Chapter Summaries

Mu Jin gave Chen Ping a Secret Art Soul Bone that increased maximum Soul Power by five percent and explained its origin and potential value. Chen Ping learned it could be combined with two matching bones for a much stronger effect or sold to Ning Tian, and he struggled to accept such a precious gift.

• After the Class Nine students left, Mu Jin gave Chen Ping a pale purple Secret Art left arm bone as encouragement and support for the Freshman Competition.
• Mu Jin explained that the bone passively increased maximum Soul Power by five percent and could help Chen Ping against stronger opponents in the advancement rounds.
• Mu Jin told Chen Ping that he had earned the bone after killing the most Wolf Bandits during a Shrek Inner Court mission.
• Mu Jin explained that three matching Secret Art Soul Bones could be combined into an Enhanced Secret Art Soul Bone with a ten percent Soul Power boost, or the bone could be sold to Ning Tian.
• Chen Ping realized the bone was far more valuable than he had thought and protested that it was too precious.

Chen Ping received a secret art soul bone from Mu Jin and sold it to Ning Tian, who also arranged to buy the Spirit Devouring Fierce Blade for him. At the dining hall, Wang Dong boasted that his team would take first place, prompting a girl from Freshman Class Five to challenge him.

• Mu Jin gave Chen Ping an un-fused secret art soul bone and urged him to win first place in the advancement rounds.
• Chen Ping met Wu Feng and Ning Tian outside, showed them the soul bone, and sold it to Ning Tian without settling the price.
• Ning Tian told Chen Ping that the Spirit Devouring Fierce Blade was at the Starlight Auction and offered to secure it with an advance of twenty thousand Gold Soul Coins.
• Chen Ping asked Ning Tian to bid for the blade at the next auction and deduct the advance from the soul bone's price.
• At the dining hall, Wang Dong declared that his team had won all ten matches and was ready to take first place.
• A black-haired girl from Freshman Class Five called Wang Dong shameless and claimed her class would win the championship.

Chen Ping’s team joined the other undefeated teams in a tense exchange at the dining hall, where Chen joked that they had to win to secure free meals as Core Disciples. The next morning, the Knockout Stage draw began, and Chen realized Huo Yuhao’s team had never developed a Martial Soul Fusion Skill because Chen’s team had already eliminated the team that would have prompted them to research one.

• Xie Huanyue brought a basin filled with Pearl Rouge Rice and declared that his team could be champions, while Chen Ping identified the other rivals as Dai Huabin and Zhu Lu.
• Wu Feng provoked the rival teams, and Chen Ping explained that his team needed to win so they could become Core Disciples and eat free meals at Window Eight.
• Huo Yuhao and Xie Huanyue’s teams bonded with Chen Ping over their large portions of rice, while Dai Huabin threatened to flatten whichever team he faced before leaving the dining hall.
• Chen Ping and his companions arrived early at the assessment area, where Du Weilun confirmed that all 192 students from the top sixty-four teams were present.
• Chen Ping realized Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong had not researched a Martial Soul Fusion Skill because they had never faced the team that would have prompted them to do so.
• Chen Ping completed the draw for the thirty-two Knockout Stage matches, which would be held one in the morning and one in the afternoon.

Chen Ping’s team defeated their first-round opponents from their own class, then faced Huo Yuhao’s team in the round of thirty-two. He warned Wu Feng about Huo Yuhao’s Spiritual Detection and used his words to make Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao hesitate to leave Huo Yuhao unguarded as the match began.

• Chen Ping’s team defeated Nanmen Yun’er’s team in ten minutes, and Nanmen Yun’er realized Chen Ping’s strength justified his place on the Seed Team.
• Chen Ping noticed Xuan Zi and Wang Yan watching as his team was matched against Huo Yuhao’s team in Area Eight.
• The teams introduced themselves, and Chen Ping identified himself as a rank twenty Quasi-Soul Grandmaster.
• Chen Ping warned Wu Feng to target Huo Yuhao because of his Spiritual Detection, prompting Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao to stay close to him.
• The match began, and Wu Feng dodged past Wang Dong to charge toward Xiao Xiao.

Ning Tian’s pagoda boosts Wu Feng’s speed, letting her threaten Huo Yuhao and Xiao Xiao while Chen Ping catches Wang Dong off guard. Ning Tian then uses her second Soul Skill to dispel Xiao Xiao’s stun on Wu Feng, leaving the fight unresolved.

• Ning Tian summons her Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda and uses Speed Light to amplify Wu Feng’s speed.
• Wu Feng feints past Wang Dong and charges toward Xiao Xiao and Huo Yuhao, while Chen Ping strikes Wang Dong with his staff.
• Wang Dong recovers and attacks Chen Ping, but he dodges her wing blades and thrusts his staff into her shoulder blade.
• Huo Yuhao pulls Xiao Xiao out of Wu Feng’s claw attack, and Xiao Xiao summons her Three-Life Soul-Suppressing Cauldron.
• Xiao Xiao’s Cauldron’s Tremor stuns Wu Feng, but Ning Tian uses Release to dispel the stun, allowing Wu Feng to leap away.

Chen Ping used his Touch Dragon Staff to reach Wang Dong in the air and then struck back with an unexpected aerial attack. The chapter ended with Chen Ping gliding toward Wang Dong while spinning his Insect Glaive.

• Ning Tian used Purification to neutralize Xiao Xiao and Huo Yuhao's abilities, while Chen Ping kept striking Wang Dong.
• Wang Dong flew to the arena's height limit and taunted Chen Ping, believing he could not reach him.
• Chen Ping extended the Touch Dragon Staff and climbed above Wang Dong, then swung it down and sent Wang Dong flying backward.
• Wang Dong searched for Chen Ping after the staff vanished, then spotted him descending while spinning the Insect Glaive.
• Chen Ping shouted, "Hmph, trying to escape?" and glided toward Wang Dong with the Flower Stick technique.

Chen Ping deliberately baited Wang Dong into kicking him, using their collision to send her beyond the Soul Fighting Arena’s altitude limit and get her eliminated. With Wang Dong out, he charged toward Huo Yuhao and Xiao Xiao, while Huo Yuhao struggled with losing control of a battle for the first time.

• Chen Ping exchanged aerial blows with Wang Dong using his Insect Glaive, then deliberately left himself open to draw out her kick.
• Chen Ping turned in midair and met Wang Dong’s kick, sending her beyond the arena’s permitted flying altitude.
• The supervising teacher caught Wang Dong as she tried to dive after Chen Ping and declared her eliminated for going out of bounds.
• Wang Dong protested that she still had her thousand-year Soul Skill and Clear Sky Hammer, while Chen Ping calmly dusted himself off.
• Chen Ping charged toward Huo Yuhao and Xiao Xiao, and Huo Yuhao realized his usual control over the battle had failed.

During the match, Xiao Xiao revealed her twin martial souls, while Chen Ping and Huo Yuhao tried to outmaneuver each other with signals and soul skills. Huo Yuhao believed he had disabled Ning Tian, but she unexpectedly boosted Chen Ping and Wu Feng, leaving him stunned.

• Xiao Xiao revealed her Nine-Phoenix Ceremonial Flute and used its slowing aura, which Ning Tian quickly dispelled with Purification.
• Xiao Xiao fought with both martial souls, dodging Chen Ping's staff as her cauldrons pressured Wu Feng.
• Huo Yuhao used Spiritual Detection to read Chen Ping's signals and launched Soul Shock at Ning Tian to stop her from using Purification.
• Ning Tian endured Soul Shock and cast a strength boost on Chen Ping and Wu Feng, allowing Wu Feng to blast away Xiao Xiao's cauldron.
• Huo Yuhao was shocked that Ning Tian had boosted the others despite his attack and Chen Ping's signal.

Chen Ping’s team defeated Huo Yuhao’s team by turning Huo Yuhao’s Spiritual Detection against him and eliminating Wang Dong’s support. After the match, Huo Yuhao and his teammates returned to class, while Ning Tian and Wu Feng dragged Chen Ping away from another study session to celebrate their victory.

• Chen Ping’s planned hand signals baited Huo Yuhao into misreading the fight, while Ning Tian resisted Spiritual Shock and Wu Feng broke Xiao Xiao’s cauldron.
• Wu Feng and Chen Ping eliminated Xiao Xiao and Huo Yuhao, ending their team’s match.
• Xuan Zi praised the strategic battle and told Wang Yan not to let Qian Duoduo recruit Chen Ping or Huo Yuhao for the Soul Tool Department.
• Huo Yuhao realized Chen Ping had deliberately used Spiritual Detection to deceive him and worried that losing would cost him free meals at Window Eight.
• Huo Yuhao, Wang Dong, and Xiao Xiao left for class, while Ning Tian and Wu Feng hauled Chen Ping out to celebrate instead of letting him study.

Chen Ping, Ning Tian, and Wu Feng advanced to the round of sixteen in the Freshman Assessment and faced Xie Huanyue’s team. The match began with Xie Huanyue charging forward while his two teammates stayed hidden behind him, leaving Chen Ping to wonder at their infantry-and-tank tactics.

• Chen Ping made desserts for Ning Tian and Wu Feng during their outing, then worried they might feel ill after eating so much.
• Ning Tian, Wu Feng, and Chen Ping attended the top-sixteen draw and learned Huang Chutian’s team had also advanced.
• Chen Ping’s team drew Xie Huanyue, Luo Tianlong, and Luo Tianba as their opponents.
• At the start of the match, Xie Huanyue activated his Martial Soul and charged while Luo Tianlong and Luo Tianba concealed themselves behind him.
• Xie Huanyue’s team advanced cautiously because they did not know Wu Feng’s Second Soul Skill or Chen Ping’s First Soul Skill.

Chen Ping and Wu Feng launched a coordinated attack against Xie Huanyue and the Luo Brothers, using Ning Tian’s boosts to gain the advantage. Wu Feng struggled against Xie Huanyue’s ability to absorb impact, while Chen Ping vaulted over the Luo Brothers and struck Luo Tianba from behind with his staff.

• Wu Feng used Ning Tian’s boosts to launch Chen Ping into the air, then charged Xie Huanyue as Chen Ping descended toward the Luo Brothers.
• Xie Huanyue abandoned his position to confront Wu Feng, allowing the Luo Brothers to spot Chen Ping and raise their mantis blades against him.
• Wu Feng’s Dragon’s Fire punch collided with Xie Huanyue, whose first soul skill absorbed the impact before he knocked her back with a heavy punch.
• Xie Huanyue curled into a ball and bounced into the air to attack Wu Feng again, leaving her at a disadvantage.
• Chen Ping activated his first soul skill and planted his staff to vault over the Luo Brothers’ blade attacks.
• Chen Ping swung his staff into Luo Tianba’s backside, leaving the opponent unable to feel his own touch there.

Chen Ping eliminated Luo Tianlong and weakened Luo Tianba with stacked toxins while Wu Feng fought Xie Huanyue after Ning Tian was forced out. The match ended with the referee rescuing Luo Tianba after Xie Huanyue knocked him down.

• Chen Ping disarmed Luo Tianlong and nearly struck his throat, so the supervising teacher pulled Luo Tianlong from the match.
• Xie Huanyue attacked Wu Feng and Ning Tian, but the supervising teacher removed Ning Tian after Xie Huanyue targeted her with his crushing attack.
• Wu Feng became enraged and attacked Xie Huanyue while Chen Ping kept Luo Tianba disoriented with stacked toxins.
• Luo Tianba mistook Xie Huanyue for Chen Ping and struck him alongside two phantom attackers.
• Xie Huanyue stumbled into Luo Tianba and fell on him, but the referee rescued Luo Tianba in time.

Chen Ping stepped in to challenge Xie Huanyue’s overwhelming strength after Ning Tian was eliminated, and stunned the spectators by knocking aside Xie Huanyue’s punch. As Xie Huanyue launched a renewed charge, Chen Ping prepared to fight for the victory he needed to secure his future as a Core Disciple.

• After Ning Tian was eliminated, Chen Ping let Luo Tianba recover enough to use his second Soul Skill against Xie Huanyue.
• Chen Ping struck Xie Huanyue in the lower back, then met his iron-like fist with a punch that knocked it aside.
• The teachers were shocked that Chen Ping, a Quasi-Soul Grandmaster and Tool Soul Master, had beaten Xie Huanyue in a clash of strength.
• Xie Huanyue, shaken by the setback, vowed that no freshman could surpass him in strength and smashed both arms into the arena.
• Xie Huanyue activated his Soul Ring, charged at Chen Ping, and declared that he had to win to keep his Core Disciple place.
• Chen Ping gathered his strength and vowed to win, knowing he could not afford to lose his chance at Core Disciple status.

Chen Ping defeated Xie Huanyue in the Soul Fighting Arena after battering through the limits of his Martial Soul’s damage absorption. His team celebrated the win, but Ning Tian and Wu Feng stopped him from slipping away to class.

• Chen Ping endured Xie Huanyue’s headbutt and battered his arms with a barrage of punches until Xie Huanyue’s defenses faltered.
• Chen Ping landed an uppercut that sent Xie Huanyue collapsing, though the referee found that Xie Huanyue had fallen asleep to recover.
• Xuan Zi and Wang Yan recognized Xie Huanyue’s physical potential, and the referee declared Chen Ping’s team the winner.
• Chen Ping celebrated with Wu Feng and Ning Tian, while thinking ahead to the remaining challenge of Dai Huabin.
• Chen Ping tried to escape the girls’ plans to celebrate so he could return to class, but Ning Tian and Wu Feng pinned him between them.

At the quarterfinal draw, Dai Huabin tried to intimidate Chen Ping with his Soul Power, but Du Weilun stopped him and threatened punishment. Chen Ping retaliated with a mocking gesture, leaving the two teams' hostility ready to erupt.

• Chen Ping drew the other captains' attention after his team eliminated Xie Huanyue's team and advanced to the quarterfinals.
• Dai Huabin resented the captains' respect for Chen Ping and released his Soul Power to pressure him.
• Du Weilun repelled Dai Huabin's pressure, reprimanded him, and warned that he would punish anyone who broke the rules.
• Dai Huabin backed down from Du Weilun but silently hoped to draw Chen Ping's team so he could crush them.
• Chen Ping decided to use the tactics he had prepared for Dai Huabin's team and mocked Dai Huabin with birdcalls and a gesture.

Chen Ping’s team defeated its quarterfinal opponents and advanced to the final four, while Chen Ping and Dai Huabin traded taunts after drawing different teams. Dai Huabin left furious and, beside Sea God Lake, Zhu Lu warned him not to act rashly.

• Du Weilun watched Chen Ping draw lot number three, assigning Chen Ping’s team an opponent other than Dai Huabin’s.
• Wu Feng used Dragon’s Wrath to overwhelm the opposing team, while Dai Huabin and Zhu Lu won their match shortly before Chen Ping’s team finished.
• Chen Ping mocked Dai Huabin with gestures as they left their arenas, making Ning Tian and Wu Feng laugh.
• Chen Ping’s trio advanced to the final four, one win away from securing a reward and two wins away from the championship.
• Dai Huabin complained to Zhu Lu beside Sea God Lake that Chen Ping had humiliated him, and Zhu Lu held his fist and told him not to be rash.

Dai Huabin’s team studied Chen Ping’s abilities while Dai Huabin remained confident he would win the Freshman Competition. At the draw, Chen Ping’s Team was placed in Arena Two and prepared to face its semifinal opponents, leaving a showdown with Dai Huabin’s team possible only in the finals.

• Zhu Lu reviewed Chen Ping’s poison skills and Wu Feng’s abilities with Dai Huabin, who insisted he would reclaim his dignity and win the championship.
• Yan Shaozhe oversaw the draw and announced that he would watch the freshmen’s matches.
• Chen Ping drew lots that placed his team in Arena Two and Dai Huabin’s team in Arena One, meaning they could meet only in the finals.
• Chen Ping told Wu Feng he would support her in the semifinal and urged her to finish quickly, revealing that his displayed poison abilities were a deliberate misdirection for Dai Huabin’s team.

Chen Ping, Ning Tian, and Wu Feng defeated Class Ten’s team in five seconds with a surprise launch attack, securing a place in the Freshman Competition finals. As teachers gathered to watch the final, Yan Shaozhe wondered whether Dai Huabin’s team could overcome Chen Ping’s uncanny group.

• Ning Tian boosted Chen Ping’s strength and Wu Feng’s speed, and Chen Ping launched Wu Feng into Class Ten’s unprepared team.
• Wu Feng knocked out Zhou Sichen and Cao Jinxuan, then the referee declared Chen Ping’s team the semifinal winners.
• Chen Ping had saved the risky tactic for the semifinal because Dai Huabin’s team might counter it with Cui Yajie’s mental control.
• Yan Shaozhe and other teachers gathered to watch the final, and Yan Shaozhe doubted that Dai Huabin’s team’s Martial Soul Fusion Skill would guarantee victory.

Yan Shaozhe and Qian Duoduo clashed over the Martial Soul Department withholding two promising students from the Soul Tool Department. As the championship match against Dai Huabin's team approached, Chen Ping, Ning Tian, and Wu Feng united in their determination to win.

• Yan Shaozhe taunted Qian Duoduo about Chen Ping and claimed he would teach him personally.
• Qian Duoduo confronted Yan Shaozhe over the Martial Soul Department refusing to give the Soul Tool Department its two promising students.
• Yan Shaozhe reconsidered the consequences of blocking the Soul Tool Department, while Xuan Zi quietly endured Qian Duoduo's complaints.
• Chen Ping and Dai Huabin's teams arrived early to prepare for their championship match and assess each other.
• Chen Ping, Ning Tian, and Wu Feng stacked their hands together and shouted that they would become champions.

Chen Ping’s team faced Dai Huabin’s team in the final, and the referee allowed them to fight without holding back. As the match began, Chen Ping’s opening strategy forced the opposing team to split up, just as he had anticipated.

• The referee explained the final’s rules and told both teams that anyone he rescued from the arena would be out.
• Chen Ping, Ning Tian, and Wu Feng introduced themselves opposite Dai Huabin, Zhu Lu, and Cui Yajie.
• The referee started the match, and both teams charged toward the center as Ning Tian enhanced Chen Ping and Wu Feng.
• Dai Huabin, Zhu Lu, and Cui Yajie activated their Martial Souls while Chen Ping and Wu Feng split apart to prevent a quick Martial Soul Fusion Skill attack.
• Dai Huabin and Wu Feng moved to clash while Zhu Lu intercepted Chen Ping and Cui Yajie targeted him, matching the outcome Chen Ping had calculated.