Chapter Summaries

Landen watched Old Wang’s villains capture the creatures emerging from Blackwater River, then saw them bring down a Bone Scale Shark with a coordinated attack. Their rapid progress toward becoming an elite force left Landen astonished.

• More than a dozen creatures shot out of Blackwater River, and Old Wang ordered the villains to knock them down intact.
• The villains used Wind Comes Wu Shan and their Lightness Skill to send the creatures to shore, while Landen identified their names and weaknesses.
• The villains killed the Three-tailed Mang Snake and captured the other creatures emerging within the pillar of light.
• As the Bone Scale Shark approached, Old Wang arranged dozens of villains with Bronze Greatswords and grappling hooks along the riverbank.
• The villains launched themselves at the Bone Scale Shark, pierced its defenses, and hooked it before Old Wang ordered them to pull it down.

Landen captured and processed creatures from Blackwater River, then headed home while Old Wang took the villains away for further training. Meanwhile, Ibaka and Dedmond arrived in target cities as envoys and received lavish welcomes, with Dedmond’s evening taking an unexpected turn.

• Landen discovered that the Lord System could display attributes and saw that the Dark Elves had rapidly grown stronger under Wang Yifeng’s methods.
• The villains captured a Bone Scale Shark, and Landen processed the river creatures before sharing a feast with his group.
• Old Wang departed with the villains to train them further, while Landen led his troops home.
• Ibaka and his wife led a small delegation into a target family’s city and received a high-standard welcome.
• Dedmond’s delegation received luxurious accommodations, and two scantily dressed Dark Elf girls knocked on his door that night.

Landen’s five delegations all secured trade contracts, increasing his trade partners to seven and satisfying the system’s territory-upgrade requirements. He began preparing extra trade goods, then called Lu Zijing and Zhu Lingqi to help plan the upgraded territory.

• Landen’s five Dark Elf delegations received warm welcomes, and all five families agreed to trade without reviewing the goods lists first.
• The families saw the Alchemical Potion, Enchantment Scroll, and layered-forged swords on the lists as valuable offerings, bringing Landen’s trade partners to seven.
• The system notified Landen that his territory met the upgrade requirements, and he decided to produce additional goods for the partners he had not prepared for.
• Landen summoned Lu Zijing and Zhu Lingqi, bringing Hogg along, and showed them a three-dimensional map of the territory.
• Lu Zijing and Zhu Lingqi recognized that Landen wanted to plan a territory upgrade, and the four gathered around the map to begin planning.

Landen and Lu Zijing and Zhu Lingqi spent days planning Farview Town’s expansion after it became a Level Territory, dividing the town into districts and deciding how its residences and shops would be used. Landen placed the military camps and arrow towers while saving the relay stations for later, then declared the new town complete.

• Landen studied the territory upgrade interface and called Lu Zijing and Zhu Lingqi to help plan Farview Town.
• The three worked through the night and continued drawing the expanded town, while servants spread jokes about what they were doing.
• Landen and Lu Zijing divided the town into commercial and residential districts and set rules for allocating homes to residents and contributors.
• Landen decided to save the relay stations for later and placed the military camps and arrow towers.
• Landen placed the final military camp and declared, “New Farview Town, complete!”

Farview Town doubled in size overnight while its residents slept, and the first soldiers to discover the transformation recognized it as another miracle from Landen. By morning, the townspeople had gathered to pray and praise their lord.

• A lizardfolk soldier noticed that Horsehead Rock had moved closer to Farview Town and alerted his captain.
• The soldiers measured the distance and confirmed that the rock was closer, then saw that the town’s walls and landmarks had spread much farther apart.
• The soldiers realized Farview Town had doubled in size and saluted the Lord’s Mansion, while Landen slept, unaware of the change.
• The next morning, residents left their rooms and saw that Farview Town had transformed overnight.
• The townspeople knelt toward the Lord’s Mansion and chanted, “A miracle! Long live the lord!”

After completing the territory mission, Landen discovered that the Territory Guardian’s location had been marked on the system map. He and the others identified the glowing marker as being in the Surface World, where they were.

• Landen woke in the afternoon, drank a warm beverage, and learned from the system that the territory mission was complete and the Territory Guardian’s location had been marked.
• Landen studied the territory data in his office until Lu Zijing, Hogg, and Zhu Lingqi arrived to call him to dinner.
• Landen showed the three women the changed territory map, including Farview Town’s expansion and the new military camp.
• Lu Zijing and Zhu Lingqi examined a glowing marker near the Lord’s Mansion, while Hogg pointed out that it was above them.
• Zhu Lingqi identified the marker as being in the Surface World, the place where Landen and the others were.

Landen considered traveling to the Surface World, where Aivina was waiting, and discussed the timing and preparations with his companions. He left with their support and plans to entrust Lu Zijing with guarding the territory while he went.

• Landen reviewed his preparations for reaching the Surface World, including his Lizardfolk forces, knowledge of a passage, brighter streetlights, and language lessons.
• Lu Zijing teased Landen about missing Aivina, and Zhu Lingqi asked whether he thought it was time to travel.
• Hogg said that if Landen wanted to go, they should discuss how to go rather than whether to go.
• Zhu Lingqi volunteered to serve as Landen's vanguard, while Lu Zijing agreed to guard the territory and asked him to bring back a gift.
• Hogg, Lu Zijing, and Zhu Lingqi gathered beside Landen so he could pat their heads.

A battered adventuring party reached a cave while fleeing a pack of Jungle Direwolves, only to discover human remains and unnatural black fog inside. As the direwolves closed in, Landen emerged from the cave and introduced himself as being from Underground.

• A five-person adventuring party found a cave while escaping Jungle Direwolves, and the rogue urged everyone to take shelter inside.
• The Shield Guard and Half-elf archer warned that the cave was dangerously dark and contained human corpses, while the ranger and mercenary prepared for a fight.
• The party heard bones cracking inside the cave and moved against a cliff wall to defend themselves.
• Six Jungle Direwolves leaped from the jungle as someone stepped out of the cave and joked about the gathering.
• Landen emerged from the cave with several others and introduced himself as being from Underground.

Landen and his companions emerged from the corpse-filled cave and encountered an expedition team surrounded by Jungle Direwolves. Landen and the others killed the pack with ease, leaving the expedition team shaken by their strength.

• The expedition team stared in confusion as Landen, Old Wang, Hogg, and Zhu Lingqi emerged from the cave.
• The Jungle Direwolves turned on the newcomers and coordinated attacks against Landen, Old Wang, Hogg, and Zhu Lingqi.
• Landen drew Crimson Bauhinia and used its Qi Blade to kill the direwolves attacking him and Old Wang.
• Zhu Lingqi revealed her claws and killed the two direwolves attacking her and Hogg.
• The expedition team saw the entire pack dead and shuddered as they recalled the group's emergence from the corpse-filled cave.

Landen and Zhu Lingqi wiped out the dire wolf pack and subdued its Wolf King. Landen left the Wolf King alive as his captive and turned to question the expedition team.

• Landen asked the expedition team how many dire wolves remained, and they estimated around twenty.
• Zhu Lingqi unleashed a Storm Spell that swept up most of the pack while the Wolf King escaped its range.
• Old Wang used a flash of Sword Light to kill the wolves that had evaded the storm and knocked the Wolf King before Landen.
• The Wolf King lowered its head and whimpered, so Landen told it to stay by his side.
• Zhu Lingqi dismissed the storm, revealing that the wolves caught in it were dead, and Landen addressed the expedition team with a question.

Landen learned that he was in the Federation of a Hundred Nations and traveled with the two girls and Old Wang to Bondick, where he entered the city by throwing gold at a guard. Back in the cave, several figures prepared to leave under Lord Lu Zijing’s orders, then screamed when they entered the forest.

• Ricky's Adventure Team remained stunned by the powerful strangers who had emerged from the cave, while keeping the encounter secret.
• Landen used the adventurers’ map and information to identify the Buck Duchy and the Federation of a Hundred Nations as his current location.
• Landen considered establishing his own force in the region and wondered whether one of the girls had ties to a powerful nation.
• Landen reached Bondick with the two girls and Old Wang, tossed a gold piece to a gate guard, and swaggered into the city.
• A seductive figure left the cave, and several others stepped into the forest after saying they wanted to remain with Lord Lu Zijing.
• The figures screamed that their eyes hurt as they emerged into the morning light.

Landen and his companions arrived in the prosperous Federation of a Hundred Nations, where he planned to secure territory by first becoming a vassal of a local country. While gathering information in the city, Landen found an escort-services contact and approached him.

• Landen told his companions that they should avoid seeking Aivina until they understood her possible royal background and the risks involved.
• Landen proposed acquiring territory by gaining an official position in a local country, and the group agreed to gather information before deciding what to do.
• The next morning, Landen and Hogg explored the city's busy markets while Old Wang and Zhu Lingqi went out separately.
• Landen explained that the Federation's wealth came from bulk trade and prohibited underground transactions secretly organized by the Federation itself.
• Landen led Hogg through the wholesale and freight district, then asked a man whether he needed escort services.

Landen approached a trader leaving an underground trade venue and revealed that he knew the man served the Hundred Cities Federation. He sought the trader’s help in securing a small piece of land, leaving the man alarmed by how much Landen knew.

• Landen recognized a marker for an underground trade and stopped a man leaving the shop, offering him escort services.
• The man grew suspicious and questioned why Landen wanted his help, but Landen explained that he wanted territory for himself and his growing group.
• When the man tried to leave, Hogg swiftly stole a hidden plaque from his clothes, revealing the Hundred Cities Federation’s insignia.
• Landen told the man he knew about the Federation’s identification methods and its relationship with Gold and Wealth.
• The frightened man asked what Landen wanted, and Landen again said he only wanted a small piece of land.

Landen warned Pad that an organization planned to rob Gold and Wealth’s underground-trade profits, then negotiated a minor title and territory in exchange for information and guards. He joined Pad’s disguised caravan, which left the city as Landen spotted a likely ambush site and planned when to reveal his strength.

• Landen convinced Pad that a large organization intended to rob Gold and Wealth, and asked for a minor title and territory in return for his help.
• Pad agreed to meet Landen at Rata Street No. and later welcomed him and his three subordinates despite their small numbers.
• Pad led a disguised Gold and Wealth caravan out of the city the next morning, with Landen and his subordinates serving as guards.
• Landen noticed terrain that seemed suited for an ambush and decided to kill the attackers after waiting for some guards to fall.

Landen staged a robbery to prove his warning to Pad and win the Hundred Cities Federation’s trust. After Old Wang and the others crushed the attackers, the hidden second group withdrew, and the convoy continued its journey.

• Old Wang arranged for two groups of robbers to target the convoy so Landen’s warning would seem credible.
• Masked robbers ambushed the convoy in a gorge, and Landen, Hogg, and Old Wang joined the guards in the fight.
• Old Wang killed two Silver rank experts with a single sword attack, causing the robbers to flee.
• Pad stopped the guards from pursuing the robbers and ordered the convoy to resume its journey.
• Landen noticed that the concealed second group was retreating and rested beside Zhu Lingqi.

Landen and the convoy continued toward Bag after the first robbery, while Pad struggled with how to report the Federation’s exposed underground dealings. When a new group attacked at the river, its leader recognized Pad and demanded half the shipment, leaving Landen to wonder whether the man was also a player who had crossed over.

• Pad hurried the convoy onward, and Landen used the journey to consider how the Federation might respond to his offer of cooperation.
• After traveling through the night, the convoy stopped near a river to rest the exhausted horses.
• Pad approached Landen’s wagon to ask for more details, but Old Wang drew his sword and rushed toward the river after a subordinate screamed.
• Landen, Hogg, and Zhu Lingqi joined Old Wang, who said the attackers were not from either group they had faced earlier.
• A new leader called Pad by name and demanded half the shipment, while Landen struck down a man trying to sneak closer and wondered if the leader was a fellow player.

Landen and his companions fought off a large group of robbers who ambushed Pad’s convoy, but the attackers’ leader escaped and the surviving robbers killed themselves to avoid capture. The battle ended with Pad badly wounded and calling for Landen’s help.

• Pad confronted the robbers’ leader, who attacked him with a one-handed axe while his men rushed the convoy.
• Landen and his companions struck first, killing more than a dozen robbers and gaining the upper hand near the river.
• Dozens more robbers emerged from the river, and Landen told his companions to prepare their strongest attack.
• A burst of scarlet light drove back the attackers, and their leader fled after threatening the Hundred Cities Federation.
• The remaining robbers poisoned themselves rather than be captured, while Landen went to help the wounded Pad.

Landen helped Pad’s battered convoy reach Bagg City safely after surviving attacks by mysterious robbers. At the merchant guild serving as the Hundred Cities Federation’s cover, Landen was summoned to meet the Head Steward and recognized an old acquaintance.

• Pad’s crimson defensive device killed the robbers’ subordinates but left him gravely injured, and he recovered enough with Alchemical Potions to continue traveling.
• Landen took the lead wagon and spotted Bagg City on the horizon, lifting the convoy’s spirits.
• The convoy reached Bagg City before sunset and entered without seeking official help from the Hundred Cities Federation.
• Pad delivered the wagons to the Federation’s disguised merchant guild and invited Landen to meet the Head Steward.
• Landen entered a hidden hall, saw the Head Steward, and recognized an old acquaintance.

Landen met Calista, the Greedy Fox and a leader of Gold and Wealth, who tested whether Landen intended to investigate the organization’s ties to the Hundred Cities Federation. Landen said he cared about tangible benefits, and Calista accepted his answer, easing the tension.

• Landen recognized Calista as the future vice speaker of the Hundred Cities Federation and was surprised to find him leading Gold and Wealth.
• Calista questioned Landen about recognizing him and whether he was curious about his presence in Gold and Wealth.
• Landen explained that he knew Calista by reputation and had no interest in digging into secrets.
• Calista stared at Landen before breaking into laughter, and Landen and Pad realized they had passed his test.

Landen and his companions met Calista, a powerful Gold and Wealth Organization member whose future identity as a vice speaker of the Hundred Cities Federation was unknown to them. Calista tested whether Landen intended to investigate the organization’s secrets, and Landen’s answer earned his approval.

• Landen recognized Calista as the future vice speaker known as Greasy Fox, despite Calista’s current role in the Gold and Wealth Organization.
• Calista questioned Landen and his companions about helping Pad’s caravan escape the robbers.
• Calista asked Landen whether he was curious about seeing a famous Federation figure in the Gold and Wealth Organization.
• Landen said he cared about tangible benefits, not secrets he might never uncover.
• Calista laughed, and Landen and Pad realized they had passed his test.