Chapter Summaries

Tang Lan disguised himself as a mysterious powerhouse and lured five Titled Douluo away from Shrek City. In the western mountains, he confronted Ghost Staff Douluo and began freeing the tortured souls trapped in his spirit, but Ghost Staff Douluo combined them into a towering giant.

• Tang Lan appeared in black robes, then flew away from Shrek City to draw the Titled Douluo after him.
• Five Titled Douluo pursued Tang Lan, while Cold Sword Douluo, Silver Bone Douluo, and Ghost Dream Douluo stayed behind.
• Tang Lan stopped in the western mountains, where Ghost Staff Douluo taunted him and revealed his history of killing people to strengthen his spirit.
• Tang Lan recognized the suffering ghosts imprisoned in Ghost Staff Douluo's cane and destroyed them with his Dragon Grasping Hand.
• Ghost Staff Douluo used his fourth soul skill to merge the scattered ghosts into a giant, and Tang Lan seized it by the head with his Dragon Grasping Hand.

Tang Lan overwhelmed Ghost Staff Douluo’s summoned ghosts and destroyed the black-mist form of his mutated spirit with the Overlord Spear. Ghost Staff Douluo suffered severe backlash, and his Soul Power rank fell from Level 93 to Level 75.

• Ghost Staff Douluo unleashed multiple soul skills, sending ghost tigers, vengeful soul giants, and a black net toward Tang Lan.
• Tang Lan used the Ancient Dragon Guardian and dragon breath to destroy the ghost tigers and crush one vengeful soul giant.
• Ghost Staff Douluo’s Ghost Staff transformed into black mist and turned on its host before charging at Tang Lan.
• Tang Lan fused the Ancient Dragon Spirit with the Overlord Spear and pierced the black mist with Dragon God Overlord Wind Devouring Thrust.
• The black mist exploded, and Ghost Staff Douluo suffered spiritual backlash that reduced his rank from Level 93 to Level 75.

Tang Lan freed the wronged souls trapped by Ghost Staff Douluo and spared the defeated Soul Emperor, then faced four Titled Douluo who came with competing plans for him. When they joined forces to capture him, Tang Lan blocked Demon Hair Douluo’s attack and countered Blood Eagle Douluo’s strike.

• Tang Lan released the shackled wronged souls, who bowed to him before departing for the heavens.
• Tang Lan spared Ghost Staff Douluo, whose Spirit had shattered and whose soul power had fallen to level 63, and told him to leave.
• Demon Hair Douluo, Wild Hair Douluo, Cicada Douluo, and Blood Eagle Douluo emerged; Wild Hair Douluo offered Tang Lan protection and a place as a Star Luo Empire guest elder.
• After the other Douluo exposed the Star Luo Empire’s motives, Tang Lan challenged all four to attack before dawn.
• Demon Hair Douluo attacked with spikes formed from pink soul power, and Tang Lan blocked them with the Dragon God Overlord Spear.
• Blood Eagle Douluo struck at Tang Lan from behind, but Tang Lan turned and met his claws with an Ancient Dragon’s Claw.

Tang Lan fought the Ice Silkworm Douluo while Blood Eagle Douluo and Demon Hair Douluo waited nearby. He destroyed the Azure Jade Ice Silkworm Manifestation, shattering the Ice Silkworm Douluo’s martial soul and dropping his realm to that of a Soul Emperor.

• Blood Eagle Douluo sensed Tang Lan’s overwhelming martial-soul power after their exchange, as the Ice Silkworm Douluo struck with an ice dragon and a snow domain.
• The Ice Silkworm Douluo summoned a giant Azure Jade Ice Silkworm and covered the forest in flames that froze and consumed life, then demanded that Tang Lan surrender.
• Tang Lan vanished and drove the Dragon God Overlord Spear through the silkworm’s mouth and body, causing the Ice Silkworm Douluo unbearable pain.
• Tang Lan sent a golden dragon shadow rampaging through the silkworm’s insides, and the Azure Jade Ice Silkworm Manifestation exploded into motes of soul power.
• The Ice Silkworm Douluo fell into the forest with his martial soul shattered, and his soul power realm dropped below Soul Saint to Soul Emperor.

Tang Lan defeated Blood Eagle Douluo and confronted Demon Hair Douluo and Wild Hair Douluo, then revealed himself as the War God Douluo and departed. Afterward, Wei Hongying agreed to return to her family with her uncle, though she intended to leave again after visiting.

• Blood Eagle Douluo, Demon Hair, and Wild Hair Douluo joined forces against Tang Lan, but Tang Lan climbed onto Blood Eagle's transformed eagle body and stabbed his neck with the Dragon God Overlord Spear.
• Tang Lan crushed Blood Eagle's bones and suppressed his soul skills with the Ancient Dragon Spirit, sending him crashing into the mountains.
• Tang Lan challenged Demon Hair and Wild Hair Douluo, identified himself as the War God Douluo, and warned them that Tang Lan was his disciple before flying away.
• Wild Hair Douluo urged Wei Hongying to return to the Wei Family, explaining that her father had driven her away to protect the family and her safety.
• Wei Hongying agreed to visit her family with her uncle but said she would leave again afterward.

Tang Lan returned to Shrek Academy after meeting an elder and found the academy on alert following an attack by the Holy Spirit Cult. At Sea God Pavilion, Xuan Zi temporarily took command and prepared to confront any further attackers, while Tang Lan reassured the elders that he was unharmed.

• Tang Lan returned to Shrek Academy and found Cold Sword, Ghost Dream, and Silver Bone Douluo missing, with signs of a Titled Douluo battle in the nearby forest.
• Lin Yao told Tang Lan that the Holy Spirit Cult had attacked the academy and that the Deans had driven the attackers away.
• Lin Yao organized patrols as Shrek Academy raised the Soul Gathering Tree's defensive barrier over the campus and surrounding area.
• Xuan Zi announced that he would temporarily assume the Sea God Pavilion Master position while Mu En remained in closed-door cultivation, and ordered the elders to show no restraint if attackers returned.
• Tang Lan entered Sea God Pavilion, where Xuan Zi checked that he was safe, and Tang Lan said he had gone to meet an elder.

Tang Lan and the Shrek Academy leaders met the fugitive soul tool grandmaster Ding De'er, who had escaped from the Sun Moon Empire. Ding De'er revealed that his Death Soul Cannon used Death Soul Crystal and could kill a level ninety-three Titled Douluo with one strike.

• Tang Lan said he had gone to see a senior, but before he could explain, an Outer Courtyard director brought a filthy beggar into the hall.
• Yan Shaozhe questioned the beggar, while Tang Lan and the other senior figures recognized that he was a powerful soul master.
• Xian Lin'er recognized the man as Ding De'er, a soul tool researcher she had met at the Sun Moon Empire Royal Academy.
• Ding De'er explained that he had spent years escaping pursuit before reaching Shrek Academy.
• Ding De'er said he had invented the Death Soul Cannon, which used Death Soul Crystal as its energy source and had killed a level ninety-three Titled Douluo with one strike.

Ding De'er asked to join Shrek Academy and offered the manufacturing method for the Death Soul Cannon as proof of his sincerity. He also offered to build custom Soul Tools for Tang Lan, but Tang Lan showed little interest, and Xuan Zi called for a vote on Ding De'er's admission.

• Xian Lin'er asked Ding De'er why he had come, and he said he wanted to join Shrek Academy because it could protect him from his pursuers.
• Xuan Zi warned that accepting Ding De'er could endanger the relationship between Shrek Academy and the Sun Moon Empire Royal Academy.
• Ding De'er offered the Death Soul Cannon manufacturing method, then proposed becoming Tang Lan's personal Soul Engineer and helping him fight Level Ninety-Five or Level Ninety-Six Titled Douluo.
• Ding De'er described custom Soul Tools that could unleash immense power at the cost of severe strain on their wielders.
• Tang Lan said he did not think he needed Soul Tool equipment, and Xuan Zi began a vote on whether Ding De'er could join Shrek Academy.

Tang Lan learned that news of his master's strength had spread across the continent, discouraging factions from targeting him. After Tang Ya invited him to join the Tang Sect and visit its ancestral home, he agreed, and Ma Xiaotao and Jiang Nannan offered to join as well.

• Xuan Zi prepared to arrange Ding De'er's admission to Shrek Academy, while Tang Lan returned to his residence.
• Tang Ya helped Tang Lan dress and walked with him through the academy, where students admired the pair.
• Jiang Nannan and Ma Xiaotao joined Tang Lan and Tang Ya for breakfast, drawing attention from students.
• Tang Lan learned that two escaped Titled Douluo had spread news of his master's defeat of three opponents, causing factions to abandon plans against him.
• Tang Ya invited Tang Lan to join the Tang Sect and accompany her to pay respects to their ancestors, and he accepted.
• Ma Xiaotao and Jiang Nannan offered to go with Tang Ya and join the Tang Sect, while Tang Ya mentioned that Bei Bei had declined her earlier invitation.

Tang Lan, Tang Ya, Jiang Nannan, and Ma Xiaotao watched the freshmen's examination, where they learned of Dean Tang Boyang's tragic past and his stalled cultivation. Tang Boyang changed the test rules so the freshmen would draw lots and challenge a teacher or senior.

• Tang Ya told Tang Lan about the Tang Sect's lack of disciples and the loneliness she had faced after her grandfather's death.
• The group arrived at the freshmen's courtyard, where nearly two hundred students gathered for their examination.
• Tang Ya explained that Tang Boyang's cultivation had stalled after the woman he loved disappeared while protecting others from the Holy Spirit Cult, and that he had become known as the Death God Envoy.
• Tang Lan spotted Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong, and Xiao Xiao among the first-year students, and Tang Boyang greeted him and Ma Xiaotao.
• Tang Boyang invited the four seniors to join the examination and ordered the freshmen to draw a teacher or senior to challenge for the time it took an incense stick to burn.

Tang Lan proctored Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong, Xiao Xiao, and eight other freshmen in their semester assessment, promising to match their cultivation and combat ability. Huo Yuhao was the first to challenge him, but Tang Lan countered his attacks and left the assessment ongoing.

• Tang Lan and three other Inner Courtyard students joined the assessment, bringing the number of instructors to nine.
• Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong, and Xiao Xiao drew Tang Lan as their proctor, and Tang Lan explained the assessment rules.
• Huo Yuhao volunteered to face Tang Lan first and launched a close-combat attack.
• Tang Lan dodged Huo Yuhao's punch, grabbed his wrist, and assessed the flaws in his footwork.
• Huo Yuhao used three soul skills, but Tang Lan's dragon roar overwhelmed his spiritual attacks.
• Huo Yuhao dodged Tang Lan's pebble strike, then steadied himself and prepared to continue fighting.

Huo Yuhao passed Tang Lan’s assessment after enduring a prolonged fight, and Wang Dong began her own trial. Wang Dong shattered Tang Lan’s Soul Power barrier with her Butterfly God’s Blade, leaving the battle unresolved.

• Huo Yuhao split his mental attack into three parts, but Tang Lan evaded them and pushed him into their path.
• Huo Yuhao feigned distress before unleashing his Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear right palm bone, and Tang Lan stopped it with two fingers.
• Huo Yuhao attacked Tang Lan until he collapsed, and Tang Lan declared that he had passed and advanced to second year.
• Wang Dong summoned her Light Goddess Butterfly and attacked Tang Lan with Butterfly God’s Slash, Butterfly God’s Light, and her Butterfly God’s Blade.
• Wang Dong’s Butterfly God’s Blade shattered Tang Lan’s Soul Power barrier.

Tang Lan tested Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao by facing their Soul Skills while suppressing his own strength. Wang Dong passed, and Xiao Xiao began her test by unleashing her cauldrons and flute abilities against him.

• Wang Dong attacked Tang Lan with Dragon God's Wrath and a massive light slash, but his Ancient Dragon Guardian remained untouched.
• Tang Lan declared that Wang Dong had passed and gave her and her companions medicinal pills to restore their Soul Power.
• Xiao Xiao stepped forward and split her Three Lives Soul Suppressing Cauldron into three to attack Tang Lan.
• Xiao Xiao used her cauldron Soul Skills and Nine Phoenixes Congratulating Flute to hinder Tang Lan, but he broke free and charged toward her.

Tang Lan tested the students’ combat skills, praised Xiao Xiao for passing, and used the trials to expose the others’ lack of battle experience. He then introduced Tang Sect manuals to the five students who passed, leaving Tang Ya to explain them and recruit new members.

• Tang Lan outmaneuvered Xiao Xiao’s Phoenix Seal, appeared behind her, and declared that she had passed his test.
• Tang Lan defeated most of the remaining students and pointed out their lack of combat experience; only two of the eight others passed.
• Tang Lan showed the successful students the Controlling Crane Capturing Dragon manual and described how it could strengthen their fighting skills.
• Tang Lan named the Mystic Jade Hand, Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track, and Mysterious Heaven Skill, then invited Tang Ya to explain them to the students.

Tang Ya recruited Huo Yuhao, Ma Xiaotao, Jiang Nannan, and other students into the Tang Sect, then accepted six students who had failed her assessment. Tang Boyang defended the recruitment to the other instructors, while the new members headed to Moon Tower for their first gathering.

• Huo Yuhao and the other junior students agreed to join the Tang Sect after Tang Lan explained its cultivation techniques.
• Tang Ya recruited seven students, including Ma Xiaotao and Jiang Nannan, bringing the sect to nine members and inviting them to celebrate in the city.
• Six students who had failed the assessment asked to join, and Tang Ya accepted them and explained the Tang Sect's principles.
• Tang Boyang dismissed the instructors' concerns, citing the Tang Sect's ties to Shrek Academy and reminding them that the recruits were still Shrek students.
• Tang Lan and the others traveled to Moon Tower, led by Ma Xiaotao, to begin their gathering.

Tang Lan and the Shrek students visited Moon Tower to eat, where they learned about the other academies in Shrek City. Their meal was interrupted when students from Kunpeng Academy insulted Shrek Academy and challenged its standing.

• A Moon Tower attendant showed Tang Lan and the others the restaurant's food, medicines, trained spirit beasts, and spatial equipment before guiding them toward the dining area.
• Tang Lan's group admired Moon Tower's elaborate dishes and chose a secluded table near the eastern windows.
• Ma Xiaotao pointed out students from Kunpeng Academy, and Tang Lan recalled the history of Kunpeng Academy and Knight Academy.
• A Kunpeng Academy student mocked Shrek Academy's students and questioned whether they were truly monsters.
• Other Kunpeng Academy students joined in, boasting that their Heaven-Class students were stronger and that the student rankings in Shrek City were due to change.

Ma Xiaotao and Tang Lan clashed with Kunpeng Academy students at Moon Tower, and the dispute nearly turned into a fight before the tower’s Soul Douluo owner intervened. Kunpeng Academy challenged Shrek Academy to continue the confrontation outside, but Tang Lan told his companions to eat first.

• Wang Dong started to confront the Kunpeng Academy students, but Huo Yuhao calmed her and urged her to trust Tang Lan.
• A silver-haired Kunpeng Academy youth tried to trip Ma Xiaotao, so she crushed his foot; when he charged at her from behind, Tang Lan punched him through a wall and sent him onto a flagpole across the street.
• The Kunpeng Academy students gathered their Soul Power and demanded an explanation, while their Seven-Ring Soul Sage watched and assessed Tang Lan and Ma Xiaotao.
• Moon Tower’s manager, Yan Feng, revealed that he was a Soul Douluo and ordered the groups to take any fight outside.
• The Kunpeng Academy instructor agreed to go outside, but Tang Lan held Ma Xiaotao back and told everyone to eat first.

Tang Lan led Shrek Academy out of Moon Tower and confronted Kunpeng Academy, easily defeating a Soul King before fighting director Wo Hai. The battle continued after Wo Hai unleashed his Martial Soul Avatar, while Tang Lan remained confident.

• Wo Hai ordered Kunpeng Academy’s students to wait outside Moon Tower and attack Shrek Academy when they emerged.
• Tang Lan gave Tang Ya a money pouch as the group enjoyed their meal, then led everyone outside after two hours.
• A level-fifty-four Kunpeng Academy student attacked Tang Lan with his Ironclad Bear Martial Soul, but Tang Lan knocked him through several streetlamps with one punch.
• Wo Hai challenged Tang Lan and attacked with his Blue Shark Martial Soul, but Tang Lan dodged his strikes and drove a Soul Power harpoon into him.
• Wo Hai unleashed his Martial Soul Avatar and expanded his water domain, but Tang Lan dismissed the transformed shark as no threat while Wo Hai’s wound continued to bleed.

Tang Lan defeated the Blue Shark Soul Sage and helped the Shrek Academy group drive off the bullying Kunpeng Academy students. The residents of Shrek City thanked them with gifts, and after returning to the academy, Tang Lan presented Zhang Deye with a fragrant wooden smoking pipe.

• Tang Lan shattered the Blue Shark Soul Sage's clones, then exposed his hidden attack and struck him down with a blue Overlord Long Spear.
• Ma Xiaotao and the Shrek Academy students defeated the Kunpeng Academy students, while Tang Lan warned them to treat Shrek students with respect.
• The Kunpeng Academy students carried away the wounded Wo Hai, and Shrek City residents cheered and gave the Shrek group food and other gifts.
• The Shrek group rented a fourth carriage to carry the gifts and returned to Shrek Academy late in the afternoon.
• Tang Lan opened a wooden box and gave Zhang Deye a fragrant, finely made smoking pipe.

After completing registration, Tang Lan returned to his courtyard, where Yan Shaozhe warned that the major empires had grown wary of Shrek Academy and asked how it should respond. Tang Lan outlined two possible strategies, ending with a call to expand Shrek’s power and secure buffer zones before its rivals could react.

• Tang Lan explained that he had guessed Zhang Lao would appreciate a pipe made from Spirit Calming Wood because the elder had stopped carrying his old pipe.
• Tang Lan and the other students finished registering and split up to return to their separate dormitories and courtyards.
• Yan Shaozhe waited at Tang Lan’s secluded courtyard and warned him that the major empires were growing wary of Shrek City’s rising power.
• Tang Lan agreed that Shrek City could eventually face an attack from the empires, whose agents were already gathering intelligence on it.
• Yan Shaozhe asked Tang Lan how Shrek Academy should respond, and Tang Lan proposed either lying low or rapidly expanding its power and securing strategic buffer zones.