Recaps

Huang Xiao and Huo Lian discovered a hidden copy of the Treatise on Seeking the Dao in Wang Xiongshan’s secret chamber and suspected it explained his extraordinary fist techniques. They decided to keep the manual’s existence secret while trying to understand its teachings.

• Huang Xiao and Huo Lian searched Wang Xiongshan’s secret chamber but found only ordinary cultivation methods among its treasures.
• Huang Xiao detected a formation hidden in a wall, and Huo Lian broke the formation protecting a small wooden box.
• Huang Xiao and Huo Lian opened the box and found a manual titled Treatise on Seeking the Dao.
• Huang Xiao and Huo Lian read the manual and reasoned that it taught people to approach the ultimate limits of different Daos.
• Huang Xiao and Huo Lian concluded that Wang Xiongshan’s understanding of the Fist Technique Dao had strengthened his techniques and agreed to conceal the manual.

Huo Lian and Huang Xiao memorized the Treatise on Seeking the Dao, destroyed the manual, and wondered whether it had further parts. After finding nothing else in the secret chamber, they emerged and Huang Xiao took command of the Fierce Mountain Gang while its members remained under Huo Lian's control.

• Huo Lian destroyed the Treatise on Seeking the Dao after Huang Xiao confirmed he had memorized its contents.
• Huo Lian and Huang Xiao speculated that the Treatise on Seeking the Dao might have further parts, then searched the chamber and found nothing else of value.
• Huo Lian tested the waiting Elders, Grand Elders, and Deputy Gang Leaders, and they learned he and Huang Xiao were the new leaders of the Wild Ox Sect.
• Huo Lian said the Fierce Mountain Gang would not merge into the Wild Ox Sect for now.
• Huo Lian identified himself as the Wild Ox Sect's Sect Master, and Huang Xiao accepted the position of Chief of the Fierce Mountain Gang.

Huang Xiao and Huo Lian learned that the Fierce Mountain Gang raised tributes from the sects beneath it to meet the Soul-Reaping Sect’s increased demands. After hearing about the Soul-Reaping Sect and its leader Zhuo Mengshen, Huang Xiao decided the Fierce Mountain Gang should submit and avoid provoking it.

• The First Deputy Gang Leader told Huang Xiao that the Fierce Mountain Gang paid the Soul-Reaping Sect a million taels in annual tribute after its demand rose from eight hundred thousand.
• Huang Xiao observed that the increased tribute burdened the sects below, while the Second Deputy Gang Leader argued the Fierce Mountain Gang could not cover the shortfall itself.
• At Huo Lian’s request, the First Deputy Gang Leader described the Soul-Reaping Sect’s rise to the second tier and said its Sect Master, Zhuo Mengshen, had reached the primordial ancient realm.
• The First Deputy Gang Leader said Zhuo Mengshen was expected to become a Demon General, and Huang Xiao resolved that the Fierce Mountain Gang should submit rather than challenge the Soul-Reaping Sect.

After taking over the Fierce Mountain Gang, Huang Xiao discussed gifts for the Demon God Sect’s new and retiring sect masters and considered entering a competition for Demon General candidate sect status. He eased the tribute burden on subordinate sects, ordered the gang to announce Wang Xiongshan’s death, and learned the treasury held substantial wealth.

• Huo Lian and the deputy leaders told Huang Xiao they had budgeted one million taels for a gift to the new sect master and five hundred thousand for the old one, and Huang Xiao told them to prepare options.
• The Second Deputy Gang Leader explained that the Demon God Sect would select promising sects without Primordial Ancient Realm experts as Demon General candidates, and the First Deputy Gang Leader urged Huang Xiao to compete.
• Huang Xiao said he would consider the competition later, after consulting the Patriarch and putting the gang’s affairs in order.
• Huang Xiao canceled the planned increase in silver demanded from subordinate sects, keeping their tribute at last year’s amount.
• Huang Xiao ordered the leaders to announce Wang Xiongshan’s death and keep the disciples in line, then asked about the gang’s assets.
• The First Deputy Gang Leader reported that the treasury held 1.1 million taels of silver, 50,000 taels of gold, and other valuables, while Huang Xiao estimated Wang Xiongshan’s personal assets at several million taels.

Huang Xiao stabilized the Fierce Mountain Gang after Wang Xiongshan’s death, while the Wild Ox Sect celebrated the news and awaited the sect masters’ return. Huang Xiao and Huo Lian then planned to seek the Demon General Candidate Sect title, but recognized that Huang Xiao needed to overcome a cultivation bottleneck.

• When news of Wang Xiongshan’s death reached the Wild Ox Sect, Gu Haiying and the elders were stunned, but Gao Tianhe urged them to trust their sect masters and return to their duties.
• Over five days, Huang Xiao stabilized the Fierce Mountain Gang, whose disciples accepted him as chief after comparing their strength with the Wild Ox Sect’s.
• Huang Xiao and Huo Lian prepared to cultivate in seclusion and discussed competing for the Demon General Candidate Sect title.
• Huo Lian said Huang Xiao should compete because his youth and strength gave him greater potential in the Demon God Sect’s eyes.
• Huang Xiao described his stalled progress in accumulating vitality, and Huo Lian agreed that both of them had reached a bottleneck in their cultivation.

Huang Xiao and Huo Lian spent six months using the Treatise on Seeking the Dao to improve their cultivation and prepare for the contest to become a Reserve Demon General sect. As the contest neared, Huo Lian judged their chances at only six or seven tenths and revealed that the Demon God Sect was offering very few places.

• Huang Xiao focused his seclusion on heart fire transformation of vitality, while Huo Lian helped him refine the method using the Treatise on Seeking the Dao.
• After a month, Huang Xiao had replenished the vitality spent fighting Wang Xiongshan at triple his previous rate and increased his vitality reserves; Huo Lian improved as well.
• Huo Lian handled important Fierce Mountain Gang decisions so Huang Xiao could remain in seclusion, while the Wild Ox Sect and the gang's other subordinate sects adjusted peacefully to the new arrangement.
• After six months, Huang Xiao remained just short of a breakthrough into the Upper Ancient Realm, though his strength and ability to sustain Heavenly Demon Disintegration had increased considerably.
• Huo Lian estimated they had six or seven tenths confidence in the contest, and Huang Xiao asked how many places the Demon God Sect was offering.
• Huo Lian raised one index finger in response.

Huang Xiao learned that only one Demon General Candidate Sect position was available, then decided the Fierce Mountain Gang would deliver its congratulatory gifts to the Demon God Sect in person despite the Soul-Reaping Sect’s pressure. The chapter left Jiang Deng carrying out Huang Xiao’s order, with the Gang risking the Soul-Reaping Sect’s retaliation.

• Huo Lian told Huang Xiao that only one Demon General Candidate Sect position was available and that powerful Primordial Ancient Realm experts would be his main rivals.
• Huang Xiao accepted that the contest would be difficult but planned to use it to publicize his identity as Kui Yong’s successor.
• Jiang Deng reported that seven affiliated sects had sent their congratulatory gifts through the Soul-Reaping Sect, which had offered to deliver them to the Demon God Sect.
• Huang Xiao decided the Fierce Mountain Gang would take its gifts to the Demon God Sect itself and compete for the single position, despite Jiang Deng’s warning about offending the Soul-Reaping Sect.
• Huang Xiao reaffirmed his order, and Jiang Deng agreed to send the reply to the Soul-Reaping Sect.

Huang Xiao and Huo Lian traveled with the Fierce Mountain Gang’s gifts to the Demon God Sect for the old Sect Master’s birthday and the change of leadership. At an inn near Demon God Peak, they encountered Yang Chengmu of the Soul-Reaping Sect and two allied sect leaders, who demanded to see their gifts.

• Huang Xiao and Huo Lian arranged affairs at home, then set out for the Demon God Sect with Fu Min and a dozen disciples carrying two costly gifts.
• After twelve days of uneventful travel, the party neared the Demon God Sect and stopped for the night at a packed inn.
• Fu Min secured six ordinary guest rooms, and the disciples crowded into the remaining three while Huang Xiao, Huo Lian, and Fu Min took one each.
• Yang Chengmu arrived with Dong He of the Baleful Lake Sect and Deng Ting of the Level Mountain Gang, then mocked the Fierce Mountain Gang and asked to see its gifts.
• Huang Xiao explained that opening the carefully packed gifts could risk damage and bring the Demon God Sect’s wrath, then challenged Dong He and Deng Ting to come see them if they wished.

Huang Xiao’s party avoided a clash with Yang Chengmu, but Yang privately encouraged Dong He and Deng Ting to find a way to kill Huang Xiao and his men. After hearing Fu Min’s warning about the Soul-Reaping Sect’s methods and strength, Huang Xiao considered the threat and the sect’s powerful leaders.

• Dong He and Deng Ting backed down from their demands, and Huang Xiao led his exhausted party away to rest.
• After Huang Xiao left, Yang Chengmu privately discussed informing Grand Elder Tong Juyu and using Dong He and Deng Ting to ensure Huang Xiao and his men never returned to the Fierce Mountain Gang.
• Dong He and Deng Ting agreed to take care of the killing while keeping Yang Chengmu and the Soul-Reaping Sect’s involvement concealed.
• Huang Xiao heard a commotion over the inn’s lack of guest rooms and remarked that his group had arrived in time to secure lodging.
• Fu Min warned Huang Xiao that Yang Chengmu could use others to carry out revenge, and identified Dong He and Deng Ting as men who had killed on behalf of the Soul-Reaping Sect.
• Huang Xiao assessed the Soul-Reaping Sect’s experts and recalled that Wang Xiongshan might eventually have surpassed its leader, Zhuo Mengshen.

Huang Xiao and his party encountered the Soul-Reaping Sect, the Mad Stick Sect, and the Iron Leg Gang on the road to the Demon God Sect, where the sects argued over their bid for Demon General Candidate Sect status. Tong Juyu told Yang Chengmu to help the challengers and avoid trouble until the Soul-Reaping Sect Master secured the Demon General title, while Yang Chengmu privately expected Huang Xiao and the others to be killed afterward.

• Huang Xiao and his party left the inn and found the Soul-Reaping Sect confronting Du Jiliang of the Mad Stick Sect and Lu Qingzhong of the Iron Leg Gang.
• Du Jiliang and Lu Qingzhong defended their right to bring their congratulatory gifts themselves and compete for Demon General Candidate Sect status.
• Huang Xiao greeted Tong Juyu, who instructed Yang Chengmu to help the competing sects and then continued down the road.
• Yang Chengmu questioned Tong Juyu, who told him to avoid trouble until the Soul-Reaping Sect Master obtained the Demon General title.
• Yang Chengmu concluded that Tong Juyu intended to let Huang Xiao and the other challengers enjoy themselves before the Soul-Reaping Sect dealt with them.

After the Soul-Reaping Sect’s delegation left, Huang Xiao, Du Jiliang, and Lu Qingzhong discussed their shared opposition to the sect and considered joining forces. Their talks ended with Huang Xiao questioning their chances of winning the Demon General Candidate Sect spot, and Lu Qingzhong admitting they had little confidence.

• Yang Chengmu and the Soul-Reaping Sect’s party left after discussing the Sect Master’s expected return and prospects.
• Du Jiliang criticized the Soul-Reaping Sect, while Lu Qingzhong worried that speaking openly could worsen their sects’ position.
• Lu Qingzhong explained that his and Du Jiliang’s sects had resisted the Soul-Reaping Sect and entered the competition because its suppression left them with no way back.
• Huang Xiao proposed that the three sects face the crisis together, and Du Jiliang suggested the losers bring their sects under the winner’s banner.
• Huang Xiao asked how likely they were to win, and Lu Qingzhong admitted that staking everything did not mean they would succeed.

Huang Xiao traveled with Lu Qingzhong and Du Jiliang to the Demon God Sect, where they discussed his inheritance from Kui Yong and his chances of becoming a Demon General. At the sect’s entrance, Huang Xiao registered the Fierce Mountain Gang’s birthday gifts and chose to enter the competition for a Demon General Candidate Sect position.

• Huang Xiao admitted to Lu Qingzhong and Du Jiliang that he had obtained Kui Yong’s inheritance, and Du Jiliang offered his friendship.
• Lu Qingzhong and Du Jiliang said Kui Yong’s generation of Demon Generals had received stronger cultivation methods and guidance from Lord Demon God than later generations.
• Huang Xiao, Lu Qingzhong, Du Jiliang, and their disciples traveled to the Demon God Sect and joined the crowds heading toward its mountain entrance.
• Huang Xiao registered the Fierce Mountain Gang’s Blood-Colored Coral and deep-sea ice as birthday gifts for the Sect Master.
• Huang Xiao chose to compete for a Demon General Candidate Sect position and went to collect an Identity Token.

Huang Xiao collected his Identity Token for the Demon General Candidate Sect competition and waited for Lu Qingzhong and Du Jiliang. Meanwhile, Yang Chengmu, Deng Ting, and Dong He suspected he had obtained Kui Yong's inheritance and planned to test him during the competition, leaving Huang Xiao unaware of their intent to kill him.

• Huang Xiao received Identity Token number 935 and waited at the agreed meeting place for Lu Qingzhong and Du Jiliang.
• Deng Ting, Yang Chengmu, and Dong He discussed rumors that Huang Xiao had obtained Kui Yong's inheritance and considered whether the reports were credible.
• Yang Chengmu decided they should watch Huang Xiao's fighting methods during the competition before deciding whether he was Kui Yong's successor.
• Yang Chengmu told Deng Ting and Dong He to kill Huang Xiao if they faced him in the competition, and to kill Du Jiliang and Lu Qingzhong as well if possible.
• Dong He and Deng Ting agreed to target the three, though Deng Ting said they had entered mainly to fight opponents and seek a breakthrough, not to win the spot.

Yang Chengmu kept rumors about the number of Demon General positions to himself, while Deng Ting considered risking himself in the Reserve Demon General contest and discussed the possible value of Huang Xiao’s connection to Kui Yong’s inheritance. Huang Xiao later met Du Jiliang and Lu Qingzhong, who had argued with Demon God Sect disciples over their congratulatory gifts, and learned that nearly five thousand people had already registered.

• Yang Chengmu told Deng Ting and Dong He to prepare for the Reserve Demon General contest, but privately worried that fewer Demon General positions might be available than rumors had suggested.
• Deng Ting said he wanted to temper himself in the contest, and he and Dong He discussed whether Huang Xiao had truly obtained Kui Yong’s inheritance.
• Huang Xiao estimated that at least three or four thousand people had collected Identity Tokens on the first day.
• Du Jiliang complained that Demon God Sect disciples had mistreated him while he delivered congratulatory gifts, and Lu Qingzhong warned him to watch his words.
• Huang Xiao, Du Jiliang, and Lu Qingzhong exchanged their registration numbers; Lu Qingzhong had number 4314 and Du Jiliang had number 4875.

Huang Xiao learned that many stronger competitors would vie for the Reserve Demon General position, while he and his allies settled into crowded, meager campsites. Huo Lian urged Huang Xiao to display his full strength in the competition, leaving him wondering whether that would make him a target.

• Lu Qingzhong explained to Huang Xiao and Du Jiliang that experts stronger than them made winning the final spot unlikely, though they still planned to compete.
• Huang Xiao and his companions reached the Demon God Sect's rest area, where each sect received only five tents amid a vast crowd of disciples.
• Du Jiliang and Lu Qingzhong discussed Huang Xiao's chances and hoped that his claim to Kui Yong's inheritance was true.
• Huo Lian told Huang Xiao to show everything he could do in the upcoming matches, and Huang Xiao questioned whether attracting attention would put him at risk.

Huang Xiao and Huo Lian prepared for the Demon God Sect’s contest, which drew nearly fifty thousand participants. At the arena, Huang Xiao learned that the number of Demon General candidates had reportedly been reduced by eighty percent, unsettling several sects.

• Huo Lian told Huang Xiao that the contest would reveal their strength, and Huang Xiao agreed he would fear no opponent in a match.
• The Demon God Sect announced that more than 48,300 people had registered and set the first selection: only the ten thousand who endured a Demon General’s pressure most closely would advance.
• Huang Xiao, Du Jiliang, and Lu Qingzhong arrived at the arenas and spotted Zhuo Mengshen and other sect leaders looking unusually unhappy.
• Du Jiliang reported that the number of Demon General candidates had been cut by eighty percent, leaving even likely candidates worried about their chances.

Huang Xiao and his companions watched the Demon God Sect’s gathering and learned that Zhuang Chen, a powerful Golden Demon Sect elder, would oversee the selection. Zhuang Chen began the test, in which the ten thousand people who could endure his aura while approaching him would advance.

• Lu Qingzhong identified Zhuang Chen as an elder of the Golden Demon Sect among the procession’s leading figures.
• Wang Renyu asked Zhuang Chen to oversee the selection, and the gathered Demon Generals agreed that his strength qualified him for the task.
• Zhuang Chen announced that participants had to approach him and endure his aura to win one of ten thousand places, warning them not to exceed their ability.
• Zhuang Chen began the selection and set a time limit of one stick of incense.

Huang Xiao joined the arena trial to attract the attention of powerful sects, but Zhuang Chen noticed his unusual strength and intensified the suppressive aura against him. Huang Xiao continued to resist without reaching the arena, leaving his fate uncertain.

• Zhuang Chen added a rule that candidates had to set foot on the arena to qualify, and Wang Renyu confirmed it.
• Lu Qingzhong warned Du Jiliang that their chances were poor, while Huang Xiao decided to go first and told them to wait.
• Huang Xiao charged toward the arena to draw the attention of sects such as the Demon God Sect and the Golden Demon Sect.
• Huang Xiao resisted Zhuang Chen's oppressive presence, while Upper Ancient Realm middle-stage candidates were blasted away.
• Zhuang Chen recognized that Huang Xiao was in the Void Realm despite his exceptional strength and increased the pressure against him.
• Huang Xiao wondered why Zhuang Chen was singling him out as the force grew strong enough to threaten even many late-stage experts.

Huang Xiao resisted Elder Zhuang’s oppressive force on the arena while the other contestants were repeatedly thrown back. Wang Renyu and the Demon Generals discovered that Huang Xiao was only at the void realm peak, and ordered an investigation into his identity.

• Du Jiliang and Lu Qingzhong failed to reach the arena, but Lu Qingzhong took heart when he saw Huang Xiao still holding on.
• Huang Xiao endured Zhuang Chen’s rising oppressive force and resolved to stand on the arena.
• The contestants and Demon Generals watched Huang Xiao as the upper ancient realm late-stage experts were sent flying back.
• Wang Renyu revealed that Huang Xiao was at the void realm peak despite displaying upper ancient realm peak strength.
• Wang Renyu ordered a Demon God Sect disciple to find out which sect Huang Xiao belonged to.

Huang Xiao reached the platform after Zhuang Chen eased the pressure, surprising Dong He, Deng Ting, and Yang Chengmu. Yang Chengmu then recruited Zhou Sihai and planned to find more upper ancient realm experts to target Huang Xiao during the coming matches.

• Huang Xiao stepped onto the platform when Zhuang Chen reduced the pressure to a level that did not affect him.
• Dong He and Deng Ting realized Huang Xiao was stronger than they were and abandoned their plan to attack him themselves.
• Yang Chengmu left and asked Zhou Sihai to help deal with Huang Xiao during the matches.
• Zhou Sihai agreed, and suggested Yang Chengmu recruit more people in case he did not face Huang Xiao.
• Yang Chengmu agreed to find additional experts, having originally planned to recruit them without telling Zhou Sihai.

Huang Xiao and other experts advanced across the arena toward Zhuang Chen as his aura’s pressure weakened enough for late-stage and some middle-stage practitioners to climb onto it. Huang Xiao revealed strength on par with the early Primordial Ancient Realm and continued forward, convincing Zhuang Chen that the Golden Demon Sect had no chance of recruiting him before the Demon God Sect took notice.

• Huang Xiao and the Upper Ancient Realm Peak experts moved toward Zhuang Chen, struggling as the pressure grew stronger near the arena’s center.
• After noticing that the pressure had weakened, an Upper Ancient Realm Late Stage practitioner reached the arena, and the other late-stage practitioners followed.
• Du Jiliang and Lu Qingzhong reached the arena with a few other Upper Ancient Realm Middle Stage practitioners, then set out to move farther in.
• Huang Xiao advanced to within five zhang of Zhuang Chen, demonstrating strength equivalent to the early Primordial Ancient Realm and drawing Zhuang Chen’s attention.
• Huang Xiao continued forward, and Zhuang Chen concluded that the Demon God Sect would recruit him before the Golden Demon Sect could.

Huang Xiao’s strength at the contest stunned Zhou Sihai and the other experts Yang Chengmu had recruited, leaving them wary of confronting him. Yang Chengmu then told Tong Juyu that Huang Xiao likely possessed Kui Yong’s inheritance, and Tong Juyu ordered him to keep the secret until the Soul-Reaping Sect could act.

• Huang Xiao continued forward under pressure, while Zhou Sihai retreated and realized how dangerous it would have been to attack him.
• Zhou Sihai and the other experts Yang Chengmu had approached blamed Yang Chengmu for sending them after an opponent whose strength he had not investigated.
• Yang Chengmu privately told Tong Juyu that Huang Xiao had likely obtained the inheritance of Kui Yong, the Wild Ox Sect’s Ancestor.
• Tong Juyu said the Sect Master was away and ordered Yang Chengmu to keep the information secret and warn Dong He, Deng Ting, Du Jiliang, and Lu Qingzhong.
• Tong Juyu told Yang Chengmu that the Soul-Reaping Sect could still gain the advantage if the secret remained hidden until the contest ended.

Huang Xiao advanced to the second round of the Demon God Sect’s Reserve Demon General selection after the arena’s formation locked in the qualifying ten thousand. He told Du Jiliang and Lu Qingzhong that Yang Chengmu wanted to suppress rumors about his inheritance, and confirmed he had received Ancestor Kui Yong’s inheritance.

• Huang Xiao stopped advancing while other Upper Ancient Realm Peak experts held back, as the incense burned down and the arena’s formation eliminated those who had not secured places in time.
• A Demon God Sect disciple silenced the protesting contestants and explained that only those still standing on the arena when time expired could advance.
• Zhuang Chen and Wang Renyu announced that the second selection round would take place the next day, and Huang Xiao left the arena to meet Du Jiliang and Lu Qingzhong.
• Lu Qingzhong told Huang Xiao that Yang Chengmu had threatened them because of him and might be seeking his cultivation method.
• Huang Xiao confirmed that he had received Ancestor Kui Yong’s inheritance, leaving Du Jiliang unable to understand his candor.

Huang Xiao used his identity as Kui Yong’s successor to attract the Demon God Sect’s attention, while Huo Lian warned that strength would decide whether the sect truly valued him. The Demon God Sect announced that only five Demon General positions would be contested, and Huo Lian linked the reduced number to conflicts over the transfer of power.

• Lu Qingzhong and Du Jiliang speculated that revealing Huang Xiao as Kui Yong’s successor might bring him favor from the Demon God Sect or put him in danger.
• Huo Lian told Huang Xiao that Wang Renyu had been tempted by his display of strength, but said Huang Xiao still had to prove himself to win the Demon God Sect’s approval.
• A Demon God Sect disciple announced that the candidates would compete for both the Reserve Demon General position and the Demon General positions, with only five Demon General spots available.
• Huang Xiao and Huo Lian recognized that the announcement upset the expectations of Zhuo Mengshen and others who had counted on more positions.
• Huo Lian explained that the reduced number of positions likely reflected tensions over the old Sect Master’s loss of power and the new Sect Master’s impatience.

Huang Xiao and his companions discussed the reduced number of Demon General positions and prepared for the selection contest. The ten thousand contestants learned they would enter a formation and have to endure until sunset, with the mysterious Senior Ma presiding.

• Huo Lian explained that the new sect master’s decision to offer only five Demon General positions had angered Zhuo Mengshen, whose fury at the Soul-Reaping Sect was later confirmed by Du Jiliang and Lu Qingzhong.
• Huang Xiao warned Lu Qingzhong and Du Jiliang that the selection might be deadly, while they said they hoped to face worthy opponents and improve.
• Wang Renyu and Zhuang Chen arrived at the arena with an unfamiliar white-haired elder whom they treated as their superior.
• Zhuang Chen announced that all ten thousand contestants would enter a formation, and anyone who held out until sunset would advance.
• The crowd identified the presiding elder as Senior Phantom Demon, astonishing Du Jiliang.