Chapter Summaries

Jiang Ming returned to the Small World and found it devastated, with its Soul Beasts struggling to survive in a few protected refuges. He reached Meng Bing and Xiao Bai at the glacier, confronted the still-living Evil Lord, and left him suppressed but determined to kill him despite his offer to cooperate.

• Jiang Ming surveyed the ruined Small World and found that many Soul Beasts had died, though the forest, glacier, and volcano still had protected areas.
• Little Spirit restored the Soul Beasts sheltered in the forest and strengthened their emerald-green shield.
• Jiang Ming and Snow Empress stabilized the glacier's failing barrier and found Meng Bing and Xiao Bai resisting Evil Lord's spiritual power.
• Jiang Ming told Xiao Bai to stand down, reunited with Meng Bing, and entered Evil Lord's Sea of Consciousness to suppress him with Ruler of the World.
• Evil Lord offered to become Jiang Ming's Spirit Ring, but Jiang Ming rejected the offer and said he still intended to kill him.

Jiang Ming secured Evil Lord and arranged to move the Small World's Soul Beasts to a new Beast Fighting Area while the Small World was repaired. He then asked Zhang Lexuan for help gathering Rank 9 materials and attribute treasures, and she revealed that the academy already had treasures prepared to awaken the sleeping Spirits.

• Jiang Ming reinforced Evil Lord's restraints and promised to kill it after the Spirits awakened and the Small World was repaired.
• Jiang Ming inspected the damaged Sky Piercer Spear and told Snow Empress and the others to maintain the Protective Shield against the lingering divine power.
• Jiang Ming asked Gong Changlong to house the Small World's Soul Beasts, and Gong Changlong decided to build a new Beast Fighting Area outside the academy.
• Jiang Ming planned to gather attribute energy and treasures to awaken the sleeping Spirits, then asked Zhang Lexuan for Gold Soul Coins to buy Rank 9 materials.
• Zhang Lexuan ordered the merchant association to collect Rank 9 materials and told Jiang Ming that the academy treasury already held Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures for the Spirits.

Jiang Ming and Little Spirit used gathered Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures to strengthen his sleeping Spirits, though none awoke. That night, Ling Luochen was chosen to spend the evening with Jiang Ming, and she reflected on the long, dangerous path she had taken to become his equal.

• Zhang Lexuan brought Jiang Ming to the Academy's treasure vault, where he summoned his nine Spirits.
• Little Spirit divided the gathered treasures among the Spirits and helped them absorb their corresponding attribute energy, strengthening them without waking them.
• Zhang Lexuan asked the women to decide who would spend the night with Jiang Ming, and Ma Xiaotao and Ling Luochen both volunteered.
• Zhang Lexuan asked who had known Jiang Ming first, and Ma Xiaotao yielded the opportunity to Ling Luochen.
• After everyone else left, Ling Luochen remembered how she had pursued the Ice Snow Goddess's inheritance to catch up with Jiang Ming, then took his hand and led him to her room.

Jiang Ming visited Ling Luochen’s room, listened to the stories behind her cherished decorations, and shared an intimate first kiss with her. After he asked if she wanted to continue, Ling Luochen agreed, and they lay down together.

• Ling Luochen showed Jiang Ming her room and the ice sculpture she had made in his likeness.
• Ling Luochen introduced her meaningful decorations and told Jiang Ming the stories behind them.
• Ling Luochen leaned against Jiang Ming, and he embraced her, warming her with his touch.
• Jiang Ming kissed Ling Luochen, who nervously kissed him back and gradually became more comfortable under his guidance.
• Jiang Ming asked if Ling Luochen wanted to continue, and she agreed before they lay down together.

Ma Xiaotao, Liya, and Wang Qiuer spent the night worrying about Jiang Ming and their upcoming marriages, while Zhang Lexuan remained calm. At dawn, Jiang Ming woke beside an exhausted Ling Luochen.

• Ma Xiaotao could not sleep while imagining Jiang Ming being intimate with Ling Luochen in the next room, and eventually tried to meditate.
• Liya wondered whether to use her mermaid or human form with Jiang Ming and whether she could have children with him as a Soul Beast.
• Wang Qiuer worried that mating with Jiang Ming could result in an Emperor Rui Beast child and cost her the fortune that protected Di Tian, Bi Ji, and the others.
• Zhang Lexuan meditated peacefully, confident that she had nothing to fear from Jiang Ming and Ling Luochen's intimacy.
• At sunrise, Jiang Ming woke beside the exhausted Ling Luochen and got out of bed.

Jiang Ming quietly cared for the exhausted Ling Luochen after their night together, then made nourishing porridge for Zhang Lexuan, Ma Xiaotao, Liya, and Wang Qiuer. The three women ate after a sleepless night and wondered whether Jiang Ming really was that strong.

• Jiang Ming covered Ling Luochen, tidied their room, and left her sleeping.
• Ling Luochen briefly woke after Jiang Ming left, then fell asleep again from exhaustion.
• Jiang Ming made Nourishing Porridge with Snow Lotus, Spirit Rice, and meat cut from Evil Lord's tentacles.
• Zhang Lexuan tasted the porridge, praised its flavor, and went to wake Ma Xiaotao, Liya, and Wang Qiuer.
• Ma Xiaotao, Liya, and Wang Qiuer eagerly ate the porridge and wondered why Ling Luochen had not appeared.

After Ling Luochen was left too exhausted to get out of bed, Ma Xiaotao sought Zhang Lexuan’s advice before her own night with Jiang Ming. The others left to train or attend to their responsibilities, while Jiang Ming brought breakfast to Ling Luochen and teased her about being shy.

• Ma Xiaotao, Zhang Lexuan, and the others worried over Ling Luochen being unable to get out of bed, and Ma Xiaotao felt nervous about her turn with Jiang Ming that night.
• Wang Qiuer left to practice her spear and absorb the nourishment from breakfast, while Liya went to Sea God Lake to digest the Evil Lord Soul Beast meat.
• Ma Xiaotao asked Zhang Lexuan what Jiang Ming liked, and Zhang Lexuan advised her to play to her strengths.
• Ma Xiaotao left to prepare for the evening, while Zhang Lexuan handled the dishes and considered finding a successor for her merchant association before becoming a god.
• Jiang Ming brought porridge to Ling Luochen, woke her, and teased her after she hid beneath the blanket and asked where her clothes were.

After spending the night together, Jiang Ming and Ling Luochen cherished a day as lovers, revisiting Shrek Academy and reflecting on how far they had come. The day ended with the pair quietly leaving the new student Dormitory Building as the new students returned.

• Ling Luochen shyly dressed while Jiang Ming turned away, then let him feed her Nourishing Porridge until she regained her strength.
• Jiang Ming took Ling Luochen around the academy and Shrek City, where the Inner Court Elders blessed their relationship.
• Jiang Ming and Ling Luochen visited Zhou Yi and Fan Yu in the Outer Court, greeted them, and taught the students for half a class.
• Jiang Ming and Ling Luochen rested beneath a tree by the new student Dormitory Building and remembered entering Shrek Academy more than ten years earlier.
• When the new students returned, Jiang Ming and Ling Luochen quietly disappeared.

Ling Luochen and Jiang Ming spent a romantic day shopping and sightseeing in Shrek City. As sunset approached, Ling Luochen let Jiang Ming return for Ma Xiaotao’s turn, and she kept a photograph of their farewell kiss as a treasured memory.

• Ling Luochen and Jiang Ming shared lunch and strolled around Shrek City.
• Ling Luochen led Jiang Ming through the city, sampling snacks and drinks and buying clothes, shoes, and jewelry.
• Ling Luochen chose a new outfit based on Jiang Ming’s preferences, and they watched the sun begin to set.
• Ling Luochen told Jiang Ming it was time to return because Ma Xiaotao’s turn was that night, and Jiang Ming kissed her.
• Jiang Ming took a photograph of their kiss with a Photography Soul Tool, and Ling Luochen framed it beside his ice sculpture before falling asleep.

Jiang Ming and Ma Xiaotao remembered their first meeting, then spent the night together after she prepared a romantic surprise for him. Ma Xiaotao slept through the morning, and Jiang Ming discovered that she was absorbing energy from his Sun God Fire.

• Jiang Ming and Ma Xiaotao reminisced about meeting as teenagers and how more than ten years had passed.
• Ma Xiaotao changed into a wine-red nightgown as a surprise, and Jiang Ming carried her to bed.
• Jiang Ming and Ma Xiaotao spent the night together, and he helped restore her strength with Life Force the next morning.
• Ma Xiaotao slept through breakfast and the rest of the morning, so Jiang Ming examined her.
• Jiang Ming discovered that Ma Xiaotao was absorbing energy from his Sun God Fire.

Jiang Ming helped Ma Xiaotao absorb Sun God Fire while Snow Empress briefly took control of his body, then wondered whether becoming a god could restore her own body. The chapter ended with Jing Hongchen arriving at Shrek Academy with two Sun Moon Empire Soul Engineers and facing its leaders.

• Jiang Ming supplied Ma Xiaotao with Sun God Fire and Life Force, while Snow Empress suppressed the heat she released.
• Snow Empress borrowed Jiang Ming's body, tested its strength, and touched Ma Xiaotao before Jiang Ming took control back.
• Snow Empress asked whether Jiang Ming could restore her body after becoming a god, and he promised to try.
• Jiang Ming sensed three powerful figures approaching Shrek Academy and left Ma Xiaotao's room to investigate.
• Elder Lin, Elder Song, and the four Deans confronted Jing Hongchen and his two companions above Shrek Academy.
• Yan Shaozhe greeted Jing Hongchen, Hall Master of the Sun Moon Empire's Bright Virtue Hall.

Jing Hongchen visited Shrek Academy on Xu Tianran’s orders to negotiate with Jiang Ming, who had become too powerful for the Sun Moon Empire to eliminate. After Jiang Ming confronted him about the empire’s past actions, Jing Hongchen presented a truce agreement.

• Xu Tianran, haunted by Ming Jiang’s betrayal and convinced Jiang Ming could no longer be killed, sent Jing Hongchen to negotiate on the Sun Moon Empire’s behalf.
• Jing Hongchen arrived outside Shrek Academy with two attendants and greeted Yan Shaozhe and the Sea God Pavilion Elders.
• Jiang Ming appeared, and Jing Hongchen’s attendants tensed as they recalled Jiang Ming’s repeated escapes from the empire’s assassination attempts.
• Jiang Ming invited Jing Hongchen and his attendants to Sea God Island, where he prepared a table and served life-infused tea.
• Jiang Ming asked why Xu Tianran had sent Jing Hongchen despite Shrek’s reasons to kill him, and Jing Hongchen pushed a document titled “Truce Agreement” toward him.

Jing Hongchen brought Xu Tianran’s Truce Agreement and a proposal to resume cooperation to Shrek Academy, but Jiang Ming rejected the ploy and declared that Shrek would fight if the Sun Moon Empire started a war. Jing Hongchen refused Jiang Ming’s offer to join Shrek, remaining loyal to the Sun Moon Empire because his family was under Xu Tianran’s control.

• Jing Hongchen presented the Truce Agreement, prompting Jiang Ming and the Sea God Pavilion Elders to recognize it as an attempt to sow discord between Shrek Academy and the Three Great Empires.
• Jiang Ming burned the agreement and declared that Shrek Academy would stay out of conflicts unless the Sun Moon Empire started a war, in which case Shrek would fight until victory.
• Jing Hongchen agreed to convey Jiang Ming’s position to Xu Tianran and explained that the emperor also wanted to resume cooperation between Shrek Academy and the Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy.
• Yan Shaozhe rejected the proposal, citing Long Xiaoyao’s attempt to kill Huo Yuhao, the other students, and their escorts.
• Jiang Ming invited Jing Hongchen to join Shrek Academy, but Jing Hongchen refused, saying he would not betray the Sun Moon Empire and could not risk his family’s lives.

Jiang Ming rejected Xu Tianran’s proposed cooperation and truce, then arranged for Jing Hongchen to remain at Shrek Academy while hinting that he planned to leak information. He later visited the awakened Ma Xiaotao, who flirted with him, and the chapter ended with them alone in her room.

• Jiang Ming deduced that Xu Tianran was using Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen to control Jing Hongchen, and rejected cooperation unless he led the team.
• Jiang Ming suppressed Jing Hongchen’s attendants and told Jing Hongchen that Shrek would not sign a truce agreement or cooperate with the Sun Moon Empire under present conditions.
• Jiang Ming stopped Jing Hongchen from leaving and ordered Elder Lin to host him in Shrek City, then told the others he would show Jing Hongchen around and leak information.
• Jiang Ming visited Ma Xiaotao after she awakened, and she asked him to carry her and openly flirted with him.
• Jiang Ming and Ma Xiaotao closed the door and drew the curtains around them.

Jiang Ming met Jing Hongchen and showed him how Shrek City’s prosperity and civilian Soul Tool infrastructure contrasted with the Sun Moon Empire’s focus on warfare. He warned that Xu Tianran’s ambitions were driving the empire toward ruin and asked whether Jing Hongchen would consider leaving for a different environment.

• Jiang Ming asked the Elders to investigate whether Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen were under Xu Tianran’s control, while explaining that he suspected they were being monitored rather than imprisoned.
• Jiang Ming told the Elders that Xu Tianran would not abandon his plans for war and that Shrek would weaken the Sun Moon Empire through other means during the truce.
• Jiang Ming visited Jing Hongchen at the Shrek Grand Hotel and invited him to tour Shrek City.
• Jing Hongchen watched Shrek City’s Soul Tool lights and bustling streets, noting that the city rivaled Radiant City in prosperity.
• At a food stall, Jiang Ming questioned Jing Hongchen about how talent and war affected development, then asked whether he would change environments when Xu Tianran drove the Sun Moon Empire toward destruction.

Jiang Ming warned Jing Hongchen that Xu Tianran’s ambitions could bring disaster to the Sun Moon Empire, then showed him Shrek City’s powerful factions and revealed that his wife founded the Ming Yue Chamber of Commerce. The chapter ended when Jing Hongchen spotted Xuan Ziwen at Tang Sect headquarters and demanded to know why he was there.

• Jiang Ming warned Jing Hongchen that if Xu Tianran started a war, he would kill Xu Tianran and defeat or kill the Sun Moon Empire’s Rank 9 Soul Masters.
• Jing Hongchen agreed to try to persuade Xu Tianran to abandon war, while Jiang Ming said his presence might keep the emperor in check.
• Jiang Ming took Jing Hongchen through Shrek City’s prosperous street, pointing out the offices of the Three Great Empires, major sects, and the Ming Yue Chamber of Commerce.
• Jing Hongchen learned that Zhang Lexuan had founded the Ming Yue Chamber of Commerce and that it was Jiang Ming’s family business.
• Jiang Ming took Jing Hongchen into Tang Sect headquarters, where Jing Hongchen recognized Xuan Ziwen and asked why he was there.

Jing Hongchen discovered how much Tang Sect had gained from Bright Virtue Hall’s techniques and regretted helping its rise. Jiang Ming revealed to Zhang Lexuan that he planned to retaliate against Xu Tianran and eventually poach Jing Hongchen from the Sun Moon Empire.

• Jing Hongchen was shocked to find Xuan Ziwen leading Tang Sect’s Soul Tool Department, and Xuan Ziwen explained that its research freedom and funding had drawn him there.
• Jing Hongchen recognized Huo Yuhao and He Caitou, while the two concealed how much their Soul Engineer skills had advanced.
• Jiang Ming and Huo Yuhao showed Jing Hongchen Tang Sect’s Soul Tools, and Jing Hongchen realized their craftsmanship drew heavily on Bright Virtue Hall and could surpass its low- and mid-level products.
• Jiang Ming escorted Jing Hongchen back to the hotel, then returned to Zhang Lexuan and told her he intended to poach him from the Sun Moon Empire.
• Jiang Ming told Zhang Lexuan that he planned to make Xu Tianran pay and had devised a plan that could leave the Sun Moon Empire unable to wage war for a hundred years.

Jiang Ming planned his next moves against Xu Tianran and the Holy Spirit Cult while preparing to use Jing Hongchen to pressure the Sun Moon Empire. After Ma Xiaotao’s suppressed Evil Fire desires flared up, Jiang Ming helped her, while Ling Luochen protested that she deserved to be the second wife and Liya invited Wang Qiuer to consummate their relationship together; Jiang Ming then went to show Jing Hongchen around Shrek Academy’s Soul Tool Department.

• Jiang Ming identified completing the Deity Trial, killing Xu Tianran, destroying the Holy Spirit Cult, and fighting Di Tian as his main remaining goals, and told Zhang Lexuan that he might take an unconventional approach against Xu Tianran.
• Liya and Wang Qiuer accepted that their time with Jiang Ming would have to wait, while Ma Xiaotao’s old Evil Fire desires flared up and she pulled Jiang Ming into her room.
• Ling Luochen complained to Zhang Lexuan that Ma Xiaotao had been with Jiang Ming repeatedly while she had only had one chance, and Zhang Lexuan promised to give her a turn after Ma Xiaotao’s Evil Fire was dealt with.
• Liya asked Wang Qiuer whether she wanted to consummate things with Jiang Ming together, and Wang Qiuer stared at her in surprise.
• Jiang Ming emerged after helping Ma Xiaotao and resolved to continue treating her Evil Fire after she recovered, then went to show Jing Hongchen around Shrek Academy’s Soul Tool Department.

Jiang Ming showed Jing Hongchen around Shrek Academy, where its expansion and use of Flying Soul Tools impressed and unsettled the Sun Moon Empire’s master of Bright Virtue Hall. After the Soul Tool Department plied Jing Hongchen with liquor and questions, he grabbed Jiang Ming’s hand and murmured, “Ming Jiang doesn't exist, does he?”

• Jiang Ming met Jing Hongchen and led him from Shrek City toward Shrek Academy while Jing Hongchen reflected on Xu Tianran’s paranoia and the empire’s shrinking prospects for war.
• Jiang Ming showed Jing Hongchen the new Beast Fighting Area and Hell Week Training Camp, highlighting Shrek Academy’s growth.
• Jiang Ming brought Jing Hongchen to Shrek Plaza, where Jing Hongchen saw students using Flying Soul Tools and learned they could do so at three rings with Encapsulated Milk Bottle Technology.
• Jiang Ming led Jing Hongchen to the Soul Tool Department, where Qian Duoduo and other Soul Engineers welcomed him and steered the conversation toward Rank 9 Soul Tool knowledge.
• Qian Duoduo and the Soul Engineers got Jing Hongchen and his two attendants drunk, and Jing Hongchen answered their questions before grabbing Jiang Ming’s hand and asking whether Ming Jiang existed.

Jiang Ming oversaw the simulation of a defensive Soul Tool array for Sea God Island and learned that the larger plan to protect Shrek Academy and Shrek City could take a century to complete. He then left to prepare to repair the Small World by gathering energy to awaken its sleeping Spirits.

• Jing Hongchen asked Jiang Ming whether Ming Jiang existed, and Jiang Ming calmly told him he was drunk; Jing Hongchen laughed and passed out.
• Jiang Ming reassured Qian Duoduo and Fan Yu that he had heard no traps in Jing Hongchen's answers, then inspected the defensive array simulation with them.
• Qian Duoduo and Fan Yu demonstrated nine Rank 8 Soul Tool pillars forming a shield over Sea God Island that withstood a simulated Rank 8 Fixed Soul Cannonball.
• Qian Duoduo told Jiang Ming that only seven of the nine pillars were complete and that the full-scale array for Shrek Academy and Shrek City could take at least a hundred years.
• Jiang Ming accepted the slow timeline, left the laboratory, and began preparing to repair the Small World by finding suitable sources of energy to awaken its sleeping Spirits.