Chapter Summaries

Han Shuo killed Deborah and spent five days defeating and killing powerful opponents across the Lancelot Empire, attracting attention from nobles and the king. Utrede agreed to consider protecting Brian from the Church of Light if he proved himself by challenging Lio Kane.

• Deborah’s ice wall fell to the Evil Knight and the undead, and Han Shuo’s Bone Spears killed her as she tried to surrender.
• Han Shuo noticed approaching reinforcements, recalled his undead, ended the Undead Sky, and escaped by Levitation Spell.
• Over five days, Han Shuo traveled between cities using Teleportation Arrays and killed every opponent he challenged, spreading his reputation through the Empire.
• Utrede questioned Candida about Brian, and Candida praised Brian’s abilities, loyalty, connections, and role in exposing Bobby Aski’s plot.
• Utrede ordered Brian to challenge Lio Kane, promising him a noble title and protection from the Church of Light if he won; Candida reluctantly agreed.

Han Shuo returned to Osen City after his challenges made him infamous, and Candida told him to defeat Lio Kane in exchange for the king’s protection and a noble title. Han Shuo accepted the challenge and left with Emily, while Lawrence offered to publicize the fight.

• Han Shuo returned to Osen City after his final three targets disappeared and reported to Candida.
• Candida asked Han Shuo to challenge Lio Kane, a powerful Great Swordmaster staying at the eldest prince Charles’s estate, promising royal protection and a noble title if Han Shuo won.
• Han Shuo accepted, confident that his Bloodlust Realm had grown strong enough to face a Great Swordmaster.
• Han Shuo met Lawrence, who confirmed Lio Kane’s ties to Charles and offered to publicize the challenge.
• Han Shuo joined Emily in her carriage, where she embraced and kissed him over the effects of a pill, while Candida watched and realized they were involved.

First Prince Charles tried to persuade Lio Kane to challenge and kill Brian publicly, while word of Brian’s achievements spread through Osen City and established his reputation as a genius. Meanwhile, Brian, Emily, and Chester led knights and mages to surround enemy buildings in the western district, preparing to attack Yulande’s group.

• Charles told Lio Kane that Brian had become famous and was expected to challenge him, but Lio refused to challenge Brian first.
• Charles warned Lio to kill Brian if he came to Garden Estate, and Lio agreed.
• Rumors spread across Osen City about Han Shuo’s rise from a slave and Magic Apprentice to a Necromancy Archmage and renowned fighter, while trading companies began taking bets.
• Han Shuo, Emily, and Chester traveled with a hundred knights to the western district to investigate a group of enemies from the Angela Empire led by Yulande.
• Han Shuo sent the Three Yin Demons to scout the buildings and ordered the knights to surround them without alerting the occupants.
• Han Shuo instructed the mages, including a lightning Archmage, to take positions and attack with their strongest magic on his command.

Han Shuo led the Northern City Army in an assault on Yulande and the Angela Empire operatives, using the Three Yin Demons to direct the encirclement and counter their escape attempts. As Han Shuo attacked Yulande, he revealed that he already knew where the Manufacturing Plans had been hidden and rushed to retrieve them.

• Han Shuo instructed Emily and Kiria to surround the buildings and capture or kill Yulande’s group while securing the Manufacturing Plans.
• Warned that they were surrounded, Yulande hid the Manufacturing Plans in a wall crevice and told his men to escape with them if possible.
• Kiria and the other mages attacked as Yulande’s operatives fled, while Han Shuo directed the knights and mages to block their routes using the Three Yin Demons’ vision.
• Han Shuo’s orders helped the Northern City Army kill or wound the operatives with few casualties, but the remaining Angela Empire men refused to surrender and continued fighting.
• Emily confronted Yulande over the murdered Military Factory technicians, and Yulande charged at her before Han Shuo struck him from above, breaking his sword and killing his Striped Beast.
• Yulande boasted that the Manufacturing Plans would remain beyond their reach, but Han Shuo said he knew they were hidden in a wall crevice and raced back to retrieve them.

Han Shuo recovered the Manufacturing Plans, killed Yulande and the other Angela Empire assassins, and left four alive for interrogation. Later, Phoebe committed the Buster Trading Company’s remaining funds to a Betting Match on Brian defeating Lio Kane, hoping to reverse the company’s crisis.

• Han Shuo retrieved the Manufacturing Plans and used the Mystic Ice Demon Flame Art to kill seven charging Angela Empire assassins.
• Yulande was trapped by hands and bone spikes from underground, then killed by crossbow bolts as Han Shuo absorbed the dead assassins’ baleful energy.
• Han Shuo ordered the Northern City Army to secure four surviving assassins for interrogation and gave the Manufacturing Plans to Emily.
• Han Shuo left the Slums after Kiria congratulated him on the successful mission.
• Phoebe persuaded Andrew to commit the Buster Trading Company’s available money to the Betting Match, betting that Brian would defeat Lio Kane.

Han Shuo prepared to duel Lio Kane, reassuring Phoebe that he would win and spending the night cultivating. The next day, he arrived at the Garden Estate amid a crowd of spectators and entered to meet Lio Kane, while nobles and powerful observers gathered outside.

• Han Shuo comforted Phoebe and promised to kill Lio Kane, while Phoebe explained that the Buster Trading Company had wagered seven hundred thousand gold coins on him.
• Han Shuo cultivated through the night, strengthening himself and the Demon-Slaying Edge.
• Han Shuo left for the Garden Estate with Phoebe as word of his arrival drew a growing crowd, including Fanny, Amy, Athena, and Lisa.
• Han Shuo told the guards he had come to see Mr. Lio Kane, and they led him into the Garden Estate while keeping the spectators outside.
• Charles, old Hahn, Emily, Ibu, Lawrence, Boris, and other nobles gathered near the estate, while Candida and Emias watched from a nearby rooftop.

Han Shuo accepted Lio Kane’s challenge in the Garden Estate, where nobles gathered to watch and Charles quietly signaled for the duel to begin. Han Shuo warned Lio Kane that he was also a Necromancy Archmage, then charged with the Demon-Slaying Edge as the fight began.

• Emias and Candida watched Han Shuo from outside the Garden Estate and discussed his chances against Lio Kane.
• Han Shuo noticed that Emily, Phoebe, and Fanny had gathered nearby and worried about the trouble their meeting might cause.
• Lio Kane asked to let the nobles watch the duel, and Han Shuo agreed; Phoebe entered with Lawrence and exchanged astonished looks with Emily.
• Charles signaled Lio Kane to begin, while nobles gathered around the lawn and several of them mocked Han Shuo’s chances.
• Han Shuo warned Lio Kane that he was a Necromancy Archmage, drew the Demon-Slaying Edge, and rushed at him with blinding speed.

Han Shuo fought Lio Kane, a veteran Great Swordmaster, and revealed that he could fly without magic or Battle Aura. After Lio Kane’s powerful strike missed, Han Shuo swooped down to continue the battle.

• Han Shuo’s Demon-Slaying Edge shattered Lio Kane’s silver sword curtain, surprising Lio Kane and the watching nobles.
• Lio Kane advanced and unleashed a swift silver Battle Aura strike that carved a deep trench where Han Shuo had stood.
• The spectators assumed Han Shuo had been killed, but he appeared unharmed high in the sky.
• Candida and Emias realized Han Shuo’s flight could benefit the Lancelot Empire and resolved to protect him if Lio Kane tried to kill him.
• Lio Kane challenged Han Shuo to come down, and Han Shuo answered by diving toward him with purplish-red demonic light around his blade.

Han Shuo and Lio Kane fought a fierce duel, with Han Shuo surviving Lio Kane’s hidden sword technique and exposing its weakness. Han Shuo then summoned a horde of undead that overwhelmed and killed Lio Kane, while Candida and Emias left to report to the emperor.

• Lio Kane’s sword strike clashed with Han Shuo’s Demon-Slaying Edge, and the Mystic Ice Demon Flame Art’s cold and heat left Lio Kane in agony.
• Lio Kane unleashed a storm of needlelike sword aura, but Han Shuo used Shifting Forms to evade it, sacrificing one Yin Demon to the attack.
• The spectators and Emias praised the fighters, while Han Shuo and Lio Kane recognized each other as formidable opponents.
• Han Shuo identified that Lio Kane’s devastating sword technique took time to charge and consumed much battle aura, then attacked while his Demon-Slaying Edge kept Lio Kane occupied.
• Han Shuo summoned two evil knights, five abominations, twenty zombies, seventy skeleton warriors, and thirty gargoyles around Lio Kane.
• An Earth Armor Zombie seized Lio Kane’s ankles, a Seven-Winged Little Skeleton wounded him, and two evil knights trampled him before the undead tore him apart.

Han Shuo killed Lio Kane in a decisive battle, winning fame and attracting the attention of the Lancelot Empire’s king. Utrede rewarded Brian with a count’s title and other privileges, while Candida received the Medal of Valor for his service.

• Han Shuo’s undead army overwhelmed Lio Kane, and the Evil Knights trampled him to death after Little Skeleton grievously wounded him.
• Han Shuo flew away after the battle, while spectators celebrated his victory and Phoebe rejoiced over the betting winnings.
• Charles and Cameron reacted with dismay, while Lawrence, Phoebe, Emily, and Old Hahn left the Garden Estate pleased by Han Shuo’s triumph.
• Candida and Emias told Utrede how Han Shuo had defeated Lio Kane and demonstrated his martial technique.
• Utrede granted Brian the title of count, a residence, ten thousand gold coins, and promotion to One-Day Envoy, and he ordered Candida to help Brian choose a territory.
• Utrede awarded Candida the Medal of Valor and said he would warn the Church of Light against acting recklessly in the empire.

Han Shuo tested the skull staff and discovered it doubled the number and area of his necromancy spells. After returning to Osen City, he received the title of count and was granted Brettel City as his territory.

• Han Shuo paused his Demonic Cultivation Art training when he could not break through the Bloodlust Realm and tested the skull staff.
• Han Shuo found that the skull staff doubled the number of summoned undead and the area covered by his necromancy spells.
• Emily found Han Shuo in the Death Cemetery and told him to return to Osen City for his formal title and rewards.
• Candida promoted Han Shuo to One-Day Envoy and brought him to meet King Utrede.
• King Utrede formally made Han Shuo a count, granted him an estate and ten thousand gold coins, and assigned him Brettel City as his territory.

Han Shuo received the title and authority to govern Brettel City, a strategically important but impoverished and chaotic frontier city. After learning about his new estate and meeting Lawrence and Phoebe, he said he planned to make Brettel even more chaotic.

• Candida explained Brettel City's condition and told Han Shuo that its documents and thirty thousand guards would come under his authority.
• Han Shuo arrived at his estate, where Callas briefed him on its staff, visitors, and gifts.
• Han Shuo asked Callas to bring Lawrence and Phoebe to him and turn away other visitors.
• Lawrence and Phoebe told Han Shuo that Cameron's losses had ended the crisis facing Buster.
• Lawrence warned Han Shuo that Brettel City's raiders, weak defenses, and declining trade would make it difficult to govern.
• Han Shuo assured Lawrence he had plans for Brettel City and said he would make it even more chaotic.

Han Shuo reunited with Phoebe, received the rare materials he needed and three hundred thousand gold coins, then traveled to Sun Radiance Valley to plant the Water Armored Corpse. He left the Fire Armored Corpse’s delayed emergence unresolved and ended the chapter channeling the Water-Extreme Land’s energy into a new zombie.

• Phoebe told Han Shuo she needed to stay behind to strengthen the Buster Trading Company and gave him the missing materials and a Crystal Card holding three hundred thousand gold coins.
• After Phoebe left the next morning, Han Shuo hid the Magic Wand in his residence’s underground chamber and went through the Death Cemetery’s Teleportation Array.
• Han Shuo sensed that the Fire Armored Corpse still had not emerged and speculated that the Fire Lotus or the Flame Lord might be affecting it.
• Han Shuo visited Soul Annihilation’s base and learned from Grant that Trunks and Gilbert were away on a mission and the mercenary group was expanding amid the fighting in Sun Radiance Valley.
• Han Shuo reached the Water-Extreme Land, summoned Little Skeleton, and began using its primal water energy and the collected materials to transform an ordinary zombie.

Han Shuo learned that the Church of Light had sent Temple Knights to target him and uncovered Edwin and Loretta’s plan to seize the Mithril Mine. After returning to the Death Cemetery, he reunited with Fanny, who asked him to become an honorary teacher and demanded answers about his power and past.

• Han Shuo dismissed the Shura Illusion Soul Formation, spoke with Edwin and Belinda, and refused to join the Calamity Church while learning that Temple Knights were headed to Brettel City for him.
• Han Shuo secretly followed Edwin and Belinda with the Three Yin Demons and discovered that they were coordinating with Loretta to bring Calamity Church Death God Guards to help seize the Mithril Mine from the Church of Light.
• Han Shuo learned from Grant that Trunks and Gilbert were still away, then returned to the Death Cemetery.
• Fanny confronted Han Shuo for breaking his promise, and he agreed to become an honorary teacher in the Necromancy Department.
• Fanny questioned Han Shuo about killing Lio Kane, becoming a Necromancy Archmage, and what else he had concealed from her.

Han Shuo secretly prepared to destroy the forces gathered around the mithril mine, arranging hidden chambers beneath the valley and obtaining explosives from Phoebe. He also made progress understanding the Soul Tremor spell before returning to the valley with the explosives.

• Han Shuo asked Phoebe to secretly obtain powerful explosives, then used the Earth Armor Zombie to dig concealed chambers beneath the mithril valley.
• Han Shuo watched the three forces guarding the mine and planned to destroy them when the valley became the site of a major battle.
• In the Death Cemetery, Han Shuo studied Soul Tremor and used his understanding of divine consciousness to produce a wave-like mental attack.
• Han Shuo returned to Phoebe, collected the explosives she had secretly gathered, and reassured her that Brettel City was not his target.
• Han Shuo hurried back toward the mithril valley carrying the explosives.

Han Shuo warned the three factions guarding the Mithril Mine, prompting their leaders to rush back while he waited for the coming attack. Loretta, Edwin, and the minor factions began their assault on the weakened defenders as Florida, Adam Monroe, and Qatar raced toward the valley.

• Edwin led three hundred Death God Guards toward the Mithril Mine, followed by Loretta's Jialuo Mercenary Group and fighters from ten minor factions.
• Arthur sensed something unusual outside the valley but found nothing and returned to his tent.
• Han Shuo delivered warning letters to the three major factions, then hid nearby and watched through the Three Yin Demons.
• Florida, Adam Monroe, and Qatar assembled their forces and hurried toward the Mithril Mine after receiving the warnings.
• Loretta promised the minor factions a share of the mine and the three factions' territory if they helped him win.
• Edwin ordered the Death God Guards to charge through the mist and kill the sleeping defenders while the three leaders were still on their way.

A rockslide ruined the Death God Guards’ planned sneak attack on the forces in the valley, turning it into a brutal battle. As Han Shuo watched and gathered the power of the dead, reinforcements arrived and trapped Loretta’s forces.

• A sudden gale triggered a rockslide that woke the mercenaries and exposed the Death God Guards as they entered the valley.
• Edwin and Loretta ordered the Death God Guards to charge, and the defenders met them with spells and arrows that their magic-resistant armor largely withstood.
• The Death God Guards broke through the defenses and slaughtered mercenaries while Han Shuo watched from a cliff and absorbed the lingering power of the dead.
• Edwin spotted a large force approaching, and Loretta learned that Orcs were among the reinforcements.
• Adam Monroe arrived on a Fire Phoenix as three forces converged outside the valley, blocking Loretta’s escape route and forcing him to order his men to fight for their lives.

Han Shuo watched the forces in Sun Radiance Valley slaughter one another and absorbed their baleful energy until he risked losing control. He ordered the Earth Armor Zombie to detonate explosives, leaving the surviving factions fleeing and fighting as Han Shuo neared a breakthrough and the Demon-Slaying Edge absorbed the energies above the valley.

• Han Shuo secretly absorbed energy from the deaths as Loretta’s forces and the Monroe family fought, while Adam Monroe watched his son die rather than risk approaching.
• Florida and Qatar’s forces arrived, turning the battle into a larger massacre that left corpses covering the valley.
• As the battle’s death toll mounted, blood-red mist spread over the valley and Han Shuo struggled to suppress his bloodlust.
• Han Shuo ordered the Earth Armor Zombie to detonate explosives, triggering blasts and falling rocks that killed many fighters and forced the survivors to flee.
• Loretta, Florida, and the other leaders led their forces out of the collapsing valley, but their troops continued fighting as they escaped.
• Han Shuo glowed with baleful energy on the verge of a breakthrough, while the Demon-Slaying Edge hovered over the valley and absorbed the energy.

Han Shuo absorbed the souls of the dead in Sun Radiance Valley and broke through to the Demon Division Stage. Meanwhile, the valley’s surviving faction leaders gathered to identify the culprit, and Trunks’s newfound strength made Florida back down from accusing him.

• Han Shuo absorbed the fallen fighters’ soul energy as the Demon-Slaying Edge grew more ferocious.
• Over twelve days, blood clouds formed twelve fierce demons that returned to Han Shuo, who declared he had reached the Demon Division Stage.
• Little Skeleton, the Earth Armor Zombie, and the Wooden Armored Corpse guarded Han Shuo and killed scouts sent into the valley.
• Han Shuo left the collapsed valley, and the leaders of Sun Radiance Valley gathered to discuss the massacre and search for its mastermind.
• Florida accused Trunks of benefiting from the massacre, but Trunks revealed his Great Swordmaster strength and challenged him to a duel.
• Florida refused to fight Trunks, and the gathered leaders recognized that he feared him.

The factions of Sun Radiance Valley agreed to suspend their hostilities and search for the hidden mastermind, while Trunks used the search to recruit for the Soul Annihilation Mercenary Group. Han Shuo traveled to Brettel City and arrived at his impoverished new territory.

• Loretta proposed that the factions set aside their grudges and give control of Sun Radiance Valley to whoever uncovered the mastermind first.
• Adam Monroe, Qatar, the smaller factions, Trunks, and a reluctant Florida agreed to the truce and a witnessed agreement.
• Han Shuo left Sun Radiance Valley after meeting with Trunks, who publicly led the search while secretly recruiting men.
• Seven days later, Han Shuo returned to Osen City, gave his steward instructions, and secretly traveled through the Dark Curtain's Teleportation Array.
• Han Shuo and Chester journeyed from Sea Mist City toward Brettel City, where they witnessed poverty and violence along the road.
• Han Shuo arrived at Brettel City's open gates and reflected that he had finally reached his territory.