Chapter Summaries

Cao Fengqi gave Director Xu his Perfect-grade level 8 shell and blueprint, then said he had at least a sixty percent chance of developing a level 9 shell with enough level 8 metals. The generals decided to raise his rank and gather materials for his research.

• Cao Fengqi presented Director Xu with the Perfect-grade level 8 shell and its forging blueprint.
• Cao Fengqi said he needed twenty or thirty kinds of level 8 metal and estimated at least a sixty percent chance of developing a level 9 shell.
• Director Xu and Cao Jianjun reported the shell and Cao Fengqi’s research prospects to Xu Zhenjiang and the other generals.
• The generals agreed to raise Cao Fengqi’s military rank and gather level 8 metals from across Great Xia to support his research.

Cao Fengqi collected a large cache of Radiant Obsidian Gold, including a block of level 9 metal, and used some of it to raise a Fangelanya Demon to level 9. He decided to strengthen Guilou next, aiming to make him another miner.

• Cao Fengqi entered the mine and watched the Bloody Scarecrow uncover 1,788 jin of level 9 Radiant Obsidian Gold Essence.
• He calculated that the Bloody Scarecrow had mined 41 tons of level 8 metal and decided to take it to the Fate Witch Grand Church to strengthen his battle pets.
• Cao Fengqi placed half the level 9 metal in the Gu-Fusing Altar, and five hours later a Fangelanya Demon emerged at level 9 with enhanced skills.
• He chose Guilou as his next target because Guilou could dig tunnels and might be useful for mining.
• Cao Fengqi planned to raise Guilou to the level 8 limit using his supply of level 8 Radiant Obsidian Gold.

Three days after upgrading his battle pets, Cao Fengqi returned to the mine and put Guilou and the Fangelanya Demon to work. Director Xu brought him 1,000 level 7 souls and news of his promotion to lieutenant general, then asked when he could attend an award ceremony.

• Cao Fengqi admired his upgraded battle pets and noted that the Gray Feather Moths could rival a level 9 pet when they fused.
• Cao Fengqi sent level 9 Guilou and the Fangelanya Demon to mine, where he expected them to gather eight tons of level 8 metal each day and reach a level 9 metal deposit within a week or so.
• Cao Fengqi returned to reality and met Cao Jianjun and Director Xu, who congratulated him on his promotion to lieutenant general and delivered 1,000 level 7 souls.
• Director Xu explained that Tianbei Base City planned to hold an award ceremony for Cao Fengqi within half a month and asked which day suited him.

Cao Fengqi advanced his Beast Shepherd profession to the Fourth Sequence, Ranch Master, and gained the Defense Transfer skill. After the skill proficiency cheat raised it to its limit, he discovered that as long as his battle pets lived, he remained unharmed.

• Director Xu invited Cao Fengqi and his family to an awards ceremony and gave him level 8 metals to research level 9 shells.
• Cao Fengqi used a thousand level 7 souls to advance to the Ranch Master Sequence, strengthening his bonds with his battle pets and increasing his contract slots to ninety.
• Cao Fengqi gained Defense Transfer, which redirected damage he received to his battle pets.
• The skill proficiency cheat brought Defense Transfer to its profession limit, allowing it to transfer all damage as long as Cao Fengqi's battle pets remained alive.

Cao Fengqi reviewed his improved abilities and planned to advance his Artifact Refiner profession and build a better Transcendent Shelter. He visited Xiao Youya while she and her team consulted a divination compass about dangerous Wood Calamity Beasts, and was surprised that a level 8 beast threatened them.

• Cao Fengqi discovered that Defense Transfer could now redirect all damage and that his cheat had gained a 100% skill success rate.
• Cao Fengqi examined Director Xu's level 8 metals and planned to research a level 9 shell, build a Transcendent Shelter, and seek the five Light Pearls it needed.
• Cao Fengqi brought spirit fruits to the Xiao Family home, where Xiao Youxiu told him Xiao Youya was in her workshop with Divine Granny and Feng Qinglan.
• Divine Granny's level 8 divination compass failed to confirm that Xiao Youya's team could defeat the Wood Calamity Beasts, so Xiao Youya warned that a level 8 beast could wipe them out.
• Cao Fengqi questioned the danger, and Xiao Youya reminded him that she and the others were only recently in the Third Sequence and called him a freak.

Cao Fengqi offered Xiao Youya and her team the Nation-Protecting Flood Dragon Sky Crossbow to help them clear a spiritual field occupied by Wood Calamity Beasts. Xiao Youya accepted the loan, leaving the team equipped to face possible level-eight threats.

• Xiao Youya told Cao Fengqi that her team had found a spiritual field guarded by Wood Calamity Beasts, and Divine Granny’s divination suggested level-eight beasts might be present.
• Cao Fengqi offered to handle the threat and revealed the Nation-Protecting Flood Dragon Sky Crossbow he had forged.
• Xiao Youya and Feng Qinglan recognized the weapon, while Xiao Youxiu and the team admired its power.
• Cao Fengqi explained that the crossbow had no Spirit-Locking Formation yet and offered to lend it to Xiao Youya’s team.
• Xiao Youya accepted the loan and agreed to return the crossbow after the team was done with it.

Xiao Youya’s team entered the Lost Land to claim a spirit field in Wood Spirit Valley, using Divine Granny’s divinations to guide their advance. When two level 8 Wood Calamity Beasts appeared, Feng Qinglan fired the Nation-Protecting Flood Dragon Sky Crossbow and effortlessly pierced one of them.

• Divine Granny’s divination showed that conditions had changed, so Xiao Youya’s team entered the Lost Land while Cao Fengqi stayed behind with Xiao Youxiu.
• Xiao Youxiu told Cao Fengqi that several Spark Guild members had reached the Third Sequence with resources from Xia Yang, and Cao Fengqi offered to forge equipment for the team.
• At Wood Spirit Valley, Xiao Youya set up a formation while Divine Granny used her compass to reveal hidden threats, and Feng Qinglan lured out the Wood Calamity Beasts.
• Feng Qinglan used the Spatial Pattern Firepower Box to help defeat twenty-four level 7 Wood Calamity Beasts inside the formation.
• Divine Granny detected two level 8 Wood Calamity Beasts, and Feng Qinglan used the Nation-Protecting Flood Dragon Sky Crossbow to pierce one as it charged toward them.

Xiao Youya’s team used Cao Fengqi’s weapons to defeat powerful beasts and prepared to seek revenge on Dragon Head Mountain. Cao Fengqi studied level 9 shells, then received a huge piece of level 9 Radiant Obsidian Gold Essence that his miners had uncovered.

• Xiao Youya’s team praised the Nation-Protecting Flood Dragon Sky Crossbow and decided to attack Dragon Head Mountain if Divine Granny’s divination proved favorable.
• Xiao Youya visited Cao Fengqi’s family, brought gifts for Liu Xiuxiu, and delivered weapons to Cao Fengqi before leaving.
• Cao Fengqi calculated that his workers could mine enough Radiant Obsidian Gold for the upcoming Tianbei Base City exchange meet and studied how to make level 9 shells.
• Cao Fengqi crafted a powerful but oversized, costly level 8 shell and concluded he needed more varieties of level 8 metal to improve it.
• The Fangelanya Demon uncovered a 2,577-jin piece of level 9 Radiant Obsidian Gold Essence, exciting Cao Fengqi.

Cao Fengqi used radiant obsidian gold essence to raise Xiaotian Dog, the Abyssal Bone Warhorse, and the Gray Feather Moth to level 9, bringing his total to six level 9 battle pets. After considering the vast strength gap among Fourth Sequence creatures, he decided to stay cautious and seek further upgrades at the Tianbei Base City exchange gathering.

• Cao Fengqi planned to upgrade Xiaotian Dog, the Abyssal Bone Warhorse, and a Gray Feather Moth with the 2,577 jin of radiant obsidian gold essence.
• Cao Fengqi fused Xiaotian Dog with 859 jin of radiant obsidian gold essence, raising him to level 9 and granting him new skills.
• Cao Fengqi upgraded the Abyssal Bone Warhorse and the Aberrant Witch Worm · Gray Feather Moth to level 9.
• Cao Fengqi examined his six level 9 battle pets and concluded that powerful creatures near the peak of level 9 could far exceed their attributes.
• Cao Fengqi decided to avoid provoking the Blade Angels and headed toward the mine, planning to look for useful items at the Tianbei Base City exchange gathering in two days.

Cao Fengqi arrived at a Tianbei Base City gathering with abundant level 8 metal to trade, while the Spark Guild welcomed him and offered support. After he casually offered to forge level 9 weapons, the guild’s Smelter realized Cao Fengqi had reached Smelter seventh grade.

• After his three beasts advanced to level 9, Cao Fengqi’s daily metal income rose to 18 tons, and he planned to trade level 8 metal for useful items at the gathering.
• Cao Fengqi told his family he owned a mine and offered each of them a ton of level 8 metal; his parents also discussed a possible marriage between him and Feng Qinglan.
• Cao Fengqi and his family boarded the Spark Guild’s level 8 metal Transcendent Shelter, where Xia Yang, Xiao Youxiu, Zhao Chentian, Guo Daoming, and Xia Liehuo welcomed them.
• Cao Fengqi offered to help forge level 9 weapons if the Spark Guild supplied materials, and the guild’s bald Smelter recognized that he had reached Smelter seventh grade.
• Cao Fengqi asked whether forging level 9 weapons was not something anyone with hands could do.

Cao Fengqi arrived at Tianbei Base City’s exchange meet after impressing the Spark Guild with his ability to forge level 9 weapons. The group landed in the outer area, where Xia Yang explained that the core area required a level 6 soul to enter and offered goods no lower than level 7.

• The Spark Guild’s leaders praised Cao Fengqi as Tianbei Base City’s foremost artifact refiner after learning he could forge level 9 weapons.
• Xiao Youxiu told Cao Fengqi that the Spark families wanted Feng Qinglan to marry him, which had upset Xiao Youya.
• Cao Fengqi and his companions joked about him taking more wives before the Transcendent Shelter reached the exchange meet.
• Xia Liehuo warned the group not to start conflicts at the heavily guarded gathering, where authorities’ weapons and Law Enforcement Bureau officers enforced order.
• The Spark No. 1 Shelter landed in the outer area, and Xia Yang explained the core area’s entry requirement and minimum item level.

Cao Fengqi explored the Tianbei Exchange Fair, traded for level 9 metal, and found a level 10 Formation-Breaking Talisman that might let him enter the Fate Witch Grand Church’s dangerous witch formation. He left the chapter considering whether to obtain the talisman and pursue the treasures inside.

• Cao Fengqi and the Spark Guild group entered the crowded exchange venue and paid a level 6 soul to access its central area.
• Cao Fengqi split from his family and searched the stalls for level 9 resources, haggling over a block of Klein Metal before trading for eight jin of level 9 metal at a one-to-fifty exchange rate.
• Cao Fengqi discovered a level 10 Formation-Breaking Talisman at another stall.
• Cao Fengqi realized the talisman might let him enter the Fate Witch Grand Church’s witch formation and reach its scanned level 9 resources and special item.

Cao Fengqi browsed the Tianbei Exchange Meeting and showed Director Xu a shell he had developed that could deal level 9 damage. Director Xu rushed to present it to the leaders of Tianbei Transcendent Command, who examined its attributes in surprise.

• Cao Fengqi found that sellers were saving their valuable treasures, including a level 10 formation-breaking talisman and a level 9 Thing-Chiming Fruit, for the final auction.
• Cao Fengqi told Director Xu he needed one Five Elements Pearl of each attribute, and Director Xu offered to help him obtain level 8 pearls through the authorities.
• Cao Fengqi revealed that he had completed his level 9 shell research and handed his shell to Director Xu for inspection.
• Director Xu praised the shell's level 9 power and hurried to report it to the three leaders.
• Director Xu showed the shell to Xu Zhenjiang, Xu Fenghua, and other military officers, who were taken aback by its attributes.

Cao Fengqi’s level 9 shell astonished Tianbei Base City’s officials, while he traded for supplies and met Xiao Youya’s group at the exchange venue. Their conversation was interrupted when Tao Jia and Dragon Head Mountain demanded the return of a Soul-Listening Bell and threatened them over their dispute.

• Director Xu showed the officials Cao Fengqi’s level 9 shell and explained that more level 8 metals could help improve its power and production.
• Cao Fengqi and his father traded for various goods, then Cao Fengqi joined Xiao Youya’s group, who were selling a level 8 Nine Nether Soul-Listening Bell.
• Cao Fengqi said he had found a Gu-Fusing Altar that could raise battle pets’ levels and claimed to have forty or fifty level 8 battle pets.
• Tao Jia and Dragon Head Mountain confronted Feng Qinglan and Xiao Youya, demanding the Soul-Listening Bell back and threatening them with their influence in Wood Spirit King Main City.
• Xia Yang mocked Tao Jia, who eyed Feng Qinglan and Xiao Youya and warned that Dragon Head Mountain could suppress or imprison them in the Lost Land.

At the Tianbei Exchange Meeting, Cao Fengqi attacked Tao Jia after Tao Jia threatened Feng Qinglan, Xiao Youya, and the others. Cao Fengqi shattered Tao Jia’s protective item and killed him, while officials monitoring the venue chose to protect Cao Fengqi rather than intervene.

• Tao Jia demanded that Feng Qinglan, Xiao Youya, and the others return Dragon Head Mountain’s weapons and threatened them with trouble in the Lost Land.
• Cao Fengqi sent five Gray Feather Moths to attack Tao Jia, whose level-nine protective statue initially shielded him.
• Cao Fengqi used the Dream-Eyed Butterfly to break Tao Jia’s protective item, then ordered the Gray Feather Moths to kill him.
• Xia Yang warned Cao Fengqi that Tao Jia was the son of Dragon Head Mountain’s leader, but Cao Fengqi ignored him and severed Tao Jia’s head.
• Worldweavers aboard the Thundercloud Flying Boat detected the killing, but Major General Zhao ordered them to watch for threats to Cao Fengqi instead of restraining him.

Cao Fengqi killed Tao Jia at the exchange venue, provoking Dragon Head Mountain’s leader while authorities warned against further violence. He used the Prison Eye to draw Xiao Youya into a separate formation space, where he asked to kiss her, and she agreed.

• Cao Fengqi’s killing of Tao Jia left the exchange venue stunned as law enforcement officers debated reporting the incident rather than arresting him.
• Tao Xingshan rushed to his son’s body, confirmed Tao Jia was dead, and vowed to make Cao Fengqi pay.
• Lieutenant General Jiang and Major General Zhang warned Dragon Head Mountain’s extraordinary individuals that violence in the venue would be punished.
• Xia Yang, Xiao Youxiu, Xiao Youya, and Feng Qinglan feared the consequences of Cao Fengqi’s actions.
• Cao Fengqi activated the Prison Eye’s third effect and transported himself and Xiao Youya into a separate formation space.
• Cao Fengqi told Xiao Youya he might not have much time left, asked to kiss her, and kissed her after she agreed.

After Cao Fengqi killed Tao Xingshan’s son, the authorities and Dragon Head Mountain argued over how to respond while the generals arrived. Cao Fengqi and Xiao Youya emerged from concealment, and he challenged the mountain lord’s accusation.

• Cao Fengqi vanished from the exchange venue, and Lieutenant General Jiang assured Tao Xingshan and the gathered factions that the killer had not escaped and would face a resolution.
• General Xu, General Song, and General Chen discussed Cao Fengqi’s killing and expressed support for his character, while Xu Zhenjiang and Director Hu joined them at the venue.
• The Spark Guild members and Xiao Youya’s group feared the generals’ arrival meant trouble for Cao Fengqi.
• Cao Fengqi and Xiao Youya discussed whether he had a plan, then returned to the exchange venue using the Prison Eye.
• Tao Xingshan accused Cao Fengqi of murdering his son and demanded justice, and Cao Fengqi asked who dared bring charges against him.

Cao Fengqi was confronted by Dragon Head Mountain over killing Tao Xingshan’s son, but Director Hu revealed Cao’s extraordinary military rank and achievements. He declared Cao would face no punishment, recasting the killing as the redemption of a deeply sinful young man.

• Cao Fengqi reappeared at the exchange venue and said Tao Xingshan’s son had provoked him by threatening and insulting his sister.
• Xu Fenghua questioned Cao, while Director Hu signaled that the authorities would handle the case in his favor.
• Tao Xingshan demanded justice for his son and insisted that Cao pay for the killing.
• Director Hu revealed that Cao created the Evil Qi Detection Disc and held the rank of lieutenant general, the youngest in Great Xia.
• Director Hu declared that Cao would not be punished and claimed he had redeemed a deeply sinful young man rather than killed anyone.

Cao Fengqi killed Tao Jia, and Director Hu and the generals backed him while Tao Xingshan dropped his objections to avoid an investigation into Dragon Head Mountain. The gathering ended with plans for Cao Fengqi’s decoration ceremony and the coming migration, as the factions recognized how much influence the young lieutenant general held.

• Cao Fengqi proposed a soul-listening trial to prove Tao Jia was a criminal, and Director Hu agreed that it could uncover more.
• Tao Xingshan withdrew his objections, blamed his son’s death on his own poor discipline, and thanked Cao Fengqi to protect Dragon Head Mountain from scrutiny.
• General Chen announced Cao Fengqi’s decoration ceremony for the day after tomorrow and said the factions would discuss the upcoming migration.
• Cao Fengqi spoke casually with Sister Youya and then joked with Xu Zhenjiang, General Chen, and General Song.
• The gathered transcendent factions recognized that Cao Fengqi had the generals’ support and could act with impunity.

Cao Fengqi’s new status as an eighteen-year-old lieutenant general of Great Xia stunned the exchange venue and changed how the Spark Guild and other attendees viewed him. As the event moved toward its final auction, Xia Yang explained how its bidding system worked.

• Attendees across the exchange venue discussed Cao Fengqi’s rank and warned one another not to offend him.
• Guo Daoming, Xia Liehuo, and other Spark Guild members asked Cao Jiancheng whether Cao Fengqi belonged to the government or the guild, and he explained how Fengqi had earned his military rank.
• A woman suggested a marriage between her daughter and Cao Fengqi, while the Spark Guild’s leaders considered a marriage alliance as a way to win him over.
• Xiao Youxiu urged Xiao Youya to have a child with Cao Fengqi, but she silenced and threatened him.
• Cao Fengqi returned to Xiao Youxiu and the others, who praised him, and nearby attendees added his companions to their list of people not to offend.
• When Xia Yang invited Cao Fengqi to the Spark Guild’s reserved auction area, he explained that bidders used communicators to offer souls or other treasures, and sellers chose the winning trade.