Chapter Summaries

Huang Xiao used Heavenly Demon Disintegration to shatter his dantian and meridians, gaining enough power to fight Du Tianchou despite knowing the forbidden art would kill him. He fought to stall Du Tianchou and protect Zhao Xin'er while Jiang Ying battled Liang Lie, leaving Zhao Xin'er silently grieving as she recovered.

• Huang Xiao absorbed Du Tianchou's internal power until his body could hold no more, then retreated as the excess power dissipated.
• Du Tianchou resumed attacking, and Huang Xiao was badly wounded and fell to his knees before Zhao Xin'er tried to intervene.
• Huang Xiao rose and activated Heavenly Demon Disintegration, shattering his dantian and meridians to unleash a surge of power.
• Huang Xiao's power exceeded Du Tianchou's, and he attacked recklessly, forcing Du Tianchou to retreat and spit blood.
• Jiang Ying recognized Huang Xiao's forbidden art and attacked Liang Lie with renewed fury, while Huang Xiao claimed he would only be seriously injured and Zhao Xin'er shed tears as she healed.

Huang Xiao used Heavenly Demon Disintegration to protect Zhao Xin'er and fought Du Tianchou, who eventually drove him to the edge of a cliff. After Du Tianchou struck him and sent him flying, Huang Xiao thought he had fulfilled his promise to Zhao Xin'er as she rushed to attack Du Tianchou.

• Zhao Xin'er recognized that Huang Xiao's forbidden art would cost him his life and focused on recovering her power while he fought Du Tianchou.
• Huang Xiao overwhelmed Du Tianchou until Liang Lie urged Du Tianchou to use a forbidden art, which turned the fight against Huang Xiao.
• Du Tianchou pressed his attack and deliberately drove Huang Xiao toward the cliff at the mountaintop.
• Dong Yan warned Huang Xiao about the cliff, but Du Tianchou blocked his attempt to escape and forced him to retreat to the edge.
• Du Tianchou punched Huang Xiao in the chest and sent him flying as Zhao Xin'er opened her eyes and charged at Du Tianchou.

Huang Xiao fell from the cliff while saving Zhao Xin'er, and Jiang Ying fought Liang Lie and Du Tianchou in grief and fury. Zhao Xin'er and the surviving Heavenly Mountain Pavilion members left the mountain, while Jiang Ying pursued the Peaceful Heaven Sect men.

• Huang Xiao vanished into the abyss, and Zhao Xin'er and Jiang Ying reached the cliff too late to see him.
• Jiang Ying attacked Liang Lie, blaming him and the Peaceful Heaven Sect for Huang Xiao's death, while Du Tianchou mocked him and fled.
• Jiang Ying asked Zhao Xin'er about her relationship with Huang Xiao, then charged at Du Tianchou after learning they had been lovers.
• Liang Lie retreated into the woods, and Jiang Ying pursued him and Du Tianchou without looking back.
• Martial Uncle Chen and Martial Uncle Liu said the injured Heavenly Mountain Pavilion party would abandon the fight for the Heavenly Demon Canon, and Zhao Xin'er helped them leave.

After Du Tianchou knocked Huang Xiao off the cliff, the Golden-Winged Roc caught him and carried him to a secluded ledge. Huang Xiao’s injuries from Heavenly Demon Disintegration were killing him, but he remembered the Everlasting Spring Youth-Restoring Art and began trying to save himself.

• As Huang Xiao fell, he realized Heavenly Demon Disintegration was fading and the pain from his shattered meridians and destroyed Dantian was returning.
• The Golden-Winged Roc caught Huang Xiao, slowed his fall, and carried him safely through the sky.
• Huang Xiao began bleeding heavily and believed he would die because his meridians were severed and his Dantian destroyed.
• Huang Xiao remembered the Everlasting Spring Youth-Restoring Art and asked the Golden-Winged Roc to find a quiet place where he could treat his injuries.
• The Golden-Winged Roc landed on a secluded cliff ledge, where Huang Xiao sat down and began trying to save himself.

Huang Xiao forced Rejuvenation to rebuild his shattered meridians and Dantian, surviving only after his internal power was nearly exhausted. He woke in the Golden-Winged Roc’s cave restored but powerless, then recalled his promise to help Li Xia’s father and had a new idea.

• Huang Xiao used the power remaining after Heavenly Demon Disintegration to force Rejuvenation and painstakingly reforge his meridians and Dantian.
• After finishing the repairs, Huang Xiao lost consciousness, and the Golden-Winged Roc carried him to a cave.
• Huang Xiao woke beside the Golden-Winged Roc, his black eagle wife, and their young bird, and he thanked the Roc for saving him.
• Huang Xiao discovered Rejuvenation had healed his meridians, Dantian, and old injuries, but left him without internal power.
• Huang Xiao planned to recover enough power to return to Poison God Valley and ask his martial uncles to examine Li Yuncong’s poison for Li Xia, then suddenly thought of something.

After losing his former power, Huang Xiao began cultivating the Heavenly Demon Skill and struggled for hours before finally reaching initial mastery. He discovered that even his scant heavenly demon true qi could unleash formidable strength.

• Huang Xiao decided to delay recovering his power and attempt the Heavenly Demon Skill while he had no other internal power.
• Huang Xiao failed to produce internal power after two hours, then meditated for four hours to calm his mind before trying again.
• Huang Xiao became fully absorbed in the cultivation method as the Golden-Winged Roc quietly led its curious chick away.
• Huang Xiao generated heavenly demon true qi and completed eighty-one circuits, reaching initial mastery of the Heavenly Demon Skill.
• Huang Xiao struck the hard rock and left a palm print several inches deep, amazed that the blow matched roughly thirty percent of his former strength.

Huang Xiao sent a letter to Poison God Valley asking for help with Li Xia’s poisoned father, then resumed studying the Heavenly Demon Skill. Elsewhere on Everlasting Spring Mountain, You Lian’er told Liang Lie and Du Tianchou that Huang Xiao had taken the Heavenly Demon Canon from Zhang Hu, prompting them to search for Huang Xiao’s body at the foot of the cliff.

• Huang Xiao wrote to Poison God Valley about Li Yuncong and Li Xia’s poisoned father, and the Golden-Winged Roc carried the letter away.
• Huang Xiao returned to the hall chamber to study and practice the cultivation method while he recovered.
• Jiang Ying stopped pursuing Liang Lie and Du Tianchou, deciding to report Huang Xiao’s death and Zhao Xin’er’s situation to his superiors.
• Liang Lie and Du Tianchou encountered You Lian’er and demanded to know where Zhang Hu was.
• You Lian’er claimed Huang Xiao had taken the Heavenly Demon Canon from Zhang Hu before killing him, and Liang Lie and Du Tianchou took her along to search for Huang Xiao’s body.

You Lian'er was forced to accompany Liang Lie and Du Tianchou as they searched the Ten-Thousand-Zhang Gorge for Huang Xiao. A powerful young-looking expert from the Medicine King Hall intervened, drove the two men away, and left You Lian'er in his presence.

• You Lian'er offered to show Liang Lie and Du Tianchou where Zhang Hu had died, but Liang Lie chose to search for Huang Xiao first.
• Liang Lie and Du Tianchou took You Lian'er to the Ten-Thousand-Zhang Gorge and watched her closely as they searched for Huang Xiao's body.
• You Lian'er hoped the Heavenly Mountain Pavilion had already found Huang Xiao and worried that the two men might discover him first.
• A young-looking Medicine King Hall expert appeared, recognized You Lian'er as a girl of the You Family, and realized Liang Lie and Du Tianchou had captured her.
• The Medicine King Hall expert threatened Liang Lie and Du Tianchou, who bowed and fled.

Cao Kun escorted You Lian'er home and negotiated with Madam You over Medicine King Hall's help in finding the Heavenly Demon Canon and resolving the You Family's conflict with the Fang Family. Madam You agreed to reveal the secret of the Seven Spirit Blades if Medicine King Hall fulfilled its promises, while Zhang Hu's death left the Canon's whereabouts unknown.

• Liang Lie and Du Tianchou headed to the foot of the cliff to search for Huang Xiao's body, while Cao Kun apologized to You Lian'er and promised to retrieve her Netherworld Demon Zither.
• Cao Kun took the injured You Lian'er north, and they met Madam You upon entering Xiazhou.
• Cao Kun told Madam You that Zhang Hu's body had been found, leaving the Heavenly Demon Canon's location unknown.
• Madam You challenged Cao Kun over Medicine King Hall's mistreatment of You Lian'er, and Cao Kun admitted the Hall was at fault.
• Cao Kun offered Medicine King Hall's aid in the search for the Canon and one intervention in the You Family's conflict with the Fang Family in exchange for the secret of the Seven Spirit Blades.
• Madam You agreed to honor the You Family's promise if Medicine King Hall fulfilled its part, and Cao Kun returned to Everlasting Spring Mountain.

You Lian'er told Madam You that Huang Xiao had killed Zhang Hu, leaving the Heavenly Demon Canon's whereabouts unknown. After hearing that Huang Xiao had taken Zhang Hu's Fierce Tiger Fist manual, Madam You suspected it might actually be the Heavenly Demon Canon and urgently asked where he was.

• You Lian'er questioned Madam You about the Seven Spirit Blades and complained that Medicine King Hall had betrayed her trust.
• Madam You asked about Zhang Hu and the Heavenly Demon Canon, and You Lian'er revealed that Huang Xiao had killed Zhang Hu.
• You Lian'er said Zhang Hu's death had probably made the Heavenly Demon Canon impossible to find, and regretted losing the Netherworld Demon Zither without gaining his Fierce Tiger Fist manual.
• Madam You realized the Fierce Tiger Fist manual Huang Xiao took might have been the Heavenly Demon Canon.
• Madam You seized You Lian'er and urgently asked where Huang Xiao was, and You Lian'er offered to explain what she knew about the Poison God Valley disciple.

Madam You recognized Zhang Hu’s Fierce Tiger Fist as a possible hidden copy of the Heavenly Demon Canon and learned that the manual might now be with the Heavenly Mountain Pavilion or the Peaceful Heaven Sect. She decided to seek a way to recover it, while You Lian'er prepared to return to her godfather in Xiping Prefecture.

• Madam You watched You Lian'er demonstrate Zhang Hu’s Fierce Tiger Fist and identified it as the Heavenly Demon Subduing Tiger Fist from the Heavenly Demon Canon.
• You Lian'er told Madam You that Zhang Hu had died after falling off a cliff while saving people from the Heavenly Mountain Pavilion.
• You Lian'er explained that the Heavenly Mountain Pavilion and the Peaceful Heaven Sect had likely searched the area for Zhang Hu and might have found the fist manual.
• Madam You decided to find a way to approach the two sects and recover the manual without revealing her suspicions.
• Madam You told the injured You Lian'er to return to her godfather, and You Lian'er agreed to leave for Xiping Prefecture.

As Huang Xiao resumed cultivating the Everlasting Spring Youth-Restoring Art alongside the Heavenly Demon Skill, their clashing true qi threatened to cause qi deviation. He survived a burst of murderous frenzy when the Everlasting Spring Youth-Restoring Art calmed his mind, but the two arts remained in conflict.

• After Zhang Hu's death, the surviving Jianghu fighters withdrew from Everlasting Spring Mountain without learning who had killed him or whether anyone had obtained the Heavenly Demon Canon.
• When Huang Xiao resumed cultivating the Everlasting Spring Youth-Restoring Art, its true qi clashed with the Heavenly Demon Skill's, and he could not stop either art from circulating.
• Huang Xiao used the Northern Darkness Absorption Method to try to dissolve and fuse the two streams of true qi, but both resisted and brought him to the brink of qi deviation.
• As red and white true qi became visible around him, Huang Xiao lost control to a murderous frenzy before his awareness returned and the Everlasting Spring Youth-Restoring Art soothed his mind.
• Huang Xiao realized that the Everlasting Spring Youth-Restoring Art could calm his spirit, while deeper cultivation of the Heavenly Demon Skill carried growing risks from inner demons and qi deviation.

Huang Xiao merged the rival streams of true qi in his dantian into northern darkness true qi, resolving the danger to his life, then spent a month cultivating with the Golden-Winged Roc’s family. He discovered a jade platform with seven dagger-shaped hollows and left the cave, intending to return for the jade later.

• Huang Xiao used the Northern Darkness Absorption Method to merge everlasting spring ageless true qi and heavenly demon true qi into northern darkness true qi, ending the threat of qi deviation and bodily injury.
• Huang Xiao found that circulating either cultivation method through his meridians changed the northern darkness true qi back into that method’s original true qi, and he named the merged energy northern darkness true qi.
• After a month of practicing both arts, Huang Xiao noticed that the Heavenly Demon Skill had changed his bearing and left him wary of its influence.
• Huang Xiao found a large piece of top-grade jade carved with seven dagger-shaped hollows and decided to ask Brother Peng for it after finding a jade carver.
• Huang Xiao left the cave after a month with the Golden-Winged Roc’s family, declining the Golden-Winged Roc’s offer to carry him part of the way.

Huang Xiao reached Xiping Prefecture in Xiazhou and went to Li Xia’s residence, Gathered Friends Residence. There he learned that his martial nephew Li Yuncong and his eldest martial uncle Wang Yuantu were already waiting for him.

• Huang Xiao learned from a passerby that he was in Xiazhou, Li Jiqian’s territory, and decided to visit Li Xia in Xiping Prefecture.
• Huang Xiao traveled to Xiping Prefecture and was recognized at the city gate by a servant sent with his portrait.
• The servant brought Huang Xiao by carriage to Gathered Friends Residence, where Steward Wu welcomed him and said Li Xia had been informed of his arrival.
• Steward Wu told Huang Xiao that Li Yuncong and Senior Wang were also at the residence, and Huang Xiao realized Senior Wang was likely his eldest martial uncle, Wang Yuantu.
• Li Yuncong called out to Huang Xiao from the doorway.

Huang Xiao reunited with Wang Yuantu and learned that the poisoned man was Li Jiqian, the King of Xia, whose exotic poison had already shortened his life to only a few more years. Wang Yuantu prepared to make an antidote and warned Huang Xiao to keep Li Jiqian’s condition secret, just as Li Deming arrived to pay his respects.

• Huang Xiao met Li Yuncong and learned that Wang Yuantu had spent twenty days studying the poison.
• Wang Yuantu reprimanded Huang Xiao for summoning help without identifying the patient, then revealed that the poisoned man was Li Jiqian, the King of Xia.
• Wang Yuantu identified the poison as a likely Tubo slow-acting deadly poison that drained the victim’s vitality, and said he could prepare an antidote within days.
• Wang Yuantu told Huang Xiao that Li Jiqian had been poisoned for at least a year and would survive only a few more years even after the poison was removed.
• Wang Yuantu ordered Huang Xiao to keep Li Jiqian’s condition secret, and Li Deming arrived to pay his respects.

Wang Yuantu promised Li Deming an antidote for his father’s poison within three days, while Huang Xiao learned that powerful guards had been stationed to protect the healer. Three days later, Wang Yuantu delivered nine pills, and Li Deming’s companion snatched the bottle before Li Deming could take it.

• Li Deming visited Wang Yuantu, who assured him he would produce an antidote for his father within three days.
• Li Deming revealed his real identity to Huang Xiao, thanked him for bringing Wang Yuantu, and explained that political enemies might threaten the healer.
• Huang Xiao sensed that powerful experts were guarding the residence, though he believed none could match Wang Yuantu.
• Three days later, Wang Yuantu gave Huang Xiao nine antidote pills and explained that Li Deming’s father should take three per day for three days.
• Li Deming arrived with two formidable experts, and the middle-aged man suddenly snatched the jade bottle from Huang Xiao.

Liu Chuang seized the antidote to the King of Xia’s poison and used it to keep Li Deming and his allies from attacking him. When reinforcements began fighting their way into the courtyard, He Shu and the other Peerless Experts charged Liu Chuang, who expected his accomplices to help him escape.

• Liu Chuang snatched the antidote from Huang Xiao and declared that he would not give it back, while Li Deming pleaded with him.
• He Shu and Li Deming surrounded Liu Chuang but hesitated to attack because he could destroy the antidote.
• Li Deming asked Wang Yuantu to make another batch, but Wang Yuantu said it would take fifteen days and the poisoned King of Xia would not last that long.
• Li Deming knelt and offered Liu Chuang anything, even his own life, for the antidote, but Liu Chuang refused to surrender it.
• He Shu realized Liu Chuang was stalling for accomplices, and the courtyard guards heard fighting and screams outside.
• Li Deming ordered Liu Chuang killed, and He Shu and the other Peerless Experts attacked as Liu Chuang prepared to hold them off until his companions arrived.

Liu Chuang and the First Rank Hall experts fought over the antidote until a powerful masked man arrived and took it. The masked men escaped the Gathered Friends Residence, while Li Deming ordered a pursuit and Wang Yuantu finally opened his eyes.

• Liu Chuang struggled against He Shu and the other First Rank Hall experts, while Huang Xiao watched for an opening.
• A masked man intervened, drove He Shu back, and had Liu Chuang check that the jade bottle contained nine antidote pills.
• The masked man took the antidote and revealed that two more masked men had cleared the way outside.
• He Shu and the other First Rank Hall experts tried to stop them, but Liu Chuang and the masked man escaped while the other two masked men held off their pursuers.
• Li Deming ordered his guards to notify First Rank Hall and pursue Liu Chuang, then Wang Yuantu opened his eyes and tossed Huang Xiao another small jade bottle.

Wang Yuantu gave Li Deming the real antidote and explained how a poisoned, partially finished antidote would delay their enemies while the King of Xia recovered. As Huang Xiao accompanied Li Deming to the Prince's Mansion, the men who stole the decoy discovered that handling its poisoned vial had struck Third Brother.

• Wang Yuantu gave Li Deming three antidote pills and explained that they had to be taken at sunrise on three consecutive days, with Huang Xiao using Everlasting Spring True Qi to aid their effects.
• Wang Yuantu warned Huang Xiao and Li Deming that the stolen vial contained a partially finished antidote and poison, and sent Huang Xiao with Li Deming to the Prince's Mansion while he recuperated.
• Huang Xiao told Li Yuncong to protect Wang Yuantu, and Li Deming promised to reinforce security as they left for the Prince's Mansion.
• Fang Chuang returned to the hidden chamber with the stolen vial, and the eldest brother rewarded him with a chance to study in the Lineage's Martial Hall.
• Master Bayan cautioned the group against touching the vial before he examined it, but Third Brother began suffering and dropped it; the eldest brother realized the vial was poisoned.

Master Bayan saved the third brother from a poison that dissolved his arm, then examined an antidote taken from the King of Xia but could not tell whether it was genuine. The eldest brother decided to seek orders and enlist hidden Fang Family agents in the Prince's Mansion while continuing to demand the martial repository's manuals.

• Master Bayan warned that the third brother's poisoned arm had to be sacrificed, and the eldest brother cut it off before the poison could consume him.
• Master Bayan retrieved the jade bottle and examined its antidote, explaining that he needed another day or two to determine whether it could neutralize the poison.
• The eldest brother agreed to demand the martial repository's secret manuals from the King of Xia and considered activating Fang Family agents in the Prince's Mansion.
• Master Bayan warned the eldest brother not to miss the chance to stop Li Jiqian's poison, then left the secret chamber.
• The eldest brother decided to seek instructions from above and arrange cooperation from the Fang Family's people in the Prince's Mansion.