Chapter Summaries

Xuan Zi returned to Shrek Academy with four severely injured students and reported that the Reserve Team would lead the tournament until the remaining official members recovered. Snow Empress arrived to negotiate rewards and privileges for Xue Lingyun, and Mu En agreed to her conditions.

• Xuan Zi brought Gongyang Mo, Chen Zifeng, Xixi, and Yao Haoxuan to the Treatment Room and told Mu En about their injuries and the other students’ recovery.
• Mu En and the Sea God Pavilion elders decided that the Reserve Team would compete first, with Xue Lingyun as captain and Wang Yan directing them, while Xuan Zi stayed to oversee the injured students.
• Snow Empress arrived at Shrek Academy, introduced herself as Xue Lingyun’s elder, and met with Mu En and the academy’s leaders.
• Snow Empress demanded a Spirit Bone reward for Xue Lingyun, a promised hundred-thousand-year Spirit Bone if he won the tournament, thirty days of annual access to the Golden Ancient Tree, and unrestricted access to the Library Pavilion.
• Mu En agreed to Snow Empress’s conditions after she explained that Xue Lingyun’s family would remain independent but would not become Shrek’s enemy unless the academy harmed him.

Snow Empress secured academy rewards and permissions for Xue Lingyun, while Shrek Academy prepared to compete in the tournament despite injuries and missing reinforcements. As the tournament approached, the Sun Moon Royal Soul Tool Academy analyzed Shrek’s unexpectedly young roster and began assessing what it meant.

• Snow Empress negotiated a spirit bone, Golden Ancient Tree access, and Library Pavilion privileges for Xue Lingyun, with further rewards tied to his tournament performance.
• Mu En accepted Snow Empress’s terms, and Shrek’s leaders recognized that their assessment of Xue Lingyun had changed.
• Wang Yan briefed Shrek Academy’s team on the tournament format and reassured them that Xue Lingyun could carry them through the early matches while injured teammates recovered.
• Snow Empress returned the God Sealing Platform to Xue Lingyun, confirmed that Mu En had agreed to the conditions, and explained how her consciousness could control its clone.
• The Sun Moon Royal Soul Tool Academy’s leaders reviewed intelligence that Shrek had brought only ten competitors, including seven students under fifteen, and asked their team to consider what this meant.

The Sun Moon Royal Soul Tool Academy reacted to Shrek Academy’s unusually young ten-person lineup as the tournament preparations concluded. As the teams entered Star Luo Square, Meng Hongchen took an interest in Xue Lingyun, prompting Xiao Hongchen to grow hostile toward him.

• Elder Ma warned Ma Rulong that he would be expelled from Mingde Hall if the team lost to Shrek, while Xiao Hongchen argued that Shrek must have had a reason for its lineup.
• The Emperor of the Star Luo Empire ordered the public admitted to the square and spoke with the Empress about the tournament and Shrek’s young competitors.
• Wang Yan led Shrek Academy’s three main team members and seven reserve members through the city to Star Luo Square, where spectators questioned their ages and numbers.
• The Sun Moon Royal Soul Tool Academy team entered behind Shrek, and Meng Hongchen pointed out Xue Lingyun to Xiao Hongchen because she found him handsome.
• Xiao Hongchen dismissed Meng Hongchen’s interest in Xue Lingyun and silently grew hostile toward him, while Xue Lingyun took his place with the Shrek team unaware.

The All-Continent high rank Soul Master Academy Soul Dueling Tournament opened in Star Luo Square, and Shrek Academy sent its young Reserve Team to face Tianling Advanced Soul Master Academy in the first match. The crowd and officials were shocked by the team’s age as the match was about to begin.

• The Star Luo Emperor welcomed the participating academies and declared the tournament officially open.
• The host announced that Shrek Academy would face Tianling Advanced Soul Master Academy in the first elimination match.
• Ma Xiaotao, Dai Yaoheng, and Ling Luochen encouraged the Reserve Team as Wang Dong asked Xue Lingyun if he was nervous.
• Tianling Advanced Soul Master Academy’s seven competitors entered the arena, visibly unsettled by the crowd and their opponent.
• Shrek’s seven young Reserve Team members entered to loud cheers, prompting spectators, the Star Luo Emperor, and Xiao Hongchen to question why the academy had sent children instead of its main team.

Shrek faced Tianling Academy in the first Elimination Tournament team battle, but Xue Lingyun advanced alone and overwhelmed the opposing team with spreading ice and mist. The match remained underway as Tianling’s fighters became trapped and unable to use their abilities.

• The referee explained the team battle rules and ordered both teams to their starting positions.
• Tianling Academy formed a conventional formation, while Xue Lingyun stood at the front of Shrek’s group with the other six behind him.
• After the referee began the match, Tianling Academy’s seven members released their Martial Souls and Soul Rings.
• Xue Lingyun walked forward with his hands in his pockets as ice spread across the Arena and mist swallowed his figure.
• Tianling Academy’s fighters were immobilized by the cold, and their Control System Soul Master could not activate his Soul Skill.
• Xue Lingyun continued across the Arena as the ice mist covered more than half the platform and Tianling’s members grew still.

Xue Lingyun effortlessly froze all seven Tianling Academy Soul Masters, winning the match without injuring them and leaving spectators and rival teams stunned. The Star Luo Emperor ordered an investigation into him, while Xue Lingyun returned to rest as the tournament continued.

• Xue Lingyun froze the seven Tianling Academy Soul Masters, who collapsed unconscious after the ice sculptures shattered.
• The referee declared Shrek Academy the winner, and Tianling Academy's teacher carried the unharmed team away.
• The Star Luo Emperor ordered the prime minister to investigate Xue Lingyun and reflected on his own years at Shrek Academy.
• Ma Rulong and Elder Ma recognized Xue Lingyun as an extraordinary threat, while Xiao Hongchen noticed Meng Hongchen watching him intently.
• Xue Lingyun told Wang Yan he was returning to rest and left before the next match drew much attention.

Xue Lingyun explained to Ling Luochen how her ice might improve, then prepared with the Shrek Academy team for the Round Robin as their injured teammates recovered. After Xiao Hongchen challenged him in the corridor and Xue Lingyun dismissed him, the tournament’s growing popularity and the first round’s heavy toll were described.

• Ling Luochen visited Xue Lingyun to ask whether her ice could develop after she felt his Extreme Ice suppress her on the arena, and he explained that cultivating near his ice might strengthen her resistance without changing her Martial Soul’s nature.
• Wang Yan gathered the Shrek Academy team, reviewed the injuries of Ma Xiaotao, Ling Luochen, and Dai Yaoheng, and outlined the Round Robin groups, formats, and preparations.
• Xiao Hongchen introduced himself as the Sun Moon Royal Soul Tool Academy Reserve Team captain and vowed to defeat Xue Lingyun, who questioned why a reserve member was challenging him and walked away.
• The first Elimination Tournament round ended, leaving nearly two hundred competitors injured and more than a dozen dead as crowds flocked to Star Luo Square and the Star Luo Empire sold tickets and battle reports.

Shrek Academy defeated Yunluo Academy in a brief Team Battle, with Xue Lingyun disabling the opposing Soul Tools. Afterward, Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong realized Wang Yan did not know the full extent of Xue Lingyun’s strength, and Beibei began to reveal something he had kept secret.

• Shrek Academy entered the Round Robin’s first match while Ma Xiaotao, Dai Yaoheng, and Ling Luochen remained behind to recover.
• Xue Lingyun and Yunluo Academy’s captain drew a Team Battle, and Shrek defeated Yunluo Academy in under ten minutes.
• Wang Yan urged the team to return and cultivate instead of watching the Sun Moon Royal Soul Tool Academy compete.
• Xue Lingyun explained that Wang Yan was hiding the strength of future opponents to protect the team’s confidence, while Wang Dong reminded Huo Yuhao that Wang Yan did not know Xue Lingyun had fought a Spirit Emperor and five Spirit Kings.
• After the team returned to the hotel, Beibei sat beside Xue Lingyun and began to reveal something he had never told them.

Beibei revealed that he and Xu Sanshi had been designated as the next generation of the Shrek Seven Monsters, while the Reserve Team discussed tournament tactics. Wang Yan then brought the Reserve Team to a Soul Tool shop and urged them to adopt Soul Tools, winning most of their agreement but not Wang Dong's.

• Beibei explained the academy's secret designations and said he could defeat their recent opponents using forty percent of his strength.
• Huo Yuhao and the others discussed team-battle pairings, tentatively assigning Beibei with He Caitou and Xue Lingyun with Jiang Nannan.
• After the first Round Robin round, Wang Yan led the Reserve Team through Star Luo City to a building associated with Soul Tools.
• Wang Yan explained that rival academies were equipping Soul Masters with Soul Tools and argued that Shrek needed to adapt.
• Beibei, He Caitou, Jiang Nannan, Xiao Xiao, and Huo Yuhao agreed to use Soul Tools, while Wang Dong refused and left for the hotel.

Wang Yan brought Xue Lingyun and the Shrek students to the Starlight Auction House, where they bought Soul Tools suited to the group and a Milk Bottle for He Caitou. The mysterious final lot was an ancient-looking Engraving knife that Xue Lingyun had come to see.

• Wang Yan led the group into the auction house, explained its bidding qualifications and mask system, and took them to their seats.
• Xue Lingyun recommended the first lot, a Soul Guidance Paralysis Ray, for Xiao Xiao, and Wang Yan bought it for her.
• Wang Yan bought and distributed several Soul Tools, giving equipment to Jiang Nannan, Huo Yuhao, Beibei, Xiao Xiao, and Xue Lingyun.
• Xue Lingyun said the Milk Bottle would suit He Caitou better than Huo Yuhao for now, and Wang Yan won it for twenty-five thousand Gold Soul Coins.
• Qingya revealed an ancient-looking Engraving knife as the final lot, and He Caitou and Huo Yuhao were stunned while Xue Lingyun watched it closely.

At the Starlight Auction, Xue Lingyun bought the cursed Ranking Engraving Knife Soul-Devouring for one hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins, believing he could overcome its backlash because it was made from Life Gold and suited his abilities. The group returned to the hotel, leaving the knife’s curse and Xue Lingyun’s plan to investigate it unresolved.

• Qingya revealed that the Soul-Devouring Engraving Knife was a cursed Ranking Engraving Knife whose thirty-seven owners had all died tragically, and He Caitou warned that its backlash was dangerous.
• When no one else bid, Xue Lingyun offered one hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins and won the engraving knife.
• Xue Lingyun told Wang Yan and He Caitou that the knife was made from Life Gold and that he believed his abilities could solve its backlash, though he admitted he was only eighty or ninety percent certain.
• Wang Yan handled the payment and collection, and the group left the auction house and returned to the hotel.

Xue Lingyun suggested that Wang Dong’s resistance to Soul Tools might stem from her parents, leaving her unsettled before Shrek faced Qianling Academy. The match began as a team battle, and Qianling’s ice-and-fire formation prepared a powerful spear attack while Shrek held position.

• Xue Lingyun visited Wang Dong and proposed that her unexplained aversion to Soul Tools was connected to her parents, then left her to rest before the match.
• Wang Yan led Shrek’s seven-person lineup to Star Luo Square, where Xue Lingyun drew a team battle against Qianling Academy.
• Shen Ce led Qianling’s formation behind four Rhino Shield users as An Lengye spread ice across the Arena and slowed Beibei and Jiang Nannan.
• Huo Yuhao used Spiritual Probe to track Qianling’s hidden fighters while Fei Yuyan enhanced Shen Ce and his Thousand Strike Spear with fire.
• Beibei, Jiang Nannan, and He Caitou held back as Shen Ce’s spear gathered bluish-white flames and cracked the icy Arena floor.

Shrek Academy defeated Qianling Academy after Huo Yuhao disrupted Shen Ce’s attack and He Caitou shattered the shield wall, while Xue Lingyun stopped Qianling’s strongest strikes with ease. After Qianling surrendered, Wang Yan warned Shrek that their next opponents had three Spirit Kings and began planning for the coming match.

• Xue Lingyun called Huo Yuhao, who used Soul Impact to make Shen Ce’s Thousand Strike Spear miss Shrek and crash into Qianling Academy’s shield wall.
• He Caitou deployed his artillery platform and blasted apart the remaining shields, forcing Shen Ce to endure the barrage with his damaged defensive Soul Tool.
• An Lengye launched a Frost Tornado while Shen Ce and Fei Yuyan combined their strength to attack Xue Lingyun, but he stopped the spear with one hand and sent the tornado back with a gesture.
• An Lengye lost consciousness, and Shen Ce surrendered after seeing his teammates’ fighting spirit collapse; the referee declared Shrek Academy the winner.
• An Lengye recalled a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast as she watched Xue Lingyun leave, while He Caitou told Beibei he had finished debugging his artillery platform the previous night.
• Wang Yan told Shrek that their next opponents had three Spirit Kings and urged the team to prepare for a possible 2-2-3 Team Battle.

Wang Yan planned Shrek’s tactics against Sun Moon Royal Soul Tool Academy, while Ma Rulong analyzed Xue Lingyun and concluded that Shrek had suffered a setback. The chapter ended with Xiao Hongchen dismissing Shrek’s chances of reaching the finals.

• Wang Yan assigned Beibei and He Caitou to wear down the opposing Spirit Kings in individual matches and outlined a team strategy centered on Xue Lingyun.
• Xue Lingyun left the meeting after telling Wang Yan to decide the tactics and inform him later.
• Elder Ma questioned Sun Moon Royal Soul Tool Academy’s students about Shrek’s matches, and Ma Rulong judged that Xue Lingyun was likely a young Soul Ancestor with Twin Martial Souls.
• Ma Rulong concluded that Shrek’s strongest competitors had disappeared and that the academy had run into trouble, giving Sun Moon Royal Soul Tool Academy an opportunity.
• Xiao Hongchen asked Elder Ma about Xue Lingyun, then said Shrek might not reach the finals.

Xiao Hongchen promised to prove himself against Shrek, while Mu En told Cai Meier to trust the Reserve Team and treat the tournament as a trial for Xue Lingyun. Shrek’s seven Reserve Team members headed into their next match against a strong former top-eight team, greeted by the crowd’s chants.

• Ma Rulong rebuked Xiao Hongchen for insulting Shrek, and Xiao promised to defeat them in the future.
• Cai Meier told Mu En that Yan Shaozhe worried Xue Lingyun and the Reserve Team might face a dangerous opponent too soon.
• Mu En said the tournament was a trial for Xue Lingyun, urged the academy to trust the children, and asked Cai Meier to prepare a celebration banquet.
• Wang Yan reminded the seven Reserve Team members that their safety mattered more than winning before leading them to the competition.
• Xue Lingyun led Shrek’s Reserve Team into Star Luo Square for a match against a former top-eight team as the crowd chanted for Shrek.

Shrek Academy faced Zhengtian Academy in the first two-versus-two match, where Beibei and He Caitou overcame Yu Mengdi and Yang Yifan despite severe injuries and exhaustion. Shrek took a one-to-zero lead as the second doubles match was set to begin.

• The draw assigned Shrek Academy and Zhengtian Academy a two-two-three team battle, and Zhengtian sent Yu Mengdi and Yang Yifan to face Beibei and He Caitou.
• Beibei and He Caitou combined enhancements, ranged fire, and lightning attacks to contain Yang Yifan and interrupt Yu Mengdi's strikes.
• Yu Mengdi broke through He Caitou's shield and injured him, while Beibei kept Yang Yifan from reaching the back line.
• He Caitou recovered enough to fire three Explosive Shells at Yu Mengdi, interrupting her Fifth Soul Skill as Beibei's lightning gained a golden hue.
• Beibei knocked Yang Yifan out of the fight, and Beibei and He Caitou shattered Yu Mengdi's barrier and forced her across the boundary.
• The referee awarded the first doubles match to Shrek Academy, giving it a one-to-zero lead.

Beibei and He Caitou’s victory gave Shrek Academy the lead, and Xue Lingyun and Jiang Nannan won the second two-on-two match against Zhengtian Academy. Xue Lingyun’s Ice Dragon King power overwhelmed Ye Wuqing and Tang Xiaolei, securing Shrek’s 2–0 victory.

• Beibei’s awakened lightning helped him defeat Yu Mengdi, while he and He Caitou were left badly injured.
• Jiang Nannan asked Xue Lingyun to let her fight beside him, and he agreed as they entered the arena.
• Tang Xiaolei attacked Jiang Nannan with arrows, but she dodged and blocked them until Xue Lingyun intercepted his next shot.
• Ye Wuqing and Tang Xiaolei unleashed their strongest attacks together, but Xue Lingyun’s Ice Dragon King scales withstood them.
• Xue Lingyun drove Ye Wuqing out of the arena, and the referee declared Shrek Academy the winner of the match and the contest, 2–0.

Xue Lingyun defeated Zhengtian Academy’s Ye Wuqing without revealing a Soul Skill, drawing attention from the Star Luo Emperor and Sun Moon Royal Soul Tool Academy. Shrek’s team left the Arena as Wang Yan warned Xue Lingyun to conceal his abilities in the matches ahead.

• Xue Lingyun withdrew his Martial Soul Possession and received a thunderous ovation, while Xu Jiawei ordered the Intelligence Division to investigate him.
• Xiao Hongchen, Ma Rulong, and Elder Ma discussed Xue Lingyun’s dragon-type Martial Soul, two black Soul Rings, and hidden strength, concluding that he had not used his full power.
• Xue Lingyun and Jiang Nannan left the Arena, where Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong, Xiao Xiao, and Wang Yan met them.
• Wang Yan asked whether Xue Lingyun’s Second Martial Soul was an Ice Attribute dragon-type Martial Soul, and Xue Lingyun did not deny it.
• Wang Yan told Xue Lingyun that Shrek’s next matches should be easier, but warned him to hide his abilities and keep Ma Xiaotao’s strength concealed.

Xue Lingyun kept Ma Xiaotao out of the next match to conceal her strength, while Xu Jiawei warned Xu Jiujiu about the mysterious Shrek reserve team member. Xu Jiujiu left the Imperial Study determined to study Xue Lingyun’s abilities before any elimination-round encounter.

• Xue Lingyun told the recovered Ma Xiaotao that Wang Yan wanted her to avoid competing during the Round Robin if possible, and she reluctantly accepted the decision.
• Xu Jiawei gave Xu Jiujiu a confidential file about Xue Lingyun, whose origins and abilities remained largely unknown.
• Xu Jiujiu reviewed reports that Xue Lingyun had defeated Ye Wuqing and another Spirit King without using a Soul Skill, relying on his martial soul and ice-type Soul Power.
• Xu Jiawei arranged for specialists to record Xue Lingyun’s future matches and cautioned Xu Jiujiu not to underestimate him.
• Xu Jiujiu said she would personally watch Xue Lingyun in the Elimination Tournament if their teams’ brackets allowed it, then left with the dossier.

Xue Lingyun purified the Soul-Devouring Engraving Knife with Electrolux’s help and absorbed the Life Gold, transforming his body and Sea of Consciousness. He repaid Electrolux with some of the Life Gold’s life force, and Huo Yuhao left with an enhanced Soul-Nurturing Wood token.

• Xue Lingyun prepared to purify the engraving knife, and Huo Yuhao warned him that its aura had stirred something within him.
• Electrolux emerged through Huo Yuhao, identified the Life Gold in the knife, and offered to remove the remnant soul and resentment.
• Electrolux purified the knife and merged the Life Gold into Xue Lingyun, strengthening his body, expanding his Sea of Consciousness, and opening his Third Eye.
• Xue Lingyun gave Electrolux some of the Life Gold’s life force, which Electrolux used to enhance Huo Yuhao’s Soul-Nurturing Wood token.
• Huo Yuhao regained control of his body, learned the token would improve his Spiritual Power and physical cultivation, and hurried back to his room.