Chapter Summaries

After Lin Jiang helped Huyan Zhen recover and secure his apparent loyalty to Spirit Hall, he took Qian Renxue out in Heaven Dou City for an ordinary day together. She shed her disguise, shared her long-suppressed feelings with him, and the chapter ended with them kissing on a bridge.

• Lin Jiang helped Huyan Zhen recover, and Huyan Zhen resolved to follow him while Salas planned to report Lin Jiang's strength to Pope Bibi Dong.
• Xue Qinghe left with Lin Jiang, who took Qian Renxue into a secluded alley and asked her to spend the day with him as an ordinary person.
• Qian Renxue removed her disguise, shyly called Lin Jiang “dear,” and walked through Heaven Dou City holding his hand as they tried street treats and browsed stalls.
• Lin Jiang and Qian Renxue watched the river from a stone bridge, where she cried and thanked him for giving her a happy day.
• Lin Jiang comforted Qian Renxue as she wept against him, and they embraced and kissed beneath the bridge lights.

Lin Jiang fled with Qian Renxue after recognizing Xiao Wu, Ning Rongrong, and Zhu Zhuqing nearby, then used a mission reward to bring Qian Renxue into Return to Ruin Pavilion. The chapter left them alone inside the hidden pavilion, which Lin Jiang presented as a safe place for the two of them.

• Lin Jiang heard Xiao Wu, Ning Rongrong, and Zhu Zhuqing approaching and hurried away with Qian Renxue before they could recognize him.
• Xiao Wu admired Qian Renxue's beauty, while Ning Rongrong wondered whether the man leading her away looked familiar and Zhu Zhuqing watched silently.
• Lin Jiang ordered Qian Renxue's Infiltration System to give her a mission to kiss his cheek, and she completed it.
• The system rewarded Lin Jiang with Return to Ruin Pavilion, a concealed independent space that could be manifested in the real world.
• Lin Jiang brought Qian Renxue into the pavilion, where she marveled at its surroundings and asked where they were.

Lin Jiang and Qian Renxue deepened their relationship through nightly meetings in Return to Ruin Pavilion, while Lin Jiang reached level 63 after absorbing Azure Divine Vine’s sixth soul ring. At Shrek Academy, Ma Hongjun visited Tang San in disguise with food, but a sudden blackout left them frightened and on guard.

• Lin Jiang and Qian Renxue shared an intimate moment in Return to Ruin Pavilion, then began meeting there secretly at night.
• Lin Jiang absorbed Azure Divine Vine’s sixth soul ring, which had surpassed one hundred thousand years, and reached level 63.
• Tang San brooded over Lin Jiang and focused on cultivation in a wooden hut behind Shrek Academy.
• Ma Hongjun sneaked into Tang San’s hut wearing bright, androgynous clothes and brought him a midnight snack, but Tang San ordered him to leave.
• The oil lamp suddenly went out, frightening both men as Tang San readied his hidden weapons in the darkness.
• A gust of wind howled outside, and a loud bang broke the tense silence.

A terrifying figure appeared at the cabin window, and Tang San accidentally struck it with his hidden weapons while he and Ma Hongjun panicked. The two recovered enough to suspect a ghost, then clung to each other for comfort as they faced the darkness.

• A clown-like figure shoved open the cabin window, making Ma Hongjun scream and cling to Tang San.
• Tang San panicked and hurled his hidden weapons at the figure, which grunted, fell outside, and went silent.
• Ma Hongjun noticed Tang San's tears, and Tang San embarrassedly claimed they were cold sweat.
• Ma Hongjun wondered if the figure had been a ghost, renewing Tang San's fear.
• Tang San pulled Ma Hongjun close and insisted his hidden weapons could protect them, and Ma Hongjun hugged him back.

Lin Jiang bound Zhu Zhuyun to a Bodybuilding System, and her first task improved her figure while granting him a reward that strengthened his kidney essence. After a month-long break, the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament began its promotion round at the Royal Knight Corps' garrison outside Heaven Dou City.

• Dai Mubai lay wounded outside the cabin after Tang San's weapons struck him while he tried to scare Tang San and Ma Hongjun.
• Lin Jiang selected Zhu Zhuyun as the eighteenth subsystem candidate, and the Bodybuilding System bound itself to her in her academy dormitory.
• Zhu Zhuyun completed the system's glute-lifting exercise task and was delighted by the improvements to her curves.
• Lin Jiang received feedback rewards for Zhu Zhuyun's success, including optimized body shaping and a kidney essence enhancement.
• A month passed, and the tournament's promotion round began at the Royal Knight Corps' training grounds in an individual knockout format.

At the advancement tournament, Tang San faced Meng Yiran in Shrek Academy’s first match against Exotic Beast Academy. He refused the system’s humiliating mission, but its punishment took control of him, leaving him shaking his head before the laughing crowd.

• The referee announced Shrek Academy’s match against Exotic Beast Academy, and Tang San and Meng Yiran entered the arena as their first contestants.
• Meng Yiran attacked with her snake staff, while Tang San dodged using Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track.
• The Godhood System ordered Tang San to kneel before Meng Yiran, offering one Copper Soul Coin and threatening ten minutes of forced head-shaking if he refused.
• Tang San rejected the mission and continued fighting until the thirty-second deadline passed.
• The system forced Tang San to shake his head uncontrollably, baffling Meng Yiran and drawing laughter from the crowd.

Tang San lost to Meng Yiran after the Godhood System forced him to perform midair splits, and Shrek Academy later won its match against Exotic Beast Academy. That night, Meng Yiran brooded over Tang San’s behavior before her Throwing Knife System tasked her with retrieving a knife from a tree hollow.

• The Godhood System ordered Tang San to perform ten midair splits or become horseshoe-bald, so he leaped and did splits while dodging Meng Yiran’s attacks.
• Meng Yiran struck Tang San between the legs with her snake staff, sending him out of the arena, and the referee declared her the winner.
• Dai Mubai, Ma Hongjun, and the other Shrek Academy contestants defeated Exotic Beast Academy’s remaining members, securing Shrek Academy’s first advancement tournament victory.
• That night, Meng Yiran vented her frustration by throwing Soul-Breaking Throwing Knives at a tree, and one knife fell into a hollow.
• The Throwing Knife System ordered Meng Yiran to retrieve the knife within thirty minutes and offered a slight improvement to her sound-based position detection.

Meng Yiran became trapped in a tree hollow while retrieving her knife, and Lin Jiang took advantage of the situation before she could escape. After he revealed his overwhelming strength, Meng Yiran stopped attacking and agreed to obey him, leaving Lin Jiang to order her back into the hollow.

• Meng Yiran reached into the tree hollow for her throwing knife and became wedged in its entrance.
• Lin Jiang arrived, teased the trapped Meng Yiran, and handled her while pretending to inspect a fruit.
• After pulling Meng Yiran free, Lin Jiang parried her Snake Blade with the Dragon Soar Sword and revealed his powerful soul rings.
• Meng Yiran recognized Lin Jiang's strength, abandoned her revenge, and said he had to take responsibility for her.
• Lin Jiang told Meng Yiran to crawl back into the tree hollow.

Shrek Academy faced Return to Ruin Academy in an advancement match, hoping to erase its recent humiliations by wearing down Lin Jiang. Instead, Zhu Zhuqing entered the arena and revealed she had become a Soul King, then unleashed a terrifying aura as her fight with Dai Mubai began.

• Yu Xiaogang advised Shrek Academy to use a relay strategy to drain Lin Jiang, and Dai Mubai took the first position in the lineup.
• Dai Mubai entered the arena with permanent scars from Tang San's hidden weapons and challenged Return to Ruin Academy.
• Zhu Zhuqing stepped out to face Dai Mubai instead of Lin Jiang or Dugu Yan.
• Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing began the match, and Zhu Zhuqing revealed five soul rings, including a black ten-thousand-year ring.
• Dai Mubai prepared to attack, but Zhu Zhuqing's Netherworld Spirit Cat aura transformed into a cold, murderous force.

Zhu Zhuqing revealed her evolved Annihilation Spirit Cat and overwhelmed Dai Mubai with her new soul skills, defeating him in the first match. She left the arena without continuing to defend it, while Dai Mubai was left injured and devastated.

• Zhu Zhuqing's martial soul had evolved into the Annihilation Spirit Cat, leaving Dai Mubai shocked and fearful.
• Dai Mubai used White Tiger Vajra Transformation to block Zhu Zhuqing's opening attack, but her claws tore through his defenses and wounded him.
• Zhu Zhuqing unleashed Annihilation Shadow Link, whose successive strikes grew stronger and battered Dai Mubai as she calmly turned away.
• Dai Mubai was thrown outside the arena, and the referee declared Zhu Zhuqing the winner.
• Zhu Zhuqing voluntarily gave up her right to defend the arena and returned to Return to Ruin Academy's resting area.

After Zhu Zhuqing left the arena, Jiangzhu faced Tai Long and withstood his attacks using her Profound Armor Shield. Jiangzhu countered with Staff Shockwave, and Tai Long cried out as the shockwave struck him.

• Shrek Academy sent Tai Long to face Return to Ruin Academy after Zhu Zhuqing stepped down.
• Jiangzhu revealed that she was a Level 48 defense-system Battle Soul Ancestor, shocking Tai Long and the audience.
• Tai Long's Explosive Might and repeated punches failed to break Jiangzhu's Profound Armor Shield.
• Tai Long used Giant Spirit Fist, forcing Jiangzhu back half a step and cracking the ground beneath her.
• Jiangzhu struck the ground with Staff Shockwave and hit Tai Long with a close-range blast.

Jiangzhu defeated Tai Long and Ma Hongjun in succession with the Mysterious Heart Guardian Staff, leaving Shrek Academy struggling to respond. When Tang San entered the arena, Jiangzhu withdrew at Lin Jiang’s gesture, enraging Tang San as he prepared for the next opponent.

• Jiangzhu struck Tai Long with Staff Shockwave and knocked him out of the arena, winning the second match.
• Jiangzhu used Black Armor Barrier to block Ma Hongjun’s aerial fire attacks, then hit him with Staff Shockwave and won the third match.
• Yu Xiaogang urged Tang San to take advantage of Jiangzhu’s supposed exhaustion, and Tang San entered the arena.
• Jiangzhu left the arena without facing Tang San after Lin Jiang gestured for her to return.
• Tang San, furious at being ignored, prepared to use Yama's Invitation and Dragon Whisker Needle against Lin Jiang, but another person began walking out from Return to Ruin Academy.

Xiao Wu faced Tang San in the tournament and overwhelmed him with her evolved martial soul and superior strength. After Tang San appeared to surrender, he waited until Xiao Wu turned away, leaving the match's outcome uncertain.

• Xiao Wu entered the arena to face Tang San, who responded with resentment and killing intent.
• Xiao Wu revealed five soul rings and her Soul King strength, shocking the spectators and Shrek Academy.
• Tang San trapped Xiao Wu with Blue Silver Prison, but she slipped through its strands with ease.
• Tang San attacked with the Clear Sky Hammer and Chaotic Wind Hammer Method, but Xiao Wu’s Waist Bow struck the hammer aside and forced him back.
• Xiao Wu told Tang San to surrender, and he appeared to agree before she turned toward her teammates.
• Someone from Return to Ruin Academy shouted for Xiao Wu to watch her back.

Xiao Wu survived Tang San’s forbidden sneak attack and defeated him with her Explosive Eight-Stage Throw after he launched a reckless barrage of hidden weapons. The crowd demanded Shrek Academy’s punishment, and Xue Ye prepared to decide its fate.

• Tang San secretly attacked Xiao Wu with Yama’s Invitation, but her Invincible Golden Body deflected the poisoned weapon.
• The audience condemned Tang San for using a forbidden hidden weapon, and Xue Ye and Ning Fengzhi reacted with anger and concern.
• Tang San lost control and fired hidden weapons indiscriminately, while Xiao Wu teleported behind him and struck him with her Explosive Eight-Stage Throw.
• Xiao Wu’s final kick smashed Tang San into the arena floor, leaving him unconscious and badly injured.
• The crowd booed Shrek Academy and demanded punishment, and the referee went to Xue Ye for instructions.
• Xue Ye judged Tang San’s actions a disgrace to the Heaven Dou Empire and looked over the defeated Tang San and pale Shrek Academy members.

Shrek Academy was disqualified after Tang San’s attack, and Yu Xiaogang vowed to seek Bibi Dong’s help with cultivating his Twin Martial Souls. Two days later, Lin Jiang bound Bibi Dong as his nineteenth Sub-System target, and a system notification sounded in her mind as she slept.

• Xue Ye disqualified Shrek Academy and banned Tang San for life, while Royal Knights removed him and escorted the disgraced team from the arena.
• Yu Xiaogang comforted the injured Tang San, then left for Spirit City to ask Bibi Dong about cultivating Twin Martial Souls.
• After Yu Xiaogang departed, Tang San cursed Lin Jiang and Xiao Wu and forced himself to cultivate despite his injuries.
• Return to Ruin Academy continued its undefeated tournament run as two days passed.
• Lin Jiang used his nineteenth Sub-System binding authorization on Bibi Dong, who heard a mechanical notification while sleeping in Pope Palace.

Bibi Dong completed the Widow System’s first task and discovered that its reward had erased the fine wrinkles around her eyes. The system then directed her to investigate Lin Jiang, while his reward feedback upgraded his Bewitching Touch skill to Level 3.

• The Widow System instructed Bibi Dong to change into a purple nightgown, and she completed the task while half-asleep.
• Bibi Dong saw that the reward had restored the youthful smoothness of her face and wondered whether the experience was real.
• Lin Jiang received feedback from Bibi Dong’s task, upgrading Bewitching Touch to Level 3 and allowing him to activate it through eye contact.
• The next morning, Bibi Dong confirmed her changed appearance and accepted that the system was real.
• The Widow System ordered Bibi Dong to send Lingyuan to secretly investigate Lin Jiang, and Bibi Dong summoned Lingyuan.

Bibi Dong discovered that the system’s purple Eggplant Soul Tool helped her ease her loneliness, while Return to Ruin Academy won the Heaven Dou Division and prepared to travel to Spirit City for the Grand Finals. The chapter left the teams setting out under Crown Prince Xue Qinghe’s escort as Spirit Hall imposed strict entry rules for the tournament.

• Lingyuan Douluo left Pope Palace to secretly investigate Heaven Dou City, and Bibi Dong received a purple Eggplant Soul Tool from the system.
• Bibi Dong cautiously activated the Soul Tool, then gradually used it to find relief from the pressures of her position and her loneliness.
• Return to Ruin Academy finished the Qualifying Tournament undefeated and claimed first place in the Heaven Dou Division.
• Xue Ye named Crown Prince Xue Qinghe as his representative and envoy for the Grand Finals, and Lin Jiang exchanged a knowing look with him, recognizing Qian Renxue.
• Three days later, Xue Qinghe led the fifteen Heaven Dou teams, academy staff, and five hundred Royal Knight Corps soldiers toward Spirit City.
• Spirit Hall designated Spirit City as the Grand Finals venue and barred anyone who was not a Soul Master from entering during the tournament.

On the night before departure, Lin Jiang comforted Meng Yiran and promised they would meet again, then encountered Lingyuan Douluo spying on them. He used Bewitching Touch to weaken her, but she transformed with her Martial Soul True Body to break free.

• Meng Yiran worried that their academies' results would separate her and Lin Jiang, and he promised they would meet again and that he would seek to make the Unrivaled Dragon Snake Clan his affiliate.
• Lin Jiang and Meng Yiran went into the tree hollow together, but he soon heard someone rustling in the branches above them.
• Lin Jiang spotted a black-clad woman, and she accused him of disgraceful behavior while he mocked her for spying.
• Meng Yiran called for help from inside the hollow, and Lin Jiang recognized the woman as Lingyuan Douluo when she summoned her Blazing Spirit Kite.
• Lin Jiang activated Bewitching Touch, leaving Lingyuan Douluo weak and unable to control her soul power.
• Furious, Lingyuan Douluo unleashed her Seventh Soul Skill, Martial Soul True Body, and became a giant flaming Spirit Kite.

Lin Jiang defeated Lingyuan Douluo’s Fire Kite Impact with the Ultimate Fire of his Blazing Prairie Sword, then used his power to make her submit and conceal what happened from the Pope. After Lingyuan left, Lin Jiang retrieved Meng Yiran and returned quietly to Return to Ruin Academy’s camp.

• Lingyuan Douluo transformed into her Martial Soul Avatar and attacked Lin Jiang with her fifth Soul Skill, Fire Kite Impact.
• Lin Jiang summoned the Fire God's Sword, Wildfire, and split the attack apart with his Ultimate Fire, weakening Lingyuan through elemental suppression and Bewitching Touch.
• Lin Jiang subdued Lingyuan, who pledged to serve him and agreed to report to the Pope as instructed.
• After Lingyuan departed, Lin Jiang remembered Meng Yiran, retrieved her from a tree hollow, and hurriedly said farewell beneath the dawn light.
• Lin Jiang returned quietly to Return to Ruin Academy’s camp.

Lin Jiang traveled toward Spirit City with Return to Ruin Academy, facing teasing and watchful attention from seven women in his carriage and from rival academies nearby. Meanwhile, Yu Xiaogang reached Spirit City, used an elder’s token to pass the Pope Palace guards, and demanded to see the Pope.

• Crown Prince Xue Qinghe led the Heaven Dou Empire’s academy teams and their guards on the journey to Spirit City.
• Ning Rongrong, Xiao Wu, and Dugu Yan questioned Lin Jiang about his tired appearance, while the other women in the carriage watched him.
• Lin Jiang noticed Huo Wu, Shui Bing'er, Shui Yue'er, Xue Wu, Yu Hairou, Qiu Ruoshui, Gu Qingbo, and Shen Liuyu watching from nearby carriages.
• Yu Xiaogang arrived in Spirit City and headed directly to Pope Palace.
• Yu Xiaogang showed the palace guards his elder’s token, and they knelt before him.
• Yu Xiaogang told the guards to take him to see the Pope.