Chapter Summaries

Havier recruited two pirate captains into a plan to gather five Rank Four professionals and kill a Vice Deacon for a bounty, while Wu Heng led a Zombie-clearing operation and reached level 15. The chapter ended with Wu Heng unlocking new specialties and the Divine Descent ability.

• Havier offered two pirate captains a share of the bounty for killing a Vice Deacon and promised each Rank Four professional at least 200 gold coins.
• The two captains agreed to join Havier’s plan, which would involve five Rank Four professionals and a scheme to lure the target away from Treasure Island.
• Qi Hancai told Wu Heng that food trading was increasing and reported their gold and Corpse Core collections; Wu Heng kept the exchange rate unchanged through winter.
• Wu Heng told Qi Hancai to discuss shutting down extra bases with Li Yahong so their population would not be spread too thinly.
• Wu Heng sent his Skeleton forces to attack a Zombie Horde after his ghosts found no Mutated or special Zombies.
• Wu Heng reached level 15 and unlocked Master Caster, Tireless Focus, Breath of the Undead, Divine Descent, and the Divine Descent ability.

Wu Heng reached level 15, gained new powers, and tested his ability to possess his skeletons while leading the cleanup of a Zombie-infested area. After returning to Gold, Silver, and visiting Shanala, he told her he had become level 15, leaving her stunned.

• Wu Heng reached level 15, gained four attribute points, and unlocked Master Caster, Tireless Focus, Breath of the Undead, and Divine Descent.
• Wu Heng used Divine Descent to control skeletons on the battlefield, and Granda discovered she could control his body while his consciousness was away.
• Wu Heng and his army finished clearing the area, raised the fallen Evolved Zombies, and returned to the mall with Qi Hancai and the survivors.
• Wu Heng gave Qi Hancai potions, then returned through the Portal and went with Minnie and Andeviel to dine at Shanala's home.
• Shanala explained how people estimated levels and how the Detect Level magic item worked, and Wu Heng later told her he was level 15.

Wu Heng proved to Shanala that he had reached level 15, then spent the night with her before returning home. The next day, Imilo told him that Kalaima had gone missing.

• Wu Heng showed Shanala a level-verifying gemstone that confirmed he had reached level 15, and she warned him to keep it secret.
• Wu Heng and Shanala spent the night together at her home, and she said she had business to discuss the next day.
• Wu Heng returned to his residence and learned from Andeviel that Assistant Moya had asked him to visit the association about Kalaima.
• Wu Heng met Imilo at the association, where Imilo told him that Kalaima had gone missing.

Wu Heng learned that Kalaima had vanished at sea and traveled to Netarei City to exchange two bottles of potion for the Clear Mind Discipline Staff. After refusing a meeting with the alchemist who inspected the potions, he entered an alley and waited for someone following him.

• Imilo told Wu Heng that Kalaima disappeared aboard a ship, and Wu Heng agreed to have Pirate Lady investigate possible pirate involvement.
• Wu Heng took the Ghost Train to Netarei City and searched for the woman who had offered the artifact at the Trade Fair.
• Wu Heng found the woman's commission at the Mermaid Tavern and exchanged two bottles of constitution-altering potion for the Clear Mind Discipline Staff.
• The attendant told Wu Heng that the inspecting alchemist wanted to meet him, but Wu Heng declined.
• Wu Heng entered an alley after noticing someone following him and asked the figure what they wanted.

Wu Heng exchanged a potion for an extraordinary item, then returned to Treasure Island and spent the night with Shanala. In the Zombie World, he checked on his factory and learned that Granda believed her husband might still be alive, leaving Wu Heng committed to helping her confront him.

• A hooded woman who had sold the extraordinary item followed Wu Heng and asked how she could trade for more potions, and he told her to post commissions through the consortium.
• Wu Heng returned to Treasure Island, visited Shanala, and stayed the night at her residence.
• Wu Heng went to the Zombie World and found that Kalaima had learned Bone Manipulation Technique as a Subordinate Attendant.
• Zhao Yanqiu showed Wu Heng around the Old Factory Area, where survivors produced weapons, winter clothing, and iron shells.
• Granda told Wu Heng she suspected her husband had survived, and Wu Heng promised to help her kill him if they found him.

Wu Heng received Philippa’s intelligence about the Black Crocodile Pirate Group on Horseshoe Island and traveled there to attack them. His skeletons overwhelmed the pirates’ ships and advanced on the island as the celebrating crew realized they were under assault.

• Wu Heng told Philippa that captured targets from three Level 3 Wanted Lists could earn her a place among the Association’s Whisperers, and she reported that the Black Crocodile Pirate Group was at Horseshoe Island.
• Wu Heng asked Philippa to watch for information about the missing Inspector Special Envoy Kalaima, then prepared to leave Treasure Island.
• Wu Heng sailed to Horseshoe Island, where Granda scouted three pirate ships and about two hundred pirates celebrating on shore.
• Wu Heng opened a Portal and ordered his skeletons to attack the pirates on the ships and island.
• The pirates spotted skeletons taking their ships, and their captain saw a vast force of skeletons emerging from the sea.

Wu Heng wiped out the pirates, returned to Treasure Island, and reported the success to Philippa. Meanwhile, a captain of the Hand of the Demon approached a woman with a proposal involving Wu Heng and Deacon Imilo.

• Wu Heng directed the skeletons to surround and kill the pirates, then confirmed with Granda that none had escaped.
• Wu Heng searched the ships, collected their cargo, converted the pirates’ corpses into skeletons, and recorded the island’s location for the Ghost Train.
• Wu Heng returned to Treasure Island, sent the corpses to the association morgue, and told Philippa the pirates had been killed.
• Wu Heng spent the night with Shanala after she climbed down from the roof to see him.
• A captain of the Hand of the Demon sought a woman’s cooperation and caught her interest by mentioning Wu Heng and Deacon Imilo.

A pirate captain recruited a woman to help keep Imilo on Treasure Island while his group plotted to kill Wu Heng. Wu Heng welcomed Cavina as the new captain of the 11th Squad, then traveled to the Zombie World and learned that the military had withdrawn after selling Qi Hancai’s group equipment.

• The captain of the Hand of the Demon persuaded a woman to go to Treasure Island and occupy Imilo’s attention in exchange for Gold Coins, a warship, and Wu Heng’s corpse.
• Wu Heng reported Philippa’s intelligence and the destruction of the Poison Crocodile Pirate Group to Imilo, then reviewed the new Wanted Lists in his office.
• Cavina arrived as the captain of the 11th Squad, accepted Wu Heng’s offer of Association dormitory housing, and discussed her team’s needs and their former colleagues.
• Wu Heng opened a Portal to the Zombie World, where he found Kalaima reading Battlefield of the Undead and heard from Qi Hancai that the military had withdrawn after selling them equipment and machinery.

Qi Hancai told Wu Heng that the military shelter was evacuating, and they planned their own bases and zombie-clearing efforts. Back in the other world, Wu Heng taught Minnie, Andeviel, and Shanala to ride bicycles, while Imilo met a Divine Punishment Cult Protector and Philippa reported that she had learned more about the Hand of the Demon.

• Qi Hancai told Wu Heng that the military shelter had traded equipment for food and was leaving, while the market remained open under new management.
• Qi Hancai explained that they would keep the Bus Station, Old Factory Area, and Central Mall, temporarily close the other bases, and resume clearing the city; Wu Heng assigned Kalaima to help her.
• Wu Heng stored the traded supplies and vehicles, then returned to the other world and taught Minnie, Andeviel, and Shanala to ride bicycles.
• Imilo discussed a request for reinforcements to Lopes City with Moya, then received a visit from a Divine Punishment Cult Protector.
• Philippa contacted Wu Heng and said she had found information about the Hand of the Demon.

Wu Heng learned that the Hand of the Demon was a powerful pirate group that might be targeting him, then collected his reward for the Poison Crocodile captain. The Deacon assigned Wu Heng and Shiraque to assist Lopes City with an unusual evil-cult case.

• Philippa told Wu Heng that the Hand of the Demon was led by Rabib, a high-level professional whose crew was rumored to wield demonic power and revive its members.
• Wu Heng considered his plans for leveling up and searching for a new city, then spent the evening with Minnie and Vera.
• Wu Heng rode his bicycle to the association with Andeviel and claimed the Poison Crocodile captain's bounty, choosing the Lightning Bolt skill book as his reward.
• Imilo told Wu Heng and Shiraque to send teams to assist Lopes City with an unusual evil-cult case and warned Wu Heng to conceal his identity because of the pirate bounty.

Wu Heng prepared to leave Treasure Island with Cavina’s newly formed squad for an investigation mission in Lopes City, while Andeviel stayed behind to watch over Minnie. On board the ship, Shiraque revealed that they were going to investigate an evil cult in a local village and warned the team to act carefully and respect local residents.

• Shiraque explained that a high-level professional’s recent arrival might be connected to the mission, and Wu Heng chose to bring the 11th Squad.
• Wu Heng raised a Level 13 Skeleton Warrior from Poison Crocodile’s corpse and assigned it to protect Andeviel and Minnie while he was away.
• Wu Heng asked Cavina to join the mission, gave her a Spatial Ring for supplies, and told her to keep the mission confidential until departure.
• Wu Heng and Cavina’s squad gathered at noon, traveled to the harbor, and sailed from Treasure Island.
• Aboard the ship, Shiraque said the team would investigate an evil cult in a village near Lopes City and cautioned them not to abuse their Association status.

Wu Heng and Shiraque investigated a suspected human-sacrifice cult in a village near Lopes City, but found the corpses had been burned and little useful evidence remained. Wu Heng noticed the villagers secretly searching the Association’s carriages, and the chapter ended as villagers chased a disheveled figure through the village.

• Wu Heng learned that a wonder item had blocked the Evil Sword’s attack and discussed the mission with Shiraque before sailing to Lopes City.
• Wu Heng read and unlocked the Lightning Bolt skill during the voyage, then the team arrived at Lopes City and traveled to the village with Vice Deacon Ender.
• Ender told the team that villagers had discovered an altar and human corpses five days earlier, and the Village Chief led them to the suspected cult house.
• Wu Heng used Eagle Eye Technique to see villagers searching the Association’s carriages and warned Shiraque to be careful of the villagers.
• The Village Chief said the corpses had been burned, leaving Wu Heng unable to question them, and the team found little evidence at the altar.
• As the team left the house, several villagers chased a disheveled figure with wooden clubs.

Wu Heng and the Association team discovered that the village was a pirate stronghold using a false cult rumor to lure them away from Treasure Island. As the pirates launched their ambush, Wu Heng and Shiraque prepared to fight.

• The Village Chief dismissed a battered beggar as a fool, while the beggar later showed Granda a cloth warning that pirates had massacred the village.
• The Village Chief reported to a man in a Religious Robe that the Association team had arrived, and the man ordered his followers to attack them after dark.
• Granda returned and showed Wu Heng evidence that the village was a pirate settlement, prompting him to warn Shiraque that the cult was bait.
• Xiaoxiao reported that armed figures were surrounding the Association's courtyard, so Wu Heng summoned his bone armor and Shiraque alerted the team.
• The attackers hurled alchemical Rolling Thunders into the courtyard.

Wu Heng and the Association members were ambushed by a powerful group of pirates, so he drew the pirates pursuing him away from the main fight. He fought back with his weapons, spells, and Skeleton Attendants, while Shiraque was held off by Captain Hand of the Demon.

• Pirates led by Captain Hand of the Demon attacked the Association members and focused their strongest fighters on Wu Heng.
• Wu Heng retreated from the courtyard to draw five level 15 pirates away, giving Shiraque and the others room to regroup.
• Shiraque tried to follow Wu Heng, but Captain Hand of the Demon intercepted her.
• Wu Heng lured the pirates into an alley and countered their attack with grenades, Death Aura, Skeleton Kranmu, Skeleton Skullcrusher, and a wraith.
• Wu Heng entered Potential Burst and charged the thief, whose dagger clashed with Wu Heng's weapon as the thief realized Wu Heng had tremendous strength.

Wu Heng and his undead allies fought a prepared pirate squad, and he killed all five pirates after the battle turned in his favor. He raised their corpses as new skeletons and sent Granda to check on Shiraque and the others.

• Wu Heng fought the thief while the other pirates restrained his Skeleton Attendants and ghosts, then pursued him into an alley.
• Wu Heng used grenades and his undead to disrupt the pirates, while the Silent Blade Evil Sword killed the ranger and warrior when they became still.
• Wu Heng shot and killed the fleeing Gnome Bomber with his Sniper Rifle and additional Explosive Roars.
• Wu Heng questioned the surviving thief and pugilist about the cult and the trap, then killed both when they answered.
• Wu Heng raised the five pirates as a Skeleton Warrior, Skeleton Ranger, Skeleton Pugilist, Skeleton Rogue, and Skeleton Alchemist, and sent Granda to check on the squad.

Wu Heng freed Skullcrusher and Kranmu from an Iron Maiden Coffin and returned to the battle, rescuing Cavina and the Association members from the pirates. He struck the Hand of the Demon's captain with a rocket, leaving the captain shocked to see Wu Heng and his skeletons.

• Wu Heng examined the level 15 Gnome Bomber, then opened the Iron Maiden Coffin and released Skullcrusher and Kranmu.
• Granda reported that the Association's forces had lost and Shiraque was in danger, so Wu Heng armed the Skeleton Ranger with a Sniper Rifle and headed to the courtyard.
• The Hand of the Demon's captain confronted the wounded Shiraque and attacked her as pirates prepared to kill the fallen Association members.
• Cavina nearly cut her own throat, but Wu Heng's skeletons arrived and shot down the pirates threatening her and the wounded.
• Wu Heng hit the Hand of the Demon's captain with a Rocket Launcher, and the captain demanded to know who Wu Heng was.

Wu Heng defeated the Pirate Captain and killed villagers who attacked the Association, then turned the dead into skeletons and sealed off the village. The next morning, Shiraque checked on the injured and asked Wu Heng how he had become so strong.

• The Pirate Captain escaped Wu Heng’s gunfire, but Kranmu and the skeletons cornered and badly injured him as Wu Heng shot him with a Barrett.
• The villagers surrounded Wu Heng and the Association members, and the Village Chief ordered them to kill the injured party.
• Wu Heng shot the attacking villagers and the Village Chief, then raised their corpses as skeletons.
• Two Skeleton Attendants returned with the Pirate Captain’s severed head and mangled corpse, and Wu Heng ordered the villagers surrounded and forbidden to leave.
• The next morning, Shiraque visited Wu Heng and the others, reported that the investigators were badly injured, and asked Wu Heng how he was so strong.

Wu Heng showed the Association evidence that the village had been massacred and replaced by pirates, while a rescued prisoner confirmed the crime and identified himself as Whisperer, Wilhelm. The group prepared to return with him as a witness, and Wilhelm identified the dead pirate captain as a Warlock with a Demon Bloodline.

• Wu Heng led Shiraque, the local Vice Deacon, and the injured investigators to the Iron Cage to search for evidence.
• Cavina found a strip of cloth stating that pirates had slaughtered everyone in the village, and the investigators recorded it.
• Wu Heng used a wooden rod to restore the beggar's sanity, and the man identified himself as Whisperer, Wilhelm.
• Wilhelm said the Hand of the Demon had imprisoned and tortured him for five years, and confirmed that the village had been massacred.
• The local Vice Deacon left for Lopes City to request reinforcements, while Wilhelm identified the dead captain as a Warlock with a Demon Bloodline.

Wu Heng returned to Treasure Island with evidence that the village had been a pirate stronghold and reported the captured pirate to Deacon Imilo. As Imilo began questioning the corpse, it was asked what the Blank Envelope had promised in exchange for luring Wu Heng into an ambush.

• The beggar identified the mangled corpse as a warlock with a demon bloodline and wrote down the Demon Pirate Crew locations he remembered.
• Wu Heng and his team handed the village over to the Local Association and guards, then left Lopes City for Treasure Island.
• On the ship, Wu Heng examined the pirates’ spoils and found a Wonder called the Missionary Codex, which increased charisma and made speech more persuasive but required sincere repentance after use.
• Wu Heng returned to Treasure Island and brought the corpse to the Association morgue while Shiraque summoned Deacon Imilo.
• Wu Heng cast Talk with Dead, and Imilo asked the corpse what the Blank Envelope had promised it to lure Wu Heng into an ambush.

Wu Heng uncovered more details about the pirate conspiracy, reported the rescued Whisperers member’s deeds to Association headquarters, and returned to the Zombie World. There, Qi Hancai updated him on preparations for winter and said the Provincial Rescue Team had asked whether gold could still be exchanged for food.

• Imilo learned that Divine Punishment Cult Protector Viola and Lopes City Association Deacon Assistant Vinsmoke had worked with the pirates, while the corpse also revealed pirate strongholds and the legend that the Pirate King was directing established crews.
• Wu Heng had the coroner verify the five Pirate Captains he had killed, then wrote to Lilith Ann Beshmit about the ambush and Wilhelm’s rescue.
• Imilo learned that the suspected powerful figure had left the island by cargo ship.
• Wu Heng returned home, reunited with Andeviel, and spent the night with Shanala before she went back to the neighboring residence.
• Wu Heng visited the Alchemy Laboratory, traveled through the Portal to the Zombie World, and heard Qi Hancai report that the Provincial Rescue Team wanted to know if gold could still be exchanged for food.