Chapter Summaries

Zhao Xuan told the master that records linked the massacre of surrendered soldiers near Blue Sunshine Academy to the God of Death, and they suspected the deity was connected to You Huan’s death. After agreeing to keep the matter secret, Zhao Xuan took Hermione for a walk, leaving the master watching them go.

• Zhao Xuan told the master that the Heaven Dou Library’s records described tens of thousands of surrendered soldiers being killed and sacrificed, and identified the god involved as the God of Death.
• Zhao Xuan and the master considered whether the black mist that drained You Huan’s life and scattered her soul was connected to the God of Death.
• The master told Zhao Xuan not to share what they had learned, and Zhao Xuan agreed.
• Hermione came upon Zhao Xuan and the master as they gazed at the evening sky and questioned what they were doing.
• Zhao Xuan invited Hermione to take a walk, and she shyly accepted.
• The master watched Zhao Xuan and Hermione leave beneath the sunset and remarked that being young was wonderful.

Shrek Academy defeated Blue Sunshine Academy, whose seven members were left as idiots by Tang San’s methods, while the rival team’s leader was relieved to lose. As Shrek prepared for its upcoming match against Godwind Academy, Spirit Hall’s Platinum Bishop Salas launched an investigation into the injuries, and Shrek waited for the confrontation to begin.

• Tang San and Hermione helped Shrek overcome Blue Sunshine Academy’s seven illusion-wielding control-type soul masters, leaving them with irreversible Spiritual Power injuries.
• Blue Sunshine Academy’s team leader showed relief after the defeat, and Shrek’s team left the arena glad to end its rivalry with the academy.
• The master warned the little monsters to prepare for their match against Godwind Academy, and Flender celebrated Shrek’s growing fame and sponsorship offers.
• Li Qing told Shrek that Salas had formed an investigation team over Blue Sunshine Academy’s students and was heading to question them.
• Zhao Xuan and the others resolved to deny responsibility and resist any abuse of power as an arena attendant told them to remain in their room.

Spirit Hall Bishop Salas arrived at Shrek Academy with ten Soul King hall warriors to investigate the incident involving Blue Sunshine Academy, while Ning Fengzhi and Sword Douluo accompanied him. Jade Lord Douluo suppressed the warriors’ pressure, and Salas claimed that the dead You Huan had asked him to investigate, leaving the Shrek group stunned by his lie.

• Ten Spirit Hall hall warriors forced their way into the room, and Ning Rongrong rushed out to greet Ning Fengzhi and Sword Douluo.
• Zhao Xuan signaled Jade Lord Douluo, whose pressure overwhelmed the hall warriors and alerted Salas that a Titled Douluo was inside.
• Salas questioned Ning Fengzhi about Shrek Academy’s Titled Douluo, then entered with Ning Fengzhi and Sword Douluo.
• Salas said You Huan had asked him to investigate Blue Sunshine Academy’s incident, while Zhao Xuan and the others knew You Huan had died days earlier.

Salas withdrew after Jade Lord Douluo Li Qing intervened and Tang San gave an evasive account of the incident. Sword Douluo challenged Li Qing to a spar, and Shrek’s group followed them beyond the city to watch.

• Salas questioned Tang San, then blamed Blue Sunshine Academy’s trouble on a backlash from its seven-man fusion soul skill and left.
• Zhao Xuan said Salas had gone far enough, and the group laughed at the bishop’s retreat before Flender scolded Ma Hongjun for mocking him.
• Sword Douluo challenged Jade Lord Douluo Li Qing to a spar, and Li Qing eagerly accepted.
• Sword Douluo and Li Qing headed outside the city to find a secluded place to fight.
• At Ning Fengzhi’s suggestion, Grandmaster, Flender, Liu Erlong, Ning Fengzhi, Zhao Xuan, and the Shrek students followed to watch.

The Shrek group watched Jade Lord Douluo Li Qing duel Sword Douluo Chen Xin in the wilderness outside Heaven Dou City. As the Title Douluo exchanged deadly sword strikes, Dai Mubai struggled to keep watching for reasons Zhao Xuan did not understand.

• Zhao Xuan led the Shrek group away from the duel and used a spiritual-power Self-Created Soul Skill to let them observe from a distance.
• Chen Xin and Li Qing revealed their martial souls and soul rings, identifying themselves as level ninety-five and level ninety-three Power Attack System Title Douluo.
• Li Qing launched the first attack with Sword Leaf and Hidden Edge, filling the grass and wind with sword intent.
• Chen Xin used Spirit Sword Guard to block Li Qing's attack, then returned his Seven Kill Sword to his hand and struck back.
• The two swords clashed, and Zhao Xuan shattered their approaching sword qi with Purple Heaven Divine Lightning.
• Dai Mubai forced himself to keep watching despite the overwhelming speed of the duel, telling Zhao Xuan not to worry about him.

Jade Lord Douluo and Sword Douluo fought an increasingly destructive duel, each unleashing the full power of his sword martial soul. After Jade Lord Douluo revealed his own sword technique, Sword Douluo began answering with a powerful sequence of moves.

• Zhao Xuan led the group more than a thousand meters away as the duel’s sword qi ravaged the grove and surrounding ground.
• Li Qing activated Wind Cloud Sword Body, and Sword Douluo responded by summoning Seven Kill True Body.
• Jade Lord Douluo combined Great Evolution with Rainfall to send a cascade of illusory swords at Sword Douluo.
• Sword Douluo shattered the sword cascade with Move Mountains and Fill Seas, impressing Flender and the watching students.
• Jade Lord Douluo continued fighting despite his pale face, then unleashed Sword Qi Like Clouds, Wind Rises and Clouds Surge.
• Sword Douluo praised Jade Lord Douluo’s sword and began a sequence of techniques, including Meteor Chasing the Moon and Nineteen Continents in an Instant.

Sword Douluo and Jade Lord Douluo fought a devastating duel, which ended with Li Qing admitting defeat. The group reunited afterward, while the battle left Oscar and Hermione privately questioning their own worth and strength.

• Ning Fengzhi identified Sword Douluo’s Sui Feng Swordplay as one of his trump cards, and Jade Lord Douluo answered with his Sky-Piercing sword art.
• Sword Douluo and Jade Lord Douluo exchanged more than a dozen blows, destroying the surrounding land as Xue Qinghe ordered an investigation into the disturbance.
• Jade Lord Douluo admitted defeat, and Sword Douluo told him that he had lost to time rather than to him.
• Li Qing accepted the loss without giving up, and Sword Douluo praised his resolve before agreeing to fight him again.
• Ning Rongrong praised and kissed Sword Douluo, while Oscar wondered if he was worthy of her and Hermione felt far behind Zhao Xuan.
• Ning Fengzhi hoped the Shrek youngsters would grow stronger and remain connected to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, which he viewed as preparation for future trouble.

After Ning Fengzhi and Sword Douluo returned to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Shrek Academy prepared for the Advancement Tournament with a month of brutal training. At the Royal Hunting Ground, Ma Hongjun eagerly looked forward to fighting, and Grandmaster revealed that he would be one of Shrek’s trump cards.

• Sword Douluo praised Jade Lord Douluo’s sword insight and challenged Zhao Xuan to spar, teasing him about his previous fight with Bone Douluo.
• Ning Fengzhi took Sword Douluo back to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect after building good relations with Shrek’s students.
• Liu Erlong put Shrek’s little monsters through brutal training during the month before the Advancement Tournament.
• Shrek Academy entered the Royal Hunting Ground after passing the Royal Knights Legion’s inspection.
• Ma Hongjun boasted that he would fight ten opponents, but Flender rebuked him and Grandmaster said he could be revealed as a trump card while warning him not to expose his spirit bone.

Ning Fengzhi and Crown Prince Xue Qinghe visited Shrek Academy before the promotion matches began, and Shrek defeated Barak Academy in its first match. While wandering the Royal Hunting Ground afterward, Zhao Xuan met a talented little girl who turned his attempt to frighten her back on him.

• Huo Wu resented Shrek Academy's relaxed attitude, while Huo Wushuang explained that their team of Soul Ancestors was favored to advance.
• Ning Fengzhi and Xue Qinghe visited Shrek Academy, where Xue Qinghe greeted Tang San and searched unsuccessfully for Jade Lord Douluo.
• The promotion matches began, and Shrek Academy easily defeated Barak Academy, making the other teams regard them as a serious rival.
• Zhao Xuan wandered through the Royal Hunting Ground and met a six- or seven-year-old girl with around Rank Nine Soul Power.
• Zhao Xuan tried to scare the girl by asking whether she had heard of human traffickers, but she calmly revealed that she had seen through his act.

Zhao Xuan encountered a young princess and her maid, Guli, while walking near the Royal Hunting Ground. After refusing the princess’s invitation to afternoon tea, he learned Guli’s reason for asking him to reconsider and agreed to meet the princess.

• Zhao Xuan realized the little girl he had met was a princess when Guli arrived and warned him to leave the restricted area.
• The princess asked Guli if she could watch the Soul Master Tournament, but Guli refused because the princess needed to recuperate.
• The princess invited Zhao Xuan to afternoon tea, but he declined because he had a match the next day.
• After Guli explained the situation, Zhao Xuan agreed to accept the princess’s invitation.

Zhao Xuan joined Xue Qingqing for afternoon tea at Swan Castle and learned that the young Princess was confined there because of a dangerous illness. After sensing a shackle suppressing her Soul Power, he offered to ask a medical friend to examine her.

• Zhao Xuan returned to Swan Lake with Guli and persuaded Xue Qingqing to let him join her for afternoon tea.
• Xue Qingqing introduced herself to Zhao Xuan as the Empire's youngest Princess, and Guli explained her talent and strange illness.
• Zhao Xuan sensed an unusual shackle inside Xue Qingqing that seemed to lock away her Soul Power.
• At Swan Castle, Xue Qingqing questioned Zhao Xuan about the outside world and wished she could see it herself.
• Zhao Xuan offered to ask a friend skilled in medicine to examine Xue Qingqing.

Zhao Xuan offered to bring a skilled medical friend to examine Xue Qingqing, but Guli initially rejected the idea. Princess Xue Yue approved the visit for the next day after revealing Zhao Xuan’s status at Shrek Academy, leaving Xue Qingqing and Guli hopeful that he might help cure her illness.

• Zhao Xuan offered to have his medically skilled friend examine Xue Qingqing, but Guli warned against trusting him and Xue Qingqing apologized as he prepared to leave.
• Princess Xue Yue appeared and invited Zhao Xuan to bring his friend to Swan Castle the next day.
• Guli asked why Princess Xue Yue had trusted Zhao Xuan, and Princess Xue Yue revealed that he was Shrek Academy’s special consultant and senior lecturer.
• Princess Xue Yue explained that Shrek Academy had powerful Titled Douluo among its consultants, though she did not know what made Zhao Xuan exceptional.
• Xue Qingqing, Guli, and Princess Xue Yue felt hope that Zhao Xuan’s friend might cure Xue Qingqing’s illness.

Zhao Xuan asked Tang San to assess Xue Qingqing’s strange condition, and Tang San suspected she had been poisoned. After examining the Princess at Swan Castle, Tang San confirmed that she was poisoned, leaving Princess Xue Yue and the others alarmed.

• Zhao Xuan told Tang San about Xue Qingqing’s symptoms, and Tang San judged that a neurotoxin was likely responsible.
• Zhao Xuan and Tang San agreed to examine the Princess after Shrek Academy’s match and to keep their suspicions secret.
• Shrek Academy easily won its match, and Zhao Xuan brought Tang San to Swan Castle to see the Princess.
• Tang San examined the Princess, checked her pulse, and tested a drop of her blood while Princess Xue Yue and Guli watched.
• Tang San announced that the Princess was not ill but had been poisoned, shocking everyone except Zhao Xuan.

Tang San revealed that the little princess, Xue Qingqing, had been poisoned with a concealed neurotoxin, and Princess Xue Yue paid Tang San and Zhao Xuan to keep the discovery secret. After leaving Swan Castle, Zhao Xuan warned Tang San to avoid the imperial family, including Xue Qinghe.

• Tang San explained to Princess Xue Yue that a compound neurotoxin had accumulated in Xue Qingqing's body and caused her to collapse when her emotions grew intense.
• Zhao Xuan warned Princess Xue Yue that she should not let palace physicians or anyone else investigate the poisoning, prompting her to suspect that people close to the imperial family might be involved.
• Princess Xue Yue asked Tang San and Zhao Xuan to keep the matter confidential and gave each of them a Purple Gold card containing ten thousand Gold Soul Coins.
• Tang San told Zhao Xuan that he had identified only some of the poison's ingredients and regretted not obtaining a sample for further study.
• Zhao Xuan told Tang San to keep his distance from the imperial family, including Crown Prince Xue Qinghe, and Tang San agreed.

Zhao Xuan and Tang San returned to camp after their outing, while Shrek Academy continued its winning streak in the advancement matches. In the final-day bout against Godwind Academy, Tang San revealed his Clear Sky Hammer and defeated Feng Xiaotian, leaving the hammer’s return a subject of quiet speculation.

• The master questioned Tang San and Zhao Xuan about their afternoon outing and warned them not to enter restricted areas.
• Shrek Academy continued to impress during the matches, with Ma Hongjun defeating entire teams by himself on three occasions.
• Zhao Xuan teased Xiao Wu about Tang San and Huo Wu while Tang San fought Feng Xiaotian in Shrek Academy’s match against Godwind Academy.
• Feng Xiaotian used his self-created soul skill to unleash powerful wind blades at Tang San.
• Tang San summoned his Clear Sky Hammer and used the Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer to overwhelm Feng Xiaotian, holding back before the final blow.
• The referee awarded the match to Shrek Academy, and Godwind Academy’s mentor wondered whether the Clear Sky Hammer was preparing to reemerge.

Tang San revealed his Clear Sky Hammer to secure Shrek’s victory, drawing attention from the arena and murderous hostility from Salas. After the promotion rounds ended, the teams set out for Spirit City, where the tournament finals would be held.

• Tang San used the Clear Sky Hammer to defeat Godwind Academy, and Zhao Xuan helped him off the stage.
• Shrek’s team reacted with concern as the crowd recognized Tang San as a wielder of the Clear Sky Hammer and learned he had Twin Martial Souls.
• Xue Ye asked Ning Fengzhi whether the Clear Sky Sect was returning, and Ning Fengzhi said Tang San was an exception.
• Salas fixed killing intent on Tang San, but Zhao Xuan’s hidden mental attack startled him and made him suspect a Titled Douluo was watching.
• The promotion rounds concluded, and the teams traveled under the Royal Knights Legion’s escort toward Spirit City for the finals.

As Shrek Academy traveled toward Spirit City, Zhao Xuan detected a large Spirit Hall force approaching to attack them. The group prepared to defend Tang San, with Zhao Xuan and the elders coordinating their response as the ambush began.

• The Master and Flender warned Shrek Academy's students about the tournament's powerful opponents and urged them to stay safe.
• Zhao Xuan sensed roughly fifteen hundred organized soul masters, including Soul Sages and Soul Douluos, approaching the procession.
• Tang San blamed himself for bringing danger to the group, but Zhao Xuan reassured him and the Shrek students pledged to protect him.
• The Master and Liu Erlong stopped Zhao Xuan from confronting the attackers alone and arranged for the elders to intervene if needed.
• An enemy attack was announced as the approaching force reached them.

An ambush struck the convoy carrying the advanced academies and the Heaven Dou Royal Knights Legion, and the academies joined the battle against the attackers. When three Soul Douluos targeted Shrek Academy, the Master and his companions reunited to summon the Golden Sacred Dragon, which confronted them.

• The Heaven Dou Royal Knights Legion formed a defensive ring around the carriages and raised shields against a barrage of crossbow bolts.
• Academy teams joined the knights, then Soul Masters shattered boulders rolling down the hills as masked attackers charged into the convoy.
• Tang San and the Shrek Academy students fought back with their Godly Zhuge Crossbows while Zhao Xuan monitored the battlefield with his divine sense.
• Three Soul Douluos charged toward Shrek Academy, and the Master and the other two left the carriage to confront them.
• The Master and his companions used Sun—Moon—Rise—Golden—Turn to summon the Golden Sacred Dragon, and the three Soul Douluos charged at it.

Grandmaster and two companions used the Golden Sacred Dragon to fight three Soul Douluo, while a masked Titled Douluo joined the battle with a Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum martial soul. Jade Lord Douluo intervened to face the newcomer, leaving the Golden Sacred Dragon free to retreat.

• Grandmaster's Golden Sacred Dragon drove back the three Soul Douluo, exploiting the flying fighter's weakness in the sky.
• A white-clad Titled Douluo descended to attack after discussing the mission with a masked man on a nearby hill.
• Zhao Xuan sensed the newcomer, and Jade Lord Douluo prepared his Clear Wind Sword.
• The white-clad man trapped the Golden Sacred Dragon with his Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum, which resisted its holy flames.
• Tang San warned Grandmaster that the chrysanthemum was supremely yang and pure, prompting the Golden Sacred Dragon to retreat.
• Jade Lord Douluo severed the chrysanthemum's root with a sword strike and declared himself Chrysanthemum Douluo's opponent.

Jade Lord Douluo rejected Chrysanthemum Douluo’s offer to join Spirit Hall, and the two Title Douluo began fighting. Just as Chrysanthemum Douluo prepared a powerful attack, Zhao Xuan secretly disrupted him, leaving the battle unresolved and drawing suspicion from a hidden observer.

• Chrysanthemum Douluo and Jade Lord Douluo revealed their nine soul rings as the black-clad attackers retreated from the battlefield.
• Chrysanthemum Douluo offered Jade Lord Douluo a place in Spirit Hall’s Elders’ Hall, but Jade Lord Douluo refused and answered with the Clear Wind Sword.
• Chrysanthemum Douluo used A Hundred Flowers Bloom and Rainflower Formation to attack, while Jade Lord Douluo defended himself with Sword Wall.
• Chrysanthemum Douluo began charging Gate of Holy Light, but Zhao Xuan secretly activated Connection Blocked, making Chrysanthemum Douluo spit blood and weakening his martial soul avatar.
• A black-clad man on a distant hill suspected another powerful expert had intervened, while Zhao Xuan sensed a familiar aura.