Recaps

After losing his former power, Huang Xiao began cultivating the Heavenly Demon Skill and struggled for hours before finally reaching initial mastery. He discovered that even his scant heavenly demon true qi could unleash formidable strength.

• Huang Xiao decided to delay recovering his power and attempt the Heavenly Demon Skill while he had no other internal power.
• Huang Xiao failed to produce internal power after two hours, then meditated for four hours to calm his mind before trying again.
• Huang Xiao became fully absorbed in the cultivation method as the Golden-Winged Roc quietly led its curious chick away.
• Huang Xiao generated heavenly demon true qi and completed eighty-one circuits, reaching initial mastery of the Heavenly Demon Skill.
• Huang Xiao struck the hard rock and left a palm print several inches deep, amazed that the blow matched roughly thirty percent of his former strength.

Huang Xiao sent a letter to Poison God Valley asking for help with Li Xia’s poisoned father, then resumed studying the Heavenly Demon Skill. Elsewhere on Everlasting Spring Mountain, You Lian’er told Liang Lie and Du Tianchou that Huang Xiao had taken the Heavenly Demon Canon from Zhang Hu, prompting them to search for Huang Xiao’s body at the foot of the cliff.

• Huang Xiao wrote to Poison God Valley about Li Yuncong and Li Xia’s poisoned father, and the Golden-Winged Roc carried the letter away.
• Huang Xiao returned to the hall chamber to study and practice the cultivation method while he recovered.
• Jiang Ying stopped pursuing Liang Lie and Du Tianchou, deciding to report Huang Xiao’s death and Zhao Xin’er’s situation to his superiors.
• Liang Lie and Du Tianchou encountered You Lian’er and demanded to know where Zhang Hu was.
• You Lian’er claimed Huang Xiao had taken the Heavenly Demon Canon from Zhang Hu before killing him, and Liang Lie and Du Tianchou took her along to search for Huang Xiao’s body.

You Lian'er was forced to accompany Liang Lie and Du Tianchou as they searched the Ten-Thousand-Zhang Gorge for Huang Xiao. A powerful young-looking expert from the Medicine King Hall intervened, drove the two men away, and left You Lian'er in his presence.

• You Lian'er offered to show Liang Lie and Du Tianchou where Zhang Hu had died, but Liang Lie chose to search for Huang Xiao first.
• Liang Lie and Du Tianchou took You Lian'er to the Ten-Thousand-Zhang Gorge and watched her closely as they searched for Huang Xiao's body.
• You Lian'er hoped the Heavenly Mountain Pavilion had already found Huang Xiao and worried that the two men might discover him first.
• A young-looking Medicine King Hall expert appeared, recognized You Lian'er as a girl of the You Family, and realized Liang Lie and Du Tianchou had captured her.
• The Medicine King Hall expert threatened Liang Lie and Du Tianchou, who bowed and fled.

Cao Kun escorted You Lian'er home and negotiated with Madam You over Medicine King Hall's help in finding the Heavenly Demon Canon and resolving the You Family's conflict with the Fang Family. Madam You agreed to reveal the secret of the Seven Spirit Blades if Medicine King Hall fulfilled its promises, while Zhang Hu's death left the Canon's whereabouts unknown.

• Liang Lie and Du Tianchou headed to the foot of the cliff to search for Huang Xiao's body, while Cao Kun apologized to You Lian'er and promised to retrieve her Netherworld Demon Zither.
• Cao Kun took the injured You Lian'er north, and they met Madam You upon entering Xiazhou.
• Cao Kun told Madam You that Zhang Hu's body had been found, leaving the Heavenly Demon Canon's location unknown.
• Madam You challenged Cao Kun over Medicine King Hall's mistreatment of You Lian'er, and Cao Kun admitted the Hall was at fault.
• Cao Kun offered Medicine King Hall's aid in the search for the Canon and one intervention in the You Family's conflict with the Fang Family in exchange for the secret of the Seven Spirit Blades.
• Madam You agreed to honor the You Family's promise if Medicine King Hall fulfilled its part, and Cao Kun returned to Everlasting Spring Mountain.

You Lian'er told Madam You that Huang Xiao had killed Zhang Hu, leaving the Heavenly Demon Canon's whereabouts unknown. After hearing that Huang Xiao had taken Zhang Hu's Fierce Tiger Fist manual, Madam You suspected it might actually be the Heavenly Demon Canon and urgently asked where he was.

• You Lian'er questioned Madam You about the Seven Spirit Blades and complained that Medicine King Hall had betrayed her trust.
• Madam You asked about Zhang Hu and the Heavenly Demon Canon, and You Lian'er revealed that Huang Xiao had killed Zhang Hu.
• You Lian'er said Zhang Hu's death had probably made the Heavenly Demon Canon impossible to find, and regretted losing the Netherworld Demon Zither without gaining his Fierce Tiger Fist manual.
• Madam You realized the Fierce Tiger Fist manual Huang Xiao took might have been the Heavenly Demon Canon.
• Madam You seized You Lian'er and urgently asked where Huang Xiao was, and You Lian'er offered to explain what she knew about the Poison God Valley disciple.

Madam You recognized Zhang Hu’s Fierce Tiger Fist as a possible hidden copy of the Heavenly Demon Canon and learned that the manual might now be with the Heavenly Mountain Pavilion or the Peaceful Heaven Sect. She decided to seek a way to recover it, while You Lian'er prepared to return to her godfather in Xiping Prefecture.

• Madam You watched You Lian'er demonstrate Zhang Hu’s Fierce Tiger Fist and identified it as the Heavenly Demon Subduing Tiger Fist from the Heavenly Demon Canon.
• You Lian'er told Madam You that Zhang Hu had died after falling off a cliff while saving people from the Heavenly Mountain Pavilion.
• You Lian'er explained that the Heavenly Mountain Pavilion and the Peaceful Heaven Sect had likely searched the area for Zhang Hu and might have found the fist manual.
• Madam You decided to find a way to approach the two sects and recover the manual without revealing her suspicions.
• Madam You told the injured You Lian'er to return to her godfather, and You Lian'er agreed to leave for Xiping Prefecture.

As Huang Xiao resumed cultivating the Everlasting Spring Youth-Restoring Art alongside the Heavenly Demon Skill, their clashing true qi threatened to cause qi deviation. He survived a burst of murderous frenzy when the Everlasting Spring Youth-Restoring Art calmed his mind, but the two arts remained in conflict.

• After Zhang Hu's death, the surviving Jianghu fighters withdrew from Everlasting Spring Mountain without learning who had killed him or whether anyone had obtained the Heavenly Demon Canon.
• When Huang Xiao resumed cultivating the Everlasting Spring Youth-Restoring Art, its true qi clashed with the Heavenly Demon Skill's, and he could not stop either art from circulating.
• Huang Xiao used the Northern Darkness Absorption Method to try to dissolve and fuse the two streams of true qi, but both resisted and brought him to the brink of qi deviation.
• As red and white true qi became visible around him, Huang Xiao lost control to a murderous frenzy before his awareness returned and the Everlasting Spring Youth-Restoring Art soothed his mind.
• Huang Xiao realized that the Everlasting Spring Youth-Restoring Art could calm his spirit, while deeper cultivation of the Heavenly Demon Skill carried growing risks from inner demons and qi deviation.

Huang Xiao merged the rival streams of true qi in his dantian into northern darkness true qi, resolving the danger to his life, then spent a month cultivating with the Golden-Winged Roc’s family. He discovered a jade platform with seven dagger-shaped hollows and left the cave, intending to return for the jade later.

• Huang Xiao used the Northern Darkness Absorption Method to merge everlasting spring ageless true qi and heavenly demon true qi into northern darkness true qi, ending the threat of qi deviation and bodily injury.
• Huang Xiao found that circulating either cultivation method through his meridians changed the northern darkness true qi back into that method’s original true qi, and he named the merged energy northern darkness true qi.
• After a month of practicing both arts, Huang Xiao noticed that the Heavenly Demon Skill had changed his bearing and left him wary of its influence.
• Huang Xiao found a large piece of top-grade jade carved with seven dagger-shaped hollows and decided to ask Brother Peng for it after finding a jade carver.
• Huang Xiao left the cave after a month with the Golden-Winged Roc’s family, declining the Golden-Winged Roc’s offer to carry him part of the way.

Huang Xiao reached Xiping Prefecture in Xiazhou and went to Li Xia’s residence, Gathered Friends Residence. There he learned that his martial nephew Li Yuncong and his eldest martial uncle Wang Yuantu were already waiting for him.

• Huang Xiao learned from a passerby that he was in Xiazhou, Li Jiqian’s territory, and decided to visit Li Xia in Xiping Prefecture.
• Huang Xiao traveled to Xiping Prefecture and was recognized at the city gate by a servant sent with his portrait.
• The servant brought Huang Xiao by carriage to Gathered Friends Residence, where Steward Wu welcomed him and said Li Xia had been informed of his arrival.
• Steward Wu told Huang Xiao that Li Yuncong and Senior Wang were also at the residence, and Huang Xiao realized Senior Wang was likely his eldest martial uncle, Wang Yuantu.
• Li Yuncong called out to Huang Xiao from the doorway.

Huang Xiao reunited with Wang Yuantu and learned that the poisoned man was Li Jiqian, the King of Xia, whose exotic poison had already shortened his life to only a few more years. Wang Yuantu prepared to make an antidote and warned Huang Xiao to keep Li Jiqian’s condition secret, just as Li Deming arrived to pay his respects.

• Huang Xiao met Li Yuncong and learned that Wang Yuantu had spent twenty days studying the poison.
• Wang Yuantu reprimanded Huang Xiao for summoning help without identifying the patient, then revealed that the poisoned man was Li Jiqian, the King of Xia.
• Wang Yuantu identified the poison as a likely Tubo slow-acting deadly poison that drained the victim’s vitality, and said he could prepare an antidote within days.
• Wang Yuantu told Huang Xiao that Li Jiqian had been poisoned for at least a year and would survive only a few more years even after the poison was removed.
• Wang Yuantu ordered Huang Xiao to keep Li Jiqian’s condition secret, and Li Deming arrived to pay his respects.

Wang Yuantu promised Li Deming an antidote for his father’s poison within three days, while Huang Xiao learned that powerful guards had been stationed to protect the healer. Three days later, Wang Yuantu delivered nine pills, and Li Deming’s companion snatched the bottle before Li Deming could take it.

• Li Deming visited Wang Yuantu, who assured him he would produce an antidote for his father within three days.
• Li Deming revealed his real identity to Huang Xiao, thanked him for bringing Wang Yuantu, and explained that political enemies might threaten the healer.
• Huang Xiao sensed that powerful experts were guarding the residence, though he believed none could match Wang Yuantu.
• Three days later, Wang Yuantu gave Huang Xiao nine antidote pills and explained that Li Deming’s father should take three per day for three days.
• Li Deming arrived with two formidable experts, and the middle-aged man suddenly snatched the jade bottle from Huang Xiao.

Liu Chuang seized the antidote to the King of Xia’s poison and used it to keep Li Deming and his allies from attacking him. When reinforcements began fighting their way into the courtyard, He Shu and the other Peerless Experts charged Liu Chuang, who expected his accomplices to help him escape.

• Liu Chuang snatched the antidote from Huang Xiao and declared that he would not give it back, while Li Deming pleaded with him.
• He Shu and Li Deming surrounded Liu Chuang but hesitated to attack because he could destroy the antidote.
• Li Deming asked Wang Yuantu to make another batch, but Wang Yuantu said it would take fifteen days and the poisoned King of Xia would not last that long.
• Li Deming knelt and offered Liu Chuang anything, even his own life, for the antidote, but Liu Chuang refused to surrender it.
• He Shu realized Liu Chuang was stalling for accomplices, and the courtyard guards heard fighting and screams outside.
• Li Deming ordered Liu Chuang killed, and He Shu and the other Peerless Experts attacked as Liu Chuang prepared to hold them off until his companions arrived.

Liu Chuang and the First Rank Hall experts fought over the antidote until a powerful masked man arrived and took it. The masked men escaped the Gathered Friends Residence, while Li Deming ordered a pursuit and Wang Yuantu finally opened his eyes.

• Liu Chuang struggled against He Shu and the other First Rank Hall experts, while Huang Xiao watched for an opening.
• A masked man intervened, drove He Shu back, and had Liu Chuang check that the jade bottle contained nine antidote pills.
• The masked man took the antidote and revealed that two more masked men had cleared the way outside.
• He Shu and the other First Rank Hall experts tried to stop them, but Liu Chuang and the masked man escaped while the other two masked men held off their pursuers.
• Li Deming ordered his guards to notify First Rank Hall and pursue Liu Chuang, then Wang Yuantu opened his eyes and tossed Huang Xiao another small jade bottle.

Wang Yuantu gave Li Deming the real antidote and explained how a poisoned, partially finished antidote would delay their enemies while the King of Xia recovered. As Huang Xiao accompanied Li Deming to the Prince's Mansion, the men who stole the decoy discovered that handling its poisoned vial had struck Third Brother.

• Wang Yuantu gave Li Deming three antidote pills and explained that they had to be taken at sunrise on three consecutive days, with Huang Xiao using Everlasting Spring True Qi to aid their effects.
• Wang Yuantu warned Huang Xiao and Li Deming that the stolen vial contained a partially finished antidote and poison, and sent Huang Xiao with Li Deming to the Prince's Mansion while he recuperated.
• Huang Xiao told Li Yuncong to protect Wang Yuantu, and Li Deming promised to reinforce security as they left for the Prince's Mansion.
• Fang Chuang returned to the hidden chamber with the stolen vial, and the eldest brother rewarded him with a chance to study in the Lineage's Martial Hall.
• Master Bayan cautioned the group against touching the vial before he examined it, but Third Brother began suffering and dropped it; the eldest brother realized the vial was poisoned.

Master Bayan saved the third brother from a poison that dissolved his arm, then examined an antidote taken from the King of Xia but could not tell whether it was genuine. The eldest brother decided to seek orders and enlist hidden Fang Family agents in the Prince's Mansion while continuing to demand the martial repository's manuals.

• Master Bayan warned that the third brother's poisoned arm had to be sacrificed, and the eldest brother cut it off before the poison could consume him.
• Master Bayan retrieved the jade bottle and examined its antidote, explaining that he needed another day or two to determine whether it could neutralize the poison.
• The eldest brother agreed to demand the martial repository's secret manuals from the King of Xia and considered activating Fang Family agents in the Prince's Mansion.
• Master Bayan warned the eldest brother not to miss the chance to stop Li Jiqian's poison, then left the secret chamber.
• The eldest brother decided to seek instructions from above and arrange cooperation from the Fang Family's people in the Prince's Mansion.

Huang Xiao and Li Deming brought news of the true antidote to the King of Xia's Princess Consort and planned how to hide it while buying time. They suspected the antidote thieves wanted the Li Family Armory's secret manuals, but left the chapter waiting for the thieves to reveal their demands.

• Li Deming hurried past Li Dezhao with Huang Xiao to meet his mother, the King of Xia's Princess Consort.
• Li Deming told the princess consort how the antidote had been contested, and Huang Xiao explained that the thieves had taken a false antidote and should be stalled for three days.
• Li Deming suspected the thieves were targeting the secret manuals in the Armory, which could only be opened by the King of Xia's command.
• Huang Xiao advised the princess consort and Li Deming to meet the thieves' demands where possible while keeping the true antidote safe.
• The princess consort agreed to conceal her relief and maintain her appearance of worry as they waited for the thieves to make contact.

Huang Xiao used an antidote pill and Everlasting Spring True Qi to restore vitality to the poisoned King of Xia, Li Jiqian. After seeing the treatment work, Li Deming prepared for the arrival of the people demanding secret manuals from the Armory.

• Huang Xiao advised Li Deming to tell the secret-manual seekers that the mansion could not meet their demand, and the King of Xia's Princess Consort agreed to wait and see what they wanted.
• Li Deming brought Huang Xiao to Li Jiqian's bedchamber before dawn, where Huang Xiao saw how close the King of Xia was to death.
• Li Deming fed Li Jiqian an antidote pill, and Huang Xiao used Everlasting Spring True Qi to guide its vitality through the king's body.
• Huang Xiao confirmed that the treatment was effective and said Li Jiqian's poison would be purged after three days of treatment.
• Li Deming calmed his anger and prepared for the arrival of the people who had poisoned his father.

Ge Yi pressured the Princess Consort of Xia and Li Deming to put Li Deming on the throne in exchange for access to the Armory and the promised antidote, while warning that rival princes might seize power. The Princess Consort agreed to prepare for a staged accession, and Ge Yi returned to his allies just as their lord arrived.

• Ge Yi proposed that Li Deming become king so he could issue a royal decree opening the Armory, and set a deadline for the Princess Consort of Xia to accept.
• The Princess Consort explained that Ge Yi’s faction wanted the manuals and intended to let Li Jiqian die, while Li Deming worried about appearing to covet his father’s throne.
• The Princess Consort decided to prepare for Li Deming’s accession as part of their plan and told him to focus on his father’s treatment.
• Ge Yi returned to the Fang Family’s base, where his eldest brother said they expected Li Deming to accept and intended to obtain the manuals regardless of Li Jiqian’s fate.
• A messenger announced that the envoy had arrived, and Ge Yi’s eldest brother welcomed the arrival of his lord.

The Fang Family’s envoy ordered Fang Hu to prioritize killing Li Jiqian over obtaining the manuals, while the Prince’s Mansion prepared for Li Deming’s succession. Before dawn, Consort Ying confronted Li Deming and Huang Xiao outside Li Jiqian’s bedchamber, accusing them of plotting treason and murder.

• The envoy told Fang Hu that the Lineage head demanded Li Jiqian’s death, even if the Fang Family had to abandon the Armory’s secret manuals.
• Fang Yi said their plan was progressing as expected and predicted turmoil as Li Deming prepared to succeed Li Jiqian.
• The envoy reported that Li Jiqian’s residence was heavily guarded and voiced concern that the Prince’s Mansion might be treating his poison, then arranged an investigation and went to see Master Bayan.
• The Prince’s Mansion began preparations for Li Deming’s succession under the King of Xia’s Princess Consort’s orders.
• Before dawn, Li Deming and Huang Xiao arrived at Li Jiqian’s bedchamber and encountered Consort Ying, who challenged Li Deming and ordered the guards to seize Huang Xiao as an assassin.
• Consort Ying accused Li Deming of preparing to murder Li Jiqian, but the guards did not act against him.

Li Deming and Huang Xiao prepared to give Li Jiqian the second antidote pill while keeping the secret treatment secure. Consort Ying learned the truth and stayed to care for Li Jiqian as the pill’s effects began restoring his strength.

• Li Deming ordered Consort Ying escorted away, but the King of Xia's Princess Consort intervened and explained that he was not plotting against Li Jiqian.
• The King of Xia's Princess Consort revealed that the stolen antidote was a fake and that Li Deming’s apparent preparations to succeed the throne were a ruse; Consort Ying promised to keep the secret and remain nearby.
• Li Deming allowed Consort Ying to stay on the condition that she not interfere with the treatment, and the group saw that Li Jiqian had improved after the first antidote pill.
• Huang Xiao began treating Li Jiqian with the second antidote pill while Li Deming stood guard between him and the two women.
• Li Jiqian absorbed the pill’s medicinal power, his complexion and vitality improved, and an inexplicable emotion showed beneath Consort Ying’s excitement.

Huang Xiao said Li Jiqian should recover after taking the final antidote pill the next day, while Li Deming and Consort Ying stayed to guard him. Meanwhile, Bayan identified the stolen antidote as only half-finished, and the Fang Family’s envoy began preparing a secret plan to kill Li Jiqian.

• Huang Xiao reassured Consort Ying that Li Jiqian would be fine by the next day, and Li Deming chose to stay and guard his father until he took the final antidote pill.
• The King of Xia's Princess Consort left to deal with Ge Yi while Li Deming, Huang Xiao, and Consort Ying remained at the prince’s bedside.
• Bayan told Fang Hu and the black-robed envoy that the stolen antidote was only half-finished, so Li Jiqian might still be cured only after the remaining doses.
• The envoy ordered Fang Hu to summon Fang Yi and secretly evacuate their people from Xiping Prefecture, while revealing that he had kept a plan in reserve.
• Bayan departed for his sect, hoping to study the antidote pills and eventually create a cure for the poison he had supplied.

As Li Deming prepared to give Li Jiqian the final Antidote Pill, Consort Ying seized it and revealed that she had been waiting to avenge her murdered family. She destroyed the antidote, leaving Li Jiqian's recovery—and Li Deming's attempt to save him—uncertain.

• On the third morning, Huang Xiao and Li Deming prepared to give Li Jiqian the last Antidote Pill while Consort Ying watched.
• Consort Ying suddenly snatched the pill and declared that she intended to kill Li Jiqian and wipe out the Li Family in revenge for her father's death and the slaughter of her family.
• Consort Ying demanded that Li Deming die in exchange for the pill, and Li Deming tried to strike himself before Huang Xiao stopped him.
• Consort Ying admitted she had never planned to return the pill and crushed it into powder, then blew it away.

After Consort Ying destroyed the last Antidote Pill and escaped, Li Deming faced the possibility that his father would die without treatment. Huang Xiao began using his Everlasting Spring Ageless True Qi to suppress or neutralize Li Jiqian’s poison while Li Deming sent for Wang Yuantu.

• Consort Ying struck Li Deming with First-Class Realm strength, destroyed the Antidote Pill, and fled before the guards could catch her.
• Huang Xiao treated Li Deming’s injuries as Li Deming realized the sun had risen and there might not be time to fetch Wang Yuantu before his father’s condition worsened.
• Huang Xiao offered to use the Everlasting Spring Art to buy time, and Li Deming ordered a subordinate to summon Wang Yuantu.
• Huang Xiao pressed both palms against Li Jiqian’s back and began channeling his Everlasting Spring Ageless True Qi to counter the poison.

Huang Xiao cured Li Jiqian by drawing the remaining poison into his own dantian, where his Northern Darkness Absorption Method could not neutralize it. As the poison threatened to break into his meridians, his Heavenly Demon Skill activated on its own and began destroying it.

• Huang Xiao found that Li Jiqian's remaining poison had turned dangerously violent, and his everlasting spring ageless true qi could not suppress it.
• Huang Xiao used the Northern Darkness Absorption Method to draw a small amount of poison into himself, but all the lingering poison and Li Jiqian's internal power surged into his dantian.
• Huang Xiao neutralized Li Jiqian's poison, while Li Jiqian briefly woke before falling asleep again.
• Li Deming confirmed that Li Jiqian was out of danger but saw Huang Xiao in pain and did not know the poison had entered him.
• Huang Xiao struggled to contain the poison in his dantian until his Heavenly Demon Skill began circulating on its own and heavenly demon true qi rapidly broke the poison apart.

Huang Xiao cured Li Jiqian’s poison after the third Antidote Pill was destroyed, but Li Jiqian lost his cultivation in the process. Back at the Gathered Friends Residence, Huang Xiao learned that Wang Yuantu wanted him to return to Poison God Valley, then received an invitation from Miss Zhang.

• Huang Xiao neutralized the poison in his body and told Li Deming that Li Jiqian’s cultivation had dissipated, though his life was no longer in danger.
• Huang Xiao returned to the Gathered Friends Residence and explained to Wang Yuantu how he had cured Li Jiqian after Consort Ying destroyed the third Antidote Pill.
• Wang Yuantu told Huang Xiao to prepare to leave for Poison God Valley and said the Valley Master had ordered Huang Xiao to return as soon as possible.
• Huang Xiao worried that he would need to hide how he had healed and reforged his injuries, as well as his possession of the Everlasting Spring Youth-Restoring Art and the Heavenly Demon Canon.
• Steward Wu brought Huang Xiao an invitation sent by Miss Zhang.