Chapter Summaries

Ning Tianchen lectured Ning Rongrong about the danger of provoking Battle Spirit Masters and continued traveling with her toward Shrek Academy. After they entered a dark mountain pass, bandits ambushed them, and Ning Tianchen raised a sword barrier to deflect their crossbow bolts.

• Ning Tianchen and Ning Rongrong fled Barack City, and he warned her not to provoke people recklessly because Support System Spirit Masters could not defend themselves against Battle Spirit Masters.
• Ning Rongrong accepted his lecture, and the two traveled at a relaxed pace toward Suotuo City while she checked in at the cities they visited.
• Ning Rongrong urged Ning Tianchen to cross the mountain road before nightfall because bandits might attack them there, and he agreed to travel on foot with her boosting his speed.
• As darkness fell, Ning Tianchen and Ning Rongrong descended the mountain using the light of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda Spirit.
• When Ning Rongrong stepped on something and rustling came from the bushes, Ning Tianchen summoned the Seven Kill Sword Spirit and used Dragon Sword Guardian to deflect the bandits' crossbow bolts.

Ning Tianchen and Ning Rongrong were trapped by Black Wind Stronghold bandits, who attacked after learning the pair belonged to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Ning Tianchen killed the bandits with Ning Rongrong’s support, then used his External Soul Bone skill to disarm and strike down their leader.

• Ning Tianchen and Ning Rongrong were surrounded by more than twenty Black Wind Stronghold bandits after triggering hidden traps on the road.
• The bandit leader demanded their money and threatened to keep Ning Rongrong, so Ning Tianchen summoned his Seven Kill Sword and Ning Rongrong enhanced his strength and speed.
• Ning Tianchen unleashed his sword aura and Azure Dragon Break, killing the bandits and their three Soul Grandmasters.
• The surviving leader held Ning Rongrong at swordpoint and made demands, while Ning Tianchen pretended to negotiate.
• Ning Tianchen activated Feather Blade Barrage, and flying blades pierced the leader’s neck and severed the arm holding his sword.

Ning Tianchen rescued Ning Rongrong from Black Wind Stronghold bandits, then continued their journey toward Suotuo City. They rested in a nearby city, where Ning Tianchen weighed their academy options and considered Tang San’s future opportunity.

• Ning Tianchen used his Sword Wings to kill Big Man and rescue Ning Rongrong, then flew with her down the mountain to wash off the blood.
• Ning Tianchen kept watch while Ning Rongrong washed, and helped clean her back at her request.
• Ning Tianchen and Ning Rongrong entered a nearby city at dawn and heard that Black Wind Stronghold’s boss had been killed and its members were fleeing.
• Ning Tianchen checked their route and urged Ning Rongrong to reach level thirty after enrollment, while considering Tang San’s coming acquisition of the Eight Spider Spirit Bone.
• Ning Tianchen set aside his doubts about their academy plans and fell asleep at the hotel.

Ning Tianchen and Ning Rongrong arrived in Suotuo City and set out to find Shrek Academy, whose strict admissions led them to suspect it had few students. They booked the last room at the Rose Hotel, where they briefly passed Dai Mubai before opening the door to their suite and freezing at its decorations.

• Ning Tianchen explained that Shrek Academy's strict admission requirements meant it likely had very few students, but Ning Rongrong still hoped the school had a hidden advanced campus.
• Ning Tianchen and Ning Rongrong asked a parent for Shrek Academy's location, then headed toward the address despite Ning Rongrong's belief that its shabby appearance might be a test.
• Ning Rongrong chose the Rose Hotel, and Ning Tianchen paid for its last available room after another couple took one of the final two rooms.
• Ning Tianchen recognized Dai Mubai as he descended the stairs with a woman, but Dai Mubai did not notice him or Ning Rongrong.
• Ning Tianchen unlocked the Pink Flower Sea suite, and he and Ning Rongrong froze at its interior decorations.

Ning Tianchen and Ning Rongrong explored Suotuo City and visited Flender’s shop, where Ning Rongrong recognized a Soul Tool as stolen from a Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect elder’s tomb. Flender realized she belonged to the sect as the accusation put him on guard.

• Ning Tianchen had the attendant remove the pink toys from their hotel room before he and Ning Rongrong went sightseeing.
• Ning Tianchen recognized the unmarked shop as Flender’s and entered with Ning Rongrong.
• Ning Tianchen found Ban Jing Fa Jin while Ning Rongrong examined the Soul Tools.
• Ning Rongrong identified a set of Hand Beads in the shop as a Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect elder’s personal Soul Tool, stolen from his mausoleum.
• Flender denied that the beads were the same ones and noticed Ning Rongrong’s sect jade pendant.

Ning Tianchen and Ning Rongrong left Flender’s shop with three items after deciding they had no proof he had stolen them. At the hotel, they encountered Dai Mubai arguing over a room with Tang San and his younger sister, while Zhu Zhuqing watched from a distance.

• Ning Rongrong accused Flender of selling a stolen Hand Bead, but Ning Tianchen pointed out they had no evidence and stopped her from reporting him.
• Flender gave Ning Tianchen and Ning Rongrong the items and sent them away, and Ning Tianchen warned Rongrong against confronting a dangerous, powerful soul master without proof.
• Ning Tianchen and Ning Rongrong returned to the hotel and spotted Dai Mubai, while Zhu Zhuqing watched him from afar before disappearing.
• Dai Mubai argued that a room belonged to him, and Ning Tianchen recognized Tang San as a young Soul Grandmaster who appeared to be seeking admission to Shrek Academy.
• Ning Rongrong called Dai Mubai an Evil Eye Lecherous Tiger after learning he was a Soul Elder, while Dai Mubai mistook her earlier praise of his strength for admiration.

Ning Tianchen and Ning Rongrong met Tang San and Xiao Wu at a hotel and arranged to travel with them to Shrek Academy. The four reached the village where registration was taking place and got out of the carriage near the long line.

• Dai Mubai defeated Tang San in their spar, gave him the room, and introduced himself to Ning Tianchen and Ning Rongrong.
• Ning Rongrong invited Tang San and Xiao Wu to travel with her and Ning Tianchen, and the four met at the hotel the next morning.
• Tang San and Xiao Wu visited Flender's shop, but found nothing useful, and Tang San felt that he had lost something important before Xiao Wu reassured him.
• Ning Rongrong arranged a carriage ride to Shrek Academy, and the four arrived at the village entrance and got out near the registration line.

Ning Tianchen, Ning Rongrong, Tang San, and Xiao Wu arrived at Shrek Academy and passed its entrance test despite the academy’s shabby appearance and strict rules. Li Yusong recognized Ning Tianchen, but still tested all four before admitting them and asking Dai Mubai to take them inside.

• Ning Tianchen recognized Li Yusong as the stall owner who had sold him Ten Core Competencies of Martial Soul.
• Dai Mubai used his strength as a Three-Ringed Soul Grandmaster to stop a father from demanding the registration fee back, while Li Yusong revealed his six spirit rings to calm the crowd.
• Tang San defended Shrek Academy’s nonrefundable fees as a way to screen applicants, while Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong questioned the policy.
• Li Yusong greeted Ning Tianchen warmly but insisted that he and his companions take the entrance tests.
• Ning Rongrong, Tang San, Xiao Wu, and Ning Tianchen passed the tests, and Li Yusong told Dai Mubai to take them inside.

Ning Tianchen revealed that he was a Three-Ringed Soul Grandmaster and joined the Shrek Academy applicants as they headed for their final assessment. While waiting, he and the others encountered Oscar selling sausages, and Ning Tianchen persuaded Ning Rongrong to try one despite the others’ disgust.

• Ning Tianchen showed the crowd his Seven Kill Sword Spirit and three soul rings, proving he was a Soul Grandmaster.
• Dai Mubai led Tang San, Xiao Wu, Ning Tianchen, and Ning Rongrong through Shrek Academy, where he explained that Ning Rongrong could skip the first two tests and go directly to the final stage.
• The group got hungry while waiting, so Tang San bought sausages from Oscar.
• Ning Tianchen asked Oscar to demonstrate how he made the sausages, causing Tang San and Xiao Wu to spit theirs out and Ning Rongrong to stomp hers into the ground.
• Oscar revealed that he was a fourteen-year-old student, and Ning Tianchen ate a sausage while explaining its benefits as Food System Spirit Master food.
• Dai Mubai returned with a girl in black and warned Ning Tianchen not to eat the sausage, but Ning Rongrong asked Oscar for one to restore her strength before the test.

Ning Tianchen organized the five examinees to survive Zhao Wuji’s Soul Saint-level test by exploiting his lack of speed and keeping Zhu Zhuqing out of danger. Their plan began to falter when Zhao Wuji’s powerful spirit abilities overwhelmed their opening attacks.

• Zhao Wuji replaced Dai Mubai as examiner and gave the five examinees one incense stick to plan before they had to endure his attacks for the same amount of time.
• Ning Tianchen assigned Tang San to control Zhao Wuji, himself to attack, Xiao Wu to assist, Ning Rongrong to provide support, and Zhu Zhuqing to stay clear of the battle and rescue injured teammates.
• The five formed a line on the arena and Ning Rongrong enhanced Ning Tianchen before he struck Zhao Wuji with sword energy.
• Zhao Wuji used his First Spirit Ability to withstand and reflect Ning Tianchen’s attack, then tore apart Tang San’s Blue Silver Grass restraints.
• Ning Tianchen redirected the reflected sword energy with his Seven Kill Sword, but Zhao Wuji destroyed the resulting Azure Dragon Break with his Vajra Palm.
• Tang San raised a Blue Silver Grass wall and used Controlling Crane Capturing Dragon to pull Xiao Wu out of Zhao Wuji’s attack range.

Ning Tianchen and the others continued their trial against Zhao Wuji, but Tang San abandoned their original strategy and led an attack that provoked Zhao Wuji into unleashing his gravity ability. Zhao Wuji struck Ning Tianchen back and severely injured Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing, leaving Tang San enraged as the trial continued.

• Ning Tianchen used the Seven Treasures speed enhancement to engage Zhao Wuji in close combat, and Zhao Wuji slowed his attacks while guiding him.
• Tang San persuaded Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong to join his plan to attack Zhao Wuji, despite Ning Tianchen's strategy to keep fighting defensively.
• Tang San used Ghost Vine spores to bind Zhao Wuji, and Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, and Ning Tianchen launched a coordinated assault.
• Zhao Wuji used Gravity Enhancement to break their attacks, struck Ning Tianchen back, and sent Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing crashing through several walls.
• Ning Rongrong enhanced Ning Tianchen before withdrawing from the arena, while Tang San swore revenge on Zhao Wuji for hurting Xiao Wu.

Tang San exhausted his hidden weapons against Zhao Wuji, and Ning Tianchen stepped in to keep him alive and continue the trial. Ning Tianchen forced Zhao Wuji to use his Martial Soul Avatar, then collapsed from exhaustion and was caught by Zhao Wuji.

• Tang San attacked Zhao Wuji with hidden weapons, but Zhao Wuji’s defenses repelled most of them.
• Ning Tianchen blocked Zhao Wuji’s tracking attack with his Seven Kill Sword, buying Tang San time before Zhao Wuji grabbed and threw him aside.
• Ning Tianchen faced Zhao Wuji alone and used his sword to block a punch, then escaped the next strike with his Sword Wings.
• Ning Tianchen baited Zhao Wuji into the air and unleashed hidden feather blades alongside the Seven Kill Sword at his back.
• Zhao Wuji activated his Martial Soul Avatar to withstand the attack, while Ning Tianchen exhausted his Soul Power and fell unconscious.
• Zhao Wuji caught Ning Tianchen before he hit the ground and praised him.

Ning Tianchen recovered after exhausting his Soul Power in a spar that forced Zhao Wuji to use his Martial Soul Avatar, and Zhao Wuji accepted him and the others into Shrek Academy. As the new students settled in, Ning Tianchen and Ning Rongrong arranged food for their classmates and teachers, while carefully keeping their attitude toward Tang San non-hostile.

• Ning Rongrong and Dai Mubai found Zhao Wuji carrying Ning Tianchen, and Shao Xin restored Ning Tianchen with a candy pellet after confirming he was only weakened from depleted Soul Power.
• Ning Tianchen asked whether the group had passed the assessment, and Zhao Wuji told them to rest for the opening ceremony; Dai Mubai realized they were now classmates.
• Oscar gave Ning Tianchen and Ning Rongrong sausages, and Ning Tianchen agreed to share Oscar's dormitory; Li Yusong assigned the girls to a large dorm and placed Tang San with Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun.
• Ning Rongrong complained about Shrek's harsh living conditions, and Ning Tianchen consoled her while urging her to build good relationships with classmates and avoid antagonizing Tang San because Tang Hao might be watching.
• Ning Rongrong hired an honest villager to buy food, and he spent all ten Gold Soul Coins on dishes without keeping an errand fee.
• Ning Tianchen and Ning Rongrong brought the food into the academy, where Oscar and Dai Mubai joined them; Ning Tianchen proposed sharing the surplus with the teachers because the injured students were still in bed.

Ning Tianchen and Ning Rongrong met Ma Hongjun at Shrek Academy and learned more about the students’ behavior, while Flender heard about Ning Tianchen’s abilities. The chapter ended with Tang Hao attacking Zhao Wuji and Yu Xiaogang arriving to join Flender at the academy.

• Oscar delivered food to the teachers, and the group ate while Tang San and the others remained unconscious.
• Ma Hongjun arrived, flirted with Ning Rongrong, and introduced his Evil Fire Phoenix martial soul, which Ning Rongrong and Ning Tianchen mocked as looking like a chicken.
• Dai Mubai invited Ma Hongjun out for the night, and Oscar told Ning Rongrong about the pair’s womanizing; Ning Rongrong warned Ning Tianchen not to follow their example.
• Flender learned from Zhao Wuji that Ning Tianchen was likely Sword Dao Chen Xin’s disciple and worried about Ning Rongrong’s opinion of him.
• Tang Hao called Zhao Wuji outside and beat him especially hard because Tang San had been seriously injured.
• Yu Xiaogang traveled toward Shrek Academy, intending to join Flender and help manage the academy.

Yu Xiaogang ran into a group of bandits while traveling at night, but they overpowered him and took most of his money. After escaping, he swore revenge and continued his journey more cautiously.

• Yu Xiaogang mistook the bandits' hesitation for no threat, but tripped and revealed that he was no expert.
• The bandits surrounded Yu Xiaogang, and he summoned Luo Sanpao to attack them with its foul-smelling spirit ability.
• The bandit leader's Gray Wolf martial soul subdued Luo Sanpao, and the bandits captured Yu Xiaogang.
• Yu Xiaogang begged for his life and handed over his money, including a Gold Spirit Card worth one hundred Gold Spirit Coins.
• The bandits let Yu Xiaogang go, unaware that he still had money in his bracelet Soul Tool.
• After running more than ten miles, Yu Xiaogang rested, vowed to make the bandits pay, and stopped traveling at night or taking shortcuts.

Ning Tianchen and the other Shrek students met Dean Flender at the academy’s opening ceremony, where he announced their lessons and an evening cultivation trip. Ning Tianchen suspected the trip would be to the Great Soul Arena and considered how his arrival had already changed events, including the upcoming spirit beast hunt.

• Tang San cultivated the Purple Demon Eyes at dawn, and Ning Tianchen failed to learn the technique by watching him.
• Ning Tianchen thanked Tang San for working as a team, then arranged breakfast so the Shrek students could eat together without Tang San and Xiao Wu clashing with Ma Hongjun.
• The eight students introduced themselves in the cafeteria, where Ma Hongjun brooded over his recent breakup with Cuihua.
• Flender welcomed the new students, told them to pay one hundred Gold Soul Coins in tuition, and announced that formal lessons would begin the next day.
• Ning Tianchen told Ning Rongrong that Flender’s evening cultivation trip would likely be to the Great Soul Arena and suggested the team could enter the Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament.
• Ning Tianchen practiced swordsmanship and reflected on how his arrival had altered events, including the possibility of complications during the coming spirit beast hunt.

Flender brought the students to the Great Soul Arena and set practical combat as their first lesson, explaining the badge system and requiring them to reach Silver rank before graduation. As the students learned about the arena’s challenges and abuses, they prepared to begin training there.

• After Dai Mubai’s lavish dinner, the students argued over his pursuit of Zhu Zhuqing while Tang San worried about becoming the team leader.
• Flender led the students to the Great Soul Arena, where he said they would train in practical combat.
• Ning Tianchen explained that the arena helped curb violence but could also profit from human trafficking, prompting Xiao Wu to object to entering.
• Flender described the Spirit Arena Badge ranks and tasked everyone with earning at least a Silver badge before graduation.
• Oscar explained why advancing through the ranks was difficult, and Ning Tianchen told Ning Rongrong that winning depended on real strength rather than exploiting level limits.

Ning Tianchen registered for the Great Soul Arena under the alias Sword Dao Tianchen and began his first one-on-one Spirit Fight against the brutal Evil Tiger. As Evil Tiger launched his first attack, Ning Tianchen countered with a blast of sword energy, leaving their match underway.

• Flender assigned the group one-on-one and Two-on-Two Spirit Fights, and Ning Tianchen agreed to team up with Oscar while Ning Rongrong paired with Zhu Zhuqing.
• The group registered for the Great Soul Arena, where Ning Tianchen chose the alias Sword Dao Tianchen.
• Dai Mubai was called to fight Li Gang, while Ning Tianchen was called to face Evil Tiger in the Border Area First Spirit Arena.
• Evil Tiger summoned his martial spirit and attacked with his first spirit ability, Tiger Descends the Mountain.
• Ning Tianchen swung the Seven Kill Sword and sent out sword energy, forcing Evil Tiger to abandon his pounce and defend.

Ning Tianchen fought Evil Tiger at the Great Soul Arena, using his sword techniques and spirit abilities to overcome the veteran fighter. He won the battle, leaving Evil Tiger severely injured and unable to compete for at least half a year.

• Ning Tianchen and Evil Tiger sized each other up before Ning Tianchen launched crossing streams of sword qi, which Evil Tiger evaded by circling to his flank.
• Evil Tiger attacked with his Second Spirit Ability, Tiger Claws, but Ning Tianchen raised a Sword Qi Barrier with Dragon Sword Guardian.
• Evil Tiger used his Third Spirit Ability, Tiger's Fury, and shattered Ning Tianchen's barrier after two breaths.
• Ning Tianchen countered with Pressing Sword Stance and struck Evil Tiger with an overwhelming downward slash.
• The referee declared Ning Tianchen the winner, and the audience cheered as Evil Tiger lay badly wounded with his tiger claw severed.

After defeating Evil Tiger, Ning Tianchen returned to the stands and learned that Zhu Zhuqing had lost to Tang San. He paired with Oscar for a Two-on-Two Spirit Fight, but the announcement of their opponents left him uneasy.

• Ning Tianchen defeated Evil Tiger with the Seven Kill Sword Manual, and the Great Soul Arena sent a Healing Spirit Master to treat Evil Tiger.
• Ning Tianchen returned to Ning Rongrong and Oscar, who congratulated him after hearing the crowd’s reaction to his fight.
• Ning Rongrong told Ning Tianchen that Zhu Zhuqing and Tang San had fought each other, and Ning Tianchen encouraged Zhu Zhuqing after her loss.
• Tang San reported that the Shrek members had won their other matches and suggested they prepare for the Two-on-Two Spirit Fights.
• The Great Soul Arena announced that Ning Tianchen and Oscar would face the Flying Dance Sisters Combination, and Ning Tianchen felt the match might be difficult.