Chapter Summaries

Han Xiao defeated Yang Dian and Nid, then forced Yang Dian to confront his doubts about being a hero before leaving them a USB drive. As Yang Dian wrestled with his shaken beliefs, Nid opened the files and urgently called him over.

• Locket told Yang Dian and Nid that a robber had stolen the institute’s research and Death Virus antidote, and they agreed to help recover them.
• Han Xiao recognized the two superheroes tracking him and received the Hero’s Trial mission to defeat them and expose the Louis Research Institute.
• Yang Dian and Nid confronted Han Xiao, but he quickly knocked them down and challenged Yang Dian’s reasons for risking his life.
• Han Xiao staged Yang Dian’s apparent execution with an unloaded pistol, making Yang Dian realize his heroic resolve was not as firm as he had believed.
• Han Xiao gave Yang Dian a USB drive and left, while the injured heroes returned to their resting place after the army sealed off the institute.
• Nid opened the USB drive, broke into a cold sweat, and called Yang Dian to look at its contents.

After discovering that the Louis Research Institute had deceived them, Yang Dian and Nid confronted Locket, while Han Xiao escaped with the institute’s potions. Han Xiao tested his haul and gained permanent attributes and the Extraordinary Physique talent.

• Yang Dian and Nid learned from the stolen research data that the institute had lied about the Death Virus cure and the Laopote expedition.
• Yang Dian confronted Locket, who denied the evidence until Yang Dian named the project codes, then mocked him and hung up.
• Locket coordinated with the institute’s financial backers, who funded a military expedition and ordered a search for Han Xiao to recover the stolen potions.
• Han Xiao completed the Hero’s Trial, changed his appearance, and took the potions to an inn to inspect them.
• Han Xiao discarded the useless Green Lizard Potion, drank the Sky-Hunting Eagle Potion and four Deathification Virus Potions, and gained permanent attributes and the Extraordinary Physique talent.

Han Xiao left Cambus for Red Maple after assessing his new durability specialty and the serums he had taken from the Louis Research Institute. Meanwhile, Germinal investigated the mysterious Heisenberg and the Inhumans, while Hannes, Vernina, and Grian scouted a Red Maple official’s estate and discussed a kidnapping.

• Han Xiao considered selling most of his enhancement serums, kept an unknown unfinished serum, and set out for Karimoqi to handle Bennett’s intimidation mission.
• The Louis Research Institute’s financial backers placed a Dark Net bounty on Heisenberg, and Germinal’s leader ordered intelligence operatives to track the suit and its wearer.
• Germinal’s deputy reported that the organization had captured 2,103 Inhumans, and the leader ordered agents to monitor the Six Nations’ efforts to contact them.
• Hannes surveyed a Red Maple official’s villa and reported its security details to Vernina and Grian over an earpiece.
• Hannes, Vernina, and Grian decided to return and plan how to kidnap the official, with Hannes suggesting they act at night.

Han Xiao met Golden Fox and Ghost Blade in a Red Maple safe house, then rejected Ghost Blade’s operation plan and set out alone to plant threatening documents in the homes of five officials. He began his infiltration by ambushing a patrol officer and disguising himself as the man.

• Han Xiao arrived in Maple Leaf City and met Golden Fox and Ghost Blade at a Dark Net safe house.
• Golden Fox identified five Red Maple officials as targets and explained that the mission was to place incriminating documents in their homes as a warning.
• Ghost Blade presented his detailed plan, but Han Xiao dismissed it and decided to carry out the mission alone that night.
• Han Xiao secured the safe house, changed into black clothes, and traveled to the political district.
• Han Xiao dragged a patrol officer into an alley, took his uniform, and used the Simulation Mask to copy his appearance.

Han Xiao infiltrated four officials’ residences to plant evidence against their opposition to funding, using stealth and disguises to evade their guards. At the third residence, he accidentally scared Dark Van Fansiti to death and wondered whether killing the targets would still achieve the mission’s purpose.

• Han Xiao used a sleeping drug to incapacitate a patrol officer, then infiltrated Miller Senning’s villa by slipping past its cameras and guards.
• Han Xiao placed Dark Net evidence files in Miller Senning’s study and escaped before the villa’s security noticed him.
• Han Xiao broke into three more targets’ homes and planted evidence at each residence.
• At the third target’s home, Han Xiao hid behind a floor lamp and accidentally scared Dark Van Fansiti to death when the elderly official mistook him for an intruder.
• Han Xiao wondered whether killing the officials would still fulfill the mission, while Bennett sneezed on the Southern Continent and felt an unexplained sense of dread.

Han Xiao infiltrated Dorasi Faremi’s estate, but Red Maple moved Dorasi before he could reach him. An attack on the convoy drew Han Xiao into a fight with Vernina, a level 60 gunner, and he left her badly wounded as the battle continued.

• Han Xiao hid an official’s corpse, then disguised himself as Angston while infiltrating Dorasi’s estate.
• Red Maple agents discovered unconscious guards and ordered Dorasi escorted to the government building, forcing Han Xiao to join the convoy.
• Hannes and Vernina ambushed the convoy with explosives and sniper fire, leaving Dorasi’s guards gravely wounded and cornering Dorasi.
• Han Xiao survived the explosion that overturned his escort vehicle, and Vernina attacked him with her grenade launcher.
• Han Xiao charged Vernina in his armor, stabbed her with the Folding War Blade, and followed with heavy blows before closing in to fight her at close range.

Han Xiao defeated Vernina in a fight while protecting Dorasi, then escaped before Red Maple forces could investigate him. The attack revealed a possible hidden storyline involving Vernina, Hannes, and Bennett, while Dorasi learned that his supposed bodyguard was an impostor.

• Han Xiao fought Vernina at close range and held her off while Hannes hesitated to shoot for fear of hitting her.
• Red Maple's rapid response force arrived, and Han Xiao wounded Vernina with a sniper rifle as she escaped; Hannes also got away.
• Lieutenant Colonel Danny praised Han Xiao, while Dorasi thanked him for saving his life and investigators identified Vernina as a legendary former Raylen agent.
• Han Xiao recognized Vernina and Hannes as Bennett's old friends, whose names he had seen on gravestones in the Sanctuary, and suspected their attack was part of a hidden storyline.
• Han Xiao slipped away in disguise, and troops found the real Angston unconscious at Dorasi's residence, exposing the bodyguard as an impostor.
• Dorasi realized the man who had protected him was also an enemy who had been following him, and he was shaken to find himself alive.

Han Xiao intimidated Red Maple officials on behalf of the Dark Net, prompting the agency to suspect Black Phantom, while Vernina, Hannes, and Grian learned that their opponent had also been working for the Dark Net. Bennett warned Hannes not to provoke the mysterious operative, who might kill him.

• Han Xiao left a dossier exposing Dorasi’s corruption, and Dorasi burned it and decided to approve the Dark Net’s material aid.
• Red Maple agents found one of the five targeted officials dead from fright and identified Black Phantom as their prime suspect.
• Vernina, Hannes, and Grian discussed their failed attempt to kidnap Dorasi and discovered that their opponent was an impostor from the Dark Net.
• Hannes called Bennett to ask about the operative, and Bennett warned him not to provoke the man.

Bennett agreed to pass Hannes’s request for help to Han Xiao after Hannes learned that Black Phantom had been involved in their clash. Han Xiao accepted in principle, eager to learn the details of the hidden storyline mission.

• Hannes asked Bennett to have Black Phantom help with an investigation, and Bennett said he could only make the request rather than command him.
• Han Xiao returned to the safe house after completing the mission, and Ghost Blade realized his plan had missed crucial details.
• Golden Fox reflected on Han Xiao’s rapid rise while Han Xiao retrieved his equipment to leave Red Maple.
• Bennett told Han Xiao that Hannes and Vernina were his old friends and that Hannes wanted his help.
• Han Xiao agreed to hear the details and let the earlier clash go, and Bennett said he owed him another favor.

Han Xiao accepted the hidden grade A main storyline New Era--Origin after Hannes asked for help investigating a secret tied to Red Maple. Hannes began explaining how the Ulik Attack led Red Maple’s government to suppress civilians, leaving Han Xiao with the country’s buried history to uncover.

• Han Xiao accepted New Era--Origin, gaining favorability with Hannes, Vernina, Grian, and Jiang Yuan.
• Hannes linked the investigation to Dorasi’s role in a confidential Red Maple project and asked Han Xiao about the Ulik Attack.
• Hannes recounted how civilians killed Minister Ulik and his family after his corrupt bill stripped them of rights and benefits.
• Red Maple’s special forces killed the attackers, and officials used the incident to pass restrictive laws and seize civilians’ rights.
• The government blamed a secret reactionary organization and used the accusation to arrest, imprison, or execute people while blocking outside news.

Hannes explained how war transformed Red Maple and why his group wanted to uncover the buried conspiracies behind the conflict. Han Xiao joined their hidden chain mission and received several leads to investigate, while Hannes and the others remained uncertain whether to trust him.

• Hannes told Han Xiao that war had driven Red Maple into autocracy and that his group sought to expose the forces behind the conflict.
• Han Xiao agreed to help Hannes and met Vernina and Grian at their safe house.
• Grian gave Han Xiao files that unlocked the first stage of the New Era--Origin mission, with five objectives spread across several continents.
• Han Xiao accepted the mission and decided to have the Dark Net monitor Hannes and the others.
• After Han Xiao left, Vernina questioned his trustworthiness, and Grian revealed that the files contained only a fraction of his mixed, unverified clues.

Han Xiao arrived at the Western Continent’s third beginner village to teach skills and profit from the players, while observing the growing Inhuman Phenomenon and the factions’ reactions. A player named Flying Mantis Shrimp confronted him with his real identity, hoping to provoke a startled response.

• Han Xiao left Red Maple with Golden Fox and Ghost Blade, then traveled to the Western Continent’s third beginner village.
• Han Xiao found a huge crowd of players waiting for him, including many level-ten players and Maple Moon, and decided not to accelerate their growth before level twenty.
• Han Xiao read forum discussions about how people on different planets treated players, while Planet Aquamarine players saw Black Phantom as compensation for their harsh treatment.
• Han Xiao learned that factions viewed Inhumans as unpredictable and mentally ill, and that rumors and religious explanations about them were spreading.
• Flying Mantis Shrimp told Han Xiao that he was Han Xiao, a former Stardragon member now with the Dark Net Organization, expecting him to react with shock.

Han Xiao used his influence among players to discourage them from joining Germinal by revealing that the Six Nations were preparing an expedition against it. He also offered expensive introduction letters to the Blood Pact Union, leaving players and guilds debating the faction and the coming war.

• Flying Mantis Shrimp asked Han Xiao about joining Germinal, and Han Xiao warned that the Six Nations would soon launch an expedition and Germinal would lose.
• Han Xiao offered to introduce players to the Dark Net and added a Blood Pact Union faction letter to his shop for 250,000 Aquamarine Dollars.
• Players discussed the costly letter on the forums, and some learned that joining the Blood Pact Union normally required difficult trial missions.
• Players reacted to Han Xiao's warning about the war, and many potential Germinal supporters reconsidered joining the faction.
• Han Xiao's statement weakened Germinal's appeal among players and strengthened his influence over them.

Han Xiao bundled Black Phantom’s main storyline missions with his expensive faction introduction letters to attract professional players and guilds. Major guild presidents discussed cooperating to help their players take the missions, while Jupiter was excluded because his team was on the Southern Continent.

• Han Xiao received rewards after Frenzied Sword and Meat Bun Hits Dog completed two objectives of the Stone Spot Plague mission.
• Han Xiao split the objectives of New Era--Origin into five missions and made buying an introduction letter a prerequisite for accepting them.
• Han Xiao advertised a chance to gain Black Phantom’s favor and unlock his hidden storyline, aiming the bundled offer at skilled players backed by major guilds.
• Rain Falls on Green Mountains gathered Huaxia guild presidents in a password-protected chatroom to discuss Black Phantom’s missions.
• The guild presidents agreed to consider having their professional players cooperate, then teased Jupiter and removed him from the chat because his Temple players were on the Southern Continent.

Han Xiao sold letters of introduction to professional players and assigned them separate quests tied to his main storyline. As he continued across the Western Continent, Galaxy Times discussed player progress and his latest offer, drawing attention to Planet Aquamarine’s unusual opportunities.

• Chasing Wind and Fierce Dragon Tail Swipe each paid Han Xiao 250,000 for a letter of introduction and accepted the same Western Continent quest.
• Han Xiao limited each letter holder to one quest and hinted that completing it would unlock further work.
• Madman and Nine Gates publicized their competitors’ purchases, prompting other professional players to spend their guilds’ funds on quests.
• Han Xiao reached the last Western Continent starter village and confirmed that professional players had taken both Western Continent quest objectives.
• Han Xiao watched Galaxy Times analyze player rankings, the approaching level 20 advancement, and his 250,000-Aquamarine-Dollar letters of introduction.

Han Xiao watched a program about the Inhuman Phenomenon and the new professional league, then considered how the growing player population would affect Planet Aquamarine. Meanwhile, Frenzied Sword and Meat Bun Hits Dog helped contain Black Pine’s plague and wondered when Han Xiao would return.

• The hosts discussed NPCs’ reactions to players, and Han Xiao reflected that major factions feared the Inhumans but did not yet understand how quickly they would grow stronger.
• Li Ge discussed the Inhuman Phenomenon and the upcoming professional league, and said he hoped to lead Huaxia to a good result.
• Han Xiao considered the league’s formation an opportunity to attract more customers and thought about whether to recruit Li Ge as a backup.
• Frenzied Sword and Meat Bun Hits Dog received their promised rewards after helping Lü Cheng contain Black Pine’s plague with their ability to revive.
• Meat Bun Hits Dog noticed that Han Xiao had issued a main storyline mission, and Frenzied Sword insisted Han Xiao would give them one when he returned.

Maple Moon and Hao Tian pursued Han Xiao’s missions for different reasons as players advanced across Planet Aquamarine. At Stardragon’s request, Gu Hui contacted the Goddora civilization to seek an explanation for the Inhumans.

• Maple Moon, a casual Mechanic player in Stardragon, neared level twenty and looked forward to finding Black Phantom.
• Hao Tian defeated seven frost wolves, spoke with Li Ge about the upcoming Galaxy professional league, then returned to the beginner village after seeing Han Xiao’s main storyline mission on the forum.
• Gu Hui entered Stardragon’s secure Thirteenth Bureau headquarters to use its interstellar communications terminal on the supreme leader’s orders.
• Gu Hui contacted Goddora, described the Inhuman phenomenon, and sent Stardragon’s research files while asking for help.

Stardragon postponed the Goddora investigation and prepared to attack Germinal, while Hila visited her dying sister Aurora in captivity. At Germinal headquarters, the leader braced for invasion, and Cerberus unveiled the first modified Super Soldier.

• The Goddora receptionist scheduled an on-site investigation for the following year, and Stardragon resumed preparations for war against Germinal.
• Hila used her one-time authorization to visit Aurora, whose life force was fading from repeated blood and bone marrow extraction.
• The Germinal leader ordered preparations for an expected invasion of Andia and learned that Cerberus was occupied with research.
• Ilex was released after a month in captivity and assigned to Germinal's player-only Inhuman Unit.
• Cerberus completed an experiment and revealed Number One, a man transformed by the Super Soldier Project.

Number One emerged as the only fully modified subject, while the Germinal Organization awakened the Child of Destiny and used his ability to lure Zero into a trap. On his way to the North Continent, Han Xiao counted his enormous earnings and spent experience to max out his skills, gaining new abilities and specialties.

• Number One reveled in his enhanced strength and vowed to kill Zero himself.
• Cerberus warned the leader that Zero threatened Germinal's plans, so the leader awakened the Child of Destiny to find him.
• After studying Zero's file, the Child of Destiny predicted that Zero would come to the trap himself before too long.
• Han Xiao left the Western Continent by plane and reviewed his progress, including 140 million experience and 36 million Aquamarine Dollars earned.
• Han Xiao maxed out his non-blueprint skills and gained Field Control Vision, Lethal Critical Hit, Combat Mastery, Shooting Mastery, and Bat Habits.

Han Xiao maxed out new skills, fused blueprints, and chose three machines to craft for his class advancement mission. He arrived on the North Continent, where Hao Tian bought a letter of introduction, and Han Xiao considered recruiting the professional player.

• Han Xiao maxed out his new skills and talents, increasing his strength and mechanical affinity.
• Han Xiao fused blueprints and selected the Composite Magnetic Chain Split Blade, Iron Fist - Mounted Heavy Mechanical Arm (Detachable), and Small Mobile Jet Device for his class advancement mission.
• Han Xiao traveled to the North Continent and visited its first beginner village, where players eagerly paid for his services.
• Hao Tian bought a letter of introduction from Han Xiao and left to accept the mission.
• Han Xiao heard that Hao Tian had waited for his arrival and decided Hao Tian seemed like a good choice.