Chapter Summaries

After Freshman Class Nine won the Freshman Assessment, Qin Ze learned that his Defensive System specialization would send him to a different class from Di Yue Li. Mu Jin revealed that the students’ registration forms had not been submitted, leaving Qin Ze able to choose a new direction and stay with her as they headed to the office.

• Huo Yu Hao and Qin Ze accepted their team’s loss, while Mu Jin celebrated that her students had finally won first place.
• Yan Shaozhe offered Qian Duoduo the chance to recruit students outside the Martial Soul Department’s core disciples after Qian accepted losing their wager.
• Di Yue Li explained that she had become a Soul Elder long ago and that her hidden Third Soul Skill required the Golden Dragon Spear.
• Mu Jin led Qin Ze and Di Yue Li away from the grounds, while Freshman Class Nine celebrated its championship and Bei Bei and Tang Ya exchanged smiles.
• Mu Jin explained that Qin Ze’s Defensive System direction would place him in Class Two, separating him from Di Yue Li in Class One.
• Mu Jin revealed that the registration forms were still in her possession, so Qin Ze could submit a new choice, and the group went to the office.

After celebrating the Freshman Assessment, the students discussed Tang Sect membership and the rewards awaiting core disciples. The next morning, Qin Ze met Di Yue Li, Ning Tian, and Wu Feng at Shrek Square as the freshmen awaited their new class assignments.

• Tang Ya welcomed Wang Dong into the Tang Sect despite her losing the Freshman Assessment, and Xiao Xiao also accepted Tang Ya's invitation.
• Bei Bei explained that core disciples received academy resources, including free premium cafeteria dishes, and Tang Ya noted that they might have limited opportunities to study Soul Tools.
• Qin Ze and the others shared a toast and continued their barbecue gathering late into the night.
• The next morning, Qin Ze arrived at Shrek Square and found Di Yue Li chatting with Ning Tian and Wu Feng.
• Wu Feng said Ning Tian would likely be assigned to Class Three, and Ning Tian replied that the classes were close enough for them to stay together.

Du Weilun announced the Freshman Assessment results and the academy’s rewards for the top three teams. Qin Ze’s team took first place, and the chapter ended with Qin Ze anticipating that he would reach rank thirty and obtain his third Soul Ring soon.

• Du Weilun congratulated the remaining freshmen and announced Dai Hua Bin’s team from Freshman Class Five had taken third place.
• Du Weilun named Wang Dong’s team from Freshman Class One as the runner-up, and Huo Yu Hao reacted with hostility toward Dai Hua Bin.
• Du Weilun announced Ning Tian’s team from Freshman Class Nine, consisting of Ning Tian, Qin Ze, and Di Yue Li, had won first place.
• Du Weilun revealed that each of the top three teams could ask the academy for help obtaining a suitable Soul Ring.
• Qin Ze was pleased with the reward and estimated that he would reach rank thirty within about two months.

Du Weilun announced special recognition for the Freshman Assessment champions and named the new and provisional Outer Court Core Disciples. The freshmen were reassigned into four classes, and Qin Ze, Ning Tian, and Di Yue Li went with Du Weilun after the ceremony.

• Du Weilun told Ning Tian's undefeated team that the academy had granted them a confidential additional reward to collect after class assignments.
• Du Weilun announced twelve official Outer Court Core Disciples and six students who would receive temporary core disciple treatment.
• The academy reorganized the freshmen into four classes, placing Qin Ze, Huo Yu Hao, and the others in Class One with Mu Jin and Wang Yan as homeroom teachers.
• The students followed their new homeroom teachers toward their classrooms, while Du Weilun called Qin Ze, Ning Tian, and Di Yue Li to come with him.

After winning the Freshman Assessment, Qin Ze, Ning Tian, and Di Yue Li received an eight-thousand-year Soul Bone from Du Weilun. Neither Qin Ze nor Di Yue Li wanted it, so Ning Tian gave it to Qin Ze, who then learned Du Weilun wanted to speak with him after school about an important matter.

• Du Weilun congratulated Qin Ze, Ning Tian, and Di Yue Li on winning the Freshman Assessment and showed them their additional reward.
• Ning Tian opened the pouch and discovered a Void Ming Demon Leopard Left Leg Bone, which Du Weilun said was suited to Attack Type and Agility Attack Type Soul Masters.
• Du Weilun asked Qin Ze to come to his office after school to help the academy with an important matter.
• Di Yue Li declined the Soul Bone because its age was too low and its beast was inferior to her Martial Soul, while Qin Ze also refused because he already had an External Soul Bone.
• Ning Tian gave the pouch to Qin Ze, who put it away and wondered whether he could increase the Soul Bone's age.

Qin Ze and Di Yue Li joined Class One and took part in a vote to choose the class monitor and vice monitor. Di Yue Li was elected class monitor, and Qin Ze hinted that Mu Jin would still turn to him for help.

• Qin Ze and Di Yue Li entered Class One, where they reunited with Huo Yu Hao, Wang Dong, and Xiao Xiao and drew Dai Hua Bin's hostile stare.
• Wang Yan explained that students would vote for a class monitor from the Attack Type students and a vice monitor from the Control-type students.
• Qin Ze voted for Di Yue Li, while Di Yue Li voted for Qin Ze; Huo Yu Hao, Xiao Xiao, and Wang Dong also cast votes for Qin Ze or Di Yue Li.
• Mu Jin announced that Di Yue Li had won the most votes for class monitor, with Qin Ze second and Wang Dong third.
• Di Yue Li reluctantly accepted the position after Qin Ze encouraged her, then asked why Mu Jin would still call on him for help.

Qin Ze became vice class monitor Huo Yu Hao’s classmate and received a summons to Sea God Island from Yan Shaozhe. At Sea God Pavilion, golden energy entered Qin Ze but was swallowed by the Azure Dragon in his mind, and an elder called them inside.

• Qin Ze reluctantly accepted Di Yue Li’s proposal that she become class monitor, and Huo Yu Hao was chosen as vice class monitor.
• Mu Jin handed out core disciple badges and told Qin Ze to visit Du Weilun’s office after class.
• Yan Shaozhe told Qin Ze that someone else wanted to see him and took him by boat to Sea God Island.
• Tang Ya and Bei Bei spotted Yan Shaozhe leading Qin Ze away and wondered why the dean had summoned him.
• At Sea God Pavilion, Yan Shaozhe addressed his teacher, and the pavilion shone with golden light that flowed into Qin Ze before the Azure Dragon in his mind consumed it.
• An aged voice invited Yan Shaozhe and Qin Ze inside, and they entered the pavilion.

Qin Ze entered the Sea God Pavilion, where Mu En revealed that he had summoned him and led him through a golden barrier. The elders discussed how Qin Ze’s Azure Dragon had produced life energy that healed Mu En’s old injuries and extended his lifespan.

• Yan Shaozhe brought Qin Ze into the Sea God Pavilion and introduced him to Shrek Academy’s elders.
• Mu En asked Qin Ze whether he remembered him, then praised Mad Saber for finding such a fine disciple.
• Mu En led Qin Ze through a golden layer of light in the Pavilion’s wall.
• Xian Lin'er asked whether Qin Ze had extended Mu En’s lifespan, and Yan Shaozhe confirmed it.
• Qian Duoduo explained that Qin Ze’s Azure Dragon absorbed Ma Xiaotao’s Evil Fire and released Auspicious Aura, which became life energy that healed Mu En.
• Xuan Zi lamented that he had not found a path to the limit, while an elderly woman noted that Mu En’s added years would let the younger generation grow.

Mu En brought Qin Ze into the Sea God Pavilion and explained that the Azure Dragon within him might help humanity and soul beasts coexist. Qin Ze absorbed the Golden Ancient Tree’s life energy, reached rank thirty, and left the Azure Dragon greatly strengthened.

• Mu En brought Qin Ze into the Sea God Pavilion and said he valued him because the Azure Dragon’s Power of Destiny might ease conflict between humans and soul beasts.
• Mu En led Qin Ze to the core chamber and told him to meditate on a cushion that would help him obtain a soul ring.
• Qin Ze relaxed his mind, and the Azure Dragon absorbed the Golden Ancient Tree’s life energy, grew to twenty meters, and became more solid.
• Qin Ze’s Soul Power broke through to rank thirty as the energy from the meditation cushion and Golden Ancient Tree faded.
• Qin Ze saw that the Azure Dragon had reached about sixty percent energy progress and realized the Golden Ancient Tree’s gift could only be received once.

Qin Ze rapidly absorbed the Golden Ancient Tree’s life energy, triggering azure clouds and life-giving rain across Sea God Island. He woke with greatly increased physical strength and his Soul Power at rank thirty.

• Mu En told Yan Shaozhe and the others that Qin Ze had absorbed nearly all the Golden Ancient Tree’s gifted life energy in an hour and would soon wake.
• Azure clouds gathered over Sea God Island, and Mu En sensed that their appearance came from beneath the Golden Ancient Tree.
• Mu En ordered everyone to let the rain fall on them, and the rain strengthened the plants and gave Xuan Zi a slight increase in Soul Power.
• Qin Ze woke after the rain stopped and discovered his physical strength had more than doubled and his Soul Power had reached rank thirty.
• Qin Ze realized the Golden Ancient Tree’s life energy had benefited him as well as the Azure Dragon, and estimated he could obtain a third Soul Ring of at least eight thousand years.

Qin Ze learned that Mu En’s prayer mat had helped him break through to rank thirty and noticed a new closeness to nearby plants after leaving Sea God Island. Days later, he requested leave to obtain his third soul ring, and Elder Song set out with him as he declared his intention to absorb a ring between seven thousand five hundred and eight thousand five hundred years old.

• Mu En told Qin Ze the Bodhi Seed and Life Wood prayer mat had helped him break through, then sent Yan Shaozhe to escort him back to the outer courtyard.
• Qin Ze sensed an unusual closeness to the plants around him after leaving Sea God Island, then reunited with Di Yue Li, who had been waiting for him.
• Class One settled into its lessons under Mu Jin and Wang Yan, and Mu Jin agreed to Qin Ze’s request for leave while naming him the next class monitor.
• Elder Song met Qin Ze at Shrek Square to take him searching for a third soul ring, and Qin Ze said he wanted one aged between seven thousand five hundred and eight thousand five hundred years.

Elder Song took Qin Ze into the Star Dou Great Forest to find a suitable soul ring and explained why his martial soul made the search easier. They discovered a strange, silent area covered in spiderwebs, where Elder Song suspected a Soul Devouring Demon Spider lived.

• Elder Song told Qin Ze she had once sparred with his teacher and explained the strict requirements for Attribute Body Refinement.
• Elder Song flew Qin Ze from Shrek City to the mixed region of the Star Dou Great Forest, where they began searching on foot for a soul beast aged between 7,500 and 8,500 years.
• Qin Ze and Elder Song encountered many kinds of soul beasts, but Qin Ze rejected an Earth Demon Crocodile because it was only 6,000 years old.
• Qin Ze and Elder Song entered a quiet forest filled with spiderwebs, and Elder Song identified it as a likely Soul Devouring Demon Spider nest.
• Elder Song showed Qin Ze a web holding bones and corpses, and Qin Ze noticed that the web still absorbed soul power and clung tightly to its remains.

Qin Ze and Elder Song uncovered a hidden Holy Spirit Cult facility beneath the forest after discovering concealed Soul Tool bombs. They found evidence linking the cult to the Sun Moon Empire and prepared to investigate what lay behind another sealed door.

• Elder Song explained that the Soul Devouring Demon Spider’s web could repair itself by absorbing Soul Power, then noted that the quiet woods showed no signs of a battle or the spider’s death.
• Qin Ze approached a suspicious tree branch, but a buried Soul Tool bomb exploded; Elder Song pulled him to safety and found and destroyed more hidden bombs.
• Elder Song broke open a massive tree and revealed a hidden door bearing the Holy Spirit Cult’s symbol, then tore through the metal entrance to a passage underground.
• Elder Song and Qin Ze descended the passage and found another door reinforced with Azure Gold, a rare metal exclusive to the Sun Moon Empire’s royal family.
• Elder Song said the discovery suggested the Holy Spirit Cult had begun cooperating with the Sun Moon Empire, apologized for delaying Qin Ze’s soul-ring search, and continued toward the door with him.

Elder Song and Qin Ze discovered an abandoned Holy Spirit Cult facility where Gui Wujing had documented experiments combining Soul Devouring Demon Spiders with Magic Blade Mantises. After Elder Song removed the facility’s equipment, a hidden passage opened, and they went inside to investigate the blood stench.

• Elder Song broke apart the Rare Metal gate and stored it, then entered the brightly lit chamber with Qin Ze.
• Qin Ze and Elder Song found ten culture vessels holding Soul Devouring Demon Spiders, including specimens with traits of Magic Blade Mantises.
• Qin Ze found a folder signed by Gui Wujing describing the hybridization experiment, and Elder Song identified it as the work of Evil Soul Masters.
• Elder Song collected the room’s instruments and Milk Bottle Soul Tools, causing the green liquid in the culture vessels to drain and the spiders to fall.
• A concealed staircase opened in the wall, and Elder Song and Qin Ze descended into the dark, cave-like passage toward the smell of blood.

Elder Song and Qin Ze discovered a Deep Sea Demonic Whale statue in an underground chamber and were attacked by spiders gathered under a mysterious command. After Elder Song destroyed the swarm, a strange cultivated spider appeared, revealing an unstable aura and an age of about eight thousand five hundred years.

• Elder Song and Qin Ze passed bones and corpses in the tunnel and climbed a cracked staircase toward a massive pupil that Elder Song identified as part of a statue.
• Elder Song empowered her bead, illuminating a chamber and revealing a sapphire-colored Deep Sea Demonic Whale statue that blocked her Spiritual Power.
• Elder Song sensed danger as more than a hundred different kinds of spiders crawled from the tunnels, and she tore them apart with her Soul Power.
• A dark-red, ten-eyed spider emerged from the only tunnel without spiders, and Qin Ze recognized it from the culture vessel.
• Elder Song sensed that the cultivated Soul Beast was unstable and near death, then determined that it was about eight thousand five hundred years old.

Qin Ze and Elder Song encountered a mutated Soul Devouring Demon Spider whose strange mental attack and fused traits made its soul ring unpredictable. Qin Ze chose to absorb the spider’s unusual purplish-red-and-black ring, and Elder Song began guarding him as he prepared.

• The Soul Devouring Demon Spider attacked Qin Ze and Elder Song with ripples that restricted movement and targeted their minds, but Elder Song killed it with a cyan sword strike.
• The spider feigned defeat and lunged at Qin Ze, but Elder Song severed its limbs and pinned it down with sword blades.
• Qin Ze killed the immobilized Soul Devouring Demon Spider with his Spinning Blades.
• A strange purplish-red soul ring with a trace of black appeared, astonishing Qin Ze and Elder Song.
• Qin Ze decided to absorb the mutated soul ring despite the risk, and Elder Song agreed to protect him.

Qin Ze absorbed the Soul Devouring Demon Spider’s soul ring, unlocking his right-arm Demon Armor and gaining an external soul bone. He tested his new soul skill by destroying ten altered spiders, then named it the Soul Devouring Demon Sealing Slash.

• Qin Ze absorbed the Soul Devouring Demon Spider’s soul ring without difficulty as Elder Song watched.
• The soul ring unlocked Qin Ze’s right-arm Demon Armor, raised his soul power to level thirty-one, and revealed a pair of wings that Elder Song recognized as an external soul bone.
• Qin Ze and Elder Song returned through the underground facility and found the culture tanks broken and the Soul Devouring Demon Spiders missing.
• Elder Song and Qin Ze found ten weakened, altered Soul Devouring Demon Spiders blocking the way out, and she asked Qin Ze to deal with them.
• Qin Ze used his new soul skill to draw in the spiders and destroy them with a sword strike, then named the skill Soul Devouring Demon Sealing Slash.

After returning from the Star Dou Great Forest, Qin Ze reunited with his classmates and revealed that he had become a Soul Elder. Mu En identified Gui Wujing as the Holy Spirit Cult’s mysterious grand elder and went to investigate the Deep Sea Demon Whale statue; eight months later, Qin Ze had reached rank thirty-three while his relationship with Di Yue Li continued to deepen.

• Elder Song returned Qin Ze to Shrek Academy, then reported the fused soul beasts and Deep Sea Demon Whale statue to Mu En.
• Qin Ze entered Wang Yan’s class as a Soul Elder, surprising his classmates and reuniting with Di Yue Li.
• Mu En recognized Gui Wujing as the grand elder of the Holy Spirit Cult and said the Tome of the Dead had likely created the fused soul beasts before he left to investigate.
• Qin Ze celebrated his advancement with Bei Bei, Huo Yu Hao, and their friends over grilled fish and skewers.
• Over the next eight months, Qin Ze raised his Soul Power from rank thirty-one to rank thirty-three, grew closer to Di Yue Li, and shared the successful cigar profits with Huo Yu Hao and He Caitou.

On the final day before the break, Wang Yan warned Class One that students would face strict individual and class assessments before advancing to second year. Qin Ze was summoned to Director Du’s office, while Di Yue Li decided to take him somewhere.

• Wang Yan explained that students had to reach Soul Grandmaster rank and defeat a hundred-year soul beast alone to pass the second-year assessment, along with possible additional challenges.
• Mu Jin told Qin Ze to go to Director Du’s office after class, and Qin Ze realized they likely wanted to examine his soul ring.
• Huo Yu Hao asked Sky Dream Ice Silkworm about the strange power on Qin Ze, and Sky Dream said it was strong and could continue mutating.
• Qin Ze left for Sea God Island by boat, while Di Yue Li watched him and said she would take him there.

Qin Ze returned to Sea God Pavilion so Elder Yun could study his unusual third Soul Ring. Elder Yun identified it as a rare mutated Soul Ring that suppresses Spiritual Power and can interrupt opponents, but could not explain how Qin Ze absorbed it with a martial soul lacking spiritual and dark attributes.

• Qin Ze arrived at Sea God Pavilion and met Elder Yun, a Senior Elder who researched theory.
• Mu En invited Qin Ze to sit among the Pavilion’s seats and asked him to release his Soul Rings for Elder Yun to examine.
• Qin Ze summoned his yellow, purple, and purple-red Soul Rings, whose aura caught Mu En and Yan Shaozhe’s attention.
• Elder Yun confirmed that Qin Ze’s purple-red Soul Ring could suppress Spiritual Power and interrupt an enemy’s movements, soul skills, and soul power.
• Elder Yun explained that the Soul Ring came from a combination of a Soul Devouring Demon Spider and a Magic Blade Mantis, but was puzzled that Qin Ze had absorbed it despite his Demon Armor martial soul lacking spiritual and dark attributes.