Chapter Summaries

You Lian'er used the fourth tone of the Netherworld Demon Eight Tones to disable the Fang Family experts and briefly disrupt the Black-Robed Envoy, but the envoy recovered and injured Huang Xiao. As the enemies prepared to attack again, You Lian'er warned Huang Xiao and threw herself onto him.

• You Lian'er played the fourth tone, leaving three Fang Family experts writhing and disrupting the Black-Robed Envoy long enough for Huang Xiao to dodge his uncontrolled Palm Force.
• Huang Xiao attacked the envoy, but the envoy recovered, struck back, and injured Huang Xiao before roaring to break the zither music's hold on the others.
• The Black-Robed Envoy recognized the fourth tone of the Netherworld Demon Eight Tones and questioned how You Lian'er knew it; she concealed her identity.
• The envoy ordered the three Fang Family experts to resist the music while he kept Huang Xiao occupied, and You Lian'er said she could sustain the tone for at most half an hour.
• As Huang Xiao began to answer You Lian'er, she cried out a warning and flung herself onto him.

Huang Xiao used the Third Layer of the Heavenly Demon Skill to strengthen his fist as You Lian'er supported him with her music and incapacitated three Peerless Experts. He left off exchanging blows with the Black-Robed Envoy, whose strength still overwhelmed Huang Xiao's Second Layer Force.

• You Lian'er took part of the Black-Robed Envoy's palm strike while saving Huang Xiao, and she was injured.
• Huang Xiao decided to fight alongside You Lian'er rather than flee, and she agreed to support him for one more attempt.
• Huang Xiao circulated the Heavenly Demon Skill, transforming his true qi and releasing an aura of demonic power.
• You Lian'er played the Netherworld Demon Eight Tones and used the Illusory Demon Sound to knock three Peerless Experts unconscious, worsening her injury.
• Huang Xiao attacked the Black-Robed Envoy with the Heavenly Demon Subduing Tiger Fist, but the Envoy blocked the strengthened blow and forced Huang Xiao back.

Huang Xiao forced the Black-Robed Envoy back with the third layer of his fist technique, but the envoy countered with the Fang Family's Demon Spirit Nine Transformations Art and badly wounded him. A stranger called Young Master Xu arrived, shattered the envoy's transformation with Taixuan Three-Shock Sound, and declared that You Lian'er would make a fine maid for him.

• Huang Xiao raised his Heavenly Demon Subduing Tiger Fist to its third layer, injuring his meridians as he drove the Black-Robed Envoy back.
• The Black-Robed Envoy used the first transformation of the Demon Spirit Nine Transformations Art and sent Huang Xiao flying, leaving him severely wounded.
• You Lian'er recognized the Black-Robed Envoy's cultivation art, while Huang Xiao apologized that he had no time to pass the Heavenly Demon Canon to her.
• Three bursts of laughter struck Huang Xiao, You Lian'er, and the Black-Robed Envoy, disrupting the envoy's transformation and weakening all three.
• Young Master Xu appeared and identified his technique as Taixuan Three-Shock Sound.
• Young Master Xu praised You Lian'er and said she was worthy of becoming his maid.

Xu Wuyu arrived to take You Lian'er away and attacked Huang Xiao with the Taixuan Mystical Art. Huang Xiao absorbed Xu Wuyu’s true qi and launched a red phantom at him, leaving the attack’s result unresolved.

• Xu Wuyu introduced himself and said he had promised to take You Lian'er back, while the Black-Robed Envoy protested his criticism of the Fang Family’s Demon Spirit Nine Transformations Art.
• Xu Wuyu dismissed Huang Xiao and declared he would kill him after learning he was a disciple of Poison God Valley; You Lian'er identified Xu Wuyu as the Taixuan Sect’s foremost young disciple and begged him to spare Huang Xiao.
• Xu Wuyu seized Huang Xiao’s neck from a distance with the Taixuan Mystical Art, and Huang Xiao resisted while preparing a counterattack.
• Xu Wuyu struck a Fang Family expert who warned him about Huang Xiao’s poison, then noticed his true qi entering Huang Xiao’s meridians.
• Huang Xiao used the Northern Darkness Absorption Method to absorb Xu Wuyu’s true qi, formed an icy vapor between his palms, and sent a red phantom streaking toward Xu Wuyu.

Huang Xiao and You Lian'er escaped Xu Wuyu after Huang Xiao's Death Seal struck him and You Lian'er distracted him with Illusory Demon Sound. They hid in a cave to recover, where Huang Xiao fired another Death Seal at the pursuing Black-Robed Envoy and his men.

• Xu Wuyu shattered Huang Xiao's first Death Seal, but You Lian'er used Illusory Demon Sound to distract him and let the seal strike his palm.
• You Lian'er pulled Huang Xiao away while Xu Wuyu ordered the Black-Robed Envoy and three subordinates to pursue them, then discovered the Death Seal would take longer than expected to dispel.
• You Lian'er admitted she had feigned the severity of her earlier injuries, though using Illusory Demon Sound against Xu Wuyu had truly hurt her.
• You Lian'er and Huang Xiao entered a cave to gain time to recover, and Huang Xiao sent another Death Seal at the Black-Robed Envoy and his men as they approached.

Huang Xiao and You Lian'er hid in a cave while the Fang Family pursuers hesitated outside, and they discussed the powerful Taixuan Sect and the treasures drawing it into the Jianghu. You Lian'er then revealed how she had tested Huang Xiao and tried to secure the Heavenly Demon Canon, while Huang Xiao admitted he had reached its Third Layer.

• The Fang Family pursuers refused to enter the narrow cave because Huang Xiao could use a Death Seal and You Lian'er was with him.
• You Lian'er described the Taixuan Sect, its Taixuan Mystical Art, and its connection to the Scripture of Great Mystery.
• You Lian'er asked Huang Xiao to give the Heavenly Demon Canon to the You Family and offered to serve him as a slave or maid in return.
• Huang Xiao said he had reached the Third Layer of the Heavenly Demon Skill, and You Lian'er praised his talent.
• You Lian'er admitted she had added the Demon-Attracting Formula to the Armory catalog to test whether Huang Xiao knew the Heavenly Demon Skill.
• Huang Xiao said the Fierce Tiger Fist manual had been destroyed by accident and told You Lian'er he had not lied about it.

You Lian'er offered Huang Xiao the middle volume of the Demon-Attracting Formula and a way to break through to the Heavenly Demon Skill’s fourth layer so they could escape their captors. As Huang Xiao prepared to cultivate before Xu Wuyu arrived, he hinted that the Heavenly Demon Canon might contain the missing tones of You Lian’er's family’s Netherworld Demon Eight Tones.

• You Lian'er explained that Huang Xiao’s Heavenly Demon Skill weakened the effects of demonic techniques and that the middle volume of the Demon-Attracting Formula could help him break through to the fourth layer.
• You Lian'er said the You Family had only the upper and middle volumes, and warned that practicing the missing lower volume with Huang Xiao’s current strength could cause cultivation deviation.
• You Lian'er offered to use the Jade Maiden Purity Heart Sutra to protect Huang Xiao while he used the middle volume to drive his Heavenly Demon Skill toward a breakthrough.
• Huang Xiao agreed to attempt the breakthrough before Xu Wuyu arrived and asked how many tones You Lian'er's Netherworld Demon Eight Tones contained.
• You Lian'er confirmed that her family’s copy had only four tones and excitedly asked whether the Heavenly Demon Canon contained the missing four.

Huang Xiao and You Lian'er exchanged the Netherworld Demon Eight Tones and the middle volume of the Demon-Attracting Formula while recovering in the cave. With You Lian'er guiding him through the Jade Maiden Purity Heart Sutra, Huang Xiao began breaking through to the fourth level of the Heavenly Demon Skill and entered a state where their hearts and minds connected.

• Huang Xiao recited the latter four tones of the Netherworld Demon Eight Tones to You Lian'er, and she taught him the middle volume of the Demon-Attracting Formula in return.
• Huang Xiao recovered from his injuries, while the Black-Robed Envoy ordered the Fang Family members to keep watch outside the cave and wait for Xu Wuyu.
• You Lian'er said she had gained insight into the fifth tone and agreed to help Huang Xiao attempt a breakthrough to the fourth level of the Heavenly Demon Skill.
• As Huang Xiao's true qi grew wild and threatened to cause cultivation deviation, You Lian'er used the Jade Maiden Purity Heart Sutra to calm and guide him.
• Huang Xiao followed You Lian'er's consciousness into a shared state, and his heavenly demon true qi began circulating along the fourth level's route.

Huang Xiao broke through to the fourth layer of the Heavenly Demon Skill, and he and You Lian'er emerged from the cave to face their enemies. You Lian'er swiftly incapacitated the three Fang Family men, but the Black-Robed Envoy proved immune to her zither music and effortlessly toyed with Huang Xiao.

• Huang Xiao regained control of his meridians and realized he had broken through to the fourth layer of the Heavenly Demon Skill.
• Huang Xiao and You Lian'er left the cave and found the Black-Robed Envoy and three Fang Family men waiting outside.
• You Lian'er used the Netherworld Demon Eight Tones to knock the three Fang Family men unconscious and severely injure them.
• Huang Xiao charged the Black-Robed Envoy with the Heavenly Demon Subduing Tiger Fist, but the envoy dodged every attack and criticized his technique.
• You Lian'er stopped playing when she realized her zither music had no effect on the Black-Robed Envoy, who continued to dominate Huang Xiao without explaining why he had not killed him.

The Black-Robed Envoy revealed that he was not part of the Fang Family and had secretly helped Huang Xiao and You Lian'er, while killing his three Fang Family subordinates. Before leaving, he warned You Lian'er to remind her family of its proper duties and identified himself as the Third Deputy Standard-Bearer of the Golden Banner Guard.

• The Black-Robed Envoy killed the three Fang Family experts who had celebrated his victory.
• He told Huang Xiao and You Lian'er that he had no intention of taking the Heavenly Demon Canon and that his mission in the Fang Family had ended.
• The Black-Robed Envoy learned Huang Xiao had reached the Heavenly Demon Skill's fourth level and confirmed You Lian'er had used the Jade Maiden Purity Heart Sutra to help him.
• He said he had delayed Xu Wuyu's escape from the Death Seal and warned Huang Xiao and You Lian'er about Cao Wuxin, the Taixuan Sect's strongest young disciple.
• The Black-Robed Envoy told You Lian'er to remind the You Family of its proper duties, named himself the Third Deputy Standard-Bearer of the Golden Banner Guard, and vanished.

Huang Xiao and You Lian'er encountered the badly wounded survivors from the Central Plains sects, who suspected Poison God Valley had caused the poisonous mist and moved to capture them. Huang Xiao offered evidence that the Fang Family had targeted You Lian'er, but the Jianghu members remained divided over what to do.

• You Lian'er questioned the Black-Robed Envoy's identity, while Huang Xiao realized the envoy had helped him refine his control over Heavenly Demon True Qi.
• Huang Xiao and You Lian'er met Master Kongming and the surviving sect members, whose numbers had fallen to a little over three hundred.
• Some Jianghu members accused Poison God Valley of causing the poisonous mist and demanded that Huang Xiao and You Lian'er be seized.
• Huang Xiao pointed to three dead Fang Family experts and said they had pursued You Lian'er to use her as leverage against Zhang Pu and seek clues to the Seven Spirit Atlas.
• Sun Jiuyi challenged their claims, while Master Kongming defended Huang Xiao and Cheng Gu argued for keeping both young people captive.
• Reverend Demu and Lu Ting opposed taking the pair hostage without proof and urged caution toward Li Jiqian.

You Lian'er used her zither to prove that she and Huang Xiao could face powerful opponents, then warned the gathered Jianghu fighters that the Fang Family was involved in the incident. The others abandoned their plans to seize the pair, and You Lian'er promised to report the matter to her father so the King of Xia would answer for it.

• Cheng Gu backed capturing Zhang Pu's daughter as insurance, while Master Kongming and Huang Xiao accepted that the gathered sects would not be swayed by them.
• You Lian'er offered to prove her strength by defeating Hall Master Sun Jiuyi, and he agreed to face her zither music.
• You Lian'er struck Sun Jiuyi with three zither notes, injuring him while directing the final note away from the other Jianghu people.
• Master Kongming and Reverend Demu acknowledged You Lian'er's power, and the gathered fighters stopped threatening her and Huang Xiao.
• You Lian'er said the Fang Family was involved and promised to report the incident to her father so the King of Xia would provide an explanation.

You Lian'er reunited with her surviving guards while Huang Xiao chose to return to Great Song with Master Kongming and the others. As the Jianghu group set out, their pursuers caught up and forced them to flee again.

• You Lian'er learned that Fourth had died holding off the Fang Family experts and vowed to remember the blood debt.
• Huang Xiao declined to travel with You Lian'er and agreed to return to Great Song with Master Kongming and the others.
• The group discussed Zhang Pu's Netherworld Demon Eight Tones and wondered whether the You Family had traded the art for the Seven Spirit Atlas.
• A disciple was struck by a throwing dagger, and Master Kongming urged everyone to flee as their pursuers closed in.
• Master Kongming told Huang Xiao to stay by his side while the three hundred-odd Jianghu folk fled toward Great Song's borders.

Huang Xiao and the Great Song Jianghu figures stopped fleeing and faced the pursuing Fang Family and Esoteric Sect forces, who offered them a choice between single combat and a group battle. Xu Wuyu then singled out Huang Xiao, who mocked him for taking so long to dispel the Death Seal.

• Master Kongming told Huang Xiao that Tubo lamas and other powerful pursuers had ambushed their group, and Huang Xiao suspected the Fang Family had allied with the Esoteric Sect.
• After Lu Ting urged them to fight rather than keep fleeing, Master Kongming and Reverend Demu stopped, and the pursuers surrounded the Great Song group.
• Envoy Fang offered the wounded leaders a choice between single combat and a group battle, while Batou Dharma Master volunteered to face a Shaolin monk.
• Seventh Brother pointed out Huang Xiao to Envoy Fang, and Xu Wuyu stepped forward to challenge him.
• Huang Xiao joined Master Kongming and mocked Xu Wuyu for taking so long to dispel his Death Seal.

Huang Xiao revealed that Xu Wuyu was a Taixuan Sect disciple and warned the gathered Jianghu fighters that Xu Wuyu possessed Mid Peerless strength. As Xu Wuyu and the other experts launched an attack, the defenders engaged them, and Huang Xiao joined the battle.

• Xu Wuyu demanded to know where Zhang Lian had gone, and Huang Xiao told him she had likely returned to Xiping Prefecture City.
• Huang Xiao identified Xu Wuyu as the senior disciple of the Taixuan Sect, and a Jianghu man mocked Xu Wuyu until Xu Wuyu flew into a rage and ordered everyone killed.
• Reverend Demu stepped forward to fight Xu Wuyu, and Huang Xiao warned Master Kongming that Xu Wuyu was a powerful Mid Peerless fighter.
• Lu Ting charged into the battle and intercepted Master Badu before he could reach Master Kongming, while Cheng Gu confronted Envoy Fang.
• Master Kongming told Huang Xiao to avoid the Peerless Experts, and Huang Xiao entered the fighting crowd to help the others.

Huang Xiao joined the Great Song fighters’ desperate battle and used his speed and martial arts to kill several enemy experts. After killing two more opponents in quick succession, he faced the three remaining members of their group, while the wider battle remained against the Great Song side.

• Huang Xiao killed a burly enemy wielding a battle-axe and took the weapon to aid surrounded Great Song fighters.
• Huang Xiao charged into a melee where more than eighty enemies were besieging about forty Great Song fighters, then killed two attackers by redirecting their broken sword blades into them.
• Huang Xiao hurled the battle-axe at five opponents, scattered their formation, and killed a first-rate middle grade expert with the Heavenly Demon Subduing Tiger Fist.
• Huang Xiao killed a first-rate lower grade fighter with the Blazing Yang Palm, but paused after the effort strained his limits.
• The three surviving opponents gathered together as Huang Xiao prepared to face them.

Huang Xiao used the Northern Darkness Absorption Method to defeat three experts and turn the tide against the surrounded Great Song fighters. As the enemy retreated, the Black-Robed Envoy known as Seventh Brother appeared to confront him.

• Huang Xiao deliberately exposed an opening, drew in the First-rate Upper Grade expert, and began absorbing his internal power.
• Huang Xiao caught the other two attackers in the absorption, drained all three men, and killed them with a palm strike and follow-up blows.
• Huang Xiao charged into the enemy crowd, killing more opponents while the Great Song fighters rallied and cut the enemy force down to roughly their own numbers.
• The remaining enemies began retreating, and Huang Xiao killed an old man before sensing danger and leaping away.
• The Black-Robed Envoy called Seventh Brother landed where Huang Xiao had been standing, and Huang Xiao recognized him as an old acquaintance.

Huang Xiao faced the Black-Robed Envoy while the people of Great Song fought the remaining Fang Family men. Huang Xiao overwhelmed the envoy with the Heavenly Demon Subduing Tiger Fist, but the envoy escaped after suffering a serious injury, and Huang Xiao saw Lu Ting struck down by Badu.

• The Black-Robed Envoy demanded to know whether his third brother had pursued the Zhang Family’s young lady, and Huang Xiao hinted that the man would never return to the Fang Family.
• Huang Xiao told the people of Great Song to finish their opponents while he held off the Black-Robed Envoy, despite their doubts that he could face a Peerless Expert.
• Huang Xiao tested the envoy’s strength, learned he could not use the Demon Spirit Nine Transformations Art, and then challenged him to fight head-on.
• Huang Xiao’s Third Layer Force overwhelmed the Black-Robed Envoy, who was driven back, badly injured, and forced to flee.
• As Huang Xiao moved to pursue the envoy, he saw Badu strike Lu Ting and send him flying.

Huang Xiao intervened when Batou Dharma Master was about to kill the injured Lu Ting, and challenged him with the powerful Wild Elephant Esoteric Palm. The chapter ended with Huang Xiao charging forward to hold Batou off while Lu Ting urged him to retreat.

• Batou Dharma Master mocked Lu Ting, who exposed that Batou had exhausted much of his strength with his earlier palm strike.
• Batou revealed that his technique was the Wild Elephant Esoteric Palm, and moved to kill Lu Ting as the injured elder prepared a desperate counterattack.
• Huang Xiao struck at Batou from behind, dodged the Wild Elephant Esoteric Palm, and reached Lu Ting's side.
• Lu Ting warned Huang Xiao that Batou's palm could kill him and explained its thirteen layers; Batou admitted he had reached the sixth layer.
• Huang Xiao taunted Batou and stood between him and Lu Ting as Batou launched two streams of Palm Force.
• Huang Xiao charged at Batou to buy Lu Ting time to recover, ignoring Lu Ting's pleas to flee.

Huang Xiao fought Batou Dharma Master, using movement and Heavenly Demon Skill to withstand the fifth layer of Mad Elephant Brahma Esoteric Palm. After Batou injured him with the sixth layer, Huang Xiao absorbed the palm force, repaired his meridians, and challenged him to keep attacking.

• Huang Xiao shattered Batou Dharma Master's fourth-layer palm-force blasts with Heavenly Demon Subduing Tiger Fist, then avoided facing his fifth-layer attacks head-on.
• Batou used a sound art to daze Huang Xiao and landed a fifth-layer palm strike as Lu Ting tried to intervene, knocking Lu Ting aside.
• Huang Xiao unleashed Heavenly Demon Skill and met Batou's fifth-layer Mad Elephant Brahma Esoteric Palm with his fist, overpowering it briefly.
• Batou raised his palm technique to the sixth layer, severely injuring Huang Xiao and making him spit blood.
• Huang Xiao absorbed the palm force through his Dantian, knocked Batou back, and used Everlasting Spring Ageless True Qi to repair his meridians.
• Huang Xiao switched back to Heavenly Demon True Qi and charged Batou again, leaving Batou shocked by his restored power.