Recaps

Si Ming and his companions uncovered the Primordial Ancestor Divine Cult’s ritual and faced the resurrecting Primordial Species, while Xiao Xuan revealed his role and his willingness to accept civilian deaths. After escaping Thousand Leaves Island, they were caught up in Li State’s campaign against the Barbarian Hu and marched with Mu Wu’s army toward Qianjin City.

• The Tiger and Wolf Death School’s fighters lost to Si Ming, Murong Qing, and He Qichang, who claimed Zu Jiangchun’s ancient relic and learned she intended to sell it to Shi Kelang.
• On Thousand Leaves Island, Si Ming and Murong Qing learned of the cult’s coming ceremony, and Murong Qing organized an ambush that ended with her shooting Shi Kelang dead.
• After Shi Kelang’s death unleashed alien creatures, Si Ming discovered that their six-sided cores were their weakness, but he and his companions had to retreat from the giant Primordial Species.
• Xiao Xuan arrived, defeated the giant creature, and explained that he had guided Shi Kelang’s ritual to activate the Primordial Core, accepting the civilian deaths as a necessary sacrifice.
• Si Ming and his companions examined paintings depicting monster armies and left the island, only to be detained by General Liu’s soldiers as Li State prepared a secret campaign against the Barbarian Hu.
• Marshal Mu Wu let the group accompany his army, and Si Ming discussed Su State’s martial arts reforms and the Mohist School with Mu Qingfeng and the soldiers.
• When Murong Qing and Mu Qingfeng gave food to starving refugees, Mu Wu ordered the army to share its provisions and continue toward Qianjin City.
• The Mu Family Army reached Qianjin City near sunset and formed ranks for an attack as the city guards sounded the alarm.

Si Ming helped Mu Wu capture Qianjin City, rescue the hidden crown prince, and escape the Barbarian Hu’s pursuit before returning to school. There, he entered the Grandmaster candidate trial, lost a bout to Yu Shuying, received the Vermilion Bird Machine, and found her moving into his household.

• Si Ming battered down Qianjin City’s gate with Ji Da’s hammer, and Mu Wu defeated Boyan before sparing the city’s surrendered defenders.
• Mu Wu accused Di Zhongyi of betraying Li State, and Si Ming denounced him until he died, then learned that Mu Wu planned to advance on Hao Capital.
• Mu Wu decided to rescue Shenzong’s surviving crown prince, and Si Ming joined Liu Yongzhan, He Qichang, and Murong Qing on the mission to Haojing City.
• Si Ming’s group carried Zhang Baobao out of Haojing City while Mu Wu fought the Silver Wolf King and Vulture King, then He Qichang lost control and attacked Si Ming before being subdued.
• Xunan revealed that Zhang Baobao was the Buddha’s Child Bukong, and Si Ming’s group left by boat as He Qichang confronted his half-demon nature.
• After winter vacation, Yu Shuying joined Si Ming’s class, and Yan Jinghong told Si Ming to protect her as they pursued Grandmaster candidacy together.
• Yu Shuying defeated Murong Qing and then Si Ming in arena bouts, using her mixed yin-and-yang martial art to exploit his defenses.
• The Mohist Academy of Science issued Si Ming the Vermilion Bird Machine, which he tested and mastered before Yu Shuying moved into his household.
• Si Ming and Murong Qing planned a welcome dinner for Yu Shuying and agreed to make her attend if she refused.

Si Ming and Yu Shuying traveled to Russia for their Grandmaster trial, where Yu Shuying worked to weaken the Thousand Ren Society and Si Ming investigated Rust Disease. The team uncovered a spy, confronted a mechanical-limbed attacker, and became entangled in the unresolved mystery of Liu Qingqing’s father’s death.

• Lu Mao’s roast-pig cooking helped Si Ming comprehend the first level of Butcher Ding’s Ox-Carving, while Yu Shuying arrived for her welcome feast and noticed Si Ming’s rising Cooking Power.
• Yu Shuying took Si Ming to help a woman plagued by her drug-addicted husband, and her harsh attempt to force the woman to act led to Si Ming criticizing her methods.
• Si Ming studied Mozi’s life and ideas, decided that Yu Shuying was not yet fit to become Grandmaster, and then resolved to pursue the position himself by becoming the world’s strongest.
• Yao Bilian reunited with her old classmate Lin Qingtong, who later revealed that she was Pig’s disciple and had come to bring her sister Liu Qingqing to Russia.
• Lin Qingtong explained Liu Qingqing’s family history and the Rust Disease crisis before taking Si Ming and Yu Shuying to Lülan for their trial.
• Yu Shuying exposed Huang Wanlong as a Thousand Ren Society spy and sought command of the Black Earth Gang, while Zhu Hao tested her and Si Ming and discovered Si Ming’s cells consumed Rust Disease germs.
• Si Ming investigated Rust Disease and fought a mechanical-limbed attacker at the Physician Review Board, then learned the attacker had been a patient whose credentials came from Doctor Ma Shijiu.
• Lin Qingtong challenged Lin Qingxiang’s account of their father’s death after noticing his wounds, while Liu Qingqing returned the Illusory Moth Killing Art manual and Si Ming considered asking Yu Shuying to read Lin Qingxiang’s mind.

Si Ming and his allies crippled Huyan Lie, then followed a lead on Rust Disease that exposed Wei Chunxi and Lin Qingtong as conspirators. The poisoned group fought to stop them, with Zhu Hao recovering enough to challenge Wei Chunxi.

• Si Ming, Liu Qingqing, and Qingyan kidnapped Huyan He while Wei Chunxi’s poison hindered the Thousand-Ren Society’s pursuers.
• Yu Shuying traded hostages with Huyan Lie, while Lin Qingxiang killed his father, Lin Xiu, and learned the cost of the Illusory Moth Killing Art.
• Si Ming attended the Northern Darkness Party auction with Liu Qingqing and Wei Chunxi, won a Forest Leopard cub, and fought off a rat demon who tried to steal it.
• Lin Qingxiang and Zhu Hao ambushed Huyan Lie, and Si Ming later caught up with him and severed his arm.
• A rat demon offered Si Ming information about Rust Disease, leading the group to an infected drinking-water plant where poison weakened their True Qi and a disciple stabbed Zhu Hao.
• Lin Qingtong attacked her former allies, revealed she had taught Liu Qingqing the forbidden Illusory Moth Killing Art, and showed her metallized arm.
• Wei Chunxi revealed he was Ma Shijiu and had lured the group into a trap, while explaining that his poison consumed True Qi and that Yu Shuying’s mind-reading ability was limited.
• Wei Chunxi fought Yu Shuying and Lin Qingxiang, then tried to use her as a shield after Zhu Hao purged the poison from his body and attacked.