Recaps

Velin met experts from the nations joining the Sea-Sky Ice Abyss expedition while the Lord of Cold Light and a burly man traveled ahead. After six hours of introductions and conversation, Velin learned who made up the expedition and how powerful its members were.

• The Lord of Cold Light challenged Lorax to touch his clothes, then opened a Demiplane passage for the group and flew north toward the Brizet Subcontinent.
• Inside the Demiplane, Sroya Salnarda, Kritchens Salnarda, and Gnar Salnarda introduced themselves to Velin before each went off to speak with others.
• Lester told Velin that he had beaten the orc Laford nearly to death for disrespecting the Saintess, and Kyle warned Lester that his restraint could hinder the Dawn Paladin trial path.
• Velin spoke with experts from the participating nations for six hours and learned their numbers and levels of strength.
• Velin learned that the expedition group had thirty-one members, including eight at Soul Intent High-level, two near Legend, and one already on the path to Legend.

Velin, Kyle, and Lester entered the Extreme Ice Plain to find the gateway to the Sea-Sky Ice Abyss, but after three months without success they split up to search. Half a month later, Velin found a Frost Giant tribe and began assessing its strength.

• Lorax and Hilea sent the trial participants into the Extreme Ice Plain with Silver Dragon Scales that could guide them back if they gave up.
• Velin, Kyle, and Lester searched together for three months before agreeing to separate and travel on their own for up to half a year.
• The three companions shared one last meal, wished each other safety, and set off in different directions.
• After half a month alone, Velin fought off a moment of confusion and continued through the storm, where poor visibility and perception made travel difficult.
• Velin followed firelight down a cliff and spotted a Frost Giant tribe, counting eighty-two giants and judging their ranks from a distance.

Velin spied on a Frost Giant tribe, lured most of its warriors away, and raided the settlement with the Life Knight and Death Knight. He escaped east with a White Dragon and the tribe’s written items after killing the remaining Frost Giants and their chieftain.

• Velin used Parasitic Surveillance to follow a High-Silver Frost Giant and discovered that it had hidden White Dragon flesh; he estimated the tribe had about 120 members.
• When the Frost Giants spotted the Seed, Velin sent a wooden avatar north as a decoy and hid underground until most of the tribe pursued it.
• Velin released the Life Knight and Death Knight, who killed the 23 Frost Giants left in the settlement and fought the Soul Intent Low-Tier Frost Giant chieftain.
• Velin ordered the Life Knight to spare the Mid-Gold White Dragon, then caught it in a Demiplane passage and collected items bearing writing.
• After the Death Knight killed the chieftain, Velin recalled his knights, escaped underground to the east, and reflected on the raid.

Velin learned from the Frost Giants’ records that the Sea-Sky Ice Abyss portal appeared unpredictably, then freed the neutral White Dragon Harriet and set off across the Extreme Ice Plain. He began climbing a massive iceberg and heard an angry roar from an ice cave.

• Velin questioned Harriet about the Sea-Sky Ice Abyss, but she could only recall seeing a Moon Elf enter a mysterious portal.
• Cecilia translated the Frost Giants’ records, which described several portals appearing in different places and led Velin to conclude that finding one depended on luck.
• Velin performed an Alignment Check on Harriet, found her absolutely neutral, broke her magic-sealing collar, and healed her injuries.
• Velin released Harriet onto the Extreme Ice Plain and continued onward, while Harriet set off in search of home.
• Velin climbed a towering iceberg and heard an angry roar coming from an ice cave.

Velin fought a crystal dragon that had attacked him, then agreed to end their days-long battle and let it leave. As he prepared to go, a mysterious portal appeared on the fractured platform.

• Velin shattered the crystal dragon’s ice spears and battled the dragon and its eight summoned Ice Warriors, using the fight to hone his swordsmanship.
• Velin split the iceberg with Space—Myriad Woods, then sent Life-Knight and Death-Knight to hold off the Ice Warriors while he pursued the crystal dragon.
• Velin chased and hacked at the crystal dragon for several days until they agreed to reconcile and go their separate ways.
• The crystal dragon dismissed the Ice Warriors and flew away, while Velin recalled his knights and prepared to leave.
• A mysterious portal appeared in the center of the fractured platform.

Velin entered the Sea-Sky Ice Abyss and waited in the Sea-Sky Holy Hall as other trial-takers arrived. The 297th trial began under three divine incarnations, and Velin lost consciousness as the contestants were sent into the Illusionary Realm Ice Abyss.

• Velin crossed the White Jade Steps, received a Grade VIII evaluation ranked 2,883rd, and entered the empty holy hall as the first entrant in the 297th trial.
• Kristina Heron, a High Elf, Lester, and other trial-takers gradually arrived and waited silently in the hall.
• Kyle arrived, told Velin he had ranked second, and joined him as they waited for the trial to begin.
• Yekis entered, completing the group of twenty-two, and the voice announced the start of the 297th trial.
• The incarnation of the God of Wind and Snow explained the trial's three choices and rewards before the contestants were sent to the Illusionary Realm Ice Abyss.
• Velin grew exhausted during the transfer and lost consciousness.

Velin woke in the Romo Snowfield without access to his powers and was rescued by the hunter Na, whom he taught about strength and trained as a warrior. After spending nearly three months guiding Na’s cultivation, Velin listened as Na reported paying his taxes and considered buying acorn flour to stockpile.

• Na found Velin in a pit, brought him to his hut, and nursed him back to consciousness.
• Velin told Na that strength and knowledge allowed someone to save strangers safely, then taught him a warrior breathing method that made him a low-tier warrior apprentice.
• Na explained that Bayan Village belonged to the Kingdom of Boyer and described its people, taxes, and garrison to Velin.
• Velin stayed in the hut and guided Na’s training until Na became a mid-tier apprentice warrior in less than three months.
• Na paid his religious and territorial taxes with furs, sold more furs for coins, and asked Velin whether he should buy acorn flour to store.

Three months later, Velin defended Na and their cabin from soldiers led by Young Master Dai, who sought a Warrior Breathing Method. After Na explained that his reckless kindness had led to the ambush, Velin planned to take him into the deep mountains so he could grow stronger.

• Na staggered into Velin’s cabin, wounded, and warned him that armed pursuers were coming.
• Velin went outside and refused Young Master Dai’s demand for the Warrior Breathing Method.
• Velin killed the soldiers who attacked him, including Young Master Dai and the two Knight Squires beside him.
• Na explained that he had been ambushed after saving a commoner from a snow bear and refusing the man’s food and invitation.
• Velin told Na not to blame himself and planned to take him into the deep mountains after they ate and Na recovered.

Velin and Na settled in Kabakarn Village, then traveled south after Na became a Bronze Warrior, eventually reaching a town near Mibeihada Marsh. As they prepared to leave, Velin reflected on the three important choices and remained uncertain about the third.

• Velin burned the wanted notice and told Na they would stay in Kabakarn Village, where they lived for three years while Na trained.
• After Na became a Bronze Warrior, Velin decided they would travel south to fight, learn, and see the sights.
• Velin and Na journeyed through several countries, and Na grew closer to the Red Cat Adventure Team along the way.
• In an inn near Mibeihada Marsh, Na told Velin their preparations were complete and that they would leave the next day.
• Na said goodbye to the Red Cat Adventure Team, who gave him food and local delicacies for Velin.
• Velin considered what the three important choices tested and wondered whether the third choice was truly malicious.

After a fake map led Velin and Na astray in Mibeihada Marsh, Velin used two Mud Swamp Giant Crocodiles to guide them out. In a town in the Ita Kingdom, Velin began teaching Na to make decisions for himself as they planned their journey.

• Velin discovered the map showed the wrong terrain, beat seven Mud Swamp Giant Crocodiles, and made two guide him and Na through the marsh.
• After half a month, Velin and Na left Mibeihada Marsh, and Na freed the crocodiles at Velin's command.
• Velin learned they had reached a border town in Baruk Province, in the territory of Baron Kota Goens, where the locals worshipped the God of Ice Wolves.
• Velin told Na to form his own opinions, but Na said he wanted to go wherever Velin went.
• At an inn, Velin had Na choose their route through the Ita Kingdom and told him to ask locals what supplies they needed.

Velin and Na spent 120 years traveling together in the illusion before it ended and revealed that Na was also a Trial-taker. Velin returned to the sacred hall with the other Trial-takers, where the gods announced that they would summon them and displayed the rankings.

• Velin and Na traveled through the Ita Kingdom and later settled in a mountain village, where Velin waited for Na to grow stronger.
• After more than a century of traveling together, Velin realized the world was about to end, and Na revealed that he was a Trial-taker.
• Na asked Velin for his real name before vanishing from the illusion, and Velin told him he was Velin Ex.
• The illusion shattered, and its information merged with twenty-one other streams before reaching the Yati World, also called the Ice Abyss Realm.
• Na appeared in a church in the Loik Kingdom and said he hoped to meet Velin again.
• The three gods appeared before the twenty-two Trial-takers, announced they would summon them in three minutes, and displayed the rankings.

After the other summoned beings departed, Velin was the last to meet the God of Cold Wind, who offered him a choice of two semi-epic weapons. Velin chose the Staff of Solitude and the Karnus Bracers and returned to the shattered Ice Platform.

• Velin watched the summoned beings leave the Sea-Sky Holy Hall, until only he and Garnatav remained.
• Garnatav greeted Velin and spoke with him before the divine light summoned him away.
• The God of Cold Wind praised Velin's fortune and offered him any two of three semi-epic weapons.
• Velin chose the Staff of Solitude and the Karnus Bracers, and the God of Cold Wind granted them to him.
• Velin was sent back to the shattered Ice Platform.

Velin returned to the camp at the northeastern border of the Holy Ice Elf Kingdom, where he and his companions shared news of their divine blessings and prepared a feast. As the gathering brought the camp together, Lester made peace with Laford over their past conflict.

• Velin learned from Kyle that Alaric had failed three times to find the Sea-Sky Ice Abyss and chose not to disturb him.
• Lester showed Velin and Kyle an ice soldier summoned from an Ice Ball, while Velin revealed the Staff of Solitude and Kyle kept his own blessing secret.
• Velin learned the date was July 1, 9769, and asked Kyle to cook a meal while Lester went to hunt ingredients.
• Lester returned with two Ferocious Bears, and Kyle prepared a feast that drew Alaric, three silver dragons, and others from the camp to the table.
• Lester approached Laford, told him he held no grudge after Laford had paid for his past mistake, and asked him to use his name without an honorific.

At the banquet after the Sea-Sky Ice Abyss trial, Velin received a seven-month-ahead Fate Guidance while drunk and fell asleep. The next morning, Alaric decided to stop searching for the Abyss and planned for Aljettah to take over, while Velin advised him to conceal the plan and help set Aljettah up with a hidden beacon.

• Alaric opened the banquet and thanked Velin, Kyle, and Lester for preparing the meal.
• Velin drank Bamboo Tube Wine, heard a Fate Guidance about finding a Uranus Flower in the Snow Peak Mountains in seven months, and passed out.
• Kyle put Velin to bed, then agreed to Lester's long-delayed duel, and the two flew away from camp to fight.
• The next morning, Velin remembered the Fate Guidance and decided he would need to stay on the Brizet Subcontinent longer.
• Alaric recounted his repeated failed searches for the Sea-Sky Ice Abyss and said he would have Aljettah take his place in the next trial.
• Velin warned Alaric that Aljettah would avoid the task if told in advance, so Alaric planned to hide a beacon among Gold Coins for Velin to give him.

Velin recorded the first six years of his travels with Na in a book, then left the camp with Kyle and Lester to journey west toward the Lor Ice Domain. There, he met Catherine, who sent them to Harmony Town on a summoned Ice Bird.

• Velin searched the camp for Kyle and Lester, then wrote down his memories of traveling with Na and bound them into a book titled Xilin and Na's Travelogue—Master and Disciple.
• Kyle returned and said his fight had ended in a draw, after which Velin decided that the group would leave that night.
• Velin, Kyle, and Lester said farewell to Alaric and flew west, eventually reaching the Lor Ice Domain.
• Velin used Madam Gloria's petal to summon Catherine, who infused the petal with information and told Velin to return it to Gloria.
• Catherine summoned an Ice Bird to carry Velin, Kyle, and Lester to Harmony Town, where she said she would wait for them.

Velin, Kyle, and Lester approached Harmony Town, where Kyle explained how the Kazerri Incident shaped the Holy Ice Elf Kingdom’s hostility toward settlers. After realizing that discussing the kingdom’s history could be dangerous, they continued toward town to meet Madam Catherine.

• Velin, Kyle, and Lester arrived near Harmony Town, and Lester explained that the Holy Ice Elf Kingdom rarely welcomed settlers of other races.
• Kyle recounted how Balinta Kromon exploited tensions between the Ice Elves and Kazerri Elves, then used a Blood Sacrifice that devastated the kingdom’s three elven races.
• Kyle explained that the God of Ice Elves sealed the kingdom, purged Balinta, and later relocated the surviving Snow Wind Elves, leaving the Ice Elves as the kingdom’s sole race.
• Lester compared Kyle’s account with the abbreviated version he knew, and Velin said the Ice Elves bore much of the blame for the incident.
• Kyle warned Velin to stop discussing the incident, and the three headed into Harmony Town to meet Madam Catherine.

Velin met Catherine Xiloreia, who revealed that she wanted him to explore an ancient ruin in Hailes Strait and agreed to reward him whether or not he found anything. Velin accepted and left with Kyle and Lester, while Catherine continued reading Gloria’s childhood diary.

• Velin, Kyle, and Lester entered Catherine Xiloreia’s Magic Potion shop and introduced themselves to Catherine and her granddaughter Angelina.
• Catherine explained that she had searched an ancient ruin left by the descendants of the Zetasi Kingdom five times and hoped Velin might discover something unexpected there.
• Catherine offered Velin a reward regardless of the outcome, and Velin agreed to explore the ruins with her.
• Catherine served Velin, Kyle, and Lester Snow Spirit Tea, whose mana they drained from the town, and offered Velin a Snow Spirit Tea Tree to take home.
• Angelina led Velin and his companions to an inn, while Catherine read Gloria’s childhood diary.

Velin and his companions stayed in Harmony Town while he wrote a travelogue, then met Catherine to set out for the Kaven Magic Kingdom and an ancient ruin. Catherine ordered their ship north and warned them to let her handle questions at the kingdom’s detection checkpoints.

• Angelina helped Velin, Kyle, and Lester check into an inn, then left them there.
• Velin considered visiting his uncle-by-marriage’s hometown and spent three days writing and revising the second volume of Xilin and Na's Travelogue—The Teacher Who is Good at Teaching.
• Catherine met Velin, Kyle, and Lester outside the Scargo Magic Potion Shop and explained that she had sent Angelina back to her father.
• Catherine brought out the floating merchant ship Aeolus; Lester recognized its emblem as belonging to the Devita United Merchant Association, and Velin recalled seeing a similar emblem on Morris’s ship.
• Catherine told the three to let her handle questions in the Kaven Magic Kingdom, then ordered Renata to steer Aeolus north while avoiding the Island of Falling Ice.

Catherine entered the Kaven Magic Kingdom with Velin, Kyle, and Lester, suspecting that a Legendary had discovered her route to an ancient ruin. She negotiated with Clyster to share access in exchange for resources, then took the group to the underwater Teleportation Array and activated it.

• Catherine allowed a blue phantom to inspect the Elliot Floating Airship, then suspected the Kaven Magic Kingdom had recognized her and was waiting at Hailes Strait.
• Catherine slowed the airship while Velin, Kyle, and Lester watched the sea and talked about their trial in the Sea-Sky Ice Abyss.
• Clyster and Bluer arrived at Hailes Strait, and Clyster met with Catherine aboard the airship.
• Catherine and Clyster negotiated privately, signed a contract, and agreed to begin immediately.
• Catherine led the group into the sea abyss, modified the underwater Teleportation Array in front of Clyster, and activated it.

Velin and the others explored the Zesita Kingdom ruins, where Kyle deciphered symbols beneath the floor tiles into a string of numbers. Clyster used the discovery to construct a Teleportation Array, and the group activated it to travel into an unknown space.

• Catherine illuminated the ancient ruin, and Velin, Kyle, Lester, and Bluer split up to search it while Clyster stayed with her.
• Kyle found twenty-three symbols beneath the floor tiles and decoded them into twenty numbers and the words "Zesita Kingdom," while Catherine recorded his results.
• After the group spent thirty hours pondering the numbers, Clyster built a Teleportation Array atop an altar and inscribed it with his blood.
• Clyster activated the completed array, and the group departed into an unknown space.

Velin fought his way across a strange ocean before arriving at the Zerzura Kingdom's Codex Repository with five others. The guardian Xize answered their questions and then addressed Velin as the Knight Favored by Destiny, leaving everyone but Kyle and the young man surprised.

• Velin crossed the ocean, defeating magical beasts until a powerful sea beast shattered the frozen scene and plunged him into darkness.
• Velin woke in the Hall of Nothingness with Kyle, Lester, Catherine, Clyster, and Bluer, and saw that he had collected the fewest marks.
• Xize explained that the Zerzura Kingdom fell after its last king, Balia Zerzita, enraged the Ancient Rule Gods, and told Clyster there was no Golden Pattern Swordsman inheritance.
• Xize told Catherine that merging body, soul, and will with the world's laws could create a World Legend, but would erase the person's identity; he also answered questions from Lester about resurrection and from Bluer about divination.
• Xize told Clyster that the Codex Repository lay at the boundary between illusion and reality, and told the angel that the Zerzura Kingdom had opened Interlayer Space passageways that were severed when it fell.
• Xize addressed Velin as the Knight Favored by Destiny and asked what he wished to know, surprising everyone except Kyle and the young man.

Velin learned of an old legend connected to the Zesita Kingdom and asked how someone could escape the curse of time. After choosing two legendary law profundities from the Codex treasury, he returned from the ruins and received ice mage cultivation books and snow spirit tea seeds from Catherine.

• The Spirit of the Codex told Velin that a strange legend had visited King Balia Zerzita and warned, "The peril of destruction exists when awe is lost."
• The Spirit of the Codex explained that becoming a world legend, receiving a pardon from the Time Ancient God, or earning the favor of the world consciousness could break the curse of time.
• Velin spent his ninety codex marks on the legendary law profundities World Dragon and Animate All Things, then agreed to meet the strange legend in Baihua Town.
• The group left the treasury and ancient ruins, and the six travelers parted ways above the sea.
• Catherine rewarded Velin with three books about ice magic and a pouch of snow spirit tea seeds, then asked Kyle and Lester what rewards they wanted.

Catherine gave Kyle a cultivation seed and Lester the Dawn Holy Sword, then warned Velin to avoid the Kaven Magic Kingdom’s factional struggles before departing. Velin, Kyle, and Lester set out to meet Clyster, who prepared for their arrival while studying Legendary works on divination and dreams.

• Catherine gave Kyle a seed suited to Wind Attribute cultivation, and Lester bonded with the Dawn Holy Sword.
• Catherine warned Velin not to get involved in the Kaven Magic Kingdom’s factional struggles and gave him an ice-crystal leaf to use when visiting her.
• Catherine departed by floating merchant ship, and Velin, Kyle, and Lester left for Baixiang Town to meet Clyster.
• Clyster taught divination to his students, advised his old teacher, and agreed to instruct Zelu after ten years of renewed focus.
• Clyster studied books on divination and dreams, then went to wait for Velin in Baihua Town.
• Velin found the island of Baihua Town after searching the map and realized why Clyster had allowed three days for their arrival.

Clyster invited Velin, Kyle, and Lester to Hundred Flowers Town, where he revealed that he wanted Velin to meet Sabrina Yula Caster Mirton, a royal princess of the Kingdom of Nanmirton. After Velin agreed, Clyster explained that their fates were now linked and began outlining the kingdom’s succession system.

• Clyster welcomed Velin, Kyle, and Lester to Hundred Flowers Town and prepared a meal for them.
• After the meal, Clyster told Velin that he wanted to take him to meet someone, explaining that a glimpse of the future had connected their fates.
• Clyster identified the person as Sabrina Yula Caster Mirton, a royal princess of the Kingdom of Nanmirton and his former student.
• Velin agreed to go with Clyster and asked what payment he required; Clyster said Velin’s choice had already linked their fates and would benefit him.
• Clyster began explaining that Nanmirton’s king chose eight royal heirs during the final fifty years of his reign and sent them to govern regions while their abilities were assessed.

Clyster explained how the Kingdom of Nanmirton’s succession system arose from the fall of the Milton Kingdom and centuries of territorial splits. Velin began to suspect the Ice and Snow gods’ role in the kingdom’s history, but Clyster warned him not to voice such thoughts.

• Clyster told Velin, Kyle, and Lester that the Milton Kingdom’s destruction in the Miusius Rebellion led to the creation of the North and South Milton kingdoms.
• Clyster recounted how the Zovia Kingdom, the Kzir rebellion, and the five great dukes’ independence divided the former Milton lands.
• Clyster explained that Bellamy Yula Caste Milton married 113 women from the five ducal families in exchange for supporting their independence, establishing the Gaima Kingdom.
• Clyster said Bellamy later created Nanmirton’s succession system to keep the dukes from interfering in royal affairs.
• Velin hinted that the territory belonged to the Ice and Snow gods, and Clyster cautioned him to keep such thoughts unspoken.