Chapter Summaries

Russell defeated Count Oscro and asserted his authority over the Kingtop Mushroom Family’s succession, but Baroness Roby postponed naming an heir until the remaining guests arrived. Russell accepted her decision and learned that her lingering love for her late husband and concern for the family shaped her hesitation.

• Russell pinned Count Oscro beneath his foot after cutting down the three Willow family Wyverns, then repelled Madam Kunli with Dragon Breath.
• Russell declared himself invincible beneath the Shadowflame Dragon and said only Baroness Roby could decide the Kingtop Mushroom Family’s heir.
• Baroness Roby postponed naming an heir, despite Russell’s support for Diana or her future children inheriting the title.
• Russell returned to Kingtop Castle to change clothes, and Baroness Roby explained that she still felt bound by her marriage to Baron Davis and his choice of Dyson as heir.
• Russell reassured Baroness Roby that she should follow her heart, and she said she would discuss the succession with his father when he arrived.

Russell returned to Kingtop Castle and proved to Count Merlin that his Dragon Breath surpassed his grandfather’s, while Count Oscro failed to win support for his complaint. Count Merlin decided the Demon Extermination Order would continue with Wyvern Knights hunting in teams, and Russell planned to revisit Marquis Arno over the cigar profits.

• Russell spent two days hunting Snow Ghosts and Snow Demons on the snowfields before flying back to Kingtop Castle with Rosai.
• Count Merlin confronted Russell about beating Count Oscro and injuring his Wyverns, then celebrated Russell’s strength and ignored Oscro’s complaints.
• Count Oscro accused Count Merlin of neglecting his duties and threatened to report him, then stormed back to his quarters and smashed the furnishings.
• Russell defeated Count Merlin in a Dragon Breath contest, and Count Merlin said he was proud that Russell had become the foremost figure in the Shadowflame Grand Duchy.
• Count Merlin continued the Demon Extermination Order but required Wyvern Knights to hunt Snow Demons in teams because Snow Giant Da remained dangerous.
• Russell learned Marquis Arno had reacted with shock to his advancement and said he would confront him again over the cigar trade’s profits.

After Baroness Roby agreed to let the peat dragon choose Davis’s heir, Diana asked Howard to decide between her and Lord Dyson. Howard recognized Dyson as heir, leaving Diana’s hopes unfulfilled.

• Old Madam Ingrid and Madam Meryl urged Baroness Roby to choose Diana over Dyson, but Roby said she would honor Davis’s choice of heir.
• Russell encouraged Diana to speak, and she asked Roby to let Lord Howard decide who should inherit.
• Baroness Roby agreed and gathered the guests beside Davis’s grave to present Diana and Dyson as candidates.
• Howard mourned at Davis’s grave, then approached the candidates and breathed warm Dragon Breath on Dyson to recognize him as heir.

Dyson Kindermush became Peat Dragon Howard’s chosen heir and prepared to inherit Golden Plains, while Diana renounced her family name and left with Aunt Roby. Before Russell departed, Dyson sought an alliance with him, offering to fund a trade route and declaring support for Young Master Mel.

• Peat Dragon Howard chose Dyson as heir, and Diana Kingtop Mushroom angrily ran away before deciding to abandon her surname and leave Kingtop Castle with Aunt Roby.
• Aunt Roby and her family began separating her private assets and dowry from the public property Dyson would inherit, while Baron Roman and Russell discussed the political consequences of the succession.
• Dyson visited Russell that night and proposed that their territories jointly develop a trade route, with Golden Plains covering the costs.
• Russell asked whom Dyson supported in the election, and Dyson firmly answered that he supported Young Master Mel.

Russell returned from the Golden Plains to Thunder Marsh, charted a new trade route, and chose Baron Thunderflame as his future title. He saw the Blackfire Land, Thunder Marsh, and Guangguang River Valley beginning to merge, then returned to Wuyou Snake Manor and told Charles he expected to become a baron.

• Russell and Rosai detected more than twenty Cold Spring Points and selected fifteen for a trade route between the Golden Plains and Thunder Marsh.
• Russell chose Baron Thunderflame as his prospective title after discussing names with Polly.
• Russell saw the Ice Cap fracturing between Thunder Marsh and the Blackfire Land, and then between the Blackfire Land and Guangguang River Valley.
• Russell returned to Wuyou Snake Manor with Polly and invited Charles to lunch.
• Russell told Charles that his achievements as a Dragon Domain Lord would soon earn him a baronial title, and Charles congratulated him.

Russell prepared for a major influx of serfs and discussed developing Blackfire Land with Charles, then strengthened his bond with Harpe and practiced Phantom Beast Fusion. That night, he took Little Dream Dragon and the others to search for Spirit Worms and visit Fairy Saiban.

• Russell told Charles that Red Castle would likely reward him with tens of thousands of serfs, and they planned for food, development, and training knight candidates.
• Russell revealed that Rosai had sensed a black oil vein beneath Blackfire Land, which could reduce their reliance on coal.
• Russell visited the recovering Harpe, and they practiced Phantom Beast Fusion in Winged Form and Harpy Form as they worked toward Perfect Synchronization.
• Little Dream Dragon returned, and Russell asked him to search the territory for Spirit Worms and use dragonflame to hasten their growth.
• Russell brought Polly and the other members of the dream family to Saiban Snow Forest to look for Fairy Saiban and claim the remaining leaves of his Lucky Four-Leaf Clover.

Russell rode Little Dream Dragon through the Dark Dreamscape, discussed Polly’s mysterious origins, and planned to test whether Snowcake could absorb Snow Giant Da. Meanwhile, two immense blue monsters met in the Black Wave Mountain Range, where the northern one withdrew and the southern monster was left relieved.

• Russell searched Saiban Snow Forest for Saiban but failed to find the hidden fairy, then rode Little Dream Dragon toward the snowfields.
• Little Dream Dragon absorbed groups of Snow Ghosts as Russell imagined clearing the territory’s surroundings each month.
• Russell and Polly discussed whether the Dark Dreamscape was a concept and wondered where Polly’s Pseudo-Dragon bloodline had come from.
• Russell proposed that Little Dream Dragon try absorbing Snow Giant Da, and Snowcake eagerly agreed to test it when they met.
• Two blue monsters over twenty meters tall confronted each other in an unnamed Black Wave Mountain Range valley, but the northern monster left and the southern one breathed with relief.

Russell discussed his family’s plans for expanding and developing their territories, chose Fluorite Mushroom as his new family name, and was formally invested as Baron Thunderflame. The news spread through Guangguang River Valley as the serfs celebrated his title.

• Madam Meryl told Russell that Aunt Roby and Grandmother would live together in a Small Castle near Glimmering Town.
• Roland reported that melting snowfields were bringing the Warm Enclaves together, and Baron Roman planned to inform the Elder Council and focus the family on development.
• Baron Roman promised to provide food for Russell’s incoming population, agreed to waive Russell’s Hail Bead debt, and arranged for Roland to test Blackfire Land’s black oil.
• Russell chose Fluorite Mushroom as the surname for his new family, and he toasted its future with Baron Roman and Roland.
• At the beginning of March, Red Castle’s Messenger Knights proclaimed Russell’s hereditary baronial title and bestowed the baronial name Thunderflame.
• The serfs of Guangguang River Valley heard the proclamation and celebrated Russell becoming a baron.

Russell prepared to travel to Red Castle for his investiture as Baron Thunderflame, while his followers and household celebrated and readied themselves to attend. The chapter ended with Charles embracing his new status and Ram regaining confidence in his place as Russell’s valet.

• Russell announced that Knight Captain Kendall would guard the territory while his followers traveled to Red Castle for the investiture.
• Charles, Tom, Jack, James, and Gelontan Baimai Gen looked forward to witnessing Russell become a baron.
• Charles argued with his wife over his formal clothes, then ordered her to buy outfits for them both and celebrated being called Lord Charles.
• Ram worried that Russell might replace him as personal valet, but Phoebe reassured him that Russell valued his unqualified manner of service.
• Ram accepted Phoebe’s explanation and regained confidence in his position.

Baron Gloomlight Roman Fluorite Mushroom read praise of Russell in the court gazette, while Russell prepared to receive his investiture as Baron of Thunder Flame. At the ceremony, Russell swore to defend the Shadowflame Grand Duchy and vowed to protect its dragon and royal family as he rose toward his greater ambitions.

• Baron Gloomlight Roman Fluorite Mushroom realized Russell had given Madam Meryl the finest golden pearls, while the bracelet he had given Mitchell was made from inferior ones.
• On March 20, Year 5583, Regent Lady Anxia Lieyang presided over Russell's investiture at the Government Hall, attended by the Grand Duchy's nobles and all twelve wyvern knights.
• Anxia read the edict investing Russell as Baron of Thunder Flame, and Russell accepted it after giving the Knight's Salute.
• Russell swore to defend the Shadowflame Grand Duchy, protect the Shadowflame Dragon, and protect the Shadowflame Dragonblood Family.
• Russell knelt before Quentin Shadowflame's statue and vowed to shelter the royal family, guide the Grand Duchy through its crisis, found his own nation, and eventually travel to the Snow Demons' homeland.

Russell became Baron Thunderflame and received two Warm Enclaves, 65,000 serfs, and other rewards, making him the Shadowflame Grand Duchy's foremost young knight. At the banquet, he arranged to discuss cigar profits with Marquis Arno and spoke with his siblings about returning to their family territory.

• Russell was invested as Baron Thunderflame, and Red Castle awarded him Blackfire Land, Thunder Marsh, 65,000 serfs, 300 plow oxen, and 500 dragon-blood warhorses.
• Marquis Arno invited Russell to Nevernight Castle to discuss cigar-trade profits, and Russell agreed to meet him the next day.
• Russell told Roland he wanted more than a small share of the cigar profits and asked him to invite prospective followers to visit his new lands for evaluation.
• Rowena and Cooper decided to return with Roland to Guangguang River Valley, and Rowena challenged Russell to spar when he arrived.

At the banquet, nobles considered whether Russell should marry Princess Kunlaya, while Baron Roman rejected a political match and speculated that Russell might one day become Grand Duke Shadowflame. The chapter left that possibility as a shared hope among the realm’s elder rulers.

• Princess Kunlaya toasted Russell and asked him about life as a Dragon Domain Lord and Wyvern Knight.
• Madam Kunna suggested that Russell and Princess Kunlaya would make a perfect pair, and Princess Anxia privately welcomed the idea.
• Madam Kunna and Madam Kunti argued over whether Kunlaya should marry within the Grand Duchy or into the Scorching Torrent Kingdom, until Princess Anxia ended the discussion.
• After the banquet, Madam Meryl told Baron Roman that Princess Anxia might support a match between Russell and Kunlaya.
• Baron Roman said Russell should not be bound by a political marriage and speculated that he might be able to ride the Shadowflame Dragon and become Grand Duke Shadowflame.

Russell discussed his new position and the sixty-five thousand serfs awarded to him, while Mel promised to support his promotion to Grand Scholar. As the Fluorite Mushroom Family departed, Russell arranged for the serfs’ journey to Blackfire Land and Thunder Marsh to be handled carefully.

• Russell greeted his followers at breakfast and said he would ask Mel to prepare food and winter clothing for the sixty-five thousand serfs.
• Mel told Russell he had the strength and status to become Minister of Finance but lacked the experience, and Russell defended his expertise in Fermented Fertilizer Technology.
• Mel offered to recommend Russell for promotion to Grand Scholar and agreed to help receive his serfs.
• Russell asked Baron Roman to manage the serfs’ transport through Glimmering Market and to settle sick or climate-stricken serfs there rather than risk their lives.

Russell visited Marquis Arno at Nevernight Castle to renegotiate the cigar trade, demanding eighty percent of its profits. After Russell demonstrated his strength with a devastating sword strike, Arno accepted the new split, though their partnership remained tense.

• Russell arrived at Nevernight Castle, where Marquis Arno welcomed him and hosted a lavish feast.
• Russell told Arno that the cigar trade’s profit split and its share of trade between the countries needed to change.
• Russell rejected Arno’s offer of an equal split and demanded eighty percent of the profits, while threatening to exclude Arno from the trade in the future.
• Arno argued that the Scorching Torrent Kingdom’s protection was essential to the Shadowflame Grand Duchy’s survival and dismissed Russell’s claim that he could challenge Snow Giant Da.
• Russell seized Arno, flew outside the castle, and demonstrated his power by carving a massive, lightning-scorched scar into the ground.
• Arno admitted Russell’s attack was not enough to severely wound Snow Giant Da, but agreed to give Russell eighty percent of the cigar trade profits.

After Russell’s sword strike shook Nevernight Castle, Marquis Arno reported his strength to the king and chose to continue living comfortably. At dinner with the Merlin family, Russell helped ease Count Merlin’s relationship with Eldest Aunt Melinda’s family, while Madam Kunna remained cool toward them.

• Marquis Arno sent the king a letter detailing Russell’s deeds and sword strike, while omitting their cigar-profit arrangement.
• Marquis Arno reflected on his declining strength but decided to keep enjoying himself and ordered Nevernight Castle repaired without canceling the next day’s festivities.
• At dinner, Uncle Meijie praised Russell’s swordsmanship, and Count Merlin lamented that Marquis Arno had abandoned his former knightly spirit.
• Russell toasted Uncle Meijie and Uncle Saislo, helping the gathering grow warmer and Count Merlin accept Eldest Aunt Melinda’s family.
• Count Merlin warmly clinked glasses with Saiken and Saihan, while Madam Kunna remained only faintly cordial toward Eldest Aunt Melinda’s family and toasted Russell.

Russell accepted Princess Anxia’s generous reward of skilled serfs, visited the Inner Castle, and guided Princess Kunlaya’s sword training. When playwright Nicholas arrived seeking material for another play, Russell changed his mind after hearing Nicholas knew about his fight with the wyverns.

• Russell accepted the serfs Princess Anxia had arranged and declined Lord Kunbei’s invitation to a feast and ball.
• Russell thanked Princess Anxia over lunch, demonstrated his swordsmanship to Princess Kunlaya, and promised to teach her his new Three Sword Style Great Move technique once it was ready.
• Russell returned to Mel’s castle and told his butler to send away Nicholas, the playwright behind Riding the Dragon Youth Journey.
• Nicholas bypassed the dismissal, praised Russell, and described the hidden story of Russell felling three wyverns with one sword strike.
• Russell stopped Nicholas and began adding details, saying that he had planted his left foot on Oskro’s face.

Russell met with the Shadowflame Grand Duchy’s Wyvern Knights as Count Merlin prepared a War Mobilization Order to hunt Snow Demons and assess Snow Giant Da. Russell agreed to help hold the giant back if they encountered it, while reserving the right to flee if it proved too powerful.

• Russell gave Nicholas details for Thunder from the Dragon Domain, and Nicholas returned to Furious Wind City to write it.
• Count Merlin summoned Russell to a meeting with the Wyvern Knights beneath Shadowflame Volcano, where they discussed Davis’s death and affirmed their commitment to the Demon Extermination Order.
• Count Merlin revealed that the Grand Duchy now had twelve Wyvern Knights, including newly advanced Dreller.
• Count Merlin asked Russell to serve as Knight Deputy when the Dragon Blood Knights patrolled the border in the warm season and to hold back Snow Giant Da if it appeared.
• Russell agreed to do his utmost but said he would flee if Snow Giant Da exceeded his limits; Count Merlin explained that the patrol would test the giant’s condition so Shadowflame could prepare for another battle.

Russell and Count Merlin discussed the campaign against Snow Giant Da and the Shadowflame Dragon’s need to buy time for its recovery and Snowcake’s birth. The Shadowflame Dragon warned that a new force might be gathering south of Shadowflame, then vowed to sacrifice itself if necessary and urged Russell to help reclaim Hope.

• The Wyvern Knights finished assigning teams, with Russell joining a team and the others preparing to patrol or hunt in the snowfields.
• Count Merlin told Russell he was aggressively pressuring Snow Giant Da to delay its recovery, even at the cost of many lives.
• Russell realized the Shadowflame Dragon had inspired the strategy, and the dragon revealed that a new force was gathering south of Shadowflame.
• Count Merlin planned to send Mel as an envoy to the Scorching Torrent Kingdom to seek aid, though he doubted whether the Kingdom would help.
• The Shadowflame Dragon told Russell it would sacrifice itself to preserve the Shadowflame Grand Duchy if necessary, then fantasized about defeating both Snow Giants and reclaiming Hope from Torrent.
• Russell promised to help the Shadowflame Dragon reclaim Hope with Snowcake.

Russell returned from Red Castle to Glimmering Market after being appointed deputy commander of the Dragon Blood Knights, leaving Mel to seek the Scorching Torrent Kingdom’s support. He began organizing the influx of serfs and prospective followers, and invited Mickel to become his follower.

• Count Merlin explained that the Shadow Guard would notify Russell when the Dragon Blood Knights began patrolling, while Mel departed as an envoy to the Scorching Torrent Kingdom.
• Russell left Red Castle on Black Oil Dragon Rosai and used Thunder Boost to speed their flight toward Glimmering Market.
• At Glimmering Market, Russell reunited with Roland, who was coordinating the arrival and transport of the sixty-five thousand serfs awarded to Russell.
• Russell agreed with Roland that Glimmering Market should be expanded with a Small Castle and directed Charles and Eric to evaluate incoming Dragon Blood Knights as potential administrators.
• Russell asked Marcus to tell Mickel that he could come to Wuyou Snake Manor if he wanted to become Russell’s follower.

Maolai traveled with other serfs toward Blackfire Land, where he hoped to see Snow Ghosts and his new lord’s dragon. Russell returned to Fluorite Castle, reunited with his family, and escorted Rowena and Cooper to Blackfire Land, where he discussed the territories’ expansion and the Ice Cap fissures.

• Maolai watched knights ride beyond the Ice Snow Great Wall to clear Snow Ghosts and heard serfs mistake Clay Dragon Ross for Black Oil Dragon Rosai.
• Russell arrived at Fluorite Castle after leaving Red Castle, reunited with Rowena, Cooper, and Madam Meryl, and learned that Grandmother had gone to visit Aunt Roby.
• Russell visited Aunt Roby with Rowena, Cooper, and Laura, then agreed to show Rowena Blackfire Land the following day.
• Russell escorted Rowena and Cooper across the fractured Ice Caps and warned them that Snow Ghosts hid in the fissures.
• Russell estimated that Blackfire Land covered about 3,500 square kilometers, Thunder Marsh would exceed 3,000, and the three territories could eventually expand to around 20,000 square kilometers.