Chapter Summaries

Dugu Bo confronted Tang San about his resistance to poison, then brought him to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well to test his knowledge of medicinal herbs. Tang San recognized the rare treasure basin and was asked to identify its plants and describe their properties.

• Dugu Bo appeared while Tang San practiced hidden weapons and questioned him about resisting Dugu Yan's Jade Phosphorus Snake Venom.
• Tang San claimed that an elderly man had taught him about medicinal properties and poisons, concealing the Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record.
• Dugu Bo gave Tang San a quarter of an hour to inform his teachers and companions before taking him away.
• Dugu Bo brought Tang San to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, where Tang San recognized the rare treasure basin and its unusual plants.
• Dugu Bo asked Tang San to identify the medicinal herbs and explain their properties.

Tang San identified the rare herbs around the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well and learned that Dugu Bo had already taken the immortal herbs he hoped to see. After Tang San explained the remaining plants and the two reached a mutual nonaggression pact, Dugu Bo returned him to Shrek Academy, where Tang San quietly considered returning to the valley someday.

• Tang San recognized the harvested remains of several immortal herbs and urgently asked Dugu Bo to show them to him.
• Dugu Bo confirmed he had harvested the immortal herbs but said he had used them all, leaving Tang San disappointed.
• Tang San identified and explained the valley’s remaining herbs, impressing Dugu Bo with his knowledge of their properties and uses.
• Dugu Bo ended their previous grievances and demanded that Tang San keep his method for counteracting Jade Phosphorus Snake venom secret.
• Tang San and Dugu Bo agreed not to oppose each other or their respective associates unless one side initiated hostilities.
• Dugu Bo carried Tang San back to a grove near Shrek Academy, and Tang San resolved to consider visiting the herb-filled valley again.

After returning from Shrek Academy, Dugu Bo heard Lin Yan had reached rank forty and praised his progress. Lin Yan planned to visit Plant Academy to seek information about a suitable plant-type Soul Beast for his fourth Soul Ring, and Dugu Bo approved his trip.

• Dugu Bo told Lin Yan that Tang San had impressed him with his knowledge of herbs and had helped him study the plants at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
• Lin Yan revealed that he had broken through to rank forty, and Dugu Bo confirmed his cultivation was stable before celebrating his achievement.
• Lin Yan said his fourth Soul Ring needed to come from a roughly thirty-thousand-year-old plant-type Soul Beast with exceptional vitality.
• Dugu Bo admitted he knew of no Soul Beasts matching Lin Yan's requirements, so Lin Yan proposed researching them at Plant Academy.
• Lin Yan explained that a former Plant Academy student he had saved might help him access information, and Dugu Bo agreed to let him travel there alone.
• Lin Yan told Dugu Bo he would set out for Plant Academy the next day.

Lin Yan visited Plant Academy to consult its library for information on Plant-type Soul Beasts and a suitable Soul Ring. Vice Dean Su Wanqing offered him access if he could defeat three students of his rank, and Lin Yan accepted the challenge.

• Lin Yan traveled to Plant Academy and reunited with Han Shuirou, who welcomed him and showed him around.
• Lin Yan told Han Shuirou he had reached rank forty and asked to consult the academy library for information on Plant-type Soul Beasts.
• Han Shuirou brought Lin Yan to meet her mentor, Vice Dean Su Wanqing, who thanked him for saving her disciple.
• Su Wanqing said Lin Yan could enter the library if he defeated three students at his rank, and Lin Yan agreed to try.

Lin Yan challenged the Plant Academy's Soul Ancestors to earn access to its library and defeated Chen Fan in the opening match. Su Wanqing called Liu Meng for the second match.

• Su Wanqing brought Lin Yan to the Plant Academy's Soul Fighting Arena and explained that he had to defeat three Soul Ancestors to browse the library.
• Han Shuirou objected that matching Lin Yan against Soul Ancestors was unfair, but Lin Yan accepted the challenge.
• Su Wanqing set the match rules, and Lin Yan faced Chen Fan, a level forty-three Control System Battle Soul Ancestor.
• Chen Fan attacked with his Green Vine Martial Soul, but Lin Yan evaded the vines and used Illusory Color Concealment to appear behind him.
• Lin Yan touched Chen Fan's back with a sword-like gesture, and Chen Fan admitted defeat.
• Su Wanqing declared Lin Yan the winner and called Liu Meng for the second match.

Lin Yan defeated Liu Meng with his Blue Silver Grass Soul Skills and was asked to continue without resting. You Lan then entered the stage as his third opponent, a rank forty-nine Control System Battle Soul Ancestor with the Ghost King Vine.

• Liu Meng charged Lin Yan with his Ironbark Ancient Tree Martial Soul, but Lin Yan’s Scale-Leaf Light Rain broke through his defense and slowed his advance.
• Lin Yan pierced Liu Meng beneath the ribs with Blue Silver · Sword Leaf, and Liu Meng admitted defeat after Lin Yan stopped short of seriously injuring him.
• Su Wanqing declared Lin Yan the winner and asked whether he needed to rest, but he said he could continue.
• Su Wanqing called You Lan to the stage, and Han Shuirou reacted with concern when she saw her take the challenge.
• You Lan revealed her Ghost King Vine Martial Soul and introduced herself as a rank forty-nine Control System Battle Soul Ancestor.

Lin Yan defeated You Lan in the third challenge by using his self-developed Tai Chi Sword Technique to counter her Ghost King Vines and break her strongest soul skill. Su Wanqing declared that he had passed and granted him permission to consult Plant Academy’s internal library.

• You Lan opened with Ghost King Vines, mental interference, and venomous barbs, but Lin Yan used his Blue Silver · Sword Leaf and Tai Chi Sword Technique to deflect and redirect her attacks.
• You Lan unleashed her fourth soul skill, Ghost Vine Hell, surrounding Lin Yan with nine enormous vines and a powerful mental assault.
• Lin Yan found an opening and pierced the ghost-face core of one vine, breaking You Lan’s formation and leaving her unable to continue.
• You Lan conceded defeat, giving Lin Yan his third victory against a Soul Ancestor.
• Su Wanqing announced that Lin Yan had passed the challenge and earned access to Plant Academy’s internal library.

After Lin Yan swept through three matches, Su Wanqing granted him three days of access to the Plant Academy’s internal library. He discussed what kind of fourth Soul Ring he needed, then entered the library with Han Shuirou to research promising Plant-type Soul Beasts.

• Su Wanqing granted Lin Yan access to the academy’s internal library after his victories, and You Lan asked about his self-created Tai Chi Sword.
• Lin Yan rested at a treehouse and told Su Wanqing he wanted a fourth Soul Skill that strengthened his Blue Silver Grass’s resilience and vitality.
• Su Wanqing recommended the Earth Dragon Sinew Vine, the Endlessly Living Begonia Flower, and the Ghost-Faced Demon Spider Tree as possible Soul Ring targets.
• After about an hour, Su Wanqing escorted Lin Yan into the library and showed him where to find Soul Beast records and cultivation research.
• Han Shuirou led Lin Yan toward the records for the three Soul Beasts Su Wanqing had mentioned.

Lin Yan researched powerful Plant-type Soul Beasts and considered options for his fourth Soul Ring, growing more determined to attempt a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Ring despite the danger. He had not chosen a target when Su Wanqing arrived at the library and asked what he had decided.

• Lin Yan studied records of the Earth Dragon Sinew Vine, Everlasting Begonia, and Ghost-Faced Demon Spider Tree, weighing their abilities and risks.
• Lin Yan broadened his research to other rare plants, Soul Ring combinations, and the limits of absorbing powerful rings.
• Han Shuirou asked whether Lin Yan had found any leads, and he thanked her while saying he still needed to choose a target and prepare.
• Han Shuirou was alarmed when Lin Yan revealed he planned to attempt a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Ring for his fourth ring, but he said he believed he could manage the risk.
• Su Wanqing entered the library and asked Lin Yan whether he had found a target he liked.

Lin Yan learned of the Tree of Eternity, an ancient plant that could connect and sustain allied life, and decided it was worth seeking for his fourth Soul Ring. After preparing under Su Wanqing’s guidance, he left the Plant Academy with a map to the dangerous ruins where it might be found.

• Lin Yan outlined his possible Soul Ring choices, and Su Wanqing praised his careful analysis.
• Su Wanqing introduced the Tree of Eternity and showed Lin Yan records describing its connection and symbiosis abilities.
• Lin Yan recognized how the plant’s supportive domain could complement his Martial Soul and Tai Chi philosophy.
• Su Wanqing offered Lin Yan a ruins map and exploration notes, warning him about Soul Beasts and ancient restrictions in the unexplored region.
• Lin Yan studied and trained with Su Wanqing for three days, then bade farewell to Su Wanqing and Han Shuirou and left the Plant Academy.

Lin Yan prepared for a dangerous expedition, entered the ruins in the borderlands between Star Dou Great Forest and Sunset Forest, and reached the Tree of Eternity's Inheritance Vessel. Three powerful guardians appeared and warned him to leave, leaving his attempt to approach the altar unresolved.

• Lin Yan visited Dugu Bo, who gave him Jade Phosphor Detoxification Pills but declined to accompany him because he was pursuing a breakthrough.
• Lin Yan gathered supplies and researched the borderlands before quietly leaving Heaven Dou City, unaware that another figure followed him.
• Lin Yan navigated the dangerous forest and slipped past the Bloodthirsty Serpent Vine to enter the underground ruins.
• Lin Yan fought or avoided the ruins' creatures and traps, collecting samples of unusual plants as he followed the map.
• Lin Yan reached the altar and recognized the Tree of Eternity's Inheritance Vessel, whose presence stirred his Soul Power and Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul.
• Three powerful life-energy guardians appeared before Lin Yan and warned him to leave or face destruction.

Lin Yan defeated the three energy guardians protecting the Tree of Eternity’s vessel of inheritance. After the vessel restored his strength and began transmitting ancient knowledge and life energy, he sat down to absorb his unprecedented Fourth Soul Ring.

• Lin Yan used Tai Chi Sword Technique and his Soul Skills to destroy the first energy guardian with a strike to its core.
• Lin Yan observed the guardians’ energy-sharing pattern, concealed himself with Illusory Color Concealment, and destroyed the second guardian.
• The final guardian burned all its energy in a massive attack, but Lin Yan deflected it with Tai Chi Wuji until the guardian faded away.
• Lin Yan approached the vessel of inheritance, which restored his strength and healed his hands.
• Lin Yan received ancient information and life origin energy from the vessel, then began absorbing his Fourth Soul Ring.

Lin Yan’s attempt to absorb the Tree of Eternity Inheritance Body drew a horde of powerful Soul Beasts to the ruins, but Dugu Bo arrived to protect him. Lin Yan resumed the absorption while Dugu Bo confronted the beasts outside.

• Lin Yan reached toward the Tree of Eternity Inheritance Body, whose awakened presence struck his spiritual power and attracted Soul Beasts from outside the ruins.
• As the beasts gathered near the fissure, Lin Yan nearly abandoned the absorption until Dugu Bo told him to focus and promised to handle them.
• Reassured by Dugu Bo, Lin Yan concentrated on guiding the Tree of Eternity’s power with the Supreme Purity Breathing Technique.
• Dugu Bo appeared at the fissure and suppressed the surrounding Soul Beasts with his presence.
• When a ten-thousand-year saber-toothed tiger charged past him, Dugu Bo killed it with a flick of jade-green light.

Dugu Bo defended the ruins from a horde of Soul Beasts while Lin Yan absorbed the Tree of Eternity's legacy and gained his fourth Soul Skill. After reaching rank forty-four and awakening the Living Spirit Domain, Lin Yan left the ruins with Dugu Bo.

• Dugu Bo drove off weaker Soul Beasts and used his poison to destroy the remaining powerful beasts, including the fifty-thousand-year Demon Bear leader.
• Dugu Bo sensed the life force inside the ruins stabilizing and merging with Lin Yan, then waited for him to finish.
• Lin Yan absorbed the Tree of Eternity's legacy, transformed his Blue Silver Grass into a tree-like Martial Soul, and broke through to rank forty-four.
• Lin Yan formed a deep dark green fourth Soul Ring and gained the Living Spirit Domain, which enabled perception, recovery, support, amplification, and weakening effects.
• Lin Yan thanked Dugu Bo, and the two left the ruins after Dugu Bo warned that more dangerous creatures might be drawn to the area.

After emerging from the ruins, Lin Yan returned to Heaven Dou City with Dugu Bo and tested the powers of his new Living Spirit Domain in seclusion. Once he had gained basic proficiency, he went to the Plant Academy to see Su Wanqing and Han Shuirou, where a figure in pale green came out to greet him.

• Lin Yan told Dugu Bo that his Soul Power had stabilized at rank forty-four and described his fourth Soul Skill, the Living Spirit Domain.
• Dugu Bo escorted Lin Yan back toward Heaven Dou City, then parted with him outside and urged him to master the new skill.
• Lin Yan returned to Heaven Dou Royal Academy and tested how the domain strengthened nearby plants, improved his Soul Power flow, and enhanced his Blue Silver · Sword Leaf.
• After several days of practice, Lin Yan set off for the Plant Academy to tell Su Wanqing and Han Shuirou he was safe and thank them for their help.
• A nimble figure in pale green hurried out to greet Lin Yan at the Plant Academy gates.

Lin Yan returned to Plant Academy and showed Su Wanqing and Han Shuirou the powers of his Fourth Soul Skill, Living Spirit Domain. He returned to Heaven Dou Royal Academy to continue training as the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament approached.

• Lin Yan told Su Wanqing that Dugu Bo had helped him obtain a Soul Ring from the Tree of Eternity and that it had granted him Living Spirit Domain.
• Lin Yan tested the domain at Plant Academy, using it to enhance his Soul Skills, pierce a sword-testing stone, and disrupt a student's Vine Entanglement.
• Su Wanqing praised Living Spirit Domain's potential, and Lin Yan discussed Plant-type cultivation and domain abilities with her before leaving the academy.
• Back at Heaven Dou Royal Academy, Lin Yan experimented with the domain, cultivated his Soul Power, refined his Tai Chi Sword Technique, and sought guidance from Dugu Bo.
• Lin Yan continued spending time with Ye Lingling as the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament drew near.

Lin Yan considered using his Immortal Herbs to strengthen the Imperial Fighting Team and sought Dugu Bo’s advice on the risks. After Lin Yan revealed his plans to establish a faction and his stake in Hundred Herbs Hall, Dugu Bo urged him to recruit the team with the herbs and secure their loyalty.

• Teacher Sun Buyu warned the Imperial Fighting Team that they needed to grow stronger before the tournament, noting that Lin Yan was rank 44 while the others ranged from ranks 32 to 38.
• Lin Yan worried that his teammates could not advance enough through normal cultivation and debated whether to share his Immortal Herbs with them.
• Lin Yan visited Dugu Bo, who advised him not to give away Immortal Herbs without trust, promises, and restraints.
• Lin Yan told Dugu Bo that he intended to establish a faction and owned a share of Hundred Herbs Hall, with several million Gold Soul Coins in liquid funds.
• Dugu Bo approved Lin Yan’s plan and urged him to use the Immortal Herbs to bind the Imperial Fighting Team to his future faction.

Lin Yan offered the Imperial Fighting Team a chance to rapidly increase their Soul Power and possibly evolve their Martial Souls in exchange for future allegiance to his faction. Six members accepted, while Yu Tianheng declined because of his duties to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, and Lin Yan promised to prepare gifts tailored to the others’ Martial Souls.

• Lin Yan told the team that his method could greatly increase their Soul Power and might trigger Martial Soul Evolution, but required them to swear allegiance to his future faction.
• Yu Feng, Osler, the two Shi Mo brothers, Dugu Yan, and Ye Lingling accepted Lin Yan’s offer and chose to follow him.
• Yu Tianheng weighed the opportunity against his responsibilities to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan and declined.
• Lin Yan accepted Yu Tianheng’s choice and assured him they would remain comrades and classmates.
• Lin Yan promised the six who accepted that he would prepare a suitable gift for each of their Martial Souls.

Lin Yan distributed rare medicinal herbs to Shi Mo and Shi Mo, Yu Feng, Osler, Dugu Yan, and Ye Lingling, matching each treasure to its recipient. Ye Lingling proved worthy of the Lovesick Heartbreak Red and ate it, beginning a powerful transformation.

• Lin Yan gave the elder Shi Mo the singular velvet sky chrysanthemum and the younger Shi Mo the ten thousand year ginseng king.
• Lin Yan gave Yu Feng an eight-petal immortal orchid and Osler a narcissus jade muscle bone to strengthen their speed and combat abilities.
• Lin Yan gave Dugu Yan a nine-grade purple ganoderma to reinforce her foundation and help her break through the rank-forty bottleneck.
• Lin Yan presented Ye Lingling with the Lovesick Heartbreak Red and explained its legend, effects, and test for choosing its master.
• Ye Lingling thought of the person she loved, sprayed blood onto the flower, and watched it separate from the Black Severance Stone.
• Ye Lingling ate the Lovesick Heartbreak Red, which melted into a warm current surging through her body.

Ye Lingling and the other Imperial Fighting Team members absorbed their immortal herbs, with nearly everyone reaching level forty. After Ye Lingling asked Lin Yan to meet her parents, the newly strengthened team prepared to go Soul Hunting for Soul Rings.

• Ye Lingling absorbed her immortal herb, rose from level thirty-two to level forty, and embraced Lin Yan in excitement.
• Lin Yan and Ye Lingling kissed, and they agreed he would visit her parents after attending an auction in Heaven Dou City in three months.
• Yu Feng, Osler, Shi Mo, and Dugu Yan absorbed their immortal herbs and each reached level forty; the other Shi Mo brother also advanced to level forty.
• The Imperial Fighting Team gathered in the lounge and celebrated their breakthroughs, while Yu Tianheng remained absent because he had left earlier.
• Lin Yan proposed that the team find Teacher Su Buyu and go Soul Hunting to obtain their Soul Rings.