Chapter Summaries

Elder Jin Guiqi learned that Summer Path Mountain and the Bright Mountain Sect were cooperating, then helped the elders devise a way to gather information from sects targeted by the Thousand Rocks Sect. Shi Chun arranged for Gu Liani to take a Red Flame and proposed lending another divine fire to a different sect as bait; the chapter ended with Jin Guiqi driving off pursuers after Pang Hou arrived at the exit carrying a divine fire.

• Gu Liani left Elder Jin Guiqi with the strange stone, and he secretly read a jade slip revealing Summer Path Mountain's cooperation with the Bright Mountain Sect.
• Jin Guiqi persuaded the other presiding elders to question sects that had been lured away and record where the deception occurred.
• Wu Jinliang explained that Shi Chun wanted his group to move closer to the elders for protection from the Thousand Rocks Sect's spies.
• Shi Chun shared a newly found Red Flame with Gu Liani and proposed lending another divine fire to a sect that might need bait for a tiger-luring plan; Gu Liani agreed to take the Red Flame.
• Pang Hou arrived at the exit carrying another divine fire, and Jin Guiqi stamped through the mountainside to frighten away the pursuing sect members.

Shi Chun discovered a slender Divine Fire moving beneath the gravel and helped Yuan Yao trap it with an Origin-Locking Formation. After Yuan Yao began fighting the brown Flowing Flame Divine Fire, Shi Chun offered it to Tong Mingshan.

• Wu Jinliang and Fang Zicheng entered the collapsed mountain and prepared a hidden route while Jin Guiqi distracted the elders on the Main Peak.
• Shi Chun spotted Forgetting Passion Valley's party searching the gravel field and found a slender object moving underground nearby.
• Shi Chun used the Bright Mountain Sect's missing members as a pretext to have Yuan Yao surround Wu Shanshan's party, then led Yuan Yao and Tong Mingshan away.
• Shi Chun tracked the underground object with the Fire God Incense, and Yuan Yao trapped it by activating an Origin-Locking Formation.
• A brown Flowing Flame Divine Fire burst from the ground and attacked Yuan Yao inside the formation, and Shi Chun told Tong Mingshan that the Divine Fire was his.

Shi Chun arranged a Divine Fire exchange with Forgetting Passion Valley, using their urgent need for one to negotiate for collateral. He rejected Jin Hao’s fourth-grade Immortal-Strangling Sash and started to leave, prompting Wu Shanshan to call after him as the women prepared to offer more.

• Shi Chun let Tong Mingshan keep the captured Divine Fire, then left with Yuan Yao and told him to hide nearby until they reunited.
• Shi Chun apologized to Forgetting Passion Valley and proposed exchanging Red Flame Divine Fire for another kind of Divine Fire, but Wu Shanshan admitted her group had none to trade yet.
• Wu Shanshan offered a Magical Treasure as collateral for a future exchange, and Jin Hao demonstrated her Immortal-Strangling Sash by trapping a flying disciple in its net.
• Yuan Yao identified the sash as a fourth-grade Magical Treasure with an artifact spirit, but Shi Chun dismissed it and led his group away.
• Wu Shanshan called, “Brother Chun, wait!” as the women realized continuing negotiations would require them to pay more.

Wu Shanshan traded the fifth-grade Magical Treasure Black Lotus and the Immortal-Strangling Sash for Divine Fire, while Shi Chun's group continued searching and trading across the Yellow Earth Wasteland. The chapter ended with two rival groups arguing over stolen Divine Fire before the elders near the Exit.

• Wu Shanshan demonstrated that Black Lotus contained an artifact spirit refined from a living Earth Immortal, then offered it as collateral for Divine Fire.
• Shi Chun demanded Jin Hao's Immortal-Strangling Sash as additional collateral, and the sects signed a contract with Summer Path Mountain as guarantor before exchanging the treasures and Divine Fire.
• Wu Shanshan explained to Jin Hao why they had traded away their strongest defensive treasures, while Lin Yuefang urged the group to absorb the Divine Fire and secure nearby territories.
• Shi Chun's group stopped in a valley so he could study the treasures' artifact spirits, while Tong Mingshan entered secluded cultivation with the Divine Fire.
• Gong Shixi went to intercept Shi Chun after learning that Wu Jinliang had been gathering Divine Fire leads, but Shi Chun had already found the fire and left.
• Near the Exit, elders demanded an explanation from two pursuing groups, whose leaders accused each other of stealing Divine Fire.

Shi Chun’s group continued gathering divine fires, but Yan Ketao disappeared during a stop, prompting Shi Chun to warn Wu Jinliang. Elsewhere, a visitor who followed marked trails arrived to meet Zuo Zisheng of the Heavenforging Sect.

• The Bright Mountain Sect and Summer Path Mountain acquired eighteen more divine fires over seven days, and Tong Mingshan emerged after absorbing ten.
• Shi Chun learned that Yan Ketao was missing and suspected he might be a mole, though Gu Liani dismissed the idea.
• After searches found no trace of Yan Ketao, Shi Chun sent Chu Jingtang to warn Wu Jinliang at the exit.
• A Heavenforging Sect disciple told Zuo Zisheng that a visitor had followed markers to find him, and Zuo Zisheng urgently ordered the visitor admitted.

Yan Ketao warned Zuo Zisheng that Summer Path Mountain and the Bright Mountain Sect had apparently found around twenty Divine Fires, largely thanks to Shi Chun. Zuo devised a plan to uncover the Bright Mountain Sect’s source of leads, but Yan’s identity was exposed as he left.

• Yan Ketao told Zuo Zisheng that the allied sects had repeatedly entered secluded cultivation, suggesting they had found many Divine Fires, and credited Shi Chun with their success.
• Zuo Zisheng reconsidered his underestimation of Shi Chun and asked Yan to explain how the two sects had formed their partnership.
• After hearing Yan’s account, Zuo concluded that Bright Mountain Sect members who disappeared and returned might be carrying Divine Fire leads, and asked Yan to investigate them near the Exit.
• Yan agreed to return to Summer Path Mountain and search for the group, while Zuo planned to gather his people and help locate them.
• Two Heavenforging Sect disciples pulled off Yan’s hood in a tunnel and recognized him as a member of Summer Path Mountain; Yan asked them to fetch Zuo and hurried away.
• A smiling Heavenforging Sect disciple learned that the visitor was from Summer Path Mountain, then hurried toward a whistle to assemble.

Zuo Zisheng led the Heavenforging Sect away, while Yan Ketao searched for his missing group and stumbled upon the Bright Mountain Sect’s hidden observation post near the exit. Wu Jinliang and the others concealed their divine-fire operation from Yan Ketao, then arranged to use him to carry a message.

• Zuo Zisheng led the Heavenforging Sect away from the underground area and met Yan Ketao, who sent him toward the exit.
• Yan Ketao arrived at the exit and told Jin Guiqi he had lost his group; Jin Guiqi covertly directed him to the allied observers.
• Wu Jinliang and Chu Jingtang withdrew from their hiding place, and Yan Ketao found Shen Moming at the cave entrance.
• Wu Jinliang pretended to welcome Yan Ketao, showed him the observation post, and gave him a misleading account of how messages and divine-fire leads were handled.
• Wu Jinliang blocked Yan Ketao from investigating the upper passage, then claimed news had arrived and asked him to carry a message back to his group.

Wu Jinliang confirmed Yan Ketao was a spy and moved to protect the Bright Mountain Sect’s group and their Divine Fire gains. He warned Jin Guiqi to cover up the evidence, then reached the Iron Forest and ordered the Four Cauldron Sect to evacuate and intercept its members carrying Divine Fire leads.

• Wu Jinliang sent Yan Ketao toward the Black Charcoal Highlands with a message, then told Chu Jingtang and Shen Moming that he suspected Yan was compromised.
• Yan Ketao met Zuo Zisheng and revealed what he claimed to know about Jin Guiqi and the Divine Fire leads; Zuo chose to gather his people and pursue the group despite risking Yan’s cover.
• Wu Jinliang collapsed the cave, used his farewell to warn Jin Guiqi to erase evidence, and fled with Chu Jingtang and Shen Moming.
• Jin Guiqi understood Wu Jinliang’s warning and later collapsed a passage during a sparring match to cover up the operation.
• Wu Jinliang reached the Iron Forest and told Xu Anchang to evacuate the Four Cauldron Sect’s people and intercept the five members following Yan Ketao’s sect.

Yan Ketao and Zuo Zisheng realized Wu Jinliang had used them to conceal the Bright Mountain Sect’s escape, while Shi Chun explained how Wu’s actions also protected Jin Guiqi from accusations of interfering in the competition. The group resumed searching for divine fires, expecting their hidden adversaries might still seek a deal.

• Yan Ketao found no one in the charcoal-black mountains or near the collapsed cave, then learned from Qin Zhijiu that Wu Jinliang’s group had left after exposing a traitor.
• Yan Ketao told Zuo Zisheng he might have been exposed, and Zuo concluded that Wu had misled them to draw their people away.
• Zuo Zisheng refused to reveal Jin Guiqi’s involvement immediately and sent search parties out while leaving men to watch the Exit.
• Wu Jinliang reunited with Shi Chun and explained to Gu Liani, Yuan Yao, and Pang Hou that he had revealed Jin Guiqi’s involvement to create witnesses who could disprove future accusations.
• Shi Chun and the others discussed Yan Ketao’s likely backers and Wu Jinliang’s decision to let him go, then agreed to keep searching for divine fires and wait to see whether their opponents would negotiate.

Gong Shixi learned that Shi Chun’s party might be finding Divine Fire in large quantities and decided to spread the rumor to turn other sects against them. Shi Chun then approached Xu Anchang and You Mu to restore their cooperation, revealed Tong Mingshan had absorbed ten Divine Fires, and learned how the Four Cauldron Sect had obtained a spy in the Heavenforging Sect.

• A cloaked informant told Gong Shixi that Zuo Zisheng had redirected the Heavenforging Sect to hunt for Shi Chun’s party, possibly because Shi Chun could find more Divine Fire.
• Gong Shixi ordered the Thousand Rocks Sect party to stop searching and spread the claim that Shi Chun and Summer Path Mountain could quickly find large quantities of Divine Fire.
• Wu Shanshan suspended the Forgetting Passion Valley’s search and set out to find Shi Chun’s party, while Xu Anchang continued following Wu Jinliang’s instructions after hearing similar news.
• Shi Chun told Xu Anchang and You Mu he would take responsibility for finding Divine Fire and revealed that Tong Mingshan had absorbed ten Divine Fires.
• Xu Anchang told Shi Chun that Yan Ketao was a Heavenforging Sect spy and explained that the higher-ups had recruited a vulnerable participant from that sect for the competition.

Gong Shixi spread rumors that Shi Chun's group had found over a hundred flames of divine fire, stirring resentment among the sects searching the Divine Fire Domain. The rumors reached the Extreme Fire Sect, whose leader Yin Tianlu considered investigating Shi Chun's group while warning Black Tiger not to enter the deadly Darkness-Free Forbidden Ground.

• Zuo Zisheng realized that the Thousand Rocks Sect and Forgetting Passion Valley had used a trick to lure the Heavenforging Sect away, and traced Shi Chun's divine-fire leads back to Jin Guiqi.
• Gong Shixi arranged for undercover followers to spread exaggerated rumors that Shi Chun's group had swept their search areas clean and that Summer Path Mountain had suffered heavy casualties.
• Other sects began believing and spreading the rumors, while the Heavenforging Sect's hunt for Shi Chun's group seemed to confirm them; Forgetting Passion Valley also accepted the claims as truth.
• A messenger told Yin Tianlu and the Extreme Fire Sect that Shi Chun's group had found over a hundred flames, and Yin Tianlu asked Black Tiger to check the claim if they encountered them.
• Black Tiger said they could search the Darkness-Free Forbidden Ground if necessary, but Yin Tianlu forbade him from risking entry because the sect's predecessors had died there and Black Tiger was vital to its hopes.

Li Hongjiu’s fellow disciples struggled to make their carefree, extraordinarily talented martial uncle absorb the Treasure-Evolving Sect’s divine fire and help them compete. After hearing that Shi Chun’s group had found over a hundred flames, Li Hongjiu remained relaxed and said the sect still had a chance to win.

• Guang Haoyou and the Treasure-Evolving Sect’s disciples endured Li Hongjiu’s laziness as he refused to explore the Divine Fire Domain or absorb the flames they found, eventually persuading him to take three.
• Guang Haoyou told Li Hongjiu that the Heavenforging Sect was searching for Shi Chun and his group, confirming rumors that they could find divine fire quickly.
• Guang Haoyou lamented that Shi Chun’s group had found over a hundred divine flames and asked how the Treasure-Evolving Sect could compete.
• Li Hongjiu argued that the number of flames mattered less than collecting the thirty-six kinds and refining skill, then agreed to follow Guang Haoyou’s instructions.

Shi Chun’s group realized rumors that Summer Path Mountain had found over a hundred divine fires were drawing a hostile crowd, and Shi Chun suspected Gong Shixi had spread them to get them killed. Xu Anchang revealed the Desolate-Breaking Remnant Blade could let one Demonic Path branch command the others, and the group considered retreating to the exit for protection.

• Summer Path Mountain’s people blocked the pursuers and left with the divine fire, while the bronze-green-robed group followed them and helped rumors spread.
• Shi Chun learned that more than a hundred people had gathered because rumors claimed his group had found over a hundred divine fires.
• Shi Chun reasoned that the rumors were designed to weaken Summer Path Mountain and concluded Gong Shixi was likely behind them.
• Shi Chun questioned Xu Anchang about the Desolate-Breaking Remnant Blade, and Xu Anchang admitted it could allow its holder’s branch to command the entire Demonic Path.
• Xu Anchang suggested that the group seek shelter at the exit, since Tong Mingshan already had a chance to win.

Shi Chun’s group tried to escape the sects pursuing them, while he rejected Gu Liani’s suggestion to hide early at the exit and devised a countermeasure against Gong Shixi. As the pursuers kept multiplying, Gu Liani urged the group to head for the exit before their situation worsened.

• Shi Chun persuaded Xu Anchang and Gu Liani that their groups needed to shake off the pursuers before deciding what to do next.
• Shi Chun warned Xu Anchang and You Mu not to hide early at the exit, where the elders might force them to reveal how they found divine fire.
• Shi Chun ordered Xu Anchang and You Mu to spread rumors that the Thousand Rocks Sect also knew how to find divine fire, putting pressure on Gong Shixi and his allies.
• Xu Anchang and You Mu hid while their subordinates contacted infiltrators, and the Bright Mountain Sect and Summer Path Mountain groups flew away with pursuers following.
• The pursuing sects ignored threats and kept gathering, making it impossible for Shi Chun’s group to slip away or safely split up.
• Gu Liani told Shi Chun that they needed to change direction and head for the exit as soon as possible.

Shi Chun convinced the Summer Path Mountain group not to seek protection at the exit, warning that the elders might kill Jin Guiqi and silence them to seize their rumored way of finding Divine Fire. With their pursuers still close, the group agreed to flee into the Darkness-Free Land, trusting Summer Path Mountain’s predecessors’ accounts that its outer region was survivable.

• Shi Chun warned Gu Liani and the others that returning to the exit could provoke the elders to kill Jin Guiqi and then eliminate Summer Path Mountain’s people.
• Gu Liani, Yuan Yao, and Pang Hou agreed they could not risk returning to the exit and needed to shake their pursuers first.
• Wu Jinliang suggested using darkness to escape, and the group considered heading to an icefield before Yuan Yao raised concerns about its proximity to the exit.
• Yuan Yao proposed the Darkness-Free Land, explaining that Summer Path Mountain’s predecessors had found its outer region less dangerous than its central forbidden ground.
• Gu Liani confirmed Yuan Yao’s account, and Shi Chun agreed to lead the group toward the Darkness-Free Land.

Gong Shixi, Mi Liangmeng, and Zuo Zisheng learned that Shi Chun’s group was heading toward the Darkness-Free Forbidden Ground, prompting each party to change plans. Zuo Zisheng sent the Heavenforging Sect after them, fearing that the other sects would capture Shi Chun before he could obtain their secret.

• Gong Shixi learned that Shi Chun’s group was likely heading for the Darkness-Free Forbidden Ground and ordered the Thousand Rocks Sect party to pursue them there.
• Mi Liangmeng’s Golden Hall party captured its seventh divine fire with a baited iron-tower trap, then set off after Shi Chun’s group.
• Zuo Zisheng learned that a rumor had embroiled the Heavenforging Sect and discussed taking Shi Chun’s secret once his group arrived at the exit.
• Heavenforging Sect disciples reported that Shi Chun’s group was heading for the forbidden ground, and Zuo Zisheng ordered most of his people to hurry after them.

Shi Chun and his companions entered the Darkness-Free Forbidden Ground to shake off the sects pursuing them, guided by Summer Path Mountain’s knowledge of its invisible boundary. They found signs of creatures disintegrating at the boundary, but their pursuers had followed them there too.

• Shi Chun and his companions flew into the Darkness-Free Forbidden Ground, where the pursuing sects grew uneasy but continued after them.
• Wu Shanshan and the Forgetting Passion Valley women debated whether to keep following, while Xu Anchang and the others also pressed on despite their fears.
• Gu Liani guided the group toward the boundary, and Yuan Yao and Pang Hou directed the Summer Path Mountain disciples to spread out and search for it.
• The Summer Path Mountain disciples found stone patterns that Gu Liani identified as traces of creatures disintegrating after crossing the boundary.
• Shi Chun and his companions realized they had reached the boundary zone and saw that the pursuing sect forces had followed them there.

Summer Path Mountain’s group followed the invisible safety boundary and discovered a lone woman on a mountaintop inside the Darkness-Free Forbidden Ground. Shi Chun sensed that she was an unknown, possibly nonhuman entity, and the chapter ended with Gu Liani asking which sect she belonged to as the woman silently considered her answer.

• After failing to find danger along the boundary, Summer Path Mountain’s party lowered their flight and spotted a woman standing alone on a mountaintop.
• Gu Liani decided to turn back and investigate the woman, while the sects following them withdrew to make way.
• The party landed before the woman and examined her unusual appearance and old-fashioned men’s clothing.
• Shi Chun used his right-eye ability and saw black mist and a strange, shimmering inner form around the woman, making him suspect she was not human or a demon.
• Wu Jinliang noticed Shi Chun’s warning and moved behind the others as Gu Liani asked the woman which sect she belonged to.
• The woman tilted her head and remained silent, apparently thinking over Gu Liani’s question.

Shi Chun discovered that Zhen'er had once helped Situ Gu find Divine Fire and had waited for him for a very long time. After Shi Chun promised to help her escape, Zhen'er suddenly kissed him.

• Zhen'er told the Summer Path Mountain group that everyone from her sect had died except her, and that she had been waiting for Situ Gu to return.
• Shi Chun realized Zhen'er was neither foolish nor mentally damaged, but an ancient being who could not track time in the land of eternal night.
• Shi Chun persuaded the others to leave so he could question Zhen'er alone.
• Zhen'er explained that she had helped Situ Gu find Divine Fire after he promised to free her, and asked whether he would ever return.
• Zhen'er asked Shi Chun to help her leave, and he promised that he would.
• Zhen'er moved close to Shi Chun, wrapped her arms around his neck, and kissed him.

Shi Chun endured Zhen'er's forced kiss before learning she believed they were lovers and expected him to take her away. As he considered whether Situ Gu had been protecting her, Zhen'er explained that Su had named her and inspired her human form.

• Zhen'er forcibly kissed Shi Chun while he struggled to breathe in the poisonous air, and onlookers from several sects watched and speculated about their relationship.
• Zhen'er released Shi Chun when she noticed his distress, and he used the Ice Sheep to breathe before she embraced him and declared them lovers.
• Zhen'er asked Shi Chun to take her away, leaving him uncertain whether she could survive crossing the Forbidden Ground's boundary.
• Shi Chun wondered whether Situ Gu had concealed and protected Zhen'er, then asked who had given her name.
• Zhen'er said Su had named her and that she had modeled her transformed appearance on Su because she longed to become human.