Chapter Summaries

Huang Xiao confronted Yang Chengmu and the Soul-Reaping Sect elders, who demanded Kui Yong's cultivation methods and threatened the Fierce Mountain Gang. After revealing that Zhuo Mengshen was already dead, Huang Xiao attacked the elders and left Jia De gravely wounded as he turned on Liu Qingxuan.

• Yang Chengmu demanded Huang Xiao hand over Kui Yong's cultivation methods and the manuals he had gained in the contest for Reserve Demon General.
• Jiang Deng identified Jia De and Liu Qingxuan as the Soul-Reaping Sect's First and Second Grand Elders, while Liu Qingxuan offered to let Huang Xiao keep the Demon God Sect manuals if he surrendered Kui Yong's methods.
• Huang Xiao said Zhuo Mengshen had become a departed soul beneath his saber, provoking laughter from the Soul-Reaping Sect party.
• Huang Xiao charged Jia De and severed his sword and sword-wielding hand with a single strike.
• Huang Xiao appeared behind Liu Qingxuan, who turned and slashed at him, but Huang Xiao shattered the saber force with his precious saber.

Huang Xiao and Huo Lian killed the Soul-Reaping Sect elders who had attacked the Fierce Mountain Gang and routed the remaining fighters. Huang Xiao then set out to destroy the Soul-Reaping Sect, while Huo Lian stayed behind at the gang.

• Jia De fled but Huo Lian intercepted and killed him, while Huang Xiao caught and killed Liu Qingxuan.
• Jiang Deng led the Fierce Mountain Gang in pursuit as the Soul-Reaping Sect fighters scattered and fled.
• Huang Xiao killed Yang Chengmu and Deng Ting, and Huo Lian killed Dong He while hunting down other elders.
• After the gang's disciples returned, Huang Xiao ordered them to follow him and wipe out the Soul-Reaping Sect.
• Huo Lian stayed at the Fierce Mountain Gang, and Jiang Deng gathered ninety percent of its disciples to join Huang Xiao.

After the Soul-Reaping Sect was cleared out, Huang Xiao searched Zhuo Mengshen’s secret chamber for clues about the Bronze Key. He found an old paper that explained the key’s powers and left with a better understanding of how it could aid him in battle.

• Jiang Deng reported that the Soul-Reaping Sect had been cleared, though many disciples had escaped, and Huang Xiao said Zhuo Mengshen would not return because he was dead.
• A disciple led Huang Xiao to Zhuo Mengshen’s secret chamber, where Huang Xiao ordered guards to remain at the entrance while the others searched for valuables.
• Huang Xiao examined the chamber’s cultivation manuals, pills, and rare treasures, then broke a hidden formation behind a bookshelf.
• Huang Xiao found an old sheet titled “The Mysterious Key” that described the Bronze Key’s ability to suppress weaker opponents and inflict agonizing pain on divine senses, even those one or two realms stronger.

Huang Xiao found a faded map linked to the Bronze Key, then returned with a haul of treasures to learn that the Fierce Mountain Gang was under attack. He arrived to find Hu Pursuing Wind and Yao Fengrong confronting Huo Lian for Kui Yong’s cultivation methods, and challenged them himself.

• Huang Xiao discovered that the paper linked the Bronze Key to a hidden treasure site, but the faded map was too vague to locate it.
• Huang Xiao finished searching the secret chamber and sent the disciples away with ten carts of treasures.
• Disciples warned Huang Xiao that powerful attackers had come to the Fierce Mountain Gang, and he hurried back while Jiang Deng rallied the others.
• Hu Pursuing Wind and Yao Fengrong demanded that Huo Lian reveal Kui Yong’s cultivation methods, believing Huo Lian and Huang Xiao had obtained Kui Yong’s inheritance.
• Huang Xiao appeared behind Hu Pursuing Wind and Yao Fengrong and challenged them, while Huo Lian felt relieved that they wanted the cultivation methods rather than his life.

Huang Xiao confronted Hu Pursuing Wind and Yao Fengrong, who demanded Kui Yong's cultivation methods, and fought them alone. He proved far stronger than they expected, wounding Hu Pursuing Wind as the battle continued with no clear end.

• Hu Pursuing Wind and Yao Fengrong demanded that Huang Xiao hand over Kui Yong's cultivation methods, and Huang Xiao challenged them to defeat him first.
• Huang Xiao asked what they had been promised, realized they had come for revenge rather than on Ma Tie'an's orders, and engaged them while Huo Lian held back.
• Huang Xiao unleashed the tenth stage of Heavenly Demon Disintegration and drove Hu Pursuing Wind and Yao Fengrong back with his increased strength.
• Huang Xiao dodged Yao Fengrong's sword, counterattacked Hu Pursuing Wind, and cut a long gash in his left arm.
• Huang Xiao continued fighting both opponents without falling behind and told the Fierce Mountain Gang disciples to retreat after Hu Pursuing Wind's attack killed or wounded several of them.

Huang Xiao used a hidden Bronze Key to immobilize Hu Pursuing Wind while he and Huo Lian fought Yao Fengrong and Hu. After Hu died, Yao Fengrong killed herself, and Huang Xiao told Huo Lian that he had found information about the key in Zhuo Mengshen's secret chamber.

• Hu Pursuing Wind and Yao Fengrong used forbidden arts, but Huang Xiao's breakthrough let him fight them nearly evenly.
• Huo Lian intervened to occupy Hu Pursuing Wind while Huang Xiao disarmed Yao Fengrong and forced the pair to retreat.
• Huang Xiao revealed that the Bronze Key had absorbed Hu Pursuing Wind's blood and used its glow to suppress him.
• Huo Lian killed the immobilized Hu Pursuing Wind, and Yao Fengrong died after severing her own meridians while holding his corpse.
• Huang Xiao told Huo Lian he had found a sheet of paper about the key in Zhuo Mengshen's secret chamber, and Huo Lian suggested searching the dead for valuables.

After finding a Silver Taels Draft and Deposit Certificate on Yao Fengrong and Hu Pursuing Wind, Huang Xiao and Huo Lian decided to travel to Monan City and claim whatever treasures the pair had stored with the Xinglong Money House. Jiang Deng arrived after the fight and began gathering the Soul-Reaping Sect’s valuables before word of its destruction spread.

• Huang Xiao and Huo Lian searched Yao Fengrong and Hu Pursuing Wind but found no manuals or other treasures, only two certificates for the Xinglong Money House.
• Huo Lian identified a Silver Taels Draft worth thirteen million taels and a Deposit Certificate tied to the Monan City branch.
• Huang Xiao and Huo Lian reasoned that the two lone wanderers had likely deposited treasures obtained from the Demon God Sect and agreed to go to Monan City.
• Huang Xiao and Huo Lian discussed the risks of storing valuables with the Xinglong Money House and wondered whether Yao Fengrong and Hu Pursuing Wind had hidden their best treasures elsewhere.
• Jiang Deng arrived after the fighting ended, and Huang Xiao ordered him to sort the spoils from the Soul-Reaping Sect.
• Jiang Deng sent vehicles to retrieve valuables hidden at the Soul-Reaping Sect before others could exploit its destruction.

Huang Xiao and Huo Lian completed the merger of the Fierce Mountain Gang and the Wild Ox Sect, then prepared to visit Monan City. They learned that a medium-scale auction would take place there in ten days and considered attending.

• Huang Xiao and Huo Lian selected cultivation methods to reward sect disciples and planned to deposit copies at the Xinglong Money House.
• Huang Xiao and Huo Lian merged the Fierce Mountain Gang and the Wild Ox Sect under the Wild Ox Sect name, appointing Huang Xiao Sect Master and Huo Lian Deputy Sect Master.
• Huang Xiao assigned Jiang Deng, Fu Min, and Gao Tianhe as Grand Elders while the former Fierce Mountain Gang Grand Elders became Elders.
• Huang Xiao told Jiang Deng that he and Huo Lian would leave for Monan City the next day and asked for advice about the city.
• Jiang Deng explained that Monan City’s Consignment House held regular auctions, and Huang Xiao learned a medium-scale auction would begin in ten days.

Huang Xiao and the Wild Ox Sect needed more silver to qualify for a mid-tier auction, so Jiang Deng transported cultivation manuals from the conquered Soul-Reaping Sect to the Xinglong Money House in Monan City for safekeeping. They arrived safely, and Zhao Chang recognized Huang Xiao and welcomed the group as Jiang Deng began the deposit inspection.

• Jiang Deng explained that the Wild Ox Sect needed proof of at least fifty million taels of silver to enter the auction, and Huang Xiao reflected on how money houses profited from the unclaimed assets of the dead.
• Jiang Deng, Huang Xiao, and Huo Lian set out for Monan City with a cartload of Soul-Reaping Sect cultivation methods to deposit at the Xinglong Money House.
• Jianghu rumors spread that the Wild Ox Sect had taken over the Soul-Reaping Sect's territory after Zhuo Mengshen's death, and nearby sects learned more about Huang Xiao and Huo Lian.
• Huang Xiao's party reached Monan City without incident, as people who recognized Jiang Deng refrained from trying to rob them.
• Zhao Chang recognized Huang Xiao and welcomed him and Huo Lian at the money house, while Jiang Deng accompanied an attendant to inspect the manuals and record their names.

Huang Xiao and Huo Lian entered the Money Bank’s underground vault to inspect valuables stored by Hu Pursuing Wind and Yao Fengrong. They found a small collection of manuals and treasures, and the chapter ended when Huo Lian discovered a Spirit-Gathering Formation manual.

• Huang Xiao paid ten years of safekeeping fees for the Soul-Reaping Sect’s 119 cultivation manuals and asked Zhao Chang to inspect valuables associated with Zhuo Mengshen’s Deposit Certificate.
• Zhao Chang led Huang Xiao and Huo Lian down to the Money Bank’s sixth underground level, where their valuables were stored in a small room.
• Huang Xiao found that the room held only about thirty cultivation manuals and a few other items, including eight upper ancient realm peak manuals he suspected came from the Demon God Sect.
• Huo Lian found a formation manual, and Huang Xiao recognized it as a Spirit-Gathering Formation.

Huang Xiao and Huo Lian studied a Spirit-Gathering Divine Formation manual and realized its rare spirit crystals would make setting one up extremely expensive. They decided their best chance might be to find Yao Fengrong and Hu Pursuing Wind’s cultivation site and take over its formation.

• Huang Xiao and Huo Lian learned that the manual described a reliable, three-level Spirit-Gathering Divine Formation that could function in the Immortal Spirit Domain.
• Huo Lian explained that setting up the formation required rare materials and costly spirit crystals, which had to be replenished to keep it working.
• Huang Xiao and Huo Lian inferred that Yao Fengrong and Hu Pursuing Wind had exchanged much of their wealth for spirit crystal to support their cultivation.
• Huang Xiao estimated that buying the necessary materials and spirit crystal could cost at least two hundred million taels, far more than their current funds.
• Huang Xiao suggested selling cultivation manuals, but Huo Lian proposed searching for Yao Fengrong and Hu Pursuing Wind’s cultivation site and its existing formation.

Huang Xiao and Huo Lian decided to keep the Spirit-Gathering Divine Formation manual and sell the other valuables and cultivation manuals to gather silver for spirit crystals. They asked Zhao Chang to connect them with the Consignment House, though selling cultivation manuals could be difficult if they had been sold before.

• Huo Lian said Hu Pursuing Wind and his companion's hidden cultivation grounds would be difficult to find, but he and Huang Xiao agreed to keep looking for the Spirit-Gathering Divine Formation.
• Huang Xiao and Huo Lian chose to keep the formation manual and sell the eight Upper Ancient Realm peak cultivation methods, prioritizing spirit crystals for the upcoming auction.
• Huo Lian explained that the Consignment House restricted buyers from widely teaching or reselling cultivation methods, and Huang Xiao accepted that they could still teach them to their disciples.
• Huang Xiao retrieved the formation manual from Zhao Chang and asked him to help exchange the other valuables and any eligible cultivation manuals for silver taels.
• Zhao Chang warned Huang Xiao that selling cultivation manuals required careful checks because the Consignment House prohibited second sales, and Huang Xiao asked him to introduce them to its staff.

Huang Xiao and Huo Lian arranged a large loan from the Xinglong Money House to prepare for the Consignment House auction. Zhao Chang agreed to lend them five hundred million taels, expecting cultivation methods including one at the primordial ancient realm early stage as collateral.

• Zhao Chang offered to check whether Huang Xiao's cultivation methods had been traded at the Consignment House, warning that the search would take several days.
• Zhao Chang offered Huang Xiao a collateral loan, and Huang Xiao clarified that the Wild Ox Sect needed about a hundred million taels.
• Huo Lian asked whether they could borrow five hundred million taels, and Zhao Chang agreed based on the Wild Ox Sect's reputation and their connection to Kui Yong.
• Huo Lian asked about cultivation-method prices, and Zhao Chang valued primordial ancient realm early stage methods at at least three hundred million taels and late stage methods at roughly ten billion.
• Huang Xiao decided to borrow five hundred million taels and promised to deliver one primordial ancient realm early stage method, eight upper ancient realm peak methods, and valuables as collateral.
• Zhao Chang went to prepare five hundred million taels in banknotes, believing the early-stage method was connected to Kui Yong.

Huang Xiao and Huo Lian secured a loan, hired the Ling Tong Sect to find Hu Pursuing Wind and Yao Fengrong, and visited the Consignment House to learn about its auction. There, Jiang Deng confronted Lu Yi, who insulted Huang Xiao and the Wild Ox Sect.

• Huang Xiao and Huo Lian discussed Zhao Chang’s likely attempts to prevent them from repaying the five hundred million taels and resolved to stay cautious for the year.
• Huang Xiao paid the Ling Tong Sect a hundred thousand taels in advance to investigate where Hu Pursuing Wind and Yao Fengrong cultivated.
• Huang Xiao and Huo Lian went to the Guangjin Consignment House branch to learn more about its upcoming midyear auction.
• Huang Xiao spotted Jiang Deng arguing with Lu Yi, who mocked the Wild Ox Sect and insulted Huang Xiao.
• Jiang Deng defended Huang Xiao and challenged Lu Yi’s claims that the Black Wind Gang was stronger than the Wild Ox Sect.

Huang Xiao confronted Lu Yi of the Black Wind Gang after Lu Yi questioned the Wild Ox Sect’s claim to Kui Yong’s cultivation method. Jiang Deng explained that the Black Wind Gang answered to the Heart-Devouring Sect, whose Demon General Qi Heng might now threaten the territory left vacant by the Soul-Reaping Sect.

• Huang Xiao challenged Lu Yi, saying he had killed Wang Xiongshan, and Lu Yi withdrew after warning that Kui Yong’s cultivation method might not be as powerful as people believed.
• Jianghu fighters debated the value of Kui Yong’s method, while Lu Yi told his disciple that Grand Elder Xu would deal with Huang Xiao.
• Jiang Deng told Huang Xiao and Huo Lian that the Black Wind Gang was under the Heart-Devouring Sect’s jurisdiction, and that its leader, Qi Heng, was a Demon General.
• Jiang Deng explained that Qi Heng had ranked last among the newly appointed Demon Generals and was probably weaker than Zhuo Mengshen, who had likely gained the upper hand in their past conflict.

Huang Xiao and Huo Lian learned that the Heart-Devouring Sect planned to buy all the spirit crystals at the Consignment House auction to build a Spirit-Gathering Divine Formation. Huo Lian proposed secretly taking the sect’s silver taels, leaving them with a plan to remove a rival and secure more funds for spirit crystals.

• Jiang Deng reported that Qi Heng was likely weaker than Zhuo Mengshen and warned that the Heart-Devouring Sect planned to claim all the auction’s spirit crystals.
• Jiang Deng identified Xu Zhantong, the Heart-Devouring Sect’s Fifth Grand Elder, as the leader of its auction party and described the sect’s strength.
• Huo Lian ordered Jiang Deng to investigate Xu Zhantong’s movements and resources before the auction.
• Huo Lian suggested taking the Heart-Devouring Sect’s silver taels while Qi Heng was absent, and Huang Xiao agreed that the plan could eliminate a competitor and strengthen them.

Huang Xiao and Huo Lian learned that the Heart-Devouring Sect had spent heavily preparing for a spirit-crystal contest and planned to steal its silver from Xu Zhantong. Huo Lian lured Xu away while Huang Xiao searched the study, but he found no money or hidden rooms.

• Jiang Deng reported that the Heart-Devouring Sect had raised at least a billion taels for spirit crystals and spent another billion collecting materials for Qi Heng's Spirit-Gathering Divine Formation.
• Jiang Deng told Huang Xiao and Huo Lian that Xu Zhantong had brought five Upper Ancient Realm elders and more than fifty elite disciples to the city.
• Huang Xiao and Huo Lian entered the Xu Residence at night, where Huo Lian drew Xu Zhantong away from the study as planned.
• Huang Xiao defeated the remaining guards and searched Xu Zhantong's study for the sect's silver, but found neither the money nor any secret rooms.

Huang Xiao was discovered searching the Heart-Devouring Sect’s study for its money, but he killed Xu Zhantong and stole thirteen bank drafts. He let Yang Sen escape and left Monan City with the funds rather than risk attracting stronger opponents.

• Xu Zhantong returned to the study and found Huang Xiao, who had taken a bundle of cultivation manuals.
• Xu Zhantong revealed that the money was on his person and that Yang Sen, the Heart-Devouring Sect’s sixth Grand Elder, had arrived as backup.
• Huang Xiao asked Xu Zhantong about the money, then suddenly surged forward and killed him with a single punch.
• Yang Sen fled after realizing Huang Xiao was far stronger than his apparent Upper Ancient Realm.
• Huang Xiao found thirteen Xinglong Money House drafts worth a hundred million taels each on Xu Zhantong and chose not to pursue Yang Sen.

Huang Xiao returned with thirteen bank drafts after tricking Xu Zhantong, while Zhao Chang enlisted Zhao Kuan to spread information about Huang Xiao and his supposed share of the Soul-Reaping Sect’s wealth. Zhao Chang intended to draw attention to Huang Xiao and obtain Kui Yong’s cultivation methods for their eldest brother, Zhao Wei, and Zhao Kuan suggested simply having Huang Xiao attacked.

• Huang Xiao returned to the inn with thirteen bank drafts, and he and Huo Lian reviewed how he had taken them from Xu Zhantong.
• Zhao Chang met Zhao Kuan and asked whether the Ling Tong Sect had been gathering information about the Wild Ox Sect.
• Zhao Chang told Zhao Kuan to secretly spread the claims that Huang Xiao was at least in the middle stage of the Primordial Ancient Realm and had acquired almost all the Soul-Reaping Sect’s wealth.
• Zhao Chang explained that he wanted to use the rumors and reports of Huang Xiao’s movements to help Zhao Wei obtain Kui Yong’s cultivation methods.
• Zhao Kuan agreed to spread the information and suggested finding people to deal with Huang Xiao directly.

Zhao Chang plotted to obtain Kui Yong’s cultivation methods by stirring up trouble for Huang Xiao while preserving his own deniability. After the Ling Tong Sect revealed three places where Hu Pursuing Wind and Yao Fengrong had stayed, Huang Xiao and Huo Lian decided to investigate the nearby location before the auction.

• Zhao Chang told Zhao Kuan to spread rumors that Huang Xiao possessed both Kui Yong’s cultivation methods and the Soul-Reaping Sect’s wealth, hoping others would attack him and plunder the Wild Ox Sect.
• Zhao Chang explained that he had lent Huang Xiao five hundred million taels so the Xinglong Money House could claim the pledged cultivation methods if Huang Xiao failed to repay the loan.
• Huang Xiao and Huo Lian paid the Ling Tong Sect one million taels for information about three places where Hu Pursuing Wind and Yao Fengrong had stayed.
• Huang Xiao and Huo Lian identified a valley southwest of Mount Mo as the nearby location and declined to pay extra for the Ling Tong Sect to pinpoint it.
• Huang Xiao and Huo Lian decided to search the valley themselves before the Guangjin Consignment House auction, hoping to find the Spirit-Gathering Divine Formation.