Chapter Summaries

Ian accepted Green Pupil’s wish to call him Father and offered them a chance to learn alongside his other young companions. He planned to prepare Green Pupil for a future role maintaining Pre-Epoch technology, while reflecting on how much the Silverpeak Domain’s young potential relied on his care.

• Green Pupil explained that they saw Ian as their father, Sha Sha as their foster mother, Andor as a kind uncle, Frost Butterfly as an older sister, and Elan as an older brother.
• Ian discovered that Andor had taught Green Pupil the phrase about offering their life and soul, and reassured them that they could keep calling him Father.
• Ian recognized that Green Pupil wanted to contribute and proposed that they learn about Pre-Epoch technology to help maintain the South Sea Grand Labyrinth’s orbital accelerator.
• Ian invited Green Pupil, Sha Sha, Frost Butterfly, and Elan to study together through Terra’s Heart in the Void Realm.
• Ian reflected on the Silverpeak Domain’s many promising young figures, checked on Green Pupil’s studies and well-being, and lamented that being a father was difficult.

Mahdi arrived at Guest Island in dragon form, deterred the gathered envoys, and secured a residence for himself and Isengard. After revealing his formidable potential as a Dragon King candidate, he registered “The Arcane Path” as his topic for the upcoming Psionic Development Conference.

• Mahdi descended on Guest Island as a True Dragon, and the wary envoys withdrew after Korizen reminded everyone that fighting was forbidden.
• Mahdi stored his dragon body in the Void Realm and traveled with Isengard to their residence, where Romani explained the conference and why Ian had not been invited.
• Skalai and Romani sensed Mahdi’s powerful Fifth Energy Level organ and recognized that he could become a Dragon King candidate.
• Mahdi asked to present research at the conference and registered his topic as “The Arcane Path.”

Ian explored Farshore Island and learned how its people survived through government-run industry and dangerous mining beneath a supervolcano. He discovered that residents drank a potion to enter phantom dreams, which helped keep the island’s silent residential districts stable.

• Ian recalled a vision of a past life in which he had become a disciple of Gride and inherited Farshore Island’s Crown of the Azure Star.
• Azure Star returned to Farshore Island carrying the Terra Seed, while Ian circled around and approached a civilian port on the island’s other side.
• Ian observed Farshore Island’s erupting supervolcano, hazardous mining conditions, adapted inhabitants, and government-controlled economy.
• Ian saw that ordinary residents had adequate food, housing, medical care, and education despite the island’s extreme environment.
• Ian noticed the harbor’s residential areas were silent, then watched a resident drink a potion and enter a dream, identifying it as a phantom dream.

Ian planned to unveil the Arcane Path at the Psionic Development Exchange Conference, believing it could transform Terra despite the wars and human experimentation its spread might bring. After registering Mahdi’s presentation and reviewing rival research, Ian set out with Ethan to explore the City of Knowledge for ideas to help build a floating city.

• Ian reasoned that Terra’s nations could supply the bloodline diagrams and sublimation organ models needed to complete the Arcane Path, while its computational methods would keep his version ahead of theirs.
• Mahdi registered the Arcane Path for presentation in three days, and Romani approved the entry while Skalai wondered about Mahdi’s unusual nature and the sunlike presence of Ian.
• Researchers across Terra reacted to Mahdi’s presentation listing with suspicion and excitement, while Ian studied the other conference topics and judged his system more complete than their results.
• Ian concluded that Chief Grand Scholar Korizen was likely preparing another major development and looked forward to the City of Knowledge and Machina Church presentations.
• Ian asked Ethan to accompany him around the City of Knowledge so he could borrow ideas for the Empire’s floating-city project, and Ethan agreed.

Ian and Adalbert expanded Terra's Heart with data copied from the Azure Star, transforming its barren Void Realm into a vivid world for the dead. As the upgrade continued, they discovered that the data also included powerful enemies tied to Ian's other Paths.

• Adalbert reported his research into Order Detection, defensive cultivation methods, and a Psionic Knowledge Chip, then Ian and he discovered Korizen's soul fragment had been posing as a database.
• Ian showed Adalbert the Azure Star data he had brought back from Farshore Island, and they began transferring its virtual-world information into Terra's Heart.
• Terra's Heart gained flowing air, rain, forests, and richer forms for its souls as Ian used the Spirit-Veneration Armament and computing units to support the upgrade.
• Adalbert noticed that the imported data included Swarm creatures and psionic robots, and Ian realized it also contained threats from the Swarm, Spirit Calamity, and Star Extinction Paths.

Ian monitored the Farshore Island fleet and learned that its people were preparing to migrate to the New Continent, while Cangxing Gelide’s arrival exposed his hidden surveillance. He then saw an illusion in which the dying Cangxing crowned him Lord of Farshore and entrusted him with her people’s future.

• Ian used scales hidden on the fleet’s ships to listen to its soldiers and officers, learning about Farshore Island’s mass migration, its growing geological crisis, and the Arcane Path.
• The officers discussed Farshore Island’s wish to recruit Ian as a leader and its plan to develop the New Continent, while Ian considered the Sea Demon Worms and Whale Song Cliff’s refusal to cooperate.
• Ian followed the fleet toward Farshore Island, but Cangxing Gelide appeared to welcome its returning soldiers and detected the scales he had planted.
• Cangxing searched for the Crystal Dragon but failed to find Ian, who had disguised himself as an Ironclad Shark and fled.
• Ian fell into an illusion where a dying Cangxing crowned him Lord of Farshore and urged him to guide the nation toward a real, beautiful world.

Ian and Mikael prepared for Mikael to advance to the Fifth Energy Level as Silverpeak Domain moved toward rebellion against the Sertal Royal Family. Mikael revealed that he intended to stop his father and save him from the mind-altering experiment that had reshaped the royal family, and three days passed as preparations began.

• Ian added the Giant of Light experiment to the to-do list and told Adalbert to prepare equipment for Mikael's advancement, but Mikael arrived in Silverpeak Domain nine seconds later.
• Adalbert learned that Mikael had obtained another Blood of the Apex Seat and realized that Ian and Mikael intended to rebel against the Sertal Royal Family and make the Southern Ridge independent.
• Ian explained that Mikael's advancement could help him understand how to reach the Fifth Energy Level, while Adalbert went to prepare Silverpeak Domain's Terra's Heart Central Nexus.
• Mikael told Ian that his Blood of the Apex Seat came from an ancient True Dragon and appeared when he needed it.
• Mikael revealed that Axel had altered himself and his children as test subjects in a plan to reshape the minds of all Terra's people, and said he wanted to save his father.
• Ian accepted Mikael's resolve and urged him to become the master of his own destiny; three days passed.

Ian transformed into an Aether Crystal Dragon, rapidly advanced it to the Second Energy Level, and prepared to test its power amid an assault on Atlan Megacity. After sending Andor to safety, Ian burst through the city’s dome in a spectacular display that drew the attention of both sides of the battle.

• Ian used lightning-element Magic Beasts’ Origin Matter Structures to shape his Crystal Dragon body into a form specialized for electromagnetism.
• Andor brought Ian Element Crystals and reported that attackers had surrounded Atlan Megacity, while Ian built a Biological Alchemy Furnace inside himself.
• Ian advanced the Glazed Dragon to the Second Energy Level in a hundred breaths, absorbing metals and forming sword wings from blades.
• Ian told Andor to take Green Pupil’s other body and leave for Silverpeak Domain, then learned that Andor had prepared an escape map and written an adventure novel about him.
• Ian gathered power and blasted through the Atlan Megacity dome, sending an azure beam through the storm clouds as both sides of the battle watched.

Ian assessed the power of his fused Steel Pioneer and questioned Korizen about Axel’s plans for Isengard and the Thousand-Stars Beast. As Terra’s forces converged to capture him, Ian chose to break out toward the Light’s Embrace Sacred Mountain.

• Ian realized that his Soul Light Body and fused systems had brought the Steel Pioneer to the threshold of its fourth stage, and he considered how to perfect it further.
• Korizen explained that Axel had cooperated with him on floating-city, network, and psychic research, and that Isengard’s bloodline made him relevant to the Thousand-Stars Beast.
• The City of Knowledge’s lockdown ended, and armies from across Terra rushed toward the city while the demon swarm remained suppressed.
• Ian learned that Blazing Flame Lands and Farshore Island forces were closing in, while more than fifteen Fourth Energy Level powerhouses and their troops formed a line to capture him.
• After ruling out routes blocked by rival powers and the battle above, Ian chose to escape northeast toward the Light’s Embrace Sacred Mountain.

Ian learned from the Terra Dragon that the Perpetual Motion Machine would consult the dead and living native intelligent beings, making attempts to manipulate its vote futile. After defeating the Farshore Island fleet at Atlan Megacity, Ian stole valuable materials and secretly followed the retreating fleet toward the open sea.

• The Terra Dragon explained that the Perpetual Motion Machine would count the wills of dead and living intelligent natives, and would investigate attempts to rig its decision.
• Ian concluded that the machine’s rules could force Terra’s powers to treat ordinary people better, and considered using the Artificial Underworld to win the dead’s support.
• The Terra Dragon ended its counsel, and Ian resolved to pursue the other authorities before seeking humanity’s consent.
• Ian used the collapsing dragon illusion’s energy to rain lightning on the Farshore Island fleet while Count Tesov’s defenders counterattacked.
• Dark Vortex ordered the fleet to retreat after its objective was accomplished, and Count Tesov learned that his materials warehouse had been looted.
• Ian slipped into the deep sea and followed the retreating Farshore Island fleet, aiming to find the authority connected to the New Continent.

Mikael confronted doubts about whether his compassionate nature was truly his own, then reached immortality by embracing his wish to help people understand their true hearts. He headed for the Imperial Capital to confront his father, while Ian prepared to support him and learn Axel's true purpose.

• Mikael recalled how witnessing ordinary people’s suffering led him to challenge corrupt officials, gangs, and Viscount Hank, but he later realized he could not solve society’s hardships alone.
• Mikael questioned whether Father had shaped his compassion through brainwashing and feared that rulers could repeatedly impose their own ideals on humanity.
• As Mikael neared immortality in the Steel Dragon Nest, he chose to let his power endure even if his individual self vanished, so it could help others who shared his wish to end suffering.
• Mikael understood that his true nature was his wish to let everyone know their own hearts, and he ascended to the Fifth Energy Level.
• Mikael told Ian he would fulfill his mission, and Ian urged him to hold off Father and discover Axel's true purpose.
• Mikael flew toward the Imperial Capital and resolved to kill his father.

Adalbert used Terra's Heart and the Sanctuary Array to protect Rosy Glow City from an Imperial airship deliberately sent crashing into it, ultimately summoning a Giant of Light that hurled the wreckage away. Ian captured the demon Heartbane and turned to pursue the culprits, while the wider Southern Ridge remained engulfed in war.

• Ian realized the Blazing Flame Lands had arranged for an airship to crash into Rosy Glow City and trusted Adalbert to defend the city.
• Adalbert linked the city's sanctuary towers through Terra's Heart, and the Sanctuary Array blocked the first two major pieces of airship wreckage.
• When the remaining wreckage threatened to overwhelm the shield, Adalbert and the departed souls joined their power and formed a Giant of Light that pushed the debris beyond The Mountain.
• Rosy Glow City's residents and visiting delegations celebrated their survival, while Ian praised Adalbert and vowed to catch the culprits.
• Heartbane discovered that Shadowmeld had been brainwashed and captured by Ian through Terra's Heart.
• The visiting nobles began calling Rosy Glow City the Immortal City, even as the Southern Ridge remained devastated by fighting.

Governor Yulan, the Illusory Sun Void Mother, and the Great Abyss Beast King activated the Heavenly Ladder System, reshaping the Crystal Plains into the exposed core of an ancient world-remodeling megastructure. At Dark Cloud Peak, Ian mastered the gravitational organ, discovered the principles of the Aether True Form, and turned the Dark Cloud Mountains into a floating continent bound for the New Continent’s center.

• Yulan and the Illusory Sun Void Mother learned that their reinforcements had been delayed, while the Great Abyss Beast King revealed that he had invited an ally.
• Silver Salt Iron Pot arrived in Falling Star System Armament, said she had come to travel, and took photographs across the Crystal Plains.
• Yulan, the Illusory Sun Void Mother, and the Great Abyss Beast King brought out red authority fragments, which activated the Heavenly Ladder Ecological Reshaping System.
• The Heavenly Ladder System joined Void Realm mountain ranges and crystal forests with the Crystal Plains, revealing the core of its ecological reshaping system.
• Ian transformed Dark Cloud Peak and moved the Dark Cloud Mountains toward the center of the New Continent as he understood the Aether True Form and began constructing his own.

The Twin Popes invited Ian to learn the truth of Light's Embrace, explaining that they wanted to reward him for averting a demonic catastrophe rather than take his Arcane Path. Ian accepted their invitation and discovered that Light's Embrace was a vast collective lifeform beneath the Holy Mountain.

• Ian interpreted Light's Embrace's wish to become human as a desire to help people transcend their bestial instincts, then warned the Twin Popes that he intended to rule Terra and would not surrender his power.
• The Twin Popes assured Ian they did not want him to join Light's Embrace or take his Arcane Path, and said they had invited him to reward him for preventing a future demonic catastrophe.
• Ian accepted the Twin Popes' invitation to witness the truth of Light's Embrace.
• A vast golden radiance gathered across the Holy Land and sank into the Holy Mountain, startling Isengard, Frozen Fish Mentor, and the Pathbuilder's remnant soul.
• Ian saw that Light's Embrace was a supermaterial collective lifeform spanning the mountain, composed of countless revived individuals.

Ian traveled with Hua An and Frozen Fish to Paradise Township, where the fairies reported his warning about the Church of Light's Embrace and examined his abilities. Gan Song Mentor explained the Cycle of Finality as a form of endless reincarnation, then revealed that the Silver Sky Gate might be connected to it.

• Ian and the fairies discussed the Empire's changing Void Realm and wondered whether Axel was using its new network to gather power.
• Ian, Hua An, and Frozen Fish arrived in Paradise Township, where Gan Song Mentor welcomed them and explained why the other senior fairies were away investigating a North Sea crisis.
• Gan Song Mentor reported Ian's warning about the Church of Light's Embrace to Falling Star City while the fairies there brawled over the mission.
• Ian asked Gan Song Mentor to inspect Chongling and explain the Cycle of Finality, then demonstrated that he possessed all four great psionics.
• Gan Song Mentor described the Cycle of Finality as the ability to preserve memories and reincarnate without end, and said the Silver Sky Gate might let powerful psionics users see their past and future lives.

Ian brought his three bodies into resonance and completed his Aether True Form, the Pioneer Platform, while resolving what the Guiding Star meant to him and reaffirming his goal of reaching Above the High Heavens. The Light Calamity intensified as the conflict between Mikael and Axel drew the world’s attention.

• Ian and Isengard discussed provoking the underpowered Thousand-Stars Beast into an early awakening so it could be suppressed before the Light Calamity, and Ian predicted Axel would begin brainwashing people within two days.
• Ian realized the Guiding Star held portions of failed Ians’ immortality and hopes, while those Ians had entrusted much of themselves to people and successors in their own worlds.
• As the Light Calamity grew stronger, Ian and his other bodies looked toward the Imperial Capital and reaffirmed their desire to go Above the High Heavens.
• Ian linked his Fairy Body, Glazed Imperial Dragon, and main body through the Guiding Star, forming a Metatron Cube from their combined powers.
• Ian completed his Aether True Form, the Pioneer Platform, built upon the Guiding Star and the accumulated efforts and sacrifices of countless Ians.

Ian used his victory over the Illusory Sun Kingdom to expand his influence on the New Continent, strengthen his allies, and prepare for future growth. By the end of February 776, his followers had found a huge Floating Mountain, and Anfa arrived with aid from Canaanmore.

• Ian told Crackle that the Illusory Sun Kingdom was unlikely to retaliate while the beast kingdoms focused on the Crystal Holy Land, and he prepared to eliminate the Illusory Sun Void Mother if necessary.
• Ian developed the Dragon-Worshiping Cult by recruiting Magic Beasts, seeking Floating Mountains for a base, and arranging farming and cultivation under the leafcutter ants.
• Sha Sha arrived with high-yield crop seeds, and Ian supplied it with rare ores to help strengthen its metal-based body and develop its battle aura.
• Ian and Sheo proposed using the Glimmer Cradle's purification to improve people's compatibility with the Arcane Path, and Ian opened the Dragon God's Ritual Flame baptism to exceptional candidates.
• Isengard speculated that the Empire might possess a Glimmer Cradle, and Ian discussed battle aura with him.
• By the end of February 776, the Dragon-Worshiping Cult found a super-giant Floating Mountain, and Anfa arrived from Canaanmore with a large batch of aid.

Ian used the Heavenly Ladder Tree’s energy to strengthen his Glazed Dragon form and defend the New Continent against Azure Star’s attack and Savaga’s Desolation Plague. With Golitnil’s intervention, he survived the Fifth Energy Level threats and prepared to lead the continent into a new era.

• Ian bathed in the Heavenly Ladder Tree’s aether, awakening greater control over gravity through the Glazed Dragon’s stardust.
• Ian deflected Azure Star’s Void Exile, sending it into the sea and creating a vast depression, tsunami, and rainstorm.
• Ian launched mountains into Savaga’s Desolation Plague clouds and cast the resulting black sand into the Subspace Network.
• Ian called for Ancestor Golitnil, who used Terra’s magnetic field to destroy the remaining plague clouds.
• Golitnil told Ian that he awaited the day the new Pioneer gathered in full, while Ian recognized that he had proved capable of enduring a Fifth Energy Level attack.

Ian explained to Marquis Grant that he planned to let Kemit choose aspects of a wiser personality rather than forcibly change him, and Grant recognized the promise and danger of the idea. Ian left him to consider how much gradual self-modification he could accept.

• Marquis Grant explained why noble families valued modifying their children and welcomed Ian's experiments as a chance for Kemit to surpass him.
• Ian clarified that he wanted to help Kemit become better while leaving the choice of what kind of person he became to Kemit.
• Ian described a model of wisdom based on self-discipline, honesty, perseverance, and clear communication, which people could choose to adopt.
• Marquis Grant realized that Ian's method might divide society between those who chose wisdom and those who did not, and he asked whether Kemit would still be his child.
• Ian asked Marquis Grant whether he would accept gradual personality changes through implanted seeds, guided tasks, or reminders rather than direct implantation.

Ian found Null Element in the migrating Ironcloud Mountains and used it to access the Sky-Fall Starship’s vast subspace storage network, where he uncovered the New Continent’s spiritual veins and located the Thunder Sea. He gathered Null Element to build his gravity organ, then entered hibernation as the Dragon-Worshiping Cult paused its expansion, leaving events to advance to early April of Terra Year 776.

• Ian reached the Ironcloud Mountains, drilled into a peak, and found the Null Element vein.
• When Ian touched the Null Element, Star God's Gift connected him to the Sky-Fall Starship Storage Area.
• Ian traced the subspace network to the sleeping Fourth Energy Level behemoths and located the migrating Thunder Sea.
• Ian realized that the Ironcloud Mountains and Thunder Sea were parts of a transformation program for the New Continent and Terra, and that he held Star God authority connected to the Heavenly Ladder.
• Ian gathered Null Element to construct his gravity organ, entered a cocooned slumber, and ordered the Dragon-Worshiping Cult to halt its expansion.
• The Beast Kingdoms and Dawn Harbor welcomed the Dragon-Worshiping Cult's pause as time advanced to early April of Terra Year 776.