Recaps

Huo Lian prepared a trial in which Huang Xiao and the Demon Phoenix would face thirty Enlightenment Realm experts, releasing them in staggered batches to give the pair more time. Huang Xiao and the Demon Phoenix assessed their chances and began planning to rely on their strongest techniques and fight for survival.

• Huo Lian watched thirty Enlightenment Realm experts sealed in separate formations and decided to release them in batches on the fifth, fifteenth, and twenty-fifth days.
• Huo Lian adjusted the isolation formations, then left, intending to return in a month to see whether Huang Xiao had survived the trial.
• The Demon Phoenix panicked over the approaching opponents, and Huang Xiao agreed they needed to assess their strength before making a plan.
• Huang Xiao and the Demon Phoenix judged that they might need to join forces against even one of the experts and discussed their abilities and limits.
• The Demon Phoenix urged Huang Xiao to study Sound Art Qi Control, Heavenly Demon Disintegration, and his Divine Sense attack, while Huang Xiao resolved to fight for his life when an opponent appeared.

Huang Xiao and Demon Phoenix hid to cultivate for three days, then searched for their opponents without finding anyone. On the fifth day, they finally spotted a person nearby, leaving them poised to face their first opponent.

• Huang Xiao and Demon Phoenix hid in a cave and agreed to take turns cultivating for up to three days.
• Under the pressure of the trial, Huang Xiao and Demon Phoenix made breakthroughs and left the cave to search for isolated opponents.
• After searching for half a day without finding anyone, Huang Xiao and Demon Phoenix returned to the cave and resumed cultivating.
• On the fifth day, Huang Xiao and Demon Phoenix searched another direction, still puzzled by the absence of opponents.
• Huang Xiao sensed movement and dropped to the ground as Demon Phoenix spotted a person a little over half a li away.

Huang Xiao and Demon Phoenix hid while Zhen Heng searched for Huang Xiao, then Huang Xiao attacked after Zhen Heng spotted him. Their first exchange revealed that Zhen Heng's heaven-and-earth momentum barely hindered Huang Xiao, while Huang Xiao's strength shocked the Enlightenment Realm expert.

• Huang Xiao told Demon Phoenix to stay hidden and wait until they were sure no one else was nearby.
• Huang Xiao recognized the approaching man as Zhen Heng of the Ghost Spirit Sect and told Demon Phoenix to conceal his aura and hold back.
• Zhen Heng searched the area for Huang Xiao, believing the disappearance of his isolation formation meant Huang Xiao was nearby.
• Zhen Heng spotted Huang Xiao charging at him, scanned the surroundings, and decided to kill him despite suspecting hidden guards might be present.
• Zhen Heng used heaven-and-earth momentum and struck Huang Xiao with his palm, but Huang Xiao met the attack with a punch.
• Zhen Heng was astonished that Huang Xiao, a Martial Realm practitioner, could withstand his powerful strike.

Huang Xiao fought Zhen Heng in the mountains, using Heavenly Demon Disintegration to match the stronger Enlightenment Realm expert. The battle left both injured, but Huang Xiao’s final punch made Zhen Heng spit blood as Huang Xiao was kicked hard to the ground.

• Zhen Heng demanded that Huang Xiao reveal the secrets of the Evil Water Region, but Huang Xiao refused and attacked again.
• Huang Xiao unleashed the Second Stage of Heavenly Demon Disintegration, and his punch met Zhen Heng’s full-strength palm with comparable force.
• Demon Phoenix watched from the grass and decided to give Huang Xiao another quarter of an hour before intervening.
• Huang Xiao and Zhen Heng traded blows, injuring each other, while Lingbo Ethereal Steps helped Huang Xiao evade capture.
• Huang Xiao abandoned his defense to land another punch on Zhen Heng’s chest, making Zhen Heng spit blood as Zhen Heng’s kick sent Huang Xiao crashing to the ground.

Huang Xiao used a Divine Sense attack to distract Zhen Heng and killed him with a powerful punch before he could activate his Forbidden Art. After recovering from the damage of Heavenly Demon Disintegration, Huang Xiao realized that Zhen Heng’s death might have consequences.

• Huang Xiao charged Zhen Heng while secretly building his strength, then struck him with a Divine Sense attack that briefly dazed him.
• Huang Xiao’s full-strength Heavenly Demon Subduing Tiger Fist shattered Zhen Heng’s defense and crushed his chest, killing him.
• Demon Phoenix emerged from hiding, and Huang Xiao checked the surroundings with his Divine Sense before deciding there was probably no one nearby.
• Huang Xiao explained that killing Enlightenment Realm experts would become much harder once they used their Forbidden Arts, while Demon Phoenix praised the power of Divine Sense attacks.
• Huang Xiao recovered from his injuries with Imperishable True Qi, but his expression changed when Demon Phoenix said Zhen Heng was dead through and through.

Huang Xiao and Demon Phoenix discovered that Zhen Heng’s body had stopped functioning at the moment of death while a strange cultivation method slowly repaired his injuries. Huang Xiao decided to observe the process, believing Zhen Heng might revive once his internal injuries were no longer fatal.

• Demon Phoenix urged Huang Xiao to dispose of Zhen Heng’s corpse, but Huang Xiao noticed something strange and examined it.
• Huang Xiao and Demon Phoenix found that Zhen Heng’s true qi remained motionless and that some of his damaged meridians had begun to recover.
• Huang Xiao concluded that Zhen Heng had died instantly but possessed an art of rebirth that activated after death to repair his body slowly.
• Demon Phoenix wanted to destroy Zhen Heng’s corpse, but Huang Xiao stopped him so he could study the cultivation method.
• Huang Xiao explained that Zhen Heng’s method was weaker than Tuoba Ao’s because Zhen Heng remained unconscious and could not protect himself while healing.

Huang Xiao examined Zhen Heng’s apparent resurrection and waited until he woke, hoping to learn the cultivation method behind it. When Zhen Heng refused to cooperate, Huang Xiao tried persuading him that his creation would otherwise be lost, but Demon Phoenix’s claim that Huang Xiao could eventually reconstruct and improve it unsettled Zhen Heng.

• Huang Xiao examined the changes in Zhen Heng’s body for an hour while Demon Phoenix stood guard.
• Zhen Heng revived, discovered Huang Xiao was still there, and learned that only an hour had passed.
• Huang Xiao demanded that Zhen Heng reveal his resurrection cultivation method, but Zhen Heng refused.
• Demon Phoenix threatened to torture Zhen Heng with his flames and revealed himself as the phoenix from Mist Mountain.
• Huang Xiao argued that Zhen Heng’s cultivation method would be lost forever if he kept it secret.
• Demon Phoenix said Huang Xiao could eventually figure out the method and make it more complete, leaving Zhen Heng startled and doubtful.

Huang Xiao persuaded Zhen Heng to share the rebirth cultivation method he had created, after explaining its flaws and proving his knowledge of the Ghost Daoist Canon. Zhen Heng agreed on the condition that Huang Xiao someday teach the method to a Ghost Dao disciple and preserve Zhen Heng’s name.

• Zhen Heng mocked Huang Xiao’s claim that he could understand the rebirth method, but Huang Xiao described a man who had mastered both Ghost Dao and Monster Dao cultivation.
• Huang Xiao recited passages from the Ghost Daoist Canon, though Zhen Heng dismissed this as insufficient proof that he knew the complete text.
• Huang Xiao analyzed how Zhen Heng’s method halted his vital functions and repaired his body, identifying unconsciousness and slow recovery as major flaws.
• Huang Xiao said he had killed a man who could be reborn three times and had studied that man’s more complete Rebirth Method.
• Zhen Heng agreed to teach Huang Xiao his cultivation formula and insights if Huang Xiao later taught it to a Ghost Dao disciple and credited Zhen Heng.
• Demon Phoenix grew angry at Zhen Heng’s insult but held back, intending to kill him after Huang Xiao learned the method.

Zhen Heng taught Huang Xiao an unnamed cultivation method, which they named the Ghost Spirit Indestructible Art, and explained the truth about the Evil Water Region and the hundred Enlightenment Realm experts. After Zhen Heng killed himself, Huang Xiao buried him, then he and Demon Phoenix hid as they prepared to face the remaining hunters.

• Zhen Heng taught Huang Xiao his cultivation method, and they agreed to call it the Ghost Spirit Indestructible Art.
• Huang Xiao explained that the Three Evil Blades could break the Evil Water Region’s Grand Formation, that three elders had sacrificed their lifespans to send him out, and that the captive Former Demon Hall Master was Huo Lian.
• Zhen Heng learned that Huo Lian had gathered a hundred Enlightenment Realm experts to hunt Huang Xiao for a month, and realized the other captives had also been isolated before emerging.
• Zhen Heng asked Huang Xiao to unseal his acupoints, reminded him to pass on the cultivation method, and severed his own meridians to die.
• Huang Xiao confirmed Zhen Heng was dead and buried him, then left with Demon Phoenix and concealed themselves behind a huge boulder.

Huang Xiao and Demon Phoenix planned to use Huang Xiao as bait while hunting the remaining targets. Their trap drew Zhang Jianqiao and Kong Fu, leaving Huang Xiao facing two enemies while Demon Phoenix hid nearby.

• Huang Xiao and Demon Phoenix waited in ambush for two hours, but no one appeared, so they moved on.
• Demon Phoenix proposed that Huang Xiao go ahead as bait while he followed behind to launch a sneak attack, and Huang Xiao agreed.
• Zhang Jianqiao, of the Heavenly Sword Sect, confronted Huang Xiao and challenged him to fight.
• Kong Fu of the Heavenly Evil Sect arrived and questioned Huang Xiao about his survival in the Evil Water Region.
• Demon Phoenix concealed himself nearby, worried that the two opponents might be joined by more.

Huang Xiao let Kong Fu and Zhang Jianqiao fight while he assessed their abilities and waited for a chance to attack with Demon Phoenix. The two Enlightenment Realm experts wounded each other but remained standing, still facing off.

• Huang Xiao attacked Kong Fu, who struck him away before turning to fight Zhang Jianqiao.
• Zhang Jianqiao drew his sword, and he and Kong Fu exchanged their Wind Spirit Sword and Dark Evil Palm techniques while Huang Xiao watched.
• Huang Xiao gauged that the two were evenly matched and sensed Demon Phoenix nearby, planning to attack after they spent more True Qi.
• Kong Fu and Zhang Jianqiao agreed to use their full strength and fought fiercely, ignoring Huang Xiao.
• Kong Fu struck Zhang Jianqiao in the chest as Zhang Jianqiao pierced Kong Fu at the waist, and both men retreated to catch their breath.

Kong Fu and Zhang Jianqiao fought over Huang Xiao, but Kong Fu’s attempt to kill Huang Xiao ended with Kong Fu dead. Huang Xiao then killed Zhang Jianqiao, leaving him victorious over both opponents.

• Kong Fu broke away from Zhang Jianqiao and charged at Huang Xiao, intending to kill him and escape.
• Huang Xiao evaded Kong Fu’s palm strike and punched through his protective True Qi, shattering his heart as Zhang Jianqiao’s Sword Qi cleaved Kong Fu’s body in two.
• Zhang Jianqiao assumed he had killed Kong Fu and tried to capture Huang Xiao, but Huang Xiao charged him with the Second Stage of Heavenly Demon Disintegration and Sound Art Qi Control.
• Huang Xiao knocked Zhang Jianqiao’s palm aside, circled behind him, and killed him while his True Qi could not keep up.

Huang Xiao faced Feng Jing of the Sword Pavilion after Feng Jing witnessed him kill Zhang Jianqiao. Feng Jing unleashed his Ghost Hundred Slashes, surrounding Huang Xiao with circling Sword Qi and leaving him under mounting pressure.

• Feng Jing appeared before Huang Xiao, identified himself as the Sword Pavilion’s Ghost Sword, and praised Huang Xiao for killing Zhang Jianqiao.
• Huang Xiao challenged Feng Jing and attacked with the Heavenly Demon Subduing Tiger Fist at nearly fivefold power.
• Feng Jing drew his Precious Sword and cut through Huang Xiao’s fist force with a streak of Sword Qi.
• Feng Jing pursued Huang Xiao with successive streaks of Sword Qi, forcing him to dodge as one sliced his sleeve.
• Huang Xiao recognized that Feng Jing’s Sword Qi circled under his control, and Feng Jing said Ghost Hundred Slashes would be enough to defeat him.

Feng Jing trapped Huang Xiao in his Sword Qi Formation and prepared to kill him, but Demon Phoenix intervened with a surprise attack. Demon Phoenix was seriously wounded by Feng Jing’s Ghost Thousand Slashes, then unleashed Nirvana Flame as the fight continued.

• Feng Jing trapped Huang Xiao with his Hundred Slashes Sword Qi Formation and prepared to strike him down.
• Demon Phoenix transformed into a blazing phoenix and attacked Feng Jing from behind to save Huang Xiao.
• Feng Jing turned away from Huang Xiao and countered Demon Phoenix’s attack, but the phoenix’s flames absorbed his sword qi.
• Feng Jing unleashed Ghost Thousand Slashes, scattering Demon Phoenix’s flames and cutting a deep wound across his chest.
• Demon Phoenix endured the attack and unleashed Nirvana Flame, expanding his flaming wings across the sky.

Feng Jing broke free of Demon Phoenix’s Nirvana Flame and fought back while Huang Xiao remained trapped in the Sword Qi Grand Formation. Feng Jing used a distant sword technique to strike Huang Xiao, leaving him pierced by Sword Qi and collapsed on the ground.

• Demon Phoenix trapped Feng Jing inside a fiery phoenix and tried to reach Huang Xiao, but Feng Jing burst free and charged at him.
• Feng Jing struck Demon Phoenix with his sword and forced him to abandon his attempt to rescue Huang Xiao.
• As flames and smoke spread, Feng Jing formed countless spinning sword images and repelled Demon Phoenix when he attacked.
• Feng Jing’s sword images resonated with the Sword Qi around Huang Xiao, and Feng Jing unleashed a killing attack from a distance.
• Nearly a hundred streaks of Sword Qi pierced Huang Xiao, who fell to the ground covered in bloody wounds.

After Huang Xiao appeared to die, Feng Jing attacked the Demon Phoenix to capture it, eventually pinning it to a boulder with his sword. The Demon Phoenix feigned surrender to distract Feng Jing, helping an unseen attacker strike from behind and forcing Feng Jing to dodge.

• The Demon Phoenix mourned Huang Xiao, whose breath had ceased, while Feng Jing announced he would capture the bird.
• The Demon Phoenix fought Feng Jing, refusing to submit despite being repeatedly wounded.
• Feng Jing pierced the Demon Phoenix's wing with his Precious Sword and pinned it to a boulder.
• The Demon Phoenix stopped struggling and mocked Feng Jing, making him suspect a trap.
• A forceful sneak attack came from behind Feng Jing, and the Demon Phoenix blocked his attempt to draw his sword, forcing him to dodge.

Huang Xiao and Demon Phoenix destroyed Feng Jing’s Precious Sword and cornered him after he tried to flee. Facing defeat, Feng Jing began preparing a Forbidden Art, and Demon Phoenix warned Huang Xiao as they rushed to stop him.

• Demon Phoenix melted Feng Jing’s Precious Sword into iron, then melted Zhang Jianqiao’s Precious Sword after Huang Xiao handed it over.
• Huang Xiao and Demon Phoenix challenged Feng Jing, who realized his strength had fallen and turned to flee.
• Huang Xiao and Demon Phoenix blocked Feng Jing’s escape and attacked him together, driving him back.
• Feng Jing threatened to use a Forbidden Art, and Demon Phoenix warned Huang Xiao before charging at him.

Huang Xiao and Demon Phoenix killed Feng Jing as he began using a Forbidden Art, then fled before approaching experts could find them. Hidden nearby, they watched three Enlightenment Realm experts inspect the bodies and speculate about who had killed Feng Jing and what the strange lumps of iron were.

• Huang Xiao disrupted Feng Jing’s Forbidden Art, and he and Demon Phoenix attacked together, killing Feng Jing.
• Huang Xiao urged Demon Phoenix to flee when he sensed someone approaching, and they escaped without disposing of Feng Jing’s body.
• Huang Xiao and Demon Phoenix hid in bushes and watched three Enlightenment Realm experts arrive at the scene.
• The three experts examined Feng Jing’s wounds and the lumps of iron, then debated whether Huang Xiao had had powerful guards or whether Feng Jing had died fighting over the strange minerals.

After Huang Xiao and Demon Phoenix defeated Feng Jing and two other experts, they hid to recover and discussed how Huang Xiao survived by using Zhen Heng's Ghost Spirit Indestructible Art. The surviving enemies planned to join forces, leaving Huang Xiao and Demon Phoenix expecting it to become harder to face them separately.

• Three men surveyed the burned site where Feng Jing and the other two had died, then decided to join forces and leave.
• Demon Phoenix suggested they could defeat the three men, but Huang Xiao warned that their injuries made a fight dangerous and that their enemies would likely team up.
• Huang Xiao and Demon Phoenix hid at the foot of a cliff, where Demon Phoenix saw that Huang Xiao's wounds had nearly healed.
• Huang Xiao explained that he had used Zhen Heng's Ghost Spirit Indestructible Art to survive Feng Jing's sword qi, and that his Imperishable True Qi accelerated his recovery.
• Huang Xiao said the art halted damage throughout his body, while his injuries and the limited damage from later sword qi helped him awaken quickly.

After surviving Feng Jing’s attack, Huang Xiao discussed the limits of his resurrection technique and Divine Sense with Demon Phoenix. They used rare Spirit-Restoring Pills to heal their wounds in three shichen, then discovered their strength had improved.

• Huang Xiao explained that his wounds had healed quickly and that his Ghost Spirit Indestructible Art could likely bring him back to life once a day, but could not increase his internal power.
• Huang Xiao and Demon Phoenix discussed the danger of facing Feng Jing’s allies and the risks and best timing for Huang Xiao’s Divine Sense attack.
• Demon Phoenix said his Phoenix body would recover quickly, and Huang Xiao gave him a Spirit-Restoring Pill to speed their healing.
• Huang Xiao and Demon Phoenix swallowed Spirit-Restoring Pills and healed while keeping watch over their surroundings.
• After three shichen, both had recovered and found that their strength had improved considerably.

Huang Xiao and Demon Phoenix continued surviving the deadly trials by cultivating and hunting their opponents. Huang Xiao turned two Enlightenment Realm experts against each other, then struck one down as his former ally attacked him from behind.

• Huang Xiao and Demon Phoenix discussed the dangers of growing stronger through deadly combat and spent the night cultivating.
• The next morning, they set out to find isolated opponents, with Huang Xiao leading and Demon Phoenix following in bird form.
• Huang Xiao lured two Enlightenment Realm experts into attacking him, and their rivalry over who would kill him exposed the weakness of their alliance.
• Huang Xiao deliberately endured several attacks until one expert turned on his companion.
• Huang Xiao blocked the first expert’s palm force with the Heavenly Demon Subduing Tiger Fist, and the second expert’s strike hit him from behind.

Huang Xiao and Demon Phoenix killed two Enlightenment Realm experts, then spent three days searching without finding another opponent. As pressure mounted, they decided to pursue a way to escape the formation alongside the old demon’s task.

• Huang Xiao killed one attacker, and Demon Phoenix killed the Enlightenment Realm expert who charged him.
• Huang Xiao and Demon Phoenix destroyed the bodies and traces before leaving to hunt for more targets.
• After three days without finding anyone, Huang Xiao and Demon Phoenix worried that their opponents had joined forces.
• Demon Phoenix proposed trying to escape the formation while continuing to prepare for the old demon’s task.

Huang Xiao and Demon Phoenix searched for the grand formation’s eye while planning their escape. Huang Xiao killed an Enlightenment Realm expert on his own, but three enemies who had previously seen Feng Jing’s corpse witnessed the fight and approached him.

• Huang Xiao agreed to help Demon Phoenix escape and began studying the formation for its eye.
• Huang Xiao found an isolated Enlightenment Realm expert and chose to fight him without Demon Phoenix’s help.
• Huang Xiao overwhelmed the expert with his strength and divine sense, shattered his meridians, and killed him.
• Three enemies who had seen Feng Jing dead arrived and expressed surprise at Huang Xiao’s victory.

Huang Xiao fought three Enlightenment Realm experts and turned their rivalry against them. After he drove one back, Demon Phoenix emerged from behind and killed him, leaving the other two shocked.

• The three Enlightenment Realm experts surrounded Huang Xiao and attacked together, but he evaded their moves with his footwork.
• Huang Xiao taunted the three about only one of them surviving, then chose to attack the weakest while they continued competing to strike him first.
• Huang Xiao met the weakest expert palm to palm, drove him back, and fired finger force at the other two.
• As the wounded expert tried to recover, Demon Phoenix pierced his chest from behind and killed him.
• The remaining two experts saw their companion fall but could not identify his killer until the corpse revealed the little black bird.

Huang Xiao and Demon Phoenix fought the two remaining Enlightenment Realm experts and killed them. After comparing their victories, they burned the bodies and planned to face a larger group next time.

• Demon Phoenix trapped one Enlightenment Realm expert inside his enormous phoenix flames and attacked him with repeated claw strikes and wing sweeps.
• Huang Xiao gained the upper hand against his opponent, then used Northern Darkness Absorption to assault the man’s divine sense and struck his throat while he was disoriented.
• Huang Xiao confirmed his opponent was dead and called out that he had won.
• Demon Phoenix’s flames dissipated, revealing that his opponent had been burned to ashes; he complained that he had finished just too late.
• Huang Xiao told Demon Phoenix to dispose of the bodies, and Demon Phoenix burned them before suggesting they try fighting four opponents next time.