Chapter Summaries

After Skywater Academy conceded, Shui Bing'er lingered outside Zhou Qiubai’s inn room, nervous about approaching him. Her teammates arranged to distract Yang Guyun, and Shui Bing'er finally took a step toward Zhou’s door as Shen Liuyu headed into the corridor.

• Shui Bing'er conceded the match to Zhou Qiubai, and the referee declared Heaven Dou Royal Academy First Team the winner.
• Chen Xuan praised Zhou Qiubai’s steady hand and their sword dance before leaving, and Zhou joked that he would beat him someday; Yang Guyun offered to help.
• That night, Shui Bing'er paced outside Zhou Qiubai’s room while her teammates watched and urged her to knock.
• Shui Yue'er invited Yang Guyun to dinner to draw him away, and Yang recognized her plan and took her out anyway.
• Shui Bing'er finally stepped forward, while Shen Liuyu headed down the corridor to intervene.

Shui Bing'er finally approached Zhou Qiubai, and the two shared a quiet conversation beneath a blooming locust tree. Their private moment was interrupted when the Skywater Team revealed they had followed them, teased them about their feelings, and accused Zhou Qiubai of prolonging his match for Shui Bing'er.

• Shen Liuyu, Yu Hairou, Qiu Ruoshui, and Xue Wu urged Shui Bing'er to stop pacing and knock on Zhou Qiubai's door.
• Shui Bing'er knocked, and Zhou Qiubai invited her to walk with him instead of sitting inside.
• Shui Bing'er and Zhou Qiubai discussed home and their growing strength beneath a blooming locust tree, and she showed him the jade pendant she kept with her.
• Zhou Qiubai heard footsteps and called out, prompting Shui Yue'er, Yang Guyun, Yu Hairou, Shen Liuyu, Gu Qingbo, Qiu Ruoshui, and Xue Wu to emerge from hiding.
• Shui Yue'er teased Shui Bing'er about her feelings and accused Zhou Qiubai of dragging out his match; Yang Guyun agreed, leaving Zhou Qiubai without an answer.

Zhou Qiubai and Shui Bing'er reunited beneath the old locust tree and reaffirmed their feelings. When Shui Bing'er decided to travel with him after the tournament, he refused and told her a story about a scholar who loved someone too much to ask her to share his hardship.

• Shui Yue'er teased Shui Bing'er and fled around the locust tree before Yang Guyun led her and the others away for roast lamb.
• Zhou Qiubai helped Shui Bing'er untangle her hair, and she told him she had waited for him because he was Zhou Qiubai, not because of his future success.
• Zhou Qiubai and Shui Bing'er agreed to wait until he won the tournament, and she decided to travel with him afterward.
• Zhou Qiubai asked whether Shui Bing'er was sure she could leave the academy and her family, then refused her choice.
• Zhou Qiubai told Shui Bing'er about a poor scholar who died without reuniting with the woman he loved because he believed he had nothing to offer her.

Zhou Qiubai explained that he wanted to love Shui Bing'er without making her sacrifice her clan, academy, or Yue'er, and urged her to make choices she could live with. His advice led Shui Bing'er to reconsider the hidden pressures shaping Shui Yue'er's apparent innocence.

• Shui Bing'er thought Zhou Qiubai was rejecting her to spare her hardship, but he continued the story of the girl who stayed devoted to the scholar after his death.
• Zhou Qiubai revealed that he had invented the story and said he wanted both lasting love and a life together with Shui Bing'er.
• Zhou Qiubai told Shui Bing'er that love meant letting her keep the other parts of her life, and she admitted she envied his certainty.
• Zhou Qiubai explained that every choice meant giving something up and advised Shui Bing'er to consider what she would do if tomorrow were her last day.
• Shui Bing'er realized Shui Yue'er understood the Shui Clan's expectations and that her innocence had been shaped to make her obedient and useful for a marriage alliance.

Shui Bing'er and Zhou Qiubai affirmed their resolve to keep pursuing their own paths despite the Shui Clan's threat to him. Back at the inn, Zhou Qiubai and Yang Guyun prepared to face Spirit Hall's Golden Generation in the finals three days later.

• Shui Bing'er told Zhou Qiubai that the Shui Clan might make him disappear because of their relationship, and he said only strength could change their situation.
• Shui Bing'er promised she would catch up to Zhou Qiubai and said she would never regret her choice before returning to the inn.
• Zhou Qiubai returned to find Yang Guyun waiting with leftover lamb leg, and Yang Guyun said Shui Yue'er had spoken about Shui Bing'er's childhood.
• Zhou Qiubai announced they would rest for three days before fighting Spirit Hall, naming Xie Yue, Hu Liena, and Yan as their main opponents.
• Yang Guyun agreed that they were ready to face Spirit Hall's team in the finals.

The Martial Soul Hall Team defeated Star Luo’s team, while Zhou Qiubai and the others recognized that Spirit Hall had arranged for Shrek Academy to reach the final three to lure Tang Hao into a trap. During the three-day wait, the Skywater Girls Group visited, and Chen Xuan brought Zhou Qiubai a blueprint analyzing Spirit Hall’s team and tactics.

• The Martial Soul Hall Team defeated Star Luo’s team with four substitutes, securing its place among the tournament’s final three.
• Zhou Qiubai, Yang Guyun, and Chen Xuan discussed how Spirit Hall had arranged Shrek Academy’s path and planned to use Xiao Wu and Tang Hao to demonstrate its power.
• Zhou Qiubai and Yang Guyun practiced during the three-day wait while the others kept clear of the larger conflict.
• Shui Yue’er and the Skywater Girls Group brought food to Zhou Qiubai and Yang Guyun, and Shui Bing’er gave Zhou Qiubai a smaller, carefully wrapped food box.
• Chen Xuan gave Zhou Qiubai a blueprint of the Martial Soul Hall Team’s lineup and tactics, based on records copied from a longtime Spirit Hall clerk.

The three finalist teams gathered before Pope Palace as Bibi Dong watched them, paying particular attention to Xiao Wu. Zhou Qiubai faced the Golden Generation while Chen Xuan ignored them to read, and Shrek's Flender and Ma Hongjun drew attention with their comments about Bibi Dong before the ceremony continued.

• Xue Qinghe briefly looked toward Zhou Qiubai as the judges and three teams assembled before Pope Palace.
• Bibi Dong announced Martial Soul Hall Team, Heaven Dou Royal Academy First Team, and Shrek Academy as the top three, then scrutinized Xiao Wu.
• Zhou Qiubai faced the Golden Generation with his hand on White Clothes Sword while Chen Xuan continued reading, irritating Yan until Xie Yue stopped him.
• Hu Liena looked briefly at White Clothes Sword, while Yan held back after seeing Bibi Dong and the two Spirit Douluo watching.
• Flender muttered about Bibi Dong's wealth and appearance, and Ma Hongjun loudly said he would marry her; Flender struck him and warned that he could get Shrek wiped out.
• Ma Hongjun hid behind Dai Mubai after Bibi Dong's gaze turned toward him, while Bibi Dong appeared not to have heard the insult.

Bibi Dong revealed three rare Spirit Bones as the championship reward before Spirit Hall announced an individual gauntlet format that put Heaven Dou Team 1 at a severe disadvantage. As the teams prepared to choose their first contestants, Yu Xiaogang stood and stared directly at Bibi Dong without showing her respect.

• Bibi Dong presented three Ten Thousand Year Spirit Bones, and Tang San fixed his attention on the Spirit Skull Bone while Xiao Wu watched Bibi Dong with hostility.
• Bibi Dong declared that only the winning team would receive the Spirit Bones and returned to the Pope's throne.
• A Red-Robed Bishop announced individual elimination matches in which the leading team would advance to the finals and the other two teams would compete in a losers' bracket.
• Spectators and representatives criticized the format as unfair to Heaven Dou Team 1, which had only two reliable fighters, while Dugu Bo and Ning Fengzhi also questioned the arrangement.
• Tang San said he would not fear facing seven opponents if Hidden Weapons were allowed, but the rules prohibited external objects.
• After the teams returned to their resting areas to choose contestants, Yu Xiaogang rose and stared at Bibi Dong without bowing or saluting.

Yu Xiaogang defied Bibi Dong before Spirit Hall’s assembled leaders and announced that Shrek Academy would forfeit the first half of the finals. Qian Daoliu appeared, turning Yu Xiaogang’s breach of etiquette into a public challenge to Spirit Hall’s authority.

• Yu Xiaogang addressed Bibi Dong without bowing, drawing angry reactions from the Red-Robed Bishops and Hall Guard Knights.
• Qian Daoliu appeared in the square, and Qian Renxue wondered why he had left seclusion.
• Yu Xiaogang continued despite feeling Qian Daoliu’s pressure and announced that Shrek Academy would forfeit the first half of the finals and enter the Loser's Bracket Final that afternoon.
• Bibi Dong asked why Yu Xiaogang had made the decision, and he replied that Shrek had the right to concede.
• Spectators criticized Yu Xiaogang for publicly humiliating Bibi Dong and Spirit Hall.

Qian Daoliu overruled Bibi Dong and ordered Yu Xiaogang to receive twenty strokes for showing contempt for Spirit Hall. The Hall Guard Knights carried out the punishment, leaving Yu Xiaogang unconscious as Flender restrained Liu Erlong and Tang San watched without sympathy.

• Qian Daoliu declared that Yu Xiaogang would receive twenty strokes of the rod, despite Bibi Dong’s objection.
• Flender stopped Liu Erlong from rushing to Yu Xiaogang’s aid, and she reluctantly sat back down.
• Qian Daoliu left after signaling the Hall Guard Knights to carry out the punishment.
• The knights struck Yu Xiaogang until he passed out, while Tang San watched and wished the beating would kill him.
• Flender continued holding Liu Erlong back as she trembled with the effort of not intervening.

Yu Xiaogang was carried away after Spirit Hall publicly punished him, and Bibi Dong ordered the tournament match to continue. Heaven Dou Royal Academy First Team and Spirit Hall Academy faced off, with Chen Xuan claiming he had never cultivated Soul Power.

• Flender and Liu Erlong carried the badly injured Yu Xiaogang away while Jiang Zhu tried to heal him, and Tang San considered getting rid of him.
• Bibi Dong concealed her feelings about Yu Xiaogang's punishment and declared that the individual matches would continue.
• The crowd turned its attention to the matchup between Heaven Dou Royal Academy First Team and Spirit Hall Academy as both teams entered the arena.
• Xie Yue asked Chen Xuan to reveal his abilities, but Chen Xuan claimed he was a scholar too weak to bind a chicken despite his muscular arm.
• Xie Yue, Hu Liena, and Yan introduced themselves as level-fifty-one or level-fifty-two Soul Kings.

Yang Guyun faced Spirit Hall Academy’s first contestants in the team match, defeating Li Zhao with one spear thrust and forcing Spirit Hall’s stalling plan to fail. Su Yu then tried to evade and exhaust him, but Yang Guyun closed his eyes and remained composed as Su Yu passed close without attacking.

• Li Zhao used his Earth-Splitting Bear’s Rock Armor and tried to retreat, but Yang Guyun’s spear aura stopped him from backing away.
• Yang Guyun pierced Li Zhao’s defenses with a single spear thrust, leaving Li Zhao unable to raise his arms.
• Li Zhao conceded, and the spectators reacted with shock as Spirit Hall’s second contestant, Su Yu, entered the arena.
• Su Yu activated Wings of Wind and filled the arena with afterimages to evade Yang Guyun and stall for time.
• Yang Guyun closed his eyes and stood firm while Su Yu swept close by without attacking.

Yang Guyun defeated Spirit Hall’s first three contestants without using a Soul Skill, then faced its fourth contestant, whose layered defenses forced him to unleash a powerful spear strike. The strike shattered the defenses and broke through the reflective armor, but the chapter ended before its outcome was clear.

• Yang Guyun intercepted Su Yu’s movements with Spear Intent until Su Yu conceded.
• Yang Guyun walked through the frost Spider Web and defeated Spirit Hall’s third contestant with a touch of his spear.
• Xie Yue abandoned his plan to exhaust Yang Guyun and sent up Spirit Hall’s fourth contestant, a level forty-five defense-system battle Soul Ancestor.
• The fourth contestant activated four layers of Black Armor Turtle defenses, and Yang Guyun struck them with No Return, All Arts Void.
• Yang Guyun shattered the reflective armor with his spear, and the clash remained unresolved.

Yang Guyun defeated four Soul Ancestors without using a Soul Ring, then withdrew and left Zhou Qiubai to face Yan. Yan accepted Zhou Qiubai’s strange reasoning about dividing their opponents and began the duel with a magma attack and a stone-arm strike.

• Yang Guyun defeated his fourth opponent with spear techniques alone, and the crowd erupted in applause.
• Xie Yue told Yan to confront Yang Guyun’s Spear Intent directly, but Yang Guyun withdrew after declaring that he was done.
• Zhou Qiubai took Yang Guyun’s place and told Yan that he would fight the remaining three Spirit Hall opponents.
• Yan accepted Zhou Qiubai’s explanation and attacked with Hell Magma Rush, but Zhou Qiubai predicted the eruption and dodged.
• Yan activated Granite Rock and slammed his stone arm into the ground.

Zhou Qiubai defeated Yan by redirecting his powerful attacks and finding a gap in his defense, then faced Hu Liena, who appeared to stun him with Fox Charm. Hu Liena began approaching while Zhou Qiubai stood motionless.

• Yan turned the arena into a magma field and launched a powerful fire attack at Zhou Qiubai, who deflected it with a precise sword strike and landed safely.
• Yan charged across the magma, but Zhou Qiubai found a narrow gap in his Granite Rock defense and held his sword at Yan’s chest until Yan conceded.
• Xue Qinghe applauded Zhou Qiubai’s victory, while Ning Fengzhi reflected that he had miscalculated by betting on both sides.
• Hu Liena challenged Zhou Qiubai and used Fox Charm to make him appear stunned.
• Hu Liena began walking toward Zhou Qiubai, confident that her charm had succeeded.

Zhou Qiubai defeated Hu Liena after resisting her mental attacks and disarming her with precise strikes. He then began fighting Xie Yue, who opened with a swift paired-blade attack.

• Hu Liena’s charm and Ambiguous Pupil failed to affect Zhou Qiubai, who evaded her attacks and struck her pressure points.
• Zhou Qiubai drew the White Clothes Sword and pressed Hu Liena with a series of slashes before stopping the blade at her throat.
• Hu Liena conceded, and Zhou Qiubai sheathed his sword and saluted her.
• Xie Yue began his match against Zhou Qiubai with a fast attack using both Moon Blades.
• Zhou Qiubai dodged Xie Yue’s opening strikes, and Xie Yue followed with a sweeping kick and an upward blade hook.

Zhou Qiubai fought Xie Yue in the arena, parrying his opening attacks before drawing the White Clothes Sword and countering his soul skills. The duel continued with both fighters enduring a powerful head-on clash, and Xie Yue pressed forward despite his injuries.

• Zhou Qiubai evaded and deflected Xie Yue's three-hit killing technique without drawing his sword.
• Xie Yue praised Zhou Qiubai's skill, and Zhou Qiubai drew the White Clothes Sword, whose precise vibration caught Xie Yue's attention.
• Xie Yue used his first soul skill, Slash, but Zhou Qiubai turned the attack aside and nearly struck Xie Yue's hand and face.
• Gu Rong quietly spoke to Ning Fengzhi as Xie Yue noticed the damage the soft sword's vibrations had caused to his hand.
• Xie Yue used Guard and Break to thrust with both blades, but Zhou Qiubai dissipated most of the force and blocked the second blade head-on.
• The clash cracked the arena floor and left both fighters hurt, but Xie Yue swallowed his blood and closed in again.

Zhou Qiubai defeated Xie Yue with a refined sword strike that shattered his ultimate attack and forced him to surrender. After completing three battles, Zhou Qiubai returned to the Heaven Dou Royal Academy resting area, exhausted but victorious.

• Xie Yue intensified his assault with his Fourth Soul Skill, Strength, but Zhou Qiubai redirected each strike with minimal effort.
• Xie Yue used his Fifth Soul Skill, Slaughter, launching a spinning blood-red ring at Zhou Qiubai.
• Zhou Qiubai formed a cool, cleansing realm and struck the ring with azure light, making it collapse into dark-red motes before stopping his sword an inch from Xie Yue's brow.
• Xie Yue admitted defeat and surrendered, then nearly collapsed as Hu Liena caught his arm.
• Gu Rong told Ning Fengzhi that Zhou Qiubai's azure light was not entirely a Soul Skill, and Zhou Qiubai confirmed to Yang Guyun that he had defeated all three opponents.
• Zhou Qiubai returned to his seat and drank the tea Chen Xuan had prepared.

After watching Yang Guyun and Zhou Qiubai dominate their matches without using Soul Skills, Shrek Academy discussed its Seven-in-One Fusion Skill as a possible answer. Tang Hao worried that Shrek lacked the experience to face them and noticed Spirit Hall had deployed an unusually large force around Spirit City.

• Ma Hongjun praised the display, while Ning Rongrong and Tang San watched the White Clothes figure in Heaven Dou Royal Academy's rest area; Xiao Wu briefly reached for Tang San's hand.
• Tang San stopped Ma Hongjun from revealing Shrek's Seven-in-One Fusion Skill and argued that seven people could overwhelm even a powerful individual.
• Ning Rongrong silently doubted the plan's chances after considering Yang Guyun and Zhou Qiubai's victories, then reflected that she could soon return to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
• Ning Fengzhi and Gu Rong discussed Ning Rongrong's changes and wondered whether their wager had been enough to secure the favor they had offered.
• Tang Hao recognized the sword strike's intent as resembling Tang Chen's realm, judged that Tang San lacked life-and-death experience, and questioned whether Shrek's team skill could overcome the pair's coordination.
• Tang Hao noticed Spirit Hall had mobilized the Hall Guard Knights and wondered why it needed such a force when a few Title Douluo could deal with him.

Tang Hao decided to leave Spirit City with Tang San after the tournament, while Zhou Qiubai sensed that Spirit Hall's situation was changing. Bibi Dong explained the Golden Generation's defeat and ordered them to lose their upcoming match against Shrek Academy.

• Tang Hao concluded that Spirit Hall was not targeting him and planned to leave with Tang San after the tournament and the Spirit Skull Bone.
• Zhou Qiubai noticed Tang San watching him, then told Yang Guyun that the wind in Spirit City had changed.
• Bibi Dong questioned Hu Liena, Xie Yue, and Yan about their defeat and explained that Zhou Qiubai's sword had revealed Xie Yue's distracting thoughts.
• Bibi Dong told the Golden Generation that the three Spirit Bones had been intended for them but were now tournament rewards they had failed to win.
• Bibi Dong ordered Hu Liena, Xie Yue, and Yan to lose their match against Shrek Academy in three days, leaving Yan shocked.