Chapter Summaries

Oscar killed the Clear-Heart Fox, buried it, and absorbed its Soul Ring, reaching Soul Power Level twenty-one and gaining the Clear Heart Sausage. After Zhao Wuji and Xiao Qing discussed its effects and Oscar's changed incantation, the group prepared to seek a wolf pack in Sunset Forest for Xiao Feng's bloodline evolution.

• Oscar overcame his hesitation, killed the unconscious Clear-Heart Fox, and buried its body beside the stream.
• Oscar absorbed the Clear-Heart Fox's yellow Soul Ring and advanced to Soul Power Level twenty-one.
• Oscar summoned the Clear Heart Sausage, revealing that his incantation had changed and his Martial Soul had mutated.
• Oscar explained that the sausage calmed the mind and improved resistance to spirit-type Soul Skills, and Zhao Wuji approved Xiao Qing's approach.
• Zhao Wuji proposed resting for fifteen minutes before the group went to find the wolf pack in Sunset Forest.

Xiao Qing and Zhao Wuji found a Gale War Wolf pack and Xiao Qing defeated its Wolf King with help from Xiao Feng and A'Man. The Wolf King agreed to give Xiao Qing a drop of its blood essence if they helped reclaim the pack’s former river valley from an Earth Armor Dragon Lizard.

• Zhao Wuji found Gale War Wolf remains near a rocky slope and warned Xiao Qing that the over-1,600-year-old Wolf King and its pack would be dangerous.
• Zhao Wuji drew out the pack while Oscar hid, and Xiao Qing summoned Xiao Feng and A'Man to face the Wolf King.
• Xiao Feng and A'Man worked together to wound and topple the Wolf King, while Zhao Wuji kept the rest of the pack from intervening.
• Xiao Feng communicated Xiao Qing’s request for a drop of blood essence, and the Wolf King agreed in exchange for help reclaiming its old valley from a 2,800-year-old Earth Armor Dragon Lizard.
• Xiao Qing accepted the Wolf King’s request.

Xiao Qing gathered the materials needed for Xiao Feng’s bloodline evolution and used a mysterious array to transform him into a powerful thousand-year Soul Beast. Xiao Feng’s evolution was complete, and Xiao Qing waited to learn what innate ability he had awakened.

• Zhao Wuji tracked down and killed the Earth Armor Dragon Lizard that had driven the Gale Wolf King’s pack from its home.
• The Gale Wolf King gave Xiao Qing a drop of its essence blood in gratitude.
• Xiao Qing combined the essence blood with Storm Iris powder and the Wind-Thunder Falcon Egg, then drew an evolution array beneath Xiao Feng.
• Xiao Feng underwent a painful transformation, growing larger and stronger as his fur changed to deep blue-green and wind energy surrounded him.
• Xiao Feng completed his bloodline evolution as a thousand-year Soul Beast, and Xiao Qing wondered what innate ability he would awaken.

After Xiao Feng evolved into a Storm Wolf King, Xiao Qing discovered that its new wind ability and his increased mental strength expanded their tactical options. While Xiao Feng and A'Man hunted to prepare A'Man for advancement, Xiao Qing and the others settled into camp; by the fourth evening, the two Soul Beasts returned, ready for A'Man’s breakthrough.

• Xiao Feng gained the growable Wind Messenger ability, and its evolution raised Xiao Qing’s Soul Power to level twenty-three and doubled his Soul Beasts’ range to two kilometers.
• Xiao Qing sent Xiao Feng and A'Man to find opponents and build combat experience, prioritizing their safety and A'Man’s thousand-year breakthrough.
• Xiao Qing, Zhao Wuji, and Oscar made camp in the former Gale Wolf territory, where Oscar’s Clear Heart Sausage improved their meditation and cultivation.
• Zhao Wuji taught Oscar combat dodging and survival skills while Xiao Qing cultivated and monitored Xiao Feng and A'Man through their mental link.
• Xiao Feng and A'Man returned on the evening of the fourth day, and Xiao Qing prepared to use the Prism Ball’s accumulated experience to advance A'Man.

Xiao Qing witnessed A'Man break through to a thousand-year Soul Beast, though the breakthrough did not trigger a bloodline evolution. After Zhao Wuji warned Oscar and Xiao Qing to keep their gains secret, the group returned safely to Shrek Academy, where Xiao Qing had earned Zhao Wuji's initial approval and protection.

• A'Man absorbed his accumulated experience and became a 1,024-year Iron Armor Bear, while Xiao Qing concluded that a thousand-year breakthrough alone could not trigger bloodline evolution.
• Zhao Wuji told Oscar to keep his new Soul Skill and Xiao Qing's Soul Beast progress secret from everyone except the headmaster, and Oscar agreed.
• After breakfast, Zhao Wuji led Xiao Qing and Oscar out of Sunset Forest and arranged their return journey by carriage.
• On the ride back, Xiao Qing reviewed the expedition's gains, including Xiao Feng's evolution, A'Man's breakthrough, his own increased Soul Power, and Oscar's new Soul Skill.
• The group returned to Shrek Academy, and Xiao Qing gained Zhao Wuji's initial approval and protective attitude.

Xiao Qing learned that the bounty against him had not spread beyond the local area, giving him time to grow stronger. Back at Shrek Academy, he rejected Dai Mubai's invitation and offered Ma Hongjun a possible way to control his Evil Fire.

• Xiao Qing bought a regional bounty booklet and found no mention of himself or his abilities.
• Zhao Wuji explained that a hundred-thousand-Gold-Soul-Coin bounty was unlikely to spread across regions, easing Xiao Qing's fears of a large-scale manhunt.
• Xiao Qing returned to Shrek Academy while Zhao Wuji took Oscar to report to Flender.
• Xiao Qing found the dormitory overcrowded and considered seeking a private room or expanding the building.
• Dai Mubai invited Xiao Qing and Ma Hongjun to visit a new place in Suotuo City, but Xiao Qing refused.
• Xiao Qing told Ma Hongjun that Oscar might be able to temporarily ease or control his Evil Fire.

Xiao Qing told Ma Hongjun that Oscar’s Clear Heart Sausage might ease his Evil Fire, and Oscar confirmed its calming effect. After testing it, Ma Hongjun found he could meditate and better control his flames while it lasted, though Xiao Qing warned him it was only an aid.

• Xiao Qing told Ma Hongjun that Oscar’s Soul Skill might help with his Evil Fire, then went to sleep, leaving Ma Hongjun anxiously waiting for Oscar.
• Oscar returned and gave Ma Hongjun a Clear Heart Sausage, explaining that it could calm him but would not cure the underlying problem.
• Ma Hongjun told Dai Mubai he would skip the brothel and hoped to save money for a proper wife.
• At dawn, Ma Hongjun ate the sausage, meditated, and found his Evil Fire easier to manage while its effect lasted.
• Ma Hongjun thanked Xiao Qing and praised the sausage, but Xiao Qing urged him to develop control over his own flames.

Ma Hongjun and Oscar devoted themselves to cultivation and study, leaving Dai Mubai feeling isolated and increasingly resentful of Xiao Qing’s influence. Dai Mubai decided to challenge Xiao Qing to prove that hard work was pointless, and Zhao Wuji’s announcement of one-on-one sparring gave him the chance he wanted.

• Xiao Qing advised Ma Hongjun that mastering his Evil Fire might transform his Evil Fire Phoenix into a Fire Phoenix, prompting Ma Hongjun to focus on cultivation and controlling his Martial Soul.
• With help from Xiao Qing, Flender, and Oscar’s sausages, Ma Hongjun learned to study and restrain the Evil Fire, while Oscar devoted himself to training and research.
• Dai Mubai felt isolated as his companions rejected his invitations to indulge, and he blamed Xiao Qing for changing the group’s habits.
• Dai Mubai resolved to defeat Xiao Qing publicly so he could discredit his example and draw the others back to his way of life.
• Zhao Wuji announced that the students would have one-on-one combat sparring the next day, giving Dai Mubai the opportunity he had been waiting for.

Dai Mubai challenged Xiao Qing to a sparring match, confident his higher Soul Power and White Tiger Martial Soul would secure an easy victory. Xiao Qing defeated him in moments, leaving Dai Mubai humbled and Zhao Wuji impressed by Xiao Qing’s hidden combat ability.

• Dai Mubai asked Zhao Wuji to let him spar with Xiao Qing, and Xiao Qing accepted the challenge.
• Zhao Wuji cleared the training ground and ordered the students to stop once there was a clear winner.
• Dai Mubai used his White Tiger Intense Light Wave, but Xiao Qing’s Phantom Shadow made the attack miss.
• Xiao Qing appeared behind Dai Mubai and struck his lower back, sending him stumbling face-first onto the dirt.
• Zhao Wuji declared Xiao Qing the winner, checked that Dai Mubai was not seriously hurt, and told him to reflect on his impatience and openings.
• Oscar and Ma Hongjun helped Dai Mubai back toward the dorms while Zhao Wuji recognized that Xiao Qing had concealed his combat ability.

After Xiao Qing defeated him, Dai Mubai sank into despair until Flender confronted him about abandoning his ambitions and urged him to choose whether to struggle again. Inspired by the others’ goals and his own memories, Dai Mubai returned to training at dawn.

• Dai Mubai refused Oscar’s Recovery Big Sausage and questioned whether Xiao Qing had hidden his true rank after the defeat.
• Flender spoke privately with Dai Mubai, exposing how he had given up after fleeing the Star Luo Empire and urging him to fight for himself.
• Dai Mubai spent several days withdrawn before asking Oscar, Ma Hongjun, and Xiao Qing what they wanted from life.
• Dai Mubai reconsidered his escape and indulgence after hearing their answers and remembering his former ambition.
• Dai Mubai appeared at the training ground the next morning and began exercising again.

Xiao Qing reached level thirty just before his twelfth birthday and obtained a third Soul Ring from a Wind-Thunder Falcon, gaining the skill Lightning Flash. He returned to Shrek Academy, where his friends welcomed him with a homemade birthday cake.

• Ma Hongjun learned to control his Evil Fire, Oscar improved his sausages, and Dai Mubai renewed his commitment to cultivation.
• Xiao Qing broke through to level thirty, and Oscar reached level twenty-nine.
• Xiao Qing told Flender he wanted a fast flying Soul Beast, and Flender chose a Wind-Thunder Falcon as a suitable target.
• Flender took Xiao Qing to the Star Dou Great Forest, where Xiao Qing captured a 2,700-year-old Wind-Thunder Falcon and gained Lightning Flash.
• Oscar, Zhao Wuji, Ma Hongjun, Dai Mubai, and Shao Xin welcomed Xiao Qing back with a homemade cake for his twelfth birthday and breakthrough.

Tang San and Xiao Wu arrived in Suotuo City to seek admission to Shrek Academy, but Xiao Wu was ambushed after rushing to help a supposedly distressed woman. A mysterious figure intervened just as the woman’s poisoned dagger was about to strike Xiao Wu.

• Ma Hongjun prepared to serve as chief examiner for Shrek Academy’s entrance examinations, while Dai Mubai went into Suotuo City to buy extra food supplies.
• Tang San and Xiao Wu reached Suotuo City, found an inn, and went out to buy an inexpensive meal.
• Xiao Wu heard crying in an alley and ran in with Tang San, where they found two men confronting a frightened young woman.
• Xiao Wu shielded the woman and challenged the men, while Tang San suspected that the scene was staged.
• The woman abruptly revealed a poisoned dagger and attacked Xiao Wu from behind, and Tang San rushed to intervene.
• A white blur entered the alley and used the Fourth Soul Skill, White Tiger Demon God Transformation, just before the dagger reached Xiao Wu.

Dai Mubai rescued Tang San and Xiao Wu from a poisoned-dagger ambush in Suotuo City and directed them to Shrek Academy. Impressed by Dai Mubai’s strength, Tang San and Xiao Wu set off for the academy.

• Dai Mubai broke the ambusher’s wrist and drove off her two accomplices, rescuing Tang San and Xiao Wu.
• Tang San was shocked that Dai Mubai, who appeared only a few years older, was already a Four-Ring Soul Ancestor.
• Dai Mubai warned Tang San and Xiao Wu about the alley’s honey-trap scam and told them how to find Shrek Academy.
• Tang San found poison on the discarded dagger, then left the injured woman behind and reassured Xiao Wu that her kindness was not at fault.
• Tang San and Xiao Wu headed toward Shrek Academy, hoping to become as strong as Dai Mubai.

Tang San and Xiao Wu arrived at Shrek Academy and saw Ma Hongjun use his Phoenix Flame to drive away parents demanding refunds. Ma Hongjun then led them to the field for their final examination.

• Tang San and Xiao Wu found Shrek Academy in a shabby village and passed the registration tests.
• Several parents demanded refunds after their children failed, and Ma Hongjun intimidated the crowd with his Martial Soul Possession and Phoenix Flame.
• Tang San observed Ma Hongjun's control over fire and worried that it could suppress his Blue Silver Grass.
• Ma Hongjun ended his Martial Soul Possession and led Tang San and Xiao Wu through the academy toward the final examination field.

Dai Mubai apologized to Zhu Zhuqing and urged her to stay at Shrek Academy, drawing Ning Rongrong’s interest when he described Oscar’s unusual cultivation aid. Ning Rongrong found Oscar at his sausage stall, where he produced a proper Recovery Big Sausage and offered it to her.

• Dai Mubai apologized to Zhu Zhuqing for abandoning her and asked her to remain at Shrek Academy.
• Dai Mubai described the academy’s teachers and Oscar’s Clear Heart Sausage, which could improve cultivation efficiency.
• Ning Rongrong interrupted Dai Mubai to ask where Oscar was, then hurried to find him by the academy gates.
• Oscar welcomed Ning Rongrong to his stall and offered her a sausage for free.
• Oscar used his Soul Skill to make a Recovery Big Sausage and offered it to Ning Rongrong.

Tang San, Xiao Wu, Ning Rongrong, and Zhu Zhuqing gathered around Oscar's food stall before Zhao Wuji introduced Xiao Qing as their entrance examiner. Xiao Qing revealed three thousand-year Soul Rings and three powerful Soul Beast companions, then challenged the four students to defeat him and Xiao Feng or endure the burning incense.

• Xiao Wu and Tang San visited Oscar's stall, where Tang San tried Oscar's restorative sausage and met Ning Rongrong, Zhu Zhuqing, Dai Mubai, and Ma Hongjun.
• Zhao Wuji arrived with Xiao Qing and announced that the four new students had to defeat Xiao Qing or survive against him for one stick of incense.
• Ning Rongrong questioned Xiao Qing's appointment, while Zhu Zhuqing assessed him and Xiao Wu whispered to Tang San that he seemed full of himself.
• Xiao Qing revealed three purple Soul Rings and summoned Xiao Feng, A'Man, and Thunder Feather, shocking Tang San and the other new students.
• Xiao Qing recalled A'Man and Thunder Feather, lit an incense stick, and challenged all four students to face him and Xiao Feng together.

Tang San led Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, and Ning Rongrong in a coordinated assault on Xiao Qing, but Xiao Qing’s speed and Rock Armor overwhelmed their opening attack. The fight continued with Tang San rescuing Zhu Zhuqing from Xiao Qing’s counterstrike.

• Ning Rongrong enhanced Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing with the Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda, while Tang San used Blue Silver Grass and Controlling Crane Capturing Dragon to launch them at Xiao Qing.
• Xiao Qing used Lightning Flash to reach Tang San, struck him back with his Rock Armor, and moved to attack Ning Rongrong.
• Zhu Zhuqing intercepted Xiao Qing with Hell Stab as Xiao Wu tried to throw him with Waist Bow, but Xiao Qing resisted and hurled Xiao Wu toward Tang San.
• Zhu Zhuqing’s claws failed to penetrate Xiao Qing’s Rock Armor, and Xiao Qing aimed a hand chop at her as she retreated.
• Tang San bound Zhu Zhuqing with Blue Silver Grass and pulled her out of the path of Xiao Qing’s strike.

Xiao Qing defeated Tang San, Xiao Wu, and Zhu Zhuqing in the new student assessment, using a decoy to outmaneuver Tang San before eliminating the rest of the team. Tang San left the field unharmed but conflicted, reflecting on his defeat while looking forward to what awaited him at the academy.

• Tang San used Blue Silver Grass to restrain Xiao Qing and coordinated with Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing to exploit his defenses.
• Xiao Wu's Charm appeared to catch Xiao Qing, but a wind-attribute explosion revealed that the bound figure was a decoy.
• Xiao Qing appeared behind Tang San and kicked him out of the assessment field without seriously injuring him.
• Xiao Qing defeated Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing, then ended the assessment with Ning Rongrong still standing.
• Tang San reflected on his defeat, feeling conflicted about Xiao Qing's strength and anticipating life at the academy.

After Tang San and the others failed to defeat Xiao Qing, Zhao Wuji revealed that their trial had tested their teamwork and resolve, and admitted them to Shrek Academy. A week later, Oscar reached level thirty, and the students prepared to travel to Star Dou Great Forest for his third Soul Ring, while agreeing to visit Suotuo City first.

• Xiao Qing told Tang San he was level thirty-seven, and Zhao Wuji explained that the battle had been a test of teamwork and backbone before welcoming Tang San, Xiao Wu, Ning Rongrong, and Zhu Zhuqing to Shrek Academy.
• During their first week at Shrek, Tang San found that Oscar's Clear Heart Sausage and Zhao Wuji's Gravity Training Room improved his cultivation and training.
• Oscar announced that he had reached level thirty, and Flender told the students they would leave for Star Dou Great Forest the next morning to hunt Oscar's third Soul Ring.
• Ning Rongrong invited Xiao Wu to Suotuo City, and Tang San, Dai Mubai, Oscar, Zhu Zhuqing, and Ma Hongjun agreed to join them.
• Xiao Qing said he needed to restock ingredients and cultivation supplies, and Xiao Wu invited him to come along.

Xiao Qing and the others went shopping in Suotuo City before visiting the Soul Master market to choose a target for Oscar’s third Soul Ring. They bought information about a Blood-Vein Python, leaving Oscar hopeful that it could give him a physique-enhancing Soul Skill.

• Ning Rongrong bought gifts for the group while Ma Hongjun ate his way through the street.
• Dai Mubai led the group to the Soul Master market, where Tang San bought medicinal ingredients for insect-repelling powder.
• Xiao Qing spotted information about a 1,300-to-1,500-year-old Blood-Vein Python and suggested its Soul Ring might let Oscar make strength-enhancing sausages.
• Tang San and Dai Mubai agreed the python was a promising target, and Xiao Qing paid the stallkeeper fifty Gold Soul Coins for the lead.
• The stallkeeper gave Xiao Qing a letter describing where the python had been seen and warning that it could be dangerous.
• Xiao Qing memorized the letter and told Oscar to keep it for Dean Flender and Teacher Zhao.