Recaps

Huo Lian and Huang Xiao searched the Moshang Mountain Range for sites to build the Wild Ox Sect’s Spirit-Gathering Divine Formation, then returned to find Lu Mu had strengthened the sect’s defenses. Huang Xiao ordered the sect to prepare for relocation and promised that its new home would have a powerful Spirit-Gathering Divine Formation.

• Huo Lian and Huang Xiao agreed to search for a central formation site on Moshang Main Peak, but found no particularly pure inkstone there.
• After surveying the area around the valley for half a month, Huo Lian and Huang Xiao found one inconspicuous peak with inkstone suitable for an auxiliary formation and kept it as an alternative.
• Huo Lian and Huang Xiao returned to the Wild Ox Sect and found that Lu Mu had greatly reinforced its formations.
• Huang Xiao told Jiang Deng to have the disciples pack the sect’s assets because he planned to relocate the Wild Ox Sect.
• Meng Hengjing asked whether the relocated sect would have a Spirit-Gathering Divine Formation, and Huang Xiao promised a second-tier and third-layer formation.

Huang Xiao confirmed that Wild Ox Sect members would have a chance to use the Spirit-Gathering Divine Formation, then announced that the sect’s new home would be Inkstone Mountain. Lu Mu explained why other sects avoided the mountain and hinted that it had further drawbacks, leaving the group waiting for his explanation.

• Huang Xiao told Meng Hengjing and the others that they would have an opportunity to use the Spirit-Gathering Divine Formation, though he and Huo Lian would have priority.
• Lu Mu asked where the new Wild Ox Sect would be established, and Huang Xiao named Inkstone Mountain.
• Meng Hengjing and Lu Mu explained that Inkstone Mountain’s abundant inkstone was mostly impure and had discouraged sects from settling there.
• Lu Mu clarified that scattered high-purity veins and widespread low-quality inkstone could weaken or interfere with protective formations.
• Huang Xiao asked whether any part of the vast mountain was suitable, and Lu Mu said there might be before mentioning additional unfavorable factors.

Huang Xiao chose a site in Inkstone Mountain for the Wild Ox Sect and instructed Lu Mu to find four auxiliary locations for a Fifth Layer Level Spirit-Gathering Divine Formation. Lu Mu recognized that Huang Xiao’s chosen site was where he had helped Hu Pursuing Wind and Yao Fengrong establish their formation, and wondered whether they could still be found there.

• Lu Mu warned Huang Xiao that Inkstone Mountain’s Spiritual Energy of Heaven and Earth could become extremely scarce in some locations, but Huang Xiao said he had found a suitable site with a vast mineral vein.
• Huang Xiao told Lu Mu to survey Inkstone Mountain and plan the Wild Ox Sect’s formation around the Spirit-Gathering Divine Formation’s Fifth Layer Level.
• Lu Mu agreed to search for four auxiliary formation sites, and Huang Xiao gave him a map marking two locations they had already found.
• Lu Mu recognized Huang Xiao’s chosen sect site as the place where he had helped Hu Pursuing Wind and Yao Fengrong set up their Spirit-Gathering Divine Formation.

Lu Mu planned to wait until he left the Wild Ox Sect before pursuing Hu Pursuing Wind and Yao Fengrong for the remaining Spirit-Gathering Divine Formation methods, while the Demon Domain’s Jianghu descended into chaos as Demon Generals were killed. Huang Xiao and Huo Lian repaired the formation at Inkstone Mountain, then began cultivating inside it as Lu Mu searched for auxiliary formation sites.

• Lu Mu decided to keep the valley and its inkstone crystal secret, and resolved to wait until he regained his freedom before seeking Hu Pursuing Wind and Yao Fengrong for their formation methods.
• Qi Heng’s death encouraged challengers to attack weaker Demon Generals, and the killings spread as fighters and opportunists fought over the fallen generals’ heads.
• The Wild Ox Sect grew more confident after Meng Hengjing and three other Primordial Ancient Realm Peak Stage experts joined it, and Jiang Deng and the others came to realize Huang Xiao was stronger than they had assumed.
• Huang Xiao and Huo Lian left the Wild Ox Sect with Lu Mu and went to Inkstone Mountain, where Huang Xiao discovered the flawed Spirit-Gathering Divine Formation chamber.
• Lu Mu repaired the formation using materials they gathered at auction and through other channels, while Huang Xiao and Huo Lian began cultivating inside it and Lu Mu searched for auxiliary formation sites.

After a year of seclusion, Huang Xiao and Huo Lian emerged with major breakthroughs and prepared to claim Demon General status. Lu Mu reported that the candidate site Huang Xiao had selected contained an ore vein but had unstable spiritual energy, leaving its suitability for an auxiliary formation uncertain.

• During a year of cultivation in the Spirit-Gathering Divine Formation, Huang Xiao reached the peak of the Upper Ancient Realm, while Huo Lian also made rapid progress.
• Huang Xiao and Huo Lian discussed their strength and planned to visit the Demon God Sect to hand over Qi Heng's Head and assess themselves against stronger experts.
• Three days after announcing their exit from seclusion, Huang Xiao and Huo Lian emerged, and Lu Mu congratulated them on their breakthroughs.
• Huang Xiao asked Lu Mu about the six candidate sites, and Lu Mu explained that one site had an ore vein but fluctuating spiritual energy that might make it unsuitable for an auxiliary formation.

Huang Xiao, Huo Lian, and Lu Mu investigated a mountain peak where the Spiritual Energy of Heaven and Earth had vanished, then uncovered something extraordinary inside its inkstone vein. The chapter ended with them stunned by an enormous piece of what appeared to be spirit crystal.

• Huo Lian, Huang Xiao, and Lu Mu found that the peak's Spiritual Energy of Heaven and Earth had dwindled to nothing, and Huang Xiao sensed it had rushed toward the mountain's foot.
• Huo Lian suggested breaking open the cliff face, and Huang Xiao's punches exposed a vein of high-purity inkstone.
• Huang Xiao continued striking the cliff despite Lu Mu's concern that he was shattering valuable inkstone.
• The inkstone cliff collapsed, revealing an enormous piece of what Huang Xiao recognized as spirit crystal.

Huang Xiao, Huo Lian, and Lu Mu discovered a gigantic spirit crystal that might be high-grade, and they realized its value could draw the Demon God Sect. Huang Xiao spared Lu Mu and asked him to keep the discovery secret.

• Lu Mu identified the massive crystal as at least mid-grade and possibly high-grade, while Huang Xiao recalled the properties and rarity of higher-grade spirit crystals.
• Huo Lian eyed Lu Mu with murderous intent, but Huang Xiao stopped him from killing the formation master.
• Huang Xiao, Huo Lian, and Lu Mu agreed that the spirit crystal was valuable enough to attract powerful Demon Sects, possibly even the Demon God Sect.
• Lu Mu asked why Huang Xiao had spared him, and Huang Xiao said Lu Mu was still useful and had helped them find the crystal.
• Huang Xiao asked Lu Mu to keep the discovery secret, and Lu Mu acknowledged that he could hardly refuse.

Lu Mu learned that Huang Xiao already possessed the later Formation Manuals for the Spirit-Gathering Divine Formation and was promised access to them if he helped. The group made the Spirit Crystal site the formation's main location and began planning the new Wild Ox Sect headquarters at Wild Ox Peak.

• Huang Xiao told Lu Mu that he had the later Formation Manuals and that Hu Pursuing Wind and Yao Fengrong had been killed to obtain them.
• Lu Mu agreed to help set up the Spirit-Gathering Divine Formation in hopes of learning its later tiers.
• Huang Xiao and Huo Lian left the Spirit Crystal in place and concealed it with formations.
• Huo Lian returned to the Wild Ox Sect and brought Jiang Deng and craftsmen to begin construction at Inkstone Mountain.
• Huang Xiao named the peak Wild Ox Peak and told Jiang Deng to plan the headquarters on a scale suited to a powerful Demon General Sect.
• Huo Lian and Lu Mu went to inspect other candidate sites while Huang Xiao guarded the Spirit Crystal and Meng Hengjing and others held the old Wild Ox Sect.

The Wild Ox Sect began building its headquarters on Inkstone Mountain while nearby sects watched from a distance, deterred by Meng Hengjing and his companions. Huo Lian and Lu Mu inspected potential auxiliary formation sites and decided to search for areas where spiritual energy vanished, which might contain spirit crystal like Wild Ox Peak.

• Jiang Deng told Huang Xiao that nearby Jianghu sects were keeping their distance, and Huang Xiao warned him not to let them delay construction.
• Huang Xiao reflected that Meng Hengjing and his companions had frightened the surrounding sects, and he would have to wait for Wild Ox Peak's defensive formations before visiting the Demon God Sect.
• Huo Lian and Lu Mu inspected the final candidate site and discussed which locations would best serve as auxiliary formation sites.
• Huo Lian suggested that Lu Mu investigate areas where spiritual energy was unstable or disappeared, since they might hold spirit crystal like Wild Ox Peak.
• Lu Mu agreed to search further across Inkstone Mountain for these unusual areas, and Huo Lian told him not to pressure himself.

Huang Xiao and Huo Lian fortified the formations around Wild Ox Peak’s spirit crystal while the Wild Ox Sect prepared to build its new headquarters. Huang Xiao then set out alone for the Demon God Sect with Qi Heng’s head to claim a Demon General position, as Zhao Chang and Zhao Kuan plotted to obtain Kui Yong’s cultivation methods.

• Lu Mu began setting up formations around Wild Ox Peak, while Huang Xiao and Huo Lian spent a month fortifying the spirit crystal’s defenses.
• Huang Xiao assigned Chen Ruyu to guard Wild Ox Peak as Huo Lian stayed behind to refine the formations.
• Huang Xiao returned to the Wild Ox Sect, collected Qi Heng’s preserved head, and took the Bronze Key and Supreme Ghost Stele before departing alone for the Demon God Sect.
• Zhao Kuan told Zhao Chang that Huang Xiao was heading to the Demon God Sect, and Zhao Chang said they had to obtain Kui Yong’s cultivation methods.

Zhao Chang persuaded Zhao Wei to target Huang Xiao for Kui Yong's cultivation method, despite Zhao Wei's concerns about Ma Tie'an. As Huang Xiao approached the Demon God Sect in disguise, he encountered a group apparently waiting to seize a Demon General's head.

• Zhao Chang agreed to tell Zhao Wei about Huang Xiao and warned Zhao Kuan not to ask about Huang Xiao to avoid suspicion.
• After receiving Zhao Chang's coded message, Zhao Wei weighed the value of Kui Yong's cultivation method against the danger of Ma Tie'an's involvement, then decided to act against Huang Xiao.
• Zhao Wei arranged to track Huang Xiao's approach to the Demon God Sect and prepare an attack.
• Huang Xiao disguised himself and traveled toward the Demon God Sect, passing Jianghu experts hoping to claim Demon General positions.
• More than a hundred li from the Demon God Sect, Huang Xiao stopped when eleven men appeared ahead; ten approached him while a primordial ancient realm peak-stage expert waited beneath a tree.

Huang Xiao fought off Jianghu robbers who discovered he was carrying Qi Heng's head, then continued toward the Demon God Sect under pursuit. Near the sect, he found a crowd besieging two other people and demanding their heads.

• A group of Jianghu people stopped Huang Xiao and tried to rob him and seize his cultivation methods.
• The group's leader recognized the bundle on Huang Xiao's back as likely containing a Demon General's head, and Huang Xiao killed the leader's subordinates.
• Huang Xiao defeated the Primordial Ancient Realm peak-stage leader, searched his corpse, and found only a few tens of thousands of taels and some pills.
• More Jianghu people attacked Huang Xiao after news spread about his strength and the suspected head in his bundle, so he fought through several waves and tried to escape using his lightness skill.
• Near the Demon God Sect, Huang Xiao saw a crowd demanding heads from two other people and realized he had run into their attackers by chance.

Huang Xiao joined forces with two other Demon General head holders as they fought their way toward the Demon God Sect’s no-fighting zone. The thin swordsman betrayed the burly man to take his head into safety, leaving Huang Xiao behind amid the attackers.

• Huang Xiao found the burly staff wielder and the thin swordsman under attack, and they explained that the Demon God Sect had set a one-and-a-half-year deadline for claiming Demon General status.
• Huang Xiao joined the two men as they charged toward the no-fighting zone, helping the burly man while concealing his true strength.
• The burly man and the thin swordsman each protected one another from attacks, and the burly man vowed to make friends with both men if they survived.
• The thin swordsman shoved the burly man aside, blocked two attackers, and then wounded him from behind, sending the burly man’s Demon General head flying.
• The thin swordsman seized the chance to reach the no-fighting zone with his own head, while the burly man cursed him and Huang Xiao remained under attack.

Huang Xiao rescued the wounded burly man by recovering a Demon General's head and sending him into the Demon God Sect's no-fighting zone. Huang Xiao remained outside, where he was confronted by a powerful Ancient Realm expert.

• The lean middle-aged man recalled how he had betrayed the burly man and tried to strike Huang Xiao before escaping with the bundle.
• Huang Xiao sealed the burly man's wounds, but the burly man urged him to flee as Jianghu fighters closed in.
• Huang Xiao charged into the fight over a Demon General's head, killed the Primordial Ancient Realm Peak Stage expert who held it, and took the head.
• Huang Xiao gave the head to the burly man and launched him toward the Demon God Sect, defending him from pursuers until he reached its no-fighting zone.
• Huang Xiao stayed behind and fought a newly arrived Ancient Realm expert, whose palm strike sent him flying backward.

Zhao Wei confronted Huang Xiao, revealing that he wanted Kui Yong's cultivation method rather than the Demon General Position. Huang Xiao fought him to test his new strength, but Zhao Wei sent him flying and became even more determined to claim the method.

• Zhao Wei stopped Huang Xiao before he could enter the Demon God Sect's no-fighting zone and admitted he wanted Kui Yong's cultivation method.
• Huang Xiao challenged Zhao Wei, believing the fight would reveal the limits of his strength.
• Zhao Wei assured the gathered Jianghu experts that he had no interest in the Demon General's head, and they cleared space for the duel.
• Huang Xiao and Zhao Wei exchanged saber strikes and sword qi, forcing the onlookers to retreat farther from the battle.
• Zhao Wei blocked Huang Xiao's strike and sent him flying, then recognized that Huang Xiao's strength rivaled an early-stage Ancient Realm expert despite not having reached that realm.

Huang Xiao fought Zhao Wei, an Ancient Realm expert who wanted to seize his cultivation method, and survived dozens of powerful attacks through his formidable vitality. As Zhao Wei and Huang Xiao clashed again near the Demon God Sect’s no-fighting zone, Brother Ke recognized Huang Xiao.

• Huang Xiao unleashed the eleventh layer of Heavenly Demon Disintegration and clashed with Zhao Wei, whose sword qi Huang Xiao countered with the Minghong Saber.
• Zhao Wei’s powerful attack injured Huang Xiao, but Huang Xiao realized the gap between them and continued resisting with his stored vitality.
• Zhao Wei repeatedly tried to subdue Huang Xiao, but Huang Xiao kept blocking his attacks and eventually charged at him.
• The burly man urged Huang Xiao to flee toward the Demon God Sect’s no-fighting zone, but Brother He said the fight was outside it and would not intervene.
• Brother Ke looked at the fighters and shouted when he recognized Huang Xiao.

He Da interrupted Zhao Wei’s fight with Huang Xiao and warned him to avoid drawing attention to his interference in the contest for Demon General positions. Huang Xiao escaped the surrounding crowd and, with Ke Zhenyi and He Da, headed to submit a Demon General’s head.

• He Da confronted Zhao Wei, who claimed he had only wanted to spar with Huang Xiao, and warned that others might learn what happened.
• Zhao Wei left, and the Jianghu onlookers hesitated to stop the badly injured Huang Xiao as he leaped toward Ke Zhenyi and the others.
• Ke Zhenyi asked Huang Xiao how he had been injured, and Huang Xiao said he had encountered a powerful opponent while bringing in a Demon General’s head.
• Ke Zhenyi told He Da he could return on his own, and He Da invited Huang Xiao to come with him to submit the head.
• Ke Zhenyi agreed to go with Huang Xiao, while Liu Wangtai thanked Huang Xiao and introduced himself.

Huang Xiao and Liu Wangtai entered the Demon God Sect to receive their Demon General Positions after Wang Kuo’s betrayal. They found Wang Kuo waiting in the hall, where he believed he could use them as human shields again, just as Elder Yang arrived.

• Huang Xiao and Liu Wangtai followed He Da and Ke Zhenyi into the Demon God Sect, while Jianghu onlookers discussed Huang Xiao’s strength and the danger awaiting the candidates outside.
• Huang Xiao learned that Wang Kuo had deceived Liu Wangtai, and the group entered the Sect’s Mountain Gate.
• He Da brought Huang Xiao and Liu Wangtai to the courtyard where Elder Yang Ge was overseeing the awarding of Demon General Positions.
• Huang Xiao and Liu Wangtai entered the hall and found Wang Kuo waiting there; Liu Wangtai angrily confronted him but obeyed the disciple’s order to be quiet.
• Wang Kuo privately reasoned that the injured Huang Xiao and Liu Wangtai would draw attacks and serve as his human shields, then Elder Yang arrived.

Huang Xiao, Wang Kuo, and Liu Wangtai received Demon General Tokens from Elder Yang, who warned that their positions would bring new challenges. As the Jianghu fighters gathered to block their exit, Huang Xiao prepared to face them while Ke Zhenyi chose to watch.

• Elder Yang confirmed that the three had obtained the heads of Qi Heng and two other Demon Generals, then awarded them Demon General Tokens.
• Elder Yang warned that one of the three would likely retain his position, while the other two would be in danger.
• Liu Wangtai believed Elder Yang meant Huang Xiao and expected Wang Kuo to die, while Wang Kuo assumed he would survive by using the others as shields.
• Ke Zhenyi greeted Huang Xiao outside the hall, and Huang Xiao recognized that Ke Zhenyi had grown much stronger during his time in the Demon God Sect.
• A Demon God Sect disciple escorted the three to the edge of the protected area, where Jianghu fighters gathered to challenge them.
• Ke Zhenyi said he would watch rather than help, and Huang Xiao said he could handle the fighters himself.

Huang Xiao, Liu Wangtai, and Ke Zhenyi escaped the Jianghu encirclement, while Wang Kuo was left behind and forced out of the Demon God Sect. Ke Zhenyi explained that Demon General Tokens contained a force that could strengthen their holders over time.

• Huang Xiao invited Liu Wangtai to leave with him, and Ke Zhenyi joined them as they charged out of the Demon God Sect.
• The Jianghu fighters let the three pass because Ke Zhenyi had reached the Ancient Realm, leaving Wang Kuo behind.
• The Demon God Sect disciple ordered Wang Kuo to leave, and the Jianghu fighters immediately surrounded him outside.
• Ke Zhenyi told Huang Xiao and Liu Wangtai that Demon General Tokens contained a mysterious force that could steadily improve their strength.
• Liu Wangtai explained that many Demon Generals survived challengers by escaping and hiding until their strength grew.

After Wang Kuo died, Huang Xiao, Ke Zhenyi, and Liu Wangtai left the fighting and agreed to join forces as newly appointed Demon Generals amid rumors that the Demon God Sect would loosen its restrictions. They arrived at Inkstone Mountain, where Ke Zhenyi planned to move the Heavenly Art Sect, and Huo Lian entered as they inspected the new lodgings.

• Wang Kuo died under the crowd's assault, and the Jianghu fighters descended into chaos over his head.
• Huang Xiao invited Liu Wangtai to join him and Ke Zhenyi, who warned that the Demon God Sect would relax its restrictions and make weaker Demon Generals vulnerable.
• Liu Wangtai agreed to join them, and Ke Zhenyi asked to relocate the Heavenly Art Sect to Inkstone Mountain.
• Huang Xiao agreed to find Ke Zhenyi a suitable site and brought him and Liu Wangtai to the Wild Ox Sect's new lodgings.
• Ke Zhenyi remarked on the Wild Ox Sect's construction progress, and Huo Lian walked in.

Huang Xiao, Huo Lian, Ke Zhenyi, and Liu Wangtai discussed Zhao Wei’s attempt to seize Huang Xiao’s cultivation method and the Demon God Sect’s ranks. Ke Zhenyi revealed that the sect’s new leader might purge its unsuccessful disciples, leaving Huang Xiao and the others alarmed by the prospect of them being wiped out.

• Huang Xiao introduced Huo Lian to Ke Zhenyi and Liu Wangtai, and told Huo Lian about Ke Zhenyi’s proposal to form an alliance and the information he had learned.
• Huang Xiao asked Ke Zhenyi about the Demon God Sect expert who had fought him, and Ke Zhenyi identified him as Zhao Wei, an Ancient Realm expert competing for a Third-Level Steward position.
• Ke Zhenyi explained the Demon God Sect’s steward ranks and said Zhao Wei had likely targeted Huang Xiao to obtain Kui Yong’s cultivation method and improve his chances.
• Ke Zhenyi said Huang Xiao would need to reach at least the Ancient Realm peak to kill Zhao Wei without causing serious trouble with the Demon God Sect.
• Ke Zhenyi mentioned rumors that the Demon God Sect’s new Sect Master planned to sweep away unsuccessful disciples, then clarified that this meant wiping them out.

Ke Zhenyi explained how the Demon God Sect’s new policies had put even powerful figures under pressure and why Zhao Wei had attacked Huang Xiao. He then recounted how Elder Wu Bai had kept him in the sect to forge a sword, a stroke of luck that may have saved his life amid the upheaval.

• Ke Zhenyi said Zhao Wei had attacked Huang Xiao to improve his chances of becoming a steward and avoid being judged a failure.
• Ke Zhenyi and the others discussed the Demon God Sect’s challenges to Demon Generals and the risk that unrest could invite invasions from other domains.
• Ke Zhenyi told Huang Xiao that Elder Wu Bai had let him stay in the Demon God Sect because he needed help forging a precious sword for a disciple.
• Ke Zhenyi realized that remaining in the sect had protected him, since his Reserve Demon General status would not have kept him safe from challengers.

Ke Zhenyi explained that he had become an official Demon General and an Ancient Realm expert, and that he was searching for suitable ores to repay Elder Wu for his help. He and Huang Xiao discussed the dangers surrounding Demon General Tokens and the powerful veterans who might target them, while Liu Wangtai prepared to recover and strengthen himself.

• Ke Zhenyi told Huang Xiao he was seeking ores suited to forging a flexible sword for Elder Wu's disciple, repaying Elder Wu's earlier support.
• Liu Wangtai said he wanted to recover from his injuries and use the energy in his Demon General Token before the Demon Domain fell into chaos.
• Ke Zhenyi explained that they could not have taken Wang Kuo's token because the Demon God Sect disciple escorting them would likely have claimed it.
• Huang Xiao wondered whether they could seek out other Demon General Tokens, but Ke Zhenyi warned that they would be difficult to find and might already have been used.
• Huo Lian offered to take Liu Wangtai to his quarters, leaving Huang Xiao to decide what to discuss about the Minghong Saber.

Huang Xiao asked Ke Zhenyi about spiritually attuned weapons and revealed that Minghong Saber’s soul had been badly injured and fallen into a deep sleep. Ke Zhenyi believed the soul might be intermediate-grade and said it could still awaken, though he had no remedy yet.

• Ke Zhenyi explained the three grades of spiritual attunement and how a weapon’s soul could affect its wielder.
• Huang Xiao concealed his belief that Minghong Saber’s soul was high-grade and said it was asleep after suffering severe damage.
• Ke Zhenyi examined Minghong Saber but sensed no soul aura, warning Huang Xiao that the soul might never awaken.
• Ke Zhenyi reconsidered and said the soul’s survival suggested it could be intermediate-grade, leaving some chance of recovery.
• Huang Xiao told Ke Zhenyi that Different Flames could strengthen Minghong Saber’s soul and might awaken it.