Recaps

Chen Yu returned to Oak Territory, moved Slime Mother and the Little Ones into a larger nest, and began fortifying the territory. After the Stinger Bees and Slimes helped lay the foundation, he activated an Illusionary Formation that concealed Oak Territory from outsiders.

• Chen Yu returned to Oak Territory and found that Demonic Beasts had wrecked Seja's camp, while the Stinger Bee-maintained grounds and Moss Monsters remained.
• Chen Yu brought Slime Mother and the Little Ones from their cramped nest to the larger former beetle nest beneath the oak tree.
• Chen Yu expanded Oak Territory to include four oak trees, assigned areas for Slimes, Moss Monsters, and Seja, and ordered the Stinger Bees to begin construction.
• Chen Yu, Slime Mother, the Little Ones, and the Stinger Bees buried stones to create the Illusionary Formation's foundation.
• Chen Yu buried a Gray Grit Crystal in the nest and activated the formation, which shrouded Oak Territory in mist and kept a Moss Monster from finding its way inside.

Yano Belmont struggled to provide for his family while his inherited Petrification Disease advanced, and he left to trade with the Lizardfolk despite Laura's pleas. After Gray-scaled attackers destroyed his caravan, he woke injured and lost in Swamp Forest, where he fled toward another cry of slaughter.

• Laura argued with Yano about his plan to trade grain and salt at Reed Riverbank, then took the children and left for her mother's house in Havensstone.
• Alone in the inn, Yano saw the stone patches spreading across his fingers and resolved to go so his family could have money for the future.
• Yano awoke from the memory in Swamp Forest, where he had lost his cart and companions in an attack by Gray-scaled creatures.
• After two days lost in the forest, Yano took a dagger and tried to find a way back to Iron Boot Town.
• Yano heard a creature's anguished cry from the woods and fled blindly into the forest.

Chen Yu completed his first Stone Fortification Talisman but could not find suitable materials to draw talismans in Zeyarila, so he prepared to explore deeper into the swamp. A Stinger Bee reported a human in danger, and Chen Yu encountered Arno Belmont, who begged the shadowy figure to save him in exchange for his soul.

• Chen Yu completed his first Stone Fortification Talisman after several failed attempts and learned that he still needed practice to draw other talismans.
• Chen Yu found that he lacked materials to draw talismans in Zeyarila and decided to explore deeper into the swamp with thirty Stinger Bees.
• A Stinger Bee reported that humans had entered the swamp, and Chen Yu went to investigate.
• Arno Belmont fled Gray-scaled Lizardfolk into the Swamp Forest Path as his Petrification Disease worsened and left him near death.
• Arno remembered his wife Laura and their children, then pleaded with a grotesque shadow in the mist to save him and offered his soul.

Chen Yu returned to the petrified Yano and used the Guiyuan Needle Technique to treat his strange illness. Yano woke after Chen Yu left him a list of goods to bring on his next visit.

• After exploring the swamp and raising his Toxin Resistance to Lv.3, Chen Yu returned to check on the unconscious Yano and found him still barely breathing.
• Chen Yu asked Shao Qingsong about Senior Sister Gong, then visited Gong Xiaoshuang at Corner Medical Hall to learn that Yano's symptoms could be treated with the Guiyuan Needle Technique.
• Chen Yu drove stingers into Yano to place thirty-six needles, missing repeatedly before guiding Spiritual Power through them to restore color and warmth to Yano's body.
• As Yano began to recover, Chen Yu left a deposit and told him to bring Demi-human Language Books, Common Language Books, Ink for Writing Magic, Cream Cake, chocolate, and candy next time.
• Yano woke gasping and remembered the demon's voice promising to take his soul.

Arno Belmont recovered temporarily from Petrification Disease after accepting a demon’s help and received valuable Stinger Bee Pâté, but he left the swamp fearing what he had agreed to. Meanwhile, Chen Yu ventured deeper into the swamp, killed a Glow Mushroom Person, and swallowed it despite its hallucinogenic effects.

• Arno Belmont found his body free of petrification for the moment and resolved to accept the cost of the demon’s bargain to support Laura and the children.
• Arno discovered a packet of Stinger Bee Pâté, recognized its value, and limped out of the swamp despite fearing the Gray-scaled beasts and the demon.
• After Arno left, Chen Yu returned to his territory, checked his supply of Stinger Swords, and headed alone into the poisonous fog to explore the swamp’s depths.
• A Glow Mushroom Person attacked Chen Yu with hallucinogenic spores, but Chen Yu killed it with a water arrow and swallowed it.
• Chen Yu experienced the Glow Mushroom Person’s hallucinogenic effects as his vision swayed and dancing figures appeared.

Seja and Semiya headed to the Rotten Moss Tribe for Seja’s shaman ceremony while Seja found a large Gray Grit Crystal for Envoy. In the swamp, Chen Yu advanced toward a mysterious structure, fought a Giant Leech, and discovered its powerful regenerative ability.

• Seja found a large Gray Grit Crystal on the riverbank, and Semiya urged her to prepare for the Rotten Moss Tribe’s shaman ceremony.
• Seja worried that Rotten Moss might not accept them, but Semiya reassured her that her strength would keep them welcome.
• Chen Yu ate a Glow Mushroom Person, then killed and swallowed a giant mosquito while exploring the swamp.
• Chen Yu continued toward a square, upright shadow in the mist and encountered a Giant Leech.
• Chen Yu pierced the Giant Leech with Lesser Arrow Technique, but it quickly healed its large wound, revealing its extraordinary recovery ability.

Chen Yu defeated the Giant Leech by swallowing its Magic Organ, gained the Hallucinogenic Factor talent, and reached mysterious ruins filled with gray-scaled Swamp Crocodiles. Meanwhile, Noah returned to Iron Boot Town and hurried to the inn, wondering whether Laura and the children were there.

• Chen Yu battered the Giant Leech until he discovered its Magic Organ, then swallowed the organ and began incubating its traits.
• Chen Yu rested while the Little Ones played, and his Glow Mushroom Person traits finished recording to give him Hallucinogenic Factor Lv.1.
• Chen Yu practiced drawing talismans through the night, then explored the ruins and found Swamp Crocodiles with gray scales like the Corrupted Lizardfolk.
• Noah returned alive to Iron Boot Town and hurried toward the inn, hoping Laura and the children had come back.

Arno overheard that Laura was holding his funeral and rushed to the chapel, where he found his grieving wife and children beside his grave. He reunited with them, leaving the family embracing as the sun set.

• Arno heard adventurers mock his supposed death and mention Laura’s funeral for him.
• Laura attended Arno’s funeral with Emily and Little Arno, grieving beside his grave.
• Arno raced to the chapel and called out to Laura.
• Laura recognized Arno as alive and threw herself into his arms.
• Arno apologized and embraced Laura and the children beside his grave.

Arno reunited with Laura and their children, then concealed the curse’s threat as he explained why he had to return to the swamp. He left for the Rotten Moss Tribe with trade goods and a box of offerings, heading toward the Reed River and the demon.

• At dinner, Little Arno asked whether Arno had driven the swamp’s gray-scaled Lizardfolk away, and Laura signaled him not to mention the swamp.
• Laura told Arno she had found work at a textile workshop and urged him not to return to the dangerous place, while Arno secretly worried that his dormant curse would erupt again.
• Arno told Laura he had made contact with the less dangerous Rotten Moss Tribe and was returning to strengthen their trading connection.
• Arno said goodbye to Laura and the children, then departed town by carriage for the Reed River.
• On the road, Arno checked his trade supplies and the books, magical ink, cakes, chocolate, and candies he had prepared as offerings before saying he was back.

Seja recognized that Yano was searching for the Swift Bee Forest Path and secretly gave him a map and Gray Grit Crystal. Yano summoned the Swamp Overlord at the path, only to discover that the terrifying figure was a Slime, while Chen Yu was preoccupied with the threat of corrupted beasts and demihumans.

• Shazak told Yano that the Rotten Moss Tribe did not know of a forest path that Demonic Beasts avoided.
• Seja suspected Yano was connected to the Envoy and hid a map and Gray Grit Crystal in his cart.
• Yano found the map and crystal, followed the directions into the swamp, and called out to the Great Lord of the Swamp.
• Chen Yu emerged from the toxic mist, and Yano discovered that the feared figure was a wobbling Slime.
• Chen Yu reflected on the corrupted Swamp Crocodiles threatening his territory as Yano returned.

Yano met Chen Yu in Oak Territory, where Chen Yu appointed him the rider of the Swift Bee Forest Path and treated his petrification with injections. The treatment left Yano feeling lighter, and Chen Yu sent him home with Stinger Bee Pâté and instructions to accept a courier task.

• Yano swallowed Moss Monsters to satisfy Chen Yu, mistaking the meal for a test from the demon.
• Chen Yu named Yano the rider of the Swift Bee Forest Path, and Yano accepted the title as Boss's follower.
• Yano worried that his petrification was worsening and asked Chen Yu whether he could exchange his soul for a healthy body.
• Chen Yu injected Yano with a Stinger Bee needle while using Hallucinogenic Factor to keep him still, then questioned him as he drifted into sleep.
• Yano woke feeling lighter, and Chen Yu gave him Stinger Bee Pâté as his delivery fee and told him to accept a courier task before returning home.

Yano returned with Moonlight Moss and helped spur adventurers to seek riches in the Swamp Forest, while Chen Yu prepared the swamp for their arrival and improved his talisman skills. After reaching Qi Cultivation Lv.4, Chen Yu headed to the sect’s Scripture Pavilion to claim the Earthwood Scripture.

• Yano delivered Moonlight Moss to the Adventurers Guild and offered to buy drinks, inflaming adventurers’ interest in the Swamp Forest.
• Chen Yu directed the bee swarm to plant Moonlight Moss around the swamp’s outskirts to attract adventurers.
• Chen Yu surveyed the territories surrounding his swamp and practiced drawing a Stone Fortification Talisman, but his attempts failed.
• Chen Yu continued practicing in Xuxuantian and raised his Talisman Drawing Technique to Lv.2.
• Chen Yu went to Chongshan Hall to seek the Earthwood Scripture after reaching Qi Cultivation Lv.4.

Chen Yu visited the Three Origins Sect’s Scripture Pavilion to claim an advanced cultivation method and chose the earth-and-wood Nine Terraces Palace Creation Art despite warnings about its harsh prospects. The old man then offered to sell him a Dao Voucher, and Chen Yu discovered the elder was running a side business.

• Chen Yu went to the Scripture Pavilion and met an old man who confirmed his cultivation had reached the middle stage of Qi Cultivation.
• The old man explained the differences between advanced cultivation methods and warned Chen Yu that choosing one was his own responsibility.
• Chen Yu chose the Nine Terraces Palace Creation Art, and the old man warned that earth-and-wood cultivators had few opportunities and difficult assignments.
• The old man suggested other methods and jobs, but Chen Yu assured him he would not run off with his bucket.
• The old man told Chen Yu that Dao Arts required Dao Vouchers, then secretly offered to exchange one for ninety-five Spirit Shards.

Chen Yu used Dao techniques to begin shaping Oak Territory into a fortress, while Kelvin’s adventuring party rushed toward Swamp Forest in search of treasure. The carriage entered the forest with Ella and Broom unaware that Kelvin’s confidence hid desperation over his debts.

• Chen Yu used Mud to Stone and Wood Growth Shaping, then climbed the oak and imagined building defenses and ruins across Oak Territory.
• Kenken noticed the carriage racing past Reed Riverbank and resumed gnawing on a poplar tree after it passed without stopping.
• Ella asked Kelvin to slow the carriage, and he urged the party onward, claiming Swamp Forest held valuable beasts, Moonlight Moss, and newly appeared ruins.
• Broom doubted Kelvin’s claims, while Ella warned that spring made Swamp Forest dangerous as the miasma spread and Demonic Beasts awakened.
• Kelvin concealed his fear and debt troubles, snapped the reins, and drove the carriage into Swamp Forest.

Kelvin led Ella and Bloom through the Swamp Forest to newly built ruins, where the Rookie Squad discovered signs of a Corrupted Jackal. Chen Yu watched from the swamp as they approached the monster he had prepared, while Kelvin focused on the glowing chest beside it.

• Kelvin boasted about killing a Glow Mushroom Person while Ella gathered a Water Bellflower and Bloom praised him.
• Kelvin recalled a past betrayal by a fleeing captain and resolved to prioritize survival and money.
• The Rookie Squad found ruins, and Ella noticed that the stones looked unusually new as Kelvin searched for treasure.
• Chen Yu watched the adventurers and thought about disguising the freshly built walls before they encountered his Corrupted Jackal.
• Bloom found fresh wolf dung, and the three crept through the ruins until they spotted one apparently injured Corrupted Jackal beside a glowing chest.
• Ella whispered that the jackal seemed to be alone and sluggish, and Kelvin's eyes lit up with greed.

Kelvin, Broom, and Ella defeated a lone Corrupted Jackal and found valuable Moonlight Moss, but a pack ambushed them before Chen Yu drove it away. After surviving, the Rookie Squad withdrew, and Chen Yu decided to send Yano and the Castle Guard to investigate the Death Swamp.

• Ella stunned the lone jackal with her Oak Staff, allowing Kelvin and Broom to kill it and discover Moonlight Moss in a nearby chest.
• A pack of Corrupted Jackals charged the group, and Broom told Kelvin to escape with Ella while he held them off.
• Kelvin overcame his fear and charged to defend Broom and Ella, rejecting the cold-blooded survival rule he had once followed.
• Chen Yu struck two jackals down with a Lesser Arrow Technique, frightening the rest into fleeing.
• Kelvin, Broom, and Ella thanked each other for surviving and withdrew from the swamp.
• Chen Yu decided to have Yano lead the newly formed Castle Guard south to investigate the Death Swamp.

Arno returned through Swamp Forest after spreading word of the newly appeared ruins, eager to have the petrification curse treated. He met Chen Yu on the Forest Path and followed him into Oak Territory, where the transformed castle and its organized forces astonished him.

• Arno left the adventuring party and traveled deeper into Swamp Forest, noticing the ruins that had appeared throughout it.
• Arno reflected on his gratitude to the boss and hurried onward to seek treatment for his curse.
• Chen Yu encountered Arno on the Forest Path and asked him to carry him back to the castle.
• Arno followed Chen Yu through the mist and discovered a towering city wall and watchtower in Oak Territory.
• Arno saw the territory’s orderly vine tents and Digger Beetle formation being trained by Stinger Bees.

Chen Yu sent Yano and a large Stinger Bee force to scout Death Swamp while he learned to make Stone Fortification Talismans. Yano returned with news that a fire-wielding beast had driven the swamp’s inhabitants from their territories, and Chen Yu sent him back with talismans for himself and Seja.

• Chen Yu ordered Yano to lead the Stinger Bees south and scout Death Swamp, with Digger Beetles accompanying the force as shields.
• Chen Yu successfully drew five Stone Fortification Talismans and tested one, finding that its barrier resisted bee stingers and required two Lesser Arrow Technique shots to break.
• Yano explored Death Swamp, drove off a pack of hyenas, and reported that corrupted jackals, hyenas, and Corrupted Lizardfolk were roaming after a fire-magic beast disrupted the swamp.
• Chen Yu gave Yano four talismans, told him to keep watch for Magic Paper and magic ink, and asked him to deliver two talismans to Seja at the Rotten Moss Tribe.

Alice learned that Yano Belmont had survived the Border Garrison Legion reserves and was now known as Yano the “Miracle,” while she warned Iron Boot Town of possible floods from Mana Riots. She and Karen continued toward the Outpost Ruins to pursue the Rusty Keys, but Alice’s deeper goal was to discover what happened to her missing brother.

• Kelvin, Bloom, and Ella toasted Yano Belmont for helping them survive and earn a fortune, and Alice asked about him.
• Alice recalled that Yano had left knight training because of Petrification Disease and lamented his lost potential.
• Alice warned Sheriff Viller that Mana Riots in the Miasma Mountains could bring prolonged heavy rain to Iron Boot Town.
• Alice told Karen that the swamp was too dangerous to enter without a map and Antidote Potions, then set off to pursue the Rusty Keys at the Outpost Ruins.
• Alice resolved to search the ruins for clues about her brother, a legion Knight who had disappeared more than a decade earlier.

Chen Yu learned enough Common Tongue to understand Yano’s warning that a mana surge and coming storm could embolden corrupted monsters, so he helped the Rotten Moss Tribe prepare to attack the Scaleclaw Tribe. As rain began, Chen Yu went deeper into the swamp to hunt and investigate, where he saw Corrupted Crocodiles drive a Little Crocodile toward his castle.

• Chen Yu reached Common Tongue Lv.2 and understood Yano when he arrived with news of a coming rainstorm and increased attacks by corrupted monsters.
• Chen Yu gave Yano Moonlight Moss and Stinger Bees to help Seja recruit adventurers for the Rotten Moss Tribe’s campaign against the Scaleclaw Tribe.
• Seja told Semiya about the Puto Envoy, then gave her a leaf for protection.
• After Yano left, rain fell, and Chen Yu devoured a Giant Leech while his Lesser Arrow Technique advanced to Lv.3.
• Chen Yu entered the swamp and watched Corrupted Crocodiles bully a Little Crocodile, then lead it toward his castle.

Chen Yu defeated a band of Swamp Crocodiles that challenged his territory and recruited their timid Little Crocodile as his mount. He named the frightened recruit Little Card.

• Chen Yu followed the Swamp Crocodiles as they bullied the Little Crocodile and forced it to challenge the castle in the mist.
• The Swamp Crocodiles attacked Chen Yu's Stinger Bee Guard, whose stingers could not pierce their armored hides.
• Chen Yu emerged and killed the Crocodile Boss with a water arrow, sending the other crocodiles fleeing.
• Chen Yu ate the Crocodile Boss's Magic Organ, raising his Toxin Resistance to Lv.4.
• Chen Yu found the Little Crocodile hiding beneath a tree and offered it food and protection in exchange for submission.
• The Little Crocodile agreed to serve Chen Yu, who named it Little Card.

Chen Yu raised the timid Little Card, explored the swamp, and acquired the Life Drain talent, which he realized could yield valuable life potions. After leveling up, he asked Shao Qingsong to find him a spell suited to fighting groups and continued deeper into the swamp.

• Chen Yu coaxed Little Card into eating Moss Monsters, and the crocodile fell asleep among the Slime Little Ones.
• Chen Yu reinforced the castle ahead of a coming storm, then rode Little Card into the swamp to hunt.
• After absorbing Giant Leech organs, Chen Yu acquired Life Drain and tested it on a poison frog, discovering that the extracted life fluids might be sold as potions.
• Chen Yu found the crocodiles had left their former nest and explored deeper into the swamp, leveling up several skills.
• Chen Yu gave Shao Qingsong a life potion and asked him to find a spell effective against groups; afterward, Chen Yu resumed exploring with Little Card.

Chen Yu discovered that leveling up had granted him the ability to split, then sent a small version of himself with Yano to monitor events beyond the swamp. As Yano prepared an adventurer campaign against the Scaleclaw Tribe, its priest Zulok revealed that the tribe had allies and dismissed its enemies as prey.

• Chen Yu woke at noon, saw that he had become a Bronze Lv.4 Splitting Slime, and discovered his new Splitting Proliferation talent.
• Yano reported that he had gathered adventurers in Iron Boot Town for a campaign against the Scaleclaw Tribe and warned that the lizardfolk might resist.
• Chen Yu split off a small body, sent it with Yano, and used it to observe the outside world until it passed beyond his connection range.
• Zulok told Darm that the Scaleclaws would not retreat because they had allies, and claimed the Rotten Moss Tribe, Seja, Semiya, and humans were all food.

Yano rallied the adventurers and Rotten Moss Tribe's Lizardfolk to pursue the Corrupted Lizardfolk into the swamp, while Chen Yu traveled through Swamp Forest and received Yano's report. After hearing where the Corrupted Lizardfolk were, Chen Yu formed an idea.

• Old Beaver Kenken reinforced his dam as traffic increased along the Reed River road.
• Yano learned that the Corrupted Lizardfolk had set traps for the Rotten Moss Tribe's scouts and retreated toward Swamp Forest.
• Yano rallied the hesitant adventurers with a speech, and they followed him and the Rotten Moss Tribe's Lizardfolk into the swamp.
• Chen Yu traveled through Swamp Forest with Little Crocodile and several hundred Stinger Bees, then read Yano's message and devised a plan.

Yano’s adventurers and the Rotten Moss Tribe’s Lizardfolk entered the swamp forest to hunt the Corrupted Lizardfolk, only to discover the enemy had lured them into a trap with the Gnolls. As the two groups united to face the attackers, a warning came that a huge enemy was approaching.

• Seja guided the hunting party and adventurers through Death Swamp while they searched for the Corrupted Lizardfolk.
• Semiya detected an ambush and wounded a Corrupted Lizardfolk, then the attackers launched spears from the fog.
• Semiya and the adventurers fought back, killing several Corrupted Lizardfolk as Yano sensed that the battle was going too easily.
• Yano realized the Corrupted Lizardfolk had used their own people as bait to surround the party with Gnolls and hyenas.
• The adventurers and Rotten Moss Tribe’s Lizardfolk joined forces, and Yano heard the boss warn that a big enemy was coming.