Chapter Summaries

Zhu Ziyang attended Treasure Gathering Pavilion’s auction with Ma Xiaotao and bought a mysterious seal after recognizing its hidden significance. He left Ma Xiaotao’s questions unanswered, revealing only that the seal’s true name was the Moon Emperor Imperial Seal and that it related to a bold plan he had devised.

• Zhu Ziyang accompanied Ma Xiaotao to Treasure Gathering Pavilion while Jiang Nannan was away with Elder Song, and he spotted Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong near a Soul Bone display.
• Zhu Ziyang and Ma Xiaotao entered the auction in a private box, where Luo Shuiyun opened the bidding with a sixty-thousand-year Soul Bone that sold for twelve million eight hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins.
• Zhu Ziyang recognized the sixth item, the Beauty Reclining on Moon Seal, and bid five million Gold Soul Coins when no one else showed interest.
• Zhu Ziyang told Ma Xiaotao he bought the seal because it suited Jiang Nannan, upsetting Ma Xiaotao before he teased her and soothed her with laughter.
• Zhu Ziyang privately identified the seal as the Moon Emperor Imperial Seal and connected it to a daring plan.

Zhu Ziyang learned the history behind the Moon Emperor Imperial Seal and planned to use it to help place Zhang Lexuan on the Sun Moon Empire’s throne. After the auction’s Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone sold, Luo Shuiyun revealed that she had paid for the seal on his behalf.

• Zhu Ziyang learned that the Sun Moon Imperial Family had three branches and that the Moon Vein had been nearly destroyed during the Eclipse Palace Coup, when the Moon Emperor Imperial Seal disappeared.
• Zhu Ziyang decided to use Zhang Lexuan’s Lunar Martial Soul and the imperial seal as part of a plan to make her emperor and guide the Sun Moon Empire’s unification of the continent.
• The auction’s final item, the Right Arm Bone of the Earthfire King, drew fierce bidding and sold after its price rose to one hundred and fifty million Gold Soul Coins.
• Ma Xiaotao told Zhu Ziyang that she wanted the Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone but already had a right arm bone, so they did not bid.
• Zhu Ziyang collected the Moon Emperor Imperial Seal and learned that Luo Shuiyun had paid for it, thanking him and Ma Xiaotao for helping her avoid a failed sale.

After leaving the Treasure Appreciation Fair, Zhu Ziyang and Ma Xiaotao rescued Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong from six masked attackers near Shrek City. They learned the other Shrek students had come to help, and the chapter ended with everyone reuniting and joking after the danger passed.

• Zhu Ziyang and Ma Xiaotao spotted an Inner Court distress flare and rushed toward it, finding Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong fleeing six masked soul masters.
• Ma Xiaotao and Zhu Ziyang killed all six attackers in under five minutes, with Zhu Ziyang pursuing and killing the fleeing Soul Emperor.
• Zhu Ziyang and Ma Xiaotao met Tang Ya, Beibei, Xu Sanshi, and Xue Weiwei beside the rescued Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong as Shrek City's defense team arrived.
• Tang Ya thanked Zhu Ziyang and Ma Xiaotao, while Ma Xiaotao questioned how Outer Court disciples had obtained an Inner Court distress flare.
• Wang Dong explained that Dean Qian had given Huo Yuhao the flare, and Zhu Ziyang calmed Ma Xiaotao before she went to report the incident.
• Xu Sanshi joked about Ma Xiaotao's temper, and Xue Weiwei twisted his ear as the group laughed.

After an assassination attempt on Huo Yuhao, Zhu Ziyang and Mu En discussed the political tensions surrounding Shrek Academy and the Sun Moon Empire. Half a month later, the Main Team met the Preliminary Team and learned that the substitutes would also compete in the upcoming tournament.

• Huo Yuhao suspected who had ordered the attack but declined to name the person, and Zhu Ziyang assured him that the academy would handle the matter.
• Zhu Ziyang told Mu En that the assassination was a probe by nobles wary of Shrek Academy, and they discussed how the Three Great Empires depended on the academy against the Sun Moon Empire.
• Xuan Zi summoned the Main Team and Preliminary Team to meet before the tournament, explaining that the substitutes would compete in easier matches while concealing the Main Team's abilities.
• Beibei, Tang Ya, Xu Sanshi, He Caitou, Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong, and Xiao Xiao introduced themselves and their abilities to the Main Team.

The Main Team introduced themselves to the Preliminary Team, revealing their ranks and strengths, and Xuan Zi arranged a mixed-team friendly match. Zhu Ziyang’s team prepared to face Ma Xiaotao’s team, with Huo Yuhao’s Spiritual Detection Sharing set to guide their tactics as the battle was about to begin.

• Ma Xiaotao, Dai Yueheng, Zhu Ziyang, Gongyang Mo, Chen Zifeng, Ling Luochen, and Jiang Nannan introduced their cultivation ranks to the Preliminary Team.
• Xuan Zi split the students into two mixed teams, with Dai Yueheng and Ma Xiaotao as leaders and a penalty of shouting “I’m a pig” for the losing side.
• Dai Yueheng chose Huo Yuhao, and Zhu Ziyang selected Tang Ya, Wang Dong, and Xiao Xiao for their team.
• Zhu Ziyang proposed that Huo Yuhao lead the control, with Tang Ya and Xiao Xiao assisting and Wang Dong protecting Huo Yuhao.
• Huo Yuhao demonstrated his Spiritual Detection Sharing to Dai Yueheng and Chen Zifeng, who agreed to follow his commands during the match.

Zhu Ziyang and Dai Yueheng led their team against Ma Xiaotao’s team in a high-stakes assessment battle. Both sides suffered multiple eliminations, and the fight reached its most intense stage with Zhu Ziyang and Chen Zifeng facing Jiang Nannan, Beibei, Ling Luochen, and Gongyang Mo while Dai Yueheng remained locked against Ma Xiaotao.

• Zhu Ziyang and Dai Yueheng attacked Ma Xiaotao, who used Gongyang Mo’s six support boosts and clashed with them using her Phoenix Soul Skills.
• Xu Sanshi switched places with Huo Yuhao, causing Huo Yuhao to be eliminated first; Wang Dong, Tang Ya, and Xiao Xiao then eliminated Xu Sanshi.
• Jiang Nannan eliminated Xiao Xiao, while Beibei and He Caitou drove Chen Zifeng back with support from Gongyang Mo and Ling Luochen.
• Tang Ya linked with Wang Dong and boosted his attack on He Caitou, but Jiang Nannan eliminated Tang Ya and Ling Luochen’s ice attack eliminated Wang Dong.
• Zhu Ziyang’s spinning scythe disrupted Jiang Nannan, Beibei, and He Caitou as they pressured Chen Zifeng, and Xuan Zi rescued He Caitou from its pull.
• The battle entered its decisive stage as Zhu Ziyang and Chen Zifeng faced Jiang Nannan, Beibei, Ling Luochen, and Gongyang Mo, while Dai Yueheng fought Ma Xiaotao.

Zhu Ziyang led Dai Yueheng’s team to defeat Ma Xiaotao’s team, then accepted Xuan Zi’s unfairly balanced rematch challenge and led the Preliminary Team against Ma Xiaotao’s Main Team. He unleashed his new Mourning Moon attack, leaving the opposing team defeated and a vast fissure across the assessment ground.

• Zhu Ziyang and Chen Zifeng eliminated Gongyang Mo, Ling Luochen, Beibei, and Jiang Nannan, while Ma Xiaotao was left outnumbered and Xuan Zi declared Dai Yueheng’s team the winner.
• Xuan Zi made both teams say “I’m a pig,” then arranged a second match with Zhu Ziyang leading the Preliminary Team against Ma Xiaotao’s team, which gained Beibei.
• Xu Sanshi traded himself for Gongyang Mo, and He Caitou, Tang Ya, and Xiao Xiao held back the opposing five long enough for Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong to unleash their Martial Soul Fusion Skill.
• After Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong exhausted themselves, Zhu Ziyang revealed his hundred-thousand-year sixth Soul Ring and unleashed Mourning Moon against Ma Xiaotao’s team.
• Xuan Zi rescued Beibei as Mourning Moon overwhelmed the others and carved a huge fissure through the ground, leaving Ma Xiaotao’s team unable to continue.

The Shrek teams set out for Star Luo City, accompanied by Elder Lin and led by Xuan Zi and Wang Yan. On the journey, Xuan Zi explained that Inner Court disciples joined the Shrek Inspection Group and asked the Preliminary Team to commit themselves to its dangerous mission; they agreed.

• After the sparring match, Xuan Zi dismissed the students and told them to gather the next morning to travel to Star Luo City for the tournament.
• Elder Lin and Wang Yan joined the teams at the academy gates, with Elder Lin secretly tasked with protecting Zhu Ziyang and supervising Xuan Zi.
• As the group traveled, Zhu Ziyang explained Elder Lin's history with Xuan Zi, prompting Ma Xiaotao and Jiang Nannan to laugh at his wariness of her.
• Xuan Zi told the Preliminary Team that Inner Court disciples became members of the Shrek Inspection Group, which fought Evil Soul Masters and other evildoers.
• Xuan Zi asked whether the Preliminary Team would risk their lives for the Inspection Group's cause, and they agreed resolutely.

Xuan Zi and Dai Yueheng explained the Shrek Inspection Group’s purpose and responsibilities, and the Preliminary Team agreed to join. The group set out on its first mission to eliminate the Hand of Death, while Zhu Ziyang wondered whether its leader could help him complete Death God’s First Trial.

• Xuan Zi described the Inspection Group’s support, mission requirements, and goal of protecting the continent, and Dai Yueheng shared his experience as an Inspector.
• All seven Preliminary Team members chose to join the Inspection Group and received Inspector’s Rings from Ma Xiaotao.
• Wang Yan explained that the team would travel to the Star Luo Empire’s Western Group Army camp for intelligence before hunting the Hand of Death bandits and their leader, Death God's Emissary.
• Ma Xiaotao arranged how the team would travel, and the group set off toward the military camp.
• Huo Yuhao asked Zhu Ziyang to help him get Ma Xiaotao to refine his Ten-Thousand-Year Whale Gel, and Zhu Ziyang agreed to speak to her.

Shrek Academy’s group reached the Star Luo Empire’s Western Group Army and learned that Xu Yi had requested their help to deal with bandits who had looted his resold military supplies. As Xu Yi began the intelligence handover, Zhu Ziyang sensed intense malice from him and suspected his scheme went beyond concealing corruption.

• Dai Yueheng reunited with Du Leisi, who escorted the Shrek group into the Western Group Army camp to meet Dai Hao.
• Huo Yuhao lost control of his aura when he saw Dai Hao, but Wang Dong restrained him before he could erupt.
• Du Leisi revealed that Xu Yi had arranged the mission to hide his military-supply reselling, and that Dai Hao wanted the Shrek group to destroy any evidence rather than expose Xu Yi.
• Xu Yi entered to handle the intelligence handover after Du Leisi left, and Zhu Ziyang sensed that Xu Yi held deep malice toward the group.

Shrek Academy’s team rejected Xu Yi’s hostile treatment and set out to eliminate the Death’s Hand Bandit Group in the Mingdou Mountain Range. They found the bandits’ lair and launched an assault, only to discover three powerful black-clothed figures alongside the Soul Emperor leader, Death God’s Emissary.

• Xu Yi gave the Shrek group vague intelligence about the bandits and mocked their request for more details, prompting Ma Xiaotao to burn the report and leave the camp.
• Elder Lin and Xuan Zi dismissed the military’s demands, assigned Ma Xiaotao to lead the operation, and sent Wang Yan’s Preliminary Team to guard the rear.
• Ma Xiaotao arranged the team’s formation at the Mingdou Mountain Range, while Zhu Ziyang and Huo Yuhao used Spiritual Detection Sharing to scout ahead.
• The team found the bandits’ cave and swiftly defeated its guards before Ma Xiaotao, Dai Yueheng, and Chen Zifeng rushed inside.
• Inside the lair, the Main Team saw hundreds of bandits, a Bone Throne surrounded by souls, Death God’s Emissary, and three black-clothed figures whose power exceeded his.
• After one black-clothed figure detected them, Zhu Ziyang’s team attacked; Zhu Ziyang stopped time and charged toward Death God’s Emissary as the target of his Death God’s First Trial.

Zhu Ziyang killed the Death God's Emissary inside Hell's Duel Arena and learned that the Holy Spirit Cult had become a powerful, organized force. Back in the cavern, he returned amid a devastating explosion as Shrek's elders fought the cult's Super Douluo.

• Ma Xiaotao and the others slaughtered half the bandits before Guigu revealed himself as a Super Douluo and sent them flying with his aura.
• Elder Lin and Xuan Zi confronted Guigu, while Jiang Nannan explained that Zhu Ziyang had entered Hell's Duel Arena to fight the Death God's Emissary.
• Ai Zihao revealed himself as another Super Douluo, and the four elders left the cavern to battle as Ma Xiaotao and the others resumed killing the bandits.
• Inside Hell's Duel Arena, Zhu Ziyang suppressed the Death God's Emissary's Soul Skills and learned about the Holy Spirit Cult's powerful leaders and members.
• Zhu Ziyang killed the Death God's Emissary and returned to the cavern just as a terrifying explosion swept through the stone hall.

Ma Xiaotao and Shrek’s Main Team fought the Fallen Soul Masters until Demon Spirit Douluo Ai Zihao unleashed two Level 8 Soul Guided Cannon Shells, collapsing the cavern. Xuan Zi shielded the students and survived badly injured, while Zhu Ziyang emerged from the rubble and began searching for his companions.

• Ma Xiaotao pierced the black-clad Soul Saint with her Golden Nine Consecutive Strikes and attacked his Corrosive Poisonous Serpent Martial Soul with her phoenix flames.
• Demon Spirit Douluo Ai Zihao appeared, rescued the burning Corrosive Poisonous Serpent, and threw two Soul Guided Cannon Shells into the cavern.
• Xuan Zi warned the group to retreat, then transformed into his Godly Taotie Bull Martial Soul and shielded the students as the shells exploded and the cavern collapsed.
• Huo Yuhao and He Caitou recognized the shells as Level 8 Soul Guided Cannon Shells while Zhu Ziyang emerged from Hell's Duel Arena and began blasting through the rubble to find his companions.
• Elder Lin rescued the Main Team from beneath Xuan Zi, who collapsed badly injured after protecting them, and reassured him that the students were safe.

After an attack by two Evil Soul Master Douluo armed with Level 8 Soul Guided Cannon Shells, Shrek Academy’s group suffered serious injuries, and Zhu Ziyang revealed his five Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Rings. Elder Lin sent Wang Yan to lead the remaining team to Star Luo City while she escorted the injured back to the academy; Dai Yueheng left alone for the Western Group Army camp, and the others continued toward the city.

• Two Level 8 Soul Guided Cannon Shells badly injured Xuan Zi and several Main Team members, though no one died.
• Zhu Ziyang emerged from the rubble unharmed, revealing his Heavenly Frost Holy White Dragon Martial Soul and five Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Rings.
• Zhu Ziyang told Elder Lin and Xuan Zi that the attackers belonged to the Holy Spirit Cult, which supposedly had two Limit Douluo and more than a dozen Titled Douluo.
• Elder Lin ordered Wang Yan to lead Zhu Ziyang, Jiang Nannan, Ma Xiaotao, and the Preliminary Team to Star Luo City, while she escorted Xuan Zi and the injured back to the academy.
• Dai Yueheng refused help and flew alone toward the Western Group Army camp; Zhu Ziyang persuaded Wang Yan to continue to Star Luo City without him.
• The team traveled until nightfall, then rested around a campfire while Huo Yuhao roasted food.

Around the campfire, the team discovered more secrets about Zhu Ziyang and Huo Yuhao’s Martial Souls while Wang Yan explained the team’s tournament strategy. The strongest members agreed to follow Wang Yan’s plans, easing the tension as they prepared for the matches ahead.

• Tang Ya and the others learned that Zhu Ziyang had Twin Martial Souls, including the royal True Dragon Heavenly Frost Holy White Dragon.
• Wang Yan explained the Nine Dragon Kings’ royal True Dragons and confirmed that Zhu Ziyang’s second Martial Soul possessed Ultimate Ice.
• Wang Dong accidentally revealed that Huo Yuhao had Twin Martial Souls, prompting Tang Ya to question him before Wang Dong blamed Zhou Yi for keeping it secret.
• Wang Dong learned that Zhu Ziyang’s World-Pacifying Death Scythe was an ultimate light Martial Soul and admitted she had mistaken her Light Goddess Butterfly’s reaction for pride.
• Wang Yan asked Ma Xiaotao, Zhu Ziyang, and Jiang Nannan to follow his plans for the Knockout Tournament Team Matches, and they agreed or promised to try.
• With the command issue settled, the team’s atmosphere grew more harmonious.

Shrek Academy’s Elders agreed to prioritize Soul Tool development after Xuan Zi was injured by a powerful cannon shell, while Mu En dismissed fears of the Holy Spirit Cult and trusted Zhu Ziyang to grow strong. In Star Luo City, Shrek’s weakened team prepared for the tournament’s opening match as Sun Moon Academy interpreted its young lineup as either an insult or the result of an accident.

• Mu En persuaded Shrek Academy’s Elders to support the Soul Tool Department for the next five to ten years and said they need not fear the Holy Spirit Cult while he and Zhu Ziyang remained their strength.
• Mu En declined to add another student to the tournament team and entrusted Elder Zhuang with the injured students’ care before wondering whether Xi Shui was behind the Holy Spirit Cult.
• Wang Yan gathered Shrek’s ten team members at the Star Emperor Hotel, explained the tournament format, and told them their opening match would take place the next day.
• Jiang Nannan explained that Shrek could add up to three members during the tournament, and Tang Ya regained her confidence by planning to fight alongside Jiang Nannan and her brother.
• Elder Ma accused Shrek Academy of belittling Sun Moon Academy with its young lineup and warned Ma Rulong he would be dismissed from Mingde Hall if they lost.
• Xiao Hongchen suggested Shrek’s incomplete team might be due to an accident, taunted Ma Rulong, and watched as Elder Ma began choosing the first-round lineup.

Zhu Ziyang completed the Death God's First Trial, received the God-Locking Pillars, and learned the requirements for the Second Trial. As the All-Continent Elite Soul Master Tournament began in Star Luo City, Shrek Academy's unusually young lineup drew skeptical attention.

• Zhu Ziyang received ten percent Death God Affinity and a pair of God-Locking Pillars for completing the First Trial, though he could not yet use the pillars.
• Zhu Ziyang reached the twentieth step and learned that the Second Trial required him to kill five opponents of equal or greater cultivation alone, without his Second Martial Soul or Soul Tools, within three years.
• The Star Luo Empire prepared Star Luo Plaza for the tournament with troop deployments, crowd-control barriers, and a knockout format in which each academy had only one chance.
• Xu Jiawei watched the academies arrive and regretted that Yue Heng could not compete, while deciding not to summon Dai Hao to the capital amid the unrest.
• Shrek Academy took its customary place at the front of the teams, and its ten mostly underage participants surprised rival academies, especially Sun Moon Royal Soul Tool Master Academy and Xiao Hongchen.

Xu Jiawei opened the All-Continent Elite Soul Master Tournament, and Shrek Academy defeated Heaven Spirit Academy in the first match through a plan that concealed its members’ real abilities. The chapter leaves Shrek’s victory and intimidating display prompting the other academies to study Huo Yuhao and Jiang Nannan.

• Xu Jiawei declared the tournament officially open, and the host announced Shrek Academy would face Heaven Spirit Academy in the opening match.
• Zhu Ziyang and Wang Yan encouraged Huo Yuhao, Jiang Nannan, and Tang Ya to carry out their plan while the Shrek team took the arena.
• Huo Yuhao used Simulation to display five apparent Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Rings, terrifying Heaven Spirit Academy’s team.
• Tang Ya amplified Jiang Nannan’s Fifth Soul Skill, and Jiang Nannan’s Silver Moon Charge Kick defeated all seven opponents.
• The referee declared Shrek Academy the winner, and the team left the competition grounds before relaxing at the hotel and explaining their deception.

After Shrek Academy’s victory stunned the tournament audience and alarmed Sun Moon Royal Soul Tool Master Academy, the team celebrated advancing to the Second Stage. At a later strategy meeting, Wang Yan prepared the team for tougher opponents, while Zhu Ziyang wondered about He Caitou’s unusual Martial Soul and possible Sun Moon Empire heritage.

• Xu Jiawei ordered the Chief Minister to investigate the identity and background of the young man from Shrek Academy, while Sun Moon Royal Soul Tool Master Academy’s leaders also decided to search for information about him.
• Wang Yan congratulated Shrek Academy’s team on advancing and gave them two days to rest; Ma Xiaotao insisted she would recover in time to compete.
• Tang Ya, Jiang Nannan, Beibei, and the others joked about Tang Ya’s authority as Tang Sect’s Sect Leader, filling the conference room with laughter.
• Zhu Ziyang returned to his room and privately wondered whether a certain place would contain what he needed.
• Wang Yan told the team that Elder Lin was on his way and that Gongyang Mo and Ling Luochen were recovering, then warned them that this year’s opponents were powerful.
• Beibei, Tang Ya, Xu Sanshi, and He Caitou revealed their Martial Souls and Soul Skills; Zhu Ziyang was surprised that He Caitou was a Rank 44 Food System Soul Master with a rare Cigar Martial Soul.

Wang Yan planned Shrek Academy’s Round Robin strategy and decided to keep Huo Yuhao out of the opening match if possible. At the tournament, Shrek drew Yunluo Advanced Soul Tool Academy in an individual elimination match, and Jiang Nannan volunteered to face their team.

• Wang Yan outlined the Round Robin format and assigned Shrek’s lineups for individual, team, and cooperative battles while aiming to limit Huo Yuhao’s exposure.
• Xu Jiawei and the Empress discussed Huo Yuhao’s origins, while Xiao Hongchen hoped to see him fight and Ma Rulong warned Xiao about Jiang Nannan.
• Shrek Academy arrived at Star Luo Plaza and drew Yunluo Advanced Soul Tool Academy for a one-versus-one Individual Elimination Match.
• Wang Yan and Zhu Ziyang persuaded Ma Xiaotao to let Jiang Nannan fight first, and Jiang Nannan confidently accepted the challenge of defeating all seven opponents.