Chapter Summaries

Qu Jianlei brought the Artifact Spirit to inspect the mysterious Star Cluster, and it identified the site as a damaged Spirit Treasure. The Artifact Spirit began explaining what that meant, leaving the group to learn whether it could be restored.

• Qu Jianlei brought Great Serpent to Tianfeng and asked the Artifact Spirit to examine Nebula, but it could not identify the holographic image at first.
• After Qu Jianlei suggested that the Artifact Spirit might devour the possibly unfinished Abode, it agreed to send out a wisp of divine sense in exchange for compensation if it was damaged.
• The Artifact Spirit met Jiao Daoren and Great Serpent, then examined the Star Cluster and sensed that something was wrong.
• The group entered the Blazing Fire Barrier, where the Artifact Spirit confirmed that the site was a damaged Spirit Treasure that might take hundreds of thousands of years to recover.

The Artifact Spirit explained that the half-finished Fire Element Abode could break a Space Barrier, but warned that destroying one carelessly could open a path to the Endless Void. While investigating a living presence inside the Space Fetal Membrane, it suspected Heavenly Demons might be involved and privately warned Qu Jianlei to consider whether Yi He or others could be possessed.

• The Artifact Spirit revealed that the Abode was a remnant of a plan to break the World Barrier and said it could still breach a weak point leading to the Cultivation World.
• The Artifact Spirit proposed devouring some of the Abode’s origin, but Qu Jianlei asked how to deal with the living being developing inside it.
• The Artifact Spirit examined the Space Fetal Membrane and privately asked Qu Jianlei whether anyone in the group could be compromised.
• The Artifact Spirit identified Heavenly Demons as a possible threat and warned Qu Jianlei that the fetal membrane might be connected to a Heavenly Devil Nest.
• The Artifact Spirit said Yi He, Jiao Daoren, and even Sunset Glow could not be entirely ruled out as suspects, leaving Qu Jianlei alarmed by the possibility that Yi He was possessed.

Qu Jianlei gathered his allies after the Artifact Spirit detected a Heavenly Demon aura inside the Space Fetal Membrane, and the group prepared to break it open while taking precautions against possession. Bentley and Jia Shuiqing began forcing the hidden membrane into view, leaving the battle about to begin.

• Qu Jianlei summoned Jia Shuiqing, Qinghu, Bentley, Yuanyuan, Hua Xiezhi, Fourth Boss, and Tian Yin after learning that something inside the fetal membrane might be dangerous.
• Qu Jianlei told the assembled group that the lifeform incubating inside the membrane bore a Heavenly Demon aura, prompting suspicion toward Jiao Daoren and Yi He.
• Yi He revealed that he had encountered the team at the formation sealing the Heavenly Devil Realm, and he returned to the Yin Soul Pouch while Jiao Daoren agreed to be protected and supervised.
• Jiao Daoren offered his Ten Directions Demon Slaying Array, and Qu Jianlei's group spent spirit stones to set it up as a precaution against the Heavenly Demons.
• Bentley struck the empty air with the Wind and Thunder Mace to reveal the hidden sphere, then Jia Shuiqing hit it with her Great Seal and made its boundary clearer.

Jia Shuiqing, Qu Jianlei, Jing Yuexin, and their allies broke open the sphere and released a torrent of Heavenly Devil Qi. As the Artifact Spirit took command, a powerful Heavenly Demon attacked Duo Gan, and Yi He questioned whether it was truly a He Transforms Freely Heavenly Devil.

• Jia Shuiqing forced the sphere out of the Space Sub-layer, Hua Xiezhi crushed it with the Heaven and Earth Grinding Disc, and Qu Jianlei and Jing Yuexin cut open its membrane.
• Black liquid and a scorching, chilling aura poured from the sphere, while chaotic divine senses built pressure that overwhelmed Claire and Tian Yin until Qinghu protected them.
• Jing Yuexin tore the membrane apart, opening a black hole that spewed dense black qi, and the Artifact Spirit took command as the aura rose to Nascent Soul Realm level.
• Yuanyuan and Duo Gan retreated from the black qi, but a Heavenly Demon lunged at Duo Gan before she could escape; she struck it with her Gauss Gun, and the Great Serpent used its cracked Demon Core to break its illusion.
• Jiao Daoren identified the attacker as a He Transforms Freely Heavenly Devil, while Yi He challenged that identification and claimed such a demon would not arrive with great fanfare.

Qu Jianlei and the others fought a horde of Heavenly Demons emerging from a black hole, then faced a powerful Illusory Heavenly Devil. Qu Jianlei used Flawless Crystals and the Soul Suppressing Bell to weaken it before deploying the Cloud Crown, which threatened to absorb it but also drained his spiritual energy.

• Qu Jianlei used his modified Extreme Flame Fire Dragon Shroud, while the others attacked the endless black mist and liquid pouring from the black hole.
• More than a hundred bat-like Heavenly Demons emerged, so Qu Jianlei activated the Ten Directions Demon Slaying Grand Array around the black hole.
• A Nascent Soul-level Illusory Heavenly Devil revealed itself, and Yi He warned everyone to guard their minds against its soul-affecting illusions.
• Qu Jianlei had Xiao Hu scatter Flawless Crystals, which restrained the incomplete Heavenly Demon, while Jing Yuexin's Soul Suppressing Bell and the others' attacks weakened it further.
• Qu Jianlei brought out the Cloud Crown to absorb the battered Illusory Heavenly Devil, but the artifact rapidly drained his spiritual energy.

Qu Jianlei and his companions fought to draw the Illusory Heavenly Devil into the Cloud Crown, while Qu Jianlei exhausted himself sustaining the treasure. After the demon vanished into the Cloud Crown, a mysterious figure appeared, claiming to be a dormant Split Soul freed from the demon’s interference, but the group remained wary of its condition.

• Qu Jianlei kept the Cloud Crown’s suction active as his companions attacked the Illusory Heavenly Devil and helped reinforce him.
• The Illusory Heavenly Devil threatened to self-destruct, and Qu Jianlei refused to release it as the head repeatedly expanded and contracted.
• The demon’s apparent explosion proved to be a feint or transformation: it became green smoke and entered the Cloud Crown, while a faint phantom appeared in the air.
• Qu Jianlei’s companions tested the phantom with lightning and ice, and Qu Jianlei confirmed that it was not an illusion.
• The phantom identified itself as a dormant Split Soul freed from the Heavenly Demon’s suppression, while Qu Jianlei and his companions questioned whether it had truly escaped possession.

Qu Jianlei pressed the Split Soul to explain its connection to a Heavenly Demon and a mysterious third aura. After learning that a damaged Spirit Treasure’s new consciousness had drawn in the Heavenly Demon, he asked the senior for the method of refining an Abode.

• The Split Soul offered advice on using its space to break through the barrier, and allowed the Artifact Spirit to absorb the Abode’s origin.
• Qu Jianlei challenged the Split Soul about the Space Fetal Membrane and its connection to a Heavenly Demon, refusing to accept its account without an explanation.
• Qu Jianlei sensed the aura of the world’s Heavenly Dao and demanded to know whether the senior had conspired against the Human Race.
• The Split Soul explained that the Nebula had been a damaged Spirit Treasure that developed a faint consciousness, which then drew in the Heavenly Demon.
• The Artifact Spirit confirmed the senior’s account, and the Split Soul offered Qu Jianlei a reward for helping him.
• Qu Jianlei asked for the method of refining an Abode.

A mysterious Great Expert warned Duo Gan that changing cultivation methods would make her tribulation fatal, then gave her a way to improve her chances of surviving it. After the team recovered from battle, Qu Jianlei assigned Yuanyuan to refine the Heavenly Demon sealed in the Cloud Crown, a task that could also benefit This World System.

• The Great Expert refused Qu Jianlei's request but gave Duo Gan energy to refine within a Hundred Days, raising her chance of surviving tribulation to fifty percent.
• The Great Expert vanished after saying he and Qu Jianlei would meet in the Cultivation World, and the team agreed not to tell Da Vinci about Duo Gan's opportunity.
• Qu Jianlei checked with the Soul Nourishing Wood token, whose Artifact Spirit could no longer sense Heavenly Devil Qi on Duo Gan, and the team retreated to recover for half a month.
• Qu Jianlei divined that the Cloud Crown could restrain the Heavenly Demon and gave it to Yuanyuan to refine with the Soul Refining Cover, estimating the task would take about ten years.
• Jing Yuexin said refining the Heavenly Demon would bring Heaven and Earth Rejoice to This World System, and Yi He reminded the group that she had displayed a Seven-Colored Phenomenon during tribulation.

Qu Jianlei and the others confirmed that Jing Yuexin could share some of the world’s Luck, then prepared to leave the Star Cluster after dealing with its threats. A newly born consciousness revealed an uncanny knowledge of Xiao Hu and the Nebula, leaving Qu Jianlei staring at an image that suggested it might devour the Nebula.

• Jing Yuexin agreed to let the team share some Luck while they refined the Heavenly Demon, and Qu Jianlei returned to seclusion to recover.
• After a month, Qu Jianlei found no remaining hidden dangers and learned that the Subspace black hole had disappeared; he assigned Fourth Boss to clean house and manage the area.
• Fourth Boss asked to leave Gold Digger behind to help keep watch, and Gold Digger agreed.
• A dark-red mist appeared and transformed into a token, a head resembling the Heavenly Demon, and then a winged stick figure that looked like Xiao Hu.
• Qu Jianlei showed the others an image of a token swallowing a Nebula identical to theirs, then silently watched the dark-red mist.

Qu Jianlei spared Nebula’s young Stick Figure life after it begged the Artifact Spirit, then arranged a confidential purchase of materials for eight hundred Spiritual Qi Conversion Arrays. He also discussed the Alliance’s peace efforts with Qian He and left him to decide whether he could safely spread news of Digital Phantom’s attack on a Heavenly Inquiry Project Group.

• The Artifact Spirit proposed erasing the Stick Figure, but Qu Jianlei and Paranoid argued that they should spare it, and the Artifact Spirit accepted their decision.
• Qu Jianlei sent the Artifact Spirit’s Split Soul back to the Celestial Hook Mystic Mansion and went to Future Star to arrange the purchase of materials for eight hundred Spiritual Qi Conversion Arrays.
• Qu Jianlei discovered that the Red Mist had been following him, and Xiao Hu’s avatar welcomed it as a little brother before taking it away to lay down rules.
• Qu Jianlei asked Qian He to procure the array materials confidentially, and Qian He reported that the Alliance had recently come to the Empire seeking peace.
• Qu Jianlei told Qian He that Digital Phantom had destroyed an Alliance Heavenly Inquiry Project Group, then challenged him to consider how he could conceal the source if he spread the news.

Qu Jianlei helped Xiao Hu find a temporary refuge for Red Mist, while Qian He reported that Duo Gan’s actions in space had caused several deaths. The chapter left Qu Jianlei unmoved by the report as Qian He pointed out that the victims were from Imperial Capital Academy.

• Qian He explained that his family had discovered his connection to Digital Phantom and that he had confirmed Digital Phantom was not interested in the National War.
• Xiao Hu asked Qu Jianlei to set up a Gathering Spirit Array so Red Mist could leave its doomed birthplace and find a home.
• Qu Jianlei found that Red Mist enjoyed the spiritual energy but still felt hungry and adrift, and Soul Nourishing Wood did not give it a sense of security.
• Qu Jianlei told Xiao Hu to let Red Mist remain in the Gathering Spirit Array while they waited for a solution.
• Qian He told Qu Jianlei that Duo Gan had apparently caused several deaths while exercising space Mining Rights, and Qu Jianlei replied that he already knew.
• Qian He noted that the dead were from Imperial Capital Academy and said Duo Gan should not have left survivors after killing anyone.

Qu Jianlei and Digital Phantom faced Imperial Capital Academy’s demand for an explanation over the deaths of its people. Both sides assembled at Pan Rock Star, where retired Vice Dean Bashar opened negotiations by questioning whether Kefu had authority to decide the matter.

• Qu Jianlei dismissed Imperial Capital Academy’s efforts to hold Digital Phantom accountable, while Qian He warned that releasing witnesses had given the academy grounds to demand an explanation.
• Qu Jianlei delivered a large shipment, including fifteen hundred robots, to the Celestial Hook Mystic Mansion, and the Artifact Spirit said it would consider whether it could help the Red Mist.
• Duo Gan learned that three Imperial Capital Academy Supremes had arrived on Pan Rock Star and set out with Kefu to meet them.
• Jing Yuexin and Paranoid joined Duo Gan and Kefu at Pan Rock Star, and Qu Jianlei arrived soon after; Jing Yuexin suspected the academy wanted access to the region of space.
• Kefu met Bashar and the other Imperial Capital Academy representatives in a Shui Corporation reception room, where Bashar asked whether Kefu could make decisions for Digital Phantom.

Kefu and Bashar argued over Imperial Capital Academy researchers killed by Duo Gan’s faction, while Bashar hinted that the academy was interested in an anomalous nebula. Duo Gan and Paranoid appeared and claimed Digital Phantom had created the nebula, and the chapter ended as a Palace-Attired Beauty arrived to explain the killings.

• Kefu rejected Bashar’s demand for an explanation and insisted the academy researchers had deserved to die for offending Duo Gan’s interests.
• Bashar presented exploration records and raised the academy’s discovery of strange phenomena in a nebula, but Kefu barred the academy from exploring it.
• Bashar challenged Kefu’s claim of priority and warned that Imperial Capital Academy had Above Supreme graduates, but none had agreed to intervene.
• Duo Gan appeared and declared that Digital Phantom had created the nebula, startling Bashar and the officials observing the discussion.
• Paranoid appeared and dismissed Bashar’s demand for proof, while Bashar accused Digital Phantom of killing the academy’s teachers without first explaining the situation.
• A Palace-Attired Beauty appeared and said she would explain.

Digital Phantom confronted Imperial Capital Academy over the deaths of suspected Alliance spies, while Qu Jianlei revealed that the case involved the classified Tianwen Project. The confrontation ended with Digital Phantom demanding to know who had sent the Academy after them, and Stand warned that the Academy was outmatched.

• Jing Yuexin accused the dead of being Alliance spies, and Qu Jianlei named Taiqing Star and the Tianwen Project Group as evidence he could not disclose.
• A colonel said Tianwen was tied to the Empire's advantage over the Alliance, while Bashar continued defending Imperial Capital Academy's reputation.
• Stand asked whether the Nebula could be studied, and Qu Jianlei warned that Digital Phantom might betray the Empire if it failed to respect their work.
• Qu Jianlei gave the Academy two days to reveal who had instructed it to confront Digital Phantom, and Jing Yuexin and Qu Jianlei blamed the Academy for starting the conflict.
• After Digital Phantom left, Bashar proposed seeking special support, but Stand argued the Academy was outmatched by Digital Phantom's Above Supremes.

Digital Phantom learned that Imperial Capital Academy was seeking a law to separate space Exploration Rights from Mining Rights, threatening its control of the nebula. After Digital Phantom refused further negotiations and began preparing a response, Stand tried to pressure Shui Xisheng into coordinating, and a wave of Mental Strength followed his request.

• The colonel reported Qu Jianlei's warning to military leaders, who chose to prioritize the war zones over the nebula.
• Qu Jianlei learned that Imperial Capital Academy had proposed separating space Exploration Rights from Mining Rights and discussed ways to protect the nebula with his allies.
• Duo Gan decided to secure ownership of the nebula, Kefu and Duo Gan left to handle the matter, and Paranoid targeted Imperial Capital Academy's industries.
• Stand arrived at Shui Corporation seeking Kefu, but Shui Xisheng told him that Digital Phantom would no longer negotiate.
• Stand asked Shui Xisheng to coordinate and hinted at consequences for Shui Corporation, prompting a wave of Mental Strength and the question of whether it was a threat.

Kefu failed to persuade the Sirius Star Region’s Top Leader to approve the sale of the Nebula, so Duo Gan confronted him directly and forced him to act by inspecting his crimes on behalf of the Empire. The Governor began arranging the sale, but his subordinates questioned the unprecedented procedure.

• Duo Gan sent Kefu to the Sirius Star Region, where he asked the Top Leader to approve the sale of the Nebula.
• The Top Leader cited Imperial policy and jurisdictional obstacles, and Kefu left after warning that Duo Gan would come in person.
• Duo Gan appeared in the Governor’s room, presented evidence of his crimes, and gave him one minute to explain himself.
• Duo Gan threatened the Governor and his family, then ordered him to complete the sale within three days before vanishing.
• The Governor reviewed the evidence, contacted his backers, and began arranging the sale, but his subordinates questioned the unprecedented operation.

The governor struggled to secure cooperation for Digital Phantom’s business, so he paid Kefu to pressure officials into completing the necessary procedures. Meanwhile, Jing Yuexin and Paranoid retaliated against Imperial Capital Academy, leaving the academy in turmoil as officials and businesses faced attacks.

• The governor argued with Kefu over delays and eventually agreed to pay him three hundred million to deal with uncooperative officials.
• Kefu visited the officials on the list, and most agreed to cooperate after learning Digital Phantom and Imperial Capital Academy were involved.
• Two officials resigned, but one was killed that night after refusing to finish the required work; another withdrew his resignation and approved the procedures the next morning.
• Jing Yuexin killed several people at Imperial Capital Academy who had previously escaped punishment, and the academy recognized the attacks as retaliation by Digital Phantom.
• Paranoid destroyed Imperial Capital Academy businesses and facilities, killed two Project Teams’ members he considered corrupt, and left explanations at the crime scenes.

Imperial Capital Academy escalated its feud with Digital Phantom by trying to block the nebula purchase and accusing the team of attacks, but Duo Gan completed the acquisition despite the pressure. The sale then became entangled in an unprecedented request for Empire-level filing, leaving the Planet Governor struggling to get a response as Kefu and Duo Gan considered asking First One for guidance.

• Imperial Capital Academy blamed Digital Phantom for the attacks and lobbied the government to block the nebula acquisition.
• Duo Gan completed the nebula purchase in five days for fifty billion Empire Coin, paying the first installment from her own account.
• Sanhe Star officials resisted signing the sale papers, but the Sirius Star Region government asserted that they had authority, and the planetary procedures were completed.
• The Planet Governor agreed to file the sale with the Empire, but received no response and complained to Kefu about the process.
• After ten days, Kefu told the Planet Governor to follow up, while Duo Gan and Kefu discussed asking First One what to do.

Qu Jianlei accepted that Digital Phantom would have to confront the Empire over the delayed review of its Nebula purchase, and Duo Gan prepared to act with his support. The governor advised waiting while the review stalled, but Digital Phantom continued retaliating against Imperial Capital Academy, which was told to apologize before negotiations could begin.

• Qu Jianlei told Duo Gan that completed procedures would not prevent disputes and urged her to prepare for a confrontation, then advised her to treat the crisis as an opportunity and involve him.
• Kefu told the governor to demand that his superior reconsider her wording, and the superior subsequently arranged for departments to study the unresolved ownership review.
• After more than ten days without a decision, the governor told Kefu that the review might take a long time and suggested waiting, while Kefu asked him to keep an eye on it.
• Imperial Capital Academy sent an intermediary to ask Shui Xisheng to end Digital Phantom's retaliation, but Shui Xisheng said the academy had started the conflict and should apologize first.
• When the intermediary cited the academy's losses, Shui Xisheng pointed out that the Nebula purchase had cost Digital Phantom five hundred billion.

Digital Phantom refused official access to the Nebula, while Pute learned of the group’s strength and failed to broker a truce with Imperial Capital Academy. After Bashar rejected Jing Yuexin’s demand that he kill himself, the governor of the Sirius Star Region vanished, and multiple people under Duo Gan and Jing Yuexin began disappearing.

• The Fourth Boss turned away surveyors and later allowed authorized monitors to watch Wind Forgotten only from outside the Nebula.
• Pute met Qu Jianlei and Jing Yuexin, who refused to suspend their conflict with Imperial Capital Academy unless Bashar killed himself; she also warned Pute that ten Above Supremes had helped resolve the Nebula’s danger.
• Pute reported the demand to Imperial Capital Academy, and Bashar vowed he would die in battle rather than kill himself.
• Duo Gan told Qu Jianlei that the Sirius Star Region governor had vanished with his escort fleet while traveling to the Core Eight Stars Meeting, and they wondered whether Imperial Capital Academy was involved.
• Several A-rankers and B-rankers under Duo Gan and Jing Yuexin disappeared one after another.