Chapter Summaries

Plot points and events

• Electrolux suspects the Spirit-Devouring Carving Knife may be made from Gold of Life, a rare substance he has never encountered in Lu Yi’s former world. He leaves the Library to inspect it himself.
• After returning to Lu Yi’s consciousness, Electrolux confirms the knife is Gold of Life—but cursed. He takes control of Lu Yi, draws out the parasitic soul, and purifies it. The blade turns emerald green and releases abundant life force.
• Electrolux tells Lu Yi to press the purified knife to his forehead. The process should greatly strengthen his mental power and let him begin learning Necromancy roughly three years earlier than expected.
• At the Starlight Auction House, a black-robed seller negotiates with Princess Xu Jiujiu over rare metals, a God-Sealing Platform containing a claimed Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast embryo, and a jade-green Soul Bone. They agree on the sale for twenty million Gold Soul Coins for the metals and one hundred million for the platform and Soul Bone.

Character developments and interactions

• Electrolux moves from skepticism to delight when he confirms the knife’s nature. His skillful purification reveals both his knowledge and his care for Lu Yi’s progress, though the effort weakens him.
• Lu Yi trusts Electrolux with control of his body and eagerly accepts the opportunity to advance his training sooner. His mischievous confidence shows in his remark before handing over control.
• Xu Jiujiu is usually a capable negotiator, but the extraordinary items and the seller’s leverage leave her uncertain. She ultimately agrees to the deal.
• The black-robed seller remains calm and persuasive, invoking his teacher and their longstanding relationship to press for a high price.

Significant themes

• Rare power and hidden value: Gold of Life and the alleged Soul Beast embryo are prized because of their extraordinary properties and scarcity.
• Trust and mentorship: Lu Yi relies on Electrolux’s expertise, while Electrolux uses his power to accelerate Lu Yi’s development.
• Transformation through purification: Removing the curse restores the carving knife’s true nature and unlocks its life-giving force.
• Risk and uncertainty: Both Electrolux and Xu Jiujiu must act without complete knowledge—Electrolux tests the knife, while Xu Jiujiu weighs the seller’s remarkable claims.

Key plot points

• Lu Yi completes his fusion with the Gold of Life under Electrolux’s guidance. The process causes intense, repeated bouts of pain and unconsciousness, but dramatically strengthens his body and mental perception.
• Lu Yi learns Electrolux spent most of the Gold of Life rebuilding Lu Yi’s body, keeping only enough to sustain his own soul. The Library lets Electrolux avoid consuming soul power while inside it.
• Lu Yi discovers his mental strength can now grow through cultivation, and that the Gold of Life will accelerate its growth. Electrolux also says he has laid a foundation for Lu Yi’s Soul Power, which should come together when Lu Yi reaches Soul Emperor.
• Back in his room, Lu Yi finds his senses greatly improved—and learns he has been cultivating for twenty-two days. Without intending to, he reads a waiter’s thoughts and memories, unlocking Legilimency at Level 1.
• He chooses to upgrade thought-reading efficiency rather than memory-reading depth, judging it more useful in everyday situations.

Character developments and interactions

• Lu Yi emerges physically and mentally enhanced, grateful to Electrolux but surprised by the transformation and the length of his cultivation. He briefly jokes about relying on longevity instead of training, earning a playful knock on the head from Electrolux.
• Electrolux shows generosity by prioritizing Lu Yi’s body over his own soul’s recovery. He explains the changes in Lu Yi’s abilities and continues to guide him, then retreats to the Library.
• Lu Yi and the waiter have a brief exchange about Lu Yi’s absence. The waiter’s thoughts reveal that he enjoyed being paid while having little work; Lu Yi dismisses him so he can return to his duties.

Significant themes

• Sacrifice and mentorship: Electrolux gives up most of a valuable resource to help his student.
• Growth through hardship: Lu Yi’s painful fusion produces major gains in perception, physical ability, and magical potential.
• Power brings new possibilities: His strengthened mind unlocks effortless Legilimency, turning an ability he had struggled to master into a natural skill.
• Cultivation versus complacency: Electrolux rebukes Lu Yi’s joke about simply outliving stronger opponents, emphasizing the importance of continued effort.

Key events

• Lu Yi returns to Shrek Academy after a month away. Mu En senses that his body has changed dramatically, while Lu Yi tends to the herbs he is growing for future Potion-making.
• Zhou Sichen notices Lu Yi seems more mature and assumes he spent the break partying. Lu Yi teases him with an exaggerated story, then admits it is a joke; Zhou confesses he trained hard over the break because he feared Lu Yi would surpass him.
• Huo Yuhao returns after registration has closed. With Wang Yan’s help, he explains the circumstances to Director Du Weilun, who makes a one-time exception and registers him.
• The next day, Dai Huabin challenges Lu Yi to bet on who will do better in the promotion assessment. Lu Yi refuses, anticipating that Dai would react badly whether he won or lost, and brushes past him despite attempts to provoke him.
• At the Soul Beast Arena, Huo Yuhao openly accepts a separate bet with Dai Huabin, to Lu Yi’s dismay. Zhou Sichen begins the assessment by choosing a nine-hundred-year Soul Beast. His two Beast Spirits give him confidence, and he is matched against a bear-type opponent.
• Watching the fight, Lu Yi recalls how a much weaker Soul Beast nearly killed a level-29 Grandmaster. Now at the same level himself, he wonders what difficulty of opponent to choose.

Character developments and interactions

• Lu Yi returns physically transformed by his trip and remains focused on cultivating herbs and preparing for Potion-making. He is more cautious than Dai Huabin, refusing a needless wager and recognizing the risks behind the provocation.
• Zhou Sichen is competitive and easily baited into imagining Lu Yi enjoyed a carefree vacation. His admission that he trained out of fear of being overtaken reveals both his ambition and his concern about Lu Yi’s progress.
• Dai Huabin resumes his arrogant behavior now that Zhang Lexuan is no longer teaching the class. His resentment toward Lu Yi stems partly from Zhang’s attention to him; Lu Yi’s refusal leaves Dai frustrated, so he turns his attention toward Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong.
• Huo Yuhao is granted leniency after missing registration, but then boldly challenges Dai Huabin, showing a defiant streak.
• Wang Yan advocates for Huo Yuhao, while Du Weilun balances strict rules with a one-time exception.

Significant themes

• Growth and comparison: Lu Yi’s physical change and Zhou Sichen’s hard training highlight how the students measure themselves against one another.
• Restraint versus provocation: Lu Yi avoids Dai Huabin’s bet rather than letting pride dictate his actions, contrasting with Huo Yuhao’s willingness to confront him.
• Risk and judgment: The assessment forces students to weigh their abilities against dangerous opponents, and Lu Yi’s memory of Grandmaster’s near-fatal battle makes that calculation especially vivid.

Plot points and events

• The assessment awards points for a Soul Beast’s age and for combat technique. Zhou Sichen earns 120 points by choosing a nine-hundred-year beast, while Cao Jinxuan earns 95 by carefully controlling a six-hundred-year beast.
• Lu Yi, a Control System student, surprises everyone by choosing a thousand-year Soul Beast despite concerns that he lacks the level and offensive power to handle one.
• The beast is a Shadow Leopard. Lu Yi uses Confundo to disrupt its attack, then Petrificus Totalus to immobilize it completely. The fight ends in under ten seconds, with the leopard alive but unable to move.
• The judges hesitate because the encounter is too brief to show much technique, but chief examiner Du Weilun awards Lu Yi full marks: 100 base points and 50 technique points.
• Huo Yuhao then enters the arena and chooses a hundred-year Soul Beast, setting up the next assessment.

Character developments and interactions

• Lu Yi’s confidence is validated: the Gold of Life has strengthened his body, spiritual power, and spells, and he demonstrates how effective his unusual abilities can be.
• Du Weilun’s interest in Lu Yi deepens. He suspects Lu Yi has developed another new “Soul Skill” and now understands why Zhang Lexuan values him.
• Zhou Sichen openly celebrates his roommate’s success, but Lu Yi silences him when he makes a teasing remark comparing Lu Yi to a quick-shooting Soul Tool researcher.
• Wang Dong is annoyed that Lu Yi has drawn attention before her, while Dai Huabin resents Lu Yi and hopes he will fail.
• Huo Yuhao watches Lu Yi’s display closely, then begins his own test.

Significant themes

• Unconventional ability and ingenuity: Lu Yi succeeds through spells and control rather than conventional strength or a standard Soul Skill.
• Confidence tested by action: His risky choice appears reckless to others, but his performance proves it is grounded in his improved abilities.
• Recognition and rivalry: Lu Yi’s success earns the examiner’s admiration while intensifying the envy and competition around him.

Key plot points and events

• Huo Yuhao uses Simulation to imitate the aura of a Ferocious Beast, creating two blood-red Soul Rings. The pressure overwhelms the Wind Spirit Wolf and terrifies nearly everyone in the arena, effectively ending that day’s assessment.
• Before returning to class, Huo Yuhao speaks privately to Dai Huabin. Dai kneels and publicly admits his mistake, but Lu Yi suspects he still intends to seek revenge.
• Lu Yi upgrades his Full Body-Bind Curse, increasing its binding duration to 40%.
• In class, Wang Yan uses Huo Yuhao’s Simulation ability for pressure-resistance training. When the assessment resumes two days later, Huo Yuhao again wins by releasing a trace of the Ice Empress’s presence; Wang Dong succeeds through skill and strength.
• Dai Huabin fights a thousand-year Wind Tiger brutally, killing it with a point-blank White Tiger Fierce Light Wave. He earns a near-perfect score but must pay for the damage. His blood- and filth-covered appearance becomes the subject of Lu Yi’s joke, while Lu Yi privately judges the attack’s strength.
• The Sea God Pavilion holds an emergency meeting about the class’s exceptional students. Yan Shaozhe and Qian Duoduo clash over Huo Yuhao’s place between the Martial Soul and Soul Tool departments. Mu En settles the dispute, insists Huo Yuhao deserves Shrek’s full support, and hints that another student could revolutionize Soul Tools. He also warns that the Academy’s leaders must broaden their thinking as his own time grows short.

Character developments and interactions

• Huo Yuhao demonstrates how powerful and versatile Simulation can be, gaining renewed attention from both his classmates and Shrek’s leadership.
• Dai Huabin shows a troubling mix of public submission and apparent vindictiveness. His savage test performance earns respect from the judges but leaves him humiliated and in a foul mood.
• Lu Yi remains observant and pragmatic: he improves his skill, evaluates Dai’s attack against his own Exploding Charm, and uses humor to lighten the scene.
• Wang Dong proves his combat ability through technique rather than intimidation or brutality.
• Wang Yan supports Huo Yuhao by turning his unusual ability into class training.
• Yan Shaozhe and Qian Duoduo argue over which department should claim Huo Yuhao; Xuan Zi backs the Martial Soul Department despite having previously overlooked the boy. Mu En rebukes the leaders’ narrow judgment and points them toward a broader future.

Significant themes

• Power and perception: Huo Yuhao’s simulated aura shows that perceived strength can overwhelm opponents without a fight.
• Talent and institutional rivalry: Shrek’s departments compete for gifted students, exposing the cost of overlooking unconventional ability.
• Violence and consequences: Dai Huabin’s victory comes through extreme brutality and brings both punishment and ridicule.
• Leadership and change: Mu En challenges the Academy’s leaders to recognize new possibilities before their rigid thinking harms Shrek’s future.

Plot points and events

• Lu Yi spends the day cultivating and searching for a way to make better use of his limited time. He realizes the Heart Separation Control Method, which trains a person to divide their attention, might let him cultivate while studying.
• He finds Zhou Sichen’s copy and practices its basic technique, One Mind, Two Uses. By evening, he can write two different essays at once and has reached the intermediate stage.
• Zhou Sichen is astonished by Lu Yi’s rapid progress. He invites Lu Yi to a Treasure Appraisal Fair, where Cao Jinxuan is waiting.
• Lu Yi initially refuses, saying he needs time more than resources and does not want to become tied to a faction. Zhou and Cao insist, and he reluctantly agrees.
• Remembering that Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong may encounter assassins, Lu Yi chooses to leave without waiting for them.
• On the way to Shrek City, Zhou asks Lu Yi to teach him to fly a broom. Lu Yi produces one and prepares to give him a try.

Character developments and interactions

• Lu Yi shows intense discipline, quickly mastering a difficult attention-control technique. He remains focused on improving himself, protecting his independence, and avoiding factional entanglements. His concern for Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong also influences his decision to leave promptly.
• Zhou Sichen is impressed by Lu Yi’s talent, though his own progress with the technique has been more limited. He is short on money after buying a Soul Bone but remains eager to enjoy the fair and try broom flight.
• Cao Jinxuan joins Zhou in persuading Lu Yi to attend the fair.
• The chapter highlights the friendly pressure Zhou and Cao place on Lu Yi, as well as Lu Yi’s reluctance to socialize when it competes with his goals.

Significant themes

• Time, discipline, and self-improvement: Lu Yi seeks ways to combine tasks so he can study and cultivate more efficiently.
• Independence and caution: He avoids financial obligations, factions, and commitments that could limit his freedom.
• Talent and effort: Lu Yi’s rapid progress comes from both strong mental ability and sustained, focused practice.
• Friendship and responsibility: Though he prefers to stay focused, he agrees to accompany his friends and acts with Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong’s safety in mind.

• Broomstick flight: Zhou Sichen successfully flies on Lu Yi’s enchanted broomstick, but Cao Jinxuan uses his Time Lock Soul Skill to stop him from leaving the others behind. Lu Yi then summons Zhou and the broom back with Accio. Cao tries the broom himself and flies too, confirming that it can work for people besides Lu Yi. Lu Yi is excited by the possibility of testing it on weaker Soul Masters—and even ordinary people. Zhou keeps the broomstick’s workings secret, though he recognizes how cheaply it could be made compared with expensive Flying Soul Tools.
• At the Treasure Gathering Pavilion: The three enter the Treasure Appraisal Fair, where Cao eagerly seeks a credit assessment and Zhou begins imagining a broomstick business. Seeing a Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone priced at 9.5 million Gold Soul Coins crushes Zhou’s hopes of making enough money from the idea to buy one. Lu Yi reassures him that he has other plans for earning money, including future Storage Soul Tool-like products, and promises to make broomsticks for both friends.
• Credit and the closing joke: Lu Yi receives a black VIP card, a one-million-Gold-Soul-Coin credit limit, and a twenty-percent discount. Cao and Zhou get only yellow cards, but cheerfully flatter Lu Yi when he offers to use his discount for them. Wang Dong arrives and is bewildered by their sudden “adoptive father” routine.
  Character developments and interactions: Lu Yi’s magical craft proves broadly usable, while his confidence in future inventions hints at larger ambitions. Zhou shows a sharp commercial instinct and is disappointed when his plans meet the Soul Bone’s enormous price. Cao is competitive and eager to try flying, but joins the joking exchange once Lu Yi promises him a broom. The friends’ teasing—especially their mock adoption of Lu Yi—underscores their easy camaraderie. Themes include invention and practical value, ambition and wealth, and friendship expressed through rivalry and humor.

Key plot points and events

• Wang Dong and Huo Yuhao are stunned to learn that Zhou Sichen and Cao Jinxuan call Lu Yi their sworn father. The two explain their loyalty by joking that Lu Yi created a way for earthbound Soul Masters to fly. Lu Yi says it is an everyday flying device, not a Soul Tool, and promises to show it to them later.
• Lu Yi browses the exhibition, wondering whether Huo Yuhao will discover another valuable opportunity. He meets Ning Tian, who is considering a 40,000-year Mirror Shadow Beast skull Soul Bone priced at fifteen million Gold Soul Coins.
• Ning Tian explains that the Bone’s cloning ability would not suit her multitasking support Martial Soul, and that the price is inflated. She would still like to collect it—and jokes that, if it were older, it could be a grand betrothal gift for her future partner. But someone has already reserved it, so she leaves disappointed.
• Huo Yuhao arrives and recognizes that the skull’s ice and mental attributes suit him. Tian Meng encourages him to consider it, suggesting its copying ability might help uncover Lu Yi’s secrets, while the Ice Empress explains the Soul Beast’s abilities and mocks Tian Meng’s interest.

Character developments

• Lu Yi’s ingenuity is highlighted by his unusual flying device, which excites the earthbound Zhou Sichen and Cao Jinxuan.
• Ning Tian appears more lively and openly humorous than usual, while her wealth and ambitions for a future marriage become clear.
• Huo Yuhao shows interest in the Soul Bone because it matches his attributes, though its price gives him pause.
• Tian Meng’s curiosity about Lu Yi is exposed; the Ice Empress remains blunt and dismissive toward him.

Significant themes

• Innovation and status: Lu Yi’s invention offers mobility beyond conventional Soul Tools.
• Power, wealth, and value: Ning Tian’s wealth contrasts with the Bone’s steep price and uncertain practical worth.
• Compatibility and ambition: A powerful Soul Bone is valuable only if it suits its user; Huo Yuhao sees a potential match, while Ning Tian does not.
• Secrets and curiosity: Tian Meng hopes the Bone’s copying ability could reveal what Lu Yi is hiding.

Character interactions

• Wang Dong questions Lu Yi about the brothers’ unusual loyalty, while Cao Jinxuan jokingly frames their bond around his invention.
• Ning Tian discusses the Soul Bone with Lu Yi and the others, then leaves after learning it is reserved.
• Cao Jinxuan teases Zhou Sichen about his past interest in Ning Tian, prompting Zhou to chase him.
• Huo Yuhao consults Tian Meng and the Ice Empress, whose banter mixes tactical advice with teasing.

Key plot points and events

• At the Treasure Gathering Pavilion, Huo Yuhao discovers that he can claim a Mirror Shadow Beast Soul Bone for free. Lu Yi suspects Shrek has reserved it for Huo Yuhao and set an exorbitant price to deter other buyers.
• Huo Yuhao offers Lu Yi his forty-percent discount. Lu Yi buys five century-old blood ginseng roots to experiment with in his Potions, while Zhou Sichen and Cao Jinxuan also use the discount. Wang Dong finds nothing affordable that suits her.
• Lu Yi urges Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong to head back without him. He asks Huo Yuhao to use Spiritual Detection Sharing, apparently to assess its range, then stays behind with Zhou Sichen and Cao Jinxuan, sensing hostile intent and preparing for an ambush.
• On the way back, Huo Yuhao tells Wang Dong about his free Soul Bone and accepts that the Academy may limit his future choices. Tian Meng warns him of assassins ahead. Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong flee, signal for help, and fight while retreating toward Shrek City.
• Bei Bei, Xu Sanshi, and Jiang Nannan respond to the flare and rush to help.

Character developments and interactions

• Huo Yuhao is thrilled by the Soul Bone, trusts Lu Yi enough to share details about his special card, and shows resolve about remaining at the Academy despite the limits it may impose.
• Lu Yi is protective and calculating: he gives Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong a chance to avoid danger, uses Huo Yuhao’s detection ability to gather information, and stays behind to confront the threat.
• Wang Dong is startled by Lu Yi’s unusual behavior, then acts quickly and decisively when the assassins appear, carrying Huo Yuhao to safety.
• Zhou Sichen and Cao Jinxuan benefit from Huo Yuhao’s discount and remain with Lu Yi as he faces the looming danger.
• Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong’s lighthearted conversation gives way to cooperation under attack; their friends respond immediately to Huo Yuhao’s distress signal.

Significant themes

• Friendship and protection: Lu Yi prioritizes his companions’ safety, while Huo Yuhao’s friends come to his aid without hesitation.
• Fortune and hidden arrangements: The Soul Bone’s availability suggests the Academy has quietly ensured it reaches Huo Yuhao.
• Agency and ambition: Huo Yuhao understands the cost of staying at the Academy but accepts it in pursuit of greater strength and settling a score.
• Preparedness and trust: Lu Yi anticipates danger, and Huo Yuhao’s warning and flare show the value of vigilance and calling on allies.

Plot points and events

• Ma Xiaotao arrives just as Bei Bei and his companions prepare to fight the assassins. Her overwhelming Evil Fire helps her defeat four of them in under a minute.
• Lu Yi reveals that he captured the fifth assassin after detecting the man’s concealed hostile attention. Using a restraint charm, he crippled the Soul King without killing him, then treated the wound to stop the bleeding. Fragments recovered from the assassin’s memories—including portraits of Lu Yi and Zhou Sichen and the timing of the Treasure Appraisal Fair—support the conclusion that the man was part of the plot.
• The survivors suspect that Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong were the intended targets. Wang Dong wants to confront Dai Huabin, but Huo Yuhao insists they wait until they have evidence. Lu Yi, angered at being drawn into the attack, warns that enemies who have chosen “the path to death” should be shown no mercy.
• Yan Shaozhe takes the surviving assassin away for interrogation. The next day, Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong make Dai Huabin fulfill their wager by kneeling and kowtowing, but they do not yet accuse him of arranging the attack.
• Rumors about the assassination spread through class. Dai Huabin, knowing he is guilty, grows increasingly terrified that the captive will expose him and bring Shrek Academy’s wrath upon his family. An Inner Court senior arrives at the classroom, and Dai Huabin collapses in fear.

Character developments

• Lu Yi demonstrates patience, perceptiveness, and tactical skill, but his anger surfaces when he realizes he has been dragged into a deadly conflict. His determination to confront Dai Huabin later becomes explicit.
• Huo Yuhao restrains Wang Dong and prioritizes proof and questioning over impulsive retaliation.
• Wang Dong is eager to confront Dai Huabin, but accepts Huo Yuhao’s call to wait.
• Dai Huabin shifts from humiliation and rage to panic as he realizes the captive assassin may reveal his involvement.
• Ma Xiaotao displays immense strength, though her lack of restraint leaves no assassin alive for questioning; she is embarrassed when she realizes this.

Themes and interactions

• Justice versus revenge: Huo Yuhao urges caution until evidence is available, while Lu Yi argues for decisive action against confirmed enemies.
• Power and vulnerability: Ma Xiaotao dominates the fight, yet Dai Huabin’s fear shows how quickly confidence can collapse when consequences loom.
• Secrecy and evidence: Lu Yi’s deductions and the assassin’s captured memories help establish the truth, while Dai Huabin’s anxiety suggests that his guilt may soon be exposed.
• The chapter also highlights teamwork among the students, while contrasting their different responses: Ma Xiaotao acts forcefully, Huo Yuhao seeks restraint, Wang Dong wants confrontation, and Lu Yi withdraws to pursue his own course.

Plot points and events

• Ma Xiaotao visits Huo Yuhao to have him absorb and neutralize her Evil Fire. Their daylong exchange leaves her refreshed and free of the problem for a while, while Yuhao is exhausted—but his constitution improves.
• A new assessment for the Core Disciples is announced. Lu Yi realizes it may select a reserve team for the Shrek Seven Devils and sees it as an opportunity to target Dai Huabin.
• Yuhao receives and fuses with a 40,000-year Mirror Shadow Beast Spiritual Skull before dawn.
• The Soul Bone grants him Imitation, which can reproduce another person’s Martial Soul and use its Soul Skills at reduced strength for up to five minutes. It can be used once every twenty-four hours.
• Testing it on Wang Dong, Yuhao copies both her flying Martial Soul and her Clear Sky Hammer. His copied wings look different from hers, however, and he struggles to fly. The power costs him Soul Power and leaves him weakened; stronger targets would shorten the effect further.
• Yuhao and Wang Dong decide to find a chance to test Imitation on Lu Yi’s unusual Martial Soul, suspecting he is hiding something.

Character developments and interactions

• Ma Xiaotao benefits greatly from Yuhao’s ice-based assistance, while Yuhao’s endurance and physical resilience continue to grow.
• Yuhao is thrilled by Imitation’s versatility and eager to show it off, but his tests teach him its practical limits.
• Wang Dong is astonished by Yuhao’s ability to copy her two Martial Souls. She teases him for complaining about the five-minute limit and helps him think through testing Lu Yi.
• Lu Yi’s interest in the assessment is driven less by team selection than by his hostility toward Dai Huabin.
• The classmates briefly joke about Ma Xiaotao’s imposing arrival before Wang Yan’s lesson brings them back to order.

Significant themes

• Power and its limits: Imitation is exceptionally versatile, but its duration and effectiveness depend on Yuhao’s Soul Power and the target’s strength.
• Growth through cooperation: Yuhao’s cultivation with Ma Xiaotao benefits both of them, while Wang Dong’s support helps him explore his new ability.
• Hidden identities and suspicion: Yuhao’s copied Martial Soul takes an unexpected form, and he and Wang Dong suspect Lu Yi’s Martial Soul conceals more than it appears.

Key plot points and events

• Three days after the previous events, Wang Yan gathers Shrek’s Core Disciples for an assessment. Nearly thirty students assemble, unaware that the real purpose is to choose a reserve team for the Shrek Seven Devils.
• On the way, Huo Yuhao privately asks Lu Yi’s permission to use his Soul Bone Skill, Imitation, on Lu Yi’s Martial Soul. Lu Yi agrees, provided Huo Yuhao tests it in front of him.
• Xuan Zi arrives drunk and announces the assessment rules: a no-holds-barred free-for-all that ends when only seven students remain. Students quickly form groups.
• Huo Yuhao gathers his friends and heads toward Bei Bei. Lu Yi instead sets out to confront Dai Huabin, with Cao Jinxuan following him. Zhou Sichen hesitates, then is knocked out of the arena by a Soul Tool barrage and rescued by Xuan Zi.
• Dai Huabin’s group—Dai Huabin, Zhu Lu, Ning Tian, and Wu Feng—faces Lu Yi and Cao Jinxuan. Ning Tian holds Wu Feng back, wanting to see how Lu Yi will fare.
• Dai Huabin charges Lu Yi, who raises his Wand and casts Crucio, declaring it his answer to someone who cannot be forgiven.

Character developments

• Lu Yi remains focused on settling matters with Dai Huabin. He also shows curiosity about whether Huo Yuhao’s Imitation can copy his Wand and its magic.
• Huo Yuhao demonstrates unusual trust and honesty by explaining his Soul Bone Skill and asking permission before using it.
• Ning Tian keeps her distance from the personal confrontation, choosing to observe rather than intervene.
• Zhou Sichen hesitates over whether to support Lu Yi, and his indecision leaves him exposed to the arena’s chaos.
• Dai Huabin meets Lu Yi’s challenge with confidence and aggression.

Significant themes

• Trust and consent: Huo Yuhao treats his Soul Skill as private and asks before copying Lu Yi’s Martial Soul.
• Loyalty and choice: The students must decide whether to form alliances, support friends, or pursue personal goals.
• Justice and revenge: Lu Yi frames his attack on Dai Huabin as a response to an unforgivable wrong.
• Power and unpredictability: The free-for-all assessment, Xuan Zi’s presence, and Lu Yi’s unfamiliar magic make the contest difficult to predict.

Character interactions

• Huo Yuhao approaches Lu Yi with a careful request; Lu Yi’s agreement strengthens their trust.
• Wang Dong teases Xuan Zi’s appearance, prompting Huo Yuhao to warn her that he is a Super Douluo.
• Huo Yuhao tries to bring his friends together around Bei Bei, while Lu Yi separates from them to pursue Dai Huabin.
• Cao Jinxuan backs Lu Yi and uses his slowing ability against Dai Huabin and Zhu Lu.
• Ning Tian restrains Wu Feng, allowing the confrontation between Lu Yi and Dai Huabin to unfold.

Plot points and events

• Lu Yi uses the Cruciatus Curse on Dai Huabin, stopping his attack and leaving him writhing in agony. The curse unlocks and levels up, but Lu Yi ignores the prompts as he continues punishing Dai.
• Zhu Lu breaks free of Lu Yi’s Time Lock but does not attack. She knows Dai had planned to make her take the blame if his failed assassination attempt against Lu Yi became public.
• Lu Yi stops the curse to dodge an incoming Soul Cannon blast. Xuan Zi rescues Dai Huabin, though Dai remains incapacitated by the pain.
• Lu Yi chooses not to harm Zhu Lu out of revenge and instead uses the Full Body-Bind Curse to remove her from the match. In roughly ten seconds, both Dai and Zhu are eliminated.
• Ning Tian offers Lu Yi an alliance and buffs him and Cao Jinxuan. Her support also seems to steady Lu Yi’s emotions and may counter the mental strain of using an Unforgivable Curse. Wu Feng joins the group, positioning herself protectively near Ning Tian.
• As the team battles on, He Caitou targets them with his Energy-Gathering Cannon. After failing to communicate, Lu Yi uses Expelliarmus to disarm him and strip away his cannon equipment, then summons the Energy-Gathering Cannon with Accio and aims it at He Caitou.

Character developments and interactions

• Lu Yi reveals both the terrifying power of his magic and his capacity for restraint: he exacts revenge on Dai, but spares Zhu because she did not personally wrong him. His anger nearly overtakes him until Ning Tian’s buffs help calm him.
• Dai Huabin is reduced from an arrogant aggressor to a helpless victim of Lu Yi’s curse; Xuan Zi’s intervention prevents him from being struck by the cannon blast.
• Zhu Lu shifts from potential opponent to a shaken, passive observer, recognizing Dai’s willingness to sacrifice her to protect his family.
• Ning Tian reassesses Lu Yi after seeing him defeat a stronger opponent and proactively forms an alliance. Wu Feng recognizes the danger she narrowly avoided by not joining Dai’s attack and stays close to Ning Tian.
• He Caitou is introduced as a heavy-weapons specialist whose indiscriminate cannon fire makes him Lu Yi’s next opponent. Their exchange turns from failed conversation into a disarming contest.

Significant themes

• Revenge and restraint: Lu Yi’s punishment of Dai is driven by past harm, but he distinguishes Dai from Zhu and refuses to let revenge spread indiscriminately.
• Power and fear: Lu Yi’s unexplained magic unnerves bystanders and changes how others judge and approach him.
• Loyalty and self-preservation: Dai’s willingness to use Zhu as a scapegoat damages their trust, while Ning Tian’s alliance and Wu Feng’s protectiveness reveal more supportive bonds.
• Adaptability: Lu Yi turns an opponent’s weapon against him, shifting the fight by seizing the cannon rather than merely dodging it.

Key plot points and events

• Lu Yi uses the Disarming Charm to strip He Caitou of every offensive Soul Tool on his body, abruptly ending the barrage that had threatened the other contestants. He Caitou is quickly eliminated.
• Lu Yi tries to use He Caitou’s heavy Soul Cannon but cannot find its trigger. Shortly afterward, he is mysteriously sent into the stands and assumes he has been eliminated, though Xuan Zi confirms nothing.
• In the stands, He Caitou asks Lu Yi how the charm worked. Lu Yi explains that He Caitou ignored his warnings while firing; He Caitou apologizes, saying the many cannons drowned out his voice.
• With He Caitou gone, the remaining contestants regroup. Cao Jinxuan restrains an attacker, Ning Tian boosts Bei Bei, Xu Sanshi, and Jiang Nannan, and Huo Yuhao’s detection helps them turn the fight around.
• The field soon narrows to nine: Bei Bei, Xu Sanshi, Jiang Nannan, Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong, Xiao Xiao, Cao Jinxuan, Ning Tian, and Wu Feng. As apparent allies, they stop fighting.
• Wu Feng proposes eliminating the two contestants with the lowest cultivation—implicitly Huo Yuhao and Xiao Xiao. Wang Dong objects and taunts Wu Feng, reigniting their rivalry.
• Xuan Zi orders the other students and the immobilized Dai Huabin and Zhu Lu removed, but keeps Lu Yi and He Caitou behind for undisclosed reasons. He warns the nine that they must cooperate as a team and tells them to choose six members.

Character developments and interactions

• Lu Yi demonstrates the unusual effectiveness of his Disarming Charm, but his unfamiliarity with Soul Tools leaves him unable to fire He Caitou’s cannon. He is satisfied that he has taught Dai Huabin a lesson.
• He Caitou shifts from confident Soul Tool combatant to helpless target when his weapons are removed. His earnest apology and curiosity about Lu Yi reveal a good-natured side.
• Ning Tian supports the fight with timely boosts, while Cao Jinxuan contributes by restraining an opponent. Their assistance helps the regrouped team gain momentum.
• Huo Yuhao and Xiao Xiao become targets in Wu Feng’s proposed selection based on cultivation level. Wang Dong defends them and challenges Wu Feng, exposing the tension between the two.
• Xuan Zi remains cryptic, keeping Lu Yi and He Caitou behind without explanation while forcing the finalists to confront the need for teamwork.

Significant themes

• Teamwork over individual strength: Huo Yuhao’s detection, Ning Tian’s support, and the others’ combat skills combine to reverse the battle.
• Strength is situational: He Caitou’s formidable arsenal becomes a liability once disarmed, while Lu Yi’s unexpected technique changes the fight despite his inability to operate the cannon.
• Selection and cooperation: The final challenge shifts from combat to deciding who belongs on a team, testing the contestants’ judgment, loyalty, and ability to work with rivals.

Chapter Summary: “The Ultimate Weapon”

Key plot points

• Following Xuan Zi’s announcement that only six students could remain, Bei Bei organized a vote based on team balance and usefulness rather than Soul Power alone.
• Bei Bei, Xu Sanshi, and Jiang Nannan were chosen unanimously as the three Soul Ancestors. Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong, and Ning Tian also secured places because of their valuable support, flight, and enhancement abilities.
• Wu Feng, Cao Jinxuan, and Xiao Xiao were voted out. Wu Feng’s cultivation put her at a disadvantage compared with Bei Bei; Cao Jinxuan’s control skill was limited by its cooldown, while Xiao Xiao’s potential was not yet matched by her current strength.
• Xuan Zi then revealed that Lu Yi would join the group as an exception, bringing the team to seven. The real purpose of the assessment was to form a reserve team for the Shrek Seven Devils.
• Xuan Zi ordered all seven to learn to use Soul Tools at the Soul Tool Department. He explained that the rival Sun Moon Empire Royal Soul Engineer Academy was closing the gap with Shrek, and that the tournament was effectively a contest with long-term political and military consequences.
• After the others left, Xuan Zi questioned Huo Yuhao and Lu Yi about their unusual abilities. Huo Yuhao offered evasive explanations, and Xuan Zi ended by challenging Lu Yi to explain his seemingly unrelated skills.

Character developments and interactions

• Bei Bei steps into a leadership role, guiding the vote and prioritizing how the team works together.
• Ning Tian stays despite her close friendship with Wu Feng, recognizing that Wu Feng’s place on the team cannot be justified by ability alone.
• Lu Yi remains calm about being named a reserve member. He accurately identifies the value of his ability to disable Soul Engineers and seize their equipment, then candidly admits he cannot operate the Soul Cannon he captured.
• Xuan Zi recognizes Lu Yi’s ability as a potential weapon against Soul Engineers and selects him for the reserve team. His attempt to test Lu Yi’s reasoning is undercut when Lu Yi gives the answer Xuan Zi expected.
• Huo Yuhao continues to conceal the true nature of his abilities from Xuan Zi. Xuan Zi finds his powers unusual but considers Lu Yi’s skills even harder to explain.
• Xu Sanshi questions Lu Yi’s reinstatement and the lack of control specialists, but backs down after Xuan Zi asserts his authority.

Significant themes

• Team composition over individual strength: The selection favors complementary roles and practical contributions, not simply cultivation or future potential.
• Hidden ability and suspicion: Both Huo Yuhao and Lu Yi possess powers that prompt scrutiny, though Huo Yuhao is more guarded about his.
• Technology and changing warfare: Shrek’s rivals are gaining ground through Soul Tools, forcing even Soul Masters to adapt.
• The stakes behind competition: The tournament is presented not as a mere sporting event but as a struggle that could shape the balance of power for generations.

Key plot points and events

• Xuan Zi questions Lu Yi about his unusual techniques. Lu Yi claims they are inherited family arts, developed over generations and recorded in an ancient script. He says Evil Soul Masters killed his family, and Xuan Zi accepts the story and urges him to enter Shrek’s Inner Court.
• Huo Yuhao, moved by Lu Yi’s supposed loss, promises they will be brothers. Lu Yi warns him that Tang Ya’s parents were murdered and the Tang Sect’s property stolen, hinting at the revenge that may lead her toward becoming an Evil Soul Master.
• Lu Yi argues that knowledge should be shared rather than hoarded. He criticizes the Tang Sect’s failure to adapt beyond Hidden Weapons and asks Huo Yuhao to help test whether his techniques can be learned by others. Huo Yuhao is impressed, though he initially worries that the arts are family secrets.
• Bei Bei’s discussion with He Caitou about the Tang Sect’s plans to develop Soul Tools leads He Caitou to join the sect as its fifth member. He later privately reveals to Huo Yuyao that he is a former prince of the Sun Moon Empire. Huo Yuyao welcomes him as family.

Character developments and interactions

• Lu Yi successfully conceals his real circumstances from Xuan Zi, using an invented family tragedy to explain his knowledge and abilities. He also shows concern for Tang Ya’s future and champions openness in learning.
• Huo Yuyao grows closer to Lu Yi, respects the privacy of his inherited arts, and accepts Lu Yi’s warning about Tang Ya. He also welcomes He Caitou with heartfelt empathy, identifying with him as another orphan.
• Xuan Zi is moved by Lu Yi’s account and encourages him rather than pressing for more details.
• He Caitou joins the Tang Sect, connecting his Soul Tool expertise to its plans for change. His revealed royal background adds a personal bond with Huo Yuyao.

Significant themes

• Sharing knowledge versus guarding it: Lu Yi sees secrecy and repeated research as barriers to progress, while sect traditions favor keeping techniques within their ranks.
• Tradition and adaptation: The Tang Sect’s decline is presented as a consequence of clinging to old methods instead of embracing Soul Tools.
• Trauma, solidarity, and belonging: The characters’ losses create bonds, and the Tang Sect is framed as a family for people who feel orphaned or displaced.
• The risks of revenge: Lu Yi’s warning about Tang Ya foreshadows how justified grief could lead her toward destructive choices.

Plot points and events

• Lu Yi teaches Huo Yuhao the beginner spell Lumos, demonstrating how to produce a point of light with his Wand. Huo Yuhao uses his Imitation ability to copy Lu Yi’s Wand and tries the spell.
• Huo Yuhao’s first attempt produces a spark that nearly burns Zhou Sichen’s bedsheet. Lu Yi concludes that Huo Yuhao may not be picturing the desired effect clearly, and that the copied Wand may not suit him.
• After several tries, Huo Yuhao manages to light the Wand, but it disappears when Imitation expires. The effort leaves him doubtful about learning magic.
• Tian Meng confirms that Lu Yi’s Martial Soul is a poor fit for Huo Yuhao, and Huo Yuhao agrees that he cannot afford to devote time to a difficult, unsuitable art.
• Lu Yi then reveals the Flying Broomstick he had promised to show him. Zhou Sichen demonstrates that it can fly quickly without Soul Power.
• Huo Yuhao examines the broom and discovers it has no Core Array. Lu Yi explains that Enchanting makes it fly and claims the broom can be enchanted for a total cost of five Silver Soul Coins.

Character developments and interactions

• Huo Yuhao shows strong attention and imitation skills, but struggles with magic because the copied Wand resists him. His interest in learning it gives way to practical concern about time and compatibility. The broom, however, immediately captures his curiosity as a Soul Engineer.
• Lu Yi acts as Huo Yuhao’s teacher and encourages him after the failed spell attempts. He also reveals a practical application of his magic, surprising Huo Yuhao.
• Zhou Sichen reacts to the spark on his bedding, then enthusiastically demonstrates the broom’s flight.
• Tian Meng offers Huo Yuhao a blunt assessment: Lu Yi’s Martial Soul is a poor match, so studying it may not be worthwhile.

Significant themes

• Compatibility and limits: Imitating another person’s power does not guarantee mastery; the Wand’s resistance reflects the importance of a fitting match.
• Persistence and learning: Huo Yuhao succeeds only after repeated attempts, though the experience also helps him judge whether the skill is worth pursuing.
• Clashing systems of knowledge: The broom challenges Huo Yuhao’s assumptions about Soul Tools, energy, and technology.
• Practical value of magic: Magic is presented not only as a mysterious art but as a potentially inexpensive, useful craft.

Key plot points and events

• Huo Yuhao is astonished by how cheaply Flying Broomsticks can be made compared with conventional flying Soul Tools. Lu Yi sees an even larger opportunity: combining enchantments with Soul Tools so they can fly without Soul Power normally, then use Soul Power for extra performance.
• Lu Yi proposes applying the idea to armor and eventually creating Mecha—armored suits that combine flight, defense, and multiple Soul Tools. Huo Yuhao is thrilled, connecting the idea to the Ultimate Individual Soldier Plan, but recognizes he is not yet ready to develop it.
• Lu Yi agrees to experiment with finished Soul Tools after studying enchantment further. Huo Yuhao promises to lend him the tools he makes. Zhou Sichen also gets excited about the idea, especially Lu Yi’s suggestion of a giant Mecha operated by several people and armed with fixed-installation Soul Cannons.
• Later, Lu Yi checks his status panel and finds that the Cruciatus Curse has become an upgradeable entry. Its upgrades can extend its duration, intensify soul torment, or penetrate mental defenses; the panel warns that high levels could collapse or destroy a target’s soul. Lu Yi spends one point on mental-defense penetration.

Character developments

• Lu Yi shows inventive thinking by linking magical enchantment with Soul Tool engineering, while remaining focused on his own training rather than taking on a major research project immediately. He is also disturbed by the curse’s potential and reflects on the moral danger of relying on ruthless shortcuts.
• Huo Yuhao responds with intense enthusiasm and begins to see Lu Yi as a valuable partner in future Soul Tool research. He is willing to share his own creations for Lu Yi to experiment with.
• Zhou Sichen is drawn into the vision of Mecha and playfully tries to secure a chance to pilot one.

Significant themes and character interactions

• Innovation through combining disciplines: The Mecha concept emerges from blending magic enchantments with Soul Tool technology, suggesting how a small practical invention could lead to a major advance.
• Power and responsibility: The Cruciatus Curse offers direct, overwhelming power, but Lu Yi worries that abusing it would make him resemble the Evil Soul Masters he opposes.
• Collaboration and ambition: Huo Yuhao’s excitement and offer of equipment, along with Zhou Sichen’s playful interest, turn Lu Yi’s idea into a shared possibility—though its development remains uncertain.

Key plot points and events

• Over the next half month, the Reserve Team studied Soul Tools alongside their regular lessons and attended weekly combat training led by Xuan Zi.
• Before each bout, fighters could choose a Soul Tool supplied by the Soul Tool Department. The exercise helped them learn to use the tools and understand how Soul Engineers fought.
• Lu Yi chose a light one-handed shield, which let him defend while concealing the spells he cast with his Wand. He repeatedly used the Disarming Charm against Xu Sanshi, whose Xuanming Shield was an ideal target.
• Xu Sanshi tried to counter Lu Yi by equipping a defensive shield. When it blocked Lu Yi’s Red Electricity, Xu Sanshi triumphantly assumed he was safe—until Lu Yi inflicted painful boils on his skin with another spell. Jiang Nannan exploited his distraction and knocked him out.
• Afterward, Xu Sanshi fought timidly and claimed he had been poisoned. Xuan Zi initially dismissed the complaint, then saw the boils. Lu Yi secretly lifted the curse at the end of training.
• At the third session, the Inner Court Main Team arrived under Ma Xiaotao. Its members were surprised to learn that four Reserve Team members were only second-years.

Character developments

• Lu Yi uses the training thoughtfully, choosing equipment that complements his magic, and proves willing to use unconventional spells when straightforward tactics fail.
• Xu Sanshi learns that his defense has limits and that he is not as indifferent to pain as he thought. Humiliation and discomfort make him markedly more cautious.
• Jiang Nannan remains a decisive attacker, quickly taking advantage of Xu Sanshi’s hesitation.
• Xuan Zi shows strong awareness of the students’ abilities and keeps the intense matches controlled, though he initially underestimates Xu Sanshi’s problem.
• The Reserve Team display varied preferences: Huo Yuhao, Bei Bei, and Ning Tian embrace Soul Tools most readily, while others favor their own strengths or only specific tools.

Significant themes

• Training and equipment are most effective when adapted to individual fighting styles.
• Understanding an opponent’s methods is as important as developing one’s own.
• Adaptability—and sometimes unconventional tactics—can overturn an apparent defensive advantage.
• The chapter balances rigorous combat training with humor, especially through Xu Sanshi’s misfortunes.

Character interactions

• Lu Yi’s repeated targeting of Xu Sanshi turns their training bouts into a comic rivalry.
• Jiang Nannan capitalizes on Xu Sanshi’s vulnerability, while he tries to hide his embarrassment from Xuan Zi.
• Xuan Zi’s stern coaching contrasts with the students’ teasing, competitive exchanges.

Key plot points and events

• Xuan Zi divides the students into two teams led by Ma Xiaotao and Dai Yueheng. Ma Xiaotao picks Gongyang Mo and Huo Yuhao first, then Xixi and Bei Bei, and finally Jiang Nannan and Wang Dong. Dai Yueheng’s team gets Chen Zifeng, Xu Sanshi, Yao Haoxuan, Ling Luochеn, Ning Tian, and Lu Yi.
• Lu Yi’s quiet battlefield awareness and ability to cast simple spells discreetly explain why Ning Tian’s teams tend to fare better when he is an ally. She has mistaken his influence for luck.
• Dai Yueheng apologizes to Lu Yi on behalf of the White Tiger Duke’s Mansion for Dai Huabin’s past actions. He says his brother has lost his inheritance rights and promises not to revive the feud.
• Dai Yueheng’s tactical briefing largely overlooks the reserve members, assigning them generic roles while concentrating on the Inner Court fighters. Lu Yi, Xu Sanshi, and Ning Tian notice but say little.
• Before the match, the senior fighters decline Soul Tools, while Lu Yi, Ning Tian, and Xu Sanshi select defensive ones. Xu Sanshi then asks Lu Yi to secretly inflict a painful setback on Bei Bei, offering a Mystic Water Pill as payment. Lu Yi jokes that he and Bei Bei are like brothers—and therefore Xu will have to pay more.

Character developments and interactions

• Lu Yi is polite and observant, increasingly capable of influencing fights without being noticed. He accepts Dai Yueheng’s apology but does not challenge the dismissive tactical plan.
• Ning Tian trusts Lu Yi as a teammate, having noticed a pattern in their matches, though she does not realize he is responsible for their success. She invites him to use her given name.
• Xu Sanshi has figured out Lu Yi was behind his recurring sores. Still resentful over his earlier embarrassment and lost pills, he tries to recruit Lu Yi to take revenge on Bei Bei.
• Dai Yueheng presents himself as honorable and separate from Dai Huabin, acknowledging the family’s wrongdoing and offering reconciliation. His otherwise formal approach, however, reveals that he underestimates the reserves.
• Lu Yi and Xu Sanshi share a teasing, transactional exchange: Xu tries to bargain for mischief, while Lu Yi raises the price by invoking his closeness with Bei Bei.

Significant themes

• Hidden influence and perception: Lu Yi’s subtle support shapes outcomes, while others attribute the results to luck.
• Reconciliation and accountability: Dai Yueheng takes responsibility for his family’s actions and tries to distinguish himself from his brother.
• Status and underestimation: The Inner Court team’s planning overlooks the reserves, despite their abilities and potential impact.
• Loyalty and humor: Lu Yi’s claimed bond with Bei Bei turns Xu Sanshi’s revenge scheme into a joke—and a negotiation.