In this chapter, the flame king explains that the ghost army has managed to annihilate the mercy palace without any serious losses. He says that the basic principle of fighting is for one to maintain his own strength against the enemy. The mercy palace is being slowed down, he says, due to the fact that the murim forces are able to fight very well. He adds that the sacheon clans and the five families have been at odds for a long time, and he is grateful for their efforts. The polished swordmaker, meanwhile, is with the unknown army that has just arrived in the Shandong region. He makes a new set of explosives, which he calls "bastard made," and he tells everyone to charge at him.