Chapter Summaries

Zhang Lexuan pondered Xuan Zi’s cryptic advice after he helped secure her freedom. Yue Ling arrived for his final Shrek Inner Court assessment, where Xuan Zi explained the dangers and responsibilities of joining; Yue Ling reaffirmed his oath and revealed his determination to avenge his family and village.

• Xuan Zi told Zhang Lexuan he had helped her as much as he could, then left her reflecting by Sea God Lake.
• Yue Ling left Gongyang Mo asleep and headed to the Soul Fighting District for his final Inner Court assessment.
• Xuan Zi explained that many Inner Court students had died defending the Douluo Continent, and that joining meant accepting a heavy responsibility.
• Xuan Zi asked Yue Ling to recall his oath and the conditions for becoming his final disciple.
• Yue Ling recited his promises to protect Shrek and join the Shrek Inspection Team to hunt Evil Soul Masters.
• Yue Ling recalled his desire to avenge Hundred Flowers Village, his parents, and himself, and silently included Tang San in his vendetta.

Xuan Zi explained the Shrek Inspection Team’s oversight duties and the dangers of its assignments, then asked Yue Ling to accept an inspection mission. Yue Ling committed himself to hunting Evil Soul Masters and avenging the dead, and received his Inspector’s Ring as he prepared to begin.

• Xuan Zi explained that Shrek Inner Court disciples served as Inspectors who dealt with evil spirit masters and dangerous cases beyond the nations’ control.
• Xuan Zi told Yue Ling that each Inspector had to complete thirty assignments and warned that the work could cost him his life.
• Yue Ling said he had waited seven years and vowed to eliminate Evil Soul Masters and avenge his family and other victims.
• Yan Shaozhe gave Xuan Zi an Inspector’s Ring, and Xuan Zi placed it in Yue Ling’s hand.
• Xuan Zi explained that Yue Ling could bind the ring with his blood and find Inspector equipment, including clothes, a mask, a cloak, and rescue flares inside.

Yue Ling received an Inspection Corps mission to rescue villagers in Windbell Village and eliminate the Evil Soul Masters responsible for their disappearances. As he and Yan Shaozhe set out with Xuan Zi, a hidden enemy learned of their departure and ordered them secretly followed.

• Xuan Zi explained the Signal Flare and Yan Shaozhe briefed Yue Ling on the mission to rescue villagers in Windbell Village and defeat the suspected Evil Soul Masters.
• Yue Ling agreed to the mission, and Yan Shaozhe and Xuan Zi took him toward the Spirit Mountain Range.
• A black-robed figure reported to a hidden presence that the Holy Son had left Shrek Academy with two elders.
• The presence decided to bring its plan forward and ordered the black-robed figure to report back and quietly arrange surveillance of the group.

Xuan Zi and Yan Shaozhe brought Yue Ling to the woods near Lingdou City, where his individual assessment began. As Yue Ling headed toward Windbell Village in his Inspector’s gear, a mother and child hiding there were discovered by a creature with scarlet eyes.

• Xuan Zi and Yan Shaozhe flew Yue Ling past Lingdou City and left him in the woods south of Windbell Village to begin his individual assessment.
• Yue Ling bound the Inspector’s Ring, equipped the armor and dark green uniform inside it, and entered the woods.
• In Windbell Village, a mother reassured her son as they hid in a cellar and waited for his missing father.
• A creature with scarlet eyes found the mother and child, and their screams were followed by silence.

Yue Ling searched the devastated Windbell Village for survivors and found a terrified boy whose mother had been taken. To draw out the Evil Soul Masters, he revealed his Martial Soul and called for the villagers to gather, and an old man came out to meet him.

• Yue Ling inspected Windbell Village and judged that the Evil Soul Masters had attacked within the past two days and were likely hiding outside the village.
• Yue Ling searched the first several houses and found no one, then discovered a little boy hiding in a cellar.
• The boy told Yue Ling that his mother had been taken and his father had not returned, so Yue Ling told him to stay hidden and keep quiet.
• Yue Ling summoned his singular velvet sky chrysanthemum and loudly called for any surviving villagers to come out.
• An old man emerged, and Yue Ling invited him to gather the other survivors so he could take them to Lingdou City.

Yue Ling killed two of the nine Evil Soul Masters threatening Windbell Village and protected an old man from their attacks. He began questioning the old man about the village’s situation while the other attackers remained a threat.

• The old man warned Yue Ling that nine Evil Soul Masters were nearby, and one attacked him to silence him.
• Yue Ling used his Third Soul Skill to kill the ambusher and shielded the old man with chrysanthemum blades.
• Yue Ling provoked another Evil Soul Master into revealing himself, then pinned him to the ground with his blades.
• The old man knelt to thank Yue Ling, who helped him up and asked him to explain the situation in the village.

Yue Ling learned from the Windbell Village Chief that Evil Soul Masters had abducted most of the villagers and taken them toward the Spirit Mountain Range. He began gathering the survivors and resolved to protect them before tracking down the Evil Soul Masters' hideout.

• The Windbell Village Chief told Yue Ling that the Evil Soul Masters had abducted villagers in groups and that people sent to seek help had never returned.
• Yue Ling reassured the Windbell Village Chief, learned the abductors likely went to the Spirit Mountain Range, and asked him to gather the survivors.
• Yue Ling told the Windbell Village Chief to bring a boy from the fourth house to the east and to move everyone somewhere safe.
• The Windbell Village Chief and other villagers searched the houses while Yue Ling kept watch over the captured Evil Soul Master.
• Yue Ling considered prioritizing the survivors' safety and resolved to make the Evil Soul Masters pay for their crimes.

Yue Ling led Windbell Village’s surviving elders and children toward Lingdou City, planning to use their evacuation to draw the Evil Soul Masters out. In their mountain hideout, the Evil Soul Masters’ boss waited impatiently for the missing men and prepared to send others to investigate if they did not return.

• Yue Ling decided to evacuate the villagers after failing to get information from the Evil Soul Master he had captured and killed.
• A little boy protested that he wanted to wait for his parents, and an elderly villager slapped him and insisted the group had to leave.
• Yue Ling told the villagers their parents were likely dead, blamed the Evil Soul Masters, and warned that the villains might investigate if no one was delivered within two hours.
• Yue Ling and the village chief led the survivors toward Lingdou City, with Yue Ling hoping the Evil Soul Masters would come looking for him.
• The Evil Soul Masters’ boss complained that Ninth and Seventh had not brought food, while Third, Eighth, and Sixth discussed sending scouts if the pair did not return.

Yue Ling led the exhausted villagers toward Lingdou City and hid them in a cave, concealing their tracks so he could face the pursuing Evil Soul Masters alone. Old Six returned to report the deaths of Old Nine and Old Seven, while Old Eight stayed behind to search for survivors.

• Old Six identified Old Nine and Old Seven as dead, then left to report to the boss while Old Eight searched the village and its surroundings.
• Yue Ling hurried the villagers onward, expecting the Evil Soul Masters to pursue them after losing their source of blood.
• Yue Ling found a cave and ordered the villagers to hide inside, stay quiet, and wait until the danger passed.
• Yue Ling covered the cave entrance, erased the villagers’ tracks, and waited for the Evil Soul Masters to arrive.

Oldest learned that the villagers and their penned prey had disappeared, then led his Evil Soul Masters after the villagers toward Lingdou City. Meanwhile, Xuan Zi and Yan Shaozhe watched Yue Ling approach a confrontation with the group, and Xuan Zi chose to let the young inspection officer face them.

• Oldest arrived at the village, found Old Seven and Old Nine dead, and ordered his subordinates to search for clues.
• Old Five found the villagers' footprints leading toward Lingdou City, and Oldest set out with his subordinates to catch them.
• Xuan Zi asked about changes around Shrek City and explained that he and Yan Shaozhe had left with Yue Ling to draw out the shadowy organization behind the Evil Soul Masters.
• Yan Shaozhe detected six Evil Soul Masters approaching Yue Ling, including a Soul King, and urged Xuan Zi to move closer.
• Xuan Zi refused to intervene, saying Yue Ling could handle the enemies and deserved the chance to fight Evil Soul Masters.

Yue Ling confronted the leader of a group of Evil Soul Masters, whose fear of the Shrek Inspection Team conflicted with his confidence in his numbers. After Old Eight’s attack failed against Yue Ling’s first soul skill, the six Evil Soul Masters surrounded him, giving him a chance to test another skill.

• Yue Ling revealed his five spirit rings, including two Ten Thousand Year rings, and the Evil Soul Master leader recognized him as a member of the Shrek Inspection Team.
• The leader’s five subordinates arrived, and he tried to bargain with Yue Ling while secretly watching for hidden allies.
• Old Eight ignored the leader’s caution and charged Yue Ling with his third soul skill, Bloodthirst.
• Yue Ling activated Heavenly Chrysanthemum Body Protection and blocked Old Eight’s strike without a scratch, sending him tumbling back.
• The six Evil Soul Masters charged Yue Ling, who prepared to test another soul skill.

Yue Ling fought off six Evil Soul Masters, killing Fourth with a single punch and holding the others at bay with his martial soul and soul skills. As he battled their leader, the hidden Second prepared to intervene.

• Yue Ling used Indestructible Diamond and Monarch Descends Upon the World to counter Fourth’s charge, killing him with a punch.
• The Evil Soul Masters’ leader attacked Yue Ling with his Blood Spikes while the remaining four closed in around him.
• Yue Ling sent chrysanthemum blades to fend off the attackers at his sides and rear, then used Falling Blossom Storm to clash with the leader’s spikes.
• The leader called for Second to help, and Second answered as Yue Ling kept his guard up while controlling the blades.

Yue Ling fought six Evil Soul Masters and was caught in the second-in-command’s mental oscillation attack while their leader fed on a dead companion to restore his strength. Elsewhere, a mysterious lord ordered his follower to replace the people watching Shrek and warned him about the consequences of being discovered.

• Yue Ling held off the Evil Soul Masters with his Chrysanthemum Blades while confronting their leader.
• The second-in-command used his bell’s Fourth Soul Skill, Oscillation, and trapped Yue Ling in a zone of mental attacks that hindered Soul Skills.
• The Evil Soul Masters’ leader withdrew from the clash, drank his dead companion’s blood, and restored some of his Soul Power.
• The leader chose to attack Yue Ling, hoping to kill him and use his blood to break through to the Soul Emperor realm.
• A black-robed follower reported that the target had left Shrek Academy, and his lord told him to replace the current observers and send new people to watch Shrek.

Yue Ling discovered that the Evil Soul Masters’ spiritual attack could not affect him, then used its range against them and charged into their ranks. He decapitated the Soul Skill’s caster with his Fourth Soul Skill, while the other attackers remained stunned by the shock.

• Yue Ling realized the Spirit Immunity Guardian Skull had protected him from the spiritual attack, while the Evil Soul Masters mistook him for immobilized.
• The Evil Soul Master leader ordered his group to attack Yue Ling from a distance, believing the shock effect intensified within five meters of him.
• Yue Ling understood the attack’s range and rushed at the Evil Soul Masters, spreading the shock effect to everyone nearby except its caster.
• Yue Ling used Fourth Soul Skill, Thousand Chrysanthemums Gather Edge, to slash the caster’s neck and decapitate him.

Yue Ling killed a second Evil Soul Master and turned toward the three who remained, while the villagers hiding beneath the cave feared what would happen if he lost. The boy’s cries for his parents threatened to reveal their hiding place to the enemies outside.

• Yue Ling struck at a Soul Elder, missed as the Evil Soul Master dodged, then killed him with a blade through the chest as he tried to flee.
• Yue Ling resolved not to spare any Evil Soul Masters and counted three enemies still alive.
• In the cave, the village chief reassured the frightened villagers that Yue Ling would win.
• The boy cried for his parents, and the villagers tried to silence him to keep the Evil Soul Masters from discovering their hiding place.
• The boy bit an old man who was covering his mouth and shouted that he was going to find his parents.

After a child’s cry revealed the villagers’ hiding place, Yue Ling struggled to defend them while fighting the Evil Soul Masters. One enemy reached the cave entrance and discovered the frightened villagers, leaving them exposed as the battle continued.

• Yue Ling realized the villagers’ cries had exposed their location and worried that the Evil Soul Masters would use them as hostages.
• The Evil Soul Master leader ordered Old Five to drag the villagers out while he and Old Six kept Yue Ling occupied.
• The leader used his fifth soul skill, Blood Qi Expansion, to grow stronger and attack Yue Ling alongside another Evil Soul Master.
• Yue Ling blocked their coordinated attacks but could not break through the leader’s assault or reach the villagers.
• Old Five reached the cave entrance, pulled away its covering, and found a crowd of villagers, who screamed in terror.

Yue Ling used Earth Shatter to pin down two Evil Soul Masters, then dropped the gravity field to launch a rapid attack while the enemies recovered. His shot struck the Evil Soul Master holding the villagers, though its effect was not yet apparent, as Xuan Zi and Yan Shaozhe watched his performance.

• Yue Ling used Earth Shatter to crush the two Evil Soul Masters against the ground, then abandoned the skill when he could not maintain gravity and attack at the same time.
• Yue Ling enhanced himself with Lone Sunset Reflecting Moon and sent Golden Stamen Piercing Ray Strike toward the Evil Soul Master guarding the villagers.
• The Evil Soul Master guarding the villagers was struck in his right arm, but, finding no visible injury or unusual sensation, he dismissed the attack.
• The villagers remained silent and watched Yue Ling with hope as he fought the other enemies.
• Xuan Zi and Yan Shaozhe observed Yue Ling's actions and judged that his performance had effectively secured his admission to the Shrek Inner Court.

Yue Ling fought to turn the battle around despite his dwindling strength and the villagers of Windbell Village being held hostage. When the Evil Soul Master leader’s soul skill wore off and left him momentarily dazed, Yue Ling seized the opening and launched another attack.

• Xuan Zi listened to the battle and judged Yue Ling’s performance on his first mission to be exceptional.
• Yue Ling assessed his exhaustion, the captured villagers, and his chance to detonate the crystal from his third soul skill.
• The Evil Soul Master leader’s fifth soul skill weakened, and he briefly lost his senses as the giant rat’s soul skill wore off.
• Yue Ling struck the dazed leader, breaking both his arms when he tried to block.
• Yue Ling chased the retreating leader and drove a golden-lit fist toward his chest.

Yue Ling negotiated with the Evil Soul Masters over the villagers, offering to let them escape in exchange for eight captives. The villains accepted, unaware that Yue Ling was exhausted and that his oath had left him room to act.

• Yue Ling stopped pursuing the wounded Evil Soul Master and waited while Old Six recovered by drinking blood from a corpse.
• Oldest proposed keeping half the villagers as hostages, and Yue Ling countered by offering eight people, including the child who had revealed their location.
• The Evil Soul Masters demanded an oath against a sneak attack, and Yue Ling swore he would leave the Shrek Inspection Team if he ambushed them.
• Oldest chose the child and taunted him with the promise of going home, while secretly viewing him as prey.
• The villagers watched in despair, blaming the child and Yue Ling as they feared being among the eight chosen to die.

Yue Ling used the crystals from his third Soul Skill to ambush the Evil Soul Masters while they argued over which villagers to take. After killing Old Five and Old Six, he faced the surviving leader, who seized a child as a hostage.

• Yue Ling waited for the Evil Soul Masters to gather while conserving his strength and maintaining control of his crystals.
• The Evil Soul Masters argued over whether to choose children or older villagers, then agreed to select eight people and leave quickly.
• The crystals inside Old Five exploded, killing him and sending blades that struck down Old Six.
• The Evil Soul Master leader realized Yue Ling had launched the attack and accused him of breaking his oath.
• The surviving leader seized a child and pinned them to the ground as a hostage.