Chapter Summaries

Zong Shen infiltrated the Bone-Burial Bunker disguised as Safri and found the Calamity Raven Church fighting Balnazzar’s Remnant Soul. As the Church weakened the shadow, Zong Shen sent summoned warriors to distract them and went stealthily toward the soul, but the Church’s final attack destroyed the shadow before he could reach it.

• Zong Shen descended into the Earth Well and entered the bunker ruins through the tunnel opened by the Magic Energy Drill.
• He searched the corridor and found a Bronze Treasure Chest and a Silver Treasure Chest, which he stowed away.
• Zong Shen watched the Calamity Raven Church battle Balnazzar’s Remnant Soul and learned that the shadow had to be destroyed before the soul could be collected.
• When the shadow’s health fell below 200, Zong Shen summoned three Avalon Power Swordsmen to attack the Church warriors and used the Shadow Amulet to create clones before entering Stealth.
• Zong Shen slipped past his summoned warriors, but three Magic Ravens struck Balnazzar’s Remnant Soul and destroyed it as he reached the shadow.

Zong Shen stole the jar containing Balnazzar’s Remnant Soul and escaped the Earth Well, then sent troops to escort Vereesa’s captives back to his territory. Safri’s Raven Ritual failed, and as the Church tried to flee with her, Kunier’s Dragonborn Knights surrounded her in the Northern Hills.

• Zong Shen captured four wounded Cold Raven Halberd Warriors, escaped the Earth Well, and collapsed its passage with Goblin Detonators.
• Zong Shen returned to Oduo Village and learned Vereesa had abducted more than three hundred farmers and captured soldiers, so he sent Colby and Cecilia to escort them east.
• Safri exhausted her Faith Power and collapsed, causing the Church warriors sustained by the Raven Ritual to die.
• The Deacons used a blood ritual to carry Safri from the tower toward the Northern Hills while Kunier pursued her with the Dragonborn Knights.
• Kunier and the remaining Dragonborn Knights caught up with Safri and surrounded her, pointing their lances at her neck.

Zong Shen rescued Safri from the Dragonborn Knights using the Time Stop Orb and fled north with her. As the pursuers closed in, Lion Skeleton Knight Richardson confronted them, giving Zong Shen a chance to escape toward the mountains.

• The Dragonborn Knights prepared to capture the exhausted Safri after the Raven Ritual’s devastating battle left both forces badly depleted.
• Zong Shen froze time, carried Safri out of the encirclement, and trapped the Dragonborn Knights behind four newly built City Wall Sections.
• Zong Shen ended Time Stop and rode north with Safri, summoning Ghouls and Power Demon Guards to hinder the pursuing knights.
• The Dragonborn Knights broke through the walls and followed Zong Shen’s trail as he headed toward the northern mountains.
• Lion Skeleton Knight Richardson appeared and engaged the Dragonborn Knights, while Zong Shen turned northeast toward a mountain entrance with Safri.

Lion Skeleton Knight Richardson overwhelmed Kunier’s Dragonborn Knights after they provoked it, while Zong Shen escaped with Safri and then returned to rescue the surviving cavalry. The chapter ended as Zong Shen charged into the battle, leaving Kunier stunned by what happened next.

• The Dragonborn Knights’ charge barely harmed Richardson, whose undead killing instinct took control and drove it to attack them.
• Richardson impaled four Dragonborn Knights with a single charge, then pursued the retreating cavalry and trapped their horses with bone claws.
• Zong Shen fled toward the mountains with Safri, used his Mechanical Falcon to scout the battle, and decided to return and rescue Kunier.
• Zong Shen used Primary Blink to teleport five kilometers toward the Dragonborn Knights, then ran the remaining distance back to the fight.
• Zong Shen charged Richardson with a Guard Sword and called out to Kunier, who warned him to flee.

Zong Shen drove off Lion Skeleton Knight Richardson with Demon Intimidation and rescued Kunier and the Dragonborn Knights. After receiving an old silver coin and an invitation from Kunier, he tracked down Safri and revealed his identity to her.

• Zong Shen intensified his Demon Intimidation until Lion Skeleton Knight Richardson fled northwest.
• Kunier thanked Zong Shen, gave him an old silver coin, and invited him to join an Exploration Squad in three months to investigate a place connected to demonic power.
• Denise arrived with news of reinforcements, and Kunier sent her and the Dragonhawk Squad to search the northern woods for Safri and her rescuer.
• Zong Shen extracted Intermediate Void Walk from the Book of Ten Thousand Laws of Aegwynn and used it to return to the woods.
• Zong Shen followed the warhorse’s tracks, found Safri, and revealed himself; Safri recognized him as Lord Zong.

After rescuing Safri, Zong Shen brought her to his territory, where she recovered and was welcomed as an honored guest. He then discussed gaining official recognition for the territory with Howie and planned a visit to Bosbang.

• Safri learned that Zong Shen had rescued her, and her favorability toward him rose to 80 as she thanked him.
• Zong Shen gave Safri Moon Goddess Spring Water, which restored much of her strength, then rode with her back to his territory.
• Zong Shen found Vereesa and the others safe, asked them to care for Safri, and had San Pang take the horse to the Stable.
• Zong Shen told Howie that he planned to visit Bosbang soon to have the territory recognized as a legal settlement.
• Howie explained that the territory could gain official recognition by paying annual taxes and meeting its obligations to the city.

Zong Shen considered the threat nobles posed to a territory that grew into a Bang City and planned to secure Baron Besos's support while developing quickly. Howie proposed an aerial trade route and was put in charge of building the territory's commerce, while Zong Shen prepared to travel to Bosbang after seeing Safri off.

• Zong Shen asked Howie whether the kingdom would seize control if his territory became a Bang City, and Howie explained that noble families often intervened unless a ruler gained royal favor or noble status.
• Zong Shen mapped out the surrounding region, resolved to build ties with Baron Besos in Bosbang, and decided to prioritize rapid territorial development.
• Howie proposed using the Goblin Airship to buy and sell regional goods along an aerial trade route, and Zong Shen agreed to pursue the plan after visiting Bosbang.
• Zong Shen appointed Howie to oversee the territory's trade caravan and incoming and outgoing supplies.
• Zong Shen chose to travel to Bosbang by mount after seeing Safri off, noting that the city lay seven or eight hundred kilometers east of Xitano Village.

After Safri thanked Zong Shen for rescuing her, he examined the Regional Challenge Boss rewards and considered how to use several powerful items. He learned a blueprint for a long-range teleportation array and ended the chapter contemplating how to tame the dragon Greedy Handsome Guy.

• Safri thanked Zong Shen for saving her and awkwardly went upstairs after Vereesa's cough interrupted his stare.
• Zong Shen inspected the Fate Gear, found its purpose unclear, and stored it away.
• Zong Shen studied three Hero Emblems and decided that Luna should be the first person to receive one.
• Zong Shen learned the blueprint for a 100km-range teleportation array and noted that he still needed spatial materials to build it.
• Zong Shen examined the Dragon Taming Reins and considered the risk of trying to tame Greedy Handsome Guy.

Zong Shen inspected his Regional Challenge Boss rewards, learning about dragons and testing the Money Bag of the Lord of Greed to increase his Continental Denar. He opened six advanced chests for rare resources and materials, then stored the haul in the Territory Storage Box.

• Zong Shen considered the dragon’s life stages and imagined taming a Pureblood Dragon as a powerful mount and bodyguard.
• Zong Shen activated the Money Bag of the Lord of Greed’s Wealth Surprise and gained 5,787 Continental Denar, raising his balance to 122,414.
• Zong Shen assessed the bag’s Equivalent Exchange and interest effects, then put it away without testing the exchange function.
• Zong Shen opened three Advanced Resource Chests and obtained Adamantine, Advanced Elemental Crystal, and Refined Alloy.
• Zong Shen opened three Advanced Material Chests and obtained Super Magic Energy Crystal, Advanced Fire Rune, and Blood of the Holy Spirit.
• Zong Shen organized the rewards and stored them in the Territory Storage Box.

Zong Shen shared a quiet night with Luna, then saw Raven Saintess Safri off with a Raven Pendant that could guide him to her at Cold Crow Valley. After Safri left, he arranged to gather the prisoners from Oduo Village and went to the Magic Hall to claim its new spellbook.

• Zong Shen embraced Luna beneath the cloudy sky, carried her to bed, and spent the night with her.
• Zong Shen learned Luna had visited the Hot Spring Cabin before he washed and dressed there in the morning.
• Safri told Zong Shen she had to return to the Church, gave him her Raven Pendant, and invited him to find her at Cold Crow Valley.
• Zong Shen provided Safri with a Grassland Horse, food, and water, and watched her ride north.
• Maryl asked about the prisoners from Oduo Village, so Zong Shen ordered her to bring them and the Wolf Cavalry to him.
• Zong Shen went to the Magic Hall to draw its new spellbook.

Zong Shen learned Chain Lightning, equipped a Raven Pendant, and used five Advanced Strength Books to raise his Strength. He then advanced Ashia into a Fourth-Order Holy Light Deacon before the gathered soldiers, and examined her improved abilities.

• Zong Shen drew and learned the Second-Order Lightning Element spell Chain Lightning.
• Zong Shen ordered the rescued villagers and soldiers untied and sent them to the toilet while Vereesa supervised.
• Zong Shen replaced his Bear Monster Necklace with the Raven Pendant and used five Advanced Strength Books, raising his Strength to 135.
• Zong Shen gave Ashia a Holy Light Advancement Book, and she advanced from a Third-Order Holy Light Priest to a Fourth-Order Holy Light Deacon.
• Zong Shen inspected Ashia's upgraded attributes and skills, including her stronger healing, blessings, and Holy Light attacks.

Zong Shen promoted Luna and Doris to Hero-level Characters, strengthening his territory’s command structure. Luna became the territory’s fifth Hero after improving her aptitude, while Doris began her transformation as the sixth.

• Zong Shen praised Ashia after using a Holy Light Advancement Book to raise her to Fourth Order, then sent her back to the ranks.
• Zong Shen gave Luna a Complete Purple Soul and a Hero Badge, encouraging her before she used both items.
• Luna’s aptitude rose from Excellent Grade to Rare Grade, and a beam of light marked her successful transformation into a Hero-level Character.
• Zong Shen gave Doris a Hero Badge and announced that she would become the territory’s sixth Hero.
• Doris began her transformation as Favid, Tasia, Colby, and Ashia watched with envy, and Zong Shen promised the soldiers that another Hero would soon come from among them.

Zong Shen checked Luna and Doris’s Hero transformations, assigned their skill points, and recruited 295 farmers and 27 captured soldiers from Oduo Village. After distributing the newcomers among his Heroes and arranging food, clothes, and an orientation, he finished the work at seven in the morning.

• Doris completed her Hero transformation, reached 100 Loyalty, and appeared calmer; Zong Shen reviewed Luna’s and Doris’s new attributes and skills.
• Zong Shen spent Luna’s skill points to raise her Command to level 7 and Power Throw to level 5, then used Doris’s points to increase her Command.
• Zong Shen recruited 295 farmers from Oduo Village and distributed them among Dutra, Howie, Maryl, Luna, and Doris according to their Command Value.
• Zong Shen recruited 27 captured soldiers, including Wolf Cavalry who had lost their mounts, and placed them under his own command.
• Zong Shen sent Maryl, Howie, and Doris to orient the newcomers and told San Pang to prepare food and spare clothes for them.

Zong Shen prepared his territory for mining and a trip to Bosbang, then devoured Demon Blood and Balnazzar’s remnant soul to strengthen his Demon State. The transformation ended with his Evil Grime skill greatly improved and his demon form gaining stronger abilities.

• Zong Shen assigned Cecilia, Vereesa, Luna, Dutra, and Howie preparations for mining and travel to Bosbang.
• Zong Shen asked the Strategy Module how to devour Balnazzar’s remnant soul and was told to enter Demon State and consume the Demon Blood first.
• Zong Shen entered Demon State and swallowed the Demon Blood from the damaged Demon Slayer Dagger.
• Zong Shen released Balnazzar’s remnant soul from the Spirit Sealing Jar and devoured it after overpowering it.
• Zong Shen used Demonic Power on the Tainted Heart, raising Evil Grime to Level 15 and enhancing his Demon State skill.

After absorbing the Demon Soul, Zong Shen set out with Kobolds and other troops to secure his mine while Maryl began relocating the territory. Meanwhile, Kunier’s forces captured the remaining Calamity Raven Church warriors and investigated the mysterious Quite and the many unauthorized settlements.

• Zong Shen finished strengthening his Demon State, prepared supplies and money, and assembled a force to travel to the mine.
• Zong Shen assigned four Load-Bearer Mechas to carry Kobolds, Crypt Fiends, eggs, and luggage, while leaving two mechas in the territory.
• Zong Shen instructed Maryl to begin relocating defensive and functional buildings, then rode toward the mine with Luna and their troops.
• Kunier surrounded the Calamity Raven Church excavation site with Harold Chapman’s reinforcements, and the remaining church warriors surrendered.
• Kunier questioned Harold about Quite, but Harold said no such officer or Immortal Lancers operated in Bosbang and his father’s title card had never gone missing.
• Kunier recalled the mysterious force that looted Oduo Village and warned Harold to report the hundreds of unauthorized settlements to Baron Besos Chapman.

Zong Shen returned to the Mine, established mining operations for the Kobolds, and arranged defenses before setting out for Xitano Village. He reached the village intending to visit Lord Mars and continue on to Bosbang.

• Kunier ordered Harold to carry out his instructions and planned to report the unusual situation to the higher-ups in the Great City.
• Zong Shen reached the Mine with his group, built a Blue Grade Ore Refinery, and left Dutra and the Kobolds to begin mining with two Mining Magic-Energy Puppets.
• Zong Shen gave Dutra the Mine Sheriff's identity card to control the remaining Magic Arrays and asked Maryl to look for an illusion item to conceal the entrance.
• Zong Shen left the Mine with Vereesa and the others, planning to visit Lord Mars in Xitano Village before traveling to Bosbang.
• Zong Shen arrived outside Xitano Village and spotted several lords gathered near its entrance to trade supplies and seek quests.

Zong Shen visited Lord Mars in Xitano Village, promised to retrieve Mars’s family inheritance from Evans Manor in Bosbang, and set out east with his cavalry. Meanwhile, Raven Saintess Safri traveled through the northern mountains toward a secret Church stronghold, reflecting on the theft of Magic Array materials from the village.

• Zong Shen entered Xitano Village with Bajie and a squad of Immortal Lancers, drawing attention from the villagers and other lords.
• Zong Shen found Lord Mars watering flowers with a young woman and teased him about enjoying himself while Maryl was away.
• Zong Shen told Lord Mars he would retrieve the inheritance from Evans Manor in Bosbang, and Mars warned him that Evans had sixty private mercenaries guarding the manor.
• Lord Mars promised to continue building the Pasture and said he had told traveling merchants how to find Zong Shen’s territory.
• Zong Shen left Xitano Village with his men and urged them east toward Bosbang.
• Safri rode through the northern mountains toward a secret Calamity Raven Church stronghold and wondered who had stolen half the Magic Array materials from the village.

Zong Shen met Ingram Hanover, a Rare Grade bard and Hero, and invited him to visit his territory after their routes diverged. Ingram revealed he was traveling to a grand banquet at Lentax Great City, leaving Zong Shen interested but without an invitation.

• Ingram Hanover performed a ballad for the villagers, and Zong Shen recognized him as a Rare Grade Hero.
• Zong Shen gave Ingram 1,000 Denars, then asked to inspect his Rare Grade Vielle.
• Zong Shen invited Ingram to travel with him to Bosbang, but Ingram said he was heading west toward Lentax Great City.
• Zong Shen gave Ingram a Communication Crystal and invited him to visit his territory, which lay west of Xitano Village.
• Ingram told Zong Shen that Marquis Henry Lancaster would hold a grand banquet at Lentax Great City in just over a month, and Zong Shen said he was interested but lacked an invitation.

Zong Shen learned about Lentax Great City's Tournament from Ingram and continued toward Bosbang after the bard departed. As night fell, his party entered an increasingly desolate semi-desert region, where loose sand and strange beasts slowed their progress.

• Ingram told Zong Shen that Lentax Great City held a nonlethal Tournament whose top three contestants won prize money and invitations to a noble banquet, and Zong Shen planned to attend.
• Ingram studied his map, said he would visit Zong Shen's territory the next afternoon, and rode away toward Oka Village.
• Zong Shen and his party resumed their journey toward Bosbang, resting along the way and using Moon Goddess Spring Water to restore Bajie's stamina.
• During a rest stop, Zong Shen considered the coming challenges and the Defense Challenge expected on the thirtieth day after the lords arrived.
• As the party traveled east after nightfall, the grassland gave way to worsening desertification, loose sand, and groups of unidentified beasts with glowing eyes.

Zong Shen learned that a pack of Bulettes infested the desert road near Bosbang and used his Goblin Airship to avoid crossing their hunting grounds. He accepted Picol’s quest to deliver Soul-Soothing Grass to Evans Manor, giving him a chance to approach Evans and pursue his own plans there.

• Luna spotted a merchant party sheltering beside a boulder, and its leader explained that a pack of Bulettes hunted the desert at night.
• Zong Shen confirmed that more than a hundred Bulettes occupied the area and judged that his squad faced a low-to-moderate threat.
• Zong Shen summoned his Goblin Airship and prepared to fly past the Bulettes with his companions.
• Picol asked Zong Shen to deliver Soul-Soothing Grass to Evans Manor before it withered, and Zong Shen accepted the quest.
• Picol gave Zong Shen a Black Iron Emblem and told him to identify himself as delivering the grass on Picol’s behalf.