Chapter Summaries

Duan Siying’s attack left Duan Sicong near defeat until Sicong used the Five-Elements Divine Finger to keep him at bay. Huang Xiao and his companions intervened just as Duan Siying was about to kill Sicong, and Huang Xiao confronted the Taixuan Sect elder.

• Huang Xiao and his four companions found the Five Divine Temple monks losing to Duan Siying and the Taixuan Sect experts, but stayed hidden to assess the danger.
• Duan Sicong used the Five-Elements Divine Finger to wound Duan Siying and drive him back, then kept him at a distance with blasts of finger force.
• Duan Siying revealed he had been holding back, pursued Duan Sicong into the square, and nearly killed him after Sicong’s strength faltered.
• Huang Xiao charged in and struck Duan Siying, forcing him to abandon his attack on Duan Sicong and retreat while spitting blood.
• Duan Siying recognized Huang Xiao, who declared that he was intervening because Duan Siying was an elder of the Taixuan Sect.

Huang Xiao confronted Duan Siying at Five Divine Temple and quickly gained the upper hand, while Hong Yi and Li Wujing helped Five Divine Temple’s side in the wider battle. Duan Siying escaped immediate defeat when Taixuan Sect experts took three monks hostage, forcing Huang Xiao to stop as the Taixuan Sect group retreated to his side.

• Huang Xiao revealed that he was the Heavenly Demon Sect Master and attacked Duan Siying after demanding his surrender.
• Huang Xiao sent Duan Siying flying, but Duan Siying used a method to deflect some of the force and remained standing.
• Hong Yi intercepted a Taixuan Sect elder who had charged at Li Wujing, allowing Li Wujing to fight another opponent.
• Taixuan Sect experts seized three monks and threatened to kill them, so Duan Sicong pleaded with Huang Xiao to stop his attack.
• Duan Siying taunted Huang Xiao, and the Taixuan Sect experts retreated to his side while still holding the monks hostage.

Huang Xiao and his companions left the Five Divine Temple after Duan Sicong let Duan Siying go to spare the monks, then waited in a nearby town for news of Senior Sun and his plans against the Taixuan Sect. After two days without word, a middle-aged man approached their table.

• Duan Sicong allowed Duan Siying to leave the mountain in exchange for the safety of the Five Divine Temple's monks, and the Taixuan Sect men released the three monks they had taken.
• Huang Xiao and his companions learned that Duan Siying had come for the Five Elements Canon, then left the temple after discussing why Huang Xiao had not killed him.
• Huang Xiao explained that killing Duan Siying would not resolve the Taixuan Sect's control of Dali, and said they needed to wait for news from Senior Sun and his disciples.
• The group traveled to a nearby town and waited at its best inn, hearing rumors that more Taixuan Sect experts had entered Dali City.
• After two days without news, Huang Xiao put down his cup as a middle-aged man approached their table, and the others followed his gaze.

Huang Xiao learned that Senior Sun and the others would reach Dali City the next day, while Wan Qingteng had also appeared there and might be accompanied by Mu Jingfei and Fang Chongyi. The group decided to travel to Dali the following day and discussed the uncertainty posed by the three experts.

• A Heavenly Demon Sect intelligence operative told Huang Xiao that Senior Sun and the others would arrive in Dali City the next day and that Wan Qingteng was already there.
• Huang Xiao shared the news with Hong Yi, Dugu Sheng, Meng Jiu, and Li Wujing after they returned to his room, and they agreed to leave for Dali the next day.
• Huang Xiao warned that Mu Jingfei and Fang Chongyi might have come with Wan Qingteng, increasing the danger around Senior Sun and the Medicine King Hall.
• Huang Xiao explained Fang Chongyi's identity, then said the Heavenly Demon Sect was stable enough that Fang Chongyi's status as the Fang Family ancestor would not threaten it.
• Hong Yi and Dugu Sheng expressed confidence that their generation would eventually match or surpass the older experts, and Meng Jiu agreed.

Huang Xiao and his companions reached Dali City and found its gates sealed under martial law, so they waited for Old Sun and split up to check the other entrances. Huang Xiao went to the North Gate, where he noticed something approaching after settling in a tree.

• Li Wujing admitted that he had underestimated the young experts from other sects, and Meng Jiu and Hong Yi vowed to catch up with Huang Xiao.
• Huang Xiao and his four companions reached Dali City and found its gates shut and guarded.
• After guards shot commoners who approached the South Gate, Huang Xiao agreed to wait for Old Sun and have the group check the other gates.
• Meng Jiu and Li Wujing stayed at the South Gate while Huang Xiao, Hong Yi, and Dugu Sheng split up to search for Old Sun.
• Huang Xiao reached the North Gate, found no sign of Old Sun, and climbed a tree to wait.
• Huang Xiao heard something in the distance and stood to look toward it.

Huang Xiao confronted Gui Jiu near Dali City to settle their old grievances, and the two began a fierce battle. Their fight continued as Huang Xiao realized Gui Jiu’s Ghost Spirit Nine Transformations Art made him difficult to defeat.

• Huang Xiao recognized Gui Jiu and challenged him over their past conflicts, including Gui Jiu’s attacks at Shaolin and his support of Tuoba Xiongzhen.
• Gui Jiu met Huang Xiao’s sudden attack, and their palm clash sent dust and stones flying.
• People waiting outside the city gates noticed the fight and cautiously moved closer to watch.
• Huang Xiao recovered from the first clash faster than Gui Jiu and charged again, leading Gui Jiu to recognize that Huang Xiao was somewhat stronger.
• Gui Jiu used the Ghost Spirit Nine Transformations Art, and Huang Xiao attacked with the Heavenly Demon Subduing Tiger Fist.
• Huang Xiao forced Gui Jiu back, but retreated himself as he judged Gui Jiu difficult to defeat.

Huang Xiao fought Gui Jiu and planned to use the Northern Darkness Absorption Method to overcome his greater reserves of internal power. Mu Jingfei intervened, and the chapter ended with him warning Huang Xiao that fighting Gui Jiu in Dali would let other forces profit.

• Gui Jiu claimed Huang Xiao could not kill him, while Huang Xiao decided to use the Northern Darkness Absorption Method to drain his power by surprise.
• Huang Xiao attacked Gui Jiu again and declared that he would settle his score with Tuoba Xiongzhen himself.
• Mu Jingfei arrived with a burst of Sound Art that killed several weaker Jianghu onlookers and forced the fighters apart.
• Gui Jiu and Mu Jingfei traded hostile remarks over their loyalty and past interference.
• Mu Jingfei praised Huang Xiao's improved cultivation, then warned him that fighting Gui Jiu in Dali would let other fishermen reap the profit.

After Huang Xiao avoided a fight with Gui Jiu and Mu Jingfei, he headed back to the south gate, where Li Wujing and his companions were trapped by Taixuan Sect fighters. Li Wujing taunted Yin Hua about Xu Wuyu’s death, prompting Yin Hua to demand the killer’s identity.

• Huang Xiao declined to fight Gui Jiu to the death, and Gui Jiu and Mu Jingfei left.
• Huang Xiao considered Mu Jingfei’s position and headed for the south gate to regroup with his allies.
• At the south gate, Hong Yi, Dugu Sheng, Meng Jiu, and Li Wujing were cornered by Taixuan Sect fighters and volleys of arrows.
• Li Wujing urged his companions to escape, but Meng Jiu, Hong Yi, and Dugu Sheng refused to abandon him.
• Li Wujing taunted Yin Hua about his dead disciple Xu Wuyu, and Yin Hua demanded to know who had killed him.

Yin Hua threatened Li Wujing with his imprisoned master and ordered the Taixuan Sect experts to attack Hong Yi, Dugu Sheng, Meng Jiu, and Li Wujing. Hong Yi and Dugu Sheng faced the elders while hoping Huang Xiao would return, and the battle began with Hong Yi struggling against Yin Hua and Dugu Sheng surprising his opponents with his swordsmanship.

• Li Wujing taunted Yin Hua over Xu Wuyu’s death, and Yin Hua threatened to keep Li Wujing’s crippled master alive to torment him.
• Hong Yi treated Li Wujing’s injuries and challenged Yin Hua, while Dugu Sheng warned that defeating them would not be easy.
• Yin Hua ordered two elders to attack Hong Yi and Dugu Sheng and sent the other experts after the wounded Meng Jiu and Li Wujing.
• Yin Hua and his two junior brothers charged, and Hong Yi and Dugu Sheng advanced to meet them as the city’s arrows stopped.
• Hong Yi clashed with Yin Hua, whose Palm Force overwhelmed him and nearly struck his chest before Hong Yi evaded the attack.
• Dugu Sheng’s quick swordsmanship startled Yin Hua’s junior brothers, who recognized that it seemed unlike Dugu Manor’s style.

Dugu Sheng’s swordsmanship led Yin Hua and his junior brothers to believe Li Wujing had passed the Taixuan Sword to an outsider, and they intensified their attacks. Just as Yin Hua was about to kill the badly wounded Hong Yi, Huang Xiao arrived and rescued him.

• Yin Hua’s junior brothers recognized traces of the Taixuan Sword in Dugu Sheng’s swordsmanship and accused Li Wujing of teaching it to an outsider.
• Yin Hua ordered his men to kill Dugu Sheng, while Hong Yi and Dugu Sheng struggled to protect themselves and the others from the Taixuan Sect fighters.
• Yin Hua demanded that Li Wujing name Wuyu’s killer, but Li Wujing refused to betray Huang Xiao, and Hong Yi continued fighting.
• Yin Hua struck Hong Yi from behind, badly injured him, and pursued him through the air as Hong Yi lost the ability to defend himself.
• Huang Xiao appeared, moved Hong Yi out of Yin Hua’s path, and began treating his injuries, leaving Yin Hua shocked to see him.

Huang Xiao arrived just in time to save Hong Yi and Dugu Sheng, then confronted the Taixuan Sect experts over Xu Wuyu’s death. He swiftly defeated Yin Hua, while Yin Hua’s two junior brothers fled.

• Huang Xiao arrived and helped Hong Yi recover, while Dugu Sheng withdrew to heal his injuries.
• Yin Hua recognized Huang Xiao as Xu Wuyu’s killer and tried to leave with his junior brothers.
• Huang Xiao attacked Yin Hua before he could finish withdrawing, slipping past the junior brothers to reach him.
• Yin Hua tried to trade blows with Huang Xiao, but Huang Xiao blocked his palms and struck him with hidden force, leaving him unable to fight.
• Yin Hua called for help, but his two junior brothers stopped their advance and fled.

Huang Xiao crippled Yin Hua and sent him to Li Wujing, then pursued the two fleeing Taixuan Sect elders. One elder tried to escape by blaming Yin Hua, but after Huang Xiao stopped chasing him, he ran into someone blocking the road.

• Huang Xiao kicked Yin Hua in the dantian, destroying his cultivation, and sent him to Li Wujing for revenge.
• Huang Xiao caught up with the two fleeing elders, split them apart with Palm Force, and struck one down.
• The remaining elder dodged Huang Xiao’s attack and fled while pleading for his life and offering information about the Taixuan Sect.
• Huang Xiao stopped pursuing the elder, who ran ahead and found someone standing in his path.

Huang Xiao confronted the Taixuan Sect’s First Deputy Sect Master, who killed a fleeing elder but allowed Li Wujing to execute Yin Hua. After condemning Li Wujing for killing elders and teaching the Taixuan Sword to Dugu Sheng, the Deputy Sect Master faced Huang Xiao, who stepped in to protect his friends.

• The First Deputy Sect Master killed an elder who had abandoned his fellow disciples, then confronted Huang Xiao.
• The First Deputy Sect Master dismissed Yin Hua’s plight, and Li Wujing killed Yin Hua despite his appeal for rescue.
• A surviving elder accused Li Wujing of teaching the Taixuan Sword to an outsider, and the First Deputy Sect Master killed the accuser.
• The First Deputy Sect Master accused Li Wujing and Dugu Sheng of violating Taixuan Sect rules, and both acknowledged what had happened.
• Huang Xiao stepped forward and warned the First Deputy Sect Master that he would intervene to protect his friends.

Huang Xiao fought the Taixuan Sect's First Deputy Sect Master to protect Hong Yi and his three companions, despite being outmatched. The deputy sect master said Huang Xiao still needed more tempering, and a familiar figure suddenly appeared before him.

• The First Deputy Sect Master told the Taixuan Sect experts to stand down after Huang Xiao sent their leader flying with one punch.
• Huang Xiao unleashed the Heavenly Demon Subduing Tiger Fist and clashed with the First Deputy Sect Master, who praised the Heavenly Demon Skill's power.
• Hong Yi, Dugu Sheng, and the others urged Huang Xiao to flee, but he refused to abandon them.
• The First Deputy Sect Master avoided Huang Xiao's attacks and left him puzzled by his lack of killing intent.
• The First Deputy Sect Master said Huang Xiao needed more tempering, and a familiar figure appeared in Huang Xiao's view.

Huang Xiao learned why Zhuge Zheng had spared him and why the Taixuan Sect’s withdrawal from Dali depended on Wu Longfeng. Old Sun said words and the Seven Spirit Blades would not be enough to sway Wu Longfeng, leaving Huang Xiao asking what else could tempt him.

• Zhuge Zheng left after agreeing to meet Old Sun and Duan Siping at the Dali Imperial Palace in three days, when Wu Longfeng arrived.
• Huang Xiao asked Old Sun and Duan Siping why they had let Zhuge Zheng go, and Duan Siping explained that Zhuge Zheng had agreed the Taixuan Sect could withdraw from Dali.
• Old Sun explained that Zhuge Zheng had spared Huang Xiao because he feared provoking the powers behind him and Tuoba Xiongzhen, while Wu Longfeng dismissed those risks.
• Old Sun said no one could persuade Wu Longfeng with words alone and that even the Seven Spirit Blades probably would not be enough.
• Huang Xiao asked what else could tempt Wu Longfeng.

Old Sun told Huang Xiao that the Seven Spirit Blades’ secret could first be unlocked on the Mid-Autumn full moon seven years later, and agreed to trade that clue and his blade to Wu Longfeng. Huang Xiao then arranged for the four injured companions to leave Dali City with an escort.

• Old Sun revealed that the Seven Spirit Blades’ secret could first be unlocked seven years later on the Mid-Autumn Festival full moon, a time he had learned from Li Bai’s clues.
• Old Sun explained that Wu Longfeng would believe him because of his connection to Li Bai, but would still need all seven blades to unlock the secret.
• Huang Xiao agreed that he must keep his own blade safe, along with the blade held by his grandfather and the one held by the Great Song Imperial Court.
• Duan Siping told Huang Xiao that Duan Ying had been placed in a safe location a hundred li from Dali because he was not strong enough to face Wu Longfeng.
• Huang Xiao summoned Hong Yi and the other three injured companions and told them to leave Dali City, promising to arrange an escort rather than have them depart immediately.

Huang Xiao, Old Sun, and Duan Siping went to the Dali Imperial Palace to meet Wu Longfeng, where Duan Siping confronted his son Duan Siying over his betrayal and claim to the throne. The confrontation remained unresolved as Duan Siying angrily threatened Huang Xiao.

• Huang Xiao arranged for Heavenly Demon Sect disciples to escort Hong Yi and the others out of Dali City, then waited with Old Sun and Duan Siping for their summons to the Imperial Palace.
• A Taixuan Sect disciple led Huang Xiao, Old Sun, and Duan Siping into the Imperial Palace, where they found Wu Longfeng on the Emperor's Throne and Duan Siying among the elders.
• Huang Xiao refused to pay respects to Wu Longfeng, and Wu Longfeng challenged him for daring to enter the palace with Old Sun's protection.
• At Wu Longfeng's prompting, Duan Siying faced Duan Siping and declared that he was reclaiming the Dali throne he believed was meant for him.
• Duan Siping urged Duan Siying to turn back and offered to spare his life, but Duan Siying accused him of having left him to die and then shouted at Huang Xiao to stay silent.

Wu Longfeng negotiated with Sun Simiao over Taixuan Sect relinquishing Dali, demanding greater benefits than a Seven Spirit Blade. Sun Simiao then offered secret knowledge about the Seven Spirit Blades and the Seven-Spirit Disc, stirring Wu Longfeng’s interest.

• Huang Xiao taunted Duan Siying and vowed to one day defeat Wu Longfeng.
• Wu Longfeng said Taixuan Sect might relinquish Dali if Sun Simiao offered enough in return, while Duan Siying protested and was silenced by Wu Longfeng’s warning glance.
• Sun Simiao offered Wu Longfeng a Seven Spirit Blade, but Wu Longfeng rejected it as insufficient compensation for an entire country.
• Wu Longfeng said he would consider returning Dali if Sun Simiao offered more, and Sun Simiao proposed sharing a secret about the Seven Spirit Blades and the Seven-Spirit Disc.

Sun Simiao offered Wu Longfeng the opening time of the Seven Spirit Blades’ secret in exchange for the Taixuan Sect withdrawing from Dali, and Wu Longfeng accepted. Wu Longfeng surrendered Dali and abandoned Duan Siying, who fled as Duan Siping pursued him.

• Sun Simiao offered to reveal when the Seven Spirit Blades’ secret would open if Wu Longfeng withdrew from Dali.
• Zhuge Zheng urged Wu Longfeng to trust Sun Simiao, and Wu Longfeng agreed to hand over Dali in exchange for the information.
• Wu Longfeng ordered Duan Siying and the elders to leave the Imperial Palace and Dali, then struck Duan Siying when he protested.
• Duan Siping and Sun Simiao demanded that Duan Siying’s line be taken away, and Wu Longfeng agreed to abandon him.
• Duan Siying fled after Wu Longfeng ordered him out, and Duan Siping chased after him.

Wu Longfeng faced pressure from Mu Jingfei, Wan Qingteng, and Fang Chongyi to reveal the secrets of the Seven Spirit Blades, then agreed to share them. Just as the group prepared to hear the secret, Gui Jiu arrived and asked to join them.

• After the elders left, Wu Longfeng told Sun Simiao to reveal what he knew about the Seven Spirit Blades.
• Mu Jingfei, Wan Qingteng, and Fang Chongyi entered the Main Hall, demanding to learn the blades' secrets.
• Wan Qingteng and Huang Xiao exchanged threats over Wan Qingteng's killing of Patriarch Mu Yi, but Mu Jingfei calmed them.
• Wan Qingteng said he would keep the blade he possessed from the others unless they revealed the secrets, and Wu Longfeng agreed to share them.
• Gui Jiu entered the Main Hall and asked to join the discussion.