Chapter Summaries

Han Xiao, Melos, and Aroshia battled the Star Roaming Beast in the underground lake until they weakened it enough to drag it ashore. After rescuing Laini and the other investigators, Han Xiao learned the beast had taken their clothes and shut down Laini’s flirtatious offer.

• Han Xiao escaped the Star Roaming Beast’s telekinetic grip and attacked its feelers, provoking it to unleash a blinding blast that hurled him and Melos into the cavern wall.
• Han Xiao and Melos attacked the beast while Aroshia used her energy blasts against its feelers, and the three gradually wore down its health.
• The Star Roaming Beast fell into the hot spring at five percent health, and Han Xiao and Melos dragged it to shore after finding it at the bottom of the lake.
• Laini and the other investigators approached after the beast was subdued, and Laini explained that it had taken their clothes and kept them underwater.
• Han Xiao told the investigators to retrieve their clothes, stopped Melos from staring at Laini, and rejected her flirtatious suggestion.

Han Xiao rescued the surviving Goddoran investigators and killed the Star Roaming Beast, claiming its valuable crystal and body parts. He returned the investigators to the space station, where the station staff welcomed them warmly and the deputy station chief appeared displeased.

• Laini told Han Xiao that the Star Roaming Beast had trapped the investigators as pets, and Han Xiao sent Melos to retrieve the survivors in another cave.
• Han Xiao rejected Laini’s offer to take the Star Roaming Beast to Goddora, destroyed its life-core crystal, and unlocked the [Legendary Hunter] milestone.
• Han Xiao harvested the Star Roaming Beast’s vital parts, then joined Melos and the rescued investigators as they left the cave during a lull in the radiation storm.
• Han Xiao brought the investigators back to the space station, where the station chief and staff gave them a warm welcome.
• The deputy station chief smiled along with the others, but his expression showed anger and exasperation.

Han Xiao rescued the missing Goddoran investigators, accepted Nirega’s payment and a magical ring, and earned an attribute reward. After uncovering signs of a possible investigation into the mercenaries’ involvement, he decided to leave the station and find someone to process the Star Roaming Beast materials.

• Han Xiao concealed Nirega’s role in hiring the mercenaries and asked the station chief to pay for the rescue, but the chief refused on regulatory grounds.
• The deputy chief urged the station chief to ignore the hiring violation, but the chief ordered an investigation into who hired the Black Star Mercenary Group.
• Nirega paid Han Xiao the agreed fee and gave him a Knoen Secret Diamond Ring; Han Xiao received an Intelligence increase and passed the ring to the Volga Brothers.
• Han Xiao told his group to leave the station soon and said they would first find someone to turn the Star Roaming Beast corpses into potions.

Han Xiao had a pharmaceutical company make potions from the Star Roaming Beast and tested their effects, gaining metabolism control and a self-healing skill. He stored the remaining potions and turned back to planning missions for his advancement before version 2.0.

• Han Xiao hired a pharmaceutical company on an Amethyst colony planet to refine the Star Roaming Beast’s materials into potions.
• Han Xiao drank a metabolism regulation potion, gained control over his metabolism, and learned the Self-Healing skill.
• Han Xiao injected three Star Roaming Beast genetic potions and gained intelligence, endurance, and charm, but his Intermediate Life Tenacity talent did not upgrade.
• Han Xiao stored the remaining potions and reviewed his mission list as he prepared to advance and get ready for version 2.0.
• Han Xiao put in earplugs to block out the crew’s noise and began correcting Sylvia’s copied mechanical fundamentals theory.

Ashes regained his freedom after reaching Grade A and joined Anur on a mission to hunt a traitor. Meanwhile, Sylvia rescued a hostage from space pirates, and Han Xiao arrived to confront the pirates after she summoned her mercenary group.

• Ashes ended his confinement, thanked Anur for his guidance, and agreed to join him on a mission to Noriosse.
• Sylvia escaped from pirates aboard their ship with a kidnapped Goddoran boy, using her Grade D abilities and weapons Han Xiao had made for her.
• Surrounded by the pirates, Sylvia stalled them until her locator summoned help.
• Han Xiao blasted his way aboard the ship and confronted the pirate captain about threatening his mercenary group.

Han Xiao’s team rescued Nalu and the other hostages, giving Sylvia her first field test and earning an 85,000-Enas reward. Nalu asked his father to hire the mercenaries as family guards so he could stay near Sylvia, but his father explained that their family could not poach Black Star from Dragon Emperor Ames.

• Han Xiao had Sylvia pose as a hostage to track the pirates’ stealth ship, then led the team in rescuing the hostages and capturing the pirates.
• Sylvia passed her first operation, while Han Xiao teased her about Nalu’s obvious crush.
• Fording continued suppressing Morning Star and trying to persuade her to stop resisting.
• Han Xiao returned the hostages and captured pirates to the client’s planet, received 85,000 Enas, and saved another random reward opportunity.
• Nalu asked his father to hire Han Xiao’s mercenary group as private guards, but his father said their family was too insignificant to recruit Black Star from Ames.

Han Xiao was interrupted twice while preparing to use four random reward draws: Nirega relayed Kerlodd’s complaint and news about a change in station leadership, while Ames asked him to help find her teacher on Noriosse. After receiving several disappointing rewards, Han Xiao finally drew two Mission Settlement Cards and celebrated.

• Nirega told Han Xiao that Kerlodd wanted him to stop using his investigator ID and repay the money he had extorted.
• Nirega explained that the deputy chief had replaced the old station chief, and Han Xiao warned him that the deputy chief might have manipulated him.
• Ames asked Han Xiao to help find her teacher, who had reportedly appeared on Noriosse, and said she would contact him when she returned to the Shattered Star Ring.
• Han Xiao drew Lock-On Shot, a Skill Enhancement Card, and two million experience before his final draw offered him two Mission Settlement Cards.
• Han Xiao chose the Mission Settlement Cards and celebrated his successful draw.

Han Xiao used a Skill Enhancement Card to transform [Willpower Burning] into [Gene Liberation], then bought two pieces of high-end Mechanic knowledge. He returned to the Juberly Hub ready to complete his level 100 advancement.

• Han Xiao decided to save both Mission Settlement Cards and used his Skill Enhancement Card on [Willpower Burning], triggering a mutation that created [Gene Liberation].
• Han Xiao raised [Gene Liberation] to level 10 and tested its improved damage bonus and shorter cooldown.
• Melos taught Fording to play Veyne Cards, but Fording beat him five times in a row.
• Han Xiao told the crew that Ames had assigned them to go to Noriosse to find someone and that he would buy supplies before she returned.
• Han Xiao spent over 800,000 Enas on [High Energy Mastery] and [Advanced Virtual Intelligence Technology], then returned to the Juberly Hub to advance.

After using a Mission Settlement Card to complete his level 100 advancement, Han Xiao evolved into a Void Lurker and discovered his new void abilities. He advanced to War Mechanic and spent most of his stored experience, reaching level 116 as he looked ahead to Version 2.0.

• Han Xiao used the Mission Settlement Card to complete his level 100 advancement mission.
• Han Xiao chose the Void Lurker evolutionary path and endured a painful transformation that gave him three racial traits.
• Han Xiao tested Void Travel, Void Mirror Image, and Void Shadow, learning how his new abilities and forms worked.
• Han Xiao advanced to War Mechanic and raised the class to level 16 by spending 1.3 billion experience.
• Han Xiao conserved his remaining experience for skills and a blueprint, ending at level 116 and anticipating the players' return in Version 2.0.

Han Xiao advanced to War Mechanic and returned with his companions to Planet Sunil so Melos could retrieve his General-Grade Armor, Shattered Splitting Light. When a researcher called Melos selfish for taking it, Han Xiao threatened him to defend his subordinate.

• Han Xiao upgraded Applied Mechanical Affinity, allocated his remaining attribute points to Intelligence, and assessed his increased combat power and plans to gain experience from players.
• Han Xiao's companions noticed his changed appearance and bearing after his evolution, and he agreed to travel to Noriosse after first visiting Planet Sunil with Melos.
• Melos returned to Forest City, where residents celebrated him as a national hero, and led the group to retrieve Shattered Splitting Light from a research institute.
• The head researcher objected to Melos taking the armor, but Melos presented the authorities' approval and received it.
• Han Xiao confronted the researcher, defended Melos's sacrifices, and threatened him in his void form.

After Han Xiao defended Melos from the Sunil researchers, Melos thanked him and challenged him to a spar with his recovered General-Grade Armor, Shattered Splitting Light. Their fight began with Melos's powerful assault, but Han Xiao deployed his machinery and launched a relentless barrage.

• Han Xiao frightened the head researcher by briefly revealing his void form, then left the restricted military zone with Melos and the others.
• Melos thanked Han Xiao for standing up for him and proposed a match to test Shattered Splitting Light.
• Han Xiao agreed, hoping the spar would give him a chance to reverse-engineer the armor's blueprint.
• Melos donned Shattered Splitting Light and attacked Han Xiao with a powerful saber slash, but Han Xiao blocked it with his Void Dragon Mechanical Suit.
• The two fought at close range, and Han Xiao used Countershock: Thorns to push Melos back before taking flight.
• Han Xiao deployed turrets and mechanical beasts, bombarding Melos with bullets until Melos declared that the tactic no longer worked on him.

Han Xiao defeated Melos after countering Shattered Splitting Light with a decoy and a spaceship tractor, then repaired the armor and obtained its General-Grade blueprint. As the ship traveled toward Noriosse, Han Xiao planned to build stronger machines and prepare for version 2.0 after completing Ames's mission.

• Melos used Shattered Splitting Light to fly and press Han Xiao with a series of attacks, while Sylvia and Volga's Eldest bet on the outcome.
• Han Xiao used an electromagnetic disruption burst and Void Mirror Image to trick Melos, then trapped him with a spaceship tractor and forced him to surrender under turret fire.
• Sylvia collected her 300 Enas from Volga's Eldest after Han Xiao won, and Han Xiao offered to repair Melos's damaged armor.
• Han Xiao repaired Shattered Splitting Light aboard the spaceship, reverse-engineered its blueprint, and obtained the General-Grade Armor design.
• As the spaceship traveled toward Noriosse, Han Xiao planned to build stronger machines and make preparations for version 2.0 after completing Ames's mission.

Han Xiao and his group arrived at Noriosse to search for information about the Dragon Emperor’s teacher, while Aroshia’s memories began to surface. At an intelligence office, they narrowly missed a hooded client whose face was revealed to be Ashes.

• Han Xiao introduced Phillip, his half-finished artificial intelligence, as the group approached Noriosse and warned everyone to keep a low profile.
• The group reached Noriosse’s spaceport, where Aroshia recognized the planet and [Restart] gained a point of progress.
• Han Xiao and his companions rode an elevator down to the surface, and Han Xiao sensed that trouble was coming.
• Han Xiao took the group to an intelligence organization to ask for information about their target.
• After Han Xiao’s group entered a corridor, a hooded client left the office and revealed himself as Ashes.

Han Xiao bought information about a bearded traveler who had visited Noriosse, then took his group to City No. 8 to investigate. On the maglev train, a mixed-blood Goddoran named Owenn insisted on joining them and challenged Melos to a card game, leaving Han Xiao wary and curious about his motives.

• Han Xiao paid an intelligence broker 100 Enas for the bearded man's arrival and last known location on Noriosse.
• Han Xiao doubted that the target was still on Noriosse, since a prophet could evade searches, but decided that giving Ames a clue was enough.
• Han Xiao and his companions boarded a maglev train to City No. 8 and relaxed during the journey.
• Owenn introduced himself as a Goddoran and Cosmic Human mixed-blood, then sat with Han Xiao's group despite their objections.
• Owenn challenged Melos to play Veyne Cards for 50 Enas a round, and Han Xiao allowed him to stay so he could observe him.

Han Xiao’s group reached the home of the seer they were seeking, but rock mercenaries ambushed them outside. Phillip’s new artificial intelligence took control of a Flying Serpent Mecha and fought back while Han Xiao suspected the seer had arranged the attack.

• Owenn played cards with Han Xiao’s group on the train, then left after they arrived; Han Xiao stayed wary and had Phillip photograph him.
• Han Xiao’s group reached the seer’s villa and rang the doorbell, but no one answered.
• Rock mercenaries fired rockets at the group, destroying Phillip’s metal body and revealing they had been hired to teach the visitors a lesson.
• Han Xiao deployed a Flying Serpent Mecha, and Phillip controlled it independently to fight the rock warriors.
• Han Xiao boosted the mecha with Mechanical Force and told Phillip not to kill the attackers, while suspecting the seer had anticipated their arrival.

Han Xiao defeated stone warriors sent by a mysterious seer, who directed him to a new location in City Number Eight. Meanwhile, DarkStar pursued the traitor Owenn on Noriosse and learned that one of his doppelgangers had encountered the Black Star Mercenary Group.

• Han Xiao and the Flying Serpent Mecha defeated the stone warriors, and their leader revealed the seer's message and the next location.
• Han Xiao reasoned that the seer had anticipated his actions, then repaired Phillip and set out with his group for the new location.
• DarkStar members reported that Owenn could create five full-strength doppelgangers and that one had traveled to City Number Eight.
• Fossatude told Anur and Ashes that Sherman had not attacked Owenn's doppelganger because it was with the Black Star Mercenary Group.
• Anur ordered DarkStar to keep tracking Owenn without provoking Black Star and warned the team to beware of Owenn's shared experiences and Goddoran reinforcements.

Han Xiao’s group found the teleportation mage Yixuan, who revealed that their target would meet them only if they stole the Heart of Crystal Fire. When Melos tried to threaten Yixuan, a portal snatched him away, leaving Han Xiao’s group to wait for his return and search for another way to reach the target.

• Han Xiao’s group followed an address to Universal Love Bookstore, where they discovered that its magical books depicted explicit scenes.
• The shopkeeper introduced himself as Yixuan, a teleportation mage, and told Han Xiao that the future-seeing target had left a message demanding they steal the Heart of Crystal Fire.
• Phillip identified the ring as a valuable jewel owned by Rockefeller’s wife, and Han Xiao objected to the dangerous demand.
• Melos tried to intimidate Yixuan, but crimson tentacles pulled him through a portal before the group could stop it.
• Yixuan told the group he would return Melos in two hours at the northern entrance to City Number Eight and ordered them out of the bookstore.

Han Xiao used Void Travel to catch Yixuan after the teleportation mage sent Melos through a random portal, and the portal also brought Wilsander back. Yixuan could not reveal Melos’s location, so Han Xiao appeared to abandon the search while telling Wilsander that Ames could find the target once she arrived.

• Yixuan opened a portal and sent Melos to a red wasteland, where a huge creature’s tentacles attacked him until a red streak cut them apart.
• Han Xiao used Void Travel to seize Yixuan as he escaped through a portal, forced him to reopen it, and brought Melos back with Wilsander.
• Wilsander tried to attack Yixuan, but Han Xiao stopped him and insisted they needed the mage alive for clues about the Dragon Emperor’s teacher.
• Yixuan said he had used a random portal limited to Noriosse and did not know where the target had gone; Fording verified that he was telling the truth.
• Han Xiao said they would stop searching and gave Yixuan healing agent, then told Wilsander that Ames could search Noriosse for the target once she arrived.

Han Xiao tracked Iso Hariken to a Noriosse spaceport and caught him as he tried to leave the planet. Iso recognized that Han Xiao had outmaneuvered his scheme, while Han Xiao considered whether to kill him before Ames arrived.

• Iso disguised himself as a galactic human and boarded a long-distance flight, believing Han Xiao's search would fail after he left Noriosse.
• Han Xiao confronted Iso at the spaceport and revealed that Fording's luck had helped his companions cover the planet's five ports.
• Iso understood that Han Xiao had turned his setup into a contest of luck and admitted that Ames had found herself a formidable partner.
• Han Xiao remembered Iso's eccentric love of danger and freedom, then weighed killing the powerless prophet before Ames arrived.

Han Xiao delivered Iso to Ames, preventing the tragedy that would have followed their separation in his previous life. Iso revealed that he had returned to test Han Xiao and protect Ames, while Han Xiao’s next encounter began with the arrival of a Goddoran A Tier superhuman.

• Iso admitted that he had returned to the Shattered Star Ring because he wanted to assess Han Xiao, but Han Xiao refused to let him go and contacted Ames.
• Ames arrived at Noriosse, reunited with Iso, and thanked Han Xiao before taking her teacher aboard her spaceship.
• Han Xiao generated Ames's character card as she departed, then decided to remain in Noriosse overnight and invited Wilsander to travel with them.
• Noriosse Financial Group executives greeted Han Xiao after Ames left, and a group of Goddorans arrived, drawing his attention to their A Tier leader.
• Aboard the spaceship, Iso deleted his scheduled message and explained that he had returned to test Han Xiao and ensure Ames could trust him.