Chapter Summaries

Dragon Calm settled near Planet Aquamarine and announced that it would establish its headquarters there, alarming rival factions and attracting business interest. Meanwhile, Han Xiao began exploring a planet in the Shattered World and decided to use evidence of an attempted attack on Planet Aquamarine to pressure Sisko and the Star Pupil Protoss.

• Ames met Bennett and told him Dragon Calm would settle near Planet Aquamarine; she also reported killing extremists who planned to attack the planet and gave Bennett their ship and recordings.
• Bennett and Ames announced at a press conference that Dragon Calm would establish its headquarters near Planet Aquamarine, shocking reporters and factions across the Shattered Star Ring.
• Factions interpreted Dragon Calm's move as a sign of extraordinary trust between Ames and Han Xiao and feared their alliance might grow into a merger, while consortiums increased their interest in Planet Aquamarine.
• Han Xiao's fleet reached a blue-purple planet in the Shattered World, and he began arranging surveys and exploration.
• Bennett sent Han Xiao evidence that Avitan Wraiths had plotted to attack Planet Aquamarine, and Han Xiao instructed him to preserve it and bring the matter before the Shattered Star Ring Civilization Council.

Han Xiao’s forces surveyed resource-rich Planet Pangurid and sent a team to contact its native Pangurid Giant Elves. When the first encounter frightened the tribe, Rosso recognized the visitors wanted to communicate and used a translator to speak with them.

• Aurora reported Planet Pangurid’s valuable resources and the presence of a tribal native civilization, and Han Xiao ordered a ground team to make contact.
• In the Forest of Azure Streams, hunter Duki left with the hunting party while Rosso reflected on how he wanted to help the tribe without becoming a hunter.
• Army soldiers and Sky Domain players descended into the tribe, but the natives panicked and attacked until a squad leader demonstrated the power of his blaster.
• Rosso calmed his tribespeople, approached Frenzied Saber, and put on a translator that allowed him to understand the visitors.
• The squad leader praised Rosso’s intelligence and suggested choosing him as the tribe’s representative.

The Black Star Army established outposts and mining operations on Planet Pangurid, while Rosso gained respect as a representative and teacher. Duki grew resentful as his home was altered, and Han Xiao explained that the natives had little choice but to share their world with stronger civilizations.

• Duki charged the Black Star Army to rescue Rosso, but a soldier knocked him aside; Rosso assured him the army meant no harm and sent him back with the hunter captain.
• Han Xiao’s forces contacted the tribes, built outposts, began mining Planet Pangurid, and earned exploration points for discovering its resources and native civilization.
• Rosso used knowledge and supplies from the outpost to help the Greenstream Forest Tribe, becoming more respected as Duki felt increasingly ignored.
• Duki found that the army had destroyed his secret spring to mine crystals, and he realized the forest and planet were the natives’ home.
• Aurora questioned whether the army was invading the natives, and Han Xiao argued that the Dynasty’s education and resource extraction were a better outcome than what other powerful civilizations might impose.

Han Xiao’s army continued mining Planet Pangurid while Maple Moon discovered and activated a damaged location beacon, triggering a hidden mission. After tracing its signal to an unknown civilization several star zones away, Han Xiao sent Dark Emperor to make contact and subdue its people if they attacked.

• Han Xiao oversaw Planet Pangurid’s mining operation as players and guilds chose whether to stay behind and gather resources.
• Maple Moon was swallowed by a deep-sea monster, killed it from within, and found a damaged probe in its remains.
• Maple Moon repaired and activated the probe, triggering the hidden mission [Beacon of Unknown Origin], then brought the beacon to Han Xiao.
• Han Xiao accepted the same mission, traced the beacon’s quantum signal to a location within the galaxy, and concluded that its makers might still exist.
• Han Xiao ordered Dark Emperor to take mechanical life forms and part of the mechanical army to find the beacon’s source and subdue its people if they attacked.

The Great Cosmos Corps discovered that an unknown civilization had repaired one of its beacons, and Atimo ordered Qiqijia to invade and plunder it. Han Xiao sent mechanical troops toward the beacon while his fleet continued exploring the star system, but his mechanical lifeforms were busy fighting among themselves and ended the chapter immobilized by Sparta.

• Qiqijia received beacon data and learned that an unknown civilization had repaired the beacon, then reported it to Atimo.
• Atimo ordered Qiqijia to invade the planet, seize its resources and technology, and capture or wipe out its inhabitants.
• Han Xiao's fleet departed Planet Pangurid to explore the star system, while a special task force traveled to establish a distant stargate route.
• Several battleships carrying Han Xiao's mechanical troops followed the beacon's reverse positioning data toward Qiqijia's forces.
• Dark Emperor and Silver Flash fought aboard a ship while Red Fire Group egged them on.
• Sparta took control of the mechanical lifeforms and forced them to stand still as punishment.

The Huaxia guilds attacked and looted the Russian and Australian resource points on Planet Pangurid while their leaders plotted further raids. Meanwhile, Qiqijia’s Great Cosmos Corps encountered Dark Emperor’s ships and mocked the Black Star Army’s demand to surrender, until a single strike pierced their flagship’s defenses.

• The four powerhouse clubs’ guilds coordinated with other top Huaxia guilds and split up to attack the Russian and Australian mining sites.
• The Huaxia players overwhelmed the Australian defenders, destroyed their warehouses, looted their resources, and then did the same to the Russian resource point.
• Strong Vodka confronted Azure Sky over the attacks, then ordered the Australian players to move and fortify a new mining site as Azure Sky and Morning Snow and Evening Frost planned more raids.
• Qiqijia’s fleet encountered three ships carrying Dark Emperor and the others, and Qiqijia dismissed them as a weak civilization after receiving their demand that the Great Cosmos Corps surrender.
• The three ships released a mass of machinery, and a silver beam pierced Qiqijia’s flagship shield and hull, leaving Qiqijia stunned and terrified.

Han Xiao secured Dynasty authorization to eliminate the Great Cosmos Corps and turned the campaign into a player-only military operation. After Dark Emperor killed Qiqijia and challenged Atimo, Atimo rallied his forces for war, while Maple Moon and Meat Bun discovered the new faction mission.

• Dark Emperor’s mechanical troops destroyed Qiqijia’s fleet, captured its leaders, and showed the prisoners the Black Star Army’s history.
• Han Xiao recognized the Great Cosmos Corps’ stolen planetary data as valuable exploration intelligence and persuaded Tarrokov to authorize the Army to eliminate them.
• Han Xiao received the elimination faction mission and decided to let players fight without Army NPCs, while Dark Emperor sent Atimo a message declaring war and executed Qiqijia.
• Atimo watched the message, summoned every fleet, combatant, and chief, and vowed to lead the expedition against the Black Star Army himself.
• Maple Moon received the beacon mission completion notice, found the new elimination mission, and told Meat Bun, who saw Army players celebrating the campaign on the forums.

Heber refused Krent’s proposal to sabotage the Black Star Army, while Han Xiao sent a player-heavy expeditionary force toward the Great Cosmos Corps. After the players captured three enemy scout ships, Atimo learned that his forces had encountered a formidable opponent and prepared his hundred-thousand-ship fleet for battle.

• Heber rejected Krent’s plan to target the Black Star Army, citing his ceasefire agreement with Han Xiao and the risks of provoking them.
• Han Xiao assembled a player-heavy expeditionary force and sent it to explore a route toward the center of the Gaolu Star Cluster.
• A player detachment defeated and captured three Great Cosmos Corps scout ships after the enemy tried to board their reconnaissance vessel.
• Phillip blocked enemy communications, keeping the Black Star Army’s strength hidden while discovering the location of Atimo’s main force.
• Atimo recognized the Black Star Army as his strongest opponent but remained confident that his hundred thousand warships would prevail.

The expedition’s players overwhelmed Atimo’s fleet, forcing him to crash-land on a barren planet and face a massive player force. Atimo unleashed his Calamity Grade ability, and more than three hundred thousand players charged him to begin the boss fight.

• The expedition and Atimo’s fleet met, and Atimo ordered his hundred thousand ships to attack the smaller Black Star Army force.
• The Army warships shrugged off the barrage and charged into the enemy formation, while players boarded and massacred the Great Cosmos Corps crews.
• Atimo ordered a retreat as his fleet collapsed, but the players pursued his flagship while Phillip copied the Corps’ records and took control of Atimo’s ships.
• Phillip forced Atimo’s flagship to crash on a barren planet, where more than three hundred thousand players surrounded the surviving Atimo.
• Atimo fired powerful lasers from his mechanically covered tentacles, and the players leaped into the crater to attack him.

Han Xiao submitted the Great Cosmos Corps’ exploration data, earning rewards and permission to claim its territory in the Gaolu Star Cluster. Meanwhile, more than three hundred thousand players killed Atimo, marking their first Calamity Grade kill and strengthening their connection to the Black Star Army.

• Han Xiao sent Tarrokov the Great Cosmos Corps’ planetary data and received Crimson Dynasty contribution points and permission to develop the Corps’ former territory.
• Han Xiao watched the players battle Atimo, whose speed and attacks could not overcome their relentless numbers and repeated assaults.
• Atimo realized that his enemies resurrected, lost hope, and unleashed his remaining energy in a final attack that killed over ten thousand players.
• Dynasty’s professional players claimed the reward after Atimo was overwhelmed and killed, while the other guilds complained about losing the prize.
• Han Xiao learned that the players had killed their first Calamity Grade and recognized the battle as a milestone for both them and the Black Star Army.

After the Black Star Army’s victory over the Great Cosmos Corps, Maple Moon’s discovery and generous rewards inspired players to hunt for more hidden missions. Han Xiao then learned from Bennett that Planet Aquamarine was preparing to condemn the Star Pupil Protoss at the Civilization Council and agreed to attend the meeting.

• Players looted the battlefield after Atimo’s death, and Dynasty claimed the first-kill credit while Tai Erzi bragged about landing the final blow.
• Maple Moon shared screenshots showing that she had triggered the Army campaign and earned the unique Meritorious Explorer title, prompting players to search for hidden missions.
• Han Xiao used Maple Moon’s rewards to encourage players to uncover more intelligence and planned to nurture her as a rising Mechanic Class player.
• Bennett told Han Xiao that Dragon Calm’s arrival had accelerated Planet Aquamarine’s development and that he planned to begin an extraterrestrial colonization program after five years.
• Bennett said he was preparing to condemn the Star Pupil Protoss at the Shattered Star Ring Civilization Council, and Han Xiao agreed to attend by projection.

Han Xiao and Bennett attended the Shattered Star Ring Civilization Council, where Planet Aquamarine accused Sisko and the Star Pupil Protoss of responsibility for an attempted attack. The council sided against Sisko, who refused to apologize and agreed to take a mission from the Arcane Church, leaving Han Xiao expecting retaliation.

• Han Xiao and Bennett logged into the Civilization Council as Planet Aquamarine's first representatives, drawing envy from other civilizations.
• Bennett presented evidence of an advanced Psionic Energy bomb found aboard the Avitan Wraiths' ship and accused Sisko of instigating the attack on Planet Aquamarine.
• Sisko denied responsibility and blamed the extremists' hostility on Han Xiao's theft of the Evolution Cube, while the council members faulted the Star Pupil Protoss for failing to control its citizens.
• The Talos and Amethyst council members pressed Sisko to apologize and compensate Planet Aquamarine, but Sisko refused and left the meeting.
• The Star Pupil Protoss's favorability toward Han Xiao fell, and Han Xiao ordered his headquarters to monitor Sisko and the Arcane Church.
• Sisko agreed to take the Arcane Church's mission and warned that Han Xiao should stay in the Shattered World.

After Planet Aquamarine condemned the Star Pupil Protoss, Han Xiao left the fallout to the Talos Civilization and continued exploring the Gaolu Star Cluster. Three months later, the Crimson Dynasty learned that unauthorized forces were approaching the Shattered World, while an Arcane Church fleet began secretly building a route near Gaolu.

• Han Xiao used Planet Aquamarine's condemnation of the Star Pupil Protoss to give the Talos Civilization a pretext to act against Sisko, then planned a quiet three-month period of exploration in Gaolu.
• Urranrell reprimanded a senior official over the Federation of Light's pressure on the Crimson Dynasty and received Tarrokov's report on Shattered World exploration.
• Tarrokov reported that the Black Star Army had achieved strong results in Gaolu and that unknown Star Cluster Grade forces had crossed the Desolate Universe Belt.
• Urranrell ordered troops to search for and destroy secret enemy stargates and prepared to send more Dynasty forces and allies to the Shattered World.
• An Arcane Church fleet arrived at the Shattered World and planned to build a secret stargate route near the Gaolu Star Cluster to support its forces and pursue the Evolution Cube.

Over four months of Shattered World exploration, Han Xiao’s army amassed resources and gained the dynasty’s favor while he expanded his mechanical forces. After learning about stowaways and the Arcane Church’s possible threat, Han Xiao received word that Hadavy had completed the long-distance stargate passage, allowing him to set out for an unclaimed Universal Treasure.

• Han Xiao’s exploration teams claimed famous planets and resource sites, while the Black Star Army’s profits and manpower grew.
• Maple Moon reached level 113, and Han Xiao expanded his mechanical army to more than ten million soldiers.
• Tarrokov warned Han Xiao about stowaways and asked him to report clues; Han Xiao accepted a repeatable mission to help deal with them.
• Han Xiao told Tarrokov he feared the Arcane Church might target him for the Evolution Cube, and Tarrokov said the dynasty would monitor its Beyond Grade As and send protection.
• Hadavy reported that the long-distance stargate passage was complete, and Han Xiao redirected his flagship toward it to claim the unclaimed Universal Treasure.

Han Xiao led the Black Star Army to Amber Planet to claim the Space-Time Amber, a Cosmic Wonder capable of trapping living beings beyond the reach of time and destruction. After discovering the ruins and the preserved Yasir People, he learned the civilization had awaited visitors to free them, and a hidden mission tasked him with using the sacred object to undo its effects.

• Han Xiao reunited with Hadavy's task force and ordered the fleet to travel to the planet he identified as Amber Planet.
• Aurora sensed no life on the desert planet, and Han Xiao sent millions of mechanical troops to search the buried ruins.
• Dark Emperor found a hall filled with Yasir People preserved in amber, and Han Xiao confirmed that the material resisted every attack.
• Han Xiao and his companions activated a disc that played a recording of the Yasir Civilization's catastrophe and its use of the sacred object to preserve its people and records.
• Han Xiao received the hidden mission Traces of Existence, which required him to free all Yasir People using the sacred object.

Han Xiao recovered Space-Time Amber from the Yasir ruins, freed the Yasir People, and found that they had all died. He arranged for their remains to be cremated and their records preserved, then returned to the fleet with the treasure and considered how to use it.

• Han Xiao deciphered the Yasir Civilization's recording and learned that the Yasir People wanted visitors to undo Space-Time Amber's effects and preserve their records.
• Han Xiao found the Space-Time Amber core hidden behind a mural, charged it, and learned how to activate it.
• Han Xiao released the Yasir People from their amber seals, but Hila sensed that every one of them had lost their soul.
• Han Xiao completed the hidden mission, ordered Phillip to cremate the Yasir People, and had their records uploaded to the Space-Time Research Society.
• Han Xiao considered wrapping the Evolution Cube in Space-Time Amber to block Sisko's ability to sense it, then decided to test his newly activated [Bold Explorer] skill on the treasure.

Han Xiao used [Bold Explorer] on the Space-Time Amber, saw the First One's past, and triggered a hidden mission to discover the Space-Time Freezer's dying wish. He tested the Amber's powers and sealed the Evolution Cube, severing Sisko's connection to it and provoking his fury.

• Han Xiao used [Bold Explorer] on the Space-Time Amber and witnessed the First One's final moments as his companion turned him into the crystal.
• Han Xiao triggered the hidden mission [The First Ones' Legacy - Space-Time Freezer], which tasked him with finding the First One's dying wish in exchange for increased Soul Connection Level.
• Han Xiao had Phillip search for information about the Space-Time Freezer while he built a device to control the Space-Time Amber.
• Han Xiao tested the Amber's ability to enclose and immobilize Dark Emperor, then considered using its amber spheres as defensive barriers.
• Han Xiao used the Space-Time Amber to seal the Evolution Cube, severing Sisko's psychic connection to it.
• Sisko realized his connection to the Evolution Cube had been cut off and erupted in anger at Black Star.

Han Xiao blocked Sisko’s psychic tracking, forcing the Arcane Church to reconsider its plan to seize the Evolution Cube, and settled at Lighthouse Star under Dynasty protection. After strengthening his connection to the Space-Time Amber, he prepared to use Bold Explorer on Sorokin’s wormhole data.

• Han Xiao called Sisko and confirmed that Sisko could no longer track the Evolution Cube, disrupting the Arcane Church’s planned ambush.
• Sisko informed an Arcane Church executive of the failure, and the executive postponed the operation while seeking new orders.
• Han Xiao returned to Lighthouse Star, where Tarrokov told him Milizaus and Beoni would protect him in exchange for using the Evolution Cube.
• Sorokin agreed to provide more fleets for the delayed operation, while the Arcane Church concealed Sisko’s tracking failure from him.
• Han Xiao completed the first Space-Time Amber mission stage, gained a permanent strengthening buff, and learned that the treasure’s legacy race lived in Federation of Light territory.
• Han Xiao set aside the next mission stage and prepared to use Bold Explorer on Sorokin’s wormhole data.

Han Xiao learned that Sorokin’s wormhole data had led his doppelganger to the World Tree Civilization, potentially bringing forward a catastrophic war, and resolved to deal with Sorokin. Later, he met the newly arrived exploration teams at Lighthouse Star, including Milizaus, and proposed another Evolution Cube deal.

• Han Xiao’s Bold Explorer vision showed Sorokin’s doppelganger reaching a planet surrounded by wormholes and World Tree roots before the roots captured him.
• Han Xiao realized Sorokin’s data connected to the World Tree Civilization and feared Sorokin might lead it to the Explored Universe, so he decided Sorokin had to be stopped.
• Han Xiao concluded he lacked the strength and evidence to capture Sorokin or convince the dynasty, and worried that the universal war could begin early.
• Tarrokov received the next batch of exploration teams at Lighthouse Star, where Han Xiao greeted Beoni and met Milizaus through his mana avatar.
• Han Xiao recognized Milizaus’s enormous Astral Spirit Dragon main body nearby and offered to discuss another deal involving the Evolution Cube.

Han Xiao negotiated with Milizaus for dragon blood potions in exchange for Evolution Cube slots and demonstrated the Cube’s effects on an Armed Dragon Guard. Meanwhile, the Arcane Church abandoned its cautious approach and ordered an assault on Lighthouse Star, authorizing an attempt to kill Milizaus with the Federation of Light’s help.

• Han Xiao offered Milizaus Evolution Cube slots in exchange for dragon blood potions, and Milizaus agreed to buy two thousand slots after seeing the Cube strengthen an Armed Dragon Guard.
• Han Xiao asked Milizaus to let him recruit Astral Spirit Dragons as partners, but Milizaus refused.
• Arcane Church bishops debated abandoning their plan to capture the Evolution Cube because Black Star was heavily protected and its location was unknown.
• The church leader confirmed that the Evolution Cube remained with Black Star and ordered an assault on Lighthouse Star.
• The church leader authorized the Scepter of All Gods to be used in an attempt to kill Milizaus, with assistance from the Federation of Light.