Chapter Summaries

• Key events: Zhou Yi is forcing her students to run as punishment, disguising it as a fitness test. When Chu Ge confronts her over threatening to expel one of his students, she claims she is acting for their benefit. She seeks help from Director Du Weilun, but he refuses to intervene and leaves. Zhou Yi then accuses Chu Ge of bullying her because she is a woman. He responds by slapping her repeatedly, continuing even after she threatens him with her husband, Fan Yu. The beating stops only when Zhou Yi begs him to stop.
• Character developments: Zhou Yi remains defiant and convinced she has done nothing wrong, even as she outwardly pleads for mercy. Chu Ge is protective of his students and furious at Zhou Yi’s abuse of authority, but his response is extreme. He also realizes he has misunderstood his system mission: it requires him to earn Zhou Yi’s approval, not merely punish her.
• Character interactions: Huo Yudie and Tang Wutong are reassured by Chu Ge’s arrival. Du Weilun recognizes the confrontation but deliberately withdraws, partly because he and Elder Yan are already preparing to expel Zhou Yi. Zhou Yi’s appeal to her husband and her accusations do nothing to deter Chu Ge.
• Significant themes: The chapter contrasts a teacher’s duty of care with the misuse of authority, while portraying institutional indifference and the consequences of unchecked arrogance. Its central irony is that Chu Ge’s violent attempt to correct Zhou Yi must somehow lead to her approval—a task made absurd by their antagonistic relationship.

Plot points and events

• After beating Zhou Yi, Chu Ge demands her approval. She reluctantly gives it, but the system does not register it until he slaps her again; the reward is nine Soul Power Experience Pills.
• Zhou Yi discovers that her own students witnessed the humiliation and are pleased with the outcome. She cancels class and leaves, threatening that the matter is not over.
• Huo Yudie and Tang Wutong worry that Zhou Yi may enlist her husband, a senior Soul Tool Department official, to retaliate. Chu Ge dismisses the concern and says he will deal with any further trouble.
• Du Weilun summons Chu Ge to see Dean Yan Shaozhe. Yan apologizes for the academy’s failure to prevent the incident and gives Chu Ge Zhou Yi’s dismissal letter, promising she will not be rehired.
• Yan then offers to have Ma Xiaotao show Chu Ge around the academy. His suggestive smile hints that he hopes the two young adults will become a couple.

Character developments and interactions

• Chu Ge remains confident and protective of his disciples. He treats Zhou Yi’s punishment as justified, is unmoved by the threat of retaliation, and accepts Yan’s offer only after trying to decline.
• Zhou Yi is forced to swallow her pride and give Chu Ge the approval he wants. Humiliated in front of her students, she leaves furious and vengeful.
• Huo Yudie and Tang Wutong show concern for their master and consider ways to protect him, including calling on Tang Wutong’s powerful family.
• Yan Shaozhe acts warmly toward Chu Ge, takes decisive action against Zhou Yi, and appears to be matchmaking him with Ma Xiaotao.
• Du Weilun serves as a courteous intermediary between Chu Ge and the dean.

Significant themes

• Power and accountability: Zhou Yi’s status cannot protect her from consequences once she mistreats Chu Ge and his disciples.
• Loyalty and protection: Chu Ge’s response is framed as defending his students, while they in turn worry about threats against him.
• Institutional self-interest: Yan’s decisive dismissal may be less about reform than about winning Chu Ge’s favor.
• Comedy and matchmaking: The system’s reward for securing Zhou Yi’s approval contrasts with Yan’s romantic ambitions for Chu Ge.

Plot points

• Dean Yan Shaozhe proposes that Chu Ge spend time with his disciple, Ma Xiaotao, describing it as a chance for two talented students to get to know each other and exchange ideas.
• Chu Ge realizes Yan is trying to arrange a match, though he suspects Yan also hopes Chu Ge’s strength and life-rich Blue Silver Emperor Martial Soul might help restrain Xiaotao’s dangerous Evil Fire.
• Chu Ge agrees to meet her, but Yan calls Xiaotao without explaining the plan. She arrives almost immediately, just as Chu Ge is preparing to leave, making the introduction unavoidable.

Character developments and interactions

• Chu Ge recognizes Yan’s matchmaking scheme and responds with amused caution. He respects Xiaotao’s exceptional talent, despite how modestly Yan describes it, and is open to meeting her as a friend.
• Yan Shaozhe appears earnest but is openly scheming: he hopes to secure an impressive partner for Xiaotao and perhaps help control her Evil Fire. His excitement turns comically premature as he imagines future grandchildren.
• Ma Xiaotao has not been told about Yan’s intentions. She answers his call and arrives promptly, appearing confident and striking in red.
• Yan’s attempts to bring them together contrast with Chu Ge’s effort to delay the meeting; Xiaotao’s sudden arrival defeats that plan.

Significant themes

• Matchmaking and expectations: Yan treats the meeting as the start of a possible romance, while Chu Ge prefers to keep things casual.
• Talent and perspective: Xiaotao is an extraordinary Soul Emperor under twenty, even if Yan downplays her abilities beside Chu Ge’s.
• Power as protection: Yan believes Chu Ge’s overwhelming strength—and possibly his life energy—could suppress Xiaotao’s Evil Fire.
• Comic irony: Yan and Xiaotao are both remarkably efficient, leaving Chu Ge bemused by how quickly his planned lunch introduction becomes an immediate encounter.

Chapter summary

• Chu Ge and Ma Xiaotao meet. Yan Shaozhe introduces Chu Ge, a newly appointed academy teacher roughly Ma Xiaotao’s age. His powerful presence impresses her, while Chu Ge finds her attractive and notes the danger behind her “Flame Witch” reputation.
• They agree to spend time together. Yan suggests they have lunch, but Ma Xiaotao is hesitant because she barely knows Chu Ge and rarely eats with others. Chu Ge senses the awkwardness and proposes that she show him around instead. Ma accepts, and they leave together.
• Yan Shaozhe gets carried away. Delighted that Ma Xiaotao agreed, he imagines the two as a future couple and even starts wondering what he might name their son. His matchmaking enthusiasm provides the chapter’s comic tone.
• Qian Duoduo learns Zhou Yi has been dismissed. Yan meets with Qian, Vice Dean of the Soul Tool Department, ostensibly to discuss Zhou Yi. Qian assumes the matter is minor and says Yan can handle it—until Yan reveals that Zhou Yi has already been fired. Qian is so shocked that he spits out his tea.

Character developments and interactions

• Ma Xiaotao moves past her initial surprise at Chu Ge’s status and agrees to accompany him, suggesting she is at least open to getting to know him.
• Chu Ge handles their awkward first meeting tactfully by offering a low-pressure alternative to lunch.
• Yan Shaozhe acts as an enthusiastic, meddling matchmaker, reading Ma’s agreement as a promising sign.
• Qian Duoduo begins dismissive of Zhou Yi’s case but becomes stunned by the severity of Yan’s decision.

Significant themes

• First impressions and cautious connection: Chu Ge and Ma Xiaotao are intrigued by each other but still know almost nothing about one another.
• Power, talent, and status: Chu Ge’s appointment as a teacher implies exceptional strength and causes Ma Xiaotao to reassess him.
• Comic matchmaking: Yan’s fantasies contrast with the modest reality of two people simply taking a walk.
• Institutional consequences: Zhou Yi’s dismissal hints at a serious conflict and sets up the reaction of the Soul Tool Department.

Plot points and events

• Dean Yan Shaozhe dismisses Zhou Yi from Shrek and gives Vice Dean Qian Duoduo a file documenting her conduct.
• The file reveals Zhou Yi arbitrarily expelled around eighty students for trivial or fabricated reasons, apparently to boost her class’s advancement rate. Many students had been too intimidated to complain.
• Yan explains that a newly arrived Inner Court teacher, Chu Ge, helped expose the misconduct. He also gives Qian Chu Ge’s profile, which reveals that Chu Ge is a Titled Douluo with three hundred-thousand-year soul rings and has recently grown even stronger.
• Qian accepts the evidence and decides to review Fan Yu’s position as Soul Tool Department director, then calls his disciple.
• Meanwhile, Fan Yu prepares to avenge Zhou Yi, believing her account of events. Qian’s call reveals Zhou Yi’s record and her attempts to invoke Fan Yu’s reputation. Fan Yu realizes he has been deceived and confronts her when she returns.
• When Zhou Yi again demands that he get justice for her, Fan Yu slaps her and casts her out, furious that her recklessness could ruin him. Zhou Yi is left stunned by Chu Ge’s power.

Character developments and interactions

• Yan Shaozhe is decisive and unsympathetic toward Zhou Yi’s abuses, while cautiously offering Qian a way to reconsider Fan Yu’s role.
• Qian Duoduo shifts from defending Zhou Yi as family to accepting the evidence and acting against her and potentially Fan Yu.
• Fan Yu moves from protective outrage to shock, betrayal, and anger once he hears the truth. His devotion to Zhou Yi collapses as he sees how her actions have harmed others—and endangered him.
• Zhou Yi remains self-justifying and oblivious to the consequences of her conduct, expecting Fan Yu to defend her even after her dismissal.

Significant themes

• Abuse of authority: Zhou Yi weaponizes her teaching position, using expulsions to manipulate reported success.
• Accountability and evidence: Her misconduct comes to light through an investigation and records, despite students’ fear of speaking up.
• Blind loyalty and disillusionment: Fan Yu’s long-standing devotion gives way once he learns what Zhou Yi has actually done.
• Power and self-preservation: Chu Ge’s extraordinary strength makes Zhou Yi’s attempt to intimidate others through Fan Yu especially dangerous.

Key plot points and events

• On the way to Shrek City, Ma Xiaotao asks Chu Ge what he wants to eat and takes him to her favorite grilled-fish stall.
• They run into Chu Ge’s disciple, Huo Yudie, and her friend Tang Wutong. Ma Xiaotao buys grilled fish for both girls, who then leave the pair to continue their outing.
• Ma Xiaotao learns that Chu Ge has already taken a disciple despite being young, and asks why. He says it feels like fate: Yudie has lost her family, and he intends to give her the life she deserves.

Character developments

• Chu Ge presents himself as a caring, committed mentor. He is determined to protect Yudie and provide the affection and support she needs.
• Ma Xiaotao is warm and generous, though inexperienced at treating someone to a meal. Hearing about Yudie’s loss moves her because she was once an orphan herself.
• Huo Yudie and Tang Wutong show their fondness and respect for Chu Ge; both are pleased when he calls them sweet.

Character interactions

• Ma Xiaotao and Chu Ge share a relaxed meal and talk about his role as a teacher.
• Huo Yudie affectionately greets Chu Ge as “Master,” while Tang Wutong calls him “Brother Chu.” Both quietly wonder whether Ma Xiaotao might be his girlfriend.
• Ma Xiaotao welcomes the girls and treats them to food, then reflects on Chu Ge’s promise to care for Yudie.

Significant themes

• Chosen family and mentorship: Chu Ge takes responsibility for Yudie and promises to give her a secure, loving life.
• Empathy shaped by hardship: Ma Xiaotao’s own orphaned past helps her understand Yudie’s situation.
• Fate and compassion: The chapter frames their teacher-disciple bond as an unexpected connection that becomes a deliberate commitment.

Plot points

• Ma Xiaotao and Chu Ge share an awkward but friendly outing. After Ma Xiaotao offers more grilled fish, Chu Ge buys two skewers, explaining that he is simply returning the favor for her earlier treat.
• They stroll beside Sea God Lake, a peaceful spot Ma Xiaotao visits when cultivation stress weighs on her.
• Ma Xiaotao admits that the evil fire affecting her Martial Soul has made cultivation—and the prospect of future breakthroughs—frightening. Chu Ge encourages her to stay hopeful.
• They part on good terms. Meanwhile, Yan Shaozhe reflects on the academy’s problems after Fan Yu and Zhou Yi are removed from their posts, then wonders how the outing is going. Ma Xiaotao returns sooner than he expected and reveals that she treated Chu Ge to grilled fish, leaving him incredulous.

Character developments and interactions

• Ma Xiaotao comes across as a talented but somewhat innocent young woman: she is unsure how to make conversation, worries about seeming greedy, and genuinely enjoys sharing her favorite food and walking spot with Chu Ge. She feels encouraged by his kindness.
• Chu Ge is considerate and gently teasing. He takes the initiative to buy the food, reassures Ma Xiaotao about her worries, and appreciates her company.
• Yan Shaozhe shifts from concern over the academy’s misconduct to hopeful matchmaking speculation. His surprise at Ma Xiaotao’s choice of “treat” provides the chapter’s comic ending.

Significant themes

• Kindness and reciprocity: Chu Ge turns Ma Xiaotao’s invitation into an easy exchange of favors.
• Pressure and hope: Ma Xiaotao’s fear about her evil fire is met with Chu Ge’s reassurance that difficulties may eventually be overcome.
• Growing connection: Their comfortable time together suggests the beginning of a friendship, even though they remain unfamiliar with each other.

Key plot points and events

• Yan Shaozhe scolds Ma Xiaotao for taking Chu Ge to eat grilled fish on their first outing, arguing that it was a poor choice for an important first impression. Xiaotao realizes the awkwardness—especially since Chu Ge paid for her—and vows to treat him to something better next time.
• Xiaotao confirms that she and Chu Ge took a brief walk by Sea God Lake. Yan Shaozhe reads her flushed face as a sign of romantic interest and encourages her to “keep up the good work,” though she misunderstands what he means.
• After parting from Xiaotao, Chu Ge reflects on how unusually brief and efficient their outing was, then turns his attention to lunch.
• He sees Huo Yudie and Tang Wutong confronting Dai Huabin. Dai insults Yudie’s birth and family, and mocks her for being too weak to challenge him.
• Dai proposes a contest: if Yudie loses, she must kowtow. Tang Wutong is enraged and nearly accepts, but Chu Ge steps in and accepts the wager on their behalf.

Character developments and interactions

• Ma Xiaotao is inexperienced with dating and initially unaware that her choice of meal might seem inconsiderate. Her embarrassment shows that she cares about Chu Ge’s impression of her.
• Yan Shaozhe eagerly interprets Xiaotao’s blush and their walk as evidence of mutual romantic interest, while Xiaotao takes his encouragement literally.
• Chu Ge remains lighthearted after his outing, but becomes decisive when Dai targets the two girls.
• Huo Yudie is consumed by anger and a desire for revenge against Dai, yet restrains herself because fighting in public could leave her with nowhere to go.
• Tang Wutong openly defends Yudie and is ready to confront Dai. Chu Ge’s intervention shifts the conflict into a wager he accepts.

Significant themes

• Inexperience and miscommunication: Xiaotao’s awkward date and Yan Shaozhe’s mistaken assumptions create light comedy.
• Pride, prejudice, and revenge: Dai’s class-based insults deepen Yudie’s resentment, while her need for restraint conflicts with her desire to retaliate.
• Loyalty and protection: Tang stands up for Yudie, and Chu Ge steps in when Dai threatens to humiliate her.

Plot points and events

• Dai Huabin targets Huo Yudie and Tang Wutong, boasting about his strength and proposing a wager: the loser must kowtow and apologize.
• Chu Ge steps in, intimidating Dai with his overwhelming aura, then accepts the challenge on Yudie’s behalf. A system mission appears, offering a Hundred Thousand Year White Tiger Torso Bone if Dai is defeated.
• Rather than fight Dai himself, Chu Ge encourages Yudie to face him. Reassured by her master’s support, she accepts the wager and declares she is confident.
• Dai arranges for the duel to take place that afternoon in Shrek Academy’s Soul Fighting Arena, with a referee present.
• After Dai leaves with Zhu Lu, Xiao Xiao explains that he is a rank-34 Soul Elder, a member of the Dai Family, and the wielder of the Evil-Eyed White Tiger. She also says he has a Martial Soul Fusion Skill with his fiancée.
• Despite the level gap, Yudie confidently predicts she will win.

Character developments and interactions

• Chu Ge protects Yudie and Wutong and makes clear that he trusts Yudie to handle the fight herself. His support turns a potentially frightening confrontation into an opportunity for her to assert herself.
• Huo Yudie moves from worrying that she has caused trouble to openly accepting the duel and showing determination. Her confidence rests on Chu Ge’s backing and Sky Dream’s help.
• Tang Wutong is relieved by Chu Ge’s arrival, remains angry at Dai, and becomes curious about the difference in their cultivation levels.
• Dai Huabin is arrogant and contemptuous toward Yudie, but Chu Ge’s pressure makes him cautious and stops him from openly insulting her.
• Xiao Xiao provides the group with information about Dai’s rank, background, martial soul, and fusion skill.

Significant themes

• Support and empowerment: Chu Ge’s protection does not replace Yudie’s agency; he encourages her to face the challenge herself.
• Confidence against prejudice: Dai dismisses Yudie because of her origins and perceived weakness, while she resolves to prove him wrong.
• Power and ambition: The system’s reward highlights the extraordinary stakes attached to defeating Dai and frames the duel as a test of emerging talent.

Plot points

• Dai Huabin leaves after arranging a public duel with Huo Yudie. The loser must kowtow and apologize, and Dai expects his higher rank to guarantee victory.
• Tang Wutong worries that Yudie, a Soul Grandmaster, cannot beat Dai, a Soul Elder with a powerful Evil-Eyed White Tiger Martial Soul.
• Yudie asks the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm about her chances. He assures her she is overwhelmingly favored because of her Million-Year Soul Ring and powerful spiritual abilities.
• At the arena that afternoon, the crowd is unusually large: Dai has publicized the wager, raising the stakes for both contestants.
• Yudie remains calm, believing the public nature of the match will make it harder for Dai to avoid fulfilling the wager if he loses.
• Du Weilun is revealed to be the referee. When Chu Ge says Yudie is his disciple, Du Weilun realizes Dai may have badly misjudged the contest.

Character developments and interactions

• Dai Huabin is arrogant and contemptuous, treating Yudie as beneath him. By publicizing the duel, he shows both confidence and a desire to humiliate her.
• Zhu Lu notices that Dai has changed, suggesting his current behavior differs sharply from the person she once knew.
• Huo Yudie moves from uncertainty about the challenge to quiet confidence, relying on her own strength and the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm’s reassurance.
• Tang Wutong is deeply protective of Yudie and fears the humiliation she could face, while Chu Ge gently teases her for worrying.
• Chu Ge stays confident in his disciple and supports her by attending the match.
• Du Weilun shifts from neutral observer to concern for Dai once he learns Yudie is Chu Ge’s disciple.

Significant themes

• Arrogance versus hidden strength: Dai assumes rank and reputation make victory certain, while Yudie’s spiritual power gives her an unexpected advantage.
• Public humiliation and consequences: By making the wager widely known, Dai turns a private rivalry into a public test of pride.
• Friendship and support: Tang Wutong worries for Yudie, while Chu Ge and the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm bolster her confidence.
• The gap between appearances and reality: Yudie’s seemingly modest Martial Soul and lower cultivation rank conceal her formidable abilities.

Chapter Summary

• Plot: The narrator shares that it’s the weekend and says a teacher they’re close to has invited them out for hot pot at noon. They plan to post an update after returning. No meal or later events are shown.
• Character development: The narrator’s brief message suggests a friendly, trusting relationship with the teacher.
• Themes: Everyday companionship, warmth, and anticipation.
• Character interactions: The narrator and the teacher have plans to share a meal, but the chapter offers no dialogue or further detail about their interaction.

Key plot points and events

• Du Weilun reflects that Chu Ge’s decision to teach at Shrek to stay near Huo Yudie suggests she is far more capable than people assume. He privately expects Dai Huabin to regret underestimating her.
• Dai Huabin arrives convinced Huo Yudie is weak despite her advancement to Soul Grandmaster. He dismisses Zhu Lu’s warning and imagines humiliating Yudie.
• Before the match, Chu Ge, Tang Wutong, and Xiao Xiao support Yudie. She quietly views the fight as her first battle and her first confrontation with the Dai family.
• Dai Huabin introduces himself as a level-34 Soul Elder and demands that the loser kowtow three times and apologize publicly.
• The crowd expects a contest between strong students, then reacts with outrage and disbelief when Yudie—only a level-26 Soul Grandmaster—takes the arena.
• Dai activates his White Tiger Vajra Transformation and charges. Yudie appears not to move, but he suddenly freezes, loses consciousness, and falls.
• Yudie calmly asks the referee to announce the result. Du Weilun and the spectators are left stunned by her instant victory.

Character developments

• Huo Yudie remains composed under pressure and reveals that her apparent passivity conceals a decisive ability. Her confidence proves justified.
• Dai Huabin is arrogant and dismissive, refusing to heed Zhu Lu’s sensible caution. His certainty makes his sudden defeat especially humiliating.
• Zhu Lu shows concern for Dai and tries to warn him, but he rebuffs her, leaving her subdued.
• Chu Ge demonstrates quiet confidence in his disciple, while Tang Wutong and Xiao Xiao offer sincere encouragement.
• Du Weilun shifts from private confidence in Yudie to astonishment at how quickly she wins.

Significant themes

• Arrogance versus humility: Dai’s contempt blinds him to Yudie’s strength, while the chapter suggests that even gifted students should show restraint.
• Appearance versus reality: The crowd judges Yudie by her lower rank and gentle demeanor, only to see her defeat a stronger opponent instantly.
• Loyalty and support: Yudie’s friends and teacher stand by her, contrasting with Dai’s refusal to listen to those close to him.
• Reversal of expectations: A match framed as a chance for Dai to humiliate Yudie becomes an unexpected demonstration of her power.

Character interactions

• Dai dismisses Zhu Lu’s warning, exposing tension in their relationship.
• Tang Wutong and Xiao Xiao encourage Yudie, and Chu Ge’s silent faith reassures her.
• The spectators initially condemn Dai for targeting a girl, then watch in disbelief as Yudie defeats him.
• Yudie’s calm request to Du Weilun to declare the result caps the reversal and leaves the arena speechless.

Key plot points

• Huo Yudie defeats the stronger Dai Huabin instantly with Spiritual Shock, a powerful mental attack gained through her Sky Dream Ice Silkworm Soul Spirit. She used only its weakest level.
• Dai Huabin remains unconscious, so Chu Ge tells Yudie to wake him. Her repeated slaps leave his face badly swollen before Chu Ge’s own slap finally revives him.
• The crowd demands that Dai fulfill their wager: apologize and kowtow. After resisting, he admits he was wrong and kowtows three times, drawing blood.
• Yudie sees this as the first step toward avenging her family. She vows to kill Dai Huabin—and eventually hold the entire Dai Family accountable—once she is strong enough. Chu Ge, however, privately considers acting sooner.

Character developments and interactions

• Huo Yudie reveals both startling strength and deep-seated hatred. Though she restrains herself from killing Dai, the public humiliation gives her a measure of satisfaction and renews her determination.
• Chu Ge supports Yudie, helps wake Dai, and tacitly encourages her revenge, hinting that he may not wait for her to become powerful.
• Dai Huabin goes from arrogant confidence to shock and despair as his defeat and public humiliation shatter his pride.
• Zhu Lu, Dai’s fiancée, worries about the consequences of his humiliation, but Tang Wutong challenges her to consider whether Dai deserves her concern. Zhu Lu is left conflicted.
• Du Weilun, Tang Ya, and the spectators are stunned by Yudie’s victory; the crowd then backs her demand that Dai honor the wager.

Significant themes

• Revenge and justice: Yudie’s victory is a symbolic first step toward retribution, though her desire for a life-for-a-life goes beyond the immediate wager.
• Pride and humiliation: Dai’s status and self-image offer no protection from defeat or the consequences of his behavior.
• Power and restraint: Yudie possesses the strength to kill Dai but chooses not to—for now—while Chu Ge’s final thoughts suggest that restraint may not last.

Key plot points and events

• Dai Huabin fulfills the wager by kneeling and apologizing to Huo Yudie. She declares the dispute over, and Chu Ge’s system confirms that the mission is complete, rewarding him with a hundred-thousand-year soul bone.
• Before leaving, Chu Ge warns Dai Huabin not to trouble Yudie again, hinting that next time the consequences will be far worse.
• Dai Huabin leaves the arena with Zhu Lu, but spectators mock him for challenging someone weaker, losing in one move, and demanding that she kneel. Overwhelmed by the humiliation, he faints.
• Du Weilun takes responsibility for the unconscious student and reflects that Dai Huabin’s poor character might have become a serious problem if the academy had invested in him without knowing it.
• Back with Chu Ge, Huo Yudie, Tang Wutong, and Xiao Xiao, the girls celebrate Dai Huabin’s downfall. Yudie makes clear that the wager was only a small first step toward what she ultimately wants.
• A new system mission appears: Chu Ge must earn the Soul Tool Department director’s recognition to qualify as a freshman. The stated reward is god-level soul-engineer talent. Chu Ge is amused that the mission casts him—a Titled Douluo—as a novice.

Character developments and interactions

• Huo Yudie remains composed and firm, accepting Dai Huabin’s apology but showing no intention of forgiving or reconciling with him. Her quiet comment that this is “only the beginning” signals a larger goal.
• Chu Ge protects Yudie and backs up his warning with a menacing smile. He is chiefly concerned with completing his mission, then reacts with dry amusement to the next one.
• Dai Huabin leaves defeated and disgraced. His resentment toward Yudie deepens, and he vows revenge, but public ridicule leaves him so furious and ashamed that he collapses.
• Zhu Lu supports her fiancé and worries over him, though she keeps her criticism of his choices to herself.
• Tang Wutong and Xiao Xiao share the news of Dai Huabin’s fainting and laugh at his humiliation. Their lively camaraderie suggests Xiao Xiao is becoming close with the group.
• Du Weilun condemns Dai Huabin’s behavior while recognizing his status and talent, and decides the academy is better off having seen his character early.

Significant themes

• Pride and consequences: Dai Huabin’s arrogance and attempt to humiliate Yudie turn into public shame.
• Justice and revenge: Yudie’s victory settles the immediate wager, but her words suggest she intends to pursue a broader reckoning.
• Reputation and character: The chapter contrasts Dai Huabin’s claimed status as a prodigy with his conduct under pressure.
• Fate and progression: Chu Ge reflects on Xiao Xiao’s place in the group, while the system steers him toward an unexpected new role in the Soul Tool Department.

Key plot points and events

• Chu Ge considers a new system mission: win Fan Yu’s approval and join the Soul Tool Department. Though already powerful enough to take a senior post, he decides the reward—god-level Soul Engineer talent—is worth pursuing.
• He invites Huo Yudie out to celebrate her success in making Dai Huabin kowtow, and includes Tang Wutong and Xiao Xiao. He also invites Ma Xiaotao, hoping she can guide him to the Soul Tool Department.
• Fan Yu reviews student files and recognizes Huo Yudie’s spiritual abilities as an ideal fit for the department. He contacts Dean Xian Lin’er, who agrees to recruit and support her.
• After a meal, Chu Ge asks Ma Xiaotao to take him to meet Xian Lin’er. At the dean’s office, Xian Lin’er recognizes Yudie and asks whether she already has a teacher. Yudie replies that she has a master, then suspiciously concludes that Xian Lin’er wants to become her master’s wife.

Character developments and interactions

• Chu Ge is ambitious but relaxed, pursuing Soul Engineer talent while celebrating Yudie’s progress. His invitations also draw the others into a friendly outing.
• Huo Yudie is pleased by Chu Ge’s attention and proud of her progress, but feels left out when Wutong and Xiao Xiao call him “Brother Chu” instead of “Master.” She later becomes protective of her place in his life.
• Fan Yu shows keen judgment and strong enthusiasm for recruiting Yudie, while Xian Lin’er is eager to nurture her.
• Ma Xiaotao is flustered by Chu Ge’s repeated invitations and wonders whether accepting another meal will make it harder to refuse him. She is relieved that his request is simply to visit the Soul Tool Department.
• Tang Wutong and Xiao Xiao happily join the outing; Wutong’s dislike of the Soul Tool Department means they do not accompany Chu Ge and Yudie there.

Significant themes

• Ambition and talent: Chu Ge seeks a major boost in Soul Engineer ability, while Fan Yu and Xian Lin’er recognize Yudie’s potential.
• Affection and jealousy: Yudie’s quiet resentment at being left out develops into comical protectiveness over Chu Ge.
• Humor and misunderstandings: Yudie’s leap from “you have a master” to “you want to be my master’s wife” ends the chapter on a comic note.

Key plot points and events

• Huo Yudie suspects Xian Lin’er may want to marry her master, Chu Ge, and steps protectively in front of him. Xian clarifies that this is not her intention.
• Xian Lin’er recognizes Ma Xiaotao and learns that Chu Ge came to see her.
• Xian reveals her real purpose: she wants Huo Yudie to study Soul Tools, first offering to take her as a second master and promising not to interfere with Chu Ge’s teaching.
• Yudie refuses, insisting that Chu Ge is her only master.
• Xian changes her offer, asking Yudie to join the Soul Tool Department without taking another master. Though the idea of becoming a Soul Engineer briefly appeals to Yudie, she refuses after recalling a teacher who had misused the department’s authority.
• Xian tries to persuade her with promises of resources and the department’s Ultimate Individual Soldier Plan, led by Fan Yu. Her confidence that this will convince Yudie only makes Yudie’s resolve firmer.

Character developments and interactions

• Huo Yudie shows fierce loyalty to Chu Ge, protectively misreads Xian’s intentions, and refuses to compromise her exclusive master-disciple bond. Her momentary interest in Soul Tools reveals a possible aptitude or deeper connection, but her distrust of the department wins out.
• Chu Ge responds to Yudie’s concern with affectionate amusement, gently patting her head while refraining from making a tactless comment about Xian’s age.
• Xian Lin’er is impressed by Yudie’s talent and spiritual abilities and persistently tries to recruit her, adapting her offer when the first approach fails.
• Ma Xiaotao acts only as a guide, keeping out of the discussion while remaining respectful toward Xian.

Significant themes

• Loyalty and exclusive bonds: Yudie’s devotion to Chu Ge defines her response to both offers.
• Persuasion versus personal choice: Xian offers status, resources, and opportunity, but Yudie’s judgment and past experience outweigh them.
• Misunderstanding and comedy: Yudie’s assumption that Xian wants to marry Chu Ge creates a playful opening before the serious recruitment effort begins.

Plot points and events

• Dean Xian Lin’er tries to recruit Huo Yudie into Shrek’s Soul Tool Department, appealing to the connection between its director, Fan Yu, and Yudie’s teacher, Zhou Yi.
• Yudie refuses. Fan Yu arrives to persuade her, but she cuts him off, firmly rejecting the department because she associates him with Zhou Yi’s mistreatment of students.
• Chu Ge reveals that he knows about the conflict between Zhou Yi and Yudie. He leads Yudie and Ma Xiaotao away, leaving Fan Yu and Xian Lin’er confused.
• Fan Yu explains what happened: Zhou Yi provoked Chu Ge and Yudie while relying on the Soul Tool Department’s influence, and both she and Fan Yu were dismissed. Xian Lin’er recognizes that Zhou Yi’s conduct made Yudie’s refusal understandable.
• Elsewhere, Dai Huabin recovers from his injuries. Still trapped in his distorted recollection of the fight, he vows to kill Yudie and considers using his family’s elders to attack her during an academy mission. His anger causes him to cough up blood.
• Zhu Lu urges him to stop plotting and focus on his health. Dai lashes out, blaming her for failing to stop him and suggesting she shares responsibility for his humiliation.

Character developments and interactions

• Huo Yudie remains polite but resolute: her judgment of the Soul Tool Department is shaped by her experience with Zhou Yi and her distrust of those who enabled her.
• Chu Ge protects his disciple and ends the recruitment conversation once it becomes clear that persuasion will not work.
• Xian Lin’er shifts from optimistic recruiter to frustrated, then recognizes the department’s role in the conflict.
• Fan Yu is eager to recruit Yudie for his research project, but his assumptions collapse when he learns who her master is and why she refuses.
• Dai Huabin doubles down on pride, vengeance, and denial rather than acknowledging his defeat. Zhu Lu shows concern but also challenges his behavior, prompting him to turn his anger on her.

Significant themes

• Responsibility and complicity: Fan Yu’s marriage to Zhou Yi and the department’s support of her raise questions about whether he shares blame for her conduct.
• Pride versus accountability: Dai cannot accept defeat and redirects blame toward Yudie and Zhu Lu.
• Trust and belonging: Yudie’s choice shows that an academy’s reputation cannot overcome the harm caused by its teachers and institutions.
• Power and consequences: Zhou Yi’s misuse of institutional backing damages the Soul Tool Department’s credibility and costs it a promising recruit.

Key events

• Zhu Lu leaves Dai Huabin after realizing he sees her chiefly as a useful fiancée, not an equal. She doubts she can truly break the engagement because her family is weak and the match carries political weight.
• Dai Huabin dismisses her departure, assuming she will return. He turns his attention to plotting the deaths of Huo Yudie and her teacher, Chu Ge, whom he resents after being forced to kowtow.
• Chu Ge receives a system reward: god-level soul engineer talent, after earning Fan Yu’s recognition and qualifying for the Soul Tool Department. He sees it as a chance to develop a second profession and eventually teach Huo Yudie.
• On the way back, Huo Yudie criticizes Fan Yu for approaching her about the department despite his association with Zhou Yi. Ma Xiaotao also condemns Zhou Yi’s past mistreatment of students.

Character developments and interactions

• Zhu Lu begins to recognize how little respect Dai Huabin has for her, though family obligations leave her uncertain whether she can escape the engagement.
• Dai Huabin reveals his arrogance and possessiveness: he treats Zhu Lu as an accessory and assumes she will obey him, while plotting revenge against Huo Yudie and Chu Ge.
• Chu Ge gains a major new ability and remains calm and supportive as Huo Yudie vents.
• Huo Yudie is outspoken about the academy’s hypocrisy and about Fan Yu’s connection to Zhou Yi. Ma Xiaotao sympathizes with her and shares her anger.

Significant themes

• Control versus autonomy: Zhu Lu’s family ties and engagement constrain her choices, while Dai Huabin takes her obedience for granted.
• Abuse of power and institutional failure: The discussion of Zhou Yi highlights how teachers can exploit students and how the academy’s failure to intervene damages trust.
• Ambition and growth: Chu Ge’s new talent opens a path for further development, contrasting with Dai Huabin’s reliance on status, influence, and threats.

Key plot points and events

• Huo Yudie asks Chu Ge if she can avoid the Soul Tool Department permanently after its staff mistreated her. Chu Ge agrees, and she leaves relieved and cheerful.
• Ma Xiaotao parts from Chu Ge, still unaware they both live in the Inner Court.
• Chu Ge visits Dean Yan Shaozhe. Yan tells him Wang Yan has been appointed homeroom teacher for Yudie’s class, and encourages Chu Ge to meet Inner Court students, including the current Shrek Seven Devils.
• Chu Ge asks for access to a Soul Tool Department workshop so he can begin studying soul tools. Yan cannot arrange it himself, but directs him to Dean Xian Lin’er.
• Meanwhile, Xian Lin’er learns from Fan Yu about the conflict involving Zhou Yi and Chu Ge. She agrees Zhou Yi should apologize and says the department should make a sincere effort to repair relations.
• Chu Ge arrives while Xian Lin’er and Fan Yu are discussing how to reconcile with him, and politely offers to come back after they finish.

Character developments and interactions

• Huo Yudie firmly rejects the Soul Tool Department after its treatment of her, trusting Chu Ge to support her decision. His reassuring response deepens their affectionate, almost parent-child bond.
• Chu Ge shows both protectiveness toward Yudie and growing interest in soul-tool research. He remains composed and practical about navigating the academy’s departments.
• Ma Xiaotao is friendly and eager to spend more time with Chu Ge, but does not yet know how close their living arrangements are.
• Yan Shaozhe tries to involve Chu Ge in teaching and student mentorship, while acknowledging that he cannot directly help with Soul Tool Department resources.
• Xian Lin’er and Fan Yu recognize that the department mishandled the situation. They agree that Zhou Yi’s removal is not enough and consider a direct apology, though Fan Yu is uneasy about how it will go.

Significant themes

• Trust and protection: Yudie’s confidence in Chu Ge contrasts with her distrust of the people who mistreated her.
• Institutional rivalry and accountability: The academy’s Martial Soul and Soul Tool departments operate separately, while the Soul Tool Department must confront the consequences of its conduct.
• Mentorship and opportunity: Chu Ge is encouraged to teach and guide students even as he seeks to develop new expertise himself.
• Repairing relationships: Xian Lin’er and Fan Yu recognize that genuine reconciliation requires more than a token punishment or gesture.

Chapter summary

• Chu Ge overhears a private discussion between Soul Tool Department dean Xian Lin’er and Fan Yu about how to address Zhou Yi’s behavior. He jokes about stepping outside, leaving both of them embarrassed.
• When he returns, Xian Lin’er begins to explain, but Chu Ge dismisses the subject of Zhou Yi. He has no interest in an apology and says he came for another reason.
• Chu Ge introduces himself and asks to borrow a Soul Tool workshop. Fan Yu and Xian Lin’er are surprised and wonder whether a powerful Titled Douluo can make Soul Tools. Chu Ge admits he has no experience but says he wants to try.
• Xian Lin’er takes him to her own workshop and lends him an engraving knife. While examining a blueprint for the sixth-class Infinity Edge, Chu Ge feels an unexpected confidence and decides to improve on its design.
• He begins engraving the weapon’s core array. His work is remarkably precise, astonishing Xian Lin’er, who had assumed he knew nothing about Soul Tool creation.

Character developments and interactions

• Chu Ge remains composed and lightly teasing, but his curiosity turns into surprising confidence once he handles the materials. His apparent lack of knowledge may not reflect his actual ability.
• Xian Lin’er moves from embarrassment over being overheard to respectful hospitality. She is initially skeptical of Chu Ge’s skill, then visibly impressed by his craftsmanship.
• Fan Yu is startled by Chu Ge’s arrival and intrigued by the possibility that he might contribute to the Soul Tool Department.
• Chu Ge and Xian Lin’er establish a courteous, practical rapport; she accommodates his request by sharing her personal workshop.

Significant themes

• Unexpected talent: Chu Ge’s first attempt challenges everyone’s expectations.
• Appearance versus ability: His casual claim that he is only “interested” contrasts sharply with the precision of his work.
• Consequences of careless talk: Xian Lin’er and Fan Yu’s plans are disrupted because Chu Ge overhears them.
• Dismissal of empty apologies: Chu Ge refuses to spend time on Zhou Yi, regarding her as unworthy of his attention.