Chapter Summaries

Sarah explained why the Zhuo Er Spell Essence was the Soul's Rest Auction's finale item, then arranged magical materials and long-term access to Magic Tree Seeds for Gao De. She also gave him a ten-percent share of Blood Sail's industrial revenue and agreed to claim Davy Jones's bounty on his behalf, leaving their alliance and cooperation in place.

• Sarah explained that the Zhuo Er Spell Essence greatly reduced a spell's mana cost and casting time, making it valuable to powerful factions seeking an advantage for their Third Circle descendants.
• Gao De realized that the Spell Essence could help him win the Second Circle Mage division of the Military Mage Combat Tournament.
• Sarah presented Gao De with crates of magical materials and a pouch containing the Magic Tree Seeds she had found, and she promised to keep sourcing seeds through the Gold Coin Hunters.
• Sarah gave Gao De a contract granting him ten percent of the revenue from Blood Sail's industries, while explaining that Davy Jones's hidden wealth could not be recovered until his Secret Treasure Box spell expired.
• Gao De asked Sarah to claim the 380,000 Plantagenet Coins bounty for Davy Jones's head, and they discussed long-term cooperation between the Northern Territory and the Gold Coin Hunters.

Gao De and Sarah finalized a mutually beneficial partnership connecting the Northern Territory with Black Sail City, and Sarah gave him a tavern for the Northern Territory Office in the Blue Flame Islands. Gao De offered Lan Wen the post of office ambassador and revealed that the future department above the office would be the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

• Gao De and Sarah agreed on trade, procurement and shipping, recruitment, intelligence sharing, and support for a permanent Northern Territory office in Black Sail City; Sarah also offered shipping discounts and gave him a tavern.
• Sarah warned Gao De that Blood Sail Pirate remnants and other factions might target him before she left.
• Gao De collected eighteen bottles of Boneblood Bramble Elixir from Old Potion Ghoul and ordered another hundred bottles for 7,500 Plantagenet Coin, due within half a year.
• Gao De inspected the Blood Orange tavern with Lan Wen and offered him the role of ambassador for the Northern Territory Office, explaining its future prospects.
• Lan Wen asked what department would oversee the office, and Gao De named the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Gao De returned from the Blue Flame Islands after gathering Spell Elixir ingredients and establishing diplomatic ties for Phoenix, while Lan Wen agreed to stay in Black Sail City and lead the new office. Back in Dorn Harbor, Gao De reunited with Tuanzi and learned through Beast Bond+ that Tuanzi had been bullied and was tattling to him.

• Lan Wen decided to stay in Black Sail City and head Phoenix's new foreign affairs office, and Gao De promised to send help.
• Gao De left Black Sail City with Sarah's escort after preparing nearly twenty Spell Elixirs, then swam across the sea to Dorn Harbor.
• Gao De signaled for Tuanzi in Dorne's Great Marsh, and Tuanzi eagerly came to meet him.
• Gao De chose a Sea Sentinel task to complete before returning to the Northern Territory for a period of seclusion.
• Gao De used Beast Bond+ to discuss the mission with Tuanzi and discovered that Tuanzi was complaining about being bullied.

Gao De learned how Tuanzi had trespassed on a Wild Capybara Herd’s lotus-root grove and been beaten by its adult leader, then agreed to help him reclaim his pride. He followed Tuanzi to the grove, where he detected the hidden adult capybara beneath the mud and sand.

• Tuanzi explained that he had found a deep-water lotus-root grove, fought off its young capybaras, and been beaten twice by their adult leader when he returned.
• Gao De considered recruiting the Wild Capybara Herd to form an aquatic force and promised to help Tuanzi get his pride back.
• Gao De put a Capybara Saddle on Tuanzi and followed him to the remote grove, where several young capybaras lounged beside the lotus roots.
• Gao De used his Body of Water Veins to sense the adult capybara concealed beneath the mud and sand.

Gao De subdued the capybara leader with spells, befriended it through a mental link, and offered food and protection in exchange for the group’s obedience. The leader accepted, leaving Gao De with a newly recruited group of capybaras and a chance to help it advance.

• Gao De bound the adult capybara with Entangling Roots and used Arcane Chorus to make it friendly.
• Gao De released the capybara and used Beast Bond+ to communicate with it while Tuanzi revealed that Gao De was his master.
• Gao De used Mandora Demon Eye to see that the capybara leader was close to advancing, then offered better food, safety, and help in exchange for the group’s obedience.
• Gao De gave the leader high-grade blood food and scattered Jewel Sweetberries for the young capybaras.
• The leader felt the food loosen its advancement barrier, accepted Gao De’s offer, and signaled that the group would obey him.

Gao De learned how Yuanzi lost her herd during the Catfish Cyclone and discovered that the lotus root grove sustaining her survivors contained a valuable second-order magic plant. After assessing Yuanzi’s chances of advancing and taking a sample of the Water Spirit Lotus Root, he planned to help her and have Flora study how to cultivate the plant.

• Gao De named the submissive capybara leader Yuanzi and learned that a sea beast had devastated her herd during Auckland’s Catfish Cyclone, leaving her to lead the surviving juveniles.
• Yuanzi told Gao De that her herd had found a hidden lotus root grove, where she ate a rare golden lotus root that gave her the potential to advance to the third order.
• Gao De used the Mandora Demon Eye to assess Yuanzi and found that her injuries, weak vital blood, and insufficient muscle strength made her advancement prospects poor without help.
• Gao De identified the grove’s plants as second-order Water Spirit Lotus Roots that accumulated and nurtured pure water energy.
• Gao De took a lotus root segment to bring to Flora for examination and considered cultivating an advanced form to help Yuanzi build a powerful capybara herd.

Gao De brought Yuanzi and her capybara clan to Zekou Town, where they hunted a second-tier Swamp Crocodile and gained experience working together. After completing the mission, he returned to Dorn City and teleported to the Northern Territory to prepare for Yuanzi’s advancement.

• Gao De decided to train Yuanzi and her clan to handle Sea Sentinel basic missions, then fed Yuanzi the blood food he had brought from the Northern Territory.
• Gao De took Yuanzi, Tuanzi, and seventeen young capybaras to Zekou Town to investigate attacks blamed on a second-tier Swamp Crocodile.
• Yuanzi led the capybaras in battle, and they killed the Swamp Crocodile despite several clan members, including Yuanzi, being injured.
• Gao De healed the injured capybaras, harvested the Swamp Crocodile’s venom sac and scales, and gave its meat to the clan as blood food.
• Gao De submitted the completed mission at the Abyssal White Tower, then used Astral Teleportation at the Walmart Magic Materials Shop to return to the Northern Territory.

After Yggdrasil advanced to the Third Tier, Gao De discovered its new Spirit Realm Whisper/Scry ability and used Spirit Realm Whisper to contact a Spirit Realm creature. He connected with an Aether Spider, which asked for a contract providing it with fresh information.

• Gao De returned to the Northern Territory and saw Yggdrasil's exposed root network, second canopy, and golden vortex above its branches.
• Gao De learned that Yggdrasil had reached the Third Tier, expanded its Spirit Land, shortened its Astral Teleportation charge time, and awakened Spirit Realm Whisper/Scry.
• Gao De chose Spirit Realm Whisper and instructed Yggdrasil to seek gentle Spirit Realm beings while avoiding malicious or chaotic consciousnesses.
• Yggdrasil rejected a greedy presence and a frenzied presence before Gao De accepted a connection with a curious, neutral existence.
• Gao De encountered a thread-woven spider-like creature that identified itself as Aether Spider, Weaver of All, and asked for a long-term contract supplying fresh information.

Gao De met the Aether Spider in the Spirit Realm but ended the encounter without a contract when Yggdrasil ran out of energy. Back in Phoenix, he told Sunaifa about his agreement with Sarah, arranged plans for the Blue Flame Islands, and gave Sunaifa a Fifth Circle Advancement Potion.

• The Aether Spider explained its information network, its need for Spirit Realm energy, and the terms of an assistance contract, but Gao De saw no use for the service and could not afford it.
• Yggdrasil's Spirit Realm energy ran out, ending Gao De's conversation with the Aether Spider before he could learn more.
• Gao De returned to Phoenix with an Azure Feather Sentinel Sapling, a third-circle Thorn Ironwood Magic Tree Seed, and more than twenty low-circle Magic Tree Seeds.
• At City Hall, Gao De told Sunaifa that Elder Lanwen would remain in Black Sail City and serve as director of a Northern Territory office, and he described his agreement with Sarah and the Gold Coin Hunters.
• Gao De asked Sunaifa to choose personnel for the Northern Territory office and oversee a shipping route and trade with the Blue Flame Islands.
• Gao De gave Sunaifa Siren Saltmarsh Essence, a Fifth Circle Advancement Potion, for her future advancement in the Evergreen Longevity Sutra.

Gao De met Master Ram, who explained that the Ram Clan was searching for a powerful presence they feared might destabilize the Northern Territory and offered cooperation if it could help the region. Sunaifa avoided confirming that Yggdrasil was in Phoenix, and Master Ram left Gao De with a special gift.

• Sunaifa told Gao De that Master Ram had visited Phoenix after sensing the Sacred Tree’s advancement and had spent more than a month touring the city before requesting an audience.
• Gao De agreed to meet Master Ram in the Core Spirit Land, where the Sixth Tier Icejade Wutong could protect them.
• Master Ram praised Phoenix’s vitality and said he believed Gao De’s arrival had begun the Icekin’s revival, then explained that the Artisan Master had sent him to investigate a power capable of changing the Northern Territory.
• Master Ram said the Ram Clan would not interfere if the power could benefit the Northern Territory and might even offer help, while Gao De privately weighed the risks of revealing Yggdrasil.
• Sunaifa offered to help search for the unknown presence without admitting it was in Phoenix, and Master Ram accepted the response before handing Gao De a dark wooden box as his special gift.

Gao De received an Ore Vein Compass from Master Ram and, after discussing whether to trust him with Sunaifa, chose to keep Yggdrasil secret for now. At Flora's Bounty Farm, Gao De learned that Flora had developed a way to use iron-rich geothermal water and iron sediment to cultivate Northwest Barley No. 2 across far more land.

• Master Ram gave Gao De an Ore Vein Compass that could locate Magic Ore and explain how the Ram Clan hoped Phoenix would prosper.
• Sunaifa told Gao De that Lady Flora had sensed no malice in Master Ram, but they agreed to observe him further before showing him Yggdrasil.
• Grant brought Gao De and Sunaifa to Flora's Bounty Farm, where they saw that Northwest Barley No. 2 covered many newly cultivated plots.
• Flora and Grant explained how she used iron-rich Geothermal Water from beneath Mount Castella and its settled iron mud to help the wheat grow.
• Gao De praised Flora's achievement, and she was delighted to learn that her work would benefit Phoenix.

Gao De inspected Phoenix’s expanded Icelizard Blood Fungus operation and established a Livestock Office to oversee animal husbandry and extraordinary beast taming. He saw the fungus plantation as a key part of his Universal Mage Initiative, then took Flora to City Hall to show her what he had brought back from the Blue Flame Islands.

• Flora led Gao De to a mountain cavern where workers cultivated Icelizard Blood Fungus using the cold breath and resources of two Frost Lizards.
• Sunaifa explained that Quentin had found and tamed the hatchling’s mother, enabling Phoenix to expand the fungus plantation.
• Gao De created a Livestock Office under the Ministry of Agriculture and asked Sunaifa to offer Quentin its director position.
• Gao De named the site the Icelizard Blood Fungus Industrial Park and ordered Flora to expand it as a key agricultural project.
• Gao De connected the fungus supply to his Universal Mage Initiative and the plan to establish a mage growth path for Phoenix’s people.
• Gao De took Flora to City Hall to show her what he had brought back from the Blue Flame Islands.

Gao De showed Flora the Azure Feather Sentinel Sapling, magic tree seeds, and Water Spirit Lotus Root, then arranged for the lotus root to be planted in North Ice Lake. An unidentified purple, many-eyed creature infiltrated Phoenix and escaped Master Ram, prompting Sunaifa to join the pursuit while Gao De resolved to help her reach Fifth Circle.

• Gao De presented Flora with an Azure Feather Sentinel Sapling, Featherfruits, a Third Order Thorn Ironwood Seed, and several low-order magic tree seeds.
• Flora explained that Water Spirit Lotus Root needed pure, gently flowing water and could eventually produce a Lotus Root Mother if planted on a large scale.
• Gao De decided to plant the Water Spirit Lotus Root in North Ice Lake and asked Sunaifa to organize its propagation.
• Catherine reported that an unidentified creature had infiltrated Phoenix and fled after Master Ram discovered and pursued it.
• Gao De and Sunaifa suspected the creature was connected to the Omniscient Eye after Catherine described its purple body, numerous eyes, and ability to hide as a shadow.
• Sunaifa left with Catherine to support Master Ram, while Gao De stayed behind and resolved to help Sunaifa advance to Fifth Circle.

Sunaifa and Master Ram joined forces to defeat the unknown creature after Sunaifa used Truefrost to prevent it from escaping into the void. They returned safely to Gao De at dawn, and Master Ram began explaining what had happened.

• Catherine tracked Master Ram to his battle with the unknown creature, and Sunaifa flew ahead while Catherine stayed back.
• Master Ram's fire attacks damaged the creature, but it repeatedly became incorporeal to evade his blows.
• Sunaifa fired two Truefrost Arrows that formed an ice domain and prevented the creature from dissolving into particles.
• Master Ram seized the opening and struck the trapped creature with his ultimate goat-headed torrent of fire.
• Sunaifa, Master Ram, and Catherine returned safely at dawn, and Master Ram offered to explain the events to Gao De.

Master Ram explained that the monster captured in Phoenix was a Void Creature connected to the Frostguard Tribe and the Eastern Forbidden Zone. After weighing the danger and Master Ram’s offer to oppose the Frostguard Tribe, Gao De decided to reveal that he knew where the power Master Ram sought was located.

• Master Ram and Warmother Sunaifa described killing a concealed monster in Phoenix and bringing back its undamaged, dark-purple-glowing eyes.
• Gao De tried to identify an eyeball, but it drained more than half his mana before he stopped the spell.
• Master Ram explained the planes and revealed that the monster was likely a Void Creature from the Void Plane, whose rifts included one in the Northern Territory’s Eastern Forbidden Zone.
• Gao De learned that the Frostguard Tribe’s first Warmother had been guided into the forbidden zone by an Omniscient Eye, a type of Void Creature, and that a twisted power had been accumulating there.
• Master Ram said the Void Creature may have come to seek a power capable of overturning the Northern Territory and offered to help prevent the Frostguard Tribe from claiming it.
• After Sunaifa nodded her support, Gao De told Master Ram that he knew where the thing he was searching for was located.

Master Ram saw Flora’s Forest and Yggdrasil, confirming that the Sacred Tree could transform the Northern Territory. After Dulin Fire Ram left to report to Artisan Master, Gao De learned the Oddity Egg on Yggdrasil was nearing its hatching.

• Master Ram crossed Mount Valar and saw Flora’s Forest flourishing amid the snow-covered Northern Territory.
• Gao De, Sunaifa, and Flora welcomed Master Ram, and Elder Gain led them through the forest toward its core.
• Gao De showed Master Ram Yggdrasil and explained that its power could turn frozen land into fertile, magical ground.
• After confirming Yggdrasil’s power, Master Ram revealed his true name, Dulin Fire Ram, and hurried home to report to Artisan Master and help protect the Sacred Tree.
• Sunaifa told Gao De that Flora had gone to plant trees and that the Oddity Egg on Yggdrasil might hatch within a month, so Gao De ordered Elder Gain to watch it.

Gao De advanced his Truefrost Secrets and studied Runelore while preparing to forge a Third Circle Rune Construct. Azurewind brought word that the Oddity Egg was about to hatch, and Gao De reached Flora's Forest to find Yggdrasil helping it absorb Astral Energy.

• Gao De set aside the Evergreen Longevity Sutra to focus on the Truefrost Secrets, which advanced rapidly as he continued building Spell Models.
• Gao De studied the Heart of the North Border's Runelore knowledge to prepare to forge himself a Third Circle Rune Construct.
• On the fifth day after the Truefrost Secrets reached First-Order Apprentice, Azurewind returned to Phoenix with news that the Oddity Egg was close to hatching.
• Gao De hurried to Flora's Forest, where Elder Gain reported that the egg had begun contracting and drawing in Astral Energy a day earlier.
• Gao De saw Yggdrasil channel five-colored Astral Energy into the Oddity Egg as its shell patterns writhed and ripples appeared in the surrounding space.

Gao De witnessed the Astral Oddity hatch, bonded with the newborn, and named it Eevee. After learning about its unstable condition and unusual Astral Energy abilities, he decided to remain in Flora's Forest while it stabilized.

• The Oddity Egg cracked open, and a five-colored, foxlike Astral Oddity hatched and leapt into Gao De's arms.
• Gao De recognized that his magic imprint had made the newborn feel close to him and kept it nearby as it slept under an unstable Astral Stealth effect.
• After Eevee woke hungry, Gao De fed it a Divine Berry coated with his blood and established a mental link with Beast Bond+.
• Gao De named the Oddity Eevee and learned that it could absorb Astral Energy and use Astral Stealth, Astral Flicker, limited astral travel, and Astral Impact.
• Gao De decided to stay in Flora's Forest until Eevee's condition stabilized, with Yggdrasil nearby to help if needed.

Gao De realized he could use the Aether Spider’s Spirit Vein Fiber network to solve Phoenix’s slow communications and secured the Heart of the North Border to contact it. He proposed exchanging fresh information for the Spider’s help establishing the Northern Aethernet, and the Spider agreed to explore the cooperation.

• Gao De received Sunaifa’s letter about the Livestock Office, sent back detailed advice with Azurewind, and considered the problems with long-distance communication.
• Gao De remembered that the Aether Spider could transmit information through its Spirit Vein Fiber network and decided to seek its help.
• Gao De urgently asked Elder Gain to retrieve the Heart of the North Border from Phoenix, and Elder Gain returned with it a day later.
• Gao De used Spirit Realm Whisper beneath Yggdrasil to find the Aether Spider and proposed trading fresh information for its information-transmission services.
• The Aether Spider showed interest in Gao De’s offer, and Gao De proposed establishing the Northern Aethernet.

Gao De connected the Aether Spider’s Spirit Vein Fiber network to the Heart of the North Border and began designing the Northern Aethernet to let Secret Keys access it over long distances. The network’s infrastructure was in place, but its routing, communication, and user-facing functions still had to be completed.

• Gao De instructed the Aether Spider to connect its Spirit Vein Fibers to the Heart of the North Border in Flora's Forest and Phoenix.
• The Aether Spider completed the connections, and Gao De confirmed that the Northern Aethernet’s broadband foundation had been established.
• Gao De planned for the Aether Spider to register and relay Secret Keys, reducing the Heart of the North Border’s active connections to a single link with the network.
• Gao De assigned the Heart of the North Border responsibility for Spirit Realm Coordinates and routing information packets through the network.
• Gao De outlined transport methods for reliable or rapid delivery and planned the World Wide Web and Spirit Message as the Aethernet’s first applications.