Chapter Summaries

Zhou Huan took a month of leave from Shrek Academy to seek a Soul Ring and put his theoretical knowledge into practice. After his friends gave him defensive Soul Tools and wished him a smooth journey, he left Shrek City and headed toward the Snow Forest Sea in the Heaven Dou Empire.

• Zhou Huan told Xiao Xiao and Wang Qingya that he had taken a month of leave to gain practical experience and obtain a Soul Ring.
• Xiao Xiao warned Zhou Huan to be careful and lamented that he had not joined the Tang Sect.
• Wen Xiaoshuai gave Zhou Huan a Level 3 Defensive Soul Tool, and Xiao Xiao and Wang Qingya gave him a Level Three Ice Attribute Soul Tool.
• Xiao Xiao mistakenly wished Zhou Huan a good journey before Wang Qingya corrected her to say smooth sailing.
• Zhou Huan left Shrek City and set out for the Snow Forest Sea in the northern Heaven Dou Empire.

While searching Snow Forest Sea for an Ice Attribute Soul Beast, Zhou Huan was captured by a dying Azure Dragon Ice Qilin Horse. She offered to sacrifice herself as his Soul Ring in exchange for Zhou Huan reviving her and helping her become a god if he ascended.

• After ten fruitless days searching Snow Forest Sea, Zhou Huan investigated deeper and was dragged into a cave by a powerful Soul Beast.
• Zhou Huan discovered that his captor was an Azure Dragon Ice Qilin Horse with nearly one hundred and ninety thousand years of cultivation, and tried to appease her.
• The Azure Dragon Ice Qilin Horse revealed that her origin was damaged and she would die within half a year, then asked whether Zhou Huan could become a god.
• Zhou Huan displayed his Frost Spirit and Floating Pagoda Martial Souls, surprising the Azure Dragon Ice Qilin Horse, who proposed sacrificing herself as his Soul Ring.
• Zhou Huan agreed to revive the Azure Dragon Ice Qilin Horse and help her become a god if he ascended, swearing that his Godhead would shatter if he broke his promise.

Zhou Huan completed the Blue Dragon Ice Qilin Horse’s sacrifice, gaining a powerful Soul Ring, a Torso Soul Bone, and Extreme Ice for his Frost Spirit. After concealing his strength and destroying the ice cave, he left the Snow Forest Sea to return to Shrek.

• The Blue Dragon Ice Qilin Horse gave Zhou Huan the Ice-Scale Cold Marrow Lotus and sacrificed herself, granting him a red Soul Ring and raising his Soul Power to level thirty-four.
• Zhou Huan concealed the Soul Ring and let his Floating Pagoda absorb the Blue Dragon Ice Qilin Horse’s remains, making the Martial Soul more solid.
• Zhou Huan absorbed the Torso Soul Bone and consumed the Ice-Scale Cold Marrow Lotus, enduring intense pain as his Frost Spirit reached Extreme Ice and his Soul Power rose to level thirty-seven.
• Zhou Huan lowered his apparent Soul Power to level twenty-five and destroyed the ice cave.
• After reflecting on the dangers of seeking opportunities outside Shrek, Zhou Huan headed for the outskirts of the Snow Forest Sea to return.

Zhou Huan met Long Aotian and Princess Vina while grilling meat near Snow Forest Sea, where they were investigating a recent Beast Tide. After learning Zhou Huan was a Hunter, Vina criticized excessive Soul Beast hunting, and Zhou Huan explained the hunger and hardship that drove many Hunters to take that dangerous path.

• Zhou Huan burned his meat while grilling beside a stream and was approached by Long Aotian and Vina.
• Long Aotian introduced himself and Vina, and Zhou Huan invited them to share grilled meat.
• Vina asked whether Zhou Huan had entered Snow Forest Sea, and Long Aotian explained that they had come to investigate a Beast Tide from two months earlier.
• Zhou Huan told them Snow Forest Sea was nearly empty of Soul Beasts, which he attributed to their flight from the Blue Dragon Ice Kirin Horse.
• After Zhou Huan admitted he was a Hunter, Vina cautioned against slaughtering Soul Beasts, and Zhou Huan explained that hunger and the desire for strength drove many Hunters to risk their lives.
• Long Aotian reflected on his own humble childhood and agreed with Zhou Huan, admiring him rather than judging him for being a Hunter.

Zhou Huan explained to Vina why he hunted Soul Beasts for a living and refused her offer to enroll him in the Heavenly Soul Royal Advanced Soul Master Academy. When five thugs harassed Vina, Zhou Huan and Long Aotian agreed to kill them.

• Zhou Huan told Vina that becoming a Hunter had funded his cultivation, despite her objections to the hunting of Soul Beasts.
• Vina offered to pay for Zhou Huan to attend the Heavenly Soul Royal Advanced Soul Master Academy, but he declined, and Long Aotian supported his choice.
• A group of five middle-aged people approached and leered at Vina while demanding the roasted meat.
• Vina told the sleazy man to get lost, and he insulted and threatened her as the other four watched.
• Zhou Huan asked Long Aotian if they should kill the five thugs, and Long Aotian agreed.

Long Aotian killed a lecherous attacker and revealed his powerful Soul Ancestor abilities, while the others fled and Vina’s hidden guard dealt with them. Zhou Huan declined the guard’s offer to join Vina’s family, then parted ways with Vina and Long Aotian, who continued toward the Snow Forest Sea to investigate the missing Soul Beasts.

• Long Aotian transformed his arm into a dark-gold sword and killed the man who had harassed Vina.
• The remaining four attackers scattered and fled, and Long Aotian stayed with Zhou Huan and Vina rather than chasing them.
• Zhou Huan explained that he had guessed Vina and Long Aotian were protected by hidden guards, and an Elder appeared to report that the attackers had been dealt with.
• The Elder said the attackers were Hunters and that a beast tide two months earlier might have driven most Soul Beasts out of the Snow Forest Sea.
• The Elder invited Zhou Huan to join Vina’s family, but Zhou Huan declined and said he hoped to travel before eventually becoming a teacher.
• Zhou Huan headed back toward Shrek while Vina and Long Aotian continued to the Snow Forest Sea to investigate.

On his ten-day journey back to Shrek, Zhou Huan wrote a thesis challenging Yu Xiaogang’s claim that there were no useless Martial Souls, using his observations and the Tang Sect’s decline as evidence. He returned to Shrek with the finished thesis, expecting Wang Yan to understand its criticism of the Academy’s beliefs.

• Zhou Huan slowed his return journey and wrote a practical report to support the reason he had given Wang Yan for taking leave.
• Zhou Huan argued that many Martial Souls were genuinely useless and cited his observations of people who could not cultivate to Soul Master level ten.
• Zhou Huan criticized Blue Silver Grass users who imitated Tang San by choosing demon spider Soul Rings, arguing that plant-type Soul Rings were more suitable.
• Zhou Huan pointed to the Tang Sect’s weak leaders and collapse as evidence of the limits of Blue Silver Grass, while carefully avoiding a direct attack on Shrek.
• Zhou Huan briefly praised Huo Yuhao’s diligence, finished his thesis, and returned to Shrek Academy.

Zhou Huan returned from leave and gave Wang Yan a paper about Martial Soul research, including which Soul Rings suited Blue Silver Grass. Wang Yan recognized its value but said it could not be published openly, and Zhou Huan left the decision about storing it in Shrek’s library to him.

• Zhou Huan visited Wang Yan’s office and handed him a paper about his research during leave.
• Wang Yan read the paper and considered its arguments about Soul Ring selection, especially for Blue Silver Grass Martial Souls.
• Wang Yan concluded that Shrek could not publish the paper because it challenged established beliefs, but he offered to place it in the library as hidden knowledge.
• Zhou Huan said the paper had only been intended for Wang Yan and that he did not care whether it was preserved.
• Zhou Huan and Wang Yan discussed Martial Soul and Soul Ring compatibility before Zhou Huan left the office.

Mu En reviewed Zhou Huan’s research on Martial Souls and decided to let him pursue theory under Wang Yan, while quietly considering him a suitable match for Zhang Lexuan. After returning to Shrek Academy, Zhou Huan reunited with his friends and gave them Blue Ice Seven-Leaf Grass to aid their cultivation.

• Xuan Zi showed Mu En the research Wang Yan had received from Zhou Huan, and Mu En praised Zhou Huan’s theoretical insight.
• Mu En approved restricting the research’s circulation and asked Xuan Zi to give Beibei a copy while keeping it confidential.
• Mu En told Xuan Zi not to interfere with Zhou Huan’s path and privately considered him a possible partner for Zhang Lexuan.
• Zhou Huan returned to the cafeteria, teased Xiao Xiao, and gave her, Wen Xiaoshuai, and Wang Qingya Blue Ice Seven-Leaf Grass.
• Zhou Huan explained that the grass should be refined with Soul Power and would aid cultivation until they reached the Soul Ancestor rank.

Zhou Huan explained to Beibei and Tang Ya why Blue Silver Grass should absorb plant-type Soul Rings, leaving Tang Ya worried about her future cultivation but grateful for his advice. After they left, Zhou Huan reflected on his fear of growing close to people before Zhang Le Xuan startled him.

• Tang Ya asked Zhou Huan whether Blue Silver Grass was unsuited to non-plant-type Soul Rings, and he said the theory was supported by the Tang Sect’s lack of powerful experts.
• Zhou Huan warned Tang Ya that her thousand-year Mandala Snake Soul Ring would slow her cultivation further and advised her to seek plant Soul Beasts with vigorous vitality.
• Zhou Huan said a Blue Silver King Soul Bone could improve Tang Ya’s Martial Soul, while Beibei asked about a Blue Silver Emperor Soul Bone and learned it was nearly impossible to find.
• Tang Ya thanked Zhou Huan and left with Beibei, while Zhou Huan wondered whether his advice could help her avoid her grim fate.
• Zhou Huan reflected on keeping his distance from people because he feared being unable to help them, and Zhang Le Xuan suddenly appeared and teased him.

Zhou Huan spoke with Zhang Lexuan about his Martial Soul theory article and agreed to ask for her help during the break. Four months later, the first school year ended, and Zhou Huan headed to Keman Tower to meet Zhang Lexuan.

• Zhang Lexuan asked Zhou Huan whether he planned to pursue Martial Soul theory, and he said he trusted Soul Power and levels more.
• Zhou Huan asked Zhang Lexuan to help him with something during the break, and she agreed.
• Wang Yan told Class One that students needed to reach two rings and pass an Advancement Assessment to remain at Shrek.
• Wang Qingya thanked Zhou Huan for the Spirit Grass, which had boosted her cultivation, while Xiao Xiao bragged about reaching Level 26.
• Zhou Huan parted ways with Xiao Xiao, Wang Qingya, and Wen Xiaoshuai, then went to Keman Tower to meet Zhang Lexuan.

Zhou Huan treated Zhang Lexuan to a meal and revealed his hidden abilities while asking for help obtaining a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Ring for his Frost Spirit. Zhang Lexuan agreed to accompany him to the Extreme North, and they began eating after settling the matter.

• Zhou Huan prepared an elaborate meal for Zhang Lexuan and asked her to seal the private room before discussing business.
• Zhou Huan showed Zhang Lexuan his three Soul Rings, including a red Hundred-thousand-year ring, and explained that the Blue Dragon Ice Qilin Horse had sacrificed itself for him.
• Zhou Huan revealed his second Martial Soul, the Floating Pagoda, and explained that its first soul skill concealed and altered his displayed Soul Power and Soul Rings.
• Zhou Huan asked Zhang Lexuan to keep his secrets and help him obtain a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Ring for his Frost Spirit.
• Zhang Lexuan agreed to go with Zhou Huan to the Extreme North, and they sat down to eat.

Zhou Huan and Zhang Lexuan searched the Extreme North’s Outer Zone for a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beast while staying clear of the Core Zone. After two days without finding one, they detected two enormous Soul Beasts and recognized them as Titan Snow Demons.

• Zhou Huan explained the Three Great Heavenly Kings of the Extreme North and persuaded Zhang Lexuan to limit their search to two hundred li from the Outer Zone.
• The pair searched for two days, finding Soul Beasts of lower cultivation but no Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beast.
• Zhou Huan roasted meat for Zhang Lexuan, who enjoyed the respite from the burdens of Shrek and her uncertain future.
• Zhang Lexuan sensed two approaching Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts, one around twelve thousand years old and the other between forty and forty-five thousand years old.
• Two giant ape-like Soul Beasts appeared, and Zhou Huan recognized them as Titan Snow Demons.

Zhang Lexuan defeated two Titan Snow Demons while protecting Zhou Huan, who then absorbed the twelve-thousand-year beast’s Soul Ring. The chapter ended with Zhou Huan reaching Soul Power level forty-two and thanking Zhang Lexuan.

• Zhang Lexuan used Illusory Moon and Black Moon Flowing Light to cripple the twelve-thousand-year Titan Snow Demon.
• Zhang Lexuan trapped and killed the forty-five-thousand-year Titan Snow Demon with her Blood Colored Domain.
• Zhou Huan praised Zhang Lexuan, who told him to kill the injured Titan Snow Demon and absorb its Soul Ring.
• Zhou Huan endured the painful absorption of the twelve-thousand-year Soul Ring and successfully completed it after half an hour.
• Zhou Huan reached Soul Power level forty-two and thanked Zhang Lexuan.

After Zhou Huan absorbed a Titan Snow Demon soul ring and left arm soul bone, he and Zhang Lexuan returned to Peach Spring Village to pay respects at their parents’ graves. The chapter ended with Zhou Huan entering deep meditation in the village while Zhang Lexuan protected him at his home.

• Zhou Huan found a Titan Snow Demon Left Arm Bone, and Zhang Lexuan told him to absorb it because it suited him and she already had a left arm soul bone.
• Zhou Huan absorbed the soul bone in less than fifteen minutes, gaining greater strength, and he and Zhang Lexuan left the Extreme North to avoid attracting the Titan Snow Demon King.
• Zhou Huan and Zhang Lexuan visited their parents’ graves in Peach Spring Village and paid their respects.
• Zhang Lexuan explained that her parents had chosen the village because it was where they had met and remembered happier days together.
• Zhou Huan entered deep meditation while walking through Peach Spring Village, so Zhang Lexuan shielded him and brought him safely back to his house.

After Zhou Huan reached level forty-three, he returned to the familiar bustle of Peach Spring Village, where Aunt Zhao welcomed him and fussed over his guest, Zhang Lexuan. The chapter ended with Zhang Lexuan teasing Zhou Huan for being an effortless liar rather than sharing the village’s honest nature.

• Zhou Huan awakened from meditation after two hours and broke through to level forty-three, prompting Zhang Lexuan to joke that he might become a Titled Douluo if he left Shrek more often.
• Zhou Huan went to find fresh ingredients for lunch, but Aunt Zhao arrived with eggs and greens and peppered him with questions about his return.
• Aunt Zhao teased Zhou Huan about his childhood and told him that Li Xiaomei had found an honest, dependable partner named Niu Daqiang.
• Aunt Zhao noticed Zhang Lexuan in the living room, questioned Zhou Huan about bringing a city girl home, and decided to cook lunch for them herself.
• Zhang Lexuan remarked that Zhou Huan must have been happy growing up in Peach Spring Village, then teased him for lying too easily to share its simple honesty.

Zhou Huan and Zhang Lexuan spent a few peaceful days in Peach Spring Village, where they reunited with Li Xiaomei and enjoyed a meal from Aunt Zhao. They then returned to Shrek Academy, leaving the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well untouched because pursuing it could attract a God King's attention.

• Zhou Huan and Zhang Lexuan cleaned his home and met Li Xiaomei, who delivered lunch from her mother.
• Zhou Huan gave Li Xiaomei sixty-six Silver Soul Coins as an early wedding gift, despite her protests.
• Zhang Lexuan and Zhou Huan enjoyed Aunt Zhao's meal and spent the next few days visiting neighbors in Peach Spring Village.
• Zhou Huan considered visiting the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well but decided that involving Mu En or claiming the place could alert a God King.
• Zhou Huan and Zhang Lexuan set off directly for Shrek Academy.

Zhou Huan returned to Shrek Academy and met with Wang Dong and his friends as they worried about Huo Yuhao’s absence and compared their cultivation progress. The friends finished their meal and returned to the academy, still waiting for Huo Yuhao to come back.

• Zhou Huan returned to Shrek Academy with Zhang Lexuan and registered for the new term on the final day.
• Wang Dong asked Zhou Huan where Huo Yuhao was, and Zhou Huan reassured her that Huo Yuhao would be fine without revealing what he knew.
• Zhou Huan met Wen Xiaoshuai, Xiao Xiao, and Wang Qingya at Keman Tower for a meal and learned that Xiao Xiao and Wen Xiaoshuai had both reached Level 31.
• Xiao Xiao asked Zhou Huan about Huo Yuhao, and he said Huo Yuhao would return when the time came.
• Zhou Huan and his friends finished eating and returned to Shrek Academy.

Zhou Huan watched Huo Yuhao reveal two seemingly hundred-thousand-year Soul Rings during the Advancement Assessment, terrifying the arena and ending the exam. Dai Huabin was forced to kneel and apologize, while Zhou Huan took Xiao Xiao and the others to Shrek City.

• Zhu Lu and Dai Huabin provoked Huo Yuhao and Xiao Xiao into a wager that included a Soul Bone and a leg, but Wang Yan intervened and changed the punishment to kneeling and apologizing.
• Zhou Huan and Wen Xiaoshuai agreed to wait for a chance outside Shrek to take one of Dai Huabin's legs.
• Wang Yan explained the Advancement Assessment, and Huo Yuhao's status as a Level 2 Soul Engineer and Soul Tool Department Core Disciple ended Mu Jin's complaint about his late arrival.
• At the Beast Fighting Arena, Huo Yuhao displayed two blood-red Soul Rings that appeared to be hundred-thousand-year rings, frightening the Wind Spirit Wolf, students, and teachers.
• Zhou Huan protected Xiao Xiao and Wang Qingya from the aura and told them the rings were fake; Gong Changlong then questioned Huo Yuhao, and Dai Huabin knelt to apologize.
• Zhou Huan took Xiao Xiao, Wen Xiaoshuai, and Wang Qingya to Shrek City for food while Dai Huabin's hatred of Huo Yuhao intensified.

After the Advancement Assessment, Zhou Huan and his friends attended the Treasure Appreciation Fair in Shrek City, where they received student VIP cards and saw treasures far beyond their budgets. Zhou Huan left after using his credit limit to buy a fourth-level Defensive Soul Tool, while anticipating that something significant would happen that night.

• Huo Gua defeated Dai Huabin again during the Advancement Assessment, while Zhou Huan defeated a six-hundred-year Three-Headed Golden Mane Lion and the other students completed their assessments.
• Xiao Xiao invited Zhou Huan, Wang Qingya, and Wen Xiaoshuai to the Treasure Appreciation Fair, and the four traveled to the Treasure Gathering Pavilion after dinner.
• Hong Ling registered the four students for Shrek evaluations and gave Xiao Xiao and Wen Xiaoshuai purple VIP cards, while Zhou Huan and Wang Qingya received yellow ones.
• The group browsed the fair, admired a Golden Radiance Left Arm Bone priced at nine million five hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins, and decided to leave without buying most of what they liked.
• Zhou Huan used fifty thousand Gold Soul Coins of his credit limit to buy a fourth-level Defensive Soul Tool before leaving.