Recaps

Velin returned to Qixing Territory and left Belder to manage its growing preparations for war while Kyle traveled to the Holy Dragon Kingdom to collect the recruited Spellcasters. The chapter ended with Kyle arriving at a newly created island where the Spellcasters and their families could be accommodated.

• Velin returned to Qixing Territory and continued building Floating Battleships, while Kyle traveled through the Teleportation Array and the Moon Elf Kingdom toward the Holy Dragon Kingdom.
• Belder took charge of Qixing Territory's urgent affairs, including supplies, troop training, island construction, trade, and Green's research needs.
• Belder postponed discussing his daughter Yisufeir's marriage because he believed Qixing Territory's preparations for the coming war could not wait.
• Kyle arrived on Holy Dragon Island and met Iletos, who showed him a roster of recruited Spellcasters and their families.
• Kyle agreed to pay Iletos fourteen million three hundred and fifty-five thousand gold coins and accompanied him to a newly created island south of Holy Dragon Island.

Kyle brought the recruited Spellcasters from the Holy Dragon Kingdom through the Mercier Demiplane, and Velin welcomed them to their new home in Qixing Territory. At a banquet, Velin began explaining how their abilities would be rewarded through Equivalent Exchange.

• Kyle introduced the three Soul Intent Tier Spellcasters, then opened a passage to the Mercier Demiplane and watched the island’s Spellcasters migrate through it.
• After the migration, Kyle closed the passage, bid farewell to Iletos, and departed aboard the Star Moon Floating Ship.
• On January 2nd, 9787, Renardo and more than seventy thousand settlers arrived in the new town near Qiuyun City, where Velin welcomed Renardo and arranged a celebration.
• Velin gave gifts to the Spellcasters and other residents at the celebration.
• A Red-haired Woman asked Velin what compensation the recruited Spellcasters would receive, and he explained that Qixing Territory rewarded ability through Equivalent Exchange.

Velin explained Star Moon Fort’s compensation and Star Moon Point rules to the spellcasters, then introduced Seven-Colored Crystals as a reward and recruitment incentive. The banquet ended with the spellcasters eager to join the Floating Fleet and Velin expecting more powerful recruits to seek him out.

• Velin explained the monthly pay for Soul Intent-tier Spellcasters and Gold-tier Spellcasters, and said Silver-tier rules would be distributed separately.
• Velin said Star Moon Points could be traded between spellcasters, though traded points would be discounted when used for Transcendent books.
• Velin gave each of the forty-eight spellcasters one Kaike Seven-Colored Crystal, and several immediately absorbed or stored theirs.
• Velin offered Seven-Colored Crystal rewards for recommending Soul Intent-tier and Gold-tier Spellcasters.
• Velin revealed one hundred thousand Kaike Seven-Colored Crystals, while the three Soul Intent-tier Spellcasters reacted with shock.
• Velin expected the rewards to attract new Soul Intent-tier and Gold-tier recruits and accelerate the formation of the Floating Fleet.

Velin reviewed Qixing Territory’s growing fleet and discussed the royal family’s investigation and plans to form two more Floating Fleets with Kyle. The chapter ended with Kyle taking charge of purchasing ships for a smaller fleet on Yolia Island.

• Qixing Territory’s fleet inventory was listed, including ships gained from the Holy Dragon Kingdom, the Heavenly Realm, and the Trial of the Moon.
• Velin met Kyle in his study and learned that the royal family had begun investigating the governor, with Lester among the fifteen investigators.
• Velin ordered the governor’s death and the eradication of his direct bloodline, and Kyle agreed to pass those terms to the royal family through Lester.
• Velin approved Kyle’s proposal to appoint General Ignis to command the Second Fleet, with Shana handling its administration until her strength recovered.
• Velin assigned ships to the First and Second Fleets, bringing them to forty-two and forty-one vessels respectively.
• Velin ordered Kyle to arrange the purchase of thirty hundred-meter-class Floating Battleships from the Aixi Magic Kingdom for a twelve-ship fleet based on Yolia Island.

Velin completed a five-thousand-meter-class Floating Battleship, and Odor approved it and gave him books to help construct a ten-thousand-meter-class vessel for the Trial of Destiny. Kyle then brought Velin to inspect an unusual Magic Puppet developed by Lucas.

• Talia became Chief Mage of the Second Floating Fleet, Kasmir became vice president of Qixing Magic Academy, and Renardo was appointed Chief Mage of the West Wind Potion Research Base.
• Velin completed the five-thousand-meter-class Floating Battleship at the construction base, with Calista assisting throughout the process.
• Odor approved the battleship, explained that Calista had kept him informed and inspected each section, and gave Velin eighty-five books on constructing ten-thousand-meter-class Floating Battleships.
• Velin began studying the books, while Calista went to study Transcendent books about kilometer-class Floating Battleships.
• Kyle arrived and told Velin that Lucas had developed an unusual Magic Puppet, so Velin agreed to go see it.

Lucas presented Velin with a Magic Puppet that could think independently and use elemental power, and Velin arranged experiments to test whether it could help operate a Floating Battleship. The chapter ended with Velin promising Lucas books on Floating Battleship construction and greater access to materials for his research.

• Lucas showed Velin and Kyle a Magic Puppet powered by a black core made from the Bones of Gray Creatures and explained how it simulated a soul.
• Lucas said the puppet could think and learn for up to three years, but its magical ability was only about that of a High-tier Mage Apprentice.
• Velin proposed testing whether the puppets could reduce the number of Spellcasters needed to operate a Floating Battleship, and promised Kyle would provide a thousand-meter vessel for Lucas's experiments.
• Velin ordered Kyle to raise Lucas's authority and fulfill his requests for materials, including Gray Crystals and the flesh and bones of Gray creatures.
• Velin offered Lucas a reward, then decided to send him introductory books on building Floating Battleships.

Velin and Kyle returned from Lucas's manor and rode toward Blue Gauze City with Hailia Rokan, while Velin pretended to be a well-traveled noble. Hailia asked whether they had come to Qixing Territory to see the God-Bestowed Count, leaving Velin poised to answer.

• Lucas told Fiona to focus on cultivation for the next experiment, and Fiona agreed while embracing him.
• Velin and Kyle concealed themselves and went to the road between Star Prayer City and Blue Gauze City, where Velin admitted he could not recognize the Noble Banners.
• Hailia Rokan offered Velin and Kyle a ride to Blue Gauze City, and they accepted.
• Velin introduced himself as Velin and Kyle as his younger brother, Keck, then claimed to have visited numerous kingdoms and regions.
• Hailia asked whether Velin had chosen Qixing Territory as his first stop because of the God-Bestowed Count, whom she also called the Eternal Dawn Knight.

Velin and Kyle met Hailia, a merchant’s daughter, who offered to guide them around Blue Gauze Lake in Blue Gauze City. As Hailia showed them the local transport and snacks, Velin observed the territory’s orderly public services and learned about regional specialties.

• Velin learned that Hailia had come to Qixing Territory to see Blue Gauze Lake, and she offered to guide him and Kyle.
• The group reached the carriage parking area, where Velin saw a Constable collect the standard parking fee and tested whether he would abuse his authority.
• Hailia gave five gold coins to her one-armed coachman, Uncle Paskin, before she, Velin, and Kyle left to tour the lake.
• Hailia paid for the group to ride the sightseeing carriage around Blue Gauze Lake, and a nun named Sister Merian greeted her and served them fruit and seeds.
• Hailia explained that the Sea Pattern Fruit came from Eagle Perch County and that White Maple Gourd Seeds were now grown in Iron Oak County.

Velin spent time with Hailia on the way to Blue Gauze Lake, learning about her magic studies and teasing her about being shy. At the lake, they watched Griffin Knights train, and Velin reflected on the enormous cost of raising a griffin.

• Velin asked Hailia about her life and magic training, and she told him about her teachers and her mid-rank Mage Apprentice studies.
• Hailia bought entrance tokens for Blue Gauze Lake, but the nighttime viewing slots were already unavailable.
• Velin took Hailia by the hand to a viewing platform, where they saw a statue of Velin and twelve Griffin Knights training over the lake.
• Hailia said she hoped to ride a griffin someday, and Velin assured her she would.
• Velin calculated that raising an ordinary griffin for its lifetime cost nearly 77,000 gold coins, excluding armor.

Kyle slipped a Star Moon Department order into a Constable’s clothes at Blue Gauze Lake, prompting the station’s deputy captain to organize a prize draw. The station announced the “Blue Gauze Lake Special Commemoration Day,” including thirty admission slots for the lakeshore that night.

• Kyle passed the sealed Command Document to a Constable guarding the lakeside entrance, and the Constable hurried to the station to report it.
• The red-haired second deputy captain recognized the Star Moon Department order and summoned every off-duty Constable.
• The deputy captain ordered the station to arrange a three-tier prize draw before six o’clock, with thirty lakeshore admission slots as the third-tier prize.
• The Constables proposed prizes, and the deputy captain selected the first- and second-tier rewards and named the event “Blue Gauze Lake Special Commemoration Day.”

Velin and Kyle discussed reforms and plans to form a legion while Hailia confided that she felt pressured by Teacher Annorah and doubted her abilities. After a lakeside drawing gave all three tickets to see Blue Gauze Lake at night, Velin considered recommending that Hailia take Xuemya as her master.

• Velin and Kyle discussed the results of government reforms and planned to assemble the first legion in a year.
• Hailia told Velin she felt unhappy and pressured since Teacher Annorah arrived, and Velin encouraged her to consider studying at the Magic Academy.
• Velin, Hailia, and Kyle joined the Blue Gauze Lake commemoration drawing and each won a ticket to the lakeside that night.
• Kyle decided to investigate the red-haired constable and consider transferring him to the Star Moon Department.
• Velin covered the sleeping Hailia with a blanket, began writing her a recommendation, then asked Kyle about having her take Xuemya as her master.

Velin returned to Hailia after Kyle frightened her into believing she had been sold, then used an illusion to calm her and left her resting behind a magical barrier. At the Blue Gauze Lake Constabulary Station, the one-eyed captain questioned how an unverified order from the Star Moon Department had been handled and decided to report it to Archon Zelia.

• Kyle told the waking Hailia that Velin and Keck had sold her, making her collapse in terror.
• Velin returned, recognized Kyle's deception, and left the pavilion while Hailia still mistook Velin for a stranger.
• Velin reassured Hailia by revealing his disguised appearance, then used [Reincarnation—Void] to send her consciousness into an illusion and left her protected on the recliner.
• At the Blue Gauze Lake Constabulary Station, the one-eyed captain questioned the red-haired young man about an unverified Star Moon Department order.
• The captain ordered the red-haired young man to keep the order quiet and said he would explain the matter to Archon Zelia.
• The captain punished the middle-aged man for leaving the Constabulary Station and began drafting his work report.

Velin reunited with Hailia after the illusion and arranged for her to meet a teacher, though he frightened her by pretending to be an impostor. He then met Archon Zelia in Blue Gauze City and ordered him to handle the matters Kyle reported, leaving Zelia with the prospect of a future transfer to Qixing County.

• Velin returned to Hailia, who described dreaming that an impostor had impersonated him, and he offered to find her a teacher.
• Hailia mistook Velin for the impostor from her nightmare and ran, but Velin caught her and convinced her of his identity by recounting the countries he had visited.
• Velin arranged to meet Hailia at the East City Gate the next morning and went with Kyle to the Blue Gauze City Lord's Mansion.
• Kyle reported the day's events to Zelia, and Velin ordered Zelia to handle the matter and assist the waiting administrative officer.
• Velin praised Zelia's governance and said he might transfer him to Qixing County as its Archon when he eased Belder's burden.

Velin and Kyle discovered that Gloria had arrived in Blue Gauze City and learned she was summoned to investigate ruins containing something left by a reincarnator. Velin decided to stay out of the matter and focus on his own plans for the day.

• Velin and Kyle rented rooms at an inn, where they spotted Gloria arriving and wondered why she had come to Blue Gauze City.
• Velin sent Kyle to investigate Gloria, and Kyle secretly entered her room and overheard her meeting with a silver-haired young man.
• The young man told Gloria that he had found something left by a reincarnator in ruins within the Giant Stone Mammoth Clan's territory in the Graylight Wasteland.
• Gloria learned that the young man had contacted Old Roen, Lalia, and Crow Feather, and told him to return when they arrived.
• Kyle sent Velin a sphere of memories, and Velin decided not to get involved in the ruins while preparing for his important plans.

Velin took Hailia away from Blue Gauze City to meet her new teacher, while she worried about failing the lessons. The carriage reached a heavily guarded city, where Velin revealed his true identity and reassured Hailia that he would pay for her training.

• Velin and Kyle met Hailia at Blue Gauze City's East City Gate and set off in her carriage, with Kyle driving the black-hoofed horses at remarkable speed.
• Velin told Hailia that her new teacher would be strict but gentle, and teased her by saying failure would mean enjoying the scenery from a high place.
• Kyle turned onto a road leading away from Star Prayer City and passed several guarded checkpoints after revealing his identity to the sentries.
• The carriage arrived at a desolate, heavily guarded city, and Hailia recognized that Velin's earlier disguise had resembled the God-Bestowed Count.
• Velin revealed his true appearance, told Hailia to study hard, and promised to cover her training resources before joking that she did not need to repay him.

Velin took Hailia for a walk through Qixing Territory and helped her get comfortable around the two Mutated Rock Lizards. At Kmelia's estate, Xuemya warned Kmelia to learn what she had been practicing within two days, while Velin's arrival gave Kmelia a brief reprieve.

• Hilda told Velin that Xuemya had gone to Lady Kmelia's estate, so Velin decided to find her himself and brought Hailia along.
• Kyle arranged for the coachman and went to his study to investigate the growing number of Soul Intent Tier Transcendents and revise their compensation.
• Velin introduced Hailia to the two gentle, Gold-tier Mutated Rock Lizards, and she cautiously petted one before leaving with him.
• Xuemya questioned Kmelia about her recent efforts and gave her two more days to learn, threatening consequences if she failed.
• Velin approached the estate, and Xuemya let Kmelia off for the moment because her brother-in-law had brought a little girl with him.

Velin brought Hailia to Xuemya to become her student, and Xuemya recognized Hailia’s description of Annorah, her former classmate and rival. Xuemya warned Velin about Annorah’s ambition, and Velin decided to leave dealing with her to Kyle while Xuemya took Hailia to meet her senior sisters.

• Velin introduced Hailia to Xuemya, who agreed to teach her.
• Hailia described Annorah’s appearance, and Xuemya recognized her as a former classmate and rival.
• Kmelia teased Xuemya and was punished by being hung from a flagpole over Star Moon Fort.
• Xuemya reassured Hailia and explained that Annorah had once helped her at the Magic Academy of the Aixi Magic Kingdom.
• Velin decided to leave Annorah to Kyle and promised to remember Xuemya’s request that he go easy on her.
• Xuemya took Hailia to the Main Castle to introduce her to her three senior sisters.

Velin returned to the Main Castle and learned from Xuemya that an Evil God may have caused a deadly riot in the Second Underground World. After Xuemya dispatched investigators, they realized someone had impersonated her to punish Hailia.

• Velin finished designing a crude ten-thousand-meter-class Floating Battleship and headed back to the Main Castle.
• Velin found Hailia hanging from a flagpole and learned she had angered her teacher, Xuemya.
• Velin met Xuemya in his study and heard that a riot in the Second Underground World had killed around thirteen thousand Subterranean Creatures, possibly due to an Evil God.
• Xuemya told Velin that Kyle had gone to negotiations in the Aixi Magic Kingdom and would later bring Spellcasters back from the Holy Dragon Kingdom.
• Velin ordered Theo Kadra, Yaden, two battalions, Isarel, and Moren to investigate the contamination, and Xuemya stamped the orders for Hilda to deliver.
• Velin told Xuemya that Hailia had been punished in her name, and they realized someone had impersonated her.

Kmelia impersonated Xuemya to retrieve Hailia, but Velin and Xuemya caught her and confronted her in the secret chamber. Velin persuaded Xuemya to postpone Kmelia’s punishment if she could help Hailia become a High-tier Mage Apprentice within three months.

• Kmelia transformed into Xuemya and set out to bring Hailia back, but Velin found her and asked her to interrogate a prisoner.
• Kmelia followed Velin to a secret chamber, where she tried to fake a collapse to avoid using mental magic.
• Xuemya caught Kmelia as Velin, while the hooded prisoner broke free and revealed himself as Velin.
• Xuemya threatened to punish Kmelia for impersonating her and hanging Hailia from a flagpole.
• Kmelia agreed to help Hailia become a High-tier Mage Apprentice within three months, and Xuemya told her to let Hailia down and apologize.

Velin accepted King Belgrave’s invitation to attend the ceremony where he would pass the throne to Valient, and reaffirmed that his allegiance depended on the Qixing Territory remaining in the kingdom. That night, a warning revealed that three Three Rot Church bishops contaminated by an Alien God had infiltrated the Minotaur Clan near the territory to carry out a plan against it.

• Velin and Xuemiyya met royal envoy Camille Silvis, who invited them to observe Belgrave’s transfer of the throne to Valient on October 15th.
• Velin accepted the invitation and told Camille that the Qixing Count would remain loyal to the King as long as the Qixing Territory remained in the kingdom.
• After Camille departed, Velin told Xuemiyya that his pledge would end if he left the kingdom, and she reminded him of his promise to make her queen.
• That night, a voice warned Velin that three Three Rot Church bishops contaminated by an Alien God had entered the Minotaur Clan at a stone tower in the Gray Vast Wilderness to target the Qixing Territory.

Velin revealed that three Rot Cult Bishops corrupted by an Outer God were hiding among the Stone Pagoda Minotaur Clan, and Xuemiyya set out to make them turn on each other and kill them. A planted rumor reached the Corrupt Cult, prompting its Archabbot to travel to Qixing Territory and investigate the Bishops himself.

• Velin told Xuemiyya that three corrupted Rot Cult Bishops were hiding in the Stone Pagoda Minotaur Clan's territory, and she promised to take revenge.
• Three days later, Velin returned to the Floating Battleship construction base and began building a ten-thousand-meter-class vessel while Xuemiyya began her plan.
• Kahn drunkenly hinted at the Outer God's involvement in the Theo Fortress lockdown, and the tavern owner helped stage his departure so the rumor could spread.
• Over the following weeks, brokers passed along the rumor until a follower of the Corrupt Cult reported it to an Archabbot.
• The Archabbot questioned the report, then decided to go to Qixing Territory himself to discover whether the three Bishops had betrayed My Lord.

Three Corrupt Cult bishops prepared to evade a screening, but Archbishop Ironthorn arrived to question them about their mission and reports of an Outer God's influence. He named infected cultists the bishops had secretly eliminated, leaving them fearful that their actions had been discovered.

• The three Corrupt Cult bishops debated how to evade the screening and agreed to eliminate recently infected people before dealing with the coming crisis.
• Six Moon Mark Knights monitored magical fluctuations, waiting to attack after the bishops weakened each other.
• Archbishop Ironthorn arrived at the bishops' hideout and questioned Gasis about the mission and whether the Eternal Dawn Knight knew the cult was behind the infection.
• Gasis denied that the bishops had been contaminated by an Outer God and suggested the intelligence was fabricated.
• Ironthorn named Rival, Vian, and Fral, the infected cultists the bishops had recently eliminated, and the bishops wondered whether a traitor had exposed them.

The young man killed three cultists who were secretly servants of an Outer God, then left their bodies near Qixing Territory, where they were discovered and reported. In the Royal Capital, Velin joined the Ex Family counts to discuss which neighboring power the kingdom would fight after the new king’s coronation.

• The young man questioned three cultists, found their answers contradictory, and killed them with purple mist.
• The young man sent a cultist to summon the others, gathered them into his Demiplane, destroyed the cavern, and left the three bodies near Qixing Territory.
• A border patrol found the corrupted bodies, and Theo notified the Church of Life to have them sealed away.
• At Moon Shadow Manor, Velin invited the Hurricane Count and Blood Moon Count to visit Qixing Territory after the ceremony.
• The counts debated the kingdom’s next war, with the Hurricane Count predicting conflict with the Is Half-Elf Kingdom and Count Andusi expecting a fight against the Graylight Wasteland’s monster tribes.

Velin’s relatives debated the kingdom’s next war, then began revealing the military and population strength of their territories. The Hurricane Count disclosed a previously unknown Dark Elf ranger unit, leaving Ilisis shocked.

• The counts debated whether the kingdom would wage war in the south or against the Graylight Wasteland, while Velin said he would not personally join either conflict.
• Count Andusi proposed that the family heads reveal their full forces, and Ilisis listed Eagle Territory’s population, professionals, troops, knight orders, and Shadow Unit.
• The Blood Moon Count described her territory’s professionals and forces, including her Magic Knight Order, Wyvern Knights, and wartime command over a royal defense force.
• The Hurricane Count detailed his territory’s population, legion, knight order, war mages, and troops, then revealed a Dark Elf ranger unit loyal to him.
• Ilisis concealed his surprise after learning that the Hurricane Count had kept the ranger unit secret.

The counts compared the populations, Soul Intent professionals, and military forces under their command, revealing the scale of their territories’ resources. Velin’s account of Qixing Territory’s unusually numerous high-tier experts and high share of professionals left the others astonished.

• Ilisis described the Hurricane line’s 165 Soul Intent professionals and outlined the three High-tier professionals serving in the Hurricane Legion.
• Count Andusi reported his territory’s 73 Soul Intent professionals, knight order, war mage corps, and conventional troops.
• Count Misis detailed his territory’s 43 Soul Intent professionals, 1,387 spellcasters, and conventional forces.
• Velin said Qixing Territory had only two family-affiliated Soul Intent professionals but around 65 loyal to him, including 53 High-tier professionals.
• Velin described Qixing Territory’s population of about 4.5 million and roughly 65 percent professional population, astonishing the other counts.