Recaps

Russell inspected the black oil extraction operation and planned to develop ways to refine and use the resource. After visiting Thunder Marsh with Rowena and Cooper, he returned to Cigar Courtyard, where his sister and brother-in-law disliked his favorite dishes.

• Quinn told Russell that the mining team had established ten productive black oil extraction points and planned to dig a collection lake.
• Russell watched Quinn ignite the black oil, confirmed that it burned more fiercely than coal, and ordered extraction to expand.
• Russell explained that he intended to research refining black oil into useful fuels and other products and to develop kilns that could use it.
• Russell took Rowena and Cooper to the edge of Thunder Marsh and discussed how its water might drain after the three territories resonated.
• Rowena and Cooper rejected the dishes served at Cigar Courtyard, so Russell asked Butler Morris to have the kitchen prepare ordinary food.

Russell trained with Harpe and reassured her that she could become a pseudo-dragon by patiently perfecting their mental synchronization. He then used his power to cut a wide road through Dagger Mountain, clearing the way for the Blackfire Land's development.

• Russell encouraged Harpe to stay calm and pursue perfect mental synchronization before seeking an opportunity to become a pseudo-dragon.
• Russell learned that Roland was efficiently directing the arrival of serfs and the construction of a road from Guangguang River Valley toward the Blackfire Land.
• Russell and Roland traveled to the Dagger Mountain Pass and discussed the mountain range blocking the road.
• Russell transformed with Polly and repeatedly unleashed Ultimate: Sword of Thunder, carving a straight, fifty-meter-wide passage through Dagger Mountain.
• Russell told Roland to have workers clear the rubble so the new passage could connect to the road across the snowfields.

Russell joined the Dragon Blood Knights on their northern border patrol to hunt Snow Demons and lure out Snow Giant Da. When a Detection Arrow revealed a creature beneath the Ice Cap, Russell attacked and forced it into the open.

• Roland arranged the Blackfire Land’s serfs for construction, mining, farming, and irrigation, while Russell appointed Charles chief steward to oversee the territory.
• Russell surveyed the Blackfire Land from Rosai and then flew north to join Count Merlin and the Dragon Blood Knights.
• The Dragon Blood Knights used Detection Arrows to locate threats hiding beneath the Ice Cap before attacking groups of Snow Ghosts and Snow Demons.
• A Detection Arrow sounded ahead, and Russell dove toward the marked spot after Count Merlin could not identify what lurked below.
• Russell struck the Ice Cap with Meteor Butterfly Sword’s Sword of Thunder, shattering the ice and forcing a deep-blue figure to leap out.

Russell hunted Snow Demons during a border patrol, revealing to Count Merlin that he had mastered elemental power through swordsmanship. After hearing the Torrent Dragon roar across the western snowfield, Russell flew back to reunite with Count Merlin and the Dragon Blood Knights.

• Russell killed a Snow Demon with Ultimate: Sword of Thunder and collected the two Ice Soul Beads hidden in its remains.
• Count Merlin urged Russell to learn Dragon Breath Star Burst, and Russell revealed that his Lightning Sword used the elemental power he had mastered through swordsmanship.
• Russell flew off to hunt more Snow Demons, quickly killing one and collecting its Ice Soul Bead and the Hail Beads from the Snow Ghosts around it.
• Russell celebrated his earnings with Rosai, who performed aerial maneuvers, while Polly teased him about his song.
• A dragon roared from the west, and Russell recognized the Torrent Dragon and hurried back to meet Count Merlin and the Dragon Blood Knights.

Russell attended negotiations between Count Merlin and Marquis Arno over the Torrent Dragon’s aid against Snow Giant Da, then watched the Torrent Dragon meet the Shadowflame Dragon at Shadowflame Volcano. The dragons began haggling over where Torrent Scale Towers could be built, with Thunder Marsh emerging as a possible site.

• Russell returned to Red Castle, where Count Merlin and Marquis Arno discussed the Torrent Dragon’s support and the defense against Snow Giant Da.
• Count Merlin and Marquis Arno negotiated the Torrent Dragon’s stationing and other terms before planning for it to meet the Shadowflame Dragon.
• Marquis Arno told Russell that the Torrent Dragon was waiting at Fire Ant Swamp for the Shadowflame Dragon’s approval to visit its volcano.
• The Torrent Dragon flew to Shadowflame Volcano, where it and the Shadowflame Dragon faced each other across the crater as Russell and other officials gathered nearby.
• Lord Welch translated as the dragons disputed the placement of Torrent Scale Towers, eventually reaching a tentative compromise over Thunder Marsh.

Russell learned that the Torrent Dragon would build eight Scale Towers, including one in Thunder Marsh, and asked the Shadowflame Dragon what the tower might discover. The Shadowflame Dragon warned that the towers could expose Snowflake, but Russell planned to keep it hidden until it was born.

• Count Merlin told Russell that the Shadowflame Grand Duchy would build eight Torrent Scale Towers and that border patrols would expand to hunt Snow Giant Da.
• Russell visited the Shadowflame Dragon and asked whether the Torrent Dragon wanted a tower in Thunder Marsh because it had sensed Snowflake.
• The Shadowflame Dragon said the Torrent Dragon could not sense Snowflake yet and was likely building a tower to observe Russell, whom people believed might become Shadowflame’s knight.
• The Shadowflame Dragon warned Russell that the towers could perceive everything in their territories and told him to keep Snowflake hidden as a mark.
• The Shadowflame Dragon praised Russell’s talent for comprehending the Power of Lightning, then said the towers’ power could help fuse the surrounding lands.
• Russell resolved to protect Snowflake and imagined that it would one day make the Scorching Torrent Kingdom submit.

Russell received a letter from King Ares Lieyang inviting him to visit the Scorching Torrent Kingdom and discussing his future there. The chapter ended with Marquis Arno explaining how Russell’s reputation had spread through detailed reports of his accomplishments.

• Russell decided Little Dream Dragon must avoid descending into the Dark Dreamscape near the future Torrent Scale Tower and promised to let her hunt again when they were safely away.
• A knight invited Russell to a banquet at Nevernight Castle, where Marquis Arno gave him a letter from King Ares.
• Russell read King Ares’s praise for his achievement as a Dragon Domain Lord and the king’s invitation to join the Scorching Torrent Kingdom or visit to discuss world affairs.
• Marquis Arno listed Russell’s celebrated deeds and revealed that he had reported them in detail to the kingdom.

Russell declined King Ares Sun’s offer to join his Dragon Knight and returned to Wuyou Snake Manor, where he tended to his magical companions and trained. In the Dark Dreamscape, Russell and his companions hunted south across the snowfield until they reached the Black Wave Mountain Range, more than a thousand kilometers from home.

• Russell refused to join King Ares Sun’s Dragon Knight and arranged to send him one hundred cases of Rain Dragon Cigars.
• Russell flew to Wuyou Snake Manor after the Dragon Blood Knights no longer needed his protection on the border.
• Russell fed his Tick Amber Bug with his own blood, worried that Thorn and Gecko might not evolve, and trained with Harpe.
• Russell led his companions south through the Dark Dreamscape, hunting Snow Ghosts and a Snow Demon and collecting an Ice Soul Bead for Polly.
• Russell and his companions reached the Black Wave Mountain Range after traveling more than a thousand kilometers through the night.

Russell led Little Dream Dragon through the Dark Dreamscape and found Snow Giant Da meditating with a smaller, brighter Snow Giant on his shoulder. They stole a Star Crystal from Snow Giant Da’s left little finger before the Dark Dreamscape collapsed.

• Russell urged an exhausted Little Dream Dragon to climb an unnamed peak in the Black Wave Mountain Range.
• Russell, Polly, and Little Dream Dragon spotted Snow Giant Da meditating with a small humanoid Snow Giant on his shoulder.
• Russell told Little Dream Dragon to drain Snow Giant Da’s dim left little finger instead of targeting the smaller Snow Giant.
• The Snow Giant Mage swung his wooden stick and disrupted Little Dream Dragon’s attempt to form a Star Crystal.
• Russell ordered Polly to use the Dream Horn to sever the Star Crystal, and Little Dream Dragon swallowed it.
• The Dark Dreamscape shattered, leaving part of Snow Giant Da’s little finger missing while the Snow Giant Mage raged helplessly.

Russell and Polly speculated that Snow Giant Da was controlled by a smaller Snow Giant pilot and suspected the pilot was connected to the new power the Shadowflame Dragon had sensed. Russell set out for Shadowflame Volcano to report his theory, inviting Harpe to join him.

• Russell and Polly discussed why Snow Giant Da had not resisted them and theorized that the smaller Snow Giant was piloting it like a Gundam.
• Russell named the smaller Snow Giant the Snow Da Pilot and suspected it was responsible for Snow Giant Da’s combat power and the new power gathering nearby.
• Russell considered whether the Snow Da Pilot had arrived on a shooting star or whether more pilots might threaten the continent, but admitted he lacked evidence.
• Russell decided to tell the Shadowflame Dragon about the Snow Da Pilot and flew toward Shadowflame Volcano with Polly.
• Harpe looked aggrieved that Russell was leaving without her, so Russell invited her to come along.

Russell warned the Shadowflame Dragon about a possible Snow Giant controlling Snow Giant Da, but the dragon sensed the new power had retreated and dismissed the concern. Meanwhile, the Torrent Dragon activated the first Torrent Scale Tower, and the nobles celebrated the duchy’s new protection.

• Russell told the Shadowflame Dragon that he and Snowy had found Snow Giant Da in the Black Wave Mountain Range with a smaller Snow Giant on its shoulder, apparently controlling it.
• The Shadowflame Dragon said the supposed Snow Da Pilot was only a theory and that the new power had already retreated, then sent Russell away to let him sleep.
• Russell returned to Cigar Courtyard, completed his evening training, and chose mushroom stew for dinner.
• Marquis Arno told the Torrent Dragon that the Torrent Scale Tower in Fire Ant Swamp was complete and needed one of the dragon’s scales to activate.
• The Torrent Dragon asked the Sunflower Family to enlarge Swan Lake, then placed a scale atop the tower and activated it.
• Kunbiv Shadowflame, Marquis Arno, and the other nobles celebrated the first Torrent Scale Tower, declaring that the Shadowflame Grand Duchy could rest easy.

Russell surveyed Thunder Marsh and planned to drain and cultivate it in the future, but decided to focus on Blackfire Land first. At the Blackfire Laboratory, Grand Scholar Placido reported that Russell’s distillation method had produced four separate products from black oil.

• Russell mapped Thunder Marsh, marked a site for a lake, and planned river channels and drainage ditches to make the land cultivable.
• Russell returned to Blackfire Land with Rosai and inspected the mine, where Katie reported that the Great Knights were managing the workers effectively.
• Russell told Katie to learn from the Great Knights, prepare for future patrol duties, and assess which knights were unfit for important posts.
• Russell visited the Blackfire Laboratory, where Scholar Kirov led him to Grand Scholar Placido.
• Placido showed Russell the results of his black-oil distillation method, and Dunn brought over four distilled products.

Russell reviewed the products from black oil distillation and tasked Placido with designing a large-scale Distillation Tower. He also encouraged further research into black oil fuel, leaving the Blackfire Laboratory funded and the brick kilns experimenting with ways to fire bricks more effectively.

• Dunn showed Russell four products from black oil distillation, and Russell suggested mixing the residue with sand and dirt to pave roads.
• Russell asked Placido to design a Distillation Tower and named the products kerosene, liquefied gas, gasoline, lubricating oil, and asphalt.
• Russell promised funding for a Blackfire Scholarly Tower near the mine, while Placido noted that the scholars expected to return to Red Keep after their research.
• Little William reported that black oil burned unevenly in brick kilns alone but worked well when combined with firewood.
• Russell ordered Little William to keep improving black oil brick firing so kilns across Blackfire Land could produce slag bricks and ordinary bricks.

Toothy Miller brought his family’s mobile General Store to the Blackfire Land, where merchants were arriving to seek opportunities in the developing territory. After Toothy Miller and Cross-eyed discussed their plans for making a living, a Wyvern flew over the temporary market, inspiring the gathered people to praise Lord Rosai and look forward to the territory’s future.

• Toothy Miller rode with Scarface Miller and his other sons toward the Blackfire Land, boasting that Lord Russell had trusted him with a mobile General Store license.
• Toothy Miller’s family arrived at the temporary market town near the underground cave and met Cross-eyed, who secretly planned to sell tofu and other snacks.
• Cross-eyed considered opening a tofu workshop and selling food at the reclamation sites while concealing his plan from Toothy Miller.
• A pitch-black Wyvern flew over the market, and Toothy Miller and many others prostrated themselves in praise of Lord Rosai.
• After the Wyvern disappeared, Toothy Miller and Cross-eyed voiced confidence that the Fluorite Mushroom Family’s protection would bring better days to the Blackfire Land.

Russell agreed to cooperate with the Elder Council's plan to build a Torrent Scale Tower in Thunder Marsh, though he made Red Castle bear most of its costs. Once the Torrent Dragon activated the tower, Russell felt its power spread through his territory and realized it could watch him at any time.

• Russell questioned Kunsley and Lord Kunqiao about building a Torrent Scale Tower in Thunder Marsh, then agreed to provide limited assistance while Red Castle covered most costs.
• Red Castle's craftsmen and locally requisitioned serfs built the tower, and several serfs and knights drowned in the marshes during construction.
• Half a month later, Russell returned from hunting and found the pyramid-shaped tower completed, while Little Dream Dragon remained asleep and displeased by its presence.
• Marquis Arno told Russell the Torrent Dragon would arrive that day, and Russell prepared Polly to use the Dream Escape Technique in case of danger.
• The Torrent Dragon placed a scale in the tower, activated it, and departed; Russell sensed its power throughout Thunder Marsh and knew it could spy on him.

Russell discussed Rain Dragon Cigar trade with Marquis Arno and joined Baron Roman’s plan to hunt in the snowfields. The family then headed to the opening of Russell’s new play, Thunder from the Dragon Domain.

• Russell reassured himself that the Torrent Scale Tower could not expose Snowcone’s aura, and the tower’s completion was followed by a brief celebration.
• Russell told Marquis Arno that ordinary White Dew cigars would be plentiful, but Cloud Mist and Frost cigars would remain limited.
• Baron Roman planned a snowfield campaign with Russell and two other Wyvern Knights to gather Ice Soul Beads and meet his obligations.
• Russell and Baron Roman persuaded Roland to stay in the Blackfire Land and direct the family’s land reclamation.
• Madam Meryl and Old Madam Ingrid interrupted the men’s wine and reading to take them to the opening of Russell’s play, Thunder from the Dragon Domain.

After watching a play based on Russell’s life, his family wondered whether he would ride the Shadowflame Dragon, while Russell considered if a knight could contract with multiple Dragons. He left believing Ice Cream would be his future Dragon companion and reaffirmed his bond with Polly.

• The audience applauded Thunder from the Dragon Domain, and Laura asked Aunt Roby whether Russell had really stepped on Count Oscro’s face.
• Diana asked whether Russell would marry Princess Kunlaya, while Aunt Roby wondered what status he would need to ride the Shadowflame Dragon.
• Aunt Roby asked Russell whether he had any hope of riding the Shadowflame Dragon, and he said the decision depended on the Dragon.
• Russell asked Polly whether knights could contract with more than one Dragon, and Polly reasoned that Dragons’ pride might be the main obstacle.
• Russell decided Ice Cream was his future Dragon companion, and he and Polly called themselves the perfect team.

Russell welcomed the Monochoria Family’s support and led a combined force into the snowfield, where he discussed Pseudo-Dragon inheritance and Polly’s origins with Baron Roman. He left the story considering whether overcoming his lingering disagreement with Polly could reveal a stage beyond Dragon Domain Lord.

• Russell hosted Saislo and Saisel, and learned that the Clearwater River Knight Order had come to campaign alongside the Gloomlight River Valley Knight Order.
• Russell, Saislo, and the assembled Wyvern Knights and Knight Orders traveled to Green Capital Snow Forest for the snowfield campaign.
• Harpe returned to the Owl-like Dragon flock, and Russell explained to Baron Roman that the flock depended on Green Capital Garden Cold Spring Point to remain Owl-like Dragons.
• Russell told Baron Roman he suspected Pseudo-Dragons could pass on their power by radiating it to their own kind, and planned to test whether Leize could transform warhorses into Hippogriff Dragons.
• Russell said he believed Polly had evolved from horses rationally but was unique emotionally, and reflected that their estrangement over her origins might stand between them and the next stage beyond Dragon Domain Lord.

Russell mastered Dragon Breath Star Burst and searched the Black Wave Mountain Range for signs of Snow Giant Da, then followed Lucky Whisper to a snowy forest. He found a growing Fir Parasite and planned to use Snowy's source dragon flame to hasten its growth, while the Phantom Beast that had spoken to him remained hidden.

• Russell used Dragon Breath Star Burst to destroy a Snow Demon and watched Kroya demonstrate a more effective combination with Dragon Breath Star Flash.
• After the Knight Order defeated a large Snow Demon force, Russell left Baron Roman and the other Wyvern Knights to guard the campaign and flew south to search for Snow Giant Da.
• Russell and Polly found the hill where Snowy had stolen a bite from Snow Giant Da, but found no trace of either Snow Giant Da or Snow Da Pilot.
• Russell followed Lucky Whisper to a snowy forest, where it revealed that two powerful monsters had confronted each other there before.
• Russell used Dream Gaze to search for the hidden Phantom Beast, but found only a growing Fir Parasite, which he planned to help grow with Snowy's source dragon flame.

Russell camped in the Black Wave Snow Forest, where an unseen Phantom Beast watched him. After Little Dream Dragon awoke stronger, she helped him search the forest and revealed that magical power made sounds in the Dark Dreamscape.

• Russell named the snowy forest the Black Wave Snow Forest and camped there with Rosai while an unseen Phantom Beast whispered about the warmth of his fire and roasted rabbit.
• Russell used Dream Gaze to search for the Phantom Beast but could not find its magical glow, then fell asleep beside Rosai.
• Little Dream Dragon awoke after a month and showed clear growth after digesting one of Snow Giant Da's little fingers.
• Russell brought Little Dream Dragon around the forest to search for the Phantom Beast and sprites and to stimulate the Fir Parasite Spirit Worm, but they found no Phantom Beast.
• Little Dream Dragon roared into the Dark Dreamscape, awakening countless sounds, and Russell realized they were the sound of magical power.

Russell discovered an Ouroboros Snake hiding beneath a snow fir and suspected its talents were connected to the Dark Dreamscape. After frightening it by trying to win it over too quickly, he followed Polly’s advice to give it time, leaving the snake hidden in its dream.

• In the Dark Dreamscape, Russell and the Little Dream Dragon followed the Ouroboros Snake’s hissing to a hollow beneath a snow fir and found it sleeping coiled with its tail in its mouth.
• The Little Dream Dragon regarded the Ouroboros Snake as highly as Polly, leading Russell to suspect it had a talent connected to the Dark Dreamscape and promise to make it their companion.
• Russell and the Little Dream Dragon searched the Black Wave Mountain Range for Snow Giant Da but found no trace of him or other notable creatures.
• The next morning, Russell heard the Ouroboros Snake’s thoughts and learned it wanted him to touch its tail and planned to hide in a dream.
• Russell spent the morning trying to reassure the snake, but it grew quiet, so Polly advised him to slow down and give it time.
• Russell accepted Polly’s advice and abandoned his immediate plans to meet or capture the Ouroboros Snake.

Russell returned to the Black Wave Snow Forest and persuaded Ouroboros Snake to acknowledge him as master. He brought Ouroboros to Wuyou Snake Manor, where he tested the snake’s abilities and named his dream-hiding talent Dream Concealment.

• Russell reassured Little Dream Dragon that they could not find Snow Giant Da and later returned to the Black Wave Snow Forest after the Knight Order’s campaign ended.
• Russell used Dream Escape Technique to convince Ouroboros Snake that he was the Lord of Dreams and urged him to accept a contract.
• Ouroboros revealed himself, said his name was Ouroboros, and acknowledged Russell as master when Russell touched his tail.
• Russell rode Rosai into the sky with Ouroboros wrapped around him, then settled the snake beside Cigar Courtyard at Wuyou Snake Manor.
• Russell tested Ouroboros’s Earth Walk Technique and dream-hiding talent, then named the talent Dream Concealment.

Russell trained with Harpe and managed Wuyou Snake Manor’s staffing and new Worm Grass discovery. He encouraged Catherine to move on from her deceased lover and promised to find her a suitable match, leaving her to consider a new future.

• Russell wondered whether Harpe still suited his development, but trained with the harpy dragon despite their slow progress.
• Catherine reported that the manor lacked officials because staff kept transferring to the Blackfire Land, and Russell told her to handle the problem as Chief Scribe.
• Catherine returned with news that Fluorite Mushroom Worm Grass was nurturing a Spirit Worm, and Russell instructed her to obtain Dragon Dung and fertilize it.
• Russell summoned Rosie to care for the new Worm Grass as Nicole and Whitt joined the other sprites at dinner.
• Russell learned that Catherine had once loved John, who died in the second Battle of the Fall, and urged her to find a knight to marry.
• Russell offered to have Katie help Catherine find a match and planned to transfer her to work with her sister while Charles appointed a new Chief Scribe.

Russell inspected the expanding Black Oil Mine and proposed a Vocational School in Glimmering Town to train young serfs in practical trades. He appointed Wai Maozi William to teach pottery and brickmaking, promising him a salary at least as good as his former earnings.

• Roland reported that the three Warm Enclaves were rapidly merging and described the thousands of serfs bought for reclamation, while Russell directed him to keep funding the work and buy more serfs.
• Russell declined to inspect unreclaimed Thunder Marsh, then went to the Black Oil Mine while Roland headed back toward Fluorite Castle.
• At the Blackfire Brick Kiln Factory, Russell learned that Little William had invited his father, Wai Maozi William, to help operate the black-oil-fired kiln without pay.
• Russell offered Wai Maozi William a paid teaching position at the planned Vocational School in Glimmering Town, where he would teach students pottery and brickmaking.

Russell inspected the Blackfire Brick Kiln Factory, named its smoke-treated bricks Blackfire Bricks, and rewarded the worker who discovered the process. At the Blackfire Scholarly Tower, Placido revealed plans to research equipment for locating Snow Giants, while Russell named his new castle Cigar Castle and reviewed the knights serving his territory.

• Russell inspected the brick factory and learned that black oil smoke made ordinary bricks tougher, then named them Blackfire Bricks and ordered greater production.
• Russell rewarded the worker who discovered the brick-treatment process with a Gold Coin and established a permanent invention award.
• Placido told Russell that he planned to return to Red Castle after the Black Oil Distillation Tower was completed and described research to locate Snow Giants.
• Russell named his new castle Cigar Castle and ordered a family flag featuring a unicorn and a crest combining a unicorn, Black Oil Dragon, and sword.
• Charles reported that fifteen Great Knights and forty-eight knights served the territory, and Russell read his notes on their performance.