Chapter Summaries

Trapped in a misty cavern, Qingfeng worried about his missing companions and continued investigating the mysterious place. After calming himself, he found the simple method to break a stone-wall formation and opened a passage, where intense heat greeted him.

• Qingfeng checked the strange plant's ripening fruit and spoke with it before returning underground.
• Qingfeng explored the limestone caves and focused on a stone wall he believed concealed a formation.
• Qingfeng realized his unsettled state had led him astray while trying to break the formation.
• Qingfeng pressed and tapped three spots on the wall, then stepped back and opened a small entrance.
• Qingfeng discovered that the formation had misled anyone who lacked the correct method, and felt heat coming from the passage.

Qingfeng discovered a secret chamber containing a blazing pill furnace and writings left by the ancient Immortal Alchemist. He learned that the chamber held everything needed to refine a Longevity Pill once the Soaring Immortal Fruit ripened.

• Qingfeng opened the secret chamber and was scorched by a sudden wave of heat, leaving his Daoist robe and hair badly damaged.
• Qingfeng entered the chamber and found a bronze pill furnace burning with terrifying blue flames.
• Qingfeng read the Immortal Alchemist’s writings and learned about the Soaring Immortal Grass, Soaring Immortal Fruit, and the process for refining a Longevity Pill.
• Qingfeng learned that the senior’s earlier Longevity Pill had been unripe and could not be consumed, and wondered whether time had ripened it by now.
• Qingfeng realized the chamber contained the ingredients and preparations needed for him to refine a Longevity Pill after the Soaring Immortal Fruit ripened.

Qingfeng examined the Immortal Alchemist’s secret chamber and learned about the ancient war, the Other Realm, and the Longevity Pill he hoped to refine. After returning to the surface, he found the Soaring Immortal Grass wilted and realized it was afraid.

• Qingfeng read the Immortal Alchemist’s records and learned that a ripe Soaring Immortal Fruit would let him attempt to refine a Mature Longevity Pill.
• Qingfeng speculated that the Martial World’s ancient war involved powerful seniors who had gone to the Other Realm, and considered whether outsiders might break through the formation and find him.
• Qingfeng searched the secret chamber again, then left and returned to the Milky Liquid Stone Pit before going aboveground.
• Qingfeng noticed the Soaring Immortal Grass had wilted, poured milky liquid over its roots, and found that it improved only slightly.
• Qingfeng sensed the Soaring Immortal Grass’s terror and understood that it was afraid.

Qingfeng realized the Soaring Immortal Fruit feared the furnace because it knew it would be harvested for the Longevity Pill, and he promised not to sacrifice it. He returned to cultivate beside the plant, while pale blue-green motes appeared around it as he meditated.

• Qingfeng understood that the Soaring Immortal Fruit feared the alchemy furnace and the fate of being refined into a Longevity Pill.
• Qingfeng promised the Soaring Immortal Fruit that he would not use it for the pill and would try to take it out safely.
• Qingfeng reflected on the sentience of rare plants and the slaughter of Divine Beasts, then resolved to protect the Soaring Immortal Fruit.
• Qingfeng sat beside the Soaring Immortal Fruit and began contemplating Daoist arts while it absorbed the milky liquid.
• Pale blue-green motes of light appeared around the Soaring Immortal Fruit as Qingfeng entered meditation.

Qingfeng discovered that the Soaring Immortal Fruit had been sharing its aura with him while he meditated, and learned that his contemplation of the Upper Clarity Scripture also helped the fruit recover and grow stronger. They agreed to cultivate together, leaving Qingfeng’s state of mind continuing to improve.

• After meditating, Qingfeng noticed that the Soaring Immortal Fruit’s aura had weakened and kept watch as it waxed and waned over the following days.
• Qingfeng awoke early during meditation and saw azure motes flowing from the Soaring Immortal Fruit into his body.
• Qingfeng realized the Soaring Immortal Fruit had been helping him, and the fruit explained that his meditation also benefited it.
• Qingfeng concluded that the two of them influenced and strengthened each other through cultivation.
• Qingfeng proposed that they cultivate together from then on.

Qingfeng cultivated with the Soaring Immortal Fruit while Zhu Fancheng struggled to decipher the Soaring Immortal Land’s formation seal before the Demon Hall Thousand-Year Period. Meanwhile, news of the Hall Master Candidates’ indefinite seclusion stirred speculation over the contest between Huang Xiao and Pang Yi.

• Qingfeng cultivated and conversed with the Soaring Immortal Fruit, but neither knew whether it could survive apart from the Soaring Immortal Grass once ripe.
• Zhu Fancheng admitted he had made little progress on the formation seal and resolved to break it before the Demon Hall Thousand-Year Period, hoping to become history’s second-greatest formation master.
• Pang Ji announced that all Demon Hall Hall Master Candidates had entered seclusion for an indefinite period, prompting Jianghu speculation that the Hall Master Contest was approaching.
• Jianghu observers focused on Huang Xiao and Pang Yi, with many favoring Huang Xiao because Pang Yi’s victory would give the Pang Family unprecedented control over the Demon Hall.
• Observers compared Huang Xiao’s potential position with Huo Lian’s former tenure, noting Huang Xiao had Shi Hen and Huo Lian’s support but faced a stronger Pang Family led by Pang Ji.

As the Jianghu’s sects prepared for the Demon Hall’s Thousand-Year Period, Xuan Tu reached the formation on Mist Mountain and met Huo Lian. Xuan Tu introduced himself as a figure from ten thousand years ago who had raised Zuo Qiu Shu.

• Pang Ji said the Demon Hall Master’s Seat was an internal matter, and the Pang Family continued to back Pang Yi.
• The Jianghu’s major sects hid their promising young members, treasures, and techniques in preparation for the Demon Hall’s Thousand-Year Period.
• Xuan Tu found the formation on Mist Mountain, tried to break it, then waited beside it.
• Huo Lian arrived a day later, and Xuan Tu introduced himself as someone Huo Lian had heard of from the past.
• Huo Lian recognized that Xuan Tu’s mention of “Little Shu” referred to Zuo Qiu Shu, whom Xuan Tu had raised.

Huo Lian met Xuan Tu, who asked about the Divine Beast Holy Land and his surviving juniors while seeking his help with another matter. Huo Lian learned that Xuan Tu knew little about the Soaring Immortal Fruit and pressed him to offer something in return for his kindness.

• Xuan Tu shapeshifted and found Huo Lian after Fan Zhuolang told him Huo Lian wanted the Soaring Immortal Fruit.
• Huo Lian admitted his interest in the fruit, and Xuan Tu asked whether his juniors in the Divine Beast Holy Land were alive.
• Huo Lian reassured Xuan Tu that the juniors were alive and well, but warned that they might struggle to adapt to the Jianghu if they emerged during the coming Demon Hall thousand-year period.
• Xuan Tu began to raise another matter, but Huo Lian interrupted to ask what benefits he would receive for sharing information.
• Xuan Tu said he knew little about the Soaring Immortal Fruit, leaving Huo Lian displeased that his kindness might go unrewarded.

Xuan Tu offered Huo Lian information about the Soaring Immortal Land’s formation seal in exchange for protection from Xuanyuan Jade Butterfly, who planned to threaten the Divine Beast Holy Land’s younger generation. Huo Lian agreed to decide after Zhu Fancheng judged whether the information was useful.

• Xuan Tu explained that he knew little about the Soaring Immortal Fruit but could share hints about the formation seal on the Soaring Immortal Land.
• Xuan Tu told Huo Lian that Xuanyuan Jade Butterfly might attack the younger divine beasts to force him to reveal Little Yi’s whereabouts.
• Huo Lian said he would refuse Xuanyuan Jade Butterfly only if Zhu Fancheng found Xuan Tu’s information useful; otherwise, he might accept her offer.
• Xuan Tu described how the Immortal Alchemist had begun and arranged the formation, and Huo Lian agreed to pass the scattered information to Zhu Fancheng.
• Xuan Tu said he would await news at the Three Immortal Mountains, and Huo Lian cautioned that future cooperation would depend on Xuan Tu’s resolve.

Xuan Tu asked Huo Lian to cooperate against the Demon Hall's coming Thousand-Year Period and sought a meeting with Demon Phoenix, but learned the phoenix was in seclusion. After Xuan Tu departed, Huo Lian reflected on the Three Immortal Mountains' growing influence and his fear of Kui Yong, while the Jianghu remained largely peaceful.

• Xuan Tu urged Huo Lian to consider joining forces with the righteous powers and said he believed Little Yi was still alive.
• Xuan Tu asked to meet Demon Phoenix, but Huo Lian said the phoenix was in seclusion and promised to arrange a meeting later.
• Xuan Tu asked Huo Lian to help the Divine Beast Holy Land, bowed to him, and then left.
• Huo Lian realized Xuan Tu's ties to the Three Immortal Mountains could strengthen Wu Xuancang's position, while he remained determined to stand alone.
• Huo Lian kept Demon Phoenix in seclusion to nurture flames for reforging the Supreme Demon Saber and privately feared Kui Yong's power.
• Spring passed into autumn as the Jianghu experienced only minor clashes and settled into peace.

Huang Xie struggled through Fan Xiu’s punishing training and pleaded with Wang Mizong to save him. Wang Mizong sympathized but honored the agreement that left Fan Xiu in charge, so Huang Xie had to keep training in hopes of getting candy later.

• Fan Xiu made Huang Xie hold a horse stance and extended his training after catching him trying to slack off.
• Huang Xie silently cursed Fan Xiu as his legs trembled and he struggled to endure the stance.
• Wang Mizong arrived, and Huang Xie sobbed that only his Grandpa Wang loved him while Wang Mizong challenged Fan Xiu over the training.
• Fan Xiu reminded Wang Mizong that he was in charge of Huang Xie for ten days, and Wang Mizong admitted he could not interfere.
• Wang Mizong promised to buy Huang Xie more candy after the training period, and Huang Xie accepted that he still had to obey Fan Xiu.

Fan Xiu and Wang Mizong continued Little Xie's demanding training, using their good-cop, bad-cop roles to keep him motivated. Meanwhile, Jiang Liuli and the other women trained and prepared for their next limited visit with Little Xie, while Zhangsun Youyue wondered about the Demon Hall's missing Hall Master Candidates.

• Wang Mizong promised Little Xie abundant candy and encouraged him to see Fan Xiu as the strict one so he would keep training.
• Fan Xiu ended Little Xie's weighted horse stance, and Wang Mizong removed his heavy training garment and massaged his muscles.
• Little Xie told Wang Mizong he planned to make Fan Xiu stand in horse stance someday, and Wang Mizong urged him to grow strong enough to do so.
• Jiang Liuli knitted a sweater for Little Xie while Zhangsun Youyue comforted her about their limited visits and Little Xie's distance from her.
• The eight women continued training their coordinated attack technique, and Jiang Liuli worked to finish the sweater before seeing Little Xie again.
• Zhangsun Youyue thought about Huang Xiao and the Demon Hall's Hall Master Candidates, who had remained in seclusion for more than four years without news.

While Zhangsun Youyue wondered whether Jiang Liuli still hated Huang Xiao, Huang Xiao remained trapped in a formation after more than four years of seclusion. He had reached the Dao Realm and strengthened his techniques, but could not escape and feared missing the Demon Hall's Hall Master Contest.

• Zhangsun Youyue tried to ask Jiang Liuli how she felt about Huang Xiao, but Jiang Liuli's expression darkened and Zhangsun Youyue left to visit the other sisters.
• Huang Xiao reflected on the four years he spent studying the First Hall Master's memories, refining his techniques, and attempting to break the formation.
• Huang Xiao reached the Dao Realm and mastered the Twelfth Stage of the Heavenly Demon Skill, though he remained uncertain whether he could fight someone in the Shattering-Void Realm.
• Huang Xiao concluded that his patriarch and the other seniors might not know about the formation and feared he would miss the Hall Master Contest if he could not escape.

After four years trapped inside the formation, Huang Xiao sensed it weakening and believed his efforts were finally working. Outside, Demon Hall formation experts began testing the formation, prompting Shi Hen to intervene as both sides prepared for its likely breach within a few months.

• Huang Xiao remembered his loved ones and friends, then renewed his attempts to escape the formation.
• Huang Xiao sensed a change inside the formation and grew hopeful, though the weakening was mostly unrelated to his efforts.
• Demon Hall formation experts tried to break the weakened formation, but Shi Hen caught them and warned them to stop acting behind his back.
• Shi Hen concluded the formation might break in about a month and left to notify the Hall Master.
• The formation experts' leader sent a man to report to Pang Ji that they expected to break the formation within two or three months.

Shi Hen sent Zhu Xing E to summon Huo Lian while he continued guarding the formation, hoping the Hall Master would arrive before it was opened. Pang Ji came early and ordered the formation masters to break it, leaving Shi Hen worried about Huang Xiao’s fate and the Pang Family’s growing control of the Demon Hall.

• Shi Hen sent Zhu Xing E to deliver a message to Huo Lian and stayed behind to watch the formation.
• Half a month later, Pang Ji arrived before Huo Lian and announced he would force the formation open.
• Shi Hen warned Pang Ji that the formation still held power, but Pang Ji ordered the formation masters to begin breaking it.
• Pang Ji said opening the formation sooner could give Huang Xiao more time to prepare for the Hall Master Contest, while Shi Hen argued Huang Xiao might already have gained a great opportunity inside.
• Shi Hen worried that Huang Xiao might be dead and resolved that the Demon Hall must not become the Pang Family’s Demon Hall.

Pang Ji broke the Grand Formation with brute force and sound arts, revealing Huang Xiao inside. As Pang Ji claimed the treasures there belonged to the Demon Hall, Huo Lian appeared and challenged him.

• Shi Hen watched as Pang Ji ordered the formation experts to keep working, then said he would personally attack the formation after a few more hours.
• Pang Ji struck the formation and combined his brute force with a powerful sound art assault, shattering it like a mirror.
• Huang Xiao appeared when the formation broke, and Pang Ji asked whether he had gained benefits inside.
• Shi Hen defended Huang Xiao, but Pang Ji claimed the treasures were the Demon Hall's.
• Huo Lian laughed and rebuked Pang Ji for making what he called a shameless claim.

Huo Lian and Pang Ji disputed whether Huang Xiao could keep anything from Kui Yong’s place of seclusion, and Shi Hen proposed a compromise. Huang Xiao then claimed there was nothing inside, while worrying that Pang Ji would discover the Supreme Demon Core he carried.

• Huo Lian arrived and confronted Pang Ji over his intentions toward Huang Xiao and the treasures inside Kui Yong’s place of seclusion.
• Huo Lian insisted Huang Xiao could take whatever he had obtained, while Pang Ji demanded that the Demon Hall receive the treasures for redistribution.
• Shi Hen proposed letting Huang Xiao keep a few treasures, with certain items to be returned after the contest for Demon Hall Master.
• Pang Ji offered Huang Xiao three items, and Huo Lian countered that he should get at least ten.
• Huang Xiao revealed that there was nothing inside, surprising everyone.

Huang Xiao concealed the Supreme Demon Core by passing off its box as one containing Blood Overflow Pills, while Huo Lian helped deflect Pang Ji’s suspicions. Pang Ji then took Huang Xiao and Shi Hen inside to search the First Hall Master’s retreat, leaving Huo Lian and the formation masters outside.

• Pang Ji questioned Huang Xiao about what he had hidden, and Huang Xiao calmly showed him the box, claiming it held Blood Overflow Pills.
• Huo Lian backed Huang Xiao’s story and challenged Pang Ji to study the pills, so Pang Ji declined and Huang Xiao kept the box closed.
• Huang Xiao revealed that he had noticed an unusual relief on a stone door, and Pang Ji insisted on seeing it for himself.
• Huo Lian sent Shi Hen inside with Huang Xiao, while he argued with Pang Ji and stayed outside with the formation masters.
• Huang Xiao led Pang Ji and Shi Hen into the retreat as the formation masters remained outside, still hoping to find something worth seeing.

Huang Xiao led Pang Ji and Shi Hen to the secluded chamber, where he explained how studying the stone-door relief had improved his martial arts. Pang Ji searched the apparently empty chamber, while Huang Xiao worried that Pang Ji might discover the relief’s secrets and the switched Supreme Demon Core.

• Huang Xiao brought Pang Ji and Shi Hen to the stone door and described the martial arts insights he had gained from its relief.
• Pang Ji suspected that the relief concealed a profound secret and decided to inspect the chamber before studying it further.
• Pang Ji entered the chamber, and Shi Hen and Huang Xiao followed after finding it apparently empty.
• Huang Xiao realized Pang Ji could not activate the relief’s memory images without Supreme Demonic Qi, but feared he might still uncover treasures or investigate the Supreme Demon Wall.
• Huang Xiao worried that Pang Ji could discover the Supreme Demon Core had been switched.

Pang Ji concluded that the Stone Gate Relief was the most valuable treasure left by the First Hall Master and refused to let Huo Lian or Huang Xiao take it. He granted Huang Xiao a quarter of an hour to study it, while hinting that the First Hall Master might be depicted on it.

• After searching the secret chamber, Pang Ji and Shi Hen found no treasures beyond the Stone Gate Relief.
• Pang Ji argued that the relief’s being the only item left meant it surpassed ordinary collections of treasures and would not be handed over to Huang Xiao.
• Shi Hen said he would help neither Pang Ji nor Huo Lian if Huo Lian tried to force his way into the chamber.
• Pang Ji allowed Huang Xiao to study the relief for a quarter of an hour, and Shi Hen urged him to memorize what he could.
• Pang Ji suggested that the First Hall Master might appear among the relief’s figures and that Huo Lian, who sought the Indestructible Cultivation Method, could not see him.