Recaps

After escaping the Evil Water Region, Huang Xiao was hunted by the Demon and Ghost Sects and fought his way through their pursuit while trying to reach safety. He arrived in Jicheng amid a gathering over the Eighteen Families Firms and the Longevity Pill Manual, then hid rather than risk drawing attention.

• Huang Xiao emerged from the Evil Water Region as Old Man Zhu’s blade shadows killed four Enlightenment Realm experts, then escaped through the river while the Heavenly Evil Sect searched for him.
• Old Man Zhu discovered Jiang Liuli was pregnant, and the three old men said they hoped her child would inherit the Three Great Families’ secrets if they could not be freed.
• Wei Yidao learned Huang Xiao had survived and sent Liang Chenghao and Yao Renwu to bring him back safely, while Yao Renwu punished Yin Huju and Yue Cheng and told Zuo Jiayi to wait for the candidate position.
• Huang Xiao avoided contacting the Heavenly Demon Hall and headed toward Chaotic Province, but Zeng Yan and Gu Xihan recognized him and pursued him with forces from the Demon Spirit Sect and Ghost Spirit Sect.
• Huang Xiao used the Heavenly Demon Disintegration Great Art and Heavenly Demon Soul-Destroying Sound to wound his pursuers and escape, then disguised himself after Gu Xihan and Zeng Yan broke their promise to give him a one-hour head start.
• Huang Xiao used the Sound Art to help the Demon and Ghost Sects kill Liu Genhe, then disrupted a Void Martial Realm expert’s pursuit so a Sword Pavilion disciple could escape.
• Qian Sai deduced that Huang Xiao had returned to kill Liu Genhe, while Huang Xiao continued toward Ji Province and learned that Jianghu factions were gathering in Jicheng over the trading companies and the Longevity Pill Manual.
• Huang Xiao entered Jicheng openly, realized the jade slips’ contents might be disordered, and hid in a guest room after setting up a formation when he saw major factions arriving.

Chen Xiangrong established control of the Trading Company Alliance as the major factions pressured the Imperial Remnant Manor and tried to seize Huang Xiao for his knowledge of the Evil Water Region. Wu Cang helped Huang Xiao escape, and the arc ended with Huo Lian meeting Leng Guhan and Zhu Fancheng over the region’s secret.

• Luo Wenhe stopped the Heavenly Sword Sect from forcing guests out of the inn, while Chen Xiangrong secretly met Lord Wu and agreed to help locate Huang Xiao.
• Chen Xiangrong became leader of the Trading Company Alliance, and the major factions pressured Gong Qingshan to share the Selection Inscription Stele once all nine Jade Slips were gathered.
• At the public assembly, Chen Xiangrong announced the connection between the inscriptions and the Longevity Pill Manual, and the factions exposed Huang Xiao’s presence while trying to seize him.
• Wu Cang protected Huang Xiao from the gathered factions, using the Pitch-Black Demon Eyes and his Imitation Saber to break through their attacks before escaping with him.
• Wu Cang’s Forbidden Art weakened as the pursuers closed in, so he sent Huang Xiao ahead while he stayed behind to delay them.
• Leng Guhan confronted Wu Cang and the pursuers, then fought Wei Yidao while Chu Fanyin treated Wu Cang and Huang Xiao watched the duel.
• Leng Guhan asked Huang Xiao how many people remained in the Evil Water Region, and Huo Lian arrived after Huang Xiao answered that three remained.
• Huo Lian spoke privately with Leng Guhan and Zhu Fancheng, who asked for Tiger Wing and Inugami in exchange for a prepared offer.

Huo Lian negotiated access to the Evil Water Region and promised to help Huang Xiao rescue Zhangsun Youyue and Jiang Liuli. After returning to the Heavenly Demon Hall, Huang Xiao killed Zuo Jiayi and fought Zheng Gu, but his attempt to free Yin Huju and Yue Cheng stalled after they were sent to the Core Forging Area.

• Huo Lian negotiated with Zhu Fancheng and Leng Guhan to provide the Evil Blades in exchange for the Heavenly Evil Imperishable Art.
• Huo Lian promised to rescue Zhangsun Youyue and Jiang Liuli, heard Huang Xiao recite the cultivation manuals, and investigated Huang Xiao’s report of Chao Hun’s mixed Supreme Demonic Qi.
• Chu Fanyin and Wei Yidao agreed to secretly nurture Huang Xiao together and escorted him back to the Heavenly Demon Hall.
• Huang Xiao learned that Zuo Jiayi had flogged Chao Lingyi and that Yao Renwu had sent Yin Huju and Yue Cheng to the Forced Labor Camp.
• Huang Xiao whipped Zuo Jiayi, killed four disciples during the confrontation, and killed Zuo Jiayi after he refused to apologize to Chao Lingyi.
• Huang Xiao challenged Zheng Gu and repeatedly repaired his wounds with Imperishable True Qi until Elder Liu stopped their fight and declared a draw.
• Huang Xiao entered the Forced Labor Camp, failed to save Song Gang, and learned that Zheng Gu had submitted Yin Huju and Yue Cheng for selection at the Core Forging Area.
• Huang Xiao sent a letter seeking help after finding the Hall Master absent and feared for the two elders when Yao Renwu returned with serious injuries.

Huang Xiao sought help from the Main Hall after the God-Burying Hall seized the materials for his musical weapons. He killed Fan Rong when Fan Rong attacked him, then learned that most of the crucial parasol wood had already been consumed.

• Yao Renwu tried to send Huang Xiao to the Forced Labor Camp for Zuo Jiayi’s death, but Liang Chenghao, Elder Liu, and Wu Cang intervened, and Wu Cang asserted his right to vote as a new elder.
• Huang Xiao learned that the God-Burying Hall had taken the materials for his Heavenly Demon Soul-Destroying Flute, while Yao Renwu sent Yin Huju and Yue Cheng to the Forced Labor Camp without Wei Yidao’s full knowledge.
• Wu Cang escorted Huang Xiao toward the Main Hall, but Lu Yi and Fan Rong blocked their way, and Wu Cang defeated Fan Rong and crippled his hands before sparing him.
• At the Main Hall, Wei Yidao promised to release Yin Huju and Yue Cheng, then brought Huang Xiao, Hu Chu, and Liu Mu to meet Shi Hen about the stolen materials.
• Shi Hen ordered Zhu Xing E to demand the materials from Pang Ruyuan and told Huang Xiao to display his strength at the God-Burying Hall to win support in the contest for Hall Master.
• Pang Ruyuan ordered Fan Rong taken to the foundry as a blood sacrifice, while Zhu Xing E and Huang Xiao arrived to reclaim the materials.
• Fan Rong charged at Huang Xiao in desperation, and Huang Xiao killed him with a strike to his Baihui Point, demonstrating his strength to Pan Che and He Muyi.
• Pan Che and He Muyi led Zhu Xing E and Huang Xiao to the Forge Yard, where they revealed that ninety percent of the ten-thousand-year soul-seizing parasol wood had been consumed.