Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary: Successfully Infiltrating the Life Gene Association Headquarters

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lin Feng travels to the Life Gene Association’s headquarters, an enormous underground facility located on a fortified island.
• Security personnel detect him approaching at nearly twice the speed of sound and dispatch an elite squad of twenty armed Third- and Fourth-Level Mutants to investigate.
• The squad assumes Lin Feng must be at least a quasi-Sixth-Level Mutant, since ordinary settlements lack the resources to produce someone of his strength.
• Upon landing, Lin Feng is confronted and asked to verify his identity. Rather than physically creating a forged card—which might trigger the mysterious force capable of eliminating him—he uses his illusion ability to make the squad believe he presents a valid identification card.
• The card is verified through the Association’s database, which Lin Feng had secretly altered earlier. He is identified as “Shanhai,” a Sixth-Level Mutant with confidential records.
• The squad accepts him as one of their own, lowers their weapons, and escorts him toward headquarters.
• During the journey, Lin Feng confirms an important limitation: he can safely use bodily abilities and physical strength, but abilities involving creation, spatial manipulation, or technology beyond the world’s level may trigger the First Sequence’s elimination response.
• After arriving at the underground headquarters, Lin Feng observes its extensive defenses and asks whether Walter is present.

Character Developments

• Lin Feng: Demonstrates increased caution and strategic intelligence. He tests the boundaries of what abilities he can use without attracting the First Sequence’s intervention. Instead of creating an identity card, he relies on illusion and prior database manipulation, successfully infiltrating the Association.
• The squad captain: Initially wary of Lin Feng but gradually becomes respectful once his identification confirms him as a Sixth-Level Mutant. He treats Lin Feng as a superior figure and personally escorts him inside.
• Walter: Though he does not appear directly, his importance is established. He is a veteran Level Six mental-evolution researcher and a major authority within the Association because of his long-term research into the Meteorite and Serum 106.

Significant Themes

• Infiltration through intelligence rather than force: Lin Feng succeeds by exploiting the Association’s systems and perceptions instead of fighting through its defenses.
• Limits of power: The chapter emphasizes that immense abilities are dangerous if they exceed the world’s established technological or evolutionary boundaries.
• Identity and deception: Lin Feng’s fabricated identity, “Shanhai,” allows him to pass as an insider, highlighting the importance of information control.
• Power hierarchy and institutional authority: The Association’s ranking system, from Third-Level Mutants to Seventh-Level beings, shapes how characters judge one another and respond to perceived strength.
• Survival under observation: Lin Feng must constantly balance his abilities against the threat of being eliminated by the unknown First Sequence.

Character Interactions

• The squad discusses Lin Feng’s speed and possible evolutionary level before meeting him, revealing their assumptions about the limits of outside settlements.
• Lin Feng uses an illusion to convince the squad that he hands over a legitimate identification card.
• The squad member verifies the false identity while the captain evaluates Lin Feng’s potential threat.
• Once accepted, the captain salutes Lin Feng, addresses him as “Lord Shanhai,” and escorts him into the headquarters.
• Lin Feng questions the captain about Walter, signaling that Walter is likely his next important target or contact within the Association.

Chapter Summary: “Core Figure, the Mission’s Endgame”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lin Feng seeks information about the Meteorite and learns that Walter, the Life Gene Association’s leading Meteorite researcher, returned to headquarters and is working at the Meteorite site—or possibly in a laboratory there.
• He infiltrates the Association’s headquarters under the identity of “Lord Shanhai.”
• At the entrance, Lin Feng pretends to have lost his identity card. The squad captain, intimidated by Lin Feng’s superior rank, lends him his own card and orders another subordinate to search for the missing card.
• Using the captain’s card, Lin Feng gains access to the nineteenth-floor archives room. He avoids using his bewilderment ability because the headquarters is under constant camera surveillance.
• Lin Feng tricks a young records clerk into creating a replacement identity card by claiming that his original was damaged in battle. He successfully completes the Association’s lengthy identity-verification process and receives a new card.
• The new card allows him to travel farther into headquarters. After learning Walter’s location, Lin Feng goes to the twenty-fifth floor, where the researchers’ laboratories are located.
• The chapter ends with Lin Feng locating Walter, a crucial figure in his mission to uncover information about the Meteorite.

Character Developments

• Lin Feng demonstrates his resourcefulness, confidence, and skill at psychological manipulation. Rather than relying on force, he exploits the fear and hierarchical culture of the Life Gene Association.
• He remains calm under surveillance and quickly improvises convincing excuses to overcome security obstacles.
• The squad captain is shown to be highly submissive toward stronger individuals. He immediately understands Lin Feng’s implied threat and assists him without questioning the implausible story about the lost identity card.
• The female records clerk initially shows mild suspicion but becomes convinced after seeing Lin Feng’s verified Level Six status, revealing how strongly the Association’s hierarchy influences its members.

Significant Themes

• Power determines status and behavior: The Association’s rigid ranking system causes weaker members to obey stronger ones unquestioningly, even when their requests are suspicious.
• Deception and infiltration: Lin Feng’s success depends on acting, improvisation, and exploiting bureaucratic procedures rather than direct confrontation.
• Institutional control and surveillance: Headquarters uses identity cards, cameras, access restrictions, and lengthy verification codes to control movement and information.
• The value of knowledge: Walter’s research makes him more important to Lin Feng’s mission than ordinary combat personnel, emphasizing that scientific information may be more valuable than physical strength.

Character Interactions

• Lin Feng questions the squad captain about Walter, subtly asserting his authority by addressing the researcher directly.
• He manipulates the captain into lending him his identity card, then rewards the captain’s compliance with brief praise.
• He persuades the records clerk to issue him a new card by combining a plausible explanation with proof of his Level Six identity.
• The chapter concludes with Lin Feng reaching Walter, setting up a likely confrontation or interrogation centered on the Meteorite.

Chapter Summary: “Complete the Side Quest”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lin Feng approaches Walter, an elderly scientist and Level Six combatant, in the laboratory. Claiming to have information about the Meteorite, he persuades Walter to take him somewhere private.
• Once alone, Lin Feng reveals that he has no information to report. Instead, he uses his mind-related ability to place Walter under a dark suggestion and interrogates him.
• Walter reveals that the Meteorite has secretly been divided into three pieces. Most of it is only an outer shell and can be destroyed easily; the real danger lies in a small radiation-emitting core at its center.
• Lin Feng leaves Walter under the suggestion and returns to the laboratory to complete his secondary objective: copying research data.
• Using Walter’s identification card, Lin Feng accesses Walter’s computer and inserts a special USB drive that automatically copies the available data. A passing researcher becomes suspicious, but Lin Feng convinces him that Walter authorized the action.
• After ten minutes, the data is successfully copied, raising the side quest’s progress to 80%.
  Meanwhile:
• Ophelia reaches the gathering place Lin Feng designated several hours earlier.
• She disguises herself as the settlement’s male leader, causing her mission progress to reach 50%.
• To finish the mission, she must annex a nearby gathering place located three hundred kilometers away. It has only three thousand residents but is protected by three Level Five mutant triplet brothers.
• Ophelia orders her people to launch an attack within an hour, despite having had little time to gather intelligence. She claims that the Life Gene Association’s new movements require additional manpower.
• One of the settlement’s Level Five mutants doubts the plan, since Ophelia intends to attack with only one thousand people. He outwardly accepts the order but secretly hopes for failure so he can overthrow the leader and seize control.

Character Developments

• Lin Feng demonstrates his usual decisiveness and ruthlessness. Rather than negotiate honestly with Walter, he manipulates him directly and extracts critical information through his mental ability.
• Lin Feng also shows practical opportunism by completing multiple objectives at once, stealing the laboratory’s data while investigating the Meteorite.
• Walter is established as an obsessive and highly knowledgeable researcher whose interest in the Meteorite outweighs concern for his experiment or personal safety. His trust in Lin Feng’s claim makes him vulnerable.
• Ophelia proves capable of deception and leadership, successfully impersonating the settlement’s leader. However, her impatience mirrors Lin Feng’s efficiency and forces her to take a risky course of action without fully understanding the settlement’s internal dynamics.
• The black Level Five mutant is revealed to be ambitious and opportunistic. His apparent obedience hides a willingness to replace the leader if Ophelia’s operation fails.

Significant Themes

• Deception and manipulation: Lin Feng exploits Walter’s obsession with the Meteorite, while Ophelia uses disguise and false justifications to control an entire settlement.
• Competition and urgency: Both Lin Feng and Ophelia are racing to complete their missions before the other contestants, encouraging speed over caution.
• Power and ambition: The mutants’ political structure is unstable, with leaders constantly vulnerable to betrayal and overthrow.
• Knowledge as power: Walter’s research and the laboratory’s technological data are valuable strategic resources. Information about the Meteorite may be more important than physical strength.
• Moral ambiguity in survival: In the apocalyptic world, characters treat manipulation, theft, and betrayal as necessary tools for advancement.

Character Interactions

• Lin Feng and Walter interact under false pretenses, with Lin Feng pretending to offer information before taking control of the conversation and forcing Walter to reveal his secrets.
• Lin Feng deceives a passing researcher by presenting Walter’s identification card, exploiting the researcher’s trust in Walter’s authority.
• Ophelia faces resistance from a Level Five mutant who questions her aggressive military order. Although he does not openly challenge her, he privately plans to benefit from her possible failure.
• The chapter contrasts Lin Feng’s successful covert operation with Ophelia’s riskier attempt to consolidate power through military expansion.

Chapter Summary: “Meteorite Core”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lin Feng submits the side mission to obtain currently used technology after achieving 80% progress. The submission immediately grants him a large number of points, raising him to first place with 8,000 points while the second-place contestant has none.
• His unexpected success shocks the other participants. Aaron, who has only reached 5% progress, realizes that competing with Shanhai is nearly impossible and decides to focus on securing second place.
• Diona also receives the notification and is impressed by Lin Feng’s speed. She abandons her original month-long plan and begins searching for shortcuts in the second-stage missions.
• Lin Feng travels to the forty-ninth floor of the Life Gene Association headquarters, where the Meteorite has been dismantled and its radioactive core is being studied.
• Two powerful mutant guards stop him because his clearance is insufficient. Walter arrives and vouches for him, allowing Lin Feng to enter the restricted laboratory.
• Lin Feng orders Walter to begin preparing the Meteorite Core’s destruction. While examining it, Lin Feng briefly suppresses his own power and experiences dizziness and a strange force altering his body, seemingly through a mutation-like process.
• Concerned by the unknown effects, Lin Feng restores his strength and decides to destroy the core quickly to complete the main mission.

Character Developments

• Lin Feng/Shanhai: Demonstrates overwhelming efficiency and strategic ability, rapidly securing first place. He uses Walter’s authority and expertise to bypass security and advance toward the main mission, while remaining cautious about the core’s dangerous effects.
• Aaron: Becomes discouraged after seeing Lin Feng’s enormous lead. He accepts that first place is likely unattainable and shifts his goal to finishing second.
• Diona: Gains greater confidence in Lin Feng’s abilities and views him as a powerful ally. His success prompts her to rethink her entire strategy.
• Walter: Continues functioning under Lin Feng’s control and proves useful both intellectually and administratively, using his status to grant Lin Feng access to the restricted laboratory.

Significant Themes

• Overwhelming superiority and competition: Lin Feng’s extraordinary progress makes the other contestants seem like they are competing against someone on an entirely different level.
• Strategic thinking versus brute force: Lin Feng combines technological knowledge, manipulation of Walter, and careful use of institutional authority rather than simply fighting his way through the headquarters.
• Dangerous scientific experimentation: The Meteorite Core represents both technological opportunity and biological danger, as its radiation appears capable of directly altering living bodies.
• Reassessment of plans: Lin Feng’s success forces Aaron and Diona to reconsider their assumptions and strategies.

Character Interactions

• Lin Feng interacts with Walter as both a subordinate and a tool, ordering him to begin the core’s destruction.
• The guards initially challenge Lin Feng but obey Walter once he identifies Lin Feng as being under his authority.
• Aaron and his subordinate discuss Lin Feng’s seemingly impossible achievement; Aaron rejects the idea that Lin Feng cheated.
• Diona observes Lin Feng’s success from afar and interprets it as evidence that he is powerful enough to help her fulfill her own objectives.

Chapter Summary: “The Second Stage Ends”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Professor Walter uses an unknown method involving translucent liquid to deactivate the Meteorite Core. The liquid travels through the core’s “veins,” causing it to flicker, dim, and finally crack and shut down without an explosion.
• Lin Feng receives a notification that the main quest is complete and is asked whether he wants to leave the world. All remaining side quests immediately become unavailable.
• A server-wide announcement declares that Shanhai has cleared the second stage. His leaderboard score becomes the infinity symbol, permanently securing first place.
• The Black Robes members are stunned that Lin Feng completed the stage after only one day. Aaron gives up on comparing himself to Lin Feng, while also realizing that recruiting him will be difficult because powerful figures will likely want him.
• Although the research institute freezes after the main quest ends, the rest of the world remains active. Lin Feng confirms this when Ophelia contacts him.
• Ophelia’s side quest is not yet finished. A new one-day countdown requires her to capture a designated settlement. Lin Feng is forbidden from interfering, so he can only observe her progress.
• Ophelia successfully completes her quest the following day. She and Lin Feng both pass the second-stage selection.
• Ophelia earns more than 26,000 points—10,000 for being the first to complete her side quest and the rest based on the population of the settlements she controls. She temporarily ranks second, while Aaron rises from zero to third place with 6,000 points.
• The two are teleported back to the now-empty preparation planet, where they learn that the next stage will involve challenging a member of the Auxiliary Group.

Character Developments

• Lin Feng/Shanhai: Demonstrates overwhelming competence by completing the main quest almost immediately. He is surprised and somewhat disappointed that destroying the Meteorite Core is anticlimactic, but remains confident and relaxed. His victory also removes the Suppressor’s restrictions on his abilities.
• Ophelia: Shows determination and effective leadership by preparing her operation early and completing her settlement-capture quest despite Lin Feng’s premature clearance. She proves capable of thinking quickly under pressure and benefits from Lin Feng’s earlier influence.
• Aaron: Becomes resigned to Lin Feng’s superiority, abandoning any attempt to compete directly with him. His own progress continues, however, as he completes a quest and reaches third place.
• Professor Walter: Remains mysterious, since the chapter never explains what he did to disable the Meteorite Core.
• The Black Robes members: Their reactions emphasize how extraordinary Lin Feng’s achievement is and how dramatically he has separated himself from the other participants.

Significant Themes

• Overwhelming superiority and isolation: Lin Feng’s unprecedented performance makes comparison with other contestants almost meaningless.
• Unexpected anticlimax: A seemingly world-changing objective ends quietly, contrasting with Lin Feng’s expectation of a dramatic battle or explosion.
• Competition and influence: Lin Feng’s success attracts the attention of powerful factions and makes recruitment increasingly difficult.
• Teamwork and indirect support: Although Lin Feng cannot directly help Ophelia, his earlier choices and support contribute to her success.
• Progression toward greater challenges: The completion of the second stage establishes a transition to a new test involving the Auxiliary Group.

Character Interactions

• Lin Feng and Ophelia exchange a teasing, familiar conversation after his clearance. She acknowledges his achievement while jokingly calling him impressive.
• Lin Feng checks on Ophelia’s quest and intends to observe her operation, though the system prevents him from assisting.
• Aaron’s reaction to Lin Feng’s achievement highlights the gap between them and his growing acceptance of Lin Feng’s abnormal talent.
• The chapter ends with Lin Feng and Ophelia together on the preparation planet, calmly awaiting the third stage.

Chapter Summary: Direct Promotion, Luo Yingtian’s Recruitment

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ophelia explains that the Auxiliary Group’s top-ten members can choose their opponents in advance. She plans to challenge Aglae, who has agreed to let her win in exchange for items and information.
• Because the top-ten rankings normally take about a week to finalize, Lin Feng becomes frustrated by the waiting period. His ability to complete missions in a single day makes the usual pace seem unbearably slow.
• Luo Yingtian, the seemingly ordinary old man Lin Feng and Ophelia met during a previous mission, suddenly appears in their room. He reveals that his former mutant-like appearance was only a disguise.
• Luo identifies himself as the leader of the Second Faction and a powerful First Sequence figure.
• He informs Lin Feng that, based on his observed performance, Lin Feng has been directly promoted to the Auxiliary Group and no longer needs to participate in the third trial.
• Luo then reveals his real purpose: recruiting Lin Feng into the Second Faction. He argues that remaining with the Gold-Silver Tree faction, ranked only fifth, would restrict Lin Feng’s growth, while the Second Faction could provide him with whatever resources he wanted.

Character Developments

• Lin Feng: Remains impatient, irreverent, and highly perceptive. Despite Luo’s overwhelming strength and status, Lin Feng continues calling him “old man” and does not show fear or submission. He also quickly realizes that Luo’s visit must involve more than simply announcing his promotion. Luo’s assessment suggests that Lin Feng’s true character is more thoughtful and cooperative than the brutal, simple-minded persona described in official records.
• Ophelia: Displays extreme nervousness upon discovering Luo’s identity. She becomes painfully aware of the danger of offending such an influential figure and contrasts sharply with Lin Feng’s casual boldness. Her earlier cooperation with Lin Feng, including her willingness to arrange his advancement, also reinforces her practical and transactional nature.
• Luo Yingtian: Is revealed to be a major political and military power rather than a village NPC. He is perceptive, good-natured, and highly interested in Lin Feng’s potential. Luo values Lin Feng’s independence, lack of flattery, and willingness to help teammates, leading him to personally recruit him.

Significant Themes

• Power hidden beneath appearances: Luo’s disguise demonstrates that strength and identity cannot be judged by outward appearance. Lin Feng’s sensing ability confirms Luo’s immense, nearly unfathomable power.
• Independence versus allegiance: Lin Feng’s refusal to fear or flatter Luo distinguishes him from ordinary followers and makes him attractive as a potential faction member.
• Recognition and advancement: Lin Feng’s extraordinary performance allows him to bypass the normal trial process entirely, showing how exceptional ability can overturn established systems.
• The burden of waiting and bureaucracy: The ordinary progression system is portrayed as painfully slow compared with Lin Feng’s efficiency, emphasizing his disruptive influence.
• Perception versus reality: Lin Feng’s official records portray him as brutal and simple-minded, but Luo recognizes evidence of intelligence, judgment, and concern for teammates behind that reputation.

Character Interactions

• Ophelia and Lin Feng discuss how to secure her advancement through a prearranged match with Aglae, revealing their cooperative but negotiation-based relationship.
• Luo’s arrival immediately changes the atmosphere: Ophelia is intimidated, while Lin Feng responds with suspicion and bluntness.
• Luo praises Lin Feng for helping his teammates, indirectly referring to his conduct alongside Ophelia.
• Their conversation develops into a recruitment offer, with Luo presenting the Second Faction as a place where Lin Feng’s potential will not be limited.

Chapter Summary: “Recruitment, Egart Arrives”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lin Feng learns more about the internal hierarchy of the First Sequence. Luo Yingtian explains that the factions are ranked partly by their number of “useless people,” hinting that the Gold-Silver Tree faction may be less prestigious than it appears.
• Lin Feng begins reconsidering whether to remain with his current faction. Since higher-ranked factions likely possess better information and resources, he decides he may switch—but intends to demand benefits in return.
• Egart suddenly arrives through a black vortex. He is revealed to be Aaron’s father and the same mysterious figure who previously interacted with Luo Yingtian in the Dark.
• Luo Yingtian and Egart openly compete to recruit Lin Feng. Luo mocks Egart for previously doubting Lin Feng, while Egart promises Lin Feng resources equal to those given to Aaron.
• Their exchange exposes the rivalry beneath the supposedly friendly relationships among the First Sequence factions. Luo represents the Third Faction, while Egart’s faction is the Fourth.
• Lin Feng asks whether someone in the First Sequence is deliberately targeting him. Luo and Egart admit that the Seventh Faction is preventing him from advancing.
• Luo dismisses the Seventh Faction as weak and claims that joining his faction would protect Lin Feng from them.
• Lin Feng calmly accepts this information, but his amused expression suggests he may be considering revenge, which Luo notices with interest.

Character Developments

• Lin Feng: Becomes more politically aware and recognizes the factional hierarchy and rivalries within the First Sequence. Rather than passively accepting recruitment, he plans to negotiate for benefits. His calm response to the Seventh Faction’s hostility also reveals his confidence and possible willingness to retaliate.
• Luo Yingtian: Displays a mischievous, blunt, and somewhat domineering personality. He openly embarrasses Egart and treats the Seventh Faction with contempt. He also shows growing interest in Lin Feng’s boldness and potential.
• Egart: Attempts to appear friendly and highly values Lin Feng’s talent, despite having previously doubted him. He tries to repair his reputation after Luo exposes his earlier skepticism and offers Lin Feng resources matching Aaron’s.
• Aaron: Does not appear directly, but his importance is emphasized through Egart’s promise to treat Lin Feng as generously as his own son.

Significant Themes

• Political rivalry and factional power: The First Sequence is not unified; its factions maintain only superficial harmony while competing for talent and influence.
• Recruitment and bargaining: Lin Feng is treated as a valuable asset, allowing him to negotiate rather than simply choose a side.
• Hidden hostility: The chapter confirms that danger can come from within the First Sequence, particularly from the Seventh Faction.
• Perception versus reality: Both Luo and Egart use friendliness strategically, reminding Lin Feng that appearances among powerful figures cannot be trusted.
• Undercover identity and irony: Lin Feng privately enjoys the irony that powerful factions are competing for him despite his secret role as an undercover agent.

Important Character Interactions

• Lin Feng and Luo Yingtian: Luo teases and provokes Lin Feng while revealing information about the factions. Lin Feng remains respectful but quietly evaluates Luo as someone from whom he can extract benefits.
• Luo Yingtian and Egart: Their interaction is openly antagonistic beneath a familiar surface. Luo mocks Egart’s past doubts, while Egart tries to prevent Luo from damaging his image.
• Egart and Lin Feng: Egart directly recruits Lin Feng and offers him resources equal to Aaron’s, signaling that he considers Lin Feng exceptionally talented.
• Lin Feng, Luo, and Egart: Lin Feng questions them about the threat against him, forcing both powerful men to acknowledge the Seventh Faction’s opposition. His reaction leaves Luo wondering whether Lin Feng intends to seek revenge.

Chapter Summary: “Three Already—Almost Enough for a Mahjong Table”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Luo Yongtian decides he wants to recruit Shanhai and possibly use him against the Seventh Faction, which Lin Feng already intends to destroy if given the opportunity.
• Lin Feng chooses to join Luo Yongtian’s highly ranked Third Faction, believing its influence will be useful and feeling an instinctive affinity toward Luo because of his Chinese language and East Asian appearance.
• Before Lin Feng can formally agree, Gold Henry, leader of the Gold-Silver Tree and ruler of the Fifth Faction, arrives through a black vortex. His appearance means that leaders of three First Sequence factions are now competing for Lin Feng, creating a humorous “mahjong table” comparison.
• Gold angrily accuses Luo Yongtian and Egart of poaching a member of his faction while he was away. He insists that he had always been watching Shanhai, but Luo exposes this as a lie by pointing out that Gold would never have allowed such a valuable talent to enter the selection trial if he had truly recognized his abilities.
• Lin Feng interrupts the argument and confirms that he will join Luo Yongtian’s faction, but only on the condition that Ophelia becomes his partner and joins the Third Faction as well.
• Luo Yongtian readily accepts, pleased to gain both Lin Feng and the rare Light-element Outworld Twin.
• Egart accepts Lin Feng’s decision and leaves amicably, stating that Lin Feng may join his faction in the future. He avoids creating hostility because he cannot determine Lin Feng’s true strength.
• Gold, however, interprets Lin Feng’s choice as betrayal and threatens him by invoking Black Robes’ strict hierarchy and rules. Lin Feng remains completely unfazed, while Luo Yongtian watches with interest to see how he will respond.

Character Developments

• Lin Feng/Shanhai: Demonstrates decisiveness, confidence, and independence. He chooses the faction he believes will benefit him most rather than submitting to Gold’s authority. His insistence that Ophelia join him also shows loyalty and recognition of her value.
• Luo Yongtian: Becomes increasingly determined to recruit Lin Feng, recognizing him as a potentially overwhelming weapon. He is confident and confrontational toward Gold but wisely observes Lin Feng’s handling of the threat.
• Gold Henry: Reveals insecurity and possessiveness toward Shanhai. His anger stems from realizing that he failed to recognize Shanhai’s potential earlier and may now lose an extremely valuable subordinate.
• Egart: Acts pragmatically and with restraint. Though disappointed, he respects Lin Feng’s decision and avoids turning him into an enemy.
• Ophelia: Is stunned by Lin Feng’s condition and is effectively drawn into the political struggle among the major factions.

Significant Themes

• Talent and factional competition: Lin Feng’s abilities make him valuable enough for multiple First Sequence leaders to personally compete over him.
• Independence versus hierarchy: Lin Feng refuses to be controlled by Black Robes’ rigid ranking system and treats his own choices as more important than formal authority.
• Recognition and missed opportunities: Gold’s failure to notice Lin Feng earlier allows Luo Yongtian to recruit him, illustrating the consequences of underestimating talent.
• Loyalty and partnership: Lin Feng’s condition that Ophelia join him shows that alliances are based not only on power but also on personal trust and mutual advantage.
• Hidden strength: Lin Feng’s calmness in the face of Gold’s threats reinforces the mystery surrounding his true capabilities.

Important Character Interactions

• Luo Yongtian and Gold clash over whether Shanhai belongs to Gold’s faction and whether Gold ever truly valued him.
• Lin Feng ends the recruitment dispute by choosing Luo Yongtian and making Ophelia’s recruitment part of the agreement.
• Egart departs respectfully, preserving a possible future relationship with Lin Feng.
• Gold directly confronts Lin Feng, accusing him of betrayal, but Lin Feng answers with mockery and confidence rather than fear.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lin Feng (posing as Shanhai) openly mocks the Black Robes’ belief that “strength reigns supreme,” provoking Jin Henry, one of the First Sequence’s faction bosses.
• Jin releases an overwhelming aura that intensifies the room’s heat and gravity, but Lin remains completely unaffected. He even protects Ophelia with a Bio-Force Field.
• Lin challenges Jin to a fight, hoping to test the strength of a First Sequence leader. Jin considers the challenge absurd and questions whether Lin is worthy of fighting him.
• Luo Yingtian initially considers stopping the confrontation, believing Lin is underestimating Jin. However, after Lin deliberately spits at Jin’s feet, Luo becomes amused and decides to let the battle proceed, confident he can ensure Lin’s safety.
• Jin opens a portal to his Personal Hyperspace, an artificial universe where the two can fight without damaging the normal universe.
• Before entering, Lin proposes raising the stakes: if Jin loses, he must surrender the Gold-Silver Tree Faction.
• This leads to an explanation of the Faction Contest, a formal battle in which a faction leader risks losing their leadership if defeated by a qualified challenger.
• Rather than being intimidated, Lin becomes even more excited. He sees the contest as a chance to become a faction leader and potentially advance his plan to undermine or destroy the Black Robes Organization.
• Luo explains that the leader must stake control of the faction, while the challenger must offer something of equivalent value—possibly an item or even their life. The chapter ends as the conditions for the contest are being established.

Character Developments

• Lin Feng/Shanhai: Displays extreme confidence, calculated provocation, and fearless ambition. His challenge is not merely reckless: he wants to measure Jin’s strength and potentially seize an entire faction. Learning about the Faction Contest causes him to shift from testing an opponent to pursuing a major strategic opportunity.
• Jin Henry: Is shown to be hot-tempered, prideful, and easily provoked. He reacts intensely to Lin’s insults and quickly accepts the confrontation, convinced that Lin is beneath him.
• Luo Yingtian: Initially acts as a cautious observer who recognizes Jin’s danger and worries that Lin is overestimating himself. Lin’s audacity entertains him, however, and Luo decides to let the fight happen, hoping it will teach Lin humility while trusting that he can protect him if necessary.
• Ophelia: Remains largely passive in the scene but is protected by Lin from Jin’s oppressive aura, emphasizing Lin’s awareness of her safety even while provoking a powerful enemy.

Significant Themes

• Strength as authority: The Black Robes’ principle that power determines status is directly demonstrated through the possibility of winning leadership through combat.
• Arrogance versus confidence: Jin sees Lin’s behavior as foolish arrogance, while Lin’s confidence is supported by deliberate calculation and a desire to exploit opportunity.
• Risk and ambition: Lin repeatedly escalates the situation, transforming a simple fight into a potentially decisive political and strategic gamble.
• Power struggles and succession: The Faction Contest reveals that leadership in this organization is not fixed; it can be seized by anyone capable of meeting the required stakes and defeating the current leader.
• Provocation as strategy: Lin deliberately insults Jin to trigger a fight, using Jin’s impulsiveness to create an opportunity that would otherwise be difficult to obtain.

Character Interactions

• Lin and Jin engage in an escalating exchange of insults, with Jin using intimidation and Lin responding with mockery and even spitting at Jin’s feet.
• Luo acts as a mediator and observer, first considering intervention but ultimately encouraging the confrontation by choosing not to stop it.
• Lin’s interaction with Luo also reveals a shift in Luo’s attitude: his concern gives way to amusement and growing approval of Lin’s boldness.
• Lin’s protection of Ophelia contrasts with his hostility toward Jin, showing both his loyalty to his ally and his willingness to confront powerful enemies.

Chapter Summary

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Lin Feng agrees to initiate a Faction Contest against Jin Henry, proposing equivalent stakes.
• To prove he is qualified, Lin Feng reveals two Heart of the Universe Fragments, shocking both Jin Henry and Luo Yingtian. These fragments are extremely rare and valuable, even to the powerful Black Robes organization.
• Jin Henry demands that Lin Feng also stake his life, intending to kill him and claim the fragments. Lin Feng accepts but counters by requiring Jin Henry to stake his own life as well.
• Luo Yingtian is asked to serve as referee. He tries to persuade both men to reconsider, especially because he doubts Lin Feng can defeat Jin Henry, but Lin Feng refuses to back down.
• Jin Henry formally applies for the faction battle through his terminal. After both combatants and Luo Yingtian confirm, the contest officially begins.
• Lin Feng and Jin Henry are teleported to a vast universal battlefield.
• The contest is broadcast live to Black Robes members across the higher Sequences, including members undergoing selection. Other powerful faction leaders watch with interest after seeing the enormous stakes: the two fragments, the faction-leader position, and both combatants’ lives.

2. Character Developments

• Lin Feng: Demonstrates remarkable confidence, ambition, and strategic restraint. Rather than reveal the complete Heart of the Universe, he divides it into fragments to secure the contest without exposing himself to excessive danger. He openly challenges Jin Henry and shows that he intends to rise directly to faction leadership.
• Jin Henry: Becomes increasingly arrogant and aggressive. His greed for the fragments leads him to demand Lin Feng’s life, convinced that Lin Feng is already defeated. He underestimates Lin Feng and accepts the reciprocal risk without hesitation.
• Luo Yingtian: Becomes increasingly concerned about Lin Feng’s recklessness. He recognizes that Lin Feng’s personality is far more extreme than the official records suggested and begins questioning whether he should protect or recruit him.
• Egart and the other Black Robes leaders: React with surprise and amusement to the sudden contest, recognizing that Lin Feng has rapidly created a major disturbance within the organization.

3. Significant Themes

• Ambition and power: Lin Feng’s goal is not merely survival or membership but immediate control of a First Sequence faction.
• Risk and confidence: Both fighters wager their lives, but Lin Feng’s willingness to do so reflects his extraordinary confidence and possibly hidden strength.
• Greed and underestimation: Jin Henry’s desire for the fragments blinds him to the possibility that Lin Feng is far more dangerous than he appears.
• Reputation and identity: Luo Yingtian realizes that the records describing Shanhai were inaccurate; Lin Feng is not simply reckless but extraordinarily bold and disruptive.
• Public spectacle and political consequences: Because the battle is broadcast throughout Black Robes, the contest affects not only the two combatants but also their standing and future influence across the organization.

4. Character Interactions

• Lin Feng and Jin Henry exchange provocations, with Lin Feng calmly turning Jin Henry’s own insults back against him.
• Jin Henry attempts to pressure Luo Yingtian into legitimizing the contest, while Luo Yingtian repeatedly warns both sides to reconsider.
• Lin Feng’s display of the fragments changes the balance of the conversation, forcing Jin Henry and Luo Yingtian to take him seriously.
• Luo Yingtian’s internal hesitation shows his conflicted attitude toward Lin Feng: he is impressed by Lin Feng’s potential but worried that his recklessness may make him impossible to protect.
• The wider Black Robes community becomes an audience to the confrontation, transforming a personal dispute into a major organizational event.

Chapter Summary

• The Faction Contest begins unexpectedly: Li Xieqian is stunned to learn that his subordinate, Shan Sea, has caused his faction to become involved in a Faction Contest. He realizes that if Shan Sea loses to Jin Henry, he may be held responsible, while never seriously considering the possibility that Shan Sea could win.
• The Black Robes react with shock: News of Shan Sea’s challenge to Jin Henry, the leader of a First Sequence faction, spreads among the Black Robes. Aaron, Aglae, and Diona are all astonished by the development. Diona is especially overwhelmed because Shan Sea has repeatedly surpassed her expectations, turning what began as an Auxiliary Group selection into a major faction battle.
• Luo Yingtian brings Ophelia to watch: As referee, Luo Yingtian prepares to enter the battlefield but remembers Ophelia. Seeing that she is mentally overwhelmed, he brings her along because Shan Sea appears to care about her. She remains too stunned to process events.
• The battle begins: Once the thirty-second countdown ends, Lin Feng and Jin Henry face off. Lin Feng activates a powerful high-grade Bio-Force Field, confident in his strength but still cautious about underestimating his opponent.
• Jin Henry uses a surprise attack: Jin Henry pretends to invite Lin Feng’s final words, then attacks immediately when the countdown reaches zero. He produces a mysterious metal sphere called the Destiny Gravity Ball, which creates a viscous spatial effect and places a gravity-based negative status on Lin Feng.
• Lin Feng is trapped by the gravity effect: The gravity rapidly increases from twice normal strength to more than three hundred times normal gravity. Teleportation fails to remove the effect, revealing that the Destiny Gravity Ball locks onto Lin Feng rather than merely affecting a fixed location.
• Jin Henry’s spears exploit the lock-on: Jin Henry summons and throws multiple metal spears. Because they are connected to the Destiny Gravity Ball, Lin Feng cannot evade them even with Instant Transmission. He blocks the attacks with his Bio-Force Field, but the repeated impacts numb and strain his arms.
• Lin Feng recognizes his mistake: He realizes he was too careless because earlier opponents had never opened with such a powerful item. He concludes that removing the gravity status is essential before Jin Henry’s attacks overwhelm him.
• Lin Feng counterattacks: Unable to use more recognizable signature abilities such as Heat Vision or the Wand in its distinctive form, Lin Feng employs the enhanced techniques Ruin Collapse, Fear Soul, and Blinding. His attacks combine magic and energy with destructive force comparable to Heat Vision, but Jin Henry calmly blocks them with a blue protective shield.

Character Development and Interactions

• Lin Feng: Remains confident and resourceful but is forced to acknowledge Jin Henry’s preparation and cunning. His initial carelessness gives way to a more serious effort to analyze and counter the Destiny Gravity Ball.
• Jin Henry: Demonstrates his experience as a First Sequence leader through deception, powerful equipment, and a coordinated attack strategy. His willingness to attack before Lin Feng is ready emphasizes his ruthless and underhanded nature.
• Diona: Becomes increasingly impressed and bewildered by Shan Sea’s boldness and repeated ability to exceed expectations.
• Luo Yingtian and Ophelia: Luo shows unexpected consideration for Ophelia by bringing her to watch the fight, while Ophelia is too overwhelmed by Shan Sea’s actions to respond meaningfully.
• Li Xieqian: Fears the political consequences of Shan Sea’s actions and assumes defeat is likely, showing his lack of confidence in his own subordinate.

Major Themes

• Cunning versus power: The fight immediately contrasts Lin Feng’s overwhelming abilities with Jin Henry’s tactical use of specialized items and deception.
• Underestimation and preparation: Lin Feng’s early disadvantage results from failing to expect a trump-card item, while Jin Henry begins the battle with a carefully planned strategy.
• Unexpected escalation: A routine selection event transforms into a faction-level confrontation, demonstrating how quickly ambitious actions can reshape the balance of power.
• Spectacle and reputation: The entire Black Robes community watches the fight, highlighting how public battles influence status, fear, and faction politics.

Chapter Summary: “Super-Enhanced Avada Kedavra”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jin Henry gains the upper hand early by using the X-rank Destiny Metal Ball, which locks onto Lin Feng and causes the gravity around him to increase continuously.
• His metal spears are linked to the ball and are guaranteed to strike it, creating devastating explosions. The attack is powerful enough to instantly kill most Second Sequence experts and destroy an ultra-high-strength planet after only a few hits.
• Lin Feng is forced to evade and defend himself, leading the watching First Sequence experts to assume that Jin Henry will easily defeat him.
• Luo Yingtian explains the Destiny Metal Ball’s mechanics to Ophelia, who is distressed at being caught near the battle but continues watching.
• Despite repeated spear strikes and overwhelming gravity, Lin Feng appears to suffer little meaningful damage. Jin Henry grows overconfident and mocks him, offering him the chance to use the Heart of the Universe Fragment.
• Lin Feng reveals that he has not yet shown his true strength. Rather than continuing to dodge, he remains in place and creates a magical barrier to withstand the attacks.
• He then unleashes a powerful Death Attack called Avada Kedavra, firing a torrent of green energy capable of damaging both the body and soul.
• Jin Henry responds by expanding his shield instead of dodging. Intrigued, Egart identifies Lin Feng’s technique as a rare Death Attack.
• Believing Jin Henry’s decision to resist is foolish, Lin Feng further strengthens the spell with “Super-Enhanced Avada Kedavra,” producing a vastly larger and more powerful green beam that completely fills the battlefield.

Character Developments

• Lin Feng/Shanhai: Initially appears pressured and disadvantaged, but this is revealed to be misleading. His calmness and willingness to endure Jin Henry’s attacks show that he has been concealing his real strength. He shifts from defense to confident offense once Jin Henry becomes complacent.
• Jin Henry: Begins the battle with overwhelming force and tactical confidence, using an extremely valuable item to establish dominance. However, his success makes him arrogant, causing him to underestimate Lin Feng and choose to block rather than evade the Death Attack.
• Luo Yingtian: Acts as an informed commentator, explaining Jin Henry’s weapon and emphasizing the enormous destructive scale of the battle. His observations change when he notices that Lin Feng has sustained surprisingly little damage.
• Ophelia: Is unwillingly placed in danger but remains attentive to the battle. Her fear contrasts with Luo Yingtian’s excitement and confidence.
• Egart: Initially uninterested, he becomes engaged after recognizing Lin Feng’s attack as a rare and especially dangerous Death Attack.

Significant Themes

• Hidden strength and misdirection: Lin Feng’s apparent disadvantage masks the fact that he has not begun fighting seriously.
• Overconfidence versus experience: Jin Henry’s superior battle experience and powerful equipment give him confidence, but his contempt for Lin Feng causes him to overlook the danger.
• Escalation of power: The battle quickly progresses from rare transcendent items and planet-destroying weapons to attacks that directly affect the soul and lifespan.
• The value of observation: The spectators initially accept the obvious appearance of Jin Henry’s dominance, but Lin Feng’s resilience forces them to reconsider the true balance of power.
• Defense versus evasion: Jin Henry’s decision to stand firm against a Death Attack highlights his pride and confidence, while Lin Feng sees it as an opportunity to deliver maximum damage.

Character Interactions

• Luo Yingtian explains the Destiny Metal Ball and its connection to Jin Henry’s spears to Ophelia, despite her desire to escape.
• Jin Henry taunts Lin Feng and urges him to reveal the Heart of the Universe Fragment.
• Lin Feng responds verbally and strategically, questioning why Jin Henry has remained stationary before revealing his enhanced spell.
• Egart reacts with renewed interest, recognizing the significance of Lin Feng’s Death Attack.
• The chapter ends with Lin Feng’s Super-Enhanced Avada Kedavra overwhelming the battlefield, leaving Jin Henry’s defense facing an attack far more dangerous than anything previously displayed.

Chapter Summary: “Half-Human, Half-Machine”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lin Feng discovers that Jin Henry’s Destiny Metal Ball can only function while Jin remains stationary. Once Jin moves from his original position, the gravitational pressure trapping Lin Feng disappears.
• Jin survives Lin Feng’s enhanced instant-death attack by dodging it. Lin Feng then uses Instant Transmission to evade Jin’s counterattack and fires a Ruin Collapse.
• Lin Feng’s green instant-death attacks gain a tracking ability, forcing Jin to deploy several drone-like metal cubes to intercept them.
• Jin’s cubes transform into cannons and unleash powerful energy barrages carrying Annihilation, aging, slowing, poisoning, and other negative effects.
• Lin Feng strengthens his Bio-Force Field with a Heart of the Universe Fragment to withstand the attacks. He then uses his ring to reflect the barrage back at Jin.
• The reflected attacks destroy Jin’s black robe but fail to damage him, revealing that half of his body has been replaced with extremely durable machinery. A red vortex in his chest appears to function as a power core.
• Lin Feng punches Jin’s metallic side with tremendous force, sending him flying but leaving no visible damage. However, Lin Feng notices the chest vortex spinning slightly faster, suggesting the blow affected Jin internally.
• Jin retaliates with a high-speed punch that strikes Lin Feng in the face and makes him bleed. Rather than being discouraged, Lin Feng becomes excited by the pain and challenge.

Character Developments

• Lin Feng: Demonstrates increasing tactical awareness by identifying the Destiny Metal Ball’s stationary-position limitation and adapting his attacks with tracking properties. He withstands Jin’s varied weaponry, discovers a possible weakness in Jin’s mechanical body, and grows energized rather than frightened after finally being injured.
• Jin Henry: Reveals himself to be a technologically enhanced, half-human, half-machine fighter. His mechanical body is extraordinarily durable, and his arsenal includes tracking defenses, transformed drone cannons, Annihilation beams, and attacks with multiple debilitating effects. Despite appearing unharmed, he shows signs that Lin Feng’s punch is taxing his power core.
• Luo Yingtian: Acts as an observer and commentator, explaining Jin’s mechanical modifications to Ophelia and evaluating Lin Feng’s unconventional combat style.
• Ophelia: Remains mostly an observer while receiving Luo Yingtian’s commentary about the battle.

Significant Themes

• Humanity versus mechanization: Jin Henry has sacrificed part of his natural body for greater power, raising the idea that strength may come at the cost of humanity.
• Adaptation and strategy: Lin Feng succeeds not through brute force alone but by studying his opponent’s abilities, identifying restrictions, and changing his tactics.
• Hidden vulnerability beneath invulnerability: Jin’s metallic body appears indestructible, but the faster-spinning red vortex suggests that even overwhelming defenses may conceal an internal weakness.
• Enjoyment of combat and escalation: Both fighters thrive under pressure. Lin Feng’s excitement after being wounded highlights his battle-loving nature and signals that the confrontation is becoming more intense and personal.

Character Interactions

• Lin Feng taunts Jin about the failure of the Destiny Metal Ball and challenges him to study the instant-death technique himself.
• Luo Yingtian explains Jin’s mechanical nature and comments skeptically on Lin Feng’s seemingly reckless punching style.
• The exchange between Lin Feng and Jin becomes almost playful and mocking: after Lin Feng strikes Jin, he asks whether it hurt; Jin repeats the question after punching Lin Feng and drawing blood.
• Their mutual taunting reinforces the rivalry while showing that neither fighter is intimidated by the other.

Chapter Summary: “Utterly Humiliated”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lin Feng and Jin Henry engage in an intense, universe-shaking battle inside an extraordinarily durable Creation Universe.
• Their attacks reach X-class destructive power, capable of affecting or destroying countless Parallel Universes. Space repeatedly shatters and reforms under the force of their blows.
• The Black Robes watch the battle through their terminals, while Aaron realizes that Jin Henry had previously held back enormously during their own fight.
• Lin Feng grows increasingly excited as the battle continues. Rather than becoming stronger during the fight, he is finally learning to coordinate and fully unleash power he already possessed.
• Jin Henry becomes alarmed by Lin Feng’s fighting style and growing control, recognizing him as an unusually dangerous opponent and an ideal combatant for improving through battle.
• The fight escalates through physical attacks, energy blasts, rays, curses, and attacks carrying supernova-like destructive force.
• Jin Henry uses his “Time Body,” reversing the rotation of the Energy Furnace in his metallic body and freezing time throughout the battlefield.
• Believing Lin Feng’s attack has been stopped, Jin Henry relaxes—only for Lin Feng to speak and strike him in the face. Lin Feng’s mastery of time allows him to overcome Jin Henry’s time stop.
• Lin Feng’s counterattack sends Jin Henry flying thousands of miles away and gives him the apparent upper hand.
• The battle briefly pauses. Jin Henry is visibly injured, with a swollen face, scratches, and a fading fist mark on his metal body. Lin Feng is also hurt, bleeding and battered, but appears to have suffered less damage.
• Jin Henry heals himself with his Energy Furnace, but is overwhelmed by humiliation at being injured and outperformed by his former subordinate.

Character Developments

• Lin Feng/Shanhai: Displays immense power, confidence, and enthusiasm. The battle helps him refine his control over his abilities, especially his time manipulation. His response to Jin Henry’s time stop demonstrates that time-based techniques are among his greatest strengths.
• Jin Henry: Reveals the terrifying capabilities of his metallic body and Energy Furnace, including the ability to halt time. However, he is forced to take Lin Feng seriously and becomes increasingly frustrated as Lin Feng resists and counters him. His pride is deeply wounded by being beaten by someone who was once his subordinate.
• Aaron: Gains a new understanding of Jin Henry’s true power, realizing that Jin Henry had treated their earlier fight as effortless play.
• Luo Yingtian: Remains unaffected by the battlefield’s residual energy and observes the fight with growing seriousness. He is amused and pleased when Jin Henry is injured, recognizing how unusual it is to see a First Sequence powerhouse harmed.
• Ophelia: Shows an extraordinary sensitivity to temporal disturbances, sensing Jin Henry’s time stop even though she cannot fully explain what occurred.
• The Black Robes: Are shocked by the battle’s scale and by Lin Feng’s apparent victory over Jin Henry.

Significant Themes

• Power revealed through combat: The fight exposes the true strength of both warriors and shows that Lin Feng had been suppressing or failing to coordinate his full abilities.
• Growth and adaptation: Lin Feng improves through combat, not by gaining new power but by mastering the power he already possesses.
• Pride and humiliation: Jin Henry’s emotional defeat is nearly as significant as his physical injury. His inability to dominate Lin Feng damages his pride and status.
• Time as a supreme force: Both fighters use time manipulation, but Lin Feng’s deeper mastery allows him to overcome Jin Henry’s seemingly absolute time stop.
• Former subordinate surpassing former master: The battle reverses the previous relationship between Lin Feng and Jin Henry, with Lin Feng now capable of injuring and overpowering him.

Character Interactions

• Lin Feng and Jin Henry clash as near-equals, with their battle becoming both a contest of destruction and a test of technique.
• Jin Henry attempts to stop Lin Feng with his Time Body, but Lin Feng mocks him and counters with a time-based attack, shifting the battle’s momentum.
• Luo Yingtian protects Ophelia from the battlefield’s residual energy and later reacts with amusement to Jin Henry’s injuries.
• Ophelia’s ability to sense the halted time surprises Luo Yingtian, prompting him to reassess her potential.
• The Black Robes collectively react with astonishment as Lin Feng appears to gain the advantage over Jin Henry.

Chapter Summary

Plot and Key Events

• In the Dark space, Egart and several First Sequence BOSS-level figures observe the battle between Shanhai (Lin Feng) and Jin Henry. They debate whether Lin Feng’s strength truly qualifies as First Sequence, since he relies partly on the Heart of the Universe Fragment.
• The observers also discuss whether Lin Feng should be recognized if he wins. Because the higher authority gives no objection, they agree to follow the established rules.
• On the battlefield, Lin Feng and Jin Henry recover from their earlier injuries. Lin Feng then activates the Radiant Symbiote, which spreads over his body as a black combat suit.
• The symbiote completely conceals Lin Feng’s presence. Although he remains visible to the eye, even powerful senses can no longer detect or lock onto him. This alarms both Luo Yingtian and Jin Henry.
• Unable to sense Lin Feng, Jin Henry launches an overwhelming attack before losing visual track of him. He activates Time Body, freezes time, and unleashes ten thousand cannons from his metallic body and spatial rifts.
• The resulting barrage reaches an attack rating of Y, devastates the universe, tears apart the cosmic barrier, and creates spatial collapses and energy black holes. Luo Yingtian must repair and stabilize the damaged battlefield.
• After the attack fades, Lin Feng is nowhere to be seen. Jin Henry remains cautious, realizing that Lin Feng may have survived.
• Lin Feng suddenly attacks from a shattered section of space with a concentrated beam of Light. The strike combines extreme destructive power, Black Magic’s soul penetration, and the Heart of the Universe’s enhancement.
• The beam pierces Jin Henry’s Metal Half-Body, breaks through his defenses, and leaves an expanding, corrosive wound. Lin Feng had aimed for the red vortex that appears to be Jin Henry’s energy core, but only partially succeeded.
• Lin Feng disappears again and prepares another Heart of the Universe Fragment, signaling that the battle is far from over.

Character Developments

• Lin Feng/Shanhai: Demonstrates increasingly sophisticated control over concealment, destructive force, and battlefield timing. He shifts from testing Jin Henry to using decisive, high-output attacks. His ability to combine the Radiant Symbiote, Black Magic, and the Heart of the Universe establishes him as a genuine First Sequence-level combatant.
• Jin Henry: Reveals the terrifying scale of his arsenal but becomes increasingly pressured once Lin Feng bypasses his detection and defenses. His confidence turns to anger as his Metal Half-Body begins to deteriorate and the wound refuses to heal.
• Luo Yingtian: Acts as both observer and referee, showing concern at Lin Feng’s concealment ability and repairing the universe after Jin Henry’s attack.
• Egart and the First Sequence BOSSes: Their debate reflects uncertainty about Lin Feng’s legitimacy and strength, but his performance increasingly supports Egart’s assessment that Lin Feng belongs at their level.

Significant Themes

• Hidden power and misdirection: Lin Feng’s ability to vanish from perception gives him a decisive advantage against an opponent equipped with overwhelming firepower.
• Raw destructive power versus strategic precision: Jin Henry relies on a massive, spectacular barrage, while Lin Feng uses a smaller but perfectly concentrated attack capable of piercing vastly stronger defenses.
• Recognition and legitimacy: The observers question whether Lin Feng deserves First Sequence status, emphasizing the political and hierarchical importance of proving one’s strength.
• Escalation and adaptation: Both fighters respond to each other’s techniques, continually unveiling stronger abilities and refusing to assume victory prematurely.
• The limits of borrowed power: Lin Feng’s use of the Heart of the Universe greatly amplifies his attacks, but the fragment overheats and requires recovery time, suggesting a cost to his overwhelming output.

Character Interactions

• Egart defends the seriousness of Lin Feng’s strength against the Seventh Faction leader’s objections.
• The First Sequence BOSSes debate Lin Feng’s status and whether the authorities will accept him if he wins.
• Luo Yingtian reacts with alarm to Lin Feng’s concealment skill and later repairs the battlefield after Jin Henry’s attack.
• Jin Henry attempts to exploit Lin Feng’s momentary visibility, but his time-stop assault fails to finish him.
• Lin Feng retaliates with a devastating precision strike, injuring Jin Henry and forcing him to confront an opponent he can neither sense nor reliably track.

Chapter Summary: The End of the Battle, Far Different from What They Imagined

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lin Feng/Shanhai repeatedly uses his powerful Light beam attack against Jin Henry. Normally, the attack would exhaust him for a month, but the Heart of the Universe shares its energy cost and increases its destructive power.
• Jin Henry becomes increasingly desperate because he cannot detect Lin Feng’s concealment technique. Unable to locate his opponent, he decides to destroy the entire battlefield instead.
• Jin Henry enlarges his body and activates the Infinite Energy Furnace at full power, preparing a devastating area-wide attack.
• Lin Feng strikes first, piercing through the red energy vortex and interrupting Jin Henry’s buildup.
• Rather than surrender or allow his attack to fail, Jin Henry detonates his metal half-body and the Infinite Energy Furnace, using his core as a final, suicidal weapon.
• The resulting explosion devastates the battle universe, melting matter, distorting space, creating and destroying black holes, and even threatening the real universe.
• Lin Feng protects himself by combining two Heart of the Universe fragments with his Bio-Force Field and Radiant Symbiote, which forms a protective sphere around him.
• Luo Yingtian removes Ophelia from the battlefield for her safety and orders the watching First Sequence Bosses to reconstruct the collapsing universe.
• Six First Sequence Bosses struggle to repair the universe as quickly as Jin Henry’s explosion destroys it. Their reactions reveal that Jin Henry has sacrificed the foundation of his power and will likely be severely weakened even if he survives.
• The battle’s livestream is cut off, leaving observers such as Aaron unable to see the outcome. Aaron remarks that the battle is far different from his expectations of a First Sequence confrontation.

Character Developments

• Lin Feng/Shanhai: Demonstrates tactical initiative, repeatedly attacking before Jin Henry can complete his ultimate technique. Although forced to endure the explosion directly, he remains resourceful and relies on the Heart of the Universe, Bio-Force Field, and Radiant Symbiote for survival.
• Jin Henry: Shifts from confidence to panic and desperation. His inability to detect Lin Feng exposes the weakness of relying on overwhelming energy attacks. Ultimately, he chooses to detonate the Infinite Energy Furnace, sacrificing his metal half-body and possibly his future Omniversal-level strength.
• Luo Yingtian: Acts as a careful observer and protector. He correctly identifies Jin Henry’s predicament, anticipates the danger of the ultimate attack, rescues Ophelia, and coordinates the emergency reconstruction of the universe.
• Ophelia: Is removed from danger by Luo Yingtian before the explosion, emphasizing her vulnerability compared with the combatants.
• The First Sequence Bosses: Their detached observation turns into urgent intervention when the battlefield threatens the real universe. Their dialogue shows both shock at Jin Henry’s recklessness and respect for the seriousness of the crisis.
• Aaron: Gains a more realistic understanding of First Sequence battles. His expectations of elaborate, flashy combat are replaced by recognition of the overwhelming scale and efficiency of their energy-based attacks.

Significant Themes

• Desperation and sacrifice: Jin Henry’s decision to destroy his own greatest source of power shows how far he is willing to go to defeat Lin Feng.
• Strategy versus brute force: Lin Feng’s concealment and timing allow him to control the battle despite Jin Henry’s greater reliance on raw destructive power.
• The danger of overwhelming power: The explosion demonstrates that battles at this level threaten not only the combatants but the structure of the universe itself.
• Misconceptions about high-level combat: The observers expect dramatic exchanges of varied techniques, but the battle consists largely of precise energy attacks, concealment, and escalation.
• The cost of power: Both fighters rely on abilities with enormous energy demands, while Jin Henry’s ultimate move may permanently cripple his strength even if it succeeds.
• Responsibility and containment: The First Sequence Bosses must intervene to prevent the battle’s consequences from spreading into the real universe.

Character Interactions

• Lin Feng and Jin Henry remain locked in a tense contest of concealment, detection, and energy attacks, with Lin Feng repeatedly interrupting Jin Henry’s preparations.
• Luo Yingtian analyzes Jin Henry’s disadvantage and later protects Ophelia from the impending explosion.
• Luo Yingtian commands the First Sequence Bosses to repair the collapsing battlefield, shifting them from spectators to active participants in containing the disaster.
• The First Sequence Bosses debate Jin Henry’s decision, criticizing his willingness to damage himself so severely, but fall silent when the mysterious leader of the First Faction orders them to concentrate.
• Aaron and his lackey discuss the battle’s unexpected nature, providing an outside perspective on how extraordinary First Sequence combat truly is.

Chapter Summary: “Jin Henry’s Demise”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Aaron explains to his underling why the First Sequence battle between Shanhai and Jin Henry appeared brief despite its enormous destructive power. At this level, fighters typically skip prolonged exchanges and immediately use their strongest killing techniques.
• Shanhai’s concealment ability prevented Jin Henry from locating him, while Jin Henry delayed using his ultimate move. This allowed Shanhai to strike first with his mysterious Penetrating Ray.
• Shanhai’s attack destroyed Jin Henry’s Infinite Energy Furnace, causing Jin Henry to detonate his Metal Half-Body in a massive explosion. The resulting destruction damaged space throughout the Battle Universe and temporarily blacked out the viewing screen.
• Aaron initially notes that the outcome is uncertain, since Shanhai might also have been killed or severely injured by the explosion.
• Once the screen recovers, Jin Henry is revealed to be reduced to half a body and badly wounded. Without his Infinite Energy Furnace, his combat power has fallen drastically.
• Jin Henry attempts to use healing potions, but the contest rules prohibit them, forcing him to rely on healing skills he barely knows how to use.
• Shanhai then reappears, concealed behind an increasingly intense Light. His clothing is undamaged, and he appears almost unharmed, making Jin Henry’s defeat seem inevitable.
• The chapter reveals that Shanhai is actually Lin Feng. He survived the explosion by activating an unnamed, energy-consuming skill that heightened his senses, strength, and rational calculation. He precisely determined how to withstand the universe-wide Annihilation explosion while suffering minimal injury.
• Lin Feng prepares to finish Jin Henry, asking him whether he has any final words.

Character Developments

• Aaron demonstrates deep knowledge of First Sequence combat, explaining that these battles are decided by timing, concealment, and the successful use of fatal trump cards rather than spectacle or prolonged fighting.
• The underling begins with a simplistic understanding of the battle, expecting a dramatic, extended clash. Through Aaron’s explanation, he gradually realizes how overwhelming and strategically complex First Sequence battles are.
• Jin Henry shifts from a powerful and confident combatant to a desperate, severely weakened survivor. His overconfidence and delayed use of his ultimate technique cost him the decisive advantage.
• Lin Feng/Shanhai is revealed to possess extraordinary composure, calculation, and hidden abilities. His unnamed defensive skill allows him to endure Jin Henry’s catastrophic attack, while his concealed identity and powers reinforce his strategic superiority.
• Luo Yingtian returns to the Battle Universe and recognizes from Jin Henry’s condition and Shanhai’s appearance that Jin Henry is likely doomed, though he still cannot detect Shanhai’s aura.

Significant Themes

• Timing determines victory: In battles between near-equal First Sequence experts, being even one step late in using a killing move can decide the entire outcome.
• Hidden trump cards: Both combatants possess abilities unknown to their opponents, emphasizing that power is not merely a matter of visible strength.
• Strategy over spectacle: The chapter stresses that high-level combat may appear simple externally because its decisive actions occur almost instantaneously.
• Concealment and uncertainty: Shanhai’s inability to be detected creates constant doubt about his condition and position, giving him a major tactical advantage.
• The cost of power: Jin Henry loses his Infinite Energy Furnace, while Lin Feng nearly exhausts his own energy to survive the explosion. Even overwhelming abilities carry serious consequences.
• Appearance versus reality: Jin Henry’s destructive explosion looks unstoppable, but Lin Feng’s unseen preparation allows him to emerge nearly intact, showing that visible devastation does not necessarily determine the result.

Character Interactions

• Aaron patiently analyzes the battle for his confused underling, contrasting the underling’s desire for dramatic action with Aaron’s understanding of elite combat.
• Jin Henry searches for Shanhai and angrily calls out to him, unaware that Shanhai is preparing a counterattack nearby.
• Luo Yingtian observes the aftermath and silently concludes that Jin Henry is at a severe disadvantage.
• Lin Feng confronts Jin Henry calmly and expressionlessly, asking for his final words as he prepares to end the contest.

Chapter Summary: “No Reversal, Lin Feng Wins!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jin Henry, leader of the Fifth Faction, is critically weakened after Lin Feng destroys the Infinite Energy Furnace that powers him.
• Laughing and appearing mentally unhinged, Jin Henry secretly forms a hand seal and attempts to continue fighting or activate another technique.
• Before he can finish surrendering, Lin Feng fires his fully charged Piercing Beam. The attack destroys Jin Henry’s head and reduces the rest of his body to ash.
• Jin Henry’s death shocks the leaders of the First Sequence. The Faction Contest, which usually lasts several days, ends in just over two hours.
• The leaders conclude that Lin Feng—under the identity “Shanhai”—is likely stronger than Jin Henry. They also recognize that Jin Henry lost because he underestimated his opponent and failed to use his trump cards immediately.
• Despite Jin Henry’s apparent death, the cosmic system does not immediately announce a winner. A strange ripple appears where his body vanished, and Jin Henry’s soul materializes.
• Jin Henry declares that the Fifth Faction belongs to Lin Feng but vows to return and seek revenge.
• Lin Feng reveals that he had infused his final attack with modified, soul-targeting Black Magic. The technique begins tearing Jin Henry’s soul apart.
• Jin Henry panics for the first time, but his soul dissipates completely before he can escape or leave another threat.
• The system finally announces Lin Feng’s victory and transfers control of the Fifth Faction to Shanhai. Lin Feng is ordered to take over the faction within three days.

Character Developments

• Lin Feng/Shanhai: Demonstrates overwhelming combat ability, strategic caution, and thorough preparation. He not only defeats Jin Henry physically but also anticipates the possibility of a surviving soul and ensures that his final attack destroys it as well. His confidence grows as he realizes Jin Henry’s supposed second chance is meaningless.
• Jin Henry: Changes from arrogant and mocking to desperate and fearful. His refusal to use his strongest abilities early proves fatal. Even after death, his hatred drives him to threaten Lin Feng, but his final escape attempt fails because of Lin Feng’s soul-destroying countermeasure.
• Egart: Is astonished by Lin Feng’s strength and regrets having previously viewed him merely as a potential recruit. He recognizes that Lin Feng has risen to the level of an equal—or possibly more.
• Other First Sequence Leaders: Learn a harsh lesson from Jin Henry’s defeat: no opponent should be underestimated, regardless of their apparent status or origin.
• Luo Yingtian: Although mostly observing, he is placed in a difficult position because the subordinate he intended to recruit has suddenly become an extremely powerful figure and faction leader.

Significant Themes

• The danger of underestimating an opponent: Jin Henry’s reluctance to reveal his trump cards allows Lin Feng to destroy the foundation of his power before he can fight at full strength.
• Preparation and adaptability: Lin Feng’s success depends not only on raw power but also on his ability to combine different abilities and prepare for unexpected developments.
• Finality and eliminating future threats: Lin Feng refuses to assume that physical death is enough, destroying Jin Henry’s soul to prevent resurrection or revenge.
• The shifting balance of power: Lin Feng’s victory changes the political structure of the First Sequence, elevating him from an unknown subordinate to the ruler of the Fifth Faction.
• Pride and consequences: Jin Henry’s confidence and failure to take Lin Feng seriously ultimately cost him both his body and soul.

Important Character Interactions

• Lin Feng and Jin Henry: Their confrontation ends with Lin Feng decisively overpowering Jin Henry. Jin Henry attempts to surrender too late, then threatens revenge through his surviving soul, but Lin Feng calmly reveals that he had already planned for such an outcome.
• Egart and the other faction leaders: Their reactions show collective shock and concern. They reassess Lin Feng’s strength and acknowledge that Jin Henry’s death serves as a warning to every leader.
• Lin Feng and Luo Yingtian: Lin Feng looks to Luo Yingtian for guidance when the victory announcement fails to appear, emphasizing the uncertainty surrounding Jin Henry’s apparent return and the changing relationship between them.

Chapter Summary: “Talk, and Speculations About Shanhai”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Three days pass after Shanhai defeats Jin Henry and takes control of the Fifth Faction.
• The wider Black Robe organization largely continues as usual, but the Fifth Faction is occupied with its leadership transition.
• Lin Feng spends most of the three days resting on the sun, though he also meets several First Sequence leaders because they will be working together.
• Egart and Luo Yingtian privately discuss Shanhai’s sudden rise and his apparent lack of excitement over taking the Fifth Faction.
• They speculate that Shanhai may possess an unknown powerful bloodline or may have been cultivated by a hidden faction. They ultimately consider the second possibility unlikely, since an Omniversal-level agent would not normally be used as an infiltrator.
• They also find it suspicious that Zero—the mysterious system-like superior who supports the Black Robes—has not summoned Shanhai for a personal meeting, despite doing so with previous First Sequence leaders.
• Unable to reach any conclusions, Egart and Luo Yingtian decide to observe Shanhai carefully and remain on guard.
• Meanwhile, Lin Feng travels toward his newly acquired Main Planet, the headquarters of the Fifth Faction. The planet once belonged to Jin Henry and contains numerous residents, rare races, and a mechanical life-form civilization collected over centuries.

Character Developments

• Lin Feng/Shanhai: Demonstrates remarkable calm and indifference after defeating Jin Henry and gaining control of an entire faction. His relaxed behavior increases the mystery surrounding his true identity, origins, and motives.
• Egart: Becomes uneasy over Shanhai’s strength and unpredictability. His concern reflects a loss of confidence in his ability to understand or control the situation.
• Luo Yingtian: Acts as a thoughtful and cautious analyst, offering the main theories about Shanhai’s bloodline or possible backing.
• Aaron: Quietly observes the adults’ discussion. Although he is exceptionally strong among his peers, Shanhai’s existence makes him feel discouraged and unable to take pride in his own achievements.
• Jin Henry: Though absent after his defeat, his influence remains visible through the prosperous Main Planet and the diverse races he gathered there.

Significant Themes

• Mystery and hidden origins: Shanhai’s rapid rise to Omniversal-level power raises questions about his lineage, training, and possible connections to unknown powers.
• Power and uncertainty: Even established leaders such as Egart and Luo Yingtian feel uneasy because Shanhai does not behave like someone seeking ordinary political or personal rewards.
• Surveillance and distrust: The Black Robes choose to monitor Shanhai rather than trust him completely, expecting that any hidden agenda will eventually reveal itself.
• Isolation at the top: Shanhai’s strength sets him apart, while Aaron’s reaction shows how the existence of an overwhelmingly powerful figure can undermine the confidence of others.
• Legacy and empire-building: Jin Henry’s Main Planet represents the accumulated results of centuries of effort, which now pass into Lin Feng’s possession after the change in leadership.

Character Interactions

• Egart and Luo Yingtian share a private, relatively close conversation about Shanhai, comparing theories about his capabilities and affiliations.
• They agree that Shanhai’s power is abnormal but differ only in their attempts to explain it, ultimately settling on cautious observation.
• Egart asks about Zero’s lack of contact with Shanhai, prompting discussion of the mysterious entity’s role in the Black Robes.
• Aaron remains silent behind his father, reinforcing the hierarchy between the older leaders and the younger generation while revealing his private insecurity.
• Lin Feng has little direct interaction in the chapter, but his actions and unusual behavior dominate the conversations of the other characters.

Chapter Summary: Main Planet, Taking Over the Fifth Faction

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lin Feng travels to the Main Planet’s Central Hall to formally take control of the Fifth Faction.
• To complete the succession, he must use the Central Hall’s identity-verification device to replace Jin Henry’s information with his own.
• Meanwhile, Jin Henry’s five former Second Sequence subordinates—four men and one woman, including Li Xieqian—wait in a conference room to meet their new leader.
• The group is nervous because they witnessed Lin Feng, known as Shanhai, dominate the Faction Contest and understand that challenging him would be extremely dangerous.
• While waiting, the subordinates discuss how to make a good impression. Sea asks Li Xieqian what Lin Feng likes, but Li honestly admits that he barely knows him.
• Another subordinate tries to bribe Li with a year’s worth of cultivation resources in exchange for information, but Li refuses, insisting he truly has nothing useful to share.
• Hana grows impatient with the long wait, leading to a tense exchange with the blond-haired subordinate. Their hostility reflects a conflict that has lasted for more than a century.
• Sea intervenes and warns them not to argue in front of Lin Feng, reminding them that their new leader may punish such behavior.
• On the final day of the takeover period, Lin Feng arrives. The five immediately sit rigidly and respectfully, suppressing their senses so they will not appear to be probing him.
• Lin Feng enters with a friendly smile, recognizes Li Xieqian, and casually asks who the others are. He quickly realizes that they have gathered to gain his favor.

Character Developments

• Lin Feng/Shanhai: His rapid rise from Li Xieqian’s subordinate to leader of the entire Fifth Faction is emphasized. Although powerful and intimidating, he behaves casually and approachable when meeting his new subordinates.
• Li Xieqian: He experiences mixed emotions over Lin Feng’s promotion. He is honest about their limited relationship and refuses a valuable bribe rather than pretend to know Lin Feng better than he does.
• Sea: He acts as a mediator and appears practical and socially aware, attempting to prevent conflict within the group.
• Hana: She is impatient, outspoken, and combative, though she understands the importance of staying and meeting Lin Feng.
• The blond-haired subordinate: He is calculating and generous when trying to obtain information, but openly dislikes Hana and has a long-standing rivalry with her.
• The group as a whole: The former subordinates are cautious and eager to secure their positions under the new leader, recognizing that Lin Feng’s strength gives him unquestioned authority.

Significant Themes

• Power and rapid reversal of status: Lin Feng’s transformation from subordinate to superior demonstrates how quickly rank can change in a world where strength determines authority.
• Respect founded on strength: The subordinates do not question Lin Feng’s legitimacy because his victory in the Faction Contest proves his overwhelming power.
• Political adaptation and self-preservation: The group’s anxiety, careful behavior, and attempts to discover Lin Feng’s preferences show how people adjust to new leadership to protect their interests.
• Long-standing factional conflict: The hostility between Hana and the blond man reveals internal rivalries that have been contained by previous leadership but may continue under the new regime.
• Humility versus reputation: Lin Feng appears friendly and ordinary despite the fear his aura inspires, creating a contrast between his approachable manner and his formidable status.

Character Interactions

• Sea questions Li about Lin Feng, while the others listen closely for useful information.
• The blond subordinate attempts to persuade Li with a valuable gift, but Li returns it.
• Hana and the blond man nearly provoke one another into a fight before Sea stops them.
• Li reminds Hana that Lin Feng is expected to arrive and warns that their behavior could make a poor impression.
• When Lin Feng finally appears, the subordinates immediately adopt disciplined postures, revealing their fear and eagerness to please him.
• Lin Feng’s casual greeting to Li contrasts with the tense, formal atmosphere the others had prepared for, signaling the beginning of his direct relationship with the Fifth Faction’s leadership.