Chapter Summaries

Kong Deming gathered forging knowledge and blacksmiths from across the Douluo Three Kingdoms to help Xiao Hongchen develop forging skills. After two months of training in a new workshop, Xiao Hongchen could complete basic forging, while Bao Liang, Jing Hongchen, and Ye Yulin supported the work in their own ways.

• Kong Deming collected Sun Moon Empire materials and secretly bought forging manuals and recruited blacksmiths from the Douluo Three Kingdoms for Xiao Hongchen.
• Kong Deming helped Xiao Hongchen interpret the blacksmiths’ cryptic forging advice, while Bao Liang was brought in as a control experiment.
• Kong Deming scolded Jing Hongchen and Ye Yulin for blowing up another laboratory while testing their own ideas.
• Kong Deming led everyone to a newly built forging workshop, where Xiao Hongchen and Bao Liang began training under the group’s guidance.
• Over two months, Xiao Hongchen learned to complete basic forging, Bao Liang applied his Ultimate Flame to precise temperature control, and Jing Hongchen and Ye Yulin managed operations and technical support.

Xiao Hongchen began forging Heavy Silver into Hundred Refined metal, marking the start of the Sun Moon Empire’s Soul Guidance Forging efforts. Meanwhile, the Holy Spirit Cult met in secret to discuss its alliance with Xu Tianran and its conflict with Shrek, and Zhongli Wu warned Long Xiaoyao that people in the Sun Moon Empire were searching for him.

• Bao Liang encouraged Xiao Hongchen before Xiao began hammering the Heavy Silver, while Kong Deming, Ye Yulin, and Jing Hongchen watched.
• Xiao Hongchen’s precise blows drove impurities from the Heavy Silver, and Kong Deming and Ye Yulin observed its purity and structure improving.
• Bao Liang considered combining Ultimate Flame with physical forging to create the Sun Moon Empire’s own path of Soul Guidance Forging.
• Zhongli Wu convened the Holy Spirit Cult elders to discuss helping Xu Tianran seize the throne and dealing with Shrek Academy.
• Zhongli Wu ordered the Evil Soul Masters to keep a low profile and conceal the Holy Spirit Cult from Shrek.
• Zhongli Wu warned Long Xiaoyao that people in the Sun Moon Empire were looking for him, and Long Xiaoyao left without elaborating.

Xiao Hongchen completed the Hundred Refinement of Heavy Silver, proving that forging could produce stronger materials for Soul Tools. With Bao Liang and Kong Deming eager to advance the craft, the story left them preparing to pursue higher refinement and Battle Armor.

• Xiao Hongchen used his Three-Legged Golden Toad Martial Soul to sense Heavy Silver as he hammered out impurities and refined the metal.
• Kong Deming and the others moved closer to watch Xiao Hongchen forge, captivated by the metal's response to his blows.
• Xiao Hongchen finished the Hundred Refinement, shrinking the Heavy Silver by a third and producing a high-quality result despite a few flaws.
• Jing Hongchen praised his grandson, and Xiao Hongchen thanked Bao Liang for the theories and ideas behind the forging method.
• Kong Deming urged Bao Liang and Xiao Hongchen to develop methods for purer, tougher metals, while Bao Liang began planning to make Battle Armor.

Bao Liang, Xiao Hongchen, and their allies advanced forging research in secret, while Xu Tianran grew increasingly fearful and resentful as Kong Deming blocked his attempts to investigate the Worship Hall. The chapter left Xu Tianran threatening to punish those he believed were disloyal.

• Bao Liang assessed the limits of forging and recorded improvements to Xiao Hongchen’s first Hundred Refinement Heavy Silver.
• Kong Deming, Jing Hongchen, Ye Yulin, Bao Liang, Xiao Hongchen, and Meng Hongchen pursued forging research, keeping their preliminary results secret.
• Bao Liang realized Xiao Hongchen had sensed metal’s grain and was close to Thousand Refinement, while Bao Liang sought to perceive metal’s life through forging.
• Bao Liang explained that forging could aid his cultivation and that Meng Hongchen was learning to sense metal’s breathing and resonance for the future Battle Armor plan.
• Xu Tianran tried to investigate the Worship Hall, but Kong Deming blocked him, prompting Xu Tianran to threaten those he considered disloyal.

On the first day at the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy, Bao Liang refused to settle for a substitute Soul Beast despite Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen’s worries. Jing Hongchen arrived with news that Bao Liang’s desired Soul Beast had been found, but it was in danger of being reduced to ashes.

• Two and a half years after Bao Liang’s forging breakthrough, he arrived at the academy with Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen and used their connections to complete registration.
• Bao Liang explained that he had delayed taking his next Soul Ring because he already knew which Soul Beasts he needed, while Xiao Hongchen urged him to reconsider a sixty-thousand-year-old Purple Brilliant Heaven Destroying Dragon.
• Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen described their recent advances in cultivation, Soul Rings, and External Soul Bones as they discussed Bao Liang’s unstable Explosion Martial Soul and his restrictive gloves.
• The three settled into their separate floors of a detached academy villa, where Bao Liang praised the Sun Moon Empire’s accommodations.
• Jing Hongchen landed in front of them and urgently told Bao Liang that his desired Soul Beast had been found but would soon be reduced to ashes.

Bao Liang and Jing Hongchen reached a dying Star-Bearing Dragon Beast, and Bao Liang used Dragon Fang and Molten Fire Thousandfold Forging to prepare it for a Sacrifice. After the beast’s soul dissipated, Dragon Fang took control of its body, and the Sacrifice began.

• Jing Hongchen explained that he and Ye Yulin had found the destruction-attribute Star-Bearing Dragon Beast, which had swallowed a mutated Thundering Hell Vine and was close to death.
• Bao Liang arrived at the scorched clearing and sent Dragon Fang into the beast’s Spiritual Sea of Consciousness while forging its body from the outside.
• The Star-Bearing Dragon Beast defeated the Thundering Hell Vine’s soul, but Dragon Fang swallowed the vine’s remaining soul fragment and Bao Liang restrained the beast.
• The beast’s final burst of power faded, and its soul dissipated after it glanced at Bao Liang and Dragon Fang.
• Dragon Fang absorbed the remnants of the beast’s soul power, took control of its body, and began the Sacrifice to Bao Liang.

Bao Liang endured the Star-Bearing Dragon Beast’s Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring Sacrifice as Dragon Fang absorbed the beast’s legacy, but both were overwhelmed by destructive energy. Jing Hongchen realized Bao Liang was risking his life and wanted to intervene, while Ye Yulin stopped him; as Bao Liang felt himself growing weightless, a gaze from the Divine Realm settled upon him.

• Bao Liang received the Star-Bearing Dragon Beast’s Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring while Dragon Fang absorbed its dragon soul, blood, and Qi.
• After the Sacrifice ended, Bao Liang spat blood as his flames turned purple, and Dragon Fang suffered blood loss and destructive purple lightning.
• Jing Hongchen recognized clues that Bao Liang was gambling with his life and tried to interrupt the Soul Ring absorption.
• Ye Yulin blocked Jing Hongchen, warning that interrupting Bao Liang could kill him faster, and persuaded him to wait until Bao Liang woke.
• Bao Liang felt an invisible force pulling him upward as a gaze from the Divine Realm watched him and called him interesting.

The God of Destruction and the Goddess of Life discovered that Bao Liang had resonated with both of their godhoods and agreed to support his trials while keeping Tang San from interfering. After Bao Liang and Dragon Fang recovered from the Sacrifice, Bao Liang received the first of nine Destruction trials and collapsed.

• The God of Destruction observed Bao Liang and decided to offer him a Divine Trial, while the Goddess of Life revealed that Bao Liang had also stirred her godhood.
• The God of Destruction asked the Goddess of Life to withhold her own Divine Trial so Tang San would not be provoked, and she pledged her support.
• The God of Destruction bestowed the Nine Divine Trials of Destruction on Bao Liang, requiring him to reach Five-Ring Soul King level by age twelve and hunt a 76,000-year-old Time Rift Dragon.
• Bao Liang awoke after the Sacrifice and told Jing Hongchen that there was hope for Sister Meng's poison before losing consciousness.
• Jing Hongchen and Ye Yulin hurried to take Bao Liang back to Sun Moon.

Bao Liang woke after the healers warned Jing Hongchen that the changes in his body were destroying him faster than they could rebuild him, and Bao Liang revealed that he expected to die before sixteen. He explained that he had taken a step he could not abandon and described his fourth Soul Skill, Chain Explosion, leaving Jing Hongchen and the others stunned by its power.

• Sun Zhongyu told Jing Hongchen that Bao Liang’s body was being destroyed by violent energy changes and might not survive past twenty, then left him pills and advised that Bao Liang eat whatever he wanted.
• Jing Hongchen broke down in the corridor, while Xiao Hongchen and Ye Yulin reacted with dismay to the healer’s prognosis.
• Bao Liang woke and joked with Xiao Hongchen, then admitted that he knew he would die before sixteen.
• Bao Liang told Jing Hongchen he had no regrets about his choices and could not stop before taking one final step, while asking that Meng not be told.
• Bao Liang explained that his fourth Soul Skill, Chain Explosion, triggered a multiplying fission-like chain reaction and made him comparable to a human-shaped Level 9 Fixed Soul Guidance Bomb.

Bao Liang explained the dangerous costs and three release states of his fourth Soul Skill, then revealed he had received a Divine Trial. He argued that Tang San had blocked new candidates from becoming gods to retain control, and identified the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well as the stolen treasure that had helped Tang San and his teammates ascend.

• Bao Liang described his fourth Soul Skill's subcritical, critical, and supercritical states, explaining that supercritical use burned through his limited lifespan.
• Xiao Hongchen realized Bao Liang could live to twenty-five after gaining a fifth ring, and Jing Hongchen, Xiao Hongchen, and Ye Yulin beat Bao Liang for frightening them with his apparent doom.
• Bao Liang revealed he had received a Divine Trial, and Jing Hongchen explained that such trials were real means by which gods chose successors.
• Bao Liang said Tang San had prevented anyone from becoming a god for ten thousand years because he wanted to keep his power and control over the Douluo Continent.
• Bao Liang claimed Tang San had seized the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well from Dugu Bo and used its Immortal Herbs to help his teammates qualify for godhood.

Bao Liang explained that Tang San had suppressed talented ascendants and occupied the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, while the Destruction God King's Divine Trial could protect him and help expose Tang San's schemes. After Ye Yulin swore to keep the secrets, Meng Hongchen returned furious and Xiao Hongchen abandoned Bao Liang to her.

• Bao Liang revealed that Tang San had manipulated Divine Trials and claimed the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, and explained that the Destruction God King's recognition could provide backing for their plans.
• Jing Hongchen promised to conceal Bao Liang's Divine Trial mark and agreed that they should delay visiting the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well until they had support.
• Ye Yulin swore not to reveal what he had learned until Jing Hongchen's group obtained the Immortal Herbs and treated Meng Hongchen's cold poison.
• Jing Hongchen and Ye Yulin discussed hiding Bao Liang's heart External Soul Bone and preparing an excuse for Xu Tianran.
• Bao Liang asked Xiao Hongchen where Meng Hongchen was, and Xiao warned him that she would arrive soon.
• Meng Hongchen entered in a furious Martial Soul Possession, sent Xiao Hongchen and the grandpas outside, and cornered Bao Liang while Xiao left him to face her.

Bao Liang attended class at the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy and learned that its practical matches would rank students and select potential tournament reserve members. After dominating their earlier matches, Bao Liang and Xiao Hongchen faced off in the final, with their first serious fight about to begin.

• Meng Hongchen warned Bao Liang not to hide dangerous actions from her again, and Xiao Hongchen explained that Bao Liang and Meng were assigned to Class B.
• Bao Liang entered class with Meng Hongchen, and the teacher announced practical combat matches to rank students and choose reserve team candidates for the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Tournament.
• Xiao Hongchen came to Class B and challenged Bao Liang to fight without holding back, while Meng Hongchen’s fourth Soul Skill, Burial of Ice and Snow, was described as a potent poison, freeze, and slowdown.
• Xiao Hongchen, Meng Hongchen, and Bao Liang each defeated their opponents with powerful Soul Tool firepower, ice-based control, and high-speed attacks, respectively.
• Bao Liang and Xiao Hongchen took their places at opposite ends of the arena for the final match and exchanged taunts before fighting.

Xiao Hongchen and Bao Liang fought in a battlefield duel, with Xiao unleashing 256 Soul Cannons against Bao Liang’s Calamity King Form. Bao Liang broke through Xiao’s attacks and urged him to fight with intent to kill.

• Xiao Hongchen summoned 256 Soul Cannons while Bao Liang forged his components into the Pseudo Battle Armor, Kamen Rider ZZZ, Calamity King Form.
• Xiao Hongchen ordered a volley of Soul Guidance Rays, but Bao Liang charged through the barrage as his armor absorbed and annihilated the beams.
• Bao Liang punched through the remaining rays and crushed a metal column assembled from several of Xiao Hongchen’s Soul Cannons.
• Bao Liang’s punch wind sent Xiao Hongchen flying and tore his clothes, while Xiao’s External Soul Bone protected his left arm.
• Bao Liang explained that years of eating Soul Beast meat had strengthened his muscles and bones, then challenged Xiao Hongchen to attack as if he meant to kill him.

Bao Liang defeated Xiao Hongchen in the grade competition and was named first place, with Xiao and Meng Hongchen taking second and third. On the way home, Ji Juechen stopped Bao Liang and challenged him to a fight.

• Bao Liang used Gold Resonance to redirect Xiao Hongchen's attack, overpower his Soul Tools, and force him to surrender.
• Jing Hongchen watched Bao Liang and Xiao Hongchen's match with satisfaction while Ji Juechen observed Bao Liang before leaving.
• Bao Liang, Xiao Hongchen, and Meng Hongchen placed first, second, and third in their grade and became reserve members of the Continental Advanced Soul Master Tournament.
• On the way home, Bao Liang told Xiao Hongchen he had never used his full strength, and Meng Hongchen joked about the damage he had caused over the years.
• Ji Juechen stopped the three youths, introduced himself, and challenged Bao Liang to fight.

Ji Juechen challenged Bao Liang after sensing sword intent in his punch, and the two began a fierce sparring match. As Ji Juechen’s practical swordsmanship met Bao Liang’s explosive attacks, Bao Liang warned him that he did not know how to hold back.

• Ji Juechen told Bao Liang he wanted to fight him because he sensed pure sword intent and a feeling of death in Bao Liang’s punch.
• Meng Hongchen tried to postpone the fight, but Ji Juechen drew his black iron sword, named Juechen, and insisted on fighting immediately.
• Bao Liang accepted the challenge, and the two faced each other before launching into combat.
• Bao Liang attacked with Dragon Explosion, but Ji Juechen deflected the fire and neutralized its explosive force with his sword.
• Bao Liang pressed forward with repeated explosive punches, while Ji Juechen countered with precise, unorthodox strikes and nearly stabbed Bao Liang in the ribs.
• Bao Liang used Ultimate Flame to block Ji Juechen’s thrust, then warned him that he could not hold back and told him not to die.

Bao Liang and Ji Juechen fought in the street, pushing each other to reveal stronger techniques and insights. Jing Hongchen interrupted them and ordered both into the confinement room for breaking the law.

• Bao Liang adapted to Ji Juechen's swordsmanship and used powerful punches, while Ji Juechen diverted his force and dodged his attacks.
• Bao Liang recognized the rhythm behind Ji Juechen's swordplay and began striking back with his armor and explosive flame.
• Bao Liang infused his punches with destruction, overwhelming Ji Juechen and making his sword and body tremble.
• Ji Juechen stopped to raise his Sword Maniac Domain as Bao Liang unleashed Majestic Heavenly Might, but Jing Hongchen appeared and sent them both flying.
• Jing Hongchen scolded Bao Liang and Ji Juechen for fighting in the street and ordered them to the confinement room.

Bao Liang questioned Ji Juechen about his cultivation and learned that the impoverished student had reached Soul King level fifty-eight through sheer effort despite having little talent or support. He discovered that Ji Juechen had never been told about the academy’s allowances and benefits, and looked forward to Jing finding out.

• Bao Liang asked Ji Juechen about his sword, Martial Soul, and cultivation, learning that Ji Juechen had level-three Innate Soul Power and had cultivated to level fifty-eight without medicine.
• Ji Juechen told Bao Liang that he had no family or friends, had once lived in a village that disappeared, and had been admitted to the academy after challenging its students.
• Bao Liang learned that Ji Juechen lived in an abandoned warehouse and had never received the allowances, medicines, or other benefits offered to combat students.
• Ji Juechen explained that he had been told to follow the dean’s instructions and ignore the school rules, leaving Bao Liang to realize someone had kept him uninformed.
• Bao Liang reassured Ji Juechen that he had not caused trouble and anticipated Jing’s reaction when he learned what had happened.

Jing Hongchen uncovered that Ji Juechen had been denied academy resources and recruited him to represent Mingde Hall in the Continental Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament. A year later, Ji Juechen’s sword had undergone preliminary Spirit Forging, while Huo Yuhao slipped away from the Duke’s Mansion and set out under his new name.

• Xiao Hongchen explained that Ji Juechen had fused his Martial Soul, Soul Power, and spirit into his black sword, and Jing Hongchen went to inspect it.
• Xiao Hongchen offered to forge Ji Juechen’s sword, and Ji Juechen agreed after the blade rang in assent.
• Bao Liang told Jing Hongchen that Ji Juechen had been denied years of cultivation resources, prompting Jing Hongchen to order an investigation and restore what the academy owed him.
• Jing Hongchen invited Ji Juechen to represent Mingde Hall in the tournament, and Ji Juechen accepted for the chance to fight and earn rewards.
• Over the next year, Xiao Hongchen and Bao Liang developed the Ripple Resonance Method and helped Ji Juechen complete the crucial first step of Spirit Forging his sword.
• Huo Yuhao escaped through the north gate of the Duke’s Mansion, vowed to return for revenge, and took his mother’s surname.

Huo Yuhao traveled alone to the Star Dou Great Forest to obtain his first Soul Ring, driven by a determination to grow stronger despite his weak talent and harsh childhood. After meeting Tang Ya and Bei Bei at the forest’s edge, he parted from them and entered the forest alone.

• Huo Yuhao left Star Luo City with his few possessions and headed north toward the Star Dou Great Forest.
• Huo Yuhao endured several days of walking before reaching the forest and making a meal of fish by a stream.
• Tang Ya and Bei Bei followed the smell of Huo Yuhao’s grilled fish and asked to buy some.
• Huo Yuhao offered Tang Ya and Bei Bei the fish for free and introduced himself.
• Huo Yuhao parted ways with Tang Ya and Bei Bei, then entered the Star Dou Great Forest to seek his first Soul Ring.

Bao Liang and the Hongchen siblings pursued the Time Rift Dragon until a vast mental power swept through the Star Dou Great Forest, knocking out Meng Hongchen, Xiao Hongchen, and the dragon. Bao Liang recognized the power as belonging to the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm and realized the event that would change Huo Yuhao’s fate had begun.

• Bao Liang, Meng Hongchen, and Xiao Hongchen chased the Time Rift Dragon, whose time abilities let it evade their attacks.
• Bao Liang repeatedly struck the dragon, overcoming its attempts to reverse or delete time and driving it north.
• Jing Hongchen had channeled Bao Liang’s destructive urges into army training, where Bao Liang’s combat strength had rapidly increased.
• A vast mental power swept across the forest, forcing the Time Rift Dragon to collapse and knocking Meng Hongchen and Xiao Hongchen unconscious.
• Bao Liang resisted the mental attack with Dragon Fang and identified its source as the Million-Year Soul Beast Sky Dream Ice Silkworm.