Chapter Summaries

Dox explained how Wai’s habit of anticipating an opponent’s assumptions had helped him defeat Ghost Shadow, while Wai reflected on how far Dox had surpassed him. Angel then examined the mycelial larvae in Wai’s body and caused them to freeze, suggesting he was their natural enemy.

• Dox deduced that Wai had anticipated being tracked by pheromones and used Pheromone Shifting Water, and Angel agreed that Dox had correctly explained Wai’s victory over Ghost Shadow.
• Wai returned from the duel, struggling with itchy mycelial larvae, and apologized for his performance before realizing that Dox’s combat abilities had outpaced his own.
• Black Earl privately urged Wai to leave his comfort zone and improve, prompting Wai to reconsider their relationship and his stagnation.
• Wai refused to fight again unless Dox paid for the potions he needed, while Dox suggested Angel might be able to help remove the larvae.
• Angel touched the larvae in Wai’s body, causing them to stop moving, and Dox called him the Mushroom Master.

Angel suppressed the mycelial larvae inside Wai with an illusion of Miying, allowing Wai to begin removing them safely. While Kael fought Fen Mo in the duel, Black Earl privately questioned Angel about the strange mushroom and learned its name and connection to Rhein.

• Angel warned Dox not to call him Mushroom Master again, then explained that Wai would need to remove the paralyzed mycelial larvae from his body himself.
• Wai began forcing the larvae out in large groups without pain, while Angel discussed duel tactics with Kael.
• Wise Sovereign ended the preparation period, and Kael entered the arena to fight Fen Mo.
• Black Earl privately asked Angel about the lively mushroom he had detected inside Wai, which Wai himself could not perceive.
• Angel explained that the mushroom was an illusion infused with the suppressive essence of Miying, and said Black Earl should ask Rhein about its origins.

Angel’s Nightmare Illusion Mark let Kael defeat Fen Mo without revealing his other abilities, while Black Earl rapidly cleared the fungal larvae from Wai. After the duel, Wai appeared physically healed but emotionally subdued, and Kael turned his attention to Wai before the next match.

• Black Earl cleared the fungal larvae from Wai’s body at great speed, causing Wai intense physical and psychological discomfort.
• Dox mocked Wai aloud, but Wai endured the humiliation with a calmer expression than Angel expected.
• Dox guessed that Black Earl might be preparing Wai to fight again, and Angel considered why Black Earl had intervened.
• Kael defeated Fen Mo by trapping her with spatial cracks; her illusions and psychological suggestions had no effect on him.
• Fen Mo’s account left Gray Merchant and Wicked Woman baffled, while the narration revealed that Angel had placed a Nightmare Illusion Mark on Kael to protect him from illusions and related spiritual attacks.
• After the duel, Kael saw Wai standing beside Black Earl with smooth, healed skin but dim eyes.

Kael prepared to face the Shepherd, who introduced himself through lyrical speeches and began using the Rhythm of Wind to conjure a stormy road against him. The duel had just begun, with Kael summoning an alchemical puppet and resolving to fight for the chance to explore the Legacy Site.

• Black Earl ordered Kael to fight the next round and said Wai would take the field after him, while Angel told Kael to trust Wai and rely on his own trump cards.
• Kael asked Angel why Wai had seemed to be crying, and Angel advised him to ask Dox about it later at Sandworm Market.
• Kael entered the arena and met the Shepherd, a green-haired opponent who removed his Goat Demon mask and spoke about their names and distant journeys.
• After Wise Sovereign announced the duel, Kael opened a rift and summoned an alchemical puppet while the Shepherd offered to play a tune.
• The Shepherd played his flute and used the Rhythm of Wind to rise into the air and create a stormy road that threatened to block Kael's path.
• Kael briefly considered fighting without his unconventional tools, but chose to focus on winning the duel and reaching the Legacy Site.

Angel considered the Shepherd an intriguing, secretive figure as Kael battled him in the arena. Kael interrupted the Shepherd’s wind performance with an alchemical puppet, and the Shepherd summoned four unruly black-faced sheep whose wind-powered dance chased the puppet while he attacked Kael.

• Angel told Dox that the Shepherd seemed interesting and had secrets, though he could not determine why the Shepherd remained so calm.
• The Shepherd used his flute to bind Kael with wind and wind blades, while Kael abandoned his risky plan to use spatial rifts to disperse the wind.
• Kael summoned an alchemical puppet, which interrupted the Shepherd’s performance and transformed the wind, weakening the Shepherd’s control over it.
• Fen Mo and Ghost Shadow speculated about how Kael had overpowered the Shepherd’s wind, while the Shepherd suspected the puppet was responsible.
• The Shepherd summoned four black-faced sheep with his Sheep-Calling Tune, but they ignored him until he threatened to withhold their windmill grass.
• The black-faced sheep danced into wind vortices that pursued the alchemical puppet, while the Shepherd paced across the arena and attacked Kael.

Kael used a spatial defensive spell to resist Shepherd’s petal attacks rather than reveal whether he could wield wind, then rushed toward Swift Spirit, who was trapped by Shepherd’s four black-faced sheep. Shepherd intercepted him, while the observers below puzzled over the sheep’s names and Swift Spirit’s silence.

• Shepherd harassed Kael with exploding flower petals and amplified their sounds to test whether Kael could use wind power.
• Kael could not reach Swift Spirit through the alchemical puppet and saw the four black-faced sheep surrounding it, so he used a spatial defensive spell and flew toward it.
• Shepherd blocked Kael, determined to keep him away from the sheep, and the two prepared to fight at close range.
• Below the arena, Dox complained about the sheep’s appearance and names, and Wai explained that Shepherd’s sandworms had a matching numbered naming pattern.
• Angel told Black Earl and Dox that Swift Spirit seemed unharmed but did not know why it remained inside the sheep’s encirclement.

Angel investigated the four black-faced sheep after Black Earl called them strange, finding that their wind power behaved unlike that of ordinary creatures and that they came from neither another world nor any identifiable species. Meanwhile, Swift Spirit remained unresponsive during Kael and Shepherd’s duel, and Kael revealed another of Angel’s trump cards as Shepherd pressed his attack.

• Black Earl said Swift Spirit had not attacked the four black-faced sheep, prompting Angel to examine them more closely.
• Angel found that the sheep’s wind energy seemed to exist outside their bodies and could not determine whether they were corporeal or energy creatures.
• Wai suggested the sheep might be summoned from another world, but Black Earl ruled this out because they lacked the aura of otherworldly beings.
• Angel considered whether the sheep might be creations and wondered whether they had disabled Swift Spirit, but he refrained from contacting it so he would not interfere with the duel.
• Shepherd used rapid close-range attacks to disrupt Kael’s spatial abilities and block his escape routes while Swift Spirit remained unresponsive.
• Kael pulled a plain gray-black robe from the void and draped it over himself, drawing startled murmurs from the sidelines.

Kael used a strange robe to cast spatial spells much faster, trapping and repeatedly dismembering Shepherd’s sheepdog, Bebe, during their duel. After Bebe pretended to surrender, Shepherd warned Kael about its sudden sneak attack, but Kael was too slow to evade it.

• Wicked Woman recognized Kael’s robe as unusual, while Gray Merchant sensed powerful baleful aura seeping from it.
• Kael put on the robe and cast a complex spatial trap before Shepherd sent Bebe charging at him.
• Bebe was chopped apart by Kael’s Spatial Rift, reassembled, and was dismembered again when it charged a second time.
• Bebe gave up and claimed it wanted to join Kael’s side, prompting Shepherd to ask whether the robe had increased Kael’s casting speed.
• Shepherd warned Kael to watch his back, but Bebe revealed its surrender had been a ruse and slashed at him while he tried to dodge.

Kael’s robe protected him from the Shepherd Dog’s ambush and transformed his Spatial Crack into a powerful spatial effect, prompting the Shepherd to concede the duel. The Shepherd urged the Demon Elephant to concede too, and the Wicked Woman revealed that Kael’s robe was sewn from the skin of the Void Demon.

• The Shepherd Dog ambushed Kael, but its claws broke against Kael’s robe while Kael remained unharmed.
• Kael realized that the robe greatly enhanced his defense and spatial cantrips, turning Spatial Crack into a partial Spatial Rift and a long, three-dimensional Birdcage.
• After hearing whispers from the Black-faced Sheep, the Shepherd apologized to Kael, admitted defeat, and left the arena.
• The Shepherd told the Demon Elephant to concede his next match, but the Demon Elephant refused without an explanation.
• The Wicked Woman declared that Kael’s robe was made from the skin of the Void Demon.

The Wicked Woman revealed that the special Demon of the Void she had encountered was Ximos, while Dox became infatuated with the Ximos Hide on Kael’s robe. Angel explained that its faint fragrance came from Panas Succubus saliva and offered to trade the hide if Dox could provide something of equal value.

• The Wicked Woman rejected Gray Merchant’s guess of Chupacabra and identified the rare Demon of the Void as Ximos.
• Dox repeatedly admired and smelled the Ximos Hide on Kael’s robe, while Wai joined him after Black Earl confirmed the hide carried an unusual fragrance.
• Angel explained that the fragrance came from Panas Succubus saliva left on the Ximos carcass Hai had given him.
• Dox insulted Wai by dismissing the smell of fungal miasma, leaving Wai emotionally devastated.
• Angel told Dox he would consider trading the Ximos Hide for something of equal value.

Wai was sent into the duel against Demon Elephant, whose hesitation and reluctance contrasted with Wai’s sudden fury. While they fought, Angel learned that Swift Spirit had deliberately avoided attacking the Black-faced Sheep because it believed they were potential wind elemental spirits.

• With Wai distracted and Demon Elephant hesitating, Kael prepared to enter the arena, but Wai was swatted onto the stage by a stone construct.
• Wai mistook Demon Elephant’s astonished look for mockery and entered the duel in a rage, while Demon Elephant worried about Wicked Woman’s trump card and the consequences of using it.
• Wai fought Demon Elephant aggressively as Angel questioned Swift Spirit about why it had not escaped the Black-faced Sheep’s encirclement.
• Angel learned that Swift Spirit had chosen not to attack because it believed the sheep were not yet elemental spirits but had the potential to become them.
• Angel explained Swift Spirit’s reasoning to Dox and Kael, then turned to Black Earl for his judgment on the claim.

Black Earl concluded that the Shepherd might be a Wind Transmuter, linking his living wind to Winchester’s research on granting elements a will. Meanwhile, Wai gained the upper hand over Demon Elephant, who revealed an ownerless organ on his forehead as the duel reached its climax.

• Black Earl explained that the Shepherd’s wind seemed alive and connected that ability to Winchester’s paper, The Will of Flame.
• Angel recognized Winchester as a Fire Transmuter and guessed that the Shepherd might be a Wind Transmuter; Black Earl agreed but suspected the Shepherd hid other secrets.
• Angel, Dox, and Kael discussed the possible future of the Shepherd’s intelligent black-faced sheep as wind elemental creatures.
• Wai used his Noah bloodline and secret art to pressure Demon Elephant, who fought with unusual restraint and appeared troubled by Gray Merchant and Wicked Woman.
• Demon Elephant removed his mask, pressed a blood-red orb to his forehead, and sprouted a blood-red eye-like organ; Dox identified it as an ownerless organ.

Demon Elephant activated the single-use ownerless organ the Ancient Mystery Eye against Wai, revealing its immense power and forcing Dox to consider intervening. Black Earl stopped him and trusted Wai to face the danger, while the eye’s origin and deadly capabilities became clear.

• Dox recognized that Demon Elephant’s ownerless organ was likely a single-use item from the Wicked Woman and feared its wizard-level power would kill Wai.
• Black Earl told Dox that Wai had to face death himself and stopped Dox from interfering, while Angel chose to trust Wai’s judgment.
• Demon Elephant activated the Ancient Mystery Eye, and Wai’s charge struck its defensive energy shield and sent him flying.
• The Ancient Mystery Eye transformed Demon Elephant and flooded him with power and knowledge about the organ.
• Wai learned that the eye came from an Ancient Mystery Book, an Abyssal monster whose energy attacks could rival a powerful magic pattern scroll.

The Demon Elephant used the Ancient Mystery Eye to overwhelm Wai with wizard-level power, while his friends and Angel’s group debated why he had become so aggressive. The Demon Elephant’s deathlight struck Wai, leaving his fate unresolved.

• The Demon Elephant slowed Wai with his energy and fired a blood-red arrow, which Wai escaped by burrowing underground and shielding himself with Stone Prison Art.
• The Demon Elephant gathered nearly sixty percent of the energy around him into the Ancient Mystery Eye, and Wai remained defiant despite the growing pressure.
• Shepherd, Fen Mo, and Ghost Shadow questioned whether the aggressive fighter was truly the Demon Elephant, but Gray Merchant confirmed that he was.
• Dox concluded that the Ancient Mystery Eye had intoxicated the Demon Elephant with power and accused his wizard of setting him up, while Angel agreed that people had many sides.
• The Demon Elephant unleashed deathlight at Wai, suppressing the arena around him, and the beam passed through Wai’s body.

Demon Elephant killed Wai with the Ancient Mystery Eye, but Wai survived the blast and knocked Demon Elephant out of the arena. As Wai began to die, Black Earl revealed that Wai had to choose whether to become a puppet, and Wai accepted despite fearing he would no longer be himself.

• Gray Merchant tried to stop Demon Elephant, but the referee pinned him down as Demon Elephant struck Wai with the Ancient Mystery Eye and seemingly killed him.
• Demon Elephant lost his enhanced power and fell into a daze, while Wai survived and used a stone palm to knock him out of the arena.
• Gray Merchant rescued Demon Elephant and confronted Wicked Woman for hiding that her trump card was the Ancient Mystery Eye.
• Dox tried to treat Wai but realized his body was failing, and Black Earl told Wai to make his choice before time ran out.
• Wai asked whether his sister Ayla had died in the same way, then accepted becoming Black Earl's puppet and warned Dox that he might no longer be himself.

Black Earl joined his nose to Wai’s ruined face, healing his body and making Dox believe Wai’s consciousness had been replaced. Angel realized Wai was still himself and exposed the misunderstanding, though he remained uncertain why Black Earl had joined with Wai.

• Angel suspected Black Earl would not let Wai die, while Dox struggled to process Wai’s apparent final farewell.
• Black Earl detached from the stone slab and joined his nose to Wai’s face, restoring Wai’s injuries and changing his aura.
• Wai awakened with a sharp new aura, leading Dox to believe Black Earl had taken over his body and Wai was gone.
• Dox addressed the figure as Lord Black Earl, but the figure revealed himself to be Wai, who had been playing along.
• Angel explained that Wai and Black Earl’s consciousnesses remained separate, though he still wondered why Black Earl had joined with Wai.

After Wai survived the Ancient Mystery Eye's attack through Black Earl's possession, Black Earl explained the truth behind Noah Clan possessions and Wai's mistaken belief that he would become a puppet. Wai learned that his sister Ayla was alive and protecting others, and he accepted the chance to pursue truth.

• Dox questioned Wai about his survival and the price he had paid, then urged him to pursue truth alongside him.
• Black Earl told Wai to stop wasting his potential, and Wai silently showed he was ready to take responsibility for his future.
• Wai admitted he did not understand Black Earl's explanation, so Black Earl described how Wai had sacrificed his Death Scent talent to block the Ancient Mystery Eye's strike.
• Black Earl explained that possession restored a Noah descendant's talent rather than killing them, and Wai confirmed that Ayla was still alive.
• Black Earl revealed that his tongue possessed Ayla and that she had withdrawn from others to prevent its harmful speech from hurting them.
• Black Earl explained that he had arranged for Wai to enter the duel because he saw Wai's remaining potential, and Wai's forced possession marked the start of a new journey.

After Wai survived the duel by sacrificing Death Scent, Black Earl argued that Dox’s pursuit of absolute freedom left him without the foundations needed to seek truth. The group returned from the void to the Stairway of the Hanging Prison, where Gray Merchant approached them amid their anger over Wicked Woman giving Demon Elephant the dangerous Ancient Mystery Eye.

• Dox and Wai bantered about Wai’s survival, then Black Earl explained why Dox’s lack of foundations and pursuit of freedom could hinder his search for truth.
• Black Earl described the factions available to wandering wizards in the Source World and criticized the infiltrated Cross Headquarters; Kael said he respected Dox’s ideals.
• Angel asked Wai whether his talent could be restored, and Wai gave an ambiguous answer that led Angel to suspect Black Earl had grafted his own talent onto him.
• Wise Sovereign brought everyone out of the void and back to the gates of the Stairway of the Hanging Prison, then allowed Gray Merchant to approach Angel’s group.
• Gray Merchant approached to speak with Wizard Ermi, but Dox greeted him coldly as the others blamed Wicked Woman for giving Demon Elephant the dangerous Ancient Mystery Eye.

Wai accepted Gray Merchant’s hush money while refusing to forgive Demon Elephant and Wicked Woman, and Angel agreed to trade with Gray Merchant later for his memories. The group prepared to leave the underground waterways, while Wicked Woman asked Angel about trading for his Ximos Hide clothes.

• Gray Merchant apologized for Demon Elephant using the Ancient Mystery Eye and offered Wai a spatial pouch, which Wai accepted and handed to Dox.
• Wai called the pouch hush money, said he would not pursue the matter for now, and warned Demon Elephant and Wicked Woman that he would seek an honorable reckoning later.
• Dox reflected that Wai’s spirited response marked a change in his outlook, while Gray Merchant decided to leave without asking about the lens fragment.
• Angel told Gray Merchant he would proceed with their transaction after they left the underground waterways, when Angel could retrieve the memories from the lens fragment.
• Wicked Woman asked Angel whether he would trade the Ximos Hide clothes Traveler had given him.

Angel suspected that the Wicked Woman had armed the Demon Elephant with the Ancient Mystery Eye to kill Kael and claim his Ximos Hide, but he refused her offer to trade for it. After the Wise Sovereign left, the group learned that they still had to face the Nether Servants' trial, while Dox discovered that his promised reward had been reduced.

• Angel reasoned that the Wicked Woman had targeted Kael and his Ximos Hide, and Dox independently voiced the same suspicion.
• Angel refused the Wicked Woman's offers of a Half-Step Mystic item and other payment for Ximos Hide, and the Gray Merchant led her group away through a spatial passageway.
• Dox asked whether Angel was angry about the Wicked Woman's plan, and Angel teased him about wanting Ximos Hide for free before Dox called them friends and a potential employer and employee.
• The Wise Sovereign congratulated the group, warned that they still had to pass the Nether Servants' trial, and said he had arranged their next steps with Angel.
• The Wise Sovereign revealed that Dox's reward had been cut to one-quarter, then one-fifth after Dox protested, and left after mentioning a surprise.