Chapter Summaries

Sima Chong survived an attack by the Kong and Chen Families’ Enlightenment Realm experts, who then raced with the Sima and Jiang experts toward the Evil Water Region’s vortex. At the bottom, the four encountered Huang Xiao emerging from below.

• Sima Chong charged toward the Evil Water Region but was intercepted by Enlightenment Realm experts from the Kong and Chen Families.
• Evil Qi weakened their attacks, allowing Sima Chong to block them and fall back onto the shore alive.
• The Kong, Chen, Sima, and Jiang Families’ Enlightenment Realm experts headed into the vortex to seek the treasure.
• The four experts reached the bottom of the vortex as Huang Xiao emerged from below, startling them.

Four Enlightenment Realm experts tried to seize Huang Xiao inside the Evil Water Region, but three mysterious experts below killed them with blade shadows. Old Man Zhu told Huang Xiao to escape through the water, while the people on shore watched the vortex disappear.

• The four Enlightenment Realm experts reached for Huang Xiao, but Old Man Zhu’s voice warned them from below the vortex.
• Three blade shadows rose from the riverbed and killed three of the experts, then another killed the Jiang Family expert as he fled.
• Sima Chong ordered the people on shore to watch Huang Xiao, and they recognized him as the Heavenly Demon Hall’s Hall Master Candidate.
• Old Man Zhu told Huang Xiao that he could escape through the water safely for half an hour, and Huang Xiao plunged into the river.
• The Heavenly Evil Sect people called for reinforcements as the vortex shrank and disappeared.

After the vortex vanished, the people outside assumed Huang Xiao was trapped, while Zhangsun Youyue and Jiang Liuli learned from the three old men that he had escaped but still faced danger. The old men revealed they had deliberately exposed the Evil Water Region’s secrets to lure the outside powers into breaking its Grand Formation, leaving the women to return to their manuals—and Jiang Liuli suddenly dry-heaved as she left.

• The vortex disappeared, and the Heavenly Evil Sect expanded its search while people outside believed Huang Xiao had likely died.
• Zhangsun Youyue and Jiang Liuli questioned the three old men, who confirmed Huang Xiao had escaped the Evil Water Region but could not guarantee he was safe.
• Jiang Liuli pointed out that the old men’s confrontation had revealed their existence, and Old Man Zhu admitted they had deliberately left that information behind.
• Zhangsun Youyue realized the old men hoped the Heavenly Evil Sect and other powers would be tempted to break the Grand Formation and create a chance for them to escape.
• Old Man Zhu told Zhangsun Youyue and Jiang Liuli to return to reading the manuals, and Jiang Liuli turned to leave before suddenly dry-heaving.

Jiang Liuli learned she was pregnant, and the three old men planned to raise her child to preserve the Three Great Families’ secrets if they remained trapped. Meanwhile, Wei Yidao learned that Huang Xiao had been missing for two months and demanded answers from the men who had been searching for him.

• Old Man Zhu discovered that Jiang Liuli was pregnant, while Old Man Fan confirmed that Zhangsun Youyue was not.
• The three old men explained that they hoped Jiang Liuli’s child would inherit the Three Great Families’ secrets if Huang Xiao and the people outside failed to free them.
• Jiang Liuli accepted that she would have the child and asked whether she and Zhangsun Youyue would be allowed to live if Huang Xiao succeeded.
• Wei Yidao berated Yin Huju, Yue Cheng, and Song Gang for failing to find Huang Xiao after two months.
• Yin Huju blamed the Heavenly Evil Sect for Huang Xiao’s disappearance and hoped his explanation would reduce their punishment.

Wei Yidao and his subordinates investigated the disappearances of Huang Xiao, Lou Feishang, and Qin Lu, as well as Zhu Jigeng’s death. Wei Yidao revealed that the Mixed Demon Sect had secretly sided with the God-Burying Hall, leaving Chao Hun as a suspect in the attacks.

• Yue Cheng blamed the Heavenly Evil Sect for Huang Xiao and Lou Feishang’s disappearances, while Yin Huju warned that Pang Yi could benefit from their absence.
• Yao Renwu reported that Qin Lu had not returned and said Chao Hun had recently disappeared after being seen near the Jade Slips contest.
• Yao Renwu relayed that the Ten Thousand Demons Hall had found signs linking Chao Hun to Lou Feishang’s disappearance and Zhu Jigeng’s death.
• Wei Yidao said Chao Hun could not be ruled out and revealed that the Mixed Demon Sect had secretly sided with the God-Burying Hall.
• Wei Yidao explained that Qin Lu had been sent to verify the betrayal and authorized him to act if he found sufficient evidence.

Wei Yidao concluded that Chao Hun might have grown stronger in secret and ordered Yao Renwu to find him. After deciding Huang Xiao was likely dead, Wei Yidao called for a new Hall Master Candidate, and Yao Renwu recommended Zuo Jiayi.

• Wei Yidao argued that Chao Hun might have acted independently and become stronger through hidden opportunities gained during decades of seclusion.
• Yao Renwu offered to destroy the Mixed Demon Sect to force Chao Hun to appear, but Wei Yidao rejected the plan and ordered him to track Chao Hun instead.
• Yao Renwu agreed to devote every effort to finding Chao Hun and asked Wei Yidao about Huang Xiao.
• Wei Yidao said Huang Xiao was likely dead and told Yao Renwu to look for a suitable replacement Hall Master Candidate.
• Yao Renwu recommended Zuo Jiayi, a disciple in his lineage who was in his forties and had reached the void martial realm.

Yin Huju, Yue Cheng, and Song Gang argued that Huang Xiao might still be alive, prompting Wei Yidao to delay appointing a replacement Hall Master Candidate. Yao Renwu retaliated by sending the three to the Forced Labor Camp and ordering Zheng Gu to take charge of it.

• Yin Huju and Yue Cheng urged Wei Yidao to wait for news of Huang Xiao and Elder Qin, while Song Gang invoked the senior believed to have taught Huang Xiao his Heavenly Demon Skill.
• Wei Yidao considered their arguments and ordered everyone to withdraw without appointing a replacement candidate.
• Yao Renwu ordered guards to escort Yin Huju and Yue Cheng to the Forced Labor Camp, despite Yue Cheng's objection that the Hall Master had not authorized it.
• Yin Huju stopped Yue Cheng from resisting, and Yue Cheng accepted the punishment rather than give Yao Renwu an excuse to kill them.
• Yao Renwu ordered a guard to tell Zheng Gu to take over the Forced Labor Camp.

Yao Renwu sent Yin Huju, Yue Cheng, and Song Gang to the Forced Labor Camp while pursuing the Hall Master Candidate position for Zuo Jiayi. Two days later, the Hall Master summoned Yao Renwu after Liang Chenghao returned from investigating Huang Xiao and Qin Lu.

• Yao Renwu assigned Zheng Gu to oversee the Forced Labor Camp, giving him authority over Yin Huju, Yue Cheng, and Song Gang, who left under threat of punishment.
• Yao Renwu told Zuo Jiayi to be patient about the Hall Master Candidate position, and Zuo Jiayi resolved to avoid mistakes while waiting.
• Several rivals taunted Zuo Jiayi about his chances, but he held back from retaliating, and they hurried to warn their senior brother that Yao Renwu might help Zuo Jiayi secure the position.
• Two days later, a disciple summoned Yao Renwu to the Hall Master, reporting that Liang Chenghao had returned and was with the Hall Master.

Liang Chenghao told Wei Yidao and Yao Renwu that Huang Xiao had emerged alive from the Evil Water Region, carrying possible knowledge of the Three Great Families’ secret. Wei Yidao ordered them to find and protect Huang Xiao, while Liang Chenghao gained an advantage over Yao Renwu and Zuo Jiayi was left wondering why his grandmaster ignored him.

• Yao Renwu hurried to Wei Yidao’s residence after learning that Liang Chenghao had returned and been summoned.
• Liang Chenghao told Wei Yidao and Yao Renwu that Huang Xiao had survived the Evil Water Region and escaped the Heavenly Evil Sect’s encirclement.
• Wei Yidao said Huang Xiao might know about the experts and secret beneath the riverbed, then ordered both elders to bring him back safely.
• Liang Chenghao proposed involving the Hidden Demon Guard, and Wei Yidao agreed to coordinate with them.
• Liang Chenghao left to search for Huang Xiao, while Yao Renwu ignored Zuo Jiayi as he hurried out of the Main Hall.

Huang Xiao learned that news of his survival had spread throughout the Jianghu, making him a target, but he continued toward Chaotic Province to find Patriarch Huo Lian before seeking help from the Demon Hall. On a secluded trail, five half-step martial experts attacked him.

• Zuo Jiayi learned Huang Xiao was alive and that Grandmaster and Elder Liang had gone to retrieve him, then ran off in dismay.
• Huang Xiao avoided contacting the Heavenly Demon Hall because he wanted to find Wang Jiu and Fan Zhongkun first, and he set out for Chaotic Province to meet Patriarch Huo Lian.
• Huang Xiao discovered that the news of his survival had spread across much of the Jianghu and realized many powerful forces might hunt him for the secrets tied to the Three Great Families.
• Huang Xiao chose secluded trails and avoided other Jianghu people as he continued cautiously toward his destination.
• Five half-step martial experts rushed out of a forest and attacked Huang Xiao, intending to kill him quickly.

Huang Xiao disguised himself as a Half-Step Martial Realm practitioner and tried to avoid a group from the Demon Spirit Sect and the Ghost Spirit Sect, but their attack forced him to reveal more of his strength and flee from two Martial Realm experts. As Zeng Yan began to recognize him, Huang Xiao raced ahead with the pursuers close behind.

• Huang Xiao sensed Demon and Ghost Faction forces hidden in the forest and tried to evade five men from the Demon Spirit Sect and the Ghost Spirit Sect without exposing his strength.
• The five men caught up and attacked Huang Xiao, who killed them instantly and fled several li before a furious voice rang out from the forest.
• Zeng Yan and Gu Xihan emerged from the forest with dozens of followers and pursued Huang Xiao.
• Huang Xiao recognized Zeng Yan and Gu Xihan as the Martial Realm experts who had tried to seize his Jade Slip at Dragon Mountain, so he used the Lingbo Ethereal Steps to accelerate his escape.
• Gu Xihan realized Huang Xiao had concealed more strength than expected, and Zeng Yan began to suspect that the fleeing man looked familiar.

Gu Xihan and Zeng Yan recognized Huang Xiao and chased him, hoping to capture him and learn what happened in the Evil Water Region. Huang Xiao escaped their first attempt to corner him, but as they pursued him again, their simultaneous attacks threatened to seriously injure him.

• Zeng Yan and Gu Xihan recognized Huang Xiao and realized their chance encounter could help them capture him.
• After chasing Huang Xiao for nearly a quarter of an hour, Gu Xihan and Zeng Yan caught up and tried to seize him.
• Huang Xiao dodged Gu Xihan's grab, but Zeng Yan and Gu Xihan blocked his escape and attacked from both sides.
• Huang Xiao abruptly stopped, split the ground with his force, and fled back the way he had come, making both pursuers miss.
• Gu Xihan told Zeng Yan they only needed Huang Xiao alive, and the two pursued him toward their waiting subordinates.
• When Gu Xihan and Zeng Yan attacked him together, Huang Xiao punched behind himself in a desperate attempt to lessen their force.

Huang Xiao fled from Zeng Yan and Gu Xihan, using his Top-Grade Demon Spirit Armor and Imperishable True Qi to withstand and quickly heal their attacks. When Demon and Ghost Factions forces tried to block him, he used a Sound Art to catch them off guard and prepared to unleash a stronger attack.

• Zeng Yan and Gu Xihan struck Huang Xiao from behind, but his Top-Grade Demon Spirit Armor softened the blows and he kept fleeing.
• Huang Xiao discovered that Imperishable True Qi rapidly healed his injuries, making them far less dangerous than he had expected.
• Gu Xihan ordered the forces ahead to stop Huang Xiao, and Huang Xiao charged toward the Void Martial Realm and Half-Step Martial Realm practitioners blocking his path.
• Huang Xiao used the Heavenly Demon Dragon Roar, causing the Half-Step Martial Realm practitioners to collapse while the Void Martial Realm practitioners resisted its initial power.
• Huang Xiao abruptly changed the pitch of his whistle, and the Void Martial Realm practitioners turned pale as the Sound Art became much harder to resist.

Huang Xiao used the Heavenly Demon Soul-Destroying Sound to kill several pursuing Void Martial Realm experts, but Zeng Yan and Gu Xihan continued to close in. With no way to escape or defeat them normally, Huang Xiao decided to use the dangerous Heavenly Demon Disintegration Great Art and rely on his Imperishable True Qi to survive its effects.

• Huang Xiao struck several dazed Void Martial Realm experts with a saber and continued fleeing as the others scattered.
• Zeng Yan kicked a Half-Step Martial Realm disciple out of his way and killed him while pursuing Huang Xiao with Gu Xihan.
• Gu Xihan realized Huang Xiao had used the Heavenly Demon Soul-Destroying Sound, but believed it would not stop the two Martial Realm elders.
• Huang Xiao concluded he could not escape through ordinary means and resolved to use the Heavenly Demon Disintegration Great Art, hoping Imperishable True Qi would repair his meridians afterward.

Huang Xiao used the Heavenly Demon Disintegration Great Art to raise his internal power enough to confront Gu Xihan and Zeng Yan. He charged at Zeng Yan rather than fleeing, and Zeng Yan’s finger force struck the Top-Grade Demon Spirit Armor beneath Huang Xiao’s robe.

• Huang Xiao stopped fleeing and used a forbidden art, forcing Zeng Yan back with a powerful saber strike.
• Gu Xihan and Zeng Yan realized Huang Xiao’s increased strength could let him escape, so they rushed to pressure him.
• Instead of fleeing when Gu Xihan attacked, Huang Xiao charged at Zeng Yan.
• Zeng Yan met Huang Xiao’s saber attack with finger force, which struck Huang Xiao’s lower abdomen and exposed the Top-Grade Demon Spirit Armor.

Huang Xiao charged Zeng Yan and Gu Xihan despite taking heavy blows, using his speed and saber techniques to wound Zeng Yan. After landing another attack, he immediately leaped toward Gu Xihan, who prepared to target his unprotected legs.

• Gu Xihan recognized Huang Xiao’s Top-Grade Demon Spirit Armor and doubted he could fight effectively while suppressing his injuries.
• Huang Xiao used his speed and repeated saber attacks to pressure Zeng Yan, who tried to seize him.
• Huang Xiao charged through Zeng Yan’s Palm Force and cut into his waist, though Zeng Yan’s strike sent him flying and left him spitting blood.
• Gu Xihan reached for Huang Xiao as he flew, but Huang Xiao landed, leaped back into the fight, and charged at him.
• Gu Xihan decided to use his saber against Huang Xiao’s unprotected legs.

Huang Xiao endured Gu Xihan’s saber attacks by relying on his armor and Imperishable True Qi, then seized an opening to stab Gu Xihan in the abdomen. Gu Xihan struck Huang Xiao with his palm and sent him flying, leaving both men injured.

• Gu Xihan struck Huang Xiao with his saber, grievously injuring him despite his Top-Grade Demon Spirit Armor.
• Huang Xiao taunted Gu Xihan to kill him and refused to surrender.
• Huang Xiao grabbed the spine of Gu Xihan’s saber and stabbed him in the lower abdomen with his own saber.
• Gu Xihan pulled his saber free, struck Huang Xiao in the chest with his palm, and sent him flying.

Huang Xiao used the Heavenly Demon Soul-Destroying Sound to keep Gu Xihan and Zeng Yan from catching him as the Heavenly Demon Disintegration Great Art’s boost neared its end. After reaching a busier road and spotting Jianghu figures, he decided not to change course, reasoning that they would not recognize him.

• Huang Xiao fled after wounding Gu Xihan and Zeng Yan, while his Imperishable True Qi rapidly healed his injuries.
• Huang Xiao repeatedly used the Heavenly Demon Soul-Destroying Sound to disrupt his pursuers and widen the gap between them.
• Gu Xihan and Zeng Yan slowed their pursuit to guard against the Sound Art, but they expected Huang Xiao’s Forbidden Art boost to end soon.
• Huang Xiao’s repeated Sound Art attacks muddled his own head, and he realized his internal power was about to return to normal.
• Huang Xiao heard other people and reached a larger road, where he spotted Jianghu figures and decided to keep going rather than flee from them.

Huang Xiao used the threat of exposing his identity to force Gu Xihan and Zeng Yan to halt their pursuit for one hour, then fled while his remaining strength waned. He believed he had about thirty minutes to find safety, but the two pursuers resumed the chase after only fifteen minutes.

• Huang Xiao charged toward a group of Jianghu practitioners to keep Gu Xihan and Zeng Yan from cornering him elsewhere.
• Gu Xihan stopped Zeng Yan from shouting Huang Xiao's name, and Huang Xiao privately threatened both men with revealing his identity.
• Huang Xiao demanded a one-hour head start, and Gu Xihan and Zeng Yan agreed to stop pursuing him temporarily.
• Huang Xiao escaped from their sight, but his Heavenly Demon Disintegration Great Art faded and left him weakened.
• After fifteen minutes, Gu Xihan and Zeng Yan exchanged a glance and set off after Huang Xiao again.

Huang Xiao disguised himself and rejoined the Jianghu crowd to evade Gu Xihan and Zeng Yan, learning that the two had broken their agreement and left early to pursue him. When members of the Demon Spirit Sect and Ghost Spirit Sect questioned the crowd about the three fugitives, Liu Genhe of the Sword Pavilion challenged them and urged the gathered Jianghu people to stand together.

• Huang Xiao changed his appearance, killed two Evil Dao men for their clothes, and returned to the crowd of Jianghu travelers in disguise.
• Huang Xiao learned that Gu Xihan and Zeng Yan had left only a quarter of an hour after he departed, despite agreeing to wait an hour.
• Huang Xiao spotted trailing members of the Demon Spirit Sect and Ghost Spirit Sect, whose Void Martial Realm expert asked the crowd about a middle-aged man and two old men.
• A Jianghu traveler pointed the Demon Spirit Sect expert in the fugitives' direction, and the expert warned the crowd not to provoke them.
• Liu Genhe of the Sword Pavilion stepped forward, challenged the Demon Spirit Sect expert, and urged the crowd to use their numerical advantage.
• Liu Genhe asked the crowd why two Martial Realm experts from the Demon and Ghost Sects had been pursuing a Void Martial Realm expert.