Chapter Summaries

Key plot points and events

• Qin Yun, a former chemistry student from Blue Star, possesses the rare Periodic Table of Elements martial soul and was born with Innate Full Soul Power. After Flender brought him to Shrek Academy, he spent eight years developing his abilities largely through his own chemistry knowledge.
• Qin Yun has just advanced from the peak of Soul Elder to rank 40 Soul Ancestor.
• Ma Hongjun, confident in his Evil Fire Phoenix martial soul, once challenged and mocked Qin Yun. Qin Yun easily smothered his flames with a nitrogen barrier, then used a carefully prepared chemical mist to disrupt Ma Hongjun’s Soul Power and leave him numb.
• In the present, Ma Hongjun begs Qin Yun to undo the poison. Flender arrives, confirms that Ma Hongjun is not seriously injured, and assigns Qin Yun to conduct the final examination for the academy’s student recruitment the next day.
• Qin Yun expects Tang San and the others to arrive for the recruitment.

Character developments

• Qin Yun is a calm, methodical, self-reliant fighter whose unusual martial soul lets him apply chemistry creatively. His recent breakthrough marks a major increase in strength.
• Ma Hongjun has been humbled by Qin Yun’s decisive defeat. Though he still complains, he obeys Qin Yun and pleads for relief.
• Flender trusts Qin Yun’s judgment and ability. Despite his limitations as a teacher, he has supported Qin Yun and now gives him responsibility for the final admissions test.

Significant themes

• Knowledge as power: Qin Yun turns scientific understanding into practical combat techniques.
• Humility and arrogance: Ma Hongjun’s confidence in his powerful martial soul cannot protect him from Qin Yun’s ingenuity.
• Self-reliance: With no established guidance for his strange martial soul, Qin Yun has had to develop it independently.
• Strength tempered by control: Qin Yun defeats Ma Hongjun without causing serious injury, using the encounter both as discipline and as a test of his new toxins.

Character interactions

• Qin Yun’s precise, controlled methods contrast with Ma Hongjun’s flamboyance and loose talk. Their earlier rivalry culminates in Ma Hongjun’s public defeat and present-day plea for an antidote.
• Flender treats Qin Yun with confidence rather than suspicion or anger, recognizing his measured nature and assigning him an important role in the upcoming recruitment.

Key events

• Qin Yun ends Ma Hongjun’s lingering discomfort by channeling Soul Power into him. Ma admits defeat, thanks him, and runs off, promising not to challenge him again.
• The next morning, Dai Mubai brings Tang San, Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, and Ning Rongrong to Shrek Academy’s final admissions test.
• Qin Yun sets a demanding condition: the four must last one incense stick against him, and they pass if anyone touches his clothes. He warns that he will not pursue them.
• The applicants initially underestimate Qin Yun, but his three purple thousand-year Soul Rings shock them—especially Tang San, whose teacher had claimed such rings were impossible in the first two positions.
• Tang San quickly organizes the group: Xiao Wu will distract Qin Yun, Zhu Zhuqing will seek an opening, Ning Rongrong will provide support, and Tang San will watch for poison. Unnoticed by them, Qin Yun begins spreading colorless, odorless carbon monoxide over the training ground.

Character developments and interactions

• Qin Yun remains composed and confident, letting the applicants react to his strength while quietly preparing his tactic.
• Ma Hongjun shifts from theatrical suffering to gratitude and hurried retreat after Qin Yun ends the poison’s effects.
• Tang San moves from confidence in his own poison expertise to intense uncertainty when confronted with Qin Yun’s unprecedented Soul Rings. He responds by taking charge and devising a coordinated plan.
• Xiao Wu begins playfully dismissive, then is stunned by Qin Yun’s rings; she nonetheless trusts Tang San’s skill against poison.
• Ning Rongrong drops her initial skepticism and becomes more serious.
• Zhu Zhuqing stays restrained and alert, focusing on Qin Yun as a potential opponent.
• Dai Mubai reinforces Qin Yun’s reputation, warning that Qin could defeat him in one exchange and advising the applicants to beware of poison.

Significant themes

• Pride versus demonstrated strength: The applicants’ confidence collapses when Qin Yun reveals his power.
• Knowledge challenged by the unknown: Tang San’s accepted rules about Soul Rings are unsettled by what he sees.
• Teamwork and preparation: Tang San responds to a stronger opponent by assigning complementary roles rather than relying on a direct fight.
• Hidden danger: Qin Yun’s calm manner conceals a threat the group does not yet recognize.

Key plot points and events

• Tang San, Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, and Ning Rongrong launch a coordinated opening attack on Qin Yun: Tang San’s Blue Silver Grass restricts movement, Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing strike from opposite sides, and Ning Rongrong boosts their strength and speed.
• Qin Yun stops Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing with two precisely placed air explosions, then ignites Tang San’s vines by coating them with White Phosphorus. The first assault is neutralized without Qin Yun moving from his spot.
• The attackers try again. Zhu Zhuqing uses a shifting, hard-to-predict approach while Xiao Wu attacks from above. Qin Yun forms a large Diamond shield from carbon in the air, which withstands both attacks and injures Zhu Zhuqing’s claws.
• Tang San hangs back, studying Qin Yun’s unfamiliar techniques.
• The group then becomes dizzy and unsteady. Qin Yun’s concealed Carbon Monoxide is taking effect, and they suspect they may have been poisoned.

Character developments and interactions

• Qin Yun displays calm confidence and extraordinary control, using chemistry and material manipulation to counter the team’s attacks. His methods are so unfamiliar that his opponents cannot identify how he is fighting.
• Xiao Wu begins with carefree confidence, but repeated setbacks leave her frustrated and more cautious.
• Zhu Zhuqing shows persistence and tactical adaptability, changing her approach after the first attack fails, though the Diamond shield leaves her claws damaged.
• Tang San shifts from attacking to observing, prioritizing understanding Qin Yun’s abilities.
• Ning Rongrong supports the team with her enhancement powers and reacts with alarm as Qin Yun’s creations defy expectation.
• The team initially works in close coordination, but Qin Yun’s counters disrupt their rhythm and leave all four increasingly vulnerable.

Significant themes

• Scientific knowledge as power: Qin Yun turns principles of combustion, gas concentration, and carbon crystallization into effective combat techniques.
• Intellect versus convention: The others rely on familiar Martial Soul abilities, while Qin Yun’s unconventional methods are difficult to anticipate or counter.
• The limits of brute force: Speed, strength, and teamwork prove insufficient when the opponent can control the battlefield and exploit unseen dangers.

Plot points

• Tang San suspects the weakened competitors have been poisoned, but finds no obvious toxin in Xiao Wu’s meridians. Her symptoms resemble “Carbon Poison”: breathing difficulty without visible damage, which he cannot explain.
• With Xiao Wu deteriorating, Tang San attacks Qin Yun using a hidden sleeve crossbow. Qin Yun blocks the bolts with a Diamond Shield, then uses two precisely placed explosions to interrupt Tang San’s evasive movement.
• Tang San presses the attack with Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track and a succession of Hidden Weapons. Qin Yun reveals a magnetic mineral sphere that draws in the iron weapons, rendering them useless.
• Tang San then deploys three Plate Crystal Gold Dragon Whisker Needles, which cannot be stopped magnetically. Qin Yun redirects them with a stream of argon, sending them back at Tang San. Two narrowly miss; the third enters his arm and coils painfully around his muscle.

Character developments and interactions

• Tang San shows ingenuity, composure, and protectiveness toward Xiao Wu, but his usual reliance on Hidden Weapons is repeatedly countered. His surprise at Qin Yun’s unfamiliar methods exposes how little he understands his opponent.
• Qin Yun demonstrates formidable control over the battlefield, combining a shield, timed explosions, magnetism, and manipulation of the air to defeat different kinds of attacks.
• Xiao Wu is too weakened to fight and depends on Tang San, whose concern for her drives his anger and aggression.
• Ning Rongrong gives Tang San a final boost as he attacks. Dai Mubai realizes Tang San had held back in their earlier clash, while Zhao Wuji watches in surprise at Tang San’s arsenal.

Themes

• Ingenuity versus adaptability: Tang San’s specialized weapons meet Qin Yun’s ability to invent counters on the spot.
• Knowledge and uncertainty: Tang San’s expertise cannot identify the apparent poison or explain Qin Yun’s powers.
• Protection and cost: Tang San fights to protect Xiao Wu, but Qin Yun turns his own weapons against him.

Plot and events

• Tang San struggles to remove Qin Yun’s Dragon Whisker Needle from his left arm. Carbon monoxide poisoning causes dizziness and nearly makes him lose control, but he forces the needle out before it can permanently damage his meridians.
• Flender ends the trial: Tang San, Xiao Wu, Ning Rongrong, and Zhu Zhuqing have all lasted the required incense-stick interval against Qin Yun, so they pass.
• Flender introduces himself as dean and Qin Yun as a senior student, warning the newcomers that their talents do not make them peerless while someone stronger—like Qin Yun—exists.
• At Flender’s request, Qin Yun clears the carbon monoxide from each student. Tang San’s injuries remain severe, and Qin Yun privately recognizes that Tang Hao may be watching, so he avoids going further against Tang San.
• Ning Rongrong asks about Qin Yun’s unusual attacks, Martial Soul, and three thousand-year Soul Rings. Qin Yun reveals his Martial Soul, the Periodic Table of Elements, and explains that unlocking elements lets him form Soul Rings without hunting soul beasts; as he grows stronger, his rings increase in age.
• Ning Rongrong presses him for an explanation of his combat techniques, while the others listen or watch with interest.

Character developments and interactions

• Tang San shows grit and determination under extreme pain, but the defeat leaves him resentful toward Qin Yun and aware of the gap in their strength.
• Qin Yun demonstrates both overwhelming power and precise control, treating the injured students afterward. His caution around Tang San suggests he is mindful of Tang Hao’s possible presence.
• Ning Rongrong shifts quickly from exhausted newcomer to openly curious admirer, questioning Qin Yun with her characteristic boldness and showing a friendly, possibly flirtatious interest.
• Zhu Zhuqing remains reserved but watches Qin Yun with keen curiosity.
• Xiao Wu reacts with jealousy or defensiveness when Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing focus on Qin Yun, and encourages Tang San to surpass him.
• Flender establishes the academy’s demanding standards while acknowledging the newcomers’ talent.

Significant themes

• Strength and humility: Talent matters, but there is always someone stronger.
• Endurance and resilience: The students pass through persistence, while Tang San’s refusal to give in is especially tested.
• Unusual power and innovation: Qin Yun’s elemental Martial Soul offers a radically different approach to combat and Soul Ring formation.
• Admiration and rivalry: Qin Yun’s strength draws curiosity and attraction, but also resentment and a desire to challenge him.

Key plot points and events

• Flender assigns dormitories. Dai Mubai escorts the injured Tang San back, while Qin Yun shows Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing to their room.
• Alone afterward, Qin Yun prepares and hides hydrogen cyanide, intending it as an emergency means of escape if Tang Hao attacks him.
• Tang Hao watches the academy but chooses not to retaliate against Qin Yun for defeating and injuring Tang San. He reasons that an attack would be dishonorable and could complicate Tang San’s training under Flender.
• Tang Hao visits Flender privately, then leaves the academy. Flender and Zhao Wuji learn that Tang San is Tang Hao’s son and acknowledge Tang Hao’s departure.
• Flender visits Qin Yun late at night and warns him to avoid further conflict with Tang San. Qin Yun understands the danger and agrees to be careful.

Character developments and interactions

• Qin Yun remains composed after his fight with Tang San, but his preparations reveal that he takes Tang Hao’s threat seriously. He accepts Flender’s warning without challenging it.
• Tang Hao restrains his anger and prioritizes Tang San’s future over revenge. He believes Tang San will eventually surpass Qin Yun through the Clear Sky Hammer.
• Dai Mubai watches Zhu Zhuqing, apparently wanting to speak to her, but she is focused on Qin Yun and does not notice him. Dai Mubai is left with an unfamiliar, unsettled feeling.
• Xiao Wu supports Tang San and shows her displeasure toward Qin Yun, who ignores her gesture.
• Flender acts protectively toward Qin Yun, warning him that Tang San’s family connection makes further clashes dangerous.

Significant themes

• Restraint and honor: Tang Hao chooses not to use overwhelming power against a younger opponent, despite his anger.
• Power and vulnerability: Qin Yun knows he cannot defeat Tang Hao directly, so he relies on preparation and an unconventional weapon to create a chance to escape.
• Rivalry and future growth: Tang Hao frames Qin Yun as a rival who will motivate Tang San to improve.
• Unspoken emotions and divided attention: Dai Mubai’s unexpressed interest in Zhu Zhuqing contrasts with her attention to Qin Yun.

Plot points and events

• Qin Yun tells Dean Flender that he has reached Level 40 and is ready for his fourth Soul Ring. He needs ores containing the rare elements gallium and germanium to activate it.
• Flender suggests Metal City, home of the Blacksmith Association and a major center for rare ores, and takes Qin Yun there the next morning.
• Qin Yun finds common elements in local smithies, but two hours of searching turn up none of the rare metals.
• At the Association’s headquarters, Qin Yun senses gallium and germanium in a specimen of sphalerite. Flender bargains with the seller and buys it for less than the asking price.
• Confident that the trip was worthwhile, Qin Yun leaves with Flender, who urges him to hurry back.

Character developments and interactions

• Qin Yun is methodical and confident, using his Soul Power to locate and collect elemental traces. He takes the initiative to suggest searching the Association’s headquarters when ordinary shops prove fruitless.
• Flender shows both practical resourcefulness and affection for Qin Yun. Though he complains about the ore’s price and jokes that he will demand repayment if the Soul Ring is weak, he willingly spends the money to support him.
• Qin Yun and Flender work together throughout the search: Qin Yun identifies what he needs, while Flender uses his knowledge and bargaining skills to secure it.

Significant themes

• Mentorship and generosity: Flender’s willingness to help Qin Yun reflects the care beneath his money-conscious grumbling.
• Persistence and ingenuity: Qin Yun adapts his search when common sources fail, ultimately finding the needed elements in a specialized collection.
• Knowledge applied in unfamiliar ways: Qin Yun’s unusual elemental method makes the city’s ores valuable for a purpose beyond ordinary smithing.

Key plot points and events

• Qin Yun asks Flender to find Whale Rubber, a little-known substance that can strengthen the body and increase its ability to withstand Soul Rings. Flender takes him to a seaside town, where they buy a lump taken from a ten-thousand-year-old whale.
• After spending the night in town, Qin Yun consumes the Whale Rubber, then uses Sphalerite to complete the Fourth Period on his Elemental Chart martial soul.
• The new elemental energy surges through his body and forms his fourth Soul Ring. Thanks to his strength, earlier rings, and the Whale Rubber, the ring reaches the ten-thousand-year level. The energy then transforms his first three rings as well: all four become black, ten-thousand-year Soul Rings.
• Flender is stunned by the result and proudly calls Qin Yun his “monster.”
• The next day, they return to Shrek Academy. Flender meets Yu Xiaogang, who has come to see his disciple Tang San. Flender introduces Qin Yun as a genius, but Yu Xiaogang barely acknowledges him, focused instead on Tang San.

Character developments and interactions

• Qin Yun demonstrates resourcefulness and confidence, combining Whale Rubber with his unusual martial soul to achieve a rare breakthrough.
• Flender supports Qin Yun’s plans despite his concern over costs, then shifts from wary cooperation to open amazement and pride.
• Yu Xiaogang appears reserved and dismissive toward Qin Yun, revealing that his attention and confidence remain centered on Tang San.
• Qin Yun and Flender work closely together: Flender helps secure the materials and guards Qin Yun while he undergoes the risky breakthrough.

Significant themes

• Ingenuity and experimentation: Qin Yun finds a use for Whale Rubber that conventional Soul Masters have overlooked.
• Ambition and exceptional growth: His breakthrough surpasses normal expectations, transforming all four rings into ten-thousand-year rings.
• Recognition and rivalry: Flender sees Qin Yun’s extraordinary potential, while Yu Xiaogang’s preference for Tang San hints at competing judgments of talent.

Key plot points and events

• After breaking through to obtain his fourth soul ring, Qin Yun spends the afternoon stabilizing his Soul Power. He discovers that his four black soul rings have greatly improved his control over the elements, allowing him to sense and subtly manipulate molecules in the air.
• Tang San returns from the Star Dou Great Forest and recounts how he killed a Man Faced Demon Spider, absorbed its thousand-year soul ring, gained the soul skill Spiderweb Binding, and developed extra spider legs.
• Tang San asks Yu Xiaogang about Qin Yun’s unusually powerful soul rings, explaining that Qin’s first three are all thousand-year rings.
• Still resentful over his previous defeat, Tang San believes his new abilities can help him win and announces that he will challenge Qin Yun again.
• The next morning, Tang San issues the challenge on the training field. Flender permits the match, cautioning Qin Yun not to hurt Tang San too badly.

Character developments

• Qin Yun grows more confident in his abilities as he recognizes how much deeper and more precise his elemental control has become. His independent, self-directed approach to training is also emphasized.
• Tang San returns stronger and proud of his progress, but his confidence is mixed with lingering anger over his earlier loss to Qin Yun. He is eager to prove himself.
• Yu Xiaogang is delighted by Tang San’s successful soul-ring choice and intrigued by Qin Yun’s extraordinary rings.
• Flender continues to trust Qin Yun’s judgment and gives him freedom, while keeping a watchful, protective eye on the coming match.

Character interactions and themes

• Tang San’s close bond with Yu Xiaogang is evident in his warm, detailed account of the journey and his desire for his teacher’s approval.
• The students react differently to the challenge: Xiao Wu cheers Tang San on, Ma Hongjun doubts he can win, and Dai Mubai leaves open the possibility.
• The chapter contrasts confidence earned through growth with pride and rivalry: Tang San’s new strength fuels his determination, while Qin Yun’s quiet composure sets the stage for another test between them.
• Other prominent themes include independent training, the value of practical combat, and the limits of established expectations about Soul Master development.

Key plot points and events

• Flender is confident Qin Yun will defeat Tang San, who has challenged him after returning stronger from the Star Dou Great Forest.
• Tang San opens with improved Blue Silver Grass and uses Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track to evade Qin Yun’s paired explosions.
• Qin Yun counters with a new chemical attack: arsine. When it meets the grass, it ignites in intense white flames, producing toxic smoke and a chain of explosions.
• Tang San is forced to retreat. One blast scorches his sleeve, while Qin Yun remains untouched.
• As the duel continues, Tang San decides he cannot win by defending. He draws a modified black crossbow and fires three bolts designed to resist magnetic attraction, trying to counter Qin Yun’s earlier weapon-disarming tactic. The chapter ends before the result is shown.

Character developments

• Qin Yun demonstrates that he can adapt as Tang San’s abilities change, unveiling another unconventional and dangerous attack.
• Tang San remains determined despite being driven back. He recognizes Qin Yun’s attacks are unpredictable and shifts from defense to a new offensive plan.
• Yu Xiaogang is unable to identify Qin Yun’s Martial Soul or explain his techniques, undermining his confidence as an expert.
• Flender remains assured of his student’s superiority and needles Yu Xiaogang about his ignorance.

Significant themes

• Adaptation and escalation: Both fighters adjust their tactics, but Qin Yun’s innovations repeatedly overcome Tang San’s defenses.
• Limits of established knowledge: Qin Yun’s unfamiliar abilities leave Yu Xiaogang unable to make sense of conventional Martial Soul theory.
• Persistence under pressure: Tang San refuses to give up and searches for a way to seize the initiative.

Character interactions

• Qin Yun beckons Tang San into the fight and calmly counters his attacks.
• Tang San challenges Qin Yun’s strategy by pressing forward, then responds to his disadvantage by firing the modified crossbow.
• Flender teases Yu Xiaogang, asking him to identify Qin Yun’s Martial Soul; Yu Xiaogang cannot answer.
• The spectators react differently: Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing admire Qin Yun, Ma Hongjun expects Tang San to lose, Dai Mubai watches intently, and Xiao Wu anxiously urges Tang San to win.

Plot points and events

• Qin Yun counters Tang San’s hidden weapons by manipulating their metallic elements with Soul Power, redirecting crossbow bolts and needles back at Tang San.
• Tang San responds by throwing every hidden weapon he has. Qin Yun expands his control across the training ground and turns the whole barrage back on him.
• Tang San uses Blue Silver Grass and his Eight Spider Lances to fend off most of the returning weapons and escape the barrage.
• Qin Yun then forms a dense steel nail from carbon, iron, and chromium and throws it. It pierces one of Tang San’s spider legs.
• Yu Xiaogang intervenes and concedes the match for Tang San. Flender ends the gathering and tells the students to return that evening.

Character developments

• Qin Yun demonstrates precise, wide-ranging control over metallic elements and the ability to create a powerful weapon. He remains confident and offers Tang San a chance to spar again.
• Tang San is stubborn and unwilling to yield, but the fight exposes the limits of his current abilities—especially his unpracticed use of the Eight Spider Lances. Injured and frustrated, he ultimately accepts his teacher’s decision.
• Yu Xiaogang prioritizes Tang San’s safety, stepping in despite Tang San’s desire to continue.
• Ning Rongrong leaves with heightened curiosity about Qin Yun.

Significant themes

• Overconfidence and stubbornness: Tang San’s refusal to stop leads him to turn an already losing situation into a dangerous one.
• Preparation and mastery: Qin Yun’s understanding of materials gives him a decisive advantage, while Tang San’s new Soul Bone remains underdeveloped.
• Limits and growth: The defeat makes clear that Tang San has considerable training ahead before he can challenge Qin Yun.

Character interactions

• Qin Yun repeatedly warns Tang San that his weapons will be turned against him, then proves it in increasingly forceful ways.
• Tang San answers Qin Yun’s taunts with escalating attacks, while Qin Yun remains composed and in control.
• Yu Xiaogang stops the fight, explains that Tang San is not ready, and helps him to his feet.
• Qin Yun acknowledges the match’s end but tells Tang San that he is still far from winning.

Key plot points and events

• Tang San returns injured after losing to Qin Yun. He asks Yu Xiaogang what Qin Yun’s martial soul is and how he can produce strange effects—and control Tang San’s hidden weapons.
• Yu Xiaogang admits he has found no explanation, but urges Tang San not to let the defeat define him. He reminds him of his potential and tells him to rest.
• Flender brings the students to the Suotuo Great Soul Arena and makes daily 1v1 and 2v2 matches part of their training. Qin Yun is exempt from a fixed match requirement because his training is unusual.
• Ning Rongrong asks Qin Yun to partner with her in a 2v2, and he agrees on the condition that she follow his lead.
• Zhu Zhuqing also asks Qin Yun to partner with her after her 1v1 match. Qin Yun agrees, despite Dai Mubai’s visible displeasure.
• Qin Yun and Ning Rongrong register together. At level 44, Qin Yun expects their opponents may be considerably stronger than Rongrong. He sees the match as useful training and hopes to use his partnership with her to negotiate with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

Character developments and interactions

• Tang San is shaken and resentful after his defeat, but accepts Yu Xiaogang’s advice to recover and continue.
• Yu Xiaogang cannot explain Qin Yun’s abilities, yet tries to reassure Tang San and preserve his confidence.
• Qin Yun remains composed and self-assured, agreeing to help both Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing while pursuing his own strategic goals.
• Ning Rongrong readily trusts Qin Yun and is eager to fight beside him.
• Oscar silently feels jealous and hurt when he sees Rongrong choose Qin Yun, highlighting his unspoken affection for her.
• Zhu Zhuqing seeks Qin Yun’s strength for serious training, while Dai Mubai reacts with jealousy and frustration but does not confront either of them. Ma Hongjun teases him about it.
• Flender establishes the arena as a regular training ground and openly recognizes Qin Yun’s exceptional strength.

Significant themes

• Growth through defeat: Yu Xiaogang frames Tang San’s loss as a setback, not an endpoint.
• Strength and attraction: Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing gravitate toward Qin Yun’s ability, intensifying Oscar’s and Dai Mubai’s insecurities.
• The limits of knowledge: Qin Yun’s unexplained martial soul and unusual techniques challenge even Yu Xiaogang’s expertise.
• Training and ambition: Arena combat offers practical experience, while Qin Yun also treats his partnership with Rongrong as an opportunity for a larger alliance.

Plot points and events

• Qin Yun and Ning Rongrong enter the Soto Great Soul Arena to face a formidable pair of brothers: a Level 46 Mighty Black Bear Soul Master and a Level 45 Swiftwind Cheetah Soul Master.
• The brothers mock Qin Yun for bringing an apparently weak support Soul Master into a Level 40 match. Qin Yun remains composed, and the fight begins.
• Qin Yun’s unusual finger snaps create powerful shock waves, briefly disrupting the brothers. Ning Rongrong boosts him with her Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, enhancing his strength and speed.
• Qin Yun blocks both opponents’ attacks with a Diamond Barrier, then summons two metal pillars and uses his Elemental Martial Soul to draw ions between them, generating a field of lightning.
• Yu Xiaogang mistakes the display for a Martial Soul domain. In reality, Qin Yun has created the effect using the principles of a Voltaic Cell.
• The lightning immobilizes and injures the brothers. The younger one tries to destroy a pillar but is struck down by an especially powerful bolt. Realizing they cannot win by attacking Qin Yun directly, the elder brother decides to target Ning Rongrong.

Character developments and interactions

• Qin Yun demonstrates calm confidence, tactical creativity, and a scientific understanding of his powers rather than relying solely on brute force.
• Ning Rongrong is initially nervous but contributes decisively by strengthening Qin Yun at the right moment, showing the value of her support role.
• The brothers’ confidence turns to alarm as Qin Yun’s defenses and lightning trap defeat their coordinated attacks. The elder brother responds by choosing a ruthless tactic: exploiting Ning Rongrong’s apparent weakness.
• Yu Xiaogang observes the match and draws an incorrect conclusion about Qin Yun’s abilities, highlighting how unusual his techniques appear to others.

Significant themes

• Ingenuity over raw power: Qin Yun wins the upper hand through strategy and unconventional use of his abilities.
• Support and teamwork: Ning Rongrong’s boosts help Qin Yun withstand a dangerous two-on-one assault.
• Appearance versus reality: The crowd and Yu Xiaogang misinterpret Qin Yun’s lightning, while the brothers underestimate both him and the tactical danger of the pillars.
• Ruthlessness in combat: The elder brother’s decision to target Ning Rongrong shifts the fight toward a more personal threat.

Plot and events

• Qin Yun and Ning Rongrong face two brothers in the arena. The brothers abandon their attempt to fight Qin Yun directly and target Ning Rongrong, hoping to disrupt her support.
• Qin Yun protects her with a Diamond shield without turning around. At his urging, Ning Rongrong steadies herself and keeps her amplification active.
• Qin Yun uses the metal pillars around the arena to generate a powerful field of lightning. The brothers’ defenses fail under the repeated strikes, and both are eventually incapacitated. Qin Yun and Ning Rongrong are declared the winners.
• Back with the Shrek group, Qin Yun learns Zhu Zhuqing’s match is still underway and decides to wait. Xiao Wu then approaches him, drawing surprised looks from Ning Rongrong, Dai Mubai, and Ma Hongjun.

Character developments

• Ning Rongrong begins the match frightened by the brothers’ murderous attack, but Qin Yun’s protection helps her regain composure and support him steadily. Watching his effortless control of the fight leaves her with an unfamiliar warmth and the thought that she may be falling for him.
• Qin Yun remains calm and in control throughout the battle, showing no visible excitement after winning. He also notices Zhu Zhuqing’s absence and waits for her match to end.
• Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun return from a difficult fight; Dai Mubai is bruised and irritable, while Ma Hongjun still seems wary of Qin Yun.
• Xiao Wu takes the initiative to approach Qin Yun, despite having treated him coldly since he injured Tang San. Her reason for seeking him out is not yet revealed.

Themes

• The chapter contrasts apparent vulnerability with quiet resilience: Ning Rongrong is shaken at first but regains focus, while Qin Yun’s steady protection lets her remain useful.
• Qin Yun’s overwhelming control of the fight inspires both trust and admiration, prompting a new romantic feeling in Ning Rongrong.
• Xiao Wu’s unexpected approach introduces uncertainty and hints at shifting relationships within the group.

Character interactions

• Qin Yun shields Ning Rongrong and calmly tells her to keep amplifying him; she trusts him and follows through.
• Ning Rongrong’s admiration grows as she watches Qin Yun win without seeming to struggle.
• After the match, the group observes Xiao Wu approaching Qin Yun. Ning Rongrong watches silently, while Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun speculate about why Xiao Wu is speaking to him.

Chapter Summary

Key plot points and events

• Xiao Wu unexpectedly asks Qin Yun to pair with her in a two-on-two match. Qin Yun suspects she has an ulterior motive but agrees, curious to see what she will do.
• Their opponents are a Level 40 sister-and-brother team: the sister uses an Azure-Scaled Snake Martial Soul, while her brother specializes in earth-based defense.
• Before the match, Qin Yun tells Xiao Wu to wait for an opening while he draws the opponents’ attention.
• Xiao Wu secretly prepares a poisoned Godly Zhuge Crossbow, intending to ambush Qin Yun as revenge for his injuries to Tang San.
• Qin Yun has already heard the crossbow’s mechanism and knows what Xiao Wu is doing, but he does not confront her.
• The opponents rush Qin Yun before he can set up his lightning array. He breaks through the brother’s stone armor with a powerful strike, then blasts the sister’s flanking snake attack off course using ignited hydrogen and oxygen.

Character developments

• Qin Yun remains calm and observant. He recognizes Xiao Wu’s suspicious behavior and concealed weapon, but lets events unfold while handling the opponents with confidence.
• Xiao Wu reveals that her loyalty to Tang San has turned into a desire for revenge. Despite her great age, her impulsive, immature judgment leads her to underestimate the danger of provoking Qin Yun.
• The sibling opponents show tactical awareness: they know Qin Yun’s lightning array is dangerous and try to overwhelm him before he can deploy it.

Significant themes

• Revenge clouding judgment: Xiao Wu’s resentment pushes her to abandon fair play without considering the consequences.
• Appearance versus awareness: Qin Yun seems focused on the match, but he has noticed Xiao Wu’s secret plan.
• Experience and maturity: Xiao Wu’s hundred-thousand-year age contrasts sharply with her childish, short-sighted behavior.
• Power and confidence: Qin Yun’s unusual strength allows him to withstand close combat and counter attacks without relying on his usual array.

Character interactions

• Xiao Wu presses Qin Yun to partner with her, while he quietly studies her motives before agreeing.
• Qin Yun gives Xiao Wu a straightforward battle plan, unaware—or at least outwardly unaware—that she intends to attack him.
• Xiao Wu acts obediently to Qin Yun’s face but secretly prepares her weapon behind him.
• The opponents coordinate their assault: the brother charges head-on while the sister attacks from the flank. Qin Yun counters both, breaking the brother’s defense and disrupting the sister’s strike.

Qin Yun turns aside an ambush from Xiao Wu, whose Godly Zhuge Crossbow bolt is stopped by an invisible helium barrier. When she pretends the shot was accidental, he does not confront her directly; instead, he triggers simultaneous explosions near her and the sibling opponents, disrupting their footing and damaging their defenses.
He then fills the arena with chlorine gas and ignites hydrogen within it, producing a far more powerful series of blasts. Younger Brother’s stone armor breaks apart under the repeated shock waves, while Older Sister’s serpent apparition weakens and she is left scorched and nearly out of Soul Power. Xiao Wu escapes one explosion with her teleportation skill, but inhales the toxic fumes and is left coughing. Qin Yun deliberately sends another blast near her and mocks her claim that her earlier shot “went wide.”
The siblings realize Qin Yun is dangerous and that he will not spare even his own teammate after an attack. They exchange a look, apparently considering retreating rather than risking serious injury.
Character developments and interactions: Qin Yun’s controlled tactics give way to calculated retaliation once Xiao Wu attacks him from behind. He treats her and the siblings with the same ruthless standards, showing no special leniency because she is attractive or his teammate. Xiao Wu’s confident sneak attack turns to panic and physical distress. The siblings, initially fighting to earn points and train, become wary and look to one another as their position deteriorates.
Themes: The chapter emphasizes reciprocal justice—provocation invites payback—and the dangers of underestimating a seemingly controlled opponent. It also highlights Qin Yun’s scientific manipulation of gases as a tactical weapon, turning the arena itself into a hostile environment.

Key plot points and events

• Qin Yun defeats the brother-and-sister team in the two-on-two match. After Xiao Wu secretly shoots him in the back with a Godly Zhuge Crossbow, he knocks her unconscious with an explosive strike. The opponents surrender, giving Qin Yun and Xiao Wu the win.
• Yu Xiaogang confronts Qin Yun for injuring his teammate. Qin Yun claims he lost control, then argues that Xiao Wu’s own attack made the accusation unfair.
• Ning Rongrong reveals that Xiao Wu attacked Qin Yun first, undermining Yu Xiaogang’s charge.
• Dai Mubai uses the incident to urge Zhu Zhuqing not to team up with Qin Yun. Zhu Zhuqing refuses and chooses Qin Yun instead.

Character developments and interactions

• Qin Yun remains cool and unapologetic, though he carries Xiao Wu back rather than abandoning her. He dismisses Yu Xiaogang’s suspicion that he acted to spite Tang San.
• Yu Xiaogang grows furious and embarrassed as Qin Yun challenges his accusation and insults his judgment. His sensitivity reflects his insecurity and need to be respected.
• Ning Rongrong openly supports Qin Yun because she witnessed Xiao Wu’s attack.
• Zhu Zhuqing trusts her instincts about Qin Yun and rejects Dai Mubai’s attempt to decide for her. Her choice is partly driven by lingering resentment toward Dai Mubai for having abandoned her.
• Dai Mubai tries to use the controversy to regain Zhu Zhuqing’s alliance, but her refusal leaves him frustrated and further lowers her opinion of him.
• Flender is caught between defending his old friend Yu Xiaogang and supporting his disciple, but Ning Rongrong’s account clarifies what happened.

Significant themes

• Trust and loyalty: Xiao Wu’s attack complicates the idea of what it means to be a teammate, while Zhu Zhuqing chooses to trust Qin Yun despite knowing him only briefly.
• Insecurity and projection: Yu Xiaogang assumes Qin Yun’s actions are about Tang San, revealing how his own need for recognition shapes his interpretation.
• Agency and past hurt: Zhu Zhuqing asserts her right to choose her partner rather than let Dai Mubai dictate her decisions.

Plot points and events

• Dai Mubai again avoids confronting a problem directly: although he wants Qin Yun as a partner, he does not dare ask him. Flender ends the argument and tells everyone to finish the night’s matches before discussing matters further.
• Qin Yun partners with Zhu Zhuqing in a two-on-two match. Their styles complement each other: he draws the opponents’ attention while she attacks quickly from the flank. They defeat two near-equal power-type fighters so decisively that the opponents surrender.
• Qin Yun offers Zhu Zhuqing tactical advice after the match. She listens, recognizes where she can improve, and thanks him.
• Qin Yun’s three matches make him a topic of conversation at the arena—not only for his unusual fighting methods and victories, but also for the different partners he brings.
• Back at Shrek Academy, Tang San sees Xiao Wu being carried in, badly affected by Qin Yun’s earlier fight with her. Dai Mubai identifies Qin Yun as the one responsible and urges Tang San to help restrain him.
• Tang San examines Xiao Wu and realizes she has inhaled chlorine and hydrogen chloride. After confirming the toxins have not reached her organs, he begins treating her with medicinal liquid.

Character developments and interactions

• Dai Mubai repeats his pattern of avoidance and later tries to enlist Tang San against Qin Yun, framing him as a threat to the group.
• Qin Yun remains confident and untroubled by criticism or Tang San’s glare. He works effectively with Zhu Zhuqing and gives her practical combat guidance.
• Zhu Zhuqing proves to be a fast, disciplined partner who adapts well to Qin Yun’s approach. She is receptive to his advice and more visibly engaged after their victory.
• Tang San shifts from concern for Xiao Wu to intense anger when he learns Qin Yun hurt her. He suppresses immediate retaliation to prioritize her treatment, though his hostility remains.
• Xiao Wu, unconscious and injured, becomes the focus of Tang San’s care and the catalyst for his renewed hatred of Qin Yun.

Significant themes

• Avoidance versus confrontation: Dai Mubai hesitates to challenge Qin Yun, while Tang San’s anger threatens to turn the conflict into direct violence.
• Power and responsibility: Qin Yun’s strength and unconventional methods fuel resentment and raise concerns about how he treats others.
• Trust and teamwork: Qin Yun and Zhu Zhuqing’s complementary styles produce an efficient partnership, contrasting with the group’s growing distrust of him.
• Loyalty and restraint: Tang San’s devotion to Xiao Wu drives his killing intent, but he chooses to tend to her before acting.

Plot points and events

• After being exposed to Qin Yun’s chlorine and hydrogen chloride mixture, Xiao Wu suffers painful, shallow breathing and a persistent burning sensation in her lungs. Tang San treats her through the night with needles, Soul Power, and antidote formulas, but none work.
• Tang San realizes the gases have attached to her lung tissue rather than behaving like ordinary poison in her blood or meridians. He concludes that his knowledge and the Tang Sect’s usual remedies offer no cure.
• Dai Mubai suggests asking Oscar to use his poison-curing Little Sausage. Oscar initially hesitates because Qin Yun caused Xiao Wu’s injury and Oscar does not want to oppose him.
• Dai Mubai appeals to Oscar’s feelings for Ning Rongrong, arguing that Qin Yun will continue to outshine him. Oscar agrees to help.
• Oscar’s Little Sausage has no effect on Xiao Wu. Tang San confirms that her symptoms remain unchanged, leaving the group without a solution.

Character developments

• Tang San is shown as deeply devoted to Xiao Wu, staying up all night and exhausting his remedies. His confidence in his medical knowledge is shaken by a poison he cannot understand or treat.
• Oscar is reluctant to get involved, but his rivalry with Qin Yun and interest in Ning Rongrong ultimately sway him.
• Dai Mubai acts as a practical intermediary, but he also manipulates Oscar’s romantic feelings to persuade him.
• Xiao Wu remains unconscious and vulnerable, though her condition is described as painful rather than immediately fatal.

Significant themes

• Limits of established knowledge: Tang San’s extensive expertise fails against a poison operating by unfamiliar principles.
• The cost of rivalry: Oscar’s decision is shaped less by Xiao Wu’s need than by his desire to compete with Qin Yun for Ning Rongrong’s attention.
• Care and loyalty: Tang San’s relentless efforts emphasize his bond with Xiao Wu.

Character interactions

• Tang San gently restrains Xiao Wu when she reaches for her burning throat and uses Soul Power to comfort her.
• Dai Mubai checks on Tang San, then urges Oscar to help; he frames the request as both a chance to aid Xiao Wu and a way to challenge Qin Yun.
• Oscar administers his Little Sausage through Tang San, but its failure reinforces Tang San’s grim conclusion that ordinary poison remedies cannot help.

Key plot points and events

• Oscar leaves after admitting he did all he could. Tang San concludes that Qin Yun is the only likely source of Xiao Wu’s antidote.
• Dai Mubai warns that Qin Yun has previously tormented Ma Hongjun with poison and may refuse to help. Tang San decides to poison Qin Yun in return and use the threat of an antidote as leverage.
• Because Qin Yun is powerful and wary, Tang San and Dai Mubai settle on poisoning the academy’s shared meals. Tang San secretly adds a mixture of Eight Spider Spear poison and Tang Sect poison to the broth and another dish, believing Qin Yun cannot cure it.
• Later, Qin Yun arrives at the cafeteria with Ning Rongrong. She dislikes the plain food and suggests going to Suotuo City. Dai Mubai provokes her and urges them not to leave, including a pointed remark about Zhu Zhuqing.
• Qin Yun finds Dai Mubai’s attempt to keep them there suspicious. He also notices Tang San at the cafeteria despite Xiao Wu’s injuries. Rather than leave, he agrees to stay and watch what happens; Ning Rongrong orders pork rib soup.

Character developments and interactions

• Tang San shifts from seeking an antidote to planning retaliation, choosing a covert, high-stakes tactic to force Qin Yun’s cooperation.
• Dai Mubai supports the plan and helps distract the cooks. His antagonism toward Ning Rongrong—and his resentment over Zhu Zhuqing—surfaces in their argument.
• Qin Yun remains alert to the others’ motives. His decision to stay shows he suspects a trap, though he has not yet identified the poisoned food.
• Ning Rongrong speaks casually with Qin Yun and refuses to be intimidated by Dai Mubai, answering his insults sharply.
• Tang San and Dai Mubai coordinate their scheme, while Qin Yun and Ning Rongrong move from tentative acquaintance toward greater ease.

Significant themes

• Retaliation and coercion: Tang San plans to answer poison with poison, using danger as bargaining power.
• Deception and suspicion: The plot depends on disguising the poison in ordinary meals, while Qin Yun reads the group’s behavior as suspicious.
• Resentment and rivalry: Dai Mubai’s hostility is fueled by his feelings about Zhu Zhuqing and his friction with Ning Rongrong.