Chapter Summaries

Oscar tested the strength of his External Soul Bone and discovered that, boosted by his Strength Sausage, he could split a massive boulder with one claw. After the teachers warned him to conceal the bone, the group salvaged valuable parts of the Vajra Bear and prepared to return with its meat for nourishing soup.

• Flender warned Oscar to hide his External Soul Bone and kill any outsider who learned about it and might reveal the secret.
• Oscar ate a Strength Sausage, activated his bear claw, and split a massive boulder with one strike.
• Oscar excitedly slashed the rubble until Flender stopped him and told everyone to prepare to return.
• Ma Hongjun and the teachers salvaged the Vajra Bear's hide, bones, gallbladder, paws, and as much meat as they could carry.
• Shao Xin said he would make soup from the bear meat to nourish Oscar and Ma Hongjun, and Oscar eagerly welcomed the idea.

After Oscar gained the Vajra Bear’s External Soul Bone, Ma Hongjun reflected on the potential of an all-around Food-Type Soul Master and prepared to seek a powerful Light Element soul beast for his own second Soul Ring. The next morning, Zhao Wuji began putting Oscar and Ma Hongjun through doubled training with heavy armor and a ten-kilometer run.

• Oscar thanked Ma Hongjun for encouraging him to fight on the front lines, while Flender overheard and felt confident in his students’ future.
• Ma Hongjun considered what Light Element soul beast could provide his second Soul Ring, hoping for one at least seven hundred years old.
• Zhao Wuji ordered Oscar and Ma Hongjun to wear fifty-jin armor at all times and led them on a five-lap run.
• Oscar struggled through the ten-kilometer run, and Ma Hongjun paced him and coached him to regulate his breathing.
• After the run, Ma Hongjun kept Oscar walking to recover, and the students ate Shao Xin’s Vajra Bear meat soup for breakfast.

Ma Hongjun and Oscar trained under Li Yusong, Zhao Wuji, Flender, and Shao Xin for three months, steadily improving their combat skills and physical conditioning. As Ma Hongjun mastered Wings of Light, he was still working toward his goal of breaking through Rank Twenty before his seventh birthday.

• Li Yusong trained Oscar to fight with a stick, repeatedly knocking it from his hands as Oscar persisted and gradually developed combat awareness.
• Ma Hongjun pushed himself through daily conditioning, aiming to reach Rank Twenty before turning seven, while Flender explained his goal to Zhao Wuji.
• Shao Xin prepared medicinal baths for Ma Hongjun and Oscar, and Ma Hongjun reviewed his training before meditating and recording his progress.
• Over the following months, Oscar improved his combat skills, while Ma Hongjun grew faster and stronger and used Wings of Light to curb his Evil Fire outbreaks.
• After three months, Ma Hongjun flew with precise control, staying aloft for nearly two minutes and executing a steep dive before landing steadily.

Ma Hongjun reached level twenty and prepared to hunt for his second Soul Ring, hoping to find a seven- to eight-hundred-year Light Element soul beast. After training his maneuvering technique, he left the story ready to depart for the Star Dou Great Forest the next day.

• Ma Hongjun tested his Soul Power and reached level twenty after three and a half months of training.
• Oscar congratulated Ma Hongjun and revealed that he had already reached level twenty-three.
• Ma Hongjun told Flender, Zhao Wuji, and Shao Xin that he wanted a seven- to eight-hundred-year Light Element soul beast for his second Soul Ring, and Flender planned their departure for the next day.
• Ma Hongjun practiced using his Light Wings for ground movement and learned Zhao Wuji's turning technique.
• Ma Hongjun recorded his plans in his notebook and went to sleep before the journey to the Star Dou Great Forest.

Flender led the other teachers, Ma Hongjun, and Oscar back to the Star Dou Great Forest to find a suitable Light Element soul beast for Ma Hongjun’s second Soul Ring. The group split into two search teams, and Flender confirmed that he had kept Oscar’s External Soul Bone secret.

• Flender and the other teachers set out with Ma Hongjun and Oscar for the Star Dou Great Forest, leaving Shrek Academy unattended because it had nothing valuable to guard.
• The group entered the forest in a guarded formation and discussed their plans to find a Light Element soul beast within three days.
• Flender and Zhao Wuji divided the group into two teams, with Ma Hongjun joining Flender and Oscar joining Zhao Wuji.
• Flender’s team searched a sunlit creek for Light Element soul beasts while Flender explained that they preferred bright, warm environments.
• Ma Hongjun asked whether Flender had told anyone about Oscar’s External Soul Bone, and Flender said he had kept it secret and ordered the witnesses not to mention it.

Flender and the others found an eight-hundred-year Holy Light Phoenix Falcon that Ma Hongjun chose as his second Soul Ring. After Flender restrained it, Ma Hongjun killed it and began absorbing its Soul Ring.

• Flender recommended that Ma Hongjun seek a seven- to eight-hundred-year Light Element avian soul beast, ideally a Holy Light Falcon.
• Flender spotted a Holy Light Phoenix Falcon in an Old Banyan Tree and judged its age of eight to nine hundred years survivable for Ma Hongjun.
• Flender and the others approached from the bird's blind spot, and Flender bound it with Wind Binding.
• Ma Hongjun flew to the restrained Holy Light Phoenix Falcon and killed it with his Evil Fire as it watched him peacefully.
• A deep-yellow Soul Ring rose from the Holy Light Phoenix Falcon, and Ma Hongjun summoned it to begin absorption.

Ma Hongjun absorbed a Holy Light Falcon Soul Ring, purifying his Evil Fire and transforming his Martial Soul toward a Light Phoenix. He tested his new second soul skill, Light Pierce, and Flender examined the powerful attack’s effects.

• Ma Hongjun endured the Holy Light Falcon’s violent power as its phoenix bloodline suppressed and purified the evil nature in his Evil Fire.
• After absorbing the Soul Ring, Ma Hongjun’s flames turned more golden-red and his Martial Soul’s phantom began to resemble a phoenix, prompting Flender and Lu Qibin to identify its purification and evolution.
• Ma Hongjun activated his second soul skill, Light Pierce, and pierced a tree from a hundred meters away with a fast, burning spear of light.
• Flender judged that Light Pierce had strong penetration and a light-burning effect, with doubled destructive power against dark and evil Martial Souls.
• Ma Hongjun used Light Pierce at full power to sever another tree, then learned the attack could be used only three or four times in succession with his current Soul Power.

Ma Hongjun secured an eight-hundred-year Holy Light Falcon Soul Ring and gained the Light Pierce skill, which also strengthened his Wings of Light and advanced his Martial Soul toward a Phoenix. After reuniting with Zhao Wuji and the others, he demonstrated the attack before the group prepared to camp for the night.

• Flender praised Ma Hongjun's Light Spear, and Ma Hongjun discovered that his first soul skill, the Wings of Light, had grown larger, faster, and more enduring.
• Flender explained that the Holy Light Falcon's Soul Ring strengthened Ma Hongjun's earlier skill because both Soul Rings shared the same origin, then led him back to the rendezvous point.
• Zhao Wuji and the others noticed the changes in Ma Hongjun's flames, and Flender told them he had absorbed an eight-hundred-year Holy Light Falcon Soul Ring.
• Ma Hongjun demonstrated Light Pierce, piercing and carbonizing a tree, and Zhao Wuji said the attack could injure a Soul Elder but warned that landing a hit would be difficult.
• Flender announced that the group would camp at the forest's edge and return the next morning.

After returning from the Soul Hunting Forest, Ma Hongjun and Oscar resumed training at Shrek Academy, and Ma Hongjun reflected on why its teachers remained despite their poverty. He approached Shao Xin after dinner with a question, leaving his new idea unexplained.

• Shao Xin cooked dinner at camp, and Ma Hongjun told Oscar he believed the other five future Shrek Seven Devils would eventually join them.
• Zhao Wuji led the group safely back to Shrek Academy, where Flender doubled Ma Hongjun's training and Oscar teased him about it.
• After a punishing training session, Ma Hongjun considered the sacrifices Shao Xin, Flender, Zhao Wuji, Li Yusong, and Lu Qibin made to stay at Shrek.
• Ma Hongjun approached Shao Xin after dinner and said he wanted to ask him something.

Ma Hongjun persuaded Shao Xin and Flender to sell Shao Xin’s Candy Beans and Oscar’s Sausages to support the struggling academy. Flender brought their first batch to the Suotuo City auction house, where the goods were being assessed.

• Ma Hongjun asked Shao Xin how long Candy Beans and Oscar’s Sausages remained effective, then proposed selling them at auction.
• Shao Xin discussed the idea with Flender, who agreed to try selling the food and promised Ma Hongjun and Oscar ten percent each.
• Flender brought fifty Candy Beans, twenty Strength Sausages, and ten Recovery Sausages to the Douhun Auction House in Suotuo City with Ma Hongjun and Oscar.
• The auction house invited Flender into a VIP room to present the goods.

Flender auctioned Oscar’s food-type Soul Skills in Suotuo City, earning Shrek Academy 46,300 Gold Soul Coins. He promised shares to Shao Xin, Oscar, and Ma Hongjun, leaving the academy with funds for years of cultivation resources.

• Flender presented Recovery Candy Beans and Oscar’s sausages to the auction house, which agreed to include them in the evening auction.
• Ma Hongjun and Oscar watched as five bottles of Recovery Candy Beans sold for 37,300 Gold Soul Coins.
• The auction house sold Oscar’s Strength Sausages and Recovery Sausages, bringing the night’s total revenue to 46,300 Gold Soul Coins.
• Flender allocated twenty percent of the proceeds to Shao Xin and ten percent each to Oscar and Ma Hongjun, reserving the rest for the academy.

After the Candy Beans earned Shrek Academy 46,300 Gold Soul Coins, Flender treated everyone to a lavish dinner and divided the profits among Shao Xin, Ma Hongjun, Oscar, and the academy. The next morning, Flender reminded Ma Hongjun to use money wisely and doubled his training.

• Flender returned to Shrek Academy with 46,300 Gold Soul Coins from the auction, most of them earned by Shao Xin’s Candy Beans.
• Flender used some of the money to buy ingredients, and everyone shared a lavish dinner prepared by Shao Xin.
• Flender gave Shao Xin twenty percent of the profits, Ma Hongjun and Oscar ten percent each, and put the remaining half into the academy’s public account.
• Ma Hongjun reflected that the money would help Shrek Academy but would not cover its future expenses, while Oscar celebrated their earnings.
• The next morning, Flender advised Ma Hongjun not to waste or hoard his money and doubled his training for the day.

Flender took Ma Hongjun and Oscar to Suotuo City's Ink Fragrance Library and taught them to study soul beasts, medicinal herbs, and Martial Soul theory. While reading about Whale Rubber, Ma Hongjun recognized its hidden ability to strengthen a Soul Master's body and increase the limit of Soul Ring absorption, making it useful for his future plans.

• Flender brought Ma Hongjun and Oscar to the Ink Fragrance Library and paid for them to study there for a month.
• Flender explained that they needed to learn about soul beasts, medicinal herbs, Soul Rings, and combat techniques.
• Ma Hongjun listened as Flender described soul beast classifications and learned how rare Light Element soul beasts were.
• Oscar read a Soul Beast Compendium while Ma Hongjun found a description of Whale Rubber in an Illustrated Guide to Rare Medicinal Herbs.
• Ma Hongjun realized Whale Rubber could strengthen a Soul Master's physique and raise the limit of Soul Ring absorption, and considered using it to aid his cultivation.

Ma Hongjun quietly laid the groundwork to use Whale Rubber to control his Evil Fire, then began studying obscure soul-beast and medicinal knowledge for future breakthroughs. He discovered Dragon Blood Grass might help strengthen his body or Martial Soul, but its rarity left him unable to test the idea.

• Ma Hongjun asked Flender whether Whale Rubber might have uses beyond being an aphrodisiac, and Flender dismissed it as useless.
• Flender began taking Ma Hongjun and Oscar to Ink Fragrance Library monthly and established regular reading time at the academy.
• Ma Hongjun studied soul beasts and explained to Oscar how knowledge of them could help a Food-Type Soul Master make more useful sausages.
• Ma Hongjun found information on Whale Rubber and considered it a possible aid for breaking physical limits and suppressing his Evil Fire.
• Ma Hongjun read about rare Dragon Blood Grass and suspected it could affect Martial Souls, but decided to remember it until he found an opportunity to investigate.

Ma Hongjun borrowed and studied books to investigate ways to purify his Evil Fire Phoenix, while following an intense training routine under Zhao Wuji. He confirmed that Light Element soul beasts had purified his flames and continued searching for stronger options, drawing Qin Mo’s attention at the library.

• Ma Hongjun wrote down that Moonlight Flower’s extreme yin might neutralize his Evil Fire and asked Flender to let them borrow more books at once.
• Ma Hongjun settled into daily weighted runs, combat training with Zhao Wuji, physical exercises, and evening study with Oscar.
• Zhao Wuji taught Ma Hongjun to use Light Pierce unexpectedly at close range and increased the demands of his training.
• Ma Hongjun read that the Holy Light Falcon’s purifying power could remove impurities from fire and concluded that his Evil Fire Phoenix was moving toward its Light Phoenix origin.
• Ma Hongjun noted that future Soul Rings should come from Light Element avian soul beasts, but found no known form beyond the Holy Light Falcon.
• Qin Mo remarked that Ma Hongjun only borrowed obscure books.

Shrek Academy’s improved income allowed Flender to repay the village households for their support, then gather the teachers to plan a major renovation. The chapter ended with Flender asking Ma Hongjun and Oscar for their ideas about rebuilding the academy.

• Oscar’s combat skill improved rapidly, and his Candy Beans and Sausages helped bring steady income to Shrek Academy.
• Flender proposed giving each village household ten Gold Soul Coins and sending supplies at year’s end to thank the villagers.
• Shao Xin and Ma Hongjun delivered money and supplies to the households, and Uncle Li was moved by the academy’s gesture.
• Shao Xin asked whether the payments were worthwhile, and Ma Hongjun said they would repay kindness, improve the academy’s reputation, and help attract students and gain authorization.
• Flender gathered the teachers to plan rebuilding the walls, gate, training ground, classrooms, dormitories, medicinal-bath room, and cafeteria.
• Flender asked Ma Hongjun and Oscar what ideas they had for the academy’s renovation.

Ma Hongjun presented German-style uniforms and an emblem for Shrek Academy, and Flender approved his designs. The staff then began detailing the first phase of the academy’s rebuilding.

• Flender calculated that the first phase of academy improvements would cost roughly ten thousand Gold Soul Coins, which the academy could afford.
• Zhao Wuji, Li Yusong, Lu Qibin, and Shao Xin showed their plain uniform designs, while Ma Hongjun unveiled detailed men's and women's uniforms, a flag, and an emblem.
• Flender chose Ma Hongjun’s designs unanimously and carefully put away the drafts.
• Flender led the staff through plans for the academy walls, main gate, training grounds, classrooms, dormitories, cafeteria, medicinal bath room, library, and infirmary.

Ma Hongjun proposed practical improvements for Shrek Academy, and Flender approved his blueprint and put Zhao Wuji in charge of construction. Ma Hongjun reflected on the academy’s values and resolved to build a place where its students could thrive without hardship.

• Ma Hongjun suggested using the academy walls for training and defense, adding guard towers, and reserving soft ground for close-combat practice.
• Ma Hongjun recommended coordination and obstacle-course equipment, warmer dormitories with spare bedding, and improved classrooms, library, medical room, and medicinal bath facilities.
• Zhao Wuji asked where Ma Hongjun had learned his ideas, and Ma Hongjun said he had read books and thought about the academy’s needs.
• Flender accepted Ma Hongjun’s proposals, assigned Zhao Wuji to oversee construction, and ordered the improvements to begin in the first phase.
• Ma Hongjun sat alone beneath the stars, remembered the teachers’ loyalty and the villagers’ support, and resolved to make Shrek Academy a place where students could grow without worry.

Ma Hongjun argued that Shrek Academy needed to change its rule that a Soul Master who did not cause trouble was mediocre, warning that reckless students could endanger the academy and its future. Flender and the other teachers reconsidered the rule as Shao Xin supported Ma Hongjun’s call to teach students how to conduct themselves.

• Ma Hongjun went to Flender’s office and urged him to change the rule encouraging students to cause trouble, while Zhao Wuji listened.
• Ma Hongjun described how a reckless student could damage property, injure city guards, attract Spirit Hall’s attention, and create enemies powerful enough to threaten Shrek Academy.
• Ma Hongjun explained that students should defend themselves when bullied but should not provoke others without reason, and Zhao Wuji began to see his point.
• Shao Xin agreed with Ma Hongjun, arguing that teachers needed to teach good conduct as well as cultivation.

Ma Hongjun proposed a full revision of Shrek Academy’s rules, and Flender approved them and assigned him to oversee their implementation. The academy’s renovation then began, with a new stone wall and imposing gate completed as its first major improvements.

• Ma Hongjun proposed revised conduct rules and a points system, and Flender put the new rules into effect immediately.
• Flender assigned Ma Hongjun to oversee the rules, while Zhao Wuji hired Suotuo City’s best craftsmen to renovate the academy.
• Foreman Zhou’s crew tore down the old earthen wall and built a two-meter-tall bluestone wall as Oscar watched the demolition.
• Flender reflected on how little the academy had changed over the years, then approved of the completed wall.
• The craftsmen completed a sturdy new academy gate bearing the plaque Shrek Academy, and the teachers praised the result.