Chapter Summaries

Huo Lian sent Huang Xiao and Shi Hen to the Main Hall for the Hall Master Contest, hoping Huang Xiao could master the Ghost-Riding Technique and defeat Pang Ji. As the contest drew near, the Three Great Halls gathered, including Ten Thousand Demons Hall’s candidate and Hall Master, Yang Tun.

• Huo Lian said Wei Yidao could delay Fan Liya and believed Feng He would likely stay silent rather than carry a message to Pang Ji himself.
• Huo Lian asked whether Huang Xiao could master the Ghost-Riding Technique on the journey, and Huang Xiao confidently said he could.
• Huo Lian, Huang Xiao, and Shi Hen left the Heavenly Demon Hall as its disciples watched, knowing their fates depended on the contest.
• The Main Hall mobilized its disciples and elders for the thousand-year Hall Master Contest, while the Three Great Halls sent their candidates and selected representatives.
• Yang Tun, a man in his sixties and the Ten Thousand Demons Hall’s Hall Master Candidate, had taken the position after Lou Feishang died.

Yang Tun arrived at the Main Hall as Ten Thousand Demons Hall’s Hall Master Candidate, determined to prove himself despite others viewing him as a stand-in. Chu Fanyin knew Yang Tun had little chance against Huang Xiao and Pang Yi, and awaited their arrival for the contest.

• Ten Thousand Demons Hall chose Yang Tun as its Hall Master Candidate and raised his strength to the Entering Dao Realm, then he succeeded Chu Fanyin as Hall Master.
• Chu Fanyin and Yang Tun arrived at the Main Hall, where disciples mocked Yang Tun as someone chosen to make up the numbers, though some envied his resources and strength.
• Yang Tun vowed privately not to concede defeat and believed his age, Forbidden Arts, and medicines gave him a chance against Huang Xiao and Pang Yi.
• Chu Fanyin warned Yang Tun to steady his mind but privately considered him overconfident, knowing Huang Xiao and Pang Yi had grown far stronger than Yang Tun imagined.
• A Main Hall disciple escorted Chu Fanyin and Yang Tun and said Huang Xiao was expected to arrive later that day, before the contest began the next day.

Huang Xiao and his companions reached the Demon Hall’s Main Hall as the thousand-year Hall Master Contest drew near. Huo Lian stayed outside, while Huang Xiao entered to face Pang Yi, relying on the strength he had gained in secret and on the Tomb Clan’s protection if Pang Ji tried to interfere.

• People from across the Jianghu gathered in Youzhou to await news of the new Demon Hall Hall Master, and the Demon Hall let them enter under the contest’s long-standing rules.
• Huang Xiao arrived near the Main Hall with Shi Hen and Huo Lian after mastering the Ghost-Riding Technique, but he had not figured out how to use it without exposing the Supreme Ghost Stele to Pang Yi.
• Shi Hen and the Patriarch judged Pang Yi’s chances of winning to be greater, while Huo Lian said he did not know Huang Xiao’s true strength.
• Demon Hall disciples welcomed the group, but the gatekeeper barred Huo Lian from entering the Main Hall, so Huo Lian stayed outside and urged Huang Xiao to do his best.
• Huo Lian expected Mo Pozheng to represent the Tomb Clan and believed he would have a way to stop Pang Ji if Huang Xiao won and Pang Ji tried to kill him.

Huang Xiao met the other Hall Master Candidates and learned how Yang Tun viewed their coming contest, while Shi Hen and Chu Fanyin discussed the shifting alliances among the halls. Pang Ji arrived with Pang Yi and announced that the contest would begin at noon the next day, but Yang Tun spoke up before the gathering ended.

• Huang Xiao greeted Chu Fanyin and Yang Tun in the Main Hall guest room, where Yang Tun reacted with shock to Huang Xiao’s Dao Realm strength.
• Yang Tun challenged Huang Xiao’s confidence, and Huang Xiao recognized that Yang Tun had little chance in the contest but accepted that he had to face the consequences of his choice.
• Shi Hen asked whether Pang Yi had arrived, and Pang Ji entered with Pang Yi shortly afterward.
• Pang Yi threatened Huang Xiao through voice transmission, and Huang Xiao answered without backing down.
• Pang Ji announced that the Hall Master Contest would begin at noon the next day and that all means were permitted.
• Yang Tun immediately asked to speak, surprising the others as Chu Fanyin wondered whether he had decided to take a final risk.

At a meeting of the Hall Master Candidates, Pang Yi revealed that Yang Tun had once secluded himself in a Demon Hall senior’s chamber on Supreme Demon Peak, but still treated him as no threat and focused on Huang Xiao. The contest was set for noon the next day, and Shi Hen told Huang Xiao that Pang Yi remained his true opponent.

• Yang Tun vowed to prove himself in the struggle for the Hall Master's Seat, while Huang Xiao considered using the Ghost-Riding Technique and promised to surprise Pang Yi.
• Pang Yi revealed that Yang Tun had gained an opportunity to seclude himself in a Demon Hall senior’s secret chamber on Supreme Demon Peak, surprising Huang Xiao and Shi Hen.
• Pang Yi dismissed Yang Tun as beneath his notice, and Pang Ji reminded him that all three candidates held equal status.
• Pang Ji said the contest would take place at noon the next day in the Main Hall's Rear Hall Martial Arts Arena, then left with Pang Yi.
• At Shi Hen's residence, Shi Hen told Huang Xiao that Pang Yi, not Yang Tun, was his true opponent.

Huang Xiao and Pang Yi spent a sleepless night anticipating the Hall Master Contest, each determined to claim the seat for different reasons. The next morning, experts gathered at the Main Hall’s arena to assess the candidates before the contest began at noon.

• Huang Xiao told Shi Hen he hoped Yang Tun would help pressure Pang Yi, but Shi Hen warned that Yang Tun might resent Huang Xiao and urged him to rely on himself.
• Huang Xiao accepted that Pang Yi would kill him if he lost, yet vowed not to give up hope of survival.
• Huang Xiao reflected on how Pang Yi’s upbringing and years of cultivation gave him a major advantage, while Pang Yi resolved to claim the Hall Master’s Seat and become Number One in the world.
• Experts gathered at the Martial Arts Arena in the Main Hall’s Rear Hall to observe the three Hall Master Candidates, with most divided between the Pang Family and the allied halls.
• Huang Xiao arrived first, followed by Yang Tun and Chu Fanyin, while Shi Hen sat on the raised platform beside the arena.

Pang Yi arrived for the Hall Master Contest, and Pang Ji introduced Mo Pozheng, the Tomb Clan Chief, to Shi Hen and Liu Tengfan. Before the match began, Pang Yi revealed that his cultivation had reached the Dao Realm, leaving Huang Xiao and Yang Tun to face another Dao Realm contender.

• Pang Yi arrived and told Huang Xiao that he would be dead by the same day next year.
• Liu Tengfan joined Shi Hen on the high platform as they waited for Pang Ji and the visitor from the Tomb Clan.
• Pang Ji arrived with Mo Pozheng and privately introduced him to Shi Hen and Liu Tengfan as the Tomb Clan Chief.
• Huang Xiao, Pang Yi, and Yang Tun entered the arena, and Pang Ji told Pang Yi to stop concealing his strength.
• Pang Yi released his restraints and raised his aura to the Dao Realm, prompting Mo Pozheng and Pang Ji to discuss the previous Hall Master Contest.

The first round of the Hall Master Contest began as Mo Pozheng set up a formation to test Huang Xiao, Pang Yi, and Yang Tun’s ability to withstand increasing pressure. The three were sealed in separate energy walls, where they would remain until one could no longer endure.

• Mo Pozheng began the contest’s first round by placing four black flags at the arena’s corners and forming three circles.
• Pang Yi, Yang Tun, and Huang Xiao each chose a circle after Mo Pozheng made them shuffle places.
• Mo Pozheng explained that the test would eliminate whoever failed to endure first and allowed the contestants to use any means as long as they stayed inside their circles.
• Mo Pozheng raised cylindrical black energy walls around the three contestants and said the pressure inside them would steadily increase.

Yang Tun struggled against the rising pressure in the first contest for the Hall Master's Seat while Huang Xiao and Pang Yi remained composed. As the pressure reached the Dao realm, Yang Tun released a dangerous aura, and Huang Xiao found he could not dodge within the barrier.

• Mo Pozheng identified the pressure as having reached the enlightenment realm, and observers predicted Yang Tun would be eliminated because his cultivation was lower than Huang Xiao's and Pang Yi's.
• Yang Tun resisted the escalating pressure and recalled how he had lost his earlier chance to become a Hall Master Candidate after Lou Feishang was chosen.
• Mo Pozheng announced that the pressure had reached the entering Dao realm, and Pang Ji said Yang Tun was struggling while Huang Xiao and Pang Yi remained fine.
• Yang Tun grew furious when Huang Xiao and Pang Yi ignored him and decided to use the strength he had been saving for the final contest, invoking the advice to use any means.
• The pressure reached the Dao realm, and Huang Xiao and Pang Yi expected Yang Tun to fail before a dangerous aura suddenly appeared; Huang Xiao could not dodge within the barrier.

Huang Xiao and Pang Yi survived Yang Tun’s hidden-weapon attack and eliminated him from the contest. As the two rivals prepared for their final showdown over the Hall Master’s Seat, a surge of ghost qi erupted in the arena.

• Yang Tun’s hidden darts struck Huang Xiao and Pang Yi, but their armor helped them escape with only minor injuries.
• Mo Pozheng confirmed that hidden weapons were allowed, and Pang Yi stopped his attack on Yang Tun when Pang Ji intervened.
• Yang Tun left the arena eliminated, while Pang Yi threatened to kill him after taking the Hall Master’s Seat.
• Mo Pozheng announced the final contest between Huang Xiao and Pang Yi, and ghost qi suddenly erupted in the Martial Arts Arena.

Huang Xiao and Pang Yi argued over the exposed Supreme Ghost Stele before Pang Ji proposed banning armor and hidden weapons from their match. Mo Pozheng accepted the rule change, and Pang Yi removed his armor as the fight’s terms tightened.

• Huang Xiao discovered that Yang Tun’s hidden weapon had cracked the stone seal around the Supreme Ghost Stele, allowing its ghost qi to leak out.
• Pang Yi mocked Huang Xiao for losing the chance to use the Stele as a surprise attack, while Huang Xiao said he could still use it to make Pang Yi uncomfortable.
• Pang Yi suggested that he and Huang Xiao remove their protective armor to settle the match faster.
• Pang Ji proposed banning armor and hidden weapons after Yang Tun’s earlier attack, and Shi Hen and Liu Tengfan agreed.
• Mo Pozheng ruled that both contestants had to hand over armor and hidden weapons, with death as the penalty for using hidden weapons; Pang Yi removed his armor and asked where Huang Xiao’s weapons were.

Huang Xiao and Pang Yi prepared to fight for the Hall Master's Seat under rules that barred armor and concealed weapons. After surrendering the Supreme Ghost Stele, Huang Xiao secured permission to draw on its surrounding ghost qi as long as the stele itself remained still, and the contest began with Pang Yi charging him.

• Huang Xiao removed his Demon Spirit Armor, and he and Pang Yi put their outer robes back on before the duel.
• Mo Pozheng ordered Huang Xiao to surrender the Supreme Ghost Stele, and Huang Xiao handed it over to be placed on the raised platform.
• Huang Xiao asked whether he could use Ghost Dao methods to stir the surrounding ghost qi, and Mo Pozheng ruled that he could as long as the stele did not move.
• Pang Yi mocked Huang Xiao's Ghost Dao cultivation methods, while Huang Xiao revealed that he had learned Feng He's methods in the Ghost Spirit Sect's Ghost Capital.
• Mo Pozheng declared the contest for the Hall Master's Seat begun, and Pang Yi charged at Huang Xiao.

Huang Xiao struggled against Pang Yi after Pang Yi used the Supreme Demonic Art to suppress his true qi. Pang Yi revealed that he had learned part of the art from Pang Ji, leaving the onlookers shocked and Huang Xiao in danger.

• Huang Xiao swallowed three Blood Overflow Pills and found his true qi obstructed as Pang Yi attacked him.
• Pang Ji admitted that he had taught Pang Yi the technique, while Shi Hen and Liu Tengfan grew concerned.
• Huang Xiao charged at Pang Yi but was repelled by the strange aura surrounding him and was forced onto the defensive.
• After nearly a hundred exchanges, Huang Xiao asked what cultivation method Pang Yi was using.
• Pang Yi revealed that he was using the Supreme Demonic Art, and Pang Ji said Pang Yi had learned only part of it.

Huang Xiao countered Pang Yi’s Supreme Demonic Art by using Imperishable True Qi, restoring his strength and continuing their fight. Pang Ji suspected Huang Xiao had learned Heavenly Demon Indestructible from Huo Lian, while Pang Yi blamed Huo Lian and vowed to kill him if he became Hall Master.

• Pang Yi used the Supreme Demonic Art to suppress Huang Xiao’s Heavenly Demon True Qi and challenged him to reveal his remaining methods.
• Huang Xiao circulated Imperishable True Qi, which was barely affected by Pang Yi’s cultivation method, and prepared to fight at full strength.
• Pang Yi increased his internal power and attacked, but Huang Xiao answered with the Heavenly Demon Subduing Tiger Fist, whose force had grown through years of refinement.
• Huang Xiao’s restored strength forced Pang Yi back, and Pang Yi realized the Supreme Demonic Art was no longer suppressing him.
• Pang Ji and Mo Pozheng speculated that Huo Lian had taught Huang Xiao Heavenly Demon Indestructible, while Pang Ji blamed Pang Yi’s insufficient mastery.
• Pang Yi concluded that Huo Lian had interfered with his plans and vowed to deal with him if he took the Hall Master’s Seat.

Huang Xiao used sound arts to expose Pang Yi’s real body among his illusory doubles, and the two fighters resumed their clash. Pang Yi believed his Supreme Demonic Art gave him the advantage, while Huang Xiao kept his other abilities hidden.

• Pang Yi created eight solid-seeming phantom images that attacked Huang Xiao and made it difficult to identify his true body.
• Huang Xiao used a whistle and sound arts to disrupt the illusions, then struck at Pang Yi’s true body behind him.
• Pang Yi’s phantom images dispersed, and he charged Huang Xiao with his actual body.
• Huang Xiao met Pang Yi head-on as Pang Yi trusted in the superiority of his Supreme Demonic Art.

Huang Xiao used Sound Art Qi Transformation to weaken Pang Yi's true qi, but Pang Yi revealed that the Supreme Demonic Art had given him the ability to shatter Huang Xiao's control over heaven and earth momentum. The fight continued with Huang Xiao's movement technique now threatened by Pang Yi's power.

• Pang Yi overwhelmed Huang Xiao in their clash, and Huang Xiao used Sound Art Qi Transformation to drain some of Pang Yi's true qi.
• Huang Xiao evaded Pang Yi's attack with his movement technique, while Pang Yi said he could make Huang Xiao unable to take a step.
• Pang Yi claimed he possessed some Shattering-Void Realm abilities despite remaining in the Dao Realm.
• Pang Yi used his shattering ability to disperse Huang Xiao's heaven and earth momentum and disrupt the surrounding spiritual energy.
• Pang Yi said his control of heaven and earth momentum would limit the wonders of Huang Xiao's movement technique.

Huang Xiao and Pang Yi clashed on the arena, matching their movement techniques before battling with supreme demonic qi. Huang Xiao’s superior control gave him an edge, but Pang Yi had stored more qi than expected, and their final clash left them evenly matched.

• Pang Yi used his control of heaven and earth momentum to blunt Huang Xiao’s movement advantage, so Huang Xiao activated his supreme demonic qi.
• Huang Xiao’s Demon-Controlling Art let him wield supreme demonic qi more effectively, forcing Pang Yi to consume greater quantities to keep up.
• Huang Xiao and Pang Yi traded blows on the arena while the built-in formation contained the force of their attacks.
• Huang Xiao realized Pang Yi had stored more supreme demonic qi than he had and unleashed all the qi in his Dantian.
• Pang Yi answered with a full surge of supreme demonic qi, and their clash sent both men stumbling three steps back, evenly matched.

Huang Xiao unleashed the Fourth Stage of Heavenly Demon Disintegration to gain a decisive advantage over Pang Yi, but Pang Yi fully activated the Ten-Thousand Interception Method and reached the pseudo-Shattering-Void Realm. The two faced each other with the outcome of the Hall Master's Seat contest hanging on their fight.

• Huang Xiao and Pang Yi exhausted their Supreme Demonic Qi in a clash that left neither with a clear advantage.
• Huang Xiao used the Fourth Stage of Heavenly Demon Disintegration, multiplying his power more than thirtyfold and alarming the onlookers.
• Pang Ji urged Pang Yi to use his final reserve, and Pang Yi revealed that he had not fully unleashed the Ten-Thousand Interception Method.
• Pang Yi fully activated the method and reached the pseudo-Shattering-Void Realm, despite the crippling aftereffects he risked if he lost.
• Huang Xiao recognized the gulf between their realms, but both he and Pang Yi declared that they could not afford to lose.

Huang Xiao continued fighting Pang Yi despite Pang Yi’s pseudo-Shattering-Void Realm strength and a severe injury to his right leg. He used formations to move through the air, but Pang Yi struck him twice in the chest, leaving Huang Xiao coughing blood as he pressed on.

• Huang Xiao attacked Pang Yi, who seized and wounded Huang Xiao’s right calf, but Huang Xiao countered with a kick that forced Pang Yi back.
• Pang Yi pursued Huang Xiao into the air and kicked him down, while Huang Xiao landed using only his hands and left foot to protect his injured right leg.
• Huang Xiao used formations beneath his feet to move through the air, surprising Pang Yi and prompting Mo Pozheng and Shi Hen to recognize his skill.
• Pang Yi struck Huang Xiao with a palm and then finger force, making Huang Xiao spit blood, but Huang Xiao immediately moved forward to attack again.

Huang Xiao fought Pang Yi while rapidly recovering from injuries, leaving Pang Ji to suspect Huo Lian had taught him a technique like the Longevity Chapter. After Huang Xiao used an injured foot to knock Pang Yi off balance, he explained his healing by claiming he had absorbed the aura of a Longevity Pill.

• Huang Xiao and Pang Yi traded severe injuries as they fought, with Huang Xiao repeatedly counterattacking despite Pang Yi's advantage.
• Pang Ji suspected Huo Lian had taught Huang Xiao a healing method similar to the Longevity Chapter and wondered whether Huo Lian had obtained related cultivation knowledge.
• Pang Yi slammed Huang Xiao into the arena floor, but Huang Xiao stood up and swept Pang Yi off balance with the foot Pang Yi had injured.
• Huang Xiao kicked Pang Yi into the air, then claimed the aura of a Longevity Pill and his own healing method had helped his injuries recover quickly.