Chapter Summaries

Zhang Caidong and the other executives led Swadian troops through an apartment building, clearing rooms of weak Undead Monsters. Their success convinced the executives that Swadian Peasants could become powerful human soldiers, and they hoped to earn troop upgrades from Shen Mu.

• Zhang Caidong led ten Swadian Recruits into rooms where Skeleton Soldiers had gathered, and they easily smashed the undead apart.
• Zhang Caidong decided against sealing more rooms to attract undead, fearing stronger and larger waves could threaten nearby Dhirim.
• Sun Zhiru led ten Swadian Peasants through the building, where they broke into rooms and beat Undead Monsters to death with clubs and knives.
• The twenty executives saw that the Swadian Peasants fought without fear and seemed experienced in violence, unlike ordinary farmers.
• The executives resolved to help the Swadian Peasants gain Combat Experience so they could seek upgrades from Lord Shen Mu.

Shen Mu sent Torres to trade devil corpses in the White Tower Region, then sought a site for his next castle. He chose Diesel Company's ruined stronghold, where the castle would secure his territory and position him against Green Leaf Group, which he began considering as a future target.

• Shen Mu ordered Torres to carry Hell Devil corpses to Saruman in the White Tower Region for trade.
• Shen Mu summoned Bunduk and Fatis to advise him on where to build his next castle.
• Bunduk and Fatis recommended Diesel Company's ruined stronghold beside the Xiaolong River, citing its strategic road and defensive value.
• Bunduk warned Shen Mu that Green Leaf Group had stayed distant and might pose a threat despite being a nominal ally.
• Shen Mu approved the site and said he might destroy Green Leaf Group if its attitude proved poor.
• Shen Mu considered eliminating Green Leaf Group and taking its Sphere of Influence to gain more Power of Faith and accelerate his growth.

Shen Mu ordered ten thousand Blue Star Humans to transport supplies to the Diesel Company Ruins, planning to summon a castle before them and strengthen their faith. The Middle-Level Managers secured appointments as Spiritual Realm Commanders by submitting the transport list, prompting Zhang Caidong and the other High-Level Managers to discuss how to rein in their subordinates before Zhang Bo admitted he had helped them.

• Shen Mu ordered ten thousand Blue Star Humans to carry supplies to the Diesel Company Ruins the next day so they could witness him summon a castle.
• Ten Middle-Level Managers submitted a transport list and earned Shen Mu's promise to appoint them as Spiritual Realm Commanders.
• Zhang Caidong and the other High-Level Managers returned to Dhirim and learned that the Middle-Level Managers had bypassed them to submit their lists.
• Zhang Caidong told the executives that outsiders could enter their circle only with their approval, and the group agreed to discipline the Middle-Level Managers.
• Zhang Bo stayed behind after the meeting and apologized to Zhang Caidong for helping the Middle-Level Managers.

Zhang Bo admitted that he had encouraged Middle-Level Managers to submit lists and gain authority, claiming the change would ease Shen Mu’s suspicions of Zhang Caidong while strengthening Zhang Caidong’s influence. Zhang Caidong trusted and thanked him, unaware that Zhang Bo was deliberately fostering mistrust and intended to use him for his own ends.

• Zhang Bo confessed that he had arranged for Middle-Level Managers to submit lists and become Spiritual Realm Commanders, and Zhang Caidong asked why he had done so.
• Zhang Bo argued that Zhang Caidong’s power over the Blue Star Human in Dhirim had become excessive and that Shen Mu had supported Sun Zhiru as a counterweight.
• Zhang Bo presented his actions as a way to share power, reduce Shen Mu’s suspicion of Zhang Caidong, and strengthen Zhang Caidong’s standing with the Middle-Level Managers.
• Zhang Bo privately celebrated that he was driving a wedge between Zhang Caidong and Shen Mu, repeating the tactics he had used to divide Diesel Company.
• Zhang Caidong thanked Zhang Bo and said they were one, while Zhang Bo concealed his contempt and the price he had already placed on Zhang Caidong.

Shen Mu appointed ten Middle-Level Managers as squad leaders while the High-Level Managers grew angry over being bypassed. After ordering his attendants to gather fifty Sacred Tree Knights, Shen Mu rode toward the western city gate to build a castle at the former Diesel Company site.

• Zhang Caidong and the executives presented ten Middle-Level Managers to Shen Mu for appointment.
• Shen Mu appointed the ten as squad leaders, gave each ten villagers to train, and explained that they should lead the villagers into battle.
• The executives silently agreed to suppress the newly appointed managers, while Zhang Caidong planned to benefit from their infighting and strengthen his own position.
• Shen Mu reminded the executives to encourage Blue Star humans to pray and provide Mental Energy, then dismissed them after asking about their welfare.
• Shen Mu ordered fifty Sacred Tree Knights to assemble, mounted his horse, and led them toward the western city gate to build a castle at the former Diesel Company site.

Shen Mu visited the vampire stronghold between Dhirim and the Diesel Company Ruins to ask when Isabelle would leave so his new castle would not be cut off from his territory. Isabelle agreed to depart in seven days and suggested they might cooperate when the Spiritual Realm fully descended upon the Blue Star World.

• Shen Mu and fifty Sacred Tree Knights rode past the commercial supermarket complex and sensed that the Evil Power inside had grown stronger.
• Shen Mu decided to ask Isabelle for a firm departure date because her stronghold stood between Dhirim and the site of his planned castle.
• Shen Mu left twenty Sacred Tree Knights guarding the horses and entrance, then took thirty Knights to the VIP Cinema as Corpse Puppets and Low-Level Vampires watched without attacking.
• A Vampire Handmaiden greeted Shen Mu, and he plainly explained that the vampires' location obstructed passage between his two settlements.
• Isabelle said her injuries had nearly healed and promised to leave for the Plane Fragment in seven days.
• Isabelle proposed future cooperation after the Spiritual Realm fully descended, and Shen Mu welcomed the possibility.

Shen Mu led the Sacred Tree Knights from the Commercial Supermarket Complex toward the Diesel Company ruins, maintaining peace with Vampire Matriarch Isabelle’s faction while considering how to conquer other factions and gain more Power of Faith. At the transformed desert ruins, his knights killed the remaining Undead Monsters, clearing the way for him to deploy his castle.

• Shen Mu and the Sacred Tree Knights left the Commercial Supermarket Complex without clashing with the vampires, whose restraint reflected Vampire Matriarch Isabelle’s orders.
• Shen Mu rejected his captain’s suggestion to crush the other factions, explaining that he wanted to conquer them and preserve Blue Star Humans as a source of Power of Faith.
• Shen Mu reached the Diesel Company ruins and found that nearly forty percent of Balihe Street had become desert after the Astral Realm’s Plane Fragments transformed the land.
• Shen Mu sensed evil among the earthen mounds, and the Sacred Tree Knights killed the Undead Monsters hiding in the remaining pits.
• Shen Mu surveyed the cleared ruins and prepared to deploy his castle.

Shen Mu transformed the ruins of the Diesel Company into a fortified platform and established New Uslar, a Swadian castle garrisoned by six hundred recruits. He prepared to put Bunduk in charge of the stronghold, which he intended to use to defend Balihe Street and watch the Green Leaf Group.

• Shen Mu reshaped the collapsed earth mounds into a solid, elevated platform with two sloped approaches.
• Shen Mu deployed a Swadian castle on the platform and received two hundred peasants, four hundred soldiers, food, and siege-defense equipment.
• Shen Mu named the castle New Uslar and gained another point of Legendary Reputation for establishing his third stronghold.
• Shen Mu inspected New Uslar and assigned ten Sacred Tree Knights to serve as Bunduk's personal guards.
• Shen Mu sent five Sacred Tree Knights to fetch Bunduk from Dhirim and appointed him City Defense General of New Uslar.
• Bunduk rode to New Uslar about two hours later.

Shen Mu assigned Bunduk to command the newly built New Castle at Balihe Street and ordered reinforcements to guard against the Green Leaf Group. As Bunduk explored the nearby wasteland, he noticed that the desert had expanded and was swallowing the Blue Star World's concrete buildings.

• Shen Mu showed Bunduk around New Castle and entrusted him with its defense, warning him that the Wood Elf archers could rival Vaegir Marksmen.
• Shen Mu ordered Dhirim to send nine hundred soldiers to New Castle and assigned ten Sacred Tree Knights to protect Bunduk.
• Bunduk rode out with the Sacred Tree Knights to inspect the surrounding area while Shen Mu prepared to use the castle as a strategic foothold against the Green Leaf Group.
• Bunduk and the Sacred Tree Knights found that the wasteland had grown several times larger, with sand burying and collapsing nearby buildings.
• Bunduk wondered whether the Blue Star World's reinforced concrete was dying out as he looked at the vanishing buildings.

Bunduk and ten Sacred Tree Knights investigated the Diesel Company Station Entrance near New Uslar after sensing dangerous Evil Power below. They encountered Skeleton Legion archers in the Undead Domain, but Bunduk judged the arrows too weak to threaten their armor and saw the area as a place for Shen Mu’s troops to gain experience.

• A Sacred Tree Knight warned Bunduk that the Subway Station entrance radiated Evil Power and might contain powerful Undead Monsters close to New Uslar.
• Bunduk led ten Sacred Tree Knights into the Diesel Company Station Entrance to assess the danger before it could threaten the settlement.
• The group entered the Gray Fog and came under fire from Skeleton Archers, whose rotten arrows broke against their shields and armor.
• Bunduk recognized the attackers as part of the Skeleton Legion and ordered the Sacred Tree Knights to hold their formation rather than charge.
• Bunduk concluded the Skeleton Legion could serve as a place for Shen Mu’s Swadian Peasants, Recruits, and Light Footmen to level up, though large numbers could still pose a danger.

Bunduk took charge of New Uslar’s defenses as night fell and resolved to strengthen its low-level troops. His trust in Shen Mu became nearly fanatical, and he gathered seven hundred Swadian Militia and two hundred Swadian Peasants to prepare for upgrades.

• Bunduk reported the Diesel Company Subway Station entrance and its Skeleton Monsters to Shen Mu, who trusted him to handle the threat and command the troops.
• As darkness and gray mist spread, Uslar remained protected by the Mount & Blade Rules, while Shen Mu surveyed the defenders and left the castle’s security to Bunduk.
• Shen Mu went to sleep, and a dialogue box reported that Bunduk had completely opened his heart to him and could receive skills.
• Bunduk resolved to level up the two hundred Swadian Peasants and, if possible, the seven hundred Swadian Militia, gathering them together for the task.
• Bunduk condemned King Harlaus and imagined the kingdoms united under Shen Mu before declaring that following Shen Mu was absolutely not a mistake.

Bunduk led 900 Swadian villagers and militia beyond New Uslar Castle to fight the undead and train the villagers. The militia held their formation against a weak Skeleton Legion, while Bunduk ordered them to stay put and focus on helping the peasants gain experience.

• Bannak prepared the 200 Swadian villagers and 700 Swadian Militia for battle, and Bunduk organized the troops with torches and ten Sacred Tree Knights.
• Bunduk led the force down the earth mound, where the militia formed a semicircular spear phalanx around the platform as undead attacked.
• The Swadian Militia repelled the Skeleton Legion with spears, shields, and crossbow bolts, quickly destroying the advancing skeletons.
• Bunduk stopped the militia from advancing into the darkness and ordered them to hold position so the 200 Swadian Peasants could gain Combat Experience.
• Bunduk worried that stronger undead might emerge from the nearby Subway Station and decided to keep the force grinding levels in place.

Shen Mu upgraded 200 Swadian Peasants into Swadian Recruits and trusted Bunduk to defend Uslar, then rode back toward Dhirim as the desert spread. At the chapter’s end, Zhang Song and Green Leaf Group discovered the castle at the Diesel Company Ruins and feared Shen Mu’s growing power.

• Shen Mu spent 2,000 Denars to upgrade 200 Swadian Peasants into Swadian Recruits.
• Bunduk explained how Uslar’s elevated position could help him defend the castle and control the surrounding desert.
• Shen Mu left Uslar in Bunduk’s care and rode with the Sacred Tree Knights toward Dhirim, observing the expanding desert and changing cityscape.
• Zhang Song and Green Leaf Group found a Human Castle atop an Earth Mound Platform near the Diesel Company Ruins.
• Zhang Song and his companions suspected Shen Mu had built the castle to guard against Green Leaf Group and worried that their forces could not match his growth.

Zhang Song traveled to Dhirim to learn how Zhang Bo’s plans were progressing and discovered that Shen Mu’s faction had grown far stronger and more secretive than expected. Alarmed by the pace of its development, Zhang Song decided Green Leaf Group had to act immediately to avoid being destroyed.

• Zhang Song led his companions and Wood Elves around the desert toward Dhirim, while worrying that Green Leaf Group could not withstand Dhirim in a war.
• A companion pointed out that the surrounding area was rapidly becoming desert; Zhang Song explained that the Wood Elf Village would become an oasis as Spiritual Realm terrain descended.
• Zhang Song reached the safe house, gave two goblins apples, and read sealed letters about Dhirim’s recent developments.
• Zhang Song learned Zhang Bo had gained some Blue Star Humans’ trust and turned them against Shen Mu, but Shen Mu’s faction was granting Spiritual Realm inheritances and had built a castle without Zhang Bo’s knowledge.
• Zhang Song concluded that Zhang Bo had not fully gained Shen Mu’s trust and resolved to take action immediately before Shen Mu’s growth threatened Green Leaf Group.

Zhang Song met with Zhang Bo in a concealed safe house and learned more about Dhirim’s rapid growth and Shen Mu’s new castle. Worried that waiting would allow Dhirim to grow stronger, Zhang Song proposed triggering the Skeleton Legion to draw Shen Mu’s forces away and create an opening to seize Dhirim.

• Zhang Song sent two little creatures back to Zhang Bo with a secret request, then moved his group to a second safe house to watch for anyone following.
• After checking that Zhang Bo had arrived alone, Zhang Song sent a Blue Star Human to guide him through the bushes to the second safe house.
• Zhang Bo told Zhang Song about Dhirim’s rapid construction and Shen Mu’s New Castle at the Diesel Company Ruins, while Zhang Song described the enormous Earth Mound Platform beneath it.
• Zhang Song asked whether Zhang Bo could make his faction in Dhirim create chaos, but Zhang Bo said Shen Mu’s high prestige made that difficult.
• Zhang Song proposed triggering the Skeleton Legion of the Black Arrow Tower Seventh Dynasty at the Subway Station entrance to draw Shen Mu and his troops to the Diesel Company Ruins, giving them an opportunity to attack Dhirim.
• Zhang Bo warned that the Skeleton Legion would suffer heavy losses during daylight, leaving them only one night to exploit the plan.

Zhang Bo met secretly with Zhang Song, who warned that the coming Black Tide would bring changing supernatural rules and urged their Wood Elf-aligned group to act before Shen Mu's forces grew stronger. After returning to Dhirim, Zhang Bo studied its defenses and concealed construction while continuing to pose as a loyal Blue Star Human official and spy.

• Zhang Song told Zhang Bo that the Black Tide was coming again, the rules were changing, and supernatural power would strengthen their Wood Elf transformation.
• Zhang Bo and Zhang Song discussed the threat posed by Dhirim's rapid development and agreed Zhang Bo should remain undercover there as their spy.
• Zhang Bo left their meeting through a hidden route, returned to Dhirim, and passed the west gate by explaining he had gone for a walk.
• Zhang Bo observed Dhirim's formidable walls, armored Swadian Footmen, and guarded construction that seemed to involve changes in time and space.
• Zhang Bo returned to his room and considered capturing the gates between the Town Area and Castle Area as a key step in a possible rebellion.

Shen Mu reviewed Dhirim’s expansion and assigned defense and patrol duties to his commanders. Jeremus reported that Sunfire Ray had gained range as the world became more receptive to magic, leaving Shen Mu to investigate why the Edengard Pious Ones still could not advance.

• Shen Mu praised Manid’s new housing plans and discussed expanding Dhirim east and west, but postponed construction because funds and the Power of Faith were scarce.
• Shen Mu ordered Lezalit and Fatis to manage Dhirim’s defenses and patrols.
• Shen Mu assigned Bestur’s Steppe Bandits to patrol Dhirim, Uslar, and, when possible, New Rivacheg, keeping roads and connections clear.
• Jeremus reported that Sunfire Ray’s effective range had increased from twenty meters to thirty as the world became more accommodating to spellcasting.
• Shen Mu told Jeremus to have the Edengard Pious Ones monitor Magic Fluctuation and report changes, while he considered the unresolved reason they could not advance.

Zhang Caidong and the Blue Star Humans cleared a residential complex of Undead Monsters, gaining confidence and Combat Experience as their Swadian troops fought effectively. Zhang Caidong saw how Shen Mu’s promotions had divided the executives, then agreed to lead the group into the darkness that night to hunt more monsters.

• Zhang Caidong led ten Swadian Recruits into a room, where they killed around twelve imps without serious injuries.
• Zhang Caidong praised the Swadian Recruits’ discipline and learned more about the power and military training of their homeland, the Kingdom of Swadia.
• Zhang Caidong joined the other Blue Star Humans and their Swadian Peasants in the square, where he noticed their rival Small Circles and understood that Shen Mu’s promotions had weakened the High-Level Managers’ influence.
• The Blue Star Humans reported on their battles and casualties as they cleared the residential complex and sought Combat Experience and Points for promotion.
• Zhang Caidong agreed to move on to another residential complex and proposed that the group enter the darkness that night to fight more Undead Monsters; the executives responded eagerly.

Zhang Bo joined the Blue Star Humans' search for supplies and Undead Monsters, hoping to discover how Dhirim's people and their followers gained levels while seeking Spiritual Realm Mark Fragments to repair his Magic Crystal Ball. Zhang Caidong agreed to keep him safe, and the group returned to Dhirim to wait for nightfall and fight.

• Zhang Bo came to the ruins with his little sprites, claiming he wanted to find Spiritual Realm Mark Fragments while secretly investigating how Dhirim's people and followers gained Combat Experience and leveled up.
• Zhang Caidong warned Zhang Bo that the frontline was dangerous, and Zhang Bo explained that his damaged Magic Crystal Ball and awkward standing with Shen Mu left him eager to find fragments himself.
• Zhang Caidong agreed to let Zhang Bo accompany his Swadian Recruits and promised to protect him while the Blue Star Humans searched buildings for supplies and Undead Monsters.
• The Blue Star Humans found few monsters in some buildings and envied the stronger troops and equipment that leveling could bring.
• After searching the nearby residential complex, the group ate at Dhirim's edge and waited for nightfall; Zhang Caidong told Zhang Bo to stay close and keep his weak sprites out of combat.

Zhang Bo watched Dhirim’s Tower of Light Torch and worried that Shen Mu’s growing power and the managers’ unity would thwart his schemes. He joined Zhang Caidong’s group on a cautious nighttime hunt, where Swadian Recruits fought the Undead Monsters while Zhang Bo observed their strength.

• The Blue Star Humans rested beyond Dhirim’s walls beneath the warmth of the Tower of Light Torch, while Zhang Bo feared its power and the influence it gave Shen Mu.
• Zhang Bo judged that shared interests and hopes of advancement were uniting the managers, undermining his attempts to turn them against Shen Mu.
• Zhang Caidong organized the groups to hunt Undead Monsters near the Torch Tower and warned them to retreat if they faced danger.
• Zhang Caidong invited Zhang Bo to join his group, and they led Swadian Recruits and Zhang Bo’s little goblins into the darkness.
• The Swadian Recruits fought zombies and Skeleton Soldiers while the frightened goblins stayed back, and Zhang Bo watched to assess the Human Soldiers rather than search for Spiritual Realm Mark Fragments.