Chapter Summaries

Li Si faced Luen, Juliana, and Holmes in a prepared trap, testing the power of those on the Ascension to Godhood while fighting to survive. After Luen and Juliana’s attacks overwhelmed his defenses, Li Si used a burst of speed to strike Holmes and sever his right arm.

• Li Si kicked Juliana into the lava, destroying her human-skin mask and provoking her fury.
• Luen, Juliana, and Holmes confronted Li Si, while his allies were delayed by other Legendary experts.
• Li Si cast enhancement spells and tried to escape, but Luen charged him as Holmes restricted his movement and Juliana prepared to strike from hiding.
• Luen’s attacks shattered Li Si’s Magic Shields, and Juliana’s bands of light inflicted extreme pain on him.
• Li Si suddenly moved with Legendary Thief-like speed, reached Holmes, smashed through his defense, ignited him with dark-blue flames, and severed his right arm holding the Scarlet Codex.

Li Si endured attacks from Luen, Holmes, and Juliana until news that Adela had left the Elf Village forced them to move to kill him quickly. He charged Juliana and detonated his magic power while holding her, engulfing them both in an explosion that shook the Pocket World.

• Holmes regenerated his severed arm and turned it into a demonic wolf, while Li Si continued evading attacks from the three enemies.
• Luen learned that Adela had left the Elf Village and intensified his attacks, abandoning his plan to prolong the Hunting Ceremony.
• Li Si chose Juliana as his target, endured her thorned whip, and used magic to trap her as she tried to retreat.
• Li Si seized Juliana and unleashed a massive explosion of magic power, leaving Holmes and Luen unable to intervene as the Pocket World shook.

Li Si survived Luen and Holmes’s ambush by using Life Return to transfer his self-destruction to his Life Clone, killing Juliana in the blast. Safe outside the Mist Wilderness Pocket World, he learned that the battle had earned him substantial rewards while Luen and Holmes escaped.

• Li Si’s self-destruction devastated the Mist Wilderness Pocket World, killing Juliana and leaving Luen and Holmes battered beyond the expanding Space Rifts.
• Luen realized Li Si was still alive and flew into a rage, while Holmes left rather than share the consequences of their failed Hunting Ceremony.
• Li Si woke in a safe space outside the Pocket World and explained how Life Return had exchanged his true body’s state with his Life Clone’s, letting the clone take the blast.
• Li Si considered Life Return’s restrictions and the lingering danger of his battle, then received rewards for killing Juliana and completing the challenge quest.

After Li Si escaped the Heretic Believers’ siege and killed Juliana, allies across Gaia learned he was safe as the conflict spread between the Church of the Gods and the Heretic Believers. Li Si hid to recover, reviewed his rewards, and resolved to prepare for future attacks.

• The five Heretic Believer Legends vanished, and Joyce learned that Li Si had killed the divine envoy Juliana but was injured and recovering in a safe place.
• Lisa worried that she had been unable to help Li Si and resolved to grow strong enough to stand beside him.
• Maurice learned Li Si was safe and decided to return and coordinate the churches against the Heretic Believers.
• Adela drove the demigod Antus away and learned that Li Si had escaped safely.
• Li Si reviewed the rewards from the battle, assessed the Heretic Believers’ tactics, and chose to remain hidden while he recovered.
• Li Si received new traits, skills, and two World Legendary Points for surviving the battle and killing Juliana.

Li Si reviewed the rewards for killing Juliana and surviving the challenge, then leveled up and assessed how to counter Luen and prepare for the coming conflict between the Church of the Gods and Heretic Believers. He chose to stay hidden rather than return to Kane Floating City, and contacted Joyce, Lisa, Maurice, Adela, and the others to share his plans and learn that the failed rescue had cost the Heretic Believers dearly.

• Li Si examined his rewards, including the Legendary Undead, Legendary Blood, and Fearless Heart traits, and considered their effects and limitations.
• Li Si recognized that the destruction of the Mist Wilderness Pocket World would help ignite a full-scale confrontation between the Church of the Gods and Heretic Believers.
• Li Si spent his experience points to level up and reflected on Luen's overwhelming strength, resolving to seek answers through his Arcane avatar and Arcane Research.
• Li Si decided to remain hidden until the Church of the Gods drew away the Heretic Believers, then look for a chance to retaliate against them.
• Li Si contacted Joyce, Lisa, Maurice, Adela, and the others, and learned that Heretic Believers had blocked rescue attempts and paid a considerable price while the Hunting Ceremony failed.

Dwarf King Preston dismissed his ministers’ reports while they decided the Dwarf Kingdom would avoid intervening over the Phillips Crystal and Pocket Worlds, preferring trade and leaving heretics to the Church of the Gods. Meanwhile, the Mithril Chamber of Commerce caravan reached Lonely Mountain City, where Reece set out to explore on his own and Alfie offered him a gift.

• Preston rejected the ministers’ reports and left the palace, prompting them to discuss kingdom affairs among themselves.
• Habedeng persuaded Alfonso and the other ministers not to occupy Pocket Worlds or intervene around the Phillips Crystal, and to contact the Church of the Gods about heretics.
• The Mithril Chamber of Commerce caravan approached Lonely Mountain City, and Alfie warned his companions to follow the local rules.
• Alfie invited Reece to stay at the commerce’s residence, but Reece declined so he could explore the city himself.
• Alfie thanked Reece for helping the caravan and presented him with a small gift from the Mithril Chamber of Commerce.

Li Si, disguised as the dwarf Reece Iron Hammer, arrived in Lonely Mountain City to pursue a path into Sotiga Volcano’s restricted core and recover Mattias’s Legendary ring. He sought to join the Iron Hammer Workshop, where its supervisor recognized his forging skill before Reece could explain his purpose.

• Reece declined Alfie’s gift and parted from the Mithril Chamber of Commerce caravan at Lonely Mountain City.
• Li Si recalled that Mattias’s Ring of Magic lay in Sotiga Volcano’s core and decided to earn access by becoming a Dwarf Forging Master.
• Li Si toured Lonely Mountain City, then went to the royal Iron Hammer Workshop to seek membership.
• Nidier welcomed Reece Iron Hammer and fetched the old dwarf Tomun to assess him.
• Tomun examined Reece’s hands and questioned why someone capable of opening his own workshop would join as an apprentice, surprising Nidier.

Li Si joined the Iron Hammer Workshop as the dwarf Reece and began forging a weapon to prove his skill. With Tomun’s support, he eventually completed a Legendary longsword.

• Tomun recognized Li Si’s forging ability, and Li Si explained that he had trained alone after receiving some instruction from Uncle Felix.
• Tomun took Li Si through the Iron Hammer Workshop and tested him in his own forging room, then welcomed him as a Dwarf Forging Master.
• News of Reece’s arrival spread through the workshop as Nidier attended to him and Tomun remained unusually cheerful.
• Li Si spent days forging and discarding Gold-level longswords while aiming to create a Legendary weapon, with Tomun supplying materials and advice.
• Li Si completed the final magical pattern on his longsword, and the weapon’s power confirmed that he had successfully forged a Legendary longsword.

Li Si successfully forged the Legendary longsword Crimson Flame Dragon Spine, earning Tomun's confidence and a place as an Iron Hammer Craftsman. While the workshop believed he was resting, Li Si slipped away toward Sotiga Volcano to seek access to its core region.

• Li Si forged the Legendary longsword Crimson Flame Dragon Spine from the bones of a Legendary Red Dragon, and Tomun praised his skill.
• Tomun promised Li Si a place as an Iron Hammer Craftsman and showed him his resting room in the workshop.
• Nidier entered Li Si's room, saw him apparently asleep, and decided to take the initiative in pursuing him.
• Li Si created a sleeping duplicate, concealed himself, and left the Iron Hammer Workshop without using Spatial Teleportation.
• Li Si reached the foot of Sotiga Volcano, placed a spatial marker, and headed toward the volcano's core.

Li Si infiltrated Sotiga Volcano in disguise and discovered that its guarded core, the Magma Heart, lay beyond a divine barrier beneath the crater. Following the Copper Ring of Samekhahar’s pull toward the golden-red magma lake, he approached it, but an aged dwarf opened his eyes.

• Li Si disguised himself as a Sun Elf and cautiously climbed to the crater, where he traced the growing divine pressure to the magma below.
• Li Si sent a protected Mirror Image clone into the magma and found a hidden passage guarded by a magical barrier and two dwarves.
• Li Si analyzed the barrier, passed through it using Chaos Divine Power, and entered the vast cavern known as the Magma Heart.
• Li Si put on the Copper Ring of Samekhahar and sensed that the Ring of Magic of Matteus was drawing it toward the golden-red magma lake.
• As Li Si neared the lake, an aged dwarf beside it opened his eyes.

Li Si infiltrated the Magma Heart and confirmed the location of the Ring of Magic of Matteus, but Dwarf Demigod Pule Waters exposed him and nearly killed him. Li Si escaped using a clone and returned to Iron Hammer Workshop, while Dwarf King Preston ordered an investigation and preparations to confront the Elf Kingdom.

• Li Si discovered that the elderly dwarf guarding the magma was Pule Waters, a Demigod, and fought him long enough to escape the Magma Heart.
• Pule Waters killed Li Si's Mirror Image clone and ordered the Legendary dwarves to investigate the Sun Elf intruder and demand an explanation from the Elf Kingdom.
• Li Si reappeared at a safehouse outside Lonely Mountain City, changed back into Reece, and returned to Iron Hammer Workshop after noticing increased security.
• Preston berated his ministers, appointed Casimir as an envoy to the Elf Kingdom, and ordered Morgan to capture the intruder.
• Preston and Morgan went to the Magma Heart while the ministers worried about the growing crises facing the Dwarf Kingdom.

Disguised as Reece, Li Si stayed at the Iron Hammer Workshop to improve his forging skills while waiting for the Dwarf Kingdom to relax its search for a Legendary Sun Elf. After the workshop’s master, Patterson Winn, approached him, Tomun confronted Patterson over who would teach him.

• Nidier urged Reece to rest after forging the Legendary longsword, and he postponed selecting more materials when she explained he could not use Tomun’s authority to take them.
• Reece decided to remain at the Iron Hammer Workshop and study the Dwarf Masters’ techniques while waiting for a safer chance to enter the Magma Heart.
• Patterson Winn, whose Legendary aura Reece recognized from the Magma Heart, stopped Reece and Nidier as they left the materials section.
• Tomun arrived and accused Patterson of trying to take Reece as his disciple, but Patterson insisted Reece could learn from anyone at the workshop and threatened to confine Tomun if he fought again.

Tomun accepted that Reece needed instruction from many masters to pursue the possibility of becoming a Grandmaster Blacksmith, though he still intended to remain Reece’s teacher. Meanwhile, a secretive faction advanced its plans in Lonely Mountain City, and Kaleb’s Church of the God of War envoy encountered a forceful welcome from the dwarves.

• Patterson told Tomun that Reece’s extraordinary talent might let him become a Grandmaster Blacksmith, and proposed that he learn from many masters and visit important dwarven sites.
• Tomun agreed to support Reece’s broader training and took Reece and Nidier around the Iron Hammer Workshop, while privately resolving to secure his place as Reece’s teacher.
• Two hidden conspirators discussed the Sun Elf Legend’s intrusion into the Magma Heart, exchanged a box, and agreed to proceed with their plan.
• Kaleb led a Church of the God of War party toward Lonely Mountain City on an envoy mission after receiving the Royal Court’s permission.
• Dwarven experts emerged from Lonely Mountain City and rapidly approached Kaleb’s party, leaving him wary of their apparent show of strength.

Kaleb arrived at Lonely Mountain City and learned that the dwarves were searching for a Legendary Sun Elf who had broken into Magma Heart, while the Dwarf Royal Court was reluctant to cooperate with his plans for the Phillips Crystal site. The chapter then shifted to Li Si training in magical-metal smelting under Jeffries and Tomun.

• Ricky recognized Kaleb and explained that the Dwarf Guards were on alert because a Legendary Sun Elf had escaped from Magma Heart.
• Ricky told Kaleb that the Dwarf King was furious and had ordered a search for the Sun Elf.
• Ricky said the dwarves preferred buying adventurers’ finds to exploring the Pocket Worlds or managing the Phillips Crystal site, frustrating Kaleb’s effort to secure their help.
• Kaleb asked Ricky to arrange a meeting with Dwarf King Preston, concerned that disorder and Heretic Believers at the site could threaten the Church of the God of War.
• Li Si practiced smelting magical metals at Iron Hammer Workshop as Jeffries praised his progress with the Blazing Gold Smelting Method and Tomun silently resented him.

Li Si left Iron Hammer Workshop at night to survey Lonely Mountain City and investigate the hidden Dwarf Temple for a way to reach the Ring of Magic of Matteus. He encountered a battle between a Legendary Sun Elf and a wounded Legendary priest, just as Dwarf Legends rushed toward the fight.

• Li Si studied under Iron Hammer Workshop's Dwarf Masters while Tomun arranged for them to teach him their forging knowledge.
• After returning to his quarters, Li Si left a duplicate in bed and slipped past Iron Hammer Workshop's Legendary protective arrays to explore Lonely Mountain City.
• Li Si suspected the Dwarf Temple was hidden in the city's mines and headed for an underground passage, hoping the temple might help him deal with the demigod guarding the Ring of Magic of Matteus.
• Li Si sensed two Legendary auras clashing in the eastern district and concealed himself as he hurried toward the battle.
• Li Si saw a Legendary Sun Elf attacking a badly injured Legendary priest, while their fight destroyed the surrounding houses.

Li Si suspected the disguised Sun Elf’s attack on Lonely Mountain City was meant to provoke the Dwarves and expose an inside man, then left before tighter inspections began. Ricky persuaded Kaleb to help investigate the attacker and the suspected leak so Dwarf Kingdom cooperation with the Church of the God of War would not be delayed.

• Li Si recognized that the Legendary Sun Elf was an impostor and suspected the attack was intended to stir conflict between the Dwarves and Elves.
• Legendary Dwarves arrived and fought the attackers, but the Sun Elf escaped through what Li Si suspected was the Shadow Plane.
• Li Si left the ruins after observing Kaleb, while Kaleb treated his injuries and worried that the Dwarves would distrust his concealed Legendary strength.
• Ricky vouched for Kaleb to the Dwarves, then punched him for hiding his breakthrough and questioned why the Sun Elf had targeted him.
• Ricky and Kaleb concluded that someone among the Royal Court or Temple might have leaked Kaleb’s arrival, and Ricky convinced Kaleb to help find the traitor and Sun Elf.

After the attack on Lonely Mountain City, Ricky enlisted Kaleb to help hunt the disguised Legendary Sun Elf, while Li Si suspected the Heretic Believers were behind the incident. Days later, Li Si attended the dwarves’ Festival of Fire with Nidier, but the Sun Elf remained missing and the Heretic Believers’ plans were unresolved.

• Ricky asked Kaleb to help search for the Legendary Sun Elf and suspected the Heretic Believers were responsible; Kaleb reluctantly agreed to assist.
• Li Si concluded the Sun Elf had likely used shadow power beyond the Legendary level and suspected followers of Mask or Mars.
• Several days later, Li Si went to the Festival of Fire with Nidier after Tomun sent him away from the workshop.
• Li Si noted that dwarves had uncovered several Heretic Believer strongholds, while the Sun Elf had not reappeared and Sotiga Volcano remained sealed.
• Li Si spotted someone in the crowd and walked toward the figure.

Kaleb was abducted into a Shadow Space while investigating the Heretic Believers, where Li Si tested his identity and then revealed himself. Li Si’s shadow nest and his connection to Lord Li An'en were exposed, and Kaleb recognized Li Si Kane as the World Tree favored one.

• Kaleb went to a tavern during the Festival of Fire, but a living shadow swallowed him and carried him into the Shadow Space.
• A hidden attacker told Kaleb they had come because he had been searching for them, then shadow blades attacked him.
• In a subterranean Shadow Nest, Lord Li An'en reprimanded an ally for letting the legendary priest escape and warned him not to fail again.
• Li Si confirmed Kaleb’s identity by sensing the aura of the God of War and stopped the attack.
• Li Si introduced himself as Li Si Kane, and Kaleb recognized him as the World Tree favored one and wondered why he had become so strong.

Li Si revealed his identity as a World Tree favored one to Kaleb using the Life Flame, then explained that the Sun Elf who attacked Kaleb was a Heretic Believer. Li Si suspected the hidden believers were preparing to strike during Lonely Mountain City’s Festival of Fire.

• Li Si used the Life Flame to convince Kaleb of his identity and gained his trust.
• Li Si told Kaleb that the Sun Elf who attacked him was a disguised Heretic Believer who escaped through the Shadow Plane.
• Kaleb explained that he and Ricky had searched for the Sun Elf without finding clues, while the temple searched the mines.
• Li Si suspected Heretic Believers were hiding in Lonely Mountain City’s underground passages and pursuing a larger scheme.
• Li Si warned Kaleb that the Festival of Fire would be an ideal time for the Heretic Believers to cause chaos, alarming him.

Li Si warned Kaleb that Heretic Believers might attack Lonely Mountain City during the Festival of Fire, then the two watched as shadow creatures began invading the city. Dwarf King Preston confronted the crisis from the palace and ordered Archbishop Li An De Er to act.

• Li Si told Kaleb that the Dwarf Kingdom had likely prepared for an attack, advised him to stay cautious, and asked him to keep Li Si's identity secret.
• Li Si and Kaleb returned to Lonely Mountain City and went to a tavern as the Festival of Fire celebrations filled the streets.
• Dark clouds gathered as unnatural shadows poured from the mines, swallowing dwarves across the city.
• Dwarven teams fought the Silver-level shadow creatures, while a priest and warrior rescued dwarves from the shadow sludge.
• Dwarf King Preston rebuked his ministers for allowing the attack, then thanked Archbishop Li An De Er, who raised a pillar of golden light toward the clouds.