Chapter Summaries

Lincon survived the Flame Demon Lord’s self-destruction by reversing the Light-Dark Cherry of the Far Shore into its protective Dark Form, then subdued the surviving Death Scythe and recovered enough to leave the Redwood Forest. He headed for Peerless City, while an investigating team arrived at the crater and found a human-made clothesline.

• The Flame Demon Lord’s self-destruction devastated Redwood Forest Valley, but Luo Chiyou and Lincon’s Light-Dark Cherry of the Far Shore shielded Lincon in its Dark Form.
• Lincon emerged from a dark cocoon alive, though badly injured, and learned that his fused Spirit Plants had been severely weakened; he also gained experience and Sunlight for killing the Flame Demon Lord.
• Lincon found that Death Scythe had survived, branded it with the Overlord Brand, and forced it to submit as his companion.
• After several days of recovery and searching the crater, Lincon decided to leave for Peerless City to seek rare materials at its auction house.
• A team dispatched by Peerless City reached the crater and noticed a human-made clothesline near the site of the explosion.

The Peerless City team investigated the Redwood Forest after a huge explosion eradicated its Abyssal Creatures, finding traces that someone had stayed there but no clear explanation for the disaster. Lincon arrived in Peerless City, impressed the guards with his rare spoils, and followed Xu Lili toward the East District and its auction house.

• The Peerless City team found a handmade clothes rack and signs of human activity in the Redwood Forest, then decided to return and report the mystery.
• Rumors about the Dark Traveler spread across the Northern Province as Lincon and Luo Chiyou reached Peerless City.
• At the checkpoint, Lincon revealed valuable crystals and creature materials, causing Uncle Gong to waive the inspection and assign Xu Lili as his guide.
• Xu Lili introduced Peerless City's districts and explained that ordinary people lived in the restricted, chaotic West District.
• Lincon chose to visit the East District, where Xu Lili said a major auction was scheduled that night, and they arrived among its shops and weapons stalls.

Lincon brought valuable Dark Crystals and Flame Demon materials to Peerless City's auction house, where Xie Haitang's Appraisal ability provoked a clash with his spiritual power. After apologizing for probing him, Xie Haitang offered to buy some of his goods and grant him special treatment at the auction.

• Lincon and Xu Lili reached the auction house, where Lincon found the Nine-Bend Spirit Vine in the catalog and decided to enter the auction.
• Lincon consigned several C-Rank and B-Rank Dark Matter Crystals and two fire-element materials, causing Xu Youzhi to change his attitude toward him.
• Xie Haitang shook Lincon's hand and used her Appraisal ability, but Lincon's spiritual power repelled her probe and left her shaken.
• Xie Haitang apologized for investigating Lincon without permission and offered to buy three B-Rank crystals and one fire-element material at the auction's highest prices.
• Xie Haitang offered Lincon the best Heaven-Character No. 1 Box and waived all handling fees.

Lincon attended the Peerless Auction House’s monthly auction and waited for the Nine-Bend Spirit Vine to appear, while Qingwei sought a trade that could save a dying Mutant Plant. As Qingwei was about to leave without a deal, Lincon revealed himself, and his presence caused her ability and body to react uncontrollably.

• Xie Haitang’s Appraisal Art failed to reveal Lincon’s strength, so she gave him a personal token and ordered Xu Youzhi to keep watch on him.
• Lincon watched the auction from the Heaven-Character No. 1 Box and learned that gold bars were the main currency for public sales.
• The Nine-Bend Spirit Vine came up for exchange, and Qingwei said she wanted something that could promote plant evolution or alter geological conditions.
• Willow Snake offered Pollution-Cleansing Sand, but Qingwei found it insufficient to save the damaged roots of her dying Mutant Plant.
• As Qingwei prepared to decline the offers, Lincon opened his box window, and his gaze made her tremble as her ability seemed drawn toward him.

Lincon attended Peerless City’s auction, agreed to treat Qingwei in exchange for the Nine-Bend Spirit Vine, and won several valuable lots, including the dying tiger cub Violet. After spending more than thirty thousand Energy Essences, he left the auction with most of his remaining funds assigned to rare materials.

• Qingwei accepted Lincon’s offer to cure her in exchange for the Nine-Bend Spirit Vine.
• The auction sold Lincon’s three B-Rank Dark Crystals and the Flame Demon’s left arm, then presented Violet, a tiger cub with A-Rank potential whose Life Essence was nearly exhausted.
• Li Hai bid up to eight thousand Essences for Violet, but Lincon won the cub with a ten-thousand-Essence bid after the auction house confirmed his wealth.
• Lincon won Violet, the Nine-Bend Spirit Vine, Starfall Demon Iron, and Breath of Stillness, spending more than thirty thousand Energy Essences.
• Lincon gave Xu Lili one thousand of his remaining Essences and asked the auction house to exchange the rest for rare materials.

Lincon collected his auction purchases and agreed to help Qingwei, while Xu Lili returned to West City District with the thousand Essences he had given her. The chapter left Xu Lili contemplating the divide between ability users and ordinary people as she wondered whether the money would let her quit her guide job.

• Hong Yun gave Lincon the materials he had bought and a modified vehicle, while Qingwei arrived to ask him to honor their agreement.
• Lincon agreed to accompany Qingwei immediately and tossed the rescued tiger cub, Violet, into the vehicle.
• Lincon paid Xu Lili a thousand Essences and told her he planned to leave Peerless City after helping Qingwei.
• Xu Lili watched Lincon and Qingwei depart, then walked from brightly lit East City District into impoverished West City District.
• At home, Xu Lili cried over the Essences and the gulf between ordinary people and ability users, then wondered if she could quit her job.

Li Hai rejected Ghost Eye and Shi Ke’s plan to ambush Lincon outside Peerless City, while the two men decided to seek another ally and later target Li Hai as well. Lincon visited Qingwei’s residence and discovered that her dying Old-Day Phoenix had an evolution path requiring rare materials, including items that seemed connected to him.

• Ghost Eye and Shi Ke asked Li Hai to help ambush Lincon after he left Peerless City, but Li Hai refused because they knew nothing about Lincon’s background.
• After Li Hai left, Shi Ke and Ghost Eye decided to find someone else and planned to kill Li Hai along with Lincon when they got another chance.
• Lincon arrived at Qingwei’s residence and followed her inside, leaving Violet and the sleeping little tiger in his vehicle.
• Qingwei showed Lincon the dying Old-Day Phoenix in her greenhouse, and his Sub-Profession Panel revealed its condition and three possible evolution paths.
• Lincon noticed that the hidden Radiant Phoenix path required a Holy Flame Seed, an Intermediate Spatial Fragment, and a Life Fruit, and wondered whether the plant was meant for him.

Lincon explained that Qingwei’s dying Undying Bird could evolve along three paths, but each required rare materials she did not have. After arranging a two-day search in Peerless City, he spoke with Luo Chiyou about the Star Pavilion and learned that the auction’s other attendees might matter more than Di Tuhe.

• Qingwei admitted she did not know the Spirit Plant’s origin, and Lincon identified it as the Undying Bird, whose vitality had faded after a failed evolution.
• Lincon told Qingwei that the Nine-Bend Spirit Vine would not cover the evolution materials and described the Undying Bird’s three possible advancement paths.
• Qingwei arranged an overnight search for the materials, while Lincon said he would stay in Peerless City for at most two days.
• Lincon summoned Death Scythe in his guest room and learned that the dark creature had recovered half its strength.
• Luo Chiyou identified Yang Yue as Di Tuhe, a B-Rank member of the Eastern Seven Mansions, and warned Lincon about the consequences of recruiting Star Pavilion members.
• Luo Chiyou advised Lincon to pay attention to the other people at the auction instead of focusing on Di Tuhe.

Luo Chiyou warned Lincon that desperadoes might ambush him after he left Peerless City, while Qingwei sought materials to evolve her Spirit Plant and learned that even Zhao Xuan lacked some of them. After Lincon rejected Peerless City’s recruitment, Qingwei realized she should focus on the people behind the material requests and prepared to ask him about them.

• Luo Chiyou warned Lincon that people who had noticed his auction purchases might target him outside Peerless City, and Lincon discussed Qingwei’s sudden rise as a plant-type ability user.
• Qingwei visited Zhao Xuan and requested Sunstone, Holy Flame Seed, Spatial Fragment, and Intermediate Life Fruit to evolve her Spirit Plant; Zhao Xuan revealed the manor had Life Fruit and Spatial Fragments but promised them only if she found the Holy Flame Seed.
• Zhao Xuan identified Lincon as a likely Dark Traveler and asked Xu Wenyuan to help recruit him by showing him Peerless City’s prosperity.
• Xu Wenyuan toured Peerless City with Lincon and invited him to join, but Lincon declined because he had important matters elsewhere.
• Qingwei interrupted Xu Wenyuan’s visit, then told Lincon she had been overlooking the people who made the material requests and wanted to ask him about them.

Qingwei considered traveling south with Lincon to find the materials needed to save the Undying Bird, while Lincon prepared to leave Peerless City. Zhao Xuan learned that Lincon had refused to join the city and discussed a coming plan to gather powerful ability users for the battlefield.

• Lincon told Qingwei he had most of the Undying Bird evolution materials and suggested she travel south with him to retrieve the rest.
• Qingwei agreed to consider Lincon’s offer, and Lincon said he would leave Peerless City the next day after the Dark Veil receded.
• Zhao Xuan ordered Xu Wenyuan to divert some electricity from the East City District to the West City District.
• Xu Wenyuan reported that Lincon had refused to stay in Peerless City and would depart the next day.
• Zhao Xuan and Xu Wenyuan discussed Capital Province’s plan to gather powerhouses, and Zhao Xuan said he would go if the authorities needed him.

Lincon and Qingwei left Peerless City together, with Qingwei bringing an armored vehicle and supplies for their journey. Just outside the city, Lincon stopped to avoid a boulder hurled at their vehicle and suspected someone had arranged a farewell ambush.

• Qingwei decided to travel with Lincon, and the two prepared their vehicles and packed their supplies.
• Lincon and Qingwei drove out of Peerless City, while Zhao Xuan read Qingwei's letter and refused to send anyone after her.
• Qingwei watched Peerless City fade behind her before focusing on the rough road through the ruins.
• Lincon slammed on the brakes as a boulder threaded with rebar flew past his vehicle and crashed nearby.
• Lincon suspected the boulder was Peerless City's farewell gift.

Lincon and Qingwei were ambushed by Ghost Eye, Shi Ke, and three other ability users on the road outside Peerless City. Lincon revealed his formidable Spirit Plants and physical strength, killed the attackers, and left Qingwei stunned as her Spirit-Nurturing Vine sought his attention.

• Qingwei identified Ghost Eye and Shi Ke as attackers, and Lincon sensed that three more enemies were hiding nearby.
• Ghost Eye restrained Lincon while Shi Ke struck Qingwei, but the attackers’ plan to kill her was interrupted when Death Scythe appeared.
• Lincon ordered Death Scythe, the Abyss Blood Dragon Vine, the Sword Domain Spirit Orchid, and Luo Chiyou to pursue the fleeing attackers.
• Lincon caught and killed the fast-moving ability user with his bare hands, then burned the body to ashes.
• The Abyss Blood Dragon Vine and Sword Domain Spirit Orchid overwhelmed Ghost Eye and Shi Ke, while the remaining attackers were hunted down.
• Lincon returned to his vehicle, and Qingwei watched in shock as her Spirit-Nurturing Vine slipped away to be petted by him.

Lincon and Qingwei continued south after Lincon’s group killed Ghost Eye’s party, passing the ruins of Arhat Camp before reaching Jiangzhou. They met traveling merchants Wang Hainian and Wang Xiaoyu, and Lincon’s unexpected familiarity with Wang Hainian left Wang Xiaoyu wondering where she had seen him before.

• The Spirit-Nurturing Vine sought Lincon’s touch, and Qingwei asked what had happened to Ghost Eye and the others as Lincon’s Spirit Plants returned with their bodies.
• Lincon and Qingwei resumed their journey while Li Hai escaped toward Peerless City; later, they found Arhat Camp destroyed and rested among its ruins.
• Seven days later, Lincon and Qingwei crossed into Jiangzhou, where Wang Xiaoyu and Wang Hainian approached them in a modified pickup and offered to trade supplies.
• Lincon stopped beside Wang Hainian and Wang Xiaoyu’s camp that night, and Wang Hainian recognized him and began to address him as Lord before Lincon gave his name.
• Wang Xiaoyu stared at Lincon and wondered why he seemed familiar.

Qingwei learned that Longwind City had abundant energy-rich food and advanced weapons, and grew increasingly curious about Lincon’s connection to the city. As the convoy traveled south, it entered the life-filled Green Carpet Zone, with Longwind City’s border outpost nearby.

• Wang Hainian gave Qingwei a self-heating meal, and she discovered it contained energy that could strengthen ability users.
• Wang Hainian explained that Longwind City’s reachable region rarely suffered starvation and pointed out that the city lay south.
• Wang Xiaoyu showed Qingwei her energy pistol, Red Beauty, which fired a beam powerful enough to threaten a C-Rank dark creature.
• Lincon, Qingwei, and Wang Hainian set out together for Longwind City after the rain stopped.
• Qingwei sensed life energy rising as the convoy entered the Green Carpet Zone, and Wang Hainian said the border outpost was twenty li ahead.

Lincon returned to Longwind City with Qingwei, welcomed her as a guest, and heard reports on the territory’s growth and new settlements. He approved Zhang Han’s dream of forming the Radiant Legion, called a Longwind Council for the next morning, and ended the chapter at the Life Spring as Luo Chiyou wondered about Violet’s A-Rank potential.

• Lincon and Qingwei crossed into Longwind Territory, where Lincon reassured Wang Hainian that Wang Xiaoyu was on Longwind Academy’s first enrollment list.
• Lincon introduced Qingwei to Zhang Rui and Zhou Qing as a B-Rank plant-type ability user from Peerless City, and Zhang Rui arranged for her to stay in the Inner City.
• Lincon reconnected with the Sacred Court’s Spirit Nexus Core, while his Spirit Plants and the three Light Sprites went to their chosen destinations.
• Zhang Rui reported that two human camps had joined Longwind Territory, and Lincon confirmed that neither had people who had resorted to cannibalism.
• Zhang Rui told Lincon that his under-ten son, Zhang Han, had formed the 138-member Radiant Legion, and Lincon promised to reserve the name and let Zhang Han apply to lead it when he was ready.
• Lincon called a Longwind Council for the following morning, then joined Luo Chiyou at the Life Spring, where she remarked on Violet’s A-Rank potential.

Lincon restored Violet in the Life Spring, enslaved him with the Overlord Mark, and assigned Luo Chiyou to oversee his recovery. He prepared Longwind City and its allies for the Blood Demon Lord’s possible descent, then resolved to propose population-growth policies at the next council meeting; Qingwei spent her first night in the city unable to sleep.

• Lincon fed Violet Life Essence in the Life Spring, triggering his rapid transformation and revealing his hatred of humans.
• Lincon used Overlord’s Dominion to subdue Violet and brand him with the Overlord Mark, then asked Luo Chiyou to manage his gradual recovery.
• The Abyss Ant Guard, Bone Demon Lord, and Shadow Demon Lord reported on Hive Canyon and the Blood Demon Lord’s demand to descend, and Lincon decided to prepare a battlefield for him.
• Lincon ordered Alashu to confirm the Blood Demon Lord’s descent date and told the three Abyssal leaders he would equip them for the coming battle.
• Lincon reviewed his status and decided to propose incentives for having children at the next Longwind Council meeting to increase the city’s population.
• Lincon went to his bedroom while Qingwei, on her first day in Longwind City, struggled to fall asleep.

Qingwei spent the night marveling at Longwind City’s rich life energy and worrying about whether she could compensate Mr. Lin for helping her Undying Bird. The next morning, she visited the Sacred Court and its Crystal Ring Mother Tree, where her Spirit-Nurturing Vine briefly joined the Spirit Plant Mental Network before being rejected because it did not belong to Mr. Lin.

• Qingwei sensed that Longwind City’s Spirit Plants and life energy made it a paradise for plant-type ability users, and she worried she could not offer Mr. Lin suitable compensation for help with her Undying Bird.
• Qingwei went with a staff member to the Sacred Court, where he explained that the Crystal Ring Mother Tree supported the complex and that the Myriad-Knowledge Dome monitored and protected Longwind City.
• Qingwei’s Spirit-Nurturing Vine connected to the Spirit Plant Mental Network and drew astonished praise from the other Spirit Plants for its B-Rank aura.
• A powerful consciousness ordered the Crystal Mother to expel Qingwei’s vine because it was not Mr. Lin’s Spirit Plant, leaving the vine aggrieved.

Qingwei waited in the Sacred Court while Lincon convened Longwind City's council, where he declared a ten-year Birth Plan a top strategic priority despite concerns about present-day survival. After the meeting, he asked Shen Congzhi to lead research into the Dominion Series Runes.

• Qingwei was escorted to the Viewing Garden and learned that Longwind City's council was meeting in Origin Hall, where Lincon would meet her afterward.
• Zhang Rui and other officials reported on Longwind City's population, supplies, trade, and the nearly completed Longwind Academy, Heroes' Shrine, and Combat Arena.
• Lincon proposed a Birth-Planning Policy, and Zhou Qing warned that raising children would strain Longwind City's defenses while Shen Congzhi argued that delaying would leave the city facing a severe aging crisis.
• Lincon ruled that the Birth Plan would become Longwind City's highest strategic priority for the next ten years, and the council discussed supporting policies.
• After the meeting, Lincon asked Shen Congzhi to lead the Rune Workshop in researching the Dominion Series Runes.

Lincon introduced Dominion-School Runes and assigned the Rune Workshop and Forging Department to develop Rune Weapons using active materials. He also arranged for Qingwei to teach at Longwind Academy and Qingrang Academy in exchange for helping Undying Bird advance, then showed her Longwind City at night.

• Lincon explained that Dominion-School Runes drew on instinct and overwhelming power, and that they could strengthen their wielders while harming them.
• Lincon tasked Shen Congzhi's Rune Workshop with studying Dominion-School Runes and Qin Hu and Gongshu Qi's Forging Department with developing active-material weapons and armor within a month.
• Qin Hu suggested using the Spirit-Fusion Organism Cluster, and Lincon agreed that it could help Dominion Rune Weapons resonate with their wielders.
• Lincon told Qingwei he would help Undying Bird advance through the Rekindled Spring Feathers route without payment, but Qingwei offered to work in Longwind City to repay him.
• Lincon invited Qingwei to teach plant communication at Longwind Academy and Qingrang Academy, with the lessons serving as payment for Undying Bird's treatment and advancement.
• Lincon showed Qingwei Longwind City at night from the Crystal Ring Mother Tree, and she saw its lights spreading across the city.

Longwind City's departments began carrying out the goals set at the council meeting, as Li Yunfan drafted the Birth Plan announcement and Gongshu Qi explored how to forge weapons that could carry Dominion-School Runes. Zhang Rui and Han Qu investigated a sudden surge in ability awakenings and concluded that an Energy Tide was driving it; Zhang Rui planned to report their findings to Lincon.

• Li Yunfan completed the Birth Plan proposal and sent it to the Sacred Court for the Lord's review.
• Gongshu Qi studied the Spirit-Fusion Organism Cluster and reasoned that Dominion-School Rune Weapons needed living materials, structures, and energy transmission.
• Gongshu Qi began hammering a rough blank, drawing in energy from the surrounding environment as he worked.
• Han Qu told Zhang Rui that 563 people had awakened abilities that month, five times the previous month's total.
• Han Qu attributed the awakening surge to an Energy Tide caused by environmental changes and spreading Spirit Plants, and Zhang Rui decided to report it to Lincon.