Chapter Summaries

Xia Chujian caught up with her Dark Night Hunter Team and learned that Ye Shijie had accepted a mission to find the rare Jia Rong Grass. Recognizing the glowing plants as the special Jia Rong Grass she knew was A Yuan’s food, she wondered what the employer intended to do with it.

• Xia Chujian video-called Ye Shijie, Li Fu, Song Mingqian, and Ping Qiong, who invited her to join them at their new villa.
• The team praised Xia Chujian’s marksmanship and asked about the school commissioner who had tried to arrest her; she assured them she was fine.
• Song Mingqian told Xia Chujian the team planned to take a major mission, though she would likely stay at school.
• Ye Shijie explained that the mission was to find Jia Rong Grass and showed the team an image of glowing blue-purple plants.
• Xia Chujian recognized the pictured plants as the special Jia Rong Grass that served as A Yuan’s food, while Ye Shijie said the hunters did not need to question the employer’s motives.

Xia Chujian declined to join Ye Shijie's lucrative Jia Rong Grass mission and grew suspicious that the Qiu Clan was behind it. She confronted the real Qiu Shenxing about Rong Shenzhi's crimes, and the chapter ended with Qiu Shenxing learning that Quan Yuxun was Xia Chujian's attorney.

• Xia Chujian asked Ye Shijie about the Jia Rong Grass mission's duration and payment, then declined to participate because of her heavy course load.
• Xia Chujian suspected the Qiu Clan had released the mission after learning Ye Shijie's friend had offered the unusually large reward.
• The next day, Xia Chujian saw the real Qiu Shenxing meeting Zong Ruoning and drew her pistol before Qiu Shenxing apologized for Rong Shenzhi's actions.
• Qiu Shenxing said he had been abroad while Rong Shenzhi used his identity, and claimed the Qiu Clan had already punished those involved.
• Xia Chujian challenged Qiu Shenxing over the Qiu Clan's handling of the case and warned him to expect a lawyer's letter.
• Zong Ruoning told Qiu Shenxing that Quan Yuxun was Xia Chujian's attorney, shocking him.

Xia Chujian pressured Qiu Shenxing into revealing the people who conspired with Rong Shenzhi, while Zong Ruoning publicly supported her. After learning how extraordinary her marksmanship was, Zong Ruoning decided to conceal her skill by registering her as a secretly sponsored talent in the Zong Family’s Talent Youth Program.

• Xia Chujian threatened to name Qiu Shenxing as Rong Shenzhi’s accomplice and expose him to his family, while Zong Ruoning declared that her position was his own.
• Qiu Shenxing gave Xia Chujian a list of Rong Shenzhi’s co-conspirators and promised to give her an explanation.
• Xia Chujian told Zong Ruoning she had begun practicing marksmanship at fifteen through the Dark Night Hunter Association.
• Zong Ruoning said Xia Chujian’s skill was far beyond his own despite his decades of training and suggested concealing her talent.
• Zong Ruoning decided to create a highly classified file claiming the Zong Family had secretly sponsored Xia Chujian since childhood through its Talent Youth Program.

Xia Chujian learned that officials had retrieved the full duel video, but Zong Ruoning and Huo Yushen reassured her and protected her from political retaliation. She refused to sign any Talent Youth Program documents and focused on designing and building her own sniper rifle, while her duel’s viral image earned her the nickname “Empire's Assassin Beauty.”

• Zong Ruoning offered to conceal Xia Chujian's gun talent through unilateral documents, explained that several government bodies had obtained her duel video, and added her as a Quantum Optical Brain friend.
• Xia Chujian called Huo Yushen, who explained the Zong family's Talent Youth Program and warned her never to sign its documents.
• The Cabinet Academic Department replaced Wang Shiying with Hui Gu, while Shan Jingsheng and Qian Changxin lost their privileges and Shan Jingsheng's calls to Wenren Zhao went unanswered.
• Xia Chujian's duel image spread across the Beichen Empire and the East Tianyuan God Country, where she became known as “Empire's Assassin Beauty.”
• Xia Chujian completed her sniper rifle blueprints in two weeks and began selecting and processing materials using primitive gunsmithing methods.

Xia Chujian completed her Sniper Rifle for the Gunsmithing course, while Professor Zhan confirmed that her primitive production methods had produced record-breaking Synthetic Material. After testing the finished rifle at the Shooting Range, she presented it to Lecturer Lin for evaluation.

• Xia Chujian submitted her Synthetic Material to Lecturer Lin, whose tests showed exceptional performance figures.
• Professor Zhan independently tested Xia Chujian's material and confirmed it broke the course's student record.
• Xia Chujian molded and refined several batches of rifle components, then assembled the best parts into her Sniper Rifle.
• Chen Yanjun saw the rifle components on Xia Chujian's workbench and wondered if she would graduate early.
• Xia Chujian tested the rifle at the Shooting Range, where its shots pierced moving targets and dented the steel enclosure.
• Xia Chujian brought the rifle to Lecturer Lin and explained its caliber, range, accuracy, and lethality.

Xia Chujian’s handmade Sniper Rifle let Lecturer Lin achieve unprecedented scores at the Shooting Range and passed several rounds of testing. Su Buyan discovered a trace substance in its Synthetic Material that transformed a Destroyer 1 into a new-generation Destroyer No. 2, and he kept the substance’s source secret.

• Xia Chujian brought Lecturer Lin to the Shooting Range to test her Sniper Rifle, which held ten rounds and impressed him with its performance.
• Lecturer Lin scored eight, nine, and ten rings on a stationary target, then hit a moving target with all five shots and earned an excellent grade.
• Lecturer Lin sent Xia Chujian’s rifle for further testing after it broke records at the school, and it also passed tests by the Military Department.
• Su Buyan isolated a tiny trace substance from the rifle’s Synthetic Material and added it to a Destroyer 1 Anti-Materiel Sniper Rifle, producing the Destroyer No. 2.
• Su Buyan concluded that the unknown substance caused the rifle’s performance leap and concealed where he had found it.

Su Buyan revealed to Huo Yushen that Xia Chujian’s handmade Sniper Rifle had yielded an unknown Trace Material that doubled the Destroyer’s performance, and they agreed to keep its origin secret. Huo Yushen learned that Xia Chujian’s coursework rifle rivaled an Arbiter 6, then asked where it was.

• Su Buyan brought the only Destroyer No. 2 Anti-Materiel Sniper Rifle to Huo Yushen and explained that an unknown Trace Material had enabled its performance breakthrough.
• Su Buyan told Huo Yushen that the Trace Material came from Xia Chujian’s handmade Sniper Rifle and might have formed when a bit of her skin entered the casting mold.
• Su Buyan and Huo Yushen agreed not to mass-produce the Destroyer No. 2 or reveal the material’s origin, and Huo Yushen asked to safeguard Xia Chujian’s rifle.
• Su Buyan explained that Xia Chujian’s coursework rifle outperformed every Sniper Rifle made by her school armory in five hundred years and rivaled an Arbiter 6.
• Huo Yushen asked Su Buyan where Xia Chujian’s Sniper Rifle was.

Su Buyan and Huo Yushen concealed the exceptional performance of Xia Chujian’s record-breaking sniper rifle by lowering its reported specifications and arranging for Huo Yushen to collect it. When Huo Yushen offered to buy the rifle, Xia Chujian grew suspicious and demanded that he cancel one favor she owed him; she then held onto the gun box and prepared to negotiate further.

• Su Buyan explained that Xia Chujian’s rifle performed beyond the school and Military Department’s tests, and he agreed with Huo Yushen to lower its specifications and keep it from attracting attention.
• Huo Yushen returned Su Buyan’s gun box with a Destroyer 1 Large Sniper Rifle on top, concealing the swap from those watching Su Buyan.
• The school announced Xia Chujian’s record-breaking rifle results, and students praised her achievements while she felt embarrassed by the attention.
• As the class prepared for its star system exploration course, the students split into several group chats, and Chen Yanjun refused to join the boys’ group that excluded Xia Chujian.
• Huo Yushen summoned Xia Chujian and asked to buy her rifle; after she questioned his motives, he offered one million beichen coins and to cancel a favor she owed him.
• Xia Chujian agreed to give Huo Yushen the rifle in exchange for canceling one favor, but hugged the gun box and insisted on discussing more conditions.

Xia Chujian learned that a trace of material in her gun might have come from her skin and could attract dangerous scrutiny, so she entrusted the gun to Huo Yushen in exchange for clearing one favor. Their conversation then turned to the school’s starry-sky expeditions, and Huo Yushen revealed that he had never joined one despite being in the first Star Destroyer Major class.

• Xia Chujian asked Huo Yushen why he wanted her gun, and he revealed that Su Buyan had found an unknown material in it that doubled the performance of a Destroyer Model Sniper Rifle.
• Huo Yushen explained that footage showed Xia Chujian’s bare fingers had touched the mold, possibly introducing skin tissue into the gun’s material, and warned that others might take her away to investigate.
• Xia Chujian apologized for accusing Huo Yushen, then handed him the gun in exchange for canceling one favor and agreed to say she had sold it if Lecturer Lin asked about it.
• Huo Yushen said he would arrange a discreet payment and explained that repeated use of the gun could draw attention to its unusual performance.
• Huo Yushen described the school’s starry-sky exploration tradition, and Xia Chujian was surprised to learn that he had never participated in an expedition.

Xia Chujian learned from Huo Yushen about the deadly history of the school’s Starry Sky Exploration activities and the mystery of Green Radiance Star. Huo Yushen revealed that the planet had been rediscovered nineteen years earlier, just before the first student expedition ended in total annihilation.

• Huo Yushen explained that he had missed the Starry Sky Exploration activity as a child and warned Xia Chujian that the missions carried a real risk of death.
• Huo Yushen told Xia Chujian that the first student expedition, sent to explore an unknown star system nineteen years earlier, never returned and sent back an empty Escape Equipment Pod with a distress message.
• Huo Yushen described how rescue fleets searched for Green Radiance Star for eighteen years but could not find the planet or the missing expedition.
• Huo Yushen explained that the Imperial Family had discovered Green Radiance Star through a Royal Member who traveled beyond the Beichen Galaxy, but later searches could not locate it.
• Huo Yushen revealed that the joint expedition nineteen years earlier rediscovered Green Radiance Star before the people sent there vanished.

Xia Chujian learned that the school’s Starry Sky Exploration would visit the Unknown Star System where Green Radiance Star had once been found. Huo Yushen revealed the planet’s rumored riches and the previous expedition’s mysterious destruction, leaving Xia Chujian asking what disaster had befallen them.

• Xia Chujian asked why students would join the exploration, and Huo Yushen explained that the Unknown Star System could train Mental Strength and might allow Gene Evolution.
• Huo Yushen confirmed that this year’s destination was the same Unknown Star System, though Green Radiance Star had not been found again in nineteen years.
• Huo Yushen sent Xia Chujian classified records describing how an earlier expedition identified Green Radiance Star and then suffered an unexplained disaster after landing.
• Xia Chujian questioned the planet’s rumored primitive comforts, but grew excited when Huo Yushen mentioned rare plants, rich mineral deposits, and possible technology from a powerful civilization.
• Huo Yushen explained that the Tan Tai Royal Family had researched Green Radiance Star for years and that the earlier force had relied on outdated materials; Xia Chujian asked what disaster had destroyed them.

Xia Chujian learned how the Beichen Empire first discovered Green Radiance Star and how two expeditions ended in disaster. She prepared for the coming exploration while Huo Yushen warned her about the star system’s dangers and admitted that the Empire had never found Green Radiance Star again.

• Huo Yushen explained that students from the Interstellar Joint Class would join this year’s Star Destroyer exploration, and warned Xia Chujian that Green Radiance Star was dangerous.
• Huo Yushen told Xia Chujian that a Royal Member who discovered Green Radiance Star a thousand years ago died there, but sent back information in an Escape Equipment Pod.
• Xia Chujian summarized the Royal Member’s discovery and the later expedition’s disappearance, while Huo Yushen confirmed that the timeline was roughly right.
• Huo Yushen explained that the Empire had conducted yearly search-and-rescue missions since the expedition nineteen years ago, but had never found Green Radiance Star again.

Xia Chujian learned that a secret Tantai prince had disappeared with the expedition to Green Radiance Star nineteen years ago, and Huo Yushen warned her about the dangers of the Unknown Star System. She returned to her dormitory, made buns, and went to bed after eating two.

• Xia Chujian and Huo Yushen discussed whether the missing emperor and the royal member lost a thousand years ago were the same person, but the dates did not match.
• Huo Yushen explained that Green Radiance Star had vanished from Imperial searches after the expedition nineteen years ago, whose students, teachers, and Scientists never returned.
• Huo Yushen revealed that one missing student was a secret, illegitimate Tantai prince older than the Grand Prince Xia Chujian knew.
• Huo Yushen warned Xia Chujian not to go out at night on Green Radiance Star and to stay with her classmates and maintain contact in the Unknown Star System.
• Xia Chujian left Huo Yushen's vehicle, returned to her dormitory, made twenty Wild Rhinoceros Pig Meat buns, ate two, and went to bed.

Xia Chujian prepared to leave for a three-month trip while learning that Wenren Sanshang had been named the Wenren Clan’s next-generation heir. At the military academy, Wenren Zhao demanded an explanation for his death, but Executive Vice-Principal Shao defended the duel’s legality as a Cabinet Foreign Affairs Department director sided with her.

• Xia Chujian packed weapons, protective gear, and food for her three-month trip, then saw news that Wenren Zhao had brought Wenren Sanshang’s body to the academy.
• Xia Chujian learned Wenren Sanshang had been chosen as the Wenren Clan’s next-generation heir and joked that killing him might spare the Beichen Empire future trouble.
• Wenren Zhao arrived at Imperial Royal First Military University and demanded an explanation for Wenren Sanshang’s death from Executive Vice-Principal Shao.
• Executive Vice-Principal Shao argued that the signed Life and Death Contract made Wenren Sanshang’s death a lawful result of the duel and rejected Wenren Zhao’s criticism of commoner students.
• Director Wang intervened on Wenren Zhao’s behalf, arguing that the Foreign Affairs Department could handle the incident, and Wenren Zhao agreed to let him proceed.

Zong Ruoning stopped Wenren Zhao and Director Wang from taking Xia Chujian away after her duel with Wenren Sanshang. Wenren Zhao ended her demand, but the confrontation left diplomatic relations between the two countries under threat.

• Wenren Zhao urged Director Wang to hand Xia Chujian over, and Director Wang ordered his subordinates to arrest her despite Executive Vice-Principal Li's objections.
• Zong Ruoning arrived, demanded legal authorization for an arrest, and declared that Xia Chujian could not be taken or suppressed.
• Zong Ruoning confronted Wenren Zhao about her failure to avenge her clan and warned that the school could suspend cooperation and expel her country's diplomats.
• Wenren Zhao agreed to end the conflict and ordered her attendants not to trouble Xia Chujian, but one attendant offered to challenge her.
• Zong Ruoning refused the challenge, criticized Wenren Zhao's followers for being sore losers, and Executive Vice-Principal Shao backed his position and threatened to sever diplomatic relations.

Wenren Zhao offered the Beichen Empire Military Academy ten billion Beichen coins to postpone its exploration and invite students from other military academies, and Zong Ruoning agreed to discuss the proposal after the money arrived. The funds were transferred, and Wenren Zhao and Executive Vice-Principal Shao prepared to announce the postponement in a livestream.

• Wenren Zhao abandoned her attempt to punish Xia Chujian openly, then proposed that three nations jointly sponsor the exploration activity with ten billion Beichen coins and invite first-year students from other academies.
• Zong Ruoning agreed to postpone the departure for discussions but insisted that Wenren Zhao transfer the funds before the academy changed its plans.
• Wenren Zhao’s financial secretary arranged the transfer, and Executive Vice-Principal Li confirmed that the money had arrived.
• Wenren Zhao requested a campus tour, but Zong Ruoning said her entourage would need security clearance from the Special Security Bureau; she declined.
• Executive Vice-Principal Shao and Wenren Zhao prepared a livestream press conference to announce the exploration activity’s postponement.

Xia Chujian watched Wenren Zhao’s ten-billion-Beichen-Coin sponsorship get redirected to help impoverished students repay their loans, and the humiliating livestream spread across several nations. To keep the Starry Sky Exploration operation from being postponed, Wenren Zhao eventually agreed to donate another ten billion.

• Xia Chujian and Chen Yanjun watched Executive Vice-Principal Shao announce Wenren Zhao’s ten-billion sponsorship, which Wenren Zhao said was meant to support impoverished students.
• After the livestream cut off, Zong Ruoning persuaded Executive Vice-Principal Shao to dedicate the donation to student loans and scholarships, then arranged for the broadcast to resume and go viral.
• Nance Yan and Zolun Liang questioned Wenren Zhao about the funding change, while Wenren Zhao regretted her public promise and accepted that the money had already been transferred.
• When Wenren Zhao said the Starry Sky Exploration operation would be postponed, Executive Vice-Principal Shao insisted it was still proceeding.
• Wenren Zhao raised her offer until she promised another ten billion Beichen Coins, and Executive Vice-Principal Li went to check on the transfer.

Wenren Zhao paid Imperial First Military University another Ten Billion Beichen Coins to sponsor a wider Starry Sky Exploration Activity, then traveled to Guiyuan Star to seek help from her estranged uncle, Shen Junyi. She asked him to return to the East Tianyuan God Country and become its Chief Executive Officer, but he had not agreed.

• Wenren Zhao transferred another Ten Billion Beichen Coins to Imperial First Military University and proposed expanding the Starry Sky Exploration Activity to students from other military universities.
• Executive Vice-Principal Shao said the university would consult the emperor and postponed the activity's departure for several days.
• Wenren Zhao traveled to Guiyuan Star and visited Shen Junyi at his hospital office.
• Wenren Zhao told Shen Junyi that the Wenren Clan had been devastated and that the East Tianyuan God Country was being divided among its retainers.
• Wenren Zhao asked Shen Junyi to return and take charge as Chief Executive Officer, but he dismissed her appeals and showed no interest in the Wenren Clan's lost territory.

Wenren Zhao persuaded Wenren Yi to return and help restore the Wenren Clan, but their agreement unraveled when she proposed killing Xia Chujian and her family. Wenren Yi beat and subdued her, and Wenren Zhao realized she needed him as a pillar, though part of her still resisted obeying him.

• Wenren Zhao showed Wenren Yi the Qian Clan's abuses, and he agreed to return as Wenren Clan Family Head, Chief Executive Officer, and military commander, naming her his heir while leaving the family guards under her control.
• Wenren Zhao asked Wenren Yi to arrange Xia Chujian's murder, then suggested killing Xia Chujian's family when he objected.
• Wenren Yi condemned Wenren Zhao's plan, slapped and restrained her, and forbade her from making decisions or mobilizing anyone without his orders.
• Wenren Zhao recognized that fear of her inability to lead had driven her anxiety and felt grounded by Wenren Yi, though she still felt a rebellious impulse against obeying him.

Wenren Zhao’s plans were checked by Wenren Yi, while Emperor Tantai Hongyuan approved a scaled-down version of her proposal to bring students from other military academies to the Starry Sky Exploration Activity. Wenren Zhao selected 380 freshmen, and the chapter ended as gossip about the selection spread through the university forum.

• Wenren Zhao struggled with conflicting thoughts, received treatment for her swollen face, and left with Wenren Yi after he warned her not to act independently again.
• Wenren Yi donated all his possessions to the Orphanage in Mulan City before heading to the Skyport.
• Emperor Tantai Hongyuan and the university leaders discussed Wenren Zhao’s proposal and agreed to invite students from the top twenty military academies, with twenty freshmen from each of the other nineteen schools.
• Wenren Zhao negotiated the right to choose participants by their College Entrance Exam scores and selected 380 students, mostly from Kanli Star.
• Emperor Tantai Hongyuan remained unsure why Wenren Zhao had chosen those students, and a week later gossip about the selection spread across the Student Forum.