Chapter Summaries

Hu Jiu accepted Xue Qinghe’s token after lunch, while Xue Qinghe and Ning Fengzhi discussed recruiting him and his immense potential. As Shrek prepared for the tournament’s second preliminary round, Hu Jiu kept training Forging Iron Hand, and the team arrived at the arena to a newfound display of respect from spectators.

• Xue Qinghe invited Hu Jiu to lunch, then gave him a Heaven Dou token that Hu Jiu recognized as granting its holder the crown prince’s treatment.
• After Hu Jiu left, Xue Qinghe praised his composure, and Ning Fengzhi warned that recruiting him would require a great price and might still fail.
• Xue Qinghe remained confident that the Heaven Dou Empire, backed by Spirit Hall, could recruit Hu Jiu.
• Over the next two days, Shrek’s students trained while Hu Jiu cultivated Forging Iron Hand at the Strength Clan’s Blacksmith Shop.
• As the tournament’s second preliminary round began, spectators made way for Shrek and treated the team with awe after its first-round victory.
• Flender led Shrek to the arena in team uniform, eager to profit from another round of betting, while Hu Jiu had entrusted his bets to him.

Shrek Academy learned that Elephant Armored Academy would be a formidable opponent in the second round and prepared to reveal more of its strength. As the match began, Hu Jiu kept Xiao Wu off the team because Bone Douluo Gu Rong was watching from the VIP stands.

• Flender told Dai Mubai that Liu Erlong had been observing their opponents and warned the team to win the championship if they wanted to graduate.
• Liu Erlong revealed that Elephant Armored Academy had three level-forty competitors and four more close to that level, all heirs of the powerful defensive Elephant Armored Sect.
• Hu Jiu decided that Tang San, Dai Mubai, Zhuqing, and the others besides himself and Xiao Wu would compete and reveal some of their strength.
• Hu Jiu asked Tang San to arrange the tactics, and Tang San briefed the competitors while Liu Erlong and Flender listened.
• Shrek Academy and Elephant Armored Academy took the central platform, while Hu Jiu noticed Bone Douluo Gu Rong in the VIP stands and kept Xiao Wu from competing.

Ning Fengzhi realized Salas had arranged for the Elephant Armored Academy to suppress Shrek Academy, but he believed Shrek had the strength to defeat them. The match began with Tang San revealing his Level 58 Soul Power, leaving the Elephant Armored Academy team stunned.

• Xiao Wu's improved concealment after reaching Level 60 led the narration to conclude that she should not compete, while Ning Fengzhi and Gu Rong noticed Heavenly Elephant Hu Yan Zhen beside Salas in the VIP Seats.
• Ning Fengzhi inferred that Salas had summoned Hu Yan Zhen and arranged Shrek Academy's matchup to hinder the academy after failing to recruit it.
• The seven massive Elephant Armored Academy contestants entered the arena, where captain Hu Yan Li introduced himself as a Level 43 Defense System Battle Soul Sect.
• Tang San introduced himself as Shrek Academy's captain and announced that he was a Level 58 Control System Battle Soul King, stunning Hu Yan Li and his teammates.

The Shrek Academy Team faced the Elephant Armored Academy Team in the first match of the second round, revealing a major advantage in Soul Ring strength despite the opponents’ formidable bodies and defense. The match began with Tang San testing their resistance, then raising his Blue Silver Cage.

• The referee began the match, and both teams revealed their Martial Souls and Soul Rings.
• Hu Yan Zhen praised his grandson Hu Yan Li and declared the Elephant Armored Sect’s goal was to reach the top three, then was stunned by Shrek’s strength.
• Ning Fengzhi told Xue Ye that Shrek Academy’s dean was Flender, one of the Golden Iron Triangle.
• The Elephant Armored Academy Team advanced in a line with their first Soul Rings activated, while Tang San ordered his teammates to retreat and prepare support.
• Tang San’s Blue Silver Grass briefly checked an opponent before cracking, so he unleashed Blue Silver Cage.

Tang San and his teammates overwhelmed Elephant Armored Academy with a coordinated assault, but Hu Yan Li broke free after revealing a skull Soul Bone. The crowd learned of his rare treasure, leaving Hu Yan Li exposed to the danger of others coveting it.

• Tang San trapped Hu Yan Li and his teammates in Blue Silver Grass while Ma Hongjun, Meng Yiran, and Tailong struck them with powerful attacks.
• Ning Fengzhi challenged Hu Yan Zhen after suspecting him of secretly guiding Hu Yan Li during the match.
• Hu Yan Li and his teammates used defensive soul skills to resist the assault, while Hu Jiu told Xiao Wu that Elephant Armored Academy would still lose after a little more time.
• Hu Yan Li revealed a helmet that withstood the combined attacks and shattered Tang San's Blue Silver Grass restraints, while his six teammates remained badly injured and bound.
• Tang San realized the helmet was Hu Yan Li's skull Soul Bone, and the crowd erupted as its immense value and the danger of revealing it became clear.

Tang San prepared his Blue Silver Overlord Spear against Hu Yan Li, forcing Elephant Armored Academy to concede and giving Shrek Academy another major victory. Shrek’s team celebrated before returning to the academy, while Hu Yan Zhen and Salas watched in thought.

• Hu Yan Li broke free from the Blue Silver Grass bindings with his Soul Bone and charged at Meng Yiran.
• Tang San unleashed the Blue Silver Domain and began forming his powerful Blue Silver Overlord Spear.
• Hu Yan Zhen called for a surrender, and Hu Yan Li conceded before Tang San struck.
• The referee declared Shrek Academy the winner over Elephant Armored Academy, and the crowd roared for Shrek.
• The eleven Shrek members celebrated together, then left the arena and ran back to the academy.

Hu Jiu met Xue Qinghe for a fishing outing, where Xue Qinghe offered him an Offering position to secure his support. Hu Jiu countered that the offer was not enough and asked for the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud.

• Shi Nian reassured the Blue Sunshine Academy team that he had a way to deal with Shrek Academy and began watching them closely.
• Hu Jiu continued training his Forging Iron Hand and accepted two invitations from Xue Qinghe while remaining wary of his intentions.
• Xue Qinghe invited Hu Jiu to fish at Bright Moon Lake, and Hu Jiu left Xiao Wu behind to keep her identity safe.
• Xue Qinghe offered Hu Jiu the position of an Offering, promising authority, freedom, and cultivation resources in exchange for support.
• Hu Jiu rejected the offer as insufficient and asked Xue Qinghe for the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud.

Hu Jiu demanded the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud from Xue Qinghe, who agreed and delivered it the next day. After learning its abilities, Hu Jiu decided to let Xiao Wu use it rather than make it acknowledge him as its host.

• Hu Jiu demanded the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud, and Xue Qinghe agreed to give it to him.
• Xue Qinghe delivered the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud and explained that it enabled underwater breathing, limited control of the sea, and concealment of Soul Power and aura.
• Xue Qinghe gave Hu Jiu an Offering Token and said he would arrange for him to meet Xue Ye.
• Hu Jiu worried that an old presence inside the Sea God's Heart might harm him, so he decided not to make it acknowledge him as its host.
• Hu Jiu returned to the academy, found Xiao Wu, and invited her to the dormitory to see a treasure.

Hu Jiu gave Xiao Wu the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud, which concealed her true form so thoroughly that neither he nor Tang Hao could sense her. Xiao Wu could now fight freely in the upcoming Soul Master Tournament, while Ah Yin continued recovering at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.

• Hu Jiu gave Xiao Wu the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud and explained that it could hide her identity and was connected to a divine seat.
• Xiao Wu activated the treasure, and Hu Jiu found he could no longer sense her presence, Soul Power, or aura.
• Hu Jiu took Xiao Wu to Tang Hao, who also failed to detect her true form or aura.
• Hu Jiu told Xiao Wu she could fight freely in the upcoming Soul Master Tournament, and she gladly accepted the chance.
• Hu Jiu strengthened Ah Yin with the Ice and Fire Domain before taking Xiao Wu back to Shrek Academy; Ah Yin's cultivation was nearing ten thousand years.

Tang San left the tournament arena and was ambushed by Shi Nian, who planned to make him disappear. Hu Jiu had noticed someone following Tang San and left to intervene, but had not yet arrived when the chapter ended.

• Liu Erlong told Shrek that Aoseluo Academy had forfeited, and the group decided to watch Thunder Academy battle Elephant Armored Academy.
• Tang San claimed he wanted to cultivate and quietly left the arena, while Hu Jiu followed after noticing someone vanish from the stands.
• Tang San found the road to Shrek Academy strangely long and sensed a chilling aura closing in around him.
• Tang San realized he had been trapped, summoned his Godly Zhuge Crossbow, and surrounded himself with Blue Silver Grass.
• Shi Nian appeared and told Tang San he wanted him to disappear, while Tang San stalled and waited for Hu Jiu.

Hu Jiu rescued Tang San from Shi Nian's illusion and killed Shi Nian before he could attack again. The two disposed of the body and found a Left Arm Soul Bone, which Tang San kept for Hu Jiu to examine later.

• Shi Nian explained that he intended to kill Tang San to protect his student's chance of winning the competition.
• Hu Jiu followed Tang San and Shi Nian outside Heaven Dou City, waiting for an opportunity to intervene.
• Shi Nian trapped Tang San in his Dream Demon Space and prepared to attack, but Hu Jiu struck him with Mental Shock and pierced him with his Eight Spider Lances.
• Tang San complained that Hu Jiu had arrived late, then used Corpse Dissolving Water to dispose of Shi Nian's body.
• Hu Jiu claimed the Left Arm Soul Bone that remained, and Tang San agreed to keep it for him until they could study it at the academy.

Hu Jiu absorbed a left arm soul bone that granted Illusionary Space, then continued training while Shrek Academy maintained its undefeated run in the Preliminary Selection. As the team prepared to face Blazing Academy, Hu Jiu chose to sit out so he could focus on advancing his Forging Iron Hand.

• Tang San identified the soul bone's Illusionary Space ability, and Hu Jiu absorbed it, gaining a spiritual-power boost and the ability to enhance allies or bewilder enemies.
• Hu Jiu and Tang San agreed to keep Shi Nian's death and Hu Jiu's new soul bone secret.
• Hu Jiu's Forging Iron Hand neared a breakthrough as Shrek Team won its tenth Preliminary Selection match.
• Hu Jiu reviewed the strengths of the Five Element Academies, including Blazing Academy, Shrek's next opponent.
• Hu Jiu left the upcoming battle to his teammates, and Ma Hongjun claimed he could handle the fights before Dai Mubai mocked him.

Hu Jiu sensed Blue Sunshine Academy’s suspicion and later joined Shrek’s lineup against them, curious about their hidden trump card. The match began with Hu Jiu, Tang San, Dai Mubai, Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, Ma Hongjun, and Ning Rongrong taking the field.

• Hu Jiu noticed sinister gazes from the stands and considered testing his newly acquired left-arm Soul Bone against Blue Sunshine Academy.
• Hu Jiu went to the Strength Clan’s Blacksmith Shop while Shrek defeated Blazing Academy, with Tang San and Ma Hongjun exploiting their advantages against the fire-based team.
• Hu Jiu teased Tang San about Huo Wu, then dodged the women’s playful beating by leaving Tang San to face them.
• Hu Jiu volunteered to fight Blue Sunshine Academy because he was interested in its hidden trump card.
• Tang San selected Hu Jiu, Dai Mubai, Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, Ma Hongjun, and Ning Rongrong to fight, and Shrek’s match against Blue Sunshine Academy began.

Shrek Academy faced Blue Sunshine Academy with Hu Jiu and Dai Mubai in its lineup, while Emperor Xue Ye praised Hu Jiu’s value and promised to protect him. As the match began, Hu Jiu sensed that Blue Sunshine’s newly revealed competitors intended to kill or incapacitate Shrek’s team.

• Shrek Academy entered the arena as the favorite to win its twelfth consecutive match, with Hu Jiu and Dai Mubai returning to the lineup.
• Xue Ye asked Ning Fengzhi about Hu Jiu, and Ning praised his rare talent and urged that he be protected.
• Xue Ye promised to arrange protection for Hu Jiu, while Archbishop Salas listened and considered investigating him.
• Tang San noticed that Blue Sunshine Academy had replaced four competitors, and Hu Jiu sensed their killing intent and suspected they planned to use their Seven-in-One Fusion Soul Skill to incapacitate Shrek.
• The referee started the match, and Blue Sunshine Academy formed a hexagon around a central Soul Master.

Blue Sunshine Academy trapped Shrek Academy in its Seven Asura Illusory Realm, but Hu Jiu countered with Illusionary Space and left all seven opponents incapacitated. Tang San recognized that Hu Jiu had grown even stronger.

• The seven Blue Sunshine Academy students formed a hexagram and revealed their Gem Type Martial Souls.
• The Blue Sunshine captain activated their Seven-in-One Soul Skill, enclosing Shrek Academy in a rainbow pillar and the Seven Asura Illusory Realm.
• Ning Fengzhi explained that the formation was not a seven-person Martial Soul Fusion Skill, while the spectators protested that they could not see the match.
• Hu Jiu spread Illusionary Space across the arena and swallowed the rainbow light before Blue Sunshine Academy could react.
• The seven Blue Sunshine Academy members screamed and collapsed under the illusion, and Tang San realized Hu Jiu had become stronger.

After Shrek Academy defeated Blue Sunshine Academy, the opposing team was found to have suffered permanent mental damage, prompting Blue Sunshine to protest and demand punishment. Tang San and his teammates denied responsibility, while Feng Xiaotian urged them to keep winning so he could face Tang San and pursue Huo Wu.

• The referee declared Shrek Academy the winner after Tang San claimed Blue Sunshine Academy's soul skill had backfired, and Shrek returned to the stands.
• Huo Wu confronted Tang San over his earlier match against her academy, but Hu Jiu and Ma Hongjun teased her by saying Tang San admired her, and she left embarrassed.
• Feng Xiaotian introduced himself to Shrek Academy and urged them not to lose before facing him because Huo Wu had offered him a chance to date her if he defeated them first.
• Blue Sunshine Academy's members were examined and found to be permanently incapable of thought, so the academy protested to the tournament committee and demanded Shrek Academy be punished.

After Shrek Academy’s match left seven Blue Sunshine Academy students mentally incapacitated, Salas and Ning Fengzhi arrived to investigate. Flander and Liu Erlong denied Shrek’s responsibility as Salas pressed them, leaving the investigation unresolved.

• Flander praised Hu Jiu and the others for handling the match and said he would deal with the investigation, while Hu Jiu considered relying on his imperial Offering Token if necessary.
• Salas and Ning Fengzhi arrived at Shrek Academy with the investigation team, with Salas hoping to use the incident as leverage against Shrek.
• Flander, Liu Erlong, and Zhao Wuji welcomed the visitors and escorted them to the reception room.
• Salas accused Shrek of causing the Blue Sunshine Academy students to become idiots and demanded an explanation.
• Flander claimed Shrek knew nothing about the students’ condition and said Blue Sunshine Academy had caused its own defeat, while Liu Erlong challenged Salas’s accusation.

Hu Jiu used his status as an offering of the Heaven Dou Empire to stop Salas from arbitrarily punishing Shrek Academy after the Blue Sunshine Academy incident. After two days of negotiations, the investigation concluded that Shrek was not responsible, leaving the team free of blame.

• Liu Erlong accused Spirit Hall of targeting Shrek, while Flender and Ning Fengzhi argued that Shrek had not harmed Blue Sunshine Academy.
• Hu Jiu presented his Offering Token and warned Salas that punishing Shrek without cause would insult the Heaven Dou Empire and draw public attention.
• Salas left without removing Shrek from the tournament, and Ning Fengzhi cautioned the group that the dispute might not be over.
• Hu Jiu told Tang San and the others that he had joined the imperial family, and the group learned that the First Prince's generous offer had included the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud he gave Xiao Wu.
• Flender paused Shrek's participation while the imperial family negotiated with Salas, and the Residents' Committee ultimately ruled that Blue Sunshine Academy's injuries came from backlash from its own Soul Skills.

Xue Qinghe gave Hu Jiu a lavish residence and asked Shrek Academy to represent the Heaven Dou Empire by winning the Soul Master Tournament. As the Preliminary Selection neared its final round against Skywater Academy, Hu Jiu advanced his Forging Iron Hand and fused it with Vajra Body.

• Xue Qinghe apologized to Hu Jiu, gifted him a residence, and asked him to help Shrek Academy win the tournament for the Heaven Dou Empire.
• Hu Jiu agreed to Xue Qinghe's request and said Shrek had aimed to win from the start.
• Flender forfeited Shrek's next two matches, and the academy dropped to third place before its final Preliminary Selection match against Skywater Academy.
• Hu Jiu and his teammates had each advanced roughly one level during the tournament.
• Hu Jiu's Forging Iron Hand advanced and merged with Vajra Body, creating Vajra Forging Iron Body and opening an Idle Slot.
• Hu Jiu placed his left arm Soul Bone in the newly available Idle Slot.

Hu Jiu reviewed his AFK Panel and joined Shrek Academy’s preparations to face Skywater Academy, where Dai Mubai caught the attention of Shui Yue'er. The teams met in the arena and began their introductions.

• Hu Jiu prioritized placing his new 60,000-year left arm soul bone on AFK and reviewed his soul rings, skills, and equipped soul bones.
• Ma Hongjun asked Tang San to let him fight Skywater Academy, while the others agreed to restrain their strength against the all-female team.
• Hu Jiu told Dai Mubai that a short-haired Skywater Academy girl had admired him, and the girl blushed when Dai Mubai looked her way.
• Shrek Academy chose Tang San, Hu Jiu, Dai Mubai, Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, Ning Rongrong, and Jiang Zhu for the battle, with several members suppressing their strength.
• At the arena, Shui Yue'er introduced herself to Dai Mubai, and Hu Jiu asked whether she and Shui Bing'er were twins before Xiao Wu warned him.