Recaps

Han Xiao, Kasuyi, and Jess discussed Sanctuary Revival while the Super Security Department tracked them down and ambushed their ship. The trio escaped the encirclement by teleporting, and Milton discovered that they were heading straight for the department headquarters.

• The Super Security Department received the Throne and stored it in a secure warehouse before the department head reported that the Positioning Star Map had reacquired Han Xiao and Kekezi.
• Milton assembled the task force to ambush Han Xiao and Kasuyi, while Han Xiao, Kasuyi, and Jess discussed how Sanctuaries revived Beyond Grade As and the limits of that process.
• Nineteen agents, including Milton, trapped the trio’s ship with spatial stabilization anchors and demanded their surrender.
• Han Xiao, Kasuyi, and Jess vanished inside a suit of armor despite the agents’ teleportation jammers.
• Milton checked the Positioning Star Map and realized the trio had teleported to the Super Security Department headquarters.

Han Xiao, Kasuyi, and Jess attacked the Super Security Department’s vault to reach the dimensional consciousness vessel, fighting through automated defenses and the Protector’s clones. Han Xiao identified the Protector’s main body and battled it as reinforcements arrived, while Jess’s time-slowing device left the department’s experts helpless.

• Han Xiao, Kasuyi, and Jess teleported into the vault, disabled the vessel’s emergency transfer, and smashed through the sealed partitions toward vault area 106.
• Kasuyi unleashed a stored psychic blast that incapacitated the two Pugilist Guardians, while Super Security Department officials mobilized and saw another group of Supers join the conflict.
• Han Xiao released his mechanical army, used the combat information to identify the Protector’s main body, and attacked it while Jess and Kasuyi engaged the clones.
• The Protector and the attackers’ battle wrecked the warehouse as Super Security Department reinforcements arrived and fired on Han Xiao.
• Jess activated a device that slowed time for the department’s experts and their attacks, leaving Han Xiao, Kasuyi, and the Protector unaffected.

Han Xiao and Kasuyi fought the guardian while the interference device immobilized the other Beyond Grade A powerhouses. After Han Xiao destroyed the guardian, the loop dimension began collapsing, and Jess entrusted him with the remaining technical data and asked him to try reviving him across iterations.

• Han Xiao unleashed his mechanical army against the guardian while Kasuyi held back its seven clones.
• Han Xiao baited the guardian into close combat, trapped it, and used [Gene Liberation] with the mechanical army’s full firepower to destroy it.
• The guardian’s death triggered the loop dimension’s collapse, disintegrating its clones, the mechanical troops, and the Super Security Department director.
• Jess sent Han Xiao the remaining technical data and asked him to use the Sanctuary revival mechanism to test whether it could cross iterations.
• Jess turned to ash after calling Han Xiao the one carrying the torch for this iteration.

Han Xiao and Kasuyi escaped the collapsing Secondary Dimension after recovering Jess' technical data and learning more about the Sanctuaries. They agreed to keep the secrets quiet for now and prepare the Beyond Grade A Association to protect access to Sanctuary revival, then turned their attention to capturing Void Lice.

• Han Xiao decided to study Jess' technical data before choosing whether to honor Jess' request or share the technology.
• Han Xiao and Kasuyi escaped the collapsing Secondary Dimension, and Kasuyi collected source energy fragments that revealed a path toward his next Divine Transformation.
• Han Xiao received the rewards for completing the second mission stage and unlocked a new requirement to enter a Sanctuary and establish communication.
• Han Xiao and Kasuyi agreed to keep the technical data and Sanctuary secrets from outsiders while preparing for Beyond Grade As to control the Sanctuaries through their Association.
• Han Xiao and Kasuyi spotted a swarm of Void Lice and decided to capture some to bring home.

Hila ran the Black Star Army during Han Xiao’s months-long disappearance, then encountered him among a swarm of Void Lice in the Netherland. After returning to headquarters, Han Xiao resumed his duties and checked the fourth Pro League as version 4.0 approached.

• Hila tested new recruits with her Higher Lifeform Pressure and assigned their positions according to how long they stayed standing.
• Concerned after months without contact from Han Xiao, Hila went to the Netherland to confront Void Lice threatening the dimension.
• Han Xiao appeared among the Void Lice, reunited with Hila, and explained that he planned to leave the creatures in the Netherland as its defenders.
• Han Xiao returned to Army headquarters, where Sylvia complained about the accumulated work and then left him to handle it.
• Han Xiao stored the information he had gathered during his journey, dealt with Army business, and saw that Dynasty and Jiangcheng had reached the fourth Pro League quarterfinals as version 4.0 drew near.

Han Xiao planned to expand the Black Star Army and strengthen its influence before the next version, while Huaxia’s teams competed for the league title. After returning to the Beyond Grade A Association, he reignited his feud with Manison over Convict technology, and Kasuyi unexpectedly sided with him.

• Han Xiao considered using valuable civilian technology to grow the Army and planned to seek the Association presidency when Manison’s term ended.
• Dynasty lost 2:3 to Thunder Python in the semifinals, while Jiangcheng defeated Kimchi 3:1 and advanced to the finals.
• Han Xiao returned to the Association meeting and teased Manison, who ignored him as the other Beyond Grade As anticipated their usual argument.
• Han Xiao demanded that Manison abandon Convict technology and release the Convicts, prompting Kant and other members to criticize Manison.
• Kasuyi agreed with Han Xiao that Manison’s actions harmed the Association’s unity, shocking the assembled Beyond Grade As and Manison.

Han Xiao weakened Manison’s standing in the Beyond Grade A Association, while Kasuyi backed Han Xiao and kept the Sanctuary’s secrets from Manison. Days later, Jiangcheng defeated Thunder Python in the professional league finals and secured Huaxia’s third consecutive championship.

• Kasuyi supported Han Xiao’s criticism of Manison’s Convict technology, and Manison ended the discussion without changing his position.
• Kasuyi considered how Convict technology could threaten Sanctuary revival and chose to keep the Sanctuary’s information from Manison.
• Sorokin noticed Kasuyi’s growing closeness to Han Xiao and worried that his own options for opposing Han Xiao were shrinking.
• After the meeting, Manison questioned Kasuyi about his relationship with Han Xiao, but Kasuyi refused to reveal anything and Manison ended the call.
• Jiangcheng rallied from a first-match loss to defeat Thunder Python three matches to one, winning the finals and giving Huaxia a third consecutive championship.

After Jiangcheng’s victory secured Huaxia’s third consecutive championship, Han Xiao announced plans to buy Planet Milton for the Yanhuang Alliance, and the championship teams discussed the gift and the Black Star Army in an interview. As Galaxy Times predicted the next version, Han Xiao reflected that its main storyline would be unpredictable and noted that only twenty-seven days remained until the version update.

• Huaxia players celebrated Jiangcheng’s championship, while Han Xiao decided to announce that he would buy Planet Milton for the Yanhuang Alliance as a reward for winning the national war.
• Galaxy Times interviewed Frenzied Saber, Kings and Generals, Hao Tian, and other champions, and Frenzied Saber and Hao Tian credited the Black Star Army with helping Huaxia win three consecutive championships.
• Maple Moon explained that Black Star likely intended the Planet Milton purchase as a reward for the Yanhuang Alliance, and viewers praised the army’s generosity.
• Galaxy Times reviewed version 4.0 and predicted that players would join the closing stages of the Shattered World war in version 5.0.
• Han Xiao judged that the hosts’ prediction was wrong, considered the uncertainty surrounding the Super Calamity, and noted that twenty-seven days remained until the version update.

As the players logged off for the version update, Han Xiao planned how to use the coming decades to advance his Divine Transformation path and cultivate his officers. Meanwhile, the Oathkeeper returned from the Sanctuary with fragments of knowledge about the Great Restart and a mark that could revive historical Beyond Grade As, and he ordered his followers to welcome the First Ones.

• Kings and Generals announced his retirement after Huaxia's third consecutive championship and named Tai Erzi the Dynasty Team's new captain, while Long Sky also considered retiring.
• The players logged off for the version update, and Han Xiao planned to study Jess's golden blueprints, gather Mission Settlement Cards, and focus on cultivating Aurora and other promising officers.
• The Sanctum Organization activated its receiving device during the appointed time window and brought the Oathkeeper back from the Sanctuary.
• The Oathkeeper recalled fragments about the Great Restart, the universe's iterations, and Sanctuary Revival but concealed them from Luo and Fei.
• The Oathkeeper revealed a one-use Sanctuary Revival Mark and ordered his followers to clear the area and welcome the return of the First Ones.

Oathkeeper activated the Sanctuary Revival Mark and brought a group of the Sanctum Organization’s founders back to life. He planned to inform Black Star of their revival while concealing what he had learned about the Sanctuary and considering how to use its power to revive more Beyond Grade As.

• Oathkeeper used an Information State Disturbance device to activate the Sanctuary Revival Mark on an uninhabited planet.
• The mark revived a group of First Ones, who recognized Oathkeeper and learned that he had rebuilt the Sanctum Organization and kept their oath.
• Oathkeeper explained that the Exploration Era War had ended and urged the revived founders to stay with him while they learned about the modern universe.
• Pangon Felid asked whether his civilization still existed, and the First Ones grew wary as they considered their separate futures.
• Oathkeeper revealed that Black Star knew about their revival, described him as an ally, and planned to seek his assistance.
• Oathkeeper privately decided to conceal the Sanctuary Revival mechanism from Black Star and use his resources while keeping control of the information.

Han Xiao received confirmation that Oathkeeper's Awakening Plan had revived several First Ones and realized the Sanctuary Organization's past actions might explain the different waves of revivals. When Oathkeeper tried to mislead him about the Sanctuary, Han Xiao bluffed about knowing its secrets and left Oathkeeper convinced that his scheme had been exposed.

• Han Xiao received a Legend Point and favorability from the revived First Ones, then inferred how the Sanctum Organization may have operated in his previous life.
• Oathkeeper appeared before Han Xiao and confirmed that the Awakening Plan had succeeded, but kept the number of revived people vague.
• Oathkeeper described his experience in the Sanctuary and gave Han Xiao a misleading account of how Sanctuary Revival worked, concealing that it could be repeated.
• Han Xiao challenged Oathkeeper's claims with questions about Information State records and suggested that the Sanctuary might allow repeated revivals.
• Han Xiao correctly guessed that the revived First Ones had lost some of their abilities, then bluffed about knowing the Great Restart and iterations.
• Oathkeeper panicked, believing Han Xiao had uncovered his hidden knowledge and plan to control Sanctuary Revival.

Han Xiao exposed Oathkeeper’s deception and persuaded him to cooperate on protecting Beyond Grade As’ access to Sanctuary Revival. They agreed to share the revival channel while keeping the secret from the advanced civilizations, and Han Xiao arranged to meet the revived First Ones.

• Han Xiao revealed that he knew about Sanctuary Revival and demanded that Oathkeeper repeat his account truthfully.
• Oathkeeper explained the revival mechanism, and Han Xiao warned that advanced civilizations could use it to control Beyond Grade As and eliminate those who resisted.
• Han Xiao proposed that the Beyond Grade A Association operate openly while the Sanctum Organization sheltered members in secret, and Oathkeeper agreed to cooperate.
• Oathkeeper described how the Sanctum could enter the Third Sanctum and explained the Child of Destiny’s role in discovering the required keys.
• Han Xiao asked to meet the revived First Ones so he could recruit them into the Association, and Oathkeeper agreed despite warning that they could be arrogant.

After securing Oathkeeper’s cooperation, Han Xiao met five representatives of the revived First Ones to learn their goals and encourage them to join the Beyond Grade A Association. When they demanded a demonstration of his strength, Han Xiao challenged all five at once and declared that the times had changed.

• Han Xiao reviewed the revived First Ones’ backgrounds and planned how to help them adjust to the current era while gaining their support.
• Oathkeeper told the First Ones that Han Xiao had agreed to cooperate, wanted their backing, and had requested a meeting; the First Ones suspected Han Xiao had ulterior motives.
• Nearly half a month later, Han Xiao met Oathkeeper and five powerful First Ones, including Pangon, Baigel, and Mysterious Lady, on a planet in the Desolate Universe Belt.
• Han Xiao asked about the First Ones’ goals and promoted the association, while Pangon described his desire for revenge and Mysterious Lady questioned the association’s rules.
• The First Ones pressed Han Xiao about his motives and asked him to prove his strength; Han Xiao challenged all five to fight him together and called them weak, saying their glory days were over and the times had changed.

Han Xiao challenged the First Ones and began fighting Pangon, who charged him before he could deploy his mechanical troops. Han Xiao turned the close-range clash against Pangon, then drew the other four into the battle, leaving all five First Ones facing him together.

• The First Ones reacted with disbelief and anger when Han Xiao insisted on fighting all five, but Pangon decided to face him alone while the others watched.
• Han Xiao triggered the hidden mission Might Makes Right as he and Pangon flew into space to fight.
• Pangon rushed Han Xiao and attacked at close range, but Han Xiao resisted his control technique and battered him with powerful blows.
• Han Xiao locked Pangon in a grapple and let his mechanical troops fire on them both, injuring Pangon before the blasts forced him to flee.
• Han Xiao summoned a Mechanical Deity and sent a blade wave toward the four spectators, prompting Baigel, Mysterious Lady, and the others to join the fight.
• Han Xiao charged the five First Ones with the Star Slaying Blade as they prepared to fight him together.

Han Xiao fought five revived First Ones at once and overwhelmed them with his mechanical army and spatial abilities, then called the battle a draw to spare them further humiliation. His display left the First Ones shaken, humbled, and uncertain about their plans in the modern era.

• Han Xiao battled Pangon, Baigel, Mysterious Lady, and two other First Ones, holding his own against all five with his Mechanical Deity and endless mechanical troops.
• Baigel used a forbidden spatial spell to pull Han Xiao from his Mechanical Deity, but Han Xiao blocked their combined attack with Space-Time Amber.
• Han Xiao swapped places with Pangon, trapped the other four in Void Domain Prison, and struck all five before they could recover.
• Han Xiao stopped fighting and proposed calling the spar a draw, and Baigel admitted that they had underestimated him.
• Oathkeeper watched Han Xiao return to the planet and realized his strength far exceeded what he had expected.
• The First Ones monitoring the fight lost their sense of superiority, and some reconsidered their plans to establish factions and chose to train instead.

Han Xiao persuaded the revived First Ones to keep a low profile, consider joining the Beyond Grade A Association, and share their knowledge of the Exploration Era. After learning about the Spirit Emperor and the sisters behind the Netherland, he returned to the Black Star Palace with a powerful new talent and planned to focus on developing the association while delaying the Super Calamity.

• Han Xiao used his victory in their spar to persuade Baigel and the other First Ones to train in seclusion and consider joining the Beyond Grade A Association.
• Han Xiao told the First Ones about the association's resources and his prospects of becoming its next president, then listened as they shared secrets from the Exploration Era.
• Baigel revealed that he had helped kill the Spirit Emperor, prompting Han Xiao to wonder whether Sorokin had survived under another identity.
• Pangon and the others explained that Nigos and Aios had created the Netherland, and Han Xiao speculated that their deaths and ability seeds might relate to Sanctuary revival and the universe's iterations.
• Han Xiao left the First Ones, who decided to train and remain in seclusion, then received mission rewards including the Elderly Killer talent and a Third Sanctum fragment.
• Han Xiao concluded that the First Ones would delay the Super Calamity and resolved to focus on developing the association, while Sorokin and Manison separately sensed that something was wrong.

After years of seclusion, Han Xiao learned that Gaud had become a Beyond Grade A and was coming to receive the Evolution Cube’s baptism. Gaud agreed to join the Beyond Grade A Association while secretly accepting the hardliners’ request to analyze the Cube, leaving Han Xiao curious about his unexpected rise.

• By 738, the Three Universal Civilizations and the Super Star Cluster Alliance were still fighting, while Han Xiao spent years researching technology and won another Stuart Peace Prize.
• Gaud broke through to Beyond Grade A at a Crimson Dynasty training base after years of preparation.
• Urranrell congratulated Gaud and told him the dynasty had shelved its plan to analyze the Evolution Cube, then asked him to join the Beyond Grade A Association after receiving its baptism.
• Bekorodi contacted Gaud and urged him to continue the secret analysis plan, saying the Shattered World Battle would soon end; Gaud agreed to find a way.
• Phillip told Han Xiao that Gaud was on the latest Evolution Cube baptism list, and Han Xiao decided to investigate him when he arrived.

Han Xiao reviewed the nearing end of the Shattered World Battle and met the newly advanced Dynasty Beyond Grade A Gaud, whose hidden power and impossible attributes raised suspicions. After inspecting Gaud during the Evolution Cube’s baptism, Han Xiao discovered a talent suggesting Gaud had been reborn with memories of his former attributes.

• Han Xiao judged that the Shattered World Battle would likely end within two or three years and considered the coming leadership changes in the Crimson Dynasty and Federation of Light.
• More than two months later, Gaud arrived at the Black Star Palace with Dynasty elites to receive the Evolution Cube’s baptism, and Han Xiao privately questioned him about his concealed ability.
• Gaud declined to reveal his ability, then joined the other elites as Han Xiao activated the Evolution Cube and enclosed them in black cocoons.
• Han Xiao secretly scanned Gaud and discovered that he had energy manipulation, an exceptionally powerful esper ability, along with unusually high attributes.
• Han Xiao found Gaud’s passive talent, [Esper Ability: Rebirth], which said his body had been reborn and he had inherited some of his former intelligence and spirit attributes.

Han Xiao suspected that Gaud was Sorokin reborn in a prepared body, but he lacked proof and feared provoking the Crimson Dynasty. As Gaud headed to Planet Fein, Han Xiao decided to investigate Sorokin’s body in Space-Time Amber and received a hidden mission to uncover Gaud’s secret.

• Han Xiao studied Gaud’s Rebirth ability and reasoned that he might be Sorokin, who had transferred his soul into a prepared vessel with Energy Manipulation.
• After Gaud completed his baptism, Han Xiao concealed his suspicions, and Gaud left with the Imperial fleet for Planet Fein.
• Aboard the ship, Gaud privately celebrated fooling Han Xiao and planned to study the evolution energy to gain the Empire’s approval for a transfer to the Imperial Academy of Sciences.
• Han Xiao judged that he needed evidence before acting against Gaud and decided to ask the Empire for permission to visit Sorokin in Space-Time Amber.
• Han Xiao triggered the hidden mission Gaud’s Secret, which tasked him with uncovering Gaud’s identity and warned that the investigation could affect his relationship with the Crimson Dynasty.

Han Xiao persuaded Urranrell to let him open Sorokin’s Space-Time Amber prison and check whether Sorokin’s soul had escaped. When Han Xiao freed him, Sorokin awoke and sent Han Xiao a message.

• Han Xiao discovered that the Empire had rejected his request to visit Sorokin because he was on the prison’s visitation blacklist.
• Han Xiao asked Urranrell to open Sorokin’s prison, arguing that Sorokin might have escaped by transferring his soul; Swordsman Fu confirmed sensing a strange mental fluctuation during Sorokin’s capture.
• Urranrell approved Han Xiao’s request after he promised he could recapture Sorokin if necessary.
• More than ten days later, Han Xiao arrived at the classified prison with Imperial forces and opened the Space-Time Amber holding Sorokin.
• Han Xiao prepared to test whether Sorokin still had a soul, but Sorokin’s eyes came alive and he sent Han Xiao the message, “I told you we'd meet again sooner or later...”

Han Xiao discovered that Sorokin was alive and fought to capture him again, while realizing Sorokin might have split his soul to create a separate existence in Gaud. He imprisoned Sorokin in Space-Time Amber after revealing that he knew about the World Tree’s coming, leaving Sorokin willing to risk surrender for a chance to witness it.

• Sorokin emerged from the Space-Time Amber, recognized Han Xiao, and tried to escape the space-time-locked battlefield.
• Han Xiao and the imperial fleet attacked Sorokin, using Apostle Weapons and the Mechanical Deity to prevent him from building up clones or breaking free.
• Han Xiao found that Sorokin suffered permanent Soul Tear and inferred that Sorokin had split his soul, leaving another consciousness in Gaud.
• Han Xiao struck Sorokin with the Soul Breaker Crown and Virtual Soul, then restrained him and began sealing him in Space-Time Amber.
• Han Xiao told Sorokin that he knew about the World Tree’s coming, and Sorokin stopped resisting in hopes of witnessing it before Han Xiao sealed him again.

After Sorokin was recaptured, Han Xiao concluded that the Empire had no usable evidence linking him to Gaud and resolved to eliminate Gaud before his power grew, while planning to conceal his involvement. Meanwhile, Gaud arrived on Planet Fein to join the Beyond Grade A Association, where a question about his ability startled him.

• Han Xiao watched the Empire take Sorokin into custody, then told Urranrell that the inspection had revealed no proof against him.
• Han Xiao decided to target Gaud before he became more powerful and began considering ways to muddy the waters and frame someone else.
• Gaud arrived at the Beyond Grade A Association headquarters on Planet Fein for a welcoming meeting.
• Manison welcomed Gaud to the Association, and Clottey invited him to sit with the Empire's members.
• As Gaud took his seat, someone asked whether his ability was the extremely dangerous esper power Energy Manipulation, making him suddenly uneasy.

Han Xiao planted a black-market rumor that Gaud possessed the theoretical ability Energy Manipulation, prompting suspicion at Gaud’s welcoming meeting. The rumor reached the major civilizations, while Gaud left the Shattered World under the Empire’s protection and the Federation of Light chose to investigate rather than act.

• Han Xiao secretly spread a rumor about Gaud’s ability through the black market and arranged for Lu Qi to raise it at the association meeting.
• Lu Qi pressed Gaud to reveal his ability, but Gaud refused to answer, leaving the other Beyond Grade As suspicious that he had Energy Manipulation.
• Han Xiao defended Gaud and joked that Manison might target him, before the welcoming meeting ended and Gaud returned to the Empire fleet.
• The Empire questioned Gaud about the rumor and advised him to leave the dangerous Shattered World, so he ordered the fleet to depart.
• Bader received the meeting report and ordered the Federation of Light’s Intelligence Department to investigate the rumor, while deciding not to target Gaud.

After Gaud’s emergence drew attention across the universe, several powerful figures considered whether to target him, but held back while weighing the risks. As Gaud traveled through the Shattered World, his ship was seized by an unknown attacker, and he prepared to identify the enemy.

• The Star Arc Civilization leader considered avenging the Traveler by eliminating Gaud, but decided the Alliance’s worsening position in the Shattered World Battle made provoking a Beyond Grade A too risky.
• Manison studied reports about Gaud’s suspected Energy Manipulation ability and chose to wait, while wondering whether the conflict might invite a plot.
• Sorokin considered assassinating Gaud to destabilize the Beyond Grade As and frame Black Star, but recognized the plan would be difficult and risky.
• Rumors that Gaud possessed Energy Manipulation spread widely, while the major factions watched without acting as the Empire fleet carried him toward the Shattered World’s exit.
• Gaud revealed that he had already deciphered about half of Evolution Energy and believed he could eventually produce it himself.
• An unknown attacker seized control of Gaud’s ship, disabling its systems and communications; Gaud suspected the Mechanic Emperor or another major faction and expanded his perception to locate the attacker.

Han Xiao ambushed Gaud, destroyed the Imperial fleet, and captured him after a fierce fight. He brought Gaud to a sealed secondary dimension and revealed that he knew Gaud was really Sorokin.

• Gaud detected a hidden attacker and ordered the Imperial fleet to restore communications and switch to manual control.
• Han Xiao unleashed a mechanical army and devastated the fleet, but Gaud used his Esper ability to shield the surviving ships and activate their thrusters.
• Gaud fled the fleet, but Han Xiao pursued and overwhelmed him with attacks, virtual interference, and mechanical restraints.
• Han Xiao teleported Gaud through a spacetime anchor to a sealed secondary dimension, then erased the battlefield and withdrew his troops.
• Gaud recognized Han Xiao as Black Star, and Han Xiao told him he knew he was really Sorokin.