Recaps

Xiao Xiao faced Star Luo National Academy in the individual match after the team forfeited that round, and her Martial Soul Avatar shattered Xu Jiujiu’s defensive barrier. Xu Jiujiu’s fourth Invincible Shield stopped Xiao Xiao’s next strike, but cracks spread across it.

• Xu Jiujiu forfeited Star Luo National Academy’s individual competition, giving the Abyss Cult two points.
• Lu Yuan sent Xiao Xiao to fight the first match against Star Luo National Academy’s seven Soul Emperors and Soul Kings.
• Xu Jiujiu reinforced Star’s Guardian with her teammates’ Soul Power while two others charged a high-grade Soul Cannon.
• Xiao Xiao activated her Martial Soul Avatar and smashed the Three-Life Soul-Suppressing Cauldron into Star’s Guardian, breaking the barrier.
• Xu Jiujiu used four Invincible Shields to stop Xiao Xiao’s next blow, though the last shield developed a web of cracks.

Xiao Xiao defeated Xu Jiujiu and secured the Abyss Cult’s seven-to-zero victory over Star Luo National Academy, while Sun Moon and Star Luo spectators brawled in the stands. After the tournament officials broke up the fight, Lu Yuan and the others left the arena to get braised chicken wraps.

• Xiao Xiao’s enormous cauldron overwhelmed Xu Jiujiu’s defenses, and Xu Jiujiu conceded the match.
• Zheng Zhan announced that the Abyss Cult had beaten Star Luo National Academy seven to zero.
• Sun Moon and Star Luo spectators insulted each other over the match and Soul Tools until the argument turned into a mass brawl.
• Xu Tianran ordered guards to arrest the ringleaders and disperse the spectators without suspending the tournament.
• Lu Yuan watched part of the Shrek Academy versus Mingyu Sect match, noticed nothing unusual from Huo Yuhao, and left with his companions when Xiao Xiao asked for braised chicken wraps.

Xu Tianran and Zhongli Wu reconsidered their plan to capture the tournament teams because Lu Yuan’s strength and uncertain allegiance made him an unpredictable obstacle. Meanwhile, Xu Jiujiu gathered representatives from Heaven Soul, the Body Sect, and Shrek to propose assassinating Xu Tianran, while Sun Moon Empire ministers learned of the plot and decided to report it.

• Zhongli Wu warned Xu Tianran that Lu Yuan could disrupt their plan to seize the tournament’s young talents, and Xu Tianran ordered him to sound out the Abyss Cult.
• Xu Jiujiu met with Vina, Long Aotian, Wang Yan, Bei Bei, and Huo Yuhao and revealed that the Sun Moon Empire was assembling troops around the tournament grounds.
• Xu Jiujiu proposed a surprise attack on the Sun Moon Imperial Palace to kill Xu Tianran, and Vina said Heaven Soul and the Body Sect would help if necessary.
• Bei Bei said Shrek needed to consult the Sea God’s Pavilion before committing, and Wang Yan later told him Xu Jiujiu had proposed the attack because the Star Luo Empire was under severe pressure.
• Sun Moon Empire ministers overheard the assassination plan and decided to report it to Xu Tianran.

Lu Yuan rejected the Holy Spirit Cult’s first attempt to summon him, then met Deputy Cult Leader Feng Ling at the barbecue restaurant, where she invited him to cooperate against Shrek Academy. The conversation turned personal when Lu Yuan brought up Feng Ling’s past relationship with Yan Shaozhe.

• A masked Holy Spirit Cult messenger asked Lu Yuan to meet the cult leader, but Lu Yuan refused and sent the messenger away with a chicken-wing skewer.
• Gu Qiu'er, Bi Ji, and Xiao Xiao asked about the Holy Spirit Cult, and Lu Yuan explained that it operated openly in the Sun Moon Empire through Xu Tianran’s cooperation.
• Feng Ling went to the barbecue restaurant and confronted Lu Yuan after the diners fled from her entourage.
• Feng Ling introduced herself as the Holy Spirit Cult’s deputy leader and invited Lu Yuan to join forces against Shrek Academy.
• Lu Yuan rejected Feng Ling’s claim that their groups were alike and asked whether she had once dated Yan Shaozhe, making her expression change.

At Sea God's Pavilion, Xuan Zi reacted angrily to Shrek’s public humiliation and Wang Yan’s request to pay the Abyss Cult ten million Gold Soul Coins. The elders agreed that Shrek should join the plot against Xu Tianran, and Xuan Zi prepared to travel to Mingdu with Yan Shaozhe before raising Wang Yan’s future.

• Feng Ling left the barbecue restaurant after Lu Yuan rejected the Holy Spirit Cult, while he explained that he had provoked her because her hatred made her easy to trip up.
• Xuan Zi read a newspaper condemning Shrek’s conduct in Mingdu and cursed Wang Yan for failing to frame Lu Yuan and signing an IOU.
• Zhang Lexuan delivered Wang Yan’s letter seeking instructions on the assassination plot and asking Shrek to pay the Abyss Cult ten million Gold Soul Coins; Xuan Zi declared the debt invalid and replaced Wang Yan with Zhang Lexuan as team leader.
• The senior elders discussed the invitation from the Star Luo Empire and the Body Sect to assassinate Xu Tianran, and Yan Shaozhe argued that Shrek could benefit whether the plan succeeded or failed.
• Xuan Zi decided that he and Yan Shaozhe would join the operation, then raised the question of how to deal with Wang Yan.

Shrek’s elders suspected Wang Yan might be a spy and demoted him while arranging to investigate him. Xuan Zi, Yan Shaozhe, and Zhang Lexuan arrived in Mingdu, where Xuan Zi immediately went to buy food, leaving Yan Shaozhe disgusted with Shrek’s leadership.

• Song Lao pointed out that Wang Yan had led Shrek’s team during two disastrous tournaments and urged the elders to investigate him.
• Xuan Zi ordered Lin Lao to arrange surveillance, removed Wang Yan from his post, and assigned him to the Outer Court archives when he returned from Mingdu.
• Xuan Zi, Yan Shaozhe, and Zhang Lexuan arrived in Mingdu in ordinary clothes and watched a tournament replay featuring Xiao Xiao.
• Xuan Zi smelled roast chicken drumsticks and left Yan Shaozhe and Zhang Lexuan to buy some.
• Zhang Lexuan went to find Bei Bei and the others while Yan Shaozhe waited for Xuan Zi, who returned eating drumsticks and drinking from his gourd.

Gu Qiu'er’s match against Dio Academy turned into a string of photo requests and forfeits, while Xu Tianran debated whether to eliminate Lu Yuan with the Holy Spirit Cult’s help. Ju Zi proposed inviting a second powerful protector to the imperial palace, but the chapter ended before she explained further.

• Dio Academy’s members asked Gu Qiu'er for photos and an autograph, then conceded without fighting, and the academy forfeited its remaining matches.
• Gu Qiu'er stormed off the arena, and Lu Yuan wondered whether he could use his Snow Empress Martial Soul in his upcoming match.
• Zhongli Wu told Xu Tianran that Feng Ling had failed to gauge Lu Yuan’s position or persuade him to cooperate.
• Xu Tianran weighed capturing the gathered geniuses against the risks of provoking Lu Yuan, while Ju Zi advised him to coordinate with the Holy Spirit Cult if he chose to eliminate Lu Yuan.
• Ju Zi reminded Xu Tianran that he had planned to invite Dragon Emperor Douluo to guard the palace and began suggesting that he invite another protector as well.

Xu Tianran committed to inviting Ye Xishui to help destroy Lu Yuan and admitted that, if the plan failed, he would blame the Holy Spirit Cult. At the tournament, Bei Bei faced Tang Ya in the opening match between Shrek Academy and the Holy Spirit Sect, but she showed no recognition of him.

• Ju Zi warned Xu Tianran that Lu Yuan’s Abyss Cult might be powerful, but Xu Tianran refused to abandon his plan and decided to pin any failure on the Holy Spirit Cult.
• Zhongli Wu agreed to invite Ye Xishui to Mingdu, while Xu Tianran and Ju Zi left the arena and Jing Hongchen stayed to oversee it.
• Lu Yuan remained to watch Shrek Academy face the Holy Spirit Sect as Zhang Lexuan reviewed the enemy team and chose Bei Bei, Wang Dong'er, and Wang Chun'er for the individual matches.
• Bei Bei volunteered to fight first, and Tang Ya stepped onto the stage as his opponent.
• Bei Bei called Tang Ya by name and reminded her of their past, but Tang Ya looked at him without any visible reaction.

Lu Yuan exposed Huo Yuhao's offstage Spiritual Detection and food-type support item during Bei Bei's match against Tang Ya, and Zheng Zhan ruled that Shrek had cheated. Zhang Lexuan defended the tactic as not explicitly forbidden, prompting Xiao Hongchen to prepare to confront her.

• Tang Ya attacked Bei Bei with dark blue silver grass, while Huo Yuhao used Spiritual Detection to help Bei Bei evade her strikes.
• Lu Yuan photographed Huo Yuhao using Spiritual Detection and reported Shrek Academy for cheating, then also exposed the food-type cigar.
• Huo Yuhao withdrew his skill, leaving Bei Bei momentarily blinded; Tang Ya struck him with her Blue Silver Overlord Spear and wounded him.
• Zheng Zhan found Xu Sanshi carrying the cigar, confirmed the evidence of Shrek's support tactics, and ordered Bei Bei taken for treatment.
• Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen condemned Huo Yuhao's tactics, while Zhang Lexuan argued the rules did not forbid them.
• Xiao Hongchen said he was going to confront Zhang Lexuan, and Meng Hongchen encouraged him.

Shrek Academy lost its match against the Holy Spirit Sect after referee Zheng Zhan ruled that its team had used illegal outside assistance. Lu Yuan watched Shrek leave in disgrace, then returned to the hotel and told Bi Ji about the day's matches.

• Zheng Zhan rejected Zhang Lexuan and Xu Sanshi's defense of Shrek's support skills and food-type items, ruling that the outside assistance was illegal and awarding the match to the Holy Spirit Sect.
• Zheng Zhan warned Shrek against further violations and ordered the team to leave; Zhang Lexuan led the injured Bei Bei and the others away.
• Lu Yuan, Gu Qiu'er, and Xiao Xiao laughed at Shrek's defeat, then left without watching Star Luo National Academy face the Snow Demon Sect.
• At the hotel, the Snow Empress and Ice Empress left Bi Ji's room, and the Ice Empress glared at Lu Yuan over her resentment about being coaxed into calling the Snow Empress Mommy.
• Lu Yuan told Bi Ji that his match had gone smoothly and that Shrek had suffered a miserable day.

Lu Yuan explained his view of Shrek Academy’s decline and admitted that he had founded the Abyss Cult on a whim, then spent the night with Bi Ji. The next day, the Abyss Cult faced the Snow Demon Sect, and Lu Yuan sent the Snow Empress to compete as his Second Martial Soul.

• Lu Yuan told Bi Ji that Shrek Academy had become convinced of its own superiority and would suppress threats to its dominance.
• Bi Ji asked why Lu Yuan had established the Abyss Cult, and he said he had made up the name without any grand purpose.
• Lu Yuan arrived at the arena with Gu Qiu'er, Xiao Xiao, the Snow Empress, and the Ice Empress for the Abyss Cult’s match against the Snow Demon Sect.
• Vina urged Long Aotian to concede, but he chose to enter the Individual Competition to test himself against the Abyss Cult.
• Lu Yuan sent the Snow Empress to fight Long Aotian and explained that she was his Second Martial Soul, so Zheng Zhan allowed her to compete.

Long Aotian faced the Snow Empress in the arena, but she effortlessly dodged and countered his powerful attacks. After freezing him in midair and shattering his transformed claw, she left him injured and unable to mount a meaningful challenge.

• Long Aotian revealed his seven Soul Rings and questioned whether the Snow Empress was truly Lu Yuan’s second Martial Soul.
• Long Aotian transformed his arms into a saber and hammer and repeatedly attacked, but the Snow Empress evaded every strike.
• Long Aotian unleashed Mad God Slash, but the Snow Empress shattered it with one sword strike and beckoned him forward.
• Long Aotian activated Martial Soul Avatar and Heaven and Earth Transformation, but the Snow Empress froze him in midair and dropped him onto the arena.
• Long Aotian attacked with Yama God Claw, but the Snow Empress broke the tearing force and shattered his claws with her Ice Sword.

Long Aotian conceded to the Snow Empress, giving the Abyss Cult its first individual-knockout victory. At Holy Spirit Cult headquarters, Ye Xishui agreed to Xu Tianran’s proposal and ordered Zhongli Wu to watch Lu Yuan, while Shrek Academy prepared to face the Abyss Cult with its morale shattered.

• The Snow Empress defeated Long Aotian without using a soul skill, and he conceded the match and both competitions to the Abyss Cult.
• Zhongli Wu reported to Ye Xishui about the tournament, Lu Yuan’s soul rings, and Xu Tianran’s plan.
• Ye Xishui agreed to Xu Tianran’s proposal and told Zhongli Wu to arrange surveillance of Lu Yuan and his companions.
• Two days later, spectators anticipated the Abyss Cult’s round-robin match against Shrek Academy and called for Shrek to concede.
• Zhang Lexuan worried over Shrek’s poor morale and struggled to decide whether to concede before the team fought.

Huo Yuhao fought the Snow Empress in the individual competition but could not land a meaningful attack against her. After she shattered his spiritual power and sent him crashing into the arena barrier, Wang Chun'er and Wang Dong'er protested while the referee ruled that the match was still ongoing.

• Huo Yuhao tried Spiritual Detection and Mental Interference against the Snow Empress, but neither affected her.
• Huo Yuhao used his Titan Snow Demon martial soul and layered spiritual Soul Skills into his attacks, but the Snow Empress evaded or repelled them.
• Huo Yuhao attempted Spiritual Replication and Snow Demon Shakes the Earth, but he could not copy the Snow Empress's technique and his icy palm shattered against hers.
• Huo Yuhao used Sovereign's Descent against the Snow Empress's Emperor's Palm, Great Cold Without Snow, and his spiritual power collapsed under her counterattack.
• The Snow Empress dispelled Huo Yuhao's possession and flung him into the Protective Barrier, leaving him injured and spitting blood.
• Wang Chun'er rushed to the arena's edge and Wang Dong'er protested, but Zheng Zhan declared that the match continued because Huo Yuhao had neither conceded nor been knocked out of bounds.

Huo Yuhao struggled to continue fighting after being incapacitated, while Zheng Zhan turned Shrek’s own rhetoric against Zhang Lexuan and Wang Dong’er for trying to stop the match. The Snow Empress froze Huo Yuhao’s mouth shut before he could concede, and Zheng Zhan treated his muffled struggles as proof that he could still fight.

• Zhang Lexuan asked Chief Referee Zheng Zhan to end the match, but he insisted Huo Yuhao had not conceded and invoked Shrek’s creed of fighting to the death without retreating.
• Wang Dong’er accused Zheng Zhan of targeting Shrek, and he mocked the team while suggesting they might be undercover agents for the Abyss Cult.
• Huo Yuhao struggled to his feet and tried to speak, but the Snow Empress froze his mouth before he could finish.
• Zhang Lexuan and Wang Dong’er protested that the Snow Empress had prevented Huo Yuhao from conceding, but Zheng Zhan claimed his flushed face and continued struggles showed he was fit to fight.
• The spectators laughed as Huo Yuhao’s muffled attempts to concede were mistaken for cries to keep fighting, while Zheng Zhan continued to praise his fighting spirit.

Lu Yuan of the Abyss Cult defeated Huo Yuhao and left him frozen, prompting Zhang Lexuan to reject Shrek's planned forfeit and prepare for the Team Competition. Shrek's remaining contestants set out to buy He Caitou time to deploy his Soul Tools, while Huo Yuhao remained trapped in ice.

• The Snow Empress overwhelmed Huo Yuhao with ice swords, froze him into an ice sculpture, and Zheng Zhan declared Lu Yuan the winner of the individual match.
• Wang Chun'er and Wang Dong'er rushed to Huo Yuhao, but the Snow Empress refused to thaw him until after the Team Competition.
• Zhang Lexuan stopped Wang Dong'er from forfeiting, learned about He Caitou's Class 7 Soul Tools, and announced that Shrek would proceed to the Team Competition.
• Wang Chun'er, Wang Dong'er, and Bei Bei failed to melt Huo Yuhao's ice, and Zhang Lexuan chose the six remaining contestants to support He Caitou rather than include Jiang Nannan.
• Zhang Lexuan told He Caitou to set up his Soul Tools while the others bought him time, and He Caitou agreed.

Shrek Academy faced Snow Empress in the team competition, relying on soul tools to overcome the Abyss Cult's strength. The Eye of Fear fired at Snow Empress as she met its beam head-on, leaving He Caitou stunned by what happened next.

• Zhang Lexuan hoped Lu Yuan would not enter the match as Shrek's six members took the stage against Snow Empress.
• Ning Tian enhanced Shrek's team, He Caitou distributed prepared cigars, and he deployed a Piercing Cannon and an Eye of Fear.
• Xu Tianran questioned Jing Hongchen about Shrek possessing Level 7 soul tools, while Jing Hongchen denied knowing how they obtained them.
• Bei Bei, Xu Sanshi, Wang Dong'er, and Wang Chun'er surrounded Snow Empress to buy time for the Eye of Fear to charge.
• Snow Empress struck the four with ice blades, then raised her hand to meet the Eye of Fear's beam head-on, and He Caitou's delight vanished.

The Snow Empress overwhelmed Shrek Academy in the team competition, forcing Zhang Lexuan to concede before the battered team could be killed. After the Abyss Cult won, Huo Yuhao was freed from the ice and grieved over Shrek’s likely elimination from the tournament.

• The Snow Empress caught and froze the Eye of Fear’s beam, then shattered it and defeated He Caitou with a sword slash.
• The Snow Empress unleashed waves of ice blades across the arena, forcing Ning Tian to exhaust her Defensive Soul Tools while the other Shrek members suffered repeated injuries.
• Zhang Lexuan conceded for Shrek, but the Snow Empress continued attacking until Zheng Zhan intervened and stopped her.
• Zheng Zhan declared the Abyss Cult the winner of the team competition and awarded it five match points.
• Zhang Lexuan demanded that the Snow Empress thaw Huo Yuhao, who was freed and wept as he blamed himself for Shrek’s poor tournament results.

After Shrek Academy’s seven competitors were badly injured by the Abyss Cult, rival teams saw an opportunity to defeat them, while Zhang Lexuan brought the battered team back to the hotel. Wang Yan confronted Zhang Lexuan, but Xuan Zi and Yan Shaozhe arrived and Xuan Zi blamed Wang Yan for failing to inform Zhang about Lu Yuan’s abilities.

• The Snow Demon Sect and Mingyu Sect welcomed Shrek Academy’s weakened state, with Long Aotian and Cain eager for a chance to defeat them.
• Zhang Lexuan returned to the hotel with the seven injured Shrek competitors; Jiang Nannan was unharmed because she had not competed.
• Wang Yan saw the team’s injuries, seized Zhang Lexuan by the shoulders, and demanded to know why she had led them so badly.
• Xuan Zi and Yan Shaozhe arrived, and Zhang Lexuan explained that the Abyss Cult’s white-haired woman had continued attacking after Shrek surrendered and the referee intervened.
• Xuan Zi accused Wang Yan of failing to tell Zhang Lexuan that Lu Yuan’s Second Martial Soul could catch a Level 7 Soul Tool attack barehanded, then ordered him to write a self-criticism.

Wang Yan was made to take responsibility for Shrek Academy’s failures, while Shrek finished the Round-Robin Tournament near the bottom and turned to the Soul Engineer Tournament for a chance to help the academy. The Abyss Cult advanced to the semifinals, where Gu Qiu’er prepared to face the Heavenly Dragon Sect’s Yu Tianlong.

• Xuan Zi blamed Wang Yan, who returned to his room and later came to resent him for burying Shrek’s glory.
• Shrek Academy won only one of its next three matches, finished with two wins and five losses, and failed to advance from its group.
• Huo Yuhao encouraged Shrek’s team to focus on the Soul Engineer Tournament, where he and He Caitou could win rare metals and other rewards.
• The Abyss Cult qualified first in its group, then advanced to the semifinals after Dou Ling Academy conceded its quarterfinal match.
• Lu Yuan, Gu Qiu’er, and Xiao Xiao arrived for the semifinal against the Heavenly Dragon Sect, and Yu Tianlong chose to fight Gu Qiu’er despite expecting defeat.