Chapter Summaries

Lu Xiao, Liu Guang, and Luolin visited the black market’s seventh planet, where Luolin considered buying an emerald-green piece of Wood Heart from a stallholder. After Liu Guang exposed the stallholder’s dubious story about its origins, Lu Xiao and Calamity joined the argument, leaving the group in a confrontation with the seller.

• Lu Xiao and his companions arrived at the black market’s free-trading market on the seventh planet, intending to buy information elsewhere in the system.
• Luolin examined an emerald-green piece of Wood Heart and balked when the stallholder demanded one billion Star Source.
• Liu Guang challenged the stallholder’s claim that the Wood Heart had survived inside a black hole, and the stallholder admitted it had been spat out.
• Luolin recognized that the stallholder was lying and started to leave, but Lu Xiao stepped in to calm the seller while pretending to scold Liu Guang.
• Lu Xiao told the stallholder he would collect Liu Guang’s body if his brother died in space, then signaled Calamity to join the argument.
• Calamity challenged the stallholder for insulting Lu Xiao, despite Lu Xiao’s group having avoided harsh words.

Calamity bargained the stallholder down to sell Luolin the Wood Heart for four hundred thousand Star Source. Over dinner, the group discussed ways to earn money and Lu Xiao asked Luolin to invest, learning that he had at least eighty billion Star Source.

• Calamity convinced the stallholder to sell the Wood Heart for four hundred thousand Star Source, and Luolin happily bought it.
• Luolin treated the group to dinner at an Angel Race restaurant, where Lu Xiao ordered every signature dish for one billion Star Source.
• Lu Xiao and Liu Guang discussed the group's shortage of Star Source, and Old Feis suggested buying goods to resell at stalls.
• The group considered selling goods on planets closer to the black market's center and pooled their funds, which totaled less than three million Star Source.
• Lu Xiao asked Luolin to invest, and Luolin said he had at least eighty billion Star Source.

Lu Xiao and his companions abandoned their time-consuming search for bargains and planned to sell their existing goods with persuasive packaging and invented stories. The group split up again, and Lu Xiao set up a secluded stall using a skin said to belong to a Star God.

• Luolin invested Star Source in the group, and they divided their work between scouting stalls, haggling, and coordination.
• Lu Xiao browsed stalls for several days without finding anything, while Liu Guang, Calamity, and Old Feis bought several items cheaply.
• The group realized stall browsing was too slow and haggling had become difficult after word of their efforts spread.
• Liu Guang proposed that they sell their existing goods by giving each item attractive packaging and a convincing story.
• The group assigned Lu Xiao to run the stall, the former haggling trio to spread rumors, and Luolin to coordinate.
• Lu Xiao set up a secluded stall and spread out a creature's skin that Luolin said belonged to a Star God.

Lu Xiao used rumors and Luolin’s staged promotion to attract wealthy buyers to his black-market stall, then sold Calamity a charcoal-like lump as a black-hole Singularity. After Calamity began pretending to study it, the onlookers watched for over a month until a powerful suction suddenly appeared.

• Lu Xiao arranged the goods on a Star God’s skin and prepared stories to sell them.
• Luolin wore his Postman Group Leader uniform and helped spread rumors that a buyer from the stall had earned a promotion.
• Wealthy alien life-forms gathered at Lu Xiao’s stall but hesitated over the high prices and ordinary-looking goods.
• Calamity recognized the charcoal-like lump as the cheapest item and paid one trillion Star Source for Lu Xiao’s explanation.
• Lu Xiao claimed the lump could help someone comprehend and create black holes, while the onlookers doubted him and Calamity feigned studying it.
• More than a month later, a powerful suction suddenly appeared.

Calamity fled after creating what appeared to be a black hole, leaving Lu Xiao exposed to the suspicious onlookers at his stall. When a metallic life-form challenged him over the costly item called “Gilded Years,” Lu Xiao stood his ground.

• Calamity turned pitch-black, created a black-hole-like effect, and escaped before the onlookers could pursue him.
• The onlookers focused on Lu Xiao’s stall, believing its items could bring them great fortune, while Lu Xiao sensed that he was in danger.
• A metallic life-form picked up an iron ingot priced at 1.6 trillion Star Source and asked Lu Xiao what it was and how to use it.
• Lu Xiao called the ingot “Gilded Years” and refused to explain its use before it was bought, adding that he would not offer refunds.
• The metallic life-form released a faint Star God aura as the crowd watched Lu Xiao for signs of weakness.
• Lu Xiao dropped his smile, told the metallic life-form to buy the item or leave, and challenged it to stop obstructing his business.

Lu Xiao negotiated with a Metallic Life Star God over the price of the Gilded Years, using the confrontation to secure payment and an apparent bribe. After taking the Star Source, he began inventing an explanation for the metal ingot’s abilities.

• The Metallic Life Star God offered Lu Xiao 1.5 trillion Star Source, but Lu Xiao insisted the price was 1.6 trillion.
• Liu Guang recognized Lu Xiao’s predicament and left with Calamity to arrange an escape route while Luolin watched the confrontation.
• The Metallic Life Star God offered his Old One-level weapon to cover the remaining hundred billion, but Lu Xiao returned it and framed the gesture as proof of the buyer’s sincerity.
• The Metallic Life Star God silently put away the weapon, and Lu Xiao accepted the black-and-gold chip containing 1.5 trillion Star Source.
• Lu Xiao claimed that the Gilded Years resisted changes caused by time and could give Metallic Life a defense against time if fused with their bodies.

Lu Xiao persuaded the metallic life-form that Gilded Years could be resold to Silicon-based Life, while Luolin stepped in to buy it and take on the risk. The metallic life-form agreed to sell it to Luolin for 100 billion Star Source.

• The metallic life-form demanded a refund, but Lu Xiao suggested he resell Gilded Years to Silicon-based Life for a profit.
• The metallic life-form considered the potential buyers and wondered whether Gilded Years really could defend against the Time Rule.
• Luolin, a Postman Group Leader, appeared in the crowd and offered to buy Gilded Years.
• The metallic life-form agreed to resell Gilded Years to Luolin if the price was suitable.
• Luolin offered 100 billion Star Source, saying he would not stand on ceremony since they were making friends.

Luolin used his Universe Logistics Company status to help Lu Xiao handle the metal lifeform, then bought a battered chip after Lu Xiao claimed it contained a virus that could destroy silicon-based life databases. The crowd identified the chip as a relic of the Machine Intelligence Life Clan, and someone offered ten trillion Star Source for it.

• Luolin showed his registered employee chip and mocked the metal lifeform for haggling over the Gilded Years.
• A voice from the crowd offered 101 billion Star Source for the item, while Lu Xiao offered to compensate the metal lifeform with another 100 billion if it transferred the Gilded Years to Luolin.
• Luolin told Lu Xiao that a previous recommendation had earned him a promotion, then asked for another item to help him advance.
• Lu Xiao handed Luolin a battered chip marked at three trillion Star Source, and Luolin charged the price to his registered card.
• Lu Xiao claimed the chip contained a virus that could destroy silicon-based life databases, and Luolin identified the treasury as belonging to the Machine Intelligence Life Clan.
• The crowd discussed the clan's downfall, and one onlooker offered ten trillion Star Source for the chip.

Lu Xiao realized the bidding for the supposedly dangerous chip had drawn the attention of a Neutral Lifeform, who offered ten trillion Star Source and the Neutral Faction’s friendship. As Lu Xiao and Luolin faced a choice that could expose their scheme or entangle them in a wider factional conflict, Lu Xiao feared the chip might be a pretext for unleashing chaos across the universe.

• Lu Xiao knew the chip only held spaceship navigation data, while the history of the Mechanical Intelligence Race and the Woll Galaxy’s war explained why a genuine virus threat would draw fierce retaliation from Silicon-based Life.
• The bidders and onlookers searched for the buyer who had offered ten trillion Star Source, then saw a mysterious phantom that Luolin identified as a Neutral Lifeform.
• The Neutral Lifeform approached Lu Xiao and offered the Neutral Faction’s friendship if Lu Xiao sold him the chip.
• Lu Xiao realized his planned staged sale with Luolin had turned into a struggle between factions, and Luolin lacked the Star Source to match the offer without seeking support.
• Lu Xiao worried that the Neutral Lifeform might know the chip was fake and intend to use it to introduce a real virus threat, bringing disorder that could also harm humanity.

Lu Xiao escaped a Neutral Lifeform’s attempt to buy his stall when Mad Tiger appeared and drove the Phantom away. Back at the Hotel, Lu Xiao learned Luolin had lied about contacting the company, while Liu Guang returned with a Wanderer to serve as a fall guy for their scam.

• The Neutral Lifeform offered Lu Xiao ten trillion Star Source for the chip, then offered to buy everything at his stall, while Lu Xiao suspected it had seen through his deception.
• Luolin claimed the company would buy the entire stall, and Lu Xiao saw the Neutral Lifeform silently mouth the word “human.”
• Mad Tiger arrived, causing the Neutral Lifeform to vanish; Mad Tiger then vanished after it, and Luolin told Lu Xiao to pack up and leave.
• At the Hotel, Lu Xiao discovered Luolin had never contacted the company and urged him to report the incident, suspecting the Neutral Lifeforms had plans of their own.
• Liu Guang and Calamity returned with a Wanderer, and Liu Guang asked Lu Xiao to use his Authority to disguise him as a fall guy for their group scam.

Lu Xiao used a Wanderer to distract the black market’s onlookers while his group escaped with the proceeds from their scam. After splitting the profits with Luolin, they reached the intelligence-trading planet, where Luolin introduced them to a Dream Clan woman.

• Lu Xiao altered a Wanderer’s appearance, gave him a hundred billion Star Source, and sent him to spend it at the Angel Clan’s restaurant.
• The Wanderer’s spending drew attention, but the onlookers realized he was only a scapegoat and that the incident had been a scam.
• Lu Xiao and his group escaped to another planet with a net profit of 1.4 trillion Star Source; Lu Xiao gave Luolin four hundred billion and kept the rest for intelligence purchases.
• The group arrived on the Central Black Market’s fifth planet, which Luolin called the Starry Sky Demon Cave, and explored its bustling streets.
• Luolin pointed out a Dream Clan woman who could create dreamscapes, and she greeted Lu Xiao’s group with a traditional gesture.

Lu Xiao spoke with Nuan Meng, a Dream Clan dream-weaver, and learned how her people rebuilt their species with the Mother Goddess Elves’ help. He asked why the elves had intervened and what price the Dream Clan had paid, leaving Nuan Meng’s answer unresolved.

• Luolin led Lu Xiao, Liu Guang, Calamity, and Old Feis to Nuan Meng to ask about local services and information.
• Nuan Meng explained that the Dream Clan was a wealthy, small-to-medium species whose members wove dreams for clients.
• When Lu Xiao’s turn came, he declined a dream and asked to talk; Nuan Meng said another clansman had already asked her about the Central Black Market, the Star Chasers, and buying intelligence.
• Nuan Meng told Lu Xiao that a Great Old One connected to the Dream Clan’s dreamscape abilities had enlightened her people and willingly become nourishment for their World Will.
• Nuan Meng explained that the Dream Clan abandoned species registration to rebuild the destroyed Dream Clan, but suffered heavy losses until the Mother Goddess Elves sent forces to help them defeat their enemies.
• Lu Xiao asked Nuan Meng why the Mother Goddess Elves had helped and what the Dream Clan had given in return.

Lu Xiao learned that the Dream Clan had chosen to accept distorted faces as a compromise to rebuild their people after the Mother God Elves stripped them of their beauty. After Nuan Meng left, Lu Xiao suspected the Mother God Elves had a deeper motive and thought of Yi Hao, who wielded the authority of beauty.

• Nuan Meng revealed her distorted face and told Lu Xiao that the Dream Clan had accepted it as a compromise to rebuild their people.
• Nuan Meng explained that the Holy Maiden Spider Clan had also been stripped of its beauty before choosing to fuse with positional genes for power.
• Lu Xiao suggested he might help restore the Dream Clan's beauty, and Nuan Meng questioned what price he would demand.
• Nuan Meng left, and Lu Xiao considered why the Mother God Elves had stripped beauty from multiple species.
• Lu Xiao thought of Yi Hao and his authority over beauty.

Lu Xiao and Liu Guang considered whether the Mother God Elves were trying to create a Rule Controller by monopolizing the authority of beauty, then learned how information trading worked on the Star Chasers' planet. After reserving information about the authority of life, the group set off to explore and arrived at a restaurant called Fallen Angel's Kiss.

• Lu Xiao told Liu Guang about his conversation with Nuan Meng and conjectured that the Mother God Elves were trying to monopolize the authority of beauty.
• Liu Guang considered whether humanity could pursue a similar long-term plan, then explained the planet's information market and its factions to Lu Xiao.
• Lu Xiao and Liu Guang decided to reserve information about the authority of life after Luolin and the others finished experiencing their dreams.
• Two days later, Luolin and the others emerged from their dreams, and the group said goodbye to Nuan Meng before heading to the public information office.
• After waiting two days in line, Lu Xiao and his group reserved information about the authority of life, then wandered the streets looking for ways to spend Young Master Luo's wealth.
• The group arrived at Fallen Angel's Kiss, a restaurant that appeared to be operated by the Fallen Angel race.

Lu Xiao and his group visited a restaurant run by a Fallen Angel, where Musical Race performer Menglite played dissonant music that gradually became captivating. Lu Xiao tried a flower bouquet appetizer and discovered it was delicious, though its petals had opened tiny eyes.

• An Angel Clan waiter led Lu Xiao and his group into a vast, folded private room filled with Musical Race instruments.
• Menglite appeared as a golden, tentacled ball of flesh and performed music that first repulsed Lu Xiao and the others, then drew them in.
• The group took their seats at a table decorated with purple flower bouquets that the waiter presented as appetizers.
• Lu Xiao examined a bouquet without noticing the tiny eyes opening on its petals, then tasted it and praised its rich flavor and juicy texture.

Lu Xiao and the others dined at the Fallen Angel's Kiss, where they discovered the exquisite dishes included living Yue Kui Clan members and the flesh of a living Great Old One. After the costly meal strengthened Lu Xiao's divinity, Luolin led the group to a futuristic hotel owned by the Silicon-Based Race.

• Liu Guang, Calamity, and Old Feis tried the flower appetizer, while Luolin identified the flowers as living members of the Yue Kui Clan and said Lu Xiao had eaten eight.
• Lu Xiao learned that the main course contained the flesh and blood of a living Great Old One, and felt his divinity increase after eating it.
• Young Master Luo paid seventeen billion Star Source for the meal, and Lu Xiao realized he was nearing advancement to become one of the Great Old Ones.
• The group left the restaurant to find a place to stay and explore the Starry Sky Demon Cave.
• Luolin led the group to a futuristic hotel and explained that it belonged to the Silicon-Based Race and was part of a chain.

Luolin used his permanent-employee privileges to bring Lu Xiao and their companions to a lavish Silicon-Based Race hotel in the Woll Galaxy. As they explored their forest-themed suite, Luolin explained the company’s recruitment process and how its interns had to survive a period of training.

• Luolin presented his work ID at the hotel and invoked his rights as a permanent employee to secure a room for the group.
• Luolin explained that applicants received recruitment tasks through the Universe Logistics Company, became interns after completing them, and had to survive a period of tempering in the Woll Galaxy before starting work.
• Calamity and Old Feis compared Luolin’s safe, KPI-free assignment as a Great Old One with their dangerous soul-collecting tasks in the Woll Galaxy.
• The robot attendant led the group to a vast forest-themed suite arranged for Luolin’s Plant-type Life characteristics.
• Lu Xiao and the others explored the suite’s forest, lake, and energy-rich surroundings while Luolin praised the company’s extravagant hospitality.

Lu Xiao and his companions waited for the Intelligence Organization, then went with Luolin to seek another customized dream from Nuan Meng. When Nuan Meng revealed she had a difficulty and asked Lu Xiao to enter her dream, he refused and urged her to face the problem herself, ending by offering her a cigarette.

• Lu Xiao and his companions spent seven days at the hotel, but the Intelligence Organization did not contact them.
• Luolin led the group to find Nuan Meng for another customized dream experience.
• Lu Xiao noticed Luolin had been smoking less and suspected his smoking helped ease his loneliness.
• Nuan Meng quietly led Luolin and the others to a stairwell, and Calamity suspected something had happened.
• Nuan Meng asked Lu Xiao to enter her dream because of a difficulty, but Lu Xiao refused and told her to confront the problem herself.
• Lu Xiao offered Nuan Meng a pack of cigarettes and asked whether she smoked.

Lu Xiao used a cigarette and his Instigation authority to distract Nuan Meng from her troubles, then tested her views on humans by mentioning a friend with Dreamscape-related authority. Nuan Meng praised humans for sharing their knowledge, leaving Lu Xiao surprised by her favorable impression of them.

• Lu Xiao gave Nuan Meng a cigarette, lit it with her help, and used Instigation to ease her focus on her difficulties.
• Lu Xiao repeated his offer to help Nuan Meng's clan, but admitted he had not decided what price to ask; Nuan Meng questioned his motives.
• Lu Xiao changed the subject and mentioned a friend with authority related to Dreamscape, prompting Nuan Meng to ask what species the friend was.
• Lu Xiao said his friend should count as human, then gauged Nuan Meng's attitude toward humans.
• Nuan Meng said humans seemed gentle because they shared technology, culture, and morality with the universe, surprising Lu Xiao.

Lu Xiao and Liu Guang obtained intelligence about Spiritwood, a Neutral World God wielding the authority of Life, and began planning how to confront him. With Spiritwood expected to visit the Starry Sky Demon Cave in less than three months, Lu Xiao considered seeking Mad Tiger’s help.

• Lu Xiao spoke with Nuan Meng about Galaxy Academy and the Dream Clan, then told Liu Guang he had drawn information from her; Liu Guang revealed he had prepared her by calling Lu Xiao a learned Minotaur.
• Lu Xiao and Liu Guang agreed that the Dream Clan seemed worth winning over, provided Nuan Meng’s moral standards represented the clan.
• A liaison from the Intelligence Organization sold Lu Xiao’s group previously undisclosed information about Spiritwood, a powerful Neutral World God whose authority of Life might lie outside the universe’s rules.
• The group learned that Spiritwood regularly visited the Starry Sky Demon Cave and was expected to return in less than three months; Liu Guang urged them to prepare, while Calamity and Old Feis warned that defeating or capturing him would be extremely difficult.
• Lu Xiao considered whether Spiritwood’s strong desires could be exploited and thought of Mad Tiger as a potential ally against the Neutral World God.