Chapter Summaries

Qian Chaoguang and Huo Yutong dominated the reserve-team selection match, leaving Dai Huabin and the other students stunned by the gap in their strength. Xuan Zi named the seven survivors as the Reserve Team and ordered Qian Chaoguang and Huo Yutong to stay behind after dismissing the others.

• Dai Huabin abandoned the thought of competing with Qian Chaoguang after realizing how far Qian Chaoguang had surpassed him.
• Xuan Zi and the teachers helped revive and carry away the defeated students, who feared the overwhelming illusion and attacks they had experienced.
• Xuan Zi lectured the students about the academy's rivalry with the Sun Moon Empire and explained that the match had selected the Reserve Team.
• Xuan Zi told the seven survivors they would train with him weekly, be evaluated over the next five years, and train alongside the current Shrek Seven Devils before the competition.
• Xuan Zi dismissed everyone except Qian Chaoguang and Huo Yutong.

After Qian Chaoguang and Huo Yutong impressed Elder Xuan in the selection tournament, he praised their potential and said the academy expected them to compete as reserves. Outside the arena, their friends celebrated their performance, and Wang Dong revealed his Clear Sky Hammer and twin martial souls.

• Beibei and the others left the Soul Fighting Area, still astonished by Qian Chaoguang and Huo Yutong’s soul rings.
• Elder Xuan praised Qian Chaoguang and Huo Yutong’s performance and urged them to become reserve players for the competition.
• Elder Xuan said the pair could lead the team at the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Fighting Competition five years later.
• Qian Chaoguang and Huo Yutong reunited outside with Wang Dong, Beibei, He Caitou, Xu Sanshi, and Jiang Nannan, where Qian Chaoguang and Beibei exchanged compliments.
• Xu Sanshi asked about Qian Chaoguang’s wealth, prompting Wang Dong to reveal his Clear Sky Hammer and twin martial souls.
• Beibei urged the group to work toward competing together five years later.

The Reserve Team settled into academy life as He Caitou weighed whether to ally himself with Qian Chaoguang and Huo Yutong. He Caitou chose them, while Wang Dong struggled through the team’s demanding training.

• The seven Reserve Team members arranged themselves by age, but left the question of addressing one another as martial brothers and sisters unresolved.
• After dinner with Tang Ya, He Caitou explained his revised three-person Limit Individual Soldier Plan and revealed his desire for revenge against the Sun Moon Royal Family.
• Qian Chaoguang offered to help He Caitou take revenge in exchange for his support against Evil Soul Masters, then asked whether He Caitou would follow them even if it meant betraying his faith and faction.
• A week later, He Caitou told Qian Chaoguang that his faith and country would not judge his enemies for him, but Qian Chaoguang would.
• The three Reserve Team students adjusted to their training schedules, and Wang Dong pushed herself to keep up despite constantly complaining.

Elder Xuan’s brutal training strengthened the Reserve Team, especially Huo Yutong, before he brought them together with Shrek’s Inner Academy players ahead of the All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Fighting Competition. The chapter ended with the Inner Academy Disciples stunned by the Reserve Team’s young members and Huo Yutong’s Level 37 cultivation.

• Elder Xuan put the Reserve Team through intense practical combat, and the members improved while Jiang Nannan grew close to Huo Yutong.
• Huo Yutong broke through to Level 37, while Qian Chaoguang neared Level 28.
• Elder Xuan introduced the Inner Academy players, including Ma Xiaotao, and explained that both teams would compete in the tournament beginning in ten days.
• Elder Xuan warned the Reserve Team to obey orders and perform well, then asked the students to introduce themselves.
• The Inner Academy Disciples were astonished when Wang Dong, Qian Chaoguang, and Huo Yutong revealed their high levels and Soul Engineer ranks.

Qian Chaoguang and Huo Yutong’s Soul Engineer ranks were revealed as an academy secret, and the Inner Academy students introduced themselves before Xuan Zi arranged a friendly match. Ma Xiaotao chose Huo Yutong to command her team, leaving the teams ready to begin their sparring match.

• Xuan Zi warned the Main Players to keep Qian Chaoguang and Huo Yutong’s Soul Engineer ranks secret, and they swore oaths upon their martial souls.
• The Inner Academy students introduced themselves, and Qian Chaoguang recalled their future injuries and resolved to try to save them.
• Xuan Zi assigned Ma Xiaotao and Dai Yueheng to lead teams in a friendly match, with the losing side required to call themselves pigs.
• Ma Xiaotao chose Gongyang Mo and Huo Yutong first, then added Ling Luochen, Qian Chaoguang, He Caitou, and Wang Dong to her team.
• Ma Xiaotao told her teammates that Huo Yutong would oversee the battle and use her lock-on ability to coordinate their attacks.

Ma Xiaotao’s team prepared to face Dai Yueheng’s team, and Qian Chaoguang revealed the lethal potential of his blade skills. As the match began, Huo Yutong’s detection support, Gongyang Mo’s buffs, and He Caitou’s soul tools strengthened their side, leaving Qian Chaoguang ready to meet Xu Sanshi and Beibei.

• Ma Xiaotao assigned He Caitou to support Huo Yutong with long-range attacks and said Qian Chaoguang could draw with Beibei while holding back, or briefly contend with a weaker Soul King if unrestricted.
• Wang Dong asked why the Shrek Seven Devils had no Soul Tool Department member, and Ma Xiaotao dismissed Soul Engineers as unnecessary.
• Xuan Zi ordered both teams to begin their match, and Ma Xiaotao and Ling Luochen led the charge as Qian Chaoguang drew the Bright Light Saber.
• Qian Chaoguang revealed two Ten Thousand Year Soul Rings, stunning the Main Players, while Huo Yutong spread her detection ability to guide her team’s attacks.
• Gongyang Mo boosted his allies’ strength and Soul Power recovery, and He Caitou followed Huo Yutong’s guidance to fire his soul tools.
• Qian Chaoguang used He Caitou’s strength, defense, and Soul Power cigars as Xu Sanshi and Beibei charged toward him.

Qian Chaoguang used multiple buffs and a new blade technique to overwhelm Beibei and Xu Sanshi during the fight. Xuan Zi pulled them from danger and recognized Qian Chaoguang's attack as a weakened form of saber intent called Blade Qi.

• Qian Chaoguang stacked several buffs while Huo Yutong weakened the opposing team with Madness and Group Weakness.
• Qian Chaoguang sent Xu Sanshi staggering with a slash that carved a deep gash into the Mysterious Nether Turtle Shield.
• Qian Chaoguang blinded Beibei with exploding Eight-Part Light Wheels, then broke through Beibei's defenses with a compressed blade-light strike.
• Xuan Zi pulled Beibei from the field before Qian Chaoguang's slash could fully hit him, leaving a long crack in the ground.
• Qian Chaoguang chased Xu Sanshi and overwhelmed him until Xuan Zi pulled him out of danger as well.
• Xuan Zi identified Qian Chaoguang's attack as a weakened version of saber intent, which Qian Chaoguang had developed as Blade Qi.

Ma Xiaotao’s team decisively defeated Dai Yueheng’s team, with Qian Chaoguang and Huo Yutong’s abilities proving crucial. After Xuan Zi made the losers admit defeat, he announced another match would begin after an hour’s rest.

• Qian Chaoguang used repeated Blade Qi slashes to overwhelm Beibei and Xu Sanshi while Ma Xiaotao kept Dai Yueheng suppressed.
• With Huo Yutong providing lock-on guidance and Ling Luochen controlling the field, Qian Chaoguang pursued Jiang Nannan and Xixi as He Caitou and Wang Dong held off Chen Zifeng.
• Ma Xiaotao defeated Dai Yueheng, Ling Luochen controlled Jiang Nannan, and Qian Chaoguang held his blade to Xixi’s neck, prompting Chen Zifeng to surrender.
• Dai Yueheng and the other defeated students admitted they were pigs after Xuan Zi demanded it, and Xuan Zi gave everyone an hour to recover before fighting again.

After his battle with Xixi, Qian Chaoguang reviewed his shortcomings and resolved to adapt his Blade Art to fights against powerful soul masters. Xuan Zi rearranged the teams for another match, which ended with Qian Chaoguang charging at Ling Luochen and awakening the Ice Empress’s aid.

• Qian Chaoguang recovered and used his Spiritual Power to analyze his battle with Xixi, deciding that his Blade Art and combat habits needed to evolve.
• Xuan Zi switched Huo Yutong and Qian Chaoguang onto Ma Xiaotao’s team in place of Jiang Nannan and Yao Haoxuan.
• Xuan Zi began the next match before the teams could settle on tactics, and Huo Yutong’s lock on skill immediately marked the opposing team’s front-line fighters.
• Qian Chaoguang used his Soul Guidance Thruster to rush toward Ling Luochen while Ma Xiaotao’s team clashed with the opponents.
• Qian Chaoguang called on the Ice Empress, whose power emerged through his Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion tattoo as he activated his First Soul Ring of Extreme Ice Light.

Qian Chaoguang revealed his Ice Jade Scorpion Martial Soul and used its overwhelming power to defeat Ling Luochen and Gongyang Mo, turning the Inner Academy team’s match in the Outer Academy’s favor. After Ma Xiaotao was defeated by the remaining opponents, the battle ended, and the Inner Academy students questioned Qian Chaoguang and Wang Dong about their Twin Martial Souls and his Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring.

• Qian Chaoguang revealed the Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion phantom, froze Ling Luochen, and struck her out of the match.
• Qian Chaoguang used Eternal Frost Domain to stop Gongyang Mo in midair, then pinned him and forced both of them out.
• Xuan Zi freed Ling Luochen and explained that Qian Chaoguang’s Twin Martial Souls and Extreme Ice could suppress her, while claiming his Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring was a mimicry.
• With Ling Luochen and Gongyang Mo out, Ma Xiaotao fought Dai Yueheng, Chen Zifeng, and Xixi alone and was defeated.
• After the match, Chen Zifeng asked Qian Chaoguang and Wang Dong about their Twin Martial Souls and questioned Qian Chaoguang’s Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring and aura.

After the internal match, Xuan Zi named Qian Chaoguang captain of the Reserve Team and Huo Yutong its control-type soul master, then announced their departure for Star Luo City. He questioned Qian Chaoguang about using both Martial Souls at once, but Qian Chaoguang evaded his questions and returned to the dormitory with Huo Yutong.

• Qian Chaoguang revealed his Ice Jade Scorpion Martial Soul and transformed his Soul Rings, surprising the assembled disciples with their apparent God-tier color.
• Xuan Zi appointed Qian Chaoguang captain of the Reserve Team and Huo Yutong its control-type soul master, while urging Beibei and Xu Sanshi to cultivate harder.
• Xuan Zi told the teams to gather at the academy entrance the next morning for their trip to Star Luo City, and Qian Chaoguang held Huo Yutong's hand as she reacted to the destination.
• After the others left, Xuan Zi demanded to know how Qian Chaoguang had used two Martial Souls at once, but Qian Chaoguang claimed it had come naturally and challenged him to find a book forbidding it.
• Unable to uncover the reason after examining Qian Chaoguang, Xuan Zi let him and Huo Yutong return to their dormitory.

Xuan Zi explained the Shrek Inspection Corps to the Reserve Team and asked whether they would join. The seven members agreed, while Qian Chaoguang resolved to change the Corps’ role from within.

• The Shrek Seven Devils and Reserve Team left the academy with Xuan Zi and Wang Yan, and Wang Dong stumbled into Qian Chaoguang while still half-asleep.
• Xuan Zi explained that the Inspection Corps fought Evil Soul Masters and other criminals, but also intervened in imperial affairs.
• Qian Chaoguang respected the Corps’ fallen members but judged Shrek’s interference in other nations’ affairs incompatible with neutrality.
• Xuan Zi asked the Reserve Team whether they would join the Inspection Corps without compensation.
• The seven Reserve Team members answered together that they would join, and Qian Chaoguang resolved to reform the Corps.

Ma Xiaotao briefed the Reserve Team on its first Shrek Observers mission: hunting the Hand of Death bandits near the Star Luo and Sun Moon Empires. As the team raced toward the mission site, Qian Chaoguang wondered whether the Evil Soul Masters who attacked his grandfather might still be alive, and amazed the others with his stamina.

• Wang Yan distributed Observer's Rings, and Ma Xiaotao explained their equipment, identity checks, and mission to wipe out the Hand of Death bandits.
• Qian Chaoguang recalled his grandfather's warning about seeking revenge and suspected the attackers might have survived or belonged to a powerful organization.
• Ma Xiaotao assigned the team to travel at full speed, but Qian Chaoguang refused help and used Class 4 Soul Guidance Thrusters to keep pace.
• The team sprinted until noon, and the exhausted Outer Academy students were astonished that Qian Chaoguang showed no fatigue.
• Wang Dong asked Huo Yutong for grilled fish, reminding Xu Sanshi of his lost wager and Jiang Nannan of the fish's inflated price.

Qian Chaoguang and Huo Yutong used their portable cooking equipment and skills to prepare a feast for the Shrek group during their wilderness journey. The chapter left the hunting party’s game roasting while everyone waited for the meal.

• Qian Chaoguang explained how he used his Extreme Ice Martial Soul and a Soul Tool to keep ingredients frozen, and Huo Yutong showed the group the freezer he had made for her.
• Xuan Zi assigned the group to hunt and gather firewood, then named Huo Yutong head chef after hearing about her grilled fish.
• Qian Chaoguang prepared the cooking area, installed stoves, and started rice with Ma Xiaotao’s Phoenix Fire.
• The hunting group returned with rabbits, chickens, and a wild boar, and Huo Yutong and Qian Chaoguang began roasting and slow-cooking the meat.

Qian Chaoguang and Huo Yutong prepared a feast for the Shrek students during their wilderness mission. After everyone ate and grew closer, the group packed away their utensils and resumed their journey.

• Dai Yueheng and Chen Zifeng returned with fish and wild mushrooms, which Qian Chaoguang cleaned and prepared for cooking.
• Huo Yutong finished roasting chicken and rabbits, but Xuan Zi and the others rushed to grab the food before she could serve it.
• Qian Chaoguang cooked twice-cooked pork, spicy boiled fish, fish soup, rice, and buried wild boar while Huo Yutong grilled more than twenty fish.
• Xuan Zi stole the first helping, and Dai Yueheng and Chen Zifeng made utensils so everyone could eat the dishes.
• The group spent an extra half hour feasting, grew closer, and carefully washed and stored their utensils.

After a meal brought the group closer, they used military Flying Soul Tools to speed toward the Death Hand Bandit Group. During the journey, Qian Chaoguang told the Ice Empress that the Snow Empress had survived her failed transformation and promised to investigate her condition, while warning the Ice Empress not to question him without reason.

• The group finished the leftover food, and Xuan Zi stored the remaining fish soup in an oversized gourd.
• Dai Yueheng obtained military Flying Soul Tools at the border camp, while Qian Chaoguang and Huo Yutong used compact models made by Qian Duoduo.
• The Ice Empress worried that the Snow Empress would not survive her tribulation, and Qian Chaoguang explained that she had failed to transform into a human but remained alive.
• Qian Chaoguang warned the Ice Empress that he would remove her Spiritual Imprint if she continued to question him without reason, and she apologized and begged him to save the Snow Empress.
• After an hour of learning to use the Flying Soul Tools, the group set off again and traveled at a rate of five hundred li per hour.

The Shrek group reached the western border of the Star Luo Empire, rested at Dai Hao’s military camp, and learned what little the army knew about the Death Hand Bandit Group. As they searched the Mingdou Mountain Range, Qian Chaoguang challenged Dai Yueheng’s claim that the White Tiger Duke had only one wife, and Wang Yan returned with news from his reconnaissance.

• Xuan Zi escorted the group through the sky, and they landed near the western border, where many students vomited from the flight.
• Dai Yueheng met the White Tiger Guards and settled their suspicions before inviting the group to recuperate at the military camp.
• The army reported that the Death Hand Bandit Group had over three hundred members and a leader stronger than Soul King rank, so the group set out to search the Mingdou Mountain Range.
• Ma Xiaotao arranged the group’s formation as they advanced into the mountains, and Wang Yan went ahead alone to investigate the bandits’ traces.
• Dai Yueheng said the White Tiger Duke had only one wife, but Qian Chaoguang pointed out Dai Luoli; Dai Yueheng awkwardly acknowledged him before Wang Yan called everyone over.

Wang Yan identified signs that an Evil Soul Master team was nearby, and Qian Chaoguang used his knowledge and Divine Sense to help locate their cave. Before the Shrek Observers entered, Qian Chaoguang warned Xuan Zi and the team about a possible corpse-exploding ability and urged them to be wary of corpses.

• Wang Yan showed the group a Wenlan Tree trunk with its core removed, and Qian Chaoguang explained that Evil Soul Masters were likely nearby.
• Qian Chaoguang rebuked Ma Xiaotao for her questions about the Wenlan Tree, and she swallowed her anger because she needed his help with her Evil Fire.
• Wang Yan led the team to a cave beneath a hillside and ordered the Shrek Observers to change into their protective gear.
• Qian Chaoguang stopped the team before they entered and summoned Xuan Zi, warning that the Five-Ring Evil Soul Master might manipulate corpses and make them explode.
• Xuan Zi promised to watch the situation, and Qian Chaoguang told the seven Main Player team members to be cautious around every corpse.

Qian Chaoguang warned the Inner Academy Disciples to wear Soul Armor before they entered the cave, but only Gongyang Mo and Ling Luochen accepted the protection. The Reserve Team followed the others into the blood-soaked cavern, where Qian Chaoguang destroyed the corpses and urged everyone to stay cautious as they prepared to confront the Evil Soul Masters.

• Qian Chaoguang offered the Inner Academy Disciples Soul Armor and warned several of them about the danger of approaching corpses, but most dismissed his advice.
• Gongyang Mo and Ling Luochen chose to wear Thousand-Forged Alloy Heart Protection Armor, and Ma Xiaotao led the Inner Academy Disciples toward the cave while Wang Yan took the Reserve Team after them.
• At the cave entrance, Qian Chaoguang used his Divine Sense to scan the area and found that the Inner Academy Disciples had not kept much distance from the corpses; Xuan Zi was drinking and eating on a slope nearby.
• The Reserve Team entered the cave and found more than a hundred corpses, including dead infants, hanging along the passage.
• Qian Chaoguang destroyed the corpses with Extreme Ice Light and Extreme Ice, then explained to Xu Sanshi that caution had kept him alive before.
• Wang Yan rallied the shaken Reserve Team and told them to prepare to fight the Evil Soul Masters.

Qian Chaoguang tried to protect the team from a Death God Emissary’s chain of corpse explosions, but the Inner Academy students were caught in the blasts and suffered severe injuries. Xuan Zi rushed into the cave after the explosions and found the survivors amid the devastation.

• Wang Yan sent the Reserve Team into the battle while warning them to stay away from corpses, and Qian Chaoguang supported the fight while keeping corpses clear.
• A Death God Emissary announced his attack, and Qian Chaoguang warned his allies and shielded the Reserve Team with Huo Yutong’s Mind Barrier and Extreme Ice Light.
• The Emissary detonated more than five hundred corpses, leaving the Reserve Team mostly unharmed while Dai Yueheng, Ma Xiaotao, and the other Inner Academy students suffered varying injuries.
• Ling Luochen escaped with minor injuries, Gongyang Mo was knocked unconscious, Xixi and Chen Zifeng were badly poisoned, and Yao Haoxuan was left gravely injured but alive.
• Xuan Zi charged into the cave as the explosions began, then unleashed white light that evaporated the corrosive blood and poison.