Recaps

Xiao Hua began breaking the restriction in Wang Zhengfei’s mysterious dark clouds, drawing powerful star energy that shook the mountaintop and threatened to overwhelm his disciple. As the restriction neared breaking, a surge of starlight poured down from the shifting constellations.

• Xiao Hua advised Wang Zhengfei to cherish his mother’s love and told him that Gunnian and Master Guzhen had stayed behind in the illusion realm and been reborn together.
• Wang Zhengfei spoke with his mother, accepted the dates she had saved for him, and told Xiao Hua that looking at the sky had helped him remember his father.
• Xiao Hua connected the Soul Bridge to Wang Zhengfei and used the Heaven Cleansing Earth Purifying Art to send green seal characters into the restriction.
• Breaking the restriction stirred dark clouds and drew a pillar of starlight onto Wang Zhengfei, who trembled and bled from his nose as Xiao Hua steadied him.
• Xiao Hua unleashed more green seal characters, shattering the stars that replenished the restriction until a sudden torrent of starlight surged down from the constellations.

Xiao Hua broke Wang Zhengfei’s seal, allowing her to sense Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi and begin cultivation. After she recovered, he spoke with her and her mother about her future and his plans to take her to Xiaoyu Continent.

• Xiao Hua used the Heaven Cleansing Earth Purifying Art to remove Wang Zhengfei’s seal, and a strange heavenly phenomenon followed as sacred radiance entered the Buddha Sarira.
• Wang Zhengfei fainted, and Xiao Hua carried her to a cave, where she slept for three days and nights before waking with her head bald.
• Wang Zhengfei told Xiao Hua she felt refreshed and could sense Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi when she meditated.
• Xiao Hua explained that spiritual roots enabled cultivation and said he would take Wang Zhengfei to Xiaoyu Continent after she made progress.
• Xiao Hua called Wang Zhengfei’s mother Madam Wang and clarified that he was a Daoist cultivator, not a monk.

Xiao Hua brought Wang Zhengfei and Madam Wang into his space and continued toward Pingxi City, then traveled with Liao Ming to Golden Mountain Temple. As the Pure Land’s Buddha Bells rang sixty-four times and Buddha light spread across the land, the chapter ended with Liao Ming staring at Xiao Hua in disbelief.

• Xiao Hua decided to take Wang Zhengfei and Madam Wang to the Cangxian Continent, then put them to sleep inside his space after realizing they would need to learn its language.
• Wang Zhengfei began cultivating the first layer of Qi Cultivation in his sleep, while Jiang Liuer remained silently within Xiao Hua’s space.
• Xiao Hua reached Pingxi City and, after a guest-receiving monk refused him entry to Jietai Temple, used his Buddhist sense to meet Abbot Xin Chan and ask his question.
• Xiao Hua traveled with Liao Ming to Golden Mountain Temple and asked how the Pure Land would know if someone had achieved the Bodhisattva Fruit.
• Golden Mountain Temple’s Buddha Bell rang sixty-four times, and Buddha light appeared throughout the Pure Land, leaving Liao Ming staring at Xiao Hua in disbelief.

Xiao Hua learned that Compassionate Young Monk had attained the fruit of Manjushri Bodhisattva, then went to Golden Mountain Temple to discuss Jiang Liuer’s passing into extinction. He entered the strangely quiet temple with Yongzhong and saw its monks gathered in a disorderly, dimly lit hall.

• Xiao Hua told Liao Ming that Compassionate Young Monk had become Manjushri Bodhisattva, and Liao Ming hurried back to Jietai Temple.
• Xiao Hua wondered how Buddhist practitioners attained fruition and why Compassionate Young Monk had not ascended, then decided to visit Golden Mountain Temple about Jiang Liuer.
• Xiao Hua climbed to the temple and caught Ming Shen sneaking out with wine and meat; after stopping him with a finger, Xiao Hua asked to see Great Chan Master Ji Mie.
• Yongzhong mistook Xiao Hua’s visit for a request for lodging and brought him inside, where Xiao Hua saw monks chanting listlessly before a Buddha statue.

Xiao Hua, posing as Tipu, visited Golden Mountain Temple to ask Great Chan Master Ji Mie how he escaped the Nirvana Realm, but learned that Ji Mie had shut himself away after a Bodhisattva attained fruition. The chapter ended with Miaochen questioning why Ci Hui had gone to Thunder Sound Temple.

• Old Monk Yongzhong brought Xiao Hua through Golden Mountain Temple, where Miaochen warned that seeing the abbot would be difficult.
• Miaochen hurried to Yongzhong to ask about the Bodhisattva who had attained fruition after Buddha Bells rang sixty-four times throughout the Pure Land World.
• Yongzhong explained that the abbot had received a Buddha decree from Thunder Sound Temple and remained in seclusion.
• Xiao Hua revealed that Ci Hui of Qinglian Temple had recommended him and said he wanted to ask Ji Mie how he escaped the Nirvana Realm.
• Miaochen accidentally splashed tea over Xiao Hua, then recognized his extraordinary cultivation when Xiao Hua sent the water away.
• Yongzhong said Ji Mie might discuss Nirvana with Ci Hui, and Xiao Hua said Ci Hui had likely already reached Thunder Sound Temple, surprising Miaochen.

Xiao Hua stayed at Golden Mountain Temple hoping to seek Great Chan Master Ji Mie's help with nirvana, but found the abbot withdrawn and the monks subjected to harsh discipline. When Xiao Hua finally met Ji Mie, their disagreement over Buddhist practice erupted into an argument, leaving Xiao Hua's request unresolved.

• Miao Chen was stunned to learn that Ci Hui had attained the Bodhisattva Fruit of Great Wisdom Manjushri, while Old Monk Yongzhong said the news had become a heart demon for Great Chan Master Ji Mie.
• Xiao Hua worried about returning to Black Wind Ridge and Xiaoyu Continent, but decided to wait rather than risk offending Ji Mie before asking for help with Jiang Liuer.
• During Xiao Hua's next three days at Golden Mountain Temple, Ji Mie remained unseen and the temple's monks and visitors acted anxious and distracted.
• Before dawn on the fifth day, Xiao Hua watched Ji Mie make the monks repeatedly fetch water and beat those whose buckets were not full.
• Xiao Hua introduced himself as Ti Pu and asked Ji Mie for guidance about nirvana, but Ji Mie dismissed him and told him to return after studying the scriptures.
• Xiao Hua challenged Ji Mie's harsh methods and interpretation of Buddhist devotion, and Ji Mie angrily accused him of coming to seek fame.

Xiao Hua provoked Great Chan Master Ji Mie into fighting at Golden Mountain Temple, hoping to learn his secrets through a clash. Ji Mie overwhelmed him with Red Lotus Karmic Fire and Mountain Power, leaving Xiao Hua and his Nine Dragon Scepter Staff at the bottom of the Chen River.

• Xiao Hua taunted Great Chan Master Ji Mie about Compassionate Young Monk’s attainment, and Ji Mie attacked him with a golden Buddha palm.
• Xiao Hua fled toward the Chen River as Ji Mie pursued him, and their staffs clashed above the river.
• Ji Mie used heavenly maidens and yakshas to attack Xiao Hua, but Xiao Hua shattered them with Mountain Power.
• Ji Mie revealed his two-headed, four-armed Dharma body and unleashed powerful Red Lotus Karmic Fire, which dissolved Xiao Hua’s mountain attack.
• Xiao Hua escaped through a gap in the karmic fire, but Ji Mie struck him with Mountain Power and sent him and the Nine Dragon Scepter Staff plunging into the Chen River.

Xiao Hua failed to persuade Great Chan Master Ji Mie to help him, then met Ming Shen in a cave and questioned him about the abbot. Ming Shen described Ji Mie’s bizarre temperament, leaving Xiao Hua with a clearer sense of how difficult it would be to approach him.

• Great Chan Master Ji Mie ended the confrontation, warned Chen Jiang to leave, and returned to Golden Mountain Temple.
• Xiao Hua emerged from the Chen River and lamented that his attempt to win Ji Mie’s help had failed.
• Xiao Hua found Ming Shen roasting a rabbit in a cave and promised not to report his forbidden meal.
• Xiao Hua gave Ming Shen spiritual wine, and Ming Shen eagerly accepted it before complaining that ordinary food and drink could no longer satisfy him.
• Xiao Hua asked Ming Shen about Great Chan Master Ji Mie, and Ming Shen explained that the abbot was harsh, unpredictable, and unwilling to help anyone.

Xiao Hua learned that Great Chan Master Ji Mie returned each New Year's Eve to meditate by the Chen River, and he realized the river might help Jiang Liuer awaken from Nirvana. He placed Jiang Liuer in a wooden basin on the river, where Ji Mie discovered him entering Nirvana.

• Ming Shen told Xiao Hua that Ji Mie sat all night on a riverside stone each New Year's Eve, and Xiao Hua warned him not to spy again.
• Xiao Hua meditated for several days, then remembered it was the thirtieth day of the twelfth lunar month and went to observe Ji Mie.
• Xiao Hua saw Ji Mie meditating in the rain and spotted a dead body floating downstream, which gave him an idea about Jiang Liuer.
• Xiao Hua placed Jiang Liuer in a seven-colored lotus and set it afloat, but withdrew the conspicuous lotus when Ji Mie began to stir.
• Xiao Hua put Jiang Liuer in a broken wooden basin and hid as dawn broke, and Ji Mie opened his eyes to find the boy entering Nirvana in the basin.

Jiang Liuer entered Nirvana at Golden Mountain Temple, and Xiao Hua left him in Great Chan Master Ji Mie’s care before deciding he needed a protector. Xiao Hua prepared an illusory mountain and cave to persuade a fire ape to guard Jiang Liuer.

• Great Chan Master Ji Mie recognized the signs of Jiang Liuer entering Nirvana, witnessed the rainbow and Buddha light, and carried Jiang Liuer and his broken wooden basin into Golden Mountain Temple.
• Xiao Hua worried that Jiang Liuer might reveal his origins to Ji Mie, then left for Great Snow Mountain before turning back because he feared leaving Jiang Liuer unprotected.
• Xiao Hua considered several possible guardians and settled on using one of his fire apes, deciding to tempt it with benefits despite distrusting it.
• Jade Slip Xiao Hua created a thousand-mile illusion containing a towering mountain, streams, wildlife, and a cave abode.
• Jade Slip Xiao Hua named the cave’s stone stele “Spiritual Terrace and Square Inch Mountain, Slanting Moon Three Stars Cave.”

Jade Slip Xiao Hua staged an immortal cave to draw the fire ape in and unexpectedly gained its devotion, with the ape mistaking him for its long-lost master. He agreed to teach it divine abilities in exchange for protecting an ordinary monk, then led it into the hastily improvised cave.

• Jade Slip Xiao Hua released the fire ape and removed its Sun Moon Crown, and the ape celebrated its freedom before wandering away from the strange mountain.
• Jade Slip Xiao Hua lured the fire ape toward the strange mountain with a song, and the ape entered Slanting Moon Three Stars Cave after becoming wary of the cave’s signs and voices.
• Jade Slip Xiao Hua appeared as an immortal old man, and the fire ape rushed to him and called him Master, claiming he had been its childhood master.
• Jade Slip Xiao Hua identified himself as Bodhi Patriarch and denied ever having met the fire ape, but the ape insisted on becoming his disciple.
• Jade Slip Xiao Hua agreed to teach the fire ape divine abilities if it protected an ordinary monk and never revealed his Daoist title.
• Jade Slip Xiao Hua led the fire ape into the grand but flawed cave hall, where the obedient ape followed without noticing the hastily made illusion.

Jade Slip Xiao Hua named the fire ape Yuan Tongtian and taught him several divine abilities, helping him learn to control his primal thought. When Yuan Tongtian mentioned the Six-Eared Macaque, Xiao Hua connected him to Master Ke Qin’s death and began teaching Yuan Tongtian more before his approaching tribulation.

• Jade Slip Xiao Hua named the fire ape Yuan Tongtian and agreed to teach him despite his impending tribulation.
• Yuan Tongtian requested a staff technique, shapeshifting, and a third ability he had yet to choose; Jade Slip Xiao Hua passed on techniques and corrected his understanding.
• Jade Slip Xiao Hua used Rainbow Bloom to strengthen Yuan Tongtian’s primal thought so he could practice the Divine Thought Technique.
• Yuan Tongtian mentioned the Six-Eared Macaque and his inability to find him on Meng Mountain, prompting Jade Slip Xiao Hua to connect the macaque to Master Ke Qin’s murder.
• Jade Slip Xiao Hua’s anger shook the illusion, but Yuan Tongtian showed concern for him and asked to learn the transformation technique; Xiao Hua told him to close his eyes and open his mouth.

Jade Slip Xiao Hua taught Yuan Tongtian the Shapeshifting Technique, then sent him to secretly protect a young monk near the Chen River and expelled him from the collapsing space. Xiao Hua erased the Six-Eared Macaque’s memories and abandoned him in dangerous terrain before hurrying toward Great Snow Mountain with Jiang Liuer, while worrying about the time left before the spatial vein collapsed.

• Jade Slip Xiao Hua used a Mother-Child Spirit Fruit to help Yuan Tongtian transform, then warned him not to call himself his disciple.
• Jade Slip Xiao Hua told Yuan Tongtian to find and secretly protect a five- or six-year-old monk near the Chen River, and gave him a black iron staff.
• Jade Slip Xiao Hua spared the Six-Eared Macaque because Master Ke Qin had forbidden revenge, but erased its memories of him.
• Jade Slip Xiao Hua collapsed Spiritual Terrace and Square Inch Mountain, sent Yuan Tongtian out, and watched him set off to fulfill his orders.
• Xiao Hua erased the Six-Eared Macaque’s memories and dropped him into dangerous terrain, then hurried toward Great Snow Mountain with Jiang Liuer.
• Xiao Hua trusted Great Chan Master Ji Mie to keep Jiang Liuer safe but worried that the spatial vein would collapse soon.

Xiao Hua returned to Little Linglong Temple, remembered the old monk, and discovered the pills he had used to sustain himself. After opening a spatial passage back toward Cangxian Continent, Xiao Hua sensed a distant presence and fled, while a vision of the Great Sun Tathagata World Honored One revealed the immense power watching from afar.

• Xiao Hua found his way back to Great Snow Mountain and descended into Little Linglong Temple, where he swept the snow and mourned the absent old monk.
• Xiao Hua considered leaving Wang Zhengfei and his mother at the temple, but rejected the idea because the mountain would be dangerous for them.
• Xiao Hua searched the old monk’s wooden cabinets, discovered medicinal pills, and took one before leaving the temple.
• Xiao Hua tried to establish a Teleportation Array beneath the mountain but decided to leave a spiritual sense marker and build the array later in Cangxian Continent.
• Xiao Hua opened a spatial passage with his Eye of Delusion Breaking, sensed a chill from afar, and hurried through before the crack closed.
• A vast hall far away revealed the golden body of the Great Sun Tathagata World Honored One amid boundless Buddhist light and power of faith.

The Great Sun Tathagata World Honored One convened the Buddha assembly and welcomed Manjushri Bodhisattva back to his place after he attained true fruition. Samantabhadra Bodhisattva then descended unexpectedly, leaving the assembly uncertain about the significance of his return.

• The Great Sun Tathagata World Honored One expounded the Ananda Sutra, and a Dragon-Subduing Arhat asked why he had taught it again after six hundred years.
• A Heavenly King announced that Manjushri Bodhisattva had returned, and Manjushri entered the hall after the Buddha children chanted for him.
• The Great Sun Tathagata World Honored One warned Manjushri that he had completed only the first of the Nine Revolutions before directing him to take his place.
• Manjushri Bodhisattva merged with the golden light beside the Great Sun Tathagata World Honored One, and powers of faith descended into his golden body.
• A powerful phantom formed beside Manjushri and Ksitigarbha, and Ancient Buddha Dipankara identified it as Samantabhadra Bodhisattva returning to his place.
• Samantabhadra Bodhisattva emerged from a lotus in the Reception Pool and bowed to the Great Sun Tathagata World Honored One without entering the hall.

Samantabhadra Bodhisattva restored his golden body in the Pure Land World and vowed to find Maitreya, while the Great Sun Tathagata World Honored One learned that Ananda had returned. Rāgaratna Tathagata prompted the World Honored One to arrange a Mahayana scripture-retrieval mission, then hinted at an ancient connection to the Great Tang Empire and a Stone Monkey.

• Samantabhadra Bodhisattva entered the Lotus Cleansing Pool, regained his golden body and eighth-rank Lotus Platform, and took his place at the Great Sun Tathagata World Honored One's right hand.
• Arhat Subduing the Tiger and Ancient Buddha Dipankara praised the World Honored One, and Samantabhadra Bodhisattva vowed to find Maitreya and invite him to Thunder Sound Temple.
• The Great Sun Tathagata World Honored One sensed that Ananda had returned in his ninth life, but said he could not determine Ananda's location.
• Rāgaratna Tathagata urged the World Honored One to spread his completed Mahayana Tripitaka Sutras, and the World Honored One ordered Manjushri Bodhisattva to find a worthy scripture retriever for Cangxian Continent.
• Rāgaratna Tathagata privately pointed Manjushri Bodhisattva toward Ananda and then recalled that he and the World Honored One had once been born in the Great Tang Empire, where a Stone Monkey lived.

Xiao Hua explored the collapsing spatial veins, reunited the three Heavenly Hearts, and discovered that his Nascent Soul could read the Wordless Heavenly Book’s cultivation method. The passage collapsed around him as he fled, while the story shifted to a gathering of birds and beasts at Black Wind Ridge, led by a Golden Eagle and a White Lion.

• Xiao Hua flew through the spatial veins with his improved Lightning Evasion Technique and used his sense of direction to avoid collapsed passages.
• Xiao Hua revealed the third Heavenly Heart, joined all three Heavenly Hearts, and fused their turtle shells into a three-colored Heavenly Book.
• Xiao Hua’s Nascent Soul read the book and recognized the true cultivation method for Five Qi Ascending to the Origin.
• The Void Passage began collapsing, so Xiao Hua recalled his Nascent Soul and hurried onward, while green-robed Xiao Hua continued examining the book.
• At Black Wind Ridge, thousands of birds and beasts assembled in disciplined ranks beneath a Golden Eagle and a White Lion.

The Black Bear Spirit stalled Great King Golden Eagle and White Lion as they demanded the human cultivator who had protected Black Wind Ridge with a powerful formation. After he vanished into the formation, the two kings admitted they were acting under orders from powerful figures hidden in Black Cloud Ridge and feared what would happen if they disobeyed.

• The Black Bear Spirit pleaded with Great King Golden Eagle and White Lion to explain why they had besieged Black Wind Ridge for nearly a hundred days.
• White Lion demanded to know who had set up the Daoist formation, and Great King Golden Eagle insisted that the Black Bear Spirit bring out the cultivator.
• The Black Bear Spirit claimed the cultivator had left, then warned the two kings against risking their lives for someone else's promises.
• Great King Golden Eagle demanded that Black Wind Ridge surrender everyone who was not a demon, especially the cultivator, but the Black Bear Spirit refused and disappeared into the formation.
• Great King Golden Eagle and Great King Ten Thousand Lions concluded that the formation was their only obstacle to their goal and worried about the hidden figures who had made them their facade.
• Great King Golden Eagle and Great King Ten Thousand Lions decided to keep obeying those figures and focus on staying alive.

Great King Ten Thousand Lions and Great King Golden Eagle maintained their siege of Black Wind Ridge while the starving defenders struggled to hold back their demons. Qin Qingyu recounted how he joined the defense and realized the enemy’s prolonged blockade was meant to draw out Xiao Hua, who had not returned.

• Great King Ten Thousand Lions ordered the Black Wind Ridge demons killed if they charged out, while Great King Golden Eagle questioned the need to attack.
• The Black Bear Spirit stopped his hungry demons from approaching the Jiang Kingdom soldiers and warned them against eating human flesh.
• The Black Bear Spirit entered the cave and urged Qin Qingyu and the others to decide when they would break out before his demons lost control.
• Qin Qingyu explained that he had brought Daoist soldiers to Black Wind Ridge after hearing Xiao Hua would help restore Jiang Kingdom, only to be trapped in the siege.
• Qin Qingyu recalled that Xiao Hua’s formation had withstood repeated attacks, but the hundred-day blockade left the defenders short of food and water.
• Qin Qingyu concluded that Mo Yun Ridge and Lion Mountain were using the siege to force Xiao Hua to appear, while he had become their mistaken target.

Qin Qingyu and the others debated how to survive the encirclement of Black Wind Ridge, and agreed that he should break out to obtain provisions. The plan was interrupted when a soldier reported that more than a dozen demons had charged up the mountain.

• Liu Yi and the Black Bear Spirit separately left the cave abode after exchanging a meaningful look.
• Qin Qingyu argued that the group needed to escape, while Xiao Jian said they should stay protected by Senior Xiao’s formation and wait for his return.
• Qin Qingyu explained that Black Wind Ridge’s demons and soldiers were running short of food and water, forcing them to seek provisions.
• Princess Changling urged Qin Qingyu to risk leaving for supplies, saying her safety mattered less than saving the hundreds gathered there.
• Qin Qingyu agreed to break through the encirclement for provisions, and Xiao Jian planned to have the Black Bear Spirit lead a coordinated assault.
• A black-armored soldier rushed in and warned Princess Changling that more than a dozen demons had charged up the mountain.

With Black Wind Ridge’s demons starving and the enemy closing in, Xiao Jian and the others launched a coordinated attack to help Qin Qingyu escape the encirclement. The battle began with Black Wind Ridge’s bear demons terrifying Lion Mountain’s forces by devouring their opponents, giving the defenders the advantage.

• Qian Li learned that Great King Black Wind and Liu Yi had gone up the mountain, while Xiao Jian ordered Yuan Ya to hold back the demons and arranged a breakout attack.
• Qin Qingyu and the others divided their forces, and the Black Bear Spirit persuaded his starving bear demons to attack Mo Yun Ridge and Lion Mountain instead of eating the Jiang Kingdom soldiers and their horses.
• Xiao Jian revealed the enemy forces surrounding Black Wind Ridge and gave the order to attack as Jiang Kingdom soldiers and Daoist soldiers charged in separate directions.
• Black Wind Ridge’s bear demons attacked Lion Mountain’s demons with frenzied bites and ate their flesh, frightening their opponents and gradually driving them down the mountain.

Qin Qingyu tried to escape Black Wind Ridge with Princess Changling, but Jiang Yuming intercepted him and revealed that other Confucian grandmasters had come to capture Xiao Hua. When Qin Qingyu threatened to kill the Princess to secure his escape, Jiang Yuming said her death would not disrupt their plan to lure Xiao Hua.

• The Golden Eagle struck the Duotian Star Array’s restriction and crashed into the hillside, while White Lion pursued Qin Qingyu as he carried Princess Changling away.
• Granny Ji, Yuan Ya, and the female generals blocked White Lion while Qin Xiaoyao and the Daoist soldiers fought through the birds of prey to help Qin Qingyu escape.
• Jiang Yuming attacked Qin Qingyu with Vast Righteous Qi and warned that other Confucian grandmasters had come to Black Wind Ridge.
• Qin Qingyu realized that Princess Changling was being used as bait for Xiao Hua and as a target tied to the Jiang Kingdom’s secrets.
• Qin Qingyu threatened to kill Princess Changling unless Jiang Yuming let him leave, but Jiang Yuming said her death would not stop Xiao Hua from returning to Black Wind Ridge.

Qin Jian used a powerful Fireball Talisman to save Princess Changling, but Jiang Yuming ended the flames and blocked Qin Qingyu’s escape. When Qin Qingyu turned on Black Wind Ridge and ordered an attack, he struck first at Qin Xiaoyao.

• Qin Qingyu seized Princess Changling by the throat, but a sudden fireball exploded and blew off his right arm.
• Xiao Jian appeared in the flames and shielded Princess Changling with his body, then fell unconscious as she caught him.
• Jiang Yuming extinguished the flames with Vast Righteous Qi, forced Qin Qingyu back, and stopped the Golden Eagle from attacking him.
• Qin Qingyu swallowed medicinal pills and ordered his disciples and Daoist soldiers to kill the people of Black Wind Ridge.
• Qin Xiaoyao tried to stop Qin Qingyu, who attacked him with the Art of Golden Spears and Iron Maces, prompting Qin Xiaoyao to spit out a fire pearl.

Xiao Hua returned to Black Wind Ridge, rescued Qin Xiaoyao and the defenders, and routed the attacking demons with thunder and fire. After learning how Qin Qingyu had endangered Jiang Kingdom and hearing about the Confucian formation outside, Xiao Hua declared that he would stay to protect everyone and wait for the formation to be completed.

• Qin Qingyu’s spears pierced Qin Xiaoyao’s fire barrier, but Xiao Hua’s lightning shattered the attack and his voice rallied Black Wind Ridge’s defenders.
• Xiao Hua’s thunder struck down Mo Yun Ridge’s fierce birds, and his flames drove the Lion Mountain beasts into retreat.
• Xiao Hua intercepted Great King Golden Eagle and White Lion, forcing them and the other demons to surrender.
• Xiao Hua returned to Black Wind Ridge, greeted Black Bear Spirit and the Jiang Kingdom defenders, and asked about the injured Xiao Jian.
• Xiao Hua gave Yuan Ya a pill for Xiao Jian and learned that Liu Yi had arranged Xiao Jian’s apparent foresight and stolen talismans.
• Qin Xiaoyao warned Xiao Hua about the Confucian formation outside Black Wind Ridge, but Xiao Hua insisted that he would protect everyone and wait for it to be completed.

Xiao Hua judged the survivors after the battle at Black Wind Ridge, executing Qin Qingyu and sparing the other Daoist disciples. He agreed to spare Golden Eagle and White Lion so they could help the Black Bear Spirit control their forces, then began binding the three demon kings to his command.

• Liu Yi reported to Xiao Hua and received pills after Xiao Hua praised his role in the crisis.
• Qin Xiaoyao pleaded for Qin Qingyu's life, but Xiao Hua rejected the plea and crushed Qin Qingyu to death when he tried to flee.
• Xiao Hua let Qin Xiaoyao decide the fate of the other Daoist disciples, who were spared.
• Golden Eagle and White Lion begged for mercy, and the Black Bear Spirit proposed using them to govern their subordinates under his authority.
• Xiao Hua drew shadows from Golden Eagle and White Lion, melted two jade fragments, and began making a binding arrangement for the demon kings.