Chapter Summaries

After learning about Oduo Village and the rewards for helping its villagers, Zong Shen decided to scout it while his soldiers stayed to help Jiang Yi. He reached the village’s outskirts and discovered that the Calamity Raven Church had fortified it with extensive traps and forces strong enough to defeat a City-State Army.

• Jiang Yi told Zong Shen about Oduo Village, the native forces and rewards involved, and the possibility of recruiting native troops; Zong Shen gave her 1,000 units of iron.
• Zong Shen decided to scout Oduo Village while his soldiers stayed behind to help Jiang Yi defend her territory.
• Zong Shen rode Bajie west, pushing through Dungeon Monsters and briefly saving a besieged lord by using Demon Intimidation.
• Zong Shen reached a grove near Oduo Village and watched from a distance to avoid being spotted by the Calamity Raven Church.
• Zong Shen saw that the grassland around Oduo Village was covered in traps and concluded that the Calamity Raven heretics were powerful enough to threaten even Great City forces.

Zong Shen used the Strategy Guide to uncover why the Calamity Raven Church had occupied Oduo Village and learned that the Cold Raven Faith Group planned to summon the Demon Soul and Demon Blood of the Dreadlord Balnazzar. With Lentatus Great City's punitive force due to arrive just before the ritual, Zong Shen began planning to exploit the clash and strengthen his Demon State.

• Zong Shen observed the Calamity Raven Church fortifying Oduo Village and suspected it had a powerful motive for holding the settlement.
• Zong Shen learned that the Cold Raven Faith Group had occupied the village to find Balnazzar's Demon Soul and Demon Blood and planned to begin its summoning ritual in about five days.
• Zong Shen learned that Lentatus Great City was mobilizing a punitive force expected to reach Oduo Village about half a day before the ritual began, and that he could absorb demonic power in Demon State.
• Zong Shen began considering how to profit from the coming confrontation between the Calamity Raven Church and Lentatus Great City.
• Zong Shen examined the patrolling Heretic Giant-Strength Knights and learned that they were powerful Fourth Order heavy cavalry mounted on Heavy Shire Horses.

Zong Shen disguised himself as a weary traveler and infiltrated Oduo Village, where the Calamity Raven Church had captured villagers to dig an Anti-Horse Trench. While pretending to work, he studied the Cold Raven Halberd Warriors and assessed their strength.

• Zong Shen decided to scout Oduo Village and considered recruiting some of the Church's warriors.
• After seeing Heretic knights capture traveling merchants, Zong Shen used Boswell's Transformation Potion and dressed himself as a down-and-out mercenary.
• Zong Shen left Bajie in a grove and let a patrol of Heretic Giant-Strength Knights capture and escort him into Oduo Village.
• A Cold Raven Halberd Warrior ordered Zong Shen to join the villagers digging an Anti-Horse Trench, and he obeyed to maintain his disguise.
• Zong Shen examined the Cold Raven Halberd Warriors and learned that Cabrera was an Excellent-quality Third Order fighter with strong attacks and anti-cavalry skills.

Zong Shen infiltrated Oduo Village as a farmer and learned that the Calamity Raven Church was preparing a ritual to summon the Spirit of the Raven. After the Saintess assigned him to help build the Tower of the Raven, he examined the tower and its ritual materials while continuing to conceal his identity.

• Zong Shen accidentally dug the Anti-Horse Trench far faster than the villagers, drawing the attention of nearby Cold Raven Halberd Warriors.
• The Saintess arrived and ordered more villagers to help finish the Tower of the Raven within three days.
• The Saintess rejected a Deacon's suggestion to plunder nearby villages, explaining that the Church needed to avoid provoking Avalon while it gathered Demon Remnant Souls and Demon Blood.
• The Saintess selected Zong Shen and several other farmers to help with construction, and he followed them into the guarded village.
• Zong Shen surveyed Oduo Village's traps and defenses before reaching the square, where Church members were building a tower and arranging raven bones, blood, and feathers for a ritual.
• Zong Shen inspected the Tower of the Raven and learned that it could attract ravens and summon a Spirit of the Raven by sacrificing powerful souls.

Zong Shen learned why the Calamity Raven Church was building the Tower of the Raven and seized its mithril during his escape from Oduo Village. He escaped Safri’s pursuit and flew away from the village.

• Zong Shen discovered that the Church planned to use Demon Souls to summon Raven Spirits and strengthen its believers through Raven Baptism.
• Elder McGuire told Safri that unknown forces had damaged the summoning array in the Land of Buried Bones and abducted villagers, and Safri ordered him to pursue them while she gathered villagers.
• Zong Shen dropped his log, changed back into his armor, and collected all the mithril columns while the Church’s warriors were distracted.
• Zong Shen activated Levitation to escape, but Safri caught his leg with a magical chain as archers fired at him.
• Zong Shen used Shadow Clone and forced himself upward, lifting Safri into the air until she released the chain; he then flew invisibly away from Oduo Village.

Zong Shen escaped the Calamity Raven Church after stealing more than 3,400 units of Mithril, while Saintess Safri secretly marked him with the Raven Chain. After discovering the mark through the Strategy Guide, he faced the risk of being tracked for the next three days.

• Zong Shen fled the village by Levitation, then circled across the grassland on Bajie to confuse anyone following his tracks.
• Saintess Safri ordered the Deacons to guard the reserve Mithril and prioritize the damaged Magic Arrays and summoning altar in the Land of Buried Bones.
• Safri rode toward the Land of Buried Bones as Elder McGuire led the Church’s retaliation against the lords who had damaged its defenses.
• Zong Shen sensed something was wrong with his calf and asked the Strategy Guide to investigate.
• The Strategy Guide revealed that Safri had left a three-day magical tracking mark on Zong Shen’s calf, which he could remove with Magic Exorcism or a Purification Potion.

Zong Shen removed Safri’s tracking Raven Mark with Magic Exorcism, then returned to Jiang Yi’s territory and shared news of Oduo Village and the Dungeon Challenge. He gave Jiang Yi 300 units of Mithril and arranged for her to recruit members for the Legion he planned to establish after expanding his territory.

• Zong Shen forced on Boswell’s undersized Exorcised Satin Boots, used Magic Exorcism, and dispelled Safri’s Raven Mark.
• Safri sensed the Raven Mark’s removal while repairing a Magic Array and wondered how Zong Shen had fused with demonic power without falling.
• Zong Shen traveled through the Dungeon Monster battlefields to Jiang Yi’s territory, where Maryl had adapted to fighting with her Hunting Crossbow.
• Zong Shen told Jiang Yi about Oduo Village and the Calamity Raven Church, then gave her 300 units of Mithril.
• Zong Shen asked Jiang Yi to recruit reliable lords for his planned Legion, prioritizing Huaxia lords when other qualifications were equal, and then departed for his territory.

After returning from a successful day of hunting Dungeon Monsters, Zong Shen asked Maryl to choose her future role and appointed her Chief Logistics Officer. The chapter ends with him leading Maryl toward the Lord’s Courtyard entrance to use the Communication Crystal.

• Jiang Yi relaxed after Zong Shen left her Communication Crystal No. 8 for emergencies, while Zong Shen and his warriors fought their way back to the territory.
• Zong Shen returned with 22,717 points, and Maryl had reached level 19 after gaining experience from the Exploration Team’s monster hunts.
• Zong Shen invited Maryl to choose between logistics and combat, and Maryl chose to become a Logistics Hero.
• Maryl outlined her planned attribute and skill-point distribution, focusing on Charm, Intelligence, Command, Item Management, and Rescue.
• Zong Shen appointed Maryl Chief Logistics Officer, granted her authority over Farmers, patrol warriors, and Territory Buildings, and her Loyalty rose to 95.
• Zong Shen led Maryl out of the Lord’s Small Building and headed toward the Lord’s Courtyard entrance with the Communication Crystal.

Zong Shen appointed Maryl to oversee logistics and construction, assigned territory personnel under her command, and trained her to manage the Market, research priorities, and agricultural supplies. He then turned to other unfinished matters, including three captured prisoners who refused to submit and Dwarf Uncle’s work on a remotely activated combat puppet.

• Zong Shen announced that Maryl would manage logistics and construction, with San Pang assisting her, and assigned Farmers, Assassins, Goblin Shredders, and Wolf Cavalry under the territory’s command structure.
• Zong Shen showed Maryl how to trade on the Market, listed more Iron for resources, and instructed her to buy useful building blueprints when prices were reasonable.
• Zong Shen directed Maryl to prioritize defensive technology research and entrusted her with the Vine Wood Box of Vitality and responsibility for her daily duties.
• Zong Shen considered what to do with two Gold Diggers and a captured Blade Armor Assassin who refused to submit, but found no solution.
• Zong Shen visited Dwarf Uncle, who was modifying Communication Crystal No. 9 to activate the Heavy Combat Puppet remotely using a Magic Energy Core.

Zong Shen discovered Dwarf Uncle’s true identity and learned how he lost the Storm Hammer and was exiled. He promised to help Dwarf Uncle recover his sealed power and the artifact, while Dwarf Uncle pledged himself to the territory’s future.

• Dwarf Uncle removed the Heavy Combat Puppet’s chest plate and explained that he could make a basic repair within two or three days, though he could not fix its inability to distinguish friend from foe.
• Zong Shen viewed Dwarf Uncle’s information and learned he was Copperbeard Winefire, a gifted former heir exiled after losing the clan’s Storm Hammer in Thunder Valley.
• Dwarf Uncle recounted how the Storm Hammer drew lightning and vanished into Thunder Valley, leading the clan to seal his power and exile him.
• Zong Shen promised to help Dwarf Uncle recover the Storm Hammer and reclaim his power, and Dwarf Uncle expressed faith in him.
• Dwarf Uncle refused Zong Shen’s offer of wine and vowed to help the territory grow into a great city.

Zong Shen outlined plans to reform and develop his territory, then led the Exploration Squad and Wolf Cavalry Squad 1 on a monster hunt to gain experience and strengthen his forces. After reaching level 20 and assigning his new points, he headed with the group to the more stable Dungeon front line to continue hunting tougher monsters.

• Zong Shen gave Maryl six books and instructed her to identify promising farmers for training as cooks and apothecaries while preparing for broader reforms.
• Zong Shen told Maryl to search the Market for reasonably priced rune materials needed to build a Cold Storage and Bathhouse.
• Zong Shen gathered the Exploration Squad and Wolf Cavalry Squad 1 and led them in clearing more than a thousand Dungeon Monsters from the area around the territory.
• Zong Shen reached level 20, raised his Intelligence to 30 and Strength to 68, and invested skill points in Captive Management and Item Management.
• Zong Shen led the group to the Dungeon front line, where level-four monsters had begun appearing and the improved defenses were holding more steadily.

Zong Shen inspected the Dungeon front line, praised Vereesa, and sent her to rest before she offered to accompany him on a Hippogriff flight. The two took off to scout the surrounding area at night.

• Zong Shen assessed the front line's defenses and anticipated that stronger Dungeon Monsters might appear in the coming days.
• Vereesa reported that the front line was secure, and Zong Shen told her to return to the territory and rest.
• Vereesa offered to guide Zong Shen on the Hippogriff summoned by her [Hippogriff Warbow].
• Vereesa summoned the Hippogriff, climbed onto its back, and made room for Zong Shen behind her.
• Zong Shen mounted behind Vereesa, and the Hippogriff took off into the night.

Zong Shen flew with Vereesa to survey the surrounding territories, then returned to the front line to hunt Dungeon Monsters with Luna and his troops. After reaching level 21 and helping Favid earn enough Slaughter Points, Zong Shen ordered him to summon a Two-headed Hellhound, whose destructive power impressed the group.

• Vereesa flew Zong Shen a thousand meters above the ground, where he surveyed nearby territories before she carried him back to the front line.
• Zong Shen sent Vereesa back to the territory to rest and help him with upgrades in the morning, then hunted Dungeon Monsters alongside Luna, Favid, and the troops.
• After two hours of fighting, Zong Shen reached level 21 with a score of 27,723, while Favid collected 1,000 Slaughter Points.
• Zong Shen ordered Favid to use Summoning of Slaughter to summon a Two-headed Hellhound.
• Favid summoned the Hellhound, and Zong Shen inspected its level, powerful Chaos Damage, fire and necrotic attacks, and risk of losing control during a Consciousness Conflict.

Zong Shen rested after arranging the Dungeon front line, then began expanding his territory the next morning. His defenses easily defeated the expansion’s hostile targets, and he finished upgrading his territory to Level 2.

• Zong Shen sent Favid, the Dragonborn Ranger sisters, and Ashia to reinforce the Dungeon front line before returning to his territory to rest.
• Luna visited Zong Shen during the night, and the two spent the evening together.
• Zong Shen gathered his soldiers and consulted the Strategy Module, which advised him that the Dungeon Challenge would only slightly increase the expansion’s defensive burden.
• Zong Shen began the Level 2 territory expansion task, drawing twenty hostile targets from within ten kilometers.
• The territory’s Arrow Towers and Ancient Guardians defeated all twenty targets, completing the expansion and raising the territory to Level 2.

Zong Shen advanced his territory from level three to level five by defeating waves of bandits, beasts, and Goblin Scouts, then began a new expansion that drew a giant Strange Bird and a Calamity Raven Church scout toward his territory. The bird and its rider were still attacking as the chapter ended.

• Zong Shen led his troops against Bandit Cavalry and Grassland Arrow Porcupines, preserving sixteen Grassland Horses and bringing the animals' meat back to the territory.
• Zong Shen started the level-four expansion, and his defenses and soldiers killed Grassland Wolves, Goblin Scouts, and other monsters, raising his territory to level four and fourth place on the Leaderboard.
• Zong Shen began the level-five expansion and watched his troops engage more than thirty charging Grassland Bulls.
• A gigantic Strange Bird circled above the territory and dodged attacks from the Arrow Towers and Ancient Guardian, though arrows wounded it and its freezing blood fell to the ground.
• The Strange Bird dived while breathing cold air, revealing a rider in Calamity Raven Church armor with a Letter Barrel at his waist.

Zong Shen defeated the Frost Raven and its Raven Light Scout during his territory expansion, reaching Level 5 and taking first place on the territory Leaderboard. After learning that the Scout carried the location of a Calamity Raven Church supply depot, Zong Shen planned to raid it and began the Level 6 expansion task.

• Zong Shen used the Molotov Flamethrower to burn the Frost Raven and its rider, then had his warriors bind them both.
• After the Grassland Bulls were defeated, Zong Shen's territory reached Level 5 and he rose to first place on the territory Leaderboard.
• Zong Shen inspected the Frost Raven and identified the rider as the Raven Light Scout Bozuo, a low-ranking courier for the Calamity Raven Church.
• Zong Shen learned from the Strategy Module that the sealed Letter Barrel contained the location of a Church supply depot 37 kilometers away and planned to raid it before noon.
• Zong Shen sent his warriors to patrol the area and started the Level 6 territory expansion task, while his sudden rise to first place drew attention on the World and Regional Channels.

Chen Rui, a reincarnator who had expected to become his region’s overlord, discovered that Zong Shen had become an unforeseen variable by reaching territory level eight. Zong Shen stopped expanding, drew widespread attention, and checked in with his younger brother as Chen Rui resolved to seize the region’s Ruins and ancient altar.

• In the Khergit Empire, Chen Rui received word that another lord had taken his place on the leaderboard and found Zong Shen’s territory at level eight.
• Chen Rui recalled his previous life, his knowledge of the coming disaster, and the plans that had let him build a powerful territory; he decided to accelerate his development and claim the region’s resources, especially an ancient altar.
• Zong Shen stopped expanding at level eight on the Strategy Module’s advice and had the Wolf Cavalry bury the humanoid monsters’ corpses away from his territory.
• Lords flooded the Channels and Zong Shen’s messages with reactions to his rise, while Jiang Yi sent him messages of astonishment and admiration.
• Zong Shen read Aze’s messages about his own level-three territory struggling through the Dungeon Challenge and offered to send him resources.

Zong Shen gave Zong Ze 10,000 Continental Denar through the Market, then established the Guide Legion and appointed Jiang Yi as its deputy leader. The new Legion had only two members, and Zong Shen left Jiang Yi to help recruit while he prepared for his next task.

• Zong Ze told Zong Shen he needed Continental Denar after finding an indigenous village, so Zong Shen bought his one-unit wood listing for 10,000 Denar.
• Zong Shen surveyed his orderly territory and opened the Legion functions after the territory expansion task ended.
• Zong Shen paid 1,000 Continental Denar to create and name the Guide Legion.
• Zong Shen checked the Legion map and invited Jiang Yi, who accepted immediately.
• Zong Shen appointed Jiang Yi deputy Legion leader, giving her authority to invite nearby lords and manage Legion affairs.

Zong Shen delegated Legion recruitment and management to Jiang Yi, then led the Exploration Squad to a hidden Calamity Raven Church supply depot in the ruins of Azshara City's wall. After finding the depot unguarded, he collected its food supplies and began opening the remaining crates.

• Zong Shen reviewed the Legion's upgrade requirements and told Jiang Yi to recruit members without appointing officers unless he approved.
• Zong Shen briefed the Exploration Squad and set out with Favid and Luna in search of the secret depot.
• Zong Shen and the squad crossed the ruins of Azshara City's wall and found a concealed entrance into its interior.
• Zong Shen entered the unguarded depot and confirmed through the Strategy Module that it had no traps.
• Zong Shen collected 4,500 wheat flatbreads and 3,000 portions of dried beef from the supply crates.
• Zong Shen opened one of the remaining crates to inspect its contents.

Zong Shen seized Heavy Caltrops and Storm Crossbows from the Calamity Raven Church’s Supply Crates and returned to his territory with the Exploration Team. He began turning his unused Cellar into an improvised cold storage room by making the Frost Raven freeze buckets of water into ice.

• Zong Shen found 1,800 Heavy Caltrops and twenty Storm Crossbows in the Supply Crates, then took all of them for his territory’s defenses.
• Zong Shen and the Exploration Team left the Warehouse in Load-Bearer Mechas, inadvertently leaving tracks in the grass as they headed back to the territory.
• Zong Shen returned to the territory, stored the supplies, and decided to use the Frost Raven to make ice for his unused Cellar.
• Zong Shen threatened the Frost Raven with the Dragon-Slaying Greatsword, and it froze more than a dozen buckets of water in about twenty seconds.
• Zong Shen had Colby place the ice across the Cellar floor and ordered the Wolf Cavalry to bring more buckets for the Frost Raven to freeze.