Chapter Summaries

Shi An confronted Flender after Dai Mubai attacked him, and Flender challenged him to a wager that would determine whether he joined Shrek Academy. Shi An agreed to endure Flender’s attacks for one incense stick, with Dai Mubai required to apologize if Shi An won.

• Flender arrived to defend Dai Mubai and accused Shi An of trying to kill him, while Shi An called out Dai Mubai’s attack and attempted abduction.
• Flender revealed his seven Soul Rings and attacked Shi An, who countered with earth-based abilities but found Flender’s Soul Saint strength formidable.
• Flender proposed that Shi An join Shrek Academy if he failed to withstand him for one incense stick, while promising not to pursue Dai Mubai’s matter if Shi An won.
• Shi An accepted the wager on the condition that Dai Mubai apologize, and Flender agreed before the two prepared to fight.

Shi An trapped Flender inside an earthen barrier and unleashed a relentless series of earth-based attacks, putting the Soul Saint under pressure. Flender defended himself with his sixth Soul Skill as Shi An’s shrinking arena and hardened quicksand continued to close in.

• Shi An raised a massive earthen barrier around himself and Flender, preventing the onlookers from watching their battle.
• Shi An trapped Flender in a Quicksand Vortex and attacked with chains, Earth Spikes, and earthen spears.
• Flender used his Fourth Soul Skill, Cat Claw Blades, to shatter the incoming stone attacks, then used his Fifth Soul Skill, Gale Annihilation, to destroy Shi An’s Puppet Snake.
• Shi An summoned another Puppet Snake, accelerated the quicksand, and shrank the barrier to restrict Flender’s movement.
• Shi An sent a huge earthen hand and twin curved blades at Flender, who activated his Sixth Soul Skill, Golden Feather Guard, and was pressed toward the ground.
• Shi An turned the quicksand into a hardened spiral grinder as Flender’s golden feather shell resisted the attacks.

Shi An escaped Flender’s attack by unleashing a massive wave of earth, then secretly took Zhu Zhuqing away from Soto City. They headed toward a small town in the wilderness while Dai Mubai woke to find his storage soul tool missing and his hair hacked short.

• Shi An’s earth attack raised a towering wave that swept through the street, burying the area and causing the bystanders to flee.
• Shi An pulled Zhu Zhuqing underground and carried her through an earth passage, taking Dai Mubai’s storage soul tool as he escaped.
• Shi An emerged with Zhu Zhuqing in a wilderness about a hundred li northwest of Soto City and said they would look for a nearby town.
• Shi An told Zhu Zhuqing that Flender had used his Martial Soul True Body against him, and she held back further questions.
• Dai Mubai woke in an alley with a bump on his forehead, discovered his hair had been cut short, and rushed away after shouting in anger.

Shi An helped Zhu Zhuqing absorb an External Soul Bone, which raised her Soul Power to Level 30. As she thanked him and massaged him, he questioned the Zhu Clan’s fixed Soul Ring rules and explained how they might preserve the Star Luo Imperial Family’s advantage.

• Spirit Hall took Flender into detention for half a month and fined him for the street’s reconstruction.
• In Hammers Town, Zhu Zhuqing absorbed the fiery red External Soul Bone while Shi An watched over her.
• The Spirit Bone fused with Zhu Zhuqing’s left palm, producing five sharp claws and raising her Soul Power to Level 30.
• Zhu Zhuqing thanked Shi An, then massaged him as they discussed her choice of a third Soul Ring.
• Shi An argued that the Zhu Clan’s fixed Soul Ring rules favored the Star Luo Imperial Family and kept control of the Martial Soul Fusion Skill with the White Tiger owner.

Shi An warned Zhu Zhuqing that the Star Luo Empire’s prescribed Soul Rings might be intended to keep the White Tiger Martial Soul in control, then took her to the Star Dou Great Forest to seek a stronger Soul Ring. They reached a dark corner of the forest and settled into a stone shelter for the night, where Zhu Zhuqing’s hunger embarrassed her.

• Shi An told Zhu Zhuqing that the Star Luo Empire’s rules for Soul Rings might secretly preserve the White Tiger Martial Soul’s control over their fusion skill, and promised to help her choose better rings.
• Shi An and Zhu Zhuqing traveled to the Star Dou Great Forest, where Zhu Zhuqing agreed to abandon her clan’s standardized Soul Rings and pursue her own strength.
• Shi An and Zhu Zhuqing rode the Puppet Snake into a gloomy habitat for dark-attribute Soul Beasts, and Shi An killed a black venomous snake that attacked them.
• As night fell, Shi An made a stone shelter rise from the ground and prepared a fish soup over a bonfire.
• Zhu Zhuqing’s stomach growled as she smelled the soup, and she blushed in embarrassment.

Shi An and Zhu Zhuqing continued searching the Star Dou Great Forest for a suitable Soul Beast when a Man Faced Demon Spider attacked them. Shi An killed it with earth-based powers, leaving Zhu Zhuqing amazed by his strength.

• Shi An and Zhu Zhuqing traveled through the forest, searching at their own pace for a suitable Soul Beast.
• A Man Faced Demon Spider approached them, and Shi An recognized it as likely more than two thousand years old.
• The spider attacked by spitting a poisonous web, but Shi An countered with a beast made of rock and soil.
• Shi An bound the spider with stone chains and weighted stones, then killed it with a giant rock sword.
• Zhu Zhuqing admired Shi An's power and wondered what his Martial Soul was.

Shi An found an External Soul Bone in the Man Faced Demon Spider and helped Zhu Zhuqing hunt a Death Demon Tiger for its Soul Ring. Meanwhile, Yu Xiaogang arrived in Suotuo City to confront Spirit Hall over Flender’s detention, but the guards refused to let him in.

• Shi An dissected the Man Faced Demon Spider and recovered a purplish-black External Soul Bone while Zhu Zhuqing watched.
• Shi An trapped a sixteen-hundred-year-old Death Demon Tiger with Earth Spikes, and Zhu Zhuqing killed it and began absorbing its Soul Ring.
• Yu Xiaogang heard rumors about Flender’s loss to Shi An and learned that Flender was being held at Spirit Hall’s detention center.
• Yu Xiaogang demanded that the Suotuo City hall master come out to welcome him, but the guards mocked him and turned him away as the Shrek Academy group watched.

Yu Xiaogang used his Elder token to secure Flender’s release from Spirit Hall, where Flender learned that Shi An had not joined Shrek Academy. In the Star Dou Great Forest, Zhu Zhuqing completed her third Soul Ring and revealed a Soul Skill that drained the life from a tree.

• Yu Xiaogang showed the guards his Elder token, forced them to apologize, and entered Spirit Hall with the Shrek group.
• The Spirit Hall master released Flender after seeing Yu Xiaogang’s token, and Flender reunited with Yu Xiaogang.
• Flender learned that Shi An had not registered at Shrek Academy and described his battle with Shi An, claiming the boy could rival a Soul King.
• Zhu Zhuqing finished absorbing her third Soul Ring and broke through to level 32.
• Zhu Zhuqing tested her new Soul Skill, sending a black slash into a tree that withered completely as its life was drained.

After Zhu Zhuqing tested her new soul skill, Shi An took her to Heaven Dou City to join Heaven Dou Imperial Academy and seek a path to Dugu Bo. They settled into a purchased courtyard, then registered at the Heaven Dou Great Spirit Arena, where Shi An faced a veteran fighter as Zhu Zhuqing waited for her turn.

• Zhu Zhuqing explained that her third soul skill, Withered Demon Slash, drained an enemy’s vitality, spirit, and energy, and Shi An praised its potential to grow with her strength.
• Shi An and Zhu Zhuqing traveled to Heaven Dou City, where he planned to join Heaven Dou Imperial Academy and approach Dugu Yan and Dugu Bo.
• After finding that homes were sold rather than rented, Shi An used Dai Mubai’s gold soul coins to buy a courtyard, and Zhu Zhuqing gave him the money she had brought from the Zhu Clan.
• Shi An decided to take Zhu Zhuqing to the Great Spirit Arena to improve her combat skills, and they registered for one-on-one and two-on-two spirit battles under the names Tuofu and Cool Mimi.
• Shi An concealed his real strength and registered as a level 31 Soul Elder before taking the platform to face Clearwind Swordsman, a level 39 fighter with an Azure Wind Sword martial soul.

Shi An stunned the Heaven Dou Great Spirit Arena by defeating his opponent with a stone pillar and then encouraged Zhu Zhuqing before her match. Zhu Zhuqing gained the upper hand against the Bloodburst Madman, ending the chapter as her Withered Demon Slash struck from behind.

• Shi An declared himself an assault-, defense-, and control-type Soul Master, then defeated the Clearwind Swordsman with a stone pillar.
• The host announced Tuofu as the winner, and the spectators argued over whether the match had been fixed.
• Shi An returned to Zhu Zhuqing, praised her, and wished her luck before her match.
• Zhu Zhuqing faced the Bloodburst Madman, whose lewd remarks prompted her to summon her martial soul and reveal three soul rings.
• Zhu Zhuqing dodged the Bloodburst Madman's axe attacks until his soul skill weakened, then appeared behind him and unleashed Withered Demon Slash.

Zhu Zhuqing quickly defeated a large opponent in her solo battle, then joined Shi An for a two-vs-two match against the Leopard-Cat Combination. Shi An and Zhu Zhuqing won after Shi An knocked Cat Woman off the stage and Zhu Zhuqing struck Leopard Woman, who conceded once she saw her sister was safe.

• Zhu Zhuqing defeated the big man with a single attack that drained his soul power, then returned to Shi An.
• Shi An and Zhu Zhuqing were called to Spirit Battle Arena No. 12 to face Leopard Woman and Cat Woman.
• Leopard Woman and Cat Woman charged Shi An together, but he shattered the stage and launched a stone pillar that knocked Cat Woman off the stage.
• Leopard Woman attacked Shi An with her third soul skill, but he dodged her strikes and Zhu Zhuqing hit her with Netherworld Hundred Claws.
• Cat Woman recovered outside the stage, and Leopard Woman conceded after confirming her sister was safe.

Shi An and Zhu Zhuqing’s growing fame at the Great Spirit Arena drew the attention of Qin Ming and Heaven Dou Imperial Academy’s elite students. Qin Ming arranged matches against them, and Shi An began a highly anticipated fight with Yu Tianheng.

• Shi An and Zhu Zhuqing continued winning at the Great Spirit Arena and became known as the Night Hunt Twin Stars.
• Qin Ming told Heaven Dou Imperial Academy’s students about the two young Soul Elders and proposed taking them to the arena for matches.
• Yu Tianheng volunteered to fight Shi An, while Ao Siluo chose Zhu Zhuqing; Qin Ming also paired Yu Tianheng with Dugu Yan for a two-on-two match.
• Shi An sensed powerful auras in the private room and suspected that his pairing with Yu Tianheng had been arranged deliberately.
• Shi An and Yu Tianheng entered the packed arena as the host called for them to release their martial souls.

Shi An defeated Yu Tianheng in the Soul Battle without releasing his martial soul, using control over the earth to overwhelm him. Yu Tianheng was left badly injured and unable to move as Shi An walked away.

• Yu Tianheng released his Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon martial soul and attacked after Shi An refused to release his own.
• Shi An blocked Yu Tianheng’s opening strike with a giant stone fist, leaving Yu Tianheng stunned by his strength.
• Shi An taunted Yu Tianheng and evaded his next attack, then struck him with a stone pillar.
• Shi An sent a towering wave of earth rolling over the stage and buried Yu Tianheng beneath it.
• Shi An left the stage while Yu Tianheng lay conscious but unable to move, struggling to understand his defeat.

Shi An defeated Yu Tianheng, and Zhu Zhuqing then faced Ao Siluo in a spirit battle. Zhu Zhuqing overcame Ao Siluo’s speed and doppelgängers with Withered Demon Slash, leaving him defeated on the arena.

• Ye Lingling healed Yu Tianheng after his battle with Shi An, and Yu Tianheng admitted that Shi An was extremely strong.
• Qin Ming sent Ao Siluo to fight next, and Shi An warned Zhu Zhuqing that her opponent might be from the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy Team.
• Zhu Zhuqing learned that Ao Siluo, rather than Dugu Yan, would be her opponent and went to the arena.
• Ao Siluo used his speed to evade Zhu Zhuqing’s attacks, but his stamina gradually ran low.
• Ao Siluo unleashed Leopard Shadow Doppelgänger, and Zhu Zhuqing struck the real Ao Siluo with Withered Demon Slash, draining his spirit power and defeating him.

After defeating Yu Tianheng and Ao Siluo in the arena, Shi An and Zhu Zhuqing met Crown Prince Xue Qinghe, who was secretly Qian Renxue. Qian Renxue offered to arrange their admission to Heaven Dou Imperial Academy if they became her retainers, and Shi An pretended to be tempted while welcoming the chance to join openly.

• Qin Ming and Ye Lingling checked on Ao Siluo after the match, and the host announced Shi An and Zhu Zhuqing's victory.
• With Yu Tianheng injured, Shi An and Zhu Zhuqing easily won their two-on-two match against two ordinary Soul Sovereigns.
• A golden-armored guard escorted Shi An and Zhu Zhuqing to meet Crown Prince Xue Qinghe, whom Shi An recognized as Qian Renxue in disguise.
• Qian Renxue said she wanted to befriend the pair, while Shi An and Zhu Zhuqing stayed wary and played along with her conversation.
• Qian Renxue offered to arrange their entry into Heaven Dou Imperial Academy if they joined the Crown Prince's Residence as retainers, and Shi An feigned excitement.

Shi An and Zhu Zhuqing joined Heaven Dou Imperial Academy after Qian Renxue sent them an admission notice. At the academy, Shi An saw Qin Ming's exhausting training method and questioned its value.

• Shi An pretended to be drunk and tried to spend the night with Qian Renxue, who left him in Zhu Zhuqing's care.
• After Qian Renxue departed, Shi An revealed that he had never been drunk and said he had played along with her act.
• A guard delivered an admission notice from Qian Renxue, and Shi An and Zhu Zhuqing went to Heaven Dou Imperial Academy to enroll.
• Qin Ming brought the new students to the training ground, where Shi An saw the academy team running while carrying stones.
• Qin Ming defended the training method as the one that had helped him become a Soul Emperor in his thirties, while Shi An judged it worthless.

Shi An challenged Qin Ming’s exhausting training methods, warning that they could permanently damage the students’ meridians and limit their cultivation. Dugu Bo and Yu Tianheng’s father confirmed signs of harm, and as Qin Ming returned with the education committee, an enraged Dugu Bo arrived to confront him.

• Shi An argued that Qin Ming’s training could damage the students’ bodies and meridians, while Qin Ming angrily threatened to report him to the education committee and the Crown Prince.
• Dugu Yan told Dugu Bo what had happened, and he examined her meridians, found signs of constriction and distortion, and carried her away in a fury.
• Yu Tianheng’s father examined him, and several other families found similar concerns, stirring unrest across Heaven Dou City.
• Qian Renxue heard a report of the confrontation, and Uncle She agreed that Shi An’s claims about bodily damage were plausible.
• Qin Ming returned to the training grounds with the three education committee members as Dugu Bo roared from the sky, demanding Qin Ming’s life.

Dugu Bo attacked Qin Ming after learning that Dugu Yan’s meridians were atrophying, and the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy Team’s families arrived to demand answers about their injured children. The gathered crowd turned to Shi An for a possible remedy, and he asked whether Auntie Ye had already healed Ye Lingling.

• Dugu Bo accused Qin Ming of endangering Dugu Yan and struck him with soul power, leaving Qin Ming badly injured.
• Qin Ming suggested Dugu Yan might have had a preexisting problem, and Dugu Bo angrily rejected the claim.
• The Heaven Dou Imperial Academy Team and their families arrived, and the families demanded that the education committee explain how to treat their children’s injuries.
• Meng Shenji urged everyone to focus on treating the students first and said Qin Ming’s case would be reported to Xue Ye the Great.
• Dugu Bo asked Shi An whether he could resolve the students’ problems, and Shi An asked Auntie Ye if she had healed Ye Lingling.

Ye Lingling’s mother healed the students injured by Qin Ming, who was imprisoned and died in his cell. After Qian Renxue delivered Xue Ye’s reward to Shi An, Shi An explained Whale Rubber’s true benefits to Zhu Zhuqing and revealed his extraordinary Soul King cultivation.

• Ye Lingling’s mother agreed to heal the students’ meridian damage, ending the crisis caused by Qin Ming’s actions.
• Xue Ye had Qin Ming imprisoned and interrogated, and Qin Ming later ended his own life in his cell.
• Xue Qinghe, secretly Qian Renxue, visited Shi An with a baron title, ten thousand Gold Soul Coins, and premium ten-thousand-year Whale Rubber as a reward from Xue Ye.
• After Qian Renxue left, Zhu Zhuqing offered herself to Shi An, but he teased her and explained that Whale Rubber could strengthen the body when consumed whole.
• Shi An released his Soul Power and five Soul Rings, astonishing Zhu Zhuqing with his Soul King rank and two black Soul Rings.

Shi An helped Zhu Zhuqing absorb Ten-Thousand-Year-quality Whale Rubber, strengthening her body and raising her Soul Power to Level 34. Two days later, new mentor Chen Kui imposed a revised training plan and urged Shi An to reveal his martial soul and soul skills, threatening to expose the secrets he had concealed.

• Shi An explained that Whale Rubber could strengthen Zhu Zhuqing's body and bring her closer to absorbing a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Ring.
• Zhu Zhuqing endured the Whale Rubber's painful energy as it repaired and strengthened her meridians, then broke through from Level 32 to Level 34.
• Shi An and Zhu Zhuqing spent the night together after her breakthrough.
• Two days later, retired Soul Saint Chen Kui introduced himself as the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy team's new mentor and replaced its old training plan with sparring, afternoon cultivation, and evening spirit battles.
• Chen Kui asked Shi An to use his martial soul and soul skills so the team could understand him, but Shi An worried this would reveal his concealed Soul Power and Ten-Thousand-Year Fourth Soul Ring.