Master Huang

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Master Huang (黄师傅)
Alias(es)	Red Fox; Nine-tailed Red Fox 190 191 192
Species/Race	Nine-tailed fox demon capable of human transformation 191 192
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Formerly one of the Five Elder Demons; later an ally of Xie An and Su Yuqing 192 193 203
Occupation/Role	Mirror polisher in disguise; Martial Arts Grandmaster; later a collaborator in Xie An's investigations and cultivation efforts 190 203 232
Status	Active 250
First Appearance	Chapter 190

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Near Second-Rank Martial Arts Grandmaster (before his ambush)	203	He states that he had been close to surpassing the other Four Elder Demons and breaking through to Second Rank before they ambushed and poisoned him with Bloodthirsty Powder.
Concealed Martial Arts Grandmaster (injured)	190	Appears in Qingwu County as a mirror polisher while concealing Grandmaster-level strength and recovering from severe injuries.
Peak Fourth-Rank Grandmaster	216	Repeated use of the Spirit-Connecting Treasure Mirror heals him toward recovery of his former strength.
Third-Rank Martial Arts Grandmaster	231	His strength has recovered to the Third-Rank realm, though he cannot overcome the faster man in black.
Spiritual Root awakened	239	Receives the Witch Spirit's blessing, opens his Spiritual Root, and begins pursuing immortal cultivation.
Peak Second-Rank Martial Arts Grandmaster	250	Reaches the peak of Second Rank and stands close to a First-Rank breakthrough; he is also nearing the Qi Refining Stage.

Background

Originally a weak fox repeatedly bullied and displaced by stronger beasts, Master Huang's life changed after he drank from a mountain spring and gradually became a fox demon. He later found the fox demon tribe and spent hundreds of years cultivating until he became a great demon comparable to a human Martial Arts Grandmaster 192.

He became one of the Five Elder Demons, but eventually fell into conflict with the other four. When he was close to breaking through to the Second-Rank Grandmaster realm, the Four Elder Demons ambushed him with the Longevity Cult's Bloodthirsty Powder. Injured, he fled to Qingwu County, where he remained in recovery 193 203.

Appearance

Master Huang initially presents himself as a harmless, half-old mirror polisher with sallow skin. His ordinary appearance conceals both his identity and his Grandmaster-level cultivation 190 191.

• Assumes a human guise to move freely among humans.
• His true identity is a Nine-tailed Red Fox 191 192.
• Has lived for nearly four centuries despite his aged human disguise 191.
• Uses an approachable smile and humble manner to deflect suspicion while operating as a street vendor 190.

Personality

Master Huang is cautious, pragmatic, and acutely aware of the dangers posed by stronger opponents. While injured, he avoids confronting Su Yuqing directly because of both her strength and the risk of attracting further human reinforcements 190. His first attempt to retrieve the mirror relies on a fabricated story about fulfilling a dying friend's wish, showing that he is willing to deceive when pressured 190 192.

Despite this dishonesty, he proves deeply loyal once he accepts Xie An as an ally. He becomes grateful that Xie An gives the White Fox a safe and happy life, and he regards serving Xie An and Su Yuqing as his best remaining path after the destruction of Five Elder Peaks 203 231. His desire to cultivate immortality also makes him highly motivated to support their plans against the Eight-Armed Wizard 232.

Abilities & Skills

Human Transformation

Master Huang can transform from a Nine-tailed fox into a human, masking his demonic nature behind the identity of a mirror polisher 190 191.

• Conceals himself in human settlements without immediately revealing his demonic aura.
• Human transformation requires extremely advanced cultivation, including the ability to alter bone and muscle structure 192.
• His disguise is convincing enough to deceive ordinary townspeople into hiring him for mirror-polishing work 190.

Martial Arts Grandmaster Cultivation

Master Huang is an exceptionally powerful demon whose martial strength recovered from Fourth Rank to Third Rank and later near the Second-Rank peak 216 231 250.

• Possesses heightened perception capable of sensing an injured Martial Arts Grandmaster entering Xie An's room 203.
• Was formerly close to a Second-Rank breakthrough before the Four Elder Demons poisoned and ambushed him 203.
• His demon-specific cultivation method is unsuitable for humans, limiting the direct martial guidance he can offer Xie An 217.
• Cannot defeat or pursue opponents whose speed and strength exceed his own, as shown by the man in black 231.

Medical Knowledge and Injury Diagnosis

Master Huang has practical experience with rare poisons and severe Grandmaster-level injuries.

• Correctly identifies Bloodthirsty Powder as the poison affecting Jin Xiaotang 203.
• Deduces that Jin Xiaotang was poisoned and attacked by three Martial Arts Grandmasters based on her condition 203.
• Uses the Spirit-Connecting Treasure Mirror to heal his own injuries over time 216.

Immortal Cultivation Potential

After receiving the Witch Spirit's blessing, Master Huang gains a Spiritual Root and begins pursuing immortal cultivation 239.

• Previously could not cultivate the Five Elements Spirit Quenching Method because he lacked both accessible spiritual energy and the ability to sense it 232.
• Views the Eight-Armed Wizard's blessing method as his opportunity to enter immortal cultivation 232.
• By the time of the Yunzhou crisis, he is close to the Qi Refining Stage 250.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Spirit-Connecting Treasure Mirror — A Shore Flower-adorned spiritual mirror he seeks to reclaim from Xie An. He later uses it to assist his recovery until Chen Yu'er takes it from him 190 191 216.
• Divination tools — Kept in his room and used before Xie An asks for help with Jin Xiaotang 203.
• Great saber — Used during the interrogation of Thirteenth Master 232.

Relationships

• Xie An — Initially seeks to recover the Spirit-Connecting Treasure Mirror from him through deception and negotiation. Their relationship develops into a cooperative alliance, and Xie An eventually calls him “Brother Huang” 190 192 203 217.
• Su Yuqing — Her presence initially deters him from taking forceful action against Xie An. She later advises Xie An to win him over because of his conflict with the Four Elder Demons 190 193.
• White Fox — A long-time companion who escaped hardship alongside him. Master Huang is relieved to see the White Fox happy under Xie An's care and is devastated when Chen Yu'er temporarily takes it away 203 216.
• Four Elder Demons — His enemies within the Five Elder Peaks. They ambushed him and used Bloodthirsty Powder to halt his advancement 193 203.
• Jin Xiaotang — Recognizes her as the former dynasty's Immortal Empress and recalls her attempts to incite conflict among the Five Elder Demons 203.
• Chen Yu'er — Takes both the Spirit-Connecting Treasure Mirror and the White Fox from him, then later returns with the White Fox during Xie An's Grandmaster breakthrough 216 217.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Spirit-Connecting Treasure Mirror

Master Huang enters Qingwu County disguised as a cheap mirror polisher shortly after Xie An acquires an ancient bronze mirror. Su Yuqing identifies him as an extraordinary Martial Arts Grandmaster, prompting Xie An to treat him with caution 190.

He reveals himself as the Red Fox and demands the return of the mirror, calling it the treasure of his clan. Xie An refuses to surrender it without answers, requiring Master Huang to explain the mirror, ancient artifacts, and his personal history 191 192.

Alliance with Xie An

Su Yuqing identifies Master Huang as one of the Five Elder Demons but recommends recruiting him due to his enmity with the other four. Over the following months, he becomes a trusted collaborator rather than an adversary 192 193 203.

He assists Xie An with the injured Jin Xiaotang, identifies the Bloodthirsty Powder involved in her condition, and provides information linking Guangchanzi to the Four Elder Demons 203.

Grandmaster Breakthrough and the White Fox Crisis

After Chen Yu'er takes the Spirit-Connecting Treasure Mirror and the White Fox, Master Huang is left despondent but still agrees to guide Xie An's attempt to open the Yongquan secret repository. He watches Xie An successfully become a Martial Arts Grandmaster and joins the celebration afterward 216 217.

Pursuit of Immortal Cultivation

Master Huang helps investigate the Ancient Underground Village and the Eight-Armed Wizard's spiritual plants. Although he initially lacks the means to sense spiritual energy, he remains committed because the Wizard's blessing method may allow him to cultivate immortality 232.

He ultimately receives a blessing, opens his Spiritual Root, and begins immortal cultivation alongside Xie An, Chen Yu'er, and Jin Yuping 239.

Trivia

• Master Huang's story about retrieving an ancestral heirloom for a dying friend is a deliberate fabrication intended to persuade Xie An to return the mirror 190 192.
• He repeatedly assumes that Su Yuqing is Xie An's future wife despite her denials 203.
• He considers the White Fox's safety and happiness one of his greatest personal concerns 203 231.