Chapter Summaries

Zong Shen realized the strange weather signaled an approaching winter challenge and ordered preparations for cold weather and supplies. He warned Jiang Yi not to share the information, fearing that spreading it could alter the challenge or draw the Lord System’s attention.

• Zong Shen assessed the Final Challenge, prepared his territory’s defenses, and instructed Maryl to organize the workers and have them rest before the challenge.
• Zong Shen noticed the sudden drop in temperature and asked the Strategy Guide, which confirmed that the next challenge would be Winter is Descending, the Disaster of Ice and Snow.
• Zong Shen sent Maryl to Xitano Village with soldiers to recruit villagers and buy food, warm clothing, and liquor, while ordering other squads to fill the Water Cellar.
• Zong Shen messaged Zong Ze to stock up on warm supplies and contacted Jiang Yi to warn her about the changing climate.
• When Jiang Yi asked whether she should notify the Guide Legion, Zong Shen told her not to share the warning with anyone.

Zong Shen warned Jiang Yi to keep his secret, then stocked up on winter supplies while preparing for the Final Challenge. In Oduo Village, Safri prepared to turn Wang Xuan and other suitable candidates into Raven Puppets, leaving Wang Xuan unaware of the Church’s real plan as the Raven Blood Pool was readied.

• Zong Shen confirmed Jiang Yi had no siblings, urged her to keep his secret, and told her to gather supplies for the Final Challenge.
• Maryl led Wolf Cavalry Squad 1 toward Xitano Village while Zong Shen returned to his territory and considered how regional climates might affect the Winter Challenge.
• Zong Shen bought 271 Wasteland Bandit's Greatcoats, fifty Pine Oil Blocks, and additional bedding on the Market.
• Safri returned to Oduo Village, where Deacon David reported finding five or six suitable candidates for Raven Puppets.
• David persuaded Wang Xuan to follow him for a supposed conversion ritual, and Wang Xuan eagerly agreed.
• Safri began filling six wooden tubs with raven blood to prepare the Raven Blood Pool and make Raven Puppets.

Raven Saintess Safri prepared a Raven Transformation Ritual that turned six captured lords into Raven Puppets, then spotted Dragonhawk Knights scouting Oduo Village. She ordered the Church to raise the Raven Dome and hasten its defenses as the Punitive Expeditionary Force approached.

• Safri prepared six tubs of Raven Blood with her own blood, raven hearts, and magic from the Ebony Raven Staff while Wang Xuan and five other lords waited under Church guard.
• A Black lord tried to escape with three Treant Warriors, but Safri immobilized him with a Frost Chain and the Halberd Warriors dragged him back.
• Safri urged the lords into the tubs, where the Raven Blood rapidly assimilated them; she ordered the captured Black lord thrown into a tub as well.
• After the lords stopped struggling, Safri said the tubs would produce six Raven Puppet Warriors by morning.
• Safri used a raven to identify twelve Dragonhawk Knights scouting above Oduo Village and ordered the Raven Dome activated and the Goblin Landmines deployed quickly.

The Calamity Raven Church raised the Raven Dome over Oduo Village as the Dragonhawk Knights arrived, while Zong Shen prepared his territory’s defenses and waited for Maryl to return. Maryl finally came back with two Load-Bearer Mechas full of winter clothing and food.

• Safri ordered a Deacon to signal the Church, and the Totem Poles formed the Raven Dome over Oduo Village.
• Denise sent Yom to report to Kunier, then led the remaining Dragonhawk Knights west to wait for the main force.
• Safri explained the Church’s plan to summon the Spirit of the Raven and punish the Avalon Kingdom before leaving for the Land of Buried Bones.
• Zong Shen inspected his completed Defense Towers and discovered that the Giant Crossbow Tower could survey targets up to four kilometers away.
• Colby escorted Maryl back to the territory, where two Load-Bearer Mechas carried padded coats, blankets, wool hides, and food.

Maryl delivered a large stock of food and cold-weather supplies to Zong Shen, who arranged for Tie Zhu to buy more in Dinan Village. Before the Final Challenge, Zong Shen scouted the gathering Dungeon Monsters and confirmed that the Regional Boss would approach from the northwest, then returned to meet Jiang Yi and the Legion members.

• Maryl unloaded the supplies she had purchased, including food, heaters, wool goods, and a fur coat she had taken from her father, and gave Zong Shen the receipt for 7,167 Continental Denars.
• Zong Shen's people sorted the supplies, and he called Tie Zhu to arrange another purchase of cold-weather goods and long-lasting food in Dinan Village.
• At 2:45 a.m., Luna woke Zong Shen, and he joined his assembled forces for breakfast before preparing to scout the Final Challenge.
• Jiang Yi reported that Dungeon Monsters were gathering north of Zong Shen's territory and that Legion reinforcements were on the way.
• Zong Shen rode out with thirty-five Wolf Cavalry and found several thousand Dungeon Monsters gathering about a kilometer northwest of his territory, confirming the boss's likely approach direction.
• Zong Shen sent Colby to position the Wolf Cavalry around the monsters and returned to the territory, where Jiang Yi had arrived with more than ten Legion members.

As the Regional Boss’s arrival approached, Zong Shen’s territory filled with lords and soldiers who had come to reinforce him. He organized his Legion members’ troops while welcoming growing numbers of allies, leaving his territory packed with more than ten thousand people.

• Jiang Yi and the other Legion members marveled at Zong Shen’s defenses and forces before he returned to greet them.
• Jiang Yi introduced Zong Shen to sixteen Legion members, who had brought 207 warriors, and Zong Shen assigned their infantry and ranged troops to defend the territory and their cavalry to wait outside for a surprise attack.
• Zong Shen welcomed other arriving lords, including Trollope, and thanked them for bringing their forces to help.
• Seven or eight hundred regional lords gathered in the territory, exchanged information, and set up stalls as scattered reinforcements continued arriving.
• The Longing Legion and other Legions, including Medina’s group, sent reinforcements, and the crowd in Zong Shen’s territory swelled past ten thousand people.

Zong Shen organized the crowded reinforcements before the Final Challenge began, then used the Giant Cannon Tower to strike the Regional Boss and reveal a colossal serpent. The serpent remained at the northern Arrival Point as Dungeon Monsters advanced from other directions, and its appearance was projected above the territory.

• Jiang Yi, Luna, Vereesa, Maryl, and Zong Shen directed most of the supporting Lords out of the crowded city and assembled troops around the territory.
• The Final Challenge began at six in the morning, and more than 150,000 Dungeon Monsters gathered at the northern Arrival Point while swarms approached from the south and west.
• Maryl operated the Giant Crossbow Tower against monsters to the west, while Zong Shen used the Giant Cannon Tower to watch the battlefield.
• Zong Shen fired the Giant Cannon Tower at the dust-covered Regional Boss, blasting away the dust and revealing a huge serpent.
• A Lord released a Runic Mechanical Goshawk, whose view projected the serpent’s black scales, cobra-like hoods, and scarlet eyes above the territory.

Zong Shen assessed Apophis the Underworld Serpent as a passive Regional Boss replica and rallied the assembled lords to face the approaching Dungeon Monster hordes. The battle began with Zong Shen’s cannon bombardment and the territory’s defenses engaging the incoming monsters, while the serpent remained inactive.

• Zong Shen used the Strategy Guide to learn that Apophis the Underworld Serpent had fifty million health, eighty armor, and would grow more aggressive as its health fell.
• Zong Shen fired on the serpent again, triggering the Dungeon Monsters to surge toward his territory.
• Zong Shen and Jiang Yi persuaded most of the assembled lords to stay and fight, though a few dozen withdrew with their troops.
• Zong Shen activated Rapid Reload and used the Giant Cannon Tower to bombard the largest Dungeon Monster horde, while Maryl operated the Giant Crossbow Tower.
• The Gargoyle hordes closed in, and Zong Shen’s Elemental Arrow Towers and Moon Glaive Towers began attacking them.

Zong Shen and the allied lords defended his territory from a massive Gargoyle horde with coordinated ranged attacks and a Magic Energy Shield. After eight volleys, they wiped out the Gargoyles, and the fighters began recovering supplies and restoring their strength for the approaching Dungeon monsters.

• The defense towers and thousands of allied ranged fighters hit the diving Gargoyles with waves of spells, arrows, and thrown weapons, killing thousands before they reached the territory.
• Zong Shen activated the [Mobile Magic Energy Array (Damaged)] with fifty Primary Magic Energy Crystals, shielding the territory from thousands of Blade Lights and protecting the fighters below.
• Zong Shen dispelled and recharged the shield as the lords and defense towers continued coordinated attacks against the remaining Gargoyles.
• After eight waves of attacks, the allied forces wiped out the Gargoyle horde, earning points while Zong Shen gained several thousand.
• The mages meditated and drank Moon Goddess Spring Water while other soldiers collected arrows and javelins for the coming fight against the Dungeon monsters.

Zong Shen’s territory faced the advancing Dungeon Monster hordes while his soldiers and allied lords held a defensive line north of the walls. As the battle continued, he used the Strategy Guide to locate a group of Ghost Banshees and fired a Napalm Bomb at them.

• Zong Shen’s soldiers and mages resumed attacking as Dungeon Monsters advanced toward the territory, while its defensive towers began striking the horde.
• Zong Shen ordered Alana to make a pouch from Legendary-grade purple leather, cutting the material himself with the Dragon-Slaying Greatsword.
• Zong Shen’s forces and the lords’ troops formed an arc-shaped melee line beyond the trenches and halted the northern horde’s advance.
• Zong Shen supported the frontline with timed cannon fire and used the Strategy Guide to mark Ghost Banshees hidden in the horde.
• Zong Shen fired the Giant Cannon Tower’s Napalm Bomb at the nearest group of Ghost Banshees.

Zong Shen coordinated the defense against the Dungeon Monster hordes, deploying artillery, summoned fighters, Healing Wards, and the Heavy Combat Puppet while ordering Colby’s Wolf Cavalry to strike. The battle was progressing well, and Zong Shen moved to the lightly defended southern front as the remaining enemies gathered strength.

• Zong Shen used the Giant Cannon Tower’s Napalm Bomb to devastate a packed group of Dungeon Monsters and assigned Maryl to operate the cannon.
• Zong Shen called Colby and ordered the Wolf Cavalry to attack the surrounding monsters in mobile squads, then urged Vereesa and the defenders to increase their firepower.
• Zong Shen planted Healing Wards and summoned Ghouls, Violent Bear Warriors, and Avalon Power Swordsmen to reinforce the northern battlefront.
• Zong Shen activated the Heavy Combat Puppet, which resisted the Ghost Banshees’ Possession and drew enemy attacks while striking the western horde.
• Zong Shen headed to the southern front, where he planted more Healing Wards and drew his greatswords.

Zong Shen drank three potions and tore through the Dungeon Monster horde, astonishing the lords defending the southern territory. After he revealed his magic and cast Thunder Descent, the inspired lords unleashed their strongest attacks while Dungeon Heroes and Ghost Banshees began targeting him.

• Zong Shen drank an Intermediate Gigantification Potion, an Intermediate Hardening Potion, and an Intermediate Swiftness Potion before charging into the monster horde.
• He killed Dungeon Zombies and other weak monsters with his greatswords, drawing the attention and admiration of the gathered lords.
• An island-nation lord criticized Zong Shen as a lucky, reckless brute, but the other lords dismissed his insults.
• Zong Shen used the Book of Ten Thousand Laws to cast Thunder Descent, sending chains of lightning through dozens of nearby Dungeon Monsters.
• Inspired by Zong Shen's strength, the southern lords unleashed their powerful skills and third-order group spells against the horde.
• Dungeon Heroes and Ghost Banshees began moving to attack Zong Shen, who adjusted his position while continuing to kill weaker monsters.

Zong Shen and the assembled lords overwhelmed the Dungeon Monster hordes around his territory, then Zong Shen hunted the remaining Dungeon Heroes for points and Extraction Value. The surrounding hordes were cleared, though more were expected to approach before the challenge ended.

• The lords unleashed their skills against the southern horde, and Zong Shen used the Strategy Guide to locate Ghost Banshees while helping slaughter the monsters.
• After the southern horde was nearly defeated, Zong Shen killed two Death Knights, then left an underground Abyssal Worm for the other lords to handle.
• Zong Shen headed west and killed three of the remaining Dungeon Heroes there, gaining two Strength points.
• Zong Shen moved north and joined the lords in wiping out the final Dungeon Monster horde, with more than two thousand lords taking part and seven or eight hundred warriors killed or wounded.
• The author posted a notice explaining the timing and purpose of upcoming anti-piracy chapters and objecting to hostile comments from probationary readers.

Zong Shen used captured Wailing Liches to test whether their Death and Decay could harm Apophis the Underworld Serpent, discovering that the effect inflicted enormous damage. After the serpent dodged the first cloud, Zong Shen planted another Wailing Lich in its nostril and fled as it began thrashing, while the other lords rushed in.

• Zong Shen assembled his troops, brought four captured Wailing Liches, and received a custom-made purple leather sack from Alana.
• Zong Shen approached Apophis the Underworld Serpent, tested its defenses with his sword, and confirmed that it barely reacted to attacks.
• Zong Shen killed a Wailing Lich beside the serpent, and its Death and Decay dealt nearly ten million damage before Apophis moved out of the area.
• The lords charged toward Apophis after seeing the damage, while Zong Shen called for another Wailing Lich and climbed onto the serpent.
• Zong Shen placed the second Wailing Lich in Apophis's nostril, triggering another Death and Decay effect, then ran as the serpent thrashed and nearby lords halted.

Zong Shen used Death and Decay to kill Apophis the Underworld Serpent, earning the Regional Boss kill and an extraordinary set of rewards. The Lord System announced that future Regional Bosses would be adjusted, while all lords in Zong Shen’s region received a temporary blessing and a Small Treasure Chest.

• Zong Shen ordered Jiang Yi and the other Legion members to attack Apophis while Death and Decay drained its health.
• Apophis’s health fell below 50%, and it devoured more than ten lords and dozens of warriors before Jiang Yi’s mages struck it with spells.
• Zong Shen led the others away from the serpent, then returned as its health neared zero; Apophis died and crumbled to dust.
• A red beam enveloped Zong Shen, and the system credited him with killing the Regional Boss and awarded him the Extraordinary Miracle title and numerous items.
• The Lord System announced Zong Shen’s kill, granted every lord in his region a 72-hour buff and a Small Treasure Chest, and stated that Regional Bosses would be temporarily adjusted.

After defeating Apophis the Underworld Serpent, Zong Shen escaped the celebrating Lords and returned to his territory. With the remaining challenge time still available, he sent the Lords off to hunt Dungeon Monsters and went to inspect his boss rewards.

• The Lords crowded around Zong Shen to praise him, and he used a Grumpy Sweetheart explosive and threatened them with a Goblin Bomb to make space.
• Zong Shen urged the Lords to form teams and hunt Dungeon Monsters, then rode Bajie back to his territory with Jiang Yi, the Legion members, and his warriors.
• Zong Shen told Maryl to close the gates, revoke permission to open them, and deactivate the Magic Energy Array.
• The assembled Lords formed large hunting parties and spread out to search for Dungeon Monsters while Zong Shen rested at his territory.
• Zong Shen told San Pang to prepare food, then entered the Lord's Courtyard tower to check the rewards for killing Apophis the Underworld Serpent.

After reviewing his Dungeon Challenge rewards and equipping Arthur's Ring of Command, Zong Shen killed the remaining Wailing Liches and sent an expedition to hunt monsters. Meanwhile, Kunier prepared to attack Oduo Village and dispatched knights to the Land of Buried Bones, where Saintess Safri set a counterattack in motion.

• Zong Shen inspected his rewards, gained the Extraordinary Miracle title, and equipped Arthur's Ring of Command, increasing his Charisma and Command.
• Zong Shen killed the two remaining Wailing Liches, raising his Strength to 93 and his health to 1,283.
• Zong Shen split his forces, sending an expedition to search for monster groups while Maryl, Howie, Alana, and Dwarf Uncle stayed to defend the territory.
• Kunier assessed Oduo Village's Raven Dome, ordered Denise to seek reinforcements, and sent Aiso with three squads of knights to investigate the Land of Buried Bones.
• Saintess Safri learned of the knights' approach and ordered David to take Calamity Mages and six Raven Puppets to the Land of Buried Bones for an ambush.

Raven Saintess Safri completed a ritual that summoned the Gate of Sacrifice and awakened her Spirit of the Raven, then ordered the Church to prepare for the Punitive Expeditionary Force. Zong Shen finished the Dungeon Challenge, returned to his territory, and began resting with his warriors while the exchange malls opened.

• Safri and three Deacons used Faith Power to summon the Gate of Sacrifice and awaken the Spirit of the Raven within her.
• Safri ordered the villagers gathered beneath the Tower of the Raven, the defenses inspected, and the Church to await the Punitive Expeditionary Force and Demon Soul.
• Zong Shen killed the final Sharp-toothed Worm, bringing his points to 286,225 and his Challenge Fragments to 128.
• Zong Shen ended the Legion gathering, promoted the assisting members to Intermediate Members, and sent Jiang Yi and the others home.
• Zong Shen returned to his territory as the Dungeon Challenge ended and the exchange malls opened for 24 hours.
• Zong Shen told his warriors to rest and eat while they waited for Vereesa and the others to return.

Vereesa returned from attacking a Dungeon monster horde with twelve wounded fighters, and Zong Shen helped stabilize their injuries. After hearing her report and receiving two Beginner Challenge Fragments, Zong Shen prepared to rest briefly before leading the next expedition to Oduo Village, where the fighting over the Demon Remnant Soul was expected to intensify.

• Zong Shen waited for Vereesa, then watched her return with Dutra and twelve wounded fighters after attacking a Dungeon monster horde.
• Zong Shen, Maryl, and Vereesa treated the wounded, stabilizing their health and helping the severely injured Avalon Light Infantryman regain consciousness.
• Vereesa reported that the horde numbered around ten thousand and that two Dungeon Heroes, including a Death Knight, had caused the injuries.
• Vereesa gave Zong Shen two Beginner Challenge Fragments, bringing his total to 130, before she and Dutra went to eat and rest.
• Zong Shen planned to regroup with Vereesa in an hour and lead an expedition to Oduo Village, where the Punitive Expeditionary Force and the Calamity Raven Church might already be fighting.

Zong Shen spent his Dungeon Points on recruitment scrolls to expand his territory’s workforce and army, while reserving most of his balance for defensive-building blueprints. After choosing several groups of farmers and soldiers, he considered how to use his remaining Tier 3 recruitment slots.

• Zong Shen opened the exchange mall before it closed and spent 32,000 points on 20 Rare Grade Farmer Recruitment Scrolls.
• Zong Shen exchanged 10,800 points for 12 Good-aptitude Tier 1 Lightning Apprentice Mage Recruitment Scrolls.
• Zong Shen spent 14,400 points on 12 Good-aptitude Tier 2 Rhodok Crossbowman Recruitment Scrolls.
• Zong Shen exchanged 10,875 points for five Excellent-aptitude Tier 3 Dragon-kin Spear and Shield Warrior Recruitment Scrolls to complete a squad.
• Zong Shen considered how to spend his seven remaining Tier 3 slots and weighed the magic schools and mage numbers in his territory.