Chapter Summaries

Zhou Cang and the other newcomers received housing and learned how daily life worked in Longwind Fortress as the second wave of Ash Snow began. Chen Siwei and Jiang Wei watched the Silent Ice Butterflies rise to purify the snow, while Lincon observed their results from Sacred Court.

• Li Minglei helped Zhou Cang and the other newcomers register, receive shack numbers, and learn where to find water, latrines, and supplies.
• Thirteen thousand people entered Longwind Fortress on the final day of the Ash Snow Lull Period, and Chen Siwei watched the separate subject camps from the city wall.
• Chen Siwei admitted to Jiang Wei that she grieved for Black Iron City and hoped its scattered people would survive.
• Gray Ash Snow began falling, and Chen Siwei and Jiang Wei saw Silent Ice Butterflies rise above Longwind Fortress.
• The Silent Ice Butterflies formed a vast glowing vortex and began purifying the Ash Snow as Zhou Cang, You Qing, and others watched in awe.
• Lincon caught a snowflake at Sacred Court and expressed satisfaction that his efforts to breed the butterflies had finally paid off.

As the second Ash Snow wave brought harsher cold, Lincon prepared Longwind Fortress for dwindling fuel and monitored Black Tide, which had unexpectedly paused. Flint City refugees entered the fortress, and Zhou Qing arrived with fewer than forty thousand survivors from Black Iron City as Longwind Fortress became the region’s refuge.

• Lincon approved Zhang Rui’s plan to plant more Frost Crystal Rice for fuel and learned that Black Tide had only just begun moving again after its unexplained halt.
• Zhang Rui told Lincon that Liu Bowen had returned from Flint City with supplies and about a thousand people, and Lincon ordered the group admitted after registration.
• Liu Bowen and his people entered Longwind Fortress, where staff gave them snow-blocking devices and told Liu that Lincon wanted to see him.
• Zhou Qing led fewer than forty thousand Black Iron City survivors to the area outside Longwind Fortress after two days of travel.
• Zhou Qing urged the exhausted survivors to make the final walk to the city as the second Ash Snow wave began.

Lincon received supplies and experts from Liu Bowen, cleared Liu Bowen’s crimes, and granted him Formal Subject status. He then met Chen Siwei and Zhou Qing, as Black Iron City’s people agreed to join Longwind Fortress and help defend against the coming Black Tide.

• Liu Bowen presented Lincon with a catalog of Flint City’s supplies, including Sunstone, Solid-State Bio-Neural Tissue, and Ashen Sigh Amber.
• Lincon inspected the delivered instruments, medicinal seeds, and mutated materials, identifying several useful items such as Seven-Star Stone and Bloodvein Crystal.
• Lincon ordered the medicinal plants and seeds sent to the Sacred Court and assigned Liu Bowen’s plant experts to Qingrang Academy.
• Lincon erased Liu Bowen’s crimes from Longwind Fortress’s records and granted him Formal Subject status, prompting Liu Bowen to pledge his life to the fortress.
• Lincon met Chen Siwei, Zhou Qing, and Black Iron City’s leaders in the Origin Hall and told Chen Siwei that her people must join Longwind Fortress and help face the coming Black Tide.
• Chen Siwei agreed to bring Black Iron City’s people into Longwind Fortress unconditionally, leaving the prepared negotiations unnecessary.

Lincon integrated Black Iron City’s survivors into Longwind Fortress, assigning Chen Siwei time to recover and giving Zhou Qing responsibility for foreign affairs. He then led Chen Siwei through the Life Sacred Court to a hidden spring beneath the Crystal Orchid Giant Tree.

• Zhou Qing and Black Iron City’s ability users pledged allegiance to Lincon and Longwind Fortress.
• Lincon and the two Lords established Black Iron City’s submission, and Zhang Rui reassigned its leaders and ability users within Longwind Fortress.
• Lincon made the newcomers begin as Provisional Subjects, while promising ability users more contribution points for completing missions.
• Lincon told the injured Chen Siwei to recuperate at Qingrang Academy and appointed Zhou Qing as Foreign Affairs Officer.
• After the crowd dispersed, Lincon led Chen Siwei through the Sacred Court to a small chamber containing a clear spring.

Chen Siwei drank concentrated Life Essence from the Life Spring and recovered her youth, though her strength remained at D-rank. With the Black Tide approaching, Lincon decided to spend resources on advancing Tree Spirits into stronger fighters and gathered them before the outer defenses.

• Lincon showed Chen Siwei the newly built Life Spring and explained that her Life Essence was a concentrated form of its water.
• Chen Siwei drank a drop of Life Essence, regained her youthful appearance, and thanked Lincon for saving her twice.
• Lincon planted new seeds near the Life Spring and assessed his Spirit Plants, concluding that he needed more combat strength before the Black Tide.
• Lincon chose to advance Treant Guards into Twisted Treants and Frost Treant Guards into Frost Treants using Sunlight and Dark Matter Crystals.
• Treant Guards and Frost Treant Guards assembled before Lincon, eager to answer their master's call.

Lincon upgraded forty Treant Guards and Frost Treant Guards into C-Rank treants as he prepared Longwind Fortress for the Black Tide, then considered the need for ranged and anti-air defenses. The chapter followed You Qing through a freezing workday in Longwind Fortress, where she joined other Temporary Subjects to dig sewers and received a breakfast of potato cake and Carrion Rat meat.

• Lincon used Light Rain and C-Rank Dark Matter Crystals to upgrade forty Treant Guards and Frost Treant Guards into Twisted Treants and Frost Treants.
• Lincon assessed the new treants' combat abilities and planned additional defenses against swarms, Weird Calamities, Anomaly Calamities, and Ant Guards.
• You Qing woke in her shed and learned from Lu Pingyan that the women would join the men in digging sewage pipes.
• Lu Pingyan released a Silent Ice Butterfly to turn the falling Ash Snow white as she led the women to the work site.
• Zhang Wei briefed the gathered Temporary Subjects, distributed tools, and handed out potato cakes and dried Carrion Rat meat for breakfast.

During work at Longwind Fortress, Zhang Wei warned Lu Pingyan to keep her hut members in line after a woman tried to flirt her way into special treatment, and Lu Pingyan punished the woman. Zhou Cang later invited You Qing to meet their group and visit the real Outer City, and she became tempted by the idea.

• Zhang Wei caught a woman trying to touch him and summoned her hut leader, Lu Pingyan, to warn her about enforcing the rules.
• Lu Pingyan slapped the woman and ordered her to memorize the Longwind Code, while You Qing and the other women returned to work.
• Zhou Cang showed You Qing a more efficient way to dig and explained how to avoid losing contribution points.
• Zhou Cang invited You Qing to gather with their group that night, but she refused because she feared jeopardizing her rating.
• Zhou Cang told You Qing they could visit the bustling Outer City near the Provisional Subject Camp without breaking the Longwind Code, and she admitted she was tempted.

You Qing and Zhou Cang’s group visited Longwind Fortress’s Provisional Subject Camp, where they saw its busy streets, shops, and tavern. At the city center, they reached the Glory Tower and saw the Provisional Subject Contribution Rankings, led by Liang Fengyi.

• You Qing borrowed Lu Pingyan’s wooden basket and met Zhou Cang and the others for their trip to the Outer City.
• Zhou Cang explained that people were trading supplies and that the temporary camp would eventually merge with the Provisional Subject Camp.
• The group reached the Provisional Subject Camp and saw its shops, workshops, tavern, and bustling streets.
• Zhou Cang led the group to the Glory Tower, where You Qing read the contribution rankings naming Liang Fengyi first, Luo Chuan second, and Jiang Cai third.

You Qing and Zhou Cang’s group explored Longwind Fortress’s Contribution Rankings and learned about the professions and advancement paths available to Provisional Subjects. The next day, Bai Ge reported that the Black Tide had moved, and Zhang Rui led him into the Fire God Tree’s restricted domain, where Bai Ge saw the enormous tree.

• You Qing and Zhou Cang examined the Contribution Rankings, saw the achievements of Liang Fengyi and others, and grew excited about earning recognition as Provisional Subjects.
• Cao Yan explained Longwind Fortress’s major departments and profession paths, then revealed that his roommate directed the Cultural Affairs Bureau.
• The group returned to their shack, where You Qing reflected on the hope and uncertainty stirred by what they had seen.
• Bai Ge reported to Zhang Rui that the Black Tide stationed at Black Iron City had moved, confirming information also verified by Night Owl.
• Zhang Rui thanked Bai Ge and led him into the restricted domain of the Fire God Tree, where Bai Ge saw fire-attributed plants and the tree’s immense silhouette.

Bai Ge and Zhang Rui visited the Fire God Tree, where Jiang Li gave Bai Ge eleven Fire God Butterflies for the Gray Feather Squad. The butterflies warmed him and healed his frostbite, and Zhang Rui urged him to make use of Lincon’s help and return alive.

• Zhang Rui brought Bai Ge to see the Fire God Tree and told him it was still in its growth phase.
• Jiang Li summoned the Fire God Butterflies and explained that Lincon had arranged them to protect the squad from severe cold.
• Bai Ge chose eleven butterflies, one for each member of the Gray Feather Squad.
• Jiang Li guided eleven Fire God Butterflies onto Bai Ge, whose frostbite began to heal as their warmth spread through him.
• Jiang Li gave Bai Ge eleven jade boxes and explained that the butterflies needed to return to the Fire God Tree every seven days.
• Zhang Rui reminded Bai Ge not to waste Lincon’s kindness and told him that Longwind Fortress most valued his returning alive.

Lincon learned that the Black Tide could reach Longwind Fortress in about seven days and ordered the fortress onto a war footing, prioritizing defenses while its departments developed talent and training programs. He prepared to face the coming attack and hoped his next class advancement would offer new ways to protect the fortress.

• Bai Ge received the Fire God Butterfly and left the Fire God Tree's domain with Zhang Rui.
• Lincon considered the fortress's dwindling Sunlight, food shortage, and lack of a standard currency while awaiting the next Black Tide.
• Zhang Rui reported that the Black Tide might arrive in seven days, and Lincon ordered Longwind Fortress onto a war footing and redirected construction toward the Outer City defenses.
• Zhang Rui described new training plans at Qingrang Academy and the Rune Workshop, progress in the Garrison Guard, and preparations for a Mercenary Guild.
• Lincon considered the value and risks of his upcoming second class advancement as he prepared for the war.

After Longwind Fortress declared war readiness in response to the approaching Black Tide, You Qing and Lu Pingyan decided to enlist in the Garrison Guard Reserve Corps. They qualified for enlistment and were sent to begin two days of training and assessment.

• An emergency notice announced that the Black Tide was approaching and assigned Temporary Subjects to logistics work while opening Reserve Corps enlistment to those who qualified.
• Zhang Wei warned the crowd to follow orders and threatened severe punishment for anyone who caused trouble.
• You Qing and Lu Pingyan agreed to join the Reserve Corps, and You Qing led them to the recruitment desk before it became crowded.
• Guo Tao's adjutant confirmed that Lu Pingyan's rating was 87 and You Qing's was 81, making both women eligible.
• Guo Tao gave them identity tags and explained that they had to complete two days of training and pass an assessment.

Tie Lan led the new recruits through a hurried training program as Zhou Cang joined the men’s camp and endured its tests. With the Black Tide less than fifty kilometers from Longwind Fortress, the Outer City’s living defensive wall was completed, and Chen Siwei recovered her strength to B-Rank.

• Tie Lan told Lu Pingyan and You Qing that recruits had only two days of training before they would face the Black Tide on the fifth day.
• Zhou Cang joined the long line at the men’s recruitment desk, received his identity badge, and began training in the Outer City.
• Zhou Cang and You Qing trained for two days as the Garrison Guard eliminated trainees who failed the exercises or survival assessment.
• The Gray Feather Squad reported that the Black Tide was less than fifty kilometers away, while the Outer City’s defensive wall was completed.
• Chen Siwei drank Life Essence atop the wall, regained her strength to B-Rank, and waited eagerly for the Black Tide.

As an immense Black Tide approached Longwind Fortress through the Ash Snow, its defenders prepared for battle. The chapter ended as the Territory War began and Lincon activated the Main Career Panel and the positioned Spirit Plants.

• Zhou Cang and He Su steadied each other as the Reserve Corps prepared to defend the Outer City, while Lu Pingyan and You Qing discussed their roles.
• Night Owl reported to Guan Teng that unknown creatures from the direction of the Abyss had joined the Black Tide, sharply increasing its danger.
• Guan Teng ordered all personnel to prepare for battle as the city wall began to tremble and the Black Tide appeared through the snow.
• The defenders saw tens of thousands of Walking Corpses and a vast swarm of giant black ants advancing toward Longwind Fortress.
• After an observer estimated the Black Tide would reach the defensive line in less than half an hour, Guan Teng ordered the fire lit, and Lincon activated the Main Career Panel and the Spirit Plants.

Lincon used Rift-Cleaving Dandelions and his Lord's Talent to summon a vast plant army along the Outer City defense line as the Black Tide approached. The defenders watched the plants form a blazing, multicolored barrier, their fear turning to excitement as the confrontation neared.

• Lincon spread his spiritual power across the defense line and began summoning his plant army with Rift-Cleaving Dandelions and Higher-Dimensional Manipulation.
• A huge Fire God Tree rose before the city wall, melting Ash Snow and sheltering the defenders as fiery red butterflies filled the air.
• Silent Ice Butterflies joined the Fire God Tree's flames, while thousands of halos appeared across the defense line.
• Sunlight Sunflowers and many other plants erupted from the ground, forming a vast barrier of flowers, thorns, vines, and armed plants.
• Three Sunfall Flowers grew on the city wall and gathered scorching energy as Zhou Cang and He Su watched in shock.
• He Su said he understood why the Longwind Fortress subjects revered Lincon, and Zhou Cang felt his fear turn into excitement.

Longwind Fortress fought the B-Rank Black Tide as Lincon’s Spirit Plants and the fortress defenders battled waves of Dark Creatures. Lincon warned Chen Siwei that a fiercer assault was coming, and she and the ability users prepared to follow his command.

• Lu Pingyan and the warriors rallied as the Black Tide reached Longwind Fortress’s defensive line.
• Guan Teng ordered the defenders to prepare, and they fired on the attacking Sky Ants as the Fire God Trees and Fallen Sun Thorncrowns burned through their swarms.
• He Su killed the first Sky Ant to land on the battlements while Spore Shooter Mushrooms, treants, and other Spirit Plants fought the Dark Creatures below.
• Lincon monitored the battle and saw that the Black Tide was a true B-Rank threat, with its most dangerous forces still waiting in the darkness.
• Chen Siwei recognized Lincon’s strength, and Lincon used the Void-Nesting Bird to warn her that a fiercer assault would soon come.
• Chen Siwei pledged her service to Lincon, and the ability users behind her declared that they understood.

As Longwind Fortress’s defenders fought back the Black Tide, Chen Siwei confronted the Ant Guard amid the advancing dark creatures. She unleashed her full magnetic power against it, but the battle remained unresolved.

• Zhou Cang and He Su fought side by side against the Sky Ants while Lu Pingyan and You Qing defended the frontline together.
• Giant beetle-like creatures sprayed corrosive liquid, and a tornado carried C-Rank Weird Calamities past the defenses into the Spirit Plants.
• Jiang Li burned the Weird Calamities with her flames, while Luo Qian used his Wraith Hand and Shadow Sword to destroy them.
• Chen Siwei restrained the shadows with her magnetic field and led hundreds of fighters in killing them, but more dark creatures continued to pour in.
• Chen Siwei charged the Ant Guard, traded blows with it, and was wounded when it broke through her magnetic field.
• Chen Siwei gathered metal, rocks, and iron sand with her full magnetic power and drove a crushing magnetic attack into the Ant Guard.

Chen Siwei fought the Ant Guard while Luo Chiyou unleashed a gale against the Spirit Plant formation. Lincon emerged from the shadows, absorbed the Fire God Tree and Solar Sunflower, and transformed into Sunflower Armor as he approached the remaining Spirit Plants.

• Chen Siwei used magnetic force and metal fragments to attack the Ant Guard, but its sonic screech and punch blasted her into a crater.
• Chen Siwei rose from the rubble and challenged the Ant Guard again, while it sensed her energy growing stronger.
• Luo Chiyou appeared above the Black Tide and turned the wind into tornadoes that battered the Spirit Plant formation and disrupted both sides of the battlefield.
• Lincon walked through the gale, absorbed the Fire God Tree, and received the Solar Sunflower's Purifying Fire as white-and-gold armor formed around him.
• Lincon passed the Dragonblood Flood Dragon Vine and Sword-Rain Spirit Orchid as an eerie black longsword emerged from his shadow.

Lincon fought Luo Chiyou, who revealed herself as the Ant Queen controlling the body and wielding the power of Jiangzhou's B-Rank Abyss Rift. With his armor failing and the Ant Queen absorbing his attacks, Lincon planted an ordinary cherry blossom seed in her Dark Matter and advanced it, leaving beams of Sunlight piercing and erasing the darkness.

• Chen Siwei trapped the Ant Guard in her magnetic field and struck it, but it transformed into a larger battle form and resumed the fight.
• Lincon broke through Luo Chiyou's wind barriers, split her wind dragon with Black Sun, and pierced her chest with the Shadow Sword.
• Luo Chiyou's body became writhing Dark Matter, and Lincon recognized that the Ant Queen was controlling her as a shell.
• The Ant Queen attacked Lincon with black wind blades and absorbed his fire and punches, while his Sunflower Armor cracked under the assault.
• Lincon let the Dark Matter seize his arm, planted a cherry blossom seed inside Luo Chiyou, and advanced it into a plant whose Sunlight pierced the darkness.

Lincon destroyed the Abyssal Ant Queen’s dark consciousness inside Luo Chiyou, then helped Chen Siwei defeat the Ant Guard and secure victory over the Black Tide. The Territory War quest was completed with an S evaluation, offering an Intermediate Rune Industry Blueprint and a hidden advancement path selection.

• Lincon used a seed of pure sunlight to erase the Abyssal Ant Queen’s consciousness from Luo Chiyou, who warned him about Abyssal Cores before disappearing and leaving behind an A-Rank spirit seed.
• Chen Siwei trapped the weakened Ant Guard with magnetic force, and Lincon’s flame finished it off.
• With Luo Chiyou and the Ant Guard dead, the Black Tide collapsed before Longwind Fortress and the defenders celebrated their victory.
• Lincon’s Territory War quest showed as completed with an S evaluation and offered an Intermediate Rune Industry Blueprint or the Dark Overlord advancement path.