Chapter Summaries

Huang Xiao and Zhu Xing E brought the surviving tempering materials to Shi Hen, where Pang Ruyuan offered compensation for the God-Burying Hall’s theft and damage. Pang Ruyuan lowered his stance and asked Shi Hen to accept the offer, while Wei Yidao argued that money could not replace the lost parasol wood.

• Huang Xiao confirmed that the soul-enticing bamboo and demonic silkworm silk were sufficient, though most of the tempered parasol wood was missing.
• Pang Ruyuan challenged Huang Xiao to fight Pang Yi, but Zhu Xing E deferred the decision to Wei Yidao and led them to Shi Hen.
• Pang Yi arrived hoping to fight Huang Xiao, then followed Pang Ruyuan to Shi Hen’s residence instead.
• Zhu Xing E reported that only a tenth of the tempered parasol wood remained, and Shi Hen asked Pang Ruyuan to explain.
• Pang Ruyuan accepted blame for his subordinates and offered compensation at three times the value, then said the God-Burying Hall would do whatever was needed to satisfy Shi Hen.
• Wei Yidao objected that the unique tempered wood could not be replaced by compensation, while Pang Ruyuan continued appealing to Shi Hen.

Wei Yidao confronted Pang Ruyuan over the God-Burying Hall’s interference with the other halls, and Shi Hen accepted Pang Ruyuan’s pledge to stop it. Pang Ruyuan then proposed a match between Huang Xiao and Pang Yi, which Shi Hen scheduled for five days later and planned to make a major event.

• Wei Yidao challenged Pang Ruyuan over the God-Burying Hall’s interception of correspondence and obstruction of the other halls’ people.
• Pang Ruyuan swore that the interference would not happen again, and Shi Hen accepted the settlement.
• Pang Ruyuan proposed a match between Huang Xiao and Pang Yi, and Shi Hen approved it as a way to spur both candidates.
• Wei Yidao agreed to the match after Shi Hen explained its value, and Shi Hen set it for five days later.
• Shi Hen said he would invite the Main Hall elders and the Supreme Elder to watch, surprising Pang Ruyuan.

Shi Hen arranged a match between Huang Xiao and Pang Yi with Forbidden Arts banned, leaving Huang Xiao to rely on his own strength. After inspecting the rare crafting materials, Shi Hen sent the others away and kept Huang Xiao behind to give him guidance.

• Shi Hen ordered Huang Xiao and Pang Yi to give their all in a match but not fight to the death, and both agreed.
• Shi Hen explained that Pang Yi might also possess a Forbidden Art and said Huang Xiao would have to rely on himself, though he would offer some guidance.
• Huang Xiao said he was confident he would not be defeated by Pang Yi, despite Wei Yidao’s doubts.
• Liu Mu and Hu Chu inspected the materials and confirmed they could make the flute, while the scarce parasol wood allowed at most two attempts at making the zither.
• Shi Hen reassured Liu Mu that failure would not bring blame, then sent Zhu Xing E and the others to inform the Elders’ Council about the match.
• Shi Hen kept Huang Xiao behind and led him farther inside to speak with him.

Huang Xiao explained his Imperishable True Qi cultivation method to Shi Hen, who recognized its value in countering the Heavenly Demon Disintegration Great Art. Shi Hen then discussed Huang Xiao’s upcoming match against Pang Yi and urged him to use the method to exceed expectations, while warning that it might only suit his current stage.

• Shi Hen identified Huang Xiao’s forbidden art as the Heavenly Demon Disintegration Great Art and asked how he overcame its aftereffects.
• Huang Xiao said he had studied the Three Great Families’ imperishability methods in the Evil Water Region and developed Imperishable True Qi from them and his own healing method.
• Huang Xiao explained that Imperishable True Qi rapidly healed injuries and repaired the damage caused by his forbidden art.
• Shi Hen praised Huang Xiao’s progress, suggested he seek the Hall Master’s guidance, and recalled the Hall Master’s interest in the Three Great Families’ Heavenly Evil Imperishable Art.
• Shi Hen told Huang Xiao that he expected him to fight Pang Yi in five days and believed his healing ability could help him perform better than others expected.
• Huang Xiao understood that his method might lose its usefulness as he grew stronger unless it could continue healing injuries at the level of the Hall Master or Shi Hen.

Huang Xiao discussed the risks and advantages of his Imperishable True Qi with Shi Hen, who explained why Pang Yi likely lacked a similar cultivation method. Shi Hen then revealed that he had once saved the Hall Master's life and brought him into the Heavenly Demon Hall.

• Huang Xiao asked whether Pang Yi had an imperishability cultivation method, and Shi Hen said he probably did not because such methods carried serious risks and were difficult to create.
• Shi Hen warned Huang Xiao that Imperishable True Qi and the Heavenly Demon Disintegration Great Art could cause harmful aftereffects, and urged him to use them sparingly.
• Shi Hen explained that Huang Xiao's quick success with Imperishable True Qi demonstrated his talent and gave him an advantage over Pang Yi, even if the method might not remain effective at higher levels.
• Huang Xiao learned that the God-Burying Hall and Pang Ji did not know about the Heavenly Demon Disintegration Great Art, and Shi Hen said he alone had known of it before Huang Xiao.
• Shi Hen revealed that he had saved the Hall Master's life before the Hall Master joined the Heavenly Demon Hall, then brought him into the Hall.

Shi Hen told Huang Xiao how he had saved the Hall Master long ago and helped him rise to the Hall Master's Seat. He agreed to guide Huang Xiao in sound arts, leaving Huang Xiao to consider how much effort to devote to them.

• Shi Hen recalled rescuing the Hall Master after he used the Heavenly Demon Disintegration Great Art, then helping him recover and later defeat Pang Ji for the Hall Master's Seat.
• Shi Hen said he had another hope for meeting Huang Xiao, whose rise in Heavenly Demon Hall reminded him of the Hall Master’s early days.
• Huang Xiao promised to work hard, and Shi Hen offered to guide him in the Heavenly Demon Soul-Destroying Sound and the Heavenly Demon Soul-Severing Sound.
• Shi Hen advised Huang Xiao to focus on the Heavenly Demon Soul-Destroying Sound and treat the Soul-Severing Sound as a reference.
• Huang Xiao explained that sound arts had saved his life and could help him catch enemies off guard, though he wondered whether studying them would divide his attention.

Shi Hen taught Huang Xiao refined Sound Arts and a method for using musical rhythms to amplify his own true qi, hoping it would help him defeat Pang Yi in the contest for the Hall Master's Seat. Huang Xiao began his five-day effort to cross the method’s threshold and triple his true qi’s might.

• Shi Hen explained that Sound Art could strengthen consciousness, improve control of internal power, and support future Indestructible cultivation.
• Shi Hen offered Huang Xiao refined versions of the Heavenly Demon Soul-Destroying Sound and Heavenly Demon Soul-Severing Sound, warning him not to divulge them.
• Shi Hen taught Huang Xiao both Sound Arts and said the paired arts could unleash their greatest might when performed by a man and a woman together.
• Shi Hen introduced Controlling Qi Through Sound Art, which used rhythm to synchronize and amplify the practitioner’s own true qi, so long as the meridians could withstand the strain.
• Shi Hen said Huang Xiao could use the method against Pang Yi without violating the contest’s ban on forbidden arts, and urged him to cross its threshold within five days.
• Huang Xiao promised to begin immediately and asked Shi Hen to teach him the method.

Huang Xiao struggled to master Sound Art Qi Control, enduring repeated injuries as he refined it into a soundless, traceless technique. He gained an initial grasp that raised his True Qi to about two and a half times its power, and planned to reach three times over the next three days.

• Huang Xiao repeatedly failed to cultivate Sound Art Qi Control, suffering injuries that Imperishable True Qi repaired while strengthening his meridians.
• Huang Xiao realized the Sound Art had to become soundless and adjusted his method, but the attempt left him with severe backlash.
• Huang Xiao concluded that the greater the backlash, the closer he was to success, and decided to make the technique fit his True Qi more closely.
• After further attempts, Huang Xiao gained an initial grasp of soundless, traceless Sound Art Qi Control and increased his True Qi's power to about two and a half times its previous level.
• Huang Xiao stopped before risking cultivation deviation and expected to reach three times his True Qi's power within the remaining three days.

Huang Xiao completed his training in Sound Art Qi Control under Shi Hen and prepared to face Pang Yi. Shi Hen told him to win the formal match without revealing too much of his strength, and expressed hope that Huang Xiao would one day become a Hall Master.

• Wei Yidao learned from Zhu Xing E that Shi Hen had instructed Huang Xiao for just over a day before leaving him to cultivate alone, and worried about the match against Pang Yi.
• Liu Mu and Hu Chu studied the materials for the zither and flute while the Heavenly Demon Hall group stayed at the Main Hall.
• Huang Xiao pushed his true qi to nearly four times its power, stopping before the strain ruptured his meridians.
• Shi Hen found Huang Xiao had grasped the basics of Sound Art Qi Control and told him to keep the healing pills for emergencies.
• Shi Hen instructed Huang Xiao to defeat Pang Yi in the formal match but not to reveal his full strength, then said he hoped to call him Lord Hall Master one day.

Huang Xiao told Wei Yidao and Zhu Xing E that Shi Hen’s guidance had helped him increase his strength more than threefold in five days through Sound Art Qi Control. Though Wei Yidao warned that Pang Yi would likely remain stronger, Huang Xiao rested that night to prepare for the contest the next day.

• Huang Xiao arrived at Wei Yidao’s residence, where Wei Yidao and Zhu Xing E asked about his chances against Pang Yi.
• Huang Xiao said his strength had increased more than threefold after Shi Hen taught him Sound Art Qi Control, and Wei Yidao stopped him from revealing more about the method.
• Wei Yidao told Zhu Xing E to keep Huang Xiao’s new technique secret until the contest, and Zhu Xing E left after wishing Huang Xiao well.
• Wei Yidao warned Huang Xiao that he might still be weaker than Pang Yi, but Huang Xiao said he could surpass him in the future.
• Wu Cang escorted Huang Xiao to his accommodations, and Huang Xiao went to sleep early without practicing so he could conserve his strength for the contest.

Wei Yidao and Zhu Xing E accompanied Huang Xiao to the Main Hall martial arena, where elders gathered to watch his match with Pang Yi. Pang Ruyuan and Pang Yi arrived, and the two fighters exchanged hostile looks before the match began.

• Wei Yidao took Huang Xiao to the martial arena, where they met Zhu Xing E and waited for the gathering to arrive.
• Outer Hall elders criticized Huang Xiao and predicted Pang Yi would defeat him, but Huang Xiao said Pang Yi must be afraid because he had not arrived.
• Inner Hall elders arrived and encouraged Huang Xiao to uphold the Heavenly Demon Hall's reputation.
• Pang Ruyuan and Pang Yi entered the martial arena, and Huang Xiao and Pang Yi glared at each other provocatively.

Huang Xiao and Pang Yi’s Hall Master Candidate match began after Supreme Elder Pang Ji arrived and the rules were announced. The two faced each other in the arena, and Huang Xiao launched the first attack.

• Shi Hen arrived at the Martial Arts Arena with Pang Tiangang, and the elders rose to greet them.
• Pang Ji descended onto the High Platform, where Shi Hen and Pang Tiangang showed him respect.
• Pang Ji authorized the match between Huang Xiao and Pang Yi, and the presiding elder announced the rules.
• Huang Xiao and Pang Yi entered the arena as four elders took positions at its corners.
• Pang Yi beckoned Huang Xiao to attack, and Huang Xiao charged at him.

Huang Xiao and Pang Yi fought in the Martial Arts Arena, where Pang Yi initially appeared stronger and drove Huang Xiao back. As their true qi clashed, Huang Xiao recognized the power of Pang Yi’s God-Burying Demonic Art but neutralized the invading force, leaving their full-strength battle unresolved.

• Pang Yi neutralized Huang Xiao’s opening Palm Force, and the two exchanged blows, with Pang Yi retreating fewer steps than Huang Xiao.
• Pang Yi pressed his advantage with another palm strike, forcing Huang Xiao back four steps and prompting Pang Yi to taunt him.
• Pang Yi increased his aura and anticipated Huang Xiao’s dodge, then chased him across the arena and blasted a crater into the bluestone with his fist.
• Huang Xiao charged back as Pang Yi prepared to fight seriously, and their palms met in a clash of heavenly demon true qi and god-burying true qi.
• Huang Xiao felt Pang Yi’s stronger, more domineering true qi invade his meridians, then swiftly neutralized and assimilated it.

Huang Xiao and Pang Yi clashed as Pang Yi unleashed a technique that doubled his internal power, forcing Huang Xiao to counter with Sound Art Qi Control. Both fighters’ strength surged, and their two-hour match continued with neither yet defeated.

• Pang Yi increased his palm force and trapped Huang Xiao’s fist, then used God-Burying true qi to damage Huang Xiao’s meridians when Huang Xiao tried to absorb it.
• Huang Xiao stopped the Northern Darkness Absorption Method, transformed the true qi in his dantian into Heavenly Demon true qi, and broke free of Pang Yi’s grip.
• Huang Xiao charged back at Pang Yi, who resolved to defeat him and inflict severe injuries to preserve his advantage in the struggle for the Hall Master’s Seat.
• Pang Yi used a cultivation method to double his internal power, and Huang Xiao answered by using Sound Art Qi Control to roughly double his own true qi’s power.

Huang Xiao narrowly avoided being knocked out of the arena by Pang Yi, but Pang Yi increased his strength and inflicted severe injuries as the fight continued. Huang Xiao refused to concede, saying there was still plenty of time.

• Pang Yi pursued the injured Huang Xiao to the arena’s edge, but Huang Xiao caught his arm and escaped back to the center.
• Pang Yi increased his strength and continued to suppress Huang Xiao, who held back his remaining power.
• Pang Yi pierced Huang Xiao’s chest with a finger strike, and Huang Xiao stopped the bleeding before the fight resumed.
• Pang Yi struck Huang Xiao from behind, shattered his protective true qi, and severely injured his back and internal organs.
• Pang Yi asked Huang Xiao to concede, but Huang Xiao laughed and said that an hour had not yet passed.

Huang Xiao kept fighting despite Pang Yi’s attacks, using his healing ability to endure and gradually injure Pang Yi in return. Their battle intensified until both were wounded and the elders watched in astonishment.

• Pang Yi decided to keep his strength steady and planned to humiliate Huang Xiao rather than let him concede.
• Huang Xiao charged again, and Pang Yi struck him repeatedly, driving him back and making him spit blood.
• Pang Yi noticed Huang Xiao was sustaining his strength despite his injuries, and Huang Xiao landed a palm strike that wounded him.
• Pang Yi increased his strength and attacked Huang Xiao fiercely; Huang Xiao’s aura surged as well, startling the elders.
• Huang Xiao and Pang Yi traded rapid blows, with Huang Xiao growing fiercer and occasionally wounding Pang Yi despite being at a disadvantage.
• Both shouted and collided again with a fist and palm as the elders watched their escalating fight.

Huang Xiao fought Pang Yi after Pang Yi unleashed a further increase in strength, but Pang Yi ultimately defeated him with a palm strike. The presiding elder declared Pang Yi the winner as Huang Xiao lay unconscious and seriously injured.

• Pang Yi's crimson eyes marked a surge in his strength, while Huang Xiao pushed Sound Art Qi Control to its limit without exposing more of his Imperishable True Qi.
• Huang Xiao blocked Pang Yi's attack, but Pang Yi struck him down and believed Huang Xiao had reached his limit.
• Huang Xiao charged and used the Heavenly Demon Soul-Destroying Sound, but Pang Yi had prepared for it and countered with a palm to Huang Xiao's chest.
• An elder caught Huang Xiao and treated his injuries, and the presiding elder announced Pang Yi as the winner.

Huang Xiao deliberately lost his match against Pang Yi after displaying his strength, while the elders debated his healing cultivation method. Pang Ji challenged Huo Lian to a future fight and departed, leaving Huang Xiao in the care of Wei Yidao and Zhu Xing E.

• The elders judged that Pang Yi had the advantage over Huang Xiao, though some were impressed by how long Huang Xiao had lasted.
• Pang Ji questioned Shi Hen about Huang Xiao's healing method, and Shi Hen explained that Huang Xiao had obtained it in the Evil Water Region.
• Pang Ji criticized Huo Lian for following the wrong path and said he would seek him out for another fight once his injuries healed.
• Shi Hen defended Huo Lian, and Pang Ji declared that Huo Lian was no longer the Hall Master before vanishing from the High Platform.
• Huang Xiao revealed that he had deliberately allowed Pang Yi to defeat him after protecting his vital points with imperishable true qi.
• Wei Yidao and Zhu Xing E took Huang Xiao from the elder who had been holding him.

Huang Xiao concealed his Imperishable True Qi and kept his injuries genuine after losing to Pang Yi, while Wei Yidao treated him and confronted Pang Ruyuan. Huang Xiao’s performance impressed Chu Fanyin, who saw a chance to gain senior elders’ support for him, and Wei Yidao took Huang Xiao back to recover.

• Huang Xiao suppressed his Imperishable True Qi so the elders would believe his severe injuries were real, and Wei Yidao examined and treated him.
• Wei Yidao suspected the treating elder had withheld a Spirit-Restoring Pill, but Huang Xiao said he had pills from Lord Shi back at his quarters.
• Pang Ruyuan and Pang Yi taunted Wei Yidao and Huang Xiao, while Huang Xiao promised he would not show mercy in their next match.
• Pang Yi privately threatened to kill Huang Xiao, who ignored him as Pang Yi and Pang Ruyuan left.
• Chu Fanyin praised Huang Xiao’s performance, and Wei Yidao urged him to surprise the others by winning senior elders’ support.
• Chu Fanyin told Wei Yidao to take Huang Xiao back and said he would visit later; Zhu Xing E asked Huang Xiao to see Lord Shi after his injuries stabilized.

After his staged defeat by Pang Yi, Huang Xiao recovered and discussed how much of his strength he had concealed with Wei Yidao and Shi Hen. Shi Hen reassured him that the Supreme Elder likely had not noticed, but revealed that the Supreme Elder’s main concern was the Patriarch, whose ancient enmity with him remained unresolved.

• Huang Xiao healed most of his injuries with a Spirit-Restoring Pill and Imperishable True Qi, then gave Wei Yidao ten pills for the Heavenly Demon Hall.
• Huang Xiao told Wei Yidao that Pang Yi was stronger, but admitted he had stopped using his true qi to repair his meridians and had not fought to his full ability.
• Wei Yidao advised Huang Xiao to keep appearing injured and ask Shi Hen whether Pang Ji and Pang Tiangang had seen through his deception.
• Huang Xiao visited Shi Hen, who confirmed that he had held back and said the Supreme Elder probably had not noticed his healing ability.
• Shi Hen told Huang Xiao that the Supreme Elder cared most about the Patriarch, and Huang Xiao worried that the Patriarch might be vulnerable to a threat from him.