Chapter Summaries

Su Ming received Jade Pool’s memories, learning that its Dao Fruit was a Starcore Fragment and that the Heirloom Seal of the Realm held the final clues to an Ancient God Godhood. Taibai Jinxing appeared, revealed that he and others had created Su Ming’s Gold-Spending System, and warned him that he needed a true godhood to survive powerful Cosmic Demons.

• Su Ming took the crystal left by Jade Pool’s consciousness and saw memories of Cosmic Demons invading the Peach Banquet to seize the Dharma Realm Dao Fruit.
• Su Ming discovered that the Dao Fruit was a Starcore Fragment that had nourished Jade Pool, and realized the primordial demon sought to collect all such fragments.
• Su Ming learned that Ancient God Godhoods required clues hidden in keys, and that the Heirloom Seal of the Realm was the last such key.
• Taibai Jinxing appeared and scolded Su Ming for neglecting the Gold-Spending System, which he said he and other elders had designed for him.
• Taibai Jinxing warned Su Ming that his Nascent Soul cultivation could not withstand veteran Cosmic Demons and that his timeline-clone would not protect him.

Future Tony and Steve tried to recover the Mind Scepter during the 2012 New York battle, while Steve unexpectedly used Hydra’s own secret phrase to disarm the agents. In the Yaochi Mystic Realm, Su Ming learned that his transmigration and system might be part of a larger struggle over cosmic authority, then left to confront Earth's Will for answers.

• Future Tony sent Scott toward Crossbones's subordinate and tracked the Mind Scepter as Hulk took the stairs.
• Future Steve entered the elevator with Sitwell and the Hydra agents, claiming the Mind Scepter had been placed under his responsibility.
• When Crossbones resisted, Steve whispered “Hail Hydra,” leaving the Hydra agents stunned.
• The old man vanished after warning Su Ming that rules established after the Primordial War limited the help he could provide.
• Su Ming found that his Dharma Giant could not observe events and knowledge tied to the old man's revelations, and Purple Jewel refused to explain the Supreme Laws or Ancient God Godhood.
• Su Ming resolved to strengthen himself and returned to confront Earth's Will about her role in guiding him toward Kunlun.

Steve obtained the Mind Scepter by posing as a Hydra ally, while the Avengers’ attempt to retrieve the Tesseract went badly wrong and Loki escaped with it. Su Ming confronted Earth’s Will and demanded to know what she had kept from him.

• Steve said “Hail Hydra” to Sitwell and received the Mind Scepter from the Hydra agents.
• Scott entered Tony’s chest and pulled a wire, causing Tony to collapse while the briefcase containing the Tesseract was taken.
• Hulk burst through the stairwell door, knocking SWAT Tony aside and sending the briefcase and Tesseract across the lobby.
• Loki grabbed the Tesseract and vanished through a spatial vortex while Thor revived Tony with Mjolnir.
• Su Ming entered Earth’s Will’s dimension, found her playing with Little Green, and demanded to know what she had not told him.

Earth's Will revealed that Earth's origin, the Ancient Godhood, and the demons' invasion all stemmed from Xiao Gu's creation of Earth and the universe's unstable beginnings. Su Ming realized that the Death Law, which had once attacked Xiao Gu and now stood behind the demons, was the true enemy.

• Su Ming questioned Earth's Will about the key, Ancient Godhood, Jade Pool's immortals, and the Cosmic Demons' fixation on Earth.
• Earth's Will explained that she and her twin Xiao Gu awakened in the First Universe, and Xiao Gu split chaos with a battle axe to create the embryonic Earth.
• Earth's Will said Xiao Gu's intervention destabilized the universe, prompting the Death Law and ancient demons to attack him.
• Xiao Gu self-destructed to repel his attackers and used his origin power to stabilize and nurture Earth.
• Earth's Will explained that Ancient Godhoods were vacant authorities left by immature Supreme Laws, and the Heirloom Seal of the Realm was the last known key to a powerful godhood.
• Su Ming learned that Earth's earliest sentient beings became Ancient Gods and that demons sought Earth's keys, then identified the Death Law as the true enemy behind their attacks.

Earth's Will revealed that Su Ming's transmigration, system, and role as Earth Guardian had been arranged to prepare him to oppose Death Law. Su Ming accepted the responsibility of protecting Earth and asked what part the Infinity Stones played in the coming war.

• Su Ming learned that the goddess he had seen in the Soul Stone Dimension was Death Law, one of the universe's earliest and strongest Supreme Laws.
• Earth's Will explained that Purple Jewel and Gold Jewel were incarnations of Infinity and Eternity, sisters born from the same origin as Death.
• Su Ming connected the clues and confronted Earth's Will about whether his transmigration, system, Heirloom Seal of the Realm, and Earth Guardian role had all been planned.
• Earth's Will admitted that she and Su Ming had been chosen to break the deadlock, with the system meant to accelerate his growth and the Heirloom Seal prepared as his weapon.
• Su Ming resolved to protect Earth despite having been manipulated, then asked Earth's Will what role the Infinity Stones played in the war.

Su Ming understood how to use the Infinity Stones, Starcore Fragments, and Heirloom Seal of the Realm to condense his Starry Vault Godhood, then traveled to the Avengers’ Time Heist. Galactus followed him through time disguised as Steve Rogers, aiming to seize the Stones and Starcore Fragments for himself.

• Earth's Will explained that the Infinity Stones were incomplete Pseudo-Godhoods whose rule energy could help Su Ming condense his Starry Vault Godhood.
• Su Ming resolved to decide how to use his power, asked Earth's Will to prepare Earth's Origin, and traveled to the Time Heist timeline.
• Galactus watched Earth and planned to capture Su Ming and take his Starcore Fragments and the Infinity Stones.
• Galactus sensed Su Ming's departure, compressed his power, and transformed into a man resembling Steve Rogers.
• Galactus opened a Time Door and followed Su Ming into the past to begin his hunt.

Future Steve Rogers and his 2012 self fought over the Mind Scepter until Demon Captain appeared, took it, and vanished. Elsewhere, Ancient One explained to Banner that removing the Time Stone would endanger her timeline, but Banner insisted the Avengers would return the Stones.

• Future Steve encountered his 2012 self, and the two Captain Americas fought while Demon Captain watched nearby.
• The fighting knocked the briefcase open, exposing the Mind Scepter and drawing Demon Captain's attention to its Infinity Stone.
• After falling from the skybridge, the two Steves saw Demon Captain take the Mind Scepter and vanish, then resumed fighting over the pendant bearing Agent Carter's photo.
• Banner asked Ancient One for the Time Stone, and she demonstrated how removing an Infinity Stone created a dangerous divergent timeline.
• Banner argued that the Avengers would return the Stones after using them, and promised they would survive long enough to do so.

Su Ming revealed that Strange had willingly given the Time Stone to Thanos, persuading Ancient One to reconsider her refusal to help Banner. Ancient One chose to entrust the stone to Su Ming instead, judging him more reliable.

• Su Ming arrived and challenged Ancient One by asking why Strange had handed over the Time Stone.
• Su Ming warmly praised Banner, who became emotional and floated off to cry in a corner.
• Su Ming told Ancient One that Strange had given the Time Stone to Thanos willingly.
• Ancient One accepted that Strange must have had a reason and restored Banner to his Green Hulk form.
• Ancient One removed the Time Stone from the Eye of Agamotto and offered it to Su Ming, saying he seemed more reliable.

Su Ming absorbed the Time Stone, gaining greater command over time and earning Ancient One's hope for the future. Elsewhere, Thanos discovered that future Nebula's memories revealed the Avengers' Time Heist plans, while Thor awkwardly encountered Frigga on Asgard.

• Ancient One offered Su Ming the Time Stone, and it merged into his body, strengthening his mastery of time and advancing his system stage.
• Ancient One saw the Time Stone's mark in Su Ming's eyes, concluded he might change history, and asked him not to let her down.
• On the Dark Aster, Ebony Maw scanned Nebula and found memories shared with a version of her from nine years in the future.
• Thanos watched the Avengers' Time Heist meeting in Nebula's memories and ordered his forces to Morag to keep searching them.
• On Asgard, Thor tried to spy on Frigga, but she caught him and questioned his shabby clothes.

Thor reunited with Frigga in the past, and her intuition led him to reveal that he came from the future and weep in her arms. In New York in 2012, a demon god posing as Steve Rogers met Tony Stark and Scott after they lost the Tesseract, then asked if they had another way to get it.

• Frigga noticed Thor’s restored eye and recognized that he was not the Thor she knew.
• Frigga deduced that Thor had come from the future, and he admitted it while crying and embracing her.
• In New York in 2012, the demon god disguised as Captain America met Tony Stark and Scott in a wrecked car.
• Tony and Scott argued over losing the Tesseract after Hulk disrupted their plan and Loki escaped with it.
• The demon god suppressed his irritation and asked Tony and Scott whether they had another way to get the Tesseract.

Tony and the Demon Captain traveled to 1970 New Jersey to retrieve the Tesseract and replenish their Pym Particles, while Su Ming sensed their time jump and left with The Ancient One’s protective spells. Tony and the Demon Captain identified an inconspicuous bunker at the military base as the likely hiding place of S.H.I.E.L.D.’s secret operation.

• Tony proposed traveling to 1970 New Jersey to get the Tesseract and replenish their Pym Particles, and the Demon Captain agreed to improvise with him.
• Tony and the Demon Captain traveled through time together, leaving Scott behind without the Mind Scepter.
• Su Ming sensed the time jump, received protective spells from The Ancient One, and vanished through a Time Door.
• Hulk Banner followed The Ancient One after realizing Su Ming had taken the Time Stone and his mission had gone awry.
• In 1970 New Jersey, Tony and the Demon Captain reasoned that S.H.I.E.L.D.’s hidden operation was likely concealed in plain sight and focused on an inconspicuous bunker.

Steve convinced the 2012 Captain America that he was his future self, then asked for help with an urgent problem. Meanwhile, Su Ming encountered Tony and the Demon Captain in 1970 and grew suspicious when he sensed that the Mind Scepter was hidden with them.

• Steve escaped the 2012 Captain America's hold and proved his identity by revealing that Kate was a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent sent by Nick Fury to protect him.
• Steve told the 2012 Captain America that Carter had lived a happy life and that he should not disrupt her final years.
• After accepting Steve's identity, the 2012 Captain America asked what had happened and why Steve had returned.
• Su Ming arrived at the 1970 New Jersey base and disguised himself as a high-ranking military officer before meeting Tony and the Demon Captain at the elevator.
• Tony assumed the Demon Captain had hidden the Mind Scepter, while Su Ming realized he could not sense it and suspected something was wrong.

Su Ming exposed the Cosmic Demon hiding inside Steve Rogers, defeated him, and took the Mind Scepter. After the demon escaped to 2012, Su Ming followed him through a Time Door, setting up their next confrontation in New York.

• Su Ming recognized the Cosmic Demon in Steve Rogers and revealed that it was hiding the Mind Scepter.
• Su Ming broke the demon’s wrist, knocked it down with Steve’s Vibranium shield, and forced it to surrender the Mind Scepter before it escaped through a time wormhole.
• Tony returned with the Tesseract and Pym Particles, then left while Su Ming stayed behind to pursue the demon.
• Su Ming tracked the demon to 2012 New York and stepped through a Time Door into the damaged city.

Tony encountered his father Howard Stark in the past and shared advice about fatherhood before they parted, while Thanos used Nebula’s memories to capture her and Past Nebula delivered a vial of red liquid to him. On Vormir, Hawkeye and Black Widow learned they would have to sacrifice someone they loved for the Soul Stone, leaving them facing a choice between their lives.

• Tony met Howard Stark in an elevator, learned Howard was expecting a child, and spoke with him about being a father.
• Tony embraced Howard and thanked him for everything he had done before leaving; Howard wondered whether they had met before.
• Past Nebula beat and threatened Future Nebula after Nebula tried to warn Gamora about Thanos and the future.
• Past Nebula gave Thanos a test tube filled with bright red liquid and asked how she had done.
• Red Skull guided Hawkeye and Black Widow to the cliff on Vormir and explained that obtaining the Soul Stone required a loved one’s sacrifice.
• Hawkeye and Black Widow faced the choice, with Hawkeye unable to die and Natasha needing to live.

Su Ming let the demon god escape in 1970 so he could follow it and uncover the Death Law’s deeper plans. Meanwhile, the Avengers’ time heist suffered a devastating setback when Natasha died, Red Skull took the Soul Stone, and the team realized Silver Duke was collecting Infinity Stones too.

• Su Ming deliberately allowed the demon god to escape after marking it, hoping to follow it to the source of the Death Law’s secrets.
• On Vormir, Natasha sacrificed herself for Clint, but Red Skull seized the Soul Stone and fought Clint when he tried to reclaim it.
• In Asgard, Thor extracted the Aether from Jane, received Frigga’s farewell, summoned Mjolnir, and returned with the Reality Stone.
• On Morag, Rhodey knocked out Peter Quill and took the Orb.
• At Avengers Base, the team learned Natasha was dead and the Soul Stone was missing, while Rhodey brought back the Orb.
• The Avengers realized Silver Duke had the Time Stone and might have the Mind Scepter, while Steve reported fighting two strange versions of himself in 2012.

Su Ming erased the Chitauri mothership, ending the Battle of New York early, while the Cosmic Demon headed across Antarctica to seek help from the Death Law. At Avengers Base, the team split its plan between Vormir in 2014 and New York in 2012, then began debating who would go where.

• Su Ming exchanged the Chitauri war mothership for 1.2 quadrillion dollars, cutting off the Chitauri forces and helping the Avengers end the Battle of New York.
• The Cosmic Demon, possessing Steve, crossed Antarctica to find the place where the Death Goddess had descended and seek reinforcements from the Death Law.
• Clint Barton urged the Avengers to keep pursuing the Stones, and Rocket, Deadpool, and Sylvie appeared over a link to Su Ming's base; Deadpool hinted that 2012 held important clues.
• After Rocket vouched for Deadpool's intuition, Tony Stark ordered one team to retrieve the Soul Stone from Vormir in 2014 and another to find Su Ming and reclaim the Mind Scepter in 2012 New York.
• Clint chose Vormir, while Steve and Tony favored 2012; Bruce leaned toward Vormir, and James Rhodes and Scott Lang remained open to assignment.

The Avengers prepared another Time Heist, unaware that the Nebula with them was a 2014 spy serving Thanos. Meanwhile, the Cosmic Demon waited in Antarctica for the Death Goddess and worried about the Starcore Fragment he had secretly kept.

• The Avengers divided into teams to retrieve the Infinity Stones, while Thor and Nebula were assigned to remain at the base.
• The 2014 Nebula volunteered to join the 2012 team so she could confirm the Stones had been gathered and summon Thanos, who planned to destroy all humanity.
• Thor stayed behind to guard the time machine, and Steve decided to watch Nebula closely as the Avengers launched the Time Heist.
• In Antarctica, the Cosmic Demon waited for the Death Goddess to appear on End of the World Day, but sensed no sign of her.
• The Cosmic Demon drew power from the Starcore Fragment and worried that the Death Goddess might discover he had secretly kept it.

After integrating the Mind Stone, Su Ming detected the Demon Captain hiding in Antarctica and set out to confront him. Elsewhere, the Death Law Goddess reflected on the damage Pangu’s actions had done to the universes and the burden of keeping their fragile order intact.

• The Demon Captain hid inside an Antarctic iceberg and planned to blame Su Ming for his actions before facing the Death Law.
• Su Ming’s Mind Stone fusion increased his power and sharpened his perception of emotions and time.
• Su Ming detected the Demon Captain’s concealed energy in Antarctica and flew there to reclaim what he sought and uncover the Demon Captain’s plans.
• The Death Law Goddess worried over the Sixth Universe’s flaws, blamed Pangu’s disruption of the First Universe, and lamented the absence of Infinity and Eternity.

The Death Goddess descended on Earth to replenish her depleted origin, while journalist William encountered Su Ming after an ancient figure emerged from an Antarctic iceberg. Su Ming evacuated William’s expedition team through a portal just as the Death Goddess appeared before him.

• The Death Goddess traveled to Antarctica, hoping to recharge without interference from Earth’s Ancient Gods.
• William went to relieve himself during his expedition team’s evacuation and saw a figure emerge from an iceberg, who hurled Captain America’s shield at him.
• Su Ming caught the shield and saved William from being struck, then created a portal to evacuate the expedition team.
• Su Ming pushed William, Lisa, Jack, and the other team members through the portal when he sensed danger.
• The Death Goddess appeared before Su Ming as the portal closed, and William fainted again.

Su Ming encountered the Death Goddess in Antarctica and tried to turn her suspicion toward the Cosmic Demon by linking him to Jade Pool’s destruction and the stolen Starcore Fragment. Beneath the ice, the Cosmic Demon activated her altar, only to realize her descent had targeted Su Ming’s location.

• The Death Goddess appeared before Su Ming in her true body and recognized him as the mortal carrying Time Law, Starcore Fragments, and the auras of her younger sisters.
• The Death Goddess asked where the Cosmic Demon was and explained that he had activated her Origin Imprint to accelerate her descent.
• Su Ming told the Death Goddess that the Cosmic Demon had fled and suggested he was connected to Jade Pool’s destruction and the stolen Starcore Fragment.
• The Cosmic Demon found the Death Goddess’s altar beneath the Antarctic ice and fed energy from the Starcore Fragment into it to summon her.
• The Cosmic Demon sensed the Death Goddess’s energy lock onto Su Ming’s location and realized she had descended far sooner than he expected.