Chapter Summaries

Li Si held off the wounded vampire Kutner until Marion arrived and killed him. Marion introduced himself to Li Si, then left before the kingdom and church forces arrived, and Li Si slipped away from the ruined streets.

• Li Si used Binding Net, Rockfall, and Ice Storm to stall Kutner while avoiding his attacks.
• Kutner unleashed Sacrificial Bloodflame Claws, but Li Si blocked the strike with the Dimensional Shield stored in Stephens' Teleportation Ring.
• Marion pierced Kutner's chest, killed him, and ate his heart.
• Marion introduced himself as Marion Coren and explained that Kutner had betrayed their Progenitor.
• Marion left to avoid the arriving kingdom and church forces, and Li Si departed through a nearby alley.

Li Si wondered whether the Gold-level vampire Marion was connected to Angela, then left her with a chicken skewer and continued toward the adventurers' villa. At the battle site, Paladin Oriel identified the ashes as a Gold-level vampire's remains and prepared to investigate the mysterious vampire responsible.

• Li Si recalled Marion's pure aura and wondered if the vampire knew Angela's secret, but Marion had shown no reaction to the little bat.
• Li Si gave Angela his unfinished chicken skewer and resolved to protect her if trouble arose.
• Todd arrived at the destroyed street, ordered help for the injured, and suspected the scene involved the Gold-level vampire from Golden Lily Lane.
• Oriel and the Dawn Church priests arrived, and Oriel examined the battle site and the vampire's ashes.
• Oriel told Todd that a high Gold-level vampire had killed the victim and advised him to report the incident to the kingdom.
• Oriel declared that the Dawn Church would act in Can Guang City, while privately wondering what Lord Morris's warning about unrest meant.

Li Si reunited with the Adventurer Group and learned from Arsen that supplies were being stockpiled across the kingdom, with most sent to eastern duchies. He suspected King Fes was allowing the Second Prince, Ya Tean, to prepare for war against the Bertich Kingdom, and accepted that war was coming.

• Li Si visited the Adventurer Group villa, where Ya Er, Lunbos, Elena, and Arsen welcomed him and congratulated him on becoming Fran Stephens's disciple.
• Li Si shared a meal and pastries with the group before speaking privately with Arsen about the forces pushing the kingdom toward war.
• Arsen said the Can Guang United Merchant Guild had traced rising prices to widespread purchases of grain and weapons across Fes and neighboring kingdoms.
• Arsen withheld the suspected mastermind's identity but told Li Si that most supplies had been sent to Byrd Duchy and Ramu Duchy, while the rest were stored in central cities.
• Li Si concluded that the Bertich Kingdom was the likely target and that King Fes was tacitly permitting Ya Tean's preparations.

Li Si continued his Arcane Research and planned to develop spells that could use attributes beyond Intelligence. Fran returned from the Four Elemental Planes with Lisa, and Li Si carried the sleeping Lisa home after she waited for him in the workshop.

• Li Si studied Silver-level spells and considered how to create magic that used attributes such as Strength, Agility, and Charisma.
• Fran returned to the First Magic Workshop with Lisa and advised her to focus on Evocation spells of the four basic elements.
• Fran told Lisa to find Li Si on the second floor, then teleported away to rest.
• Lisa found Li Si working, sat quietly by the doorway, and fell asleep while waiting for him.
• Li Si finished his work, found Lisa asleep, and carefully carried her home.

Lisa struggled with her embarrassment after Li Si carried her home, while Second Prince Ya Tean prepared to move forward with his plan. Ya Tean ordered the Sacred Festival operation to proceed.

• Li Si brought breakfast to Lisa, found her pretending to sleep, and left it beside her bed.
• Lisa revealed that she had awakened while Li Si carried her home and stayed under the blanket, flustered by the experience.
• Robert reported that Viscount Bloom, Baron Victor, Baron Carpenter, and Baron Kaiser had been selected and tested for Ya Tean’s plan.
• Ya Tean reflected on how Li Si’s discipleship under Fran Stephens had complicated his plans but concluded he could not withdraw.
• Ya Tean ordered Robert to notify everyone to proceed according to plan on the Sacred Festival.

Marion searched Old Jack's shop for a Blood Clan relic and found Vlad's Bloodthirsty Dagger, then attacked Old Jack over its supposed theft. Old Jack was badly injured before Marion left, while Oriel rushed toward Lan Gai Street and Ashley watched anxiously from home.

• Marion searched Old Jack's shop for the aura he had sensed and bought a black dagger for one hundred Gold Coins.
• Marion awakened the dagger with his blood and identified it as Vlad's Bloodthirsty Dagger, then accused Old Jack of stealing his clan's treasure despite having bought it.
• Ashley obeyed Old Jack's warning and stayed home, while Todd fled after learning that powerful fighters were clashing on Lan Gai Street.
• Oriel spotted blood-red flashes and hurried across the rooftops toward the fight.
• Marion overwhelmed Old Jack, then left after deciding he had punished him enough; Ashley watched Old Jack struggle to rise, badly wounded.

After Marion left him gravely wounded, Old Jack escaped Lan Gai Street with Ashley and sought refuge at the Kane Family Estate. Li Si learned that two bloodied visitors were asking for him, leaving their identities and intentions unknown.

• Old Jack realized his injuries left him vulnerable and chose to seek help rather than risk Ashley's safety alone.
• Old Jack packed valuables and escaped with Ashley using Shadow Leap, while Oriel arrived at the wrecked shop and began investigating.
• Old Jack and Ashley reached 36 Fes Street, and Ashley supported him through the unfamiliar upper district to the Kane Family Estate.
• Li Si practiced martial skills with Welf after Fran rested, then Bende told him that two badly wounded people were waiting at the gate for him.

Li Si brought the gravely wounded Old Jack and Ashley into his home, treated Old Jack, and learned that a mysterious blood-red attacker had injured him. Joyce discovered Ashley’s Child of Shadow talent and asked Li Si for permission to take her as his disciple.

• Li Si recognized Old Jack and Ashley at his gate, used Restore Serious Injury to stabilize Old Jack, and arranged for him to receive care.
• Ashley told Li Si that a blood-red figure had fought Old Jack and that a tall man had stood on a roof afterward.
• Li Si suspected that Marion had attacked Old Jack and wondered whether the injury was connected to changes caused by his butterfly effect.
• Joyce noticed that Ashley resonated with the Shadow Plane and recognized her Child of Shadow talent.
• Joyce told Li Si that he wanted to take Ashley as his disciple.

Li Si assured Joyce that he would ask Old Jack about Joyce taking Ashley as a disciple, then learned why Old Jack needed protection from the vampire Marion and agreed to help. When Li Si introduced Joyce to the recovering Old Jack, Joyce revealed himself as a Legendary-level assassin, leaving Old Jack stunned by Li Si’s connections.

• Joyce told Li Si that he wanted Old Jack’s opinion before taking Ashley as his disciple and said he would explain the Kane Family’s circumstances when Li Si was stronger.
• Old Jack woke at Li Si’s residence and explained that Marion’s attack left him too injured to protect himself and Ashley from those searching for the vampire.
• Old Jack asked Li Si to keep him and Ashley safe, and Li Si agreed before asking whether Old Jack would consider an elder taking Ashley as a disciple.
• Old Jack asked to meet the elder, and Li Si revealed that Joyce was standing behind him.
• Joyce released his aura, and Old Jack recognized him as a Legendary-level assassin and questioned why such powerful figures were so commonplace around Li Si.

Joyce accepted Ashley as his disciple and used Shadow Source Power to help her begin sensing the Shadow Plane. When Joyce tried the same method on Li Si, his system activated the hidden Assassin Class Specialty: Shadow Crown.

• Li Si brought Ashley to the Kane Family Estate and told her that Joyce would become her teacher.
• Joyce met Ashley, explained her Child of Shadow talent, and accepted her as his disciple.
• Joyce taught Ashley about Shadow Power and used a drop of Shadow Source Power to help her absorb it.
• Li Si asked Joyce to try the same method on him, and Shadow Source Power triggered his hidden Assassin Class Specialty: Shadow Crown.

Li Si absorbed the Shadow Plane Source Power and gained the Shadow Crown specialty, which greatly boosted his Agility and Shadow Plane abilities. After Joyce learned that Li Si could use skills from other classes, he took Li Si and Ashley into assassin training ahead of the approaching Sacred Festival.

• Li Si passed the Shadow Crown evaluations and gained the specialty, raising his Agility and Shadow Plane affinity while boosting related skills beyond their level cap.
• Li Si checked his attributes, then showed Joyce that he could use warrior techniques and explained that his talent let him learn skills from other classes.
• Joyce recognized the exceptional value of Li Si's talent and told him to study assassin skills with Ashley under his guidance.
• After Ashley woke, Joyce confirmed that she had also mastered Shadow Crown and began training both her and Li Si for the Sacred Festival.

Kaiser and the other church conspirators learned that Kutner was dead, but their secret rooms remained undiscovered. After hearing that Flame of Judgement Fran Stephens had returned to Can Guang City, they prepared to guard their arrangements and activate them early if needed.

• Petar grew furious over Kutner’s disappearance, while Kaiser told him to calm down and focus on finding Kutner.
• A black-robed conspirator reported that the secret room under Kutner’s watch on Golden Lily Lane remained undiscovered, and Anyelo and Tash confirmed their secret rooms were safe.
• Divine Envoy Dalton revealed that Kutner was dead because his soul flame had gone out.
• Dalton ordered the conspirators to follow the plan, prepare to activate its final arrangement early, and avoid investigating Kutner’s death.
• Dalton said Flame of Judgement Fran Stephens had returned ahead of schedule, and Kaiser ordered Anyelo and Tash to guard their rooms and Petar to stay in Kutner’s secret room.
• The conspirators pledged themselves to My Lord Mahler and prayed for protection.

Li Si continued training in magic research and assassin skills while Mora prepared the merchant guild and acquired land near Ge Duo Street for Li Si’s plans. When Mora reminded him the guild still needed a name, Li Si named it the White Dove Merchant Guild.

• Li Si rapidly learned assassin skills from Joyce, while Ashley was astonished by his progress.
• Li Si learned that Stephens had taken Lisa to the Four Elemental Planes to strengthen her elemental connection, and Lisa explained the path Fran had planned for her.
• Mora told Li Si that the merchant guild’s shops and staff were ready and that it had begun selling goods sourced from the Can Guang United Merchant Guild.
• Mora revealed that he had bought land on Cologne Street near Ge Duo Street for Li Si’s plans.
• When Mora pointed out that the merchant guild needed a name, Li Si suggested calling it the White Dove Merchant Guild.

Li Si arranged more properties in Can Guang City for the White Dove Merchant Guild, preparing to recruit players around the Sacred Festival. He ran into Marion, who said he had come to find someone and asked Li Si for a favor.

• Li Si and Mora inspected the White Dove Merchant Guild’s compound on Cologne Street, and Li Si told Mora to buy up the surrounding streets.
• Li Si and Mora visited a storefront near the Mercenary Guild that Li Si planned to use to recruit players.
• Li Si spotted Marion buying food at a stall and asked Angela whether he was the vampire Marion.
• Marion approached Li Si, exchanged greetings, and said he had come to Can Guang City for the first time to find someone on a certain lord’s orders.
• Marion asked Li Si for a favor after Li Si questioned him about his visit.

Li Si suspected that Marion had come to Can Guang City to find Angela and asked Joyce about the strange vampire. Joyce explained that Marion might belong to the rare Blood Clan, and suggested bringing him to the estate to ask about Angela.

• Marion asked Li Si to watch for vampires in Can Guang City, offering a reward if Li Si helped him find someone.
• Li Si returned to his estate, suspecting that Marion was searching for Angela, and told Joyce about him.
• Joyce explained that the Blood Clan were rare vampires who avoided drinking blood and were hostile toward ordinary vampires.
• Joyce advised Li Si to bring Marion to the estate the next time they met so they could ask him about Angela.

Li Si attended the Sacred Festival banquet, where he publicly rebuffed Second Prince Ya Tean Fes and met King Morton. The king and Duke Hardt tried to win Li Si over by suggesting a marriage to Morton’s daughter Tiya.

• Li Si brought Mora to the royal banquet, where nobles recognized him as Lord Stephens’s disciple and watched him closely.
• Ya Tean approached Li Si and proposed a private meeting, but Li Si refused and hinted that he knew of Ya Tean’s schemes.
• Duke Hardt interrupted their conversation and escorted Li Si to meet King Morton.
• Morton congratulated Li Si on becoming Fran’s disciple, and Duke Hardt asked whether he wanted help finding a wife.
• Morton directly asked Li Si what he thought of his daughter Tiya.

King Morton proposed a marriage pact between Li Si and Princess Tiya, forcing Li Si to confront his lingering feeling of unreality in the world. After realizing how much his actions had already changed people’s lives, Li Si declined the arranged match for now and left the reception room.

• King Morton asked Li Si what he thought of Tiya and proposed that they marry.
• Li Si wrestled with the proposal, recognizing that his feelings for Tiya and others were real despite his habit of treating the world like a game.
• Li Si asked Morton whether he was worthy of Tiya, and Morton reassured him that his achievements made him an excellent match.
• Li Si reflected on how he had changed the fates of people such as Angela, Lisa, and Mora, and found a sense of connection to the world.
• Li Si respectfully declined the marriage pact for now, citing his focus on cultivation, then bowed and left.

Morton dismissed Fuchs’s concerns about Li Si refusing an engagement and suspected the elder Li Si mentioned could make matters interesting. Outside, Li Si met Tiya, who had hoped he might accept the engagement; after he explained he would leave the adventurer party, she linked arms with him and went with him to the banquet.

• Morton told Fuchs that the young could make their own decisions and wondered who Li Si’s mentioned elder was.
• Li Si found Tiya waiting in the corridor in her unveiled appearance and was stunned by her beauty.
• Tiya recalled that she had not rejected Morton’s engagement proposal, then felt relieved and disappointed when Li Si left without agreeing to it.
• Li Si complimented Tiya, and they walked together while avoiding discussion of the engagement.
• Li Si told Tiya he probably would not return to the adventurer party because his studies and plans would keep him busy.
• Tiya linked her arm through Li Si’s, and they headed to the banquet hall together.

Li Si brought Marion to meet Joyce, who revealed that Angela was the Blood Clan member Marion had been sent to find. Marion addressed Angela as the Blood Clan’s Divine Son and prepared to speak with her in front of Li Si and Joyce.

• After Tiya left the banquet, Li Si set aside thoughts of the previous evening and focused on gaining power.
• Li Si brought Marion to his study, where Joyce emerged and intimidated the vampire with his Legendary aura.
• Joyce questioned Marion, who admitted that Prince Burns had sent him to Can Guang City to find someone who might affect the Blood Clan’s future.
• Marion revealed that the Blood Clan member was named Angela, and Joyce removed the concealment he had placed on her.
• Marion recognized Angela as the Divine Son and asked to speak with her privately, but Angela transformed into a girl and told him to speak there.
• Marion respectfully addressed Angela as the Divine Son and his lord.

Marion told Angela that Cain had named her his God Child and offered her divine power to awaken her inheritance. Angela entered a Blood Cocoon, and Marion asked Li Si to persuade her to visit Frost Blood Castle after she woke.

• Marion explained that Burns, the Frost Blood Prince, had received Cain’s oracle naming Angela his God Child and invited her to Frost Blood Castle.
• Angela refused to leave Li Si, so Marion offered her Cain’s divine power to begin awakening her inheritance.
• Angela absorbed the divine power and became enclosed in a floating Blood Cocoon, which Joyce identified as part of the awakening process.
• Marion asked Li Si to persuade Angela to accept Cain’s inheritance and gave him a Blood Coagulation Crystal as thanks.