Chapter Summaries

Naimo assessed the upheaval caused by Manyan’s breakthrough and Ian’s growing influence, then prepared the Blazing Flame Lands to disrupt Xiahui Territory. Ian uncovered the territory’s spies, planned a covert raid into the Midra Autonomous Region, and learned from Adalbert that the Dead River Armament’s powers came from a Blood Demon.

• Naimo concluded that the Avude Tribe’s rekindled sacrificial flame and Manyan’s rise to Third Energy Level were shifting the mountain folk toward the rebels, and he ordered increased focus on the Avude Tribe and Frodo Autonomous Region.
• Naimo learned that Ian had left the Avude Tribe after reaching an agreement with Manyan on food supplies, and he decided to provoke unrest in Xiahui Territory and give the dragon flock a new mission.
• Ian gave old Fal a list of Blazing Flame Lands spies in Xiahui Territory, and old Fal identified Supervisor Gamma as a spy whose grandson might give him reason to cooperate with Ian.
• Ian and old Fal devised a plan to use Gamma to feed false intelligence to the Blazing Flame Lands, while Ian announced a winter bandit-clearing operation as cover for a covert raid into the Midra Autonomous Region.
• Ian told Adalbert to remain a hidden defender and gave him research materials on the Crystallized Bloodhunter and Swarm Psionic Network.
• Adalbert explained that the Dead River Armament’s Dead River Rebirth and Authority of Soul Fusion came from a Blood Demon in the subspace abyss.

At the Spirit-Veneration Church’s foundation ceremony, Ian activated Frostsky’s Blessing as the Empire’s enemies launched a surprise offensive across the Southern Ridge. Ian rushed to Rosy Glow City and discovered an airship full of hostages plunging toward the city.

• Ian watched the Spirit-Veneration Church activate Frostsky’s Blessing, a vast protective array over Great Snowcap.
• Marquis Barton revealed that Nauman City and more than five Southern Ridge territories had been attacked by the Blazing Flame Lands’ special forces.
• Count Im reported that the Blazing Flame Lands and Ridgehold had begun a full-scale offensive against the Empire, while the Azure Heaven Royal Court threatened the eastern front.
• Ian refused to ask nonhuman allies to intervene and flew toward Rosy Glow City using his fairy powers.
• Ian arrived above Rosy Glow City and saw an airship carrying hostages fall toward the city, threatening to destroy half of it.

Hilliard held back two giant sea eels while Ian returned home and decided to reach the Alchemical Cannon to help turn the battle against the Crocodile Dragon. Ian arrived at the silent tower and found a city guard unable to get its broken cannon working.

• Hilliard stopped two giant sea eels from advancing and worried about the fighting at Harrison Port.
• Ian sent Elan into the shelter, then realized the battle threatened the refugee district and his home.
• Ian decided the Alchemical Cannon could tip the struggle between Viscount Grant and the Crocodile Dragon.
• Ian set out for the tower, where a city guard was struggling with the broken Alchemical Cannon.

Aina Sertal embraced his freedom and became a traveling adventurer who helped ordinary people, then discovered that the mysterious Pioneer Space had also invited him. In the Azure Heaven Royal Court, Ga'er learned that Ankatuo was dying after attempting to unite the Sky Wolf and War Wolf bloodlines, inherited his knowledge, and entered the Pioneer Space.

• Aina left the northern border fortress and traveled the Empire as a disguised chivalrous thief, resolving local crises and listening to residents’ concerns.
• Aina heard that a boy from the Pusen family had been invited by Pioneer Space and realized he had received and accepted the same invitation.
• Ga'er visited Ankatuo, who revealed that his attempt to unite the two wolf bloodlines had left him gravely ill and with about five months to live.
• Ankatuo passed Ga'er knowledge about Heaven-Earth Unity and urged him to cultivate through the Arcane Path and eventually claim the Blood of the Apex Seat.
• Ga'er returned to his residence, called out to Pioneer Space, and awakened on a resplendent silver platform in the Void Realm.

Hilliard told Ian how Emperor Inaga II was betrayed by the Empress, the Crown Prince, and most of the court after his reforms threatened the privileged classes, before the Dark Moon Turmoil recast him as the Black King. Ian resolved to change the world and led his failing teacher toward Sighing Cliff, while a wounded, one-armed figure also climbed toward the summit.

• Hilliard explained that the Empress, Crown Prince, and court officials had staged a coup after he found Inaga II already overthrown and learned they believed the Emperor had become a monster.
• Ian concluded that Inaga II had been betrayed because his reforms threatened nobles, slave owners, knowledge monopolists, and even the Emperor's own interests.
• Hilliard recalled how Axel took credit for the Empire's achievements after the Dark Moon Turmoil turned Inaga II into the Black Tyrant.
• Ian told Hilliard he intended to change the world, then helped him leave the cave and head for the clouded summit of Sighing Cliff.
• As Hilliard weakened on the climb, Ian sheltered him beside a boulder and pretended to continue treating his wounds.
• A wounded figure who had lost his right arm resumed climbing toward the summit after treating his own injuries.

Ian killed a forest leopard in Lake Forest, then used his psionic vision and a trick with flour to defeat a native hunter who had tried to capture him. An old knight rescued Ian from the hunter’s final attack, and Ian saw the man surrounded by a golden aura of kindness.

• An old knight watched Ian choose Lake Forest to dispose of his uncle’s body and admired the boy’s preparations for combat.
• Ian killed a forest leopard with a pitchfork and used his psionic ability to scan the forest.
• Ian spotted a red aura approaching and thrust his pitchfork at a native hunter hiding in the trees.
• The hunter dodged Ian’s attack, but Ian blinded him with flour and pinned him to the ground with the pitchfork.
• The injured hunter tried to stab Ian, but the old knight seized his wrist and crushed the bones.
• Ian looked up and saw the old knight surrounded by bright golden mist.

Viscount Grant worried that the Imperial Capital’s Inspector Knight might threaten his family’s control of Harrison Port, so he ordered his men to watch the visitor. The Inspector Knight was secretly working as a diviner at the Long Gull Tavern, where he used a sailor’s private troubles to attract customers.

• Viscount Grant recalled his family’s history and feared that the Emperor might remove them from Harrison Port because they lacked the strength to resist.
• Viscount Grant ordered Yam and Lamar to learn everything about the Inspector Knight’s movements and purpose.
• Lamar told Viscount Grant that the Inspector Knight had removed his armor and stayed at the Long Gull Tavern under a concealed identity.
• The Inspector Knight divined that Saide’s marital troubles stemmed from his own shortcomings, prompting the tavern’s sailors to mock him.
• The Inspector Knight stopped Saide from striking him, charged him two Fennies, and invited the next customer to sit for a reading.

Ian fed the Ironclad Shark silver-alloy solution and promised to help it advance, then warned Master Gose that pirates and two Surging Tide Giant Eels were approaching the Nearlight. As a pirate armor suit drew near underwater, Ian claimed he could see through its weaknesses and called out its position.

• Ian gave the Ironclad Shark refined Origin Matter potion and silver-alloy solution, which made it thrash excitedly.
• The Ironclad Shark alerted Ian to the approaching natives, and Ian realized the pirates were preparing to deploy armor as two Surging Tide Giant Eels headed for the survey team.
• Ian returned to the Nearlight and told Master Gose about the pirates' armor and the approaching eels.
• Master Gose warned that a naval-combat armor suit would be difficult to fight while protecting the Nearlight, but Ian said his knowledge of Aether Armor let him identify its weaknesses.
• The Sea-Born swordsman recognized the sound of an active-service armor furnace core, and Ian announced that the enemy was at ten o'clock.

Ian and Sister Reflected Light exchanged evidence linking Baron Layan to the disappearances, corpses beneath the Rosy Radiance Grass, and strange memories about his family. They concluded that the baron was pursuing a ritual to revive his dead child, but Ian sensed that the castle was empty and the baron had already departed.

• Sister Reflected Light explained that she had traced disappearances across Layan Territory to the vanished refugee settlement and the flower sea, where she found bones beneath the soil.
• Ian told Reflected Light about the baron's children, the stolen Rosy Radiance Grass, and the conflicting information about a child who had died six years earlier.
• Reflected Light suspected that the baron had muddled residents' memories and summarized the evidence, including the possibility of a mountainfolk ritual to resurrect his child.
• Reflected Light proposed requesting help from the Holy Hall, but Ian warned that the baron's plan had reached its final stage after he harvested the Rosy Radiance Grass early.
• Ian used his Origin Matter perception to sense that nobody remained inside Layan Castle and concluded that Baron Layan had already set out.

Ian and the nobles witnessed the Empire’s secret floating fortress rise, demonstrate its powerful shields, and fire eight devastating Spirit Wind Pulse Cannons. The display left Ian eager to investigate the City of Knowledge and acquire more technology, while a letter from Korizen Quest was addressed to Mahdi Hollowvale and Isengard Ellen.

• Ian and Marquis Barton watched the Imperial fortress lift into the sky using technology exchanged with the City of Knowledge for the imperial capital’s shield technology.
• Marquis Kelma and the other nobles saw the fortress’s defenses and considered how it could transform warfare and support an Imperial counteroffensive.
• The floating fortress fired eight Spirit Wind Pulse Cannons, and Marquis Barton revealed that the weapon’s design had been derived from Pre-Epoch Civilization technology and a secret of the Azure Heaven Royal Court.
• Ian compared the Empire’s flying fortress with his own Immovable Fortress and resolved to seek out more technology, including by visiting the City of Knowledge.
• Korizen Quest wrote a long letter addressed to Mahdi Hollowvale and Isengard Ellen.

Hilliard explained the Magic Beasts around Harrison Port and the inheritances their materials could support. Ian chose to pursue the difficult Immovable Fortress under Hilliard’s guidance, and the chapter ended with Hilliard objecting to Ian’s claim that using his teacher’s experience was the sensible choice.

• Hilliard mapped the Magic Beasts around Harrison Port, describing their habitats, dangers, and useful materials.
• Hilliard compared possible inheritances, including the Sea Dragon Bloodline, Fairy Bloodline, Aurora Titan, and Tidebringer, and explained their advancement potential.
• Ian decided he wanted the strongest inheritance and asked what materials the Immovable Fortress required for its lower- and middle-stage Magic Potions.
• Hilliard warned Ian that the Immovable Fortress would bring hardship, then explained that earth-related Magic Beasts could supply its main material.
• Ian chose to become a Sand Armor Apprentice because Hilliard could teach him the techniques and experience needed to build a solid foundation.
• Hilliard sighed at Ian’s reasoning, and Ian said it would be foolish not to use his teacher’s lessons, prompting Hilliard to protest.

Ian killed a Razorclaw Tiger whose fungal infection had driven it to the forested plains, then brought its corpse back to Golden Leaf Town. He suspected the spread of the fungal threat in Blazing Flame Lands would keep Southern Ridge Province occupied in the future.

• A Razorclaw Tiger attacked Ian, but he caught and snapped off its infected blade-claws.
• Ian used an alchemical firearm to damage the tiger's brain, then crushed its neck and killed it.
• Ian found that fungal filaments had ulcerated the tiger's claws and damaged its eyes, and decided to move Blazing Flame Lands higher on his kill order.
• Ian dragged the tiger's corpse to Golden Leaf Town, where the waiting villagers cheered and wept at his safe return.

After burying the guards, Ian considered Viscount Grant’s recommendation that he join the Inspecting Knights and decided the position would help him gather information about the Empire. He awaited his knightly equipment and prepared to travel to Nauman City, while resolving to release the stubborn little fish.

• Ian recalled the Inspecting Knights’ extensive authority and history as an imperial force reassembled under Emperor Axel.
• Ian wondered why Viscount Grant had recommended him, then concluded the viscount could benefit politically with little risk to himself.
• Ian decided to accept the recommendation because joining the Inspecting Knights would give him access to useful information and cover from scrutiny.
• Ian expected to travel to Nauman City and report to Marquis Barton after receiving his knightly armor and sword.
• Ian fed the fish that had survived four days and decided to release it the next day, since he now had Frost Butterfly.

Madam Gan Song and Frozen Fish visited Ian to determine whether he was prepared to become a fairy, and Frozen Fish discovered that Ian already possessed a fairy-like soul and extraordinary hope. Convinced Ian was a born fairy, Frozen Fish agreed to begin the process with him at the laboratory’s Central Nexus.

• Ian welcomed Madam Gan Song, who arrived riding her mentor Frozen Fish, a miniature red-and-white orca.
• Frozen Fish explained that becoming a true fairy required destroying the self and accepting death, then asked whether Ian was prepared to abandon his human identity.
• Frozen Fish showed Ian the origin of its own will, and Ian answered by revealing visions of death, war, and a star crowned in deep azure.
• Frozen Fish recognized Ian as a fairy whose potential might reach the Fairy Emperor’s throne and approved Gan Song’s funding.
• Frozen Fish prepared to begin Ian’s transformation, and Ian led the group toward the Central Nexus with his own materials.
• Ian asked about the origin of Silver Salt · Iron Pot, and Frozen Fish recalled that Iron Pot had been born from an iron pot left burning over a fire.

Ian advanced battle aura research in Silverpeak Domain, and Elan volunteered to join the experiments to build strength and connections within the territory. Meanwhile, Carlos discovered how his psionics could let companions share one another’s abilities, which he recognized as the divine art Ian had described.

• Miles condensed a battle aura seed, and researchers used experiments to help other volunteers form seeds while studying their risks and effects on dormant bloodlines.
• Ian’s researchers found that fire- and wind-aspected battle aura offered powerful abilities but carried severe drawbacks, and some trainees paused cultivation after their bloodlines awakened.
• Elan told Ian he wanted to join the battle aura experiments to improve himself and become a true member of Silverpeak Domain, so Ian added him to the participant list.
• Ian planned a secret survey for natural psionics adaptors, tried out useful City of Knowledge inventions in Silverpeak, and tightened screening for the territory’s training programs as interest in its methods grew.
• Carlos meditated at Dika Domain and realized his Psionic Infusion could let companions share powers and skills through a common soul structure.
• Carlos concluded that enabling everyone to help one another was the divine art Ian had described.

Ian learned that abyssal consciousness could evolve into a civilization-destroying Demon King and suspected the Blazing Flame Lands’ demon research was connected to a greater threat. Heartbane discovered a revived Abyssal Dragon in the Western Border’s Void Realm, and the Dragon Kings descended to confront it.

• Ian questioned the Dragon Kings about abyssal consciousness and learned that abyssal collectives could become Demon Kings that consumed civilizations.
• Ian wondered whether a Demon King was behind the Blazing Flame Lands’ turn to demon technology and the Light Calamity, but the Dragon Kings said they would have detected one.
• Heartbane searched the Western Border’s Void Realm, reflecting on how human emotions formed demons and considering the danger of a civilization becoming a fusion demon’s core.
• Heartbane found a golden-red dragon sealed in an egg of dark crimson crystal and was compelled to approach it as the dragon tried to absorb him.
• Heartbane sent Ian proof of the Abyssal Dragon, and the Dragon Kings broke through the Cursed Earth’s defenses and descended in person.

Ian and the Southern Ridge’s strongest fighters joined forces against Death Knell, a newly formed Fourth Energy Level great demon, while Ian supported them with Terra’s Heart and a long-range attack. As Death Knell’s humanity began to succumb to demonic corruption, it accepted a mysterious offer, and the Dragon Kings sensed the arrival of the Abyssal Consciousness.

• Ian explained that Terra’s Heart enhanced his abilities but could not make him equal to a Fourth Energy Level opponent, so he coordinated six Southern Ridge fighters to attack Death Knell together.
• Ian parried Death Knell’s opening sword strike, Marquis Barton summoned a massive lightning storm, and Viscount Grant attacked with Tidebreaker’s Abyssal Whale Tyrant Sword while Sheo briefly immobilized the demon.
• Death Knell damaged Tidebreaker, then used Annihilating Banishment against Elder Manyan, but a distant Ian struck it with a super electromagnetic cannon and helped the others regroup.
• Marquis Barton’s atmospheric lightning struck Death Knell, but the demon endured the combined attacks, and Ian said they needed to keep it fighting until its corruption drew the Void Realm Mech-Gods.
• Death Knell realized its demonic power would consume its humanity and accepted a mysterious voice’s offer in exchange for everything it had.
• The Gale Dragon King and Trueflame Dragon King sensed the Abyssal Consciousness awakening and recognized its arrival.

Mo Feng told Ian that the prophets had foreseen a world-ending natural disaster within twenty years, which Ian recognized as a possible supernova explosion. He learned that the Imperial Capital’s planetary shield had been built to counter it, then accepted Mo Feng’s invitation to visit the Royal Grand Library.

• Mo Feng told Ian that the Church of Light's Embrace and the All-Spirits Hall had predicted a colossal disaster within ten to twenty years.
• Hua An explained that past disasters had destroyed even Planet Terra and that Fairyland had survived more than a dozen of them.
• Mo Feng said the Pre-Epoch Civilization had built the Central Planetary Shield Generator to deal with the disaster, which the High Prophet described as a brilliant flash that would bring destruction.
• Ian recognized the prophecy as a possible supernova explosion and reasoned that the Imperial Capital’s shield could protect Terra from its effects.
• Mo Feng invited Ian to spend the afternoon at the Imperial Capital Royal Grand Library, and he agreed.

Ian confronted Elge, who revealed himself as a Thousand-Stars Beast derivative and claimed that he and Ian were the same kind. After Elge escaped into the Void Realm, Sheo tracked him toward the abyss, and Ian decided to proceed under the false identity Mahdi, the Knight of the Hidden Valley.

• Ian questioned Elge about whether he had always been a monster, and Elge answered by describing Ian's extraordinary intelligence and abilities.
• Elge claimed that he and Ian were companions with the same goal, but refused to apologize for ambushing him and tried to flee into the Void Realm.
• Ian struck Elge with a sword attack infused with Primordial Aether, then used a Sword Net to destroy Elge's flame-stream chains as Elge escaped after sacrificing half his body.
• Sheo reported that Elge had fled toward the abyss they were heading for, and Isengard suggested they capture him there.
• Ian decided to use a false identity and act alone for a while, calling for Mahdi, the Knight of the Hidden Valley, to make his entrance.

News of Ian’s rise as king of the New Continent shocked Terra, while powerful factions reconsidered how to approach him. After securing political arrangements with Farshore Island and receiving congratulations from the Empire, Ian prepared to explore the core of the Subspace Network, still wary of Axel’s silence.

• The Crystal Dragon King explained that he had protected Ian as a young Crystal Dragon, while Furstie complained about the King’s favoritism toward him.
• Grand Duke Solin regretted that Ian no longer needed his help and considered waiting for a chance to revive his people in Hell.
• Ian planned to use the specialized Arcane Path to win the loyalty of the New Continent’s magical beasts and agreed with Yulan to develop the continent with Farshore Island.
• First Prince Carlos accepted Ian’s argument that helping Mahdi was not treason because Mahdi remained an Imperial citizen, and the Empire conveyed goodwill.
• Ian remained suspicious of Axel’s silence and set out to explore the Subspace Network’s core, where fragments of the Sky-Fall Starship might be found.