Chapter Summaries

Xiao Qinghe tended to Xie Jun’s injuries after Xie Jun fought Bai Yuqing, but Xie Jun suddenly pinned him down and insisted he was not sick. The system awarded Xiao Qinghe the Rings of Deception, which let him and Xie Jun cultivate together safely, and the chapter ended with Xiao Qinghe discovering the manual’s instructions for sleeping face-to-face.

• Xie Jun attacked Bai Yuqing, traded several lethal blows with him, and staggered back with new injuries.
• Xiao Qinghe took Xie Jun away and treated his wounds, while Xie Jun said he would allow his senior brother to touch him.
• Xie Jun tackled Xiao Qinghe and pressed their foreheads together to prove he did not have a fever.
• The system announced that Xiao Qinghe had earned enough donation points to redeem a reward, and a reader donated two Rings of Deception.
• Xiao Qinghe learned that the rings concealed demonic energy and excitedly proposed that he and Xie Jun practice dual cultivation.
• Xie Jun warned that the manual allowed cultivation with only one partner, then pointed out its instructions for a face-to-face sleeping method.

Xiao Qinghe and Xie Jun practiced dual cultivation, greatly improving Xiao Qinghe’s swordsmanship, though Xiao Qinghe woke sore while Xie Jun seemed refreshed. Xiao Qinghe took revenge on Zhao Guangyi with hidden pebble attacks, then eagerly invited Xie Jun to practice again, unaware of Xie Jun’s possessive feelings.

• Xiao Qinghe agreed to share a bed with Xie Jun for dual cultivation, and Xie Jun watched him sleep with possessive affection.
• Xiao Qinghe woke with a sharper sense of power and aching limbs, while Xie Jun denied feeling anything unusual and hurried off to spar with Master.
• Xiao Qinghe tested his improved swordsmanship in the forest and cut down trees with ease.
• Xiao Qinghe struck Zhao Guangyi with pebbles from hiding, leaving him injured and unable to curse.
• Xiao Qinghe invited Xie Jun to practice dual cultivation again, and Xie Jun struggled to hide his attraction while the system readers urged him to make a move.

As the Demon-Slaying Sect prepared for the Heroes' Conference at Deer-Cry Mountain, Xiao Qinghe volunteered to compete, and Bai Yuqing reluctantly let him go with a Teleportation Talisman for emergencies. Xie Jun steered Ouyang Susu toward accompanying Bai Yuqing instead, leaving Xiao Qinghe and Xie Jun to travel together.

• Ouyang Chong urged Bai Yuqing to let Xiao Qinghe compete, but Bai Yuqing initially removed Xiao Qinghe from the roster to protect him.
• Xiao Qinghe volunteered for the Heroes' Conference to test his cultivation, and Bai Yuqing added his name back and gave him a Teleportation Talisman for retreating from danger.
• Ouyang Chong ordered the sect disciples to prioritize Ouyang Susu's safety during the conference.
• Xie Jun told Ouyang Susu that Bai Yuqing would travel alone to Deer-Cry Mountain, prompting her to leave and prepare to accompany him.
• Xiao Qinghe and Xie Jun set out together by carriage after Ouyang Susu changed her travel plans.

Xiao Qinghe and Xie Jun traveled to the Heroes' Conference, where Xiao Qinghe met Bai Liuli and recognized her from the original novel. When Bai Liuli was drugged and cornered by several men, Xiao Qinghe prepared to intervene just as one of them lunged at her.

• Xiao Qinghe chose to travel by carriage with Xie Jun, then caught a glimpse of Bai Liuli riding through the marketplace.
• Xiao Qinghe recognized Bai Liuli as a gifted Heartless Valley disciple destined to become Xie Jun's romantic rival, and Xie Jun reacted jealously to Xiao Qinghe's interest in her.
• At a tavern, Xie Jun drew the attention and hostility of young women and men from several sects because of his beauty.
• Bai Liuli nearly stumbled into Xiao Qinghe, then tried to flee from several men who had drugged her tea and blocked her path.
• Xiao Qinghe recalled that Xie Jun was supposed to save Bai Liuli, but as a man lunged at her, the bystanders did nothing.

After Xie Jun rescued Bai Liuli from a group of men, Xiao Qinghe became alarmed when she seemed to favor him instead of Xie Jun. Xie Jun warned Xiao Qinghe to stay away from her, but Bai Liuli entered Xiao Qinghe’s room while drugged and began removing his robe.

• Bai Liuli stumbled into Xiao Qinghe’s arms, and Xie Jun beat the men who had threatened them before demanding she leave his senior brother’s embrace.
• Bai Liuli thanked Xiao Qinghe for saving her, making Xie Jun jealous; he booked rooms and warned Xiao Qinghe to keep away from her.
• Xiao Qinghe wondered whether Xie Jun had developed feelings for Bai Liuli, but the system questioned whether Xie Jun could fall for her.
• Bai Liuli came to Xiao Qinghe’s room while suffering from the drug and said she trusted him not to take advantage of her.
• Bai Liuli began stripping off Xiao Qinghe’s outer robe as he tried to resist her advances.

Xiao Qinghe struggled to understand Xie Jun’s jealousy after Xie Jun knocked Bai Liuli unconscious and stayed beside him for the night. The next morning, they arrived at Deer-Cry Mountain for the Heroes' Conference, where Xiao Qinghe spotted his Master and Ouyang Susu among the assembled sects.

• Xie Jun struck Bai Liuli unconscious when she reached for him, then dragged Xiao Qinghe onto the bed and stayed there to keep watch.
• Xie Jun confronted Xiao Qinghe about his closeness to Bai Liuli, but Xiao Qinghe mistakenly assumed Xie Jun had feelings for her and advised him to avoid her.
• Xie Jun pinned Xiao Qinghe down, then backed off and called him a blockhead; the system stayed silent, and the reader comments mocked Xiao Qinghe for not recognizing Xie Jun's feelings.
• The next morning, Xie Jun took Xiao Qinghe away in a carriage after Bai Liuli had recovered from the drug's effects.
• Xiao Qinghe arrived with the sects at Deer-Cry Mountain for the annual Heroes' Conference and saw his Master on the platform and Ouyang Susu surrounded by admirers.

At the Heroes' Conference, participants learned that they could steal Spirit Pills from one another, though killing was forbidden, and Xiao Qinghe entered the Nine Ridges and Eighteen Peaks. As the elders began wagering on the results, Bai Yuqing backed Xiao Qinghe, and the first rankings appeared.

• The Azure Cloud Sect leader announced that contestants would hunt demons and monsters for Spirit Pills and that stolen pills would count toward their scores, but killing another participant meant disqualification.
• Wen Changgeng and Yan Yunhe faced off as the crowd discussed their chances, while Xie Jun promised Xiao Qinghe he would prove his senior brother was not useless.
• Participants drew lots to enter the Nine Ridges and Eighteen Peaks in separate order, and Xiao Qinghe was called to enter first.
• The sect elders wagered on the top contestants, and Bai Yuqing repeatedly bet on Xiao Qinghe despite Ouyang Chong's concerns.
• The White-Browed Valley Master praised Xiao Qinghe, prompting speculation that he had chosen him as a potential husband for Bai Liuli.
• A cry announced that the rankings were up.

Xiao Qinghe used a Teleportation Talisman to defeat Wen Changgeng and take his Jade Gourd after Wen stole a Spirit Pill from him. He discovered that Xie Jun had collected no spirit stones, then a newcomer appeared beside the immobilized Wen Changgeng.

• Wen Changgeng stole the Spirit Pill from Xiao Qinghe’s demon creature and dismissed his complaint, so Xiao Qinghe challenged him.
• Xiao Qinghe repeatedly teleported around Wen Changgeng and struck him until he could no longer keep up.
• Xiao Qinghe sealed Wen Changgeng with a talisman, took his Jade Gourd, and found ten spirit stones inside.
• Xiao Qinghe checked the rankings and saw that Xie Jun had zero spirit stones despite his expected success.
• A refined, fan-wielding newcomer appeared beside Wen Changgeng and spoke to him.

Xiao Qinghe split spirit pills with Yan Yunhe, pushing Wen Changgeng to last place while Yan Yunhe took the lead. He later found Xie Jun surrounded by admiring female disciples and watched him grill fish, wondering why Xie Jun's spirit-stone count remained zero and who had softened him toward Mu Yingying.

• Yan Yunhe offered to free Wen Changgeng from the Immortal-Binding Lock if Wen accepted a past agreement to become Yan's servant, but Wen refused.
• Xiao Qinghe offered Yan Yunhe half the Spirit Pills in exchange for safe passage, and Yan agreed; the rankings placed Yan first, Wen last, and Xiao near the top.
• Xiao Qinghe heard Azure Cloud Sect disciples describe Xie Jun defeating groups and went looking for him after noticing Xie's ranking still showed zero spirit stones.
• Xiao Qinghe found Xie Jun surrounded by female disciples from several sects, including Bai Liuli and Mu Yingying, and wondered why Xie's spirit-stone count had not changed.
• When Mu Yingying asked to stop for food, Xie Jun caught and grilled fish for the group, then said someone was better than him without naming that person.

Xie Jun gave Xiao Qinghe his Spirit Pills, unexpectedly pushing him into first place in the Heroes’ Conference rankings. As Xiao Qinghe fell asleep beside him in the forest, Xie Jun leaned toward his lips.

• Xie Jun found Xiao Qinghe in a tree and brought him a grilled fish.
• Xie Jun poured thirty-nine Spirit Pills into Xiao Qinghe’s Jade Gourd, sending Xiao Qinghe to first place in the rankings.
• The sect leaders saw Xiao Qinghe’s sudden rise, and the Spirit Sword Mountain sect leader questioned Bai Yuqing about his disciples.
• Xiao Qinghe tried to return the pills, but Xie Jun insisted they belonged to him and gave Xiao Qinghe his outer robe for warmth.
• Xiao Qinghe fell asleep beside Xie Jun, who remembered their nights of dual cultivation and leaned toward his lips.

Xiao Qinghe and Xie Jun fought a swarm of Two-Headed Snakes that attacked the disciples in the forest. Xie Jun’s sword technique cut down several snakes, but the surviving creatures turned on the scattered disciples and the battle continued.

• Bai Liuli found Xie Jun and Xiao Qinghe together, then silently left as a high-rank demon warning sounded.
• Two-Headed Snakes attacked the camp, killing several female disciples and dragging Mu Yingying into the forest before Xie Jun severed one snake’s tail.
• Xiao Qinghe recognized the A-rank Two-Headed Snakes and ordered everyone to evacuate, but the creatures overwhelmed more disciples.
• Xie Jun knocked Mu Yingying unconscious and handed her to Bai Liuli, then stepped in front of Xiao Qinghe when a snake charged him.
• Xie Jun unleashed the Eighteen Swords of Shocking Swan, cutting through several snakes, but the remaining creatures redirected their attack toward the isolated disciples.

Xiao Qinghe used the system to activate a Protective Array, shielding the survivors from the Two-Headed Snakes. As demonic creatures slaughtered disciples throughout the Nine Ridges and Eighteen Peaks, the sect leaders realized the danger and Bai Yuqing rushed through the barrier to rescue them.

• Xie Jun fought through the Two-Headed Snakes and rescued victims while Xiao Qinghe struggled to protect the young women.
• Xiao Qinghe demanded a Protective Array from the system, accepted a huge points debt, and gathered the survivors beneath its dome.
• Bai Liuli warned that the other disciples were also under attack and no one might be able to rescue them.
• Ouyang Chong watched two Ouyang Susus drain a male disciple of blood, and one transformed her face into Xiao Qinghe's.
• Ouyang Chong ordered the sect leaders to enter and save the disciples, but Bai Yuqing flew through the barrier first.

Xiao Qinghe and the others came under attack after a Human-Faced Ghost disguised as Ouyang Susu broke their Protective Array. As Xiao Qinghe lay poisoned and near death, Xie Jun erupted in demonic energy and slaughtered the Two-Headed Snakes.

• Xiao Qinghe welcomed the bloodied Ouyang Susu, but Xie Jun realized she was a monster in disguise.
• The Human-Faced Ghost stabbed Xiao Qinghe with its poisonous tongue, then broke the Protective Array's Formation Eye while trying to escape.
• The Two-Headed Snakes swarmed the group, and one coiled around Xiao Qinghe as he weakened from the poison.
• Xie Jun's eyes turned scarlet and demonic energy surged through him as he cut down every Two-Headed Snake.
• Xiao Qinghe saw Xie Jun covered in demonic energy, with his demon marks exposed across half his face.

Xie Jun emerged from demonization after Xiao Qinghe stopped him from killing Bai Liuli, but Xiao Qinghe was dying from Human-Faced Ghost poison. The group realized the Human-Faced Ghost King was nearby and that its Spirit Pill could suppress the poison, leaving Xie Jun asking Bai Liuli whether it could save his senior brother.

• Xie Jun, transformed and bloodlusting, raised his sword to kill Bai Liuli, but Xiao Qinghe stepped between them and struck his head to bring him to his senses.
• Xie Jun recovered some focus, saw the slain Two-Headed Snakes, and caught Xiao Qinghe as he collapsed; the other female disciples fled.
• Xie Jun tried to bandage Xiao Qinghe, whose body grew colder as the Human-Faced Ghost poison spread.
• Bai Liuli explained that Ghost Slaves traveled in groups and that their presence meant the Human-Faced Ghost King was nearby.
• Xiao Qinghe recognized that the Ghost King Spirit Pill could suppress the poison, though using it required someone to become a Ghost Slave and nourish its holder.
• Xie Jun asked Bai Liuli whether the Ghost King Spirit Pill could save Xiao Qinghe.

Xie Jun refused to leave Xiao Qinghe behind and planned to obtain the Human-Faced Ghost King's Spirit Pill, even if it meant becoming its Ghost Slave. The Ghost King appeared with dozens of copies of Xiao Qinghe's face, and Xie Jun prepared to fight him despite the vast difference in their strength.

• Xie Jun told Xiao Qinghe he would not leave him and considered becoming a Ghost Slave so Xiao Qinghe could use the Ghost King Spirit Pill.
• The Human-Faced Ghost King emerged from the monster energy as the Nine Ridges and Eighteen Peaks shook.
• The Ghost King recognized Xiao Qinghe and sent dozens of people bearing Xiao Qinghe's face to surround them.
• Xie Jun kept his mind clear despite the demon marks on his face and told Xiao Qinghe they had no choice but to fight.
• The Ghost King condemned Xie Jun for siding with the Human Clan and unleashed his monster energy and killing intent.

Xiao Qinghe and Xie Jun fought the Human-Faced Ghost King, while Bai Liuli was teleported to Bai Yuqing and led him toward them. Xie Jun defeated the ghost slaves with the Fleeting Swan Sword Formation, then demonized to protect Xiao Qinghe as the Ghost King discovered something strange about him.

• Xiao Qinghe tried to teleport Xie Jun to safety, but Xie Jun deflected the talisman onto Bai Liuli and pulled Xiao Qinghe clear of the Ghost King's attack.
• Bai Liuli landed beside Bai Yuqing and told him that Xie Jun and Xiao Qinghe were facing the Human-Faced Ghost King, then agreed to guide him to them.
• Xiao Qinghe and Xie Jun fought off the ghost slaves until Xie Jun activated the Fleeting Swan Sword Formation and destroyed them in one move.
• Xie Jun fully demonized and shielded Xiao Qinghe, resisting his bloodthirst while the Ghost King cut Xiao Qinghe's neck.
• The Ghost King examined Xiao Qinghe and sensed something strange about him.

Xiao Qinghe and Xie Jun faced death as the Human-Faced Ghost King attacked, until Bai Yuqing arrived to rescue them. Bai Yuqing confronted the wounded Ghost King, and Xie Jun hinted that the master was not fighting alone.

• The system warned Xiao Qinghe that the Human-Faced Ghost King could possess him to reach the system.
• Xie Jun fought the Ghost King, using a hidden sword strike to pierce his chest, but collapsed badly wounded beside Xiao Qinghe.
• The Ghost King gathered monster energy to kill them, and Xie Jun promised to die with Xiao Qinghe before the system announced that reinforcements had arrived.
• Bai Yuqing arrived on the Wind-Piercing Sword, wounded the Ghost King, and attacked him with a sword formation.
• The Ghost King unleashed a monstrous wind vortex, and Xie Jun declared that Bai Yuqing was not alone.

Xiao Qinghe swallowed the Ghost King Spirit Pill Xie Jun had bound to his own blood, curing his poison but making Xie Jun his Ghost Slave. When Bai Yuqing exposed Xie Jun as a demon and moved to kill him, Xiao Qinghe admitted he had known the truth all along and pleaded for his life.

• Xiao Qinghe killed the Human-Faced Ghost King, and its Spirit Pill absorbed Xie Jun's blood before Xie Jun fed it to him.
• Bai Yuqing recognized Xie Jun as a demon and threatened him, while Bai Liuli explained that Xie Jun had to live to sustain Xiao Qinghe with blood and vital energy.
• Xiao Qinghe confessed to Bai Yuqing that he had known Xie Jun was a demon from the beginning and had fabricated their childhood connection.
• Bai Yuqing stabbed Xie Jun, accusing him of deceiving and bewitching Xiao Qinghe.
• Xiao Qinghe knelt and begged Bai Yuqing to punish him instead, saying the Spirit Pill had made him half a demon too.

Xiao Qinghe survived after Bai Yuqing discovered he had become half demon, but Bai Yuqing took him back to the Sect and left Xie Jun behind. After the Heroes' Conference ended in a massacre, rumors blamed Xiao Qinghe, while his master's strange attentiveness and silence left him unsettled.

• Bai Yuqing spared Xie Jun but ordered Xiao Qinghe to return with him, and Xiao Qinghe left after cutting the robe hem Xie Jun was clutching.
• Bai Liuli gave the wounded Xie Jun blood-staunching pills and hid his demonic identity from the other disciples.
• The sects ended the Heroes' Conference early after the demon attack, and suspicion arose that someone from the Four Great Sects had let the creatures into the Nine Ridges and Eighteen Peaks.
• Rumors accused Xiao Qinghe of causing the catastrophe to boost his ranking, while Ouyang Susu challenged the accusations and asked where Xie Jun had gone.
• Bai Yuqing ordered Ouyang Susu out after she complained that he had only rescued Xiao Qinghe, and Xiao Qinghe suddenly stiffened and turned deathly pale.

On the full-moon night, Xiao Qinghe’s Ghost King Spirit Pill flared up, forcing Bai Yuqing to give him blood to suppress it. Bai Yuqing demanded that Xiao Qinghe cut ties with Xie Jun, but Xiao Qinghe refused, leaving their relationship strained as his system debt remained unpaid.

• Bai Yuqing recognized the full moon as the Ghost King Spirit Pill’s danger point and sent Ouyang Susu outside while Xiao Qinghe suffered its backlash.
• Bai Yuqing cut his palm and offered Xiao Qinghe blood, and Xiao Qinghe nearly succumbed to demonization before the system alarm jolted him back to his senses.
• Xiao Qinghe treated Bai Yuqing’s wound, and Bai Yuqing blamed himself for not saving his disciple sooner.
• Bai Yuqing ordered Xiao Qinghe to stop seeing Xie Jun, but Xiao Qinghe refused, so Bai Yuqing left and shut himself away for three days.
• Xiao Qinghe left Peach Blossom Pastry and Osmanthus Wine outside Bai Yuqing’s door, but Bai Yuqing did not touch them.
• The system refused Xiao Qinghe’s request for compensation after the disrupted Heroes’ Conference and reminded him that his 9,800-point debt had to be repaid on time.