Chapter Summaries

Parr used a Spirit Crystal to activate the Black Short Sword, which gained the ability to change its length and weight, and then entered Dream Space. Meanwhile, bandits prepared to attack the Mist Merchant Troupe and capture Miss Demi alive.

• Da Lianna told Parr that she could not reliably make a potion to help him break through to Bronze-level and revealed that she was Miss Demi’s tutor.
• Parr spotted John returning from a red-lantern carriage and later used the purple Spirit Crystal to activate the Black Short Sword, which drained his HP to fifty.
• Parr saw a vision of the Black Long Sword destroying a city, then discovered that his sword could change its length and weight according to his strength.
• Parr activated the max-level Mind-Calming Breathing Technique and entered Dream Space.
• Four to five hundred bandits from three groups prepared to raid the Mist Merchant Troupe before dawn and capture Miss Demi alive.

Bandits attacked the Mist Merchant Troupe from several directions, and John held off their leaders while Parr escaped a barrage of arrows. Parr decided to target the archers supporting the assault.

• Bandits disguised as adventurers set a caravan ablaze and looted it, while hidden attackers tried to slip into the Mist Merchant Troupe’s camp.
• The Mist Merchant Troupe’s adventurers blocked the panicked crowd and fought off bandits, then faced assaults from multiple sides.
• John guarded his assigned side as bandits charged behind a barrage from more than a hundred archers; he warned his fighters to take cover and clashed with an Intermediate Bronze bandit leader.
• A Bronze-level Bandit Archer supported the leader with Battle Qi arrows, starting fires in the camp and forcing John’s side into a stalemate.
• Parr left Dream Space after Danger Prediction warned him, avoided the arrows beneath his wagon, and decided to attack the archers.

Parr and John fought off the bandits attacking their caravan, while Da Lianna joined the battle and helped defeat the leader. The surviving Bandit Archers returned with a larger force approaching on horseback.

• Demi panicked at the bandit attack, but Da Lianna calmed her and went to support the fighters while Jim stayed to protect Demi.
• Parr slipped past the melee and killed the Bronze-level Bandit Archer with fireballs and his Black Short Sword.
• John overpowered the bandit leader and advanced to Peak Bronze Knight, then killed him after Da Lianna struck him with lightning.
• Parr and John pursued and killed the Bandit Archers, while some escaped into the Deep Forest and others surrendered or played dead.
• The escaped Bandit Archers returned with terrified expressions as numerous unhurried hoofbeats sounded behind them.

The Mist Viscount’s forces defeated the bandits in an ambush, and he insisted that Demi continue to Fluorescent City. After the battle, Parr explained his transformed sword to John as a Spiritual Tool, absorbed energy from the corpses, and watched Da Lianna shock John.

• John showed the Mist Knight Order the commission document, and the cavalry rode off to kill the remaining bandits.
• The Mist Viscount’s cavalry surrounded the bandits attempting to send burning wagons into the merchant troupe’s camp, and he killed their leader.
• The Mist Viscount told Demi she still had to travel to Fluorescent City and join Fluorescent Academy, then learned Da Lianna had gone to support the rear.
• Parr told John that a spirit stone had transformed his Black Short Sword, and John guessed it was a Spiritual Tool.
• Parr absorbed energy from the bandit corpses, gaining 740 Life Energy Points and 82 Mental Energy Points.
• Da Lianna healed Parr, then shocked John with her gemstone while Parr laughed at him.

After the Mist Viscount thanked the merchant troupe and left Demi in their care, Parr and John continued traveling with them. Da Lianna failed to buy Parr’s Spirit Stone, then arranged to trade her Magic Shield or Electric Shock Spell for his Fireball Spell and wrote down both spells for him.

• The Mist Viscount increased the mission reward, saluted the merchant troupe, and entrusted Demi’s escort to them before departing with the Mist Knight Order.
• The troupe set off with Marcus replacing Steward Bruce, who had died from an arrow wound the previous night.
• Da Lianna offered Parr one hundred gold coins for his Spirit Stone, but Parr refused because he had already used it to activate the Black Short Sword.
• Da Lianna offered to exchange the Fireball Spell for either Magic Shield or Electric Shock Spell, and John warned Parr not to trade magic for money.
• After John confirmed the spells were both one-star magic, Parr agreed to a spell exchange, and Da Lianna went to write down their instructions from memory.
• Da Lianna corrected Demi’s gemstone appraisal and began writing the Magic Shield and Electric Shock Spell methods on paper.

Parr learned Magic Shield and Electric Shock Spell from Da Lianna, then traded his Fireball Spell booklet for Electric Shock Spell. Da Lianna revealed that she wanted gemstones and suspected Parr had a talent that let him find them.

• Parr learned Magic Shield and Electric Shock Spell by spending Mental Energy Points, then asked Da Lianna about the shields’ star ratings and defenses.
• Da Lianna explained that Magic Shield defended against magic while Position Shield primarily defended against physical attacks, and Parr asked to learn Position Shield.
• Da Lianna refused Parr’s requests for more spells and shocked him when he pushed for a Two-Star spell.
• Parr traded his Fireball Spell booklet to Da Lianna for Electric Shock Spell, then asked how a Magic Apprentice became a One-Star Magician.
• Da Lianna rejected John’s offer to pay and told Parr she wanted gemstones, revealing that she suspected his success opening gemstones came from a talent.

Parr helped Da Lianna search gemstone Rough Stones while she taught him about magic and magicians. As their merchant troupe continued toward Clear River Town, Demi grew curious about Da Lianna’s nightly activities and asked Jim to bring Marcus to her.

• Da Lianna explained that Parr could register as a One-Star Magician once his Mental Power met the requirement and he had mastered a one-star spell.
• Da Lianna took Parr to gemstone stalls, where he selected valuable Rough Stones in exchange for her lessons about magic.
• Parr and Da Lianna bought more than forty Rough Stones, and Parr broke them open to reveal that every gemstone inside was good quality.
• Parr continued helping Da Lianna find gemstones during the journey, while she taught him during the day and rewarded him with a gemstone.
• Demi followed Da Lianna after she left the carriage and ordered Jim to bring Marcus to her.

Demi discovered that Da Lianna was teaching Parr and, furious that her tutor would instruct an inferior, drove Da Lianna to resign. Da Lianna left with Parr, while Jim refused Demi’s order to kill them, leaving her resentful as they walked away.

• Marcus reported that Da Lianna seemed to be teaching Parr, and Demi stormed off to confront them.
• Parr and Da Lianna bought rough gemstones, and Da Lianna explained how Gem Magicians used them to strengthen magic.
• Demi accused Da Lianna of debasing herself by teaching Parr, and Da Lianna resigned as Demi’s tutor.
• Da Lianna headed for Parr and John’s carriage, and Parr followed her away from Demi.
• Demi ordered Jim to kill Da Lianna and Parr, but Jim refused and warned that acting could endanger her.

Parr, Da Lianna, and John traveled with the Mist Merchant Troupe toward Clear River Town, where they discovered the aftermath of a beast attack caused by a plague. They suspected Plague Heretics had targeted someone or something in the annihilated troupe, but found no clue to their motive.

• Da Lianna explained how King Glinton's noble reforms succeeded in the central region but were blocked elsewhere by powerful nobles.
• Da Lianna joined Parr and John's party, while Demi stopped providing them food and water during the journey.
• After days without meeting returning merchant troupes, the convoy found a resting point strewn with shattered carriages and corpses.
• John identified signs of a beast attack, and Da Lianna used a gemstone to reveal plague energy in a beast's corpse.
• Parr, Da Lianna, and John concluded that Plague Heretics had infected the beasts and likely sought to kill someone or obtain something from the merchant troupe.

Parr and Da Lianna found a plague-infested stone at the rest stop, then the Mist Merchant Troupe survived a Beast Tide attack. The next day, plague-like coughing spread among the caravan hands, and Jim sent someone to ask Da Lianna what was happening while keeping Demi uninformed.

• Parr and Da Lianna collected rough gemstones and discovered a stone planted by Plague Heretics that attracted plague-infected beasts.
• A Beast Tide attacked the Mist Merchant Troupe’s camp, and Parr, John, Da Lianna, and the guards fought off the beasts.
• Two Plague Heretics chose not to send their shackled Ink Shadow Leopard against the caravan because recovering the Divine Stone was their priority.
• Parr absorbed energy from the beasts he killed, gaining 520 Life Energy Points and 21 Mental Energy Points.
• The caravan hands began coughing, and Jim told Marcus to keep everyone away from Demi’s wagon and sent a subordinate to consult Da Lianna.

Parr discovered that contaminated creek water had caused a plague across villages east of Clear River Town, and the Mist Merchant Troupe stopped at East Creek Village while the Church treated them. After Parr and John confirmed the villagers were free of the lingering plague, they encountered a frightened, eyepatched child fleeing other children who accused her of causing it.

• Da Lianna identified the Mist Merchant Troupe's illness as a contagious but nonfatal plague, and Demi ordered Jim to keep the sick away from her carriage.
• Parr spotted faint black energy in the creek, and Da Lianna confirmed the water was contaminated; John explained that the creek supplied villages throughout the area.
• At East Creek Village, steward Marcus told Jim that the plague had spread through the villages and that Church personnel had sealed the roads while searching for the source.
• Church physicians gave the Mist Merchant Troupe treated water, and Parr and John later checked several villagers with the White Light Sword to make sure no plague remained in their bodies.
• Parr and John saw children chasing a bedraggled, eyepatched child who ran away after falling in front of Parr.

The Mist Merchant Troupe continued toward Clear River Town, and Da Lianna brought Wei Wei aboard Parr and John's carriage after the village chief pleaded for help. Parr nearly reached the exit of Dream Space before John woke him, then joined John in heading out to confront Marcus.

• The village chief tried to send Wei Wei to Fluorescent City to protect her from the villagers, but Steward Marcus secretly arranged for her to ride in Parr and John's carriage.
• John refused to take Wei Wei for a Gold Coin and then three Gold Coins, until Da Lianna offered to pay for her fare.
• Da Lianna welcomed Wei Wei into the carriage, and John charged her twenty Gold Coins while Parr gained a new companion.
• Parr entered Dream Space and followed the wind toward a distant door of light, but John woke him before he could reach it.
• After the caravan stopped for the night, John told Parr that they were going to beat up Marcus, and Parr eagerly went with him.

After secretly beating Marcus, Parr met Wei Wei, a timid girl whose Talent let her change the taste of water. He befriended her with sweet treats, while Da Lianna began teaching Wei Wei and helping her overcome her fear of people her age.

• An unknown attacker beat Marcus and broke his leg, and the caravan hands carried him to the doctor after mocking him.
• Parr returned with John and met Wei Wei beside Da Lianna's carriage, where Da Lianna explained that Wei Wei was a Talent Holder whose right eye showed her Talent.
• Parr and John tasted water that Wei Wei had prepared and recognized the flavor of Fluorescent River water, revealing that her Talent could change water's taste.
• John joked that Parr fancied Wei Wei, so Da Lianna shocked him with lightning and led Parr and Wei Wei into the carriage.
• Parr offered Wei Wei sweet dried fruit in exchange for calling him big brother, and she ate it gratefully while crying.

As the plague spread through the Mist Merchant Troupe despite purified water, Parr discovered that Wei Wei's Talent could remove it from water and cure those who drank it. The Church prepared to investigate the plague's source after Clear River Baron refused to send troops, and John summoned Parr for a job that would probably involve killing Heretics.

• Parr experimented with Wei Wei's water-altering Talent instead of teaching her to read, and Da Lianna was pleased that Wei Wei had overcome her fear of him.
• The plague struck the Mist Merchant Troupe again near Clear River Town, and the coughing spread despite the travelers drinking Church-purified water.
• The Physician Captain confirmed that Plague Energy from the stream had intensified and was spreading through the air, while Clear River Baron refused to send troops to its source.
• The Physician Captain ordered Church personnel to investigate the stream and seek reinforcements, then considered hiring adventurers from the Mist Merchant Troupe.
• Parr caught the plague, but Wei Wei gave him water that cured him, revealing that her Talent could remove the plague from both water and those who drank it.
• John summoned Parr and told him they had a job that would probably involve killing Heretics.

John, Parr, and David traveled into the Deep Forest to investigate the plague-tainted Forest Pool, while Da Lianna used Wei Wei’s Talent to treat sick merchant troupe workers. The story left Demi furious about Da Lianna taking Wei Wei as a student and asking when the caravan would reach Clear River Town.

• John, Parr, and David rode upstream, then entered the Deep Forest to investigate the Forest Pool as black Plague Energy thickened around the creek.
• Parr activated Bright Eyes and scanned the silent forest while the three remained alert for danger.
• Da Lianna brought Wei Wei out to help treat the sick, disguising Wei Wei’s Talent with a blue gemstone and asking workers for a Copper Coin or sincere thanks as payment.
• Da Lianna and Wei Wei treated the workers by using their power on a barrel of water, and the first worker who drank it was cured.
• Marcus reported Da Lianna and Wei Wei’s healing to Demi, who became angry that Da Lianna had taken a lowborn student and asked how soon they would reach Clear River Town.

John, Parr, and Physician Captain David reached the Forest Pool and fought the red-eyed beasts, an Ink Shadow Leopard, and a Plague Heretic. John freed the leopard from its Plague Shackles, and as Parr charged the Heretic, it drew the pool’s Plague Energy into itself.

• John found the pool shrouded in black mist and filled with the corpses of Church personnel, while David vowed to deal with the plague there.
• John and Parr fought the beasts that charged from the forest, including a Bronze-level Plague Heretic who attacked Parr with dark green rays.
• David used Dazzling Light to restrain the beasts and support Parr, while John battled the Ink Shadow Leopard.
• John smashed the Plague Shackles around the leopard’s neck, freeing it from the Plague Energy and sending it after the Heretic.
• After Parr cut down the remaining beasts, he charged the Heretic, who gathered the Plague Energy around the pool into his body.

John, Parr, and the Ink Shadow Leopard killed the Plague Heretic, but the leopard advanced and turned on them. As the battle for survival continued, the Azure Giant Wolf urged Parr to keep attacking because his sword could break the leopard's defense.

• The Plague Heretic used a forbidden technique and transformed into a powerful monster, forcing John to activate his Talent and fight him head-on.
• Parr restrained the Plague Heretic with Fireball Spells and the White Light Sword while John and the Ink Shadow Leopard struck together, killing him.
• After the battle, the Ink Shadow Leopard advanced to Advanced Bronze and attacked John and Parr, so John used Condensed Battle Qi: Blood Crow to block its charge.
• Parr's Fireball Spell failed against the leopard, and his Upward Flick could not penetrate its fur, but the Azure Giant Wolf urged him to keep attacking.
• Parr switched to Wind Wolf Basic Swordsmanship: Horizontal Slash as the Ink Shadow Leopard prepared to strike him.

Parr helped John kill the Ink Shadow Leopard, then used his gains to strengthen his Electric Shock Spell and questioned the Azure Giant Wolf about the sword’s power. After David and Parr cleared the Plague Energy from Forest Pool, the three cremated the dead and returned toward Creek Source Village as the season’s final rain began.

• Parr’s Black Long Sword cut through the Ink Shadow Leopard’s fur on the second strike, and John told him to preserve the beast’s heart before treating John’s injuries.
• John and Parr retrieved the corpses from Forest Pool, while David recovered his strength and began purifying the Plague Energy.
• Parr absorbed energy, upgraded Electric Shock Spell to MAX, and advanced to Peak Knight Apprentice.
• In Dream Space, the Azure Giant Wolf confirmed it had warned Parr and told him that the Key’s current form meant he need not fear Dark Attribute Energy.
• After David collapsed while purifying the pool, Parr used the White Light Sword to remove most of the remaining Plague Energy, leaving some for David to finish.
• David, John, and Parr cremated the dead, gathered the Church personnel’s ashes, and headed back toward Creek Source Village as rain began.

Parr's group reached Clear River Town, where the first Clear River Baron’s death had stirred conflict among the surrounding nobles. John and Da Lianna received letters revealing that Red Robe and a plague plot were tied to Fluorescent City, while Steward Marcus delivered goods to a Plague God follower.

• The Mist Merchant Troupe reached Clear River Town, and John arranged to depart for Fluorescent City with Parr and Demi three days later.
• Parr, John, Da Lianna, and Wei Wei visited the Adventurers' Association and learned the first Clear River Baron had died, prompting nobles to maneuver for control of the town.
• John read a letter saying Red Robe had opened a sealed site of the Cursed Evil God, disappeared after a battle, and might be in the Western Territory; John vowed to kill him.
• Da Lianna decoded a hidden letter warning that a plague plot targeted Fluorescent City by December and that Red Robe had offered to cooperate; she decided to leave Wei Wei and go ahead.
• Steward Marcus met a white-haired follower at the docks and was assigned to continue handling the goods after claiming his mentor and companions had gone to meet the Plague God.

Demi was nearly assaulted by Edwin at Clear River Stronghold, while Parr and John took responsibility for Wei Wei after Da Lianna left on urgent business. As Parr searched for Slime Skin with Wei Wei in Clear River Town, a sharp-faced man abducted her, and Parr pursued him.

• Edwin got Demi drunk, then tried to take advantage of her before Jim rescued her and warned Edwin about the Viscount’s anger.
• Da Lianna left Wei Wei with Parr and John, asking them to care for her until she returned within two months.
• John decided to take Wei Wei to Fluorescent Academy and gave Parr five gold coins to show her around Clear River Town.
• Parr took Wei Wei to search several Magic Potion shops for Slime Skin and argued with a shop owner over its price.
• A sharp-faced man grabbed Wei Wei and fled into the crowd, and Parr rushed after him.