Chapter Summaries

Zong Shen persuaded Zoe Babit, the runaway daughter of Count Marren, to join his adventuring party and invited her to help rescue dancers from the Aldrich Dance Troupe. Meanwhile, Count Marren tracked Zoe’s location as a city liaison arrived to report a murder at the dockside market.

• Zong Shen discovered that the disguised Zoe was a Legendary-potential hero and learned she had run away from home for the fourth time to pursue her dream of adventure.
• Zong Shen showed Zoe an Elven Key and described the Azshara ruins and the Land of Buried Bones, convincing her to join the Breath of the Wild Adventurer Party.
• Zoe revealed her real name and gender to Zong Shen, Kaginia, and Jeanne, then agreed to join their plan to rescue the dancers held by the Aldrich Dance Troupe.
• Count Marren used a sensing orb to locate Zoe more than thirty kilometers southwest of Wentro Bang City, and his wife went to contact the rangers.
• A city defense liaison entered Count Marren’s study and reported a vicious murder at the dockside market.

Zong Shen used Anna’s Divination Coin and led Zoe, Jeanne, and Canigia toward the Aldrich Dance Troupe’s stronghold to rescue its dancers and seize its wealth. As Count Mallen’s rangers discovered that Zoe had left the wasteland aboard Eagle Sauce, Zong Shen’s party prepared to attack the troupe’s base from the air.

• Count Mallen ordered stronger patrols after hearing about the murders and giant griffon, then tracked Zoe’s location through her storage pendant.
• Zong Shen divined great fortune with Anna’s Divination Coin and set out to raid the Aldrich Dance Troupe’s base with Zoe, Jeanne, and Canigia.
• Zoe took out a hand crossbow, while Jeanne, Canigia, and Zong Shen changed into their battle gear before the party mounted Eagle Sauce.
• Count Mallen saw Zoe’s coordinates repeat, but a ranger squadron arrived at the wasteland and found that she had already flown away on Eagle Sauce.
• Zong Shen flew Eagle Sauce toward the Aldrich stronghold at high altitude and instructed Jeanne to summon French Big Cousin for the assault.

Zong Shen led a surprise assault on the Aldrich Dance Troupe’s camp, killing its hired guards and capturing the troupe’s manager Ram and Highlander commander Daga. He rescued the dancers and their relatives, then flew back toward his territory as Wentro Bang City’s rangers began investigating the massacre.

• Zong Shen and his companions dived into the Aldrich camp on Eagle Sauce, while Canigia and the troops they summoned attacked its Highlander warriors and mercenary archers.
• Zong Shen ordered Gilles de Rais to capture Daga and killed two troupe managers, while the Lion Garrison Knights rounded up Ram, the dancers, and their relatives.
• The battle ended in a one-sided slaughter, and Zong Shen’s forces rescued 76 female dancers, 23 male dancers, and 121 relatives while capturing Daga and Ram.
• The kills raised Zong Shen to level 33, and his forces left the camp with the survivors stored in Pascal Contract’s Big Pocket.
• Wentro Bang City’s rangers arrived after Eagle Sauce departed and learned from nearby farmers that the attackers had ridden a giant Griffon.
• Zong Shen flew toward his territory and landed in a forest at a suitable distance to use the Thousand-Kilometer Teleportation Gate.

Zong Shen rescued Zoe from the Aldrich Dance Troupe and convinced her that the slain men were deserving enemies, while Count Malen Babit mistakenly believed Zoe had been abducted by a powerful faction. After resting and hearing Zong Shen's adventuring stories, Zoe traveled with him through a teleportation gate to his territory, where she discovered the scale of his operation.

• Zong Shen reassured Zoe that the Aldrich Dance Troupe's men had exploited and abused the dancers, and Zoe apologized for losing her composure.
• Count Malen Babit connected Zoe's disappearance and the destruction of the troupe's city-state residence to a giant griffon, then sought a blade-wing falcon squadron from Wolf Fang Fortress to rescue her.
• Zong Shen told Zoe stories about his explorations, and she became eager to visit the Ruins of Azshara.
• Zong Shen used a teleportation gate to return with Zoe to his territory, where she saw the extensive defenses, ongoing construction, and Howie and Betty greeting him.

Zong Shen reassured the wary Zoe by admitting he had deceived her but promising to establish the Breath of the Wild adventurer party and make her its first member. After Zoe left with Vereesa to see the territory, Zong Shen prepared to open his accumulated treasure chests while his good fortune lasted.

• Zong Shen asked Howie to summon Vereesa and invited Zoe into the Lord's Fortress to answer her concerns.
• Zong Shen admitted he had lied about already having an adventurer party, but assured Zoe that his tales of past adventures were true and offered her the first place in a new Breath of the Wild party.
• Zoe questioned his deception, then grew interested in the offer; Zong Shen asked Vereesa to show her the territory and invited her to join an exploration the next day.
• After Zoe and Vereesa left, Zong Shen checked his stored treasure chests and identified three trapped chests, including a frost spell, a time-stop effect, and an explosive trap.
• Zong Shen decided to list the Black Iron trap chest on the Market as a blind-box treasure chest.

Zong Shen opened his Silver Treasure Chests after setting aside lower-grade chests for a shield cart and a plan to protect the Defense Challenge’s Central Stone Pillar. His haul included useful blueprints and equipment, while his Great Fortune buff appeared to boost his luck; the chapter ended with him reminiscing about an early class-change scroll as he examined a new one.

• Zong Shen reserved five Black Iron Treasure Chests for Iron Hand Barenk’s shield-cart project and decided to use forty Black Iron and Bronze chests to protect the Central Stone Pillar during the Defense Challenge.
• After confirming the pillar’s dimensions with the Strategy Module, Zong Shen planned to leave the chests with Maryl and prepare workers and materials to reinforce them.
• Zong Shen opened thirteen Silver Treasure Chests and received seventy-one items, including nineteen purple orbs, then wondered whether his Great Fortune buff had improved his haul.
• Zong Shen opened a Happy Coin Purse and received 827 Denars, then learned a Third Order Tailor Shop blueprint for Alana, also known as Princess Jenny.
• Zong Shen sorted the chest contents, learned several construction blueprints, and examined an Avalon Light Infantry Swordsman Class Change Scroll, recalling how an earlier scroll had helped his territory survive its early shortage of warriors.
• Elsewhere, Zong Ze attacked an orc tribe in the Kingdom of Rhodok while using Arcane Spirit Transformation, then sneezed and wondered whether an arcane spirit’s body could sneeze.

Zong Shen sorted the rewards from his treasure chests, distributing useful items and learning blueprints before discovering a special blueprint that could establish another territory anywhere, even in a different dimension. He kept the blueprint as a potential safeguard and future foothold, though he still lacked a way to travel between worlds.

• Zong Shen decided to give the Avalon Light Infantry Swordsman Class Change Book to San Pang so he could choose a suitable Farmer to promote after the Defense Challenge.
• Zong Shen learned the Excellent Grade construction and crafting blueprints, stored the recruitment scrolls, and examined the functional items.
• Zong Shen kept the Intermediate Voice-Changing Potion and Shadow Stealth Skill Book, then delegated the other Excellent Grade items to his heroes for distribution.
• Zong Shen learned the available Rare Grade building blueprints and discovered that the Lord's Courtyard Construction Blueprint could establish a new territory on any unclaimed land, even in another dimension.
• Zong Shen recognized the Lord's Courtyard blueprint as a valuable safeguard that could let him rebuild if his Lord's Fortress was destroyed, although he had no means of reaching another world.

Zong Shen examined his new rewards, assigned the Protector's Top Hat to Maryl, and enhanced his Shadow Stealth skill and Agility. He then opened five Golden Treasure Chests, received seven orange items among their drops, and prepared to sort through them.

• Zong Shen reviewed the rewards, including advanced Night Elf troops, the Protector's Top Hat, and goblin-made Iron Fist missile equipment.
• Zong Shen decided the Protector's Top Hat suited Maryl and resolved to seek out goblin engineers and alchemists to strengthen his territory's engineering capabilities.
• Zong Shen used the Skill Enhancement Book on Shadow Stealth, turning it into Light-Shadow Stealth, then used the Advanced Agility Book to raise his Agility from 50 to 56.
• Zong Shen opened five Golden Treasure Chests with Great Fortune and obtained 28 items, including seven orange-grade items.
• Zong Shen noted that one Platinum Treasure Chest and ten Tier 5 Lucky Bags remained to be opened.

Zong Shen sorted through his rewards and found useful items for his territory’s preparations for the approaching Defense Challenge. After improving his storage capacity, he considered how to use a Phantom Rune to confuse attackers, and continued examining the remaining rewards.

• Zong Shen opened a Basic Resource Small Lucky Bag and obtained 888 units of wood, stone, iron, and hemp.
• Zong Shen inspected the Excellent Grade rewards, learned the Black Iron Caltrop blueprint, and decided to have Dwarf Uncle’s Blacksmith Shop work through the night with Maryl’s support.
• Zong Shen identified the Universal Advancement Book and Windrider Ranger Hat as items for future troops, planning to use them to advance Mappel and equip her.
• Zong Shen found the Noble Circlet, then spent three skill points on Item Management and three attribute points on Agility, bringing his Agility to 59.
• Zong Shen examined the Phantom Rune and decided that copying his Lord’s Fortress and Central Stone Pillar could help delay attackers during the Defense Challenge.

Zong Shen opened the Golden Treasure Chest and uncovered a secret letter implicating Princess Anna in Jenny’s attempted murder, along with a strange stone that resonated with an energy-hungry beast egg. He repaired his Dragon-Slaying Greatsword and left the beast egg charging, uncertain whether it would hatch.

• Zong Shen learned a Tailor Workshop Blueprint and added the special workshop to his construction options.
• Zong Shen used the Strategy Module to identify Zoro Amos and discovered that Anna Pendragon’s letter ordered Jenny’s assassination and revealed a secret stronghold in the Imperial City sewers.
• Zong Shen kept Anna’s letter as potential leverage and decided not to tell Jenny about it yet.
• Zong Shen placed the Strange Stone on the Unknown Beast Egg, causing both to glow as the egg began absorbing the stone’s energy.
• Zong Shen used the Equipment Repair Hammer to restore most of the Dragon-Slaying Greatsword’s damaged form.

Zong Shen inspected several repaired and Legendary items, then learned the blueprint for a Thousand-Kilometer Directional Teleportation Tower and planned to have Maryl build it. He ended the chapter replacing his worn Steel Bone War Boots with Wind Spirit Swift Boots.

• Zong Shen checked the repaired Dragon-Slaying Greatsword and stored it as a transitional weapon.
• Zong Shen examined the Patrol Axe, appreciated its versatile combat skills, and stored it beside his shield.
• Zong Shen learned the Thousand-Kilometer Directional Teleportation Tower blueprint and decided Maryl would build the tower outside the fortress the next day.
• Zong Shen inspected the Wind Spirit Swift Boots and recognized their movement, attack, and floating abilities as useful additions.
• Zong Shen removed his worn Steel Bone War Boots and put on the Wind Spirit Swift Boots.

Zong Shen examined the remaining legendary items from the Golden Treasure Chest, including a vision-enhancing eyeball, a master key, and a group teleportation scroll. After Tasia and Ashia competed for his attention and he agreed to visit the Hot Spring Cabin later, he finished opening the chest and still had a Platinum Treasure Chest and ten Tier V Lucky Bags to open.

• Zong Shen tried the Prophet’s Keen-Sight Eye and accidentally saw through Tasia’s clothes when she entered the fortress.
• Tasia embraced Zong Shen and bragged that she had reached her meditation limit before Ashia arrived and sat on his lap to compete for his attention.
• Zong Shen told Tasia and Ashia he was busy preparing a dinner, then agreed to visit the Hot Spring Cabin later that night.
• Zong Shen examined the Master Key, which could open locks and doors up to legendary grade, and the Tier 5 Group Random Teleportation Scroll, which could teleport up to twenty targets.
• Zong Shen finished opening the Golden Treasure Chest, with one Platinum Treasure Chest and ten Tier V Lucky Bags still remaining.

Zong Shen opened a Platinum Treasure Chest and obtained a powerful Demon Mirror, a bounty notice for an ancient green dragon, and a spell-reflecting cloak. He added the dragon to his future kill list and equipped the cloak, then continued preparing to inspect the remaining rewards.

• Zong Shen opened the Platinum Treasure Chest and received seven rewards, including the Demon Mirror and a bounty notice for Ogg Borkaiser Valeria.
• Zong Shen inspected the Demon Mirror and learned it could summon two copies matching his attributes, fire chaos damage, and reflect some chaos damage.
• Zong Shen learned that Ogg Borkaiser Valeria was a 672-year-old legendary lord dragon living in the Tranquil Forest, and he added it to his future kill list.
• Zong Shen inspected the Reflective Cloak, which could reflect certain offensive and control spells, then equipped it over his backpack.

Zong Shen ate a Fortune Dumpling that made Denar fall around him, then opened three Tier V Lucky Bags and received several valuable items. He decided to train Maryl to become a Grand Scholar, consider how to use a Building Fusion Stone, and upgrade his territory the next day to climb the leaderboard.

• Zong Shen ate the Fortune Dumpling and gained the Abundant Wealth buff, causing Denar to rain down around him.
• Zong Shen opened three Tier V Lucky Bags and obtained a Grand Scholar Job Change Book, a Building Fusion Stone, a Level 8 City Lord's Mansion Upgrade Certificate, and other items.
• Zong Shen decided to keep the Grand Scholar book for Maryl until she met its requirements and postponed choosing buildings to fuse.
• Zong Shen saw that his Level 8 territory ranked 37th while the leader had reached Level 13, and resolved to upgrade his territory the next day.

Zong Shen examined a Legendary Legion Armory blueprint and shared its purpose with the members of the Guide Legion, though the Legion lacked a garrison needed to build it. He also inspected a new Power Demon helmet and a strange Holy Pilfering skill book, which he could not yet learn because his Agility was too low.

• Zong Shen inspected the Armory blueprint, planned a contribution-and-reward system for the Legion, and put the blueprint away until the Legion unlocked a garrison.
• Zong Shen shared the blueprint and an explanation of the Armory with the Guide Legion, prompting a flurry of activity in the Legion Channel.
• Zong Shen examined the Power Demon Visor, noted its combat buffs and repair skill, and decided to wear it only when battle began because of its grotesque appearance.
• Zong Shen inspected the Holy Pilfering skill book, which stole from targets based on their malice, but stored it because he lacked the required 100 Agility.

Zong Shen inspected the Dragon Saliva Dew and planned to assign heroes to search the Market for unusual bargains. After opening more Tier V Lucky Bags, he obtained powerful defensive items and a giant Iron Golem construct, which he examined outside his fortress.

• Zong Shen learned that the Dragon Saliva Dew could lure dragons and drive them into heat, then decided to have heroes search the Market for suspicious, underpriced items.
• Zong Shen opened three Tier V Lucky Bags and received a Greater Fortification Scroll, an Iron Golem construct, an Aggregate Wings item, a Mysterious Belt, and Saral's Caster Robe.
• Zong Shen opened the extra Tier V Lucky Bag found inside another bag and obtained a Mysterious Broken Horn and a Flame Cloak.
• Zong Shen read the Greater Fortification Scroll's attributes and recognized its value for protecting friendly forces and buildings during the coming Defense Challenge.
• Zong Shen surveyed his heavily fortified territory, then brought out the eight-meter Iron Golem and examined its armor, magical channels, and soul-binding features.

Zong Shen appraised an ancient Iron Golem, magical wings, and an epic belt, deciding where to use the Construct and setting his sights on recruiting Master Solkin. He equipped the wings and belt, ending with a calculation showing how the belt’s magic-damage reduction combined with his resistance.

• Zong Shen examined the Iron Golem, learned it was an incomplete Construct left by the Iron Gnomes, and decided Maryl should bind with it while Dwarf Uncle and Iron studied it.
• Zong Shen inspected the Aggregate Wings and discovered their maker, Master Solkin, lived in the Sarranid Sultanate, so he planned to recruit him and kept the wings for himself.
• Zong Shen tested the Aggregate Wings by spending 200 Magic Value and found their flight stronger than Levitation.
• Zong Shen assessed the Mysterious Belt’s storage, darkness abilities, and 33% reduction to tier-six-or-lower magic damage, then calculated how it would combine with his Magic Resistance.

Zong Shen examined the remaining items from his lucky bags, assigning valuable equipment to Ashia and Favid while resolving to improve his core members’ gear. He reunited the broken horn into Captain Chang'an's Courage Horn, gaining a way to summon the Flying Henan Man and setting his sights on exploring the oceans.

• Zong Shen identified Saral's Caster Robe as Legendary Grade standard-issue equipment and decided to give it to Ashia, then planned to outfit every core member with Rare Grade gear.
• Zong Shen joined the two broken horn sections, which resonated and fused into Captain Chang'an's Courage Horn.
• Zong Shen discovered the horn could reduce ocean disasters, boost his attributes at sea, and summon the Flying Henan Man, so he added ocean exploration and building a fleet to his ambitions.
• Zong Shen examined a Flame Cloak and decided to give it to Favid for its flame attacks and jet-like mobility.
• Zong Shen noted the approaching Defense Challenge and the increasingly apparent signs of spring, anticipating further rule changes.

Zong Shen opened his final four Tier V Lucky Bags and recruited the ghost of adventurer Jacques Picard, whose abilities made him useful for exploring ruins and dangerous places. He then discovered that a gold Denar exchange voucher could grant powerful privileges, leaving him newly aware of how valuable Denar could be.

• Zong Shen opened the four remaining Tier V Lucky Bags and obtained equipment, blueprints, a Kingdom's Heart fragment, a Building Advancement Stone, a spell scroll, and several special or unknown items.
• Zong Shen examined Jacques Picard's special recruitment scroll and recruited the adventurer's ghost, who pledged to serve him.
• Zong Shen inspected Jacques Picard's traits and learned that the wraith could scout through walls, retrieve ownerless items, detect illusions, and find clues in ruins.
• Jacques Picard recognized the territory as Azshara and described it as a city of burning, destruction, and bones.
• Zong Shen examined a gold Denar Privilege Exchange Voucher and realized that Denar could be exchanged for valuable privileges.

Zong Shen examined the Denar Privilege Exchange Coupon and spent 6,075,000 Denars on two sixth-tier construction privileges, leaving him with 3,176,525 Denars. He then inspected a second Sword of the Dome blueprint, which brought the paired swords' component count to two of five and strengthened their attributes.

• Zong Shen studied the privilege exchange rules and learned that the Gold Coupon allowed him to exchange up to ten privileges, with higher tiers costing more Denars and improving their effects.
• Zong Shen considered trading and robbery as ways to earn Denars, then chose the sixth-tier Construction Cost Reduction and Building Fortification Enhancement privileges for 6,075,000 Denars.
• Zong Shen confirmed that the fortification privilege immediately increased a nearby building's durability and resistances, then stored the coupon and added a Complete Orange Soul and six Hero Emblems to his inventory.
• Zong Shen examined the Sword of the Dome 1/5 Construction Blueprint and found that it would add the Wood Spirit Sword, raising the component count to two of five and increasing the existing Fire Spirit Sword's attributes.
• Zong Shen decided to anchor the Sword of the Dome at the Lord's Fortress so it could patrol within five kilometers and cover the central defensive perimeter.