Chapter Summaries

Wang Xiaofeng let Ma Hongjun and Oscar investigate a commotion that turned out to be a group of Soul Masters fleeing a pack of Soul Beasts. The pair joined the fugitives and encountered Lei Ming, vice commander of the Iron Blood Mercenary Group, then agreed to play along while keeping escape options ready.

• Wang Xiaofeng allowed Ma Hongjun and Oscar to fly toward the approaching commotion, giving Oscar two buffs to protect him.
• Ma Hongjun and Oscar found a Soul Emperor, two Soul Kings, and a Soul Ancestor fleeing a large group of Soul Beasts.
• A wind blade cut down the tree where Ma Hongjun and Oscar were hiding, forcing them to join the fleeing group.
• Oscar claimed that he and Ma Hongjun were working for the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, discouraging the four strangers from treating them as easy scapegoats.
• Lei Ming introduced himself as vice commander of the Iron Blood Mercenary Group and asked the pair to help fight the Soul Beasts, while they privately discussed their sausages and chose to play along.

Oscar and Ma Hongjun agreed to help Lei Ming’s Iron Blood Mercenary Group fight off a Soul Beast horde, then tried to leave once they escaped. Lei Ming’s group surrounded them and accused them of lying about their connection to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

• Oscar agreed to help Lei Ming fight the Soul Beasts in exchange for being allowed to leave afterward.
• Lei Ming secretly decided that Oscar and Ma Hongjun had to die so they could not reveal what they knew about a treasure.
• Ma Hongjun and the others unleashed their soul skills, creating a stampede among the pursuing Soul Beasts and helping the group escape.
• After resting beneath a tree, Oscar and Ma Hongjun tried to leave, but a mercenary demanded that Oscar make food for the group.
• Ma Hongjun stepped in to defend Oscar as Lei Ming’s group encircled them and Lei Ming accused them of pretending to belong to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

Flander stopped the Iron Blood Mercenary Group from escaping after they attacked his students, and Oscar chose to spare them with a lesser punishment. The group moved away from their camp, unaware that a powerful Soul Beast was closing in on the wounded mercenaries.

• Lei Ming and the other mercenaries tried to escape, but Flander blocked their attacks with his Soul Skills.
• Lei Ming and the others begged Ma Hongjun for mercy, claiming their families were being held hostage by their employer.
• Flander called on Oscar to decide the mercenaries’ fate, and Oscar ordered one hand cut off from each of them.
• Tang San, Liu Erlong, and Grandmaster discussed the mercenaries’ punishment and Ma Hongjun’s softness while Wang Xiaofeng sensed a powerful Soul Beast approaching.
• Miserable screams came from the tree hollow, and Flander emerged with Oscar and Ma Hongjun before the group moved to a new campsite.

The Thunderous Lightning Dragon tracked her stolen cub to the Iron Blood Mercenary Group and killed the mercenaries who refused to return it. After rescuing her cub, she headed back toward her territory, while a giant bear sensed a familiar scent and unleashed its power.

• As the Iron Blood Mercenary Group recovered in a tree hollow, the Thunderous Lightning Dragon found them and bit the short, thin man in half.
• Lei Ming and the surviving mercenaries refused to return the cub, and Lei Ming threatened to kill it when the Thunderous Lightning Dragon became trapped outside the hollow.
• The Thunderous Lightning Dragon uprooted the tree, and Lei Ming abandoned the others as he fled; she killed the remaining mercenaries and caught up with him.
• Lei Ming tried to kill the cub, but the Thunderous Lightning Dragon killed him with a lightning strike and reclaimed her child.
• A giant bear found its den empty, sensed a familiar scent, and unleashed black Soul Power that subdued nearby Soul Beasts.

After two days of searching Sunset Forest without finding suitable Soul Beasts, Tang San proposed using the Youxiang Qiluo Immortal Plant to attract powerful Soul Beasts. He and the Grandmaster discussed borrowing the protection of Dugu Bo’s poison array, leaving the group with a risky new plan.

• Wang Xiaofeng reassured Oscar about killing the Iron Blood Mercenary Group members, and the Shrek group camped for the night without incident.
• Flander refused Zhao Wuji’s offer to punish the Iron Blood Mercenary Group, saying Ma Hongjun could use them as a future trial.
• The Shrek group searched for two days but found no suitable Soul Beasts for Tang San, Ning Rongrong, or Zhu Zhuqing.
• Wang Xiaofeng and Oscar realized the group had reached the western volcano and needed to head east.
• Tang San proposed using the Youxiang Qiluo Immortal Plant to attract powerful Soul Beasts, and the Grandmaster recognized that he meant to borrow Dugu Bo’s poison array.

Tang San led the Shrek group to Dugu Bo’s poison formation and used the Youxiang Qiluo Immortal Plant to lure Soul Beasts for the students’ Soul Rings. A five-thousand-year Ghost Tiger attacked, and the group fought to keep it from reaching the herb.

• Tang San proposed using immortal herbs and Dugu Bo’s poison formation to attract Soul Beasts, and Flander approved the plan.
• The Shrek group traveled to the poison formation, where Tang San planted the Youxiang Qiluo Immortal Plant and released its fragrance.
• A Ghost Tiger nearly five thousand years old arrived, and Tang San and Wang Xiaofeng warned the group about its powerful physical shadow clones.
• The group destroyed several clones, but the Ghost Tiger kept charging toward the herb.
• Tang San identified the Ghost Tiger’s real body, and Zhu Zhuqing used Netherworld Slash to attack it.

Wang Xiaofeng helped the others kill a berserk Ghost Tiger, which Zhu Zhuqing could absorb as her Soul Ring. The Youxiang Qiluo Immortal Plant’s lingering scent drew dozens of powerful Soul Beasts to the poison array, including a Dragon-type beast over thirty thousand years old, leaving the group unsure whether the array could hold it back.

• Tang San and Zhu Zhuqing wounded the charging Ghost Tiger, and Wang Xiaofeng used Oscar’s Phantom Sausage and Eight Extremes - Instant to cripple it.
• Zhu Zhuqing killed the Ghost Tiger, and Dai Mubai dragged its body into the poison array.
• The Grandmaster identified a terrifying baleful aura in the Ghost Tiger’s three-slash wound, while the group concluded that Zhu Zhuqing could absorb its Soul Ring.
• Dozens of Soul Beasts gathered around the poison array, drawn by the Youxiang Qiluo Immortal Plant’s lingering fragrance, and launched ranged attacks.
• A Dragon-type Soul Beast over thirty thousand years old arrived, and Flander questioned whether Dugu Bo’s poison array could stop it.

Tang San’s Youxiang Qiluo drew dozens of powerful Soul Beasts to the poison formation, including a Thunderous Lightning Dragon that hesitated to enter. The group chose a Scale Armor Beast for Ning Rongrong’s Fourth Soul Ring and used Flying God Claws to pull it inside.

• The Thunderous Lightning Dragon arrived with a herd of Soul Beasts and stared at the Youxiang Qiluo but did not dare cross the poison formation.
• Flander and Grandmaster urged Tang San and Ning Rongrong to choose Soul Beasts while Liu Erlong, Zhao Wuji, and Flander practiced with Flying God Claws.
• Grandmaster recommended a roughly 4,300-year-old Scale Armor Beast as a defensive Soul Ring for Ning Rongrong.
• Liu Erlong, Flander, and Zhao Wuji hooked the Scale Armor Beast with their Flying God Claws and dragged it into the poison formation.

A Bloodthirst Demon Spider ambushed the group while Zhao Wuji and Liu Erlong were away, and its powerful attack put Xiao Wu, Oscar, and Ning Rongrong in immediate danger. Wang Xiaofeng realized the spider was behind the other Soul Beasts’ madness, while the battle continued.

• Flander restrained the poisoned Scale Armor Beast, and Tang San persuaded Grandmaster to let him pursue the Ten Thousand Year Cave Demon Spider as his Soul Ring.
• Zhao Wuji and Liu Erlong went to capture the Cave Demon Spider, which proved frenzied and easily disabled Flander's Flying God Claw.
• The Bloodthirst Demon Spider burst from beneath the ground, killed the Scale Armor Beast, and forced Dai Mubai, Zhu Zhuqing, and the others to defend themselves.
• Xiao Wu rescued Oscar and Ning Rongrong from the spider’s attack, then used her Charm skill and a kick to escape its reach.
• Wang Xiaofeng sensed the Bloodthirst Demon Spider’s violent baleful aura and realized it had caused the Ghost Tiger and Cave Demon Spider to go mad.

Wang Xiaofeng, Flander, and the others stopped the Bloodthirst Demon Spider from killing Xiao Wu, and Tang San drained the weakened beast with his Eight Spider Lances. Meanwhile, Zhao Wuji was cut off by a group of soul beasts, and Flander and Liu Erlong rushed to rescue him as the fighting continued.

• Wang Xiaofeng caught Oscar with Calabash Vine, Zhu Zhuqing caught Ning Rongrong, and Flander used his Martial Soul Avatar to smash the Bloodthirst Demon Spider nearly to death.
• Tang San attacked the spider with his Eight Spider Lances and began absorbing its life force, while the others checked for injuries and Oscar discovered he was bleeding.
• Zhao Wuji noticed the danger at the poison formation, but the Thunderous Lightning Dragon and six other Ten Thousand Year Soul Beasts blocked his way back.
• Liu Erlong returned to Grandmaster, then realized she had left Zhao Wuji behind; Flander and Liu Erlong hurried toward the sounds of battle.
• Zhao Wuji used his Gravity Domain to break through the soul beasts' encirclement, and Flander and Liu Erlong reached him as a Fire Dragon drove off his pursuers.

Liu Erlong, Flander, and Zhao Wuji fought eight powerful Ten Thousand Year Soul Beasts as they tried to escape the encirclement. Liu Erlong and Flander remained locked in battle while Zhao Wuji killed the Six-Winged Golden Mantis, then struggled to endure attacks from the Shadow Leopard and Scarlet Flame Lion.

• Liu Erlong used her Dragon Flame to burn soul beasts while Zhao Wuji and Flander regrouped amid the encirclement.
• The Thunderous Lightning Dragon charged, and Liu Erlong transformed with her seventh Soul Ring and struck it repeatedly with her fists.
• Flander evaded the Three-Eyed Azure Eagle’s ambush and fought it above the poison formation.
• Zhao Wuji lured the Six-Winged Golden Mantis into range and killed it with his Vajra Palm.
• The Shadow Leopard and Scarlet Flame Lion attacked Zhao Wuji, who activated his Immovable Wisdom King Body to withstand them.

Zhao Wuji used his final roar to badly injure the Soul Beasts surrounding him, and Wang Xiaofeng and the others arrived as the beasts fled. Wang Xiaofeng then joined Liu Erlong’s battle with the Thunderous Lightning Dragon, helping her land a powerful blow.

• Zhao Wuji unleashed his Vajra Strength Roar, killing two Ten Thousand Year Soul Beasts and seriously injuring the other three.
• Zhao Wuji called for Wang Xiaofeng and Tang San, and Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing arrived with Wang Xiaofeng to help him.
• The three injured Ten Thousand Year Soul Beasts fled, and Wang Xiaofeng sent Zhao Wuji back to rest before heading to support Liu Erlong and the Dean.
• Liu Erlong dodged the Thunderous Lightning Dragon’s tail and struck its head with her Exploding Fire Dragon Rush, enhanced by Wang Xiaofeng’s Boundless Strength Red Calabash.
• Wang Xiaofeng appeared beside Liu Erlong after his attack helped smash the Thunderous Lightning Dragon’s scales and draw blood.

Wang Xiaofeng fought the six-thousand-year Man Faced Demon Spider that had been stalking him, using his calabash abilities and hidden weapons to wound it. Liu Erlong arrived and struck the spider into the forest, but it remained at large as she exhausted her strength.

• Wang Xiaofeng discovered that the Man Faced Demon Spider had followed him after he left the poison array and realized it had marked him as prey.
• Wang Xiaofeng enhanced himself with four calabash abilities, dodged the spider's attack, and exposed its vulnerable abdomen with Flash Step.
• Wang Xiaofeng used Silent Sleeve Arrows charged with Soul Power to blast the Man Faced Demon Spider's tiny eyes and crack its abdominal armor.
• The Man Faced Demon Spider recovered, guarded its abdomen, and forced Wang Xiaofeng to rely on Flash Step and the Zhuge Divine Crossbow without gaining an advantage.
• Liu Erlong appeared, struck the Man Faced Demon Spider deep into the forest with her Dragon Fist, then collapsed from exhaustion and was caught by Wang Xiaofeng.

After the battle, Wang Xiaofeng helped the injured Liu Erlong return to the poison formation, where she reunited with Grandmaster, while Flander checked on Zhao Wuji and the students. Tang San absorbed the Bloodthirst Demon Spider’s power and regained control when he saw Xiao Wu; Zhu Zhuqing later completed her Soul Ring absorption as Ning Rongrong continued hers.

• Wang Xiaofeng brought Liu Erlong back to the poison formation and left her with Grandmaster, then joined Flander to check on Zhao Wuji, who was wrapped in bandages and wearing a pink bow.
• Zhao Wuji told Wang Xiaofeng that Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing were absorbing Soul Rings, Oscar and Dai Mubai were guarding them, and Xiao Wu was watching Tang San.
• Wang Xiaofeng explained that Bloodthirst Demon Spiders were rare mutations and suspected the one they defeated had reduced the number of Soul Beasts in Sunset Forest.
• Tang San finished absorbing the Bloodthirst Demon Spider, briefly appeared to have lost his mind, then regained his clarity when he saw Xiao Wu.
• Wang Xiaofeng preserved the Scale Armor Beast’s hide and left the shattered Bloodthirst Demon Spider corpse to Ma Hongjun.
• Zhu Zhuqing completed absorbing the Ghost Tiger’s Soul Ring an hour later, while Ning Rongrong was still absorbing hers.

Zhu Zhuqing demonstrated her Fourth Soul Skill, while Ma Hongjun found a Soul Bone in the Bloodthirst Demon Spider’s corpse and Xiao Wu acknowledged Liu Erlong as her godmother. As the group celebrated and waited anxiously for Tang San, Ning Rongrong finished absorbing her Soul Ring, and a figure finally appeared atop the Cliff Wall at dawn.

• Zhu Zhuqing revealed that Netherworld Shadow Clone created four tangible clones, each with thirty percent of her attack power, and used them to beat Dai Mubai.
• Ma Hongjun found a red left arm Soul Bone in the Bloodthirst Demon Spider’s corpse, and Grandmaster said it belonged to Tang San.
• Xiao Wu worried about Tang San’s return, accepted Liu Erlong’s comfort, and acknowledged her as her godmother.
• Ma Hongjun called the Soul Bone and Xiao Wu’s new godmother double blessings, then persuaded Flander to prepare a midnight feast from dead Soul Beasts.
• Ning Rongrong finished absorbing her Soul Ring and explained that her Fourth Soul Skill boosted defense and reflected ten percent of physical attacks.
• The group ate and waited through the night for Tang San, and a figure appeared atop the Cliff Wall at dawn.

Tang San reunited with Xiao Wu and refused to absorb the Bloodthirst Demon Spider's left arm Soul Bone, choosing to give it to Dai Mubai instead. Dai Mubai absorbed the Devouring Rampage Left Arm Bone, gained its devouring skill, and reached level forty-eight.

• Tang San returned carrying Xiao Wu, who had fallen asleep, and thanked the others for caring for her.
• Tang San declined to absorb the left arm Soul Bone, telling Grandmaster that he feared losing control to its destructive influence and wanted to give it to someone else.
• Grandmaster gave the Soul Bone to Dai Mubai on Tang San's behalf, and Dai Mubai was moved by the support he found among his Shrek brothers.
• Dai Mubai absorbed the Soul Bone while his companions guarded him, refining its evil aura with his Soul Power.
• Dai Mubai revealed that the bone's devouring skill let his left hand absorb energy to restore him, strengthened his left arm by thirty percent, and raised him to level forty-eight.

Tang San demonstrated his new group-control Fourth Soul Skill, and Grandmaster reviewed the team's failed assessment before revealing that their punishments were only inspirational messages. The group returned to Shrek Academy and was given a month and a half without scheduled activities.

• On the return journey, Tang San showed the group his Fourth Soul Skill, a durable group version of Blue Silver Cage, and renamed his Third Soul Skill Blue Silver Thrust.
• Wang Xiaofeng discussed team tactics using Tang San's new skill, and the group returned safely to Shrek Academy.
• Grandmaster reminded the group that they had failed Flander's assessment to protect the bell on Ning Rongrong and criticized their decisions in battle.
• Ma Hongjun and the others drew slips from Grandmaster's box and found inspirational sayings instead of punishments.
• Grandmaster dismissed the group and left them free for the next month and a half.

Wang Xiaofeng spent his month-and-a-half vacation cultivating and tending plants at the academy, then broke through to level forty-five. With the Elite Tournament preliminaries only seven days away, the Grandmaster gathered the team to explain the rules and prepare them for the competition.

• Oscar asked Wang Xiaofeng about his vacation plans and considered visiting Ning Rongrong’s home, but Wang Xiaofeng advised him to focus on cultivation, so Oscar went to train.
• Ning Rongrong came looking for Oscar, then left to find Xiao Wu after learning he had gone to cultivate; Wang Xiaofeng put Nidya’s letter away and began his planned vacation routine.
• After a month and a half of training, Wang Xiaofeng reached level forty-five and reflected on how Soul Power cultivation strengthened the body and meridians.
• Wang Xiaofeng learned that Xiao Wu had gone with Teacher Erlong to Sunset Forest to obtain a Soul Ring, while Xiao San had been forging for three days.
• The Grandmaster summoned the team to the grove near Liu Erlong’s wooden house and explained the Elite Tournament rules before the preliminary rounds began.

Grandmaster explained the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament rules and ordered Shrek Academy to conceal most of its strength during the Preliminary Competition. The next day, Xiao Wu returned with Liu Erlong, who privately told Grandmaster something unusual, while Tang San emerged from seclusion to upgrade his equipment.

• Tailong and the others reunited with Wang Xiaofeng’s group, and they discussed their cultivation and Soul Ring progress.
• Grandmaster distributed tournament materials and explained the competition stages, qualifying spots, and Preliminary Competition rules.
• Grandmaster limited participation to three of the eight team members per match, excluding Rongrong, to keep Shrek Academy’s trump cards hidden.
• Ma Hongjun volunteered to face all seven opponents alone, and Grandmaster promised to give him a suitable opportunity.
• Grandmaster encouraged Tailong, Jiang Zhu, Jing Ling, and Huang Yuan to prove themselves as members of the Shrek Battle Team.
• Liu Erlong returned with Xiao Wu and privately spoke to Grandmaster, while Tang San emerged from seclusion to upgrade his equipment.

Shrek Academy arrived at the Heaven Dou division’s opening ceremony, drawing attention for Flander’s advertising-covered uniforms. After other teams mocked their appearance, Shrek’s members traded insults with Azure Radiance Academy and hoped to provoke them into attacking first.

• Wang Xiaofeng saw the enormous crowds and learned from Grandmaster why the tournament drew people from every social class.
• Flander led Shrek Academy through the crowds in uniforms printed with advertisements, while the students complained about the clothes and the attention they attracted.
• Shrek reached its designated rest area and Ma Hongjun admitted that Flander had paid him to help persuade the team to wear the uniforms.
• After nearby teams laughed at Shrek’s outfits, Wang Xiaofeng urged his teammates to answer them with their strength.
• Ma Hongjun and Dai Mubai traded insults with Azure Radiance Academy until its members became furious and looked ready to start a fight.