Chapter Summaries

Hu Haoran, Shen Mengyan, and their companions struggled against the overwhelming Multi-armed Vajra during the trial. After Hong Lu was killed and Hu Haoran was badly injured protecting Shen Mengyan, Elder Zhong and Elder Feng decided the group had reached its limit and discussed removing them from the assessment.

• The Multi-armed Vajra blew away Hu Haoran's fog with tornadoes and battered him until Shen Mengyan struck it with her Golden Nether Overlord Strike.
• The Multi-armed Vajra roared and charged Shen Mengyan, but Hong Lu intercepted its kick and was killed.
• The Multi-armed Vajra hurled four massive boulders at Shen Mengyan, and Hu Haoran used his Lightning Angel Wings to shield her, suffering serious injuries.
• Pang Er gave Hu Haoran a flatbread that helped heal him slightly, and Hu Haoran stood to face the Multi-armed Vajra again.
• Elder Zhong and Elder Feng judged that the group could not win and discussed removing them from the assessment.

Hu Haoran learned that he could skip Shrek Academy’s sixth trial because his spiritual power had reached the Heavenly Soul Realm, and he prepared to take the seventh trial as an alchemist. He left his room feeling more settled, but kept Hu Yuelin’s identity secret from Shen Mengyan.

• Hu Haoran regretted putting his companions in danger during the fifth trial, and Lan Ziyu reassured him that the experience was over and had taught him to cherish them.
• Lan Ziyu told Hu Haoran that his spiritual power qualified him to skip the sixth trial and that his character already met the requirement.
• Hu Haoran said his secondary profession was alchemy and agreed to take the seventh trial the day after tomorrow.
• Shen Mengyan asked Hu Haoran about Hu Yuelin’s identity, but Hu Haoran refused to reveal the secret he had promised to keep.
• Hu Haoran went for a walk and gathered his spiritual power as he prepared for the assessment.

Hu Haoran met Shi Yanxu, the Inner Court Dean and chief examiner for his seventh and eighth tests, who doubted Hu Haoran’s claimed medicine-refinement skill. Hu Haoran explained that Luo Li had taught him the Nine Dragon Elixir Art, and Shi Yanxu prepared to assess his abilities.

• Lan Ziyu introduced Shi Yanxu as the Inner Court Dean and the examiner for Hu Haoran’s next two tests.
• Shi Yanxu examined Hu Haoran and praised his talent before asking how skilled he was at medicine refinement.
• Hu Haoran said he had reached the Medicine King realm two years earlier, but Shi Yanxu initially dismissed the claim as boasting.
• Hu Haoran explained that he had refined a low-grade Saint Grade elixir and named Luo Li, the White Hair Douluo, as his teacher.
• Shi Yanxu recognized Luo Li’s Nine Dragon Elixir Art and said he would judge Hu Haoran’s skill by how many dragons he could control.
• Hu Haoran let Lan Ziyu stay and watch, and Shi Yanxu offered to provide ingredients for the elixir Hu Haoran chose to refine.

Hu Haoran insisted on refining the dangerous Thunderclap Pill despite Shi Yanxu warning that he lacked the required Soul Power and cultivation. After preparing himself, Hu Haoran began refining it at once, leaving Shi Yanxu and Lan Ziyu worried about his reckless approach.

• Hu Haoran chose to refine a Thunderclap Pill, which Shi Yanxu explained required a Medicine Venerable’s skill and a Soul Sage’s strength to withstand its lightning power.
• Hu Haoran refused to choose another pill, explaining that he wanted to strengthen his Soul Core, and Shi Yanxu agreed to let him try.
• Shi Yanxu prepared Thunder Beast Blood, Blue Electric Plum, and Thunder Velvet Grass, along with his own high-quality pill furnace.
• Hu Haoran quickly steadied his mind, then tossed all three ingredients into the cauldron at once, alarming Shi Yanxu and Lan Ziyu.
• Hu Haoran controlled the ingredients with his Soul Power and began the refinement.

Hu Haoran used Luo Li's Nine Dragon Elixir Art to refine three lightning-type ingredients as he attempted to become a Medicine Venerable. Shi Yanxu and Lan Ziyu watched as the ingredients fought the seven thunder dragons inside the cauldron, leaving Hu Haoran's attempt still underway.

• Shi Yanxu recognized Hu Haoran's Nine Dragon Elixir Art and identified his mastery as the Seven Dragon Star Realm.
• Shi Yanxu explained the Nine Dragon Elixir Art's nine stages and said Luo Li was probably a Medicine Saint, not a Medicine God.
• Hu Haoran began refining the Thunder Beast Blood, Blue Electric Plum, and Thunder Velvet Grass with his seven thunder dragons.
• The Thunder Beast Blood formed a Thunder Qilin and attacked three dragons, while the Blue Electric Plum and Thunder Velvet Grass fought the others.
• Lan Ziyu commented on the violent refining process, and Shi Yanxu praised Luo Li's exceptional insight into alchemy.

Hu Haoran refined the Thunder Pills through a dangerous process and proved himself worthy of becoming a Medicine Venerable. After passing the trial, he asked Shi Yanxu to arrange an alchemist identity for him.

• Hu Haoran purified the three ingredients, then used his Soul Core to restore his Soul Power before continuing.
• Hu Haoran used seven thunder dragons to merge the medicinal liquids into golden lightning liquid and purify it again.
• Hu Haoran split the golden liquid into seven portions, but an eruption injured him during the final condensation.
• Hu Haoran recovered with his Soul Core and directed the thunder dragons to finish condensing the seven Thunder Pills.
• Shi Yanxu declared Hu Haoran’s trial perfectly passed and offered to submit a recording to the Alchemists’ Guild to confirm his identity.

Hu Haoran began Shrek Academy’s eighth trial in the Thunder Pool, a tower where he could absorb lightning energy and temper his body by enduring its dangerous power. He discovered that the Thunder Pool held demigod-level power and pressed onward despite the pain.

• Shi Yanxu explained that the eighth trial tested endurance and energy control in the Thunder Pool, where candidates could improve their Soul Power.
• Shi Yanxu led Hu Haoran to the tower and revealed that its lightning suited Hu Haoran’s Soul Power attribute.
• Hu Haoran entered the Thunder Pool, whose origins lay in the materialized Martial Soul of the demigod Thunder Pool Douluo.
• Hu Haoran found that the Thunder Pool contained a small world and lightning infused with laws of heaven and earth.
• Hu Haoran endured the lightning’s agonizing strikes and continued forward, determined to grow stronger.

Hu Haoran trained in the Thunder Pool and discovered that the Rakshasa Sword Spirit’s intelligence had awakened after he reached six rings. He and the spirit began using the lightning to strengthen themselves, leaving both in the midst of a painful transformation.

• Hu Haoran reached the Thunder Pool’s central region and compressed his Soul Power while absorbing lightning with his cultivation arts and Soaring Sword.
• Hu Haoran summoned the Rakshasa Sword Spirit, which revealed it could absorb lightning and explained that its intelligence had awakened with his six-ring cultivation.
• The Rakshasa Sword Spirit told Hu Haoran to lend it the Soaring Sword while he summoned his second martial soul and tempered both martial souls.
• Hu Haoran entered deep meditation as his Purple Lightning Tyrant Dragon and Soul Core absorbed lightning, while the Rakshasa Sword Spirit used both swords to draw lightning into its body and alter its energy attributes.

Hu Haoran completed his transformation and left the Thunder Pool after nine days, having raised his Soul Power to level sixty-six and reached saturation. Shi Yanxu gave him his Medicine Venerable robe and badge, then announced that Hu Moxie would test him in the final trial the next day.

• Lan Ziyu asked Shi Yanxu whether Hu Haoran had come out of the Thunder Pool, and Shi Yanxu said Hu Haoran was safe and had surpassed the academy record.
• Hu Haoran reached level sixty-six while the Rakshasa Sword Spirit completed its transformation and synchronized its energy with him.
• Hu Haoran reached saturation, and the Rakshasa Sword Spirit asked for time to stabilize its completed transformation.
• After one more day, Hu Haoran left the Thunder Pool, having stayed inside for nine days.
• Shi Yanxu gave Hu Haoran his Alchemist robe and Medicine Venerable badge and told him that Hu Moxie would conduct his final trial the next day.

Hu Haoran met his older brother Hu Moxie at Shrek Academy for a long-awaited duel, with Elder Zhong and Elder Feng hoping to assess his strength. The brothers began fighting after revealing their formidable abilities, leaving the battle underway.

• Elder Zhong and Elder Feng told Hu Moxie to test Hu Haoran's true strength when they fought.
• Hu Haoran arrived at the arena, greeted Hu Moxie, and answered his questions about their mother, Leng Xuewu.
• Shi Yanxu began the duel, and the brothers took positions about thirty meters apart.
• Hu Moxie summoned his Blue Thunder Dragon Martial Soul and revealed eight black soul rings.
• Hu Haoran summoned his blue-silver Soaring Sword and six soul rings, then unleashed Sword Intent infused with lightning.
• Elder Feng and Elder Zhong discussed Hu Haoran's strengthened Sword Intent as the battle began.

Hu Haoran and Hu Moxie fought a fierce duel, testing their speed and thunder-based abilities against each other. Hu Moxie gained the upper hand with his Fourth Soul Skill, and Hu Haoran countered by cloaking the arena in mist and unleashing a rain of lightning swords.

• Hu Moxie rushed Hu Haoran and knocked him back with a lightning-charged punch, though Hu Haoran remained unharmed.
• Hu Haoran attacked with the Qinghua Sword Technique, but Hu Moxie caught his sword and blocked his follow-up stomp.
• Hu Haoran used concealed thunderous power to strike Hu Moxie and force him back, but Hu Moxie's Lightning Armor absorbed the attack.
• Hu Moxie unleashed his Fourth Soul Skill, Azure Lightning Dragon Swift, and battered Hu Haoran with four speed-created figures.
• Hu Haoran responded with Spring Thunder Stab and Mount Hua Cloud Dance Illusory Shadow, filling the arena with mist and a rain of lightning swords.

Hu Haoran and Hu Moxie continued their arena fight as Hu Moxie pressed his younger brother to reveal his full strength. Hu Haoran unleashed a hidden attack and then transformed with his second martial soul still active, leaving the spectators stunned.

• Hu Moxie dispersed Hu Haoran's lightning swords, grabbed him, and punched him hard enough to draw blood.
• Hu Moxie suppressed Hu Haoran through several dozen exchanges and urged him to stop holding back.
• Hu Haoran activated his Fifth Soul Skill, Rakshasa Soaring Sword—Evil Thunder Annihilation, and attacked Hu Moxie.
• Hu Haoran used the Rakshasa Sword Spirit to launch a concealed attack, but Hu Moxie caught both swords and sent them flying, injuring his palms.
• Hu Haoran gave the Soaring Sword to the Rakshasa Sword Spirit and transformed into the Purple Lightning Tyrant Dragon without withdrawing his Soaring Sword martial soul.
• Elder Zhong and Elder Feng reacted in disbelief as Hu Haoran demonstrated that he could use both martial souls at once.

Hu Haoran fought Hu Moxie in his ninth Shrek Academy assessment, revealing that his transformed Rakshasa Sword Spirit could wield his first martial soul while he used his second. Hu Moxie ended the fight by declaring that Hu Haoran had passed, then took him to celebrate.

• Elder Zhong and Elder Feng observed Hu Haoran's blue-silver Rakshasa Sword Spirit and speculated that it had evolved in the Thunder Pool, allowing him to use two martial souls at once.
• The Rakshasa Sword Spirit and Hu Haoran attacked Hu Moxie together, but Hu Moxie blocked them with his Blue Lightning Tornado.
• Hu Haoran acknowledged the great gap between them, and Hu Moxie announced that he had passed the ninth assessment and was welcomed to Shrek Academy.
• Hu Moxie said two influential elders had helped secure Hu Haoran's passage, then joked about them with Shi Yanxu.
• Hu Moxie took Hu Haoran away to celebrate, and Hu Haoran was glad to have his older brother with him.

Hu Haoran reunited with Jiang Jiayao, Taohua, and Niu Dagui at Shrek Academy and celebrated with them over drinks. The gathering ended when Jiang Jiayao’s Ultimate Fire erupted out of control, and a blue figure appeared to help him.

• Hu Moxie brought Hu Haoran to meet Jiang Jiayao, Taohua, and Niu Dagui in the cafeteria.
• Hu Haoran learned that Taohua and Niu Dagui had become inner-court students and disciples of powerful Sea God Pavilion elders.
• Hu Haoran and his friends drank together late into the night, and Niu Dagui continued to call him young master despite Hu Haoran asking him to use his name.
• Jiang Jiayao suddenly lost control of his Ultimate Fire, leaving Hu Haoran worried while Hu Moxie said the academy would handle it.
• A blue figure appeared beside Jiang Jiayao, radiating an icy aura.

Lan Ziyu suppressed Jiang Jiayao’s rampaging Ultimate Fire, while Hu Moxie explained that Jiang could die when advancing to Title Douluo unless he learned to control it. Hu Haoran recognized the Cold Moon Pearl needed to protect Jiang as a relic of Bing Yuxin’s tribe and resolved to find a way to obtain it.

• Lan Ziyu cooled Jiang Jiayao and suppressed his Ultimate Fire, revealing a soul formation seal created by Su Yan.
• Hu Moxie told Hu Haoran that Su Yan was a level-ninety-nine Limit Douluo with an Extreme Ice martial soul.
• Hu Moxie explained that Jiang Jiayao’s unnaturally awakened Ultimate Fire could make his body explode when he advanced to Title Douluo if he could not control it.
• Hu Moxie revealed that Su Yan had proposed using the Cold Moon Tribe’s sacred Cold Moon Pearl to protect Jiang during his advancement.
• Hu Haoran recognized the Cold Moon Tribe as Bing Yuxin’s tribe and decided he could seek the pearl when he traveled north with her.

After recovering from another Ultimate Fire rampage, Jiang Jiayao left to stabilize his Soul Power while Hu Haoran continued settling into Shrek Academy. At the start of External Academy classes, Hu Haoran confronted arrogant classmate Dai Dong and stood his ground against instructor Ge Wen.

• Lan Ziyu used Su Yan's soul formation imprint and his own Soul Power to suppress Jiang Jiayao's Ultimate Fire, then warned him that its rampages were becoming more frequent.
• Jiang Jiayao told Hu Haoran that Lan Ziyu possessed the Snow Angel, a God-Bestowed Martial Soul, before hurrying away to stabilize his Soul Power.
• Hu Haoran used his Thunderclap Pills to strengthen his cultivation while waiting for Shrek Academy's assessments to finish; fewer than one hundred of nearly a hundred thousand applicants passed.
• At the opening ceremony, Lan Ziyu briefly welcomed the new students, and Hu Haoran found Hong Lu, Xiao Ge, and Pang Er among his classmates.
• Dai Dong insulted Hu Haoran, who summoned his martial soul and six soul rings to overwhelm him with killing intent.
• Ge Wen intervened, but Hu Haoran's aura matched the instructor's eight-ring Soul Douluo pressure, leaving Dai Dong frightened.

Ge Wen established Outer Court First Year Class Nine and began the students’ first lesson with punishing physical training. As the class prepared to climb Shrek Mountain under heavy weights, Hu Haoran and Hu Yuelin asked to carry ten thousand pounds each.

• Hu Haoran withdrew his Martial Soul and apologized to Ge Wen, who scolded Dai Dong for provoking stronger students and ordered everyone into the classroom.
• Ge Wen introduced himself as the homeroom teacher and declared Outer Court First Year Class Nine officially established.
• Ge Wen assigned the class a Soul Power-sealed climb up Shrek Mountain, with each student carrying five hundred pounds and Pang Er carrying eight hundred.
• Ge Wen equipped and sealed the Soul Power of all thirty-five students, giving them two hours to reach the summit before lunch.
• Hu Haoran and Hu Yuelin asked to increase their weights to ten thousand pounds each, stunning the class and Ge Wen.

Ge Wen pushed the new students through a weighted run up Shrek Mountain, while Elder Zhong and Elder Feng discussed Hu Haoran and Hu Yuelin’s exceptional potential and their plans for the pair. After reaching the summit, the exhausted class faced another timed run to the dining hall.

• Shen Mengyan, Dai Dong, and the other students asked Ge Wen to increase their weights, and he sent the class racing toward the summit.
• Elder Zhong and Elder Feng appeared beside Ge Wen and said Hu Haoran and Hu Yuelin were exceptionally talented, though Hu Yuelin’s background was not to be investigated.
• Elder Zhong and Elder Feng told Ge Wen to train Hu Haoran, Hu Yuelin, and Shen Mengyan for the class competition during their year in the Outer Court.
• The thirty-five students reached the summit within two hours, where Ge Wen ordered them to run to the dining hall within half an hour.
• Hu Haoran removed his weights and rushed ahead, and the other students hurried after him to avoid missing lunch.

After a year of Ge Wen’s intense training, Hu Haoran and his classmates grew stronger, with Hu Haoran reaching level sixty-seven and Hu Yuelin level forty-five. Ge Wen kept Hu Haoran and Hu Yuelin out of the Freshman Tournament, and Elder Feng and Elder Zhong arrived to assign them another task.

• Hu Haoran, Hu Yuelin, and their classmates endured Ge Wen’s demanding daily training and classes for a year, while their Soul Power increased.
• Ge Wen told Hu Haoran that Shen Mengyan would compete in the Freshman Tournament, while Hu Haoran and Hu Yuelin would not.
• Elder Feng and Elder Zhong came to Ge Wen’s office to meet Hu Haoran and discuss an important assignment.
• Elder Feng introduced himself as Sword Saint Douluo and Elder Zhong as Thunder Emperor Douluo, his brother’s teacher.

Elder Zhong and Elder Feng recruited Hu Haoran to retrieve an item, offering him one hundred thousand points and promising to help his second martial soul obtain a soul ring or soul spirit. They revealed that they would take him and his brother into a soul-beast plane accessed through Shrek Academy’s inherited Myriad Beast Gate.

• Elder Zhong and Elder Feng told Hu Haoran they needed him to retrieve an item and offered him one hundred thousand points for the task.
• Hu Haoran agreed, and Elder Feng said he would help Hu Haoran obtain a soul ring or soul spirit for his second martial soul.
• Elder Feng told Hu Haoran that his brother would accompany them, while Elder Feng criticized Ge Wen’s intense training and Ge Wen left.
• Elder Zhong and Elder Feng explained that Shrek Academy’s Portal Gate opened into a plane inhabited by countless soul beasts and fierce beasts.
• Hu Haoran inferred that the predecessor’s martial soul had connected to the soul-beast plane, and Elder Feng revealed that they intended to take him inside the Myriad Beast Gate.