Chapter Summaries

The Viscountcy of Black Stone flourished as it consolidated its expanded territory, while Wang Dong prepared to leave for the Royal Astronomical Academy and distance himself from governing the viscountcy. He planned to pursue his ambitions among the stars with the Dark Peng and its crew.

• Philip declined Wang Dong's offer to lead the Phoenix Family and rose to deputy minister of the new Department of Logistics and Transportation.
• The viscountcy developed its schools, industries, and talent pool while the viscount and Wang Dong agreed to avoid further expansion for the time being.
• The viscount urged Wang Dong to behave at the Royal Astronomical Academy, look after Guannan, and avoid the Capital Star System's political schemes.
• Wang Dong explained that he had been handing over his territory duties and the captain permissions of captured Kindling Warships to avoid a future power struggle with the viscount.
• Wang Dong made clear to the Dark Peng's crew that he intended to pursue his ambitions in space rather than rule the Viscountcy of Black Stone, and none of them objected.

Wang Dong brought the Dark Peng into a Level 3 Otherworldly battlefield and encountered the migrating Star Eagle Civilization. After learning about the Star Eagles’ mysterious lifelong migration, he left the Dark Peng poised above their enormous flock, including its powerful leader.

• Wang Dong sent equipment, supplies, and a backup star chart to the Yang Zhong Star System before returning to the Viscountcy of Black Stone.
• On August 17, the Dark Peng entered the Weijing River to investigate coordinates Gao Luanqin had provided and hunt high-level star beasts.
• After the Shipborne Kindling’s Buffer Time ended, Wang Dong selected a Level 3 Otherworldly Civilization and entered its battlefield.
• The Abyss Eye identified the Star Eagle Civilization, and Gao Luanqin asked Wang Dong to capture suitable specimens for research.
• Wang Dong read a report explaining that the Star Eagles migrated toward an unknown destination and attacked any civilization that blocked their path.
• The Dark Peng hovered above the migrating flock of 120 million Star Eagles while Wang Dong dismissed their three-thousand-meter leader as no threat.

Wang Dong and the Dark Peng crew attacked the Star Fierce Eagle flock, but the Star Falcon Leader intercepted their Supernova Burst Cannon and proved to be a dangerous opponent. The Scorpio Death Ray Cannon wounded it, and the Dark Peng’s shields and hull quickly recovered after its attack; the battle continued with the crew newly confident in their ship’s resilience.

• Wang Dong ordered the Dark Peng to attack the Star Fierce Eagle flock while leaving specimens for the biologists.
• The Star Falcon Leader intercepted the Supernova Burst Cannon’s shot with a pale gray halo, limiting its damage to nearby Star Fierce Eagles.
• Wang Dong warned the crew not to underestimate the Star Falcon Leader, and Wu Baiyi steered the Dark Peng toward it so Shi Zunhou could use the Scorpio Death Ray Cannon at close range.
• Shi Zunhou’s death ray struck the Star Falcon Leader’s shoulder, but the wounded creature continued its attack and grazed the Dark Peng’s hull with its talons.
• The Black Hole Cruiser restored the Dark Peng’s shield, while Immortal Mystery repaired its hull, prompting Wang Dong and the crew to celebrate their ship’s resilience.

Wang Dong and the Dark Peng crew destroyed the Star Falcon flock and killed its leader, which briefly grew stronger by absorbing the surviving Star Falcons' bio-energy. After the battle, the Abyss Eye revealed a golden beacon containing the flock's final migration destination.

• Mada advised Shi Zunhou to target the Star Falcon flock before finishing off its leader, and Shi Zunhou used the secondary guns to distract the leader.
• Wu Baiyi maneuvered the Dark Peng between the leader and the Supernova Burst Cannon's shot, allowing the cannon to devastate the Star Falcon flock.
• The surviving Star Falcons sent their bio-energy to their leader, raising its biological level to six, but the Dark Peng continued attacking it.
• Shi Zunhou killed the Star Falcon Leader with a precise Scorpio Death Ray Cannon shot after a prolonged battle.
• Gao Luanqin noticed new lights on the Abyss Eye, and Wang Dong found a golden Otherworldly Space Signal Beacon holding the flock's final migration destination.

Wang Dong upgraded the Ancient Caller's Horn with Life Crystals found after the Dark Peng destroyed a flock of Star Fierce Eagles, then led the crew through the Weijing River to test the ship against powerful star beasts. The Dark Peng reached an ionized dust pillar where Gao Luanqin believed her parents might have gone.

• Shi Zunhou, Wu Baiyi, Gao Luanqin, and Mada discussed the possibility that a High-level Signal Beacon pointed to a Level 9 individual, while Gao Luanqin identified eight purple drops as Life Crystals.
• Shi Zunhou used a Supernova Burst Cannon to destroy the Star Fierce Eagles, and Wang Dong upgraded the Ancient Caller's Horn to LV.5, saving three Life Crystals.
• Wang Dong and Zhou Tai trained aboard the Dark Peng as the crew hunted star beasts, and both reached Body Forging Technique Advanced LV.1.
• The Dark Peng challenged and killed more than ten Level 5 star beasts and a Level 6 star dragon, but found no Life Crystals inside them.
• On September 15, the Dark Peng reached a massive ionized dust pillar, where Gao Luanqin said her parents might have gone based on her tracking agent's reaction.

The Dark Peng followed Gao Luanqin’s parents’ tracking signal into the Ionized Dust Pillar and found their missing exploration ship, the Star's Visage. Gao Luanqin and the others recovered its black box and remains, learning that her parents had returned to the Pillar at their sponsor’s insistence to collect more of a microorganism.

• The Dark Peng entered the Ionized Dust Pillar, where Gao Luanqin’s tracking reagent reacted strongly and the ship navigated despite the radiation.
• Wu Baiyi guided the Dark Peng to the battered Star's Visage after the Abyss Eye detected it near the Pillar’s center.
• Gao Luanqin joined Zhou Tai and others in boarding the exploration ship, and they returned safely with recovered items and several sets of remains.
• The crew read the Star's Visage’s black box and learned Gao Luanqin’s parents had planned to return home before their sponsor demanded more microorganism samples from the Pillar.

Wang Dong’s crew tracked the Ionized Giant Bat, the Level Seven Overlord Starbeast whose ion storm had doomed the Star's Visage. The Dark Peng closed in on the creature, and Shi Zunhou prepared to fire the Scorpio Death Ray Cannon while Wu Baiyi held the ship steady.

• Mada showed Wang Dong a report identifying the Ionized Giant Bat as a Level Seven Overlord Starbeast with an extremely high Life Crystal formation rate, and Wang Dong ordered the crew to find it.
• Gao Luanqin hid her grief over her parents’ lost ship as Wang Dong focused on tracking the bat.
• Mada, Wu Baiyi, and Gao Luanqin analyzed the ion storms, allowing the Dark Peng to pick up the bat’s trail.
• The Dark Peng followed the trail deep into the Ionized Dust Pillar, where its shield steadily lost durability, and the crew detected the bat at the center of an ion storm.
• Wang Dong ordered Wu Baiyi to approach and Shi Zunhou to attack; the bat moved toward the Dark Peng as Shi charged the Scorpio Death Ray Cannon.

Shi Zunhou’s attacks failed to harm the Ionized Giant Bat, whose ionized reconstruction made it nearly invulnerable inside the Ionized Dust Pillar. The crew lured it toward the pillar’s edge, where the Dark Peng used War Shackles to bind it and pull it closer to the boundary.

• Shi Zunhou fired the Scorpio Death Ray Cannon at the Ionized Giant Bat, but it rebuilt its head from ionized matter and remained unharmed.
• Shi Zunhou tried three more attacks while the bat kept approaching without retaliating, and Gao Luanqin concluded that they needed to draw it away from the Ionized Dust Pillar.
• Mada ordered Wu Baiyi to lead the bat toward the exit and let it brush against the Dark Peng to renew its interest.
• Wu Baiyi baited the bat toward the pillar’s outer perimeter, and Mada’s group saw its instincts make it reluctant to leave.
• The Dark Peng fired War Shackles at close range, binding the Ionized Giant Bat and pulling it toward the boundary.

Wang Dong and the Dark Peng dragged the Ionized Giant Bat out of the Ionized Dust Pillar, waited for its Ion Storm to dissipate, and killed it after a prolonged battle. Six hours later, Gao Luanqin and Zhou Tai reported the spoils, including twelve Life Crystals.

• The Dark Peng used War Shackles and the East Wind Antimatter Engine to drag the Ionized Giant Bat beyond the Ionized Dust Pillar while Wang Dong spent Source Points repairing the engine.
• Gao Luanqin advised Wang Dong to wait until the Ion Storm dissipated, and Wang Dong ordered Shi Zunhou to fire once the bat had weakened.
• Shi Zunhou's death ray pierced the Ionized Giant Bat's head, and the Dark Peng restrained and bombarded it until it died half a day later.
• Wang Dong sent Shi Zunhou and Wu Baiyi to rest while Zhou Tai and Gao Luanqin collected the bat's spoils.
• Gao Luanqin and Zhou Tai submitted their report six hours later, and Wang Dong saw that they had collected twelve Life Crystals.

Wang Dong and Dark Peng hunted down all five Ionized Giant Bats in the Ionized Dust Pillar, collected their treasures, and enhanced several shipborne modules. Dark Peng reached combat rating LV.27 and entered a Level 4 Otherworldly Space battlefield, where it easily destroyed an exploration fleet.

• Wang Dong and Zhou Tai advanced their Body Forging Technique to LV.2 after eating the Ionized Giant Bat's essence, and Wang Dong enhanced the Abyss Eye to LV.5.
• Dark Peng hunted four more Ionized Giant Bats, and Gao Luanqin concluded that all five overlords in the Ionized Dust Pillar had been wiped out.
• Wang Dong enhanced the Ancient Caller's Horn to LV.10 and the Purple Spore Membrane to LV.5, raising Dark Peng's combat rating to LV.27.
• On September 26, Dark Peng entered the Otherworldly Space battlefield and Wang Dong selected a Level 4 Interstellar Civilization.
• Dark Peng destroyed the ten ships of a Level 4 exploration fleet using only its secondary cannons.

Wang Dong enhanced the Supernova Burst Cannon and discussed ways to acquire more scarce resources. After returning to the Phoenix Star System, he saw the new Black Iron Castle under construction as the Viscountcy of Black Stone established its capital there.

• Wang Dong spent Source Points, titanium crystals, and Intermediate Energy Crystals to enhance the Supernova Burst Cannon from LV.5 to LV.15, raising the Dark Roc's combat rating to LV.28.
• Wang Dong asked Mada and the others to discuss ways to obtain titanium crystals and High-grade Energy Crystals, and he agreed to increase funding for Mada's intelligence gathering.
• Gao Luanqin suggested searching the Phoenix Star System's markets for rare resources, while Shi Zunhou proposed taking high-paying mercenary commissions; Wang Dong approved both ideas.
• On October 9, Wang Dong returned with the Dark Roc to the Phoenix Star System, which had replaced the Black Stone System as the Viscountcy of Black Stone's capital.
• Wang Dong saw the new Black Iron Castle under construction on Wutong Star and scoffed at the viscount's claim that its name would keep the territory humble.

After reuniting with his family, Wang Dong learned that Lin Xiaogui had summoned him to North Wind Fortress to collect his Royal Astronomical Academy admission notice and likely the goods traded for the Level 5 Biological Essence. At their private meeting, Lin Xiaogui hinted at Gao Luanqin, and the familiar tea made Wang Dong recall his first meeting with her.

• Wang Dong met with his family at Viscountcy of Black Stone and learned that Lin Xiaogui had asked him to visit North Wind Fortress for his admission notice.
• Wang Dong realized that the gold-quality Level 5 Biological Essence had likely been traded and that the resulting resources awaited him at North Wind Fortress.
• Wang Dong took the Dark Peng to North Wind Fortress and met Lin Xiaogui privately.
• Wang Dong recognized the tea as the same green tea he had drunk when he first met Gao Luanqin at Lishui Mountain Villa.

Wang Dong explained that Gao Luanqin was only a crew member, then firmly told Lin Xiaogui that he wanted honesty between them and would not tolerate melodrama. Lin Xiaogui accepted his candor, and their conversation ended with her handing him the supplies he had requested from the Seaton Duchy.

• Wang Dong told Lin Xiaogui that Gao Luanqin was his subordinate and that they had no romantic relationship.
• Wang Dong confronted Lin Xiaogui about testing him and asked her to speak plainly rather than rely on hints or white lies.
• Lin Xiaogui was pleased by Wang Dong's assertive response, and the two set aside their disagreement.
• Lin Xiaogui described the Seaton Duchy's treasury and her temptation to take a vial of biological essence.
• Lin Xiaogui gave Wang Dong a list containing 200 titanium crystals, 6 High-grade Energy Crystals, and 3 Life Crystals.

Wang Dong gave Lin Xiaogui Life Crystals to help her recover from overusing her ability, bringing the two closer. Back aboard the Dark Peng, he used his resources to strengthen the Black Hole Cruiser to LV.5, greatly increasing its shield durability and recovery rate.

• Wang Dong told Lin Xiaogui to keep the Life Crystals and explained that he wanted her to have them for recovery.
• Lin Xiaogui accepted Wang Dong's personal gift, and the two chatted warmly and shared a meal.
• Wang Dong decided to invest his resources in strengthening the Dark Peng's Black Hole Cruiser.
• Wang Dong spent 3,500 Source Points, 20 titanium crystals, and 5 High-grade Energy Crystals to upgrade the Black Hole Cruiser to LV.5.
• Wang Dong saw that the shield's durability and recovery rate had both tripled.

Wang Dong learned that the Dark Peng had grown stronger and prepared to travel to the Royal Astronomical Academy, but he changed course to follow Zhong Xiaotong. He discovered a Revolutionary Army base and the Oda Shogunate’s Yaksha Mingwang, then withdrew after secretly placing a Tracking Beacon on the battleship.

• Wang Dong saw that the Dark Peng’s Defense Attribute and Devourer threshold had increased, and learned he had been admitted to the Royal Astronomical Academy’s command program.
• After Mada reported that Zhong Xiaotong was leaving the Northern Star Domain, Wang Dong followed her flagship, the Xuefeng, into the Weijing River.
• The Xuefeng entered an artificial wormhole and later arrived at a large semi-permanent base built within the Weijing River.
• Wang Dong identified the base’s massive Yaksha Mingwang as an Oda Shogunate battleship supporting the Revolutionary Army.
• Wang Dong secretly placed a Tracking Beacon on the Yaksha Mingwang and withdrew, deciding not to interfere until he had considered the consequences.

Wang Dong entered an Otherworldly Space battlefield and learned of the Harlock Civilization’s civil war, the Free’s rebellion, and the poisoned home planet they were fighting over. The Dark Peng arrived as the Free faced a vast Harlock fleet and the planet remained shrouded in activated dark matter.

• Wang Dong prepared the Dark Peng for another Otherworldly Space battle and selected a Level 4 Interstellar Civilization as his target.
• The Dark Peng encountered the Harlock Civilization, whose people used nuclear and dark matter energy.
• The battlefield briefing revealed that Arcadia and the Free had fought the Harlock Federation for a century after civil war poisoned their home planet.
• Arcadia returned to the ruined home planet, discovered new life, and became the Free’s ship spirit to continue her struggle.
• The Dark Peng’s crew saw the Free above the purple-mist-covered planet, facing a fleet of more than ten thousand warships and an unfamiliar cylindrical vessel.

Arcadia merged with the Freedom and charged the Harlock Federation fleet after negotiations over the homeworld and the ship’s dark matter reactor failed. Wang Dong watched from the Dark Peng as the Federation fleet tried to weaken the Freedom and prepared its Gold-quality Positron Impact Cannon.

• Arcadia pleaded with the Harlock Federation to protect their revived homeworld, but the Federation demanded the Freedom and its reactor for study.
• The Freedom charged through the Federation fleet’s cannon fire, while its dark matter energy shield weakened attacks and rapidly repaired damage.
• Wang Dong’s Abyss Eye revealed a Gold-quality Positron Impact Cannon mounted on the Federation’s central ship.
• Shi Zunhou urged Wang Dong to act before the Freedom destroyed the cannon, but Wang Dong said the real show was just beginning.
• The Federation fleet used successive interception and Precise Shot tactics to wear down the Freedom’s shield as the Freedom fired its sixteen beam cannons along its route.

The Harlock Federation used a Positron dispersal cannon to suppress the Liberty’s dark matter energy shield, then battered the ship with coordinated waves of cannon fire. Arcadia refused to retreat and drove the damaged Liberty forward, but it remained trapped and under heavy attack.

• The Harlock Federation’s cylindrical spacecraft fired its Positron dispersal cannon, rapidly weakening the Liberty’s dark matter energy shield.
• The Federation fleet struck the exposed Liberty with a barrage that destroyed two of its beam cannons, while its flagship ordered the cannon to prepare another shot.
• Arcadia feared that the Federation had developed a way to counter dark matter energy, then convinced itself the weapon came from remnants of a High Civilization and urged the Liberty onward.
• Arcadia pushed the Liberty’s dark matter energy reactor into overdrive, allowing dark matter energy to begin breaking through the cannon’s suppression as the ship pursued the cylindrical spacecraft.
• The Federation fleet completed its encirclement and bombarded the Liberty in repeated waves, leaving its hull cracked, its beam cannons destroyed, and its bow’s giant skull smashed.
• Arcadia declared that the Liberty would never stop, but the battered ship continued forward under the overwhelming fire.

The Harlock Federation fleet destroyed the Freedom with its Positron Diffusion Cannons, leaving behind a Dark Matter Energy Reactor. Wang Dong had anticipated the reactor’s appearance after the Freedom’s defeat, and the Dark Peng recovered it before the Federation’s Engineering Ship could arrive.

• The Harlock Federation fleet destroyed the immobilized Freedom with repeated cannon fire and its third Positron Diffusion Cannon shot.
• The Federation commander ordered an Engineering Ship to recover the reactor left behind by the Freedom.
• A new orange dot appeared on the Abyss Eye, and Mada explained that Wang Dong had gambled the Freedom might generate a Shipborne Module after its defeat.
• Wu Baiyi piloted the cloaked Dark Peng to the reactor, and Wang Dong’s crew pulled it into the cargo bay before the Engineering Ship arrived.
• The recovered Shadow Dark Matter Energy Reactor was revealed to have 2,000 power, improved energy efficiency, and a trait that reduced speed restrictions.

The Dark Peng disabled the Harlock Federation ship carrying the positron dispersion cannon, then escaped the fleet’s encirclement. Seven hours later, it entered stealth mode and prepared to pursue the cannon aboard the Harlock Federation flagship.

• The Harlock Federation fleet fired on the Dark Peng, but its upgraded shield ignored their attacks.
• Wu Baiyi piloted the Dark Peng toward the cylindrical ship while Shi Zunhou aimed at it.
• The Dark Peng struck the cylindrical ship with a crimson beam, disabling it, then fled without taking the positron dispersion cannon.
• The Harlock Federation commander ordered his fleet to recover the cannon and return.
• After the Mirage System’s cooldown ended, the Dark Peng entered stealth mode, and Mada confirmed the cannon was aboard the flagship.
• The crew judged their odds had improved and agreed to proceed with the operation.