Recaps

Velin returned to Gray Mist Fortress and heard Greg’s report on the Auxiliary Army’s growth and the West Wind Camp’s strength. Greg asked Velin to recover Low-Gold Warriors borrowed in Velin’s name, and Velin promised to address the matter when he returned.

• Velin asked Greg how long it would take him to reach High-Gold, and Greg estimated ten years if his Cultivation Resources were doubled.
• Greg reported that the Gray Mist Fortress Auxiliary Army had grown to around sixty-five thousand members across seven camps, including a Caveman priest in the Seventh Camp.
• Velin sent a Low-Silver Tier Warrior to fetch the Caveman priest and heard Greg list the West Wind Camp’s ranks and numbers.
• Greg told Velin that Belder had borrowed four Low-Gold Warriors from the West Wind Camp in Velin’s name and had not returned them.
• Greg said Belder and Governor Andrew had also borrowed Low-Gold Warriors from other camps, and Velin promised to deal with the matter when he returned.

Velin met Ulfric, a highly articulate Caveman Life Priest, and promised him a new appointment to advance his work in the Underground World. Meanwhile, O'dor repaired Velin's statue and explored Gray Fog Space before returning toward Gray Mist Fortress, where Velin, Xuemiyya, and Flora were waiting.

• Xuemiyya told Flora that Velin had found her uncle's diary, and Flora asked to see it at Pink Lake.
• Ulfric introduced himself to Velin and recounted how he became a Life Priest.
• Velin asked Ulfric where he wanted to use his abilities, and Ulfric said he wanted to enlighten more beings of the Underground World.
• Velin promised Ulfric an appointment order for the Seventh Camp within a month, and Ulfric departed into the mist.
• O'dor repaired Velin's damaged statue, explored Gray Fog Space, and flew back toward Gray Mist Fortress.
• Velin and Xuemiyya took Flora around Gray Mist Fortress while they waited for O'dor to return.

O'dor returned to Gray Mist Fortress, where Velin drew him aside and offered him the Heart of the Law Ring while explaining a trial from a Destiny Star Being. O'dor learned of the three choices Velin had been given and was left too conflicted to answer.

• O'dor returned to Gray Mist Fortress and greeted Flora before taking Velin to a nearby hill.
• Velin asked about O'dor's progress on his warships, the mysterious stone slab, the War Beast Puppet, and research on Seven-Colored Crystal and Gray Fog creature flesh.
• Velin presented O'dor with the Heart of the Law Ring, whose powers included an infinite mana source, spell enhancement, law interference, and resistance to Whisper Erosion.
• O'dor hesitated to accept the gift and asked Velin what he wanted him to do.
• Velin explained that a Destiny Star Being had given him three choices during the war between the Church of Dawn and the Black Asia Orcs, leaving O'dor stunned and unable to respond.

Velin persuaded O'dor to teach him how to build a Ten-Thousand-Meter Floating Battleship, and O'dor set him a punishing thirty-year training plan. O'dor then demonstrated the Azure Mist Blood Potion and its dangerous backlash, leaving Velin asking about the second potion.

• Velin asked O'dor to help him build a Ten-Thousand-Meter Floating Battleship, and O'dor agreed to teach him.
• O'dor set Velin a thirty-year schedule to learn Floating Battleship construction and finish the Ten-Thousand-Meter ship before he turned one hundred and ten.
• O'dor returned with Velin to the Gray Mist Fortress, where they ate with Flora and Xuemiyya.
• O'dor took Velin to his laboratory and demonstrated the Azure Mist Blood Potion on a Kobold, showing that eating meat within three days could make the consumer explode.
• Velin asked O'dor about the green liquid.

Velin learned about the powerful but dangerous Qinglan Potion and Emerald Potion, then discovered that O'dor had caused Luensha County’s surge in magic concentration. O'dor revealed that the surge resulted from his battle with Jia, his pursuer, and their duel continued beneath the county.

• O'dor explained how Qinglan Potion and Emerald Potion worked, and showed Velin how Emerald Potion destroyed a Kobold whose body could not withstand it.
• Velin asked when O'dor could establish production workshops for the potions, and O'dor estimated about two months.
• O'dor told Velin that he had caused the rise in Luensha County’s magic concentration, but said the method could not be replicated.
• O'dor sent Velin memories showing how he and Tadius had encountered Jia deep underground, where Jia’s presence generated magic power.
• Jia revealed that he was O'dor’s pursuer, bound to hunt him across cycles, and the two began a space-time duel contained by Tadius’s barrier.

Velin watched memories of O'dor defeat Jia and learned more about his uncle-in-law's mysterious past. After returning from the Gray Fog Space, Velin and Xuemiyya visited Ancient Tree County, where they discovered Zexia's orchards produced fruit with traces of magic power.

• O'dor destroyed Jia, absorbed a strand of space-time essence, and saw a burst of light spread magic power into the land around Luensha County.
• Velin asked O'dor whether his enemy would return and whether he was cursed by time; O'dor answered without confirming it directly, then left the underground laboratory.
• Velin rested in the Gray Fog Space and returned to the real world with Xuemiyya three days later, after visiting Pink Lake Town.
• Velin and Xuemiyya flew to Jiangtaen County and found that Zexia's Ancient Tree County had orchards where some fruits contained magic power.
• Five young men confronted Velin over the fruit he had eaten, so Velin took Xuemiyya's hand and teleported away.

Velin and Xuemiyya were approached by a patrol squad while tasting fruit in a Qinghong Fruit Forest, and the soldiers recognized Velin as their lord. Velin toured their camp and joined the patrol captain Basiao for dinner, where he learned how Basiao had settled in Qixing Territory.

• Xuemiyya teased Velin about revealing his identity, and the two joked together until Velin sensed six warriors approaching.
• Basiao and five other patrol soldiers identified Velin and knelt to greet him as their lord.
• Velin explained that he and Xuemiyya had picked fruit to taste, then asked Basiao to show him the garrison.
• Basiao led Velin through the Qinghong Fruit Forest, where Velin learned that Druid scholars had planned the trees' planting locations.
• Velin arrived at the patrol camp, praised its orderly appearance, and asked to join the soldiers for dinner.
• Basiao introduced himself as a former adventurer who had settled in Qixing Territory six years earlier, and an officer's meal was served.

Velin and Xuemiyya visited the Third Qinghong Fruit Forest Patrol Brigade before heading to Jiangtaen City to see how Zelia had developed the region. Zelia reviewed Gushu County’s Qinghong Fruit production and debts, while Jiangtaen City prospered by processing crops bought from its indebted neighboring counties.

• Velin toured the patrol camp, encouraged its warriors, and attended a bonfire gathering before returning to the cabin with Xuemiyya.
• Velin and Xuemiyya left for Jiangtaen City the next morning and surveyed its expanded, carefully divided urban districts.
• Zelia reviewed Gushu County’s Qinghong Fruit yields and calculated that repaying Qixing County’s support would take about ten more years.
• Zelia reflected that Jiangtaen City made a substantial profit by processing Qinghong Fruit and bluefire flowers bought from Gushu County and Mengya County.

Zelia and Gabriella reunited with Hebrew and Abrien at the City Lord’s Mansion before the annual duel, which Hebrew hoped would challenge him. Velin and Xuemiyya arrived just as the duel was about to begin, leaving Hebrew delighted to see his Lord.

• Zelia learned that Hebrew and Abrien had arrived and went to find Gabriella before meeting them.
• Gabriella found Zelia in the garden, explained that the gate’s Magic Array had sensed Abrien, and joined him on the way to the front hall.
• Hebrew and Abrien waited together, joked about when Zelia would arrive, and discussed visiting Father the next day.
• Zelia and Gabriella greeted Hebrew and Abrien, and Hebrew asked Zelia whether he would surprise him in their annual duel.
• Velin and Xuemiyya entered the front hall, and Hebrew greeted Velin with delight.

Velin reunited with Hebrew and Zexia in Jiangtaen City, testing Hebrew with the Life Knight while privately praising Zexia’s governance and apologizing for extending their trial. After Zexia reported on the county’s development, Velin said the fifteen-year trial would end once he heard Zephirin’s report, and the Life Knight returned carrying a badly beaten Hebrew.

• Hebrew excitedly reunited with Velin, who sent the Life Knight to test him before speaking with Zexia alone.
• Velin praised Zexia’s progress as a Mid-Gold Arcanist and apologized for extending their governance trial from ten years to fifteen.
• Velin commended Zexia’s careful development of his territory, and Zexia credited Velin with shaping his convictions and ambitions.
• Zexia reported on the population, Transcendent resources, and military forces in the half of Jiangtaen County under his governance.
• Velin said the trial would end after he heard Zephirin’s report and left the two men’s future choices to them, while the Life Knight returned carrying a badly beaten Hebrew.

Velin defeated Hebrew, gave him an attribute-less Legendary Armor, and questioned him about the Ice Sword Camp's forces. The chapter left Hebrew agreeing to spend three months studying with his elder brother if Velin caught him lying about how he recruited several fighters.

• Velin returned Hebrew to normal after the Life Knight defeated him, then reassured him that he had simply improved more than Hebrew had.
• Zelia persuaded Velin to stay in Jiangtaen City for the night, and Velin stopped Hebrew from leaving.
• Velin took Hebrew to Cecilia's Demiplane and gave him an attribute-less Legendary Armor forged by the Church of Dawn.
• Velin asked Hebrew about the Ice Sword Camp, and Hebrew reported that it had thirty-seven Gold Professionals, including a Mid-Gold Ranger and two Low-Gold Life Priests.
• Hebrew said he had rescued the three recruits from a Soul Intent Low-Tier Ferocious Beast and persuaded them to serve Qixing Territory for twenty years.
• Hebrew offered to study with his elder brother for three months if he had lied, and Velin secretly kept a Memory Crystal Orb as evidence.

Velin discussed Master O'mons's future with Gabriella and offered him a destination if he chose to travel. He then prompted Zelia to propose to Gabirila, and the couple set their wedding for Miracle Day, with Star Moon Fort handling the ceremony.

• Velin asked Gabriella about Master O'mons, and she explained that he was torn between traveling to seek a breakthrough and staying for his academic exchanges and her sake.
• Velin asked Gabriella to relay that he could offer Master O'mons a destination or a parting token, and she promised to convey his words.
• Velin asked Zelia when he and Gabirila planned to marry, and Zelia asked Velin to witness their wedding.
• Zelia proposed to Gabirila, and she accepted, saying she had waited a long time for his words.
• Xuemiyya offered to prepare the wedding, and Velin agreed to invite nobles to the celebration.
• Zelia and Gabirila chose Miracle Day for their wedding and entrusted the ceremony to Star Moon Fort.

Velin and Xuemiyya traveled to East Lake City to meet Zephirin, the future Ice Witch, and discovered how much the city had changed under her influence. After seeing her powerful guards and a towering statue of Velin, they headed to inspect her military camp.

• Hebrew decided to return to West Wind County to coordinate his story about the three people he had beaten and warn his elder brother not to talk carelessly.
• Velin and Xuemiyya flew toward East Lake City, where Velin learned that Zephirin had likely reached High-Gold as an Ice-element Mage and bet Xuemiyya that Zephirin would win the trial.
• At East Lake City's eastern gate, Velin and Xuemiyya saw a Silver Low-Tier Swordswoman and twelve ice-armored guards, which they suspected reflected Zephirin's growing influence.
• Velin and Xuemiyya entered the orderly, snow-covered city and found a twenty-meter-tall statue of Velin at the end of the main road.
• Velin changed the subject and said he wanted to inspect Zephirin's military camp to learn how much strength she had gathered.

Velin and Xuemiyya visited Zephirin’s heavily fortified camp and discovered that she had built a demanding training ground to select warriors for Velin without his orders. Zephirin punished her first retainer for delaying the news of their arrival, then headed to meet them as Velin sensed a familiar presence with an unfamiliar aura.

• Velin and Xuemiyya slipped into Zephirin’s camp and saw its large force of ice-attribute Professionals training.
• At the Twin Towers, Velin learned that Zephirin had built a training ground to select brave warriors for him, though he had never asked her to do so.
• Velin and Xuemiyya waited in the main hall, where they saw an imposing portrait of Velin above the Ice Throne.
• After learning that her first retainer had not immediately reported the visitors, Zephirin ordered her to stay in the Ice Lake for three months.
• Zephirin left her meditation room and headed for the main hall, while Velin sensed her approaching presence and found her aura unfamiliar.

Zephirin explained to Velin and Xuemiyya that she was an Ice Witch and had gained access to Silfros Space, an Ice World that helped her grow powerful. She revealed the rules that concealed the Ice World from outsiders, and Velin’s attempt to tell Xuemiyya about it was blocked.

• Zephirin welcomed Velin and Xuemiyya, explaining that she had rewarded her subordinate with three months of cultivation at Ice Lake.
• Zephirin served Velin and Xuemiyya Jialan Fruits and said they came from a territory she had seized in an Ice World.
• Zephirin revealed her High-Gold aura and explained that she was an Ice Witch who had entered Silfros Space after reaching Gold rank.
• Zephirin described the three rules created by an Epic rank Ice Witch to prevent outsiders from recording, remembering, or retelling the Ice World’s existence.
• Velin tried to tell Xuemiyya about Silfros Space, but she could hear only his question asking whether she could hear him.

Velin offered Zephirin the freedom to leave with her followers, but she reaffirmed her loyalty and asked him to declare Zexia the winner of the trial. After reviewing Zephirin’s army in East Lake City, Velin considered giving her his remaining Demiplane as a reward for her devotion.

• Velin offered to let Zephirin leave independently with her trained subordinates and their families, but she swore to remain his loyal follower.
• Zephirin explained that she had already considered herself to have lost the trial after becoming a Low-Gold Ice Witch, and she asked Velin to declare Zexia the victor.
• Zephirin invited Velin and Xuemiyya to review her troops, then assembled her army of more than eight thousand soldiers outside the Twin Towers.
• Velin surveyed the army as Zephirin described her followers and explained how she treated those bound to her power.
• Velin considered giving his remaining Demiplane to Zephirin in recognition of her loyalty, though he had previously planned to give it to Orlando.

Velin learned what would happen to Zephirin’s followers if they lost their anchor, then accepted Zephirin’s invitation to visit Silfros Space. He entered the icy realm with Xuemiyya and shielded her from its soul-freezing winds.

• Velin asked Zephirin how she would arrange her followers after Zelia became governor, and Zephirin said she would move the army to Silfros Space and their families to the Frozen Zone.
• Zephirin explained that she anchored her followers and their descendants, while Xuemiyya described how descendants without an anchor could become Pseudo-Fallen People and eventually Fallen People.
• Velin told Zephirin to proceed with her plan and offer help if needed, then prepared to leave with Xuemiyya.
• Zephirin invited Velin and Xuemiyya to visit Silfros Space, opened an ancient ice gate, and led them inside.
• Velin entered the frozen realm with Xuemiyya and used his magic to protect her from the icy wind carrying traces of Ice Law.

Velin and Xuemiyya visited Zephirin’s camp in the snowy plains and saw her Snowfield Wolf tribe and its harsh discipline. Zephirin showed Velin her collection of Transcendent plants, and he insisted Star Moon Fort would pay for future purchases rather than take them for free.

• Zephirin apologized for accidentally exposing Velin and Xuemiyya to soul-piercing cold, then introduced the Snowfield Wolves she had tamed as mounts and servants.
• Velin, Xuemiyya, and Zephirin rode the wolves to a hidden camp beneath a cliff, where Zephirin ordered 155 wolves punished with three hundred lashes and hung for a day and a night.
• Zephirin showed Velin twenty-eight varieties of Transcendent plants, totaling 30,343 plants, including Bronze-, Silver-, and Gold-grade varieties.
• Velin asked to buy a batch of the plants each year for Star Moon Fort, but refused Zephirin’s offer to take whatever he wanted and said Kyle would negotiate the price and quantity after their return.

Velin confronted the white-haired girl who had come to control Zephirin, and their forces gathered outside the damaged ice cavern. After she summoned thirty Ice Armored Warriors, Velin fought them alone, and the battle became evenly matched.

• A violent earthquake destroyed the Ice Houses and Ice Statues, while Velin and Zephirin protected those inside the cavern.
• The white-haired girl revealed herself above the ice plain, and Zephirin sensed that she was one of her kin.
• The girl demanded that Velin submit and become her subordinate so she could control Zephirin, but Velin refused and drew Anansi's Sword.
• Velin deployed his three knights to guard the cavern and faced the white-haired girl, who armed herself with ice armor and nine ice spears.
• The girl summoned thirty Soul Intent High-level Ice Armored Warriors and ordered them to capture Velin.
• Velin battled the thirty warriors, destroying several before they regenerated, and the fight became evenly matched.

Velin fought the white-haired girl’s Ice Armored Warriors while his knights battled her Ice Magical Beasts, and the Life Knight created five Life Spirits from the battlefield’s life force. After Velin defeated the thirty warriors, the Blood Knight captured the white-haired girl, leaving her fate in Velin’s hands.

• The white-haired girl sent tens of thousands of Ice Magical Beasts to attack the Death Knight and his three hundred Death Attendants.
• The Life Knight absorbed the remaining life force from fallen beasts and created five Life Spirits before returning to guard the ice cave.
• Velin fought thirty Ice Armored Warriors in the sky, using the battle to develop his combat instincts.
• After most of the Ice Magical Beasts had been killed, the white-haired girl summoned tens of thousands of ice warriors as reinforcements.
• When the Ice Armored Warriors were destroyed, the Blood Knight disarmed the white-haired girl’s ice spears and held his sword to her neck.
• Velin descended and found the Blood Knight had captured the white-haired girl, who asked whether they could reconcile.

Velin captured the white-haired Ice Witch, Esteria Calista Xibel, and questioned her after Zephirin whipped her for trying to beguile them. Esteria identified herself and her homeland, though her stated age was eighteen years and one thousand five hundred and sixty-three months.

• Velin found the Ice Magical Beasts drained by the Blood Knight and carried the bound white-haired girl into the ice cave.
• Velin reunited with Xuemiyya, then bound the girl with vines and restored her ability to speak.
• The girl tried to negotiate, but her beguiling voice affected Velin, Xuemiyya, and Zephirin until Velin's Mind Protection Ring dispelled it.
• Velin ordered Zephirin to give the girl three hundred lashes, humiliating her into silence.
• Velin demanded the girl's name, origin, and age, and she identified herself as Esteria Calista Xibel of the Kingdom of Noart on the Xilovit Subcontinent.

Velin learned how the Climbing Rule governed Ice Witches in Silfros Space and considered imprisoning Astariah until Zephirin could defeat her. Zephirin instead urged Astariah to submit to Velin, hinting that she understood Astariah's hidden purpose and could help her achieve it within a hundred years.

• Zephirin explained that Ice Witches gained climbs by defeating fellow clanswomen, taking subordinates, and ruling territory, while killing a clanswoman brought severe punishment.
• Velin told Zephirin to imprison Astariah until Zephirin grew strong enough to defeat her, and Astariah pleaded for reconciliation and offered compensation.
• Velin left Astariah's fate to Zephirin, who said she wanted Astariah to join Velin's power.
• Zephirin rejected Astariah's attempt to set a condition, then whispered that she sensed brutality in Astariah's power and could help her achieve her goal within a hundred years if she submitted to Velin.

Astariah agreed to submit to Velin, then told Xuemiyya how her ice powers led to her being taken from her family and passed between nobles. She recounted escaping, surviving across the sea, and building a kingdom while seeking strength for revenge.

• Astariah agreed to Velin’s terms, and he freed her from the vines while leaving the shackles on her soul in place.
• Velin left Xuemiyya and Zephirin to speak with Astariah and went to the summit to wait.
• Xuemiyya offered Astariah fruit and gently asked about her past, easing her emotional defenses.
• Astariah described how the Kingdom of Noart took her from her family after she gained ice powers and how nobles passed her between them.
• Astariah said she killed a duke’s son with a Succubus Bloodline, returned too late to find her hometown destroyed, and fled across the sea.
• Astariah recounted claiming a kingdom on a small archipelago and continuing to seek the strength needed for revenge.

Xuemiyya persuaded Astariah to swear loyalty to Velin, promising that he would help her take revenge within a hundred years. After hearing Astariah’s story, Velin decided to place both her and Zephirin under Xuemiyya’s command, giving her a path toward becoming legendary.

• Xuemiyya told Astariah that Velin would help her take revenge if she swore loyalty to him, and Zephirin vouched for Velin’s fair treatment of his followers.
• Xuemiyya reminded Astariah that she owed Zephirin an apology, then left the ice cave to give them time alone.
• Xuemiyya told Velin about Astariah’s history and her enemy, and Velin agreed that helping her seek revenge would be part of accepting her loyalty.
• Velin proposed placing Astariah and Zephirin under Xuemiyya’s command so she could control forces tied to individuals as Qixing Territory grew.
• Xuemiyya accepted the responsibility and vowed to lead them well, and Velin kissed her before they rested together.

Velin and Xuemiyya left Astariah and Zephirin together in the ice cave, then returned to find the two had grown close. Astariah joined Velin’s Qixing Territory as his subordinate.

• Velin and Xuemiyya returned to the ice cave, saw Astariah and Zephirin getting along, and left them together in a Demiplane.
• After waking the next morning, Velin and Xuemiyya realized they had left Astariah and Zephirin waiting and hurried back.
• Zephirin and Astariah spent one day and two nights exploring the ice cave and agreed they were happy to have met.
• Astariah asked Zephirin about visiting Qixing Territory, and Zephirin said they needed to ask Velin.
• Velin welcomed Astariah to Qixing Territory, and Astariah officially became his subordinate.