Chapter Summaries

After returning to Shrek Academy with a dramatically changed appearance, Lu Cheng reunited with Ning Cong and rushed to the second-year entrance assessment. He reached roll call in time, though his teacher struggled to recognize him, and the assessment was about to begin.

• Lu Cheng returned to the dormitory, where Ning Cong recognized him only after Lu Cheng explained that he had awakened a Second Martial Soul.
• Ning Cong told Lu Cheng that the academy had nearly expelled him for missing the start of the semester and teased him about traveling with Ma Xiaotao.
• Ning Cong reminded Lu Cheng that the second-year entrance assessment was starting, and Lu Cheng carried him at great speed to the Great Beast Dueling Arena.
• Lu Cheng arrived in time for roll call, but the teacher doubted his identity because his appearance had changed so much.
• Other students at the arena noticed Lu Cheng's striking looks as they gathered for the assessment.

Lu Cheng returned to Shrek Academy’s assessment and chose to face a ten-thousand-year soul beast, revealing his second-awakened Blood Pupils to Du Weilun. As a Blazing Fire Rhinoceros entered the arena, the students and teachers watched anxiously while Lu Cheng stood his ground.

• Xue Ling'er fought a five-hundred-year soul beast and earned 110 points in her assessment.
• Du Weilun discovered that Lu Cheng had undergone a second awakening of his Blood Pupils and asked what soul beast he wanted to face.
• Lu Cheng chose a ten-thousand-year soul beast, and Du Weilun ordered a Blazing Fire Rhinoceros brought into the arena.
• Yan Shaozhe considered using Xiaotao to bind Lu Cheng to Shrek Academy and warned himself to act if Lu Cheng proved disloyal.
• Yu Linglong and the other students watched as the enormous Blazing Fire Rhinoceros entered, while Lu Cheng remained unmoving before it.

Lu Cheng faced a ten-thousand-year Blazing Fire Rhinoceros in Shrek Academy’s beast dueling arena and revealed the overwhelming power of his Golden Crow abilities. After the battle displayed his Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring, Yan Shaozhe considered how to keep the eleven-year-old Soul Ancestor at the academy.

• The Blazing Fire Rhinoceros charged Lu Cheng, and Du Weilun ordered teachers to rescue him when he failed to dodge.
• Lu Cheng caught the rhinoceros’s hoof with one hand and then shot arrows into its eyes and throat.
• The enraged rhinoceros attacked with flames, but Lu Cheng used his Fourth Soul Skill, Feathers Turned into Arrows, to unleash a rain of Golden Crow feathers.
• The students and Yan Shaozhe saw Lu Cheng’s Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring and the Golden Crow’s true form.
• Yan Shaozhe decided to keep Lu Cheng settled at Shrek Academy before considering how to develop his potential.

Lu Cheng defeated a Ten-Thousand-Year Blazing Fire Rhinoceros during his Shrek Academy assessment, earning full marks and drawing the attention of the academy’s leaders and students. Meanwhile, Zhang Lexuan searched the Sun Moon Empire for her brother’s killer and Lu Cheng, until a message from Xiaotao told her to return because Lu Cheng had been found.

• The judges gave Lu Cheng full marks, and Yan Shaozhe tried to reassure him that the academy had intended to temper him.
• Gong Changlong confronted Yan Shaozhe over the damage to his arena, then learned Lu Cheng had killed the Blazing Fire Rhinoceros.
• Ning Cong and the Shrek students crowded around Lu Cheng, while Yu Linglong realized Lu Cheng had never considered him a rival.
• Lu Cheng resolved to raise his strength before the next year’s new students arrived and to wait for Zhang Lexuan before deciding his next move.
• Zhang Lexuan searched her memories and concluded that Mu En might have been involved in her family’s slaughter, then vowed to uncover the truth and find her brother.
• Zhang Lexuan received Xiaotao’s message saying Lu Cheng had been found and that she should return at once.

Zhang Lexuan learned that Lu Cheng might be at Shrek Academy and set off to find him, while Xu Sanshi and the Black Tortoise Sect tried to force Jiang Nannan to honor a marriage contract. As Xu Jing moved to seize Jiang Nannan, a fiery arrow tore through the sky toward them.

• Zhang Lexuan used the second Martial Soul Lu Cheng had given her and flew toward Shrek Academy after learning he might be there.
• Xu Sanshi arrived at Jiang Nannan’s home with steward Chen Nian and learned that his father had arranged their betrothal.
• Jiang Nannan rejected Xu Sanshi and the marriage contract, while Chen Nian threatened to enforce it on behalf of the Black Tortoise Sect.
• Xu Jing defeated Jiang Nannan’s protectors and injured her, but she refused to go with him even when he threatened to take her by force.
• As Xu Jing struck at Jiang Nannan’s neck, a powerful fiery-red arrow shot toward them.

Lu Cheng rescued Jiang Nannan from Xu Jing and the Black Tortoise Sect, then called on Ma Xiaotao to fight them. As Ma Xiaotao attacked Xu Jing, Lu Cheng comforted Jiang Nannan, who struggled with her feelings as she clung to him.

• Lu Cheng shot down the dagger at Jiang Nannan’s throat and forced Xu Jing to block a second arrow with his Xuanming Armor.
• Lu Cheng appeared, carried the exhausted Jiang Nannan in his arms, and told her he would handle the Black Tortoise Sect.
• Xu Jing demanded to know Lu Cheng’s master, and Lu Cheng answered with Ma Xiaotao’s name.
• Ma Xiaotao arrived as a Soul Saint with a hundred-thousand-year Soul Ring and trapped Xu Jing and his companions in a cage of divine fire.
• Ma Xiaotao used Divine Phoenix Avatar to attack Xu Jing, while Lu Cheng shielded Jiang Nannan from the shock wave.
• Jiang Nannan clung to Lu Cheng and blushed, insisting she was holding on because it was easier, while he told her he was not tired.

Ma Xiaotao killed Xu Jing after he threatened Shrek Academy, while Lu Cheng and Jiang Nannan returned to their family meal. Zhang Lexuan arrived at the courtyard and calmly joined them, leaving Lu Cheng frozen in the doorway.

• Ma Xiaotao overpowered Xu Jing, killed him with a Divine Phoenix Cloud-Piercing Strike, and burned his body to ash.
• Ma Xiaotao spared Xu Sanshi because he was a Shrek Academy student, then left after finding Lu Cheng carrying Jiang Nannan.
• Jiang Nannan returned to the courtyard with Lu Cheng, and he told her he had brought her a present from Heaven Dou City.
• Ning Ye came to apologize for the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect's failure to protect Lu Cheng and announced a trade boycott of the Black Tortoise Sect.
• Zhang Lexuan arrived at the courtyard, revealed herself to Lu Cheng, and joined the family meal while he stood stunned at the door.

Lu Cheng tried to navigate a tense meal as Zhang Lexuan teased him and Jiang Nannan defended him, while both women competed for his attention. The meal ended with Zhang Lexuan moved by the jade hairpin he had brought her, and Lu Cheng carefully pinned it into her hair.

• Zhang Lexuan teased Lu Cheng by calling him her big brother and hinting at how much he had done for her, leaving him uneasy.
• Jiang Nannan sat beside Lu Cheng and confronted Zhang Lexuan, insisting she stop tormenting him.
• Lu Cheng reassured Jiang Nannan that Zhang Lexuan was only joking, but Jiang Nannan stayed close and fed him herself.
• Lu Cheng gave Mother Jiang jade plaques and fastened a pink-rabbit bracelet onto Jiang Nannan's wrist at her request.
• Zhang Lexuan asked whether Lu Cheng had brought her a present, and he gave her a jade hairpin with a wind chime.
• Lu Cheng pinned the hairpin into Zhang Lexuan's hair, and she gazed at him with reddening eyes and growing affection.

Zhang Lexuan confronted Lu Cheng about his past deceptions and feared he would abandon her again, but accepted his confession and warned him not to lie to her. Six months later, Lu Cheng prepared to seek his fifth Soul Ring and pursue Huo Yuhao’s power sources, while Zhang Lexuan left to investigate her clan’s massacre and take revenge on Mu En.

• Zhang Lexuan told Lu Cheng she was happy he had come to Shrek Academy but threatened to cripple him and keep him with her if he tried to leave.
• Lu Cheng admitted he had hidden the truth and made decisions for Zhang Lexuan, and she forgave him while warning him not to lie again.
• Six months later, Zhang Lexuan teased Lu Cheng about his strengthened body as he planned to travel to the Star Dou Great Forest for his fifth Soul Ring.
• Lu Cheng planned to find Huo Yuhao, Electrolux, and Tian Meng as the main storyline approached.
• Zhang Lexuan said she would investigate the Zhang Clan massacre and kill Mu En, then left with Xiaotao accompanying Lu Cheng.

Ning Tian and her companions withdrew from Star Dou Great Forest’s core after a costly encounter with Burrowing Spirit Armors, and she decided to travel directly to Shrek Academy. As the camp settled for the night, an unseen attacker dragged an attendant underground.

• Ning Tian recalled how her party had pursued a rare Holy Spirit Salamander into the core region before hundreds of Burrowing Spirit Armors forced them to retreat.
• Ning Tian told Wu Feng that she had begun to admire her intended future husband, and the two discussed the marriage alliance and a possible name for their future son.
• Ning Tian learned that White Embankment City was about a day away and ordered Elder Ling to take the group directly to Shrek Academy instead of returning to the sect headquarters.
• A pitch-black figure erupted from the earth, seized an attendant, and dragged him underground, prompting someone to shout for everyone to get ready.

A Burrowing Spirit Armor pack ambushed Ning Tian’s group during their retreat from the Star Dou Great Forest, leaving Wu Feng and Ning Tian isolated as a Ten-Thousand-Year beast attacked. Wu Feng charged to protect Ning Tian, but a mysterious crimson beam killed the beast, leaving Wu Feng to wonder whether she had done it.

• Elder Ling led the group away from their camp after Burrowing Spirit Armor attacked, and Ning Tian promised compensation to the families of fallen attendants.
• The group endured a night of attacks, then three enormous Burrowing Spirit Armor ambushed them at dawn and scattered their formation.
• A massive beast cornered Ning Tian and Wu Feng after the Horned Qilin Horse threw them off, while Ling Nan and the other elites were unable to help.
• Ning Tian shielded Wu Feng from the beast, then used her Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda to strengthen Wu Feng as she prepared to fight.
• Wu Feng attacked the beast’s eye, but a crimson pillar of light pierced its head and killed it, leaving her staring at her claws and asking whether she had slain it.

An unseen expert intervened in the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect’s fight with the Burrowing Spirit Armors, then Lu Cheng rescued Ning Tian from the thirty-thousand-year beast. After Lu Cheng teased Wu Feng, Ning Tian reacted with surprise at his words.

• Elder Ling thanked the distant expert who had killed a Ten-Thousand-Year Burrowing Spirit Armor, but received no response.
• The thirty-thousand-year Burrowing Spirit Armor King split into three and charged Ning Tian, while Elder Ling’s spear wounded it without stopping its attack.
• Crimson arrows struck the beast, and Lu Cheng carried Ning Tian out of its path while kicking Wu Feng away.
• Lu Cheng brought Ning Tian to safety in a tree, and Wu Feng landed nearby, complaining that she was not fine.
• Lu Cheng called Wu Feng silly and easy to bully, leaving Ning Tian staring at him in surprise.

Lu Cheng rescued Ning Tian and Wu Feng, then escorted them toward Shrek Academy while searching for Tang Ya and Bei Bei. He found Tang Ya alone in the Star Dou Great Forest and decided to follow her.

• Lu Cheng discussed his new Nether King Snake Soul Ring with Elder Ling after the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect party escaped the Burrowing Spirit Armors.
• Ling Nan recognized Lu Cheng from Ning Cong's description, and Ning Tian realized that her rescuer was the person she had admired from afar.
• Huo Yuhao left the Duke's Mansion, took his mother's surname, and vowed to avenge her before heading toward the Star Dou Great Forest.
• Lu Cheng carried Ning Tian through the forest while Wu Feng followed, and he searched for Tang Ya and Bei Bei with his Blood Pupils.
• Lu Cheng found Tang Ya by herself and decided to follow her, wondering where Bei Bei had gone.

Tang Ya ventured into the Star Dou Great Forest and met Huo Yuhao, who was about to absorb a Wind Baboon’s Soul Ring when the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm appeared. Tian Meng abandoned Huo Yuhao for Lu Cheng, whose Sea of Consciousness also drew in Electrolux, and asked Lu Cheng to help Huo Yuhao obtain a suitable Soul Ring.

• Tang Ya entered the Star Dou Great Forest alone and found Huo Yuhao cooking fish, then invited him to join the Tang Sect and Shrek Academy.
• Huo Yuhao tried to absorb the Wind Baboon’s white Soul Ring, but the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm emerged and offered to help him become a god.
• Tian Meng judged Huo Yuhao’s aptitude too poor and left, while the gust from his departure destroyed Huo Yuhao’s Soul Ring.
• Tian Meng found Lu Cheng, fused with him, and marveled at his aptitude, physical strength, and awakened mental-type Martial Soul.
• Electrolux entered Lu Cheng’s Sea of Consciousness, and Tian Meng asked Lu Cheng to help Huo Yuhao find a suitable Soul Ring.

Lu Cheng used his new spiritual abilities to question Wu Feng about her feelings for Ning Tian and convinced her that she might be mistaking friendship for love. Elsewhere, Tang Ya was nearly killed by a powerful Mandala Snake but was caught by Lu Cheng, who had defeated it.

• Lu Cheng used Spiritual Detection to survey the area, while Wu Feng woke and learned that Ning Tian was safe after a spiritual attack.
• Lu Cheng teased Wu Feng about liking Ning Tian, and she admitted wanting to stay with her before he suggested their bond was friendship rather than romantic love.
• Tang Ya fought a nine-hundred-year Mandala Snake, but a second, much larger snake struck her and left her badly injured.
• As Tang Ya fell toward the larger snake's jaws, she recalled her family's deaths and her failing efforts to revive the Tang Sect.
• Lu Cheng caught Tang Ya and left her staring in astonishment at the defeated Mandala Snake and the handsome boy holding her.

Lu Cheng rescued Tang Ya, healed her injuries, and helped her absorb a thousand-year Soul Ring, while suspecting Mu En had kept Bei Bei away from her. They then found Huo Yuhao alone in the forest, where he had been surviving after repeated beast attacks.

• Lu Cheng carried the injured Tang Ya and gave her a Black Tortoise Divine Pill to heal her.
• Tang Ya absorbed the Soul Ring and advanced to Soul Elder, while Lu Cheng suspected Mu En was preventing Bei Bei from seeing her.
• Lu Cheng and Tang Ya set off to find Huo Yuhao.
• Huo Yuhao caught a fish and prepared it over a fire before Lu Cheng, Tang Ya, and two others emerged from the woods.

Lu Cheng befriended Huo Yuhao, helped him obtain his first Soul Ring, and brought him and the others to register at Shrek Academy. The chapter ended with Bei Bei waiting for Tang Ya and asking if she was still angry with him.

• Lu Cheng offered Huo Yuhao a suitable Soul Ring and encouraged him to hold his head high, earning Huo Yuhao's grateful loyalty.
• Lu Cheng gave Huo Yuhao a three-hundred-year Illusion Butterfly, and Huo Yuhao absorbed it as his first Soul Ring.
• Lu Cheng reunited with Ma Xiaotao in Shrek City and registered Huo Yuhao, Ning Tian, Wu Feng, and the others at the academy.
• Tang Ya told Huo Yuhao that Lu Cheng had reached Soul King at twelve and killed a ten-thousand-year Blazing Fire Rhinoceros.
• Bei Bei approached Tang Ya outside the girls' dormitory and asked whether she was still angry with him.

Tang Ya ended things with Bei Bei, who found Xu Sanshi and commiserated over being dumped. At Shrek Academy, Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong arrived at the same dorm room as Ning Cong, while Lu Cheng suspected the strange room assignment had been arranged by Tang San.

• Tang Ya told Bei Bei to focus on cultivation and leave their future undecided, and Bei Bei watched her walk away.
• Tang Ya asked Jiang Nannan about Lu Cheng and privately recalled their encounter in the forest.
• Bei Bei met Xu Sanshi in a tavern, and the two realized they had both been dumped before drinking together.
• Huo Yuhao arrived at Room 108 and found Wang Dong already there with Ning Cong, who went to question the dorm supervisor about the room assignment.
• Lu Cheng suspected Tang San was behind the unusual assignment, while Wang Dong was surprised by Lu Cheng's presence and strength.

Lu Cheng revealed that he knew Wang Dong was a girl and let her decide whether to keep living in the boys’ dorm, while she chose to trust her fathers’ instructions. In the Divine Realm, Tang San plotted to use Wang Dong’er and the Auspicious Beast to replace his daughter’s identity, and the chapter ended with Lu Cheng telling Wang Dong’er her Soul Tool symptoms might be caused by a forbidden curse.

• Ning Cong said there were no empty dorm rooms and offered to take Huo Yuhao to the Soul Tool Department dorm, while Lu Cheng supported the move.
• Lu Cheng told Wang Dong he knew she was a girl and explained that she could continue disguising herself or move to the girls’ dorm; Wang Dong chose to trust her Eldest Dad and Second Dad and stay.
• Tang San watched the lower realm and planned to use Wang Dong’er and the Auspicious Beast’s fortune to place Wutong’s main consciousness in Wang Dong’er’s body.
• Wang Dong asked Lu Cheng why offensive Soul Tools made her dizzy and nauseous, and he suggested she might be affected by a forbidden curse.

Lu Cheng examined Wang Dong'er’s Sea of Consciousness and discovered that a god had left a spiritual imprint there, with Electrolux unable to remove it for now. Wang Dong'er realized she had been caught in a scheme involving the Clear Sky Sect, while Lu Cheng promised they could still fight back.

• Lu Cheng and Wang Dong'er discussed whether a god had placed a forbidden curse in her Sea of Consciousness, and she asked him to investigate.
• Lu Cheng entered Wang Dong'er's Sea of Consciousness with help from the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm and found a powerful sleeping imprint.
• Electrolux appeared and identified himself, but said he could not yet erase the god's imprint.
• Lu Cheng told Wang Dong'er that a god had made her a pawn and questioned whether she came from the Clear Sky Sect.
• Wang Dong'er broke down as she connected the imprint to her upbringing and disguise, and Lu Cheng comforted her.
• Lu Cheng told Wang Dong'er they could oppose the god because even gods could be killed.