Recaps

Xu Cheng assessed the Sun Moon Empire’s tournament team and began training its main and reserve members, while Shrek Academy selected its reserve team and gathered its powerful main lineup. The chapter left Shrek’s Xuan Zi confident that his academy had the advantage.

• Xu Cheng heard the Sun Moon Empire’s main-team members introduce their martial souls and ranks, and recalled the deaths awaiting several of them in the original story.
• Xu Cheng decided to attract commoners to the Sun Moon Empire, noted that Jiang Nannan had joined its reserve team, and started group training with the team.
• Wang Yan announced Bei Bei, Xu Sanshi, He Caitou, Dai Huabin, Zhu Lu, Wang Dong, and Xiao Xiao as Shrek Academy’s reserve team members.
• Xuan Zi arrived and ordered Wang Yan to fetch Shrek’s main team so they could train in groups.
• Ma Xiaotao and the other main-team members arrived, revealing Shrek’s formidable lineup and prompting Xuan Zi to declare that they had the advantage.

After Xu Cheng’s team easily defeated the opposing reserves, he revealed that his mental sharing had let them see the arena without blind spots. He tested his finished mecha and arranged contingencies for the tournament finals, including a missile strike on Shrek Academy and a military attack on the Star Luo Empire if he sent the signal.

• Xu Cheng used his mental-type martial soul to share the arena with his teammates, and Ma Rulong realized the ability made their victory nearly certain.
• Xu Cheng invited the team to dinner and warned Ma Rulong not to count on winning before the tournament began.
• Xu Cheng tested the optimized mecha near Mingdu, demonstrating its blades and reviewing its extensive weapons and power supply with Elder Cheng.
• Xu Cheng asked Elder Cheng to fire a dud Level 9 Fixed Soul Guidance Cannon missile at Shrek Academy if he sent a signal during the finals.
• Xu Cheng told Elder Cheng that Aunt Qing had been instructed to keep two battalions on guard and send the other six to attack the Star Luo Empire if the finals reached that point.

Xu Cheng discussed the danger of traveling without protection, while Shrek Academy's reserve team began its first Evil Soul Master mission in the Mingdou Mountain Range. The group reached the Star Luo border and prepared to enter a cave with scant intelligence, leaving Wang Dong worried about their reckless leadership.

• Elder Cheng warned Xu Cheng that his death could plunge the Sun Moon Empire into turmoil, and said Kong Deming wanted him alive.
• Xuan Zi introduced the Shrek Inspection Corps and assigned its first mission, while Wang Dong complained about the lack of resources and equipment.
• Ma Xiaotao explained that Evil Soul Masters were operating in the Mingdou Mountain Range and issued the students their corps gear.
• Wang Dong questioned Ma Xiaotao's leadership and the team's lack of defensive soul tools, but Xiao Xiao dragged her away before the argument escalated.
• The team reached the Star Luo border and approached the Evil Soul Masters' cave, while Xuan Zi stayed behind to drink and Wang Dong worried that they had too little intelligence.

Ma Xiaotao led Shrek Academy’s main team into the cave without Xuan Zi, where the Evil Soul Masters’ corpses exploded and devastated the team. Xuan Zi arrived furious and attacked the Death Messenger, who prepared to use Yao Haoxuan’s corpse and the dying Chen Zifeng to escape or fight back.

• Dai Hao learned that Dai Yueheng and Ma Xiaotao had charged into the Mingdou Mountain Range, but decided they would be safe with Xuan Zi nearby.
• Ma Xiaotao dismissed Wang Yan’s concerns and led the main team into the cave, while Wang Yan followed with the reserve team.
• The Shrek students surprised the Evil Soul Masters and quickly killed many of them, but Gongyang Mo warned that the corpses were dangerous too late.
• The corpses exploded, killing Yao Haoxuan and leaving Chen Zifeng and the other main team members grievously injured.
• Xuan Zi arrived to find the team devastated, then used his soul power to pull the Death Messenger toward him.
• The Death Messenger spotted Yao Haoxuan’s corpse and the dying Chen Zifeng and devised a plan.

The Death Messenger crippled Shrek Academy’s tournament team, escaped Xuan Zi, and celebrated his victory as he fled through the Mingdou Mountain Range. Wu Yun, the Holy Spirit Cult’s Ninth Consecrator, intercepted and killed him, rejecting his claim that they were allies.

• The Death Messenger used Yao Haoxuan’s body as a corpse bomb to distract Xuan Zi, then escaped into a secret passage with the half-dead Chen Zifeng.
• Wang Yan and the others assessed the casualties: Yao Haoxuan was dead, several main team members were gravely injured, and Chen Zifeng was missing.
• The Death Messenger evaded Xuan Zi with explosions and corpse puppets, then fled deeper into the Mingdou Mountain Range.
• Xuan Zi told Wang Yan he would take the injured Gongyang Mo and Xi Xi back to the academy and accept responsibility for the failed operation.
• Wu Yun appeared before the Death Messenger, then severed his head when he claimed they were on the same side.

In the Sun Moon Empire, Xu Cheng planned to use Xuan Zi’s latest failure to undermine Shrek Academy and crush its reputation at the upcoming Tournament. At Shrek, Xuan Zi offered to resign, but Mu En challenged the academy’s devotion to its traditions and questioned whether its honor had become a burden.

• Xu Cheng, Wu Yun, and Nana watched the Recording Crystal and discussed using Xuan Zi’s failure to weaken Shrek Academy.
• Xu Cheng vowed to make Shrek lose the Tournament and destroy its ten thousand years of honor.
• Xuan Zi learned that the students’ condition had stabilized, then attended the Sea God Pavilion Meeting.
• Xian Lin'er confronted Yan Shaozhe for refusing to let students use Invincible Shields and Soul Tools.
• Xuan Zi accepted responsibility for the incident and offered to resign, but Yan Shaozhe tried to shield him from blame.
• Mu En rebuffed Xuan Zi’s attempt to leave, criticized Yan Shaozhe, and questioned whether Shrek should abandon its inherited traditions.

Mu En ordered Shrek Inner Court students to adopt soul tools and dismissed Yan Shaozhe’s objections, while reflecting on Shrek’s failures and his dwindling time. In the Star Luo Empire, Xu Jiawei and Xu Jiujiu saw Shrek’s weakened tournament team as a rare chance for Star Luo to win the championship.

• Mu En ordered Lin'er to equip every Inner Court student with soul tools and threatened expulsion for anyone who refused.
• Yan Shaozhe questioned the order, but Mu En dismissed the elders and lamented Shrek’s leadership and his own limited time.
• Xu Jiujiu told Xu Jiawei that Shrek would accept the assessment outcome and send no additional students to the tournament.
• Xu Jiawei and Xu Jiujiu discussed Shrek’s losses and concluded its reserve team might still reach the semifinals or final.
• Xu Jiawei asked Xu Jiujiu about Star Luo’s championship chances, and she estimated them at fifty percent.

Xu Cheng and the Sun Moon Empire team arrived in the Star Luo imperial capital and prepared for the Tournament, while Shrek Academy faced the competition without reinforcements. Wang Yan struggled with the pressure to reach the top four as Ma Xiaotao insisted she would recover in time to fight.

• Xu Cheng and the others reached the Star Luo imperial capital after two days of travel, and Huo Yuhao shared his grilled fish with the team.
• The Sun Moon Empire team registered at the Imperial Family hotel, where Elder Ma began analyzing Shrek Academy's lineup.
• Bei Bei asked Wang Yan about the promised reinforcements, and Wang Yan told the Shrek team that the academy would send no additional support.
• Wang Yan privately understood that Shrek expected him to lead the team into the top four, despite the lack of help.
• Ma Xiaotao insisted she could recover in a week and compete, but Wang Yan ordered her to stop arguing and reminded her that he was in charge.

Shrek Academy planned to stall in the first elimination round until its injured Soul Emperors recovered, while Xu Cheng learned that Shrek had lost its main team and arranged ice-countering Soul Tools for its opponents. At dawn, the tournament teams gathered in Star Luo Plaza, where Xu Cheng finally saw Shrek Academy in person.

• Dai Yueheng calmed Ma Xiaotao and helped Wang Yan settle on a strategy of preserving their strength while the injured Soul Emperors recovered.
• Wang Yan chose Ling Luochеn, Bei Bei, Xu Sanshi, He Caitou, Dai Huabin, Zhu Lu, and Xiao Xiao to face Tianling Advanced Soul Master Academy in the opening elimination match.
• Xu Cheng showed Elder Ma and the Sun Moon Empire team a recording of an Evil Soul Master destroying Shrek's main team, leaving them stunned.
• Xu Cheng asked Xiao Hongchen to prepare ice-countering Soul Tools for Tianling Advanced Soul Master Academy so Shrek would have a harder first match.
• The tournament teams arrived at Star Luo Plaza at dawn, and Xu Cheng finally met Shrek Academy.

Shrek Academy faced the Sun Moon Team’s scrutiny and the shock of seeing Jiang Nannan and Tang Ya among its members, while the weakened team prepared for its first match against Tianling Academy. As the crowd’s cheers raised the pressure on Shrek, Xu Cheng anticipated the damage a loss would do to its reputation.

• Xu Cheng explained that Shrek’s depleted lineup could still trouble Tianling Academy, but an early struggle might expose the team’s weakness to its rivals.
• Bei Bei and Xu Sanshi recognized Jiang Nannan on the Sun Moon Team, then Bei Bei spotted Tang Ya among its reserves.
• Wang Yan and the others learned that Shrek and the Sun Moon Team had a history of bloodshed, while He Caitou recognized Xu Cheng.
• The host announced Shrek Academy’s first-round elimination match against Tianling Advanced Soul Master Academy as the packed crowd roared for Shrek.
• Xu Cheng watched Shrek buckle under the crowd’s expectations and smiled at the prospect of a harsh backlash.

Tianling Academy used ice-countering Soul Tools supplied by the Black-Robed Man to withstand Ling Luochеn’s opening attack, leaving Shrek’s plan in disarray. With Ling Luochеn exhausted, Wang Yan ordered Shrek to attack, and both teams launched into the chaotic match.

• Wang Yan rallied Bei Bei and Xu Sanshi before Shrek and Tianling Academy entered the stage.
• Tianling Academy took confidence from the Black-Robed Man’s warning and equipped seven ice-countering Soul Tools.
• Ling Luochеn opened the match with her Fifth Soul Skill, freezing the referee but failing to freeze Tianling Academy’s prepared fighters.
• Xiao Hongchen explained that he had made the Soul Tools to counter ice, while Xu Cheng noted that Ling Luochеn was still recovering and had overexerted herself.
• Wang Yan ordered Shrek to attack, and Bei Bei, Xu Sanshi, He Caitou, Xiao Xiao, Dai Huabin, and Zhu Lu launched their assault.

After Shrek Academy won a grueling match, He Caitou revealed his Sun Moon Empire origins and suspected that Prince Xu Cheng had engineered their opponents’ defenses to exploit Ling Luochеn’s injuries. Wang Yan decided to alert Shrek Academy and call Xuan Zi, fearing the plot might be connected to the Mingdou Mountain Range incident.

• Shrek Academy defeated its opponents, but Ling Luochеn collapsed and the spectators questioned the academy’s reputation.
• Ma Xiaotao demanded to fight next, but Wang Yan warned that her injuries and uncontrollable evil fire could expose Shrek’s weaknesses.
• He Caitou revealed that he came from the Sun Moon Empire and pointed out that every opponent had a specialized cold-resistant soul tool.
• He Caitou identified Sun Moon Empire prince Xu Cheng as a likely mastermind, describing his political influence and strength as a Soul Engineer.
• Wang Yan resolved to report his suspicions to Shrek Academy and ask Xuan Zi to investigate a possible connection to the Mingdou Mountain Range incident.

Shrek’s reserve team watched the Sun Moon Imperial Academy’s match from the hotel rooftop and learned that all six of its reserve members were Soul Kings. At the Sea God Pavilion, Yan Shaozhe reported that the team’s Level Five Soul Tools could explain how it had resisted Ling Luochen, raising new suspicions about the attack on Shrek’s Inner Court students.

• He Caitou gave Bei Bei and Xu Sanshi two Telescope Soul Tools, and the reserve team watched the Sun Moon Imperial Academy’s match from the rooftop.
• Xu Sanshi and the others discovered that the Sun Moon team’s reserve members were all Soul Kings, while Wang Dong spotted Xu Cheng among them.
• Xu Cheng led the Sun Moon team onto the arena to face Bailing Academy, whose teacher lamented its difficult draws against Shrek and Sun Moon.
• Xu Jiawei confirmed that Xu Cheng was the Sun Moon Prince and discussed a plan with Dai Hao to detain him in Star Luo City.
• Yan Shaozhe told the Sea God Pavilion elders that the Sun Moon team had resisted Ling Luochen’s Fifth Soul Skill using Level Five Heating Soul Tools, prompting questions about the attack on Shrek’s Inner Court students.

At the Sea God Pavilion meeting, Mu En learned the Holy Spirit Cult may have targeted Shrek and urged Xuan Zi to take responsibility while preparing the academy for his eventual death. Meanwhile, the Sun Moon Empire’s reserve team faced Bailing Academy, and Xu Cheng unleashed a blood moon over the arena.

• Yan Shaozhe told the elders that He Caitou had identified Xu Cheng, a Sun Moon Empire prince and Holy Spirit Cult Holy Son, as someone who should not have appeared in the tournament.
• Xuan Zi tried to rush to the Star Luo Empire, but Mu En confronted him over his carelessness and warned him to shoulder Shrek Academy’s burden.
• Mu En revealed that he had at most three years left, and Elder Zhuang confirmed his condition was terminal.
• Mu En ordered Xuan Zi to go to the Star Luo Empire Imperial Capital and stop the Sun Moon Empire from targeting Shrek, accepting any losses so long as the opponents did not cheat.
• Tian Wen led Bailing Academy’s team in a charge against the Sun Moon Empire reserves, while Xu Cheng’s team watched calmly.
• Xu Cheng caused the sky to darken and a crescent blood moon to appear, prompting onlookers to cry out, "Red Moon!"

Xu Cheng led the Sun Moon Team to defeat the Bailing Team by making its members attack one another with his spiritual power. After the match, the Body Sect resolved to recruit him, while Xu Cheng spotted Shrek’s observers at the Star Luo Hotel and shattered their binoculars from afar.

• Xu Cheng’s ability drove the Bailing Team members to slaughter one another until their teacher conceded, and the referee declared the Sun Moon Team victorious.
• Xu Jiujiu and the Di'ao Academy students watched the match and recognized Xu Cheng as a terrifying threat.
• Two Body Sect members identified Xu Cheng’s eyes as a body martial soul and decided to summon help so they could recruit him.
• Xu Cheng noticed the Shrek members watching from the Star Luo Hotel and shattered the binoculars Bei Bei and Zhu Lu were holding.
• Bei Bei and the others feared Xu Cheng’s strength, while Wang Dong privately admired his appearance.

Xu Cheng revealed his Blood Eyes Martial Soul’s mental manipulation in the arena and became the center of attention among his teammates. Later, he taunted Shrek Academy by claiming Xuan Zi was the Holy Spirit Cult’s undercover supreme elder, leaving Ma Xiaotao stunned.

• Xu Cheng used his Blood Eyes Martial Soul in the arena, surprising Ma Rulong and the Sun Moon Empire team with its power.
• Tang Ya warned Xu Cheng not to use mental manipulation on girls, and he teased her by saying Jiang Nannan was prettier.
• At the hotel, Elder Ma announced a trip to the Starlight Auction House, while Xu Cheng considered Huo Gua’s future and noticed the boy’s admiration for him.
• The Sun Moon Empire team met Shrek Academy’s team on the stairs, and Shrek’s reserve members avoided Xu Cheng’s gaze.
• Ma Xiaotao accused Xu Cheng of plotting against Shrek, and he claimed Xuan Zi was the Holy Spirit Cult’s undercover supreme elder and asked what Shrek wanted in exchange for him.

Xu Cheng provoked the Shrek group before taking the Sun Moon Empire Team to an auction house specializing in Soul Tools. As the auction began, he flirted with Tang Ya while Bei Bei watched helplessly from behind them.

• Xu Cheng suggested that Xuan Zi might have been involved with people from the gutter, unsettling Wang Yan and angering Ma Xiaotao.
• Dai Yueheng restrained Ma Xiaotao, and Wang Yan urged the group to wait for Xuan Zi rather than fight Xu Cheng's team.
• Xu Cheng led the Sun Moon Empire group to a Rank Four Soul Tool auction and settled into Auction Hall Twelve.
• Tang Ya pinched Xu Cheng when he looked toward the auctioneer, but Xu Cheng caught her hand and held it while they watched the lots sell.
• Xu Cheng teased Tang Ya about Bei Bei liking her, and Tang Ya pulled her hand free in irritation.

Xu Cheng bought a cursed carving knife at the auction, then brought it back to the hotel, where Electrolux revealed it was a rare piece of gold of life that could restore his memories and perhaps revive him. Xu Cheng bowed and became Electrolux’s disciple, while Electrolux promised to help with Xu Cheng’s teacher in the Sun Moon Empire.

• Wang Yan had the Shrek group buy a high-grade Milk Bottle, while He Caitou warned them that the cursed carving knife devoured its wielders.
• Xu Cheng bid one hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins for the knife despite warnings from Nana, Xiao Hongchen, and Elder Ma.
• Xu Cheng returned to the hotel and showed the knife to Electrolux, who recognized it as a large piece of gold of life that might restore his memories and revive him.
• Electrolux offered to help with Xu Cheng’s teacher in the Sun Moon Empire, and Xu Cheng bowed to become his disciple.

Xu Cheng purified the Spirit-Devouring Carving Knife and used it to absorb the Gold of Life, transforming his body and stabilizing Electrolux’s Divine Sense. Electrolux promised to pass his civilization’s knowledge on to Xu Cheng once he recovered further.

• Electrolux erased the carving knife’s ancient evil will, allowing Xu Cheng to take control of it.
• Xu Cheng compared the purified Spirit-Devouring Carving Knife with Elder Cheng’s ninety-first-ranked knife, and the new knife easily asserted its superiority.
• Following Elder Yi’s instructions, Xu Cheng pressed the Spirit-Devouring Carving Knife to his forehead and absorbed the Gold of Life’s energy.
• The Gold of Life filled Xu Cheng with life force, strengthening his body and greatly improving his ability to recover from injuries.
• Electrolux manifested in Xu Cheng’s Sea of Consciousness and explained that the Gold of Life had stabilized his Divine Sense.
• Electrolux told Xu Cheng that he would pass on his legacy of magic and knowledge, and said Xu Cheng might someday meet his senior brother and sister.

After Electrolux’s help transformed Xu Cheng’s Sea of Consciousness and awakened a strange Third Eye, Xu Cheng returned to the Sun Moon Empire team and faced his friends’ teasing interrogation. The team then prepared for its group-stage match against the Di’ao Team.

• Xu Cheng saw his Sea of Consciousness become a vast golden sea of life, with a blood-red moon and a rising sun, and discovered a strange Third Eye after returning to his body.
• The next day, Nana, Xiao Hongchen, Meng Hongchen, and the others questioned Xu Cheng to make sure he was still himself after the carving knife’s influence; he realized Tang Ya had organized the questions.
• Xu Cheng showed the team the purified carving knife, and Xiao Hongchen marveled that it was more powerful than his grandfather’s White Blade and ranked ninth among carving knives.
• Elder Ma explained the group-stage format and announced that the Sun Moon Empire team’s first opponent would be the Di’ao Team.

The Sun Moon Empire defeated Di'ao Academy while Xu Cheng considered Wang Dong's situation and bet heavily against Shrek. As Shrek struggled to advance and Wang Yan worried over their prospects, Xu Cheng gathered Holy Spirit Cult members to discuss the New Holy Spirit Cult.

• Lin Xi, Mi Jia, and Chen Fei argued about Di'ao Academy's captain Jiang Peng before Ma Rulong chose Lin Xi to compete.
• The Sun Moon Empire won three matches against Di'ao Academy, while Xu Cheng noticed gamblers still favored Shrek and placed hundreds of millions of Gold Soul Coins on the imperial team.
• Xu Cheng saw Wang Dong's excitement over Soul Tools turn to frustration that she could not use them, and thought about how she might react upon learning the truth about Tang San's protection.
• Wang Yan worried that Shrek's narrow victory and depleted fighters left them little room for error in the remaining rounds.
• Xu Cheng met with Zhang Peng, Wu Yun, and other black-robed figures, then proposed a meeting about the New Holy Spirit Cult.

Xu Cheng gathered five Holy Spirit Cult offerings who were willing to follow his plans, while learning that Zhongli Wu’s growing hostility made the Cult a threat. The group agreed they needed to prepare for a confrontation, but Xu Cheng chose to strengthen himself before moving against the Cult’s powerful leaders.

• Ye Cheng agreed to support Xu Cheng, explaining that his main wish was to preserve the angel martial soul through an inheritor.
• Qi Mu pledged his support because he wanted revenge on Ye Xishui for slaughtering his clan and mutating his martial soul.
• Zhang Cheng joined the plan, saying he was tired of the Holy Spirit Cult’s lunatics and had little attachment to them.
• Zhang Peng and Wu Yun warned Xu Cheng that Zhongli Wu resented his efforts to stop Evil Soul Masters from devouring ordinary civilians.
• Ye Cheng cautioned that Ye Xishui and Long Xiaoyao were too powerful for the offerings to defeat, so Xu Cheng decided to build up his strength before challenging the Holy Spirit Cult.

After the Holy Spirit Cult departed, Xu Cheng considered purging its disobedient members and learned from Tian Meng about a powerful, wounded dragon hidden in the Star Dou Great Forest. Nana tried to get Xu Cheng alone, but Lin Xi interrupted them with news that the auction was starting early.

• Xu Cheng resolved to cleanse the Holy Spirit Cult through force if necessary after its members left.
• Tian Meng described his misery in the Star Dou Great Forest and warned Xu Cheng and the Ice Empress about a wounded dragon whose strength surpassed Di Tian's.
• Nana embraced Xu Cheng and pushed him onto the bed, but Lin Xi interrupted before they could continue.
• Lin Xi told Xu Cheng that Teacher had said the auction was starting early, and Xu Cheng warned Lin Xi to stop complaining as Nana glared at him.

At a first-class auction, Xu Cheng watched Mingde Hall weapons and ammunition appear for sale in the Star Luo Empire, realizing that powerful figures had secretly diverted them. Shrek bought a weapon and pursued the cannon shells for research, while Xu Cheng’s anger hinted at a reckoning to come.

• Xu Jiujiu introduced the Tyrant Tiger Soul Refining Blade, and Dai Yueheng won it for 1.3 million.
• Xu Jiujiu presented twelve Fixed Soul Cannon Shells made by Mingde Hall, and Xu Cheng recognized the implications of their illicit sale.
• Xu Cheng’s companions fell silent as he reacted with controlled fury and considered who had concealed the theft.
• He Caitou examined the shells and told Wang Yan that they could greatly advance Shrek’s research into higher-class Fixed Soul Cannon Shells.
• Wang Yan decided to contact Shrek’s higher-ups to obtain funding for the shells.

Xu Cheng recognized the auction's jade-green Left Arm Soul Bone as belonging to a powerful Ice Jade Scorpion and promised the grieving Ice Empress he would try to address the human-soul beast conflict. As bidding began, he revealed his Hundred-Thousand-Year Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion soul ring and said the Ice Empress had told him the bone's secret.

• Xu Cheng declined to bid on the Star Luo Empire's earlier soul tools but directed his group to buy the soul bones and distribute them among the students.
• Xu Cheng identified the jade-green Left Arm Soul Bone as the reason he had attended the auction, and the Ice Empress said it belonged to one of her kin.
• Xu Cheng reassured the Ice Empress that he would seek a solution to the conflict between humans and soul beasts, including ways to replace soul rings and soul bones.
• Xu Jiujiu explained the bone's requirements, while Ling Luochеn and Meng Hongchen showed interest in acquiring it.
• Xu Cheng warned Meng Hongchen that she could not safely absorb the bone without an Ice Jade Scorpion martial soul, then ordered his group to bid.
• Xu Cheng revealed a Hundred-Thousand-Year Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion soul ring and told the shocked audience, "She told me..."