Chapter Summaries

Dole helped Akso expel the evil power tormenting her, then returned to brewing potions and pursued his seventh-level apothecary certificate. He earned the certificate with ease and left the Apothecary Guild soon afterward.

• Dole and the Golden Corpse suppressed the evil power in Akso while Super Vitality Potions restored her body, and Akso expelled the last trace of it.
• Akso offered to bear Dole a child as thanks, but Dole declined payment beyond the potions, then hurried away.
• Akso recovered her strength and left Wasen Fort, apparently intent on taking revenge.
• Dole returned to brewing ordinary potions to raise the money needed for more wizard towers, while the wizarding world continued watching Chris Wizard Tower.
• Dole visited the Apothecary Guild and, before its president and vice president, refined a level-seven Mental Power Potion and received his seventh-level certificate.

After earning his seventh-level potion master certificate, Dole began selling seventh-level potions and became the focus of Wasen Fort’s major families. Meanwhile, Sand Scorpion’s Assassin King organized a new attempt to kill him, leaving the attackers preparing to strike with help from the Assassin Guild.

• Dole received his seventh-level potion master certificate, avoided traveling to the imperial capital, and left the certification office in disguise.
• Chris Wizard Tower listed more than fifteen seventh-level potions, which sold out within twenty minutes as Wasen Fort’s forces crowded the tower.
• Selins convened the Marcia Family’s wizards to discuss how to advance their potion masters to the seventh level, while other families also held meetings and sent Dole congratulatory gifts.
• Lady Ana told Assassin Demon and Assassin Needle that Dole had become a major threat and assigned them new code names, naming herself Assassin King.
• Assassin King arranged a retreat route and said she would contact the Assassin Guild to help the group attempt to kill Dole in one strike.

Dole cultivated with the Heart of Storm while detecting people spying on Babel Tower, then used Mystic Corpse Worms to identify and track them. The watchers were tied to the Sand Scorpion organization and the Assassin Guild, and Dole still had not confronted them when they grew tired of waiting for him to leave the wizard tower cluster.

• A disguised assassin entered a house in Wasen Fort and changed into black clothes before disappearing into the night.
• Dole sensed that several people had been watching Babel Tower and sent his Mystic Corpse Worm avatar to follow them.
• Allen used the wizard tower cluster’s surveillance array to identify the watchers and waited to see how Dole would respond.
• Dole’s Mystic Corpse Worms tracked the watchers for three days and uncovered their ties to the Sand Scorpion organization and the Assassin Guild.
• Assassin Demon and Assassin Needle waited for Dole to leave, then shifted their surveillance outside the tower cluster after days passed without him appearing.

Dole tracked Sand Scorpion’s covert network in Wasen Fort and discovered how deeply it had infiltrated the city. Meanwhile, Dailulaide learned that Sand Scorpion served the Nightmare Empire and chose to conceal the news from Dole while preparing to use future attacks to trap them.

• Dole followed a Sand Scorpion informant to a steward in the Rhine Family, then continued investigating the organization’s secret network.
• Dole concluded that Sand Scorpion was part of a vast force and kept monitoring its contacts rather than striking directly.
• A Nightingale operative told Dailulaide that Sand Scorpion was commanded by the Nightmare Empire, a supposedly destroyed evil force.
• Dailulaide ordered the information sent to the Glory Wizard Alliance and imperial intelligence, but decided not to warn Dole so the Rhine Family could ambush Sand Scorpion later.
• By midsummer, Dole had identified Sand Scorpion contacts ranging from street thugs and guards to prominent family figures, and recorded their names for later reckoning.

Dole tracked a Sand Scorpion supply operation and ambushed its transport squad in the wilderness. After revealing himself and demanding information, he watched the warrior and archer attack while the Second-Level wizard panicked.

• Dole discovered that Sand Scorpion members were collecting and transporting potions, so he prepared to intercept them.
• A wizard, a warrior called Old Turtle, and an archer left Wasen Fort with a carriage and continued into the wilderness as the rest of their party returned to the city.
• The archer sensed danger, and streams of black insects surrounded the carriage and gathered into Dole's human form.
• Dole identified the three as Sand Scorpion members and demanded answers, promising to spare them if they cooperated.
• The warrior attacked Dole with a concealed sword, and the archer launched streaks of light at him while the wizard panicked.

Dole’s attempt to extract information from the Sand Scorpion Adventurer Group went awry when he encountered a mysterious presence inside a wizard’s mind. Meanwhile, Dailulaide told Allen about the revived Nightmare Empire and hinted that the intelligence could help Dole obtain territory from the Third Prince.

• Dole used Mystic Corpse Worms to subdue three members of the Sand Scorpion Adventurer Group and entered the second-level wizard’s spiritual world.
• Dole found a mysterious force occupying the wizard’s mind and struck it with his Bone Scythe, destroying the spiritual world and leaving the wizard a vegetable.
• Dole tried to probe the two warriors’ spiritual worlds but found them unusable, then released them and let the Mystic Corpse Worms take the wizard’s storage ring.
• Dailulaide met Allen at the Third Wizard Tower and told him that the Nightmare Empire had risen again.
• Allen said he wanted to focus on his own land and strength, while Dailulaide explained that the threat could provoke an international war and bring enormous merit.
• Allen realized Dailulaide might be offering the intelligence as leverage to secure territory for Dole from the Third Prince before the succession struggle ended.

Dailulaide and Allen planned to help the Third Prince gain credit by giving Dole a territory that would draw the Sand Scorpion Adventurer Group into a conflict. As Dole prepared to meet Dailulaide, the Assassin King received word of the meeting and an opportunity to kill him, while the Third Prince set out to bring the intelligence to the Imperial Palace.

• Dailulaide told Allen he planned to secure a territory for Dole, provoking a clash with the Sand Scorpion Adventurer Group and earning credit for the Third Prince, Dole, and Wasen Fort.
• After killing the potion-buying team and taking its goods, Dole returned to Wasen Fort and resolved to strike the Sand Scorpion Adventurer Group's base there.
• The Assassin King learned that the City Lord would receive Dole the afternoon after tomorrow and was told the meeting might be her only chance to assassinate him.
• Dole learned of the planned assassination and dismissed the threat as he waited for his meeting with Dailulaide.
• The Third Prince received Dailulaide's intelligence about the force behind the Sand Scorpion Adventurer Group and hurried to the Imperial Palace to present it.

George reported the Nightmare Empire’s return to Emperor Yale, who recognized the threat and put George in charge of an operation against it. The Emperor granted him territory, Imperial Guard support, and cooperation from Yellow Oriole, leaving George poised to gain influence through the campaign.

• George bribed an Imperial Guard sentry to learn that Emperor Yale was in Third Park, then made his way to meet him.
• George told Emperor Yale that he had grave news concerning the Empire’s fate and revealed the Nightmare Empire’s return.
• George recounted what he had learned, and Emperor Yale realized the Nightmare Empire could threaten the Glory Empire’s western regions and territory.
• Emperor Yale assigned George to lead the operation against the Nightmare Empire, offered him replacement territory, and promised one-tenth of the Imperial Guard’s support.
• George asked to borrow Yellow Oriole, and Emperor Yale approved of his request.

Emperor Yale authorized the Third Prince to coordinate Yellow Oriole’s deployment, allowing Allen to begin using Dole’s territory as bait to draw out the Nightmare Empire. Dole prepared for a meeting with City Lord Dailulaide while assassins moved into position, and he boarded a carriage with his Golden Corpse disguised as a bodyguard.

• Emperor Yale gave the Third Prince his token and ordered him to coordinate Yellow Oriole’s handover with the northwest.
• Two days later, Allen learned the imperial capital had approved the plan to use Dole’s fortified territory to locate the Nightmare Empire’s main force.
• After hearing City Lord Dailulaide wanted to meet him, Dole merged his avatar with the Golden Corpse and prepared to leave his wizard tower.
• Dole discovered that more than five assassins from Sand Scorpion and the Assassin Guild were targeting him as he departed.
• A disguised assassin posing as a coachman offered Dole a ride to the City Lord’s Manor, and Dole boarded with the Golden Corpse while another passenger sat inside.

Dole’s enemies ambushed his carriage, but he had anticipated the attack and survived behind the Golden Corpse. As Assassin King and the other assassins tried to flee, the Golden Corpse unleashed its Level Seven power and struck two of them.

• Dole rode through the North District buffer zone while the Sand Scorpion Adventurer Group and Assassin Guild prepared an ambush.
• The assassins staged a carriage collision to slow Dole’s carriage and concealed several attackers among the onlookers.
• Five experts attacked the carriage with battle qi and Sword Qi, destroying it and injuring bystanders.
• Dole emerged protected by magical shields, while the attack revealed the Golden Corpse beneath his bodyguard’s torn clothes.
• Assassin King recognized the Golden Corpse and ordered the assassins to run, but Dole revealed he had watched their preparations for nearly half a month.
• The Golden Corpse unleashed the power of laws and punched two Dark Guild assassins.

Dole used the Golden Corpse to kill several assassins and capture their leader, then compensated the people injured in the attack. He reached the Rhine Family estate with the captive assassin, where Westerlin brought him news and asked about the Golden Corpse.

• The Golden Corpse killed Assassin Demon and Assassin Needle, then caught Assassin King before she could escape.
• Dole restrained the disguised carriage driver with magic runes and knocked her unconscious while the crowd and nearby professionals watched.
• Dole offered compensation and potions to the injured, and Rhine Family guards took over maintaining order.
• Dole dressed the Golden Corpse in black, had it carry the captive assassin, and traveled to the Rhine Family estate.
• Westerlin greeted Dole at the estate, called him to meet the City Lord, and asked whether the Golden Corpse was his incarnation.

Dole confirmed that his Rank 7 Golden Corpse gave him the combat power to secure a territory, and he met with Wasen Fort’s leaders to discuss the land the Third Prince had agreed to grant him. He explained that he wanted the territory to study and advance his storm-related Meditation Method, which he had cultivated to the peak of its seventh layer.

• Dole showed Westerlin his Rank 7 Golden Corpse and said it functioned as his avatar.
• Westerlin brought Dole to meet Dailulaide, Allen, and a mysterious vice president of the Glory Wizard Guild.
• Dailulaide told Dole that the Third Prince had agreed to grant him a territory but would provide no further support.
• Dole said he planned to keep the territory private, with only Aixi, himself, and his slaves inside it.
• Dole explained that he needed a Storm Domain to study tempests and said his Meditation Method was at the peak of its seventh layer, one step from the eighth.

Dole agreed to hand the captured woman to the Glory Wizard Alliance in exchange for resources and a future alliance position in his territory. After settling plans for cooperation, the group waited for the documents confirming his territory’s location and boundaries.

• Dailulaide, Westerlin, and Allen agreed that Dole’s territory could become a storm domain and discussed waiting for its official boundaries.
• Dole refused to hand over the captured woman at first, but Allen offered wizard-tower resources and the Glory Wizard Alliance presidency in his territory in exchange for her.
• Dole accepted the deal on the condition that he learn the results, and Aoduolun took the woman away to investigate the Sand Scorpion Adventurer Group’s scheme.
• Dailulaide and Westerlin promised alliance and Steel Pioneer Corps cooperation, while Dole said he would scout the territory himself because he could not afford the corps’ expenses.

Dole visited Westerlin’s residence and unexpectedly joined a reunion dinner with Aixi’s family, where he met her relatives and gave Aina a necklace. The chapter ended as the Rhine family gathered around the table and their positions in the family became apparent.

• Westerlin invited Dole to his residence, and they traveled there together with the Golden Corpse.
• At the gates, Westerlin introduced Dole to Aixi’s elder brother Awei and sister Aina, explaining that the family would share a reunion dinner.
• Dole greeted Awei and gave Aina a necklace as a first-meeting gift.
• Aixi introduced Dole to Westerlin’s wives and children, while Dole learned that her third aunt from the Lant Family was hostile toward him.
• Lola welcomed Dole warmly, and the family gathered around the table as their relative standing became clear.

Dole formally asked Westerlin and Lola for Aixi’s hand in marriage at a Rhine Family gathering, and they approved. Westerlin called Dole a future lord, leaving the younger generation wondering what had happened.

• Westerlin proposed settling Dole and Aixi’s engagement at the family gathering, while Awei and the Third Concubine objected to the lack of a formal proposal.
• Westerlin silenced the objections by warning that the family would soon be too busy to meet, and Dole formally asked for Aixi’s hand.
• Westerlin stopped Dole from kneeling, explaining that Dole’s Rank Seven combat power could harm people who could not bear it.
• Westerlin and Lola approved the marriage, and Aixi and Dole thanked them over wine.
• Westerlin called Dole a future lord, while Awei realized that Dole had the backing of a Rank Seven Golden Corpse and two Wizard Towers.

Westerlin showed Dole a map of Albis Mountain, a strategically important territory that was difficult to capture because three Level Seven demonic creatures lived there. Dole insisted he would claim it with his own strength, but agreed to scout the area with Aixi after the imperial document arrived.

• Dole handed out high-level storage rings to everyone, then Westerlin dismissed the others and discussed the territory with Dole, Aixi, and Awei.
• Westerlin explained Albis Mountain’s strategic location and its potential to connect the north and northwest provinces through a major trade route.
• Awei revealed that three demonic creatures above Level Seven guarded the territory, while Westerlin explained that the Empire could not afford to campaign there without major costs.
• Dole said he would handle the three creatures himself within a few months and did not want to rely on the Empire or the Rhine Family.
• Awei offered to station the Steel Pioneer Corps nearby, and Westerlin offered the Rhine Family’s help, but Dole hesitated to accept.
• Aixi proposed that they scout Albis Mountain after the imperial document arrived, and Dole agreed to discuss seeking help after assessing the situation.

After Dole’s Golden Corpse killed five powerful assassins, the families of Wasen Fort reconsidered opposing him and sought cooperation. Dole returned to Babel Tower, where he revealed the Golden Corpse to his allies as news of his new power spread throughout the city.

• Dole told Awei and Aixi that obtaining the Golden Corpse had been accidental and that his avatar had nearly died during the dangerous expedition.
• The Lant Family confirmed that Dole’s Golden Corpse possessed seventh-level combat power, and Hayden’s advisers urged him to pursue cooperation rather than conflict.
• Hayden worried that Dole’s plans to leave Wasen Fort could affect the apothecaries and sent him to seek information from the city lord’s family.
• The Marcia, Thunder, and Aoun Families also sought confirmation of Dole’s power, while Wasen Fort’s apothecaries celebrated having a formidable force behind them.
• Dole returned to Babel Tower with Aixi, publicly acknowledging their relationship, and revealed the Golden Corpse to Chris and the others.
• News of Dole’s Golden Corpse spread throughout Wasen Fort, reaching ordinary people, professionals, and major powers.

After an assassination attempt failed, Dole prepared to scout the Albis Mountains while his enemies considered how to respond. On August 1, Bal noticed Dole’s Golden Corpse, and Dole told him about the dangerous ruins where he had found it.

• A Dark Guild agent reviewed the deaths of two assassins and sent a report about Dole, the Sand Scorpion Adventurer Group, and their conflict to his organization.
• Two hours earlier, a black-robed wizard discovered that two of three assassins had died and the third had likely been captured, then crushed the last blood bottle and vanished.
• Dole gathered Mystic Corpse Worms to scout the Albis Mountains and planned to go with Bal after the official document arrived.
• Dole continued benefiting from the Lant and Marcia Families’ concessions while allowing their apothecaries to join his costly training program.
• On August 1, Bal spotted the Golden Corpse and asked Dole where he had found it; Dole described the ruins and the weakened ancient soul that had nearly killed him.

Dole left Wasen Fort with Aixi to claim the Third Prince’s transferred territory and head toward Albis Mountain. Their departure alerted the city’s factions and the Nightmare Empire, while Dole and Aixi began traveling east toward Longwind City.

• Dole told Bal about his encounter with the Golden Corpse and asked him to help establish a territory against several level-seven opponents; Bal agreed to wait in the wizard tower.
• Dole and Aixi left the wizard tower, which Dole shrank and carried with him, then traveled to the City Lord’s Manor and received the sealed transfer documents.
• Dole and Aixi departed Wasen Fort, and news of Dole’s departure and Babel Tower spread through the city’s factions.
• A man in black ordered the Nightmare Empire’s people to track Dole and considered whether the Golden Corpse could be brought under his control.
• Dole reflected on his imperfect control of the Golden Corpse and his plan to take Albis Mountain, then traveled east with Aixi in a carriage toward Longwind City.

Dole, Aixi, and Bal reached Albis Mountain and planned to attack its magic beasts without waiting for Wasen Fort, while Dole and Aixi secretly surveyed the range. Bal entered the mountains to provoke its inhabitants and gather intelligence, where he sensed at least three powerful auras watching him.

• Dole and Aixi crossed the desert and located Albis Mountain, whose strategic position could open a major trade passage.
• After surveying the area, Dole decided to attack with Bal and Aixi rather than wait months for Wasen Fort to mobilize.
• Bal set out in his giant-dog form while Dole and Aixi sent Mystic Corpse Worms and Heavenly Frost Worms into the mountains to investigate.
• Bal unleashed his Level Seven aura as he flew into Albis Mountain, silencing the creatures along his path.
• Near the center of the range, Bal sensed at least three distant auras locked onto him.