Chapter Summaries

Qin Ming returned to Shrek Academy and proposed an exhibition match between Shrek and Heaven Dou Royal Academy’s Imperial Fighting Team. Shrek accepted, while Yuan Yu sensed that Qin Ming was concealing something and suspected the hand behind Mr. Xu might soon be revealed.

• Qin Ming visited Flender and Zhao Wuji at Shrek Academy and reunited with his former teachers.
• Qin Ming met Yuan Yu and the other Shrek students, and the group eased into friendly conversation.
• Qin Ming explained that Imperial Fighting wanted an exhibition match against Shrek, and Dai Mubai accepted on Shrek’s behalf.
• Tang San asked whether Yuan Yu could participate, but Qin Ming said the Soul King would be too strong for the match’s rules.
• Qin Ming said Imperial Fighting would arrive the next day and the match would take place the night after; Flender agreed after insisting Shrek would negotiate the rules.
• Yuan Yu sensed that Qin Ming was holding something back and suspected the hand behind Mr. Xu would soon reveal itself.

Shrek and the Imperial Fighting Team met before their exhibition battle, sizing up each other's abilities and agreeing on the rules. The match was set for the following night, with Yuan Yu staying off the platform but watching for trouble.

• Qin Ming introduced the Imperial Fighting Team, and Shrek and Imperial Fighting exchanged names and ranks.
• Dugu Yan questioned Tang San about medicine and poison, while Ye Lingling noticed Zhu Zhuqing's lingering shoulder injury.
• Yu Tianheng challenged Yuan Yu to take one of his attacks after the battle, and Yuan Yu agreed to discuss it later.
• Qin Ming explained that Shrek had to last one incense stick without more than two members being incapacitated, while Yuan Yu would not fight.
• Dai Mubai planned to hold Yu Tianheng off, Tang San considered drawing out the battle, and Yuan Yu prepared to watch the arena floor for danger.

Shrek Academy prepared for its match against the Imperial Fighting Team, practicing how to counter Dugu Yan’s poison and planning their tactics around Yu Tianheng and Ye Lingling. Yuan Yu and Tang San noticed suspicious signs that someone was targeting Tang San’s medicine pouch, and they went to investigate at the Spirit Arena.

• Tang San assigned Dai Mubai to hold Yu Tianheng and explained how Ma Hongjun’s Phoenix flames could sweep Dugu Yan’s poison mist aside.
• Ma Hongjun practiced directing his flames from the side until Tang San’s powder cleared the smoke without letting it reach the team.
• Dai Mubai practiced taking a powerful blow with Tang San and Ning Rongrong supporting him, while the others planned to pressure Ye Lingling and protect Zhu Zhuqing’s retreat.
• Tang San arranged the team’s opening boosts and Oscar prepared Recovery and Antidote Sausages for the match.
• Yuan Yu sensed something unusual from a Spirit Arena attendant, and Tang San recognized the confirmation letter’s pharmacy smell as a clue that someone might be after his medicine pouch.
• Yuan Yu, Tang San, and Ning Rongrong went to investigate the Spirit Arena, where someone quietly opened the medicine room door after nightfall.

Qin Ming told Flender that Heaven Dou Royal Academy wanted to recruit Shrek’s students, while Yuan Yu urged everyone to let the students choose their own paths. After learning someone had tampered with Tang San’s medicine packet, Yuan Yu set out with Tang San and Ning Rongrong to investigate, while Qin Ming stayed behind to avoid escalating the conflict before the match.

• Qin Ming gave Flender and Zhao Wuji Heaven Dou Royal Academy’s invitation and admitted that Shrek lacked resources, facilities, and connections.
• Yuan Yu joined the conversation and argued that Shrek’s students should not be treated as bargaining chips or taken away before they could choose for themselves.
• Yuan Yu told Qin Ming that someone had tampered with Tang San’s medicine packet, and Qin Ming offered to join the investigation.
• Flender stopped Qin Ming from going because his involvement could turn the dispute into an open clash before the match, so Yuan Yu told him to watch his students instead.
• Yuan Yu left for the dispensary with Tang San and Ning Rongrong to find out who had tampered with the medicine.

Yuan Yu, Tang San, and Ning Rongrong discovered that someone had tampered with Shrek's medicine case and caught the worker who planted the powder. They uncovered a suspicious Snow-Character Token and learned the exhibition match had been moved to the first bout, leaving another hand in the scheme unidentified.

• Ning Rongrong used her Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect Token to enter the dispensary, where Tang San found the medicine case had been opened and its powder mixed with Cold Vine Powder.
• Tang San tested the powder and showed that it would spread poisonous mist if heated, putting Shrek's back line at risk during the match.
• Yuan Yu pursued the worker through the back alley and brought him back, where the worker admitted someone had paid him to plant a packet of powder.
• The worker handed over a token with a newly carved Snow character, and Tang San noticed that its original mark had been ground away.
• Ning Rongrong demanded that Shrek keep its medicine case and that the Spirit Arena explain the tampering, while the supervisor agreed.
• An attendant announced that the exhibition match had been moved up to the first bout, and Yuan Yu concluded that another hand was behind the scheme.

Shrek’s seven faced the Imperial Fighting Team in a spectator battle while Yuan Yu stayed off the platform to guard against trouble near the Lamp Array. The match began with Shrek struggling to hold formation, and the Imperial Fighting Team pressed them on every front.

• The spectators protested Yuan Yu’s absence and doubted Shrek could last against the Imperial Fighting Team.
• Flender and Zhao Wuji reminded Shrek’s seven to survive for one stick of incense, while Yuan Yu took position beside the Dueling Platform to watch the backstage route.
• Shrek’s seven and the Imperial Fighting Team released their Martial Souls, and Dai Mubai met Yu Tianheng’s first charge.
• Ning Rongrong boosted Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing as Tang San and Ma Hongjun worked together to disrupt Dugu Yan’s poison mist.
• Yu Tianheng’s Thunderous Fury struck Dai Mubai despite Tang San’s attempt to pull him aside, while Osler moved toward Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing intercepted him.
• With Shrek pinned down early in the match, Yuan Yu noticed that someone had left a seat in the VIP area.

Shrek struggled against the Imperial Fighting Team’s poisonous mist, tight formation, and healing while Yuan Yu uncovered an attempt to interfere with the match. As Shrek kept fighting, Yuan Yu pursued clues to the unseen person directing the sabotage.

• Tang San guided Shrek through Dugu Yan’s advancing poisonous mist while Ning Rongrong’s boosts and Ma Hongjun’s fire helped preserve their formation.
• Yuan Yu caught an attendant carrying a bottle of Cold Vine Powder toward a lamp aimed at Shrek’s rear line, while Azure Luan and Ling Yuan helped contain the situation.
• Tang San scattered medicinal powder through Ma Hongjun’s flames, briefly thinning the mist, but Dugu Yan unleashed a stronger cloud and Yu Tianheng forced Dai Mubai to hold his ground through lightning.
• Ye Lingling used the Nine-Hearted Begonia to heal the Imperial Fighting Team, leaving Shrek facing renewed opposition.
• Yuan Yu handed the captive attendant to Azure Luan and spotted a black-clad figure leaving the VIP seats as Ling Yuan pursued; the Rosy Cloud Pattern grew colder, suggesting the person giving orders remained at large.

Shrek exploited the Imperial Fighting Team’s formation to force Ye Lingling to retreat, then Yu Tianheng launched a powerful attack that left Dai Mubai injured but standing. Yuan Yu noticed the black-clad figure had disappeared from the VIP area and kept the snow-marked token hidden as the trap remained unready.

• Tang San coordinated Shrek’s attacks to distract the Shi Brothers and separate Osler from Ye Lingling, creating an opening for Zhu Zhuqing.
• Dai Mubai’s attack shifted the Shi Brothers’ shields, allowing Zhu Zhuqing to reach Ye Lingling before Osler intercepted her and forced her back.
• Ye Lingling’s retreat disrupted the Imperial Fighting Team’s formation, and Yu Tianheng began watching Tang San’s movements more closely.
• Yu Tianheng ordered Dugu Yan to draw back some of the poison and attacked Dai Mubai with his third Spirit Ring ability.
• Ning Rongrong strengthened Dai Mubai while Tang San’s Blue Silver Grass helped him withstand the lightning, leaving him wounded but still standing.
• Yuan Yu noticed the black-clad figure had left the VIP seating area, while Ling Yuan pursued the figure and Yuan Yu kept the snow-marked token hidden.

Shrek held out against Imperial Fighting until the incense burned down, meeting the exhibition match’s objective without defeating their opponents. After the exhausted teams exchanged words and Zhu Zhuqing received healing, Yuan Yu stepped onto the platform to face Yu Tianheng in a one-move challenge.

• Tang San coordinated Shrek’s final push, sending Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing after Ye Lingling while Dai Mubai kept Yu Tianheng occupied.
• The incense burned out before Shrek could force Ye Lingling off the stage, and the judges ruled that Shrek had achieved its objective because all seven fighters remained capable of fighting.
• Yu Tianheng praised Dai Mubai, while Tang San and Dugu Yan discussed each other’s medicine and poison, and Ye Lingling healed Zhu Zhuqing’s reopened wound.
• Yu Tianheng challenged Yuan Yu to take one of his moves, and Yuan Yu stepped onto the platform with his Sun Wheel Blade still sheathed.

Yuan Yu defeated Yu Tianheng’s lightning attack with a precise, restrained strike, while Tang San’s antidote drew Dugu Yan’s suspicion. Yuan Yu continued pursuing the clue to the Black-Clad Man, but the Sixth Trial remained unresolved and its real mastermind had yet to appear.

• Yu Tianheng challenged Yuan Yu to a one-move test, and Yuan Yu used Thunder Breathing to cut through his lightning and stop without injuring him.
• Yu Tianheng admitted defeat, and Tang San reflected on how Yuan Yu had found the weakness in his attack.
• Dugu Yan questioned Tang San about his antidote, and Yuan Yu intervened before she could press him further.
• Qin Ming told Flender he would delay Heaven Dou Royal Academy, while Yuan Yu sensed that Qin Ming meant what he said.
• Yuan Yu followed the Snow-Character Token as a lead after Azure Luan and Ling Yuan reported that the Black-Clad Man had escaped.
• Dugu Yan decided to tell her grandfather that Tang San’s poison antidote seemed suspicious.

After Shrek returned from the battle, Yuan Yu proposed investigating the Spirit Arena’s accounts to uncover who had arranged the sabotage. Meanwhile, Dugu Yan wrote to her grandfather about Tang San and Yuan Yu as the Snow-Character Token gave Yuan Yu another cold warning.

• Shrek recovered from the battle, and Ning Rongrong reflected on how Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing had risked themselves during the match.
• Yuan Yu showed the Snow-Character Token, and Tang San determined that someone had ground away its original mark before carving the Snow character.
• Yuan Yu said he would use Ning Rongrong’s status to inspect the Spirit Arena’s accounts, while Xiao Wu agreed to remain at the academy in case trouble came.
• Qin Ming told Shrek that Imperial Fighting would leave Soto after resting the next day, giving Yuan Yu two days to investigate.
• Dugu Yan wrote to her grandfather about Tang San’s medicine and Yuan Yu’s strength, while Yu Tianheng warned her not to let her grandfather hurt them.
• The Snow-Character Token turned cold in Yuan Yu’s hand, suggesting that the real answer lay hidden behind it.

Yuan Yu and his companions uncovered signs that Deputy Supervisor Luo Heng had used Snow Ridge Trading Company to conceal suspicious medicinal deliveries and ordered someone to destroy the ledgers. A faint flash from the Rosy Cloud Pattern warned Yuan Yu that Luo Heng would burn the records before nightfall.

• Ning Rongrong used her Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect Token and Yuan Yu displayed his Soul Rings to make the Spirit Arena supervisor open the accounts office.
• Tang San found Cold Vine Powder listed among the medicinal supplies and noticed that records for Snow Ridge Trading Company shared identical handwriting.
• Zhu Zhuqing spotted a gray figure fleeing the accounts office, Tang San stopped him with a needle, and Yuan Yu caught him on the wall.
• Tang San identified the powder the man carried as Slow-Burning Powder meant to destroy the ledgers, and the accountant identified him as one of Luo Heng's men.
• The group took the ledgers and learned Luo Heng had been using the VIP Passage; Yuan Yu ordered the manager to summon him before nightfall.
• The Rosy Cloud Pattern flashed, and Yuan Yu realized Luo Heng would burn the ledgers before nightfall.

Yuan Yu and Zhu Zhuqing caught two men trying to burn the Spirit Arena’s ledgers, then learned that Mr. Xu had been killed and Luo Heng had ordered the fire. A threat left at Snow Willow Alley tried to lure Yuan Yu north, but he chose to return to the academy and check for Dugu Yan’s letter.

• Yuan Yu and Zhu Zhuqing stopped an accounting office manager and a night patrol guard from setting fire to the ledgers.
• The manager revealed that Mr. Xu had been killed, Luo Heng had ordered the ledgers burned, and messages were passed through Snow Willow Alley.
• Zhu Zhuqing took the manager to the academy, where Flender questioned him and learned that Luo Heng had been seen with a man bearing a snowflake-shaped brand.
• Flender sent Oscar to fetch Dai Mubai and ordered everyone to stay at the academy while Tang San and Zhu Zhuqing went after Yuan Yu.
• Yuan Yu found a note at Snow Willow Alley threatening that Myriad Phenomena would find a corpse north of the city if he pursued them, but he suspected it was a false lead.
• Yuan Yu decided to return to the academy first and check whether Dugu Yan’s letter had arrived.

After reading Dugu Yan’s report, Dugu Bo traveled to Suotuo City to investigate Tang San’s medicine and Yuan Yu’s strength. He learned the Imperial Fighting Team might have been manipulated and arrived at Shrek Academy with Dugu Yan, asking to see Tang San.

• Dugu Bo read Dugu Yan’s letter about Tang San’s antidote and Yuan Yu’s defeat of Yu Tianheng, then set out for Suotuo City.
• Yu Tianheng warned Dugu Yan that a confrontation with Yuan Yu could escalate into a conflict between Heaven Dou and Spirit Hall, and Qin Ming agreed.
• Dugu Bo arrived at the Imperial Fighting Team’s quarters, checked that Dugu Yan was unharmed, and asked about Tang San and Yuan Yu.
• Ye Lingling and Yu Tianheng told Dugu Bo that someone might have used the team as part of a scheme, so he took Dugu Yan to investigate.
• Dugu Bo reached Shrek Academy with Dugu Yan and asked who Tang San was as Yuan Yu and Azure Luan noticed his arrival.

Yuan Yu, Tang San, and Zhu Zhuqing investigated a burned-out shop in Snow Willow Alley and uncovered clues pointing to the Spirit Arena’s VIP Passage. After an ambush, they headed back to the academy as Dugu Bo’s powerful aura approached.

• Yuan Yu led Tang San and Zhu Zhuqing into Snow Willow Alley, where they found recently burned papers, sealing wax, and tracks showing that someone had hurriedly moved a crate.
• Three Black Market Soul Masters ambushed them, but Yuan Yu and Tang San stopped the attackers while Zhu Zhuqing chased down the third.
• The captured attacker died from poison hidden in his tooth, and Tang San recovered scraps naming Luo Heng and the VIP Passage at midnight, along with half of the character “Cheng.”
• Yuan Yu recognized “North of the City” as a planted diversion and identified the VIP Passage as the real destination, while a decoy carriage escaped.
• A powerful surge of Soul Power reached them, and Yuan Yu guessed Dugu Yan’s letter had brought Dugu Bo; the three hurried back to the academy.

Dugu Bo confronted Shrek Academy and demanded that Tang San examine his poison, while Yuan Yu stood up to him and showed him the Snow-Character Token tied to a suspected plot against Dugu Yan. Dugu Bo agreed to hear Shrek’s account, leaving the courtyard tense but focused on whoever had crossed him.

• Dugu Bo arrived at Shrek Academy and pressed Tang San and Yuan Yu with his Titled Douluo aura, but Yuan Yu stepped forward to protect the others.
• Dugu Bo asked Tang San to examine him, and Tang San cautiously identified multiple kinds of poison in his body.
• Yuan Yu showed Dugu Bo the Snow-Character Token and explained that someone appeared to have used Dugu Yan to set a trap.
• Dugu Bo withdrew his poisonous aura and agreed to hear Yuan Yu out, while Xiao Wu stayed away from him.

Yuan Yu gathered Shrek, Imperial Fighting, and Dugu Bo to connect the sabotage and plan a trap for Luo Heng and the Snow Ridge Trading Company. They prepared to watch the Spirit Arena’s VIP Passage that night and capture the conspirators alive.

• Yuan Yu told Flender, Qin Ming, and Dugu Bo how the pharmacy, lamp array, accounts, and Snow Willow Alley had been targeted, linking Luo Heng and the Snow Ridge Trading Company to the plot.
• Yuan Yu explained that the Snow-Character Token and false leads were meant to implicate Heaven Dou nobles, while the sabotage around Dugu Yan’s poison duel was intended to create an incident.
• Yuan Yu proposed pretending to head north while the group watched the VIP Passage, where Luo Heng’s people would have to move the remaining accounts.
• Dugu Bo agreed to join the watch, and the group assigned Yuan Yu, Tang San, Zhu Zhuqing, Ning Rongrong, Oscar, and Ma Hongjun to the trap while Dai Mubai guarded the outer gate.
• Dugu Bo demanded that Tang San explain poison to him after the affair, and Tang San agreed.

Yuan Yu and Shrek ambushed Luo Heng and Lu Chen as they tried to remove the Spirit Arena’s records, uncovering evidence tied to Steward Cheng and the character “Snow.” The suspects were captured for questioning, and Dai Mubai stopped another attacker from escaping.

• Yuan Yu and Shrek took positions in the VIP Passage while Dugu Bo and others kept watch nearby.
• Luo Heng and Lu Chen arrived with a crate of records, and Tang San recognized ash from burned documents on it.
• Yuan Yu and Shrek caught the pair, with Dugu Bo’s presence preventing Lu Chen from fighting back.
• The group found account books, marked plaques, a letter naming Steward Cheng, and a ledger recording two openings of the VIP Passage.
• Yuan Yu secured the evidence and Tang San bound Luo Heng and Lu Chen alive, while Dai Mubai kicked a fleeing attacker back into the passage.

Yuan Yu exposed Cheng Su’s scheme to frame Shrek and fought off a Soul Emperor sent to silence the witnesses. With Lu Chen alive and evidence gathered, the group waited for Cheng Su’s response to complete the trial.

• Luo Heng identified Mr. Xu, and Lu Chen admitted that he carved the Snow-Character Token on Steward Cheng’s orders.
• A Soul Emperor attacked Luo Heng and Lu Chen, but Tang San and Zhu Zhuqing rescued them while Yuan Yu defeated the attacker in three moves.
• Lu Chen revealed that Cheng Su, an External Affairs Steward in Prince Xue Xing’s Estate, had arranged the scheme to seize Soto Great Soul Arena contacts and compromise Shrek’s reputation.
• Lu Chen explained that Cheng Su had also planned to draw Dugu Bo in through Dugu Yanyan, and Dugu Bo relented when Yuan Yu urged him to keep Lu Chen alive.
• Yuan Yu’s Rosy Cloud Pattern shone with clarity, but the group waited for Cheng Su’s response before declaring the first stage of the Sixth Trial complete.

Yuan Yu and the others exposed the Soto Spirit Arena conspiracy, rejected a threat from Cheng Su’s backers, and secured the arena’s accountability. As the Imperial Fighting Team departed, Yuan Yu completed the first stage of the Rosy Cloud Pattern trial and reached Soul Power level fifty-six, while trouble began to gather in Heaven Dou.

• Yuan Yu presented evidence against Luo Heng and Lu Chen, and the Spirit Arena manager admitted he had failed to control the arena’s compromised departments.
• Ning Rongrong and Qin Ming condemned the conspiracy, while Dugu Bo learned Cheng Su had fled toward Heaven Dou.
• Yuan Yu tore up a threatening letter from the Prince’s Mansion, and Dugu Bo and Yuan Yu warned Cheng Su not to target Dugu Yan again.
• Qin Ming and the Imperial Fighting Team said farewell to Shrek, and Dugu Yan invited Tang San to discuss poison with her grandfather and visit his Medicine Garden.
• Yuan Yu’s Rosy Cloud Pattern trial declared the Soto conspiracy complete, partially unlocked his inheritance, and raised his Soul Power to level fifty-six.
• The Imperial Fighting Team left Soto as Yuan Yu stood at the academy gate, aware that new trouble was beginning in Heaven Dou.