Chapter Summaries

Huang Xiao subdued the rampaging heavenly demon true qi and broke through to the ninth stage, then spent several days consolidating his strength. He learned that the Founding Patriarch had gone to investigate Tuoba Xiongzhen.

• Huang Xiao discovered that his true qi had returned to his dantian and that the mysterious state had helped him control the heavenly demon true qi.
• Huang Xiao circulated the Heavenly Demon Skill, realized he had reached the ninth stage, and his laughter shattered the thatched cottages.
• Li Cong and Xu Yan Yun confirmed Huang Xiao's breakthrough, and Huang Xiao went to wash after seeing how bloodied he was.
• Huang Xiao consolidated his strength over several days and said he was confident he could face even Wu Longfeng.
• Huang Xiao asked about the Founding Patriarch's absence, and Li Cong said he had gone to investigate Tuoba Xiongzhen.

Huang Xiao learned that You Lian'er had rushed to the Medicine King Hall because her father, Li Jiqian, was near death after an ambush. With Old Sun away, Li Cong and Xu Yan Yun agreed to go see whether they could help keep him alive until the Founding Patriarch returned.

• Xu Yan Yun warned Huang Xiao to stay on guard against Tuoba Xiongzhen, and Li Cong and Xu Yan Yun gave him permission to return to the Heavenly Demon Sect before the trip to Kaifeng.
• A commotion outside the Medicine King Hall revealed You Lian'er forcing her way in to seek urgent help.
• Huang Xiao stopped You Lian'er, and she broke down in his arms before telling him that Li Jiqian was dying.
• You Lian'er explained that masters from the Esoteric Sect and the Black Fire Sect had ambushed Li Jiqian while he faced the Tubo army, worsening his already fragile health.
• After learning Old Sun was away, Huang Xiao asked Li Cong and Xu Yan Yun for help, and they agreed to go examine Li Jiqian and try to keep him alive.

Huang Xiao arrived in Xiping Prefecture too late to save Li Jiqian, who had died the day before. He forced Li Deming to claim the Xia throne at once and killed the officials who opposed him, leaving the court to face Tubo's invasion under a new king.

• Li Cong and Xu Yan Yun examined Li Jiqian, confirmed he could not be saved, and returned to Medicine King Hall.
• Huang Xiao urged Li Deming to take the throne immediately, and Li Deming announced his succession to the assembled officials.
• Duke Ming challenged Li Deming's claim and demanded a succession edict, so Huang Xiao killed him in the Main Hall.
• Huang Xiao revealed that he was the Heavenly Demon Sect Master and warned that the court's dissenters were a threat during Tubo's invasion.
• After ministers agreed that the court's canker had to be rooted out, Huang Xiao killed the officials who had opposed Li Deming.

Huang Xiao returned to Xiping Prefecture after reaching the ninth stage, secured Li Deming’s rule, and prepared to punish the Black Fire Sect. You Lian’er insisted on joining him to kill Habibullah, while Huang Xiao also vowed to avenge Zhao Guangyi and lead the Heavenly Demon Sect back to power.

• Huang Xiao told Li Deming he would deal with the Esoteric Sect and Black Fire Sect experts, leaving Li Deming to handle Tubo’s army.
• Li Deming ordered the Imperial Guards to exterminate the clans of the officials Huang Xiao had killed, cementing his hold on the throne.
• Huang Xiao agreed to return to the Heavenly Demon Sect with You Lian’er, who vowed to kill Habibullah herself.
• Huang Xiao comforted Zhao Yunhui and Zhao Xin’er and promised to avenge their father, Zhao Guangyi, by killing Tuoba Xiongzhen.
• Ran Chou saw that Huang Xiao had reached the ninth stage and celebrated the Heavenly Demon Sect’s chance to regain its former glory.
• Huang Xiao announced that he would attack the Black Fire Sect first to avenge You Lian’er’s father and mark his breakthrough.

Huang Xiao agreed that Xiao Yan and the other three women would lead a surprise attack on the Black Fire Sect after the Seven Spirit Blades matter was settled. Maidafa arrived with news and reminded Huang Xiao of his promise to bring him along, and Huang Xiao put him in charge of guiding them to the sect’s stronghold.

• Ran Chou supported the four women’s plan to avenge Lian'er by destroying the Black Fire Sect, and Huang Xiao assigned them the task after the Seven Spirit Blades matter was resolved.
• Xiao Yan proposed attacking the Black Fire Sect’s Main Altar in Persia by surprise, and Huang Xiao and Ran Chou agreed the tactic could prevent Habibullah from fleeing.
• Maidafa tried to reach Huang Xiao, was stopped and kicked by a disciple, then gained permission to enter the Main Hall.
• Maidafa told Huang Xiao he had promised seven years earlier to take him along when he dealt with Habibullah, and Huang Xiao agreed to bring him along as their guide.

Huang Xiao took Maidafa and his four wives to Persia to confront Habibullah and avenge You Lian'er's father. At the Black Fire Sect's Main Altar, the three remaining Dharma Kings discussed the threat and disagreed over how to prepare for a possible attack.

• Huang Xiao decided to lead a small group ahead while the Heavenly Demon Imperial Guards prepared to deal with the rest of the Black Fire Sect.
• Huang Xiao and his four wives set out with Maidafa, avoided Black Fire Sect forces, and reached Persia half a month later.
• The Ox Dharma King, Dog Dharma King, and Rabbit Dharma King learned Huang Xiao had emerged from seclusion and discussed the danger he posed to Habibullah.
• The Ox Dharma King ordered heightened vigilance and surveillance of Central Plains travelers, while the Dog Dharma King and Rabbit Dharma King favored withdrawing Black Fire Sect followers from Uyghur and lying low.

Huang Xiao and his companions entered the Black Fire Sect’s Main Hall with Maidafa’s help and confronted the three Dharma Kings. Habibullah was absent, so Huang Xiao declared that he would destroy the sect, while Zhao Yunhui’s formation cut the hall off from the guards outside.

• The Ox Dharma King warned the Dog Dharma King and Rabbit Dharma King that Huang Xiao might attack, but they dismissed his concern.
• Huang Xiao, Maidafa, You Lian'er, and their companions appeared in the Main Hall, and Maidafa translated Huang Xiao’s taunts for the Dog Dharma King and Rabbit Dharma King.
• The Ox Dharma King accused Maidafa of betraying the Black Fire Sect, and Maidafa argued that sect rules entitled him to succeed as Sect Master because Habibullah lacked the complete Nine-Turn Heaven and Earth Heart Method.
• Huang Xiao asked where Habibullah was, and the Dog Dharma King and Rabbit Dharma King said that Habibullah had left the sect and anticipated their arrival.
• Huang Xiao announced that the Black Fire Sect no longer needed to exist, and Zhao Yunhui’s formation prevented the guards outside from hearing the Dog Dharma King’s call for help.

Huang Xiao let You Lian'er, Zhao Xin'er, and Xiao Yan fight the Ox, Dog, and Rabbit Dharma Kings, who were quickly overwhelmed. After Zhao Xin'er and Xiao Yan killed two of them, Huang Xiao stopped You Lian'er from continuing to torment the last one and killed the Dog Dharma King himself.

• Huang Xiao agreed to let three of the women fight the three Dharma Kings, and Zhao Yunhui stayed behind to watch.
• Zhao Xin'er used her Yin-Yang Mysterious Union Palm to overpower the Rabbit Dharma King.
• You Lian'er badly wounded the Dog Dharma King while Zhao Xin'er and Xiao Yan fought the other two.
• The Rabbit Dharma King and Ox Dharma King died at Zhao Xin'er's and Xiao Yan's hands.
• You Lian'er continued attacking the crippled Dog Dharma King until Huang Xiao killed him and ordered her to stop.

Huang Xiao and his companions killed the Black Fire Sect’s Three Kings and left the sect in disarray while searching unsuccessfully for Habibullah. As the Heavenly Demon Sect’s forces arrived to attack, Huang Xiao offered Maidafa the chance to become Sect Master, but Maidafa refused because he could not hold the position against rival claimants.

• Huang Xiao, Zhao Yunhui, and Xiao Yan calmed You Lian'er after her burst of rage, and the three women killed the Three Kings in the Main Hall.
• Maidafa hacked at the Three Kings’ corpses, took their heads as an offering for his late father, and searched the sect with Huang Xiao and the others for Habibullah, who was absent.
• After Huang Xiao’s group left, Black Fire Sect disciples found the Three Kings dead, and fear and disorder spread through the sect.
• Ran Chou arrived with the Heavenly Demon Sect’s follow-up force as Huang Xiao and his companions watched the battle from a hill outside the Black Fire Sect.
• Huang Xiao asked Maidafa whether he wanted to become Sect Master, but Maidafa refused because he lacked the support and strength to withstand returning rivals.

After the Black Fire Sect’s Main Altar was destroyed, Huang Xiao returned to the Heavenly Demon Sect and began preparing for the Seven Spirit Blades secret, which had to be reached within four months. On his way to Kaifeng, he encountered Shaolin monks at Mount Song, and one of them accused him of being Ling Tianya’s grandson and barred his way.

• Maidafa told Huang Xiao he planned to go to the Central Plains and rebuild the Black Fire Sect there, but wanted to see Habibullah die first.
• Ran Chou reported that the Black Fire Sect’s Main Altar had been purged, and Huang Xiao led the others away.
• Huang Xiao realized he had only four months before the appointed time for the Seven Spirit Blades and received Old Sun’s message to prepare for Kaifeng.
• Huang Xiao traveled to Kaifeng alone, intending to leave the Heavenly Demon Sect’s experts to guard against the Taixuan Sect’s designs on Great Song.
• At Mount Song, Huang Xiao encountered Liaochen and several old monks, one of whom recognized him as Ling Tianya’s grandson and threatened not to let him leave.

Huang Xiao encountered Shaolin monks who blamed him for Divine Monk Pudu’s death, but he quickly defeated them while sparing their lives. After defending Huang Xiao to his Martial Uncles, Liaochen left Shaolin to follow him toward Kaifeng.

• Liaochen stood between Huang Xiao and his Shaolin Martial Uncles, insisting Huang Xiao was not responsible for Divine Monk Pudu’s death.
• When the monks attacked, Huang Xiao used his Heavenly Demon Dragon Roar to stop and severely wound several of them, showing restraint for Liaochen’s sake.
• Liaochen apologized to Huang Xiao, who warned the monks before riding on toward Kaifeng.
• The injured monks rebuked Liaochen for defending Huang Xiao, but he maintained that Huang Xiao should not bear the blame for his elders’ grievances.
• Liaochen told his Martial Uncles he was going to Kaifeng and hurried after Huang Xiao.

Huang Xiao reunited with Hong Yi and Liaochen in Kaifeng, where they discussed the strength of the martial arts masters gathering for the Seven Spirit Blades deadline. The chapter left Huang Xiao asking how far Hong Yi had advanced in the Dragon-Capturing Divine Palm.

• The Shaolin monks disagreed over Liaochen’s ties to the Demonic Path, while others noted Huang Xiao was heading to Kaifeng as the Seven Spirit Blades deadline approached.
• Huang Xiao and Liaochen arrived in Kaifeng and found Hong Yi already there, then joined him at a restaurant.
• Hong Yi recognized that Huang Xiao had reached the ninth stage of the Heavenly Demon Skill, and Huang Xiao explained that some past Sect Masters had been formidable even without reaching that stage.
• Hong Yi discussed which Taixuan Sect masters he might challenge and said he wanted to demonstrate the Dragon-Capturing Divine Palm to the Esoteric Sect in memory of his slain master.
• Huang Xiao asked Hong Yi which of the Dragon-Capturing Divine Palm’s moves he had mastered.

Hong Yi, Huang Xiao, and Liaochen discussed their martial arts and the growing conflict between the Esoteric Sect and the Thousand Demons Sect in Khitan. They drank together and planned for the coming struggle over the Seven Spirit Blades, while the whereabouts of Dugu and Li Wujing remained unknown.

• Hong Yi and Liaochen compared their martial arts, with Liaochen explaining that he had fully mastered three of Shaolin's Eighty-One Supreme Arts.
• Hong Yi proposed that they drink to their ambitions, and Liaochen joined them with tea while Hong Yi spoke of challenging Dalha.
• Huang Xiao said martial arts could not be ranked apart from the strength of their users and described how Dalhe and the Esoteric Sect had become entangled with Wu Longfeng and Khitan's power struggle.
• Huang Xiao explained that the struggle over the Seven Spirit Blades would arrive in four months and said he had arranged for Ran Chou to bring Heavenly Demon Sect experts to Kaifeng.
• Huang Xiao, Hong Yi, and Liaochen drank together, then admitted they did not know what had happened to Dugu and Li Wujing.

Huang Xiao worried that Dugu Sheng and Li Wujing might have been attacked by the Taixuan Sect, so Hong Yi and Liaochen set out to investigate Ghost Wave Bend. Huang Xiao stayed in Kaifeng to prepare for the coming event and then met Zhao Yuankan, Du Ge, Tong Jiuyang, and Min Yijiang at the imperial palace, where Tong Jiuyang reacted to claims that Huang Xiao had surpassed him.

• Hong Yi told Huang Xiao and Liaochen that Dugu Sheng and Li Wujing had left a message asking them to meet in Kaifeng when the secret of the Seven Spirit Blades was unlocked.
• Huang Xiao feared the Taixuan Sect might have gone after Dugu Sheng and Li Wujing to stop the spread of the Taixuan Sword, prompting Hong Yi to share his concern.
• Hong Yi and Liaochen left Kaifeng for Ghost Wave Bend, while Huang Xiao agreed to stay and prepare for the major event in four months.
• Du Ge met Huang Xiao and escorted him to the imperial palace, where Zhao Yuankan praised Huang Xiao's cultivation.
• Tong Jiuyang and Min Yijiang arrived, and Tong Jiuyang challenged Du Ge's claim that Huang Xiao had surpassed him before wondering whether he was getting old.

Zhao Yuankan discussed opening border trade with Xiazhou, while Tong Jiuyang and Min Yijiang revealed their concerns about the Taixuan Sect’s growing alliances and the fight over the Seven Spirit Blades. Huang Xiao urged them to remain confident and vowed to face Wu Longfeng again.

• Tong Jiuyang sent Du Ge back to the Six Gates as experts were expected to arrive in Kaifeng.
• Zhao Yuankan proposed larger border trading markets with Xiazhou, and Huang Xiao agreed that Li Deming would understand the offer.
• Tong Jiuyang and Min Yijiang said they had little confidence because Tuoba Xiongzhen and Dalhe might be aligned with the Taixuan Sect.
• Tong Jiuyang and Min Yijiang discussed the uncertain positions of Wan Qingteng, Mu Jingfei, and Fang Chongyi in the struggle over the Seven Spirit Blades.
• Huang Xiao said Old Sun, Duan Siping, his grandfather, and he could still contend with their opponents, then revealed his intent to fight Wu Longfeng again.
• Tong Jiuyang and Min Yijiang sensed Huang Xiao’s formidable aura and realized how far his strength had surpassed theirs.

Huang Xiao confirmed that he had reached the Ninth Stage, reassuring Tong Jiuyang and Min Yijiang that they could oppose Wu Longfeng. Their relief was interrupted by news that a hundred thousand Khitan troops had gathered, prompting Zhao Yuankan to order reinforcements to the frontier while General Yang raised concerns about provisions.

• Tong Jiuyang and Min Yijiang learned that Huang Xiao had broken through to the Ninth Stage and discussed their renewed ability to stand against Wu Longfeng.
• General Yang reported that a hundred thousand Khitan troops had assembled near the frontier and requested reinforcements.
• Tong Jiuyang and Min Yijiang suspected the Esoteric Sect was behind the Khitan mobilization, and Huang Xiao said the struggle for the Seven Spirit Blades could determine what happened next.
• Zhao Yuankan ordered General Yang to mobilize surrounding armies and depart for the frontier within three days.
• General Yang hesitated over the order and began raising the problem of supplying provisions for the army.

Zhao Yuankan authorized Liu Dacheng and the Dragon Guard to purge officials and imperial clansmen suspected of disrupting provisions, while Huang Xiao agreed to stay in Kaifeng as Jianghu experts gathered. The Seven Spirit Blades were due to assemble there in four months, and Huang Xiao left with Liu Dacheng to catch up.

• General Yang warned Zhao Yuankan that underhanded schemes involving provisions persisted, and Huang Xiao and Tong Jiuyang urged a purge.
• Zhao Yuankan summoned Liu Dacheng and gave him full authority to arrest anyone involved, regardless of status, and execute those who deserved death.
• Huang Xiao considered traveling to Khitan, but Tong Jiuyang and Min Yijiang persuaded him to remain in Kaifeng as experts arrived.
• Huang Xiao offered to accompany Liu Dacheng on the purge, and Liu Dacheng said he would begin preparations to act in the city the next day.
• Tong Jiuyang noted that the Seven Spirit Blades would gather in Kaifeng in four months, and Huang Xiao left the Imperial Study with Liu Dacheng.

Six Gates constables and soldiers stormed the Prince of Wei's Mansion under an imperial order to arrest the Prince and those on their list. Xu Busi chose to defend the mansion, and after calling for a senior's help, he waited without receiving an answer.

• The soldiers broke into the Prince of Wei's Mansion, but Xu Busi and the mansion guards drove them back.
• Constable Qian and Six Gates members arrived, and Qian told Xu Busi they had come to arrest the Prince of Wei.
• Xu Busi realized the emperor had ordered the arrest and told several guards to escort the Prince away while he held off the attackers.
• Qian revealed the mansion was surrounded and ordered his men to kill anyone on the arrest list who resisted.
• Xu Busi called for a senior to help him, but no one answered.

Huang Xiao led the capture of the Prince of Wei after killing the Prince's Mansion's hidden expert. With the prince taken alive and his household subdued, Huang Xiao left the remaining arrests in Kaifeng to Constable Qian and the soldiers.

• Huang Xiao appeared behind Xu Busi and dropped the corpse of the Prince of Wei's foremost expert at his feet.
• Huang Xiao ordered Constable Qian to arrest the household and kill anyone who resisted.
• The Prince of Wei was brought out, and Huang Xiao said he had spared the prince because he had not fully obeyed the Taixuan Sect.
• The Prince of Wei was escorted away, while the rest of his household surrendered or were killed.
• Huang Xiao left Constable Qian to handle the remaining targets, and soldiers and Six Gates experts subdued Kaifeng's targets within half a day.

After Zhao Yuankan’s crackdown restored order in Kaifeng City, Hong Yi and Liaochen returned from Ghost Wave Bend without finding Dugu Sheng and Li Wujing. Huang Xiao feared the Taixuan Sect had taken them and sent Hong Yi to investigate their disappearance.

• Zhao Yuankan executed many people, and his decrees began to be carried out without obstruction.
• Huang Xiao stayed at Willow Shade Villa while Tong Jiuyang and Min Yijiang handled arrangements in Kaifeng City.
• The steward told Huang Xiao that Hong Yi and Liaochen had returned, and Huang Xiao hurried to meet them.
• Hong Yi and Liaochen reported finding signs of fierce fighting at Ghost Wave Bend but no trace of Dugu Sheng or Li Wujing.
• Huang Xiao blamed the Taixuan Sect and vowed to destroy it if anything had happened to his missing companions.
• Hong Yi left to mobilize the Beggar Gang’s disciples and investigate their whereabouts.