Chapter Summaries

Summary: “A Friend to Young Women”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Gu Yue tells Chen An that Bi Ji encountered visiting Evil Soul Masters from the Holy Spirit Cult. They offered cooperation and promised resources to help revive the soul beast race.
• Chen An and Gu Yue both distrust the proposal, suspecting the Evil Soul Masters intend to corrupt or exploit soul beasts. Gu Yue firmly rejects any alliance and warns Chen An never to become involved with them.
• Chen An reveals that he has encountered scattered Evil Soul Masters in Shrek City, Heaven Dou City, and Eastsea City, though he has avoided direct entanglement.
• Gu Yue explains that she has become the disciple of a Spirit Pagoda vice tower master, allowing her infiltration of the organization to proceed smoothly. Na’er’s progress is also advancing.
• She asks Chen An about his future plans so she can arrange a suitable path for him. Chen An realizes that remaining with Class Zero and Tang Wuling is currently best for his cultivation, especially because of her powerful dragon bloodline.
• Gu Yue appears to understand his wishes and permits him to continue cultivating with Class Zero, instructing him not to disappoint her or Di Tian.
• After Gu Yue leaves, Xu Xiaoyan arrives to speak with Chen An. Initially nervous and embarrassed, she is comforted when Chen An offers her pastries and treats her kindly.
• Xu Xiaoyan confides that her Martial Soul functions differently during the day and night. Her family warned her not to reveal this secret, but she fears being eliminated from Class Zero because she feels weaker than the others.
• Chen An reassures her that she does not need to feel guilty or pressured and promises to listen whenever she needs someone to talk to.

Character Developments

• Chen An: Demonstrates honesty by revealing his encounters with Evil Soul Masters. He also shows strategic awareness, recognizing where his greatest cultivation opportunities lie. As captain, he proves compassionate and attentive, especially toward Xu Xiaoyan.
• Gu Yue: Shows strong disgust toward Evil Soul Masters and maintains a firm moral boundary against cooperating with them. Her growing influence within the Spirit Pagoda is revealed, and she demonstrates unexpected consideration by taking Chen An’s future wishes seriously.
• Xu Xiaoyan: Moves from nervous isolation toward trusting Chen An. She reveals her insecurity about her hidden abilities and her fear of failing to earn recognition within Class Zero.

Significant Themes

• Distrust of corrupt power: The Holy Spirit Cult’s offer highlights the danger of alliances built on exploitation and questionable motives.
• Loyalty and moral boundaries: Gu Yue’s refusal to work with Evil Soul Masters emphasizes the importance of principles, even when tempting benefits are offered.
• Belonging and recognition: Xu Xiaoyan struggles with the fear that she is not strong enough to remain part of Class Zero, reflecting the pressure of proving oneself among exceptional peers.
• Leadership through empathy: Chen An’s leadership is shown not through authority alone, but through patience, emotional support, and acceptance of his teammates.
• Strategic cultivation and destiny: Chen An weighs his future based on bloodline compatibility, the Roulette’s potential, and the opportunities available through his companions.

Character Interactions

• Chen An and Gu Yue: Their conversation combines political danger, cultivation planning, and mutual trust. Gu Yue warns him against the Holy Spirit Cult while also granting him freedom to remain with Class Zero.
• Chen An and Xu Xiaoyan: Their interaction is gentle and supportive. Chen An notices her discomfort, gives her food, earns her trust, and encourages her to share her worries.
• Gu Yue and Xu Xiaoyan: Their brief encounter intensifies Xu Xiaoyan’s embarrassment, as she mistakenly worries she has interrupted something important, though Gu Yue casually assures her that Chen An is available.

Chapter Summary: “Zhang Liang Goes All Out”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xu Xiaoyan decides she must prove herself to Class Zero rather than continue depending on her teammates’ protection.
• At night, Chen An brings the team to a secluded grove so Xu Xiaoyan can reveal her hidden ability.
• Under the night sky, Xu Xiaoyan summons her mutated Starwheel Ice Staff and chants to activate its true power, the Astral Wheel.
• The Astral Wheel immobilizes Xie Xie by forming icy chains around him and suppressing his Soul Power. However, Xu Xiaoyan must remain stationary while maintaining it, and the skill can only be used at night.
• Chen An’s Roulette identifies an advancement path connected to her power: Astrology.
• The team then challenges their teacher, Wu Changkong, to a sparring match. He limits himself to roughly the strength of a three-ring Soul Master and agrees to use only two Soul skills.
• The team demonstrates improved coordination, combining Chen An’s scale-based attacks, Tang Wuling’s close combat, Gu Yue’s elemental support, and Xie Xie’s high-speed ambushes.
• Wu Changkong quickly gains the upper hand and targets Xu Xiaoyan, recognizing that the team is protecting her because she possesses an unknown trump card.
• Xu Xiaoyan successfully catches Wu Changkong with the Astral Wheel, immobilizing even the vastly stronger Soul Master for one crucial second.
• Chen An uses that opening to touch Wu Changkong and activate Ripple, disrupting his Soul Power and preventing him from breaking free.
• Wu Changkong concedes the match, acknowledging the team’s victory. He praises them but announces that their training will be doubled starting the next day.

Character Developments

• Xu Xiaoyan gains confidence by revealing the Starwheel Ice Staff’s nighttime form. Though her ability has severe limitations, she proves that she can make a decisive contribution in team battles.
• Chen An demonstrates strong tactical awareness, immediately understanding how Xu Xiaoyan’s control skill can combine with his own Ripple. He delivers the final disabling move.
• Tang Wuling, Xie Xie, and Gu Yue show considerable growth in teamwork and coordination, executing layered attacks and protecting Xu Xiaoyan effectively.
• Wu Changkong recognizes that the students have improved significantly. His rare praise—“You are very good”—shows growing approval and trust.
• The team’s success strengthens Xu Xiaoyan’s sense that she truly belongs in Class Zero.

Significant Themes

• Earning one’s place: Xu Xiaoyan refuses to remain the team’s weak link and takes responsibility for proving her worth.
• Strength through cooperation: The victory is not achieved through raw power, but through combining complementary abilities at exactly the right moment.
• Power and sacrifice: The Astral Wheel is extraordinarily effective but demands that Xu Xiaoyan remain immobile and consumes nearly all her Mental Power.
• Growth through challenge: The students’ voluntary sparring match reflects their willingness to seek out difficult opponents and improve through pressure.
• Trust and recognition: The team protects Xu Xiaoyan because they trust her potential, while Wu Changkong’s praise confirms that their efforts are beginning to bear fruit.

Character Interactions

• The team reacts with curiosity and anticipation as Xu Xiaoyan reveals her secret ability.
• Xie Xie compares the Astral Wheel to Chen An’s control technique, helping clarify its strengths and weaknesses.
• During the spar, the team works together: Gu Yue boosts Xie Xie with wind, Tang Wuling and Chen An attack from opposite sides, and Xu Xiaoyan remains protected in the rear.
• Chen An and Xu Xiaoyan’s abilities form the decisive combination: her immobilization creates the opening, and his Ripple prevents Wu Changkong from recovering.
• After the victory, the team celebrates Xu Xiaoyan and Chen An’s success, while Wu Changkong responds with restrained approval—and a harsher training schedule.

After their training intensifies, Chen An and his teammates prepare to compete in the Skysea Alliance Grand Tournament, while Wu Changkong assigns Chen An to the individual and five-person events but not the three-person event. In his Sea of Consciousness, Chen An nears level 40 and worries that the Soul Guidance Train Killer may appear ahead of schedule.

• Wu Changkong increased the difficulty of the squad’s training after they briefly immobilized him, and Xu Xiaoyan quickly bonded with the team.
• Chen An reached level 39 as the squad trained, and Wu Changkong announced that they would compete in the Skysea Alliance Grand Tournament.
• Wu Changkong invited Tang Wuling to enter the Blacksmith Competition, and she accepted while Chen An declined to compete against her.
• Wu Changkong assigned Chen An to the individual and five-person events but left him out of the three-person event so the others could grow under pressure.
• Chen An reviewed his status in his Sea of Consciousness and wondered whether the Soul Guidance Train Killer might emerge ahead of schedule.

Eastsea Academy's teams assembled for the Skysea Grand Tournament, and Mu Xi reunited with Chen An and Tang Wuling before they departed for Skysea City. As Tang Wuling fell asleep against Chen An's shoulder on the bus, the Roulette offered him a low-probability chance at a special growth experience.

• Wu Changkong and Long Hengxu brought Eastsea Academy's competing students to Eastsea Plaza, where Xu Xiaoyu reassured Xu Xiaoyan and boasted about the senior team's prospects.
• Mu Xi greeted Chen An and Tang Wuling and announced that she had become a Level Three Blacksmith.
• Chen An told Mu Xi that Class Zero aimed to win the championship, and Mu Xi challenged them to at least survive the first elimination round.
• The assembled teams boarded buses and left Eastsea Plaza for Skysea City.
• Tang Wuling leaned against Chen An and fell asleep, and the Roulette showed a 9% chance that he would gain a special growth experience.

Plot points and events

• Class Zero arrives in Skysea City for the tournament and checks into a luxurious hotel overlooking the sea. Chen An immediately likes the view and gets an idea for a seaside house in his Mental Space.
• Tang Wuling declines Chen An’s invitation to explore the city because she needs to prepare for the forging competition. Chen An goes out alone instead.
• While browsing shops, Chen An buys two pairs of music-playing Soul Tool headphones—one for himself and one for Tang Wuling. Worrying about his growing expenses, he considers ways to earn money through forging, healing, and tournament prizes, but decides not to attract too much attention while carrying out his mission.
• Chen An’s luck brings a Federal Credit bill to his feet. Just afterward, he spots Ye Xinglan in a café with Xu Lizhi.

Character developments and interactions

• Chen An remains practical and self-contained, but the cost of training and supplies is beginning to concern him. He also shows quiet affection for Tang Wuling by buying her headphones and encouraging her not to overwork herself.
• Tang Wuling is focused on her forging competition and chooses preparation over sightseeing. She tells Chen An she will explore with him later.
• Xie Xie is exuberant about Class Zero’s tournament prospects and teases Chen An, who responds by brushing him off.
• Ye Xinglan and Xu Lizhi appear together in the café: Ye Xinglan is visibly impatient, while Xu Lizhi is timid and asks her to speak more quietly.

Significant themes

• Preparation and ambition: The students balance tournament goals with the need to train and prepare.
• Money and self-reliance: Chen An recognizes that his growing needs require a reliable source of income and weighs several options.
• Affection expressed through small gestures: Chen An’s gift for Tang Wuling and his concern for her stress reveal their closeness.
• Restraint amid opportunity: Though Chen An imagines ways to win money and exploit his abilities, he avoids drawing attention because of his mission.

Key events

• Ye Xinglan dismisses the Skysea Alliance’s exchange match as a publicity stunt, judging its younger competitors unworthy. Chen An happens to pass the café where she is speaking.
• Mistaking Chen An’s unusual eye patch and headphones for a disguise, Ye accuses him of spying. He calmly explains that he was only passing by and shows her his headphones. Xu Lizhi intervenes, helping defuse the confrontation. Ye eventually learns Chen is competing in the Grand Tournament and lets him go.
• Lizhi apologizes for Ye’s behavior. Chen returns to the hotel, where Xie Xie is asleep, then spends a quiet moment on the balcony. He notices Xu Xiaoyan communing with the stars; when she catches him watching, she blushes and retreats indoors.
• In a humorous cutaway, a shadowy figure complains that Chen’s imagined seaside setting will be exhausting to recreate.
• The Skysea Alliance Grand Tournament’s opening ceremony takes place in a packed stadium. Class Zero waits while teachers draw the brackets, and a central platform is prepared for an exhibition match between Shrek students and the previous youth team-event champions. Xie Xie eagerly anticipates the show.

Character developments and interactions

• Chen An remains relaxed and unruffled when challenged, choosing not to escalate Ye’s misunderstanding.
• Ye Xinglan shows pride in Shrek and a strong suspicion of outsiders, but her hostility eases when Chen responds openly.
• Xu Lizhi acts as a conciliatory friend, defending Chen and apologizing for Ye.
• Xu Xiaoyan is quietly absorbed in her star-related Martial Soul practice and appears embarrassed by Chen’s attention.
• Xie Xie is excited by the upcoming exhibition match.

Significant themes

• Pride and status: Ye’s confidence in Shrek’s standing fuels both her contempt for the local competition and her suspicion of Chen.
• Misunderstanding and restraint: A tense accusation is resolved through calm explanation and mediation rather than confrontation.
• Quiet personal moments amid competition: The chapter balances tournament spectacle with reflective scenes and small, awkward social encounters.

• Shrek’s overwhelming victory: Shrek’s seven-member junior team faces the Skysea Alliance’s adult team in the tournament’s opening match. The Shrek students eat Xu Lizhi’s buns, then unleash a coordinated lightning attack that defeats all seven opponents in under a minute. The stadium is stunned by the gap in ability.
• Rivalry and Wu Changkong’s goal: Xu Xiaoyan marvels at Shrek’s strength, while Xie Xie insists Chen An could have won just as easily. Chen An points out that Shrek’s Inner Academy is more formidable still. Wu Changkong explains that the two youngest Shrek competitors are particularly gifted and could become their rivals. He reveals that he hopes to train the group to enter Shrek’s Inner Academy—a goal he once achieved but never completed. The team’s first elimination-round matches are scheduled for the next day, and they remain confident.
• A relaxed evening: Tang Wuling returns to the hotel to rest for her forging competition, while Chen An, Gu Yue, Xie Xie, and Xu Xiaoyan go for hotpot. Gu Yue’s fondness for the spicy meal reflects how much she enjoyed an earlier outing with Chen An. After dinner, the others head back; Chen An stays by the sea, appreciating his newfound freedom and comfort.
• A troubling discovery: On his way back, Chen An detects a familiar, suspicious scent. Using his Extrasight soul skill, he traces it through the crowd and spots a gray-hazed soul-power signature. The source is a Shrek-uniformed boy, around thirteen or fourteen, suggesting that an Evil Soul Master may be present at the tournament.
  Character and relationship developments: Wu Changkong briefly exposes his regret and personal ambition beneath his usual reserve, giving the students a shared goal. The group’s confidence in Chen An highlights their trust in him. Chen An’s peaceful reflection shows his appreciation for his current life, but his alert response to the suspicious presence signals a possible threat.
  Themes: The chapter contrasts Shrek’s extraordinary strength with the challengers’ inexperience, while introducing ambition, mentorship, and the hope of fulfilling an unfinished dream. Its shift from carefree camaraderie to a possible security threat sets up tension beneath the tournament’s excitement.

Chapter Summary: “Just Teasing You”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen An suspects that an Evil Soul Master spy may be hidden among the Shrek team. He notices a suspicious boy, studies his appearance carefully, and leaves without confronting him, deciding to monitor whether the boy continues appearing near him.
• The next morning, Chen An accompanies Tang Wuling to the Blacksmith Association for her forging competition, then secretly enters the individual competition under Wu Changkong’s arrangement.
• Wu Changkong instructs Chen An to conceal most of his strength during the early rounds.
• Chen An’s teammates—Gu Yue, Xie Xie, and Xu Xiaoyan—initially do not realize he is competing. Gu Yue notices his name on the match display, revealing the secret to the others.
• In his first individual match, Chen An faces a roughly thirteen-year-old Two-Ring contestant with a long-handled Weapon Martial Soul. Chen An deliberately suppresses his strength and uses only a few armor scales to control the battle.
• Chen An effortlessly avoids his opponent’s attacks and uses his scales with extreme precision. He ultimately places a scale behind the opponent’s head without being noticed, allowing the referee to declare the match over before the opponent can land a blow.
• Chen An advances easily, while Tang Wuling also reports that she won her blacksmithing match without difficulty.
• At lunch, Xie Xie dramatically exaggerates Chen An’s victory, but Chen An dismisses the praise and emphasizes that the afternoon team competition is more important.
• Chen An reveals that Wu Changkong has chosen not to let him participate in the three-person team match. Instead, Gu Yue, Xie Xie, and Tang Wuling must compete without him, while Chen An will join the five-person match later.
• Xie Xie becomes nervous at the prospect of facing older opponents, but Chen An encourages the team and tells them he believes in them. Xie Xie immediately begs him not to leave.

Character Developments

• Chen An: Demonstrates exceptional control, perception, and restraint. Despite possessing overwhelming ability, he deliberately limits his power to avoid seriously injuring his opponent. He also takes on a mentoring role, encouraging his teammates to become less dependent on him.
• Gu Yue: Shows sharp observation and initiative by realizing that Chen An is listed in the individual competition before the others do.
• Xie Xie: Moves from excitement and admiration to anxiety when he learns Chen An will not participate in the three-person match. His dependence on Chen An becomes clear, though Chen’s encouragement may help him grow.
• Tang Wuling: Easily advances in the blacksmithing event and remains curious about Chen An’s performance.
• Wu Changkong: Continues to guide the team strategically, deliberately keeping Chen An out of one match so the others can prove themselves independently.
• The suspicious boy: Remains unidentified, but Chen An’s attention toward him establishes a possible espionage plot involving an Evil Soul Master.

Significant Themes

• Hidden threats and suspicion: The possibility of a spy within the Shrek team creates tension and suggests that appearances may be deceptive.
• Restraint and precision: Chen An’s victory emphasizes that true strength lies not only in power but also in control, awareness, and the ability to avoid unnecessary harm.
• Team growth and independence: Wu Changkong’s decision forces the other members to fight without Chen An, challenging their reliance on him and encouraging individual development.
• Mentorship and confidence: Chen An shifts from simply being the team’s strongest fighter to supporting his teammates emotionally and helping them build confidence.
• Youth versus experience: Chen An’s opponent is technically armed and capable, but lacks the combat awareness and practical experience needed to challenge him.

Character Interactions

• Chen An silently observes the suspicious boy but chooses not to confront him.
• Chen An and Tang Wuling travel together before separating for their respective competitions.
• Gu Yue, Xie Xie, and Xu Xiaoyan discuss Chen An’s unexplained absence before discovering his name on the competition list.
• During the match, Chen An calmly responds to his opponent’s concern about his eyepatch and then defeats him without causing serious injury.
• Xie Xie enthusiastically praises Chen An’s performance, while Chen An modestly rejects the exaggerated compliments.
• The team reacts with surprise when Chen An explains that he will not participate in the three-person match.
• Chen An reassures the nervous Xie Xie, but Xie Xie responds by physically trying to keep him from leaving.

Chapter Summary: “Be Proud, You’re Strong”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Class Zero finalizes its three-person team for the first elimination match: Tang Wuling, Xie Xie, and Xu Xiaoyan compete, while Gu Yue sits out to conserve energy.
• Xu Xiaoyan is especially excited because this is her first official match in a major tournament and a chance to prove herself.
• The trio wins easily through disciplined coordination, conserving their strength and concealing their abilities in preparation for the championship.
• Afterward, the team reviews the greater challenges ahead, especially the more demanding five-person competition. They postpone serious consideration of the seven-person event.
• During the next day’s individual matches, Chen An is matched against Zhang Yangzi, his former roommate and former Eastsea Academy classmate.
• Zhang Yangzi recognizes Chen An and reveals that Wang Jinxi and Wei Xiaofeng are also competing, though they only entered the individual competition because they are not yet strong enough for team events.
• Zhang, now significantly stronger at twenty-eighth-rank Soul Power, realizes that he still has almost no chance of defeating Chen An and voluntarily admits defeat.
• He nevertheless activates his Martial Soul and attacks decisively. Chen An uses Six Eyes and [Insight] to completely see through and counter Zhang’s black mist Soul Skill, defeating him while using only a single Millennium Soul Ring.
• Chen An helps Zhang to his feet, encourages him to continue improving, and returns to his companions. Zhang watches him leave, then reunites with Wang Jinxi and Wei Xiaofeng, determined to keep progressing.

Character Development

• Xu Xiaoyan gains confidence and enthusiasm from participating in her first major official tournament match. Her value as a strategist and support-oriented team member becomes more apparent.
• Tang Wuling, Xie Xie, and Xu Xiaoyan demonstrate strong teamwork, restraint, and tactical awareness by winning efficiently without revealing their full abilities.
• Chen An continues to display overwhelming strength and exceptional perception, yet deliberately limits himself and treats former rivals with kindness and encouragement.
• Zhang Yangzi has matured from an arrogant genius into a more self-aware and determined fighter. Although he accepts defeat, he recognizes the gap between himself and Chen An without resentment and recommits himself to training.
• Wu Changkong remains reserved, observing the team without overt praise or criticism, though his silent supervision suggests confidence in their progress.

Significant Themes

• Concealing strength and strategic patience: Class Zero avoids showing its full capabilities because its ultimate goal is winning the championship.
• Teamwork over individual power: The chapter emphasizes that larger team competitions depend on coordination and combined strength, not merely personal ability.
• Growth through defeat: Zhang Yangzi’s loss is not portrayed as meaningless; facing a vastly stronger opponent gives him perspective and motivates him to continue improving.
• Humility and sportsmanship: Chen An defeats Zhang decisively but respectfully, offering him help and encouragement rather than ridicule.
• Pride in progress: The chapter suggests that strength is measured not only by victory, but also by recognizing one’s weaknesses and continuing forward.

Important Character Interactions

• The Class Zero members jokingly praise one another after their victory, strengthening their sense of camaraderie.
• Wu Changkong watches their playful exchange silently before leaving, contrasting with the group’s lively atmosphere.
• Chen An and Zhang Yangzi share a nostalgic reunion before their match, acknowledging their former relationship and the changes they have undergone.
• Chen An comforts and encourages Zhang after defeating him, while Zhang’s reunion with Wang Jinxi and Wei Xiaofeng reinforces their shared determination to become stronger.

Summary: 5v5 “Fair” Competition

Key Plot Points and Events

• On the tournament’s third day, Chen An deliberately prolongs his solo match against a Three-Ring Soul Elder for a full minute before winning and advancing.
• Tang Wuling reaches the forging competition finals, while Class Zero qualifies for the next round of the three-person team event.
• The chapter then shifts to the highly anticipated five-person team competition, held in a single, heavily watched arena before tens of thousands of spectators.
• Class Zero—Chen An, Tang Wuling, Gu Yue, Xie Xie, and Xu Xiaoyan—faces an older and much stronger team consisting of four Three-Ring Soul Elders and a Four-Ring Soul Ancestor.
• Before the match, the five teammates encourage one another with a symbolic hands-in cheer: “Class Zero will win!”
• The opposing team’s formation and Martial Souls are revealed: a support fighter with a Wild Dog Milk Martial Soul, two assault fighters wielding a Starfall Staff and South Lake Battery, a shield-bearing defender, and a control-type pink-haired captain using a Mysterious Ink-Splashing Brush.
• Chen An creates a protective layer of floating scales around his teammates but chooses not to attack immediately, allowing the others to demonstrate their abilities.
• The enemy’s Shield Dog and Muscle Bro charge together, combining defense and offense. Tang Wuling confronts them directly.
• Gu Yue freezes the ground beneath the attackers, disrupting their momentum and leaving them vulnerable.
• Tang Wuling exploits the opening, striking Shield Dog’s heavy shield hard enough to crack it and force him backward, shocking the opposing team.
• The pink-haired captain signals Goblin, who immediately activates a Millennium Soul Skill, leaving Xie Xie alarmed and uncertain about the intended target.

Character Developments

• Chen An demonstrates confidence and restraint. Rather than dominating the battle himself, he deliberately holds back and trusts his teammates to handle the opening exchange.
• Tang Wuling displays extraordinary physical strength and courage by directly confronting two older, stronger opponents. Her dragon-claw strike proves that her raw power can challenge even a defensive Soul Master.
• Gu Yue shows excellent battlefield awareness and coordination. Her ice-based elemental control interrupts the enemy’s charge at exactly the right moment.
• Xie Xie remains alert and analytical, quickly assessing the enemy’s unusual Martial Souls and recognizing the danger of their early Millennium Soul Skill.
• Xu Xiaoyan has not yet acted but occupies her role as the team’s rear support.
• Wu Changkong remains calm and confident despite the overwhelming Soul Ring disparity, indicating his complete faith in Class Zero’s abilities.
• The pink-haired captain is established as a dangerous and decisive control-type fighter who quickly adapts to Class Zero’s opening combination.

Significant Themes

• Teamwork over apparent power disparity: Class Zero is significantly younger and weaker by conventional Soul Ring measurements, but their coordination allows them to disrupt a stronger team.
• Trust and leadership: Chen An’s decision to hold back reflects his confidence in his companions and his role as a leader rather than a solo combatant.
• Hidden potential: Tang Wuling’s ability to damage Shield Dog’s defense suggests that Class Zero’s true strength cannot be judged by age or Soul Ring count alone.
• Strategy and timing: Gu Yue’s freezing technique succeeds because it is used at the precise moment of the enemy’s charge, showing that tactical coordination can overcome superior strength.
• Public pressure and recognition: The enormous crowd and cameras emphasize that every action is being observed, increasing the stakes for the young team.
• Mentorship and expectation: Wu Changkong’s calm reaction contrasts with the audience’s pessimism, highlighting the difference between superficial judgment and informed confidence.

Character Interactions

• The five Class Zero members share a brief but meaningful moment of unity before the match, placing their hands together and declaring their intention to win.
• Xie Xie consults Chen An about the enemy’s strange Martial Souls, reinforcing Chen’s position as the team’s tactical leader.
• Chen An responds by instructing the team to adapt rather than follow a rigid plan, signaling flexibility.
• Tang Wuling and Gu Yue work in immediate combination: Tang Wuling engages the attackers while Gu Yue disables them with ice.
• The opposing captain communicates silently with Goblin, directing him to unleash a powerful Soul Skill after the team’s initial attack is disrupted.
• In the spectator stands, a mysterious white-haired woman teases Wu Changkong and questions his confidence in the young fighters. Wu Changkong remains cold but firmly challenges her to watch their true strength, hinting at a deeper past or relationship between them.

Summary of “Isn’t Having X-Ray Vision Cheating?”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen An analyzes the opposing upperclassmen’s Soul Power and recognizes that the staff-wielding girl is preparing a powerful area-of-effect attack. He assigns his team specific roles: Xie Xie targets the staff user, while Tang Wuling breaks through the enemy’s front line.
• Tang Wuling overwhelms the two frontline fighters, Shield Dog and Muscle Bro, using her immense physical strength and Dragon Claw. She creates an opening and charges toward the enemy’s backline.
• The pink-haired captain restrains Tang Wuling with ink-based Soul Power, but Tang unexpectedly reveals that she can also use Blue Silver Grass. The vines flood much of the arena, blocking vision and dividing the opposing formation.
• Milk Sister raises a protective barrier around the enemy’s backline, unintentionally separating the frontliners from their allies. Gu Yue exploits this isolation by bombarding Shield Dog and Muscle Bro with alternating fire, ice, and wind attacks.
• The spectators, who expected the older and stronger team to dominate, become shocked as Class Zero gains the upper hand despite its disadvantages in age, Soul Power, and Soul Rings.
• Xie Xie attempts to ambush the staff user from behind. The pink-haired captain counters with ink chains designed to restrain agile attackers, but scales previously placed beneath Xie Xie’s feet alter his trajectory and allow him to escape.
• Tang Wuling withdraws immediately when Chen An orders her to return, demonstrating her complete trust in his judgment.
• The pink-haired captain finally recognizes Class Zero as a genuine threat and orders her teammates to regroup. Milk Sister uses concealed Soul Power threads to pull the two frontliners back into formation.
• Chen An uses Six Eyes to see through the enemy’s hidden abilities and tactical structure. He realizes that Milk Sister can conceal both appearances and the ink-like threads controlling the formation. Anticipating a concealed attack involving the staff user and Milk Sister, he orders Gu Yue to prepare to defend from every direction.

Character Developments

• Chen An establishes himself as the team’s tactical core. His Six Eyes allow him to perceive hidden Soul Power and predict the enemy’s strategy, while his calm commands coordinate the team effectively.
• Tang Wuling reveals an unexpected ability to control Blue Silver Grass in addition to possessing extraordinary Dragon Claw strength. She also shows unquestioning trust in Chen An by abandoning her own plan the instant he calls her back.
• Xie Xie demonstrates speed, initiative, and adaptability. Although countered by the ink chains, he survives because of the defensive scales placed on him earlier.
• Gu Yue proves capable of sustained, high-intensity elemental suppression, combining fire, ice, and wind to keep the enemy’s frontliners on the defensive.
• The pink-haired captain shifts from dismissive confidence to serious concern after realizing that Class Zero’s coordination and unusual abilities threaten her team.
• Milk Sister is revealed to possess more than defensive abilities: she can conceal appearances and Soul Power threads, as well as manipulate the battlefield by pulling allies into position.

Significant Themes

• Underestimation and reversal: The upperclassmen initially assume victory is effortless, but Class Zero overturns expectations through teamwork and unconventional abilities.
• Information as power: Chen An’s vision allows him to expose hidden techniques and see through deceptive tactics, giving Class Zero an advantage despite its lower raw strength.
• Teamwork and trust: Each member follows Chen An’s instructions precisely, enabling coordinated attacks and timely retreats.
• Hidden potential: Tang Wuling’s Blue Silver Grass and the concealed functions of Milk Sister’s abilities show that appearances can be misleading.
• Strategy versus strength: Although the upperclassmen possess superior Soul Power and experience, Class Zero’s planning and formation-breaking tactics allow them to control the battle.

Character Interactions

• Chen An gives direct tactical instructions to Xie Xie, Tang Wuling, and Gu Yue, and each responds promptly.
• Tang Wuling and Gu Yue work together to split and suppress the enemy’s front line.
• Xie Xie relies on the opening Tang creates to attack the staff user, while the pink-haired captain protects her teammate with ink chains.
• Milk Sister’s barrier protects the backline but unintentionally isolates Shield Dog and Muscle Bro, allowing Gu Yue to attack them freely.
• Chen An and Tang Wuling display strong mutual trust, with Tang immediately obeying his command despite having another plan underway.
• The opposing team communicates increasingly urgently as Class Zero’s tactics disrupt their formation and expose their weaknesses.

Chapter Summary: “Victory”

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Frustrated that Chen An has repeatedly anticipated her team’s tactics, the Pink-Haired Captain orders her entire team to abandon restraint and attack with full strength.
• The enemy’s staff-wielding Soul Master unleashes Starfall Cannon, while Milk Sister strengthens Muscle Bro and repairs Shield Dog’s defenses. Gu Yue protects Class Zero with layers of ice walls.
• Repeated Starfall Cannons eventually break through the ice defenses, filling the arena with smoke and debris.
• Tang Wuling emerges from the chaos. Her dragon scales make her immune to Muscle Bro’s lightning paralysis, allowing her to bind him with Blue Silver Grass.
• Gu Yue attacks from above, forcing Milk Sister to prioritize defense over rescue. Muscle Bro is left unsupported, struck by Tang Wuling’s full-powered punch, and eliminated.
• Tang Wuling then attempts to pull Shield Dog off balance, but the Pink-Haired Captain restrains her with ink chains. The captain is simultaneously injured by Gu Yue’s fire attack.
• A third Starfall Cannon destroys the remaining ice wall. In the resulting confusion, Chen An finally enters the fight’s execution phase.
• Xie Xie uses the smoke as cover to rush the vulnerable rear-line staff wielder. His speed prevents her attacks from landing, and he eliminates her with his Light Dragon Dagger.
• Tang Wuling battles Shield Dog directly, overwhelming his supposedly superior defensive Martial Soul with repeated forging-hammer strikes.
• Shield Dog briefly launches Tang Wuling away and attempts a desperate counterattack, but Xu Xiaoyan blinds him with starlight. Tang Wuling then knocks him unconscious and eliminates him.
• Chen An emerges carrying the exhausted Gu Yue. With only the Pink-Haired Captain and Milk Sister remaining, the opposing team concedes defeat.
• The referee declares Class Zero the winner, and the arena erupts in applause.

2. Character Developments

• Chen An demonstrates exceptional battlefield awareness and leadership. He predicts the enemy’s strategies, gives effective defensive instructions, and waits until the battlefield is sufficiently disrupted before committing his team’s decisive attacks.
• Tang Wuling displays remarkable combat ability despite her low cultivation. Her dragon scales counter Muscle Bro’s lightning, while her Blue Silver Grass and forging hammer let her control and overpower stronger opponents.
• Gu Yue serves as the team’s main area defender and elemental attacker. Her ice walls absorb devastating attacks, while her fireballs help injure the enemy captain, though the effort completely exhausts her Soul Power.
• Xie Xie highlights his speed and precision by exploiting the staff wielder’s vulnerability once the enemy frontline collapses.
• Xu Xiaoyan contributes crucially from the rear, using her starlight at the decisive moment to blind Shield Dog and enable Tang Wuling’s finishing blow.
• Pink-Haired Captain becomes increasingly irritated and desperate as Chen An repeatedly predicts her tactics. Although she tries to maintain control, her aggressive all-out order ultimately exposes her team to counterattacks.
• Muscle Bro and Shield Dog, despite their superior cultivation and specialized abilities, are defeated by Class Zero’s coordination and tactical counters.
• Milk Sister proves capable of supporting and protecting her allies but is forced into defensive action and cannot save Muscle Bro.

3. Significant Themes

• Strategy over raw strength: Class Zero defeats opponents with much higher cultivation through prediction, coordination, and exploitation of weaknesses.
• Teamwork and role coordination: Defense, control, support, ranged attacks, and close combat combine effectively to dismantle the enemy formation.
• Adaptability: Tang Wuling counters lightning with her dragon scales, while Xie Xie and Xu Xiaoyan adjust instantly to the smoke-filled battlefield.
• Youth overcoming experience: The young Class Zero members defeat a more experienced team of upperclassmen, emphasizing potential and creativity over age and formal power.
• Composure versus frustration: The opposing captain’s irritation leads her to abandon cautious probing, while Chen An remains patient and methodical.
• Hidden strength: Class Zero’s apparently weak cultivation conceals highly unusual abilities and powerful teamwork.

4. Character Interactions

• The Pink-Haired Captain clashes with Chen An indirectly, becoming increasingly frustrated by his ability to read her plans.
• Gu Yue and Tang Wuling work together to trap Muscle Bro: Gu Yue attacks from above while Tang Wuling restrains him with Blue Silver Grass.
• Milk Sister attempts to rescue Muscle Bro but must instead shield herself and the team from Gu Yue’s fire attacks.
• The Pink-Haired Captain saves Shield Dog from Tang Wuling’s initial pull by binding Tang Wuling with ink chains, though this leaves her vulnerable to Gu Yue.
• Xie Xie takes advantage of the enemy’s broken formation to attack the isolated staff wielder.
• Xu Xiaoyan and Tang Wuling coordinate perfectly, with Xu Xiaoyan’s blinding starlight creating the opening for Tang Wuling to defeat Shield Dog.
• Chen An supports the team from behind the scenes, then personally retrieves the exhausted Gu Yue as the battle concludes.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Class Zero decisively defeats the opposing team in the arena. Although the Pink-Haired Captain and her teammates launch powerful attacks—especially the Starfall Cannon—Gu Yue’s elemental abilities and the team’s coordination secure an overwhelming victory.
• Shen Yi recognizes the exceptional talents of Class Zero, particularly Gu Yue’s ability to control multiple elements and the short-haired girl’s extraordinary physical strength. He also notices that Chen An and Xu Xiaoyan contributed little directly, suggesting that the team has hidden strengths.
• Shen Yi offers to help Wu Changkong contact Shrek Academy and investigate Chen An’s unusual bloodline mutation, but Wu refuses. Their conversation reveals Wu’s lingering guilt and self-blame over an unresolved past incident.
• After the battle, Class Zero celebrates over milk and fruit juice. Chen An encourages the team before the upcoming three-person round-robin tournament, while Tang Wuling expresses confidence about the next day’s forging finals.
• Xie Xie, energized by the battle, demands a place in the next match and boasts that he can win with Gu Yue and Tang Wuling beside him. The others jokingly suggest leaving him to fight alone, teasing him into backing down.
• Later, Chen An realizes that his cultivation is on the verge of a major breakthrough. The combined effects of his recent training, the battle, and his close interaction with Gu Yue have finally triggered the transformation.
• Needing privacy, Chen An secretly dives into the sea after Xie Xie falls asleep. He travels to a secluded reef approximately one thousand meters below the surface and begins releasing the enormous power he has long suppressed.
• As the breakthrough begins, his Dragon Scale emits silver patterns, golden markings appear beneath his skin, and crimson scales start forming across his body.

Character Developments

• Chen An: His cultivation reaches a critical turning point. His strength is revealed to be vastly greater than what he normally displays, and his connection with Gu Yue appears to have contributed to his breakthrough. He remains cautious and secretive about his abilities.
• Gu Yue: Her mastery of multiple elements proves central to Class Zero’s victory. Maintaining the ice wall and providing long-range support nearly exhausts her Soul Power, deepening her bond and synchronization with Chen An.
• Xie Xie: His confidence grows after witnessing the team defeat stronger opponents, though his bravado is quickly undercut by the others’ teasing. He remains competitive but is also aware of his dependence on his teammates.
• Tang Wuling: She remains composed and confident about the forging finals and joins Gu Yue in playfully teasing Xie Xie.
• Wu Changkong: His faith in Class Zero is validated, but his conversation with Shen Yi exposes unresolved guilt and emotional pain from the past.
• Shen Yi: He moves from skepticism to admiration after witnessing the children’s abilities, especially their potential for future greatness.

Significant Themes

• Hidden potential and restraint: Class Zero’s victory and Chen An’s secret breakthrough show that their visible abilities represent only a fraction of their true power.
• Teamwork versus individual strength: The battle demonstrates the importance of coordinated abilities, while Xie Xie’s jokes highlight the team’s reliance on one another.
• Mentorship and trust: Shen Yi’s questioning and Wu Changkong’s refusal emphasize the guarded nature of the team’s secrets and the responsibility of protecting gifted students.
• Guilt and unresolved trauma: Wu Changkong’s admission that he blames himself hints at an important past tragedy that still affects him.
• Transformation and rebirth: Chen An’s descent into the deep sea and the emergence of silver, gold, and crimson scales symbolize the beginning of a profound physical and spiritual evolution.
• Nature as refuge: The isolated ocean provides Chen An with the privacy needed for his breakthrough and contrasts with the crowded, competitive human world above.

Character Interactions

• Shen Yi and Wu Changkong discuss Class Zero’s abilities, Chen An’s bloodline, and Wu’s painful past.
• The team celebrates together after the match, with Chen An acting as captain and encouraging everyone.
• Xie Xie exchanges playful arguments with Gu Yue and Tang Wuling, while Xu Xiaoyan quietly enjoys the humor and Chen An dismisses Xie Xie’s complaint.
• Chen An and Gu Yue’s close physical and spiritual proximity during the battle becomes an important catalyst for Chen An’s breakthrough.

Chapter Summary: Ninety Thousand Li Beneath the Sea

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen An awakens inside his Mental Space after breaking through underwater. The space appears as a realistic ocean and lush coastline, though the seabed remains empty because his Mental Power is only around 901.
• His status reveals that he has reached Rank 40, with his bloodline evolution at 40% and a new Fourth Soul Ring aged over 10,000 years. His Fourth Soul Skill has not yet been chosen.
• Chen An realizes that his breakthrough caused a massive disturbance in the real world. Storms form over Skysea City, waves become violent, and his aura as a powerful Soul Beast attracts numerous sea Soul Beasts.
• When he completes his breakthrough, the resulting Soul Power explosion destroys nearby reefs and frightens the gathered beasts into fleeing.
• A great white shark is badly injured by flying debris. Chen An heals her using the Reverse Cursed Technique instead of harming her.
• The shark follows him toward shore and communicates telepathically, revealing that she is a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beast.
• Chen An explains that he is a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast in human transformation, while the shark reveals her name: Bai Xiuxiu.
• Just as Bai Xiuxiu begins opening up to him, the mysterious Roulette reshuffles again, suggesting that her appearance may be significant.

Character Developments

• Chen An grows stronger after reaching Rank 40 and continues to gain control over his bloodline, Soul Power, and transforming body. His scales now carry intricate gold-and-silver patterns, while the Silver Dragon King’s core scale is spreading across his body.
• Despite possessing overwhelming power, Chen An demonstrates restraint and compassion by healing the injured shark and reassuring her rather than treating her as an enemy.
• He remains curious about his own limits and considers testing himself against a Titled Douluo.
• Bai Xiuxiu is introduced as an innocent, curious, and sheltered Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beast. Although raised to distrust humans, she is fascinated by Chen An’s transformed appearance and quickly becomes comfortable speaking with him.
• Bai Xiuxiu shows signs of loneliness and rebellious curiosity, secretly exploring human objects despite her clan’s warnings.

Significant Themes

• Power and responsibility: Chen An’s breakthrough causes widespread destruction, but he takes responsibility for the accidental injury and uses his abilities to heal rather than dominate.
• Identity and transformation: Chen An’s human appearance contrasts with his true Soul Beast nature, while Bai Xiuxiu is intrigued by the possibility of eventually transforming herself.
• Prejudice and misunderstanding: Bai Xiuxiu’s elders teach her that humans are savage and deceitful, yet Chen An’s kindness challenges those assumptions.
• Curiosity and forbidden contact: Bai Xiuxiu’s interest in human civilization and Chen An represents the tension between strict tradition and the desire to explore the unknown.
• Growing destiny: The Roulette’s sudden reshuffling hints that Bai Xiuxiu’s encounter with Chen An may influence future events.

Character Interactions

• Chen An and the humanoid phantom discuss the limitations and development of his Mental Space, as well as his unexpected breakthrough.
• Chen An comforts and heals Bai Xiuxiu after she is injured, creating an immediate bond between them.
• Bai Xiuxiu cautiously communicates with Chen An, confirms his Soul Beast identity, and excitedly asks about transformation and his name.
• Their conversation shifts from suspicion to mutual curiosity, ending with Bai Xiuxiu introducing herself as the chapter closes.

Chapter Summary: “Overslept, Meow”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen An encounters a young great white shark who reveals that her name is Bai Xiuxiu, secretly identifying her as the future Dong Qianqiu and Great White Shark Princess.
• His Roulette interface unexpectedly presents a new option: “Accept the blessing?”
• Chen An leaves Bai Xiuxiu and returns from the Mental Space to the real world, only to realize that an entire night and morning have passed.
• He secretly dries himself and reenters the hotel room, discovering that Xie Xie and the others have already noticed his disappearance.
• The group returns with him just as he is still dressing, creating an embarrassing misunderstanding that makes it seem as though he spent the night with someone.
• Chen An learns that everyone, including Director Long Hengxu and Wu Changkong, launched an extensive search for him. Tang Wuling even abandoned her important blacksmith finals because she was worried.
• He missed his individual tournament matches, but Long Hengxu preserved his eligibility. Chen An must now win all remaining matches to recover his ranking and points.
• Wu Changkong privately tells Chen An that he will not pry into his secrets and offers his support if Chen An ever needs help.

Character Developments

• Chen An: Successfully returns from his mysterious journey but becomes anxious about explaining his disappearance. He demonstrates quick thinking by redirecting attention toward the tournament and confidently vows to win his remaining matches. His encounter with Bai Xiuxiu also hints at future connections and possible benefits from the Roulette system.
• Bai Xiuxiu: Introduced as an innocent, energetic young great white shark. She immediately forms a friendly attachment to Chen An and is visibly reluctant to part from him.
• Xie Xie: Shows intense concern for Chen An but quickly turns that concern into relentless gossip and teasing, assuming Chen An may have spent the night with a girl.
• Tang Wuling: Reveals her deep concern and loyalty by giving up her crucial finals to help search for Chen An. She prioritizes his safety over her own competition results.
• Xu Xiaoyan: Reacts with embarrassment and curiosity to Chen An’s half-dressed state, privately wondering whether he had visited a girl.
• Long Hengxu: Although angry and frightened by Chen An’s disappearance, he protects Chen An’s tournament eligibility and worries about his future performance.
• Wu Changkong: Displays subtle relief upon finding Chen An safe and offers him unusually gentle, nonjudgmental support. However, he misunderstands Chen An’s situation, believing he may have been coerced into working undercover for the Holy Spirit Cult.

Significant Themes

• Secrets and trust: Chen An continues hiding the truth about his extraordinary experiences, while Wu Changkong offers trust without demanding explanations.
• Concern and companionship: The extensive search emphasizes how much Chen An matters to his teammates and teachers.
• Misunderstanding and comedy: Chen An’s unexplained disappearance and half-dressed return lead to humorous assumptions about romantic escapades.
• Responsibility and consequences: His mysterious journey causes him to miss important matches, forcing him to overcome a disadvantage through future victories.
• Fate and future connections: Meeting Bai Xiuxiu, a major future figure, suggests that Chen An’s actions may influence important events to come.

Important Character Interactions

• Chen An and Bai Xiuxiu part on friendly terms, with Bai Xiuxiu clearly reluctant to lose contact.
• Xie Xie interrogates and teases Chen An, while the girls react with embarrassment and curiosity.
• Tang Wuling defends Chen An and reassures him that his safety matters more than her missed finals.
• Long Hengxu reprimands Chen An indirectly while preserving his competition opportunity.
• Wu Changkong and Chen An share a private conversation centered on trust. Wu offers help without realizing that his assumptions about Chen An’s connection to the Holy Spirit Cult are completely mistaken.

Chapter Summary: “Tsundere Hasn't Gone Out of Style”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Wu Changkong is absent from the spectator stands, leaving Chen An seated beside Xu Xiaoyan during the Three-Person Round-Robin Tournament.
• Class Zero competes against a Tianhai Academy team and wins through coordinated teamwork.
• After the match, Ye Xinglan and Xu Lizhi approach Chen An. Ye provokes him over his disappearance from the previous day and accuses him of being arrogant.
• Chen An refuses to argue, politely dismissing Ye and returning to his teammates. His calm indifference only further irritates her.
• Shen Yi arrives and reprimands Ye Xinglan, reminding her that Shrek students should compete humbly and avoid underestimating others.
• Back at the hotel, Xie Xie begins watching Chen An sleep every night to ensure he does not mysteriously disappear again.
• During the next day’s individual matches, Chen An experiments with his Roulette ability while interacting with Tang Wuling and Xu Xiaoyan, but neither produces a worthwhile opportunity. He considers trying to interact with Gu Yue instead.
• Chen An’s match lasts less than ten seconds. He releases countless Dragon Scales, instantly binding his Three-Ring opponent before she can properly respond.
• Impressed and shocked, Ye Xinglan confronts him about his first Soul Ring being a Millennium Soul Ring. When Chen An teases her by suggesting she has a crush on him, she becomes flustered and defensive.

Character Developments

• Chen An: Remains calm, polite, and emotionally detached in confrontations. He demonstrates overwhelming combat efficiency and continues investigating how to use the Roulette effectively. He also recognizes Ye Xinglan’s behavior as typical tsundere-like hostility.
• Xu Xiaoyan: Shows growing romantic interest in Chen An, becoming nervous and embarrassed when seated beside him. Her feelings remain concealed behind shy, obedient behavior.
• Ye Xinglan: Initially acts hostile and prideful toward Chen An because of their bad first impression and rumors about his disappearance. After witnessing his effortless victory, her hostility shifts into genuine curiosity and respect, though she continues expressing it through denial and aggression.
• Xu Lizhi: Provides honest, humorous commentary, repeatedly pointing out that Ye Xinglan is the one provoking Chen An. His remarks earn him playful punches from her.
• Shen Yi: Acts as Ye Xinglan’s mentor and corrects her arrogance, emphasizing humility and the importance of respecting every opponent.
• Xie Xie: Becomes protective and suspicious after Chen An’s unexplained disappearance, monitoring him while he sleeps.

Significant Themes

• Misunderstanding and first impressions: Ye Xinglan’s negative view of Chen An is based on incomplete information and an earlier misunderstanding, but his strength forces her to reconsider him.
• Humility versus pride: Shen Yi warns Ye against relying on talent and status, while Ye’s behavior demonstrates the immaturity that can come from excessive confidence.
• Hidden affection and tsundere behavior: Both Xu Xiaoyan and Ye Xinglan show interest in Chen An in different ways—Xu through shy admiration and Ye through denial, irritation, and constant attention.
• Overwhelming strength and restraint: Chen An defeats his opponent instantly but does not boast or prolong the fight, contrasting his calm efficiency with Ye Xinglan’s emotional intensity.
• Supervision and mystery: Chen An’s unexplained disappearance continues to affect those around him, leading Xie Xie to guard him and Shrek’s students to monitor him.

Character Interactions

• Chen An and Xu Xiaoyan share a quiet, subtly romantic moment as she sits beside him and nervously watches him.
• Chen An and Ye Xinglan clash verbally, with Chen An’s indifference making Ye feel increasingly frustrated and disrespected.
• Xu Lizhi repeatedly exposes the absurdity of Ye’s behavior, creating comic tension between them.
• Shen Yi mediates the conflict by educating Ye Xinglan about humility and proper conduct.
• After Chen An’s spectacular victory, Ye Xinglan approaches him with newfound seriousness and curiosity. Chen An’s teasing causes her to blush and angrily deny any romantic interest, revealing the beginning of a classic tsundere dynamic.

Chapter Summary: “I’ll Admit You’re Badass”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After Chen An dismisses Ye Xinglan and tells her he never asked her to watch his match, she becomes determined to pursue him anyway. She vows to visit him every day until he treats her seriously. Chen An teasingly challenges her to prove she can keep clinging to him, promising to admit she is “badass” if she succeeds.
• Chen An immediately becomes warm and gentle when speaking with Tang Wuling, highlighting the contrast between his treatment of her and his cold attitude toward Ye Xinglan.
• Mu Xi visits Chen An and jokes that his disappearance during the previous forging match cost her a proper competition against Tang Wuling. Because Tang Wuling forfeited while searching for Chen An, Mu Xi won the forging championship, though she admits the victory felt less meaningful without their expected rivalry.
• Xu Xiaoyan tells Chen An that her brother’s team lost in the first knockout round to Sea-Land Academy and failed to reach the top sixteen. Xie Xie then appears, explaining that Teacher Wu assigned him to monitor Chen An so he would not disappear again, even teaching him a Tang Sect technique for the task.
• Tang Wuling excitedly tells Chen An that she has learned a powerful Tang Sect secret technique. He encourages her, while privately remembering Xie Xie’s ridiculous demonstration of the same technique.
• Ye Xinglan follows through on her promise and joins Chen An and Xu Xiaoyan in the spectator stands. She trades several sarcastic remarks with Chen An, nearly loses her temper, but restrains herself after noticing Shen Yi observing from above.
• Although Ye Xinglan initially has little interest in the tournament, her rivalry with Chen An draws her into watching Class Zero’s match. Chen An continues teasing her with a deliberately ambiguous nod before leaving.
• Class Zero’s continued victories attract increasing attention from other teams, especially because of Tang Wuling’s exceptional performance. Opponents begin studying her but conclude that she is simply overwhelmingly strong.
• Tang Wuling intensifies her training, practicing the Purple Demon Eyes, Controlling Crane Capturing Dragon, combat, and meditation every day.
• Chen An focuses on the Roulette system and attempts to improve his chances of obtaining useful attributes. He recalls that meeting Bai Xiuxiu unlocked a mysterious new exclusive draw pool containing an attribute called “Blessing,” which he plans to investigate later.

Character Developments

• Chen An: Remains confident, teasing, and emotionally detached toward Ye Xinglan, while showing clear warmth toward Tang Wuling and concern for his teammates. His attention is increasingly divided between supporting Class Zero and investigating the Roulette’s mysterious abilities.
• Ye Xinglan: Her competitive pride is provoked by Chen An’s dismissal. She becomes determined to stay near him and gradually learns to control her temper, suggesting the beginning of a more complicated relationship built on rivalry and persistence.
• Tang Wuling: Grows more disciplined and ambitious, adding new Tang Sect techniques to her training while continuing to dominate the youth division through her strength and balanced combat style.
• Mu Xi: Maintains a playful, physically affectionate dynamic with Chen An. Though she jokes about winning the forging championship, her comments reveal that she wanted a genuine contest with Tang Wuling.
• Xu Xiaoyan: Shows vulnerability over her brother’s defeat but remains integrated into the group. She is curious about Ye Xinglan and appears quietly protective of Chen An’s social space.
• Xie Xie: Takes on the humorous role of Chen An’s assigned watchdog, exaggerating his use of a stealth technique and providing comic relief.
• Shen Yi: Observes Ye Xinglan’s failed attempts to approach Chen An with amused sympathy.

Significant Themes

• Rivalry as a form of connection: Ye Xinglan’s hostility and persistence begin drawing her closer to Chen An, even as he insists she is irrelevant.
• Contrasting relationships: Chen An’s cold teasing toward Ye Xinglan contrasts sharply with his gentle behavior toward Tang Wuling, revealing different emotional bonds and possible romantic tension.
• Discipline and growth: Tang Wuling’s rigorous training demonstrates the importance of continuous improvement as Class Zero faces increasingly prepared opponents.
• Team reputation and pressure: Class Zero’s winning streak raises expectations and causes other teams to study their strategies, especially Tang Wuling’s role as the team’s frontline powerhouse.
• Mystery and hidden power systems: Chen An’s investigation of the Roulette, particularly the unknown “Blessing” attribute, introduces an ongoing supernatural or game-like mystery.

Important Character Interactions

• Chen An and Ye Xinglan: Their exchanges are antagonistic and flirtatiously competitive, with Ye Xinglan refusing to be dismissed and Chen An deliberately provoking her.
• Chen An and Tang Wuling: They share a notably affectionate and trusting relationship. Chen An encourages her training, while she openly seeks his acknowledgment.
• Chen An and Mu Xi: Their interaction is playful and familiar, with Mu Xi teasing and touching him while Chen An tolerates her behavior with resignation.
• Chen An and Xu Xiaoyan: He listens to her concerns and she remains close to him during the tournament, though she becomes suspicious of Ye Xinglan’s presence.
• Xie Xie and Chen An: Xie Xie’s assignment to monitor Chen An creates a humorous guardian dynamic and reflects the team’s concern that Chen An may disappear again.

Summary of “Ace Against Ace”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Skysea Grand Tournament has continued for two days, with Ye Xinglan closely observing Chen An’s battles.
• Chen An has deliberately concealed his true strength:
  • He avoids participating in the three-person round-robin matches.
  • In five-person team battles, he stays in the rear, supporting allies and controlling the battlefield rather than claiming glory.
  • In individual matches, however, he defeats Three-Ring opponents with ease and remains near the top of the rankings despite forfeiting an early match.
• Ye Xinglan deduces that Chen An’s scale-based Martial Soul may be a mutated dragon-type ability, possibly combined with a second Martial Soul connected to his eyes. His constant eyepatch further convinces her that he is hiding extraordinary abilities.
• After Ye Xinglan follows him for several days, Chen An finally acknowledges her—but only to give her a box of candy. His casual gesture leaves her flustered and unable to express her desire to challenge him.
• Tang Wuling has made progress in mastering Controlling Crane Capturing Dragon, improving both her combat options and her ability to manipulate Soul Power.
• Class Zero is matched against Sea-Land Academy, an undefeated team regarded as one of the strongest dark horses in the tournament. Both teams have perfect records, making the battle the division’s most anticipated clash.
• Before the match, Class Zero unites behind the declaration, “Class Zero will win!”
• During the match’s opening, Chen An notices that all five Sea-Land Academy members possess Three-Ring cultivation. He then decides that continuing to conceal himself is becoming dull and appears ready to reveal more of his power.
• At the same time, in VIP Box Number One, Sea-Land Academy’s principal, Zhang Zhenpeng, asks Tianhai Academy’s principal for an extremely rare Shrek Inner Academy recommendation slot. He argues that Sea-Land Academy’s outstanding performance and talented students deserve it.
• The chapter ends with purple light rising beneath Chen An’s feet, causing both academy principals to react with shock.

Character Developments

• Chen An: His image as a quiet support-oriented captain is revealed to be carefully constructed. He is powerful enough to defeat strong opponents effortlessly but deliberately allows his teammates to shine. His amusement with the tournament and decision to stop hiding suggest a major power reveal is imminent.
• Ye Xinglan: Her curiosity about Chen An develops into intense admiration and a desire to test herself against him. His small act of giving her candy catches her off guard and creates a more personal connection between them.
• Tang Wuling: She has begun applying Controlling Crane Capturing Dragon in actual combat and is steadily improving her control over Soul Power.
• Class Zero: The team continues to function with strong unity and confidence, preparing to face its toughest undefeated opponent.
• Zhang Zhenpeng: He demonstrates strong ambition for Sea-Land Academy, seeking recognition and a rare opportunity for his students to enter Shrek’s Inner Academy.

Significant Themes

• Hidden strength and deception: Chen An’s restrained battlefield role contrasts sharply with his overwhelming individual power.
• Recognition and merit: Sea-Land Academy’s success raises questions about whether achievement can overcome institutional privilege, especially in competing for Shrek’s limited recommendation slots.
• Competition between elites: The undefeated Class Zero and Sea-Land Academy represent rival rising forces, setting up an “ace against ace” confrontation.
• Trust and team roles: Chen An supports his teammates rather than seeking personal glory, showing that leadership can involve creating opportunities for others.
• Curiosity and emotional connection: Ye Xinglan’s pursuit of Chen An shifts from observation toward personal interest, while his understated kindness subtly deepens their relationship.

Important Character Interactions

• Ye Xinglan repeatedly watches Chen An, analyzes his abilities, and waits for a chance to challenge him.
• Chen An finally speaks to Ye Xinglan and gives her candy, responding to her persistent attention in a detached but considerate way.
• Class Zero shares a motivational hand-stack before facing Sea-Land Academy.
• Zhang Zhenpeng and Long Huan Tian negotiate over Shrek recommendation slots, exposing the intense political and institutional competition surrounding the tournament.
• Chen An’s impending power reveal directly threatens to overturn both the battle’s expectations and the principals’ assessment of Sea-Land Academy’s chances.

Chapter Summary: “Going Through the Motions”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen An reveals two Millennium Soul Rings, shocking the audience because someone so young would normally possess only hundred-year Soul Rings.
• Class Zero faces Sea-Land Academy, whose team includes a powerful three-ringed captain, twin sisters, and two Weapon Martial Soul users.
• Sea-Land Academy launches an aggressive coordinated assault, but Chen An calmly assigns roles to his teammates rather than attacking himself.
• Tang Wuling blocks the opposing captain’s powerful wolf attacks, Gu Yue freezes and restrains enemies, Xie Xie disrupts their formation through speed, and Xu Xiaoyan interferes with an opponent’s senses and movement.
• Class Zero withstands the initial assault and prevents Sea-Land Academy from gaining momentum.
• Sea-Land Academy prepares to use its hidden trump card, but Chen An finally activates the invisible “ripples” he has spread across the arena since the beginning.
• The ripples disrupt the enemy team’s Soul Power circulation, senses, and ability to use their skills, causing all five opponents to collapse.
• Gu Yue freezes their legs while Tang Wuling moves in to finish the match. Sea-Land Academy is defeated before it can use its Martial Soul Fusion Skill.
• Class Zero wins, leaving the spectators and Sea-Land Academy’s supporters stunned by the sudden reversal.

Character Developments

• Chen An: His extraordinary control, patience, and tactical intelligence are revealed. Rather than fighting directly, he quietly controls the entire battlefield and wins with a single decisive move. His calmness and hidden abilities greatly increase the mystery surrounding him.
• Tang Wuling: Demonstrates improved combat ability by directly blocking the enemy captain’s attacks and using Controlling Crane Capturing Dragon to redirect them.
• Gu Yue: Shows effective battlefield control through wide-area frost and quickly capitalizes on Chen An’s strategy.
• Xie Xie and Xu Xiaoyan: Work effectively in support roles, disrupting the enemy’s formation and limiting their movement and perception.
• Sea-Land Academy’s captain: Initially confident and powerful, he adapts quickly to Class Zero’s tactics but is ultimately helpless against Chen An’s unseen suppression.
• Ye Xinglan: Her curiosity and shock toward Chen An intensify. She realizes that he has concealed his true strength far more deeply than expected.
• Zhang Zhenpeng: His confidence in Sea-Land Academy collapses when he recognizes that Chen An controlled the battle.
• Long Huan Tian: Correctly senses that Chen An is dangerous and concludes that Sea-Land Academy may no longer be favored for an inner court position.

Significant Themes

• Hidden strength and deception: Chen An’s true abilities remain concealed until the decisive moment, emphasizing that appearances can be misleading.
• Strategy over brute force: Class Zero wins through coordination, battlefield control, and timing rather than overwhelming direct attacks.
• Teamwork and trust: Each member follows Chen An’s instructions and performs a specialized role, allowing the team to counter a stronger-looking opponent.
• Psychological warfare and control: The invisible ripples undermine the enemy’s confidence and physical coordination before they understand what is happening.
• Underestimation: Sea-Land Academy and the spectators focus on Chen An’s lack of visible action, failing to realize that he has controlled the battle from the beginning.

Character Interactions

• Chen An gives concise tactical instructions, assigning Tang Wuling the front line, Gu Yue the left flank, Xie Xie the right, and Xu Xiaoyan a specific target to disrupt.
• Tang Wuling directly clashes with the Sea-Land captain, while Chen An’s guidance enables her to defend and counter effectively.
• Gu Yue, Xie Xie, and Xu Xiaoyan coordinate their control and harassment abilities to isolate and confuse the opposing team.
• Chen An signals the team to finish the match only after disabling the enemy, allowing Gu Yue and Tang Wuling to execute the final attack.
• Ye Xinglan watches Chen An closely throughout the battle, ending the chapter with heightened admiration, confusion, and suspicion about his real capabilities.

Chapter Summary: “Hard to Keep It Together”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Class Zero decisively defeats the Sea-Land Team in the tournament. Their victory is achieved not through Tang Wuling’s overwhelming strength, but through Chen An’s previously concealed abilities. With one unseen move, Chen An cripples the opposing team and reveals himself as Class Zero’s true trump card.
• The loss shocks Zhang Zhenpeng, who angrily leaves the VIP box to confront Eastsea Academy. Long Huan Tian remains to handle the situation, including questions about Chen An’s unusual Soul Skill, “Ripple.”
• Wu Changkong warns Chen An that his performance has attracted the attention of the Alliance and various academy leaders. However, he refuses to help explain or defend Chen An, advising him simply to continue winning as long as he has not cheated.
• After the match, Chen An separates from Class Zero under the excuse of buying something and treating everyone to dinner. He secretly uses the opportunity to evade surveillance.
• The Shrek student who had been observing the match follows Chen An through the city. Chen An disguises his movements, vanishes into the crowd, and later confronts the pursuer.
• Ye Xinglan briefly encounters the Shrek student and unknowingly helps him search for Chen An. He misdirects her toward a side street.
• Chen An then catches the Shrek student, isolates them inside a soundproof Soul Power barrier, and accuses him of being an undercover agent from the Holy Spirit Cult.
• The pursuer initially denies the accusation, but Chen An explains that he detected the man’s Evil Soul Master aura using his ability to perceive the “colors” of living beings.
• As the confrontation intensifies, Chen An prepares to stop the man from escaping or warning his accomplices. The suspect suddenly unleashes an overwhelming pressure and declares, unexpectedly, that he is gay.

Character Developments

• Chen An: Fully establishes himself as Class Zero’s hidden ace. He demonstrates immense control, strategic intelligence, stealth, and confidence. He can manipulate Soul Power to create a large silent zone and possesses a Soul Skill capable of identifying the distinctive aura of Evil Soul Masters. His calmness under pressure contrasts with his willingness to act decisively.
• Tang Wuling: Continues to show concern for Chen An, reminding him to stay in contact because he has disappeared unexpectedly before. Her relaxed attitude after the battle highlights the team’s confidence.
• Gu Yue: Begins to feel uneasy about Chen An’s secretive behavior and watches him leave with growing suspicion, though she does not confront him.
• Wu Changkong: Remains detached and uncompromising. Rather than shield Chen An from scrutiny, he tells him to rely on his own strength and simply follow the rules.
• Ye Xinglan: Searches for Chen An after noticing him in the city, but she is unknowingly manipulated by the disguised Holy Spirit Cult agent’s false directions.
• The Shrek student/undercover agent: Initially maintains a convincing, friendly disguise and attempts to conceal his identity. Chen An’s confrontation breaks his composure, revealing that he is dangerous and likely connected to a larger conspiracy.

Significant Themes

• Hidden strength and misdirection: Chen An’s apparent role as a relaxed support member masks his extraordinary combat and investigative abilities.
• Surveillance and counter-surveillance: The chapter emphasizes the danger of being watched, as well as Chen An’s ability to detect and outmaneuver those following him.
• Trust and secrecy: Chen An withholds information from his teammates, while Gu Yue and Tang Wuling react differently to his mysterious behavior—one with suspicion, the other with concern.
• Composure versus panic: Chen An remains calm while the undercover agent gradually loses control. The contrast shows Chen An’s psychological advantage.
• The threat of the Holy Spirit Cult: The cult’s infiltration of the tournament environment suggests a broader danger beyond the competition itself.
• Comic interruption and tonal contrast: The agent’s sudden declaration, “I’m gay,” interrupts an otherwise tense confrontation, ending the chapter on an absurd cliffhanger.

Character Interactions

• Chen An and Class Zero: The team celebrates casually after their overwhelming victory, treating the battle as little more than a successful step in the tournament.
• Chen An and Wu Changkong: Wu Changkong warns him about the attention he has drawn but refuses to intervene, reinforcing their teacher-student dynamic of independence and restraint.
• Chen An and Gu Yue: Gu Yue silently observes Chen An’s departure, suggesting that his secrecy is beginning to affect her perception of him.
• Ye Xinglan and the undercover agent: She asks him for information about Chen An, and he deceives her without revealing his identity.
• Chen An and the undercover agent: Their final encounter is a battle of perception and composure. Chen An exposes the agent’s identity, traps him in a silent barrier, and prepares to attack, while the agent’s sudden pressure hints at formidable hidden power.