Chapter Summaries

Wu Heng secured the Association’s cooperation in Luntam City and headed to the Commander’s Mansion, where letters and a corpse revealed an impending reinforcement force and clues about the Second Prince. The Second Prince was believed to be near Bojiao City, while three thousand soldiers were due to reach Serted Fortress in three days.

• Wu Heng met local deacon Lawen outside the Association, showed him a report claiming the Yeke Kingdom had repeatedly harassed Luntam City, and warned the Association to avoid missions and conflict with the skeletons.
• Lawen posted the report on the Notice Board, and the people sheltering inside began blaming the kingdom after reading it.
• Wu Heng went with Beni, Xiaoxiao, and Granda to the Commander’s Mansion, where he searched the President Commander’s Spatial Ring and found letters arranging troop deployments.
• Wu Heng questioned the President Commander’s corpse and learned that three thousand troops carrying supplies would arrive at Serted Fortress in three days.
• The corpse said it was loyal to the Second Prince and believed he was in towns near Bojiao City.

Wu Heng learned that the Second Prince had a suspected level 18 professional among his allies, while the Church arrived on Treasure Island and began converting a building into a church. At Serted Fortress, Wu Heng told Wen Mansha he planned to pause the advance briefly for a Religious Hero’s arrival, connect the railway, and then continue south.

• Wu Heng questioned the President Commander's corpse, learned that the Second Prince might have a level 18 professional on his side, and raised the dead to guard the captured residence.
• Leader Seydou arrived on Treasure Island with a Church delegation, toured the island, and ordered a building intended for the Mage Research Society to be bought and converted into a church.
• Shiraque and the others realized the Church's new presence on Treasure Island could lead to conflict with Wu Heng.
• Wu Heng contacted Wen Mansha from Serted Fortress and told her the fortress had been captured.
• Wu Heng and Wen Mansha discussed the next campaign, and he proposed pausing the offensive for two days, connecting the railway toward Luntam City, and resuming the advance after the Religious Hero arrived.

Wu Heng paused his campaign at Serted Fortress while a Religious Hero investigated the church’s conflict with Netarei City, then traveled between the Zombie World and the fortress to manage production, meet Qi Hancai, and help Beni absorb souls to grow stronger. The next day, Jeffrey reported that scouts had spotted a Yeke Kingdom Transport Team approaching.

• Wu Heng told Wen Mansha to hold position at Serted Fortress, and he ordered Jeffrey to secure the city, deal with captives, and wait for Hartel before resuming the campaign.
• Wu Heng collected the wealthy President Commander’s valuables, then traveled to the Zombie World, where he and Li Yahong discussed restarting factories, expanding food production, and visiting Busan Port.
• Wu Heng reunited with Qi Hancai, led the Skeleton Army to fight Zombies so Beni could absorb Residual Souls, and spent the night in a nearby inn before returning to Serted Fortress.
• The next morning, Jeffrey told Wu Heng that scouts had discovered a Yeke Kingdom Transport Team approaching the fortress.

Wu Heng used Granda’s scouting to uncover a two-part Yeke Kingdom convoy and disguise himself as the dead President Commander. After ambushing both groups and taking their supplies, he questioned the commander’s corpse, which said the Second Prince might be in Nilari City.

• Jeffrey told Wu Heng that a convoy of about forty people and five carriages was approaching Serted Fortress, and Wu Heng learned from Granda that it was a decoy followed by a second convoy.
• Wu Heng disguised himself as the President Commander and ordered Jeffrey to prepare soldiers in Yeke Kingdom uniforms.
• Wu Heng deceived the first convoy into sending its cavalryman back with a false message, then had skeletons kill the convoy members who entered the fortress.
• Wu Heng let the second convoy enter, ordered the gates closed, and had his forces shoot the soldiers and seize their supplies.
• Wu Heng questioned the dead convoy commander, who did not know the Second Prince’s whereabouts but guessed that he was in Nilari City.

Wu Heng learned that Religious Hero Seydou had established plans to build a church on Treasure Island, then focused on leveling Beni in the Zombie World. He returned to Serted Fortress and found a new butler waiting in the hall.

• Wu Heng recorded the dead transport team member’s face, then had the skeletons dispose of the body as Jeffrey reported that supplies had reached the warehouse.
• Shiraque told Wu Heng that Seydou had visited Treasure Island, bought a building to turn into a church, and left after driving some criminals and dark sorcerers away.
• Wu Heng told Shiraque to leave the church alone for now and considered asking Lilith and Claudio to help restrain Seydou.
• Wu Heng took Xiaoxiao, Beni, and Granda to the Zombie World, where his skeleton army fought Zombies and Beni advanced toward level 19.
• Wu Heng returned to Serted Fortress at dusk and found a woman in a butler’s uniform waiting for him.

Wu Heng entrusted Hartel with managing Serted Fortress while considering how to raise his renown without getting caught up in the Yeke Kingdom’s growing conflict. In the Zombie World, he received printed notices for the occupied territories and heard Qi Hancai’s reports about offers from other survivor groups.

• Wu Heng told Hartel to manage Serted Fortress, watch for investigators after the Transport Team’s deaths, and keep outsiders from learning he was there.
• Wu Heng reviewed the church’s arrival on Treasure Island and the Yeke Kingdom’s escalating conflict, then considered targeting the Second Prince’s territory around Nilari City to gain renown.
• Wu Heng traveled through the Portal to the Zombie World, where Qi Hancai delivered printed notices explaining Luntam City’s position and plans for the occupied territories.
• Wu Heng stored the notices, clothes, and blankets in his Spatial Ring, and Qi Hancai reported that she had rejected a vague offer to hunt a Zombie King and received requests from foreign bases to trade supplies for food.

Wu Heng continued fighting zombies while managing affairs in Serted Fortress and learning that Beni had reached level 19. In the Yeke Kingdom, Second Prince Clifford dismissed reports that Serted Fortress had fallen and discussed how to respond to Ditalio.

• Wu Heng told Qi Hancai to investigate the Zombie King, approved food exchanges with other bases, and continued clearing zombies with his Skeleton Army.
• Wu Heng spoke with Shanala about Seydou establishing a church on Treasure Island, ordered her to check on potions and food, and heard updates on Netarei City.
• Wu Heng instructed Hartel to post notices explaining the conflict with the Yeke Kingdom while she reported on the city's recovery and railway construction.
• Beni reached level 19 while devouring Residual Souls, and Wu Heng contacted Qi Hancai to arrange a new leveling location and discuss news about the Zombie King.
• In Nilari City, Clifford agreed to send a team to verify reports that Serted Fortress had fallen, then asked his ministers how to deal with Ditalio.

After the battle, Wu Heng collected Corpse Cores, returned to the fortress, and installed a radio for Hartel to contact Wen Mansha. He later spoke privately with Shiraque, who asked whether Shi Yali had discovered their relationship.

• Beni reached level 19 after the battle, and Wu Heng joked with her, Xiaoxiao, and Granda about becoming invincible.
• Wu Heng harvested Corpse Cores from the battlefield and raised more skeletons before returning to the other world.
• Hartel told Wu Heng that an Association steward wanted to leave the city to deliver a report, and Wu Heng told her to stall him.
• Wu Heng installed a radio for Hartel to contact Wen Mansha and warned her to protect or destroy the device if danger arose.
• Shiraque contacted Wu Heng from Treasure Island, told him she missed him, and asked whether Shi Yali had found out about their relationship.

Wu Heng learned that the Yeke Kingdom had started the war with Luntam City, then planned to clear the Zombie King’s territory while preparing to absorb Korea’s remaining rescue team. In Netarei City, Brittany refused Hero Seydou’s offer to join the Church and remained committed to the Yeke Kingdom.

• Shiraque ended her conversation with Wu Heng after Minnie invited her to watch a movie, and Wu Heng spent the rest of the day resting.
• A notice in the skeleton-occupied cities said the Yeke Kingdom had invaded Luntam City first, prompting residents to blame the kingdom for the war.
• Yuri asked Slyther to make her city lord of Luntam City, but Slyther warned her that the Yeke Kingdom might counterattack.
• Qi Hancai told Wu Heng that the Skeleton Army had taken about half of Korea and that the Korean Rescue Team was anxious about losing its territory; Wu Heng planned to absorb them after the country was cleared.
• Wu Heng led the Skeleton Army toward the reported location of the Zombie King and sent three ghosts ahead to investigate.
• Hero Seydou offered Brittany the position of Regional Bishop, but Brittany refused and said she could not abandon the Yeke Kingdom.

Wu Heng discovered two Zombie Kings fighting over territory, captured the survivor after it evolved by devouring the other King’s Corpse Core, and returned to Serted Fortress. The next day, he learned that Seydou had approached Brittany in Netarei City to recruit her as a Local Bishop, but she had not agreed.

• Wu Heng sent Skeleton Dogs into the city, and the resulting battle revealed that two Zombie Kings were directing opposing Zombie Hordes against each other.
• Granda and Xiaoxiao located the two Zombie Kings, and Wu Heng let their Hordes fight while Beni collected Residual Souls.
• The insect-form Zombie King defeated its rival, ate its Corpse Core, and began evolving as Wu Heng’s army advanced on its building.
• Wu Heng’s Skeletons killed the defending Zombies, and Cassius and Kranmu captured the evolved Level 19 Zombie King alive.
• Wu Heng returned to Serted Fortress and considered raising Zombie Beasts with Corpse Cores before deciding to revisit Treasure Island.
• Shanala told Wu Heng that Seydou had met Brittany and invited her to become the Church’s Local Bishop, but Brittany had not agreed.

Wu Heng learned that the Church’s hero was trying to recruit Brittany as a Local Bishop, potentially pressuring Treasure Island and his alliance with her. He planned to return to Treasure Island to strengthen his position, investigate Zombie King evolution, and prepare the next Potion Auction, while leaving Hartel and the others guarded at Serted Fortress.

• Shanala told Wu Heng that Brittany had firmly refused the Church’s offer for now, but the Church might pressure her to compromise later.
• Wu Heng told Shanala to promise Brittany his support in ascending the throne, and learned that the Church hero had left Netarei City for the Yeke Kingdom’s capital.
• Wu Heng arranged with Shanala and Minnie to publicize a second Potion Auction on Treasure Island.
• Wu Heng decided that confirming whether Corpse Cores accelerated Mutated Zombie evolution could help him cultivate stronger skeletons, and chose to return to Treasure Island.
• Wu Heng wrote invitations to the Leader of the Grand Text Society, Leader Lilith, and Sword of Justice, then gave Hartel instructions to mail them through the Association in Blackstone Town.
• Wu Heng told Hartel he would return to Treasure Island that night and promised to assign level 15 skeletons to protect her and the others from possible assassins.

Wu Heng monitored the front line, observed the captured Zombie King, and continued gathering skeletons and leveling Beni in the Zombie World. Meanwhile, the Korean Rescue Team considered attacking him but held back, and Wen Mansha discussed Hartel serving Wu Heng; later, Treasure Island’s newspaper stirred the Association, and Lilith awoke to ask about Wu Heng’s letter.

• Wu Heng arranged six high-level skeleton guards for Hartel and learned that Yeke Kingdom investigators had been killed while the Second Prince’s army was avoiding conflict.
• In the Zombie World, Wu Heng ordered the area cleaned, kept the bound Zombie King under guard, and took Beni to feed on Residual Souls as the Skeleton Army fought more Zombies.
• The Korean Rescue Team’s Chief learned that skeletons had overrun the area around the Zombie King and chose not to fire a missile at a possible Ability User.
• Wu Heng returned to Treasure Island, and Hartel told Wen Mansha that he had promised to visit again; Wen Mansha invited Hartel to serve him alongside her, and Hartel agreed.
• A new Treasure Island newspaper prompted Association members to plan trips there for the second potion auction, while Lilith woke and demanded Wu Heng’s unopened letter.

Lilith, Claudio, and Hadara'i received invitations to Wu Heng’s second Potion Auction, while Wu Heng returned to Treasure Island and resumed overseeing its affairs. After checking the island and his Zombie World operation, he arranged livestock purchases and met with a dwarf who owned a magic-arrow shop.

• Lilith decided to travel to Treasure Island for Wu Heng’s auction, Claudio delegated attendance to an assistant, and Hadara'i mailed a reply to Wu Heng’s invitation.
• Wu Heng returned to Treasure Island, saw the crowds gathered at the popular movie theater, and sent the Three Wraiths to inspect the church under construction.
• Wu Heng reunited with Minnie and Robbie, learned the island remained peaceful, and checked that the Zombie King’s level had not changed before ordering it fed three Corpse Cores a day.
• Wu Heng reviewed the island’s growing income and coin reserves, then told Andeviel to arrange breeding livestock and animals for Corpse Core experiments.
• Andeviel brought Wu Heng the screened merchant guilds and purchase orders, then admitted the owner of the Shining Arrows Item Shop to their meeting.

Wu Heng handled island business, including ordering magical effects engraved onto cannon shells and reassuring two troupe leaders about their movie projects. At the Association, he learned the Grand Text Society had sent him books and a letter urging him to focus on leveling up.

• Wu Heng asked a dwarf to engrave six Electromagnetic Cannon shells with explosive flame, lightning, and Poison Gas effects, agreeing to pay 380 Silver Coins per shell.
• Wu Heng met with Merchant Association representatives and the heads of two stage troupes, who worried they could not match the spectacle of the movies already showing on the island.
• Wu Heng promised Saban and Siska that he would arrange help and support their movie sales before leaving the Town Hall for the Association.
• Wu Heng told Shiraque that the First Prince and Second Prince each reportedly controlled about half of the Yeke Kingdom, but warned her the information was unconfirmed.
• Shi Yali gave Wu Heng books, an old record book, and a letter from the Grand Text Society about Engraving Scrolls.
• Wu Heng read that the Society's leader advised him to focus on magical research and reaching level 18, rather than dividing his attention among many pursuits.

Wu Heng studied a magic scroll manual and discussed what he learned with Granda before hosting Shiraque and Shi Yali for dinner. During the movie afterward, he secretly caressed Shiraque under a blanket, and Shi Yali returned from the bathroom and covered her own legs with a blanket beside him.

• Wu Heng invited Shiraque and Shi Yali to dinner at his home and told Minnie they were coming.
• Wu Heng read a magic scroll manual, learned that spell ink supplied the magic power, and considered using scroll materials to copy Talismans.
• Xiaoxiao and Beni returned from visiting a tavern and the church, then started a movie.
• Shiraque and Shi Yali arrived with Honey Wine, shared dinner with Wu Heng and the household, and watched Lord of the Rings 2.
• Wu Heng touched Shiraque beneath a blanket during the movie, and Shi Yali returned from the bathroom and put a blanket over her own legs beside him.

After a movie night, Wu Heng realized Shi Yali had feelings for him too, while she teased Shiraque about his advances. The next day, he arranged security for the coming auction and returned to the Zombie World with the captured Zombie King, planning to find a new place to raise Beni’s level.

• During the movie, Wu Heng explored Shi Yali’s leg beneath the blanket, but she stopped him when his hand went too far.
• Shiraque and Shi Yali talked in the bath, and Shi Yali teased her younger sister about the little movements she had witnessed.
• At breakfast, Andeviel proposed strengthening security for the island and sea routes ahead of the auction, and Wu Heng told her to arrange it with Shiraque.
• Wu Heng traveled to the Zombie World with his ghosts and ordered the skeletons to bring the bound Zombie King along.
• Wu Heng decided to leave the area, find a new place, and raise Beni’s level.

Wu Heng brought a captured Zombie King back to the base, arranged for it to be guarded and studied, and learned that the Korean Central Broadcast Station was asking about his appearance and whereabouts. He planned to meet their representatives to learn their intentions, while the next day Andeviel led skeletons into a church on Treasure Island.

• Wu Heng returned to the port base with the Zombie King and, with Qi Hancai, chose a sturdy basement nearby to hold it under guard and feed it six Corpse Cores a day.
• At a base meeting, Qi Hancai reported that the domestic Central Broadcast Station had paid what it owed and that the Military Factory had produced five hundred Twin-Barreled Autocannons; Wu Heng also asked her to request books on Talismans from Lu Changan.
• Qi Hancai told Wu Heng that the Korean Central Broadcast Station had asked Koreans at the base about his appearance, behavior, location, and photograph, so Wu Heng decided to attend a meeting with them.
• Wu Heng and Qi Hancai returned to her room together after dinner.
• The next day on Treasure Island, Andeviel led a Skeleton Guard into a church, where the person in charge came out and looked at her and the skeletons.

Andeviel confronted the Church about limiting its personnel on Treasure Island, while Wu Heng cleared Zombies and learned that the Alchemy Skeleton’s pills had arrived. After returning to the island, he heard that the Church wanted him to discuss its forces with Leader Seydou and that Bishop Dekgavin wanted to meet him.

• Andeviel told Bishop Dekgavin that the Church had to suspend construction and limit its personnel, but he insisted Wu Heng should discuss the matter with Leader Seydou.
• Wu Heng led the Skeleton Army to clear Zombies, and a survivor brought word that pills made by the Alchemy Skeleton had arrived from Xinfu City Base.
• Wu Heng collected the pills from Qi Hancai, then returned to Treasure Island after checking on the Zombie King.
• Andeviel told Wu Heng that many visitors had arrived, the island’s defenses had been reinforced, and Bishop Dekgavin wanted to meet him about the Church’s stationed forces.

Wu Heng displayed a new healing tablet made by the Alchemy Skeletons as visitors arrived for the upcoming potion auction. After meeting the Grand Text Society’s deputy and receiving a letter from Hadara'i, he wondered why Lilith had not contacted him.

• Wu Heng told Andeviel to have the Association certify the new tablets and replace the fountain pen exhibit with them.
• The tablet display drew a large crowd, and alchemists realized the portable healing medicine could transform the alchemy industry.
• Wu Heng welcomed Kelmick, the deputy of Grand Text Society leader Claudio, and arranged lodging for him and the headquarters staff.
• Shiraque gave Wu Heng a letter from Hadara'i, who praised his progress but could not attend the auction.
• Shi Yali invited Wu Heng and Shiraque to watch a movie, but Shiraque postponed the visit until after the auction.
• Back at the manor, Wu Heng reread the letters and wondered why Lilith had not replied to him.

Wu Heng promoted his tablet medicines and turned away Alchemists who demanded access to his production method, while preparations for the auction continued. As Treasure Island’s streetlights drew crowds into the streets, Bishop Dekgavin planned to confront Wu Heng, and a hooded girl arrived at the exhibition just as pickpockets targeted her.

• Xiaoxiao, Beni, and Granda reported on the successful exhibition and discussed the tablets’ appeal and the interest of Alchemists.
• Vice Guild Master Stede asked Wu Heng to share his tablet-making method; Wu Heng refused and told Robbie to turn away future Alchemists.
• Wu Heng inspected the auction preparations, and headquarters personnel watched Treasure Island’s streetlights illuminate lively streets at dusk.
• Bishop Dekgavin arranged to visit Wu Heng with a burly man the next day to challenge his decree restricting the island’s troops.
• A hooded woman disguised as a young girl went to the exhibition after hearing about Wu Heng’s new medicine, and pickpockets followed her and reached for her waist.