Chapter Summaries

Li Xiao and the others traveled deeper into the Cangwu Mountain Range and found a rare Winged Tiger in a ravine. Li Xiao struck first with Po Jun, but the beast blocked his arrow and flew toward the group.

• Qingyunzi gave Huangfu Yuan a Heart Clearing Pill to suppress the Demonic Qi affecting him.
• Huangfu Yuan warned the group about the Demonic Beasts in the mountains, and Qingyunzi used a Yellow Paper Crane to lead them toward one.
• The group found a Fifth Turn Marrow-Piercing Realm Winged Tiger and prepared to fight it.
• Li Xiao fired a powerful arrow from Po Jun, but the Winged Tiger countered it with lightning.
• The Winged Tiger spread its wings, roared, and charged toward the group.

Du Tianshan and the Winged Tiger fought fiercely until Qingyunzi’s fireballs helped bring down the beast. The group began harvesting the tiger’s valuable materials, pleased with the results of their expedition.

• Du Tianshan transformed with the Law of Heaven and Earth and battled the Winged Tiger while Li Xiao and the others watched and supported him.
• As Du Tianshan’s strength began to wane, Qingyunzi struck the Winged Tiger with five fireballs, badly wounding it.
• Du Tianshan killed the injured Winged Tiger with a series of punches and then swallowed a Pill to restore his True Qi.
• Huangfu Yuan identified the tiger’s remains as valuable materials, and Zhao Mengchen, Du Tianshan, and Qingyunzi began skinning it, removing its bones, and collecting its blood.

Li Xiao joined the group’s camp in the Cangwu Mountain Range and secretly used roasted Winged Tiger meat to parasitize Du Tianshan with a Sub-insect. The group enjoyed the meal, unaware that the insect would slowly absorb Du Tianshan’s True Qi and feed it back to Li Xiao.

• After the group processed the Winged Tiger, they traveled deeper into the mountain range and camped in a concealed valley for the night.
• Huangfu Yuan suggested roasting the Winged Tiger meat, and Li Xiao offered to prepare it using his precise control of heat and True Qi.
• As Li Xiao served Du Tianshan another piece of meat, he secretly inserted a nearly invisible Sub-insect into it.
• Du Tianshan ate the meat, praised Li Xiao’s cooking, and mistakenly believed the meal had strengthened his True Qi.
• Li Xiao calculated that the Sub-insect would quietly absorb Du Tianshan’s True Qi and transfer it to him over time.

Li Xiao used Sub-insects to siphon True Qi and Essence Qi from his companions while the group hunted Demonic Beasts in the Cangwu Mountain Range. After returning to Wuping Commandery with their gains, he cultivated with energy from four parasitized companions and decided to prepare to return to the Three Origins Sect.

• Li Xiao sensed the Sub-insect in Du Tianshan’s meridians feeding him pure True Qi and considered where to find Demonic Qi and Killing Intent.
• Qingyunzi guided the group through the Cangwu Mountain Range with his Paper Crane as they hunted several Fifth Turn Demonic Beasts.
• Li Xiao secretly mixed an Essence Qi-absorbing Sub-insect into Huangfu Yuan’s roast meat, and Huangfu Yuan ate it without noticing.
• The group returned to Wuping Commandery with several Demonic Beasts, and Huangfu Yuan welcomed the onlookers as the materials were taken to his residence.
• Li Xiao sensed Sub-insects siphoning Essence Qi from Huangfu Yuan, Du Tianshan, Zhao Mengchen, and Qingyunzi, strengthening his cultivation progress.
• Li Xiao decided to return to the Three Origins Sect and focus on raising his strength.

Huangfu Yuan received an urgent summons from his father and set out for the Prince's Mansion with Li Xiao and his companions. Meanwhile, the Dragon Race joined the war against the Yu Kingdom ahead of schedule, forcing the Zhou Kingdom to mobilize and leaving Huangfu Yuan uneasy about how events had changed.

• Huangfu Yuan received his father's urgent summons and invited Li Xiao, Du Tianshan, Zhao Mengchen, and Qingyunzi to travel with him.
• Huangfu Yuan and his companions departed for the Prince of Nanyang's Mansion, while he wondered what had prompted the summons.
• At the Yu Kingdom's front lines, Flood Python reported the Human Race's disarray to a Dragon-Headed Great Demon, who ordered the Demon Race to keep up the pressure.
• The Dragon Race entered the war, killed a Sixth Turn marquis, and helped the Demon Race capture several cities in the Yu Kingdom.
• Emperor Zhou ordered the Military Governors to send reinforcements, and the Prince of Nanyang summoned his sons to discuss mobilizing troops.
• Huangfu Yuan realized the Dragon Race had joined the war years earlier than in his previous life and feared that events had changed.

Li Xiao and Huangfu Yuan arrived at Nanan City, where Huangfu Yuan’s brothers sized up his forces and Third Prince Huangfu Yu quietly resented Li Xiao’s choice to follow him. Huangfu Yuan left Li Xiao and the others in a courtyard before attending a council deliberation with Prince of Nanyang and his sons.

• Li Xiao and Huangfu Yuan reached Nanan City, the stronghold of Prince of Nanyang's Mansion, and Huangfu Yuan explained the city’s history and his father’s authority.
• Prince of Nanyang’s sons gathered at the gates to inspect Huangfu Yuan, while Third Prince Huangfu Yu recognized that Li Xiao had joined his younger brother’s party and concealed his anger.
• Huangfu Yuan greeted his eldest brother and the other princes, answering their remarks calmly as Li Xiao watched.
• Huangfu Yuan settled Li Xiao, Du Tianshan, Zhao Mengchen, Qingyunzi, Wang Shichong, and the others in a courtyard, then left after being summoned by his father.
• Prince of Nanyang presided over a council meeting attended by his sons, with Huangfu Yuan seated at the end of the assembly.

The Prince of Nanyang gathered his family and commanders to plan reinforcements for the failing Yu Kingdom after the Dragon Race joined the war. Huangfu Yuan was ordered to bring Li Xiao and his other associates to meet his father the next day, while Huangfu Yu watched with smug interest.

• The Prince of Nanyang announced that the Dragon Race had entered the war and that Great Zhou had ordered his forces to reinforce the Yu Kingdom.
• The princes volunteered to lead troops, but the Prince of Nanyang told his eldest son to remain and postponed assigning Huangfu Yuan to the campaign.
• The Prince of Nanyang asked Huangfu Yuan about his governance of Wuping Commandery, and Huangfu Yuan credited his father and his people.
• Huangfu Yu praised Huangfu Yuan's associates, including the Du Family's eldest son, Qi Cultivators, and a Three Origins Sect Inner Sect disciple.
• The Prince of Nanyang ordered Huangfu Yuan to bring his associates to meet him the next day, and Huangfu Yu watched with a smug smile.

Huangfu Yuan and his companions met the Prince of Nanyang, who warmly questioned them and focused particular attention on Li Xiao. The Prince then ordered Huangfu Yuan to go to the front lines against the Demon Race, and Huangfu Yuan realized his father was using the opportunity to connect with the influential people around him.

• Huangfu Yuan told his companions that the Prince of Nanyang wanted to meet them, and he reassured Wang Shichong that he would protect him.
• The Prince of Nanyang welcomed the group and chatted with them, while Li Xiao sensed that the prince's strength exceeded his reputation and chose not to inspect his Fortune and Destiny.
• Huangfu Yuan introduced Li Xiao, and the Prince of Nanyang praised him and offered to help him if he needed anything.
• The Prince of Nanyang ordered Huangfu Yuan to join the front lines against the Demon Race, and Huangfu Yuan agreed while concealing his surprise.
• Huangfu Yuan concluded that his father had offered him the chance not out of affection, but to build connections with the powerful allies around him.

Huangfu Yuan agreed to go to the front lines against the Demon Race, and most of his companions chose to accompany him while Li Xiao returned to his sect. Afterward, Li Xiao cultivated and drew power from the Sub-insects parasitizing his companions, accelerating his progress toward the Marrow-Piercing Realm.

• Huangfu Yuan accepted Prince of Nanyang's order to go to the front lines and secured ten thousand elite soldiers, supplies, weapons, and a Fifth Turn retainer.
• Huangfu Yuan told his companions he would not use them to serve his father's interests, and Du Tianshan, Zhao Mengchen, Qingyunzi, and Wang Shichong agreed to go with him.
• Li Xiao declined to join the expedition because his sect needed him, and Huangfu Yuan accepted his decision.
• Huangfu Yuan recalled that Su Chen, a Fifth Turn expert in the Demon Suppression Division, had earned great renown fighting on the front lines.
• Li Xiao cultivated with Origin-Returning Pills and absorbed power from the Sub-insects parasitizing Du Tianshan, Zhao Mengchen, Qingyunzi, and Huangfu Yuan.

Li Xiao left Nanan City alone, entrusting his family’s safety to Huangfu Yuan and leaving Frost Shadow behind. At Three Origins Sect, elders argued over aiding the war against the Demon Race before Lotus Chan Monastery’s monks arrived, including Shi Xin.

• Li Xiao said farewell to Huangfu Yuan and the others, leaving Frost Shadow in Huangfu Yuan’s care.
• Li Xiao departed Nanan City and flew toward Three Origins Sect using the Dragon-Snake Flying Cloud Step.
• Three Origins Sect’s elders debated whether to send reinforcements as the war against the Demon Race worsened.
• The Iron Wire Peak Master argued that Three Origins Sect should take the lead in resisting the Demon Race.
• An elder announced Lotus Chan Monastery’s arrival, and the Iron Wire Peak Master went to receive its delegation.
• More than ten Lotus Chan Monastery monks waited at Three Origins Sect’s mountain gate, with Shi Xin among them.

Lotus Chan Monastery sent Liao Chen and his disciples to the Three Origins Sect to discuss resisting the Demon Race after the Dragon Race entered the war. The Sect Master agreed to coordinate reinforcements, though the candidates had not yet been chosen, and Shi Xin settled with the visiting monks without seeing Li Xiao.

• The Iron Wire Peak Master welcomed Liao Chen and the Lotus Chan Monastery monks at the Three Origins Sect’s mountain gate.
• Shi Xin entered the Sect with the monks, hoping to learn how Li Xiao was doing, but did not see him in the hall.
• Liao Chen and the Sect Master discussed the Dragon Race’s entry into the war and suspected the Demonic Path was helping fuel the conflict.
• The Sect Master proposed sending a Supreme Elder with Fifth Turn and Fourth Turn disciples to reinforce the front lines, while Liao Chen offered to wait and depart with them.
• The Sect Master arranged guest quarters for the visiting monks, and Shi Xin followed them to a secluded courtyard.

Shi Xin learned that Li Feiyu had used an alias and was now known as Li Xiao, while Li Xiao returned to the Three Origins Sect as it prepared to send forces against the Demon Race. The chapter ended when Li Xiao arrived at Shi Xin’s courtyard and the two old acquaintances saw each other again.

• Shi Xin asked a disciple about Li Feiyu and learned that he was Li Xiao, a celebrated sect disciple who had left on a journey.
• The Sect Master asked the Three Origins Sect’s Supreme Elders to lead forces against the Demon Race, and Elder Shi volunteered.
• The Three Origins Sect’s peaks began selecting volunteers to fight, with elders and disciples stepping forward.
• Li Xiao returned to the sect and drew a crowd of visitors eager to meet and praise him.
• Li Xiao learned that Shi Xin was staying on Returning Origin Peak, went to find him, and appeared at the courtyard gate as Shi Xin opened his eyes.

Li Xiao reunited with Shi Xin, an old companion from the mine, and agreed to join him in resisting the Demon Race. After showing Shi Xin his Life-Slaying Amitabha Sword Scripture, Li Xiao challenged him to exchange pointers, drawing a crowd at the Three Origins Sect.

• Li Xiao and Shi Xin reunited and discussed their shared past, their cultivation, and their rise within their respective sects.
• Li Xiao ordered Demonic Beast meat for Shi Xin, who set aside his initial reservations and enjoyed the meal with him.
• Shi Xin asked whether Li Xiao would join the campaign against the Demon Race, and Li Xiao agreed while privately considering how to obtain Shi Xin's Essence Blood.
• Li Xiao showed Shi Xin the tiny golden sword he had cultivated through the Life-Slaying Amitabha Sword Scripture, and Shi Xin praised its pure Buddha Qi.
• Li Xiao and Shi Xin agreed to exchange pointers, prompting excitement across the Three Origins Sect as they headed to the Fifth Turn Martial Arts Training Ground.

Li Xiao and Shi Xin fought an intense sparring match at the Martial Arts Training Ground, with sect leaders and monks watching. After two hundred moves, neither could defeat the other, and they agreed to a draw, while Elder Shi expressed interest in Li Xiao.

• The Sect Master, the Iron Wire Peak Master, and the Azure Wave Peak Master wagered on the outcome, while Elder Shi praised Li Xiao and considered taking him as a disciple.
• Shi Xin opened the spar with a powerful palm strike, and he and Li Xiao exchanged blows using their respective martial arts.
• Li Xiao’s Iron Wire Fist and Flying Cloud Leg tested Shi Xin’s Immovable King Body, while Shi Xin’s strengthened palm strikes forced Li Xiao to rely on his movement technique.
• Li Xiao unleashed his Three Absolutes Returning Origin Qi, and both fighters continued trading attacks until neither could gain a decisive advantage.
• After two hundred moves, Li Xiao and Shi Xin agreed to a draw, and Elder Shi said he thought highly of Li Xiao.

After Li Xiao fought Shi Xin to a draw, spectators recognized him as a formidable contender for the Candidate Saint Son Battle. Li Xiao told Feng Qing he intended to join the front lines against the Demon Race, and Feng Qing let him go after asking him to return alive.

• The elders and disciples who watched Li Xiao and Shi Xin fight acknowledged Li Xiao's exceptional strength and his potential as a rival in the Candidate Saint Son Battle.
• Li Xiao and Shi Xin praised each other's abilities as they left the Martial Arts Training Ground, and both acknowledged that they had held back.
• Li Xiao visited Feng Qing, who said Li Xiao's strength had surpassed his own.
• Li Xiao told Feng Qing that he intended to fight the Demon Race at the front lines to protect the Human Race and gain experience.
• Feng Qing warned Li Xiao that the battlefield was dangerous, then agreed not to stop him and asked him to return alive.
• Li Xiao promised to return alive, took his leave, and glanced back at Feng Qing before departing.

Li Xiao asked the Sect Master to let him fight on the front lines, seeking a battlefield to temper his strength and advance his cultivation. The Sect Master approved, offered him a chance to become Shi Zhou’s disciple, and granted him entry to two peak secret realms; Li Xiao entered the Iron Wire Peak Secret Realm to begin cultivating.

• Li Xiao asked to go to the front lines, and the Sect Master agreed to support his request while warning him to stay safe.
• The Sect Master told Li Xiao that Supreme Elder Shi Zhou wanted to take him as a disciple, and Li Xiao said he would consider it.
• The Sect Master rewarded Li Xiao with Tokens granting entry to the Azure Wave Peak and Iron Wire Peak Secret Realms for bringing honor to the Three Origins Sect.
• Li Xiao instructed Qingluo and Bitao, then went to the Iron Wire Peak Secret Realm and presented his Token to its guardians.
• Li Xiao entered the Iron Wire Peak Secret Realm, surveyed its bleak landscape, and walked deeper inside.

Li Xiao and the Three Origins Sect and Lotus Chan Monastery arrived at Zhennan City, where Marquis Jingbian briefed them on the worsening war against the Demon Race. The Demon Race launched a major assault the next morning, and Marquis Jingbian led the newly arrived forces out to battle.

• Elder Shi brought the Three Origins Sect's disciples to Zhennan City and met Marquis Jingbian, who welcomed them and led them into the city.
• At a banquet, Marquis Jingbian explained that eleven of Kuo Province's thirty-six cities had fallen and described the Demon Race's strength and the army's heavy casualties.
• Elder Shi and Master Liao Chen pledged their groups' support, while Marquis Jingbian asked them to rest until the Demon Race's forces were assessed.
• The next morning, a report announced that the Demon Race was attacking three front-line cities, and Li Xiao armed himself and joined the others.
• Marquis Jingbian ordered everyone to follow him and repel the assault; Elder Shi agreed, Iron Wire Peak Master rallied the Three Origins Sect disciples, and Liao Chen called the Lotus Chan Monastery disciples to follow.

Li Xiao and the reinforcements from the Three Origins Sect, the Lotus Chan Monastery, and the Qi Cultivators joined the battle to defend three besieged cities. After days of fighting, the Dragon Race attacked a city's formation, and Elder Shi confronted it but was driven back.

• Elder Shi divided the reinforcements among the three cities, sending Liao Chen and Li Xiao to the middle city.
• Li Xiao used Po Jun to kill Demon Generals with precise arrows while Shi Xin and Master Liao Chen fought through the Demonic Beast horde.
• By the morning of the third day, the Demonic Beast offensive weakened, and the Dragon Race attacked the city's formation with its breath.
• Elder Shi struck the Dragon Race with a palm, but it countered with its claws and forced him back.

Elder Shi and the defenders repelled a Demonic Beast assault, though a powerful Dragon Race warrior nearly overwhelmed him. After several days of recovery, Marquis Jingbian summoned the leaders to discuss the threat of another attack.

• Elder Shi fought the Dragon Race warrior while Li Xiao tried to help with an arrow, but the dragon’s strength left Elder Shi struggling to hold on.
• The defenders of the city routed the Demonic Beast horde, prompting the Dragon Race warrior to withdraw with its forces.
• Elder Shi praised Li Xiao for killing Fifth Turn Demon Generals with his archery and credited the defenders for holding the city.
• After several peaceful days of recovery, Marquis Jingbian gathered the leaders at the Garrison Mansion and warned that the Demon Race’s main force remained intact and would attack again.

Marquis Jingbian sent teams to reinforce threatened cities, and Li Xiao joined Elder Han's group bound for Xi City. After learning about the Yaksha Race's presence, Li Xiao was assigned to defend a small southern city, and the team encountered signs of widespread death on the road.

• Marquis Jingbian assigned Elder Liu, Master Shi Ming, Elder Han, and others to lead teams defending cities under attack by the Demon Race.
• Elder Shi warned Li Xiao to follow Elder Han's orders and prioritize survival when he reached Xi City.
• Elder Han led several thousand soldiers and cultivators out of Zhennan City toward Xi City, where the Yaksha Race had at least four Fifth Turn commanders.
• Elder Han assigned Li Xiao to guard a remote small city south of Xi City and told him to signal for reinforcements if danger arose.
• The group killed several Third and Fourth Turn Demonic Beasts along the road and passed human, beast, and Exotic Beast remains.