Chapter Summaries

Han Xiao prepared for the Black Star's Gathering, improved his abilities, and met with local civilization representatives before receiving Sorokin. As he began speaking with the Infinite Financial Group's leader, Han Xiao decided to probe the mysteries surrounding Sorokin's combat strength.

• Han Xiao upgraded [Eternal Energy] and [Virtual Creator], improved [Gene Liberation] with a Skill Enhancement Card, and ordered Phillip to buy energy training methods.
• Han Xiao learned from Sylvia that the Tyrant's Gathering would coincide with Black Star's Gathering, then instructed her to treat the arriving guests well.
• A month later, Han Xiao met with representatives of seven local star cluster-level civilizations, including Laifer and Krent's representative, and maintained their business relationships.
• Sylvia informed Han Xiao that Sorokin had arrived, so Han Xiao excused himself from the representatives to meet him.
• Fording escorted Sorokin through the Army's port and explained that its immortals were away, frustrating Sorokin's plan to observe them.
• Han Xiao met Sorokin, who proposed future cooperation, and resolved to probe Sorokin's combat information.

Han Xiao agreed to explore a possible partnership with Sorokin but remained suspicious of his intentions. Meanwhile, Sorokin’s daughter Loffer approached Heber with a plan to make the Crimson Dynasty obtain the Evolution Cube from Black Star.

• Sorokin proposed that the Infinite Financial Group invest in developing the Black Star Army’s future Shattered World territory, and Han Xiao agreed to discuss cooperation after territory assignments were settled.
• Han Xiao asked for a shareholder position in the Infinite Financial Group, but Sorokin refused, citing the group’s existing shareholders and the universal civilizations’ influence.
• Han Xiao invited Sorokin to spar, but Sorokin declined and left; Han Xiao remained unsure whether he genuinely wanted to cooperate.
• Heber noticed that Tyrant’s Gathering had become quiet as envoys prioritized Black Star’s Gathering, and he received Loffer, Sorokin’s daughter, with a private letter.
• Loffer urged Heber to help make Black Star give up the Evolution Cube, arguing that the Crimson Dynasty could receive it; Heber asked her to explain further.

Loffer persuaded Heber to join Sorokin’s effort to pressure Black Star into handing over the Evolution Cube, while Han Xiao investigated Sorokin during a tour of the Black Star Army headquarters. After testing Sorokin’s reflexes, Han Xiao discovered that his level was hidden behind a question mark and suspected he was a peak Beyond Grade A.

• Loffer revealed that Sorokin was secretly aligning factions within the Crimson Dynasty with Glory and the Arcane Church to make Black Star surrender the Evolution Cube.
• Loffer offered to fund the War Realm’s expansion and help it compete with the Black Star Army, and Heber agreed to cooperate.
• Han Xiao invited Sorokin to tour the Black Star Army headquarters and asked Iso about Sorokin, learning that Iso considered him crafty and stronger than himself.
• Han Xiao struck at Sorokin to test his reflexes, and Sorokin blocked the punch before dismissing the incident.
• Han Xiao checked his combat information and saw that Sorokin’s level was a question mark, leading him to suspect Sorokin was concealing peak Beyond Grade A strength.

Han Xiao grew suspicious of Sorokin after discovering his hidden strength and learned that Sorokin planned to undermine the Black Star Army by targeting its partners. After Hila left with Ames to train, Han Xiao began collecting energy training methods to strengthen himself.

• Han Xiao discovered Sorokin's soul immortality and other powerful abilities, then asked Sylvia to investigate the Infinite Financial Group's activities in the Shattered Star Ring.
• At Black Star's Gathering, Sorokin secretly told Loffer to use the financial group's resources to break apart the Black Star Army's network of partners and suppress its business.
• Sorokin left the next day, and Han Xiao suspected he was plotting against the army over the Evolutionary Totem and decided to spend time in Empire territory.
• Hila told Han Xiao she was leaving with Ames to train in other star fields, and he agreed to look after Aurora while arranging extra protection for them.
• Han Xiao asked Phillip about energy training methods and ordered him to buy all the selected options.

Hila departed with Ames to train until she could reach Beyond Grade A, while Han Xiao prepared to take Aurora with him to Dynasty territory amid coming turmoil. The Crimson Dynasty approved the Shattered World Construction Charter and awarded the Black Star Army seven star systems in the first-phase territory, letting Han Xiao choose their locations.

• Han Xiao saw Hila off as she left with Ames to train, and Aurora agreed to accompany him when he later moved to Dynasty territory.
• Urranrell signed the Shattered World Construction Charter and ordered the Dynasty to announce the first phase complete and begin dividing territory among its allies.
• Tarrokov informed Han Xiao that the Dynasty had allocated the Black Star Army seven star systems for its exploration contributions.
• Tarrokov told Han Xiao that he could choose the locations of all seven star systems himself.

Han Xiao chose seven strategic star systems for the Black Star Army, then organized investment and construction plans after the Crimson Dynasty announced the Shattered World's first development phase was complete. He settled the first part of the main storyline mission with an S+ rating and enough contribution points to obtain his final Ultimate Knowledge, while Sorokin reconsidered the risks of focusing his investments on Heber.

• Tarrokov explained that Urranrell supported Han Xiao's choice of important territory, and Han Xiao selected seven strategic and resource-rich star systems in the Gaolu Star Cluster.
• The Crimson Dynasty announced the success of the Shattered World's first development phase and listed the territories granted to its allies, with the Black Star Army receiving seven star systems.
• Han Xiao screened financial groups and arranged negotiations for investment and development rights, while Sylvia reported that Sorokin's Infinite Financial Group was investing mainly in the War Realm.
• Han Xiao completed the first part of the [Shattered World] mission with an S+ rating, unlocked the [Exploration Pioneer] milestone, and gained enough dynasty contribution points to exchange for his final Ultimate Knowledge.
• At the War Realm, Loffer questioned Sorokin about not making the Black Star Army his main investment, and Sorokin worried that its territory would make it harder to suppress Han Xiao.

Sorokin planned to undermine the Black Star Army’s business network in the Shattered Star Ring by backing War Realm, while the army negotiated new investments and punished staff who accepted bribes. Han Xiao received the Crimson Dynasty’s approval for his final Mechanic Ultimate Knowledge, learned Space-Time Theory, and unlocked powerful new talents.

• Sorokin told Loffer that the Infinite Financial Group would help War Realm seize established business channels and weaken the Black Star Army’s interests in the Shattered Star Ring.
• Heber reviewed the Infinite Financial Group’s proposal to finance War Realm’s expansion into industries beyond mercenary work.
• Dillard pressured a financial group during negotiations, while Han Xiao’s surveillance revealed that forty-five negotiators had accepted bribes; Han Xiao fired them, canceled their agreements, and blacklisted the groups involved.
• Han Xiao received approval to exchange his dynasty contribution points for Space-Time Theory, the final Mechanic Class Ultimate Knowledge.
• Han Xiao learned Space-Time Theory and gained Hyperspace Thinking, enhanced Ultimate Knowledge Master, and the All-Round Mechanic talent.

After mastering all class knowledge, Han Xiao strengthened his abilities and began putting his plans for a mechanical civilization into action. As his construction force departed for the Shattered World, he traveled toward the Central Galaxy, while Ames and Hila left the Shattered Star Ring for their own journey.

• Han Xiao gained the [Hyperspace Thinking] and [All-Round Mechanic] talents, raised his intelligence with 500 free attribute points, and resolved to eventually maximize all his class knowledge.
• Han Xiao released his mechanical life forms, assigned Dark Emperor to lead their expansion on a resource-rich planet, and made Heaven Suppressing Flag a new Apostle Weapon.
• Dark Emperor took the Black Spirit Race from Planet Black Spirit to a new home at Han Xiao's command.
• Lagi, Reynold, Sylvia, and Melos led the Black Star Army's construction force toward its territory in the Shattered World while Han Xiao remotely supervised.
• Han Xiao and Aurora entered a stargate toward the Central Galaxy so he could meet imperial allies and cultivate ties with future leaders.
• Ames and Hila departed the Shattered Star Ring through a stargate, with Hila expecting a long absence from home.

Melos and the Black Star Army began building infrastructure across their seven Shattered World star systems while the mechanical lifeforms and Black Spirit Race settled on new home planets and started developing. As the Army focused on construction, the Infinite Financial Group moved against its interests in the Shattered Star Ring.

• Melos, Sylvia, and other officers planned infrastructure for the Army’s seven star systems, then Melos ordered construction to begin.
• Dark Emperor led the mechanical lifeforms in founding a city, factories, and mines on Planet Apostle.
• The Black Spirit Race settled on New Planet Black Spirit, received a tailored technology tree, and worshiped the Black Star God.
• Han Xiao considered the mechanical lifeforms, the Black Spirit Race, and the Fourth Calamity to be three of the four great calamities.
• The Infinite Financial Group took advantage of the Army’s focus on Shattered World and moved against its network of interests in the Shattered Star Ring.

The Infinite Financial Group pressured the Colin Group into an acquisition and ordered it to end its cooperation with the Black Star Army in favor of the War Realm. Sylvia recognized the growing threat to the army’s business network and decided to inform her teacher.

• Colin told the Colin Group’s executives that the Infinite Financial Group had disrupted its business after he rejected its acquisition offer, and the company’s second-largest shareholder pushed him to accept a buyout.
• Colin signed the share purchase agreement, and Madick of the Infinite Financial Group announced that the acquired company had to end its cooperation with the Black Star Army and support the War Realm.
• Colin suspected the Infinite Financial Group’s real target was the Black Star Army as it acquired companies and helped the War Realm build a united interest group.
• Sylvia learned that the War Realm and the Infinite Financial Group had joined forces, assessed the losses to the army’s business channels, and decided to notify Teacher.

Han Xiao visited the Empire's Sixteenth Comprehensive Super Academy to meet Carrot, a future Beyond Grade A, and offered him a place in the Black Star Army, but Carrot refused. After learning that the Infinite Financial Group was backing the War Realm to constrain the army, Han Xiao planned a defensive alliance among its business partners and prepared to confront Heber.

• Han Xiao toured the academy with Aurora and identified the unawakened student Carrot as a future peak Beyond Grade A.
• Han Xiao offered Carrot a place in the Black Star Army, but Carrot declined because his family wanted him to become an esper without joining a fighting force.
• Sylvia reported the Infinite Financial Group's moves in the Shattered Star Ring, and Han Xiao inferred that it was helping the War Realm restrict the army's growth on behalf of forces connected to Glory and Arcane.
• Han Xiao told Sylvia to organize the army's partners into an alliance to resist hostile acquisitions and limit their losses.
• Han Xiao decided to send his mechanical body to speak with Heber and planned to challenge him after reaching level 300.

Heber used the Infinite Financial Group’s support to expand the War Realm while Han Xiao recruited promising people and countered the group’s pressure on Black Star Army partners. On Planet Ladebudo, Enterprise faced threats for challenging the ruling families in an election and decided to try to use Black Star’s nearby presence.

• Jorde reported that the Infinite Financial Group had helped the War Realm diversify its business, and Heber privately welcomed the chance to undermine the Black Star Army.
• Carrot’s classmates reacted with shock and jealousy after learning that Black Star had invited him to join the army, while Carrot reconsidered his refusal.
• Han Xiao returned to the academy, gave Carrot his contact information, and left after drawing the other students’ attention to him.
• Han Xiao traveled through dynasty territory recruiting promising people, while Sylvia helped Black Star Army partners form an alliance against the Infinite Financial Group’s acquisitions.
• Enterprise refused the ruling families’ demand that he withdraw from the Planet Ladebudo election, and he decided to make use of Black Star’s presence nearby.

Han Xiao accepted Enterprise’s invitation to Planet Ladebudo after realizing Enterprise hoped to use his presence in a local power struggle. His arrival halted an assassination attempt and left the nervous Enterprise facing Han Xiao’s pointed remark.

• Han Xiao trained with the Universal Dark Energy Refinement Method and asked Phillip to review recent invitations.
• After learning that Enterprise was a candidate for Planet Ladebudo’s leadership and was in trouble, Han Xiao accepted his invitation and redirected the fleet.
• Enterprise celebrated Han Xiao’s acceptance but ordered his secretary to keep the news secret while the planet’s prominent families plotted against him.
• The families arranged for a Grade B assassin to target Enterprise when he appeared at the ground spaceport.
• Han Xiao arrived at the spaceport with Aurora, causing the families to call off the assassination and the assassin to flee.
• Enterprise welcomed Han Xiao, who looked him over and remarked that he had quite some nerve.

Han Xiao helped Enterprise win the election on Planet Ladebudo, then confronted him about using the Black Star Army as a political backer. Rather than accept Enterprise’s promised cooperation, Han Xiao told him to pack and come aboard his ship.

• Han Xiao accepted Enterprise’s invitation and recognized that the ambitious local financier could be useful to the Black Star Army.
• Enterprise admitted through his actions that he had invited Han Xiao to deter rival families and secure support for his bid to become planetary lord.
• The major families halted their plans against Enterprise, and the current planetary lord failed to learn Han Xiao’s intentions when Aurora turned him away.
• Enterprise won the election by an overwhelming margin while Han Xiao waited at his villa.
• Han Xiao told Enterprise that he understood his plan to secure long-term Army support, then ordered him to pack his things and board Han Xiao’s ship.

Han Xiao forced the newly elected lord Enterprise to join the Black Star Army, then used his influence with the Crimson Dynasty to secure Enterprise’s position on Planet Ladebudo. Aboard the flagship, Han Xiao assigned Enterprise to help build a subsidiary financial group, which he named the Germinal Financial Group.

• Han Xiao told Enterprise that his help had made him a creditor and gave Enterprise three days to join the Black Star Army.
• Enterprise left Planet Ladebudo after appointing his secretary to manage the planet remotely, and the major families sought to have him removed as lord.
• When the central government ordered Enterprise to choose between leaving the army and giving up his lordship, Han Xiao contacted the Crimson Dynasty, which led the government to withdraw its order.
• Han Xiao introduced Enterprise to Sylvia and proposed a subsidiary financial group to consolidate the army’s businesses and compete with the Infinite Financial Group.
• Sylvia offered Enterprise a chance to lead a team and earn promotion through results, and Han Xiao named the new group the Germinal Financial Group.

Han Xiao continued traveling through the Constellation Corridor while training to reach the vigor threshold for his advancement mission, and he brought Aurora and his guards to Aynia Hub for a break. Aurora and Fording found a wounded stranger emerging from a hidden battle site, and the chapter ended as they decided to save him and investigate.

• Han Xiao sent Enterprise to the Black Star Army headquarters, then heard Sylvia report that the Army’s partners were holding back the Infinite Financial Group while the War Realm helped it expand.
• Han Xiao trained with energy methods during his travels and raised his maximum vigor to around 119,000, leaving only 1,000 points until Lv19.
• Han Xiao brought Aurora and the guards to Aynia Hub, where the Evolutionary Totem had begun drawing more travelers and migrants.
• Aurora and Fording explored a street celebration, but Fording detected an occult barrier concealing a battle site and hurried there with her.
• A wounded man broke through the barrier and begged Fording to stop the departing robed attackers before losing consciousness.
• Fording asked Aurora to use her ability to save the man, deciding they should learn what had happened.

Aurora healed Raymond, a member of the Punisher Alliance, after the Blood Hammer Church nearly killed him. Raymond asked Fording and Aurora to help stop the sect, and Han Xiao recognized the factions and recalled a dangerous relic tied to the Alliance’s future.

• Aurora healed Raymond’s severe wounds, and he invited her to join the Punisher Alliance.
• Fording and Aurora introduced themselves as Morning Star and Ora, then learned that Raymond was tracking the Blood Hammer Church after discovering its members near the Aynia Hub.
• Raymond explained that the sect performed blood sacrifices and asked Fording and Aurora to help him pursue its members while his companions traveled to the hub.
• Fording left the decision open and planned to report the situation to Han Xiao.
• Han Xiao recalled the Blood Hammer Church’s dungeon and a powerful relic that would later cause heavy casualties for the Punisher Alliance.

Han Xiao sent Fording and Aurora to infiltrate the Punisher Alliance and investigate the Evolutionary Totem while multiple groups converged on Aynia Hub. The chapter left the Totem under threat from the Blood Hammer Church, master thieves, and former Fallen Ark fugitives, as Ludwell’s grandson arrived with two Calamity Grade bodyguards.

• Han Xiao assigned Fording and Aurora to join the Punisher Alliance under false identities and investigate the sealed object, leaving Fording to work with Raymond.
• Raymond welcomed Fording and Aurora into the alliance, while veteran member Seli warned that the newcomers might be Blood Hammer Church infiltrators.
• The Blood Hammer Church prepared to move its hideout after its members reported that Raymond had escaped, and its map showed a plan targeting the facility that housed Aynia Hub’s Evolutionary Totem.
• A group of master thieves discussed stealing the Evolutionary Totem, while a disguised former Fallen Ark fugitive confirmed that their target had arrived with two Calamity Grade bodyguards.
• Urranrell questioned Ludwell about the Dynasty’s response to pressure over Evolutionary Totems, and Ludwell argued that the Dynasty should gain control of the Evolution Cube.
• Ludwell spoke with his grandson, who had arrived at Aynia Hub with the two bodyguards Ludwell had assigned to protect him.

Fording and Aurora searched for the Blood Hammer Church with Raymond and the Punisher Alliance, but a coordinated attack on Aynia Hub’s restricted military zone exposed a much larger plot. As the garrison rushed to defend the Evolutionary Totem, hidden forces prepared to strike another target in the city.

• Fording and Aurora joined Raymond and the arriving Punisher Alliance squad, where Seli questioned their motives and warned Fording he would watch him.
• Fording and Aurora detected Calamity Grade figures near a young man escorted by Crimson Dynasty bodyguards, then continued searching with Raymond and a Pugilist hero.
• Raymond received word that the Blood Hammer Church was attacking a restricted military zone, and explosions across Aynia Hub confirmed a citywide assault.
• The Blood Hammer Bishop summoned a powerful magical entity to aid the church’s assault as other forces attacked the military zone from multiple directions.
• Gabura left his post to defend the Evolutionary Totem, while a hidden wanted criminal reported that the city’s Calamity Grades had been drawn away.
• Two concealed operatives watched the unrest spread and discussed using the chaos to eliminate an unnamed target.

Gray forces attacked the Aynia Hub as part of a diversion while thieves stole an Evolutionary Totem, and Han Xiao’s Black Star Army guard officers joined the fight. Han Xiao captured the thieves and recovered the totem, then demanded that they reveal what they knew.

• Raymond joined the fighting in the military zone while Fording protected Aurora and helped the Punisher Alliance members.
• Four wanted Calamity Grades nearly killed Ludwell's grandson and his guards before Hadavy and the Black Star Army guard officers arrived to fight them.
• Aurora healed the wounded Punisher Alliance members as Gabura learned that the Evolutionary Totem had been stolen and received reinforcements from the Black Star Army.
• Gabura announced that the Black Star Army had arrived, raising the garrison's morale and frightening the attackers.
• Han Xiao used his connection to the Evolutionary Totem to find the thieves, restrained them, and sent a mechanical soldier to return the totem.
• Han Xiao demanded that the captured thieves tell him everything they knew.