Chapter Summaries

Lin Qing, Xiao Wu, and Zhu Zhuqing arrived at the shabby Shrek Academy and watched Dai Mubai challenge a father and son over their nonrefundable registration fee. Lin Qing stepped forward to fight Dai Mubai, ending the chapter with their rematch about to begin.

• Lin Qing carried Xiao Wu along the muddy road toward Shrek Academy while Zhu Zhuqing walked with them.
• The three reached the academy, joined the registration line, and were shocked by its dilapidated entrance.
• An old man rejected a boy for being over thirteen and refused to refund the ten Gold Soul Coins his father had paid.
• Dai Mubai revealed his three Spirit Rings and challenged the father and son to defeat him to reclaim their fee.
• Lin Qing stepped out of the line and asked Dai Mubai if he was ready to get beaten again.

Lin Qing confronted Li Yusong over Shrek Academy’s refusal to refund a family’s registration fee, then impressed him with his strength and talent. He and Xiao Wu passed the entrance registration, while Lin Qing privately considered how to deal with Tang San’s interest in Xiao Wu.

• Lin Qing called out Dai Mubai and persuaded Li Yusong to return the registration fee to a boy’s father.
• Li Yusong explained Shrek Academy’s requirements, and most of the applicants left.
• Tang San approached Xiao Wu, but she rejected his closeness and went to Lin Qing with Zhu Zhuqing.
• Lin Qing decided he might need to prevent Tang San from remaining a man and considered acting during a future trip to the Star Dou Great Forest.
• Lin Qing revealed his Level 33 Soul Elder strength and unusual Spirit Rings, and Xiao Wu revealed her Level 34 strength.
• Li Yusong registered Lin Qing and Xiao Wu after confirming their talent and age.

Zhu Zhuqing, Tang San, and Ning Rongrong passed the entrance test and joined Lin Qing’s group, which was sent directly to Shrek Academy’s fourth test. Zhao Wuji announced that the five students would have to withstand his attacks for the duration of one incense stick, and the test was about to begin.

• Zhu Zhuqing and Tang San passed their tests, followed by Ning Rongrong, who revealed her Seven Treasure Glazed Pagoda and level 26 Soul Power.
• Ning Rongrong introduced herself and linked arms with Lin Qing, provoking Xiao Wu’s jealousy while Tang San waited awkwardly nearby.
• Li Yusong sent Lin Qing’s group straight to the fourth test because all five had Soul Power above level 25, and Dai Mubai led them there.
• Dai Mubai pointed out Lin Qing and Xiao Wu as Soul Elders to Zhao Wuji, who decided to personally test the group.
• Zhao Wuji lit an incense stick and told the five students to work together to endure his attacks until it burned out.

Lin Qing and the others prepared to face Zhao Wuji, a level 76 Soul Sage, and Lin Qing revealed the abilities of his three Breathing Style Spirit Skills and the Self-Created Soul Skills he had developed. The group accepted Lin Qing’s battle plan, with him leading the assault against Zhao Wuji.

• Dai Mubai warned the group that Zhao Wuji would personally test them, and Ning Rongrong identified him as the Immovable King, a Soul Sage.
• Lin Qing cautioned Xiao Wu not to underestimate Zhao Wuji, while she privately felt relieved that the academy had no Soul Douluo who could expose her identity.
• The group introduced their Martial Souls and Spirit Skills, and Lin Qing explained that Water Breathing, Mist Breathing, and Thunder Breathing altered his blade and had inspired his Self-Created Soul Skills.
• Zhu Zhuqing became interested in learning Self-Created Soul Skills from Lin Qing, while Ning Rongrong resolved to recruit him for her sect.
• The group chose Lin Qing to direct their tactics, and he assigned himself the frontal assault, Ning Rongrong support, Xiao Wu protection, Zhu Zhuqing flanking attacks, and Tang San field control.

Lin Qing and the others began their assessment against Zhao Wuji, revealing their Martial Souls and Spirit Rings before Lin Qing launched a series of Water Breathing attacks. Zhao Wuji defended himself and counterattacked, while Lin Qing’s Water Wheel continued striking his layered defenses.

• Lin Qing led the group in activating their Martial Souls, summoning his Nichirin Blade through a spatial rift and revealing that he and Xiao Wu had yellow, purple, purple Spirit Rings.
• Zhao Wuji transformed into his Vigorous Vajra Bear form and displayed his seven Spirit Rings, while Ning Rongrong boosted Lin Qing and Zhu Zhuqing’s strength and speed.
• Lin Qing opened the fight with Surface Slash, forcing Zhao Wuji’s Immovable Vajra Body to block the attack rather than reflect it.
• Lin Qing used Flowing Dance and Striking Tide to close in, while Tang San’s Blue Silver Entanglement briefly hindered Zhao Wuji before Zhao Wuji broke free.
• Zhao Wuji met Lin Qing’s blade with Vigorous Vajra Palm, and Lin Qing used the impact to leap into the air and attack with Water Wheel.
• Zhao Wuji raised his golden shield and crossed his arms to withstand Lin Qing’s spinning Water Wheel as repeated blade strikes hit his defenses.

Lin Qing and the others continued their test against Zhao Wuji, but Lin Qing’s sword techniques overwhelmed Zhao Wuji’s defenses and forced him to use his sixth Spirit Skill. Zhao Wuji’s roar incapacitated most of the group and left Lin Qing stunned as Zhao Wuji prepared to retaliate.

• Tang San and Zhu Zhuqing attacked Zhao Wuji while Ning Rongrong boosted Zhu Zhuqing, but neither could pierce his defenses.
• Zhao Wuji increased gravity and struck at Lin Qing, who evaded him with Water Breathing and used Mist Breathing to escape his tracking Spirit Skill.
• Lin Qing resumed his assault with Water Breathing, breaking Zhao Wuji’s defensive barrier and inflicting wounds.
• Zhao Wuji unleashed his sixth Spirit Skill, Vigorous Vajra Roar, sending Tang San and the others out of the plaza and disrupting Lin Qing’s attack.
• Zhao Wuji confronted Lin Qing, vowing to teach him a lesson after being forced to use his sixth Spirit Skill.

Lin Qing fought Zhao Wuji with multiple Thunder Breathing forms, injuring him even after Zhao Wuji activated his Martial Soul Avatar. The battle ended when Lin Qing pointed out that the incense had burned out, leaving Zhao Wuji to inspect its charred remains.

• Lin Qing attacked Zhao Wuji with Water Breathing and then Thunder Breathing, breaking through his defense and wounding his palm.
• Zhao Wuji used Gravity Enhancement and Gravity Compression to pin Lin Qing before attacking with Vigorous Vajra Palm.
• Lin Qing broke free with Thunder Breathing and struck Zhao Wuji with successive lightning attacks, scorching his body.
• Zhao Wuji activated Martial Soul Avatar, growing into a giant bear, while Lin Qing spread a lightning domain across the square.
• Lin Qing stopped fighting when Zhao Wuji prepared another Spirit Skill and told him the incense time had passed.
• Zhao Wuji saw the incense reduced to charred rubble, with only a tiny piece of wood still embedded in the stone.

Lin Qing endured Zhao Wuji’s fourth test by fighting him and destroying the incense, earning admission to Shrek Academy for himself and the others. After everyone recovered and woke up, Zhao Wuji officially welcomed the five students as Shrek members.

• Zhao Wuji ended the test and acknowledged that Lin Qing had caused most of his injuries, while Lin Qing credited Zhao Wuji for holding back.
• Zhao Wuji sent Dai Mubai to fetch Shao Xin, who treated the injured students and Zhao Wuji with healing candy beans.
• Lin Qing helped the others rest and fed Xiao Wu her candy bean mouth-to-mouth.
• Tang San and Xiao Wu woke up and learned from Lin Qing that he had destroyed the incense, allowing their group to pass.
• Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong woke up, and Zhao Wuji announced that all five students had officially joined Shrek.

After passing Shrek Academy’s assessment, Lin Qing and the others headed to their dormitories and encountered Oscar selling sausages. Lin Qing defended Oscar’s Food System ability despite its embarrassing spirit chant and bought a sausage.

• Dai Mubai led Lin Qing, Tang San, Xiao Wu, Ning Rongrong, and Zhu Zhuqing toward the dormitories after Zhao Wuji announced they had passed.
• The group smelled Oscar’s grilled sausages, and Lin Qing agreed to buy some for Xiao Wu, Ning Rongrong, and Zhu Zhuqing.
• Dai Mubai stopped Lin Qing and asked Oscar to demonstrate his spirit skill, whose chant disgusted the others.
• Lin Qing accepted Oscar’s sausage and rebuked Dai Mubai for judging Oscar by the chant and overlooking the life-saving value of Food System Soul Masters.

Lin Qing and the others settled into the academy dorms after tasting Oscar’s sausages, and Lin Qing shared a room with Xiao Wu. That night, he sensed Tang Hao nearby and realized his display of strength during the day might have put him in danger.

• Lin Qing ate Oscar’s sausage, and Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, and Ning Rongrong tried some as well.
• Dai Mubai explained the dorm arrangements, and Xiao Wu proposed that she and Lin Qing share a room.
• Lin Qing and Xiao Wu chose a cabin on the girls’ side, then cleaned it and pushed their beds together.
• After Xiao Wu fell asleep, Lin Qing sensed a powerful Soul Power fluctuation and spotted a red light in the back mountain forest.
• Lin Qing realized Tang Hao was still at the academy and worried that his earlier fight might have made Tang Hao target him, so he called inwardly to Ah Yin.

Lin Qing learned that Ah Yin had reached Level 74 and could restrain Tang Hao for a short time, giving him a chance to wound the powerful Titled Douluo. Meanwhile, Tang Hao confronted Zhao Wuji, and Flender arrived and respectfully recognized him as the Clear Sky Douluo.

• Ah Yin told Lin Qing she had condensed a Hundred Thousand Year Spirit Ring, raised her first six rings to the ten-thousand-year level, and could restrain Tang Hao for around ten seconds.
• Lin Qing decided that Ah Yin's brief restraint should give him enough time to injure Tang Hao and inject his blood into him.
• Tang Hao revealed his nine Spirit Rings, including a Hundred Thousand Year ring, and told Zhao Wuji he had come to bully him for the sake of Tang San.
• Flender arrived beside Zhao Wuji, released his Martial Soul, and bowed to Tang Hao as the Clear Sky Douluo.

Tang Hao beat Zhao Wuji after revealing that Tang San was his son, then secretly considered crippling Lin Qing to exploit Xiao Wu and learn his spirit-ring method. An unexplained red light altered Tang Hao’s thoughts, and he left without attacking Lin Qing.

• Tang Hao identified himself to Flender and Zhao Wuji, then beat Zhao Wuji for half an hour after Zhao Wuji had injured Tang San.
• Tang Hao told Flender and Zhao Wuji that Tang San was his son and ordered them to keep his identity secret.
• Lin Qing sensed Tang Hao’s departure, returned to bed beside Xiao Wu, and waited nervously for what might happen next.
• Tang Hao watched Lin Qing and Xiao Wu’s room and planned to cripple Lin Qing, imprison him, and use him to force Xiao Wu to sacrifice herself for Third Brother.
• A mysterious red light entered Tang Hao’s mind, after which he decided to spare Lin Qing for the time being and departed.

Lin Qing and Xiao Wu went to the village for breakfast and stopped to watch Ma Hongjun argue with Cuihua. When Ma Hongjun grabbed Cuihua and made a lewd offer to Xiao Wu, Xiao Wu intervened and kicked his hand away.

• Lin Qing woke, found Tang Hao had not come after him, and returned to bed beside Xiao Wu.
• Lin Qing helped Xiao Wu get dressed and braided her hair before they set out to find breakfast.
• Lin Qing and Xiao Wu saw Ma Hongjun arguing with Cuihua in the village and watched as Cuihua tried to end their relationship.
• Ma Hongjun grabbed Cuihua and suggested Xiao Wu take her place as his girlfriend.
• Xiao Wu kicked Ma Hongjun's hand away and rebuked him for harassing Cuihua.

Lin Qing defended Xiao Wu after Ma Hongjun insulted her, breaking Ma Hongjun’s arm and mocking his Evil Fire Phoenix Martial Soul. Ma Hongjun attacked with his first Spirit Skill, but Lin Qing caught and dispersed the flames without summoning his Martial Soul.

• Ma Hongjun insulted Xiao Wu and demanded that Lin Qing offer her to him, so Lin Qing broke Ma Hongjun’s arm and slapped him away.
• Cuihua tried to stop Lin Qing, but Xiao Wu joined in and mocked Ma Hongjun’s Martial Soul as a country chicken.
• Ma Hongjun summoned his Evil Fire Phoenix Martial Soul and used his first Spirit Skill, Phoenix Fire Line, against Lin Qing.
• Lin Qing caught the flames with his bare hand and dispersed Ma Hongjun’s Spirit Skill with a burst of Soul Power.

Lin Qing confronted Ma Hongjun for insulting Xiao Wu, while Dai Mubai explained Ma Hongjun’s mutated Martial Soul and tried to calm the dispute. Xiao Wu let Ma Hongjun off with a warning, and the group went to the cafeteria, where she and the other girls chatted about him as he ate in embarrassment.

• Ma Hongjun asked Dai Mubai to seek justice after Lin Qing beat him, and Dai Mubai explained the dangerous flaw in Ma Hongjun’s Evil Fire Phoenix Martial Soul.
• Lin Qing said Ma Hongjun had insulted Xiao Wu, prompting Dai Mubai to blame Ma Hongjun and ask Lin Qing to end the conflict.
• Xiao Wu let Ma Hongjun go and told Dai Mubai to take them to the cafeteria for breakfast.
• Dai Mubai warned Ma Hongjun not to provoke Lin Qing or Xiao Wu, then led the group to the cafeteria.
• At breakfast, Xiao Wu chatted with Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing about Ma Hongjun, who grew embarrassed and focused on his food.

Dai Mubai introduced the academy’s students and explained its rules, lessons, and teachers to the newcomers. Lin Qing challenged the teachers’ integrity over their treatment of a rejected applicant, and the conversation ended when bells rang outside.

• Dai Mubai introduced Ma Hongjun and the newcomers, then suggested how they should address one another; Zhu Zhuqing left the table after saying she was full.
• Dai Mubai explained that Shrek Academy encouraged fighting and gambling, and that the students had to pay one hundred gold coins in annual tuition.
• Xiao Wu questioned why the teachers were poor, and Ning Rongrong explained that refusing imperial titles let Soul Masters avoid serving the empire in war.
• Lin Qing criticized the teachers for taking a rejected applicant’s registration fee and threatening him, leaving Dai Mubai unable to answer.
• Melodious, heavy bells rang from outside.

Flender welcomed the new students to Shrek Academy and assigned Oscar and Ning Rongrong their first lesson: stamina training. Oscar and Ning Rongrong set off to run twenty laps around the village, while the others rested, cultivated, or went to Suotuo City.

• Oscar shaved his beard and showed off his newly handsome appearance to Tang San, explaining that he wanted to attract the new girls.
• Flender introduced himself as Shrek Academy’s headmaster and founder, and Dai Mubai explained his strength and Martial Soul to the others.
• Flender welcomed the new students, told Dai Mubai to explain the academy rules, and ordered Oscar and Ning Rongrong to come with him.
• Lin Qing and Xiao Wu left for Suotuo City to get more breakfast, while Tang San stayed to observe and Zhu Zhuqing went to cultivate.
• Flender explained that support-type Soul Masters needed stamina to escape danger, then ordered Oscar and Ning Rongrong to run twenty laps around the village before lunch.

Ning Rongrong struggled through Flender’s running punishment with Oscar and revealed her determination to pursue Lin Qing despite his relationship with Xiao Wu. In Suotuo City, Lin Qing encountered Ning Rongrong while out with Xiao Wu and took both girls to a teahouse to talk.

• Ning Rongrong ran with Oscar, used her Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda to increase her speed, and threatened him not to tell Lin Qing about her earlier offer of his sausage.
• Ning Rongrong told Oscar she intended to pursue Lin Qing and would even accept sharing him with Xiao Wu, while Oscar doubted Lin Qing would betray Xiao Wu.
• Lin Qing took Xiao Wu shopping in Suotuo City and bought her candied hawthorn, recalling their earlier outing in Nuoding City.
• Lin Qing ran into Ning Rongrong at the candied hawthorn stall, bought her a skewer, and took her and Xiao Wu to a private room in a teahouse to talk.

Lin Qing questioned Ning Rongrong about leaving her training in Suotuo City, then comforted her and revealed he knew she was the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect’s Little Witch. He suspected Flender’s punishing assignment came from Ning Rongrong’s father, and the conversation ended as Lin Qing tried to return to the important matter.

• Lin Qing asked Ning Rongrong why she was in Suotuo City instead of training, and she admitted she had sneaked away because Flender ordered her and Oscar to run twenty laps around the village.
• Lin Qing agreed that the seventy- or eighty-kilometer run was unreasonable and suggested Flender was deliberately making things difficult for Ning Rongrong.
• Lin Qing proposed that Ning Rongrong’s father had requested the punishment, shocking her and prompting her to ask how Lin Qing knew her identity.
• Lin Qing explained that her powerful guards and status as Sect Master Ning’s talented daughter had given her away, and Ning Rongrong leaned affectionately against him.
• Xiao Wu pulled Ning Rongrong away from Lin Qing, and Lin Qing resumed the serious conversation under Xiao Wu’s sharp gaze.

Lin Qing told Ning Rongrong that Flender had arranged to challenge and humiliate her so she would stay at Shrek and become loyal to the academy. Ning Rongrong and Xiao Wu believed his theory and considered leaving Shrek, while Lin Qing was pleased to drive a wedge between them and the school.

• Ning Rongrong admitted she had suspected her father knew she had left home, and she hoped recruiting Lin Qing would earn her father's praise.
• Lin Qing suggested Ning Fengzhi had spread news of Shrek and asked Flender to train Ning Rongrong without treating her specially.
• Lin Qing claimed Flender wanted the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's support and planned to use Ning Rongrong's competitive nature to make her stay at Shrek.
• Ning Rongrong and Xiao Wu reacted angrily to Lin Qing's theory and discussed going to another academy.
• Lin Qing privately acknowledged that he did not know whether Flender had those motives, but he was satisfied to turn Ning Rongrong against Shrek.