Chapter Summaries

Umberlee manifested in Oaisis with Lu Huayu’s help and began a divine battle against Triton’s forces. As the Sharkfolk awakened and the fighting started, Hill allowed them passage through the endless vines.

• Umberlee appeared in a transformed, beautiful guise, and the Undead celebrated her arrival while Doomsday Boss reflected on a foolish subordinate’s failed ceremony and resolved to clean house.
• Lu Huayu and Umberlee connected her to Oaisis’s sea, giving Lu authority among her new followers.
• Umberlee shielded the Vine Zone from cannon fire with a hurricane and towering waves as Hill quietly encircled the Sharkfolk’s cocoons with pale-green light.
• Umberlee challenged the approaching merman, but Lu Huayu stopped her from comparing him to Sseth and explained that Triton was a sea god.
• Umberlee ordered her forces to attack, and the cocoons burst open to reveal Sharkfolk marked with leaves that let them pass freely through Hill’s endless vines.

Hill recognized that the sea monsters had turned against Scarlet because the former Ocean Goddess aspect and the aspect of Love and Beauty had conflicting aims. As the battle spread along the coast, Umberlee sensed the familiar scent of an outside god and described it as resembling Sharess, leaving Lu Huayu to realize she had encountered it on Toril.

• Hill deduced that the sea monsters' attack on Scarlet revealed a conflict between the mastermind's divine aspects, while Oaisis reluctantly accepted Xue Yunfeng's judgment.
• Xue Yunfeng directed the defenders to hold the first wave, keep Umberlee on the main battlefield, and prepare reserves as the Moon Clan attacked.
• Umberlee told Lu Huayu she sensed a presence whose scent made her hate it and likened it to Sharess, only more disgusting and slutty.
• Lu Huayu asked whether Umberlee had smelled the presence on Toril.

Lu Huayu questioned Umberlee about a familiar scent and learned how Sharess, Anhur, and the Evergold Pool goddesses had destroyed Afs. He and Xue Yunfeng connected that history to Gaia’s use of Aphrodite’s remains in Oaisis.

• Umberlee recalled smelling the scent before she became a Berserker and told Lu Huayu that Anhur and Set had once fought over a woman.
• Umberlee explained that Bast had begun as Anhur’s lover before devouring other Gods and becoming Mulhorand’s divine consort.
• Umberlee said Afs had sought to become Mulhorand’s Goddess of Love and Beauty while insulting Sharess, and that Sharess and other goddesses later destroyed Afs and consumed her divine remains.
• Umberlee told Lu Huayu that Hanali had helped eliminate Afs completely and suggested that Shar would know more about Set and the Lady of Pain.
• Lu Huayu sent the intelligence to Xue Yunfeng and reasoned that Gaia could be using what remained of Aphrodite to stir up trouble in Oaisis.

Lu Huayu and Xue Yunfeng investigated Set’s connection to the undead scarabs and considered asking Edna to contact Kelemvor for answers. As Lu Huayu warned Umberlee about Jergal, Doomsday Boss reflected on his relationship with his chief steward, and Umberlee agreed to keep her distance from the Lord of the River Styx.

• Lu Huayu learned from Umberlee that Set played in the desert and that her sharks had found the black, white, and gold scarabs disgusting.
• Lu Huayu suggested asking Edna to contact her daughter, while Xue Yunfeng reviewed Shar’s account of Sharess and the goddesses’ past conflict.
• Xue Yunfeng searched Old School Striking King’s livestream but hesitated to contact her while she was fighting, then asked Lu Huayu to approach her on his behalf.
• Lu Huayu refused to walk into the danger of speaking to Old School Striking King and instead warned Umberlee that Jergal’s pacts had ruined other gods.
• Doomsday Boss reconsidered how Lu Huayu had praised him, while Umberlee said she had once spoken with Jergal because she needed allies and the River Styx was still a river.

Lu Huayu persuaded Umberlee to support Sharkfolk sea-shipping and local commerce, while a squad of Undead went to feed Sharkfolk near the Endless Vines. The Sharkfolk rushed toward the causeway for the fresh meat, and Cunlü offered food to a white shark.

• Umberlee described Auril's cooperation with the Undead and asked whether her Sharkfolk could earn money carrying goods by sea.
• Lu Huayu proposed hiring Sharkfolk to deliver grain along Undead-controlled coasts and reminded Umberlee about selling pearls and coral.
• Umberlee sensed someone trying to feed rotten meat to the Sharkfolk near the Endless Vines, and Lu Huayu arranged for a squad to investigate and bring food.
• Xue Yunfeng ordered Ball Ball to find Cunlü and Nanfeng, take a reserve squad south, and livestream them feeding the Sharkfolk.
• Cunlü and Nanfeng's squad reached the southern Endless Vines and tossed fresh meat to the Sharkfolk, who hurried toward the causeway.
• Cunlü offered food to a white shark, and it dropped the pale fish flesh it had been holding.

Cunlü and Nanfeng traded fresh meat with the Sharkfolk while Ball Ball tried to livestream the scene for Snow Old Dog. When a hurricane struck, the group prepared a defense, and Ellie appeared before them in a revealing white gown.

• Cunlü rewarded the great white shark with a huge piece of meat, while Nanfeng and Ball Ball discussed the Sharkfolk’s food needs.
• Cunlü arranged with Locke for the Sharkfolk to trade foul meat for fresh food, and Ball Ball remembered to start her livestream for Snow Old Dog.
• Snow Old Dog scolded Ball Ball before a violent wind interrupted their exchange.
• Nanfeng activated Shield Wall as Ball Ball began casting a defensive array, and the Undead positioned themselves to strengthen it.
• Cunlü climbed onto Nanfeng’s shoulders and placed Springwater Marks on the Swordsmen as Ellie appeared in a white gown.

Nanfeng and the Undead exposed Ellie’s weakness and coordinated a series of attacks that left her badly paralyzed, while Xue Yunfeng assessed her as a lesser threat. Ellie retaliated with a storm that struck the Sharkheads and Endless Vines, and the vines rose to meet the attack.

• Cunlü mocked Ellie’s exposed dress, and Ellie lost control and unleashed a barrage of Strange Icefire Arrows at the Undead.
• Ball Ball relayed Xue Yunfeng’s order to counterattack, and Cunlü selected Swordsmen whose Springwater Marks were ready to recharge.
• Nanfeng sent Xi Manman, Liu Nongyu, and Wicked Little Love to attack Ellie with lightning, poison, and backstabs.
• Xi Manman, Liu Nongyu, and Wicked Little Love each struck Ellie before her defenses killed them, leaving Ellie paralyzed and furious.
• Xue Yunfeng judged Ellie’s wind magic weak and identified another enemy as the greater threat.
• Ellie unleashed a storm of wind and fire that hit the Sharkheads and Endless Vines, prompting the vines to rise from the sea.

After the battle with Ellie, Xue Yunfeng studied footage of her and identified signs that she was using a Wind Elemental as an energy reservoir, leading him to suspect she and Gaia were warlocks. He then turned to investigating what had happened to the Greek Pantheon and why its gods had scattered across other realms.

• Ellie vanished after her counterattack made the Endless Vines thrash more fiercely, and Cunlü healed the injured Sharkfolk while helping clean up the battlefield.
• Nanfeng sent Xue Yunfeng footage recorded by Wicked Little Love, who had secretly approached Ellie from behind during the fight.
• Xue Yunfeng examined the footage and spotted a blue-green line on Ellie's back, concluding that the Wind Elemental was embedded in her and likely served as an energy pool.
• Xue Yunfeng suspected Ellie and the being behind her, possibly Gaia, were warlocks, and reasoned that the Undead's resistance to soul-targeting skills made them natural opponents.
• Xue Yunfeng wondered what had happened to the Greek Pantheon and planned to use his friends' research to learn why its gods had ended up in Hell, the Abyss, or other worlds.

Xue Yunfeng suspected Uranus’s will had affected the God of Space-Time and decided to investigate the Greek Pantheon. While discussing Triton’s motives and the battle between the Scarlet people and Damboro with Hill, he learned the Greek Pantheon had fractured in a civil war, leaving Poseidon’s family behind when it moved.

• Xue Yunfeng considered how Uranus’s will might have influenced the God of Space-Time and resolved to look into the Greek Pantheon.
• Xue Yunfeng secretly contacted Hill and asked whether Triton cared about Oaisis.
• Hill explained that Triton was mostly amusing himself and was curious about Umberlee, while the Scarlet people were fighting desperately to keep their coast.
• Hill warned that Triton might aid the Scarlet people during the battle even though he would not fight Oaisis to the death if they lost.
• Hill told Xue Yunfeng that the Greek Pantheon had suffered a civil war when the current Lord of Hell took over, and that Poseidon’s family had fled after being left behind when the pantheon moved.

Hill explained how Poseidon’s pantheon fled the Greek Gods’ homeland and shared what he knew about their later fate with Xue Yunfeng. Xue Yunfeng suspected the Greek Pantheon’s history might connect to the Serpent Empire and resolved to investigate further.

• Hill told Xue Yunfeng that Zeus had fled without notifying Poseidon’s side, which escaped only after Triton found the Greek temples empty.
• Hill explained that Poseidon had become widely despised, while Athena’s origins made family loyalty unlikely among the Greek Gods.
• Xue Yunfeng persuaded Hill to exchange information, promising to share any new discoveries in return.
• Hill recounted that imprisoned Titans became Devils after their prison merged with Hell and attacked Mount Olympus, prompting the Gods of Order to intervene.
• Hill said Zeus later fell into slumber and that Hades may have tried to lead Greek Gods away from Mount Celestia.
• Xue Yunfeng connected Umberlee’s earlier remark about the Serpent Empire to the Greek Pantheon and considered investigating the link.

Xue Yunfeng reassured Hill that Set would not act openly, then focused on the Moon Clan’s fierce assault and Scarlet’s bombardment. He sent Susu to separate Lucimar from Ruth and recruit Xi Manman and other mages to help draw Ruth away, hoping to learn more about Lucimar’s interest in Ellie.

• Xue Yunfeng recalled that ancient Snakefolk records might survive in Amn, Mulhorand, and Candlekeep’s less respectable books, and promised Hill the search would soon bring news.
• Hill told Xue Yunfeng that Set had only lent Aoskar some power, and argued that Oaisis would notice any threat to his desert authority.
• Xue Yunfeng ended the call and worried that the Moon Clan’s attack and Scarlet’s cannon fire were causing too many casualties.
• Xue Yunfeng told Susu to arrange a chance for Lucimar to speak with him if Lucimar became restless about Ellie, while separating him from Ruth.
• Xue Yunfeng identified Xi Manman as Midnight and ordered Susu to find her, enlist her help with Ruth, and bring other easily distracted mages and nobles to Black Rose’s cliff.

Susu approached Xi Manman and her friends to arrange help with Xue Yunfeng’s plan to lure Lucimar and Ruth away. Xi Manman agreed to draw Lucimar out, while Liu Nongyu offered to distract Ruth, and Susu was left discussing how Ruth’s interest in Silver Moon items might help.

• Susu found Xi Manman and asked for help with Xue Yunfeng’s arrangements.
• Wicked Little Love tried to join the job, but Xi Manman dismissed his pitch and joked that she would not train someone else’s boyfriend.
• Xi Manman said Lucimar had watched her on a date and that she could lure him away easily.
• Susu asked whether she should lure Ruth, and Liu Nongyu volunteered to keep Ruth busy instead.
• Liu Nongyu explained that Ruth had been buying Holy Water and Silver Moon-related items, and recalled trading Moonlight artifacts with her.

Susu and her allies prepared to draw the Mage Families and nobles toward the cliff while Black Rose fought the Moon Clan at sea. As Lucimar and a female Swordsman approached, Cunlü sent An Idler to take Demon Sword down to the sea.

• Wicked Little Love explained that Liu Nongyu's silver Moonlight Stone jewelry was a poor investment, and Xi Manman helped Susu work out how to lure their pursuers to the cliff.
• Susu sent messages to Cunlü and Nanfeng, then went to persuade the nobles to join their plan.
• Nanfeng, Cunlü, An Idler, and Myriad-Heaven Net watched Black Rose's defenses as the main force fought the Moon Clan offshore.
• Demon Sword arrived after being dragged over by an enemy chain, and Myriad-Heaven Net reported that Lucimar and a female Swordsman were nearing the mountain.
• Cunlü ordered An Idler to take Demon Sword down to the sea.

Cunlü prepared a dramatic-looking ambush as Xi Manman led Lucimar toward the Undead, while Lucimar reflected on the woman controlling his life and resolved to contact the Undead commander-in-chief. The chapter ended with Lucimar eager to tell Xi Manman that he wanted to meet the commander.

• An Idler kicked Demon Sword into the sea, but Demon Sword dragged An Idler down with him using a shield.
• Cunlü instructed Myriad-Heaven Net to pose beside a rock and arranged Pea Vines, a golden spring, and Sunflowers to stage the meeting.
• Lucimar followed Xi Manman up the mountain and learned that the Undead commander-in-chief wanted to discuss which side he would support.
• Lucimar recalled discovering that the woman inhabiting his mother's body had placed a forbidden spell on him and might be manipulating him against Grand Sage Ismael.
• Lucimar decided he wanted to contact the Undead commander-in-chief and looked forward to confirming that with Xi Manman.

Lucimar reflected on Damboro’s tangled politics and watched Susu and Xi Manman bring Mage and noble families together on the mountain. As Ruth rushed to catch up, Lucimar rounded a bend and found a radiant woman whose appearance left him and the others astonished.

• Lucimar considered how Ismael’s methods and romantic entanglements had shaped Damboro’s politics.
• Susu and Xi Manman coordinated to draw the Mage Families and territorial nobles toward Lucimar on the mountain.
• The Mage Families and nobles gathered, hoping to speak with Lucimar and improve their chances of entering a higher world.
• Lucimar waited while Xi Manman confirmed there would be time to talk, and he realized the Undead commander had arranged the encounter.
• Ruth noticed something was wrong and hurried out of her lodging, but Lucimar continued with the others.
• Lucimar rounded a bend and saw a barefoot woman glowing in golden light, leaving him and the people behind him gasping in wonder.

The Undead fought at Kane Valley while Cunlü used golden light and healing vines to support them, and Lucimar avoided the Mages’ overtures by flirting with Xi Manman. Ruth arrived and interrupted Lucimar’s invitation to dinner.

• Xi Manman and Susu posed by a rock beneath the golden light while Cunlü finished her display and took to the air on the Pea Vine to heal the fighters.
• Cunlü watched An Idler and Demon Sword head toward the sea monster and wondered what strange tactic they were planning.
• Oaisis monitored the Undead’s chatter as he searched for laws tainted by outsiders, suffering their loud insults.
• Lucimar distracted the Mages who wanted to approach him and invited Xi Manman to dinner, while she recognized that he was avoiding their proposal.
• Ruth arrived, called out to Lucimar, and saw the nobles watching Cunlü as he spoke with Xi Manman.

Ruth insulted Cunlü and Nanfeng, prompting the Undead to expel the Damboro guests and warn them against returning. The confrontation ended with Lucimar’s cutting remarks about his mother Lucia broadcast worldwide, while Hill laughed at the fallout.

• Ruth disparaged Cunlü’s beauty and accused her of trying to seduce men, so Nanfeng defended his wife and barred Ruth and her group from Black Rose Family territory.
• Cunlü silenced Ruth with a golden petal and taunted her, but Lucimar stopped Ruth from retaliating and asked what she intended to do.
• Nanfeng told Myriad-Heaven Net to treat the Damboro people politely, and the nobles soon left after realizing the Undead regarded them as enemies.
• Cunlü and Xi Manman teased Lucimar about Ruth’s jealousy, and Lucimar said Lucia was a great-grandmother who should not compete with young women over beauty.
• The Undead’s livestream spread Lucimar’s remarks around the world, and Hill laughed at the sharp insult to Lucia.

After Lucimar’s actions left the Damboro Mages speculating about his mother, the Ismail Family, and the dangers of meddling in their affairs, they abandoned their schemes and departed. Susu asked Lucimar whether he wanted to speak with the Undead commander, and he chose to go now.

• The Damboro Mages misread Lucimar’s remarks and developed theories about his mother’s appearance and the Ismail Family’s problems.
• The Mages considered Ellie Ster’s transformation and concluded that her family’s unusual luck had brought a heavy price.
• The Mages worried that interfering could make Grand Sage Ismael blame them for the Ismail Family’s troubles, so they dropped their plans against Lucimar.
• The Mages left after glancing at the beauty Nanfeng was comforting.
• Susu asked Lucimar whether he wanted to meet the nearby Undead commander, and Lucimar said he wanted to go now.

Xue Yunfeng met Archmage Lucimar, who chose to side with the Undead against the goddess he believed had ruined his mother. After Lucimar identified the danger surrounding Cunlü and Ellie, Xue Yunfeng began explaining Gaia’s history and descendants, leaving Lucimar to learn more about the powerful goddess they might face.

• Xue Yunfeng reflected on Lucimar’s decisive choice and his own efforts to train Undead commanders by making them teach white dragons.
• Susu briefed Xue Yunfeng on recent events, and he ordered Xi Manman to keep Cunlü occupied and away from Ruth.
• Lucimar warned Xue Yunfeng that Cunlü was dangerous and recognized Ellie’s unusual pupils as evidence of the same soul-related influence.
• Xue Yunfeng asked whether Lucimar would truly stand with the Undead and warned him that the goddess was powerful and indifferent to her children.
• Lucimar said the goddess had made his mother impossible to resurrect and rejected the idea that he owed her obedience.
• Xue Yunfeng invited Lucimar to sit and began explaining Gaia’s history and her descendants.

Lucimar questioned Xue Yunfeng about the Goddess of Love and Beauty’s plans, the danger of Hell, and whether Oaisis could save souls. Reassured about his father, he asked whether Lucy and her companions could still be saved.

• Lucimar realized the Goddess of Love and Beauty may have wanted him to kill Oaisis, and Xue Yunfeng explained her possible plans to seize power.
• Xue Yunfeng told Lucimar that the Goddess’s world had once contained a prison called Hell, leaving the fate of its former prisoners uncertain.
• Lucimar learned that a god with a Divine Kingdom could intercept souls marked by Hell, and Xue Yunfeng explained that Oaisis could save Ismael if he remained loyal.
• Lucimar asked whether Lucy and her companions could be saved, and Xue Yunfeng said their fate depended on the choices they made after death.