Chapter Summaries

Lin Qingyang drank heavily while grieving Jin Buhuan and worrying that Qi Mo was destined to become the Demon King rather than remain his A-Qi. Drunk and teasing Qi Mo, he pulled him close and kissed him, leaving Qi Mo stunned.

• Lin Qingyang cursed a scandalous romance book that depicted him and Qi Mo as lovers, then hid it from Qi Mo.
• Qi Mo served Lin Qingyang dinner, and Lin Qingyang grew self-conscious about how close they had become.
• Lin Qingyang drank sweet wine and mourned Jin Buhuan, while Qi Mo comforted him with the belief that Great Demons could be reborn.
• Lin Qingyang realized Qi Mo was the Demon King reborn and panicked, then drank more despite Qi Mo's warnings.
• Qi Mo helped the drunk Lin Qingyang to bed, where Lin Qingyang grabbed and stroked his sensitive tail.
• Lin Qingyang pulled Qi Mo down by his Demon-Locking Ring and kissed him.

After a drunken night in which Lin Qingyang kissed Qi Mo and fell asleep, Lin Qingyang pretended not to remember and struggled with guilt while Qi Mo quietly hoped the kiss had meant something. Qi Mo then discovered someone hunting Spirit Birds in the Back Mountain and was ambushed by a white-cloaked sword wielder.

• Lin Qingyang kissed Qi Mo while drunk, called him “Master,” and fell asleep before Qi Mo could act on his desire.
• Qi Mo gave Lin Qingyang Hangover Soup the next day, but Lin Qingyang claimed he remembered nothing and apologized for making a drunken scene.
• After Qi Mo left, Lin Qingyang admitted to the Windflower Sword that he remembered the night and felt guilty for taking advantage of Qi Mo’s trust.
• Qi Mo hunted fish in the Back Mountain and found bloodied feathers and bones that suggested someone was killing Spirit Birds.
• Qi Mo followed the traces to a half-eaten Spirit Bird, dodged a sudden sword strike, and faced a concealed figure in a white cloak.

Qi Mo was attacked by a powerful White-Clothed Man and escaped by diving into a river, then collapsed outside Clear Wind Pavilion. Lin Qingyang learned that an unknown expert had attacked him and ordered the Nine Skies Sect to strengthen its defenses, while worrying that more trouble was coming.

• Qi Mo fought the White-Clothed Man, spat blood into his eyes, kicked him away, and escaped into the river.
• Lin Qingyang asked Mo Yan about Jiuchen's blank manuscript and learned that an explosion fifteen years earlier had damaged it.
• Hong Ling accidentally set Ink Cloud Hall's kitchen on fire while trying to cook for Mo Yan, and Lin Qingyang offered to help pay for repairs.
• Feng Yi told Lin Qingyang that something had happened to Qi Mo, who was unconscious and injured in Clear Wind Pavilion.
• Xue Lanyuan said Qi Mo's injuries were not severe but his demonic power was depleted, and Lin Qingyang learned that a high-cultivation attacker had wounded him with a sword.
• Mo Yan set out to strengthen the sect's defenses and search for the attacker, while Lin Qingyang warned Xue Lanyuan to be careful and stayed by Qi Mo's bedside.

Lin Qingyang went to Thousand Blessings Cave to check on Shi Ruobai, but discovered that Shi Ruobai had attacked A-Qi and was hiding bloodstains on his robes. Shi Ruobai attacked Lin Qingyang, leaving them fighting inside the cave.

• Mo Yan returned to Ink Cloud Hall and angrily rejected Hong Ling’s attempts to apologize and help him, telling him to behave or be thrown out.
• Hong Ling left Mo Yan’s room in tears after Mo Yan said he had only let him stay because of a past favor.
• Lin Qingyang entered Thousand Blessings Cave to check on Shi Ruobai after hearing that someone had intruded into the Back Mountain and attacked someone.
• Lin Qingyang noticed bloodstains on Shi Ruobai’s clothes, then realized Shi Ruobai was the one who had injured A-Qi.
• Shi Ruobai attacked Lin Qingyang with the White Rainbow Sword and sent him crashing into the stone wall.

Shi Ruobai accused Lin Qingyang of poisoning him in the past and had him arrested after Lin denied the charge. Mo Yan took Lin to the Forbidden Abyss, where he angrily confronted him as the poisoner.

• Shi Ruobai attacked Lin Qingyang near the Ink Cloud Hall and claimed that recovered memories revealed Lin had poisoned him.
• Mo Yan, Xue Lanyuan, and the gathered disciples heard the accusation, while Lin denied it and reminded them that he had found the antidote.
• Shi Ruobai ordered Lin locked in the Forbidden Abyss for questioning, and Lin chose not to resist because A-Qi was gravely injured and unconscious.
• Mo Yan shackled Lin and dragged him into the Forbidden Abyss despite Lin's warnings that Shi Ruobai had changed and had attacked A-Qi.
• Mo Yan put Lin in a cell, pinned him against the wall, and accused him of poisoning Shi Ruobai.

Lin Qingyang warned Mo Yan that Shi Ruobai had recovered impossibly fast and carried demonic qi, while Mo Yan kept him locked up. Xue Lanyuan confirmed that Shi Ruobai had willingly become an Otherworldly Demon, but he overpowered her and seemed to take control of her mind.

• Lin Qingyang admitted poisoning Shi Ruobai and warned Mo Yan that Shi Ruobai's attack carried demonic qi and his strength had recovered unnaturally.
• Mo Yan refused to release Lin Qingyang, then left to check on Shi Ruobai after Lin urged him to have Xue Lanyuan examine him.
• Xue Lanyuan checked Shi Ruobai's pulse and discovered demonic qi, but he attacked her before she could strike him.
• Shi Ruobai admitted he had chosen to become an Otherworldly Demon because he could never surpass Lin Qingyang through cultivation.
• Xue Lanyuan tried to escape and fight Shi Ruobai with the Cold Ice Bow, but he disarmed and subdued her.
• Shi Ruobai stared into Xue Lanyuan's eyes and told her to sleep, leaving her dazed and vacant under his apparent control.

Mo Yan doubted Lin Qingyang’s claim that Shi Ruobai carried demonic qi, while Xue Lanyuan insisted the Sect Leader was well. As Lin Qingyang weakened in the Forbidden Abyss, Shi Ruobai prepared to judge him privately, and Lei Cheng took him to the Heavenly Strategy Hall.

• Mo Yan went to find Xue Lanyuan, who denied finding anything wrong with Shi Ruobai and suggested Lin Qingyang might have deceived him.
• Lin Qingyang endured the Forbidden Abyss’s oppressive chill until his thoughts grew muddled and the next day arrived.
• Feng Shu and Feng Yi defended Lin Qingyang before Shi Ruobai, but Mo Yan forced them from the Heavenly Strategy Hall and sealed its doors.
• Mo Yan pleaded for Lin Qingyang’s life, and Shi Ruobai said he only intended to teach his junior brother a lesson.
• Lei Cheng retrieved Lin Qingyang from the Forbidden Abyss and supported him toward the Heavenly Strategy Hall after Lin Qingyang realized a day had passed.

Qi Mo woke after Hong Ling warned him that Lin Qingyang was in danger, while Shi Ruobai accused Lin Qingyang of poisoning him and began punishing him with the Disciplinary Whip. The chapter ended with Lin Qingyang realizing Shi Ruobai intended to cripple him.

• Hong Ling woke Qi Mo and told him that Lin Qingyang had been locked in the Forbidden Abyss and was about to be interrogated.
• Lei Cheng brought Lin Qingyang, still wearing shackles that suppressed his Spiritual Power, before Shi Ruobai, Mo Yan, and Xue Lanyuan in the Heavenly Strategy Hall.
• Shi Ruobai forced Lin Qingyang to his knees and accused him of refusing to repent for poisoning him.
• Shi Ruobai took out the Disciplinary Whip, and Lin Qingyang tried to flee, causing the whip to strike Mo Yan when he dodged behind him.
• Shi Ruobai dragged Lin Qingyang back with the whip and struck him repeatedly, infusing the blows with Spiritual Power.
• Lin Qingyang realized Shi Ruobai meant to cripple him as the lashes injured him and began dispersing his Spiritual Power.

Shi Ruobai brutally beat Lin Qingyang in the Heavenly Strategy Hall until Qi Mo burst in and fought to protect him. During the clash, Shi Ruobai’s injuries revealed that he had become an Otherworldly Demon, leaving the disciples terrified.

• Shi Ruobai whipped Lin Qingyang despite Mo Yan’s attempt to calm him, and Lin Qingyang was left badly injured.
• Qi Mo broke into the Heavenly Strategy Hall, tore apart Shi Ruobai’s whip, and confronted him to protect Lin Qingyang.
• Shi Ruobai stabbed Qi Mo, but Qi Mo wounded Shi Ruobai’s neck before Shi Ruobai struck him down with Sword Qi.
• Mo Yan blocked Shi Ruobai from killing Qi Mo, then recognized the Demonic Qi and black hairs around Shi Ruobai’s wound as signs that he had become an Otherworldly Demon.
• Black markings and crow-like feathers spread across Shi Ruobai’s face as the disciples backed away in terror.

Shi Ruobai attacked the people in the Heavenly Strategy Hall while possessed by demonic power, leaving Lin Qingyang, Mo Yan, and Qi Mo badly injured before Xue Lanyuan regained control of herself. After Xue restrained Shi Ruobai with ice, she knelt beside him and raised another icicle.

• Shi Ruobai overpowered Feng Shu and Mo Yan, then attacked Lin Qingyang and Qi Mo as they tried to protect one another.
• Lin Qingyang clashed swords with Shi Ruobai, and Mo Yan struck him with lightning, breaking the White Rainbow Sword and restoring Xue Lanyuan’s awareness.
• Shi Ruobai grabbed Hong Ling and tried to bite him, but Xue Lanyuan froze his hand and then restrained his limbs with icicles.
• Lin Qingyang and Qi Mo collapsed from their injuries while Xue Lanyuan knelt beside the restrained Shi Ruobai.
• Lin Qingyang saw Xue Lanyuan form another icicle and slowly raise it.

Xue Lanyuan and Lin Yao confirmed that Shi Ruobai could not be cured of his demonic corruption, and the Great Hall faced the choice of killing him before he harmed anyone else. Shi Ruobai drove the ice spike into his own heart, confessed his regrets to Lin Qingyang, and died, leaving Lin Qingyang overwhelmed and collapsing as he tried to leave.

• Xue Lanyuan explained that Shi Ruobai could not be restored, and Lin Yao agreed there was no way to cure him.
• Lin Qingyang pleaded for time to find another solution, but Xue Lanyuan raised her ice spike to kill Shi Ruobai before his restraints began to break.
• Shi Ruobai seized Xue Lanyuan's wrist and forced her hand to drive the ice spike into his own heart.
• As he died, Shi Ruobai apologized to Lin Qingyang and admitted he had caused the Library Pavilion explosion while trying to sneak a look at the Manuscript.
• Shi Ruobai asked where the real Lin Qingyang had gone, then lost consciousness and died in Lin Qingyang's hands.
• Lin Qingyang, unable to bear the loss, stumbled toward the Great Hall doors and collapsed when his vision went black.

Lin Qingyang remembered how he had taken the blame for Shi Ruobai’s destruction of the Library Pavilion, a sacrifice that later became buried beneath their master’s prejudice and years of estrangement. After Shi Ruobai’s funeral, Lin Qingyang allowed several disciples to leave the weakened Nine Skies Sect and then disappeared from Heavenly Strategy Hall, prompting Qi Mo to search for him.

• Lin Qingyang relived his youthful friendship with Shi Ruobai and remembered taking the blame after Shi Ruobai accidentally damaged the Library Pavilion and Ancestor Jiuchen's Manuscript.
• Lin Qingyang recalled that their master’s prejudice had eventually helped separate him and Shi Ruobai, despite Shi Ruobai later trying to reveal the truth.
• Lin Qingyang visited Shi Ruobai’s coffin with Qi Mo, Xue Lanyuan, and Mo Yan, and placed the two curved sabers in Shi Ruobai’s hands.
• Lei Chen and several other disciples asked to leave the Nine Skies Sect, citing Lin Qingyang’s ties to the Demon Clan and the sect’s weakened state.
• Lin Qingyang permitted the disciples to leave without demanding they return their cultivation, then walked away from Heavenly Strategy Hall.
• Qi Mo found Lin Qingyang gone and set out to look for him.

Lin Qingyang confronted Bi Yue, who admitted using Shi Ruobai’s qi deviation to retaliate against him. Meanwhile, Bi Yue hypnotized Xue Lanyuan, who unknowingly took Hong Ling with her through the Ten-Thousand-Li Tianyan Array.

• Lin Qingyang entered Thousand Blessings Cave and confronted Bi Yue through a crow vessel.
• Bi Yue said he had disturbed Shi Ruobai’s mind to punish Lin Qingyang and promised they would meet soon.
• Xue Lanyuan mourned Shi Ruobai at his coffin before a crow hypnotized her with its red eyes.
• Hong Ling followed Xue Lanyuan to the teleportation point and realized she was under a spell as the array activated.
• Xue Lanyuan and Hong Ling vanished from the teleportation point together.

Lin Qingyang returned to Clear Wind Pavilion injured and worried about Xue Lanyuan, while Qi Mo tended his wounds and reacted angrily when Lin Qingyang suggested he leave. The chapter ended with Qi Mo embracing Lin Qingyang and insisting he would not be driven away.

• Qi Mo, Feng Shu, and Feng Yi worried when Lin Qingyang failed to return, but Lin Qingyang soon arrived looking pale and unsteady with blood on his hands.
• Lin Qingyang asked where Xue Lanyuan was and tried to go see her, but Qi Mo carried him back to Clear Wind Pavilion when his injuries made him stumble.
• Qi Mo cleaned Lin Qingyang’s hands, discovered his back wounds had reopened, and carefully dressed them again.
• Lin Qingyang urged Qi Mo to leave because he had already repaid his debt, but Qi Mo silently continued treating him.
• After finishing the bandages, Qi Mo bit Lin Qingyang’s shoulder, held him in an embrace, and declared that Lin Qingyang could not drive him away.

Lin Qingyang realized Qi Mo had confessed his feelings, but their reunion was interrupted by news that Elder Xue had gone to a ruined city near the Ten Thousand Demons Forest. Lin Qingyang and Qi Mo reached the destination after the Teleportation Array separated them from the others, leaving Mo Yan and the disciples to pursue them by carriage.

• Qi Mo confessed that he had returned for Lin Qingyang, and Lin Qingyang sat stunned until a knock interrupted them.
• Feng Shu reported that Elder Xue had used the Ten-Thousand-Li Tianyan Array to travel to a ruined city near the Ten Thousand Demons Forest.
• Lin Qingyang insisted on going after her, and Mo Yan, Qi Mo, Feng Shu, Lei Cheng, and the others joined him at the teleportation point.
• Lin Qingyang activated the array, but it transported only him and Qi Mo, while the destination signal went dark and stranded the others at the Nine Skies Sect.
• Mo Yan sent word to the Tianxuan Pavilion and set out with Feng Shu and Lei Cheng in a carriage toward the Ten Thousand Demons Forest.

Lin Qingyang and Qi Mo found themselves stranded in the Abandoned City after its Teleportation Array had been sabotaged, and discovered that Xue Lanyuan had been taken under a Soul-Seizing Technique. After learning Bi Yue had taken her south, they reached the city gate and looked toward the Ten Thousand Demons Forest below, where Lin Qingyang sensed Bi Yue was waiting.

• Lin Qingyang and Qi Mo found the Teleportation Array ruined and realized someone had sent only them to the Abandoned City.
• Lin Qingyang recognized a statue of Jiuchen and realized the desolate scene matched his earlier nightmare.
• Lin Qingyang and Qi Mo chased a shadow into an empty house and found Hong Ling hiding in a cabinet.
• Hong Ling told Lin Qingyang that Xue Lanyuan had left with a black-cloaked figure after apparently being controlled by the Soul-Seizing Technique.
• Lin Qingyang deduced that Bi Yue had used Shi Ruobai and crows to control Xue Lanyuan, then led Qi Mo and Hong Ling south.
• The three reached the cliff beyond the city gate, where Lin Qingyang sensed Bi Yue in the Ten Thousand Demons Forest below.

Lin Qingyang, Qi Mo, and Hong Ling descended into the Ten Thousand Demons Forest, where Hong Ling betrayed them under Bi Yue’s Soul Capture Spell and Qi Mo fell into the forest. After Lin Qingyang fought off thorned vines and reached the forest floor, Bi Yue appeared before him.

• Lin Qingyang used the Endless Rope to lead Qi Mo and Hong Ling down the cliff, where a flock of demonic crows attacked them.
• Qi Mo rescued Hong Ling after he fell from the rope, but Hong Ling stabbed Qi Mo with a red vine, draining his demonic power and causing him to fall into the forest.
• Lin Qingyang saw Hong Ling under Bi Yue’s Soul Capture Spell, then grabbed him and slid down the Endless Rope as the crows pursued them.
• Lin Qingyang softened their fall with wind, checked that the unconscious Hong Ling was alive, and searched the forest for Qi Mo.
• Thorny red vines attacked Lin Qingyang, and he burned them with the Fire Luan Bells and wind.
• The crows revealed a cloaked figure, and Lin Qingyang recognized Bi Yue and confronted him.

Lin Qingyang fought Bi Yue but discovered that Bi Yue had no physical body and could not be killed. Bi Yue captured Lin Qingyang and brought Xue Lanyuan before him, while Qi Mo hurried through the woods toward the cliff rope.

• Qi Mo pulled the red vine from his back and hurried through the woods toward the rope after worrying about Lin Qingyang.
• Lin Qingyang attacked Bi Yue with the Divine Wind Slash, but the strike only shattered Bi Yue’s cloak and revealed a body made of black mist.
• Bi Yue told Lin Qingyang that he had died long ago and could not be killed, then bound him with red vines.
• Bi Yue noticed that Hong Ling had escaped and sent crows after him while Lin Qingyang pleaded for him.
• Bi Yue pointed out Xue Lanyuan as she walked toward them, surrounded by red-eyed crows and bearing a glowing mark between her brows.

Bi Yue tried to force Lin Qingyang to choose between Qi Mo and Xue Lanyuan, while Qi Mo fought to protect Lin Qingyang. The chapter ended with Qi Mo captured, Xue Lanyuan held at knifepoint, and Bi Yue demanding that Lin Qingyang decide who would die.

• Hong Ling tried to climb the Endless Rope, but crows pried his paws loose and sent him plunging into the clouds.
• Bi Yue revealed that he wanted Xue Lanyuan to become the Demon King and strangled Lin Qingyang with a red vine.
• Qi Mo rescued Lin Qingyang and fought Bi Yue, but Xue Lanyuan attacked him with Ice Spikes while under Bi Yue's control.
• Red vines stabbed Qi Mo as he shielded Lin Qingyang, then bound and dragged him to Bi Yue.
• Bi Yue brought Xue Lanyuan beside the captive Qi Mo and asked Lin Qingyang which of them he wanted to die.

Lin Qingyang chose to save Xue Lanyuan, leaving Qi Mo behind to be struck down by Bi Yue. After escaping the woods, he discovered that Xue Lanyuan had become an Otherworldly Demon.

• Bi Yue forced Lin Qingyang to choose between Xue Lanyuan and Qi Mo, and Lin Qingyang chose to take Xue Lanyuan away.
• Bi Yue released Xue Lanyuan, while Qi Mo was pierced through the body and collapsed as a black wolf; Lin Qingyang left without looking back.
• Lin Qingyang carried Xue Lanyuan up the cliff with the Endless Rope, then broke down in pain as Lin Yao assured him Qi Mo would revive.
• As thunder and demonic qi spread, Xue Lanyuan woke and wandered into the city, ignoring Lin Qingyang.
• Lin Qingyang stopped Xue Lanyuan from eating a rat and saw her red pupils and black demon marks, realizing Bi Yue had turned her into an Otherworldly Demon.