Chapter Summaries

Zong Shen and his allies intervened as the manticore scorpions attacked the griffons, turning the battle with powerful magic and ranged support. Zong Shen defeated Steel Thorn and fed the near-dead leader a Taming Fruit, attempting to bring the Scorpion-Tailed Tiger tribe under his control.

• The manticore scorpions overwhelmed the griffons with carapace spikes, killing two adult griffons as Zong Shen and Canigia joined the fight.
• Canigia summoned Windstrike Cataclysm while Vereesa, Luna, Doris, Ashia, Favid, and the warriors attacked the manticore scorpions and supported the griffons.
• Zong Shen examined Steel Thorn's attributes, then wounded the leader with the Dragon-Slaying Greatsword and bound it with Shadowfall.
• Zong Shen mounted Steel Thorn and battered it until it fell into a weakened, near-death state.
• Zong Shen fed Steel Thorn a Taming Fruit and poured Moon Goddess Spring into its mouth to restore its health as he attempted to tame it.

Zong Shen tamed the Scorpion-tailed Tiger leader, renamed it Flying Tiger, and sent the pack away before the returning griffons could reach them. He then confronted the returning flock alone and began drawing the attention of Windspine Roarblood, the Overlord-grade Dragonblood Griffon, with Chain Lightning.

• Zong Shen used Moon Goddess Spring to heal the Scorpion-tailed Tiger leader, whose taming took effect, and ordered it to stop the pack’s attack.
• The Scorpion-tailed Tigers ceased fighting, and Zong Shen renamed their leader Flying Tiger while treating its wounds.
• Flying Tiger sensed the returning griffon flock, and Zong Shen spotted the flock approaching with Windspine Roarblood at its head.
• Zong Shen ordered Luna, Doris, and the Scorpion-tailed Tigers to leave the nest so the griffons and Scorpion-tailed Tigers would not clash.
• Zong Shen examined Windspine Roarblood’s formidable attributes, rose into the air, and used Chain Lightning to draw the griffons’ attention.

Zong Shen used the Evil Grime and Skin of the Forgotten to withstand the griffons’ attacks, then fought Windspine Roarblood in the air and battered the Dragonblood Griffon into near-death while demanding its submission. When Windspine Roarblood plunged toward the ground, Zong Shen activated the Time Stop Orb just before impact, freezing them in midair.

• The griffons bombarded Zong Shen with Wind Blades, but the Evil Grime protected him from their attacks.
• Zong Shen used the Skin of the Forgotten as a shield, advanced through the flock, and put twenty griffons to sleep with the Dream Bracelet.
• Windspine Roarblood seized Zong Shen in its claws and flew off, but Zong Shen boosted his Strength, broke one of its claw spikes, and stabbed its abdomen with the Wind-Fire-Thunder Trident.
• Zong Shen climbed onto Windspine Roarblood’s back and repeatedly punched its head until its health fell below one thousand.
• When Windspine Roarblood refused to submit and dived toward the ground, Zong Shen struck it into a near-death state and activated the Time Stop Orb, freezing them in midair.

Zong Shen captured and contracted the near-dead Windspine Roarblood, then faced an ambush by Savage Orcs while the contract kept him in place. After it finished and the griffon healed, he attacked the approaching orcs with his summoned guards.

• Zong Shen used the [Time Stop Orb] and [Magic-Energy Net Launcher] to stop Windspine Roarblood’s fall, drag it down, and leave it near death.
• Zong Shen treated the griffon’s wounds and activated a [Pet Contract (Purple)] while it was unconscious.
• Zong Shen sensed thirteen hostile creatures surrounding him and summoned two ghouls and four Pendragon Loyal Guards for protection.
• The Strategy Module identified the enemies as a group of degenerated Savage Orcs, who began edging closer as the contract continued.
• The contract succeeded, healing Windspine Roarblood and completing Zong Shen’s bond with the griffon.
• Zong Shen struck a Savage Orc with a Thunderbolt Arrow, prompting the thirteen orcs to charge; he ordered his guards to fight and charged with his trident.

Zong Shen subdued the Dragonblood Griffon Windspine Roarblood, renamed it Eagle Sauce, and returned with it to the Griffon Nest. Eagle Sauce forced the flock to submit, and Zong Shen selected griffons to bring to his territory before surveying the nest’s population and eggs.

• Zong Shen and his summoned soldiers killed thirteen savage beastmen, after which the healed Windspine Roarblood awoke and approached him.
• Zong Shen fed the griffon dried meat, named it Eagle Sauce, and rode it toward the Griffon Nest while arranging separate patrol and breeding plans for the griffons and Manticores.
• Eagle Sauce reached the Griffon Nest, where its breath attack cowed the protesting peak Commander-grade griffons and the flock submitted to Zong Shen.
• Zong Shen selected ten Captain-level and six Commander-level griffons, including the golden Second Brother, to take with him.
• Zong Shen inspected the Griffon Nest and counted one Overlord-grade griffon, twenty-five adult Commander-grade griffons, forty Captain-grade griffons, sixteen juveniles, and eleven eggs.

Zong Shen explored the Griffon Nest, counted its vast gemstone hoard, and learned that Wind Spirit Gems could accelerate griffon growth and improve their strength. He planned to leave gems for the flock and develop the nest before Howie reported that the miners had uncovered remains in a sealed passage, prompting Zong Shen to order them to stop digging deeper.

• Zong Shen used Eagle Sauce to reach the gemstone pile and counted 379,272 gems, including 107,197 magical gems and 27,291 Wind Spirit Gems.
• Zong Shen asked the Strategy Module about the Wind Spirit Gems and learned that retaining 8,000 could shorten griffons' growth cycle by about 20%, while the gems also strengthened them and restored their mana.
• Zong Shen decided to leave several thousand Wind Spirit Gems of each grade for the Griffon Nest and considered investing in wind-element arrays, runes, and artifacts to improve the flock.
• Zong Shen called Howie, who reported that Dutra and the kobolds had uncovered a passage containing remains of the Elf Race and human allied forces.
• Zong Shen ordered Howie to tell Dutra to stop digging deeper, continue mining, and bring Bajie back.

Zong Shen returned to his territory with a first load of gemstones after collecting treasure chests from the Griffon Nest, while Vereesa and the others brought back the Flying Tiger and organized the manticore transfers. He assigned guards and sorting work, then prepared to meet Howie after bathing before setting off for Bosbang.

• Zong Shen decided to postpone exploring the Mine Ruins, loaded most of the Griffon Nest's gemstones into the Goblin Airship, and collected four treasure chests.
• Vereesa, Luna, and Doris selected manticores and brought warriors back to the territory in batches, leaving the Flying Tiger in a nearby forest.
• Zong Shen flew back to the territory with Eagle Sauce and sixteen other griffons, then unloaded the gemstones and heard Maryl's report on construction and newly found spatial materials.
• Zong Shen ordered Maryl, Vereesa, and Doris to sort and store the gems, assigned twelve Rhodok Crossbowmen and four Light Rangers to guard the Griffon Nest, and told Howie to wait while he went to the Hot Spring.

Zong Shen returned to the Griffon Nest with Howie and hauled away most of its gemstones, leaving a measured reserve to support the griffons. Back at his territory, he joined the ongoing gemstone inventory and learned that Vereesa had found four more treasure chests in the Scorpion-tailed Tigers’ nest, while his thoughts returned to the unresolved mystery of her past.

• Zong Shen bathed, then told Howie to prepare his storage and merchant badge for another gemstone haul.
• Zong Shen and Howie flew to the Griffon Nest with Eagle Sauce and crossbowmen, where they loaded the remaining gemstones and left eight thousand Wind Element Gems behind for the griffons.
• Zong Shen stationed twelve Rhodok Crossbowmen and four Avalon Light Crossbowmen at the Griffon Nest, then returned to his territory with Howie and Eagle Sauce.
• Zong Shen added the new gemstones to the stockpile being sorted by Vereesa, Luna, Doris, San Pang, and the farmers.
• Vereesa reported finding four treasure chests in the Scorpion-tailed Tigers’ nest, and Zong Shen accepted them.
• Zong Shen wondered whether fulfilling Vereesa’s unfinished wish and learning about Rhonin might resolve the emotional distance she kept from him.

Zong Shen considered where warriors and heroes came from and learned that Vereesa’s husband, Rhonin, could be recruited from ancient ruins. Back at his territory, he opened two Silver Treasure Chests, gained a Solid Rock Tower blueprint, and prepared to open his first Golden Treasure Chest.

• Zong Shen reasoned that Tie Zhu’s former home, Yuelan Kingdom, belonged to another dimension and asked the Strategy Module whether Rhonin could return.
• The Strategy Module confirmed that Rhonin could be recruited from an Archmage Altar in the ruins, so Zong Shen decided to watch the region and consider exploring it later.
• Zong Shen inspected his Golden Treasure Chests, identified one as a trap that would teleport its opener, and marked it for distinction.
• Zong Shen opened two Silver Treasure Chests and collected recruitment scrolls, supplies, a Mana Bomb, and a Solid Rock Tower construction blueprint.
• Zong Shen reviewed the tower’s defensive weapons and planned to have Maryl select a building site for it.
• Zong Shen rubbed his hands for luck and opened his first Golden Treasure Chest.

Zong Shen opened a Golden Treasure Chest and gained a portable long-range teleportation gate, then examined the other rewards and assigned an Advanced Heart of Charm to Luna. After discovering that the Scorpion-tailed Tiger nest's Golden Treasure Chest was trapped, he opened its safe chests and found a Decoy Puppet identical to one he had previously obtained, realizing he had forgotten something important.

• Zong Shen opened a Golden Treasure Chest from the Griffon Nest and obtained a Thousand-Kilometer Teleportation Gate, an Advanced Heart of Charm, a Frost Bomb, food, honey, and Wolf Cavalry recruitment scrolls.
• Zong Shen decided to give the Advanced Heart of Charm to Luna and collected the Wolf Cavalry scrolls.
• Zong Shen inspected the Scorpion-tailed Tiger nest's chests and learned that its Golden Treasure Chest contained potent Fourth-Order poisonous gas.
• Zong Shen opened the two safe Silver Treasure Chests and the Bronze Treasure Chest, gaining recruitment scrolls and other items, including a mark that could summon an Iron-Scaled Python.
• Zong Shen examined the three Rare Grade items and recognized the Decoy Puppet as identical to one he had drawn during the Dungeon Challenge, then realized he had forgotten something.

Zong Shen opened a chest and obtained a Decoy Puppet, three Complete Purple Souls, and Mana Jet Augmentation, which inspired him to arm Eagle Sauce and potentially create griffon bombers. He headed to the Blacksmith Shop before dawn to ask Uncle Bronzebeard Winefire to modify the gear, but found everyone asleep.

• Zong Shen recognized the newly obtained Decoy Puppet and remembered leaving an unused one near Oduo Village, then decided to retrieve it and give the new one to Luna or Vereesa.
• Zong Shen opened a Dust-Sealed Soul Vessel and obtained three Complete Purple Souls, helping address his territory’s shortage and his plans to promote soldiers.
• Zong Shen obtained Mana Jet Augmentation and planned to have Uncle Bronzebeard Winefire adapt it for Eagle Sauce, then imagined outfitting griffons with weapons to form a bomber squadron.
• Zong Shen stored some items, found Bajie in the Tier 2 Stable, and rode to the Blacksmith Shop before dawn.
• Zong Shen entered the Blacksmith Shop and found Uncle Bronzebeard Winefire and the two apprentices asleep.

Zong Shen asked Dwarf Uncle to modify a mana jet augmentation for Eagle Sauce, then retrieved his Substitute Doll and encountered Lion Skeleton Knight Richardson on the way. After restraining Richardson and breaking off the finger bearing a suspected ring, Zong Shen returned to his territory and uncovered a lion-headed ring.

• Zong Shen woke Dwarf Uncle and asked him to modify the Mana Jet Augmentation for Eagle Sauce into equipment for a griffon bomber.
• Zong Shen rode Bajie northwest to retrieve the Substitute Doll and came face-to-face with Lion Skeleton Knight Richardson.
• Richardson charged, so Zong Shen trapped him in a Magic-Energy Net and used the Thorn of the Dead Commander to briefly contest control of his body.
• Zong Shen broke off Richardson's finger, escaped with it, and recovered the Substitute Doll from the tree where Vereesa had hidden it.
• On the way back, Zong Shen scraped petrified earth from the finger and revealed a large ring bearing a lion's head.
• Zong Shen reached the Lord's Small Building, where Vereesa, Luna, and the others gathered to watch him work.

Zong Shen recovered the Silver Lion Ring, equipped it, and arranged for Maryl to handle the territory’s livestock and pasture plans. After resting, he set out for Bosbang with a small expedition to establish a teleportation array and explore the Lion Knights Order’s ruins.

• Vereesa identified the Silver Lion Ring as a legion commander’s emblem from the Lion Knights Order, and Zong Shen explained that it had belonged to Richardson.
• Zong Shen equipped the ring, gaining its command abilities, and told Maryl to rest before arranging a large pasture and transferring the territory’s cattle and sheep under Lord Mars’s ownership.
• After sleeping, Zong Shen chose Luna to guard the territory and gave her an Advanced Heart of Charm before departing for Bosbang.
• Zong Shen gathered Canigia, Doris, Favid, Tasia, Ashia, Vereesa, Reese Ulysses, the Ranger sisters, and four Rhodok Sergeants for the expedition.
• Zong Shen and his companions secured themselves to Eagle Sauce, then flew west toward Bosbang.

Zong Shen traveled to Bosbang while a Lord named Dempsey Morton hijacked the Load-Bearer Mecha carrying ore from his Mine. The chapter left Zong arriving at Baron Besos's castle to meet him.

• Hadro escorted several hundred refugees toward Zong Shen's territory, while Dutra halted excavation of the Ruins passage and arranged to transport the Mine's ore.
• Dempsey Morton and his Wolf Cavalry captured the Kobold Prophet, seized the ore-filled Load-Bearer Mecha, and drove it toward their territory.
• Zong Shen flew to the Desert Zone on Eagle Sauce, then continued toward Bosbang after landing outside the city.
• Zong bought a lame Grassland Horse from traveling merchants and rode through Bosbang to the Central District.
• Zong reached the castle's raven room, where Baron Besos was reportedly waiting.

Zong Shen visited Baron Besos to prepare for exploring the Lion Knights Order Ruins and questioned him about the ancient Final War and the lost era that followed. Baron Besos described the continent-wide destruction and the rise of humanity, leaving Zong Shen with more questions about the missing history.

• Zong Shen met Baron Besos at the message raven house and said his warriors and Great Griffon were waiting outside Bosbang.
• Baron Besos sent for the City-State Army to receive Zong Shen's group, then took him to the study to discuss the Lion Knights Order Ruins.
• Baron Besos located the ruins northwest of Bosbang and explained that they belonged to the Silver Lion Legion, whose commander Richardson vanished during Azshara's Final War.
• Zong Shen asked about the Final War, and Baron Besos recounted how the conflict lasted ten years before continent-wide explosions devastated both demons and the allied resistance forces.
• Baron Besos said investigations found no explanation for the explosions and described the nearly ten thousand lost years before the Chosen Ones helped humanity rise and the current kingdoms formed.

Zong Shen discussed the strange peace, the lords’ appearance, and the Silver Lion Legion ruins with Baron Besos before joining the banquet at the castle. The ruins’ dangers and distance complicated their expedition, and the chapter ended as the banquet began.

• Zong Shen and Baron Besos discussed the continent’s strange history, the Chosen Ones, and the settlements appearing near Bosbang.
• Baron Besos’s patrol cavalry escorted Zong Shen’s warriors and Eagle Sauce to the castle, where Besos admired the griffon and welcomed the group.
• Zong Shen consulted the Strategy Module and learned the Silver Lion Legion ruins held equipment and treasure but were occupied by shallow-water murlocs and possibly dormant skeletal knights.
• Zong Shen worried that reaching the ruins and dividing the spoils with Baron Besos would interfere with his preparations for the coming challenge.
• Baron Besos introduced his wife, Lu Isabelle, and the guests took their seats as the banquet began.

At Baron Besos’s banquet, Zong Shen learned they would travel to the ruins by magic-powered airship and discussed competing in Lentax Great City’s tournament. A missing ore transport from the Mine forced him to cut the banquet short and rush back to find the hijackers.

• Zong Shen told Baron Besos he planned to enter Lentax Great City’s tournament and aim for the top three.
• Baron Besos said he would take two squads of Fourth Order soldiers to the ruins by magic-powered airship.
• Kobold Chieftain Dutra reported that a Load-Bearer Mecha carrying ore had disappeared, and Zong Shen ordered Maryl to station Wolf Cavalry at the Mine to escort future shipments.
• Zong Shen ended the banquet early and took Vereesa, Reese Ulysses, Tasia, Ashia, and Canigia with him on Eagle Sauce to return to his territory.

After learning that Dempsey Morton had hijacked his mine cart, Zong Shen tracked him to his territory and launched a devastating surprise attack. He killed Dempsey, leaving the territory in ruins and the stolen goods ready to be recovered.

• Zong Shen planted a spatial beacon outside Bang City, then used the Strategy Module to identify Dempsey Morton as the mine cart hijacker and locate his territory.
• Dempsey Morton celebrated his stolen ore and continued building, believing he had concealed his tracks, while Zong Shen and his companions approached by griffon.
• Zong Shen ordered Eagle Sauce to dive on Dempsey's territory, while Canigia, Tasia, and the others attacked its defenses and buildings with spells and Goblin Bombs.
• Canigia's Windstrike Cataclysm and Tasia's summoned Infernal Giant devastated the territory, leaving Dempsey's warriors and Farmers overwhelmed.
• Reese Ulysses teleported Zong Shen into the courtyard, where Dempsey begged for mercy and offered to return the stolen goods.
• Zong Shen killed Dempsey Morton with a blow from his Dragon-Slaying Greatsword.

Zong Shen avenged himself on Dempsey Morton, recovered the Load-Bearer Mecha, and secured the Mine’s operations before returning to his territory. There, he met Hadro, Baron Besos’s eldest son, whose arrogant claim that his father governed Bosbang set the two at odds.

• Zong Shen searched Dempsey Morton’s ruined territory, recovered the Load-Bearer Mecha and other resources, and rescued the Kobold Prophet hidden in a haystack.
• Zong Shen flew to the Mine, removed arrows from Eagle Sauce, and reunited the rescued Kobold Prophet with Dutra.
• Zong Shen assigned the Fourth Wolf Cavalry Squad to escort mine carts and ordered Dutra to guard the Mine, avoid digging into unknown or collapsed areas, and report discoveries or emergencies.
• Zong Shen left the Mine and flew back to his territory, where he found Luna and Maryl dining with Hadro and several Light Cavalry.
• Maryl introduced Hadro as Baron Besos’s eldest son, but Hadro remained seated and declared that his father was Bosbang’s governor.

Zong Shen punched Hadro after the cavalry captain insulted him and made advances toward Luna, then returned to Bosbang to discuss an expedition with Baron Besos. The chapter ended with them agreeing to explore the Lion Knights Order Ruins the next morning.

• Hadro claimed noble authority, disparaged Zong Shen, and tried to take Luna’s hand, so Zong Shen punched him and forced him and his riders to leave.
• Zong Shen tasked Luna with preparing workers and Magic Energy Drills to explore the Azshara Ruins beneath the old Bandit Camp, then flew toward Bosbang with Eagle Sauce.
• Zong Shen used the Thousand-Kilometer Teleportation Gate and Baron Besos’s flag to return to Bang City without incident.
• Zong Shen told Baron Besos about his clash with Hadro, and Besos agreed that Zong Shen had acted appropriately.
• Baron Besos outlined plans to depart at eight the next morning for the Lion Knights Order Ruins, and he and Zong Shen agreed to bring laborers and excavation tools.