With the “awakening of the sacred mountains” as its main storyline and the “bond between gods and demons” as its underlying thread, the story weaves together four major arcs and five emotional turning points.
Volume One: Ashes of the Barren Mountain
Key imagery: scorched earth, broken stele, blood-red moon
Central conflict: the opposing identities of gods and demons at their first meeting
Volume Two: Calamity in the Mortal Realm
Key imagery: blood-red cherry blossoms in palace courtyards, golden-threaded Gu
Central conflict: the struggle between human greed and divine innocence
Volume Three: The Mirror of Qingqiu
Key imagery: foxfire, the mirror of annihilation
Central conflict: a crisis of trust sparked by the truth of their bloodlines
Volume Four: Oath of Guixu
Key imagery: the weeping Kun pearl, the God-Slaying Arrow
Central conflict: the ultimate choice between the duty of mending the heavens and personal love
