Recaps

Gu Mingyuan sold the Holy Spirit Cult information about Ma Xiaotao’s Evil Fire backlash and received money and a soul-restoring herb in return. The Cult tasked him with recruiting students expelled from Shrek, while its contact in the apothecary was turned into a puppet.

• Gu Mingyuan told the apparition that Ma Xiaotao, a gifted Inner Court Soul Emperor, sometimes lost control because of her Evil Fire backlash.
• Gu Mingyuan requested Gold Soul Coins, something to restore a damaged soul, and a way to keep the shop assistant from revealing his identity.
• The apparition promised Gu Mingyuan a reward the next day, and a crimson flash in the chamber was followed by a scream from below.
• Gu Mingyuan returned to the apothecary at Hour of the Rooster and received a Storage Ring containing fifty thousand Gold Soul Coins and a box of Nether God Grass.
• The apparition told Gu Mingyuan to use the funds to recruit students expelled by Shrek into the Holy Spirit Cult.

Gu Mingyuan stole the fifty thousand Gold Soul Coins from the Holy Spirit Cult’s hidden compartment and returned the empty ring. At Shrek, Huo Yuhao’s first team match ended in defeat and conflict with Dai Huabin, while Zhou Yi sought to transfer Huo Yuhao and his teammates to Class Two.

• Gu Mingyuan transferred fifty thousand Gold Soul Coins into his own Soul Tool, took the Nether God Grass, and returned the empty Storage Ring to its compartment.
• Mu Jin named Gu Mingyuan, Cao Jinxuan, and Zhou Sichen as Freshman Class One’s rotating leaders before arranging improvised team matches.
• Huo Yuhao used Spiritual Detection Sharing to support Dai Huabin and Nanmen Yun'er, but Dai Huabin ignored his advice and their team lost to Ning Tian, Wang Dong, and Zhu Lu.
• Dai Huabin blamed Huo Yuhao after the match, and Wang Dong defended him until Mu Jin intervened with her Soul Emperor pressure.
• Zhou Yi asked Mu Jin to transfer Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong, and Xiao Xiao to Class Two, then placed a cylinder on Mu Jin’s desk.

Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong transferred to Freshman Class Two, while the Holy Spirit Cult targeted Ma Xiaotao as a candidate under the codename Red Phoenix. In Shrek City, Gu Mingyuan tested Jiang Wenzhou’s tracking and silent communication ability for possible use by the Tang Sect.

• Mu Jin kept Xiao Xiao in Class One and approved Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong’s transfer to Class Two, and Zhou Yi took the application to Du Weilun.
• Feng Ling ordered the Holy Spirit Cult to designate Ma Xiaotao a First-Class Saintess Candidate, codename Red Phoenix, and gather intelligence on her Evil Fire without approaching her.
• Feng Ling classified Huo Yuhao as a Second-Class Observation Subject and promoted Bait Seven to a core covert agent worth cultivating long-term.
• Gu Mingyuan rejected most expelled students Lin Yan had investigated and chose to assess Jiang Wenzhou, whose Heartbound Bell could locate allies and send silent messages.
• Gu Mingyuan sent Cao Jinxuan away blindfolded with a smaller bell and told Jiang Wenzhou to find him using only the bells.

Jiang Wenzhou failed to track Cao Jinxuan after Cao removed the child bell, but Gu Mingyuan praised the Heartbound Bell’s scouting potential and encouraged him to improve. Later, Xuan Zi examined Gu Mingyuan’s Golden Jade Body, discovered his second Martial Soul, and judged that its darkness alone did not make it evil.

• Jiang Wenzhou and Gu Mingyuan followed the child bell to a cargo cart and discovered that Cao Jinxuan had removed it and taken a different route.
• Gu Mingyuan reassured Jiang Wenzhou that finding the empty bell demonstrated the Heartbound Bell’s value, and Lin Yan gave Jiang Wenzhou a wooden token engraved with “Tang.”
• Gu Mingyuan cultivated the Purple Emperor Eyes by drawing in moonlight beside Sea God Lake.
• Xuan Zi approached Gu Mingyuan and examined his Golden Jade Body, while Electrolux concealed the skull brand from him.
• Xuan Zi’s probe caused the mark of the Demon's Contract on Gu Mingyuan’s left palm to appear, revealing his Twin Martial Souls.
• After examining the mark, Xuan Zi concluded it was not an evil Martial Soul and told Gu Mingyuan that a Martial Soul’s morality depended on how it grew and what its wielder intended.

Xuan Zi concluded that Gu Mingyuan’s Golden Jade Body was likely a beneficial evolution rather than a confirmed second awakening and granted him a Black-Level Sea God Token with academy privileges. Gu Mingyuan reassured Zhou Sichen about giving away their Soul Bone, while Xuan Zi went to find Mu En.

• Xuan Zi questioned Gu Mingyuan about his bone martial soul and decided the Golden Jade Body showed no clear signs of a second awakening.
• Xuan Zi gave Gu Mingyuan a Black-Level Sea God Token, granting him discounts, restricted library access, and priority training-room access.
• Xuan Zi revised Gu Mingyuan’s file to record his Twin Martial Souls, Ultimate Defense, and suspected beneficial evolution, then went to find Mu En.
• Gu Mingyuan returned to Dormitory 118 and found Zhou Sichen training; they joked before Gu Mingyuan asked whether Zhou resented giving their Soul Bone to Old Cao.
• Zhou Sichen admitted some disappointment but said he trusted Gu Mingyuan’s reasons and valued their friendship.
• Xuan Zi entered Mu En’s room in the Sea God Pavilion, disturbing the old man’s rest.

Xuan Zi reported Gu Mingyuan’s abilities to Mu En, who cautioned him not to mistake darkness for evil and asked to hear more about the student. Gu Mingyuan then studied Soul Tools, strengthened the Tang Sect, earned his first-rank Soul Engineer badge, and reached level thirty before planning to visit the Holy Spirit Cult.

• Xuan Zi told Mu En about Gu Mingyuan’s dark second martial soul and his performance in the freshman final, and Mu En asked him to keep providing updates.
• Gu Mingyuan studied Soul Tool basics and applied for electives so he could fill gaps in his combat skills and help the Tang Sect adapt to the times.
• Fan Yu tested Gu Mingyuan’s carving ability, then accepted him as a Soul Tool Department elective student and assigned him regular lessons.
• Gu Mingyuan trained in the Martial Soul and Soul Tool Departments while Lin Yan gathered information and Jiang Wenzhou developed the Heartbound Bell for the Tang Sect.
• Eight months later, Gu Mingyuan had earned a first-rank Soul Engineer badge and broken through the level-thirty bottleneck.
• Gu Mingyuan finished his first year at Shrek Academy and planned to visit the Holy Spirit Cult to take some money from them.

Gu Mingyuan obtained a route and Cult contacts to hunt a Cold Jade-Horned Rhino for his third Soul Ring, while Huo Yuhao prepared to travel north for a Second Martial Soul. Yu Xiaogang promised to accept Huo Yuhao as his second personal disciple if the journey succeeded, declaring that he would become the second god.

• Gu Mingyuan met the phantom at the Holy Spirit Cult’s underground chamber and explained that he was going to hunt for his third Soul Ring.
• The phantom gave Gu Mingyuan a map and token for the Far North Branch Altar, where he could get help locating Cold Jade-Horned Rhinos.
• Gu Mingyuan reported that he had recruited only two people for the Cult’s peripheral organization, and the phantom demanded a capable mission team before the next academic year ended.
• Huo Yuhao packed supplies for the Far North after reaching level twenty, while the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm promised that his Second Martial Soul was within reach.
• Yu Xiaogang told Huo Yuhao he would accept him as his second personal disciple if he obtained a Second Martial Soul, and predicted that he would become the second god.

Gu Mingyuan used the Far North Branch Altar’s hunting team to kill two Cold Jade-Horned Rhinos and secretly track the team as it pursued Huo Yuhao. He began absorbing the older rhino’s Soul Ring with help from the Cold Marrow Gall, but the strain was only beginning.

• Huo Yuhao prepared to leave for the Far North after Yu Xiaogang accepted him as a personal disciple, while Sky Dream Ice Silkworm argued that he deserved credit for Huo Yuhao’s second Martial Soul.
• Gu Mingyuan spotted Huo Yuhao in Frostfall City and reported his arrival to the Black Feather Medicine Shop, ordering its people to follow him without alerting him.
• Gu Mingyuan persuaded three Evil Soul Masters from the Far North Branch Altar to help kill a young Cold Jade-Horned Rhino and a 7,500-year-old adult, promising they could then resume their pursuit of Huo Yuhao.
• Gu Mingyuan gave the Soul Saint a mother tracking disc and secretly kept its paired child disc, allowing him to track the hunting team as it entered the Far North.
• After the team left, Gu Mingyuan swallowed a Cold Marrow Gall and began absorbing the adult rhino’s Purple Soul Ring, activating his Golden Jade Body against its overwhelming energy.

After gaining his third Soul Ring and a trait that halved elemental damage, Gu Mingyuan learned the northern pursuit squad was in danger. Huo Yuhao survived the Ice Empress’s interrupted fusion and escaped, while Gu Mingyuan found a tracking disk pointing north.

• Gu Mingyuan acquired the Golden Jade Strength Transformation and the Strictest Father of the Elements trait, then saw the pursuit squad’s tracking signal go dark near the Far North’s core.
• The Holy Spirit Cult squad attacked Huo Yuhao to steal the Ice Empress’s hundred-thousand-year torso bone, forcing the Ice Empress to unleash her Ultimate Ice and freeze the attackers.
• The Soul-Locking Nail struck Huo Yuhao’s shoulder before the Ice Empress’s outburst, and the uncontrolled fusion left her unconscious, exhausted the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm, and badly weakened Huo Yuhao.
• Yu Xiaogang urged Huo Yuhao to flee, and Huo Yuhao staggered away from the icefield before the cult’s comrades could arrive.
• Gu Mingyuan reached the icefield, broke open the Soul Saint’s frozen body, and took a Soul-Tracking Disk whose marker pointed due north.

Gu Mingyuan returned toward Shrek Academy after looting the fallen attackers, while Huo Yuhao survived the Ice Empress’s interrupted fusion, gained a Simulation Soul Skill, and began his journey back. At Shrek, the second-year assessment started without Huo Yuhao, and Gu Mingyuan faced a three-thousand-year-old Ironclad Bear.

• Gu Mingyuan found Huo Yuhao’s erratic tracks but chose not to pursue him, searched the corpses, took a low-grade left leg Soul Bone and other valuables, and headed back to Shrek Academy.
• Huo Yuhao woke in an ice cave as Tian Meng explained that the Ice Empress’s fusion had left her essence damaged and her red Soul Ring unreliable; Yu Xiaogang welcomed him as his personal disciple.
• Following Tian Meng’s advice, Huo Yuhao killed a roughly three-thousand-year-old Snow-Hiding Ice Silkworm, gained the Simulation Soul Skill, and disguised his red Soul Ring as a thousand-year purple one.
• Yu Xiaogang helped Huo Yuhao prepare an explanation for his absence, and Huo Yuhao set off for Shrek, expecting to arrive several days after term began.
• At Shrek Academy’s advancement assessment, Wang Dong worried about Huo Yuhao, Xiao Xiao restrained her when Dai Huabin mocked him, and the students began their individual Soul Beast challenges.
• Gu Mingyuan entered the thousand-year tier and endured a three-thousand-year-old Earthsplitter Ironclad Bear’s shock wave with his Golden Jade Body before the beast charged him.

Gu Mingyuan killed a three-thousand-year-old Ironclad Bear with one punch during the assessment, then explained his new Soul Skill to Du Weilun, who decided to seal its records. Dai Huabin tried to match Gu Mingyuan by choosing another three-thousand-year-old beast, but the referee had to rescue him from a Fierce Tusked Boar.

• Gu Mingyuan activated Golden Jade Strength Transformation and killed the charging Ironclad Bear with a Serious Punch, though the force split his hand.
• Du Weilun inspected the dead beast and gave Gu Mingyuan a strong evaluation, while Zhou Sichen, Cao Jinxuan, Wang Dong, and Dai Huabin reacted to his victory.
• Gu Mingyuan told Du Weilun that his Third Soul Skill converted his Golden Jade Body's defense into strength, and Du Weilun decided the academy would seal the updated records.
• Dai Huabin chose a three-thousand-year-old strength-type Soul Beast and fought a Fierce Tusked Boar, but the beast drove him back until the referee intervened and rescued him.

Huo Yuhao returned to Shrek Academy after seven days in the Far North and proved his second Martial Soul to avoid expulsion, though he was ordered to take the advancement assessment while injured. Meanwhile, Gu Mingyuan reported to Vice Cult Master Feng Ling that he had found the Far North Branch Altar's missing team frozen to death.

• After Huo Yuhao missed the advancement assessment and disappeared, the Academic Affairs Office gave him three days to return before revoking his enrollment.
• Huo Yuhao returned to Shrek Academy, where Wang Dong punched him in relief and Dai Huabin was surprised to see him alive.
• Huo Yuhao told Du Weilun, Zhou Yi, and Fan Yu that he had gained a second Martial Soul and a Soul Bone in the Far North, then demonstrated his Ultimate Ice abilities.
• Fan Yu claimed Huo Yuhao had been conducting a secret Soul Tool Department test, and Du Weilun allowed him to stay with a major demerit and an injured advancement assessment due within three days.
• Huo Yuhao left the office worried about his standing and the sleeping Ice Empress and Tian Meng, while Yu Xiaogang promised to make the academy regret underestimating him.
• Gu Mingyuan told Vice Cult Master Feng Ling that the Soul Saint and two Soul Kings sent to track Huo Yuhao had become ice sculptures, then presented a leg bone and Soul-Tracking Disk.

Gu Mingyuan returned from reporting to Feng Ling and found Tang Ya confronting him over the Tang Sect he had founded in the courtyard. Tang Ya challenged him to prove that his new sect deserved the name, and Gu Mingyuan summoned a hundred soul-power hidden weapons to face her.

• Feng Ling ordered Gu Mingyuan to investigate Huo Yuhao and raised his priority, while letting him keep the Soul Bone and Soul-Tracking Disk as payment.
• Gu Mingyuan returned to the courtyard and found Tang Ya, Bei Bei, Huo Yuhao, and Wang Dong confronting Cao Jinxuan, Lin Yan, and Jiang Wenzhou.
• Tang Ya accused Gu Mingyuan of recruiting disciples and teaching Tang Sect arts without her permission, while Huo Yuhao and Bei Bei urged him to explain himself.
• Gu Mingyuan declared that he had always been a member of the Tang Sect and that Tang Ya could not stop him.
• Tang Ya challenged Gu Mingyuan to prove his sect deserved the name, and he summoned a hundred hidden weapons formed from soul power.

Gu Mingyuan fought Bei Bei after Tang Ya confronted him, enduring Bei Bei’s lightning attacks and Huo Yuhao’s Ice Emperor’s Fury. Huo Yuhao’s strike made Gu Mingyuan release Bei Bei, but Gu Mingyuan still punched Bei Bei in the chest.

• Tang Ya saw that Gu Mingyuan had reached three Soul Rings while her own Soul Power had barely advanced, and Bei Bei stepped forward to challenge him.
• Gu Mingyuan sent Cao Jinxuan, Lin Yan, and Jiang Wenzhou away as Bei Bei attacked with his lightning Soul Skills and Huo Yuhao’s Spiritual Detection Sharing.
• Gu Mingyuan caught Bei Bei’s dragon claw and absorbed much of its force, then withstood Bei Bei’s lightning dragon attack without serious injury.
• Bei Bei tried to pin Gu Mingyuan down at close range, but Gu Mingyuan seized his wrist, and Tang Ya’s Blue Silver Grass failed to free him.
• Huo Yuhao used Ice Emperor’s Fury to strike Gu Mingyuan, who released Bei Bei, avoided the Blue Silver Grass, and punched Bei Bei in the chest.

Gu Mingyuan defeated Bei Bei, Tang Ya, Huo Yuhao, and Wang Dong after they confronted him at his home, leaving them injured and the courtyard wrecked. At the academy infirmary, Du Weilun reported that Bei Bei attacked first and asked Gu Mingyuan to explain himself.

• Gu Mingyuan overpowered Bei Bei, Tang Ya, Huo Yuhao, and Wang Dong, leaving all four unable to continue fighting.
• Xu Sanshi and the city defense auxiliaries arrived, sent the injured to the academy infirmary, and recorded the damage and lingering Soul Power.
• Xu Sanshi warned Gu Mingyuan that the academy would consider the injuries and property damage, and cautioned him about Bei Bei's background.
• Gu Mingyuan went to the infirmary with Cao Jinxuan, Lin Yan, and Jiang Wenzhou, where Yan Shaozhe, Zhang Lexuan, Du Weilun, Mu Jin, Zhou Yi, and Fan Yu were present.
• Du Weilun confirmed that Bei Bei attacked first but called the incident serious, then asked Gu Mingyuan to speak.

Gu Mingyuan recounted how Tang Ya, Bei Bei, Huo Yuhao, and Wang Dong confronted him at his South City courtyard, and the evidence confirmed that he had fought them after they attacked first. Yan Shaozhe ruled that both sides were at fault, compensated them, and restricted Gu Mingyuan from expanding his Tang Sect until the dispute was resolved.

• Gu Mingyuan told Du Weilun that Tang Ya and the others had entered his courtyard, argued with him, and attacked before he defeated all four alone.
• Xu Sanshi presented the city defense log and Soul Tool footage, which largely supported Gu Mingyuan's account.
• Zhang Lexuan criticized Gu Mingyuan for injuring Bei Bei, and Du Weilun explained the power of Gu Mingyuan's Twin Ultimates to Yan Shaozhe.
• Bei Bei confirmed that he had attacked first, and Yan Shaozhe ruled that both sides had acted wrongly and ordered the academy to cover their medical and property costs.
• Yan Shaozhe granted each of the five involved students one million Gold Soul Coins for the Treasure Appreciation Auction and offered Huo Yuhao high-grade Whale Rubber.
• Yan Shaozhe barred Gu Mingyuan from recruiting, teaching, or expanding his Tang Sect until the dispute was resolved, and Gu Mingyuan stopped Zhou Sichen from protesting.

After Gu Mingyuan received an academy restriction on Tang Sect recruiting, he saw the punishment as a useful way to avoid pressure to expand while vowing to repay Shrek’s leadership. Yan Shaozhe later reported the conflict to Mu En, who questioned his decision to favor Huo Yuhao and raised the possibility that Huo Yuhao’s Ultimate Ice could help Ma Xiaotao.

• Gu Mingyuan left the infirmary after accepting his punishment, and Zhang Lexuan watched Bei Bei focus on Tang Ya rather than defend her.
• Zhou Sichen, Cao Jinxuan, Lin Yan, and Jiang Wenzhou objected to the ruling, but Gu Mingyuan led them to the dining hall and privately welcomed the restriction as cover to consolidate his courtyard.
• Huo Yuhao reflected that his Twin Martial Souls and Ultimate Ice had earned him the academy’s support and compensation, and resolved to grow stronger.
• Yan Shaozhe told Mu En that Bei Bei would recover, then explained Huo Yuhao’s abilities, Gu Mingyuan’s soul skill, and the dispute over the Tang Sect name.
• Mu En called Yan Shaozhe’s handling foolish, while Yan Shaozhe defended his decision by arguing that Huo Yuhao’s Ultimate Ice could help control Ma Xiaotao’s evil fire.

After Mu En criticized Yan Shaozhe for mishandling the dispute, Shrek Academy rescinded its ban on Gu Mingyuan’s recruitment and sent Xuan Zi to assess his strength. Gu Mingyuan demonstrated a powerful punch, leaving Xuan Zi impressed and curious about his third Soul Ring.

• Mu En scolded Yan Shaozhe for trying to protect Huo Yuhao at Gu Mingyuan’s expense and raised the possibility that Gu Mingyuan had Twin Martial Souls.
• Mu Jin told Gu Mingyuan that the Sea God Pavilion had rescinded the ban on recruiting under the Tang Sect’s name, but Gu Mingyuan reluctantly accepted the decision despite wanting the ban as an excuse to avoid the Holy Spirit Cult.
• After Mu Jin left, Xuan Zi challenged Gu Mingyuan to show the strength of his punch.
• Gu Mingyuan used Golden Jade Strength Transformation and Serious Punch, but Xuan Zi stopped the blow with one hand without moving.
• Xuan Zi praised Gu Mingyuan’s strength and defensive control, then warned him not to overtax his Body Martial Soul while pursuing an older Soul Ring.

Gu Mingyuan received special Treasure Pavilion privileges from Xuan Zi and reported Tang Ya to the Holy Spirit Cult as a potential recruit. The cult placed her on its Grade-A Watchlist under the codename [Green Vine], while Gu Mingyuan headed to the Treasure Appreciation Auction.

• Xuan Zi gave Gu Mingyuan a top-tier Red-Level VIP Card that offered a free auction treasure each year and steep discounts, warning him not to waste the academy's privilege.
• Mu Jin invited Gu Mingyuan to the core disciples' Treasure Appreciation Auction, and Gu Mingyuan arranged to meet Cao Jinxuan and Zhou Sichen there before leaving for South City.
• Gu Mingyuan told Feng Ling that Shrek had forbidden him from recruiting eliminated students under the Tang Sect's name, and she ordered him to stop that effort.
• Gu Mingyuan identified Tang Ya as a valuable target because her Blue Silver Grass could devour life force and her circumstances might drive her toward that power.
• Feng Ling placed Tang Ya on the Grade-A Watchlist as [Green Vine] and ordered Gu Mingyuan to monitor her secretly without approaching her.
• Gu Mingyuan left Spring Return Apothecary with another two hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins and headed to Treasure Pavilion for the auction.

Gu Mingyuan visited the Treasure Pavilion with Cao Jinxuan and Zhou Sichen, claiming a Golden Radiance Left Arm Bone and buying rare materials, including items recommended by Electrolux. He helped his friends purchase cultivation medicines and lent them the money they lacked.

• Gu Mingyuan, Cao Jinxuan, and Zhou Sichen arrived at the Treasure Pavilion, where Gu Mingyuan's red-and-gold invitation marked him as a top-tier guest.
• Gu Mingyuan used his free-item privilege to claim the Golden Radiance Left Arm Bone after Elder Lin confirmed his privileges.
• Gu Mingyuan bought discounted Whale Rubber and a Soul-Nourishing Wood Heart that Electrolux said could help his weakened divine consciousness.
• Cao Jinxuan and Zhou Sichen completed their assessments and received purple guest cards with 100,000 credit limits each.
• Cao Jinxuan chose a Mind-Concentrating Potion and Zhou Sichen chose an Essence-Stabilizing Potion, and Gu Mingyuan lent them another 100,000 to cover their purchases.

Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong spent their credit at the Treasure Appreciation Auction, then Ma Xiaotao took Huo Yuhao to suppress the evil fire in her Evil Fire Phoenix. The attempt began to go wrong when her fire surged back against his Ultimate Ice.

• Huo Yuhao received three million Gold Soul Coins in credit, bringing his total with Yan Shaozhe’s compensation to four million, but he and Wang Dong arrived too late to buy the Soul Bone.
• Gu Mingyuan spent his remaining credit on rare metals and left the Treasure Pavilion with Cao Jinxuan and Zhou Sichen.
• Huo Yuhao bought Mind-Calming Warm Jade, while Wang Dong chose Dawn Crystal Marrow, and Huo Yuhao used all four million in credit to pay for both items.
• Ma Xiaotao seized Huo Yuhao outside the Treasure Pavilion and took him to a secluded grove, leaving Wang Dong to return to the academy alone, jealous and worried.
• Ma Xiaotao explained that her Evil Fire Phoenix accumulated evil fire during cultivation, and Huo Yuhao began using his Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion Martial Soul to suppress it.
• When Huo Yuhao’s Ultimate Ice touched Ma Xiaotao’s evil fire, a violent wave of heat surged back, and Yu Xiaogang urged him to force it back with more Soul Power.

Huo Yuhao nearly succumbed to Ma Xiaotao’s evil fire while trying to suppress it, but Tian Meng guided him to use the Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion’s source and help bring the danger under control. Two days later, Huo Yuhao and the other under-fifteen core disciples were summoned to a secret selection, which began as a free-for-all at the Soul Dueling Arena.

• Huo Yuhao exhausted his Soul Power while suppressing Ma Xiaotao’s evil fire, allowing it to rush into his body.
• Tian Meng awakened in Huo Yuhao’s Sea of Spirit and instructed him to stop forcing out Soul Power and slowly repel the fire with his martial soul’s source.
• Huo Yuhao and Ma Xiaotao drew the runaway energy back under control, and Huo Yuhao collapsed with a charred arm.
• Two days later, the academy summoned all core disciples under fifteen from both departments to a confidential selection.
• Xuan Zi announced that the twenty-seven participants would fight in a free-for-all, with the last seven standing advancing.

Gu Mingyuan’s team and Huo Yuhao’s team fought their way through the Seven Monsters Selection Melee until only the two groups remained. Gu Mingyuan eliminated Zhou Sichen and then sent Huo Yuhao out of the arena, leaving the contest unresolved between the remaining fighters.

• He Caitou opened the melee with a barrage of soul-tool fire while Gu Mingyuan shielded Cao Jinxuan and Zhou Sichen, and Xu Sanshi and Jiang Nannan joined Gu Mingyuan’s group.
• Huo Yuhao’s team used Spiritual Detection Sharing, He Caitou’s firepower, Wang Dong’s flight, and Xiao Xiao’s cauldrons to gain a foothold.
• Xu Sanshi caught Dai Huabin’s group off guard, and Gu Mingyuan broke their formation, leaving only his five-person team and Huo Yuhao’s four-person team.
• Gu Mingyuan charged through He Caitou’s barrage and broke through Xiao Xiao’s cauldron defense as Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong launched Golden Road at Cao Jinxuan and Zhou Sichen.
• Zhou Sichen rescued Cao Jinxuan from Golden Road but was immobilized and removed from the arena by Xuan Zi.
• Gu Mingyuan struck Huo Yuhao through his Ultimate Ice defense and sent him flying out of the arena.

Xuan Zi selected seven students as the reserve team for the new generation of the Shrek Seven Devils, then brought Huo Yuhao and Zhou Sichen into an eight-against-eight match against the Inner Court starters. The battle began with Huo Yuhao coordinating Ma Xiaotao’s team through Spiritual Detection Sharing.

• Xuan Zi named Gu Mingyuan, Cao Jinxuan, Xu Sanshi, Jiang Nannan, He Caitou, Wang Dong, and Xiao Xiao as the reserve team, while also keeping Huo Yuhao and Zhou Sichen for the tournament trip.
• Ma Xiaotao chose Huo Yuhao for her team, and Xuan Zi allowed Zhou Sichen to join the match as well, making it eight against eight without restoring either student’s reserve-team place.
• Ma Xiaotao assigned Huo Yuhao tactical command, while Gu Mingyuan told Cao Jinxuan to stay close, Zhou Sichen to prepare his summons, and Xu Sanshi to disrupt the opposing formation.
• When Xuan Zi started the match, Huo Yuhao spread Spiritual Detection Sharing across Ma Xiaotao’s team, and Gong Yangmo boosted them with his Rainbow Dragon martial soul.
• Ma Xiaotao charged Dai Yueheng as He Caitou, Xiao Xiao, Jiang Nannan, and Wang Dong launched their attacks.

Huo Yuhao’s team broke through Dai Yueheng’s formation after Huo Yuhao suppressed Ling Luochen with Ultimate Ice and Ma Xiaotao unleashed Phoenix Meteor Shower. Gu Mingyuan then faced Ma Xiaotao alone, withstanding her flames and matching her punch before calling on Dai Yueheng to strike him with White Tiger Meteor Shower.

• Xi Xi tried to ambush Gu Mingyuan, but Cao Jinxuan’s Time Lock slowed her long enough for Gu Mingyuan to knock her back toward the boundary.
• Huo Yuhao used Simulation to suppress Ling Luochen’s ice, and Xuan Zi carried her off the battlefield after she froze herself.
• Gong Yangmo boosted Ma Xiaotao, who drove Dai Yueheng back and unleashed Phoenix Meteor Shower, forcing Xuan Zi to rescue Cao Jinxuan, Zhou Sichen, Chen Zifeng, and Yao Haoxuan.
• Gu Mingyuan told Dai Yueheng and Xu Sanshi to attack the remaining opponents while he held Ma Xiaotao alone.
• Gu Mingyuan endured Ma Xiaotao’s Phoenix Fire Line and matched her flaming punch, then asked Dai Yueheng to hit him with White Tiger Meteor Shower.