Chapter Summaries

Han Shuo discovered that the valley held a powerful Godhunter Alliance stronghold and warned the leaders of Shadow City, Phantom City, and Veilshade City. After the three cities assembled four hundred Divine Guards, the force reached the valley, though Eugene still doubted Han Shuo’s warning.

• Han Shuo and Andrina watched Tailin and the Godhunters ambush and kill a squad of Divine Guards from Phantom City, then suspected Divine Grace Pharmacy supplied the Godhunters with poison potions.
• Han Shuo and Andrina went to Tianlan Fortress, where Han Shuo told Heitian and Qinglin about the stronghold, its three known middle-stage Upper God leaders, and the possibility of a late-stage Upper God leader.
• Heitian summoned Jifei from Phantom City and Eugene from Veilshade City, but Eugene accused Han Shuo of lying and defended his friend Hasgreen, the owner of Divine Grace Pharmacy.
• Han Shuo and the three cities’ Divine Guard leaders assembled four hundred guards and marched toward the valley; on the twelfth day, they reached its outskirts.

Han Shuo led the Divine Guards into a Godhunter base without being detected, and the group attacked the Godhunters gathered in caves around a poisonous pool. Han Shuo identified the pool’s poison as the kind made by Divine Grace Pharmacy and suspected its owner, Hasgreen, was connected to the Godhunters.

• Han Shuo mapped the valley’s hidden lookouts and defensive towers, then led Qinglin, Heitian, Jifei, and Andrina past them without raising an alarm.
• Qinglin killed the first lookout, the group silently eliminated seven more Godhunters, and Andrina disabled the Energy Towers as they advanced to the cold pool and its caves.
• Han Shuo asked Jifei to bring Eugene and his Divine Guards to the cave-filled valley, and Qinglin ordered the forces to take positions before Heitian attacked the largest cave with his spear.
• Qinglin’s wind attack and the Divine Guards’ ranged assault killed many Godhunters, while several fell into the pool and dissolved into skeletons.
• Han Shuo recognized the poison in the pool as a product of Divine Grace Pharmacy and asked whether Hasgreen had white hair and translucent jade-like skin, prompting Eugene to ask how Han Shuo had met him.

Han Shuo and the Divine Guards pursued the Godhunters through the caves beneath the Cold Pool, where they encountered a thousand-zhang giant who sealed their divine powers and demanded their submission. Han Shuo recognized the being from a vision in the Death Cemetery as Heitian’s attack failed, leaving the group trapped before a terrifying enemy.

• Han Shuo confirmed that Hasgreen owned the Divine Grace Pharmacy and warned Eugene that Hasgreen was colluding with the Godhunters, but Eugene dismissed the accusation.
• Qinglin led the group toward the caves, where the Godhunters used a hundredfold gravity trap; Han Shuo’s Green Phosphorus Sand burned Tailin and helped Andrina and the others cross the Cold Pool.
• Han Shuo tracked Brost, Gallus, and Tailin through the passages, then led Qinglin, Heitian, Andrina, and Jifei down into an enormous underground palace.
• A thousand-zhang giant appeared above the palace, sealed Han Shuo’s death and darkness powers, and demanded that everyone submit or die.
• Han Shuo recognized the giant from his earlier vision in the Death Cemetery, while Heitian’s scroll attack shattered and the giant blasted him away.

After Andrina destroyed the crystal that held the giant, Han Shuo absorbed the savage power that had nearly killed Heitian and survived by using his Heavenly Demon Indestructible Body. With the Cauldron Spirit’s help, he transferred the power into his Destruction Element External Incarnation, which began advancing toward the Middle God realm.

• Andrina shattered the energy crystal, making the thousand-zhang giant vanish, then collapsed from her injuries.
• Han Shuo revived Andrina by placing her in an Energy Tower and feeding it Crystal Coins, while Qinglin discovered that Heitian was still being destroyed by the giant’s power.
• When Han Shuo examined Heitian, the destructive power flowed into Han Shuo’s body and began breaking his bones and meridians.
• Han Shuo sent Qinglin and Jifei away, then used the Heavenly Demon Indestructible Body to withstand the power’s assault.
• The Cauldron Spirit subdued the power’s consciousness and guided it into Han Shuo’s Destruction Element External Incarnation.
• Han Shuo’s External Incarnation absorbed the power and its knowledge of the Law of Destruction, beginning a breakthrough toward the Middle God realm.

Han Shuo recovered from his injuries as his Destruction-law External Incarnation broke through to the Middle God realm and his body grew stronger. After discovering that the cold pool’s water was extraordinarily corrosive, he collected samples and sent the Cauldron Spirit to investigate its depths.

• Han Shuo’s Destruction-law External Incarnation broke through to the Middle God realm while a strand of strange power continued merging with him.
• Han Shuo’s broken body healed, and the Cauldron Spirit told him his Heavenly Demon Indestructible Body had reached its second level.
• Han Shuo searched the ruined underground palace, found nothing of value, and left after discovering the Divine Guards and Godhunters were gone.
• Han Shuo tested the cold pool’s water, learned it corroded living creatures far more than lifeless objects, and filled several bottles with it.
• Han Shuo sent the Cauldron Spirit into the pool to investigate why its water had become so corrosive.

Han Shuo returned to Tianlan Fortress after taking seventeen powerful fangs from the Cold Pool, but Qinglin and Heitian were still missing, and he feared they had not survived. They eventually returned and told him Andrina’s mother had taken her home, leaving Han Shuo relieved that Andrina was safe but anxious about her sudden departure.

• The Cauldron Spirit collected seventeen black fangs from the Cold Pool, and Han Shuo stored them before leaving for Tianlan Fortress.
• After Han Shuo left, the pool lost its blackness and corrosive chill, and Hasgreen ordered his people to sever all ties with the Godhunters.
• Han Shuo learned Qinglin and Heitian had been gone for nearly two months and waited more than ten days for their return.
• A powerful woman appeared before Qinglin, Heitian, Jifei, and Eugene, identified herself as Andrina’s mother, and took Andrina away.
• Qinglin and Heitian returned to Tianlan Fortress and learned Han Shuo was alive, while Han Shuo demanded to know where Andrina was.
• Qinglin told Han Shuo that Andrina’s mother had taken her home.

After the Godhunter leader’s attack, Han Shuo and his companions reported the incident to Wallace and learned that the leader was likely a Main God without a divine spark. Andrei then suggested that Andrina’s mother might be the Goddess of Fate, leaving Han Shuo and the others stunned.

• Han Shuo, Qinglin, and Heitian left Tianlan Fortress and returned to Shadow City to report the valley incident to Wallace.
• Qinglin and Heitian recounted the Godhunter leader’s overwhelming power, and Wallace concluded that the leader was a Main God.
• Andrei explained the difference between Main Gods who possessed divine sparks and those who had reached Main God strength without one.
• Wallace ended the discussion as taboo, then left to visit the Darkness Grand Temple and put Andrei in charge of Shadow City.
• Andrei questioned Han Shuo about Andrina and said her mother might be a true Main God who possessed a divine spark.
• Andrei identified the woman he suspected as the Goddess of Fate.

Han Shuo learned that Andrina might be the daughter of the Goddess of Fate, then spent seven years refining seventeen fangs into the Avici Godslaying Sword Formation. He returned to Shadow City to find his Qio Continent companions had grown powerful, with Blood Spirit, Bolands, and Gilbert standing out among them.

• Andrei told Han Shuo that Wallace planned to appoint him Divine Guard Captain of the Fifth Division and advised him to recruit followers.
• Phoebe and Emily reported that Celestial Pivot Pharmacy was thriving and that its Qio Continent members had advanced rapidly; they refused Han Shuo's advances until they reached Lower God.
• Han Shuo secluded himself in a valley and spent seven years refining seventeen fangs into flying swords and mastering the Avici Godslaying Sword Formation.
• Han Shuo returned to Shadow City and learned that everyone from Qio Continent had reached Lower God, while Almerick, Old Monster Stassom, and others had advanced to Lower God Late Stage.
• Blood Spirit had become Celestial Pivot Pharmacy's strongest fighter, Bolands had honed his killing intent through battles, and Gilbert had reached early-stage Lower God in darkness and defeated stronger opponents.

After seven years away, Han Shuo returned to Shadow City and learned that Celestial Pivot Pharmacy had grown into its largest medicine merchant. Wallace recognized the pharmacy as the Han Family and awarded it Berglas Fortress and the Rivers Family’s residences, though smaller families objected.

• Han Shuo examined Blood Spirit, Bolands, and Gilbert’s cultivation and found Gilbert’s combined demonic energy and darkness divine power unusually formidable.
• Celestial Pivot Pharmacy flourished under Phoebe’s management, and Andrei summoned Han Shuo to the Saint Family.
• Kamelita greeted Han Shuo and questioned him about the Godhunters’ valley, but he withheld details about the two main gods.
• Wallace designated Celestial Pivot Pharmacy as a new Shadow City family, and Han Shuo gave its family name as Han.
• Wallace announced that the Rivers Family had left Shadow City and that its former assets would be redistributed.
• Andrei assigned the Han Family Berglas Fortress and the Rivers Family’s residences, prompting objections from members of smaller families.

Han Shuo gained Berglas Fortress and the Rivers Family estate, then competed for the vacant Fifth Divine Guards Captaincy. Wallace made the position a contest to secure a newly discovered Energy Crystal mine, and Han Shuo prepared to leave for Berglas with three companions.

• Wallace overruled the protesting family patriarchs and confirmed that Han Shuo would receive Berglas Fortress and the Rivers Family estate for one million Black Crystal Coins.
• Andrei announced the vacancy in the Fifth Division, and Wallace named Han Shuo as a candidate before opposition led him to make the captaincy a contest to claim a large Energy Crystal mine for Shadow City.
• Wallace limited each contender to ten companions, barred other family forces and upper-god Divine Guards, and prohibited fighting among Shadow City's own people.
• Andrei privately told Han Shuo that Heitian was at Berglas Fortress and could share what he knew about the mine, while Wallace encouraged Han Shuo to prove himself.
• Han Shuo returned to the Celestial Pivot Pharmacy, told everyone about the new holdings and contest, instructed Phoebe to send one million Black Crystal Coins to the Saint Family, and summoned Blood Spirit, Bolands, and Gilbert.

Han Shuo arrived at Berglas Fortress with Blood Spirit, Bolands, and Gilbert, then learned that Shadow City’s Divine Guards had clashed with Eugene’s forces over an energy crystal mine. After meeting the battered Anita, Han Shuo led his companions to confront Eugene and gave Bolands permission to attack.

• Han Shuo chose Blood Spirit, Bolands, and Gilbert to accompany him to Berglas Fortress, which the City Lord had granted to his family.
• Han Shuo toured the fortress, met Heitian, and learned that a large energy crystal mine lay between Veilshade City and Dark Spirit City, where rival Divine Guards were gathering.
• Han Shuo traveled to the mountain and met Anita, who reported that Eugene’s forces had killed several Shadow City Divine Guards during a dispute over a mine.
• Han Shuo refused to wait for other contenders from Shadow City and ordered Anita to lead them to Eugene’s mine.
• After Eugene’s guards mocked their arrival, Han Shuo told Bolands to attack, adding, “Don’t make it too bloody!”

Han Shuo confronted Eugene over the mine and slaughtered Eugene’s Divine Guards with help from Bolands, Gilbert, and Blood Spirit. He unleashed the Avici Godslaying Sword Formation to kill Eugene, and the Cauldron Spirit seized Eugene’s upper-god divine soul.

• Bolands killed the two Divine Guards at the cave entrance, and Han Shuo ordered him to wait for the others to come outside.
• Eugene emerged from the cave, and Gilbert provoked him until Eugene sent several Divine Guards to attack.
• Gilbert wounded one attacker with a punch, Blood Spirit caused the man to bleed uncontrollably, and Bolands drove back the other attackers.
• Eugene ordered more than twenty Divine Guards to attack, but Han Shuo’s seventeen flying swords killed them all and turned their bodies to blood.
• Han Shuo’s sword formation killed Eugene, and the Cauldron Spirit captured Eugene’s divine soul for refining.

Han Shuo killed Eugene and Jiluofei, the Divine Guard Captains of Veilshade City and Dark Spirit City, while claiming the mine for the Han Family of Shadow City. He ordered his companions to eliminate the remaining witnesses, then planned to conceal the killings by claiming the captains had died fighting each other.

• The Cauldron Spirit absorbed Eugene's Divine Soul after Han Shuo killed Eugene and his party, alarming Anita over the consequences of a Divine Guard Captain's death.
• Deke led Han Shuo and the others to the mine, where Dark Spirit City guards were stationed and Jiluofei was working inside.
• Han Shuo ordered Bolands and Blood Spirit to attack the guards; they killed two, prompting Jiluofei and thirty-seven Divine Guards to emerge.
• After Gilbert claimed the mine for the Han Family and demanded that Jiluofei leave, Han Shuo attacked with his seventeen Flying Swords and killed him, absorbing his remaining Destruction Divine Power.
• Han Shuo told Anita and Deke to keep the killings secret and ordered them to collect the Spatial Rings and Energy Crystals while Blood Spirit, Gilbert, and Bolands hunted down the fleeing guards.
• Bolands returned and reported that all the fleeing Divine Guards had been dealt with.

Han Shuo secured the mine after killing Eugene and Jiluofei, then concealed his responsibility while Shadow City claimed the site and prepared to appoint him to the Fifth Division. He returned to Shadow City to find the Han Family established in its new estate and received orders to take up his post.

• Han Shuo and his companions finished covering up the deaths of Eugene, Jiluofei, and their Divine Guards, marked the mine with the Han Family emblem, and waited for the other competitors to arrive.
• The arriving competitors accepted that Han Shuo had claimed the mine, and Heitian and Qinglin later agreed to report that Eugene and Jiluofei had killed each other.
• Wallace ordered Heitian to secure the mine and maintain the cover story, then praised Han Shuo's conduct and instructed Andrei to prepare his appointment as Fifth Division Divine Guard Captain.
• Han Shuo returned to Berglas Fortress, gave Candida and the others energy crystals to strengthen the Han Family mansion, and delegated the fortress's management to them.
• After returning to Shadow City, Han Shuo reunited with Fanny, Phoebe, and the others at the Han Family estate, then received Andrei's documents and prepared to take charge of the Fifth Division.

Han Shuo took command of the Fifth Division and found it crippled by desertions and idleness. He expelled Lamont and the drunken guards who opposed him, then placed the remaining Divine Guards under his personal command as he began rebuilding the division.

• The Fifth Division had dwindled to fewer than two hundred members after Avery and most of its commanders and guards left, while Lamont waited in vain to be appointed captain.
• Han Shuo arrived at the Fifth Divine Guards Office with Blood Spirit, Bolands, Gilbert, Stassom, and Almerick and found the guards drinking and neglecting their duties.
• Two drunken guards challenged the newcomers, so Han Shuo ordered Bolands and Blood Spirit to break their arms and legs after they disrespected him.
• Lamont confronted Han Shuo and objected to his authority, but Han Shuo dismissed him and ordered the drunken guards in Lamont’s faction to leave the Fifth Division.
• Han Shuo assembled the roughly fifty sober guards who remained and kept their posts unchanged, assigning them all to the First Company under his personal command.

Han Shuo struggled to recruit Divine Guards for the understaffed Fifth Division, so Stassom and Almerick proposed using the upcoming competition between Shadow City’s seven divisions to build the Han Family’s reputation. Han Shuo committed to winning and began training the Fifth Division at Berglas Fortress in a dangerous formation that forced its guards to cooperate.

• Han Shuo found that the major families had already recruited most suitable candidates, leaving the Fifth Division with only thirty-odd recruits after a month.
• Stassom and Almerick urged Han Shuo to use the upcoming seven-division competition to raise the Han Family’s standing and secure the powerful privilege awarded to the overall winner.
• Han Shuo ordered the Fifth Division’s ninety-one guards to gather at Berglas Fortress and said he would train them personally for the competition.
• Han Shuo, Bolands, Blood Spirit, and Gilbert built and activated the Eight Desolations Separation and Reunion Purgatory Formation in a valley near the fortress.
• Candida brought the Fifth Division guards to the formation, and Barnard led his squad inside before the other squads followed.
• The formation attacked the guards with illusions and Demon Heads, terrifying them while forcing them to form defensive circles and improve their coordination.

Han Shuo trained the Fifth Division’s Divine Guards in the Eight Desolations Separation and Reunion Purgatory Formation while preparing them for the competition between the seven divisions. After meeting Heitian and Qinglin in Berglas Fortress, he went to Demons Peak to confront the Spider Goddess Lolth, whose territory now lay within his family’s lands.

• Han Shuo had the Cauldron Spirit intensify formation training, teach the Divine Guards cooperative magic arrays, and give Bolands, Blood Spirit, and Gilbert a place to train.
• After more than a month, Han Shuo returned to Berglas Fortress, where Heitian and Qinglin congratulated him and explained that the energy mine would be split among three cities, with Shadow City’s share divided between the Han Family and the Saint Family.
• Qinglin warned Han Shuo that Avery and Hasgreen were plotting against him, while Han Shuo confirmed that the Fifth Division would enter the upcoming competition.
• Han Shuo noticed Demons Peak on Berglas Fortress’s territory map and decided to visit Lolth, an old adversary who lived there.
• Lolth warned Han Shuo to leave her territory, but he entered Demons Peak and asked whether she remembered him.

Han Shuo entered Demons Peak to settle his old score with Lolth, the Spider Goddess, and fought her with his Flying Swords and Green Phosphorus Sand. After Lolth’s web trapped him and she fled, Han Shuo caught up with her and forced her to surrender and offer herself as his servant.

• Han Shuo changed his Divine Sense imprint to remind Lolth of their past encounter on the Qio Continent and entered Demons Peak despite her warning.
• Han Shuo provoked Lolth by recalling her past schemes and the Divine Crystals he had stolen, and Lolth attacked him with her claws and darkness Divine Domain.
• Han Shuo’s seventeen Flying Swords struck Lolth’s claws and pressured her defenses, while he burned her attacking spider swarm with Green Phosphorus Sand.
• Lolth trapped Han Shuo in her web, but his Heavenly Demon Indestructible Body withstood her silk attacks as his Flying Swords continued to wear down her Divine Power.
• Lolth fled Demons Peak, but Han Shuo freed himself, pursued her, and blocked her path before attacking again.
• Unable to defeat or escape Han Shuo, Lolth surrendered and offered to become his servant.

Han Shuo forced Lolth to surrender and established a Master-Servant Contract, making the Spider Goddess his servant. He took her toward Berglas Fortress and promised to free her after a hundred years if her service satisfied him.

• Han Shuo threatened Lolth with his Demon-Slaying Edge and seventeen flying swords, then confined the space to block her escape.
• Lolth opened her divine soul under the influence of Han Shuo's Soul-Seducing Demonic Sound, allowing him to establish a Master-Servant Contract.
• Lolth realized Han Shuo had taken control of her and rampaged before transforming into a human woman; Han Shuo ordered her to call him master.
• As they headed toward Berglas Fortress, Lolth explained that her escape technique would cost her divine power and all her hair.
• Han Shuo promised to dissolve the contract after a hundred years if Lolth pleased him, and she agreed to follow him.

Han Shuo returned to the valley, ended the Divine Guards’ training, and began moving the Eight Desolations Separation and Reunion Purgatory Formation to the Han Family residence. He then took Lolth to Veilshade City to kill Avery and Hasgreen, arriving at the city gates after eighteen days of travel.

• Han Shuo visited Berglas Fortress with Lolth, then went to the valley and learned from the Cauldron Spirit that Blood Spirit, Bolands, and Gilbert were progressing rapidly in the formation.
• After another half year of training, Han Shuo released the Divine Guards, whose strength and resolve had greatly improved, and Lolth knocked Gilbert down after he teased her.
• Han Shuo sent Barnard and the Divine Guards toward Shadow City, then had Blood Spirit, Bolands, and Gilbert dismantle the formation and return ahead of him.
• Han Shuo told Lolth he planned to kill enemies threatening his family and took her toward Veilshade City, where Avery and Hasgreen were staying.
• Han Shuo and Lolth crossed Veilshade City's territory and entered through its gates, where the guards treated Lolth respectfully because of her ancient Divine Token.