Chapter Summaries

Luo Ning visited the Ironwood Workshop to commission telescope parts, then returned to Swamp Castle and decided how Wubei Territory would distribute and produce Enhancement Potions. He also gave Elrond materials for Awakening Potions and ordered Riggs to select promising young trainees, who would be bound to Wubei Territory if they awakened.

• Luo Ning explained how to make telescope tubes to William, who promised results within seven days.
• Elrond told Luo Ning that Rognar had broken through after using an Advanced Enhancement Potion and reported that Wubei Territory now had thirty-three Professional Knights.
• Luo Ning ordered the remaining potions diluted for Intermediate Knights, gave some to Tom, Horn, Krami, and Bablin, and set discounted prices and strict penalties for reselling.
• Luo Ning and Elrond agreed on a 5:4:6 production ratio for potions of different grades and decided to keep the new batch for internal use.
• Luo Ning gave Elrond ingredients for Awakening Potions and told him to have Riggs select strong candidates under nineteen, who would have to sign contracts if they awakened.

A massive fire broke out in the swamp, and Luo Ning summoned Carlos to extinguish it. While investigating the collapsed pit left behind, Luo Ning discovered a coal deposit that could support the territory’s future industry.

• Damon warned Elrond that a fast-spreading swamp fire had swallowed more than a dozen farmers, and Riggs had failed to stop it.
• Luo Ning flew to the fire and learned that the ground had collapsed into a huge pit as the flames spread.
• Luo Ning summoned Carlos, whose Frost Earth Breath suppressed the fire and allowed the crowd to see the dragon openly.
• Luo Ning inspected the pit, identified the black material as coal, and recognized its potential for smelting and fueling a future Steam Engine.

Luo Ning secured a coal mine for Swamp Town, compensated the families of those killed in the fire, and gave Kalada telescopes on Rapids Island. In Crystal City, Bellora received fifteen dragon scales and paid Luo Ning five hundred thousand gold coins before returning to his research.

• Luo Ning ordered Riggs to guard the coal crater, assigned Wilson to organize mining, and arranged compensation and farmland for the dead workers’ families.
• Luo Ning documented mining precautions and established a Mine Management Group as Swamp Town began developing the coal mine.
• Luo Ning left two telescopes with Kalada on Rapids Island, where Kalada recognized their value for observation and warfare.
• Luo Ning delivered fifteen dragon scales to Bellora, who said his previous attempts to make a potion with the scales had failed.
• Bellora paid Luo Ning five hundred thousand gold coins and took the dragon scales to the top floor of the Mage Tower to resume his research.

Luo Ning completed the Prosperous Fortune achievement, advanced both his knight and mage levels, and began strengthening his commanders. After promoting Macken to the peak of the Golden Knight level, he considered whether his remaining Energy Essence could raise Macken to Silver Moon level.

• Luo Ning used Attribute Points to reach level eight as a Silver Moon Knight and Magister, tested his enhanced body and Mental Power, and resolved to keep a low profile while building Wubei Territory’s population and food supplies.
• At Riverside City, Rydal reported that trade from Moonlight Valley had declined after Jesus distanced himself from the city, and Luo Ning gave Rydal the Auxiliary Enhancement Potions made by Elrond.
• Luo Ning spent 4,400 Energy Essence to raise Macken to the peak of the Golden Knight level and improve his aptitude.
• Luo Ning considered spending his remaining Energy Essence to promote Macken to Silver Moon Knight level.

Luo Ning used Energy Essence to advance Rydal to Blazing Sun and Macken to Silver Moon, then learned about the ancient war against the Nightmare Fiend King and ordered his knights to prepare Wubei Territory for the future. Meanwhile, Miloslav departed Wushan Town for Black Python City to pursue a business deal.

• Luo Ning spent the remaining Energy Essence to strengthen Macken and help Rydal consolidate his new Blazing Sun Rank.
• Rydal explained that Legendary transcendents formed Primal Cores and recounted how the Nightmare Fiend King and its servant Shadow Lord Elliot annihilated his expeditionary army.
• Rydal told Luo Ning that two Sages had once fought the Nightmare Fiend King, but one Sage had died and the demon god's fate remained unknown.
• Luo Ning tasked Rydal and Macken with training more transcendents and told them to conceal their strength while Wubei Territory prepared for a peaceful period.
• Miloslav left Wushan Town with Blev and a small cavalry unit, heading for Black Python City to conduct a major business deal.

Luo Ning practiced forging blades in Red Mountain Town while Miloslav traveled to Black Python City to treat Count Orson. At the Hyde Family castle, Miloslav discovered Orson had recovered and realized he had been lured into a trap.

• Luo Ning forged another Tang Saber with Earth Core Fire and Mental Power, then prepared to promote the blades with Feng Si.
• Miloslav arrived at Black Python City with Blev and was welcomed by Barrington, who claimed Orson was still gravely ill.
• Blev warned Miloslav that the people and atmosphere in the castle seemed strange, but Miloslav dismissed his concerns.
• Orson entered with Barrington and Nigan, appearing healthy and keeping the exits guarded.
• Orson revealed that he had recovered and had invited Miloslav under false pretenses because he resented Miloslav for refusing him a Magic Potion.
• Orson unleashed his Meteor Rank aura and threatened Miloslav.

Orson and Black Scar attacked Miloslav and Blev at Black Python Castle, overwhelming the Earth Bear and the defenders. Miloslav vanished underground using the Earth Travel Technique, and Black Scar ordered Orson to search the city for him.

• Orson attacked Miloslav, but Blev intervened and was sent crashing into a wall by Orson's sword.
• Miloslav summoned a Level 7 Earth Bear, which battled Orson while Barrington and Nigan fought Blev.
• Orson used Tide of Dark Water to corrode the battlefield, but Miloslav protected himself and the Earth Bear with Guardian Armor and counterattacked with earth magic.
• The Earth Bear struck Orson and caved in his chest, but Orson survived and called Black Scar into the fight.
• Black Scar cleaved the Earth Bear in two, while Orson kicked Miloslav into the ground and Barrington and Nigan subdued Blev.
• Miloslav escaped using the Earth Travel Technique, so Black Scar ordered Orson to search the city for him.

After Miloslav escaped Black Python Castle using the Earth Travel Technique, Orson and Black Scar searched for him and considered how to contain the fallout. Miloslav hid wounded on a barren hill, determined to survive and seek justice with Rulans’s support.

• Orson and Black Scar failed to find Miloslav and discussed the threat his escape posed to their plans in Hyde County.
• Orson proposed drawing Rulans out of Wushan Castle and bringing him into their camp, while Black Scar urged a thorough search of Black Python City.
• Miloslav hid in the grass on a barren hill, exhausted and wounded, and meditated while staying alert.
• Miloslav feared for Blev’s fate and vowed revenge on Orson, then reasoned that Rulans would seek justice for the assassination.

Luo Ning inspected Wubei Port’s nearly completed simple pier and notified Kalada that ships could soon travel between Wubei Territory and Rapids Island. He hurried to Wushan Castle after receiving an urgent letter from Rulans, who revealed that Dean Miloslav might be in trouble.

• Eamon showed Luo Ning the pier under construction and estimated it would be finished within seven days.
• Rhys reported that the thirty recruits from Swamp Town had overcome their fear of the sea and were continuing their naval training.
• Luo Ning told Kalada that the pier would soon be ready, allowing preparations to begin for a shipping route between Wubei Territory and Rapids Island.
• After returning to Swamp Castle, Luo Ning read Rulans’s letter and immediately flew to Wushan Castle.
• Rulans told Luo Ning that he expected to break through soon, then warned him that Dean Miloslav might have met with trouble.

Rulans told Luo Ning that Miloslav had disappeared after an attack on Black Python Castle and explained his plan to pressure the Hyde Family into answering for it. He prepared Wushan Castle’s forces while leaving room for a peaceful settlement, and the chapter ended with Luo Ning wondering whether Barrington would come to Wushan Castle.

• Rulans told Luo Ning that Black Python City had been sealed off after explosions at Orson’s castle on the morning of the ninth, around the time Miloslav arrived there.
• Rulans said he had summoned Barrington to Wushan Castle to answer for Orson, and had ordered the Second and Third Knight Orders to prepare as a show of pressure.
• Rulans explained that he would consider military action if Barrington refused to come and evidence showed Miloslav had been attacked in Black Python City.
• Rulans said the Silva Magic Energy Merchant Association could contribute forces, and that he hoped to make Black Python City obey Wushan Castle without a battle.
• Luo Ning approved of Rulans’s plan to strip the Hyde Family of its rule while sparing its descendants if Orson and Barrington accepted punishment.

Wushan Castle ordered its eight Knight Orders to prepare for war without explaining the reason, while Rulans summoned Barrington to learn about the battle at Black Python Castle. Mephisto suspected Rulans was trying to draw Barrington in and instead ordered Orson to use the coming turmoil to help the Black Gold Brotherhood invade Wushan Territory.

• Toru received a personally written order from the Marquis to prepare his Knight Order for war and told Galil to oversee spring plowing while he went to Wushan Castle.
• Marvin noticed that all eight of Wushan Castle's Knight Orders were mobilizing without conscripting their vassals and wondered whether Black Python City or the Black Gold Brotherhood was the target.
• Mephisto rebuked Orson and Black Scar for failing to capture Miloslav, who had escaped after mastering the Earth Travel Technique.
• Barrington reported that Melonica had ordered him to visit Wushan Castle in Orson's place, and Orson suspected Rulans wanted to imprison him to answer for Miloslav's escape.
• Mephisto told Barrington to delay the trip until May and ordered Orson to contact the Black Gold Brotherhood and prepare an invasion of Wushan Territory.
• Mephisto decided that Moonlight Valley would stay out of the fighting and considered trying to recruit Rulans amid the chaos.

Luo Ning strengthened Wubei Territory’s administration and advanced his knight level before traveling to Rapids Island. He empowered Carlos and sent a fleet toward Wubei Territory, leaving Kalada behind to guard the island and keep Rahn in check.

• Wilson’s assistant Omai delivered records showing that more than twenty thousand people had joined Wubei Territory, unlocking the Prosperous Population achievement for Luo Ning.
• Luo Ning told Omai to have Wilson track births and deaths as well as newcomers, then spent all his Attribute Points on his knight level.
• Luo Ning flew to Rapids Island on Carlos and used all his Energy Essence to raise the dragon’s level, making Carlos larger, tougher, and faster.
• At the harbor, Lusen and Keane prepared to escort the ships while Kalada stayed behind to guard Rapids Island; Luo Ning gave Kalada spell scrolls and potions as reserves.
• Victor sounded the gong, and the passenger ship and cargo ship set sail for Wubei Territory while Kalada resolved to stop giving Rahn chances if he continued causing trouble.

Luo Ning intercepted the Ghost Tide Pirate Group as they moved to attack his ships and defeated their leaders with Carlos’s help. Dick confessed that Jos had ordered the ambush, leaving Luo Ning with a new name to investigate.

• Lusen spotted two Ghost Tide ships approaching from the northwest, and Luo Ning flew out to confront them before they could attack his vessels.
• Dick ordered his pirates to prepare their Magic Energy Cannons, but Luo Ning landed on their deck and demanded to know who had sent them to intercept ships from Rapids Island.
• Dick tried to attack Luo Ning and was quickly beaten, while Naxi ordered the other ship to flee.
• Carlos appeared in the sky and used icy dragon breath against the pirates, terrifying the crews aboard both the Ghost Tide ships and Luo Ning’s vessels.
• Luo Ning threatened Dick until he confessed that Jos had ordered the ambush, though Luo Ning did not recognize the name.

Luo Ning captured the pirates, learned that Screaming Island had orchestrated the attacks and that Rahn had betrayed Rapids Island, then killed Dick and ordered the survivors taken to Wubei Territory. He planned to destroy the Ghost Tide Pirate Group’s base and left the question of war with Screaming Island unresolved.

• Luo Ning interrogated Dick and learned that Jos had ordered ships from Rapids Island destroyed, while Blood Sail, Ghost Tide, and White Whale were all secretly backed by Screaming Island.
• Dick revealed that Rahn had passed Rapids Island’s movements to Patrick on Crescent Island, and Luo Ning killed Dick and several pirate knights.
• Lusen and the other knights boarded the pirate ships, and Luo Ning ordered the surviving pirates taken to Wubei Territory as laborers for Wubei Port.
• Luo Ning gave the seized gold coins to his men and said he would send Rhys and Lusen to destroy the Ghost Tide Pirate Group’s base.
• Lusen asked whether Luo Ning would go to war with Screaming Island, and Luo Ning left the question open while telling Lusen to grow stronger.

Melonica learned that Miloslav had survived an attempt on his life in Black Python Castle, where Orson had recovered and gained another Meteor Knight. As Wushan Castle prepared for the looming conflict, Rulans emerged from seclusion as a Silver Moon Knight.

• Dark told Melonica that Miloslav had returned badly wounded, and Melonica hurried to visit him.
• Miloslav reported that Orson had healed, Black Python Castle had another Meteor Knight, and Barrington’s side had tried to kill him and may have killed Blev.
• Miloslav sent accusations against the Hyde Family to the merchant association headquarters and the royal family, while Melonica arranged guards and warned Wushan Castle of Black Python City’s strength.
• Marvin and Vitorino questioned Wiggins about Rulans’s absence as Wushan Castle’s Knight Orders mobilized.
• A surge of Elemental Power drew Marvin, Vitorino, Wiggins, and Toru toward Back Mountain, where Rulans appeared walking through the air as a Silver Moon Knight.

Luo Ning returned to Wubei Port with four ships, ordered Rhys to prepare an attack on the Ghost Tide Pirate Group, and learned that the injured Miloslav had summoned him to Wushan Town. There, Rulans prepared for a possible war with Black Python City while waiting to see Miloslav.

• Luo Ning arrived at Wubei Port with four ships flying the Ghost Tide Pirate Group's flags and told Rhys to lead a force with Lusen against the pirates.
• Rhys reported that Wushan Castle had asked Luo Ning to visit Wushan Town with a powerful Healing Spell Scroll because Miloslav had been injured.
• Luo Ning concluded that Miloslav's injuries supported Rulans's suspicion that Black Python City had attacked him, then flew to Swamp Castle on Carlos.
• Rulans told Melonica that Wushan Territory's forces were preparing but would wait for reinforcements and for Orson and Barrington to respond before attacking Black Python City.
• Rulans asked Melonica to take him to see Miloslav.

Luo Ning returned to Swamp Castle, received a Potent Healing Spell Scroll, and prepared for the coming conflict between Wushan Territory and Black Python City. Diane asked him to plead for Karima and Tomris, and he agreed to speak on their behalf to Rulans.

• Luo Ning received the Potent Healing Spell Scroll from Elrond and learned that Krami and David had advanced as knights while Rhys had bought two Bronze Rank Auxiliary Enhancement Potions.
• Luo Ning told Elrond that Wubei Territory would not send troops to the coming war, but he would join it as a descendant of the Wushan Family and leave Elrond to oversee key affairs.
• Diane praised Wubei Territory's goods and explained that she had come to ask Luo Ning to spare Karima and Tomris if the conflict harmed the Hyde Family.
• Luo Ning told Diane that Count Orson had tried to assassinate Dean Miloslav and revealed that Rulans had recovered and taken command of Wushan Territory.
• Diane asked Luo Ning to speak on her behalf, and he agreed to advocate for Karima and Tomris while warning that he could not decide how the Hyde Family would be treated.

After healing Miloslav, Rulans and Miloslav arranged forces for a campaign against Orson, while the king and the Silva Magic Energy Merchant Association prepared to intervene. The chapter ended with Bellora sending Dawn to support Miloslav, hoping the favor would help him obtain more dragon scales from Luo Ning.

• Elrond's Potent Healing Spell restored Miloslav, who thanked Luo Ning for helping him.
• Rulans and Miloslav planned to assemble their forces and enter Hyde County around April twentieth, with Luo Ning assigned to lead reinforcements to Radiant City.
• King Bruno ordered Brol to visit Wushan Territory and reminded Rulans and Luo Ning that Luo Ning had to reach Golden Feather City before June fourteenth.
• Bellora approved Randall's report about the attack on Miloslav and ordered Dawn to go to Wushan Town to assist him.
• Bellora hoped his support would earn him more dragon scales from Luo Ning.

Luo Ning discovered that Black Python City’s commoners had been transformed into Witch Soul Tribe members and realized the coming war would be far more dangerous than expected. As he left to warn his allies and bring Rydal, Mephisto prepared to spring a surprise on the Noble Coalition Army.

• Nobles eagerly sent troops to join Rulans’s march against Black Python City, while Orson made no apparent preparations or contact.
• Luo Ning flew over Black Python City with Carlos and saw the city’s people gathered lifelessly around the castle.
• Carlos sensed a presence like Natalia’s, and Luo Ning used his Mental Power to detect Witch Soul Power connecting the crowd as one.
• Luo Ning feared a Shadow Lord might be in the city, but reasoned that a Legendary Mage would already have detected him and Carlos.
• Luo Ning decided to warn the army and bring Rydal to Black Python City.
• Mephisto sensed a faint energy fluctuation, concluded the preparations were complete, and planned to shock the Noble Coalition Army.

Luo Ning warned Rulans and the assembled allies that the Witch Soul Tribe made the coming war more dangerous, prompting Rulans to order an immediate advance on Black Python Castle. Griffon Knights then reported that Orson had launched two forces, including one aimed at Radiant City.

• Barrington agreed to lead Viscount Tainy and their troops in Orson's surprise attack on Radiant City.
• Luo Ning returned to Melonica's castle, met Brol and Archmage Dawn Box, and heard that the king required him to appear in Golden Feather City before June 14.
• Luo Ning told Rulans, Brol, Miloslav, and Dawn that the Witch Soul Tribe was difficult to kill and could turn ordinary people into puppets.
• Rulans ordered Melonica to prepare the knights to depart and advance the next day, without waiting for distant nobles' troops.
• Griffon Knights reported two enemy forces moving toward Wushan Town and across the northern plains, and Rulans identified the northern force as an attempt to surprise Radiant City.