Chapter Summaries

Curze used the power he inherited from Han Mingxuan to write the Purity character on Sanguinius, removing the Red Thirst and awakening Sanguinius's Warp Essence. After the celebration, Erda bound herself to the Emperor in a contract to atone for her sins by defending the Webway until her soul faded.

• Curze's dormant third heart awakened, and he gave Sanguinius a golden rune that brought him clarity.
• Using Han Mingxuan's brush and guidance, Curze completed the Purity character on Sanguinius's forehead, erasing the Red Thirst from his genes.
• Sanguinius's Warp Essence awakened, granting him the power of Order and transforming his wings, armor, and clothing.
• The Emperor congratulated Sanguinius, who credited Han Mingxuan and his brothers for helping him awaken.
• Erda chose to remain with the Emperor and signed a soul contract to serve as the Webway's first and last line of defense until her soul wore away.

Tzeentch raged over his doubts and the changes to his fate while Han Mingxuan returned to Terra’s Department of Justice to inspect the legions. He chose the Dark Angels as his first stop, but Loken’s plea led him to send the Luna Wolves back to the front instead.

• Tzeentch argued with the voice of doubt in his mind, shattered part of the Maze of Tzeentch, and dismissed Kairos’s conflicting remarks about his fate.
• Han Mingxuan reunited with the Council of the Long Night and announced he would visit the legions to inspect their progress.
• Han Mingxuan teased Aequus about lying, then discussed Aequus’s use of Gang methods and told him to prioritize pragmatism against Xenos.
• Loken told Han Mingxuan that he and his teacher were overwhelmed by Administratum work, so Han Mingxuan offered to make the Luna Wolves his first inspection stop.
• Han Mingxuan arranged for Loken and his teacher to return to the front lines, sent Abaddon to replace them, and gave the pair jade pendants.

Han Mingxuan headed to the XVI Legion’s marching zone while the Emperor confronted Erda and Tzeentch in the Webway. Tzeentch sought a stake in the Emperor’s plan, and Erda was taken to a remote planet to be confined by Oll Persson, Klein, and the other Perpetuals.

• Han Mingxuan headed to the front to meet the Space Marine legions, worried about Erda’s appearance and Tzeentch’s open scheme.
• The Emperor confronted Erda in the Webway and demanded that Tzeentch appear, threatening to kill her if he refused.
• Tzeentch appeared and asked to join the Emperor’s plan, arguing that neither of them could control Han Mingxuan’s fate; the Emperor agreed to hear him out.
• Orikan and the Stormlord took Erda away under the Silent King’s orders to prioritize Han Mingxuan’s safety.
• Oll Persson, Klein, and the other Perpetuals confined Erda on a desolate planet, telling her that her presence had disturbed the Lake of Fate and had to disappear.

The Emperor and Tzeentch agreed to cooperate, accepting that failure would plunge humanity into 100,000 years of despair while success could bring it a bright future. Han Mingxuan reunited with Horus aboard the Vengeful Spirit and helped the Luna Wolves secure opportunities for training in the Imperium’s systems.

• The Perpetuals sealed the mother of the Primarchs away until her fated death.
• Tzeentch warned the Emperor that he could use the Well of Eternity to erase hope and miracles from the Warp for 100,000 years, and the Emperor agreed to cooperate with him.
• Tzeentch promised to accompany Han Mingxuan and guarantee his safety when the time came, and he arranged to meet the Emperor again in forty years.
• A golden woman drifting in the Well of Eternity noticed Han Mingxuan’s hidden soul and praised an Aeldari girl before resuming her journey.
• Han Mingxuan arrived aboard the Vengeful Spirit and reunited with Horus, Sejanus, and Loken.
• Horus assigned Abaddon and Aximand to pursue further training through the Luna Wolves’ slots in the Imperium’s systems.

Han Mingxuan visited Horus and learned how Impetus had earned the Luna Wolves’ highest honor through both his individual assault skill and his ability to lead a squad. Horus concluded that the Evernight Legion’s warriors bridged the combat gap between Space Marines and Primarchs.

• Horus showed Han Mingxuan a room of honors and revealed that Impetus alone had earned the Perfect Wolf medal, the highest honor in the Luna Wolves.
• Horus showed Han Mingxuan a custom suit of Terminator Armour made for Impetus, who refused to wear it because his loyalty lay with the Evernight Legion.
• Horus explained that Impetus’s Warp ability sharpened his blade through concentration, making him the Luna Wolves’ strongest individual assailant.
• Horus recounted testing Impetus in battle, where Impetus deployed the Evernight Network and led four squadmates to conquer a planet in three hours.
• Horus described the Evernight Legion’s combat strength and said its warriors filled the gap between Space Marines and Primarchs.

Horus persuaded Han Mingxuan to let him recruit 13% of the candidates rejected by the Inquisition, then Han visited Angron and gave him a drum and a battle piece to play. Angron’s drumming drew the World Eaters’ officers, and Khârn emerged as a promising drummer.

• Horus showed Han Mingxuan the Inquisition’s selection rules and requested permission to recruit 13% of the rejected candidates; Han agreed, leaving recruitment success to Horus.
• After Han left, Horus told Sanguinius that his plan had worked, while Han continued on to the World Eaters’ marching zone.
• Han gave Angron the drum from Nuceria, named it the Demon-Slaying Drum, and taught him the Qin King Breaking the Battle Formation Music.
• Angron played the piece for the gathered World Eaters’ officers, whose reactions revealed the music’s force and emotion.
• Angron asked who had shouted “Bravo,” and Khârn stepped forward as a possible drummer.

Han Mingxuan encouraged Khârn to study culture by giving him an annotated copy of the Lunyu, which unexpectedly fired his enthusiasm. He then inscribed “Virtue” and “Reason” on Khârn’s Power Axes and gave him a task.

• Han Mingxuan reassured Khârn that he welcomed troublemakers and asked why he had been shouting.
• Khârn said he preferred fighting to studying, and Han Mingxuan argued that learning could help defeat enemies.
• Han Mingxuan gave Khârn an annotated copy of the Lunyu, and Khârn became eager to study it after hearing the Thousand Sons and Blood Angels were reading it.
• Angron read the annotations and questioned whether they were correct, but Han Mingxuan insisted they were.
• Han Mingxuan wrote “Virtue” and “Reason” on Khârn’s Power Axes, and Khârn praised him as Han Mingxuan assigned him a task.

Han Mingxuan gave Khârn the role of the Rite of War and presented Angron with a teddy bear before visiting Vulkan and discussing the Salamanders’ request for recruits from Nostramo. The brothers’ recruitment plan was revealed, and Han Mingxuan agreed to hear them out after finishing his research.

• Han Mingxuan taught Khârn a battle tune, gave him drumsticks, and appointed him the Rite of War for times when Angron could not command.
• Han Mingxuan gave Angron a heated red plush teddy bear, which Angron accepted while asking him to keep the gift private from his brothers.
• Han Mingxuan traveled with Angron to the Salamanders fleet and told Vulkan he had come to research warriors’ concerns.
• Vulkan explained that Talos was visiting Salamanders warriors’ families and asked Han Mingxuan for permission to recruit people rejected by the Inquisition.
• Han Mingxuan learned that all the brothers had coordinated to seek Nostraman recruits and agreed to meet them there after completing his research.

Han Mingxuan chose Vulkan as the successor to his magic brush, entrusting him with a safeguard against future dangers. After leaving Vulkan, Han Mingxuan traveled to Lycaeus to check on its people and construction, where he spotted someone selling comic books.

• Han Mingxuan settled the Legion recruitment arrangement with Vulkan and reassured him that Nostramo's recruits would not diminish Nocturne's strengths.
• Han Mingxuan gave Vulkan his brush, explained its powers, and instructed him to use water as ink except in special circumstances.
• Vulkan accepted the brush and promised to protect it and live up to Han Mingxuan's hopes.
• Han Mingxuan left Vulkan and headed to Lycaeus to inspect conditions there and speak with the Legions working on its construction.
• Han Mingxuan arrived in Lycaeus and noticed a vendor calling out the latest comic books.

Han Mingxuan discovered that the unauthorized Evernight Epic was being sold across Lycaeus and summoned Curze and Kamon. As the Council of the Long Night rushed to Lycaeus to face him, Lorgar was called in to help, while Han Mingxuan met Corax’s sister, Eurydice.

• Han Mingxuan found the Evernight Epic at a market stall and told Corax that its publication violated the Evernight Code.
• Corax secretly signaled his aide to contact Curze, who realized the scheme had been exposed and planned to gather the council brothers to plead with Han Mingxuan.
• Curze ordered Sevatar to contact everyone, and the council members serving with other legions received an urgent message to rendezvous at Lycaeus.
• Animus told the Wolf King about the Evernight Epic, and the Wolf King arranged for Lorgar to help Curze handle the situation.
• Han Mingxuan went to Corax’s home and met Eurydice, who welcomed him as the Father of Night.

Han Mingxuan planned to counter Deliverance’s unauthorized worship of him by publishing an authorized edition of the Evernight Epic and having the Necrontyr secretly collect and destroy pirated copies. After learning that Curze and the Council of the Long Night were coming, he prepared to discipline them with a belt made by Szarekh.

• Han Mingxuan told Aivrinia that transforming Deliverance had required collective effort, then spoke with her about everyday matters.
• Han Mingxuan told Szarekh he would revise and officially publish the Evernight Epic rather than ban the pirated copies, using the authorized edition to dilute their influence.
• Han Mingxuan asked the Necrontyr to secretly monitor the campaign, destroy pirated copies, and help distinguish them from authorized editions with a hidden mark.
• Han Mingxuan contacted Lorgar and learned that Curze and the Council of the Long Night were traveling to Deliverance after Russ had summoned them.
• Han Mingxuan asked Szarekh for a durable belt to discipline the arriving Primarchs, and Szarekh made one using Blackstone Technology.

Han Mingxuan confronted Curze and the Council of the Long Night over their exaggerated history book, the Evernight Epic. After punishing them for their role in writing it, he let them leave to recover, while the group continued arguing over who had betrayed whom.

• Curze arrived with the Council of the Long Night and spent two and a half hours introducing everyone while Han Mingxuan waited with a Septwolves belt.
• Han Mingxuan questioned Curze about the Evernight Epic's claims that he had caused a series of miraculous events, and Curze insisted the book recorded what had really happened.
• Han Mingxuan took Curze aside and beat him, then questioned Sevatar and the other Council members about who had helped write the book.
• The Council members gave excuses, but Han Mingxuan ordered them into the side hall and punished them as well.
• Urtana served Han Mingxuan tea, and he told Curze and the others to rest until their injuries healed before resuming the lecture.
• Curze and the Council left, arguing among themselves about who had been disloyal and should take the blame.

Han Mingxuan confronted Erebus and Kor Phaeron aboard Lorgar’s flagship after uncovering their blood sacrifice and destroyed Erebus’s faith in the Chaos Gods. He took Erebus with him to seek out the gods themselves, with Szarekh agreeing to accompany him.

• Han Mingxuan asked Lorgar to take him to Erebus and Kor Phaeron, and Perturabo joined them.
• Han Mingxuan picked up three bricks, then entered Lorgar’s carefully sealed chamber with Lorgar and Perturabo.
• Lorgar burned away the chamber’s illusion and revealed that Erebus and Kor Phaeron had performed a blood sacrifice to contact the Chaos Gods.
• Han Mingxuan beat Erebus with bricks and challenged him to get an answer from the Chaos Gods, while Lorgar agreed to turn him into an eternal lamp if he failed.
• Han Mingxuan asked Szarekh to slow time in the sector so they could visit the Chaos Gods, and Szarekh agreed to go with him.

Han Mingxuan traveled with Lorgar and Perturabo toward Commorragh, forcing a path through the Warp with the Silent King's help. Slaanesh joined them by hiding within a gemstone necklace on Han Mingxuan’s wrist as they prepared to enter the Aeldari city.

• The Silent King slowed time across the planet, and Han Mingxuan used the Compass to open a way toward Commorragh.
• Slaanesh sent Xarathi to guide Han Mingxuan, but barred Lorgar and Perturabo from coming, so the Silent King destroyed her in the Warp.
• Xarathi led the group to Commorragh’s outskirts, where Han Mingxuan allowed her to accompany them under his conditions.
• Slaanesh appeared in a female avatar, rebuked Lorgar, and asked to travel with Han Mingxuan into Commorragh.
• After Han Mingxuan refused to let Slaanesh possess him, she placed her necklace around his wrist and vanished into it.

Han Mingxuan brought his nephews to Commorragh and forced the Drukhari leaders to help him prepare Erebus for a ritual. The Drukhari began torturing Erebus while Slaanesh celebrated Han Mingxuan’s decision to keep her from taking part.

• Han Mingxuan reassured Perturabo and Lorgar that they were his nephews and brought them with him to Commorragh.
• Han Mingxuan ordered Szarekh to destroy part of Commorragh’s outskirts, and Slaanesh feasted on the resulting souls.
• Szarekh froze time and space across Commorragh and prevented the Drukhari from escaping.
• Han Mingxuan summoned the Drukhari leaders and ordered them to torture Erebus for six days and prepare a torch.
• Han Mingxuan refused to let Slaanesh take part because she was undergoing a transformation, and she delighted in his concern.

Six days after the Drukhari delivered the tortured Erebus to Han Mingxuan, Slaanesh appeared in Commorragh and offered to spare its people. Han Mingxuan and his companions left the city, while he rebuffed the Silent King and struck Lorgar for guessing what others wanted him to do.

• Han Mingxuan ordered Lorgar to light Erebus, whose torch screamed an enemy warning when Chaos corruption appeared nearby.
• Slaanesh appeared before the Drukhari and revealed that she had come to intimidate them at Han Mingxuan's request.
• Han Mingxuan suggested that Slaanesh devour all of Commorragh, prompting the Drukhari nobles to beg for mercy in the name of the Master of Mankind.
• Slaanesh agreed to spare the Drukhari for now, and Han Mingxuan and his companions left Commorragh.
• Han Mingxuan warned the Silent King not to suggest that he sleep with Slaanesh, then knocked Lorgar flying before Perturabo fled with him.

Han Mingxuan confronted the Warp Gods at the Well of Eternity, refusing their requests to cooperate and terrifying Tzeentch by dragging him into the well. Khorne then revealed that part of him had become imbued with courage, sacrifice, justice, and honor, and asked Han Mingxuan to consider whether the Warp could be saved.

• Kairos Fateweaver invited Han Mingxuan and Szarekh to meet the Warp Gods, but Han Mingxuan refused to go.
• Nurgle, Tzeentch, and Khorne appeared before Han Mingxuan and tried to persuade him to discuss the future of the Warp and Slaanesh.
• Han Mingxuan challenged Tzeentch at the Well of Eternity, dragged him into its mouth, and mocked him while holding him above the depths.
• Slaanesh pulled Han Mingxuan up and urged him to hear the Warp Gods out, but Han Mingxuan again refused to make deals with them.
• Khorne asked Han Mingxuan whether the world could still be saved and revealed that half his upper body now radiated courage, sacrifice, justice, and honor.

Khorne explained that Sevatar’s attack on Nuceria restored part of his positive authority, and he asked Han Mingxuan to help him reclaim it and find a way to coexist with it. Khorne handed Han Mingxuan the authority as a sword, while the other Warp Gods revealed their own moves and Tzeentch remained the lone holdout.

• Khorne told Han Mingxuan that Sevatar’s strike had returned a portion of his discarded authority, which he had since studied and come to see as positive.
• Khorne asked Han Mingxuan whether reclaiming his authority could let him turn over a new leaf, and Han Mingxuan discussed the possibility of coexistence with him.
• Slaanesh angrily claimed to have become better first, while Khorne surrendered his positive authority in the form of a longsword and urged Han Mingxuan to accept it.
• Han Mingxuan asked whether accepting the sword made him Khorne’s Chosen, and Khorne said his strength would diminish but not be seriously affected.
• Grandfather revealed that death authority had already been moving toward Mortarion on Nuceria, leaving Tzeentch as the only Warp God who had not shown sincerity.
• Tzeentch recalled Han Mingxuan humiliating him at the Well of Eternity and seethed over his repeated failures against the teacher.

Han Mingxuan advised Curze and the Primarchs to rein in his growing personality cult and understand the boundary between man and god. He left them with the lesson that humanity, rather than any individual, was truly great.

• Han Mingxuan and the Silent King returned to Lycaeus and discussed the Warp Gods’ proposed cooperation, deciding to stay the course while Tzeentch’s position remained unknown.
• The Silent King told Curze that he needed to develop leadership and governing skills instead of relying on subordinates and focusing only on judgment.
• Han Mingxuan warned Curze that his personality cult had spread too far and that he hated being treated like a god.
• Han Mingxuan explained that his knowledge came from those who had taught and written before him, and warned that intense devotion could shape a dangerous entity in the Warp.
• Han Mingxuan urged the Primarchs to find a balance between man and god, and they recognized that humanity, not one person, was what he represented.

Curze accepted that Evernight Epic had overemphasized Han Mingxuan and agreed to revise it, while Han urged the Primarchs to write histories with compassion and responsibility. After the lesson, Han considered visiting Perturabo’s Legion or the Dark Angels, carrying a book for the Knight King.

• Curze admitted his deliberate mistake in Evernight Epic and promised to revise it into a history that followed the Imperium’s laws.
• Han Mingxuan urged Curze, Sevatar, Shen, and the other Primarchs to write books that honored humanity and could inspire future readers.
• Sevatar said the Primarchs would become the Imperium’s finest teachers, and Han encouraged them to surpass him.
• The Silent King praised Han’s lesson and privately affirmed his belief in him.
• Han considered investigating Perturabo’s Legion on Olympia or visiting the Dark Angels to give their Knight King The Nonexistent Knight.