Recaps

Lincon learned that the Ant Queen had recovered enough to begin producing larvae, but a powerful Abyssal race was approaching through the expanding spatial rift. He planned to speed up Longwind City’s development and prepare to take control of any invaders.

• Lincon asked the Ant Guard about the Ant Queen and learned that her first batch of over a hundred larvae was about to hatch, though only around three hundred ants had been produced in two months.
• Lincon asked about activity in the Abyssal World, and the Ant Guard reported that an unknown being similar in strength to the B+ rank Ant Queen was approaching the spatial rift.
• The Ant Guard explained that the rift’s energy was weakening but the rift itself was expanding, which could eventually make it easier for Abyssal races to cross over.
• Lincon told the Ant Guard to remain in Longwind City in case he needed its help, then considered how the city’s new resources could support its development.
• Lincon resolved to strengthen his territory and take in any Abyssal invaders who came through the rift.

Luo Qian and the others returned to Longwind Territory with the Dark Iron Birch and its attached Meat Fields, which reacted positively to the territory’s abundant life energy. Lincon inspected the tree and discovered that it could evolve into a Spirit Source Iron Tree by fusing with the Meat Fields.

• Luo Qian’s convoy stopped outside Longwind City, where Xu Qing’s team unloaded the Dark Iron Birch and the Meat Fields into a vessel.
• Xu Qing observed that the Meat Fields were adapting to Longwind Territory’s rich life energy, and Chen Siwei saw the Eight-Headed Snake respond with renewed comfort and faster healing.
• Zhou Qing informed Lincon of the convoy’s return, and Lincon and Longwind City’s senior officials teleported outside the city using Void Dandelion seeds.
• Lincon greeted Luo Qian and the returning team, then used his Plant Affinity to sense the Dark Iron Birch’s fear and calm it.
• Lincon’s Sub-Profession Panel revealed three advancement routes for the Dark Iron Birch, including the hidden Spirit Source Iron Tree route requiring the Spirit-Fusion Organism Cluster.

Lincon settled the Dark Iron Birch, Spirit-Fusion Organism Cluster, and Eight-Headed Snake in a secluded valley, then Longwind City rewarded the mission’s contributors with equipment and currency. At the Forging Department, Gray Feather Squad and the Wang family chose from rare weapons, and Wang Xiaoyu singled out a silver-white handgun.

• Lincon realized the Spirit-Fusion Organism Cluster might develop different attributes in different environments and ordered it and the Dark Iron Birch settled in a secluded valley.
• Chen Siwei brought the Eight-Headed Snake to Lincon, and it submitted to him and was assigned to guard the valley alongside the other finds.
• Lincon’s officials selected six core members from the Garrison Guard, Rune Workshop, and Qingrang Academy for the Trial Temple, while Gray Feather Squad and the Wang family received equipment-selection privileges and currency.
• The External Affairs Office sent Gray Feather Squad and the Wang family to the Forging Department, where Gongshu Qi explained they could each choose one displayed item.
• Wang Xiaoyu chose a silver-white handgun, and Gongshu Qi recognized that she had picked an especially fortunate item.

Wang Xiaoyu chose Gongshu Qi’s rune-powered handgun, Red Beauty, while Wang Hainian selected the powerful shotgun-like Demonbreaker. A Gray Feather Squad member also received the repeating rifle Sandveil, and the group left with their new equipment.

• Wang Xiaoyu picked Red Beauty because she thought it looked nice, and Gongshu Qi explained that it fired energy bullets capable of harming powerful enemies.
• Gongshu Qi gave Wang Xiaoyu Red Beauty and warned her not to fire it at her allies; she thanked him with a piece of fruit candy.
• Wang Hainian chose the rune firearm Demonbreaker after learning about Red Beauty and considering how the weapons could suit his ability.
• Gongshu Qi warned Wang Hainian about Demonbreaker’s powerful recoil and promised weapon manuals for him and Wang Xiaoyu.
• A Gray Feather Squad member asked for a fast-firing rune firearm, and Gongshu Qi selected Sandveil for him.

The Gray Feather Squad left the Forging Department with top-quality equipment and renewed resolve to grow stronger in Longwind City. Meanwhile, Lincon gained the Dark Iron Birch’s consent to become his subject and evolved it into a B-Plus Rank Spirit Source Iron Tree.

• Bai Ge and the Gray Feather Squad chose powerful equipment, and Night Owl urged the team to train and take on new missions.
• Night Owl and Wang Hainian promised to support each other after their successful collaboration.
• Gongshu Qi revealed that the Lord had ordered him to guide the group toward the best equipment.
• Lincon offered the Dark Iron Birch the choice to remain as it was or become his subject and escape the Spirit-Fusion Organisms’ erosion.
• The Dark Iron Birch chose to become Lincon’s subject, and he evolved it into a B-Plus Rank Spirit Source Iron Tree.

Lincon discovered the Spirit Source Iron Tree’s strategic abilities and arranged for the displaced Eight-Headed Snake to move to Misty Forest. By testing Spirit-Fusion Organisms with different energy crystals, he confirmed they could develop elemental attributes, and he left with a clearer vision of building Longwind City into a system that gathered resources for him.

• Lincon assessed the Spirit Source Iron Tree’s abilities, recognized the danger its expanding Gengjin Domain posed to the Eight-Headed Snake, and promised to relocate it to Misty Forest.
• Lincon instructed the Spirit Source Iron Tree to cooperate with Longwind City officials collecting its branches, leaves, and spirit liquid.
• Lincon exposed Spirit-Fusion Organism samples to Fire Source Essences, Dark Matter Crystals, and Ash Snow Crystals, causing them to develop distinct fire, dark, and ice traits.
• Lincon concluded that attribute-specific Spirit-Fusion Organisms could symbiose with matching Spirit Plants and produce new varieties of special plants.
• Lincon reflected that Longwind City’s growth could supply materials for his future goals and clarified his plans to build an orderly system that gathered resources for him.

Lincon prepared the Trial Temple to open and assigned the Eight-Headed Snake to serve as a gatekeeper for its trials. After learning the Temple’s rules from the Ant Guard, the snake looked forward to facing the coming trial participants.

• Lincon sent the newly born Spirit-Fusion Organism Cluster samples to the Mutated Creature Research Center, then rode the Eight-Headed Snake to the Trial Temple.
• Lincon told the Eight-Headed Snake to spar with Longwind City’s elite warriors and instructed it to hold back without making the trials easy.
• The Ant Guard took the Eight-Headed Snake into the Temple and explained that it would guard the deepest part of the Purgatory Layer, allowing participants to advance if they lasted fifteen minutes.
• The Ant Guard guided the Eight-Headed Snake through the Temple and defeated it repeatedly in training fights, teaching it how death and revival worked inside.
• News that the Trial Temple would soon open spread throughout the Inner City.

Longwind City’s six chosen trial participants learned the Trial Temple’s rules, then entered its Purgatory Layer under Lincon’s guidance. They received a mission to clear the layer and cautiously advanced through its eerie landscape.

• Zhang Rui announced the Trial Temple’s rules, warned that the trial would test participants in life-or-death combat, and explained that rankings would be based on their individual evaluations.
• Three days later, Luo Qian, Xu Qing, Xia Xun, Zhou Wei, Liang Fengyi, and Jian Xiujie met Lincon at the Temple gates and entered through the archway.
• The six arrived in a strange realm and received a mission to clear the Purgatory Layer, with a C-Rank Clearance Token, reward points, and an Abyss Layer Invitation as rewards.
• Luo Qian drew his Ghostshadow Sword Orchid, took command, and led the others into the dangerous landscape.

Luo Qian and the other five trial-takers fought through the Purgatory Layer before confronting the B-Rank Eight-Headed Snake, which killed all but Luo Qian. After Luo Qian’s wraith power helped him defeat it, he cleared the layer and entered the Abyss Layer.

• Luo Qian and the others survived the Temple’s opening hazards and defeated Treant Guards before fighting through waves of dark creatures.
• The exhausted group encountered the Eight-Headed Snake, and Lincon watched from outside as it overwhelmed them.
• Liang Fengyi, Jian Xiujie, Zhou Wei, and the others died, while Luo Qian’s Wraith Hand transformed him and Xia Xun and Xu Qing restrained the snake.
• Luo Qian used his wraithified arm to slash the Eight-Headed Snake, and the creature allowed the black mist to consume it.
• The trial recognized Luo Qian as the sole survivor, awarded him an A rating and an Abyss Layer invitation, and he entered the black vortex.

Xia Xun and the others awoke in the Trial Temple after dying in the Purgatory Layer, where Lincon explained that the Temple’s laws had restored them. They reviewed their defeat and learned that Luo Qian had reached the Abyss Layer but died to the Abyss Ant Guard; Lincon left the Temple planning to prepare for the arrival of other Abyss races.

• Xia Xun awoke in the Trial Temple, saw his failed mission evaluation, and asked Lincon how he had returned from death.
• Xu Qing, Zhou Wei, Liang Fengyi, and Jian Xiujie woke, and Lincon explained that the Temple revived them after their deaths and restored their bodies.
• Xia Xun explained that the team had earned Reward Points based on their contributions but failed to clear the Purgatory Layer.
• Luo Qian awoke and recounted reaching the Abyss Layer, where the Abyss Ant Guard defeated him before he could make a move.
• Lincon told the six trial-takers to learn from the experience and announced that the Temple would open three days each month.
• Lincon praised the Eight-Headed Snake and the Ant Guard, then said he would take them to the Abyss to prepare for the other Abyss races.

Lincon returned to the Abyss with the Eight-Headed Snake and learned that the Ant Race faced investigation by three rival races after the Blood Demon Lord noticed its Abyssal Core was gone. He prepared to meet the approaching races, hinting that he might turn them into allies and asking whether they would bring Abyssal Cores.

• Lincon left Longwind City in the care of Zhang Rui, Zhou Qing, and Chen Siwei, then traveled to the Abyss with the Ant Guard, Spirit Plants, and Eight-Headed Snake.
• Lincon found that the Ant Queen had expanded the colony but lacked powerful fighters, while the Ant Queen warned that energy fluctuations at the rift suggested other races were probing it.
• The Ant Queen explained that the Blood Demon Lord had sent the Shadow Race, Blood Race, and Bone Race to investigate the missing Abyssal Core.
• Lincon remained unconcerned about the threat and said the arriving races might become friends rather than enemies.
• Lincon asked whether newly arriving Abyssal races would carry an Abyssal Core, leaving the Ant Queen confused.

Lincon transformed the Abyss Rift into a hive city, explaining to the Ant Queen that the construction would give them home-ground advantage against the Blood Demon Lord’s forces. As the defenses took shape, the Ant Queen began to understand Lincon’s strategy, and the rift became an Abyssal Outpost called Hive Canyon.

• Lincon ordered the Ant Race to excavate the Abyss Rift and build a vast hive city around the Central Mother Nest, despite the Ant Queen’s concern that it wasted time needed for combat preparations.
• Lincon told the Ant Queen that the Shadow Race, Bone Race, and other Abyss races were his dark kin, and said he was preparing for the Blood Demon Lord rather than focusing only on immediate threats.
• Lincon explained that the Eye Worms could detect concealed Shadow Demons and that an expanded battlefield would help counter the Bone Race.
• The Ant Queen realized Lincon was turning the chaotic rift into a structured home ground designed to control the battlefield.
• The worker ants built hives around the Central Mother Nest while soldier ants patrolled the perimeter and monitored the spatial rift.
• The B-Rank rift in the Jiangzhou region became an Abyssal Outpost known as Hive Canyon.

Lincon prepared Hive Canyon for the Shadow Demons by evolving Abyssal Plants, then concealed himself and let the Ant Race face the newcomers. The Shadow Demon Lord condemned the Ant Race and ordered an attack on the Central Mother Nest.

• Lincon evolved Shadowmist Fungus into Illusionmist Fungus and developed other Abyssal Plants, including Corrosive Blast Mushrooms and Soulbinding Moss.
• The Ant Queen came to acknowledge Lincon as Abyssal energy fluctuations intensified in the rift and the Ant Race prepared for an arrival.
• Lincon ordered the soldier ants to withdraw from the entrance, while he and the Eight-Headed Snake concealed themselves nearby.
• Shadow Demons poured through the rift, and the Ant Guard confronted their Lord while Lincon watched from hiding.
• The Ant Guard claimed humans had taken the Abyssal Core and Life Fruit, but the Shadow Demon Lord declared the Ant Race unfit to hold the rift and ordered the Shadow Demons to attack the Central Mother Nest.

Lincon defended the Ant Queen’s Central Mother Nest from the Shadow Race and defeated the Shadow Demon Lord in his Fire God form. After the Ant Queen translated his demand, the Shadow Demon Lord submitted and received Lincon’s Overlord Brand, leaving the Shadow Race loyal to him.

• The Shadow Race attacked the Central Mother Nest, but Eye Worms, Illusionmist Fungus, and Corrosive Blast Mushrooms slowed and injured the invaders.
• The Shadow Demon Lord and two Shadow Guards reached the Ant Queen’s cave, where the Eight-Headed Snake crashed down and pinned a Shadow Demon.
• Lincon transformed into his Fire God armor, burned away the Shadow Demon Lord’s tentacles, and battered him with blazing punches.
• Lincon restrained the Shadow Demon Lord with vines and demanded his submission, which the Ant Queen translated into Abyssal Language.
• The Shadow Demon Lord surrendered, accepted Lincon’s Overlord Brand, and called him “Master.”

Lincon subdued the Shadow Demon Lord and brought the Shadow Race under his control, learning that the Blood Demon Lord had sent them to watch the Ant Race and seize the Ant Queen if it faltered. He let the Shadow Demon Lord’s warning deadline for the Bone Race stand and considered using the Abyssal Core to invade the Abyss in the future.

• Lincon emerged from the Mother Nest with the wounded Shadow Demon Lord, who ordered the fighting Shadow Demons to stop.
• Lincon assessed the Shadow Race’s strengths as scouts and criticized the Blood Demon Lord for using them as a vanguard.
• The Shadow Demon Lord gave Lincon half of the Blood Demon Lord’s Abyssal Core and explained the Shadow Race’s mission to monitor the Ant Race.
• The Shadow Demon Lord revealed that the Bone Race would descend if no report arrived within three days, and Lincon chose to let them come.
• Lincon wondered whether the Abyssal Core could eventually let him enter the Abyss and lead an invasion for its resources.

Lincon activated a rune network across Hive Canyon to create an Elemental Array capable of harnessing elemental powers against Bone Demons. Meanwhile, the Blood Demon Lord sent Alashu and an army of Bone Demons through the rift toward Blue Star, leaving the story poised for their arrival.

• The Blood Demon Lord, troubled by the Shadow Race's silence, ordered Alashu to investigate what was happening on Blue Star.
• Alashu led countless Bone Demons toward the rift after the Blood Demon Lord declared the Bone Race could replace the Shadow Race.
• Lincon completed more than a thousand Runes across Hive Canyon and activated the large-scale Elemental Array.
• The Ant Queen and Shadow Demon Lord sensed the array's energy, while Lincon's Runes stirred elemental powers throughout the canyon.
• The Ant Queen absorbed energy from half an Abyssal Core, nurturing a basketball-sized embryo for a new Ant Race warrior.

Lincon and his allies lured Alashu and the Bone Demon army into Hive Canyon, where traps and a coordinated elemental assault devastated the invading force. Alashu was eventually subdued after a prolonged fight, and Lincon used the Overlord Mark to try to claim him.

• Alashu emerged from the Abyss Rift and led a vast Bone Demon army into Hive Canyon, believing the Shadow Race was fighting the Ant Race.
• Lincon’s detection nodes, Flame Runes, Illusionmist Fungus, Eye Worms, soldier ants, and Shadow Demons disrupted and picked off the Bone Demons as they entered the canyon.
• Lincon blocked the rift with the Eight-Headed Snake, and his Triple Nodes unleashed a four-element array that shattered most of the Bone Demon army.
• Alashu realized the Ant and Shadow Races had both rebelled, then charged the Central Mother Nest and confronted Hei Shi, the Ant Guard, and the Ant Queen.
• The Ant Queen struck Alashu’s soul while Hei Shi and the Ant Guard attacked; Lincon sent in his B-Rank Spirit Plants to subdue Alashu after he fought for more than an hour.
• Lincon approached the nearly destroyed but still-standing Alashu and invoked the Overlord Mark.

Lincon claimed Alashu and the Bone Demons, then planned how the Ant, Shadow, and Bone races would develop while he was away. The Blood Demon Lord received no news from Alashu and chose to wait, believing the Bone Race might still be handling threats.

• Lincon branded the nearly defeated Alashu with the Overlord Mark, bringing the Bone Demons under his control.
• Lincon learned that Bone Demons could multiply by infecting bones with soul fire, while the Ant Queen explained that stable undead energy could potentially guide their development.
• Lincon ordered Alashu to establish a new base outside Hive Canyon and appointed the Ant Queen temporary leader while he was away.
• Lincon taught the Ant Queen to direct Ant Guard development during the embryonic stage, and she understood the idea with excitement.
• The Blood Demon Lord questioned why Alashu had sent no report, but a Bloodkin noble persuaded it to wait because the Abyssal Core remained present.

Lincon returned from Hive Canyon to Longwind City, where he saw how the settlement had grown during his absence. He reached the Sacred Court, whose Spirit Plants welcomed their lord.

• Lincon gave the Ant Queen, Hei Shi, and Alashu Void Dandelion seeds for quick travel between Hive Canyon and Longwind City, then left with the Eight-Headed Snake and War Treant.
• Lincon walked through the Outer City in disguise and saw its bustling shops, busy adventurers, and construction of a free public library.
• Lincon watched an adventurer buy an overpriced breastplate that had been phased out by the Inner City.
• Lincon passed through the Inner City’s state-run shops, Formal Subjects’ residential district, and expanding department centers before reaching the Sacred Court.
• Lincon removed his cloak at the Sacred Court, where its Spirit Plants and surrounding life energy welcomed him.

Lincon returned to the Sacred Court and heard reports on Longwind City's growth, new rune weapons, nearby survivor camps, and plans to expand the Inner City. The meeting ended with Longwind City preparing for further growth, while the chapter closed with an author’s day-off notice.

• Lincon returned to the Sacred Court, where Luo Chiyou updated him on the Spirit Plants and Temple Exchange Center.
• Zhang Rui reported that Longwind City had gained three hundred and twenty outsiders and that the Forging Department had developed three new Rune Weapons.
• Li Yunfan asked Lincon to approve compiling a Chronicle of Longwind City, and Lincon agreed.
• Zhou Qing presented a map of thirty-seven survivor camps in Jiangzhou, and Lincon welcomed trade and aid without forcing them to join Longwind City.
• Old Jiang proposed expanding the Inner City, and Lincon approved planning for the expansion.
• The author announced a day off and attached an AI-generated rough layout map of Longwind City's Inner City.

Lincon heard Luo Chiyou’s warning that Star Pavilion might target Longwind City and its Rune Technology, then weighed the city’s defenses against the looming threat. After combining with the Light-Dark Cherry of the Far Shore, he resolved to strengthen Luo Qian and Longwind City’s other elite fighters.

• Luo Chiyou warned Lincon that Longwind City’s Rune Technology could attract Star Pavilion and other powerful factions, but Lincon said he was willing to let others study or reverse-engineer it.
• Luo Chiyou explained that Star Pavilion’s Twenty-Eight Mansions included powerful B-Rank members, that Kangjin long might have reached A-Rank, and that the organization could investigate Xiao Jing and her deaths in Jiangzhou.
• Lincon thanked Luo Chiyou for her warning, and she insisted that she wanted to protect the current state of Longwind City.
• Lincon visited the Life Spring and considered whether to use Potential Unleashing on the Light-Dark Cherry of the Far Shore, deciding that he hoped instead to preserve the Fire God Tree’s chance to become the mythical Fusang Divine Tree.
• Lincon entered a Composite State with the Light-Dark Cherry of the Far Shore and felt his power and control over surrounding energy increase.
• Lincon decided to stay vigilant about Star Pavilion and use the coming crop planting to strengthen Luo Qian and Longwind City’s elite backbones.

Lincon evolved several low-rank Spirit Plants into useful food and medicinal resources, then brought the Medical Office and Qingrang Academy together to discuss collaboration. Zhao Du resisted the partnership over patient safety, leaving Lincon to consider how the Forging Department and Rune Workshop had overcome similar differences.

• Lincon used Potential Unleashing to evolve a Sunlight Potato into a Sunlight Jade Tuber that nourished the body and strengthened resistance to Dark Energy.
• Over several days, Lincon evolved more low-rank Spirit Plants, including Fire Fruit and Blue Frost Grass, and sent them to Qingrang Academy for cultivation.
• Lincon convened the Medical Office and Qingrang Academy to encourage joint research and development.
• Zhao Du objected that the Medical Office could not responsibly use Spirit Plants without testing their medicinal effects, side effects, and contraindications.
• Lincon wondered how the Forging Department and Rune Workshop had managed to collaborate.

Lincon removed Zhao Du from the Medical Office after he refused to cooperate with Qingrang Academy on spiritual medicine research. He appointed Wang Xiaoming to lead the research group and arranged for Xu Qing to serve as Qingrang Academy’s liaison.

• Lincon argued that Longwind City needed to develop new medicine for the Dark Age, then accepted Zhao Du’s suggestion that someone else take over the work by removing him from the Medical Office.
• Jiang Wei agreed with Zhao Du’s removal, and Lincon asked the Medical Office members to volunteer to lead the cooperation with Qingrang Academy.
• Wang Xiaoming volunteered, proposed building a Spirit Plant medicinal-properties database and conducting experiments, and said some deaths might be necessary for research.
• Lincon chose Wang Xiaoming as temporary leader of the Medical Office Research Group and told Liu Qing to appoint a Qingrang Academy liaison.
• Liu Qing assigned Xu Qing to work with Wang Xiaoming because she understood Spirit Plants and had research experience.

After Wang Xiaoming defended his herbal medicine research against Zhao Du, Lincon supported the new department with a monthly edict and transformed farmland into a Spirit Field. Longwind City continued to expand, with plans for a martial arena, shrine, and academy.

• Wang Xiaoming told Zhao Du that he believed herbal medicine research could help Longwind City adapt to the New Era, while Zhao Du questioned whether he had been wrong.
• Lincon issued the Herbal Medicine Sprouting edict, increasing research speed and researchers’ chances of gaining inspiration.
• Wang Xiaoming gained new insight into a Spirit Plant analysis, while more Medical Office members joined the herbal medicine research group despite some senior doctors’ concerns.
• Lincon used Whisper of Nature to turn farmland outside Longwind City into a Spirit Field, doubling its life energy and improving its growing conditions.
• The Urban Planning Bureau proposed expanding the inner city and building new residential areas and public facilities, including Longwind Martial Arena, Heroes' Shrine, and Longwind Academy.

Old Jiang revised plans for Longwind City’s expansion, including a Combat Arena, Heroes' Shrine, and Longwind Academy. Meanwhile, wandering merchant Liu Qiang encountered a mysterious black-robed stranger on the road, who offered Essence for information about two people.

• Old Jiang detailed plans for the Combat Arena, Heroes' Shrine, and Longwind Academy as news of the facilities spread through Longwind City.
• Liu Qiang led his merchant convoy back toward Longwind City after completing a trade at another human camp.
• A black-robed stranger stepped in front of Liu Qiang’s vehicles and stopped the convoy.
• The stranger showed Liu Qiang a golden crystal and offered the Essence in exchange for information about two people.