Chapter Summaries

Qu Jianlei and You You arranged for Spirit Fox to escape the Space Pirates, with help from the Fourth Boss, who asked them to pass a message to Red Cloud about the defeat at the Kenan Nebula. Qu Jianlei and Spirit Fox left the core area, and Spirit Fox estimated that the Imperial fleet could arrive in as little as ten days or as late as three months, possibly with Supremes.

• Qu Jianlei contacted You You, told her Spirit Fox was at Number Thirteen Triumphant Return Road, and asked her to arrange their escape.
• Spirit Fox agreed to give You You two pardon slots in exchange for help getting out, and You You arrived with the Fourth Boss two hours later.
• The Fourth Boss asked Qu Jianlei to tell Red Cloud that the front-line soldiers were not responsible for the defeat at the Kenan Nebula.
• The Fourth Boss revealed that Pan Yifu was imprisoned after Tang Supreme injured him, while Old Ghost and Baldy had also been captured and White Robe was dead.
• You You drove Qu Jianlei and Spirit Fox out of the core area, and the Fourth Boss gave them medicine before they left.
• Spirit Fox estimated that the Imperial fleet might arrive in ten days or within three months, depending on maintenance discoveries and the Empire's response, and Qu Jianlei realized Supremes might come too.

Qu Jianlei and Spirit Fox reached Blaze’s Field Hospital, where their survivors reunited with Mu Guoguo’s Joint Command and prepared for the Empire’s arrival. After Qu Jianlei warned the main force that the Space Pirates might intensify their assault, the Pioneers held their ground, and news later arrived that the besieging pirates had been decisively defeated.

• Qu Jianlei and Spirit Fox discussed the Space Pirates’ dwindling prospects and the cost of the Pioneers’ losses as they headed to the Secret Camp.
• Red Cloud, Fang Cao, and the others decided to move to Blaze’s Field Hospital, where they found Mu Guoguo and the battered Joint Command survivors.
• A Fire Attribute Rank B questioned how Qu Jianlei had escaped unharmed, but Spirit Fox and Red Cloud defended him and described how he had rescued them.
• Spirit Fox explained that he had triggered the Relay Tower’s self-destruction by brute force, while Red Cloud said he could not reveal more because of a confidentiality agreement.
• Qu Jianlei warned Mu Huahua that the Space Pirates might attack the main force fiercely to cover their retreat, and a Joint Command leader relayed the warning by radio.
• Two days later, the Pioneers were reported to be resisting the intensified assault, and two days after that, news arrived that the besieging Space Pirates had suffered a crushing defeat.

The Pioneering Group routed the space pirates and reclaimed most of Zalif Planet, but their advance stalled against stronger defenses and shortages. As Diamond Group sought to surrender, the wounded leaders asked Qu Jianlei to handle the reception, and he refused until Fang Cao reminded him of his ties to Black Rain.

• The Third Division fled, triggering a retreat that let the Pioneering Group retake the Security Zone and most of Zalif Planet within two days.
• Zheng Ziyang challenged Black Sky about his origins at Blaze's Field Hospital, but Fang Cao and Red Cloud defended him and rebuked Zheng over Fat Fox's defection.
• Two Rank B Warriors from Diamond Group asked to surrender, and the leaders at the Field Hospital agreed to accept them only if they surrendered their weapons and submitted to detention and legal judgment.
• The two Diamond Warriors returned to consult their members and promised to answer the following night.
• Red Cloud asked Qu Jianlei to lead the reception if Diamond surrendered, but Qu Jianlei refused, and Fang Cao reminded him that his fate was tied to Black Rain's.

Qu Jianlei led the reception of Diamond defectors as they sabotaged the Space Pirates’ Power Supply Hub and launched a rebellion. His forces blocked the pursuit with Quicksand Art, exposed the Earth Attribute Second Boss, and wounded him again as he escaped.

• Qu Jianlei agreed to receive Diamond’s defectors after Red Cloud and Fang Cao urged him, despite Spirit Fox’s doubts about Fang Cao’s promise.
• Diamond’s four B-ranks questioned the lack of an A-rank escort, but Qu Jianlei and Mu Guoguo’s supporters demanded that they earn redemption through merit.
• The defectors destroyed the repaired Power Supply Hub, triggering battles, fires, and sabotage across the Space Pirate Controlled Zone.
• Qu Jianlei coordinated a reception force, gathered Earth Attribute warriors, and arranged heavy weapons to stop Space Pirate pursuers.
• The Second Boss tried to neutralize the Quicksand Art from within the crowd, but Qu Jianlei detected him and ordered a barrage that injured him before he escaped.

Qu Jianlei’s support operation succeeded, and the returned pioneers spent three days screening more than twenty thousand people for space pirate informants. Mu Guoguo arrested 195 suspected spies and, following Black Sky’s instructions, ordered their legs broken until the Empire’s reinforcements could investigate.

• The Pioneering Groups escaped the pirates’ artillery barrage, while the pirates later massacred more than five hundred pioneers who had failed to flee.
• Mu Guoguo and other leaders organized a three-day screening of the more than twenty thousand returned pioneers, though the rushed questioning left them unsure of the results.
• Mu Guoguo presented a list of 195 people to arrest and offered to make Blazing Fire responsible for the decision.
• Suo Hun of the Qian Duoduo Group confronted Mu Guoguo’s skeptical schoolmate, who recognized Suo Hun and left.
• Fifteen of the 195 suspects resisted arrest and were killed, while the other 180 submitted.
• Mu Guoguo ordered the remaining suspects’ legs broken until the Empire’s reinforcements arrived.

After resting from his spy investigation, Qu Jianlei learned that the Space Pirates were moving supplies and considered whether to attack, but Fang Cao’s limited combat strength made him favor waiting for reinforcements. He arranged to obtain two fake identities from Black Rain, and the chapter ended with news that the Space Pirates had begun withdrawing their main force.

• Qu Jianlei rested for three days after screening the Pioneering Group members for spies.
• Fang Cao told Qu Jianlei that the Space Pirates were moving supplies and had evacuated some family members and logistics personnel, while their main force remained in Zalifu.
• Qu Jianlei declined to pursue another attack because Fang Cao could only fight at around forty percent strength and he did not want to seek Zheng Ziyang’s help.
• Qu Jianlei asked Fang Cao about obtaining an identity and chose two fake identities after learning that arranging more would take time and require other suppliers.
• A messenger reported that the Space Pirates had begun withdrawing their main force.

Qu Jianlei and the other pioneers debated whether the Space Pirates were withdrawing, while Zheng Ziyang’s premature assault ended in heavy losses. When explosions signaled the Space Pirates were finally abandoning their stronghold, Qu Jianlei ordered an advance, but the group still wondered where the Empire’s reinforcements were.

• Fang Cao and Qu Jianlei discussed reports that the Space Pirates had withdrawn part of their main force, but Qu Jianlei refused to contact the Asking Heart Array because he did not want to see Zheng Ziyang.
• Qu Jianlei asked Spirit Fox for fake identities, resources, and introductions to intelligence brokers, and Spirit Fox agreed to help with the identities and funding.
• Zheng Ziyang persuaded Diamond Group and Quantum Group to attack the Space Pirates, but Diamond withdrew after being left to face the toughest resistance, and four Rank As counterattacked, causing Quantum heavy losses.
• Qian Duoduo’s heavy cannons helped repel the Space Pirates, after which the Pioneering Groups limited themselves to scattered exchanges of fire.
• Two days later, explosions erupted in the Space Pirates’ territory, and Qu Jianlei concluded that they were destroying supplies they could not take and ordered the gathered pioneers to attack.
• The Mu Family Siblings and other warriors prepared to advance toward the Prisoner of War Camp, while someone questioned whether the explosions were a trap and asked where the reinforcements were.

Qu Jianlei helped the Mu Family Siblings and other pioneers raid the evacuating space pirates, then confirmed You You was safe among the prisoners and learned that the pirates had tracked the Empire’s rescue operation. The Imperial fleet arrived, the pioneers secured Zalifu, and investigators confronted Diamond’s representative Rosana, who denied knowing about the events.

• Qu Jianlei led a small group to find Energy Blocks before reaching the Prisoner of War Camp, where pioneers were fighting the guards and freeing more than twenty thousand prisoners.
• Qu Jianlei recognized You You among the freed prisoners, and she indicated they should not meet openly before warning him that the space pirates had tracked the Imperial rescue information in real time.
• An Engineering Corps member spotted the Imperial fleet, which intercepted the evacuating pirate ships while its main force continued toward Zalifu.
• The Imperial military and government forces secured the dock, while their pursuit destroyed three pirate ships and captured some of their crews.
• Representatives from the Empire, the Four Great Heaven Rank Groups, the Energy Block Alliance, and Diamond began investigating Zalifu, and Diamond’s Supreme Rosana claimed she knew nothing about the incident or the missing Morani.

After weeks of investigation, the Supremes uncovered evidence that Diamond had secretly mined an Amethyst Gold Mine and colluded with the Space Pirates. Hou Yueran accused Diamond of the scheme, leaving Rosana unable to shield its members from scrutiny.

• Rosana blocked harsh interrogations of Diamond's members, while the other groups' representatives insisted their own people also be questioned.
• A Space Pirate revealed that the pirates had planned to remain on Pioneer Star for twenty years and were exploiting a mine.
• The Energy Block Alliance Supreme demanded control of the interrogations after learning mineral resources might be involved.
• Hou Yueran announced that he had found evidence of an Amethyst Gold Mine in Diamond's territory.
• Hou Yueran explained that he found filled-in mine shafts and accused Diamond of secretly extracting Amethyst Gold with the Space Pirates.

After the Amethyst Gold Mine was exposed, the Supremes publicized Diamond’s alleged collusion with the Space Pirates and arranged investigations, detentions, and departures from Zalifu. Qu Jianlei boarded a passenger ship home, where a glamorous woman approached him.

• The Supremes found evidence of the Amethyst Gold Mine and the murdered laborers, but Rosana refused to accept Diamond’s responsibility or allow an immediate interrogation.
• The Supremes leaked news that Diamond had betrayed the pioneer camp to monopolize the mine, while Quantum’s Supreme criticized Zheng Ziyang and he requested Rotation Leave.
• The Supremes arranged replacement personnel and sent home pioneers not under suspicion, while keeping Diamond and Fat Fox members on Zalifu for investigation.
• Black Rain listed Black Sky for departure, and Qu Jianlei asked You You when she would leave before boarding a passenger ship with Spirit Fox and Fang Cao.
• Spirit Fox used an Energy Block Alliance permit to get Qu Jianlei aboard, and a glamorous woman approached him after the ship took off.

Qu Jianlei received compensation and warnings from Fang Cao and Spirit Fox as the spacecraft carried him toward Hope Star. At the spaceport, he saw Imperial Military Police arrest You You and asked Spirit Fox to keep track of what happened.

• Qu Jianlei declined to speak with an Emergency Affairs Department official, then accepted identity cards, banknotes, treasure chest keys, and cultivation resources from Fang Cao, who urged him to leave quickly after landing.
• Spirit Fox invited Qu Jianlei to stay in his private room, both to give him a better place to rest and to deter anyone trying to pressure him.
• After the spacecraft reached Hope Star, Qu Jianlei saw Imperial Military Police from the Third Division arrest You You at the spaceport.
• Qu Jianlei asked Spirit Fox to watch what happened to You You, and Spirit Fox splashed wine onto the room's surveillance camera before offering to explain the situation.

Qu Jianlei left the starship with Spirit Fox’s intelligence and explored Bailan City on Hope Star, where he found a hotel and bought a car. Zheng Ziyang unexpectedly spotted him at the same hotel and followed him, bringing the danger Qu Jianlei sensed into focus.

• Spirit Fox gave Qu Jianlei a paper listing pickup locations, intelligence brokers, and hidden caches, then bid him farewell.
• Qu Jianlei left the starship without collecting his luggage, exchanged money, and walked through Bailan City, enjoying the lack of surveillance.
• When rain drove him into a hotel, Qu Jianlei booked a top-floor room and warned the owner not to cause trouble.
• A gloomy newcomer arrived at the hotel after midnight, threatened the owner, and demanded a top-floor room.
• The next morning, Qu Jianlei bought a secondhand car from the hotel owner and drove away, sensing a malicious presence tracking him.
• Zheng Ziyang recognized Qu Jianlei at the hotel, rented a car, and followed him.

Qu Jianlei confronted Zheng Ziyang after the commander pursued him into the woods, and learned Zheng wanted to seize his supposed Electromagnetic Movement Technique. The encounter ended with Qu Jianlei revealing he was A-rank and challenging Zheng to flee by air.

• Qu Jianlei left the road and stopped in the woods, where Zheng Ziyang tracked him down and demanded to know why he was so confident.
• Zheng Ziyang explained that he wanted Qu Jianlei's Electromagnetic Movement Technique, believing it would be valuable and blaming him for White Robe's death.
• Zheng Ziyang used Quicksand Art, but Qu Jianlei rose into the air and revealed that he was A-rank.
• Zheng Ziyang withdrew his threat but warned that their fight could draw the City Garrison; Qu Jianlei asked whether Zheng dared fly away to escape.

Qu Jianlei defeated Zheng Ziyang after revealing his No Attribute Rank A cultivation and Mental Spells. He captured Zheng, then decided to kill him because Zheng had learned too much.

• Zheng Ziyang tried to make peace with Qu Jianlei, but Qu refused and rebuked him for targeting someone without a faction.
• Zheng attacked with Stone Arrow, while Qu dodged and used vines to bind him after revealing his hidden abilities.
• Qu struck Zheng with a Rank A Mental Spell, knocking him unconscious and sealing his cultivation.
• After searching and binding Zheng, Qu explained that he had been concealing his strength and said Zheng had helped him feel at ease by witnessing it.
• Qu told Zheng that villains died from talking too much and declared that he knew too much, so it was time for him to die.

After killing Zheng Ziyang and taking his hidden wealth, Qu Jianlei traveled to Qingyu City to collect something arranged through Spirit Fox. He met Ivan at the Night Is So Beautiful bar, received a locker tag, and discovered miniature cameras in the cloakroom.

• Qu Jianlei killed Zheng Ziyang, found nearly three million Energy Block banknotes in his Item-Storing Talisman, and destroyed the evidence.
• Qu Jianlei drove to Qingyu City, sold his battered car, and entered the Night Is So Beautiful bar.
• Qu Jianlei waited for Ivan, identified himself with their Secret Code, and refused Ivan's demand for extra payment.
• Ivan gave Qu Jianlei a numbered cloakroom tag, and Qu Jianlei opened the corresponding locker.
• Qu Jianlei noticed miniature cameras in the cloakroom.

Qu Jianlei watched Old Ivan, then abducted and interrogated him after deciding he could not be trusted. The interrogation exposed Old Ivan’s hidden workshop, where Qu Jianlei found documents, cultivation crystals, and a notebook of Black Market information.

• Qu Jianlei left the bar after noticing the people who had taken his seat were watching Old Ivan, then ate at a nearby Night Market.
• Old Ivan drove to a secluded courtyard, where Qu Jianlei knocked him unconscious and used Truth Serum to interrogate him.
• Qu Jianlei recalled Spirit Fox’s warning that Old Ivan was untrustworthy and reasoned that Zheng Ziyang’s death could expose his Electromagnetic Movement Technique.
• Under the serum’s influence, Old Ivan revealed his identity information and the location of backup records in a hidden compartment at his workshop.
• Qu Jianlei cut open the compartment and found documents, weapons, money, Land Deeds, cultivation crystals, and an old notebook containing Black Market information.

Qu Jianlei erased evidence of Old Ivan’s fake-ID operation, fled Hope Star, and discovered that authorities were searching for him over Zheng Ziyang’s disappearance. He settled in Greenwater City on Hope Star Two under the new identity Panda and hired twin sisters as guides.

• Qu Jianlei destroyed Old Ivan’s counterfeiting equipment, killed him, and took the fake-ID customer information before leaving.
• Qu Jianlei obtained another identity and left Hope Star for Hope Star Two, while Quantum Group’s report prompted an investigation and a reward notice for Black Sky.
• At Hope Star Two, Qu Jianlei saw his portrait on an official notice, abandoned his Hope Star identities and Wristwatch, and adopted the name Panda.
• Qu Jianlei settled in Greenwater City, booked a hotel suite, and hired two identical twin sisters as business guides.

Qu Jianlei settled into a rented villa in Greenwater City with help from the two business tour guides, then hosted a neighborhood barbecue to meet his new neighbors. As the gathering grew lively, Pan Xing singled him out by asking about his noisy new off-road vehicle.

• Qu Jianlei toured Greenwater, shopped for local clothes, and asked the sisters to help him find a rental home.
• The older sister found a discounted villa near the outskirts, and Qu Jianlei inspected it, signed the lease, and bought furnishings and a new off-road vehicle.
• The sisters encouraged Qu Jianlei to invite nearby households to a customary welcome dinner, and he agreed to hold a barbecue.
• The sisters helped deliver invitations, and Qu Jianlei hosted the neighbors with a seven-person band playing nearby.
• Pan Xing asked Qu Jianlei whether his Roarer was the new vehicle he had bought, and Qu Jianlei confirmed it.

At a neighborhood barbecue, Qu Jianlei faced Alice’s disdain over his unemployment until a business guide revealed he was a Modified Warrior. Teng Wenli inferred that Qu Jianlei might have awakened an ability, and the chapter ended with him asking whether Qu Jianlei had registered it.

• Pan Xing questioned Qu Jianlei’s modest vehicle, but Teng Wenli defended him and the neighborhood barbecue began.
• Alice challenged Qu Jianlei about his profession and income, and Qu Jianlei asked what she did for work.
• The younger business guide revealed that Qu Jianlei was a Modified Warrior, prompting Teng Wenli to rebuke Alice for her remark.
• Qu Jianlei asked whether Teng Wenli had connections to the Energy Block Alliance and mentioned its techniques, leading Teng Wenli to suspect he had awakened.
• Pan Xing bragged about his Gene Serum injections, and Teng Wenli reminded him that his third-injection qualification had required help.
• The younger twin asked Qu Jianlei what attribute he had awakened, and Teng Wenli asked whether he had registered his awakening.

Qu Jianlei settled into his new neighborhood, kept his Awakening status unregistered, and spent twenty days recovering from injuries sustained on Zalifu Star. After Teng Wenli invited him to his daughter’s fifteenth-birthday gathering, Qu Jianlei asked how he could use the local library, prompting Teng Wenli to suspect he lacked registered cultivation methods.

• Qu Jianlei told Teng Wenli that his Awakening status was uncertain and that registration might not help him obtain cultivation resources.
• Pan Xing urged Alice to report Qu Jianlei, but Teng Wenli warned her that angering an Ability Warrior could endanger the whole family, so she stopped him.
• Qu Jianlei ended his welcome gathering, paid the business guide sisters, and spent the next twenty days recovering at home.
• Teng Wenli invited Qu Jianlei to his youngest daughter’s fifteenth-birthday gathering and said gifts were optional.
• Qu Jianlei asked what procedures he needed to follow to read at the library, and Teng Wenli wondered whether he had not registered and lacked cultivation methods.