Chapter Summaries

Sun Fei discussed the empire’s political uncertainty and the approaching ranking competition with Paris, who gave him a detailed assessment of the strongest affiliated-kingdom experts. The imperial army began its march south, leaving Sun Fei to prepare for the competition and the influence it could bring.

• Sun Fei watched Tanasha leave with the imperial army and reflected on the value of the intelligence network he had commissioned from Zola and Modrić.
• Paris confronted Sun Fei about giving potions to Tanasha, and they discussed the struggle between the eldest prince and Dominguez for the throne.
• Paris told Sun Fei that the top-ranked competitor would command a new legion formed from the affiliated kingdoms, while warning him about other formidable contenders.
• Paris gave Sun Fei Materazzi’s booklet ranking fifty experts, which listed Sun Fei as the favorite and [One Sword] as his closest rival.
• Roman Pavlyuchenko led three thousand cavalry out as the vanguard after the army’s departure ceremony ended.

Sun Fei watched First Prince Arshavin lead Zenit's army south and recognized the prince's unmatched command of troops, while reaffirming his own path of relying on personal strength. He discussed the upcoming Martial Saint Battle with Paris, then visited the Kingdom of Byzantium and received an eager welcome from Constantine and Isabella.

• Sun Fei watched Arshavin depart at the head of Zenit's sixty-thousand-strong army and felt the prince's commanding presence.
• Paris explained that Arshavin was the empire's greatest general after Emperor Yassin, and Sun Fei resolved to follow his own path and crush any army with one punch.
• Sun Fei asked Paris whether the Martial Saint Battle would go ahead despite the war, and she said Lord Krasic could not be defeated.
• Paris reminded Sun Fei to honor his promise to act once on Dominguez's behalf whenever she asked, and Sun Fei agreed.
• After Zenit's army crossed the Moro Mountains and marched south, Sun Fei visited the Kingdom of Byzantium, where Constantine and Isabella greeted him barefoot.

Sun Fei treated Constantine’s Seven Injuries Fist injuries with a Wood-Element Dou Qi manual, then upgraded Chambord’s leaders’ martial techniques to seven-star class and awarded them the new manuals. With the Imperial Ranking Competition beginning the next day, he kept Čech, Warden Oleg, and Torres behind to give each a complete Cloth.

• Sun Fei found that Constantine’s Seven Injuries Fist had badly damaged his internal organs and gave him a Wood-Element Dou Qi manual to nourish and protect them.
• Sun Fei returned to Chambord’s camp, tested his revised techniques in Assassin Mode, and finished upgrading the leaders’ martial arts to seven-star class.
• Sun Fei gave the new manuals to Chambord’s leaders and warned them that the manuals alone would not let them overcome the six-star class threshold.
• Sun Fei dismissed the other leaders but kept Čech, Warden Oleg, and Torres in the tent.
• Sun Fei brought out three ornate black iron chests and announced that he would give each of the three men a complete Cloth.

Sun Fei granted Čech, Torres, and Oleg their constellation Cloths and star attributes, then searched for a way to strengthen Elena’s defenses. After turning in the Blade of the Old Religion quest, he learned that Elena could choose a second bloodline attribute from one of Diablo’s seven classes.

• Sun Fei used Grant to awaken Čech, Torres, and Oleg’s star attributes and equip them with the Scorpio, Sagittarius, and Cancer Cloths.
• Sun Fei gave Čech the Scarlet Needle Dou Qi manual, then worried that Elena lacked defenses despite her powerful attacks.
• Sun Fei raised his Barbarian level to 64, entered the Diablo World, and joined Elena for monster hunting in Kurast Docks.
• Sun Fei gave Ormus the Blade of Conviction and went to Asheara to claim the Blade of the Old Religion quest reward.
• Asheara announced that Sun Fei could choose a second bloodline attribute for Elena from Diablo’s seven classes.

Sun Fei chose the Paladin bloodline for Elena and gathered the last item needed for Khalim’s Flail before leaving the Diablo World. That night, he sparred with the mysterious expert, received Emperor Yassin’s notes on advanced Dou Qi techniques, and hinted that he wanted to learn the Dragon Fist.

• Sun Fei explained the seven Diablo classes to Elena, and she asked him to choose her new bloodline attribute.
• Sun Fei chose the Paladin for Elena, and Asheara’s white flame planted the new power within her.
• Sun Fei and Elena collected Khalim’s Heart in the sewers, then Sun Fei exchanged over fifty thousand gold coins for potions before leaving the Diablo World.
• Torres told Sun Fei that Angela had gone to a banquet at Princess Tanasha’s residence and would stay overnight in the capital.
• Sun Fei returned to the Giant Pit Battlefield, where the mysterious expert arrived and gave him Emperor Yassin’s notes on advanced Dou Qi techniques.
• The mysterious expert defeated Sun Fei in their ten-move spar, and Sun Fei hinted that he wanted to see the Dragon Fist manual.

Sun Fei expected the mysterious expert to bring him the Dragon Fist manual, then returned to a Chambord camp preparing to seize control of the new legion through the Empire Ranking Competition. As the finals began, Angela was still absent, and Second Prince Dominguez presided over the gathering of the empire’s strongest experts.

• Sun Fei asked the mysterious expert for the Dragon Fist manual, and the expert departed without answering.
• Sun Fei returned to find Chambord’s fighters training and preparing for the competition, while Petr Čech reorganized the Saints and selected soldiers for the team battle.
• Sun Fei woke to find Angela had not returned from the eldest princess’s banquet, so he sent Saints to the imperial capital to investigate.
• Sun Fei led Chambord’s eight experts among the northern war zone’s top ten to the finals after they had dominated the qualifying matches without killing their opponents.
• The fifty finalists gathered at the protected sword-testing platforms, where Second Prince Dominguez presided over the Empire Ranking Competition.

Sun Fei defeated Diego Milito in the Empire Ranking Competition and gave him swordsmanship advice, while the other Chambord fighters reported first-round victories. The chapter ended with Inzaghi struggling against a stronger opponent, putting Chambord’s first loss in the competition within reach.

• Dominguez opened the Empire Ranking Competition, and the fighters drew lots for their individual and team opponents.
• Sun Fei drew Diego Milito for his first match and defeated him after studying his swordsmanship.
• Sun Fei advised Milito on his technique, and Milito gratefully accepted the guidance.
• Torres, Pierce, Drogba, Oleg, Petr Čech, and the other Chambord fighters reported winning their first matches.
• Sun Fei warned his companions not to underestimate the competition and went with them to watch Inzaghi’s bout.
• Inzaghi struggled against a Five-Star Class Initial Stage fighter whose armor, speed, and reactions countered his attacks.

Inzaghi fought desperately against a stronger wind-element Dou Qi warrior, finally wounding him before collapsing from his injuries. The warrior spared him, but after Chambord City was declared the loser, Sun Fei broke through the platform’s barrier and appeared beside his unconscious disciple.

• Pierce, Drogba, and the other Chambord experts threatened Inzaghi’s opponent, while Sun Fei kept them from acting.
• Inzaghi used his Concealment ability and a decoy to land a dagger strike on the wind-element Dou Qi warrior, but the warrior shattered his arm with a counterattack.
• Inzaghi drove his dagger into the warrior’s shoulder, then fainted as the warrior stopped his saber just short of killing him.
• The wind-element Dou Qi warrior explained that he spared Inzaghi out of respect and because Chambord had shown mercy in earlier matches.
• The referee declared that Chambord City had lost, and Sun Fei tore through the Water Curtain Heaven Flower barrier to catch Inzaghi.

Sun Fei healed Inzaghi and faced Arjen Robben after the duel, then turned a tense confrontation into an offer of allegiance to Chambord. Robben swore loyalty to Sun Fei, while the humiliated King of Tudor watched.

• Sun Fei poured a red healing potion into Inzaghi's mouth, and the assassin's wounds began to heal rapidly.
• Sun Fei asked Arjen Robben's name and kingdom, while Robben refused to apologize or back down.
• The King of Tudor disowned Robben and ordered him off the platform, drawing boos from the crowd.
• Sun Fei demanded Robben kneel, but Robben chose his dignity over his life and refused.
• Sun Fei praised Robben's honor and invited him to join Chambord, and Robben swore allegiance to Alexander.
• Sun Fei accepted Robben's oath and thanked the King of Tudor for giving him a true warrior.

Sun Fei recruited Robben into Chambord's service after Robben's victory, then watched the tournament as rumors spread about Chambord following Inzaghi's defeat. The chapter ended as Elena prepared to face Mad Recluse Baoye in Chambord's final match of the first knockout round.

• Sun Fei named Robben a general under his command and warned the King of Tudor not to mistreat him.
• Robben pledged his loyalty to Sun Fei, who stopped him from kneeling and left with Inzaghi and his entourage.
• Čech and Oleg took the comatose Inzaghi back to camp, accompanied by Owen, Cavani, and the other surviving orphans.
• Rumors blaming Chambord for Inzaghi's defeat spread, while Sun Fei suspected an enemy faction was fueling them and continued scouting potential recruits.
• Kanute, Hulk, Bloody Twin Blades, One Sword, Silver-Armored Berserker, and First Goddess Magic Princess Xindi won their matches.
• Spectators gathered as Elena prepared to fight Mad Recluse Baoye on the Number One Sword-Testing Platform.

Elena defeated Mad Recluse Baoye with a single arrow that pierced the Number One Sword-Testing Platform’s defensive barrier. Sun Fei then leaped onto the platform, arriving with the intent to kill Baoye.

• Sun Fei and his companions followed the crowd to the Number One Sword-Testing Platform, where Elena and Mad Recluse Baoye prepared to duel.
• Baoye leered at Elena and made lewd remarks, while Sun Fei watched him with killing intent from the crowd.
• Elena summoned her bow and fired a flame arrow that pierced Baoye’s shoulder and shattered the platform’s Water Curtain Heaven Flower barrier.
• The referee declared Elena and Chambord City the winners, but Sun Fei immediately leaped onto the platform with a chilling aura.

Sun Fei killed Mad Recluse Baoye for angering Elena, then learned why Angela had stayed at the eldest princess’s residence overnight. After welcoming Robben and his injured father to Chambord, Sun Fei gave Robben a minor post and began treating the old man’s legs.

• Sun Fei took Elena’s hand, told her to kill opponents like Baoye, and killed Baoye with a single palm strike when he threatened the Guluo Kingdom.
• The eldest princess and Angela watched the scene from a carriage, and Angela told Tanasha that she trusted Alexander and accepted everything about him.
• The eldest princess brought Angela back to the Chambord camp and publicly stayed there, drawing Sun Fei’s suspicion that she was trying to sow discord between Dominguez and Sun Fei.
• Arjen Robben arrived at the camp with his father, and Sun Fei welcomed them, assigned Robben as a minor Urban Management squad leader, and treated his father’s damaged legs with Aura.
• Sun Fei’s treatment had limited success, but it gave Robben hope that his father might recover.

After the mysterious master gave Sun Fei a fake Dragon Fist manual and abruptly departed, Sun Fei accepted that their paths would cross again. Back at camp, Sun Fei found the First Princess staying in Angela’s tent and entered the Diablo World to continue leveling.

• Sun Fei left Chambord’s camp and met the mysterious master in the Moro Mountains, where the master gave him a volume and said that strength existed to protect.
• The mysterious master departed after telling Sun Fei he had nothing more to teach him, leaving Sun Fei to wonder about his identity.
• Sun Fei opened the volume and discovered the master’s note admitting he had never seen the Dragon Fist manual.
• Sun Fei returned to camp and learned that the First Princess and Angela had fallen asleep together in the king’s tent.
• Sun Fei avoided disturbing the First Princess, ordered the soldiers to stay alert, and entered the Diablo World to level.

Sun Fei and Elena cleared Travincal with ease, revealing that their strength had surpassed the Diablo World's limits, and Sun Fei raised his Barbarian to level 70. The next morning, he treated Arjen and discovered that Pierce, Drogba, and Robben had apparently reconciled.

• Sun Fei and Elena traveled to Travincal and defeated its monsters, including Toorc Icefist, Ismail the Wicked, and Geleb Flamefinger, with Elena using only three arrows against the bosses.
• Sun Fei realized that his and Elena's combat strength had outgrown the Diablo World's original balance.
• Sun Fei completed the Act Three quests, reached level 70, and received five attribute points for finding Lam Esen's Tome; Elena reached level 67 and focused her new Paladin Bloodline on defense and healing.
• Sun Fei left the Diablo World while Elena stayed in the Rogue Encampment to conserve her time for the Empire Ranking Competition battles.
• The eldest princess quietly departed for the imperial capital, and Sun Fei learned that Robben had spent the night watching over Inzaghi after injuring him.
• Sun Fei treated Arjen's injured legs and then saw Pierce and Drogba enter with Robben, laughing together despite their earlier hostility toward him.

Sun Fei watched Robben reconcile with Chambord’s warriors and welcomed Angela’s kindness toward Robben and his father, but a victory report from Arshavin interrupted his attempt to tell Angela about Elena. The second round of the Empire Ranking Competition ended with Chambord’s fighters advancing except for Oleg, while Andrei Shevchenko reached the top thirteen on a bye.

• Robben’s care for Inzaghi helped him make peace with Pierce and Drogba, and he became friends with them and the Hot Springs Pass fighters.
• Angela visited Robben and his father with handmade leather armor, then walked with Sun Fei, who tried to tell her about Elena.
• Mounted messengers announced a great victory at the southern front, and Sun Fei suspected Arshavin had won an opening battle against the Spartak invasion.
• Sun Fei defeated his opponent with one punch, while Čech, Elena, Torres, Pierce, and Drogba advanced; Oleg lost to Hulk and was carried away unconscious.
• After six hours of matches, the top thirteen were decided, with Andrei Shevchenko advancing directly after receiving a bye.

Constantine and Robben were eliminated from the Empire Ranking Competition, while Chambord City placed six masters in the top thirteen. News of Arshavin’s victories and Emperor Yassin’s call for a massive recruitment drive stirred Zenit, and the top-seven matches began with Sun Fei defeating Paul Pierce and Kanute defeating Drogba.

• Magic Princess Xindi defeated Constantine, and Robben withdrew after the king of Tudor released him from his oath.
• Six Chambord City masters advanced to the top thirteen as reports arrived that Arshavin had captured Ludik and slain ten thousand Spartak soldiers.
• Emperor Yassin ordered the recruitment of a hundred thousand men to form five new legions for a counterattack against the Spartak Empire.
• Dominguez presided over the top-thirteen draw, which matched Sun Fei against Paul Pierce and Drogba against Kanute.
• Sun Fei defeated Paul Pierce in ten moves, while Kanute knocked Drogba unconscious with Wind and Thunder Strike.

Drogba and Kanute remained standing after a brutal clash, while Elena, the Silver-Armored Berserker, and One Sword won their matches against Chambord fighters. Magic Princess Xindi and Bloody Twin Blades continued their endurance duel for hours, and Sun Fei left after noticing the swordsman beginning to tire.

• Drogba and Kanute endured severe injuries but stayed on the Sword-Testing Platform after their forceful fight.
• Elena defeated Blazing Flame Staff Hulk with an arrow that shattered his staff and pierced his shoulder.
• The Silver-Armored Berserker defeated Čech after a flash of silver light and boasted that One Sword and the King of Chambord could not beat him.
• One Sword badly injured Fernando Torres with a single strike, but Torres's Sagittarius Star Cloth saved his life; Oleg warned that One Sword seemed hostile toward Chambord City.
• Magic Princess Xindi held off Bloody Twin Blades with an ice shield as their duel stretched into its fourth hour.
• Sun Fei left after noticing Bloody Twin Blades slowing down, creating a likely opening for Xindi.

The Magic Princess Xindi killed Bloody Twin Blades with Ice Blade Storm, while Sun Fei treated Chambord’s injured fighters after the day’s matches. With most of his team defeated or hurt, Sun Fei accepted the setbacks and hoped they would avoid further injuries in the brutal contest ahead.

• After Sun Fei left, Bloody Twin Blades exhausted himself, and the Magic Princess Xindi killed him with Ice Blade Storm, reducing him to a skeleton.
• The referee declared Xindi the winner, and she left the Sword-Testing Platform as the crowd reacted; Wind and Thunder Staff, Silver-Armored Berserker, Prince of Luck Shevchenko, and others departed under pressure from her strength.
• Sun Fei treated Drogba’s injuries, but Čech remained in a deep coma with no clear cause.
• Sun Fei removed One Sword’s sword energy from Fernando Torres and healed his wounds, then suspected One Sword had meant to kill him.
• Sun Fei accepted Chambord’s losses in the competition and hoped that the injured fighters would avoid further harm as the contest grew more brutal.

Sun Fei returned from the Giant Pit Battlefield after erasing traces of his presence and learned that Holy Church Son of God Kaká had come to visit him. He met Kaká and red-robed divine priest Baresi, wary of the Church’s hostility toward necromancers.

• Sun Fei checked Drogba, Torres, and the still-unconscious Čech, then left the Heng and Ha Generals in charge of the Chambord camp.
• Sun Fei patrolled the camp in Assassin Mode, went to the Giant Pit Battlefield, and erased the traces he had left there.
• Sun Fei returned to camp and learned that Kaká and Baresi had been waiting to meet him.
• Sun Fei considered his reasons for avoiding the Church and its persecution of people connected to necromancy.
• Sun Fei entered the guest tent and met Kaká, whose striking appearance reminded him of Dominguez.

Sun Fei met Kaká, the Church’s Son of God, and found they shared many views, while Kaká mistook Sun Fei’s golden Holy Power for proof that he was a Son of God. The Church clerics grew hostile until Angela entered the tent, captivating Kaká.

• Sun Fei warmly greeted Kaká, who praised his accomplishments and explained that he was leaving Saint Petersburg that night.
• Sun Fei and Kaká discovered their shared outlook and drank together as their conversation grew lively.
• Kaká asked about Sun Fei’s Holy Power, and Sun Fei revealed his golden Paladin Aura, leading Kaká to assume he was a Son of God.
• Baresi and the Church knights reacted with concealed hostility, chilling the atmosphere in the tent.
• Angela entered the tent, easing the tension and catching Kaká’s attention.