Chapter Summaries

Shou-Lao sensed the changes caused by Wang's breakthrough, which also helped Lei Gong and the Jade Emperor advance. Wang arrived in Kunlun and fulfilled his promise to Shou-Lao by giving him a full Well of Eternity Bottle.

• Shou-Lao sensed a major shift in spiritual energy and watched Lei Gong break through to Grandmaster.
• Lei Gong challenged the Jade Emperor, but the Jade Emperor defeated him and revealed that his own Grandmaster cultivation had stabilized.
• The Jade Emperor sensed Wang's breakthrough and retreated into seclusion to avoid facing him.
• Wang flew to Kunlun, noticed Lei Gong's advancement and the Jade Emperor's seclusion, and went to visit Shou-Lao.
• Wang gave Shou-Lao a full Well of Eternity Bottle, fulfilling his promise to help restore Shou-Lao's divine dragon cultivation.

Shou-Lao regained his Divine Dragon cultivation, bringing K'un-Lun’s people new opportunities and triggering several breakthroughs, before Wang challenged and defeated him. Wang left K'un-Lun after asking Shou-Lao to protect China and Earth when war broke out.

• Shou-Lao swallowed the Well of Eternity Bottle and grew into an enormous Divine Dragon, whose return raised K'un-Lun’s spiritual energy.
• Four of the Five Great Elders broke through to the Master realm, while the oldest Great Elder died after failing to overcome his exhausted lifespan.
• Wang challenged Shou-Lao above the clouds and defeated him in a battle witnessed by the Jade Emperor and Lei Gong.
• Wang asked Shou-Lao to protect China and Earth in the coming war, and Shou-Lao agreed.
• Wang bade farewell to the people of K'un-Lun and rode the wind away.

After years of cultivating, Old Wang joined Dr. Pym and Hope on the first Quantum Shuttle trip to find Janet. As they entered the Quantum Realm, Loki and Supergiant prepared to exploit his absence and attack the Immortal Iron Fist.

• Old Wang continued cultivating as his body transformed and his mental power grew, while scientific research produced advances in the Shengun, Super Soldier Serum, Azeroth Iron Soldiers, and Quantum Realm.
• Dr. Pym's team completed the Quantum Shuttle and Quantum Locator, and Hope invited Old Wang to join her and her father on the mission to find Janet.
• Hope, Dr. Pym, and Old Wang used Janet's entangled signal and stored data to locate her, then drove the Quantum Shuttle into the Quantum Tunnel.
• Loki and Supergiant watched Old Wang enter the Quantum Realm, and Loki announced his plan to send him into the Timeways.
• Loki described his experiments and the twins with new powers, then asked Supergiant to help him defeat the Immortal Iron Fist; she agreed.

Old Wang entered the Quantum Realm with Dr. Pym and Hope, freed their minds from their bodies’ harmful reactions, and contacted Janet. When Loki and Supergiant appeared in the laboratory to steal Pym Particles technology, Old Wang confronted them in his Mental World.

• Old Wang knocked Hope and Dr. Pym’s souls from their bodies and protected them from the Quantum Realm’s energy.
• Old Wang used his mental connection to find Janet and invited her to join Hope and Dr. Pym, but paused when he sensed intruders.
• Loki and Supergiant arrived at the Quantum Mechanics Laboratory, intending to obtain knowledge about Pym Particles.
• Old Wang’s Astral Projection appeared before Loki and Supergiant and pulled them into his Mental World.
• Old Wang transformed into a Mind Dragon and attacked Loki and Supergiant.

Janet reunited with Hope and Dr. Pym in the Quantum Realm, and Old Wang returned after driving off Loki. The group left the Quantum Realm and agreed to focus on researching the Quantum Brain, which Old Wang named Ultron.

• Janet used her knowledge of the Quantum Realm to find Hope and Dr. Pym, whose souls had been separated from their bodies.
• Hope explained that Old Wang had removed their souls to protect them from the effects of chemical reactions in their bodies, and Janet reassured Hope that Old Wang could handle the Quantum Realm.
• Old Wang appeared, said he had driven Loki away, restored their souls to their bodies, and warned them against further time-travel research.
• Old Wang urged Janet to contribute Pym Particles when needed, while Janet and Dr. Pym argued over the dangers of the Quantum Brain and the possibility of mechanical life.
• Janet called the Quantum Brain a potential breakthrough, and Old Wang named it Ultron.

Old Wang investigated Loki and Supergiant’s plans after suspecting they were using the Mind Stone Scepter to infiltrate Earth and cause trouble. He discovered Loki had influenced several Special Ability Users and more than three hundred scientists, and ordered the scientists’ locations displayed.

• Old Wang reasoned that Loki might use controlled heroes, villains, or scientists to destabilize Earth rather than start a nuclear war.
• Old Wang tried to contact Skye, learned she had blacklisted him, and ordered Dunhuang to investigate unusual activity worldwide with Wukong, Adam, and Eve.
• Old Wang found that several mentally unstable Special Ability Users had been controlled by Loki’s Astral Projection and ordered Ghost Rider and the others to arrest them.
• Old Wang discovered that more than three hundred scientists had abruptly joined secretive laboratories at seventeen locations around the world.
• Old Wang ordered Dunhuang to display the scientists’ coordinates.

Old Wang traced Loki’s mind-controlled research sites to a restored Hydra base in Sokovia and broke through its magical defenses. After incapacitating the base’s armed personnel, he entered the castle and discovered Hydra had acquired Azeroth equipment and servers.

• Old Wang scanned seventeen isolated research facilities and found Loki’s influence, Hydra human experiments, and subjects with unusual abilities.
• Old Wang detected powerful magical, mental, and spatial fluctuations at a concealed Hydra base in Sokovia, but a powerful mage destroyed his mental thread.
• Old Wang teleported to the base, shattered its barrier with a punch, and endured its weapons fire behind his Golden Bell.
• Old Wang released a mental storm that knocked out the base’s armed personnel, then entered the castle.
• Old Wang found cobbled-together mechanical armor, weapons from several companies, and Azeroth Social Network Company Framework servers before a silver blur charged at him.

Old Wang recognized Quicksilver, caught his punch, and was pulled into an illusion by the Scarlet Witch. He escaped her telepathy, leaving her stunned by his powerful mind and apparent memories of lives beyond this world.

• Old Wang assessed Quicksilver’s speed and calmly caught his punch when the young man attacked him.
• The Scarlet Witch appeared behind Old Wang and used her energy to draw him into an illusion of his childhood home and family.
• The illusion showed Old Wang his memories of the Shangxi Training Grounds, Master Shang-Chi, Old Chen, and the orphanage where he grew up.
• Old Wang’s mind overwhelmed the Scarlet Witch’s telepathy, causing the illusion to collapse.
• Old Wang turned to face the Scarlet Witch as she realized his memories suggested he did not belong to this world.

Old Wang entered Wanda's Mental World, discovered her Chaos Magic, and left a spiritual imprint on her during their clash. He persuaded Wanda to follow him, while Quicksilver remained trapped and unable to hurt him.

• Old Wang revealed that Wanda's attempt to manipulate him had failed and entered her Mental World through telepathy.
• Old Wang examined Wanda's memories and recognized that her subconscious resistance came from Chaos Magic.
• Old Wang clashed with Wanda's Chaos Magic inside her Mental World, and some of his mental power merged with hers.
• Old Wang used his charm and the spiritual imprint left by the clash to persuade Wanda to follow him.
• Quicksilver asked Old Wang to let him down after repeatedly punching him without causing harm.

Loki revealed his plan to use Tony Stark and powerful enemies to open a portal to Earth, while Old Wang brought Wanda and Pietro to Azeroth Laboratory and offered them villas. The chapter left Loki preparing to target Tony and the twins settling into their new home.

• Loki told Supergiant that Immortal Iron Fist had destroyed his illusion realm and research base, and Supergiant criticized his poor control of the Mind Stone Scepter.
• Loki said he planned to control Tony Stark and make him open a portal, but Supergiant warned that Tony's Cosmic Cube-powered reactor could block the Scepter's influence.
• Loki declared that he would turn Tony's enemies against him and help them become powerful enough to eliminate him.
• Old Wang showed Wanda and Pietro the laboratory's residential area, and Wanda admired its spacious dormitories while Pietro briefly disappeared to find wine.
• Old Wang explained that he and Wanda shared a spiritual connection he could not remove, then offered Wanda and Pietro a villa each or one villa to share.

Old Wang brought Wanda and Pietro to his laboratory to improve their abilities, then took Wanda to Kamar-Taj to become Ancient One’s student. He proposed that Wanda and Crystal guard two of the Three Sanctums and asked Ancient One which divine artifacts would suit them.

• Quicksilver asked what Old Wang expected in return for giving the siblings a villa, and Old Wang offered safe experiments to strengthen their abilities.
• Wanda agreed to the experiments, and Pietro accepted after Old Wang said he was too weak; Old Wang sent them to rest.
• The next morning, Old Wang’s team explained that Pietro’s powers could be strengthened with Cosmic Cube energy, which Old Wang said he could provide.
• Old Wang told Wanda that her telepathy and Chaos Magic needed a teacher, then took her through a portal to Kamar-Taj.
• Crystal greeted Old Wang and reacted warily to Wanda, but Ancient One declared Wanda her senior sister and agreed to teach her.
• Old Wang suggested Wanda and Crystal guard the London and Hong Kong Sanctums, then asked Ancient One which divine artifacts would suit them.

Old Wang gave Wanda the Disintegration Staff and Crystal the Frostfire set with the Elemental Staff, then left them with the Ancient One to train. The Ancient One wondered whether Old Wang’s necklace had gained abilities like the Cosmic Cube.

• The Ancient One explained that Kamar-Taj had no suitable artifacts for Crystal’s elemental control or Wanda’s Chaos Magic and telepathy, and that the Darkhold would not suit Wanda.
• Old Wang gave Wanda the Disintegration Staff, which boosted spiritual power and provided strong mental defenses.
• Wanda’s resonance with the staff unleashed a mental storm, which the Ancient One contained before offering to help Wanda master it.
• Old Wang gave Crystal the Frostfire set and Elemental Staff, which aided her control of the elements.
• Wanda learned that her staff cost more than Crystal’s gifts combined, while Crystal remained baffled by Wanda’s smug reaction.
• Old Wang left the two women with the Ancient One, who wondered whether his necklace now had abilities similar to the Cosmic Cube.

Peter asked Old Wang to transfer him to an arthropod research institute so he could study life sciences at a more manageable level, and Old Wang agreed. The chapter leaves Old Wang cultivating toward his next breakthrough, with more Well of Eternity Water Essence still needed.

• Peter asked Old Wang for a transfer, explaining that he wanted to focus on life sciences but could not keep up with the Laboratory’s cutting-edge research.
• Peter told Old Wang that he and Gabe had chosen an arthropod research institute that Daredevil had destroyed, where Loki’s researchers had bred genetically modified arthropods.
• Old Wang reflected on the likelihood that Peter would become Spider-Man in many timelines, but chose not to interfere with Peter’s decisions.
• Old Wang gave Peter permission to pursue the arthropod research and watched him leave happily.
• Old Wang continued cultivating, estimating that he needed more Well of Eternity Water Essence and that completing Qi Refining and Spirit Transformation might take one or two years.
• After emerging from seclusion, Old Wang received sudden news.

Old Wang learned that Vanguard Technologies had created thousands of unstable Extremis Virus users and ordered a global search. Dunhuang identified Loki as the likely mastermind and revealed that the operation was beginning immediately, with the Cosmic Cube research base as its central target.

• Daredevil and Elektra reported that Extremis users were multiplying, coordinating, and capable of devastating self-detonations, while Elektra showed signs of serious injury.
• Simmons reported that the Extremis Virus included components of the Super Soldier Serum but remained unstable, and said he could improve it with the formula.
• Old Wang ordered a global hunt, and Dunhuang detected at least 3,796 Extremis injections around the world.
• Dunhuang calculated that Loki was likely controlling Vanguard Technologies and that its plan included drawing attention, seizing weapons, attacking Stark Tower, and opening the Cosmic Cube research base.
• Old Wang asked when Vanguard Technologies would act, and Dunhuang answered that the operation was beginning now.

S.H.I.E.L.D. investigated coordinated Hydra attacks and learned that Aldrich Killian’s Vanguard Technologies had perfected the Extremis Virus using Tony Stark’s old formula. As the attacks escalated toward a likely strike on key U.S. sites, Egghead ordered defenses activated, and Old Wang appeared before S.H.I.E.L.D. could contact him.

• Hill reported armed attacks on governments, U.S. missile bases, and cities, with enhanced attackers who could regenerate and self-destruct.
• Egghead suspected Director Wang was behind the attacks, but Hill and Tony argued that the evidence did not fit him.
• Killian contacted Tony and revealed that Vanguard Technologies had used Tony’s formula and the Super Soldier Serum to perfect the Extremis Virus.
• J.A.R.V.I.S. traced Killian’s call to Stark Tower, where Extremis Warriors were attacking, and Tony flew there to protect Pepper, Happy, and the staff.
• Egghead ordered missile defenses activated and Sky Carriers dispatched to protect the White House, the Pentagon, and Triskelion Headquarters.
• Egghead ordered a secure call to Director Wang, but Old Wang appeared in the office first.

Old Wang warned Egghead that Loki planned to seize the Cosmic Cube and use Earth as a base to reclaim Asgard, while a Chitauri invasion threatened the planet. He left Egghead to defend Earth as he prepared to handle the threat from space.

• Old Wang told Egghead that Loki had returned and was using Vanguard Technologies and Hydra remnants to seize control of Earth.
• Egghead identified the Cosmic Cube as Loki's likely target, and Dunhuang reported that S.H.I.E.L.D. had learned to use it to open portals.
• Old Wang warned that Loki had brought a powerful alien legion, a notorious pirate gang, and another formidable force, and that the Chitauri could destroy Earth.
• Old Wang told Egghead to defend Earth while he dealt with outer space, promising to leave support and have Eve help command the battle.
• Old Wang vanished in a ripple of spatial distortion.

Egghead used his temporary Level A Authority over Eve to coordinate Shengun Bureau and S.H.I.E.L.D. resources as Extremis attacks spread worldwide. After assessing the crisis and issuing orders, he headed to the Cosmic Cube Research Base, realizing that Director Wang had become the world’s most powerful man.

• Egghead tested Eve’s limits, learned the four Quantum Computers’ roles and authority levels, and reviewed the Shengun Bureau’s accessible resources.
• Eve reported that resistance was stabilizing at attacked government agencies and that Dunhuang had locked down missile systems while Iron Soldiers and Skyward fighters moved to intercept missiles.
• Eve told Egghead that 7,835 Extremis Warriors had appeared, captured senior U.S. officials, and attacked the White House, Pentagon, Triskelion Headquarters, Azeroth Tower, and Stark Tower.
• Egghead issued seventeen commands, ordered Eve to monitor four major locations, and sent a Skyward fighter to take him to the Cosmic Cube Research Base with maximum reinforcements.
• Egghead left for the research base and realized Director Wang had become the most powerful man in the world.

Egghead learned that Loki’s forces had activated the Cosmic Cube and were preparing to open a portal, while Extremis Warriors trapped him inside the research center. On the moon, Old Wang arranged for Black Bolt to join the space battle and sent the other Inhumans to Earth.

• Egghead reached the research base and learned from Tony that someone was controlling the Cosmic Cube to open a portal, likely using coordinates to summon reinforcements.
• Eve reported that the portal would open within ten minutes, that Loki and Supergiant were likely to arrive with the Chitauri, and that Extremis Warriors had seized the research center.
• Egghead ordered an evacuation, but Eve warned that Extremis Warriors had blocked the exits, so Egghead and Coulson ran to join the fighting and hold out for reinforcements.
• Old Wang and Black Bolt ended their discussion in the Mental World, and Old Wang arranged for Lockjaw to take Medusa and the other Inhumans to the Afterlife Base while Black Bolt joined the space battle.
• Old Wang promised Medusa an intact Chitauri ship and left to gather additional allies for the decisive battle in space.

Egghead and Phil Coulson fled the controlled Extremis Warriors and escaped with Gordon and other S.H.I.E.L.D. agents as Loki opened a portal to Earth. Loki and Supergiant then took control of the research base and began preparing to open a larger portal in New York.

• Egghead and Coulson fought their way through the research base, and Gordon teleported them to meet Black Widow, Hawkeye, and the others.
• Gordon sensed that a portal to deep space had opened, so Egghead ordered him to take the group to Triskelion Headquarters.
• Loki and Supergiant arrived through the Cosmic Cube portal, and Loki used the Mind Stone Scepter to control Dr. Wells and other researchers.
• Loki learned that the Cosmic Cube needed a powerful energy source to open a portal large enough for a cosmic army and said he had a suitable location in New York.
• Supergiant controlled the remaining people in the research base and ordered them to destroy Earth's existing order.

As Loki activated the Cosmic Cube in Stark Tower, Tony fought Killian while Pepper was injected with Extremis. Old Wang gathered Earth’s powerful defenders on a deserted island and prepared to send them into space to confront the coming threat.

• Iron Man suits and Azeroth Iron Soldiers battled Extremis Warriors inside Stark Tower, while Tony recognized the Iron Soldiers’ superior combat capabilities.
• Tony confronted Killian, who injected Pepper with an amber serum before attacking Tony and falling with him from the rooftop.
• Loki arrived on the rooftop, avoided using the Mind Stone Scepter, and had researchers draw power from the Arc Reactor to activate the Cosmic Cube.
• The Cosmic Cube’s energy surge shattered Loki’s illusion and exposed his operation in Stark Tower.
• On a deserted island, Hulk defeated Abomination Blonsky while Old Wang located allies across Earth and summoned more than a thousand powerful defenders through portals.
• Old Wang opened a massive portal to the Shengun, and the assembled defenders moved out.