Chapter Summaries

Gao De brought newly brewed Flying Maotai to Yagang and Dulin Fire to win their help with a forging project. The two Ram Clan masters enjoyed the liquor and agreed to examine the plans, which Gao De laid out before them.

• Gao De and Sunaifa visited Grant’s brewery, where they tasted strong red barley wine that could ward off the cold.
• Gao De named the new liquor Flying Maotai and took two jars to Yagang and Dulin Fire at Valar Bay.
• Gao De brought Flora along, and Yagang abandoned his attempt to act imposing when he saw her on Gao De’s shoulder.
• Gao De offered the liquor to Yagang and Dulin Fire, and both were impressed by its aroma and flavor.
• Gao De explained that he needed help with a forging project, then spread the plans before the two masters.

Elie Warwick arrived at the Iron Throne and was ordered by Mei Qiang to lead a team against the Golden Broom Dynasty’s mages. Mei Qiang and Mordred discussed arranging the Nolan Magic Fighting Tournament as the map showed a growing silver-white light in Liuge County.

• Elie Warwick entered Iron City and reached the Iron Throne, where she met Mei Qiang.
• Mei Qiang ordered Elie to lead a team to sweep aside the Golden Broom Dynasty’s young mages, and Elie accepted.
• After Elie left, Mordred appeared and told Mei Qiang that Golden Broom remained wary of the proposed Nolan Magic Fighting Tournament.
• Mei Qiang showed Mordred a map where the Empire’s Blood Rose spread across much of the Nolan Continent while Golden Broom held its western territory.
• A bright silver-white point appeared in Liuge County and began sending energy into the surrounding Golden Broom petals.

Mei Qiang persuaded Mordred to approve a magic tournament that would let Imperial mages infiltrate Liuge County and approach the Golden Broom’s mysterious source of light. After Mordred left, Mei Qiang examined the Northern Territory’s Purple Jade Flower, the incarnation of Anivia, and sensed that it had begun to awaken.

• Mei Qiang showed Mordred the Golden Broom’s expanding light and argued that it came from a girl who could change the dynasty’s fate.
• Mordred agreed to the Nolan Magic Fighting Tournament but insisted that his people join the operation.
• Mei Qiang explained that the Empire would use the tournament to infiltrate Liuge County and approach the Light of the Golden Broom while displaying Imperial might.
• Mordred departed, leaving Mei Qiang alone with the map in the Iron Throne Hall.
• Mei Qiang revealed the Purple Jade Flower in the Northern Territory and noticed that its bud and halo seemed slightly brighter than before.

Richard learned that the Plantagenet Dynasty’s Military Mage Combat Tournament would become the continent-wide First Peerless Tournament, held in Liuge County under new rules. He worried the Holy Empire had ulterior motives, but trusted his younger sister to lead the dynasty’s five-person team to victory.

• Richard left his audience with Lister XII uneasy about the changes to the tournament.
• Richard recalled that the Holy Empire and Seacoast City had jointly proposed expanding the dynasty’s traditional tournament into the First Peerless Tournament.
• The new contest would be held in Liuge County, include young mages from the major powers, and allow each force to send five competitors under twenty without mage-rank divisions.
• Richard suspected the Holy Empire intended to use the tournament to display its strength, but Lister XII had already accepted the proposal.
• Richard believed the Plantagenet Dynasty would win because of his younger sister’s ability, though he recognized that competing as a team of five introduced uncertainty.

Gao De arranged for Master Yagang to build a coin-minting machine and revised Aisha’s production process to use alchemical machinery. Quentin returned with a male Frost Lizard and an Ice Meridian Flower, and Gao De used a spell to overcome the lizard’s fear so breeding could begin.

• Gao De persuaded Master Yagang to forge a precision alchemical machine for minting coins by explaining its harmless purpose and challenging craftsmanship.
• Gao De identified inefficiencies in Aisha’s coin-minting process and spent the morning outlining alchemical machines to automate several steps.
• Quentin returned from his expedition with a male Frost Lizard and gave Gao De an Ice Meridian Flower that could accelerate magical cultivation.
• Quentin explained that the male Frost Lizard was too intimidated by the larger female to breed, so Gao De went to the industrial park to see it.
• Gao De cast Burning Desire on the male Frost Lizard, prompting it to approach the female and begin courting her.
• Gao De offered to give Quentin the spell formula so the Livestock Office could use Burning Desire when needed.

Gao De cultivated with the Ice Meridian Flower’s help, then focused on strengthening his Northern Territory and preparing for the Military Mage Combat Tournament. As the year ended, he returned to the Plantagenet Dynasty to receive his Sea Sentinel reward.

• Gao De consumed the Ice Meridian Flower, formed a Temporary Ice Meridian, and accelerated his cultivation.
• Gao De settled on securing Sea Sentinel’s Bairo County representative spot in the Military Mage Combat Tournament and handed City Hall affairs to Aisha and Sunaifa.
• Gao De advanced the Evergreen Longevity Sutra and Truefrost Secrets through secluded cultivation.
• Gao De learned that his mission merits had secured a top-five-percent ranking in Sea Sentinel’s annual assessment and qualified him for a reward.
• Gao De packed his luggage and used Astral Teleportation beneath Yggdrasil to return to the Plantagenet Dynasty.

Gao De visited Lieutenant Colonel Grayling for a year-end dinner and learned that the Military Mage Combat Tournament had been restructured into the continent-wide Nolan Magic Fighting Tournament. He learned that two substitute places would be awarded through an Academy Challenge and decided to try for one.

• Gao De brought Lieutenant Colonel Grayling two New Year's gifts and joined his family for dinner.
• Lieutenant Colonel Grayling told Gao De that the Military Mage Combat Tournament had been restructured into the Nolan Magic Fighting Tournament, with teams from across the continent competing.
• Lieutenant Colonel Grayling explained that the tournament offered valuable rewards, including Mid-tier Elemental Seeds, and that the dynasty's five official competitors had already been selected.
• Lieutenant Colonel Grayling revealed that two substitute places would be chosen through an open selection for eligible young mages.
• Gao De said he wanted to compete for a substitute place, and Lieutenant Colonel Grayling told him that selection would begin next year with an Academy Challenge.

Lieutenant Colonel Grayling explained the nationwide Academy Challenge, which would award two substitute slots and determine military rankings, and Gao De resolved to compete despite his youth and low mage rank. Afterward, Gao De bought New Year gifts to visit Captain Merrick and local nobles, while weighing whether to prioritize a breakthrough or a stronger foundation.

• Lieutenant Colonel Grayling explained that mages could challenge twelve county academies, and the first two to collect every Academy Badge would receive substitute slots.
• Grayling described how badge totals would determine military rankings and resource allocations, and warned Gao De that the defenders would likely be much stronger than him.
• Gao De insisted that he would compete to gain experience, and Grayling agreed to help him gather information about the academies.
• Gao De considered his age, potential advancement through Truefrost Secrets, and whether to pursue a Superior Specialty before breaking through.
• Gao De bought New Year gifts for Captain Merrick and other contacts after leaving Grayling's residence.

Gao De visited Earl Roland in Auckland City to find a lawful way to relocate Harland Shipyard from Lagos City and become one of its shareholders. After arranging help from Physician Danika and Adrian, he visited Mage Theodore before preparing to return to Dorn City and await Sea Sentinel’s year-end assessment.

• Gao De traveled to Auckland City with New Year gifts and visited Earl Roland to ask how to relocate Harland Shipyard and openly join its ownership.
• Earl Roland proposed a plan to make Lagos City officials willing to let the shipyard go: highlight its troubles, use Auckland’s incoming shipyard incentives, and arrange a debt lawsuit and a prospective buyer.
• Gao De sent Physician Danika a letter explaining the plan and asking her to cooperate in Lagos City.
• Gao De asked Adrian to help with the acquisition, and Adrian agreed immediately.
• Gao De brought New Year gifts to visit Mage Theodore, then prepared to return to Dorn City and await Sea Sentinel’s year-end assessment rating.

Mage Theodore offered Gao De a month of access to a Wood Elemental Demiplane in neighboring Soren County to help him cultivate for the Nolan Magic Fighting Tournament. He promised a recommendation letter and protective elixirs, while warning Gao De about the dangers of overexposure to the Demiplane’s elemental energy.

• Theodore learned that Gao De aspired to obtain a Substitute Slot in the Nolan Magic Fighting Tournament and offered to support him as Auckland’s Chief Mage.
• After learning that Gao De’s Cultivation Method focused on wood, Theodore offered him a recommendation for one month of access to a Wood Elemental Demiplane in Kente Region, Soren County.
• Theodore explained that Demiplanes provided unusually efficient cultivation but were scarce, carefully managed resources.
• Theodore promised to send Gao De a Letter of Recommendation and ten bottles of Anti-elemental Erosion Elixirs.
• Theodore warned Gao De that excessive exposure could elementalize his body, including causing vines to grow from his skin or his flesh to fuse with the elements.

After returning to Dorn City, Gao De learned that he had ranked first among the Sea Sentinel’s Second Circle Mages and collected several unusual rewards. He received an Alert Crystal and Copy Bat, then learned about the Assistant Vine as the story left him with the final reward in hand.

• Gao De returned to Dorn City after Mage Theodore offered him a month of cultivation in a Demiplane to improve his rank before the Academy Challenge.
• Melia delivered Gao De his year-end assessment letter, which named him the top Second Circle Mage in military merit and awarded him a Copy Bat, Alert Crystal, and Assistant Vine.
• Gao De collected an Alert Crystal that could maintain an alarm spell for eight hours after charging in natural light.
• Gao De collected a trained Copy Bat that could copy text and diagrams on command.
• A magic plant cultivator gave Gao De his fifth-generation Assistant Vine and explained that it could perform delicate tasks by following his mental intent.

Gao De traveled from Bairo County to Greenwood City in Soren County, where he planned to cultivate in the Wood Elemental Demiplane before challenging the local academy. The chapter ended with him entering Chief Mage Eldrin’s residence with Mage Theodore’s Letter of Recommendation.

• Gao De boarded an airship in Dorn City and discussed his journey with a beast-hunting mage.
• Gao De watched the airship cross the Sword Mountains and stop at Kallen City before continuing to Greenwood City.
• Gao De arrived at Oak Airport and found that the vegetation-rich city suited his Evergreen Longevity Sutra cultivation.
• Gao De took a Giant Deer cart to Mage Eldrin’s residence and presented the Letter of Recommendation from Mage Theodore.
• A guard admitted Gao De to the residence to meet Chief Mage Eldrin.

Gao De met Mage Eldrin and learned he would enter the Wood Elemental Demiplane with two other mages. At Emerald Valley, he faced Leo’s accusation that he had taken a local mage’s slot, while Elina defended the allocation; Mage Eldrin arrived to open the Demiplane.

• Mage Eldrin welcomed Gao De, explained that three mages would enter the Demiplane together, and told him to bring Anti-elemental Erosion Elixirs to Emerald Valley the next day.
• Gao De reached the Magic Array in Emerald Valley and met Leo and Elina, recognizing her as a lieutenant of the Soren County Rockwind Guard.
• Leo accused Gao De of using connections to take Er’s Demiplane slot, and Gao De chose not to argue.
• Elina defended Mage Eldrin’s decision, introduced herself to Gao De, and said Er had lost his slot because he was not capable enough.
• Mage Eldrin flew into the valley, greeted the three mages, and announced that he would open the Demiplane.

Gao De entered the Wood Elemental Demiplane with Elina and Leo to cultivate, despite Leo’s objections to an early-stage Second Circle Mage using a scarce slot. After quickly forming his seventy-second magic marking, Gao De continued cultivating as [Adaptive] increased his tolerance to elemental erosion.

• Mage Eldrin opened the Demiplane and set daily cultivation limits for Leo, Elina, and Gao De, warning them about elementalization.
• Elina and Leo drank Anti-elemental Erosion Elixir upon entering, while Leo criticized Gao De for taking a cultivation slot despite being only an early-stage Second Circle Mage.
• Elina explained that the Demiplane accumulated enough Wood Elemental Energy for three 3rd Circle Mages, and Gao De was relieved he would not drain its reserves.
• Gao De withdrew to a quiet corner, activated an Alert Crystal, drank some Anti-elemental Erosion Elixir and a Boneblood Bramble Elixir, then began cultivating with the Evergreen Longevity Sutra.
• Gao De rapidly condensed his seventy-second magic marking and continued cultivating as [Adaptive] increased his tolerance for Wood Elemental Energy and his ability to clear elemental particles.

Gao De cultivated in the Wood Elemental Demiplane, adapting to the erosion as he rapidly advanced to mid-stage Second Circle and reached 300 Mental Strength. Outside the Demiplane, Kallen questioned Eldrin about helping a would-be academy challenger, unaware that Gao De was growing far stronger than expected.

• Gao De endured Wood Elemental Energy erosion, condensed two magic runes on his first day, and rested to recover from elementalization and depleted Mental Strength.
• Gao De resumed cultivating after [Adaptive] improved his tolerance, particle elimination, and recovery from Wood Elemental Energy damage.
• Kallen Green confronted Mage Eldrin over sending Gao De into the Demiplane, but Eldrin assured him that Gao De was only an Early-stage Second Circle Mage.
• Gao De's adaptation neared its limit as he completed his 120th magic rune and advanced to mid-stage Second Circle.
• Gao De's Mental Strength rose from 299 to 300, giving him Third Circle-level control that let him reshape a Flame Arrow into a flower of flame.

Leo used the Leyline Bedrock Amulet to extend his cultivation, while Elina broke through to the mid-stage of the 3rd Circle and Gao De evolved into a Wood Elemental Symbiotic Body. Gao De’s greatly increased absorption drained the surrounding Wood Elemental Energy, leaving Elina and Leo struggling to cultivate and Leo’s amulet dormant.

• Leo cultivated with the Leyline Bedrock Amulet, extending his daily cultivation time and nearing the mid-stage of the 3rd Circle as he resolved to surpass Elina.
• Elina broke through to the mid-stage of the 3rd Circle in both her Wood Elemental and necromantic methods, while keeping the true nature of her Heart of Bones secret.
• Gao De crossed the 99.9% tolerance threshold and gained a Wood Elemental Symbiotic Body, becoming immune to Wood Elemental Energy erosion and absorbing particles far more efficiently.
• Gao De drew in a vast stream of Wood Elemental Energy and rapidly formed new magic patterns on his Wood Magic Crystal until his Mental Strength began to run low.
• Elina noticed that Wood Elemental Energy was thinning and flowing away, while Leo found the particles around him so sparse that the Leyline Bedrock Amulet went dormant.

Gao De reached the late Second Circle and refined his magic in the Wood Elemental Demiplane, while its elemental particles grew unexpectedly sparse. After the month ended, Leo questioned Mage Eldrin about the depletion, and Gao De realized his own absorption had likely disrupted Leo’s planned breakthrough.

• Gao De advanced to the late Second Circle, consolidated his mana, and tested the increased power of his [Thorn Growth] spell.
• Gao De and Leo both noticed the Demiplane’s elemental particles had become sparse, though Gao De continued cultivating while Elina pursued the remaining energy.
• Mage Eldrin announced that the month was over, and Gao De, Elina, and Leo returned through the formation to Emerald Valley.
• Leo asked Mage Eldrin whether the Demiplane had malfunctioned, but Eldrin insisted it was operating normally and suggested personal cultivation or environmental adaptation was responsible.
• Gao De concluded that his absorption had likely affected Leo, while Leo left for Soren Academy, intending to vent his frustration on Challenger Mages.

After leaving the Demiplane, Gao De stocked up on tree seeds and magic tree saplings in Greenwood City. He discovered a Stone Ridge Giant Oak branch at a market stall and learned it came from Blackrock Canyon, leaving him with a lead on the rare Earth Elemental magic plant.

• Gao De thanked Mage Eldrin for the Demiplane slot, then left Emerald Valley after advancing his Evergreen Longevity Sutra and Truefrost Secrets.
• Gao De bought seeds for tree species missing from Flora's Forest at shops in the Ancient Wood District and gathered basic and magical tree seeds throughout the city's magic plant market.
• Gao De found a Stonehide Tree sapling among the second-tier magic tree goods and considered using it to make teaching tools for the Northern Territory.
• Gao De spotted a branch from a Stone Ridge Giant Oak beside a stall selling Rock Moss and bought all three jars to strike up a conversation with the stall owner.
• The stall owner told Gao De that he had found similar branches near the Stalagmite Forest in Blackrock Canyon, where Cave Demon Spiders also appeared.
• Gao De left the stall with a lead on the Stone Ridge Giant Oak and promised to buy more Rock Moss from the burly man.

Gao De entered Blackrock Canyon to search for the Stone Ridge Giant Oak and encountered Stonehide Lizards in the outer layer. After defeating four with Truefrost spells, he used the Mandora Demon Eye to seek more prey and spotted another lizard ahead.

• Gao De bought information about Blackrock Canyon and decided to search for the Stone Ridge Giant Oak before taking the Academy Challenge.
• Gao De traveled to Blackrock Canyon, dismissed his Spirit Warhorse, and continued on foot toward the Stalagmite Forest.
• Four Stonehide Lizards emerged from camouflage and attacked Gao De.
• Gao De killed the four lizards with [Frost Arrow] and [Ice Bolt], raising his Stonehide Lizard Source count to 4/7.
• Gao De opened the Mandora Demon Eye, detected another Stonehide Lizard behind a rock wall, and prepared to attack.

Gao De enhanced [Ice Butterfly] with a Source Point and searched Blackrock Canyon for the Stone Ridge Giant Oak. In the stone-shoot forest, he reunited with Elina, who offered to help him find the tree if he helped confirm whether a cave held a Necrotic Elemental Seed.

• Gao De used a Stonehide Lizard Source Point to enhance [Ice Butterfly], giving it the ability to find and rate viable concealed, safer, or faster routes.
• Gao De entered Blackrock Canyon's stone-shoot forest and found a freshly broken Stone Ridge Giant Oak branch, then followed Earth Elemental Energy deeper into the forest.
• Gao De encountered Elina and explained that he was searching for the Stone Ridge Giant Oak.
• Elina told Gao De she was searching for a possible Necrotic Elemental Seed in a cave guarded by a late third-tier elite Cave Spider Queen.
• Elina proposed that she lure the Cave Spider Queen away while Gao De entered the cave to confirm the Elemental Seed's presence, and offered to lead him to the Stone Ridge Giant Oak first.
• Gao De agreed to help Elina in exchange for her assistance finding the tree.