Chapter Summaries

Shrek Academy entered the tournament amid mockery, while Wang Xiaofeng learned that Azure Radiance Academy’s Shi Nian could use illusions and might pose a threat. At the opening ceremony’s draw, Shrek was selected to face Heaven Dou Royal Academy in the first Preliminary Competition match.

• Shi Nian stopped Azure Radiance Academy’s students from confronting Shrek, and Flander warned that the petty Soul Saint could target them with his illusion-based Remnant Dream martial soul.
• Wang Xiaofeng was dragged to the opening ceremony as Shrek’s team entered, and the announcer mocked their uniforms and slogan.
• Flander suspected Prince Xue Xing had paid the announcer to insult Shrek, while Grandmaster explained that Xue Xing held a grudge against the academy.
• Ning Fengzhi praised an unnamed team he favored, leading every team to hope he meant them.
• The tournament draw selected Shrek Academy to face Heaven Dou Royal Academy in the first Preliminary Competition match.

Shrek Academy faced Heaven Dou Royal Academy’s Second Team in the tournament’s opening match, while Wang Xiaofeng skipped the fight to bet his entire fortune on Shrek. Shrek won in under ten seconds, leaving Wang Xiaofeng wondering how many gamblers had lost everything.

• Platinum Bishop Salas denied that the tournament draw had been rigged and offered finalists entry to the Spirit Hall Holy Temple, displeasing Xue Ye.
• Ma Hongjun persuaded Tang San to let him compete, while Wang Xiaofeng declined and headed back out of the lounge.
• Wang Xiaofeng met Flander at the Gambling Area, and the two bet their fortunes on Shrek as the academy’s odds fell.
• Tang San, Dai Mubai, and Ma Hongjun defeated Heaven Dou Royal Academy’s Second Team in under ten seconds, setting a tournament speed record.
• Wang Xiaofeng wondered how many people who had bet their fortunes were lining up to jump off the roof.

Shrek Academy crushed Heaven Dou Royal Academy’s Second Team, drawing attention from the audience and major figures while Flander and Wang Xiaofeng collected their betting winnings. After the match, Wang Xiaofeng met Ning Fengzhi, who invited him to visit the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect again, before Ning Fengzhi left with Tang San.

• Shrek Academy defeated Heaven Dou Royal Academy’s Second Team in under ten seconds, and Xue Ye angrily left while Salas resolved to recruit the wielder of a ten-thousand-year Fourth Soul Ring.
• The Shrek students celebrated their decisive victory, then changed clothes and left the arena as their reputation rose and Heaven Dou Royal Academy’s standing suffered.
• Flander and Wang Xiaofeng celebrated their students’ performance and collected their full gambling winnings after Flander intimidated the Gambling Area’s manager.
• Wang Xiaofeng found Tang San and the others with Ning Fengzhi, who welcomed him to visit the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect again.
• Ning Fengzhi ended the meeting and departed with a surprised Tang San.

After Shrek Academy celebrated its victory over Heaven Dou Royal Academy’s second team, Grandmaster gathered Wang Xiaofeng, Oscar, and Ning Rongrong to teach them the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect’s Distraction Control Secret Skill. He explained that the technique improved spiritual power and could help soul masters advance, and Ning Rongrong agreed to teach it to them.

• Shrek Academy’s teachers and students welcomed Wang Xiaofeng and the others after their victory, celebrating their humiliation of Heaven Dou Royal Academy’s second team.
• Wang Xiaofeng and Ma Hongjun joked about the attention they received from the cheering students.
• Grandmaster summoned Wang Xiaofeng, Oscar, and Ning Rongrong, then asked Ning Rongrong about her progress in Distraction Control.
• Grandmaster explained how Distraction Control coordinated support skills and strengthened spiritual power, which could help soul masters break through higher ranks.
• Ning Rongrong agreed to teach the skill to Tang San, Wang Xiaofeng, and Oscar.

Ning Rongrong taught Wang Xiaofeng, Tang San, and Oscar the Distraction Control Secret Skill, and Wang Xiaofeng quickly mastered the Three Aperture Control Heart. The next day, barred from the little grove until the others improved, he went to the Heaven Dou Great Spirit Arena to watch matches for research inspiration.

• Tang San accepted Ning Rongrong's offer to teach the sect secret skill after she received permission from her father.
• Ning Rongrong gave Wang Xiaofeng, Tang San, and Oscar personalized exercises for practicing multitasking.
• Wang Xiaofeng completed the Three Aperture Control Heart training in one afternoon, while Tang San and Oscar struggled.
• Ning Rongrong made Wang Xiaofeng agree to stay away from the little grove until the others made progress.
• Wang Xiaofeng went to the Heaven Dou Great Spirit Arena to watch matches and look for ideas for his research.

Blazing Academy overwhelmed Azure Radiance Academy in the tenth-round match, using their stronger Soul Masters and Martial Souls to secure a decisive victory. Wang Xiaofeng recorded both teams’ abilities and Soul Skills for future reference.

• The referee announced the Blazing Academy versus Azure Radiance Academy match, and both teams entered the Central Arena to loud cheers.
• Both teams released their Martial Souls, revealing that Blazing Academy had two Soul Ancestors while Azure Radiance Academy had only one.
• Azure Radiance Academy launched a coordinated attack with gem armor, watery mist, and rain, but Blazing Academy’s dragon-bloodline flames evaporated the clouds.
• Huo Wu struck Azure Radiance Academy’s wolf and jackal fighters with tracking fireballs while Blazing Academy’s other members intercepted their opponents.
• Blazing Academy dominated the match, though Azure Radiance Academy’s captain controlled the Fire Leopard and Fire Lion fighters into walking off the stage before conceding with serious injuries.
• Wang Xiaofeng recorded the competing Soul Masters’ traits and revealed Soul Skills in his notebook.

After Azure Radiance Academy lost to Blazing Academy, Shi Nian rallied his students by reminding them of their secret weapon. Wang Xiaofeng watched the tournament, then learned that Flander had secured an advertising deal for Shrek Academy before heading off to sample food from the Star Luo Empire.

• Wang Xiaofeng recorded the abilities of Azure Radiance Academy and Blazing Academy, suspecting Shi Nian had taught the illusion-using Azure Radiance captain.
• Huo Wushuang celebrated Blazing Academy’s victory, while his sister demanded that he treat her to three meals.
• Shi Nian scolded Azure Radiance Academy for losing heart and urged the team to recover and win its next match quickly.
• Wang Xiaofeng watched Lingji Advanced Soul Master Academy and Nuerdun Advanced Soul Master Academy fight, then judged both teams unremarkable.
• Flander showed Wang Xiaofeng an advertising agreement with Fragrant Dew Merchant House, promising Shrek Academy payments for each tournament match and a bonus for placing in the top three.
• Wang Xiaofeng left to find lunch and hurried toward a stall selling Star Luo Empire fried rice balls.

Wang Xiaofeng sampled Star Luo Empire Fried Rice Balls, then brought food back to the academy and found Tang San cultivating amid a vast field of Blue Silver Grass. Tang San emerged from the cultivation state an hour later, with Xiao Wu, Oscar, Ning Rongrong, and Wang Xiaofeng watching.

• Wang Xiaofeng bought and enjoyed Fried Rice Balls on Snack Street, then packed twenty servings and other local specialties before returning to the academy.
• Wang Xiaofeng shared the food with the others at the wooden cabin and learned that Tang San and Oscar were away training Heart Separation Control.
• Wang Xiaofeng and Xiao Wu found Grandmaster, Oscar, and Ning Rongrong in a clearing blanketed with Blue Silver Grass, where Tang San was cultivating.
• Grandmaster explained that Tang San seemed to have entered cultivation in a Top-Level Mimicry Environment, and Wang Xiaofeng joked with Oscar about it.
• After an hour, the Blue Silver Grass returned to normal and Tang San opened his eyes to find Xiao Wu beside Grandmaster and the others watching him.

Shrek Academy prepared to face Elephant Armor Academy in the Preliminary Competition while Wang Xiaofeng identified the opponents’ strengths and weaknesses. Flander brought the team advertisement-covered uniforms, which the female students refused to wear.

• Tang San described his earlier experience, and he and Ning Rongrong continued practicing Heart Separation Control with uneven progress.
• Shrek Academy ranked third after the first round, and the Grandmaster announced that Elephant Armor Academy would be their next opponent.
• Wang Xiaofeng explained that Elephant Armor Academy used Diamond Mammoth Martial Souls, a combined formation, and slow, momentum-building attacks that left them vulnerable from other directions.
• Tang San began arranging a lineup to counter Elephant Armor Academy, confident that he could win if they used the same lineup as before.
• Flander brought new uniforms bearing advertisements, and the female students refused to wear them despite his plea that the academy needed the funding.

Shrek Academy used a lottery to decide who would wear Flander's ugly uniforms and compete against Elephant Armor Academy, and Ma Hongjun drew the short straw for himself and Wang Xiaofeng. As the match began, Tang San countered Elephant Armor Academy's charge by having Ma Hongjun lift Shrek's team into the air.

• Tang San proposed drawing lots to choose which pairs would compete, and he assigned Wang Xiaofeng and Ma Hongjun to Group C.
• Ma Hongjun drew the shortest lot, so he and Wang Xiaofeng had to compete and put on Flander's ugly team uniforms.
• Shrek Academy and Elephant Armor Academy took the central Soul Battle Stage, while Flander recognized Elephant Armor Sect leader Hu Yanzhen beside Salas in the VIP section.
• Hu Yanli formed the Big Dipper Seven Stars Battle Formation and led Elephant Armor Academy in a charge toward Shrek.
• Tang San used Blue Silver Grass to link his teammates, then directed Ma Hongjun to lift the entire Shrek team into the air.

Tang San and Ma Hongjun used aerial tactics, Blue Silver Grass, and Phoenix Flame to overcome Elephant Armor Academy’s defenses. Poisonous smoke weakened the opposing team and broke their formation, leaving Ma Hongjun preparing a powerful follow-up attack.

• Ma Hongjun carried Shrek Academy’s team into the air, avoiding Elephant Armor Academy’s charging formation.
• Hu Yanli changed his team into an Iron Bucket Formation, but Tang San unleashed Blue Silver Grass that covered the arena and repeatedly bound them.
• Tang San called on Ma Hongjun to attack, and Ma Hongjun’s Phoenix Flame struck Elephant Armor Academy’s fused defensive barrier.
• The flames spread the Blue Silver Grass’s poison, making Elephant Armor Academy’s members cough and grow weak until their formation collapsed.
• Ma Hongjun formed a Lava Fireball with his Fourth Soul Ring as Tang San promised the weakened team another attack.

Ma Hongjun’s Phoenix Sunset Strike devastated Elephant Armor Academy, but Hu Yanli absorbed the Soul Power of two teammates and transformed into a giant. As Hu Yanli drove Shrek’s fighters to the brink, Wang Xiaofeng struck behind his knee, giving Tang San an opening to find a way to defeat him.

• Ma Hongjun hurled his Phoenix Sunset Strike at Elephant Armor Academy, and the explosion blasted several fighters away.
• Hu Yanli used Berserk Absorption to take Soul Power from two teammates, grew to fifteen meters tall, and shattered Tang San and Ma Hongjun’s fire field.
• Hu Yanli attacked the airborne Shrek team, knocking Tailong, Jiang Zhu, Jing Ling, and Huang Yuan off the stage while Ma Hongjun harassed him from the air.
• Wang Xiaofeng and Tang San fought Hu Yanli as Ma Hongjun returned injured, and Hu Yanli’s size and strength overwhelmed their attacks.
• Wang Xiaofeng struck the hollow behind Hu Yanli’s knee, making the giant drop to one knee, and Tang San realized he had found an opening.

Tang San identified Hu Yanli’s acupoints and coordinated with Wang Xiaofeng and Ma Hongjun to bring the giant down. Hu Yanzhen secretly gave Hu Yanli instructions, and Hu Yanli emerged from the flames wearing a helmet and blasted Ma Hongjun out of the arena.

• Tang San used his Purple Demon Eyes to find Hu Yanli’s acupoints, then marked him with Blue Silver Grass while Wang Xiaofeng and Ma Hongjun followed his plan.
• Wang Xiaofeng removed his training weights and struck the marked acupoints, shattering Hu Yanli’s armor and knocking him unconscious.
• Hu Yanli regained control of his body and threatened to kill the team, while Grandmaster said the final blow to his head had affected his mind.
• Ma Hongjun attacked Hu Yanli with Phoenix Dance of Nine Heavens as Hu Yanzhen secretly instructed his grandson from the VIP seats.
• Hu Yanli emerged from the flames wearing a strange helmet and fired a red beam that blasted Ma Hongjun out of the arena.

Wang Xiaofeng and Tang San struggled to evade Hu Yanli’s Soul Bone attack until Tang San devised a way to expose Hu Yanli’s weak point. They raced to strike marked acupoints within nine seconds, while Wang Xiaofeng unleashed a sudden surge of power that drew the VIP platform’s attention.

• Hu Yanli used his Head Soul Bone to fire a red ray at Tang San, who dodged with Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track.
• Hu Yanli trapped Wang Xiaofeng and Tang San in a barrage of fireballs, forcing them to search for a way to counterattack.
• Tang San told Wang Xiaofeng that they could reveal Hu Yanli’s weak point by striking the locations he marked within nine seconds.
• Tang San used Blue Silver Grass Parasite and Fairy Scattering Flowers to attack Hu Yanli’s acupoints, but worried that he was moving too slowly.
• Wang Xiaofeng activated four Soul Ring skills and smashed through Hu Yanli’s keratin armor, drawing notice from Xue Ye and Ning Fengzhi.

Tang San and Wang Xiaofeng defeated Hu Yanli and secured Shrek Academy’s victory over Elephant Armor Academy, though both fighters suffered severe injuries. The chapter ended with Oscar feeding an unconscious Wang Xiaofeng Sausage while the Grandmaster ordered the team to take him back for treatment.

• Tang San pushed himself to seal Hu Yanli’s acupoints, while Wang Xiaofeng struck Hu Yanli’s head with Crushing Fist and completed the sealing.
• Tang San used Blue Silver Grass and Crane Control Capturing Dragon to accelerate Wang Xiaofeng toward the crimson glow at Hu Yanli’s ankle, and Wang Xiaofeng used Eight Extremes Instant to strike it.
• Hu Yanli collapsed after emerging from the smoke, and Tang San carried the bloodied Wang Xiaofeng as the referee declared Shrek Academy the winner.
• Salas accused Hu Yanzhen of interfering with the tournament, and Hu Yanzhen accepted punishment; a notice was posted the next day announcing his severe penalty.
• Oscar fed Sausage to the barely breathing Wang Xiaofeng, and the Grandmaster ordered the team to take him back.

Flander declined Salas's banquet invitation after Grandmaster and Tang San warned against trusting Spirit Hall, and Salas turned to Hu Yanzhen instead. After Shrek defeated Elephant Armor Academy, Wang Xiaofeng revealed his injuries had been faked, while Azure Radiance Academy's Shi Nian promised to handle Shrek's threat.

• Flander invited Grandmaster and Tang San to Salas's banquet, but both refused to attend.
• Salas received Flander's apologetic letter, learned that Xue Qinghe and Ning Fengzhi had summoned Tang San, and invited Hu Yanzhen to meet him.
• Shrek defeated Elephant Armor Academy, and Salas was somewhat satisfied that the match had injured Shrek's fighters and exposed their abilities.
• Wang Xiaofeng jumped off the stretcher unharmed and explained that his injuries had been faked to mislead the other teams.
• Grandmaster congratulated Shrek, and the team celebrated its victory together.
• Azure Radiance Academy worried that it could not beat Shrek, but Shi Nian told his students to keep competing while he handled the matter.

Wang Xiaofeng stayed in the dorm to recover and cultivate while Ma Hongjun complained about being stuck inside. Meanwhile, Oscar avoided shopping with Ning Rongrong by claiming he needed to stay with his injured brothers, leaving Tang San to haul the purchases; Wang Xiaofeng watched the couples return and sighed at their romance.

• Wang Xiaofeng cultivated in the dorm while Ma Hongjun grumbled about being confined to the academy.
• Oscar returned early after Shrek Academy defeated Rogge Academy in under a minute and shared roast chicken with Wang Xiaofeng and Ma Hongjun.
• Ning Rongrong and Xiao Wu went shopping on Fontaine Street, where Ning Rongrong bought the stall’s remaining hairpins and cart.
• Tang San pushed the mountain of shopping back to the academy, while Oscar congratulated himself for avoiding the trip.
• Ning Rongrong pinched Oscar’s ear, and Tang San helped Xiao Wu search through the purchases for his gifts.
• Wang Xiaofeng looked out at the lively scene and sighed about the sour stench of love.

After Oscar reported a contestant’s death, the Wind Spirit Academy challenged the official conclusion that the student had committed suicide. Investigator Ye Feng used his Time Reversal Soul Skill to replay the death, which appeared to confirm a fall from the roof, but he left without pursuing the matter further.

• Oscar told Wang Xiaofeng and Ma Hongjun that he and Rongrong had found a dead academy contestant, and they speculated that the death might have been suicide.
• The Heaven Dou City Security Force and Spirit Hall ruled that the contestant died after falling from a height, prompting Wind Spirit Academy to protest to Xue Ye.
• Xue Ye sent Ye Feng to investigate, promising him twenty jars of fine wine if he handled the case.
• Ye Feng examined the scene and used his Time Reversal Soul Skill to show the student falling from a rooftop and dying.
• Ye Feng told the Wind Spirit Academy group that the death appeared to be suicide, then left without investigating further.

Oscar told Wang Xiaofeng about his uncle’s suspicious suicide and the deaths of the uncle’s mercenary group, which they suspected were linked to a coveted soul bone. By the ninth round of the Elite Tournament, Shrek Academy’s opponent had surrendered, and Flander put the idle group to work handing out flyers.

• Oscar told Wang Xiaofeng that his uncle had died by suicide after rescuing him from an eerily deserted street when Oscar was three.
• Oscar showed Wang Xiaofeng old records linking his uncle’s death to a mercenary group that had killed a fifty-thousand-year soul beast, and said the group’s members had all died by suicide.
• Wang Xiaofeng and Oscar suspected the mercenaries had found a soul bone and that a powerful killer had taken it; Ma Hongjun warned that the killer could be a formidable soul master.
• Shrek Academy’s opponent surrendered before the ninth-round match, and Flander handed the team flyers to distribute.

Flander sent the Shrek students, including injured Wang Xiaofeng and Ma Hongjun, to hand out flyers around Heaven Dou City. Wang Xiaofeng ran into Wang Feng and his family, who initially mistook his bandaged, wheelchair-bound appearance for a real injury, and the chapter ended with Wang Feng admitting he had come early to look around as well as watch the match.

• Flander ordered the students to distribute flyers, and Wang Xiaofeng and Ma Hongjun joined them despite their apparent injuries.
• The students split up, and Wang Xiaofeng copied Ma Hongjun’s tactic of using a sign to attract people’s sympathy.
• Wang Feng recognized Wang Xiaofeng and tried to take him home for treatment, so Wang Xiaofeng steered him to a nearby restaurant to avoid drawing a crowd.
• Wang Feng’s wife arrived and questioned Wang Xiaofeng’s condition, and Wang Xiaofeng eventually convinced the couple that he was healthy and only pretending to be disabled for the flyer task.
• Wang Xiaofeng asked why Wang Feng had come during the Preliminary Competition, and Wang Feng admitted he had also wanted to look around Heaven Dou City.