Chapter Summaries

Key Plot Points and Events

1. Chen Xia learns about the discovery of Sparkfire Ore and Earthcore Flame in the Outer Domain.
2. He decides to go investigate and potentially claim these resources to aid his cultivation.
3. Upon arrival, he is ambushed by three Outer Domain Sky Soarers, who seem to have been lying in wait for him.

Character Developments

1. Chen Xia demonstrates his growth and confidence by deciding to venture into the Outer Domain alone to seek resources for cultivation.
2. The three Outer Domain Sky Soarers reveal their strength and cunning, showcasing the dangers and challenges awaiting Chen Xia in the Outer Domain.

Significant Themes

1. Resource Acquisition: The discovery of Sparkfire Ore and Earthcore Flame drives the plot, highlighting the importance of resources for cultivation and growth.
2. Danger and Challenge: The ambush by the three Outer Domain Sky Soarers emphasizes the risks and dangers Chen Xia faces as he ventures into the Outer Domain.

Character Interactions

1. Chen Xia interacts with the three Outer Domain Sky Soarers, displaying his composure and determination in the face of danger.
2. The three Sky Soarers interact with each other, revealing their strategy and coordination in their attempt to assassinate Chen Xia.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Once their assassination attempt is exposed, the three Outer Domain assassins immediately surround Chen Xia and launch a coordinated attack.
• Chen Xia counters the ice assassin’s Sword Qi with a simple but immensely powerful slash enhanced by the Explosive Qi Art, dispersing the freezing energy.
• He withstands a lethal strike from the black-robed assassin using his wings and protective aura, then employs the Blood Soul Art against the gray-robed assassin, temporarily trapping him in an illusion.
• Taking advantage of the brief opening, Chen Xia delivers a blazing slash that penetrates the gray-robed man’s protective aura and bisects him. The assassin dies in disbelief, unable to comprehend how someone who had only recently entered the Skyflight Realm could possess such overwhelming strength.
• The surviving two assassins are shocked by their brother’s death but continue attacking together. Chen Xia quickly overwhelms the black-robed assassin, killing him with a slash to the neck.
• The ice assassin, now alone, abandons the battle and flees. He consumes two Primal Qi pills to increase his speed, but Chen Xia pursues him through the sky.
• The chapter ends as Chen Xia overtakes the fleeing assassin, sheaths his blade, and prepares to use the Fire Cloud Finger.

Character Developments

• Chen Xia demonstrates a dramatic level of growth and combat mastery. Despite being newly advanced into the Skyflight Realm, his aura is more powerful and stable than that of the assassins, while his physical strength, blazing energy, swordsmanship, and illusion techniques give him overwhelming advantages.
• He shows strong tactical awareness by combining defense, movement, the Blood Soul Art, and the Explosive Qi Art rather than relying solely on brute force.
• The assassins’ confidence collapses as they realize Chen Xia is far stronger than intelligence reports suggested.
• The gray-robed assassin changes from arrogance to despair after recognizing Chen Xia’s superior foundation, but dies before he can recover.
• The ice assassin’s competitive pride initially replaces fear, but after witnessing both brothers’ deaths, survival instinct takes over and he flees.

Significant Themes

• Underestimation and hidden strength: Chen Xia’s recent breakthrough causes the assassins to misjudge him, with fatal consequences.
• The decisive nature of brief openings: Chen Xia’s illusion technique creates only a momentary hesitation, but that instant is enough to determine life or death.
• Mastery beyond conventional power: Chen Xia’s strength comes not only from Martial Force but also from his illusion technique, powerful aura, physical abilities, and specialized arts.
• Fear replacing arrogance: The assassins begin as confident killers but quickly become desperate once Chen Xia reveals his true power.
• Relentless survival and pursuit: Even after defeating two enemies, Chen Xia continues chasing the final assassin rather than allowing him to escape.

Character Interactions

• The three assassins coordinate their attacks, attempting to trap Chen Xia between frontal and rear assaults.
• Chen Xia absorbs the black-robed assassin’s strike, disrupts the gray-robed assassin’s consciousness, and turns their formation against them.
• The assassins react emotionally to their brothers’ deaths, shouting in shock and anger, but their teamwork proves insufficient.
• The final confrontation becomes a pursuit between Chen Xia and the ice assassin, ending with Chen Xia preparing another decisive attack.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Xia defeats three Outer Domain assassins who attack him in the rain. Using the Heavenly Fire Art, he burns through the strongest assassin’s frost-based gangqi and incinerates him, while the other two are also killed with little difficulty.
• He reflects that the assassins were powerful Skyflight Realm warriors, but his own recent advancement into the Skyflight Realm and mastery of multiple techniques make him far stronger than they anticipated.
• Chen Xia harvests a total of 1,061 points of negative energy from the three corpses, raising his current total to 1,861 points.
• He collects the assassins’ three storage bags and swords, including an ice-rune sword of exceptional quality, likely superior to his Three Thousand-Pattern Blade. The bags contain star essence stones, explosive pills, silver notes, and other supplies.
• He burns the bodies to erase evidence and leaves the battlefield, later resting beneath a tree while considering who ordered the assassination.
• Chen Xia suspects the He Family, believing they hired the assassins in retaliation for his capture of He Sheng. He condemns the family’s disregard for ordinary people and views the assassins as useful sources of resources rather than serious threats.
• He continues toward a location in the eastern Dark Night Forest, about two hundred kilometers from Molten Fire Mountain, where volcanic veins may contain starfire ore and the still-undiscovered Earthcore Flame.
• Upon arrival, he finds a vast volcanic region filled with magma, ash, smoke, and numerous warriors from both the Federation and the Outer Domain searching for starfire ore.

Character Developments

• Chen Xia demonstrates a major increase in power. He effortlessly kills three Skyflight Realm assassins without needing to use his most demanding techniques, confirming his confidence in his new realm.
• His Heavenly Fire Art proves capable of burning through a Skyflight expert’s protective gangqi and flesh, greatly increasing his confidence in the technique.
• Chen Xia becomes increasingly pragmatic and resource-minded. He treats defeated enemies as sources of negative energy, weapons, and wealth rather than dwelling on their identities.
• His hostility toward the He Family deepens. He sees their attempt to assassinate him as evidence of their arrogance and refusal to accept accountability for He Sheng’s actions.
• Despite suspecting the He Family, Chen Xia remains cautious and acknowledges that he cannot prove who arranged the attack.

Significant Themes

• Power and miscalculation: The assassins believe three Skyflight warriors are sufficient to kill Chen Xia, but they fail because they underestimate his true strength.
• Retribution and social injustice: Chen Xia contrasts the He Family’s privileged attitude with the suffering of ordinary people, questioning why wealthy martial families should receive special treatment.
• Survival and opportunism: Chen Xia converts danger into tangible gains—negative energy, swords, storage bags, and money—showing his practical approach to cultivation and conflict.
• Competition for resources: The volcanic region has become a gathering place for warriors seeking starfire ore and Earthcore Flame, suggesting future struggles among many factions.
• Federation and Outer Domain coexistence: The gathering of people from different backgrounds reflects the vast, multicultural world and the shared pursuit of rare treasures.

Character Interactions

• Chen Xia directly clashes with the three assassins, overwhelming them through superior speed, technique, and fire-based power.
• The assassins’ lack of understanding about Chen Xia’s abilities is central to their defeat; their coordinated attack leaves them unable to respond to his Heavenly Fire Art.
• Chen Xia mentally confronts the He Family, imagining their motivations and criticizing their treatment of ordinary people, though no member of the family appears in person.
• At the volcanic destination, Chen Xia enters a crowded gathering of Federation warriors, Outer Domain experts, cloaked figures, swordsmen, and other treasure hunters, setting the stage for future encounters.

Chapter Summary: Fire Tin Wood

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Xia searches the surrounding area for Starfire Ore and, more importantly, a large mineral deposit or Earthcore Flame.
• He encounters several groups of cultivators mining scattered Starfire Ore. One group warns him not to interfere, but Chen Xia ignores them and continues exploring.
• A gigantic aquatic earth dragon attacks him from a river. Chen Xia defeats it with a single punch, seriously injuring it.
• An unexpected earth-vein eruption splits open the riverbed, creating a powerful underground fissure and whirlpool. The eruption overwhelms the earth dragon and eventually kills it.
• Taking advantage of the newly opened fissure, Chen Xia descends underground to search for minerals.
• Inside the cavern, he discovers a rich vein containing more than two hundred pieces of Starfire Ore and Star Essence Stones. He extracts them far more efficiently than ordinary miners could.
• Chen Xia also finds a rare piece of Fire Tin Wood, a valuable material formed through the combination of a volcanic earth vein, iron ore, and ancient tree roots. The piece is unusually large and could significantly improve weapon quality.
• He explores further but finds no additional Fire Tin Wood or a path deeper into the earth vein. A collapsed passage prevents him from continuing without risking a catastrophic cave-in.
• Chen Xia returns safely to the surface using markers left by his scouting bats.
• The miners realize that he is a powerful Skyflight Realm cultivator and become frightened, especially the man who had earlier warned him away.
• Chen Xia then resumes searching elsewhere, but before he can find a larger deposit, Chu Xingchen contacts him and reports discovering a huge mineral vein nearby.

2. Character Developments

• Chen Xia: Demonstrates confidence, resourcefulness, and exceptional strength. He defeats the earth dragon effortlessly, uses his Heavenly Fire Art to navigate underground, and employs bats to scout and mark his route. His willingness to investigate dangerous terrain shows both courage and practical intelligence. Although he is pleased with the Starfire Ore and Fire Tin Wood, he remains unsatisfied because they fall short of his expectations.
• Mining cultivators: Initially act protectively and suspiciously toward Chen Xia, attempting to exclude him from their mining area. After witnessing his abilities, they become intimidated and realize how far above them he is in cultivation.
• The Outer Domain man: Shifts from cautious confidence to fear and regret after recognizing Chen Xia as a Skyflight Realm expert. He is relieved that Chen Xia does not punish him for his earlier warning.
• Chu Xingchen: Acts as Chen Xia’s contact and ally, informing him of a much larger mineral vein and inviting him to join the discovery.

3. Significant Themes

• The power of nature: The earth-vein eruption proves far more destructive than the earth dragon, emphasizing that natural forces can surpass even powerful supernatural creatures.
• Strength and social hierarchy: Chen Xia’s cultivation level determines how others treat him. The miners’ hostility disappears once they realize his true strength.
• Resource competition and opportunity: Starfire Ore, Star Essence Stones, and Fire Tin Wood are valuable commodities, illustrating the importance of exploration and material wealth in the cultivation world.
• Knowledge and preparation: Chen Xia’s familiarity with Outer Domain creatures and treasures allows him to identify the earth dragon and Fire Tin Wood correctly. His use of bat markers also shows the value of planning in dangerous environments.
• Human exploitation and superstition: The explanation of villages worshiping earth dragons as river gods reveals how powerful individuals can manipulate people through fear, religion, and control of Exotic Beasts.
• Risk versus reward: Chen Xia enters the unstable underground vein because the potential rewards outweigh the danger, but he wisely stops when deeper exploration might collapse the earth vein.

4. Character Interactions

• A group of miners politely warns Chen Xia not to enter their mining area, but he disregards them rather than confronting them.
• The earth dragon attacks Chen Xia, leading to a brief but decisive clash in which Chen Xia gains the upper hand.
• The earth-vein eruption disrupts both Chen Xia and the earth dragon, eventually killing the creature.
• After Chen Xia returns from underground, the miners observe him with fear and respect. The earlier spokesman is especially anxious, realizing he had unknowingly challenged someone far stronger.
• Chu Xingchen contacts Chen Xia through the Technology Watch and directs him toward a newly discovered major mineral vein, setting up the next stage of the exploration.

Chapter Summary: “Leading the Team”

Plot Points and Events

• After receiving Chu Xingchen’s message, Chen Xia travels to a concealed mining site deep within the Dark Night Forest.
• He discovers a well-organized Vermilion Bird Martial Hall camp containing more than sixty members, most of them young disciples below the Skyflight Realm.
• The camp has uncovered a large vein of Star Essence ore after an underground eruption created a fissure. Members mine, sort, guard, refine, and distribute the ore in shifts.
• Chu Xingchen explains that the camp operates collectively: members share the resources according to their contributions, while leaders receive larger portions because of their responsibilities.
• The mining operation includes medical support and precautions against toxic gases in the deeper tunnels.
• Chu Xingchen and Chen Xia discuss the still-undiscovered Earthcore Flame. Since its appearance is unpredictable, Chu Xingchen has chosen to secure Star Essence ore first.
• Qin and another senior Martial Hall member are absent because they are defending a more exposed mining area from attacks by outsiders.
• Chu Xingchen asks Chen Xia to lead a team into a dangerous branch of the mine accessible only to Skyflight Realm experts. Chen Xia accepts, with the agreement that he will keep all large ore pieces while the team receives the smaller ones.
• A five-person team, including the female disciple who reported the shift change, joins Chen Xia and follows him into the underground tunnels to search for ore.

Character Development

• Chen Xia shows initiative and a willingness to contribute rather than merely observe. He is impressed by Chu Xingchen’s leadership and recognizes that he himself is less experienced in managing and caring for a large group.
• Chu Xingchen is portrayed as capable, practical, and considerate. He balances resource gathering, defense, worker safety, and fair distribution while remaining ready to handle external threats.
• The Vermilion Bird disciples demonstrate respect and admiration for Chen Xia because of his status as a Hall Master, governor, and disciple of Ouyang Shuo. Their cooperation reflects their trust in the Martial Hall leadership.
• The female disciple’s admiration for Chen Xia hints at his growing reputation and influence among the younger members.

Significant Themes

• Leadership and responsibility: Effective leadership involves organization, protection, fair rewards, and concern for subordinates’ health.
• Cooperation over individual strength: Working as a group allows the Martial Hall to mine resources more efficiently and defend them from rival forces.
• Practical decision-making: Chu Xingchen prioritizes the accessible Star Essence ore rather than chasing the uncertain Earthcore Flame.
• Resource competition and survival: The Outer Domain is dangerous and loosely regulated, forcing groups to cooperate and defend their discoveries.
• Recognition and hierarchy: Status, achievement, and connections shape how characters are viewed, as seen in the disciples’ reverence toward Chen Xia.

Character Interactions

• Chen Xia and Chu Xingchen speak as trusted colleagues, with Chu Xingchen inviting Chen Xia to use his name rather than a formal title.
• Chen Xia praises Chu Xingchen’s organization and learns about the camp’s mining and distribution system.
• Chu Xingchen delegates an important task to Chen Xia, showing confidence in his ability to lead.
• Chen Xia accepts responsibility for the expedition team, while the team members eagerly agree to follow him.
• The chapter ends with Chen Xia and the five disciples entering the underground mine, beginning their search for the richer branch of the Star Essence vein.

Chapter Summary: “Unknown Creature”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Xia and Chu Xingchen’s team discover a vast underground cavern containing a valuable Star Essence mineral vein.
• A narrow cave entrance is surrounded by a dangerous energy barrier mixed with Killing Intent. Chu Xingchen explains that only a Flying Martial Warrior can safely protect the miners inside.
• Chen Xia enters first, using his crimson aura and Heavenly Fire Art to resist the Killing Intent. He scouts the cave with energy bats and confirms that the interior is safe and oxygenated.
• He escorts all five team members through the barrier, shielding each person with wings formed from his aura.
• The cave contains beautiful stalactites and glowing ore deposits. The team begins mining with professional equipment while Chen Xia guards them and helps break through especially hard sections.
• Over five days, the group steadily extracts Star Essence Stones. Chen Xia receives 570 large stones, while the other members collect hundreds of smaller pieces each, making the expedition highly profitable.
• Chen Xia secretly uses his energy bats to map the vein and guide the team efficiently toward ore-rich areas. Wang Yan notices his seemingly impossible knowledge of the mine’s layout, but he claims only that he “sensed” the deposits.
• Once Chen Xia determines that the main mining area is nearly exhausted, he investigates a narrow crack where the Killing Intent is much denser and hotter than before.
• He condenses his scattered bats into a stronger entity and sends it through the crack. After traveling more than three hundred meters, the bat discovers a massive, partially hidden scaled creature glowing with dark-red light.

Character Developments

• Chen Xia: Demonstrates his strength, caution, leadership, and resourcefulness. He protects the team, improves their mining efficiency, and uses his energy bats for reconnaissance while concealing the full extent of his abilities. His curiosity and sense of responsibility lead him toward the unknown creature.
• Chu Xingchen: Shows strong trust in Chen Xia by assigning him responsibility for protecting the entire team and the dangerous cave entrance.
• Wang Yan: Becomes increasingly impressed by Chen Xia’s abilities and openly admires him, even behaving flirtatiously. She also begins questioning how he knows the mine so well.
• The mining team: Initially excited by the discovery, they become more enthusiastic as the ore yields substantial profits. Their admiration for Chen Xia grows whenever he effortlessly breaks through difficult rock.

Significant Themes

• Trust and leadership: Chu Xingchen relies on Chen Xia to ensure the team’s safety, while the miners depend on his judgment and strength.
• Risk versus reward: The dangerous Killing Intent is accepted because the mineral vein promises enormous financial gains.
• Hidden abilities and secrecy: Chen Xia conceals the true nature of his bat scouts, allowing him to gain information without revealing his methods.
• Exploration and the unknown: The safe and profitable mining expedition shifts into a more dangerous mystery when Chen Xia discovers a concealed creature beyond the known cave system.
• Human control over nature: The team attempts to exploit the mineral vein, but the hidden creature suggests that the cavern may contain dangers beyond their understanding.

Character Interactions

• Chu Xingchen formally entrusts the dangerous area to Chen Xia, reflecting his confidence in him.
• Chen Xia calmly instructs and protects the miners, especially Wang Yan, as he escorts them through the Killing Intent barrier.
• The team repeatedly praises Chen Xia when he destroys rock that their drills cannot penetrate.
• Wang Yan questions Chen Xia about his knowledge of the ore distribution and responds admiringly to his evasive answer.
• Before leaving to investigate the crack, Chen Xia orders the team to remain in place, prioritizing their safety while he explores alone.
• The chapter ends with Chen Xia observing the mysterious scaled creature through his strengthened bat, creating suspense over its identity and threat.

Chapter Summary: “Invasion”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Xia discovers a sleeping six-meter-long Tier Five fire lizard guarding a rare 599-year-old Earthcore Fire Lingzhi deep within an underground cavern.
• He attempts to harvest the herb quietly, but the lizard awakens and attacks him with flames.
• Chen Xia kills the beast by stabbing through its eye with his saber, then collects the Fire Lingzhi, its crystal core, and 204 points of Negative Energy.
• He considers entering the lava pool, suspecting it may lead to the Earthcore Flame and the fire lizard’s lair, but decides against it because his teammates are waiting.
• After returning to the mining group, Chen Xia tells them about the herb. They refuse a share, recognizing that he defeated the Tier Five beast alone and that they have already benefited from the ore.
• Before the group can leave, Chen Xia hears a warning that forces from the Outer Domain are invading. The attackers are identified as members of the Heavenly Fire Sect of the Zhao Kingdom, who are attempting to seize the mine.
• More than three hundred enemies surround the camp. Chu Xingchen fights two Skyflight Realm experts while the Martial Hall members struggle to resist the overwhelming numbers.
• Chen Xia joins the battle, kills several attackers, and orders the Martial Hall disciples to retreat into the cave while he holds back the invaders.

Character Developments

• Chen Xia demonstrates cautious judgment by scouting the cave, assessing the fire lizard’s strength, and deciding not to risk entering the lava pool without preparation.
• His combat ability is reinforced when he swiftly kills a Tier Five Exotic Beast and later cuts down multiple Heavenly Fire Sect members.
• Chen Xia shows growing leadership and responsibility. Rather than keeping the Fire Lingzhi secret, he informs his teammates, and during the invasion he prioritizes their survival over his own safety.
• The team members display restraint and practical judgment by refusing to claim Chen Xia’s personal spoils.
• Chu Xingchen is established as a powerful frontline fighter, but even he is temporarily restrained by two Skyflight Realm opponents and forced to rely on Chen Xia and the Martial Hall disciples.

Significant Themes

• Resource competition and danger: Rare treasures such as the Fire Lingzhi and mineral veins attract both beasts and rival human factions.
• Strength and survival: Chen Xia’s cultivation and combat skill allow him to obtain valuable resources and protect others amid overwhelming danger.
• Leadership and sacrifice: Chen Xia assumes command during the invasion, ordering his allies to retreat while he remains behind to delay the enemy.
• Trust and fairness: The team’s refusal to take the Fire Lingzhi reflects mutual respect and acknowledgment of individual contributions.
• Unexplored threats: The lava pool hints at deeper secrets, including the possible location of the Earthcore Flame, foreshadowing future discoveries.

Character Interactions

• Chen Xia confronts and kills the fire lizard after it treats him as an intruder.
• He discusses the Fire Lingzhi with Wang Yan and the other teammates, who politely decline any share.
• A Vermilion Bird member reports the invasion to Chen Xia, prompting him to act immediately.
• Chu Xingchen warns Chen Xia about the Heavenly Fire Sect and asks him to protect the Martial Hall members.
• Chen Xia responds by attacking the invaders, killing several, and commanding the disciples to retreat into the cave despite their desire to continue fighting.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Xia, the Vermilion Bird Martial Hall's Hall Master, defends the cave entrance against Heavenly Fire Sect enemies, buying time for his disciples.
• The Heavenly Fire Sect sends more experts, including Elder Zhou, to overwhelm the Federation forces.
• Chu Xingchen, battling in the sky, faces three Heavenly Fire Sect experts, including Elder Zhou, and is severely injured.
• Chen Xia decides to help Chu Xingchen, leaving the cave defense to his disciples, who arm themselves with firearms.

Character Developments

• Chen Xia demonstrates his leadership, selflessness, and combat prowess, putting himself in harm's way to protect his disciples.
• Chu Xingchen shows resilience and determination, fighting against overwhelming odds despite his injuries.
• Elder Zhou, a Heavenly Fire Sect elder, is portrayed as ruthless and powerful, posing a significant threat to the Federation forces.

Significant Themes

• Sacrifice and selflessness: Chen Xia's actions highlight his willingness to put others' safety above his own.
• Overwhelming odds: The Federation forces are outnumbered and outmatched, facing powerful enemies in the Outer Domain.
• Determination and resilience: Both Chen Xia and Chu Xingchen display unyielding resolve in the face of adversity.

Character Interactions

• Chen Xia and the Vermilion Bird Martial Hall disciples: Chen Xia inspires loyalty and trust among his disciples, who are willing to follow his orders and defend the cave entrance.
• Chen Xia and Chu Xingchen: Chen Xia prioritizes helping Chu Xingchen, showing camaraderie and a desire to protect his ally.
• Heavenly Fire Sect members: The sect members display ruthlessness and a willingness to use underhanded tactics, such as using shields for defense against gunfire.

Chapter Summary: “Chain Slaying”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Xia joins Chu Xingchen in fighting the Heavenly Fire Sect’s attackers, refusing to let Chu face several powerful enemies alone.
• Chen Xia activates the Explosive Qi Art, dramatically increasing his strength and speed.
• He overwhelms Elder Zhou in a weapon clash, then uses his sudden burst of speed to decapitate him with a single slash.
• Chen Xia kills another Flying Martial Warrior by igniting flames in the man’s head. He then throws the fallen warrior’s sword, impaling Steward Liao as he attempts to flee.
• In moments, Chen Xia has slain two Flying Martial Warriors and one Muscle-Transforming warrior. The final Flying Martial Warrior is terrified and escapes by using a technique that temporarily boosts his strength.
• With their leaders dead, the Heavenly Fire Sect’s forces lose their will to fight and retreat. Chen Xia, Chu Xingchen, and their allies pursue and slaughter the fleeing enemies.
• At the Outer Domain Base, Federation officials monitor battles through a three-dimensional battlefield map and drone footage.
• Other battlefronts remain under control, including Qin Feng and Qin Shuhui’s fight against the Heavenly Fire Sect’s headmaster. However, Chu Xingchen’s position is considered highly dangerous because reinforcements are delayed by Winged Race interference.

Character Developments

• Chen Xia reveals overwhelming combat ability. His strength, inner qi, and speed greatly surpass ordinary Skyflight Realm warriors, allowing him to kill elite opponents effortlessly.
• Chu Xingchen gains a deeper appreciation of Chen Xia’s power. Although he already knew Chen was strong from battlefield experience, witnessing him defeat multiple Flying Martial Warriors leaves him stunned and impressed.
• Steward Liao changes from an ambusher waiting for an opportunity to a desperate fugitive. His fear of Chen Xia ultimately leads to his death.
• The surviving Flying Martial Warrior is completely intimidated by Chen Xia and abandons the fight rather than risk being killed.
• Federation commanders, especially General Xiang, become increasingly concerned about the delayed reinforcements and the potential casualties at Chu Xingchen’s location.

Significant Themes

• Overwhelming strength and intimidation: Chen Xia’s sudden display of power transforms the battle, demonstrating how a single superior warrior can break an entire force’s morale.
• The importance of decisive action: Chen Xia immediately targets the strongest enemies, preventing them from coordinating or prolonging the battle.
• Battlefield morale: Once the Heavenly Fire Sect’s leaders fall, their disciples rapidly lose the will to fight, showing the dependence of military forces on their commanders.
• The limits of confidence and status: Even experienced Flying Martial Warriors are helpless when faced with someone far above their level.
• Large-scale warfare and coordination: The personal battle is connected to a wider conflict monitored through Federation technology, where delayed reinforcements and interference from other races affect survival.

Character Interactions

• Chen Xia and Chu Xingchen fight on the same side, though Chen Xia handles the decisive portion of the battle before Chu can assist.
• Chu Xingchen openly praises Chen Xia after witnessing his victories, calling him domineering.
• The Heavenly Fire Sect warriors interact mainly through their reactions to Chen Xia’s attacks: Elder Zhou underestimates him, Steward Liao panics and flees, and the final survivor retreats in terror.
• At the Federation command center, General Xiang and Deputy General Li discuss the worsening situation and the difficulty of sending aid.
• Commanders also compare the Chu Xingchen battle with Qin Feng and Qin Shuhui’s more stable front, emphasizing the uneven danger across the battlefield.

Chapter Summary: “Time Is of the Essence”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Federation learns that its forces in Dark Night Forest are being systematically attacked by alien races, particularly the Winged Race, which has mobilized heavily to encircle and eliminate Federation teams.
• Xiang Long considers personally going to support the endangered forces but is stopped by Deputy General Li. As the base’s only nearby Flying Martial Warrior, Xiang must remain behind to protect the base and its gateway to the Federation.
• The situation changes when footage shows Chen Xia decisively defeating several Skyflight Realm warriors and killing numerous Heavenly Fire Sect members. He then assists other Federation squads, turning the tide of several battles.
• The Federation leaders praise Chen Xia’s strength and potential, recognizing that his actions have reduced Federation casualties.
• News suddenly arrives that the Federation’s Black Iron mining area has been discovered and attacked by the Winged Race. More than three hundred workers are trapped inside an underground fortress, which is expected to hold for only about half an hour.
• Because most Flying Martial Warriors are already occupied elsewhere, the Federation identifies Chen Xia—only 450 kilometers away—as the only person capable of reaching the mine quickly enough to delay the attackers.
• The base dispatches a fast maglev aircraft and asks Chen Xia to meet it en route. Chen Xia instead begins flying immediately, using the Heavenly Fire Art, Explosive Qi Art, and Blood Demon Illusion God to greatly increase his speed.
• When the aircraft reaches Chen Xia’s original location, he is already gone. His rapidly changing position indicates that he has reached the Black Iron mining area ahead of schedule.

Character Developments

• Xiang Long: Demonstrates responsibility and compassion by wanting to rescue the endangered Federation forces, but accepts that he must remain at the base to protect the larger population. He continues to show confidence in Chen Xia and pride in having recognized his talent.
• Chen Xia: Establishes himself as an exceptionally powerful and reliable warrior. He not only defeats same-level opponents with ease but also actively assists other teams. His willingness to immediately risk himself to save the miners highlights his courage, decisiveness, and sense of duty.
• Chu Xingchen: Becomes more cooperative and appreciative of Chen Xia after Chen saves him and others from danger. He takes responsibility for escorting the remaining disciples back and plans to support Qin Feng’s side afterward.
• Deputy General Li and the Federation leaders: Shift from anxiety and helplessness to hope once they realize Chen Xia can respond to the mining-area crisis.

Significant Themes

• Urgency and sacrifice: The chapter emphasizes the importance of acting quickly when lives are at stake. Rescue efforts are constrained by distance, limited personnel, and the need to protect other Federation assets.
• Duty versus personal action: Xiang Long must choose between personally helping the endangered troops and remaining to defend the base. His restraint reflects the burdens of leadership.
• Emergence of a hero: Chen Xia’s rapid growth and willingness to intervene make him a crucial protector of the Federation, suggesting his future importance as a potential grandmaster-level figure.
• Strategic vulnerability: The Federation’s hidden resources and limited presence in the Outer Domain are increasingly exposed, showing the risks of expansion and competition with powerful local forces.
• Collective survival: The Federation’s warriors repeatedly support one another, emphasizing cooperation in the face of coordinated alien attacks.

Character Interactions

• Xiang Long and Deputy General Li debate whether Xiang can leave the base, with Li persuading him that the base’s safety must come first.
• Federation officials watch Chen Xia’s achievements and discuss his strength and future potential, reinforcing Xiang Long’s judgment of him.
• Xiang Long and the other leaders coordinate an emergency response after learning of the attack on the Black Iron mine.
• Chu Xingchen thanks Chen Xia for saving him and discusses their next steps before they separate.
• Xiang Long contacts Chen Xia directly and entrusts him with delaying the attackers until reinforcements arrive. Chen Xia accepts immediately but chooses to travel under his own power to save time.
• The chapter ends with the Federation realizing that Chen Xia’s speed far exceeds expectations: he has apparently reached the mining area before the rescue aircraft can even intercept him.

Chapter Summary: “Blood Pond”

Key Plot Points and Events

• At the Federation base, Chen Xia’s signal suddenly moves at an astonishing speed toward the mining area, alarming everyone. Xiang Long orders the surveillance systems and backup communications to be activated.
• Commander Zhao joins the discussion and reveals that the mining area is under attack. She announces that the Federation has dispatched a large army to the other world and intends to launch a major offensive against the Heavenly Fire Sect and the Winged Race.
• The Federation plans to stabilize the spatial rift and conduct a large-scale teleportation operation. This marks a shift from the Federation’s traditionally defensive policy toward an aggressive effort to seize Northern Star’s resources.
• Chen Xia reaches the mining site and finds the protective formation destroyed, machinery wrecked, and workers slaughtered. Most surviving workers are believed to be hiding in the basement, where the Winged Race has not yet broken through.
• Hundreds of Winged Race warriors attack Chen Xia, beginning with bone spears and then using coordinated aerial assaults. Chen Xia effortlessly deflects their attacks and kills wave after wave of enemies.
• Chen Xia breaks through the encirclement and kills the Winged Race commander by piercing his protective aura and chest with his Tang Dao.
• With their leader dead, the Winged Race formation collapses. Chen Xia massacres the remaining forces, killing more than two hundred warriors.
• The commander’s brother, another Flying Realm expert, emerges from the fortress in fury but is killed by Chen Xia’s Fire Cloud Finger after only three exchanges.
• Ten minutes later, the final Winged Race member falls, leaving the mining area soaked in blood.

Character Developments

• Chen Xia is established as extraordinarily powerful and overwhelmingly superior to the Winged Race forces. His speed, defensive aura, Heavenly Fire Art, Tang Dao, and Fire Cloud Finger allow him to defeat hundreds of enemies almost single-handedly.
• Xiang Long demonstrates urgency and competent leadership by coordinating surveillance and communications. He also recognizes that Chen Xia’s arrival may save the mining site.
• Commander Zhao is revealed as a decisive military leader who supports a major strategic change for the Federation. Rather than continuing to endure attacks passively, she intends to use newly developed technology and military strength to retaliate.
• The Winged Race commander shifts from arrogant confidence to fear when Chen Xia instantly kills his warriors. His reliance on attrition tactics fails completely.
• The commander’s brother is driven by grief and rage over his sibling’s death, but his emotional attack is ineffective against Chen Xia and ends in his swift defeat.

Significant Themes

• Overwhelming individual strength: Chen Xia’s power is so great that a force capable of defeating multiple Federation Flying Realm fighters cannot seriously threaten him.
• Retaliation and strategic transformation: The Federation is moving from cautious defense to open expansion and military retaliation in the Outer Domain.
• The brutality of war: The ruined mining site, murdered workers, and blood-filled battlefield emphasize the devastation caused by conflict between humans and foreign races.
• Arrogance versus preparedness: The Winged Race assumes that numbers and coordinated attacks will wear Chen Xia down, but their confidence proves misplaced.
• Power and resource competition: The mining area and Northern Star’s resources are central to the larger struggle for the Federation’s growth and survival.

Character Interactions

• Xiang Long reports the crisis to Commander Zhao, while she gives orders concerning the Federation’s broader military campaign.
• Chen Xia confronts the Winged Race commander, who orders his forces to attack him in formation.
• The commander’s younger brother is killed during Chen Xia’s assault, prompting the elder brother to confront Chen Xia in anger.
• Chen Xia and the second Flying Realm fighter exchange only three moves before Chen Xia kills him, underscoring the enormous gap between them.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Xia infiltrates the fortress, finding and eliminating the remaining Different Race members inside.
• He discovers a group of Federation workers hiding underground, rescued by him.
• The Federation sends reinforcements, including Chen Xia, to the mining zone and later to Northern Star to purge Outer Domain forces.

Character Developments

• Chen Xia demonstrates his formidable combat skills, becoming a one-man army against the Different Race.
• Federation workers show fear, desperation, and relief, highlighting their vulnerability and dependence on Chen Xia's rescue.
• Xiang Long witnesses Chen Xia's strength and reaffirms his decision to recruit him.

Significant Themes

• The vulnerability of the Federation's Outer Domain mining zones and the desperate measures taken to protect them.
• The power dynamics between the Federation and the Different Races, with Chen Xia's actions disrupting the balance.
• The impact of the Federation's actions on the Winged Race, leading to their outrage and retaliation.

Character Interactions

• Chen Xia interacts with the frightened Federation workers, reassuring them and taking responsibility for their safety.
• Xiang Long and the command center observe Chen Xia's actions, leading to a sense of awe and pride in his accomplishments.
• The Winged Race reacts to the Federation's actions, setting the stage for further conflict.

Chapter Summary: “Intelligence”

Key Plot Points and Events

• In a Federation conference, Xiang Long reports that the Federation’s campaign in the Dark Night Forest killed many Outer Domain aliens, including members of the Winged Race.
• In response, the Winged Race has temporarily allied with the Zhao Kingdom, despite their previous hostility, and is attacking Federation forces in Northern Star.
• Commander Zhao has personally intervened and reportedly killed eight Skyflight Realm experts of the Winged Race.
• The Federation has developed and begun deploying the S3-Type New Energy Cannon, made from a special energy-rich clay found in the Outer Domain. Unlike nuclear weapons, it can be mass-produced and used for sustained bombardment.
• The new weapon cannot directly eliminate the strongest experts, who can evade through space, but it helps counter the alien races’ overwhelming numerical advantage.
• The conference emphasizes the enormous scale of the conflict: the Winged Race controls eighty-three territories and has over three billion people, while the combined alien population in the region exceeds twenty billion.
• Meanwhile, Chen Xia completes his clearing mission and rescues several hundred workers. He earns Federation commendation, 1,500 merit points, and over 21,000 Negative Energy points.
• Chen Xia acquires the storage rings of two Skyflight Realm experts and accumulates resources worth nearly nine hundred million, including 2,900 Star Essence Stones.
• He plans to return to the base, convert his resources into cultivation materials, and continue preparing for his breakthrough from the middle stage of the Skyflight Realm to the Golden Body realm.
• Xiang Long contacts Chen Xia with intelligence about possible Earthcore Molten Flame beneath a volcano only two hundred kilometers away. The Federation deliberately protected the area during its battle with the Winged Race.
• Chen Xia decides to investigate alone rather than accept a military escort. Xiang Long warns him to disguise himself because the Winged Race may seek revenge for the members he killed.

Character Developments

• Xiang Long demonstrates strategic awareness and confidence in the Federation’s technological progress. He also shows concern for Chen Xia by sharing the Earthcore Flame intelligence and warning him about retaliation.
• Deputy General Li remains openly hostile toward the alien races and strongly supports eliminating the Winged Race.
• Commander Zhao is portrayed as an exceptionally powerful Federation warrior capable of killing multiple Skyflight Realm experts.
• Chen Xia grows wealthier and stronger after his mission. He becomes increasingly self-reliant, choosing to investigate the Earthcore Flame alone and trusting his own abilities rather than relying on soldiers.
• Chen Xia also displays generosity and responsibility by leaving most of the enemy spoils for the Federation to distribute to the families of dead and wounded soldiers.

Significant Themes

• Escalation of war: The alliance between the Winged Race and Zhao Kingdom shows how common enemies can overcome old conflicts.
• Technology versus cultivation: The S3-Type cannon gives ordinary Federation forces a way to challenge powerful alien races, though it cannot completely overcome spatial abilities or top experts.
• Strategic restraint: The Federation avoids using weapons of mass destruction recklessly because they cannot reliably kill the strongest cultivators and could provoke a larger conflict in Northern Star.
• Resource-driven advancement: Star Essence Stones, rare flames, and battle spoils remain central to Chen Xia’s cultivation and future breakthroughs.
• The scale of conflict: The chapter emphasizes that the Federation is vastly outnumbered, making technological innovation and elite fighters essential.
• Risk and opportunity: The appearance of the Earthcore Molten Flame presents Chen Xia with a valuable chance for advancement, but it is likely to attract fierce competition.

Character Interactions

• Xiang Long and the conference officials discuss the Federation’s military situation, the Winged Race’s strength, and the impact of the new cannon.
• Xiang Long later speaks directly with Chen Xia, thanks him for his achievements, informs him of the coming Federation reward, and reveals the location of the Earthcore Molten Flame.
• Xiang Long offers Chen Xia a hundred soldiers armed with the new weapons, but Chen Xia declines, preferring to operate independently.
• Their exchange shows mutual trust, with Xiang Long respecting Chen Xia’s decision while cautioning him to conceal his identity.

Chapter Summary: “Sisters”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Xia learns that the Winged Race will retaliate after he killed several of its Skyflight Realm fighters. Although his victories were impressive, he recognizes that the Winged Race remains vastly stronger and that his success depended heavily on the Explosive Qi Art and Blood Demon Illusion God.
• Xiang Long sends Chen Xia the coordinates of the Earthcore Flame, warning him to request reinforcements if necessary and not to exceed his limits.
• Chen Xia disguises himself with new clothing and facial alterations before traveling to the treasure’s location. He hopes the Earthcore Flame will strengthen his Heavenly Fire Art and help him advance toward the Golden Body Realm.
• In the Federation’s Outer Domain Base, General Li questions whether sending Chen Xia after such a dangerous treasure was reckless. Xiang Long defends the decision, arguing that powerful martial artists must be forged through life-and-death struggles rather than protected from danger.
• Xiang Long emphasizes that the Federation needs exceptional experts capable of changing the course of the war, not merely more ordinary Skyflight Realm fighters. He believes Chen Xia’s unusual potential justifies the risk.
• Chen Xia arrives at a scorched battlefield near the Square-Circle Mountains. The area contains numerous craters, molten lava, and corpses, indicating that a major battle—possibly involving Federation weapons—recently occurred.
• Many treasure seekers have gathered, including three apparent Skyflight Realm experts, a mysterious veiled woman whose cultivation Chen Xia cannot detect, several cloaked swordsmen, and other powerful fighters.
• Chen Xia observes several newcomers: a black-robed man with a powerful crimson aura, a burly axe-wielder with fire wings, and twin sisters in red searching for an underground entrance to the Earthcore Flame’s caverns.
• Rather than rushing into danger, Chen Xia sits beneath a tree and secretly releases more than a thousand blood-red bats to scout the area.

Character Developments

• Chen Xia: Becomes more cautious and strategic. He acknowledges the limits of his recent victories, avoids drawing attention through his disguise, assesses the strength of potential enemies, and uses his blood bats for reconnaissance instead of acting recklessly.
• Xiang Long: Reveals a philosophy centered on hardship and combat as necessary for cultivating truly powerful martial artists. He shows strong confidence in Chen Xia’s potential and is willing to risk his safety for the possibility of greater advancement.
• General Li: Acts as the cautious counterpoint to Xiang Long, worrying that Chen Xia may be risking his life unnecessarily.
• The Veiled Woman: Introduced as an exceptionally mysterious and potentially terrifying figure. Chen Xia suspects she may have reached the Golden Body Realm.
• The Twin Sisters: The younger sister, Yun Tian, appears friendly and approachable, while the elder sister is more focused and practical. Together, they begin searching for a route underground.

Significant Themes

• Growth through danger: The chapter debates whether true strength can be developed without facing life-threatening trials.
• Risk versus protection: Xiang Long believes excessive protection produces weak martial artists, while General Li prioritizes Chen Xia’s survival.
• Potential and responsibility: Chen Xia’s exceptional talent gives him the chance to become a major force for the Federation, but it also exposes him to greater dangers.
• Caution and preparation: Despite his ambition, Chen Xia understands that relying solely on explosive techniques and hidden trump cards is dangerous in the Outer Domain.
• The harsh martial path: Advancement requires enormous resources, determination, and endurance through brutal battles.

Character Interactions

• Xiang Long and General Li argue over whether Chen Xia should have been informed about the Earthcore Flame. Their disagreement highlights the conflict between caution and ambition.
• Xiang Long advises Chen Xia to seek help if necessary and not overextend himself, while simultaneously encouraging him to pursue the dangerous opportunity.
• Chen Xia briefly encounters the mysterious veiled woman and her attendants but remains wary rather than approaching them.
• The younger twin, Yun Tian, notices Chen Xia and politely greets him, creating the chapter’s only openly friendly interaction among the gathered competitors.
• Chen Xia silently observes the other treasure seekers, evaluating their cultivation levels and deciding which opponents should be avoided.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Xia uses his bats to search for the Earthcore Flame.
• A group of martial artists finds a Fire Lotus, but a tremor causes magma to erupt, engulfing it.
• A disciple of the Overturning Sea Sect, Hu Meng, tries to forcefully take the Fire Lotus from the twin sisters, Yun Xi and Yun Tiantian, after they retrieve it.
• A big man, Pang Guang, intervenes but is unable to stop Hu Meng.
• An unknown woman arrives and sends Hu Meng flying with a single word, saving the sisters.

Character Developments

• Chen Xia continues to improve his cultivation by consuming pills.
• Yun Xi and Yun Tiantian show determination and dignity despite their disadvantaged situation.
• Hu Meng displays his arrogance and disrespect towards women.
• Pang Guang shows a sense of justice but is unable to stop Hu Meng due to the power difference.

Significant Themes

• The struggle for resources and power in the martial world.
• The disparity in strength and status between major sect disciples and independent cultivators.
• The theme of dignity and respect, with Hu Meng's disrespect towards the sisters contrasting with the unknown woman's intervention.

Character Interactions

• The twin sisters show a strong bond, with Yun Xi protecting Yun Tiantian.
• Hu Meng and Pang Guang have a tense interaction, with Pang Guang criticizing Hu Meng's behavior.
• The unknown woman's arrival changes the dynamics, showing her immense power and respect for the sisters.

Chapter Summary: Xu Baiyan

Key Plot Points and Events

• Hu Meng is defeated and humiliated after insulting the twin sisters, Yun Tiantian and Yun Xi. Xu Baiyan, a twenty-five-year-old Golden Body Realm expert from the Yaoguang Sect, intervenes and forces him to apologize.
• Xu Baiyan and her two family protectors enter the magma in search of the Earthcore Flame, followed by the other Skyflight Realm cultivators.
• Yun Tiantian reveals that she is accustomed to being slapped and mistreated. The chapter recounts the sisters’ tragic childhood: after losing their parents and suffering through famine, they were sold into servitude and eventually a brothel. They remained pure despite their hardships and were later discovered to possess cultivation talent, allowing them to join the Spirit Flower Palace.
• Chen Xia observes the situation through a blood-colored bat while refining pills and Star Essence Stones. He realizes that ordinary Skyflight Realm cultivators cannot survive in the magma for long and that many have likely died after becoming lost in the underground lava passages.
• Determined to find the Earthcore Flame, Chen Xia enters a separate, larger lava cavern connected to the other magma pools. The cavern contains huge stone pillars, a vast magma lake, and many cultivators waiting or searching.
• Xu Baiyan and Hu Meng are also present in the cavern. Rather than risk entering blindly, Chen Xia uses a condensed bat as a scout, dropping it into the magma to sense the Earthcore Flame’s unusual aura.
• Chen Xia notices a mysterious young man in a white robe who appears to be from the Federation. The man seems to recognize Chen Xia’s Federation identity as well, creating an unresolved point of suspicion.

Character Developments

• Xu Baiyan is established as powerful, authoritative, and intimidating. Her Golden Body Realm cultivation and prestigious Yaoguang Sect and family background allow her to dominate the situation without needing to fight.
• Hu Meng suffers a major loss of status. His arrogance collapses in the face of Xu Baiyan’s strength, forcing him to suppress his anger and apologize.
• Yun Tiantian and Yun Xi are shown to be resilient survivors. Their painful past explains both their humility and their determination to cultivate, while their bond as sisters remains central to their emotional strength.
• Chen Xia demonstrates caution and ingenuity. Instead of recklessly entering the deadly magma, he searches for a way to use his bat abilities to reduce the danger and locate the treasure indirectly.
• The mysterious white-robed youth is introduced as a possible Federation-affiliated figure whose connection to Chen Xia is not yet explained.

Significant Themes

• Power and hierarchy: Cultivation strength and social background determine authority. Hu Meng’s arrogance disappears immediately when confronted by someone of higher realm and status.
• Resilience amid suffering: The twins’ history emphasizes endurance, survival, and the ability to pursue a better life despite exploitation and poverty.
• Risk versus strategy: The Earthcore Flame offers great rewards, but the magma is extremely dangerous. Chen Xia’s willingness to proceed while using reconnaissance reflects a balance between ambition and caution.
• Hidden identities and connections: The appearance of another Federation member suggests that political or technological affiliations may become important beneath the cultivation-world conflicts.
• Sisterly loyalty: Yun Xi’s concern for Tiantian and their shared history highlight their emotional dependence and mutual protection.

Character Interactions

• Xu Baiyan sternly rebukes Hu Meng and has one of her protectors reinforce the threat, compelling him to apologize.
• The Yun sisters thank Xu Baiyan for saving them, while Yun Xi comforts and worries over Tiantian after the assault.
• Chen Xia observes the various cultivators from a distance rather than directly engaging them.
• Xu Baiyan, Hu Meng, a black-cloaked swordsman, and the mysterious white-robed youth all notice Chen Xia’s unusual behavior.
• Chen Xia and the white-robed youth silently recognize each other as Federation-connected individuals, though neither openly acknowledges it.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Xia attempts to find the Earthcore Flame by sending bats into the lava, but they disintegrate due to the intense heat.
• He discovers a jade box that can withstand the lava and uses it to send a bat deeper into the magma.
• The bat reaches the bottom of the magma cave, which is approximately 2000 meters deep.
• While Chen Xia is exploring, another martial artist, Pang Guang, emerges from the magma, having nearly died inside.
• The two sisters Chen Xia saw earlier also arrive at the lava pool.

Character Developments

• Chen Xia demonstrates his resourcefulness and determination in finding the Earthcore Flame, using a jade box to probe the depths of the magma.
• Pang Guang shows his survival skills and tenacity by escaping the magma after nearly dying.
• The two sisters display their ability to navigate the dangerous lava cave system.

Significant Themes

• Persistence: Chen Xia's refusal to give up on finding the Earthcore Flame despite the challenges and setbacks.
• Resourcefulness: Chen Xia's use of the jade box to explore the magma cave, demonstrating his ability to adapt and innovate.
• Survival: Pang Guang's struggle to survive in the deadly magma, highlighting the importance of resilience and luck in dangerous situations.

Character Interactions

• Chen Xia and Pang Guang: Though not directly interacting, their presence at the lava pool and their respective experiences in the magma create a contrast between their approaches to finding the treasure.
• Chen Xia and the Two Sisters: They briefly make eye contact, acknowledging each other's presence but not engaging in any interaction.

Chapter Summary: “Vacuum”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Xia detects an intense heat anomaly beneath a magma pool and concludes that it may signal the presence of the legendary Earthcore Flame.
• Using his scouting bats, he identifies the likely location before the other explorers. The jade box carrying the bat begins to crack from the extreme heat, forcing Chen Xia to retrieve it personally.
• Huang Yi, a Federation martial artist watching from the shore, recognizes Chen Xia as a Flying Martial Warrior and worries about his chances, having failed to find the flame himself despite being a Golden Body Realm expert.
• Chen Xia dives deep into the magma while protected by astral qi. He reaches a depth of roughly two thousand meters, where he retrieves the damaged jade box.
• A Skyflight-level fire lizard ambushes him. Chen Xia initially drives it away while conserving energy, but the creature repeatedly attacks and obstructs him.
• After eight interruptions, Chen Xia loses patience and unleashes the Explosive Qi Art and Blood Demon Illusion God. He kills the fire lizard by stabbing through its mouth and extracts its Skyflight-level crystal core.
• Continuing toward a strange magma vortex, Chen Xia discovers a spherical vacuum roughly ten zhang wide, where the surrounding magma is held back by an invisible force.
• At the center floats a small, scarlet flame—the likely Earthcore Flame.

Character Developments

• Chen Xia demonstrates ingenuity and preparedness by using bats to scout an otherwise nearly impossible environment.
• His determination intensifies as he realizes he may have found an opportunity capable of greatly advancing his fire-based cultivation.
• He shows restraint by avoiding unnecessary combat with the fire lizard while his Heavenly Fire Art is being rapidly depleted.
• However, repeated attacks push him into an explosive display of strength, revealing both his combat ferocity and willingness to risk heavy energy expenditure to remove a threat.
• Chen Xia also proves resourceful by recovering the fire lizard’s crystal core after killing it.
• Huang Yi is portrayed as a sympathetic fellow Federation member. Though he cannot assist Chen Xia, he hopes Chen Xia succeeds.

Significant Themes

• Perseverance under extreme danger: Chen Xia continues despite crushing pressure, unbearable heat, diminishing energy, and the constant threat of death.
• Opportunity and risk: The Earthcore Flame could dramatically improve Chen Xia’s cultivation, but reaching it may exhaust his defenses and leave him trapped in the magma.
• Preparation and adaptability: Chen Xia’s bats, pills, protective techniques, and equipment give him advantages in an environment where ordinary exploration is nearly impossible.
• Competition and survival: The fire lizard’s repeated harassment reflects the dangerous struggle surrounding rare treasures, where both creatures and martial artists compete for survival and advancement.
• Power and qualification: The Earthcore Flame is presented as an extremely rare, potentially transformative resource suited to high-level fire cultivators.

Character Interactions

• Chen Xia and Huang Yi: Their interaction is indirect. Huang Yi observes Chen Xia’s dive and silently wishes him success as a fellow Federation member.
• Chen Xia and the fire lizard: The lizard repeatedly attacks and attempts to exhaust Chen Xia rather than confronting him directly. Chen Xia initially evades or repels it, but ultimately kills it after it repeatedly interferes with his search.
• Chen Xia and his bats: The bats serve as crucial scouts, enabling him to locate the Earthcore Flame and giving him an advantage over the other treasure seekers.

Chapter Summary: “Peril”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Xia discovers the Earthcore Flame, a powerful, twenty-eighth-ranked exotic flame hidden deep within a magma lake. Its blood-red color and immense heat confirm that it has reached Major Completion.
• Using the advantages of his bat clone and the protection of his techniques, Chen Xia approaches the flame despite the extreme pressure and temperature.
• His protective aura repeatedly cracks under the heat. He is forced to activate the final form of Blood Demon Illusion God, transforming into a Blood Demon to survive.
• When he attempts to seal the Earthcore Flame in a storage bag, the flame suddenly becomes active and begins drawing in Chen Xia’s fire-aspect energy through his Heavenly Fire Art.
• Chen Xia is pulled dangerously close, his defenses shatter, and magma engulfs him. He uses his blood qi, Flowing Cloud Battle Suit, and cultivation techniques to stay alive.
• With all his remaining spiritual power and mental strength, he finally succeeds in storing the Earthcore Flame.
• The flame’s removal destabilizes the underground magma chamber, causing it to collapse. Chen Xia races upward while a powerful figure—apparently a Golden Body expert—pursues him.
• Chen Xia escapes the lava lake, but his protective aura, clothing, hair, and disguise have been destroyed by the heat. He emerges exhausted and completely exposed before the other cultivators.
• The chapter ends with the gathered cultivators reacting to Chen Xia’s unexpected appearance, while the identity and intentions of the pursuing expert remain unresolved.

Character Developments

• Chen Xia demonstrates determination, resourcefulness, and a willingness to risk death for a rare treasure. He successfully obtains the Earthcore Flame but is left severely depleted, having exhausted his spiritual power, blood qi, and Heavenly Fire Art.
• His cultivation of fire-based techniques becomes both an advantage and a liability: it allows him to resonate with the Earthcore Flame, but also makes him especially vulnerable to its energy-draining nature.
• Chen Xia’s disguise is destroyed, potentially exposing his true identity to everyone at the lava lake.
• Yun Xi shows caution and sound judgment by deciding that she and Yun Tiantian should leave rather than become involved in the dangerous struggle over the Earthcore Flame.
• Yun Tiantian remains curious and innocent, but her concern turns to surprise when Chen Xia emerges from the magma.
• Xu Baiyan reacts with shock and embarrassment upon seeing Chen Xia’s unanticipated condition, while her female protector responds with crude amusement.

Significant Themes

• Peril and survival: Chen Xia’s acquisition of the flame is a life-or-death ordeal, emphasizing the danger of pursuing powerful treasures.
• Risk versus reward: The Earthcore Flame may greatly strengthen Chen Xia, but obtaining it nearly kills him and immediately creates new danger.
• Power as a double-edged sword: Chen Xia’s fire cultivation helps him locate and endure the flame, yet also causes the flame to identify him as a source of nourishment.
• Identity and exposure: The destruction of Chen Xia’s disguise leaves him vulnerable to recognition, while his embarrassing state adds a moment of dark humor after the intense action.
• Competition among cultivators: The presence of the pursuing Golden Body expert suggests that powerful treasures inevitably attract stronger rivals.

Character Interactions

• Chen Xia has no direct conversation during the underground struggle, but his conflict is primarily with the Earthcore Flame and the unseen Golden Body pursuer.
• Yun Xi advises Yun Tiantian to leave, prioritizing safety over pursuing the Earthcore Flame.
• Yun Tiantian and Yun Xi witness Chen Xia’s emergence and react with surprise.
• Xu Baiyan and her female protector also observe Chen Xia; Xu Baiyan is visibly embarrassed, while the protector makes a mocking comment.
• The chapter closes with Chen Xia surrounded by witnesses who may now have seen his true appearance and possibly realized that he obtained the Earthcore Flame.

Chapter Summary: “Pursuit”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Xia successfully obtains the Earthcore Flame from deep beneath the lava lake.
• The violent disturbance caused by his retrieval alerts the martial warriors searching the area.
• Realizing his identity and success may have been exposed, Chen Xia abandons his original plan to disguise himself and flee discreetly. He immediately escapes, taking pills to restore his strength and using his crimson wings to fly away.
• The black-cloaked swordsman, Luo Chuan, emerges from the lava and realizes that Chen Xia has taken the flame. Although he had appeared to be a Flying Realm warrior, Luo Chuan is actually an initial Golden Body expert.
• Other martial warriors quickly infer what has happened and join the pursuit, hoping to seize the Earthcore Flame for themselves. Xu Baiyan and her two protectors also give chase, while Huang Yi reacts with disbelief that one of their Federation warriors may have obtained the treasure.
• After exiting the underground world, Chen Xia changes into a spare robe, replaces his technological wristwatch, and sends an emergency request for aid.
• Xiang Long responds immediately, mobilizing Federation forces and dispatching twenty advanced aircraft to retrieve and protect Chen Xia.
• Luo Chuan catches up and demands that Chen Xia surrender the Earthcore Flame. Chen Xia refuses, mocking Luo Chuan for failing to take it himself.
• Enraged, Luo Chuan unleashes more of his Golden Body strength and rapidly closes the distance, making a direct confrontation increasingly likely.

Character Developments

• Chen Xia: Demonstrates boldness, decisiveness, and confidence. Despite being exhausted and pursued by stronger opponents, he refuses to surrender the Earthcore Flame and relies on speed, strategy, and Federation support rather than fighting recklessly.
• Luo Chuan: Is revealed to be a powerful Golden Body expert from the Luo Clan of Dream Marsh Commandery. His pursuit of the Earthcore Flame has lasted four years, making the treasure deeply tied to his ambition, cultivation bottleneck, and personal obsession. Losing it to Chen Xia intensifies his anger and desperation.
• Xiang Long: Shows that he honors his promises and prioritizes Chen Xia’s safety. Though unable to leave personally because of Federation regulations, he quickly mobilizes substantial military support.
• Xu Baiyan and the other martial warriors: Shift from observers and treasure seekers into active pursuers once they realize Chen Xia possesses the flame.

Significant Themes

• The danger of possessing great power: Obtaining the Earthcore Flame immediately turns Chen Xia into the target of nearly every nearby martial warrior.
• Speed and strategy versus cultivation level: Chen Xia cannot defeat Luo Chuan directly, but he uses preparation, mobility, and outside assistance to survive against a stronger opponent.
• Obsession and ambition: Luo Chuan’s four-year search shows how the pursuit of rare treasures can dominate a person’s life and drive them toward violence.
• Trust and protection: Xiang Long’s rapid response highlights the Federation’s commitment to protecting its members and the importance of alliances in a hostile world.
• Competition and opportunism: The other warriors are willing to pursue and potentially kill Chen Xia despite having no prior claim to the flame, revealing the ruthless nature of the martial world.

Character Interactions

• The female protectors discuss whether Chen Xia could have caused the disturbance, but Xu Baiyan remains skeptical because of his apparent Flying Realm cultivation.
• The surrounding martial warriors quickly connect Chen Xia’s frantic escape with the disappearance of the Earthcore Flame and unite in pursuit.
• Xiang Long receives Chen Xia’s distress signal and organizes a large-scale rescue operation.
• Luo Chuan confronts Chen Xia in midair and demands the flame. Chen Xia openly provokes him, refusing to yield and challenging Luo Chuan to take it by force.
• Luo Chuan responds to the insult by increasing his speed and preparing to overtake Chen Xia.