Chapter Summaries

Huang Xiao used the Blood Exhaustion Method to disperse his essence blood and discovered that it also replaced his Demon Refining Formula-tainted true qi with pure true qi. After testing the method, he began absorbing a captive’s essence blood to restore himself and realized that the Ghost Spirit Sect’s First Sect Master might go on a killing spree once freed.

• Huang Xiao studied the Blood Exhaustion Method for three days before using it to disperse all the essence blood in his body.
• Huang Xiao regained consciousness less than an hour later and found that his essence blood and true qi had recovered to about thirty percent.
• Huang Xiao sensed that his new true qi was pure and had not been refined by the Demon Refining Formula or his heart fire.
• Huang Xiao stopped restoring his essence blood halfway and absorbed it from a captured man, but found the man’s depleted reserves had little effect.
• Huang Xiao concluded that forcibly absorbing essence blood was far faster than regenerating it and feared the Ghost Spirit Sect’s First Sect Master would kill many people after escaping.

Huang Xiao restored his essence blood while Zhu Xing E prepared to return secretly to the Main Hall to consult Shi Hen about him. As Huang Xiao continued his recovery, he considered using the Supreme Ghost Stele to absorb the essence blood of the prisoners he had decided to kill.

• Huang Xiao devoured the guarded prisoners' essence blood, restoring his own to around seventy percent, then stopped to digest it and refine his true qi.
• Zhu Xing E summoned Huang Xiao, learned that his essence blood had recovered to a little over eighty percent, and told him to proceed carefully.
• Zhu Xing E said he would secretly return to the Main Hall to ask Shi Hen's opinion about Huang Xiao, and warned him to stay cautious while he was away.
• Huang Xiao continued to rebuild his essence blood naturally while Wu Cang and the others worried about the approaching Thousand-Year Period.
• Huang Xiao decided the prisoners had to die to keep his secret and took out the Supreme Ghost Stele to test whether it could absorb their essence blood.

Huang Xiao used the Supreme Ghost Stele to absorb and store essence blood, then hid it and resumed seclusion. The First Sect Master of the Ghost Spirit Sect arrived at the Heavenly Demon Hall to reclaim the stele and capture Huang Xiao, but his search triggered an invasion alarm.

• Huang Xiao activated the Supreme Ghost Stele and drained essence blood from nearby Jianghu people, storing it for use in awakening the fifteen old fellows.
• Huang Xiao discovered that the stored essence blood slowly dissipated, hid the stele in the Heavenly Demon Hall, and returned to seclusion.
• The First Sect Master of the Ghost Spirit Sect came to the Heavenly Demon Hall, puzzled that Huang Xiao had survived and taken the Supreme Ghost Stele.
• The First Sect Master entered unnoticed, searched a disciple's soul for Huang Xiao's whereabouts, and learned that Huang Xiao was in seclusion.
• The First Sect Master killed a patrol after abandoning stealth, alerting the Heavenly Demon Hall disciples to another invasion.

The First Sect Master invaded the Heavenly Demon Hall, slaughtering its disciples while searching for Huang Xiao and the Supreme Ghost Stele. Wu Cang and the other elders tried to protect Huang Xiao, but the attacker sensed someone’s escape and vanished toward them.

• Wu Cang learned that an expert had invaded and ordered disciples to warn Huang Xiao, then discovered the Hall Master was absent.
• Wu Cang, Yin Huju, and Liu Jiong realized the attacker might use the warnings to locate Huang Xiao and rushed to defend him.
• The First Sect Master slaughtered Heavenly Demon Hall disciples and reflected on how he had outlived the Demon Hall’s former rivals.
• Wu Cang ordered the disciples to retreat while he, Yin Huju, and Liu Jiong stayed behind to buy Huang Xiao time.
• The First Sect Master sensed someone trying to escape, vanished toward them, and Wu Cang realized Huang Xiao had been discovered.

Huang Xiao drew the Ghost Spirit Sect’s First Sect Master away from Wu Cang and the others, but was quickly captured and tortured for the Supreme Ghost Stele. As Huang Xiao lay incapacitated, Wu Cang and the others moved to attack the First Sect Master despite the danger.

• Huang Xiao sensed the First Sect Master approaching the Heavenly Demon Hall and fled to draw him away from Wu Cang and the others.
• The First Sect Master caught up with Huang Xiao and demanded that he hand over the Supreme Ghost Stele.
• Huang Xiao claimed he had given the stele to Huo Lian, but the First Sect Master disbelieved him and tortured him with strands of force.
• Wu Cang and the others arrived and stopped when Huang Xiao shouted for them to stay back.
• Wu Cang ordered the others to attack the First Sect Master after Huang Xiao collapsed in agony.

Huo Lian arrived before Feng He could strike Huang Xiao again, and the two old powers confronted each other over Huang Xiao and the Supreme Ghost Stele. Feng He pressed Huang Xiao to explain how he survived after his essence blood was exhausted, leaving Huang Xiao to continue the account he had already given.

• Huang Xiao ordered Wu Cang and the others to leave, but Feng He prepared to hit him with a sixth burst of force.
• Huo Lian arrived, and Feng He seized Huang Xiao as the newcomer approached.
• Huo Lian demanded that Feng He release Huang Xiao, while Feng He refused and taunted him about their relative strength and age.
• Huang Xiao told Huo Lian that Feng He had used the Blood Exhaustion Method, and Feng He then tried to sow suspicion about Huang Xiao’s survival.
• Huang Xiao claimed that the Supreme Ghost Stele had absorbed all his essence blood, and Huo Lian told Feng He to let him finish explaining.

Huang Xiao concealed how the Supreme Ghost Stele had revived him and pretended his essence blood was draining because he had practiced Feng He's Blood Exhaustion Method. When Huo Lian asked about the stele, Huang Xiao claimed he could not live without it, and Huo Lian refused to return it to Feng He.

• Huang Xiao told Huo Lian and Feng He that the Supreme Ghost Stele had restored his essence blood and brought him back to life.
• Huo Lian and Feng He sensed Huang Xiao's essence blood draining, and Feng He recognized that Huang Xiao had practiced the Blood Exhaustion Method.
• Huo Lian realized Huang Xiao's practice would require him to consume essence blood, while Huang Xiao secretly controlled the apparent loss to hide his recovery.
• Feng He offered to overlook Huang Xiao's cultivation if he surrendered the Supreme Ghost Stele, and warned that it could expose a weakness.
• Huang Xiao claimed he would die without the Supreme Ghost Stele, and Huo Lian declared that it could not be returned to Feng He.

Feng He and Huo Lian negotiated over Huang Xiao and the Supreme Ghost Stele, agreeing to lend the stele until the Thousand-Year Period in exchange for Huo Lian’s full support in seeking the Longevity Pill. The chapter ended with Feng He refusing to release Huang Xiao and insisting on bringing him along.

• Feng He threatened to kill Huang Xiao, but Huo Lian offered to help him seize the Longevity Pill instead of handing over the stele outright.
• Feng He rejected trading the Supreme Ghost Stele for only a chance at the Longevity Pill, so Huo Lian proposed borrowing it until the Thousand-Year Period.
• Huo Lian argued that both men had reasons to honor their agreement, and Feng He agreed to lend him the stele on the condition that he fully support the contest for the Longevity Pill.
• Feng He refused to release Huang Xiao and said he would bring him along, prompting Huo Lian to object that Huang Xiao would be a burden.

Feng He forced Huo Lian to bring Huang Xiao along as leverage while they pursued the Longevity Pill, and Huo Lian agreed after demanding Huang Xiao’s safety. After they left Heavenly Demon Hall, Fan Liya arrived to seize Huang Xiao and reclaim the Supreme Ghost Stele, unaware that they were already gone.

• Feng He insisted that Huo Lian bring Huang Xiao to the Longevity Pill site so Huang Xiao’s life would keep Huo Lian fighting at full strength.
• Huo Lian agreed to Feng He’s terms but warned that he would kill Feng He if Huang Xiao came to harm, and he admitted Huang Xiao mattered more to him than his own life.
• Huang Xiao declined to bring the Supreme Ghost Stele, explaining that its aura already clung to him, and Feng He agreed they should set off.
• Wu Cang and the others returned to Heavenly Demon Hall to tend the wounded and restore order after Huo Lian and the others departed.
• Fan Liya arrived at the wrecked Heavenly Demon Hall, demanded to know where Huang Xiao was, and prepared to capture him and reclaim the Supreme Ghost Stele.

Shi Hen arrived at the Heavenly Demon Hall, defeated and restrained Fan Liya, and learned that Feng He had taken Huang Xiao after threatening the Hall Master. Shi Hen ordered the others to conceal Huang Xiao’s Blood Exhaustion Method and protect his belongings while they waited for his return.

• Fan Liya tried to flee after Shi Hen confronted him, but Shi Hen struck him and inflicted severe injuries.
• Wu Cang told Shi Hen that a Ghost Spirit Sect elder had taken Huang Xiao and reached an agreement with the Hall Master.
• Shi Hen identified the elder as Feng He, the First Sect Master of the Ghost Spirit Sect, and sealed Fan Liya’s acupoints.
• Wu Cang and the others explained the situation, and Shi Hen warned them to keep Huang Xiao’s Blood Exhaustion Method secret.
• Shi Hen ordered the Heavenly Demon Hall’s disciples to continue clearing the grounds but not to touch Huang Xiao’s belongings.

Shi Hen detained Fan Liya at the Heavenly Demon Hall and stayed to guard the Supreme Ghost Stele. Jiang Pandong came to investigate but withdrew after realizing Shi Hen was there, while Shi Hen kept Fan Liya as leverage to negotiate Huang Xiao’s return.

• Shi Hen ordered Wu Cang to take Fan Liya to the Heavenly Demon Hall and keep him alive, then decided to guard the hall himself.
• Shi Hen chose not to pursue the Longevity Pill because the Heavenly Demon Hall needed protection while Huang Xiao’s Supreme Ghost Stele remained hidden there.
• Jiang Pandong watched the Heavenly Demon Hall for two days, hoping to take advantage of the situation and obtain the Supreme Ghost Stele.
• Shi Hen confronted Jiang Pandong and revealed that Fan Liya was detained, prompting Jiang Pandong to leave without attacking.
• Shi Hen returned to the hall, intending to use Fan Liya as a bargaining chip to secure Huang Xiao’s return from Feng He.
• After leaving the Heavenly Demon Hall, Jiang Pandong decided to pursue the Longevity Pill.

Jiang Liuli waited anxiously in the Thatched Hut as her due date approached, while Leng Guhan asked Zhu Fanjiang and the others to help him compete for the Longevity Pill. Away from her, they revealed that they had chosen her unborn child as the Heavenly Evil Sect Successor and had been using a special method to improve her constitution for the child.

• Jiang Liuli felt her unborn child kick and worried that Leng Guhan’s arrival might threaten the baby.
• Leng Guhan asked Zhu Fanjiang and the others to help him compete for the Longevity Pill, but Zhu Fanjiang said they had decided to focus on passing down the Heavenly Evil Sect’s legacies.
• Zhu Fanjiang, Fan Xiu, and Wang Mizong told Leng Guhan they had chosen Jiang Liuli’s unborn child as the Heavenly Evil Sect Successor because of its expected talent.
• Leng Guhan objected that the child was an outsider, but Zhu Fanjiang explained that they could not leave while Jiang Liuli was due to give birth.
• Zhu Fanjiang revealed that they had secretly been improving Jiang Liuli’s constitution with a Heavenly Evil Sect method, and Leng Guhan asked if it was for the child.

Zhu Fanjiang and the other elders revealed that they were sacrificing their lifespans to improve Jiang Liuli’s unborn child’s talent, and they refused to help Leng Guhan pursue the Longevity Pill. After Leng Guhan left, Zhu Fanjiang concluded that Leng Guhan’s increasingly humane manner masked a deeper breakthrough in his Heartless Sword Dao.

• Zhu Fanjiang explained that he and the other elders had been secretly improving Jiang Liuli’s constitution at the cost of their remaining lifespans to nurture the Heavenly Evil Sect’s successor.
• Leng Guhan asked the elders to help him seek the Longevity Pill, but Zhu Fanjiang refused because they were focused on Jiang Liuli’s child.
• Leng Guhan accepted their refusal, warned them about the Ghost Spirit Sect’s revived ancestor, and left after exchanging wishes for success.
• Wang Mizong and Fan Xiu discussed whether Leng Guhan might retaliate, while Zhu Fanjiang cautioned that they should not underestimate him.
• Fan Xiu and Zhu Fanjiang sensed a change in Leng Guhan’s aura, and Zhu Fanjiang said his apparent humanity came from a deeper refinement of heartless essence.

Jiang Liuli feared Leng Guhan would take her unborn child and asked Fan Xiu, Zhu Fanjiang, and Wang Mizong to help her escape the Sword Pavilion. The three revealed they were already planning to leave and decided to pass word to Fan Cheng through Huang Xiao.

• Wang Mizong, Fan Xiu, and Zhu Fanjiang discussed Leng Guhan's growing strength and agreed they could not act until Jiang Liuli gave birth.
• Jiang Liuli asked Fan Xiu whether Leng Guhan's visit concerned her child, and Fan Xiu admitted that her fear of the child becoming a pawn was justified.
• Jiang Liuli begged the three seniors to help her leave the Sword Pavilion, and Zhu Fanjiang agreed to take her with them.
• Fan Xiu and Zhu Fanjiang argued that Leng Guhan's absence and the other powers' focus on Mist Mountain made this their best chance to escape.
• Wang Mizong worried that Fan Cheng might return without knowing they had left, and Fan Xiu proposed sending a message through Huang Xiao.

Fan Xiu, Wang Mizong, and Zhu Fanjiang planned to use Jiang Liuli and Huang Xiao to send a message to Fan Cheng after leaving the Sword Pavilion. They revealed that they wanted Jiang Liuli’s unborn child to inherit the Heavenly Evil Sect, and Fan Xiu explained that they feared the sect would not survive the coming upheaval.

• Fan Xiu proposed telling Huang Xiao that they had left the Sword Pavilion so he could pass word through Huo Lian to Fan Cheng.
• Jiang Liuli agreed to leave but insisted that her child must not be exploited or used as leverage.
• Zhu Fanjiang and Fan Xiu explained that the three men wanted to take Jiang Liuli’s unborn child as their direct disciple and groom him to inherit the Heavenly Evil Sect.
• Fan Xiu said the sect was preparing for its survival because the Demon Hall’s thousand-year period and the return of ancient powers such as Feng He threatened the Jianghu.

Jiang Liuli agreed to let her unborn child become the Heavenly Evil Sect’s future Sect Master after Fan Xiu explained why the child was their best hope. The three elders chose to seek the protection of the Three Immortal Mountains, though they would first find a secluded place and learn whether the mountains would accept them.

• Fan Xiu persuaded Jiang Liuli that her child with Huang Xiao was the best choice to inherit the Heavenly Evil Sect, and she agreed to trust the elders.
• After Jiang Liuli left, Zhu Fanjiang, Wang Mizong, and Fan Xiu admitted they had no concrete plan for where to go after leaving the Sword Pavilion.
• Fan Xiu argued that hiding would be difficult and the elders needed a powerful backer to protect Jiang Liuli, her child, and the sect’s treasures.
• Zhu Fanjiang agreed to approach the Three Immortal Mountains after first finding a secluded place, and Wang Mizong accepted his decision.
• The elders agreed to repay Leng Guhan for protecting them by selecting and transcribing some cultivation methods for the Sword Pavilion.

Zhu Fanjiang persuaded Fan Xiu and Wang Mizong to leave Leng Guhan the First Part of the Heavenly Evil Imperishable Art, while Leng Guhan prepared to pursue the Longevity Pill. Before departing, he put Zhou Fuqu in charge of the Sword Pavilion and reflected on how few of his fellow disciples remained.

• Zhu Fanjiang proposed giving Leng Guhan the First Part of the Heavenly Evil Imperishable Art after the three found their other cultivation methods inadequate, and Fan Xiu and Wang Mizong agreed.
• Leng Guhan considered forcing Zhu Fanjiang and the others to provide benefits, but decided to wait until after the Longevity Pill contest.
• Leng Guhan took up the Zhanlu Sword, deciding he needed it to face the powerful figures gathering to compete for the Longevity Pill.
• Leng Guhan summoned Zhou Fuqu and left him in charge of the Sword Pavilion while he went to compete for the pill.
• Zhou Fuqu said the Sword Pavilion’s future depended on Leng Guhan, and Leng Guhan lamented that only the two of them remained from their generation of disciples.

Leng Guhan prepared to leave for the struggle over the Longevity Pill, while Zhou Fuqu urged him to protect Jiang Liuli and her unborn child from Zhu Fanjiang and the others. Meanwhile, Du Fuzhou opened a hidden stone door in the Demon Spirit Sect and revealed a small chamber.

• Leng Guhan promised Zhou Fuqu a Longevity Pill if he could seize more than one and told him to watch Zhu Fanjiang and the others while he was away.
• Zhou Fuqu learned that Zhu Fanjiang and the others wanted to raise Jiang Liuli’s unborn child as their successor, and urged Leng Guhan to restore her favored status in the Sword Pavilion.
• Leng Guhan agreed to leave Jiang Liuli’s treatment to Zhou Fuqu and said he intended to fight the Demon Hall rather than rely on the younger generation.
• Leng Guhan praised Zhou Fuqu’s management of the Sword Pavilion, then left immediately.
• Du Fuzhou worked the mechanism on a stone door in the Demon Spirit Sect’s underground chamber, opening it to reveal a small room.

Du Fuzhou opened the hidden chamber of the Demon Spirit Sect and retrieved the Longevity Bottle, an ancient treasure linked to the Longevity Pill. After arranging the sect’s affairs, he left for Mist Mountain to join the struggle over the pill.

• Du Fuzhou used an antique bronze key to open the Stone Box and found a jade-green Little Jade Vial inside.
• Du Fuzhou recognized the vial as the Longevity Bottle, a secret passed down among the Demon Spirit Sect’s leaders for generations.
• Du Fuzhou discovered fine engravings on the bottle showing a woman playing a zither beneath an osmanthus tree and a man raising wine to the moon, along with the characters “Longevity.”
• Du Fuzhou suspected the Demon Spirit Sect’s Nameless Ancestor had obtained the bottle from Senior Immortal Alchemist and vowed that the other powers would not get their way.
• Du Fuzhou hid the Longevity Bottle in his robes, made arrangements for the Demon Spirit Sect, and left for Mist Mountain.

Zhangsun Youyue worked to earn the acceptance of Huang Xiao’s wives while cultivating with them at the Divine Nun Convent. As the women planned to strengthen their paired saber-and-sword formation, Li Bai arrived with news of Huang Xiao and promised good news for Yan Xi and Zhao Yunya.

• Zhangsun Youyue continued trying to win over Xiao Yan and the other women, though You Lian'er and Zhao Xin'er remained displeased with her.
• Zhao Yunhui explained that the six women’s three-pair formation was unstable and could eventually cause backlash.
• Xiao Yan proposed adding Zhangsun Youyue and another sword user to complete an eight-person formation, and Zhangsun Youyue doubted she could join.
• Li Bai arrived, and You Lian'er, Yan Xi, Zhao Yunya, and Zhangsun Youyue asked for news of Huang Xiao.
• Li Bai said Huang Xiao was doing well and that he had good news for Yan Xi and Zhao Yunya.