Chapter Summaries

Key Plot Points and Events

• Huo Chengguang's younger brothers and sisters, being dragonborn, possess spellcaster talent.
• Huo Chengguang reports to the Security Department after his mission, finding it significantly expanded and professionalized.
• He meets with Minister Ren Jingchen, who has advanced to the Legendary tier, and reports on his mission to inspect East River County.
• Ren Jingchen orders the replacement of two incompetent garrison commanders in underground cities and their reassignment to the Death Corps.

Character Developments

• Huo Chengguang demonstrates responsibility and professionalism in his duties.
• Ren Jingchen has advanced to the Legendary tier, showing Huo Ling's influence and the benefits of serving under him.

Significant Themes

• The power and influence of the Huo family have grown significantly, with the Security Department now commanding a vast number of troops.
• The importance of loyalty and service to Huo Ling, as seen in Ren Jingchen's advancement and the consequences for those who fail in their duties.

Character Interactions

• Huo Chengguang and Ren Jingchen maintain a respectful and professional relationship, with Huo Chengguang saluting Ren Jingchen despite being Huo Ling's son.
• Huo Chengguang is shown to be responsible for his younger siblings, with Ren Jingchen advising him to keep an eye on one who has been causing trouble.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Huo Ling, after twelve years of cultivation in his mage tower, reaches the seventh stage of Legend.
• He ventures into the outer void to find opportunities for war and expansion, as his territories in the Spirit Realm have reached a stalemate.
• After over a year of searching, he discovers a large, energy-rich plane with several divine kingdoms belonging to gods orbiting it.

Character Developments

• Huo Ling's strength has grown significantly, making him a formidable legendary spellcaster.
• His strategic and cautious nature is evident in his careful observation of the new plane before approaching it.

Significant Themes

• Expansion and Growth: Huo Ling's desire to expand his territories and power is a driving force in his actions.
• Caution and Patience: Huo Ling's careful approach to the new plane highlights the importance of these traits in his decision-making.
• Resource Acquisition: The potential resources available in the divine kingdoms, including divine power crystals and wealth amassed by gods, are a significant draw for Huo Ling.

Character Interactions

• There are no direct interactions with other characters in this chapter, as Huo Ling is alone in the outer void. However, his actions and thoughts reflect his relationship with his territories and forces back in the Spirit Realm.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Huo Ling, a powerful legend, enters a new plane to explore divine kingdoms.
• He conceals his aura and observes the divine kingdoms orbiting the plane, estimating the gods' strengths.
• The plane, Hemel Plane, has five layers of continents with varying sunlight exposure, affecting life and resources.
• A divine kingdom of the Hunting God is introduced, where deceased hunters engage in hunts, and the god sometimes joins them in disguise.

Character Developments

• Huo Ling demonstrates his caution and strategic thinking in approaching the new plane.
• The Hunting God is introduced as a god who enjoys participating in hunts with his believers.

Significant Themes

• The relationship between gods and planes: gods are both parasites and guardians of their planes.
• The impact of environment on life and resources, as seen in the Hemel Plane's layered continents with varying sunlight exposure.

Character Interactions

• Huo Ling interacts with the plane's crystal wall, using it to gather information and calculate planar coordinates.
• The Hunting God interacts with his believers, joining them in a hunt and witnessing the initiation of a new believer.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The God of Hunting, Koro, returns to his divine throne and notices a massive meteor hurtling towards the Hemel Plane.
• Koro destroys the meteor using his divine bow and arrows, revealing his strength equivalent to a fourth-stage Legend.
• A humanoid creature, later identified as Huo Ling, is spotted on the plane's crystal wall, sparking Koro's suspicion and pursuit.

Character Developments

• Koro demonstrates his power and divine abilities, showcasing his role as a protector of the Hemel Plane.
• Huo Ling reveals his strategic thinking and caution, attempting to evade Koro's pursuit while minimizing his exposure.

Significant Themes

• The power dynamics between gods and Legends from other planes.
• The importance of caution and strategic thinking in confrontations with superior forces.
• The potential gains and challenges of conquering a plane like Hemel.

Character Interactions

• Koro and Huo Ling's interaction is brief but tense, with Koro pursuing Huo Ling after sensing his presence on the crystal wall.
• Huo Ling's presence on the Hemel Plane hints at potential future conflicts or alliances between him and the plane's gods.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Huo Ling uses a legendary spell, Extreme Cold Ray, to freeze Koro, the God of Hunting, but Koro breaks free.
• Koro fires a divine artifact arrow at Huo Ling, which Huo Ling captures and destroys using another legendary spell, Disintegration.
• A more powerful god (around the ninth rank of legend) arrives, forcing Huo Ling to flee through a portal.

Character Developments

• Huo Ling demonstrates his powerful magic, including legendary spells, and his strategic thinking in destroying Koro's divine artifact arrow.
• Koro shows his determination and desperation in pursuing Huo Ling, revealing the importance of the divine artifact arrow to him.

Significant Themes

• The power and danger of legendary spells, as seen in Extreme Cold Ray and Disintegration.
• The importance of divine artifacts to gods, as demonstrated by Koro's reaction to losing his divine artifact arrow.
• The unity of gods against external threats, as shown when the more powerful god arrives to help Koro.

Character Interactions

• Huo Ling and Koro engage in a chase and battle, with Huo Ling using his magic to counter Koro's attacks.
• The arrival of the more powerful god changes the dynamics of the chase, ultimately leading to Huo Ling's retreat.
• The relationship between gods is highlighted, showing competition among them but unity against external threats.

Key Plot Points and Events

• An otherworldly expert, Huo Ling, is discovered on the Hemel Plane's crystal wall, possessing power comparable to intermediate divine power.
• The gods of the Hemel Plane convene to discuss a countermeasure against this potential threat.

Character Developments

• Koro, the God of Hunting, reveals his encounter with Huo Ling and his inability to defeat him, demonstrating his humility and concern for the plane's safety.
• The God of Radiance shows wisdom and leadership by calling for a council to address the threat.
• Tabetha, the Goddess of Arcane Arts, is introduced as a former legendary spellcaster who ascended to godhood after facing persecution from the gods and their churches.

Significant Themes

• The power of faith and its role in godhood.
• The threat posed by otherworldly invaders to the stability and existence of the gods and their plane.
• The tension between spellcasters and the gods, reflecting the struggle for power and knowledge.

Character Interactions

• Koro and the God of Radiance work together to address the threat posed by Huo Ling.
• The gathered gods show respect for the God of Radiance's leadership and Koro's report.
• Tabetha's past is referenced, highlighting the tension between her and the other gods due to her history as a spellcaster.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Tabetha, now a god with exceptional spellcasting abilities, faces displeasure from other gods but avoids divine war due to her power and the potential consequences.
• Spellcasters begin worshipping Tabetha, gaining protection but not significant divine power.
• A powerful spellcaster from another plane, Huo Ling, is detected, raising concerns about a potential invasion.
• Gods issue divine oracles to their followers, warning of impending danger and preparing for war.

Character Developments

• Tabetha: Grows in power and influence, becomes a god with spellcasting abilities, and gains followers but faces disapproval from other gods.
• Gods: Unhappy with Tabetha's ascension but unwilling to start a divine war, they prepare for an external threat.
• Huo Ling: A powerful spellcaster from another plane, perceived as a potential invader.

Significant Themes

• Power dynamics among gods and the consequences of defying the status quo.
• The relationship between spellcasters and gods, and the protection and limitations of divine worship.
• The threat of external invasion and the need for unity in the face of danger.

Character Interactions

• Tabetha and the other gods: Tension and disapproval from other gods towards Tabetha, but no open conflict.
• Gods and their followers: Gods issue oracles to their followers, warning them of danger and preparing for war.
• Tabetha and Huo Ling: Enemies from different worlds, each determined to put the other to death for knowledge and power.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Cecil, a divine son on earth, stands at the gates of the temple in the Hemel Plane, overlooking the sacred city of the Radiant Kingdom.
• He watches pilgrims climbing the treacherous mountain path, knowing that only the devout reach the summit, and those who die along the way are considered blessed.
• Cecil and a prince discuss the potential opportunity presented by the heretical invaders, deciding to use this chance to extend their power into the lower continent and eliminate competing divine kingdoms.

Character Developments

• Cecil: Displayed his formidable strength and strategic thinking, prioritizing the expansion of his kingdom's power.
• The Prince: Showed loyalty and shared Cecil's ambition, supporting his plans.

Significant Themes

• Faith and Devotion: The pilgrims' unwavering devotion to their god, even in the face of death.
• Power Struggles: The competition among divine kingdoms for influence and territory.
• Ambition: Cecil's and the prince's desire to expand their kingdom's power.

Character Interactions

• Cecil and the Prince: They interacted as allies, sharing their thoughts and plans, with the prince showing deference to Cecil's authority.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Huo Ling returns to Plains City and decides to delay the invasion of the Hemel Plane to lower its guard.
• He convenes a major council meeting, where officials from various departments and races gather.
• Gu Yuquan proposes integrating all territories into a single nation to facilitate governance.
• The East River Marquisate is established, encompassing Plains City, three half-orc provinces, and East River County of the underground world.
• Officials receive promotions, new departments are created, and advancement paths are opened for foreign races.

Character Developments

• Huo Ling shows strategic patience in delaying the Hemel Plane invasion and demonstrates his leadership in establishing the East River Marquisate.
• Gu Yuquan exhibits political acumen by proposing the integration of territories.

Significant Themes

• Power dynamics and political maneuvering among various races and factions.
• The importance of a healthy nation with avenues for advancement to maintain stability and growth.
• Huo Ling's strategic thinking and long-term planning.

Character Interactions

• Huo Ling interacts with his officials, showing approval and support for Gu Yuquan's proposal.
• Officials from different races and factions gather, demonstrating unity in supporting the establishment of the East River Marquisate.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Huo Ling establishes the Ministry of War, centralizing military control.
• The East River Marquisate's military includes Goblin War Divisions, with one Type A and five Type B divisions fully trained, and more in training.
• Huo Ling reveals plans for an upcoming war against an extradimensional plane with gods, using incomplete intelligence gathered from his time in the Outer Void.

Character Developments

• Huo Ling demonstrates his strategic and military prowess by planning a war against an unknown enemy.
• Huo Chengguang, Huo Ling's son, shows eagerness for battle and is recognized for his strength, nearing Legend rank.

Significant Themes

• The challenges and uncertainties of invading an extradimensional plane with unknown power systems and unclear planar information.
• The importance of gathering intelligence and establishing teleportation beacons in planar pioneering wars.

Character Interactions

• Huo Ling interacts with senior military officers, including his son Huo Chengguang, and Legends like Ren Jingchen, Yuwen, and Vito.
• Officers discuss troop training and reorganization, showing eagerness for battle upon learning about the upcoming war.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Huo Ling plans to invade the Hemel Plane, a powerful plane with more than ten demigods.
• The army will teleport directly to the fifth-layer continent, the weakest point of the plane, to launch the attack.
• Huo Ling possesses the coordinates of the plane's continent and has observed its basic structure.

Character Developments

• Huo Ling demonstrates strategic prowess and confidence in his war planning.
• Yuwen and Vito, the true dragons, show eagerness to prove themselves and gain merit.

Significant Themes

• War and conquest: The army rejoices at the prospect of war for profit, merit, and achievements.
• Strategic planning: Huo Ling's decision to attack the weakest point first showcases his strategic thinking.
• Power dynamics: The war is seen as a clash between bandits (the invading army) and security guards (the gods of the Hemel Plane).

Character Interactions

• Huo Ling interacts with his generals and officers, discussing the war plan and assigning tasks.
• Yuwen volunteers to be the first to teleport to the Hemel Plane, seeking to gain merit and rewards.
• Huo Ling agrees to Yuwen's request, acknowledging his eagerness to fight.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The East River Marquisate begins massive troop mobilization, involving various races and types of soldiers, totaling over 400,000 troops.
• The half-orc clans nearby are put on high alert, fearing an attack from the Marquisate.
• A colossal one-time portal is constructed outside Plains City, consuming vast resources, to facilitate transmission to the distant Hemel Plane.

Character Developments

• Huo Ling, the ruler of the East River Marquisate, demonstrates his strategic prowess and military might by mobilizing his forces and constructing a massive portal.
• Ren Jingchen, a high-ranking official, is tasked with handling the deployment of troops, showing Huo Ling's trust in him.

Significant Themes

• Power and Military Might: The chapter emphasizes the immense power and military strength of the East River Marquisate, striking fear into neighboring clans and attracting mercenaries.
• Preparation and Anticipation: The theme of preparation is evident as the Marquisate readies its troops and constructs the portal, while neighboring clans anticipate and brace for an attack.

Character Interactions

• Huo Ling and Ren Jingchen interact briefly, with Huo Ling delegating the troop deployment task to Ren Jingchen, showcasing their working relationship.
• The neighboring half-orc clans interact with each other through pleas for aid, demonstrating their interdependence and mutual fear of the Marquisate's power.
• There's no direct interaction between characters in this chapter, but the actions of various groups (Marquisate, half-orc clans, mercenaries) reflect their responses to the Marquisate's military preparations.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Huo Ling prepares for the invasion of the Hemel Plane by constructing a nine-tiered altar and summoning undead forces.
• He summons five Silver-rank Dark Warrior war divisions and three Silver-rank Skeleton Cavalry war divisions, totaling over 15,000 troops, to act as the vanguard.
• Huo Ling also conscripts alien-race Sanctuary experts, Death Guards, Death Vanguards, and liches to join the initial forces.
• The teleportation process begins, with Death Vanguards and Sanctuary undead leading the way, followed by Dark Warrior and Skeleton Cavalry combat regiments, and finally Type-B forces like Beastmen, Goblins, and Kobolds.

Character Developments

• Huo Ling demonstrates his strategic prowess and command over vast undead forces, preparing for a large-scale planar invasion.
• The alien-race Sanctuary experts show loyalty and respect towards Huo Ling, accepting their roles in his army.

Significant Themes

• Power and Control: Huo Ling's ability to command and summon powerful undead forces highlights his immense power and control.
• Sacrifice and Strategy: The vanguard's high expected casualties emphasize the strategic importance of undead troops in absorbing enemy firepower.

Character Interactions

• Huo Ling interacts with the alien-race Sanctuary experts, inspiring them with his calm and commanding presence.
• The middle-aged red dragon shows respect and loyalty towards Huo Ling, reflecting the hierarchical structure within the East River Marquisate.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Huo Ling's army begins teleportation to the Hemel Plane, with three Legends (Ren Jingchen, Yuwen, and Vito) teleporting directly inside.
• The teleportation process is slow and consumes nearly an entire day, raising concerns about the time it will take for the troops to stabilize upon arrival.
• Huo Ling sends the Legends through the portal one by one, starting with Yuwen, followed by Vito, and lastly Ren Jingchen.
• Huo Ling returns to the mage tower and then to the outer void, planning to attack the gods' divine kingdoms or the plane's crystal wall if the invasion doesn't go smoothly, to draw the gods' attention away from the vanguard forces.

Character Developments

• Huo Ling demonstrates strategic thinking and concern for his troops' well-being, hoping the enemies won't blockade them upon arrival.
• The Legends show loyalty and readiness to follow Huo Ling's commands.

Significant Themes

• The struggle and challenges of planar invasion, with teleportation being a slow and risky process.
• The power dynamics between gods and their attendant gods, with the God of Radiance holding significant control over his attendants.

Character Interactions

• Huo Ling interacts with the Legends, giving commands and showing trust in their abilities.
• The God of Radiance interacts with his attendant gods, expressing his concerns about the upcoming invasion and seeking their input.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The God of Radiance and his subordinate god discover that invaders from another plane have arrived, but there's no planar beacon to locate the portal.
• The God of Radiance deploys armies across multiple fronts to find the enemy's portal as quickly as possible.
• The Radiant Kingdom's Emperor Cecil receives the divine decree and discusses strategies with his highest-ranking Church officials.
• The Dusk God's Church receives a divine decree and prepares for battle, with the Pope ordering a swift response despite the vague information.

Character Developments

• Emperor Cecil shows strategic thinking and understands the challenges of defending against an unknown enemy.
• The Pope of the Dusk God demonstrates swift decision-making and leadership in the face of uncertainty.

Significant Themes

• The struggle against unknown enemies and the challenges of defending against them.
• The power dynamics between different gods and their Churches.
• The importance of swift decision-making and leadership in times of crisis.

Character Interactions

• Emperor Cecil interacts with his Church officials, discussing strategies and showing understanding of the challenges ahead.
• The Pope of the Dusk God interacts with his cardinal archbishops, making swift decisions and emphasizing the importance of their mission.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Hemel Plane is on high alert due to the impending planar invasion by Huo Ling.
• Churches and secular dynasties mobilize their forces, with the Radiant Kingdom sending four legions of elite soldiers as the vanguard.
• Gods' legions are stationed across strategic nodes on the lower continents to defend against the invasion.
• Serfs and private troops are also involved in searching for possible planar portals on the fifth-layer continent.

Character Developments

• Huo Ling, the Hunting God, is determined to invade the Hemel Plane and is preparing for teleportation.
• The church prince of the Radiant Kingdom is confident in his forces' ability to crush the planar invaders.
• The cavalrymen on the fifth-layer continent show signs of discontent and lack of motivation in their search for planar portals.

Significant Themes

• Vigilance and preparation against external threats.
• The stark contrast between the lives of nobles and lowborn wretches.
• The struggle for survival in harsh environments.

Character Interactions

• The church prince oversees the mobilization of his forces, displaying confidence in their abilities.
• The cavalry captain and his squad interact, revealing the squad's lack of motivation and discontent with their task.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The chapter opens with farm slaves, including Cow Dung, harvesting mushrooms in a field on the Fifth Layer Continent.
• Cow Dung discovers a glowing magic mushroom, which he hopes will earn him a bowl of meat soup as a reward.
• A massive, glowing teleportation gate appears, and three giant, armored figures emerge, speaking in an incomprehensible language.
• One of the figures attacks the mushroom field with a powerful greatsword, killing Cow Dung and his brothers, and destroying the field.

Character Developments

• Cow Dung: Initially focused on his daily labor and the reward of a magic mushroom, Cow Dung's life is cut short by the sudden appearance of the armored figures. His final act is reaching for the half-magic mushroom he desired.
• Cow Dung's Brothers: They are mentioned briefly and ultimately meet the same fate as Cow Dung.

Significant Themes

• Futility of Dreams: Cow Dung's desire for the magic mushroom and the meat soup it represents is ultimately unfulfilled, highlighting the futility of his dreams in the face of sudden, violent death.
• Powerlessness of the Oppressed: The farm slaves are helpless against the sudden, overwhelming force of the armored figures, emphasizing their powerlessness in the face of oppressive forces.

Character Interactions

• Cow Dung and his brothers interact briefly, discussing the strange appearance of the teleportation gate and debating whether to inform their overseer. Their interactions are minimal and focused on their shared plight as farm slaves.

Key Plot Points and Events

• A portal opens, allowing Death Vanguards from another plane to invade.
• The invaders, led by Death Vanguards, swiftly kill all living beings near the portal to delay its discovery.
• They target a nearby manor, killing its inhabitants, including a baronet and his servants.
• More Death Vanguards and Dark Warriors emerge, setting up defenses around the portal.
• Gods from the Hemel Plane sense the portal's location and issue divine oracles to mobilize troops.
• The closest forces to the portal—an army of the Shadow God's legion and two noble infantry regiments—arrive and prepare to engage the invaders.

Character Developments

• The Death Vanguards are introduced as ruthless and efficient killers, prioritizing the destruction of life around the portal.
• The baronet is depicted as helpless and unable to protect his people from the invaders.
• The Temple Knight Commander of the Shadow God's legion shows determination and resolve in the face of overwhelming enemy forces.

Significant Themes

• Ruthlessness and efficiency of the invading forces.
• Helplessness and vulnerability of the invaded population.
• The importance of swift action in the face of overwhelming odds.
• The power dynamics between gods, their followers, and the invading forces.

Character Interactions

• The Death Vanguards interact with the inhabitants of the manor, killing them without mercy.
• The Temple Knight Commander interacts with his troops, rallying them for battle against the invaders.
• The gods of the Hemel Plane interact with their followers, issuing divine oracles to mobilize troops against the invaders.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The clerical army, led by a Sanctuary-rank temple knight commander, advances towards the enemy portal, bolstered by divine arts from priests and clerics.
• The enemy is revealed to be undead, with soldiers clad in black armor and led by Death Vanguards.
• The battle begins with ranged attacks from both sides, followed by a clash of infantry and cavalry.
• The temple knights struggle against the undead, suffering heavy losses. The temple knight commander faces three Death Vanguards simultaneously.
• The Shadow God intervenes, granting the temple knight commander divine power, boosting his strength.

Character Developments

• The temple knight commander demonstrates courage and devotion to his god, fighting fiercely even when outmatched.
• The Shadow God shows interest in his follower's battle, ultimately providing divine intervention.

Significant Themes

• The clash between life and death, represented by the clerical army and the undead forces.
• Devotion and faith, shown through the temple knight commander's actions and the Shadow God's intervention.
• The power dynamics of battle, with the undead's strength and military formations proving superior to the clerics'.

Character Interactions

• The temple knight commander interacts with his god through prayer and combat, ultimately receiving divine intervention.
• The temple knight commander faces off against three Death Vanguards, showcasing his determination and skill.
• The clerical army and undead forces clash, demonstrating the power dynamics and strategies of each side.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The temple knight commander erupts with divine power but is ultimately overwhelmed by five Death Vanguards, leading to his defeat and the annihilation of his 20,000-strong legion.
• The undead forces, despite their smaller numbers, prove more elite and powerful, crushing the first church army with minimal losses.
• Reinforcements from various church armies across the Hemel Plane converge, waiting to strike together once sufficient numbers have gathered.
• The invading forces strengthen their defenses around the portal, preparing for the church armies' counterattack.
• After nearly a day, the church legions gain a numerical advantage, with over 500,000 troops gathering under the unified command of the Dusk Pope and the War Pope.

Character Developments

• The temple knight commander demonstrates immense divine power but ultimately succumbs to the undead forces' superior numbers and strength.
• The Shadow God, while not directly involved, shifts His gaze away from the battlefield, indicating the battle's outcome has been decided.

Significant Themes

• The disparity in power and strategy between the church armies and the undead forces.
• The importance of unified command in large-scale battles, as demonstrated by the church legions' establishment of a unified command headquarters.
• The impact of divine power and equipment on soldiers' strength, with Hemel Plane soldiers being weaker than their Spirit Realm counterparts.

Character Interactions

• The temple knight commander's final moments show his dedication to his god and the Hemel Plane, even in the face of defeat.
• The gods in the outer void watch the battlefield, with the Shadow God shifting His gaze, indicating His lack of interest in the outcome.
• The Dusk Pope and the War Pope take command of the unified church forces, preparing to counterattack the undead.