Recaps

Ma Linya told Zeng Mu how she found a strange, slowly growing embryo after a storm and kept it because it brought her pleasant dreams. After linking it to a cryptic entry in an old Elemental Healer book, Zeng Mu accepted the jar and left with it.

• Ma Linya recounted how she and her brother found a moving stone in a mountain cave during a sudden storm when she was fourteen.
• The stone later melted into a foul-smelling puddle that formed the embryo, which Ma Linya placed in a clay jar and kept for years as it slowly grew.
• Ma Linya explained that keeping the jar beside her bed brought her pleasant dreams, but Zeng Mu initially refused to take it because he rarely dreamed.
• Ma Linya showed Zeng Mu an old Elemental Healer book with a stone-like drawing captioned, “Origin of Seven-One, essence of the six directions,” and they suspected it was related to Elementalists.
• Zeng Mu said he had figured out an approach, accepted the embryo in return for the Blueze Inner Armor he had given Ma Linya, and hurried away with the jar.

Zeng Mu uncovered the living embryo’s extraordinary energy before Swinburne’s Viking Legion arrived to besiege Morgaya City and demand Yetos. The chapter ended with the defenders braced behind the city’s defenses as the Vikings began a rhythmic barrage of insults.

• Zeng Mu spent three days and nights probing Ma Linya’s clay jar with elemental power and discovered that the embryo inside was alive and radiated an unknown energy.
• The embryo burst into multicolored light and struck at Zeng Mu, who dodged the blast before storing the jar away as a valuable treasure.
• Zeng Mu joined Yetos and Tovi Belle on Morgaya City’s walls as Swinburne halted the Viking Legion outside the city.
• Swinburne demanded that Yetos be handed over and threatened to drown Morgaya City in blood, while Yetos taunted him about his brother Idiveer’s death and the loss of Sand City.
• Yetos and Tovi Belle confirmed their preparations as knights reinforced the city gate, and Swinburne began a drum-and-horn-backed chorus of insults with his legion.

Swinburne repeatedly brought the Viking Legion from Sand City to Morgaya City, hoping to provoke Yetos into battle, but Yetos and his companions ignored them from behind the walls. After three failed advances and retreats over ten days, the standoff continued.

• Swinburne led the Viking Legion to Morgaya City and spent the day shouting provocations, but Yetos and Tovi Belle ignored them while playing a game on the ramparts.
• Zeng Mu used his Wind Elemental Artifact to block the Vikings' shouts from reaching the defenders, while Yetos waited for the enemy to tire.
• Swinburne learned that Morgaya City's other gates were also too well defended for an assault, then withdrew to Sand City at dusk.
• Yetos and his companions predicted that Swinburne would return and decided to keep ignoring the Vikings from within the city.
• Over ten days, Swinburne brought the Viking Legion to Morgaya City three times and retreated each time without engaging the defenders.

Zeng Mu and the leaders of Morgaya City discovered the route of Swinburne’s supply convoy and planned to seize its provisions. A thousand troops rode toward the Campso Rift to prepare an ambush before the convoy arrived.

• Zeng Mu learned from Kanni that Tovi Belle had summoned him to an urgent war council.
• William outlined why Swinburne had paused his attacks, and Zeng Mu identified the Viking Legion’s supply problem.
• Tovi Belle and Yetos revealed that the Viking supply convoy would likely pass through the Campso Rift on its way from Xuan City.
• The council agreed to seize the convoy’s supplies, both to weaken Swinburne and to support their own army.
• Aikimu, Zeng Mu, and Kanni led a thousand mounted troops toward the Campso Rift to set an ambush before nightfall.

Croft led five hundred Viking soldiers through Campso Rift while transporting provisions to Sand City, but Aikimu and a thousand knights ambushed them from the cliffs. The barrage devastated the convoy, and Croft lay gravely wounded as a brilliant golden light appeared above him.

• Croft learned that his uncle Idiveer had been killed by Yetos and his allies, then volunteered to escort supplies and join Swinburne's attack on Morgaya City.
• Croft ordered his convoy to stay alert as it crossed the damp, narrow Campso Rift, then urged the soldiers to hurry once they passed its deepest section.
• Aikimu and a thousand knights unleashed rocks and arrows from the cliff edge, killing or wounding most of the five hundred Vikings.
• Croft survived with his left hand severed and watched the attackers from the ground as a brilliant golden light appeared above the cliffs.

After Zeng Mu annihilated Croft’s Viking army, the Knights’ Order recovered provisions and spoils from the valley. As they left Campso Rift, they spotted a huge pack of Silver-Pattern Shield Wolves migrating nearby.

• Zeng Mu killed the Viking Warriors with flying blades, and Croft took his own life rather than face capture.
• Zeng Mu reflected on the killings and accepted that he needed power to survive and return home.
• Aikimu, Kanni, Zeng Mu, and the knights entered the valley, cleared the wreckage, and collected 8,620 pounds of provisions and five usable carts.
• Zeng Mu took Croft’s heavy sword, while Kanni and Aikimu discussed Croft’s death and his resemblance to Idiveer.
• The Knights’ Order left Campso Rift without casualties and saw a pack of at least two thousand Silver-Pattern Shield Wolves migrating nearby.

After Zeng Mu drove off a pack of Silver-Pattern Shield Wolves with a roar, he proposed a plan to attack Swinburne and reclaim Sand City. He later helped Ma Linya brew elemental medicinal soup and arranged to sneak a ladleful of Burche’s meat soup once the kitchen was empty.

• Kanni explained the wolves’ behavior, and Zeng Mu roared to make them retreat from the group.
• Zeng Mu shared an attack plan with Aikimu and Kanni, who returned to Morgaya City excited.
• Zeng Mu presented his plan to Yetos and Tovi Belle, who approved it and began preparing for the next day’s campaign.
• Zeng Mu tended the fire while Ma Linya and the other Elemental Healers brewed medicinal soup with elemental meat, including Burche’s meat.
• Ma Linya agreed to let Zeng Mu drink one ladleful of the soup after the other healers left, then stepped outside to give him a chance.

Zeng Mu secretly drank all the elemental medicinal broth Ma Linya had prepared, then staggered into a roadside grass patch and fell asleep. In Sand City, Swinburne learned more about the nameless Elementalist and ordered his army to gather food before marching on Morgaya City.

• Zeng Mu drank the broth from the smallest pot, and Ma Linya caught him after he had emptied it and chased him away with an iron ladle.
• Zeng Mu decided not to return to help Ma Linya, then grew dizzy and collapsed into the grass beside the road.
• Swinburne berated his subordinates over Croft's death before asking who had led the Knights' Order's ambush.
• A subordinate told Swinburne that another Elementalist, the nameless knight, had caused the disorder at Kampus Rift and had helped Yetos kill two Purple-Pattern Generals.
• Swinburne ordered a thousand soldiers to gather edible plants and tree materials, then planned to march on Morgaya City and take it.

The Black Tide Army marched from Morgaya City toward Sand City while the Viking Warriors prepared to exploit its arrival. Swinburne chose to keep his forces inside Sand City until morning, as Yetos and his companions waited in their woodland camp for Ma Linya.

• Over a thousand Viking Warriors gathered trees and grass outside Sand City as Zeng Mu led seven thousand knights out of Morgaya City on Abyss.
• The Knights' Order traveled more than three hundred li and camped in the woods about fifty li from Sand City.
• Viking scouts told Swinburne that Yetos's army had arrived, and Swinburne called a meeting to reconsider his attack plans.
• Swinburne stationed his nine thousand troops at Sand City's gates and ordered them to remain alert until daylight.
• Yetos and his companions waited around a campfire, and Zeng Mu opened his eyes when Ma Linya arrived.

Ma Linya explained that the rare Double Seven Night would bring a blood moon that drove animals mad, strengthening Zeng Mu's plan to turn the migrating Silver-Pattern Shield Wolves against the Vikings in Sand City. Zeng Mu and Yetos reached the city and launched the elemental medicinal chunks over it, setting their plan in motion.

• Ma Linya told the group that Double Seven Night would bring a red moon and cause animals, including the Silver-Pattern Shield Wolves, to go berserk.
• Zeng Mu grew confident that the blood moon and the wolves' expected route would help his plan succeed.
• Zeng Mu and Yetos heard the wolf pack approaching, then rode toward Sand City on Abyss and Yetos's warhorse.
• Zeng Mu and Yetos used their Elemental Power and a Wind Elemental Artifact to launch the medicinal chunks toward Sand City.
• The chunks burst above Sand City and scattered across it like a meteor shower.

Swinburne waited for Yetos and Zeng Mu to attack Sand City, but the blood moon appeared and the medicinal liquid they had scattered drew a pack of roughly two thousand Silver-Pattern Shield Wolves toward the city. The chapter ended with Swinburne realizing the Vikings were about to face the charging wolves.

• Swinburne ordered the Viking Warriors to prepare after the Giant's Arrow spread gold-and-green light over Sand City and scattered a strong-smelling liquid.
• A blood-red moon appeared, and its light dulled people’s senses and filled them with restless excitement.
• Yetos and Zeng Mu used elemental power to shield themselves and the Knight Army from the moonlight.
• Swinburne escaped the moonlight’s effects behind a wall, then recognized the scattered liquid as the source of colorful webs across Sand City.
• Swinburne realized the liquid had lured a pack of roughly two thousand Silver-Pattern Shield Wolves toward the city.

Silver-Pattern Shield Wolves attacked Sand City, forcing Swinburne and the Viking Legion into a desperate battle at the south gate. While Swinburne fought the wolf king and called for reinforcements, Yetos and Zeng Mu slipped into the other gates to disable the Viking War Chariots.

• The Silver-Pattern Shield Wolves endured the Vikings' arrows, crossed the poisonous moat, and climbed a wolf tower beneath the damaged drawbridge.
• Swinburne led the defense as the wolves breached the wall and attacked the Viking Warriors; he fought the wolf king and sent messengers to summon the four thousand troops stationed at the other gates.
• The reinforcements left their posts and raced toward the south gate, leaving the other gates exposed.
• Yetos and Zeng Mu entered through separate gates, then headed for the Viking War Chariots to break their wheel axles.

Swinburne and the Viking Legion defeated the Silver-Pattern Shield Wolves after the Blood Moon ended, and Swinburne ordered his forces to attack the Knights' Order with their war chariots. His subordinates reached the city gates and were left dumbfounded by what they found.

• Four thousand reinforcements arrived, turning the battle against the wolves, while their poisonous claws weakened the Viking Warriors.
• The Blood Moon vanished, restoring the Vikings as they encircled and killed the Silver-Pattern Shield Wolves.
• Swinburne defeated the wolf king and signaled his warriors to slaughter the remaining wolves.
• After the battle, Swinburne ordered his subordinates to bring out every war chariot and charge the Knights' Order despite their objections.
• The three subordinates reached the city gates and were dumbfounded.

Swinburne discovered that his chariots had been sabotaged and his poisoned warriors were in no condition to fight, so he secretly withdrew from Sand City. Zeng Mu and Kanni discussed his retreat and the reasons people choose to fight or flee, while Swinburne vowed to seek vengeance another day.

• Swinburne learned that every chariot had been disabled and concluded that Yetos and Nameless had sabotaged them.
• Swinburne explained that his army had lost nearly two thousand men to the Silver-Pattern Shield Wolves and that venom had weakened most of the survivors, so he ordered a secret retreat from Sand City.
• Swinburne led the Viking Legion out of the city, and Zeng Mu and Yetos noticed the army's departure only after it had traveled several li.
• The knights returned to garrison Sand City, astonished that they had driven the Viking Legion away without a fight.
• Zeng Mu told Kanni that retreat could be a rational choice, but that a person might fight fiercely when someone important to them was threatened or avenged.

After half a month training alone in the wilderness, Zeng Mu killed a dangerous Crimson-Blood Blizzard Leopard and returned to Sand City when Yetos summoned him. Yetos gave him an unopened letter written by a duke, Jerry Alexander.

• Zeng Mu defeated a Crimson-Blood Blizzard Leopard that ambushed him in the snowy forest.
• Zeng Mu butchered the beast, stored its meat, and ate its freshly roasted heart and organs.
• Zeng Mu sensed a green pillar of light and hurried back to Sand City, where Yetos was waiting.
• Yetos praised Zeng Mu's progress and explained that he had summoned him because a letter had arrived.
• Yetos showed Zeng Mu an unopened letter addressed to him from Jerry Alexander, a duke.

Zeng Mu received an invitation from Duke Jerry Alexander to attend the Temple Capital Banquet and learned that its gifted guests would compete for valuable rewards. He chose to bring Ma Linya and set out with her for the banquet, which began in seven days.

• Zeng Mu read Duke Jerry Alexander’s invitation to the Temple Capital Banquet and asked Yetos what the event involved.
• Yetos explained the banquet’s importance, its competition and prizes, and the requirement that invited geniuses have personal ties; Zeng Mu decided to attend after hearing that a past winner received a fine-grade Wind-Lightning Elemental Beast.
• Yetos gave Zeng Mu a map, advised him to bring Ma Linya, and warned him to travel safely and quickly.
• Zeng Mu packed his belongings, saddled Abyss, and rode to find Ma Linya at the West City Gate.
• Zeng Mu told Ma Linya about the invitation, and they set out together for the Temple Capital Banquet.

Zeng Mu and Ma Linya traveled from Sand City toward Temple Capital on Abyss, sharing stories and camping together along the way. After two nights in the same tent, they continued their journey at dawn, growing closer but still leaving Zeng Mu sleepless.

• Ma Linya asked Zeng Mu why he had agreed to travel with her, and he said it was both to avoid trouble afterward and for another reason.
• Zeng Mu and Ma Linya left Sand City on Abyss and spent the first day riding toward Temple Capital while Ma Linya told stories about the banquet.
• Unable to find a town before nightfall, they pitched a tent, shared roasted elemental meat and stories, and slept in the same two-person tent, though Zeng Mu stayed awake.
• The next morning, Abyss galloped faster, jolting the riders together and making Ma Linya blush.
• After another day without finding an inn or village, Zeng Mu and Ma Linya camped in the tent again, and Zeng Mu stayed awake listening to Ma Linya sleep until dawn.

Zeng Mu and Ma Linya reached Vites Town and spent the evening at a popular café, where they met its captivating owner, Stee Jane. As snow began to fall, Stee Jane revealed that she had turned sixty-three the day before.

• Zeng Mu and Ma Linya arrived in Vites Town after three days of travel and went into a café with their horse, Abyss.
• Zeng Mu and Ma Linya were captivated by the café owner's striking appearance and eyes, then ordered hot coffee.
• Zeng Mu and Ma Linya discussed their remaining journey to Temple Capital and decided they could travel at a more relaxed pace.
• Zeng Mu and Ma Linya stayed for more coffee as the café filled with customers and snow began to fall outside.
• Stee Jane introduced herself as the café owner and told Ma Linya that she was sixty-three years old.

Zeng Mu and Ma Linya continued to wonder how Stee Jane stayed ageless, then returned to her café the next morning, where two drunken men caused a confrontation. The chapter ended with one of the men insulting Stee Jane after she refused to serve them.

• Stee Jane told Zeng Mu and Ma Linya that she was much older than she looked but kept the secret of her ageless appearance to herself.
• Zeng Mu and Ma Linya speculated that Stee Jane's youthful appearance came from a special cosmetic or an unusual scented item, then found lodging for the night.
• Zeng Mu and Ma Linya returned to the café early the next morning and ordered coffee and breakfast from Stee Jane.
• Two drunken men entered the café and demanded coffee, but Stee Jane refused to serve them until they sobered up.
• One of the men leered at Stee Jane, then cursed at her when she rejected his flattery and told the men to leave.

Zeng Mu stopped two drunken men from harassing Ma Linya in Stee Jane’s café, breaking one man’s wrist and driving them away. After meeting the regular customer Qidunston, Zeng Mu learned that the older man thought his punishment had been too mild.

• Stee Jane ordered the two drunken men to leave, but they ignored her and waited for coffee.
• Qidunston arrived, and Stee Jane served him before the men, prompting one to curse at her.
• Zeng Mu told the men to leave, but one kicked aside a table and reached for Ma Linya.
• When the man tried to slap Ma Linya, Zeng Mu seized his wrist and crushed it, then warned his companion off.
• Stee Jane thanked Zeng Mu, introduced him and Ma Linya to Qidunston, and teased them about being newlyweds.
• Qidunston told Zeng Mu that he had been too gentle and said he would have crippled both men for life.

Zeng Mu and Ma Linya met Qidunston, who deduced they were traveling to the Temple Capital Banquet and revealed that he would attend as well. He showed them Stee Jane’s earrings as the secret of agelessness, and Zeng Mu sensed they were an Elemental Artifact.

• Qidunston deduced that Zeng Mu and Ma Linya were a Knight and a Healer traveling to the Temple Capital Banquet.
• Qidunston said he had also received an invitation, from a woman he called Xiao Na, and that he was going with a secret task.
• Ma Linya asked about Stee Jane’s youth, and Qidunston revealed that he was seventy-six and said he and Stee Jane shared a similar condition.
• Qidunston pointed out Stee Jane’s blue-and-silver earrings and told Zeng Mu to touch one using his Elemental Power.
• Zeng Mu touched an earring, felt a surge of Elemental Power, and realized it was an Elemental Artifact.

Qidunston revealed that he was a rare Elemental Artifact Master and joined Zeng Mu and Ma Linya on their journey to the Temple Capital. After setting out on his slow Binrolan Horse, he activated a Second-Tier Wind Elemental Artifact that carried the travelers at astonishing speed, leaving them on course to reach the capital before nightfall.

• Qidunston revealed that he had created Stee Jane’s Sea-Hanging Star earrings, a support-type Wind Elemental Artifact that slowed her physical aging.
• Qidunston recognized Abyss’s quality and past hardship, then summoned his old Binrolan Horse to travel with Zeng Mu and Ma Linya.
• Zeng Mu and Ma Linya agreed to set off with Qidunston despite the horse’s slow pace and the banquet’s approaching deadline.
• After they rode into the woods, Qidunston activated a Second-Tier Wind Elemental Artifact that enveloped the travelers and sped them forward.

Zeng Mu and Ma Linya rode with Qidunston to Temple Capital on his powerful wind elemental artifact and entered the bustling, heavily guarded city. Their attention turned to a familiar little figure standing outside an herbal medicine shop.

• Zeng Mu and Ma Linya experienced flying as Qidunston’s wind elemental artifact carried them at great speed toward Temple Capital.
• Qidunston explained that an artifact’s power depended on the skill of the Elemental Artifact Master who refined it.
• The three reached Temple Capital by dusk and passed several checkpoints where knights verified their identities and horses.
• Zeng Mu and Ma Linya admired Temple Capital’s lively streets and shops, contrasting them with the desolate border cities.
• Zeng Mu and Ma Linya spotted a familiar little figure outside an herbal medicine shop.

Cobert reunited with Zeng Mu and Ma Linya in the Temple Capital, where they arrived for the banquet and met Jerry Alexander. Jerry recognized their extraordinary abilities and asked Nameless how he had reached the willful realm so young, leaving Qidunston to interrupt with a complaint about the tea.

• Cobert directed his apprentices in his herbal medicine shop before Zeng Mu and Ma Linya surprised him and explained they had been invited to the Temple Capital Banquet.
• Cobert invited them to stay and help prepare for the Flower Festival, but Zeng Mu politely declined so they could report in.
• Zeng Mu, Ma Linya, and Qidunston entered the Holy Temple grounds and met Jerry Alexander in his office.
• Jerry praised Nameless's talent and asked how he had reached the willful realm so quickly.
• Qidunston interrupted Jerry's question by complaining that the tea had gone bad.

Zeng Mu and Ma Linya met Duke Jerry, settled into their palace guest room, and spent the evening exploring the Temple Capital before returning to sleep. As they discussed the Flower Festival, the city prepared for the next day’s matchmaking celebrations.

• Jerry questioned Ma Linya about how she and Zeng Mu met and whether they truly loved each other, but Qidunston ended the conversation and arranged their rooms.
• Ma Linya accepted the assigned shared room with Zeng Mu, and the manservant gave Zeng Mu its key before leading Qidunston away.
• Zeng Mu and Ma Linya left the palace, wandered the lively Temple Capital, ate dinner beneath a restaurant awning, and returned after strolling through the streets.
• After bathing, Zeng Mu and Ma Linya felt awkward sharing the large bed until they talked about the Flower Festival and fell asleep peacefully.
• Throughout the night, Temple Capital residents prepared crafts and other items for the festival, hoping to find lifelong partners the next day.