Chapter Summaries

Key plot points and events

• At the Rose Hotel, An Chen uses his Iron Pot Martial Soul to engulf Dai Mubai in living Black Fog, stopping his attack just short of Tang San. Dai Mubai withdraws, recognizes An Chen’s strength, and leaves with the twin girls.
• Dai Mubai predicts the trio are headed to Shrek Academy. Before departing, he mocks An Chen as “the kid who lets out black farts,” earning laughter from Xiao Wu and a silent vow of revenge from An Chen.
• Tang San thanks An Chen for protecting him. Xiao Wu invites An Chen to travel with them; after some initial wariness, Tang San agrees. An Chen declines their offer to explore Suotu City, and they arrange to meet the next morning.
• The three set out for Shrek Academy. Xiao Wu and Tang San talk and joke along the way, while An Chen learns they are all twelve and confirms that his Martial Soul is a pot.
• They reach a shabby village entrance marked by a crooked Shrek Academy sign. At registration, an old man rejects a boy for being over the age limit and refuses to refund the family’s fee. When the father protests, Dai Mubai appears and challenges them to recover the money by defeating him, revealing his three Soul Rings.

Character developments and interactions

• An Chen demonstrates control and restraint: he stops Dai Mubai without seriously hurting him, accepts Xiao Wu’s invitation despite Tang San’s suspicion, and keeps his own plans separate from the pair’s sightseeing. Dai Mubai’s insult irritates him, but he decides to settle the score later.
• Tang San is grateful to An Chen but initially wary of him. Xiao Wu’s defense of An Chen helps him accept the newcomer as a traveling companion.
• Xiao Wu is outgoing and quick to trust An Chen. Her playful closeness with Tang San is evident during their journey.
• Dai Mubai shows respect for An Chen’s ability, while remaining proud and provocative. At the academy, he acts as its enforcer.
• The trio’s interactions shift from a tense hotel fight to a tentative traveling partnership, with Xiao Wu bridging the gap between An Chen and Tang San.

Significant themes

• Strength and restraint: An Chen uses force to prevent harm and damage rather than escalate the hotel fight.
• Trust and companionship: Xiao Wu’s openness helps turn an uneasy encounter into cooperation.
• Shrek’s harsh standards: The academy’s strict age limit, nonrefundable fee, and Dai Mubai’s challenge suggest an uncompromising approach to admissions.
• Humor amid tension: An Chen’s private reactions to Dai Mubai’s nickname and the shabby academy sign lighten the chapter’s confrontations.

Key plot points

• A father and son try to challenge the academy’s strict entry rules, but Dai Mubai intimidates them with his three Soul Rings. They leave, and many other applicants follow, knowing their registration fees cannot be refunded.
• Ning Rongrong, a poised girl from the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect, passes the initial test and is escorted inside. Dai Mubai reacts with a brief, unsettling glint.
• Zhu Zhuqing appears next. Dai Mubai is visibly captivated and senses that her Martial Soul may complement his own, potentially enabling a Martial Soul Fusion Skill.
• Tang San, Xiao Wu, and An Chen register and pass the first test. Tang San’s unusual physical conditioning draws the examiner’s attention; An Chen is revealed to have a Big Iron Pot Martial Soul and Soul Power at level twenty-nine.
• Dai Mubai leads the three into the academy, then hurries back to find Zhu Zhuqing. They reach the central courtyard, where they are to take the second test.
• Oscar, a Food-type Soul Master who sells sausages, calls out to the applicants, promising that they can restore Soul Power. The chapter ends as he offers one to Tang San, Xiao Wu, and An Chen.

Character developments and interactions

• Dai Mubai displays his authority at the entrance, but his focus shifts to Zhu Zhuqing. He explains the possibility of their Martial Souls combining, while Xiao Wu teases him about chasing a girl.
• Tang San and Xiao Wu continue to show their closeness and playful physical affection; Xiao Wu pinches Tang San when he becomes distracted.
• An Chen recognizes several major characters and privately comments on their behavior. He passes the test, though he briefly senses something unusual during the examination.
• Ning Rongrong calmly asserts that the academy should accept students without discrimination, despite the examiner’s concern about her family.
• Oscar is introduced as a cheerful sausage vendor whose flirtatious attention lingers on the female applicants.

Significant themes

• Merit and exclusion: Shrek’s harsh standards drive many applicants away, while those who remain are judged by ability rather than family status.
• Power and potential: Soul Rings, training, and rare Martial Soul combinations determine who stands out.
• Connections and attraction: Dai Mubai’s response to Zhu Zhuqing hints at a powerful bond, while the group’s teasing and camaraderie give the chapter a lighter tone.

Key plot points and events

• Tang San, Xiao Wu, and An Chen approach Oscar’s sausage cart at Shrek Academy. Tang San buys two sausages, while An Chen buys ten, knowing they can restore Soul Power and physical strength. He tries one, confirms that it tastes good and helps replenish Soul Power, and stores the rest in his ring.
• Oscar reveals that he is only fourteen, despite his heavy beard. When Dai Mubai arrives, he warns Tang San not to eat Oscar’s sausages until Oscar demonstrates how they are produced.
• Oscar reluctantly summons a sausage by shouting his food-spirit incantation, “Big Sausage Go!” Tang San is horrified and puts his sausage back. An Chen calmly eats it anyway, to Oscar’s delight.
• Dai Mubai takes Tang San, An Chen, and the others back to the admission queue. Xiao Wu asks for her sausage; after Tang San explains the incantation, she blushes and calls the group shameless.

Character developments and interactions

• An Chen remains composed and practical: he buys extra sausages for their restorative value and is unfazed by Oscar’s embarrassing incantation. He quietly anticipates that the others may later need the sausages too.
• Oscar is embarrassed by the contrast between his mature, bearded appearance and his age, as well as by his involuntary-sounding soul chant. An Chen’s willingness to eat his sausage earns his gratitude.
• Tang San starts out polite and curious, but recoils once he learns how Oscar’s Martial Soul works. He later explains the awkward truth to Xiao Wu.
• Dai Mubai teases Oscar and warns the newcomers, while keeping up his protective, big-brother attitude toward Tang San. He again calls An Chen by the unwanted nickname “the one who farts darkly.”
• Xiao Wu is initially eager to try the food, then becomes confused by the others’ laughter and embarrassed after learning why Tang San refused his sausage. The cold girl with Dai Mubai dismisses the scene as boring.

Significant themes

• Appearance versus reality: Oscar looks far older than fourteen, while his food-related ability comes with an unexpectedly awkward chant.
• Practicality versus embarrassment: An Chen prioritizes the sausage’s useful restorative effects, while the others are put off by how it is summoned.
• Humor and camaraderie: Teasing, shared embarrassment, and Oscar’s appreciation of An Chen’s support shape the group’s interactions.

Key plot points

• Dai Mubai escorts An Chen, Tang San, and Xiao Wu past the second and third entrance trials because their Soul Power exceeds level twenty-five. An Chen and Tang San both demonstrate level-thirty Soul Power, silencing applicants who had objected to their being allowed through.
• Ning Rongrong then qualifies to skip the trials at level twenty-six, followed by Zhu Zhuqing at level twenty-seven. The five are sent together to the fourth trial.
• On the way, Dai Mubai explains Shrek’s demanding standards: the academy accepts only exceptional students, tests combat experience in its final trial, and requires graduates to reach level forty before turning twenty.
• The group meets Zhao Wuji, a powerful Soul Saint and the examiner. He sets the test: the five must work together to withstand his attacks for the time it takes one incense stick to burn. If even one of them lasts, all five pass. He lights the incense, and their preparation time begins.

Character developments and interactions

• An Chen remains composed and pragmatic, accepting the shortcut without hesitation. He reacts sharply to the skeptical applicant and uses Spirit Vision on Zhao Wuji, sensing the immense, beastlike power within him.
• Tang San questions why his Blue Silver Grass is considered promising, showing modesty about his Martial Soul. Dai Mubai explains that high Soul Power can outweigh its limitations.
• Dai Mubai acts as guide and defender, but hesitates when Zhao Wuji announces the test, suggesting concern for the applicants.
• Ning Rongrong confidently asserts that she should qualify for special treatment, while Zhu Zhuqing demonstrates her strength with little fanfare. Dai Mubai gives Zhu Zhuqing a complicated look.
• Xiao Wu jokes that Shrek’s standards are so severe that only “monsters” could pass. The revelation that just three students currently attend underscores how extreme those standards are.
• Zhao Wuji appears genial but is imposing and formidable; his test immediately places the five in a high-stakes situation requiring cooperation.

Significant themes

• Merit over appearances: The academy’s rules and the applicants’ reactions emphasize that demonstrated ability—not excuses or assumptions—earns special consideration.
• Excellence and sacrifice: Shrek would rather admit no one than accept mediocrity, accepting its near-empty halls as the cost of maintaining its standards.
• Cooperation under pressure: The final trial requires the five newcomers to work as a team against an overwhelming opponent.

Plot and events

• Dai Mubai warns the five applicants that their examiner, Zhao Wuji, is a level-76 Combat Soul Saint renowned for overwhelming strength and defense. He urges them to share their abilities and coordinate before the trial begins.
• The group introduces their Martial Souls and skills. Tang San proposes roles: Ning Rongrong supports, Xiao Wu leads the assault, Tang San controls Zhao Wuji, Zhu Zhuqing attacks from the flanks, and An Chen uses his fog and marking ability to disrupt the fight.
• Zhao Wuji begins the trial with a ground-smashing attack that sends a wave of earth and rocks toward the group. Tang San pulls Ning Rongrong clear; the others evade, while An Chen blocks a rock with his iron pot and spreads his Black Fog over Zhao Wuji.
• An Chen discovers that the fog cannot suppress Zhao Wuji or meaningfully conceal him from the Soul Saint’s perception. Zhao Wuji easily overwhelms Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing, while Tang San’s Blue Silver Grass cannot hold him. An Chen advises Tang San to use the grass to trip Zhao instead.
• When Zhao Wuji targets Ning Rongrong, An Chen concentrates the fog to block his vision and detonates a mark, briefly stunning him. The pause lets Tang San pull Ning Rongrong behind a tree—but Zhao Wuji turns his attention to An Chen and advances on him.

Character developments and interactions

• An Chen remains outwardly cautious and hopes to rely on the group’s established tactics, but he proves observant and resourceful. He identifies how Tang San can adapt his control strategy and uses his own skills to protect Ning Rongrong. His confidence is tempered by the vast gap between his power and Zhao Wuji’s.
• Tang San takes charge of coordination and quickly adjusts his tactics when An Chen points out that binding Zhao Wuji is futile.
• Ning Rongrong provides strength and speed boosts to the group, but her vulnerability as an Auxiliary Soul Master makes her a priority target.
• Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing attack as planned but are swiftly injured and thrown aside, demonstrating the danger of challenging Zhao Wuji directly.
• Zhao Wuji is calm, powerful, and deliberately tests the group. He recognizes An Chen’s interference and singles him out after An Chen’s brief stun disrupts his attack.
• Dai Mubai acts as the group’s warning and adviser, emphasizing Zhao Wuji’s strength and the need for teamwork.

Significant themes

• Teamwork and adaptation: The group must coordinate different abilities and revise tactics when their initial approach fails.
• The limits of power: An Chen’s control skill can interrupt a vastly stronger opponent, but only momentarily; cleverness cannot erase the enormous Soul Power gap.
• Courage under pressure: Despite the danger, the young Soul Masters continue to support one another and attempt to protect their weakest teammate.

Chapter Summary: The Immovable Wisdom King, Zhao Wuji (Part 2)

Key Plot Points and Events

• An Chen waits for the precise moment Zhao Wuji steps into his black fog, sensing a brief disruption in the Soul Saint’s soul-power circulation.
• At An Chen’s signal, Tang San uses Crane Catching Wild Goose to exploit Zhao Wuji’s momentary daze. Xiao Wu follows by wrapping around Zhao Wuji and using Waist Bow to throw him headfirst into the ground.
• An Chen adds to the attack by striking Zhao Wuji’s back with his iron pot, increasing the force of the impact. Zhao Wuji emerges largely unharmed and praises the group’s teamwork.
• Zhao Wuji then becomes serious, activating his Vajra Gigantic Bear Wuhun avatar. His body grows dramatically, fur appears, and all seven of his soul rings are revealed.
• An Chen uses Oscar’s recovery sausage to restore some soul power and studies Zhao Wuji with Spirit Vision, realizing that the true examination has now begun.
• Zhao Wuji launches a devastating attack that forces the five examinees to scatter. His punch leaves a deep crater, while Dai Mubai’s attempt to stop the test is casually rejected; Zhao Wuji knocks him into the wall and declares that there are no children in the examination grounds, only examinees.
• An Chen analyzes Zhao Wuji’s movements and identifies an opening in his upper body. Tang San coordinates with Xiao Wu, using her as a projectile while Blue Silver Grass attacks from multiple directions.
• Zhu Zhuqing attempts to strike Zhao Wuji’s seemingly undefended back with Netherworld Hundred Claws, but An Chen realizes Zhao Wuji is preparing a soul skill and warns her too late.
• Zhao Wuji activates Immovable Wisdom King Body, releasing a powerful golden shockwave. Zhu Zhuqing is knocked unconscious with both arms dislocated, Xiao Wu is injured, Tang San’s Blue Silver Grass is shattered, and An Chen is thrown into a tree.
• Zhao Wuji immediately targets Tang San with his second soul skill. Xiao Wu uses her illusion ability to weaken the attack, but the huge difference in soul power causes severe backlash, leaving her unconscious and bleeding.
• Tang San escapes with Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track and checks on Xiao Wu. An Chen confirms that she is suffering soul-power backlash but is not in danger.
• Zhao Wuji explains Xiao Wu’s condition and declares that the group has failed because they could not last through the incense’s allotted time.

Character Developments

• An Chen demonstrates strong tactical awareness, using perception and Spirit Vision to identify openings in Zhao Wuji’s defenses and direct the team’s attacks. However, he realizes that clever tactics alone cannot overcome the overwhelming power gap.
• Tang San proves highly responsive to An Chen’s commands and shows strong battlefield coordination. His concern for Xiao Wu becomes especially clear after she collapses.
• Xiao Wu displays courage and teamwork, first helping throw Zhao Wuji and later risking herself to protect Tang San. Her illusion skill briefly disrupts Zhao Wuji but causes her serious backlash.
• Zhu Zhuqing attacks decisively and takes advantage of An Chen’s analysis, but she is badly injured when Zhao Wuji activates his defensive soul skill.
• Dai Mubai attempts to intervene on behalf of the younger examinees, showing concern for them, but Zhao Wuji effortlessly dismisses him.
• Zhao Wuji shifts from playful confidence to overwhelming seriousness. He recognizes the group’s ingenuity but makes clear that their tactics cannot compensate for the difference between their strength and that of a Soul Saint.

Significant Themes

• Tactical intelligence versus overwhelming power: The group’s coordinated ambush briefly catches Zhao Wuji off guard, but his superior cultivation allows him to dominate once he becomes serious.
• Teamwork and trust: The attacks depend on An Chen’s analysis and the others’ immediate cooperation, showing the team beginning to function as a unit.
• The harshness of the examination: Zhao Wuji treats the entrance test as a real combat trial rather than a safe evaluation, emphasizing the brutal standards of the academy.
• Self-sacrifice and protection: Xiao Wu risks severe injury to save Tang San, while Tang San and An Chen immediately focus on her condition afterward.
• The limits of cleverness: An Chen’s abilities can expose openings, but the chapter stresses that insight and coordination have limits when facing an opponent of vastly greater power.

Character Interactions

• An Chen acts as the team’s battlefield strategist, issuing warnings and instructions to Tang San, Xiao Wu, and Zhu Zhuqing.
• Tang San and Xiao Wu coordinate closely, combining her mobility and illusion skill with his Blue Silver Grass and evasive techniques.
• An Chen and Tang San work especially well together, with An Chen identifying weaknesses and Tang San executing attacks.
• Dai Mubai openly challenges Zhao Wuji’s treatment of the group, but Zhao Wuji rejects his intervention and reinforces his uncompromising view of the test.
• After Xiao Wu is injured, Tang San urgently cares for her, while An Chen assesses her condition and Zhao Wuji confirms that she will recover.
• Zhao Wuji acknowledges the group’s creativity but ultimately taunts An Chen and Ning Rongrong, announcing their defeat before the incense burns out.

Key plot points and events

• Tang San asks Ning Rongrong to care for the unconscious Xiao Wu, then invites An Chen to help him face Zhao Wuji for another incense stick’s duration.
• An Chen agrees, and the pair make clear that if they fail, they will leave the academy together with Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing.
• As the third incense stick burns, An Chen uses Spirit Vision to detect brief gaps in the flow of Zhao Wuji’s Soul Power. He calls out the openings while Tang San attacks with an array of Hidden Weapons.
• Zhao Wuji activates his Immovable Wisdom King Body, which repels Tang San’s first volley. The teamwork that follows lets Tang San target weaknesses in Zhao Wuji’s defenses.
• Zhao Wuji uses Gravity Enhancement to weigh down both boys, but Tang San’s Blue Silver Grass repeatedly trips and delays him. With the incense nearly halfway burned, Zhao Wuji uses his Fourth Soul Ring—and declares that the boys have earned admission.

Character developments and interactions

• Tang San remains determined to prove himself despite the previous fight. He trusts An Chen’s observations and adapts his tactics, combining Hidden Weapons with Blue Silver Grass.
• An Chen moves from reluctant helper to an essential partner. His Spirit Vision lets him identify openings in Zhao Wuji’s Soul Power, and he supports Tang San through warnings rather than direct attacks.
• Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing show solidarity by refusing to abandon their comrades; both accept that they may have to leave if the boys fail.
• Zhao Wuji grows impressed by the boys’ resolve and coordination. Though amused and confident at first, he becomes surprised by An Chen’s ability and acknowledges the challenge they pose.

Significant themes

• Loyalty and solidarity: The group chooses to stand together rather than pursue admission at one another’s expense.
• Teamwork and complementary strengths: An Chen’s perception makes Tang San’s attacks more effective, while Tang San’s varied techniques capitalize on the openings.
• Persistence and ingenuity: The boys compensate for Zhao Wuji’s overwhelming strength with observation, tactics, and endurance.

Chapter Summary: Immovable Bright King Zhao Wuji (Part 4)

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhao Wuji uses Locational Tracking to follow Tang San’s movements through the air, preventing him from escaping.
• Tang San activates Parasite, using Blue Silver Grass seeds planted earlier on Zhao Wuji to bind him midair. He follows with six hidden crossbow bolts aimed at Zhao Wuji’s face.
• Zhao Wuji activates his Immovable Wisdom King Body, breaking free and deflecting the bolts.
• An Chen identifies a brief weakness in Zhao Wuji’s defensive soul-power barrier and attacks the exposed point with his iron pot. His Shadow Mark detonates, cracking Zhao Wuji’s defense and forcing him backward.
• Taking advantage of the opening, Tang San fires poisoned steel needles from his chest-mounted weapon. The tea-scented mist weakens Zhao Wuji’s defenses, allowing the needles to pierce him. Tang San then launches additional golden hidden weapons that cause severe pain.
• Angered, Zhao Wuji uses his fifth soul skill, Gravity Squeeze, pulling both Tang San and An Chen toward him with crushing force.
• An Chen detects another weakness in Zhao Wuji’s soul-power circulation and tells Tang San to target Zhao Wuji’s open mouth. Tang San fires a powerful crossbow bolt, kicks toward Zhao Wuji’s throat and lower body, and continues attacking with hidden weapons.
• Zhao Wuji bites down on the bolt but is affected by the poison on it. An Chen strikes his arm with the iron pot, disrupting his defense.
• Tang San brings out his small black hammer and attacks Zhao Wuji’s face while firing more hidden weapons. Zhao Wuji counters by sending Tang San flying with a palm strike, though he deliberately restrains his strength.
• Tang San is caught by Dai Mubai, while Zhao Wuji is struck in the face by the black hammer. Already weakened by poison and repeated attacks, Zhao Wuji is left bleeding and dazed.
• The incense burns out, marking the end of the test. Impressed despite being injured, Zhao Wuji declares Tang San and An Chen to have passed and orders them to report to the academy playground the next morning.

Character Developments

• Tang San demonstrates exceptional combat creativity, combining Blue Silver Grass, hidden weapons, poison, physical attacks, and his mysterious black hammer. He remains aggressive even when exhausted, though the effort leaves him unable to withstand Zhao Wuji’s counterattack.
• An Chen proves that his Spirit Vision can analyze the flow of an opponent’s soul power and expose weaknesses in their defenses. He coordinates effectively with Tang San, using his Shadow Mark and iron pot to exploit those openings.
• Zhao Wuji is shown to be overwhelmingly powerful but increasingly pressured by the students’ teamwork and unconventional techniques. His confidence turns into surprise and frustration as they repeatedly penetrate his defenses. Although he retaliates, he ultimately recognizes their abilities and accepts their victory.
• Dai Mubai supports the group by catching Tang San after Zhao Wuji’s palm strike, showing his role as a dependable teammate.

Significant Themes

• Teamwork and coordination: Tang San and An Chen repeatedly create openings for one another, combining analysis, distraction, poison, and direct attacks.
• Intelligence versus overwhelming strength: Zhao Wuji possesses far greater raw power, but the students compensate through planning, observation, and precise exploitation of weaknesses.
• Persistence and adaptability: Tang San continues attacking despite exhaustion, while An Chen quickly adjusts his understanding of his abilities during battle.
• Hidden potential: An Chen realizes that his Spirit Vision, Shadow Mark, and iron pot work together as a system for identifying, opening, and striking flaws in an enemy’s defenses.
• Respect earned through combat: Zhao Wuji is angered by the students’ ruthless tactics but ultimately acknowledges their skill by allowing them to pass.

Character Interactions

• An Chen repeatedly directs Tang San toward weaknesses he observes in Zhao Wuji’s defenses, making him an important tactical partner.
• Tang San responds immediately to An Chen’s calls, especially when targeting Zhao Wuji’s chest, mouth, and disrupted soul-power circulation.
• Zhao Wuji criticizes them for being “vicious” and compares Tang San to a hedgehog because of his relentless hidden-weapon attacks, but his comments also reflect grudging admiration.
• Zhao Wuji takes particular interest in An Chen’s iron pot and eye-based soul skill, recognizing them as unusual and effective abilities.
• Dai Mubai protects Tang San after the battle, while the exhausted An Chen recovers by eating a sausage.

Key events

• After defeating Zhao Wuji in the entrance trial, the new students are treated by Oscar’s healing sausages. Tang San refuses one, but later removes the embedded Dragon Whisker Needles from Zhao Wuji before collapsing from exhaustion.
• Zhao Wuji confirms that the freshmen have passed, orders Dai Mubai to arrange their rooms, and insists Tang San later collect the scattered hidden weapons himself.
• Tang San, Oscar, and An Chen share a dormitory; Xiao Wu rooms with Ning Rongrong. The next morning, Tang San gathers his weapons, then meets Xiao Wu and An Chen on the way to the cafeteria.
• At breakfast, Ning Rongrong, Zhu Zhuqing, Dai Mubai, and a chubby student—apparently Ma Hongjun—are already gathered, as the academy prepares to assemble its students.

Character developments and interactions

• Tang San shows both restraint and generosity: despite being exhausted, he worries about Zhao Wuji’s health and removes the hidden weapons, then returns to cultivation and his duties at dawn.
• Zhao Wuji is embarrassed by his defeat but accepts treatment and lets Tang San help him.
• Oscar is eager to heal the group and flirt with Ning Rongrong. He teases Tang San about Xiao Wu, who insists they are only friends.
• Dai Mubai takes charge of settling the newcomers and carries the injured Zhu Zhuqing, who responds with her usual coldness.
• An Chen remains observant and composed, noting the group’s dynamics and reflecting that he may make the Shrek Seven Devils an “Eight.”

Significant themes

• Respect earned through action: Tang San’s skill and concern for Zhao Wuji soften the aftermath of the trial.
• Camaraderie and rivalry: The freshmen begin adjusting to shared dorms, teasing, and the academy’s social hierarchy.
• Discipline and perseverance: Tang San resumes cultivation and retrieves his weapons as soon as he can.
• An Chen’s outsider perspective: His quiet observations suggest he sees himself as an addition to the established group, while remaining distinct from its members.

Key plot points and events

• Dai Mubai introduces Ma Hongjun, who insists that his Martial Soul is a Phoenix, not a Grass Chicken. Tang San and An Chen both downplay their role in making Teacher Zhao struggle.
• Dai explains Shrek Academy’s informal rules: serious crimes are forbidden, but fighting and gambling are encouraged. Students must pay an annual tuition of one hundred gold coins; the academy’s teachers value their independence.
• Oscar appears clean-shaven and markedly more handsome. He jokes about pursuing Ning Rongrong and teases An Chen about his Iron Pot Martial Soul.
• Flender, Shrek’s headmaster and a level-seventy-eight Soul Saint, arrives. Xiao Wu recognizes him as the merchant who sold Tang San the Plate Crystal. Oscar warns that Flender holds grudges but protects his own.
• Flender announces that Oscar and Ning Rongrong will join him, while the others should rest and prepare for their first lesson that night. He warns that Shrek’s training can be dangerous.
• Flender singles out An Chen’s unusual combination of an Iron Pot Martial Soul and Shadow Attribute Soul Skills, calling it interesting.

Character developments and interactions

• Ma Hongjun’s pride in his Phoenix identity and Oscar’s flirtatious, self-promoting manner are reinforced.
• Oscar has shaved his beard to attract Ning Rongrong; he and Tang San trade teasing remarks about romance, while Tang San insists Xiao Wu is only his friend. An Chen stays detached from the matchmaking talk.
• Dai Mubai stands near Zhu Zhuqing, but she keeps her distance, leaving him visibly displeased. Oscar enjoys seeing his usual approach fail.
• Xiao Wu is uneasy at the thought of powerful Soul Masters, hinting at her fear of being discovered, though she disguises it with questions about Flender.
• An Chen notices that Flender looks unlike the man he remembers from the original novel: Flender wears a gold-rimmed monocle and has no goatee. Since nobody else reacts, An Chen doubts his own memory—and becomes wary when Flender’s sharp gaze seems to detect something about him.

Significant themes

• Shrek’s unconventional teaching philosophy prizes freedom, combat, and self-reliance, while demanding students face risk.
• Identity and appearances recur in the Phoenix dispute, Oscar’s makeover, and An Chen’s puzzling mismatch between memory and reality.
• The chapter builds tension around hidden vulnerabilities: Xiao Wu’s concealed nature and An Chen’s fear that Flender can sense his secret.

Chapter Summary: “Abnormal Mutation”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After Ma Hongjun leaves and Dai Mubai follows Zhu Zhuqing, An Chen questions Dai, Tang San, and Xiao Wu about Flender’s appearance. Everyone insists that Flender has always worn a gold-rimmed monocle, despite An Chen remembering him differently.
• Flender orders Oscar and Ning Rongrong to run laps as punishment or training, matching events from the original story.
• Teacher Li Yusong arrives to report that Spirit Hall has demanded an additional fee from the academy.
• While speaking with Flender, Li Yusong suddenly mutates into a grotesque, tentacled tree-like monster. The surrounding space becomes filled with disturbing colors and sounds that only An Chen appears able to perceive.
• An Chen’s warning system activates, alerting him to danger. His own hidden thoughts surface uncontrollably, and a sapling begins growing from his arm, suggesting that the mutation is affecting him as well.
• Flender intervenes. His monocle flashes, the mutation disappears, and he pulls a foul, tentacle-covered mass from Li Yusong’s body. He casually explains that “little things” entered the world during the previous invasion of the “Mother,” apparently connected to the earlier red moon phenomenon.
• Li Yusong returns to normal and continues his financial report without remembering anything unusual. The other students likewise claim nothing happened.
• An Chen realizes that only he can perceive these abnormalities. Flender’s altered appearance, Li Yusong’s mutation, and the erasure of everyone else’s memory or perception suggest that the academy is concealing a supernatural threat.
• Flender notices An Chen’s awareness and knowingly smiles while touching his monocle. Alarmed, An Chen leaves, concluding that Flender is deeply abnormal and dangerous.

Character Developments

• An Chen: Becomes increasingly suspicious of the altered reality surrounding him. His system’s danger warning proves useful, but he also discovers that he may be vulnerable to the same mutations he observes. His awareness appears unique, making him isolated from the other characters.
• Flender: Is revealed to possess extraordinary knowledge and power. He can detect, remove, and apparently erase the effects of the mutation, while maintaining a calm and casual demeanor. His monocle may be connected to his ability to perceive or control these phenomena.
• Li Yusong: Temporarily becomes host to a grotesque parasitic mutation but is restored to normal without realizing anything happened.
• Tang San and Xiao Wu: Remain unaware of the supernatural incident, reinforcing that An Chen alone can perceive the hidden abnormalities.
• Oscar and Ning Rongrong: Continue their punishment run and unknowingly remain near the disturbing event.
• Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing: Their brief interaction continues the developing romantic tension between them, though it is secondary to the chapter’s supernatural revelations.

Significant Themes

• Distorted reality and unreliable perception: The chapter questions whether the world has changed or whether everyone except An Chen is being manipulated.
• Isolation of knowledge: An Chen’s unique awareness separates him from his companions and makes it impossible for him to confirm what he sees.
• Hidden invasion and corruption: The “Mother’s invasion” appears to have introduced parasitic or monstrous entities into the world.
• Memory suppression and normalization: After the mutation, everyone behaves as though nothing happened, suggesting powerful concealment or reality alteration.
• Danger beneath the familiar: The academy and its staff appear normal on the surface, but terrifying abnormalities exist just beneath that appearance.
• Power and control: Flender’s effortless removal of the mutation establishes him as a highly capable and possibly ominous figure.

Character Interactions

• An Chen questions Dai Mubai, Tang San, and Xiao Wu about Flender’s appearance, receiving identical answers that contradict his memories.
• Flender disciplines Oscar and Ning Rongrong by making them run laps.
• Li Yusong reports Spirit Hall’s financial demand to Flender, triggering the mutation.
• Flender silently observes An Chen’s reaction and later makes eye contact with him, implying that he knows An Chen can perceive the hidden reality.
• An Chen asks Tang San and Xiao Wu whether they witnessed the incident, but their confusion confirms that they saw only an ordinary conversation.

Plot points and events

• An Chen uses one of his remaining Divination charges to ask what is abnormal about Flender. The system shows him a portrait matching the Flender he remembers, raising the possibility that the headmaster has been replaced or altered. An Chen suspects the strange monocle may be involved.
• Though frightened, An Chen decides not to flee: Flender has not harmed him, and escape may be useless against someone with such unusual abilities.
• At evening training, events unfold much as expected: Ning Rongrong fails to complete her run, Flender reprimands her, and Oscar goes to comfort her. Flender’s persistent smile and attention make An Chen uneasy.
• Flender leads the students through Suotuo City to the Great Soul Arena. He explains that their first lesson is real combat and sets the goal of earning at least a Silver Douhun Emblem before graduation.
• The group enters the enormous arena, where An Chen notices Flender’s monocle glinting as though it is watching him.

Character developments

• An Chen becomes more suspicious and fearful of Flender, but tries to stay calm and conceal his concern. He keeps his distance during the run and uses humor to mask his anxiety.
• Flender appears unchanged to everyone else, yet his strange smile and monocle make him seem unsettling to An Chen. He remains focused on training the students.
• Ning Rongrong shows her frustration by failing to finish the run and throwing a tantrum; Oscar is sent to comfort her.

Character interactions

• An Chen and Ma Hongjun exchange friendly teasing while running; An Chen jokes that he is keeping Ma Hongjun company at the back.
• Flender reprimands Ning Rongrong, then sends Oscar to console her.
• Tang San questions the Great Soul Arena’s treatment of Soul Masters as entertainment. Flender argues that it is an important, independent venue where Soul Masters can demonstrate their abilities and gain recognition.

Significant themes

• Suspicion and uncertainty: An Chen’s private perception of Flender conflicts with how the others see him, leaving the monocle’s significance unclear.
• Courage and caution: An Chen weighs escape against staying, choosing to endure the situation despite his fear.
• Experience beyond innate talent: Flender emphasizes that combat skill and experience—not merely a Soul Master’s rank or Martial Soul—determine success.

Plot points and events

• The Shrek students register at the Suotuo Great Soul Arena. An Chen privately grumbles about Flender’s stinginess, then decides he needs more combat experience.
• Tang San and Xiao Wu form a two-on-two team, the Three-Five Duo. An Chen partners with Ma Hongjun and names their team the Hot Pot Duo, combining his Iron Pot Martial Soul with Ma Hongjun’s fire specialty.
• Xiao Wu easily defeats the much larger Qing Bao with her Waist Bow.
• Tang San defeats Zhu Zhuqing by reading her attack with the Purple Demon Eye and restraining her with Binding. An Chen observes that control-type fighters can counter agility-focused ones.
• An Chen faces Zhang Wei, a level-twenty-five Soul Grandmaster with Iron Gauntlets. Zhang initially underestimates him, then is surprised to see An Chen’s two yellow Soul Rings. An Chen wins without using Soul Skills, blocking attacks with his Iron Pot and overwhelming Zhang with a series of blows.

Character developments and interactions

• An Chen shows initiative by seeking a partner and competing to gain experience. His playful, confident manner contrasts with his unusual weapon and fighting style.
• Dai Mubai declines An Chen’s first approach because he already has a partner, prompting An Chen to realize he is pursuing Zhu Zhuqing and deliberately give him space. An Chen instead teams up with Ma Hongjun, who agrees casually and later praises his performance.
• Tang San comforts an irritated Xiao Wu after their team registration. In the arena, he defeats Zhu Zhuqing decisively, while Dai Mubai watches with concern.
• Zhang Wei’s initial condescension turns to surprise and frustration as An Chen proves both stronger and more skilled than expected.

Significant themes

• Experience through competition: An Chen enters the arena to test himself in real combat.
• Unconventional strength: His Iron Pot seems comical, but its durability and his skill make it an effective weapon.
• Tactics and matchups: Tang San’s control abilities counter Zhu Zhuqing’s agility, while An Chen wins by timing, defense, and sustained pressure rather than Soul Skills.
• Underestimation and confidence: Both An Chen and Zhang Wei misjudge what the other can do, but An Chen’s composure and ability overturn the expectation that a young fighter with a strange Martial Soul will be an easy opponent.

Key events

• After the one-on-one matches, the group watched the two-on-two bouts. Tang San and Xiao Wu defeated the Iron Blood Duo: Tang San used his control skills to create an opening, took a hammer attack while protecting Xiao Wu, and ultimately spared the brothers when they surrendered.
• An Chen and Ma Hongjun then faced the Iron Wall Duo, a pair of heavily defensive fighters with Iron Shield and Iron Armor Martial Souls.
• An Chen used his Spirit Vision to study their movements and Soul Power, then dodged the shield charge and directed Ma Hongjun to attack.
• Ma Hongjun’s flames heated the Iron Armor, while An Chen’s Black Fog blinded and disoriented both opponents. An Chen could perceive them through the fog, expose their weak points, and use Detonate to stun them. The pair knocked both opponents unconscious and won.

Character development and interactions

• An Chen demonstrates confidence and tactical skill, using his perception and control abilities to turn the arena’s darkness to his advantage. He directs Ma Hongjun’s attacks and reassures him that he can handle the matchup.
• Ma Hongjun follows An Chen’s instructions and contributes effectively with his fire-based Soul Skills. Their coordinated victory strengthens their partnership; afterward, Ma Hongjun praises An Chen enthusiastically.
• Tang San recognizes how powerful the combination of Black Fog and Ma Hongjun’s flames is. Dai Mubai compliments their teamwork, though he teasingly calls An Chen’s fog a “black fart.”
• The Iron Wall Duo initially mock their young opponents, but their confidence gives way to confusion and panic once the fog and flames take control of the fight.

Significant themes

• Teamwork and complementary abilities: An Chen’s control and perception pair effectively with Ma Hongjun’s offensive flames.
• Strategy over brute strength: The defensive fighters’ durability cannot protect them from disorientation, targeted attacks, and rising heat.
• Mercy and restraint: Tang San again spares defeated opponents, despite Xiao Wu’s anger over his injury.

Chapter Summary: “Eating Sausages and Cultivating”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After the group’s battle at the Suotuo Great Soul Arena, An Chen senses that his Soul Power bottleneck is loosening and realizes he is close to reaching level thirty.
• He leaves the arena early to cultivate at Shrek Academy, partly avoiding Flender. After cultivating overnight, he improves considerably but still falls just short of breaking through.
• The next morning, An Chen notices that Tang San has already gone to practice the Purple Demon Eye, while Oscar remains in meditation.
• At breakfast, Dai Mubai discusses going out to find the twins he met previously, while Ma Hongjun declines to accompany him. Zhu Zhuqing ignores the conversation, highlighting the tension between her and Dai Mubai.
• During class, Li Yusong substitutes for Flender. Oscar arrives late and announces that he has broken through to level thirty, an impressive achievement for a Food-type Soul Master.
• Li Yusong announces that the lesson will require everyone except Oscar to eat both of Oscar’s sausages. He explains that the exercise is meant to overcome psychological barriers and prepare the students to consume anything necessary for survival.
• Ning Rongrong volunteers first, having decided to remain at Shrek after being encouraged and challenged by Oscar’s breakthrough. She discovers that the sausages taste better than expected.
• An Chen casually eats the sausages and encourages Oscar, followed by Dai Mubai, Ma Hongjun, Tang San, Xiao Wu, and Zhu Zhuqing.
• After everyone completes the exercise, Li Yusong says they may soon need to hunt a soul beast so Oscar can obtain his third soul ring.

Character Developments

• An Chen: Shows strong cultivation talent and is close to level thirty. He remains observant and cautious, particularly regarding Flender and the strange changes he has noticed. His willingness to eat Oscar’s sausages also reinforces his practical, unfussy personality.
• Oscar: Reaches level thirty at only fourteen despite being a Food-type Soul Master, earning admiration from the entire group. His breakthrough boosts his confidence and establishes him as an increasingly valuable support member.
• Ning Rongrong: Initially appears exhausted and emotionally troubled, but ultimately chooses to stay at Shrek Academy. Oscar’s achievement motivates her, and she demonstrates determination by volunteering first for the sausage exercise.
• Dai Mubai: Congratulates Oscar sincerely and recognizes his talent, though he remains preoccupied with his personal relationship and plans involving the twins and Zhu Zhuqing.
• Zhu Zhuqing: Continues to remain emotionally distant and silent, especially during Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun’s suggestive conversation. Her hesitation during the sausage exercise suggests lingering reserve, though she ultimately cooperates.
• Li Yusong: Acts as a practical instructor, emphasizing survival, teamwork, and the importance of Oscar’s support abilities.

Significant Themes

• Perseverance and cultivation: Both An Chen and Oscar are nearing major breakthroughs, showing the rewards of sustained effort and combat experience.
• Overcoming prejudice and embarrassment: The sausage exercise forces the students to confront disgust and embarrassment in order to recognize Oscar’s abilities as essential to survival.
• Teamwork and dependence: The lesson emphasizes that every member must trust and utilize the team’s support abilities, especially Oscar’s food-based powers.
• Survival over pride: Li Yusong stresses that preserving one’s life matters more than appearances, social discomfort, or conventional standards.
• Competition as motivation: Oscar’s breakthrough inspires Ning Rongrong to remain at the academy and pushes the group toward greater improvement.

Character Interactions

• Dai Mubai acknowledges An Chen’s talent and supports his decision to leave early and cultivate.
• Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun exchange teasing remarks about their romantic and sexual pursuits, while Zhu Zhuqing pointedly refuses to react.
• Li Yusong praises An Chen for previously accepting Oscar’s sausages without hesitation, using him as an example for the others.
• Ning Rongrong’s decision to eat the sausages first surprises everyone and marks a subtle shift in her relationship with Oscar and the academy.
• Oscar reacts awkwardly to Ning Rongrong’s comments about the sausages, while An Chen’s straightforward encouragement reassures him.
• The students’ shared participation in the exercise strengthens their unity and prepares them for the upcoming soul-beast hunt.

Chapter Summary: “Departure”

Key Plot Points and Events

• An Chen returns to the dormitory and learns from Ma Hongjun that the Dean has ordered everyone to prepare for a trip to the Star Dou Great Forest. Zhao Wuji will lead the group in helping Oscar obtain his third soul ring after reaching level thirty.
• An Chen chooses to cultivate instead of relaxing with Oscar and Ma Hongjun. During the night, he successfully breaks through to level thirty.
• The next morning, the group meets Zhao Wuji, whose bruised face and black eye—left from his recent encounter with Tang Hao—provoke barely suppressed laughter from the students.
• Xiao Wu jokingly calls Zhao Wuji a “little blind bear,” nearly provoking him, but Tang San intervenes before the situation escalates.
• Dai Mubai organizes the group into a defensive formation for traveling through the forest: An Chen and Tang San lead, Oscar and Ning Rongrong follow, Ma Hongjun and Xiao Wu cover the flanks, and Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing guard the rear.
• The group travels on foot rather than by carriage, relying heavily on Oscar’s recovery sausages. They cover more than four hundred kilometers in one day and reach Star Dou Town by nightfall.
• Zhao Wuji arranges lodging at a modest hotel and tells the students to handle their own meals and expenses. The students divide themselves among several rooms.
• At dinner, Dai Mubai generously offers to treat everyone as a welcome meal for the newer members. Ma Hongjun orders an enormous quantity of food, reinforcing his reputation as the group’s biggest eater.
• The group’s dinner is initially tense and awkward, particularly because of unresolved friction involving Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong. Ma Hongjun repeatedly prompts An Chen to participate, hoping to improve the atmosphere.
• The chapter ends when a proud-looking group from Canghui Academy enters the hotel, recognizable by the “Canghui” insignia on their clothing, foreshadowing a confrontation or rivalry.

Character Developments

• An Chen: Reaches level thirty, marking an important advancement and qualifying him for a new soul ring in the future. He remains observant and sarcastic but is gradually drawn into helping maintain harmony within the group.
• Oscar: Successfully reaches level thirty and becomes the immediate reason for the Star Dou Great Forest expedition.
• Ma Hongjun: Shows his strong attachment to Shrek Academy and his desire for the students to get along. He actively tries to ease social tension and demonstrates his enormous appetite.
• Tang San: Continues to show restraint and protectiveness, stepping in to prevent Zhao Wuji from reacting angrily to Xiao Wu’s teasing.
• Dai Mubai: Demonstrates leadership by arranging the travel formation and taking responsibility for welcoming the newer students.
• Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong: Remain emotionally distant and quiet, contributing to the awkward atmosphere at dinner.
• Zhao Wuji: Though still authoritative and intimidating, he is visibly embarrassed by his injuries and avoids pressing Tang San after remembering Tang Hao’s overwhelming strength.
• Xiao Wu: Remains playful and outspoken, teasing Zhao Wuji without fully recognizing the danger of provoking him.

Significant Themes

• Growth and advancement: An Chen’s breakthrough and Oscar’s level-thirty achievement represent important milestones in the students’ cultivation.
• Teamwork and preparation: Dai Mubai’s formation and the group’s reliance on Oscar’s sausages emphasize the importance of cooperation and complementary abilities.
• Comradeship: Despite tension among some members, Ma Hongjun and Dai Mubai work to strengthen the group’s sense of belonging and unity.
• Humor amid danger: The students joke about Zhao Wuji’s injuries and their unpleasant sausage-based diet even while approaching a dangerous soul beast forest.
• Class and institutional frugality: Shrek’s insistence that students pay for their own travel, food, and lodging highlights the academy’s unconventional and austere nature.
• Foreshadowed conflict: The arrival of the arrogant Canghui Academy students signals an impending clash between rival academies.

Character Interactions

• Ma Hongjun informs An Chen and Oscar of the mission and later pressures An Chen to join the dinner conversation.
• Oscar and Ma Hongjun invite An Chen to relax, but he declines to cultivate.
• Xiao Wu taunts Zhao Wuji, while Tang San quietly prevents the exchange from becoming serious.
• Dai Mubai gives the group tactical instructions and later treats everyone to dinner as a gesture of welcome.
• Ma Hongjun and Dai Mubai banter over the meal, with Ma Hongjun exploiting Dai Mubai’s generosity.
• An Chen, Dai Mubai, and Ma Hongjun provide most of the conversation at dinner, while Tang San, Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, and Ning Rongrong remain comparatively withdrawn.
• The chapter closes by introducing the Canghui Academy group, setting up a likely interaction with the Shrek students.

Plot points and events

• At a restaurant, Shrek’s students encounter a group from Canghui Academy. Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun deliberately insult them, provoking a confrontation as part of Shrek’s “training” in daring to cause trouble.
• Canghui’s dean, Ye Zhiqiu, sends a student to start a fight. The student bumps a waiter carrying food and tries to spill the dish on Dai Mubai. Tang San saves both the waiter and the food with quick reflexes.
• The Canghui student then kicks at Dai Mubai’s table. Dai Mubai strikes him hard enough to send him crashing through two tables, then pretends the blow was an accident.
• Ye Zhiqiu orders his students to attack. Xiao Wu jumps in first and swiftly throws two of them, prompting the dean to tell the others to summon their Martial Souls.
• Dai Mubai, Tang San, An Chen, and Ma Hongjun join the confrontation. The Canghui students reveal their Martial Souls and unusually weak Soul Ring combinations: one white and one yellow ring each. Dai Mubai tells Shrek’s group to summon their own Martial Souls.

Character developments and interactions

• An Chen recognizes the events from the original story, understands Shrek’s plan, and observes rather than interfering. His enhanced hearing lets him overhear Ye Zhiqiu’s instructions.
• Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun coordinate to provoke Canghui, with Dai Mubai adopting a deliberately arrogant, dismissive manner. Dai Mubai also steps in after Xiao Wu’s initial attack.
• Tang San remains composed: he prevents the food from spilling, protects the waiter, and trusts Xiao Wu to handle herself.
• Xiao Wu eagerly enters the fight and demonstrates her strength and skill by taking down two opponents with ease.
• Oscar worries about Xiao Wu and questions Tang San’s calm, while Tang San confidently predicts that Canghui’s students will be the ones hurt.
• Ye Zhiqiu attempts to defend his academy’s standing, first by sending a student to provoke Shrek and then by ordering a group attack.

Significant themes

• Provocation and pride: Shrek’s deliberate insults turn a minor encounter into a fight, while Canghui’s students and dean react defensively to the perceived humiliation.
• Competence beneath appearances: Tang San’s quick control, Xiao Wu’s fighting ability, and Dai Mubai’s strength contrast with the opponents’ assumptions and bravado.
• Shrek’s unconventional training: Oscar describes the academy’s belief that Soul Masters must be willing to take risks and cause trouble rather than remain timid.

Chapter Summary: “Battle with Ye Zhiqiu”

• The confrontation begins: Dai Mubai, Ma Hongjun, Tang San, and An Chen reveal their Martial Souls after Canghui Academy’s students provoke them. Their strength—especially Dai Mubai’s three Soul Rings—intimidates the younger students. Their director, Ye Zhiqiu, steps in to defend his academy’s reputation and reveals himself as a Soul King with a defensive Dark Turtle Martial Soul.
• Tang San devises a strategy: Before the fight, Tang San identifies Ye Zhiqiu as tough but lacking offensive power. He proposes wearing him down through speed, fire, and coordinated attacks, with An Chen assigned to break through the defense. Ning Rongrong is left without a definite role, which deepens An Chen’s sense that Tang San does not yet fully trust her.
• The team fights together: Their first attacks fail to penetrate Ye Zhiqiu’s defenses, and his freezing mist counters Ma Hongjun’s flames. An Chen’s Black Fog obscures Ye Zhiqiu’s vision, while his Shadow Mark lets him interrupt Ye Zhiqiu’s attacks. Following An Chen’s calls, Dai Mubai repeatedly strikes vulnerable points in the shell, and the group eventually cracks it. Xiao Wu restrains Ye Zhiqiu before the fight can continue.
• Zhao Wuji intervenes: Zhao Wuji orders the students back to the hotel, then defeats Ye Zhiqiu with a single slap, without releasing his Martial Soul. He dismisses Canghui Academy’s complaints and questions Ning Rongrong about not supporting the team. She explains that keeping the Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda’s identity secret would make its reveal more effective; Tang San agrees that surprise can be tactically valuable.

Character Development and Interactions

• An Chen proves valuable as a tactician in the battle itself: his fog, mark detonations, and clear instructions create openings for Dai Mubai. His inward thought about Ning Rongrong also shows his concern that she is not being accepted as a true teammate.
• Tang San demonstrates tactical leadership and growing coordination with the group, though his uncertainty about Ning Rongrong’s role suggests that trust is still developing.
• Dai Mubai takes the frontline role and follows An Chen’s calls without hesitation, showing effective cooperation.
• Ning Rongrong defends her decision to hold back her support ability and reveals a calculated approach to protecting her Martial Soul’s secrecy.
• Zhao Wuji reinforces the group’s responsibility to act as one team, while his overwhelming strength sharply contrasts with the students’ struggle.

Significant Themes

The chapter emphasizes teamwork over individual strength, strategy against superior power, and the importance of trust and communication. It also contrasts the students’ coordinated but hard-fought victory with Zhao Wuji’s effortless dominance, underscoring the gap between their current abilities and those of an experienced teacher.

Key plot points and events

• Zhao Wuji leads the group into the Star Dou Great Forest to find Oscar a Third Soul Ring. An Chen also hopes to find a suitable Shadow Attribute Soul Beast.
• Zhao Wuji lays down strict safety rules: the students must stay close, avoid attacking without permission, and keep Oscar and Ning Rongrong protected.
• The group avoids harmless Soul Beasts when possible, though Dai Mubai deals with those that attack. Tang San’s restraint reflects his teacher’s principles; Xiao Wu becomes subdued because she dislikes the prospect of hunting Soul Beasts.
• An Chen senses an approaching creature: a wounded Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent. Tang San estimates it is roughly 1,300–1,800 years old, an appropriate match for Oscar.
• Zhu Zhuqing’s opening strike fails to stop the serpent. An Chen blinds it with Black Fog, Dai Mubai attacks with Ning Rongrong’s strength boost, and An Chen’s “Detonate” skill knocks it unconscious. Tang San then binds it with Blue Silver Grass.

Character developments and interactions

• An Chen shows caution and sharp perception, using Spirit Vision to monitor the forest and recognizing the serpent’s injury. He coordinates effectively with the others and contributes decisively to the capture.
• Tang San demonstrates detailed Soul Beast knowledge and a principled reluctance to kill harmless creatures. He supports the team by identifying the serpent and explaining its likely Soul Ring benefits.
• Xiao Wu shifts from excited curiosity to sadness as the group’s hunt makes her uncomfortable.
• Oscar is eager for his Third Soul Ring and praises Tang San’s expertise.
• Zhao Wuji directs the expedition and prioritizes student safety, agreeing that Oscar should claim the serpent before An Chen pursues his own target.
• The group works as a coordinated team: Zhu Zhuqing scouts and strikes, An Chen disables the serpent, Dai Mubai attacks, Ning Rongrong boosts him, and Tang San restrains the creature.

Significant themes

• Caution and cooperation: Survival in the wild forest depends on discipline and coordinated action.
• Respect for life: Tang San argues against killing Soul Beasts that pose no threat, while Xiao Wu’s discomfort underscores the emotional cost of hunting them.
• Knowledge as power: Tang San’s understanding of Soul Beasts helps the group assess the serpent and plan their response.
• Unresolved displacement: The sunrise briefly reminds An Chen of his former life, renewing his uncertainty about why he entered this world and whether he can return.

Key plot points and events

• The group subdues the Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent after An Chen’s repeated detonations of his Soul Skill stun it and Zhao Wuji overwhelms it with his strength.
• Oscar is about to kill the serpent and claim its Soul Ring, but Snake Granny Chao Tianxiang and her granddaughter, Meng Yiran, arrive and claim they had wounded and pursued it first.
• Zhao Wuji reveals that both Oscar and An Chen have reached level thirty. Chao Tianxiang proposes settling the dispute through a contest between the students.
• Oscar cannot fight because he is a Food-type Soul Master, and An Chen is exhausted from the capture. Tang San volunteers to face Meng Yiran.
• Tang San defeats Meng Yiran using Blue Silver Grass, Hidden Weapons, and tactical control. Chao Tianxiang concedes the serpent.
• Oscar kills the serpent and begins absorbing its Soul Ring.

Character developments

• An Chen helps secure the serpent but is visibly drained by repeated use of his Second Soul Skill and Black Fog. He supports Tang San’s decision to fight.
• Oscar comes close to receiving his third Soul Ring, but hesitates briefly before killing the serpent. Once the dispute is settled, he acts decisively and begins absorption.
• Tang San shows calm confidence and tactical skill, winning without relying on brute force.
• Chao Tianxiang shifts from asserting her claim to accepting the result, though she leaves resentful.
• Meng Yiran fights fiercely but recognizes defeat and admits it.

Significant themes

• Survival and the natural order: Tang San argues that Soul Beasts would not spare humans if the roles were reversed, raising the moral cost of taking a Soul Ring.
• Strength, rules, and fairness: The dispute is resolved through a contest rather than force, though the opposing sides interpret fairness through their own claims.
• Teamwork and resourcefulness: An Chen, Zhao Wuji, and Tang San each contribute differently—support, overwhelming power, and strategy—to secure the outcome.

Character interactions

• Xiao Wu questions whether Soul Beasts must be killed; Tang San answers with an argument about survival, leaving An Chen unsettled.
• Zhao Wuji protects Oscar’s claim while negotiating with Chao Tianxiang, whose familiarity and reputation make him cautious.
• Chao Tianxiang challenges the group’s claim, then agrees to Tang San’s contest after Zhao Wuji explains Oscar’s and An Chen’s roles.
• Tang San and Meng Yiran clash directly; his control and concealed weapons overcome her cane techniques.