Chapter Summaries

After returning from the expedition, Ian was celebrated for his commands and prophecies, then met with the Mirror Sea Guard, who privately knelt and offered their services. He contacted Adalbert to request his preserved heart and body backups, and instructed him to retrieve a Spark from the Steel Dragon Nest and place it in the Void Realm.

• Officials and Ascendants praised Ian for helping the expedition survive the Maze Lord and for his prophecies, while Ethan noted Ian’s new influence.
• Master Gose scolded Ethan, Sheo, and Anfa before their families and elders summoned them away, leaving Ian alone at camp.
• Ian reflected on Terra’s rapid ecological recovery and abundance of Ascended materials before the Mirror Sea Guard arrived.
• Midley Iza and three Mirror Sea Guards knelt before Ian, explained they had come only to satisfy appearances, and provided him with an international communicator.
• Ian called Adalbert, confirmed that his heart and body backups were preserved, and asked him to send them through the Platinum-Iridium Workshop’s channels.
• Ian instructed Adalbert to enter the Void Realm, retrieve the Spark from the Steel Dragon Nest, and place it in the Void Realm so Ian could take it.

Ian experienced the Redwood High Elder’s memories and learned how the elder grew furious at the Council for refusing to let the Redwood People return to the surface. The memories ended with the elder discovering his mother had died, leaving Ian to confront the feelings behind the Hive Mind’s psychic attack.

• Ian rejected the memories attacking his mind and recognized them as fragments from the Redwood High Elder’s past.
• The High Elder watched the underground production lines and recalled that the Council had rejected his proposal to open the relic gates for the fifteenth time.
• The High Elder concluded that the outside storms had subsided and that the Council opposed exploration to preserve its power.
• The High Elder returned home and found his mother dead beside a screen playing a documentary about the Pre-Epoch Civilization.
• The High Elder held his mother’s hand as the documentary continued showing the world beyond Redwood Base.

Magnetic Light recalled how a Highness had recruited him into a grand undertaking, then realized Ian’s party had lured him into a Worrystone trap. After his attack on the empty camp failed, a dangerous unfamiliar voice sounded from above.

• Magnetic Light remembered meeting Night Snake and a Highness, whose vision persuaded him to pledge his strength to their cause.
• Magnetic Light reflected that Night Snake’s death had damaged the organization’s plans and the Spirit Cognition Institute’s Southern Ridge branch.
• Purple Maple Knight noticed the stone forest had no remaining life aura, and Magnetic Light realized the Guide Knight had disappeared.
• Magnetic Light found Worrystone ore scattered around the forest and understood that it had trapped him in memories while his target escaped.
• Magnetic Light launched a storm of electrified iron sand at the campfire, but the attack hit no one.
• An unfamiliar, dangerous voice came from the sky above Magnetic Light and Purple Maple Knight.

Ian fought Weges while the Soma Wine Tree fruit drove him into a deathlike state that sharpened his prophetic intuition and swordsmanship. He pierced Weges’s chest with the Edgeless Greatsword as thunder descended, then collapsed into darkness himself.

• Ian’s thoughts and body were overwhelmed by the Soma Wine Tree fruit, and Weges realized that the boy’s condition had become dangerous.
• Ian’s psychic ability intensified, letting him fight by following prophetic omens as he pressed Weges with increasingly powerful sword strikes.
• Weges’s injuries, fading medicine, and failing strength left him unable to keep up with Ian’s attacks.
• Weges reflected on his mentor and accepted Ian as a worthy successor while the radiance gathered overhead.
• Ian threw the Edgeless Greatsword through Weges’s broken defenses, and Weges died as thunder descended.
• Ian watched Weges fall, then closed his eyes and collapsed into darkness.

Ian explored the depths of his mind beyond bodily instinct and learned how fairy souls differed from human souls, including how fairies could forge their own bodies. He found an anchor in the Extreme Domain and entered the fairy world, where Hua An welcomed him to the true Fairyland.

• Ian descended past the instinctive foundations of his mind, choosing to pursue the unknown despite the risk of losing his connection to his body.
• Ian realized that fairy souls were connected through the Sea of Nature Psionics and that a Third Energy Level fairy could forge a body through soul materialization.
• Ian asked Hua An what Third Energy Level fairies forged, and she explained soul materialization and told him he could become a true fairy through his own power.
• Ian found an anchor beyond his body in the Extreme Domain and the world of fairies.
• Hua An welcomed Ian to the true Fairyland.

Ian hunted a powerful Reef-Eating Sea Otter to obtain a key ingredient for the Sand Armor Apprentice Magic Potion. He struck when the leader was weakened after mating, and his attack sent its scream ringing across the coast.

• Hilliard warned Ian that his rapidly growing psychic power could drive him mad and urged him to drink the Magic Potion soon.
• Ian learned that he still needed pure water and a Magic Beast material before the potion could be made.
• After observing the Reef-Eating Sea Otters for a week, Ian identified the leader's mating routine and planned to attack when it was spent.
• Ian spotted the leader's temporary weakness after it mated with several females and rushed across the reefs toward it.
• Ian dodged attacks from the other Magic Beast sea otters and swung his blade at the leader, which let out a piercing scream.

Ian examined Miles after the young swordsman accidentally fused Life Psionics with Life Origin Matter and discovered that the resulting battle aura could become a powerful new branch of the Arcane Path. He ordered further research into controlled battle aura and related powers, then declared an annual Ice Cream Carnival for Rosy Glow City.

• Ian and Adalbert arrived at the training camp, where Azure Tide showed them the shattered remains of a test pillar that Miles had destroyed.
• Miles explained that he had combined his psionics, Life Psionics, and Origin Matter to strengthen his punch, nearly dying before Loren healed him with Holy Light.
• Ian examined Miles and confirmed that the power he had produced was battle aura, a dangerous, degraded form of Aether created by fusing Life Psionics with Life Origin Matter.
• Ian concluded that careful training and healing might let practitioners develop battle aura safely, and he considered researching other combinations of psionics and Origin Matter as magic power.
• Ian called Miles a child of destiny, ordered Azure Tide to care for Miles and Loren, and established an annual Ice Cream Carnival for the city.

Ian explained that he wanted to build a powerful, orderly territory in the Southern Ridge, then began reforming Layan Territory by replacing its tax officials and recruiting for new civic and military departments. The former tax officials debated how to respond, with an experienced official urging them to take the new examinations or seek other government posts.

• Ian told Azure Tide, Scott, and Adalbert that he wanted to expand his territory, establish his own order, and prepare for future dangers beyond the concerns of ordinary people.
• Ian announced that he would teach the three lessons in economics, politics, sociology, and other subjects so they could help carry out his plans.
• Layan Castle issued orders dismissing all existing tax officials, recruiting new officials through examinations, hiring military education officers, establishing an agricultural department, and scheduling a territory-wide census.
• Former Layan City tax officials gathered at Old Yuge's tavern and worried that Ian had dismissed them after their families had spent years securing their positions.
• An experienced former tax official told the others that they could take the examinations to return to government service or apply for teaching posts.

Ian deduced that an inside man had told the Spirit Cognition Institute and a mysterious Imperial Capital faction about the Dragon-Worshiping Cult’s key item, and that the cult now needed to uncover its infiltrators. After waking, he apologized to the cult members for mistaking Sheo for his attacker, and Elder Manyan began explaining that Ian’s unusual abilities came from awakened dragon blood.

• Ian concluded that an infiltrator on Marquis Barton's side had revealed the key item to the Spirit Cognition Institute and a mysterious Imperial Capital faction, whose plan had failed after Anfa joined Sheo's group.
• Ian reasoned that Marquis Barton and the Dragon-Worshiping Cult would now focus on finding the inside men, and he noted that he might identify the shadow attacker by her Origin Matter characteristics.
• Sheo, the Elf scholar, and Elder Manyan heard Ian awaken and approached the ritual chamber, where Manyan reminded them to reveal the truth about Ian's dragon blood gradually.
• Ian opened the door, apologized for suspecting Sheo, and told the group that someone else had attacked him.
• Elder Manyan introduced himself and explained that Ian's exceptional talent on the Ascension Path likely came from his awakened dragon blood.

Ian established the Glazed Imperial Court’s bond with the Magic Beasts, using Terra’s Heart to offer them purification through Dragon God’s Ritual Flame and drawing many into the Dragon-Worshiping Cult. The gathering ended with a supernova lighting the sky, which Ian recognized as the omen of the Light Calamity.

• Ian reflected on the destruction of alien civilizations and resolved to keep moving forward in search of a path for humanity.
• The Magic Beast representatives signed contracts granting them Terra’s Heart’s benefits in exchange for their souls after death.
• Terra’s Heart purified Lord of the Great Abyss’s Origin Matter Structures, revealing the healing power of Dragon God’s Ritual Flame.
• The Glazed Imperial Dragon offered purification to qualified members of the Dragon-Worshiping Cult, prompting many Third Energy Level Magic Beasts to join.
• A silver star blazed across the sky, and Ian identified its light as a supernova explosion and the omen of the Light Calamity.

Hilliard taught Ian the Breath Guidance Technique and explained why his body needed conditioning before he could safely pursue the powerful Sand Armor Apprentice inheritance. Ian struggled to match Hilliard’s breathing but kept practicing, eventually calming into the rhythm and falling asleep.

• Hilliard told Ian he could reveal that he was a psychic whenever he chose and promised to intervene if a threat was beyond Ian’s ability to handle.
• Hilliard guided Ian through the Breath Guidance Technique, teaching him to use his breathing and heartbeat to gather Origin Matter.
• Ian activated Precognitive Vision and observed the golden currents and patterns within Hilliard as he tried to imitate the knight’s breathing.
• Ian’s breath faltered and he coughed, so Hilliard reassured him that his body simply could not yet keep pace with his thoughts.
• Hilliard warned Ian that the Sand Armor Apprentice inheritance required exceptional fitness and said he would begin physical training with him the next day.
• Ian tried the technique again at a slower pace and eventually fell asleep as his breathing settled.

Ian learned from Sha Sha that a dangerous new Magic Beast was likely fighting the natives’ totem spirits near Odell Reef, and suspected the Ellen Family had come to claim it. Meanwhile, the pirates reported their ship had been rammed by an Ironclad Shark and a Giant Clam, leaving Patrick baffled.

• Captain Andor Linye directed repairs to the Living Wood Ship after an Ironclad Shark and a Giant Clam rammed it, then reported the damage to Patrick.
• Ian praised Sha Sha for helping him track the pirates and copy inscriptions, and promised to take the shark shore-scouring another time.
• Ian interpreted Sha Sha’s warning about danger in the South Sea and guessed that a new Magic Beast was battling the natives’ totem spirits near Odell Reef.
• Ian suspected the Ellen Family’s Element Crystal Clam mission was a cover for hunting the rare Magic Beast, thanked Sha Sha, and arranged a way for them to find each other again.
• Patrick read Andor Linye’s report and struggled to understand how an Ironclad Shark and a Giant Clam could have attacked the pirates’ ship.

Ian learned that the Inspecting Knights Order was preparing to investigate the disaster in the Avak Region, where psionic experiments had left nearly a million people unreachable. After giving Teres potions that changed the knight’s apparent fate, Ian warned that more might be needed to keep him alive.

• Ian visited the Inspecting Knights Order’s garrison and learned from Teres that the Order had kept him uninformed so he could focus on his experiments.
• Teres explained that thefts of books about psionic power had led investigators to an unregistered Spirit Cognition Institute laboratory in the Avak Region, which had gone silent after a catastrophic experiment.
• Teres said the Order suspected Grand Duke Solin and the Blazing Flame Lands were plotting a dangerous psionic ritual, and his squad had been sent to investigate the region.
• Ian gave Teres an enhanced Enchanted Weapon Potion and a focus potion, both designed to work against psionic power and curses.
• Ian saw that the potions had changed Teres’s sign of certain death into mortal danger and told him he might need several more bottles to survive the mission.

Ian fought Viscount Avak and destroyed the Dead River Armament’s monstrous form, while Adalbert confronted Grand Duke Solin over his manipulation of the plan. Solin recognized Ian’s earth-element Origin Matter and identified him as the Immovable Fortress.

• Adalbert explained that he had freed the dead souls during Avak’s experiment, becoming an Undead Monarch and preventing Avak from transforming.
• Ian charged Avak while Adalbert led the liberated phantoms against the blood-red legion, and Ian defeated Avak’s elite knights before piercing him with his sword.
• Avak unleashed the Dead River Armament’s Soul Light Body, using the souls of his subjects as fuel and shields, but Ian attacked regardless and struck him with the Ship-Cleaving Greatblade.
• Avak resurrected again, but a familiar voice stopped him, and Rafine Avak’s soul was annihilated as the Dead River Armament shrank.
• Grand Duke Solin revealed that he had intended Adalbert to become a Savior by destroying the laboratory and concealing its secrets, then accused Adalbert’s naivety of causing more deaths.
• Solin examined Ian’s earth-element Origin Matter, recoiled, and recognized him as the Immovable Fortress.

Ian developed the Arcane Path with Elan, explaining its three tiers and guiding him toward the next stage of cultivation. After learning that a Blazing Flame Lands spy ship had been tracking the Labyrinth, Ian arranged to have it expelled and began to suspect that his Retrospective Vision was a second psionic ability.

• Ian discovered traces of the Source of Dragonblood's curse deep in his heart and removed them.
• Ian praised Elan for mastering control of his Aether Crystal Dragon body and explained how to cultivate the Arcane Path's Soul Illumination tier.
• Ian outlined the Arcane Path's three tiers: Soul Illumination, Body Forging, and Inheritance, and reassured Elan that he would test dangerous experiments on himself first.
• Ian learned from Elan that a Blazing Flame Lands spy ship had been approaching the Labyrinth for two weeks and planned to have Scott or Adalbert alert Viscount Grant.
• Ian realized that Elan's Retrospective Vision could complement his own precognitive abilities and wondered whether his own Retrospective Vision was a second psionic ability.
• Ian considered the terrifying possibility that, in another parallel spacetime, he had eaten Elan.

Ian Silverpeak gained the Light Realm’s power and transformed his Aether True Form into the Prophet’s Eye, which revealed Savaga Nemasas’s possible futures and defeats. Ian left Savaga as an ally and prepared to expose the truth of the Dark Moon Turmoil, while his enhanced Pioneer Platform opened new paths toward the farthest place.

• Ian realized Inaga II had started the war against the Blazing Flame Lands to seize access to the Light Realm and its power.
• Ian’s Aether True Form became the Prophet’s Eye and revealed countless futures in which Savaga Nemasas was defeated.
• Ian told Savaga that he would face him in a future battle but still considered him an ally for now.
• Ian absorbed the Light Realm’s power, restoring his strength and transforming the Pioneer Platform into a realm that could generate trials and explore possible worlds.
• Ian connected the psychic abilities of Inaga II, himself, and Elan as powers that revealed the present, future, and past.
• Ian announced that he would reveal the truth of the Dark Moon Turmoil in the name of Hilliard and Inaga II.

Ian and his allies joined Yafda to confront Campani while Anfa learned the Ancient Dragon’s purpose for creating her, chose to become a dragon, and received his final gift before his echo vanished. Campani’s divided soul was defeated after Golan betrayed him and revealed the Continuity Party’s mechanical-elf plan, leaving Canaanmore facing the prelude to extinction.

• Ian learned that Lady Xialaita was likely protecting Anfa at Dragon Bone Plaza and chose to help Yafda fight Campani instead.
• Anfa confirmed that the Ancient Dragon had intentionally created her, chose the path of becoming a dragon, and received the removal of most of her dragon-soul curse before the Ancient Dragon’s echo faded away.
• Sheo, Ian, and Ethan used the Dark Gold Dragon to blast Campani and Yafda, then Ian and Yafda joined forces against Campani.
• Campani shattered three Subspace Labyrinths to scatter his opponents, then tried to flee as Golan halted his body and revealed that she had become a mechanical elf with a soul chip.
• Golan exposed the Continuity Party’s plan for Eternal Elves, and Yafda, Ian, and their allies defeated Campani’s divided soul with the Rainbow Key and the Dark Gold Dragon.
• Campani lost consciousness, and Canaanmore’s sunset heralded the prelude to its extinction.

Ian and his companions left the relic through Redwood Base, where Ian uncovered how the Redwood People’s population and sacrificial traditions had developed. Outside, he found the remains of the Harrison Port Guard unit that vanished in the first Great Storm fourteen years earlier and recognized his father among them.

• Ian and the others crossed the trap-filled passage and discovered the Redwood Natives’ abandoned village, cultivation pods, and piles of human bones.
• Ian saw a vision of Wima and another Redwood survivor deciding to use rituals and Pure Sacrifice to preserve their people and produce clones.
• Ian opened the sealed crystal gate, and the group stepped out of Redwood Base into a sacred site built by later Redwood Natives.
• Isengard found corpses in Harrison Port Guard armor and uniforms, and Ian identified them as members of the unit lost during the first Great Storm.
• Ian recognized one set of remains as his father and said that he had been there.

Sheo impersonated Ian and fought Ga’er until the real Ian intervened, then the dragon skeleton released the Blood of the Apex Seat and transformed the gathered dragonblood bearers. As the factions prepared to battle over the treasure, Mahdi of Gloomvale arrived, and Golan’s ancestor recognized him as a new Immovable Fortress.

• Ga’er exposed Sheo’s disguise but challenged her anyway, and Sheo’s psychic power made his attacks miss by turning his own body and cells against him.
• Ga’er unleashed a devastating wide-area strike, but Ian appeared in a disguised prosthetic body and blocked it before counterattacking.
• The High Tower of Refinement rebooted and severed its support for the dragon skeleton, which moved and released the Blazing Star-Hanging Dragon’s Divine Marrow and golden-red mist.
• The mist awakened and strengthened dragonblood in the gathered teams, while Ian identified the Divine Marrow as Blood of the Apex Seat and Anfa confirmed that she carried part of her father’s Spark.
• The teams formed rival camps around the treasure, but the plaza fell silent as a powerful armored stranger arrived and named himself Mahdi of Gloomvale.
• Golan’s ancestor recognized Mahdi’s structure as the Immovable Fortress and realized he possessed a Fifth Energy Level Inheritance.

Mikael explained that Ian’s alchemical ideas had exposed his connection to the Chehalorvo Family and revealed Emperor Inyaga’s plans for the family and Harrison Port. He then described why Inyaga II’s attempt to spread compulsory education failed, leaving Ian to consider an Empire where schooling offered no path to greater power.

• Ian realized Mikael had mistaken his disguise for the identity of the Chehalorvo Family’s last hope and continued acting uncertain.
• Mikael explained that Ian’s efforts to make alchemy widely accessible resembled the work of his grandfather, Emperor Inyaga.
• Mikael said the Chehalorvo elders had voluntarily accepted exile and that Inyaga had intended to help the family rise again through the Southern Ridge Grand Labyrinth.
• Ian recalled details of Elder Pude’s history that made Mikael’s account seem plausible, while recognizing that the Dark Moon Turmoil had disrupted Inyaga’s plans.
• Mikael told Ian that compulsory education failed because neither ordinary people nor the powerful saw a way for schooling to lead to opportunity or influence.