Chapter Summaries

Lu Cang studied intensively to raise his Decipherer advancement score, then collected the custom-made Void Ring Star Staff from Aijin. He left with the continent’s strongest staff and the processed materials, eager to test his new weapon before the War God Cup.

• Lu Cang calculated that he needed nearly two more points for a perfect Decipherer advancement and studied cryptography, languages, traps, monsters, and other subjects to improve his knowledge and deciphering skill.
• Lu Cang learned from Obades that Kumiloni and Chicheng had gone to deal with the Death Church, so he put away his books and headed to Aijin’s shop.
• Aijin showed Lu Cang the completed Void Ring Star Staff, whose perfect enchantments greatly increased spell range, power, and coverage while letting him sense conditions within casting range.
• Aijin refused payment for the staff and said making it had helped him prepare to advance to Level 6 Enchanter.
• Aijin gave Lu Cang the processed necklaces and jade bracelet made from the materials Lu Cang had entrusted to him.

Lu Cang tested the Void Ring Star Staff in Tier 4 dungeons, killing 96 Nation-Destroying Tier monsters and collecting their corpses before returning to Thousand Army Ant Mountain. He used a ritual to draw in the Demonic Tide and strengthened the mountain to boost its black-ant production, then began another sacrifice as its consumption still lagged behind.

• Lu Cang left the City Within the Circle with his new staff and used a fourfold Resonant Thunder Zone to clear monsters from a Tier 4 dungeon.
• Lu Cang tested the staff’s spell amplification, killed 96 Nation-Destroying Tier monsters across seven more dungeons, and stored their corpses.
• Lu Cang returned to Thousand Army Ant Mountain, cleared the ash from its sealed cave, and set up a ritual using Demonic Blood.
• Lu Cang sacrificed souls to draw in the Demonic Tide, raising its concentration to the fifth tier and causing the mountain to produce black ants at a vastly increased rate.
• Lu Cang sacrificed 500 souls to strengthen Thousand Army Ant Mountain, then offered another 5,000 souls through the ritual as he judged the mountain was still consuming the Demonic Tide too slowly.

Lu Cang drained the Demonic Tide around Thousand Army Ant Mountain, harvested three billion souls, and completed the requirements for advancing as a Decipherer. After meeting Izpalut, he learned that Meise was dead and heard about the formidable Luluwei; a flashback showed Izpalut confronting Meise over his murderous research into the Source.

• Lu Cang used Thousand Army Ant Mountain to draw in and convert the Demonic Tide, studied ritual books, and trained the Quenching Demon Refining Method to level 301.
• Lu Cang harvested three billion souls, confirmed the Demonic Tide had been drained from the area, and fulfilled the perfect advancement requirements for the Decipherer.
• Lu Cang returned to the City Within the Circle and met Izpalut, who said Luluwei was a powerful long-range fighter and that he had killed Meise.
• Izpalut recalled confronting Meise, who defended sacrificing people to extract Origin Magic and prove the Source existed independently.
• Izpalut rejected Meise's justification and appeared beside him, pointing his staff as Meise sensed a gigantic cylindrical void forming in the sea below.

Iz defeated Mese’s soul-transfer plan and reunited with Lu Cang, who joined Iz and Chicheng at a Death Church stronghold. Lu Cang uncovered hidden secrets and a coded letter that could reveal the church’s final sacrifice, and prepared to study the books needed to decipher it.

• Iz erased one of Mese’s bodies, reversed Mese’s soul-transfer array, and subdued him with soul magic.
• Iz asked Lu Cang what he would do if pursuing the Source conflicted with his principles, and Lu Cang said he would choose another path rather than betray his conscience.
• Chicheng invited Iz and Lu Cang to investigate a Death Church stronghold discovered by Kumiloni and Lu Cang.
• At the stronghold, Lu Cang used his Decipherer abilities to find a hidden space linked to the statue of White of Death and Destruction, while Iz located the spatial connection.
• Lu Cang uncovered forbidden rituals and a coded letter to Miles about a final sacrifice, then asked Kumiloni for permission to study books that could help him decipher it.

Lu Cang deciphered a Death Church letter revealing a planned sacrifice at the Valley of Deep Fall on December 1, prompting the Life Church and the Kingdom's tribunal to mobilize against the cult. After gathering hidden knowledge at the Church base, he returned to the hotel, learned Void Magic, and prepared for the War God Cup.

• Lu Cang rapidly learned Ancient Ansou Secret Language and Ono Transcoding, then deciphered the Secret Letter for Kumiloni.
• The Secret Letter revealed that Miles was to deliver suitable living people to the Valley of Deep Fall before December 1 for a sacrifice connected to Whitefall.
• Kumiloni sent Amo to alert the bishop, and the Life Church and the Kingdom's tribunal mobilized against the Death Church using the intelligence Lu Cang uncovered.
• Lu Cang studied the base's books, learning dark rituals, Death Spells, and information that helped locate Death Church hideouts and identify its members.
• Chicheng took Lu Cang back to the hotel so he could attend the War God Cup the next day and pursue the Prophet's Class Scroll.
• Lu Cang studied Iz's Magic Enhancement Technique and understood its fourth stage, Void Magic, which made his magic formless and able to arise from nothingness.

After reading An Zheng’s diary about denying the Source and creating a contradictory Second Source, Lu Cang decided to postpone advancing as a mage. He advanced to level-two Decipherer and changed classes to Warrior, where his new talent and combat technique rapidly made him far stronger than an ordinary level-one Warrior.

• Lu Cang read An Zheng’s diary and learned that mages seeking godhood needed to deny their First Source and create a contradictory Second Source Magic.
• Lu Cang met Kumiloni at the Promotion Hall and completed the level-two Decipherer ritual, gaining Clever Solver and God-tier: Information Tracing.
• Lu Cang declined to advance to level-four mage and asked Kumiloni to change his class to Warrior.
• Kumiloni performed the class-change ritual, and Lu Cang acquired God-tier: Physical Limit as his body grew stronger.
• Lu Cang used Blood and Demon Quench on a Tier 4 King-tier Demonic Beast shell and cracked it, reaching the physical strength of a level-four Warrior.

Lu Cang advanced to Level 2 Warrior and acquired the God-Tier talent Final Sense, then accepted a Life Church request to decipher documents in exchange for healing medicines. Before the War God Cup began, he entered a Level 4 archer’s arena and killed his opponent instantly, keeping his combat techniques and Death Priest class secret.

• Lu Cang tempered his body with ten thousand souls and advanced to Level 2 Warrior after passing Kumiloni’s assessment.
• Lu Cang acquired the exclusive Warrior Proficiencies Transcendent Physique and Transcendent Technique, along with the God-Tier talent Final Sense.
• Kumiloni gave Lu Cang five special documents to decipher, and he received five bottles of Life Spirit Medicine in return.
• Lu Cang arrived at the Battle Arena before the War God Cup and confirmed that his bracket kept him apart from Luluwei until the final rounds.
• Lu Cang entered Shanheng’s Level 4 archer room, used Final Sense to locate him through the snow, and killed him with Instant White Flash.
• Lu Cang decided to keep his combat techniques and Death Priest class hidden as trump cards for his coming match.

Lu Cang deciphered the Life Church’s documents while watching arena fights, then met the powerful archer Luluwei, who challenged him to face her. He entered the War God Cup and met Anka, a mage from the rival Ruijia Kingdom, as their battle was about to begin.

• Lu Cang defeated nine Level 4 competitors, watched a mage beat an archer, and deciphered documents revealing the Death Church had sacrificed infants for a century.
• Luluwei entered the arena and destroyed her mage opponent with a massive beam from her bow before recognizing Lu Cang and telling him not to lose before facing her.
• Lu Cang disguised himself, sent the decoded documents to the Life Church by Boundary Pigeon, and considered underhanded ways to beat Luluwei.
• Lu Cang entered the War God Cup battlefield and was teleported to an ancient city to face Anka, a Level 3 Mage from Serl City in the Ruijia Kingdom.
• As the countdown began, Lu Cang said he intended to win the championship, while Anka prepared to show him the strength of a mage who cultivated magic and martial arts.

Lu Cang advanced through the War God Cup, defeating opponents while observing the other remaining competitors and studying their abilities. In his next match, he met the Origin Mage Hun Mu, who agreed to discuss the Source and demonstrated Spatial Displacement.

• Lu Cang defeated Anka and a boastful Warrior with simple light spells, then used the gaps between matches to study An Zheng's erased manuscript and watch Luluwei obliterate her opponent.
• After seven rounds, Lu Cang joined seven other finalists, including several level-four dual-class fighters, and faced a Puppet Master who also had the Assassin class.
• Lu Cang used God-Tier Final Sense to evade the puppets, deciphered one to shut it down, tracked the hidden Puppet Master, and killed him with a beam of light.
• Lu Cang watched a Summoner/Commander wear down an Ultimate Warrior/Guardian, whose defensive counterattacks gradually destroyed the summoned creatures.
• Lu Cang returned to his arena and met Hun Mu, an Origin Mage who agreed to discuss the Source and demonstrated Origin · Spatial Displacement.

Lu Cang defeated Hun Mu before facing Luluwei, whose long-range archery and instant escapes kept him from landing a spell. The battle moved hundreds of kilometers into the wilderness, where Luluwei continued attacking beyond Lu Cang’s range as he searched for a way to counter her.

• Lu Cang shared Xuzhou’s theory of Origin devouring with Hun Mu, then killed him with instant light spells when they agreed to decide the winner.
• Lu Cang saw that Luluwei had defeated the turtle-style Warrior in 0.5 seconds and entered the arena to face her.
• Luluwei opened the fight with a blazing arrow while Lu Cang attacked with Instant White Flash, and Lu Cang blocked her shot with layered shields.
• Luluwei repeatedly blinked away from Lu Cang’s spells and attacked from increasingly long distances, while Lu Cang dodged her arrows using Final Sense and his combat awareness.
• Luluwei drew the fight into the wilderness and reached a distance of hundreds of kilometers, leaving Lu Cang unable to hit her as he searched for a way to deal with her.

Lu Cang used his summons, speed, and careful analysis to survive Luluwei’s devastating long-range attacks while searching for a way around her escape skill. After luring her into range with hidden Origin magic, he grabbed her ankle and began a close-quarters counterattack.

• Lu Cang estimated Luluwei’s ideal attack range at 550 kilometers, summoned 340 Nation-Destroying Tier Void creatures, and fled while she launched a vast arrow barrage.
• Luluwei pursued Lu Cang through the ruined city, repeatedly destroying his regenerating Void Pillar Guardians as he dodged her deadliest arrows.
• Lu Cang used hidden Origin magic to strike Luluwei with Mind Sever and Spatial Shift, then appeared behind her and grabbed her ankle.
• Lu Cang bound Luluwei with Demon Binding Lock and pulled her into range for Demonic Ascension Sky Shattering Strike.

Lu Cang fought Luluwei at close range, trying to overcome her ability to slip away from attacks while she struggled to escape his grip. After weakening her with a soul-sacrificing barrage, he seized her hand and prepared a combined finishing strike, leaving the outcome unresolved.

• Luluwei used her strange evasion ability to slip away from Lu Cang’s magic while they fought at close quarters.
• Lu Cang combined his Combat Intent, Mage Hands, and mental spells to attack Luluwei, discovering that physical blows did not trigger her escape.
• Lu Cang sacrificed 50,000 souls to unleash thousands of punches, breaking Luluwei’s bones and badly injuring her despite her defensive robe and arrows.
• Luluwei’s arrows wounded Lu Cang, but his shields, healing pills, and soul-powered defenses let him keep hold of her.
• Lu Cang grabbed Luluwei’s right hand, declared that she had lost, and charged Accumulating Demon Combined Kill with his four Mage Hands.

Lu Cang won the War God Cup, received the Prophet class scroll, and learned more about Luluwei and the tensions between the Ruijia Kingdom and the Kingdom of Loren. After returning to his room, he prepared to study An Zheng's restored manuscript.

• Lu Cang defeated Luluwei, and Kaijia awarded him the Prophet class scroll while giving customized consolation prizes to the other finalists.
• Lu Cang spoke with the finalists and learned that war between Ruijia and Loren might break out, the Death Church was active in Ruijia, and scholars had advanced their research into space.
• At the arena's First Gate, Luluwei revealed that her garment was made from Myriad Untouched Silk and could dispel magic and restraints below Tier Five; she refused Lu Cang's offers to buy it.
• Luluwei said she planned to advance to level five and asked about adventuring with Lu Cang's group, while Lu Cang explained their plans to deal with the Death Church and explore the Cave of Desperate Howls.
• Lu Cang discovered that the Prophet class scroll required extensive study, including the Theorem of Destiny, and returned to his room to read An Zheng's restored manuscript.

Lu Cang restored An Zheng’s notes on godhood, helped Aijin create a bracelet that could store living creatures, and left City Within the Circle with his party. After traveling through war-torn lands and the month’s first snow, they reached Knoroya, Loren’s capital.

• Lu Cang restored An Zheng’s records, learned that godhood and level 9 were opposing paths, and copied the manuscripts to discuss with Iz.
• Lu Cang and Aijin obtained a condemned Death Church priest from the Court of Justice and used him in an enchantment; Aijin completed a Life Storage Bracelet capable of holding living creatures.
• Iz and Chicheng returned, and Lu Cang discussed An Zheng’s notes with Iz while learning combat techniques from Chicheng.
• Lu Cang stored Thousand Army Ant Mountain in the bracelet, and the party left City Within the Circle after the Death Church operation ended.
• The party traveled north through the Chaotic States, cleared Death Church strongholds, and fought Nation-Destroying Tier monsters in a dungeon.
• As the Month of Storage and Cold began, Lu Cang and his companions endured heavy snow and arrived in Knoroya on November 3.

Lu Cang registered his Death Priest profession in Knoroya, then met King Lotdan, who offered him the position of royal Chief Mage if he joined Loren. When the current Chief Mage challenged Lu Cang to a duel, Lotdan declared that the loser would have to leave.

• Lu Cang and Iz visited the Special Professions Registration Office, where Lu Cang received a token recognizing him as a Death Priest.
• Iz took Lu Cang to the palace, where he reunited with King Lotdan and left to visit the ailing Level 8 mage An Zheng.
• Lotdan offered Lu Cang membership in the Kingdom of Loren and the position of royal Chief Mage, along with access to the royal family's arcane texts.
• Jie Zhuqing objected to losing his position and challenged Lu Cang to a duel, with Lotdan declaring that the loser would have to leave.

Lu Cang defeated Jie Zhuqing and was offered the title of Chief Mage along with extensive privileges in Loren. After exploring Knoroya and consulting Kumiloni, he returned to Lotdan to confirm that accepting would leave him free of substantial duties.

• Lu Cang defeated Chief Mage Jie Zhuqing by dodging his spell-control and reflection defenses, then struck him down with the Void Ring Star Staff.
• Lotdan replaced Jie Zhuqing with Lu Cang and had an official show Lu Cang his palace residence, libraries, workshops, and privileges as Chief Mage.
• Lotdan considered the potential of Early Awakening and defended his generous offer to Lu Cang, then showed a minister that Izpalut was present with An Zheng.
• Lu Cang toured the Royal Mage Tower, sensed Hun Mu teaching there, searched Knoroya's Grand Library for Secret Knowledge, and visited Kumiloni at the Life Church.
• After exploring Knoroya, Lu Cang returned to Lotdan and asked what obligations came with accepting the offer; Lotdan promised the title carried privileges but no duties beyond protecting Loren's ties and secrets.

Lu Cang settled into his new home in the Kingdom of Loren and explored forbidden books, uncovering a ritual that could connect a dungeon to an ancient lair. At the banquet, he agreed to join Iz and the others on their journey to the Cave of Desperate Howls, where they planned to assess whether to sacrifice the dungeon.

• Lu Cang accepted membership in the Kingdom of Loren and began enjoying life at his palace, where Yunxi served as his personal steward.
• Lu Cang used Memory Melt while reading in the Forbidden Library and deciphered a ritual for opening a path to an Evil Lair through a dungeon sacrifice.
• Lu Cang tried reading other forbidden books, but their corrupting contents repeatedly caused him to lose consciousness.
• At a banquet arranged to announce Lu Cang's membership, he reunited with Iz and agreed to travel with the group to the Cave of Desperate Howls the next day.
• Chicheng proposed sacrificing the Cave of Desperate Howls, and Lu Cang considered how dungeon sacrifices might lead deeper into a lair.

Lu Cang began the Level 2 Death Priest Promotion Ritual with Kumiloni's help, while he and his companions prepared to explore the Cave of Desperate Howls. The ritual ended with Lu Cang offering five billion souls and successfully advancing to Level 2 Death Priest.

• Lu Cang asked Kumiloni to conduct his Death Priest Promotion Ritual, and she agreed to hold it outside the city.
• Iz told Lu Cang he had grasped a second Origin Magic, winning their bet and requiring Lu Cang to teach at Loins Magic Academy.
• Iz explained that An Zheng was near the end of his life and would likely continue pursuing the Origin despite the danger.
• Luluwei revealed she had bought a home beside Lu Cang's, and the group gathered before setting out together for the Cave of Desperate Howls.
• At the cave, Iz prepared the ritual array and Kumiloni presided as Lu Cang offered five billion souls.
• Lu Cang received a surge of spirituality and advanced to Death Priest, level 2.

Lu Cang advanced to Level 2 Death Priest and gained God-Tier: Soul Dominator, then joined the party in exploring the Cave of Desperate Howls. After Luluwei revealed a sealed chamber guarded by a powerful beast, Lu Cang agreed to fight the guardian.

• Lu Cang acquired God-Tier: Soul Dominator, new Death Priest masteries and a Corpse Soul Revival ritual, and gained a heightened perception of the world's layers.
• Lu Cang steadied himself after his advancement, and Chicheng and the others prepared to enter the dungeon.
• Luluwei detected the paths, traps and demons beyond a boulder, while Lu Cang recognized its seal and absorbed the vengeful souls inside it to remove the stone safely.
• Luluwei shared her perception with Lu Cang and used a storm of precise ricocheting arrows to clear nearby demons and traps.
• The party explored the maze, found a Lost Magic Book, and reached a perception-blocked chamber containing a chained corpse and a wandering sixth-tier guardian.
• Lu Cang agreed to fight the guardian while Chicheng and Iz considered opening the chained corpse.

Lu Cang defeated a sixth-tier King-tier demonic beast, then freed Obades and the others from cursed chains. When a sixth-tier Continent-Sinking monster emerged, Lu Cang used God-tier Soul Master to seize its exposed soul and kill it instantly, leaving the team to examine its cursed hide.

• Lu Cang used a stinky mushroom and soundwave spells to disorient a sixth-tier King-tier demonic beast, then killed it with his staff and earth spikes.
• Lu Cang decrypted the chains binding Obades, and Kumiloni used Obades to take and dispel their curse.
• A sixth-tier Continent-Sinking monster appeared from an upside-down corpse, and the group prepared to fight as Kumiloni warned that it corrupted minds.
• Lu Cang pulled the monster's exposed soul from its body and took control of it, killing the monster instantly.
• The team awarded the monster's spoils to Lu Cang, and Chicheng began harvesting its layered cursed hide, which could have corrupted everyone in Ruilun.