Chapter Summaries

Bai Xiaowen and Goliya found Farga hidden behind a secret chamber wall and fought over the Soul Stone. While Goliya battled Farga, Bai Xiaowen searched the chamber, opened a hidden passage, and was attacked by a giant Zombie Rat.

• Bai Xiaowen led Goliya to the basement and called out Farga, who emerged from a concealed chamber.
• Bai Xiaowen explained how he deduced Farga’s hiding place, and Farga admitted that he had killed Malgao for betraying him.
• Goliya challenged Farga and fought him with her greatsword while Farga wielded an electrified whip.
• Bai Xiaowen slipped into Farga’s secret chamber and concluded that the Soul Stone was hidden there.
• Bai Xiaowen found a switch that opened a narrow passage, spotted two glowing eyes inside, and tried to flee from a giant Zombie Rat.

Bai Xiaowen survived a deadly fight with the Elite Zombie Rat Black Fang by exploiting a narrow tunnel, then claimed its loot and discovered a mysterious glowing bead beneath its remains. He left the chapter with new equipment and an unexplained crystal in hand.

• Bai Xiaowen recognized Black Fang as a powerful Elite Zombie Rat, but its charge pinned him down and its infectious bite badly wounded him.
• Bai Xiaowen drank Savage Bull's Might, rammed Black Fang into a narrow tunnel, and hacked it to pieces with his rusty sword.
• Bai Xiaowen received an Excellent battle rating, advanced his One-Handed Sword proficiency to Level 4, and opened Black Fang's Loot Chest.
• Bai Xiaowen drew a Fang Dagger, a Dirty Cloak, and Putrid Blood, then equipped the cloak and stored the other loot.
• Bai Xiaowen searched beneath Black Fang's corpse and found a glowing gray bead.

Bai Xiaowen found the sealed Evil Soul Stone, passed its mental trial, and gained enough Spirit to reach the Awakened critical threshold. After escaping Goliya through the Spirit Realm, he left the Plague Rat Burrow as she vowed to pursue him.

• Bai Xiaowen discovered the Soul Stone inside the Elite Zombie Rat and resisted the banshee's mental attack, causing Farga to weaken and Goliya to wound and capture him.
• The Soul Stone's trial increased Bai Xiaowen's base Spirit by 2, bringing his total attributes to 20.7 and triggering an Awakened Trial deadline of one Earth week.
• Bai Xiaowen escaped through a hidden tunnel and emerged outside while Goliya brought Farga after him.
• Goliya confronted Bai Xiaowen and demanded the Soul Stone, but he entered the Spirit Realm before she could strike him.

Bai Xiaowen entered the Aaron Plane and began his Awakened Class Change trial, discovering that the Spirit Realm had restored his injured body and digitized his abilities. He received three optional class-change missions, ranging from learning ordinary magic to breaking a sealed Soul Stone, and weighed the risks and potential rewards of each.

• Bai Xiaowen entered the Aaron Plane, where the Lionheart Empire faced internal turmoil, enemy wars, and the return of dragons and champions.
• Bai Xiaowen woke in a snowbound shack and found that his bitten left arm had healed completely.
• Bai Xiaowen reviewed his digitized attributes, combat abilities, and sparse Temporary Storage Space.
• Bai Xiaowen received three optional class-change missions: studying at the Northern Mage Academy, learning Dragon Language from Chief Mage Selen, or infusing a sealed Soul Stone with energy.
• Bai Xiaowen considered the first mission likely to grant a Standard Class and the difficult second mission likely to yield an Elite Class.

Bai Xiaowen accepted the S-Tier Black Soul Stone Opening mission, which required him to unseal the Soul Stone and infuse it with soul energy within ten days. In Elu City, he gathered intelligence about the conflict between the Imperial Army and the Resistance Army in the Northern Frontier and began forming a plan.

• Bai Xiaowen considered the dangers of finding someone capable of breaking Farga’s seal, then accepted the Black Soul Stone Opening mission.
• Bai Xiaowen entered the Aaron World, saw his adjusted appearance, and decided to seek local information before acting.
• Bai Xiaowen found the Wild Mare tavern and learned from Old Hunter about the Lionheart Empire’s rule and the Northern Frontier’s rebellion.
• Old Hunter explained that General Arinas had driven the Resistance Army from Northshire, but the territories were now secretly supporting the rebels.

Bai Xiaowen provoked an Imperial Army-supporting bard in a tavern and defeated him in an unarmed brawl. After buying drinks for the Vikings with his winnings, Bai Xiaowen was invited to join two burly men at their table.

• Bai Xiaowen objected when the bard sang insults about Usok and challenged him to a fight.
• Bai Xiaowen and the bard agreed to settle their dispute with fists after Old Hunter asked them to put away their weapons.
• Bai Xiaowen took several punches, pinned the bard in a corner, and knocked him down.
• Bai Xiaowen used the bard’s money to buy drinks for the tavern and help pay for the damage.
• One of the two burly men invited Bai Xiaowen to have a drink with them.

Bai Xiaowen joined Usok's Resistance Army recruitment by accepting a mission to bring Ralph an Imperial soldier's identification tag. After scouting a four-man Imperial outpost and realizing he could not defeat the squad head-on, he prepared an ambush near the river.

• Bai Xiaowen introduced himself to Ralph and Loga as Dio Skalboom and learned they were Resistance Army members recruiting for Usok.
• Ralph offered to take Bai Xiaowen to Spiked Helm City if he proved himself by bringing back an Imperial soldier's identification tag.
• Bai Xiaowen accepted the timed mission and chose the Resistance Army as his best route to advancing his Class Change mission.
• Bai Xiaowen found four Imperial soldiers at the outpost and used Insight to assess their strength, including their leader Bjorn.
• Bai Xiaowen withdrew to a nearby river and hid in a tree, waiting for an auxiliary soldier carrying a waterskin to approach.

Bai Xiaowen killed the Imperial Army’s three auxiliary soldiers, then disguised himself as one and lured Great Hammer Warrior Bjorn out of camp. He stabbed Bjorn with a poisoned dagger, leaving the attack’s outcome unresolved.

• Bai Xiaowen ambushed and killed Imperial Auxiliary Soldier Mulan, then obtained an Imperial Auxiliary Soldier Insignia from the loot chest.
• Bai Xiaowen disguised the first auxiliary soldier’s corpse and himself to make it look as though they had killed each other.
• Bai Xiaowen ambushed and killed the two auxiliary soldiers who came to investigate, wiping out all three auxiliary soldiers at the camp.
• Bai Xiaowen smeared Putrid Blood on his Fang Dagger and pretended to stagger back to camp as a surviving auxiliary soldier pursued by rebels.
• Great Hammer Warrior Bjorn came out to investigate, and Bai Xiaowen stabbed him in a vital point with the poisoned dagger.

Bai Xiaowen killed Bjorn by keeping out of reach until the warrior bled to death, then collected his loot and searched the camp. After resting and recovering, Bai Xiaowen prepared to continue the trial with a military map and newfound advanced weaponry.

• Bai Xiaowen wounded Bjorn with a poisoned Vital Strike, then evaded his hammer while Severe Bleeding drained his Life Value.
• Bjorn died, and Bai Xiaowen advanced his Basic Combat Specialty and gained Advanced Weaponry (One-Handed Sword).
• Bai Xiaowen drew an insignia, a Steel Two-Handed Warhammer, and a Heavy Strike Skill Book from Bjorn's treasure chest.
• Bai Xiaowen searched the deserted camp and found Lionheart Empire currency, a warhorse, and a military map of the Northern Frontier.
• Bai Xiaowen cooked soup and rested by the campfire for two hours, fully restoring his Life Value and stamina.

Bai Xiaowen wiped out three Imperial Army outposts, gained a bow and shooting expertise, and turned in proof of his work to the Resistance Army. His reputation and relationships improved, and Ralph announced that Lord Usok had assigned them an important mission.

• Bai Xiaowen used the military map to locate Imperial Army outposts and destroyed three of them within the mission period.
• Bai Xiaowen advanced his combat specialty and obtained a shooting specialty scroll, a White Birch Hard Bow, and an Iron Quiver from a treasure chest.
• Bai Xiaowen returned to Elu City and showed Ralph and Loga the insignias he had collected.
• Bai Xiaowen completed the Pledge of Allegiance mission with an Excellent evaluation, earning Respect reputation with the Resistance Army and Hostile reputation with the Imperial Expeditionary Army.
• Bai Xiaowen's Affection Level rose to Acquaintance with Ralph and Friend with Loga, and Ralph told him that Lord Usok had given them an important mission.

Bai Xiaowen joined Ralph and Loga on a mission to assassinate Imperial envoy Elliott before he reached Elu City. After discovering the envoy’s escort included the powerful elf Lyra Redleaf, Bai Xiaowen offered to draw enemies away, then used an arrow attack to lure part of the camp’s guard out and create an opening for Ralph and Loga.

• Bai Xiaowen accepted Ralph and Loga’s mission to assassinate Elliott before the envoy could meet the Elu City Guard.
• Bai Xiaowen, Ralph, and Loga found Elliott’s camp in White Stone Valley and discovered that his escort included elite swordswoman Lyra Redleaf.
• Bai Xiaowen volunteered to act as a decoy while Ralph and Loga prepared to attack the weakened camp.
• Bai Xiaowen stayed away for an hour, then shot two support troops at the valley entrance and drew two Imperial soldiers and five support troops away from camp.
• Ralph told Loga the plan had worked and urged him to move in.

Bai Xiaowen lured Imperial soldiers away from Ralph and Loga, then predicted that Elliott would flee and set a tripwire on the road to Elu City. He killed Elliott and Skola, completed his mission, and earned the hatred of the Empire and Lord Glandis.

• Bai Xiaowen reviewed his poor shooting and evaded the search party by climbing into a tree.
• Ralph and Loga fought Elliott’s guards while Lyra Redleaf wounded Loga and forced the two Vikings to focus on her.
• Elliott fled toward Elu City on horseback with Skola while Lyra stayed behind to fight Ralph and Loga.
• Bai Xiaowen set a tripwire across the road and knocked Elliott and Skola unconscious as they rode into it.
• Bai Xiaowen killed Elliott and Skola with arrows, completed his side quest with a C rating, and gained Revered reputation with the Northern Frontier Resistance Army while reaching Hatred with the Imperial Expeditionary Army and Lord Glandis.

Bai Xiaowen killed Elliott but earned a low battle rating and drew a pair of marked panties bearing Goliya’s name. He returned to Spiked Helm City with Ralph and Loga, where Usok welcomed him as a new Viking brother and invited him to make a request.

• Bai Xiaowen received notifications that Glandis’s Affection Level had risen to Friend and Ralph’s to Acquaintance, then opened Elliott’s chest and drew marked panties dedicated to Goliya.
• Bai Xiaowen met the injured Ralph and Loga at their agreed rendezvous, and the three rode back to Spiked Helm City.
• Ralph told Steward Grima that Usok had summoned them to dine with him, and Bai Xiaowen found that Grima’s attributes appeared as question marks through Insight.
• Ralph reported Bai Xiaowen’s role in killing the Empire’s envoy, Elliott, while Bai Xiaowen observed Usok and the assembled officials.
• Usok welcomed Bai Xiaowen as a brave new brother and told him that Spiked Helm City was his home.

Bai Xiaowen revealed his sealed Soul Stone to Lord Usok and persuaded the Resistance Army to help him unlock its power. Kevin removed the seal and directed him to the Frozen Ancient Tomb to charge it by devouring souls.

• Bai Xiaowen rejected the offer of comfortable arrangements and declared that he wanted greater power to help free the Northern Frontier.
• Bai Xiaowen revealed the Soul Stone and asked Lord Usok to help break its seal; Kevin confirmed it was a sealed Soul Stone suited to a summoning necromancer.
• Bai Xiaowen convinced Lord Usok that he was better suited to magic, and Kevin agreed to examine the stone and remove its seal.
• Kevin recognized Farga's spiritual energy in the seal and told Bai Xiaowen that the Soul Stone needed souls, not ordinary energy, to recharge.
• Kevin removed the seal and directed Bai Xiaowen to the Frozen Ancient Tomb north of Spiked Helm City, where powerful ancient Viking souls could charge the stone.

Bai Xiaowen delayed collecting soul energy while investigating mysterious nuns, then entered the Frozen Ancient Tomb to fight Skeleton Warriors and train. After refusing to absorb their souls, he was confronted by the Banshee Delifa, who demanded that he feed the hungry souls in the Soul Stone.

• Bai Xiaowen paid intelligence broker Mole for information about a group of women whose reaction suggested they were nuns rather than Vampires.
• Bai Xiaowen left Spiked Helm City for the Frozen Ancient Tomb after learning the women had arrived there.
• Bai Xiaowen killed Skeleton Warriors with a bow and dagger, taking a wound while improving his combat proficiencies.
• Bai Xiaowen repeatedly refused to absorb the Skeleton Warriors' soul energy despite the Soul Stone's prompt.
• Delifa appeared through the Soul Stone, identified herself as a former countess and spokesperson for the dead, and urged Bai Xiaowen to feed them.

Bai Xiaowen ventured deeper into the Desolate Graveyard and confronted Kevin, who revealed his plan to take the Soul Stone and kill him. Bai Xiaowen negotiated for one day of safety in exchange for the stone and demanded that Kevin swear an oath before a god.

• Bai Xiaowen learned that Delifa wanted soul energy, but he refused to absorb the weak Soul Fire of Skeleton Warriors and sent her back into the Soul Stone.
• Bai Xiaowen explored deeper into the Desolate Graveyard, spotted increasingly dangerous undead, and stopped near a tomb guarded by a Terror Knight.
• Bai Xiaowen called out Kevin, who appeared and demanded the Soul Stone, admitting he planned to kill Bai Xiaowen and seize it.
• Bai Xiaowen threatened to destroy the Soul Stone and offered it in exchange for one day of safety, which Kevin accepted.
• Bai Xiaowen refused to trust Kevin's promise and demanded that he swear an oath before a god.

Bai Xiaowen secured Kevin’s oath to protect him for twelve hours in exchange for the Soul Stone, then provoked undead so Kevin would destroy them and charge the stone with energy. As Battle Nuns from North County Monastery approached, Bai Xiaowen began questioning Kevin about his plans for the Soul Stone.

• Bai Xiaowen made Kevin swear by the God of Magic to protect him for twelve hours and remain in the Frozen Ancient Tomb, then handed him the Soul Stone.
• Bai Xiaowen deliberately drew a Terror Knight and other undead toward himself, forcing Kevin to defend him and kill them.
• Kevin used the Soul Stone to absorb the undead’s Soul Fire until it was full, while growing exhausted from fighting.
• Battle Nuns from North County Monastery advanced toward the graveyard, and Bai Xiaowen told Kevin they would arrive within an hour.
• Bai Xiaowen asked Kevin whether he had set his sights on the Soul Stone long ago.

Bai Xiaowen revealed that he had anticipated Kevin’s attempt to steal the Soul Stone and lured him into a confrontation with the North County Monastery nuns. The arrival of Royal Knight Golia left Kevin weighing whether to return the charged Soul Stone or fight.

• Bai Xiaowen explained how Kevin had targeted the Soul Stone and said he had summoned witnesses by luring the nuns to the Frozen Ancient Tomb.
• Kevin admitted he had marked the Soul Stone with an Arcane Beacon, and Bai Xiaowen urged him to return it so he could survive the coming battle.
• Kevin refused and planned to kill everyone in his way as the North County Monastery nuns approached.
• Bai Xiaowen asked how Kevin compared with the commander of the Empire Glory Knights, and Golia revealed herself among the five cloaked figures.
• Bai Xiaowen explained that Golia had come because of the Soul Stone, while Kevin considered fighting her rather than surrendering it.

Kevin ambushed Goliya’s group with Dragon Breath but failed to kill her, then called for reinforcements while Bai Xiaowen began his Black Soul Stone Class Change. As Soul Resonance began, Lyra Redleaf ambushed Bai Xiaowen in the burial chamber, seeking revenge for Elliott’s death.

• Kevin unleashed Dragon Breath on Goliya and the four Battle Nuns, killing three and badly burning Lyra Redleaf, who survived behind Goliya.
• Goliya survived the attack by blocking it with her greatsword, which broke, and retained enough strength to threaten the exhausted Kevin.
• Kevin gave Bai Xiaowen the Soul Stone, told him to hide, and sent an Arcane Beacon into the sky to summon reinforcements.
• Bai Xiaowen entered the mausoleum and started his Class Change, but the Black Soul Stone required 600 seconds of Soul Resonance.
• Lyra Redleaf emerged from the shadows and attacked Bai Xiaowen, revealing that she had disguised herself as a Battle Nun to pursue revenge for Elliott.

Bai Xiaowen lured the wounded Lyra Redleaf into a burial chamber and ambushed her, but she injured him in return. As Lyra recovered enough to stop the bleeding, Bai Xiaowen’s Soul Resonance ended and unlocked his class change.

• Bai Xiaowen used discarded equipment and a false hiding spot to lure Lyra Redleaf into a burial chamber.
• Bai Xiaowen leapt from above and critically stabbed Lyra Redleaf, inflicting severe bleeding and immobilizing her.
• Lyra Redleaf counterattacked, leaving Bai Xiaowen with 2 Life Value and mild bleeding.
• Lyra Redleaf bandaged her wound and stopped her bleeding while Bai Xiaowen stayed behind cover.
• Bai Xiaowen’s Soul Resonance ended, and the system unlocked his class change.