Recaps

Meng Zhao secured Monk Huikong’s willingness to consider an alliance, then organized his forces and investigated Beitang Xing’s fate. Old Daoist Liu revealed Beitang Sheng’s schemes and the rise of Martial Dao Fortune, leaving Meng Zhao aware of the Great Emperor’s overwhelming power and the shifting prospects of Great Yong.

• Meng Zhao handed Zhou Wangqiao to Monk Huikong and proposed an alliance between the Pudu Cult and the Meng Family, arguing that the cult could not seize the realm on its own.
• Meng Zhao showed Huikong his Five Dragon Hand, and Huikong explained the limits of Heavenly Being cultivation and the strength of hidden rivals.
• Meng Zhao and Huikong returned to Beitang Xing and Old Daoist Liu, then parted after Huikong made peace with Meng Zhao and chose him as a stronger potential partner.
• Meng Zhao assigned Mu Yi and Gan Mingfeng to take over Peng Haibing’s Xuan Shuang Society, while Bai Xingyun and Mr. Yue reaffirmed their loyalty.
• Meng Zhao pressed Old Daoist Liu about Beitang Xing and learned that Beitang Sheng had concealed the prince’s imperial fate while intending to take his foundation and fortune.
• Old Daoist Liu revealed that Beitang Sheng had caused disasters to gather materials for an Exotic Treasure and had broken Beitang Gong’s restrictions, restoring Martial Dao Fortune.
• Meng Zhao realized that Beitang Sheng’s merit, authority, and strength could make rebellion against him disastrous, but also saw that the realm’s rising chaos could unite factions against the imperial clan.
• Old Daoist Liu said Meng Zhao’s unpredictable presence had lowered Great Yong’s chances of revival below thirty percent, and Meng Zhao promised to keep their conversation secret and help him if needed.

Meng Zhao arrived in Kaiming City and began assessing the powers that could shape Yanzhou, including the Pudu Cult, the Tan Family, and Divine Saber Hall. As Lu Hou'er brought Old Blade Zhao an offer from Meng Zhao, Zhao prepared to decide whether to accept help before his duel with Gu Li.

• Beitang Xing chose to stay with the middle-aged monk and gather information, while Old Daoist Liu urged him to report the journey to Lishou Mountain truthfully.
• Meng Zhao traveled through Yanzhou with Huikong, who discovered impostors abusing the Pudu Cult’s name and killed several of them.
• Lu Hou'er guided Meng Zhao into Kaiming City and explained the influence of the Tan Family, Divine Saber Hall, and Hidden Sword Palace.
• Meng Zhao learned that Old Blade Zhao was fleeing after avenging his daughter and that city factions had joined the hunt, leaving him little choice but to join Divine Saber Hall or leave Yanzhou.
• Lu Hou'er told Meng Zhao that Gu Li might have a childhood engagement to Tan Cai'er, leading Meng Zhao to suspect the Tan Family was entangled in the upcoming duel.
• Meng Zhao gave Lu Hou'er a concealed wooden blade infused with blade intent for Old Blade Zhao, then Lu Hou'er recruited Gui Ba to serve Meng Zhao and gather intelligence.
• Gui Ba outlined the Pudu Cult, the Tan Family, and Divine Saber Hall as the obstacles to controlling Yanzhou, and revealed that an imperial clansman’s Eight Demonic Saber Techniques had strengthened his influence within Divine Saber Hall.
• Lu Hou'er visited Wu Wanzhong’s residence and offered Old Blade Zhao a meeting with Meng Zhao and a weapon that might help him defeat Gu Li, while Wu Wanzhong vowed to stand by Zhao even if they both died.

Meng Zhao strengthened Old Blade Zhao and helped him defeat Gu Li, drawing Zhao into his plans for Yanzhou and uncovering Bei Tangsu’s ambitions. Tan Cai'er arrived at Lu Family Manor seeking answers, while Beitang Xing learned of her Phoenix Physique and began plotting to pursue her.

• Old Blade Zhao drew the wooden saber carved by Meng Zhao’s master and gained insight that transformed his saber cultivation.
• Meng Zhao won Old Blade Zhao’s loyalty, learned the Tan Family had hired him to kill Gu Li, and told him to spare Gu Li’s life in the duel.
• Gu Li and Old Blade Zhao fought at New Joy Ward’s Grand Arena, where Gu Li’s gauntlets suppressed Zhao until the wooden saber broke through their power.
• Gu Li unleashed Demonic Saber Jingqing’s power through the Black Dagger Pendant, but Meng Zhao secretly strengthened the wooden saber and Old Blade Zhao killed Gu Li.
• Meng Zhao captured and questioned Gong Huai, learning that Bei Tangsu had mastered the Eight Demonic Saber Techniques and might threaten the Tan Family and Yanzhou.
• Meng Zhao bound Gong Huai to him and planned to lure Bei Tangsu out of Divine Saber Hall with news about Beitang Xing.
• Tan Cai'er and Granny Hua questioned Lu Hou'er about Tan Qing, and Lu Hou'er revealed that a mysterious expert had subdued him and supported Old Blade Zhao.
• Old Daoist Liu told Beitang Xing that Tan Cai'er possessed a Phoenix Physique, and Beitang Xing began considering how to pursue her without Meng Zhao’s knowledge.

Meng Zhao uncovered Beitang Xing’s scheme to pursue Tan Cai'er and joined forces with her and Monk Huikong to plot against the imperial prince and Bei Tangsu. As Meng Zhao refined his memory-stealing technique, Beitang Xing and Old Daoist Liu began planning to take Tan Cai'er to the Imperial Capital, though Beitang Xing hesitated to use his escape treasure.

• Beitang Xing secretly recruited Lu Hou'er to help him win Tan Cai'er, but Meng Zhao appeared with the Chilong Jade Disk and warned Lu Hou'er to keep the prince’s trust only as a ruse.
• Meng Zhao met Tan Cai'er, confirmed their Dragon and Phoenix physiques were connected, and disclosed his plans and gains while asking for the Tan Family’s help against the Beitang Family.
• Meng Zhao and Tan Cai'er acknowledged their feelings, then secured Monk Huikong’s support for a plan to lure Bei Tangsu out of Divine Saber Hall and kill him and Beitang Xing.
• Meng Zhao used his ability to impersonate Beitang Xing to test Tan Cai'er's reaction, then explained that he planned to kill Beitang Xing, take his appearance, and frame Bei Tangsu.
• Meng Zhao demonstrated the Mind-Reading Great Law on Six-Hit Loose Hand, uncovered the man’s crimes, killed him, and sent Tan Cai'er to retrieve his hidden fortune.
• Old Daoist Liu advised Beitang Xing to seek a marriage grant from Beitang Sheng, then proposed secretly taking Tan Cai'er to the Imperial Capital after Beitang Xing explained his escape treasures.
• Beitang Xing considered Old Daoist Liu’s plan but remained reluctant to spend his one-use Sky Shuttle without absolute necessity.