Chapter Summaries

The group searched Long De’s treasures, learned the black stone was an Inheritance Stone Tablet, and waited for Hua Xiezhi to recover. After Qinghu reported Soul Bodies appearing across Snowfield Star, they left for Long De’s Central City Secret Vault, then encountered a distress signal in space and prepared a cautious rescue.

• Qu Jianlei identified the wooden tablets as likely soul-nourishing treasures, while Old Lady Jia revealed that the black stone was an Inheritance Stone Tablet.
• Hua Xiezhi gradually recovered, and Qinghu tested the Sigma Family’s strength against the Tata Family while gathering information.
• Qinghu reported that hostile Soul Bodies had appeared across Snowfield Star, and Hua Xiezhi said Long De had another Secret Vault in Central City.
• Qu Jianlei’s group emptied the Central City manor of more than two billion in assets, boarded the Unlucky Starship, and departed after Hua Xiezhi said she might recall more hidden treasures.
• Tian Yin detected a distress signal beyond a meteor, and Qu Jianlei agreed to help only if the survivors stayed outside the Cargo Hold and clung to the Mechanical Arm.

Tian Yin’s starship picked up three stranded survivors but refused to let them aboard, while Hua Xiezhi recovered memories revealing Long De’s inheritance and plans. The group learned the ancient technique called teleportation, and Qinghu warned Hua Xiezhi not to say its name carelessly before ordering the cultivation method sent to First One for study.

• Tian Yin refused to let the stranded survivors enter the Unlucky Starship, and a battered starship carried them toward Snowfield Star before flinging them toward the planet from six million kilometers away.
• Qinghu told Tian Yin that the distress signal was probably bait intended for the sender’s own people, since frontier distress calls could attract predators.
• Hua Xiezhi recovered enough to confirm she had not undergone Body Seizure and recounted how Long De found the Ghost Cultivation inheritance, advanced to Supreme, and planned to use Adol and the Sigma Family’s land.
• Hua Xiezhi said she had memorized most of Long De’s cultivation method, but it was difficult to adapt to their system; Old Lady Jia doubted Paranoid could alter it, citing his failure to understand Near-Earth Jump.
• Hua Xiezhi revealed that Long De’s memories called Near-Earth Jump teleportation, and Qinghu warned her not to pronounce the word carelessly before instructing her to give the cultivation method to First One.

After returning to Paradise Star, Qu Jianlei gave Bentley a pill that renewed his vitality, then continued testing arrays and studying pill refining on Lost Star. He returned after learning that another military starship had approached, only to find that the Empire had ordered Above Supremes to report their identities.

• Qu Jianlei gave Bentley a pill and told him to take it in seclusion without telling anyone, and Bentley emerged more youthful and vigorous.
• Qu Jianlei tested teleportation and spirit-gathering arrays on Lost Star while studying the Qi Recovery Pill formula.
• Big Head Butterfly warned Qu Jianlei that another military starship was heading toward Lost Star, and Qu Jianlei shut down the array and erased traces of their presence.
• Qu Jianlei returned to Paradise Star after learning that a weak cosmic wind had passed and Cloud Mist Mountain was safe.
• Claire, Qinghu, and Old Lady Jia told Qu Jianlei that the Empire had ordered Above Supremes to report their identities and was investigating top combat power.

Qu Jianlei’s team decided to hide their Supremes and other unusually gifted members while the Empire investigated Supremes across Paradise Star. After two sweeping inspections, the Cloud Mist Mountain Tourist Area Administration tried to bring Xiang Xue’s guesthouse under its management, and Xiang Xue angrily challenged the visitors to identify who was demanding fees.

• Paranoid told Qu Jianlei that Ironhide Snake had warned him the Empire’s Supreme investigation would be intense and advised him to lie low.
• Qu Jianlei and the others agreed that the four Supremes, Bentley, Hua Xiezhi, Claire, and Tian Yin would hide on Lost Star while Qu Jianlei stayed behind.
• Qu Jianlei received a message from Xiao Moshan and Xiao Qin confirming they were safe, then avoided inspection by posing as a skilled roadside mechanic.
• Paradise Star carried out two large-scale rounds of inspections, and Xiang Xue prevented inspectors from probing the guesthouse or her background.
• After the inspections, the Cloud Mist Mountain Tourist Area Administration demanded that the guesthouse accept its oversight and pay fees, prompting Xiang Xue to challenge the visitors to name who was responsible.

Xiang Xue and Qu Jianlei weathered an attempted shake-down at their guesthouse while avoiding a trap during the Empire’s Supreme screening. Later, Qu Jianlei tracked down Qian He on Forward Star, where Qian He arrived to ask for his help; the chapter ended with Qu Jianlei demanding his ten million waiting fee before hearing the matter.

• Xiang Xue wanted to punish the people behind the guesthouse threat, but Qu Jianlei advised waiting to see who would enforce it and warned that they might be baiting them into acting during the screening.
• After the third screening, Ironhide Snake’s assistant told them to keep operating normally, and the threatening man was transferred away.
• Xiao Hu told Qu Jianlei that Qian He wanted his help, so Qu Jianlei followed the trail of Qian He’s auxiliary Wristwatches to Forward Star.
• Qu Jianlei refused to wait ten days for Qian He, but accepted a ten-million fee for his waiting time.
• Qian He arrived on the eighth day, and Qu Jianlei demanded the ten million before asking what help he needed.

Qian He paid Qu Jianlei ten million and asked him to send Supremes to the Maiden Star Region, while revealing that the Empire’s crackdown was linked to several recent incidents and an Awakened One with a Soul Attribute. Qu Jianlei refused the job despite Qian He’s explanations, leaving the door open only for requests posted on the Wristwatch.

• Qian He paid Qu Jianlei ten million and asked how many Supremes his organization could mobilize.
• Qian He explained that the Empire was investigating Supremes after crimes across several star regions and the theft of a Super Cultivation Room.
• Qian He revealed that an Awakened One with a Soul Attribute had drawn attention to the Blade Star Region, where Empire Storm and the Department of Anomalous Affairs had investigated.
• Qu Jianlei concluded that the Empire’s investigation likely targeted ghost cultivators as well as public security, but declined to help Qian He explore the Maiden Star Region.
• Qian He insisted he wanted to find an opportunity to advance to Supreme, and Qu Jianlei told him he could post requests on the Wristwatch without any promise that they would be accepted.

Qu Jianlei checked that Xiao Moshan and Xiao Qin were safe on Zi Hong Star, then returned to Paradise Star as the Empire's investigation eased. On Lost Star, Old Lady Jia urged him to define a path to Above Supreme, but Qu Jianlei remained troubled by the risk of exposing Shenzhou's inheritance; just as he considered studying the breakthrough method later, Big Head Butterfly reported a starship battle nearby.

• Qu Jianlei visited Zi Hong Star and learned that Ping An's setback against Empire Storm had kept the Empire from heavily targeting the planet or Xiao Moshan and Xiao Qin.
• Qu Jianlei returned to Paradise Star, and after the Empire's half-year investigation eased, Paranoid, Mu Yu, and Claire returned while Qu Jianlei and the others remained on Lost Star.
• Old Lady Jia asked Qu Jianlei to calculate a method for reaching Above Supreme, and Qinghu offered to bring Supremes to study his approach.
• Qu Jianlei said he lacked time and worried that sharing the method could expose Shenzhou's inheritance, especially after learning about an Inheritance Stone Tablet and the ghost cultivator's legacy.
• Qu Jianlei decided he might study the breakthrough method once the investigation had fully subsided, but Big Head Butterfly reported a starship battle eight million kilometers away.

Qu Jianlei and his companions hid on Lost Star while two powerful civilian factions fought nearby, then considered intervening when the Strathford Adventure Group called for help. The fleeing ship identified its opponents as the Archaeology Enthusiasts Association, raising the question of whether the group should act because Xiang Xue was still in Paradise.

• Xiao Hu detected a space battle near Lost Star, so Qu Jianlei ordered everyone to erase their traces and evacuate before the military arrived.
• Qu Jianlei’s group switched to the 3344 Ship and watched four Armed Merchant Ships continue fighting, concluding that both sides had powerful backing.
• After the battle dragged on and several ships lost their ability to jump, Bentley urged the group not to intervene and draw the military’s attention.
• A damaged ship from the Strathford Adventure Group detected the 3344 Ship and demanded help, threatening it with the Strathford Family’s enmity.
• The Strathford ship revealed that it was fighting the Archaeology Enthusiasts Association, and Hua Xiezhi asked whether they should intervene because Xiang Xue was in Paradise.

Qu Jianlei intervened when the Strathford Family attacked two Grave Robber merchant ships, then accepted payment to escort the survivors toward Blessing Star. After learning that the dispute concerned an expedition to the Maiden Star Region, he asked whether many forces were heading there.

• Qu Jianlei recognized the ships as fellow Archaeology Enthusiasts and moved the 3344 Ship to help the Grave Robbers, who said the Strathford Family wanted them to explore the Maiden Star Region.
• Qu Jianlei launched two Attack Ships, ordered both sides to cease fire, and let the Strathford Family vessels leave because of Glory Academy.
• Amolin identified himself as a Supreme and sent Tesna to the 3344 Ship, where Tesna confirmed that two Supremes were aboard and delivered ten million in silver notes.
• Qu Jianlei took the Grave Robber crews and their damaged ships through a jump to the Thorn Star Region, near Blessing Star.
• Amolin and Tesna explained that the fight began over disagreements about dividing the benefits of a Maiden Star Region expedition, and Tesna said Mu Guang might have appeared in the Xincheng Star Region half a year earlier.
• Qu Jianlei asked whether many forces were heading to the Maiden Star Region.

Qu Jianlei traveled through Blessing Star and Sky Hook, gathering information as he avoided the growing turmoil around the Maiden Star Region. After he returned to Paradise Star, he learned that Tian Yin had been declared wanted with an extraordinary reward.

• Qu Jianlei learned that Imperial forces were tightening access to the Maiden Star Region and decided it was not worth going there yet.
• On Blessing Star, Qu Jianlei discovered that Chaoyang Academy had posted five-million bounties to contact Paranoid and Mu Yu, while the number of Supremes had declined.
• Qu Jianlei returned to Sky Hook, evaded an Anti-Smuggling inspection with a mental illusion, and set up Teleportation Array Plates across the region while seeking Rhine.
• Qu Jianlei and his companions returned to Paradise Star, where Cloud Mist Mountain's tourism event boosted the guesthouse's revenue.
• Big Head Butterfly told Qu Jianlei that Paradise had issued a wanted notice for Tian Yin, offering up to thirty million and a thirty percent share for her capture alive.

Qu Jianlei’s group stayed out of the Empire’s growing investigations and waited for a safer place to establish their array. On Zi Hong Star, Zhan Donglai asked Qu Jianlei to rescue his apprentice Palamela and three other Supremes, who were trapped in the Asteroid Debris Belt by a powerful pursuer with government connections.

• Ironhide Snake told Paranoid that Tian Yin’s case was enormous, likely involved multiple Supremes, and was connected to investigations on Paradise Star.
• Tian Yin worried about the gold mine and Tan Guli, but Old Lady Jia and Qu Jianlei warned that visiting Light Gauze Star would put him at greater risk.
• After half a year, Qu Jianlei decided to set up the Super Gathering Spirit Array on Homestead Star and traveled to Zi Hong Star to arrange another Computer Group.
• Jierte offered Qu Jianlei better payment terms and a discount on the new Computer Group, while Zhan Donglai later requested a meeting with him.
• Zhan Donglai explained that Palamela and three other Supremes were hiding in the Asteroid Debris Belt after their ship was destroyed, while a powerful group searched for them under the protection of government connections.
• Zhan Donglai asked Qu Jianlei to use his group’s strength to intervene and rescue Palamela and the others.

Zhan Donglai persuaded Qu Jianlei to intervene in a dispute by offering a copy of a Divine Script technique and help obtaining a Computer Group. Qu Jianlei’s team traveled to the Asteroid Debris Belt under cover as prospectors, where Hua Xiezhi clashed with a military inspector.

• Qu Jianlei refused to mediate until Zhan Donglai offered access to a copy of four Divine Script characters and promised a better Computer Group with its backdoors removed.
• Qu Jianlei agreed to go, warned that his team would use force if necessary, and arranged for Zhan Donglai to secure them an official identity and a starship.
• Zhan Donglai obtained a retired Mining Management Department patrol starship, and Qu Jianlei’s team traveled to the Asteroid Debris Belt.
• The starship passed through a military checkpoint after a warning shot and presented the team as government-authorized mineral prospectors.
• A military inspector mocked the Zi Hong Mining Management Department, and Hua Xiezhi challenged him when he responded angrily.

Qu Jianlei searched the nebula for Palamela’s group while helping stranded Survivors, then identified Palamela and two companions and brought them aboard his starship. The three entered the Cargo Hold and discovered that other Escape Pods were already in use.

• Bentley and Hua Xiezhi dealt with the soldiers’ identity checks and guided their starship into the Asteroid Belt.
• Qu Jianlei, Old Lady Jia, and Qinghu teleported to the Asteroid Debris Belt and traveled to the nebula where Palamela’s group was hiding.
• Qu Jianlei searched the nebula for Palamela, rescued two groups of amateur Survivors, and ignored watchers following his starship.
• Palamela and his two companions debated whether to approach Qu Jianlei’s starship, then prepared for battle and followed it.
• Qu Jianlei verified Palamela’s identity through light signals and opened the Cargo Hold to the three Supremes.
• Palamela and his companions entered the Cargo Hold with their Escape Pods and lifeboat, then froze when they saw other Escape Pods in use.

Qu Jianlei’s group rescued Palamela and his companions, sold them Qi Replenishing Pills, and demanded the promised compensation from the Maiden Star Region. The dispute left Palamela realizing that Qu Jianlei’s team had ties to mine development, while the question of payment remained unresolved.

• Qu Jianlei let Palamela’s injured companions out of their Escape Pods and invited the three Supremes aboard to buy medicine.
• Palamela bought ten bottles of Qi Replenishing Pills from Bentley for one and a half million silver notes.
• Qu Jianlei said Zhan Donglai had promised their gains from the Maiden Star Region, but Palamela and Lusina argued that compensation should wait until they were safe.
• Old Lady Jia and Qinghu challenged Lusina over her reputation, and Old Lady Jia urged Qu Jianlei to collect compensation in advance.
• Qu Jianlei warned Palamela that the three would have to leave if they refused to pay, prompting Palamela to ask whether the team was developing mines for hard currency.

Qu Jianlei’s group obtained a copy of the Divine Script Art from Palamela and the other Supremes, then discussed how to get them off the starship without exposing their route. The negotiations left Lusina uneasy, and Qu Jianlei learned that the injured Patrice was the Palatu Marquis’s daughter.

• Palamela confirmed that Qu Jianlei’s group had faced an Above Supreme and asked what reward his senior apprentice had promised; Qu Jianlei requested only a copy of the Divine Script Art.
• Hua Xiezhi asked about the group’s flying magic artifact, and Qu Jianlei’s companions examined the Divine Script records while he made holographic copies and returned the plates.
• Qu Jianlei proposed that the three Supremes travel in Escape Pods, but Lusina refused, so he offered resources to help them find another way.
• Palamela persuaded Lusina to accept the Escape Pod plan by saying he would accompany her, and Gene Vine asked whether they should inform Patrice.
• Palamela revealed that Patrice was the Palatu Marquis’s daughter, prompting Qu Jianlei to ask about Palamela’s relationship with her and Gene Vine.

Palamela explained that Patrice was third in line to inherit the Palatu Marquis title and had limited support within her family, making outside allies important. When Patrice asked Qu Jianlei’s group what it would take to help her, Hua Xiezhi rejected deferred payment, Divine Script materials, and mine shares, then asked how much money Patrice could offer.

• Palamela explained that the aging Marquis and the deaths of the first two heirs had made Patrice a likely successor, while her nephews threatened her position.
• Palamela said the attackers most likely came from the Marquis's Residence, and the group debated whether Patrice should leave with them or receive supplies.
• Gene Vine and Palamela brought Patrice to speak with Qu Jianlei’s group, and Patrice asked what price would secure their help.
• Hua Xiezhi refused Patrice’s offers of a future Divine Script Treasure and shares in an Energy Stone Mine.
• Patrice cautiously offered to negotiate a payment, suggesting two billion and saying she could provide collateral if needed.

Qu Jianlei’s group negotiated payment with Patrice and helped the rescued passengers escape the Maiden Star Region, while Hua Xiezhi and Bentley were delayed by military inspections. After the groups reunited aboard the mining management starship, Qu Jianlei learned that the pursuers had three ships—and realized they had already arrived.

• Hua Xiezhi agreed to help Patrice deal with her pursuers for two billion Unregistered Silver Notes, and Palamela offered to cover part of the cost while helping for free.
• Patrice and Palamela’s group gathered two billion in notes and paid Hua Xiezhi; the guests then toured the 3344 Ship and noticed its Smuggling Interdiction Terminal.
• The rescued passengers recovered over five days, then left in Escape Pods in two batches and rendezvoused with the mining management starship.
• Hua Xiezhi and Bentley arrived three and a half days later after military inspections and questioning delayed their departure.
• Qu Jianlei asked Palamela about the pursuers, learned they had three ships including two resembling warships, and realized they had already arrived.

After discovering a mole in Patrice’s group, Qu Jianlei led the fleeing ships into a Black Zone to escape five pursuing starships. With Xiao Hu’s help, he planted Antimatter Space Mines, and the first pursuer struck one.

• Qu Jianlei discovered that an A-rank supporter of Patrice was transmitting their location, and he killed the mole after Old Lady Jia warned Palamela against soul searching.
• Qu Jianlei rejected Kadia’s suggestion to fight in the Storm Star System and chose the Black Zone, trusting Xiao Hu to navigate it.
• The pursuers followed with five starships, including one High Imitation Warship and four Armed Merchant Ships, while Qu Jianlei revealed their true number to the Supremes.
• Xiao Hu analyzed the Black Zone, and Qu Jianlei ordered it to deploy large Antimatter Space Mines at points shaped by curved force fields and refracted waves.
• The first pursuing Armed Merchant Ship charged ahead and crashed into the newly deployed mines.

Qu Jianlei and the Mining Administration starship endured a long pursuit through the Black Zone while Xiao Hu tracked the enemy with linked terminals. After sixteen days, Qu Jianlei ambushed the four pursuing ships, crippling two and leaving a two-against-one fight underway.

• A Space Mine blasted one pursuing starship, killing four crew members and leaving the vessel beyond repair.
• Qu Jianlei linked additional terminals with Vortex to help Xiao Hu track the pursuers through the Black Zone, and he explained that it selected key data with artificial intelligence.
• After days of circling, the pursuers reduced their probing fire, while Palamela urged the escapees to stay steady and Patrice worried about delaying her return.
• When Qu Jianlei noticed the four Armed Merchant Ships changing formation, he shut down the locator and turned the Mining Administration starship toward them.
• Qu Jianlei's starship emerged at close range and disabled a High Imitation Warship with one shot, then crippled another Armed Merchant Ship with three more shots.
• The remaining pursuers prepared to surround and attack, while their captain rallied them by pointing out that their Fire Control Systems and the disabled ships' weapons still worked.

The Mining Management Starship overwhelmed the enemy fleet while Xiao Hu’s evasive maneuvers and Hua Xiezhi’s fire control impressed Patrice’s crew. After stopping a sabotage attempt and crippling the remaining ships, the group debated whether to pursue the stranded survivors or leave them in the Black Zone.

• Xiao Hu guided the Mining Management Starship through enemy fire while Hua Xiezhi picked off Small Attack Ships, and Patrice’s crew volunteered to help with ship duties.
• Qinghu captured a B-rank Awakened One who had tried to bomb the power system, and Patrice ordered Razor to kill him.
• The Mining Management Starship destroyed or disabled the enemy ships, pursued the fleeing merchant ship, and left its escaping crew in the Black Zone.
• After returning to the main battlefield, the Mining Management Starship crippled the remaining merchant ships, and their crew called on Palamela to surrender.
• The enemy offered information about the mastermind and pleaded for mercy, but Patrice dismissed the information and Kadia urged the group not to risk pursuing them.