Chapter Summaries

Sun Simiao told the owners of the Seven Spirit Blades that the secret could be unlocked on the night of the Double Seventh Festival seven years later, when the seven stars aligned. The group accepted the timing but still lacked a location to seek the secret.

• Mu Jingfei challenged Gui Jiu over Tuoba Xiongzhen’s absence, while Old Sun revealed that the last Seven Spirit Blade had an owner but withheld their identity.
• Gui Jiu guessed that Duan Siping owned the last blade, but Sun Simiao did not confirm it.
• Sun Simiao said his deductions placed the opening on the Double Seventh Festival seven years later, when the seven stars aligned like strung pearls.
• Wu Longfeng doubted Sun Simiao’s prediction, but Sun Simiao swore that all seven blades could unlock the secret then.
• Wan Qingteng and Fang Chongyi asked where the secret could be found, but the chapter ended before Sun Simiao answered.

Sun Simiao explained that the Seven-Spirit Disc could reveal the Seven Spirit Blades’ secret location once all seven blades were assembled, but warned Wu Longfeng that exposing the final owner would endanger everyone. When Sun Simiao admitted he had designs for the seven years before the owner’s expected appearance, Wu Longfeng demanded an explanation and threatened him and Mu Jingfei.

• Wu Longfeng realized that all seven Seven Spirit Blades had to be placed in the Seven-Spirit Disc to reveal its map, and proposed gathering their owners.
• Wan Qingteng suggested they could pressure Tong Jiuyang, while Gui Jiu noted they still did not know the final blade owner’s identity.
• Sun Simiao warned that the group should not try to identify the last owner now, since Wu Longfeng could target the blade owners once he knew who they were.
• Sun Simiao proposed waiting until before the Double Seventh Festival seven years later, when the final owner would appear and the group could assemble the blades together.
• Wu Longfeng accused Sun Simiao of plotting during those seven years, and Sun Simiao admitted he had designs, prompting Wu Longfeng to demand an explanation and threaten him and Mu Jingfei.

Sun Simiao persuaded the gathered masters to wait seven years before revealing the map on the Seven-Spirit Disc, presenting the delay as a chance for Huang Xiao to grow stronger. Afterward, Wu Longfeng and Zhuge Zheng discussed killing Huang Xiao and returning Dali to its people.

• Sun Simiao explained that seven years would give Huang Xiao, unlike the older masters, a major opportunity to advance.
• Sun Simiao proposed revealing the map in Kaifeng one month before the Double Seventh Festival, seven years later, and the others agreed.
• Wu Longfeng told Zhuge Zheng they should kill Huang Xiao if an opportunity arose, especially after he returned to the Heavenly Demon Sect.
• Wu Longfeng said he would honor his promise to return Dali, while Zhuge Zheng offered to arrange the withdrawal of Taixuan Sect elders and disciples.
• Wu Longfeng chose to remain and watch for a chance to kill Huang Xiao before he returned to the Heavenly Demon Sect.

Wu Longfeng agreed to withdraw Taixuan Sect from Dali but remained intent on killing Huang Xiao, while Zhuge Zheng worried about Tuoba Xiongzhen. After Duan Siping imprisoned Duan Siying, Old Sun revealed that the Seven Spirit Blades could be activated on the annual Double Seventh Festival, not only seven years later, and hinted that the delay was for Huang Xiao’s sake.

• Wu Longfeng dismissed Zhuge Zheng’s concerns about Ling Tianya and Tuoba Xiongzhen, while Zhuge Zheng privately resolved to watch Tuoba more closely.
• Huang Xiao and Old Sun went to Duan Siying’s hiding place, where Duan Ying was excited to hear that Wu Longfeng had agreed to withdraw from Dali.
• Duan Siping returned with Duan Siying subdued and ordered him imprisoned for life, then Duan Ying led the sealed man away.
• Duan Siping confirmed that Wu Longfeng had agreed to activate the Seven-Spirit Disc in seven years, and Old Sun explained that his oath did not rule out an earlier date.
• Old Sun told Huang Xiao that the Seven Spirit Blades could be activated on the night of the Double Seventh Festival each year and said the seven-year delay was for Huang Xiao’s sake.

Old Sun asked Huang Xiao to spend seven years training at the Medicine King Hall so he could prepare to contend for the secret of the Seven Spirit Blades. Ling Tianya agreed to leave him in Old Sun’s care, postponing instruction in the Ten Thousand Demons Formless Art.

• Old Sun told Huang Xiao that he and Duan Siping believed his future strength could make him their chance to obtain the Seven Spirit Blades.
• Ling Tianya arrived, reprimanded Huang Xiao for lacking confidence, and discussed his unresolved suspicions about Tuoba Xiongzhen with Old Sun and Duan Siping.
• After Old Sun confirmed that matters in Dali were resolved, Ling Tianya offered to take Huang Xiao to Thousand Demon Gorge and teach him the Ten Thousand Demons Formless Art.
• Old Sun proposed that Huang Xiao remain at the Medicine King Hall for seven years, warning that learning another cultivation method now would be too much for him.
• Old Sun explained that Huang Xiao needed to stay protected until the secret of the Seven Spirit Blades was unlocked, since Wu Longfeng might pose a danger.

Huang Xiao agreed to spend seven years training under Old Sun at the Medicine King Hall while his allies departed to pursue their own cultivation. Old Sun set Huang Xiao the demanding goal of reaching the second realm, ideally within three years.

• Old Sun persuaded Huang Xiao to stay at the Medicine King Hall for seven years, assuring him that Ran Chou could protect the Heavenly Demon Sect.
• After the Taixuan Sect withdrew from Dali, Duan Ying took the throne, and Huang Xiao's group celebrated with him before leaving the city.
• Hong Yi and the others parted from Huang Xiao to return to Great Song, while Li Wujing chose to train with Dugu Sheng and the others planned seven years of seclusion.
• Huang Xiao traveled with Old Sun to the Medicine King Hall, paid his respects at Mu Yi's grave, and saw that the Ageless Spring had become an ordinary spring.
• Old Sun told Huang Xiao that he needed to reach the second realm during his seven years of training, ideally within three years, startling Huang Xiao.

Old Sun told Huang Xiao he needed to reach the second realm of the Everlasting Spring Youth-Restoring Art to have a chance at surviving a breakthrough to the ninth stage of the Heavenly Demon Skill and fighting Wu Longfeng. After Huang Xiao began meditating in preparation for his seventh rejuvenation, You Lian'er calmed her anger and went to meet three young ladies in the back garden.

• Old Sun explained that Huang Xiao needed the second realm of the Everlasting Spring Youth-Restoring Art to build enough internal power for a chance at the ninth stage of the Heavenly Demon Skill.
• Old Sun warned Huang Xiao that Wu Longfeng had likely mastered the Taixuan Mystical Art and had an advantage from his greater age, while Tuoba Xiongzhen remained a separate danger.
• Huang Xiao vowed to kill Wu Longfeng in seven years, and Old Sun gave him three days to settle his mind while he prepared medicinal pills for Huang Xiao's seventh rejuvenation.
• Huang Xiao sat down to meditate on a large rock, and Old Sun left to make preparations.
• You Lian'er's maidservant reported that three young ladies were waiting in the back garden, and You Lian'er composed herself before going to meet them.

You Lian'er and the other three women decided to attend Khan Lusheng's birthday banquet to draw out the Black Fire Sect, whose agents were secretly searching for Maidafa. Ran Chou rejected their plan, but agreed to reconsider after testing their strength in a spar.

• You Lian'er and the other women discussed Huang Xiao's seven-year absence and learned that Khan Lusheng had invited the Heavenly Demon Sect to his birthday banquet.
• You Lian'er accepted the invitation for all four women, then revealed that she hoped their appearance would lure out the Black Fire Sect's agents.
• The women proposed using themselves as bait to expose the Black Fire Sect, but Ran Chou refused because of the danger.
• You Lian'er and the others argued that they were strong enough to face the threat, and Zhao Xin'er challenged Ran Chou to assess their abilities.
• Ran Chou agreed to spar with the four women and said he would approve their plan if they earned his confidence.

Ran Chou agreed to let the four women represent the Heavenly Demon Sect at Khan Lusheng’s birthday after they lasted half an hour against him using the Yin-Yang Two Principles Saber and Sword Art. As the women traveled to the royal court, eldest prince Yeluoge Gaimeng’s brazen interest in Xiao Yan left A Luo Wu fearing trouble.

• Ran Chou acknowledged the four women’s strength after they endured half an hour of sparring and ordered that they represent the Heavenly Demon Sect at Khan Lusheng’s celebration.
• A Luo Wu learned that all four of the Sect Master’s future wives were coming and promised they would receive the grandest honors.
• The four women set out for Lusheng’s royal court with a small escort, discussing their combined techniques and anticipating the Black Fire Sect’s interference.
• A Luo Wu and eldest prince Yeluoge Gaimeng arrived with a thousand royal guards to welcome the women, and the guards required Gaimeng to dismount and hand over his saber.
• Gaimeng stared at Xiao Yan and later called her a woman a hero ought to possess, while A Luo Wu warned him to watch his words and feared the consequences.

Gaimeng ambushed the carriage carrying the Heavenly Demon Sect Sect Master's four wives, revealing that he had allied with the Black Fire Sect to seize them and challenge his father for the khan's throne. Aluowu recognized that Gaimeng had crossed a point of no return and feared for the women and the khanate.

• After Gaimeng and Aluowu left, Xiao Yan and the other women discussed whether Lusheng had sent his son to provoke them and draw the Heavenly Demon Sect into conflict with the Black Fire Sect.
• When the carriage stopped, Gaimeng's guards surrounded it, and he declared that he would capture the four wives to defy the Heavenly Demon Sect.
• Gaimeng's men were joined by several dozen Persians, whom Aluowu recognized as members of the Black Fire Sect.
• Gaimeng told Aluowu that he was borrowing the Black Fire Sect's strength because their father favored his fifth brother for the khan's throne.
• Gaimeng planned to capture the women and force his father to abdicate, while Aluowu warned that the prince had doomed himself and feared the consequences for the khanate.

The Ox Dharma King and five other Black Fire Sect Guardian Dharma Kings ambushed the four women, while Ran Chou appeared to protect them. The Black Fire Sect revealed that Wu Longfeng planned to kill Huang Xiao, then brought forward an even more powerful Persian-speaking expert, whom Ran Chou addressed in Persian.

• The Ox Dharma King intercepted the four women with five other Guardian Dharma Kings and a force of Black Fire Sect Envoys.
• Ran Chou appeared beside the women, having secretly come to protect them.
• The Ox Dharma King said Wu Longfeng would personally attack Huang Xiao and claimed the Black Fire Sect had intercepted the other Heavenly Demon Sect experts.
• The Ox Dharma King summoned a formidable middle-aged man from behind his group.
• Ran Chou surprised the women by speaking Persian directly to the newly arrived expert.

The four women challenged Habibullah, Sect Master of the Black Fire Sect, while Ran Chou faced the Ox Dharma King and the Five Great Kings. Habibullah’s incomplete mastery of Nine-Turn Heaven and Earth failed to give him an easy advantage, and the chapter left him surrounded by the women’s coordinated attacks.

• You Lian'er, Zhao Xin'er, Zhao Yunhui, and Xiao Yan mocked Habibullah’s incomplete Nine-Turn Heaven and Earth, and Ran Chou agreed to let them fight him.
• Habibullah accepted the challenge, while the Ox Dharma King and the Five Great Kings charged Ran Chou to keep him from intervening.
• The four women attacked Habibullah together, and he realized they were stronger and more coordinated than he had expected.
• Habibullah used footwork from Nine-Turn Heaven and Earth to evade Zhao Yunhui’s sword, but You Lian'er and Xiao Yan immediately pressed him with saber attacks.
• Habibullah suspected Maidafa had revealed the technique’s movements as Zhao Yunhui and Zhao Xin'er closed in with sword strikes that surrounded him.

Habibullah struggled against Zhao Yunhui, Zhao Xin'er, You Lian'er, and Xiao Yan, whose formation and knowledge of Nine-Turn Heaven and Earth let them counter his techniques. Ran Chou overwhelmed the Six Great Kings and the Black Fire Sect's envoys, leaving the sect's attack in disarray.

• Zhao Yunhui's instruction in Lingbo Ethereal Steps and Nine-Turn Heaven and Earth helped the four women counter Habibullah's attacks and keep him on the defensive.
• Habibullah realized the women knew his techniques and worked together too effectively for him to defeat any one of them.
• Gaimeng watched Habibullah falter and grew worried as Ran Chou began overpowering the Six Great Kings.
• Ran Chou struck down several of the Six Great Kings, leaving one king badly hurt and another with a numb leg.
• Ran Chou intercepted the Black Fire Sect's envoys and sent them crashing to the ground, unable to continue fighting.

Habibullah realized the Heavenly Demon Sect had lured him into an ambush and tried to save his followers as Ran Chou overwhelmed the Black Fire Sect forces. He helped the six kings escape, but Ran Chou pursued them while Habibullah remained behind.

• Habibullah recognized that the Four Women and Ran Chou had drawn him into a trap while the Heavenly Demon Sect's reinforcements approached.
• Habibullah broke free of the Four Women's formation and charged toward Ran Chou, who was about to finish off the wounded Ox Dharma King and the others.
• Habibullah intercepted Ran Chou's attack, suffered severe injuries, and used finger force to temporarily restore the six kings' strength.
• The Ox Dharma King, the other five kings, and several envoys fled, while Ran Chou ignored the envoys and pursued the six kings.

After the Black Fire Sect’s envoys fled, the exhausted Heavenly Demon Sect guards stopped their pursuit. Gaimeng tried to turn the Uyghur guards against them and kill A Luo Wu, but his own men subdued him.

• The Black Fire Sect’s envoys lost morale and scattered after their leaders were defeated, while the Heavenly Demon Sect guards killed several wounded pursuers before their commander ordered them to stop.
• The Heavenly Demon Sect guards exhausted their strength, and A Luo Wu and Gaimeng realized the consequences of the Black Fire Sect’s defeat.
• Gaimeng ordered the Uyghur guards to kill the Heavenly Demon Sect’s wounded, then killed a guard who hesitated and promised rewards for obedience.
• A Luo Wu warned the Uyghur guards against attacking, and Gaimeng turned his saber on him.
• A guard leader and several men intervened to protect A Luo Wu, then subdued Gaimeng despite suffering some wounds.

A Luo Wu tried to keep Gaimeng’s remaining Uyghur soldiers under control and convince the four women that Gaimeng had acted alone. Khan Lusheng arrived with armored cavalry and confronted Gaimeng, who accused him of seizing the throne by the same methods.

• A Luo Wu promised Gaimeng’s soldiers he would plead for them and waited for Ran Chou and the four women to return.
• Ran Chou treated the injured Heavenly Demon Sect guards with Palm Force, helping most of them recover enough to stand.
• A Luo Wu asked the four women to spare the soldiers and blamed Gaimeng, while Zhao Xin'er and Xiao Yan raised the possibility that someone else had directed the plot.
• Armored cavalry arrived, and A Luo Wu recognized Khan Lusheng among the riders.
• Lusheng demanded to know whether Gaimeng acknowledged his crime, and Gaimeng denied wrongdoing and accused Lusheng of taking the throne from his own family.

Lusheng punished Gaimeng and sought Ran Chou’s forgiveness after his son’s alliance with the Black Fire Sect. Ran Chou ordered Lusheng to exterminate the clans of anyone who had contacted the sect without reporting it, while sparing the thousand guards and praising A Luo Wu.

• Lusheng lashed Gaimeng repeatedly after Gaimeng defied him, then ordered him taken away.
• Lusheng apologized to Ran Chou and offered to execute Gaimeng and the thousand guards, but Ran Chou rejected the proposal as insufficient.
• Ran Chou ordered Lusheng to kill anyone who had contacted the Black Fire Sect without reporting it and to exterminate their clans.
• Lusheng agreed to carry out Ran Chou’s order and was told that the thousand guards would be spared because they had not attacked.
• Ran Chou praised A Luo Wu, and Lusheng said he would entrust him with greater responsibilities.

After the battle with Habibullah, the four women focused on cultivation as turmoil spread through the sects and seven years passed. Li Cong and Xu Yan Yun arrived at the thatched cottages on Medicine King Hall’s Back Mountain and sensed something unusual around Huang Xiao.

• Ran Chou and the four women accepted the purge in Uyghur as necessary to protect the Heavenly Demon Sect, though Habibullah escaped after losing three Guardian Dharma Kings.
• The four women trained at Medicine King Hall while the Great Song court stabilized, the Black Fire Sect withdrew from Khitan, and Habibullah turned his attention to destroying his rival faction.
• Seven years passed while Huang Xiao remained on the Back Mountain, practicing his methods under Old Sun’s guidance.
• A Medicine King Hall disciple led Li Cong and Xu Yan Yun to a spot near Huang Xiao’s cottages and warned them that something was wrong.
• Li Cong and Xu Yan Yun sensed the unusual surroundings, dismissed the frightened disciple, and ordered him to keep what happened secret.

Huang Xiao attempted to break through to the ninth stage of the Heavenly Demon Skill while Li Cong and Xu Yan Yun waited helplessly outside the hut. His meridians began to crack under the strain, leaving his breakthrough—and his life—in grave danger.

• A Medicine King Hall disciple fled the hut after struggling to endure the aura surrounding Huang Xiao.
• Li Cong and Xu Yan Yun judged Huang Xiao to be at a critical moment and decided they could only wait without disturbing him.
• Li Cong recalled that Huang Xiao had completed the first realm of the Everlasting Spring Youth-Restoring Art and entered its second before beginning his attempt to reach the ninth stage.
• Huang Xiao forced more northern darkness true qi from his Dantian, transforming it into heavenly demon true qi that flooded his meridians.
• When the true qi began flowing back into his Dantian, Huang Xiao resolved to keep pushing past his limits and seize the breakthrough opportunity.
• Huang Xiao's meridians began to crack under the pressure, causing him severe pain as his body trembled and he groaned.

Huang Xiao endured a life-threatening surge of Heavenly Demon True Qi until Qingfeng’s words from the Upper Clarity Scripture brought him to a state of clarity. His Northern Darkness True Qi absorbed the rampaging energy and repaired his meridians, leaving him stunned to find himself recovering.

• Xu Yan Yun tried to rush into the hut after Huang Xiao screamed, but Li Cong stopped her and told her he had to survive on his own.
• Huang Xiao’s Heavenly Demon True Qi battered and tore his meridians as he struggled to stay alive.
• Huang Xiao remembered Qingfeng and gained insight from the opening passage of the Upper Clarity Scripture.
• Huang Xiao’s Northern Darkness True Qi drew the Heavenly Demon True Qi back into his dantian and converted it.
• Huang Xiao’s Everlasting Spring Ageless True Qi circulated through his meridians and repaired most of the damage.
• Huang Xiao emerged from his strange state and was shocked to discover that his meridians had recovered.