Chapter Summaries

After Qu Jianlei divined that Imperial Capital Academy had killed the missing governors and subordinates, Digital Phantom prepared a counterattack while Jia Shuiqing coordinated with the authorities and Rock Military District. The investigation stalled over Bashar’s denial, so the authorities asked Digital Phantom to identify the culprit, offering compensation for the risks of a Mystic-Side investigation.

• Qu Jianlei divined that the missing people had been killed, prompting Paranoid to call for war against Imperial Capital Academy.
• Jia Shuiqing told Rock Military District’s leader that Digital Phantom planned a full-scale counterattack and agreed to wait briefly for the authorities’ investigation.
• Rock Military District’s leader reported that investigators had confirmed a Warp Jammer was used, while Jia Shuiqing revealed Digital Phantom had identified the attack through the Mystic-Side.
• Bashar denied ordering the killings, and the authorities struggled to investigate him without violating his rights or provoking Digital Phantom.
• The authorities asked Jia Shuiqing to have Qu Jianlei find the suspect and offered five billion Energy Blocks; she agreed to ask him after learning the suspect list contained more than three hundred thousand names.

After Qu Jianlei’s divination identified the people behind attacks on Digital Phantom’s associates, the Empire’s investigation exposed an Above Supreme with ties to Imperial Capital Academy. Jia Shuiqing then resumed retaliation, leaving the Academy under attack and a Planet Governor demanding protection from the authorities.

• Qu Jianlei used the list to identify one Above Supreme and two A-rankers, and the Empire arrested people connected to them after the Above Supreme died resisting arrest.
• Investigators linked the Above Supreme’s attacks on Duo Gan and Jing Yuexin’s subordinates to an underground organization, while Imperial Capital Academy suggested Digital Phantom might have staged the incidents.
• Jia Shuiqing told Rock Military District’s First One that Digital Phantom would continue killing while the other side made moves, and six more Academy-affiliated people died in attacks across four locations the next night.
• People tried to reach Digital Phantom through Tianfeng Star, but Xiao Moshan refused to plead on the Academy’s behalf, saying he had nearly been assassinated himself.
• Digital Phantom continued its attacks against two Planet Governors who had supported independent Exploration Rights; Jing Yuexin withdrew when Above Supremes formed a Battle Formation, while the other governor survived through a decoy and reported the attack to higher authorities.

Qinghu gave the Empire one more chance to make Digital Phantom’s demands stick, while the authorities grew wary after the assassinations and Bashar’s suicide. Ten months later, Qu Jianlei returned to help Duo Gan prepare for her impending tribulation, and she asked to borrow his Cloud Crown.

• Qinghu told the military representative that Digital Phantom had been provoked and would stop retaliating only if the Empire enforced its demands; she agreed to give the authorities one more chance after the military intervened.
• The authorities debated who would tell Bashar about Digital Phantom’s demands, and military personnel challenged those who claimed Nebula belonged to the Empire to negotiate with Digital Phantom themselves.
• After Bashar took his own life, the news spread among the Academy Faction, while Qu Jianlei and his team continued exploring the Nebula and training with Wind Forgotten under outside surveillance.
• Ten months later, Qu Jianlei returned after learning that Duo Gan was nearing her tribulation and warned that calculating its details might bring backlash upon them both.
• Duo Gan asked Qu Jianlei to lend her his Cloud Crown for the tribulation, and he realized she might intend to use the unrefined Heavenly Demon inside it to block the lightning.

Duo Gan used the Heavenly Demon bound in the Cloud Crown to help undergo her tribulation, while Qu Jianlei and the others prepared and concealed her earlier gains from Da Vinci. The tribulation ended, but lightning continued around the courtyard, and Pute watched from a distance as Hua Xiezhi warned him not to approach.

• Qu Jianlei divined that using the Cloud Crown’s Heavenly Demon could improve Duo Gan’s chances, and the team strengthened its refining before handing it to her.
• Qu Jianlei predicted the tribulation’s arrival, and Duo Gan faced widespread streaks of lightning while Da Vinci stayed in seclusion.
• Hua Xiezhi warned the military that the Empire had already faced an Alien Race threat, prompting Pute to investigate Digital Phantom and the possibility of advancing beyond Above Supreme.
• Pute arrived after Duo Gan’s tribulation had ended but saw lightning still striking the courtyard, and Hua Xiezhi stopped him from approaching.
• Pute asked about the people producing some of the lightning, and Hua Xiezhi explained that Above Supreme cultivators could cultivate across attributes.

Hua Xiezhi warned Pute that Heavenly Demons threatened the Empire and that Digital Phantom might eventually withdraw, leaving Pute shaken by how much the Empire relied on them. Meanwhile, the team discovered that Duo Gan had retained a trace of Heavenly Devil Qi after her tribulation, and Qu Jianlei prepared a Thunder Generator to remove it.

• Hua Xiezhi told Pute that Heavenly Demons had appeared beyond the Divine Script System and warned him not to approach.
• Pute learned that Digital Phantom had been quietly handling multiple dangers for the Empire and might someday withdraw from the world.
• After Duo Gan's tribulation, Yi He noticed a trace of Heavenly Devil Qi on her, and the Artifact Spirit confirmed it could become a future threat.
• The Artifact Spirit recommended repeated Thunder Method attacks to eliminate the residue, so Qu Jianlei built a Thunder Generator.

Qu Jianlei’s group removed the Heavenly Devil Qi from Duo Gan, while Paranoid refused the Empire’s offer to buy information about a Heavenly Devil Barrier. After Duo Gan recovered, she asked to search for the Space Barrier to the Cultivation World, just as Xiao Moshan arrived to attempt a breakthrough to Above Supreme.

• Qu Jianlei compared Electromagnetic Art with lightning equipment, then his group attacked Duo Gan for twenty days until the Artifact Spirit confirmed the Heavenly Devil Qi was gone.
• Pute asked Paranoid about the barrier in the Maiden Star Region, but Paranoid demanded one hundred trillion and five magical artifacts for the information.
• Da Vinci met Pute and declined to share what he knew about the barrier or his rescue, and Pute later reported the threat to the Empire.
• Empire Storm, Giant Axe, and Pute tried to negotiate a lower price with Paranoid, but they left without an agreement.
• After four months of recovery, Duo Gan emerged and asked Qu Jianlei to search for the Space Barrier to the Cultivation World.
• Xiao Moshan teleported in as Qu Jianlei considered his answer, saying the time was right for his breakthrough to Above Supreme.

Xiao Moshan became a Supreme and chose to spend time traveling with Xiao Qin, while the Empire's attempt to buy information from Digital Phantom collapsed over payment terms. Qu Jianlei ordered Energy Stone Mines to increase production as he suspected the team was drawing growing attention.

• Qu Jianlei sent Yuanyuan to guard the Abandoned Mine, with Tian Yin and Claire supporting from the middle, while Xiao Qin joined Xiao Moshan at Dawn Base.
• Three months later, Xiao Moshan survived his tribulation and became the team's second Wind Attribute Supreme, then asked the First One to find a way for Xiao Qin to advance.
• Xiao Moshan and Xiao Qin traveled together, prompting Paranoid to visit Mu Yu and the Fourth Boss to seek out You You and ask Qu Jianlei about her chances of advancing.
• Datela arrived to negotiate the Empire's purchase of information, but Jia Shuiqing rejected the proposed dedicated account and warned him to leave.
• Qu Jianlei accepted the Empire's refusal to recognize Duo Gan's Star Cluster transaction but rejected payment terms that excluded Energy Blocks, ending the negotiation.
• Qu Jianlei ordered the Energy Stone Mines to raise production and remarked that Digital Phantom seemed to be attracting more attention.

After Digital Phantom rejected an Alliance envoy, Imperial officials tested the team by sending a fleet with Alliance representatives toward its Sirius Star Region base. Qu Jianlei ordered preparations for a possible conflict, and the military tried to prevent the confrontation from escalating.

• Hua Xiezhi refused the Alliance's request to meet, and Qu Jianlei later learned from Qian He that the Alliance remained focused on Digital Phantom and might have ulterior motives.
• Fourth Boss stopped an Imperial fleet approaching the Sirius Star Region, fired on its lead Science Vessel, and forced the fleet to withdraw.
• Qu Jianlei discovered that the fleet's mission was a test involving four Alliance representatives, including two Supremes, who were seeking evidence to accuse the Empire of colluding with the Alien Race.
• Qu Jianlei told Fourth Boss to fire if another similar incident occurred and ordered Digital Phantom to prepare its ships for contingencies.
• Hua Xiezhi told the military to question the authorities, and the military said it understood the situation and would pressure the authorities while urging Digital Phantom not to act rashly.

The Empire and Alliance pressed Digital Phantom over rumors that it had taken a Divine Script master from Taiqing Star and might be sheltering an Alliance defector. Hua Xiezhi and Qu Jianlei denied the accusations, while Shui Xisheng questioned what the Empire had done to earn Digital Phantom’s loyalty.

• Hua Xiezhi rejected the military’s earlier neutrality and demanded that it stop approaching Digital Phantom without a clear purpose.
• Shui Xisheng arrived with a military Supreme, who asked whether Digital Phantom had taken a Divine Script cultivator from Taiqing Star and whether Jing Yuexin could be consulted.
• Hua Xiezhi denied knowing the alleged master, and Qu Jianlei dismissed the Alliance’s claims about the Divine Script System and the Heavenly Demon as pretexts to find Jiao Daoren.
• Qu Jianlei admitted that Alliance people were among Digital Phantom’s peripheral members, alarming the military Supreme, while Hua Xiezhi challenged his accusation that the Empire had treated her well.
• Jing Yuexin ordered the visitors away, and Shui Xisheng told the military Supreme that Digital Phantom owed the Empire nothing and therefore could not be accused of betrayal.

Rhine successfully underwent tribulation and became an Above Supreme, while the military tried to learn about the team’s tribulation system. Qu Jianlei then traveled with Jing Yuexin and Xiao Hu to Ke Qi Star to investigate the Alliance, accompanied by Xiao Hu’s Red Mist lifeform, High-Fidelity Replica.

• Shui Xisheng and a military Above Supreme watched dark clouds gather over Dawn Base, and Rhine underwent tribulation successfully.
• Hua Xiezhi told the military officer that the tribulation system was not mature and would require magical artifacts as well as money; she confirmed Rhine had become an Above Supreme.
• After recovering from tribulation, Rhine thanked Jing Yuexin and Qu Jianlei, then chose the Ink Marker as her magical artifact.
• Qu Jianlei assessed the team’s prospects for advancement and decided to focus on guarding against the Alliance before taking Jing Yuexin and Xiao Hu to Ke Qi Star.
• Qu Jianlei, Jing Yuexin, and Xiao Hu arrived on Ke Qi Star, where Xiao Hu’s avatar brought the timid Red Mist lifeform named High-Fidelity Replica.

Qu Jianlei and Jing Yuexin searched for Lawrence on Tianyu Star and learned that he had been detained in the Alliance’s investigation into the Tianwen Project Group’s collapse. Jing Yuexin promised Lawrence’s Wife they would try to secure his release through legitimate channels, leaving Digital Phantom committed to helping the family.

• Qu Jianlei and Jing Yuexin found no worthwhile targets on Ke Qi Star and traveled to Taigu Star, where Xiao Hu discovered that Lawrence’s family had relocated to Tianyu Star.
• On Tianyu Star, Qu Jianlei and Jing Yuexin learned that the Alliance was preparing for war and receiving refugees after news spread that Baozhi Star’s residents had been abandoned.
• Xiao Hu located Lawrence’s rented courtyard, where Qu Jianlei and Jing Yuexin discovered that Lawrence had been detained for more than two years as a suspect in the investigation into the Tianwen Project Group’s collapse.
• Jing Yuexin secretly woke Lawrence’s Wife and asked whether she still wanted contact with Digital Phantom in exchange for discussing future cooperation.
• Lawrence’s Wife asked Jing Yuexin to bring her husband home, and Jing Yuexin promised to pursue his release through legitimate channels.

Qu Jianlei and Jing Yuexin investigated how to free Lawrence through legitimate channels after his wife asked for help. Lawrence revealed that Supreme Benjamin had kept him imprisoned to pressure a rival, and Qu Jianlei began reviewing information about Benjamin.

• Jing Yuexin told Qu Jianlei that Lawrence's wife wanted her husband rescued but insisted they find a legitimate way to do it.
• Qu Jianlei contacted Lawrence in prison, verified his identity using the secret code, and asked how he might be freed.
• Lawrence explained that Benjamin had obstructed his release to pressure the Supreme who backed Lawrence's boss, and warned that the prison might contain traps for Digital Phantom.
• Qu Jianlei told Lawrence that they would seek his release through legitimate channels rather than break into the prison.
• Qu Jianlei and Jing Yuexin identified Benjamin as the key figure and reviewed information Xiao Hu had gathered about him.
• Qu Jianlei gave a soft snort while reviewing the information about Benjamin.

Qu Jianlei and Jing Yuexin brought Jiao Daoren to Taihe Star to deal with Hula and Benjamin, whose influence was obstructing Lawrence’s release. After Jiao Daoren killed the two men and another Supreme, the Alliance canceled a civilian conference and ordered its attendees to leave, while some recognized the killings as the return of the suppressed figure called Crazy Roller.

• Qu Jianlei noticed that Hula was connected to Benjamin, and he and Jing Yuexin discussed how killing them might not clear Lawrence’s suspicions.
• Qu Jianlei returned to find Jiao Daoren, who agreed to deal with Hula because Hula had once deceived him.
• Qu Jianlei and Jing Yuexin took Jiao Daoren to Taihe Star, where Xiao Hu located Hula and Benjamin preparing a civilian conference.
• Jiao Daoren killed Hula, Benjamin, and another Supreme, crushing their bodies after attacking them mentally.
• The military sealed the crime scene, canceled the conference, and ordered attendees to leave Taihe Star.
• Informed observers wondered whether the killings meant that Crazy Roller, Jiao Daoren, had appeared again.

The Alliance grappled with Jiao Daoren’s return and an Alien Race assault on Bi Tao Star as violence spread among suspects detained over the Heavenly Inquiry disaster. The authorities ended their broad investigation and released most detainees, including Lawrence, who was urged to serve on the Alien Race front.

• The Alliance recognized that Jiao Daoren had returned to Taihe Star and suspended its meeting while considering how to counter him.
• The Alien Race attacked Bi Tao Star as Qu Jianlei prepared another strike against the Alliance.
• A C-rank prisoner killed a B-rank cellmate after Qu Jianlei secretly used Mental Influence to provoke him, but the authorities found no abnormality.
• Fights and deaths spread among detainees, many of whom hoped to pressure the Alliance into releasing them.
• The authorities ended the large-scale Heavenly Inquiry investigation, kept more than a thousand suspects detained, and released tens of thousands under restrictions.
• Lawrence was released after Benjamin and another Supreme from his faction died, but the authorities urged him to atone by joining the Alien Race battlefield.

After his release, Lawrence learned that Qu Jianlei and Jing Yuexin had rescued him and urged him to seek compensation while gathering information for Digital Phantom. Lawrence realized his family may have passed up a chance to join the team, then went to demand compensation and a public apology despite still being under suspicion.

• Lawrence left prison, reunited with his wife and friends, and spent three days eating while avoiding questions about his imprisonment.
• Qu Jianlei and Jing Yuexin visited Lawrence, confirmed they had helped free him, and told him to gather information about the Empire peace talks and Digital Phantom.
• Lawrence deduced that Qu Jianlei and Jing Yuexin belonged to Digital Phantom and asked them to visit him regularly.
• Lawrence learned that his wife had arranged his rescue through official channels to keep their children safe, and he argued that their family may have lost a rare chance to join Digital Phantom.
• Lawrence demanded Nation compensation and a public apology from the authorities, prompting an official to remind him that he still had to report regularly.

Lawrence pursued compensation from the Alliance and used his case to gather information, while Qu Jianlei and Jing Yuexin investigated the Alliance’s stance toward Digital Phantom. The chapter left Lawrence’s gamble underway as the Alliance watched him and details of its peace-talk strategy emerged.

• Lawrence demanded compensation, hired a prominent legal advocate, and attracted financial backing from people expecting to profit from the case.
• Qu Jianlei told Jing Yuexin that the lawsuit was likely to fail but could pressure the authorities into profitable backroom deals, leaving Lawrence at greatest risk.
• Lawrence connected with other detainees, posed as a potential saboteur of the peace talks, and obtained information while the Alliance monitored his actions.
• Lawrence’s boss warned him to restrain himself, but Lawrence claimed he was only making an excessive effort to obtain compensation.
• Qu Jianlei and Jing Yuexin gathered scattered reports that the Alliance wanted the Empire’s help against the Alien Race, hoped to bring Digital Phantom back, and might try to divide it from the Empire.

Qu Jianlei and Jing Yuexin learned that the Alliance had used Jiao Daoren and his supposed treasure troves to influence Imperial attitudes, then traveled with him to Bi Tao Star to inspect its preparations for an Alien Race attack. They reached the heavily fortified planet and found much of its population had been evacuated.

• Lawrence told Qu Jianlei and Jing Yuexin that Jiao Daoren had supposedly given the Alliance three Treasure Rooms, and Jiao Daoren corrected him that there had only been one, provided as a negotiating tactic.
• Qu Jianlei offered Lawrence gold and told him to continue investigating, then asked Jiao Daoren about his treasure troves and his plans.
• Jiao Daoren offered to share his treasure troves if Qu Jianlei and Jing Yuexin helped destroy the Extraordinary Affairs Research Institute, but Jing Yuexin refused because the Alien Race invasion was imminent.
• Qu Jianlei suggested visiting Bi Tao Star to observe how the Alien Race surrounded a planet, and the group traveled there.
• Qu Jianlei and Jing Yuexin found Bi Tao Star transformed into a fortified war zone, with a crude Hidden Soldiers Cave near their teleportation point and far fewer residents than before.

Qu Jianlei, Jing Yuexin, and Xiao Hu's avatar took shelter as the Alien Race began its attack on Bi Tao, where they observed the Alliance's defenses and military response. They learned that Wu Zhen had been left behind because of his experience, but his defiance had made the authorities fear he could become a threat.

• Qu Jianlei and Jing Yuexin were questioned about their reserve unit designations and warned not to wander around Bi Tao.
• When an alarm sounded, the three followed residents into a rudimentary air-raid shelter, where Qu Jianlei realized outsiders were being kept away from better-provisioned shelters.
• Xiao Hu's avatar found that Bi Tao's weapons had low automation and localized data networks, and Jiao Daoren told them the Alien Race had begun attacking.
• Three Forest Seas approached Bi Tao from different directions, and the Alliance military sent Small Ships to engage them.
• Xiao Hu's avatar discovered that Wu Zhen had remained on Bi Tao after the other refugees were relocated, because the authorities considered his experience useful but worried about his defiance.

After the battle on Bi Tao Star, Qu Jianlei’s group learned that Alliance officers planned to frame two captured Imperial spies as Digital Phantom members and execute them publicly. Qu Jianlei decided to intervene, while Jing Yuexin condemned the Alliance officers’ tactics.

• After the harassment battle, the High-Fidelity Replica of Red Mist asked for a specific piece of fallen tree remains, and Ruler retrieved it while Xiao Hu cleared nearby surveillance.
• Xiao Hu discovered that the High-Fidelity Replica thought the tree remains might belong in the Gathering Spirit Array, and Qu Jianlei agreed to let it examine them later.
• Xiao Hu showed Qu Jianlei and Jing Yuexin a feed of Alliance officers discussing two captured Imperial spies whose disguised genes had been exposed during the battle.
• A major proposed falsely accusing the spies of being Digital Phantom members, and the colonel agreed to announce their execution after reporting the plan to his superior.
• The major suggested livestreaming the execution and using it to draw out potential rescuers, but the colonel rejected the idea of provoking unrest.
• Qu Jianlei decided to intervene for the two spies, and Jing Yuexin condemned the Alliance officers for forcing their hand.

Qu Jianlei and Jing Yuexin attacked the Alliance regiment headquarters to rescue two people and expose a plot to frame Digital Phantom. After destroying the headquarters’ defenses and confronting the garrison, they left the Alliance forces with evidence and a warning.

• Qu Jianlei, Jing Yuexin, and Xiao Hu learned that two captured people were being interrogated at an Alliance regiment headquarters near a Deep Hole Radar Station.
• Qu Jianlei attacked the headquarters while Jing Yuexin announced that Digital Phantom was responding to a scheme and presented video evidence.
• Qu Jianlei broke into the underground rooms and rescued the two bloodied prisoners, then destroyed a Battalion-Class Ship that challenged him.
• Jing Yuexin explained the alleged framing to an Above Supreme and the assembled soldiers, while Qu Jianlei destroyed a fortress that had aimed its cannon at her.
• Qu Jianlei told the Above Supreme he was not worthy of an answer and prepared to leave with Jing Yuexin, but the Above Supreme called out to stop them.