Chapter Summaries

Long Tian used Ore Core Stones and the crystal’s residual essence to make Yu Jin a pearl that nourished his Fourth Ring, then fused his light and dark Qi into a new sixth Soul Ring. He returned to the stone house with his power transformed, while Yu Jin and Long Tieshan quietly witnessed the change.

• Long Tian roasted five Ore Core Stones over several days and mixed their powder with the crystal’s residual light to create a dark-gray pearl.
• Long Tian gave the pearl to Yu Jin to replace his stone pendant, and Yu Jin felt it begin nourishing his core.
• Long Tian circulated his light and dark Qi through the Closed Circuit until they fused within the Origin Return Pearl and formed a sixth Soul Ring.
• Long Tian found his Soul Power more than twice as strong and manifested a more complete gray-gold dragon, while Yu Jin watched from the doorway.
• Long Tian returned to the stone house and quietly joined Long Tieshan beside the hearth.

Long Tian tested the power of his newly formed Sixth Soul Ring and discovered that its dragon shadow could move independently while remaining linked to his Origin Return Pearl. After establishing its control range and practicing attacks with Yu Jin, he returned to the stone house for the evening meal.

• Long Tian activated all six Soul Rings and found that the dragon shadow had grown stronger, striking a rock hard enough to split it cleanly.
• Yu Jin tested the dragon shadow, and Long Tian discovered he could guide its movement with his thoughts after releasing it.
• Long Tieshan explained that the rings resonated with Long Tian because they had grown from his own origin rather than being added from outside.
• Long Tian tested the dragon shadow's range and found that its control remained stable within about twelve zhang before the connection weakened.
• Long Tian practiced turning the dragon shadow and combining its attacks with his own, and Yu Jin proposed fighting it the next day.
• Long Tian and Yu Jin returned to the stone house, where the family prepared the evening meal.

Meng Changyuan led a search party to the stone house, where Long Tian and Yu Jin confronted him. Long Tian’s power evolved into a two-headed dragon, and Meng Changyuan withdrew, leaving Long Tian and Yu Jin together in the clearing.

• Meng Changyuan arrived near the stone house with five followers after narrowing the search to the Heavenly Wolf Mountain Range.
• Long Tian and Yu Jin faced Meng Changyuan in the clearing, and Long Tian’s dragon attack joined with Yu Jin’s power to strike Meng Changyuan’s bracer.
• Long Tian’s Origin Return Pearl and six Soul Rings resonated as scales formed along his spine and a two-headed dragon appeared behind him.
• Long Tian released a deep hum that slowed Meng Changyuan’s Soul Rings, and Meng Changyuan ordered his followers to leave.
• Long Tian withdrew his power, and he and Yu Jin stood together in the clearing as night fell.

Long Tian examined the changes to the Origin Return Pearl after it produced a gray-gold dragon shadow, finding that it had shifted upward and formed a protective membrane around his body. After testing the shadow’s abilities, he learned from Yu Jin that a new core was forming inside the pearl and might make the dragon spine permanent.

• Long Tian and Yu Jin observed that the Origin Return Pearl had moved upward and that a permanent protective membrane now covered Long Tian’s body.
• Long Tian sensed a tiny cavity forming at the center of the pearl and memorized its position without probing further.
• Long Tian tested the dragon shadow on the hillside, finding that it lasted longer and could act without interfering with his Soul Skills.
• Long Tian told Yu Jin about the cavity inside the pearl, and Yu Jin said Long Tian’s origin was compressing residual matter to form a new core.
• Long Tian and Yu Jin walked back to the stone house as the gray-gold traces left by the dragon shadow faded.

Long Tian completed the formation of a new core inside the Origin Return Pearl, strengthening and stabilizing his dragon manifestation. The chapter left him looking toward the southern ridgeline after Shen Mo reported that Meng Changyuan had remained at a temporary outpost there.

• Long Tian felt a new core taking shape inside the Origin Return Pearl and learned it would need two more days to stabilize.
• Yu Jin and Long Tieshan warned Long Tian to protect the forming core and avoid fully activating his sixth ring.
• Long Tian and Yu Jin paused Qi harmonization while Long Tian allowed the core to condense through basic cultivation.
• On the sixth evening, Long Tian confirmed the core had stabilized and manifested a stronger two-headed dragon shadow that lasted nearly a quarter of an hour.
• Shen Mo reported that Meng Changyuan had not returned to camp and had kept his squad at a temporary outpost south of the mountains.
• Long Tian stood at the doorway and watched the southern ridgeline after hearing the report.

Long Tian went to Deer Cry Gully with Yu Jin and faced Meng Changyuan across the open slope, holding his ground beneath the arborvitae. Meng Changyuan withdrew into his tent, and Long Tian returned to the stone house with Yu Jin.

• Shen Mo reported that Meng Changyuan had camped six li from the stone house and was waiting without attacking or leaving.
• Long Tian surveyed Meng Changyuan's camp and told Yu Jin he intended to go there to draw a line; Yu Jin agreed to accompany him.
• Long Tian and Yu Jin went to the arborvitae above Deer Cry Gully, where Long Tian revealed his six Soul Rings and hovering two-headed dragon shadow.
• Meng Changyuan emerged from his tent and watched Long Tian from across the slope, but neither man advanced or spoke.
• Meng Changyuan went back into his tent, and Long Tian waited until the camp's smoke dispersed before withdrawing his dragon shadow.
• Yu Jin said Meng Changyuan had seen Long Tian's display, and Long Tian returned to the stone house, where Long Tieshan continued grinding iron.

After the camp at Deer Cry Gully withdrew, Long Tian predicted their enemy would seek another way to pressure them and decided to return to Bluestone Town. He and Yu Jin left the stone house together, leaving the crystal in Long Tieshan’s care as they headed toward town.

• Shen Mo reported that the camp at Deer Cry Gully had packed up and gone south, and Long Tian said their enemy would look for another way to approach them.
• Long Tian told Yu Jin he wanted to return to Bluestone Town and explain his disappearance to Zhao Xiaopang, Chen Hao, Mr. Wang, and the academy; Yu Jin said he would go with him.
• Long Tieshan stayed behind to guard the stone house and Ore Core Stone, while the crystal was left in his care.
• Long Tian and Yu Jin packed a small bundle and left the stone house early the next morning.
• Long Tian and Yu Jin rested near Soul Hunting Town, then continued along the main road toward Bluestone Town.

Long Tian returned to Bluestone Town Junior Soul Master Academy after three years away, bringing Yu Jin and reuniting with Zhao Xiaopang, Mr. Wang, and Chen Hao. He revealed that he had reached six rings, then sat with his friends for noodles as Zhao Xiaopang caught him up on what had happened.

• Long Tian and Yu Jin arrived at the academy, where Long Tian paused to watch the children studying.
• Zhao Xiaopang recognized Long Tian, rushed over, and learned that Yu Jin was traveling with him.
• Mr. Wang came out to greet Long Tian and remarked that he had grown taller.
• Chen Hao arrived, asked Long Tian how many rings he had, and heard that he had six.
• The four shared noodle soup in the dining hall while Zhao Xiaopang recounted the months Long Tian had been away.

Long Tian spent one night visiting the academy, where he reunited with Zhao Xiaopang, Chen Hao, and Mr. Wang before leaving for the mountain with Yu Jin at daybreak. Chen Hao and Zhao Xiaopang planned to remain at the academy, and Long Tian expected the bead’s new core to connect fully with his six rings after about ten more days of cycles.

• After Long Tian said he would leave early the next morning, Mr. Wang patted his shoulder and returned to the lecture hall.
• Long Tian sat beneath the old banyan tree with Yu Jin and recalled training there with Zhao Xiaopang.
• At dinner, Chen Hao said he and Zhao Xiaopang would stay at the academy to help Mr. Wang, and asked Long Tian to send word when he had settled things.
• Yu Jin asked how long it would take the bead’s new core to connect fully with Long Tian’s six rings, and Long Tian estimated about ten more days of cycles.
• At daybreak, Long Tian and Yu Jin left the academy; Chen Hao said he would keep the goods for Long Tian when they arrived.

Long Tian refined his new core until it fused with the Origin Return Pearl, then combined Qi with Yu Jin and felt their Closed Circuit resonance shape something within the pearl. The two-headed dragon shadow grew clearer but remained incomplete as night fell.

• Long Tian cycled his Soul Power through the Origin Return Pearl and new core three times, causing scales to emerge on his back and a two-headed dragon shadow to appear briefly.
• For three days, Long Tian repeated the cultivation cycle until the new core joined the Origin Return Pearl.
• Long Tian sensed that the fused core rotated in sync with the Origin Return Pearl and carried greater force.
• Long Tian and Yu Jin combined their Qi, and the new core directly absorbed and refined Yu Jin's Power of Origin.
• Their Closed Circuit resonance compressed and shaped something within the Origin Return Pearl as the two-headed dragon shadow grew clearer.
• Long Tian and Yu Jin ended their cultivation, and the dragon shadow dispersed into specks of light.

Long Tian trained alone on the hillside, guiding his Soul Power through twelve circuits as his new core strengthened and the two-headed dragon image appeared without being summoned. He returned to Yu Jin, who explained that the image would follow his movements on its own next time, and the two went inside after the glowing dust faded.

• Long Tian went alone to the hillside while Yu Jin stayed by the stone house with Long Tieshan.
• Long Tian channeled Soul Power through his Origin Return Pearl and new core, completing twelve circuits as scales emerged and the two-headed dragon image appeared on its own.
• Long Tian finished training and returned to the house, leaving a circle of faintly glowing dust on the hillside.
• Yu Jin told Long Tian that the dragon image would follow his movements on its own during his next set of circuits.
• Long Tian and Yu Jin sat together until the glowing dust faded, then returned inside and closed the door.

Long Tian’s two-headed dragon silhouette began appearing on its own and synchronizing with his movements, growing into a solid shape connected to his back. After the silhouette vanished when he entered the house, a mysterious vertical light appeared between its brows as he fell asleep.

• For three days, Long Tian continued his daily Qi circulation while the new core stabilized inside the Origin Return Pearl.
• On the fourth morning, the dragon silhouette lingered after his routine and Long Tian felt a synchronized line moving along his back.
• Yu Jin saw an incomplete dragon outline follow Long Tian down the hillside and mirror his movements without being summoned.
• The outline followed Long Tian throughout the day and became a fully solid two-headed dragon silhouette behind him that evening.
• Long Tieshan watched the silhouette and Long Tian’s changing hands without commenting.
• That night, the silhouette vanished at the threshold, then a vertical light appeared between its brows before Long Tian fell asleep.

Long Tian tested the dragon shadow’s growing abilities and found that it could strike with greater force, combine its attacks with his own, and act independently at a distance. After the shadow returned to his back, a line of light briefly appeared on its forehead.

• Long Tian tested the dragon shadow’s strikes and discovered that its claws cut temporary rifts in the air while its tail sweep uprooted and shifted a patch of grass.
• Long Tian had the dragon shadow strike a tree and combine its force with his palm wind, cutting the trunk and leaving a heated crater in a rock wall.
• Yu Jin examined a cut blade of grass and asked whether the dragon shadow could move on its own.
• Long Tian directed the dragon shadow to fly away, and it traveled about ten zhang while keeping a stable connection to the Origin Return Pearl.
• The dragon shadow touched a shrub, returned to Long Tian’s back, and briefly lit the vertical line on its forehead.

Long Tian tested his new defenses as Yu Jin attacked, then discovered that his dragon shadow could separate from his body and hover independently. The shadow remained connected to Long Tian through the Origin Return Pearl and new core, while its still-closed forehead eye awaited a future moment to open.

• Long Tian asked Yu Jin to attack him, and the dragon shadow deflected Yu Jin’s full-force strike without letting any residual force reach him.
• Long Tian spread his arms, and the dragon shadow opened its wings for the first time as scales emerged along his spine.
• Long Tian extended his palm, and the dragon shadow detached from his back and hovered a zhang away.
• Long Tian sensed that the Origin Return Pearl and new core continued to sustain the independent shadow through an increasingly smooth connection.
• Yu Jin watched the dragon shadow hover as light lingered in the embers in his eyes.
• The dragon shadow’s four eyes turned toward Long Tian while warmth continued to circulate around the closed light in its forehead.

Long Tian went openly to Spirit City with Yu Jin and faced Meng Changyuan in the Iron Guard compound. His dragon silhouette opened its third eye, dimming the basement’s Soul Power formations and slowing Meng Changyuan’s Soul Rings as they met in silence.

• Shen Mo told Long Tian that Meng Changyuan had placed three lines between the academy and the mine, targeting the stone house’s supply routes and Bluestone Town.
• Long Tian set out for Spirit City with Yu Jin, and his dragon silhouette suppressed the Soul Power of three Iron Guard men who blocked the road.
• Long Tian left his token at Old Chen’s Blacksmith Shop before heading to the Iron Guard’s northern city compound.
• Long Tian entered the underground chamber and confronted Meng Changyuan beside the wreckage of the Reverse Fusion Device.
• Long Tian’s dragon silhouette spread its wings and opened its third eye, dimming the formation patterns and slowing the rotation of Meng Changyuan’s two purple Soul Rings.

Long Tian used his dragon shadow’s force field to extinguish the Soul Power in Meng Changyuan’s bracers and the basement formations, leaving the Reverse Fusion Device dark. Long Tian and Yu Jin left the camp and continued into the mountains with the dragon shadow still hovering over them, approaching the stone house where smoke rose from the roof.

• Long Tian’s dragon shadow opened its third eye and suppressed the Soul Power patterns throughout the basement.
• Meng Changyuan’s bracers went dark, and the Reverse Fusion Device’s remaining formations and Soul Rings lost their glow.
• Long Tian left the basement with Yu Jin, and the iron door closed behind them without its formations reactivating.
• Long Tian walked out of the camp and along the road with the dragon shadow following him, while Yu Jin accompanied him.
• Long Tian and Yu Jin continued up the wooded mountain slope toward the stone house, where smoke rose through the trees.

Long Tian returned to the stone house with a fully formed dragon shadow that could exist without his effort and would follow him wherever he went. By dawn, the shadow remained above the doorway and the gray-gold traces of his journey still stretched toward the mountains.

• Long Tian entered the clearing with the complete dragon shadow hovering behind him, and his family watched as he spread a gray-gold veil of light over the area.
• Yu Jin's dark gray sphere glowed brighter on its own within the veil.
• Long Tieshan examined the dragon shadow and told Long Tian it would remain with him without needing to be maintained.
• Long Tian lowered his hands and went inside, while the dragon shadow settled above the doorway.
• Gray-gold light dust remained along Long Tian's route through the night, and at dawn he saw its traces stretching toward the mountains.

The presiding judge of Spirit Hall visited Long Tian to examine the dragon shadow that had persisted outside his home for three days. He reported that Meng Changyuan had been removed and his experiments were under investigation, then declared that Long Tian’s existence would be recorded by the continent’s Soul Master system.

• The presiding judge arrived alone at Long Tieshan’s home and greeted him after observing the dragon shadow.
• The judge examined Long Tian’s persistent dragon shadow and briefly manifested two deep-red Soul Rings, but the dragon shadow held back their pressure.
• The judge told Long Tian that Meng Changyuan had been removed, his experimental system was being dismantled, and he was awaiting trial without implicating anyone above him.
• Long Tian said Meng Changyuan could not have acted alone for ten years, and the judge replied that Spirit Hall would investigate the matter separately.
• The judge said Long Tian’s existence had reached a point that the continent’s Soul Master system must record it, and that Soul Masters across the continent would know his name.

Long Tian received an invitation to Spirit City's Soul Master General Assessment and arrived with his complete dragon silhouette hovering behind him. At the assessment, he revealed its power before the assembled sects, academies, and crowd, while the examiner left his results unspoken.

• A messenger delivered Long Tian an invitation to the Soul Master General Assessment in Spirit City, naming him first on the invitee list.
• Long Tian sent his two-headed dragon silhouette high above the mountain clearing, where it hovered over the house and mountain range.
• Ten days later, Long Tian entered Spirit City's central square as the crowd watched his dragon silhouette pass above the procession.
• The white-haired examiner began Long Tian's assessment, but did not announce the specific figures shown by the formation crystal.
• Long Tian raised his hand, and his dragon silhouette spread its wings and opened the third eye on its forehead, sending a gray-gold beam through the clouds.
• Long Tian lowered his hand and the dragon closed its eye and folded its wings as glowing dust settled across the square.

After Long Tian received a warning about a ship leaving the Northern Territory mine, he and Yu Jin raced there and found that it had already departed with Ore Core Stone. They traced the ship’s route downstream, but the cargo’s destination remained unknown.

• Yu Jin gave Long Tian a Soul Power message warning that a ship would leave the Northern Territory mine that night with cargo that was not Ore Core Stone.
• Long Tian and Yu Jin ran north from Spirit City through the night, using their Soul Power and the Power of Origin to keep pace.
• At dawn, Long Tian and Yu Jin reached the apparently abandoned mining area and found signs of a recent departure.
• Long Tian followed the drag marks to the mudflats and found a ship’s hull scrape and Ore Core Stone powder on the water.
• Long Tian estimated the ship had left at least two hours earlier, and he and Yu Jin watched the powder drift downstream toward the distant river mouth.