Chapter Summaries

The Male Wizard woke after the Lich Old Man knocked him unconscious and tried to leave, but he remained confused by the strange place and the skeletons around him. After he returned A Nan’s stolen bones to the Lich Old Man, A Nan confronted him in a fury, refusing to hear his explanation.

• The Lich Old Man attacked the Male Wizard with a fist of black mist and knocked him unconscious.
• The Male Wizard woke with a bloodied face and a painful neck, decided to escape, and received two bones from a strange skeleton.
• The Lich Old Man caught up with the Male Wizard and took back the bones, saying A Nan had stolen them.
• A Nan confronted the Male Wizard and became furious when he explained that he had given the bones to the Lich Old Man.

A male wizard woke in Eden Garden and mistook the Golden Retriever for a deadly threat, then panicked and knocked himself unconscious when Richard and Pandora arrived. Richard decided to postpone questioning him and asked Pandora to tell Mr. Afu and A Nan not to play the new prisoner to death.

• The male wizard woke in pain and concluded that he had been brought to a strange world unlike his own.
• He stepped outside, saw the Golden Retriever, and mistook its barking for a warning, so he backed into the house.
• Richard entered with Pandora and the Golden Retriever, leaving the wizard bewildered by the dog’s friendly behavior toward Pandora.
• The male wizard screamed and smashed his head against a wall, knocking himself unconscious.
• Richard postponed the interrogation, asked Pandora to help with an experiment, and told her to warn Mr. Afu and A Nan not to play the prisoner to death.

The Male Wizard woke in Richard’s custody and tried to bargain by threatening to use the Blood Spell Fallen Body Burst if forced to talk. Richard ignored the threat and struck him as the spell began to swell his body.

• The Male Wizard woke in the strange room and concluded that the Golden Retriever was an ordinary dog.
• Richard entered with Pandora and the Golden Retriever, then asked the Male Wizard about his identity, origins, attack, and interest in the Blood-colored Seal.
• The Male Wizard refused to cooperate at first and claimed Richard could not break his will.
• Pandora challenged the Male Wizard’s claim to be a victim, while the Golden Retriever barked in agreement.
• The Male Wizard threatened to release Fallen Body Burst and began swelling his body, but Richard rushed forward and swung a golden-energy-covered hand at his face.

Richard stopped the Male Wizard from killing himself by using a potion that temporarily blocked his spell source, then left him to consider cooperating. Richard and Pandora returned to their experiments, still trying to identify a problem in their results.

• Richard repeatedly knocked the Male Wizard unconscious to prevent him from resisting while he forced a potion down his throat.
• The potion spread through the Male Wizard's body and prevented him from mobilizing mana or casting spells.
• Richard explained that Neo-Pentyne temporarily blocked the Male Wizard's true spell source and warned that he might use other potions if the Male Wizard continued resisting.
• The Male Wizard confirmed that his spell source was not permanently damaged, but he remained frightened and reluctant to cooperate.
• Richard left with Pandora and the Golden Retriever, then resumed discussing an experiment whose results had not matched his expectations.

Richard spent three days analyzing Blood Energy to improve the Restoration Elixir, while the Male Wizard was left starving under the Lich Old Man’s watch. The Male Wizard finally broke and offered to tell Richard everything, stopping him as he left the Main Laboratory.

• Richard used the Blood-colored Seal to study Blood Energy and improve the Restoration Elixir over three days.
• The Male Wizard remained trapped among the Magic Puppets and starved while the Lich Old Man claimed they were protecting him.
• The Lich Old Man told the Male Wizard that he was only required to keep him alive and could not be bothered to provide food.
• Realizing no one valued him and that he might starve to death, the Male Wizard abandoned his resistance.
• The Male Wizard shouted that he would confess everything, and Richard stopped and turned toward him.

Richard ignored Barry’s pleas while planning an experiment, then agreed to hear his confession for twenty minutes. After giving Barry Nutrient Solution, Richard began questioning him, learning that Barry was forty-nine and would turn fifty the next day.

• Richard walked away from Barry without hearing his pleas, focused on designing an experiment involving Xin Gengzi, Pian Xinzi, and No. 6 Potion.
• Richard returned after realizing Barry might have called him and agreed to hear his confession for twenty minutes before his experiment.
• Richard brought Barry to Eden Garden’s Main Laboratory and gave him Nutrient Solution to restore his strength.
• Barry introduced himself as Barry Jay Olier and said he was forty-nine, with his fiftieth birthday coming the next day.
• Richard warned Barry that he might die before reaching fifty, leaving Barry frightened about his chances of surviving until his birthday.

Barry told Richard that he belonged to the Ancestral Spirit Society, whose leader Noan had sent him after the Blood-colored Seal. Barry explained that Noan had taken power after Barry’s father died and had set him up to fail, leaving Barry to admit that his own plan to use the seal as leverage had also failed.

• Richard questioned Barry about the Magic Puppet attack, the Blood-colored Seal, and the organization behind him.
• Barry described the Ancestral Spirit Society’s history and said its current leader sought the seal to revive Blood Spell research.
• Barry said Noan’s confidant had killed Wizard Reiss, then Noan sent Barry to retrieve the seal after that attempt failed.
• Barry revealed that his father had led the society and that Noan, his adopted brother, had taken the leadership after his father died.
• Richard pointed out Barry’s weakness, and Barry explained that Noan had sent him on a mission designed to let Noan punish him whether he succeeded or failed.
• Barry admitted that he had hoped to use the seal as leverage against Noan, then insisted that he had done his best.

Richard questioned Barry about the Ancestral Spirit Society’s Blood Codex and decided to verify Barry’s claims before pursuing it. He left to seek intelligence through a black-market contact, while Barry stayed behind and eyed the laboratory’s potions.

• Richard confronted Barry about his anger, and Barry admitted he felt unable to defeat Noan because of his poor talent.
• Barry explained that the Blood Codex contained analyses of more than a hundred Blood Spells, including spells that society members could not safely master.
• Richard saw the Codex as a potential source of new spells but refused to trust Barry’s account without independent verification.
• Richard decided to seek information about the Ancestral Spirit Society through an old friend in Faro City’s black market rather than immediately use Oscar’s favor.
• After Richard left, Barry reasoned that he could not cause trouble and began choosing Nutrient Solution from the Main Laboratory’s cabinets.

Barry tested a potion on the Golden Retriever, discovering too late that it was a powerful diuretic and angering Pandora. Meanwhile, Richard received a visitor who said his master had arrived with the information Richard wanted.

• Barry mistook a pale blue potion for the Nutrient Solution and gave some to the Golden Retriever to test it.
• The Golden Retriever suffered an extreme bout of urination, and Pandora identified the potion as a Maximum Diuretic.
• Pandora confronted Barry for giving Little Bell the potion and threatened him, leaving him terrified.
• A boy arrived at Eden Garden and told Richard that his master had brought the requested information.
• Richard approached the carriage and knocked on its wall.

Sherlock delivered Richard detailed information about the Ancestral Spirit Society and discussed their opposing views on truth and pleasure. Sherlock left to celebrate Lucia’s birthday over sea fish, while Richard went inside to study the documents.

• Sherlock handed Richard research describing the Ancestral Spirit Society’s origins as Ancient Civilization's Light and its early worship of giant serpents.
• Richard questioned Sherlock about employing a Wizard as his groom, and Sherlock said he relied on his own schemes and Richard’s supposed Level 4 strength for protection.
• Sherlock told Richard he was hurrying to celebrate Lucia’s birthday at a tavern before its limited supply of fresh sea fish sold out.
• Richard and Sherlock debated whether understanding what is real mattered more than experiencing pleasure.
• Sherlock’s carriage departed, and Richard went inside with the documents.

Richard returned to Eden Garden and found that Pandora had punished Barry for secretly testing a diuretic on Little Bell by testing Unstable Potion No. 23 on him. Pandora’s records of Barry’s changing symptoms gave Richard new data for his research.

• Richard confirmed that Barry had told the truth about the Ancestral Spirit Society and decided he could proceed with borrowing the Blood Codex.
• Richard heard Barry screaming and found him with Pandora and the Golden Retriever in Laboratory No. 1.
• Pandora explained that Barry had given Little Bell Maximum Diuretic and that she had retaliated by testing Unstable Potion No. 23 on him.
• Richard identified Barry’s uncontrolled mouth and facial muscles as a potion effect and asked Pandora for her observation records.
• Richard read Pandora’s records, which documented Barry’s uncontrolled arm, legs, mouth, and facial muscles after the trial.

Richard took Barry from Pandora’s laboratory after neutralizing the potion and restoring his magic power, then carried him deep into a forest. Barry began to recognize their destination as Richard prompted him to look around.

• Richard examined Barry after he fainted, recorded the potion’s side effect, and decided to take him away.
• Pandora asked Little Bell whether she should pursue Barry, then accepted the dog’s bark as an answer.
• Barry woke in a carriage beside Richard, who explained that he had neutralized the potion and given him an antidote for the magic power antagonist.
• Richard paid the groom, left the carriage with Barry, and carried him into the forest.
• Barry asked where they were going, and Richard told him to look around; Barry began to realize where they were.

Richard brought Barry toward the Ancestral Spirit Society headquarters and negotiated for the Blood Codex in exchange for helping him defeat Noan and take control of the society. When Barry proposed infiltrating the headquarters and eliminating Noan’s followers in secret, Richard instead decided to face them directly and sped forward with Barry.

• Barry recognized the High Mountain Forest near the Ancestral Spirit Society headquarters, and Richard offered to help him become the society’s leader in return for borrowing the Blood Codex.
• Barry asked Richard to eliminate Noan’s confidants and promise future support, and Richard considered the additional demands.
• Richard and Barry spotted one of Noan’s sentries, and Barry explained that Noan’s followers wore necklaces made from the teeth of their victims.
• Barry proposed that Richard stealthily kill the sentries, ambush Noan, and then remove Noan’s supporters so Barry could control the society.
• Richard rejected the stealthy approach and said they should gather the enemy and deal with them at once.
• Barry warned Richard that fighting the whole society was impossible, but Richard grabbed him and shot forward at extreme speed.

Richard rushed through the forest toward the Ancestral Spirit Society Headquarters as sentries pursued him. At the headquarters, Noan executed Yi Deng during a trial assembly, and an elder stepped forward to challenge him.

• Richard sped past successive sentries, ignored their attempts to stop him, and headed for the Ancestral Spirit Society Headquarters.
• Noan questioned Yi Deng about Barry's alleged plot to split the Society, but Yi Deng denied knowing about it and claimed he had been framed.
• Noan snapped Yi Deng's neck and declared that he had killed him to protect the Society's order and development.
• After someone in the crowd snorted in contempt, Noan demanded that the dissatisfied person come forward, and a lean old man identified himself.

Moses challenged Noan’s accusation that Yi Deng and Barry had plotted to split the Ancestral Spirit Society, and Noan ordered Jeff and Hart to attack him. Before they could kill Moses, a young man descended into the square carrying Barry, leaving the gathered Society members stunned.

• Moses confronted Noan, insisting that Yi Deng and Barry had not conspired to split the Ancestral Spirit Society.
• Noan argued that the accusations were supported by evidence, then signaled Jeff and Hart to attack Moses.
• Moses tried to escape, but Jeff, Hart, and Noan’s subordinates pursued him.
• A young man suddenly crashed into the square, blasting Moses, Jeff, and Hart away with the impact.
• The young man stood in the square holding Barry, whom the Society members recognized as the former leader’s son.

Richard attacked the Ancestral Spirit Society Headquarters after Noan ordered his followers to kill him and Barry. He devastated Noan’s forces with an improved spell, and Noan sent his trusted aides, Jeff and Hart, to confront him.

• Noan accused Barry of bringing an outsider into headquarters and plotting to split the Ancestral Spirit Society, then ordered his followers to attack Richard and Barry.
• Richard evaded the Wizards’ spells and unleashed his improved Blood-colored Energy spears, killing dozens of Noan’s subordinates.
• The sentries who arrived from the forest saw the corpses and quietly retreated rather than alerting anyone.
• Barry and Moses stared at Richard in shock as Noan considered how to restore his followers’ morale.
• Noan called on Jeff and Hart, who charged at Richard under the protection of dazzling light.

Richard killed Jeff and Hart, but they transformed through the forbidden Undead Blood Nightmare spell and regenerated from his Blood-colored Energy Spears. Richard then killed them with an unseen attack, leaving Barry stunned.

• Richard formed two powerful Blood-colored Energy Spears and fatally wounded Jeff and Hart as they charged him.
• Barry realized Richard was far stronger than Jeff and Hart and thought their bargain could help him regain leadership of the Ancestral Spirit Society.
• Jeff and Hart transformed after Noan had them use the forbidden Undead Blood Nightmare spell, gaining powerful regeneration and approaching Level 4 strength.
• Richard's Blood-colored Energy Spears failed to stop the transformed Jeff and Hart, and Barry urged him to flee.
• Jeff and Hart suddenly collapsed dead after Richard used an attack while wearing a dark-gold Metal Glove, leaving Barry speechless.

After Richard killed Noan’s two subordinates, Barry tried to use Noan’s research into Forbidden spells to force him to resign as leader of the Ancestral Spirit Society. Richard then offered to switch sides and cooperate with Noan in exchange for access to the Blood Codex, leaving Noan to consider the proposal.

• Barry accused Noan of negligence for researching the Forbidden spell Undead Blood Nightmare, but Noan admitted that he had developed and taught it to his subordinates.
• Noan explained that he had improved several Forbidden spells and defended his actions as necessary to strengthen the Ancestral Spirit Society.
• Barry threatened to have Richard kill Noan, but Richard told Barry not to speak so absolutely.
• Richard offered Noan a partnership, promising help with his problems and compensation in exchange for borrowing the Blood Codex and sharing Blood Spell research.

Richard rejected Barry’s original terms and tried to negotiate with Noan, offering an exchange of research and spells. Noan refused to trust or serve Richard and attacked him, leaving a battle about to begin.

• Richard explained that he had never agreed to Barry’s demands, and Barry desperately offered to hand over the Blood Codex in exchange for Noan’s death.
• Richard asked Noan to cooperate, but Noan demanded that Richard reveal his background and insisted he had no need to accept the offer.
• Richard offered Noan equivalent Forbidden spells and access to his laboratory and research.
• Noan accused Richard of wanting to make him a subordinate, challenged him to prove his strength, and leapt toward him.
• Richard shifted into a combat stance as Barry shouted in excitement.

Richard fought Noan, discovered that the apparent stone-body destruction concealed an invisible attacker, and pursued him to the Ancestral Spirit Society’s underground altar. There, Richard found Noan uncovering the Blood Codex.

• Richard shattered Noan’s stone-like body with an Air Missile, then used Gaze of the Eye to spot Noan rushing at him while invisible.
• Richard blocked Noan’s punch with Golden Armor, but Noan fled toward the Ancestral Spirit Society headquarters.
• Richard grabbed Barry and pursued Noan to the Stone Tower, where Barry said the council hall and ritual altar were located.
• Richard blasted through a wall and entered the underground altar chamber with Barry.
• Richard saw Noan prying a blood-red slab from the stone platform and realized it was the Blood Codex.