Chapter Summaries

Wu Heng paid to use the dwarven clan’s Molten Heart and discovered that his information panel tracked its smelting progress, giving him a way to manage a process the dwarves could only estimate. He fed damaged wonders into the magma, but progress remained low, and he finally brought out the Church’s Holy Sword.

• Liander showed Wu Heng and Lady Li the Molten Heart, explained its fees and limits, and warned that anything placed inside would be destroyed unless smelting produced something new.
• Wu Heng signed the fifteen-day agreement as Harry Bogo, paid 2,500 Gold Coin, and watched Liander activate the Molten Heart with magma solution.
• After Lady Li and Liander left, Wu Heng consulted with the four ghosts and began testing the Molten Heart with broken equipment.
• Wu Heng saw the Molten Heart’s smelting percentage rise whenever he added an item and realized the panel let him track its progress.
• Wu Heng fed damaged wonders into the magma until progress reached 24.5%, then took out the Church’s Holy Sword.

Wu Heng continued smelting wondrous items in Molten Heart until its progress reached 87.7%, then planned to buy fragments in Deep Furnace Fortress to finish the process. The next morning, he and Lady Li arranged to buy materials from the Serpent Emblem Conglomerate while the four ghosts shopped at the market.

• Wu Heng melted the Church's Holy Sword, the Papal Crown, the scepter, and other confiscated wondrous items into Molten Heart, raising its progress to 87.7%.
• Wu Heng decided to stop adding complete items and buy wondrous item fragments the next day, then had the dwarves seal Molten Heart for the night.
• Lady Li brought Wu Heng dinner at the VIP building and suggested that the Serpent Emblem Conglomerate could offer him an internal price on wondrous items.
• The next morning, Wu Heng went with Lady Li to the conglomerate, while Granda, Beni, Xiaoxiao, and the other ghost searched the market and bought all the fragments at a stall.
• The conglomerate manager offered Wu Heng and Lady Li cheaper wondrous items for forty gold coins apiece, and Lady Li accepted after Wu Heng nodded.

Wu Heng used the Molten Heart to forge Martyr's Scale Armor, a powerful curio with healing, damage reduction, and a one-time death substitute, then smelted a Blood Sacrifice Dagger. He found the dagger's abilities useful but had little need for it, leaving the group ready to continue testing the Molten Heart.

• Wu Heng bought five curios from the Serpent Emblem Conglomerate and left with Lady Li, who declined the seller's invitation to dinner.
• Xiaoxiao, Beni, Granda, and the Empress Dowager returned from the market with seven intact curios and fifteen damaged ones, and Wu Heng took them to the Molten Heart.
• Wu Heng fed damaged curio fragments into the Molten Heart, stopped at 98.9% progress, and retrieved Martyr's Scale Armor from the drained magma pool.
• Wu Heng inspected the armor's effects and side effects, then stored it and agreed to try smelting another curio.
• Wu Heng smelted intact curios and fragments until the Molten Heart reached 98.8%, then retrieved a Blood Sacrifice Dagger.
• Wu Heng examined the dagger's ability to absorb a target's flesh, blood, and soul, and its side effect of temporarily removing one of the wielder's senses; he decided he had little use for it.

Wu Heng used curios to smelt a dagger and scale armor, then bought more curios in the West District market to push the Molten Heart closer to its limit. When he returned to smelt them, a new garrison commander had sealed the mountain for ten days, and Wu Heng confronted the dwarf official over the obstruction.

• Wu Heng smelted a dagger that absorbed flesh and souls, then wore scale armor that fitted like a second skin.
• Granda and Empress Dowager entered Lady Li's dream, where Wu Heng left her behind amid the Island Master's Manor crowd; Lady Li woke determined to succeed when she returned.
• Wu Heng and the wraiths bought curios and fragments at the West District market, then planned to split up so some could keep buying while he smelted.
• Wu Heng and Empress Dowager arrived at the Military Camp the next morning, where guards stopped their carriage and the dwarf official revealed the mountain had been sealed for ten days.
• Wu Heng realized the new commander had likely seen the Molten Heart nearing its limit and threatened the dwarves for blocking his access.

Wu Heng fought Flari after the dwarf commander blocked access to the Molten Heart, then forced the Dwarf Race to restore his usage rights and detain Flari. He returned to the cave and fed another extraordinary item fragment to the Molten Heart, raising its progress to 98.7%, before making one last attempt to bring it closer to completion.

• Wu Heng confronted the dwarves over the delayed access to the Molten Heart and entered the Military Camp to challenge Flari.
• Flari attacked Wu Heng with soldiers, arrows, weapons, and a Dragon Binding Lock, but Wu Heng defeated him and knocked him unconscious.
• Liander arrived to mediate and restored Wu Heng's access, promised fifteen extra days, and agreed to report Flari's actions to the Dwarf Royal Capital and the Association chief.
• Wu Heng ordered Flari detained, took his Spatial Ring and wonder, and went to the Molten Heart cave with the dwarf official.
• Wu Heng added an extraordinary item fragment to the lava, raising the Molten Heart's progress from 97.6% to 98.7%, then threw in another fragment.

Wu Heng spent days refining strange items at the Molten Heart while dealing with a dwarf commander who had tried to steal its progress. On his final attempt before returning to Treasure Island, he obtained the Truth Engraver, an artifact that could alter text and temporarily create false rules, but carried an instant-death curse.

• Wu Heng failed to refine an artifact at first, used up his collected materials, and returned to his dormitory with loot taken from a dwarf commander he had beaten.
• Lady Li invited Wu Heng to dinner, and the two grew intimate after sharing food and wine.
• Liander told the imprisoned Flari that he had reported the truth about the incident to the Royal Capital and Association Headquarters, while Wu Heng's ghosts later tormented Flari in his cell.
• After three more days of unsuccessful refining and buying up available materials, Wu Heng decided to use the remaining items and return to Treasure Island.
• Wu Heng drained the lava pool and discovered the Truth Engraver, whose powers could distort text and create temporary false rules, with a chance of triggering an instant-death curse if used three times in a day.

Wu Heng tested the carving knife’s rule-altering power, smelted a Horizon-Shrinking Ruler, and returned to the guest hall to face the dwarf reinforcements demanding compensation. The confrontation escalated when Wu Heng silenced the Serpent Emblem Conglomerate’s local representative by removing his mouth.

• Wu Heng used the carving knife to divide the cave between freezing cold and lava heat, but could not alter the Molten Heart’s rules; he then etched a rule to improve his luck.
• Wu Heng smelted a Horizon-Shrinking Ruler that could compress travel distance and track targets, though using its movement ability incurred a debt of unconsciousness.
• A dwarf official told Wu Heng that Commander Gonda had arrived with troops and was waiting to discuss Lord Commander Flari’s matter.
• In the guest hall, Lady Li rejected Gonda’s demands and argued that the dwarves should honor the outcome of a fair fight.
• Wu Heng arrived and refused Gonda’s demands to hand over his wonder, return the Spatial Ring, and apologize; when the local representative sided against him, Wu Heng made the man’s mouth disappear.

Wu Heng defeated and captured two dwarf commanders after they challenged him at Deep Furnace Fortress, then returned to Treasure Island. The Association granted Treasure Island special protections, while the Wood Elf Sisters reached level 19.

• Wu Heng beat Gonda and Flari, took them captive, and left Deep Furnace Fortress with Lady Li as Liander awaited orders from the Royal Capital.
• Wu Heng brought Lady Li into his Mansion Spell, then boarded the Ghost Train with the four ghosts and returned to Treasure Island.
• Liander received a royal order warning him not to provoke Wu Heng, who had killed the Pope, and arranged to send a reply to the Royal Capital.
• Eluria and Sylvien reached level 19 during training, and Shanala teased them before agreeing to consider new equipment.
• Shiraque showed Shi Yali the Association's resolution granting Treasure Island special administrative status, free trade, self-defense forces, resident elders, and resource authority for Wu Heng.
• Shi Yali and Shiraque discussed how to handle their mother's visit and agreed to stagger her meetings with Wu Heng.

Wu Heng returned to Treasure Island, where he learned the Association had publicly backed the island and discussed how to keep the Church from calling on the gods. He then met with Lilith and asked to contact the Church to ease tensions, while admitting he could not return the special items because he had melted them down.

• Wu Heng returned from the dwarven territory, sent Lady Li back to the Serpent Emblem Conglomerate, and reunited with the ghosts and residents of Treasure Island.
• Wu Heng told the others he had imprisoned two level 19 dwarf commanders and planned to negotiate their release when the Dwarf Leader contacted him.
• Shanala showed Wu Heng the Association's five decrees supporting Treasure Island, and she proposed holding a new product exhibition and an auction.
• Granda warned Wu Heng that the Association's support might push the Church to summon the gods, so she advised easing tensions and slowing the Spirit Awakening Sect's expansion outside the Zombie World.
• Wu Heng learned that Eluria and Sylvien had reached level 19, then visited Lilith and asked to use the Association radio station to contact the Church.
• Wu Heng told Lilith he wanted to restore friendly relations with the Church, but said he could not return the special items because he had melted them down.

Wu Heng contacted the Church through Hadara'i and offered reconciliation and technical support, while discussing the risks with Lilith and planning Treasure Island's development. Later, he gave Eluria the Horizon-Shrinking Ruler and prepared the Blood Sacrifice Dagger for Sylvien.

• Wu Heng told Lilith that the Association's support might push the Church toward using its final trump card, then asked her to contact Hadara'i and the Church representative, Fenrir.
• Wu Heng told Fenrir that Treasure Island did not wish to be the Church's enemy and offered technical support to make up for the Church's losses; Fenrir agreed to report the offer to the Holy Hall.
• Wu Heng discussed the Association's recognition and streetlight plans with Hadara'i, while Lilith warned she would act if Wu Heng were in danger and he urged her to keep their relationship secret.
• At dinner, Wu Heng assigned Shanala and Annette tasks to accelerate Treasure Island's development, then told Granda and the others that the streetlight project could buy time for him to reach Hero rank.
• Wu Heng watched Eluria finish her late-night training, then gave her the Horizon-Shrinking Ruler and explained that the Blood Sacrifice Dagger was intended for Sylvien.

Wu Heng used the Truth Engraver to increase his body-tempering efficiency, while Shanala announced a new Commodity Exhibition and Shiraque and Shi Yali welcomed their mother to Treasure Island. The chapter ended with Wu Heng learning that Shiraque’s mother had invited him to dinner, prompting the Empress Dowager to tease him about meeting the parents.

• Eluria tested the Horizon-Shrinking Ruler and discovered that a single step could carry her across several paces.
• Wu Heng and Shanala spent the night together, and Shanala told him the Wood Elf Council of Elders was pleased by the Association's announcement.
• Wu Heng altered the training rules with the Truth Engraver, and the formation sent a torrent of energy into his body during training.
• Shanala announced that Treasure Island would relaunch the Commodity Exhibition and required applicants to submit exhibit details and a 200 Gold Coin deposit.
• Shiraque and Shi Yali welcomed their mother, Uncle Edreal, and Aunt Lilanis, while their mother questioned them about their boyfriends and Wu Heng.
• Minnie told Wu Heng that Shiraque’s mother had invited him to dinner, and the Empress Dowager teased him about meeting the parents.

Wu Heng met Shiraque’s mother as her boyfriend, impressed her with gifts, and won her approval before leaving to handle other work. The next morning Treasure Island announced its upcoming Commodity Exhibition, and Wu Heng began negotiating with the Dwarf Leader over the release of the people detained after the incident at Deep Furnace Fortress.

• Wu Heng agreed to appear as Shiraque’s boyfriend and arranged to meet her mother at Entertainment City.
• Wu Heng promised new equipment and wondrous items for his people after Treasure Island earned merit by helping build power facilities for the Association Headquarters.
• Wu Heng met Shiraque’s mother, gave her Constitution Potions, and won her over with his attention and offers of hospitality.
• Treasure Island’s newspapers announced the next Commodity Exhibition and the premiere of Legend of the White Snake.
• The Dwarf Leader confirmed Deep Furnace Fortress had been at fault and asked Wu Heng what it would take to release the detained people.

Wu Heng secured permanent free access to the Molten Heart in exchange for returning the two dwarves, then trained and checked on developments in Zombie World. As Treasure Island’s expo drew a crowd, Xiaoxiao reported finding a suspicious level 18 professional.

• Wu Heng accepted Bruno’s offer of unlimited Molten Heart use and had Lilith escort the dwarves to the Association for their return journey.
• Wu Heng trained with Empress Nuwa using the Truth Engraver to improve his cultivation, then visited Zombie World and learned that Zhao Yanqiu’s preaching tour had raised his Faith to 36,510 points.
• Wu Heng told Li Yahong to arrange Skeleton Army rescues for threatened outposts and requested new infrasound missiles and the return of several skeletons.
• Wu Heng spoke with Zhao Yanqiu and Qi Hancai, then browsed the forum and saw widespread support for Spirit Enlightenment Sect.
• Three days later, ships and visitors arrived for Treasure Island’s expo, while gifts piled up at the Island Master’s Manor.
• Xiaoxiao told Wu Heng that she had found a suspicious level 18 professional.

Wu Heng’s people captured a Twelve Heavens Sacred Cult protector who had come to investigate Treasure Island and the Sky Fox Tribe, then imprisoned him for questioning. In the prison, the man fell into a strange dream or vision in which he returned to his village and met someone who appeared to be the cult leader.

• Xiaoxiao spotted a suspicious Level 18 professional near the harbor, and Wu Heng sent Eluria and Sylvien to investigate.
• Eluria and Sylvien confronted the cloaked man near the Sky Fox Tribe settlement, defeated him when he tried to flee, and brought him to Wu Heng.
• Under questioning, the man admitted he was a protector of the Twelve Heavens Sacred Cult sent to investigate Treasure Island and the Sky Fox Tribe; Wu Heng ordered him held in the Association Dungeon.
• Wu Heng discussed protecting the Sky Fox Tribe and investigating the cult with the Empress Dowager and Viola, then ordered Shiraque to assign more patrol squads.
• In the Association Prison, the captured man fell asleep and experienced a journey home, where a mysterious figure questioned him and took on the appearance of the bishop he remembered.

A captured cultist revealed Treasure Island’s defenses to the Twelve Heavens Sacred Cult in a false dream, prompting Wu Heng to consider striking the cult’s stronghold. He returned from Zombie World with modern goods and missile vehicles, then introduced new exhibits for Treasure Island’s trade associations.

• A cultist dreamed that he escaped captivity, reported Treasure Island’s heroes and drew the Twelve Heavens Sacred Cult’s leader a route map before waking in his cage and realizing Wu Heng had extracted the intelligence.
• Shanala gave Wu Heng a list of selected trade associations, and he left with the Empress Dowager to train while learning that the cult also had a Cult Saint.
• Wu Heng studied the cult’s location north of Sky Fox Village and decided to deal with it after retrieving exhibits from Zombie World.
• Wu Heng collected three level-20 skeletons, infrasonic grenades, missile vehicles, ballpoint pens, compass watches, pills, and a microscope from the prison and transported the vehicles to the other world.
• Wu Heng demonstrated the ballpoint pen and compass watch to Shanala and the household women, and Shanala recognized the watch’s usefulness for seafaring.

Wu Heng completed the third stage of his body-refining technique, gaining the Celestial Golden Body and Born From Fire traits, then left Treasure Island to deal with the Twelve Heavens Sacred Cult. Several days later, the island’s exhibition drew huge crowds and excitement, especially over its new products and radio display.

• Wu Heng and Shanala agreed to display radios at the exhibition and discussed his plan to leave to address the Twelve Heavens Sacred Cult.
• Wu Heng completed the third stage of his body-refining technique and unlocked the Celestial Golden Body and Born From Fire traits.
• Wu Heng said goodbye to his household and departed Treasure Island aboard the Ghost Train.
• Several days later, visitors crowded the exhibition and reacted enthusiastically to the new ballpoint pens, compass watches, tablets, and microscopes.
• The radio display caused an uproar as visitors learned about long-distance communication and demanded to reserve radios.

Wu Heng reached the Twelve Heavens Sacred Cult’s fortified village and launched an attack on its Cult Leader. The Cult Leader recognized Wu Heng as he appeared in his bedroom, while the Cult Saint remained unaccounted for.

• Shanala explained to Eluria and Sylvien that the exhibition aimed to expand Treasure Island’s influence, while Lilith learned that Wu Heng had displayed a radio.
• Wu Heng traveled north with the ghosts and reached the Twelve Heavens Sacred Cult’s village, where they identified the Cult Leader but could not find the Cult Saint.
• The Cult Leader discussed the Association’s census, the missing Sky Fox Tribe, and Wu Heng, then prepared to spend the night with two young women.
• Wu Heng assigned his companions to control the village and attacked the Cult Leader’s building with an arrow before confronting him in his bedroom.
• The Cult Leader’s weapons were destroyed, the two women were knocked unconscious, and he recognized Wu Heng.

Wu Heng defeated the cult leader after the man tried to escape and offered to join Treasure Island. Memories from the cult leader’s ghost suggested a link to the Kelt royal family and a vampire who might be the Cult Saint, while Wu Heng’s group subdued the village and began sorting the believers.

• The cult leader summoned fanatical villagers to overwhelm Wu Heng, but Wu Heng’s preparations stopped them before the two fought through the burning building.
• The cult leader trapped Wu Heng’s consciousness in a silver mirror and then fled, but Wu Heng pursued him into the forest, where six skeletons cornered him.
• The cult leader offered to join Treasure Island, but Wu Heng refused and the Egg Yolk Knight beheaded him after Wu Heng defeated him.
• Granda devoured the cult leader’s ghost, and the memories revealed his connection to a Kelt royal relative and a scarlet-eyed man whom Wu Heng suspected was a vampire and the Cult Saint.
• Xiaoxiao reported that the village’s believers and professionals had been subdued, and Wu Heng used the Mansion Spell to begin locking up everyone above level 15.

Wu Heng recovered the soul-imprisoning Eternal Silence Silver Mirror, then arrived at Cracked Helm Fortress to help the local Association move against the Twelve Heavens Sacred Cult’s operation. After the Association seized the Stone Shield Merchant Guild, Wu Heng sent Lilith a portrait of a suspected vampire and learned that she recognized him.

• Wu Heng found the Eternal Silence Silver Mirror among the ruins and stored it in his Spatial Ring.
• Wu Heng extended the believers’ sleep with the Truth Engraver and traveled with the ghosts to Cracked Helm Fortress.
• Wu Heng learned that the Stone Shield Merchant Guild was serving the Twelve Heavens Sacred Cult and ordered the Association to arrest everyone connected to it.
• The Egg Yolk Knight defeated the one-eyed swordsman who resisted the Association’s raid, and the Association seized the guild’s people and property.
• Wu Heng sent Lilith a portrait of a suspected vampire, and she replied that she knew him.

Wu Heng identified Torreto Castain as the former Archbishop behind the Twelve Heavens Sacred Cult, then led the Association in capturing the cult’s remaining followers. After returning to Treasure Island, he learned of the island’s growing success while the Pope prepared a divine assault against the Association.

• Wu Heng told Lilith that Torreto Castain had founded the Twelve Heavens Sacred Cult, and Lilith began an investigation into him.
• Wu Heng took a selected force to the cult village, where his team arrested the sleeping believers and prepared them for transport.
• Church agents retrieved a radio from a dead Association Member, and the Pope ordered preparations for the Father to descend and punish the Association.
• Wu Heng returned to Treasure Island, reunited with Robbie and the others, and heard that the exhibition had succeeded and the Annual Auction was scheduled for next month.
• Lilith told Wu Heng that three Association elders wanted to meet him, and she reported that the Church had sent no further word.