Chapter Summaries

Shrek Academy’s Inner Court disciples introduced themselves before Yan Shaozhe arranged a mixed-team friendly match. The teams were set, and Ling Luochen warned Dai Yueheng that Qin Yue’s Fourth Soul Skill let him ignore directly applied control as the spar was about to begin.

• Ma Xiaotao, Dai Yueheng, Chen Zifeng, Xixi, Ling Luochen, Yao Haoxuan, and Gongyang Mo introduced themselves and their ranks as Inner Court disciples.
• Yan Shaozhe announced a mixed-team friendly match and gave Ma Xiaotao and Dai Yueheng turns choosing their teammates.
• Ma Xiaotao selected Gongyang Mo, Qin Yue, Huo Yuhao, Xixi, He Caitou, and Jiang Nannan, while Dai Yueheng’s team included Chen Zifeng, Ning Tian, Ling Luochen, Yao Haoxuan, Wu Feng, and Wang Dong.
• The teams took their positions in the Assessment Area, and Gongyang Mo worried that his side lacked Control System Soul Masters.
• Dai Yueheng questioned Ling Luochen about Qin Yue’s abilities, and she explained that Qin Yue’s Fourth Soul Skill, Dominator Body, ignored directly applied control skills.

Ma Xiaotao’s team gained the upper hand in the arena battle through Qin Yue’s resistance to control, Huo Yuhao’s Spiritual Detection, and Gongyang Mo’s powerful support. Dai Yueheng’s team fell into a crushing disadvantage, and Dai Yueheng surrendered as Ma Xiaotao unleashed her Phoenix Meteor Shower.

• Dai Yueheng learned that Qin Yue could not be controlled and that Huo Yuhao’s Spiritual Detection gave Ma Xiaotao’s team a major advantage.
• Yan Shaozhe started the match, and Ma Xiaotao charged forward beneath a wave of golden-red flames.
• Xixi intercepted Chen Zifeng’s Soul-Chasing Sword before it could strike Huo Yuhao, while Gongyang Mo boosted his allies with the Rainbow Dragon.
• Qin Yue resisted Yao Haoxuan’s sonic attack and knocked him out of the arena with a single punch.
• Ma Xiaotao and her allies overwhelmed Dai Yueheng’s remaining team, and Dai Yueheng surrendered as her Phoenix Meteor Shower descended.

During a second training battle, Qin Yue quickly eliminated Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong, and Yao Haoxuan, but Jiang Nannan and the others kept the fight competitive until Ma Xiaotao conceded. Afterward, Yan Shaozhe named Qin Yue captain of the Reserve Team and prepared everyone to leave for the tournament in Star Luo City.

• Yan Shaozhe gave the teams an hour to rest, then switched Qin Yue and He Caitou with Yao Haoxuan and Wang Dong for the next battle.
• Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong used their Martial Soul Fusion Skill, but Qin Yue blocked Spiritual Detection and knocked them both out before also defeating Yao Haoxuan.
• Jiang Nannan used Spiritual Detection to eliminate Ning Tian and Wu Feng, while Qin Yue dragged Gongyang Mo down and stopped his buffs.
• He Caitou and Ling Luochen helped defeat Jiang Nannan and Xixi, and reinforcements allowed Dai Yueheng to join forces against Ma Xiaotao, who conceded.
• Yan Shaozhe appointed Qin Yue captain and Huo Yuhao vice-captain of the Reserve Team, then told everyone to gather at the academy gates the next morning to travel to Star Luo City.

Yan Shaozhe explained that the Reserve Shrek Seven Devils’ first inspection mission would involve hunting Evil Soul Masters, and the seven agreed to join the Shrek Inspection Team. Qin Yue questioned the team’s lack of protective Soul Tools, leaving Yan Shaozhe and the Main Team speechless as he recognized the academy may have neglected its students’ safety.

• Yan Shaozhe explained that Inner Court disciples joined the Shrek Inspection Team to hunt Evil Soul Masters, and all seven Reserve Team members chose to join.
• Mu Jin gave the Reserve Team silver-white rings containing inspection equipment, while Ma Xiaotao explained their use and the need to conceal their identities.
• Qin Yue asked whether the Reserve Team had received the same equipment as the seniors and pointed out that the rings contained no combat-protective Soul Tools.
• Qin Yue argued that Shrek could afford to equip its students with Level 5 Invincible Shields to reduce casualties on dangerous missions.
• Yan Shaozhe struggled to answer and realized the academy might have made a grave mistake by not providing the shields.

Yan Shaozhe accepted responsibility for the academy’s failure to provide Invincible Shields and sent word to Sea God Pavilion before Ma Xiaotao briefed the team on their mission to eliminate the Death God Messenger. After flying to the Mingdou Mountain Range and meeting Dai Yueheng’s father at a military camp, Huo Yuhao reacted strongly to the man, and Wang Dong tried to hide him.

• Yan Shaozhe apologized to Ma Xiaotao and the other Inner Court students, promised to resign after the tournament, and pledged to help the families of fallen students.
• Yan Shaozhe sent a message to Sea God Pavilion, and Ma Xiaotao explained that the team had to wipe out the Death God Messenger bandits within three to four days.
• The team paired Main Team members with Reserve Team members, traveled to a military camp, borrowed Flying Soul Tools, and continued toward the Mingdou Mountain Range.
• Dai Yueheng recognized Elder Du, who escorted the Shrek Academy group to meet Dai Yueheng’s father at the camp.
• Huo Yuhao reacted to Dai Yueheng’s father as memories of his mother overwhelmed him, and Wang Dong moved to block him from view while grabbing his hand.

After the group located a bandit hideout in the Mingdou Mountain Range, Qin Yue warned that Fixed Soul Guidance Shells could make the cave deadly and proposed blasting it open instead of charging inside. The team sealed the bandits’ escape routes and began attacking the main entrance.

• Wang Dong accidentally grabbed Huo Yuhao’s vital area and, after Qin Yue warned her, pulled away and shielded him from view.
• Dai Hao invited the group to eat and rest, and they set off for the Mingdou Mountain Range after Du delivered his intelligence.
• Mu Jin identified a stretch of Wenlan Trees where tree cores had been dug up, and Huo Yuhao tracked the clues to a cave beneath a hillside.
• Qin Yue warned that bandits might have Fixed Soul Guidance Shells and suggested blasting open the cave while guarding its escape routes.
• Xixi found a concealed emergency exit, where Dai Yueheng, Chen Zifeng, and Xixi waited while the others gathered at the main entrance.
• Gongyang Mo, Yao Haoxuan, and Ning Tian strengthened Ma Xiaotao and Ling Luochen, who froze the entrance and launched Phoenix Meteor Shower into the cave.

The Soul Masters attacked the bandits’ cave with Soul skills and Fixed Soul Guidance Shells, while the Death God Messenger escaped through a hidden passage. Dai Yueheng, Chen Zifeng, and Xixi ambushed him at its exit, and Dai Yueheng killed him before carrying his head back toward the other cave.

• The bandits panicked when the cave shook, but the Death God Messenger realized Soul Masters were attacking from outside.
• The attackers bombarded the cave with Fixed Soul Guidance Shells, killing the remaining bandits and forcing the Death God Messenger to flee through a hidden passage.
• Gongyang Mo and Yao Haoxuan saw Ma Xiaotao emerge from the flames, and Yao Haoxuan pleaded with her for mercy.
• Chen Zifeng severed the Death God Messenger’s feet, and Xixi shocked him with lightning while Dai Yueheng confronted him over his crimes against caravans from Duke White Tiger Mansion.
• Dai Yueheng tortured the Death God Messenger until he died, cut off his head, and hurried toward the entrance of the other cave.

Cai Mei'er discovered that the Spirit Department had unknowingly received hundreds of Invincible Barriers from the Soul Guidance Department, raising suspicions that someone inside Shrek Academy had been diverting them. As Du Weilun listed who could access the department seal, Gong Changlong revealed that two additional people had that authority.

• Cai Mei'er went to Xian Lin'er to arrange for the Spirit Department to obtain Invincible Barriers for the Shrek Inspection Team.
• Xian Lin'er mocked Cai Mei'er, but Qian Duoduo explained that the Soul Guidance Department had supplied the Spirit Department with forty barriers every six months for six years.
• Cai Mei'er, Xian Lin'er, and Qian Duoduo realized that someone had concealed the purchases, and Qian Duoduo showed evidence that 480 barriers had disappeared.
• Cai Mei'er questioned Du Weilun and Gong Changlong about who could use the Spirit Department's highest-ranking seal, and Du Weilun listed the people he knew had access.
• Gong Changlong said that two more people were qualified to use the seal.

Cai Mei'er and Xian Lin'er delayed a Sea God Pavilion meeting while Gong Changlong investigated Elder Qin and Elder Gui’s families. He brought account books to the meeting, where Cai Mei'er revealed that the Spirit Department had been ordering Invincible Barriers for years without the Academy’s knowledge and requested to resign.

• Gong Changlong identified Elder Qin and Elder Gui as suspects in the Invincible Barrier resale case, and Cai Mei'er agreed to help uncover the truth.
• Cai Mei'er and Xian Lin'er argued at the Sea God Pavilion meeting while Gong Changlong investigated the elders’ Residences.
• Gong Changlong entered the meeting carrying account books and bloodstained, then handed the books to Cai Mei'er.
• After examining the account books, Cai Mei'er asked Mu En to accept her and Yan Shaozhe’s resignations for their failures as Spirit Department leaders.
• Cai Mei'er explained that Qin Yue had prompted Yan Shaozhe to seek Invincible Barriers for students, but Qian Duoduo had revealed that the Spirit Department had been ordering them for six years.

Cai Mei'er exposed Elder Qin and Elder Gui for embezzling Soul Tool materials and endangering Inner Court disciples, and Mu En forced them to fight their way out of Sea God Pavilion. Gong Changlong killed the brothers with his Heart-Burning Arrow, while their revelation pointed to a major Evil Soul Master stronghold in the Dou Ling Empire.

• Cai Mei'er presented records showing that Elder Qin and Elder Gui had resold Soul Tool materials and Invincible Barriers for about one hundred and fifty million Gold Soul Coins.
• Elder Qin and Elder Gui begged Mu En for mercy, but he crushed the account book and challenged them to escape Sea God Pavilion if they wanted their past ties honored.
• Qin Gao revealed an Evil Soul Master stronghold north of Lingdou City, and the brothers chose Gong Changlong and Elder Zhuang as their opponents.
• Qin Gao and Gui Qiu fused into a black wolf-pishacha and charged for the doors as Gong Changlong unleashed his Fire Dragon Bow and Heart-Burning Arrow.
• Gong Changlong's arrow ignited the fused brothers from within and reduced them to ash.

Mu En punished Shrek’s leaders for their failure to protect the Inner Court students, while Mu Jin discussed the tournament and considered sending Qin Yue’s Reserve Team into its first match. Meanwhile, the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy identified Qin Yue as a threat and ordered its Main Team to kill him if they faced Shrek.

• Mu En announced that Yan Shaozhe and Cai Mei’er would answer for their failures after the tournament and required every Inner Court student to receive a Flying Soul Tool and an Invincible Barrier.
• At the Star Emperor Hotel, Qin Yue choked after swallowing one of Xixi’s homemade macarons, while Gongyang Mo laughed at his misfortune.
• Mu Jin explained the tournament’s seven-on-seven Elimination Tournament and proposed that the Reserve Team compete in its first match, with Qin Yue leading it.
• The Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy’s elders warned their students that Qin Yue was a level 44 Soul Master with an Ultimate Attribute.
• The Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy ordered its Main Team to kill Qin Yue at any cost if they encountered Shrek, and Ma Rulong and his teammates agreed.

Qin Yue led Shrek Academy’s Reserve Team into the tournament’s opening elimination match against Tianling Advanced Soul Master Academy. With Ning Tian’s support and a coordinated assault that included Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong’s Martial Soul Fusion Skill, Shrek overwhelmed Tianling and moved closer to victory.

• After the Star Luo Emperor opened the tournament, Tianling Advanced Soul Master Academy faced Shrek’s Reserve Team in the first match.
• Ning Tian boosted her teammates with the Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda, while He Caitou’s Soul Guidance bombardment eliminated one Tianling fighter and injured another.
• Jiang Nannan used Waist Bow to throw a surviving Tianling Soul Elder off the stage, and Wang Dong’s Butterfly Goddess Slash forced the Tianling Captain back.
• Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong joined hands and unleashed their Golden Road fusion skill, turning five Tianling Soul Ancestors into golden statues.
• Jiang Nannan and He Caitou eliminated two more immobilized Tianling fighters as the match tilted decisively in Shrek’s favor.

Shrek Academy’s opening victory at the tournament drew loud cheers, while Huo Yuhao discovered he enjoyed the crowd’s admiration. After the match, Ma Xiaotao and Ling Luochen brought Qin Yue to meet the Ice Empress, hoping to overcome their Martial Soul bottlenecks, and agreed to join the Qin Clan and become his partners.

• Shrek Academy defeated Tianling Academy, and the spectators cheered as Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong received attention for their Martial Soul Fusion Skill.
• Huo Yuhao realized that enjoying the crowd’s cheers felt good, and the All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Fighting Tournament began in earnest.
• Ma Xiaotao and Ling Luochen took Qin Yue away after the match and explained that Yu Bing could help them break through their Martial Soul bottlenecks if they gained his consent and joined the Qin Clan.
• Ma Xiaotao offered Ling Luochen to Qin Yue, and Qin Yue told both women he had liked them for a long time and accepted their proposal.
• The three reached the Ice Empress’s residence, where the Ice Empress approved their decision and called it a possible win-win for Ma Xiaotao and Ling Luochen.

Mu Jin prepared Shrek Academy for the Round-Robin Tournament and advised the team to conceal key fighters and abilities from Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy. After the meeting, Qin Yue followed her to her room and kissed her, leaving their encounter poised to continue.

• Mu Jin reviewed the upcoming matchups and proposed rotating Shrek Academy's fighters to limit the information Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy could gather.
• After everyone left, Qin Yue stayed behind while Mu Jin organized her scouting notes, then startled her when she noticed him beside her.
• Qin Yue asked Mu Jin to speak privately, and she took him to her room.
• Qin Yue grabbed Mu Jin's wrist and kissed her; she returned his embrace before pulling away to complain that he had kept her waiting.
• Qin Yue comforted the tearful Mu Jin and told her his temper was running high.

Mu Jin and Qin Yue studied the Analects together, discussed how its teachings applied to her work and relationships, and completed a study journal. The next day, the tournament crowds returned to Star Luo Plaza, where Shrek’s entrance drew overwhelming cheers and Xiao Hongchen resolved to help Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy surpass it.

• Mu Jin hesitated when Qin Yue offered to help with her clothes, so he carried her to the study and suggested they read the Analects instead.
• Qin Yue explained passages about treating others generously, acting prudently, and learning how to conduct oneself; Mu Jin connected them to her worries about work and a past argument with an elder.
• Mu Jin and Qin Yue finished a detailed Analects study journal, and Mu Jin invited him to discuss future insights with her.
• The next day, Mu Jin and Qin Yue exchanged glances at Star Luo Plaza, and Mu Jin invited him to study together again.
• Hundreds of thousands of spectators filled the plaza and cheered when Shrek’s competitors appeared; Xiao Hongchen and others resolved to make Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy surpass Shrek.

Qin Yue represented Shrek Academy against Yunluo Academy in an individual elimination match and defeated Ma Yingjun in seconds. Yunluo’s captain conceded afterward, ending the match after only one bout and leaving Qin Yue frustrated that he had missed the chance to compete again.

• Ma Xiaotao and Yunluo Academy’s captain drew the individual elimination format, and Mu Jin chose Qin Yue as Shrek’s first competitor.
• Ma Yingjun mistook Qin Yue for an easy opponent and entered the match confident he could hold back.
• Qin Yue dodged Ma Yingjun’s barrage of Soul Guidance Rays and struck him through his Soul Tool Shield, sending him flying but leaving him without serious injuries.
• Yunluo’s captain recognized Qin Yue’s strength and surrendered, giving Shrek Academy the victory after one match.
• Qin Yue realized the surrender had reduced the planned seven matches to one and felt frustrated.

Qin Yue’s performance made Yan Shaozhe consider giving him more matches, while Xiao Hongchen began to wonder whether he should warn Qin Yue about the danger of the Sun Moon team’s plans. That night, Mu Jin brought the students to an auction to equip them with Soul Tools, but the academy’s new mandatory Invincible Shield rule deeply troubled Wang Dong.

• Yan Shaozhe decided he could adjust the battle qualifications to let Qin Yue fight more matches and build his connection to the academy.
• Meng Hongchen proposed using her poison against Qin Yue, and Xiao Hongchen considered warning him rather than letting him die in a confrontation.
• Mu Jin told the students that every Inner Court disciple had to carry an Invincible Shield or face expulsion, and Wang Dong struggled with the requirement to use Soul Tools.
• Mu Jin led the students to the Star Light Auction House, where the Soul Tool resale auction began.

Mu Jin equipped Shrek Academy’s teams with auctioned Soul Tools before Shrek faced Qianling Advanced Soul Master Academy in the tournament. Qin Yue struck first, knocking out Qianling’s blue-haired Soul Ancestor, while captain Shen Ce launched his Thousand-Strike Spear at him.

• Mu Jin won Soul Tools for the Reserve Team, including a Soul Paralysis Ray for Wang Dong, an Invincible Barrier for Gongyang Mo, Wind Chaser boots for Xixi, and Crimson Fire Mourning Feather for Ma Xiaotao.
• Shrek’s team went to Star Luo Plaza for its second tournament match, where Qin Yue drew a team battle against Qianling Advanced Soul Master Academy.
• Mu Jin selected Qin Yue and Ning Tian to join the main team, and the seven Shrek fighters took the stage against Qianling’s lineup.
• After the teams released their Martial Souls, Ning Tian, Gongyang Mo, and Yao Haoxuan boosted Qin Yue, who passed through Qianling’s Shield Wall and knocked out its blue-haired Soul Ancestor.
• Qianling’s red-haired Soul Master boosted captain Shen Ce, who fired his Thousand-Strike Spear at Qin Yue.

Qin Yue overwhelmed Qianling Academy’s captain and secured Shrek Academy’s victory, leaving the spectators and younger Shrek students inspired by his strength. Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen watched him from the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy, each imagining a future connection with Shrek.

• Qin Yue shattered Shen Ce’s defenses and nearly broke the Thousand-Strike Spear, but Shen Ce refused to surrender and launched one final attack.
• Qin Yue disarmed Shen Ce, struck him unconscious, and prompted the red-haired Blazing Tiger Soul Ancestor to leave the arena.
• Chen Zifeng and Xixi’s four remaining opponents admitted defeat, and Shrek Academy was declared the winner.
• Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong, Wu Feng, He Caitou, and Jiang Nannan watched Qin Yue’s victory and hoped to compete in the tournament five years later.
• Xiao Hongchen recognized Qin Yue’s ability to fight above his rank, while Meng Hongchen began wanting to visit Shrek Academy.

Shrek Academy prepared to face Zhengtian Academy after learning that Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy captain Ma Rulong could wield Soul Tools above his cultivation level. The teams drew an Individual Elimination Match, and Qin Yue stepped forward as Shrek’s first fighter while Zhengtian Academy began its plan to wear him down.

• Ma Rulong demonstrated his strength as a six-ringed Soul Emperor and Level 6 Soul Engineer, and He Caitou warned that he might wield Level 7 or even Level 8 Soul Tools.
• Mu Jin reassured the Shrek group that Ma Rulong’s Soul Power limitations could be overcome and urged everyone to prepare carefully for the matches ahead.
• Shrek Academy arrived to compete against Zhengtian Academy, whose team had three Soul Kings and had reached the top eight in the previous tournament.
• Qin Yue and Ye Wuqing drew the Individual Elimination Match format, and Qin Yue volunteered to fight first.
• Ye Wuqing’s team sent out a Soul Ancestor and followed its plan to use all four Soul Ancestors against Qin Yue, hoping to save its Soul Kings for the remaining Shrek fighters.