The First Three Layers of the Heavenly Demon Codex

After Tang Xuan and the women conquered the Dongming flagship dungeon on hard mode, they received the reward for being the first to clear it. This reward turned out to be the “First Three Levels of the Heavenly Demon Manual”!

The Heavenly Demon Manual is the supreme secret art of the Demon Sect in “Twin Dragons of the Tang Dynasty.” It comprises eighteen levels; the reward Tang Xuan and his companions obtained only contained the first three, yet it was already a fifth-grade skill!

Though only the initial levels, mastering them would bestow the Heavenly Demon True Qi, which specializes in employing formless power to steal tangible strength from opponents, absorbing their internal energy for one's own use. It also enables the user to emit the Heavenly Demon Sound, which can bewitch an enemy’s mind, inducing hallucinations and confusion.

The Heavenly Demon Manual is famed for its endless variations and unpredictability. Whether barehanded, wielding weapons, or even using clothing or ribbons, any object can be turned into a weapon—capable of both hardness and softness, shifting seamlessly, every gesture concealing lethal intent, making it impossible to defend against and dangerous in any circumstance.

When the Heavenly Demon Dance unfolds, it is the ultimate fusion of beauty and malice. However, any woman practicing this profound art must never engage in physical intimacy with her beloved, or she will forever be barred from reaching the highest realm.

Even the leader of the Yin Kui Sect, the “Empress Yin” Zhu Yuyan, only cultivated up to the seventeenth level. In her youth, deceived by the “Demonic King” Shi Zhixuan, she lost her pure yin constitution, making it impossible to achieve the eighteenth level of the Heavenly Demon Manual. Since the founding grandmaster of the Yin Kui Sect, only Wanwan has reached the eighteenth level.

The reward Tang Xuan and his group obtained—the First Three Levels of the Heavenly Demon Manual (Fifth-Grade Martial Art)—though only a portion, was already immensely powerful! It should be noted that the inner disciples of most sects only learn third- or fourth-grade advanced martial arts at best.

To acquire techniques ranked fifth or sixth grade, such as Shaolin’s Seventy-Two Ultimate Arts, Huashan’s Purple Mist Divine Skill, or Songshan’s Ice True Qi, is already an arduous endeavor. The first three levels of the Heavenly Demon Manual, not only a fifth-grade internal skill, also include such unique arts as the Heavenly Demon Sound.

Tang Xuan glanced at the women—his devoted admirers—all of them maidens, and thus eligible to cultivate the Heavenly Demon Manual. Although only the first three levels were available, perhaps, if they cleared the Dongming Sect dungeon on nightmare difficulty in the future, they might obtain the subsequent levels.

The following levels—sixth, ninth, twelfth, fifteenth, and even the eighteenth—could be within reach.

It was likely that these would be sixth, seventh, or even eighth-grade martial arts.

Seventh-grade martial arts are already considered legendary techniques—such as Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms, the Nine Yin Manual, the Muscle-Tendon Changing Classic, the Nine Yang Divine Skill, or the Sunflower Manual. To learn such arts would mean unrivaled supremacy in the martial world.

Eighth-grade martial arts are peerless, and even “Grand Wuxia” provides little information about them. However, the pinnacle of the Heavenly Demon Manual should be classified as eighth-grade.

Yet the first-clear reward was only one copy. Among the women, who would receive this fifth-grade inner skill? As a man, Tang Xuan had already chosen the orthodox Buddhist Arhat Divine Skill, making it unsuitable for him to switch to the demonic Heavenly Demon True Qi. He was thus naturally excluded.

Wang Yajun spoke first. “I am a disciple of Huashan Sect’s Qi Faction. If I changed to the Heavenly Demon Manual and cultivated the Heavenly Demon True Qi, it would not be acceptable if my master or the sect leader discovered it. As a Qi Faction disciple, I still have the chance to learn Purple Mist Divine Skill in the future. This manual is not suitable for me.”

As the leader of the Four Women Studio, Wang Yajun was forthright and graciously declined the manual.

Li Weiwei continued, “The internal skill I practice, Complete Perfection Manual, is an orthodox Daoist technique. The Heavenly Demon Manual, being a demonic art, would be difficult to transition to, so it isn’t suitable for me either.”

She did not mention that her Quanzhen Sect secretly possesses the rare Innate Skill left by their founder, Wang Chongyang, whose difficulty to obtain is legendary—far harder than acquiring the Purple Mist Divine Skill from the Huashan Qi Faction.

Thus, Li Weiwei also declined the Heavenly Demon Manual, knowing that switching from her orthodox inner power to the demonic energy would be ill-advised.

Qin Yanran also stated, “I practice the Three Yang Skill of Emei, another orthodox art, and switching to Heavenly Demon True Qi would not be appropriate for me.”

With her withdrawal, only Luo Qingqing and Jiang Wanwan remained.

Luo Qingqing, a disciple of the Five Poisons Sect, practiced the sect’s unique inner skill, already bearing some demonic qualities, making her well-suited for the Heavenly Demon Manual.

Jiang Wanwan’s Swallow Gathering Skill was neither orthodox nor demonic, allowing her to transition to Daoist, Buddhist, or demonic arts alike, meaning she too could cultivate the fifth-grade Heavenly Demon Manual.

The two women exchanged glances, each showing both modesty and reluctance. After all, this was a rare fifth-grade internal skill, and if they obtained the subsequent levels in the future, the prospects would be limitless.

Just as Jiang Wanwan was about to speak, Luo Qingqing said, “My primary focus is on the Five Poisons Sect’s arts of raising gu, refining medicine, and making poisons. The inner skill passed down by my sect is sufficient for my cultivation. I have little energy to devote to the Heavenly Demon Manual.”

She chose to step back voluntarily, her reasoning valid but ultimately out of courtesy. The allure of this fifth-grade technique was immense; outside of their group, it would incite a frenzy among players.

Jiang Wanwan had intended to yield or perhaps discuss the ownership further, but over the past days, she had grown close to Wang Yajun and the others, having come to understand their character.

“Then I shall accept it without hesitation!”

After a brief pause, Jiang Wanwan accepted the First Three Levels of the Heavenly Demon Manual (Fifth-Grade Martial Art).

This dungeon run had brought her the fifth-grade skill, along with the Luancang Sword Technique and the Luancang Sword itself—a bountiful harvest.

She would remember the generosity of Wang Yajun and the others. In the future, should the Four Women Studio need help in “Grand Wuxia,” she would not hesitate to assist.

Moreover, she was already facing exclusion at the Dynasty Club. If she eventually chose to leave and join Wang Yajun and her companions in their ventures, it might not be a bad thing.

Seeing the fifth-grade art, the First Three Levels of the Heavenly Demon Manual, fall into Jiang Wanwan’s hands, Tang Xuan’s lips curled in a satisfied smile. This was indeed what he had hoped for.

After all, the four women lived with him offline, sharing meals and conversations, so he was always in the loop and able to help immediately if needed.

Jiang Wanwan, on the other hand, was far away at the Dynasty Club and currently being ostracized. With the Heavenly Demon Manual, she would gain a great advantage.