Chapter Summaries

Huang Xiao fell into the deadly lake after Jia Kong and Xiang Guiqing overwhelmed him, and they assumed he had died. Fan Zhongkun intercepted them as they tried to leave, but fled when others approached, leaving Huang Xiao's fate unknown.

• Huang Xiao was badly wounded by Xiang Guiqing and kicked into the lake by Jia Kong, where flames erupted and he disappeared beneath the water.
• Jia Kong and Xiang Guiqing believed Huang Xiao had been reduced to ash and tried to reach the cliff, but Fan Zhongkun knocked them back over the lake.
• Fan Zhongkun confronted the two men with Inugami, and they recognized him and hesitated to challenge the blade.
• As more people approached, Fan Zhongkun threatened to kill Jia Kong and Xiang Guiqing later, then left.

After Huang Xiao was presumed dead in the lake, Xiang Guiqing and Jia Kong joined the factions preparing to break the formation, while Zhangsun Youyue and Jiang Liuli were prevented from rescuing him. The chapter ends with Jiang Liuli revealing that Huang Xiao had possessed 121 Formation Marks.

• Xiang Guiqing and Jia Kong joined the southern-shore forces and argued over Zhong Tianlang's death and Jia Kong's decision to kick Huang Xiao into the lake.
• Xiang Guiqing seized a Sword Pavilion man by the throat after he mocked the Monster Dao and Ghost Dao forces, then released him at Jia Kong's urging.
• Zhangsun Youyue tried to rally Bishui Palace disciples to rescue Huang Xiao, but Li Chaoxun stopped them and had her taken away; Sword God Yi also placed Jiang Liuli under guard.
• Jia Kong and Xiang Guiqing told the assembled factions they had only fifteen and twenty-nine Formation Marks left, respectively, and claimed Huang Xiao had carried many more.
• A Sword Pavilion subordinate returned from questioning Jiang Liuli and reported that Huang Xiao had possessed 121 Formation Marks.

Sword God Yi and the other leaders used Formation Marks to send men into the lake, but the formation remained intact even after hundreds of marks were consumed. They concluded they needed more marks and began preparing to kill those gathered on shore to collect them.

• Jiang Liuli’s messenger reported that Huang Xiao had held more than a hundred Formation Marks and that a powerful expert might avenge his death; Sword God Yi dismissed the warning.
• Xiang Guiqing revealed Huang Xiao’s Imperial Remnant Manor Token, while the leaders discussed the Formation Marks consumed by Huang Xiao, Zhong Tianlang, Jia Kong, and Xiang Guiqing.
• Sword God Yi ordered Jia Kong’s Heavenly Sword Sect member to be sacrificed; the man killed himself, and the Demon and Ghost Factions member took his Formation Marks.
• After the Bishui Palace member and then the Demon and Ghost Factions member died in the lake, the flames weakened but the formation still did not break.
• Sword God Yi said the group was likely short of Formation Marks, and Pang Yi proposed gathering more by killing people; Yong Xing silently refused to protect the allied sects from sharing the burden.

Hu Kelie, Yong Xing, and the other factions slaughtered their former allies to collect enough Formation Marks to break the formation. Meanwhile, Huang Xiao survived beneath the lake with the Minghong Saber’s protection and spotted the red glow of the Longevity Pill Manual below.

• Hu Kelie, Yong Xing, and the other factions turned on their weaker allies to gather Formation Marks, while Sword God Yi, Li Chaoxun, and Pang Yi joined the slaughter.
• Hu Kelie failed to break through the Sword Pavilion’s coordinated defense, then attacked the Heavenly Sword Sect’s forces and clashed briefly with Jia Kong before they both withdrew.
• Huang Xiao sank beneath the lake as his Formation Marks were consumed, and Jia Kong and Xiang Guiqing assumed he had died.
• The Minghong Saber’s crimson light shielded Huang Xiao from the lake’s flames after his Formation Marks ran out.
• Huang Xiao stayed underwater to avoid Jia Kong and Xiang Guiqing, then spotted a red glow on the lakebed and recognized it as the location of the Longevity Pill Manual.

Huang Xiao discovered a waterless chamber beneath the lake, where the Longevity Pill Manual’s nine jade slips hovered above a pillar of fire jade in a boiling lava pool. After failing to draw the slips through their formation, he sensed their medicinal aura restoring his strength and sat down to heal, leaving the slips unobtained.

• Huang Xiao passed through a formation that kept the lake water out and found a chamber surrounding a boiling lava pool.
• Huang Xiao saw nine jade slips hovering above a massive pillar of fire jade and recognized them as the Longevity Pill Manual.
• Huang Xiao examined the formations and realized that even if he obtained the slips, the powerful people waiting on shore could take them from him.
• Huang Xiao tried to pull the jade slips toward him with his remaining internal power, but his force dissipated before reaching them.
• Huang Xiao sensed a medicinal fragrance from the jade slips, felt his energy and injuries recovering, and sat down to circulate his energy.

After recovering beside the lava pool, Huang Xiao let the Minghong Saber absorb the lava’s essence, only to sense that it was disturbing a formation suppressing the lava. The saber then flew toward the fire jade and the nine Jade Slips, leaving Huang Xiao unsure what it intended to do.

• Huang Xiao recovered fully after the medicinal fragrance from the nine Jade Slips restored his injuries and true qi.
• Huang Xiao drew the Minghong Saber and realized it yearned for the lava.
• Huang Xiao allowed the Minghong Saber to fly over the pool and absorb the lava’s essence.
• Huang Xiao sensed that the saber was affecting a Confinement Formation that suppressed the lava and feared an eruption.
• The Minghong Saber flew toward the fire jade above the nine Jade Slips, and Huang Xiao wondered whether it meant to absorb the flames within it.

Huang Xiao watched the Minghong Saber absorb the flame essence surrounding the nine Jade Slips, activating a formation that revealed the Longevity and Imperishability Scripture’s Longevity Chapter. After memorizing it, he saw the writing vanish and turned his attention to the saber’s newly reduced rust.

• The Minghong Saber absorbed the red flame essence around the nine Jade Slips, revealing white phantom images above them.
• Huang Xiao recognized the images as the Longevity and Imperishability Scripture and memorized the Longevity Chapter as its characters appeared.
• The scripture’s characters and the Jade Slips’ white halos vanished, and Huang Xiao concluded that the formation could only be activated once.
• Huang Xiao wondered whether an Imperishability Chapter also existed and decided that obtaining the Longevity Chapter was already a great fortune.
• Huang Xiao saw that the Minghong Saber had lost more of its rust and hoped it could be completely restored.

Huang Xiao studied the Longevity Chapter while waiting for the Minghong Saber to absorb the jade slips’ flame essence, then devised a dangerous way to refine his true qi using heart fire. He tried drawing flame essence from the lava into his meridians, but his Heavenly Demon True Qi began to vanish rapidly as it contained the heat.

• Huang Xiao considered the Longevity Chapter and judged that, despite his recent breakthrough, he still lagged behind Pang Yi in cultivation and true qi.
• Huang Xiao linked the Longevity Chapter’s instruction to lower heart fire into the dantian with the Demon Refining Formula and speculated that heart fire could refine true qi.
• Huang Xiao noticed the Minghong Saber storing the absorbed flame essence and decided to borrow the lava’s remaining heat to create heart fire.
• Huang Xiao used Northern Darkness Absorption to draw a small amount of flame essence into his meridians and wrapped it in Heavenly Demon True Qi.
• Huang Xiao felt the pain subside, then discovered that the Heavenly Demon True Qi surrounding the flame essence was being consumed at a frantic rate.

Huang Xiao refined a small portion of his heavenly demon true qi with flame essence, then risked crossing the unstable lava pool to seize the nine jade slips. He caught one, but it pierced through his palm and shot away toward the lake’s surface.

• Huang Xiao discovered that carefully exposing his heavenly demon true qi to flame essence produced a small amount of more powerful refined true qi.
• Huang Xiao refined less than a tenth of his true qi while the grand formations around the lava pool grew unstable.
• Huang Xiao recalled the Minghong Saber, which had absorbed most of the flame essence from the jade slips and shed its rust.
• Huang Xiao charged across the lava pool toward the nine jade slips, dodging eruptions and blasting through a pillar of lava as the formations cracked.
• The nine jade slips shot away as Huang Xiao reached for them, and the one he caught pierced through his palm before flying toward the lake’s surface.

Huang Xiao escaped the collapsing Lava Pool formation as the nine jade slips flew away, then the factions broke the lake formation and rushed for the Longevity Pill Manual. The chapter ended as Liu Chongming dodged another lava eruption and eight streaks of light shot from the water beneath him.

• Huang Xiao escaped the Lava Pool as its formation collapsed and lake water poured in, leaving the Fire Jade Pillar behind.
• The factions gathered more than a hundred Formation Marks through a slaughter that devastated the Allied Powers, then argued over who would break the lake formation.
• Eight representatives entered the lake formation, and after the weaker factions' men died, one of the Three Great Powers' men announced that it had broken.
• Liu Chongming and the remaining Allied Powers charged toward the lake, while the other factions sent subordinates ahead to test whether it was safe.
• A lava pillar swallowed the three men who had broken the formation, and later eruptions forced others to dodge as Liu Chongming neared the water.
• Liu Chongming dodged another lava pillar, and eight streaks of light shot from the water where he had been.

Liu Chongming survived catching the ninth jade slip and fled as the factions pursued him. Meanwhile, Sword God Yi and the other leaders fought over the remaining unclaimed slip until Huang Xiao emerged from the lake, alive and ready to contend for it.

• Liu Chongming watched eight men burn to ashes after catching the first jade slips, then saw others survive once the danger had diminished.
• Liu Chongming caught the delayed ninth jade slip, suffered only a burn, and fled into the forest as former allies and faction members chased him.
• Sword God Yi, Pang Yi, Li Chaoxun, and the other leaders struggled over the last unclaimed jade slip, repeatedly disrupting one another's attempts to seize it.
• The leaders struck the lake beneath the jade slip when they sensed someone approaching, and Huang Xiao emerged after evading their combined attack.
• Huang Xiao laughed that he was still alive and said his injuries had healed, while the leaders remained focused on the jade slip.

Sword God Yi used a special disc to claim a second Jade Slip, then turned against Huang Xiao, who retreated to avoid being surrounded. Sword God Yi and Li Chaoxun instead ambushed Pang Yi, and Yong Xing, Hu Kelie, Jia Kong, and Xiang Guiqing joined the attack as Pang Yi ordered the God-Burying Hall to withdraw.

• The Jade Slip flew toward Sword God Yi, who used a formation-marked disc to attract it and claimed it as his own.
• Sword God Yi blamed Huang Xiao for disrupting the Sword Pavilion's plans and threatened to kill him; Huang Xiao retreated when he saw several others might join in.
• Sword God Yi and Li Chaoxun charged toward Huang Xiao, but turned and attacked Pang Yi as they passed him.
• Pang Yi blocked their surprise attack and ordered the God-Burying Hall's people to retreat.
• Yong Xing, Hu Kelie, Jia Kong, and Xiang Guiqing charged at Pang Yi.

Pang Yi tried to escape after Sword God Yi and the other factions joined forces against him, but Hu Kelie, Li Chaoxun, and Chenwu moved to stop him. As the God-Burying Hall’s men fought to buy Pang Yi time, Chenwu charged at him in the name of the Jianghu and all under heaven.

• Pang Yi attacked Hu Kelie while trying to break through toward the South Shore, and Hu Kelie held him off despite being injured by the fifth form of the God-Burying Demon Saber Technique.
• Huang Xiao recognized Pang Yi’s fifth-form saber strike and realized he remained at a disadvantage against Pang Yi.
• Li Chaoxun overtook Sword God Yi and struck at Pang Yi, who dodged and continued fleeing.
• A God-Burying Hall subordinate rushed to confront Li Chaoxun so Pang Yi could escape, and Sword God Yi ordered the allied factions to slaughter the Hall’s men.
• Hu Kelie called on Chenwu to intervene, and Chenwu charged at Pang Yi, declaring he acted for the Jianghu and all under heaven.

Sword God Yi and the allied sects revealed their Demon-Slaying Order and moved to kill Pang Yi, while Huang Xiao was caught in the pursuit. Pang Yi was badly wounded, and Huang Xiao dove into the lake to escape Jia Kong and Xiang Guiqing, but his pursuers kept watch from above.

• Pang Yi repeatedly changed direction to draw Huang Xiao into the pursuit, while Huang Xiao tried to flee the people blocking the shore.
• Sword God Yi announced the sects’ Demon-Slaying Order, and the group made Pang Yi and Huang Xiao targets because of their ties to the Demonic Path.
• Huang Xiao attacked Pang Yi with the Minghong Saber and escaped ahead as Sword God Yi and four others surrounded Pang Yi.
• Sword God Yi and the others smashed Pang Yi into the lake, then pursued him as he emerged gravely wounded and fled.
• Jia Kong and Xiang Guiqing attacked Huang Xiao from behind, but he sank into the lake to evade them, leaving Jia Kong and the other interceptors watching for him to surface.

As the Lake erupted into lava, Huang Xiao used the chaos to escape the pursuers and reached the mountain woods, where Jia Kong, Xiang Guiqing, and five Half-Step Martial Realm experts cornered him. With the lava eruption spreading and time running short, Huang Xiao drew the Minghong Saber and prepared to fight.

• The Lake boiled as lava surged from its bed, forcing the fighters to flee; Huang Xiao escaped the water and killed three men by knocking them into the lava-filled Lake.
• Huang Xiao saw Pang Yi break through the shore encirclement and flee while Sword God Yi and others pursued him.
• Huang Xiao used his Sound Art to slip past five men and ran toward the mountain woods, with Jia Kong, Xiang Guiqing, and the five men chasing him.
• A huge lava column erupted near the Lake and set the surrounding woods ablaze as Xiang Guiqing and Jia Kong caught Huang Xiao and surrounded him with the five Half-Step Martial Realm experts.
• Xiang Guiqing and Jia Kong attacked, and Huang Xiao drew the Minghong Saber, gathering Heavenly Demon True Qi along its blade.

Huang Xiao fought Xiang Guiqing and Jia Kong while five other experts surrounded them, struggling to withstand their coordinated attacks. As the two closed in, Jia Kong unleashed his newly revealed Fourfold Force, leaving Huang Xiao facing their strongest assault.

• Jia Kong used Threefold Force while Xiang Guiqing attacked from another direction, forcing Huang Xiao to dodge and counter with his Fourth and Fifth Forms.
• Huang Xiao struck Xiang Guiqing with the Fifth Form, but Xiang Guiqing blocked it at the cost of substantial True Qi, and Jia Kong continued pressing the attack.
• Xiang Guiqing and Jia Kong recognized that Huang Xiao's saber had grown stronger, but their joint assault wounded him and left him unable to use the Fifth Form freely.
• Huang Xiao used elusive footwork to make Xiang Guiqing and Jia Kong separate, then struck Xiang Guiqing with another Fifth Form that appeared weakened.
• Jia Kong rushed Huang Xiao and unleashed Fourfold Force, his strongest Heaven-Splitting Palm technique, as the surrounding experts watched.

Huang Xiao used refined Heavenly Demon True Qi to unleash a devastating Fifth Form, grievously wounding Jia Kong, but he was left with little power and faced Xiang Guiqing and five other experts. Elsewhere, Jiang Liuli and Zhangsun Youyue pursued Chao Jue and Lou Feishang, who fled with their forces nearly defeated and began discussing whether the chaos offered them another opportunity.

• Huang Xiao's refined Heavenly Demon True Qi empowered his Fifth Form to crush Jia Kong's Fourfold Force and slash open his chest, leaving Jia Kong gravely wounded.
• Xiang Guiqing charged Huang Xiao, but Jia Kong shouted that Huang Xiao had used the Demon Refining Formula, making Xiang Guiqing pause; Huang Xiao silently welcomed the delay while realizing he could barely fight again.
• Jiang Liuli learned that Chao Jue and Lou Feishang had fled, and Zhangsun Youyue joined her in leading their followers in pursuit.
• Zhangsun Youyue and Jiang Liuli killed the Demonic Path experts covering the retreat, while Chao Jue and Lou Feishang fled with nearly all their subordinates dead or wounded.
• Lou Feishang told Chao Jue that the events of the past three days had crushed their chances of becoming the next Hall Master, but suggested the situation might still offer them an opportunity.

Zhangsun Youyue and Jiang Liuli led their disciples in attacking Chao Jue and Lou Feishang, who were already outnumbered and wounded. As the women closed in, Lou Feishang told Chao Jue to repay his favor with his life, leaving Chao Jue stunned.

• Lou Feishang and Chao Jue decided they might benefit if Pang Yi died, then prepared to face Zhangsun Youyue and Jiang Liuli.
• Jiang Liuli and her Sword Pavilion disciples attacked Lou Feishang while Zhangsun Youyue and three Bishui Palace disciples surrounded Chao Jue.
• Zhangsun Youyue wounded Chao Jue and battered him with sword attacks, while Jiang Liuli's group left Lou Feishang badly injured.
• Lou Feishang rushed to Chao Jue's aid and blocked Zhangsun Youyue's sword, saving him at the cost of more true qi and a chest injury.
• Jiang Liuli and Zhangsun Youyue argued over which man to kill first, then both groups charged at Chao Jue and Lou Feishang.
• Chao Jue said he would not live to repay Lou Feishang's favor, and Lou Feishang told him to repay it with his life.

Lou Feishang betrayed Chao Jue to escape, and Zhangsun Youyue and Jiang Liuli killed Chao Jue before discussing their feelings for Huang Xiao and the risks of his joining the Heavenly Demon Hall. As the grand formation began to collapse, Xiang Guiqing seized Huang Xiao’s saber, but his hand suddenly caught fire.

• Lou Feishang struck Chao Jue toward Zhangsun Youyue and Jiang Liuli, then fled while Chao Jue was killed by their swords.
• Jiang Liuli and Zhangsun Youyue dismissed their companions and argued over Huang Xiao, with Jiang Liuli warning that he could become dangerous if he entered the Heavenly Demon Hall.
• Lava pillars erupted from the lake, and Zhangsun Youyue and Jiang Liuli sensed that the grand formation was becoming unstable and rushed to find their group.
• Xiang Guiqing realized the formation might break and attacked Huang Xiao, seizing his Minghong Saber after Huang Xiao’s repeated use of the Fifth Form had drained his strength.
• The formation’s boundary cracked open, and Xiang Guiqing’s hand burst into red flames as he reached to strike Huang Xiao.

Huang Xiao survived Xiang Guiqing’s attack and tried to escape after the Grand Formation broke, but a Martial Realm expert from Imperial Remnant Manor confronted him over Xuan Ju’s death. Just as the expert attacked, Xiang Guiqing intervened and deflected the strike.

• The Minghong Saber’s flames burned Xiang Guiqing’s hand, and Huang Xiao realized the saber’s sentience had only partly stirred.
• Xiang Guiqing turned on Jia Kong, prompting five others to threaten Jia Kong for his Jade Slip while Huang Xiao secretly healed and refined his true qi.
• The Grand Formation broke, and a Martial Realm expert arrived, demanded the Jade Slips, and stopped Huang Xiao from leaving.
• The expert recognized Huang Xiao as the killer of Xuan Ju after retrieving Imperial Remnant Manor’s Token from Xiang Guiqing.
• The Martial Realm expert attacked Huang Xiao with finger force, but Xiang Guiqing struck it aside with saber light.