Chapter Summaries

Russell visited Count Merlin and Marquis Arno Lieyang to promote Rain Dragon Cigars, securing permission to advertise them in the gazette and a place for them on the trade list with the Scorching Torrent Kingdom. Marquis Arno demanded eighty percent of the profits, and Russell left Nevernight Castle vowing to make him pay for the deal once he became a Dragon Knight.

• Russell gave Count Merlin one hundred crates of Frost Rain Dragon Cigars and persuaded him to approve a gazette advertisement for the three cigar series.
• Russell visited Marquis Arno Lieyang at Nevernight Castle after waiting for hours and offered him one hundred crates of Frost Cigars.
• Russell pitched Rain Dragon Cigars to Marquis Arno and asked to include them in trade with the Scorching Torrent Kingdom.
• Marquis Arno agreed to add the cigars to the trade list but demanded eighty percent of the profits, and Russell accepted.
• Russell left Nevernight Castle with Katie and the others, silently vowing to recover the money from Arno after becoming a Dragon Knight.

Russell discussed Marquis Arno’s trade demands and the Wyvern Knights’ political rivalries with Mel before leaving Redkeep with Roland for Poplar Desert. Roland claimed he would recover in time to spar with Russell, who suspected his brother was exhausted from a night of excess.

• Russell complained to Mel that Marquis Arno would take eighty percent of the Rain Dragon Cigar profits, and vowed to make the Scorching Torrent Kingdom pay someday.
• Mel urged Russell to approach Lord Medicarren and ride a Wyvern, while Russell said he was confident he could ride another one.
• Mel explained that Augustus might win Baron Davis’s support because Davis’s nephew Dyson was a likely heir to the Golden Plains.
• Russell promised to support Mel’s bid for the Grand Duke’s position, and Mel laughed at his pledge.
• Russell and Roland left Redkeep for Poplar Desert, and Russell challenged his exhausted brother to spar after a few days of rest.

On the Poplar Trade Route, Russell encouraged Katie to prepare for a contract with Jerry and then accepted Roland’s challenge to duel. Russell defeated Roland with a single sword strike, leaving his brother stunned by how much he had surpassed him.

• At Cold Spring Point, Katie told Russell she was preparing herself to contract with Jerry, and Russell urged Jerry to accept her as its master.
• Jerry reluctantly left Russell and went to Katie, who was moved by Russell’s encouragement to pursue the contract and cultivation.
• Roland challenged Russell to a sword battle on the snowfields, and Russell eagerly agreed.
• Roland launched a fierce assault while Russell defended and observed his fighting style.
• Russell broke through Roland’s attack and overwhelmed his defenses with his swordsmanship, then pulled him up and remarked on how much he had changed.

Russell defeated Roland in a spar, then the brothers reached Huyang Castle in the Poplar Desert, where they were welcomed by Baron Gevidas Baimai Gen and his family. Russell met Gewen, Roland’s future bride, as the family began hosting the visitors.

• Russell explained that he had also beaten Count Merlin in a swordsmanship contest, and Roland accepted his defeat while promising to challenge Russell again after strengthening his foundation.
• Russell asked Katie and the others not to spread word of the spar, and Roland was relieved that his dignity had been protected.
• Two days later, Russell, Roland, Katie, and their companions entered the Poplar Desert and arrived at Huyang Castle.
• Baron Gevidas Baimai Gen, Madam Joanna, and their family welcomed Russell and Roland at the castle gates.
• Roland greeted his friend Gelongo and nervously met Gewen, while Russell assessed his future sister-in-law and introduced himself.

Roland and Russell visited Huyang Castle, where Russell bonded with Gelontan while watching Roland court Gewen. Roland learned that Baron Gevidas would not agree to his proposed marriage alliance with Gewen, leaving him frustrated and uncertain about their plans.

• Russell toured the desert with Gelontan, who admired his unicorn Polly and said he wanted to follow Russell someday.
• Russell invited Gelontan to ask him about cultivation and claimed no one in the Shadowflame Grand Duchy understood swordsmanship better than he did.
• At the banquet, Russell noticed that Roland and Gewen seemed to get along, but the Baimai Gen Family acted aloof.
• Roland raised the marriage alliance with Baron Gevidas, who refused and blamed Madam Joanna's wish to delay Gewen's marriage.
• Roland told Russell about the refusal and angrily complained that Gewen would be an old maid if she waited two more years.

Roland learned that Baron Gevidas had delayed Gewen’s marriage partly because of Roland’s tarnished reputation and a rival Wyvern Knight prospect, but he and Gewen pledged themselves to each other. The next day, Russell began teaching Gelongtan swordsmanship and stunned him with a display of the Radiant Sword Technique.

• Roland complained to Russell that Baron Gevidas had rejected him, then decided to ask Gewen directly about her father’s reasons.
• Roland met Gewen at Huyang Castle, and they pledged themselves to each other after she revealed that Baron Gevidas doubted Roland’s conduct and was considering Dreller.
• Roland vowed to win Baron Gevidas’s approval through his achievements and chose to remain at Huyang Castle for another day.
• Russell prepared to guide Gelongtan in swordsmanship while Roland pursued his plan with Gewen’s parents.
• Russell demonstrated the Radiant Sword Technique, and Gelongtan trembled in fear at the force of his sword aura.

Russell demonstrated his One Sword, Dual Sword, and Three Sword styles to Gelongtan, who asked to become his follower. Baron Gevidas drove Russell and Roland from Huyang Castle, and Roland vowed to return in glory and marry Gewen.

• Russell showed Gelongtan his One Sword Style, then demonstrated Dual Sword Style and Three Sword Style, leaving the boy overwhelmed.
• Gelongtan knelt and asked Russell to accept him as a follower, but Baron Gevidas arrived and ordered him to stand.
• Baron Gevidas accused Russell of interfering with his son and declared that Huyang Castle did not welcome him.
• Russell announced that he would leave, and Baron Gevidas ordered Roland to go as well; Russell and Roland packed and departed with their belongings.
• Outside the castle, Roland told Russell he did not blame him and vowed to return in glory to marry Gewen; Russell silently vowed to help him.

Gelongge learned why Baron Gevidas aligned the Baimai Gen Family with Kunsley and was urged to win the Bismuth Hua Dragon Geller’s approval. Back at the Red Keep, Russell focused on expanding Rain Dragon Cigar sales and secretly using the Hail Beads he earned to nourish the Black Oil Dragon egg.

• Baron Gevidas told Gelongge that the Baimai Gen Family had to support Kunsley and oppose the Ghost Fire Family to secure its position amid the struggle over Selecting the Young Master.
• Gelongge questioned the prospect of annexation and war, while Baron Gevidas warned that the factions might still fight and urged him to become a Wyvern Knight by winning over Geller.
• At the beginning of June, Roland and Russell returned to the Red Keep, where Roland socialized and Russell promoted Rain Dragon Cigars with Cousin Mel.
• Russell continued taking Hail Beads as payment for cigars and fed them to the Black Oil Dragon egg.
• Mel reported that Marquis Arno’s public support had made Rain Dragon Cigars fashionable, and Russell complained that Arno claimed eighty percent of the profits from the cigars on the trade list.

Russell stayed at Red Castle to complete his Rain Dragon Cigar orders, where Katie became a Phantom Beast Knight and he received rewards for his Fermented Fertilizer Technology. He contracted with a Wheat Sprite and prepared to return to his territory with a new companion.

• Katie told Russell that she had contracted with Jerry and advanced to Phantom Beast Knight, and Russell congratulated her and urged her to train Jerry.
• Russell learned that the Grand Scholars' Round Table had awarded him a Scholar's Award Medal for his Fermented Fertilizer Technology and collected it from Grand Scholar Robert.
• A messenger from Red Castle's Elder Council presented Russell with an unnamed Wheat Sprite, which he contracted with before signing the receipt.
• Mel told Russell that the Elder Council had originally planned to reward him with wasteland, but the Regent Lady had intervened and offered the sprite instead.

Russell left with Wheat Sprite Whitt after visiting Mel, then received a letter from Princess Kunlaya thanking him for his work and wondered why Princess Anxia was trying to build a rapport with him. In the Dark Dreamscape, he discovered and contracted a wild Hops Spirit Worm, then set off for home with both sprites.

• Russell named the Wheat Sprite Whitt and left Mel, dismissing his cousin’s suggestion that he move his fief to the Volcanic Oasis.
• A guard delivered Russell a letter from Princess Kunlaya thanking him for inventing Fermented Fertilizer Technology and praising his Wheat Sprite.
• Russell suspected Princess Anxia had written the letter and wondered whether the Shadowflame Dragon had told her something about him.
• That night, Russell found a newly born wild Spirit Worm in the Dark Dreamscape, and Polly remembered where it was.
• Russell returned at dawn, found a Hops Spirit Worm among wild Hops, and contracted it with Jade Powder.
• Russell placed the Hops Spirit Worm in the Jade Box with Whitt and set off for home.

Russell returned to Fluorite Castle with the Scholar's Award Medal and reassured his family about the marriage alliance and Laura’s worries. Back at Wuyou Snake Manor, he agreed to celebrate his recognition and Sir Katie’s advancement, then went to inspect the river clam pond and pearl harvest.

• Russell showed Madam Meryl his Scholar's Award Medal and explained how Rosie and Whitt would provide abundant magic potion ingredients.
• Russell and Madam Meryl discussed Baron Gevidas breaking his promise about a marriage alliance, and Russell reassured her that Roland and Gewen still wanted to be together.
• Russell comforted Laura about the prospect of Gewen becoming her sister-in-law and boasted that he would soon challenge his grandfather for the title of Number One of Shadowflame.
• Russell returned to Wuyou Snake Manor, where Charles proposed a celebration for Russell's recognition and Sir Katie's advancement to Phantom Beast Knight.
• Russell agreed to let the residents share in the celebration, then took Ribs Jimmy to the river clam pond to inspect the pearl harvest.

Russell inspected his pearl farms and harvested tiny golden pearls, prompting Charles to praise his magical skill and urge him to join the Grand Scholars' Round Table. Horace tried to outdo Charles with a clumsy compliment, and Russell challenged him over whether he thought he was funny.

• Ribs Jimmy reported that mortality among the farmed mussels had fallen by half after women workers implanted pearl nuclei.
• Russell asked Ribs Jimmy to open old mussels raised in the ponds, regretting that he had killed a giant wild mussel before learning how rare it was.
• Ribs Jimmy harvested tiny, pale golden pearls from the old mussels, and Charles sensed magical aura in them.
• Charles attributed the pearls to Dragon's Gaze, then praised Russell's learning and proposed that the Grand Scholars' Round Table invite him to join.
• Horace claimed Russell had surpassed the Grand Scholars' Round Table, and Russell asked whether Horace thought he was funny.

Russell discovered that clay-grown mussels produced golden pearls that could improve eyesight, and he planned to turn pearls into gifts and accessories. After the banquet, he reunited with Harpe and began strengthening their bond, while Polly observed from nearby.

• Russell had Eric, Grove, and Katie examine the pearls, and they found that white pearls benefited the skin while golden pearls also faintly improved eyesight.
• Russell ordered Morris to store the pearls and decided to give pearl bracelets to female hosts at banquets, complementing cigars for male hosts.
• The territory celebrated several happy occasions at a grand banquet, where Russell drank heavily and slept through the afternoon.
• Russell woke and asked Morris about Harpe, who returned at dusk after patrolling the territory and eating roasted mouse meat.
• Russell stroked Harpe's tuft and personally fed her while Polly watched from the bamboo grove, prompting him to reflect on the difficulty of balancing bonds with multiple Phantom Beasts.

Russell trained with Polly to form vital essence armor but failed, though their attempts lasted longer each time. After seeing Katie training late at night, he renewed his resolve to practice with Polly, while Little Dream Dragon promised to lead him to greatness regardless.

• Russell asked Polly to practice Battle Qi Armor Transformation with him, but their vital essence armor repeatedly shattered before they finally stopped for the night.
• Russell rode Little Dream Dragon across the quiet snowfields and estimated that Rosai would hatch in about two months thanks to Baron Roman's supply of Hail Beads.
• Russell checked the officials' dormitories and found Katie meditating late at night while Jerry slept beside her.
• Russell briefly felt ashamed of his effort after seeing Katie train, then regained his confidence with Little Dream Dragon's support.
• Russell promised Polly that starting the next day she would have as many Magic Potions as she needed while they trained until they mastered battle aura armor.

Russell completed Battle Qi Armor Transformation with Unicorn Polly and named their snow-white elemental armor Snowy Unicorn Armor. After showing off his new armor and aerial movement, he sparred with Katie and advised her to strengthen her ordinary knight techniques.

• Russell spent a week training with Polly and completed elemental armor, shaping it into a snow-white suit he named Snowy Unicorn Armor.
• Russell tested the armor, decided the Green Ceramic Sword no longer matched it, and imagined using Harpe to create an elemental weapon in the future.
• Russell flew down to the lawn, where Eric, Grove, and Katie praised his progress and Katie declared him likely invincible among Phantom Beast Knights.
• Russell offered to spar with the three knights; Grove and Eric declined, while Katie accepted and was quickly defeated by Russell using one sword.
• Russell told Katie to rebuild her knight fundamentals, then thought about returning to the Poplar Desert to find Gelontan Baimai Gen and make him a follower.

Charles managed the newly assigned magic potion fields and returned home for lunch, where he decided to send Charli to Knight Academy. After arguing with his wife about money and his fixation on Catherine, he reaffirmed his loyalty to Russell and his hope that Chad would one day gain a title.

• Charles confirmed that Wheat Tunic's fifteen-hundred-mu potion field was cleared and promised Rudy would guide its serfs.
• Charles assigned the Hops Magic Potion Field to Alfalfa Tunic and instructed Lame Adolf to ensure the serfs learned its cultivation.
• Charles went home instead of visiting Cigar Courtyard and told his wife he would send Charli to Knight Academy to cultivate Battle Aura.
• Charles and his wife argued over tuition, his thoughts about Catherine, and his ambition to advance through serving Russell.
• After the clerical aide delivered sunflower seeds for Charli, Charles insisted that loyal service to Russell could secure Chad a future title.

Russell trained with Polly to develop Phantom Beast Fusion, testing its swift simplified form and powerful centaur form while considering how to incorporate Sword Control Technique. In late August, he learned that Baron Roman and the Knight Order had returned, and he headed to Fluorite Castle hoping for the Hail Beads needed to hatch the Black Oil Dragon.

• Russell practiced Phantom Beast Fusion with Polly and discovered its simplified form let him fly at Polly’s top speed with little energy consumption.
• Russell and Polly tested the full centaur form, which greatly increased his combat strength but consumed far more energy.
• Russell considered developing new forms of Phantom Beast Fusion and incorporating Sword Control Technique, while Katie offered to keep training as his sparring partner.
• Russell reflected that Marcus was the only suitable sparring partner for him and resolved to challenge him someday.
• Messenger Knight Raphael told Russell that Baron Roman had returned with the Knight Order and invited him to a banquet at Fluorite Castle, so Russell set out at once.

At a banquet honoring fallen knights, Russell gave his family the Hail Beads gathered by the Knight Order and used them to awaken the intelligence of his Black Oil Dragon Egg. Rosai called him “Father,” and Russell planned to plant the egg the next day so it could mature and hatch.

• Baron Roman toasted the fallen knights at Fluorite Castle, and Russell reflected on the Knight Order’s casualties during its hunts for Hail Beads.
• Baron Roman gave Russell a bag of Hail Beads, and Russell agreed to cover compensation for the fallen knights.
• Russell fed the Hail Beads to the Black Oil Dragon Egg until it transformed into a crimson gemstone and Rosai began communicating with him as its father.
• Russell told Baron Roman and Madam Meryl that Rosai had awakened its intelligence and needed to be planted in the earth before it could hatch.
• Russell said he would plant Rosai on the Great Plain the next day, and Roland told him he was proud of him.

Madam Meryl and Baron Roman discussed Russell’s prospects as a Wyvern Knight before Russell chose a site east of Dagger Mountain for his future home. He placed Rossai’s egg there, where it melted the Ice Cap and began sleeping beneath the ground for half a month, and Russell planned to return before it awoke.

• Madam Meryl celebrated that Russell was about to become a Wyvern Knight, while Baron Roman said he might eventually let Roland ride Ross if Ross approved.
• Russell traveled to the plains east of Dagger Mountain and chose a raised site for his hot spring and future castle.
• Russell placed Rossai’s egg on the Ice Cap, and its heat melted and evaporated the ice, forming a large pit with glowing red cracks.
• Rossai told Russell it would sleep for half a month before it could see him, and Russell sensed it sleeping beneath the pit.
• Russell decided to return later to watch for Rossai’s awakening and planned to visit Lord Marcus at Windmill Manor before contracting Harpe.

Russell visited Windmill Manor and challenged Marcus to a full-strength duel, while Marcus welcomed the chance to beat him and regain some pride. They waited for more spectators, and Baron Roman arrived on the Clay Dragon just as the duel was about to begin.

• Marcus complained that Pangolin King kept digging holes, while praising Steel Thunder Beast for earning the manor transport fees.
• Marcus and Madam Shafali discussed Malena's marriage alliance and argued about Russell, whom Marcus blamed for rejecting her.
• Russell arrived at Windmill Manor and challenged Marcus as a Tier 1 Phantom Beast Knight.
• Marcus accepted Russell's offer to fight all out, and the two prepared for a duel on the lawn as their companions and supporters gathered.
• Marcus suggested waiting for more spectators, and Russell agreed; a quarter of an hour later, Baron Roman arrived riding the Clay Dragon.