Recaps

Xiao Hua prepared for the dangerous campaign against the Huan Kingdom Sword Cultivators and asked to leave the Thunder Control Sect before departure. Master Wunai gave him a token despite the risk to himself, and Xiao Hua left immediately for Qiong Lei Peak.

• Xiao Hua told Xun Shu and Qian Diheng that he and Cui Hongshen had been selected, and they gave him supplies and promised to seek medicinal pills for him.
• Xun Shu asked about Xue Xue, and Xiao Hua asked her to tell Xue Xue that he would return safely.
• Master Wunai gave Xiao Hua and Cui Hongshen storage bags, and Xiao Hua requested permission to leave the sect to prepare and attend the Bidding Convention.
• Cui Hongshen accused Xiao Hua of planning to flee, but Xiao Hua refused to disclose his destination to Master Wunai.
• Master Wunai gave Xiao Hua his token to enter and leave the sect, accepting responsibility if Xiao Hua failed to return.
• Xiao Hua left directly for Qiong Lei Peak, while Master Wunai urged Xiangyang and Yan Qinglian to cultivate diligently and guide Li'er.

Xiao Hua left the Thunder Control Sect after guards questioned his intentions and verified that Helpless was alive. Once clear of Qiong Lei Peak, he used Bright Thunder Evasion and set out to test Thunder Control Movement on the way to Huanghua Ridge.

• Xiao Hua presented his and Helpless's tokens to the guards at Qiong Lei Peak, and the Identification Chime revealed that he had been selected to go to Huan Country.
• Xiao Hua told Senior Brother Gan and Junior Brother Kan that he needed to collect pills in Jingbo City, but they accused him of trying to flee the sect.
• Xiao Hua argued that he met the rules for leaving, and Junior Brother Kan confirmed Helpless's Life Spirit Tablet was unharmed before Senior Brother Gan let him go while keeping Helpless's token.
• Xiao Hua hurried down Qiong Lei Peak, then activated Bright Thunder Evasion and headed toward Huanghua Ridge to test Thunder Control Movement.

Xiao Hua flew toward Huanghua Ridge, weighing the dangers of entering the Hundred Herbs Sect to avenge his master. Elsewhere, the Empress and Dai Er searched for traces of the Myriad Monster Realm before the Empress was trapped beneath layers of pale green talisman nets and began gathering spiritual energy.

• Xiao Hua decided that the Hundred Herbs Sect's altered formations and the risk to his senior sister made avenging his master at Shang Hua Ming difficult.
• The Empress and Dai Er searched the hills for a resonance, while the Empress rejected going to Million Meng Mountain because of a dangerous nemesis.
• The Empress noticed a pale green wisp and tried to fly upward, but successive nets of Myriad Monster Realm seal script blocked her.
• The Empress used white feathers to break through several layers, but more nets appeared and pressed down from above.
• The Empress descended toward the ground, found the nets blocked her escape there too, and drew in spiritual energy from within a hundred li.

The Empress tried to escape Fellow Daoist Dongshan’s formation with Dai Er and her avatar, but Dongshan’s barriers repeatedly blocked the Jade Gull. After reclaiming her avatar, the Empress transformed into a giant swan and charged into a black-and-white pattern as Dongshan revealed his wolf form.

• The Empress used Wind Escape, the Jade Gull, and enormous wings to break through the formation’s light pillars while carrying Dai Er in the Jade Gull.
• Fellow Daoist Dongshan forced the Jade Gull back into the formation and attacked the Empress’s avatar as it tried to escape underground.
• The Empress’s avatar returned to her body, and she transformed into a giant white swan that entered a black-and-white pattern.
• Fellow Daoist Dongshan revealed himself as a gigantic black wolf and moved to pursue the Empress.

Dongshan Yi trapped Xie Yuan, the Wind Clan Empress, in a formation and used Heavenly Heart Erosion to corrupt her holy light and inflict pain. Xie Yuan remained composed as Dongshan Yi explained how she had followed her from the Myriad Monster Realm and revealed that she had captured her for an undisclosed plan.

• Dongshan Yi used moonlight and green seal script to weaken Xie Yuan’s formation, while Dai Er escaped the dark-green pillar only to be struck down and wounded.
• Xie Yuan transformed from a swan into her winged humanoid form, and Dongshan Yi taunted her about being trapped and unable to escape.
• Dongshan Yi sent green threads and seal script into Xie Yuan, overcoming her holy light and making her collapse in pain.
• Xie Yuan asked how Dongshan Yi had reached the Xiaoyu Continent, and Dongshan Yi revealed she had followed her through a spatial fissure using Yi Mengshui’s special ability and a Lizard Clan secret treasure.
• Xie Yuan deduced that Dongshan Yi had tainted her Primordial Spirit with Heavenly Heart Erosion while preventing it from rejoining her true body, and Dongshan Yi confirmed the trap.
• Dongshan Yi said she had captured Xie Yuan for her own plans and asked whether Xie Yuan would cooperate.

Dongshan Yi interrogated Xie Yuan about her arrival on Xiaoyu Continent, the Heavenly Pure Feather, and Mossa Palace’s treasure vault. When she refused to reveal the vault’s location, he offered news about Minghua, then revealed that Minghua had founded a sect on Xiaoyu Continent.

• Dongshan Yi demanded answers to three questions, and Xie Yuan agreed to hear them in exchange for a promise of release.
• Xie Yuan said she had come to Xiaoyu Continent for a private matter and no longer knew the location of the Heavenly Pure Feather.
• Xie Yuan explained that the Heavenly Pure Feather was a Holy Maiden’s chastity, which she had lost after marrying Mossa.
• Dongshan Yi revealed that he wanted to enter the Tianyu Sacred Realm to remove the danger of the Green Seal Script and sought Mossa’s Void Profound True Water.
• Xie Yuan refused to disclose the location of Mossa Palace’s treasure vault, so Dongshan Yi offered news of Minghua.
• Xie Yuan rejected his offer, and Dongshan Yi revealed that Minghua had founded a sect on Xiaoyu Continent.

Dongshan Yi trapped Xie Yuan in the Universe Spirit Exchange Formation and tried to force her to surrender the Void Profound True Water, but she sealed herself inside the Cocoon of Light. Later, Xiao Xianrui returned to Huanghua Ridge and entered a cave to meet Yue Cong.

• Dongshan Yi claimed the destroyed Shang Hua Ming sect was connected to Minghua, but Xie Yuan accused him of inventing the connection.
• Dongshan Yi revealed that he had trapped Xie Yuan in the Universe Spirit Exchange Formation and used the Giant Mountain Clan's Wind-Quelling Bead to suppress her Wind Escape Technique.
• Dongshan Yi threatened to corrupt Xie Yuan's holy body and demanded the Void Profound True Water, so Xie Yuan invoked the Cocoon of Light and sealed herself inside.
• Dongshan Yi endured a mysterious bout of agony, then used green seal-script threads and a net to bury Xie Yuan's cocoon underground before vanishing.
• Xiao Xianrui left Huanghua Ridge, followed a communication talisman to a cave, and took an azure robe from a boulder outside it.
• Yue Cong suddenly appeared in the cave and greeted Xiao Xianrui, who had been waiting for him.

Xiao Xianrui confronted Yue Cong over Jiang Liuer’s abduction, but Jiang Li arrived and mistook the encounter for an affair. The sisters clashed as Xiao Xianrui defended herself against Jiang Li’s attacks.

• Xiao Xianrui demanded that Yue Cong return Jiang Liuer, and Yue Cong threatened the child while pressuring her to embrace him and undress.
• Xiao Xianrui pretended to comply, then restrained Yue Cong and demanded to know where Jiang Liuer was.
• Jiang Li appeared after breaking Yue Cong’s soundproofing restriction and accused Xiao Xianrui of secretly meeting her husband.
• Jiang Li attacked Xiao Xianrui with yellow talismans, while Xiao Xianrui blocked them with a shield and retreated with Yue Cong.

Xiao Xianrui confronted Yue Cong over Jiang Liuer’s disappearance, but Jiang Li and Jiang Fan arrived and accused her of having an affair with Yue Cong. Yue Cong presented a message talisman that supported his story, leaving Xiao Xianrui discredited and Jiang Fan’s trust in her shaken.

• Jiang Li attacked Xiao Xianrui after mistaking her secret meeting with Yue Cong for an affair, and Xiao Xianrui demanded to know where Jiang Liuer was.
• Jiang Li’s artifact broke Xiao Xianrui’s arm, and Xiao Xianrui broke Yue Cong’s thigh before using him to block another strike.
• Jiang Jiantong stopped the fight, and Jiang Fan appeared to accuse Xiao Xianrui of bringing shame on him.
• Yue Cong told Jiang Jiantong that Xiao Xianrui had tried to seduce and restrain him, while Jiang Liuer was safely away with Lie Hong.
• Xiao Xianrui presented a blank message talisman, and Yue Cong produced one that played a recording matching his account.

Xiao Xianrui tried to reach Jiang Liuer after Jiang Fan accused her of betrayal and collapsed. She fought past the elders who had been ordered to expel her, and reached Minsi Peak just as Jiang Jiantong was taking Jiang Liuer inside.

• Jiang Li accused Xiao Xianrui of seducing Yue Cong, and Jiang Fan spat blood and collapsed.
• Jiang Jiantong stopped Xiao Xianrui from reaching Jiang Fan, while Jiang Li tended to Yue Cong and insulted Xiao Xianrui.
• Xiao Xianrui returned to Huanghua Ridge, where Lie Hong and Huang Yue ordered her to leave and told her Jiang Liuer was with the sect master.
• Xiao Xianrui attacked the elders with talismans and flew toward Minsi Peak, but Huang Yue struck her bloodied right arm with his staff.
• Xiao Xianrui reached Minsi Peak and called to Jiang Liuer as Jiang Jiantong held him; Jiang Liuer joyfully reached for his mother.

Xiao Xianrui was accused by Jiang Fan and Jiang Jiantong of infidelity and deceit, and admitted that Jiang Liuer was not Jiang Fan’s son. She begged to keep her child, and Jiang Jiantong offered to let her stay only if she accepted three conditions, beginning with pretending to be Jiang Liuer’s wet nurse rather than his mother.

• Jiang Jiantong and Jiang Fan rejected Xiao Xianrui’s explanations and accused her of betraying Jiang Fan.
• Jiang Fan cited Xiao Xianrui’s foundation establishment, the Jade Saber, the Essence Nourishing Talisman, and Jiang Liuer’s birth as evidence against her.
• Xiao Xianrui admitted Jiang Liuer was not Jiang Fan’s child and begged Jiang Jiantong to return him to her.
• Jiang Jiantong refused to let Xiao Xianrui take Jiang Liuer away, while Jiang Liuer cried out for his mother.
• Xiao Xianrui pleaded to remain beside Jiang Liuer, and Jiang Jiantong offered to let her stay if she met three conditions, starting with serving as Jiang Liuer’s wet nurse and denying she was his mother.

Xiao Xianrui agreed to Jiang Jiantong’s demands to protect Jiang Liuer, but an attack on the Hundred Herbs Sect interrupted them. After Xiao Xianrui took Xiao Hua’s Wutuodan to heal her arm, a report revealed that an early Foundation Establishment intruder had killed Huang Yue and was close to breaking the formation.

• Xiao Xianrui agreed to leave the sect, cripple her cultivation, and ruin her face, then asked Jiang Jiantong to take Jiang Liuer away.
• A series of tremors struck Huanghua Ridge, and Jiang Jiantong sent Lie Hong and Huang Yue to investigate an attack on the formation.
• Jiang Jiantong demanded that Xiao Xianrui cripple her cultivation immediately, but Yue Cong persuaded him to let her take a medicinal pill first.
• Xiao Xianrui took a Wutuodan refined by Xiao Hua, and its medicinal power rapidly began healing her injured arm.
• Lie Hong’s communication talisman reported that an early Foundation Establishment intruder had slain Huang Yue and was attacking the formation with Samadhi True Fire and a powerful magical treasure.

Xiao Hua attacked Huanghua Ridge to confront Hundred Herbs Sect, killing Elder Huang Yue before clashing with Jiang Jiantong and Yue Cong. After learning Yue Cong was Jiang Jiantong’s son-in-law, Xiao Hua invoked Myriad Flowers Valley to gain an audience and asked about Xiao Xianrui.

• Xiao Hua arrived at Huanghua Ridge, battered its mist formation with the Town Cloud Seal, and set it ablaze with Samadhi True Fire.
• Huang Yue attacked Xiao Hua, who destroyed Huang Yue’s wooden staff and killed him with the Soaring Flood Dragon Scissors.
• Lie Hong retreated into the formation as Xiao Hua continued striking it, prompting Yue Cong to intervene with his magical instruments.
• Jiang Jiantong and Yue Cong emerged with Hundred Herbs Sect’s elders and disciples, and Jiang Jiantong fought Xiao Hua’s Town Cloud Seal with the Bell Dock.
• Yue Cong identified himself as Jiang Jiantong’s son-in-law and offered to mediate, while Xiao Hua claimed an acquaintance with Myriad Flowers Valley.
• Xiao Hua withdrew his Samadhi True Fire and asked whether Jiang Jiantong’s son had a dual cultivation partner named Xiao Xianrui.

Xiao Hua falsely accused Xiao Xianrui of swindling an Essence Nourishing Talisman and demanded that the Hundred Herbs Sect hand her over. Jiang Jiantong agreed to surrender her after declaring that she no longer belonged to the sect, while Yue Cong worried that she would be killed.

• Xiao Hua claimed Xiao Xianrui had tricked him out of an Essence Nourishing Talisman and demanded to confront her.
• Jiang Jiantong refused to summon Xiao Xianrui, while Yue Cong hesitated to stop Xiao Hua from leaving because he wanted her for his own plans.
• Xiao Hua threatened to return with martial brothers and attack the Hundred Herbs Sect if it continued to protect Xiao Xianrui.
• Jiang Jiantong declared that Xiao Xianrui's ties to the Hundred Herbs Sect had been severed and said he would hand her over.
• Jiang Jiantong sent a communication talisman to summon Xiao Xianrui, and Xiao Hua promised to repay him after she arrived.

Xiao Hua rescued the crippled Xiao Xianrui from the Hundred Herbs Sect and battled Jiang Jiantong and Yue Cong when they tried to stop him. He fled after stabbing Jiang Jiantong with Meng and began revealing his identity.

• Jiang Li brought out Xiao Xianrui, whose cultivation had been crippled, and Jiang Jiantong said she had to be handed over because she had supposedly swindled Xiao Hua's Essence Nourishing Talisman.
• Xiao Xianrui denied deceiving Xiao Hua, while Jiang Li demanded that he reveal his identity before accepting the sect's loss.
• Xiao Hua severed Jiang Li's right hand with the Soaring Flood Dragon Scissors, broke through to Thunder Control Movement, and rescued Xiao Xianrui despite Yue Cong's Fireball Talisman and Jiang Jiantong's palm seal.
• Yue Cong suspected Xiao Hua was a Thunder Control Sect disciple, and Xiao Hua damaged Jiang Jiantong's Medicine King Cauldron before attacking him with Meng.
• Meng pierced Jiang Jiantong beneath the throat as Xiao Hua flew away, removed Mihuan, and called on Jiang Jiantong to see who he was.

Xiao Hua revealed himself to Jiang Jiantong and vowed to avenge Shang Hua Ming and reclaim Huanghua Ridge. As Jiang Jiantong’s strength surged toward the Golden Core stage, the confrontation was about to begin.

• Xiao Hua removed Mihuan, shocked Jiang Jiantong, and reunited with Xiao Xianrui, promising to heal her and restore her cultivation.
• Xiao Hua accused Jiang Jiantong and the Hundred Herbs Sect of destroying Shang Hua Ming and threatened to kill them and reclaim Huanghua Ridge.
• Xiao Xianrui urged Xiao Hua to flee, but he reassured her and revealed that he had been the cultivator who used the Essence Nourishing Talisman.
• Jiang Jiantong defended his actions toward Xiao Xianrui and denied that his sect had destroyed Shang Hua Ming, while Xiao Hua rejected his explanations.
• Jiang Jiantong ordered Yue Cong to attack Xiao Xianrui and used a technique that raised his strength close to the Golden Core stage.

Xiao Hua defeated Jiang Jiantong and killed Yue Cong while sparing Jiang Li at Xiao Xianrui’s request, but Zhang Qingxiao intervened when Jiang Li threatened Jiang Liuer. Zhang Qingxiao revealed a connection to Jiang Liuer and showed Xiao Hua the familiar face of his supposedly dead Second Senior Brother, leaving Xiao Hua and Xiao Xianrui cautiously joyful.

• Xiao Xianrui urged Xiao Hua not to kill Jiang Jiantong, but to kill Yue Cong and take Jiang Liuer away from Huanghua Ridge.
• Xiao Hua’s Phoenix Dharma Body struck Jiang Jiantong with lightning, while the Soaring Flood Dragon Scissors killed Yue Cong.
• Jiang Fan pleaded for Jiang Jiantong’s life and offered to withdraw the Hundred Herbs Sect, and Xiao Hua demanded that Jiang Liuer be brought to him.
• Jiang Li tried to kill Jiang Liuer, but Zhang Qingxiao appeared and burned her to ashes with black fire.
• Xiao Hua questioned Zhang Qingxiao’s claim that Jiang Liuer was his nephew, then watched Zhang Qingxiao reveal the face of his Second Senior Brother.

Zhang Qingxiao slaughtered the Hundred Herbs Sect forces at Huanghua Ridge to avenge Xiao Xianrui and Shang Hua Ming, despite Xiao Xianrui’s pleas to spare them. Xiao Hua accepted that his Second Senior Brother followed a different path, but still remained wary when Zhang Qingxiao offered to support Xiao Xianrui.

• Zhang Qingxiao refused to leave Huanghua Ridge and attacked the Hundred Herbs Sect disciples with his blood-red banner.
• Zhang Qingxiao killed Jiang Li, Jiang Jiantong, Jiang Fan, and the other Hundred Herbs Sect disciples present, while Xiao Xianrui begged him to stop.
• Zhang Qingxiao ordered his subordinates to kill every Hundred Herbs Sect disciple at Yaonong Peak, rejecting Xiao Xianrui’s plea to spare the innocent.
• Zhang Qingxiao declared that he would slaughter anyone who harmed his family, and Xiao Hua accepted that they had different ways of acting.
• Zhang Qingxiao offered to support Xiao Xianrui, but Xiao Hua was unsure whether he could trust him.

Xiao Hua, Zhang Qingxiao, and Xiao Xianrui returned to Huanghua Ridge after the Hundred Herbs Sect disciples there were killed, and Xiao Hua gave Xiao Xianrui a Sky Mending Pill to restore her cultivation. They reached Minsi Peak, where Zhang Qingxiao promised to help reestablish Shang Hua Ming under Xiao Xianrui and Jiang Liuer without taking control himself.

• Zhang Qingxiao learned that his subordinates had slaughtered every Hundred Herbs Sect disciple at Huanghua Ridge and confirmed that they had left no traces.
• Xiao Hua gave Xiao Xianrui a Sky Mending Pill he had refined himself, and Zhang Qingxiao said it would restore her cultivation and strengthen her meridians and dantian.
• Xiao Hua, Zhang Qingxiao, and Xiao Xianrui entered Huanghua Ridge and slowly revisited the familiar places of their former home.
• At Minsi Peak, Zhang Qingxiao promised that Xiao Xianrui would lead Shang Hua Ming and Jiang Liuer would become its Young Sect Master.
• Zhang Qingxiao assured Xiao Hua that he would not interfere in Shang Hua Ming’s affairs and would arrange help to recruit disciples.

Xiao Hua, Xiao Xianrui, and Zhang Qingxiao reunited in the Reception Hall, where they discussed rebuilding Shang Hua Ming, their past suspicions, and the mysteries surrounding Huanghua Ridge. Zhang Qingxiao revealed his connection to a cultivation technique Xiao Hua had obtained, then tried to trade another technique for valuables as their reunion continued.

• Xiao Hua asked Zhang Qingxiao to rebuild Shang Hua Ming, and Zhang Qingxiao promised to make the sect prominent again.
• Zhang Qingxiao explained that he had suspected Xiao Hua of destroying Shang Hua Ming and told him to keep the Universe Shifting Token away from Yin Meng.
• Zhang Qingxiao said three Nascent Soul cultivators had appeared at Huanghua Ridge, but he could not explain how he survived or what they wanted.
• Zhang Qingxiao revealed that he had obtained the Mother-Child Spirit Fruit and had planted tricks in the Qi Cultivation techniques he sold at the Yanyuan City Bidding Convention.
• Zhang Qingxiao offered Xiao Hua the Heaven and Earth Manifestation technique, then demanded valuables in exchange, and Xiao Hua protested that he had already given him the Sky Mending Pill.

Xiao Hua rejected Zhang Qingxiao’s offer to become Vice Sect Master of the Heavenly Demon Sect but agreed to supply Mother-Child Spirit Fruit in exchange for help aiding civilians and for Demon Realm artifact-refining methods. Zhang Qingxiao shared clues about Shang Hua Ming’s destruction and gave Xiao Hua techniques connected to Qiu Yin Liu, while Xiao Hua learned that the Huayuan Pill formula was a secret inheritance of the Hundred Herbs Sect.

• Xiao Hua gave Zhang Qingxiao a large supply of Mother-Child Spirit Fruit, declined the Vice Sect Master position, and asked the Heavenly Demon Sect to distribute rice seeds to endangered civilians under the name True Person Xiao.
• Xiao Hua told Zhang Qingxiao about Little White Dragon and the Nascent Soul cultivators linked to the Shanghua Sect, Xunyan Sect, and Seven Wonders Sect; Zhang Qingxiao ordered Xiao Xianrui to keep using the Hundred Herbs Sect name.
• Zhang Qingxiao offered Xiao Hua support in cultivation, and Xiao Hua asked for Demon Realm artifact-refining methods so he could finish refining Qiu Yin Liu.
• After examining Qiu Yin Liu, Zhang Qingxiao gave Xiao Hua demon jade slips containing artifact-refining methods and a high-level technique called Blood Drop Cave Heaven, and asked him to refine the weapon.
• Xiao Hua asked Zhang Qingxiao to save any large white bones he found, then exchanged spirit herbs for information and sought the Azure Spirit Pill formula.
• Xiao Hua learned that Xiao Xianrui had the Huayuan Pill formula and that it was a secret inheritance of the Hundred Herbs Sect.

Xiao Hua visited Shang Hua Ming’s Inheritance Hall with Zhang Qingxiao and Xiao Xianrui, where he copied pill formulas and collected spirit herb seeds. Zhang Qingxiao suspected Xiao Hua had found a Thunder Control Sect secret realm and asked him to supply seedlings for the Heavenly Demon Sect.

• Xiao Hua, Zhang Qingxiao, and Xiao Xianrui entered Shang Hua Ming’s Inheritance Hall, which the Hundred Herbs Sect had filled with its inheritance items.
• Xiao Hua copied the Hundred Herbs Sect’s pill formulas and collected seeds, while Zhang Qingxiao watched him thoughtfully.
• Zhang Qingxiao guessed that Xiao Hua had found a Thunder Control Sect secret realm because he possessed thousand-year-old Mother-Child Spirit Fruit.
• Zhang Qingxiao explained that changing Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi made the Heavenly Demon Sect’s spirit herbs grow poorly and asked Xiao Hua for seedlings from the secret realm.
• Xiao Hua agreed to help if Zhang Qingxiao supplied an equal number of seedlings, and Zhang Qingxiao revealed he had once considered appointing True Person Xiao as Heavenly Demon Sect Vice Sect Master to grow spirit herbs.

Xiao Hua and Zhang Qingxiao discussed using spiritual herbs from Xiao Hua’s Secret Realm to support the Hundred Herbs Sect and restore Shang Hua Ming. When Xiao Hua produced Shang Hua Ming’s missing statue, the Empress of the Myriad Monster Realm’s jade ruyi absorbed it, leaving Xiao Hua wondering whether the statue and Shang Hua Ming were connected to the Myriad Monster Realm.

• Xiao Hua gave Zhang Qingxiao seedlings and aged spiritual herbs for the Hundred Herbs Sect, and Zhang Qingxiao gave Xiao Hua a communication talisman and jade slip.
• Zhang Qingxiao said he would not hold Xiao Hua responsible for killing Heavenly Demon Sect disciples, and Xiao Hua gave him the names of friends and fellow disciples he hoped Zhang would spare.
• Xiao Hua revealed that he had found Shang Hua Ming’s missing statue while escaping Huanghua Ridge.
• The jade ruyi flew from Xiao Hua’s storage pouch, transformed the statue into particles, and absorbed them before returning to Xiao Hua.
• Xiao Hua told Zhang Qingxiao that the jade ruyi belonged to the Empress of the Myriad Monster Realm, and Zhang questioned whether the statue or Shang Hua Ming had ties to that realm.
• Xiao Hua recalled Qing Fengmin asking how he possessed a Demon Race cultivation technique.

Xiao Hua gave Xiao Xianrui and Zhang Qingxiao gifts, explained the Peacock Illusion’s true nature, and kept it after Jiang Liuer refused it. Later, Xiao Hua and Zhang Qingxiao discussed the Hundred Herbs Sect and the Heavenly Demon Sect, while Zhang Qingxiao questioned Xiao Hua about his Buddhist cultivation.

• Xiao Hua gave Xiao Xianrui a Youth-Preserving Pill and gave Zhang Qingxiao two, while concealing the bottles with an unexplained ability.
• Xiao Hua revealed that the Peacock Illusion was a Phoenix Jade Talisman and tried to return it to Xiao Xianrui, but she urged him to keep it after Jiang Liuer rejected it.
• Xiao Hua showed Zhang Qingxiao the Witch Puppet, and Zhang Qingxiao again insisted that Xiao Hua become the Heavenly Demon Sect’s Vice Sect Master.
• Xiao Hua and Zhang Qingxiao established an initial development plan for the Hundred Herbs Sect, then Xiao Hua inspected the expanded Medicine Garden at Xihua Peak and his vast internal space.
• Zhang Qingxiao gave Xiao Hua a demonic jade slip, then realized Xiao Hua’s Buddhist cultivation let him detect demonic cultivators and questioned how Xiao Hua had advanced in both Buddhist and Daoist cultivation.
• Zhang Qingxiao explained that the Heavenly Demon Sect’s appearance-changing technique required Nascent Soul-stage cultivation and said his own restored appearance came from the Mother-Child Spirit Fruit.

Zhang Qingxiao confronted Xiao Hua about his mysterious past and rapid cultivation, then accepted an oath that Xiao Hua would protect Shang Hua Ming. Xiao Hua left Huanghua Ridge with cultivation techniques and spirit supplies, but the truth about Shang Hua Ming’s destruction left him facing a dangerous Nascent Soul-level enemy.

• Zhang Qingxiao warned Xiao Hua to avoid the Buddhist Sect ruins and pressed him to explain his origins and rapid cultivation.
• Xiao Hua denied knowing his origins, and Zhang Qingxiao explained how his own demonic cultivation and treasures had restored him to Golden Core strength.
• Zhang Qingxiao demanded an oath that Xiao Hua would not harm Shang Hua Ming or Xiao Xianrui, and Xiao Hua swore a Daoist blood oath to protect Shang Hua Ming.
• Xiao Hua asked Zhang Qingxiao for cultivation techniques, and Zhang Qingxiao gave him several jade slips before leaving.
• After Xiao Xianrui recovered from her injuries, Xiao Hua collected supplies, said farewell to her and Zhang Qingxiao, and departed Huanghua Ridge.
• Xiao Hua reflected that Shang Hua Ming’s destruction had been avenged, but the Nascent Soul cultivator behind its earlier destruction remained a threat.