Chapter Summaries

Li Hongjiu broke Shi Chun’s Immortal-Strangling Sash, fought off Wu Jinliang’s avatars, and pursued the fleeing group toward Lakeside Isle. Shi Chun reached the island seeking the tower’s protection, where the Ninth Lord and Zhen'er were waiting.

• Li Hongjiu used wind to sense the attacks through the Three Corpses Mirror’s Dark Light, then cut through Shi Chun’s Immortal-Strangling Sash and drove him back.
• Shi Chun fled with the Bright Mountain Sect group while Wu Jinliang withdrew behind his avatars, and Li Hongjiu chased them on a Wind Scales.
• Witnesses pursued the retreating group or returned to report the battle, while dozens of bystanders were killed or injured by its residual force.
• On Lakeside Isle, the Ninth Lord told Zhen'er that the fight was over and that Shi Chun would come propose, though he was concealing the tower’s plan.
• Shi Chun arrived at Lakeside Isle with Li Hongjiu close behind, grabbed Zhen'er's hand, and pleaded with the Ninth Lord to ask the First Lord for help.

Li Hongjiu and more than a thousand cultivators from the Artifact Refining World arrived at Lakeside Isle while pursuing Shi Chun, forcing the Ninth Lord and the other Lords to decide how to handle the intrusion. Li Hongjiu claimed Wu Shanshan was his fiancée and demanded her return, leaving the confrontation unresolved as he appealed directly to the Ninth Lord.

• Shi Chun introduced the Ninth Lord to Zhen'er, and Li Hongjiu arrived on his Wind Scales with cultivators from various sects close behind.
• The Ninth Lord questioned Shi Chun and Zhen'er, learned the visitors were all from the Artifact Refining World, and consulted the First Lord and others beneath the tower.
• Li Hongjiu said the group had entered the forbidden ground because Shi Chun had captured Wu Shanshan, while Shi Chun insisted she had tried to kill him.
• Li Hongjiu declared Wu Shanshan his fiancée and offered to leave with everyone if the Ninth Lord returned her.
• Shi Chun warned that Li Hongjiu might attack if refused, but Li Hongjiu ignored him and asked the Ninth Lord what he should do about his captive wife.

Shi Chun and his companions fled Li Hongjiu by using the Three Corpses Mirror to confuse their pursuers and escape through the mountains near Frozen Lake. After they vanished, the Ninth Lord attacked Li Hongjiu, who withstood the first strike but was blasted away by the second.

• Shi Chun realized Li Hongjiu was probing the Ninth Lord and signaled Wu Jinliang and the Bright Mountain Sect group to prepare to flee.
• Shi Chun claimed he could prove Wu Shanshan was not Li Hongjiu's fiancée, then escaped with his companions while Xu and You carried Wu Shanshan away.
• Li Hongjiu and the sect forces pursued Shi Chun, but Shi Chun used the Three Corpses Mirror near Frozen Lake to blind and disorient them, allowing his group to slip away through the mountains.
• Li Hongjiu redirected the search from the lake to the mountains, but the sect forces failed to find Shi Chun's group.
• The Ninth Lord attacked Li Hongjiu through a blue fissure in space, and Li Hongjiu blocked the first strike before the second blasted him across the mountains.

Li Hongjiu survived a devastating long-range attack, sent his disciples back to the exit, and set out to investigate Lakeside Isle alone. After the sect elders heard reports of the expedition, Shi Chun emerged from a cave and announced that he would return to Lakeside Isle to rescue a friend.

• A mysterious attacker struck the mountainside, and the terrified sect disciples fled while Li Hongjiu survived and escaped through the dust.
• Li Hongjiu sent the Treasure-Evolving Sect disciples back to the exit, then flew off alone to heal and investigate Lakeside Isle.
• At the exit, Pang Hou denied Summer Path Mountain had obtained over a hundred divine fires, while the elders reacted to reports of Black Tiger’s death and Li Hongjiu’s strength.
• Shi Chun emerged from the cave after Wu Shanshan died inside, and he told Xu Anchang that he would return to Lakeside Isle to bring back a friend.

Shi Chun decided to return to the Earthheart Tower to investigate the Gods' Relics, while Wu Jinliang moved their group to a new hideout. At the exit, Guang Haoyou claimed Shi Chun had injured Li Hongjiu, prompting confusion among the gathered sect elders.

• Shi Chun ordered Xu and You to conceal Wu Shanshan's body and told Wu Jinliang to move the Bright Mountain Sect group while he went to investigate the Earthheart Tower.
• Shi Chun explained that he would probe the Earthheart Tower for a chance to seize the Gods' Relics, and told Wu Jinliang to leave for the exit if he did not return before it opened.
• Wu Jinliang led Chu Jingtang and the others to a new hideout after Shi Chun departed with Xu and You.
• The sect messengers reported that they could no longer search for Shi Chun, while Gong Shixi stayed near the exit to hear further news.
• Guang Haoyou told the Treasure-Evolving Sect elder that Shi Chun had injured Li Hongjiu, surprising the other sects' elders.
• After being pressed for proof, Guang Haoyou admitted he had not seen the latest injury but said he had witnessed Shi Chun injure Li Hongjiu in an earlier fight.

Shi Chun returned to Lakeside Isle with Zhen'er to ask the First Lord for her hand, while the sects continued pursuing Summer Path Mountain. The First Lord agreed to meet Shi Chun but ordered Xu and You away, leaving Shi Chun and Zhen'er alone with the tower's rulers.

• The sect elders learned conflicting accounts of Li Hongjiu's fights with Shi Chun, then sent Guang Haoyou's group to search for divine fire while the Thousand Rocks Sect stayed behind.
• Yin Tianlu and three other sects followed Gu Liani's Summer Path Mountain group, hoping to learn whether its Divine Fire Mirror existed.
• Shi Chun reunited with Zhen'er on Lakeside Isle and told the Ninth Lord he had come to ask the First Lord for her hand.
• The Ninth Lord consulted the First Lord, who agreed to receive Shi Chun and asked the Seventh Lord to bolster the visitors' courage.
• The Ninth Lord led Shi Chun, Zhen'er, Xu, and You down through the Earthheart Tower to meet the First Lord.
• The First Lord demanded that Xu and You leave, and the Ninth Lord sent them back upstairs while Shi Chun stayed.

Shi Chun convinced the First Lord of his devotion to Zhen'er, while Xu Anchang and You Mu overheard that the tower's lords were weakened and began plotting to seize it. The chapter ended with You Mu flying off to lure Wu Jinliang away and obtain Shi Chun's Magical Treasure.

• Shi Chun told the First Lord he would remain in the Divine Fire Domain and accept a shortened life to be with Zhen'er.
• Xu Anchang and You Mu overheard two children discussing the weakened lords and the danger of outsiders learning the tower's secrets.
• The children transformed into a Barefoot Red-Clad Woman, who said she was done before disappearing.
• Xu Anchang and You Mu decided to kill Shi Chun and silence the Bright Mountain Sect group so they could take control of the tower.
• You Mu flew toward Wu Jinliang and the others to lure Wu Jinliang away and seize his Magical Treasure.

Shi Chun forced Xu Anchang to provoke the Ninth Lord so he could test the tower's inhabitants, then sent Xu Anchang to summon Wu Jinliang and the others. The Ninth Lord warned that further misconduct would end the marriage proposal, while Shi Chun's next move remained undisclosed.

• Xu Anchang worried that You Mu might fail to find the treasures, and Shi Chun came out of the cave after You Mu had left.
• Shi Chun ordered Xu Anchang to provoke one of the tower's lords to test their strength, and Xu Anchang reluctantly obeyed.
• Xu Anchang attacked the Ninth Lord, who dodged without striking back and floated out of the tower.
• Shi Chun stopped Xu Anchang from pursuing the Ninth Lord and apologized, and the Ninth Lord warned that further trouble would end the marriage proposal.
• Shi Chun told Xu Anchang to follow Wu Jinliang's trail markers and bring everyone over immediately.

Shi Chun sent Xu Anchang and You Mu to find Wu Jinliang’s group, while Xu Anchang laid out plans to seize their treasures and ensure a way out. Xu Anchang lured Wu Jinliang away from the others, but Wu Jinliang prepared his magical treasures before hearing Shi Chun’s message to go to Lakeside Isle.

• Shi Chun told Xu Anchang how to track Wu Jinliang’s group, and Xu Anchang left to find You Mu.
• Xu Anchang explained his plans to attack Wu Jinliang’s group, and You Mu agreed while privately hoping to claim the treasures for himself.
• Xu Anchang and You Mu followed Wu Jinliang’s marker to the Bright Mountain Sect’s hiding place, where Wu Hong directed them to Wu Jinliang.
• Xu Anchang asked Wu Jinliang to step aside, and Wu Jinliang followed while activating three magical treasures to protect himself.
• Xu Anchang told Wu Jinliang to take everyone to Lakeside Isle and explained that Shi Chun had gone there to propose marriage to Zhen'er.

Shi Chun learned that Xu Anchang and You Mu had tried to lure Wu Jinliang away, possibly to attack the Bright Mountain Sect, and decided to use them to test the lords in the Earthheart Tower. He sent the sect away to prepare for absorbing divine fire and left Xu Anchang and You Mu to begin the dangerous test.

• Wu Jinliang flew to Lakeside Isle under the protection of his Magical Treasure after Xu Anchang and You Mu tried to persuade him to lower his guard.
• Shi Chun heard Wu Jinliang's account and realized Xu Anchang and You Mu had likely tried to isolate him so they could attack the Bright Mountain Sect.
• Shi Chun told Xu Anchang and You Mu to catch a fire spirit for someone from the Bright Mountain Sect, using the attempt to see whether the lords would react.
• Shi Chun warned that any disaster would be blamed on Xu Anchang and You Mu, and they reluctantly agreed to proceed.
• Wu Jinliang led the Bright Mountain Sect to a nearby lakeside spot, then Chu Jingtang and Fang Zicheng returned to Lakeside Isle as Shi Chun signaled Xu Anchang and You Mu to begin.

Shi Chun delayed Xu Anchang and You Mu's operation in the Earthheart Tower while they gathered divine fires for Tong Mingshan, Zhu Xiangxin, and An Wuzhi. After Tong Mingshan entered seclusion, he emerged with black and white flames that An Wuzhi identified as samadhi true fire.

• Xu Anchang and You Mu brought two captured divine fires to Wu Jinliang, who gave one to Tong Mingshan and kept the other for Zhu Xiangxin and An Wuzhi.
• Shi Chun warned Wu Jinliang's group to distrust Xu Anchang and You Mu, then delayed their plan to act against the Earthheart Tower so they could collect more divine fires.
• Xu Anchang and You Mu continued delivering divine fires, and Tong Mingshan absorbed twenty-six types before entering seclusion after gaining insight from observing the stars.
• Tong Mingshan's black flames burned Chen Wuji and Hao Ji, but he used a white flame to heal them after emerging from his cave.
• Tong Mingshan revealed that he had fused twelve divine fires into each of his black and white flames, and An Wuzhi identified them as samadhi true fire.

Tong Mingshan fused several divine fires into black-and-white flames, prompting Wu Jinliang and Shi Chun to seek more varieties so others could attempt it. Meanwhile, the Ninth Lord struck Li Hongjiu again, and Wu Jinliang attacked the badly injured man, leaving him facing a killing blow.

• Tong Mingshan explained how he had separated and fused the divine fires, and Zhu Xiangxin and An Wuzhi hoped to try it themselves.
• Wu Jinliang told Shi Chun about the samadhi true fire, and Shi Chun urged Xu Anchang and You to find different kinds of divine fire.
• The Lords discussed withdrawing the little flames but decided to scare off Li Hongjiu when he approached the frozen lake again.
• The Ninth Lord blasted Li Hongjiu into a mountainside, and Wu Jinliang and Chu Jingtang arrived to investigate.
• Wu Jinliang recognized Li Hongjiu, fled with Chu Jingtang, then turned back to spear and strike him while he was still injured.
• As a dharma form brought its saber down, Li Hongjiu released his sword and scattered sandalwood gold flame aura.

Wu Jinliang captured the poisoned and badly injured Li Hongjiu, then brought him to Shi Chun and the others to learn who had wounded him. Zhen'er began treating Li Hongjiu with water, while Xu and You crept toward Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang, whose calm words suggested they had noticed the approach.

• Wu Jinliang defeated and captured Li Hongjiu, then discovered that he was poisoned by the air in the Divine Fire Domain.
• Wu Jinliang and Chu Jingtang carried Li Hongjiu toward Lakeside Isle, while Shi Chun sensed their fight and rode out with Xu, You, and Zhen'er to meet them.
• After hearing that Li Hongjiu needed treatment, Zhen'er offered to try, gathered a large ball of water, and used it to draw foul matter from his body.
• Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang recognized that Zhen'er's water-based power might be a rare divine fire, while Xu and You quietly moved behind them.
• Wu Jinliang watched Xu and You approach in the water ball's reflection, and Shi Chun calmly said that nothing would happen.

Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang stopped Xu Anchang and You Mu’s ambush, captured them, and learned that Zhen'er alone could cure the poison in the Earthheart Tower. After questioning the captives, Shi Chun found Li Hongjiu awake and pretended to be outraged at his chains, leaving the Bright Mountain Sect group unsure whether he meant to free him.

• Xu Anchang and You Mu attacked Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang, who crippled them and kept them alive while Zhen'er treated Li Hongjiu’s poisoning.
• Shi Chun sent Xu Anchang and You Mu into a cave, then asked Zhen'er about the poison and learned that only she could cure it and that Su had concealed this from the others.
• Zhen'er returned to the tower, where the First Lord asked when Shi Chun would propose and the Ninth Lord wondered whether Shi Chun would come back; her intimidating gaze made both lords bow.
• Wu Jinliang told Shi Chun that Li Hongjiu had answered their questions, and Shi Chun found him bound in chains.
• Shi Chun loudly condemned Li Hongjiu’s treatment and asked the Bright Mountain Sect group whether they should release him, without untying him himself.

Shi Chun staged a plea to spare Li Hongjiu while Wu Jinliang and the Bright Mountain Sect group pretended to demand his death. Li Hongjiu realized they wanted his help escaping the Divine Fire Domain and offered to use his influence with the Treasure-Evolving Sect, leaving his survival dependent on Shi Chun persuading the others.

• Wu Jinliang and Tong Mingshan insisted that Li Hongjiu should be killed while Shi Chun pleaded for his life.
• The Bright Mountain Sect group joined the act, and Shi Chun appeared to abandon Li Hongjiu to their judgment.
• Wu Jinliang raised his broadsword over Li Hongjiu, but Shi Chun stopped the blow when Li Hongjiu shouted for them to wait.
• Li Hongjiu professed admiration for Shi Chun and claimed he had only wanted to capture the group alive, not kill them.
• Shi Chun accepted Li Hongjiu's explanation, and Li Hongjiu offered to help the group leave safely when the exit opened.

Shi Chun rejected the Bright Mountain Sect group’s plan to rely on Li Hongjiu for escape and explained that he was trying to build a sincere relationship with him instead. He then offered to give Li the divine-fire-finding art and promised to expose the real killer of Li’s sect disciples before the gathering ended.

• Li Hongjiu offered to help the Bright Mountain Sect group escape in exchange for his release, but Shi Chun theatrically refused to bargain with his brother’s life.
• Shi Chun explained to the group that Li’s promise was unreliable, that they had other ways to escape, and that building trust with Li could be more useful than forcing a deal.
• Shi Chun returned to Li Hongjiu, said he had persuaded the group to release him, and offered to hand over their secret art for finding divine fire once they escaped.
• When Li Hongjiu dismissed the deaths of his sect disciples as settled, Shi Chun insisted the Bright Mountain Sect was innocent and vowed to reveal the actual killer before the gathering ended.

Shi Chun persuaded Li Hongjiu that the Bright Mountain Sect group would help find the killer in exchange for his help getting them out of the Divine Fire Domain, while privately planning to use Li Hongjiu for their own ends. Li Hongjiu agreed and was freed, but before he could fully recover, Shi Chun pressed him about who had injured him.

• Li Hongjiu reconsidered whether Shi Chun's group had killed his disciples, but insisted he would not pursue the matter for now.
• Shi Chun proposed helping Li Hongjiu find the real killer in return for help getting the Bright Mountain Sect group out before the Exit opened.
• Shi Chun's disciples realized he was pretending to rely on Li Hongjiu, while Li Hongjiu suspected the group mainly wanted to escape and obtain the Divine Fire Secret Art.
• Shi Chun ordered the group to release Li Hongjiu, and Wu Jinliang and the others removed his chains and tended to his injuries.
• After Li Hongjiu began healing, Shi Chun interrupted him and asked who had injured him.

Shi Chun’s group tested Li Hongjiu’s claims of being attacked across the Frozen Lake, then went to the Earthheart Tower to break its formation and collect divine fire. When Zhu Xiangxin and An Wuzhi found the tower empty, Shi Chun rushed inside while Wu Jinliang stayed outside on guard.

• Shi Chun persuaded the injured Li Hongjiu to accompany the group as they tested the lake, but no attack occurred, leaving Li Hongjiu’s story unverified.
• At Lakeside Isle, Shi Chun told Zhen'er that the group was preparing to break the formation, then sent Zhu Xiangxin and An Wuzhi into the Earthheart Tower to collect divine fire.
• Zhu Xiangxin and An Wuzhi returned empty-handed and reported that they had searched the tower without seeing anyone.
• Shi Chun and the others hurried into the tower to investigate, while Wu Jinliang manifested the Gods and Devils Aspect and remained outside with Tong Mingshan to keep watch.

Shi Chun and the others found the Earthheart Tower empty of its divine fires and discovered the hidden chamber behind its rotating wall. They captured a weakened First Lord and reached an altar bearing the corpse that had served as his transformation model.

• Shi Chun and the others searched the silent tower and the surrounding lake but found no divine fires.
• Zhen'er explained that the hidden door was part of a rotating cylinder, and Chu Jingtang and the others turned it to reveal a series of openings.
• Shi Chun and the others found the First Lord hiding behind one opening and captured him after he fled as azure flame.
• The group kept rotating the cylinder until Zhen'er identified the true entrance, and they entered a radiant chamber containing a three-tiered altar.
• Shi Chun saw a horned dried corpse on the altar and recognized it as the model for the First Lord's transformation.

Shi Chun and the others searched the Earthheart Tower’s floors, capturing the nine lords and collecting divine fire while finding only the masters’ remains. Shi Chun learned that taking the bodies out would break the Forbidden Ground’s restrictions, then prepared to use some divine fire to investigate the deaths of Li Hongjiu’s fellow disciples.

• Shi Chun learned that removing the deceased masters’ remains would break the Forbidden Ground’s restrictions and unravel the Earthheart Tower’s formation.
• Shi Chun found no belongings on the Fire God’s remains, stored the body in his Heaven-and-Earth Bag, and discovered that its bones preserved a cultivation method.
• The group explored the second and third floors, captured the Second Lord and Third Lord, and found only more remains and no belongings.
• Shi Chun and the others continued floor by floor, capturing the remaining lords through the Ninth Lord without discovering what had happened to the missing belongings.
• Shi Chun asked An Wuzhi to save two or three masses of divine fire so he could keep his promise to find who had killed Li Hongjiu’s school disciples.