Chapter Summaries

Soros received orders from the High Priest to find and capture or kill the enemy reconnaissance force, while also taking over the World Edge garrison. In Great Zhou, Zhou Xu and Wang Dong began setting up a paper mill, and Zhou Xu decided to pause most enchantment work because the lizardmen were unlikely to attack soon.

• The High Priest told Soros that an enemy reconnaissance unit had entered their world and ordered him to find them, preferably capture them alive, and use his judgment if capture proved too costly.
• The High Priest revealed that Gruul had fought the other side and reported destroying an elven village, and Soros agreed to take the mission and guard the World Edge.
• Soros took the High Priest's token and went to take over the garrison at the World Edge.
• Spring arrived in Great Zhou, where Zhou Xu reviewed village reports as Wang Dong returned to Salt Lake Village to establish a paper mill.
• Zhou Xu decided to slow the enchantment work in Grassland Village because the lizardmen seemed occupied with a major problem and an emergency response could still arrive within half a day.

Zhou Xu organized another conscription round and approved materials for new villages as Great Zhou prepared for spring work. He then visited the Equipment Department, where its workers were testing cement and spreading the first batch over gravel.

• Zhou Xu expanded conscription to include the first two batches of winter captives, ordering thirty recruits now and another thirty in early summer.
• Zhou Xu approved Wang Dashi's request for supplies and transport to build villages on the two hills conquered over winter.
• Zhou Xu returned from Grassland Village to Black Moon Village and went to the Equipment Department's testing ground.
• Zhou Xu took over stirring the workers' cement mixture until it reached the right consistency.
• The Equipment Department workers spread the cement over gravel to test it.

Zhou Xu inspected the paper mill, mine, and farms in Salt Lake Village before learning that the Equipment Department had successfully developed cement. After testing its strength, he rewarded the researchers and ordered the formula taught to the Construction Engineering Department so cement could be used in future construction.

• Zhou Xu checked the cement researchers' progress and told them to notify him when they had results.
• Zhou Xu inspected Wang Dong's paper mill, the mine, and the chicken and rabbit farms in Salt Lake Village, where livestock shortages had driven up meat and egg prices.
• Zhou Xu returned to Black Moon Village and received news that the Equipment Department had succeeded in making cement.
• Zhou Xu tested the rough cement ground with a hammer and found that its surface remained solid despite some debris breaking loose.
• Zhou Xu awarded the three researchers one thousand coins and ordered them to teach the formula to the Construction Engineering Department and prepare cement for construction.

Zhou Xu visited Ma Guotao’s horse farm in Grassland Village and inspected a scruffy, unruly foal that Ma Guotao believed could become an exceptional warhorse. Ma Guotao said its features resembled an Akhal-Teke Horse, also known in Huaxia as a Blood-Sweating Horse.

• Wang Dachui’s engineering team set off to begin construction, encouraged by the cement’s usefulness on mountain terrain.
• Zhou Xu returned to Grassland Village, where Ye Jinghong had adapted to his workload, and went to inspect Ma Guotao’s horse farm.
• Ma Guotao explained that the farm held only a little over thirty horses because the trained warhorses were stationed at the border, and he described his work caring for horses and breeding them.
• Ma Guotao showed Zhou Xu a scruffy foal he considered promising, explaining its appearance, temperament, and build as he led it out for inspection.
• Ma Guotao said the foal’s features resembled an Akhal-Teke Horse, which he called a Blood-Sweating Horse in Huaxia.

Zhou Xu and Ma Guotao decided to raise the Blood-Sweating Horse foal as a breeding horse rather than risk its life as a warhorse. Meanwhile, Zhuo Ge and Shilke’s scouting force faced a dangerous ambush on the Lizardmen continent, where strange Lizardmen attacked them with hidden blowguns.

• Ma Guotao explained why Blood-Sweating Horses were given their name and suggested keeping the foal for breeding.
• Zhou Xu agreed with Ma Guotao, and Great Zhou entered a period of rapid development that spring.
• Soros’s troops surrounded Zhuo Ge and Shilke’s scouting force, forcing Zhuo Ge to lead a breakout.
• As the scouts broke through the blockade, hidden Lizardmen fired black spikes from hollow plant stalks and struck Zhuo Ge and the others.

Zhuo Ge and Shilke fought off invisible Lizardmen and escaped the Wyvern Riders, but poison and exhaustion left Zhuo Ge’s centaurs unable to continue. As the Raptor Cavalry closed in and Shilke hesitated to abandon them, hoofbeats and a fresh volley of arrows came from behind.

• Unusual Lizardmen attacked Zhuo Ge’s group with poisoned flying spikes, and Shilke’s arrows initially failed to hit them after they vanished.
• Shilke spotted the Lizardmen preparing another attack and used Airflow Barriers to shield and speed up the Elf Knights and centaurs.
• Shilke’s Tracking Arrows struck the concealed Lizardmen, then he led the group away while restraining the Wyvern Riders with another volley.
• The poison and exertion caused the centaurs to collapse, while Zhuo Ge urged Shilke to leave as the Wyvern Riders and Raptor Cavalry caught up.
• Shilke struggled to abandon Zhuo Ge’s group, until hoofbeats sounded behind them and a rain of arrows swept toward the pursuing Raptor Cavalry.

Shilke and Zhuo Ge were rescued from the Raptor Cavalry by a centaur tribe, but the newcomers took them away after discovering that Zhuo Ge and the others had been paralyzed by a dangerous poison. The centaurs gave the poisoned warriors medicine, while Shilke and her companions followed them into unfamiliar territory.

• A centaur unit arrived and drove off the Raptor Cavalry, whose leader Soros ordered a retreat to avoid starting another war.
• The centaur leader ordered Shilke, Zhuo Ge, and the others taken with them, while Zhuo Ge and several warriors lay paralyzed from poisoned thorns.
• The centaur leader explained that the poison could cause lasting paralysis without prompt treatment, and Shilke allowed the centaurs to carry the stricken warriors away.
• A centaur arrived with freshly prepared medicine, and the leader fed it to Zhuo Ge and the others.

Shilke and his scouting group reached the centaurs’ village after being rescued and treated for neurotoxin, where the chief offered them shelter but warned them not to cause trouble. While sharing their dry rations, Shilke offered a piece of flatbread to the centaur leader, whose first taste left him stunned.

• The centaurs led Shilke and his group through a canyon to their village, where the chief welcomed them and arranged shelter while warning them to behave.
• Shilke and the others stayed together during the day, recovered after taking the centaurs’ medicine, and supplemented their small meal of meat with stored flatbread.
• The flatbread’s aroma drew more and more centaurs to watch Shilke’s group eat.
• The centaur leader asked what they were eating, and Shilke offered him a piece of flatbread.
• The centaur leader tasted the flatbread and was stunned by its unfamiliar flavor and texture.

Soros reported his failed pursuit of Shilke and Zhuo Ge to the High Priest, who excused him and ordered him to hold the World Edge while monitoring the northern centaurs. In the centaur village, the chief found Shilke and Zhuo Ge warming flatbread and was baffled when they said they were eating breakfast.

• Soros returned to the temple and told the High Priest how the enemy reconnaissance force escaped with help from the centaurs.
• The High Priest decided Soros had acted correctly and ordered him to hold the World Edge and watch the northern centaurs.
• Soros accepted the orders and left, while the High Priest worried that the situation had grown more complicated.
• Shilke and Zhuo Ge started a fire to warm their flatbreads in the centaur village.
• The centaur chief asked why they were warming flatbread, and Shilke answered that they were eating breakfast.

Zhuo Ge and his companions recovered while sharing their flatbread breakfasts with Diak and other centaurs, including Yoseph. After finishing their medicine, they began discussing how to learn what the centaurs wanted, and Yoseph arrived to say their chieftain wished to speak with them.

• Zhuo Ge explained that people from Great Zhou ate breakfast and dinner, then offered Diak a piece of flatbread when he delivered their medicine.
• Diak and the other centaurs grew eager for the flatbread, and Yoseph came early on the next morning to share breakfast with Zhuo Ge and his companions.
• Diak caught Yoseph trying to fetch the medicine first on the third morning, then joined the meal and realized the shared breakfasts would soon end.
• Zhuo Ge and his companions finished their final day of medicine and discussed how to find out what the centaurs were thinking.
• Yoseph told Zhuo Ge and Shilke that the chieftain wanted to speak with them.

Shilke and Zhuo Ge met Chieftain Tar, explained that only five centaurs remained in their branch, and refused his offer to join his tribe because they belonged to Great Zhou. Zhuo Ge proposed an alliance against the Lizardmen, but Tar warned that the Ratmen posed another danger.

• Chieftain Tar asked Shilke and Zhuo Ge who they were and why they had come to the centaur village.
• Zhuo Ge told Tar that only five centaurs remained from his tribe and described how the Lizardmen had caused heavy losses.
• Tar invited Zhuo Ge and the other four centaurs to join his tribe, but Zhuo Ge refused, saying he was a citizen of Great Zhou.
• Zhuo Ge suggested that Tar ally with Great Zhou to defeat the Lizardmen.
• Tar warned Zhuo Ge that the Lizardmen were powerful and that the Ratmen would threaten the centaurs if the Lizardmen no longer restrained them.

Shilke learned how the centaurs, Lizardmen, and Ratmen maintained a fragile balance, and realized that Great Zhou would face a second major war if it defeated the Lizardmen. Tar agreed to send centaur representatives with Shilke and Zhuo Ge to meet Great Zhou’s king and discuss an alliance.

• Tar explained that the centaurs used the rivalry between the Lizardmen and Ratmen to deter attacks, while avoiding a real alliance with either side.
• Shilke recognized that defeating the Lizardmen could force Great Zhou to fight the Ratmen next and said the decision required the king’s approval.
• Shilke proposed an alliance between the centaurs and Great Zhou, noting that it could benefit Tar’s tribe regardless of whether Great Zhou went to war.
• Shilke offered to take centaur representatives back with them to meet the king, and Tar agreed to choose several tribesmen to go.

Diak agreed to represent the centaur tribe and accompany Zhuo Ge and Shilke to investigate an alliance with Great Zhou. After the group set out, Yoseph secretly followed them and was allowed to join after they encountered a Lizardmen patrol.

• Tar chose Diak to represent the centaurs, and Diak readily accepted the assignment.
• Shilke and Zhuo Ge prepared to leave the next morning, and Tar sent Diak and four other centaurs with them.
• The group traveled toward their destination and planned to camp in a concealed spot as night fell.
• Shilke shot an arrow into the woods, revealing that Yoseph had secretly followed them.
• A Raptor Cavalry squad passed nearby without discovering the group.
• Zhuo Ge persuaded Diak to let Yoseph continue with them, and Diak ordered Yoseph to obey him.

Zhuo Ge and Shilke led a cavalry charge toward the energy channel, where Soros and the Lizardmen had prepared an ambush. With Diak’s help, they broke through the Raptor Cavalry and infantry and escaped through the channel.

• Soros heard the attack horn and saw Zhuo Ge and Shilke leading their forces toward the opening energy channel.
• The Lizardmen let the cavalry advance before the Raptor Cavalry formed a three-pronged attack to encircle them.
• Shilke used Airflow Barrier to hinder the Raptor Cavalry’s flanking charge, allowing the group to break through the front line.
• Diak led the Lizardmen and Yoseph’s centaurs in a rapid charge that sent the infantry blocking the channel flying.
• Zhuo Ge’s centaur soldiers led the final push, and the cavalry charged into the energy channel.

Shilke, Zhuo Ge, and their group escaped the closing energy passage and returned to Great Zhou with Diak and the centaur delegation. Li Ce welcomed the centaurs, who had come to discuss cooperation against the Lizardmen.

• Shilke urged Zhuo Ge to sound the return signal as the group hurried through the energy passage, and they escaped just before it closed.
• The Great Zhou border forces recognized the signals and held their fire; Li Ce ordered them to stand down when the group emerged.
• Diak and the other centaurs gazed at the grassland, amazed by the freedom and open space on the Great Zhou side.
• Zhuo Ge and Shilke introduced Diak as a centaur representative to Li Ce and explained that they hoped to cooperate against the Lizardmen.
• Li Ce welcomed Diak and the delegation as friends, and they returned his greeting.

Li Ce brought Diak, Shilke, and the others to Great Zhou’s border garrison camp, where Diak inspected its impressive size. Diak wanted to meet Great Zhou’s king immediately, but Zhuo Ge explained that the king was elsewhere and the delegation would travel in the morning, leaving Diak struggling to teach Yoseph about keeping face.

• Li Ce assigned Zhuo Ge to settle the delegation into the camp while he returned to his duties.
• Diak asked Zhuo Ge to arrange an immediate meeting with Great Zhou’s king, and Zhuo Ge explained that the king was in the rear villages and they would leave the next morning.
• Yoseph exclaimed that the garrison camp was larger than their village, embarrassing Diak as he tried to maintain the delegation’s dignity.
• Diak put Yoseph in a chokehold and told him not to speak recklessly, but Yoseph pointed out that the visitors had already seen their village.

After returning to the garrison, Zhuo Ge rested and then showed Diak, Yoseph, and the centaurs around the camp, where Diak began to grasp Great Zhou’s advantages and the limits of its military strength. Li Ce invited the delegation and the returning soldiers to a special dinner, leaving them captivated by the five roasted sheep served in his main tent.

• Zhuo Ge returned to his tent, slept deeply, and woke refreshed before going to see Yoseph and the others.
• Yoseph insisted on seeing the camp, so Zhuo Ge led Diak and the centaurs on a tour of the garrison.
• Diak noticed the garrison’s scale and quality and recognized that Great Zhou’s productivity and technology far surpassed the centaur tribe, though their military forces might be evenly matched.
• Li Ce arranged an upgraded dinner in his main tent to welcome the delegation and reward Zhuo Ge and the other returning soldiers.
• Zhuo Ge led the group to Li Ce’s main tent, where five whole roasted sheep were served and drew everyone’s attention.

After enjoying a lavish feast, Diak and the others awoke in Great Zhou’s encampment and learned that its soldiers trained instead of hunting for food. At breakfast, the unfamiliar abundance left Diak bewildered while Yoseph cheerfully asked for a little of every dish.

• Diak and the others woke to noise outside and cautiously peeked from their tent, where Zhuo Ge found them and explained that soldiers were doing morning drills.
• Diak questioned how Great Zhou fed more than a hundred soldiers who did not hunt, and Zhuo Ge told him they would understand more after visiting Grassland Village.
• Zhuo Ge led Diak and the others to breakfast and explained that their previous night’s feast had been a special reward and reception.
• Diak struggled to choose food at the serving line, so Zhuo Ge selected dishes for him.
• Yoseph asked for one serving of everything, and the cook gave him a little of each dish as the other centaurs stared.

Diak and the centaurs traveled with Zhuo Ge and Shilke’s elf knights toward Grassland Village, learning that Great Zhou raised its own sheep and used domesticated wolves to guard them. When the village came into view, they were stunned by its unfamiliar buildings and the absence of tents.

• After breakfast, Li Ce sent Shilke and twenty elf knights to escort the delegation to Grassland Village.
• On the journey, Yoseph nearly shot at a flock of sheep, but Zhuo Ge explained that Great Zhou raised them for food.
• Zhuo Ge told Diak that Great Zhou maintained livestock instead of relying on hunting, and Diak and the others recognized the flock as the source of their roast sheep.
• A domesticated wolf snarled at the travelers near the flock, and Zhuo Ge explained that herders used such wolves to protect their sheep.
• Diak and the others reached Grassland Village and stared in astonishment at its unfamiliar buildings and lack of tents.

Zhou Xu heard Zhuo Ge and Shilke’s report about the Lizardmen, the Ratmen, and the centaurs’ inherited abilities, then considered whether the centaur delegation could be asked to teach them. The next morning, Diak and the others were summoned to meet the Lord of Great Zhou.

• Ye Jinghong welcomed Diak and the centaur delegation to Grassland Village and arranged their accommodations.
• Zhou Xu met with Zhuo Ge and Shilke, who reported what they had learned during their mission, including the Ratmen’s conflict with the Lizardmen.
• Zhou Xu learned that every centaur in the opposing delegation could use a powerful racial ability, while Zhuo Ge’s branch had lost that inheritance.
• Shilke could not say whether he would teach the ability to Zhuo Ge’s group, so Zhou Xu decided not to raise the sensitive matter yet.
• Diak and the others enjoyed their first night in Grassland Village’s earthen houses, ate breakfast, and received a summons from the Lord of Great Zhou.