Chapter Summaries

After the Soul-Reaping Sect’s delegation left, Huang Xiao, Du Jiliang, and Lu Qingzhong discussed their shared opposition to the sect and considered joining forces. Their talks ended with Huang Xiao questioning their chances of winning the Demon General Candidate Sect spot, and Lu Qingzhong admitting they had little confidence.

• Yang Chengmu and the Soul-Reaping Sect’s party left after discussing the Sect Master’s expected return and prospects.
• Du Jiliang criticized the Soul-Reaping Sect, while Lu Qingzhong worried that speaking openly could worsen their sects’ position.
• Lu Qingzhong explained that his and Du Jiliang’s sects had resisted the Soul-Reaping Sect and entered the competition because its suppression left them with no way back.
• Huang Xiao proposed that the three sects face the crisis together, and Du Jiliang suggested the losers bring their sects under the winner’s banner.
• Huang Xiao asked how likely they were to win, and Lu Qingzhong admitted that staking everything did not mean they would succeed.

Huang Xiao traveled with Lu Qingzhong and Du Jiliang to the Demon God Sect, where they discussed his inheritance from Kui Yong and his chances of becoming a Demon General. At the sect’s entrance, Huang Xiao registered the Fierce Mountain Gang’s birthday gifts and chose to enter the competition for a Demon General Candidate Sect position.

• Huang Xiao admitted to Lu Qingzhong and Du Jiliang that he had obtained Kui Yong’s inheritance, and Du Jiliang offered his friendship.
• Lu Qingzhong and Du Jiliang said Kui Yong’s generation of Demon Generals had received stronger cultivation methods and guidance from Lord Demon God than later generations.
• Huang Xiao, Lu Qingzhong, Du Jiliang, and their disciples traveled to the Demon God Sect and joined the crowds heading toward its mountain entrance.
• Huang Xiao registered the Fierce Mountain Gang’s Blood-Colored Coral and deep-sea ice as birthday gifts for the Sect Master.
• Huang Xiao chose to compete for a Demon General Candidate Sect position and went to collect an Identity Token.

Huang Xiao collected his Identity Token for the Demon General Candidate Sect competition and waited for Lu Qingzhong and Du Jiliang. Meanwhile, Yang Chengmu, Deng Ting, and Dong He suspected he had obtained Kui Yong's inheritance and planned to test him during the competition, leaving Huang Xiao unaware of their intent to kill him.

• Huang Xiao received Identity Token number 935 and waited at the agreed meeting place for Lu Qingzhong and Du Jiliang.
• Deng Ting, Yang Chengmu, and Dong He discussed rumors that Huang Xiao had obtained Kui Yong's inheritance and considered whether the reports were credible.
• Yang Chengmu decided they should watch Huang Xiao's fighting methods during the competition before deciding whether he was Kui Yong's successor.
• Yang Chengmu told Deng Ting and Dong He to kill Huang Xiao if they faced him in the competition, and to kill Du Jiliang and Lu Qingzhong as well if possible.
• Dong He and Deng Ting agreed to target the three, though Deng Ting said they had entered mainly to fight opponents and seek a breakthrough, not to win the spot.

Yang Chengmu kept rumors about the number of Demon General positions to himself, while Deng Ting considered risking himself in the Reserve Demon General contest and discussed the possible value of Huang Xiao’s connection to Kui Yong’s inheritance. Huang Xiao later met Du Jiliang and Lu Qingzhong, who had argued with Demon God Sect disciples over their congratulatory gifts, and learned that nearly five thousand people had already registered.

• Yang Chengmu told Deng Ting and Dong He to prepare for the Reserve Demon General contest, but privately worried that fewer Demon General positions might be available than rumors had suggested.
• Deng Ting said he wanted to temper himself in the contest, and he and Dong He discussed whether Huang Xiao had truly obtained Kui Yong’s inheritance.
• Huang Xiao estimated that at least three or four thousand people had collected Identity Tokens on the first day.
• Du Jiliang complained that Demon God Sect disciples had mistreated him while he delivered congratulatory gifts, and Lu Qingzhong warned him to watch his words.
• Huang Xiao, Du Jiliang, and Lu Qingzhong exchanged their registration numbers; Lu Qingzhong had number 4314 and Du Jiliang had number 4875.

Huang Xiao learned that many stronger competitors would vie for the Reserve Demon General position, while he and his allies settled into crowded, meager campsites. Huo Lian urged Huang Xiao to display his full strength in the competition, leaving him wondering whether that would make him a target.

• Lu Qingzhong explained to Huang Xiao and Du Jiliang that experts stronger than them made winning the final spot unlikely, though they still planned to compete.
• Huang Xiao and his companions reached the Demon God Sect's rest area, where each sect received only five tents amid a vast crowd of disciples.
• Du Jiliang and Lu Qingzhong discussed Huang Xiao's chances and hoped that his claim to Kui Yong's inheritance was true.
• Huo Lian told Huang Xiao to show everything he could do in the upcoming matches, and Huang Xiao questioned whether attracting attention would put him at risk.

Huang Xiao and Huo Lian prepared for the Demon God Sect’s contest, which drew nearly fifty thousand participants. At the arena, Huang Xiao learned that the number of Demon General candidates had reportedly been reduced by eighty percent, unsettling several sects.

• Huo Lian told Huang Xiao that the contest would reveal their strength, and Huang Xiao agreed he would fear no opponent in a match.
• The Demon God Sect announced that more than 48,300 people had registered and set the first selection: only the ten thousand who endured a Demon General’s pressure most closely would advance.
• Huang Xiao, Du Jiliang, and Lu Qingzhong arrived at the arenas and spotted Zhuo Mengshen and other sect leaders looking unusually unhappy.
• Du Jiliang reported that the number of Demon General candidates had been cut by eighty percent, leaving even likely candidates worried about their chances.

Huang Xiao and his companions watched the Demon God Sect’s gathering and learned that Zhuang Chen, a powerful Golden Demon Sect elder, would oversee the selection. Zhuang Chen began the test, in which the ten thousand people who could endure his aura while approaching him would advance.

• Lu Qingzhong identified Zhuang Chen as an elder of the Golden Demon Sect among the procession’s leading figures.
• Wang Renyu asked Zhuang Chen to oversee the selection, and the gathered Demon Generals agreed that his strength qualified him for the task.
• Zhuang Chen announced that participants had to approach him and endure his aura to win one of ten thousand places, warning them not to exceed their ability.
• Zhuang Chen began the selection and set a time limit of one stick of incense.

Huang Xiao joined the arena trial to attract the attention of powerful sects, but Zhuang Chen noticed his unusual strength and intensified the suppressive aura against him. Huang Xiao continued to resist without reaching the arena, leaving his fate uncertain.

• Zhuang Chen added a rule that candidates had to set foot on the arena to qualify, and Wang Renyu confirmed it.
• Lu Qingzhong warned Du Jiliang that their chances were poor, while Huang Xiao decided to go first and told them to wait.
• Huang Xiao charged toward the arena to draw the attention of sects such as the Demon God Sect and the Golden Demon Sect.
• Huang Xiao resisted Zhuang Chen's oppressive presence, while Upper Ancient Realm middle-stage candidates were blasted away.
• Zhuang Chen recognized that Huang Xiao was in the Void Realm despite his exceptional strength and increased the pressure against him.
• Huang Xiao wondered why Zhuang Chen was singling him out as the force grew strong enough to threaten even many late-stage experts.

Huang Xiao resisted Elder Zhuang’s oppressive force on the arena while the other contestants were repeatedly thrown back. Wang Renyu and the Demon Generals discovered that Huang Xiao was only at the void realm peak, and ordered an investigation into his identity.

• Du Jiliang and Lu Qingzhong failed to reach the arena, but Lu Qingzhong took heart when he saw Huang Xiao still holding on.
• Huang Xiao endured Zhuang Chen’s rising oppressive force and resolved to stand on the arena.
• The contestants and Demon Generals watched Huang Xiao as the upper ancient realm late-stage experts were sent flying back.
• Wang Renyu revealed that Huang Xiao was at the void realm peak despite displaying upper ancient realm peak strength.
• Wang Renyu ordered a Demon God Sect disciple to find out which sect Huang Xiao belonged to.

Huang Xiao reached the platform after Zhuang Chen eased the pressure, surprising Dong He, Deng Ting, and Yang Chengmu. Yang Chengmu then recruited Zhou Sihai and planned to find more upper ancient realm experts to target Huang Xiao during the coming matches.

• Huang Xiao stepped onto the platform when Zhuang Chen reduced the pressure to a level that did not affect him.
• Dong He and Deng Ting realized Huang Xiao was stronger than they were and abandoned their plan to attack him themselves.
• Yang Chengmu left and asked Zhou Sihai to help deal with Huang Xiao during the matches.
• Zhou Sihai agreed, and suggested Yang Chengmu recruit more people in case he did not face Huang Xiao.
• Yang Chengmu agreed to find additional experts, having originally planned to recruit them without telling Zhou Sihai.

Huang Xiao and other experts advanced across the arena toward Zhuang Chen as his aura’s pressure weakened enough for late-stage and some middle-stage practitioners to climb onto it. Huang Xiao revealed strength on par with the early Primordial Ancient Realm and continued forward, convincing Zhuang Chen that the Golden Demon Sect had no chance of recruiting him before the Demon God Sect took notice.

• Huang Xiao and the Upper Ancient Realm Peak experts moved toward Zhuang Chen, struggling as the pressure grew stronger near the arena’s center.
• After noticing that the pressure had weakened, an Upper Ancient Realm Late Stage practitioner reached the arena, and the other late-stage practitioners followed.
• Du Jiliang and Lu Qingzhong reached the arena with a few other Upper Ancient Realm Middle Stage practitioners, then set out to move farther in.
• Huang Xiao advanced to within five zhang of Zhuang Chen, demonstrating strength equivalent to the early Primordial Ancient Realm and drawing Zhuang Chen’s attention.
• Huang Xiao continued forward, and Zhuang Chen concluded that the Demon God Sect would recruit him before the Golden Demon Sect could.

Huang Xiao’s strength at the contest stunned Zhou Sihai and the other experts Yang Chengmu had recruited, leaving them wary of confronting him. Yang Chengmu then told Tong Juyu that Huang Xiao likely possessed Kui Yong’s inheritance, and Tong Juyu ordered him to keep the secret until the Soul-Reaping Sect could act.

• Huang Xiao continued forward under pressure, while Zhou Sihai retreated and realized how dangerous it would have been to attack him.
• Zhou Sihai and the other experts Yang Chengmu had approached blamed Yang Chengmu for sending them after an opponent whose strength he had not investigated.
• Yang Chengmu privately told Tong Juyu that Huang Xiao had likely obtained the inheritance of Kui Yong, the Wild Ox Sect’s Ancestor.
• Tong Juyu said the Sect Master was away and ordered Yang Chengmu to keep the information secret and warn Dong He, Deng Ting, Du Jiliang, and Lu Qingzhong.
• Tong Juyu told Yang Chengmu that the Soul-Reaping Sect could still gain the advantage if the secret remained hidden until the contest ended.

Huang Xiao advanced to the second round of the Demon God Sect’s Reserve Demon General selection after the arena’s formation locked in the qualifying ten thousand. He told Du Jiliang and Lu Qingzhong that Yang Chengmu wanted to suppress rumors about his inheritance, and confirmed he had received Ancestor Kui Yong’s inheritance.

• Huang Xiao stopped advancing while other Upper Ancient Realm Peak experts held back, as the incense burned down and the arena’s formation eliminated those who had not secured places in time.
• A Demon God Sect disciple silenced the protesting contestants and explained that only those still standing on the arena when time expired could advance.
• Zhuang Chen and Wang Renyu announced that the second selection round would take place the next day, and Huang Xiao left the arena to meet Du Jiliang and Lu Qingzhong.
• Lu Qingzhong told Huang Xiao that Yang Chengmu had threatened them because of him and might be seeking his cultivation method.
• Huang Xiao confirmed that he had received Ancestor Kui Yong’s inheritance, leaving Du Jiliang unable to understand his candor.

Huang Xiao used his identity as Kui Yong’s successor to attract the Demon God Sect’s attention, while Huo Lian warned that strength would decide whether the sect truly valued him. The Demon God Sect announced that only five Demon General positions would be contested, and Huo Lian linked the reduced number to conflicts over the transfer of power.

• Lu Qingzhong and Du Jiliang speculated that revealing Huang Xiao as Kui Yong’s successor might bring him favor from the Demon God Sect or put him in danger.
• Huo Lian told Huang Xiao that Wang Renyu had been tempted by his display of strength, but said Huang Xiao still had to prove himself to win the Demon God Sect’s approval.
• A Demon God Sect disciple announced that the candidates would compete for both the Reserve Demon General position and the Demon General positions, with only five Demon General spots available.
• Huang Xiao and Huo Lian recognized that the announcement upset the expectations of Zhuo Mengshen and others who had counted on more positions.
• Huo Lian explained that the reduced number of positions likely reflected tensions over the old Sect Master’s loss of power and the new Sect Master’s impatience.

Huang Xiao and his companions discussed the reduced number of Demon General positions and prepared for the selection contest. The ten thousand contestants learned they would enter a formation and have to endure until sunset, with the mysterious Senior Ma presiding.

• Huo Lian explained that the new sect master’s decision to offer only five Demon General positions had angered Zhuo Mengshen, whose fury at the Soul-Reaping Sect was later confirmed by Du Jiliang and Lu Qingzhong.
• Huang Xiao warned Lu Qingzhong and Du Jiliang that the selection might be deadly, while they said they hoped to face worthy opponents and improve.
• Wang Renyu and Zhuang Chen arrived at the arena with an unfamiliar white-haired elder whom they treated as their superior.
• Zhuang Chen announced that all ten thousand contestants would enter a formation, and anyone who held out until sunset would advance.
• The crowd identified the presiding elder as Senior Phantom Demon, astonishing Du Jiliang.

Huang Xiao and the other candidates learned that the formidable Phantom Demon Ma Tie'an would conduct their trial, which required them to endure his illusion formation until sunset. As the ten thousand candidates entered the arena, Huang Xiao reassured Du Jiliang and Lu Qingzhong that he had some knowledge of formations.

• Du Jiliang explained that Ma Tie'an was a long-lived second-generation Demon General whose standing rivaled some first-generation Demon Generals.
• The crowd questioned why Ma Tie'an was conducting the test, and Wang Renyu said candidates who escaped the formation before sunset would advance.
• Ma Tie'an appeared in the arena without anyone seeing how he arrived, and Huo Lian suggested an illusion formation had concealed his movements.
• Wang Renyu called the ten thousand selected candidates into the arena, where they debated where to stand.
• Huang Xiao told Du Jiliang and Lu Qingzhong that he had studied formations a little, easing their worries.

Ma Tie'an sat silently while the contestants and spectators waited, unaware that his Illusion Formation had already begun. As the arena crowd dwindled through clashes and unexplained falls, Huang Xiao sensed that something was wrong but could not identify the cause.

• Wang Renyu told the high-platform spectators that Ma Tie'an's Illusion Formation had already begun, and Zhuang Chen explained that even he might not detect it in time.
• After more than an hour passed with Ma Tie'an sitting motionless, contestants hoped the delay would help them last until sunset.
• A contestant fell from the arena after a dispute, prompting others at the edges to push inward and sparking a chaotic struggle that knocked nearly a thousand people off.
• The arena settled down, and many contestants sat to wait while Huang Xiao remained troubled by an odd feeling.
• Another contestant fell from the arena, surprising the spectators below.

An Illusion Formation caused hundreds of contestants to leave the arena without realizing it, while the elders discussed Huang Xiao’s mysterious identity. Huang Xiao recognized that he had fallen into the formation and began searching for a way to break it.

• More than a thousand contestants unknowingly jumped from the arena after the Illusion Formation distorted their senses.
• Wang Renyu and Zhuang Chen discussed the formation and Huang Xiao, whose background the Demon God Sect was keeping secret.
• Zhuang Chen realized that the Demon God Sect had likely intercepted the people sent to investigate Huang Xiao.
• Huang Xiao noticed that his position had shifted and realized he had been trapped in the Illusion Formation.
• Huang Xiao calmed his mind and began looking for flaws in the formation so he could break it.

As the illusion formation eliminated martial artists from the arena, Huo Lian warned that Ma Tie'an’s formation might contain multiple illusion realms. Huang Xiao was drawn toward the edge, then believed he had escaped a second illusion realm before realizing he was still trapped.

• Du Jiliang and Lu Qingzhong joined Huo Lian below the arena and described how the illusion formation had made them believe they were standing still.
• Huo Lian predicted that Ma Tie'an’s illusion formation could contain a second or even multiple illusion realms.
• Du Jiliang spotted Huang Xiao moving toward the arena’s edge, and Huo Lian said Huang Xiao might still be able to resist the formation.
• Huang Xiao thought he had broken through a second illusion realm, then realized that the scene before him might still be an illusion.

Huang Xiao recognized the Supreme Demonic Qi hidden in Ma Tiezheng’s Illusion Formation and used the Supreme Demonic Art to resist its effects. As the illusion began to change around him, he realized Ma Tiezheng likely knew Kui Yong well.

• Huang Xiao calmed himself and stopped moving, avoiding the risk of falling off the arena while he searched for a way to break the formation.
• Huang Xiao sensed Supreme Demonic Qi in the Illusion Formation and recognized that it mimicked auras like the Ten Thousand Demons Skill.
• Huang Xiao concluded that Ma Tie'an and Kui Yong had likely known each other well, and that Ma Tie'an had appeared after learning Huang Xiao was Kui Yong’s successor.
• Huang Xiao released Supreme Demonic Qi through the Supreme Demonic Art, forming a connection with the Illusion Formation and preventing it from affecting him.
• The illusion’s figures and scenery distorted and faded as new ones appeared, while Ma Tiezheng opened his eyes and glanced at Huang Xiao.