Chapter Summaries

Huang Xiao escorted Dong Yan and Hu Qiao toward their sect after learning Zhao Xin'er was with the Heavenly Mountain Pavilion, while Zhang Hu and You Lian'er waited as the Seven Stars Formation began to fail. The party You Lian'er had called for finally arrived and challenged the Jianghu crowd attacking the mountain-guarding formation.

• Hu Qiao told Huang Xiao that Zhao Xin'er had sworn never to marry, and Huang Xiao admitted he hoped to see her again.
• Hu Qiao invited Huang Xiao to travel with them, and Dong Yan arranged for him to escort them by claiming they were badly injured.
• Zhang Hu watched the Jianghu crowd continue breaking the Seven Stars Formation and worried that it would not hold much longer.
• You Lian'er opened her eyes and said that the people she had summoned had arrived.
• A voice rang through the valley, demanding to know who dared attack their sect's mountain-guarding formation.

Liu Tianzhong, a mountain gate guard of Medicine King Hall, confronted the Jianghu forces gathered at Everlasting Spring Mountain and used a black bead to expand the Seven Stars Formation, trapping some of their people. After entering the formation, he met Zhang Hu and You Lian'er, who asked for Medicine King Hall's help in obtaining the Heavenly Demon Canon and offered the secret of the Seven Spirit Blades in return.

• Liu Tianzhong appeared at Medicine King Hall's gate and challenged the Jianghu crowd, identifying Fu Ti and Feng Xican among the gathered experts.
• Liu Tianzhong called himself a mountain gate guard, then threw a black bead into the Seven Stars Formation, trapping people near its edge, including several of Fu Ti's disciples.
• Feng Xican warned Liu Tianzhong that Medicine King Hall would face consequences, but Liu Tianzhong invited the crowd to enter the formation and leaped inside.
• Liu Tianzhong appeared before Zhang Hu and You Lian'er, recognized her as a member of the You Family, and told her to stop using the Illusory Demon Bewitching Sound.
• You Lian'er asked Liu Tianzhong to help her obtain the Heavenly Demon Canon and offered to reveal the secret of the Seven Spirit Blades as repayment for the You Family's favor.

You Lian'er told Liu Tianzhong that her mother had asked Medicine King Hall to act on the Heavenly Demon Canon in exchange for the secret of the Seven Spirit Blades. Liu Tianzhong led her and Zhang Hu out through a hidden passage, but after meeting two fellow disciples, he sealed their acupoints and took the Netherworld Demon Zither.

• You Lian'er explained the request involving the Seven Spirit Blades, and Liu Tianzhong said he would report it to Medicine King Hall's elders.
• Liu Tianzhong led You Lian'er and Zhang Hu through a hidden passage beneath the mountain to escape the encirclement.
• They met two powerful Medicine King Hall disciples in a clearing, and You Lian'er identified the Netherworld Demon Zither.
• Liu Tianzhong and one of his junior fellow disciples sealed You Lian'er and Zhang Hu's acupoints.
• Liu Tianzhong took the Netherworld Demon Zither from You Lian'er.

Liu Tianzhong tried to take You Lian'er and Zhang Hu back to Medicine King Hall, persuading Zhang Hu to trade the Heavenly Demon Canon for treatment and a place in the sect. The Fang Family then attacked to seize the pair, but Tuoba Family members snatched them away during the fighting.

• Liu Tianzhong revealed that Medicine King Hall wanted the Netherworld Demon Zither and the Heavenly Demon Canon, and he ordered You Lian'er and Zhang Hu to come with him.
• Liu Tianzhong offered Zhang Hu treatment and admission to Medicine King Hall in exchange for the Heavenly Demon Canon, and Zhang Hu accepted.
• Five Fang Family members led by Fang Jing blocked the way and ordered Liu Tianzhong to surrender the pair.
• Fang Jing and Liu Tianzhong began fighting while two Fang Family men tried to carry You Lian'er and Zhang Hu away.
• Two Tuoba Family members used hidden weapons to distract the Fang Family men, seized You Lian'er and Zhang Hu, and fled.

After the Tuoba Family carried off You Lian'er and Zhang Hu, Uncle-Master Cao learned that You Lian'er had offered the Medicine King Hall the secret of the Seven Spirit Blades. He abandoned the pursuit and returned with Liu Tianzhong, declaring the secret more important than the Heavenly Demon Canon.

• Fang Jing and the other Fang Family members withdrew from their fight with Liu Tianzhong and pursued the Tuoba Family, who had taken You Lian'er, Zhang Hu, and the Netherworld Demon Zither.
• Liu Tianzhong decided to chase after them, but Uncle-Master Cao appeared and demanded to know what had happened.
• Liu Tianzhong told Uncle-Master Cao that You Lian'er had promised to reveal the secret of the Seven Spirit Blades if the Medicine King Hall helped the You Family.
• Uncle-Master Cao rebuked Liu Tianzhong for capturing You Lian'er and the Netherworld Demon Zither, then confirmed that the Tuoba Family had rescued her.
• Uncle-Master Cao ordered everyone to return, saying the Seven Spirit Blades mattered more than the Heavenly Demon Canon.

Tuoba Ge and the Tuoba Family tried to escape with You Lian'er and Zhang Hu, but Jianghu fighters surrounded their mountain hideout, all pursuing the Heavenly Demon Canon. The battle left Tuoba Ge struggling to break through while Uncle Ming fought to hold off the attackers.

• The Tuoba Family intercepted the Fang Family's men, allowing Tuoba Ge to take You Lian'er and Zhang Hu to a mountain cave.
• You Lian'er demanded that Tuoba Ge unseal her acupoints and return Zhang Hu, but he refused to release her and promised to hand Zhang Hu over later.
• A Tuoba Family man warned Tuoba Ge that Jianghu fighters had surrounded the cave, and Uncle Ming ordered the group to delay them and escape with Zhang Hu.
• More experts arrived before the Tuoba Family could leave, and Uncle Ming's men charged into battle as the Jianghu fighters recognized Zhang Hu.
• Uncle Ming stayed behind to hold off the attackers while Tuoba Ge tried to escape with Zhang Hu, but the crowd kept him pinned down.

Huang Xiao reached the Heavenly Mountain Pavilion’s gathering place with Dong Yan and Hu Qiao and asked to see Zhao Xin'er as repayment for saving them. When Zhao Xin'er arrived and recognized him as the man from the incident two years earlier, she drew her sword and ordered him to get out.

• Huang Xiao followed Dong Yan and Hu Qiao to the Heavenly Mountain Pavilion’s gathering place, where the disciples thanked him for rescuing them from the Peaceful Heaven Sect.
• Martial Aunt Liu offered Huang Xiao a chance to name a reward, and Dong Yan prompted him to ask to see Zhao Xin'er.
• Martial Aunt Liu told Huang Xiao that Zhao Xin'er was away but would return shortly, and Zhao Xin'er soon arrived.
• Zhao Xin'er recognized Huang Xiao, drew her sword, stopped it an inch from him, and shouted for him to get out.

After Zhao Xin'er coldly rejected him, Huang Xiao decided to leave the mountains and return to Great Song, but he encountered the wounded Li Yuncong with Uncle Qi's group. Huang Xiao began healing Li Yuncong and discovered the damage had been caused by Everlasting Spring Ageless True Qi.

• Zhao Xin'er ordered Huang Xiao to leave, and he departed after apologizing despite Dong Yan and Hu Qiao calling after him.
• Huang Xiao reflected on his failed hopes and chose not to pursue the Heavenly Demon Canon, deciding instead to return to Great Song.
• Huang Xiao encountered Uncle Qi's reduced and injured group as they left the mountains, then recognized the gravely wounded Li Yuncong among them.
• Li Yuncong warned Huang Xiao to leave before losing consciousness, and Huang Xiao began treating him while Uncle Qi ordered his men to keep watch.
• Huang Xiao identified the damaging power in Li Yuncong's meridians as Everlasting Spring Ageless True Qi and used his own to repair the meridians and neutralize it.

Huang Xiao healed Li Yuncong and learned that Medicine King Hall had attacked him. He promised to ask Poison God Valley’s elders to help Li Xia’s poisoned father, then learned that Xiao Yan had been unwell.

• Huang Xiao used his everlasting spring ageless true qi to stabilize Li Yuncong’s injuries, and Li Yuncong regained consciousness.
• Li Yuncong said his attackers had mentioned Medicine King Hall, and Huang Xiao thanked Qi Ya and Li Xia for rescuing him.
• Li Xia told Huang Xiao that they had come seeking medicine for his father, who was near death from an unknown poison, and Huang Xiao promised to ask Poison God Valley’s elders for help.
• Huang Xiao learned that Li Yuncong had sneaked out of Poison God Valley alone and warned him that he would face punishment when he returned.
• Li Yuncong told Huang Xiao that Xiao Yan had not been doing well, and Huang Xiao asked whether she had recovered from her previous injuries.

After learning that the Medicine King Hall planned to trap and kill people in Everlasting Spring Mountain, Huang Xiao sent Li Yuncong away with Li Xia and Qi Ya, then turned back to warn the Heavenly Mountain Pavilion. Unable to find them, he followed two of Bai Tianqi’s men, but he lost them and became lost himself.

• Li Yuncong told Huang Xiao that the Medicine King Hall intended to lure people into formations and kill them, and Huang Xiao believed the threat was real.
• Huang Xiao asked Li Xia and Qi Ya to take Li Yuncong to safety, then agreed to meet them in Xiping Prefecture after finishing an urgent task.
• Huang Xiao returned to the Heavenly Mountain Pavilion’s gathering place to warn its disciples, but found they had already gone deeper into the mountains.
• Huang Xiao searched for Zhang Hu and then followed two men who had been with Bai Tianqi, hoping they would lead him to the Heavenly Mountain Pavilion.
• Huang Xiao lost the two men and wandered for nearly an hour without finding a trail, while the men themselves had also taken the wrong path and become lost.

Huang Xiao found Zhang Hu and the gravely wounded You Lian'er while lost in the mountains, and decided to kill Zhang Hu rather than pursue the Heavenly Demon Canon. A man allied with Bai Tianqi arrived to claim Zhang Hu, and Huang Xiao charged at him.

• Huang Xiao heard movement in the undergrowth and discovered Zhang Hu and You Lian'er.
• Zhang Hu tried to attack Huang Xiao but fell because You Lian'er had sealed his acupoints.
• You Lian'er collapsed after spitting blood, and she recognized Huang Xiao from their meeting on Zhongnan Mountain.
• Huang Xiao rejected You Lian'er's suggestion that he take Zhang Hu for the Heavenly Demon Canon and announced he would kill him.
• A man allied with Bai Tianqi appeared and sought Zhang Hu, so Huang Xiao charged at him.

Huang Xiao killed the man attacking Zhang Hu with help from You Lian'er's Sound Art, then killed Zhang Hu despite You Lian'er trying to protect him. After finding only the Fierce Tiger Fist manual on Zhang Hu, Huang Xiao prepared to leave, but Zhang Hu suddenly rose and attacked him.

• The man recognized Huang Xiao and rushed past him to capture Zhang Hu, but You Lian'er used her Sound Art to incapacitate him, allowing Huang Xiao to kill him.
• Huang Xiao attacked Zhang Hu, and You Lian'er took the blow while trying to stop him; Huang Xiao then struck Zhang Hu's Baihui Point and killed him.
• Huang Xiao saw You Lian'er's unveiled face and searched Zhang Hu, finding the Fierce Tiger Fist manual instead of the Heavenly Demon Canon.
• You Lian'er lamented losing the only lead to the Heavenly Demon Canon, while Huang Xiao warned her to leave and refused to escort her.
• As Huang Xiao turned to leave, Zhang Hu suddenly opened his eyes, sprang up, and thrust a palm at him.

Huang Xiao survived Zhang Hu’s sneak attack, confirmed Zhang Hu’s death, and parted ways with You Lian'er. While searching the mountains for two days, he examined Zhang Hu’s Fierce Tiger Fist manual and discovered that his own blood had revealed hidden fragments of another cultivation method.

• Zhang Hu struck Huang Xiao from behind, but Huang Xiao counterattacked and killed him after learning that the Heavenly Demon Canon had kept Zhang Hu in a deathlike state.
• You Lian'er recognized the Heavenly Demon Canon’s protection and admitted she could walk, while Huang Xiao left to search for Zhao Xin'er and the people from Heavenly Mountain Pavilion.
• You Lian'er considered killing Huang Xiao because he had seen her, but spared him because he had saved her life and left the scene.
• Huang Xiao spent two days searching the mountains without finding anyone and wondered whether Medicine King Hall had acted or the Jianghu crowd would hunt him for Zhang Hu’s death.
• Huang Xiao studied the Fierce Tiger Fist manual and noticed tiny, scattered writing on its first three pages where his blood had stained them.
• Huang Xiao realized that his blood had revealed fragments of a hidden cultivation method and became eager to uncover what it contained.

Huang Xiao revealed the hidden Heavenly Demon Canon with his blood and studied its secret arts. He decided not to disperse his cultivation for the Heavenly Demon Skill, but continued examining other techniques in the canon.

• Huang Xiao smeared fresh blood over the Fierce Tiger Fist manual and revealed the hidden text of the Heavenly Demon Canon.
• Huang Xiao learned that the Heavenly Demon Skill required him to disperse his existing cultivation, and he chose not to risk starting over.
• Huang Xiao discovered Heavenly Demon Disintegration, a deadly method that released the power in the Dantian and meridians to multiply his strength severalfold.
• Huang Xiao read about the Heavenly Demon Illusion Art and learned that Zhang Hu had used it to imitate Dragon Tiger Mountain's Dragon Tiger Dao Seal.
• Huang Xiao found the complete Netherworld Demon Eight Tones and the Heavenly Demon Dragon Roar, and thought the flute art suited him better because he could play the xiao.
• Huang Xiao recognized that Heavenly Demon Subduing Tiger Fist was the powerful original from which Fierce Tiger Fist had been simplified.

Huang Xiao destroyed the Heavenly Demon Canon to hide his possession of it, then discovered that Medicine King Hall had slaughtered thousands of Jianghu fighters. He learned that the Heavenly Mountain Pavilion’s people were being pursued and hurried after them.

• Huang Xiao found the Heavenly Demon Canon’s pages were woven from golden threads and sliced them into shreds with the Godslayer dagger, scattering the remains into the soil.
• Huang Xiao worried that You Lian'er might know about the manual, then renewed his search for the Heavenly Mountain Pavilion’s people.
• Huang Xiao followed a trail of blood and corpses to a canyon where a damaged formation surrounded the bodies of at least ten thousand people.
• Huang Xiao found more bodies along the escape routes and concluded that pursuers had hunted down the survivors.
• Two men told Huang Xiao that their senior brothers had gone after the Heavenly Mountain Pavilion’s people, and Huang Xiao killed them before rushing in the direction they indicated.

Huang Xiao reached the summit and found Zhao Xin'er and the wounded women of the Heavenly Mountain Pavilion facing Du Tianchou and Senior Brother Liang. Du Tianchou recognized Huang Xiao and began revealing an apparent scandal involving Zhao Xin'er, leaving the confrontation more tense.

• Huang Xiao followed the man’s directions to the summit and found the Heavenly Mountain Pavilion’s survivors surrounded by Du Tianchou and Senior Brother Liang.
• Huang Xiao saw that Dong Yan, Hu Qiao, Martial Uncle Chen, Martial Uncle Liu, and the other women were badly injured, while several disciples were missing.
• Du Tianchou recognized Huang Xiao from their past encounter and told Senior Brother Liang that Huang Xiao had been a young Taoist with no particular background.
• Du Tianchou pointed out that Zhao Xin'er knew Huang Xiao even better, and Senior Brother Liang noticed her hostile expression toward him.
• Du Tianchou insulted Zhao Xin'er and implied that she was a ruined woman, prompting Martial Uncle Chen to order him to shut his mouth.

Huang Xiao stayed to defend the weakened Heavenly Mountain Pavilion disciples, fighting Du Tianchou while Liang Lie moved against Zhao Xin'er. Huang Xiao’s healing abilities kept him in the fight, but Liang Lie left Zhao Xin'er exhausted, and the battle remained unresolved.

• Du Tianchou claimed Huang Xiao was Zhao Xin'er's lover, while Zhao Xin'er angrily ordered Huang Xiao to leave.
• Huang Xiao refused to abandon the Heavenly Mountain Pavilion and charged at Du Tianchou as Liang Lie went after Zhao Xin'er.
• Huang Xiao struggled against Du Tianchou but used the Blazing Yang Palm, making Du Tianchou wary when he recognized Poison God Valley's martial arts.
• Huang Xiao repeatedly healed his injuries with the Everlasting Spring Ageless True Qi and taunted Du Tianchou, who threatened to use his full strength.
• Liang Lie's laughter drew Huang Xiao's attention, and he saw Zhao Xin'er slumped on the ground, utterly drained.

Huang Xiao rushed to protect the wounded Zhao Xin'er, but Liang Lie nearly killed him before Jiang Ying arrived and forced Liang Lie to retreat. Jiang Ying promised to defend Huang Xiao and the Heavenly Mountain Pavilion, while Huang Xiao began healing Zhao Xin'er and Liang Lie prepared to face Jiang Ying.

• Liang Lie mocked the weakened Heavenly Mountain Pavilion and ordered Du Tianchou to capture Zhao Xin'er.
• As Du Tianchou reached for Zhao Xin'er, Huang Xiao charged Liang Lie, who prepared to strike him down.
• Jiang Ying arrived and used a Flying Dagger to make Liang Lie dodge, giving Huang Xiao time to reach Zhao Xin'er.
• Huang Xiao treated Zhao Xin'er's injuries, and she recognized that their Internal Power resonated because of their shared night together.
• Jiang Ying promised to protect Huang Xiao's friends, then dismissed Liang Lie's threats and agreed to fight for them.

Huang Xiao stepped in to hold Du Tianchou off while Zhao Xin'er recovered, promising to last half an hour despite Jiang Ying's fears. Du Tianchou repeatedly battered Huang Xiao, who kept getting back to his feet as Jiang Ying struggled to reach him.

• Huang Xiao persuaded Zhao Xin'er to regulate her breathing and promised to hold Du Tianchou off until she recovered.
• Huang Xiao engaged Du Tianchou while Jiang Ying faced Liang Lie, who blocked him from helping his martial nephew.
• Du Tianchou struck Huang Xiao with his Peaceful Heaven Fist and sent him flying, but Huang Xiao forced himself back up.
• Du Tianchou continued attacking, and Huang Xiao endured five punches before standing again.
• Jiang Ying roared at Liang Lie to stop, threatening that the Peaceful Heaven Sect would be buried with Huang Xiao if the young master was harmed.

Huang Xiao used the Power-Devouring Poison Force to seize Du Tianchou’s wrist and absorb his internal power, despite suffering severe chest injuries. Du Tianchou realized Huang Xiao was nearing his limit and flooded him with power to break free.

• Huang Xiao chose to use the Power-Devouring Poison Force when he could no longer withstand Du Tianchou’s next attack.
• Huang Xiao let Du Tianchou’s fist strike his chest, then clamped both hands around his wrist and began absorbing his internal power.
• Liang Lie identified the technique as the forbidden Power-Devouring Poison Force and warned Du Tianchou that it could drain his power and poison him.
• Jiang Ying feared Huang Xiao’s cultivation would turn him into a poisonous creature and resolved to report it to the Dragon-Seeking Envoy.
• Du Tianchou forced a surge of internal power into Huang Xiao, whose meridians and dantian struggled to assimilate it.
• Du Tianchou noticed Huang Xiao’s absorption slowing and taunted him that he could not dissolve all of his power.