Chapter Summaries

Ian repaired Tidebreaker's Aether Furnace Core with mithril and learned enough from the armor to understand how Aether Armor was made. His theory that Aether Furnace Cores drew energy through links between parallel universes led him to suspect that Terra's fundamental forces and the truth behind Star-Prison were more complicated than he had thought; he set those questions aside and contacted Master Gose.

• Ian dismantled Tidebreaker and studied its inscriptions, modules, and damaged Aether Furnace Core while Viscount Grant trusted him to handle the repairs.
• Ian repaired the core's damaged transmission channels with mithril, restoring its operation and delighting Viscount Grant.
• Viscount Grant gave Ian the remaining mithril as an advance investment in his future child’s education, and Ian returned home with a better grasp of Aether Armor construction.
• Ian reasoned that an Aether Furnace Core might draw energy through a channel connecting parallel universes, then wondered whether Origin Matter, spiritual energy, and Primordial Aether were artificial creations.
• Ian set aside his speculations and contacted Master Gose to discuss the Atlan Megacity breeding grounds, Andor, and the small Crystal Dragon clone.

Ian witnessed the Void Realm Mech-God Purger depart, reunited with the Fairies, and helped Hua An learn how to write more persuasive funding proposals. With the Crystal Dragon hatched and his work in the Southern Ridge Grand Labyrinth largely complete, Ian prepared to return to Harrison Port and consider Elder Pude’s advancement and the family inheritance, Silverpeak Envoy.

• Purger left the area with its juvenile form after clearing garbage data from the Void Realm, and Ian discussed what the Mech-God’s appearance suggested about the South Sea.
• Ian reunited with Frost Butterfly, who showed off her training and named the hatched Green Pupil the Guardian Dragon of Crystal Lake.
• Hua An explained that Mentor Gan Song’s poor reports kept their work underfunded, so Ian taught Hua An how to make research proposals more appealing.
• Hua An embraced Ian’s funding advice, beginning her transformation into a Funding Fairy.
• Ian decided to return to Harrison Port, contact Master Gose about Andor and the Crystal Dragon avatar, and consider Elder Pude’s advancement and the Silverpeak Envoy inheritance.

Ian found that the Foresight Twin Leaves and the Tree Sea Spirit enhanced his Retrospective Vision, letting him witness a different possibility branching from his past. The vision revealed that in this alternate course of events, Hilliard told Ian his injuries would kill him early the following year.

• Ian praised Elan’s newly awakened Thought Writing ability, then carried his sleepy brother to bed to rest.
• Ian ate the remaining Foresight Twin Leaf, which strengthened his soul and began forming a connection to the Tree Sea Spirit’s database.
• Ian’s enhanced Retrospective Vision showed an alternate version of his past, including his first meeting with Hilliard.
• Ian saw the alternate timeline branch during a picnic in 767, when Hilliard gave him knowledge and inheritance notes he had planned to teach later.
• In the vision, Hilliard told Ian that his injuries would erupt early the next year and that he was going to die.

Ian watched the Crystal Dragon egg hatch into a lively young dragon, which he named Green Pupil after it ate its eggshell. As everyone welcomed the hatchling, Elder Pude wondered what it would eat next.

• Ian's Crystal Dragon avatar helped hatch the egg, and the young dragon emerged and greeted him and the others.
• The hatchling recognized Ian as its mother, welcomed Sha Sha as its caretaker, and explored its new home in Crystal Lake.
• At Ian's urging, the young dragon ate its eggshell and grew translucent silver-white scales.
• Ian named the hatchling Green Pupil, and Sha Sha, Elan, and Azure Tide celebrated its birth.
• Azure Tide suggested that Green Pupil could support Ian's Dragon God's envoy image, while Elder Pude asked what the hatchling would eat.

Ian’s simulation showed how Weges became his ally and how an alternate Ian joined the Patrol Knights, confronted the tragedy in Layan Territory, and received Alos Ryan’s inheritance. Back in the real world, Ian’s Silver Chip recorded the Dragon God’s secret key, the core secret of the Rust-Steel Dragon’s Steel Force.

• Ian told Weges that he intended to go Above the High Heavens, and Weges agreed to help him understand Hilliard’s choices.
• Weges left his sword and token with Ian, then sent him books, cultivation materials, and advice to seek resources in the Imperial Capital.
• In the simulated worldline, Ian joined the Patrol Knights, rose to the Second Energy Level, and led a squad into the subspace engulfing Layan Territory.
• Ian defeated Alos Ryan, the last child of Layan, who entrusted him with the key to the Dragon God’s Vault and the Rust-Steel Dragon’s Steel Force.
• Back in the real world, Ian’s Silver Chip recorded Alos Ryan’s inheritance and branded the secret key upon his heart.

Ian and his companions traveled by airship toward the World Tree Capital while Ian considered the Source of Dragonblood and Chairman Yafda’s hidden plans. Isengard sought Ian’s advice on choosing a bloodline ability before advancing, and the chapter ended as the airship approached the ancient forests of Canaanmore.

• Ian explained how the Source of Dragonblood could extend even a Fifth Energy Level ascender’s life and deduced that Chairman Yafda’s Signal Transmitter was a remote control tied to a larger plan.
• The Silver Gate House’s airship departed smoothly, and Ian joked with Isengard, Anfa, and Sheo about his history of accidents during travel.
• Isengard asked Ian whether he should choose Brain Erosion or Neural Extension as his Second Energy Level bloodline ability, and Ian recommended Neural Extension given the uncertainty surrounding his family’s symbiotic armor.
• Anfa reflected on the conflicts within families and Canaanmore’s parties before the airship crossed into the region’s vast, unusual forests and headed toward the World Tree Capital.

The Siren docked at Blackflow Port, where Speaker Yafda addressed the survivors of the Magic Beast attack and announced that Master Gravi and Ian would be rewarded for saving the fleet. Ian and Gravi recognized the political motives behind the official account as Yafda singled them out in front of the press.

• The Siren arrived at Blackflow Port, a former mining hub transformed into a Magic Beast breeding ground.
• Speaker Yafda arrived with Candlebearers and reporters to reassure the passengers and address the attack.
• Master Gravi told Ian that Yafda's public appearance demonstrated the Grand Assembly's concern and protected it from political criticism.
• Yafda blamed the attack on the Anlan Armed Group, which Gravi described as a dirty glove of the Pillar Party.
• Yafda publicly praised Master Gravi and Ian for saving the fleet and promised them rewards.

Ian analyzed visions of the camp’s possible destruction and concluded that his use of the Silver Chip could decide whether he and the others survived. After preparing for the expedition, he entered the ruins with his team and sensed a creature near the Fifth Energy Level below.

• Ian tested possible futures and saw that avoiding the Silver Chip entirely would kill everyone, while using it recklessly would doom him and Isengard.
• Ian packed weapons and equipment, arranged disguises with Anfa and Sheo, and promised to reveal his secrets if he returned alive.
• Ian slept before the expedition began on June 12, Terra Year 774, and learned that the Southern Ridge Dragon-Worshiping Cult would be seventh to enter.
• Ian traveled with Isengard, Anfa, and Sheo to Entrance Seven near the Fafute Mountains and inspected the fissure leading underground.
• Ian sensed a brilliant gold-and-silver radiance below and concluded that a creature close to the Fifth Energy Level was inside the Xenobiology Research Institute.

Ian visited Viscount Grant’s family to celebrate Kemit’s birth and reflected on how the Silver Chip and his choices had shaped his possible futures. He embraced every version of himself and vowed to find a perfect path without losing.

• Viscount Grant introduced newborn Kemit to Ian and their companions, and Ian held the child and congratulated the family.
• Viscount Grant learned that Elan had awakened as a psychic and said he would register him later.
• Viscount Grant told Ian that the captured Dragon-Worshiping Cult members were being sent to Xiahui Territory, leaving their fate to him.
• Ian reflected on his simulated life, the Silver Chip’s power to strengthen a Soul Light Body, and the fragile choices that had separated his reality from that bleak future.
• Ian resolved to embrace all his possible futures and swore that he would not lose.

Ian studied Sheo’s dragon soul and discovered that Master Gravi was undergoing a dangerous transformation linked to a hidden plant-type artifact aboard the Siren. As Gravi slipped toward the artifact’s storage hold, Captain Alden learned that Magic Beast swarms and three Beast Kings were closing in on the ship.

• Ian and Adalbert learned that Sheo’s dragon soul could split and reunite without losing information, and Sheo agreed to help watch for spies and intimidate Magic Beasts.
• Ian’s Precognitive Vision revealed that Master Gravi was undergoing superlife erosion and that a concealed artifact in Storage Hold No. 17 was likely part of a Fifth Energy Level plant-type superlife.
• Ian saw Gravi turn invisible and head toward Storage Hold No. 17, intending to investigate the artifact himself.
• Alden watched the banquet guests with his Soul-Peering Eye, recognized the spies and Gravi’s evasive behavior, and suspected Ian had noticed him.
• Alden’s first mate reported that the Siren had been surrounded by approaching Magic Beast swarms and three aggressive Beast Kings.

Ian welcomed foreign merchants to Xiahui Territory, showed them the territory’s defenses and new farming methods, and negotiated several potential partnerships. Colonel Maris offered 200,000 Taler for faster research into Alchemical Coating Agents, and Ian promised results in two months.

• Ian greeted Viscount Dikas and the visiting merchants with a military escort and a banquet in Rosy Glow City.
• Ian introduced the visitors to Spellwine and the vertical hydroponic farm, explaining how it could increase crop production and protect supplies from sabotage and disaster.
• Domur agreed to begin cooperation and sent Scott to show his group the High-Energy Crop Culture Solution and other projects.
• Kaolin left to visit Sheo, while Bo Tai flew to Harrison Port to meet Hua An.
• Colonel Maris asked Ian to accelerate research on Alchemical Coating Agents and offered 200,000 Taler; Ian promised results in two months.

Ian learned from Hilliard’s notes about cultivating an Extreme Domain from the First Energy Level and the possibility of creating a new humanity, while reflecting on how Hilliard’s death and inheritance differed in the simulated timeline. The simulation showed Ian trapping Weges at Sighing Cliff and confronting him about his pursuit of Hilliard, where Weges called himself unworthy of being Hilliard’s enemy or former disciple.

• Ian studied Hilliard’s detailed notes on Extreme Domains and considered how humans might cultivate them from the First Energy Level to create a new form of humanity.
• Ian recalled that Hilliard had left a sealed Deep Abyss Iron box containing the Mountain-Shaking Dragon’s core and the Silver Chip for him to open at the peak of the Second Energy Level, unless pursuers found him first.
• In the simulated timeline, Ian relied on Elder Pude and Viscount Grant to gain resources and pursued a planned course of study in alchemy, inscriptions, and the Ascension Path.
• Weges arrived in Harrison Port to investigate Hilliard and Ian, and Ian used his ties to Viscount Grant to oppose him while they clashed openly and in secret.
• Ian trapped Weges among Thunderhunter Jellyfish and explosives at Sighing Cliff, then demanded to know whether Weges was Hilliard’s enemy or former disciple.
• Weges said he supposed he counted as Hilliard’s enemy, then admitted that he was unworthy.

Ian learned that his hydroponic agricultural tower had helped the Tree Sea Spirit expand its domain, and the spirit asked him to use his prophetic abilities to assess a major decision. The Tree Sea Spirit revealed its alien origins and gave Ian the Foresight Twin Leaves before affirming that it had become part of Terra.

• The Tree Sea Spirit thanked Ian because his hydroponic agricultural tower had allowed the Wilderness to spread into human cities and extend its domain.
• The Tree Sea Spirit explained that the Foresight Twin Leaves shared the collective's analytical data and enabled deductions rather than true prophecy, then asked Ian to help evaluate its decision to formally join the world.
• Ian recognized the Tree Sea Spirit as an alien collective intelligence and considered using the Foresight Twin Leaves to experiment on a data network for Artificial Souls.
• The Tree Sea Spirit gave Ian the Foresight Twin Leaves as recompense for expanding the Wilderness.
• The Tree Sea Spirit described how its people had once formed a vast collective across their former homeland before a Skyfall carried a single Spark to Terra, where it became the Tree Sea of the Southern Ridge.

Ian witnessed a retrospect of the Terra Dragon sacrificing itself to save remnants of civilization during the Calamity of Falling Skies, then used his Crystal Dragon avatar to help Andor secure a place at the Atlan Breeding Grounds. Back on the continent, Ian realized the dragon eggs might share one soul, and the main Crystal Dragon Egg began to hatch.

• Ian saw the Terra Dragon hold back falling colonial cities and shield Terra’s atmosphere during the Calamity of Falling Skies, though the civilization was still devastated and the dragon died carrying a city to safety.
• Ian concluded that the surviving city had become the Atlan Megacity Labyrinth and wondered where the Terra Dragon’s inheritance Spark had gone.
• Ian guided Andor through questions about the newly hatched Crystal Dragon, and Master Gose’s disciple ordered AAA-grade care for it and offered Andor a position at the breeding grounds.
• Andor chose to stay at Atlan, received a new designation and promised treatment for his alchemical toxin, and the young Crystal Dragon fell asleep.
• Ian returned from controlling the Crystal Dragon avatar and suspected the three eggs shared one dragon soul that was choosing pilots for its other bodies.
• The Crystal Dragon Egg before Ian began trembling as though it were about to hatch.

Ian watched Aina Sertal and Ga'er clash, then led his group away to search Dusk Sanctuary for treasure. An Origin Matter Chip fragment reacted nearby, and Ian found another chip embedded in a device that appeared connected to the sanctuary’s frozen timekeeping.

• Ian described the fierce battle between Aina Sertal and Ga'er and recognized their emerging Soul Light Bodies as expressions of their convictions.
• Ian told Anfa that the group would avoid joining either faction and seek treasure while the Empire and Royal Court remained evenly matched.
• Aina and Ga'er ended their clash after summoning their incomplete Soul Light Bodies, and Ian led his group toward a silver glow he had spotted in the ruins.
• Anfa’s Origin Matter Chip fragment began vibrating near the treasure, so Ian rushed into a half-collapsed building while Anfa, Isengard, and Sheo searched elsewhere.
• Ian discovered a still-operating hourglass frozen at 18:23, with another Origin Matter Chip set into its base.

Ian and his companions reached the World Tree Capital, where he discovered that the colossal World Tree was a vast mechanical structure powered by an artificial star. The city’s rulers welcomed visitors with public rewards and displays of wealth as the airship entered the capital.

• Ian taught Isengard the Meditation Method, while Isengard asked whether Ian planned to teach it to Anfa and Sheo.
• Ian saw the World Tree Capital beyond Nolgra Gorge and recognized its golden canopy as a Dyson cloud surrounding an artificial star, with cities built inside its metal trunk.
• Ian speculated that the World Tree Capital might have been designed as a generation ship, while Isengard, Anfa, and Sheo treated its grandeur as ordinary.
• Elves cheered and received payments for photographing the Silver Gate House airship and Anfa as the vessel approached the capital.
• Anfa welcomed Ian to Canaanmore as the airship entered the World Tree Capital.

Ian toured the densely populated, hive-like World Tree Capital and learned how the Ten King Bloods maintained its order and infrastructure. At Anfa’s family residence, he saw another of her artificial bodies and recognized a sealed relic as a damaged Fifth Energy Level computing chip modeled on the Star God’s Gift.

• Ian observed the World Tree Capital’s stacked city districts, flight routes, cultivation zones, cleaning Broods, and constant patrols as Anfa’s knights escorted him through the city.
• Anfa explained that the Ten King Bloods controlled information and that businesses and residents were closely tied to corporate groups, helping keep crime and unrest in check.
• Ian and his companions arrived at Emberlamp House’s heavily fortified residence, where Anfa’s stronger artificial body appeared and took over as their guide.
• Anfa led Ian to a sealed box from the Xenobiology Research Institute, and Ian used his psychic power to perceive the wonder inside before it was opened.
• Ian identified the relic as a damaged Fifth Energy Level Origin Matter computing chip created by Terra’s Pre-Epoch Civilization under the Pioneer, and wondered whether it was modeled on the Silver Chip and the Star God’s Gift.

Ian prepared to enter the Abyss in the central district disguised as Mahdi and wearing the Blood River Armament, while warning his friends that the mission could cost him his life. After Ian departed, Dark told Elge that Ian was an extraordinary being like her and suspected the Church of Light's Embrace had come to witness a miracle.

• Ian explained that Elge had perceived the unusual nature of his soul, then transformed into Mahdi and convinced Anfa and Isengard that his alternate form was completely real.
• Ian and his friends discussed using his extra spiritual computational ability to support a second combatant, and Ian decided to study summoning techniques for his Soul Light Body.
• Ian equipped the Dead River Armament, asked Isengard to protect Xiahui Territory if he died, and flew toward the Abyss in the central district.
• Dark returned to Elge and explained that Ian's soul and body had an impossible fusion, concluding that he was her kind and had gone farther than she had.
• Elge and Dark agreed to avoid Ian until they could apologize, while Dark speculated that the Church of Light's Embrace had come to witness the birth of a miracle.

Ian protected Anfa from a planned attack by Jegona’s group, defeating most of them before a Golden Candle Guard intervened and detained Simoco. Anfa explained that rival families had begun targeting her dragon soul, leaving her vulnerable ahead of the upcoming exploration.

• Ian recognized that Simoco carried a dangerous weapon intended for Anfa and stepped in when Jegona blocked their way.
• Ian blasted Jegona’s group with powerful steam and wind attacks, while Simoco remained standing and cut through Ian’s next strike.
• Simoco prepared to attack Anfa with a weapon designed to harm dragon souls, but a Golden Candle Guard arrived and suppressed the fighting.
• The Candlebearer detained Simoco for attempting to use a restricted weapon, fined Anfa and Jegona, and praised Ian for alerting her to the danger.
• Anfa teased Jegona after he left, then questioned Ian’s strength; Ian remarked on Canaanmore’s brutal rivalries.
• Anfa told Ian that she had been traveling in a weak prosthetic to protect her combat body before the exploration, but rival families had begun targeting her dragon soul.

Ian revealed to Isengard that he was both Inaga II’s direct heir and Hilliard Lexi’s heir, then examined secret Imperial research files. He discovered the brutal Divine Folk project and, while welcoming humanity’s continued efforts toward ascension, resolved to defeat its proponents as competitors.

• Ian confirmed Isengard’s suspicions and revealed that he was Inaga II’s direct heir and Hilliard Lexi’s heir.
• Isengard explained how Ian’s combat strength, alchemical certainty, and unusual talents had led him to suspect Ian’s inheritance, then promised to guard the secret.
• Ian reviewed confidential Imperial research documents and dismissed most of the projects as familiar or unremarkable.
• Ian found records of the Divine Folk project, which sought to engineer rare Magic Beast abilities into human bloodlines through cruel experiments and controlled reproduction.
• Ian laughed at humanity’s continued pursuit of ascension, acknowledged the project’s vile methods, and declared its researchers his competitors.