Chapter Summaries

Ian reached the Brood’s core and resisted Hive Mind’s attempt to invade and control him. He discovered that the hidden enemy was taking shape inside a gigantic cocoon, where a brain-like mass was growing.

• Ian broke through the Brood’s crystal-iron passages and entered its innermost chamber, where intense psionic attacks triggered hallucinations.
• Ian identified Hive Mind as the Brood’s hidden psionic enemy, capable of controlling bodies and copying its will into them.
• Hive Mind targeted Ian as a potential host, but Ian’s Silver Chip and sublimated Origin Matter Structures protected his mind and body from its control.
• Ian cleared the mist and found a five-meter white cocoon containing a writhing, brain-like mass.

Ian confronted Mo Ren, an envoy demanding that the Southern Ridge Dragon-Worshiping Cult stay neutral in the conflict, and drove him away after rejecting his demands. He then revealed to Elder Manyan that he knew the Silver Radiance Book’s method for advancing to the Third Energy Level, leaving Manyan stunned by Ian’s Ritual Seal and wondering whether Ian had Mountain Folk blood.

• Ian met Mo Ren, an envoy from the Blazing Flame Lands, who demanded that the Southern Ridge Dragon-Worshiping Cult remain neutral.
• Ian attacked Mo Ren and defeated his flame-blade assault with help from Azure Tide, then mocked him until Mo Ren fled.
• Ian told Elder Manyan that neutrality would not serve the Mountain Folk and urged him to focus on uniting his people.
• Manyan resolved to resist the Jiamu Tribe and began preparing for his risky advancement to the Third Energy Level.
• Ian stopped Manyan and revealed that he knew the Silver Radiance Book’s proper advancement method and had received its inheritance.
• Manyan recognized Ian’s priest’s mark and Radiant Haze Lake’s power, then wondered whether Ian had Mountain Folk blood.

Ian prepared to advance to the Third Energy Level by asking Adalbert to perform surgery that would remove his flesh heart and move his Origin Matter Furnace Core into its place. While reviewing Ian’s notes, Adalbert recognized the Silver Chip’s stable True Aether Network and realized Ian planned to use it to link his Fairy and Immovable Fortress inheritances, then discovered an Ancient Dragon Core inside him.

• Ian prepared his body for the Steel Pioneer inheritance and asked Adalbert to assist with the operation because his Origin Matter interfered with his instruments.
• Ian explained that he wanted his Origin Matter Furnace Core moved into his chest and his redundant flesh heart removed.
• Adalbert read Ian’s notes and identified the silver network carrying his Fairy inheritance as an exceptionally stable True Aether Network.
• Adalbert explained how True Aether could carry complete bloodline forms and realized Ian could use his network to link the Fairy and Immovable Fortress inheritances.
• Adalbert saw that Ian’s plan required a powerful intermediary and exclaimed that Ian had an Ancient Dragon Core inside his body.

Ian joined forces with Frozen Fish Mentor and the Spirit-Veneration Armament to defeat three Abyssal Lords and seize their souls before the Silver Sky Gate absorbed them. With the demons defeated, the path to the gate stood open, while Korizen and the Guardian watched Ian’s power and debated his past life.

• Ian and Isengard reasoned that Korizen intended to use the immortal essence of Chosen Psionics and demons to create a path through parallel universes, while the City of Knowledge’s shield trapped everyone inside the Heavenly Capital.
• Three Abyssal Lords emerged and charged toward the Silver Sky Gate, prompting Ian to seek the Fairies and combine with Frozen Fish Mentor through the Spirit-Veneration Armament.
• Ian used the enhanced Dark Gold Dragon to battle the three Abyssal Lords, smashing through their attacks and overwhelming them with brute force, magnetism, and dragon breath.
• Count Koma and other witnesses watched Ian suppress the Abyssal Lords as the Silver Sky Gate began to reveal a path into distant spacetime.
• Ian unleashed a simulated black hole that swallowed all three Abyssal Lords, then seized their souls before the Silver Sky Gate could absorb them.
• Korizen and the Guardian recognized Ian’s extraordinary power and discussed whether he had been brought near the Silver Sky Gate to reveal his past life; the way to the gate remained open.

After Ian’s convoy captured and analyzed an intelligent sniper phantom, Ian concluded that an experiment at Grand Duke Solin’s laboratory had gone out of control. Mikael ordered the team to continue toward Azure City to find living sublimators who could lead them to the laboratory’s core.

• Teres apologized to Ian for failing to spot the sniper phantom, and Ian told him to report the enemy’s intelligent ambush tactics as a merit.
• Hua An restrained the captured sniper phantom while Ian studied it, and Mo Feng judged the Phantom Army’s technology to rival some Fairy techniques.
• Ian reasoned that the Avak Region’s escaped aberrant beasts and phantoms showed that Grand Duke Solin’s laboratory had lost control of its experiments.
• Hua An and Mo Feng agreed that most phantoms lacked full self-awareness, while Mikael suspected Imperial Capital nobles were blocking him from collecting Inyaga’s legacies.
• Mikael ordered Ian and Teres to continue toward Azure City and find living sublimators who could help them enter the core area.
• Ian’s team resumed its advance as other groups also moved toward Grand Duke Solin’s laboratory.

Ian told the dead souls about his dream of transforming Terra into an ideal world, and they accepted him as their king before settling peacefully inside him. After discovering Frost Butterfly had received a gift from the dead souls, Ian reunited with the Fairies and prepared to leave the Avak Region with the rescue team.

• Ian rejected the idea that people should be ordinary and told the dead souls he wanted to transform the world and then travel far away.
• The dead souls accepted Ian’s wish, asked him to describe his ideal future, and grew more cohesive as they slept within him.
• Frost Butterfly showed Ian a diamond-shaped mark on her forehead, and the Silver Chip identified it as the Gift of the Dead Souls, which could awaken or strengthen psionic abilities.
• Ian learned that Frost Butterfly and Miles had received the gift, then promised to help Frost Butterfly test her new ability after they returned to the Imperial Capital.
• Hua An and Mo Feng reunited with Ian, thanked him for recovering Huan Lan’s soul, and told him that Teres had led his group safely away from the Avak Region.
• Reflected Light told Ian the rescue team was preparing to depart, and Ian chose to leave with them.

Ian uncovered the Star-Prison’s nature and learned that magnetic monopoles made at the Imperial Capital could open it, then left the Black Domain with Elan. Back in the Southern Ridge, he planned to tell Elan their family’s past and returned to a cheering welcome.

• Ian concluded that the Star-Prison was a pocket universe made of spacetime condensate and that magnetic monopoles could breach it.
• Ian decided to return for the remaining inheritance after reaching the Fifth Energy Level and completing his Dragon Heart Core.
• Andor began to feel hope for a future, and Ian promised to send him an Artificial Soul and told him to call for help if danger came.
• Ian told Elan he would reveal truths about their family after returning to the Southern Ridge, then left him to continue training.
• Ian returned to the Southern Ridge several days later as its people cheered for him.

Ian discussed ways to develop his bodies and weapon system with Light's Embrace, then learned of a possible Star Gods connection to Falling Star City. He decided to remain at the Holy Mountain for now and prepare to travel to the New Continent by borrowing Green Pupil's body.

• Light's Embrace advised Ian on guardian bodies, psionic research, and how to master True Dragon powers through the growth of a dragon bloodline.
• Ian realized Green Pupil's Aether Crystal Dragon body could let him study the powers of the Rust-Steel Dragon and Blazing Star-Hanging Dragon without dismantling the Rust-Steel Dragon body.
• Light's Embrace asked Ian to educate his people so that one day all people might help one another and end tragedies.
• Frozen Fish Mentor suspected that Falling Star City was a Skyfall relic connected to the Star Gods, and Ian recorded that he would investigate it later.
• Ian told Isengard that they would eventually return to the Imperial Capital, while he planned to travel to the New Continent using Green Pupil's body.
• Green Pupil agreed to lend Ian its body, and Ian was startled when Green Pupil called him Dad.

Azure Tide and five suits of Magnetic Storm Armor raided the Mountain Folk supply train, destroying its supplies and forcing Snake Rock to order an attack on Layan City. As the army advanced through the storm, Ian activated the Lightning Attractors and lightning began striking its ranks.

• Azure Tide led five suits of Magnetic Storm Armor in an ambush that routed the supply force and destroyed its provisions and equipment.
• Snake Rock learned of the raid, recognized that Ian was trying to force him into battle, and ordered his troops to march on Layan City.
• Snake Rock climbed into his fifth-generation Blazing Flame Lands ground-combat armor and advanced at the front of the army.
• Ian watched the Mountain Folk approach and declared that lightning would become Layan City's weapon.
• Lightning Attractors drew multiple bolts from the storm down onto the Mountain Folk army.

Ian revealed his identity as Mahdi’s avatar and fought Yulan, the Lord of the Great Abyss, and the Illusory Sun Void Mother on the New Continent. Fairy Ian then defeated the Void Mother, leaving Yulan and the Lord of the Great Abyss facing the Glazed Dragon and a demand to submit or die.

• Yulan identified the Glazed Dragon as Mahdi’s avatar, and Ian’s silence confirmed the guess; Yulan then fled while the Lord of the Great Abyss considered retreating.
• Ian used Dark Cloud Peak’s gravitational field to slow Yulan and the Lord of the Great Abyss, but the Illusory Sun Void Mother attacked and the other two joined the fight.
• Ian fought off their attacks with gravity, spacetime techniques, and Magnetic-Field Indestructibility, while Silverpeak Domain’s silver sun appeared as Terra’s Heart supported him.
• Fairy Ian appeared behind the Illusory Sun Void Mother and struck her heart-core, gravely wounding her and destroying her ascension organs.
• Yulan recognized Count Silverpeak as a newly advanced Fourth Energy Level expert and sounded an emergency alarm as the Glazed Dragon and Fairy Ian demanded that the survivors submit or die.

Sheo and Ethan entered the Ice Dragon's Nest and helped Ian resist the Echo by linking their Signal Bones to his, restoring the strength of his allies in the soul battle. The Echo summoned Yafda for support, but Yafda withdrew from the surface conflict to pursue Golan instead, leaving the Echo waiting in vain.

• The Ancient Dragon Echo sent Sheo and Ethan to the Ice Dragon's Nest after they chose to help Ian.
• Sheo identified the nest as Doran Bonasen's, and Ethan used his blood to connect their Signal Bones to Ian's and awaken his soul's power.
• Ian's revived Ultimate Dragon and Colossus Soldier began pushing back against the Echo's forces.
• Yafda told Carlos that Canaanmore would withdraw from the treasure struggle if the Empire stayed out of its internal affairs, and Carlos let him leave.
• A pillar of light erupted above World Tree Capital, alarming the Fourth Energy Level ascenders as Canaanmore's internal conflict broke out.
• The Echo called for Yafda, but Yafda searched for Golan instead and never arrived at the Ice Dragon's Nest.

Ian shared a meal with the red-haired Mountain Folk Sheo Dor, who revealed that he was searching for Anfa. When Ian denied knowing the Elf, Sheo confronted him with evidence that they had traveled together to Layan City.

• Ian and Sheo Dor cooked Pinecone Boar meat and shared it with Ian’s other dishes.
• Sheo praised Ian’s food, then earnestly asked whether Ian had seen a green-haired Elf wearing inscribed chains.
• Ian recognized Sheo as a dragon and realized he was looking for Anfa.
• Ian said he did not know the Elf, but Sheo accused him of traveling with Anfa from Golden Leaf Town to Layan City.

The White Chamber Caravan crossed the Great Rift District carrying Marsh Crocodile Dragon materials when Reef-Eating Sea Otters attacked, but Ian drove them off with his presence. Ian then accused a hunter in the caravan of being a Blazing Flame Lands spy who had led the sea otters to them.

• The White Chamber Caravan traveled through the Great Rift District, where Brin warned that Magic Beast attacks had destroyed a small caravan.
• At night, Reef-Eating Sea Otters approached the caravan, drawn by the Marsh Crocodile Dragon materials it carried.
• Ian faced the lead sea otter and made the colony kneel before ordering it to retreat.
• Brin and the guards realized Ian's presence had also kept other nearby Magic Beasts from attacking.
• Ian said someone had guided the sea otters to the caravan and accused a hunter among them of being a Blazing Flame Lands spy.

Ian defeated Baron Layan in battle, and the dying Baron reunited with the souls of his four children before accepting his death. Ian then confronted the mysterious man in black, whom he identified as the one who truly deserved punishment.

• Ian fought Baron Layan through the blizzard, and after his Frostglow Longsword broke, he used a transforming sword to sever the Baron's arm and slash his neck.
• As Baron Layan fell, the spirits of Alos, Ila, Mo Qiu, and Linda urged him to stop fighting and go with them; he confessed his guilt and died.
• Ian watched the Baron's body and the five fading soul-lights, then turned toward the darkness at the end of the valley.
• The mysterious man in black emerged, and Ian told him that he was the one who truly deserved to be torn limb from limb.

Ian planned to build a Second World in the Void Realm where Terra’s people could create homes, earn rewards, and pursue cultivation, helping bring order to the chaotic realm. As he discussed the plan with Adalbert, the Fairy Queen arrived aboard a gigantic Void Realm Mech-God and offered the Fairies’ support.

• Ian reflected on how the Light Realm’s legacy filled his Dragon Star Core to 100% and sharpened Guiding Star’s perception of the Great Aetheric Current.
• Fairy Ian and Adalbert discussed the risks of people abandoning reality for pleasures in a Void Realm Second World.
• Ian explained that Terra’s people would build their own Void Realm homes and earn points redeemable for tools, materials, and cultivation resources.
• Ian proposed a National Void Realm Martial Tournament to train participants and spread Fifth Energy Level bloodlines.
• The Fairy Queen arrived at Silverpeak Domain aboard a gigantic Void Realm Mech-God and promised that the Fairies would support Ian.

Sir Yam reported that Redwood Natives had abducted and killed many people for a massive Pure Sacrifice intended to awaken or strengthen the Mountain Lord. Viscount Grant ordered an attack on the native outlying tribes, with Imur funding the Alchemical Cannons and Elder Pude overseeing their maintenance; after the meeting, Grant called Pude aside.

• Sir Yam arrived at Viscount Grant’s estate and reported that more than 150 people had been taken for the Pure Sacrifice, with Anpu Village wiped out.
• Yam gave Grant a letter from cooperative native tribes, and they discussed the shamans gathering at Elephant Bone Mountain and the possibility that the Mountain Lord would advance.
• Grant ordered Yam to prepare the guard force and Alchemical Cannons for an assault on the native outlying tribes.
• Imur agreed to cover the cannon expenses, while Elder Pude promised to keep the weapons ready for the rainy-season attack.
• After the meeting ended and the attendees began leaving, Grant called Pude back.

Frost Butterfly and Hua An gathered the Hot Water Fairies for a grand banquet to discuss their role in the South Sea Grand Labyrinth. After Sha Sha accidentally burst the fairies’ giant jellyfish formation, Frost Butterfly began the discussion about having them guard the labyrinth and help deal with adventurers.

• Sha Sha arrived early at the cooling chamber, where Frost Butterfly and Hua An explained that fairies’ banquets rarely began on time.
• A group of Hot Water Fairies approached disguised as enormous jellyfish, and Sha Sha instinctively rammed into one.
• The jellyfish formation burst, scattering unharmed Hot Water Fairies across the chamber and covering Sha Sha.
• Hua An observed that the fairies could combine their strength to imitate forms and were ready to leave the labyrinth’s pipes.
• Frost Butterfly began the banquet, and the fairies celebrated as she telepathically introduced the topic of guarding the labyrinth and helping Sha Sha deal with adventurers.

Ian Silverpeak drew attention from the expedition’s elite, while Ga’er Ximor, Golan, and their allies discussed the rival powers gathering for the ruins. As the expedition prepared to enter the Xenobiology Research Institute, Ian saw the camp’s death omens repeatedly surge and vanish, leaving him uncertain whether another prophet was interfering or the future itself was unstable.

• Sotuolun Su Yue fled after encountering Ian Silverpeak and later told Ga’er Ximor that Ian’s killing intent felt like a natural disaster.
• Ga’er broke Sotuolun’s shoulder, then praised his ability to sense Ian’s heart stance and warned him against underestimating commoner geniuses.
• Golan State Domain joined Ga’er and Sotuolun, explained that Canaanmore’s expedition was divided by internal conflict, and discussed their difficult opponents.
• Ian complained about the expedition teams watching and testing his group, then learned that the teams would depart for the ruins the morning after the next day.
• While preparing Steel Pioneer late at night, Ian saw black clouds and scarlet lightning repeatedly cover the camp in Precognitive Vision before vanishing, and wondered whether another prophet was interfering or the future was uncertain.

Ian fought Baron Layan, whose Rockwood White Deer abilities let him turn his body into a cannon and share senses with the children in the cultivation chambers. Ian’s bomb disrupted Mo Qiu’s cultivation, halting the forming boy’s body and stirring a more real-sounding cry from the pale-blue wraith.

• Baron Layan formed a stone cannon and fired a supersonic shell at Ian, who used his Fairy Wings to evade it and fly toward him.
• Baron Layan tracked Ian through the shared senses of the three children and struck him out of the air.
• Ian realized Baron Layan’s family shared their vision and senses, then said they were even because Baron Layan had also been distracted by him.
• A white butterfly carried an alchemical bomb to a cultivation chamber and detonated it, knocking Mo Qiu unconscious and rolling his chamber over.
• Mo Qiu’s loss of consciousness halted the pale-blue wraith and the boy’s forming body, and the wraith cried out more audibly than before.

Ian welcomed Elan and inspected his Retrospective Vision before completing Spirit-Veneration, an Aether Armor designed to amplify his basic power through Terra's Heart. After learning that the City of Knowledge had summoned a major assembly amid warnings of disaster, Ian traveled with Hua An and Frozen Fish Mentor to Fairyland to report and seek answers about his powers.

• Bishop White Mist warned Ian that the City of Knowledge might be facing a disaster and asked him to prophesy when he arrived there.
• Ian reunited with Elan, agreed to let him study nearby, and examined his complex Retrospective Vision psionics.
• Ian and Adalbert completed Spirit-Veneration, an Aether Armor that could connect Ian to Terra's Heart and hold up to twelve computational cores.
• Hua An and Frozen Fish Mentor told Ian they had been selected to attend the City of Knowledge's Thousand Towers Assembly, which Ian suspected involved a dangerous scheme.
• Ian accepted Hua An and Frozen Fish Mentor's invitation to Fairyland, and the three entered the Void Realm to report the City of Knowledge's plans and pursue answers about his powers.