Chapter Summaries

Han Shuo refined an Earth Armor Zombie and advanced to the True Demon realm, gaining new control over his demon flames and greater confidence in facing Clark. He then reached the Forest Trolls’ settlement, where signs of battle, scarce food, and inadequate weapons suggested that their conflict with the Elves had begun.

• Han Shuo set up a formation in the Earth-Extreme Land, chose the strongest of six Zombie Warriors, and buried it in the Corpse Cave to absorb earth essence and become an Earth Armor Zombie.
• After leaving the Death Cemetery, Han Shuo consumed his last Sacred Brain Fruit and endured seven days of cultivation as his Demonic Nascent Soul formed, bringing him into the True Demon realm.
• Han Shuo tested his new powers by wielding the red and purple demon flames and sending the Demon-Slaying Edge through nearby trees and earth.
• Han Shuo traveled deeper into the Dark Forest and found signs that the Forest Trolls and Elves had fought, though he saw no Elves nearby.
• Forest Trolls Warriors welcomed Han Shuo and Little Skeleton into the settlement, where Han Shuo saw that the village had more fighters but lacked weapons and food.

Han Shuo returned to the Forest Trolls with supplies and learned that the Elves had attacked them for the winter. He arranged for the Trolls to hold off the Elves while he led five hundred Forest Trolls toward the Elven village to plunder it.

• Han Shuo reassured the Forest Trolls that Great God Daddala would not abandon them and gave them grain, warm clothing, and other supplies.
• Han Shuo ordered the Forest Trolls not to raid during winter unless he chose a suitable target, then questioned the old Priest about the Elven attack.
• The old Priest explained that the Elves had launched a probing attack and that Forest Troll tribes were gathering, potentially bringing their numbers to more than two thousand.
• Han Shuo proposed raiding the Elves' homes rather than killing their warriors, and the old Priest accepted his plan.
• More Forest Trolls arrived, and some stayed to confront the Elves while Han Shuo and Little Skeleton led five hundred Trolls toward the Elven village.

Han Shuo and the Forest Trolls found a Dark Elf settlement beneath a valley and learned that the family was under attack by a Black Dragon. He agreed to inspect the situation and led the Trolls underground with Dana and her people.

• Han Shuo used Life Detection to investigate a valley where the Forest Trolls believed surface Elves lived, but found no signs of life aboveground.
• A Forest Troll fell into a hidden underground passage, and Han Shuo detected many life signs below before Dark Elves emerged and confronted the group.
• The old Priest explained that the Forest Trolls had come to destroy Elves, while Dana said her Dark Elves shared their hatred of surface Elves.
• Dana offered gold, jewels, and the Black Dragon’s remains if Han Shuo and the Trolls helped kill the dragon.
• Han Shuo agreed to inspect the situation, then led the old Priest, Little Skeleton, and five hundred Forest Trolls into the underground world behind Dana.

Han Shuo and the Dark Elves prepared to lure a Black Dragon out of its swamp, while Han Shuo grew suspicious of Dana’s intentions and made his own plans. The dragon emerged and chased the young Dark Elves woman, leaving the confrontation about to begin.

• Dana explained that the Lizardmen had hired the Black Dragon to attack the Dark Elves, and Han Shuo questioned her about its weaknesses and their chances of defeating it.
• Han Shuo accepted two carts of gold and jewelry, but noticed a cold, mocking look in Dana’s eyes and became wary.
• Dana proposed that the Forest Trolls hold the front line, but Han Shuo refused and summoned undead creatures to serve as the meat shields instead.
• Han Shuo overheard Dana discussing plans against the Forest Trolls and secretly instructed the old Priest to prepare the Troll Chief for a different plan.
• A young Dark Elves woman approached the swamp and drew out the Black Dragon, which emerged and chased her while calling to her lewdly.

Han Shuo outmaneuvered Dana by sealing the Forest Trolls inside a valley and leaving the dark elves to face Gilbert alone. A dark elf sacrificed his life to wound the black dragon, and Han Shuo prepared to attack as Gilbert staggered, blinded and badly injured.

• Han Shuo sent his summoned Dark Creatures and the dark elves' forces against Gilbert, then ordered the Forest Trolls to retreat from the black dragon's flames.
• Han Shuo led the Forest Trolls to a prepared valley and had them seal its entrance with boulders before Dana and the dark elves could get inside.
• Han Shuo told Dana he was canceling their deal and leaving her forces to fight Gilbert, after realizing she had planned to let the dragon and Forest Trolls destroy each other.
• A male dark elf sacrificed his life to fire a magical arrow that enveloped Gilbert in black vapor and injured him, while the dragon's blind attacks killed many dark elves.
• Han Shuo told the old Priest to prepare to slay Gilbert as the wounded black dragon thrashed among the remaining dark elves.

Han Shuo’s forces ambushed the Dark Elves as they fought the wounded black dragon, then pursued them and subdued the dragon. The dragon, Gilbert, agreed to become Han Shuo’s servant through a Master-Servant Contract, and immediately demanded beautiful women.

• Han Shuo ordered the Troll Warriors to open the stone passage and attack the Dark Elves, killing dozens with a volley of spears and javelins.
• Dana ordered the surviving Dark Elves to retreat, and Han Shuo sent the Troll Warriors after them while Little Skeleton pursued the Dark Elf carrying the strange bow.
• Han Shuo ordered half the Forest Trolls to attack Gilbert, who was trying to escape to the swamp, and the Trolls wounded him until he begged for mercy and transformed into human form.
• Gilbert offered to enter a Master-Servant Contract with Han Shuo in exchange for treasure and beautiful women, and the old Priest urged Han Shuo to accept.
• Han Shuo agreed, Gilbert completed the contract, and he immediately asked his new master to find him beautiful women.

Han Shuo led his party out of the underground world after Dana escaped, while injured Gilbert recovered with Gorgon blood essence. Along the way, they met Lizardmen who rewarded Gilbert with crystals, which Han Shuo took for safekeeping as they continued toward the surface.

• The old Priest told Han Shuo that Dana had escaped with a third of the Dark Elves, so Han Shuo ordered the party to leave before she could return with reinforcements.
• Gilbert explained how he had helped the Lizardmen attack the Dark Elves and was wounded by a powerful arrow; Han Shuo gave him Gorgon blood essence to aid his recovery.
• Han Shuo guided the Forest Trolls through the caves from memory, and the old Priest praised Little Skeleton after Han Shuo jokingly credited their route to Daddala's guidance.
• Han Shuo spotted Lizardmen in a cave, and Gilbert recognized them as the ones who had promised to lead him out of the underground world.
• The Lizardmen gave Gilbert a chest of crystals and offered him three female Lizardmen; Gilbert accepted the crystals but refused the women.
• Han Shuo snatched the chest from Gilbert and put it in his Spatial Ring, then led the party onward toward the surface.

Han Shuo returned from the underground world, reunited with Emily in Warren City, and learned that the Dark Curtain suspected the Griffin Legion’s commander of plotting rebellion. He and Emily planned to find evidence linking the commander to stolen siege equipment, while Han Shuo also sought to kill Clark.

• Han Shuo returned to the Forest Troll village, learned that the trolls had driven off an elven attack, and left with Little Skeleton and Gilbert.
• Han Shuo stored Gilbert in the Death Cemetery, returned to Osen City, and followed Emily’s message to meet Chester at the Dark Curtain’s base.
• Han Shuo and Chester used the Dark Curtain’s Teleportation Array to reach Warren City and met Emily at an inn.
• Emily told Han Shuo that Bobby Aski, commander of the Griffin Legion, was suspected of rebellion and ties to the Kasi Empire.
• Emily explained that finding the siege equipment stolen from Madwin on the commander’s property could provide grounds for arrest.
• Han Shuo asked whether Clark was in Warren City and said he wanted to kill him.

Emily took Han Shuo to Warren City’s largest slave market, secretly owned by Griffin Legion commander Bobby Aski, to gather evidence against him. At the auction, Han Shuo recognized Lisa, the enslaved young lady of the ruined Addison Family.

• Emily warned Han Shuo to be careful about Clark and promised to tell him if Clark returned to Warren City.
• Han Shuo gave Emily a red agate necklace, and she took him and Chester by carriage to the slave market in southern Warren City.
• Emily explained that Bobby Aski secretly owned the market and that evidence of his slave-trading could help the Empire prosecute him.
• Emily led Han Shuo and Chester into a private auction box, where bidders competed for a powerful Barbarian.
• The auctioneer presented Lisa of the Addison Family as a slave, and Han Shuo saw her in a cage.

Han Shuo bought Lisa at the slave auction to save her from captivity, then met Lawrence, who had come to rescue his cousin. Lawrence was relieved to learn Lisa was already with Han Shuo and said he owed him a favor.

• Han Shuo learned from Emily that Bobby Aski had destroyed the Addison Family and framed them for treason.
• Han Shuo bid one thousand gold coins for Lisa, and Emily paid through a safer Crystal Card to conceal his identity.
• Han Shuo and his companions prepared to collect Lisa, but he spotted Lawrence arriving and went to meet him.
• Lawrence explained that he had come to rescue Lisa, believing she would otherwise fall into the hands of Kalfet.
• Han Shuo told Lawrence that Lisa was with him, and Lawrence thanked him for saving his cousin.

After Lisa’s family was slaughtered by Kalfet’s men, Han Shuo promised to help her take revenge and joined Lawrence’s plan to kill Kalfet. When they learned Clark had arrived at Kalfet’s house, Han Shuo went with the assassin Lachi to attempt to kill him.

• Lisa told Han Shuo and Lawrence that Kalfet had led the Griffin Legion’s men in killing her family, and she begged them to help her kill him.
• Han Shuo promised Lisa he would help, while Emily agreed the revenge fit their existing plans and urged him to investigate Lawrence’s background.
• Lawrence took Lisa to a protected house, then told Han Shuo that he planned to kill Kalfet, a loyal subordinate of Aski.
• Lachi reported that Clark had reached Kalfet’s house, and Lawrence assigned Lachi to attempt an assassination before deciding whether to attack together.
• Han Shuo offered to accompany Lachi, and the two set off across the rooftops toward Kalfet’s house.

Han Shuo and Lachi tried to ambush Clark, but discovered the carriage was a trap and fled when soldiers surrounded them. As Han Shuo escaped by flight, a powerful Necromancer attacked the officers, while Lachi remained missing.

• Han Shuo and Lachi listened outside Kalfet's hall and learned Clark was leaving, so they planned to attack him on the road.
• Lachi struck the passing carriage, destroying it and killing a stranger instead of Clark; Han Shuo recognized the ambush as a trap.
• Han Shuo and Lachi split up as soldiers closed in, and Han Shuo evaded arrows and escaped the encirclement using the Nine Heavens Demon Art.
• Clark and nearly a hundred soldiers searched the surrounding houses for Lachi while Han Shuo watched from a distance.
• A Necromancer arrived and unleashed undead warriors and bone arrows on the officers, prompting Kalfet to identify the attacker as an Archmage-level Necromancer.

Han Shuo helped kill Clark during the battle at Kalfet’s home, then escaped an unknown Necromancer who attacked both him and Lachi. He returned to Lawrence’s carriage and reported that Clark was dead and Lachi was moving to target Kalfet, leaving Lawrence pleased that Warren City would soon fall into chaos.

• A powerful Necromancer summoned Dark Creatures and disrupted the soldiers pursuing Lachi, while Clark charged toward him.
• Clark broke through the Necromancer’s defenses, but Lachi attacked Clark from hiding and knocked him off a rooftop.
• Han Shuo struck Clark with the Demon-Slaying Edge and killed him with the Mystic Ice Demon Flame Art.
• The Necromancer attacked Han Shuo and Lachi, then pursued Han Shuo until he reached Lawrence’s carriage.
• Han Shuo told Lawrence that Clark was dead and Lachi was heading toward Kalfet, and Lawrence celebrated the coming chaos in Warren City.

Emily revealed that Lawrence was secretly the emperor’s son and a potential successor to the throne, leaving Han Shuo to consider how the revelation could affect their relationship. After Han Shuo told Emily he had helped kill Clark, she invited him to exploit Warren City’s ensuing turmoil.

• Lawrence asked Han Shuo how to contact him, and Han Shuo gave him Emily’s inn address before returning to the Dark Curtain stronghold.
• Emily told Han Shuo that Lawrence was the emperor’s illegitimate third son, whose identity and possible succession threatened to stir conflict among the royal factions.
• Han Shuo assured Emily he understood how to handle Lawrence and revealed that he had helped kill Clark with assistance from an Archmage-level Necromancer.
• Emily reacted with surprise to Clark’s death and wondered which faction the Necromancer belonged to.
• Emily took Han Shuo out to exploit the Griffin Legion’s search and make Warren City’s chaos worse.

As Warren City searched for Clark’s killers, Han Shuo and Emily infiltrated Bobby Aski’s slave market and discovered a hidden passage where a Necromancer was sheltering. They decided to investigate the Necromancer, whose connection to the murder remained unclear.

• Bobby Aski’s grief over Clark’s death fueled a citywide search by the Griffin Legion, while Griffins patrolled the skies.
• Han Shuo warmed Emily with his demonic essence, then surprised her by flying over the slave market wall without magic.
• Han Shuo and Emily slipped past the slave market’s guards and headed toward its rear buildings while the soldiers were away searching the city.
• Han Shuo followed a bloody smell to a cave, where they saw a wounded guard killed by a Bone Spear and dragged inside by Zombie Warriors.
• Han Shuo reasoned that the Necromancer who had killed Clark might be hiding in the slave market, and he and Emily chose to investigate.

Han Shuo and Emily discovered a Necromancer using a blood-and-bone altar to contact Three-Eyed Evil God Anstis, but the ritual failed when he detected them and turned to attack. Han Shuo and Emily fought back, and the Necromancer recognized Han Shuo from their earlier encounter before attacking him again.

• Han Shuo and Emily hid in the cave and watched the Necromancer raise Three-Eyed Evil God Anstis through a blood-pool ritual.
• The Necromancer’s Life Detection spell exposed Han Shuo and Emily, and he sent Zombie Warriors after them.
• Han Shuo noticed Anstis’s skeletal body collapse into the blood pool when the Necromancer diverted his attention, and he stopped Emily from fleeing.
• Emily cut down the Zombie Warriors with a Death Scythe while Han Shuo destroyed the Wraith Soul Chain and countered the Necromancer’s Bone Spears.
• The Necromancer recognized Han Shuo from the battle at Kalfet’s house and attacked him again to test his Necromancy.

Han Shuo and Emily fought an Archmage-level Necromancer, while Little Skeleton destroyed the Evil Knight the Necromancer summoned. The Necromancer then used Soul Erosion on Han Shuo, but Han Shuo erupted in purple-red flames, leaving the Necromancer terrified.

• The Necromancer summoned an Evil Knight and attacked Han Shuo and Emily with Gargoyles and Bone Spears.
• Han Shuo summoned Little Skeleton and ordered him to fight the Evil Knight as Emily engaged it with her Death Scythe.
• Little Skeleton pierced the Evil Knight’s exposed neck and attacked its unarmored body, causing it and its Howling Beast to crumble into ash.
• The Necromancer was shocked by Little Skeleton’s power, then used Soul Erosion through his White Bone Magic Staff to invade Han Shuo’s mind and threatened Emily against attacking.
• Han Shuo suddenly howled as purple-red flames engulfed his body, and the Necromancer cried out in terror.

Han Shuo turned the Necromancer’s Soul Erosion against him, taking his soul and memories while the Necromancer died. After Little Skeleton absorbed the Blood Pool and learned to fly, Han Shuo left with Emily, believing he already had what she needed.

• Han Shuo used the White Bone Magic Staff and Demon-Slaying Edge to defeat the Necromancer, then absorbed his soul and memories through Soul Erosion.
• Little Skeleton jumped into the Blood Pool and absorbed its blood and bones into his seven bone spikes, which turned blood-red.
• Little Skeleton emerged from the pool by flying and circled the room as he gradually gained control of his flight.
• Han Shuo explained to Emily that his strengthened Brain Domain let him overpower the Necromancer and take everything from his soul.
• Han Shuo reclaimed the Demon-Slaying Edge, took the Spatial Ring from the Necromancer’s finger, and told Emily he believed he had what she needed.
• Han Shuo and Emily left the room hand in hand at dawn.

After absorbing Clayton’s memories, Han Shuo rapidly advanced his Necromancy knowledge and gained a powerful magic staff and evidence against Bobby Aski. Emily warned him that Clayton belonged to the Calamity Church, then hurried to report the organization while Han Shuo went to meet Lawrence.

• Han Shuo spent six days studying Clayton’s memories and mastering additional intermediate Necromancy spells.
• Han Shuo emerged from seclusion and reunited with Emily, explaining that Clayton’s magical insights could help him learn Necromancy up to the Archmage level.
• Han Shuo gave Emily documents linking Bobby Aski to the slave trading house and described the useful items he had taken from Clayton’s Spatial Ring.
• Emily learned that Clayton belonged to the Calamity Church and warned Han Shuo to keep his involvement secret.
• Emily went to report the Calamity Church to Dark Curtain’s higher-ups, while Han Shuo prepared to see Lawrence.

Han Shuo visited Lisa and arranged with Lawrence to free her from slavery, while Lawrence urged him to keep his distance from Emily and asked for help against Bobby Aski. When Bobby Aski’s men discovered their hideout, Han Shuo carried Lisa away through the rear courtyard as Lawrence and his men prepared to evacuate.

• Han Shuo visited Lisa, who thanked him for helping bring about Kalfet’s death and worried that she legally belonged to him.
• Han Shuo offered to restore Lisa’s freedom, and Lawrence proposed handling the legal transfer and sending her back to the Empire.
• Lawrence warned Han Shuo that his closeness to Emily could harm his future, then asked him to help deal with Bobby Aski.
• Lachi warned that Bobby Aski’s men had found the hideout, so Lawrence told Han Shuo to take Lisa out through the rear courtyard.
• Han Shuo wrapped Lisa in a fur coat, carried her through a window, and hurried toward the rear path.