Chapter Summaries

Ji Xinghuo reviewed the Astral Department’s Ability Seeds, Expansion Oddities, and cultivation resources, finding the Overload Ability Seed and learning that several powerful Aberrants wanted the next Titanium Cobalt Dragon Body. After receiving Overload, he applied to cultivate in the Aether Accumulation Chamber.

• Ji Xinghuo accessed the Astral Department’s databases and found one Overload Ability Seed and one Rotating Magnetic Field Ability Seed in stock.
• Yan Wenzhu told Ji Xinghuo that Zhu Xiaorong, Sima Hanzhang, and Cheng Sheng would compete for the Titanium Cobalt Dragon Body expected next year.
• Ji Xinghuo decided not to spend an Ability Seed selection opportunity on a Star Tear and considered trading his Scarlet Emperor Blood Crystals for scarce Expansion Oddities.
• Yu Lu delivered Overload, and Ji Xinghuo confirmed through the Myriad Stellar Eye that its fusion success rate was 97%.
• Ji Xinghuo reviewed the Astral Department’s cultivation aids and applied to use its Aether Accumulation Chamber.

Ji Xinghuo toured the Aether Research Institute and learned about its costly cultivation chambers, then arranged to test a Tier 3 chamber. He began training under increased gravity to compare its benefits with Ren-jie's Azure Sky Tree Forest.

• Yan Wenzhu brought Ji Xinghuo to the Aether Research Institute and introduced him to Director Ke Mingshan.
• Ke Mingshan explained the three tiers of Aether Accumulation Chambers, their limited availability, and their steep fees.
• Ji Xinghuo learned that Aether Crystals could cover chamber fees at a discount and asked whether others could use chambers he paid for.
• Ke Mingshan arranged a Tier 3 cultivation room so Ji Xinghuo could test its effects without auxiliary potions.
• Ji Xinghuo tested the room's five-times gravity with a twenty-ton barbell and asked the staff to increase the gravity.

Ji Xinghuo tested the Aether Research Institute’s training facilities and discovered that they greatly accelerated his Stellar Force cultivation. He arranged for Zhao Manying and Zhong Ming to use the chamber, then headed to Zhong Ming with a more suitable Aether Affinity.

• Ji Xinghuo bench-pressed up to 130 tons under artificial gravity, astonishing Ke Mingshan with his strength and Stellar Force.
• Ji Xinghuo used the Aether Accumulation Chamber and recovered his Stellar Force in under half an hour, gaining four points over a training cycle.
• Ji Xinghuo completed seven training cycles and gained nearly thirty Stellar Force before returning to Yan Wenzhu’s office.
• Ji Xinghuo asked Yan Wenzhu to arrange chamber access for Zhao Manying and Zhong Ming, and Yan told them to submit applications.
• Ji Xinghuo called Zhong Ming, learned he had not fused the Ability Seeds yet, and said he was bringing him a more suitable Aether Affinity.

Ji Xinghuo helped his family advance their Aberrant training and secured Zhong Ming permission to use an Aether Accumulation Chamber, despite its staggering cost. After Zhao Manying’s match and a late-night reunion, he took her and Zhong Ming to the Aether Research Institute the next day.

• Zhong Ming fused Ji Xinghuo’s Aether Affinity Ability Seed, while Ye Dongyun announced that she had become a Plant Witch.
• Ji Xinghuo explained the Aether Research Institute and arranged for Zhong Ming and Man Ying to apply for Aether Accumulation Chamber access; Zhong Ming submitted his application despite learning it could cost billions of Asia Yuan each year.
• The five siblings watched Zhao Manying lead her team to victory, joked about the online arguments over her relationship with Ji Xinghuo, and discussed the need to watch out for people who might approach the family for Ji Xinghuo’s sake.
• Ji Xinghuo learned that the Shi family had obstructed Zhao Manying’s attempts to access the Aether Research Institute, and Zhao Manying vowed to settle the score with Shi Hongyi.
• Ji Xinghuo spent the night with Zhao Manying, then left with her and Zhong Ming for the Aether Research Institute the next day.

Ji Xinghuo’s intense cultivation brought him closer to the Super Esper limit, but a confrontation with Li Xuan turned into a proposed public duel with a Starfall Ability Seed at stake. Ji Xinghuo left after giving Li Xuan three months to prepare an equal wager for a global livestream duel on October 1.

• Ji Xinghuo cultivated for at least fifteen hours a day at the Aether Research Institute, raising his Stellar Force to 9635 as he aimed to reach the Super Esper limit before October.
• Ji Xinghuo found Zhong Ming being mocked by two Legendary figures and confronted them, then accused Li Xuan of provoking him to profit from his fame.
• Li Xuan invited Ji Xinghuo to a livestreamed duel, but Ji Xinghuo rejected the initial five-minute terms and proposed settling the fight by victory or defeat.
• Ji Xinghuo offered the Starfall Ability Seed Absolute Hit as his stake, and Li Xuan accepted the duel but admitted he had no equivalent seed to wager.
• Ji Xinghuo gave Li Xuan three months to prepare an equal-value stake and proposed holding the global livestream duel on October 1 before leaving with Zhao Manying and Zhong Ming.

Ji Xinghuo wagered the Starfall Ability Seed Absolute Hit against Celestial King Li Xuan and refused Li Xuan’s offers as their duel drew intense public attention. After Ji Xinghuo publicly insulted Li Xuan and Li Xuan’s smear campaign was shut down, Ji Xinghuo went to prepare for Lu Yunhai’s wedding, where both families learned he was Lu’s best friend.

• Ji Xinghuo told Zhao Manying and Zhong Ming that he expected Li Xuan to covet Absolute Hit, and said he had a ninety percent chance of defeating him, especially if he advanced to legend before their planned October 1 duel.
• Li Xuan offered Ji Xinghuo the livestream proceeds and twenty billion Asia Yuan, but Ji Xinghuo refused; two days later, Li Xuan revealed the Starfall Ability Seed as the wager, prompting an online bidding frenzy led by a fifty-billion-yuan offer.
• When Li Xuan pressured Ji Xinghuo to finalize the duel, Ji Xinghuo called him an idiot and posted the insult on social media; Li Xuan ordered a smear campaign, but authorities blocked the accusations and banned the team’s accounts.
• Ji Xinghuo and Lu Yunhai went to the mountain hotel to prepare for Lu’s wedding, and Lu asked when Ji Xinghuo and Zhao Manying would marry, but Ji Xinghuo avoided the question.
• Lu Yunhai introduced Ji Xinghuo as his university classmate and best friend, stunning the relatives and staff gathered at the wedding venue.

Ji Xinghuo attended Lu Yunhai and Fang Yinping’s wedding, where his fame transformed an ordinary gathering into a spectacle and reunited him with old classmates. Zhao Manying arrived to join him, and the chapter ended as the wedding ceremony began.

• Ji Xinghuo met Lu Yunhai’s parents and the Fang family, who treated him with deference because of his fame and status.
• Ji Xinghuo reunited with his former classmate Wu Qifeng, joked with him, and promised to introduce him to Zhao Manying at the wedding.
• Ji Xinghuo served as a groomsman, drew attention from the wedding party and guests, and helped Lu Yunhai gain prestige.
• Ji Xinghuo chatted with Wu Qifeng and welcomed former classmates who came to the wedding hoping to see him.
• Zhao Manying arrived, linked arms with Ji Xinghuo, and greeted Wu Qifeng, her longtime fan.
• Ji Xinghuo and Zhao Manying posed for photos with classmates before the emcee began the wedding ceremony.

At Lu Yunhai’s wedding, Li Xuan arrived to confront Ji Xinghuo and proposed a duel for a huge wager. Ji Xinghuo negotiated the terms and signed a contract for their Spirit Realm duel on October 1st, leaving the agreement to cause a worldwide sensation.

• Ji Xinghuo toasted wedding guests alongside Lu Yunhai and encountered Yang Tianqing, who congratulated him on his fame.
• Li Xuan arrived at the wedding in a burst of azure sword light and sat beside Ji Xinghuo after greeting the newlyweds.
• Li Xuan offered the livestream proceeds and 100 billion Asia Yuan as the wager, but Ji Xinghuo rejected the offer and demanded a duel in reality.
• Li Xuan refused a real-world duel, and Ji Xinghuo pressed him to increase the wager for a Spirit Realm fight.
• Li Xuan raised the wager to 150 billion Asia Yuan, and Ji Xinghuo signed a contract for their Spirit Realm duel on October 1st after it passed review.
• Li Xuan departed, and news of the signed contract spread rapidly online.

Ji Xinghuo gave Lu Yunhai and Fang Yinping valuable wedding gifts, then left with Zhao Manying as public attention focused on his coming duel with Li Xuan. He spent the following months cultivating until his Stellar Force exceeded ten thousand, and the chapter ended with news that the Sun King had died.

• Ji Xinghuo congratulated Lu Yunhai and Fang Yinping and gave them an Azure Sky Fruit and a Scarlet Emperor Blood Crystal as wedding gifts.
• Ji Xinghuo and Zhao Manying left the wedding to avoid the crowd, then saw that most people expected Li Xuan to win their duel.
• Ji Xinghuo and Zhao Manying discussed betting on him in Ivangrad during the upcoming International Invitational Tournament.
• Ji Xinghuo watched Li Xuan's popular livestream, then spent the rest of the afternoon with Zhao Manying.
• Ji Xinghuo cultivated in the Aether Cultivation Place until his Stellar Force surpassed ten thousand in July.
• The Sun King, Earth's strongest person and first on the Heavenly King Rankings, died.

Ji Xinghuo learned that Chris Hoff Holinqi, the second-generation Sun King, had died and that a successor had been chosen. At an urgent meeting, Ji Daosheng revealed intelligence identifying the Third Generation Sun King as John Anthony.

• Ji Xinghuo read the Americas Federation’s obituary announcing that Chris Hoff Holinqi had died at age 118 and that a Third Generation Sun King would appear at his funeral.
• Ji Xinghuo considered the possibility that the successor would inherit the Sun King’s power and advance to Star Herding Saint, threatening the balance between the Americas Federation and the Asia-Pacific Community.
• Huo Keji and Luo Yimeng summoned Ji Xinghuo and took him to the Head of State Residence for an emergency meeting.
• Ji Daosheng told the assembled officials and commanders that intelligence had identified the Third Generation Sun King.
• Ji Daosheng displayed the successor’s file, which named him John Anthony and showed a photograph of a blond, blue-eyed young man.

After Chris Hoff Holinqi's death, the Asia-Pacific Community weighed whether to exploit the Sun King's succession or wait for more information about John Anthony. John appeared at the state funeral as the Third Generation Sun King and announced that he would visit the New Roman Empire and register for the Global Marathon, leaving Ji Xinghuo and Zhao Manying surprised.

• Ji Daosheng told the conference that the previous Sun King had rapidly regained power after succeeding Henry Tasville, and the officials debated whether the new Sun King might already be recovering.
• Ji Daosheng ordered Luo Keding to attend Chris Hoff Holinqi's state funeral and instructed the military and Celestial Kings to prepare for either a cautious response or a strike against John Anthony.
• Ji Xinghuo returned to the Aether Research Institute and continued cultivating while the internet filled with rumors about the succession.
• Ji Xinghuo and Zhao Manying watched Chris Hoff Holinqi's state funeral, where John Anthony appeared publicly as the new Sun King and delivered a polished speech.
• Zhao Manying said John Anthony seemed to be suppressing his true nature and following a script, and Ji Xinghuo agreed that his performance might be meant to confuse observers.
• John Anthony announced that he would visit the New Roman Empire on July 20 and register in Ivangrad for the Global Marathon, astonishing Ji Xinghuo and Zhao Manying.

Ji Xinghuo learned that the Sun King’s visit to the New Roman Empire was a cover for entering the Global Marathon to obtain Star Flame Pulse. Ji Daosheng revealed that the ability could help the Sun King complete a Fusion combination and become a Star Child, so Ji Xinghuo was tasked with preventing him from acquiring it.

• After the Sun King announced his Global Marathon entry and a visit to the New Roman Empire, Ji Xinghuo and Zhao Manying discussed his motives and the possible diplomatic consequences.
• Ji Daosheng summoned Ji Xinghuo and explained that the Sun King’s visit was primarily intended to disguise his pursuit of an Ability Seed prize.
• Ji Xinghuo identified the desired prize as Star Flame Pulse, a Super-Limit ability that was part of a powerful combined ability.
• Ji Daosheng revealed that the Sun King needed Star Flame Pulse to complete the Fusion combination, which could make him a Star Child and help him become a Star Herding Saint.

Ji Daosheng assigned Ji Xinghuo to win the Global Marathon and obtain Star Flame Pulse, a rare composite Ability Seed that might be bait in the Iron Emperor’s plans. He gave Ji Xinghuo the Apocalypse One Star Flight Shoes to improve his chances, and Ji Xinghuo tested their power before beginning ground-running practice.

• Ji Daosheng explained Star Flame Pulse’s importance and suspected the Iron Emperor had offered it as bait connected to the Sun King.
• Ji Daosheng tasked Ji Xinghuo with winning the Global Marathon, while Ji Xinghuo learned the Sun King could run the route far faster than he could.
• Ji Daosheng gave Ji Xinghuo the Apocalypse One Star Flight Shoes and asked Luo Yimeng to compete alongside him and protect him in Ivangrad.
• Ji Xinghuo returned home, put on the shoes, and tested their flight, energy recovery, and speed-boosting abilities.
• Ji Xinghuo combined the shoes with his movement abilities to fly beyond triple sonic speed, then landed and began sprinting through the mountains to train for the marathon rules.

Ji Xinghuo arrived in Ivangrad, met the legendary siblings An Yitian and An Zhisu, and spent the day exploring the city with Zhao Manying. Their evening was interrupted when Princess Sophia approached them at a seaside restaurant to welcome them.

• Ji Xinghuo met An Yitian and An Zhisu on the flight to Ivangrad, exchanged contact information with them, and agreed they might explore the city together.
• Ji Xinghuo flew to the hotel where Zhao Manying was staying, and the two went sightseeing before discussing bets on the tournament and Global Marathon.
• Ji Xinghuo and Zhao Manying decided to bet five billion each on Ji Xinghuo winning the tournament, but not to bet on the Global Marathon.
• Princess Sophia arrived at the seaside restaurant with two legendary bodyguards, greeted the diners, and welcomed Ji Xinghuo and Zhao Manying to Ivangrad.

Princess Sophia offered Ji Xinghuo 2,000 Aether Crystals for Absolute Hit if he won his duel with Li Xuan, and invited him and Zhao Manying to a royal hunt in Ivangrad. After Shi Renzhong interrupted their evening, Ji Xinghuo and Zhao Manying discussed her growing suspicions about the Shi family and whether she should leave the Empyrean Star Team.

• Princess Sophia met Ji Xinghuo and Zhao Manying, offered up to 2,000 Aether Crystals for Absolute Hit after his duel, and invited them to a royal hunt on the twenty-third.
• Ji Xinghuo accepted Sophia’s invitation for both of them, and she gave them their invitations before flying away with her bodyguards.
• Shi Renzhong came to Zhao Manying’s hotel room late at night, but Ji Xinghuo sent him away without letting him in.
• Zhao Manying told Ji Xinghuo that Shi Renzhong seemed unhappy about her growing strength and that he might soon act against her.
• Ji Xinghuo warned Zhao Manying that Shi Renzhong could become dangerous and suggested she pay the Empyrean Star Club compensation to end her contract, but she chose to think it over.

Ji Xinghuo watched Zhao Manying and Empyrean Star Team dominate the International Invitational Tournament, then attended the championship match between Empyrean Star Team and Space Cowboy Team. At the arena, he encountered the Iron Emperor and Sun King John Anthony, who suddenly appeared before him.

• Ji Xinghuo cheered for Zhao Manying as Empyrean Star Team swept the Gladiators, and he intimidated a hostile Giant General in the crowd.
• Ji Xinghuo attended Empyrean Star Team's matches as they went undefeated and advanced to the championship against Space Cowboy Team.
• Ji Xinghuo greeted An Yitian and Li Xuan at the arena, but ignored Li Xuan's joking attempt to engage him.
• Ji Xinghuo watched the Iron Emperor and Sun King John Anthony arrive, sensed their immense power, and met the Sun King's gaze.
• John Anthony left the private box and appeared in front of Ji Xinghuo.

The Sun King confronted Ji Xinghuo at the Imperial Arena, declared him his only worthy rival, and promised not to attack him before he reached Celestial King. Ji Xinghuo watched Zhao Manying lead the Empyrean Star Team to defeat the Space Cowboy Team and win her ninth championship.

• John Anthony approached Ji Xinghuo in the stands, called him his destined enemy and sole worthy opponent, then left after promising to wait until Ji Xinghuo advanced to Celestial King.
• Ji Xinghuo learned more about Kailina Olsen, the Space Cowboy Team’s Magnetic Field Maniac and Lightning Mechanic, before both teams entered the arena.
• Ji Xinghuo met Wang Yinlong, the top-ranked Legend, and agreed to spar with him after reaching Legend.
• Zhao Manying led the Empyrean Star Team to win the first three games as the Space Cowboy Team’s attacks failed to stop her.
• Kailina Olsen and her teammates fought beyond their limits in the fourth game, but Zhao Manying defeated Kailina in a final duel and claimed her ninth championship.

Ji Xinghuo and Zhao Manying attended Princess Sophia’s shooting exchange at the Gagra Royal Hunting Ground, where Ji Xinghuo impressed the assembled guests with his archery. The group began the hunt in the Greater Caucasus Mountains, and Sophia’s guests watched Ji Xinghuo kill five Wind Riding Hawks with five arrows.

• Ji Xinghuo and Zhao Manying traveled to the Gagra Royal Hunting Ground and met Princess Sophia, who welcomed them and outlined the day’s schedule.
• Ji Xinghuo and Zhao Manying toured the estate before joining more than forty guests in the grand hall, where they greeted familiar Aberrants including An Yitian, An Zhisu, and Su Ziyou.
• Princess Sophia led the guests to the stables, where they took Silver Winged Pegasi and identical shooting equipment before flying toward the Greater Caucasus Mountains to hunt Wind Riding Hawks.
• Princess Sophia pointed out a Wind Riding Hawk nest and invited Ji Xinghuo to demonstrate his skill with a bow.
• Ji Xinghuo fired five arrows in quick succession and killed all five Wind Riding Hawks with precise headshots, stunning Sophia and impressing the guests.

At Princess Sophia’s shooting exchange, Zhao Manying astonished the guests by killing nine Wind Riding Hawks with one burst, while Kailina Olsen challenged Ji Xinghuo’s place in the rankings. That evening, Kailina privately proposed a wager: if she won a match, Ji Xinghuo had to leave Zhao Manying.

• Ji Xinghuo’s long-range shot impressed the guests, and Su Ziyou compared his instinctive shooting to the Wingfolk’s Arrow Heart Style Shooting.
• At a distant Electromagnetic Rifle position, Zhao Manying fired nine rounds and killed all nine Wind Riding Hawks with headshots.
• Kailina Olsen claimed Zhao Manying deserved Sky Ladder First, herself second, and Ji Xinghuo only third; Ji Xinghuo dismissed her complaint about the rankings.
• After the shooting exchange, Ji Xinghuo searched online for information about Kailina and found no public romantic history.
• At the evening banquet, Kailina took Ji Xinghuo’s arm and challenged him to a match, wagering that he leave Zhao Manying if she won.

At Princess Sophia's banquet, Kailina provoked Ji Xinghuo into a fight by challenging his Sky Ladder ranking and offering information about a rare Ability Seed. Ji Xinghuo decisively defeated her and demanded to know whether she accepted the result.

• Kailina tried to drive a wedge between Ji Xinghuo and Zhao Manying, then apologized after they rejected her advances.
• Kailina challenged Ji Xinghuo at the banquet, and Zhao Manying told her that Ji Xinghuo was far stronger than she was.
• Kailina offered Ji Xinghuo a chance to learn about the Starfall Ability Seed Magnetic Pole Potential Slash if he won, and he accepted.
• Kailina attacked Ji Xinghuo in the manor courtyard, but he dodged her gunfire and caught her saber with his barrier-protected hand.
• Ji Xinghuo overwhelmed Kailina with electromagnetic attacks, lightning, and a metal javelin, then smashed her into the ground and asked if she accepted defeat.