Chapter Summaries

Han Shuo used the Forest Trolls’ belief that Little Skeleton was Daddala’s avatar to turn their threatened attack on the Dwarves into an escort to their sacred land. The procession entered the Dark Forest’s middle reaches, where Han Shuo learned the Forest Trolls feared its powerful creatures and inhabitants.

• The Forest Trolls mistook Little Skeleton for their god Daddala, and Han Shuo urged the Dwarves and Elves to leave safely.
• Han Shuo had Little Skeleton pose as Daddala and presented himself as the god’s emissary, using a threat to make the old Forest Trolls Priest accept him.
• The old Forest Trolls Priest explained that the tribe had come to escort Daddala to their sacred land and offer him its ancient treasures.
• The Forest Trolls carried Little Skeleton in a jeweled palanquin and led Han Shuo deeper into the Dark Forest.
• As they entered the middle reaches, the old Forest Trolls Priest warned Han Shuo about powerful magical beasts, including a Mountain Giant and a Two-Headed Dragon.

Han Shuo followed the Forest Trolls to their sacred ground, where he discovered a Wood-Extreme Land and Little Skeleton found a purple eye inside the statue of Daddala. After Little Skeleton put the eye into his own socket, its power attacked them both until Han Shuo ordered him to wear the statue’s eye patch, which stopped the invasion.

• Han Shuo reached the Forest Trolls’ settlement and followed their priest by raft to a lush sacred ground, recognizing it as a Wood-Extreme Land.
• The priest brought Han Shuo and Little Skeleton to the elevated sacred palace, where they found a huge statue of Daddala surrounded by treasures.
• Little Skeleton removed the statue’s eye patch, revealing a glowing purple eye, then gouged out the eye and inserted it into his own socket.
• The Purple Demon Eye unleashed a strange energy that caused Little Skeleton and Han Shuo to convulse in pain, and Little Skeleton could not remove it.
• Han Shuo ordered Little Skeleton to put the eye patch back on, and the invading power vanished; he warned Little Skeleton never to remove it again.

Han Shuo claimed the Forest Trolls’ treasure and used Little Skeleton’s identity as Daddala to stop them from plundering the Dwarves and consider redirecting their raids toward other targets. As Han Shuo and Little Skeleton explored the Wood-Extreme Land, a Harpy began circling them, and six young adventurers approached while she watched from above.

• Han Shuo convinced the old Forest Troll priest that Little Skeleton had reclaimed Daddala’s Purple Demon Eye, then took about a third of the treasure from the room.
• Han Shuo decided to use the Forest Trolls’ plundering habits against Goblins, Ogres, or enemy merchant caravans, and ordered them to leave the Dwarves alone.
• Han Shuo left with Little Skeleton, explored the surrounding Wood-Extreme Land, and headed back along the riverbank.
• Han Shuo caught and roasted two fish, attracting a Harpy that repeatedly swooped overhead while Little Skeleton waited for permission to attack.
• Six young adventurers spotted Han Shuo and approached as he realized the Harpy had originally been targeting them.

Han Shuo killed a harpy that had been stalking him, then learned that Odyssey’s group was searching the Dark Forest for the brain-shaped Dagmar Fruit. Recognizing that it might be the Sacred Brain Fruit from Chu Canglan’s memories, Han Shuo asked to join their search, surprising the adventurers.

• Han Shuo declined Odyssey and Afra’s offer to travel together and continued alone toward the Death Cemetery as the group followed at a distance.
• When the harpy attacked, Han Shuo dodged her claws, struck her with the Demon-Slaying Edge, and killed her with a crossbow bolt.
• Han Shuo harvested the harpy’s Magic Beast Core and iron claws, then accepted Odyssey’s congratulations.
• Odyssey explained that the group had been commissioned to find the brain-shaped Dagmar Fruit in the southern Dark Forest.
• Han Shuo recognized the fruit’s description as matching the Sacred Brain Fruit and asked to join the search.

Han Shuo joined Odyssey’s party to search the Dark Forest for Dagmar Fruit and traveled with them into its depths. After the group killed a wounded Two-Headed Dragon, Han Shuo warned that the creature’s pursuer was approaching and that they could not defeat it.

• Han Shuo agreed to join Odyssey’s expedition and asked to receive a Dagmar Fruit if they found any.
• Odyssey led the seven-person group deeper into the Dark Forest, and Han Shuo guided them around the Forest Trolls’ sacred ground.
• While the others slept at their riverside camp, Han Shuo cultivated until his Yuan Demons detected a wounded Two-Headed Dragon approaching.
• Han Shuo woke the party, and the adventurers prepared an ambush for the injured beast.
• The party attacked the Two-Headed Dragon together and killed it before it could spray much venom.
• As the adventurers approached the corpse to claim its spoils, Han Shuo sensed the creature’s pursuer and urged everyone to flee.

Han Shuo led the party to hide from an enraged Unicorn, then returned to claim the Two-Headed Dragon’s spoils. When Trunks tried to take the corpse, Han Shuo ignored Odyssey’s warning and fired at him, leaving their confrontation unresolved.

• Han Shuo led the six adventurers to a hollow tree after sensing that a Unicorn was pursuing the Two-Headed Dragon.
• The Unicorn inspected the dead dragon, found it motionless, and sped away without noticing Han Shuo’s party.
• Han Shuo and the others left their hiding place to collect the Two-Headed Dragon’s spoils, but Trunks arrived on a Manticore and claimed the corpse.
• Han Shuo warned Trunks not to take the spoils, and Trunks ignored him and began removing the dragon’s venomous fangs.
• Odyssey identified Trunks and urged Han Shuo to let him have the dragon, but Han Shuo fired his crossbow at Trunks, who dodged the bolt.

Han Shuo and Trunks clashed after Han Shuo attacked him to stop him from taking the Two-Headed Dragon, and Trunks left after Han Shuo and Odyssey’s group fought back. As they traveled deeper into the Dark Forest, Han Shuo predicted Trunks would attack that night and prepared the group to counter his ambush.

• Han Shuo fired twice at Trunks, then met his Sword Master battle aura with the Demon-Slaying Edge and badly injured his right arm.
• Odyssey and the other adventurers surrounded Han Shuo and attacked Trunks, who mounted his Manticore and departed after warning that he would return.
• The group collected the Two-Headed Dragon’s fangs and Magic Beast Core, which Han Shuo gave to Odyssey, then continued south into the Dark Forest.
• Han Shuo explained that his Yuan Demons could detect approaching threats and assured the group Trunks could not ambush them; his arm healed completely over the next two days.
• Han Shuo warned that Trunks was about to attack that night and told the group to prepare to follow his instructions.

Han Shuo and the adventurers turned Trunks’s planned ambush against him, using Han Shuo’s hidden surveillance to locate and wound him. After the Manticore fled and Trunks escaped in another direction, Han Shuo pursued the injured attacker.

• Han Shuo warned Odyssey that Trunks was nearby and told the group to wait until he attacked.
• Trunks sprang his ambush, but Han Shuo guided the adventurers’ attacks and they repeatedly struck Trunks despite his attempts to hide.
• The Manticore charged the group, and Han Shuo used the Demon-Slaying Edge to wound it while the others fought to hold it back.
• Trunks whistled for the injured Manticore to retreat, then fled in the opposite direction.
• After Odyssey recovered from the Manticore’s blow, Han Shuo chased after Trunks.

Han Shuo pursued and defeated the wounded Trunks, then crippled his hands and feet rather than kill him. Trunks promised to guide Han Shuo to the Dagmar Fruit, and Han Shuo agreed to spare him in exchange for his help.

• Han Shuo chased Trunks through the Dark Forest until blood loss forced Trunks to stop and face him.
• Han Shuo fired a crossbow bolt, but Trunks dodged it and attacked with his Dragon-Binding Slash.
• The Demon-Slaying Edge defended Han Shuo from Trunks's attack, and Han Shuo overwhelmed Trunks with a barrage of blows.
• Trunks offered to help Han Shuo and promised not to seek revenge, but Han Shuo stabbed his hands and feet to prevent him from posing an immediate threat.
• Han Shuo told Trunks he had come to find the Dagmar Fruit, and Trunks offered to lead him to it if Han Shuo spared him.
• Han Shuo accepted Trunks's offer and agreed to the deal.

Han Shuo returned to the adventurers’ camp with the wounded Trunks, whose knowledge could lead them to the Dagmar Fruit. When the group demanded Trunks’s life for injuring Odyssey, Trunks offered to treat Odyssey and said Gorgon blood could prevent lasting damage.

• After Trunks swore not to ambush him again, Han Shuo agreed to stop making things difficult for him, and they began the slow journey back to camp.
• Han Shuo returned with Trunks, and the adventurers lowered their weapons after Han Shuo told them Trunks no longer posed a threat.
• Gordon and Nia challenged Han Shuo to choose between finding the Dagmar Fruit and avenging Odyssey, but Trunks offered to treat Odyssey’s injuries.
• Trunks applied medicine to Odyssey’s wound and explained that Gorgon blood could heal it without lasting damage.
• Han Shuo proposed that they rely on Trunks to find the Gorgon, and Afra and Gordon agreed.

Han Shuo and the others encountered Archdruid Caspian, who reclaimed his Divine Wood Scepter from Trunks and treated Odyssey’s wounds. Trunks led the group deeper into the Dark Forest, where they reached a swamp said to hold the Dagmar Fruit and a Gorgon.

• Han Shuo warned the group to use torches to approach a pond whose dangerous algae could drag them underwater, and Trunks summoned his Manticore.
• Han Shuo spotted Archdruid Caspian approaching, and Caspian trapped Trunks and the Manticore with animated plants.
• Trunks returned Caspian’s Divine Wood Scepter, and Caspian gave him Essence of a Hundred Flowers in exchange.
• At Nia’s request, Caspian treated Odyssey with Nature’s Blessing and Life Water, and he confirmed that Gorgon blood could help Odyssey recover completely.
• Caspian departed, and Trunks led the group onward until they reached a swamp where the Dagmar Fruit and a Gorgon were said to be found.

Han Shuo and the others waited for the Gorgon to lure prey out toward the swamp, planning to kill the prey and force the monster to hunt elsewhere. After they defeated the creatures drawn by its song and Han Shuo resisted its enchantment, the Gorgon finally emerged from the swamp.

• Han Shuo, Trunks, and the others prepared traps around the swamp and waited for the Gorgon to use its alluring voice.
• On the third day, Han Shuo's Yuan Demon spotted the Gorgon, and the group killed the low-level magical beasts its song drew toward the swamp.
• Han Shuo removed his earplugs to test his will against the Gorgon's voice, briefly imagined Fanny calling him, then overcame the enchantment.
• Han Shuo, Trunks, Nia, the mages, and the Manticore killed the approaching magical beasts and prevented two Frost Flying Eagles from reaching the swamp.
• Han Shuo carried away a bewitched female elf who was heading into the swamp, and the Gorgon stopped calling when no prey approached.
• The Gorgon finally emerged from the swamp after its attempts to lure prey failed.

Han Shuo and Trunks led the adventurers in ambushing the Gorgon after it left the swamp to hunt. Their attacks overwhelmed the beast, and its resistance faded as it was badly wounded.

• Han Shuo warned the group that the Gorgon was leaving the swamp, while the female elf attacked him before Nia calmed her and urged her to retreat.
• Trunks positioned the adventurers around a trap and assigned Han Shuo to help block the Gorgon's retreat.
• The Gorgon left the swamp and approached the trap, but it dodged the falling log and survived the first round of attacks from Afra, Nia, and the others.
• Han Shuo and Trunks attacked the Gorgon as it tried to return to the swamp, but its snake-like hair blocked their blows.
• Trunks, the Manticore, Han Shuo, and the other adventurers attacked together; Han Shuo severed the Gorgon's snake hair, and the wounded beast's resistance weakened until it grew nearly still.

Han Shuo found the Dagmar Fruit in the swamp but needed a way to reach it. He fashioned a glider from a tent and prepared to launch himself across the mire with Angelica’s help.

• Trunks harvested the Gorgon’s Magic Beast Core and blood essence, and Han Shuo gave the core and part of the blood to Afra to distribute among the group.
• Han Shuo sent his three Yuan Demons through the swamp and located the human-shaped Dagmar Fruit in the central man-eating plants.
• Trunks proposed swinging across the swamp on a tree branch but warned that the group could not reach or retrieve the fruit that way.
• Han Shuo asked Angelica to cast a Gale spell as he left a branch, then made a crude glider from a tent and ropes.
• Han Shuo climbed a tall tree with the glider, and Angelica agreed to cast the spell when he launched.

Han Shuo crossed the swamp with Angelica’s help and retrieved the Dagmar Fruit, but mercenaries ambushed him as he neared the opposite bank. Burned and wounded, he landed and faced the attackers as Trunks and the others rushed to help.

• Han Shuo used a glider and Angelica’s Fierce Wind Technique to cross the swamp while the Demon-Slaying Edge cleared a path through the man-eating plants.
• Han Shuo looped a noose around the Dagmar Fruit and pulled it free, briefly recovering from the poisonous fumes with Demonic Essence.
• As Han Shuo approached the opposite bank, ambushers attacked with flaming arrows and a giant mud hand.
• Han Shuo deflected the arrows but was struck in the calf, and the glider caught fire; he stored the Dagmar Fruit in his Spatial Ring.
• Trunks charged the ambushers with his sword as Afra and the other adventurers hurried over, while the Demon-Slaying Edge destroyed the mud hand and blocked another volley.
• Han Shuo landed on the opposite bank with severe burns, pulled the arrow from his calf, and faced the ambushers with murderous anger.

Han Shuo’s unstable Soul Molding Realm transformation sent him into a savage demonic frenzy, and he attacked the bandits who threatened his companions. After killing several pursuers, he exhausted his demonic essence and collapsed, leaving one enemy swordsman advancing on him.

• Rian and Anglu demanded the group’s belongings and the three women, prompting Han Shuo and his companions to prepare to fight.
• Han Shuo transformed into a demonic state, rushed Anglu, and brutally killed him while the Demon-Slaying Edge attacked alongside him.
• Trunks and the others joined the battle, and the surviving attackers fled in several directions after recognizing Trunks and witnessing Han Shuo’s violence.
• Han Shuo pursued Rian’s group and killed the Lightning Element High Mage, then severely wounded one Intermediate Swordsman before collapsing from exhaustion.
• The sole remaining Intermediate Swordsman approached the helpless Han Shuo with his sword.

Han Shuo survived the ambush by revealing his necromancy and having Little Skeleton defeat the attackers, then recovered while traveling with Trunks and Odyssey’s group. Near the Forest Trolls’ territory, he spotted the Medivh Merchant Guild’s party and began considering how to deal with them.

• Feilangsi tried to kill the weakened Han Shuo for his treasures, but Han Shuo summoned Little Skeleton, who killed Feilangsi and the other wounded Swordsman.
• Han Shuo gathered the attackers’ valuables, summoned undead for protection, and used his Yuan Demons to find Trunks and the others.
• Trunks and the group reached Han Shuo, and he explained that an uncontrollable martial state had caused his earlier violence.
• Trunks agreed to escort Han Shuo and the group to safety after Han Shuo promised him a favor, while Odyssey and the others let Han Shuo keep all three Dagmar Fruit.
• Han Shuo recovered rapidly as the group retraced their route, and his Yuan Demon spotted Lian traveling with a large Medivh Merchant Guild party near the Forest Trolls’ territory.

Han Shuo enlisted the Forest Trolls to ambush the Medivh Merchant Guild, intending to rob them and confront Rian. When the guild’s dark Archmage devastated the Trolls, Han Shuo called on Trunks to distract her, then pointed to Little Skeleton as the Trolls’ god Daddala.

• Han Shuo parted ways with Odyssey and his companions, then convinced Trunks to follow the Medivh Merchant Guild and help deal with its Archmage.
• Han Shuo summoned Little Skeleton and ordered the Forest Trolls to prepare a raid on the guild, leading hundreds of them to set an ambush in a valley.
• The Forest Trolls trapped and surrounded the Medivh Merchant Guild caravan, and Han Shuo rejected the Archmage’s offer of ten thousand gold coins, ordering the Trolls to take everything and kill anyone who resisted.
• The female dark Archmage used Demon Entanglement to kill and dissolve several Forest Troll Warriors as the battle began.
• Han Shuo signaled Trunks, who charged the Archmage but was held back by the guild’s guards while she continued attacking the Trolls.
• When the old Priest asked what to do, Han Shuo pointed out Little Skeleton as the great god Daddala.

Han Shuo led the Forest Trolls to defeat the Medivh Merchant Guild’s convoy, using Little Skeleton to neutralize the dark Archmage Emily while Trunks pursued the earth High Mage Rian. After the battle, Han Shuo confronted the captured Emily and demanded a reason to spare her.

• Little Skeleton killed an Intermediate Swordsman and resisted Emily’s dark spells, rallying the Forest Trolls to attack the guild’s guards.
• Emily fled from Little Skeleton, but Han Shuo directed the Troll Hunters’ volleys and the Forest Trolls overwhelmed the convoy as the merchants scattered.
• Han Shuo revealed himself to Rian, and Trunks took over the pursuit after Rian raised an Earth Wall and ran.
• Little Skeleton and the Forest Trolls trapped Emily in a net; after she claimed she had something Han Shuo needed, Han Shuo ordered them to capture her alive.
• The fighting ended, and Trunks returned to find the Forest Trolls deferential to Han Shuo; Han Shuo promised to explain before demanding that Emily give him a reason to spare her.

Han Shuo spared Emily after she cursed him, then returned with the Forest Trolls to their village and took control of the spoils from the Medivh Merchant Caravan. He left Trunks to train in the Dark Forest and took Emily away from the village, where he frightened her beside a pond.

• Emily kissed Han Shuo and placed a Curse Spell on him, so Trunks advised him to keep her alive until they could lift it.
• Han Shuo ordered the Forest Trolls to gag Emily, guard her, and gather the caravan’s spoils, then told Trunks he was a Necromancer and parted with him.
• The Forest Trolls brought five warehouses of luxuries, warhorses, and siege equipment back to their village, and Han Shuo ordered them to stop trading with merchants and raiding for now.
• Han Shuo took Emily away from the village to keep its location secret, removed her blindfold and gag beside a pond, and teased her by pretending he meant to assault her.