Chapter Summaries

Ning Buhui examined the tower’s inherited memories and suspected its first two floors had once been prison cells, while the third floor served as its owner’s dwelling. Unable to uncover the tower’s history or his path back to Blue Star, he set those questions aside and resumed cultivating.

• Ning Buhui reconsidered the tower’s layout and concluded that its first two floors might have been prison cells controlled by the Heaven and Earth Yin Yang Grand Array.
• Ning Buhui recognized that many plants in the third-floor garden were unknown on Douluo Continent and speculated that the tower’s former owner had gathered them from other worlds.
• Ning Buhui wondered who had owned the tower, what it had once contained, and whether he could ever return to Blue Star.
• Ning Buhui decided to focus on becoming stronger and began his daily meditation in the bamboo house.

Ning Buhui celebrated his eighth birthday with Hu Liena, Yan, and Xie Yue, then helped Xie Yue seek a ten-thousand-year Soul Ring suited to his Moon Blade. He researched the Illusory Moon Shadow Wolf and Crescent Moon Valley, finishing detailed notes and a map to give Xie Yue the next day.

• Hu Liena remembered Ning Buhui's eighth birthday and gave him osmanthus cakes, which he shared with Yan and Xie Yue at breakfast.
• Xie Yue explained that he wanted a fourth Soul Skill that could confuse enemies and create openings, rather than simply deliver a powerful attack.
• Ning Buhui recommended the ten-thousand-year Illusory Moon Shadow Wolf in Crescent Moon Valley as a match for Xie Yue's Moon Blade.
• Ning Buhui researched the wolf's habits and the valley's terrain, then prepared detailed hunting notes and a map for Xie Yue.
• Ning Buhui returned to his cold room and fell asleep thinking about the possibility of Xie Yue obtaining a ten-thousand-year Soul Ring.

Ning Buhui decided to leave Spirit Hall and train alone, traveling south and then east to gain experience among Soul Masters and Soul Beasts. After Bibi Dong gave him a disguise mask and signal flare, he slipped out of Spirit City in disguise and headed south.

• Ning Buhui realized he had finished his current tasks and decided to seek practical training outside Spirit Hall.
• Ning Buhui told Bibi Dong he wanted to travel alone, visit the Star Luo Empire, and explore the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest.
• Bibi Dong warned Ning Buhui about the dangers and gave him the Thousand-Transformation Illusory Mask and a signal flare.
• Ning Buhui left a letter for Bibi Dong and escaped Spirit City through a concealed passage and maintenance door.
• Ning Buhui used the mask to appear as an older, level 28 Soul Grandmaster with two yellow Soul Rings, then set off south.

Ning Buhui arrived in Star Luo City under a disguise and joined a mercenary group preparing to hunt Rock Wolves near the Star Dou Great Forest. After hearing reports that Soul Beasts were being driven toward the forest’s outskirts, he prepared to proceed cautiously on the expedition.

• Ning Buhui explored Star Luo City and went to the Mercenary Guild to find work.
• Ning Buhui demonstrated his control skills to a bald mercenary leader and agreed to join the group’s Rock Wolf hunt for two tenths of the proceeds, requesting a wolf pelt and fangs.
• Ning Buhui registered under the name A Hui and listened to mercenaries discuss the dangers and rewards of the city’s Soul Fighting Arenas.
• A female mercenary reported that Soul Beasts were crowding out of the Star Dou Great Forest and that a powerful Rock Wolf pack had been seen near its outskirts.
• Ning Buhui left the guild, booked an inn room, and entered the pagoda, planning to be cautious when he entered the forest the next day.

Ning Buhui traveled with a mercenary group to the Star Dou Great Forest, where they set out to hunt Rock Wolves. After the group began fighting a pack, a powerful six-thousand-year-old leader emerged from its den.

• Ning Buhui joined six other mercenaries, and the bald man led them along the main road toward the Star Dou Great Forest.
• After ten days of travel, the group entered the forest and followed signs toward the rocky hills where Rock Wolves made their dens.
• The short-haired woman found fresh droppings, and the group spotted ten Rock Wolves among the rocks.
• Ning Buhui bound three Rock Wolves with his chains while the bald man and the short-haired woman attacked others.
• The remaining wolves surrounded the group, and a massive Rock Wolf pack leader, estimated to be at least six thousand years old, emerged from its den.

Ning Buhui and his companions fought a pack of Rock Wolves, defeating the seven adults with his precise control. Their battle with the over-six-thousand-year-old lead wolf turned desperate, and Ning Buhui prepared to use his Third Soul Skill.

• The lead wolf emerged from its cave, and the bald man realized it was over six thousand years old rather than the four thousand stated in the report.
• The bald man and the short-haired woman attacked the lead wolf while Ning Buhui restrained the seven surrounding Rock Wolves.
• Ning Buhui coordinated his companions to kill all seven adult Rock Wolves in a short fight.
• The lead wolf unleashed a ground attack that pierced the bald man's leg, then hurled the longsword wielder into a rock wall when he shielded the others.
• Seeing two of the group's three Soul Elders incapacitated and the survivors unable to withstand the lead wolf, Ning Buhui began activating his Third Soul Ring.

Ning Buhui revealed his true strength to save a mercenary team, trapping and killing a six-thousand-year-old Rock Wolf leader. After sharing the spoils and returning to Star Luo City, he reflected on his new control skill and resumed meditation.

• Ning Buhui used Thunder Prison Imprisons Wind to trap the enraged Rock Wolf leader and strengthen himself with three soul skills.
• Ning Buhui struck the paralyzed wolf with Void Rending Slash, killing it in less than ten breaths.
• Ning Buhui revealed his three Soul Rings and identified himself as a passerby when the bald man asked who he was.
• Ning Buhui and the team divided the Rock Wolf's materials and traveled back toward Star Luo City together.
• Ten days later, Ning Buhui parted ways with the group outside Star Luo City's north gate and returned to his inn.
• Ning Buhui reviewed Thunder Prison Imprisons Wind's Soul Power cost, then began meditating in the tower.

Ning Buhui received his share of Baldy's money and decided to use the Star Luo Great Soul Arena to practice. After registering as A Hui, he watched several matches and prepared for his first Soul Elder bout the next afternoon.

• The short-haired woman delivered Baldy's generous payment and invited Ning Buhui to seek him out at the guild if he wanted to join a team.
• Ning Buhui moved to a new inn, divided his money, and chose the Star Luo Great Soul Arena as his next place to train.
• Ning Buhui registered as A Hui, a level thirty-four Control System Soul Elder, and received an Iron Soul Fighter badge and a match schedule.
• Ning Buhui watched two individual matches and a team battle, studying the fighters' tactics and considering how to improve his own use of Vine Locks the Nine Nether Regions.
• Ning Buhui learned that his first individual match would take place the following afternoon and planned to win thirty consecutive Soul Elder matches to reach Silver Soul Fighter rank.

Ning Buhui fought his way to thirty consecutive victories in the Soul Fighting Arena and earned the Silver Soul Fighter rank. He signed up to challenge Soul Ancestors and planned to train in the Star Dou Great Forest after adapting to stronger opponents.

• Ning Buhui won four Soul Elder matches in one day by using his pagoda, chains, lightning cage, and black butterfly to control opponents.
• He added two matches the following day and defeated a Water System Soul Elder by filling the arena with Thunder Prison Imprisons Wind and conducting electricity through the water.
• Over the next several days, Ning Buhui refined his chain techniques and overcame a level thirty-nine Soul Elder whose Overlord Body temporarily made him immune to control.
• After nine days and thirty consecutive wins, Ning Buhui received 1,000 points and advanced to Silver Soul Fighter.
• Ning Buhui signed up to challenge Soul Ancestors and planned to leave for the Star Dou Great Forest after half a month of preparation.

After reaching level thirty-five, Ning Buhui challenged a stronger opponent in the Soul Ancestor group and won by secretly draining Xiong Kuohai’s Soul Power. The exhausting victory left him considering how to develop a negative effect that could bypass resistance to control.

• Ning Buhui cultivated through a bottleneck and advanced to level thirty-five.
• Ning Buhui entered the Soul Ancestor group and prepared to face level forty-three Soul Ancestor Xiong Kuohai, whose Martial Soul was a Giant Bear.
• Xiong Kuohai broke Ning Buhui’s chains with his Tyrant Body and pressured him with powerful close-range attacks.
• Ning Buhui slipped a hair-thin chain through a gap in Xiong Kuohai’s armor and secretly drained his Soul Power while evading his attacks.
• Ning Buhui tightened the hidden chain and bound Xiong Kuohai with three more chains, forcing him to admit defeat.
• After the match, Ning Buhui recognized his limitations and resolved to consider a Soul Skill that could inflict a negative effect rather than rely on control.

Ning Buhui finished a month of Soul Ancestor matches in Star Luo City, then traveled to the Star Dou Great Forest to hone his abilities through battles with Soul Beasts. After training in the rocky mountains, he discovered a giant python that was at least ten thousand years old and planned to challenge it.

• Ning Buhui fought ten Soul Ancestor matches over a month, winning eight and losing two before deciding he had achieved his goal of honing his Soul Skills.
• Ning Buhui settled his points, bought supplies, left Star Luo City, and traveled northeast to the Star Dou Great Forest.
• Ning Buhui entered the forest’s rocky mountains, where he fought a Rock Armor Lizard and began using his abilities freely in real battles.
• Ning Buhui defeated a six-thousand-year-old Giant Rock Ape through coordinated attacks, then let it escape after testing his skills.
• Ning Buhui spent several more days fighting Soul Beasts and developed a new tactical idea by using water inside Thunder Prison Imprisons Wind.
• Ning Buhui followed fresh claw marks to a hollow, found a giant python at least ten thousand years old, and retreated to rest before confronting it the next day.

Ning Buhui fought a ten-thousand-year giant python, survived its attacks, and broke through to level thirty-six before retreating. After strengthening his cultivation by battling other Soul Beasts, he found signs of a group nearby and disguised himself before planning to move elsewhere.

• Ning Buhui attacked the giant python, damaged its neck with Void Rending Slash, and narrowly escaped its counterattack after breaking through to level thirty-six.
• Ning Buhui recovered in the Nine Hell Soul-Suppressing Pagoda and reviewed how poorly his abilities had worked against the ten-thousand-year Soul Beast.
• Ning Buhui spent over a month fighting Soul Beasts between eight and ten thousand years old, strengthening his level thirty-six foundation.
• Ning Buhui discovered a recent campfire and signs of several people in the rocky mountain area.
• Ning Buhui used the Thousand-Transformation Illusory Mask to disguise himself as an ordinary Soul Elder and planned to explore another part of the mountain.

Ning Buhui encountered a Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect main-branch youth hunting a Gale Wolf and was reminded of the hardship that had shaped his life. He resolved to rely on himself and returned to the forest to continue hunting stronger Soul Beasts.

• Ning Buhui fought an eight-thousand-year Rock-Armored Pangolin, gained a slight advantage, and watched it flee.
• Ning Buhui discovered three Soul Ancestors protecting a young Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect heir as they hunted an eight-thousand-year Gale Wolf.
• The hunters noticed Ning Buhui, who revealed himself in disguise, claimed he was passing through, and left without looking back.
• Ning Buhui reflected on his parents’ fate, his difficult childhood, and the contrast between his struggles and the main-branch youth’s protection.
• Ning Buhui put on his disguise again and returned to hunting, determined to face stronger Soul Beasts and follow his own path.

Ning Buhui spent half a year fighting powerful Soul Beasts in the Star Dou Great Forest, improving his combat skills and advancing from level 36 to level 40. He left the forest and headed for Spirit City to obtain his fourth Soul Ring.

• Ning Buhui sent two brief messages to Spirit City saying he was safe and would return when he was ready, and Bibi Dong did not reply.
• Ning Buhui escalated his training from fighting 8,000-to-10,000-year Soul Beasts to repeatedly battling stronger Soul Beasts near the limits of his ability.
• Ning Buhui improved his reactions and combat techniques, then killed a thirteen-thousand-year Rock Armor Dire Bear after trapping and draining it.
• Ning Buhui entered Deep Meditation and reached level 38, then systematically recorded Soul Beasts' habits and reviewed his battles.
• Ning Buhui broke through to level 40 after fighting a fourteen-thousand-year Stone-Patterned Leopard and spent the night consolidating his strength.
• Ning Buhui left the Star Dou Great Forest and traveled toward Spirit City, planning his fourth Soul Ring and wondering how his friends had progressed.

Ning Buhui returned to Spirit City after nearly a year away, having reached level forty and spent more than half a year fighting Soul Beasts in the Star Dou Great Forest. After reuniting with his friends and reporting to Bibi Dong, he asked her for help choosing his fourth Soul Ring and finally rested at home.

• Ning Buhui entered Spirit City and surprised Zhou Qing and the other Spirit Hall members with his return.
• Ning Buhui reunited with Hu Liena, Yan, and Xie Yue, learned they had all reached level forty-one or higher, and agreed to eat with them that night.
• Ning Buhui told Bibi Dong about his year away, including his Soul Fighting Arena matches and his battles in the Star Dou Great Forest, and revealed he had reached level forty.
• Ning Buhui asked Bibi Dong for advice on a fourth Soul Ring with a non-control negative-effect skill, and she promised to prepare a list of suitable Soul Beasts.
• Ning Buhui returned to his clean room, bathed, and fell asleep after finally relaxing at home.

Ning Buhui studied Bibi Dong’s list of candidate Soul Beasts and chose the Hell-Suppressing Bear for his fourth Soul Ring. After Spirit Hall confirmed a sighting of a roughly thirty-thousand-year-old bear in the Star Dou Great Forest, he prepared to depart within three days.

• Ning Buhui received Bibi Dong’s list of seven Soul Beasts and focused on the Hell-Suppressing Bear’s curse and hegemon body abilities.
• Ning Buhui researched Spirit Hall’s records and concluded the Hell-Suppressing Bear could strengthen his support abilities and help him weaken opponents.
• Ning Buhui told Bibi Dong he wanted a Hell-Suppressing Bear over thirty thousand years old, though he would accept one over twenty thousand years old.
• Bibi Dong sent the Intelligence Hall to investigate likely rocky mountain habitats in the Star Dou Great Forest.
• Ning Buhui resumed training while waiting for news of a suitable Soul Beast.
• A deacon informed Ning Buhui that a roughly thirty-thousand-year-old Hell-Suppressing Bear had been sighted in the northern Star Dou Great Forest, and that they would depart within three days.

Ning Buhui traveled with Bibi Dong to the Star Dou Great Forest, killed a thirty-thousand-year Hell-Suppressing Bear, and absorbed its Soul Ring to reach level forty-two and gain two new Soul Skills. Back in Spirit City, he planned a mission with Xie Yue’s group before returning to the forest to pursue further growth ahead of the Soul Master Tournament.

• Bibi Dong led Ning Buhui into the rocky mountains of the Star Dou Great Forest and defeated the thirty-thousand-year Hell-Suppressing Bear.
• Ning Buhui killed the restrained bear and absorbed its Soul Ring, reaching level forty-two and gaining Bear Iron Wall and Bear Spirit Curse.
• Ning Buhui explained his new Soul Skills to Bibi Dong, who praised their uses and warned him that his Soul Power reserves limited how often he could use them.
• Ning Buhui returned to Spirit City with Bibi Dong and resolved to ask Xie Yue about a mission for their group.
• Ning Buhui planned to consolidate his cultivation after the mission, then return to the Star Dou Great Forest and fight fifteen-to-twenty-thousand-year Soul Beasts to reach around level forty-eight before the tournament.

Ning Buhui reunited with Xie Yue, Yan, and Hu Liena after obtaining his fourth Soul Ring, then joined them in accepting an A-rank mission to hunt a twenty-thousand-year Jasper Flood Dragon. Before their departure the next morning, he prepared his supplies and began training to advance his Heart Separation Control technique.

• Ning Buhui told Xie Yue, Yan, and Hu Liena that he had obtained a thirty-thousand-year Soul Ring but kept his new Soul Skill secret.
• The four discussed Spirit Hall’s new youth training program and decided to choose an A-rank mission.
• Xie Yue selected a mission to hunt a twenty-thousand-year Jasper Flood Dragon in Jade Pool Hidden Valley for its pearl and hide.
• Ning Buhui proposed using phoenix flowers to lure the amphibious dragon onto shore, and the four registered for the mission.
• The four agreed to depart the next morning, and Ning Buhui restocked supplies and organized his leather armor.
• Ning Buhui entered the Soul Suppressing Pagoda and practiced toward the Four-Aperture Constant Heart level of Heart Separation Control.

Ning Buhui broke through to the Four-Aperture Constant Heart, greatly improving his Soul Power control and endurance without raising his level. The next morning, he joined Xie Yue, Yan, and Hu Liena as they set out for Jade Pool Hidden Valley to face the twenty-thousand-year Jasper Flood Dragon.

• Ning Buhui used his spiritual power to form a fourth Soul Power channel and mastered the Four-Aperture Constant Heart.
• He demonstrated precise control over four Soul Skill channels and realized the breakthrough would strengthen his chances against the Jasper Flood Dragon.
• Ning Buhui suppressed his active states and slept, awaiting the next day's departure.
• Xie Yue, Yan, and Hu Liena noticed Ning Buhui's newly restrained presence and questioned the change, but he attributed it to insights from the previous battle.
• Ning Buhui, Xie Yue, Yan, and Hu Liena left Spirit City's training ground and headed for the carriages to begin their journey to Jade Pool Hidden Valley.

Hu Liena, Xie Yue, Yan, and Ning Buhui lured the Jasper Flood Dragon from its pool and attacked it, but its Weak Water Binding trapped the first three. Ning Buhui’s Bear Iron Wall freed them and doubled their attributes, leaving the team driving the dragon back while Ning Buhui sensed something was wrong.

• Hu Liena scattered Phoenix Flower petals from the pool to an ambush site, drawing the Jasper Flood Dragon out of the water.
• Yan, Xie Yue, and Hu Liena launched a surprise attack while Ning Buhui strengthened and shielded them with his Soul Skills.
• The Jasper Flood Dragon used Weak Water Binding to slow and trap the three attackers, then prepared to strike them.
• Ning Buhui cast Bear Iron Wall on Yan, Xie Yue, and Hu Liena, freeing them from the control effect and boosting their attributes.
• The strengthened trio unleashed their strongest attacks and forced the Jasper Flood Dragon backward, while Ning Buhui sensed that something was wrong.