Recaps

After Enweit’s forces destroyed the Hanhai People’s unmanned fighters, Xi Xiu and her allies recognized how far Aura had changed, while Enweit worried about the retaliation to come. Elsewhere, a mysterious Lord discussed the Hanhai People’s defeat and ordered Gao Shenyi to continue his experiments, which Gao Shenyi feared could cost him his life.

• Yi Mingda and the others watched Enweit defeat the Hanhai People’s unmanned fighters and praised his skill and hard training.
• Xi Xiu recalled how she had trained Enweit and taught him to recognize Aura’s weaknesses and change its prejudices.
• Enweit took pride in Aura’s victory but feared the Hanhai People would retaliate with unknown methods.
• A mysterious Lord mocked the Hanhai People’s defeat and discussed how Hong Xixiu had changed Aura.
• The Lord reviewed recovered data from released organisms and ordered Gao Shenyi to continue the experiments.
• Gao Shenyi accepted the order, fearing failure while still wanting to live.

Gao Shenyi struggled to perfect a powerful biological experiment until Qin Hongjun promised to bring him a formidable assistant in seven days. Meanwhile, Qin Hongjun planned a rescue mission for Qin Jian, while an androgynous subordinate questioned the state of his own altered memories.

• Gao Shenyi concluded that the experiment's abilities remained imperfect and that he could not complete the work with the available knowledge.
• Qin Hongjun told Gao Shenyi he would secure a formidable assistant within seven days, giving him renewed hope for the experiment.
• The androgynous subordinate said he was waiting for information from a woman, and Qin Hongjun warned him to handle the matter himself.
• Qin Hongjun studied the coordinates Qin Jian had sent and calculated a rescue plan using special people as operatives.
• Qin Hongjun's intelligent system reported that energy and travel across the starfield had been solved, and he issued the mission against the Jingsu Alliance.
• The androgynous subordinate watched a Starship depart and reflected that Qin Hongjun might have altered his consciousness and erased much of his past.

After completing their mission on Jing Su, Xi Xiu and her team visited the replanting efforts and met with Chief Susanna. The grateful citizens gave the soldiers practical gifts, which Xi Xiu accepted on the team’s behalf and planned to repay with weapons.

• Xi Xiu and her team joined Jing Su’s citizens in tending the rapidly growing plants in the new forest, Light of Athena.
• A Xian and Xi Xiu talked about someday planting a large garden together, while Ebony gently touched a sapling and the Night Soul Grass rested on its vines.
• Xi Xiu and the others returned to camp, where Xu Zhuming and Chief Susanna were waiting to thank them for protecting the planet.
• Susanna presented Space Lockets filled with food, Nutrient Paste, daily necessities, and decorations, explaining that the citizens had prepared them for Captain Hong.
• Xi Xiu accepted the gifts for the soldiers and planned to assess their value before leaving Jing Su weapons of equivalent value.

Xi Xiu warned Susanna that the planet might face an unidentified-creature crisis and gave her weapons and defensive plans. After Xu Zhuming handed Xi Xiu the copied research data and apologized for his earlier attitude, he asked whether her warning was only speculation, but she declined to answer directly.

• Susanna consulted the stationed warriors about the planet’s plans, and Xi Xiu and A Xian urged stronger defenses and an evacuation plan.
• Xi Xiu had Yi Mingda give Susanna weapons and defensive measures, which Susanna accepted before leaving to prepare the planet.
• Xi Xiu reflected that the evacuation plan could help preserve the planet’s children if catastrophe struck.
• Xu Zhuming gave Xi Xiu the copied data for the mission report and apologized for the researchers’ earlier attitude.
• Xu Zhuming asked whether Xi Xiu’s warning to Susanna was speculation, and she replied that nothing was absolute and that she was fulfilling her responsibility.

Xu Zhuming warned Xi Xiu and A Xian that unidentified organisms were likely experimental specimens designed to combine their abilities in an Anvile People host. After he returned to the Alliance, Xi Xiu and A Xian judged his theory highly plausible, and A Xian asked Jing Xi to investigate Anvile’s hidden history.

• Xu Zhuming explained that the unidentified organisms appeared to be experimental specimens whose separate abilities might be combined into one finished organism.
• Xi Xiu asked which species might serve as the organism’s template, and Xu Zhuming said it was likely the species with six extra genes, the Anvile People.
• A Xian asked whether a system could simulate the organism, but Xu Zhuming said he could only create an imperfect sample and estimated the theory was over eighty percent likely.
• Xu Zhuming returned quietly to the Alliance, while Xi Xiu and A Xian concluded that The Untrustworthy might be working with Qin Hongjun to create a stronger weapon against Anvile.
• A Xian contacted Jing Xi to ask her to investigate Anvile’s history, and Jing Xi and Qing Heming decided to return immediately.

Jing Xi and Qing Heming returned to Anvile, where the nobles learned that The Untrustworthy had reappeared in altered forms and sent a secret team to trace them. Meanwhile, Xi Xiu and A Xian considered Qin Hongjun’s plan to use Qin Jian, then learned that Qin Hongjun’s forces were moving to rescue him; Xi Xiu left to study Transmission Channels and discuss Anvile’s history with Qing Zhixun.

• Jing Xi and Qing Heming returned to Anvile, and Wu Jingmu explained the history of The Untrustworthy to the nobles.
• Anvile decided to send a secret team to track The Untrustworthy’s last traces through the connection between their races.
• Xi Xiu and A Xian reasoned that Qin Hongjun needed Qin Jian as an assistant for his experiment, while the Moda People could not provide usable consciousness data.
• Xi Xiu and A Xian discussed how Qin Hongjun and Qin Jian might turn against each other after cooperating.
• Qing Zhixun told Xi Xiu that unusual activity pointed to Qin Hongjun’s forces entering Qin Jian’s detention site to rescue him.
• Xi Xiu learned that the enemy’s Transmission Channels changed with each use and resolved to study them.

Qing Zhixun told Xi Xiu that the Untrustworthy had deliberately germinated on battlefields, and explained how they had attacked Jing Xi and left her drifting in a medical pod for years. Xi Xiu returned to her dormitory after they agreed to wait for research results, while the Untrustworthy threat remained unresolved.

• Qing Zhixun explained that the Untrustworthy had appeared on battlefields to germinate and that their attack on Jing Xi had been deliberate.
• Qing Zhixun recounted how Jing Xi had shut down her senses to resist the poison before her guard sealed her inside a medical pod, which drifted through an unknown starfield for many years.
• Xi Xiu asked how to prevent the Untrustworthy from germinating, but Qing Zhixun said they had no answer yet and suggested waiting for Third Uncle's research.
• Xi Xiu left Qing Zhixun despite his hopes for a more intimate moment, then smiled to herself in the Hovercar driven by Qing Sansui.
• Xi Xiu returned to her dormitory, where Sixi, Wu Yuan, and Qi Mang were playing with Ebony, and Qi Mang teased Wu Yuan about how Xi Xiu treated them.

Xi Xiu prepared to leave Yuari for Liuning Fortress and gave her companions time to decide whether to follow her or transfer to their partners’ postings. Several comrades chose to go with her, while Flora and He Yinlei planned to join their partners, and Xi Xiu accepted that their paths would eventually diverge.

• Xi Xiu reflected on how Wei Lanshan and Wu Yuan had helped her survive, and Wu Yuan and Qi Mang recognized how much her care for them had changed their feelings toward her.
• Sixi returned Ebony to the balcony and settled Night Soul Grass into its vine-woven nest as Xi Xiu looked over the home she had lived in for more than four years.
• Xi Xiu told Flora and the others she would leave Yuari for Liuning Fortress and offered to help those who wanted to transfer to their partners’ postings.
• Su Jinbao said he would follow Xi Xiu, and Liang Jingxian, Yi Mingda, Nan Hejia, Huang Chuanhu, and Xia Wentao also chose to go with her.
• A Xian hugged Xi Xiu and promised to stay by her side, while Xi Xiu accepted that friends and comrades would eventually follow different paths.
• Flora and He Yinlei had set plans to become partners with their respective partners the following year.

Xi Xiu’s comrades decided whether to transfer with her to Liuning Fortress, and she handled their applications after they chose different paths. As the group prepared to part, Flora broke down in Xi Xiu’s arms, unable to face seeing her leave.

• Su Jinbao, Qiu Shaorong, and Tarasha chose to follow Xi Xiu to Liuning Fortress, while Flora chose Haian Fortress and He Yinlei chose Liuzhao Outpost.
• Xi Xiu submitted Flora and He Yinlei’s transfer applications and gave them the highest evaluations.
• Yang Jiuqing, Hu Yingyi, Ona, Nide, Kassel, and several others also applied to transfer to Liuning Fortress, and Qing Zhixun forwarded Xi Xiu’s list for approval.
• Xi Xiu took Flora, He Yinlei, and the others to the forest for a final gathering before they went their separate ways.
• Flora embraced Xi Xiu, said she would miss everyone, and admitted she would not be able to attend Xi Xiu’s send-off.

Flora and He Yinlei said farewell to Xi Xiu and chose transfers that would let them stay close to their partners. As they prepared to leave Yuari, the others discussed Flora’s reasons for choosing her own path, while A Xian reflected on the opportunities she had gained under Xi Xiu.

• He Yinlei and Su Jinbao talked about the sadness of separation, and He Yinlei asked him to keep them updated about Xi Xiu and her partner-bonding ceremony.
• Xi Xiu comforted the tearful Flora, then changed the subject to plants she had asked Tarasha to grow.
• Flora and He Yinlei decided to leave Yuari, with Flora transferring to Liuning Fortress and He Yinlei to Liuzhao Outpost.
• Flora and He Yinlei left to complete their transfer forms, carrying the Space Locket and equipment Xi Xiu had given them.
• Nan Hejia and Liang Jingxian questioned Flora’s choice, and Xia Wentao suggested she wanted to advance with her partner’s support and might doubt Xi Xiu could prioritize everyone around her.
• A Xian overheard the discussion and considered how following Xi Xiu had helped her rise to major.

Xi Xiu and A Xian left Yuanri for Liuning Fortress, where several experienced officers and their teams joined them. The chapter ended with Xi Xiu agreeing to spar with Buhete after they settled in.

• He Yinlei and Flora watched Xi Xiu, A Xian, and the other departing members board their starship, then wished each other well before their own transfers.
• After Xi Xiu's starship reached space, she and her companions discovered Buhete, Ulia, Wang Zichun, Fan Zhengan, and their teams aboard, reporting to serve with Xi Xiu.
• Ulia confirmed that the group had chosen to follow Xi Xiu, and Su Jinbao welcomed them as new teammates.
• Xi Xiu thanked the newcomers and promised that they would work hard together at Liuning Fortress.
• Buhete challenged Xi Xiu to a fight, and she agreed to schedule a spar after everyone settled in.

Xi Xiu and her companions traveled to Liuning Fortress, where Qing Zhixun planned to hunt down the hidden Huovian people and reorganize a base dominated by prominent families. As they studied local gossip and alliances, Xi Xiu warned the team to avoid clashing with Basia and the Wang Family, though she expected trouble with the team she would take over.

• Xi Xiu agreed to Buhete's challenge match, and A Xian decided she would fight everyone who had accompanied them.
• Xi Xiu reviewed the detailed profiles of the people traveling with them before resting for the thirty-six-hour journey to Liuning Fortress.
• Su Jinbao, Liang Jingxian, and Nan Hejia gathered gossip about Liuning's prominent families as the group learned that the Huovian people remained undiscovered despite more than two months of investigation.
• Xi Xiu considered Qing Zhixun's plan to eliminate the Huovian people and reorganize Liuning Fortress, where Basia's influence and the prominent families made the mission difficult.
• Xi Xiu learned that Basia's son was tied by a marriage alliance to the Wang Family, warned her team not to confront Basia, and heard Yi Mingda predict that the team she took over would not cooperate.

Xi Xiu and her team discussed the prominent families’ growing influence at Liuning Fortress and prepared for conflict with them. They suspected the families were cooperating with Qin Hongjun, while Xi Xiu planned to focus on finding the Huovian people and rely on Qing Zhixun to rein in the fortress.

• Yi Mingda explained that the Wang Family had allied with Basia and that Basia’s youngest son was already a senior colonel at Liuning Fortress, while Xi Xiu had just become a major general.
• Xi Xiu and her team discussed the likelihood of being challenged by the prominent families, and Xi Xiu told them to fight back if anyone bullied them.
• Xi Xiu and Qing Zhixun considered whether prominent families were working with Qin Hongjun, whose methods could break Mental Power limits or turn people into Eternal Robots.
• Xi Xiu said their main mission at Liuning was to find the Huovian people, while Qing Zhixun would handle the fortress’s troublemakers.
• Xi Xiu planned to select a team for the mission, and Xia Wentao expected Qing Zhixun to bring the prominent families into line within a month.

Xi Xiu and her allies prepared for trouble at Liuning Fortress, while Qing Zhixun’s group uncovered the powerful families’ control of the fortress and a likely attempt to target Xi Xiu. The chapter left them anticipating a hostile welcoming banquet and wary of the Wang Family’s efforts to force Xi Xiu to acknowledge her father.

• A Xian, Qiu Shaorong, and Su Jinbao agreed that Buhete and the others could handle anyone who challenged their group, and Xi Xiu confirmed she had anticipated using Buhete’s fearsome reputation.
• Xi Xiu and the others brainstormed more than a hundred possible situations and responses for their arrival at Liuning Fortress.
• Xiquan Long told Qing Zhixun that Basia had gathered information from the Wang Family and might arrange a welcoming banquet with Liuning’s generals.
• Qing Zhixun and his companions reviewed how the Xiwen Family dominated Liuning Fortress, marked more than fifty banquet attendees for Xiquan Long to watch, and warned everyone not to reveal information.
• Li Yuanting pointed out that the Wang Family was targeting Xi Xiu despite knowing she was Qing Zhixun’s partner, after having urged Ye Yunhan to make Xi Xiu acknowledge her father.

Qing Zhixun learned that Leisiren, the brother of his old tormentor Felis, had been assigned to Liuning Fortress and looked forward to facing him. Meanwhile, Basia planned to undermine Hong Xixiu by limiting her missions and assigning her a team of powerful but unruly soldiers.

• Li Yuanting told Qing Zhixun that Leisiren, Felis's older brother, was assigned to Liuning Fortress, and Qing Zhixun welcomed the prospect of a fight.
• Qing Zhixun reviewed the transfer list and resolved to protect Xi Xiu from the great families who had long resented him.
• Basia investigated Hong Xixiu's mission record and wrongly concluded that Qing Zhixun had arranged her success by giving her opportunities.
• Basia planned to separate Qing Zhixun from Hong Xixiu and reduce her chances to go on missions.
• Basia selected teams known for disobedience and fighting to recommend for Hong Xixiu, pleased that their strong Mental Power would make the assignment seem defensible.

Basia reconsidered his plans for Hong Xixiu after the Wang Family revealed that Ye Yunhan had tried to kill her, and General Wang warned him not to underestimate Qing Zhixun or the Qing Family. The Wang Family also discovered that its plans on Gaia kept being disrupted by an unknown person.

• Basia reviewed Hong Xixiu’s records and judged her for refusing to return to or acknowledge the Ye Family.
• The Wang Family sent Basia a top-secret file documenting Ye Yunhan and Tang Yongyu’s attempts to kill Hong Xixiu and Tang Yongyu’s destruction of the laboratory.
• After confirming the file was accurate, Basia abandoned his plan to expose Hong Xixiu’s refusal to acknowledge her father and asked General Wang for advice.
• General Wang told Basia to stay still and guard against Qing Zhixun, warning that the Qing Family had hidden influence and followers.
• General Wang learned that the Wang Family’s plans on Gaia had repeatedly been thwarted by an unidentified person.

General Wang worried that Wang Guanyu’s actions had put the Wang Family on a collision course with Qing Zhixun, while regretting his daughter’s role in the family’s marriage alliance. After Xi Xiu and the others reached Liuning Fortress, Qing Zhixun confronted Basia for delaying their entry, and the Starship was finally cleared to land.

• General Wang concluded that Qing Zhixun might have sabotaged the Wang Family’s efforts and feared the families would become enemies if Qing Zhixun took over the Qing Family.
• General Wang reflected on his daughter’s marriage alliance with the Xiwen Family and regretted being unable to keep her out of the Wang Family’s political plans.
• After thirty-six hours of travel, Xi Xiu and the others arrived near Liuning Fortress, where Qing Zhixun requested an access code from ground control.
• Basia deliberately delayed sending the code, so Qing Zhixun hacked into his terminal and confronted him with records showing when he had made the request.
• Basia claimed he had only just seen the messages and had ground control send the access code, allowing the Starship to enter Liuning Fortress.
• Xi Xiu realized Basia had deliberately stalled their arrival and suspected their assignment to investigate the Huovian people had already offended him.

Fan Zhengan and Wang Zichun discussed why the Alliance had sent Yuanri personnel to Liuning Fortress and the political struggle surrounding the mission. After Xi Xiu warned her team to stay alert, the group arrived and faced a hostile reception from Luther.

• Fan Zhengan and Wang Zichun concluded that the Alliance had sent them to disrupt Liuning Fortress's Xiwen Family influence and ensure the Huovian investigation succeeded.
• Xi Xiu warned the Yuanri team that an unknown force was operating behind the Liuning garrison and told them to report any trouble to her.
• Luther arrived late to receive the Yuanri personnel and failed to greet Qing Zhixun properly.
• Luther assigned the officers and Xi Xiu's team to separate districts, prompting Buhete to accuse him of disrespecting their ranks.
• Luther explained that he had assumed only rank-and-file soldiers were arriving because he had not been given their information or ranks.

Xi Xiu and Qing Zhixun arrived in Liuning’s unruly West District, where Xi Xiu was assigned to manage its defiant troops. The district’s leader, Arivik, recognized Xi Xiu’s reputation and Qing Zhixun’s strength as their first confrontation began.

• Qing Zhixun ordered Luther to take them to the West District before the East District, and Xi Xiu discussed the difficult assignment with him during the ride.
• Xi Xiu and Qing Zhixun arrived with their soldiers at the West District training field, while Luther and his subordinates stayed inside their Hovercar.
• Arivik and his men greeted the arrivals with mockery, treating them as easy targets.
• Xi Xiu identified Arivik and recited details of his service, silencing his men.
• Arivik recalled intelligence about Xi Xiu’s transfer and assessed her abilities, while recognizing Qing Zhixun and the Anvile People behind them.

Hong Xixiu arrived at the Western District of Liuning Fortress and established her position with Alivik and his soldiers. The Western District welcomed her as a potential ally, while Luther remained wary and unwilling to leave his Hovercar.

• Alivik introduced himself to Hong Xixiu with a military salute, then taunted Luther, who stayed inside his Hovercar.
• Alivik explained that outsiders rarely visited the Western District, and Hong Xixiu praised the camp’s lively, orderly appearance.
• Hong Xixiu introduced herself and promised to stand with the soldiers when defending the Alliance and its citizens.
• Alivik and the Western District soldiers answered her with cries of loyalty to the Alliance, renewing their hopes for the district.
• Hong Xixiu offered cooperation, and Alivik welcomed her and led her onward.

Qing Zhixun traveled to Liuning’s Eastern District while learning about its timid troops and the unexplained failure of Leisiren’s latest mission. He concluded that taking control of Liuning would bring him into conflict with Basia and Leisiren, and began planning how to weaken Basia’s influence.

• Xi Xiu and more than six hundred people followed Arivik to the Western District headquarters, while Qing Zhixun sent her information about Liuning’s positions and headed east.
• During the ride, Qing Zhixun’s companions questioned Luther about the Eastern District and Leisiren, but Luther’s fear of offending his superiors made him clam up.
• Qing Zhixun reviewed Leisiren’s record and noticed evasive gaps in the report on the team’s unsuccessful search for the Huovian people.
• Qing Zhixun realized the Elder Council had sent him to take control of Liuning and began calculating how to dismantle Basia’s power.

Qing Zhixun settled his five hundred troops into the eastern district, organized them, and ordered them to retaliate against anyone who provoked them. Basia investigated the arrivals and discovered that someone with Qing Zhixun had blocked surveillance, prompting him to ask who handled their network communications.

• Qing Zhixun registered his people, had them clean and settle into the eastern district dormitories, and noted the poor support Luther had provided.
• Qing Zhixun briefed his troops on Liuning’s situation and told them to hit back hard against provocations and dirty tricks.
• Basia questioned Luther about the western district and learned that Arivik had not obstructed Hong Xixiu or her people.
• Basia reviewed surveillance footage from both districts but found only static and busy signals, then asked his adjutant to identify Qing Zhixun’s communications specialist.

Basia sent Runell and several Liuning officers to Qing Zhixun’s dormitory, assigning them and their forces to Qing Zhixun while attempting to undermine him. Qing Zhixun saw through the maneuver and planned to report to Basia the next day, while Li Yuanting questioned how the newly assigned officers could serve the team from so far away.

• Basia decided to drive a wedge between Qing Zhixun and his subordinates, then instructed Runell to carry out his plan.
• Runell arrived at Qing Zhixun’s dormitory with several Liuning officers and was admitted after Lu Zong’an opened the Protective Shield.
• Runell introduced Major General Bilich, Colonel Lisa Larson, Colonel Philia, Lieutenant Colonel Penniman, and Lieutenant Colonel Chen Jinggang as officers assigned to Qing Zhixun’s team.
• Bilich mocked Qing Zhixun, but Qing Zhixun remained composed as his people recognized the insult and held back their response.
• Qing Zhixun told Runell he would report to Basia the next day, then Li Yuanting asked why the assigned officers were stationed so far away.

Runell reported Qing Zhixun’s response to General Basia, while Xi Xiu arrived in Liuning’s western district and challenged Arivik’s assumptions about her mission. The story left Xi Xiu and A Xian ready to confront anyone who tried to keep them from searching for the Huovian people.

• Runell and his team discussed Qing Zhixun’s caution and influence in Liuning, and Runell warned that he could quickly gain control as he had in Yuani.
• Runell reported back to Basia, who told him to wait until after she met Qing Zhixun the next day.
• Arivik arranged temporary lodging for Xi Xiu and Yuani’s warriors after learning that the western district had received no advance notice of their transfer.
• Xi Xiu told Arivik that the Alliance had assigned her to lead the western district’s warriors in finding the Huovian people.
• A Xian declared that they would beat up anyone who blocked their mission, even General Basia, and Xi Xiu said that matched the western district’s usual style.

Xi Xiu reviewed the western district’s warrior roster and revealed that Arivik’s strength exceeded Basia’s, prompting Arivik to test her Mental Power. The spar left Arivik unable to detect Xi Xiu’s Mental Power, exposing the vast gap between them.

• Xi Xiu examined the western district roster and noticed the warriors’ strength ratings had not been updated.
• Xi Xiu told Arivik that his strength surpassed Basia’s, and Arivik realized she had seen through his concealed level.
• Arivik’s people sealed the meeting room while Yi Mingda, Qiu Shaorong, and the others contained Mental Power inside the building.
• Arivik attacked Xi Xiu with his Mental Power, but she remained unaffected as he released it all.
• Xi Xiu struck with fine Mental Power threads that cut Arivik’s wrist, while he failed to detect her power.