Chapter Summaries

Shisui resumed probing the memories of the Sea Race researchers he had killed, using [Spirit Dream Recall] to uncover their hidden research methods. A memory revealed that Guan Qing’s mentor had warned her before an external mission, leaving Shisui to wonder whether the Third Research Institute had since chosen a faction.

• Shisui set aside his doubts about the limits on his evolution and prepared to monitor the base while he left with the cargo fleet.
• Shisui used Earth Realm Psychic Energy to strengthen [Spirit Dream Recall] and enter the memories of the Sea Race researchers whose brains he had preserved.
• Shisui found that the researchers had hidden their memories behind mental suggestions, but [Spirit Dream Recall] exposed their formation-drawing methods.
• Shisui examined a memory of Guan Qing meeting her gray-haired mentor, who praised her work and warned her to put the research institute first and avoid checking her communicator at work.
• Shisui learned that Guan Qing had departed the next day for an external mission that later served the Third Prince Yuanli and the Second Prince Yuan Yuan, and he questioned whether the Third Research Institute had since taken sides.

Shisui learned from Guan Qing’s memory that the Third Research Institute had secretly sided with the First Research Institute and that the Dragon King favored the third prince. As dawn approached, Shisui reached the fleet carrying the captives and prepared to move through its psychic shield.

• Shisui watched Guan Qing receive a secret note revealing that the order of events in the Mao City and Yin City battles differed.
• Guan Qing realized the Third Research Institute had chosen the First Research Institute and decided to side with the institute rather than her family.
• Shisui concluded that the Dragon King favored the third prince and that the second prince had been made a public target and bait.
• Shisui finished reviewing the memories and returned to the research base’s plaza as the five o’clock bells rang.
• Shisui examined the fleet’s ships and used a short-distance space wormhole to pass through the Sea Race’s psychic energy shield.

Shisui infiltrated the cargo fleet’s flagship and learned that it was delivering dead prisoners to the Third Research Institute. In Chongming City, Guan Baozhu accepted her father’s order to help the Second Prince contact the Second Research Institute, then took a roundabout route back to the Dragon Palace.

• Shisui used a Space Wormhole to bypass the fleet’s defensive net and approach its flagship undetected.
• Shisui overheard Sea Race researchers discussing materials and data for improving the Water-Gathering Formation, then saw soldiers unloading crates of dead prisoners.
• Shisui entered the flagship through another Space Wormhole and waited for the fleet to set sail again.
• Guan Baozhu told Guan Xiangming that the Second Prince needed the Second Research Institute to reconstruct his body, and Guan Xiangming ordered her to arrange contact.
• Guan Baozhu concealed her distress, left the Guan Family by an unmarked carriage, took a long detour, and returned to the Dragon Palace.

Shisui hid aboard the fleet’s flagship and began cultivating while keeping watch. At the research base, Cheng Wenjie strengthened the seagrass defenses before entering the clock tower’s underground prison, where he drew blood from captive Sea Race members for his experiments.

• Shisui concealed himself near the flagship’s power reactor and began [Metamorphosis] inside a combat-ready Kagune cocoon.
• Cheng Wenjie visited Cheng Yimu, checked her seagrass seedlings, and used his Psychic Energy to strengthen the nearby defenses.
• Cheng Wenjie entered the clock tower after passing its barriers and identity checks, with Radiant Feathers still on his clothes.
• Cheng Wenjie reached the underground prison above the magma and drew blood from a captive Sea Demon Species royal family member.
• Cheng Wenjie began taking blood from another captive Sea Race member, who cursed and struggled against him.

Cheng Wenjie tortured a Barnacle Species captive for research while Hua Yixuan prepared to approach the first prince, Yuan Rong, with a deal. Hua Yixuan slipped into Yuan Rong’s carriage and made his offer at knifepoint, and Yuan Rong calmly agreed to hear him out.

• Cheng Wenjie told the captive that the Barnacle Project Group planned to close its project and promised to give him and his kin worthy deaths.
• Hua Yixuan received a coded message saying Yuan Rong would visit the Reed Pavilion at eight in the morning without guests.
• Hua Yixuan decided to intercept Yuan Rong in his carriage and left home in stealth clothing to prepare.
• Yuan Rong’s carriage departed at seven thirty, and he rode inside with a servant who shelled sea melon seeds.
• Hua Yixuan emerged from hiding, knocked the servant unconscious, restrained Yuan Rong, and asked to make a deal.
• Yuan Rong calmly agreed and asked what value Hua Yixuan believed he still had.

Hua Yixuan delivered documents to Yuan Rong warning that the final trial was a sacrifice, then secretly reported to the Beastfolk that the mission was complete. Meanwhile, the cargo fleet left the Third Research Institute’s base, carrying the hidden Ghoul into the Azure Nether Ocean.

• Hua Yixuan confronted Yuan Rong in his carriage, warned him that the final trial was a sacrifice, and gave him documents before escaping.
• Hua Yixuan disguised himself in an alley and used coded sign language at a stall to report that he had delivered the documents.
• Hua Yixuan kept pages about secrets in the Dragon Palace’s Imperial Medical Academy, intending them to fuel turmoil among the Sea Race and limit its ability to invade other territories.
• The cargo fleet departed the Third Research Institute’s base as the Ghoul hid in the flagship’s hold and avoided absorbing the surge of Psychic Energy.

Shisui’s cultivation aboard the cargo fleet ended with his new Kagune spreading as he awakened and began hunting the ship’s crew. Elsewhere, Radiant Feathers turned captives into infection sources, while Yan Fei investigated the mysterious person who had entered the First Prince’s carriage.

• Shisui’s newly evolved Koukaku, eight Bikaku, Steel Feathers, Owl Wings, and Rinkaku Scorpion Tail unfolded as he adapted to his increased strength.
• Shisui enveloped two patrolling soldiers in feather powder and killed them in the darkened corridor.
• Radiant Feathers parasitizing captives consumed their flesh and filled their bodies with proliferating rc cells, creating sources of infection.
• Yan Fei and Lu Qianyu found no useful streetlight recordings of the person who had entered Yuan Rong’s carriage, so Yan Fei considered searching for witnesses and extended his Psychic Energy threads.

Bai Ye monitored a top-secret Insect Race psychic channel, then discussed the Sea Race’s final trial and plans to stir up trouble with Li Nai'an. Arakawa Jiushu delivered the Beastfolk’s cooperation proposal to Yuan Rong, leaving their response unknown.

• Bai Ye checked the top-secret psychic network and learned that Yixuan had delivered damaged documents to Yuan Rong after infiltrating his carriage.
• Bai Ye asked Li Nai'an whether they should contact Yuan Yuan, but Li Nai'an said their priority was gathering intelligence on the final trial and that Yuan Yuan would act on his own.
• Li Nai'an said their agents would fan the flames of unrest in the Sea Race to keep its troops occupied on the front lines.
• Arakawa Jiushu, pushed out of the Third Prince Faction’s inner circle, entered a secluded house in Chongming City to meet Yuan Rong.
• Arakawa Jiushu greeted Yuan Rong and said he would get straight to the point with the Beastfolk’s cooperation proposal.

Arakawa Jiushu gave Yuan Rong evidence that the Dragon King planned to sacrifice rival princes and offered Beastfolk support in exchange for Yuan Rong resisting the Crown Prince’s unopposed rise. Yuan Rong agreed to cooperate, while the Insect Mother relayed the news to Bai Ye and Hua Yixuan; elsewhere, mist began spreading across a prisoner transport fleet in the northern Azure Nether Ocean.

• Arakawa Jiushu showed Yuan Rong documents alleging that the Dragon King intended to sacrifice imperial princes to strengthen the Crown Prince.
• Yuan Rong recognized that his life was in danger and asked Arakawa Jiushu about cooperating.
• Arakawa Jiushu said the Beastfolk wanted to hinder the Crown Prince’s ascent and gave Yuan Rong a communicator.
• The Insect Mother reported Yuan Rong’s agreement to Bai Ye and Hua Yixuan, then explained how Yuan Rong could attract support from powerful clans.
• A fleet carrying prisoners crossed the northern Azure Nether Ocean as intermittent mist began spreading across some of its cargo ships.

Shisui’s Feather Powder infected much of the cargo fleet, turning soldiers and crew into puppets and bringing the ships toward collapse. Meanwhile, Guan Baozhu returned to the Second Prince’s Residence to report something important to Yuan Yuan.

• Feather Powder spread through the cargo ships and entered the soldiers’ bodies as they breathed.
• He Changping became paralyzed during his patrol, then walked toward a warehouse before losing consciousness.
• Infected soldiers and crew gathered mechanically in the warehouses, where a puppet captive produced more Feather Powder.
• Shisui controlled the puppets from the flagship and expected more than two-thirds of the ships to be infected before the command room understood the danger.
• Guan Baozhu returned from a tea party, asked to see Yuan Yuan, and was admitted to his courtyard.

Guan Baozhu secured a submarine for Yuan Yuan’s trip to the Arctic Ocean, then concealed her resentment after he warned her not to interfere in court affairs. Beneath the Azure Nether Ocean, Shisui’s fog and Rc Cells overwhelmed the cargo fleet, and he confronted five Earth Realm experts by declaring that they were surrounded by him.

• Guan Baozhu told Yuan Yuan she had arranged for Ministry of War officials to take him to the Arctic Ocean by submarine the next day.
• Yuan Yuan cautioned Guan Baozhu against interfering in court affairs, and she left while privately wishing him dead.
• Feather Powder fog cut off the cargo fleet’s communications and navigation as Rc Cell puppets attacked the surviving Sea Race crew.
• Shisui swam above the escort ships, where five Earth Realm experts emerged and ordered him to surrender and disperse the fog.
• Shisui answered that they were surrounded by him and sent a surge of Feather Powder and seawater rushing at them.

Shisui’s Puppet Fleet slaughtered the Sea Race cultivators guarding the frigates and advanced toward the Second Research Institute. In Chongming City, eldest prince Yuan Rong invited Yan Fei to his residence, gave him a script for the Reed Pavilion, and began asking the Sima Family for help.

• Shisui killed the five Sea Race cultivators as the Feather Powder overwhelmed their defenses and turned the fleet into a puppet force.
• The Puppet Fleet’s Psychic Energy Shield failed, and Rc Cells pushed the fleet toward the Sea Race Second Research Institute.
• Yuan Rong planned to promote choosing the Crown Prince by vote and summoned Yan Fei to his residence.
• Yan Fei went to the Sima Family estate, informed the family head of the invitation, and received a brooch to wear as the family’s representative.
• Yuan Rong gave Yan Fei a script for the Reed Pavilion and began asking the Sima Family for help.

Yan Fei reported the First Prince’s request for the Sima Family to propose a public vote on the Crown Prince, while Shisui’s puppet fleet reached the Second Research Institute in the Arctic Ocean. The chapter left the First Prince gaining support at morning court, the Second Prince sailing north under guard, and Shisui poised to reach his destination.

• Yuan Rong asked Yan Fei to pass the Sima Family a request to propose a public vote on the Crown Prince at morning court, and Yan Fei agreed to relay it without promising a decision.
• The Sima Family head ordered storytellers at the Reed Pavilion to promote the storybook and decided to exploit the opening created by the Second Prince’s departure and the Third Prince’s absence.
• Yuan Rong appeared at morning court and attracted officials from lesser families, while Yuan Yuan sailed toward the Arctic Ocean with Ze Lao protecting his soul container.
• Shisui’s Rc Cell-repaired puppet fleet entered the Arctic Ocean with psychic shields active and continued toward the Second Research Institute.
• The fleet reached the waters beside a vast ice wall, and a surviving crew member told Shisui they had arrived at the Second Research Institute.

Shisui used the Sea Race officials’ biometric identification to open the ice wall and led the fleet into the passage beyond it. At Dragon Palace’s morning court, Langzhong Mu Yu proposed publicizing the Crown Prince’s trial, prompting Cheng Lin to interrupt him and the head of the Sima Family to defend hearing the proposal in full.

• Shisui learned the ice wall’s entry conditions from the pilot and controlled the research team leader and escort fleet commander to activate its identification system.
• Shisui opened the ice wall, shielded the fleet from the resulting currents, and ordered every ship into the passage.
• At Dragon Palace’s court, Langzhong Mu Yu proposed publicizing the Crown Prince’s trial and decision-making process after suggesting greater publicity for the third prince’s frontline achievements.
• Cheng Lin interrupted Langzhong Mu Yu and accused him of offending the imperial family, while the head of the Sima Family urged the Dragon King to hear the proposal before judging it.
• The nine o’clock bell rang as the court session continued.

Mu Yu persuaded the Dragon King to make the final two stages of the Crown Prince selection public, advancing the First Prince Yuan Rong’s scheme. The Dragon King planned to turn the scheme against its supporters, while Shisui arrived at the Second Research Institute with prisoners destined to become living puppets.

• Mu Yu argued that making the Crown Prince trial and vote public would strengthen the Sea Race, and the Dragon King approved the proposal.
• The Sima Family head joined Yuan Rong’s carriage and explained that Mu Yu was a clever descendant of a Sima Family branch.
• Yuan Shun questioned the Dragon King about publicizing the trial, and the Dragon King said he would use the scheme to build momentum for the next ruler.
• Yuan Shun agreed to help the First Prince’s plan proceed smoothly.
• Shisui arrived at the Second Research Institute’s Arctic base with the prisoner fleet, where researchers awaited them; the Sea Race prisoners were set to become the institute’s first living puppets.

Shisui infiltrated the Second Research Institute by concealing his fleet and its captives in fog, then entered the base in Alternate Space to take control of it before Yuan Yuan arrived. Meanwhile, Yuan Yuan sailed toward the institute and allowed [Survival in Desperate Situations] to use his luck, unaware it was secretly draining him and would betray him in a future crisis.

• Shisui switched off the fleet’s Psychic Energy Shields, concealed its approach in thick fog, and landed at the Second Research Institute’s dock.
• The Sea Race researchers led vacant-looking captives into the institute as sources of infection, while Shisui slipped into Alternate Space.
• Shisui sensed the institute’s powerful defensive formations and entered the base, intending to seize control before Yuan Yuan arrived.
• Yuan Yuan traveled toward the Azure Nether Ocean aboard a warship with his reduced guard and remaining cargo ships.
• Yuan Yuan refused [Survival in Desperate Situations]’s offer to teleport him to the institute and instead asked it to ensure a smooth voyage.
• [Survival in Desperate Situations] secretly harvested Yuan Yuan’s luck and Psychic Energy as he remained unaware it would betray him in a future desperate situation.

Shisui infiltrated the Second Research Institute and uncovered evidence that it had created and supported Lou Shisui as an experimental subject, whose unusual body made his soul transmigration possible. After finding records about the experiments, Shisui considered harvesting the researchers’ flesh and preserving their brains.

• Shisui searched a researcher’s memories, mapped the Second Research Institute, and sent Feather Powder mist through the facility as his puppets advanced.
• Shisui entered the institute’s core building and saw a large experiment in which researchers were testing modified bodies for the arriving second prince, Yuan Yuan.
• A test subject’s body began to decay after being removed from its machine, and Shisui recognized the solution as familiar to Lou Shisui’s memories.
• Shisui concluded that the Second Research Institute had secretly funded the Lou Family and used Lou Shisui as a test subject, explaining his body’s adaptability.
• Shisui read observation reports in the archives and considered whether he could preserve the researchers’ brains after harvesting their flesh.

Shisui ambushed and defeated the Heaven Realm expert in charge of the Second Research Institute while his Ukaku fog spread across the ice island. After using the expert’s blood to keep the ice walls operating without raising an alarm, Shisui absorbed him, and the fog concealed the battle from the researchers.

• Shisui sensed the Heaven Realm expert’s presence, stored the research records and equipment in his Alternate Space, and vanished from the building.
• The Heaven Realm expert detected the spreading fog, but Shisui ambushed him and wounded him with a rapid series of attacks.
• The expert used the seawater lake to summon waterspouts and attack Shisui, but Shisui broke through the currents and shattered the expert’s ice halberd.
• Shisui captured the gravely wounded expert, used his blood to form Flesh Crystals that kept the ice walls operating, and then absorbed him.
• The battle ended in under a minute, while the dense fog covered the ice island and kept the researchers from investigating.

Shisui digested the Heaven Realm flesh and prepared to advance while controlling the researchers at the Arctic base. As political rumors stirred Chongming City and the battle at Mao City remained stalled, Yuan Yuan's fleet reached the Arctic Ocean, where Shisui sensed its approach.

• Shisui formed a cocoon, began absorbing the Heaven Realm flesh, and planned to use the Second Prince's Heaven Realm guard to make Flesh Crystals for his Alternate Spaces.
• Yuan Rong's supporters spread rumors about Yuan Yuan's battlefield defeat and Yuanli's failure at Mao City, boosting Yuan Rong's popularity.
• Yan Fei helped circulate rumors to intensify political turmoil and potentially fuel antiwar sentiment among the Sea Race.
• Yuanli dismissed the unfavorable public opinion and ordered White Owl to record officials who chose the wrong side so he could expose undercover agents later.
• The Sea Race and coalition forces continued fighting to a stalemate at Mao City while both sides held back their Heaven Realm fighters.
• Yuan Yuan's fleet arrived in the Arctic Ocean, and Shisui sensed the ships approaching from within the ice cave.

After absorbing a Heaven Realm cultivator, Shisui infiltrated the Second Research Institute and prepared to rebuild Yuan Yuan’s body so he could control the Second Prince as a puppet. Meanwhile, Guan Xiangming headed to the front to take over from the Third Prince, and Shisui moved Yuan Yuan toward the laboratory to begin his plan for gaining a puppet in the clan’s trial.

• Shisui advanced to the Earth Realm Eighth Realm, concealed Feather Powder around the Second Prince’s fleet, and shut the institute’s gates after Yuan Yuan arrived.
• Yuan Yuan accepted the researchers’ explanation that the person in charge was occupied with physical reconstruction and went to his temporary residence.
• Guan Xiangming left for Mao City to replace the Third Prince, strengthening the Guan Family’s ties with the Third Prince Faction without provoking the Second Prince Faction.
• A researcher led Yuan Yuan toward the laboratory and persuaded him to leave Ze Lao behind, while Ze Lao followed him with Divine Sense but detected no anomaly.
• Shisui, disguised as the institute’s person in charge, welcomed Yuan Yuan and prepared to reconstruct his body and turn him into a living puppet for the clan’s trial.