Chapter Summaries

Russell arranged for Old Hans to receive the tofu recipe and teach the residents to make it, then measured the expanded Dark Dreamscape and tested Little Dream Dragon’s speed. He traveled to Saiban Snow Forest to ask the fairy Saiban about controlling Phantom Beast Whisper and called out to her as she slept.

• Russell gave Old Hans Mrs. Moore’s tofu-making process to share with the residents.
• Russell measured the Dark Dreamscape at a 300-meter radius and assigned Hail Beads to his future Black Oil Dragon, Rosai.
• Russell flew through Xiangshui River Cave with Little Dream Dragon and the other Dream Clone companions to Saiban Snow Forest.
• Russell found Saiban sleeping in a snow cedar and shouted her name to wake her.

Russell met Saiban in Dream Clone and ate a Lucky Four-Leaf Clover leaf, changing Phantom Beast Whisper so he would hear only useful whispers. Saiban asked Russell to plant an oak forest as a new home, and the chapter ended with Russell learning that Snow Ghosts had entered the territory’s border.

• Saiban gave Russell a Lucky Four-Leaf Clover leaf that made Phantom Beast Whisper selective, though he warned that luck could bring losses as well as gains.
• Saiban asked Russell to scatter acorns and grow an oak forest, and Russell agreed to make it Saiban’s new home.
• Russell renamed Phantom Beast Whisper Lucky Whisper and found that he no longer heard Jerry or Kevin’s whispers during his patrol.
• Jerry reported that the Sentry Mouse Squad had discovered a Snow Ghost, and Russell ordered Ram to prepare his armor and Fox to summon the knights.

Russell led his knight squad against a group of Snow Ghosts, helping Katie adapt to battle and displaying his superior swordsmanship while defeating a Great Snow Ghost. After returning with more than twenty Hail Beads, he avoided celebrating because the Grand Duke had recently fallen, then fed a Hail Bead to the Black Oil Dragon Egg.

• Charles proposed establishing a second line of defense at Big Mouth Cavern, while Russell led the knight squad toward the Snow Ghosts discovered by Jerry’s Sentry Mouse Squad.
• Eric commanded the squad’s charge and helped Katie adjust to fighting as a knight before he and Russell joined the battle in earnest.
• Russell swiftly killed a Great Snow Ghost with his swordsmanship and collected its high-grade Hail Bead, while Eric defeated the other Great Snow Ghost.
• Katie learned that the Sentry Mouse Squad had found no other Snow Ghost groups, so Russell led the squad back to Big Mouth Cavern with more than twenty Hail Beads.
• Russell prohibited banquets for the next three months, gathered the Hail Beads at Cigar Courtyard, and fed one to the Black Oil Dragon Egg.

Russell fed the Black Oil Dragon Egg Hail Beads and hunted Snow Ghosts with Little Dream Dragon in the Dark Dreamscape. He then read the February Gazette, learning how the reorganized Elder Council would oversee the grand duke election and that the ban on noble celebrations would cover his birthday.

• Russell fed hundreds of Hail Beads, including superior ones, to the Black Oil Dragon Egg, which delighted the mind inside it.
• Russell rode Little Dream Dragon south through the dream snowfields, where they hunted Snow Ghosts until midnight without finding a Snow Demon.
• Messenger Knight Raphael delivered the February Gazette to Russell on Madam's behalf.
• Russell read that the Elder Council had adopted a nine-plus-three structure, with Kunsley Sunflower, Augustus Willow, and Mel Monochoria serving as candidate governing officials under the supervision of Princess Anxia and Marquis Arno.
• Russell considered which factions might support the three candidates and concluded that the election mattered little to him as a future Dragon Knight.
• Russell read the Elder Council's order banning noble banquets and balls for three months after Grand Duke Kunsitan's death, and realized the ban would include his April 21 birthday.

Russell received an Elder Council decree appointing him Assistant Volcano Minister and set out for Red Castle, leaving Eric and Charles to guard his territory and select children for training. On the road, he followed a whisper about honey and discovered a clumsy brown bear that fell from a tree.

• Commander Lucas delivered the decree appointing Russell Assistant Volcano Minister, and Russell agreed to travel to Red Castle.
• Russell told Eric and Charles to guard the territory and begin selecting strong children to train as knights, then chose Grove to accompany him.
• Russell visited Madam Meryl, gave her a Snow Demon Crystal for her birthday, and promised to visit his pregnant sister near Black Court Mountain.
• Russell and Grove crossed the wintry trade route, where Little Dream Dragon devoured many Snow Ghosts before they reached the Volcanic Oasis.
• Russell heard a whisper about honey, searched the forest with Grove, and spotted a brown bear that fell from a fir tree while trying to climb toward a beehive.

Russell captured a Phantom Beast Brown Bear by luring it with honey and making it acknowledge him as master. He arranged for Grove to try to form a contract with the bear as they continued toward Red Castle and Black Court Mountain.

• Russell led Grove to the Phantom Beast Brown Bear, which tried to scare them off with roars and wind blades.
• Russell had Grove cut down honeycomb and used the bear’s hunger for honey to win its trust.
• Russell made the bear choose between acknowledging him as master or losing access to honey, and it submitted after he promised even better honey.
• Russell assigned the Phantom Beast Brown Bear to Grove to contract and told him to care for it on the journey.
• Russell tested the bear’s rapid-fire wind blades and named it the Wind Blade Brown Bear.

Russell witnessed Grove become a Phantom Beast Knight after he bonded with the Wind Blade Brown Bear, Bill. At West Archway Town, Russell met Cousin Mel and then brought Rain Dragon Cigars to Baron Roman’s residence, hoping to promote them among the nobility.

• Grove bonded with Bill and advanced to the primal breath tier, becoming Russell’s second Phantom Beast Knight.
• Grove thanked Russell and said he wanted to pursue Ms. Fanny, and Russell promised to ask Charles to arrange another meeting.
• As Russell’s party approached Shadowflame Volcano, Little Dream Dragon hibernated, and Russell entered West Archway Town using his credentials.
• Cousin Mel received Russell and explained that he was handling miscellaneous duties as one of the candidates for Grand Duke.
• Russell gave Mel Cloud Mist Series Rain Dragon Cigars and discussed cigar sales at Sancha River Mouth.
• Russell went to Baron Roman’s residence and set down boxes of Rain Dragon Cigars, hoping to make them a noble status symbol.

Russell visited the Grand Scholar Tower to present Fermented Fertilizer Technology to Grand Scholar Alex, who praised him as a natural-born scholar. The invention was received with interest, and Russell left having gained the approval of a respected Grand Scholar.

• Russell failed to find Baron Roman and Roland in the tower, then rode Polly through Red Castle to visit the Grand Scholar Tower.
• Alice guided Russell to Grand Scholar Alex, who recognized him for inventing Reading Glasses for Old Madam Ingrid.
• Russell presented materials on Fermented Fertilizer Technology, explaining how fermentation turned harmful manure into beneficial fertilizer.
• Alex examined the technique and praised Russell as a natural-born scholar.

Russell impressed Grand Scholar Alex with his fermented fertilizer technology and ideas for classifying plants, but declined an invitation to pursue scholarship. After returning to Redfort, he learned that his appointment as Assistant Volcano Minister was connected to the succession of the aging Volcano Minister.

• Alex praised Russell's fermented fertilizer technology and planned to present it to the Grand Scholars' Round Table for verification.
• Russell explained a systematic plant classification system, impressing Alex, who urged him to join Grand Scholar Tower; Russell declined because he had a territory to govern.
• Russell left Grand Scholar Tower, visited Cousin Mel for dinner, and returned to Baron Roman's tower that night.
• Russell asked Baron Roman why the Elder Council had appointed him Assistant Volcano Minister, and Roland said the dragon had recognized Russell.
• Baron Roman explained that Lord Quintke was preparing to retire and that Lord Welch would succeed him as Minister of Volcanoes.

Russell told Baron Roman and Roland that he had contracted a Black Oil Dragon Egg and would become a Black Oil Dragon Knight, declining the Assistant Volcano Minister position. Baron Roman pledged the Knight Order's Hail Beads to help hatch Rosai, while Roland struggled with his brother's newfound status.

• Russell refused to serve as Assistant Volcano Minister and revealed that he had contracted the Black Oil Dragon Egg, naming the dragon Rosai.
• Baron Roman and Roland reacted with astonishment, and Baron Roman praised the Shadowflame Dragon before returning the egg to Russell.
• Russell asked for Hail Beads to nurture Rosai, and Baron Roman promised that the Gloomlight River Valley Knight Order would provide them.
• Russell encouraged Roland to try bonding with one of Red Castle's eleven riderless wyverns, then said he would not report for the assistant post but was willing to learn dragon language.
• After Russell left, Baron Roman scolded Roland for feeling dejected, but Roland lamented that Lord Ross had never considered recognizing him.

Baron Roman urged Roland to stop waiting for a dragon and contract a Phantom Beast, while Russell was summoned to dine with Princess Anxia. After a pleasant meal with Anxia and Kunlaya, Russell left, and Anxia quietly raised the possibility of marrying Kunlaya to the Scorching Torrent Kingdom.

• Baron Roman scolded Roland for dreaming of riding a dragon without contracting a Phantom Beast and told him to visit the riderless Wyverns after he contracted one.
• A palace envoy delivered Princess Anxia's invitation for Russell to dine with her in the Inner Castle.
• Princess Anxia welcomed Russell, asked him to call her Madam, and invited Kunlaya to join their meal.
• Russell chatted with Kunlaya about his unicorn Polly and answered her questions about the outside world.
• After Russell left, Princess Anxia asked Kunlaya whether she would accept being married to the Scorching Torrent Kingdom, but Kunlaya said she wanted to stay near home.

Princess Anxia confided in the Shadowflame Dragon that the king planned to send Kunlaya away in a marriage alliance, and she recalled the trauma of her own forced marriage. The Shadowflame Dragon suggested Russell Fluorite Mushroom as someone it liked, while Anxia reassured Kunlaya that she would not let her leave; Russell departed thinking about visiting family and earning money.

• Princess Anxia told the unresponsive Shadowflame Dragon that the king intended Kunlaya to replace Kunstan in a marriage alliance.
• Anxia recalled eloping with a palace guard at seventeen, suffering abuse, and being forced by her father to marry Marquis Kunteluo.
• The Shadowflame Dragon said it could barely look after itself, then added that it liked Russell Fluorite Mushroom.
• Princess Anxia returned to the palace with Kunlaya and promised she would not let her daughter leave, though Kunlaya said she did not want to marry.
• Russell left the Inner Castle, planned visits to his sister and grandfather, and worried about raising money for the Warm Enclave.

Russell relayed Count Merlin’s demand that Lord Ross come to Red Castle and answer for desertion. Baron Roman decided to take responsibility himself, while Russell reflected that Ross needed to confront his own reluctance to accept a rider.

• Count Merlin told Russell to pass on his order for Lord Ross to apologize at Red Castle or face a desertion charge.
• Russell delivered Count Merlin’s message to Baron Roman, who objected to treating Ross’s delay as desertion.
• Baron Roman decided to bring Ross to Red Castle and apologize in his place because he had ordered Ross not to support the dragon.
• Russell supported Baron Roman’s decision and said the family owed Ross for protecting the Gloomlight River Valley Knight Order.
• Baron Roman reminded Russell that dragons were partners whose pride and service the family must respect.

Russell left Red Castle for Black Court Mountain to visit his pregnant sister Rowena, carrying gifts from Roland and Mel as well as his own. He crossed the Ice Age’s buried trade route with Grove and reached Black Court Mountain’s border, where Polly urged him to travel without slower companions next time.

• Roland gave Russell a long-tailed pheasant Phantom Beast egg for Rowena’s child and asked him to bring the gifts he had prepared.
• Mel gave Russell a gemstone longsword for Rowena and returned to his busy duties at Red Castle.
• Russell set out northeast with Grove and Bill, while Polly flew ahead and explored each night.
• Russell and Grove struggled through the frozen cavern and snow-buried Black Fire Trade Route, with Bill clearing a path using wind blades.
• After crossing the trade route, Polly complained about the slow journey, and Russell agreed that they could travel alone next time.

Russell traveled to Black Court Mountain and reunited with his pregnant sister Rowena at Black Court Castle. He secured Cooper’s agreement to make Black Court Mountain an exclusive distributor of Rain Dragon Cigars.

• Russell and his companions hunted Snow Ghosts across the Ice Age snowfields, and Little Dream Dragon ate several hundred Hail Beads.
• Russell arrived at Black Court Castle and was welcomed by Madam Kunti and Cooper, who led him to visit Rowena.
• Russell reassured Rowena that Roland had stayed at Red Castle to help their father with official duties, then discussed her pregnancy and the Shadowflame Dragon.
• Russell gave Rowena gifts from himself, Roland, and Mel, including jewelry, a sword, and a Phantom Beast egg.
• Russell offered Cooper the Black Court Mountain Rain Dragon Cigar distributorship, and Cooper agreed to sell only Russell’s cigars there.

At Black Court Castle, Russell trained his swordsmanship and challenged Cooper, whose Bristle Wolf Spider Kushou joined the duel through Phantom Beast Fusion. Russell unveiled his Three Sword Style and kept demanding more swords as the fight continued.

• Russell trained his primordial breath and sword techniques while staying at Black Court Mountain with Cooper.
• Russell sparred with Grove and overwhelmed him with a sword net, breaking Grove’s sword as he insisted his swordsmanship still had room to grow.
• Cooper challenged Russell, and Russell’s intricate sword-net attacks forced Cooper to call on Kushou and use Phantom Beast Fusion.
• Russell took a second sword from Grove and pushed Cooper back with two-sword attacks.
• Russell called for another sword, caught it with Battle Aura Sword Control, and began using his Three Sword Style.

Russell defeated Cooper in a spar with his newly developed Three Sword Style, impressing his family and companions. He left to explain the technique to Cooper while Rowena celebrated Russell’s strength and hoped he would one day ride a dragon.

• Russell used the Three Sword Style to break Cooper’s Phantom Beast Fusion and win their spar.
• Cooper admitted defeat and asked Russell about the Three Sword Style, which Russell said he had developed himself.
• Russell reassured Unicorn Polly that her support abilities were valuable and looked forward to growing stronger.
• Cooper invited Russell to rest and discuss the Three Sword Style, while Grove chose to continue training.
• Rowena watched Russell leave with Cooper and told Madam Kunti that she believed Russell, Cooper, and Roland would all someday ride dragons.

Russell visited the Black Court castle, where Cooper praised his newly developed Three Sword Style and Madam Kunti discussed family politics with her son. Baron Curis returned to the castle and arranged to buy Rain Dragon Cigars from Russell.

• At lunch, Cooper told Madam Kunti that Russell’s Three Sword Style had defeated him even after he used Phantom Beast Fusion.
• Russell and Rowena reminisced during a walk, while Madam Kunti privately urged Cooper to support Kunsley and draw the Fluorite Mushroom Family to his side.
• Cooper warned Madam Kunti that Russell was extremely close to Mel and would be difficult to recruit.
• Lord Aen returned to Black Court Mountain, and Rowena led Russell to greet Baron Curis as he arrived.
• Curis praised Russell and said he wanted to order Rain Dragon Cigars, which Russell said he had already arranged to supply with Cooper.

After visiting Rowena and Cooper for two weeks, Russell discovered a Spirit Worm gestating near Black Court Mountain and told them where to find it before leaving. On the journey home, he practiced Battle Qi Sword Control with Polly and decided to develop a faster, sword-powered version of Wind Walk.

• Russell discovered a Spirit Worm gestating in a tree and left its fate to Rowena and the Zi Cao Family.
• Russell told Rowena and Cooper about the tree before departing, and Cooper planned to nurture the Spirit Worm without spending Lord Aen's Origin Dragon Breath.
• Russell practiced Battle Qi Sword Control while riding Polly and demonstrated that he could control his sword within three meters.
• Russell proposed combining Wind Walk with Battle Qi Sword Control to increase their flying speed.
• Russell named their planned upgraded magic project Sword Control Technique.

Russell tested his growing combat abilities on the way to Red Castle, then learned that Lord Ross had been brought before the Elder Council and branded a deserter. Roland feared the consequences for Ross and complained about their grandfather and Mel, while Russell cautioned him to watch his words.

• Russell tested his thorn whip and Six Meridian Divine Sword in an unexplored forest and judged himself capable of facing an ordinary Snow Demon.
• Russell reassured Polly that she would remain his partner even after he rode a dragon, then reviewed the Phantom Beasts and other resources he had gained.
• Russell reached Red Castle and learned from Roland that Baron Roman had returned with Lord Ross, who had been taken to the Elder Council.
• Roland worried that Ross would be punished and complained about their grandfather and Mel, while Russell warned him to watch his words.