Chapter Summaries

Li Si rejected cooperation with the Tower of Scorched Embers but received Borcan’s spell research and Flame Extinguisher Body Tempering Method. Meanwhile, mages flocked to Source of All Laws’ recruitment assessment in Yonas City, and the chapter ended as its Mage Tower began to change.

• Borcan told a red-shadowed Legend that Li Si had refused the Tower of Scorched Embers’ cooperation, but Borcan decided to support him anyway.
• Li Si studied Borcan’s personal spell research and discovered the Flame Extinguisher Body Tempering Method.
• Nelson told Cole that Li Si Kane’s Source of All Laws was recruiting, and the two decided to apply.
• Cole and Nelson joined the growing crowd outside the Source of All Laws Mage Tower, where even Gold-level mages waited for the assessment.
• As Cole wondered what the assessment would involve, the Mage Tower suddenly changed.

Li Si Kane opened Source of All Laws to mages of every rank and school, then began its recruitment assessment in a magically expanded space around the Mage Tower. The test plunged the applicants into a disabling fog, where Cole pressed toward a distant light as his thoughts began to slow and visions appeared.

• Li Si Kane expanded and stabilized the space around the Mage Tower, stunning the gathered mages and drawing the attention of the Legendary Councilors.
• Li Si Kane welcomed mages of every rank and school to apply to Source of All Laws, promising that anyone who passed the test could join.
• Li Si Kane sent the applicants to the edge of the expanded space, where Cole and Nelson concluded they needed to reach the Mage Tower and found themselves unable to cast spells.
• Cole, Nelson, and the other applicants entered the plain as thick fog separated them from one another and obscured their surroundings.
• Cole steadied himself and followed a distant light through the fog, but his thoughts grew sluggish and strange visions began to appear.

Cole overcame illusions that tested his deepest fears and convictions, becoming the first mage to pass Li Si's assessment and enter the Source of All Laws. After welcoming Cole, Li Si triggered the Legendary-level quest Restorer of Mage Order.

• Cole faced illusions of loneliness, danger, failure, and betrayal, then reaffirmed his love of magic and continued toward the Mage Tower.
• Li Si observed the assessment and explained to Lisa that his Dream Power test was meant to find mages who genuinely valued magic and wisdom.
• Lisa worried she could not help, so Li Si encouraged her to take walks and guide newly admitted mages.
• Cole passed the test first and was teleported to the Mage Tower, where Li Si recognized him as the young mage he had previously guided in Yonas City.
• Cole realized Li Si was the mage who had helped him with Space Magic, then entered the Mage Tower as the Source of All Laws' first member.
• Li Si received the Legendary-level series quest Restorer of Mage Order.

Li Si accepted the Legendary quest to restore mage order by winning support for Source of All Laws, while reflecting on his plans to pursue godhood and deepen his understanding of Wisdom. Cole entered the Mage Tower, where Little Black registered him and gave him his new robe and the inaugural issue of Nature.

• Li Si received the Restorer of Mage Order quest, which required Source of All Laws to gain the wholehearted support of more than half the Pan-continental Mage Association.
• Li Si considered the history of the Netheril Magic Empire, the Church of the Gods' hopes that he would pursue godhood, and his own progress toward creating an Apotheosis Art.
• Li Si examined Cole Solins's Gold-level Good Scholar talent and found his broad elemental affinities intriguing.
• Cole entered the Source of All Laws Mage Tower and admired its magical architecture before meeting the Black Cat, a Magic Intelligent Life.
• Little Black registered Cole, gave him a black badge and mage robe, and presented him with the inaugural issue of Nature.

Cole explored the Source of All Laws Mage Tower after passing its assessment, discovering its journals, library, and rank system. He learned that his initial-member authorization let him borrow ninety percent of the library’s spellbooks, leaving him stunned by the access he had gained.

• Cole opened the journal Nature and read Li Si Kane’s writings on nature, life, and magic.
• Cole entered the vast Source of All Laws Library and examined his badge to learn the school’s ranks and Arcane Points system.
• Cole found the library rules and worried that his initial-member rank would limit him to a few books.
• Cole consulted the magical intelligence and learned he could borrow ninety percent of the library’s spellbooks.
• Cole stared at the library in shock at the breadth of his borrowing privileges.

Cole studied Source of All Laws’ rules and discovered that members could earn Arcane Points by publishing papers, while Li Si invited Legendary Councilor Simoni to become deputy editor-in-chief of the faction’s Magic Journal. Simoni accepted, joining Li Si’s effort to build the journal.

• Cole read the faction’s rules and learned that membership rank could grant access to magical resources and workshops.
• Cole discovered that members earned Arcane Points mainly by publishing original papers in the Source of All Laws Magic Journal, and he decided to try writing one.
• Cole read Li Si’s papers in Nature and realized that some were understandable while others were far beyond his grasp.
• Li Si invited Free Chanter Simoni to join Source of All Laws as deputy editor-in-chief of its Magic Journal.
• Simoni praised the journal as a concept that could change the Pan-continental Mage Association and accepted Li Si’s invitation.

Li Si recruited Free Chanter Simoni into the Source of All Laws and explained how its Magic Journals would use standardized papers to make magical knowledge clearer and easier to preserve. He defended sharing knowledge and supporting contributing mages, leaving Simoni ready to help manage the journals.

• Li Si welcomed Free Chanter Simoni into the Source of All Laws as deputy editor-in-chief of the Source of All Laws Magic Journal.
• Simoni examined the journal Nature and recognized that its papers shared a concise, consistent format unlike traditional magic books.
• Li Si explained that papers would standardize how mages presented and verified knowledge, while different Magic Journals would cover different magical fields or publish especially important work.
• Li Si said the journals would appear monthly and explained that Little Black could prepare papers from his stored magical knowledge until other mages began submitting their own.
• Simoni worried that sharing magical knowledge could harm mages who depended on keeping it exclusive, but Li Si said the Source of All Laws would support contributors and continue the reform.

Cole and Nelson settled into life as members of the Source of All Laws, where the Wisdom Library offered them a rare chance to advance their magical knowledge. Li Si asked them to write papers for the faction’s journals and promised to take Cole as his student if he became the first to publish one.

• Cole and Nelson continued studying in the Wisdom Library after passing the Source of All Laws assessment.
• Li Si met the two young mages in the library and praised their membership and the potential for shared magical knowledge.
• Li Si explained that the faction’s journals needed papers from members, including work on low-level magic.
• Li Si offered to take Cole as his student if Cole became the first mage to publish a paper in the journals, and Cole eagerly agreed.

Li Si proposed that the Pan-continental Mage Association adopt Magic Journals, but the Legendary Council rejected his application after lengthy debate. The vote records gave him information about which councilors supported or opposed him.

• Li Si attended the Third Deliberation Meeting and waited for the Council to consider his proposal to implement Magic Journals across the Association.
• An unidentified councilor accused the journals of stealing mages’ achievements and urged the Association to prohibit their publication.
• Li Si challenged the councilor to say whether they spoke for all mages or only for themselves and their schools.
• Councilors questioned Li Si at length, and the Legendary Council rejected his application to implement Magic Journals.
• Li Si reviewed the vote records and councilors’ identities, treating them as his greatest gain from the meeting.

Li Si waited for the Source of All Laws to gain influence while its opponents held back, then sparred with Aurelian in Kane Floating City. Li Si swallowed Aurelian’s Star Spells with a giant black hand, leaving Aurelian to demand how he had learned Lord Talindra’s Star Realm Magic.

• The Source of All Laws continued to grow, with one-tenth of the Pan-continental Mage Association’s mages joining, while Li Si anticipated that rival schools were waiting for an opportunity to oppose him.
• Li Si invited Aurelian to spar in Kane Floating City’s Martial Arts Arena to test his strength and trigger a Limited Challenge Quest.
• Aurelian struck Li Si with a meteor shower, but Li Si swallowed the incoming meteors with Space Rifts and mocked Aurelian’s attack.
• Aurelian conjured a sun and moon that suppressed Li Si’s senses, Mental Power, movement, and magic power, then sent empowered meteors crashing toward him.
• Li Si formed a giant black hand that swallowed the meteors and then consumed Aurelian’s sun and moon.
• Aurelian revealed himself and asked Li Si how he knew Lord Talindra’s Star Realm Magic.

Li Si defeated Aurelian by using Chaos Power, which Aurelian recognized as Star Realm Magic, and offered to share his insights in exchange for Star Ring’s help. After discussing the schools’ likely opposition and Li Si’s plans for the Source of All Laws, they made an arrangement, and Li Si received the rewards for his challenge before a new quest appeared.

• Li Si’s Chaos Power suppressed Aurelian’s Star Spells, ending their battle and revealing that Li Si had mastered Star Realm Magic.
• Li Si offered to share his Star Realm Magic insights, and Aurelian agreed to support him, though Li Si said Star Ring should not fully back the Source of All Laws yet.
• Aurelian warned that rival schools would target the Source of All Laws’ members and obstruct Li Si’s proposals through the Legendary Council.
• Li Si rejected making deals with councilors to advance the Source of All Laws and whispered a request to Aurelian.
• Li Si received experience, specialties, and skills for completing his challenge against Aurelian, then triggered the quest Mage Association’s Berserker.

Li Si gained Aurelian’s meditation method and Star Spells, then accepted a quest to defeat Legendary Councilors. Meanwhile, Cole neared completion of his paper on perceiving spatial fluctuations, with Nelson supporting him as he pursued a chance to become Li Si’s disciple.

• Li Si received Enduring Stamina, Aurelian’s Star Breath Meditation, and the Legendary Arcanes Star: Mimic Sun and Star: Mimic Moon after sparring with Aurelian.
• Li Si accepted the Mage Association’s Berserker quest, which rewarded him for defeating Legendary Councilors, and considered challenging Aurelian again.
• The Source of All Laws recruitment rush in Yonas City eased as most nearby mages had already joined.
• Cole devoted himself to research and spell practice, planning a paper on practical ways to perceive spatial fluctuations so he could qualify as Li Si’s disciple.
• Nelson supported Cole by sparring with him and remained happy for his friend despite briefly feeling jealous of the opportunity.
• Nelson returned home, found Cole resting, and picked up Cole’s nearly finished paper, titled “Three Practical Techniques for Perceiving Spatial Fluctuations.”

Cole completed a paper on experimental techniques for perceiving spatial fluctuations and submitted it to Little Black for review. After revising it for three days, he received approval to publish it in Thought, but his exhaustion left him barely conscious.

• Cole finished his paper with Nelson's help and hurried to the Source of All Laws Mage Tower to submit it.
• Nelson led Cole to a quiet spot in the Arcane Garden, where Cole asked Little Black to review his manuscript.
• Little Black said the paper could be published in Thought after Cole fixed the marked problems.
• Cole ignored Nelson's suggestion to celebrate and spent three days revising the paper.
• Little Black approved Cole's revised paper, while Cole nearly collapsed from exhaustion and Nelson had already passed out.

After Cole passed out from exhaustion, Li Si arranged for Black Cat to publish his paper and promote him as a young talent. A faction-wide announcement then introduced Cole’s paper and new resource and facility rules, leaving Yor wondering whether the Silver-level mage named in the notice was her acquaintance.

• Cole collapsed after Black Cat accepted his paper, and Li Si asked Black Cat to publish it and help publicize him.
• Li Si reflected that most faction members had little incentive to write papers because the restricted books required Arcane Points were beyond their current level.
• Yor received a faction announcement in the Wisdom Library stating that Cole’s paper on sensing spatial fluctuations had passed review and earned him double Arcane Points.
• Yor recognized Cole’s name and wondered whether the Silver-level mage she had seen in the library was the paper’s author.
• Yor read the faction’s new resource-allocation and facility-use rules, which listed Li Si and Cole as currently eligible to apply for magical facilities.

Yor learned that Cole had published the first paper in the Magic Journal and rushed to find him. After the paper earned Cole access to Kane Floating City's facilities, Black Cat brought him to Li Si, who offered to take him as a disciple.

• Yor read the faction notice and realized Cole was qualified to apply to use Kane Floating City's magical facilities.
• Cole woke on Kane Floating City after falling asleep while submitting his paper, and Black Cat confirmed that it had passed.
• Black Cat led Cole through the Floating City to meet Li Si, and Cole marveled at the city and Li Si's magical garden.
• Li Si praised Cole's insight into Space Magic and asked whether he would become his disciple, and Cole accepted.

Li Si took Cole on as his first mage disciple, gave him guidance and access to Kane Floating City’s resources, and encouraged him to pursue knowledge independently. After Cole explained how the Magic Journals helped ordinary mages, Li Si assigned him to sell access to a Legendary Magic Workshop, leaving Cole anxious about dealing with powerful Legends.

• Li Si welcomed Cole as his disciple, gave him a Space Magic notebook and mage robe, and advised him to focus on building a strong foundation.
• Li Si explained that Cole could contact him through his badge but should first try to solve questions on his own, and Cole began imagining that he might reach a far greater level than Gold Mage.
• Li Si asked Cole why he had established the Magic Journals, and Cole said they opened access to magical knowledge and introduced mages to research and creative thinking.
• Cole discovered that his Source of All Laws rank had risen to two-star Arcanist and that he could apply to use the Floating City’s magical facilities.
• Li Si told Cole to sell his authorization to use a Legendary Magic Workshop, assuring him that his status as Li Si’s disciple would protect him, and Cole worried about negotiating with Legends.

Source of All Laws’ announcement opened high-level magical resources to members through paper-writing competitions, inspiring them to study and publish. Cole confirmed he was Li Si’s disciple, agreed to help Yor write a paper, and sought a message to a Legendary Councilor of the Tower of Scorched Embers; the chapter ended with Legendary Mages discussing a possible trade for Cole’s top-tier Magic Workshop access.

• Li Si’s new rules reserved opportunities for low- and mid-level mages, prompting Source of All Laws members to study its Magic Journals and prepare papers.
• Members learned that Cole, a Silver Mage from an ordinary family, had published a paper and become Li Si’s disciple.
• Yor asked Cole to teach her how to write a paper, and Cole agreed to share his experience.
• Cole asked Yor whether her father could contact a Legendary Councilor of the Tower of Scorched Embers so he could pass along a request.
• Borcan told several Legendary Mages that Li Si’s new disciple planned to trade away his right to use a top-tier Magic Workshop in Kane Floating City.

Borcan committed the Tower of Scorched Embers to supporting Li Si and the Source of All Laws, driven by a suspicion that the Association faced a serious threat. The chapter ended with a fissure opening in a quiet town’s nearby mountains as beasts roared from within.

• Borcan directed the Tower of Scorched Embers to trade for access to the Magic Workshop and distribute the available slots according to its internal order.
• Borcan argued that the Association and its factions needed change, and the Tower of Scorched Embers decided to support Li Si and the Source of All Laws.
• Borcan ordered the faction’s Legendary Councilors to join the Source of All Laws, prompting Mike to warn that the decision could cause resentment.
• Borcan told Mike that Li Si’s suspicion was likely true but withheld the details, saying the Association might not remain peaceful and wishing a Speaker would return.
• In Yonas City, faction members argued over how to respond to Li Si’s offer before deciding to wait.
• At night, a fissure split open in the mountains near a quiet town, and roars of beasts emerged from it.

Villagers arriving for Greystone City's market day found the city devastated by magical beasts, prompting the Pan-continental Mage Association to investigate a newly discovered dungeon passage. Li Si joined the planned expedition, while the Association's mages began sealing off the passage and preparing to explore it.

• Villagers heading to Greystone City for market day found its walls and buildings ruined, saw signs of a massacre, and fled without entering farther.
• Li Si received an emergency report that magical beasts had destroyed Greystone City and that investigators had found several hostile Legendary auras nearby.
• The investigation team discovered a new dungeon passage in the mountains, so the Legendary Council convened to plan how to handle it.
• Borcan, Uller, and other Legendary Councilors agreed to send several Legends to the dungeon, and Li Si volunteered while anticipating that his absence might prompt rival factions to act.
• At the passage, hundreds of mages raised a magical barrier as small golems marched toward the underground cave.

Li Si investigated the newly appeared dungeon, where a mysterious horde of magical beasts had attacked the Association’s guards before vanishing underground. He entered the dangerous Unknown Dungeon Lands and, as an exploring team sensed someone approaching from behind, the chapter ended on a warning.

• Li Si reviewed the report of the beasts’ night attack and suspected the dungeon’s appearance and creatures might be controlled by someone in the shadows.
• Li Si decided to explore the dungeon himself and entered its dark passages despite sensing danger.
• Pascal detected an earth-element magical mineral deposit while her team mapped the dungeon and prepared to rest.
• Pascal sensed that a strand of magical power behind the team had been disturbed, and the group turned toward the dark passage on alert.