Recaps

Meng Zhao used Ji Rushuang’s connection to the Dan Chi Clan to investigate Hu Mountain while drawing Zeng Dong into his service. He uncovered signs that the Heavenly King Gang was gathering Killing Intent and beast parts for an attempt at the Grandmaster Realm, then hurried with Ji Rushuang to find her clan as the Gang’s hunt continued.

• Meng Zhao encountered Ji Rushuang and her dying coachman, saved her from Zeng Dong’s riders, and learned that she was the daughter of the Dan Chi Clan patriarch.
• Meng Zhao used Ji Rushuang’s identity to investigate Hu Mountain, subdued Zeng Dong, and brought him into his service with a pill that could help him advance.
• After reaching Yongjian Commandery City, Meng Zhao obtained a map of Dan Chi Clan activity from Master Craftsman Luo, who warned him to leave Hu Mountain soon.
• Zeng Dong reported that Liu Rulong had ordered the gang’s minor leaders to collect weapons that had killed many people, and Meng Zhao concluded the weapons would supply Killing Intent and metal qi for an evil weapon.
• Meng Zhao explained that the Heavenly King might be pursuing the dangerous Evil Weapon Limit Break, gave Zeng Dong another pill, and warned him against getting caught in the scheme.
• Meng Zhao and Ji Rushuang found a tiger whose eyes and heart had been removed, suspected the Heavenly King Gang was using beasts to forge an evil weapon, and hurried to find Ji Rushuang’s clan.
• Yuan Qing and Qiu Lian carried beast flesh gathered with Heavenly King’s Bewitching Incense through Hu Mountain, while Yuan Qing said Geng Pomo might seek more valuable prey using a marked map.

Meng Zhao captured Geng Pomo, uncovered Su Tianwang’s plans and the Rebel Army’s ambitions, then negotiated with the Dan Chi Clan through his relationship with Ji Rushuang. The clan chief accepted Meng Zhao as family but revealed that the Rebel Army had repeatedly tried to recruit his people, leaving their next move unsettled.

• Yuan Qing and Qiu Lian discovered that the Heavenly King was using a living Flesh Tai Sui to prepare for Evil Weapon Limit Break and ordered them to support his dangerous ritual.
• Meng Zhao and Ji Rushuang found Geng Pomo confronting Dan Chi warriors over their ferocious beast map, and Meng Zhao defeated and captured him.
• Geng Pomo told Meng Zhao that Su Tianwang was hiding in Hu Mountain, preparing his ritual, and connected to a large Rebel Army, and Meng Zhao killed him rather than risk exposing his plans.
• Meng Zhao accompanied Ji Rushuang to her clan’s settlement, where Ji Zhenyun learned that Meng Zhao belonged to a powerful noble family and was already betrothed, but agreed that Ji Rushuang could become his concubine.
• Meng Zhao promised to raise Ji Rushuang’s unborn child as his own, and Ji Zhenyun accepted him as family after hearing that the Heavenly King Gang had ties to the Rebel Army.
• Meng Zhao concluded that the Rebel Army wanted to absorb the Dan Chi Clan, while Ji Zhenyun revealed that it had made seventeen recruitment attempts and was considering moving his branch away from Hu Mountain.

Meng Zhao persuaded the Dan Chi Clan to prepare for joining the Rebel Army while retaining its families and negotiating favorable terms. After bargaining with Purple Butterfly and gaining He Xin’s support, Meng Zhao traveled to the Rebel Army camp to advance the alliance from within.

• Meng Zhao warned Ji Zhenyun and Ji Rulin that the Rebel Army could exploit clan infiltrators, then persuaded them that joining the rebels offered a chance to defeat them from within.
• Ji Zhenyun accepted Meng Zhao’s plan to lead five thousand Dan Chi warriors, presented him as his son-in-law, and assigned Ji Rushuang to teach him the Dan Chi language.
• Meng Zhao trained the warriors in the Coiling Serpent Transformation and agreed to share the martial art with the clan after the immediate danger passed.
• Su Tianwang sent Yuan Qing and Qiu Lian to investigate Geng Pomo’s disappearance, then ordered his followers to relocate while the two debated whether to remain with him.
• Meng Zhao met Purple Butterfly and offered terms for the Dan Chi Clan’s integration, including leaving its families outside rebel control and giving its vanguard full equipment and elite benefits.
• Purple Butterfly rejected Meng Zhao’s terms, so Meng Zhao approached He Xin, who offered to mediate and promised to seek approval for merging the forces.
• Meng Zhao demonstrated his martial arts to He Xin and warned Ji Zhenyun to guard the clan while he traveled to the Rebel Army camp with He Xin.
• He Xin brought Meng Zhao into the camp and left him in a guest tent while he reported their arrival to his superior.

Meng Zhao joined Si Peng’s faction, brought the Dan Chi warriors into the Divine Might Army, and earned Hong Tianzheng’s support by treating Madam Hong. The arc ended with Si Peng asking Meng Zhao to help meet Su Hongtu’s demand for beast essence, which Meng Zhao recognized as part of an Evil Weapon Limit Break ritual.

• Meng Zhao learned the Five Holy Emissaries’ factions were divided and negotiated with Si Peng, agreeing to serve as a Guard General in exchange for the Dan Chi Clan’s conditions.
• Si Peng introduced Meng Zhao to Hong Tianzheng and asked him to support their faction, while Meng Zhao began developing the Iron Wall Art for the Dan Chi warriors.
• Meng Zhao learned that Madam Hong was near death from a cold toxin and offered to treat her using his Heavenly Silkworm Silk and knowledge of blood replacement.
• Meng Zhao drew out and studied Madam Hong’s icy power, then arranged medicinal treatments to strengthen her until she could train her body.
• Hong Tianzheng pledged his support, and Meng Zhao organized the arrival and training of five thousand Dan Chi warriors under his command.
• Meng Zhao prepared the Iron Wall Formation for the Dan Chi warriors when Si Peng summoned him and revealed Su Hongtu’s request for a large supply of ferocious beast essence.
• Meng Zhao recognized that Su Hongtu’s request concealed an Evil Weapon Limit Break ritual and saw a possible opportunity to act against him.