lay east of north and invited Shui Bing'er to travel with him.

• Shui Bing'er summoned the Ice God Bow, allowing Feng Xiaotian to reach the Spirit of Wind and guide it into the third Wind Trace.
• Feng Xiaotian watched the Wind Trace connect from beginning to end and determined that the three traces intersected east of north.
• Shui Bing'er told Feng Xiaotian that she had barely sustained the bow's pressure long enough for him to finish.
• Feng Xiaotian and Shui Bing'er rested, then flew back toward the ice cliff on Little Frost.
• Feng Xiaotian told Shui Bing'er that east of north was the likely location of his Fourth Trial, and she agreed to travel with him.
• Feng Xiaotian saw a new ice pattern matching the completed Wind Traces and settled on east of north as his destination.

Shui Bing'er and Feng Xiaotian traveled north by east with Little Frost and received guidance for their fourth divine trials. They reached the ice lake where Shui Bing'er was about to begin the Ice God’s fourth trial, while Feng Xiaotian’s Wind God trial awaited nearby.

• Shui Bing'er recovered most of her Soul Power while Feng Xiaotian studied the wind traces, and Little Frost blocked him from approaching her.
• Shui Bing'er and Feng Xiaotian flew north by east on Little Frost, crossing increasingly rugged glaciers as the Frost Dragon blasted Feng Xiaotian with freezing breath and made Shui Bing'er laugh.
• Shui Bing'er received guidance for the Ice God’s fourth trial, Ice Lake Resonance, which required her to guide the Ice God’s essence outward and freeze an entire lake.
• Feng Xiaotian received the Wind God’s fourth trial, which required him to face his deepest fears and obsessions with clear judgment, at a location near Shui Bing’er’s trial site.
• Shui Bing’er, Feng Xiaotian, and Little Frost reached the ice lake, where Shui Bing’er approached the shore as her fourth trial was about to begin.

Shui Bing'er met the Ice God's remnant soul beneath the frozen lake and learned that the Ice God had been waiting for someone who understood ice to protect the Far North's surviving Soul Beasts. After receiving the Ice God's perfection-level Ultimate Ice essence and passing the fourth trial, Shui Bing'er knelt in silence while Feng Xiaotian waited for her on shore.

• Shui Bing'er entered the frozen lake and met the Ice God's remnant soul, who confirmed that she had passed the third trial.
• Shui Bing'er explained that ice did not obey anyone and that she guided it by understanding its nature.
• The Ice God showed Shui Bing'er the remains of her Soul Beast subjects and asked her to watch over the survivors in the Far North.
• The Ice God's remnant soul transferred her perfection-level Ultimate Ice origin essence to Shui Bing'er, and Shui Bing'er saw the Ice God's sorrow over her subjects.
• Shui Bing'er passed the fourth trial as her Ultimate Ice reached perfection and her fourth soul ring age increased by 500 years.
• Feng Xiaotian stayed on shore with Little Frost and waited quietly while Shui Bing'er knelt on the ice.

Feng Xiaotian entered the Fourth Trial alone and faced a vision of his teammates in mortal danger, choosing to protect them rather than flee. After he passed the first round, the trial continued.

• Feng Xiaotian entered the fissure, while an invisible force kept Shui Bing'er outside.
• Feng Xiaotian encountered an identical, dark-eyed double who began the Trial of Wind.
• Feng Xiaotian saw Su Ran, Lu Hanxiao, Ji Ning, and Ye Qingyu injured on a battlefield as a deadly shadow descended.
• Dark Feng Xiaotian urged Feng Xiaotian to run, but Feng Xiaotian stood between the shadow and his teammates, saying a captain should not abandon them.
• The vision faded, and Dark Feng Xiaotian told Feng Xiaotian he had passed the first round before changing the trial again.

Feng Xiaotian faced three trials that tested his feelings about his brother, Shui Bing'er’s help, and his worthiness for a divine position. After passing, he absorbed Dark Feng Xiaotian’s power and emerged changed, then set off with Shui Bing'er.

• Feng Xiaotian rejected Dark Feng Xiaotian’s claim that he was dead weight, saying he wanted to become strong enough to support Feng Lingtian when his brother needed him.
• Feng Xiaotian acknowledged that Shui Bing'er had helped him overcome the power, but argued that accepting help did not make him unworthy of a divine position.
• Dark Feng Xiaotian admitted that Feng Xiaotian was right and dissolved, sending his power into Feng Xiaotian.
• Feng Xiaotian felt the dark power awaken his own desires alongside his sense of duty, and the trial space vanished.
• Feng Xiaotian received the fourth-trial reward, noticed a dark line beneath the azure markings on his palm, and told Shui Bing'er they should go.

Jiang Lin brought A Shan, Yi Chen, Xiao Man, and Lin Du to a prepared home and training ground on his fief, where he told them they could settle in and begin training. On the journey, they found a boy whose uncontrolled Martial Soul was contained for the moment, leaving Jiang Lin unsure how to help or settle him.

• Jiang Lin contacted Dean Feng, who agreed to send people to prepare his fief for the four boys.
• After several days on the road, Jiang Lin and the boys arrived at five new houses and a training ground, which the boys explored as Jiang Lin called it their home.
• Jiang Lin told the boys they would practice fundamentals in the mornings and learn to use their Martial Souls in the afternoons.
• In a mountain hollow, Lin Du and Yi Chen sensed someone watching, and Jiang Lin found a boy whose bandaged arm emitted the same dark red light as Yi Chen's awakened Martial Soul.
• Jiang Lin used a Meridian-Warming Pill and Soul Power to suppress the boy's out-of-control Martial Soul, and the group brought him along.
• At the fief, Jiang Lin recognized that the boy's Martial Soul was surging outward unlike the four boys' and had not decided how to settle him.

Jiang Lin and Bai Lingyu registered the fief in Heaven Dou City and returned to find Xiao Qi had left, though he soon came back and hid in the woodshed. The other boys quietly began leaving him supplies, and the chapter ended with a thin line of dark red light beneath the woodshed door.

• Jiang Lin decided to take Bai Lingyu and the four boys to Heaven Dou City, but Xiao Qi disappeared before they left, leaving an untouched Meridian-Warming Pill and footprints heading north.
• Jiang Lin and Bai Lingyu registered the fief, while Jiang Lin ordered training equipment and furniture and the boys explored the city.
• The group returned to find firewood and a bone fragment with crooked marks at the fief, and Jiang Lin concluded Xiao Qi had not gone far.
• Jiang Lin left congee and a Meridian-Warming Pill outside the woodshed, and Xiao Qi's hand reached out to take them after Jiang Lin walked away.
• A Shan, Xiao Man, Yi Chen, and Lin Du each quietly left help for Xiao Qi, who stayed hidden in the woodshed as dark red light appeared beneath its door.

Jiang Lin observed the boys’ training while Xiao Qi slowly emerged from his isolation, eventually using his Martial Soul to suppress Xiao Man’s runaway vines. Xiao Qi came to the hall after dark, where Jiang Lin waited with the marked short staff and bone fragment, ready to question him.

• For seven days, Xiao Qi stayed in the woodshed while the boys quietly left him supplies, and Jiang Lin recorded each boy’s training traits.
• Jiang Lin left a short staff where Xiao Qi could see it, and the next morning Xiao Qi had taken it and neatly stacked firewood outside the woodshed.
• During coordination practice, Xiao Man’s vines grew darker and lashed Lin Du, and Xiao Qi rushed out to restrain them with his dark red Martial Soul.
• Jiang Lin asked whether Xiao Qi could suppress another person’s out-of-control Martial Soul and invited him to the hall that night, but Xiao Qi returned to the woodshed without answering.
• Jiang Lin found crooked marks carved into the short staff that resembled the marks on the bone fragment, and Xiao Qi appeared at the hall doorway after a soft knock.

Jiang Lin learned that Xiao Qi’s Martial Soul absorbed other people’s uncontrolled Soul Power, harming Xiao Qi in the process, and that the marks he had made recorded his number and days in the woodshed. The next morning, Jiang Lin began teaching the four children to control their abilities, while Xiao Qi watched from the hall doorway.

• Jiang Lin asked Xiao Qi about the marks and why his Martial Soul could stop Xiao Man’s Vein Vine from going out of control, and Xiao Qi explained that he absorbed uncontrolled Soul Power.
• Xiao Qi showed Jiang Lin that the bone fragment’s marks meant he was the seventh, while the marks on the short stick counted the seven days he had spent in the woodshed.
• Jiang Lin offered Xiao Qi a place to sleep in the hall, and Xiao Qi drank water and settled on the low couch instead of returning to the woodshed.
• Jiang Lin assigned A Shan, Yi Chen, Xiao Man, and Lin Du training in restraint, release, stability, and precision, respectively.
• Xiao Qi watched Jiang Lin teach the children from behind the hall door, and Jiang Lin told them that fundamentals helped them control themselves.