Chapter Summaries

After passing the trial, Dongguan and Meng Jin learned that they would travel to the Light Capital in a month for the Life-and-Death Selection. Dongguan spent the month studying a combat art, and as the departure approached, the City Lord’s attempted visit left him wishing he had a clone.

• Dongguan and Meng Jin learned from the bishop that they had passed and would be taken to the Light Capital in a month, where they would face the Life-and-Death Selection.
• Gewo learned that both Dongguan and Meng Jin had passed and warned them that few contestants returned alive from the selection.
• Dongguan ordered Meng Luo to keep others away, then asked Qiong for a manual to improve his combat strength and began studying the Lightforging Battle Art.
• The Meng family ancestor arranged for Bai Cong to train Meng Jin, and City Lord Aido offered him access to the bishop for cultivation advice.
• City Lord Aido went to see Dongguan, but Dongguan remained in seclusion after the visit interrupted his practice and regretted not having a clone.
• A month passed, bringing Dongguan and Meng Jin closer to their journey to the Light Capital.

Dongguan, Meng Jin, and the bishop traveled through the Light Cloud and a Divine Kingdom Passage to Light Capital, where the bishop explained how Light Lords gained servants. Dongguan realized the Life-and-Death Selection might lead to Soul Enslavement and began planning to escape as he arrived at the finals venue.

• The bishop led Dongguan and Meng Jin through the White Tower to the Light Cloud, where the weakened suppression allowed them to fly.
• Dongguan asked about exchanging Insect Mother crystal cores, and the bishop said he could trade them in Light Capital but could not replenish his supply there.
• The bishop brought them through a stone stele into an Army Lord's Divine Kingdom and explained that Light Lords could make humans their servants through soul-bound contracts.
• Dongguan recognized the contract as Soul Enslavement, resolved to conceal his fear and seek a way to escape, and learned that finalists might be prioritized for service to a newly descended Light Lord.
• The bishop led Dongguan and Meng Jin through the Divine Kingdom Passage to Light Capital, where they arrived at a plaza near the arena with several thousand people gathered.

Nihemo revealed himself as a Light Lord and demonstrated his power to the geniuses gathered in the Light Capital. Dongguan advanced his light-law comprehension after seeing Nihemo’s manifested eyes, drew Nihemo’s favor, and then listened as the Life-and-Death Selection finals rules were about to be announced.

• Nihemo declared himself a Light Lord and used his pressure to demonstrate his strength to the gathered geniuses.
• Nihemo manifested numerous eyes, and Dongguan’s Spirit Eye helped him cross the threshold of the light law and advance his domain to the seventh level.
• Nihemo recognized Dongguan, praised him, and said he looked forward to Dongguan joining his ranks.
• Dongguan privately considered the risks of Nihemo’s attention and decided to pursue the opportunity to reach universe level.
• Nihemo announced that ten spirit-level contestants and ninety profound-level contestants would join his ranks, with the most outstanding eligible to become his servants.
• Nihemo yielded the platform to a world lord, who began announcing the finals rules for the Life-and-Death Selection.

The World Lord explained the year-long Life-and-Death Selection, including virtual duels, lethal blood battles, forfeits, and point rewards. Dongguan explored his Light Void Realm room and discovered that the exchange treasury offered wood-attribute divine power crystals he needed, though at a steep price.

• The World Lord announced seven cycles of virtual duels and blood battles, where losers died and contestants could forfeit only if they met the required duel-win threshold.
• The World Lord explained that duel victories earned points for secret arts and treasures, and that strong performers generally faced weaker opponents in blood battles.
• Meng Jin realized his low ranking and limited chances of winning made survival difficult, while Dongguan considered whether he might help him if they were matched.
• The World Lord and the bishops left, and Dongguan and Meng Jin went to their assigned rooms.
• Dongguan entered the Light Void Realm, had Qiong record the available secret arts, and reviewed the treasury's exchanges.
• Dongguan learned that wood-attribute divine power crystals could replenish Qiong's energy, but their high cost would leave him little for other purchases.

Nihemo watched Dongguan and Mingweis, while Dongguan began official duels and studied light-based Secret Arts. After Meng Jin lost twice, he asked Dongguan for guidance, and Dongguan invited him to challenge him in the Light Void Realm for lessons.

• Nihemo watched Dongguan browse the exchange list and decided he could give him wood-attribute immortal crystals if his performance pleased him.
• Mingweis won his official duel with a single spear thrust, then began studying a Secret Art.
• Dongguan defeated a white-armored man by using the Lightforging Battle Art to merge his domain with the man's light domain, then returned to cultivating with Spectrum Analysis.
• Fili defeated Meng Jin in his first duel, and the white-armored man defeated him in his second, telling him that facing Dongguan was like facing Meng Jin.
• Meng Jin asked Dongguan for cultivation guidance, and Dongguan agreed to teach him through direct challenges in the Light Void Realm.

Meng Jin learned from Dongguan, awakened a domain, and won his first final-round duel, though he still faced the Blood Battle. Dongguan received a bye and set out to explore Light City, while on Earth Luo Feng introduced several figures to the wider universe as the Nolan Mountain Family’s fleet approached.

• Meng Jin repeatedly lost to Dongguan in practice, but improved under Dongguan’s instruction and nearly comprehended a domain.
• Meng Jin awakened a domain during his duel with Huimo Wu and defeated him, earning his first victory in the finals.
• Meng Jin finished the matches with three wins and seven losses, leaving him to fight in the Blood Battle, while Dongguan received a bye.
• Dongguan left his room to explore Light City before the Blood Battle began.
• Luo Feng welcomed Hong, Thunder God, Zhang Yu, Zhang Gui, and seven powerful outsiders on Earth, then arranged for them to learn about the universe and obtain Black Dragon Mountain Empire citizenship.
• The Nolan Mountain Family’s fleet approached Earth, while another spaceship was closer and would arrive first.

Dongguan was caught in an assassination attempt on Nihemo and helped the Light Lord escape the attacker, who was killed by a World Lord. Afterward, Dongguan questioned his role in the incident and condemned the Secret Realm’s corrupt state, prompting Nihemo to order an investigation into the Real Person Society.

• Dongguan explored the Light Capital and learned that Nihemo was making a procession.
• A burly four-eyed attacker struck at Nihemo, whose golden crystal core sought refuge with Dongguan.
• Following Nihemo’s directions, Dongguan fled the attacker through the city as the crystal core’s white shield protected him from a blow.
• A World Lord arrived, killed the attacker, and restored Nihemo to his Gold-Robed Youth form.
• Dongguan discussed the assassination with Qiong, while a hidden figure mourned Kui Zhe and secretly reported what had happened.
• Dongguan lamented that the world had become filthy, and Nihemo ordered a thorough investigation of the Real Person Society’s remnants.

Dongguan learned Nihemo’s account of the Real Person Society and received enchanted equipment after giving Nihemo a Hand Cannon. As Nihemo investigated the society and prepared to awaken the Divine Venerable, the society’s leaders and stranded outsiders discussed their plans in the Void Battlefield.

• Dongguan questioned Nihemo about the Real Person Society, and Nihemo described it as a weak group that opposed the Light Lords.
• Dongguan showed Nihemo a Hand Cannon and gave him access to a ring of research items; Nihemo took one Hand Cannon, paid Dongguan with twenty immortal crystals, and enchanted his Lightforged Blade and Force Battle Suit.
• Nihemo learned that the Real Person Society had withdrawn from the Light Capital and moved many forces to the Void Battlefield, then ordered preparations to awaken the Divine Venerable.
• Five Real Person Society figures discussed their failed attempt to kill the new Light Lord and their uncertain dealings with outsiders, reaffirming that their hope lay beyond the continent.
• A Purple-Armored Man and his stranded expedition team debated how to bargain with the Real Person Society and decided to gather resources in batches while avoiding sending their people out without secure coordinates.

Dongguan offered to sacrifice his final match and 1,024 special points to help Meng Jin advance, but their duels matched them against other opponents. Dongguan faced second-ranked Fili while Meng Jin fought top-ranked Mingweis, leaving both battles underway.

• Dongguan defeated contestant number 33, then continued training and coaching Meng Jin as their records diverged.
• Dongguan offered to lose their next match to give Meng Jin the win he needed, and Meng Jin accepted the help gratefully.
• Nihemo objected to Dongguan spending time and wealth on Meng Jin, then ordered the Origin World Lord to make arrangements.
• Dongguan and Meng Jin entered formal duels at the same time, but Dongguan was matched against Fili rather than Meng Jin.
• Dongguan pressed his attack against Fili in the misty mountains as she chose to fight a battle of attrition.
• Meng Jin fought Mingweis on a grassland, overcame his despair, and charged as Mingweis sent spears of light at him.

Dongguan and Meng Jin were assigned to fight each other in a blood battle, where Meng Jin broke through to the Profound Level but was defeated by Dongguan's Lightforging technique. Dongguan honored Meng Jin's final wish by sending his body and belongings home, then realized Nihemo had arranged the deadly match.

• Dongguan defeated Fili, then told Meng Jin that Mingweis had been overwhelmingly strong in their virtual duel.
• Dongguan and Meng Jin received blood battle notices naming each other as opponents, and Meng Jin declined Dongguan's challenge while spending his final days exploring the Light Capital.
• Before the blood battle, Meng Jin asked Dongguan to return his remains and belongings to the Meng family in Revered Light City, and Dongguan agreed.
• Meng Jin broke through to the Profound Level during the fight, but Dongguan used Lightforging to pierce his heart and cut his throat, winning the battle.
• Dongguan spent a special point to send Meng Jin's body and belongings home, then recognized Nihemo's role in arranging their match.

Dongguan defeated Mingweis and dominated the remaining battles, earning a place among the ten Star Level victors of the Life-and-Death Selection. He arrived at the Sacred Land with the other selected geniuses, where the Emissary opened the way inside for their cultivation period.

• Dongguan defeated the White-Armored Youth in the third cycle, then won his fourth and fifth cycles and faced Mingweis in the sixth.
• Mingweis’s spear array initially kept Dongguan at bay, but Dongguan revealed his eighth-level domain and mastery of the Light Law, closed the distance, and beheaded him.
• Dongguan defeated his sixth-cycle blood-battle opponent and swept through the seventh-cycle duels, including fights against Fensi, Maoleize, and Sangluo, securing a place among the final ten.
• Dongguan entered the Sacred Land with the other nine Star Level victors and ninety Universe Level geniuses, where he planned to break through to Universe Level during the hundred-year cultivation period.
• The Emissary gathered the hundred geniuses and brought them to a platform, then opened a gate leading to a beach beside a golden ocean inside the Sacred Land.

Dongguan entered the sacred land, broke through to Universe Level, and learned about its cultivation opportunities and his newly evolved bloodline ability. While he began cultivating beneath a Kras Tree, an alien fleet arrived near Earth and its scouts attacked Sand Sea Villa, leaving Zhang Gui fighting to rescue Zhang Yu.

• Dongguan and the other cultivators broke through after entering the sacred land, and he was assigned to Island Ninety-One for a hundred years of cultivation.
• Dongguan studied the sacred land’s rules, learned how its Kras Trees and ocean could aid cultivation, and decided to postpone challenging other island occupants.
• Dongguan asked Qiong about his new Mental Space ability and learned that he had barely reached a personal Second-Level Bloodline.
• An alien fleet neared the Solar System, and its captain ordered an attack on Zhang Yu’s family to earn credit by capturing the Star Level cultivator’s relatives.
• At Sand Sea Villa, Zhang Gui found Zhang Yu unconscious and captive among the aliens, then charged at them to save his mother.

Dongguan watched Zhang Gui and Zhang Yu through his Spirit Eye as the Nolan Mountain aliens attacked Earth, then resolved to focus on becoming stronger while trapped in the Cosmic Secret Realm. On Earth, Luo Feng, Hong, and Thunder God learned that a much larger Nolan Mountain fleet would arrive within days, and Luo Feng left to seek help by purchasing Earth through Biyan Star.

• Dongguan saw Zhang Gui rescue Zhang Yu from the aliens, then later glimpsed her awake with Zhang Gui, Hong, and Thunder God; he vowed to use his time in the Secret Realm to grow stronger.
• Zhang Gui awakened his Flame Domain and used his Fire Illusion Eye to take Zhang Yu from Buluo, but the aliens pursued them.
• Luo Feng saw footage of the chase, while Hong and Thunder God also learned of the attack; all three moved to help Zhang Gui.
• Luo Feng and his allies captured the alien force aboard its spaceship and learned that the Nolan Mountain Family's follow-up fleet could reach Earth in less than three days.
• Babata told Luo Feng he could reach Biyan Star in time to purchase Earth, and Luo Feng departed as Hong and Thunder God went to check on the awakened Zhang Yu.

After Nolan Mountain’s forces threatened Earth, Zhang Yu revealed the immense fortune Dongguan had left her and funded Luo Feng’s purchase of powerful Universe Level slaves. As the enemy fleet arrived, Luo Feng raced back toward Earth while the Golden Horned Beast moved to delay the invasion.

• Zhang Yu learned that Nolan Mountain’s forces planned to reach Earth in three days, and she warned Hong, Thunder God, and Zhang Gui that becoming Earth Lord might not prevent the invaders from attacking covertly.
• Zhang Yu gave Luo Feng 100 million Universe Coins, then revealed she had enough wealth to buy Universe Level slaves; she arranged to fund the purchase of six Universe Level Sixth Order slaves.
• Luo Feng negotiated with a Slave Trader and bought the six slaves for 4.8 billion Universe Coins after they were delivered to Bailan Star in one day and fifteen hours.
• A fleet entered the Solar System, and Pula wondered whether Buluo and the others had been defeated before setting his sights on Earth.
• The Golden Horned Beast rose from a crater on Mars and flew toward space to lure the invaders and buy Earth more time, while people on Earth hoped the delay would be enough.

Luo Feng lured the Nolan Mountain fleet toward Mars while his Golden Horned Beast avatar killed a squad, prompting Nolan Mountain to send Tuoleiwu to investigate Earth. Tuoleiwu threatened Earth until Xu Xin sent Meng Yi and six other slaves to fight him, as Luo Feng arrived near the Solar System with six Universe Level Sixth Order slaves.

• Pula spotted Luo Feng’s Golden Horned Beast near Mars and ordered the fleet to pursue it, but Luo Feng burrowed underground and ambushed the Star Level squads hunting him.
• After a squad was slaughtered, Pula contacted Nolan Mountain, who ordered the fleet to keep the beast from escaping and sent Baikaluo to help capture it.
• Nolan Mountain ordered Tuoleiwu to investigate Earth, and Tuoleiwu left for the planet with only a few Planetary Level personnel to guard his ship.
• Tuoleiwu inspected the Machine Race spaceship beneath the Bermuda Triangle, then appeared on Earth’s screens and threatened to destroy cities unless its leaders came out of hiding.
• Xu Xin ordered Meng Yi and six other ninth-order Star Level fighters to confront Tuoleiwu, and the two sides clashed as Luo Feng’s ship emerged from the Dark Universe near the Solar System with six Universe Level Sixth Order slaves.

As Tuoleiwu threatened Huaxia, Zhang Gui chose to confront him and buy time by bluffing that he could awaken the Zerg Mother Nest. The bluff stopped Tuoleiwu from attacking, but Zhang Gui sensed that he might genuinely be able to awaken it.

• Tuoleiwu killed Meng Si, Meng Liu, and Meng Wu as the Heimeng Race slaves tried to hold him back, then headed toward Huaxia and threatened Kyoto Base City.
• Luo Feng ordered the surviving slaves to retreat, while Hong and Thunder God offered to fight Tuoleiwu and Luo Hua warned they could not win.
• Zhang Gui volunteered to face Tuoleiwu, and Zhang Yu let him leave after recognizing that he needed to make his own choice.
• Zhang Gui descended toward Shennongjia, and Luo Feng ordered the remaining Heimeng Race slaves to protect him and help him flee if he lost.
• Zhang Gui used the Zerg Mother Nest to bluff Tuoleiwu, who stopped and contacted Pula rather than risk confronting it.
• Zhang Gui sensed that his Vertical Eye Between the Brows might let him awaken the Zerg Mother Nest, but he held back from trying.

Nolan Mountain ordered the attack on the Golden Horned Beast, but Luo Feng’s allies defeated his forces on Mars and Earth, while Zhang Gui killed Tuoleiwu in a desperate battle. Earth regained peace, and Zhang Gui recovered at home before deciding to register as a Universe Adventurer and become a Universe Mercenary.

• Nolan Mountain ordered Pula to use the Star Annihilator Cannon against the Golden Horned Beast, and Pula discovered that Luo Feng’s wounded beast was an avatar before a Universe Level fighter killed him and his companions.
• Luo Feng and his allies intercepted Nolan Mountain’s forces near Earth, where Hong and Thunder God defeated the Planetary Level fighters aboard an enemy spaceship.
• Tuoleiwu confronted Zhang Gui at Shennongjia, and Zhang Gui used Life-and-Death Embers to kill him before Luo Feng arrived and carried Zhang Gui to safety.
• Zhang Gui woke after three days and told Zhang Yu he intended to register with Universe Adventurer and become a Universe Mercenary, and she supported his choice.
• Nolan Mountain’s fleet was destroyed, bringing peace to Earth for at least another two years.

Dongguan consulted Qiong about his limits in the golden sea and learned how to advance rapidly without damaging his foundation. He set a century-long training plan and returned to the island to investigate the Sea Light Art.

• Dongguan found that he could dive only 9,182 meters, and Qiong pointed out the newly listed Sea Light Art.
• Qiong explained that rapid advancement required strong law comprehension and bodily control, which Dongguan could build by practicing Body Transformation in the pressured seawater.
• Qiong said Divine Plant Essence could raise Dongguan to universe level ninth order within a year, but warned that doing so before strengthening his foundation would cause serious problems.
• Dongguan planned to reach the seventh layer of Body Transformation before using Divine Plant Essence to advance one order at a time, while continuing to study secret arts and laws between breakthroughs.
• Dongguan told Qiong to cultivate the Illusion-Light Vine and Thousand-Leaf Grass without worrying about the cost, then headed to the island to examine the Sea Light Art.

Dongguan cultivated the Sea Light Art in the golden ocean, advanced his body and realm, and absorbed a Sea Light Tear that sharpened his perception of the laws. After inspecting other secret arts, he chose to focus on Light Control while continuing to wonder whether the Sea Light Art and Sea Light Tears carried hidden risks.

• Dongguan cultivated the Sea Light Art underwater for nearly ten months, reached its second level and the sixth level of Body Transformation, and extended his Spiritual Force beyond five hundred meters.
• Dongguan chased and captured a Sea Light Tear, then broke through to Universe Level stage two using Divine Plant Essence.
• Dongguan absorbed the Sea Light Tear and experienced a vision that left his perception of the Universe Origin Law, especially the Law of Light, clearer.
• Dongguan inspected the virtual hall and exchanged points for the Light and Dark Codex, but decided its Light Body method could obstruct future progress and had Qiong record it.
• Dongguan abandoned plans to study Spectrum Analysis and chose Light Control, while questioning whether the Sea Light Art and Sea Light Tears might also contain hidden dangers.

On the last day of their first year in the Sacred Land, the cultivators watched two formal challenges before Dongguan accepted a wagered duel with Niris for a Sea Light Tear. Dongguan lost, but wounded Niris with a powerful final slash, then returned to cultivate while the others discussed how much he might improve.

• Sui defeated Fensi in their formal challenge, and Fensi accepted the loss and agreed to exchange islands with him.
• Number 79 and Number 75 fought over an ocean battlefield, where Number 79 appeared to have the advantage despite the terrain favoring Number 75.
• Mingweis proposed a 200-point wagered duel with Dongguan, but Dongguan declined and said he would accept a formal challenge instead.
• After Niris offered a Sea Light Tear as a prize, Dongguan began a wagered duel with him and attacked using his Light Law techniques.
• Dongguan cut off Niris's right arm with a final slash but disintegrated before he could continue, so Niris won the duel.
• Dongguan offered 20,000 points for a Sea Light Tear and logged off to cultivate, while the others praised his final attack and noted that a hundred years remained.