Chapter Summaries

Key Plot Points and Events

• Baal discovers a familiar brand on 86's neck, causing her to panic.
• She gives the Ancient Wolf Clan chieftain power and sends him to invite the Forest of Tribes' leader to her headquarters.
• Baal gives the chieftain a self-portrait to deliver to the Forest of Tribes' leader.

Character Developments

• Baal: Reveals a personal connection to 86, becomes determined to meet the Forest of Tribes' leader.
• Ancient Wolf Clan Chieftain: Gains power from Baal, becomes more brutish and eager for battle.

Significant Themes

• Power dynamics: Baal's control over the Ancient Wolf Clan and the Forest of Tribes.
• Personal connection: Baal's past connection to 86 drives her actions.
• Importance of the Forest of Tribes' leader: Baal's determination to meet him suggests he holds significant value to her.

Character Interactions

• Baal and the Ancient Wolf Clan Chieftain: Baal manipulates and controls the chieftain, granting him power and sending him on a mission.
• Baal and the Forest of Tribes' Leader (implied): Baal's actions suggest a complex relationship with the leader, possibly involving a past connection or conflict.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Betula, chief of the Ancient Wolf Clan, visits the Revolutionary Army, inviting Liao Ji to meet their High Priestess.
• Liao Ji, accompanied by Jiu You, Irin, and 86, accepts the invitation and travels to the Ancient Wolf Clan's territory.
• Upon arrival, they find the clan preparing for a festive event, the Song Praise Ritual.

Character Developments

• Liao Ji shows courage and decisiveness in accepting the invitation, demonstrating his trust in his abilities and Jiu You's protection.
• Betula admires Liao Ji's courage and readiness to face potential danger.

Significant Themes

• Trust and courage: Liao Ji's decision to visit the Ancient Wolf Clan highlights his trust in his own abilities and his companions, despite the potential risks.
• The unknown: The identity and intentions of the High Priestess remain unclear, adding an element of mystery and intrigue.

Character Interactions

• Liao Ji and Betula: Despite their initial wariness, they show mutual respect and admiration for each other's courage and decisiveness.
• Liao Ji and his companions: They display unity and support for each other's decisions, with Irin and 86 insisting on accompanying Liao Ji despite the risks.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Ancient Wolf Clan holds a ritual, but it's not to honor ancestors; instead, they worship the High Priest, who is revealed to be Baal in disguise.
• Baal performs a dance, influencing the demi-humans with his Corrupt Calamity, causing them to fight for his blood, which purifies and grants power.
• Baal acknowledges Liao Ji's group, including the Dragon Girl, and remembers his past with Lord Ash.

Character Developments

• Baal: Struggles with his past and insecurities about his appearance. He seeks recognition and validation from Liao Ji (as Lord Ash).
• Liao Ji's group: Remain unaffected by Baal's Corrupt Calamity influence, showing resistance and awareness.

Significant Themes

• The influence of appearance and beauty on societal acceptance and worth.
• The power dynamics and manipulation within demi-human clans.
• The consequences of past actions and the desire for redemption.

Character Interactions

• Baal and Liao Ji: Baal seeks recognition and validation from Liao Ji, while Liao Ji remains indifferent and unaware of Baal's true identity.
• Baal and the Ancient Wolf Clan: Baal manipulates and controls the clan members, using his Corrupt Calamity to make them fight for his blood.
• Baal and the Dragon Girl: Baal feels inferior to the Dragon Girl and seeks to prove his worth to Lord Ash by comparing himself to her.

Key Plot Points

• Jiu You, the Dragon Girl, intervenes to protect the High Priest from Liao Ji's attack.
• The High Priest reveals his jealousy and resentment towards Jiu You and Lord Ash.
• Jiu You engages in a battle with the High Priest, displaying her Disaster Rank power.
• The High Priest uses the hatred and resentment of the people against Jiu You, attempting to provoke her into further attacks.
• Liao Ji and the other guards disappear, raising the High Priest's concern about the "altar."

Character Developments

• Jiu You shows her power and determination to protect the Dragon Kingdom.
• The High Priest reveals his true motivations and the extent of his resentment.

Significant Themes

• Jealousy and resentment leading to corruption and destruction.
• The consequences of past actions and the weight of responsibility.
• The struggle between power and compassion.

Character Interactions

• Jiu You and the High Priest's confrontation highlights their differing views and motivations.
• Liao Ji's disappearance raises the stakes and increases the High Priest's anxiety.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Liao Ji, sensing a Corrupt Calamity, manipulates the high priest into attacking Jiu You, allowing him to investigate the source undisturbed.
• He leads Irin and 86 to the heart of the Ancient Wolf Clan's forbidden zone, where they encounter overwhelming Corrupt Calamity, forcing them to retreat.
• Liao Ji discovers a massive skull altar, a pool of black mud with a cursed bone jade at its center, which curses newborn demi-humans.
• He attempts to reach the bone jade but is repeatedly repelled by the black mud. He decides to use his [Elf Protection] skill.
• Under the skill's protection, the black mud guides Liao Ji deep into the pool, where he encounters a glowing Elf.

Character Developments

• Liao Ji demonstrates his strategic mind and resilience, facing the Corrupt Calamity without fear.
• Irin and 86 show vulnerability in the face of intense Corrupt Calamity, highlighting their limitations.
• Liao Ji's determination to protect the Dragon Kingdom and Jiu You strengthens.

Significant Themes

• The power of Corrupt Calamity and its effects on individuals and societies.
• Liao Ji's unique ability to face and resist Corrupt Calamity, hinting at his extraordinary nature.
• The theme of protection and guidance, represented by the Elf and her skill.

Character Interactions

• Liao Ji manipulates the high priest, showcasing his cunning and strategic thinking.
• Irin and 86 accompany Liao Ji but are ultimately unable to help, highlighting their dependence on him.
• Liao Ji's encounter with the glowing Elf suggests a potential connection or allyship.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Liao Ji wakes up in an unknown place, embraced by an elf named Anno.
• Anno reveals they are trapped inside the Corrupt Calamity's consciousness.
• Anno suggests they engage in a pleasurable activity to strengthen their souls and escape.
• Liao Ji asks about the Old Days Alliance, but Anno avoids answering.

Character Developments

• Liao Ji shows caution and restraint in his interactions with Anno.
• Anno displays a more sensual and assertive side, contrasting her usual maternal role.

Significant Themes

• The power of desire and pleasure in the context of magical replenishment.
• The passage of time and the changes it brings (five hundred years have passed since Liao Ji's disappearance).

Character Interactions

• Liao Ji and Anno's dynamic shifts from a mother-son relationship to a more intimate, sensual one.
• Liao Ji maintains a degree of distance and caution, while Anno becomes more aggressive and demanding.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Liao Ji discovers that the elf before him is an imposter, not the real Anno.
• The imposter tries to seduce Liao Ji, but he remains unmoved.
• The imposter reveals her true form, a mass of shadow with tentacles, and tries to attack Liao Ji.
• Liao Ji activates Anno's "Elf Protection" barrier, protecting himself from the imposter's attacks.
• The imposter, enraged, threatens to keep Liao Ji trapped unless he pleases her.
• Liao Ji, unfazed, plans an alternative method to make Anno's body feel pleasure.

Character Developments

• Liao Ji: Proves his discernment and loyalty to the real Anno, remaining unmoved by the imposter's advances. He demonstrates quick thinking and resourcefulness in using Anno's ability to protect himself.
• The Imposter: Reveals her true form and intentions, showing her cunning and manipulative nature. She becomes increasingly desperate and reckless as her plans fail.

Significant Themes

• Appearance vs. Reality: The imposter's deceptive appearance contrasts with her true form, highlighting the theme of not judging by appearances alone.
• Loyalty and Discernment: Liao Ji's loyalty to the real Anno is evident in his ability to discern the imposter and remain faithful to his feelings for Anno.
• Power and Control: The imposter uses her power to control the space and Liao Ji, but ultimately fails to maintain her dominance.

Character Interactions

• Liao Ji and the Imposter: Their interaction is tense and hostile, with Liao Ji remaining unmoved by the imposter's attempts to seduce him. He outsmarts her by using Anno's ability to protect himself.
• Liao Ji and Anno (absent): Liao Ji's thoughts and actions are guided by his feelings for the real Anno, showing their strong bond despite her absence.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Liao Ji (Ash) uses a whip to attack the dark-skinned elf, who is initially mocking and confident.
• The elf remains stationary, allowing Liao Ji to strike her multiple times, but she starts experiencing unexpected pleasure and her body reacts accordingly.
• The elf's consciousness is suddenly pulled back to her real body in the Old Days Alliance's Holy Sanctuary, where she cries out in response to Liao Ji's attack.

Character Developments

• Liao Ji (Ash) demonstrates knowledge of the elf's unique attributes, using them to his advantage.
• The dark-skinned elf's confidence is shaken as she experiences uncontrollable pleasure and her body reacts against her will.
• The elf's children in the Holy Sanctuary are puzzled by her sudden summons and her unexpected reaction.

Significant Themes

• The elf's overconfidence and underestimation of Liao Ji lead to her vulnerability.
• The elf's unique attributes and her reaction to them highlight the power dynamics between her and Liao Ji.
• The elf's sudden return to her real body emphasizes the connection between her spiritual and physical forms.

Character Interactions

• Liao Ji (Ash) and the dark-skinned elf engage in a one-sided attack, with Liao Ji gaining the upper hand.
• The elf's children in the Holy Sanctuary react to their mother's unexpected behavior, showing concern and confusion.

Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Elf, leader of the Old Days Alliance, is summoned by Helo but appears disoriented and distressed.
• Helo expresses anger at the absence of other higher-ranking Forgotten Ones, including Baal and Empty Armor.
• The Elf collapses and convulses after expressing concern about her condition, hinting at an internal struggle or external influence.

Character Developments

• Helo displays concern and devotion towards the Elf, his mother figure.
• The Elf shows vulnerability and distress, contrasting with her usual calm demeanor.

Significant Themes

• The Elf's struggle with her other consciousness and the Ash within the space.
• The power dynamics between the Elf and the Forgotten Ones, with Helo showing deference to her.

Character Interactions

• Helo interacts with the Elf, expressing worry and frustration at her behavior.
• The Elf struggles to maintain composure in front of Helo and the other Forgotten Ones, hinting at a hidden conflict or secret.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Liao Ji defeats the corrupted Anno, driving out the possessing entity.
• Anno's body begins to deteriorate and then transforms, revealing her true form with beautiful wings.
• Anno communicates with Liao Ji non-verbally, proving her identity and healing him.
• Liao Ji experiences a lap pillow with Anno, who cleans his ears.

Character Developments

• Liao Ji: Realizes his feelings for Anno, becomes more caring and considerate.
• Anno: Shows maternal and nurturing sides, accepts Liao Ji's affection.

Significant Themes

• Redemption and second chances (Anno's transformation and Liao Ji's acceptance).
• The power of touch and physical affection (Anno's lap pillow and ear cleaning).
• The importance of communication and understanding (Anno's non-verbal communication).

Character Interactions

• Liao Ji and Anno: Their relationship deepens as they share a tender, intimate moment. Anno accepts Liao Ji's affection, and he becomes more caring toward her.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Liao Ji enjoys a relaxing ear massage by Anno, feeling secure and at ease.
• Liao Ji absorbs the Corrupt Calamity from the altar and the Bone Curse Jade, purifying them with Anno's help.
• Liao Ji wakes up in the consciousness space, finding Anno's shell beside him. He realizes she's gone and vows to meet her again in reality.
• Liao Ji discovers a new skill, 'Corrupt Calamity Touch,' in his skill list.

Character Developments

• Liao Ji: Struggles with feelings of inadequacy, exhaustion, and fear, but finds comfort and strength in Anno's presence. He becomes more determined to find his wives.
• Anno: Reveals her desire to love a weak and imperfect Liao Ji, emphasizing her role as a 'Guardian.' She helps Liao Ji absorb the Corrupt Calamity and disappears after completing her task.

Significant Themes

• The burden of expectations and the struggle with one's true self (Liao Ji as Ash Emperor vs. Liao Ji as an ordinary person).
• The power of support and comfort (Anno's role as a 'Guardian' and her lap pillow as a symbol of safety and healing).
• The consequences of accumulated negative emotions (the Corrupt Calamity and the Bone Curse Jade).

Character Interactions

• Liao Ji and Anno: Liao Ji finds solace and strength in Anno's presence, while Anno accepts and supports Liao Ji's weaknesses. Their interaction emphasizes their bond and Anno's role as a 'Guardian.'
• Liao Ji and the Corrupt Calamity: Liao Ji absorbs and purifies the Corrupt Calamity, symbolizing his acceptance and transformation of his own negative emotions and the burdens he carries.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Liao Ji discovers a new ability, "Corrupt Calamity Touch," after waking up.
• He suspects the ability is linked to the Mother of Corrupt Calamity, the final boss of his first playthrough.
• Liao Ji uses the ability on an elf shell left by Anno, manifesting a tentacle that allows him to control Corrupt Calamity.
• He uses the tentacle to destroy the unstable dark space, returning to reality.

Character Developments

• Liao Ji's new ability reflects his growing power and understanding of the Corrupt Calamity.
• Anno's actions suggest she has a connection to the Mother of Corrupt Calamity and is guiding Liao Ji.

Significant Themes

• Power and its consequences: Liao Ji's new ability is both powerful and dangerous, reflecting the duality of power.
• The past catching up: Liao Ji's first playthrough's final boss resurfaces, suggesting that his past actions have consequences.

Character Interactions

• Liao Ji interacts with Anno's actions, understanding her intentions and following her guidance.
• Liao Ji's new ability allows him to interact with Corrupt Calamity on a deeper level, reflecting his growing understanding and control over it.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Liao Ji successfully purifies the Cursed Bone Jade in the restricted zone.
• Baal, the High Priest, becomes increasingly corrupted and transforms into a giant sludge creature after Liao Ji's return.
• Liao Ji uses Corrupt Calamity Touch on Jiu You, merging with her and materializing a pair of dragon wings, the Red Lotus Wings.

Character Developments

• Liao Ji gains the ability to use Corrupt Calamity Touch, allowing him to merge with Jiu You and manifest her equipment.
• Baal's descent into madness and corruption is complete, leading to his transformation into a sludge creature.
• Jiu You demonstrates unwavering loyalty and trust in Liao Ji, willingly merging with him.

Significant Themes

• Trust and loyalty (Jiu You's devotion to Liao Ji)
• Corruption and its consequences (Baal's transformation)
• Power and responsibility (Liao Ji's determination to end the battle)

Character Interactions

• Liao Ji and Jiu You: Liao Ji asks Jiu You to let him borrow her power, and she willingly complies, demonstrating her trust and love for him.
• Liao Ji and Baal: Liao Ji's presence pushes Baal further into madness and corruption, ultimately leading to his transformation.
• Baal and his past: Baal's memories of his past with Liao Ji surface briefly, but his hatred and corruption prevent him from regaining control.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Liao Ji successfully transforms into Red Lotus Wings, gaining immense power.
• Baal, now a grotesque, gigantic Corrupt Calamity monster, attacks Liao Ji.
• Liao Ji uses his newfound powers to defeat Baal, pulling him out from the monster's body.

Character Developments

• Liao Ji: Gains immense strength and agility, learns to control his new powers.
• Baal: Completely consumed by Corrupt Calamity, becomes a mindless, grotesque monster.

Significant Themes

• Power and control: Liao Ji's new powers allow him to dominate the battlefield, while Baal's loss of control leads to his downfall.
• Obsession: Baal's obsession with Liao Ji and his desire to possess his powers drive him to madness.

Character Interactions

• Liao Ji vs. Baal: The final confrontation between the two, with Liao Ji emerging victorious.
• Liao Ji vs. Crawler: Liao Ji demonstrates his new powers and agility against Baal's monstrous form.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Baal, defeated and dying, asks Liao Ji if he brought Jiu You to the Southern Border for him.
• Liao Ji reveals he doesn't have political ability or experience to govern, so he's starting with the Revolutionary Army at the grassroots level.
• Liao Ji uses Corrupt Calamity Touch on Baal, but Baal doesn't qualify to be "turned into an item" as he's already a Corrupt Calamity monster.
• Liao Ji gives Baal a small, ordinary wildflower, telling him it's his "materialization" and that it's beautiful.

Character Developments

• Baal accepts his defeat and death, hoping to be "turned into an item" by Liao Ji to remain by his side. He dies peacefully after seeing the flower.
• Liao Ji shows honesty and compassion towards Baal, understanding his desire for acceptance and approval.

Significant Themes

• Redemption and acceptance of one's true self.
• The power of hope and belief in one's inherent beauty.
• The consequences of corruption and the inability to be "saved" once completely consumed by it.

Character Interactions

• Baal and Liao Ji share a moment of understanding and acceptance, with Baal finding peace in Liao Ji's lie about the flower.
• Liao Ji shows empathy and kindness towards Baal, even after Baal's actions as an enemy.

Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Baal's death leaves behind a black lotus, which is a soul fragment containing memories of Baal's life.
• Liao Ji discovers the soul fragment and tries to figure out how to use it.
• A training manual given to Jiu You by Rena activates and absorbs the soul fragment, revealing a curse ritual that Baal created to curse demi-humans.
• Liao Ji and Jiu You learn that the only way to remove the curse is for Jiu You to perform a reverse curse ritual using her Disaster Rank power, which will likely cause her to lose vitality and drop in rank.

Character Developments

• Liao Ji: Shows resourcefulness in trying to figure out how to use the soul fragment and understands the importance of removing the curse from demi-humans.
• Jiu You: Realizes the extent of Baal's actions and the sacrifice she must make to remove the curse.
• Baal: Revealed to be the creator of the curse that afflicts demi-humans, and his soul fragment holds the key to removing that curse.

Significant Themes

• The consequences of past actions: Baal's curse on demi-humans continues to affect them even after his death.
• Sacrifice: Jiu You must sacrifice her power to remove the curse, potentially dropping in rank.
• Equality: Removing the curse will allow demi-humans and humans to coexist with equal strength.

Character Interactions

• Liao Ji and Jiu You: Work together to understand the soul fragment and the curse ritual. Liao Ji considers asking Rena for help with the soul fragment.
• Baal and Liao Ji/Jiu You: Baal's actions and the soul fragment he leaves behind drive the plot forward, affecting both Liao Ji and Jiu You.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jiu You, the dragon girl, must choose whether to absorb Baal's soul fragments to gain immense power or refuse and lose her current abilities.
• Liao Ji (Lord Ash) supports Jiu You's decision, whatever it may be.
• Jiu You decides to activate Baal's ritual to improve herself and the Dragon Kingdom, despite knowing she might lose her power and status.

Character Developments

• Jiu You shows vulnerability and self-awareness, realizing her past mistakes and wanting to become a worthy empress.
• Liao Ji demonstrates care and support for Jiu You's growth, wanting her to have her own goals and pursuits.

Significant Themes

• Personal growth and self-improvement.
• The consequences of past actions and the desire to make amends.
• The importance of supporting and believing in one's loved ones.

Character Interactions

• Liao Ji and Jiu You's relationship deepens as they support each other's decisions.
• Liao Ji's trust in Rena, believing she has a safer plan for Jiu You's ritual.
• Jiu You's fear of losing Liao Ji's affection if she loses her power, revealing her insecurities.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The chapter discusses the differences between Baal's and Rena's rituals, with Rena's being more efficient.
• Jiu You needs a "driver" for her power transformation, which is Liao Ji, and he must also provide "fuel" for the process.
• Liao Ji and Jiu You have a heated exchange about Liao Ji's role in the ritual, with Jiu You expressing concern for Liao Ji's well-being and Liao Ji feeling humiliated by her doubt in his abilities.
• They proceed to the altar where Baal's ritual was performed, and Jiu You expresses worry about breaking her contract with Stia.

Character Developments

• Liao Ji feels humiliated and angry when Jiu You expresses concern for his ability to complete the ritual, leading him to assert his dominance.
• Jiu You shows vulnerability and concern for Liao Ji's well-being, displaying a softer side to her character.

Significant Themes

• Trust and doubt in one's abilities and those of others.
• The responsibility one takes on for their actions and the consequences they bring.
• The tension between duty and personal relationships.

Character Interactions

• Liao Ji and Jiu You's interaction is tense, with Liao Ji feeling insulted by Jiu You's concern and Jiu You trying to protect Liao Ji from potential harm.
• Jiu You's concern for Liao Ji highlights her growing attachment to him, while Liao Ji's anger at her doubt in him reveals his growing investment in their relationship.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jiu You, the dragon girl, and Liao Ji, Lord Ash, prepare to perform a ritual using Rena's manual to lift the curse from the demihumans.
• Jiu You struggles with guilt for betraying the alliance but rationalizes it as necessary for the demihumans' future.
• The ritual begins, and Jiu You asks Liao Ji to touch her horns to accelerate her entry into a power-boosting state.
• The ritual's effects spread across the Dragon Kingdom, revealing the Old Days Alliance's conspiracy and lifting the curse from the demihumans.
• The demihumans, now aware of Jiu You's actions, support and encourage her in their minds.

Character Developments

• Jiu You: Struggles with guilt but ultimately prioritizes the demihumans' well-being. She reveals a secret sensitive spot to Liao Ji to accelerate the ritual.
• Liao Ji: Assists Jiu You in the ritual, unaware of the manual's full details. He remains supportive of Jiu You.

Significant Themes

• Betrayal and redemption: Jiu You betrays the alliance to help the demihumans, seeking redemption for her past actions.
• Trust and support: The demihumans' trust in Jiu You grows as they become aware of her efforts to lift the curse.
• Power and responsibility: Jiu You feels the weight of her responsibility as the empress and acts accordingly.

Character Interactions

• Jiu You and Liao Ji: They work together to perform the ritual, with Jiu You revealing a personal secret to Liao Ji to accelerate the process.
• Jiu You and the demihumans: The demihumans become aware of Jiu You's actions and support her, strengthening their trust in her.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Sealed City, despite its large demi-human population, remains relatively stable after the "Blessing Ritual."
• Carolyn, Rena's secretary, successfully leads disaster relief and reconstruction efforts in Sealed City.
• Many local nobles oppose Carolyn's efforts and attempt to sabotage them, but fail due to their incompetence.
• Carolyn reports to Rena about the situation in Sealed City and asks about the methods used to convince the Empress and remove the curses from demi-humans.

Character Developments

• Carolyn demonstrates her competence and dedication in managing Sealed City's disaster relief and reconstruction.
• Carolyn expresses admiration for Rena's methods and a desire to learn from her trusted confidant who persuaded the Empress.
• Carolyn feels inadequate compared to this confidant and resolves to improve herself.

Significant Themes

• The power dynamics between humans and demi-humans, and how the "Blessing Ritual" has shifted this balance.
• The incompetence and corruption of the local nobles, and their inability to effectively manage or exploit the situation.
• The importance of competent leadership, as demonstrated by Carolyn's successful management of Sealed City.

Character Interactions

• Carolyn reports to Rena about her accomplishments in Sealed City and seeks to learn from her.
• Rena teases Carolyn about her desire to meet her trusted confidant who persuaded the Empress.
• The interaction between Rena and Carolyn highlights their close working relationship and mutual respect.