Chapter Summaries

The Viscountcy of Black Stone assessed its political and economic vulnerability to the new Grand Duke of Northern Star Domain, while trusting the Dark Peng’s military strength and preparing to exploit it. Lin Changjiu’s tax reform split the Northern Aristocratic Territory, but Black Stone’s unexpected inaction left him uneasy as his adviser urged him to follow their plan.

• Philip and the others concluded that the Grand Duke could pressure Black Stone through political mobilization and taxes, while the Dark Peng gave them a decisive military advantage.
• Wang Dong said the Dark Peng could break the Extreme North White Wolf’s shields in two or three shots, and the viscount revealed that it had killed a Level 8 star beast.
• The old general proposed drawing the Grand Duke into taking military action first so Black Stone could retaliate with justification, and the viscount declared that the territory was ready to expand.
• Lin Changjiu issued a proposal to abolish local commercial levies and replace them with an eighteen-percent Northern Tax collected at Star Gate, a reform that promised gains for most territories but threatened Black Stone’s revenues.
• The viscount chose not to oppose the proposal or build alliances, allowing the Northern Aristocratic Territory to split into camps, while Lin Changjiu grew suspicious of Black Stone’s silence.
• An adviser told Lin Changjiu to stop worrying about Black Stone’s response and follow the plan backed by Prince Qin’s faction.

After Lin Changjiu consolidated support across the Northern Lands and isolated the Earl's Territory of Black Stone, the Grand Duke's Territory of Beidi issued a Call-Up Order to destroy it. The order drew far fewer supporters than Lin Changjiu and Ouyang Yongshu expected, leaving their campaign's next step uncertain.

• The King elevated the Viscountcy of Black Stone to the Earl's Territory of Black Stone and granted Wang Dong's father the title of Earl, while Wang Dong received 200 units of titanium crystal.
• Lin Changjiu began a tax reform, and Earl Frost Territory led opposition while the Earl's Territory of Black Stone stayed neutral.
• Lin Changjiu and Ouyang Yongshu used economic plans and agreements to unite about eighty percent of the Northern Aristocratic Territories under the Grand Duke's Territory of Beidi and isolate the Earl's Territory of Black Stone.
• The Grand Duke's Territory of Beidi issued a Call-Up Order accusing the Earl's Territory of Black Stone of various offenses and calling for military action against it.
• After three days, Lin Changjiu learned that only twenty-eight territories had agreed to respond and just twelve had taken military action.

The Grand Duke's Territory of Beidi revealed its hidden battleships, gathered support from Northern Aristocratic Territories, and advanced on Earl's Territory of Black Stone. Wang Dong prepared for the confrontation by hunting in the Weijing River and building support, and the chapter ended with the opposing fleets facing off outside the Phoenix Star System.

• Lin Changjiu and Ouyang Yongshu revealed two hidden battleships at North Wind Fortress, and the Grand Duke's call to arms gained the support of 123 Northern Aristocratic Territories.
• Lin Changjiu led the Grand Duke's Territory of Beidi's assembled fleet toward the Phoenix Star System while other northern nobles debated which side would prevail.
• Wang Dong hunted in the Weijing River aboard the Dark Peng as Earl's Territory of Black Stone prepared for the expansion that would follow the conflict.
• Mada reported that fleets from 18 Northern Aristocratic Territories had joined Wang Dong, with 23 more on the way, while the Grand Duke's forces included four battleships, 33 cruisers, and 430 destroyers.
• On July 30, the Grand Duke's fleet reached the outskirts of the Phoenix Star System, and Wang Dong sent the Black Stone fleet out to meet it.

Wang Dong challenged the four battleships of the Grand Duke's Territory of Beidi to a one-against-four glory challenge, then used Dark Peng's War Shackles and Scorpio Death Ray Cannon to overwhelm the three ships that accepted. As boarding forces stormed Royal Golden Osmanthus, Dark Peng struck Royal Guard, leaving the battle's outcome in doubt.

• Wang Dong issued a glory challenge against the four battleships, and Lin Changjiu accepted with Royal Golden Osmanthus, Royal War Shield, and Royal Guard while keeping Royal Oak with the main fleet.
• The four ships exchanged ceremonial opening shots, then Dark Peng led the three opponents into the Asteroid Belt while Mie Particles disrupted observation and communications.
• Lin Changjiu sent reconnaissance ships to watch behind his formation, while the Earl and the old general discussed their hidden battleships and their advantage over the Beidi fleet.
• Dark Peng activated War Shackles, binding the three Beidi battleships at close range, and its golden shield absorbed their combined bombardment with little damage.
• Shi Zunhou's Scorpio Death Ray Cannon crippled Royal Golden Osmanthus, and Zhou Tai led the assault team through a breach to board it.
• Dark Peng fired on Royal Guard, reducing its Shield Durability by 80%.

Wang Dong’s forces captured the Royal Golden Osmanthus, Royal War Shield, and Royal Guard, then revealed the ships to the waiting fleets. Lin Changjiu and Ouyang Yongshu realized their assumptions were wrong and ordered the Grand Duke’s Territory of Beidi fleet to launch an all-out assault.

• Shi Zunhou’s Dark Peng crippled the Royal Guard, while the Royal War Shield’s crew subdued its captain and surrendered.
• The damaged Royal Guard agreed to serve under Tiger of Black Stone, ending the battle in the Asteroid Belt.
• Lin Changping mistook the four emerging battleships for captured enemy ships, while the Earl and the veteran general celebrated Wang Dong’s victory.
• The Earl signaled the hidden Extreme North White Wolf, Narcissus Lily, and Pure White Lily to move behind the Grand Duke’s Territory of Beidi fleet.
• Lin Changjiu and Ouyang Yongshu recognized the danger and ordered their fleet to charge Earl’s Territory of Black Stone.

The Black Stone Territory’s fleet confronted the Beidi fleet as three hidden battleships appeared behind the enemy and shattered its Arrow Formation. Lin Changjiu ordered a retreat toward North Wind Fortress, but the Royal Oak’s escape was challenged by Wang Dong’s Dark Peng, which matched its speed and left the enemy facing capture.

• The old general took command of the Black Stone fleet and ordered it into a Fish-Scale Formation against the Beidi fleet’s Arrow Formation.
• Three Black Stone battleships appeared behind the Beidi fleet, and Captain Reg advised Lin Changjiu and Ouyang Yongshu to retreat through the Asteroid Belt toward North Wind Fortress.
• The Beidi fleet panicked and broke apart, while the Black Stone fleet split up to pursue the scattered ships.
• Reg activated the Royal Oak’s newly developed Battleship Skill, allowing it to speed ahead of the other fleeing ships.
• Wang Dong sent the Dark Peng after the Royal Oak and used the Chapter of Gale’s burst mode to keep pace with it.
• Reg warned Lin Changjiu that the Dark Peng could overtake the Royal Oak once its Battleship Skill expired.

Wang Dong’s Dark Peng overwhelmed Lin Changjiu’s Royal Oak in a direct battle, forcing the ships into a boarding action. As both sides sent fighters into the clash, Zhou Tai met Lieba Tolstoy, Lin Changjiu’s champion, in a fierce duel.

• Lin Changjiu sent Lieba Tolstoy to face the Dark Peng’s Masked Tyrant as the Royal Oak fled into the Asteroid Belt.
• Wu Baiyi outpiloted the Royal Oak’s helmsman, and Wang Dong opened fire after the chase ended.
• The Dark Peng’s Scorpio Death Ray Cannon battered the Royal Oak’s shields while the Royal Oak’s counterattack barely affected the Dark Peng.
• Lin Changjiu promised Lieba a restored clan and a Habitable Star System if he defeated Wang Dong and captured the Dark Peng.
• The ships joined, and Wu Baiyi, Shi Zunhou, Mada, and Xu Zhenzhi went to reinforce the boarding party.
• Lieba Tolstoy matched Zhou Tai in a close fight and announced that he would defeat the Masked Tyrant.

Zhou Tai defeated Lieba after discovering how to use Bloodthirsty Berserk more effectively, while Wang Dong’s boarding party overwhelmed the Royal Oak’s defenders. At the command bridge, Lin Changjiu offered Wang Dong the Prince’s Mansion’s support in exchange for peace.

• Zhou Tai fought Lieba, whose Berserker ability made him stronger as his injuries accumulated, until Lieba’s axe broke.
• Zhou Tai gave Lieba another weapon and continued fighting, gradually improving his control of Bloodthirsty Berserk.
• Zhou Tai used a powerful burst of enhanced speed and strength to break Lieba’s ribs, and Lieba conceded; Zhou Tai also injured his shoulder.
• Wu Baiyi, Shi Zunhou, Xu Zhenzhi, and Mada helped defeat the Royal Oak’s boarding party, while Wang Dong and Wu Baiyi brought down its captain.
• Wang Dong’s group reached the command bridge, where Lin Changjiu offered to keep the Prince’s Mansion away and help Wang Dong become Grand Duke of Northern Star Domain.

After capturing Lin Changjiu and the Royal Oak, Wang Dong’s forces conquered the Northern Star Domain, making Black Stone Territory the region’s dominant power. The royal family elevated Wang Dong to marquis but tried to bind him to the throne by naming him Lin Xiaogui’s consort, a proposal the Marquis rejected; afterward, Wang Dong and the Marquis recognized that the royal family had grown suspicious of Black Stone’s rise.

• Wang Dong captured Lin Changjiu and Ouyang Yongshu, while Zhou Tai knocked out Captain Reg and helped secure the Royal Oak intact.
• After the battle ended, Black Stone Territory invaded and took control of the Northern Star Domain, including North Wind Fortress and its Star Gate System.
• By August 30, Black Stone Territory controlled roughly half the Northern Star Domain and commanded nine battleships, thirty-five cruisers, and nearly five hundred destroyers.
• On September 5, Grand Duke Lin Fanluo arrived as the royal family’s envoy and elevated Black Stone Territory to a marquisate and Wang Dong to marquis.
• The Marquis rejected the royal decree appointing Wang Dong as Lin Xiaogui’s consort, insisting that Wang Dong would marry her instead.
• After Lin Fanluo departed, Wang Dong and the Marquis discussed the royal family’s growing suspicion of Black Stone Territory’s power.

Wang Dong negotiated Lin Changjiu’s release and recruited several former Prince’s faction figures into the Marquis of Black Stone Territory’s service. The territory agreed to continue developing its reserves for future expansion and accepted a trade agreement from Prince Lin Rongxiang’s faction, leaving the Marquisate positioned to maintain relations with both sides.

• Wang Dong persuaded the territory’s inner circle to focus on consolidating its new lands while expanding talent training and reserves in preparation for upheaval in the Golden Snapdragon Federation.
• Wang Dong agreed to release Lin Changjiu in exchange for ransom, Lieba Tolstoy’s service, and Lin Changjiu’s sincere effort to recruit Ouyang Yongshu.
• On September 10, the Marquis of Black Stone Territory released Lin Changjiu and returned his flagship; Lieba joined Wang Dong’s forces, and Ouyang Yongshu agreed to serve the Marquis.
• Wang Dong arranged for Reg to teach at an academy so he could earn money to buy his freedom and return to Lin Changping.
• On September 20, Grand Duke Lin Fanan brought a trade agreement from Prince Lin Rongxiang’s faction, and the Marquis decided to sign it after Wang Dong and the others supported the proposal.

Wang Dong’s crew discovered the colossal Dark Spirit Flower in an Otherworldly Space battlefield and suspected its main bud contained life-force-rich fruit. After waiting until they could return to their universe at any time, they blasted through its defenses and forced the Dark Peng into the flower’s interior.

• Wang Dong entered an Otherworldly Space battlefield and found the Dark Spirit Flower growing across a primordial nebula.
• Gao Luanqin proposed investigating the flower, and Wang Dong brought the concealed Dark Peng closer while the crew scanned it.
• Liu Zhi detected beings with concentrated life force inside the main bud, and Gao Luanqin suggested the flower might contain fruit like other cosmic plants.
• Mada warned that entering the stellar-scale life-form would be risky, so Wang Dong ordered the crew to wait until the battlefield’s twenty-four-hour limit was nearly over.
• The Dark Peng attacked the main bud with the Scorpio Death Ray Cannon and its secondary cannons, then rammed through the flower’s defenses into its interior.

The Dark Peng breached the Dark Spirit Flower’s main bud and pushed through its tissue-fluid interior while its activated dark matter defenses repeatedly attacked the ship. Wu Baiyi guided the crew to the nearest suspected fruit, and the Dark Peng reached it after learning how to turn the defensive organisms against one another.

• The Dark Spirit Flower formed a net of activated dark matter energy that pursued the Dark Peng, but the ship’s shield endured as it broke through the main bud’s outer skin.
• The Dark Peng entered the bud’s tissue-fluid ocean, where its weapons cleared a path and Liu Zhi detected a high-concentration life-force aggregation suspected to be a fruit.
• An irregular sphere struck the Dark Peng and released concentrated activated dark matter energy, prompting Gao Luanqin to warn the crew that the spheres were internal defenses.
• Wu Baiyi steered through increasingly frequent attacks as Wang Dong chose to continue toward the nearest fruit instead of using the Steel Bullet Warp Device’s Free Assault function.
• The Dark Peng reached its destination after discovering that destroying the spheres before impact released energy that dissolved tissue fluid and hindered the other spheres’ movement.

The Dark Peng harvested three gold-quality Dark Spirit Flower Fruits from the Dark Spirit Flower and learned that each could give an unawakened esper a chance to awaken an ability. As the ship ventured deeper into the flower, Liu Zhi spotted a new defensive organism vastly larger than the spheres they had faced before.

• The Dark Peng used its main guns to dissolve the organic fluid and destroy the irregular spheres, reducing damage to its shield as it reached the first Dark Spirit Flower Fruit.
• Lieba collected the first fruit with a specialized container, and Wang Dong learned that its Soul's Praise trait offered an unawakened esper a 10% chance to awaken an ability.
• Wang Dong ordered the Dark Peng to use Free Assault, and Lieba collected the second and third fruits while the crew avoided a large-scale response from the irregular spheres.
• Liu Zhi recommended moving deeper into the flower to find fruits more densely, and the crew agreed despite Gao Luanqin's warning that new defenses might appear.
• Liu Zhi detected an irregular sphere over ten thousand meters in diameter, and Gao Luanqin warned the crew to intercept the behemoth at a distance.

Wang Dong retreated from the Dark Spirit Flower after its defenses produced teleporting organisms, but recorded its coordinates so he could return later. Back home, he upgraded the Dark Peng’s transporter and learned that an interstellar merchant fleet had arrived with mercenaries planning to challenge fighters from the star domain.

• Shi Zunhou used the Scorpio Death Ray Cannon to destroy enhanced irregular spheres as the Dark Peng collected five more Dark Spirit Flower Fruits, bringing its total to eight.
• A new defensive organism warped beside the Dark Peng and attacked it, prompting Wang Dong to order a retreat from the Dark Spirit Flower’s main bud.
• Wang Dong used the Auxiliary System to record the Dark Spirit Flower’s coordinates, then returned to the home universe and later upgraded the Apocalypse High-Dimensional Transporter to LV.5.
• Mada told Wang Dong that an interstellar merchant fleet had arrived, and Wang Dong decided to attend the trade because he held a ticket from his Royal Astronomical Academy achievement.
• Mada explained that probationary mercenaries from the Interstellar Mercenary Association had announced challenges against the star domain’s fighters, with the fleet’s trade goods depending on the results.

Wang Dong prepared the Dark Peng’s trade goods by hunting for Life Crystals in the Weijing River, then traveled to the Capital Star System for the trade meet. There, he reunited with Lin Xiaogui and learned that powerful visitors were pressuring the region’s strongest ships into probationary mercenary challenges, leaving him resolved to prepare while expecting to face them.

• Mada listed Wang Dong’s potential trade goods and warned that hunting Level 7 Star Beasts would reveal the Dark Peng’s strength.
• Wang Dong hunted in the Weijing River for a month, killing more than a hundred Level 5 and higher star beasts and collecting fifty-eight Life Crystals.
• Wang Dong returned to the Phoenix Star System, welcomed Wang Guannan aboard as the Dark Peng’s first officer, and heard Wang Guanbei and the little boy describe their ambitions.
• The Dark Peng traveled to the Capital Star System, where Wang Dong reunited with Lin Xiaogui and they discussed the challenge expected from the visiting probationary mercenaries.
• Lin Xiaogui explained that the merchant fleet’s rare-goods offer and political pressure made the challenges difficult to refuse, and Wang Dong agreed to prepare while planning to surrender after a few moves.

Wang Dong accepted the Fengdu Star System challenge and organized the Dark Peng’s crew to bet on their victories, aiming to earn titanium crystals for the ship’s development. As the competition began amid a huge regional trade gathering, Lin Xiaogui explained that the probationary mercenaries mainly wanted combat practice, and Wang Dong’s challenges had not yet started.

• Wang Dong learned that the caravan had made him one of a hundred challenge targets, and he recognized that refusing could bring pressure on the Marquis of Black Stone Territory.
• Mada identified betting pools that accepted titanium crystals, and Shi Zunhou, Liu Zhi, Gao Luanqin, and the rest of the crew proposed wagering on the challenges.
• Wang Dong sold the royal family three purple-quality modules for 100 titanium crystals and assigned the crew to place bets totaling 300 titanium crystals across selected bookmakers.
• The Dark Peng discreetly planted Tracking Beacons at bookmakers where the crew placed larger bets, in case they ran off with the winnings.
• The Fengdu Star System hosted a vast gathering of ships and merchants as a regional arbitration group opened the challenge competition on November 11.
• Lin Xiaogui told Wang Dong that five probationary mercenaries would challenge opponents simultaneously for practice, while Wang Dong’s turn had yet to come.

Wang Dong watched the probationary mercenaries assess the region’s battleships and grew angered by the vice captain of the Light of the South Mountain humiliating his opponents. When Lin Xiaogui was reassigned to face the vice captain, Wang Dong challenged him to a one-on-one duel over the wide-area communications channel.

• Wang Dong learned that the challenge scores would determine each battleship’s trading privileges and compensation, and judged that the Dark Peng could earn a high score without revealing its full strength.
• The vice captain of the Light of the South Mountain defeated challengers while publicly insulting them, but Lin Xiaogui explained why the arbitration group tolerated his behavior.
• Lin Xiaogui was reassigned from Challenge Arena No. 3 to No. 1, where she would face the insulting vice captain, and she tried to keep Wang Dong from acting rashly.
• Wang Dong ordered Sima Zhongda to find out why the assignments had changed and had Wang Guannan connect him to the wide-area communications channel.
• Wang Dong publicly challenged the Light of the South Mountain to a one-on-one duel and asked whether its captain dared accept.

Wang Dong challenged Cai Chengan of the Light of the South Mountain to a wagered duel after learning that Prince Lin Rongxiang had arranged for Lin Xiaogui to face the Shannan Kingdom captain. Wang Dong opened the battle by using the Dark Peng’s Free Assault to bypass the enemy shields and launch a boarding action, leaving the duel’s outcome undecided.

• Wang Dong held Lin Xiaogui as the Dark Peng headed for Challenge Arena No. 1, while onlookers debated his challenge and speculated that he was defending her.
• Sima Zhongda reported that Prince Lin Rongxiang had secured Lin Xiaogui’s reassignment with support from the Golden Snapdragon Federation and Seaton Duchy representatives.
• Wang Dong accepted Cai Chengan’s formal duel wager: one gold-quality module, or the loser’s flagship if the module could not be paid.
• The Light of the South Mountain fired first, but Wu Baiyi evaded its opening shot as the Dark Peng closed in.
• Wang Dong ordered the Dark Peng to use Free Assault and board the Light of the South Mountain; the ships warped together, and Zhou Tai and Lieba led the assault troops aboard.

Wang Dong defeated Cai Chengan in a one-on-one ship duel and rejected his apology and offers of compensation. After the Dark Peng captured the Light of the South Mountain, Wang Dong claimed its cargo and ship, while the Fengdu Star System celebrated the victory.

• The Probationary Mercenary squad discussed Cai Chengan’s chances, while his fighters aboard the Light of the South Mountain were overwhelmed by Zhou Tai, Lieba, and the Masked Man.
• Cai Chengan apologized to Wang Dong and the Eldest Princess, offering trade privileges and titanium crystals to settle the dispute.
• Wang Dong refused Cai Chengan’s offers, saying the defeat and the insults he had made could not be brushed aside, while Lin Xiaogui worried about the consequences.
• Zhou Tai and Lieba captured the Light of the South Mountain’s command deck, and Wang Dong took its supplies and removed its crew, leaving Cai Chengan aboard.
• Ships across the Fengdu Star System celebrated as news spread that the Tiger of Black Stone had defeated Cai Chengan.

After Wang Dong defeated Cai Chengan and seized the Light of the South Mountain, he gained regional fame as the trade fair began. Wang Yingchen, leader of the probationary mercenary team, invited Wang Dong to join the Interstellar Mercenary Association and asked him to hand Cai Chengan over, promising to prevent any retaliation.

• Spectators and probationary mercenaries mocked Cai Chengan's defeat, while his teammates predicted he would lose his deputy captain position and likely fail his qualification assessment.
• Wang Dong refused the merchant fleet's request to return the Light of the South Mountain and kept Cai Chengan aboard Dark Peng until the fleet departed.
• Wang Guannan showed Wang Dong the spoils, including rare crystals and titanium, and pointed out that their planned betting profits had vanished when the challenge tournament odds were voided.
• The trade fair opened on November 12 with conventional weapons on display, and Wang Dong received a cargo list with far greater authorization than those given to other regional powers.
• Wang Yingchen introduced himself to Wang Dong, invited him to take the Interstellar Mercenary Association entrance examination, and asked him to hand over Cai Chengan while promising to keep him from seeking revenge.