Chapter Summaries

Dwarf Archbishop Li Ander dispelled the darkness over Lonely Mountain City, but gray mist gathered the Shadow Monsters into a giant creature in Victory Square. Dwarf King Preston confronted the Legendary Shadow Octopus Monster and began fighting it, while the battle remained unresolved.

• Li Ander summoned golden sunlight that weakened the Shadow Monsters, and Preston ordered the city to destroy them and hunt the Heretic Believers.
• Gray mist strengthened the Shadow Monsters, which converged in Victory Square and formed a colossal Shadow Octopus Monster that corrupted the minds of those who saw it.
• The Dwarf Temple raised walls of divine light around the monster, shielding the dwarves from its mental influence as clerics evacuated and aided the people.
• Preston entered the light barrier, grew to match the monster’s size, and charged at it to defend the Dwarf Kingdom’s dignity.
• The Shadow Octopus Monster attacked Preston with its tentacles, but he dodged and broke two of them before it summoned more tentacles and struck again.

Preston overwhelmed the Shadow Octopus Monster in Victory Square while Li Si and Kaleb headed into the mines to find the Shadow Monsters’ lair. Deep underground, Philip and a Wrath of Nature squad wandered in circles as they searched for the same lair, until an unknown figure appeared beside Philip.

• Preston tore off the Shadow Octopus Monster’s tentacles and slammed it into the ground, keeping it thoroughly suppressed.
• Li Si told Kaleb that Preston was displaying the Dwarf King’s authority and led him toward the mines, where he sensed the Shadow Monsters’ lair was hidden.
• Philip led Xian Dai Er and the Wrath of Nature squad through the mines, but the pervasive Shadow Monster traces left him unable to find the right route.
• After realizing that continuing together could put the squad in danger, Philip decided to send Xian Dai Er and the others back while he searched alone.
• A figure appeared beside Philip and placed a right hand on his shoulder.

Li Si reunited with Philip and Wrath of Nature in the dwarf mine, then led Philip and Kaleb to the hidden lair of the Shadow Monsters. The group reached a vast labyrinth called the Shadow Nest, where the King of Shadows’ followers had gathered.

• Li Si appeared beside Philip and was welcomed by Xian Dai Er and the Wrath of Nature elves.
• Philip explained the Elf Kingdom’s transaction with the Dwarf Kingdom and why he had brought Xian Dai Er and the warriors to Lonely Mountain City.
• Li Si asked Philip to keep his presence in the city secret, then introduced him to Kaleb, a bishop of the Church of the God of War.
• Li Si followed the Shadow Monsters’ traces through the mine and found a concealed passage to their nest.
• Li Si, Philip, and Kaleb entered the Shadow Nest while Xian Dai Er guarded the entrance with the other elves.
• A voice welcomed the three into the Shadow Nest, a vast, dark labyrinth filled with Shadow Power.

Li Si, Kaleb, and Philip entered the Shadow Nest beneath Lonely Mountain City and fought off its Shadow Monsters while its hidden Legendary master taunted them. Li Si identified the master as Kent Holden, whose startled reaction left the confrontation unresolved.

• A voice welcomed Li Si, Kaleb, and Philip to the Shadow Nest and recognized Philip and Li Si as they searched unsuccessfully for its hidden speaker.
• Kaleb used the divine spell Warrior's Guardian Song to shield the group, while Philip's three Legendary alchemical golems attacked the approaching Shadow Monsters.
• The Shadow Nest's master claimed the group could not escape, and Li Si discovered that Shadow Power blocked Spatial Teleportation but would not prevent him from using Shadow Leap.
• Li Si's Legendary Wind Blade killed Shadow Nest derivatives, and a system notification revealed that the hidden attacker was the Legendary Shadow Envoy Kent Holden.
• Li Si asked whether the enemy was Kent Holden, and the voice responded with alarm, demanding to know who had revealed his name.

Li Si deduced that Shadow Veil Kent Holden had fused with the Shadow Nest and possibly the Shadow Plane, making him extraordinarily difficult to kill but severely restricted. After Li Si exposed his secret, Kent fled with the Shadow Nest, leaving Li Si, Kaleb, and Philip in the emptied cavern.

• Li Si noticed Kent’s infinite Health Points and Mana Value and the status “Fusing,” then suspected his abnormal condition was tied to the Shadow Nest.
• Kent offered to let Li Si and the others leave safely if they abandoned Lonely Mountain City, but Li Si challenged him and guessed that the Shadow Nest was Kent’s real body.
• Li Si concluded that Kent had fused with the Shadow Nest and connected it to the Shadow Plane, and Kent vanished after Li Si revealed his secret.
• The Shadow Nest devoured the approaching Shadow Monsters as the cavern shook violently, then disappeared along with Kent.
• Li Si, Kaleb, and Philip inspected the cavern and confirmed that Kent had escaped with the Shadow Nest.

Li Si left the underground Shadow Nest crisis to Kaleb and Philip to report, then returned to Lonely Mountain City and considered Kent’s connection to the Shadow Nest and the Church of the King of Shadows’ possible plans. At the Iron Hammer Workshop, Tomun told Li Si that master smiths had been given a rare chance to study the clan’s Demigod Equipment and Holy Artifacts.

• Li Si told Kaleb and Philip to inform the dwarves about the Shadow Nest and left them to return together while he stayed behind.
• Li Si returned to Lonely Mountain City, reflected on Kent’s abilities and possible future clones, and suspected the Shadow Tide had concealed other plans by the Church of the King of Shadows.
• Nidier welcomed Li Si back to the Iron Hammer Workshop, and Tomun admitted he had worried and sent guards to look for him.
• Tomun told Li Si that the temple and royal court were letting master smiths examine the clan’s Demigod Equipment and Holy Artifacts, then asked whether Li Si wanted to go.

Li Si accepted a rare chance to study the Dwarf Race’s Demigod Equipment and Holy Artifacts, then followed Tomun into the Royal Palace’s hidden Pocket World. He discovered that the Dwarf Race stored its most precious treasures in more than a dozen heavily protected towers.

• Tomun told Li Si that the Dwarf Royal Court and temple had awakened Demigod Equipment and Holy Artifacts during the attack, and that Iron Hammer Workshop had given Li Si its sole study opportunity.
• Li Si agreed eagerly, but worried that his identity might be exposed at the secure site and spent the next few days preparing.
• Tomun escorted Li Si to the Dwarf Royal Palace, where Li Si passed a detection array without incident.
• A royal attendant verified their identities and led them through a Space Channel into a barren Pocket World.
• Tomun revealed that more than a dozen ochre towers held the Dwarf Race’s most precious Demigod Equipment and Holy Artifacts, protected by god-level defenses.

Li Si reflected on his growing debt to the Iron Hammer Workshop and decided to warn the Dwarf Race about dangers linked to the Phillips Crystal. At the Dwarf Race’s Pocket World, he joined Tomun and the other dwarves as they approached the tower and encountered Dwarf King Preston.

• Tomun showed Li Si the Dwarf Race’s collection of Demigod Equipment and Holy Artifacts and explained why the Iron Hammer Workshop had secured him a chance to study them.
• Li Si considered how much the Iron Hammer Workshop had helped him and decided he would repay that support before leaving, including by warning the Dwarf Race about the Phillips Crystal’s danger to occupied Pocket Worlds.
• Li Si concluded he would use his status as the World Tree’s favored one to alert allies and relevant factions about the coming chaos, despite not knowing how the warning would affect the future.
• Tomun called Li Si’s attention to the arriving dwarves, and they entered the Pocket World together as other forging masters greeted Reece.
• Li Si and the dwarves reached the brownish-yellow tower and saw Dwarf King Preston sitting cross-legged before it.

Li Si visited the Dwarf Kingdom’s tower to inspect Mountain Soul’s Fury, a Demigod Equipment warhammer, and studied the divine magic array protecting it. After the other masters took their turns, Li Si approached the warhammer to begin his own examination.

• Li Si noticed that Dwarf King Preston’s aura seemed hollow, then entered the tower with Tomun and the other Dwarf Masters.
• Tomun explained Mountain Soul’s Fury’s origins, powers, and the magic array that protected and nourished it.
• The attendant partially unlocked the array and laid out the rules for touching the Demigod Equipment, while Samuer took the first turn.
• Li Si studied the array’s magic runes as the other masters waited, deducing their functions with his knowledge as a Legendary Arcanist.
• After the last master finished, Li Si stepped toward Mountain Soul’s Fury for his turn.

Li Si gained Mountain Soul's Fury's recognition, survived its awakening, and witnessed the forging memories of the demigod weapon. After the unleashed power destroyed the tower, Preston asked Li Si how he had gained control of the hammer.

• Li Si studied Mountain Soul's Fury, gripped its handle, and triggered its immense power, which shattered the protective array and collapsed the tower.
• Preston protected Tomun and the dwarf attendant from the storm and sent them to safety while waiting to see whether Li Si could control the weapon.
• Mountain Soul's Fury's assessment rejected Li Si's dwarf-race qualifications, but his All-Rounder talent exempted him from the control requirements and earned him the weapon's recognition.
• Li Si received Mountain Soul's Fury's power and witnessed Lars Gak forge it with divine power bestowed by Dumasong, gaining insight into the creation of Demigod Equipment.
• Li Si emerged from the weapon's memories to find the tower destroyed, and Preston appeared and asked how he had gained control of Mountain Soul's Fury.

Li Si, disguised as the dwarf Reece, explained to Dwarf King Preston that his unusual talent let him control Mountain Soul's Fury without earning its recognition. Preston believed him and arranged for him to test whether he could also control the Holy Artifact Eternal Brew, leaving Li Si to wait while his fabricated identity faced possible scrutiny.

• Preston took Mountain Soul's Fury from Li Si and determined that Li Si had bypassed the weapon's recognition rather than become its chosen wielder.
• Li Si claimed his special talent let him use any weapon, equipment, or magical item and perceive memories imprinted on them.
• Preston accepted Li Si's explanation, warned him to keep his talent secret, and dismissed concerns about the damage to the tower.
• Preston ordered the attendants to clear the Pocket World, notify the temple's high priest, and take Li Si to the Eternal Brew.
• Li Si followed an attendant away and reflected that he had prepared Reece's false history by altering dwarves' memories.

Preston and Archbishop Li Ander recognized Reece’s ability to control the Dwarves’ powerful artifacts and agreed that the royal court and temple would support his growth. After gaining the Eternal Brew and several new abilities, Li Si asked them for permission to enter Magma Heart.

• Preston told Li Ander that Reece had controlled Mountain Soul’s Fury, and explained that Reece’s talent had not yet been verified.
• Preston said he had sent people to check Reece’s story and arranged for him to test the Eternal Brew; Li Ander offered to place a Reversion Imprint in it and help strengthen Reece.
• Li Si controlled the Eternal Brew, drank its wine, and received experience, Dionysus Blessing, Artifact Controller, and Godsend Hand, while triggering the Treasure Collector quest.
• Preston and Li Ander approached Li Si, praised his success, and agreed that the royal court and temple would help him grow toward Legendary strength.
• When Li Ander asked what he wanted, Li Si requested the qualification to enter Magma Heart.

Li Si persuaded Li Ander and Preston to let him enter the Magma Heart, hoping to use memory fragments from Eternal Brew to pursue his forging ambitions and get closer to a magic ring. While awaiting the trip, he made rapid progress at the Iron Hammer Workshop, leaving Nidier uncertain about her place beside him; the chapter ended with Li Si preparing for the journey to the Magma Heart.

• Li Si explained that memory fragments from Mountain Soul's Fury and Eternal Brew showed how they had been forged, and Li Ander and Preston agreed to let him enter the Magma Heart.
• Preston urged Li Si to try mastering the clan's other Demigod Equipment and Holy Artifacts, while Li Si welcomed the chance to gain power and advance his Treasure Collector milestone.
• At the Iron Hammer Workshop, Li Si devoted himself to forging, received precious materials from the temple and royal court, and impressed Tomun and Nidier with his progress.
• Li Si completed Emberwing, a powerful Legendary longsword with flame attacks, fire resistance, and the ability to absorb fire magic to restore Health Points.
• Tomun told Li Si that they would head to Magma Heart in a few days and urged him to prepare.

Li Si entered the Magma Heart with a group of dwarves under heavy guard and received an introduction to the sacred forging grounds. At the core, a figure watched him arrive.

• The Dwarf Royal Court and Dwarf Temple tightened security around Sotiga Volcano after the Heretic Believers' attack and searched for the vanished Shadow Nest.
• Dwarf King Preston and Archbishop Li Ander approved Li Si's visit to the Magma Heart and assigned a concealed legendary dwarf to protect him.
• Li Si traveled with Dwarf Forging Masters and guards to Sotiga Volcano, where the guard captain opened the entrance by throwing a gray bead into the magma.
• Li Si and the group entered the Magma Heart after elite guards verified their identities and belongings.
• The Forging Masters departed, and the guard captain explained the Magma Heart's forging rooms and rules to Li Si.
• A figure at the core of the Magma Heart watched Li Si.

Li Si, disguised as Reece, explored Magma Heart and impressed the demigod Pule with his forging skill. Pule escorted him to the golden lava at Magma Heart’s core, where Li Si could continue pursuing the Ring of Magic of Matteus under the demigod’s protection.

• Pule watched Reece arrive and recognized the God of War Servant assigned to protect him.
• Li Si sensed Pule observing him, then tested forging in Magma Heart and found its special fire elemental power greatly improved his work.
• Pule appeared, praised Reece’s forging talent, and offered to show him Magma Heart’s core.
• Pule explained that the golden lava strengthened forged equipment and was used to create many of the Dwarf Race’s Holy Artifacts and Demigod Equipment.
• Li Si examined the core and noticed a cave dwelling beside the lava pool that he suspected was Pule’s residence.

Li Si used wine from Eternal Brew to get Puer drunk, then secretly entered the Magma Heart’s golden magma pool to search for the Ring of Magic of Matteus. He found the hidden ring and drew it out with the Copper Ring of Samekhahar.

• Li Si brought food and wine to Puer, who welcomed him into his residence and shared Emerald Dream with him.
• Li Si poured wine from Eternal Brew for Puer, who drank more than a hundred cups and fell asleep.
• Li Si helped Puer onto the bed, then entered the golden magma pool while Puer continued snoring.
• Li Si sensed the Ring of Magic of Matteus deep within the magma but could not see it, so he used the Copper Ring of Samekhahar to reveal it.
• The Ring of Magic of Matteus appeared attached to the Copper Ring of Samekhahar, giving off a powerful, obscure fluctuation.

Li Si recovered Mattias’s Ring of Magic from Magma Heart and discovered its powerful weapon-transforming abilities and potential to grow beyond Legendary tier. After hiding the ring from Puer, he decided to explore the source of a mysterious fluctuation below.

• Li Si obtained Mattias’s Legendary Ring of Magic with the help of the Copper Ring of Samekhahar.
• Li Si inspected the ring’s seven effects, including Thousand Forms Armory, equipment devouring and sacrifice, Blazing Soul Forging, and the Flawless Embryo’s capacity to bear higher-tier power.
• Li Si recognized that the ring could let him switch weapon forms in battle and chose to make it one of his most important pieces of equipment.
• Li Si coated the ring with black liquid to conceal its fluctuations and stored it away so Puer would not notice it.
• Li Si no longer sensed Puer watching him and turned toward the mysterious fluctuation below to explore.

Li Si discovered three Soul Ember Orbs at the bottom of the Magma Heart and took one, gaining a precious material for forging extraordinary equipment. He returned to Puer, who accepted his achievement and told him to rest before receiving the Divine Power Baptism in three days.

• Li Si considered how to preserve his Reece identity in the Dwarf Kingdom and planned to share news of the Phillips Crystal mutation with allied factions.
• Li Si descended through the magma and found three golden-red orbs he identified as condensed Soul Ember Power.
• Li Si took one orb, which the system identified as a Legendary-level Soul Ember Orb, but burned his hand when he tried to take another.
• Puer sensed the Soul Ember Power had decreased, then laughed at Li Si's scorched hand and gave him burn medicine.
• Puer told Li Si to keep the Soul Ember Orb, rest, and return in three days for the Divine Power Baptism.

Li Si underwent Samekhahar’s Blazing Soul Baptism in the Magma Heart, absorbing divine power that strengthened his attributes and Soul Strength. The baptism ended after 500 layers, leaving Puer astonished by how much Reece could endure.

• Puer prepared Li Si for Samekhahar’s Divine Power Baptism and warned him to conserve the Soul Ember Power for future forging.
• Puer channeled golden divine power into Li Si and sealed the Magma Heart’s core behind a blue barrier.
• Li Si absorbed the gentle infusion, gaining attribute points, increased Soul Strength, and the Blazing Soul Baptism feat.
• Puer watched Li Si endure hundreds of layers, growing increasingly nervous as the baptism continued without harming him.
• The golden streams vanished after the 500th layer, and Puer caught Li Si as he fell, confirming the baptism had ended.

After waking from the Blazing Soul Baptism, Li Si let Puer believe Eternal Brew had absorbed some Soul Ember Power, concealing his true actions. He gained a talent that let him control Soul Ember Power and used it in the Magma Heart to forge the Legendary staff Elements Weaver.

• Li Si woke in the Magma Heart, and Puer questioned him about his unusual Blazing Soul Baptism.
• Li Si suggested Eternal Brew had grown hot during the baptism, and Puer inferred that the Holy Artifact had absorbed Soul Ember Power.
• After Puer left, Li Si reflected on his improved attributes and new Blazing Soul Baptism talent, which let him sense and guide Soul Ember Power.
• Li Si used precious materials and Soul Ember Power to forge the Legendary staff Elements Weaver.