Chapter Summaries

After reaching level 360, Han Xiao completed his advancement missions with settlement cards, but learned that breaking through to a new rank required three physical prerequisites and carried severe risks. He discovered dozens of sources of Beyond Divine Remnant Power scattered across the universe, leaving him to reconsider how much lay beyond the Explored Universe.

• Han Xiao leveled up to 360, reached the Divine Throne Mechanic class cap, and received the Divine Artisan and Godslayer's Trial missions.
• Han Xiao used Mission Settlement Cards to complete both missions, then learned his advancement had a 90%-96% failure chance and required a life-form stabilizer, four Divine Transformation assistants from other systems, and Beyond Divine Remnant Power.
• Han Xiao reasoned that Universal Treasures might stabilize his life form, that he could find four assistants through his connections, and that the remnant power would be the hardest prerequisite to obtain.
• Han Xiao searched for the special perception needed to detect Beyond Divine Remnant Power and sensed dozens of sources in different directions.
• Han Xiao realized that powerful civilizations and failed breakthroughs might exist throughout the unexplored universe, far beyond the regions he knew.

Han Xiao sought the Arcane National Treasure to help him attempt a new grade and negotiated with the Arcane Church to borrow it. He secured an agreement to unseal the Scepter of All Gods and give a seventy percent discount on the next three Sanctuary Revivals, then continued searching for beyond divine remnant power.

• Han Xiao considered using triangulation to locate beyond divine remnant power and decided to ask Urnos to lend him the Arcane National Treasure.
• Han Xiao told Urnos he wanted to use the treasure to attempt a new grade, and Urnos agreed to appeal to the Arcane Church on his behalf.
• Urnos proposed that the Arcane Church demand Han Xiao unseal the Scepter of All Gods, and the Church leader also requested three free Sanctuary Revivals.
• Han Xiao and Urnos negotiated a deal: Han Xiao would unseal the Scepter of All Gods and give a seventy percent discount on the next three Sanctuary Revivals in exchange for one use of the national treasure.
• Han Xiao searched the Netherland Dimension for beyond divine remnant power but found none, and planned to check Hila and the others.

Han Xiao found a source of Beyond Divine Remnant Power in the Ancient Star Desert and endured the dangerous trial needed to touch it. Inside the resulting white realm, he met the remnant consciousness Tirsus, whose origins hinted at an ancient connection to the explored universe, as Tirsus began to fade.

• Han Xiao calculated the location of a Beyond Divine Remnant Power source and traveled to the Ancient Star Desert.
• Han Xiao detected the luminous mist, recorded its strange particles, and discovered he could touch it only after entering a critical state and resonating with it.
• The Beyond Divine Remnant Power engulfed Han Xiao and subjected him to a deadly mental shock caused by the Universal Pan-Consciousness.
• Han Xiao met Tirsus, a remnant consciousness who said he came from Planet Kree and had died attempting to reach a higher level.
• Tirsus recognized Visterland as a civilization he had once passed, then explained that his consciousness would disappear if Han Xiao survived and claimed his legacy.

Tirsus gave Han Xiao the coordinates to Planet Kree and asked him to look after his home, then warned him about the World Tree before disappearing. Han Xiao sent a Dominion avatar to investigate and found the planet deserted except for a rusted robot climbing a huge metal tower.

• Tirsus told Han Xiao he had left Planet Kree long ago, regretted never returning, and asked him to visit his home.
• Han Xiao accepted the coordinates and received the mission to reach Planet Kree, while Tirsus warned him to flee if he encountered the World Tree.
• Tirsus vanished, and the Beyond Divine Remnant Power merged into Han Xiao as the mental burden and alternate space ended.
• Han Xiao decided to investigate Planet Kree with a Dominion avatar and used the Federation of Light's High-Dimensional Apocalypse Teleporter to travel there.
• Han Xiao found Planet Kree apparently deserted, with broken satellites and a giant metal tower, then encountered a rusted robot repeating, “Bury it.”

Han Xiao investigated Planet Kree’s ruins and discovered that a damaged Psionic Energy Wave Emitter had wiped out the Arthur Civilization. He left with the device after upgrading the lone surviving transport robot into a mechanical lifeform, which began wondering what it was.

• Han Xiao examined the transport robot’s memories, learned it had been building a metal tower, and discovered that the [Shadow of the Past] mission was complete.
• Han Xiao searched Planet Kree and found that its cities and factory had been devastated by a force that destroyed electronics and erased all life; beneath the tower, he recovered a damaged Psionic Energy Wave Emitter.
• Han Xiao used [Bold Explorer] to witness the emitter’s test, which unleashed a wave that annihilated Planet Kree’s inhabitants and spread into space, revealing the cause of the Arthur Civilization’s extinction.
• The transport robot returned and tried to fire its broken guns at Han Xiao, who upgraded it into a mechanical lifeform without changing its core logic.
• Han Xiao sent mechanical soldiers to search for Arthur Civilization records, then left Planet Kree with the emitter as the transformed robot asked, “What... am I?”

Han Xiao began his Divine Advancement with the help of Urnos, Kasuyi, Milizaus, and Seraon, using the Arcane National Treasure to stabilize his transformation. His race evolved twice and his new grade began to manifest, while the four helpers realized he had gained overwhelming life-level pressure.

• Han Xiao gathered Urnos, Kasuyi, Milizaus, and Seraon to help him attempt Divine Advancement and borrowed the Arcane National Treasure from Urnos.
• Han Xiao began his advancement above a barren planet, and the energy released by the process shattered the planet.
• Urnos, Kasuyi, Milizaus, and Seraon poured their energies into Han Xiao as the Arcane National Treasure stabilized his cells and the Beyond Divine Remnant Power accelerated his transformation.
• Han Xiao reached the new grade and evolved from the Black Star Race into the Black Star God Clan, then into the Black Star Pantheon: Royal Bloodline, gaining powerful new talents.
• Han Xiao's new talents upgraded his mechanical abilities and let him create a Divine Body Fortress and a second Void Dimension within himself.
• Kasuyi, Milizaus, and Urnos sensed Han Xiao's overwhelming life-level pressure and realized that his advancement might have succeeded on his first try.

Han Xiao completed Species Deification and became the first known Grade X, unlocking the Beyond God Mechanic class and powerful new talents. He named the new rank Beyond God Grade and kept the advancement method secret, leaving the others eager to follow his path.

• Han Xiao chose [Divine Power Gene] and [Born Elite] as his new hereditary racial talents and gained the Grade X rank talents [Boundless Divine Might] and [Cosmic Divine Body].
• Han Xiao completed his transformation, gained the [Beyond God Mechanic] class and several new abilities, and endured two days of evolution.
• Han Xiao emerged from the energy vortex and confirmed to Urnos, Milizaus, Kasuyi, and Seraon that he had reached a higher level.
• Han Xiao returned the Arcane National Treasure to Urnos and told the others to keep his dangerous advancement method secret.
• Han Xiao named the new rank Beyond God Grade and told Kasuyi that its power was very strong.

Han Xiao reached the Beyond God Grade and revealed the advancement method to Kasuyi, Milizaus, Seraon, and Urnos, who each considered how the secret would affect their factions. As Han Xiao tested his new powers, Urnos prepared to pursue the same advancement, and Han Xiao began wondering whether his abilities were connected to the World Tree.

• Han Xiao declined Kasuyi's request to spar, told Urnos to notify him when the Scepter of All Gods was ready to be unsealed, and left to consolidate his power.
• Kasuyi, Milizaus, and Seraon agreed to keep Han Xiao's advancement method secret, while Urnos returned to the Arcane Church intending to study and replicate it.
• Urnos told the Arcane Church leader that Han Xiao had reached the Beyond God Grade and that he had learned the advancement method, estimating a seventy percent chance of advancing himself.
• The Arcane Church leader agreed to support Urnos and planned to inform the Federation of Light and the Crimson Dynasty about Han Xiao's success.
• Han Xiao tested his new talents and skills, including his ability to resurrect through the Information State and transform machinery, virtual data, and other beings.
• After studying [Virtual Genesis], Han Xiao wondered whether consuming the World Tree could remove the ability's limitations, or whether uprooting it could complete the skill.

Han Xiao unlocked new Terx blueprints, then met with the Three Universal Civilizations and used his new Beyond God Grade status to negotiate Sorokin’s release in exchange for Gaud’s whereabouts. He later confirmed his advancement to the Beyond Grade A Association, declaring that a new level of individual power lay beyond Beyond Grade A.

• Han Xiao examined three blueprints unlocked by Terx Mechanical Legacy, including the incomplete Space Constant Debugger and a set of Mechanical Deity equipment.
• Han Xiao told the Three Universal Civilization leaders that he would keep his advancement secret from interstellar society and asked the Empire to release Sorokin in exchange for Gaud’s whereabouts.
• Mabrus agreed to give Han Xiao Sorokin, while demanding Gaud’s return and an explanation for his disappearance.
• Han Xiao gathered the Beyond Grade A Association and confirmed that he had reached Beyond God Grade, announcing that Beyond Grade A was no longer the limit of individual power.

Han Xiao revealed his advancement to Beyond God Grade to the Beyond Grade As and promised to share a reliable advancement method once he had mastered it. He then prepared to recruit Sorokin into Netherland, learned that Evans was advancing to Beyond Grade A, and left Oathkeeper stunned by the news of his breakthrough.

• Han Xiao demonstrated his Beyond God Grade pressure, shocking the Beyond Grade As, and said he would share an advancement method once he had a reliable approach.
• Manison struggled with the widening gap between himself and Han Xiao, while the other Beyond Grade As welcomed their leader’s breakthrough and left the meeting.
• Han Xiao discussed creating a race of his own, then told Hila he planned to bring Sorokin into Netherland for the war against the World Tree.
• Han Xiao received news that Evans was advancing to Beyond Grade A and went with Fording and the others to meet him.
• Oathkeeper learned that Han Xiao had opened a new level of power and despaired that he had become Han Xiao’s underling.

Evans advanced to Beyond Grade A, and Han Xiao revealed that Gaud was Sorokin’s split consciousness before having Evans absorb Gaud’s Energy Manipulation ability. Evans accepted the gift and demonstrated its power by destroying a planet, while Gaud remained imprisoned as a bargaining chip for the Empire.

• Evans completed his advancement to Beyond Grade A and pledged to continue serving the Black Star Army.
• Han Xiao introduced Evans to Hila, Ames, Fording, and Aurora, who grew wary after learning Evans could absorb other espers’ abilities.
• Han Xiao released the imprisoned Gaud and explained that Gaud was the main consciousness split from Sorokin and had sought contact with the World Tree.
• Evans absorbed Gaud’s Energy Manipulation ability, leaving Gaud devastated and powerless.
• Han Xiao imprisoned Gaud again as a bargaining chip, and Evans used his new ability to destroy the planet beneath them.

Han Xiao returned the Scepter of All Gods to the Arcane Church, then brought Gaud to the Crimson Dynasty to complete his deal with the Empire. As Sorokin’s prison was revealed, Han Xiao told Gaud he would make him watch his original body die.

• Han Xiao assigned Evans to become a deputy army commander and said he would publicly announce Evans’s identity as a Beyond Grade A.
• Han Xiao unsealed the Scepter of All Gods at the Arcane Church border, and Urnos confirmed it was intact before Han Xiao departed for the Crimson Dynasty.
• Tenny Amenlos welcomed Han Xiao, Hila, and Evans at the Empire’s secret military base, where Sorokin was imprisoned.
• Han Xiao brought Gaud out of his confinement device, but Evans stopped Tenny from taking him before the deal was complete.
• Han Xiao told Gaud he had brought him to watch Sorokin die, then revealed Sorokin imprisoned in amber outside the window.

Mabrus wrestled with the Empire’s inability to punish Black Star over Gaud’s capture while Han Xiao released Sorokin to face the World Tree threat. Han Xiao revealed his Supreme Celestial Venerable and killed Sorokin in three basic attacks, leaving Gaud devastated after he realized his original body and his hopes were gone.

• Mabrus watched the prison feed, considered why Black Star had secretly captured Gaud, and accepted that the Empire could not risk retaliation while it needed the association against the World Tree.
• Han Xiao ordered Tenny to activate space stabilization anchors, released Sorokin from his amber seal, and told him he intended to borrow his life.
• Sorokin realized Han Xiao planned to kill him and tried to escape, while Tenny ordered the crew to record the confrontation and Gaud hoped his original body could get away.
• Han Xiao summoned the Supreme Celestial Venerable and crushed Sorokin with three attacks, killing him before he could recover.
• Gaud watched Han Xiao demonstrate higher-level power and kill his original body, then lost hope after realizing he had no abilities or chance left.

Han Xiao returned Gaud to the Empire after crippling his esper ability, explaining that Gaud was Sorokin’s split personality and revealing that Evans had inherited Energy Manipulation. In the Netherland, Sorokin agreed to become a heroic spirit and train Evans, though he asked Evans to beat Han Xiao if he ever reached a higher level.

• Han Xiao handed Gaud over to Tenny and told Mabrus that Gaud was Sorokin’s split personality, while the Empire rejected his unverified explanation.
• Han Xiao revealed that Evans had absorbed Gaud’s Energy Manipulation ability, leaving Mabrus shocked but unable to challenge him.
• Han Xiao left the flagship, and Gaud learned that Sorokin’s soul had been sent to the Netherland as a heroic spirit.
• Sorokin awoke in the Netherland, learned he could become an immortal heroic spirit, and hesitated over surrendering his freedom.
• Han Xiao introduced Evans as Sorokin’s successor, and Sorokin agreed to train him in exchange for Evans promising to beat Han Xiao if he reached a higher level.

Sorokin joined Netherland as its newest Heroic Spirit, defeated Dilron in a ranking match, and rose to the top of the guardians. Elsewhere, the Three Universal Civilizations discussed Gaud’s return, while Meat Bun received explosive but unverified intelligence about Han Xiao and prepared to publish it.

• Sorokin completed his Heroic Spirit conversion and discussed Netherland’s powers with Hila and the other guardians.
• Dilron challenged Sorokin over his title and rank, so Hila arranged temporary bodies for the Heroic Spirits to settle their positions through combat.
• After three days of fighting, Sorokin took the number one position, Dilron became number two, and Igor Vanaz became number four.
• Mabrus concealed the Empire’s bad deal involving Gaud and Sorokin when Louis and the Arcane Pope asked about Gaud’s return.
• Meat Bun’s studio gathered limited evidence of the Three Universal Civilizations’ preparations before an employee reported that Han Xiao had killed Sorokin and handed Gaud over.
• Meat Bun ordered his studio to make a video about the claims and publish it within three days.

Han Xiao reverse-engineered the Psionic Energy Wave technology and agreed to help Resta free the AI Civilization from Manison. He traded transformed mechanical lifeforms for Resta’s compatriots and revealed one condition for reaching Beyond God Grade: using the Arcane National Treasure.

• Han Xiao studied the Psionic Energy Wave technology and used [Virtual Genesis] to reverse-engineer a complete emitter, which he planned to refine before using it in combat.
• Han Xiao watched Meat Bun’s video reporting rumors that he had advanced beyond Beyond Grade A and kidnapped an imperial descendant, then let the speculation spread among players.
• Resta asked Han Xiao to rescue the AI Civilization members under Manison’s control, and Han Xiao arranged a trade with Manison for their release.
• At Machine Race territory, Han Xiao transformed Manison’s mechanical lifeforms into virtual intelligent lifeforms as replacement Immortal Mechanical Soldiers.
• Han Xiao told Manison that using the Arcane National Treasure was one condition for advancing to Beyond God Grade, prompting Manison to consider plans against the Arcane Church.

Han Xiao freed the AI Civilization from Manison, completed the [Restart] mission, and began planning a crackdown on interstellar trafficking. Meanwhile, the Arcane Church prepared to help Urnos advance, and he launched his attempt at the Temple of All Gods.

• Han Xiao used Virtual Purification to restore the Immortal Mechanical Soldiers and Finit, then took the liberated AI Civilization back to reunite with Resta.
• Han Xiao completed the [Restart] mission, received its rewards, and gained the AI Civilization's [Revered] faction relationship.
• Han Xiao decided to use the current wartime restrictions and his influence to mobilize the factions against interstellar trafficking.
• Han Xiao returned to upgrading his machinery, while the Arcane Church spent nearly a month preparing for Urnos's advancement.
• Urnos unleashed his energy at the Temple of All Gods and charged at the threshold to Beyond God Grade as the Arcane Church leader watched.

Urnos deliberately halted his advancement after realizing it would not make him Beyond God Grade, suffering severe backlash but surviving. Han Xiao later gained the Three Universal Civilizations’ approval for a conference against the slave trade and learned Urnos still had a chance to advance again.

• Urnos’s energy storm exploded after he stopped his advancement, injuring him and blasting away the nearby aides.
• Urnos summoned a healing Deity Avatar, stabilized his injuries, and told the Arcane Church leader he had deliberately interrupted the transformation.
• Urnos explained that his advancement seemed unlike Han Xiao’s and that completing it might have left him far from reaching Beyond God Grade.
• The Arcane Church leader concluded the Arcane Church could not yet attempt the advancement, while Urnos refused to blame Han Xiao for withholding the missing conditions.
• Han Xiao proposed a conference on interstellar public security and ending the slave trade, and Louis, Mabrus, and the Arcane Church leader agreed in principle.
• Han Xiao learned Urnos had survived by stopping his advancement and privately acknowledged his resolve.

Han Xiao convened a vast conference in Black Star Army territory and called on the universe’s factions to eliminate the population trade. His appeal won widespread cooperation and raised his prestige among interstellar citizens to an unprecedented height.

• News of Urnos’s failed advancement spread among the upper echelons, prompting many Beyond Grade As to postpone their own attempts and reinforcing their view that Black Star alone could reach Beyond God Grade.
• Han Xiao invited civilizations and private organizations across the universe to a conference on interstellar society’s future and the population trade, drawing nearly every notable faction to Black Star Palace.
• Laifer led the Amethyst Civilization delegation and encountered the Krent Empire delegation, warning its envoy not to cause trouble on Black Star’s territory.
• Han Xiao told the assembled factions that they should use their wartime control of the star fields to tackle the population trade and build a better future for ordinary citizens.
• A private faction representative pledged support, and many other factions followed, agreeing to cooperate out of respect for Han Xiao and the opportunity to join a major undertaking.
• Media broadcasts carried Han Xiao’s appeal across the universe, and interstellar citizens praised him, raising his public image and prompting some to imagine him ruling interstellar society.

After Black Star called for a crackdown on the population trade, traffickers and powerful buyers faced arrest as major powers began dismantling the networks. Jotina watched the campaign’s early results and resolved to become strong enough to compete with the Dragon Emperor for Han Xiao.

• Calorzo learned that Black Star had rallied major powers against the population trade and panicked as his plans to retire safely fell apart.
• An Huso’s enslaved elven women saw Black Star’s broadcast and gained hope before Bell’s security squad arrived to arrest their captor.
• The planetary lord backed Bell’s arrest order, and Bell shot An Huso when he resisted.
• Han Xiao’s allies and other powers began rescuing slaves, killing traffickers, and arresting buyers across the universe.
• Jotina saw the crackdown’s results and decided to pursue Han Xiao, believing she could challenge the Dragon Emperor if she became a Beyond Grade A.