Chapter Summaries

Gu Qingnian arrived late for the academy tournament final, then claimed a God-Given Soul Ring that summoned an enormous eye over the academy and drew the attention of powerful figures across the continent. The academy raised its defenses as the Soul Ring descended before him, while an old man beneath the Divine Tree wondered whether the event was a blessing or a worry.

• Gu Qingnian left Cui Yajie near the academy gates under the protection of his Soul Power projection and a layered barrier.
• Gu Qingnian arrived just before the final's deadline, and Du Weilun explained the rules before the match began.
• Gu Qingnian claimed his God-Given Soul Ring, causing an enormous eye to appear in the sky above the academy.
• Xuan Zi and Yan Shaozhe recognized the eye's connection to Gu Qingnian, and a God-Given Soul Ring descended before him.
• Xuan Zi ordered the academy to activate its alert protocols while Yan Shaozhe and the teachers raised its defenses.
• The old man beneath the Divine Tree sensed something unusual and wondered whether Gu Qingnian's Soul Ring was a blessing or a worry.

Gu Qingnian manifested a mysterious azure-blue soul ring that drew the attention of powerful figures across the empires and Divine Realm. After the phenomenon ended, three soul rings appeared before him, but Xuan Zi sensed something was wrong with his condition.

• The Star Luo Emperor ordered an investigation, while the Body Sect Master set out to claim Gu Qingnian as his successor.
• At Clear Sky Castle, the two men discussed whether the phenomenon involved Little Dong and ordered an inquiry into Gu Qingnian's background; Tang San worried it might disrupt what had been set.
• In Gu Qingnian's Sea of Consciousness, the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm and Ice Empress recognized the phenomenon as world force, and the gray sphere spoke briefly.
• Gu Qingnian's Six Eyes appeared with two black soul rings, and an azure-blue bubble enveloped him as Xuan Zi guarded him and Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong, and Xiao Xiao watched.
• A fiery-red newcomer arrived from Sea God Island, exchanged a tense look with Wang Dong, and stood near the academy leaders.
• When the bubble burst, three rings—black, black, and azure blue—appeared before Gu Qingnian, and Xuan Zi noticed that his condition seemed wrong.

After Gu Qingnian awakened with a god-bestowed soul ring, the Martial Soul and Soul Tool Department deans both tried to recruit him. He postponed their dispute to continue fighting Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong, and Xiao Xiao, and the battle began with Xiao Xiao’s attack meeting Gu Qingnian’s soul skill.

• Gu Qingnian thanked Xuan Zi for protecting him, and Yan Shaozhe and Qian Duoduo argued over whether he belonged to the Martial Soul Department or the Soul Tool Department.
• Yan Shaozhe and Qian Duoduo each privately promised Gu Qingnian mentorship and opportunities, but he asked them to let him finish the match first.
• Gu Qingnian and his friends agreed to fight, and Xuan Zi left Yan Shaozhe to referee as spectators gathered around the arena.
• When Yan Shaozhe started the match, Huo Yuhao rushed forward, Wang Dong took to the air, and Xiao Xiao moved in front of Huo Yuhao to support the assault.
• Gu Qingnian released his first ten-thousand-year soul ring, and Xiao Xiao split her Three-Life Soul-Suppressing Cauldron into three just before Cauldron’s Tremor struck.

Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong, and Xiao Xiao struggled to overcome Gu Qingnian, whose power left their first assault ineffective. Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong began fusing their Martial Souls as Xiao Xiao combined her cauldrons, and their joint attack was unleashed toward Gu Qingnian.

• Wang Dong and Huo Yuhao launched a coordinated attack on Gu Qingnian, but he blocked it with a strange technique and left all three opponents winded.
• Gu Qingnian taunted the trio and offered to fight using only his physical body, prompting Wang Dong and Huo Yuhao to join hands.
• Xiao Xiao retreated and summoned three cauldrons around Gu Qingnian while Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong activated their Martial Souls together.
• Huo Yuhao's Spirit Eyes phantom and Wang Dong's Light Goddess Butterfly phantom fused into a blue-gold form.
• Xiao Xiao merged her three cauldrons into one and unleashed her strongest control technique as a powerful blue-and-gold beam shot toward Gu Qingnian.

Gu Qingnian used the Physical Techniques Mastery Scroll to reach Mastery in Shaolin and blocked Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong’s Martial Soul Fusion Skill with his Golden Light Shield. Yan Shaozhe declared Gu Qingnian’s team the winner, but the match ended with a voice calling him a dear disciple and announcing that his master had arrived.

• Gu Qingnian gained Shaolin Mastery and summoned golden elephants to knock Xiao Xiao’s cauldron out of the arena.
• Gu Qingnian used Golden Light Shield to withstand Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong’s Martial Soul Fusion Skill without injury, while Xiao Xiao was eliminated and the other two collapsed from exhaustion.
• Gu Qingnian helped Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong up, gave them bottles, and told them he would await their next match.
• Yan Shaozhe praised the fighters and announced Gu Qingnian’s team as the winner of the Freshman Assessment elimination tournament.
• Yan Shaozhe announced that awards and class assignments would take place the next morning.
• A voice boomed across the heavens, declaring, “My dear disciple! Your master is here!”

The Body Sect's Poison Old Monster, identified as Du Busi, arrived at Shrek Academy demanding to take Gu Qingnian as his disciple. After Du Busi defeated Xuan Zi in their clash, he located Gu Qingnian and called out to him.

• Yan Shaozhe ordered the students to shelter and tried to protect Gu Qingnian, but Gu Qingnian stopped him and chose to stay and watch.
• Xuan Zi confronted Poison Old Monster outside the academy, and the two sides revealed their strength as the Body Sect's experts faced Shrek Academy's defenders.
• Poison Old Monster declared that he had come for his disciple, while Xuan Zi denied that Gu Qingnian belonged to him.
• Du Busi and Xuan Zi fought in the air, and Du Busi sent Xuan Zi flying back after their clash.
• Du Busi scanned the academy, found Gu Qingnian, and called out, "Found you, my dear disciple!"

Du Busi attacked Gu Qingnian and tried to recruit him into the Body Sect, but Gu Qingnian shattered his palm strike and agreed to speak with him privately. The chapter ended with Du Busi asking whether Gu Qingnian feared leaving Shrek or disappointing it.

• Du Busi launched an ink-green palm strike at Gu Qingnian, and Xuan Zi and Yan Shaozhe moved to protect him.
• Gu Qingnian met the attack with seven golden elephants and a powerful counterblow that shattered Du Busi's palm.
• Du Busi offered to make Gu Qingnian his sole personal disciple and devote the Body Sect's resources to him.
• Gu Qingnian reassured Xuan Zi, then entered a soul-power bubble with Du Busi to talk privately.
• Du Busi asked whether Gu Qingnian worried about leaving Shrek or letting the academy down.

Gu Qingnian refused Du Busi’s offer to become his disciple and proposed a wager: in one year, he would survive three attacks, and the Body Sect would belong to him. After Du Busi threatened him, Gu Qingnian swore to honor the terms if he lost, and Du Busi accepted before departing.

• Gu Qingnian told Du Busi that no one, not even a god, was worthy of being his master.
• Gu Qingnian proposed that he endure three attacks in a year; if he survived, he would refuse discipleship and claim the Body Sect, but if he lost, he would join the sect or become Du Busi’s disciple.
• Du Busi seized Gu Qingnian by the throat and threatened Xuan Zi and the others when they moved to intervene.
• Gu Qingnian invoked his God-Given Soul Ring and swore upon his Martial Soul that he would not flee and would honor the wager if he lost.
• Du Busi released Gu Qingnian, who returned safely to Xuan Zi and Yan Shaozhe, then confirmed that the wager was sealed.
• Du Busi departed with his group, declaring that he would wait for Gu Qingnian to come to the Body Sect.

Mu En drove Du Busi and the Body Sect away from Shrek Academy, then Xuan Zi went to meet Mu En while Yan Shaozhe took Gu Qingnian back to the Outer Court. After a tumultuous afternoon, Gu Qingnian returned to his dormitory and found a familiar figure sulking on a bed.

• A golden Sea God's Light swept over Shrek City, and Mu En revealed himself to Du Busi as Dragon God Douluo.
• Du Busi agreed not to touch Gu Qingnian while he remained at Shrek Academy, then ordered the Body Sect to withdraw.
• Xuan Zi went alone to the center of the academy, while Yan Shaozhe took Gu Qingnian back and went to calm the people of Shrek City.
• Zhou Yi dragged Gu Qingnian to her office to question him, and he quieted her before returning to the dormitory.
• Gu Qingnian found a familiar figure curled up and grumbling on a bed, and teased them by asking, “Are you crying?”

Gu Qingnian teased Wang Dong after the assessment, and their scuffle ended in an embarrassing encounter when Huo Yuhao returned to their dormitory. The next morning, Du Weilun announced the top teams, and Gu Qingnian noticed that Huo Yuhao’s team had been named after him rather than Wang Dong.

• Gu Qingnian joked with Wang Dong and invited her and Huo Yuhao to eat, prompting Wang Dong to attack him.
• Gu Qingnian spanked Wang Dong and then let her fall, and she tore his trousers while trying to retaliate.
• Huo Yuhao rushed into the dormitory after hearing Wang Dong scream, but Gu Qingnian gave him a confusing explanation while Wang Dong hid under her covers.
• Du Weilun announced Dai Huabin’s team in third place, though only Zhu Lu stepped forward.
• Du Weilun named Huo Yuhao’s team as the runner-up, and Gu Qingnian noticed that its name differed from the original story.

Gu Qingnian’s team was announced as the Freshman Assessment champion and received a special reward, while Huo Yuhao and several other students were named Core Disciples. Gu Qingnian’s conspicuous absence from both Core Disciple lists left the crowd puzzled, though he appeared unconcerned.

• Du Weilun announced Gu Qingnian’s team as the undefeated Freshman Assessment champion, and Gu Qingnian made a dramatic entrance onto the stage.
• Du Weilun said the top three teams would receive academy help obtaining suitable soul rings and granted Gu Qingnian’s team an additional secret reward.
• Du Weilun named Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong, Xiao Xiao, and other students as full Core Disciples, but did not include Gu Qingnian.
• Du Weilun granted Huang Chutian, Long Xiangyue, and Nanmen Yun'er temporary Core Disciple privileges, while Gu Qingnian remained absent from the list.
• Students mocked Gu Qingnian for not being selected, but he stayed aloof as Huo Yuhao and the others looked at him with concern.

Gu Qingnian received the academy’s exceptional championship reward from Dean Yan Shaozhe, who then asked him to join the Martial Soul Department. The chapter ended with Gu Qingnian considering Yan Shaozhe’s careful recruitment pitch.

• The first-year students were assigned to four classes, with Gu Qingnian and his companions placed in Class One under Zhou Yi and Wang Yan.
• Du Weilun escorted Gu Qingnian to the Teachers' Office, where Yan Shaozhe was waiting to present his reward.
• Yan Shaozhe gave Gu Qingnian a Storage Soul Tool Ring with 240 cubic meters of space and an undisclosed prize inside.
• Gu Qingnian quickly bonded with the ring, surprising Yan Shaozhe and Du Weilun with his eagerness.
• Yan Shaozhe asked Gu Qingnian whether he would join the Martial Soul Department.

Yan Shaozhe tried to recruit Gu Qingnian into the Martial Soul Department, but Gu Qingnian revealed Fan Yu had predicted he could become a Level 9 Soul Engineer. Qian Duoduo and Fan Yu interrupted the meeting, and the two department deans began arguing over Gu Qingnian as the dispute remained unresolved.

• Yan Shaozhe pressed Gu Qingnian to choose the Martial Soul Department, while Gu Qingnian carefully avoided giving him an answer.
• Gu Qingnian revealed that Fan Yu believed he had the talent to become a Level 9 Soul Engineer, shocking Yan Shaozhe and Du Weilun.
• Yan Shaozhe grabbed Gu Qingnian and demanded to know whether he had a second martial soul, then let go and apologized.
• Qian Duoduo and Fan Yu stormed into Yan Shaozhe's office after hearing Gu Qingnian was about to reveal his soul-tool talent.
• Qian Duoduo accused Yan Shaozhe of trying to steal Gu Qingnian, while Yan Shaozhe defended his offer and challenged Qian Duoduo to fight.
• Fan Yu tried to mediate, but Yan Shaozhe and Qian Duoduo continued their confrontation over Gu Qingnian.

Yan Shaozhe and Xian Lin'er argued over which department Gu Qingnian should recruit, then agreed to take the matter to a Sea God Pavilion Meeting. Elsewhere, the bandaged Second Young Master demanded that Gu Qingnian be killed despite warnings about the danger of attacking him at Shrek Academy.

• Yan Shaozhe and Qian Duoduo argued over which department Gu Qingnian should join until Xian Lin'er arrived.
• Xian Lin'er challenged Yan Shaozhe's attempt to recruit Gu Qingnian and insisted the Soul Tool Department could help him reach the continent's pinnacle.
• Yan Shaozhe proposed settling the dispute at a Sea God Pavilion Meeting, and Xian Lin'er agreed before both left.
• Fan Yu led Gu Qingnian away, while Gu Qingnian privately considered the academy's offers inferior to the Body Sect's terms.
• The black-robed man warned the bandaged Second Young Master against attacking Gu Qingnian at Shrek Academy, but the Second Young Master insisted that he wanted Gu Qingnian dead.

At a Sea God Pavilion Meeting, Yan Shaozhe and Qian Duoduo argued that Gu Qingnian’s extraordinary potential could bring Shrek Academy lasting prosperity, but made competing cases for whether the Martial Soul Department or Soul Tool Department should nurture him. The elders weighed their claims, and the meeting remained unresolved.

• Yan Shaozhe chaired the emergency Sea God Pavilion Meeting after his teacher instructed him to begin.
• Yan Shaozhe argued that Gu Qingnian might possess a second martial soul, had attracted a god’s attention, and could bring the academy another ten thousand years of prosperity.
• Xian Lin'er rebuked Yan Shaozhe for his dramatic introduction, while Elder Lin urged him to continue.
• Qian Duoduo claimed Gu Qingnian had quickly crafted a Level 2 Soul Tool and possessed practical knowledge of Level 9 Soul Tools that could help Fan Yu become a Level 9 Soul Engineer.
• The elders fell silent to weigh the competing arguments over Gu Qingnian’s cultivation and resources.

The Sea God Pavilion elders debated whether Gu Qingnian should follow the Martial Soul Department or Soul Tool Department cultivation path. Xian Lin'er and Yan Shaozhe reached a compromise over student selection, but Gu Qingnian’s placement remained unresolved.

• Xian Lin'er argued that the Soul Tool Department could train Gu Qingnian into a Level 9 Soul Engineer and pledged to resign if its plan failed.
• Xuan Zi discussed Gu Qingnian’s unusual soul rings and possible second awakening, then declared that he intended to take him as his disciple.
• Xuan Zi offered to lead the Martial Soul Department in hunting Gu Qingnian’s future soul rings and protecting him from the Body Sect.
• An elder defended the Soul Tool Department’s ultimate individual soldier plan, while Xuan Zi argued that the Martial Soul Department could develop a cultivation method for Gu Qingnian.
• Xian Lin'er accused Xuan Zi of favoring the Martial Soul Department, and he proposed giving the Soul Tool Department eight Core Disciples as compensation.
• Yan Shaozhe offered ten Core Disciples and promised that the departments would jointly select future Core Disciples, letting students choose their cultivation paths.

At the Sea God Pavilion Meeting, the leaders agreed that Gu Qingnian should continue studying in both departments without being forced to choose, while the academy avoided investigating his secrets. Back in his dormitory, Gu Qingnian summoned A Wu and sealed the room, preparing to claim his reward.

• Qian Duoduo and Xian Lin'er rejected Yan Shaozhe's offer to exchange Gu Qingnian for talented students, and Yan called for a vote on where he belonged.
• Mu En ended the dispute by ruling that Gu Qingnian could continue in both departments, receive preferential treatment, and be observed before any adjustments were made.
• The meeting agreed not to investigate Gu Qingnian's connection to the Body Sect, his second martial soul, or A Wu, and Mu En left while Xuan Zi wondered if he also wanted to take Gu Qingnian as a disciple.
• Gu Qingnian returned to his dormitory after Du Weilun arranged leave for him, then woke A Wu and asked her to take human form.
• Gu Qingnian enveloped the dormitory in azure soul power to block outside interference.

Gu Qingnian checked Yan Shaozhe’s ring, found a rare spiritual Head Soul Bone, and decided to save it for someone else. A disturbance in his Sea of Consciousness brought him face to face with the mysterious presence in the gray sphere, who revealed that it was a dying remnant from another world.

• Gu Qingnian had A Wu inspect Yan Shaozhe’s ring, then used his own spiritual power and the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm’s help to confirm it was safe.
• Gu Qingnian discovered a three-thousand-year Phantom Vision Wisdom Soul Bone in the ring but considered it too weak to use and kept it for Huo Yuhao or a future subordinate.
• The Divine Mill stirred as a violent disturbance erupted in Gu Qingnian’s Sea of Consciousness, where the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm and the gray sphere argued over territory.
• The Ice Empress explained that the gray sphere’s aura had become unstable before the Sea of Consciousness began fluctuating.
• The presence in the gray sphere told Gu Qingnian that it came from another world and had settled in his Sea of Consciousness after being drawn there by the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm’s fusion with him.

Gu Qingnian discussed future soul rings and possible targets with the Ice Empress and Sky Dream Ice Silkworm before returning to his room. The next morning, he woke to find A Wu naked in his arms just as Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong entered, leaving him scrambling to conceal her.

• The aged voice studied the Chaos Divine Mill, promised to help Gu Qingnian, and boasted before the disturbances subsided.
• Gu Qingnian considered taking rare soul rings and opportunities associated with Huo Yuhao, including those tied to the Three-Eyed Golden Lion and powerful Ice and Evil Eye soul beasts.
• The Sky Dream Ice Silkworm mentioned the Titan Snow Demon King, Ice Bear King, and Snow Empress, causing the Ice Empress's spiritual body to waver.
• Gu Qingnian left the Sea of Consciousness and fell asleep with A Wu nestled in his arms.
• Gu Qingnian woke to find a naked A Wu against his chest, then covered them with a blanket when Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong came in.

Gu Qingnian took Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong, and A Wu to breakfast before heading to class, where Wang Dong’s teasing chant and Wang Yan’s agreement drew Zhou Yi’s attention. Zhou Yi began class by punishing students who had been slow to stand, throwing Huang Chutian out through a window and sending the others she named into the corridor.

• Gu Qingnian questioned A Wu about why she had slept in human form, and she insisted that he had not told her to change back.
• Gu Qingnian brought A Wu to breakfast with Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong, then the three returned to the dormitory to cultivate before class.
• Wang Dong started a chant declaring Gu Qingnian awesome, and the class joined in as Gu Qingnian stood bewildered.
• Wang Yan entered the classroom cheering for Gu Qingnian, but Zhou Yi sternly reminded him that class had begun.
• Zhou Yi ordered the class to stand and announced that students who had reacted too slowly would be punished.
• When Huang Chutian questioned Zhou Yi’s punishment, she threw him out through a window, then sent the other students she named into the corridor.