Chapter Summaries

Ning Rongrong asked Ning Quan to take her to Suotuo City, and his praise led her to pretend she had proposed it out of foresight rather than a desire for fun. Meanwhile, Chen Hong studied Deep Sea Secret Soul Gold, discovered a soul-absorbing magnetic field containing fragments of rules, and began envisioning a stealth coating made from its properties.

• Ning Rongrong asked Ning Quan if she could accompany him to Suotuo City, and he praised her supposed foresight about the city's growth.
• Ning Rongrong accepted the flattering explanation despite privately admitting she mainly wanted to enjoy the excitement and visit the Technology Guild Headquarters.
• Chen Hong spent half a day examining Deep Sea Secret Soul Gold with his Martial Soul Psychic Power and found that it produced a magnetic field that drew in spiritual and soul-related things.
• Chen Hong detected fragments of Soul Power, which he identified as Fragments of Rules or Rule Patterns, within the metal's Soul Absorption magnetic field.
• Chen Hong named the phenomenon the Secret Soul Divine Mark and considered using it to make coatings that could keep Spirit Masters from detecting people with Mental Power.

Chen Hong considered how Deep Sea Secret Soul Gold and Soul Power could advance research beyond the traditional Spirit Master system, then began documenting experiments he hoped could transform the emerging Industrial Age. While repairing the Soul-Powered Truck with the Technology Guild, he bantered with Ning Rongrong, who challenged his claim that he had thought of its power system with his toes.

• Chen Hong reflected that Spirit Masters’ reliance on soul beasts and rigid education threatened the world’s future, and he dismissed Yu Xiaogang’s research as ultimately self-destructive.
• Chen Hong theorized that the Secret Soul Divine Mark might help absorb Mental Turbulence and accelerate the cultivation of Soul Power and Spiritual Power, and he recorded his ideas in his work journal.
• Chen Hong packed up his tools and joined the Technology Guild in repairing the Soul-Powered Truck, postponing further research until he understood Deep Sea Secret Soul Gold.
• Ning Rongrong watched Chen Hong work on the truck and marveled at how its power-transmission system made other parts turn.
• Chen Hong said he had thought of the mechanism with his toes, and Ning Rongrong retorted, “Why don't you say you thought of it with your little head?!”

Chen Hong repaired the Technology Guild’s Soul-Powered Trucks in Treasure Sword City and arranged for the guild’s next road to connect the city with Suotuo City. Three days later, the convoy set off for Suotuo City, leaving Chen Hong planning the guild’s future expansion.

• Ning Rongrong challenged Chen Hong, who answered with a suggestive remark that made her blush, kick him, and run off.
• Chen Hong inspected all eight Soul-Powered Trucks and fixed the hidden dangers he found.
• Chen Hong had Ning Shan contact the lord of Treasure Sword City about building a road between Treasure Sword City and Suotuo City.
• Chen Hong planned to use the Technology Guild’s technology to expand its influence and make surrounding forces suppliers of raw materials.
• Three days later, Chen Hong rode with the convoy as Ning Quan and Ning Rongrong drove the trucks out of Treasure Sword City toward Suotuo City.

The Technology Guild convoy returned safely to Suotuo City after an attack by Evil Soul Masters, and Chen Lin used the moment to seek Spirit Hall’s endorsement for a Guild armed force. Bishop Suotuo agreed to offer protection, setting the stage for the Technology Guild to develop an officially recognized Armament Department.

• Chen Hong reprimanded Ning Rongrong and Ning Quan for driving without licenses and warned them not to use the vehicles until they passed the test.
• The Technology Guild convoy entered Suotuo City as civilians and Spirit Masters cheered its safe return.
• Chen Lin told Bishop Suotuo that the Technology Guild needed its own defensive force, having recognized an opportunity to seek Spirit Hall’s support.
• Bishop Suotuo agreed that Spirit Hall should protect the Guild and offered assistance.
• The chapter described the future prospect of a modernized Soul Guidance Device army taking the field under the Technology Guild’s authority.

Tang San and Xiao Wu arrived in Suotuo City and encountered the Technology Guild’s convoy, while Zhao Wuji and Li Yusong worried that the Guild might recruit Shrek Academy’s members. Back at the Guild headquarters, Chen Hong put off guiding his relatives and began studying the Deep Sea Secret Soul Gold’s magnetic field.

• Tang San and Xiao Wu arrived in Suotuo City from Nuoding City and were amazed by its size and prosperity.
• Tang San and Xiao Wu encountered the Technology Guild’s convoy, and Tang San recognized the Guild as the maker of the Soul Engine and Soul-Powered Trucks.
• Zhao Wuji and Li Yusong discussed how the Technology Guild might invite Shrek Academy members to serve as guards after the Guild Master's Wife and young son were attacked.
• Ning Lu told Chen Hong to guide his uncle and cousin around Suotuo City, but Chen Hong postponed the outing until the next day.
• Chen Hong returned to his room and began studying the magnetic field of the Deep Sea Secret Soul Gold.

Chen Hong brought Ning Rongrong to meet Flender at a curio shop and proposed that the Technology Guild sponsor Shrek Academy in exchange for establishing a School Board. Tang San and Xiao Wu arrived at the shop, while Flender agreed to the sponsorship and said Ning Rongrong could try the academy if she was strong enough.

• Chen Hong planned to persuade Ning Rongrong to attend Shrek Academy so he could leave her there.
• Chen Hong and Ning Rongrong visited Flender's curio shop on Suotuo City's commercial street.
• Tang San and Xiao Wu entered the shop and noticed Chen Hong and Ning Rongrong.
• Chen Hong observed Tang San and Xiao Wu and sensed that they seemed unusual.
• Flender accepted Chen Hong's proposal for the Technology Guild to sponsor Shrek Academy in exchange for establishing a School Board, and invited Ning Rongrong to try the academy if she was strong enough.

Chen Hong considered how to reshape Shrek Academy into a talent pipeline for the Technology Guild, while Flender weighed the proposed partnership. At Flender’s curio shop, Chen Hong discovered a crystal containing Dragon Whisker Gold and took it as payment, leaving Flender lamenting the loss.

• Chen Hong planned to use the Technology Guild’s support to turn Shrek Academy’s staff and students into skilled workers and develop its Soul Tool specialization.
• Tang San bought a yellow crystal from Flender while Chen Hong watched, and Flender later realized Tang San might have spotted its value.
• Chen Hong searched Flender’s dusty antiques and found another yellow crystal, which Ning Quan and Ning Rongrong suspected was valuable.
• Chen Hong used Psychic Power to reveal Dragon Whisker Gold particles inside the crystal and took it as payment for explaining Flender’s mistake.
• Chen Hong left the shop with Ning Quan and Ning Rongrong while Flender wailed over the lost treasure.

Chen Hong identified Dragon Whisker Gold as a natural Strong Interaction Force material, but found himself too weak to process it, so he planned to have the Technology Guild collect more. After several days of cultivation, he found Ning Quan and Ning Rongrong had wrecked his beloved Wind Chaser, then gave the motorcycle to Ning Rongrong and promised her a Dayun next time.

• Chen Hong recognized the golden bead as Dragon Whisker Gold and realized it was a rare, naturally occurring Strong Interaction Force material.
• Chen Hong failed to penetrate the Dragon Whisker Gold’s atomic forces and decided to add it to the Technology Guild’s collection list.
• Chen Hong continued cultivating and studying the Secret Soul Divine Mark in hopes of removing the remnant soul from his head.
• Chen Hong found Ning Quan and Ning Rongrong after they had badly damaged his Wind Chaser motorcycle.
• Ning Rongrong excitedly thanked Chen Hong for the motorcycle, and he promised to give her a Dayun next time.

Chen Hong brought Ning Rongrong and Ning Quan back to the city, repaired Windchaser, and rode with Ning Rongrong toward Shrek Academy while Ning Quan followed. On the way, Chen Hong warned Ning Rongrong to think carefully about her role as the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's heir, then used Sage's Tremor Wave to silence her after she kept headbutting him.

• Chen Hong explained what a mud head truck was and took Ning Rongrong and Ning Quan back to the Technology Guild to clean up and repair Windchaser.
• Chen Hong repaired Windchaser and rode toward Shrek Academy with Ning Rongrong, while Ning Quan followed on foot.
• Ning Rongrong reflected on the Technology Guild's growth and compared its future to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
• Chen Hong told Ning Rongrong to understand what the sect needed and what she truly wanted instead of being swayed by flattery.
• Ning Rongrong grew angry at Chen Hong's teasing and repeatedly headbutted his back, so he unleashed Sage's Tremor Wave to quiet her.

Li Yusong tested applicants at Shrek Academy, where Tang San, Xiao Wu, and Zhu Zhuqing qualified as three “little monsters.” Ning Rongrong and Chen Hong then arrived on Soul-Powered Motorcycles, and Chen Hong introduced himself as a famous good-for-nothing.

• Li Yusong rejected applicants who failed Shrek Academy’s strict requirements and refused to refund their registration fees, driving most of the crowd away.
• Tang San persuaded Xiao Wu to stay, and he and Zhu Zhuqing joined her to take the admission tests.
• Dai Mubai returned with Ma Hongjun and Oscar, and he falsely told Li Yusong that “Geneva” was praise, prompting Li Yusong to repeat it to the applicants.
• Li Yusong tested Tang San, Xiao Wu, and Zhu Zhuqing and was surprised when all three qualified.
• Ning Rongrong arrived on a Soul-Powered Motorcycle, followed by Chen Hong on the Wind-Chasing Motorcycle, and Chen Hong called himself a famous good-for-nothing.

Chen Hong, Shrek Academy’s biggest financial backer, inspected the academy and questioned Ma Hongjun and Oscar about funds meant to treat Ma Hongjun’s martial-spirit side effects. After learning Flender had built a place for that purpose, Chen Hong suspected he had used the education funds to open a brothel.

• Li Yusong checked Chen Hong’s age and Soul Power, but Chen Hong said he had come to inspect Shrek Academy rather than take its entrance examination.
• Chen Hong marked the academy’s gate and other features in his checklist while Li Yusong sent Ma Hongjun and Oscar to keep an eye on him.
• Dai Mubai led Tang San and the other new students deeper into the academy, while Ning Quan stayed behind and challenged Li Yusong.
• Chen Hong asked Ma Hongjun where the funds for treating his martial-spirit side effects had gone, but Ma Hongjun struggled to answer.
• Oscar said Flender had built a place for Ma Hongjun’s treatment, though Oscar had never seen it and Dai Mubai often took Ma Hongjun there.

Chen Hong presented Flender with a report criticizing Shrek Academy’s convictions, leadership, and reliance on powerful Spirit Master teachers. He argued that the academy’s staff had become an obstacle to its growth, leaving Flender to consider the criticism.

• Oscar told Chen Hong that Flender’s promised solution to Ma Hongjun’s Martial Soul side effects was a Mimicry Training Environment built outside the academy.
• Chen Hong went to Flender’s office with Oscar and Ma Hongjun and presented the Shrek Academy Investigation Report.
• Chen Hong explained that the report blamed Shrek Academy’s flawed convictions and narrow understanding of how to run an academy for its lack of progress despite substantial funding.
• Chen Hong challenged Flender’s belief that powerful Spirit Masters were necessarily good teachers, and Oscar suggested there was no necessary connection between the two.
• Chen Hong told Flender that the academy’s powerful teaching staff had become an obstacle because they focused on themselves instead of adapting to students’ individual needs.

Chen Hong persuaded Flender to give him authority over Shrek Academy’s Soul Tool Department, and Flender decided that Yu Xiaogang’s arrival would provide the academy with theoretical expertise. Chen Hong then walked across the training field with Ma Hongjun and Oscar and discovered that Ning Rongrong and the others were still undergoing their enrollment assessment.

• Chen Hong explained that Shrek Academy needed theoretical expertise to complement its strong teachers, and Flender agreed to put him in charge of the Soul Tool Department and its budget.
• Flender said Yu Xiaogang would come to Shrek Academy with his disciple Tang San, and he looked forward to the two experts meeting.
• Ma Hongjun and Oscar followed Chen Hong from the dean’s office, and Chen Hong told them they could call him by name or Brother Chen.
• Ma Hongjun asked about the Clear Mind Soul Tool, and Chen Hong confirmed he had designed it while sensing Soul Power fluctuations near a small courtyard.
• Chen Hong, Ma Hongjun, and Oscar heard fighting inside the courtyard and realized Ning Rongrong and the others were still taking their enrollment assessment.
• Ma Hongjun admitted that the Clear Mind Soul Tool could influence his mood but could not control his sexual arousal.

Chen Hong used his Sage soul skill on Ma Hongjun to suppress the influence of his Evil Fire, despite warning him about the skill’s side effects. Ma Hongjun emerged with a clear mind and declared that he finally understood himself.

• Ma Hongjun asked Chen Hong for a stronger remedy for his Evil Fire, and Chen Hong offered to use his soul skill instead.
• Chen Hong warned Ma Hongjun that the skill would cause distracting thoughts after it ended, but Ma Hongjun agreed to try it.
• Chen Hong told Oscar to keep an eye on Ma Hongjun, then activated the Sage: Big Head Defeats Little Head Technique.
• The skill’s Mental Impact struck Ma Hongjun, whose mind cleared as the Evil Fire’s influence subsided.
• Ma Hongjun sighed that the Phoenix’s brothel visits had not been his fault and said he finally understood himself.

Chen Hong’s First Soul Skill gave Ma Hongjun a sudden enlightenment that quieted his turmoil over his Evil Fire, leaving Oscar bewildered by his friend’s new sage-like behavior. As Chen Hong considered his next soul skill, an angry roar of “Xiao Wu!!!” came from a nearby courtyard.

• Ma Hongjun emerged from Chen Hong’s soul skill in a serene, enlightened state and told Oscar he had seen the true meaning of his life.
• Chen Hong explained that his skill affected people differently and that Ma Hongjun’s past experiences had helped bring about his sudden clarity.
• Oscar tried to stop Ma Hongjun from speaking in polished prose while Chen Hong watched them playfully.
• Chen Hong reflected on why his First Soul Skill was powerful and considered what his Second Soul Skill might do.
• Someone inside a nearby courtyard shouted, “Xiao Wu!!!”

Chen Hong arrived as Tang San attacked Zhao Wuji after Xiao Wu was injured, and witnessed Tang San strike Zhao Wuji with a Dragon Whisker Needle. Zhao Wuji recovered and ordered Oscar to treat the group, while Chen Hong entered and noticed the injury on Zhao Wuji's forehead.

• Tang San shouted after Xiao Wu was hurt and attacked Zhao Wuji with hidden weapons.
• Tang San distracted Zhao Wuji with his Purple Demon Eye and struck his forehead with a Dragon Whisker Needle.
• Zhao Wuji's Soul Power erupted and sent Tang San flying, while Zhu Zhuqing caught him and he coughed up blood.
• Dai Mubai called out to Zhao Wuji, who regained his composure and ordered Oscar to restore everyone's condition.
• Oscar produced sausages, but Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong resisted eating them.
• Chen Hong entered the courtyard and remarked that Zhao Wuji seemed to be in trouble.

Chen Hong intervened after Zhao Wuji was injured by Tang San’s Dragon Whisker Needle, explained how the hidden weapon worked, and offered to let Tang San remove it himself. He left the conflict unresolved, hoping the two would reconcile and remain at Shrek Academy.

• Chen Hong offered to help Zhao Wuji and clarified that he was now a teacher at Shrek Academy.
• Tang San defended his hidden weapon and argued with Zhao Wuji over Xiao Wu’s injury and the combat assessment.
• Chen Hong examined Oscar’s sausages, then identified the Dragon Whisker Needle as Dragon Whisker Gold embedded near Zhao Wuji’s skull.
• Chen Hong said he could remove the needle but suggested that Tang San, who had tied the bell, should untie it.
• Chen Hong hoped Tang San and Zhao Wuji would resolve their conflict so Tang San and Xiao Wu would stay at Shrek Academy.

Chen Hong watched Tang San remove the Dragon Whisker Needle from Zhao Wuji, then the new students passed Shrek Academy’s assessment and introduced themselves. The chapter ended with Ma Hongjun joining the introductions and Chen Hong considering his own Soul Skills.

• Chen Hong noticed Tang San’s genuine killing intent and unusual abilities, while Tang San chose to apologize to Zhao Wuji.
• Tang San used his Mysterious Jade Hand to remove the Dragon Whisker Needle from Zhao Wuji’s head, relieving his pain.
• Zhao Wuji accepted Tang San’s apology, declared the group had passed the assessment, and asked Dai Mubai to take them to their dormitories.
• Dai Mubai led the students in introducing themselves and stating their Martial Souls and Soul Power ranks.
• Ning Rongrong expressed disbelief at Oscar’s Rank 29 Food System Soul Power, and Ma Hongjun introduced himself as a Rank 28 Assault System Battle Soul Master.

Chen Hong was pressed by Ning Rongrong to introduce himself and reveal his Spirit Master rank, so he announced that he was their Soul Tool teacher and posed a chicken-and-egg question. He activated Sage's Logic Trap as Ning Rongrong and the others began pondering it.

• Dai Mubai wondered why Ma Hongjun had become unusually refined while Oscar acted lovestruck.
• Ning Rongrong chased down Chen Hong and grabbed his arm when he tried to avoid introducing himself.
• Chen Hong introduced himself to the students as their classmate and Soul Tool teacher.
• Ning Rongrong insisted that Chen Hong reveal his Spirit Master rank, and he agreed to answer by asking whether the chicken or egg came first.
• Chen Hong's eyes showed a yellow ring as he activated Sage's Logic Trap and Ning Rongrong pondered the question.

Chen Hong used Sage's Logic Trap to incapacitate Ning Rongrong and explained his three realms of Soul Ring research. He then revealed his identity and connection to the Technology Guild to the others.

• Chen Hong described the Realm of Form, the Realm of Intent, and his proposed Realm of Domain, explaining how Soul Skills and their anchor points could be changed or extended.
• Chen Hong used Sage Eye Technique to trap Ning Rongrong in an endlessly repeating logical question until she stood dazed and muttering about eggs and chicks.
• Chen Hong told Dai Mubai and the others that he was a Level 17 mental-type Support Soul Master with the Psychic Power Martial Soul.
• Chen Hong identified himself as connected to the Technology Guild and said the Soul Engine belonged to his family.