Chapter Summaries

Han Shuo left the devastated valley with Sophie and learned that she was the daughter of the Kasi Empire’s Paladin. He followed Gilbert into a vast, black-mist-covered area in the Dark Forest, where he found a Strange Stele and moved to investigate it.

• Masor escaped the ruined valley while Han Shuo and Sophie left without confronting her.
• Han Shuo and Sophie parted ways, and Sophie revealed that her father was Soro, the Paladin of the Kasi Empire.
• Han Shuo followed Gilbert’s trail through the forest, but lost contact with him when a vast black mist appeared.
• Han Shuo sent a Yin Demon into the mist, lost contact with it, then descended inside and found that his connections were restored.
• Han Shuo explored the barren, mist-covered area and saw a Strange Stele bearing carved writing through the Yin Demon.

Han Shuo encountered a gravestone bearing the name of the legendary Almeric Cotton, then helped Gilbert escape the Cyclops and Golden Dragon in a Forbidden Land that sealed their powers. When Han Shuo remained airborne despite the restrictions, the creatures mistook him for a demigod and begged him to lead them out, but he denied being one.

• Han Shuo saw Almeric Cotton's name on a gravestone and recalled the legendary magician's mysterious disappearance five hundred years earlier.
• Han Shuo prepared to help Gilbert, who fled toward him while the injured Cyclops and Golden Dragon pursued.
• Gilbert told Han Shuo he had tried to crush the two exhausted creatures with a boulder, then accidentally led them into the Forbidden Land, where their powers and flight were sealed.
• The Cyclops and Golden Dragon resumed fighting, then noticed Han Shuo could still fly and asked how he was unaffected by the Forbidden Land.
• The Cyclops explained that only demigods beyond Saint Rank could escape the Forbidden Land's restrictions, and both creatures pleaded with Han Shuo to lead them out.
• Han Shuo told the Cyclops and Golden Dragon that he was not a demigod.

Han Shuo discovered that the Forbidden Land was sealed and came under attack from fiendish spirits, but his Demonic Essence and Demon-Slaying Edge drew them into a vortex and absorbed their power. After the spirits vanished, Han Shuo awakened with a terrifying fiendish presence, leaving the Cyclops, Golden Dragon, and Gilbert shaken.

• Han Shuo failed to cast a summoning spell and struck an invisible Barrier when he tried to fly out of the Forbidden Land.
• A growing supernatural pressure overwhelmed the Cyclops, Golden Dragon, and Gilbert, while Han Shuo protected himself with Demonic Essence.
• Fiendish spirits gathered as ghostly faces and attacked, but Han Shuo recognized them and unleashed his Fiendish Aura and Demon-Slaying Edge.
• A vortex formed above Han Shuo and pulled the fiendish spirits into it, relieving the pressure and absorbing their energy.
• After a day and night, the vortex and spirits disappeared, and Han Shuo rose with blood-red eyes and a terrifying aura.

Han Shuo lost control after absorbing the fiendish beings’ power and attacked the three behemoths, nearly killing Gilbert with the Demon-Slaying Edge. He regained control by injuring himself and redirected the blade into the sky, destroying the Forbidden Land’s ancient black-mist barrier as sunlight reached the land.

• Han Shuo attacked the Golden Dragon and Gilbert, while the Cyclops intervened to protect Gilbert.
• The Golden Dragon and Cyclops persuaded Gilbert to help restrain Han Shuo so they could save him, and the three behemoths endured his devastating attacks.
• Gilbert tried to knock Han Shuo unconscious, but Han Shuo’s Fiendish Aura gathered into the Demon-Slaying Edge and formed a hundred-meter blade aimed at Gilbert.
• Han Shuo fought for control, cried out “No,” and struck his own sword arm to divert the blade away from Gilbert.
• The redirected blade tore into the sky, shattering the black mist over the Forbidden Land and restoring sunlight; Han Shuo collapsed in a pool of blood with his clarity restored.

After the Forbidden Land’s seal broke, Han Shuo recovered from his injuries while Gilbert, Little Skeleton, and the Earth Armor Zombie guarded him. Eight days later, Han Shuo emerged stronger and learned that Little Skeleton and the Earth Armor Zombie had dragged Gilbert into digging up Almeric Cotton’s grave.

• The Forbidden Land’s seal vanished, restoring the Golden Dragon’s, Cyclops’s, and Gilbert’s powers, while Han Shuo lay severely injured.
• Little Skeleton and the Earth Armor Zombie attacked the Golden Dragon and Cyclops, but Han Shuo called them back after Gilbert reminded him that the two creatures had helped them.
• Intimidated by the undead creatures’ attack, the Golden Dragon and Cyclops fled, and Han Shuo sealed himself in a Fiendish Aura cocoon to heal.
• Han Shuo spent eight days and nine nights recovering and refining the pure energy he had absorbed from the Sha, while the Demon-Slaying Edge absorbed some of their chaotic energy.
• Gilbert complained to Han Shuo that Little Skeleton and the Earth Armor Zombie had bullied him into helping dig up Almeric Cotton’s grave.

Han Shuo discovered that Little Skeleton and the Earth Armor Zombie had been collecting energy-bearing bones from powerful creatures in the Forbidden Land. After uncovering the strangely immovable gravestone of Almeric Cotton, he sensed the Forbidden Land’s lingering power within it and shattered it, revealing a Dark Element Magic Wand and an ancient notebook.

• Han Shuo found Little Skeleton and the Earth Armor Zombie dismantling a Super-tier Magical Beast’s skeleton and learned that they could absorb energy from certain bones.
• Little Skeleton told Han Shuo he wanted to take the useful bones to the Otherworld so more undead creatures could benefit, and Han Shuo agreed.
• Han Shuo noticed that Almeric Cotton’s gravestone was unusually large and heavy, and the Earth Armor Zombie uprooted it at his command.
• Han Shuo sensed Dark Element power resembling the force that confined the Forbidden Land within the gravestone.
• Han Shuo blasted the gravestone apart with the Demon-Slaying Edge, uncovering a Magic Wand inlaid with three purple crystals and an ancient notebook.

Han Shuo returned to the Death Cemetery after collecting valuable relics and materials in the Forbidden Land, then spent over three months in seclusion refining his skills. At the academy’s spring strength test, he appeared after six months away and announced that he would take his final test and graduate early.

• Han Shuo took the magic wand, manuscript, unusual ores, and white bones from the Forbidden Land, then sent Little Skeleton and the Earth Armor Zombie back to the Otherworld.
• Han Shuo and Gilbert returned safely to the Death Cemetery after gathering materials, and Han Shuo spent more than three months in seclusion studying artifact and pill refining.
• At Babylon Academy’s spring test, Fanny told Lisa that Han Shuo had not returned in six months, while the Necromancy Department waited for its turn to use the trial ground.
• Fred and other Darkness Department students mocked the Necromancy Department and Athena, and Lisa angrily defended Han Shuo.
• Han Shuo appeared in the trial ground, challenged Fred’s claim that he had been hiding, and announced that he had returned to take his final test and graduate early.

Han Shuo returned to the Babylon Academy of Magic and Martial Arts and attempted to graduate by passing the High Mage test. After Dio imposed a harpy hunt as the final task, Han Shuo revealed that he had already killed two harpies, and Emma confirmed his achievement.

• Han Shuo returned to the academy, reassured Athena, and dismissed Fred's accusations while greeting Fanny.
• Athena passed her Junior Mage test, and Lisa demonstrated that she had advanced to Intermediate Mage.
• Han Shuo skipped the Intermediate Mage test and passed the High Mage knowledge and spell demonstrations despite Dio's attempts to make them difficult.
• Dio required Han Shuo to hunt a level-three harpy within a month, prompting Fanny to protest.
• Han Shuo produced the cores and claws of two harpies he had already killed, and Emma confirmed that he could graduate.

Han Shuo secured his graduation after Dean Emma confirmed he had killed two Harpies, then visited Fanny to claim the promise she had made about dating him once he became a High Mage. Fanny initially resisted but ultimately embraced and kissed him, while Han Shuo affirmed that his feelings for her had never changed.

• Dean Emma confirmed Han Shuo's achievement, and Dio reluctantly recognized his graduation while the Necromancy Department students celebrated.
• Fanny remembered her promise to consider dating Han Shuo and fled when she caught him watching her.
• Dean Emma told Han Shuo that his graduation would be finalized and asked him to report to the Dark Curtain, while warning him to be mindful of Fanny's father.
• Han Shuo went to Fanny's laboratory, apologized for leaving without saying goodbye, and reminded her of her promise.
• Fanny said she had only promised to consider dating him, but Han Shuo kissed her and confessed how much he had missed her.
• Fanny's resistance faded, and she threw herself into Han Shuo's arms and kissed him.

Han Shuo gave Fanny a Nirvana Pill and helped her begin purging the impurities from her body, then left the academy and went to the Buster Trading Company. There he found Phoebe in a tense standoff with Cameron and his allies, and he crushed an Advanced Swordsman’s hand with a single punch.

• Han Shuo gave Fanny a Nirvana Pill and used Demonic Essence to help her absorb it, explaining that she would expel impurities for three days.
• Fanny hurried away to use the bathroom, while Han Shuo left the academy through the back gate to avoid questions from the students.
• Han Shuo went to the Buster Trading Company, where a guard told him that Cameron was pressuring Phoebe to agree to something.
• Han Shuo found Cameron and his armed allies facing Phoebe, Fubin'en, and the trading company’s guards.
• After an Advanced Swordsman mocked him, Han Shuo punched the man and shattered the bones in his right hand.

Han Shuo stopped Cameron and Aubrey from seizing the Buster Trading Company, but Phoebe insisted they be allowed to leave to avoid provoking Duke Ashiburn. After secretly poisoning Aubrey and Cameron, Han Shuo reunited with Phoebe, learned how the company had been threatened, and left to report to the Dark Curtain Organization.

• Han Shuo shattered an Advanced Swordsman's right arm after the man mocked him.
• Aubrey sealed off the space around Han Shuo and Phoebe's group so Cameron could arrest them and take over the Buster Trading Company.
• Han Shuo broke Aubrey's spatial seal, but Phoebe ordered him to let the intruders go because they acted for Duke Ashiburn.
• Han Shuo stopped Aubrey and Cameron from leaving, secretly planted ice-fire poison in both men, and then let them depart.
• Phoebe told Han Shuo that Cameron's group had encroached on the Buster Trading Company while she was away, and Han Shuo gave her a Nirvana Pill.
• After helping Phoebe refine the pill, Han Shuo left the Buster Trading Company to report to the Dark Curtain Organization.

Han Shuo returned to Dark Curtain headquarters after six months away and discovered that his exploits had made him famous among its members. He gave Candida Almeric Cotton’s magical manuscript, and Candida rewarded him with a rapid promotion to Four-Moon Envoy.

• Han Shuo waited at Dark Curtain headquarters, where Chris recognized him and other members praised his reputation.
• Han Shuo read intelligence reporting Bobby Aski’s betrayal, the growing conflict in Sun Radiance Valley, and the rise of the Soul Annihilation Mercenary Group.
• Candida scolded Han Shuo for failing to report for six months, but noticed how much he had changed.
• Han Shuo gave Candida the manuscript bearing Almeric Cotton’s signature and explained that it contained the legendary mage’s notes.
• Candida accepted the manuscript as an imperial treasure and promoted Han Shuo from One-Moon Envoy to Four-Moon Envoy.

Han Shuo was promoted to Four-Moon Envoy after delivering Almerick’s manuscript to Candida, then accepted an assignment to protect Lawrence. As Lawrence learned that Phoebe’s company was threatened by Cameron and Duke Ashiborne, he offered Han Shuo a chance to advance through the military ranks.

• Candida promoted Han Shuo to Four-Moon Envoy and questioned him about finding Almerick’s manuscript in the Forbidden Land.
• Han Shuo accepted the assignment to protect Lawrence and warned Candida that he had offended Duke Ashiborne, prompting Candida to promise support.
• Han Shuo visited Lawrence, who welcomed him and took him to the North Ward Rose Garden.
• Han Shuo told Lawrence that Cameron’s Trade Alliance was trying to absorb Phoebe’s Buster Trading Company and that Cameron had nearly seized Phoebe by force.
• Lawrence condemned Ashiborne’s backing of Cameron and offered Han Shuo a military position that could help him rise through the ranks.

Han Shuo agreed to work with Lawrence, who planned to help him earn military merit, a noble title, and territory. Lawrence brought Han Shuo to the Rose Garden and revealed that he owned it, then led him toward a meeting with the master he shared with Phoebe.

• Han Shuo accepted Lawrence as a partner in his pursuit of power, and Lawrence outlined a plan to secure him a position in the army, noble status, and territory.
• Lawrence took Han Shuo to the Rose Garden and left his overt guards outside, while most of his covert protectors were also stopped by the venue’s security.
• Han Shuo used the Yin Demons to survey the Rose Garden and discovered it was an extravagant pleasure house.
• Lawrence led Han Shuo through a concealed passage protected by magical wards and revealed that he was the Rose Garden’s true owner.
• Lawrence said he would take Han Shuo to meet the master he shared with Phoebe.

Lawrence brought Han Shuo to meet his master in the Rose Garden’s underground chambers, where Han Shuo’s fiendish aura astonished the bloodstained Bolands. He then met Phoebe’s master, who questioned whether Han Shuo would hold back his gifted disciple.

• Han Shuo and Lawrence explored the guarded underground passages beneath the Rose Garden and went to meet Lawrence’s master.
• Bolands challenged Han Shuo with his killing intent, but Han Shuo countered with his fiendish aura and showed he could control it.
• Bolands questioned how Han Shuo could use the power without battle aura, but Lawrence’s master called Lawrence and Han Shuo inside.
• Lawrence introduced Han Shuo as Phoebe’s boyfriend, and his master asked whether Han Shuo would hinder Phoebe’s future.

Lawrence took Han Shuo to meet his master, Carola Ascot, hoping to gain the powerful Sword Saint’s favor and support. After leaving Carola and Bolands, they entered the Rose Garden, where Lawrence ran into the First Prince.

• Lawrence told Carola that Ashburn was targeting Phoebe, and Carola angrily said he would speak with him.
• Lawrence and Han Shuo offered Carola wine, and Carola agreed to keep Lawrence’s situation in mind before sending them away.
• Bolands questioned Han Shuo about his killing intent, recognized the baleful aura around him, and said they would meet again.
• Lawrence explained Carola’s influence and Bolands’s past to Han Shuo, then said he had arranged the meeting to help Han Shuo gain Carola’s favor.
• Lawrence brought Han Shuo into the busy Rose Garden, where the First Prince approached and mocked him into offering a formal greeting.

Han Shuo left the Rose Garden after Prince Charles provoked Lawrence and Aubrey confronted him about the poison. He traveled to Sun Radiance Valley to meet Trunks, but Janet and her bandits surrounded him and ordered his capture.

• Charles insulted Lawrence and left the Rose Garden, while Han Shuo urged Lawrence to hold back his anger.
• Aubrey and Cameron confronted Han Shuo about the alternating ice and fire poison, and Han Shuo and Lawrence left the Rose Garden.
• Han Shuo parted from Lawrence and returned to the Death Cemetery, then flew toward Sun Radiance Valley to meet Trunks.
• Han Shuo approached Sun Radiance Valley on foot, where nearly a hundred bandits surrounded him.
• Janet accused Han Shuo of possibly being a spy and ordered her men to seize him for questioning.

Han Shuo tested the bandits’ strength while evading Janet’s pursuit, then discovered her hidden power and escaped after seizing a young woman. He left with the captive and challenged Janet to come to the Soul Annihilation Mercenary Group if she wanted her back.

• Janet ordered her bandits to capture Han Shuo, but he used his speed and the Three Yin Demons to evade their coordinated pursuit.
• Han Shuo hid in a tree and observed the bandits’ numbers, combat abilities, and discipline.
• Han Shuo ambushed Janet and was shocked when her fist resisted his weakened punch with extraordinary force.
• Janet summoned a huge spiked club and attacked Han Shuo, but he struck her down before Billy and the other bandits joined the fight.
• Han Shuo escaped through the foliage, seized a young woman from a sedan chair, and flew away with her.
• Han Shuo told Janet to come to the Soul Annihilation Mercenary Group if she wanted the woman back, and Janet shouted after him, calling the woman her wife.

Han Shuo arrived at the Soul Annihilation Mercenary Group’s hidden ledge with a captive woman and impressed the mercenaries by effortlessly defeating Grant in a test of strength. Trunks returned and recognized the captive as Annie, leaving the mercenaries confused.

• Han Shuo reached the mercenary group’s ledge, where Gilbert greeted him as his master and the mercenaries thanked him for the weapons.
• Han Shuo accepted Grant’s challenge, endured his punch without moving, and tossed him onto a mat.
• Han Shuo warned Gilbert not to touch the captive woman because he needed her to speak with Janet.
• Trunks returned with Odyssey and the others, saw the captive, cried out “Annie!” and rushed toward her while former Rainbow Sickle members wondered what was wrong.

Trunks reunited with a girl he believed was the missing Annie, but she remembered herself as Betty and could not recall her past. Han Shuo and Trunks led a small scouting party toward a valley where rival forces were gathering over a silver mine containing mithril.

• Trunks recognized the girl by Annie’s Crystal Necklace and the mole behind her ear, and Han Shuo freed her from the force restraining her.
• The girl called herself Betty, denied knowing Trunks, and said she could not remember her childhood; Trunks concluded she was Annie and ordered Grant to guard her.
• Trunks told Han Shuo that Loretta and other forces were heading to a silver mine rumored to contain mithril, and Han Shuo agreed to investigate and look for Janet.
• Trunks led the party to the valley after dark, where Han Shuo ordered the others to wait while he, Trunks, and Gilbert went ahead to scout.
• Han Shuo moved toward the valley with the Three Yin Demons spread around him, while Grant and the other mercenaries stayed hidden.