Chapter Summaries

Summary of the Chapter

1. Key Plot Points

• Bibi Dong is shocked that Jiang Xuan survives her full-force strike despite being only a 40th-rank Soul Master. His Eight Trigrams Furnace martial soul proved incredibly tough.
• Enraged, Bibi Dong becomes even more manic. Dugu Bo shields Jiang Xuan and the children; Chen Xin continues attacking Bibi Dong to keep her occupied.
• Qian Renxue carries Jiang Xuan into the air to escape, but Bibi Dong unleashes her fifth soul skill, “Death Arbitration”, sacrificing half her own life force to create an unblockable black curse that ignores defenses.
• Chen Xin stabs Bibi Dong through the chest, but she shifts just enough to avoid a fatal hit. Laughing, she still launches the curse.
• Chen Xin and Dugu Bo both try to destroy the black mist, but it is immune to physical and soul attacks.
• Qian Renxue attempts to sacrifice herself to block the curse, but Bibi Dong controls the mist to turn mid-air and strike Jiang Xuan, ending the chapter on a cliffhanger.

2. Character Developments

• Bibi Dong: Fully displays her mad, self-destructive ruthlessness—willing to sacrifice half her lifespan just to kill Jiang Xuan.
• Jiang Xuan: Initially relieved after surviving, but quickly realizes he may genuinely die; vulnerable despite his powerful martial soul.
• Qian Renxue: Shows real care for Jiang Xuan, willing to give her own life to protect him—while still making tsundere excuses about needing him alive to remove her side effects.
• Chen Xin: Desperately protective, overdrawing his own life force to unleash a devastating sword strike.
• Dugu Bo: Acts as a guardian, but is powerless against Bibi Dong’s curse.

3. Significant Themes

• Self-sacrifice: Chen Xin and Qian Renxue are both ready to sacrifice themselves to protect someone else.
• Madness vs. reason: Bibi Dong’s irrational, life-risking obsession contrasts with the others’ calculated attempts to escape.
• Mortality and invincibility: Jiang Xuan’s martial soul can block physical force, but not a curse that targets life itself.
• Tsundere affection: Qian Renxue’s denial masks genuine emotional attachment.

4. Character Interactions

• Bibi Dong vs. Chen Xin: Chen Xin gives everything to restrain her; she deliberately takes a non-fatal stab to finish her attack.
• Bibi Dong vs. Jiang Xuan: She mockingly praises his talent while trying to kill him; he is terrified but unable to counter.
• Qian Renxue & Jiang Xuan: She angrily claims she saved him only for practical reasons, then later risks her life for him.
• Dugu Bo & Jiang Xuan: Dugu Bo stays close and tries to protect him, but even he cannot stop the curse.

Chapter Summary: “Looks Like He Was Done For”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jiang Xuan is engulfed by an uncontrollable black mist after the Eight Trigrams Furnace and Banana Sun Fan fail to stop it. The mist penetrates his body and rapidly drains his life force, leaving him unconscious and seemingly near death.
• Qian Renxue and Chen Xin are devastated, while Bibi Dong celebrates, claiming that Jiang Xuan’s death was caused by her Death Arbitration technique.
• Despite her serious injuries from Chen Xin’s earlier attack, Bibi Dong attempts to retreat. Chen Xin considers burning her blood essence to gain enough power to kill Bibi Dong and avenge Jiang Xuan.
• Bibi Dong manipulates Chen Xin’s concern for Jiang Xuan by warning that he may still be alive long enough to hear her final words. This causes Chen Xin to hesitate, allowing Bibi Dong to flee.
• Yue Guan and Qian Daoliu arrive outside the valley. Bibi Dong recognizes Yue Guan—now transformed into a woman—as one of her own and orders them to guard the valley while she returns to Spirit Hall to recover.
• Upon entering the valley, Yue Guan is amazed by the treasures and immortal herbs surrounding the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
• Qian Daoliu recognizes Qian Renxue despite his altered appearance. He reveals that he is her grandfather, and she quickly accepts him.
• Qian Renxue tearfully tells Qian Daoliu that Bibi Dong tried to kill her. After learning that Jiang Xuan was apparently killed by Bibi Dong, she urgently leads Qian Daoliu to him, hoping that the level-ninety-nine Limit Douluo can save his life.

Character Developments

• Jiang Xuan: His normally formidable defenses fail against the black mist, leaving him limp and seemingly on the verge of death. His condition becomes the chapter’s central crisis.
• Qian Renxue: Shows deep emotional attachment to Jiang Xuan and is overwhelmed by grief and fear. Her reunion with Qian Daoliu brings out her vulnerable, childlike side.
• Chen Xin: Her shock at Jiang Xuan’s apparent death turns into intense murderous rage toward Bibi Dong. However, her loyalty and concern for Jiang Xuan also make her vulnerable to Bibi Dong’s psychological manipulation.
• Bibi Dong: Though badly wounded, she remains calculating and ruthless. She uses Jiang Xuan’s condition to escape and is satisfied that her attack may have killed him.
• Qian Daoliu: His transformed appearance initially causes confusion, but he immediately becomes protective of Qian Renxue. His immense strength gives the others renewed hope that Jiang Xuan might still be saved.
• Yue Guan: Her transformation into a woman creates a humorous identity-confusion moment. She remains loyal to Bibi Dong but is also distracted and excited by the rare treasures in the valley.

Significant Themes

• Desperation and apparent loss: Jiang Xuan’s collapse creates the impression that an important character has been killed, emphasizing the fragility of even powerful figures.
• Loyalty and emotional bonds: Qian Renxue and Chen Xin’s reactions show how deeply Jiang Xuan matters to them.
• Manipulation and strategy: Bibi Dong exploits Chen Xin’s concern instead of defeating her outright, demonstrating the importance of psychological warfare.
• Family and protection: Qian Renxue’s reunion with Qian Daoliu highlights their strong familial bond and contrasts with Bibi Dong’s hostility toward her.
• Hope amid crisis: Although Jiang Xuan appears doomed, Qian Daoliu’s arrival introduces the possibility that he can still be rescued.

Important Character Interactions

• Jiang Xuan, Qian Renxue, and Chen Xin: Their concern for Jiang Xuan establishes the emotional core of the chapter.
• Chen Xin and Bibi Dong: Chen Xin wants revenge, but Bibi Dong uses the possibility of Jiang Xuan’s final words to make her hesitate.
• Bibi Dong, Yue Guan, and Qian Daoliu: Bibi Dong orders the newly arrived pair to defend the valley, unaware of their full circumstances and transformations.
• Qian Renxue and Qian Daoliu: Their emotional reunion reveals Qian Renxue’s trust in her grandfather and Qian Daoliu’s fierce protectiveness.
• Qian Renxue and Yue Guan: Yue Guan reacts with alarm when she learns that Jiang Xuan may have been killed, showing that his fate affects more than just Qian Renxue and Chen Xin.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jiang Xuan is severely injured by Bibi Dong's curse, his life hanging by a thread.
• Qian Renxue, Qian Daoliu, and Yue Guan arrive. Qian Daoliu is enraged by Bibi Dong's actions.
• Yue Guan identifies a Lovesick Heartbreak Red plant that could potentially save Jiang Xuan, but it requires pure love to be picked.
• Qian Renxue tries to pick the flower, but it only partially reacts, not enough to be picked.
• Jiang Xuan's Eight Trigrams Furnace activates on its own, pulling him inside and moving towards the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well's spring. The Six-Ding Divine Flame begins to burn away his death aura.

Character Developments

• Jiang Xuan's life is critically endangered due to Bibi Dong's curse.
• Qian Renxue's feelings for Jiang Xuan deepen; she is determined to save him.
• Yue Guan reveals her admiration and affection for Jiang Xuan.

Significant Themes

• Love and affection as a source of power and determination.
• The consequences of jealousy and obsession (Bibi Dong's actions).
• The power of ancient artifacts and divine herbs.

Character Interactions

• Qian Renxue and Jiang Xuan's bond strengthens as she tries to save him.
• Yue Guan's admiration for Jiang Xuan is revealed, adding another layer to their dynamic.
• Qian Daoliu's protective instincts towards Qian Renxue and her chosen path are highlighted.

Key plot points

• Jiang Xuan lies near death after Bibi Dong’s attack drains more than half his life force. His Martial Soul’s Eight Trigrams Furnace shields him, but no one knows whether it can keep him alive.
• Qian Daoliu believes the attack consumes life force and that Jiang Xuan may survive if he can withstand it.
• Yue Guan suggests feeding life-rich Immortal Herbs into the furnace. The furnace accepts them, giving the group a little hope, though they cannot know if the herbs will help.
• Chen Xin offers to remain with Jiang Xuan. Qian Renxue refuses to leave, while Dugu Bo stays and sends Dugu Yan back to the academy.
• Jiang Xuan is conscious but unable to move. He believes the life energy stored from a Millennium Flat Peach will eventually cleanse Bibi Dong’s curse—but, unexpectedly, his recovery takes three years.

Character developments and interactions

• Qian Renxue is focused on saving Jiang Xuan and has lost her sense of loyalty to Spirit Hall, realizing that her years of work for Bibi Dong feel meaningless.
• Yue Guan turns against his former allegiance to Bibi Dong, tired of her broken promises and controlling orders. Gui Mei’s presence alongside him underscores their shared history with Spirit Hall.
• Chen Xin remains devoted to Jiang Xuan and intends to keep watch over him.
• Dugu Bo stays to protect Jiang Xuan and looks after Dugu Yan’s safety and schooling.
• The group bonds around Jiang Xuan, sacrificing valuable herbs and remaining by his side despite uncertainty.

Significant themes

• Hope and sacrifice: The characters give up precious resources and personal obligations for even a chance of saving Jiang Xuan.
• Loyalty and disillusionment: Qian Renxue and Yue Guan begin rejecting their ties to Bibi Dong and Spirit Hall.
• Resilience and delayed recovery: Jiang Xuan’s survival depends on endurance, and his expected quick recovery becomes a three-year ordeal.

Chapter Summary: “Time Flies”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xiao Wu escapes the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well during the chaos and reaches the edge of Sunset Forest without being pursued. She then travels directly to Star Dou Forest, determined to return home and never leave again.
• Traumatized by her ordeal, Xiao Wu rejects her former belief that humans and soul beasts can coexist. She now accepts Jiang Xuan’s view that humans and soul beasts are natural enemies and dismisses her connection with Tang San.
• Flender returns after saying goodbye to Ma Hongjun and Dai Mubai, intending to use Gold Soul Coins to redeem Dai Mubai’s soul ring and recruit him into Shrek Academy. However, he discovers that both boys have been brutally injured and permanently stripped of their ability to experience physical pleasure.
• Flender persuades Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun to live for revenge against Bibi Dong rather than surrender to despair. Motivated by hatred and the desire to become stronger, Dai Mubai agrees to join Shrek Academy, allowing Flender to save the money he had planned to spend.
• Tang San notices Xiao Wu’s disappearance but initially assumes she is safe. The following day, he develops an intense, inexplicable pain in his heart and senses that he may lose her forever. He repeatedly denies the possibility, convincing himself that Xiao Wu is his fated lover; this emotional denial continues for three years.
• Bibi Dong returns to Spirit Hall severely wounded after the battle. She explains the situation to Hu Liena and immediately enters secluded cultivation to heal, since failing to recover could permanently damage her foundation or kill her.
• At the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Ning Fengzhi reassures Ning Rongrong that Jiang Xuan and Sword Douluo will safely return. Rongrong’s questions reveal that she is deeply worried about Jiang Xuan, though she refuses to admit that she misses him.
• Jiang Xuan remains trapped within the Eight Trigrams Furnace. Over six months, his injuries heal, Bibi Dong’s remaining energy disappears, and much of the Millennium Flat Peach’s life force is consumed. His body begins to glow and enters a mysterious transformation, but his consciousness still cannot return to it.
• Three years pass. Jiang Xuan gradually becomes numb and accustomed to his suspended state, reaching his twelfth birthday without yet escaping the furnace or completing his transformation.

Character Developments

• Xiao Wu: Becomes deeply distrustful of humanity after her captivity and escape. She abandons her previous openness toward humans and resolves to live permanently in Star Dou Forest.
• Tang San: His confidence that fate protects Xiao Wu clashes with an instinctive sense that she is in danger. His denial and emotional dependence on her become increasingly evident.
• Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun: Their physical and emotional trauma initially makes them wish for death, but Flender redirects their despair into a desire for revenge and self-improvement.
• Flender: Demonstrates manipulative but effective leadership, using revenge to give the injured boys a reason to survive. He also benefits financially when Dai Mubai chooses to join Shrek without needing his soul ring redeemed.
• Bibi Dong: Despite surviving the battle, she is left seriously injured and forced into prolonged secluded cultivation, temporarily removing her from the wider conflict.
• Ning Rongrong: Her concern for Jiang Xuan becomes clear, even though she masks it with denial and insists she was only asking casually.
• Jiang Xuan: Moves from confidence that he will soon recover to uncertainty and emotional numbness. His body appears to be undergoing a major transformation, but the process remains unexplained.

Significant Themes

• Trauma and disillusionment: Xiao Wu’s suffering destroys her faith in human kindness, while Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun must cope with life-altering injuries.
• Revenge as motivation: Flender turns the boys’ despair into determination, presenting revenge as a reason to continue living and growing stronger.
• Fate versus uncertainty: Tang San relies on the belief that Xiao Wu is protected by destiny, while Jiang Xuan’s fate remains unknown despite signs of miraculous recovery.
• Isolation and separation: Xiao Wu returns to the forest, Bibi Dong retreats into cultivation, Tang San loses contact with Xiao Wu, and Jiang Xuan remains separated from everyone for three years.
• Transformation through suffering: Jiang Xuan’s ordeal may lead to a profound physical evolution, suggesting that extreme danger can become the foundation for greater power.
• The passage of time: The chapter emphasizes how quickly years pass while characters remain trapped in emotional or physical limbo.

Important Character Interactions

• Xiao Wu internally rejects her bond with Tang San and chooses her mother’s warning and Jiang Xuan’s worldview over her former trust in humans.
• Flender speaks with Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun, persuading them to survive and seek revenge rather than die from despair.
• Tang San mentally reassures himself about Xiao Wu, revealing his emotional attachment and inability to accept that she may be in danger.
• Bibi Dong reports to Hu Liena before entering seclusion.
• Ning Rongrong asks Ning Fengzhi and Bone Douluo about Jiang Xuan and Sword Douluo; Ning Fengzhi gently teases and comforts her.
• Qian Renxue remains near Jiang Xuan’s furnace and occasionally cries, showing her deep emotional attachment while Jiang Xuan remains unable to respond.

Chapter Summary: “Exploding Ball Kid”

Plot Points and Events

• After graduating from Nuoding Junior Soul Master Academy, Tang San arrives in Suotuo City on Yu Xiaogang’s advice, intending to enroll at Shrek Academy.
• At the city gate, memories of Xiao Wu’s disappearance overwhelm him. He begs her internally to stop hiding and promises to change if he has hurt her.
• Tang San is interrupted by Dai Mubai, who aggressively orders him to move. Tang San refuses to back down, though he initially tries to avoid unnecessary trouble.
• The locals recognize Dai Mubai as the notorious “Exploding Ball Kid,” a violent bully protected by Shrek Academy’s Soul Saint-level backing. He frequently assaults anyone who crosses him and has a particularly cruel reputation.
• Dai Mubai deliberately seeks a fight, summons his Evil-Eyed White Tiger martial soul, and reveals that he has reached Soul Power Level 41, considerably stronger than expected.
• Tang San, whose cultivation has fallen to Level 27 because of his injuries and emotional turmoil, becomes highly vigilant. Despite the difference in strength, he believes his hidden weapons could allow him to defeat or seriously injure Dai Mubai.
• Tang San gives Dai Mubai one final chance to withdraw, but Dai Mubai interprets this as arrogance and continues provoking him.
• Tang San summons his Blue Silver Grass martial soul and prepares to fight. Dai Mubai laughs at what he considers a worthless martial soul, while the spectators assume Tang San is hopelessly outmatched.

Character Developments

• Tang San: His grief over Xiao Wu remains unresolved, and he continues to blame himself for her disappearance. Although his cultivation is weaker than it should be, his composure, tactical judgment, and confidence in his hidden weapons remain intact. His strict Tang Sect principles also make him view Dai Mubai’s behavior as deserving death.
• Dai Mubai: Three years of emotional and physical suffering have made him more violent and obsessed with cultivation. Unlike his original counterpart, who wasted time pursuing women, this version has reached Level 41 through relentless training and frequent fights. He is arrogant, cruel, and eager to vent his frustration on others.
• The citizens of Suotuo City: They fear Dai Mubai but are also fascinated by the possibility of someone finally challenging him. Their reactions reveal his reputation as an unchecked local tyrant.

Significant Themes

• Grief and guilt: Tang San’s unresolved feelings for Xiao Wu continue to shape his behavior and distract him from cultivation.
• The danger of unchecked power: Dai Mubai’s protection by Shrek Academy allows him to abuse ordinary people without consequences.
• Underestimation and appearances: Dai Mubai and the crowd dismiss Tang San because of his Blue Silver Grass martial soul, setting up a contrast between outward appearance and actual ability.
• Alternate-world consequences: Dai Mubai and Tang San differ significantly from their original versions because of changed experiences—Dai Mubai became stronger through suffering, while Tang San lost cultivation progress through injury and emotional distress.
• Strategy versus raw strength: Tang San faces a major power gap but relies on intelligence, hidden weapons, and combat planning rather than Soul Power alone.

Character Interactions

• Tang San and Dai Mubai immediately clash over a minor obstruction at the city gate.
• Tang San remains verbally restrained at first, while Dai Mubai escalates the encounter into a deliberate challenge.
• Tang San attempts to warn Dai Mubai and offers him an opportunity to retreat, but Dai Mubai’s arrogance prevents him from recognizing the threat.
• Dai Mubai’s mockery of Tang San’s Blue Silver Grass martial soul intensifies the conflict, while the surrounding spectators side emotionally with the possibility that Tang San might finally punish the city’s feared bully.

Chapter Summary: “A Deadly Feud”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Tang San and Dai Mubai continue their confrontation, with the fight rapidly escalating from mockery to a battle with lethal intent.
• Tang San uses Blue Silver Entanglement and Blue Silver Parasite to restrain Dai Mubai, but Dai Mubai easily breaks free because of his superior strength.
• Tang San then fires his Silent Sleeve Arrows, surprising Dai Mubai by piercing his defenses and inflicting pain. The poison, however, is ineffective against Dai Mubai’s powerful vitality.
• Dai Mubai strengthens himself with White Tiger Bodyguard Barrier and White Tiger Vajra Transformation, then launches his fourth soul skill, White Tiger Meteor Shower, intending to kill Tang San.
• Enraged by Dai Mubai’s killing intent, Tang San uses Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track to evade the attack and reveals his concealed weapon, the Godly Zhuge Crossbow.
• The crossbow’s poisoned arrows strike Dai Mubai but fail to seriously injure him because Dai Mubai’s Soul Power is above level forty and his defensive skill is active. Both fighters are shocked: Dai Mubai is humiliated that a weaker opponent breached his defenses, while Tang San realizes his current weapons are insufficient.
• Before the duel can resume, Flender arrives and suppresses the conflict with his overwhelming Soul Power. He immediately recognizes Tang San’s talent and invites him to join Shrek Academy.
• The chapter then shifts to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, where Gu Rong announces that Ning Rongrong has disappeared. Ning Fengzhi remains calm, explaining that Rongrong is old enough to explore the world and has been emotionally affected by the prolonged absence of Jiang Xuan and Sword Douluo.

Character Developments

• Tang San demonstrates calm tactical thinking, combining soul skills, concealed weapons, and movement techniques rather than relying solely on strength. His anger grows when Dai Mubai attempts to kill him, revealing a willingness to use lethal methods when pushed.
• Tang San also recognizes his own limitations. The failure of the Godly Zhuge Crossbow convinces him that he must develop more powerful concealed weapons and gather better materials.
• Dai Mubai is shown to be arrogant, aggressive, and accustomed to overwhelming weaker opponents. His confidence is shaken when Tang San’s hidden weapons penetrate his defenses, though his formidable Soul Power allows him to withstand them.
• Dai Mubai’s behavior also reveals his precarious position: despite his strength, he depends on Flender’s protection because of enemies connected to his past.
• Flender continues his habit of identifying talented Soul Masters and recruiting them for Shrek Academy. His intervention prevents the fight from ending in death.
• Ning Fengzhi appears perceptive and emotionally understanding, recognizing that Rongrong’s disappearance reflects her desire for independence and her distress over missing companions.
• Gu Rong reacts protectively and anxiously to Rongrong’s disappearance, contrasting with Ning Fengzhi’s calm confidence.

Significant Themes

• Pride and humiliation: Dai Mubai’s arrogance turns a minor conflict into a deadly feud, while Tang San’s successful attacks injure Dai Mubai’s pride even when they do not defeat him.
• Hidden strength and underestimated opponents: Tang San’s low Soul Power and ordinary-looking Blue Silver Grass conceal his tactical ability and dangerous weapons.
• Preparation versus raw power: Tang San’s ingenuity allows him to challenge a much stronger opponent, but the failure of the Godly Zhuge Crossbow emphasizes the limits of insufficient equipment.
• The consequences of uncontrolled violence: Both combatants escalate the conflict toward murder, showing how pride and provocation can turn a casual encounter into a life-or-death battle.
• Independence and emotional growth: Rongrong’s departure reflects her transition into adulthood and her need to experience the outside world after years of separation from important figures in her life.

Important Character Interactions

• Tang San and Dai Mubai’s exchange develops from verbal insults into a battle marked by mutual killing intent.
• Dai Mubai repeatedly belittles Tang San as a “country bumpkin,” while Tang San refuses to respond verbally and answers through strategy and action.
• Flender interrupts the duel and immediately shifts his attention toward recruiting Tang San, while Dai Mubai reacts with resentment at Flender’s interference.
• In the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Gu Rong’s alarm over Rongrong’s disappearance is balanced by Ning Fengzhi’s calm explanation that she needs freedom and emotional space.

Key plot points and events

• After three years unconscious, Jiang Xuan wakes inside the Eight Trigrams Furnace and gradually regains control of his body.
• He discovers that three years of tempering by the Six-Ding Divine Flame, combined with medicinal power from the immortal herbs Chen Xin and Qian Renxue placed in the furnace, has greatly strengthened him and solidified his foundations.
• The system had automatically spent his remaining Merit Points to keep his body from being overwhelmed by the herbs’ energy, leaving him with none. Jiang Xuan accepts the loss and resolves to earn more.
• He realizes Chen Xin and Qian Renxue may have stayed near him throughout his coma, then gets up and opens the furnace to leave.

Character developments and interactions

• Jiang Xuan moves from shock and relief at waking to optimism about his improved body. He treats the loss of his Merit Points as manageable, focusing instead on being alive.
• Qian Renxue has remained beside Jiang Xuan for all three years, blaming herself for his condition because he risked himself to protect her from Bibi Dong. She vows to repay him and refuses to deny him any reasonable or unreasonable request if he wakes.
• Chen Xin has also stayed by Jiang Xuan, feeling responsible for failing to protect him. He has avoided contacting the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect because he cannot bear to report Jiang Xuan’s condition, especially given Ning Rongrong’s feelings for him.
• Yue Guan left Spirit Hall and persuaded his close friend Gui Mei to join him in the secluded valley. Gui Mei initially struggled with Yue Guan’s transformation into a woman, but gradually accepted the possibility of staying with him.
• Others, including Dugu Bo and Qian Daoliu, have occasionally left the valley, but Chen Xin and Qian Renxue have not.

Significant themes

• Loyalty and sacrifice: Qian Renxue and Chen Xin’s long vigil shows the depth of their attachment and sense of duty toward Jiang Xuan.
• Guilt and responsibility: Both blame themselves for his near-death state, though for different reasons.
• Renewal after suffering: Jiang Xuan’s ordeal leaves him physically stronger, turning a seemingly wasted three years into a period of growth.
• Acceptance and change: Gui Mei’s gradual response to Yue Guan’s transformation reflects adjustment to unexpected change.

Key plot points and events

• After three years of Jiang Xuan’s coma, Qian Renxue and Chen Xin have learned to live with the uncertainty but still hold on to hope, partly because his Martial Soul remains present.
• Qian Renxue reaches Soul Power Level 74 while staying by Jiang Xuan. Qian Daoliu allows her to remain only on the condition that she keeps up her daily cultivation.
• During meditation, Qian Renxue and Qian Daoliu hear sounds from the Eight Trigrams Furnace. Its sealed door opens, and Jiang Xuan emerges.
• Qian Renxue immediately embraces him, overwhelmed with relief. Jiang Xuan is confused by her affection and by the hostility he senses from the striking woman beside her.
• Qian Renxue introduces the woman as her grandfather, Qian Daoliu. Jiang Xuan recalls that Qian Daoliu’s displeasure may stem from the consequences of Jiang Xuan’s pill: Qian Daoliu was turned into a woman, while his granddaughter appears to have grown attached to Jiang Xuan.
• Qian Daoliu leaves the two to talk. Jiang Xuan can only describe his coma as feeling like a very long dream.
• Chen Xin arrives, visibly relieved and concerned, and Jiang Xuan confirms that he has awakened.

Character developments and interactions

• Qian Renxue has grown deeply attached to Jiang Xuan during his three-year coma. Her relief spills out in tears and repeated embraces, though she steps back when Qian Daoliu tells her to give him space.
• Jiang Xuan awakens disoriented and unaware of how much has changed while he was unconscious. He tries to make sense of Qian Renxue’s affection and Qian Daoliu’s coldness.
• Qian Daoliu remains protective of Qian Renxue and wary of Jiang Xuan, but behaves with restraint, leaving them to speak privately.
• Chen Xin shares in the relief of Jiang Xuan’s return, reinforcing how much his absence has affected those around him.

Significant themes

• Loyalty and perseverance: Qian Renxue and Chen Xin refuse to abandon hope despite three years of uncertainty.
• The cost of waiting: Jiang Xuan’s coma has changed relationships and deepened emotional bonds, even though he is unaware of it.
• Reunion and disorientation: His return brings joy, but also confusion as he must confront a world—and relationships—that have moved on without him.

Chapter Summary: “Killing Two Birds with One Stone”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After recovering from his three-year unconsciousness, Jiang Xuan reunites with Chen Xin and Qian Renxue and learns that everyone still wants an antidote for the gender- and age-altering side effects of the Soul-Gathering Pill.
• Jiang Xuan secretly realizes that the side effects will naturally disappear within roughly half a month, but chooses not to reveal this. Instead, he decides to refine an antidote so he can earn both their gratitude and valuable Merit Points.
• He learns that the immortal herbs around the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well had been depleted, but mysteriously regrew after the Eight Trigrams Furnace released powerful droplets two years earlier. Yue Guan and Dugu Bo have been studying this phenomenon.
• Jiang Xuan shrinks the Eight Trigrams Furnace, attracting everyone’s attention and revealing that he has awakened.
• After meeting the transformed Yue Guan and reacquainting himself with her, Jiang Xuan gathers medicinal herbs and Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast essence blood to make the antidote.
• His first attempt fails, but he succeeds on the third attempt, refining five Origin-Restoring Pills.
• The pills can instantly remove all side effects from a soul master’s body. However, they are ineffective—and potentially harmful—for soul beasts.
• Jiang Xuan distributes the pills. Chen Xin takes hers first and immediately returns to her original form as Sword Douluo. Qian Renxue, Dugu Bo, and Qian Daoliu follow, also receiving their original bodies.
• The system rewards Jiang Xuan with large amounts of Merit Points for distributing the pills: 10,000 for Chen Xin, 10,000 for Qian Renxue, 10,000 for Dugu Bo, and 5,000 for Qian Daoliu.
• Yue Guan retains her pill instead of taking it, appearing suspicious or hesitant. Jiang Xuan reassures her that it has no side effects.

Character Developments

• Jiang Xuan: Regains his composure and demonstrates renewed confidence in alchemy. He becomes more calculating, deliberately withholding the truth about the side effects’ imminent expiration so he can profit from refining the antidote. His successful third attempt also shows his growing mastery of pill refinement.
• Chen Xin: Continues to trust Jiang Xuan completely, taking the pill without hesitation. She is restored to her original form, marking an important personal relief after three years of discomfort.
• Qian Renxue: Still wishes to return to normal and follows Chen Xin’s example by taking the antidote.
• Dugu Bo and Yue Guan: Their transformed appearances remain a source of awkwardness and surprise for Jiang Xuan. Both have spent the past two years investigating the Eight Trigrams Furnace’s mysterious regenerative power.
• Qian Daoliu: Also takes the pill and is restored, though his Merit Point contribution to Jiang Xuan is lower than the others.
• Yue Guan: Shows caution toward the Origin-Restoring Pill, refusing to consume it immediately despite calling Jiang Xuan her benefactor.

Significant Themes

• Profit and opportunism: Jiang Xuan treats the antidote as a chance to benefit both his allies and himself, turning a medical solution into a major source of Merit Points.
• Trust and loyalty: Chen Xin’s unquestioning faith in Jiang Xuan contrasts with Yue Guan’s hesitation.
• Recovery and restoration: The chapter centers on characters reclaiming their original identities and bodies after years of unwanted transformation.
• Mystery and cultivation: The Eight Trigrams Furnace’s ability to regenerate immortal herbs introduces an unresolved supernatural mystery.
• Alchemical growth: Jiang Xuan’s rapid success after only two failures highlights his developing skill and adaptability.

Character Interactions

• Chen Xin and Qian Renxue express concern for Jiang Xuan and remind him of the need for an antidote.
• Yue Guan and Dugu Bo enthusiastically greet Jiang Xuan after his awakening, with Yue Guan explaining their research into the furnace.
• Jiang Xuan recalls Yue Guan’s past gift of a transformed Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast, explaining her gratitude toward him.
• Chen Xin’s immediate use of the pill encourages the others to follow.
• After seeing the successful transformations, Jiang Xuan reassures the hesitant Yue Guan and urges her to trust the pill.

Key plot points and events

• Yue Guan and Gui Mei use the conversation about medicinal herbs to escape an awkward discussion, leaving Jiang Xuan to accept that he may not recover the Merit Points spent on Chrysanthemum Pass’s appearance.
• Three years pass. Jiang Xuan is now twelve and considers using the upcoming Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Tournament as an opportunity to kill Bibi Dong. With Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo no longer aligned with Spirit Hall, he thinks Bibi Dong may be more vulnerable—but recognizes that the plan needs careful preparation.
• Jiang Xuan wants to find a secluded place to absorb a God-Given Spirit Ring and increase his Soul Power, but Chen Xin and Qian Renxue are unlikely to let him go alone. He also needs a plausible explanation for any sudden increase in strength.
• He asks whether Chen Xin has heard of God-Given Spirit Rings. Qian Daoliu explains that they are rewards for completing Divine Trial tasks and asks whether Jiang Xuan has received one.
• Jiang Xuan exchanges Merit Points for a genuine God-Given Spirit Ring, then claims that a divine voice told him he had passed the first of nine trials. Qian Daoliu believes the story and concludes Jiang Xuan has the potential to become a god.
• Eager to secure Jiang Xuan’s connection to the Angel Clan—and, by implication, his granddaughter—Qian Daoliu explains how to use the ring and offers to guard him during its refinement. Jiang Xuan accepts, knowing the Angel Clan’s support could help him oppose Bibi Dong.

Character developments and interactions

• Jiang Xuan shifts from worrying about lost Merit Points to planning his growth and a possible attack on Bibi Dong. He cleverly uses the Divine Trial explanation to conceal the system behind his abilities.
• Qian Daoliu moves from suspicion about Jiang Xuan’s knowledge to enthusiastic belief in his divine potential. He sees Jiang Xuan as a valuable future ally—and a promising match for Qian Renxue—and offers practical help.
• Chen Xin is briefly alarmed when Jiang Xuan calls him “Sword Grandpa,” realizing Jiang Xuan may have known about the pill’s side effects and his altered appearance. He lets the irritation go and answers the question honestly.
• Qian Renxue listens as the revelation of a God-Given Spirit Ring raises the possibility that Jiang Xuan has a divine inheritance.
• Earlier, Yue Guan and Gui Mei cooperate to help Yue Guan avoid an uncomfortable exchange with Jiang Xuan.

Significant themes

• Deception and improvisation: Jiang Xuan turns a system reward into a convincing cover story.
• Power, ambition, and risk: He seeks to grow stronger and considers a dangerous move against Bibi Dong.
• Fate and political alliance: Qian Daoliu interprets Jiang Xuan’s apparent divine selection as destiny and a reason to bind him to the Angel Clan.
• Trust and concealed motives: Qian Daoliu offers sincere help, while Jiang Xuan accepts it partly for strategic reasons.

Chapter Summary: “Fourth Soul Ring”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jiang Xuan begins absorbing his fourth God-Given Spirit Ring under Qian Daoliu’s guidance. Although a fourth ring normally reaches only the thousand-year level—and a ten-thousand-year ring generally requires Soul Power level fifty—Jiang Xuan’s exceptional body and prior three years of divine-fire tempering allow him to exceed normal limits.
• The ring rapidly advances from a thousand-year level to tens of thousands of years. Jiang Xuan remains comfortable even at 60,000 years, though the pressure increases sharply beyond 70,000.
• He ultimately forces the ring to 80,000 years before voluntarily ending the refinement. He had hoped to challenge a Hundred-Thousand-Year Spirit Ring but realizes he is not yet capable of enduring one.
• The spectators are stunned, since an 80,000-year fourth ring is stronger than the ninth spirit rings possessed by Yue Guan and Ghost, both powerful Title Douluo.
• The new ring raises Jiang Xuan’s Soul Power from level forty to level forty-five.
• After recovering, Jiang Xuan learns that he and Chen Xin have been missing and unconscious for three years. Chen Xin had stayed beside him throughout that period and had failed to contact the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, leaving Ning Rongrong uninformed and likely extremely worried.
• Jiang Xuan and Chen Xin decide they must return home. Qian Renxue unexpectedly asks to accompany Jiang Xuan and visit his family.

Character Developments

• Jiang Xuan: Demonstrates extraordinary growth and resilience by absorbing an 80,000-year fourth ring at only level forty. Although proud of the achievement, he recognizes the gap between himself and the Hundred-Thousand-Year threshold. He also shows humor and confidence when teasing Qian Renxue, but becomes alarmed when he realizes Rongrong has heard nothing from him for three years.
• Qian Renxue: Reveals continued concern and curiosity about Jiang Xuan’s abnormal abilities by physically checking whether he is truly unharmed. Her embarrassment when Jiang Xuan accuses her of molestation shows a more playful and emotionally vulnerable side. Her request to visit his home suggests growing interest in his personal life.
• Chen Xin: Remains deeply concerned for Jiang Xuan and genuinely happy about his success. However, his guilt becomes evident when he admits he never contacted Rongrong or the sect during the three years of Jiang Xuan’s unconsciousness.
• Yue Guan and Ghost: Their shock emphasizes how unprecedented Jiang Xuan’s achievement is, since his fourth ring surpasses even their ninth rings.
• Ning Rongrong: Does not appear directly, but her absence is significant; she has likely spent three years worrying because of Chen Xin’s silence.

Significant Themes

• Breaking established limits: Jiang Xuan continues to defy the accepted rules of soul-master cultivation, showing that extraordinary talent and physical conditioning can surpass conventional thresholds.
• Power and consequences: His 80,000-year ring grants tremendous strength, but the failed attempt to reach 100,000 years reminds him that power still has limits and must be earned gradually.
• Concern and responsibility: Chen Xin’s decision to remain with Jiang Xuan reflects loyalty, but his failure to notify the sect also creates serious emotional consequences for Rongrong and the family.
• Relationships beyond cultivation: The chapter shifts from Jiang Xuan’s breakthrough to the personal consequences of his absence, emphasizing family, reassurance, and emotional bonds.
• Humor and romantic tension: Jiang Xuan and Qian Renxue’s teasing interaction adds comic relief and hints at their increasingly complicated relationship.

Character Interactions

• Jiang Xuan and Qian Daoliu: Qian Daoliu guides the absorption and warns Jiang Xuan not to overexert himself. Jiang Xuan respectfully acknowledges him but continues pushing beyond expectations.
• Jiang Xuan and Qian Renxue: She checks his body out of concern and disbelief, while he teasingly accuses her of inappropriate behavior and mocks her age. Their exchange combines embarrassment, flirtation, and mutual curiosity.
• Jiang Xuan and Chen Xin: Chen Xin checks Jiang Xuan’s condition and celebrates his advancement. Jiang Xuan relies on him for information about home and immediately worries about Rongrong.
• Yue Guan and Ghost: Their incredulous exchange highlights the rarity of Jiang Xuan’s fourth spirit ring.
• Jiang Xuan and Rongrong, indirectly: Jiang Xuan realizes that returning home may be dangerous emotionally, since Rongrong could be furious after years without contact.

Key plot points

• Jiang Xuan, Chen Xin, and Qian Renxue set out for the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. The others stay at the well-hidden Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, while Dugu Bo is told to wait in Heaven Dou City.
• Jiang Xuan worries about explaining his three-year absence—and Qian Renxue’s presence—to Ning Rongrong.
• Qian Renxue asks Jiang Xuan for a Soul-Gathering Pill. She accepts his condition that she owe him a future favor, then swallows the pill immediately.
• Though it is her second dose, the pill pushes her from soul power level 74 to 75, saving her months of cultivation.
• Jiang Xuan and Chen Xin realize the pills might help Chen Xin reach level 98 as well, and Chen Xin silently urges Jiang Xuan to give him some.

Character developments and interactions

• Qian Renxue has shifted her priorities: taking control of the Heaven Dou Empire matters less to her now than spending time with Jiang Xuan. She suspects he prefers her younger appearance and seeks another pill for its side effect, though she keeps her real motive to herself.
• Jiang Xuan remains wary of the complications of bringing Qian Renxue home, but readily agrees to trade a pill for a future favor.
• Chen Xin recognizes Qian Renxue’s feelings for Jiang Xuan, as well as Rongrong’s, and believes Rongrong should know the situation rather than be kept in the dark. His interest in the pill also reveals his ambition to grow stronger.
• Qian Renxue’s request and Jiang Xuan’s agreement create a private understanding between them, while Chen Xin’s quiet encouragement sets up possible romantic tension at the sect.

Significant themes

• Affection and rivalry: Chen Xin acknowledges the competing feelings around Jiang Xuan and believes honesty is preferable to protecting Rongrong from the truth.
• Changing ambitions: Qian Renxue’s emotional attachment is overtaking her political goals.
• Power and its costs: The pill offers rapid advancement, but its side effects—and the characters’ willingness to accept them—make power an enticing bargain.

Chapter Summary

• After giving Qian Renxue a Soul-Gathering Pill, Jiang Xuan receives only 1,000 Merit Points, confirming that repeatedly giving the same type of pill to the same person sharply reduces the system’s returns. He then gives Chen Xin three pills to test both the pills’ effects and the minimum Merit Point reward.
• Chen Xin’s first Soul-Gathering Pill grants Jiang Xuan 2,000 Merit Points and greatly increases her Soul Power, though she does not immediately advance. The second yields only 1,000 Merit Points, but pushes her to the brink of a breakthrough.
• Chen Xin successfully breaks through from level ninety-six to level ninety-eight Soul Power. She is astonished and grateful, believing Jiang Xuan’s pills have allowed her to achieve something she once thought impossible. She initially plans to reward him generously.
• Her excitement quickly turns to fury when she discovers that taking two Soul-Gathering Pills has transformed her into a young girl. Already uncomfortable with being turned into a woman, Chen Xin is horrified at becoming a child and fears ridicule from Bone Douluo and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
• Chen Xin confronts Jiang Xuan and demands an Origin-Restoring Pill to reverse the transformation. Jiang Xuan explains that the last available pill is with Chrysanthemum Pass at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, and that he lacks the materials to make another immediately.
• Embarrassed to return to the sect in her current form, Chen Xin decides to remain hidden while Jiang Xuan and Qian Renxue return to handle their affairs. They will later retrieve the remaining pill or gather materials to create an antidote. She sternly warns them not to reveal her condition, and both promise to keep silent.
• During the journey, Qian Renxue teasingly suggests that Jiang Xuan deliberately withheld the warning about the second pill so he could watch Chen Xin suffer. Jiang Xuan indignantly denies the accusation and threatens to sue her for slander.

Character Developments and Interactions

• Jiang Xuan becomes more knowledgeable about the diminishing Merit Point returns from repeated gifts, while also finding himself caught between helping Chen Xin and dealing with her anger.
• Chen Xin achieves a major advancement to level ninety-eight, increasing her confidence and gratitude toward Jiang Xuan, but the humiliating transformation reverses her mood and makes her defensive, embarrassed, and hostile toward him.
• Qian Renxue remains playful and perceptive, teasing Jiang Xuan about his possible motives and becoming more openly comfortable with him by holding his hand.
• The chapter emphasizes the humorous tension between Jiang Xuan and Chen Xin, as well as the growing familiarity and banter between Jiang Xuan and Qian Renxue.

Significant Themes

• The rewards of power come with unexpected costs, as Chen Xin’s breakthrough is accompanied by an embarrassing physical transformation.
• Repeated use of magical resources produces diminishing returns, both in Merit Points and in unforeseen consequences.
• Pride and reputation strongly influence Chen Xin’s decisions, leading her to hide rather than seek immediate help from her sect.
• The chapter blends cultivation progress with comedy, humiliation, secrecy, and playful interpersonal conflict.

Chapter Summary: “Purebred Demon Pill”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Qian Renxue teases Jiang Xuan by threatening to tell Sword Douluo about his secret, provoking his anger. Jiang Xuan restrains himself because her Soul Power is still much higher than his.
• Qian Renxue quickly apologizes through exaggeratedly cute behavior, hugging Jiang Xuan and offering to let him hit her. He eventually forgives her, only to be caught off guard when she kisses his cheek.
• She asks Jiang Xuan for two more Soul-Gathering Pills. After making him promise not to reveal her reason, she admits that she wants to use them on her grandfather, Qian Daoliu, so she can see what he would look like as a little girl.
• Jiang Xuan is shocked by the absurd idea but secretly becomes curious as well. He agrees to give her the pills in exchange for two future favors, which Qian Renxue accepts without hesitation.
• Jiang Xuan and Qian Renxue return to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect after Jiang Xuan’s unexplained three-year absence.
• A messenger announces Jiang Xuan’s arrival to Ning Fengzhi and Gu Rong. Both men are overjoyed, though also resentful that Jiang Xuan never contacted them during his disappearance.
• Gu Rong enthusiastically—and painfully—welcomes Jiang Xuan home by grabbing and repeatedly patting his shoulder.
• When Qian Renxue enters the hall in her childlike form, Ning Fengzhi and Gu Rong are stunned. Misunderstanding the situation, they immediately look suspiciously at Jiang Xuan and expect an explanation.

Character Developments

• Jiang Xuan: Displays restraint despite being irritated by Qian Renxue, but remains vulnerable to her affectionate, childlike act. He is embarrassed by her kiss and increasingly recognizes that her seemingly innocent appearance hides a manipulative and mischievous personality. He also proves willing to bargain with her rather than simply give away his precious pills.
• Qian Renxue: Shows her talent for manipulation, using cuteness and physical affection to disarm Jiang Xuan. Her plan to transform Qian Daoliu reveals an outrageous, mischievous side and earns Jiang Xuan’s description of her as a “purebred demon pill.” She is also bold and unconcerned about accumulating favors owed to Jiang Xuan.
• Ning Fengzhi and Gu Rong: Their long concern for Jiang Xuan turns into relief when he returns, though both feel justified resentment over his three-year silence. Their reaction to Qian Renxue suggests they are prepared to judge Jiang Xuan harshly unless he explains her presence.

Significant Themes

• Playful manipulation and power dynamics: Qian Renxue repeatedly gains the upper hand by combining teasing, affection, and calculated innocence.
• Hidden identities and appearances: Qian Renxue’s childlike form contrasts sharply with her mature, scheming personality, while the elders are left unable to understand who she really is.
• Affection beneath conflict: Jiang Xuan and Qian Renxue quarrel constantly, but their easy reconciliation and physical closeness reveal familiarity and growing intimacy.
• Debts and favors: The Soul-Gathering Pills become a way for Jiang Xuan and Qian Renxue to negotiate their relationship, with favors serving as both payment and a continuing bond.
• Reunion and accountability: Jiang Xuan’s return is joyful but also forces him to face the emotional consequences of disappearing without explanation.

Important Character Interactions

• Jiang Xuan and Qian Renxue: Their exchange dominates the chapter, shifting from threats and irritation to playful affection and secret cooperation. Qian Renxue manipulates him into forgiving her and giving her more pills.
• Jiang Xuan and Gu Rong: Gu Rong welcomes Jiang Xuan with rough affection, expressing both happiness and anger over his prolonged absence.
• Jiang Xuan and Ning Fengzhi: Ning Fengzhi reacts with immediate excitement upon hearing Jiang Xuan has returned, but his attitude changes to suspicion when Qian Renxue appears.
• Qian Renxue and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect elders: Her arrival in child form creates confusion and makes Ning Fengzhi and Gu Rong suspicious of Jiang Xuan, setting up the next confrontation.

Plot points and events

• Jiang Xuan tries to deflect Ning Fengzhi and Gu Rong’s questions about his three-year disappearance by asking where Ning Rongrong is. They explain that she is away from the sect.
• Gu Rong presses Jiang Xuan about why he vanished and never sent word. Jiang Xuan hesitates to reveal that Spirit Hall was involved, fearing the truth would endanger or burden the sect.
• Qian Renxue intervenes, explaining that Jiang Xuan nearly died after refusing Bibi Dong’s attempt to recruit him. Bibi Dong attacked him, and Chen Xin risked his life to protect him. Jiang Xuan remained unconscious until recently.
• Jiang Xuan confirms that Chen Xin was the senior who saved him and reassures them that Chen Xin is alive, though he has not yet returned.
• Ning Fengzhi checks Jiang Xuan’s health, while Gu Rong angrily smashes a table and curses Bibi Dong and Spirit Hall.
• Jiang Xuan spends much of the day recounting what happened, including his meeting with Qian Renxue and her staying beside him for three years. The elders’ distrust of her lessens.

Character developments and interactions

• Jiang Xuan feels the elders’ concern as a sign that they regard him as family, but struggles to tell them the truth. He ultimately confirms Chen Xin’s role in saving him.
• Qian Renxue takes responsibility for revealing the danger Jiang Xuan faced, arguing that the elders need to know so they can prepare. Her loyalty to Jiang Xuan becomes clearer to them.
• Ning Fengzhi moves from skepticism to belief, then checks Jiang Xuan’s condition and responds with concern for both him and Chen Xin.
• Gu Rong shifts from scolding Jiang Xuan to grief and fury over the attack. He assumes Chen Xin’s absence is due to guilt, and Ning Fengzhi reassures him that Chen Xin will return in time.
• The elders’ initial hostility toward Qian Renxue softens after they learn she stayed with Jiang Xuan for three years, though they remain protective of Rongrong and their family loyalties.

Significant themes

• Family and belonging: The elders’ anger stems from worry, revealing that they consider Jiang Xuan one of their own.
• Truth and protection: Jiang Xuan hides the past to shield the sect, while Qian Renxue believes knowledge will help them protect themselves.
• Loyalty and sacrifice: Chen Xin’s willingness to risk his life for Jiang Xuan—and Qian Renxue’s long companionship—shows the strength of their bonds.
• Grief and miscommunication: The elders misread Chen Xin’s absence as guilt, demonstrating how incomplete information can deepen emotional pain.

Chapter Summary: “Whose Rabid Dog Was Let Loose?”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jiang Xuan continues investigating Ning Rongrong’s whereabouts and learns from Ning Fengzhi that she is somewhere in Suotuo City.
• Believing Ning Rongrong is likely heading to Shrek Academy, as in the original timeline, Jiang Xuan immediately travels there with Qian Renxue rather than waiting for more precise information.
• Qian Renxue criticizes his decision, since Suotuo City is enormous and they have no exact lead. Jiang Xuan remains confident that he has his own methods.
• Ning Fengzhi and Gu Rong agree to let Jiang Xuan leave after learning that Chen Xin is secretly protecting him. Chen Xin has broken through to Rank 98, making him a serious deterrent against another attack from Bibi Dong.
• The story shifts to the outskirts of Suotuo City, where the remote First-Generation Shrek Academy is holding its entrance examination.
• Tang San has already enrolled at Shrek, largely because Flender pressured him into it. He is increasingly suspicious of Yu Xiaogang’s judgment and dislikes the academy’s strange atmosphere and morally questionable dean.
• While helping with admissions, Tang San and Dai Mubai encounter a small girl—implied to be Ning Rongrong—who appears to be seeking admission.
• Dai Mubai approaches her, but after she reacts with visible disgust, he becomes enraged and makes an extremely abusive and threatening remark.
• Tang San recognizes Dai Mubai’s depravity but refuses to intervene, reasoning that he cannot defeat Dai Mubai and would gain nothing by helping a stranger.
• Instead, the girl mocks Dai Mubai as an unleashed rabid dog. Her sharp retort further enrages him, setting up a likely confrontation.

Character Developments

• Jiang Xuan: Demonstrates confidence in his knowledge of the original timeline and acts decisively to prevent Ning Rongrong from entering what he considers the dangerous “fiery pit” of Shrek Academy.
• Qian Renxue: Remains practical and skeptical, questioning Jiang Xuan’s impulsive plan and highlighting the logistical difficulty of finding Ning Rongrong.
• Chen Xin: Gains greater importance as Jiang Xuan’s hidden protector. His advancement to Rank 98 significantly improves Jiang Xuan’s safety and strengthens the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect’s position.
• Tang San: Becomes increasingly disillusioned with Shrek Academy and Yu Xiaogang. His willingness to watch a vulnerable girl face danger without helping reveals his calculating, self-interested side and his continuing hostility toward Dai Mubai.
• Dai Mubai: Despite briefly attempting to act kindly toward a young applicant, he quickly reverts to cruelty when his pride is wounded. His violent temper and abusive nature become even more apparent.
• Ning Rongrong: If the girl is indeed Ning Rongrong, she is introduced as bold, fearless, and verbally sharp. Rather than being intimidated by Dai Mubai, she openly ridicules him.

Significant Themes

• Intervention versus fate: Jiang Xuan attempts to alter the established storyline by preventing Ning Rongrong from joining Shrek Academy.
• Knowledge and advantage: Jiang Xuan’s awareness of the original timeline gives him confidence, while Tang San’s uncertainty and lack of power leave him trapped in an unpleasant situation.
• Moral cowardice and self-interest: Tang San recognizes Dai Mubai’s wrongdoing but chooses not to help because there is no personal benefit and the risk is too high.
• Pride and violence: Dai Mubai’s fragile pride transforms a minor social rejection into a dangerous threat, emphasizing his unstable and abusive personality.
• Appearance versus character: The seemingly delicate girl proves to be far more courageous and verbally formidable than expected, while Dai Mubai’s outward status contrasts sharply with his ugly behavior.

Character Interactions

• Jiang Xuan and Qian Renxue argue over the wisdom of traveling to Suotuo City without reliable intelligence.
• Jiang Xuan’s relationship with Ning Fengzhi and Gu Rong is strengthened by their trust in Chen Xin’s protection.
• Tang San maintains a hostile, unresolved relationship with Dai Mubai and deliberately refuses to assist him.
• Dai Mubai attempts to approach Ning Rongrong politely but reacts violently when she rejects him.
• Ning Rongrong directly humiliates Dai Mubai with her “rabid dog” insult, provoking his rage and creating the chapter’s central confrontation.

Chapter Summary: “The Arrogant Dai Mubai”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ning Rongrong, having left the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect to ease her longing for Jiang Xuan, encounters Dai Mubai near Shrek Academy.
• Dai Mubai casually addresses her as “little sister,” unintentionally touching several of her sore spots. Ning Rongrong reacts with disgust and refuses to engage with him.
• Dai Mubai, whose personality has become increasingly twisted after being disabled, interprets her coldness as public provocation and prepares to attack her.
• Zhu Zhuqing intervenes, condemning Dai Mubai for bullying a young girl. Dai Mubai is immediately captivated by Zhu Zhuqing because her aura appears compatible with his Martial Soul, suggesting the potential for a Martial Soul Fusion Skill.
• Zhu Zhuqing, however, is disgusted by Dai Mubai’s behavior. Although she recognizes him as the person for whom she traveled to Shrek, his conduct causes her opinion of him to drop far below zero.
• Zhu Zhuqing joins Ning Rongrong, and the two decide to leave together, mocking the abnormal people at Shrek Academy.
• Dai Mubai blocks their path. He demands that Ning Rongrong be left behind and orders Zhu Zhuqing to join Shrek Academy and remain by his side to assist his cultivation.
• Zhu Zhuqing refuses him outright. Dai Mubai responds with violence, releasing all his Soul Power and displaying four Soul Rings.
• Despite Zhu Zhuqing’s level 27 cultivation and Ning Rongrong’s enhanced level 32 cultivation, neither can withstand Dai Mubai’s overwhelming attack. Zhu Zhuqing is knocked back dozens of steps, while Ning Rongrong is also helpless due to her auxiliary Martial Soul.

Character Developments

• Ning Rongrong: Her longing for Jiang Xuan has intensified over the past three years, making her more emotionally volatile. The obedient temperament shaped by Jiang Xuan’s guidance has not erased her sharp, rebellious “Little Witch” personality; when provoked, she becomes even more outspoken and aggressive.
• Dai Mubai: His disability has severely distorted his mentality. He is quick to view even minor disrespect as an unforgivable insult and has developed a cruel, domineering attitude. He attempts to use force and status to control both girls.
• Zhu Zhuqing: She demonstrates a strong sense of justice by defending Ning Rongrong, but immediately regrets becoming involved after seeing Dai Mubai’s vulgar and possessive behavior. Her recognition of Dai Mubai does not lead to affection; instead, their first meeting causes intense disgust and destroys any positive feelings she may once have held.

Significant Themes

• Arrogance and abuse of power: Dai Mubai treats strength as the right to intimidate and control others, revealing how power without restraint can corrupt a person.
• Misunderstood intentions and provocation: A seemingly casual greeting triggers Ning Rongrong’s anger, while Dai Mubai repeatedly misinterprets the girls’ rejection as deliberate humiliation.
• Broken expectations: Zhu Zhuqing traveled far expecting something from Dai Mubai, but his behavior sharply contradicts her hopes and causes her to reevaluate him.
• Female solidarity: Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing quickly unite against Dai Mubai, choosing mutual support over allowing him to isolate or control them.
• Martial Soul compatibility versus personal character: Although Zhu Zhuqing may complement Dai Mubai’s Martial Soul and potentially enable a powerful fusion skill, her disgust emphasizes that strength and compatibility cannot compensate for immoral behavior.

Important Character Interactions

• Ning Rongrong and Dai Mubai: Their exchange begins with Dai Mubai’s condescending address and escalates when Ning Rongrong refuses to humor him. He responds by treating her defiance as an excuse for violence.
• Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong: Zhu Zhuqing protects Ning Rongrong and offers to leave with her. Ning Rongrong accepts immediately, and the two bond through their shared contempt for Dai Mubai and the strange atmosphere surrounding Shrek.
• Zhu Zhuqing and Dai Mubai: Zhu Zhuqing condemns his actions and refuses his demand to stay with him. Dai Mubai’s attempt to exploit their Martial Soul compatibility only deepens her revulsion.
• Dai Mubai versus both girls: Dai Mubai uses his superior cultivation to prevent them from leaving, transforming a minor confrontation into a direct physical assault.

Chapter Summary: “You Bastard! You Still Knew How to Come Back!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Dai Mubai attacks Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing, seriously injuring both girls during their confrontation.
• Zhu Zhuqing emotionally cuts herself off from Dai Mubai, resolving never to become involved with him again.
• Ning Rongrong is equally disgusted with Dai Mubai, viewing him as beyond redemption. In her distress, she longs for Jiang Xuan, who had promised to protect her.
• Flender secretly watches the situation and prepares to intervene, intending to play the heroic savior and protect the talented girls.
• Before Flender can act, Jiang Xuan suddenly arrives and violently kicks Dai Mubai away, defeating him almost instantly.
• Jiang Xuan reunites with Ning Rongrong after three years of separation. Overcome with emotion, she cries, embraces him, bites his shoulder in anger, and makes him promise never to disappear without taking her with him.
• Jiang Xuan then turns his attention back to Dai Mubai, recalling that he had spared him three years earlier. He condemns Dai Mubai for becoming even more vicious and for attacking his “family.”
• Dai Mubai recognizes Jiang Xuan as the person who defeated and imprisoned him in the past. Although terrified, he tries to preserve his pride.
• Just as Jiang Xuan is about to severely punish Dai Mubai, Flender intervenes. Rather than openly opposing Jiang Xuan, Flender reprimands Dai Mubai and orders him to apologize, hoping to prevent the situation from escalating.

Character Developments

• Jiang Xuan: Returns as an overwhelmingly powerful and protective figure. His immediate defense of Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing demonstrates his loyalty and fierce sense of responsibility. His past conflict with Dai Mubai also establishes that his strength has long exceeded Dai Mubai’s.
• Ning Rongrong: Displays vulnerability after Jiang Xuan’s return. Her anger over his long absence is mixed with deep affection and dependence, shown through her tears, embrace, playful bite, and demand that he never leave her behind again.
• Zhu Zhuqing: Becomes emotionally detached from Dai Mubai after his attack. She silently accepts Ning Rongrong’s support and watches Jiang Xuan with curiosity and possible admiration.
• Dai Mubai: Is shown to be increasingly violent, arrogant, and unable to control his temper. Despite his pride, Jiang Xuan’s return revives his fear and sense of helplessness.
• Flender: Remains opportunistic and politically minded. He wants to protect Shrek’s talented recruits while also avoiding conflict with Jiang Xuan. He attempts to control the situation by forcing Dai Mubai to apologize.

Significant Themes

• Protection and loyalty: Jiang Xuan’s arrival emphasizes the importance of standing up for those considered family.
• Emotional reunion: Ning Rongrong’s reaction shows how deeply Jiang Xuan’s three-year absence affected her and highlights the strength of their bond.
• Consequences of cruelty: Dai Mubai’s past behavior returns to haunt him, as the person he once wronged now possesses the power to punish him again.
• Power and fear: Jiang Xuan’s effortless defeat of Dai Mubai reinforces the vast difference in their abilities and reveals that Dai Mubai’s confidence is largely superficial.
• Manipulation and self-interest: Flender presents himself as a mediator, but his intervention also reflects his desire to preserve Shrek Academy’s reputation and recruit talented students.

Character Interactions

• Dai Mubai’s violence causes the final break between himself and Zhu Zhuqing, while also provoking Ning Rongrong’s contempt.
• Jiang Xuan and Ning Rongrong reunite emotionally, combining resentment over his disappearance with obvious love and trust.
• Ning Rongrong supports Zhu Zhuqing by taking her hand and assuring her that Jiang Xuan will deal with Dai Mubai.
• Jiang Xuan confronts Dai Mubai over both his current attack and his failure to change since their previous encounter.
• Flender interrupts Jiang Xuan’s punishment attempt and uses his authority over Dai Mubai to demand an apology, temporarily preventing the confrontation from becoming even more severe.

Key plot points and events

• Jiang Xuan confronts Flender over Dai Mubai’s earlier threat to Ning Rongrong. He rejects Flender’s attempt to settle the matter with a perfunctory apology.
• Jiang Xuan first demands a fight to the death, but Flender refuses to risk Dai Mubai’s life. Ning Rongrong urges Jiang Xuan to leave, worried that Flender might retaliate.
• For Rongrong’s sake, Jiang Xuan offers a compromise: Dai Mubai must withstand one full-strength attack, after which the dispute will be over. Dai Mubai accepts, confident his defenses can hold.
• Jiang Xuan activates his Eight Trigrams Furnace Martial Soul and Innate Eight Trigrams Formation, preparing a heavily charged bolt of Innate Divine Thunder. Dai Mubai powers up his White Tiger defenses. The chapter ends before the attack lands.

Character developments

• Jiang Xuan shows anger at Dai Mubai and contempt for Flender’s favoritism, but also restraint: he abandons the deadly duel when Rongrong asks and chooses a controlled demonstration instead. He is also thinking strategically, since he may need Shrek Academy against Bibi Dong.
• Ning Rongrong prioritizes Jiang Xuan’s safety over her desire for further revenge and shows clear trust and affection toward him.
• Dai Mubai is consumed by hatred but afraid of a full fight. His confidence returns when the challenge is limited to one attack, leading him to underestimate Jiang Xuan.
• Flender tries to protect Dai Mubai while balancing his anger at Jiang Xuan with awareness of Jiang Xuan’s influence and strength.
• Tang San recognizes Jiang Xuan from a past encounter and quietly considers exploiting the hostility between him and Dai Mubai.

Significant themes

• Restraint versus revenge: Jiang Xuan has the power to escalate the conflict but chooses a limited response.
• Power and intimidation: The characters’ decisions are shaped by the vast gap in strength and by uncertainty about Jiang Xuan’s abilities.
• Loyalty and protection: Rongrong’s concern influences Jiang Xuan’s choice, while Flender’s loyalty to Dai Mubai drives his intervention.
• Strategic alliances: Jiang Xuan weighs immediate vengeance against his longer-term struggle with Bibi Dong.

Character interactions

• Jiang Xuan openly challenges Flender’s handling of the incident; Flender tries to defuse the dispute but refuses to sacrifice Dai Mubai.
• Rongrong takes Jiang Xuan’s arm and asks him to leave; he reassures her and modifies his demand for her sake.
• Dai Mubai volunteers to take the attack, and Flender steps aside after realizing he cannot dissuade him.
• Tang San watches the confrontation, recognizes Jiang Xuan, and privately sees Dai Mubai’s feud as a possible opportunity.