Chapter Summaries

Ling Wuyuan visited the lake that had replaced the orphanage from his previous life and calmly accepted that every trace of it had disappeared. As a girl watched him from afar, the revered leader of Human Civilization approached and deferentially asked to sit beside him.

• Ling Wuyuan sensed that the lake stood where his former orphanage had once been and accepted that its remains had vanished.
• Ling Wuyuan smiled with relief, feeling another connection between his present and past had been severed.
• A young girl watched Ling Wuyuan and yearned to approach, but his presence filled her with awe and kept her at a distance.
• The white-haired leader of Human Civilization came to Ling Wuyuan and seriously asked whether he could sit beside him.
• People monitoring the encounter were astonished that their highest leader treated the unknown Ling Wuyuan with such deference.

Ji Lang recognized Ling Wuyuan as the being who had saved him centuries earlier and learned that Ling Wuyuan had returned to Earth only to look around. Before leaving, Ling Wuyuan healed Ji Lang’s hidden injuries and restored his life force, returning his youth.

• Ji Lang recognized Ling Wuyuan by his voice and asked why he had returned to Earth.
• Ling Wuyuan said he had come to look around and had no plans to rule or destroy Earth.
• Ling Wuyuan explained that he had saved Ji Lang because he had once received kindness from Ji Lang’s direct blood relative.
• After sitting together by the lake for about half an hour, Ling Wuyuan said he was leaving and called it the last time he would help Ji Lang.
• Ling Wuyuan removed Ji Lang’s hidden injuries and restored his life force, turning his white hair black and making him young again.

Ling Wuyuan blessed Ji Lang with lasting protection from ordinary injuries and illnesses before vanishing, leaving Ji Lang to suspect they would never meet again. A young woman who witnessed the encounter was taken into custody by Earth Human Federation agents for questioning about the secret meeting.

• Ling Wuyuan wished Ji Lang a healthy life and used his power to protect him from ordinary injuries and illnesses.
• Ling Wuyuan vanished without a trace, and Ji Lang sensed it was the last time he would see him.
• The young woman who had witnessed the encounter imagined that Ling Wuyuan was a cultivator or immortal.
• Earth Human Federation agents surrounded the young woman and told her she had encountered the Federation's highest secrets.
• The young woman agreed to go with the agents, who led her to a windowless vehicle for questioning while they awaited orders from Ji Lang.

After Ling Wuyuan left, Ji Lang examined his rejuvenated body and reviewed the reports about the encounter. He learned that Ling Wuyuan could not be recorded or clearly remembered, and he focused on the significance of the park’s name, Origin Park.

• Ji Lang ordered a mirror and asked his aides to report the intelligence they had gathered.
• Ji Lang saw that he looked about thirty again and estimated he could live another three to five hundred years.
• Ji Lang ordered his subordinates to warn and release the young woman who had witnessed the encounter.
• Ji Lang reviewed reports that no images or portraits could capture Ling Wuyuan’s appearance, and he found that he could not recall Ling Wuyuan’s features clearly.
• Ji Lang concluded that Ling Wuyuan had allowed the surveillance equipment to detect him and noticed that the park’s name, Origin Park, honored his grandfather’s Origin Orphanage.

Ji Lang realized that Ling Wuyuan’s past kindness to his grandfather had shaped both his childhood and his survival. Recalling his father’s story, Ji Lang recognized Ling Wuyuan as the young benefactor who had once helped his family, though he still wondered about the gray-haired figure’s name.

• Ji Lang remembered his grandfather’s Origin Orphanage and how a former orphan’s donation had transformed the orphanage and his family’s living conditions.
• Ji Lang connected the ruins beneath Origin Park and Ling Wuyuan’s earlier words, realizing his grandfather’s kindness had led Ling Wuyuan to save him.
• Ji Lang felt grateful that his grandfather’s good deed had protected his family and given him a happy childhood.
• Ji Lang recalled his father explaining that Ling Wuyuan had donated money to the family and offered Ji Lang a future job at his company.
• Ji Lang grew curious about the gray-haired, gray-eyed figure’s name, wondering whether he had heard it from his grandfather or father.

Ling Wuyuan visited the site where Yao Beast Flesh and Blood had torn open a spacetime rift, hoping to use it as a channel to the Black Omen Battlefield, but found the Black Walls had sealed the route. He then noticed a disguised alien surveillance device watching him.

• Ling Wuyuan traveled to the remains of the star system destroyed by the spacetime rift created when Yao Beast Flesh and Blood entered the universe.
• Ling Wuyuan found that the rift had permanently closed and its karmic connection to the Black Omen Battlefield had been twisted by the Black Walls, ruining his plan to transmit power through it.
• Ling Wuyuan sensed a kilometer-wide object disguised as a meteorite secretly observing him and recognized its advanced alien technology.
• Ling Wuyuan traced the device to an alien empire whose colony had captured Yao Beast Flesh and Blood centuries earlier and later placed the monitor at the rift site to watch for further anomalies.

The Barnes Empire detected Ling Wuyuan and prepared to contact and probe him, hoping to obtain the Demon Essence that could transform its civilization. After Ling Wuyuan saw the empire’s plans, he sent Gray Mist across the universe to assimilate its worlds, and the invasion began.

• The Barnes Empire convened its leaders and chose to contact and probe Ling Wuyuan before deciding whether to trade with him or attack.
• The Barnes Empire recalled how Demon Essence from Yao Beast flesh had transformed Earth and sought to learn how to create and wield it.
• Ling Wuyuan observed the Barnes Empire’s plans across time and judged that it was courting death.
• Ling Wuyuan released a wisp of Gray Mist that spread through spacetime, multiplied, and reached more than a million stars belonging to the Barnes Empire.
• Gray Mist merged into the empire’s planets and facilities without interference, beginning their assimilation.

Ling Wuyuan’s Gray Mist assimilated the Barnes Empire’s planets and triggered catastrophic chain reactions across neighboring star systems, wiping out the empire and causing immense casualties. The surviving Barnes members were then also transformed into Gray Mist, and the other factions agreed to pretend nothing had happened.

• Ling Wuyuan’s Gray Mist assimilated the Barnes Empire’s stars, planets, and inhabitants without resistance.
• The disappearance of the stars destabilized nearby systems, causing interstellar disasters and quintillions of deaths and injuries.
• The Barnes Empire’s territories and colonies were destroyed, and other factions blamed the empire for provoking a powerful existence.
• The remaining Barnes members outside the empire’s territory were transformed into Gray Mist before witnesses.
• One figure proposed that the factions pretend nothing had happened, and everyone agreed.

Ling Wuyuan dismissed the destruction of the [Barnes Empire] and focused on spreading Gray Mist through the [True Abundant Spirit Realm] to turn its universes into ranches and databases. He withdrew his avatar to the Main Spacetime, while the [Illusory Mist Realm Country] continued its busy life under the [Imperial Central Intelligent Rune Computer].

• The various factions agreed to pretend nothing had happened to the [Barnes Empire] rather than investigate or seek revenge.
• Ling Wuyuan regarded the destruction of the [Barnes Empire] as insignificant and used the increased Gray Mist to accelerate his erosion of the universe.
• Ling Wuyuan considered how deeper erosion would let him harvest the Law of Karma and preserve the universe’s knowledge and events in his database.
• Ling Wuyuan reviewed and absorbed useful information, then returned his consciousness to his true body in the Main Spacetime as his Gray Mist avatar dispersed.
• Fifty years after the [Imperial Central Intelligent Rune Computer] was created, the [Illusory Mist Realm Country] remained busy as the computer continually adjusted its people’s work and pace.

Ling Wuyuan’s [Imperial Central Intelligent Rune Computer] tightly controlled the [Illusory Mist Realm Country], turning it into a powerful defensive domain while overseeing its rapid expansion. The [Sixteen Island Ring Continent] and [Imperial Palace] had grown into extraordinary regions, and the chapter ended with a description of the deadly Gray Mist inner sea separating them.

• Ling Wuyuan’s [Imperial Central Intelligent Rune Computer] used its vast computing power, pervasive Gray Mist, and hidden formations to control events throughout the [Illusory Mist Realm Country].
• The [Imperial Central Intelligent Rune Computer] could defend the country against most Creation Realm cultivators, though the territory still lacked methods for attacking beyond its borders.
• Specialists captured and dismantled alternate spacetimes, integrating their matter and energy into the [Sixteen Island Ring Continent] under the computer’s careful control.
• The [Imperial Palace] and [Sixteen Island Ring Continent] developed far beyond the country’s other regions, with the Palace serving as its central hub and seat of power.
• The inner sea between the Palace and the continent was revealed to consist of Gray Mist whose spacetime-warping force could decompose anything caught in its chaotic currents.

The chapter described how Ling Wuyuan’s Gray Mist threatened and mentally harmed those who approached it, while his control over the rapidly expanding Illusory Mist Realm Country continued to deepen. It ended by explaining that only specially authorized Floating Rune Warships could cross the Gray Mist Inner Sea safely.

• The Gray Mist caused fear, disorientation, and spiritual harm in those who looked upon it, and could assimilate weaker beings if Ling Wuyuan released its full power.
• Ling Wuyuan continued expanding his control over the Illusory Mist Realm Country, extending it into the nation’s natural laws through the Imperial Central Intelligent Rune Computer.
• Special silver-white Floating Rune Warships carried authorized passengers between the Imperial Palace and the ports of the Sixteen Island Ring Continent.
• Any unauthorized craft entering the Gray Mist Inner Sea sank and was decomposed, including Floating Rune Warships with advanced spacetime technology.

The [Imperial Palace] had grown into the [Illusory Mist Realm Country]’s most important and extravagant stronghold, built to keep pace with Ling Wuyuan’s ambitions and serve as the Empire’s central hub. Its immense scale and ongoing expansion left even its residents with a lifetime of exploration ahead of them.

• The Gray Mist Inner Sea had made the [Imperial Palace] increasingly difficult to perceive from the [Illusory Mist Realm Country].
• Ling Wuyuan continued to prioritize enhancements to the [Imperial Palace] and the [Deadly Silent Deep Shadow Sea], the country’s two most important locations.
• The [Imperial Palace] had become extraordinarily luxurious, with a starry dome, spirit-crystal floors, and abundant spiritual plants and objects.
• Wang Gaofan and other Fate Defiance Realm cultivators marveled at the palace’s expense, unaware that its facilities had to keep pace with Ling Wuyuan’s future growth.
• The palace had expanded beyond the size of the [Sixteen Island Ring Continent], and residents needed authorized mind maps to navigate it.
• The [Imperial Palace] continued to grow faster than its residents could explore it, making it a place the [Snow Moon Cloud Heaven Pavilion] members could study throughout their lives.

Ling Wuyuan and the others visited Yao Yueyan’s golden Spirit Field and admired the plants she had grown. Yan Xiujin showed off a new Gray Mist Imprint upgrade that let her store the energy from food, while Ling Wuyuan planned to extend the ability to everyone.

• Ling Wuyuan reflected that Yao Yueyan’s awakened Innate Divine Ability could greatly improve Illusory Mist Realm Country’s Spirit Plants and pills, but he preferred to let her enjoy her hobbies without assigning her work.
• Ling Wuyuan, Pei Yiman, and the others visited Yao Yueyan’s Artificial Grotto-Heaven and admired its golden wheat field.
• Yan Xiujin picked and ate a large amount of precious Spirit Fruit, and Yao Yueyan warned her that its effects could make her level up.
• Yan Xiujin revealed that Ling Wuyuan had upgraded her Gray Mist Imprint to store energy from anything she ate or drank, letting her consume as much as she wanted.
• Ling Wuyuan had developed the ability so Pei Yiman and the others could enjoy powerful delicacies, and Pei Yiman was already testing its storage limit.

Ling Wuyuan prepared a feast for Pei Yiman and the others, impressing several visiting Grand Elders with his skill at blending spirit fruits. Su Qingyue then reported that factions in the Great Desolate Wasteland were probing the Illusory Mist Realm Country and urged caution, leaving the decision to Ling Wuyuan.

• Pei Yiman eagerly anticipated sharing Ling Wuyuan’s food, and he promised her the meal would be ready soon.
• Su Qingyue and her companions arrived as Ling Wuyuan finished cooking, then joined everyone for the meal.
• Ling Wuyuan blended spirit fruits into juice with such refined technique that several Grand Elders recognized his exceptional alchemical skill.
• Su Qingyue reported that Wang Gaofan and the others had detected probes from various factions in the Great Desolate Wasteland.
• Su Qingyue warned that Creation Realm cultivators might be behind the probing and suggested they act cautiously or abandon their territories until Ling Wuyuan grew stronger.

Su Qingyue asked Ling Wuyuan how to respond to a threat probing the Illusory Mist Realm Country’s interests in the Great Desolate Wasteland. He told her to let Wang Gaofan and the others act freely, continue investing there, and intervene only if they faced a problem they could not handle.

• Su Qingyue explained that the Great Desolate Wasteland’s resources were vital to the Illusory Mist Realm Country and asked Ling Wuyuan about contingency plans.
• Ling Wuyuan told Su Qingyue to keep things running normally and let Wang Gaofan and the other Fate Defiance Realm cultivators respond freely, even if they chose to attack the probing forces.
• Su Qingyue agreed to explain Ling Wuyuan’s instructions to Wang Gaofan and the others, though she remained unsure of his plans.
• Su Qingyue asked whether they should keep increasing their investment in the Great Desolate Wasteland, and Ling Wuyuan said they should pursue profits and intervene if his people could not handle a major problem.

Ling Wuyuan explained that he regarded his territories in the [Great Desolate Wasteland] as resource sites, while his true realm and foundation lay in [Surface Spacetime]. Su Qingyue recalled how everyone had expected him to relocate the [Imperial Capital] after conquering those territories, but he had stayed to develop the barren region.

• Ling Wuyuan told Su Qingyue that the territories he held in the [Great Desolate Wasteland] were more like toys than a realm.
• Ling Wuyuan said [Ice Mist Snow Island] was part of his home, while his true realm and foundation were his territories in [Surface Spacetime].
• Su Qingyue recalled that she and others had once wanted Ling Wuyuan to move the [Imperial Capital] to the more prosperous [Great Desolate Wasteland].
• Residents of the [Illusory Mist Realm Country] had celebrated Ling Wuyuan's conquest and tried to sneak into the [Imperial Capital], expecting it to relocate.
• Ling Wuyuan had kept the capital in [Surface Spacetime] and continued working to transform its barren regions.

Su Qingyue accepted Ling Wuyuan’s unexplained decision to keep developing territory in Surface Spacetime after he promised the results would be surprising. Months later, two agents in the Great Desolate Wasteland struggled to learn why the Illusory Mist Realm Country had arrived, as it ignored their probes and focused on building a city.

• Su Qingyue decided to trust Ling Wuyuan’s judgment and told him to handle the Surface Spacetime territories as he saw fit.
• Ling Wuyuan hinted that his plans in Surface Spacetime would eventually shock them, leaving Pei Yiman and the others impressed but confused.
• Months later, two agents reported that the Illusory Mist Realm Country ignored probes from every faction and was building a main city in the Great Desolate Wasteland.
• The agents noted that gray mist was growing thicker in the Illusory Mist Realm Country’s territory, but they had found no other unusual activity.
• Because their Creation Realm superior wanted information about the newcomer, the agents agreed to keep probing it or seek information from other factions.

Factions failed to learn anything useful about Ling Wuyuan and the [Illusory Mist Realm Country], which he treated as a resource network rather than a political project. Meanwhile, leaders in the [Illusory Color Extreme Profound Heaven] learned that at least sixty-eight [Starlight Heavens] were secretly interfering in the [Black Omen Battlefield], leaving their war against the [True Abundant Spirit Realm] mired in a quagmire.

• The other factions failed to extract intelligence from the [Fate Defiance Realm cultivators] serving Ling Wuyuan, who feared his control methods and knew little about his plans.
• Ling Wuyuan regarded the cultivators as resource collectors and the [Great Desolate Wasteland] as a secondary mine, focusing instead on the [True Abundant Spirit Realm] and the [Illusory Color Extreme Profound Heaven].
• Leaders of local superpowers gathered in the [Illusory Color Extreme Profound Heaven] and asked who was secretly disrupting their campaign at the [Black Omen Battlefield].
• An investigator reported that at least sixty-eight [Starlight Heavens] were interfering, representing thousands of superpowers.
• The leaders realized the interference had turned the battlefield into a quagmire and that the [True Abundant Spirit Realm]'s home-ground advantage and determined defenders could prolong the war indefinitely.