Chapter Summaries

Saine moved the Combined Fortress away from the Wizard World and began its Second Stage transformation, confident the first stage had succeeded. The Magic Cube unleashed its full power and Metal Source of Fire, raising the fortress into a towering Metal Giant.

• The Guardian of Summer warned Saine that large-scale experiments had to be conducted away from the Wizard World, and Saine moved the Combined Fortress farther into space.
• The Guardian of Summer praised Saine's Combined Fortress experiment and Magic Cube as he prepared the next stage.
• Saine dismissed the masters' concerns about skipping the planned first-stage tests and assured them that the experiment remained under control.
• Saine unleashed the Magic Cube's full power, and silver-white Metal Source of Fire spread across the Combined Fortress.
• The Combined Fortress transformed from a pyramid into a towering Metal Giant, astonishing onlookers and the Guardian of Summer.

Saine tested the second-stage transformation of his seven-fortress Combined Fortress Robot, finding that he could control it better than expected. He bought the abandoned Yi Crystal Demiplane from the Ebarute Empire so he could begin testing the robot’s weapons.

• Saine controlled the Combined Fortress Robot as it rose in the starry void, and he reflected that its power still could not match Dominator-class Beings such as Marduk, the Blade Empress, and Fempton.
• Saine and the magicians tested the robot for nearly half a year, maintaining control above 70 even in its least stable state, and planned to continue testing for ten years.
• Saine asked who owned a deserted Demiplane so he could test the robot’s weapons, and Kapeiqi magicians identified it as the Ebarute Empire’s Yi Crystal Demiplane.
• Saine offered five million Magic Coins for the Demiplane, and Kapeiqi agreed to help negotiate the purchase.
• Saine flew to the desolate Yi Crystal Demiplane and activated the Combined Fortress’s firepower tests, relying on its energy systems and the Magic Cube’s Source Law Power to sustain it.

Saine tested the Combined Fortress Group and fired its World-Extinguishing Impact Light, whose power far exceeded the researchers’ projections. The test succeeded, though the blast tore apart a third of the Yi Jing World and left the Magic Cube’s Law of Light dimmed.

• Saine’s final evaluation showed that the Combined Fortress Group could suppress a Level-6 Mid-Stage creature even while he was unfamiliar with its controls.
• Saine activated the World-Extinguishing Impact Light as Master Walton and the researchers monitored the test and considered how the merged fortresses might boost its power.
• The Magic Cube’s stability threshold dropped sharply as the weapon charged, but Saine trusted the Magic Cube and Master Walton’s research and continued the test.
• Saine fired a deep-purple, nearly black Element Torrent into a remote part of the Yi Jing World, where it pierced the Earth Core and tore apart a third of the Demiplane.
• Master Walton’s team confirmed the Combined Fortress test had succeeded, while Saine judged that the World-Extinguishing Impact Light could annihilate a Level-6 Peak creature and should be used no more than twice in a war.

Saine completed testing the Combined Fortress Group and its transforming robot, refining the system through the Magic Cube’s laws. He left the fortress in standby and returned toward Wizard World, where he thanked the Guardian of Summer for her earlier support.

• The Combined Fortress Group continued evolving as Metal Source of Fire and the Magic Cube refined its structure after the weapon tests.
• A Level-4 alchemist told Saine that 521 tests remained and that their results would be sent to his Ash Holy Tower.
• Saine considered keeping his Mechanic Arcana private for now and recalled that the Blade Empress would give him the Ark’s remaining fragments when he reached Level-6 Peak.
• Saine left the Combined Fortress in standby and promised rewards to all magicians who had helped with the experiment.
• Saine flew back toward Wizard World and thanked the Guardian of Summer for giving him a wisp of Light of the Planes; she praised his progress.

After the Guardian of Summer fined Saine twenty million Magic Coins for disrupting migratory birds during his Combined Fortress experiment, he returned to Ash Holy Tower and arranged payment. He visited pregnant Lina and their unborn son, leaving Tourmaline curious about how Lina became pregnant.

• The Guardian of Summer ordered Saine to pay a twenty-million-Magic-Coin fine and warned him to follow the Guardians’ rules.
• Saine met Master Walton and the Alchemy Grandmasters in Sky City, and they confirmed that the Combined Fortress experiment had succeeded.
• Saine told Dean Meili to send the fine to the Guardian Organization on the South Coast and explained why he had been fined.
• Saine visited Lina, who was still conducting experiments while pregnant with their only child, a boy, and found Tourmaline listening against her belly.
• Tourmaline asked Saine how Lina had become pregnant, and Saine told her he would explain when she was older.

Saine discussed Mei Kaili’s future with Lina and learned about the Black Domain’s losses during the Civilization War. He planned to seek soul-law experts through Spider Queen Rose and considered the Black Domain as a source of income.

• Saine spoke with Mei Kaili through Lina’s body and considered finding her a compatible body after Lina gave birth.
• Mei Kaili said she planned to split off part of her soul and return it to Lina, but Saine and Lina encouraged her to remain involved as a mother.
• Saine asked about the Black Domain, and Mei Kaili explained that many Black Magicians above Level Four had died during sabotage missions and that the region might be chaotic.
• Mei Kaili said she could still maintain contact with her Pale Bone Black Tower, while Lina’s centrally located Black Tower had yet to be developed.
• Saine decided to ask Spider Queen Rose to find magicians skilled in soul laws and considered the Black Domain’s demand for Soul Crystals as a business opportunity.

Saine contacted the Zerg and arranged to buy Soul Crystals, intending to resell them through profitable channels rather than the Wizard Alliance market. Wojin proposed expanding their trade to Immortal Domain heretical cultivators and Demon Race creatures by exploiting economic loopholes, and Saine entrusted the business to her.

• Saine used a fossil communication bug to contact the Level Five Blade Warrior Fifty-Seven and asked about buying the Zerg's Soul Crystals.
• Fifty-Seven agreed to sell Soul Crystals to Saine at a preferential rate, with the trade drawing on the holdings of several high-ranking Zerg Kings.
• Wojin appeared to manage the negotiations and Saine planned to sell the crystals to Black Domain magicians, including Spider Queen Rose's interest group, at higher prices.
• Wojin suggested developing Immortal Domain heretical cultivators and Demon Race creatures as customers and exploiting loopholes in trade between the two civilizations.
• Saine questioned whether Wojin's proposed business followed the rules, then left all the trade matters to her.

Saine arranged a Zerg trade route through a Space Cavity in the Yi Crystal Demiplane and secured Wizard Civilization’s approval. The Spider Queen Rose agreed to have Iruike help resolve Nataya and Lina’s soul problems in exchange for Saine joining her war in a Medium Star Region, leaving him curious about Rose’s family connections.

• Saine negotiated a Zerg trade through the Yi Crystal Demiplane, which the Zerg would connect to their network with a Space Cavity.
• Saine presented the Space Cavity as a free-trade port for his vassal Alien Planes, and Wizard Civilization approved it.
• Saine assigned coordination of the Zerg supply chain and Black Domain trade network to Wojin, then contacted the Spider Queen Rose.
• Rose noticed Saine’s Level-5 Peak strength and agreed to arrange help for Nataya and Lina from the Level-6 Black Magician Iruike.
• Rose asked Saine to join her war in a Medium Star Region in exchange for Iruike’s assistance, while barring Saine from bringing his sect members and claiming most of the spoils.
• Saine accepted the terms and wondered whether Rose’s father really had a disciple.

Saine negotiated with Rose over a future war and focused on preparing his Level 6 advancement, beginning with the Staff of Ashes. Meanwhile, Hexiu arrived at the Wizard Civilization’s battlefield and learned of a noteworthy Undead Element Top-Level Civilization, the Silver Soul World.

• Rose told Saine that a war in the medium star region was centuries away, explained its strength, and agreed that he could bring affiliated combat legions but not the Azure Blaze Sect.
• Saine discussed a Soul Crystal trade with Rose, then returned to his laboratory to compile experimental data.
• Saine planned to forge the low-grade World-Class Secret Treasure Staff of Ashes within a hundred years before pursuing his Level 6 advancement.
• Hexiu arrived at the Wizard Civilization Battlefield and learned that his mentor Naige'er had been severely injured.
• Hexiu was assigned to the Galente Federation front-line battlefield despite wanting to fight the Minghe Empire, and he recalled discovering the Silver Soul World.

Hexiu arrived at the Galente Federation’s battlefield, intending to unleash his undead magic and summon his old ally, Guiyan Dominator. The chapter ended as Guiyan Dominator answered Hexiu’s summoning array and asked what he needed.

• Hexiu complained about being sent to the Galente Federation instead of the Cosmos Great World and vowed to target the Pharaoh King who had wounded his mentor.
• Hexiu recalled how he and Guiyan Dominator had fought, traded a subsidiary soul-fire and a Black Magician’s soul, and learned that their homeworlds were Top-Level Civilizations.
• Hexiu reflected on the Silver Soul World’s victory in a Top-Level Civilization war and on how the Galente Federation campaign was helping Wizard Civilization mature.
• Hexiu prepared to use his undead magic against the Galente Federation and summoned Guiyan Dominator for assistance.
• Guiyan Dominator’s voice came through the spatial summoning array and asked Hexiu what he needed.

Hexiu lured the Guiyan Dominator to the Galente Federation battlefield by offering it the starfield’s abundant souls while claiming the Hearts of the Plane for himself. The Guiyan Dominator arrived and discovered Hexiu had set it up, but the two villains joined forces to attack the Federation fleets and spread death across the battlefield.

• Hexiu invited the Guiyan Dominator to devour souls in the Galente Federation starfield, offering it all the souls while reserving the artificial Life Planets’ Hearts of the Plane for his experiments.
• The Guiyan Dominator weighed the risks against the rich soul supply and eventually crossed worlds to join Hexiu.
• Two Galente Federation Dominator-Class War Fleets arrived as the Guiyan Dominator emerged from the summoning array and attacked both villains with Doomsday Weapons.
• The Guiyan Dominator accused Hexiu of setting it up, while Hexiu laughed and led their assault on the Federation fleets.
• Hexiu spread Death Plague Magic across Federation planets, while the Guiyan Dominator unleashed undead forces and devoured souls across the starfield.

Saine prepared to travel to frontline auctions and Immortal Domain markets to find materials for his Staff of Ashes and future advancement. He left with seven Combined Space Fortresses and learned of several secret black markets, while Luluenman and the others gave him shopping lists.

• Luluenman advised Saine to search frontline auctions and Immortal Domain Fangshi for rare materials, and offered to watch Ash Holy Tower while he was away.
• Saine decided to make the trip, packed Magic Coins, Soul Crystals, and some of Tianyang Venerable's Dominator's Blood, and collected shopping lists from his companions and mentor.
• Saine agreed to sell his old Ash Fortress to Red Scales, who planned to rename it Lie Lian Fortress.
• Saine departed beyond the plane with the seven Combined Space Fortresses, accompanied by stationed mages and alchemists.
• Two Level-4 alchemists from Kapeiqi told Saine about additional secret black markets.

Saine browsed prestigious auction houses near the front lines and was astonished by the rare, expensive treasures on offer, including a powerful Immortal Domain divine fire. After purchasing items he needed, he learned that an elf had quickly bought three Yellow Plums, and heard the Elf Race was acquiring other Immortal Domain specialties as well.

• Saine visited several renowned auction houses and found that they offered far more rare treasures than the Wizard Alliance trading market.
• Saine saw a World-Class Secret Treasure priced at 1.35 billion Magic Coins and a vigorous Liu Ding Divine Fire listed for ten billion, but decided not to spend recklessly.
• Saine spotted three Yellow Plums priced at 210 million Magic Coins and recalled that Tourmaline had once fed him one.
• Saine heard that an elf had already bought the three Yellow Plums, and another Level-4 Magician said the Elf Race had also purchased Buddhist Realm White Lotuses and Green Bamboos.

Saine and his companions traveled to Guishi, an Immortal Domain market, to find materials for his experiments and encountered a familiar cultivator who had advanced to Level 5. They entered the market after leaving their conspicuous Combined Fortress outside, with Saine curious about the goods within.

• Saine and his companions tested and piloted their Combined Fortress while traveling through Star Harbors and auction houses near the Wizard Civilization's front lines.
• Bora explained that Guishi offered a wider selection of Immortal Domain spiritual materials at lower prices, and warned Saine to use Spirit Jade or other hard currency rather than Magic Coins.
• Saine agreed to leave the Combined Fortress docked outside Guishi to avoid provoking its Immortal Domain inhabitants.
• Saine recognized an Immortal Domain Cultivator carrying a Firewood Chopping Knife, who had advanced to Level 5 and entered Guishi ahead of them.
• Saine and his companions saw numerous Wizard and Immortal Domain vehicles docked outside the market, then prepared to pay the entry fee and go inside.

Saine entered the Guishi and explored its markets, where he observed Immortal Domain cultivators and encountered a diviner whose attempt to read his fortune failed against the Faceless Mask. After the diviner fled, Saine spotted the cultivator with the Firewood Chopping Knife and approached him.

• Saine paid the Guishi's gatekeepers and entered with his companions, while the ram demon wondered whether a disguised Mystic Immortal was the person Nine Extremes Demon Lord sought.
• Saine and Magician Bora's group separated inside the Guishi, and Saine wandered through the lower-tier markets alone.
• Saine watched a disguised Heavenly Immortal buy a Galente Federation Escort Ship power furnace from a Nascent Soul Stage stallholder for two hundred Spirit Jade.
• Saine paid a Down and out Taoist to tell his fortune, but the diviner was injured when Saine's Faceless Mask resisted his attempt and fled without taking the Soul Crystal.
• Saine noticed the cultivator with the Firewood Chopping Knife nearby and walked over to him.

Saine met Duan Po, a wary Mystic Immortal cultivator, and offered him a Recovery Potion in exchange for learning about the Immortal Domain. As they explored the Fangshi, Saine asked about an old encounter, and Duan Po revealed that he had killed the Demonic Cultivator who once followed him.

• Duan Po recognized Saine from their encounter near an interstellar Teleportation Array and introduced himself.
• Saine invited Duan Po to explore the Fangshi together and offered him a Recovery Potion in exchange for answering his questions.
• Duan Po accepted the potion and explained the Fangshi and Immortal Domain customs as they walked.
• Saine asked what had happened to the Level-5 Demonic Cultivator who had followed Duan Po; Duan Po said he had killed him but was gravely injured.
• Duan Po said a Wizard Civilization inspection patrol had found and treated him after someone reported the incident, then asked Saine if he had made the report; Saine denied it.

Saine and Duan Po explored the Fangshi and entered the Hundred Treasures Pavilion, where Saine found rare materials that could improve his staff and flames. Duan Po sought a pill for his younger sister and asked Saine for help understanding why she remained in a juvenile state.

• Saine bought ordinary Immortal Domain materials as Duan Po explained the Fangshi, then the two went to the Hundred Treasures Pavilion auction.
• Xiao Mei, an Earth Immortal fox demon, guided Saine and Duan Po through the auction lists and described the pavilion’s treasures.
• Saine noticed the Nine Heavens Mysterious Fire and Blazing Sun Parasol Tree Wood among the upcoming lots, both of which could serve his needs.
• Duan Po focused on the Pinnacle Divine Pill, which he hoped to buy for his younger sister, who had remained physically juvenile.
• Duan Po asked Saine why his friend could not grow, and Saine offered to examine her, claiming experience with the problem.

Saine went on a lavish buying spree at the Hundred Treasures Pavilion auction, using Soul Crystals to pay for rare Immortal Domain materials and pills. He won a piece of Wutong Wood bearing a Black Phoenix bloodline imprint for eight thousand Immortal Jade, while the Nine Heavens Mysterious Fire remained ahead.

• The fox demon told Saine and Duan Po they could bid with equivalent treasures or sell items through the Hundred Treasures Pavilion.
• Saine repeatedly bid on Immortal Domain materials and spirit pills, intending to study some himself and give others to his companions.
• The fox demon accepted Saine’s Soul Crystals at a favorable rate, and Saine’s purchases eventually reached nearly nine thousand Immortal Jade.
• Duan Po bought the Pinnacle Divine Pill for five hundred Immortal Jade while Saine spent most of his available auction funds.
• The Hundred Treasures Pavilion auctioned Wutong Wood bearing a Quasi-Saint Black Phoenix bloodline imprint, and Saine won it for eight thousand Immortal Jade.

After winning Wutong Wood at an unexpectedly high price, Saine stopped bidding to save his funds for the Nine Heavens Mysterious Fire. As the auction continued, Duan Po reflected on his humble past, and Saine offered to examine pills that might help Duan Po’s friend.

• Saine won the Wutong Wood for eight thousand Immortal Jade and stopped bidding to preserve funds for the Nine Heavens Mysterious Fire.
• Saine and Duan Po declined the Three-Tailed Fox Demon's offers of massages and entertainment, accepting only food and drink.
• Duan Po recognized a Vermillion Fruit as a common spirit fruit from his hometown, Eastern Victory Divine Continent, and lamented how far his circumstances had changed.
• The Three-Tailed Fox Demon told Saine she came from the Haiyun Realm and had advanced to Earth Immortal after reaching the Wizard Civilization Battlefield.
• Saine warned that the Pinnacle Divine Pill might carry hidden risks and offered to study it and help Duan Po's friend, with advice from his mentor if needed.

Saine bought the Blood Scripture, hoping to use its essence-blood body-reconstruction method for Mei Kaili and advance his Body Tempering Experiment. At the auction, the elf sisters Sylvanas and her eldest sister worried the cultivation art might be bought by Blood Elf King Kael’thas, and they wondered whether their sister Vereesa was safe at the front lines.

• Saine became interested in the Blood Scripture after learning it could use essence blood to reconstruct bodies and create avatars.
• Saine decided the Blood Scripture could help create a compatible body for Mei Kaili and improve his Blood Crystal research.
• Saine won the Blood Scripture for 5,761 Immortal Jade after bidding against other buyers.
• Sylvanas complained that someone had repeatedly outbid the elves, and her eldest sister suggested the buyer was likely a Wizard Civilization magician.
• Sylvanas feared the Blood Scripture might reach Blood Elf King Kael’thas, but her eldest sister reminded her that the Main God had ordered them not to pursue the fallen elves.
• Sylvanas worried that their sister Vereesa was in danger after choosing to remain at the Civilization Battlefield’s front lines.