Chapter Summaries

Key events

• At Star Luo Plaza, Dai Huabin taunts Huo Yuhao for leaving Shrek and joining the supposedly obscure Just Sky Academy. Zhu Lu backs him up, dismissing Yuhao’s past victories as luck.
• Wang Dong defends Yuhao, while Song Que turns the insult toward Just Sky Academy. Ye Wuqing and his teammates confront Dai and Zhu, but a referee warns both sides that fighting would disqualify their teams.
• Ma Xiaotao steps in to protect Dai and Zhu. Song Que calmly stops the confrontation and reminds her that this is not Shrek’s territory. The groups disperse after the draw results are announced.
• Just Sky’s team discusses Shrek’s changed lineup, including unfamiliar students and Soul Engineering Department members. Song Que identifies Ma Xiaotao as a formidable fighter, estimating her Soul Power at Level 67, and notes that Dai Yueheng is also a Soul Emperor.
• Just Sky learns its first opponent is a relatively weak Dou Ling Empire academy with one Soul King and otherwise Soul Ancestors. Song Que plans to send Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong out first—not merely as starters, but as the match’s “main fighters”—and shares a surprising strategy that leaves the team incredulous.

Character developments and interactions

• Huo Yuhao stays composed under Dai Huabin’s provocation; Wang Dong passionately defends him.
• Song Que displays confidence and restraint, defusing the plaza conflict while asserting Just Sky Academy’s dignity. He also takes charge of the team’s tactical planning.
• Ye Wuqing and the others react strongly to the insult, while Ma Xiaotao’s intervention reveals her readiness to defend her teammates and her considerable strength.
• Xu Sanshi is eager to approach Jiang Nannan, but Bei Bei restrains him, warning that she may not want to speak with him. He later volunteers to join Song Que’s unusual plan.

Significant themes

• Respect and rivalry: Dai and Zhu try to belittle Yuhao and his new academy, prompting the teams’ confrontation.
• Restraint and discipline: Tournament rules prevent the dispute from becoming a fight, and Song Que chooses to end it rather than escalate.
• Confidence and strategy: Despite Shrek’s powerful lineup, Song Que trusts his team and prepares to use the weaker first-round match to give Yuhao and Wang Dong practical experience.
• New beginnings: Yuhao’s place at Just Sky contrasts with his former ties to Shrek, whose changed roster signals a shift in the old order.

Key plot points and events

• Ma Xiaotao overwhelms Tianling Advanced Soul Master Academy with her Phoenix Meteor Shower. The referee barely contains the flames, and Shrek wins decisively.
• Spectators and the Star Luo emperor praise Ma Xiaotao’s strength, though some think her attack was excessive. Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy takes note of Shrek’s unfamiliar, apparently young lineup and views it as a potential threat.
• Song Que tells Huo Yuhao that their master has not appeared, but two senior allies are present. He reminds Huo Yuhao that Just Sky Academy’s match is that afternoon.
• Just Sky Academy faces Earth Ze Academy. Its unusual formation puts Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong, and Xu Sanshi in front, with four teammates behind them. Earth Ze’s captain doubts the lineup because Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong look so young.
• Huo Yuhao reveals six blood-red Soul Rings, astonishing the arena. Wang Dong and Xu Sanshi also display six rings each. Earth Ze’s team is terrified.
• Huo Yuhao begins an icy transformation, surrounded by diamond-like ice crystals, as the phantom of an Ice Empress Scorpion appears behind him.

Character developments and interactions

• Ma Xiaotao shows immense power, but her attack briefly approaches a dangerous loss of control. Her reaction to Song Que is also described as complicated.
• Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong, and Xu Sanshi overturn expectations with their strength and confidence. Their silent, proud response to Earth Ze’s challenge contrasts sharply with the opponents’ later fear.
• Dai Huabin dismisses Just Sky Academy’s lineup, while Mu Jin cautions him not to underestimate Ye Wuqing. Dai Huabin’s hostility toward Huo Yuhao remains evident.
• Sun Moon’s Xiao Hongchen and Ma Rulong recognize that Shrek’s roster may be deeper and less familiar than expected.

Significant themes

• Appearances can deceive: Huo Yuyao and Wang Dong look like children, yet prove to be powerful Soul Emperors.
• Reputation and intimidation: Both Shrek’s crushing victory and Just Sky’s shocking display are meant to affect rivals’ confidence.
• Power and control: Ma Xiaotao’s near loss of control shows that overwhelming strength can endanger others, while Huo Yuhao’s emerging ice form signals another dramatic display of power.

Key plot points and events

• Huo Yuhao reveals a spectacular power during the match: a blue-and-gold butterfly image merges into his Spirit Eyes, producing a radiant “Golden Road” and the chilling aura of Ultimate Ice.
• His display shocks the arena. Emperor Xu Jiawei, Shrek’s students, and the crowd question how Just Sky Academy acquired such a remarkable talent.
• Xuan Zi rushes onto the stage, grabs Huo Yuhao, and investigates him, suspecting he may be a Ferocious Beast in human form. He declares that Shrek will take him back.
• Song Que challenges Xuan Zi, accusing Shrek of neglecting and mistreating Yuhao, then trying to reclaim him after discovering his true abilities.
• Du Busi arrives, knocks Xuan Zi back, and reveals that Yuhao is his personal disciple and has long belonged to the Body Sect. He condemns Shrek for failing to recognize Yuhao’s talent and for trying to seize him publicly.
• With the crowd turning against Shrek, Xuan Zi loses his temper and challenges Du Busi. The two powerful masters prepare to fight.

Character developments and interactions

• Huo Yuhao demonstrates the depth of his abilities, including Ultimate Ice and a previously unrecognized Martial Soul. His exceptional power becomes impossible for others to dismiss.
• Xuan Zi shifts from shock and suspicion to coercive action, claiming Yuhao for Shrek and exposing the academy’s sense of entitlement.
• Song Que openly defends Yuhao, condemning Shrek’s past neglect and confronting Xuan Zi despite the risk.
• Du Busi asserts his authority as Yuhao’s mentor and protector, publicly challenging Xuan Zi and Shrek.
• Shrek’s reputation suffers as spectators hear the accusations and judge its treatment of Yuhao.

Significant themes

• Recognition and neglect: Yuhao’s talent was overlooked until it became publicly undeniable.
• Power and entitlement: Shrek’s claim over Yuhao is challenged as an attempt to control him rather than respect his choices.
• Loyalty and protection: Song Que and Du Busi stand up for Yuhao, contrasting with Shrek’s opportunism.
• Reputation and public judgment: The confrontation turns a private dispute into a public reckoning over Shrek’s conduct.

Key plot points and events

• Xuan Zi and Du Busi, both Level 98 Super Douluo, clash above the tournament grounds in their Martial Soul Avatars. Their battle shakes Star Luo City and threatens the spectators and contestants.
• Emperor Xu Jiawei sends the empire’s three guardian Titled Douluo to intervene. They persuade the combatants to take their fight outside the city. Xuan Zi and Du Busi break off and fly away.
• Xu Jiawei orders the tournament to continue. Just Sky Academy’s team leaves the arena after its victory, and Huo Yuhao confirms he is unharmed.
• News of Xuan Zi’s attempt to seize Huo Yuhao spreads through the crowd, damaging Shrek’s reputation. Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy’s representatives are also stunned by Huo Yuhao’s apparent age and strength; Elder Ma orders a quiet investigation.

Character developments and interactions

• Xuan Zi and Du Busi show that their personal grievance can erupt into a dangerous public confrontation, but both yield when reminded of the tournament’s importance and the political consequences.
• Huo Yuhao remains calm after the incident and reassures Song Que that he is safe.
• Song Que criticizes Xuan Zi and says the fight will not become deadly, while predicting Shrek’s reputation cannot recover easily.
• Bei Bei acknowledges that Xuan Zi went too far. Xu Sanshi says Shrek has changed for the worse and urges Tang Ya to encourage her friend to leave; Tang Ya teases him for having ulterior motives.
• Xiao Hongchen is shaken by Huo Yuhao’s talent, while Ma Rulong and Elder Ma recognize that his strength—and that of Wang Dong and Xu Sanshi—is extraordinary and suspiciously difficult to explain.
• Spectators openly condemn Shrek for rejecting Huo Yuhao and then trying to reclaim him by force, though some remain wary of Shrek’s influence.

Significant themes

• Power and restraint: Even the strongest fighters must consider the harm their actions can cause to bystanders.
• Reputation and accountability: Shrek’s attempt to take Huo Yuhao publicly undermines its prestige.
• Talent and envy: Huo Yuhao’s abilities unsettle rivals and invite both admiration and suspicion.
• Institutional decline and loyalty: The former Shrek members’ comments suggest the academy has changed, prompting people to reconsider their ties to it.

Key plot points and events

• After Xuan Zi’s impulsive outburst, Shrek Academy faces public scrutiny. Mu Jin worries that the incident will damage the academy’s reputation and make the tournament harder.
• Ling Luochеn and Jiang Nannan quietly distance themselves from the group, while Jiang Nannan wrestles with complicated feelings about Tang Ya and Xu Sanshi.
• The round-robin groups are announced: Shrek and Just Sky Academy are placed together, and will meet in their third match. Shrek is short-handed, with most of its starting team injured or still recovering.
• Just Sky’s Song Que reassures his teammates and says he, Bei Bei, and Xu Sanshi will compete against Shrek. Bei Bei and Xu Sanshi note that their Martial Soul awakenings are becoming easier to control; Bei Bei suspects Song Que may be involved, but Song Que gives no clear answer.
• Mu Jin interrupts the tournament to explain Shrek’s depleted roster. He says the starting team was sent to fight Evil Soul Masters in the Mingdou Mountain Range; several students died, and the survivors were badly injured. He appeals to the crowd not to judge Shrek by its weakened team or the recent clash. The audience responds with applause.
• The chapter ends with a sharp interruption: a man in the stands calls Shrek hypocritical. He is identified as Jing Hongchen.

Character developments and interactions

• Mu Jin takes a public stand to defend Shrek, trying to redirect opinion after Xuan Zi’s actions.
• Song Que calmly manages Just Sky’s nerves and remains evasive about his possible connection to Bei Bei and Xu Sanshi’s improving control.
• Bei Bei and Xu Sanshi are growing more stable after their Martial Soul awakenings and are preparing to face Shrek.
• Ling Luochеn and Jiang Nannan show discomfort with the team’s situation; Jiang Nannan’s unresolved feelings remain prominent.
• Jing Hongchen’s challenge threatens to reopen the dispute just as Shrek’s explanation wins the crowd’s sympathy.

Significant themes

• Reputation and public judgment: Shrek’s prestige is tested by scandal, rumor, and its weakened performance.
• Duty and sacrifice: Mu Jin frames the students’ injuries and deaths as the cost of protecting the wider community.
• Rivalry and uncertainty: The upcoming Shrek–Just Sky match is charged by both Shrek’s vulnerability and the mystery surrounding Just Sky’s growing strength.

Summary

• Plot and events: The author announces that the book will be available on the 25th and expects to post an update that afternoon, after their editor uploads it. They also plan to publish new updates around midnight each day.
• Character development: No fictional characters or story developments appear; the post focuses on the author’s publishing plans.
• Themes: The message conveys anticipation, commitment to a regular posting schedule, and gratitude for readers’ support.
• Interactions: The author informs readers of the release and update schedule and thanks them for their encouragement.

Key plot points and events

• The Shrek team’s public account of its losses in the Mingdou Mountain Range initially draws sympathy. Star Luo Emperor Xu Jiawei knows more about the incident but avoids challenging Shrek directly.
• Jing Hongchen of the Sun Moon Empire’s Virtue Hall interrupts Mu Jin and disputes Shrek’s version. He says the mission involved only one Soul King-level Evil Soul Master, while Shrek sent several students and the powerful Xuan Zi—yet suffered heavy losses.
• Jing accuses Shrek of entering Star Luo territory without permission, using dangerous missions to send young students against powerful Evil Soul Masters while senior staff remain safe, and turning students’ sacrifices into institutional glory.
• Jing claims the public display is meant to distract from Xuan Zi’s abduction of a contestant two days earlier. The crowd’s sympathy for Shrek turns to suspicion and disgust; Mu Jin and the team are left speechless.
• Enraged, Xuan Zi attacks Jing Hongchen. Jing blocks him with Hongchen’s Protection. Xu Jiawei urges Xuan Zi to stop, warning that an attack will worsen matters and endanger bystanders. Du Busi joins in, mocking Xuan Zi for resorting to violence.

Character developments and interactions

• Jing Hongchen takes control of the public narrative, presenting himself as Shrek’s accuser and using pointed claims to undermine its moral authority.
• Mu Jin loses the crowd’s support and cannot refute Jing’s accusations.
• Xuan Zi shifts from hiding after the recent scandal to openly lashing out, reinforcing Jing’s portrayal of Shrek’s leadership as heavy-handed.
• Xu Jiawei remains cautious about confronting Shrek, but steps in to prevent violence.
• Du Busi needles Xuan Zi, escalating the public humiliation.
• The Shrek students stand silently, their lowered heads reflecting their helplessness as their academy’s reputation collapses.

Significant themes

• Reputation versus truth: Shrek’s carefully cultivated image is challenged in public.
• The cost of institutional glory: Jing argues that young students bear the risks while the academy claims the credit.
• Sovereignty and political power: Shrek’s intervention in Star Luo territory is framed as an infringement on the empire’s authority.
• Public opinion and accountability: Jing’s accusations rapidly reshape the crowd’s view, while Xuan Zi’s attempted violence threatens to worsen Shrek’s standing.

Chapter Summary

Key plot points and events

• Xuan Zi, still consumed by rage, attacks Jing Hongchen. Xuan’s overwhelming power is matched for a time by Jing’s advanced Soul Tools, but their battle devastates the arena and injures spectators and competitors.
• Star Luo Emperor Xu Jiawei orders the empire’s consecrators to intervene. Titled Douluos from several nations join them, surrounding Xuan and forcing him to stop.
• Faced with the damage and public outrage, Xuan regains his composure, withdraws his Soul Power, and apologizes.
• Mu En, the Dragon God Douluo, unexpectedly appears. He declares that Xuan and Shrek are responsible, explains that Xuan’s Martial Soul makes him vulnerable to rage, and acknowledges that Mu Jin’s earlier defense of Shrek was exaggerated and poorly handled.
• Mu En announces that Xuan’s Shrek duties and external authority are revoked, that he must return to the academy to reflect, and that Shrek will pay for all damages and medical expenses. Xu Jiawei accepts the apology and compensation, allowing the tournament to continue.

Character developments

• Xuan Zi shifts from uncontrolled aggression to remorse once confronted with the consequences of his actions and the united opposition of the other Titled Douluos.
• Jing Hongchen holds his ground through his Soul Tools despite being outmatched in Soul Power, though his defenses are badly damaged.
• Mu En takes responsibility on behalf of Shrek, balancing accountability for its members with a defense of the academy’s historic service.
• Xu Jiawei prioritizes public safety, then agrees to settle the crisis so the tournament can proceed.

Significant themes

• Accountability: Shrek does not excuse Xuan’s conduct and commits to punishment and restitution.
• Power and responsibility: A clash between elites can endanger ordinary people, making restraint essential.
• Reputation and nuance: Mu En argues that individual misconduct should not erase the academy’s past contributions, while insisting that its present failings must be corrected.
• Public authority and cooperation: Leaders from multiple nations unite to contain the danger.

Character interactions

• Xuan and Jing fight until the international gathering of Titled Douluos intervenes; Jing uses the opening to retreat.
• Xu Jiawei confronts Xuan and demands an explanation on behalf of the injured crowd.
• Mu En rebukes Xuan and sets out Shrek’s responsibility and disciplinary measures.
• Xu Jiawei accepts Mu En’s settlement, ending the confrontation and restoring the tournament schedule.

Chapter Summary: “After the Storm”

Key plot points and events

• Shrek Academy’s former students and allies react uneasily to Xuan Zi’s impulsive actions, fearing the resulting scandal will further damage Shrek’s reputation. Wang Dong is especially unsettled by Mu En, whose presence felt strangely familiar to her.
• With the tournament resuming, Mu Jin assigns Shrek’s remaining fighters: Dai Huabin and Zhu Lu for the opening match, Ling Luochеn and Du Fei for the next, and Ma Xiaotao, Jiang Nannan, and He Caitou for the final match. Dai and Zhu enter to widespread boos, but resolve to win.
• After the day’s matches, Mu En takes Xuan Zi back to Shrek headquarters. He reveals that he came to retrieve Xuan Zi because something is wrong with the Golden Tree, which must be dealt with urgently. He assures Xuan Zi that he has other matters in Star Luo City under control.
• Jing Hongchen celebrates the damage done to Shrek’s standing and sees the tournament as Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy’s chance to claim the championship. He also warns Xiao Hongchen that Evil Soul Master activity is increasing and that Long Xiaoyao has links to the Holy Spirit Cult.
• Vena helps Song Que and Huo Yuhao obtain a dangerous carving knife, which Song Que believes is particularly suited to Yuhao. She also mentions an upcoming top-tier auction; Song Que hints that its treasures would benefit Yuhao, though none of them can afford the bids.

Character developments and interactions

• Bei Bei is distressed about Shrek’s decline, while Tang Ya comforts him. Xu Sanshi bluntly criticizes Xuan Zi’s leadership; Song Que urges the former Shrek students not to dwell on the crisis.
• Wang Dong develops a puzzling sense of closeness toward Mu En, suggesting an unexplained connection.
• Mu Jin regains composure after witnessing Mu En’s arrival and takes responsibility for organizing Shrek’s remaining team.
• Dai Huabin is angered by the crowd’s hostility, while Zhu Lu steadies him and encourages him to focus on their match.
• Xuan Zi senses something unusual about Mu En but sets the suspicion aside to follow him.
• Jing Hongchen shifts from celebrating Shrek’s troubles to emphasizing the wider threat of Evil Soul Masters, while urging Xiao Hongchen to pursue the championship. Xiao briefly thinks of Huo Yuhao before agreeing.
• Song Que appears confident that Huo Yuhao can handle the carving knife, and uses a knowing look to test whether Vena might help fund the auction. Vena declines, saying her savings are nearly gone.

Significant themes

• Reputation and institutional decline: Shrek’s public scandal creates an opening for rivals to challenge its dominance.
• Urgency and hidden danger: The Golden Tree’s trouble and the spread of Evil Soul Masters point to threats beyond the tournament.
• Loyalty and responsibility: Shrek’s people continue competing despite the crisis, while Mu En prioritizes the academy’s deeper needs.
• Unexplained connections and emerging possibilities: Wang Dong’s reaction to Mu En and the potentially valuable knife and auction treasures hint at developments still to come.

Summary

Key plot points and events

• In the tournament’s third round, Shrek Academy faces Just Sky Academy in a two-two-three format. Just Sky has kept its strongest fighters largely out of sight, while Shrek relies on Ma Xiaotao and a small group of capable Soul Ancestors and Soul Kings.
• Before the match, Shrek’s coach Mu Jin worries that the absent academy leaders will not arrive. Ma Xiaotao remains confident, believing she can defeat Just Sky’s strongest fighter, Ye Wuqing.
• Just Sky sends Ye Wuqing and Yu Mengdi against Shrek’s Jiang Nannan and He Caitou in the opening doubles match. Ye and Yu coordinate attacks that overwhelm Shrek’s lower-level pair; both Shrek fighters are knocked out of the arena, giving Just Sky the first win.
• Mu Jin regards the loss as an acceptable sacrifice, expecting Shrek to win the next match and leave Ma Xiaotao to secure the deciding point.
• The second doubles match begins with Just Sky’s Song Que and Huo Yuhao facing Shrek’s Ling Luochеn and Du Fei. Du Fei taunts Song Que for leaving Shrek after failing to obtain the position he wanted. Song Que answers calmly and summons a blade, setting up their confrontation.

Character developments and interactions

• Ma Xiaotao is self-assured and dismissive of Just Sky’s reputation, convinced she can win a one-on-one match against Ye Wuqing.
• Mu Jin is more cautious, calculating the matchups and accepting the opening defeat as a strategic trade.
• Jiang Nannan and He Caitou fight together but are decisively outmatched by Ye Wuqing and Yu Mengdi’s coordinated attacks.
• Song Que stays composed in the face of Du Fei’s insults, suggesting confidence in his own ability and resolve after leaving Shrek.
• Du Fei openly resents Song Que’s departure and frames it as weakness; Ling Luochеn reacts to seeing Song Que but says nothing.
• Xu Sanshi briefly asks Just Sky’s fighters to go easy on Jiang Nannan, drawing Song Que’s irritation and teasing.

Significant themes

• Reputation versus reality: Shrek’s confidence and fame are challenged by Just Sky’s early, emphatic victory.
• Strategy and sacrifice: Shrek accepts a likely loss in the first match to conserve its strongest options for later.
• Belonging and personal worth: Du Fei’s taunts raise the question of whether Song Que’s talent depends on Shrek, a question the coming fight is poised to test.

Plot points and events

• Song Que reveals that he has become a Soul King, with a newly awakened blade that releases sweeping wind attacks. A sound attack from teammate Shangguan Can briefly distracts Shrek’s fighters, letting Song Que wound Du Fei and then knock him off the platform with a single explosive strike.
• Ling Luochен fights on alone, using ice defenses to withstand Song Que’s attacks. He escapes her Ice Prison with Flash Step, breaks through her shield with White Lightning, and holds a blade to her neck. She surrenders.
• Just Sky Academy defeats Shrek, ending Shrek’s long tournament winning streak. The crowd reacts with shock and jeers; both teams are stunned before Just Sky celebrates.
• Shrek’s defeat weighs heavily on the team, especially Ma Xiaotao, who is angry and sleepless as her dangerous “evil fire” grows more active.
• The next day, Shrek draws Changning Academy in a seven-on-seven match. Changning’s captain mocks Shrek’s weakened lineup and vows to eliminate them. Ma Xiaotao accepts the challenge and promises to avenge the previous day’s humiliation.

Character developments and interactions

• Song Que demonstrates a dramatic rise in strength and confidence, though he is briefly surprised by how easily Du Fei falls. His calm taunts toward Ling Luochен underline his control of the fight.
• Ling Luochен shows resilience and tactical awareness, but recognizes she cannot win alone and surrenders rather than continue.
• Ma Xiaotao begins to reconsider whether Song Que’s martial soul was truly mediocre, while her anger and humiliation threaten to intensify her evil fire. She shifts from silent frustration to determined vengeance.
• Mu Jin is devastated by the loss and fears Shrek’s honor has been ruined under his watch.
• Shangguan Can supports Song Que with a sound-based attack that creates the opening for Du Fei’s defeat.
• Changning’s captain provokes Ma Xiaotao and Shrek, setting up the next match as a personal confrontation.

Significant themes

• The fall of an untouchable institution: Shrek’s defeat marks the end of its apparent invincibility and challenges its reputation.
• Awakening potential and misjudgment: Song Que’s transformation suggests that talent can emerge after others have given up on someone.
• Humiliation and revenge: Public mockery deepens Shrek’s despair and fuels Ma Xiaotao’s resolve.
• Team strength and vulnerability: Shrek’s depleted lineup leaves Ling alone against Song Que, while the next seven-on-seven match tests whether Ma Xiaotao can compensate for the team’s losses.

Key plot points and events

• Song Que’s Soul Power unexpectedly evolves again. He credits Princess Vena’s sponsorship and says he may have gained a new ability, though his attempt to copy another person’s ability failed. He doubts he will need the new power during the tournament.
• Shrek faces Changning Academy with an uneven lineup: several students are weakened, leaving Ma Xiaotao as their main threat.
• Changning’s team rushes Ma Xiaotao, hoping to exploit Shrek’s apparent weakness. She unleashes her sixth soul skill, Phoenix Meteor Shower, and overwhelms the arena.
• Three Changning students are burned to death; the other four are badly injured and unable to continue. The crowd and officials are horrified.
• Ma Xiaotao’s evil fire continues to intensify, and she appears to lose control. Dean Yan Shaozhe arrives and suppresses it, then carries her from the arena.
• At the hotel, Yan tells Ling Luochеn that Ma Xiaotao may become an Evil Soul Master if the fire is not contained. Because Ling is the only person who can help, he pressures her to assist despite her injuries. He incapacitates her and places her beside the unconscious Ma Xiaotao so their opposing energies can suppress Ma’s fire.
• Meanwhile, Dai Yueheng and Dai Huabin emerge from another room, beginning a conversation that is cut off.

Character developments and interactions

• Song Que gains a new ability, though its function remains unclear; his confidence suggests he sees little immediate danger in the tournament.
• Ma Xiaotao’s anger over Shrek’s previous defeat and the crowd’s mockery erupts as devastating violence. Her loss of control reveals the continuing danger of her evil fire.
• Ling Luochеn is injured and reluctant, but Yan’s appeal to Shrek’s honor leaves her feeling unable to refuse. His decision to incapacitate her strips her of choice.
• Yan Shaozhe acts swiftly to protect Ma, but his handling of Ling is coercive, exposing the cost Shrek’s priorities impose on its students.
• Changning Academy’s confidence collapses when its team is overwhelmed in seconds; the Referee is left to answer for the deaths.

Significant themes

• Power and loss of control: Ma’s immense strength becomes catastrophic when her evil fire overwhelms her.
• Institutional duty versus individual consent: Yan prioritizes Shrek’s reputation and Ma’s survival, even at Ling’s expense.
• The consequences of arrogance and rivalry: Changning’s taunts and attack are answered by a lethal display that turns victory into a tragedy.

Chapter Summary — “The Auction”

Key plot points and events

• Dai Yueheng and Dai Huabin realize that Huo Yuhao is the person they have been discussing. They consider killing him in Star Luo City, but Yueheng cautions against acting before the tournament ends—unless they meet him in a match.
• Ma Xiaotao wakes after an evil-fire episode that Yan Shaozhe had managed to suppress. She remembers fragments of what happened and is mortified by intimate images involving Ling Luochen, though Ling is no longer in the room.
• Both Just Sky Academy and Shrek Academy progress easily through the group stage. Shrek finishes second with six wins and one loss, despite Ling Luochen’s injury; the team has grown stronger with Dai Yueheng, Xixi, and Ning Tian.
• The knockout draw gives Just Sky Academy a round-of-sixteen match against Konoha Academy. Ye Wuqing warns the team not to underestimate Shrek or the powerful Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy.
• Huo Yuhao tells Du Busi that he has reached level thirty. Du wants to take him immediately to obtain a third Soul Ring, but Song Que and Vena argue that it can wait until after the tournament.
• Song Que reveals two major auction items that could benefit Yuhao: a rare Ten-Thousand-Year Ice Jade Scorpion Left Arm Bone suited to his Ultimate Ice, and the sealed embryo of a Hundred-Thousand-Year ice-attribute Soul Beast. The embryo may provide a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Ring and Soul Bone, and perhaps even an additional martial soul.
• Du Busi and Vena are shocked by the embryo’s value. Though Du initially objects to Song Que’s suggestion of acquiring it without paying, he admits that it may be worth “borrowing.”

Character developments and interactions

• Dai Yueheng shows restraint and tactical caution, while Dai Huabin remains eager to harm Yuhao.
• Ma Xiaotao is shaken and embarrassed by her incomplete memories of the evil-fire incident, particularly what she recalls about Ling Luochen.
• Song Que takes the lead in planning for Yuhao’s growth, using insider knowledge to rally Vena and Du Busi around the auction.
• Huo Yuhao reaches a significant milestone by breaking through to level thirty, though his third Soul Ring is postponed.
• Vena is interested in the auction but wary because Song Que has already drawn on her resources.
• Du Busi shifts from skepticism to enthusiasm once he understands the embryo’s potential, revealing a humorous willingness to bend his principles for a sufficiently valuable prize.
• Ye Wuqing acts as a practical strategist, reminding his teammates that future opponents will be formidable.

Significant themes

• Rivalry and revenge: Dai Yueheng and Dai Huabin’s hostility toward Yuhao threatens to turn tournament competition into personal violence.
• Power, ambition, and risk: The auction’s rare treasures promise extraordinary strength but are likely to attract fierce competition.
• Teamwork and mentorship: Song Que, Vena, and Du Busi coordinate around Yuhao’s development, balancing opportunity against the timing and demands of the tournament.
• Restraint under pressure: Yueheng counsels patience, and Yuhao’s Soul Ring hunt is delayed—contrasting with the temptation to seize immediate advantage.

Key plot points and events

• Song Que and Vena conclude that the Star Luo Royal Family likely put the 100,000-Year Soul Beast Embryo up for auction to draw out the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy. Xiao and Meng Hongchen, backed by wealthy Virtue Hall, are expected to bid aggressively.
• Du Busi says the Body Sect could obtain the treasure by force, but if the sect takes it, it would belong to the sect—not Huo Yuhao personally. He offers to make Yuhao the Body Sect’s young sect master and successor, giving him a claim to it.
• Yuhao agrees to repay the Body Sect and serve it in the future, but says he and Song Que still have personal matters to pursue first. Du Busi accepts this and praises Yuhao’s exceptional potential.
• Du Busi agrees to pay for the Ice Jade Scorpion Soul Bone. A teasing exchange about Song Que and Vena’s possible marriage briefly lightens the discussion.
• Du Busi initially proposes taking the embryo immediately, then jokingly calls the plan “borrowing” it. Song Que and Vena warn that acting in Star Luo territory could provoke the royal family. They settle on waiting until the tournament ends and the Sun Moon team departs, then assembling enough reinforcements to seize the embryo in one attempt. Du Busi plans to summon Jinpeng and others.
• At Shrek Academy, Mu En brings Xuan Zi deep into the Golden Ancient Tree. Xuan Zi spots a blue mark resembling a trident, hinting at a mysterious development.

Character developments and interactions

• Huo Yuhao shows gratitude and loyalty toward the Body Sect while maintaining his independence and commitment to his own plans with Song Que.
• Du Busi reveals that he has been looking for an heir and sees Yuhao as someone who could surpass even the sect’s greatest figures. He is willing to support Yuhao, but is also impulsive about acquiring the embryo.
• Song Que acts as the cautious strategist, steering the group away from an immediate raid and toward a planned operation. He and Du Busi also exchange playful banter.
• Vena identifies the auction’s likely motive and urges caution about provoking the Star Luo Royal Family. Her embarrassment at Du Busi’s matchmaking jokes adds a lighter note.
• Xuan Zi and Mu En shift the chapter toward a new mystery at Shrek, as the trident-like mark is discovered.

Significant themes

• Ambition and succession: Yuhao’s potential makes him a possible future leader of the Body Sect.
• Loyalty balanced with independence: Yuhao promises to support the sect without surrendering his current goals.
• Power, wealth, and strategy: The competing resources of the Body Sect and Virtue Hall shape the plan for the embryo.
• Caution versus boldness: Du Busi favors force, while Song Que and Vena stress timing and the risks of political consequences.
• Unfolding mystery: The trident mark on the Golden Ancient Tree signals a separate, unexplained thread.

Key plot points and events

• Tang San discovers that the Golden Ancient Tree has unexpectedly produced a Tree Spirit. A safeguard he left inside the tree prevents the situation from becoming dangerous.
• Unable to use the dying Mu En as a suitable host, Tang San sends a fragment of his spirit into Xuan Zi through the tree’s Trident mark. Xuan Zi awakens with new awareness and realizes his martial soul still has a flaw.
• At the Starlight Auction, Song Que watches a rank-eight Overlord Tiger Soul-Refining Blade go on sale. He expects Dai Yueheng to buy it and plans to have the Hōgyoku consume it during their future fight.
• Du Busi bids on the Ice Jade Scorpion Soul Bone for Huo Yuhao. Shrek also competes, but Song Que and Du Busi reject the idea of seeking a favor from the Star Luo Royal Family and raise their bid to twenty million.
• Ma Xiaotao eventually withdraws. The chapter ends as the auctioneer announces the final lot.

Character developments and interactions

• Tang San acts pragmatically, choosing Xuan Zi as a temporary vessel and accepting the limitations of the situation.
• Xuan Zi becomes host to Tang San’s spiritual fragment and immediately recognizes a problem with his martial soul.
• Song Que shows confidence and calculation, viewing the blade auction as an opportunity to undermine the Dai family. He also teases Vena, who offers to buy the blade for him; Long Aotian watches them with a hint of jealousy or regret.
• Huo Yuhao is distracted by a private exchange with the Ice Empress and worries that the soul bone may be useless to anyone without an Ultimate Ice martial soul.
• Du Busi supports Huo Yuhao and insists the Body Sect need not rely on royal favors.
• Ma Xiaotao bids on Shrek’s behalf but withdraws after Yan Shaozhe tells her the academy has its own plans and expects her to make sacrifices for it.

Significant themes

• Power and responsibility: Tang San’s intervention reflects the need to manage dangers before they grow.
• Ambition and strategy: Song Que treats the auction as part of a larger plan, while Shrek’s bidding hints at hidden institutional motives.
• Favors and independence: Song Que and Du Busi avoid becoming indebted to the Star Luo Royal Family.
• Personal loyalty versus institutional interest: Ma Xiaotao’s concern about owing someone a favor contrasts with Yan Shaozhe’s expectation that she prioritize the academy’s plans.

Plot points and events

• Song Que and Huo Yuhao secure the Ice Jade Scorpion Left Arm Bone at the auction. Huo Yuhao receives it as an apprenticeship gift from Du Busi, along with twenty million Gold Soul Coins.
• The Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy wins the Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast Embryo. Song Que privately hopes to reclaim it for Just Sky Academy and use it to help Huo Yuhao form a soul spirit.
• In the tournament, Shrek, Just Sky, and Sun Moon advance to the semifinals without facing one another or suffering upsets. Star Luo Royal Academy claims the final spot.
• The semifinal draw pairs Just Sky Academy with Sun Moon Academy. Their match is moved ahead of Shrek’s scheduled match against the hosts.
• Just Sky sets its opening team-battle lineup, including Tang Ya, who has just revealed her evolved Blue Silver King martial soul.

Character developments

• Song Que shows concern for Huo Yuhao’s future and hopes the Snow Empress can become his soul spirit. He remains composed when Just Sky draws Sun Moon, treating the difficult match as inevitable.
• Tang Ya’s martial soul has successfully evolved, and the process has raised her soul power to rank forty-five. She volunteers to fight and credits Song Que’s earlier advice for her progress.
• Bei Bei supports Tang Ya and says he does not mind whether she eventually surpasses him.
• Xiao Hongchen confidently expects Sun Moon to defeat Shrek in the final, while Jing Hongchen encourages his confidence. Elder Ma, however, cautions the team not to underestimate Just Sky.

Character interactions

• Du Busi dismisses Song Que’s thanks for the money and presents Huo Yuhao with the arm bone as a proper gift from his master.
• Song Que explains that his advice to Tang Ya was only a guess, and that he had warned her against reckless experimentation.
• Xu Sanshi jokes that Tang Ya may overtake Bei Bei; Bei Bei brushes him off, responding warmly to Tang Ya.
• Song Que assigns the starting lineup: himself, Ye Wuqing, Yu Mengdi, Tang Xiaolei, Tang Ya, Bei Bei, and Xu Sanshi. Individual-match selections are left open.

Significant themes

• Mentorship and loyalty: Du Busi’s gift and Song Que’s support for Huo Yuhao and Tang Ya show a strong sense of responsibility toward their students and companions.
• Growth through risk and experimentation: Tang Ya’s evolution rewards a bold, uncertain approach—but Song Que’s warning highlights the dangers of pursuing power recklessly.
• Confidence versus caution: Sun Moon’s leaders express faith in their victory, while Elder Ma stresses preparation and respect for a formidable opponent.

Plot and major events

• The semifinal team battle begins between Just Sky Academy and the Sun Moon Team. Before the match, Xiao Hongchen provokes Song Que, while his sister Meng Hongchen apologizes and introduces herself. Xiao becomes jealous when she shows Song Que attention and drags her away.
• Shrek’s spectators, including the recently returned Ling Luochен, watch from the stands. Yan Shaozhe expects the Sun Moon Team to reveal its full strength; Dai Yueheng considers it the stronger team overall.
• The Sun Moon Team opens with its signature tactic: a massive barrage from dozens of advanced Soul Tool cannons. Song Que and Ye Wuqing combine pink cherry-blossom petals and golden leaves into a barrier that blocks the attack, startling the spectators—especially because Song Que’s sword appears to have changed.
• As the Sun Moon Team prepares another volley, Xu Sanshi uses his concealed Dark Nether Swap to trade places with Xiao Hongchen, suddenly placing Xiao amid Just Sky Academy’s fighters.
• Xiao survives their initial attacks with defensive Soul Tools, then prepares a powerful counterattack using a golden leg and an arsenal of metal cannons. Song Que stops him by trapping his neck with petals while blue-silver vines bind his body.

Character developments and interactions

• Song Que remains composed, coordinates with Xu Sanshi, and demonstrates an unfamiliar version of his power. His final warning to Xiao suggests he has the advantage but is willing to give him a chance to yield.
• Xu Sanshi reveals that he has kept Dark Nether Swap secret until the tournament, acting on Song Que’s request. Their silent coordination shows their trust and teamwork.
• Xiao Hongchen is boastful and easily provoked, but quick to retaliate when cornered. His jealousy over Meng Hongchen’s interest in Song Que reveals his insecurity and possessiveness.
• Meng Hongchen is friendly and apologetic toward Song Que, and openly criticizes her brother’s behavior. Her warmth toward Song Que fuels Xiao’s resentment.
• Ye Wuqing contributes to the team’s defense, combining his golden-leaf attack with Song Que’s petals.
• Ma Xiaotao repeatedly looks toward Ling Luochен, suggesting unresolved feelings or concern. Yan Shaozhe, meanwhile, is puzzled by Song Que’s apparent transformation.

Significant themes

• Hidden abilities and surprise tactics: Xu Sanshi’s concealed skill and Song Que’s changed sword powers overturn expectations.
• Teamwork versus individual bravado: Just Sky Academy’s coordinated defense and trap counter the Sun Moon Team’s overwhelming firepower, while Xiao’s confidence leaves him vulnerable.
• Power and control: The battle shifts rapidly from a sweeping ranged assault to Xiao being isolated and restrained before he can unleash his full arsenal.

Key plot points and events

• Xu Sanshi uses Dark Nether Swap to disrupt the Sun Moon Team’s formation, then slows them with Dark Nether Shock. He later swaps Song Que into their midst, where Song Que escapes under cover of red smoke and wounds Chen Fei.
• Song Que’s cherry-blossom petals sabotage the Sun Moon Team’s cannons, causing them to explode and destroying the team’s ability to coordinate its firepower.
• Just Sky Academy’s other fighters bind the remaining opponents with unusually powerful Blue Silver King vines. Bei Bei finishes Mi Jia with a Thunder Dragon attack.
• Xu Sanshi swaps Ma Rulong away from the battle, leaving him unable to aid his teammates. With the Sun Moon Team overwhelmed and risking further injuries, Jing Hongchen orders a concession.

Just Sky Academy wins the Team Battle.

Character developments and interactions

• Xu Sanshi proves to be the decisive strategist, repeatedly using Dark Nether Swap to isolate and disorient the Sun Moon fighters. His playful taunt toward Ma Rulong contrasts with the seriousness of his tactics.
• Song Que demonstrates an elusive, unconventional fighting style that unsettles the opposing team and helps dismantle its weapons.
• Tang Ya reveals that her Blue Silver Grass has become much thicker, tougher, and more effective at restraining enemies. Jiang Nannan draws attention to this change.
• Xiao Hongchen is bitter and furious at Xu Sanshi, while Jing Hongchen recognizes that the team lost because it lacked information and was outmaneuvered.
• Shrek’s observers acknowledge Xu Sanshi’s tactical value but, with Yan Shaozhe leading the discussion, caution that his surprise-based skill will be less effective now that rivals have seen it. Ma Xiaotao dismisses Tang Ya’s vines as a threat to her Phoenix Flame but is more impressed by Song Que.

Significant themes

• Information and adaptation: The Sun Moon Team’s lack of knowledge about Xu Sanshi and Song Que leaves it vulnerable; once their abilities are known, opponents may adjust.
• Coordination versus disruption: Just Sky wins by breaking the Sun Moon Team’s formation and preventing it from using its superior Soul Tool firepower.
• Choosing one’s own path: Shrek’s leaders accept that Xu Sanshi left the school, even as they recognize what the academy lost.
• Unexpected growth: Tang Ya’s transformed Blue Silver Grass signals that familiar abilities can develop into something far more formidable.

Plot points and events

• Ma Xiaotao and Yan Shaozhe discuss Song Que’s transformed Martial Soul. They suspect his blade has more than two attributes and note he held back during the previous match, though his relatively low Soul Power remains a weakness.
• Two members of a hostile family watch Song Que and his cousin. They regard the young men’s talent as a threat, mention the failed attempt on Song Que, and plan further assassination despite his protection by the Body Sect.
• Shrek overwhelms Star Luo Royal Academy in the team match. Dai Yueheng’s White Tiger Meteor Shower and Ma Xiaotao’s Phoenix Meteor Shower devastate the opposing formation, forcing every Star Luo fighter out of the fight.
• Before the semifinal individual matches, Sun Moon Academy is determined to recover from its team-battle defeat. Xu Sanshi taunts Xiao Hongchen, while Song Que sets Just Sky Academy’s match order.
• Song Que is surprised when Meng Hongchen, rather than Xiao Hongchen, enters first. He reveals that he knows about her dangerous Ice-Fire Poison Dragon Drill. Once the match begins, he turns away and says he will not hold back.

Character developments and interactions

• Ma Xiaotao remains confident that her higher level and strength give her an edge over Song Que, even as she and Yan Shaozhe acknowledge his growing abilities.
• The hostile woman’s curiosity and resentment toward Song Que sharpen into a determination to eliminate him; her male relative supports the plan.
• Shrek’s dominant victory reinforces the power of Ma Xiaotao and Dai Yueheng as Soul Emperors.
• Xiao Hongchen is still angry after the previous loss, while Xu Sanshi needles him and Song Que calmly organizes his team.
• Meng Hongchen’s playful confidence falters when Song Que names her secret technique, leaving her startled and uncertain. Song Que treats her as a serious threat and signals that he intends to fight without restraint.

Significant themes

• Hidden strength and concealed abilities: Song Que’s new powers, Meng Hongchen’s secret technique, and both sides’ strategic choices suggest that appearances reveal only part of a fighter’s capabilities.
• Talent as both promise and danger: Song Que’s gifts draw admiration from allies but also make him a target.
• Confidence versus caution: Shrek’s overwhelming strength contrasts with Song Que’s wary respect for Meng Hongchen’s venomous abilities.

Chapter Summary

Plot points and events

• Song Que surprises Meng Hongchen with “Shoot him dead, Shinsō!”, piercing her shoulder and knocking her off the arena. He wins the match, having deliberately avoided a fatal injury.
• Meng accepts the loss, acknowledging Song Que’s strength and that he held back. Jing Hongchen treats her and warns Xiao Hongchen that Song Que is stronger than expected.
• Xiao challenges Song Que, but Song immediately unleashes Senbonzakura. Its petal-like blades overwhelm Xiao’s defenses, cutting through metal fragments and forcing him backward.
• Xiao counters with Metal Frenzy, firing a large barrage of Soul Tool weapons. Song evades effortlessly, then attacks from behind and wounds Xiao’s shoulder.
• Unable to track Song, Xiao fires wildly as the petals continue cutting him. When Song nearly strikes his face, Xiao escapes with a Teleportation Ring. Song notices the ring and expresses interest in Xiao’s equipment.
• The scene shifts to Sea God Lake in Shrek City, where Long Xiaoyao, the Dark Sacred Dragon, arrives. Mu En confronts him and remarks that he came too late to be a suitable choice. Long, unsettled by Mu En’s presence, asks who he really is.

Character developments and interactions

• Meng Hongchen moves from disbelief at her sudden defeat to calm acceptance, recognizing both Song’s skill and restraint.
• Xiao Hongchen begins the fight with confidence but becomes increasingly panicked and frustrated as Song’s speed and attacks defeat his usual reliance on weapons and technology. His quick use of the Teleportation Ring shows his ability to react under pressure.
• Song Que demonstrates overwhelming control of the fight, using unfamiliar blade abilities and mobility to dismantle both siblings’ defenses. He remains composed and apologizes to Meng after winning.
• Jing Hongchen responds pragmatically, tending to Meng and urging Xiao to fight seriously.
• Mu En and Long Xiaoyao meet in a tense, mysterious exchange: Mu En seems to know Long’s identity and purpose, while Long is struck by Mu En’s appearance and power.

Significant themes

• Preparation versus adaptability: Xiao’s weapons and defenses prove ineffective against Song’s unconventional abilities.
• Restraint amid competition: Song wins decisively but avoids inflicting a serious injury on Meng.
• Hidden identities and mysteries: The chapter closes by questioning who Mu En truly is and why Long Xiaoyao sought him out.