Chapter Summaries

On the day of his Martial Soul Awakening, Lin Yan awakened Blue Silver Grass and half a rank of innate Soul Power. Though Su Yuntao called his Martial Soul weak, Lin Yan remained determined to cultivate and improve it.

• Lin Daniu encouraged Lin Yan before the village’s Martial Soul Awakening ceremony.
• Su Yuntao arrived and awakened the children’s Martial Souls, with most receiving ordinary tools or plants and no Soul Power.
• Lin Yan stepped into the formation and manifested Blue Silver Grass as his Martial Soul.
• Su Yuntao tested Lin Yan’s Soul Power and found that he had half a rank of innate Soul Power.
• Lin Yan thanked Su Yuntao and declared that he would keep cultivating despite his weak Martial Soul.
• Su Yuntao recorded Lin Yan’s Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul and half a rank of innate Soul Power on his certificate.

After earning the village work-study quota, Lin Yan spent three months strengthening his body, cultivating Soul Power, and making money by preparing wound medicine. As school at Nuoding Soul Master Academy began, he had grown stronger, built up substantial savings, and raised his Soul Power to at least level three.

• Lin Daniu congratulated Lin Yan and promised to take him to Nuoding Soul Master Academy when school began.
• Lin Yan planned to improve his physique and earn money so he could eventually absorb an older Soul Beast's Soul Ring and evolve his Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul.
• Lin Yan sold household possessions, trained daily with fifty jin of lead weights, and practiced the Supreme Purity Breathing Technique at night.
• Lin Yan made wound medicine from herbs and persuaded Lin Daniu to help sell it after it quickly healed an injured villager.
• Lin Yan's medicine business benefited the village, raised his savings to at least five hundred Gold Soul Coins, and left him with a stronger body and at least level-three Soul Power.
• Lin Yan left home for Nuoding Soul Master Academy when the school term began.

Lin Yan arrived at Nuoding Soul Master Academy and enrolled as a work-study student despite his Blue Silver Grass martial soul and half-rank innate soul power. He was sent to Dorm Seven to begin his studies and work-study duties.

• Lin Daniu accompanied Lin Yan to the academy gates, then left after handing him his belongings and offering advice.
• Lin Yan watched the gatekeeper mock Old Jack and Tang San, and saw Tang San knock the gatekeeper down before Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang intervened.
• Lin Yan introduced himself to Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang and presented his work-study and soul power certificates; Grandmaster took him and Tang San into the academy.
• Grandmaster directed Lin Yan to the academic affairs office to register on his own, then stayed with Tang San.
• The teachers registered Lin Yan despite his weak martial soul, gave him academy supplies, and assigned him to Dorm Seven.
• Lin Yan found Dorm Seven.

Lin Yan arrived at Dorm Seven and concealed his abilities while fitting in with Wang Sheng, Tang San, and Xiao Wu. After receiving a garden-cleaning assignment, he persuaded Teacher Mo to let him work in the library as well, and returned to find Tang San and Xiao Wu's beds pushed together.

• Lin Yan deliberately lost his fight with Wang Sheng, claimed his Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul had only half a rank of Innate Soul Power, and earned Wang Sheng's sympathy and protection.
• Tang San arrived, defeated Wang Sheng with his Mysterious Heaven Skill and Tang Sect techniques, and became Dorm Seven's boss.
• Xiao Wu introduced herself and defeated the other students to become Dorm Seven's boss.
• Teacher Mo assigned Lin Yan, Tang San, and Xiao Wu to clean the garden south of the sports field and gave Tang San the bedding from Grandmaster.
• Lin Yan asked Teacher Mo for library work, and Teacher Mo agreed to let him work there after cleaning the garden for five copper coins a day.
• Lin Yan returned to Dorm Seven and saw that Tang San's and Xiao Wu's beds had been pushed together.

Wang Sheng treated the new Dorm Seven students to lunch, where Xiao Wu faced taunts from older students and Tang San declined Yu Xiaogang’s invitation to eat with him. Lin Yan then visited Nuoding Academy’s library to learn about his work-study duties, and the librarian warned him not to go upstairs without permission.

• Wang Sheng invited Tang San, Lin Yan, and Xiao Wu to a welcome meal in the cafeteria.
• Older students mocked Wang Sheng’s group and teased Xiao Wu, but Tang San restrained her from pursuing them.
• Yu Xiaogang invited Tang San to eat upstairs, but Tang San chose to stay with his roommates and agreed to meet him afterward.
• Lin Yan asked Wang Sheng for directions to the library and left after eating; Tang San also left to wait for Yu Xiaogang.
• Lin Yan showed the librarian Teacher Mo Hen’s permission and learned his library duties, including that he was not allowed upstairs without permission.

Lin Yan explored Nuoding Junior Soul Master Academy’s library to learn about the Douluo Continent and prepare for choosing soul rings. After studying several reference books and completing his library duties, he returned to his dorm planning to try the basic meditation method.

• Lin Yan surveyed the shabby library and organized its disordered shelves before examining its book categories.
• Lin Yan read guides to ten-year and hundred-year soul beasts, learning about their habits, habitats, combat abilities, and likely soul skills.
• Lin Yan studied Yu Xiaogang’s soul-ring absorption booklet and the basic meditation method, then reviewed common martial soul classifications.
• Lin Yan returned misplaced books, swept the library, said goodbye to the librarian, and went back to his dorm.

Lin Yan compared the basic meditation method with the Supreme Purity Breathing Technique and found that his inherited technique cultivated Soul Power far faster and more comfortably. He continued training while recognizing that he would need to improve his Martial Soul to overcome his innate limits.

• Lin Yan tested the basic meditation method against the Supreme Purity Breathing Technique and found the basic method slow and uncomfortable by comparison.
• Lin Yan abandoned the basic method, estimated his Soul Power at level three, and resolved to improve his Martial Soul before reaching a talent-based bottleneck.
• Wang Sheng briefly woke and asked Lin Yan why he was still awake, then returned to sleep.
• Lin Yan ended his overnight cultivation at dawn and went out to run with weights, while Tang San left to hunt for his first Soul Ring with Yu Xiaogang.
• Lin Yan practiced Lin Clan Taijiquan, which he had learned from his family, then washed and returned to the library.

Lin Yan attended Nuoding Academy’s opening ceremony after Wang Sheng reminded him, while Xiao Wu explained that Tang San had taken leave to obtain a Soul Ring with Grandmaster Yu. After the first-year teacher explained the class rules, Lin Yan headed back to the library to finish his book.

• Wang Sheng found Lin Yan in the library and hurried him to the opening ceremony, then asked whether he had seen Tang San.
• Lin Yan and Wang Sheng asked Xiao Wu about Tang San, and she said he had gone with Grandmaster Yu to obtain a Soul Ring.
• The dean and Director Su addressed the gathered students, and sixth-year student Xiao Chenyu gave a condescending speech as the student representative.
• The first-year homeroom teacher explained the academy’s rules, schedules, and assessments before dismissing the students.
• Lin Yan told Wang Sheng he would return to the library, said goodbye, and walked there to continue reading.

Lin Yan was dragged to the grove, where Xiao Wu and the work-study students faced off against Xiao Chenyu and his senior students. Wang Sheng fought Liu Long first, and Lin Yan spotted Tang San hurrying toward them as Wang Sheng struggled under the staff wielder’s attacks.

• Lin Yan followed Wang Sheng to the grove, where the work-study students faced Xiao Chenyu’s group of senior students.
• Xiao Wu agreed to Xiao Chenyu’s plan for the two sides to fight one opponent at a time.
• Wang Sheng volunteered to fight Liu Long first, hoping to wear him down for Xiao Wu.
• Liu Long used his staff Martial Soul to repeatedly knock Wang Sheng back, leaving him bloodied and at a disadvantage.
• Lin Yan sensed someone approaching and saw Tang San hurrying toward the grove.

After Wang Sheng defeated Liu Long with Tang San’s covert help, Xiao Wu sent Lin Yan to fight Ling Feng, and Lin Yan held him to a draw. Tang San then stepped forward to challenge Xiao Chenyu’s remaining followers.

• Tang San secretly struck Liu Long’s wrist with a pebble, giving Wang Sheng the opening to knock him unconscious and win the first match.
• Xiao Chenyu sent Ling Feng to fight next, and Xiao Wu chose Lin Yan instead of Tang San.
• Lin Yan twice struck Ling Feng before he could properly prepare, then used Tai Chi Fist to withstand his attacks.
• Lin Yan ended the bout by calling for a draw, and Tang San accepted the result despite Xiao Wu’s frustration.
• Tang San announced his Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul and called for an opponent.

Tang San challenged Xiao Chenyu and defeated him with his Mysterious Jade Hand and Blue Silver Grass Soul Skill. Xiao Chenyu conceded after Tang San bound him and threatened him with Mandala Snake venom.

• Xiao Wu reminded Xiao Chenyu’s group that Lin Yan had defeated Ling Feng despite having Blue Silver Grass, and the older students stopped laughing at Tang San’s Martial Soul.
• Xiao Chenyu introduced himself as an eleven-level, one-ring Wolf Battle Soul Master, while Tang San revealed his own level and hundred-year Soul Ring.
• Xiao Chenyu charged Tang San, who met his wolf claws with his Mysterious Jade Hand, threw him back, and bound him with Blue Silver Grass: Entanglement.
• Tang San explained that his Blue Silver Grass had gained toughness and some toxicity from a Mandala Snake Soul Ring, and Xiao Chenyu conceded rather than risk the poison.

After leaving the afternoon’s celebration, Lin Yan spoke with Tang San about the techniques he had used against Liu Long and declined Tang San’s offer to seek Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang’s guidance. Back in Dorm Seven, Lin Yan ignored the students’ excitement and began cultivating.

• Lin Yan left the celebration and spent the evening reading in the library before heading back to Dorm Seven.
• Tang San asked Lin Yan where he had learned his unusual fighting techniques, but Lin Yan refused to explain.
• Tang San asked Lin Yan to assess his Entanglement Soul Skill, and Lin Yan praised its control and venomous effects.
• Tang San offered to ask Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang to guide Lin Yan, but Lin Yan declined and walked on to Dorm Seven.
• Xiao Wu praised Lin Yan and celebrated Tang San’s victory with the work-study students, while Lin Yan washed up and began cultivating.

After a year at Nuoding Junior Soul Master Academy, Lin Yan reached level ten but postponed obtaining a Soul Ring until he could strengthen his body and find a suitable plant Soul Beast. He left for Dalin Village to settle the medicinal formula profits and tell Lin Daniu he might soon set out on a wider journey.

• Lin Yan avoided Tang San, moved into a private dormitory with the help of his money, and stayed mostly focused on cultivation and study.
• Village Chief Lin Daniu visited several times during the year and brought Lin Yan his share of the medicinal formula profits.
• Lin Yan reached level ten, trained his body, and searched academy books for a plant Soul Beast with powerful life attributes before deciding not to rush into choosing a Soul Ring.
• As the academic year ended, Lin Yan planned to settle the profit-sharing arrangements and explain to Lin Daniu that he might leave Nuoding Academy.
• Lin Yan hired a carriage, packed gifts for the village chief and children, and set off from Nuoding City for Dalin Village.

Lin Yan returned to Dalin Village, where prosperity from his secret wound medicine formula had stirred conflict over his share. He gave up his claim to the profits and told Lin Daniu he planned to leave Nuoding City to seek a path to becoming a Soul Master, then departed the village.

• Lin Yan arrived in a transformed Dalin Village and distributed sweets and pastries to the villagers.
• Lin Daniu drove several villagers from his home for trying to take Lin Yan’s twenty-percent share of the formula’s profits.
• Lin Yan told Lin Daniu he was giving the formula and all future profits to the village.
• Lin Yan said he might graduate early and travel to seek an opportunity to become a Soul Master.
• Lin Yan declined a village send-off, revisited places from his childhood, and left Dalin Village by carriage.

Lin Yan decided to open a medicine shop in Nuoding City to earn money, conceal his search for whale rubber, and establish a safe base of his own. With Lin Daniu’s help, he rented and staffed a shop, which quietly began operating as the Hundred Herbs Shop.

• Lin Yan found a vacant storefront and decided that a medicine shop would provide income, cover for buying whale rubber, and a place to live and cultivate.
• Lin Yan asked Lin Daniu to help rent the shop, explaining that an ancient book of medicine formulas had inspired him to start a business.
• Lin Daniu negotiated a reasonable lease and agreed to find the herbs illustrated in Lin Yan’s booklet, with villagers later gathering them for purchase.
• Lin Yan and Lin Daniu hired retired Physician Zhang and two assistants to work at the shop.
• Lin Yan opened the Hundred Herbs Shop in Nuoding City.

Lin Yan sought Spirit Hall’s endorsement for his pharmacy, and after Ma Xiunuo verified his medicines, Spirit Hall agreed to certify and protect the business in exchange for a share of its profits. The certification drew more customers to the Hundred Herbs Shop, and word of its affordable, effective medicines began to spread.

• Lin Yan went to the Spirit Hall Branch in Nuoding City and asked Su Yuntao to discuss a business deal.
• Lin Yan told Su Yuntao that he had developed the wound medicine circulating in Nuoding City and offered Spirit Hall twenty percent of his pharmacy’s profits for certification.
• Su Yuntao brought Lin Yan to Ma Xiunuo, who requested samples so Spirit Hall could verify the medicines’ effects.
• After testing the medicines, Ma Xiunuo confirmed their effectiveness and said higher-level Spirit Hall had approved cooperation.
• Lin Yan and Spirit Hall signed an agreement for certification and protection in exchange for twenty percent of the Lin Family Pharmacy’s profits.
• Lin Yan displayed the Spirit Hall certification mark at the Hundred Herbs Shop, attracting more customers and spreading its reputation.

After the Hundred Herbs Shop prospered, Lin Yan finally acquired a large piece of thousand-year whale rubber and risked consuming a small portion to strengthen his body. He survived its violent energy, but his Soul Power fell to rank eight and the remaining potency would take months to digest.

• Spirit Hall’s certification brought customers and steady profits to the Hundred Herbs Shop, and Lin Yan began searching Nuoding City for whale rubber.
• A worried traveling merchant brought Lin Yan a large piece of thousand-year whale rubber, and Lin Yan bought it for five hundred Gold Soul Coins.
• Lin Yan decided to test the whale rubber despite the danger, melted a fingernail-sized piece with Soul Power, and swallowed the liquid.
• The thousand-year whale rubber’s energy caused Lin Yan excruciating pain and bleeding, but he used the Supreme Purity Breathing Technique to guide and absorb it.
• Lin Yan survived and gained about twenty percent more physical strength and wider meridians, though his Soul Power dropped from rank ten to around rank eight; he estimated that digesting the remaining energy would take at least three months.

Lin Yan requested access to the library’s second floor, but after the principal refused, he withdrew from Nuoding Junior Soul Master Academy. As Lin Yan left, Tang San sensed an extraordinary power in him, though he dismissed his suspicion and went to the cafeteria with Xiao Wu.

• Lin Yan asked the principal for permission to read the library’s second-floor books, but the principal refused and urged him to focus on building a solid foundation.
• Lin Yan said he had decided to withdraw, citing his slow cultivation and the tuition burden, and the principal gave him a certificate to complete the procedures.
• Lin Yan packed his belongings and left the academy, explaining to Tang San and Xiao Wu that he planned to help run his family’s shop and learn a trade.
• Tang San sensed a powerful bloodline and vitality in Lin Yan that seemed inconsistent with his half-level Innate Soul Power, while Xiao Wu accepted Lin Yan’s explanation.
• Lin Yan hurried away, and Tang San dismissed his suspicions before going to the cafeteria with Xiao Wu.

After leaving Nuoding Academy, Lin Yan commissioned a longsword, gained permission to study at Spirit Hall’s library, and began training in Tai Chi Sword while searching for information about a suitable first Soul Ring. He settled into a routine of strengthening his body, managing the shop, practicing martial arts, and researching Soul Beasts.

• Lin Yan assessed his physical training and combat needs, decided to learn Tai Chi Sword, and sought a vital Plant-type Soul Beast for his first Soul Ring.
• Lin Yan designed a heavy longsword and commissioned it from the best smithy in Nuoding City.
• Lin Yan asked Ma Xiunuo for access to Spirit Hall’s library, and Ma Xiunuo granted him permission to read on the first floor.
• Lin Yan collected his completed sword, tested it in the courtyard, and began practicing Tai Chi Sword alongside Tai Chi Fist.
• Lin Yan established a daily routine and studied Spirit Hall’s books, focusing on Plant-type Soul Beasts and Soul Master knowledge.

Lin Yan finished preparing to obtain his first Soul Ring and set out from Nuoding City for Star Dou Great Forest. After a half-month journey, he reached Star Dou Town, the last supply point before the forest.

• Lin Yan decided his body and Soul Power were ready for a first Soul Ring and chose Star Dou Great Forest as his destination.
• Lin Yan bought wilderness supplies and left the Hundred Herbs Shop in the hands of his most reliable assistant, directing him to seek help from Master Ma Xiunuo if needed.
• Lin Yan set out alone on foot from Nuoding City's southern gate and traveled south, passing teams of Soul Masters bound for the forest.
• After about half a month on the road, Lin Yan reached Star Dou Town at the edge of Star Dou Great Forest.