Chapter Summaries

Luo Ning returned to Wubei Territory, arranged for wild rice to be stored and cultivated, and heard that the autumn wheat harvest had reached record yields. He refused Chahar's proposal to raise taxes and told his officials to recruit more people, hinting that new responsibilities were coming.

• Luo Ning returned to Swamp Castle and learned that Aileen had gone to Purple Fruit Village and become an Intermediate Mage.
• Luo Ning ordered Gallon to process and store the wild rice seeds, then had Wilson arrange for rice paddies to be developed in the swamp.
• Wilson reported that wheat yields had risen to 178 jin per mu, while the barley harvest was still to come.
• Chahar proposed raising taxes to increase castle revenue, but Luo Ning refused and said the people should benefit from higher harvests.
• Luo Ning reassured Wilson and Chahar that Wushan Castle's war gains could cover expenses and ordered them to recruit more people for upcoming work.

Luo Ning inspected Wubei Territory’s workshops and villages, planned further production and population growth, and invited Aileen to travel with him to Wushan Castle. He then appointed Serin as Administrator of a territory he expected to obtain southwest of Wushan Territory.

• Luo Ning ordered Purple Fruit Village to convert its wheat fields into mulberry groves so Horn could expand silk production.
• Luo Ning inspected the Papermaking Workshop, agreed to take Aileen to Wushan Castle, and considered Black Tiger’s potential as the start of a wolf cavalry.
• Luo Ning toured several towns with Aileen and reviewed plans for the territory’s population to grow toward fifty thousand.
• Luo Ning offered Serin the Administrator post in a new territory southwest of Wushan Territory, and Serin pledged to serve him loyally.

Luo Ning showed Aileen how to cast Water Arrow, then revealed the immense power of his enhanced Fireball after advancing to Archmage. He turned to training for his next stage and planned to visit Wushan Castle to find a Level 6 wind-attribute magic book and discuss the spoils of war with Rulans.

• Aileen mastered Water Arrow and celebrated by hugging Luo Ning.
• Luo Ning demonstrated a two-meter Fireball, startling Aileen and the people around Swamp Castle with its power.
• Luo Ning explained that he had become an Archmage, encouraged Aileen to aim for the same rank, and resumed training.
• Luo Ning set his next goals as mastering Fire Dragon Swallows Heaven, Fire Flash, and Wind Press Wave, but lacked a Level 6 wind-attribute magic book.
• Luo Ning decided to go to Wushan Castle to check Rulans's collection or buy a book, and to discuss the division of the war's benefits.

Luo Ning brought Aileen to Wushan Castle, where Rulans questioned him about his rapid rise in strength and offered him a reward for his service in the war. The chapter ended with Rulans wondering whether Luo Ning had asked for too little after he requested a promotion and Red Mountain Town.

• Luo Ning and Aileen arrived at Wushan Castle’s Back Mountain on Carlos, then went to Rulans’s residence.
• Rulans gave Aileen a mage robe and advised Luo Ning to avoid publicly compromising his planned marriage to Princess Blanche.
• Rulans asked about Luo Ning’s extraordinary growth, and Luo Ning claimed a hidden Divine Artifact had accelerated his progress.
• Luo Ning revealed that he had become a Golden Knight and Archmage, prompting Rulans to celebrate his strength.
• Rulans offered Luo Ning a reward for winning the war and exposing Coren’s betrayal, and Luo Ning requested a promotion and Red Mountain Town.
• Rulans asked whether Luo Ning wanted anything more.

Rulans rewarded Luo Ning for his role in defeating the Poland Thief Group, granting him new titles, lands, and command of the Fifth Knight Order. He also told Luo Ning to travel to Golden Feather City to meet King Bruno before his engagement to Blanche was announced.

• Rulans granted Luo Ning a third Count title and the fiefs of Red Mountain Town and Boulder City.
• Rulans appointed Luo Ning commander of Wushan Castle's Fifth Knight Order, which would be stationed in Riverside City, and Luo Ning agreed to have Rydal lead the troops there.
• Rulans said Wushan Castle would temporarily manage Riverside City while Albert arranged for people to handle its affairs.
• Rulans told Luo Ning that King Bruno had invited him to Golden Feather City to meet the royal family before Blanche's birthday, with their engagement planned for announcement the following June.
• Rulans advised Luo Ning to travel by land and water after the Celebration Banquet rather than ride the dragon.

Luo Ning returned to Rulans after his victory and learned that his grandfather would grant him Red Mountain Town and Boulder Territory. When Wiggins demanded a share of the iron mine, Luo Ning refused, and their confrontation ended with Wiggins recognizing how much his son’s power had changed their relationship.

• Wiggins asked Holwart to summon Luo Ning so he could discuss a share of the Red Mountain Iron Mine, while Diane advised him to ask for less.
• Luo Ning spent time with Brayden and Aileen, who showed off a magical robe that could activate the Light Body Spell.
• At lunch, Luo Ning told Brayden that resolve and constant effort had made him a Silver Knight.
• Wiggins told Luo Ning he would ask Rulans to grant him Red Mountain Town, but Luo Ning revealed that Rulans had already granted it, along with Boulder Territory.
• Luo Ning refused Wiggins’s request for a share of the mine, explaining that Wiggins had not helped secure the territory.
• Wiggins hurled a piece of wood at Luo Ning, who blocked it with Battle Qi Armor; Diane intervened, and Luo Ning warned Wiggins that he was more than just his son.

Luo Ning and Wiggins bargained over compensation for Red Mountain Iron Mine, settling on an annual payment of 2,050 gold coins and a promise of 25,000 workers. Wiggins then ordered Diane to gather the workers, including prisoners if necessary, while acknowledging Luo Ning’s strength and new position.

• Luo Ning rejected Wiggins’s demand for a share of Red Mountain Iron Mine, arguing that Wiggins had not helped acquire it and that the mine’s output was limited.
• Luo Ning offered Wiggins money instead of iron ore, and they haggled over the annual payment and the supply of workers.
• After dozens of rounds of bargaining, Luo Ning agreed to pay Wiggins 2,050 gold coins a year, and Wiggins promised to gather 25,000 people for the mine.
• Wiggins told Diane to urge Wushan City and the estates to gather the workers, and said they should include prisoners if there were not enough people.

Luo Ning mastered the Level 6 defensive spell Wall of Sighs and learned how rare higher-level Magic Books were. At Wushan Castle’s victory banquet, Rulans ennobled several knights and officially made Luo Ning a count, granting him Boulder Territory and Red Mountain Town in addition to Wubei Territory.

• Luo Ning bought the Magic Book for Wall of Sighs, studied it while showing Aileen the sights, and mastered the spell at Wushan Lake.
• At the celebration banquet, Yusef Riv told Luo Ning that Level 6 Magic Books could be obtained through connections or reconstructed from Spell Scrolls, while Level 7 books were held by powerful nobles, the kingdom, and Magic Families.
• Sandro told Luo Ning that Rulans planned to make him Wushan Territory’s third count, and Rulans announced the territory’s victory over the Poland Thief Group and the Black Gold Brotherhood.
• Rulans ennobled Toru, Philip, Solstan, and Melonica as barons of their respective towns, then entrusted Quicksand Town to Marvin Iron Hoof.
• Rulans declared Luo Ning Count of Wubei Territory and added Boulder Territory and Red Mountain Town to his fief, and Luo Ning swore to protect his lands and family’s honor.

Luo Ning celebrated his investiture as Count, gaining rewards and drawing congratulations as the banquet revealed the political consequences of his victories. McKinney told Aileen that Luo Ning was expected to marry Princess Blanche, leaving Aileen visibly unsettled.

• Luo Ning received his Count’s medal and investiture letter, triggering achievements and an improved monthly reward multiplier.
• Rulans invested six people as Honorary Knights, then left the banquet as guests celebrated the new nobles and knights.
• Viscount Vitorino and the Hyde Family representatives regretted missing out on promotions and land, while Rulans’s appointments strengthened Luo Ning’s ties to the Southwest Front.
• McKinney spoke with Aileen about Sarri Town and how Luo Ning’s victories had restored the family’s former territory.
• McKinney told Aileen that Luo Ning would likely marry Princess Blanche, and Aileen reacted with unease.

Luo Ning reviewed his path to becoming a Marquis and planned how to manage his growing territories and limited staff. McKinney warned him to protect his reputation ahead of his Marriage Alliance with Blanche and told him that Cabir had prepared ten thousand people for him.

• Luo Ning concluded that inheritance was an impractical path to a Marquis title and that he would need to earn an appointment from the King, making his Marriage Alliance with Blanche important.
• Luo Ning planned to send Macken to Boulder Territory, leave Elrond in Wubei Territory, and rely on Juwitt, Sim, and other knights to train local guards.
• McKinney visited Luo Ning and warned him that rumors of a relationship with Aileen could damage his reputation and jeopardize his Marriage Alliance with Blanche.
• McKinney told Luo Ning that she had prepared the ten thousand people Cabir promised him and urged him to arrange their departure from Radiant City.

After securing twenty-five thousand people and new territories, Luo Ning returned to Wubei Territory and organized its administration, military expansion, and rewards. He then prepared to travel to the Royal Capital, leaving his followers with their assignments and Aileen with a promise that he would not leave her.

• Cabir gathered ten thousand people for Luo Ning, who arranged to receive twenty-five thousand in total and left Wushan Castle with Rulans's letter for King Bruno.
• On the dragon ride home, Luo Ning comforted Aileen, who worried that he might leave her, and promised he would not.
• Back at Swamp Castle, Luo Ning announced his promotion to Count and his acquisition of Boulder Territory and Red Mountain Town, then awarded campaign bonuses to his soldiers.
• Luo Ning selected David and Tom to accompany him to the Royal Capital and assigned Macken, Wilson, Chahar, and Rognar responsibilities for the territories and the incoming people.
• Luo Ning ordered military expansion in Wubei Territory and Boulder City and tasked Rognar with recruiting suitable knights.

Luo Ning traveled west toward Golden Feather City with David and Tom, stopping at a merchant caravan’s roadside camp for the night. There, he learned that Baron Hammett was traveling with the caravan and questioned how the former Honorary Knight had become a baron.

• Luo Ning left instructions and the Fire Dragon Swallows Heaven Magic Energy Cannon with Rydal before continuing toward the Royal Capital on the Cloud Steed.
• Galil guided Luo Ning, David, and Tom toward Pointed Horn City and explained that they could cross the Screaming Sea to reach Golden Feather City.
• Luo Ning and his companions joined White and Philly’s merchant caravan at a roadside campsite and paid three Silver Coins to stay.
• Philly asked Luo Ning about his horse and mentioned Baron Hammett, prompting Luo Ning to ask how Hammett Love had become a baron.

Luo Ning sensed an approaching attack while making a spell scroll and warned the caravan, but a group from the Wolf Slaying Mercenary Group surrounded the camp and announced that everyone would die. Bauer blamed the caravan for taking in people they should not have, and the others turned their suspicion toward Luo Ning.

• Philly praised Hammett for his supposed battlefield exploits and promotion to Baron, but Luo Ning declined to meet Hammett’s son and lover.
• After night fell, Luo Ning worked on a Wind of Detection spell scroll and lost concentration when he sensed footsteps approaching the camp.
• Luo Ning sent Tom to warn Philly and White that enemies were approaching from the southwest, but they doubted the warning.
• The attackers shot two watchmen, surrounded the camp, and prompted Philly and White to rally the caravan.
• Philly recognized the attackers as the Wolf Slaying Mercenary Group, and Captain Bauer said they had to die for taking in the wrong people.
• The caravan members turned to look at Luo Ning, who questioned why they were blaming him.

Luo Ning killed Bauer with one sword after the mercenary attacked the caravan, then agreed to escort Lais and Pick to Thorn Valley. When White reported that Tom and David were fighting an Intermediate Knight, Luo Ning hurried to help them.

• Luo Ning recognized that Bauer's mercenaries were targeting Lais and Pick, but Bauer refused to let anyone leave alive.
• Luo Ning killed Bauer with one sword, and Tom and David joined White and Philly in fighting the remaining mercenaries.
• The caravan recognized Luo Ning as the lord of Wushan Castle, and Lais asked him to escort her and Pick to Thorn Valley.
• Luo Ning agreed to take them to Thorn Valley the next day, where he also planned to ask Baron Hammett for help.
• White warned Luo Ning that Tom and David were fighting an Intermediate Knight, so Luo Ning rushed toward them.

Tom and David killed an Intermediate Knight, and Tom broke through to the Intermediate Knight rank during the fight. After reaching Thorn Valley, Luo Ning arranged possible trade with Baron Hammett and continued to Pointed Horn City, where Rhys Dennis confronted him.

• Tom and David fought an Intermediate Knight, and Tom's lightning-attributed Battle Qi helped them kill him.
• Luo Ning congratulated Tom on breaking through and gave him a secret tome about Battle Qi Meridians to study.
• After the Wolf Slaying Mercenary Group's survivors fled, Lais promised compensation for the victims, and the caravan continued to Thorn Valley.
• Luo Ning suggested Jonny might have arranged the attack on Lais and Pick, then asked Baron Hammett to recruit port builders and explore trade in thorns and Wubei Territory's goods.
• Luo Ning left Thorn Valley with David and Tom, reached Pointed Horn City, and chose to stay near the docks instead of visiting Viscount Vitorino.
• Rhys Dennis rode up to Luo Ning and asked if he was the Count from Wubei Territory.

Luo Ning accepted the Dennis Family’s invitation to dine at Pointed Horn Fort, where Vitorino welcomed him after a ride with Jamie. Jamie revealed that Rhys was secretly already a Bronze Knight and described Crown Prince Garrett’s formidable strength, leaving Luo Ning considering the prospect of a future war between kingdoms.

• Rhys introduced himself to Luo Ning and invited him to a banquet at Pointed Horn Fort on behalf of his father, Vitorino.
• Jamie arrived, persuaded Luo Ning to accept the invitation, and Rhys rode ahead to inform Vitorino.
• As Luo Ning traveled with Jamie, Jamie disclosed that Rhys had secretly reached Bronze Knight rank at age twenty-two.
• Jamie told Luo Ning that Crown Prince Garrett had become a Golden Knight years earlier and might already have reached Meteor Rank.
• Luo Ning and Jamie arrived at Pointed Horn Fort after nightfall, where Vitorino warmly welcomed Luo Ning.

Luo Ning attended a lavish welcome banquet at Pointed Horn Fort, where Vitorino asked him to seek Wushan Castle’s help with the Fleming Family’s blockade of Dennis Port. Luo Ning agreed to pass along the request and considered how a future port in Wubei Territory might challenge the Earl of Screaming Island’s control of the sea.

• Vitorino learned that Luo Ning had arrived and told Rhys to invite the local nobles and knights to the welcome banquet.
• Vitorino and Parida discussed Luo Ning’s rising influence, the possibility of restoring his Right of Inheritance, and the end of their transaction with Jesus.
• At the banquet, Vitorino offered Luo Ning two ships and Rhys as an escort to Golden Feather City, then asked him to raise Dennis Port’s dispute with Wushan Castle.
• Vitorino explained that the Fleming Family’s blockade limited Dennis Port’s ships and that a three-year free navigation agreement with Screaming Island was too short.
• Luo Ning agreed to relay Vitorino’s request to the Marquis and Wiggins, then wondered whether a Wubei Territory port could let ships trap the Earl of Screaming Island.

Luo Ning proposed partnering with Vitorino and the Dennis Family to build a major seaport in Wubei Territory. He argued that the port could help protect Dennis Port’s trade and expand business, leaving Vitorino to consider the offer.

• Luo Ning told Vitorino about the assassination attempt on Hammett’s lover and son, and explained that he had asked Hammett to recruit port craftsmen in Pointed Horn City.
• Luo Ning described how a Wubei Territory seaport could connect trade routes across the Screaming Sea and reduce dependence on land travel.
• Vitorino warned that the new port could draw trade away from Dennis Port, and Luo Ning suggested the Dennis Family invest and share in its future profits.
• Luo Ning argued that a port and fleet could counter the Earl of Screaming Island’s interference by disrupting his ships’ routes to the Vera Duchy.
• Luo Ning explained that safer sea trade could benefit Dennis Port and make shipping goods such as iron ore from Red Mountain Town more efficient, then asked Vitorino whether he still considered the port harmful to the Dennis Family.

Luo Ning and Vitorino agreed to have Dennis Port craftsmen survey the Wubei Territory for a possible port, while Vitorino urged Rhys to build ties with Luo Ning. Rhys challenged Luo Ning to a midnight swordsmanship spar, lost, and had to promise to smile whenever he saw Luo Ning until he could defeat him.

• Luo Ning arranged for Hammett to bring experienced craftsmen from Dennis Port to survey a possible port site and sent Elrond instructions to host them and protect Carlos's house.
• Vitorino praised Luo Ning to Rhys and urged his son to get to know him during their voyage to Golden Feather City.
• Rhys visited Luo Ning late at night and asked to spar, saying he wanted to test the strength of the knight who had killed the Meteor Knight.
• Luo Ning and Rhys fought using swordsmanship alone, and Luo Ning eventually knocked Rhys's sword from his hand.
• Luo Ning claimed his victory and made Rhys promise to smile whenever they met until Rhys defeated him; Rhys forced an awkward smile.

Luo Ning left Dennis Port aboard the Dennis III, while Vitorino began arranging a survey for their proposed cooperation. As the ship neared the Screaming Islands, three vessels appeared ahead, prompting Captain Bran to ready the crew and notify Rhys.

• Vitorino told Ant to summon Baron Hammett to discuss the urgent survey and cooperation with Luo Ning.
• Luo Ning boarded the Dennis III with Rhys and his guards, and the ship departed Dennis Port for Golden Feather City.
• Luo Ning teased Rhys about his forced smile and invited him to join Wubei Territory; Rhys refused unless Luo Ning became a Meteor Knight first.
• After sailing for nearly two days, the lookout spotted three ships heading south, and Captain Bran ordered the crew to prepare for a possible collision.
• Captain Bran sent his deputy to notify Rhys that the Dennis III had entered the waters of the Screaming Islands.