Chapter Summaries

Qu Wuming suspected Shi Chun had deceived the Treasure-Evolving Sect and arranged an escape plan with Qian She, then ordered the sect to search for Shi Chun inside the Divine Fire Domain. Outside, Lan Qiaoyan and Miao Yilan grew worried when Gong Shaoci hesitated to explain why Shi Chun had not emerged.

• A disciple told Qu Wuming that the Fengluo Cult had withdrawn from the Divine Fire Domain nearly four hours earlier, prompting him to suspect a connection to Qian She and Shi Chun.
• Qu Wuming concluded that Shi Chun had used Li Hongjiu to mislead the Treasure-Evolving Sect while secretly planning an escape with Qian She.
• Qu Wuming ordered his people to search for Shi Chun and use the other sects' rules to search any group that might be hiding him.
• Qian She continued waiting outside Artifact Cloud Valley with Young Master Nan as disciples' Life Lotus Lamps were deactivated and the crowd dispersed.
• Lan Qiaoyan and Miao Yilan saw that Shi Chun's Life Lotus Lamp remained active and worried that something had happened to him.
• Gong Shaoci arrived and hesitated when Lan Qiaoyan asked whether Shi Chun had encountered trouble.

Gong Shaoci told Lan Qiaoyan and Miao Yilan that Shi Chun was trapped in the Divine Fire Domain after the Artifact Refining World learned he had a Secret Art for finding divine fire. Qian She secured permission to send a team inside, and Young Master Nan prepared to lead them in and arrange a signal for Shi Chun.

• Gong Shaoci explained that the Artifact Refining World had hunted Shi Chun and his companions for their Secret Art and now blocked the exit.
• Lan Qiaoyan doubted that Shi Chun had been caught so easily, and Gong Shaoci said a Heavenforging Sect spy had exposed the Secret Art through Summer Path Mountain.
• Gong Shaoci returned with news that Qian She had persuaded the Artifact Refining World to reverse the Divine Fire Spirit Gate and allow a rescue team inside.
• Young Master Nan gathered women to shout “Prince” as a signal and told Qian She he would personally lead the team into the Divine Fire Domain.
• Young Master Nan arranged support for the dangerous crossing and ordered his subordinates to keep Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang out of the Sky-Gazing Mirror’s images.

The Green-Robed Man told Feng Chi and Xiang Lan'er that Shi Chun’s Bright Mountain Sect had found enough divine fire to lead the competition, and that outside forces were working to secure their release. But the Artifact Refining World amended the rules, eliminating the Bright Mountain Sect’s chance at first place, leaving Qian She furious and Young Master Nan facing the consequences as he entered Artifact Cloud Valley to retrieve Shi Chun.

• The Green-Robed Man lifted Feng Chi’s restriction and explained that her accurate judgment had earned approval from those above, then revealed that Shi Chun’s Bright Mountain Sect might take first place.
• The Green-Robed Man said Young Master Nan and the Qian Household were pressuring the Artifact Refining World to free Shi Chun, while other forces prepared to intervene or secure the prize if needed.
• The Green-Robed Man returned with news that the Qian Household’s pressure had worked and the Artifact Refining World would let Qian She send supervisors into the Divine Fire Domain.
• Young Master Nan learned that the Artifact Refining World had secretly changed the rules, stripping the Bright Mountain Sect of its remaining chance to win first place.
• Qian She blamed Young Master Nan, withdrew his promised experts, and left Blazing Fire Island as the other distinguished guests departed.
• Young Master Nan chose to enter Artifact Cloud Valley to retrieve Shi Chun, and the Blazing Fire Sect’s sect master admitted his group without inspection.

As Shi Chun faced danger from the Artifact Refining World after the Bright Mountain Sect was disqualified, his allies and enemies reacted to the news. Mulan Qingqing learned of the threat and sent a message asking her father to save Shi Chun, promising to acknowledge him if he succeeded.

• Lan Qiaoyan worried that the artifact-refining sects would seize Shi Chun and his divine-fire-finding Secret Art, while Gong Shaoci offered to speak on his behalf.
• The Green-Robed Man told Xiang Lan'er and Feng Chi that Young Master Nan's group had been humiliated and the Bright Mountain Sect disqualified, but the higher-ups would try to keep Shi Chun alive.
• Qi Ziyuan told Mulan Qingqing that Shi Chun might not escape the Divine Fire Domain and explained how the Artifact Refining World had turned against him.
• Mulan Qingqing left Qi Ziyuan and confronted two men who had been following her, telling them to ask her father to save Shi Chun.
• Mulan Qingqing said she would acknowledge her father if he saved Shi Chun, and one of the men flew off to deliver the message.

The Divine Fire Spirit Gate closed and then reopened in reverse, as Shi Chun and the Bright Mountain Sect prepared for an escort to arrive. Mulan Jin learned that Mulan Qingqing had asked for his help and received permission from the Empress to show her a little favoritism.

• Mulan Qingqing watched the Divine Fire Spirit Gate weaken and close, while Qi Ziyuan told her the reversal was meant to target Shi Chun.
• Duan Xiangmei panicked as the passage began to close, and Feng Chi reassured her that Shi Chun and the other disciples were likely safe.
• Li Hongjiu guessed that the passage was closing so forces outside could enter, while the remaining disciples feared they would be trapped.
• Shi Chun told Feng Zhuoyi that his sect's actions had succeeded and said an escort would soon arrive for the Bright Mountain Sect.
• The Divine Fire Spirit Gate reopened and began rotating in reverse as stronger forces prepared to enter.
• Mulan Jin learned that Mulan Qingqing had dined with Shi Chun, and Xuan Su delivered the Empress's permission for him to show his daughter favoritism.

Shi Chun waited for outsiders to enter the Divine Fire Domain, handed Feng Zhuoyi and his companions two portions of divine fire, then led his group toward the new arrivals under cover of the Three Corpses Mirror’s darkness. After the darkness lifted, he reunited with Young Master Nan and brought Zhen'er to meet Situ Gu.

• Mulan Jin watched the Divine Fire Gate’s vortex open as Situ Gu, members of the Heavenforging Sect, other sect representatives, and Young Master Nan entered the domain.
• Shi Chun gave Feng Zhuoyi and his companions two portions of divine fire, then set out with his group toward the exit while Wu Jinliang carried them on magical cushions.
• Shi Chun used the Three Corpses Mirror to plunge the area around the newcomers into darkness, disrupting their movements as they searched for him.
• Li Hongjiu recognized Shi Chun’s attack, but a fierce palm strike shattered the darkness and restored daylight.
• Shi Chun’s group appeared before the newcomers, and Shi Chun greeted Young Master Nan before leading him to Situ Gu and calling Zhen'er to pay her respects.

Situ Gu recognized Zhen'er, his former Divine Fire Sprite companion, and Shi Chun brought her before him in the Divine Fire Domain. As the sect leaders prepared to deal with Shi Chun, Mulan Jin arrived on behalf of the Stargazing Pavilion and demanded to question him about clues concerning the Demonic Path.

• Zhen'er called Situ Gu "Little Gu," and he confirmed that she was the Divine Fire Sprite who had once helped him and whom he had promised to aid centuries earlier.
• Shi Chun and Zhen'er saluted Situ Gu alongside Wu Jinliang and the Bright Mountain Sect group, while the gathered sects watched Shi Chun emerge beyond their control.
• The Divine Fire Spirit Gate closed, and the Blazing Fire Sect's Sect Master summoned the Ten Great Sects' leaders to welcome Mulan Jin at Artifact Cloud Valley.
• Mulan Jin told the sect leaders that the Stargazing Pavilion needed to question Shi Chun after the competition about clues concerning the Demonic Path.

Mulan Jin stopped the sects from taking Shi Chun before the competition ended, then the exit reopened and Yan Ketao emerged, desperate to survive. Yan Ketao accused Shi Chun of cheating to find Divine Fire, drawing every sect’s attention to him.

• Mulan Jin told the sect leaders he would question Shi Chun after the competition and take the others along, leaving them unable to pursue their plans.
• The exit reopened, and Situ Gu kept the Rebirth Mirror while Shi Chun asked to leave as soon as the way out stabilized.
• Yan Ketao arrived and claimed he had left Summer Path Mountain because its elder Jin Guiqi had manipulated the competition; Gu Liani ordered him seized, but Elder Li protected him.
• Yan Ketao told the sect elders that Shi Chun had used Divine Fire as bait to swindle rival disciples and steal their discoveries.
• Yan Ketao further accused Shi Chun of spreading a false method for finding Divine Fire so he could intercept the other sects’ information.

Yan Ketao’s accusation against Shi Chun collapsed when Wu Jinliang’s trick was exposed, and Jin Guiqi punished Yan Ketao while the Heavenforging Sect abandoned him. Shi Chun and the others left the Divine Fire Domain, where Shi Chun encountered Mulan Jin after arriving outside.

• Yan Ketao accused Shi Chun of exploiting the sects for Divine Fire clues and claimed Jin Guiqi had secretly relayed information, but Shi Chun denied it and Jin Guiqi refuted the claim.
• The elders realized Wu Jinliang had tricked Yan Ketao, and Yan Ketao tried to flee before Jin Guiqi struck him down and ordered him buried with only his head exposed.
• The Heavenforging Sect ignored Yan Ketao’s pleas, while Summer Path Mountain suppressed his confession to avoid a dispute with the stronger sect.
• Shi Chun received permission to leave, and his group, Young Master Nan, Situ Gu, and others departed through the Two-Realm Passage.
• After reaching the outside, Zhen'er excitedly clung to Shi Chun, who noticed Mulan Jin watching him and bowed in greeting.

Shi Chun learned that the artifact refining world had changed the competition rules to bar his group from winning, while Young Master Nan warned that the sects might pursue them for their divine-fire-finding secret art. When Situ Gu arrived, Shi Chun proposed claiming that Situ Gu had taught him the art, shifting the danger toward the Heavenforging Sect.

• Young Master Nan told Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang that the competition rules had changed, and Shi Chun learned that all three divine-fire absorbers in his group were disqualified.
• Young Master Nan worried that the Heavenforging Sect might win his bets, and Shi Chun judged that Summer Path Mountain and the Golden Hall had better chances.
• Young Master Nan warned that the major sects might target Shi Chun for his secret art, but Shi Chun said he could handle the danger himself.
• Chu Jingtang announced that Situ Gu had come alone to see Shi Chun, and Shi Chun welcomed him while Wu Jinliang kept Young Master Nan outside.
• Situ Gu questioned how Shi Chun had broken the Earthheart Tower formation, and Shi Chun explained that its fire spirit had already been weakened.
• Shi Chun told Situ Gu to claim he had taught him the divine-fire-finding art, arguing that the artifact refining world would then have to approach the Heavenforging Sect instead.

Shi Chun arranged for Situ Gu to take Zhen'er as his disciple and tried to learn why Mulan Jin planned to remove the Bright Mountain Sect from the valley. After Situ Gu escorted Zhen'er, Zhu Xiangxin, and An Wuzhi away, new competition rules targeted the sect, and Tong Mingshan suggested he might still compete.

• Shi Chun agreed to let Situ Gu handle Zhen'er's future and help conceal her identity as a woman who had entered the competition disguised as a man.
• Situ Gu told Shi Chun that Mulan Jin, holder of the Pivot Star Token, planned to take the Bright Mountain Sect away after the gathering to question them about leads concerning the Demonic Path.
• Shi Chun asked Situ Gu to try to send Zhu Xiangxin and An Wuzhi out of the valley, then instructed Zhen'er to call Situ Gu Master and pretend to be his disciple.
• Situ Gu escorted Zhen'er, Zhu Xiangxin, and An Wuzhi away, while Shi Chun hoped the escort would help him test Mulan Jin's intentions and impress the two former sect members.
• A Blazing Fire Sect disciple announced new competition rules, prompting the Bright Mountain Sect's members to complain that the rules targeted them.
• Tong Mingshan privately told Shi Chun that the new rules might not prevent him from competing and that he could try.

Shi Chun learned Tong Mingshan might conceal his fused divine fires and registered him for the artifact-refining competition, while Mulan Jin’s arrival disrupted the Demonic Path’s plans and frightened its operatives. The chapter ended with the Extreme Fire Sect learning Tong Mingshan had registered and discussing whether Gu Liani was a transformed fire spirit.

• Tong Mingshan told Shi Chun that twenty-four divine fires had fused into two flames, leaving him with four fires that might pass the competition’s limit and inspection.
• Shi Chun sent Chu Jingtang and Lao Changhai to register Tong Mingshan for the artifact-refining competition, despite their doubts about the rules targeting him.
• A Demonic Path deputy commander ordered his people to withdraw and lie low after learning Mulan Jin had entered Artifact Cloud Valley to question Shi Chun’s group.
• The Green-Robed Man warned Xiang Lan’er and Feng Chi that Mulan Jin was pursuing leads on the Demonic Path and gave them pills in case their situation changed.
• Yin Tianlu reported that Black Tiger had suspected Gu Liani was a fire spirit in human form, and the Extreme Fire Sect discussed whether the claim was true.
• A messenger told Sect Master Su Qiao that Tong Mingshan had registered for the artifact-refining competition.

The artifact-refining sect leaders grew concerned that Tong Mingshan might dominate the competition and agreed to inspect applicants before it began. Meanwhile, Gong Yuanzhi told Lan Qiaoyan that Mulan Jin had intervened to protect Shi Chun, and Shi Chun publicly embraced Li Hongjiu to make their connection unmistakable.

• Qu Wuming urged Li Hongjiu to persuade Shi Chun to keep the destruction of the Forbidden Ground's terrifying presence quiet and to seek out Shi Chun again.
• Luo Yan, Su Qiao, and Qu Wuming questioned Gu Yanduo about Tong Mingshan's registration and agreed to inspect all applicants before the competition.
• Gong Yuanzhi visited Lan Qiaoyan and Miao Yilan, saying Mulan Jin had intervened to keep the Artifact Refining World from acting against Shi Chun.
• Shi Chun ran out to greet Li Hongjiu, embraced him, and loudly proclaimed their brotherly reunion in front of the Bright Mountain Sect and passersby.

Li Hongjiu warned Shi Chun to keep quiet about the Heart-of-the-Lake Tower, while Shi Chun’s plan tested whether Zhu Xiangxin’s former sect would accept him back. Zhu Xiangxin learned that his sect valued him only if he brought back Divine Fire, and he left for Artifact Cloud Valley with his heart set against returning.

• Li Hongjiu greeted Shi Chun warmly in public, then privately warned him about the Stargazing Pavilion and urged him not to tell outsiders about the Heart-of-the-Lake Tower.
• Young Master Nan asked Shi Chun about sending An Wuzhi and Zhu Xiangxin to their former sects, and Shi Chun reflected that they had likely reached them.
• Zhu Xiangxin reunited with Man Yunjiao and decided to conceal that he had obtained Divine Fire while he weighed whether to return to the Ten Thousand Herbs Hall.
• Ao Hongyou, Bai Tingfang, and Elder Lian Hu told Zhu Xiangxin that opposition to his return remained because he had not obtained enough Divine Fire.
• Zhu Xiangxin left the inn in tears after realizing his former sect would reject him without benefit, and he headed for Artifact Cloud Valley’s exit.

Zhu Xiangxin and An Wuzhi were barred from returning to the valley and went to seek their companions, while Shi Chun’s group brought Tong Mingshan to the new Divine Fire eligibility test. Tong Mingshan passed by showing only four Divine Fires, and Shi Chun then challenged the elders to address another alleged unfairness in the competition.

• Zhu Xiangxin and An Wuzhi found themselves unable to reenter the valley, and An Wuzhi urged them to join Duan Xiangmei and their other companions.
• Shi Chun agreed to accompany Tong Mingshan to the eligibility test after the Blazing Fire Sect announced the new rule.
• Tong Mingshan’s reflection showed four Void Flames, concealing the twenty-six Divine Fires he had fused into two True Fires.
• Elders from the Ten Great Sects repeatedly tested Tong Mingshan and accepted that he had only four Divine Fires.
• Shi Chun asked the elders how they would ensure fairness for contestants who had less time to rest before the competition.

Shi Chun used the dispute over Tong Mingshan’s divine-fire inspection to investigate what the sects knew and negotiate protection from Summer Path Mountain in exchange for the Fire God Incense’s secret. He left Gu Liani waiting while he and Young Master Nan prepared demands for the other artifact-refining sects.

• Shi Chun argued that the inspection rules should be applied fairly, and an elder promised that appropriate considerations would be made.
• Elder Tu Wenjing reported that Tong Mingshan had only four divine-fire attributes, and Gu Yanduo sent Gu Liani to ask Shi Chun what had happened.
• Gu Liani inspected Tong Mingshan herself, confirmed he had absorbed only four divine fires, then asked Shi Chun where he had obtained the Fire God Incense.
• Gu Liani offered Summer Path Mountain’s protection if Shi Chun joined the sect, but Shi Chun joked that she should become his woman before he would trust them.
• Shi Chun asked Tong Mingshan and Young Master Nan to prepare a list of valuable materials in exchange for the divine-fire-finding secret, then ordered eight copies for the other great sects besides the Heavenforging Sect.

Shi Chun arranged to sell the recovered goods to the Ten Great Sects through a staged debt transfer, using Young Master Nan to shield the transaction while seeking resources to fight back. He offered Summer Path Mountain a list of materials and a price, and its leaders began gathering supplies to make the deal before the Stargazing Pavilion could take him away.

• Shi Chun persuaded Young Master Nan to receive the goods publicly as repayment of a debt, protecting him while they sold to the nine sects and worked to weaken the Heavenforging Sect's chance of winning.
• Shi Chun asked Young Master Nan to find Mulan Qingqing, and Young Master Nan confirmed she was still on the island and said the Mother-Child Talisman would work again after the passage and competition concluded.
• Shi Chun gave Gu Liani and Yuan Yao a list of materials and a price for the recovered goods, and they hurried to report the offer to their sect leader.
• Shi Chun explained to Young Master Nan that the listed materials could be resold or exchanged to fund his group, while wondering whether An Wuzhi and Zhu Xiangxin had returned to their sects.
• Gu Yanduo ordered Summer Path Mountain's senior members to pool their resources and borrow from other sects as needed to gather the materials before the Stargazing Pavilion took Shi Chun away.

Shi Chun negotiated with Summer Path Mountain to sell the source of the divine-fire-finding secret to all Ten Great Sects rather than grant them exclusive rights. Summer Path Mountain accepted the deal, and Shi Chun prepared to reveal the information after sending his companions away with the goods.

• Gu Yanduo sent Gu Liani to invite Shi Chun to Summer Path Mountain, and Shi Chun arrived with Wu Jinliang, Young Master Nan, and Tong Mingshan.
• When Gu Yanduo asked for exclusive rights, Shi Chun explained he would sell the secret to all Ten Great Sects for the same price, since exclusivity would leave him vulnerable to the other sects.
• Shi Chun clarified that he knew only the secret's source, not how it worked, and argued that the information could still help a sect monopolize divine fire if it solved the mystery.
• After Shi Chun started to leave and return the goods, Gu Yanduo stopped him and insisted that Summer Path Mountain had fulfilled its side of the deal.
• Shi Chun handed the goods to Young Master Nan to repay part of his debt, sent his companions away, returned the remaining bag, and prepared to speak to the Summer Path Mountain elders.

Shi Chun convinced Summer Path Mountain that Situ Gu had given him Fire God Incense, framing his sale of the Divine Fire secret to multiple sects as a way to protect himself. Gu Yanduo let him leave and renewed his offer of discipleship, while Shi Chun hurried on to sell the information elsewhere.

• Shi Chun told Gu Yanduo and the Summer Path Mountain elders that Situ Gu had given him Fire God Incense and later examined how it worked.
• When the elders doubted his story, Shi Chun offered to return their payment if they could prove he had lied and urged them to verify it with Situ Gu.
• Shi Chun explained that he had spread the secret among the Ten Great Sects to protect himself from the Stargazing Pavilion and its scrutiny.
• Gu Yanduo and Elder Tu praised Shi Chun's resourcefulness and offered him another chance to join Summer Path Mountain if he passed the Stargazing Pavilion's scrutiny.
• Shi Chun secured permission to leave and hurried away to visit the next sect, while Elder Tu insisted Summer Path Mountain would not let the other sects obtain the information for free.

Shi Chun sold the Treasure-Evolving Sect information about Fire God Incense in exchange for a list of goods, then took the group to the Extreme Fire Sect to address the Magical Treasure taken from its slain disciple. He refused to return it, saying it might be connected to the Demonic Path and that the Stargazing Pavilion would have to decide its fate.

• Shi Chun offered the Treasure-Evolving Sect a Secret Art for finding divine fire and secured the listed goods after revealing the information about Fire God Incense.
• Shi Chun loudly presented Li Hongjiu as his brother, then left the Treasure-Evolving Sect with the goods and told Wu Jinliang to arrange the next delivery at the Golden Hall.
• Shi Chun told Young Master Nan to keep half his goods and protect certain people if he failed to overcome the Stargazing Pavilion's hurdle, without explaining who they were.
• Shi Chun's party entered the Extreme Fire Sect, where its elders confronted him over killing their disciple and demanded the return of the disciple's Magical Treasure.
• Shi Chun refused to return the Magical Treasure, saying it might be connected to the Demonic Path and that the Extreme Fire Sect should ask the Stargazing Pavilion about it.