Chapter Summaries

Huang Xiao and the badly wounded Zhang Jin guarded the Princess’s carriage as the Imperial Guards struggled against the Demonic Path fighters. Zhang Jin killed one attacker before collapsing, but a young woman in green appeared and killed the two experts about to finish him.

• Huang Xiao offered to help the Imperial Guards, and Zhang Jin insisted on defending the carriage despite his grave wounds.
• Three Imperial Guards joined the battle, but Demonic Path experts broke through and rushed toward the Princess.
• Zhang Jin ordered Huang Xiao to hold his ground and charged three attackers, killing one with a sudden burst of strength.
• After Zhang Jin collapsed from his injuries, Huang Xiao rushed to protect him from two advancing experts.
• A young woman in green flashed past Huang Xiao and killed both Demonic Path experts.

Lü Ling rescued Zhang Jin and joined the battle, while Huang Xiao drove the Princess’s carriage out of the encirclement. A poisoned dart struck Huang Xiao, and after an hour he could barely continue, leaving the Princess to recognize his poisoning and bring out a pill.

• Lü Ling defeated two Demonic Path experts, gave Zhang Jin an imperial healing pill, and went to help Chen Ao after the Princess ordered her to intervene.
• Zhang Jin sent Huang Xiao to drive the Princess away while he stayed behind to confront two attackers.
• Huang Xiao drove the carriage through the encirclement as Chen Ao and the Imperial Guards held off the Demonic Path fighters.
• A Demonic Path expert fired poisoned darts at Huang Xiao and the horses; Huang Xiao evaded most of them but was struck in the back.
• After driving for an hour, Huang Xiao stopped as the poison weakened him, and the Princess emerged with a pill after realizing he had been poisoned.

After taking the Life-Prolonging Pill, Huang Xiao recovered enough to flee with the Third Princess, whose face reminded him of Zhao Xin'er. They abandoned the conspicuous carriage and escaped on foot, but Demonic Path practitioners caught up with them, leaving Huang Xiao to hide with the princess and prepare to fight.

• The Third Princess gave Huang Xiao a Life-Prolonging Pill, suppressing his poison for three days, and Huang Xiao mistook her for Zhao Xin'er.
• Huang Xiao realized the Third Princess only resembled Zhao Xin'er and resumed driving while they discussed escaping the Demonic Path practitioners.
• At the Third Princess's suggestion, Huang Xiao sent the carriage racing away and fled with her on foot as she left secret trail signs for Uncle Yan and the others.
• After walking for half an hour, the Third Princess grew exhausted, and Huang Xiao offered to carry her.
• Huang Xiao pulled the Third Princess into bushes when he heard the pursuing Demonic Path practitioners nearby, and he prepared to fight as they revealed they had discovered the empty carriage.

Huang Xiao and the Princess hid from Demonic Path pursuers, then decided to remain in the bushes after the searchers passed them by. Chen Ao and the Imperial Guards arrived and reunited with the Princess, while Huang Xiao wondered at Uncle Yan’s unusual status.

• A Demonic Path expert searched the bushes where Huang Xiao and the Princess were hiding but inexplicably left without revealing them.
• Huang Xiao assumed the expert was secretly on the royal family’s side and suggested changing direction, but the Princess persuaded him to stay where they had already been searched.
• Huang Xiao thought of Zhao Xin'er and the Heavenly Mountain Pavilion while planning their next move with the Princess.
• Hoofbeats approached, and Huang Xiao recognized Chen Ao leading more than a dozen wounded Imperial Guards, including Zhang Jin and Lü Ling.
• Chen Ao and the others dismounted and knelt to greet the Princess, while Huang Xiao noticed that Uncle Yan alone remained standing beside her.

After the princess’s party survived the attack, Huang Xiao learned that the poison in his body was Life-Severing Hour and that Uncle Yan could not cure it. The princess planned to seek help from Medicine God Valley on Mount Taibai, leaving Huang Xiao with only three days to live unless they found an antidote.

• Du Ge told Huang Xiao that Uncle Yan had defeated Gu Yi and Fu Yan after Huang Xiao escaped with the carriage.
• Du Ge discovered Huang Xiao’s poisoned wound, and Uncle Yan identified the poison as Life-Severing Hour, which had already spread too far to force out.
• Uncle Yan told Huang Xiao that the Life-Prolonging Pill had given him three days and that only an antidote could save him.
• Uncle Yan suggested seeking help from Medicine God Valley, which had studied the poisons of its sworn enemy, Poison God Valley.
• The princess decided to write to Medicine God Valley and ask its elders to save Huang Xiao.

The princess sent Huang Xiao to Medicine God Valley with her personal letter, hoping its experts could cure his Life-Severing Hour poison, and promised to investigate his request for revenge against Bai Tianqi. After receiving instructions about the valley’s illusory formations, Huang Xiao rode off to seek treatment while Du Ge remained with the princess.

• The princess gave Huang Xiao a personal letter for Medicine God Valley and promised to fulfill an unfulfilled wish if the valley could not cure him.
• Huang Xiao asked the princess to avenge his master by killing Bai Tianqi, and she tasked Uncle Yan with investigating before deciding whether he deserved punishment.
• The princess warned Huang Xiao to call out that he had come in the Third Princess’s name if Medicine God Valley’s illusory formations trapped him.
• The chapter described the unusual standing of Medicine God Valley and Poison God Valley, whose powers led the martial world to respect them and avoid offending them.
• Du Ge wished Huang Xiao luck, and Huang Xiao rode away toward Medicine God Valley.

Huang Xiao reached Mount Taibai while the poison in his body was beginning to take effect and chose the path marked Medicine God Valley. Two Medicine God Valley disciples then discovered that Poison God Valley had switched the entrance markers and restored them, unaware that Huang Xiao had already gone up the wrong path.

• Huang Xiao rode west for three days to Mount Taibai, growing weaker as the Life-Severing Hour's poison took hold.
• Huang Xiao found two paths at the mountain entrance and followed the right-hand path marked Medicine God Valley.
• Two Medicine God Valley disciples arrived and found the markers switched, with the Poison God Valley marker on the left.
• The senior brother explained that Li Yuncong and Poison God Valley had used the trick before, directing people seeking treatment into the deadly Five Poisons Formation.
• The two disciples returned the markers to their proper places and headed back to help their master refine pills.

Huang Xiao wandered onto the path to Poison God Valley and was attacked by swarms of venomous creatures while already weakened by poison. Unable to tell whether the creatures were real or part of an illusion, he took out the letter the Princess had written for him.

• Huang Xiao continued along the wrong mountain path, believing he was nearing Divine Physician Valley.
• Huang Xiao encountered snakes that sprang at him, and he fought them with his sword.
• The snakes’ blood drew more of them, while giant centipedes and spiders surrounded Huang Xiao.
• Huang Xiao tried to convince himself the creatures were illusions, but they engulfed him and left him covered in painful bites.
• Huang Xiao lost the ability to distinguish reality from illusion and took the Princess’s letter from his robe.

Huang Xiao used Princess Yunhui’s letter to seek help after entering the Five Poisons Formation, unaware that he had wandered into Poison God Valley rather than Medicine God Valley. Li Yuncong recognized the Black Token that had fallen from Huang Xiao’s robe and hurried to take him and the token to his master.

• Huang Xiao presented Princess Yunhui’s handwritten letter and begged Medicine God Valley to cure his Life-Severing Hour poison.
• Li Yuncong and his junior sister watched Huang Xiao struggle through the Five Poisons Formation, and Li Yuncong withdrew the poisonous creatures when he heard Huang Xiao call for Medicine God Valley.
• Huang Xiao mistook Li Yuncong for a Medicine God Valley expert, then fainted when Li Yuncong told him he was in Poison God Valley.
• Li Yuncong caught Huang Xiao and the letter, then picked up the Black Token that had fallen from Huang Xiao’s robe.
• Li Yuncong carried Huang Xiao away to report the Black Token to his master, while his junior sister followed.

Li Yuncong brought Poison God Valley’s elder to examine the unconscious Huang Xiao, who had been poisoned by the Life-Severing Hour. The elder confirmed Huang Xiao was recovering and recognized his Everlasting Spring True Qi, leaving Li Yuncong and his junior sister to watch over him until he woke.

• The elder concluded Huang Xiao had survived the Life-Severing Hour with help from the court’s Life-Prolonging Pill, and Li Yuncong presented a letter linked to Princess Yunhui.
• The elder mildly reprimanded Li Yuncong and his junior sister for tricking martial artists in the Five Poisons Formation, then confirmed Huang Xiao’s Black Token was genuine.
• The elder examined Huang Xiao and recognized his Everlasting Spring True Qi, saying he was connected to Poison God Valley and would likely wake the next day.
• The elder ordered Li Yuncong to fetch Vitality Restoring Pills and told the junior sister to report when Huang Xiao woke, then left to see the Valley Master.
• Li Yuncong went to the dispensary while his junior sister stayed with Huang Xiao, wondering how he had obtained the Black Token.

Fang Du showed the Valley Master Huang Xiao’s Black Token, prompting the Valley Master to decide he must inform his secluded master. After Huang Xiao woke in Poison God Valley, Xu Yan questioned him while he waited to learn whether he could leave.

• Fang Du presented Huang Xiao’s Small Iron Token to the Valley Master, who confirmed it was a Black Token and told Fang Du to look after Huang Xiao.
• The Valley Master reflected that the token concerned a matter that had weighed on his master for many years and decided to tell him about it.
• Huang Xiao woke the next day, and Li Yuncong left to report his condition to their master.
• Xu Yan introduced herself as the Hundred Poisons Fairy and told Huang Xiao that he was in Poison God Valley.
• Huang Xiao asked to leave, but Xu Yan said his departure depended on her master and began questioning him.

Xu Yan questioned Huang Xiao about his sect leader’s token, then Fang Du took him to meet the Valley Master of Poison God Valley. The Valley Master sent Fang Du away and began questioning Huang Xiao.

• Xu Yan asked Huang Xiao about his Black Token, and he explained that it was the Green Ox Gate’s sect leader token passed down by his master.
• Huang Xiao discovered the token was missing, and Xu Yan assured him that her master had it before taking his silk handkerchief from his robes.
• Xu Yan teased Huang Xiao about the handkerchief until Fang Du arrived and ordered her to return it.
• Fang Du took Huang Xiao to meet the Valley Master, while Xu Yan and Li Yuncong hurried away after learning where they were going.
• The Valley Master sent Fang Du outside and told Huang Xiao to answer his questions truthfully.

Huang Xiao explained the Green Ox Gate’s history to the Poison God Valley master, who revealed the sect’s deep ties to Poison God Valley and accepted Huang Xiao as a disciple. The chapter ended with Huang Xiao learning that the Everlasting Spring Art he practiced was only the first part of a powerful, complete cultivation method.

• Huang Xiao told the valley master that the Green Ox Gate had been founded a hundred years earlier by Green Ox Daoist and that he was its fourth sect leader.
• The valley master examined the Green Ox Gate’s sect leader token and asked Huang Xiao about its succession and the Huaqing Sect, then learned that the Huaqing Sect had already been wiped out.
• The valley master told Huang Xiao to remain in Poison God Valley and declared him a third-generation disciple, of the same seniority as Fang Du.
• The valley master explained that the Green Ox Gate was tied to Poison God Valley because both used the Everlasting Spring Art as a cornerstone cultivation method.
• The valley master revealed that the complete Everlasting Spring Art had three parts and could lead to realms far beyond the first-class level, leaving Huang Xiao stunned.

Huang Xiao accepted the Valley Master's offer and became a disciple of Poison God Valley, where he learned he could advance quickly through cultivation. He was assigned Fang Du as his senior brother and was to live in Lingyun Court, while Fang Du was ordered to bring Huang Xiao's three senior brothers from Green Ox Gate to the valley.

• The Valley Master persuaded Huang Xiao to remain in Poison God Valley, promising that he could reach the First-Class Realm in three years, and Huang Xiao knelt to become his disciple.
• Huang Xiao asked for his three senior brothers to join him, and the Valley Master agreed to send Fang Du to Green Ox Gate to bring them back.
• The Valley Master explained the sect's token and seniority system, gave Huang Xiao a Yellow Token, and appointed Fang Du to teach him the rules and martial arts.
• Fang Du introduced Huang Xiao to Li Yuncong and Xu Yan as their youngest martial uncle, and they respectfully paid their respects.
• Fang Du told Li Yuncong and Xu Yan to prepare Lingyun Court as Huang Xiao's residence and said he would choose cultivation methods for him the next day.

Huang Xiao settled into his new position as Poison God Valley’s martial uncle and learned about the sect’s poison arts, hierarchy, and cultivation methods. Li Yuncong and Xu Yan revealed that they had reached the middle volume of the Everlasting Spring Art, while mastering it was rare even among the valley’s strongest elders.

• Li Yuncong and Xu Yan addressed Huang Xiao as their martial uncle and brought him to Lingyun Court, where Li Yuncong gathered servants to clean it.
• The servants learned Huang Xiao was Li Yuncong’s martial uncle and bowed to him.
• Huang Xiao sat with Li Yuncong and Xu Yan as they explained Poison God Valley’s poison arts, cultivation methods, and leadership.
• Huang Xiao asked about their cultivation, and Li Yuncong said he was first-rate middle grade while Xu Yan was first-rate lower grade.
• Li Yuncong and Xu Yan explained that they had reached the middle volume of the Everlasting Spring Art, which few in the valley mastered completely.

Xu Yan explained to Huang Xiao that experts who reached the three-sixty-year cultivation limit had to break through within a limited time or risk losing their chance to attain the peerless realm. Their conversation was interrupted by Sun Bang, who mocked Huang Xiao and left doubting whether he was truly a martial uncle.

• Li Yuncong and Xu Yan explained that reaching the peerless realm required a difficult breakthrough, and Xu Yan described the cultivation-dissipation hurdle at three sixty-year cycles.
• Xu Yan told Huang Xiao that the valley's five grand elders were at least a hundred and twenty years old, and Huang Xiao encouraged her to keep pursuing the peerless realm.
• Sun Bang arrived, mocked Li Yuncong and Xu Yan, and questioned Huang Xiao's identity and weak cultivation.
• Xu Yan identified Huang Xiao as her martial uncle, and Li Yuncong warned Sun Bang that he could be reported to the Punishment Hall elder.
• Sun Bang left and privately wondered whether Huang Xiao really was a martial uncle, deciding that the lack of an official announcement excused his disrespect.

Huang Xiao learned how Sun Bang’s Power-Devouring Poison Force dissolved and absorbed opponents’ internal power, and realized his own meridians could absorb power even more efficiently. He asked to read the secret manual so he could study how to integrate internal power more effectively.

• After Sun Bang left, Xu Yan and Li Yuncong explained that he practiced the feared Power-Devouring Poison Force, a supreme art created by one of Poison God Valley’s five grand elders.
• Li Yuncong described how the art used poisons from countless venomous creatures to dissolve an opponent’s internal power and absorb a portion of it, helping Sun Bang become one of the strongest disciples of their generation.
• Huang Xiao compared the art with his altered meridians and Dantian as the Sea, and concluded that he could absorb at least half of an opponent’s power, far more efficiently than its practitioners.
• Huang Xiao decided to study Dantian as the Sea to integrate absorbed power more effectively, then asked whether he could read the Power-Devouring Poison Force manual.
• Xu Yan and Li Yuncong warned Huang Xiao not to practice the harmful art, and Li Yuncong explained that Huang Xiao could read it because of his higher standing but should consult his master before attempting to practice it.

Huang Xiao learned more about the Death Seal and discussed his cultivation path with Fang Du, who advised him to build his strength before choosing whether to make or use poisons. Fang Du took him to the Cultivation Archive to revise his training plans.

• Li Yuncong explained that only the valley master and grand elders could practice the complete Death Seal, while a simplified version could control anyone it struck.
• Huang Xiao told Xu Yan that his late master had taught him the Death Seal method, though he could not tell whether it was simplified or complete.
• Fang Du advised Huang Xiao to focus on cultivation and learn about poison-making and poison-use until he reached the First-Class Realm.
• Fang Du told Huang Xiao that Poison God Valley's resources could help him reach first-class in about five years and master the first part of the Everlasting Spring Art.
• Fang Du brought Huang Xiao to the Cultivation Archive and warned him to be respectful to its caretaker, Hu Wei.

Huang Xiao toured the Poison God Valley’s Hidden Arts Chamber with Fang Du, learned about the sect’s manuals and the path to greater cultivation, and agreed to help bring his Green Ox Gate senior brothers to the valley. Fang Du set out to retrieve them with Godslayer and a letter from Huang Xiao.

• Hu Wei let Huang Xiao read or practice methods on the first and second floors but barred him from the third.
• Fang Du explained the chamber’s collections and told Huang Xiao that adapting methods through comprehension could lead to breakthroughs or new techniques.
• Fang Du revealed that he had recently reached the peerless realm and discussed how scriptures such as the Scripture of Great Peace could inspire cultivation methods.
• Fang Du offered to visit the Green Ox Gate and bring Huang Xiao’s three senior brothers back to the valley.
• Huang Xiao gave Fang Du Godslayer as proof of his identity and agreed to write a detailed letter for the senior brothers.

Fang Du arrived at Green Ox Temple and reunited with his three junior brothers, where he encountered Jiang Ying, the expert guarding the temple. After they exchanged their identities and affiliations, Fang Du revealed that he had come for his junior brothers.

• Qingyun and Qinghe finished their morning devotions and left the main hall while Qingfeng stayed to recite scriptures.
• Jiang Ying sensed an expert approaching and warned Qingfeng, Qingyun, and Qinghe to be careful.
• Fang Du reached Green Ox Temple, recognized his three junior brothers, and assessed Jiang Ying as a powerful expert.
• Jiang Ying and Fang Du introduced themselves as experts from the Heavenly Qilin Pawnshop and Poison God Valley.
• Fang Du told Jiang Ying that he had come to Green Ox Temple for his three junior brothers.