Chapter Summaries

Kafolian confronted the Girl Magician over the stolen Beast-Cleaving Knife, but the Magician provoked her by threatening to take her divine armor as well. Kafolian attacked, yet the Magician evaded her with water avatars, leaving the true body nowhere to be seen.

• Kafolian intercepted the Girl Magician and demanded that she return the Beast-Cleaving Knife she had taken from Alan.
• Alan accused the Girl Magician of keeping the knife, and she taunted him by saying she would wait for him to die before claiming it.
• The Girl Magician said she would eventually borrow Kafolian's divine armor once the Shepherd God was confirmed dead, enraging Kafolian.
• Sabo told the watching law enforcement officers that the Girl Magician had powerful backing, but declined to intervene.
• Kafolian attacked with her lance and steel wings, while the Girl Magician used water avatars and a waterspout to evade her.
• Kafolian destroyed the Girl Magician's many water avatars with a storm of steel feathers, but the true body remained hidden as its laughter echoed around her.

Kafolian used the Shepherd God's Outer Garment to track and pursue the young Magician, but the Magician survived her spacetime attack by flooding the street. Kafolian changed into a mermaid to continue the fight, and the Magician summoned Gudu, whose flood swept through the city and let her disappear amid the chaos.

• Kafolian transformed her armor into the Mindheart Divine Robe and used it to locate the hidden Magician, then marked her position.
• Kafolian changed into the Spacetime Witch Garb and pursued the Magician with teleporting attacks, but the Magician evaded her by turning the street into a river.
• As her sixty-second limit neared, Kafolian ended Spacetime Slaughter and transformed into a mermaid with a trident.
• The Magician summoned Gudu from the Rose-Pattern Teapot, and the otter raised towering waves that crashed through the city and swept away a thousand people.
• Amid the flood and chaotic energies, Kafolian lost track of the Magician as she vanished from sight.

Magician escaped Kafolian by transforming into water, but was caught after stealing an object from a mysterious man. Angel visited Fingernail Alchemy House, where Fingernail Granny revealed that a member of the Research Institute had invited him and was waiting upstairs, with her research reportedly connected to him.

• Magician fled down a flooded street, sensed an emotional force field on a man's breast pocket, and stole the object inside.
• A giant eye appeared before Magician, leaving him dazed and back at the end of the street surrounded by angry onlookers.
• Angel entered Fingernail Alchemy House without taking its usual test and learned that the apprentices had left to compete for places in a Research Institute member's class.
• Fingernail Granny explained that she had only lent her name to the invitation and led Angel up a hidden staircase to meet the person who had invited him.
• Fingernail Granny said the visitor's return and research were related to Angel, then brought him to the hall where she was waiting.

Angel met Water-Pattern Witch Falina, who invited him to let her experience Ocean Rhythm, but their conversation was interrupted when Shali arrived through a magical bubble. Shali realized Angel was the person whose belongings she had tried to steal underwater and feared the consequences.

• Angel and Fingernail Granny met Falina, who asked Angel to let her experience Ocean Rhythm and offered to pay fairly.
• Falina's teapot released a little otter, which sent a bubble carrying Shali into the hall.
• Shali landed on the table and complained about being pursued before Falina angrily threw her to the floor.
• Shali noticed Fingernail Granny and then recognized Angel as the man she had encountered underwater and tried to rob.
• Shali realized she had interrupted Falina's planned meeting with Angel and silently thought she was finished.

Angel let Falina and the others experience Ocean Rhythm, an alchemical item that enhanced water affinity and could grant enlightenment. The experience benefited Shali and Falina, leaving Falina wondering how she could repay Angel for showing them something so precious.

• Falina asked Angel to let her experience Ocean Rhythm, and he agreed despite his hesitation about the images within its illusion.
• Angel activated Ocean Rhythm, sending Falina, Shali, and Fingernail Granny into an ocean illusion where each lasted less than two minutes.
• Shali felt her stagnant water-elemental energy become active and hoped Ocean Rhythm could help her advance, but she realized she could not obtain it from Angel.
• Falina and the other alchemy masters recognized that Ocean Rhythm could enlighten even experienced practitioners and was among the Southern Region's most valuable ocean-related works.
• Falina concluded that she could not afford to trade for Ocean Rhythm and began considering how to repay Angel for the experience.

Falina thanked Angel for letting her and Shali experience Ocean Rhythm, then offered to contact Vifit about the Lucky Scroll Angel wanted. As the gathering ended, Angel confronted Shali about her attempted theft and discovered she could sense emotional power; he revealed the bird in his pocket, dressed in a panda costume.

• Falina told Angel that Vifit owned a Lucky Scroll and offered to speak with him, while warning Angel against using it for alchemy.
• Falina and Angel discussed Ocean Rhythm as the tea gathering continued, and Shali nervously waited for it to end.
• Angel reminded Shali that they had met before and revealed that she had tried to steal something from him.
• Shali admitted she sensed emotional power in Angel's pocket but did not know what the object was.
• Angel opened his pocket and showed Shali the bird wearing a panda mascot costume.

Angel discovered Shali could sense the faint Extreme Grudge Intent within Toby and exchanged contact details with her, while Shali and Falina prepared to contact Vifit. After buying materials to study the Transformation Spell, Angel visited Kihara Bar and heard that Shali had escaped after fooling and robbing the people who captured her.

• Toby released a terrifying pressure that made Shali realize he was far stronger than she was.
• Shali sensed malice, madness, anger, and jealousy around Toby, revealing her ability to detect the faint Extreme Grudge Intent suppressed within him.
• Angel praised Shali's emotional sensitivity, exchanged contact details with her, and agreed she might help him someday.
• Falina left with Shali to contact Vifit, while Angel bought Transformation Spell materials from Fingernail Granny and headed to Kihara Bar.
• At Kihara Bar, Angel heard that Shali had escaped her captors by acting remorseful, stealing valuables, and unleashing a foul stench.
• Bar patrons speculated that Shali could become a dark horse in the New Star Tournament and overturn the supernova rankings.

Angel returned to Youthful Grace Hall and confirmed that he had advanced, then learned about his companions’ New Star Tournament progress and Leon’s upcoming Sky Tower match. Nausicaa’s advancement match was already nearing its end, while Angel prepared to watch Leon compete.

• Angel dispelled his disguise and confirmed to Serum that he had advanced, leaving Serum stunned by the gap between their levels.
• Angel discussed the requirements for establishing a wizard family with Leon, who decided the responsibilities sounded too burdensome.
• Serum told Angel that Nausicaa was taking part in an advancement match for New Star qualification, but the match had started long ago.
• Leon revealed that Serum had stayed behind to help prepare him for his own crucial match to advance from Sky Tower’s first floor, and Angel agreed to watch.
• Serum explained that he had already obtained New Star qualification, while Shan was unlikely to qualify and Xiliu’s frequent sleep during matches had left her with only thirteen points.

Angel watched Leon lose his Sky Tower promotion match, then learned that Nausicaa had advanced in the Infinite Battle Tower and spotted David climbing the New Star Tournament rankings. A message from Falina about Vifit’s concessions led Angel to head to the Research Institute to meet her and visit Antonio.

• Angel watched Leon fight Reaper's Gospel, an eleven- or twelve-year-old girl who controlled two souls, and Leon surrendered after tiring himself out without seriously attacking her.
• Angel and Serum checked the Infinite Battle Tower results and saw that Nausicaa had earned promotion and New Star qualification after a difficult match.
• Angel reviewed the points ranking with Serum, noticed David's title among the contestants, and learned that David was training intensively with Witch Liana.
• Falina messaged Angel that Vifit had conceded on the exchange terms, so Angel left Serum and Leon and headed to the Research Institute to meet her and visit Antonio.

Angel learned that Fingernail Granny had helped refine the mysterious Reincarnation Box and visited Falina in Fantasy Mechanical City. Falina said Vifit would trade his Lucky Scroll for the rare White-Cheeked Domain Demon's Central Eye, leaving Angel to consider whether he could obtain it.

• Angel examined the empty Reincarnation Box display and learned from Falina that Fingernail Granny had participated in its refinement project.
• Falina brought Angel to her underwater-themed residence in Fantasy Mechanical City, where she introduced him to her flower-growing demonic otter, Gulu.
• Angel asked Falina whether Vifit had lowered his demands for the Lucky Scroll, and she explained that Vifit now wanted the White-Cheeked Domain Demon's Central Eye instead of Constant Shards.
• Angel realized Vifit was likely seeking a connection with him after learning he had advanced, but obtaining the exceptionally rare demon's central eye would be difficult.

Angel learned that the Research Institute’s demonic material repository had three White-Cheek Domain Demon's forehead eyes, which he wanted to trade for Vifit’s Lucky Scroll. After discovering that tournament judging would earn him at most ten points and that material submissions required Dean Muse’s approval, he asked Antonio how else he could earn points.

• Falina explained that Vifit expected Angel to obtain a White-Cheek Domain Demon's forehead eye from the Research Institute’s demonic material repository.
• Falina told Angel she planned to forge an ocean-lineage strategic-grade offensive item that was especially effective against the ocean lineage, but she withheld who had commissioned it.
• Angel asked Antonio about the repository, and Antonio brought him to its transmission wall and explained how members could inspect and exchange for stored materials.
• Angel found that the repository held three White-Cheek Domain Demon's forehead eyes for thirty points, but he had no points to spend.
• Antonio told Angel that judging the New Star Tournament would earn him at most ten points and that exchanging submitted materials for points required Dean Muse’s approval.
• Angel asked Antonio whether there were other ways to earn points.

Angel learned how Research Institute members could earn points and decided that teaching classes was the most suitable way for him to gain the points he needed. He visited Midora for advice, shared a meal with him, and learned that Yeliya and Tuya were away watching Shan compete in the New Star Tournament.

• Antonio explained that members earned points by releasing approved alchemical products or completing Research Institute missions, and suggested that Angel could earn one hundred points by presiding over the Institute.
• Angel refused to become acting dean and considered teaching instead, since classes offered flexible hours and could earn enough points to meet his goal.
• Antonio advised Angel to ask other members about teaching, and Angel decided to visit Midora at Potion Hut after leaving Fantasy Mechanical City.
• Midora served Angel and Toby mushroom and sea fish soup, then explained that Yeliya had taken Tuya to watch the New Star Tournament.
• Midora said Tuya was eager to watch Shan's matches because he had become infatuated with her after seeing her at a tribal rite.

Angel asked Midora about Bogula and Savage Cave’s presence in Sky Mechanical City, then sought advice on teaching classes at the Research Institute. After learning the customs for scheduling and choosing lessons, Angel prepared to decide what he would teach.

• Midora told Angel that Bogula was nearing his departure from the Myriad Sounds Demon Abyss and that Savage Cave had sent a remarkable person to Sky Mechanical City.
• Angel told Midora he planned to teach because he needed points, and Midora advised him to announce classes in advance and avoid clashing with other members’ lessons.
• Midora explained that Director Muse taught inspirational stories and Regina taught mushroom processing, so Angel did not need to avoid scheduling against their classes.
• Midora described class registration, lesson content, and points, noting that Antonio could handle the preliminary arrangements while Angel chose what to teach.

Angel registered to teach enchanting at Ashilia Comprehensive Academy and spent the next three days attending to Transfiguration and his friends’ New Star Tournament preparations. Sanders then summoned him to meet a group from Savage Cave, including Liana and David.

• Angel learned that Ashilia primarily taught alchemy, completed his registration with Antonio’s help, and scheduled an enchanting course to begin in one week.
• Angel repaired Nausicaa’s mechanical arm, while she and Serum intensified their training after his advancement.
• Shan’s chances of qualifying for the New Star Tournament dwindled, while Xiliu and David remained close to meeting the requirements.
• Nausicaa trained Leon harshly as he pursued his goal of reaching the second level of Sky Tower before the rematches.
• After Sanders told Angel that people from Savage Cave had arrived, Angel entered the hall and saw Liana chatting with Gloria and David peeking in from outside.

Angel attended a gathering at Sanders's manor, where he met Horus, the powerful wizard newly appointed to oversee Sky Mechanical City's outpost. The meeting established Angel's role as a link between Savage Cave and Sky Mechanical City, while leaving the details of future cooperation to be discussed.

• Angel entered the hall and took his place at the table with Sanders, Liana, Wallace, Nanaji, Bais, and the gray-haired wizard he recognized as Horus.
• Butler No. 1 served the guests Floating Butterfly wine brewed by Felicia, and Sanders introduced Horus as a veteran planar traveler and the new person in charge of the outpost.
• Horus congratulated Angel on joining the Research Institute and mentioned Angel's upcoming class at Ashilia, drawing Liana's interest and making Angel uneasy about the attention it would attract.
• Angel told Sanders that he planned to earn points to obtain a magical material for Vifit, and Sanders confirmed that Vifit had stopped demanding Constant Shards.
• Wallace said he had come to congratulate Angel on advancing, and Liana explained that Wallace had long hoped to recruit Angel as a disciple or instructor.
• Sanders returned the discussion to Horus's two matters: Savage Cave's connection with Sky Mechanical City and the outpost's change in leadership, both of which involved Angel's Research Institute membership.

Angel attended Horus’s gathering and learned about the growing dangers facing Savage Cave and the Southern Region. Sanders said they might return to Savage Cave to investigate a strange ruin, whose secrets Angel might be uniquely able to understand.

• Angel granted Horus authority to make certain decisions for Savage Cave and the Research Institute in his stead.
• Wallace told the gathering that the Eternal Night Kingdom’s turmoil was spreading and that Rainbow Dragonflies and Nightmare Realm Demonic Beasts had appeared across the Southern Region.
• The guests discussed the unexplained ruin near the Mirror World, where wizards had vanished and Rainbow Dragonflies had gathered.
• Horus and Wallace left to prepare for the succession banquet, and David later went to the Infinite Battle Tower for a match.
• Lord Rosen attended Horus’s succession banquet, after which Angel and Sanders rode by carriage toward the manor.
• Sanders told Angel that they might return to Savage Cave because the ruin was dangerous and Angel might be able to understand what it concealed.

Angel decided to investigate the Rainbow Dragonflies’ clues about the ruin and began preparing for his first class. In Sky Mechanical City, Fingernail Granny told Marion that alchemists had left to register for Angel’s course, while Marion planned to judge for himself whether Angel had become an official wizard.

• Sanders suggested treating the Rainbow Dragonflies’ emotions as clues that could be deciphered, and Angel agreed to investigate the ruin.
• Angel returned to his room and began preparing lessons for his upcoming class.
• Marion asked Fingernail Granny about an alchemy disc sold by the Profound Alchemy Society, and she warned him that its maker had borrowed the Lord of Profundity’s power.
• Fingernail Granny revealed that alchemists had gone to scramble for places in Angel’s class, and Marion decided he wanted to see whether Angel had advanced to official wizard status.
• Fingernail Granny reminded Marion that Angel would serve as a special judge in the New Star Tournament’s second round, so Marion stayed to wait for that chance to see him.

Vanason’s attempt to brew a cheaper replacement for Selyan Witch’s Brew was criticized by Midora, who told him to focus on genuine innovation rather than rivalry. After learning that Angel was teaching a class, Vanason decided to attend and see what made it draw so many alchemists.

• Vanason emerged from his laboratory after half a month of experiments and told his assistants to watch the potion’s final stage.
• Vanason explained his bloodline-nourishing potion to Midora and Guxiluo, but Guxiluo rejected its premise and left to urge his apprentices to compete for a class spot.
• Midora told Vanason that replacing Selyan Witch’s Brew out of spite was not innovation and pointed out that Vanason had ignored the potion’s process and equipment costs.
• Vanason accepted Midora’s advice and decided to restart his research with a focus on creating something new.
• Vanason learned from Glen that Wizard Pat was teaching a class, then headed to attend after realizing that even Guxiluo’s apprentices were competing for spots.

Angel prepared to attend the New Star Tournament’s preliminary matches while Gloria dressed him in an outfit she had originally intended for Houston. The chapter left Angel ready to appear at the Infinite Battle Tower, with the reason Gloria had never given Houston the clothes unexplained.

• Ashilia Academy’s class slots caused a scramble, but Angel refused Sheli’s request to increase the fifty places.
• Gloria brought dusty Toby back from training and decided to make his training more intense, while Angel supported her decision.
• Gloria reminded Angel that the New Star Tournament’s preliminary matches began that morning, and Angel prepared to attend as a special guest judge.
• Angel used an illusion to smooth his suit, but Gloria gave him an elegant black outfit instead.
• Gloria told Angel that she had originally prepared the outfit for Houston but had never given it to him.

Angel agreed to fulfill his old promise to buy Houston back from Lydia and discussed his new epithet with Gloria. He then joined Falina at the Infinite Battle Tower, where she introduced him to the Boundless Arena as the venue for key New Star Tournament matches.

• Angel told Gloria he would buy Houston back from Lydia once matters were settled, and Gloria offered to prepare the required magic crystals.
• Gloria said Neo and Yiyou had returned to the Candy House, while Barbie Restaurant could not reopen until she recovered her physical body.
• Gloria asked about Angel's new epithet, but he refused to reveal it before it appeared on the light screen at the tournament.
• Angel met Falina at Fingernail Granny's alchemy house, and they flew together to the Infinite Battle Tower.
• Falina explained that the Boundless Arena could reshape its terrain and would host the New Star Tournament's preliminaries, finals, and possibly important clashes.