Chapter Summaries

Li Chen revealed that the apprentices he had studied for six years were virtual personalities, then assigned them to serve Heavenly Rose as part of his experiments in intelligent puppets. He brought the corpse concubines into the Magic Cube Maze as incarnations of his seven intelligences, where the growing society of artificial minds marked the beginnings of an intelligence civilization.

• Li Chen assigned the virtual personalities, modeled on his apprentices, to serve under Heavenly Rose.
• Li Chen explained that he had created the personalities through six years of observation and used Capture Shadows, Refine Souls and Awaken Spirituality to give them spirituality.
• Li Chen considered how imperfect his human simulations remained and how the imbalance between spiritual and mechanical intelligence might limit his future research.
• Li Chen planned to use the virtual personalities as subjects and assistants in his exploration of puppet conversion.
• Li Chen converted the corpse concubines into incarnations of Heavenly Pivot, Heavenly Jade, Heavenly Rose, Heavenly Authority, Jade Balance, Opened Yang, and Shaking Light.
• The artificial intelligences and their virtual personalities maintained the Magic Cube Maze together, forming the beginnings of an intelligence civilization.

Li Chen considered whether the corpse concubines inhabited by the Seven Great Intelligences could become truly living beings, and whether Shape-Stealing Skin-Painting could let him copy his own spirit and achieve immortality. As he prepared to leave Armor Capital City for the Star Sea, he began winding down his businesses and planned to sell his shops to local clans.

• Li Chen observed the Seven Great Intelligences growing more attached to their corpse concubine incarnations and wondered whether his magic power or the bodies themselves influenced them.
• The artificial intelligences showed off clothes they had made for their incarnations, and Li Chen praised them while considering whether simulated personalities could restore the corpses to life.
• Li Chen reflected on identity, resurrection, and whether Shape-Stealing Skin-Painting could replace causality, let the dead return, or allow him to copy his spirit and live forever.
• Li Chen continued waiting in Armor Capital City while reducing his operations and settling his accounts in preparation for leaving for the Star Sea.
• Li Chen planned to sell his processing workshop and spirit-material shops to local aristocratic clans that had coveted them.

Li Chen sold most of his businesses in Armor Capital City and gave Shopkeeper Xiong a spirit materials shop as a foundation for his future. As Li Chen considered joining a powerful faction in the Vast Sea Domain without accepting lifelong subordination, visitors from the Golden Sun Gate arrived in the city.

• Li Chen auctioned his city businesses to representatives of Aristocratic Clans and arranged the transfers through Spell Contracts.
• Li Chen offered Shopkeeper Xiong the spirit materials shop and its existing supply and sales connections, recognizing his years of work.
• Shopkeeper Xiong expressed gratitude and regret that he could no longer serve Li Chen.
• Li Chen reflected on the imbalance of power in the cultivation world and resolved to seek fairness and equal exchange in the Vast Sea Domain.
• Cultivators from the Vast Sea Domain arrived through Armor Capital City's teleportation array, including a Master Artisan affiliated with the Golden Sun Gate.

Yu Youxian, a Golden Sun Gate envoy, investigated Li Chen before delivering the sect’s invitation and assessing his suitability. After inspecting the businesses he was leaving behind, she asked to meet him the next morning.

• Yu Youxian arrived at the Wu Household and questioned its head about how the clan had come to know and recommend Li Chen.
• Yu Youxian asked the Wu Household head to show her Li Chen’s businesses so she could inspect them without alerting him first.
• A Wu clan elder informed Li Chen that the envoy had arrived, but Li Chen chose to remain at his fishing terrace and let her look around.
• Yu Youxian learned that Li Chen had left a shop to Shopkeeper Xiong and sent his students away without asking for anything in return.
• Yu Youxian asked the Wu Household head to tell Li Chen she wanted to meet him the following morning.

Li Chen met Yu Youxian at the Wu Household and learned that she cultivated the Dao of Music. He challenged her view of music by explaining that science and engineering could reproduce and compose it, leaving her surprised and irritated.

• Li Chen accepted Yu Youxian's meeting and arrived at the courtyard prepared by the Wu Household.
• Li Chen heard Yu Youxian play the Clear Spring Melody and observed the manifested Dao Patterns around her illusory zither.
• Yu Youxian praised Li Chen's achievements and asked what he thought of her music.
• Li Chen said he knew little about music but found it lovely, then asked whether she cultivated the Dao of Music.
• Li Chen explained that sound and musical order could be understood through vibration and mathematics, and that artificial intelligence could perform and compose music.
• Yu Youxian reacted with surprise to Li Chen's claim and found him infuriating.

Li Chen argued with Yu Youxian that artificial intelligence could reproduce music, emotion, and cultivation techniques, challenging her belief that only natural sentience could understand intent. Yu Youxian recognized that their Daos shared an aim but still parted from him angrily after giving him an invitation to the Golden Sun Gate’s founding celebration.

• Li Chen rejected Yu Youxian’s claim that mechanically produced music lacked a soul and used a thought experiment to argue that matching results mattered more than how they were produced.
• Li Chen argued that emotions, intent, divine abilities, and spells could be artificially created or understood through studying their underlying mechanisms.
• Yu Youxian realized her Dao of music and Li Chen’s pursuit of artificial intelligence shared the same goal, though they relied on different means.
• Yu Youxian gave Li Chen a celebration invitation and communication token, then told him to wait at the Golden Sun Gate’s lodge in Sea Eye City before the end of the year.
• Yu Youxian stormed off after telling Li Chen to conduct himself properly.

Li Chen studied the Golden Sun Gate’s vassal system and learned how the regional power expanded through allied forces while preparing to enter its service. He also learned that Golden Sun True Person’s impending breakthrough had renewed the Gate’s ambitions and that Yu Youxian’s family held prominent positions among its upper echelons.

• The head of the Wu Household advised Li Chen to cultivate Yu Youxian’s favor, but Li Chen focused instead on seeking shelter from the Golden Sun Gate.
• Li Chen read Yu Youxian’s jade talisman and learned that the Golden Sun Gate lent support to vassals in exchange for repayment and military obligations under its strategic direction.
• Li Chen learned that the Gate used its vassals to conquer territories and resources while retaining influence and avoiding direct frontline warfare.
• Li Chen learned that Golden Sun True Person’s growing chance of becoming a Puppet Master Grandmaster had revived the Gate’s ambitions and made his breakthrough its main concern.
• Li Chen reviewed the Gate’s hierarchy and learned that Golden Sun True Person led six Grand Artisans and ten Core Formation elders, including members of Yu Youxian’s family.

Li Chen arrived in Sea Eye City in the Vast Sea Domain and met Gu Mocheng while waiting for the Golden Sun Gate's envoy. Gu Mocheng explained the Sea of Stars and invited Li Chen to go fishing with him the next day.

• Li Chen paid more than five million for teleportation to Sea Eye City and went to the Golden Sun Gate's guesthouse.
• Li Chen found several Foundation Establishment Cultivators waiting at the guesthouse, including Gu Mocheng, a human Puppeteer.
• Li Chen and Gu Mocheng introduced themselves and discussed their work and hopes of opening new territory.
• Gu Mocheng explained the Sea of Stars' domains, Guixu, and Sea Eye City's role as a strategic transport hub.
• Gu Mocheng invited Li Chen to go fishing on a floating island the next day.

Li Chen and Gu Mocheng went fishing on the floating Fishing Platform, where Gu Mocheng told him about rare fish and the legendary Dragon Fish. Gu Mocheng said no one in Sea Eye City had caught one for over a thousand years, but the fish was rumored to bring its captor extraordinary fortune.

• Li Chen and Gu Mocheng flew to the Fishing Platform above Sea Eye City's eastern outskirts and began fishing.
• Li Chen caught a scarlet fish, and Gu Mocheng explained that the celestial river held rare species, including the legendary Dragon Fish.
• Gu Mocheng described the Dragon Fish as a powerful demonic fish with true dragon blood, prized as an ingredient for the Imperial Dragon Pellet.
• Gu Mocheng said he had never seen a Dragon Fish or heard of anyone catching one in Sea Eye City for more than a thousand years.
• Gu Mocheng recounted how a fisherman supposedly helped a wounded Dragon Fish regain its true form and became chancellor of a Sea Kingdom.
• Li Chen and Gu Mocheng agreed that catching a Dragon Fish could change a person's fate.

Li Chen challenged Gu Mocheng’s belief that Dragon Fish brought extraordinary destiny, arguing that privilege and self-fulfilling expectations explained the legends. While fishing, Li Chen caught two Dragon Fish linked mouth to tail, leaving the people nearby stunned by the unbelievable catch.

• Li Chen explained to Gu Mocheng how belief in Dragon Fish could turn chance into a self-fulfilling prophecy and help the already privileged accumulate opportunities.
• Gu Mocheng reconsidered the story of the Golden Sun True Person and realized that others may have given him the Dragon Fish because of his status.
• Li Chen felt a strong tug on his line and carefully fought to reel in the fish.
• Li Chen pulled a golden, horned Dragon Fish from the water as clouds gathered and onlookers began to notice.
• Gu Mocheng identified the catch as a Dragon Fish, then saw a second one emerge with its mouth clamped onto the first one's tail.

Li Chen caught two rare Dragon Fish and, after learning their inner cores were valuable, secretly kept their Dragon Pearls before killing the fish to make soup for the crowd. Gu Mocheng watched in disbelief as the spectators lined up to share the meal.

• A crowd gathered around Li Chen and Gu Mocheng after Li Chen caught two Dragon Fish at the fishing platform.
• Gu Mocheng realized the fish had swallowed drunken dragon grass, while a sea-folk cultivator explained the value of their Dragon Pearls.
• Li Chen decided to use the Dragon Pearls for his puppet modification and announced that everyone could share the fish.
• Li Chen secretly removed the Dragon Pearls, chopped up the fish, and began cooking them in a large pot.
• Li Chen invited the spectators to line up for soup, and Gu Mocheng ruefully accepted a taste.

After Li Chen cooked and ate two Dragon Fish, footage of the feat spread through Sea Eye City and made him famous throughout the Vast Sea. He stayed in the city receiving visitors, while refusing to sell the Dragon Fish remains he had kept for himself.

• Rumors that Li Chen had cooked both Dragon Fish sparked arguments until Jade Slips and footage confirmed the story.
• Dong Linzhu summoned Li Chen to ask about the Dragon Fish, then regretted that Li Chen had killed them instead of selling them.
• Dong Pengfei persuaded Dong Linzhu that Li Chen’s decisiveness and boldness made him worth befriending.
• News of Li Chen’s feat spread from Sea Eye City throughout the Vast Sea, earning him both praise and condemnation.
• Li Chen received visitors at his lodgings, claimed he had disposed of the Dragon Fish remains, and refused to sell them.

Li Chen escaped the crowds in Sea Eye City until Yu Youxian returned to organize the invited cultivators’ journey to the Golden Sun Gate. As they set out aboard the sect’s Flying Boat, Yu Youxian remained irritated with Li Chen, who saw no need to find out why.

• Yu Youxian returned to Sea Eye City and learned that Li Chen had caught and cooked two Dragon Fish, which left her astonished and angry.
• Yu Youxian arranged for the cultivators to depart the next day aboard the Golden Sun Gate’s Flying Boat.
• Li Chen and the other invited cultivators boarded the Flying Boat, where the helm officer welcomed him as the famed Dragon Fish catcher.
• Yu Youxian criticized Li Chen for cooking the Dragon Fish, but he pretended not to hear her.
• Gu Mocheng asked Li Chen why Yu Youxian seemed displeased, and Li Chen said he did not know and saw no need to pursue it.

Li Chen and other Foundation Establishment cultivators discussed where to establish their granted territories as the Golden Sun Gate prepared to expand into the Star Sea. Yuan Xiye chose a floating island in the northeast, while Li Chen claimed a distant, conflict-ridden region rich in potential resources and planned to found his sect there.

• Li Chen joined Li Fengxing, Guan Shu, Yuan Xiye, and other cultivators to discuss their territorial grants using a large map.
• Yuan Xiye selected a floating-island territory in the northeast, despite its danger from Star Sea demons.
• Li Chen chose a barren star a million li east of the Golden Sun Gate, valuing its nearby false blessed lands, mineral resources, and floating islands.
• Li Chen said he would establish his granted territory at the spirit peak and found his sect there if no one else had chosen the same area.

Li Chen and the other cultivators selected territories to develop as vassal domains of the Golden Sun Gate. Li Chen’s choice, Broad Cloud Peak, was confirmed, and the sect began discussing the assistance and loans it would provide.

• Li Chen chose a remote region rich in ordinary resources and identified a nearby landmass as a potential area for future expansion.
• Gu Mocheng and two other puppeteers joined together to claim a small floating island, while Gu Mocheng discussed the difficulty of finding a route through distorted void to trade with Li Chen.
• Li Chen arranged to negotiate with Xiao Linfeng, whose territory lay five hundred thousand li away, about establishing transport ports.
• The cultivators gathered in the council hall and submitted their choices of bases to the Golden Sun Gate’s courts and halls.
• Li Chen’s flag, bearing his Winged Dragon emblem, was placed on Broad Cloud Peak, confirming his choice as the sect began discussing assistance and loans.

The Golden Sun Gate explained the tribute, taxes, and repayment terms for its vassals’ aid loans, while secretly assigning cultivators ratings and credit limits. Li Chen earned high marks and priority support, but his distant fief sharply reduced his credit limit, angering Yu Youxian.

• The elder in charge explained that vassals owed tribute and taxes, and had to repay loans in spirit stones despite the five-percent interest rate.
• Li Chen decided to pay only the lowest annual rate of one million and discussed loans and ranks with other cultivators after the assembly.
• The Golden Sun Gate’s Steward read out cultivators’ assessments and credit limits to Yu Youxian and the other officials.
• The Steward rated Li Chen high in potential and strength and granted him priority support, but set his credit limit at twelve million because his chosen fief was too distant.
• Yu Youxian learned that Li Chen’s independent plans had lowered his credit limit and clenched her teeth in frustration.

Li Chen refused Yu Youxian’s offer to move closer to the Golden Sun Gate for a larger allowance and instead asked about long-distance communication. He learned that the Golden Sun Gate could exchange the secret Wave-Leaping Sensing Art for ten million of his allowance, and decided to obtain it.

• A Golden Sun Gate elder explained that Li Chen could receive a larger allowance if he chose a safer location and agreed to higher alliance dues, and Yu Youxian offered to persuade him.
• Yu Youxian visited Li Chen, but he refused to change his plans for Broad Cloud Peak or prioritize the allowance.
• Li Chen asked whether the Golden Sun Gate could provide a planet-wide communication technique usable at the Master Artisan realm.
• Yu Youxian identified the Wave-Leaping Sensing Art and said its authentic transmission would cost at least ten million of Li Chen’s twelve-million allowance.
• Li Chen chose the technique, and Yu Youxian left in frustration after realizing he was serious.

Li Chen watched the Golden Sun Gate’s celebrations and learned about the sect’s legendary Nine-Star Golden Crow Puppet and Golden Sun True Person’s secluded cultivation. After the formal assessment, he signed the Spell Contract for Guangyun Peak and received the Wave-Leaping Sensing Art, while Yu Youxian remained displeased that he had not changed his mind.

• Li Chen and the other guests watched elite disciples perform and saw the Golden Sun Gate parade its formidable armies of Puppets, Mecha, and warships.
• Attendees discussed the sect’s Golden Crow Puppet, a terrifying Nine-Star guardian said to resemble the sun, and Golden Sun True Person’s efforts to become a Grandmaster Artisan.
• Li Chen considered visiting Golden Sun True Person for guidance if he emerged from seclusion and achieved his goal.
• The Golden Sun Gate assessed the newly appointed territorial lords and held the Spell Contract signing ceremony.
• Li Chen signed the contract for authority over Guangyun Peak and received the Wave-Leaping Sensing Art as Yu Youxian witnessed the ceremony, still displeased with him.

Yu Hao advised Yu Youxian to cultivate influence over the frontier lords patiently and suggested she invest her development funds in Li Chen. At the banquet after the vassal ceremony, Dong Pengfei offered Li Chen a major investment in Broad Cloud Peak, prompting Yu Youxian to object.

• Yu Hao instructed Yu Youxian to guide the frontier lords according to their interests and use the Yu Household's power when needed.
• Yu Hao said Li Chen had distinguished himself and encouraged Yu Youxian to wager her development funds on him.
• An Observatory Court elder invited the new vassal lords and their guests to a celebratory banquet after the Spell Contract ceremony.
• Li Chen recognized the banquet as a meeting for attracting investors and reflected on the role of trade in frontier development.
• Dong Pengfei told Li Chen he had come especially to offer ten million for developing Broad Cloud Peak in exchange for future levy exemptions and operating licenses.
• Yu Youxian overheard Dong Pengfei's offer and challenged him.

Li Chen agreed to let the Dong and Yu Households invest in developing the market district outside his spirit peak while keeping control of the spirit mines. Yu Youxian told him that the newly appointed territorial lords would be transported to their posts at the end of March.

• Yu Youxian warned Li Chen and Dong Pengfei that opening profitable trades to outsiders or exempting them from taxes could cost the territory significant income.
• Li Chen explained that he wanted to entrust the market district and towns to outsiders so he could focus on cultivating and passing down his dao lineage, while retaining the spirit peak and its mines.
• Yu Youxian challenged Li Chen's priorities, and Li Chen said his ambition was to attain the Dao and leave his name and lineage behind rather than establish a clan or sect.
• Yu Youxian offered five million in investment and clan workers and administrators in exchange for privileges, and Li Chen and Dong Pengfei welcomed the Yu Household's participation.
• Yu Youxian told Li Chen to prepare a development plan and supplies promptly because the new territorial lords would be transported to their posts at the end of March.