Chapter Summaries

Li Si completed his training on Metallic Dragon Island, secured the Metallic Dragons’ cooperation with Kane Floating City, and traveled to the remote sea where the World Rune [Forest] had sunk. He discovered a vast, glowing Coral Forest on the seafloor and suspected the rune had changed it.

• Li Si tested his Legendary Arcane [Elemental Body Forging, Dragon Body Forging] and confirmed it had strengthened his physical abilities.
• Joachim agreed to cooperate with Kane Floating City after receiving a divine oracle from Bahamut, and Li Si discussed plans for the Metallic Dragons to visit Dan’erluo Port.
• Li Si left Dragon Island after Ludwig entered a long slumber and traveled toward the location Arvis had given him.
• Li Si reached a remote sea north of Tudosi Continent and descended beneath the surface in search of the World Rune [Forest].
• Li Si discovered an immense, glowing Coral Forest on the seafloor and swam toward it, wondering whether the World Rune had transformed the corals.

Li Si found the source of World Rune [Forest] beneath an extraordinary Coral Forest and awakened the intelligence of its ancient guardian tree, Xiao Lan. He uncovered the emerald rune inside a crystal-filled cave and reached it at the chapter’s end.

• Li Si explored the Coral Forest and sensed that its blue radiance carried power from World Rune [Forest].
• Li Si contacted the ancient coral giant tree, imprinted his Mental Power on its consciousness, and used his [Wisdom] Domain to awaken and educate it.
• The coral giant tree named itself Xiao Lan and told Li Si that its power came from beneath it.
• Li Si opened a passage through the seabed and descended through the trench in search of the rune’s source.
• Li Si discovered World Rune [Forest] enclosed in a magical crystal pillar inside an emerald-lit cave.

Li Si claimed the World Rune [Forest] and transformed Xiao Lan into a little girl so he could take her away from the Coral Forest. Meanwhile, Talindra questioned the leaders of the Three Top Schools about the Association’s ongoing investigation into its traitors.

• Li Si studied and claimed the World Rune [Forest], gaining insight into its laws of life and death.
• Li Si told Xiao Lan to leave with him and used magic to separate her consciousness from her giant coral body.
• Li Si transformed Xiao Lan into a blue-haired girl, stored her shrunken coral body, and took her home.
• Talindra met with the leaders of the Three Top Schools in her garden and asked how the investigation was progressing.
• Talindra had ordered the Legendary Council to investigate the entire Pan-continental Mage Association after evil gods began targeting it.

Talindra led a purge of the Pan-continental Mage Association and pushed its leaders to reform the school system while preparing to cooperate with the Church of the Gods against the Abyss. After Li Si demonstrated his growing mastery of Star Realm Magic, Talindra asked whether he wanted to become her disciple.

• Talindra oversaw inspections across the Association and began strengthening cooperation with the Church of the Gods against Heretic Believers and Abyssal Demonic Beasts.
• Borcan reported the purge’s progress, and Talindra ordered the Association to keep watch on absent Legendary Councilors suspected of serving Evil Gods.
• Talindra told Borcan, Murphy, and the others that the Association’s school system had become an obstacle and urged them to reform it in favor of the changes brought by [Source of All Laws].
• Li Si met Talindra and asked whether he had completed her task; she agreed and tested his mastery of Star Realm Magic.
• After Li Si formed a starry sky from Star Realm Power, Talindra asked him whether he wanted to be her disciple.

Talindra recruited Li Si as her student after witnessing his mastery of high-tier Star Realm Magic. Meanwhile, the Black Iron Dwarves of the Heart of the Furnace fought off an Abyssal beast assault, and the battle grew more chaotic when Minotaurs charged the beasts from behind.

• Talindra asked Li Si to become her student so she could teach him Star Realm Magic, and Li Si accepted while thinking he had been forced into it.
• Abyssal Demonic Beasts gathered across the Magma River and attacked the Heart of the Furnace after underground lizards died to create a path through the magma.
• Iron Skull rallied the Black Iron Dwarves, who fired their Magic Crystal Cannons and fought the beasts at the city walls.
• Iron Skull faced three Legendary Demonic Beasts as dwarves and Abyssal creatures fell across the battlefield.
• Minotaurs wielding massive axes charged from a dungeon passage into the rear of the Abyssal Demonic Beasts.

Minotaurs, Dwarves, and Goblins joined forces to repel an overwhelming assault by Abyssal Demonic Beasts at the Heart of the Furnace. After the beasts retreated, Jindori said he knew a guest who could help them hold back future attacks.

• Hundreds of Minotaurs charged into the Abyssal Demonic Beasts, drawing many attackers away from the Heart of the Furnace and giving the Dwarves a chance to counterattack.
• As the Minotaurs and Dwarves began to tire, Goblins piloting Golems arrived and crushed and bombarded the beasts.
• The Minotaurs, Dwarves, and Goblins fought together until the Abyssal Demonic Beasts abruptly retreated deeper into the dungeon.
• Iron Skull thanked Noss and Jindori for helping defend the Heart of the Furnace, and the leaders agreed that their races needed to unite against the beasts.
• Jindori told Iron Skull and Noss that a guest could help them resist the Abyssal Demonic Beasts.

Quentin told Iron Skull, Jindori, and Noss that the Abyssal Demonic Beasts were part of a scheme by the Abyss Lords and Lolth the Spider Queen, prompting the three leaders to cooperate with the Church of the Gods in defending the dungeon. As the invasion spread and factions prepared for battle, the Order gods reached a decision, while Undying appeared on the streets of Dan'erluo Port.

• Quentin introduced himself to Iron Skull, Jindori, and Noss and explained that the Abyss Lords were helping Lolth the Spider Queen send Abyssal Demonic Beasts into the dungeon.
• Iron Skull, Jindori, and Noss agreed to cooperate with the Church of the Gods, providing maps, supplies, and other assistance in exchange for compensation.
• An expanding abyss passage poured out stronger Abyssal Demonic Beasts, which Dark Elves directed through tunnels across the dungeon.
• Transcendent factions surveyed newly discovered Rebirth Dungeons and built defenses while their leaders planned the fight against the invasion.
• The Order gods argued in the Hall of the Gods until several powerful divine auras arrived and a final decision was reached.
• Figures appeared in Dan'erluo Port, and its residents recognized them as the Undying and returned to their business.

Players began Version 4.0’s dungeon-war storyline as Li Si realized his actions had changed the main plot and planned to refine his Apotheosis Art. Talindra left him in charge of Association affairs, and the Pan-continental Mage Association announced him as its Fourth Speaker.

• Players received the Version 4.0 main storyline quest, which tasked them with joining factions and resisting Abyssal invasions of dungeon domains.
• Li Si recognized that his actions had exposed Demogorgon’s plans, shifting Version 4.0’s storyline toward dungeon invasions while leaving the coming Abyss Blood Battle likely unchanged.
• Li Si reviewed the knowledge and materials he had gathered to improve his Apotheosis Art and decided to use the players’ war quests to help them grow stronger.
• Talindra told Li Si he had mastered enough Star Realm Magic to leave, then persuaded him to handle Association affairs while she went to help Stephens.
• The Pan-continental Mage Association announced that Li Si Kane had become its Fourth Speaker.

Li Si learned that he had been named the Pan-continental Mage Association’s Fourth Speaker after helping expose and defeat Legendary Councilors who sought to suppress the [Source of All Laws]. Talindra could not explain why First Speaker Osiris chose him, leaving Li Si curious about the elusive leader as he took on his new role and awaited news about Stephens.

• Association members celebrated Li Si’s appointment as Fourth Speaker and welcomed the protection it gave the [Source of All Laws].
• Talindra told Li Si that Osiris had ordered his appointment after she had initially intended to make him an acting Speaker.
• Li Si questioned Talindra about Osiris, and she explained that she had never met him and could contact him only through tools he had made.
• Talindra gave Li Si a gemstone communication token and said she would update him about Stephens’s difficult situation.
• Li Si accepted the responsibilities of Speaker and resolved to grow stronger so he could help Stephens.

Li Si began refining the Apotheosis Art, identifying flaws in Sphinx’s method and planning to use his Faith Clones and [Wisdom] domain to develop it. In the Blood Mist Abyss, a mysterious prisoner named Stephens remained protected by a staff as a colossal shadow appeared and offered him cooperation.

• Li Si delegated Pan-continental Mage Association affairs to Borcan, Uller, and the other school leaders so he could focus on refining the Apotheosis Art.
• Li Si studied the [Sphinx Ascension to Godhood Art] and identified problems with its separate Elemental Golem and its approach to constructing a Divinity Domain.
• Li Si planned to use [Faith Clone] and his [Wisdom] domain to address those problems, then entered seclusion and began adding points with the system.
• In the Blood Mist Abyss, a prisoner named Stephens remained sealed among twelve Black Giant Trees, protected from their evil power by a radiant staff.
• A massive shadow emerged from the blood mist and asked Stephens to stop resisting and cooperate with it.

Stephens rejected Demogorgon's offer to cooperate while imprisoned in the Endless Abyss, and Demogorgon vowed to wear down his resistance. Meanwhile, players scouting Tudos Dungeon discovered a vast blood sea and a giant pulsing tumor being fed by Abyssal Demonic Beasts.

• Stephens refused Demogorgon's offer, and Demogorgon tried to tempt him by threatening the Gaia Guardian at his side.
• Demogorgon left Stephens imprisoned, confident that he had time to make the Gaia Guardian submit and stop interfering with his plans.
• Dan'erluo Port became the Church of the Gods' logistical hub as players, mages, and other forces joined the dungeon war against Abyssal Demonic Beasts.
• A three-player squad cautiously crossed Tudos Dungeon while avoiding monsters and traps during a reconnaissance mission.
• The squad reached the dungeon's deepest cavern and found a churning sea of blood surrounding a gigantic tumor with a pulsing heart inside.
• The players watched Abyssal Demonic Beasts feed hunted creatures and corpses into the blood sea, where their remains flowed into the tumor.

Three players discovered a grotesque blood-red tumor in a dungeon and decided to report it to the White Dove Merchant Guild. Meanwhile, Li Si absorbed a storm of magic in Kane Floating City and completed his transformation into a Demigod.

• [Cilantro Annihilator], [404NotFound], and [Tang Monk Washes Hair with Rejoy] found an enormous blood-red tumor surrounded by Abyssal Demonic Beasts in the dungeon.
• [404NotFound] persuaded the others to take their discovery to the White Dove Merchant Guild instead of turning it over to the Earth Church.
• The three players marked the cavern's location and left, while a black figure appeared on their platform after they were gone.
• A violent storm engulfed Kane Floating City, and Li Si passed through the Magic Barrier to draw its magic into himself.
• Li Si absorbed the magic and a phantom book bearing a seven-colored crown, which transformed his body and brought his power under control.
• Li Si broke through the barrier between man and god and entered the realm of a Demigod.

Li Si reached the demigod realm but refused to begin his own Ascension to Godhood, instead using his Wisdom Faith Clone to ascend while he remained a Legendary Arcanist. After examining his new Apotheosis Ladder, he returned to Kane Floating City, where others sensed his newfound power, and left with Tiya.

• Li Si reached Level 300, passed the Ascension to Godhood assessment, and declined to ascend, while his Wisdom Faith Clone began the process and unlocked the Apotheosis Ladder.
• Li Si discovered that his Wisdom Clone could wield his mastered domains and demigod power, then drew it back into himself to combine their strength.
• Li Si reviewed the five Divine Ladders and concluded that his Divinity alone had reached the required prototype stage, while the other ladders still needed work.
• Li Si returned to Kane Floating City, where two Legendary Councilors sensed his power and Joyce recognized his demigod breakthrough.
• Tiya arrived after hearing about the disturbance, and Li Si reassured her before carrying her away from the watching crowd.

After emerging from a year and a half of seclusion as a demigod, Li Si reviewed the dungeon front and learned that the Abyssal evil gods were cultivating eight demigod-level demonic beasts. The Church of the Gods' allied forces attacked the cocoons, and a battle recording left Li Si questioning why there was so much blood on the battlefield.

• Li Si recovered from his breakthrough and considered how to prepare for his eventual ascension to godhood.
• Li Si summoned the Black Cat and asked for important intelligence, especially reports from the dungeon front.
• The Black Cat explained that three Undying ones had discovered a demonic beast cocoon and that similar cocoons had been found in dungeons on other continents, bringing the total to eight.
• The Church of the Gods' allied forces launched raids against all eight cocoons, succeeding only halfway and suffering heavy losses.
• Li Si watched a recording of an allied force fighting Abyssal Demonic Beasts around a blood-red cocoon and noticed the battlefield seemed to contain an unusual amount of blood.