Chapter Summaries

Huang Xiao learned that Little Phoenix’s true name was Red Phoenix and discussed whether his Minghong Saber was the Demon Hall’s missing Supreme Demon Saber. Red Phoenix remained with Huang Xiao partly because of the saber and partly because the masked old man backed him.

• Red Phoenix told Huang Xiao to call it by its true name and examined the Minghong Saber, which it suspected was the Supreme Demon Saber.
• Red Phoenix explained the saber’s legendary connection to the Demon Hall, while Huang Xiao argued that its disappearance date ruled out his saber being the same weapon.
• Red Phoenix revealed that divine beasts inherited memories from their parents, then admitted it had never met them and believed they would never return.
• Huang Xiao said the Minghong Saber could suppress the Ancient Evil Blades Tiger Wing and Inugami, and Red Phoenix praised its power while doubting it was the genuine Minghong Saber.
• Red Phoenix said it had stayed because of the saber, then admitted that the masked old man backing Huang Xiao was another reason.

Huang Xiao and Red Phoenix agreed to travel together while it recovered, and Red Phoenix took the name Demon Phoenix and disguised its feathers. Demon Phoenix explained that it could use the Heavenly Fire hidden within the Minghong Saber to heal and remove the blade’s rust, so Huang Xiao helped it settle beneath a tree for a month of recovery.

• Red Phoenix chose the name Demon Phoenix and changed its feathers to a black-and-yellow disguise, though it warned the disguise would fail if it fought at full strength.
• Demon Phoenix pointed out that Huang Xiao’s conspicuous scabbard could attract trouble, and Huang Xiao said he would shave it down to alter its appearance.
• Demon Phoenix explained that it had used dangerous Evil Qi to heal before, but would now rely on the Heavenly Fire deep within the Minghong Saber without harming its spirituality.
• Demon Phoenix said the Heavenly Fire could help restore its strength and dissolve the Minghong Saber’s rust, giving Huang Xiao a possible alternative to feeding the blade rare minerals.
• Huang Xiao and Demon Phoenix built a small thatched hut beneath a tree, where Demon Phoenix planned to recover for about a month while digesting the Beast Immortal Grass.

Huang Xiao trained for the Imperial Province Ranking Contest and sought to improve his mental cultivation after finding that he could not yet use the fifth form of the Heavenly Demon Demon Saber. His meditation strengthened his ability to draw on heaven and earth momentum, while Demon Phoenix recovered using the Minghong Saber’s Heavenly Fire flames.

• Huang Xiao considered the strength of Li Chaoxun and other young experts, and resolved to use the Ranking Contest to seek an opportunity to obtain the final three stages of the Heavenly Demon Skill.
• Huang Xiao failed to circulate his Heavenly Demon True Qi through the fifth form of the Heavenly Demon Demon Saber, so he stopped practicing and calmed his mind with the Xiantian Wuji Skill.
• Huang Xiao entered a state of deep tranquility, felt united with nature, and found that he could draw on heaven and earth momentum with power approaching that of a Void Martial Realm expert, though he did not break through.
• Demon Phoenix awakened the Heavenly Fire flames within the Minghong Saber to recover, and Huang Xiao set up a formation to contain the heat before Demon Phoenix stopped the flames from spreading.

Huang Xiao discussed Demon Phoenix’s recovery and the danger surrounding the Imperial Province Ranking Contest, then revealed that attending it was a task from Masked Old Man. Demon Phoenix questioned Huang Xiao’s mysterious background, guessed he might come from the Three Immortal Mountains, and Huang Xiao hesitated over whether to explain the task.

• Demon Phoenix explained that heavenly fire flame could restore his strength, though absorbing it would take much longer than a month.
• Huang Xiao and Demon Phoenix discussed the risks of the Imperial Province Ranking Contest and the enemies who might pursue Huang Xiao afterward.
• Demon Phoenix teased Huang Xiao about Jiang Liuli and learned that Huang Xiao had four wives he feared he might never see again.
• Huang Xiao said he had to attend the contest because Masked Old Man had assigned him a task, alarming Demon Phoenix.
• Demon Phoenix questioned Huang Xiao about his unusual techniques and powerful connections, then guessed he came from the Three Immortal Mountains.
• Huang Xiao said the contest was only something he would do along the way and hesitated before telling Demon Phoenix more about the task.

Huang Xiao told Demon Phoenix about his mastery of the Heavenly Demon Skill and his other secret techniques, then asked how the Imperial Province Ranking Contest could help him obtain the skill’s final three stages. Demon Phoenix proposed that defeating Chao Jue could persuade the Heavenly Demon Hall to accept Huang Xiao as a stronger contender against Pang Yi, leaving Huang Xiao to consider the unlikely opportunity.

• Huang Xiao revealed that he had mastered the ninth stage of the Heavenly Demon Skill and knew the complete Heavenly Demon Demon Saber Techniques, shocking Demon Phoenix.
• Huang Xiao explained that he had obtained the Heavenly Demon Skill and Transcendent Immortal Swordsmanship through fortunate encounters, but kept his origins secret.
• Huang Xiao asked Demon Phoenix how the Imperial Province Ranking Contest might lead to the final three stages of the Heavenly Demon Skill, and Demon Phoenix rejected the idea that the skill would be a contest prize.
• Demon Phoenix pointed out that Chao Jue and other young experts from the Three Great Halls would compete, and Huang Xiao agreed they would likely attend.
• Demon Phoenix suggested that if Huang Xiao defeated Chao Jue and demonstrated his strength, the Heavenly Demon Hall might accept him as a better choice to challenge Pang Yi.

Huang Xiao and Demon Phoenix discussed how Huang Xiao could gain the Heavenly Demon Hall’s support, and Huang Xiao considered killing Chao Jue to become the Hall’s chosen hope. Demon Phoenix explained the limits and hidden potential of Huang Xiao’s demonic arts and saber techniques, leaving Huang Xiao determined to master the fifth saber form before the Imperial Province Ranking Contest.

• Demon Phoenix suggested the Masked Old Man may have selected Huang Xiao as a future Heavenly Demon Hall expert, and Huang Xiao agreed that gaining the Hall’s support could secure his position.
• Huang Xiao said Chao Jue might need to die so the Heavenly Demon Hall would have no choice but to choose him, surprising Demon Phoenix with the killing intent in his words.
• Huang Xiao explained that he was willing to do whatever it took to survive, while Demon Phoenix warned that demonic arts could intensify his bloodlust.
• Demon Phoenix revealed that the Demon Hall’s three great halls had secret methods to refine true qi beyond the limit of a cultivation stage, and that Huang Xiao’s ninth-stage Heavenly Demon Skill had little room for further growth without such a method.
• Demon Phoenix said Huang Xiao’s fifth saber form could let him contend with Void Martial Realm experts, while later forms required the final stages of the Heavenly Demon Skill.
• Huang Xiao realized the Masked Old Man had limited how far he could master the saber manual without deeper cultivation, and resolved to master the fifth form before the Imperial Province Ranking Contest.

Huang Xiao and Demon Phoenix discussed his lost identity as the Transcendent Immortal Sword Lord’s successor and his plans to rely more on his own strength as they traveled toward Imperial Province. Meanwhile, a high steward investigated Xuan Ju’s disappearance and the missing supreme-grade Beast Immortal Grass, and Physician Chen recalled that Xuan Ju had asked about Huang Xiao’s little black bird.

• Demon Phoenix urged Huang Xiao to be less cautious and to use his backing, while Huang Xiao resolved to face the Jianghu as a member of the Demonic Path.
• Huang Xiao resumed practicing his saber technique as Demon Phoenix drew Heavenly Fire flames from the Minghong Saber.
• Physician Chen reported what he knew about Xuan Ju to the high steward, while Yang Fatty stood terrified beside him.
• The high steward rejected Physician Chen’s attempt to accept responsibility, and Yang Fatty fainted from fear.
• Asked whether Xuan Ju had mentioned any plans, Physician Chen remembered that Xuan Ju had asked about the little black bird and realized the question might be linked to his disappearance.

Physician Chen told the Upper Steward that Xuan Ju had likely pursued Huang Xiao, prompting a search for the disguised man. After two months of training, Huang Xiao and Demon Phoenix prepared to leave for Imperial Province, with Huang Xiao still unable to master the fifth saber form.

• Physician Chen described Huang Xiao and his intelligent black bird to the Upper Steward, who ordered portraits made and sent Mountain Manor agents to search for him.
• The Upper Steward set out toward Imperial Province, while Yang Fatty thanked Physician Chen and promised to repay any losses.
• Huang Xiao failed once again to execute the fifth saber form, and Demon Phoenix urged him not to force a breakthrough.
• Demon Phoenix explained that it had spent two months absorbing Heavenly Fire Flame from the Minghong Saber and was ready to continue recovering on the road.
• Huang Xiao decided to travel to Imperial Province for the Ranking Contest and keep Pang Yi as his target, despite not mastering the fifth form.

Huang Xiao and Demon Phoenix reached Imperial Province ahead of the Ranking Contest and settled into an inn in Chengde City. At the restaurant, Huang Xiao heard that the Heavenly Sword Sect’s failed attack on the Four Directions Trading Company had become a major Jianghu scandal, with rumors that powerful experts had died.

• Huang Xiao traveled with Demon Phoenix for a month and entered Imperial Province, where the Ranking Contest had brought many Jianghu figures but curtailed fighting near the Imperial City.
• Huang Xiao booked the last available private courtyard in Chengde City because the city’s inns were full.
• Huang Xiao noticed a decorative long flute in his room and became briefly excited before saying it was ordinary and recalling something from his past.
• Huang Xiao went to the inn’s restaurant with Demon Phoenix to hear recent Jianghu news.
• Diners discussed the Heavenly Sword Sect’s failed attack on the Four Directions Trading Company, saying the sect had lost experts and might have lost Half-Step or Void Martial Realm fighters.

Huang Xiao encountered the Fat and Thin Twin Demons after they killed four men over a restaurant seat. When the Alliance Guards arrived to investigate, the demons were still confronting Huang Xiao, and the chapter left their dispute unresolved.

• The Fat and Thin Twin Demons stormed into the restaurant, and Fat Demon killed a man who mocked him.
• After their identities as Fallen Help experts were revealed, Fat Demon ordered three more men to kneel and then killed them.
• Fat Demon demanded Huang Xiao give up his table, but Huang Xiao refused and learned that the inn had given him priority as an honored guest.
• The young master arrived and insisted on taking Huang Xiao's table, while Demon Phoenix urged Huang Xiao to kill the demons.
• Five Alliance Guards entered the restaurant to investigate the disturbance, and Huang Xiao learned they served the Wulin Alliance Leader but were currently controlled by the Heavenly Sword Sect.

Huang Xiao avoided a fight with the Fat and Thin Twin Demons after the Alliance Guards intervened, but soon encountered Li Chaoxun, who challenged him over their unfinished contest. Before they could fight, a young master approached a veiled woman and her maid, and the maid ordered him to leave.

• The Alliance Guards warned the Fat and Thin Twin Demons against further trouble, and the young master had them clean up the four bodies.
• Huang Xiao spotted Li Chaoxun arriving at the wine shop with a veiled woman and her maid, then met Li Chaoxun upstairs.
• Li Chaoxun demanded that Huang Xiao fight him, and Huang Xiao mocked his boast by mentioning Sword God Yi.
• The Fat and Thin Twin Demons realized Huang Xiao was far stronger than they had thought and considered leaving with their young master.
• The young master approached the veiled woman to invite her to his table, and her maid coldly told him to get lost.

Huang Xiao encountered Zhangsun Youyue and Xiao Qing at an inn, where Li Chaoxun killed three members of the Fallen Help after they threatened the women. Huang Xiao tried to leave without revealing himself, but Zhangsun Youyue invited him to meet, and Li Chaoxun learned that the disguised man knew about his identity as the Transcendent Immortal Sword Lord’s true successor.

• The young master of the Fallen Help insulted the Veiled Woman, but the Fat and Thin Twin Demons recognized her and Xiao Qing as dangerous and tried to placate them.
• Li Chaoxun killed the young master and the Fat and Thin Twin Demons with Sword Qi after the young master revealed his Demonic Path affiliation.
• The Veiled Woman identified herself as Zhangsun Youyue, and Huang Xiao recognized her while worrying that she might detect him beneath his disguise.
• Huang Xiao tried to leave, but Li Chaoxun blocked him; Zhangsun Youyue urged Li Chaoxun to save his strength for the Ranking Contest and invited Huang Xiao to become acquainted.
• Huang Xiao declined Zhangsun Youyue’s invitation and called Li Chaoxun the Transcendent Immortal Sword Lord’s successor, prompting whispers about the impostor who had used that identity.
• Li Chaoxun resolved to punish Huang Xiao, whom he believed had impersonated him and deceived Zhangsun Youyue.

Huang Xiao left the restaurant without revealing his identity, while Li Chaoxun and Zhangsun Youyue realized that the man they had met was disguised and went to seek lodging in his courtyard. Back there, Demon Phoenix noticed Huang Xiao’s emotions had shifted when he mentioned Zhangsun Youyue and warned that she and Li Chaoxun might have sensed it too.

• Huang Xiao left the restaurant with Demon Phoenix while Li Chaoxun continued to believe he had confronted an unremarkable stranger.
• Li Chaoxun and Zhangsun Youyue sensed that the stranger’s appearance and presence did not match and concluded he was disguised.
• After learning the city’s inns were full, Li Chaoxun paid a waiter to lead them to a separate courtyard with vacant rooms, and Zhangsun Youyue joined him.
• Huang Xiao returned to his courtyard and told Demon Phoenix he had avoided fighting Li Chaoxun to prevent injury or exposing his identity.
• Demon Phoenix told Huang Xiao that Zhangsun Youyue’s look had seemed unusual and that Huang Xiao’s emotional reaction might have been noticed by her and Li Chaoxun.

Huang Xiao’s flute stirred his longing for You Lian'er, his family, and his friends, while Demon Phoenix teased him about Zhangsun Youyue and Jiang Liuli. As Zhangsun Youyue and Li Chaoxun approached his courtyard to investigate the music, the waiter leading them suddenly collapsed at the entrance.

• Demon Phoenix noticed Huang Xiao’s unease after he saw Zhangsun Youyue and teased him about his feelings for her and Jiang Liuli.
• Huang Xiao thought of his four wives, family, and friends, and resolved to seek Senior Li at sea for clues about returning home.
• Huang Xiao played the Bright Moon Tide-Rising Song and poured his longing into the flute’s notes.
• Demon Phoenix heard people approaching and realized a confrontation might be coming.
• Zhangsun Youyue, Li Chaoxun, and Xiao Qing followed the flute music to Huang Xiao’s courtyard, where the waiter suddenly crumpled to the ground.

Huang Xiao, disguised as Brother Ling, allowed Zhangsun Youyue, Li Chaoxun, and Xiao Qing to stay in his courtyard for the night. As Zhangsun Youyue settled in, Xiao Qing challenged her lingering thoughts about Huang Xiao and argued that Li Chaoxun was the better match, leaving their conversation tense.

• Zhangsun Youyue drew the unconscious waiter away from the entrance and debated with Xiao Qing and Li Chaoxun whether Huang Xiao’s flute music had been meant as a warning.
• Huang Xiao realized the three visitors had come seeking lodging and invited them inside, while Demon Phoenix acted like a clumsy little bird to conceal his abilities.
• Li Chaoxun asked for two rooms, and Huang Xiao readily offered them; Zhangsun Youyue thanked him and called him Brother Ling.
• Zhangsun Youyue and Li Chaoxun chose rooms on either side of Huang Xiao’s, while Xiao Qing warned that their host might be dangerous.
• Xiao Qing asked why Zhangsun Youyue remained interested in Huang Xiao and insisted that Li Chaoxun was the true successor and a better match, prompting Zhangsun Youyue to tell her to stop.

Zhangsun Youyue discussed Huang Xiao’s uncertain identity and expected arrival at the Imperial Province Ranking Contest, then decided to send Li Chaoxun away by telling him Sword God Yi had reached the Imperial City. Xiao Qing worried about the plan and the risks of leaving Zhangsun alone with Ling.

• Xiao Qing urged Zhangsun Youyue to consider accepting Li Chaoxun, but Zhangsun wrote the word “successor” and affirmed that Huang Xiao could be Senior Li’s successor even if he was not his personal disciple.
• Zhangsun said Huang Xiao’s Heavenly Demon Skill and unusual internal power left his identity unclear, and she believed he would attend the Imperial Province Ranking Contest.
• Zhangsun turned away Li Chaoxun when he came to visit, and he left after wishing her well.
• Zhangsun decided she needed to send Li Chaoxun away and planned to tell him that Sword God Yi had arrived in the Imperial City so he would go challenge him.
• Xiao Qing warned Zhangsun that the plan could be discovered and that Ling might pose a danger, but Zhangsun said she trusted her judgment and her strength.

Zhangsun Youyue maneuvered Li Chaoxun into leaving to seek Sword God Yi, while she stayed behind with Huang Xiao. After Li Chaoxun departed, Zhangsun Youyue asked Huang Xiao when he planned to go to the Imperial City, and he saw a chance to avoid her.

• Xiao Qing wondered whether Huang Xiao had taken Phoenix Blood for himself, and Zhangsun Youyue reasoned that he might still need it despite having used it at Mist Mountain.
• Zhangsun Youyue received a messenger pigeon’s note about Sword God Yi’s whereabouts and gave it to Li Chaoxun, who decided to leave at once to challenge him.
• Zhangsun Youyue said she would stay behind to cultivate in seclusion, and Li Chaoxun warned Huang Xiao not to harm her before departing for the Imperial City.
• Li Chaoxun vented his frustration by splitting a large tree, then consoled himself that defeating Sword God Yi might earn Zhangsun Youyue’s admiration.
• Zhangsun Youyue asked Huang Xiao when he would leave for the Imperial City, and Huang Xiao considered using her planned seclusion to get away from her.

Huang Xiao agreed to travel to the Imperial City with Zhangsun Youyue, while growing more convinced that she had recognized his identity. Before they could leave, a Deputy Gang Leader of the Fallen Help stormed into the courtyard looking for the killer of one of his men, and Huang Xiao confronted him.

• Huang Xiao agreed to travel with Zhangsun Youyue, despite worrying that she might know who he really was.
• Demon Phoenix told Huang Xiao there was a strong chance Zhangsun Youyue had recognized him and might be curious about his origins.
• Zhangsun Youyue questioned Huang Xiao about his swordsmanship, saber skills, and flute playing as they prepared to leave.
• A Deputy Gang Leader of the Fallen Help arrived with more than a dozen men and demanded to know where the person who had killed someone the previous day had gone.
• Huang Xiao pointed out the Deputy Gang Leader as the one responsible for the broken gate and told the shop assistant to make the innkeeper demand compensation from him.

Huang Xiao used two flute sound arts to defeat the Fallen Help's Deputy Gang Leader and his subordinates, leaving Zhangsun Youyue and Xiao Qing astonished by his power. Afterward, he named the pieces Bright Moon Tide-Rising Song and Heavenly Dragon Roar, concealing the word “Demon” from the latter.

• The Deputy Gang Leader confronted Huang Xiao, Zhangsun Youyue, and Xiao Qing while demanding information about the killer.
• At Zhangsun Youyue's suggestion, Huang Xiao began playing the Bright Moon Tide-Rising Song, whose notes overwhelmed the Deputy Gang Leader's subordinates and killed them.
• The Deputy Gang Leader charged Huang Xiao, who changed to the Heavenly Demon Dragon Roar and blasted him backward with the force of the music.
• The Deputy Gang Leader died with blood pouring from his seven orifices, while Zhangsun Youyue and Xiao Qing reacted with shock and awe.
• Huang Xiao told Zhangsun Youyue that his pieces were called Bright Moon Tide-Rising Song and Heavenly Dragon Roar.

Huang Xiao’s Heavenly Demon Dragon Roar clashed with the Rebirth Mantra of two Small Buddha Temple monks, and he defeated them without resorting to Heavenly Demon True Qi. The injured monks, Yonglian and Yongxu, appeared in the courtyard and confronted him over the corpses.

• Zhangsun Youyue and Huang Xiao recognized the Buddhist chanting as the Rebirth Mantra, and Huang Xiao answered it with his flute.
• Yonglian’s chanting faltered, so Yongxu joined him, but Huang Xiao escalated his flute through the eighth roar.
• The two monks screamed and their chanting stopped, ending the Sound Arts contest with Huang Xiao standing firm.
• Yonglian and Yongxu entered the courtyard, identified themselves as Small Buddha Temple monks, and accused Huang Xiao of disrupting harmony by killing people.
• Huang Xiao rejected their accusation and said he had fought back because the Fallen Help members had come to kill him.