Chapter Summaries

Class Zero began its assessment battles, and Zhao Tao chose to face Yuanen Yehui. He effortlessly dodged her attacks for half an hour, leaving her exhausted and out of Soul Power.

• Shen Yi explained the scoring rules and gave Class Zero ten minutes to choose opponents.
• Zhao Tao told the others to fight in order so Xu Xiaoyan could benefit from a later match, irritating Gu Yue when Xu Xiaoyan flirted with him.
• Zhao Tao selected contestant number two, whom he knew was Yuanen Yehui in disguise, and the other students pitied him for the choice.
• Shen Yi started the first battle, and Zhao Tao's Soul Rings astonished Yuanen Yehui.
• Yuanen Yehui transformed with her Titan Giant Ape Martial Soul and attacked, but Zhao Tao used Fleeting Bloom to slow her and dodge every strike.
• After half an hour, Yuanen Yehui was exhausted, nearly out of Soul Power, and had lost her transformed state, while Zhao Tao remained in perfect condition.

Zhao Tao defeated Yuanen Yehui with a single sword strike after allowing her time to recover, then the other challengers completed their matches. The entrance examination continued into the night as Xu Xiaoyan entered the arena as the final participant.

• Zhao Tao waited while Yuanen Yehui recovered for half an hour, then used his Time Burial Sword to defeat her in one strike and earn ten points.
• Yuanen Yehui asked Zhao Tao's name, and he answered before leaving without asking for hers.
• Gu Yue defeated contestant number one in one strike after briefly stalling, earning a perfect score.
• Tang Wulin endured twenty minutes against contestant number ten before exhausting his Soul Power and Bloodline Power, earning eight points.
• Xie Xie lasted twelve minutes against contestant number seven before being eliminated with six points, leaving him unable to enter the Inner Court directly.
• Night fell, and Xu Xiaoyan entered the arena as the final participant.

Class Zero entered a real Soul Beast environment for the ninth test and followed a clash between a ten-thousand-year Dark Gold Claw Bear and the Three-Eyed Golden Lion. After the beasts moved away, Xie Xie urged the group to search the Three-Eyed Golden Lion’s territory for rare treasures.

• Xu Xiaoyan defeated Student Number Six with a comeback and earned a perfect score, then Shen Yi explained the survival and teamwork test.
• Shen Yi sent Class Zero into a forest simulation containing real Soul Beasts while Elder Cai set the test to its highest level and Zhuo Shi discussed Wu Changkong and the students.
• Zhao Tao led Class Zero toward a terrifying roar after the group spent hours searching the forest without finding any Soul Beasts.
• Gu Yue detected activity in a nearby valley, where Class Zero saw a ten-thousand-year Dark Gold Claw Bear fighting the Three-Eyed Golden Lion.
• Xie Xie suggested searching the Three-Eyed Golden Lion’s territory for treasures and spoils.

Zhao Tao led Class Zero into the Emperor Beast’s ruined valley and found a young Three-Eyed Golden Lion in its cave. He killed it with one strike, and a Hundred-Year Soul Ring and golden light appeared above its remains.

• Tang Wulin opposed exploring, but Zhao Tao agreed with Xie Xie that the group should investigate the valley.
• Xu Xiaoyan spotted a cave, and Xie Xie recognized its scent as belonging to a Three-Eyed Golden Lion.
• Zhao Tao led Class Zero into the cave, where they found a young Hundred-Year Three-Eyed Golden Lion.
• Zhao Tao used his time-based abilities to empower himself and decapitated the beast with his Time Burial Sword.
• A yellow Hundred-Year Soul Ring rose above the corpse as golden light shone from the severed head.

Zhao Tao proposed giving the Three-Eyed Golden Lion’s Soul Bone to Gu Yue, and the Class Zero students yielded it until Gu Yue passed it to Xu Xiaoyan. The Emperor Beast’s return ended the simulation, and Shen Yi revealed that the team had passed the Rejection Gate with a perfect score.

• Zhao Tao extracted the Three-Eyed Golden Lion’s Soul Bone and suggested that Gu Yue fuse with it because its spiritual attributes suited her.
• Tang Wulin, Xie Xie, and Xu Xiaoyan each agreed to give up the Soul Bone for Gu Yue.
• Gu Yue refused the Soul Bone because of her Martial Soul and offered it to Xu Xiaoyan, who accepted.
• The Emperor Beast appeared and engulfed Class Zero in golden light, ending the assessment simulation.
• Shen Yi told Class Zero that the Soul Bone and spoils were fabricated and explained that the stage tested their character and teamwork.
• Shen Yi congratulated Class Zero for earning a perfect score on the Rejection Gate.

The Class Zero students completed the Three-Hall Review and received their final academy evaluations, with Tang Wulin, Gu Yue, and Zhao Tao qualifying for the Inner Court. Elder Cai prepared to take them to Sea God Island to meet Dean Ya Li, and Zhao Tao looked forward to seeing Na'er again.

• Shen Yi explained that the Three-Hall Review would assess the students without eliminating anyone, then led them to meet Elder Cai, Elder Li, and Zhuo Shi.
• Elder Cai gave Xie Xie a final score of seventy-eight and Xu Xiaoyan a score of eighty-one, making them Outer Court students.
• Zhuo Shi awarded Tang Wulin a final score of ninety-six and invited him to Sea God Island, asking him to bring Wu Changkong.
• Elder Cai gave Gu Yue and Zhao Tao perfect comprehensive scores and admitted them to the Inner Court, warning them not to grow complacent.
• Elder Cai told Zhao Tao, Gu Yue, and Tang Wulin to meet Dean Ya Li on Sea God Island, and Zhao Tao anticipated seeing Na'er again.

Elder Cai brought Gu Yue, Zhao Tao, and Tang Wulin to Sea God Island, where Holy Spirit Douluo Ya Li welcomed the three new Inner Court disciples. Ya Li was astonished to discover that thirteen-year-old Zhao Tao had reached Soul Ancestor rank and condensed a Soul Power Vortex.

• Elder Cai led Gu Yue, Zhao Tao, and Tang Wulin across Sea God Lake to the Sea God Pavilion on Sea God Island.
• Zhao Tao looked at the Golden Ancient Tree and vowed to overthrow Tang San's dynasty and free the Douluo Continent.
• Elder Cai introduced the three disciples to Ya Li, then returned to supervise the entrance examinations.
• Ya Li welcomed the trio and asked them to introduce themselves.
• Zhao Tao said he was a thirteen-year-old, forty-seventh-rank Soul Ancestor with the Spring Autumn Cicada Martial Soul.
• Ya Li sensed Zhao Tao's Soul Power Vortex and was shocked that he had condensed one at Soul Ancestor rank.

Ya Li welcomed Zhao Tao, Gu Yue, and Tang Wulin as Inner Court students, then explained that they would train in the Outer Court until they forged One-Word Battle Armor. As Zhao Tao and his companions reached the shore of Sea God Island, they spotted a silver-haired girl arriving by boat.

• Ya Li tried to recruit Zhao Tao as her disciple, but he said he was already Leng Yaozhu's disciple.
• Gu Yue and Tang Wulin introduced themselves, and Ya Li congratulated them on entering the Inner Court while warning them about its strict requirements.
• Ya Li gave the three students their Inner Court badges and explained that the new training rules required them to hone themselves in the Outer Court until they forged One-Word Battle Armor.
• Ya Li transported Zhao Tao, Gu Yue, and Tang Wulin to the base of the Golden Ancient Tree, and Zhao Tao took Gu Yue's hand as they headed toward the shore.
• The three reached the shore and saw a beautiful silver-haired girl with pale silver eyes approaching Sea God Island in a small boat; Zhao Tao nearly recognized her aloud.

Zhao Tao reunited with Na'er on Sea God Island, where she explained how she had returned to her family and joined Shrek Academy. Gu Yue and Na'er reached an understanding through a private spiritual exchange, but both continued to claim Zhao Tao as his girlfriend, leaving him to mediate between them.

• Zhao Tao called to Na'er, and she hurried ashore to embrace him and explain why she had left Aolai City and come to Shrek Academy.
• Na'er asked about Zhao Tao's life, and he told her he had become an Inner Court disciple and was glad they could see each other again.
• Gu Yue introduced herself as Zhao Tao's girlfriend, then privately told Na'er she had fallen in love with him and wanted to pursue peace between humans and Soul Beasts.
• Na'er welcomed Gu Yue's change of heart but insisted she would never give up on Zhao Tao, and Gu Yue confidently agreed to compete for him.
• Na'er and Gu Yue each clung to one of Zhao Tao's arms and argued over who had been his girlfriend longer, while Zhao Tao sent Tang Wulin away and began addressing the two girls.

Zhao Tao told Gu Yue and Na'er that he could not bear to lose either of them, and they agreed to stay by his side together. Gu Yue accepted Na'er as his companion but insisted that Na'er defer to her as the older sister, and the three reconciled in Zhao Tao's embrace.

• Zhao Tao told Gu Yue and Na'er that they were both indispensable to him and that he could not choose between them.
• Na'er and Gu Yue spoke in their shared consciousness and agreed that they should not force Zhao Tao to give either of them up.
• Gu Yue said Na'er could stay with Zhao Tao if she accepted Gu Yue's authority as the older sister, and Na'er agreed.
• Na'er and Gu Yue each told Zhao Tao they would stay beside him together, and he embraced them both.

Zhao Tao reunited with Na'er and accepted her as his girlfriend, while reaffirming his love for Gu Yue. After a celebratory dinner with Class Zero, Wu Changkong returned from visiting Zhuo Shi with his emotional burden lifted and explained that the students would need to wait nearby until the academy finished confirming its incoming class.

• Na'er confessed her love to Zhao Tao, and he accepted her as his girlfriend before also reassuring Gu Yue of his love.
• Na'er arranged to meet Zhao Tao and Gu Yue at the Inner Court entrance the next morning to explore Shrek City together.
• Zhao Tao returned to the Inner Court with Gu Yue and learned from Tang Wulin that Shen had taken Wu Changkong to visit Zhuo Shi.
• Zhao Tao took Class Zero out for a celebratory dinner, and Wu Changkong later met them outside Shrek Academy.
• Wu Changkong said Zhuo Shi had forgiven him, then took Class Zero to a nearby hotel and told them to stay near the academy while admissions were finalized.

Zhao Tao and Gu Yue met Na'er for breakfast after she greeted him with their customary good-morning kiss. At the teahouse, Na'er and Gu Yue competed to feed Zhao Tao, and he reassured Na'er that he loved both girls most.

• Zhao Tao woke beside Gu Yue, shared a good-morning kiss with her, and left the hotel with her to meet Na'er.
• Zhao Tao and Gu Yue encountered Tang Wulin and Wu Changkong near the Inner Court entrance before continuing to wait for Na'er.
• Na'er arrived, embraced Zhao Tao, and exchanged their customary morning kisses with him.
• Na'er led Zhao Tao and Gu Yue to a teahouse, where she ordered a lavish breakfast.
• Na'er and Gu Yue took turns feeding Zhao Tao, and Zhao Tao reassured Na'er that he loved both her and Gu Yue most.

Zhao Tao took Gu Yue and Na'er on a date around Shrek City, feeding them, showing them the sights, and buying them dresses. The chapter ended with Na'er delighted by her gifts and kissing Zhao Tao on the cheek.

• Zhao Tao fed Gu Yue and Na'er, then the three set out to explore Shrek City.
• Zhao Tao, Gu Yue, and Na'er sampled snacks and rode the Ferris wheel and carousel.
• Zhao Tao took Gu Yue and Na'er shopping and helped them try on dresses.
• Zhao Tao bought more than a dozen dresses for Gu Yue and Na'er and gave them the bags.
• Na'er thanked Zhao Tao, put the dresses in her Storage Soul Tool, and kissed his cheek.

Zhao Tao, Gu Yue, and Na'er enjoyed lunch on the snack street near Shrek Academy until Feng Ling and his gang tried to harass the two girls. Zhao Tao confronted Feng Ling and revealed his Spring Autumn Cicada Martial Soul and powerful Soul Rings.

• Gu Yue and Na'er affectionately greeted Zhao Tao before the three went to lunch together.
• Na'er chose a teppanyaki stall, where the three ordered and ate a large spread of skewers.
• Zhao Tao overheard Wu Lei and Feng Ling targeting Gu Yue and Na'er, and Feng Ling's gang surrounded their table.
• Zhao Tao stood up to Feng Ling, who activated his Gale Twin-Headed Wolf Martial Soul and displayed four Soul Rings.
• Zhao Tao summoned the Spring Autumn Cicada and revealed three purple Soul Rings and one black Soul Ring.

Zhao Tao defeated Feng Ling after Feng Ling attacked him and crippled his cultivation, then toured Shrek Academy with Gu Yue and Na'er. After the entrance examinations, Zhao Tao and Gu Yue settled into their Inner Court villa dormitory and began making it their home.

• Feng Ling attacked Zhao Tao with Gale Twin Wolf Slash after refusing Zhao Tao's humiliating demand.
• Zhao Tao used the Time Burial Sword to shatter Feng Ling's attacks, destroy his dantian, and cripple his cultivation.
• Feng Ling crawled out of the restaurant, and Zhao Tao returned to the table before leaving with Gu Yue and Na'er after their meal and tour of Shrek Academy.
• Wu Changkong led the students to the teaching building, where Xie Xie and Xu Xiaoyan registered and the students received dormitory assignments.
• Zhao Tao and Gu Yue chose a couples’ double room and moved into their Inner Court villa.
• Zhao Tao and Gu Yue decorated the villa, and Zhao Tao replaced the master bedroom's double bed with a wider three-person bed.

Zhao Tao reunited with Ye Xinglan at Shrek Academy’s opening ceremony, where she expressed excitement about sparring with him again. After Elder Cai explained the Outer Court’s rules, she appointed herself homeroom teacher for the first-year students and led them away with Wu Changkong and Shen Yi.

• Zhao Tao and Gu Yue finished decorating their dormitory and went to sleep together before the opening ceremony.
• Zhao Tao spotted Ye Xinglan among the first-year students, and she greeted him warmly after three years apart.
• Ye Xinglan explained that the Academy’s new policy had brought her to the Outer Court, and she challenged Zhao Tao to spar again.
• Elder Cai addressed the students, explained the examination and graduation requirements, and ended the opening ceremony.
• Elder Cai appointed herself first-year homeroom teacher, with Wu Changkong and Shen Yi as assistants, and led the students away.

Elder Cai’s first-year class learned Shrek Academy’s rules, Battle Armor fundamentals, and the requirements for graduation and Inner Court entry. After lunch, Blazing Dragon Douluo Feng Wu Yu came to the cafeteria and took Zhao Tao to the Blacksmith Association to discuss something.

• Shen Yi assigned the students’ seats, and Elder Cai warned them that Shrek Academy would eliminate those who failed to persevere.
• Shen Yi explained Contribution Points, class schedules, expulsion rules, and academy resources before she and Wu Changkong taught the class about Battle Armor.
• Shen Yi outlined the requirements for Outer Court graduation and Inner Court entry, including stricter targets for Zhao Tao, Gu Yue, and Ye Xinglan.
• Zhao Tao, Gu Yue, Ye Xinglan, Tang Wulin, and the other students went to the cafeteria, where Tang Wulin’s appetite attracted attention.
• Feng Wu Yu entered the cafeteria, called for Zhao Tao, and took him to the Blacksmith Association.

After learning that Zhao Tao was a twelve-year-old Fifth-Grade Forger Grandmaster, Ye Xinglan admired him and hoped to build a relationship with him. Feng Wu Yu tested Zhao Tao's forging skill, saw him complete Spirit Forging, and asked him to become his disciple despite Zhao Tao already being Mu Chen's student.

• Tang Wulin told Ye Xinglan and the others that Zhao Tao was a Fifth-Grade Forger Grandmaster who had already completed Spirit Forging.
• Ye Xinglan was astonished by Zhao Tao's talent and decided to build a good relationship with him.
• Feng Wu Yu brought Zhao Tao to the Blacksmith Association's forging room and asked him to demonstrate Spirit Forging.
• Zhao Tao forged a piece of metal into a Spirit Forged work, impressing Feng Wu Yu, who offered to share him as a disciple with Mu Chen.
• Zhao Tao agreed to call Mu Chen and discuss Feng Wu Yu's proposal.

Zhao Tao told Mu Chen that he had entered Shrek Academy's Inner Court and asked about Feng Wu Yu taking him as a disciple; Mu Chen approved and revealed that Mu Xi would also join the academy. Feng Wu Yu accepted Zhao Tao as his disciple and offered to strengthen his meridians and constitution, leaving Zhao Tao grateful for his master's valuable gift.

• Zhao Tao told Mu Chen he had been admitted to Shrek Academy's Inner Court and asked for advice about Feng Wu Yu's offer to take him as a disciple.
• Mu Chen approved Feng Wu Yu's offer and told Zhao Tao that Mu Xi would join Shrek Academy through a special admission process.
• Mu Chen said he planned to move to Shrek City to guide Zhao Tao and Mu Xi, and Zhao Tao thanked him before ending the call.
• Feng Wu Yu asked Zhao Tao to call him Master, then explained that Zhao Tao's powerful Soul Power had outgrown the strength of his body and meridians.
• Feng Wu Yu offered to nourish Zhao Tao's meridians and give him a ten-thousand-year spirit fruit to improve his constitution, and Zhao Tao gratefully accepted.

Feng Wu Yu tempered Zhao Tao’s body with Blazing Fire Essence and a Ten Thousand Year Profound Ice Fruit, greatly strengthening his physique and Bloodline Power. Zhao Tao registered with the Blacksmith Association, received his own workshop, and the next morning Shen Yi announced a class officer election.

• Feng Wu Yu used Blazing Fire Essence to cleanse Zhao Tao’s meridians and strengthen his body before giving him a Ten Thousand Year Profound Ice Fruit to complete the ice-and-fire tempering.
• After half a day of cultivation, Zhao Tao thanked Feng Wu Yu, who gave him a Blacksmith Association badge and instructed him to attend Fusion Forging lessons twice a week.
• Zhao Tao registered with the Blacksmith Association, where the clerk was surprised to learn he was a five-star Grandmaster blacksmith and assigned him an exclusive forging workshop.
• The next morning, Shen Yi announced that the class would hold an election for class officers.