Chapter Summaries

Xu Tianming arrived at the Red Dust Duke's Estate on a soul guidance motorcycle and took Meng Hongchen out to hunt for her first soul ring. Jing Hongchen watched them leave Mingdu, uneasy about their safety and Xu Tianming's influence on his granddaughter.

• Xu Tianming arrived at Jing Hongchen's estate and announced he would take Meng Hongchen to hunt for a soul ring.
• Jing Hongchen questioned whether anyone from the Worship Hall would accompany them, but Meng Hongchen rushed out and embraced Xu Tianming.
• Xu Tianming showed Meng Hongchen his motorcycle, helped her put on a helmet, and took her for a ride despite Jing Hongchen's concerns.
• Xu Tianming and Meng Hongchen left Mingdu on the motorcycle, and Jing Hongchen wondered whether their closeness would bring blessing or trouble.

Xu Tianming rode with Meng Hongchen to Evil Demon Forest while Mavuika and Columbina discussed his motorcycle ride from his spiritual sea. After explaining how their recovered powers had shaped his four soul skills, Xu Tianming asked Meng Hongchen what soul beast she wanted to hunt, then suggested she could absorb a thousand-year soul ring.

• Mavuika and Columbina apologized after Xu Tianming warned them that talking to him while he drove could distract him and endanger Meng Hongchen.
• Xu Tianming recalled that Mavuika and Columbina had crossed over with him as martial souls and that their powers recovered as his soul power grew.
• Xu Tianming reviewed the four soul skills granted by his first four rings, including abilities fueled by stored battle intent and Mavuika's authority.
• Xu Tianming and Meng Hongchen arrived at Evil Demon Forest, where he asked what kind of soul beast she wanted to hunt.
• Meng Hongchen said her grandfather had recommended a roughly seven-hundred-year-old poison-attributed soul beast, and Xu Tianming suggested her strengthened body could handle a thousand-year ring.

After Meng Hongchen pinched Xu Tianming while they rode his motorcycle, he stopped and scolded her for putting them both in danger. She apologized, and they made up in an embrace, leaving Columbina to wonder aloud what it was like to hug someone of the opposite sex.

• Meng Hongchen pinched Xu Tianming and reminded him that he had once promised not to mention what happened after she took Ten-Thousand-Year Whale Glue.
• Xu Tianming stopped the motorcycle, pinned Meng Hongchen over the seat, and slapped her while demanding that she admit her mistake.
• Meng Hongchen apologized for distracting him while he was driving, and Xu Tianming calmed down and soothed her with Mavuika's power.
• Meng Hongchen hugged Xu Tianming and asked him to hold her quietly for a while.
• Columbina told Xu Tianming she had noticed him hugging Meng Hongchen and asked whether it felt nice.

Xu Tianming and Meng Hongchen encountered a fleeing, roughly two-thousand-year-old Human-Faced Demon Spider, which Xu Tianming believed could give Meng Hongchen a suitable soul ring. He attacked it with his soul skills, but the spider survived and went berserk.

• Xu Tianming sensed an approaching creature and had Columbina identify it as a giant spider with about two thousand years of cultivation.
• Xu Tianming recognized the creature as a Human-Faced Demon Spider and suggested Meng Hongchen absorb its soul ring; she agreed to trust his judgment.
• Xu Tianming drew the Judgment Sword and prepared to use his Sinking Sun Slash, but chose not to activate the sword's power of judgment.
• Xu Tianming linked Meng Hongchen to his Night Soul Domain and struck the fleeing spider with Burning Radiance Ring.
• The attack burned the Human-Faced Demon Spider and drained twenty percent of its soul power, but it survived and became frenzied.

Xu Tianming killed a wounded Human-Faced Demon Spider so Meng Hongchen could absorb its two-thousand-year soul ring, which gave her a new soul skill and raised her soul power to level 22. Before they returned to Mingdu, Xu Tianming found an extraordinarily rare Eight Spider Spears external soul bone in the ashes and stored it for later.

• Xu Tianming killed the Human-Faced Demon Spider with one Sinking Sun Slash and revealed its purple soul ring.
• Meng Hongchen absorbed the soul ring safely with Xu Tianming guarding her, and her soul power rose to level 22.
• Meng Hongchen tested her new Ice Poison Net soul skill, which bound enemies with icy, venomous webs.
• Xu Tianming spotted an object among the spider's ashes and recognized it as the Eight Spider Spears external soul bone.
• Xu Tianming stored the soul bone instead of absorbing it in the forest, planning to wait until he was back in Mingdu.

Xu Tianming tried to avoid a fight in the Evil Demon Forest, but a fleeing woman drew him and Meng Hongchen into danger, forcing him to call Ye Yulin for help. The woman was Zhang Lexuan, who had pursued fleeing evil soul masters after Xuanzi stayed behind to eat.

• Xu Tianming concealed his Eight Spider Spears from Ye Yulin and left the Evil Demon Forest with Meng Hongchen on his motorcycle.
• Xu Tianming heard fighting, tried to detour around it, and learned from Columbina that a woman was being chased toward them by powerful enemies.
• Xu Tianming contacted Ye Yulin for help after realizing the woman was approaching and her pursuers were likely formidable.
• Zhang Lexuan recalled leading Shrek Academy disciples against a group of evil soul masters and pursuing their fleeing Soul Sage and Soul Emperor after Xuanzi stopped to eat.

Zhang Lexuan pursued two fleeing evil soul masters into the Evil Demon Forest, where an ambush killed her junior brothers and sisters and left her nearly out of soul power. She raced toward the sound of a soul tool formation for help, only to find a teenage boy and a little girl, and realized she had led the evil soul masters to two innocent children.

• Zhang Lexuan and her companions chased the fleeing evil soul masters toward the Sun Moon Empire and killed the Soul Emperor who ran out of soul power.
• Zhang Lexuan recognized that the pursuit had led them into the Evil Demon Forest, but continued after her junior brothers and sisters urged her to finish the mission.
• Dozens of high-ranking evil soul masters ambushed the group, killing the three Soul Kings and then the two remaining Soul Emperors as Zhang Lexuan fought to protect them.
• Zhang Lexuan fled toward the sound of a soul tool formation while the evil soul masters followed, waiting for her soul power to run out.
• Zhang Lexuan found a teenage boy and a little girl riding a strange soul tool, and the evil soul masters surrounded them and mocked her for relying on the children for help.

Xu Tianming tried to negotiate with the evil soul masters, but they refused to let him and his sister leave and demanded their valuables. As the siblings faced the attackers, Xu Tianming drew the Judgment Sword, leaving Zhang Lexuan uncertain whether he could protect them.

• Xu Tianming asked the evil soul masters to let him and his sister go, but they laughed and said the children would serve as nourishment.
• The evil soul masters unleashed pressure rivaling a Titled Douluo, while Xu Tianming and his sister remained protected by a defensive soul tool.
• The evil soul masters spotted the siblings' treasure and demanded they hand over their valuables, secretly intending to kill them afterward.
• Xu Tianming's sister stepped forward, rebuked the evil soul masters, and challenged their assumption that her brother feared them.
• Xu Tianming drew the peak eighth-grade Judgment Sword as the evil soul masters mocked him, and Zhang Lexuan worried that the siblings had no protector.

Xu Tianming reassured Meng Hongchen, shared soul power with Zhang Lexuan, and let Mavuika possess him before launching a fierce attack on the evil soul masters. He left two enemies badly injured and several others caught in his assault, while Meng Hongchen cheered and Zhang Lexuan and Ye Yulin watched in stunned disbelief.

• Xu Tianming reassured Meng Hongchen and coordinated with Mavuika before using Night Soul Transfer to give Zhang Lexuan soul power.
• Mavuika possessed Xu Tianming, who armed himself with his Judgment Sword and soul-engine motorcycle.
• Xu Tianming rammed a six-ringed evil soul master with the motorcycle, breaking his ribs and leaving him unable to fight.
• Xu Tianming struck the strongest, seven-ringed evil soul master with a flame wave and a surprise heavenly-fire attack, then sent him flying and caught two six-ringed evil soul masters in the flames.
• Meng Hongchen cheered as Zhang Lexuan and the hidden Ye Yulin stared in astonishment at Xu Tianming's strength.

Xu Tianming and Zhang Lexuan fought off the evil soul masters, with Meng Hongchen creating an opening that let Xu Tianming wipe out most of the group. After Xu Tianming killed three badly injured enemies, the last seven-ringed evil soul master remained locked in combat with Zhang Lexuan.

• Zhang Lexuan summoned her Silver Moon Martial Soul and attacked the seven-ringed evil soul master while Xu Tianming prepared another Sinking Sun Slash.
• Meng Hongchen ambushed the five six-ringed evil soul masters with Ice Poison Net, interrupting their attacks and coating them in ice.
• Xu Tianming struck the trapped enemies with Hear the Sun's Roar, triggering a powerful Melting Reaction that killed two and severely injured the other three.
• Mavuika told Xu Tianming she would recover after resting, though exhausting her accumulated soul power would leave her weakened for at least a year.
• Xu Tianming killed the three injured evil soul masters, leaving only the seven-ringed enemy fighting Zhang Lexuan.

Xu Tianming helped Zhang Lexuan subdue an evil soul master and learned that the Holy Ghost Cult had sent its members to investigate the Sun Moon Empire’s fourth prince. He began considering how to use Shrek Academy’s Dragon God Douluo to strike at the cult.

• Xu Tianming told Zhang Lexuan to keep one evil soul master alive, then replenished her soul power by placing his hand on her back.
• Zhang Lexuan used her restored strength to suppress the seven-ring evil soul master until he could no longer resist.
• Xu Tianming questioned the captive, who revealed that his organization had sent members to investigate the fourth prince’s strength and talent.
• Xu Tianming realized the organization was the Holy Ghost Cult and resolved to retaliate against it.
• Xu Tianming considered revealing the cult’s headquarters to Shrek Academy’s Dragon God Douluo, who was nearing the end of his life.

Xu Tianming learned that the Holy Ghost Cult had several squads in the Evil Demon Forest and might have learned about his soul-ring hunt through its intelligence network. After Zhang Lexuan killed the captured evil soul master, Xu Tianming rejected her attempt to become friends, leaving her embarrassed by his accusation that she had put him and his sister in danger.

• Xu Tianming questioned an evil soul master and learned that several other squads were stationed in the Evil Demon Forest, while their signal flare had been carried by the Level 75 soul master he had defeated.
• Xu Tianming grew concerned that the Holy Ghost Cult knew about his planned soul-ring hunt and withdrew his hand from Zhang Lexuan's back.
• Zhang Lexuan asked the captured evil soul master if he was ready to die, and Xu Tianming clarified that he had only promised to spare the man's life himself.
• Zhang Lexuan killed the evil soul master and introduced herself to Xu Tianming, promising to repay his help.
• Xu Tianming refused to give Zhang Lexuan his name and rebuked her for leading the evil soul masters to him and endangering him and his sister.
• Zhang Lexuan blushed as she realized Xu Tianming's accusation matched what had happened, though she had acted out of desperation.

Xu Tianming refused Zhang Lexuan’s apology and compensation, insisting she answer for endangering him and Meng Hongchen. He had Ye Yulin reveal himself and detain her, then used Columbina’s power to drain her soul power as she struggled.

• Zhang Lexuan apologized to Xu Tianming and offered compensation, but he said he hated apologies after the fact.
• Zhang Lexuan tried to leave, but Xu Tianming slapped away her hand and demanded an explanation that satisfied him.
• Xu Tianming called on Elder Ye to detain Zhang Lexuan in the Sun Moon Empire, and Ye Yulin suppressed her with his Titled Douluo power.
• Zhang Lexuan realized Xu Tianming was royalty, and he used Columbina’s power to rapidly weaken her soul power.

Xu Tianming visited Xuan Ziwen late at night to ask him to repair the soul-powered motorcycle that had been damaged in a battle. Xuan Ziwen agreed to fix it in three days, and Xu Tianming left after treating him to dinner and packing food to take home.

• Xuan Ziwen finished designing a civilian soul tool and was interrupted in his laboratory by Xu Tianming.
• Xu Tianming reassured Xuan Ziwen that he was satisfied with the soul-powered motorcycle and was not asking for new features.
• Xu Tianming explained that the motorcycle had been damaged during a battle on the way back from taking Meng'er to hunt for a soul ring.
• Xu Tianming offered to help secure research funding, and Xuan Ziwen agreed to repair the motorcycle within three days.
• Xu Tianming treated Xuan Ziwen to dinner at Mingdu Grand Hotel, then returned to Prince Yan's Palace with food packed for later.

Xu Tianming returned to Prince Yan’s Palace, where Ye Guyi welcomed him and he reflected on how he had gathered her, Xiao Xiao, and Jiang Nannan around him. He entered his room and found the bound and gagged Zhang Lexuan waiting there, glaring at him.

• Ye Guyi waited at the palace gates for Xu Tianming, and he promised not to return so late again.
• Xu Tianming recalled saving Ye Guyi and her parents from evil soul masters three years earlier, then taking Ye Guyi in to cultivate her talents.
• Xu Tianming gave Ye Guyi strawberry cake and asked her to deliver meals to Xiao Xiao and Jiang Nannan.
• Xu Tianming recalled bringing Xiao Xiao and Jiang Nannan to the Sun Moon Empire, while deciding not to approach the other members of the Shrek Seven Monsters.
• Xu Tianming entered his room and saw Zhang Lexuan bound, gagged, and glaring at him.

Xu Tianming held Zhang Lexuan captive after sealing her soul power and threatened to use a recording of the incident to damage Shrek Academy’s reputation unless she offered him something valuable. Zhang Lexuan refused to betray Shrek, then realized her beauty might be what Xu Tianming wanted.

• Xu Tianming sealed Zhang Lexuan’s soul power, shackled her, and removed her gag so she could speak.
• Xu Tianming claimed he could portray Zhang Lexuan as having colluded with evil soul masters to attack a prince, and dismissed her objections.
• Xu Tianming threatened to release a recording of the encounter and exploit the other empires’ distrust of Shrek Academy.
• Zhang Lexuan feared that Shrek Academy’s reputation and her place in it would suffer, so she asked what Xu Tianming wanted in exchange for keeping the recording private.
• Zhang Lexuan considered betraying Shrek Academy’s intelligence but rejected the idea, then wondered whether Xu Tianming wanted her because she was beautiful.

After realizing Zhang Lexuan and the others had not returned, Xuanzi searched for them and found two dead members of Shrek Academy’s Inner Courtyard Inspection Corps. He traced the signs of a battle to a nearby field of dead evil soul masters, where he found evidence that Zhang Lexuan had survived and decided to return to the tavern to wait for her.

• Xuanzi woke from his drunken sleep, discovered Zhang Lexuan and the others were missing, and rushed toward the Evil Demon Forest.
• Xuanzi found two corpses in Shrek Academy Inner Courtyard Inspection Corps uniforms and burned them before placing their remains in wooden boxes.
• Xuanzi identified clues linking the deaths to evil soul masters and vowed to wipe them out.
• Xuanzi detected Zhang Lexuan’s soul power traces and concluded that she had fought the evil soul masters alongside an unfamiliar fire-attributed expert.
• Xuanzi reasoned that Zhang Lexuan was likely unconscious but alive and returned toward the tavern to wait for her.

Zhang Lexuan agreed to serve Xu Tianming for three years in exchange for his promise not to expose what happened or use it against Shrek Academy. After he freed her and they discussed her Silver Moon Martial Soul, she asked how his touch had given her an apparently inexhaustible supply of soul power.

• Zhang Lexuan rejected Xu Tianming's demand that she stay forever, and they bargained until she agreed to obey him for three years.
• Xu Tianming promised not to publicize what happened or threaten Shrek Academy, and he and Zhang Lexuan signed a written contract.
• Xu Tianming unlocked Zhang Lexuan's shackles and gave her food, then questioned why she had joined Shrek Academy.
• Xu Tianming told Zhang Lexuan that the Silver Moon Martial Soul was inherited by the Sun Moon Empire's imperial family, making her question her origins.
• Zhang Lexuan asked Xu Tianming how his hand had given her an almost inexhaustible surge of soul power, and he was pleased that she had taken the bait.

Xu Tianming revealed his Frost Moon Martial Soul to Zhang Lexuan and used Columbina's Moon-Matrix Power to help her recover and test whether her martial soul could resonate with it. The next morning, Meng Hongchen arrived at Prince Yan's Palace with news that the First Prince had sent assassins after the Second Prince.

• Xu Tianming showed Zhang Lexuan his Frost Moon Martial Soul and claimed her Silver Moon Martial Soul was drawn to his because his imperial bloodline was purer.
• Zhang Lexuan asked to feel the Moon-Matrix Power again, and Xu Tianming ordered Columbina to pour a large amount of it into her body.
• Zhang Lexuan's soul power recovered, but the excess Moon-Matrix Power overwhelmed her until Xu Tianming told her to test whether her martial soul could resonate with it.
• Xu Tianming withdrew the excess power, and Zhang Lexuan fell onto him; they stayed awake discussing cultivation while Ye Guyi listened outside their room.
• The butler told Xu Tianming that Meng Hongchen was waiting in the reception hall, where she warned him that the First Prince had sent people to assassinate the Second Prince.

After the Sun Moon Coup, Xu Tianming learned how Xu Tianran had crushed Prince Duan’s faction and discovered that the faction had also arranged the evil soul master ambush against him. Xuanzi left to attend Shrek Academy’s Sea God Pavilion meeting, while Xu Tianming questioned Meng Hongchen about how she learned of the coup.

• Meng Hongchen told Xu Tianming that an assassin had tried to kill Xu Tianran, who had retaliated by executing Prince Duan and his faction and had been named Crown Prince.
• Xu Tianming called Kong Deming, who revealed that Prince Duan’s faction had leaked Xu Tianming’s information to the evil soul masters in the Evil Demon Forest in an attempt to kill him.
• Xuanzi received a message summoning the Sea God Pavilion elders to their annual meeting and left for Shrek Academy after leaving Zhang Lexuan a secret letter.
• Xu Tianming asked Meng Hongchen whether her grandfather had told her about the coup or whether she had overheard it.