Chapter Summaries

Shi Nian trapped Zhu Zhuqing in his Nightmare Illusion and preyed on her fear of Zhu Zhuyun until Wriothesley confronted him. Zhu Zhuqing broke free and defeated the illusion, leaving Shi Nian injured and at Wriothesley’s mercy.

• Shi Nian used the Nightmare Illusion to torment Zhu Zhuqing with a fake Zhu Zhuyun and her fear of never defeating her sister.
• Wriothesley grabbed Shi Nian and demanded to know what he was doing to his disciple, preventing Shi Nian from moving.
• Zhu Zhuqing struck Shi Nian from within the illusion, injuring him and disrupting his control over it.
• Zhu Zhuqing remembered that she had grown strong enough to defeat Zhu Zhuyun, regained her clarity, and shattered the Nightmare Illusion.
• Wriothesley reassured Zhu Zhuqing after she apologized, while Shi Nian trembled and asked what Wriothesley intended to do.

Wriothesley confronted Shi Nian for hunting geniuses and killed him despite Shi Nian invoking Heaven Dou City's rules. Zhu Zhuqing witnessed the Duke's strength firsthand and was left stunned by the killing.

• Wriothesley threatened Shi Nian, who panicked and attacked him with soul skills instead of using his Nightmare Illusion.
• When Shi Nian tried to seize Zhu Zhuqing as a hostage, Wriothesley grabbed him by the throat and stopped him.
• Shi Nian appealed to the rules against private punishment and murder, but Wriothesley slammed him into the ground and dismissed the rules as restraints for others.
• Wriothesley lifted Shi Nian and killed him with a single punch to the head.
• Zhu Zhuqing stared in shock at Shi Nian's death, denied being afraid, and began addressing Wriothesley as the Duke.

Wriothesley reassured Zhu Zhuqing after killing Shi Nian and breaking the illusion that had frightened her. At the Heaven Dou City preliminaries, Canghui Academy wondered where Shi Nian had gone as its match against Godwind Academy began, while Godwind’s members glared at Feng Xiaotian, the War Wolf.

• Wriothesley told Zhu Zhuqing that Shi Nian’s illusion could not affect reality and sent her back to rest.
• Zhu Zhuqing left, and Wriothesley reflected that she still had a long way to go before departing.
• Shui Binger’s Martial Soul Evolution helped her team build a large lead in the Heaven Dou City preliminaries.
• Canghui Academy’s captain noticed Shi Nian was missing and wondered whether Godwind Academy had taken the soul bone he had sought.
• The referee called Canghui Academy and Godwind Academy into the arena, and Godwind’s members glared at Feng Xiaotian, the War Wolf.

Godwind lost to Canghui after an unexplained fog concealed the match, leaving Feng Xiaotian and the spectators unsure what had happened. Wriothesley explained that Canghui’s gem-based Martial Soul could use gemstones’ refractive properties for illusion techniques.

• A Godwind teammate complained that Feng Xiaotian had been going easy on Blazing Fire, but Feng Xiaotian said he did it out of love for Huo Wu.
• Feng Xiaotian and his teammates noticed that Canghui’s competitors looked eerily expressionless before the match.
• A fog appeared when the match began, and Godwind lost without understanding how Canghui had defeated them.
• Feng Xiaotian accepted the loss, while Ning Fengzhi and Gu Rong discussed how Canghui’s spiritual abilities had caught Godwind off guard.
• Wriothesley explained that gemstone-type Martial Souls could take many paths and that Canghui’s illusion technique used gemstones’ refractive properties.

Wriothesley explained how Canghui Academy’s seven members combined their illusion skills, prompting Xue Ye and others to consider recruiting them. The next round began with Shrek Academy facing Blazing Fire Academy, and Ma Hongjun entered the match confident his fire was stronger.

• Wriothesley explained that Canghui Academy’s seven members coordinated their illusion-type soul skills into a fusion skill by concentrating their Soul Power in one person.
• Xue Ye decided to recruit the seven gemstone Martial Soul users for the Heaven Dou Empire, while Ning Fengzhi and Salas also weighed their own recruitment plans.
• Xue Qinghe planned to bring the seven under her command and eventually have them join Spirit Hall.
• The tournament announced Shrek Academy’s match against Blazing Fire Academy for the central arena, drawing loud cheers from the spectators.
• A teacher warned Shrek Academy’s team not to underestimate the established Blazing Fire Academy, but Ma Hongjun declared that his fire would prove stronger.

Shrek Academy faced Blazing Fire Academy, whose fire-based team threatened to suppress Tang San’s plant-based control. As the match began, Tang San blamed Yu Xiaogang for his inadequate training and soul rings, while Blazing Fire Academy unleashed its flames across the arena.

• Blazing Fire Academy’s members confidently discussed their matchup against Shrek Academy, and Huo Wu said she wanted to test Zhu Zhuqing’s strength.
• Huo Wushuang teased his sister about Zhu Zhuqing, and Huo Wu stomped on his calf before the referee called both teams to salute.
• Huo Wushuang warned Dai Mubai that Tang San’s plant-based control would be countered by their fire attributes and suggested that Shrek forfeit.
• Tang San privately blamed Yu Xiaogang for his training and soul-ring choices and worried that his abilities would be useless against Blazing Fire Academy.
• Dai Mubai, Huang Yuan, and Tai charged forward with Blue Silver Grass vines around their waists as Blazing Fire Academy’s seven members released flames that heated the arena.

Shrek Academy faced Blazing Fire Academy in a tournament match as Zhu Zhuqing and Huo Wu paused to talk before clashing with their fire-based Soul Skills. The fight continued across the arena, with neither side gaining a decisive advantage.

• Huo Wushuang led Blazing Fire Academy's opening attack and ordered his teammates to target Tang San.
• Huo Wu and Zhu Zhuqing agreed to talk after the match, then turned to fight one another.
• Zhu Zhuqing dodged Huo Wu's fire rain and countered her Resisting Fire Ring with Blazing Flame Slash.
• Dai Mubai forced Huo Wushuang back, while Tailong and Huang Yuan pressured Blazing Fire Academy's other assault-system Soul Master.
• Ning Que supported Shrek's attackers as Xiao Wu and Jing Ling engaged the opposing agility-attack Soul Masters, while Tang San and the enemy control-system Soul Master watched each other.

Shrek Academy struggled against Blazing Fire Academy as Tang San hesitated to use his Blue Silver Grass and Yu Xiaogang drew a warning for shouting instructions. Huo Wu unleashed her Fourth Soul Skill at Zhu Zhuqing, leaving her to face the attack head-on.

• The Fire Leopard Soul Master overwhelmed Tailong and Huang Yuan while Dai Mubai clashed with Huo Wushuang, leaving Tang San without a clear role.
• Yu Xiaogang shouted for Tang San to get up, and the referee warned Shrek Academy that further interference would mean disqualification.
• Tang San decided he wanted to win despite his hatred of Yu Xiaogang, while Huo Wu and Zhu Zhuqing began another exchange.
• Huo Wu received support from her teammates and gathered their power into her Fourth Soul Skill, Blazing Sun.
• Jiangzhu urged Zhu Zhuqing to retreat, but Huo Wu launched the enormous white fireball straight at her.

Zhu Zhuqing used her Fourth Soul Skill to defeat Huo Wu, knocking every other contestant out of the arena and securing Shrek Academy’s victory. At the medical station, Wriothesley praised Zhu Zhuqing’s training, and the Blazing Fire Academy team learned that he was her teacher.

• Zhu Zhuqing unleashed her Fourth Soul Skill, Immortality Red Lotus, against Huo Wu’s attack.
• The clash’s explosion blasted every other contestant out of the arena, leaving Zhu Zhuqing and Huo Wu standing.
• Huo Wu admitted defeat and Zhu Zhuqing praised her as a worthy opponent, after which the referee declared Shrek Academy the winner.
• Sigewinne treated the injured contestants, while Wriothesley told Zhu Zhuqing he had not expected her to win and praised her progress.
• The Blazing Fire Academy team learned that Wriothesley was Zhu Zhuqing’s teacher.

After Zhu Zhuqing’s victory over Blazing Academy, Wriothesley praised the students and left her to recover, while Tang San and Dai Mubai reacted with jealousy and envy. That night at Shrek Academy, Zhu Zhuqing continued cultivating as she healed, determined to meet Wriothesley’s expectations.

• Wriothesley praised Huo Wushuang and the Blazing Academy students, then told Zhu Zhuqing to focus on recovering before leaving.
• Tang San resented Zhu Zhuqing’s strength, Wriothesley’s guidance, and the resources she had received, while questioning his own path and Yu Xiaogang’s value as a teacher.
• Dai Mubai envied Zhu Zhuqing’s Martial Soul Evolution and her new teacher, but reasoned that her strength could help him avoid the Star Luo Empire’s succession struggle.
• Jiangzhu and the other Shrek students understood that Wriothesley’s guidance had helped Zhu Zhuqing catch up to Huo Wu.
• That night, Zhu Zhuqing continued cultivating while recovering from her injuries, despite needing three days to heal fully.

Zhu Zhuqing and Dai Mubai spoke privately about their engagement, their changed circumstances, and the widening gap between them. Dai Mubai said he would not try to stop her from changing her fate, though he was unsure whether the empire would agree to end their engagement.

• Jiangzhu and the others continued cultivating while recovering, spurred on by Zhu Zhuqing.
• Dai Mubai asked Zhu Zhuqing to talk, and she agreed to meet him in a small grove.
• Dai Mubai asked Zhu Zhuqing about her Soul Power, and she told him it had caught up to his.
• Zhu Zhuqing said she and Dai Mubai were never meant to walk the same path and that she would change her own fate.
• Dai Mubai reflected on abandoning Zhu Zhuqing and admitted that she had grown stronger while he had nothing.
• Dai Mubai told Zhu Zhuqing he had not come to stop her and said the empire might not agree, though Dai Weisi and her sister would likely support it.

Dai Mubai asked Zhu Zhuqing to stay with him until the competition round ended, staking his life on her choice, but she declared she would change her fate herself. At the Clear Sky Sect, the elders argued over Tang Xiao’s absence and whether to disown Tang Hao, while the Second Elder urged them to honor their late Old Sect Master’s wishes.

• Dai Mubai told Zhu Zhuqing that their fates were tied to the coming battle and asked her to stay with him until the round ended.
• Zhu Zhuqing said she would change her fate with her own hands, and Dai Mubai urged her to do her best.
• Zhu Zhuqing wondered whether Dai Mubai hated her, then set the matter aside and began meditating.
• The Clear Sky Sect elders discussed Tang Xiao’s month-long absence and rumors that Tang Hao had provoked Wriothesley.
• The Seventh Elder proposed publicly severing Tang Hao’s ties to the Clear Sky Sect, but the Second Elder argued they should honor the Old Sect Master and not disown him.

Second Elder persuaded the Clear Sky Sect elders to revoke Tang Hao’s “Clear Sky” title and reclaim his inherited soul bones, but Fifth Elder warned that Tang Hao might refuse and escape. The council reconsidered how they could seize the bones from someone they might not be able to overpower.

• The elders argued over Second Elder’s stance on Tang Hao, and Second Elder insisted that he hated Tang Hao but did not want the sect to surrender its claim to his inheritance.
• Second Elder proposed revoking Tang Hao’s “Clear Sky” title and reclaiming his two inherited soul bones, winning the elders’ support.
• Second Elder suggested sawing off Tang Hao’s left leg and right arm to retrieve the bones, and Seventh Elder left to issue the declaration.
• Fifth Elder asked what the sect would do if Tang Hao refused to hand over the bones, warning that his strength could let him escape.
• Sixth Elder agreed with Fifth Elder, and the council began reconsidering its plan.

The Clear Sky Sect elders agreed to send scouts to Heaven Dou City before deciding how to recover the inherited soul bone from Tang Hao. At the tournament, an argument between Shrek Academy’s teachers escalated after Zhao Wuji challenged Yu Xiaogang’s praise of Tang San and refused to back down from Liu Erlong.

• Second Elder asked the Clear Sky Sect elders whether they would risk confronting Tang Hao, but they chose to send scouts to Heaven Dou City first.
• Shrek Academy celebrated reaching the tournament finals, while Zhao Wuji complained that Tang San received all the credit for the team’s victories.
• Zhao Wuji provoked Yu Xiaogang by comparing Tang San with Wriothesley’s students at Skywater Academy.
• Flender tried to defuse the dispute, but Liu Erlong confronted Zhao Wuji over his attitude.
• Qin Ming stepped in to calm Zhao Wuji, who declared that he could find another place if Shrek Academy no longer wanted him.

Flender broke up the confrontation between Liu Erlong and Zhao Wuji, then sent Shrek Academy’s teachers and students away while Qin Ming stayed to watch the remaining matches. Yu Xiaogang and Tang San returned to planning for the tournament, where Yu Xiaogang considered adapting Canghui Academy’s Seven-in-One Fusion Skill to empower Tang San.

• Liu Erlong and Zhao Wuji nearly fought until Flender urged Zhao Wuji to leave with the Shrek Academy team.
• Flender told Qin Ming to stay and observe the other teams’ matches, then left to speak with Zhao Wuji while the other teachers departed.
• Tang San offered Yu Xiaogang a medicinal pill as Yu Xiaogang struggled with his anxiety over the championship.
• Yu Xiaogang urged Tang San to prepare for upcoming matches against Tianshui, Godwind, and Thunderclap.
• Yu Xiaogang considered using Canghui Academy’s Seven-in-One Fusion Skill to combine the team’s Soul Power and boosts onto Tang San.

Yu Xiaogang proposed a Seven-in-One Fusion Skill to restore attention to Tang San, and the Shrek teachers and students agreed to discuss trying it after their match. Meanwhile, Wriothesley watched the tournament with Ning Fengzhi, who praised his disciples and asked him to introduce Zhu Zhuqing and Shui Binger to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

• Yu Xiaogang resented Zhu Zhuqing's growing prominence and proposed a Seven-in-One Fusion Skill to showcase Tang San's strength.
• Flender, Qin Ming, Tang San, and the others praised Yu Xiaogang's proposal and agreed to discuss it after Shrek's match against Elephant Armor Academy.
• Wriothesley told Ning Fengzhi that he was tired of watching the same tournament matches and skills.
• Ning Fengzhi praised Zhu Zhuqing and Shui Binger, saying Zhu was stronger, and asked Wriothesley to introduce them to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
• Wriothesley questioned Ning Fengzhi's request, while Ning considered offering Zhu Zhuqing protection from her family.

Wriothesley agreed to let Ning Fengzhi arrange a sparring match, likely against Qian Daoliu, while insisting Zhu Zhuqing would have to choose for herself whether to join the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. After Skywater Academy defeated Godwind Academy, Wriothesley and Ning Fengzhi discussed the match, but Gu Rong’s arrival left Ning Fengzhi unsure how to continue.

• Wriothesley told Ning Fengzhi that Zhu Zhuqing would have to decide for herself whether to join the sect.
• Ning Fengzhi proposed finding someone to spar with Wriothesley, and Wriothesley agreed to wait for a match.
• Ning Fengzhi considered Qian Daoliu the most likely opponent he could arrange and promised not to break his word.
• Skywater Academy defeated Godwind Academy, with Shui Binger named by the announcer.
• Ning Fengzhi discussed the teams’ strengths with Wriothesley, then glanced toward Gu Rong and fell silent.

Ning Fengzhi and Gu Rong learned that the Clear Sky Sect had secretly entered Heaven Dou City, while its elders planned to reclaim Tang Xiao’s soul bone from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. The elders feared Wriothesley’s strength and debated how to proceed, leaving their next move uncertain.

• Gu Rong told Ning Fengzhi that the Clear Sky Sect had sent people down, and Ning Fengzhi realized their arrival might concern Tang Xiao’s soul bone and Wriothesley.
• At the Clear Sky Sect’s hidden base, Seventh Elder reported that Tang Xiao was dead, Tang Hao had a son, and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had taken Tang Xiao’s soul bone.
• Second Elder proposed luring Wriothesley out and attacking him together, while the elders prioritized recovering Tang Xiao’s soul bone.
• Third Elder dismissed Tang Yuehua’s importance to the sect, and the elders worried that Chen Xin’s rank and swordsmanship gave the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect the advantage.
• The Clear Sky Sect elders questioned who Wriothesley was and how they could reclaim the soul bone.

The Clear Sky Sect elders learned that Wriothesley was a thirty-year-old level ninety-nine Soul Master and argued over how to reclaim Tang Xiao’s soul bones from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Wriothesley, Ning Fengzhi, and Gu Rong waited to meet the elders, with Wriothesley making clear that the soul bones were no longer in his possession.

• Seventh Elder told the Clear Sky Sect elders that Wriothesley had reached level ninety-nine before turning thirty and had not used soul rings against Tang Xiao.
• The elders reacted with disbelief, then debated whether to demand Tang Xiao’s soul bones from Ning Fengzhi despite the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect’s growing strength.
• Second Elder decided that he and Seventh Elder would speak with Ning Fengzhi before choosing what to do next.
• At the Seven Treasure Restaurant, Wriothesley asked Gu Rong to explain the Clear Sky Sect’s request while the elders had yet to arrive.
• Wriothesley told Ning Fengzhi that the Clear Sky Sect wanted the soul bones from Tang Xiao but that he had already given them to Gu Rong.

Ning Fengzhi proposed working with Wriothesley against the Clear Sky Sect, and Wriothesley agreed as the sect’s elders arrived for negotiations. Their arrogant entrance angered Wriothesley, while Ning Fengzhi tried to keep the meeting from turning into a fight.

• Ning Fengzhi suggested that Wriothesley use Tang Xiao’s situation to cooperate with him against the Clear Sky Sect, and Wriothesley agreed.
• The Clear Sky Sect’s elders arrived, and Ning Fengzhi and Gu Rong greeted them alongside Wriothesley.
• The Third Elder and Seventh Elder objected to Wriothesley remaining seated, but Wriothesley dismissed their attempt to assert their status.
• The Clear Sky Sect’s elders sat down after Ning Fengzhi asked them to take their seats.
• Ning Fengzhi offered wine and food to ease the negotiations, and Wriothesley said he was happy to drink with them.