Huo Lian

Biodata

Power Progression

Historical developments are listed before later breakthroughs; chapter citations identify where each development is described.

Background / History

Central Plains and Rise to Hall Master

Huo Lian was the First Sect Master of the Heavenly Demon Sect in the Central Plains. He comprehended the Heavenly Demon Skill from a scripture there, but learned the Heavenly Demon Demon Saber Techniques only after entering the Martial World 1569 1898 2246.

In the Martial World, he defeated Pang Ji and became Demon Hall Master. Without a former Hall Master supporting him, he largely faced the Pang Family alone. He weakened the family during his tenure, but his isolation and their superior numbers eventually forced a compromise 1854 2521.

Defection and Seclusion

Huo Lian secretly neutralized most of the Demon Refining Formula and escaped the Hall Master’s Land of Slumber. During that escape, he fought preceding Hall Masters and reclusive Demon Hall experts while still possessing the reigning Hall Master’s temporary, overwhelming strength. His survival nevertheless came at a severe cost in injuries and essence blood 2014 2239 2544 2783.

After the previous Thousand-Year Period, he withdrew into seclusion. By following Li Bai’s activities, he discovered a grand formation beneath a dry well at the Transcendent Immortal Escort Agency. He concealed himself there and worked to activate it as a route back to the Central Plains 1537 1855 1891 2523.

Preparing Huang Xiao

Huo Lian initially selected Huang Xiao as a replacement who could satisfy Kui Yong in his stead and preserve his own life. He trained Huang Xiao, supported his candidacy for Demon Hall Master, and used the formation beneath the well to improve his strength 1892 2609.

His investment extended to seeking ways to neutralize Huang Xiao’s Demon Refining Formula. When his own solution proved too slow, he demanded access to the Ghost Daoist Canon and pursued the possibility of finding Essence Blood Annihilation in the ruined Ghost Capital 2262.

After Huang Xiao became Hall Master, their relationship shifted toward an alliance between comparable experts. Huang Xiao offered the Longevity Chapter in exchange for one of Huo Lian’s cultivation methods, while both recognized Kui Yong as their principal enemy 2610 2640.

Evil Blades and Supreme Treasures

Huo Lian used possession of the Ancient Evil Blades to bargain with factions seeking entry to the Evil Water Region. He threw Wang Jiu, Fan Zhongkun, and Zhu Yang into the region to test whether they could enter alive, then departed rather than submit to the Heavenly Evil Sect’s questioning 1864 1865 1866.

He later retrieved Dragon Fang from Dragon Mountain, revealing that it served as the formation eye gathering Dragon Qi and channeling the Dragon Burial Ground’s Dragon Vein Qi toward Mist Mountain. By the treasure struggle at the Evil Water Region, he possessed all Three Ancient Evil Blades 1973 2061.

Huang Xiao’s Supreme Evil Crystal and Supreme Demon Pearl supplied flames relevant to Huo Lian’s plan to reforge the Supreme Demon Saber. Huo Lian subsequently gathered and investigated Supreme Treasures while carefully avoiding an uncontrolled reaction between their combined auras 2436 2714 2743.

Conflict with Kui Yong

Pang Yi, Mo Pozheng, and seven former Hall Masters attempted to kill Huo Lian together. He broke through their combined palm strike and tried to seize the Supreme Demon Saber, but its hidden saber soul empowered Pang Yi to repel him 2662.

Against Kui Yong, Huo Lian forced his Heavenly Demon Disintegration into the sixth stage. His attacks wounded Kui Yong and prevented him from entering the Divine Beast Holy Land before its formation closed. Huo Lian then pursued the retreating Demon Hall forces and attacked Feng He 2795 2796 2800.

After surviving the backlash, he trained with Huang Xiao to stabilize the sixth stage and reach the seventh. In the later battle, he refused to force Huang Xiao to use the dangerous eighth stage. When Mo Pozheng offered to change sides, Huo Lian and Wu Xuancang attacked him instead, and Huo Lian caught and struck him down 2891 2895 2924 2940.

Huo Lian and Huang Xiao later recovered six concealed Supreme Treasures, healed their injuries along the way, and placed all Seven Treasures into a formation. Its activation sent a brilliant pillar of light into the sky 2985.

Immortal Spirit Domain

In the Immortal Spirit Domain, Huo Lian proposed seeking a Demon Domain faction formerly friendly with Kui Yong. He and Huang Xiao used their identities as Kui Yong’s successors to establish connections and became central figures in the Wild Ox Sect’s new leadership 3061 3073 3082.

The richer cultivation environment transformed his prospects. In the Martial World, he had felt close to the end of his lifespan; in the Immortal Spirit Domain, his body felt younger and that sense of approaching death disappeared 3234.

When Huang Xiao vanished near the Extreme Cold Mountains, Huo Lian sought the Wood Demon Sect’s help. Ren Dongju ordered him to remain and cultivate with its resources as Kui Yong’s only remaining known successor. Huo Lian accepted the practical benefits while resolving to investigate Huang Xiao’s fate and avenge him if the Zhu Family was responsible 3337 3338.

He later disappeared during an experience-gathering journey and remained untraced for fifty years. He was subsequently shown accompanying a mysterious old man, whose injuries benefited from Huo Lian’s Longevity True Qi. Huo Lian concealed details about Huang Xiao to prevent the man from exploiting him 3362 3391.

Later Battles

Huo Lian continued contributing tactical advice, including suggesting that Zhao Yunhui’s understanding of a borrowed formation connection might help uncover ways to break Longevity Daoist’s formations 3622.

During the fight against Jiang Hengdao, Huo Lian and Huang Xiao alternated on the front line while Zuo Qiu Yi replenished their Longevity True Qi. Huo Lian insisted that Huang Xiao receive treatment first, fought alone during his recovery, and warned that Jiang Hengdao’s reluctance to attack suggested a hidden plan 3773.

Appearance

• Regularly described as an old man; strangers at the Evil Water Region did not recognize him despite his possession of all Three Ancient Evil Blades 2061.
• After entering the Immortal Spirit Domain, he felt his body grow younger, although no specific physical transformation is described 3234.

Personality

Huo Lian openly advocates coldness and ruthlessness as the proper disposition of a Demonic Path practitioner. He treats emotional attachments as vulnerabilities and repeatedly criticizes Huang Xiao’s devotion to his wives. He even considers using Jiang Liuli and her unborn child to ensure Huang Xiao’s obedience 2092 2609 2640 2694.

His ruthlessness is practical as well as ideological. To punish Pang Ji for disregarding him, he orders an attack on Pang Tianlu’s branch, kills Pang Tianlu himself, and sends a survivor back with the corpse and a three-day ultimatum 2202.

Survival takes precedence over pride. He maintains escape plans, considers returning to the Central Plains to avoid Kui Yong, and is willing to hide or accept restrictions from stronger powers. At the Wood Demon Sect, he recognizes that his former standing in the Martial World means little without sufficient strength in his new environment 2696 3169 3338.

His trust in Huang Xiao grows beyond their initially exploitative arrangement. He accepts that Huang Xiao keeps personal secrets, entrusts him with guarding his recovery, and eventually refuses to compel him to use a potentially fatal forbidden-art stage 2490 2801 2924.

Abilities & Skills

Heavenly Demon Martial Arts

Huo Lian’s foundation includes the Heavenly Demon Skill, Heavenly Demon Demon Saber Techniques, and his Heavenly Demon Indestructible cultivation method 1569 1898 2573.

• Uses Heavenly Demon Indestructible true qi in techniques involving Supreme Demonic Qi 2557.
• Created additional cultivation methods during the thousand years following his escape, despite spending much of that period recovering 2608.
• Relies on refined movement and technique as well as internal power; against Wang Xiongshan, he evaded every stream of a scattered fist attack 3091.

Heavenly Demon Disintegration

Huo Lian redesigned this forbidden art into a staged system that concentrates increasingly destructive bursts of internal power 1888.

• The second stage combines the internal power of three ordinary uses into a single eruption 1888.
• The fourth stage increases internal power twenty-sevenfold 2544.
• His initial sixth-stage use nearly killed him; later training eliminated that stage’s backlash for him 2805 2895.
• His seventh-stage demonstration was brief and limited to one use in his condition at the time 2895.

Longevity Chapter and Vitality Storage

The Longevity Chapter gives Huo Lian greater freedom to attempt dangerous techniques, but its healing effects are weaker for him than for Huang Xiao 2790 2853.

• Cannot ignite Heart Fire himself 2852.
• Initially requires Huang Xiao’s Heart Fire aura to use different flames for body tempering and vitality conversion 2891.
• Develops independent conversion methods based on that process, though they remain less efficient than Huang Xiao’s Heart Fire 3100.
• Stored vitality has a ceiling; further accumulation requires improvement in his strength or conversion method 3100.
• His Longevity True Qi can help heal the mysterious old man accompanying him 3391.

Heavenly Evil Imperishable Art

Huo Lian obtains and cultivates the Heavenly Evil Imperishable Art, though the Three Great Families possess only its first part 2092 2412.

• Its aura is detectable on him when Pang Ruyuan observes his recovery and strengthened Divine Sense 2239.
• Acknowledges that his attainment remains below Fan Zhuolang’s, one of the art’s creators 2412.
• Is warned that the method is incomplete and does not justify absolute confidence in his indestructibility 2412.

Blood-Spirit Conversion Studies

After taking the Blood-Spirit Conversion Scripture from Feng He, Huo Lian studies its relationship to the Blood God Conversion Great Method 2821.

• Recognizes the conversion of essence blood into Divine Sense as a known effect of the method 2821.
• Believes the Longevity Chapter and Huang Xiao’s rapid Essence Blood Rebirth can overcome its immense essence-blood requirements 2822.
• Shares insights that help Huang Xiao begin experimenting with the conversion process 2823.

Formation Arts

Huo Lian studies formations extensively during his long recovery and seclusion 2488.

• Claims formation attainments far beyond Pang Ji’s 2488.
• Navigates Mist Mountain’s formations and reaches Mo Pozheng’s hidden valley 1903.
• Understands Dragon Fang’s role as a formation eye and the consequences of removing it 1973.
• Proposes a feasible forced-entry method for the Divine Beast Holy Land, although Zhu Fancheng identifies serious repercussions 2129.

Instruction, Power Enhancement, and Alchemy

Huo Lian teaches through technical guidance, controlled danger, and direct intervention 1892 1930 2557.

• Trains Huang Xiao to integrate forbidden arts so their increased strength becomes sustainable rather than a brief emergency measure 1930.
• Compresses Supreme Demonic Qi with Heavenly Demon Indestructible true qi and forces the mixture into Wei Yidao to increase his internal power. Failure could weaken him, but Huo Lian states that it would not destroy his foundations or threaten his life 2557.
• Refines Blood Overflow Pills for Huang Xiao before the Hall Master contest 2557.
• Suggests storing Heart Fire rather than activating it only when needed, helping prompt Huang Xiao’s later breakthrough 2849 2852.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Three Ancient Evil Blades — Holds all three during the Evil Water Region treasure struggle and refuses the Three Great Families’ demand for their return without an equal exchange 2061 2412.
• Dragon Fang — Retrieves it from Dragon Mountain, where it had served as a formation eye. Later uses it against Wang Xiongshan while concealing its divine-weapon aura 1973 3091.
• Supreme Demon Saber — Studies and works toward reforging it, seeking the necessary different flames 2111 2436.
• Supreme Treasures — At different times holds or safeguards treasures including the Supreme Evil Crystal, Supreme Demon Pearl, and Supreme Demon Core; later assembles the Seven Treasures with Huang Xiao 2714 2743 2985.
• Aura-sealing box — Uses a box capable of completely suppressing the auras of the Supreme Demon Core and Supreme Demon Pearl 2743.
• Blood-Spirit Conversion Scripture — Takes the manual from Feng He and studies it with Huang Xiao 2821 2823.

Relationships

• Huang Xiao — Martial descendant, pupil, intended replacement, and eventual trusted ally. Huo Lian teaches most of his cultivation methods; Huang Xiao later helps him develop vitality storage and reach the seventh stage of Heavenly Demon Disintegration 2609 2801 2891 2895 3432.
• Wu Xuancang — Lifelong rival from the Central Plains who becomes an ally. Huo Lian considers him, rather than Pang Ji, his true lifelong opponent 1881 2550 2867.
• Pang Ji — Enemy defeated in the contest for Demon Hall Master. Their conflict continues through factional struggles, retaliation, and the rivalry between Huang Xiao and Pang Yi 2202 2521 2572.
• Kui Yong — Principal threat to his survival. Huo Lian escapes his control, prepares Huang Xiao as an ally against him, and later wounds him in battle 2609 2610 2783 2796.
• Li Bai — Fellow Central Plains traveler whose activities lead Huo Lian to discover the return formation 1537 1891.
• Feng He — Blackmailer, temporary collaborator, and later target. Uses Huang Xiao to threaten Huo Lian during the Longevity Pill pursuit; Huo Lian subsequently attacks and searches him 2312 2800 2821.
• Mo Pozheng — Tomb Clan patriarch connected to Huo Lian’s defection and replacement promise. Helps surround him during an ambush; later offers to defect but is struck down by Huo Lian 1903 2662 2940.
• Shi Hen — Former Heavenly Demon Hall Master who rescued Huo Lian after a near-fatal use of Heavenly Demon Disintegration and later helps assess Huang Xiao’s development 2542 2544.
• Wei Yidao and Yan Youwang — Carry out Huo Lian’s attack on Pang Tianlu’s branch. Huo Lian later enhances Wei Yidao’s power and pressures Yan Youwang for Ghost Dao secrets 2202 2262 2557.
• Ou Jin — Craftsman whose forging expertise is central to Huo Lian’s weapon plans and preparations against Kui Yong 1890 1922 2696 2846.
• Ren Dongju — Provides protection and cultivation resources through the Wood Demon Sect, but orders Huo Lian to remain there after Huang Xiao disappears 3338.
• Zuo Qiu Yi — Replenishes Huo Lian’s Longevity True Qi while he and Huang Xiao take turns fighting Jiang Hengdao 3773.

Notable Quotes

“Only when you have integrated these forbidden arts’ power boosts and can use them at will without worrying about the price will that strength truly count as your own.” 1930

“He sees me as his lifelong rival, but I’ve never thought much of him. If I were to name my lifelong rival, it would still be Wu Xuancang.” 2550

“Staying alive comes before everything.” 3169