Chapter Summaries

Chapter 52 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Fire God Core, Chiyan, is successfully embedded into the blackish-yellow Mountain Pillar Core. Chiyan angrily protests being captured and vows revenge, but remains unable to resist.
• Uncle Xiao believes possessing the Mountain Pillar Core makes him invincible within the mountains. He repeatedly stomps to activate its power and escape underground, expecting to become the undisputed “King of the Mountain.”
• His attempts fail because Mountain Shaman, the true Mountain God, overrides his control. Mountain Shaman mocks Uncle Xiao’s claim to the mountain’s power and causes a pit to open beneath him.
• Uncle Xiao is buried up to his neck in mud and rainwater, while Mountain Shaman effortlessly retrieves the Mountain Pillar Core. He condemns the core’s corruption and resentful energy, implying Uncle Xiao will remain trapped indefinitely.
• Chiyan breaks free from the Mountain Pillar Core with Mountain Shaman’s reluctant assistance. The Fire God manifests as a gigantic, blazing sun, drying the rain-soaked valley and rapidly raising its temperature to dangerous levels.
• The local men, including Lai the Third and his bodyguards, are stunned by the supernatural display. One man immediately kneels and worships Chiyan.
• As the fiery manifestation reaches its limit, the flames begin contracting and taking the shape of a human figure. Mountain Shaman and Shui Wuyuan prepare themselves to confront or punish Chiyan upon his full emergence.

Character Developments

• Uncle Xiao shifts from arrogant confidence to panic and helplessness. His belief that the Mountain Pillar Core makes him ruler of the mountains is exposed as delusional, and he is humiliated and imprisoned.
• Mountain Shaman reasserts his authority as the true Mountain God. He is calm, dominant, and sarcastic, but also shows a trace of generosity by helping Chiyan escape the core.
• Chiyan, the Fire God, remains loud, dramatic, and resentful, alternately complaining about his mistreatment and boasting about his immortality. His release reveals the tremendous destructive power of his true form.
• Shui Wuyuan remains aligned with Mountain Shaman and shares his irritation toward Chiyan, particularly regarding Chiyan’s inappropriate romantic jokes about the Qixi Festival.
• Lai the Third and the other men react with awe and fear, recognizing the gods’ supernatural nature.

Significant Themes

• False power versus true authority: Uncle Xiao’s borrowed control of the Mountain Pillar cannot compete with Mountain Shaman’s genuine divine authority.
• Humiliation of arrogance: Uncle Xiao’s boast that he is “King” of the mountains is directly overturned and mocked.
• The danger and majesty of divine power: Chiyan’s emergence demonstrates both the awe-inspiring and lethal scale of a god’s abilities.
• Comedy amid supernatural conflict: The chapter balances dramatic divine events with sarcastic banter, especially Chiyan’s melodramatic complaints and Mountain Shaman and Shui Wuyuan’s exasperated responses.
• Corruption and resentment: Mountain Shaman identifies the Mountain Pillar Core as polluted by tainted power and baleful energy, suggesting the spiritual damage caused by Uncle Xiao’s actions.

Character Interactions

• Chiyan complains to He Qinglan, Mountain Shaman, and Shui Wuyuan about being abandoned and humiliated.
• Uncle Xiao confronts Mountain Shaman indirectly through his failed attempts to use the mountain’s power; Mountain Shaman then openly challenges and defeats him.
• Mountain Shaman insults Uncle Xiao’s claim to authority while simultaneously reclaiming the Mountain Pillar Core.
• Mountain Shaman reluctantly assists Chiyan’s release because of their ancient friendship, though both he and Shui Wuyuan clearly resent Chiyan’s playful claim that they missed him.
• The chapter ends with Mountain Shaman and Shui Wuyuan ready to deal with Chiyan after his fiery human form fully emerges.

Chapter Summary

Key plot points and events

The Fire God Chiyan attempts to reconstruct his physical form after thousands of years, but discovers he has lost too much Origin Power and cannot restore his original body. Forced to condense himself using limited energy, he shrinks from a towering, muscular god into a five- or six-year-old “bean-sprout” with bright red hair. His transformation shocks everyone and becomes the subject of relentless mockery. Chiyan eventually embraces the form defiantly, leaping into He Qinglan’s arms to provoke Shui Wuyuan and Mountain Shaman. Shui Wuyuan responds by binding Chiyan in icy water chains, sealing his mouth, and dragging him away from He Qinglan.

Character developments

Chiyan’s loss of power humiliates him, but he refuses to show weakness or admit defeat. Despite his childish appearance, he retains his arrogant, foul-mouthed adult personality and attempts to turn the situation into a display of pride. He Qinglan remains outwardly composed and compassionate, though he cannot suppress his amusement; he is also irritated by Chiyan’s clinginess. Shui Wuyuan continues to reveal his sharp, mercilessly teasing nature, taking obvious pleasure in Chiyan’s predicament while demonstrating his overwhelming control over him. The scene also emphasizes how much Shui Wuyuan has grown in power since his youth.

Significant themes

The chapter explores the contrast between appearance and true identity, as Chiyan looks like a small child while retaining the voice and pride of an ancient god. It also highlights the humiliation and vulnerability caused by diminished power, balanced by Chiyan’s determination to preserve his dignity. Reversal of status is another major theme: the once-powerful Fire God is now physically helpless, while the formerly reckless Rain God has become a formidable figure capable of restraining him. Humor and banter soften the underlying tension of old rivalries and changed power dynamics.

Character interactions

He Qinglan silently recognizes Chiyan’s difficulty before anyone else and later laughs at his reduced form, only to become the target of Chiyan’s clingy provocation. Mountain Shaman openly ridicules Chiyan as a “fire Potato,” while Shui Wuyuan taunts him to jump up and hit his knee. Chiyan retaliates by jumping into He Qinglan’s arms and boasting that he can still “jump up and hug Little River.” Shui Wuyuan then restrains and confronts him, their silent glare conveying the reversal of their former relationship: the arrogant youth Chiyan once looked down upon has become powerful enough to dominate the Fire God.

Chapter 53 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chiyan realizes that Shui Wuyuan still harbors ulterior motives and may have approached Thunder for selfish reasons.
• He Qinglan recognizes Chiyan as an old friend and asks Shui Wuyuan to release him.
• Shui Wuyuan refuses to let Chiyan go without compensation, demanding either divine essence or a ransom.
• When He Qinglan admits he has little power or wealth left, Shui Wuyuan jokingly—or possessively—asks him to “sell himself” in exchange for Chiyan.
• He Qinglan counters by telling Shui Wuyuan to bury Chiyan, shocking the captive imp.
• Shui Wuyuan revises his demand: He Qinglan must catch attractive, delicious fish from his river, while Chiyan grills them.
• He Qinglan agrees but warns that Chiyan is a terrible cook. Shui Wuyuan responds that if the food is bad, Chiyan can eat it himself, since Shui Wuyuan has skilled chefs who could prepare anything better.

Character Developments

• He Qinglan: Reveals his longstanding friendship with Chiyan and treats their reunion with warmth and humor. Despite appearing gentle, he casually threatens to abandon Chiyan, displaying a mischievous and sharp side.
• Shui Wuyuan: His jealousy becomes increasingly apparent. He resents He Qinglan’s deep history with Chiyan and feels painfully aware that he was born thousands of years too late to share those memories. His demand that He Qinglan “sell himself” exposes his possessive desire for He Qinglan’s exclusive attention.
• Chiyan: Remains outspoken and dramatic even while bound. His past closeness with He Qinglan is established through memories of fishing and grilling together, though his lack of cooking ability becomes a source of comedy.

Significant Themes

• Jealousy and possessiveness: Shui Wuyuan’s bitterness stems not from Chiyan himself, but from He Qinglan’s emotional history with him.
• The weight of time: Thousands of years of shared memories give He Qinglan and Chiyan a bond Shui Wuyuan cannot easily overcome.
• Old friendship versus new attachment: Chiyan represents He Qinglan’s ancient connections, while Shui Wuyuan wants to become someone uniquely important to him.
• Humor amid tension: Threats, bargaining, and emotional conflict are undercut by absurd demands about fishing and cooking.

Character Interactions

• He Qinglan warmly welcomes Chiyan back, while Chiyan appeals theatrically to their shared past to gain his help.
• Shui Wuyuan binds and bargains over Chiyan, using him as leverage to draw He Qinglan’s attention.
• He Qinglan and Shui Wuyuan engage in a playful but emotionally charged negotiation, with Shui Wuyuan making possessive demands and He Qinglan responding with teasing indifference.
• Chiyan reacts indignantly to both gods, especially when He Qinglan seems willing to abandon him and when Shui Wuyuan threatens to mistreat him.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Shui Wuyuan attempts to redefine his relationship with the newly awakened Chiyan Imp. He argues that, since they have known one another for thousands of years and humans now threaten the natural world, they should cooperate as friends.
• His immediate goal is surprisingly personal: he demands that Chiyan stop calling him “Shui Wuyuan,” insisting on a more familiar form of address.
• He Qinglan playfully offers several nicknames, including “A-Yuan,” which embarrasses Shui Wuyuan. They eventually settle on “Wuyuan,” while Shui Wuyuan reciprocates by calling He Qinglan “A-Lan.”
• Their increasingly intimate nicknames make Chiyan jealous and uncomfortable, prompting him to interrupt and ask for an explanation of the current state of the world.
• Chiyan questions why he has awakened in the form of a small imp, why Mountain Shaman’s Mountain Pillar has been contaminated by Corrupting Miasma, and why He Qinglan and Mountain Shaman appear to have lost so much Origin Power.
• Chiyan begins reclaiming his scattered strength. Every Flame Gem in Flaming Mountain—whether buried, stored, or carried—rises into the air and returns to his body. The process lasts for several hours and restores all remaining Flame Gems to him.
• The humans present are awestruck by Chiyan’s divine display, with some comparing his appearance and powers to legendary figures such as the Great Sage and Red Boy.
• While Chiyan restores his power, He Qinglan investigates the memories of the human intruders. He determines that Lai the Third and his companions were hired for the expedition, erases their memories, and removes them from the mountain.
• Lü Chenglong and several internet celebrities are confined in a tent for later judgment because of their connection to the Corrupting Miasma and Lü Chenglong’s morally tainted soul.
• Uncle Xiao, who contains one-third of the core Mountain Pillar known as “Three Mountains,” remains difficult to investigate because He Qinglan and the others cannot safely read his memories.

Character Developments

• Shui Wuyuan reveals a more openly affectionate, possessive, and stubborn side. His insistence on being addressed familiarly shows that he wants emotional recognition and a closer bond with He Qinglan and Chiyan.
• He Qinglan responds to Shui Wuyuan’s demands with teasing amusement rather than rejection. He recognizes Shui Wuyuan’s enduringly willful nature and willingly adopts the name “Wuyuan,” while also accepting the playful nickname “A-Lan.”
• Chiyan Imp reasserts his divine identity and begins recovering his former strength. He is bewildered by how much the world and his companions have changed during his long sleep, and he shows irritation at feeling excluded from He Qinglan and Shui Wuyuan’s growing closeness.
• Mountain Shaman acts as an observer to Shui Wuyuan’s unusual behavior and is amused and confused by his sudden desire for intimacy.
• He Qinglan also demonstrates authority and pragmatism by erasing the memories of minor human participants and deciding how to handle the more dangerous or corrupted individuals.

Significant Themes

• Intimacy expressed through names: The argument over nicknames becomes a humorous but meaningful struggle over emotional closeness, recognition, and belonging.
• The return of ancient powers: Chiyan’s recovery of the Flame Gems symbolizes the reawakening of an old divine force in a world increasingly dominated by humans.
• Nature versus humanity: The characters view humans as the dominant trend of the modern world—clever, ruthless, and willing to exploit divine treasures and natural resources.
• Corruption and moral contamination: The Corrupting Miasma affects both sacred objects and human souls, raising questions about whether the corrupted can simply be released or must be judged.
• Old friendships and changing relationships: The ancient gods have survived but are weakened, altered, or estranged from their former identities, while their relationships continue to evolve.

Character Interactions

• Shui Wuyuan pressures Chiyan to accept a more familiar relationship, but He Qinglan is the one who ultimately gives him the desired form of address.
• He Qinglan teases Shui Wuyuan with “little brother A-Yuan,” causing an unusually intense emotional reaction and exposing Shui Wuyuan’s embarrassment beneath his stubborn exterior.
• Shui Wuyuan immediately turns the intimacy back on He Qinglan by proposing “A-Lan,” “Lanlan,” and “Qingqing,” prompting He Qinglan to recognize that Shui Wuyuan is taking advantage of the situation.
• Chiyan reacts like a jealous friend whose companion is being taken away, protesting the pair’s affectionate exchanges before demanding information about the world.
• He Qinglan and the other divine beings cooperate in dealing with the human intruders, balancing compassion toward those merely hired for the expedition with suspicion toward individuals connected to corruption.

Chapter 54 Summary

Plot Points and Events

• Uncle Xiao reveals what he knows about the Lü Family in exchange for sparing his life, refusing to disclose information about the larger organization because he fears being killed.
• He explains that Mr. Lü originally received a Flame Gem from an unknown person while suffering from a terminal illness. The gem eased his pain and seemingly restored his health.
• Mr. Lü then ordered Uncle Xiao to organize excavations for more Flame Gems, which were all transported back to the Lü Family.
• Uncle Xiao suspects that Lü intends to market the gems to wealthy and powerful people at exorbitant prices, using their supposed ability to revive the dead as leverage.
• Chiyan, having absorbed the remaining Flame Gems, becomes enraged at the idea of humans using divine power recklessly. The others mock and challenge him, while the Mountain Shaman points out that both humans and Mr. Lü have survived contact with the gems.
• The Mountain Shaman finds Uncle Xiao’s ringing phone and answers a call from Boss Lü. Lü orders Uncle Xiao to locate the True Fire Core, collect as many Flame Gems as possible, and withdraw within three days.
• During the call, Lü arrogantly boasts that the Flame Gems will make his family even more powerful and that Shui Wuyuan will eventually have to beg him for cooperation.
• Shui Wuyuan silently decides to confront Lü, implying that Lü’s confidence will soon be punished.
• Uncle Xiao deceives Lü by claiming that the True Fire Core has not been found but will be retrieved within three days. Lü also orders Chenglong to return by helicopter and meet a young woman from the Su Family.
• After the call, the gods leave with Lü Chenglong, while Uncle Xiao is abandoned, buried in the Flaming Mountain with his injured men and the young internet celebrities. Their memories have been erased, but they eventually work together to dig him out.

Character Developments

• Uncle Xiao demonstrates fear and pragmatism, betraying what little he knows about the Lü Family while protecting the organization’s secrets.
• Mr. Lü is revealed as ambitious, greedy, and increasingly arrogant. His recovery has convinced him that the Flame Gems can elevate his family’s social and financial power.
• Shui Wuyuan remains outwardly calm but is clearly angered by Lü’s contemptuous remarks. His final smile hints at an impending retaliation.
• Chiyan is defensive and prideful about his fragmented state, insisting that he was once a complete Flame Crystal and was not simply destroyed or ground into pieces.
• He Qinglan, Shui Wuyuan, and the Mountain Shaman continue treating Chiyan irreverently, undercutting his grandiose claims.
• Lü Chenglong is shown to be controlled by his family, who plan to use him in a marriage or alliance with the Su Family.

Significant Themes

• Greed and exploitation: The Lü Family seeks to commercialize divine power and profit from humanity’s desire for health, immortality, and resurrection.
• The danger of uncontrolled power: Chiyan emphasizes that divine power is not inherently safe or benevolent, while the others show that humans may still exploit it under certain conditions.
• Arrogance before downfall: Lü’s confidence and insults toward Shui Wuyuan foreshadow his likely punishment.
• Power and social manipulation: The Flame Gems are valuable not only as supernatural objects but also as tools for gaining wealth, influence, and political alliances.
• Humor amid danger: The characters’ sarcastic exchanges, especially about Chiyan’s destruction and Lü’s boastfulness, provide comic relief despite the serious supernatural conflict.

Character Interactions

• Uncle Xiao bargains with the supernatural beings, offering information while refusing to betray the larger organization.
• Chiyan quarrels with He Qinglan, Shui Wuyuan, and the Mountain Shaman over the nature and dangers of his power.
• Shui Wuyuan is indirectly insulted by Lü during the phone call, creating a personal conflict that he appears eager to answer.
• The Mountain Shaman controls the situation by answering Lü’s phone, forcing Uncle Xiao to follow a deceptive script.
• The gods leave together after taking Lü Chenglong, while Uncle Xiao and the others are left to survive the aftermath.

Chapter Summary

Key plot points and events

• Uncle Xiao survives He Qinglan and the others because they choose not to kill him. However, without the Mountain Pillar Core suppressing the foul energy inside him, his weakened body will eventually be destroyed by the negative forces rebounding against him.
• In the capital, Lu Wuwei admires his vast collection of Flame Gems, believing they can cure illness, restore vitality, and potentially grant immortality through repeated sacrifices.
• Lu Wuwei plans to sell the gems for wealth and influence, but secretly craves the supernatural power they might provide. He recognizes that each person can safely withstand only one Flame Gem’s power.
• An unknown agent suddenly removes most of the gems, leaving Lu Wuwei only a dozen or so. The agent explains that the remaining gems are all Lu is permitted to keep and that the rest belong to their mysterious “Master.”
• Though Lu Wuwei outwardly submits and flatters the Master, he is furious and terrified. His humiliation intensifies his desire for superhuman strength and his determination to gain power through sacrifices.
• Representatives from the Su, Liu, and Zhao Families arrive, allowing Lu Wuwei to trade away more Flame Gems and recruit additional participants.
• Later that night, a violent storm gathers. Lightning strikes Lu Wuwei’s villa, blowing a hole through the roof. When he tries to escape, the lightning and rain seem to follow him wherever he runs, suggesting that the attack is deliberate or supernatural.

Character developments

• Uncle Xiao: Though technically spared, he is left in a doomed condition. His apparent survival is revealed to be temporary, as the loss of the Mountain Pillar Core exposes him to destructive negative energy.
• Lu Wuwei: His greed develops into a more dangerous ambition. He shifts from being satisfied with wealth and status to desperately seeking power that will let him dominate and kill others. His fear of the mysterious Master also reveals that, despite his arrogance, he understands his own helplessness.
• The Master and organization: Their control over Lu Wuwei becomes clearer. The Master can reclaim the Flame Gems remotely and commands absolute obedience without even needing to appear personally.

Significant themes

• Greed and desire: The Flame Gems exploit humanity’s longing for health, longevity, wealth, and power. Lu Wuwei’s claims that he will not be greedy are immediately contradicted by his covetous behavior.
• Power and submission: Lu Wuwei considers himself influential among ordinary people, yet realizes he is powerless before the Master and the supernatural organization.
• False security: Uncle Xiao believes he has survived, while Lu Wuwei believes his treasure makes him powerful; both assumptions conceal impending danger.
• Consequences of forbidden power: The Flame Gems and sacrificial rituals promise extraordinary benefits but carry unknown risks, drawing more families into a potentially catastrophic scheme.

Character interactions

• He Qinglan and the others deliberately spare Uncle Xiao, allowing his own corrupted condition to destroy him.
• The unseen Master’s agent confronts Lu Wuwei and confiscates most of his Flame Gems. Lu Wuwei responds with fear and false obedience rather than resistance.
• Lu Wuwei interacts with representatives of the Su, Liu, and Zhao Families, trading them Flame Gems and drawing them into the sacrificial system.
• The final lightning attack acts as a direct confrontation with Lu Wuwei, though the attacker’s identity and purpose remain unresolved.

Chapter 55 Summary

Key plot points and events

A supernatural thunderstorm attacks Lu Wuwei’s home. The lightning moves unnaturally, striking around corners, while objects—including potted plants—are knocked over. Lu Wuwei’s servants fail to respond to his calls, leaving him frightened and covered in dirt as he struggles to escape. When he opens the door, he finds Shui Wuyuan, He Qinglan, Mountain Shaman, and Chiyan waiting outside despite supposedly being far away at Flaming Mountain.
The group mockingly claims they have come to “carry his shoes,” tidy him up, shake the dirt off him, and “teach him how to be human.” Lu Wuwei attempts to maintain his dignity, pretending not to understand their threats and politely urging them to return another day. Shui Wuyuan instead enters the house and directly demands to know where Lu Wuwei’s Flame Gems went and who received them.
Lu Wuwei tries to deny any knowledge of the gems, but Chiyan effortlessly summons the most carefully hidden Flame Gem from the villa. Chiyan accuses Lu Wuwei of using the power he offered to commit murder and evil, warning him about the resulting backlash. Chiyan then retrieves the other nine gems from Lu Wuwei’s underground vault and absorbs all of them into his body. Lu Wuwei finally realizes that Shui Wuyuan and the others are far beyond ordinary humans.

Character developments

• Lu Wuwei shifts from terrified confusion to forced composure, revealing his experience and cunning as a powerful, calculating man. However, his confidence collapses when his secrets are exposed and the Flame Gems are effortlessly taken from him. He also recognizes that he is facing supernatural opponents.
• Shui Wuyuan demonstrates confidence and control by entering Lu Wuwei’s home without permission and confronting him directly. His brief examination of Lu Wuwei reveals that the older man is surrounded by deathly energy and Corrupting Miasma, suggesting that he should not naturally still be alive.
• Chiyan appears childish in form but terrifying in power. He becomes the group’s chief enforcer, exposing Lu Wuwei’s hidden treasure, condemning his crimes, and absorbing the Flame Gems.
• He Qinglan and Mountain Shaman participate in the group’s threateningly humorous confrontation, reinforcing that Lu Wuwei is completely outmatched.

Significant themes

• Supernatural justice and retribution: Lu Wuwei’s misuse of supernatural power and involvement in murder are confronted, with Chiyan warning that the resulting backlash may kill him.
• The collapse of deception: Lu Wuwei’s carefully guarded secrets are uncovered instantly, showing that ordinary cunning is useless against people with supernatural abilities.
• Power reversal: The wealthy and influential Lu Wuwei, accustomed to controlling others, is reduced to a frightened, helpless victim in his own home.
• Humor amid menace: The group’s fake offers to carry shoes, fix his clothes, and shake off dirt contrast with the genuinely threatening supernatural confrontation.
• Appearance versus reality: Chiyan looks like a small child, yet possesses overwhelming power, while Lu Wuwei’s apparently living body is revealed to be saturated with deathly energy.

Character interactions

Lu Wuwei tries to dismiss Shui Wuyuan and the others through polite conversation, but Shui Wuyuan ignores his evasions and demands the truth. He Qinglan and Mountain Shaman add mocking comments that make Lu Wuwei’s humiliation worse. Chiyan directly accuses him of abusing the Flame Gems and proves it by summoning and absorbing all ten stones, leaving Lu Wuwei stunned and terrified.

Chapter 108 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lu Wuwei admits that he cannot oppose Shui Wuyuan’s group and begs them to return the Flame Gem he personally sacrificed. He claims his life is bound to it and warns that the Lü Family will fight Shui Corporation if he dies.
• Shui Wuyuan mocks Lu’s threat, insisting that the Lü Family is no match for him. He demands to know whom Lu sold the remaining Flame Gems to.
• Lu becomes increasingly emotional and justifies his use of human sacrifices, arguing that he paid the victims and that his wealth and contributions to society make his life more valuable than theirs.
• Shui Wuyuan, He Qinglan, Mountain Shaman, and Chiyan Imp remain unmoved by Lu’s argument. They view death as a natural fate and believe Lu must suffer the consequences of borrowing divine power.
• Chiyan attempts to burn Lu to ash, but He Qinglan extinguishes his flame, preventing him from acting impulsively.
• Shui Wuyuan uses his mental abilities to identify the people and organizations who purchased the Flame Gems, discovering that the Human-Deity Group possesses the largest share.
• He orders Chiyan to recover his stolen power and warns him not to destroy the gems in the process.
• He Qinglan decides that Chiyan must recover his lost core and Origin Power before they travel to the seaside. Shui Wuyuan notes that several Sea Gods may still remain, setting up their next potential conflict.

Character Developments

• Lu Wuwei becomes increasingly desperate and reveals the extent of his greed and moral corruption. He believes wealth, social influence, and the ability to pay for sacrifices justify using human lives to prolong his own existence.
• Shui Wuyuan remains confident, contemptuous, and emotionally detached. His claim that he may live for thousands of years contrasts sharply with Lu’s fear of death.
• He Qinglan acts as the group’s restraint and voice of practicality, stopping Chiyan from killing Lu and prioritizing Chiyan’s recovery.
• Chiyan Imp shows his impulsive and destructive nature but also acknowledges that he wants to secure his treasures and settle his grudges before eventually falling.
• Mountain Shaman expresses a calm acceptance of mortality, contrasting with Lu’s frantic resistance to death.

Significant Themes

• Acceptance versus fear of death: The gods regard death and decline as inevitable, while Lu desperately struggles to extend his life.
• The corruption of wealth and power: Lu uses his fortune to rationalize murder, treating human lives as commodities.
• Consequences of borrowed power: Lu has gained longevity through a divine Flame Gem, but the resulting backlash threatens to destroy him.
• Human mortality versus divine longevity: The chapter emphasizes the gulf between a human lifespan and the vast existence of the gods.
• Moral detachment and justice: The group refuses to accept Lu’s argument that money or social contributions excuse sacrificing others.

Character Interactions

• Lu and Shui Wuyuan engage in a hostile verbal confrontation, with Lu threatening mutual destruction and Shui ridiculing his arrogance.
• Chiyan’s attempt to attack Lu is stopped by He Qinglan, showing He Qinglan’s moderating influence over him.
• Lu argues that even Shui Wuyuan would resist death if faced with an incurable illness, but Shui dismisses the comparison by claiming exceptional health and longevity.
• He Qinglan and Shui Wuyuan coordinate their next move, agreeing to delay their trip to the sea until Chiyan has recovered.
• The discussion of the remaining Sea Gods introduces a lighter, almost humorous contrast to the chapter’s darker themes of sacrifice and death.

Chapter 56 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• After the previous night’s events, Shui Wuyuan and Mountain Shaman return home, while He Qinglan brings the recovered but homeless Chiyan Imp back to Qinglan River.
• Shui Wuyuan unsuccessfully tries to send Chiyan away by offering villas and even a private island. Chiyan sees through his intentions and refuses, leaving Shui Wuyuan—normally skilled at verbal comebacks—speechless.
• Chiyan observes the damage humans have caused to the deities and the natural world:
  • Qinglan River has been reduced to a narrow, polluted stream.
  • Mountain Shaman has lost his main mountain pillar.
  • One of He Qinglan’s Source Spring Spirit Pearls remains missing.
  • Most of Chiyan’s core fire and Origin Power has been taken.
• He Qinglan and Chiyan discuss whether humanity is approaching destruction. He Qinglan believes the world stands between growth and annihilation, while Chiyan is more cynical about humanity’s motives.
• He Qinglan argues that humans should not all be judged alike, pointing out that Qinglan River has begun recovering because humans realized their own survival was threatened.
• He Qinglan compares humanity’s dangerous ambitions to those of a deity who once sought to destroy the world and use all creation as a sacrifice for immortality.
• Chiyan admits that, despite claiming to be indifferent, it would not willingly accept death or the loss of its power. It threatens to burn humanity to ashes if humans attempt to take its life.
• He Qinglan worries that Chiyan’s severe loss of Origin Power may damage its intelligence or allow humans to interfere with its divine consciousness. Chiyan remains confident that humans cannot control it and even seems eager to let them attempt it, implying that such interference would cause disastrous consequences for the perpetrators.
• He Qinglan gives Chiyan a sleeping bag and makes it sleep outside so it will not accidentally burn down the cottage. Meanwhile, He Qinglan remains by the window, quietly contemplating the situation.

Character Developments

• He Qinglan continues to show compassion and measured judgment toward humanity. He recognizes their destructive tendencies but still believes they may be worth saving. He also reveals a more philosophical understanding of deities, arguing that possessing a “self” gives gods desires and weaknesses similar to those of humans.
• Chiyan becomes more vulnerable and honest. Although it mocks human beings and claims superiority, it admits that it does not truly want to die or lose its power. Its confidence may also conceal concern about its missing Origin Power and the possibility of human manipulation.
• Shui Wuyuan is shown in a more comic and frustrated light. His attempt to get rid of Chiyan fails completely, and his usual sharp-tongued confidence is undermined by Chiyan’s contempt.
• Mountain Shaman remains mostly offstage, but his missing mountain pillar emphasizes the serious damage suffered by the ancient deities.

Significant Themes

• Humanity’s destructive potential: Humans have damaged nature and stolen divine power, suggesting that their ambition may threaten the balance of the entire world.
• Shared nature of gods and humans: He Qinglan argues that deities, once they develop individual identities, are not fundamentally free from desire, obsession, fear, or selfishness.
• Redemption versus annihilation: The world may still be saved, but only if humanity changes. If humans continue toward destruction, He Qinglan accepts that their extinction may be unavoidable.
• Power and control: The stolen Origin Power represents humanity’s attempt to control forces beyond its limits. Chiyan’s confidence hints that such interference could provoke catastrophic consequences.
• Environmental responsibility: The partial recovery of Qinglan River shows that humans are capable of correcting their behavior, though often only when their own survival is directly threatened.

Character Interactions

• Shui Wuyuan tries to abandon Chiyan, but Chiyan rejects his offers and mocks him through its unimpressed attitude.
• He Qinglan and Chiyan debate humanity’s nature, with He Qinglan defending the possibility of change and Chiyan emphasizing human selfishness and recklessness.
• Chiyan threatens the black carp with fire, prompting He Qinglan to scold it protectively.
• He Qinglan questions Chiyan about its missing Origin Power and mental state, while Chiyan responds with arrogant confidence and veiled threats toward anyone attempting to control it.
• Their exchange reveals a familiar relationship: He Qinglan acts as the calm, responsible caretaker, while Chiyan behaves like a volatile but powerful younger companion.

Chapter 57 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• He Qinglan reflects on the Human-Deity Group’s pursuit of divine treasures and realizes that their actions may involve more than ordinary human greed. The pollution of his Qinglan River, the theft of Mountain Shaman’s Mountain Pillar, and the attempted exploitation of Chiyan’s Immortal Firestone could all lead to catastrophic consequences for humanity.
• He considers two possibilities: humans may be sacrificing their own people for power, or a god may be manipulating humans into destroying themselves. He hopes the latter is not true and decides to wait until he sees what happens with the Immortal Firestone.
• The Human-Deity Group’s leader reveals that seven thousand Flame Gems have been distributed through various channels. Once the Life-Force Sacrifice begins, the group expects to obtain vast amounts of life-force and demon-god power.
• The leader believes he can acquire the Immortal Demonfire, extend his life by several centuries, and eventually seek out newly awakened gods. However, he knows he is still no match for a true god and relies on a hidden trump card for protection.
• The leader permits “Deep Earth” to visit a captive or afflicted individual in the lowest level of the facility.
• Deep Earth finds A Sen, the Wood God, imprisoned beneath massive tree roots and surrounded by dark demonic energy. A Sen warns him not to help humans oppose Chiyan, but Deep Earth coldly insists that A Sen will not die unless he allows it.
• Meanwhile, after Chiyan’s Imp begins retrieving the Flame Gems sold through Lu Wuwei, numerous wealthy families report that their valuable treasures have disappeared.
• Within days, important family leaders and heirs—mostly people already near the ends of their lives—begin dying. Authorities discover a connection between the missing Flame Gems and the deaths, leading them to turn the investigation over to a specialized team.

Character Developments

• He Qinglan becomes increasingly suspicious of the Human-Deity Group’s true intentions. His concern shifts from simple human greed to the possibility that a god is using humanity as a tool of destruction.
• The Human-Deity Group’s leader is ambitious and confident, but also aware of the vast gap between human and divine power. His desire for immortality and greater strength is paired with fear of the gods.
• Deep Earth is shown to be powerful, emotionally restrained, and fiercely protective of A Sen in his own severe way. His statement that only those he permits to die can die suggests both control and attachment.
• A Sen, the Wood God, appears weakened, imprisoned, and corrupted by demonic energy. Despite his condition, he remains concerned about Chiyan and Deep Earth’s possible betrayal.
• Chiyan’s Imp demonstrates the ability to reclaim the Flame Gems, disrupting the Human-Deity Group’s plans and triggering consequences among the wealthy families.

Significant Themes

• Human greed and self-destruction: The pursuit of divine power threatens to destroy humanity rather than benefit it.
• The danger of exploiting nature and the gods: Pollution, theft of divine artifacts, and attempts to control godly power create consequences beyond human understanding.
• Power imbalance between humans and gods: Even the Human-Deity Group’s leader recognizes that human strength is insignificant compared with divine power.
• Control, sacrifice, and mortality: The Life-Force Sacrifice treats human lives as resources, while the deaths connected to the Flame Gems reveal the cost of tampering with supernatural forces.
• Ambiguous loyalties: Deep Earth’s relationship with Chiyan and A Sen raises questions about whether he is aiding humans, protecting someone he loves, or pursuing his own hidden purpose.

Character Interactions

• The Human-Deity Group’s leader discusses the Flame Gems and the planned sacrifice with his subordinate, revealing the group’s larger ambitions.
• He gives Deep Earth permission to visit A Sen, indicating that Deep Earth’s movements and relationship with the captive Wood God are being monitored or controlled.
• A Sen confronts Deep Earth about carrying Chiyan’s aura and potentially helping humans oppose Chiyan. Deep Earth refuses to explain himself and silences A Sen with a chilling declaration of authority and possessiveness.
• Chiyan’s Imp’s recovery of the Flame Gems indirectly affects powerful human families, linking the supernatural conflict to a growing investigation by human authorities.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Captain Lei Aotian discusses the growing threat posed by the Human-Deity Group, whose recent activities have become increasingly violent and sophisticated. Several law-enforcement teams have been badly injured during arrests.
• The group is using Flame Gems, which contain highly concentrated Heaven-and-Earth Essence. Because modern technology cannot easily extract their power, wealthy individuals and cult members perform human sacrifices to activate them.
• Although many Flame Gems sold by Lu Wuwei were lost, at least a thousand gems may still exist. Lei orders his network team to monitor the Hidden Web, purchase or confiscate the gems when possible, and prevent them from causing a major civilian disaster.
• Lei reflects on the Human-Deity Group’s history. After its former leader died three years earlier, the new leadership introduced poisons, ritual sacrifices, and other dangerous methods. Authorities have discovered numerous sacrifice sites and arrested over ten thousand people, but the conflict remains a stalemate.
• The group’s increasingly bold actions suggest that it may be preparing a larger operation. Lei is frustrated by the need to wait for them to expose a weakness.
• Lei asks about Shui Wuyuan, whose unusual behavior and possible rain-related supernatural ability have drawn the Research Institute’s attention. Shui has been arguing online with the Mountain Shaman and reposting He Qinglan’s posts.
• Lei orders surveillance of Shui Wuyuan, the Mountain Shaman, and He Qinglan, hoping their unexplained powers or connections might provide clues to the Human-Deity Group.
• The chapter revisits the “Mayfly Crisis” in Bicheng. The Human-Deity Group apparently intended to sacrifice the entire city, but the black mayflies were mysteriously suppressed.
• The crisis ended when residents voluntarily cleaned up the city and the Qinglan River. At the same time, light rain fell across Bicheng, and residents shared dreams of the River God.
• These events brought He Qinglan to the authorities’ attention. His apparent connection to the River God, like the Mountain Shaman’s claim to be the Mountain God, remains unexplained.

Character Developments

• Lei Aotian is shown as experienced, pragmatic, and deeply suspicious of supernatural threats. He maintains a hardline attitude toward his subordinates, demanding more training, but privately feels frustrated and powerless because the authorities remain reactive rather than proactive.
• He has spent nearly ten years fighting the Human-Deity Group and now recognizes that the organization has become far more dangerous under its new leader.
• Lei is also increasingly interested in Shui Wuyuan, the Mountain Shaman, and He Qinglan. Though he mocks their strange behavior, he takes their possible abilities seriously enough to order surveillance.
• Shui Wuyuan is portrayed as mysterious and possibly possessing rain-related powers. His online arguments and interactions with He Qinglan suggest a personal or romantic connection, humorously described by Lei as “mating season.”
• He Qinglan remains enigmatic, associated with the Qinglan River, rain, and the dreams of Bicheng residents.
• The Mountain Shaman is similarly unexplained, having appeared with an apparent connection to mountains and possibly to the Human-Deity Group.

Significant Themes

• The conflict between science and supernatural power: The Research Institute develops weapons and analyzes Flame Gems, but technology remains limited against forces connected to Heaven-and-Earth Essence.
• The danger of exploiting divine or natural forces: The Human-Deity Group’s sacrifices reflect humanity’s attempt to gain power through forbidden means, with devastating consequences.
• Institutional helplessness and uncertainty: Despite extensive resources and thousands of arrests, Lei’s organization cannot fully understand or prevent the group’s plans.
• Environmental restoration as a form of salvation: Bicheng is saved not through military action alone, but through collective efforts to clean the city and restore the Qinglan River.
• The emergence of gods and supernatural beings: The unexplained appearances of the Mountain Shaman and He Qinglan challenge ordinary explanations and suggest that ancient or divine powers may be returning.
• Humor amid danger: Lei’s sarcastic comments about Shui Wuyuan’s online behavior and the impossibility of questioning supernatural figures provide comic relief against the chapter’s dark threats.

Character Interactions

• Lei commands and reprimands his team, emphasizing discipline and increased training.
• He discusses the Flame Gems and the Human-Deity Group with a subordinate, balancing harsh realism with strategic planning.
• Lei questions his team about Shui Wuyuan and reacts mockingly to reports of Shui’s online arguments with the Mountain Shaman and his support of He Qinglan.
• The authorities connect Shui Wuyuan, the Mountain Shaman, and He Qinglan because of their unusual abilities, online interactions, and possible links to divine entities.
• The chapter implies a close relationship between Shui Wuyuan and He Qinglan, while Shui’s rivalry or banter with the Mountain Shaman adds another layer to their interconnectedness.

Chapter 112 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Lei Aotian reflects that if gods truly exist, he hopes they will bless humanity, since people constantly offer them sacrifices.
• He orders others to closely monitor Shui Wuyuan, He Qinglan, and the Mountain Shaman, believing the Human-Deity Group will soon target or contact them.
• In late August, internet users uncover information about a supposed “Wish Gem,” a red gemstone that can grant wishes when worshiped and given sacrifices.
• In an online chat group, Liu Lili, using the username “Desperate to Get Rich,” claims to have found such a gem.
• She explains that after offering it a bowl of blood sausage and tofu, she unexpectedly won a game console in a giveaway. To test the gem, she later sacrificed a live chicken while wishing to become wealthy.
• Although nothing happened immediately, she subsequently found a lost diamond necklace. After reporting it to the police and returning it to its owner, the grateful woman gave her most of the necklace’s diamonds. Liu Lili sold them for roughly 200,000 yuan.
• She shares photographs of the red gem and necklace, convincing some group members while others remain skeptical and attribute her fortune to coincidence.
• The group proposes a final test: Liu Lili buys a lottery ticket and offers another sacrifice. If she wins five million yuan, the gem will presumably be proven genuine.
• That night, Liu Lili places two chickens before the red gem, which rests on an ornate stone pedestal.

Character Developments

• Lei Aotian appears increasingly wary of supernatural or religious forces and takes preventative action by ordering surveillance of key individuals.
• Liu Lili shifts from a curious believer testing an unusual gemstone into a devoted worshiper who accepts the principle of sacrifice in exchange for wishes.
• She also demonstrates honesty by reporting the necklace rather than keeping it, though her eventual financial gain reinforces her belief in the gem.
• The online group members range from skeptical observers to envious believers, showing how quickly rumors can gain credibility through apparent evidence.

Significant Themes

• Faith versus coincidence: Liu Lili’s increasingly improbable good fortune makes it difficult for observers to distinguish supernatural intervention from luck.
• Sacrifice and exchange: The chapter introduces the idea that wishes require an equivalent offering, giving the Wish Gem a transactional, possibly dangerous nature.
• The spread of superstition online: Anonymous internet discussion transforms a mysterious object into a viral phenomenon.
• Desire for wealth: Liu Lili’s wish reflects ordinary human greed and desperation, while the group’s reactions reveal envy and fascination with sudden riches.
• Potential supernatural manipulation: The Wish Gem may be part of a larger divine or occult system connected to the gods and the Human-Deity Group.

Character Interactions

• Lei Aotian gives orders concerning Shui Wuyuan, He Qinglan, and the Mountain Shaman, suggesting possible conflict between them and the Human-Deity Group.
• Liu Lili interacts with the chat group, boasting about her experiences while defending the gem against skeptics.
• The group challenges her to verify the gem through a lottery win.
• Liu Lili interacts with a police officer and the necklace’s owner; her honesty leads the owner to reward her with the diamonds.
• The chapter ends with Liu Lili alone, performing another sacrifice and awaiting the result of her lottery wish.

Chapter Summary

Key plot points and events

• Liu Lili observes that the Wish Gem has darkened from bright, transparent red to deep crimson and has become less transparent, confirming that her previous ritual is taking effect.
• Believing that adding more chickens will allow her to make another wish, she places two chickens before the gem. They die immediately, but the gem shows no heat or color change, signaling that the ritual has failed.
• Liu Lili searches the ritual instructions and discovers warnings that larger wishes require increasingly valuable offerings and that failing to complete a ritual will bring misfortune.
• She follows a hidden link and learns that offerings progress from food, to small animals, to livestock, and ultimately to a living human sacrifice.
• Although frightened, Liu Lili rationalizes continuing because she wants to win five million and escape a lifetime of hard work. She decides to use a pig rather than a human, insisting that this will be her final wish.
• She travels to a rural pig farm, buys a pig from the household where she stays, and refuses to have it slaughtered normally because she needs it for the ritual.
• After making her wish with the pig as the offering, the gem becomes scorching hot and darkens further. Liu Lili concludes that the ritual has succeeded.

Character development

• Liu Lili shifts from excitement and confidence to confusion and alarm when the second ritual fails.
• Her discovery of the human-sacrifice requirement briefly awakens her moral judgment and fear, as she recognizes that the Wish Gem may be dangerous rather than miraculous.
• Greed and desperation ultimately overcome her caution. She minimizes the ethical implications of animal sacrifice and convinces herself that the pig will be the last offering she ever uses.
• Her willingness to continue despite clear warnings shows her increasing dependence on the gem and her tendency to rationalize dangerous choices.

Significant themes

• Greed and temptation: The promise of sudden wealth causes Liu Lili to ignore increasingly alarming signs.
• Moral compromise: She gradually moves from sacrificing chickens to considering larger animals, while drawing an arbitrary line at human sacrifice.
• The hidden cost of wishes: The gem’s requirements reveal that its apparent power comes with escalating and horrifying consequences.
• Self-deception: Liu Lili repeatedly tells herself that the next wish will be her last, despite already having expanded her ritual.
• Foreboding and horror: The warnings about backlash, misfortune, and human sacrifice suggest that the ritual may lead to consequences beyond Liu Lili’s control.

Character interactions

• Liu Lili interacts briefly with the older woman who owns the pig farm. She pays the woman for the pig and persuades her to leave so the ritual can be performed privately.
• The older woman treats the transaction as an ordinary business deal and does not realize the pig is being used in a supernatural ritual.
• Liu Lili’s main “interaction” is with the Wish Gem itself: its changes in temperature and color act as the only confirmation of success, reinforcing her belief in its power.

Chapter 58 Summary

• Liu Lili’s lottery win: Three hours after the lottery drawing, Liu Lili wins five million yuan through her Wish Gem. Her group celebrates and eagerly asks to borrow the gem, but she refuses and keeps it tightly in her possession. Similar wish-related miracles are occurring throughout Huazhou.
• Chiyan and Shui Wuyuan: By the Qinglan River, Chiyan reacts violently when He Qinglan throws him a rice ball, burning it and warning her not to throw things at him. Shui Wuyuan immediately kicks Chiyan into the river for glaring at He Qinglan. Chiyan becomes submissive and silently accepts the punishment, creating a brief comedic interaction.
• Liu Lili’s extravagant lifestyle: Over the following half month, Liu Lili lives out her dream of sudden wealth. She buys a city-center apartment, an expensive car, designer clothing, jewelry, and handbags, while also sending money to her parents. Although she retains 1.5 million yuan, she becomes accustomed to spending freely and allows friends to take advantage of her generosity.
• Realization of financial loss: Liu Lili receives a bank notification showing that her savings have fallen to only 600,000 yuan. Reviewing her expenses, she realizes that frequent small purchases—more expensive meals, clothes, technology, and online shopping—have accumulated into massive spending. She understands that her remaining money could disappear within months if she continues.
• Decision to use the Wish Gem again: Rather than accept a reduced lifestyle or find another job, Liu Lili focuses on the Wish Gem hidden beneath her pillow. She convinces herself that making one more wish could preserve her happiness and financial comfort. Although the gem’s rules imply that a sacrifice may be required, she rationalizes that the offering might only involve animals rather than a human life. Determined, she resolves to make “just one last wish.”

Character Development and Themes

• Liu Lili: Her initial joy and generosity give way to compulsive consumption, anxiety, and self-deception. The chapter shows her growing dependence on supernatural wealth and her willingness to ignore danger to maintain her new lifestyle.
• Chiyan and Shui Wuyuan: Their interaction reinforces Shui Wuyuan’s dominance and Chiyan’s reluctant obedience, while adding comic relief.
• Themes: The dangers of greed, consumerism, and sudden wealth; the addictive nature of easy gratification; rationalization in the face of moral danger; and the hidden cost of supernatural wishes.

Chapter 115 Summary

Plot and key events

After winning five million from her previous wish, Liu Lili becomes dissatisfied and decides to use the Wish Gem again—this time wishing for thirty million yuan. She plans to use the money to buy several apartments and live on rental income. To strengthen the wish, she gathers two pigs, two cows, and three sheep as sacrifices, while arranging to buy additional pigs from local farmers if necessary.
During the ritual, the livestock suddenly die, their bodies horribly shriveled. The Wish Gem indicates that the offerings are insufficient, terrifying Liu Lili. She summons more pigs from nearby villagers, but after they are brought into the courtyard, they too die in the same grotesque manner. The villagers discover the slaughtered animals and are horrified, though they do not report Liu Lili to the police.
Liu Lili flees in panic, realizing that the gem may now require a human sacrifice. A truck nearly hits her, causing her car to crash into a guardrail. She interprets the accident as the Wish Gem attempting to claim her as the sacrifice. Remembering that she has accident insurance worth thirty million, Liu Lili looks toward the nearby Qinglan River, suggesting that she may be considering sacrificing herself to fulfill the wish.

Character development

Liu Lili’s greed escalates dramatically. Although she already possesses a house, a car, and substantial savings, she cannot accept returning to a modest lifestyle after experiencing wealth. Her fourth wish reveals that her dissatisfaction has become compulsive and destructive. After witnessing the animals’ deaths, she finally feels genuine regret and recognizes the danger of her desires, but her fear and obsession with obtaining thirty million continue to trap her. She shifts from confident manipulation of the Wish Gem to terror, guilt, and possible self-sacrifice.

Character interactions

Liu Lili urgently orders the villagers to bring her all their pigs, offering prices far above market value. The villagers cooperate because of the profit, but they remain outside the courtyard. After hearing her scream, they investigate and discover the dead, mutilated livestock. Their reaction combines shock, fear, superstition, and helplessness; they blame the ominous event on evil forces and consider religious protection rather than legal action.

Significant themes

The chapter emphasizes the destructive nature of greed, dissatisfaction, and unchecked desire. The Wish Gem functions less as a benevolent object than as a force that magnifies corruption and demands increasingly horrifying sacrifices. The contrast between Liu Lili’s material ambitions and the cost in vitality and life highlights the moral consequences of treating wealth as limitless and consequence-free. Her possible decision to use her own death for the insurance payout also shows how greed has eroded her instinct for self-preservation.

Chapter 59 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Desperate to fulfill the Wish Gem’s sacrificial requirement before a ten o’clock lottery drawing, Liu Lili approaches a handsome young man fishing by the river.
• Although she feels guilty, she prays that the Wish Gem will accept him as her sacrifice, believing his death will grant her wish of winning the lottery.
• Instead of collapsing, the young man—He Qinglan—smiles and says, “It’s fine. After all, I’m not the one who’ll die.”
• The Wish Gem grows intensely hot, convincing Liu Lili that the sacrifice has succeeded. She waits for He Qinglan to die, but he remains completely unharmed.
• A red-haired, childlike figure arrives and reveals that He Qinglan is not alone. He angrily accuses Liu Lili of using his power to make a wish and attempting to sacrifice “Little River.”
• He Qinglan calmly explains that Liu Lili has only three minutes left to live. Her watch confirms it is 9:57, leaving three minutes before the lottery drawing.
• Horrified and confused, Liu Lili realizes the sacrifice may have rebounded onto her. She accuses the others of tampering with her Wish Gem.

Character Developments

• Liu Lili: Her desperation, selfishness, and fear become increasingly clear. Though she insists she was forced to sacrifice someone to survive, her confidence collapses when the ritual fails and she learns that she—not He Qinglan—may be the true victim.
• He Qinglan: He is introduced as calm, beautiful, and unnervingly composed. His knowing smile and quiet statements suggest immense power and complete awareness of Liu Lili’s fate.
• The red-haired child: Despite his small appearance, he speaks and behaves aggressively, revealing that he possesses significant supernatural power and a personal connection to the river-related beings. He reacts furiously to Liu Lili’s attempt to exploit his power.
• Little River / “Little River”: He Qinglan appears to be associated with or identified as Little River, though the exact nature of this identity remains unclear.

Significant Themes

• Selfishness and moral justification: Liu Lili rationalizes sacrificing another person by claiming that everyone is self-serving, but the chapter exposes the consequences of that belief.
• Sacrifice and karmic reversal: Her attempt to offer another person’s life appears to rebound against her, suggesting that supernatural bargains may punish exploitative intentions.
• Desperation and fear: The approaching lottery deadline drives Liu Lili to abandon morality, while the countdown intensifies her terror when the sacrifice does not proceed as expected.
• Power and hidden consequences: The Wish Gem’s rules are more complex than Liu Lili understands, and those who control or embody its power possess knowledge she lacks.

Character Interactions

• Liu Lili approaches He Qinglan in tears, silently offering him to the Wish Gem while apologizing aloud.
• He Qinglan responds with eerie reassurance rather than fear, implying that Liu Lili’s plan will fail.
• The red-haired child confronts Liu Lili angrily for abusing his power and trying to sacrifice He Qinglan.
• He Qinglan restrains the child and calmly announces Liu Lili’s impending death, leaving her terrified and demanding to know what they have done to her Wish Gem.

Chapter 117 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• He Qinglan confronts Liu Lili, who demands to know why he survived the sacrifice she intended for him.
• He explains that her greed corrupted her heart and implies that she, rather than he, is the one destined to die.
• Liu Lili’s denial triggers the Wish Gem. Because her sacrifice is deemed insufficient, the gem begins draining her life force instead.
• At the last moment, He Qinglan has Chiyan Imp intervene, saving Liu Lili from death.
• Liu Lili realizes that the Wish Gem is not a benevolent artifact but an evil Demonic Beast that consumes sacrifices—including its owner when no suitable offering is available.
• Although she survives, the gem’s power has drained away her youth, leaving her body and face aged. Horrified, Liu Lili blames He Qinglan for preventing her sacrifice and attacks him with intense Corrupting Miasma.
• He Qinglan becomes concerned that others who obtained the Undying Flame may also release similarly dangerous corrupting energy.
• To test whether the malice is affecting Chiyan, He Qinglan splashes him with water and kicks him into the river. Chiyan reacts angrily, but his normal personality returns, confirming he has not been corrupted.
• He Qinglan searches Liu Lili’s memories and confirms that she knowingly chose greed and involvement with the evil cult; her fate is therefore the consequence of her own decisions.
• Before leaving, He Qinglan informs Gou Tianze about Liu Lili’s location, condition, and connection to the Wish Gem cult. He then carries the drenched Chiyan away while ignoring Gou Tianze’s confused replies.

Character Developments

• He Qinglan: Remains calm and detached, but becomes more alert to the broader danger posed by the Undying Flame and Corrupting Miasma. His concern extends beyond Liu Lili’s personal guilt to the possibility of a widespread threat.
• Liu Lili: Her greed and obsession with wealth are exposed as the causes of her downfall. She experiences terror when the Wish Gem turns against her, briefly recognizes its true nature, but ultimately remains consumed by resentment and refuses to accept responsibility.
• Chiyan Imp: Continues to provide comic relief through his reluctant assistance and exaggerated outrage. Despite being treated roughly by He Qinglan, he appears unaffected by the corrupting influence.
• Gou Tianze: Acts as a potential responder to Liu Lili’s crisis, though he is left bewildered by He Qinglan’s abrupt messages.

Significant Themes

• Greed and self-destruction: Liu Lili’s desire for instant wealth leads her into an evil cult and ultimately causes her physical ruin.
• The deceptive nature of wishes: The Wish Gem appears to grant desires but is actually a predatory entity that demands sacrifice and consumes its user.
• Personal responsibility: Liu Lili blames He Qinglan for her suffering, but his investigation confirms that her fate resulted from her own choices.
• Corruption and hidden danger: The chapter raises concern that the Undying Flame may cause widespread spiritual corruption, making Liu Lili’s case part of a potentially larger crisis.
• Friendship and comic contrast: Chiyan’s dramatic complaints contrast with the chapter’s darker events and highlight the unusual, enduring bond between him and He Qinglan.

Character Interactions

• He Qinglan and Liu Lili clash over the failed sacrifice, with Liu Lili’s resentment intensifying after she is saved but aged.
• He Qinglan uses Chiyan to interrupt the Wish Gem’s life-draining process, then deliberately provokes him to test for corruption.
• Chiyan protests being splashed and kicked into the river, humorously emphasizing their long friendship.
• He Qinglan contacts Gou Tianze to ensure Liu Lili is found and investigated, linking the personal incident to the wider threat of the Wish Gem cult.

Chapter 60 Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• He Qinglan returns to his riverside Crystal House carrying Chiyan, who had been soaked while acting as bait in an investigation connected to the Wish Gems.
• Shui Wuyuan jokes about catching fish, but He Qinglan reveals that Chiyan may be the more important “big fish” targeted by the unknown perpetrators.
• Concerned that exposure to human desires and Corrupting Miasma could eventually drive Chiyan berserk, He Qinglan decides to keep him soaking in the Qinglan River under supervision.
• Chiyan reluctantly accepts, though he insists he is fully rational and was only briefly affected before. The next day, his appearance as a red-haired child wearing a swim ring becomes a trending topic online.
• The Husky Urban Management Brigade, led by Gou Qianli, arrives to enforce the rule that nobody may swim in the Qinglan River—not even He Qinglan’s associates. Chiyan is consequently confined to a children’s paddling pool, much to Shui Wuyuan’s amusement.
• While Liu Lili remains hysterical in the hospital, Lei Aotian and the Dragon-Slaying Group investigate the spread of Wish Gems. Numerous crimes—including serial murders, gambling fraud, manipulation, and large-scale deception—are traced back to them.
• At least 122 Wish Gems have been confiscated, but many more remain missing. Flame Gems in particular have caused hundreds of deaths and injuries.
• Authorities quietly replace online advertisements with warnings urging people to “Believe in science. Do not spread superstition.” These warnings indirectly expose the dangers of cult-like organizations without openly revealing the existence of the Human-Deity Group.
• Despite these efforts, Wish Gem-related disasters continue because of widespread greed, temptation, and the country’s enormous population. Human-Deity Group members are also actively shielding some offenders.
• Realizing that the situation is worsening beyond his organization’s ability to contain it, Lei Aotian decides he can no longer wait and prepares to take stronger action.

Character Developments

• He Qinglan becomes more cautious and protective toward Chiyan. Rather than trusting Chiyan’s confidence in his own control, he takes preventative measures against the long-term effects of Corrupting Miasma.
• Chiyan remains proud, temperamental, and resistant to being treated as dangerous, but ultimately submits to He Qinglan’s judgment. His humiliating paddling-pool situation also highlights his childlike and comedic side.
• Shui Wuyuan continues to tease Chiyan and provoke him, but his jokes also reinforce the unusual dynamic among the three characters.
• Lei Aotian shifts from containment to decisive action. The mounting casualties and Human-Deity Group’s interference convince him that a major catastrophe may be approaching.

Significant Themes

• The danger of unchecked desire: Wish Gems exploit greed, ambition, lust, and the desire for easy rewards, turning ordinary people into criminals and causing widespread tragedy.
• Prevention versus trust: He Qinglan refuses to gamble on Chiyan’s ability to resist corruption, emphasizing the importance of safeguards even when immediate danger appears limited.
• Hidden warfare and public ignorance: Authorities must combat the Human-Deity Group indirectly because revealing the truth could cause panic or encourage people to seek the organization out.
• The scale of human weakness: The continuing disasters show that temptation is widespread and difficult to suppress, especially in a huge population.
• Comedy amid impending crisis: Chiyan’s swim ring and paddling pool provide comic relief, contrasting sharply with the increasingly serious nationwide threat.

Character Interactions

• He Qinglan and Chiyan argue over Chiyan’s status as a potential danger, with He Qinglan imposing restrictions and Chiyan protesting his supposed rationality.
• Shui Wuyuan mocks Chiyan’s relationship with He Qinglan and takes pleasure in Chiyan’s punishment, while He Qinglan dismisses Shui Wuyuan’s provocations.
• Gou Qianli humorously but firmly enforces the river’s no-swimming rule, forcing He Qinglan to move Chiyan into a children’s pool.
• Lei Aotian’s interactions are primarily with reports and his organization, but his response reflects increasing pressure from the nationwide crisis and the Human-Deity Group’s interference.

• Plot points and events: As supernatural disturbances escalate throughout the country, Captain Lei Aotian concludes that ordinary police and even special forces can no longer contain them. With the National Research Institute unable to locate more awakened individuals, he decides to seek help from Shui Wuyuan, Huazhou’s wealthiest man, despite the uncertainty over whether Shui possesses genuine supernatural abilities and the enormous cost of recruiting him. Lei travels to Qinglan River in Bicheng, where He Qinglan and the others are staying.
  Meanwhile, Chiyan has spent ten days being forcibly immersed in He Qinglan’s Purifying Water to control his temper. The treatment has unexpectedly affected him: instead of remaining constantly furious, he now experiences uncontrollable emotional outbursts for nearly a minute at a time. Though this seems minor to humans, it is a humiliating loss of control for an ancient flame deity whose powers once allowed him to incinerate vast regions. The bathwater becomes dangerously hot because of Chiyan’s own flames.
  When Lei arrives, he sees Chiyan in the boiling bathtub and immediately pulls him out, angrily accusing He Qinglan of endangering a child. The chapter ends as Chiyan begins struggling violently in Lei’s grasp.

Character developments

• Lei Aotian is established as practical, decisive, and willing to approach powerful or difficult people when conventional methods fail. He is also protective and morally upright, instinctively rescuing Chiyan and condemning what he believes is child abuse.
• Chiyan has been forced into an unusual period of submission and self-control. His pride is wounded by his inability to resist human methods, while his immense power has been weakened by his long sleep and the loss of much of his Origin Flame.
• He Qinglan remains detached and unconcerned by Chiyan’s apparent danger, knowing that ordinary heat cannot harm the flame deity. He is also intrigued by Lei’s pure Thunder Power and recognizes that it contains a trace of Thunder Origin Power.
• Shui Wuyuan does not appear directly, but his wealth, inventions, and possible supernatural ability make him a crucial potential ally.
• Significant themes: The chapter emphasizes the collapse of ordinary human systems in the face of supernatural crises and the need for extraordinary individuals to intervene. It also explores the reversal of power: ancient deities who once dominated nature are now constrained, studied, or manipulated by humans. Misunderstanding and appearances are another major theme, as Lei mistakes Chiyan’s supernatural heat and He Qinglan’s confidence for negligence and cruelty.
• Character interactions: Lei’s first encounter with He Qinglan is immediately confrontational. He harshly criticizes He Qinglan for leaving Chiyan in scalding water, while He Qinglan calmly refuses to feel guilty and instead studies Lei’s unusual Thunder Power. Their interaction establishes a clash between Lei’s protective human morality and He Qinglan’s detached supernatural perspective. Lei’s rescue of Chiyan also creates an unexpected power dynamic, with the supposedly helpless child resisting the captain’s grip as the scene closes.

Chapter 120 Summary

Key plot points and events

Lei Aotian rescues the Little Redhead, Chiyan, from a boiling bath, only to discover that the child is completely unharmed by the scalding water. Chiyan then burns Lei’s hand when he grabs him, proving that the boy possesses powerful supernatural abilities. Chiyan insults Lei and threatens to burn him, while He Qinglan casually restrains and submerges the unruly child to make him stop talking. Lei is deeply shocked by He Qinglan’s behavior, which contradicts his reputation as a gentle and kind young man. Despite growing wary and briefly considering retreat, Lei remains because of his mission and introduces himself as someone who has come to discuss an important matter.

Character developments

• Lei Aotian becomes suspicious and unsettled after realizing that Chiyan is not an ordinary child and that He Qinglan is far colder and more intimidating than expected. His initial assessment that He Qinglan would be easy to persuade is overturned.
• Chiyan is revealed to have extreme resistance to heat and the ability to produce dangerous flames. He is arrogant, foul-mouthed, and treats He Qinglan as a friend, though their relationship is chaotic and antagonistic.
• He Qinglan displays a stark contrast between his outwardly pleasant appearance and his ruthless, controlled nature. His smile can inspire instinctive trust, suggesting he may possess a subtle ability to influence others.
• Lei notices that He Qinglan possesses exceptionally pure Thunder Power and wonders whether he may be related to Lei Ba.

Significant themes

• Appearance versus reality: He Qinglan’s reputation as gentle and benevolent sharply conflicts with his merciless treatment of Chiyan.
• Hidden supernatural powers: Both Chiyan’s flames and He Qinglan’s possible influence reveal that extraordinary abilities may exist beneath ordinary appearances.
• Manipulation and vigilance: Lei struggles against the instinctive trust caused by He Qinglan’s smile and realizes he must remain cautious.
• Unusual relationships: Chiyan and He Qinglan behave like quarrelsome companions, with affection expressed through rough, almost absurd interactions.

Character interactions

Lei initially handles Chiyan roughly, prompting the child to attack him with fire. He Qinglan then disciplines Chiyan by forcing him back into the bath, leaving Lei horrified and revising his opinion of both men. Afterward, He Qinglan abruptly shifts to a warm, welcoming demeanor and invites Lei into his house, while Lei introduces himself and states that he has come to negotiate.