Chapter Summaries

Lu Chen entered the Spirit Ascension Platform and tested its dangers by fighting three Man-Faced Demon Spiders, discovering that he could absorb some energy from their corpses. After Gu Yue joined him, they headed deeper into the forest while Wang Jinxi and the others faced trouble elsewhere.

• Lu Chen teased Tang Wulin about his resemblance and connection to Tang Wutong before the group entered the Spirit Pagoda's Spirit Ascension Platform.
• Lu Chen arrived in the forest-like platform and encountered three hundred-year Man-Faced Demon Spiders.
• Lu Chen used Time Zero and his alchemical sword to kill all three spiders.
• Lu Chen absorbed energy from the spider corpses and found it could be taken in by his Nidhogg bloodline, though it did not affect his Spirit Soul.
• Gu Yue found Lu Chen unharmed, and the two went deeper into the forest together as Wang Jinxi and the others had worse luck.

Lu Chen and his companions hunted Soul Beasts in the Spirit Ascension Platform, where he defeated a thousand-year Ice Crystal Bear and absorbed its spiritual power. After the group left, Wu Zhangkong named Lu Chen captain of their combat squad, while Tang Wulin felt unwell and Lu Chen wondered whether his Spirit Soul could still evolve.

• Lu Chen reunited with Xie Xie, burned a hundred-year Two-Legged Unicorn Dragon to ashes, and shared its spiritual power with Gu Yue and Xie Xie.
• Lu Chen identified the Ice Crystal Bear's weak point and killed it with his alchemical sword, while Gu Yue and Xie Xie defeated nearby Soul Beasts.
• Long Hengxu questioned how Lu Chen had so many abilities despite having only one Soul Ring, and Wu Zhangkong suggested Emperor Sword Douluo might have given him something for protection.
• Lu Chen, Gu Yue, and Xie Xie absorbed the Soul Beasts' spiritual power and used their rescue signals to leave the Spirit Ascension Platform.
• Wu Zhangkong appointed Lu Chen captain and Gu Yue vice-captain of the six-person combat squad.
• Tang Wulin told Wu Zhangkong that he felt unwell, and Lu Chen wondered how his Spirit Soul could evolve without him killing a thousand-year Soul Beast.

Lu Chen reached twenty percent bloodline progress and received the remains of Li Wuyue, King of Sky and Wind, before making Constantine his second Spirit Soul. After surviving the painful fusion, he woke with new power and alchemical knowledge, while Gu Yue and Di Tian sensed his draconic might and became more convinced he was the Dragon God's reincarnation.

• Lu Chen entered Nibelungen, raised his progress to twenty percent, and learned his reward was the remains of Li Wuyue, King of Sky and Wind.
• Lu Chen questioned Constantine and Fenrir about why they were alive while Li Wuyue was dead, and Constantine recalled that the King of Sky and Wind's faction had joined the White King's rebellion and later helped hunt dragons of the Black King's faction.
• Lu Chen invited Constantine to become his second Spirit Soul, and Constantine merged with him, causing him intense pain and granting him alchemical knowledge and a golden Soul Ring.
• Gu Yue and Di Tian sensed Lu Chen's oppressive draconic might, and Di Tian declared that only the Dragon God could produce such power.
• The next morning, Lu Chen ran laps to burn off his new strength and noticed Tang Wulin running and laughing with Ouyang Zixin.

After Wu Zhangkong evaluated the students’ Spirit Ascension Platform training, Long Tianwu took Lu Chen to Shrek City for an opportunity arranged by War God Hall. Lu Chen realized they were headed to Sea God Pavilion, but their visit began with noodles that awakened powerful bloodline energy in him.

• Lu Chen described the Spirit Ascension Platform, and Wu Zhangkong scored the students’ training while Lu Chen explained the reasons behind several scores.
• About a month later, Long Tianwu secured Lu Chen a week’s leave and took him toward Shrek Academy, where Lu Chen recognized their destination from his Soul Island train ticket.
• Long Tianwu explained that War God Hall hoped Shrek Academy could help investigate Lu Chen’s unusual Martial Soul and develop his potential.
• In Shrek City, Long Tianwu and Lu Chen stopped at a noodle shop after a chubby boy bumped into Lu Chen on his way there.
• Lu Chen ate his noodles and asked Long Tianwu to order two more bowls when he remained hungry.
• Long Tianwu noticed Lu Chen’s complexion changing and powerful bloodline energy surging through his body.

Lu Chen reunited with Na'er at Shrek Academy, demonstrated his Nidhogg Martial Soul to Yun Ming, and became an inner court disciple while keeping his ties to the War God Hall. During cultivation, he met the Golden Ancient Tree, which called him a chance for itself and the Lord of the Plane to survive, but Lu Chen asked what he would gain by helping them.

• Lu Chen reunited with Na'er at the Sea God Pavilion, where Yun Ming learned that Lu Chen was the big brother who had protected her and given her a home.
• Lu Chen showed Yun Ming Word Spirits including Time Zero and Setsuna, impressing him enough to earn an offer to become his nominal disciple and an inner court disciple.
• Lu Chen chose to remain with the War God Hall and arranged to cultivate at Shrek Academy's inner court one day each month while returning to Eastsea Academy the rest of the time.
• Yun Ming gave Lu Chen a small room on Sea God Island, and Lu Chen began cultivating there that evening.
• The Golden Ancient Tree revealed that Lu Chen was a variable and a possible chance for it and the Lord of the Plane to survive the threat posed by Tang San's parents.
• Lu Chen said he would consider helping the Golden Ancient Tree and the Lord of the Plane, but asked what he would receive in return.

Lu Chen returned to Eastsea Academy after meeting the Golden Ancient Tree, then spent the school year balancing classes, visits to Shrek Academy, and forging as he grew stronger. As final exams approached, he prepared titanium-alloy vests for his classmates and learned that Long Tianwu had an extra Spirit Ascension Platform invitation for him.

• The Golden Ancient Tree told Lu Chen it was willing to sacrifice the Douluo Continent to break free from twenty thousand years of control, and Lu Chen said he would consider helping if his safety was guaranteed.
• Long Tianwu brought Lu Chen back to Eastsea Academy, while Na'er watched him leave in tears and Yun Ming encouraged her to become stronger and pursue him.
• Lu Chen visited Shrek Academy twice during the school year, met its Sea God Pavilion elders Cai Yue'er and Long Yeyue, and noticed that some of them valued his forging talent.
• Final exams arrived with Lu Chen at rank 27, and Wu Zhangkong announced that the first test would require surviving one hour in the riot period of the Spirit Ascension Platform.
• Lu Chen forged titanium-alloy vests for his classmates and learned from Long Tianwu that the War God Hall had given him an extra Spirit Ascension Platform invitation.
• Lu Chen joined his classmates for dinner, where Gu Yue said Tang Wulin had stayed behind to cultivate.

Lu Chen prepared his friends for their final exam at the Spirit Pagoda by giving them spirit-refined titanium-alloy vests, while noticing Tang Wulin had grown withdrawn. The group arrived at the Spirit Pagoda with Wu Zhangkong, who warned that failing the exam would cost them their vacation.

• Gu Yue invited Lu Chen to visit her home during the break, and he agreed; the group ate at Uncle Li’s restaurant and then toured the snack street.
• Long Tianwu gave Lu Chen a golden card and agreed to accompany him to the Spirit Pagoda, warning him about the Spirit Pagoda’s Young Genius Rankings and the Holy Spirit Cult.
• Lu Chen gave five spirit-refined titanium-alloy vests to his friends to wear during the exam, while Tang Wulin returned from the Blacksmith’s Association without joining them.
• After the three-day break, Wu Zhangkong brought the six members of Class Zero to the Spirit Pagoda and warned that the exam would last nearly an hour.
• Wu Zhangkong told Xie Xie that anyone who failed would lose their vacation and undergo extra training.

Wu Zhangkong brought his six students to the Spirit Pagoda, where he worried about Tang Wulin’s state of mind and the uncertainty surrounding Lu Chen’s unusual abilities. Separated from the others, Lu Chen killed a thousand-year Diamond Mammoth and began absorbing its spiritual power.

• Wu Zhangkong brought his students to the Spirit Pagoda and reflected on Lu Chen’s talent and Tang Wulin’s struggles.
• Lu Chen found himself alone in the outer Spirit Ascension Platform and encountered a thousand-year Diamond Mammoth.
• Lu Chen used the Eye of the Wind King and Time Zero to evade the mammoth, then combined the Eye of the Wind King with Royal Fire to pierce its nape and burn it from within.
• Lu Chen killed the Diamond Mammoth, summoned Word Spirit: Kamaitachi to watch the area, and sat down to absorb its dissipating spiritual power.

Lu Chen guided his group through the Spirit Ascension Platform, pushed Wang Jinxi to face a Man-Faced Demon Spider, and cultivated using the sealed area its webs created. When Xu Xiaoyu ambushed him, Lu Chen defeated him and made him disappear from the platform, leaving Xu Xiaoyan pleading for her life.

• Lu Chen reunited with Gu Yue and the others after they killed an Iron Arm Ape, then traveled with them through the platform.
• Lu Chen urged Wang Jinxi to kill a Man-Faced Demon Spider himself, and Wang Jinxi overcame his fear with the group's support.
• After the group defeated the spider, Lu Chen used its web-sealed territory to cultivate and felt his Soul Power nearing rank 30.
• Xu Xiaoyu attacked Lu Chen with ice, but Lu Chen used Time Zero and his other abilities to break Xu Xiaoyu's staff and pin him down.
• Lu Chen used Royal Fire to make Xu Xiaoyu disappear from the Spirit Ascension Platform, and Xu Xiaoyan begged him not to kill her.

Lu Chen protected his classmates during the Spirit Ascension Platform assessment, then learned Wu Zhangkong considered his titanium-alloy vest cheating but still awarded the group full marks. As Wu Zhangkong began teaching about the Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear, Lu Chen reflected on how greed drove humans to hunt dragons and Soul Beasts, then asked what the final exam would cover.

• Lu Chen led the group to flee from a pack of Flame Demon Lions, while Zhang Yangzi lured airborne Soul Beasts toward them with a stolen egg.
• A Dark Gold Dreadclaw Bear struck Lu Chen as he protected Tang Wulin, and both boys exited the platform; Xie Xie was also confirmed safe after being taken out.
• Wu Zhangkong discovered Lu Chen's titanium-alloy vest, called his actions cheating, then awarded the group full marks for protecting their classmates.
• Tang Wulin thanked Lu Chen, and Wu Zhangkong summoned him and Tang Wulin to his office to discuss the Spirit Pagoda and their Spirit Souls nearing advancement.
• During the next day's class, Lu Chen reflected on human greed and the hunting of dragons and Soul Beasts, then asked Wu Zhangkong about the last exam.

Wu Zhangkong tested Lu Chen, Xie Xie, Gu Yue, and Tang Wulin in a group fight, using only his basic techniques and Soul King-level Soul Power. Lu Chen led the group to improve their coordination and land a precise strike, while Wang Jinxi and Zhang Yangzi discovered their Martial Souls could no longer fuse.

• Wu Zhangkong challenged the six students to fight him together and critiqued their scattered attacks as he defeated their first coordinated assault.
• Lu Chen called for a new strategy, directing Xie Xie, Gu Yue, and Tang Wulin to combine their attacks to restrict Wu Zhangkong's movement.
• The improved teamwork forced Wu Zhangkong back, creating an opening for Lu Chen to pin his scabbard and touch his sword to Wu Zhangkong's neck.
• Wu Zhangkong praised Lu Chen's timing and positioning, then asked Wang Jinxi and Zhang Yangzi why they had been standing dazed.
• Wang Jinxi and Zhang Yangzi realized that their Martial Souls could no longer fuse.

After Wang Jinxi and Zhang Yangzi lost their Martial Soul Fusion Skill, Wang Jinxi decided to leave the academy with his childhood friend. As Class Zero faced a harder final exam, Lu Chen supported Tang Wulin and followed the group to the exam venue, where the entrance greeted Wu Zhangkong with a teasing nickname.

• Wang Jinxi discovered that his Martial Soul had changed and could no longer fuse with Zhang Yangzi’s, while Lu Chen and Wu Zhangkong suspected Lu Chen’s dragon-type Martial Soul was responsible.
• Wang Jinxi announced that he was withdrawing from the academy and leaving with Zhang Yangzi, and his classmates said goodbye to him.
• Tang Wulin went to the grove to cry, so Lu Chen followed him when Ouyang Zixin took him to the snack street; there, they met Xu Xiaoyu and Xu Xiaoyan.
• The academy announced that the remaining students’ assessment would be harder because Wang Jinxi and Zhang Yangzi had left, while Lu Chen sensed a brief disturbance in the elements near Gu Yue’s room.
• Tang Wulin resumed his morning run, and after breakfast Class Zero rode to the exam venue, where the building’s scanner greeted Wu Zhangkong as “Eastsea Little Zhangkong.”

Lu Chen completed two ultimate-level combat assessments, defeating Tang San and Huo Yuhao with his wind and fire abilities. After Wu Zhangkong gathered the others, Gu Yue revealed she had already joined the Spirit Pagoda, leaving the Tang Sect discussion to Xie Xie and Tang Wulin.

• Wu Zhangkong gave Lu Chen, Xie Xie, Tang Wulin, and Gu Yue identification wristbands and sent Lu Chen into a separate ultimate-level assessment.
• Lu Chen defeated the Tang San simulation with Time Zero, Eye of the Wind King, and Royal Fire before the next assessment began.
• Lu Chen fought Huo Yuhao, resisted his spiritual attacks, and defeated him with a combination of wind and fire.
• Wu Zhangkong congratulated Lu Chen and brought the group to his office to discuss joining the Tang Sect.
• Gu Yue told Wu Zhangkong she had already joined the Spirit Pagoda, and he accepted her choice.

Lu Chen fought three evil soul masters who attacked his train and defeated them despite suffering serious wounds. He then searched the carriages for survivors and rescued a little girl buried beneath corpses.

• Long Tianwu warned Lu Chen to stay back, then leaped out of the train to confront the Blood Demon Curse Killing attackers.
• Lu Chen entered a blood-soaked carriage and fought three five-ring evil soul masters, using his martial skills and alchemical sword to kill them.
• Lu Chen was stabbed and poisoned, but the Tree of Life answered his plea and restored his life force.
• Lu Chen searched two carriages and found no survivors before hearing a faint sound beneath a pile of bodies.
• Lu Chen pulled a little girl from beneath the corpses and comforted her in his arms.

Lu Chen fought Nana Li, the Dark Bell, aboard the soul train until Long Tianwu intervened and drove her away. Lu Chen collapsed from his injuries, and Long Tianwu rushed him toward Shrek Academy; in Nibelungen, Lu Chen sensed his Spiritual Power changing as the Black King watched.

• Nana Li revealed that she belonged to the Holy Spirit Cult and invited Lu Chen to join her, but he refused.
• Nana Li unleashed Vengeful Spirit Entanglement and Fear Illusion against the exhausted Lu Chen.
• Long Tianwu's Imperial Sword tore through Nana Li's attacks and shielded Lu Chen.
• Nana Li stunned Long Tianwu with her bell and vanished, while Long Tianwu caught the collapsing Lu Chen.
• Long Tianwu placed Lu Chen in his black mecha and hurried toward Shrek Academy as he checked his injuries.
• Lu Chen returned to Nibelungen, where the Black King watched him as his Spiritual Power continued to transform.

Lu Chen was welcomed into War God Hall and trained with Luo Yuhang, who helped him improve his combat skills and control of his three Word Spirits. After a month of progress in combat and metalworking, Lu Chen entered his Nibelungen to continue his research and cultivation.

• Long Tianwu and Ao Rui welcomed Lu Chen to War God Hall, where Ao Rui said his actions against Dark Bell could earn him a promotion.
• Luo Yuhang sparred with Lu Chen in virtual space, testing his Dragon Bone State, Word Spirits, and alchemical sword while keeping his strength restrained.
• Luo Yuhang advised Lu Chen to steady his Soul Power circulation and better coordinate wind, fire, and earth after Lu Chen used Time Zero and attacked a narrow opening.
• Lu Chen improved his coordination during the spar, and Luo Yuhang praised his progress while advising him to use Time Zero more precisely.
• Over the next month, Lu Chen learned to perform Spirit Refinement consistently and maintained a spirit-alloy yield above eighty percent, mostly using Alchemy.
• Lu Chen's bloodline reached thirty percent, and after absorbing spiritual Qi at the Spirit Pagoda's Spirit Ascension Platform, he entered his Nibelungen.

Lu Chen received the Word Spirit “Don't Die” from the stone slab in Nibelung Palace and returned to Eastsea Academy, where he met the newly admitted Xu Xiaoyan. The chapter ended with Xu Xiaoyan meeting Lu Chen and Xie Xie in the Class Zero dormitory.

• Lu Chen discovered that the stone slab rewarded him with the Word Spirit “Don't Die,” which he believed could save his life.
• Long Tianwu took Lu Chen to Eastsea Academy, where Gu Yue welcomed him back.
• Wu Zhangkong gave Xu Xiaoyan one month to prove herself worthy of staying in Class Zero.
• Xu Xiaoyan overheard Lu Chen and Xie Xie talking through a hole in her dormitory wall and hurried out to meet them.
• Xie Xie recognized Xu Xiaoyan as the “Ice Staff Guy's” little sister, and Lu Chen lightly smacked him for bringing up her embarrassing past.

Xu Xiaoyan joined Class Zero and received encouragement from her classmates as Wu Zhangkong began the new semester’s training assessments. Lu Chen revealed that he had reached level 30 and recorded the others’ results before taking a separate examination that showed his exceptional abilities.

• Xie Xie asked Xu Xiaoyan about her cultivation, then offered to help her and hurried back to his dorm.
• At the opening ceremony, Lu Chen struggled to stay awake through the principal’s long speech, and Gu Yue discreetly nudged him.
• Xu Xiaoyan introduced herself to Class Zero, and Gu Yue and Tang Wulin reassured her and offered to help her improve.
• Wu Zhangkong checked Lu Chen’s cultivation and learned that he had reached level 30, then asked him to supervise the others’ meditation.
• Wu Zhangkong ordered the class to undergo physical and combat assessments, while Lu Chen recorded the results before taking his own tests.
• Lu Chen’s Spiritual Power reached 499, and his strength and reaction speed were twice those of his classmates.

Lu Chen defeated Tang Wulin, Xie Xie, Xu Xiaoyan, and Gu Yue in a brief spar, prompting Wu Zhangkong to prepare them for the Skysea Alliance Tournament. Wu Zhangkong questioned Gu Yue about holding back, and she replied that companions did not need to fight at full strength.

• Wu Zhangkong led the group to the training ground and had the others attack Lu Chen together.
• Lu Chen used Time Zero, his Word Spirits, and his alchemical sword to evade and defeat all four in a few breaths.
• Wu Zhangkong criticized the group for slacking during the holiday, while Long Hengxu was impressed by Lu Chen's strength.
• Wu Zhangkong told the students to train for the Skysea Alliance Tournament and said Lu Chen could be especially formidable with a healing-type Soul Master beside him.
• Wu Zhangkong asked Gu Yue whether she had held back, and Gu Yue said companions did not need to use their full strength against one another.

Lu Chen and Tang Wulin prepared to compete in the Skysea Alliance Tournament, with Wu Zhangkong urging Lu Chen to aim for the championship. The chapter ended as Class Zero arrived at Eastsea Square, where Mu Xi learned Lu Chen would enter the competition too.

• Wu Zhangkong told Class Zero that they would compete in the Skysea Alliance Tournament, and he asked Lu Chen and Tang Wulin to stay behind to discuss their blacksmith competition.
• Lu Chen signed up for the individual competition, and Tang Wulin eagerly followed suit.
• Lu Chen told his companions that Shrek Academy usually accepted only exceptional students, while Xie Xie and Xu Xiaoyan learned he was a War God Hall major.
• Wu Zhangkong led Class Zero to Eastsea Square, where they met advanced-division competitors including Xu Xiaoyu, Ouyang Zixin, and Mu Xi.
• Mu Xi challenged Class Zero’s prospects, but she lost confidence when Lu Chen said he would compete against her team.