Arc 55Nascent Soul Breakthrough

Qu Jianlei’s group built a mining operation to fund the Celestial Hook Mystic Mansion and helped restore the Abode while preparing for his Nascent Soul breakthrough. After Qu Jianlei survived his tribulation and reached the Nascent Soul Realm, the group escaped Tianfeng Star and continued cultivating inside the Mystic Mansion.

  • Kabus and Kajia joined Qu Jianlei’s group, and Da Vinci arranged for Kajia’s family to be rescued before the crew established a mine holding hundreds of billions of Energy Stones.
  • Qu Jianlei accepted the Artifact Spirit’s offer to form his Nascent Soul inside the Celestial Hook Mystic Mansion, and his team installed hundreds of arrays to stabilize the Abode despite its enormous Energy Block consumption.
  • When rival forces challenged the group’s mines and investigators pursued Yuanyuan, Fourth Boss, Yuanyuan, and Hua Xiezhi retaliated, while Da Vinci traced the group’s identities and offered to help fund its operation.
  • Jia Shuiqing brought Da Vinci to Tianfeng Star to witness Qu Jianlei’s tribulation, where Da Vinci drove off military ships and Bentley helped stop an attacker from disrupting the final strikes.
  • After the tribulation, the group concealed Qu Jianlei’s recovery inside an Ascension Column and used Fourth Boss’s energy turbulence to sweep away nearby warships and escape Tianfeng Star.
  • Qu Jianlei’s group left Xiao Moshan, Xiao Qin, and Yi He True Monarch at the mine, while Old Lady Jia took the others to their starship and Da Vinci agreed to keep Fourth Boss’s magic artifact secret.
  • Qu Jianlei continued cultivating inside the Mystic Mansion and ordered Xiao Hu to halve the Energy Block consumption when the supply dwindled.
Chapters 1352–1376 Vol. 14 Read

Ch. 1352Demands

Xiang Xue negotiated with Kabus over an undiscovered Energy Stone Mine in the Pearl Star Region, agreeing to help rescue his surviving family and discuss a share of the proceeds. She left Kabus waiting until the Digital Phantom appeared, proving the powerful force behind her group.

  • Paranoid's claims about Guardian Supreme Ironhide Snake persuaded the City Guard to let the cargo ship pass, and the 1314 Ship escaped with it.
  • Kabus told Xiang Xue that his uncle had discovered a mine with at least several hundred billion Energy Stones, but his niece alone knew its location.
  • Kabus asked for his surviving family to be rescued and offered to accept mine shares instead of a relocation payment; Xiang Xue agreed to discuss shares and asked him to take them to his niece.
  • Xiang Xue refused to reveal the group's identity immediately and told Kabus to ensure his companions kept their identities secret.
  • After more than half a day, the Digital Phantom emerged from behind an asteroid, leaving Kabus stunned.

Ch. 1353Returning to an Old Place; A Request

Kabus and Kajia joined forces with Digital Phantom, and Qu Jianlei’s group moved to secure Kajia’s family and establish a mining operation without exposing their connection. The chapter ended with Qu Jianlei explaining to Da Vinci that tribulation lightning could refine the body and spirit, and that higher levels of life required further cultivation.

  • Kabus and his five friends joined Digital Phantom, and Qu Jianlei’s group traveled to the Hope Star Region to find Kajia.
  • The Fourth Boss told the Hope Star Region military that Digital Phantom was investigating magical artifacts and asked them to report any approaching Above Supreme.
  • Kabus persuaded Kajia to leave with the group, and Kajia asked Qu Jianlei to rescue her family and confirmed that she did not expect Digital Phantom to avenge her.
  • Qu Jianlei reassured Kajia by describing Digital Phantom’s victories over Above Supreme, and she decided to save her request for a future bonus point.
  • Qu Jianlei’s group traveled to Pillar Star, where Jing Yuexin and Nutrient Solution arranged a mining company while Qu Jianlei asked Da Vinci to help keep their mine secret.
  • Qu Jianlei agreed to explain tribulation lightning, telling Da Vinci it refined the body and spirit and that ordinary human perfection did not prevent people from pursuing a higher level of life.

Ch. 1354Something's Off with You

Da Vinci arranged for his Above Supreme friend to intervene on Paradise Star, where Kajia’s family was rescued and those responsible faced a purge. Qu Jianlei’s group then set out to develop a mineral star near Kunhai Star, testing Xiao Hu’s new jump coordinates with a receiving starship.

  • Da Vinci asked an old Above Supreme friend to handle the Paradise Star matter, and his friend dispatched Supremes to intervene.
  • The Supremes rescued Kajia’s family members, punished many responsible parties, and began returning some of the family’s seized assets, though some victims remained missing or had died.
  • Xiao Hu learned about the intervention, and Qu Jianlei decided their group only needed to remember Da Vinci’s favor.
  • Kabus and Kajia joined Qu Jianlei’s group aboard the 1314 Ship, and Kajia accepted that pursuing the great factions behind the crime would have to wait.
  • The 1314 Ship traveled toward Kunhai Star, where Kefu brought a starship to search for the mineral star using Xiao Hu’s proposed jump coordinates.
  • Qu Jianlei sent Silver Fir to accompany the receiving starship as it prepared to test the new jump point.

Ch. 1355Mining Without a License

Qu Jianlei’s team confirmed a vast Energy Stone deposit on a remote mineral star and arranged to mine it without permits, claiming the blocks were for their own use. After hiring an elderly Above Supreme to guard the operation, the crew reached the site and began construction.

  • Qu Jianlei and Xiao Hu surveyed a mineral star and confirmed it held at least several hundred billion Energy Stones.
  • The two starships found a nearby jump point and returned to Kunhai Star, where Nutrient Solution’s mining company was waiting.
  • Paranoid told the elderly Above Supreme that they would mine without permits and process the Energy Stones on-site for their own use.
  • The elderly Above Supreme agreed to guard the mine and confront anyone who interfered, while Paranoid assured him others would provide support.
  • The crew organized its rules and assignments, traveled to the mineral star, and began construction for the mining operation.

Ch. 1356An Unexplained Summons

Qu Jianlei was abruptly summoned after entering a mysterious state, then traveled with Jing Yuexin to Tianfeng Star to meet the presence that had called him. The presence recognized him from an earlier encounter and asked where he had learned his tribulation lightning technique.

  • After the Pearl Star Region mine began production, Qu Jianlei told his people to mine the Energy Stones without deliberately limiting output.
  • During a rainy walk, Qu Jianlei suddenly shot into space and returned in a crash, leaving him to meditate while the others worried over him.
  • Qu Jianlei told Old Lady Jia that the Dao Stele was only partly responsible and decided to investigate, taking Jing Yuexin with him.
  • Qu Jianlei and Jing Yuexin traveled to Tianfeng Star and waited in an ice house for the presence he believed had summoned him.
  • The presence recognized Qu Jianlei from a previous meeting and asked where his tribulation lightning technique came from.

Ch. 1357All Mixed Up

Qu Jianlei spoke with the Celestial Hook Mystic Mansion's Artifact Spirit, which offered him a safe place to form his Nascent Soul and asked him to take the Abode away afterward. He accepted the offer cautiously, while the Artifact Spirit explained that it wanted to leave the spiritual-energy-prohibited world before it died there.

  • The Artifact Spirit summoned Qu Jianlei and questioned him about when he would reach the Nascent Soul Realm.
  • Qu Jianlei explained that he planned to seek an opportunity in Asura's Other Space because tribulation was dangerous in the Cultivation Wasteland and the route to the Cultivation World was cut off.
  • The Artifact Spirit offered to let Qu Jianlei form his Nascent Soul inside the Celestial Hook Mystic Mansion.
  • Qu Jianlei worried that accepting the help would create karmic ties, but the Artifact Spirit insisted that it could not ignore his plight.
  • The Artifact Spirit asked Qu Jianlei to take the Celestial Hook Mystic Mansion with him after he reached the Nascent Soul Realm.
  • The Artifact Spirit said it was tired of remaining in a world where spiritual energy was prohibited and feared it would die if it stayed.

Ch. 1358Too Low-Level

Qu Jianlei questioned the Artifact Spirit about the karmic debt involved in using the Abode to form his Nascent Soul, then agreed after learning it wanted his help against Other-dimensional Creatures. The Artifact Spirit explained the Abode's limits and revealed that the Energy Stone Mine Qu Jianlei had acquired contained energy it considered too low-level.

  • Qu Jianlei insisted on understanding the karmic ties before accepting the Artifact Spirit's offer to use the Abode.
  • The Artifact Spirit explained that it wanted to gain the ability to move and help the Human Race fight Other-dimensional Creatures, and Qu Jianlei agreed to incur a karmic debt.
  • The Artifact Spirit told Qu Jianlei he could form his Nascent Soul inside the Abode but would have to emerge quickly to receive tribulation lightning.
  • Qu Jianlei asked how to supply energy for the process, and the Artifact Spirit dismissed the Energy Blocks from his newly acquired Energy Stone Mine as too low-level.

Ch. 1359Hidden Concerns

Qu Jianlei learned that the Celestial Hook Mystic Mansion needed an enormous supply of Energy Blocks to halt its deterioration and considered how to bring trusted teammates inside. After his companions assessed the risks of forming his Nascent Soul there, the group prepared to contact the Mystic Mansion.

  • The Artifact Spirit explained that Energy Blocks were too low-grade to offset the energy drain and estimated that restoring the Abode could take tens of trillions to several million trillions of blocks.
  • Qu Jianlei asked whether teammates could enter the Abode if he supplied enough energy, then left with Jing Yuexin to gather the team on Celestial Hook Star.
  • Qu Jianlei told his companions about the Abode and asked Yi He whether forming his Nascent Soul there could let the Artifact Spirit secretly influence him.
  • Sunset Glow and Ruler argued that the Artifact Spirit was unlikely to harm Qu Jianlei, while Yi He said his connection to the Dao Stele and great Luck made him dangerous to oppose.
  • The team agreed to increase Energy Stone mining and prepare Spiritual Qi Conversion Arrays, then spent more than a month getting ready to contact the Celestial Hook Mystic Mansion on Tianfeng.

Ch. 1360Phase One?

Qu Jianlei, Jing Yuexin, and Duo Gan entered the Celestial Hook Mystic Mansion and met its Artifact Spirit, who revealed hundreds of sites for Spiritual Qi Conversion Arrays. The Artifact Spirit proposed starting a second phase early, leaving Qu Jianlei to arrange for more robots and supplies.

  • Qu Jianlei and the others established a base in an abandoned mine on Tianfeng Star, clearing out exotic beasts and activating its Gathering Spirit Arrays.
  • Qu Jianlei, Jing Yuexin, and Duo Gan followed the summons to the Celestial Hook Mystic Mansion, bringing the juvenile Fire Essence with them.
  • The Artifact Spirit complained about their delay and showed Qu Jianlei a map marked with hundreds of array locations throughout the Abode.
  • Qu Jianlei explained that he had brought over a thousand arrays, and the Artifact Spirit said it could conceal them and their installation.
  • The Artifact Spirit suggested that the second phase could begin ahead of schedule and told Qu Jianlei to fetch more robots and supplies.

Ch. 1361Arguing One's Case

Qu Jianlei and the Artifact Spirit established hundreds of Spiritual Qi Conversion Arrays in the Mystic Mansion, but their enormous Energy Block consumption threatened to drain the available funds. Qu Jianlei left to raise more money and brought back the news that everyone could enter the Mystic Mansion to cultivate.

  • Qu Jianlei, Jing Yuexin, and Duo Gan cleared a misty River Valley and began cultivating while Xiao Hu coordinated the robots setting up more than six hundred arrays.
  • The Artifact Spirit destroyed arrays noticed by guards and rebuilt them nearby, while the arrays consumed about 380 million Energy Blocks each day.
  • Qu Jianlei learned that the Artifact Spirit expected decades of work to stabilize the Abode's deteriorating environment and argued that their limited wealth could not sustain the project for long.
  • Qu Jianlei persuaded the Artifact Spirit to let qualified teammates enter the Mystic Mansion, provided they used cultivation techniques and kept the arrangement secret.
  • Qu Jianlei went to the Abandoned Mine, where Old Lady Jia said she had arranged another five billion Energy Blocks, and he told the gathered teammates they could all enter the Mystic Mansion to cultivate.

Ch. 1362First One's Nemesis

Qu Jianlei and the others entered the Mystic Mansion and learned that its more than six hundred arrays were consuming Energy Blocks beyond capacity, threatening the funds needed for First One’s Nascent Soul formation. After exploring the cultivation environment, they debated ways to raise money while Qu Jianlei insisted that they avoid needless risks; the group left with Jing Yuexin offering to earn the money if he would not suspend the arrays.

  • Qu Jianlei told the group that more than six hundred Mystic Mansion arrays were running over capacity, and the others worried that the expense could endanger First One’s breakthrough.
  • Qinghu suggested selling an Asura Nascent Soul corpse, but Qu Jianlei declined to settle the funding issue before they had explored the mansion.
  • Qu Jianlei explained that Identification Badges allowed unrestricted entry and exit, and Hua Xiezhi stayed behind to guard the mine with Claire, Sunset Glow, and Yi He.
  • Inside the mansion, Old Lady Jia confirmed that the arrays could be shut down during a critical stage of Qu Jianlei’s breakthrough, though restarting them might be difficult.
  • Paranoid and Old Lady Jia sensed the mansion’s exceptional cultivation environment and volunteered to hunt bounties or Other-dimensional Creatures for money, but Qu Jianlei warned that they were not ready for direct combat.
  • Jing Yuexin offered to earn money herself if Qu Jianlei would not suspend the arrays, and he replied that he had never said they could not be stopped.

Ch. 1363Shameless Gouging

As the group struggled to gather enough Energy Blocks to sustain First One’s cultivation, Fourth Boss, Bentley, and Yuanyuan went to Zihong to stop an attempted buyout of their mine. They secured six billion Energy Blocks and left the rival group wary, while the shortage and demands back at Sky Hook continued.

  • Over two months, the group raised twenty billion Energy Blocks, but their reserves and the Pearl Star Region mine’s growing output still fell short of the Celestial Hook Mystic Mansion’s enormous consumption.
  • Jing Yuexin’s people reported that someone had offered the Ping An Merchant Group thirty billion to take over the Zihong tailings mine, whose Energy Blocks were already reserved for the group.
  • After their warning was ignored, Fourth Boss, Bentley, and Yuanyuan traveled to Zihong, where Bentley’s Thunder Method and Yuanyuan’s Soul Refining Cover intimidated the opposing Supremes.
  • Yuanyuan demanded thirty billion Energy Blocks to release the trapped Supreme, and the other party paid six billion to settle the dispute.
  • Yuanyuan refused to reveal who stood behind them and warned that another attempt to interfere with the mine would cost even more, prompting the rival group to investigate the mine’s backers.
  • On the return trip, Yuanyuan complained that six billion was too little, while Fourth Boss wondered how to deal with her unusual connection to First One and Jing Yuexin.

Ch. 1364It Can't Be Hidden

After city guards searched the Sky Hook residence for Yuanyuan, Hua Xiezhi discovered an official investigation into people connected to Ran Bingluan and Digital Phantom. Fourth Boss, Yuanyuan, and Hua Xiezhi retaliated by infiltrating a data center, and their raid exposed the search to investigators as involving Digital Phantom.

  • City guards searched Jing Yuexin's residence for Yuanyuan, but her people refused to hand her over without proper documentation.
  • Hua Xiezhi traced the search to an official investigation prompted by Yuanyuan's tribulation and the earlier Ran Bingluan identity.
  • Xiao Hu's avatar infiltrated the network and found appearance templates for Yuanyuan, Ran Bingluan, Zhenshan Fort, and others connected to the investigation.
  • Yuanyuan urged retaliation, and Fourth Boss and Hua Xiezhi agreed that the search gave them an excuse to act.
  • Fourth Boss, Yuanyuan, and Hua Xiezhi infiltrated a data center on Celestial Hook Star, killed four people, and downloaded records from its Computer Group.
  • Investigators reviewing the downloaded materials recognized that the search involved Digital Phantom, making the connection impossible to hide.

Ch. 1365The Killing Continues

After Yuanyuan retaliated against Sky Hook officials and city guards who targeted her, Digital Phantom forced the Department of Anomalous Affairs to pay a huge settlement. Meanwhile, the team’s unlicensed Energy Stone Mine was discovered, and a Mining Management Department enforcement ship arrived at the Mineral Star, leaving the miners facing a rapidly worsening standoff.

  • After an A-rank official who had pushed for searching the estate was killed, Yuanyuan killed city guards who had damaged the estate’s property, and the government eventually obtained apologies and substantial gifts from those responsible.
  • Digital Phantom’s Battalion-Class Ship arrived at Celestial Hook Star, where Fourth Boss demanded fifty billion Energy Blocks from the Department of Anomalous Affairs; Purple Sun mediated a settlement of twenty billion.
  • The Mining Management Department investigated the unlicensed Energy Stone Mine in the Pearl Star Region, and the Nine-Man Team decided to ignore the inquiry while the Mineral Star remained undiscovered.
  • An enforcement starship unexpectedly reached the Mineral Star, and the Supreme guarding it refused inspection and drove off its attempted landing with warning fire.
  • The miners reported that the situation was rapidly deteriorating, prompting the First One and the Nine-Man Team to consider how to respond.

Ch. 1366Yi He's Warning

Jia Shuiqing learned how the Mining Management Department had tracked the Mine and arranged for the team to resist briefly before surrendering and demand compensation. As she helped defend the Abandoned Mine, Yi He warned that Da Vinci, an acquaintance of hers, had arrived and was looking for her.

  • Hua Xiezhi explained that the Mining Management Department had tracked the Mine through electromagnetic waves emitted by sabotaged equipment, and Jia Shuiqing told the team to stage a brief resistance before surrendering and demanding a heavy price.
  • Tian Yin warned the messengers not to send further reports unless something major happened, and Jia Shuiqing began setting up a Defense Array near the Abandoned Mine.
  • Hua Xiezhi drove off a suspicious group of intruders with a barrage of fire, and Jia Shuiqing and Hua Xiezhi suspected the group had been probing on someone else's behalf.
  • Yi He revealed that Da Vinci had arrived, was an acquaintance of Jia Shuiqing, and had come to find her.

Ch. 1367Following the Clues

Da Vinci explained to Old Lady Jia how his investigation had led him to conclude that Digital Phantom was connected to Ran Bingluan and the tribulation lightning on Tianfeng. He suspected the team had returned to study the Celestial Hook Mystic Mansion, and the chapter left him facing Old Lady Jia with that theory.

  • Da Vinci encountered Old Lady Jia in the wilderness and said he wanted to join Digital Phantom because he had little time left to adopt the Divine Script System.
  • Old Lady Jia decided to spare Da Vinci, but warned him that he might not survive if the others found out he was there.
  • Da Vinci explained that he traced Digital Phantom’s involvement through Paradise Star, Kabus, Ironhide Snake, and the guesthouse connected to Paranoid and Xiang Xue.
  • Da Vinci linked Xiang Xue to Ran Bingluan, Qinghu, Jing Yuexin, and Yuanyuan, and concluded that Ran Bingluan was likely part of Digital Phantom.
  • Da Vinci reasoned that Digital Phantom had mastered tribulation techniques and had likely returned to Tianfeng to secretly research the Celestial Hook Mystic Mansion.

Ch. 1368Good Thing He Hadn't Been Bluffing

Jia Shuiqing negotiated with Da Vinci after he uncovered Digital Phantom’s secrets, keeping him under supervision until their operation was finished. Da Vinci agreed to raise a large supply of Energy Blocks, and Jia Shuiqing returned to take him with her.

  • Jia Shuiqing decided not to kill Da Vinci because a fight between Above Supremes could endanger First One’s Nascent Soul breakthrough.
  • Da Vinci agreed to stay under supervision and restrictions for up to two years while Digital Phantom completed its operation.
  • Jia Shuiqing asked Da Vinci to gather one hundred billion Energy Blocks and keep the arrangement confidential.
  • Da Vinci promised to send twenty or thirty billion Energy Blocks within two months and began contacting his people.
  • Jia Shuiqing returned half a day later and told Da Vinci to go with her.

Ch. 1369That Makes Sense

Da Vinci arrived at the Abandoned Mine and discovered that Digital Phantom was gathering several Above Supremes for an unexplained event. As they waited for the First One to undergo tribulation, Jia Shuiqing revealed her identity, leaving Da Vinci surprised because he believed she had failed to reach Above Supreme.

  • Old Lady Jia brought Da Vinci to the Abandoned Mine, where he saw Hua Xiezhi and Bentley guarding three unusual Qi Gathering Arrays.
  • Jing Yuexin and Duo Gan arrived, discussed Da Vinci's offer to help find Energy Blocks and private mines, then left soon afterward.
  • Da Vinci stayed at the mine for more than ten days, met Yuanyuan, and learned that his family's Energy Blocks were about to be shipped.
  • Jing Yuexin told everyone to prepare, and Da Vinci sensed powerful Coercive Pressure before waiting more than a day for the event to begin.
  • Jia Shuiqing told Da Vinci he was lucky to witness what was coming and revealed her name after asking him to keep it secret.
  • Da Vinci recognized Jia Shuiqing and asked how she had survived after apparently failing to advance to Above Supreme.

Ch. 1370Our First One

Da Vinci accompanied Jia Shuiqing to witness Ran Bingluan’s advancement to Above Supreme and learned that Ran Bingluan was the Digital Phantom First One. The first tribulation lightning struck as the assembled observers watched from a cautious distance.

  • Jia Shuiqing brought Da Vinci to Area 5 after Jing Yuexin announced that the tribulation was approaching.
  • Da Vinci learned that the person advancing was the First One, one of whose identities was Ran Bingluan, who had reached Supreme only about thirty years earlier.
  • Jia Shuiqing warned Da Vinci that observing the tribulation could bring danger through karma, and he recognized that the risk might involve it.
  • Storm clouds and golden threads formed a vast cage over Tianfeng Star as the First One’s tribulation began.
  • A golden bolt struck the First One, overwhelming Da Vinci with its force and fleeting insights into profound rules, while Hua Xiezhi and Bentley endured the thunder from farther away.

Ch. 1371Opportunity

Da Vinci seized the chance to study the laws echoed by the tribulation lightning as Ran Bingluan underwent her tribulation, but military warships arrived before the fifth strike. He rose to drive them away, destroying a Company-level Warship and refusing to let the military approach, even after they threatened to summon reinforcements.

  • Da Vinci began sensing the laws in the golden Electric Arcs while Hua Xiezhi and Bentley stayed nearby, and Jia Shuiqing urged him to value the lingering echoes.
  • As the second, third, and fourth bolts fell, Da Vinci stopped forcing his comprehension and found that letting insights come naturally improved his clarity.
  • Jia Shuiqing announced that warships were approaching, and Da Vinci offered to drive them off before rising into the air.
  • Da Vinci warned the military ships to leave and fired golden rays that pierced a Company-level Warship, forcing its crew to eject.
  • Da Vinci told the remaining ships that he was protecting a friend rather than acting for Digital Phantom, and the Battalion-Class Ship said a Division Level Ship was on its way.

Ch. 1372Tribulation Lightning with an Extra Ingredient

Da Vinci warned the military that interfering with the tribulation would bring disaster, and the warships held back as the tribulation reached its ninth strike. A saboteur breached the perimeter to worsen the tribulation, but after he was struck down, the ninth lightning engulfed both him and First One in an immense storm.

  • Da Vinci warned the military that anyone entering the tribulation zone would be punished, and the military chose to keep its warships back.
  • The military confirmed that interfering with a tribulation could increase its difficulty and endanger the helper, while other factions gathered outside the guarded perimeter.
  • As the eighth strike injured the tribulation transcender despite his defensive talismans, the military suspected the ninth strike would be the last.
  • An A-rank Awakened One suddenly rose to Supreme, changed his attribute from fire to wind, and charged toward the tribulation transcender with defensive talismans.
  • Bentley attacked the intruder with a Thunder Dragon, and a Golden Ray pierced the man before he could activate his talismans.
  • The ninth strike engulfed the tribulation transcender and saboteur in golden lightning for a minute and a half, forcing observers to retreat.

Ch. 1373Explanation (Second Update)

As Qu Jianlei endured his Nascent Soul tribulation, his companions held their positions while Tianfeng Military investigated the assassin who had disrupted the process. The thunder ended without anyone knowing whether Qu Jianlei survived, and the chapter left the group facing powerful Exotic Energy gathering above the clouds.

  • Mu Yu used her Little Golden Shuttle to kill the assassin who had charged at Qu Jianlei during his tribulation.
  • Jing Yuexin and Duo Gan stayed back beneath the Invisibility Cloak, trusting Qu Jianlei’s plan and refusing to interfere.
  • After the thunder faded, Da Vinci warned everyone to stay put while Tianfeng Military demanded his identity and threatened to take the suspect away.
  • Da Vinci deferred to Old Lady Jia, who demanded an explanation from Tianfeng Military for the Above Supreme who had attacked Qu Jianlei.
  • Old Lady Jia and Jing Yuexin insisted that Qu Jianlei’s fate was up to him, while the group maintained its protective perimeter and waited for spiritual-energy feedback.
  • Old Lady Jia spotted powerful Exotic Energy gathering above the dark clouds, with a quality seemingly finer than spiritual energy.

Ch. 1374Asking the Immortals

Qu Jianlei survived his Nascent Soul tribulation and the strange Ascension Column that enveloped him, while Jia Shuiqing used Digital Phantom’s name to keep the military at a distance. After the pillar faded, Hua Xiezhi reached Qu Jianlei and found him badly battered but alive.

  • The military detained the Awakened Ones and demanded proof when Jia Shuiqing claimed she belonged to Digital Phantom, while Duo Gan told Jing Yuexin to stick to the plan unless Jia Shuiqing gave a signal.
  • More than two thousand kilometers away, the Ruler and Jiaotan identified the phenomenon as an Ascension Column and discussed how unusual it was for a Nascent Soul cultivator.
  • The Ascension Column persisted for three days and nights, and Old Lady Jia told the military that Qu Jianlei needed more time to recover and stabilize his realm.
  • The military said an investigation team including Da Vinci was coming, and Old Lady Jia dismissed the threat while maintaining her Digital Phantom bluff.
  • With the First One’s approval, Hua Xiezhi entered the fading pillar and found Qu Jianlei shrunk to seventy or eighty centimeters and recovering from the damage caused by the tribulation lightning.

Ch. 1375Sudden Turbulence

Qu Jianlei and his companions stalled the military while First One recovered inside the pillar of light. Fourth Boss unleashed energy turbulence that swept the warships away, and when the military returned, the group had vanished, leaving the weakened pillar empty.

  • Qu Jianlei told Hua Xiezhi that the group had to leave soon and insisted they conceal the secret of Near-Earth Jump.
  • Hua Xiezhi entered the pillar of light, then sent messages to the team after emerging; the military monitored their communications while both sides delayed.
  • Fourth Boss entered the pillar with his Plantain Fan and unleashed energy turbulence that swept the nearby warships millions of kilometers away.
  • A second, stronger turbulence damaged ground observation equipment, while clouds and rain further disrupted the military's efforts to watch the pillar.
  • Reinforcements arrived and reported that Qu Jianlei's group had disappeared; they detected mutated spiritual energy inside the pillar but found no one there.

Ch. 1376Nothing Out of the Ordinary

Qu Jianlei’s group escaped the military search on Tianfeng Star and hid in the Celestial Hook Mystic Mansion and aboard their starship, while the military failed to find them and uncovered an Alliance plot. Qu Jianlei continued cultivating, but after ten days he reduced his Energy Block consumption because the supply was running low.

  • Qu Jianlei’s group used the energy turbulence to escape, leaving Xiao Moshan, Xiao Qin, and Yi He True Monarch at the mine while Old Lady Jia took the others to the starship.
  • Da Vinci learned that Fourth Boss’s power came from a magic artifact, agreed to keep the information secret, and asked for a room to review what he had learned.
  • Four days later, a fleet arrived at Tianfeng Star, but its search found none of the mysterious team and only caught ordinary fugitives.
  • The military determined that the Death Warrior had been bought by the Alliance and had used a forced, temporary Above Supreme cultivation to cause destruction.
  • Qu Jianlei cultivated inside the Mystic Mansion, then had Xiao Hu halve the Energy Block consumption when the supply dwindled.
Arc 55 of 116