Chapter Summaries

Lu Jun challenged the five-person team to survive his full-strength Ice Abyss Sword, instantly freezing Long Chen, Yue Zhengyu, and Xu Xiaoyan while Xie Xie and Gu Yue Na endured. Gu Yue Na and Xie Xie counterattacked, but Lu Jun’s Ice Abyss Storm swallowed her Seven Elements, Great Fission attack, leaving their battle unresolved.

• Lu Jun unleashed a devastating freezing storm against the five-person team, instantly eliminating Long Chen, Yue Zhengyu, and Xu Xiaoyan.
• Xie Xie used Twin Dragon Transformation and Twin Dragon Avatar to evade the cold, while Gu Yue Na summoned the Silver Dragon Phantom to withstand it.
• Gu Yue Na ordered Xie Xie to harass Lu Jun as she prepared an opening, and Lu Jun spread Ice Flowers throughout the arena.
• Gu Yue Na launched Seven Elements, Great Fission at Lu Jun, who countered with ten Ice Abyss Storms that swallowed the elemental spheres.

Lu Jun froze and destroyed Gu Yue Na's elemental attack, then defeated Xie Xie's desperate ambush. As Xie Xie rejoined the spectators, his friends watched Lu Jun and Gu Yue Na's fight and traded stories about Gu Yue Na's strength.

• Lu Jun's Ice Abyss Storm froze Gu Yue Na's Seven Elements fission attack and crushed it into elemental particles.
• Xie Xie seized Gu Yue Na's moment of shock and launched Twin Dragon Storm at Lu Jun.
• Lu Jun dodged with a half-step and shattered Xie Xie's Light Dragon avatar with a touch of his sword, triggering Xie Xie's Ice Poison and virtual death.
• Xie Xie reappeared in the spectator stands, where Yue Zhengyu, Long Chen, and Xu Xiaoyan were watching the fight and eating sunflower seeds.
• Xu Xiaoyan told Xie Xie that Gu Yue Na had once badly beaten a harassing Soul King and One-Word Dou Armor, before Qiangu Zhangting intervened.

Lu Jun overwhelmed Gu Yue Na in their virtual battle by erupting Ice Poison inside her and impaling her with his Ice Abyss Myriad Spike Thrust. Gu Yue Na returned to the spectator seats after her defeat, while the stunned onlookers acknowledged Lu Jun’s strength.

• Lu Jun unleashed Ice Abyss Slash, summoning dozens of greatswords as the Ice Poison and Ice Flowers inside Gu Yue Na erupted.
• Gu Yue Na’s Soul Power and command of the elements became sluggish, leaving her unable to evade the descending swords.
• Lu Jun used Ice Abyss Myriad Spike Thrust to pierce Gu Yue Na with ice thorns erupting from around her and within the Ice Poison and Ice Flowers.
• Gu Yue Na reappeared in the spectator seats, where she reacted with cold fury and recognized how thoroughly Lu Jun had defeated her.
• Yue Zhengyu, Xie Xie, Long Chen, and Xu Xiaoyan stared in shock before Yue Zhengyu declared Lu Jun unquestionably powerful.

After Lu Jun defeated Gu Yue Na in the Virtual World, she complained about his overwhelming skills and demanded he treat her to dinner. Xie Xie mocked their exchange and was promptly caught and spanked by an enraged Gu Yue Na.

• Lu Jun appeared beside Gu Yue Na after defeating her, and she described how his Ice skills and linked Soul Skills had overwhelmed her.
• Gu Yue Na teased Lu Jun about using Ice Abyss Myriad Spike Thrust against her in the real world, then demanded dinner and said the experience of dying had been novel.
• Xie Xie imitated Gu Yue Na and mocked Lu Jun into treating him to dinner, provoking her fury.
• Gu Yue Na grabbed Xie Xie by the collar, pinned him down, and spanked him while he pleaded for mercy.
• Lu Jun, Yue Zhengyu, Long Chen, and Xu Xiaoyan reacted with embarrassment and amusement as Lu Jun joked about Xie Xie's troublemaking mouth.

After training, Yuanen Yehui arrived to summon Lu Jun to meet the Dean, leaving Xie Xie heartbroken and Gu Yue Na jealous as they watched the two leave together. Yue Zhengyu teased them about the sour mood in the Training Ground.

• The exhausted trainees finished their high-intensity cultivation, and Yue Zhengyu laughed at Xie Xie's painful, awkward walk.
• Yuanen Yehui arrived in a black dress and stockings, catching Lu Jun's attention and stirring unfamiliar jealousy in Gu Yue Na.
• Yuanen Yehui told Lu Jun that the Dean wanted to see him and offered to lead the way.
• Xie Xie tried to impress Yuanen Yehui despite his injuries, then froze when she and Lu Jun walked away side by side.
• Gu Yue Na glared after Lu Jun and Yuanen Yehui, and Yue Zhengyu joked that someone's jar of vinegar had spilled.

After Yuanen Yehui invited Lu Jun to meet the Dean about better sponsorship terms, Gu Yue Na reassured Xie Xie that Lu Jun was unlikely to pursue anyone. On the way to the Dean, Lu Jun learned that Yuanen sought resources to advance her cultivation and that she had no time for romance.

• Yue Zhengyu and Long Chen teased Xie Xie after Yuanen Yehui left with Lu Jun, and Xie Xie feared he had no chance with her.
• Gu Yue Na declared that Lu Jun would not easily get together with anyone else, restoring Xie Xie's confidence in his pursuit of Yuanen.
• Yuanen Yehui told Lu Jun that she had asked the Dean to discuss his refusal to spar with the second-year seniors and secure more generous sponsorship terms.
• Yuanen Yehui explained that she needed the academy's support to afford One-Word Dou Armor materials and pursue Soul King and Two-Word Dou Armor.
• Lu Jun asked Yuanen about Xie Xie's pursuit, and she said she wanted to grow stronger and had no intention of thinking about romance.

Lu Jun met with the Dean of Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy, who invited him to join an Exhibition Match against the second-years for publicity. Lu Jun agreed to consider participating if the academy offered a worthwhile reward, then asked for an Ice Attribute Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone, leaving the Dean stunned.

• Yuanen Yehui escorted Lu Jun to the Dean's Office, then left with a distant manner that made him suspect her family was still in trouble.
• The Dean invited Lu Jun to participate in an Exhibition Match against the second-year seniors, explaining that the academy wanted to showcase its young talents and compete with Shrek Academy's reputation.
• Lu Jun questioned the value of a likely defeat, and the Dean argued that the match's publicity and the first-years' potential mattered more than winning.
• Lu Jun said he might participate but asked what reward the academy could offer, noting that he already had Spirit Pagoda support for Battle Armor materials.
• The Dean invited Lu Jun to name a reasonable reward, and Lu Jun requested an Ice Attribute Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone as a token.
• The Dean choked on his tea and protested that Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bones were not market goods he could hand out on demand.

Lu Jun negotiated with the Dean over a reward for participating in the Exhibition Match, then accepted a ninety-thousand-year soul bone after Ice Empress promised it could evolve his Ice Jade Scorpion Left Arm Bone to the hundred-thousand-year level. He agreed to promote Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy by fighting the second-years with all his strength.

• The Dean explained that the Academy could not offer a hundred-thousand-year soul bone, but proposed a top-quality ninety-thousand-year soul bone as Lu Jun's reward.
• Lu Jun hesitated because the soul bone's attribute did not match his, but Ice Empress told him to accept it and promised to evolve his Ice Jade Scorpion Left Arm Bone to the hundred-thousand-year level.
• Lu Jun accepted the reward and agreed to give his all in the Exhibition Match against the second-years to showcase the Academy's strength.
• Lu Jun offered to promote the Academy without payment, but the Dean insisted that he accept the soul bone as his reward and repay the Academy's favor.

The Dean urged Lu Jun to challenge Shrek Academy during the Final Exam’s Cross-Academy Challenge, offering a nearly hundred-thousand-year Soul Bone and other rewards. Lu Jun agreed to go to Shrek, leaving the Dean celebrating their plan to publicly disgrace the academy.

• The Dean explained that the Final Exam would use a Combat Points System and revealed that challenging Shrek Academy could earn a major bonus.
• The Dean offered Lu Jun his prized Soul Bone, while Ice Empress urged Lu Jun to accept so she could strengthen his other Ice Dragon Soul Bone.
• The Dean condemned Shrek Academy for monopolizing resources, disrupting other cities, attacking Federation targets, and seeking influence among Federation Councilors.
• Lu Jun recognized the Federation and Spirit Pagoda’s growing hostility toward Shrek Academy and agreed to challenge it.
• The Dean laughed with excitement as Lu Jun left his office, their plan to confront Shrek set.

Lu Jun left the Dean with advice about publicizing Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy’s investment in its students, then learned that Qiangu Zhangting had surrounded Gu Yue Na at the academy gates. He dismissed Xie Xie’s fears about romance and went to see what was happening, as Qiangu Zhangting stood before Gu Yue Na with a lavish bouquet.

• Lu Jun urged the Dean to publicize the academy’s student resources and benefits, then bowed and left.
• The Dean reflected bitterly on how people continued to favor Shrek Academy despite Sun Moon Academy’s investment and accomplishments.
• Xie Xie told Lu Jun that Qiangu Zhangting and a crowd from the Spirit Pagoda had surrounded Gu Yue Na at the school gate.
• Lu Jun told Xie Xie that Gu Yue Na was free to make her own choices and that their relationship was only friendship and partnership, then headed for the gates.
• Qiangu Zhangting waited before Gu Yue Na with an enormous bouquet as students gathered to watch.

Gu Yue Na rejected Qiangu Zhangting by hurling his bouquet into his face, then enlisted Lu Jun to help fend him off. Lu Jun reluctantly agreed, leaving himself caught in the confrontation he had only meant to watch.

• Gu Yue Na ignored Qiangu Zhangting's confession and flung his Starshine Moon Dew bouquet into his face.
• Qiangu Zhangting was humiliated in front of the crowd and erupted in anger.
• Gu Yue Na walked to Lu Jun, linked arms with him, and complained that Qiangu Zhangting would not leave her alone.
• Lu Jun warned Gu Yue Na that she had drawn him into danger, and she asked him to help her.
• Remembering their friendship and her past help, Lu Jun reluctantly agreed to help her this once.

Lu Jun confronted Qiangu Zhangting after Gu Yue Na rejected him, mocking his arrogance and public behavior. Qiangu Zhangting tried to regain the upper hand by dismissing Lu Jun as talentless without his Ultimate Ice martial soul.

• Qiangu Zhangting angrily confronted Lu Jun after seeing Gu Yue Na link arms with him, and Gu Yue Na told Qiangu Zhangting not to call her Nana.
• Lu Jun said he and Gu Yue Na were ordinary friends, then criticized Qiangu Zhangting for pestering her and taking his resentment out on others.
• Qiangu Zhangting boasted that he was the Thousand Ancient Family's Unparalleled Prodigy, and Lu Jun ridiculed his judgment and self-importance.
• Lu Jun pointed out that Qiangu Zhangting was making a public spectacle of himself and being recorded by people with their communicators.
• Qiangu Zhangting accused Lu Jun of relying on luck to awaken the Ultimate Ice martial soul and called him trash without it.

Lu Jun mocked Qiangu Zhangting for relying on his family, then ignored his one-on-one challenge and walked away. Qiangu Zhangting was left humiliated before the onlookers and cried.

• Lu Jun questioned whether Qiangu Zhangting could succeed without the Qiangu Family's resources and surname.
• Qiangu Zhangting lost his temper, summoned his Coiling Dragon Staff, and challenged Lu Jun to fight one-on-one.
• Lu Jun scoffed at Qiangu Zhangting's Soul Emperor status and left with Xie Xie and Gu Yue Na.
• Qiangu Zhangting stayed behind, unable to chase or attack Lu Jun, and broke down crying under the onlookers' stares.

After Qiangu Zhangting fled his failed confession, footage of Lu Jun humiliating him spread across the Soul Net and damaged the Thousand Ancient Family’s reputation. Qiangu Dongfeng summoned his grandson and erupted at him over the public disgrace.

• Qiangu Zhangting wiped away his tears, pushed through the crowd, and fled in his Soul Tool Car.
• Recordings of the scene spread across the Soul Net, where commenters praised Lu Jun and mocked Qiangu Zhangting and the Thousand Ancient Family.
• Qiangu Dongfeng summoned Qiangu Zhangting to his office and angrily rebuked him for pursuing Gu Yue Na instead of cultivating.
• Qiangu Dongfeng showed Qiangu Zhangting the viral footage and called him a clown for disgracing the family and Spirit Pagoda.
• Qiangu Zhangting blamed Lu Jun for being underhanded, but Qiangu Dongfeng cut him off and insulted him as a stupid pig.

Qiangu Dongfeng berated Qiangu Zhangting for damaging the Qiangu Family and Spirit Pagoda’s reputation, then received a call from his son. That night, a masked intruder with a terrifying aura appeared at Lu Jun’s dormitory window as Lu Jun prepared for the next day’s Exhibition Match.

• Qiangu Dongfeng smashed his desk and scolded Qiangu Zhangting for challenging the much younger Lu Jun to a duel.
• Qiangu Dongfeng ordered Qiangu Zhangting back to confinement, and Qiangu Zhangting fled the office in fear.
• Qiangu Dongfeng reflected that Lu Jun gained attention through others’ mistakes, then received a call from his son.
• Lu Jun cultivated in his dormitory while preparing for his Exhibition Match against the second-years.
• Ice Empress warned Lu Jun that a powerful presence was approaching, and Lu Jun saw a black-robed figure wearing a white mask at his window.

Gui Yan confronted Lu Jun, offered to escort him to Shrek City for his Final Exam, and questioned him about the destruction of the Tang Sect Branch in Mingdu. Gui Yan left without detecting a Divine Artifact aura, but Lu Jun learned that he was one of many people under investigation.

• Gui Yan appeared before Lu Jun, praised his perception, and tested his composure with overwhelming pressure.
• Gui Yan told Lu Jun that the Spirit Pagoda would have him escorted to Shrek City so he could cause trouble for Shrek Academy.
• Gui Yan questioned Lu Jun about being away from the Academy dormitories when the Tang Sect Branch was destroyed.
• Lu Jun calmly denied knowing anything, and Gui Yan said he could not sense a Divine Artifact aura from him.
• Gui Yan explained that he had investigated at least a hundred thousand people who had left home that day, and that Lu Jun was one of them.

After Gui Yan left, Lu Jun discovered that he had broken through to Level 45 thanks to Faith Power generated by Xie Xie's devotion. The Ice Empress explained its benefits and its potential to replenish the Ice Abyss Sword, leaving Lu Jun amused by the unexpected source.

• Gui Yan vanished after congratulating Lu Jun on reaching Level 45, and the Ice Empress admitted she was relieved he had left.
• Lu Jun examined his body and found that his Soul Power had risen from Level 44 to Level 45, with tiny golden specks mixed into his energy.
• Lu Jun asked the Ice Empress about the golden specks, and she identified them as Faith Power that could strengthen him and fuel the Ice Abyss Sword.
• The Ice Empress sensed that the Faith Power came from one source and was unusually pure, and Lu Jun realized it came from Xie Xie's devotion.

Lu Jun planned to collect Faith Power from people around him to restore the Ice Abyss Sword, targeting Yuanen Yehui next. He put his plan to attack Tang Sect branches on hold and asked Ice Empress to help him pose as a mysterious deity and solve Yuanen Yehui’s Demon Plane problem.

• Lu Jun imagined gaining Faith Power from Yue Zhengyu, Xu Xiaoyan, and Tang Wulin, then decided to begin collecting it from candidates around him.
• Lu Jun chose Yuanen Yehui as his next target because of her Demon Seed, family troubles, and cultivation of the Fallen Angel path.
• Lu Jun explained that the Ice Abyss Sword and Ice Empress could unleash enough power to confront Demon Lord Alba and temporarily reach near-Quasi-God strength.
• Lu Jun postponed attacking Tang Sect branches because Gui Yan’s investigation made it too risky to draw attention to the Divine Artifact.
• Lu Jun asked Ice Empress to disguise herself as his deity after the Exhibition Match, solve Yuanen Yehui’s Demon Plane problem through Xie Xie, and inspire Yuanen Yehui’s faith in him.

Lu Jun and his first-year classmates lost the Exhibition Match to the second-years, but their performance won praise and generous Battle Armor subsidies from the dean. Lu Jun and the dean silently recognized that the event had also served its publicity goal, while Lu Jun anticipated a coming challenge to Shrek Academy.

• Lu Jun fought in the first-year team against Zhao Tianyu's second-year team, whose seven members were Soul Kings wearing One-Word Dou Armor, and the first-years lost.
• Zhao Tianyu praised Lu Jun and his teammates, and said he hoped the broadcast would show that Sun Moon Royal Soul Master Academy was a cradle of geniuses.
• The dean announced Battle Armor material subsidies for first-year students, granting full subsidies to Lu Jun, Gu Yue Na, Yuanen Yehui, and Yue Zhengyu, and partial subsidies to other participants.
• Lu Jun exchanged a knowing look with the dean and understood that the match's publicity objective had been achieved.
• Lu Jun recalled what Gui Yan had told him and looked forward to the big shots' coming effort to challenge Shrek Academy.

Lu Jun gave Xie Xie an ice-blue Token and told him it could help resolve Yuanen Yehui’s family troubles, urging him to use it to grow closer to her. Xie Xie accepted eagerly, while Lu Jun saw the plan as the first step toward gaining Faith Power.

• Lu Jun visited Xie Xie and said Yuanen Yehui had troubles that could hinder her cultivation.
• Lu Jun handed Xie Xie an ice-blue Token engraved with a sword and surrounded by ice crystals.
• Lu Jun claimed the Token was the key to resolving Yuanen Yehui’s family affairs and encouraged Xie Xie to help her.
• Xie Xie excitedly thanked Lu Jun and called him his real father.
• Lu Jun reflected that helping Xie Xie and Yuanen Yehui would earn their trust and generate Faith Power.