The story is set in the early days of the Industrial Revolution, when humans invented "black fire" and ushered in a new era of plundering nature. On the Iron Forest Continent, the Iron Dome City-state in the west pursues technological hegemony, the Hidden Mist Forest in the east has ancient gods, and the Ash Wasteland in the center is a gathering place for nomadic tribes and refugees. The core conflict revolves around the human camp, the natural camp, and third-party forces.
Through the experiences of core characters such as Cang He, Chi Tong, and Yun Jin, the novel shows themes such as the tearing of identity, the origin of hatred, the madness of civilization, and the paradox of sacrifice. The narrative structure is multi-perspective POV, the language is cold and poetic, and the rhythm design is unique. The ending is tragic, with the Cang River turning into a giant tree and dying together with the Eclipse Sea. Chi Tong puts aside his hatred and becomes the guardian of the new forest, leaving many suspense for the sequel, such as white flowers, Chi Tong's eye injury, the secret of the data disk, etc., Triggering readers' endless reverie about Tielin's future destiny.
