Chapter Summaries

Bian Que found Xia Fuli holding Bian Weikang hostage, rescued his grandson, and fought the Green-Robed Man, who arrived as reinforcements. As the battle escalated, Shi Chun flew off with the wounded Xia Fuli, leaving Wu Jinliang to lead Feng Chi and Xiang Lan'er away.

• Xia Fuli hid with Bian Weikang on Lone Blade Mountain and sent the Green-Robed Man a plea for help, while the Green-Robed Man and Feng Chi confirmed that Bian Que had reached the rendezvous point.
• Bian Que exposed Xia Fuli's identity, defeated him with a powerful palm strike, and recovered the unharmed Bian Weikang.
• The Green-Robed Man arrived and pursued Bian Que, who fled with Bian Weikang and used his Immobilization Technique before attacking his pursuer.
• The Green-Robed Man broke free and wounded Bian Que, who charged back to hold him off so Bian Weikang could escape.
• Shi Chun told Feng Chi and Xiang Lan'er to withdraw, then used the Wind Scales to grab Xia Fuli and carry him away.
• Wu Jinliang took out his Wind Scales and led Feng Chi and Xiang Lan'er away so they would not follow Shi Chun.

Bian Que died fighting the Green-Robed Man after realizing the Royal Court official he had trusted might have betrayed Mount Wukang. Shi Chun escaped with Xia Fuli, then crippled him and began absorbing his demonic flame, learning that Bian Weiying was Xia Fuli and Yin Huixin’s daughter.

• Feng Chi and Xiang Lan'er chased Bian Weikang while Wu Jinliang fled, and the Green-Robed Man killed Bian Que with his poisonous Green Hand.
• Before dying, Bian Que suspected a high-ranking Royal Court figure had leaked the plan to attack the Demonic Path and arranged the ambush.
• Feng Chi stopped Bian Weikang, and Xiang Lan'er’s cold demeanor made him realize their relationship had been part of the Demonic Path’s scheme before Feng Chi knocked him unconscious.
• Shi Chun landed on an island with Xia Fuli, exchanged messages with Wu Jinliang, and examined Xia Fuli’s injuries while probing his relationship with Yin Huixin.
• Shi Chun sealed Xia Fuli’s acupoints and battered his vital points until Xia Fuli confessed that Yin Huixin was his lover.
• Shi Chun used the Demon-Bathing Art to absorb Xia Fuli’s demonic flame, and Xia Fuli revealed that Bian Weiying was his daughter with Yin Huixin.

Shi Chun killed Xia Fuli, plundered most of his belongings, and gave the Heaven-and-Earth Bag and Xia Fuli’s corpse to Wu Jinliang. Meanwhile, an attacker killed Bian Jixiong at Mount Wukang’s gate and left a banner blaming the sect’s participation in the Skyfall Meteor Assembly, leaving Mount Wukang in chaos.

• Shi Chun confirmed Xia Fuli was dead, destroyed his heart, and took most of the valuables and supplies from his Heaven-and-Earth Bag.
• Shi Chun arranged to meet Feng Chi at the sinkhole near Mount Wukang and directed Wu Jinliang to meet him at the range’s highest southern peak.
• A disguised passerby struck Bian Jixiong at close range and killed him after Bian Weikang’s corpse was brought to Mount Wukang’s gate.
• The attacker escaped, leaving a white banner that read, “A gift to the top sect of the Skyfall Meteor Assembly!”
• Shi Chun gave Wu Jinliang Xia Fuli’s Heaven-and-Earth Bag, and Wu Jinliang celebrated the treasure and their newfound fortune.

Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang brought Xia Fuli’s corpse to the Demonic Path, where the Green-Robed Man revealed that Xia’s death threatened their scheme against Yin Huixin and her daughter. With Bian Que and both his grandsons dead, the Demonic Path ordered everyone to keep Xia’s death secret and sent Shi Chun, Wu Jinliang, and Feng Chi back to Mount Wukang.

• Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang found Feng Chi and joined her and Xiang Lan’er in a cave with the Green-Robed Man.
• The Green-Robed Man examined Xia Fuli’s corpse, questioned Shi Chun about Bian Que finding them, and accepted that Bian Que had followed Xia.
• Feng Chi backed Shi Chun’s account that Xia had no belongings when he was rescued, while the Green-Robed Man decided the missing bag mattered less than keeping Shi Chun useful.
• The Green-Robed Man explained that Xia’s death weakened the Demonic Path’s leverage over Yin Huixin and her daughter, then asked Shi Chun whether he could still persuade Bian Weiying to join them.
• Shi Chun said Bian Weiying could claim power without their help now that Bian Que and his grandsons were dead.
• The Green-Robed Man ordered everyone to conceal Xia’s death and told Shi Chun, Wu Jinliang, and Feng Chi to return to Mount Wukang, where they would be safe but likely expelled.

Shi Chun returned to Mount Wukang with Wu Jinliang and Xiang Lan'er, where they were imprisoned despite the lack of evidence against them. As the Royal Court intervened in the succession after the Bian family killings, Bian Weiying returned and was declared the next Sect Master, leaving the elders to decide whether to challenge the appointment.

• Shi Chun, Wu Jinliang, and Xiang Lan'er returned to Mount Wukang, endured the disciples’ fury, and were confined in separate Prison cells after questioning.
• Yin Huixin confronted Shi Chun, who explained the plot involving Xia Fuli and the Bian family and told her that Bian Que and Xia Fuli were dead.
• The Domain Prefecture and Royal Court investigated the killings, while Jieyun Mountain objected to Mount Wukang receiving the Xun Gate and was ordered to prove its innocence.
• Bian Weiying returned to Mount Wukang as the elders and a Royal Court emissary discussed who would succeed as Sect Master.
• The Royal Court emissary declared Bian Weiying the rightful successor and challenged anyone who objected to take the matter to the Royal Court.

Bian Weiying became Sect Master of Mount Wukang after her father and brother died, then learned from Yin Huixin that Xia Fuli was not her biological father and that Shi Chun’s warning about a coming storm had been justified. Rumors questioning her parentage spread through the sect and reached the Royal Court, leaving her succession uncertain.

• The Royal Court Envoy confirmed Bian Weiying’s appointment as Sect Master and warned the sect to treat Shi Chun and his companions cautiously unless they were proven involved.
• Yin Huixin told Bian Weiying about her affair with Xia Fuli, then revealed that Bian Jixiong was still her biological father and urged her to conceal the truth from everyone, including Shi Chun.
• Yin Huixin warned Bian Weiying against pursuing Shi Chun and announced plans to seek a supportive husband among the sect’s male disciples, stirring the disciples to compete for her favor.
• After the Bian family funerals and the Xun Gate’s completion, a Demonic Path visitor threatened Yin Huixin over her affair with Xia Fuli; she denied the accusation and tried to capture the visitor, who escaped.
• The Demonic Path spread detailed rumors that Bian Weiying was Xia Fuli’s daughter, creating turmoil in Mount Wukang and causing the Royal Court to reconsider her succession.

Bian Weiying proved she had inherited Mount Wukang’s talisman-refining secret and became Sect Master, then expelled Shi Chun, Wu Jinliang, and Xiang Lan'er. As the three left the mountain, Shi Chun and Bian Weiying privately struggled with their shared past, while Feng Chi warned that political and sectarian threats could still topple Bian Weiying.

• Bian Weiying refined a successful batch of Immobilizing Talismans and told Mount Wukang’s elders that her father had secretly passed the Refining Secret Art to her.
• Bian Weiying asked Yin Huixin to release Shi Chun, Wu Jinliang, and Xiang Lan'er, then formally expelled all three from Mount Wukang the next day.
• Bian Weiying watched Shi Chun descend the mountain and considered whether to silence him for knowing the sect’s secret, but could not bring herself to do it.
• Shi Chun reflected that he had helped bring about the deaths of Bian Que and his son so Bian Weiying could become Sect Master, while keeping his motives secret.
• Feng Chi met Shi Chun and the others and explained that the Demonic Path had learned why Bian Weiying possessed the secret, while rumors and rival sects threatened her rule.

Shi Chun traveled to the Royal Capital and asked Young Master Nan how to protect Mount Wukang from the Royal Court, Jieyun Mountain, and Wei Mo. After Young Master Nan identified Wei Mo’s support as the key, Shi Chun went to the Regional Lord and rejected an offer of service, insisting on pleading for Mount Wukang.

• Shi Chun, Xiang Lan'er, and Wu Jinliang left Mount Wukang for the Royal Capital, with Shi Chun paying their Xun Gate fees.
• Shi Chun and his companions visited Young Master Nan, and Shi Chun privately asked him for help with Mount Wukang’s crisis.
• Young Master Nan explained that Jieyun Mountain was pushing against Mount Wukang and that Wei Mo’s support could protect Bian Weiying’s position.
• Shi Chun traveled alone to the Domain Prefecture after seeing Jieyun Mountain members heading toward Mount Wukang.
• Shi Chun pleaded with Wei Mo to show mercy to Mount Wukang and refused Wei Mo’s offer of a promising future in his service.
• Wei Mo wrote and signed four characters, then told Shi Chun to take the paper.

Jieyun Mountain’s Wu Handong demanded that Mount Wukang accept a marriage alliance and surrender half of Linkang City, giving the sect three days to decide. Shi Chun arrived with a message from the Regional Lord and confronted Bai Shuchuan, leaving the council hall to read the words “Immovable Like a Mountain.”

• Shi Chun collected the Regional Lord’s calligraphy from Wei Mo and hurried to Mount Wukang with it.
• Wu Handong and Bai Shuchuan provoked Bian Weiying and Yin Huixin, then demanded a marriage alliance and Jieyun Mountain’s control of Linkang City’s eastern half.
• Mount Wukang’s elders argued over whether to accept the terms, while Wu Handong gave them three days to choose between war and peace.
• Shi Chun entered the council hall, slapped Bai Shuchuan, and asked Bian Weiying if she was all right.
• Shi Chun showed Bian Weiying the Regional Lord’s calligraphy, which read “Immovable Like a Mountain.”

Shi Chun used Wei Mo’s inscription to protect Mount Wukang and secure Bian Weiying’s position, then advised her on how to handle the Royal Court. Bian Weiying accepted his request to stay on the mountain for a while, while Shi Chun waited for the Aurora Lights to appear again.

• Wei Mo’s signed inscription stunned Jieyun Mountain and forced Wu Handong and his group to leave Mount Wukang.
• Shi Chun handed the inscription to Bian Weiying, who entrusted Ke Yizong with mounting it and carving a plaque for the main gate.
• Shi Chun told Bian Weiying that he had spent Wei Mo’s promised favor to obtain the inscription and advised her to consult Wei Mo about the Royal Court’s demand.
• Bian Weiying warned Shi Chun that Jieyun Mountain would target him, but he said he was not afraid of them.
• Shi Chun asked to stay on Mount Wukang for a while, and Bian Weiying asked what reward he wanted.

Shi Chun turned Mount Wukang’s faint-blue substance into Immobilization Talismans using gourds and Bian Weiying’s medicinal solution, then left the mountain after gathering a large supply. Bian Weiying watched him depart, while the sect prepared to continue its usual work.

• Shi Chun stayed at the Disciplinary Affairs Court and had Pang Tiansheng’s people carve its stone mill into twelve large gourds.
• Shi Chun lined the gourds with discarded talisman paper, gathered the faint-blue substance left after Mount Wukang collected the Deep Blue Bamboo, and asked Bian Weiying for medicinal solution.
• Shi Chun tested the solution on the substance in a gourd, confirmed it produced the effect of an Immobilizing Talisman, and transformed the contents of all twelve gourds.
• Shi Chun stored the gourds, sent Bian Weiying a farewell message, and left Mount Wukang using Wind Scales.
• Bian Weiying watched Shi Chun disappear into the distance and stood motionless as Mount Wukang began another day of work.

Shi Chun toured his luxurious Royal Capital residence and learned that Wei Mo had secured him a higher-tier reward, while Young Master Nan had paid its fees in advance. Wu Jinliang introduced Duan Xiangmei, the ordinary worker who had become his lover, and Shi Chun left Wu Jinliang to decide whether to trust her.

• Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang inspected Shi Chun’s residence, which was worth over a hundred million sandalwood gold and cost a hundred thousand gold a year to maintain.
• Young Master Nan explained that Wei Mo had persuaded the Royal Court to double the value of Shi Chun’s reward and revealed that he had prepaid ten years of fees.
• Shi Chun noticed Duan Xiangmei working in the garden, and Wu Jinliang admitted that he had met her after accidentally damaging goods she delivered and had taken her as his woman.
• Wu Jinliang explained that he had invited Duan Xiangmei to meet Shi Chun after boasting about his friend, and Young Master Nan said he had found no obvious risk in her.
• Shi Chun told Wu Jinliang to use his own judgment, and Wu Jinliang called Duan Xiangmei over to introduce her.

Shi Chun taught Wu Jinliang to use the substance in his gourds for the Immobilization Technique, then visited Xiang Lan'er and Feng Chi and convinced them to move into his residence. He claimed that he had helped Bian Weiying take control of Mount Wukang for Xiang Lan'er, leaving her secretly unsettled by his apparent devotion.

• Young Master Nan advised Shi Chun to keep a spirit pet, and Shi Chun asked Wu Jinliang what Nan meant by his repeated remarks about fragrant grass.
• Shi Chun demonstrated the Immobilization Technique to Wu Jinliang using material from six gourds, taught him how to measure and use it, and showed him how to track the supply with Talisman Paper.
• Feng Chi urged Xiang Lan'er to encourage Shi Chun to pursue her, while Xiang Lan'er doubted that he could be swayed by affection or beauty.
• Shi Chun visited Xiang Lan'er and Feng Chi and insisted that they move into his residence after Feng Chi complained about men harassing Xiang Lan'er.
• Xiang Lan'er questioned Shi Chun about helping Bian Weiying take control of Mount Wukang and spending Wei Mo's promise, and Shi Chun claimed he had done it for her.
• Feng Chi realized Shi Chun's actions could benefit the Demonic Path, while Xiang Lan'er turned away skeptically despite feeling unsettled by his treatment of her.

Shi Chun and his companions entered months of secluded cultivation, and Shi Chun reached advanced martial upper attainment, pressuring Wu Jinliang to cultivate seriously. After another half year, Feng Chi told Xiang Lan'er that their superiors planned to use Shi Chun in connection with the approaching Divine Fire Pact.

• Shi Chun moved Wu Jinliang into cultivation, and Wu Jinliang agreed to stop carousing and focus on improving.
• Xiang Lan'er and Feng Chi entered secluded cultivation, while Duan Xiangmei handled the household and cultivated with Wu Jinliang's resources.
• After three months, Shi Chun broke through to advanced martial upper attainment, and Wu Jinliang began cultivating with renewed urgency.
• Wu Jinliang made a decoy gourd for his concealed weapon, while Duan Xiangmei advanced to initial martial great attainment.
• Bai Shuchuan visited Five Waterfall Mountain but left without finding a way to reach Shi Chun inside the protective formation.
• Feng Chi told Xiang Lan'er that their superiors intended to use Shi Chun for the approaching Divine Fire Pact, leaving her puzzled about the connection.

Feng Chi and Xiang Lan'er tried to recruit Shi Chun for the dangerous Divine Fire Pact, and he agreed only after demanding a house, five hundred million, and two promised treasures. He then invited Wu Jinliang to help free Chu Jingtang and the other imprisoned disciples.

• Feng Chi told Xiang Lan'er that the higher-ups wanted Shi Chun to enter the Divine Fire Pact because winning could help open the demon altar.
• Xiang Lan'er and Feng Chi urged Shi Chun to participate, but he refused despite their appeals, promises, and threats.
• Shi Chun agreed to enter the Divine Fire Domain after demanding a larger residence, five hundred million paid in advance, and two treasures if they succeeded.
• Shi Chun warned Feng Chi that he would keep the payment even if the Artifact Refining sects barred him from competing, and Feng Chi promised to resolve that issue.
• Shi Chun went to Wu Jinliang and asked him to help bring Chu Jingtang and the ten other imprisoned disciples out of prison.

Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang visited the eleven former sect disciples imprisoned for trying to assassinate them and offered to help secure their release. Shi Chun planned to recruit them after their new house was ready, and learned that several of them knew fire-attribute techniques.

• Wu Jinliang gave Shi Chun a large gourd before they set out, and Shi Chun told him about the Demonic Path’s offer to join the Divine Fire Pact and the payment he had demanded.
• Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang arranged to visit the eleven prisoners, who feared they had been gathered to face punishment.
• Shi Chun identified the prisoners, discussed why they had tried to kill him, and learned that Chu Jingtang had devised the assassination plan.
• Shi Chun offered to seek the prisoners’ release if they let go of their grudge, and all eleven eagerly accepted his help.
• Shi Chun asked Tong Mingshan, Zhu Xiangxin, and An Wuzhi about their fire-attribute techniques before leaving with Wu Jinliang.
• Shi Chun explained that he would wait until their new house was ready before freeing the prisoners, then recruit them to work with him.

Shi Chun arranged for Chu Jingtang and his companions to be released from prison and treated to an extravagant welcome at the Immortal-Forgetting Tower. He then asked Young Master Nan how a newly founded artifact-refining sect could enter the Divine Fire Pact, and learned that a qualified sect or grandmaster could recommend it.

• Feng Chi told Xiang Lan'er that Chu Jingtang and the other sect leaders had been imprisoned after trying to assassinate Shi Chun, and that the Demonic Path had secured a nearby property for him.
• Shi Chun inspected his new mansion, then took Wu Jinliang to arrange the release of Chu Jingtang and his companions after Lan Qiaoyan approved it.
• Shi Chun asked Wu Jinliang to gather his Royal Capital friends and host a lavish welcome banquet for the prisoners at the Immortal-Forgetting Tower.
• Wu Jinliang welcomed Chu Jingtang and the others with prominent guests, extravagant food, and a shower of gold from his Heaven-and-Earth Bag.
• Shi Chun asked Young Master Nan about founding an artifact-refining sect and entering the Divine Fire Pact, and Young Master Nan offered to arrange a recommendation within three days.

Shi Chun welcomed the eleven expelled disciples into his new estate, gave each a million gold, and reaffirmed himself as their Chief. He then proposed a new plan for entering the Divine Fire Domain, but Xiang Lan'er and Feng Chi warned that it would be difficult and conspicuous, leaving him wondering whether Young Master Nan could arrange it.

• Shi Chun’s group returned from the Immortal-Forgetting Tower after spending more than ten million gold, and Xiang Lan'er reacted angrily to Wu Jinliang’s extravagant spending.
• Shi Chun brought the eleven disciples to a luxurious estate he had bought for them and gave each one a banknote worth a million gold.
• Shi Chun reminded the disciples that their group had not disbanded, and they thanked him and accepted him as their Chief.
• Shi Chun asked Wu Jinliang to send Duan Xiangmei to help the disciples settle in, then met Xiang Lan'er and Feng Chi on a hilltop.
• Shi Chun proposed founding an artifact refining sect to enter the Divine Fire Pact directly, but Feng Chi explained that the plan would draw scrutiny and be difficult to arrange.
• Shi Chun asked whether Young Master Nan could resolve the problem if he agreed to help.

Shi Chun persuaded Young Master Nan to secure entry for the newly established Bright Mountain Sect into the Divine Fire Domain, though the sect had only thirteen members. After learning that seven entry places remained, Xiang Lan'er and Feng Chi received orders to add seven people to the group.

• Shi Chun proposed forming a separate artifact-refining sect to support the target sect without attracting attention, and Xiang Lan'er asked Feng Chi to consult their superiors.
• Their superiors approved Shi Chun's plan, so he went with Wu Jinliang to ask Young Master Nan for help.
• Three days later, Young Master Nan reported that the Bright Mountain Sect and its thirteen members had been approved under the Divine Fire Pact.
• Young Master Nan explained that the artifact-refining sects had resisted admitting An Wuzhi and Zhu Xiangxin, but he had resolved the dispute by calling on contacts across the Four Continents.
• Shi Chun told Wu Jinliang they would wait to tell their newly recruited members about the sect, then informed Feng Chi and Xiang Lan'er that the arrangements were complete.
• Feng Chi reported that their superiors wanted to use the Bright Mountain Sect's seven remaining entry places to add seven people to their side.

Shi Chun refused Feng Chi and Xiang Lan'er's request to bring seven more people into the Divine Fire Pact event, then led his companions to Blazing Fire Island. There, he promised to see whether Tong Mingshan could enter the Divine Fire Domain, while the others doubted he could arrange it.

• Shi Chun told Feng Chi and Xiang Lan'er that Young Master Nan would not approve seven more recruits, and asked them not to tell the eleven men that they had joined his sect or would attend the event until just before it began.
• The eleven men eventually asked Shi Chun for work, but he urged them to cultivate and promised to call on them when he found a way to make money.
• After two months, Shi Chun took the eleven men, Feng Chi, Xiang Lan'er, and Duan Xiangmei through several Xun Gates to Blazing Fire Island, timing their arrival just before the Divine Fire Domain opened.
• Tong Mingshan explained that Blazing Fire Island hosted the Divine Fire Domain opening and described why artifact refiners and other fire-attribute practitioners hoped to enter.
• When Tong Mingshan said he wished he could enter the Divine Fire Domain, Shi Chun offered to find someone who might get him inside, though Chu Jingtang and the others doubted they could go.