Chapter Summaries

Ian and Isengard concluded that Terra was approaching a decisive chance for unification as the great powers drifted toward division. While Ian prepared to reshape the coming conflict, his work on the South Sea Grand Labyrinth advanced, and Farshore Island’s expedition began moving toward the Crystal Holy Land.

• Ian and Isengard discussed how the Empire’s division could trigger the Great Schism Era and leave Terra vulnerable to powerful Fifth Energy Levels acting alone.
• Ian declared that he would push the major powers toward division and reshape the general trend so he could eventually unify Terra.
• Ian, Korizen’s soul fragment, and Master Gravi oversaw reconstruction of Redwood Base’s ecosystem, where Master Gravi chose to establish his workshop.
• Master Gravi reported that Frost Lure Moths could supply Silverpeak Domain with Magic Potion materials and provide a basis for a standard Origin Matter model.
• Ian considered whether human souls had foundational models and linked that question to technologies such as Undead Monarchs and Soul Brands.
• Farshore Island’s expeditionary legion and the beast nations began advancing toward the Crystal Holy Land at the center of the New Continent.

Ian and the others discovered that Korizen intended to use powerful psionics users as the foundation for the Eternal Path, while the Silver Sky Gate drew demons seeking passage into parallel time and space. Ian escaped the subspace hall and decided to head for the gate to learn how his original previous life had achieved its power.

• Korizen rejected Mahdi as the first test subject, then used the Silver Sky Gate to awaken the Ninefrost shaman Kakamar Zangjin's connection to Coiled Vine and the Willowpool Swarm.
• Kakamar failed to carry his memories or power through the gate, but Korizen revealed that his immortal nature had become part of the road for the Eternal Path and that his psionics had been absorbed into the Silver Sky Gate.
• The envoys realized Korizen had gathered them as materials for his Path, while Ian and Isengard prepared to flee; Ian blasted open the subspace hall and escaped in the Dark Gold Dragon with Isengard.
• Ian saw the Guardian fighting Korizen as demons poured through a rift toward the Silver Sky Gate, and Korizen told Ian he was not intended as road-building material.
• Ian told Isengard they would go to the Silver Sky Gate so he could discover how his original previous life had accomplished what Korizen sought.

Elder Pude ordered Brin to keep watching Ian discreetly and wait for him to reveal that he was a psychic. Pude reflected on his family’s exile and hoped Ian’s identity could help restore their former glory, while a gray-haired man appeared at Sighing Cliff.

• Brin told Elder Pude that Ian had noticed him watching Osena’s house and ordered him to leave.
• Elder Pude concluded Ian might be a psychic and told Brin to keep observing him, protect him, and report his movements.
• Brin left after Elder Pude warned him that spying on family would bring punishment and promised to explain the matter to Ian later.
• Elder Pude recalled how his family had been exiled and stripped of its name and inheritances, and hoped Ian could become a source of hope for their people.
• A tall, gray-haired man stood at the edge of Sighing Cliff and stared out over the sea.

Ian used the Ironclad Shark to disrupt the Giant Eel and charged through the Crocodile Dragon’s sand barrier with the armored suit. He badly wounded the Crocodile Dragon by driving a lance through its lower jaw, but the beast struck the suit away.

• Ian ordered the Ironclad Shark to ram the Giant Eel and escape, and the shark turned back to attack it.
• The Ironclad Shark slammed into the Giant Eel, knocking it onto the seafloor and temporarily stopping its pursuit.
• Ian used the Silence Ring to hide the armored suit, then overloaded its propulsion and charged through the sand cloud.
• The Crocodile Dragon hardened mud and sand around itself, but Ian’s lance broke through its defenses and pierced its lower jaw.
• The Crocodile Dragon struck the armored suit away, leaving the lance lodged in its jaw and preventing it from closing its mouth.

Ian identified Baron Layan’s crystal skull as a relic that could pass down psionic abilities, while concealing his suspicions about the baron’s motives. He met Layan’s three severely injured psionic children, received his promised reward, and left the castle unsettled by the family’s secrets.

• Ian appraised the crystal skull and told Baron Layan it could pass down psionic abilities, though he could not identify the specific power.
• Baron Layan praised Ian’s appraisal and gave him a vial as his reward, hinting that Aels had a share in the arrangement.
• Ian met Ila, Mo Qiu, and Linda; Mo Qiu sensed that Ian was dangerous, but Baron Layan dismissed the warning.
• Ian observed the children’s severe injuries and their close attachment to Baron Layan, while wondering what had happened to them and why Layan wanted the skull.
• Baron Layan took the children to lunch, and Ian left the castle with the vial and lingering doubts.

Ian discovered that using Precognitive Vision to observe too many people nearly exhausted him, but it revealed a deadly crisis looming over Harrison Port, possibly tied to the Redwood Natives’ Pure Sacrifice and a catastrophe at sea. He decided to warn Teacher Hilliard and continued cultivating with Elan, while Brin arrived at Elder Pude’s hall after Ian noticed him.

• Ian used Precognitive Vision on the street and nearly collapsed when he saw Harrison Port engulfed in a scarlet aura.
• Ian suspected that a typhoon, other natural disasters, a native invasion, or danger from the sea threatened the port, and resolved to tell Teacher Hilliard.
• Ian returned to Elan and resumed condensing his Origin Seed, believing greater strength could improve their chances of survival.
• Brin hurried to the White Folk Elders’ Hall with critical intelligence, and Elder Pude allowed him upstairs, guessing that Ian had noticed him.

Ian uncovered that Patrick had prepared a pirate fleet to kill Isengard and him, then teamed up with the Ironclad Shark to attack the fleet’s flagship. The shark punched through the ship, and Ian entered the cabin beside the armored suit.

• Ian realized the pirate fleet was targeting Isengard and him, and that Patrick was likely financing its advanced equipment.
• Ian decided to use the Ironclad Shark to strike the flagship rather than reveal his knowledge to the survey team.
• Ian mounted the Ironclad Shark and used Fairy Wings, Wave-Singer Mode, and stored Origin Matter to accelerate and reinforce it.
• The Ironclad Shark smashed through the living fishing net and pierced the flagship’s hull, then retreated into the deep sea.
• Ian appeared beside the armored suit in the flooded cabin.

Ian brought Loren to a laboratory to visit his grandmother, whose condition had stabilized but who was expected to live only a few more months. Loren asked to study the research, and Ian accepted him into the study group before turning to investigate divisions within the Spirit-Veneration Church.

• Ian agreed to take Loren to see his grandmother and sent Rosy Glow City's people home to celebrate his return.
• Adalbert told Ian that Loren's grandmother was stable but that her memory transcription was slow and her remaining lifespan was likely only a few months.
• Scott explained that Seli, a young woman with a congenital disability, had been admitted for research after her mother could no longer care for her.
• Ian told Loren the truth about his grandmother's prognosis, and Loren asked to learn about the laboratory's research.
• Ian added Loren to the study group and asked Scott to find other families in need of help through the Spirit-Veneration Church.
• Ian asked Scott to explain why divisions had emerged between the mountain folk who worshipped the Dragon God and the Imperial people who worshipped him.

The Light Calamity’s precursor devastated Terra’s ecology, while regions and ecological networks struggled to protect life and Silverpeak Domain remained comparatively safe. Ian discovered that the light accelerated cultivation and carried vast life Origin Matter, and Isengard warned that Axel Sertal might use the disaster to reach the unprecedented Sixth Energy Level.

• Terra’s ecological networks and local powers established shelters against the scorching light, while the Gale Dragon King set out to investigate and intercept its source.
• Ian and Sheo surveyed Silverpeak Domain, where shields, agricultural towers, and the Tree Sea Spirit protected settlements, though drought, flooding, and panic threatened the region.
• Ian urged Silverpeak Domain’s people to resonate with the Giant of Light, but Adalbert still lacked enough shared will to transform into it.
• The Glazed Imperial Dragon gathered Sparks from nearly a hundred civilizations, while Ian spread emergency technologies and crude Battle Aura methods among humans and Magic Beasts.
• Ian found that cultivation accelerated in the Light Calamity and that its light contained abundant life Origin Matter; Isengard proposed that it might come from Star God remnants within Cradle fragments.
• Isengard said he was nearing the Third Energy Level, then warned that Axel Sertal might exploit the Light Calamity and humanity’s unity to reach the Sixth Energy Level.

Ian discovered that Elan could sense and control Origin Matter by possessing Green Pupil’s Crystal Dragon avatar, and he considered using the method to teach others. After entering the Void Realm to find Hua An and Frost Butterfly, Ian saw a rare wild Void Realm Mech-God breeding offspring.

• Ian had Sha Sha and Elan touch Green Pupil, and both connected to its Crystal Dragon avatar and unhatched egg.
• Elan sensed Origin Matter while controlling the Crystal Dragon avatar, and Ian realized the technique might help teach Origin Matter control to others.
• Ian asked Elder Pude to guide Elan’s training and planned to contact Master Gose about the avatar.
• Ian entered the Void Realm to find Hua An and Frost Butterfly, and Hua An hurried him to an observation room.
• Ian looked through the observation array and saw a wild Void Realm Mech-God breeding offspring.

Ian carried the End Fragment away from the Terra Cradle and tried to lure Cradle Terminus after him by creating a miniature Cradle. When Terminus instead turned toward Terra, Ian filled the miniature universe with the memories of his countless reincarnations and summoned Infinite Ian to face it.

• Ian absorbed the Light Calamity into the black hole seal and formed a miniature Cradle around it to draw Cradle Terminus away from Terra.
• Cradle Terminus ignored Ian and raced toward the Cradle's core, leaving Ian and Heavenly Father's fragment to realize the miniature Cradle lacked enough complexity to attract it.
• Heavenly Father's fragment told Ian that Terminus might be drawn by the accumulated Sparks and memories of many civilizations.
• Ian gathered the memories and past lives of his countless reincarnations into the Little Cradle, causing Terminus to turn and look at him.
• Ian stood against Terminus's destructive gravity and summoned Infinite Ian by calling out his name.

Ian reunited with Elan and learned that his younger brother’s concern for him had awakened latent psionic potential. The brothers and Elder Pude shared a lavish Harrison Port meal, leaving Ian’s fierce ambition quietly understood but unchanged.

• Ian realized Elan’s concern for him had stirred his latent psionic potential, and he embraced his happy little brother.
• Elder Pude confirmed his guess about Elan’s abilities and invited the brothers to eat.
• Elder Pude served Ian and Elan a lavish meal, and Ian asked whether they could finish it all.
• Ian and Elan enjoyed the feast while Ian shared food with his brother and poured wine for Elder Pude.
• Elder Pude watched Ian’s sharp, ambitious nature draw inward and felt both pride and concern.

Ian used the Silver Chip to access the Xenobiology Research Institute’s third-layer database, revealing that the main core was there and alerting the hidden Dark Gold Dragon. The Dragon unleashed a beast tide across the ruins, and Ian recognized that the real Maze Lord had finally acted.

• Ian suspected the Dark Gold Dragon was using the Origin Matter Chip and Dusk Hourglass to test whether he possessed the Silver Chip, then called his companions over to inspect them.
• Ian activated the Silver Chip and discovered that the hourglass’s derivative chip lacked power, then bypassed the second layer to copy the third layer’s database.
• Ian learned that the main Simulated Origin Matter Computing Chip was on the third layer, while the Dark Gold Dragon awakened and debated whether the intrusion was a trap.
• The Xenobiology Research Institute shook as hidden elevators opened and released waves of dragon beasts across the second layer.
• Aina, Ga'er, and other explorers set aside their rivalry to face the beast tide, while Ian told his companions the real Maze Lord had made its move.

Ian coordinated the young prodigies’ attacks against the Dark Gold Dragon, buying Mahdi time to recover while their trump cards wounded the dragon but failed to kill it. Mahdi then drove the Deep Abyss Iron Sword into his own heart, calling it his Magic Potion and stairway of ascension.

• Campani told Golan that the damaged testing area would soon let them escape the labyrinth with the Source of Dragonblood, while the young fighters prepared to face the Dark Gold Dragon.
• Ian secretly instructed Aina, Deathcaller, Elge, Silver Salt, Anfa, and Ga'er to coordinate their attacks and create an opening for Mahdi.
• Anfa’s connection to the mentor True Dragon’s power alarmed the Dark Gold Dragon, while Elge’s illusion and Silver Salt’s strike broke the dragon’s focus and damaged its reverse scale.
• Aina hit the Dark Gold Dragon with Heaven's Blazing Sun, and Ga'er’s Sky Hammer unleashed Vacuum Implosion, severely injuring the dragon and shaking the Subspace Labyrinth.
• Ian said the group had bought enough time, and Mahdi drew the Deep Abyss Iron Sword and stabbed it into his own heart, declaring, “Teacher, become one with me!”

The Blazing Flame Lands force caught up with Ian, Isengard, and Master Gose in a cavern filled with Giant Gold Fungus and attacked its symbiotic beasts. The heat awakened a giant fungus-covered Fortress Giant Turtle and a horde of fungus-controlled corpses, while Ian and his companions escaped and Isengard worried that their earlier drink might have infected them.

• The Blazing Flame Lands force entered an icy cavern and encountered Giant Gold Fungus, symbiotic beasts, and a variant Scaleless Iron Serpent.
• The soldiers attacked with firearms and flame guns, but the heat strengthened the serpent and intensified the fungi’s spores and sweet fragrance.
• The captain ordered a retreat after noticing the cavern’s dangerous changes, and Ian, Isengard, and Master Gose quietly withdrew.
• A buried mound erupted, releasing fungus-controlled corpses and a living Fortress Giant Turtle covered in Giant Gold Fungus.
• The female priest used psychic power to stop the turtle’s waves from sweeping away the soldiers.
• Isengard asked Ian whether the fungal fluid they had drunk could harm them; Ian said his dragon blood could protect him but worried about Isengard and Master Gose.

Ian destroyed a Blazing Flame Lands Special Forces stronghold that had been preparing to ambush him, then found a report identifying him as a high-value target tied to the South Sea Grand Labyrinth Incident. The documents revealed the force's planned attack and its intelligence work in the Southern Ridge, while another report caught Ian's interest.

• A Blazing Flame Lands soldier activated the stronghold's poisonous creatures and traps after an alchemical bomb exposed their position, but Ian killed him with a high-speed water blade.
• Overlook and his burly guard attacked Ian, who blew apart the Subject Bee-Spiders, incapacitated the guard, and killed Overlook with his sword.
• Ian entered the cave stronghold and found biological laboratories, samples, and reports that the soldiers had been packing.
• Ian read a report listing him as a high-value target and describing a planned ambush with reinforcements from Blazing Flame Lands headquarters.
• Ian concluded that destroying the stronghold would disrupt the special forces' surveillance, then found a report about rootrot fungus affecting Ascendant and psychic plants.

The Dragon-Worshiping Cult squad reached the High Towers surrounding a huge True Dragon skeleton and found exploration teams fighting over valuable Pre-Epoch storage chips. Isengard realized the chips were connected to Anfa’s creation and concluded that her father was nearby.

• Sheo identified the dragon skeleton as a second-generation mentor True Dragon and explained the generations of True Dragons to Isengard.
• The squad crossed dangerous ruins, where Anfa destroyed a cheetah-shaped Void Realm Mech-God with one punch.
• The group reached the High Towers and saw clouds of Psionic Essence surrounding the sealed dragon skeleton.
• The exploration teams began fighting over storage chips containing potentially powerful research and technology.
• Isengard connected the chips to Anfa’s dragonblood and creation, and realized that Anfa’s father was nearby.

Ian killed the High Shaman and the Crocodile Dragon, claiming the beast’s brain marrow crystal as the key material for his Second Energy Level. He and the others escaped the deep sea, but an immense lightning spell ring formed overhead as Ian wondered what a labyrinth was.

• Ian reflected on how close the battle had been and took the Crocodile Dragon’s brain marrow crystal as his intended Rockforged Knight potion ingredient.
• Ian signaled Ethan, Gose, and the others to rise toward the shallow sea while the Surging Tide Giant Eel chased Sha Sha’s Ironclad Shark.
• Andor used his remaining strength to carry the group safely to the surface, and Gose summoned a gale to lift them into the air.
• Ian watched a vast three-ring lightning spell ring form in the storm clouds and wondered what a labyrinth was.
• A silver-white shark fin surfaced and raced across the ocean in an S-shaped path.

Ian traveled northeast from Harrison Port with a caravan, intending to leave it for Layan Territory while discussing the dangerous route with Brin. A Blazing Flame Lands operative monitoring Ian noticed that he might have spotted a controlled bird and ordered his squad to prepare to capture him.

• Ian rode with a caravan of travelers and long hunters, passing through the Great Redwood Forest as signs of the Blazing Flame Lands' biological warfare spread across Southern Ridge.
• Brin explained the caravan's route through Anmore Town and Three Rivers City, and he and Ian planned to part ways on the Agate Stone Plains.
• Ian asked Brin to alert him to trouble and to bring him anything worth appraising, while mentioning that he wanted to test a new weapon.
• Ian counted a third suspicious bird in the trees but continued traveling because he sensed no immediate danger.
• A Blazing Flame Lands operative in a hidden base suspected Ian had noticed his controlled bird and ordered a local squad to prepare to capture him.

Ian learned that the ruins beneath Half-Moon Lake were likely a Pre-Epoch Civilization central research institute once directed by the Pioneer, and he decided to explore it despite the Golden Dragon hidden there. After reviewing his abilities, he began designing a new inheritance called the Steel Pioneer, the starting point of his Arcane Path.

• Anfa explained that the ruins beneath Half-Moon Lake might be a central Xenobiology Research Institute, and Ian agreed to explore them.
• Ian recalled the powerful Dark Gold Dragon lurking in the ruins and decided he needed to strengthen himself before the expedition.
• Ian reviewed his Bloodline True Forms, Meditation Method, Origin Matter Furnace Core, and other abilities as the foundation for a new inheritance.
• Ian planned to combine the Meditation Method and Origin Matter Furnace Core so practitioners could sustain and strengthen multiple abilities as passive states.
• Ian named the first Arcane inheritance, based on Fairy and Immovable Fortress, the Steel Pioneer.