Chapter Summaries

Tong Jiuyang and the others debated whether to rescue Huang Xiao from Wu Longfeng, ultimately deciding to help him despite Pufa’s grudge against Ling Tianya. As Tong Jiuyang rushed to Huang Xiao, Tu Zhangyuan moved to confront Perfected Being Xuyan and Pufa, threatening Zhao Guangyi.

• Wan Qingteng killed several fighters with a wave of his hand, and the fighting stopped when shouts came from the Imperial Study.
• He Dongkun rejoiced at Wu Longfeng’s arrival, while Tong Jiuyang and the others recognized the danger Huang Xiao faced.
• Tong Jiuyang asked Perfected Being Xuyan to protect Zhao Guangyi, and Pufa argued that Huang Xiao’s death could provoke Ling Tianya into attacking the Taixuan Sect.
• Perfected Being Xuyan warned that Ling Tianya might instead turn his fury on the Righteous Path, and he agreed with Pufa to help Huang Xiao.
• Tong Jiuyang left Zhao Guangyi with Perfected Being Xuyan and Pufa and hurried toward Huang Xiao as He Dongkun let him pass.
• Tu Zhangyuan challenged Perfected Being Xuyan and Pufa and declared that Zhao Guangyi would die that day.

Tu Zhangyuan killed Zhao Guangyi despite the efforts of Min Yijiang, Perfected Being Xuyan, and Divine Monk Pufa, leaving Huang Xiao desperate to avenge him. As Wu Longfeng prepared to kill Huang Xiao, the Five Great Heavenly Demon Imperial Guards rushed in to help their sect master escape.

• Tu Zhangyuan used Myriad Phantom Transformation to slip past Perfected Being Xuyan and Divine Monk Pufa, then sent Min Yijiang flying with one palm.
• Tu Zhangyuan struck down Zhao Guangyi as he passed, and Perfected Being Xuyan caught the dead emperor.
• Huang Xiao charged toward Tu Zhangyuan, but Wan Qingteng pursued him while Tong Jiuyang moved to confront Wan Qingteng.
• Tu Zhangyuan evaded Huang Xiao, and Wu Longfeng blocked Huang Xiao's path and offered him time for final words.
• The Five Great Heavenly Demon Imperial Guards charged at Wu Longfeng and shouted for Huang Xiao to flee.

Huang Xiao fought Wu Longfeng after the Five Great Heavenly Demon Imperial Guards sacrificed themselves to protect him. Old Sun appeared, stopped Huang Xiao from using Heavenly Demon Disintegration, and urged him to choose his own path rather than lose himself to the Demonic Path; the gathered experts wondered who Old Sun was.

• Huang Xiao charged Wu Longfeng after the Five Great Heavenly Demon Imperial Guards told him to flee, but Wu Longfeng killed all five with a single move.
• Huang Xiao grieved for the guards and prepared to use Heavenly Demon Disintegration, while Wu Longfeng dismissed his chances of winning.
• Wan Qingteng kept Tong Jiuyang from joining Huang Xiao, and Wu Longfeng sensed someone approaching from behind Huang Xiao.
• Old Sun appeared, sent Everlasting Spring Ageless True Qi into Huang Xiao to disperse the energy for Heavenly Demon Disintegration, and told Wu Longfeng to stop bullying a junior.
• Huang Xiao told Old Sun he would rather give up the Heavenly Demon Skill than lose his true nature, and Old Sun approved of his choice.
• Pufa, Min Yijiang, Pulu, and Perfected Being Xuyan admitted that they did not recognize Old Sun.

Old Sun revealed himself as the Medicine King Hall’s Founding Patriarch and challenged Wan Qingteng over his betrayal of fellow disciples. As Mu Yi, Xu Yan Yun, and Li Cong arrived alive to confront Wan Qingteng, Huang Xiao learned that Zhao Guangyi could not be revived.

• Wu Longfeng recognized Old Sun as the wielder of the Everlasting Spring Youth-Restoring Art, and Old Sun confirmed he was the man Tong Jiuyang had in mind.
• Old Sun asked Wan Qingteng to acknowledge his guilt and declared him unfit to remain Hall Master for turning against his fellow disciples.
• Wan Qingteng rejected Old Sun’s authority and claimed the Medicine King Hall as his own domain.
• Mu Yi, Xu Yan Yun, and Li Cong arrived, and Huang Xiao recognized one of them as his patriarch.
• Huang Xiao begged Old Sun to save Zhao Guangyi, but Old Sun said Tu Zhangyuan had killed him and he could not bring him back.
• Wan Qingteng realized Ling Tianya had deceived him about the three patriarchs’ deaths and worried that their return would weaken his support.

Wan Qingteng refused to cripple his cultivation and fled the Medicine King Hall after Old Sun restored control to its three Patriarchs. Wu Longfeng ended his assault on the Great Song after Zhao Guangyi’s death, then revealed that Tu Zhangyuan was Tuoba Xiongzhen.

• Wan Qingteng rejected Old Sun’s order to cripple his cultivation, renounced the Medicine King Hall, and escaped when Old Sun stopped the others from pursuing him.
• Huang Xiao realized Wu Longfeng had known about Old Sun’s return while Wan Qingteng had been kept unaware and had lost his followers.
• Wu Longfeng said Zhao Guangyi’s death had fulfilled his goal, spared the other gathered experts, and warned the sects to submit to the Taixuan Sect.
• Wu Longfeng asked Gui Jiu for the Seven-Spirit Disc and then claimed Tu Zhangyuan was Tuoba Xiongzhen, shocking the assembled experts.

After Wu Longfeng exposed Tu Zhangyuan as Tuoba Xiongzhen, the gathered fighters learned that the Seven-Spirit Disc’s secret could not be solved because the blades were not all present. With Zhao Guangyi dead, Huang Xiao turned to securing the succession and stabilizing the court.

• Tu Zhangyuan admitted that he was Tuoba Xiongzhen, the man Tong Jiuyang blamed for his wife’s death and the deaths of Zhao Kuangyin and Zhao Guangyi.
• Tuoba Xiongzhen learned that Wu Longfeng and Old Sun did not know where the final Seven Spirit Blade was, and ordered Gui Jiu to hand the Seven-Spirit Disc to Wu Longfeng.
• Wu Longfeng left with his forces, while Mu Yi and Xu Yan Yun recognized Huang Xiao as the new sect master of the Heavenly Demon Sect.
• Old Sun told Huang Xiao to arrange Zhao Guangyi’s succession and said he would discuss another matter with him the next day.
• Huang Xiao kicked Li Jilong and Wang Jien and wanted to punish them, but Tong Jiuyang urged him to bring the Crown Prince into the palace and stabilize the court first.

After Zhao Guangyi’s death, Tong Jiuyang and the others arranged for Crown Prince Zhao Yuankan to enter the palace and succeed him, while Huang Xiao comforted Zhao Xin'er and Zhao Yunhui before visiting Old Sun. Old Sun then revealed that Huang Xiao’s grandfather, Ling Tianya, had saved Mu Yi and the other two rather than killing them, and asked Huang Xiao for his opinion on an important matter concerning Ling Tianya.

• Tong Jiuyang secured the others’ support for Zhao Yuankan’s accession and asked Huang Xiao to seek Old Sun’s help as Great Song’s State Preceptor and Protector of the Nation.
• Huang Xiao told Zhao Xin'er and Zhao Yunhui that Zhao Guangyi had died, and they absolved him of blame for failing to protect their father.
• Huang Xiao stayed with the two women until dawn, then left the palace for the Immortal Abode to visit Old Sun.
• Old Sun told Huang Xiao that Ling Tianya had saved Mu Yi and the other two, correcting Huang Xiao’s belief that his grandfather had killed them.
• Old Sun said he wanted Huang Xiao’s opinion on an important matter concerning Ling Tianya.

Mu Yi explained that Ling Tianya had faked the deaths of Huang Xiao’s seniors to awaken Huang Xiao’s demonic nature, and Huang Xiao learned how much his grandfather had done for him. Old Sun then revealed that Ling Tianya was preparing to lead Khitan’s five-hundred-thousand-man army against Great Song, and Huang Xiao resolved to try to stop him.

• Mu Yi told Huang Xiao that Ling Tianya had placed the three seniors in suspended animation and let Huang Xiao believe they were dead to help him master the Heavenly Demon Skill.
• Old Sun explained that Ling Tianya had used Huang Xiao’s hatred to awaken his demonic nature, and Huang Xiao felt guilty for misunderstanding his grandfather.
• Old Sun revealed that Khitan had assembled a five-hundred-thousand-man army and would soon invade Great Song while the new emperor’s court was unstable.
• Old Sun said Wu Longfeng and Ling Tianya were using each other, with Wu Longfeng hoping the war would let the Taixuan Sect seize power.
• Huang Xiao agreed to persuade Ling Tianya to halt the invasion and said he would disown him if he refused.
• Huang Xiao said he would accept failing to master the Heavenly Demon Skill rather than let it change his temperament.

Old Sun explained why Tuoba Xiongzhen was more dangerous than Wu Longfeng, whose strength he could roughly match but whose judgment of people was inferior. Huang Xiao learned that Tuoba Xiongzhen concealed his true abilities and had plans of his own, then asked Old Sun whether his cultivation had reached a realm beyond the peerless level.

• Huang Xiao said he would continue pursuing the ninth stage so he could have a chance to defeat Wu Longfeng.
• Old Sun named Tuoba Xiongzhen as the person most worthy of vigilance because his true strength and intentions were unknown.
• Old Sun revealed that he was roughly Wu Longfeng's equal in strength, but believed Tuoba Xiongzhen had hidden power and had deceived Wu Longfeng with a facade.
• Old Sun said Tuoba Xiongzhen and Wu Longfeng were bound to become enemies, and Huang Xiao welcomed the prospect of his two enemies fighting.
• Huang Xiao asked Old Sun whether his cultivation had surpassed the peerless level.

Old Sun explained that a realm beyond the Peerless Realm had been reached by figures such as Li Taibai, and warned Huang Xiao that Khitan’s balance of power had changed. He revealed that Dalhe had secretly mastered the Eleventh Layer of the Wild Elephant Esoteric Sect Divine Skill and could challenge Ling Tianya, leaving Huang Xiao facing new dangers on his journey.

• Old Sun told Huang Xiao that Peerless Upper Grade fighters could differ greatly in strength, though none was likely to unleash their full power unless they broke through to a higher realm.
• Old Sun said Li Taibai of the Taixuan Sect had reached beyond the Peerless Realm, and discussed Li Taibai’s legacy and Dugu Sheng’s chance to carry his swordsmanship forward.
• Old Sun reflected on Li Taibai’s disappearance and his own loneliness, then warned Huang Xiao to be careful when he went to Khitan.
• Old Sun revealed that Dalhe had secretly mastered the Eleventh Layer of the Wild Elephant Esoteric Sect Divine Skill, making him strong enough to contend with Ling Tianya.
• Old Sun explained that Dalhe intended to reclaim the Esoteric Sect’s former position in Khitan from the Thousand Demons Sect.

Huang Xiao learned that Dalhe’s rise had stirred conflict between the Esoteric Sect and the Thousand Demons Sect, then asked Old Sun to support Great Song and share news of his senior brothers. As Huang Xiao prepared to leave for Khitan, Old Sun gave him the genuine Dragon Nightmare Flute, which paired with You Lian’er’s Netherworld Demon Zither.

• Old Sun warned Huang Xiao that Dalhe’s growing power and the Esoteric Sect’s schemes made his trip to Khitan dangerous, while Wu Longfeng was using the Esoteric Sect to check Ling Tianya.
• Huang Xiao asked Old Sun to become Great Song’s State Preceptor, but Old Sun declined and promised to oppose Wu Longfeng if the emperor sincerely worked for peace and the people’s welfare.
• Xu Yan Yun told Huang Xiao that Qingyun and Qinghe were safe, and Huang Xiao asked her to tell them that he was alive and traveling to fulfill his master’s last wish.
• As Huang Xiao prepared to leave for Khitan, Old Sun brought him the genuine Dragon Nightmare Flute, and Huang Xiao recognized it as the instrument paired with You Lian’er’s Netherworld Demon Zither.
• Huang Xiao asked Old Sun how the Dragon Nightmare Flute had come into his possession.

Old Sun gave Huang Xiao the Medicine King Scripture and discussed his potential to reach a realm beyond the Peerless Realm. He planned to return to Dali to seek an alliance against the Taixuan Sect, while Huang Xiao returned to Kaifeng and found Zhao Yuankan on the throne.

• Old Sun explained that Li Taibai had given him the Dragon Nightmare Flute and gave Huang Xiao the Medicine King Scripture, including his cultivation insights.
• Old Sun told Mu Yi and the others that Huang Xiao might reach a higher realm through the three extraordinary arts, though such a breakthrough remained difficult.
• Old Sun sent Mu Yi, Xu Yan Yun, and their companion to the Medicine King Hall, saying he would go to Dali to meet an old member of the Duan Family and seek allies.
• After the others left, Old Sun wondered whether Tuoba Xiongzhen was still alive and regretted an old wrong he had not avenged.
• Huang Xiao returned to the imperial palace and learned that Zhao Yuankan had ascended the throne after the Former Emperor's death.

After Zhao Yuankan became emperor, Huang Xiao secured Old Sun’s conditional support and warned that Khitan would soon invade with as many as five hundred thousand troops. As the court prepared to reinforce the northern frontier, Huang Xiao set out for Khitan to meet Ling Tianya.

• Zhao Yuankan ascended the throne with Lü Duan’s support after Zhao Guangyi died, and Huang Xiao met the new emperor and his ministers.
• Huang Xiao told Zhao Yuankan, Tong Jiuyang, and Min Yijiang that Old Sun had refused the State Preceptor position but would protect Zhao Yuankan if he governed well.
• Huang Xiao warned that Khitan’s invasion was certain and could involve nearly five hundred thousand troops.
• Min Yijiang urged Zhao Yuankan to send available troops north, and Zhao Yuankan put Tong Jiuyang and Min Yijiang in charge of the preparations.
• Huang Xiao announced that he would travel to Khitan to meet Ling Tianya, despite Tong Jiuyang warning that Ling Tianya might not be persuaded.

Huang Xiao agreed to try to persuade Ling Tianya to halt Khitan’s invasion, while explaining to Zhao Yunhui and Zhao Xin'er why Li Jiqian and Wang Jien had been exiled rather than executed. He set out to visit Khitan after promising the two women he would return soon, and learned that Zhao Yunhui had been developing new martial moves.

• Huang Xiao told Tong Jiuyang and Min Yijiang that he would go to Khitan to persuade Ling Tianya to avoid war between the two countries.
• Zhao Yunhui and Zhao Xin'er told Huang Xiao that Li Jiqian and Wang Jien had been demoted and exiled, and Huang Xiao explained that their past service and the Empress Dowager’s plea had influenced the sentence.
• Huang Xiao promised the princesses that he would not kill the exiled men but would ensure they suffered, then told them he planned to travel to Khitan.
• Zhao Yunhui and Zhao Xin'er accepted Huang Xiao’s departure, and he embraced them and urged them to keep practicing their martial arts together.
• Zhao Yunhui revealed that she had ideas for creating a martial art with endless variations, then kept the details secret as Huang Xiao apologized for underestimating her.

Zhao Yunhui planned to create combat techniques that incorporated formations, and Huang Xiao helped her realize they might work best with two people acting together. Before leaving for Khitan, he encouraged Zhao Xin'er to develop her own martial arts as well.

• Zhao Yunhui told Huang Xiao she wanted to incorporate formations into combat moves and create techniques with countless variations.
• Zhao Yunhui said her moves would draw on the transformations of Fuxi's Eight Trigrams and chose “Two Principles” as part of their name.
• Huang Xiao suggested that two people perform the techniques together, and Zhao Yunhui realized this would overcome what was missing from her idea.
• Huang Xiao urged Zhao Xin'er to combine the Blazing Yang Palm with Heavenly Mountain Pavilion palm techniques to seek a breakthrough.
• Huang Xiao left, hoping both women would have made progress when he returned from Khitan.

Tuoba Xiongzhen let Wu Longfeng keep the Seven-Spirit Disc while planning to monitor the Nine Nether Sect and Netherworld Sect. Former Arrest God Mu Jingfei arrived at Nine Nether Peak, where Nine Nether Sect Master Lin Zhangke came out to receive him.

• Huang Xiao asked Liu Dacheng to watch over Kaifeng before leaving for Khitan.
• Gui Jiu told Tuoba Xiongzhen that Wu Longfeng had taken the Seven-Spirit Disc, and Tuoba explained why the disc was useless without all seven Seven Spirit Blades.
• Tuoba Xiongzhen ordered Gui Jiu to watch the Nine Nether Sect and Netherworld Sect, then sent him away after rebuking him.
• Mu Jingfei reached Nine Nether Peak without being noticed and called out to Lin Zhangke by name.
• Lin Zhangke appeared and welcomed Mu Jingfei as a guest while the Nine Nether Sect disciples saluted their Sect Master.

Mu Jingfei met with Lin Zhangke and Lu Denggu at the Nine Nether Sect, where he discovered that the Nine Nether Sect and the Netherworld Sect were secretly allies. The meeting continued with the arrival of Wan Qingteng, Fang Ketian, and the supposedly dead Fang Chongyi, whose words revealed a grudge against Tuoba Xiongzhen.

• Lin Zhangke dismissed his disciples and brought Mu Jingfei inside to meet Lu Denggu, the Sect Leader of the Netherworld Sect.
• Mu Jingfei realized that the Nine Nether Sect and the Netherworld Sect were secretly on good terms despite their public clashes.
• Lin Zhangke told Mu Jingfei they would ask him to stay if they could not reach an agreement, but insisted he would agree to their proposal.
• After Mu Jingfei waited with Lin Zhangke and Lu Denggu, Wan Qingteng, Fang Ketian, and Fang Chongyi entered.
• Mu Jingfei recognized Fang Chongyi, who said that Tuoba Xiongzhen was still alive and implied he held killing intent toward him.

Fang Chongyi explained why Tuoba Xiongzhen had become so powerful: he had obtained several ancient martial arts scriptures after nearly killing Fang Chongyi. The group realized Tuoba Xiongzhen might eventually master their techniques and dominate the martial world.

• Mu Jingfei questioned Fang Chongyi about his lack of interest in reclaiming the Fang Family and the Heavenly Demon Sect, and Fang Chongyi dismissed the importance of becoming Sect Master.
• Mu Jingfei warned Fang Chongyi that Huang Xiao could become a major threat through his age, cultivation, and inherited arts.
• Fang Chongyi said he had summoned Mu Jingfei to discuss Tuoba Xiongzhen and revealed that Tuoba had once wounded him while they sought ancient martial arts manuals.
• Fang Chongyi explained that the manuals were scriptures like the Medicine King Scripture and the Heavenly Demon Canon, and that Tuoba had obtained several while Fang Chongyi escaped with one.
• Mu Jingfei and Wan Qingteng realized that the scriptures could explain Tuoba Xiongzhen's immense strength, while Fang Chongyi said Tuoba had not yet fully mastered their methods.

Fang Chongyi revealed that he possessed the Evil Daoist Canon and now led both the Nine Nether Sect and the Netherworld Sect as the Evil Dao Supreme. He proposed joining forces to investigate the Seven Spirit Blades and ally with the Esoteric Sect against Tuoba Xiongzhen and Ling Tianya.

• Fang Chongyi explained that the Evil Daoist Canon gave him authority over both sects and that their techniques descended from it.
• Mu Jingfei guessed that Tuoba Xiongzhen had obtained the Ghost Daoist Canon and Demon Daoist Canon, and Fang Chongyi agreed that they likely explained the Ghost and Demon cultivation arts.
• Fang Chongyi warned that Fang Ketian's Demon Spirit Nine Transformations Art was incomplete and could lead to cultivation deviation and death.
• Fang Chongyi proposed that Wan Qingteng share the Seven Spirit Blade's secrets with their alliance, and Wan Qingteng agreed to cooperate.
• Fang Chongyi urged them to ally with the Esoteric Sect rather than Ling Tianya, citing the Esoteric Sect's ties with the Persians and its interest in the Seven Spirit Blades.
• Fang Chongyi revealed that the Esoteric Sect had already secretly contacted the Nine Nether Sect and the Netherworld Sect.

Wan Qingteng secured Fang Chongyi and Mu Jingfei’s help to retrieve something from Medicine King Hall while Sun Simiao was away. Huang Xiao traveled to Linhuang Prefecture to meet Xiao Yan, his betrothed, and left with her for a walk.

• Wan Qingteng asked Fang Chongyi and Mu Jingfei to accompany him to Medicine King Hall, and they agreed after he said Sun Simiao was absent.
• Huang Xiao entered Khitan and went to the Xiao Residence to visit Xiao Yan on behalf of Yelü Yin.
• The guards admitted Huang Xiao after he explained his connection to Yelü Yin and gave his surname.
• Huang Xiao and Xiao Yan met, both awkwardly recalling their past and their marriage agreement.
• Xiao Yan invited Huang Xiao to take a walk, and he agreed while reflecting that he owed her and might have to honor their betrothal.