Chapter Summaries

Huang Xiao and Demon Phoenix prepared to train for the struggle over the Hall Master's Seat, while discussing the Minghong Saber’s recovery and the cost to Demon Phoenix’s parents. When the two Minghong Sabers began clashing through divine sense, Huang Xiao realized each saber soul was trying to devour the other.

• Demon Phoenix urged Huang Xiao to train desperately because claiming the Hall Master's Seat was his only chance to survive, and Huang Xiao vowed to press on despite the dangers.
• Demon Phoenix revealed that its parents had restored much of the Minghong Saber’s strength at the cost of their already limited lifespans.
• Demon Phoenix returned to train with Huang Xiao after spending five days with its parents and brought the recovered Minghong Saber to show him.
• The Minghong Saber broke free from Demon Phoenix’s claws, and a scorching red aura blasted it back as the blade fell at the formation’s edge.
• Huang Xiao sensed the two Minghong Saber souls clashing through divine sense and deduced that each was trying to devour the other.

Huang Xiao tried to save his Minghong Saber's true saber soul from the later-born saber soul by invading the blade and using Northern Darkness, but he could only briefly distract it. As the true saber soul neared destruction, the Patriarch arrived and brought down a vast divine sense upon the saber.

• Demon Phoenix asked whether the true saber soul could win, and Huang Xiao admitted that it was weaker than the later-born soul.
• When the later-born saber soul began overwhelming the true saber soul, Huang Xiao ordered Demon Phoenix to fetch Huo Lian and seized the Minghong Saber himself.
• Huang Xiao invaded the blade with his divine sense and used Northern Darkness to absorb the later-born saber soul, briefly easing the pressure on his own saber soul.
• The later-born saber soul renewed its assault, and Huang Xiao's efforts failed to stop the true saber soul from nearing destruction.
• The Patriarch arrived and sent an immense weight of divine sense down upon the Minghong Saber.

Huang Xiao and Huo Lian examined the clash between the Saber Souls and confirmed that Huang Xiao’s Saber Soul would recover. Huo Lian explained why the newer Saber Soul was difficult to destroy and left his Minghong Saber with Huang Xiao, advising him to keep the two sabers apart.

• Huo Lian pulled his Minghong Saber from the formation and suppressed its newer Saber Soul, while Demon Phoenix confirmed that Huang Xiao’s Saber Soul still remained, though it was weak.
• Huo Lian scolded Huang Xiao and Demon Phoenix, then warned Huang Xiao’s Saber Soul against trying to devour its rival before it had fully recovered.
• Huo Lian explained that the two Saber Souls’ shared origin made their Divine Sense attacks unusually effective against each other, and said Huang Xiao’s Saber Soul would recover in a few days.
• Huo Lian explained that the newer Saber Soul hid deep inside the true Minghong Saber, whose blade resisted outsiders’ Divine Sense, so Huang Xiao’s Saber Soul had to regain strength to destroy it.
• Huo Lian left his Minghong Saber with Huang Xiao and told him to keep it farther from his own saber to prevent another clash.

Huo Lian moved Huang Xiao and Demon Phoenix from the stone gate to a formation deep in Mist Mountain for further training. Demon Phoenix recognized the place where he and Wang Jiu’s group had once been trapped, while Huang Xiao realized they would need to break the formation to leave.

• Huo Lian warned Huang Xiao not to underestimate the saber soul, then left him to practice Northern Darkness on it inside the formation.
• Demon Phoenix retrieved the recovering Minghong Saber, and Huang Xiao used the training to strengthen his Divine Sense.
• Three days later, Huo Lian collected both Minghong Sabers and told Huang Xiao and Demon Phoenix to leave with him.
• Huo Lian took them toward Mist Mountain, saying Demon Phoenix would come along and that Huang Xiao would not need his Imitation Saber.
• After three days of travel, Huo Lian led them into a formation deep in Mist Mountain, where Demon Phoenix recognized the site of his earlier training with Wang Jiu and the others.

Huo Lian trapped Huang Xiao and Demon Phoenix in a formation with a hundred powerful Enlightenment Realm opponents and ordered them to kill everyone within a month. Huang Xiao accepted the deadly challenge to strengthen his techniques and compete for the Hall Master's Seat.

• Huo Lian told Huang Xiao and Demon Phoenix that everyone else inside the formation was their enemy and had been promised freedom for killing Huang Xiao.
• Huo Lian revealed that a hundred expert Enlightenment Realm practitioners had entered the formation, all stronger than Huang Xiao and Demon Phoenix.
• Huo Lian told Huang Xiao to integrate his forbidden arts and demanded that he kill all the opponents within one month, even if they attacked together.
• Huang Xiao vowed to improve through life-and-death combat, and Huo Lian left the formation.

Huo Lian prepared a trial in which Huang Xiao and the Demon Phoenix would face thirty Enlightenment Realm experts, releasing them in staggered batches to give the pair more time. Huang Xiao and the Demon Phoenix assessed their chances and began planning to rely on their strongest techniques and fight for survival.

• Huo Lian watched thirty Enlightenment Realm experts sealed in separate formations and decided to release them in batches on the fifth, fifteenth, and twenty-fifth days.
• Huo Lian adjusted the isolation formations, then left, intending to return in a month to see whether Huang Xiao had survived the trial.
• The Demon Phoenix panicked over the approaching opponents, and Huang Xiao agreed they needed to assess their strength before making a plan.
• Huang Xiao and the Demon Phoenix judged that they might need to join forces against even one of the experts and discussed their abilities and limits.
• The Demon Phoenix urged Huang Xiao to study Sound Art Qi Control, Heavenly Demon Disintegration, and his Divine Sense attack, while Huang Xiao resolved to fight for his life when an opponent appeared.

Huang Xiao and Demon Phoenix hid to cultivate for three days, then searched for their opponents without finding anyone. On the fifth day, they finally spotted a person nearby, leaving them poised to face their first opponent.

• Huang Xiao and Demon Phoenix hid in a cave and agreed to take turns cultivating for up to three days.
• Under the pressure of the trial, Huang Xiao and Demon Phoenix made breakthroughs and left the cave to search for isolated opponents.
• After searching for half a day without finding anyone, Huang Xiao and Demon Phoenix returned to the cave and resumed cultivating.
• On the fifth day, Huang Xiao and Demon Phoenix searched another direction, still puzzled by the absence of opponents.
• Huang Xiao sensed movement and dropped to the ground as Demon Phoenix spotted a person a little over half a li away.

Huang Xiao and Demon Phoenix hid while Zhen Heng searched for Huang Xiao, then Huang Xiao attacked after Zhen Heng spotted him. Their first exchange revealed that Zhen Heng's heaven-and-earth momentum barely hindered Huang Xiao, while Huang Xiao's strength shocked the Enlightenment Realm expert.

• Huang Xiao told Demon Phoenix to stay hidden and wait until they were sure no one else was nearby.
• Huang Xiao recognized the approaching man as Zhen Heng of the Ghost Spirit Sect and told Demon Phoenix to conceal his aura and hold back.
• Zhen Heng searched the area for Huang Xiao, believing the disappearance of his isolation formation meant Huang Xiao was nearby.
• Zhen Heng spotted Huang Xiao charging at him, scanned the surroundings, and decided to kill him despite suspecting hidden guards might be present.
• Zhen Heng used heaven-and-earth momentum and struck Huang Xiao with his palm, but Huang Xiao met the attack with a punch.
• Zhen Heng was astonished that Huang Xiao, a Martial Realm practitioner, could withstand his powerful strike.

Huang Xiao fought Zhen Heng in the mountains, using Heavenly Demon Disintegration to match the stronger Enlightenment Realm expert. The battle left both injured, but Huang Xiao’s final punch made Zhen Heng spit blood as Huang Xiao was kicked hard to the ground.

• Zhen Heng demanded that Huang Xiao reveal the secrets of the Evil Water Region, but Huang Xiao refused and attacked again.
• Huang Xiao unleashed the Second Stage of Heavenly Demon Disintegration, and his punch met Zhen Heng’s full-strength palm with comparable force.
• Demon Phoenix watched from the grass and decided to give Huang Xiao another quarter of an hour before intervening.
• Huang Xiao and Zhen Heng traded blows, injuring each other, while Lingbo Ethereal Steps helped Huang Xiao evade capture.
• Huang Xiao abandoned his defense to land another punch on Zhen Heng’s chest, making Zhen Heng spit blood as Zhen Heng’s kick sent Huang Xiao crashing to the ground.

Huang Xiao used a Divine Sense attack to distract Zhen Heng and killed him with a powerful punch before he could activate his Forbidden Art. After recovering from the damage of Heavenly Demon Disintegration, Huang Xiao realized that Zhen Heng’s death might have consequences.

• Huang Xiao charged Zhen Heng while secretly building his strength, then struck him with a Divine Sense attack that briefly dazed him.
• Huang Xiao’s full-strength Heavenly Demon Subduing Tiger Fist shattered Zhen Heng’s defense and crushed his chest, killing him.
• Demon Phoenix emerged from hiding, and Huang Xiao checked the surroundings with his Divine Sense before deciding there was probably no one nearby.
• Huang Xiao explained that killing Enlightenment Realm experts would become much harder once they used their Forbidden Arts, while Demon Phoenix praised the power of Divine Sense attacks.
• Huang Xiao recovered from his injuries with Imperishable True Qi, but his expression changed when Demon Phoenix said Zhen Heng was dead through and through.

Huang Xiao and Demon Phoenix discovered that Zhen Heng’s body had stopped functioning at the moment of death while a strange cultivation method slowly repaired his injuries. Huang Xiao decided to observe the process, believing Zhen Heng might revive once his internal injuries were no longer fatal.

• Demon Phoenix urged Huang Xiao to dispose of Zhen Heng’s corpse, but Huang Xiao noticed something strange and examined it.
• Huang Xiao and Demon Phoenix found that Zhen Heng’s true qi remained motionless and that some of his damaged meridians had begun to recover.
• Huang Xiao concluded that Zhen Heng had died instantly but possessed an art of rebirth that activated after death to repair his body slowly.
• Demon Phoenix wanted to destroy Zhen Heng’s corpse, but Huang Xiao stopped him so he could study the cultivation method.
• Huang Xiao explained that Zhen Heng’s method was weaker than Tuoba Ao’s because Zhen Heng remained unconscious and could not protect himself while healing.

Huang Xiao examined Zhen Heng’s apparent resurrection and waited until he woke, hoping to learn the cultivation method behind it. When Zhen Heng refused to cooperate, Huang Xiao tried persuading him that his creation would otherwise be lost, but Demon Phoenix’s claim that Huang Xiao could eventually reconstruct and improve it unsettled Zhen Heng.

• Huang Xiao examined the changes in Zhen Heng’s body for an hour while Demon Phoenix stood guard.
• Zhen Heng revived, discovered Huang Xiao was still there, and learned that only an hour had passed.
• Huang Xiao demanded that Zhen Heng reveal his resurrection cultivation method, but Zhen Heng refused.
• Demon Phoenix threatened to torture Zhen Heng with his flames and revealed himself as the phoenix from Mist Mountain.
• Huang Xiao argued that Zhen Heng’s cultivation method would be lost forever if he kept it secret.
• Demon Phoenix said Huang Xiao could eventually figure out the method and make it more complete, leaving Zhen Heng startled and doubtful.

Huang Xiao persuaded Zhen Heng to share the rebirth cultivation method he had created, after explaining its flaws and proving his knowledge of the Ghost Daoist Canon. Zhen Heng agreed on the condition that Huang Xiao someday teach the method to a Ghost Dao disciple and preserve Zhen Heng’s name.

• Zhen Heng mocked Huang Xiao’s claim that he could understand the rebirth method, but Huang Xiao described a man who had mastered both Ghost Dao and Monster Dao cultivation.
• Huang Xiao recited passages from the Ghost Daoist Canon, though Zhen Heng dismissed this as insufficient proof that he knew the complete text.
• Huang Xiao analyzed how Zhen Heng’s method halted his vital functions and repaired his body, identifying unconsciousness and slow recovery as major flaws.
• Huang Xiao said he had killed a man who could be reborn three times and had studied that man’s more complete Rebirth Method.
• Zhen Heng agreed to teach Huang Xiao his cultivation formula and insights if Huang Xiao later taught it to a Ghost Dao disciple and credited Zhen Heng.
• Demon Phoenix grew angry at Zhen Heng’s insult but held back, intending to kill him after Huang Xiao learned the method.

Zhen Heng taught Huang Xiao an unnamed cultivation method, which they named the Ghost Spirit Indestructible Art, and explained the truth about the Evil Water Region and the hundred Enlightenment Realm experts. After Zhen Heng killed himself, Huang Xiao buried him, then he and Demon Phoenix hid as they prepared to face the remaining hunters.

• Zhen Heng taught Huang Xiao his cultivation method, and they agreed to call it the Ghost Spirit Indestructible Art.
• Huang Xiao explained that the Three Evil Blades could break the Evil Water Region’s Grand Formation, that three elders had sacrificed their lifespans to send him out, and that the captive Former Demon Hall Master was Huo Lian.
• Zhen Heng learned that Huo Lian had gathered a hundred Enlightenment Realm experts to hunt Huang Xiao for a month, and realized the other captives had also been isolated before emerging.
• Zhen Heng asked Huang Xiao to unseal his acupoints, reminded him to pass on the cultivation method, and severed his own meridians to die.
• Huang Xiao confirmed Zhen Heng was dead and buried him, then left with Demon Phoenix and concealed themselves behind a huge boulder.

Huang Xiao and Demon Phoenix planned to use Huang Xiao as bait while hunting the remaining targets. Their trap drew Zhang Jianqiao and Kong Fu, leaving Huang Xiao facing two enemies while Demon Phoenix hid nearby.

• Huang Xiao and Demon Phoenix waited in ambush for two hours, but no one appeared, so they moved on.
• Demon Phoenix proposed that Huang Xiao go ahead as bait while he followed behind to launch a sneak attack, and Huang Xiao agreed.
• Zhang Jianqiao, of the Heavenly Sword Sect, confronted Huang Xiao and challenged him to fight.
• Kong Fu of the Heavenly Evil Sect arrived and questioned Huang Xiao about his survival in the Evil Water Region.
• Demon Phoenix concealed himself nearby, worried that the two opponents might be joined by more.

Huang Xiao let Kong Fu and Zhang Jianqiao fight while he assessed their abilities and waited for a chance to attack with Demon Phoenix. The two Enlightenment Realm experts wounded each other but remained standing, still facing off.

• Huang Xiao attacked Kong Fu, who struck him away before turning to fight Zhang Jianqiao.
• Zhang Jianqiao drew his sword, and he and Kong Fu exchanged their Wind Spirit Sword and Dark Evil Palm techniques while Huang Xiao watched.
• Huang Xiao gauged that the two were evenly matched and sensed Demon Phoenix nearby, planning to attack after they spent more True Qi.
• Kong Fu and Zhang Jianqiao agreed to use their full strength and fought fiercely, ignoring Huang Xiao.
• Kong Fu struck Zhang Jianqiao in the chest as Zhang Jianqiao pierced Kong Fu at the waist, and both men retreated to catch their breath.

Kong Fu and Zhang Jianqiao fought over Huang Xiao, but Kong Fu’s attempt to kill Huang Xiao ended with Kong Fu dead. Huang Xiao then killed Zhang Jianqiao, leaving him victorious over both opponents.

• Kong Fu broke away from Zhang Jianqiao and charged at Huang Xiao, intending to kill him and escape.
• Huang Xiao evaded Kong Fu’s palm strike and punched through his protective True Qi, shattering his heart as Zhang Jianqiao’s Sword Qi cleaved Kong Fu’s body in two.
• Zhang Jianqiao assumed he had killed Kong Fu and tried to capture Huang Xiao, but Huang Xiao charged him with the Second Stage of Heavenly Demon Disintegration and Sound Art Qi Control.
• Huang Xiao knocked Zhang Jianqiao’s palm aside, circled behind him, and killed him while his True Qi could not keep up.

Huang Xiao faced Feng Jing of the Sword Pavilion after Feng Jing witnessed him kill Zhang Jianqiao. Feng Jing unleashed his Ghost Hundred Slashes, surrounding Huang Xiao with circling Sword Qi and leaving him under mounting pressure.

• Feng Jing appeared before Huang Xiao, identified himself as the Sword Pavilion’s Ghost Sword, and praised Huang Xiao for killing Zhang Jianqiao.
• Huang Xiao challenged Feng Jing and attacked with the Heavenly Demon Subduing Tiger Fist at nearly fivefold power.
• Feng Jing drew his Precious Sword and cut through Huang Xiao’s fist force with a streak of Sword Qi.
• Feng Jing pursued Huang Xiao with successive streaks of Sword Qi, forcing him to dodge as one sliced his sleeve.
• Huang Xiao recognized that Feng Jing’s Sword Qi circled under his control, and Feng Jing said Ghost Hundred Slashes would be enough to defeat him.

Feng Jing trapped Huang Xiao in his Sword Qi Formation and prepared to kill him, but Demon Phoenix intervened with a surprise attack. Demon Phoenix was seriously wounded by Feng Jing’s Ghost Thousand Slashes, then unleashed Nirvana Flame as the fight continued.

• Feng Jing trapped Huang Xiao with his Hundred Slashes Sword Qi Formation and prepared to strike him down.
• Demon Phoenix transformed into a blazing phoenix and attacked Feng Jing from behind to save Huang Xiao.
• Feng Jing turned away from Huang Xiao and countered Demon Phoenix’s attack, but the phoenix’s flames absorbed his sword qi.
• Feng Jing unleashed Ghost Thousand Slashes, scattering Demon Phoenix’s flames and cutting a deep wound across his chest.
• Demon Phoenix endured the attack and unleashed Nirvana Flame, expanding his flaming wings across the sky.

Feng Jing broke free of Demon Phoenix’s Nirvana Flame and fought back while Huang Xiao remained trapped in the Sword Qi Grand Formation. Feng Jing used a distant sword technique to strike Huang Xiao, leaving him pierced by Sword Qi and collapsed on the ground.

• Demon Phoenix trapped Feng Jing inside a fiery phoenix and tried to reach Huang Xiao, but Feng Jing burst free and charged at him.
• Feng Jing struck Demon Phoenix with his sword and forced him to abandon his attempt to rescue Huang Xiao.
• As flames and smoke spread, Feng Jing formed countless spinning sword images and repelled Demon Phoenix when he attacked.
• Feng Jing’s sword images resonated with the Sword Qi around Huang Xiao, and Feng Jing unleashed a killing attack from a distance.
• Nearly a hundred streaks of Sword Qi pierced Huang Xiao, who fell to the ground covered in bloody wounds.