Chapter Summaries

A schemer plotted to exploit attacks across Mingdu to assassinate Xu Tianran, while coordinated strikes triggered alarms across the Sun Moon Empire. At the academy, Xu Tianran invited Huo Yuhao to visit Xu Tianzhen and then stunned Jing Hongchen by proposing to make Meng Hongchen his empress.

• The schemer planned to disguise himself as a fallen Soul Engineer and use the confusion in Mingdu to approach and kill Xu Tianran.
• Soul Guidance Cannon Shells struck the Sun Moon Imperial Palace, but its defenses held as Rank 9 Soul Engineers ordered the palace guarded and a search launched.
• Attacks also hit auction houses, Soul Tool warehouses, and the Imperial Mausoleum, stirring fear across Mingdu, though the warehouses suffered no losses.
• Xu Tianran asked Huo Yuhao to visit the palace and guide Xu Tianzhen in Soul Master cultivation and Soul Tool research, and Huo Yuhao agreed.
• Xu Tianran spoke privately with Jing Hongchen and said he was considering making Meng Hongchen his empress, leaving Jing Hongchen stunned and resistant.

Xu Tianran tried to persuade Jing Hongchen to let Meng Hongchen become his empress, but Huo Yuhao resolved to have Xu Tianran killed and eventually install a child emperor instead. Reports of attacks on important sites in Mingdu then reached the Sun Moon Emperor, prompting him to dispatch troops.

• Xu Tianran hinted that Meng Hongchen could become empress, but Jing Hongchen said he would first discuss the matter with her.
• Huo Yuhao revealed through his thoughts that he had heard the conversation and would not allow Xu Tianran to marry Meng Hongchen.
• Jing Hongchen asked Huo Yuhao what he thought, and Huo Yuhao declared that Xu Tianran had set foot on the path to death.
• Huo Yuhao told Jing Hongchen he planned to delay taking the throne, kill Xu Tianran, and support a child emperor, and Jing Hongchen agreed.
• Several men reported attacks on the Sun Moon Imperial Palace, soul tool warehouses, auction houses, and other important locations.
• Xu Tianran ordered Head Zhao to send troops to assist and investigate the attacks.

Jing Hongchen suspected Shrek Academy would attack Mingdu, while Huo Yuhao learned from the Plane Consciousness that Xuan Zi planned to capture Xu Tianran. Xuan Zi infiltrated Mingde Hall disguised as a member of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Legion and began reporting to Xu Tianran.

• Jing Hongchen reasoned that Shrek Academy might raid Mingdu to seize Xu Tianran, but Huo Yuhao said a Shrek Academy expert would kill him publicly.
• Huo Yuhao learned from the Plane Consciousness that Xuan Zi intended to capture Xu Tianran alive.
• Xuan Zi ambushed and killed members of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Legion, then took one man's armor and disguise.
• Xuan Zi entered Mingde Hall and began answering Xu Tianran's questions about the situation outside.

Xuan Zi disguised his intentions while approaching Xu Tianran, then launched a sudden attack to capture him alive. Xu Tianran survived behind a Level 9 Defensive Soul Tool, leaving Xuan Zi to realize the emperor may have hidden his true cultivation.

• Huo Yuhao concealed himself in the crowd and secretly told Jing Hongchen that the Sun Moon Soul Engineer Legion member was Xuan Zi of Shrek Academy.
• Xuan Zi exaggerated the attack outside Mingdu and asked Xu Tianran to activate a Soundproof Soul Guidance Barrier so he could report secret intelligence.
• Xu Tianran enclosed himself, Xuan Zi, Jing Hongchen, and Head Zhao inside the barrier, allowing Xuan Zi to move closer.
• Xuan Zi attacked Xu Tianran with three blade-like streaks of yellow light from his Torso Soul Bone.
• Jing Hongchen and Head Zhao each blocked one streak, while Xu Tianran's Level 9 Defensive Soul Tool stopped the last one.
• Xuan Zi suspected that Xu Tianran had concealed his cultivation and prepared to continue attacking.

Xuan Zi attacked Xu Tianran in Mingde Hall, while Jing Hongchen and Head Zhao tried to stop him. A hidden spiritual assault left Xu Tianran unable to defend himself, and Xuan Zi killed him before realizing the emperor’s death made no sense.

• Jing Hongchen and Head Zhao confronted Xuan Zi after he attacked Xu Tianran, while Xuan Zi used spatial cracks to hold them back.
• Xuan Zi struck at Xu Tianran, whose defensive Soul Tools activated as an unseen spiritual attack left him confused and immobile.
• Xuan Zi mistook Xu Tianran’s stillness for a deliberate act and hurled his Chicken Leg-Shaped Club at him.
• The club shattered Xu Tianran’s defenses and killed him, shocking Jing Hongchen and leaving Xuan Zi bewildered.

After Xuan Zi accidentally killed Xu Tianran instead of capturing him, he escaped Mingde Hall and returned to the surviving spies, who confronted him over the failed mission. At the front lines, Ju Zi learned of Xu Tianran’s death and Huo Yuhao’s plan to place a child emperor on the throne before arranging an abdication.

• Xuan Zi fought Jing Hongchen and Head Zhao after Xu Tianran died, then fled Mingde Hall when he spotted Huo Yuhao among the crowd.
• Xuan Zi escaped his pursuers and returned to Xuan Tian Inn, where Zhao Yunfeng told him that the other spies had been killed or had taken their own lives.
• Xuan Zi admitted that he had killed Xu Tianran instead of capturing him, and Zhao Yunfeng and the imperial spies said they would report the incident to their leaders.
• Ju Zi learned from Huo Yuhao that Xuan Zi had killed Xu Tianran and that Huo Yuhao planned to install a child emperor before arranging an abdication.

Ju Zi considered restoring Emperor Mingliang's line by installing a controllable imperial child as emperor. At Shrek Academy, Mu En learned that Xuan Zi had killed Xu Tianran and ordered the academy's remaining spies in Mingdu not to support him.

• Ju Zi proposed claiming that a suitable imperial child descended from Crown Prince Xu He so the child could be made emperor and controlled.
• Mu En reminisced about his youth at Shrek Academy before Gong Changlong arrived with news that Xuan Zi had killed Xu Tianran.
• Gong Changlong warned that Xu Tianran's death could spur the Sun Moon Army to attack more fiercely and eliminate the chance to use him as a hostage.
• Mu En ordered the spies in Mingdu not to cooperate with Xuan Zi, saying Xuan Zi had to bear the consequences of his own mistake.
• Xu Jiawei condemned Xuan Zi for killing Xu Tianran instead of capturing him alive and called his explanation a lie.

Xu Jiawei ordered his scouts to stop assisting Xuan Zi and reinforced the Star Luo Chino Defense Line after learning that Xuan Zi had killed Xu Tianran. Huo Yuhao then challenged Ju Zi’s plan to restore the Sun Moon throne through a child emperor, and suggested making Xu Tianzhen Empress instead.

• Xu Jiawei concluded that Xuan Zi was a Sun Moon Empire spy and ordered Cheng Gang to cut off the scouts’ assistance to him and send more troops to the Star Luo Chino Defense Line.
• Huo Yuhao learned through the Plane Consciousness that Ju Zi planned to support a child emperor, and worried that Xu He’s survival would undermine the plan.
• Huo Yuhao used spatial magic to reach Ju Zi’s marshal’s tent and explained the problems he saw with her proposal.
• Ju Zi said the child emperor plan could expose ministers who were not truly loyal to Huo Yuhao, and offered to blame Shrek Academy for killing Xu Tianran’s siblings if necessary.
• Huo Yuhao proposed making Xu Tianzhen Empress, and Ju Zi agreed while privately fearing that Xu Tianzhen’s closeness to him would threaten her relationship with him.

Huo Yuhao secured Kong Deming’s support for Xu Tianzhen to become Empress, then helped her take the throne and became Prime Minister. After released imperial relatives were killed and the blame was pinned on Xuan Zi, Xu Tianzhen summoned Huo Yuhao to plan an attack against him.

• Huo Yuhao asked Kong Deming whether Xu Tianzhen should become the new Emperor, and Kong Deming agreed to support her.
• Huo Yuhao told Ju Zi of Kong Deming’s support and asked her to have the Sun Moon Army publicly back Xu Tianzhen.
• Huo Yuhao and the Empire’s experts suppressed imperial relatives who tried to rebel after Xu Tianran’s death.
• Xu Tianzhen ascended the throne as Empress, appointed Huo Yuhao Prime Minister, and granted the remaining rebels amnesty by stripping their titles and releasing them.
• The released imperial relatives were killed on the road, and the killings were blamed on Xuan Zi.
• Xu Tianzhen summoned Huo Yuhao to discuss surrounding and killing Xuan Zi, while Xuan Zi protested that he had been framed.

Xuan Zi’s attempt to stir up a succession crisis in the Sun Moon Empire failed, while He Caitou learned from Huo Yuhao that Xu Tianran’s death avenged his own family. At the Star Luo Chino Defense Line, He Caitou continued his undercover work and confronted a corrupt transport commander who defended their looting of coalition supplies.

• Xuan Zi told Zhao Yunfeng to help him destabilize the Sun Moon Empire, but Zhao Yunfeng refused, citing Mu En’s orders to offer support without assistance.
• He Caitou read Huo Yuhao’s letter explaining Xuan Zi’s role in Xu Tianran’s death, burned it, and privately rejoiced that his great vengeance had been avenged.
• He Caitou inspected the Star Luo Chino Defense Line, where he had helped build defenses and had gained Xu Jiujiu’s favor while secretly overlooking Liu Yun’s thefts.
• Liu Yun offered He Caitou another Storage Ring, and He Caitou objected that the rampant embezzlement was weakening the coalition forces.
• Liu Yun argued that the coalition was already close to collapse and that everyone should take advantage of the opportunity to make money.

He Caitou heard Liu Yun describe corruption in the allied forces and the Sun Moon Empire’s improving treatment of occupied territories, while Huo Yuhao helped Xu Tianzhen review memorials in the palace. When Huo Yuhao tried to leave, Xu Tianzhen blocked the doors and threatened to strip him of his position as prime minister.

• Liu Yun told He Caitou that the allied forces’ declining morale encouraged embezzlement and that the Sun Moon Empire was improving life in its occupied territories with Soul Guidance Technology.
• He Caitou realized that the allied forces concealed these improvements and that Liu Yun’s theft of Soul Tools weakened their military.
• Huo Yuhao reviewed memorials with Xu Tianzhen, who had kept him in the palace partly to spend more time with him.
• After finishing the memorials, Huo Yuhao announced that he would return to the academy, but Xu Tianzhen ordered him to remain.
• Huo Yuhao continued toward the exit, so Xu Tianzhen blocked the doors and threatened to revoke his prime minister position.

Huo Yuhao challenged Xu Tianzhen’s attempts to use her authority to claim him, then punished her while threatening to expose her humiliation. As footsteps approached Sun Moon Hall, Xu Tianzhen admitted she was wrong and pleaded for him to stop.

• Xu Tianzhen threatened to remove Huo Yuhao as Prime Minister and declared that she would make him her imperial husband.
• Huo Yuhao refused to belong to her alone and told her that her imperial authority could not control him because he was stronger.
• Huo Yuhao suppressed Xu Tianzhen’s Soul Power and slapped her while warning that he could let others hear and see what was happening.
• Huo Yuhao removed the Soundproof Soul Guidance Barrier and continued slapping Xu Tianzhen as footsteps approached Sun Moon Hall.
• Xu Tianzhen pleaded with Huo Yuhao to stop and admitted she was wrong.

Huo Yuhao forced Xu Tianzhen to apologize and promise not to interfere in his love life, then released her and left Sun Moon Hall. Xu Tianzhen treated her injuries and resolved to retaliate against him.

• Xu Tianzhen lied to the palace guard captain, who accepted her explanation and returned to his post.
• Huo Yuhao threatened to punish Xu Tianzhen again unless she showed she understood her mistake.
• Xu Tianzhen promised not to interfere with Huo Yuhao's thoughts about love, and Huo Yuhao released her.
• Huo Yuhao reactivated the Soundproof Soul Guidance Barrier and left Sun Moon Hall.
• Xu Tianzhen swallowed a Healing Pill and decided to return the same number of slaps to Huo Yuhao.

Xu Tianzhen took childish revenge on Huo Yuhao’s photograph, then found herself missing him despite her anger. Meanwhile, Zhong Liwu tried to get the Sun Moon Empire to cooperate in hunting Xuan Zi, but its worshippers withheld what they knew about his whereabouts.

• Xu Tianzhen punched Huo Yuhao’s photograph in her collector’s album to vent her anger at him.
• After her anger eased, Xu Tianzhen missed Huo Yuhao and gave up trying not to think about him.
• Zhong Liwu asked the Holy Spirit Church’s Great Elder whether they had found Xuan Zi’s hiding place.
• The Great Elder said they had not located Xuan Zi and had been unable to meet the new Sun Moon Emperor.
• The Great Elder reported that Sun Moon Worship Hall worshippers claimed to know where Xuan Zi was hiding but would not reveal it yet.

The Great Elder of the Holy Spirit Church went to Xu Guozhong to learn Xuan Zi’s hiding place, and Xu Guozhong confirmed he knew it. Xu Guozhong accepted a gift but demanded more payment before revealing the location.

• Zhong Liwu ordered the Great Elder to obtain Xuan Zi’s hiding place and promised to strike him down once they learned it.
• The Great Elder traveled to Mingdu City and chose Xu Guozhong, a Sun Moon prince guarding a strategic warehouse, as his source.
• Xu Guozhong arranged for an offering to take over warehouse security before meeting the Great Elder in private.
• The Great Elder asked for Xuan Zi’s hiding place, and Xu Guozhong warned that revealing it could endanger the Sun Moon Empire’s secret operation.
• The Great Elder offered Xu Guozhong a Storage Ring and promised that the leader would kill Xuan Zi, but Xu Guozhong demanded more payment.

Xu Guozhong revealed Xuan Zi’s location to the Holy Spirit Church while secretly advancing Huo Yuhao’s plan to turn the church against Shrek Academy. Zhong Liwu attacked the Xuan Tian Inn, leaving Xuan Zi alive beneath the ruins but putting the Shrek spies there in grave danger.

• Xu Guozhong told the Great Elder that Xuan Zi was hiding at the Xuan Tian Inn and advised him to bring enough men.
• After the Great Elder left, Xu Guozhong reported the encounter to Huo Yuhao, who ordered the Soul Engineers near the inn to withdraw and prepared to rescue Xuan Zi.
• Xuan Zi drank and brooded at the inn, frustrated that he could no longer get help from allied spies to disrupt the Sun Moon Empire.
• Zhong Liwu led Holy Spirit Church members to surround the Xuan Tian Inn, then used his third soul skill to destroy it with black scythes.
• Xuan Zi protected himself with Soul Power and survived beneath the rubble, while the Shrek spies gathered at the inn were left in danger.

Xuan Zi rescued the surviving Shrek spies from the collapsing ruins, but Zhong Liwu intercepted their escape and prepared to fight him. The chapter left Xuan Zi and the wounded spies surrounded as Zhong Liwu summoned a massive bone dragon.

• Xuan Zi used a barrier to shield the ruins from Zhong Liwu's black sickles and searched for survivors.
• Xuan Zi found wounded Shrek spies, protected them, and led them out of the rubble.
• Xuan Zi recognized Zhong Liwu and tried to flee with the spies, but Zhong Liwu and other Evil Soul Masters blocked their path.
• Xuan Zi transformed into a Godly Taotie Bull and carried the spies on his back as Zhong Liwu taunted him.
• Zhong Liwu summoned a huge bone dragon and stood atop its head, facing Xuan Zi.

Huo Yuhao concealed himself near Xuan Tian Inn while arranging for Jing Hongchen and three controlled Evil Soul Masters to help kill Zhong Liwu. As Zhong Liwu’s forces overwhelmed Xuan Zi and the Shrek spies, Xuan Zi struggled to keep them alive, and the chapter ended with their barrier close to breaking.

• Huo Yuhao identified the bone dragon’s elemental powers and decided to kill Zhong Liwu and take the dragon for the Undead Demiplane.
• Huo Yuhao arranged for Jing Hongchen’s forces to lie in wait and ordered Feng Ling, Nan Gongwan, and the Nether Lightning Douluo to turn on Zhong Liwu.
• Zhong Liwu accused Xuan Zi of hunting Holy Spirit Cult members and unleashed the bone dragon’s wind and elemental attacks.
• Evil Soul Master powerhouses joined the assault, breaking Xuan Zi’s protective barrier and forcing him to defend the Shrek spies.
• Xuan Zi used spatial rifts and a counterattack to shield the spies, but the Gluttonous Divine Ox and his hastily formed barrier cracked under the continuing barrage.

Zhong Liwu’s forces overwhelmed Xuan Zi and slaughtered the scouts, leaving Xuan Zi badly injured and fleeing. Huo Yuhao then launched a coordinated ambush, and Feng Ling and the others struck Zhong Liwu while he was distracted by the Rank 9 Soul Cannon Shells.

• Zhong Liwu and the Evil Soul Masters shattered Xuan Zi’s barrier and killed the scouts in a brutal assault.
• Xuan Zi remembered the Shrek students and their families who had died, vowed to fight the Evil Soul Masters, and fled rather than burn more of his life force.
• Zhong Liwu’s group pursued Xuan Zi and severely wounded him, until Huo Yuhao secretly attacked the Evil Soul Masters with overwhelming Spiritual Power and urged his allies to move.
• An unfamiliar voice warned Xuan Zi to escape, while Huo Yuhao’s allies pretended to be affected by the spiritual attack and joined the pursuit.
• Jing Hongchen’s group fired Soul Tool cannons, including at least three Rank 9 Soul Cannon Shells, at Zhong Liwu’s group.
• Feng Ling, Nan Gongwan, and the Nether Lightning Douluo launched a sneak attack on Zhong Liwu, blasting a hole through his chest.

Feng Ling, Nan Gongwan, and the Nether Lightning Douluo helped Jing Hongchen’s forces kill Zhongli Wu and the other Evil Soul Masters, then the group framed Xuan Zi for the massacre. Huo Yuhao later suppressed Xuan Zi’s consciousness and altered his memories, leaving him convinced that a mysterious expert had helped him escape and defeat the Evil Soul Masters.

• Feng Ling, Nan Gongwan, and the Nether Lightning Douluo ambushed Zhongli Wu, and Soul Guidance Cannon Shells killed him and his bone dragon.
• Jing Hongchen’s forces killed the remaining Evil Soul Masters, while Feng Ling, Nan Gongwan, and the Nether Lightning Douluo survived as planned.
• Jing Hongchen ordered his group to clean the battlefield and publicize that Xuan Zi had killed the Evil Soul Master experts.
• Xuan Zi recovered in a forest outside Mingdu and vowed to drive all Evil Soul Masters from the world.
• Huo Yuhao and Electrolux found Xuan Zi, suppressed his consciousness, and checked the false memories Huo Yuhao had implanted.
• Xuan Zi’s altered memories portrayed a mysterious expert helping him escape and kill the Evil Soul Masters, with three survivors fleeing.