Chapter Summaries

Six-year-old Fang Lin awakened an iron saber Martial Soul like his father’s, but his level-five Innate Soul Power far exceeded his parents’ expectations. His family celebrated and began planning his education, with Fang Yuanqiao proposing that he attend Heaven Dou Academy once he reached level ten.

• Fang Lin practiced saber techniques under Fang Yuanqiao’s instruction before going with him to the Spirit Hall for his Martial Soul awakening.
• Fang Lin awakened an iron saber Martial Soul and discovered that he had level-five Innate Soul Power.
• Fang Yuanqiao celebrated Fang Lin’s potential, and the Spirit Hall crowd speculated that he could become a Soul King.
• Fang Yuanqiao told Qiao Rong about Fang Lin’s results, and the family celebrated together.
• Fang Yuanqiao planned for Fang Lin to attend a junior Soul Master academy before transferring to Heaven Dou Academy at level ten.

Fang Lin began cultivating soul power under Fang Yuanqiao’s guidance and discovered that his martial soul was a heavy saber. He trained with a lighter weapon and learned how meditation and soul rings affected his body, then considered asking his father to buy Whale Gelatin.

• Fang Yuanqiao gave Fang Lin his personal meditation method and guided him through his first cycle of soul power cultivation.
• Fang Lin materialized his saber martial soul, found that it consumed little soul power but weighed far more than an ordinary saber, and resumed meditating.
• Fang Lin trained his body and saber skills at dawn, and Fang Yuanqiao warned that practicing with the heavy martial soul could injure his wrist.
• Fang Yuanqiao gave Fang Lin a lighter saber for practice and brought home expensive meat from a hundred-year Horned Dragon Bear.
• Fang Yuanqiao explained that Fang Lin’s body was not ready for intense meditation and that absorbing a soul ring at rank ten would strengthen it.
• Fang Lin realized his weak physique slowed his progress and considered asking Fang Yuanqiao to buy him Whale Gelatin.

Fang Lin secretly consumed his father’s Whale Gelatin, strengthening his physique and accelerating his cultivation until he reached Soul Power level ten. His family planned to take him to hunt for his first Soul Ring, but Fang Lin wanted to choose a Soul Beast that would make the most of his unusually strong body.

• Fang Lin sneaked into the storeroom and consumed the Whale Gelatin, enduring painful side effects as his physique improved.
• Fang Lin secretly finished most of the remaining Whale Gelatin, gaining strength and endurance before devoting himself to training and meditation.
• Fang Lin’s Soul Power reached level six, and he continued his routine for another year until he broke through to level ten.
• Fang Yuanqiao congratulated Fang Lin and said the family would take him to hunt for his first Soul Ring the next day.
• Fang Yuanqiao explained that Fang Lin’s likely limit was a 350-year Soul Ring, but Fang Lin believed his strengthened body could handle one at the age limit.

Fang Lin entered the Soul Hunting Forest with Fang Yuanqiao and two of his father’s teammates to find a suitable first Soul Ring. After a long search, they killed a Nether Leopard just over 400 years old, and its deep yellow Soul Ring appeared as Fang Lin prepared to absorb it.

• Fang Yuanqiao explained that Fang Lin should choose a Soul Ring to strengthen his body or Martial Soul, then took him out with Li Tian and Wang Yu.
• The group entered the Soul Hunting Forest with a permit, and Fang Yuanqiao warned Fang Lin to stay close and flee from danger.
• Fang Lin and the others searched for a suitable Soul Beast, passing several creatures that were either too young or had unsuitable attributes.
• Wang Yu spotted a Nether Leopard just over 400 years old, and Fang Yuanqiao agreed that the group should hunt it for Fang Lin.
• Wang Yu and Li Tian restrained the Nether Leopard while Fang Yuanqiao wounded it, then Fang Lin delivered the final blow and a deep yellow Soul Ring rose from the corpse.

Fang Lin absorbed the Nether Leopard’s Soul Ring, gained his first Soul Skill, Hell Power, and returned to Suotuo City with Fang Yuanqiao and the others. Fang Yuanqiao taught him an army blade technique and planned combat training before sending him to Heaven Dou Academy.

• Fang Lin endured the violent Soul Power and absorbed the Nether Leopard’s Soul Ring, raising his Soul Power to around level eleven.
• Fang Lin and Fang Yuanqiao spent the night near the Soul Hunting Forest with Wang Yu and Old Li, then returned to Suotuo City the next day.
• Fang Lin demonstrated Hell Power, which increased his speed and strength by fifty percent and improved his resistance to abnormal states.
• Fang Yuanqiao taught Fang Lin an army technique that let him deliver multiple precise blade strikes, and Fang Lin managed nine slashes.
• Fang Yuanqiao said Fang Lin would spar with him, Wang Yu, and Old Li until he could defeat them before going to Heaven Dou Academy.

After months of training with Fang Yuanqiao, Fang Lin enrolled at Heaven Dou Royal Academy and learned about its grades and credit system. He arrived at his assigned lodging, where the middle-aged instructor appeared to be waiting for him to ask something.

• Fang Yuanqiao taught Fang Lin to build momentum with chained saber strikes, and Fang Lin spent months sparring until he reached level fourteen.
• Fang Yuanqiao took Fang Lin to Heaven Dou Royal Academy, where Fang Lin enrolled with Marquis Klein's recommendation and received a Storage Soul Tool from his father.
• A middle-aged academy instructor explained the academy's grades, credits, Soul Bone exchanges, and ways to earn credits as he escorted Fang Lin to his lodging.
• Fang Lin noticed the instructor was deliberately slowing his departure and wondered whether he was waiting to be asked to become Fang Lin's teacher.

Fang Lin settled into life at Heaven Dou Academy, trained and cultivated for over five years, and broke through to level twenty-eight. After a medicinal bath, he was interrupted by new student Yu Feng entering his dormitory and finding him in the tub.

• Sun Buyu introduced himself and told Fang Lin to return when he reached level twenty to qualify for a Soul Ring from the royal family's Soul Hunting Forest.
• Fang Lin explored the Mimicry Training Ground and student affairs office, then bought two portions of Blood Spirit Body-Tempering Medicinal Bath.
• Fang Lin followed a routine of exercise, classes, and cultivation while studying at Heaven Dou Academy.
• Five years and four months after enrolling, Fang Lin broke through to level twenty-eight and estimated how long it would take to reach level thirty.
• Fang Lin trained with weighted gear and began a medicinal bath, but Yu Feng entered the dormitory and stopped speaking when he saw him.

Fang Lin took Yu Feng to Heaven Dou City and entered the Soul Fighting Arena, where Yu Feng challenged him to a match. Fang Lin overpowered Yu Feng’s attacks and sent him flying with a saber strike, leaving the outcome of the fight unresolved.

• Fang Lin met his new roommate Yu Feng, a level twenty-four Agility Attack System Soul Grandmaster, and agreed to take him to Heaven Dou City.
• Fang Lin went to the Soul Fighting Arena to find a match, but his original opponent refused after learning Fang Lin’s Soul Power Level had changed.
• Yu Feng found Fang Lin and proposed registering for a Soul Fight against him, and Fang Lin agreed.
• Yu Feng tested Fang Lin’s defense with repeated swift attacks, but Fang Lin blocked each strike with his saber.
• Yu Feng used Wind Chime Thrust and Wind Wing Slash, but Fang Lin blocked the first Soul Skill and split the second Soul Skill’s wind blade.
• Fang Lin caught Yu Feng after a series of missed attacks and struck him with his saber, sending him flying several meters.

Fang Lin learned that the academy tournament would select reserve members for the Imperial Fighting Team and offer major credit rewards, then secured leave to keep fighting at the Soul Fighting Arena. He agreed to aim for the top eight and learned that powerful newly recruited students, including Yu Tianheng and Dugu Yan, would compete.

• Fang Lin returned to the academy with Yu Feng and met Niu Heng, who told them Sun Buyu had called a gathering.
• Sun Buyu announced that Heaven Dou Grade students would be barred from the tournament and that Battle Soul Masters above level twenty-five would compete for reserve-team places and increased rewards.
• Sun Buyu ordered daily intensive combat training, but Fang Lin asked to continue fighting at the Soul Fighting Arena for real combat experience.
• Sun Buyu granted Fang Lin leave on the condition that he reach at least the top eight.
• Sun Buyu warned Fang Lin that specially recruited students, including descendants of major clans and Dugu Yan, would make the tournament fiercely competitive.

Fang Lin advanced through Heaven Dou Royal Academy’s tournament preliminaries after defeating Niu Heng, then watched Dugu Yan win with her poisonous mist. Concerned he might face her, he prepared a realgar-and-liquor mixture and left the academy tournament grounds.

• Fang Lin finished a lightning-attribute Soul Fight and returned to Heaven Dou Royal Academy for its annual tournament.
• Fang Lin won his first three preliminary matches and then defeated Niu Heng by using his armor-breaking Shadow Blade.
• Fang Lin watched Dugu Yan defeat a spear-wielding opponent by filling the arena with poisonous mist.
• Dugu Yan absorbed the poisonous mist, and Fang Lin recognized how dangerous her poison would be in the tournament.
• Fang Lin bought realgar and strong liquor, mixed them in a jar, and stored the mixture in his Storage Soul Tool in case he faced Dugu Yan.

Fang Lin learned that he would face Yang Yue of the Breaking Clan in the round of sixteen, then defeated him through precise saber work and combat skill. After the match, Fang Lin stood over Yang Yue with his blade at his shoulder as Yang Yue struggled to respond.

• Niu Heng saw that he would face Yu Tianheng, while Fang Lin learned he would fight Yang Yue and might face Dugu Yan in the next round.
• Fang Lin encountered Dugu Yan and Yu Feng on the way to the cafeteria, and Dugu Yan teased him with a cloud of poisonous mist.
• At the mountaintop arena, Fang Lin and Yang Yue began their round-of-sixteen match as Tool Soul Masters.
• Yang Yue used his spear skills to keep Fang Lin at range, but Fang Lin blocked his attacks and charged in with his first Soul Skill.
• Fang Lin forced Yang Yue to defend against Shadow Blade, disarmed him with a precise strike to the wrist, and knocked him down before placing his saber on Yang Yue’s shoulder.

Fang Lin watched Yu Tianheng defeat Niu Heng, learned about Yang Yue’s mutated Martial Soul, and later visited Dugu Yan at night. He told her he had a way to cure her Jade Phosphorous Serpent Poison in their match the next day.

• Yu Feng told Fang Lin that he and Niu Heng had bet all their savings on Fang Lin, while Fang Lin regretted missing the chance to gamble on Dugu Yan and Yu Tianheng.
• Yu Tianheng defeated Niu Heng by blasting him off the arena with lightning Soul Skills.
• Niu Heng and Yang Yue discussed their fights with Fang Lin, and Yang Yue explained that his Soul Breaking Spear had undergone a mutation.
• Fang Lin left the tournament early and bought another ten jin of realgar.
• Fang Lin slipped out of his dormitory at night and visited Dugu Yan.
• Fang Lin told Dugu Yan he could cure her Jade Phosphorous Serpent Poison during their match the next day.

Fang Lin demonstrated that burning realgar wine could counter Dugu Yan’s Jade Phosphorous Serpent Poison and offered advice about managing the poison that afflicted her bloodline. Dugu Yan promised that her grandfather would not harm Fang Lin and would owe him a favor if his claims proved true, giving Fang Lin a chance to approach Dugu Bo about the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.

• Dugu Yan initially suspected Fang Lin had improper intentions, but agreed to test his claim that he could counter her poison.
• Dugu Yan released her Jade Phosphorous Blue Poison, and Fang Lin burned realgar wine to disperse the poisonous mist.
• Fang Lin explained that realgar and strong liquor could counter less advanced Jade Phosphorous Serpent Poison, though the method might fail against stronger poison.
• Fang Lin told Dugu Yan that serpent poison could be forced into a Soul Bone and said Dugu Bo’s condition required further investigation.
• Dugu Yan promised her grandfather would not make things difficult for Fang Lin and would owe him a favor if his advice was true.
• Fang Lin planned to use the favor to negotiate with Dugu Bo for access to the Immortal Herbs in the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.

Fang Lin advanced to the semifinals after Dugu Yan failed to appear, having persuaded Yu Feng to bet against him and lose his Gold Soul Coins. With his next opponent seemingly an easy match, Fang Lin headed to Heaven Dou City to look for Whale Rubber.

• After speaking with Dugu Yan, Fang Lin returned to the dormitory and overheard Yu Feng muttering about Sister Yan in his sleep.
• Qin Ming and Education Committee Member Bai discussed the promising quarterfinalists, including Yu Feng and Fang Lin.
• Fang Lin convinced Yu Feng to bet two hundred Gold Soul Coins on Dugu Yan, then won the match by default when she did not appear.
• The remaining quarterfinals ended, and Fang Lin learned his next opponent was a level twenty-nine Control System Soul Grandmaster with a Thorny Green Vine Martial Soul.
• Fang Lin planned to seek Whale Rubber in Heaven Dou City and hired an entire carriage for the trip.

Fang Lin bought a deposit on Thousand-Year Whale Rubber and considered seeking stronger material to improve his chances of absorbing an over-limit Soul Ring. Back at school, he returned Yu Feng’s lost gambling money minus the carriage fare, then learned that Teacher Qin wanted to recruit him, Niu Heng, and Yang Yue into the Heaven Dou Team’s reserve squad.

• Fang Lin found a 2,600-year-old piece of Whale Rubber at Begonia Studio, paid a deposit, and learned that older stock might be available in the inner city.
• Fang Lin planned to pursue stronger Soul Rings and an External Soul Bone, while worrying about the cost of Whale Rubber and medicinal baths.
• Fang Lin returned Yu Feng’s 200 Gold Soul Coins but kept ten to cover his carriage fare.
• Fang Lin ate several cafeteria meals before Niu Heng and Yang Yue told him that Teacher Qin wanted to recruit them into the Heaven Dou Team’s reserve squad.

Fang Lin learned that Niu Heng and Yang Yue planned to travel the continent after graduation, while he intended to return to Suotuo City after reaching Soul Ancestor. At the Heaven Dou Tournament semifinals, Fang Lin defeated Gong Qing with overwhelming speed and strength, advancing to the finals.

• Niu Heng decided to skip joining the Imperial Fighting Team and form an adventuring group with Yang Yue after graduation, while Fang Lin declined their invitation and planned to return home.
• Yu Feng told Fang Lin that students were betting on the tournament, with Fang Lin and the other competitors at five-to-one odds and Yu Tianheng at one-to-one.
• Fang Lin faced Gong Qing, whose Thorny Green Vine Martial Soul covered much of the arena with entangling vines.
• Fang Lin used his Hell Power Soul Skill to tear free of the vines, then smashed through Gong Qing's hardened, thorn-covered barrier with his blade.
• The referee declared Fang Lin the winner, and spectators marveled at how decisively he had defeated Gong Qing.

After Yu Tianheng defeated the Lie Yan Black Tiger Soul Master, he faced Fang Lin in the final as teachers discussed Fang Lin’s skill and chances. Fang Lin outpowered Yu Tianheng and dodged his second Soul Skill, leaving Yu Tianheng low on Soul Power before inviting him to begin their second round.

• Yu Tianheng defeated the Lie Yan Black Tiger Soul Master by striking him in the chest and sending him off the stage injured.
• Qin Ming, Committee Member Bai, Meng Shenji, Zhi Lin, and Bai Baoshan discussed Fang Lin’s abilities and the upcoming final.
• Fang Lin and Yu Tianheng activated their Martial Souls and charged at each other on the reinforced stage.
• Fang Lin used Hell Power and enhanced his physical strength to force Yu Tianheng back in a contest of strength.
• Fang Lin used the recoil from Yu Tianheng’s attack to evade Thunderous Might, then kept his distance until Yu Tianheng deactivated the Soul Skill.
• Yu Tianheng, left with little Soul Power, asked whether Fang Lin would keep dodging, and Fang Lin stepped forward and challenged him to begin their second round.

Fang Lin defeated Yu Tianheng in the Heaven Dou Tournament final, winning the championship despite Yu Tianheng's fierce counterattack. After the injured Yu Tianheng was taken for observation, Fang Lin received a 5,000-point academy credit card and planned to buy Whale Rubber and Whale Glue.

• Fang Lin used his Soul Skills to overpower Yu Tianheng's dragon claw, injuring Yu Tianheng and forcing him to spend more Soul Power defending himself.
• Yu Tianheng launched a Thunder Dragon Claw to break Fang Lin's offense, but Fang Lin dodged and held off Yu Tianheng's close-range attacks.
• Fang Lin seized a brief hesitation and slashed Yu Tianheng across the chest, then pinned him with his saber as the referee declared Fang Lin the winner and tournament champion.
• A healing teacher closed Yu Tianheng's wound, but he remained unconscious and was carried to the infirmary for observation.
• Yu Feng and Niu Heng congratulated Fang Lin, and a female teacher gave him a credit card loaded with 5,000 points.

Fang Lin exchanged Academy credits for training supplies and Soul Crystals, then reflected on his weaknesses after fighting Yu Tianheng. Dugu Yan returned and told him Dugu Bo was away searching for a Soul Bone and had asked her to keep an eye on Fang Lin.

• Fang Lin bought Iron Essence and Bone Strength Body-Tempering Medicinal Potions and ordered custom armor and guards.
• Fang Lin learned Soul Crystals boosted Soul Power but made future breakthroughs harder, then exchanged credits for two of them.
• Fang Lin returned to his dormitory, considered his shortcomings against Yu Tianheng, and decided to focus on reaching Soul Elder.
• Dugu Yan visited Fang Lin and told him Dugu Bo had gone to the Star Dou Great Forest to seek a Soul Bone and would return within a month.
• Dugu Yan said Dugu Bo had asked her to keep an eye on Fang Lin so he would not run off.

Fang Lin slipped away from Dugu Yan and Yu Feng to collect the Whale Rubber at Begonia Studio, where he met a blue-haired girl and Uncle Ye. Back at Heaven Dou Academy, Qin Ming invited him to join the Imperial Fighting Team, and Fang Lin asked to be a substitute.

• Fang Lin left Dugu Yan and Yu Feng at the Brocade Workshop and went to Begonia Studio to pay the balance for the Whale Rubber.
• Fang Lin met the blue-haired girl at the counter, then collected the Whale Rubber from Uncle Ye after handing over 1,190 Gold Soul Coins.
• Fang Lin returned to the Brocade Workshop, where Dugu Yan finished choosing clothes and Yu Feng ate fried milk taro.
• Qin Ming told Fang Lin that the Imperial Fighting Team was taking shape and explained the benefits for its members.
• Fang Lin agreed to join the Imperial Fighting Team only as a substitute, despite Qin Ming explaining that substitutes would miss out on tournament titles and honors.