Chapter Summaries

Huo Yuhao's team defeated their semifinal opponents in under two minutes, securing a place in the finals, while Dai Huabin erupted into a violent rage during his match. After attacking an opponent who had surrendered, Dai Huabin turned on Zhu Lu and left her badly injured.

• Wang Dong'er used the Light of the Butterfly God to force Cao Jinxuan and Zhou Sicheng out of the arena, then knocked Long Xiangyue out with Wing Guillotines after Huo Yuhao's Spiritual Detection Sharing revealed his position.
• The proctor declared Huo Yuhao's team the winners, and Zhou Yi and Yan Shaozhe praised the team's performance and prospects as core disciples.
• Dai Huabin's team won their match after Dai Huabin ignored his opponent's surrender and nearly struck him with a White Tiger Fierce Light Wave before the proctor stopped him.
• Yan Shaozhe noticed that Dai Huabin's power resembled that of Evil Soul Masters, but decided to observe him further.
• Dai Huabin grabbed Zhu Lu by the throat when she suggested conceding the next match, then threw her across the ground and left her severely injured.

Huo Yuhao helped Zhu Lu recover from her injuries, while Wang Dong'er and Xiao Xiao reacted jealously to his attention and closeness. After resting, both teams entered the arena for the freshman assessment finals, and the referee started the match.

• Huo Yuhao carried the injured Zhu Lu to the medical teacher, who healed her and advised him to treat her gently.
• Huo Yuhao returned to Wang Dong'er and Xiao Xiao, and Zhou Yi reminded the three to rest and seek help if they could not continue.
• Xiao Xiao woke Huo Yuhao when the assessment was about to begin, while Wang Dong'er strode ahead in a jealous mood.
• Both teams entered the arena, with Dai Huabin leading Zhu Lu and Cui Yajie and Wang Dong'er facing them at the front of her team.
• The referee had both teams announce their names, received Yan Shaozhe's approval, and declared the match begun.

Wang Dong'er and Dai Huabin clashed in the arena while Cui Yajie's Charm failed against Wang Dong'er and left Cui Yajie terrified. Wang Dong'er turned Dai Huabin's attack against him and, protected by Huo Yuhao's Spiritual Detection Sharing and Xiao Xiao's cauldron, escaped the explosion unharmed; she then turned her attention to Zhu Lu and Cui Yajie.

• Huo Yuyao used Spiritual Detection to link Wang Dong'er and Dai Huabin, while Xiao Xiao guarded him with the Three-Life Soul-Suppressing Cauldron.
• Cui Yajie used Charm on Wang Dong'er, but Wang Dong'er resisted it and frightened Cui Yajie into collapsing; Zhu Lu rescued her from Xiao Xiao's cauldron.
• Wang Dong'er struck Dai Huabin with Wing Guillotine, forcing him back, while Zhu Lu and Cui Yajie dodged the pursuing cauldron.
• Dai Huabin grabbed Wang Dong'er's wings and fired White Tiger Fierce Light Wave, which collided with Wang Dong'er's Light of the Butterfly God and exploded.
• Wang Dong'er withdrew her Martial Soul and landed safely on Xiao Xiao's cauldron, while Dai Huabin took the blast; she then threatened Zhu Lu and Cui Yajie.

Dai Huabin drained Zhu Lu’s life energy and Soul Power to transform them into a monstrous blood tiger, which attacked Huo Yuhao and the others during the assessment. As Yan Shaozhe and the teachers tried to contain the beast and evacuate the students, Huo Yuhao sent Xiao Xiao to safety and was caught beneath its descending claw.

• Wang Dong'er moved to attack Dai Huabin, but Zhu Lu blocked her while Cui Yajie recovered and approached Xiao Xiao.
• Dai Huabin seized Zhu Lu, drained her blood and Soul Power, and transformed with her into a blood tiger through their merged Martial Souls.
• The blood tiger charged at Huo Yuhao and the others; Huo Yuhao disrupted its attack with spiritual power and carried Xiao Xiao out of the arena.
• Yan Shaozhe recognized an Evil Soul Master’s presence in Dai Huabin and pinned the blood tiger down, but it resisted and attacked Huo Yuhao’s group.
• Zhou Yi rushed to rescue the students, and Huo Yuhao threw Xiao Xiao toward her before the blood tiger’s claw struck where he stood.
• Xiao Xiao tried to run back to Huo Yuhao, but Zhou Yi knocked her unconscious as dust concealed him beneath the tiger’s claw.

Yan Shaozhe fought the blood tiger while Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong'er unleashed their Martial Soul Fusion Skill, sealing the beast and naming their technique Starlight in the Dust, the Path of Shadow. After the seal faded, Yan Shaozhe rescued Dai Huabin and Zhu Lu and sent Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong'er to take Zhu Lu to the medical area.

• Zhou Yi fled the assessment area with Xiao Xiao as the blood tiger attacked Yan Shaozhe with its tail.
• Yan Shaozhe caught the blood tiger's tail and battled its dark red Soul Skill with his Bright Phoenix power.
• Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong'er surprised the blood tiger with a Martial Soul Fusion Skill that sealed it in black, star-flecked light.
• Wang Dong'er named their Martial Soul Fusion Skill Starlight in the Dust, the Path of Shadow, and Yan Shaozhe contained the sealed tiger in a light barrier.
• After about an hour, the seal faded and the blood tiger vanished, leaving Dai Huabin and the wounded Zhu Lu to fall from midair.
• Yan Shaozhe restrained Dai Huabin, healed Zhu Lu's bleeding, and asked Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong'er to take her to the medical area.

After waking in the medical ward, Zhu Lu learned that Dai Huabin had become an Evil Soul Master and decided to break free of her family’s expectations and leave Shrek Academy. She and Cui Yajie departed after Zhu Lu watched Huo Yuhao at the freshman results gathering one last time.

• Cui Yajie told Zhu Lu that Huo Yuhao had brought her to the medical ward and that Dai Huabin had become an Evil Soul Master and been imprisoned.
• Zhu Lu recalled Dai Huabin’s attack and realized she no longer wanted to live according to her family’s plans.
• Zhu Lu told Cui Yajie she wanted to leave Shrek Academy and travel, and Cui Yajie asked to come with her.
• Zhu Lu and Cui Yajie went to Shrek Square on the day the freshman assessment results and core disciple list were to be announced.
• Zhu Lu found Huo Yuhao in the crowd, watched him with Wang Dong'er and Xiao Xiao, then left with Cui Yajie in tears.

After winning the freshman assessment, Wang Dong'er, Huo Yuhao, and Xiao Xiao received a special academy reward: a fifty-thousand-year Bright Devouring Pelican Sparrow Left Arm Bone. It fused with Xiao Xiao, whose soul power surged, while Zhou Yi reflected on beginning a new life.

• Zhou Sichen left a bench after teasing Cao Jinxuan about finding a girlfriend, and Cao Jinxuan hurried after him.
• Du Weilun presented Wang Dong'er, Huo Yuhao, and Xiao Xiao with a special reward for winning the freshman assessment.
• The Bright Devouring Pelican Sparrow Left Arm Bone flew into Xiao Xiao's left arm and began fusing with her, raising her soul power by two levels.
• Du Weilun shielded the room and instructed Xiao Xiao to meditate while Wang Dong'er and Huo Yuhao cultivated nearby.
• Du Weilun praised Zhou Yi for her students' victory and left her with hopes that they would enter the inner court.
• Zhou Yi removed her aged mask, shed tears, and wondered if it was time to start a new life.

Xiao Xiao gained the Devour Heaven and Earth Soul Bone skill and nearly fought Wang Dong'er over Huo Yuhao. After Zhou Yi removed her mask and encouraged Wang Dong'er to lay aside her disguise, Wang Dong'er took Huo Yuhao away, prompting Xiao Xiao to chase after them.

• Xiao Xiao bonded with the Radiant Devouring Pelican Soul Bone and learned that Devour Heaven and Earth could absorb nearby targets and convert another Soul Master's Soul Power into a boost for her own.
• Xiao Xiao told Huo Yuhao that her Soul Power had reached rank twenty-eight and embraced him, then knocked away Wang Dong'er's hand when she tried to grab him.
• Du Weilun's recorded message explained the Soul Bone's origins, warned Xiao Xiao to use its skill cautiously, and promised the trio academy help obtaining Soul Rings when they reached the required ranks.
• Huo Yuhao opened the door and found Zhou Yi waiting without her mask; she congratulated the team and advised Wang Dong'er to lay aside her disguise.
• Wang Dong'er grabbed Huo Yuhao and walked away, and Xiao Xiao hurried after them angrily.

Zhou Yi appointed Wang Dong'er and Xiao Xiao as class monitors, then began the class’s daily physical training with iron vests and a timed run. The students started circling Shrek Square under threat of having the last-place finisher clean the class’s assigned area for a month.

• Zhou Yi named Wang Dong'er the Power Attack System class monitor and Xiao Xiao the Control System class monitor, then laid out her class rules.
• Zhou Yi announced daily physical training and led the class to Shrek Square, where the students put on iron vests.
• Zhou Yi gave Zhou Sichen a specially prepared iron vest weighing about fifty kilograms, and he struggled to put it on and return to the ranks.
• Zhou Yi ordered everyone to run laps until class ended and warned that the last-place finisher would clean the class’s assigned area for the final month.
• Wu Feng joined the run competitively, while Zhou Sichen began at the back, struggling under his heavy vest.

After training, Wu Feng approached Huo Yuhao and became flustered when she realized he was handsome and hoped he would remember her name. She left to watch him from hiding, then chased Nanmen Yun'er after Yun'er teased her about having a crush.

• After the students finished running, Zhou Sichen collapsed in misery because he had come last and would have to clean.
• Xiao Xiao and Wang Dong'er fought over who would take care of Huo Yuhao, and Zhou Yi knocked them both unconscious.
• Wu Feng approached Huo Yuhao, who struggled to remember her name before finally guessing it correctly.
• Wu Feng hid to watch Huo Yuhao leave with Xiao Xiao and Wang Dong'er, then Ning Tian and Nanmen Yun'er found her.
• Nanmen Yun'er teased Wu Feng about being in heat and having a crush on a handsome boy, so Wu Feng chased her while Ning Tian followed.

On the last day of term, Zhou Sichen and Cao Jinxuan tried to get Huo Yuhao to teach them, but he left with Xiao Xiao. The three later gathered with Wang Dong'er for a barbecue, where Wang Dong'er and Xiao Xiao's rivalry over Huo Yuhao flared up again.

• Zhou Sichen and Cao Jinxuan begged Huo Yuhao for help, but Huo Yuhao took Xiao Xiao and left before they could explain what they wanted.
• Zhou Sichen and Cao Jinxuan argued over losing their chance, then made up when Zhou Sichen called Cao Jinxuan his godfather.
• Wang Dong'er waited by Sea God Lake and bristled when Huo Yuhao arrived with Xiao Xiao, who said she had invited Wang Dong'er because they were teammates.
• Wang Dong'er took over cutting the meat while Huo Yuhao lit the charcoal for their barbecue.
• Xiao Xiao kissed Huo Yuhao after he helped her with the charcoal, and Wang Dong'er threw a knife into the grass between them, claiming her hand had slipped.

Huo Yuhao led Tang Ya and Jiang Nannan north beyond the Heavenly Soul Empire toward the Far North, where he spotted a snow-covered town. As they hurried toward it, Tang Ya pretended to injure her ankle so Huo Yuhao would carry her, and Jiang Nannan leaped after them asking for a ride too.

• Huo Yuhao explained that he had brought Tang Ya and Jiang Nannan north while Zhang Lexuan and Ma Xiaotao stayed at Shrek Academy.
• Huo Yuhao spotted a snow-covered town about five kilometers ahead and led the group toward it.
• Tang Ya became distracted by Jiang Nannan's photographs, fell into the snow, and pretended she had twisted her ankle.
• Huo Yuhao carried Tang Ya toward the town, and she clung tightly to him as Jiang Nannan hurried after them.
• Jiang Nannan shouted that Tang Ya was sneaky, then leaped forward and asked Huo Yuhao to carry her too.

Shu Lingyu returned to her remote town with a Snow Flame Tiger she had hunted, hoping its sale would provide for her and her younger sister, Shu Lingxue. Tang Ya, Jiang Nannan, and Huo Yuhao arrived seeking shelter from the blizzard, and the wary sisters let them inside.

• Shu Lingyu dragged the Snow Flame Tiger to the town gates and reunited with Shu Lingxue, who helped her bring it in.
• As Shu Lingxue began closing the gates, Tang Ya and Jiang Nannan stopped them with a vine and asked to shelter from the snow.
• Shu Lingyu raised her dagger to protect Shu Lingxue, but the strangers explained they were travelers and Huo Yuhao caught Tang Ya and Jiang Nannan when they nearly fell.
• Tang Ya and Jiang Nannan gave assumed names and conflicting accounts of how they reached town, making Shu Lingxue suspicious.
• Huo Yuhao revealed that they had followed tracks through the snow, and Shu Lingyu lowered her dagger and invited the three inside before shutting the gates.

Huo Yuhao and his companions settled into a cabin in a silent northern town, where he used Spiritual Detection Sharing to survey the residents and sent Tang Ya and Jiang Nannan to search for clues. As they began their investigation, Huo Yuhao admitted that he had lost the route to the Far North, while a dark figure watched the cabin from outside.

• Shu Lingyu gave Tang Ya, Jiang Nannan, and Huo Yuhao a room for the night and warned them not to go outside after dark.
• Shu Lingxue brought the three hot tea, and Huo Yuhao used Spiritual Detection Sharing to survey the town and its residents.
• Huo Yuhao told Tang Ya and Jiang Nannan that the blood and answers were in town, and they vanished to investigate.
• The Sky Dream Ice Silkworm apologized for losing the way to the Far North, and Huo Yuhao kicked him out through the window to search for the route.
• A dark figure watched the lit cabin for about five minutes before cautiously leaving.

Shu Lingyu and Shu Lingxue prepared the Snow Flame Tiger while Huo Yuhao offered them coal. Men demanding tribute for a lord came to claim the tiger, and Shu Lingyu opened the door after luring their leader inside.

• Shu Lingyu butchered the Snow Flame Tiger as Shu Lingxue helped her, while Huo Yuhao sat nearby.
• Huo Yuhao offered the sisters five kilograms of coal, and Shu Lingxue stored it before preparing tiger meat.
• After men broke down the courtyard gate, Shu Lingyu hid with Shu Lingxue while Huo Yuhao watched the intruders.
• The leader demanded the Snow Flame Tiger as tribute, and his men threatened the sisters.
• Shu Lingyu persuaded the men to back away from the doorway, then opened the door and let their leader step inside.

Shu Lingyu fought off the burly man and his lackeys while Huo Yuhao watched, but the fight turned against her when Shu Lingxue rushed to help and was struck down. As Shu Lingyu tried to avenge her sister, the burly man rose behind her and struck her from behind.

• Shu Lingyu ambushed the burly man, but he blocked her attack and wounded her in their ensuing fight.
• Shu Lingyu pierced the burly man's abdomen with her katana Martial Soul and slashed him down, but his lackeys continued attacking her.
• Shu Lingyu used her second Soul Ring to trap the lackeys in a pool of blood, but they broke free and overwhelmed her defenses.
• Shu Lingxue ran to help her sister, but a lackey kicked her into the wall, leaving her motionless beside her black katana.
• Shu Lingyu unleashed her remaining Soul Power against the lackeys as the burly man rose behind her and cleaved into her back.

Huo Yuhao appeared to die while saving Shu Lingyu, who was gravely injured after attacking the burly man. The burly man and his lackeys looted the house and hauled away Shu Lingyu, Shu Lingxue, and Huo Yuhao, unaware that a faint smile had appeared on Huo Yuhao's supposedly dead face.

• Huo Yuhao fell with a fatal-looking wound after saving Shu Lingyu, and she tried to attack the burly man.
• The burly man shattered Shu Lingyu's blade and hurled her into a stone wall, leaving her badly injured.
• The burly man checked Huo Yuhao, found him apparently dead, and ordered his lackeys to take him along for the master.
• The burly man pulled Shu Lingyu from the rubble while his lackeys carried out Shu Lingxue and loaded the Snow Flame Tiger meat onto a cart.
• The burly man led his lackeys away with their captives and loot, while a faint smile appeared on Huo Yuhao's face beneath the cart's load.

Jiang Nannan discovered an old booklet that helped her identify the town as Slaughter City, a place Shadow had deliberately brought them to. Meanwhile, Tang Ya watched a tavern keeper’s accomplice kill the patrons and descend through a hidden entrance beneath the counter.

• Jiang Nannan found a brittle booklet beneath a bookshelf and pieced together its references to Slaughter City, blood, and Evil Soul Masters.
• Jiang Nannan realized the tavern’s red wine was likely the blood Shadow had mentioned and concluded that Shadow had brought them to Slaughter City on purpose.
• Jiang Nannan put away the booklet and left to tell Huo Yuhao about her discovery.
• Tang Ya watched from the tavern roof as a man in black made the drunken patrons bleed to death with his Soul Power.
• The man in black kicked the corpses through a hidden basement entrance beneath the counter, and the bartender closed it and resumed polishing a glass.

Tang Ya and Jiang Nannan found the courtyard wrecked and followed clues toward the Evil Soul Masters’ hideout, while Worshipper Duan collected captives and killed Skinny Monkey. After being discarded as a corpse, Huo Yuhao revived underground and watched the departing men.

• Tang Ya and Jiang Nannan found blood and destruction at the courtyard, including signs that Huo Yuhao, the sisters, and the Snow Flame Tiger were gone.
• Tang Ya and Jiang Nannan concluded the Evil Soul Masters had taken the captives and headed for the tavern to investigate their basement.
• Worshipper Duan inspected the cart carrying Shu Lingyu, Shu Lingxue, Huo Yuhao, and the Snow Flame Tiger, then killed Skinny Monkey and consumed his blood mist.
• Worshipper Duan gave Huo Yuhao’s apparently dead body to the burly man, whose underling tossed it into a dusty corner.
• Huo Yuhao’s wounds healed, his heartbeat returned, and he rose with purple eyes fixed on the departing men.

Huo Yuhao killed the men who had captured him, then used Spiritual Detection to locate a glittering light and a shadow dragging a cart deeper into the underground tunnels. Aboveground, Jiang Nannan and Tang Ya killed the bartender, opened the hidden passage, and entered after testing the tunnel for toxins and cooling it down.

• Huo Yuhao gathered the dead men’s Soul Tools and detected a shadow dragging a cart toward a sinister area of the tunnels.
• Jiang Nannan and Tang Ya entered the tavern and refused the bartender’s offer of Bloody Mary.
• Jiang Nannan killed the bartender and smashed the bar to expose the floor beneath it.
• Tang Ya used her Eight Spider Lances to break open a passage and threw liquor and a kerosene lamp inside to test the air for toxins.
• Tang Ya cooled the passage with snow, then entered it with Jiang Nannan.