Chapter Summaries

Luo Ning questioned Baron Coren’s confidence in a swift victory and warned that the Poland Thief Group might have hidden strength, prompting the coalition to adopt a cautious temporary plan. After the meeting, Coren and Brisso discussed whether Luo Ning suspected them and agreed their planned action was necessary.

• Coren proposed resting for two days before attacking Red Mountain Town, arguing that the coalition’s superior forces could defeat the Poland Thief Group quickly.
• Luo Ning asked about the enemy’s losses when Red Mountain Town fell and noted that Haen’s forces had suffered a disastrous defeat despite their numbers and defenses.
• Coren claimed Haen’s troops had been caught drunk and unprepared, while Luo Ning raised the possibility that the Poland Thief Group had concealed stronger fighters or gained new ones.
• The coalition assigned Marvin, Toru, and Rydal to reorganize its troops, Taren and Macken to camp defense, Philip and Solstan to patrol and reconnaissance, and Boulder Territory to logistics.
• Coren asked Brisso whether Luo Ning suspected him, and they concluded that their action was necessary.

Luo Ning prepared Wubei Territory’s forces to seize Red Mountain Town and flew over the town with Carlos to inspect the iron mine and surrounding terrain. Seeing how defensible the pass was, he began to suspect that Coren had concealed something about the fall of Haen’s troops.

• Luo Ning established a camp near Boulder Territory’s southern border and held a meeting to set Wubei Territory’s goals and urge his followers to learn from the war.
• Luo Ning summoned Carlos and flew toward Red Mountain Town after questioning whether Coren had truly lacked a map of the area.
• Luo Ning saw enslaved people mining iron under brutal overseers and spotted ore being transported south toward Cassil Town.
• Luo Ning observed the narrow, defensible pass between Red Mountain Town and Cassil Town and wondered how Haen’s five Knight Squads had lost it.
• Luo Ning reconsidered Coren’s account of Haen’s defeat and began to suspect Coren was hiding something.

Luo Ning suspected Coren had betrayed Wushan Castle to help destroy its Knight Squads and weaken Rulans, so he planned to investigate and capture someone from Red Mountain Town. He arranged for Carlos to abduct Warwick, the mine overseer, and the dragon carried the bound man into the sky.

• Luo Ning reasoned that Coren might have colluded with the Poland Thief Group and outside nobles to trap the Noble Coalition Army and wipe out Wushan Castle's Knight Squads.
• Luo Ning decided to find evidence, warned himself to have Toru watch the Knight Squad leaders, and chose to capture someone from Red Mountain Town for questioning.
• Luo Ning spotted Warwick, the Red Mountain Iron Mine overseer, and told Carlos to seize him after dusk.
• Warwick left the mine on horseback, and Carlos bound him with Wind Tentacles, grabbed him, and flew away.

Luo Ning captured Warwick, a core member of the Poland Thief Group, and learned that Baron Coren had helped the group attack Red Mountain Town. After deciding to seize Coren before the war, Luo Ning chased Warwick when he tried to escape, and Warwick turned to fight him.

• Carlos dropped Warwick in a deserted forest, where Luo Ning revealed his identity as the Commander of the Noble Coalition Army and questioned him.
• Warwick confessed the Poland Thief Group’s size, leadership, and strength, and Luo Ning promised to spare him.
• Warwick confirmed Luo Ning’s suspicion that Baron Coren had allied with the Poland Thief Group to destroy Wushan Castle’s Knight Squads at Red Mountain Town.
• Luo Ning decided to capture Coren before the war, while Warwick secretly looked for a chance to flee.
• Warwick ran through the forest, but Luo Ning caught up and struck at him with Flaming Fist Aura.
• Warwick dodged the attack, turned back, and prepared to capture Luo Ning so he could escape Carlos.

Luo Ning revealed that Baron Coren had betrayed Wushan Ridge and exposed him through the captured Silver Knight Warwick. He decided to lure Coren to the camp the next morning and capture him rather than risk a nighttime assault on Boulder Fortress.

• Luo Ning summoned Toru, Marvin, Philip, and Solstan, then told them Baron Coren had betrayed Wushan Ridge.
• Luo Ning brought in the captured Warwick, who admitted he belonged to the Poland Thief Group and described the plan to annihilate the Noble Coalition Army.
• Rydal reported that Coren had transferred more than half of his Knight Squads away from the camp, strengthening the evidence against him.
• Luo Ning ordered Macken and Sir Taren to prevent anyone, especially Coren's men, from leaving the camp.
• Luo Ning rejected an immediate attack on Boulder Fortress and planned to summon Coren to the camp the next morning so they could capture him.

After learning that Coren had betrayed him, Rulans sent Melonica to reinforce the Eastern Front and ordered his trusted subordinates to move into Wushan Fortress. Meanwhile, Luo Ning prepared to draw Coren to the camp while securing Boulder Fortress against a possible uprising.

• Amicus ordered Haldan to intensify the search for Warwick, who had vanished from the mine without explanation.
• Carlos sent the Thunder Chasing Wind Beast to deliver Luo Ning's warning to Rulans about Coren's betrayal and possible schemes on the Eastern Front.
• Rulans trusted Luo Ning's report, assigned Melonica to reinforce Cabir and the others, and decided to move into Wushan Fortress with Wiggins, Diane, and Brayden.
• Luo Ning summoned Coren to the camp to discuss a new operation plan while Rydal, Taren, and the others prepared defenses against Boulder Fortress's Knight Squads.

Baron Coren learned that Warwick had disappeared and suspected that Luo Ning knew about his betrayal, so he abandoned the journey to the coalition camp and prepared to fight. He ordered Boulder Fortress fortified and sought to coordinate an attack with Amicus.

• Coren received Luo Ning’s summons and set out for the coalition camp with Brisso and Boulder Fortress’s Knight Squad.
• A messenger delivered Amicus’s letter reporting that Warwick was missing and might have been captured by someone from Wushan Castle.
• Coren concluded that Melonica had exposed their plan to Luo Ning and that the summons was a trap.
• Coren ordered Brisso to fortify Boulder Fortress while he went to contact Amicus and urge him to attack the Noble Coalition Army.

After Coren sealed Boulder Fortress and cut off the allied army’s food supply, Luo Ning reorganized the coalition’s plans to attack the fortress and prepare for Red Mountain Town’s reinforcements. The army exposed Coren’s betrayal, executed his remaining soldiers in camp, and marched toward Boulder Fortress.

• Philip reported that Coren had shut Boulder Fortress’s gates and was refusing entry to everyone.
• Luo Ning argued that Amicus might have warned Coren, then proposed taking the fortress before troops from Red Mountain Town arrived and ambushing the Poland Thief Group’s reinforcements.
• Luo Ning assigned Taren and Marvin to eliminate Coren’s subordinates, Toru and Rydal to reveal Coren’s crimes, and Philip and Solstan to keep watch on Red Mountain Town.
• Luo Ning sent Macken to gather Joffrey, Rognar, and ten other transcendents for a special mission.
• Toru’s explanation and interrogations revealed Coren’s role in the Red Mountain Town tragedy and Haen’s death, prompting the coalition to kill Coren’s remaining Knight Squad members.
• The newly organized Noble Coalition Army left camp under its new Captains and marched toward Boulder Fortress.

Luo Ning sent Macken’s force to seize Cassil Town while the Noble Coalition Army surrounded Coren’s Boulder Fortress. As the siege began, Rydal fired the Level 6 Magic Energy Cannon, shocking Coren.

• Luo Ning ordered Macken, Elrond, and their force to raid Cassil Town and await signals before moving on Red Mountain Town.
• Amicus ordered Haldan to send Kilbert and Lanivisa to reinforce Coren and attack the Noble Coalition Army from behind.
• The Noble Coalition Army surrounded Boulder Fortress, and the people of Boulder Territory learned that Coren had betrayed the Marquis.
• Marvin publicly condemned Coren, while Coren taunted him and searched the crowd for Melonica.
• Luo Ning had Rydal fire the Level 6 Magic Energy Cannon at Boulder Fortress, and Coren recognized the weapon in alarm.

Luo Ning’s forces used the Magic Energy Cannon and spells to break into Boulder Fortress and overcome its defenses. Brisso and Coren were captured, leaving the fortress’s defenders defeated.

• Rydal, Marvin, and Toru bombarded Boulder Fortress’s iron gate with the Magic Energy Cannon until it burst inward.
• Luo Ning ordered the assault, and his knights stormed the fortress while Coren fired Magic Energy Arrows from the wall.
• Luo Ning blasted the Arrow Towers with spells, helping the knights lower the drawbridge and let the coalition troops charge across.
• A Golden Knight inside the fortress used Fire Flash against Luo Ning, but Rydal blocked it and went to support the fighting on the wall.
• Brisso broke through the fighting and charged at Luo Ning, but Rydal and four other Silver Rank knights surrounded and defeated him.
• Toru defeated Coren and captured him, leaving Boulder Fortress’s strongest defenders in custody.

Luo Ning captured Boulder Fortress, arranged a fair division of its spoils, and prepared a deception to lure the Poland Thief Group closer. Amicus believed a forged report that Coren was still holding out, while Lanivisa questioned whether the letter was genuine.

• Luo Ning entered Boulder Fortress after its fall, ordered the wounded Coren treated and taken to Wushan Castle, and learned that Coren had hidden his family and most of the fortress's wealth.
• Luo Ning told Toru to have representatives distribute the spoils according to each noble's contribution and losses, then ordered Philip to scout and Solstan to seal off Boulder City.
• Luo Ning arranged for messenger birds to send Amicus a false report that Coren was holding out and needed support, while the Noble Coalition Army camped outside the fortress.
• Rydal gave Luo Ning Coren's powerful longbow and twenty-three Magic Energy Arrows, and Luo Ning asked Rydal to teach him archery after the war.
• Amicus received a letter claiming Coren had held off the Noble Coalition Army and planned to march to Boulder City at dawn, but Lanivisa wondered whether it was fake.

Luo Ning’s forces lured the Poland Thief Group into Boulder City and surrounded it after Macken’s squad seized Cassil Town. The battle began with the Thieves’ Guild cut off from retreat, and Rydal killed Haldan as Luo Ning fought through enemy ranks.

• Macken recognized Carlos’s red-cloud signal and led his Knight Squad toward Cassil Town, where Joffrey and Rognar killed two guards.
• Macken assigned troops to attack Cassil Town while the Poland Thief Group entered Boulder City, believing the Noble Coalition Army was under attack at Boulder Fortress.
• Luo Ning’s forces blocked the Poland Thief Group’s path and surrounded it from all sides; Luo Ning revealed that Boulder Fortress and Cassil Town had already fallen.
• Luo Ning ordered his army to annihilate the trapped enemy, and the battle erupted across Boulder City’s streets.
• Luo Ning charged into the fighting and cut through enemy knights with his Flowing Flame Sword, while Toru, Marvin, and Taren engaged Amicus.
• Rydal pierced Haldan’s throat, killing the first of the Thieves’ Guild’s Four Giants.

Amicus broke through to the Meteor Rank while fighting six Golden Knights, then attacked Luo Ning, who fought back with magic and helped bring him down. Luo Ning pierced Amicus with the Flowing Flame Sword, and the wounded Thieves' Guild leader collapsed as the battle ended.

• Amicus broke through to the Meteor Rank under pressure from Toru, Rydal, Marvin, Philip, and the other fighters.
• Amicus charged at Luo Ning, who blocked his attack with Flame Burst Slash and was knocked back.
• Luo Ning restrained Amicus with Wind Restraint and struck him with Crimson Flame Serpent, giving Toru and Rydal a chance to seize him.
• Toru and Rydal held Amicus while Luo Ning drove the Flowing Flame Sword through his chest.
• Amicus broke free and struck Luo Ning, but his injured heart worsened and he collapsed in the blood.

Luo Ning’s forces defeated Amicus and the Poland Thief Group, then planned to reclaim the towns the group had occupied across Wushan Territory. The chapter left the Noble Coalition Army preparing to march on Riverside City and expand its victory.

• Luo Ning killed Amicus, earned the King of Slaughter achievement, and joined his troops in celebrating their victory.
• Luo Ning ordered the uninjured to tend to the wounded and called in the logistics teams; the army counted more than two hundred dead and over five hundred seriously injured.
• Macken’s Wubei Territory Knight Squad seized Cassil Town and Red Mountain Town while the Poland Thief Group remained trapped in Boulder City.
• Luo Ning told the commanders he would retake Quicksand Town, Sarri Town, and Riverside City, and ordered Toru and Rydal to lead troops toward Riverside City.
• Baron German offered his wounded men for the next operation, and Luo Ning agreed to include those able to travel.

After helping reclaim several towns, Luo Ning split his forces and flew with Macken, Elrond, and Rydal toward Riverside Fort to secure Amicus’s wealth before Moonlight Valley could take it. Meanwhile, Rulans learned of Luo Ning’s victory at Boulder City and announced that he would grant him the title of Count of Wubei Territory.

• The Noble Coalition Army eagerly assembled and rode out from Boulder City to reclaim the lost towns.
• Macken reported Wubei Territory’s casualties in Cassil Town and Red Mountain Town, and Luo Ning ordered compensation for the dead and wounded.
• Luo Ning assigned Joffrey to lead troops toward Riverside City, sent Rognar and Krami to Sarri Town and Quicksand Town, and left Jenny to guard the occupied towns.
• Luo Ning flew toward Riverside Fort with Macken, Elrond, and Rydal to claim Amicus’s wealth before Moonlight Valley could seize it.
• At Wushan Fortress, Rulans read Luo Ning’s letter describing the capture of Boulder Fortress and the destruction of the Poland Thief Group, then declared he would make Luo Ning Count of Wubei Territory.

Jesus lamented the loss of Amicus and Riverside Fort, but planned to expand into Wushan Territory again and tried to arrange Brisso’s ransom. Meanwhile, Luo Ning looted Amicus’s storehouse and prepared to meet three approaching griffins from Moonlight Valley.

• Jesus cursed Coren and Amicus for losing Riverside Fort and regretted that Amicus had died just after reaching Meteor Rank.
• Jesus told Ramsey he would wait two years before backing the Poland Thief Group again, ordered him to recover Amicus’s wealth, and offered five thousand gold coins to ransom Brisso.
• Luo Ning and his companions landed at Riverside Fort, defeated its remaining guards, and forced the steward to lead them to Amicus’s private storehouse.
• Luo Ning found two chests of gold coins and a chest of Mithril, then stored all three in his Spatial Ring.
• Carlos warned Luo Ning that large birds were approaching, and Luo Ning recognized the three approaching griffins as people from Moonlight Valley.

Luo Ning intercepted Jesus's knights at Riverside Fort and prevented them from taking Amicus's property. Jesus ordered Ramsey to assassinate Luo Ning, but Luo Ning had already returned to Red Mountain Town.

• Luo Ning considered taking the three griffons but decided the risk of provoking a war with Moonlight Valley was too great.
• Idris Shay arrived with Angus and Tripp, claimed they had come to admire Riverside Fort, and then left after speaking with Luo Ning.
• Rydal warned Luo Ning that Angus and Tripp had seemed hostile, and Luo Ning decided to leave Riverside City quickly.
• Jesus learned Luo Ning had taken Riverside Fort and ordered Ramsey to sneak in and kill him.
• Luo Ning rode Carlos back to Red Mountain Town before Ramsey could reach him.

After gaining control of Red Mountain Town, Luo Ning invested points to strengthen his followers and began restoring the iron mine and organizing his new territory. The chapter ended with Luo Ning preparing to meet Fons, a Master Craftsman blacksmith who wanted to serve him.

• Luo Ning spent 1,510 Attribute Points on himself, then raised Rydal to Gold Rank, Macken to mid-stage Silver Rank, and Elrond to Archmage using Energy Essence.
• Luo Ning decided that his military merit gave him grounds to seek Red Mountain Town as an exclave from Rulans, so he dropped plans to share the iron mine's profits with Wiggins.
• Luo Ning stabilized the residents of Cassil Town and Red Mountain Town, then recruited miners and other workers to restore the Red Mountain Iron Mine's operations.
• Luo Ning arranged for the coalition army's spoils to be inventoried and sent Macken to recruit craftsmen for Wubei Territory and Red Mountain Town.
• David told Luo Ning that Fons, a Master Craftsman blacksmith, wanted to serve him and could forge high-quality Knight's Swords and armor, so Luo Ning ordered David to bring him in.

Fons pleaded with Luo Ning to save his dying son, and Luo Ning recruited the master craftsman by promising help and a position in Wubei Territory. The chapter ended with Elrond going to treat Fons’s son.

• Fons asked to see Luo Ning so he could seek help for his badly injured son, Paul.
• Luo Ning told Fons that saving Paul required a costly Potent Healing Spell, which Fons could not afford.
• Fons revealed that he was an Intermediate Knight who had created the Blacksmithing Breathing Technique and expected to become a Grand Craftsman.
• Luo Ning asked Fons to serve as Wubei Territory’s dedicated master craftsman, offering compensation and farmland, and Fons accepted.
• Luo Ning assured Fons that Elrond would treat Paul, and Elrond led him to his son.

After helping secure Wushan Territory’s victory, Luo Ning divided the spoils, arranged for Rydal to oversee Cassil Town and Red Mountain Town, and prepared to return to Wubei Territory. The Black Gold Brotherhood’s advance also halted after Barrington urged a withdrawal, leaving Wushan Territory with a brief period of peace.

• Elrond treated Fons's son Paul, and Fons said the boy could become a master craftsman-level blacksmith despite not having awakened a Battle Qi Seed.
• The Noble Coalition Army retook Sarri Town, Quicksand Town, and Riverside City, then divided the spoils at Red Mountain Town Castle, where Luo Ning received horses and supplies.
• Luo Ning left Rydal, Joffrey, Bablin, Grado, and Tomas with troops to maintain order in Cassil Town and Red Mountain Town while he prepared to return to Wubei Territory.
• Barrington urged the Black Gold Brotherhood to withdraw, citing Hyde County’s poor harvest and the Brotherhood’s losses.
• After two days of deadlock, Melonica and Cabir accepted Wushan Castle’s letter and agreed to withdraw, while guards remained in the recovered towns.