Recaps

Meng Zhao used the Sky-Illuminating Mirror to strengthen himself, then survived an ambush on the way to the Second Branch’s estate and uncovered a stolen Earth Spirit Pearl. After ordering a search for the likely thief, he returned to Nan'an City, where Mama Wen asked him to surrender Hanxiang to Sun Chuanshan.

• Meng Zhao accepted Meng Wen’s invitation, received Jade Prayer Beads, and discovered that the Sky-Illuminating Mirror could absorb their energy and improve his martial arts.
• Meng Zhao used energy from antiques in the Second Branch’s treasury to enhance his skills and cultivation, then took charge of the branch’s affairs and prepared to visit its estate.
• Meng Zhao’s convoy was ambushed on the road, but he fought off Birdman and his guards drove the attackers away.
• At the estate, Lü Zhong linked the attackers to the earlier raid and explained how the escaped guard had staged his death and implicated Sun Chuanshan.
• Meng Zhao compensated the dead guards’ families and inspected the burned Medicine Field, where Lü Yue found a child holding an Earth Spirit Stone.
• Meng Zhao and Lü Zhong deduced that the fire had concealed the theft of the estate’s Earth Spirit Pearl and that the escaped guard was the likeliest thief.
• Meng Zhao ordered Lü Zhong to search for the guard and returned to the residence without informing his eldest uncle or involving the families in the matter.
• Sun Chuanshan demanded Hanxiang from Mama Wen, who found her pouring wine for Meng Zhao and asked him to give Hanxiang up.

Meng Zhao forced Sun Chuanshan to reveal the plot behind the attacks, then captured the Sun Family fighters and learned Bai Yang had stolen the Earth Spirit Pearl. After earning Meng Jizu’s welcome and learning the Red Flag Order Divine Art, Meng Zhao began cultivating it and chose to pursue its dangerous nine-flag level.

• Meng Zhao confronted Sun Chuanshan, forced him to confess that Bai Yang had recruited Sun Family fighters to raid his estate, and poisoned him to secure his cooperation.
• Meng Zhao refused Meng Xi’s attempt to take the Red Leaf Ginseng and Wolfsbane Grass businesses, while Meng Xi considered using the martial arts contest against the Sun Family to humiliate him.
• Lü Yue led Meng Family experts into an ambush and captured the Sun Family fighters, including the Eagle Claw Master who had attacked Meng Zhao.
• Meng Zhao interrogated the captives and learned that Bai Yang had burned the Medicine Field, faked his death, and escaped with the Earth Spirit Pearl.
• Meng Zhao welcomed Meng Jizu and Meng Hongdao home, honored the family ancestors, and told Meng Jizu he intended to carry forward his father’s branch and legacy.
• Meng Jizu taught Meng Zhao the Red Flag Order Divine Art and selected the Sun Wheel Seal for his self-defense, warning him about the art’s risk of Qi Deviation.
• Meng Zhao used the Sky-Illuminating Mirror to study the new martial arts and spent 4,000 energy points to cultivate the Red Flag Order, forming five red flags in his dantian.
• Meng Zhao considered the danger of condensing nine red flags, then decided to attempt it, trusting his Special Physique and Exotic Treasure to protect him.

Meng Zhao sheltered the wounded Shi Jie, who challenged the foundations of his martial arts and pushed him to seek real experience. When Bai Yang stole the Meng Family’s Earth Spirit Pearl and hid behind Hu Yingming, Meng Zhao set a trap, forced Bai Yang to retrieve it, and received the pearl while Lü Yue remained behind to protect Lü Zhong.

• Meng Zhao fused Thirteen Arhat Hand Forms and Sun Wheel Seal into Iron Refining Hand, then improved the art through sparring with Meng Chuan.
• During an outing with Meng Chuan and Meng Rong, Meng Zhao witnessed Shen Tianci’s battle with Shi Jie and later hid the wounded Shi Jie at Sun Chuanshan’s residence.
• Shi Jie accepted Meng Zhao’s offer of employment, then criticized his lack of combat experience and warned that his martial foundation might prevent him from reaching Innate Martial Dao.
• Meng Zhao learned that Bai Yang had stolen the Earth Spirit Pearl and injured Lü Zhong, and Liu Qiankun advised him to recover the pearl without openly provoking Hu Baiwan or harming Hu Yingming.
• Meng Zhao sent Lü Yue to use Bai Yang’s wife, Zhang Xiao Cui, and their child to lure Bai Yang to Zhang Residence, where Lü Yue and Meng Zhao’s men captured him.
• Meng Zhao threatened Bai Yang’s family and persuaded him to retrieve the Earth Spirit Pearl from Hu Yingming in exchange for their safe departure from Ji Prefecture.
• Bai Yang took the pearl from Hu Yingming and passed it to Lü Yue, who stayed with Lü Zhong while a messenger brought the pearl back to Meng Zhao.
• Shi Jie identified the recovered Earth Spirit Pearl as wood-aspected and suitable for Meng Zhao’s Red Flag Order cultivation.

Meng Zhao rescued Lü Zhong and Lü Yue from Hu Yingming, developed his Purple Origin Dragon Body, and returned to a Meng Family facing growing pressure from the Sun Family and Fire Dragon Cave. As Hu Yingming arranged for Shi Siming to injure Meng Zhao, Meng Zhao accepted an invitation to a banquet where Shen Tianci was expected to speak about the Innate Martial Dao.

• Meng Zhao freed Shi Jie with the antidote, and they rushed with Lü Zhong and Lü Yue to Hu Yingming’s estate, where Meng Zhao captured Hu Yingming and secured his companions’ escape.
• Meng Zhao brought Hu Yingming to the Zhang Family residence, demanded ransom from the Hu Family, and arranged for Bai Yang and Zhang Xiao Cui to be buried together in her hometown.
• Meng Zhao used the Sky-Illuminating Mirror to discover his Purple Origin Dragon Body, then cultivated with the Earth Spirit Pearl until he formed his sixth Crimson Flag.
• Meng Zhao returned to the prefectural city and learned that Hu Baiwan might have ties to the Hell Path, while the Meng Family prepared for rising tensions with the Sun Family and Fire Dragon Cave.
• Meng Zhao learned that Shi Siming had shattered Meng Wen’s Martial Dao Will, while Sun Chuanxing’s guests discussed the Meng Family and Hu Yingming sought revenge.
• Hu Yingming offered Shi Siming a Fire Python Gall to cripple Meng Zhao, and Shi Siming agreed to break one of Meng Zhao’s arms.
• At the temple fair, Meng Zhao sensed a hostile man, then accepted Xi Xiangping’s invitation to a banquet where Shen Tianci would explain the Innate Martial Dao.
• Meng Zhao attended the garden banquet with Meng Chuan and Meng Rong, watched a martial arts match, and noticed a new group entering.