Recaps

Xu Lanqing spent the morning with Ice Empress, then returned to the academy and got permission from Xu Bei to leave for the imperial palace. On his way out, he met Xiao Hongchen, who told him about a powerful new opponent and invited him to help with Spirit Forging.

• Xu Lanqing stayed with Ice Empress after skipping class, and she told him she had encountered Long Xiaoyao the previous night without fighting him.
• Xu Lanqing worried that Long Xiaoyao might detect Snow Empress and decided their plans needed to move faster.
• Xu Bei reprimanded Xu Lanqing for missing class, and Xu Lanqing asked to take the afternoon off to return to the imperial palace.
• Xu Lanqing met Xiao Hongchen, who described a mysterious woman powerful enough to overwhelm him and suggested Xu Lanqing watch their practical exercise at the Soul Fighting Arena.
• Xiao Hongchen told Xu Lanqing about his work on Battle Armor and his struggles with Spirit Forging, and Xu Lanqing offered to share ideas that evening.

Xu Tianran learned that Xu Pingzhong’s rebellion had captured four cities and considered using the crisis to remove Xu Lanqing, whose marriage to the Snow Empress threatened his bid for the throne. Meanwhile, Xu Lanqing went out in Mingdu with the Ice Empress and Meng Hongchen.

• Long Xiaoyao told Xu Tianran he was returning to the Holy Spirit Cult, unsettled by a growing premonition of danger.
• Xue Chen reported that Xu Pingzhong’s rebels had captured four cities, including Eastsea City, and that the news was being suppressed.
• Xu Tianran learned that only the Evil Monarch Soul Engineer Legion was available to fight the rebels and considered what its departure from Mingdu would allow him to do.
• Xu Tianran asked about the preparations and ordered Xue Chen to take him to the emperor.
• Xu Lanqing left the palace with the Ice Empress and Meng Hongchen, disappointing Meng Hongchen, who had hoped to be alone with him.

After spending the morning with Ice Empress, Xu Lanqing returned to the academy and asked Xu Bei for leave to visit the imperial palace. On the way, he met Xiao Hongchen, who told him about a powerful girl at the Soul Fighting Arena and asked for help with Spirit Forging.

• Xu Lanqing skipped class to stay with Ice Empress, who said she had encountered Long Xiaoyao the previous night but had avoided a fight.
• Xu Lanqing told Ice Empress to rest, then worried that Long Xiaoyao might have noticed something unusual and considered speeding up their operation.
• Xu Bei reprimanded Xu Lanqing for missing class, and Xu Lanqing asked for the afternoon off to return to the imperial palace.
• Xu Lanqing met Xiao Hongchen on the way out, and Xiao Hongchen described a formidable girl he might face at the Soul Fighting Arena.
• Xiao Hongchen told Xu Lanqing that he was struggling with Spirit Forging, and Xu Lanqing offered to share some ideas that evening.

Xu Lanqing visited Shangguan Wei'er, leader of Mingdu's Pingfan Alliance, with the Ice Empress and Meng Hongchen. After discussing her rare-metals business, he asked how well she knew the Ye Family of the Holy Angel.

• Shangguan Wei'er flirted with Xu Lanqing, and the Ice Empress used her pressure to reveal Shangguan's strength as a Rank 91 Titled Douluo.
• Xu Lanqing introduced the Ice Empress as his wife and entered Shangguan's room with her and Meng Hongchen.
• Xu Lanqing asked Shangguan whether she sold rare metals, but she denied it and invoked the powerful figures backing her.
• Xu Lanqing assured Shangguan that he was not there to investigate her business, then asked about her ties to the Ye Family of the Holy Angel.

Xu Lanqing pressed Shangguan Wei'er to connect him with the Ye Family so he could recruit their Holy Angel Martial Soul users to hunt the Holy Spirit Cult. He urged her to help him and hinted at the upheaval ahead, but their discussion was interrupted by the arrival of two bloodied men.

• Xu Lanqing asked Shangguan Wei'er to introduce him to the Ye Family, but she hesitated because they avoided outsiders and she feared becoming entangled in imperial politics.
• Xu Lanqing revealed that the Xishui Alliance was backed by Xu Tianran and was made up of Evil Soul Masters from the Holy Spirit Cult.
• Xu Lanqing declared that he would destroy the Holy Spirit Cult and then confront Xu Tianran, prompting Shangguan Wei'er to consider which side to support.
• Shangguan Wei'er tried to postpone her decision by offering to arrange dinner, but Xu Lanqing argued that the old nobles would not protect her and asked only for discreet help.
• A bloodied black-clad bodyguard arrived supporting another badly wounded person, interrupting their conversation.

Shangguan Wei'er sought help for the gravely wounded Ye Guyi, but Elder Wen could only stabilize her. With Ye Guyi's life fading, Shangguan begged Xu Lanqing to save her and offered to serve him, leaving Xu Lanqing's answer unresolved.

• Shangguan Wei'er brought the bloodied, unconscious Ye Guyi inside and ordered a healing Soul Master and medicinal herbs.
• Elder Wen treated Ye Guyi with his Soul Power and a pill, but said he could only stabilize her and that she needed a stronger healer quickly.
• Xu Lanqing and the Ice Empress discussed whether Ye Guyi had been attacked nearby and concluded her assailant might have been far away or too powerful to sense.
• Shangguan Wei'er revealed that Ye Guyi was the Angel Family's only living inheritor and begged Xu Lanqing to save her.
• When Xu Lanqing questioned whether he was expected to help, Shangguan Wei'er offered to serve him if he saved Ye Guyi.

Xu Lanqing sent Meng Hongchen to take the wounded Ye Guyi to the imperial palace, then realized the Evil Soul Masters had likely tracked her back to Shangguan Wei'er. As they waited for the attackers, Shangguan Wei'er killed Elder Wen to keep him from revealing what had happened, while Xu Lanqing considered whether Long Xiaoyao might be among their enemies.

• Xu Lanqing concealed the evil aura in Ye Guyi and gave Meng Hongchen a White Jade Token to take her to Elder Sun Yuhuan for treatment.
• After Meng Hongchen left, Xu Lanqing asked Shangguan Wei'er who had wounded Ye Guyi, and she realized the Evil Soul Masters had probably followed Ye Guyi back to her.
• Xu Lanqing told Shangguan Wei'er to wait for the Evil Soul Masters, calming her with his composure.
• Elder Wen tried to leave, but Shangguan Wei'er killed him to prevent him from talking.
• Xu Lanqing joked that Shangguan Wei'er might betray him and considered fleeing if Long Xiaoyao was among the approaching enemies.

Shangguan Wei'er waited with Xu Lanqing and Ice Empress in an underground room as their enemies arrived in central Mingdu. Ice Empress launched a lethal attack on the younger woman, while Xu Lanqing prepared to face her husband.

• Shangguan Wei'er grew anxious about the approaching threat, and Xu Lanqing reassured her that he would not abandon her.
• Xu Lanqing warned Ice Empress not to fly during the fight and urged her to end the battle quickly before the City Defense Army arrived.
• An attacker shattered the door, and Ice Empress froze the flying fragments; Xu Lanqing saw an old man and two women enter past the bodies of black-clad guards.
• The intruders recognized Ice Empress as a Ferocious Beast and hesitated, realizing they had encountered powerful opponents.
• Ice Empress told her companions to face the old man and younger woman, then appeared before the younger woman and attacked her with an ice spike.
• The younger woman raised a shield of gray-blue flames that pushed back Ice Empress's cold as the fight began.

Ice Empress fought Feng Ling while Zhang Peng attacked Shangguan Wei'er and then moved toward Xu Lanqing. As Ma Xiaotao revealed her six black Soul Rings and Black Fire Phoenix, Zhang Peng reached for Xu Lanqing from behind.

• Ice Empress nearly killed Feng Ling with an opening strike, then suppressed her with Ultimate Ice as their fight damaged the corridor and shook Mingyue Hotel.
• Shangguan Wei'er used defensive Soul Tools to hold off Zhang Peng, whose rank-ninety-five strength overwhelmed her in direct combat.
• Zhang Peng abandoned his attack on Shangguan Wei'er and headed toward Xu Lanqing, intending to capture him as leverage against Ice Empress.
• Xu Lanqing faced Ma Xiaotao with his Dragon Slaying Blade as golden dragon scales appeared beneath his skin.
• Ma Xiaotao summoned inky-black flames and revealed six black Soul Rings, with a pitch-black phoenix phantom behind her.

Xu Lanqing fought Ma Xiaotao, a Six-Ring Soul Emperor raised by the Holy Spirit Cult, and discovered that her black phoenix flames carried an evil aura. As they prepared to clash again, Zhang Peng attacked Xu Lanqing from behind.

• Xu Lanqing recognized Ma Xiaotao and attacked her with his Dragon Slaying Blade.
• Ma Xiaotao caught Xu Lanqing's blade and unleashed a combined phoenix attack that blasted through the floor and ceiling.
• Xu Lanqing survived using Ice Dragon Protection, though black flames clung to him and corroded his defenses.
• Xu Lanqing noticed a trace of Ye Guyi's holy aura within Ma Xiaotao as they prepared to fight again.
• Zhang Peng appeared behind Xu Lanqing with an evil-spirits-wreathed hand poised to strike.

Xu Lanqing confronted Ma Xiaotao, now a six-ring Soul Emperor wielding black flames after being cultivated by the Holy Spirit Cult. Their clash devastated the room, and as they prepared to fight again, Zhang Peng launched a surprise attack from behind.

• Xu Lanqing recognized Ma Xiaotao and attacked her with the Dragon-Slaying Saber.
• Ma Xiaotao caught Xu Lanqing's blade and unleashed a charged black-flame attack that blasted through the floor and ceiling.
• Xu Lanqing survived the eruption using Ice Dragon Protection, though evil black flames clung to him.
• Xu Lanqing noticed traces of Ye Guyi's divine aura within Ma Xiaotao as they prepared to clash again.
• Zhang Peng attacked Xu Lanqing from behind with an evil spirit.

Xu Lanqing captured Ma Xiaotao with Shangguan Wei'er’s help while Shangguan Wei'er fought Zhang Peng in her Weak Water domain. Zhang Peng transformed into his Martial Soul Avatar, destroyed the room’s ceiling and barrier, and unleashed his Soul Beasts to cover his escape.

• Electrolux told Xu Lanqing that Ma Xiaotao’s Sea of Consciousness had been sealed and advised him to use holy power and Necromancy to immobilize her.
• Xu Lanqing used Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track to approach Ma Xiaotao, subdued her with holy currents, and drew her into the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Bead.
• Zhang Peng swallowed Shangguan Wei'er in a black orb, then tried to escape through the ceiling as her Weak Water domain blocked his exits.
• Shangguan Wei'er created water women that repeatedly attacked Zhang Peng and hindered his escape.
• Zhang Peng used his Martial Soul Avatar to become a giant black tiger, broke through the ceiling and Weak Water barrier, and summoned Soul Beasts to attack the silver droplets.

Luan Feng received the order to kill everyone causing trouble at Mingyue Hotel and bring back the Fourth Prince, then deployed the empire’s forces against the battle there. Ice Empress protected Xu Lanqing and Shangguan Wei'er from the bombardment, while Zhang Peng was killed and Mingyue Hotel was destroyed.

• Luan Feng learned that at least four Titled Douluo, a Ferocious Beast, and two children were inside Mingyue Hotel, then asked the emperor for instructions.
• The emperor ordered Luan Feng to kill the troublemakers and bring back the Fourth Prince, so she prepared the Eye of Terror and the City Defense Army for an attack.
• Ice Empress’s shout disrupted Zhang Peng as he fled, and she stored the frozen Feng Ling in her Storage Ring.
• Ice Empress began to prepare the Domain of Eternal Freeze, then shielded Xu Lanqing and brought Shangguan Wei'er inside the barrier.
• Luan Feng’s forces unleashed a massive Soul Tool bombardment that killed Zhang Peng and reduced Mingyue Hotel to rubble.

After the emperor reprimanded Xu Lanqing and Xu Tianran for the violence at Mingyue Hotel, he quietly assessed the losses and summoned three legion commanders as Eastsea City remained in rebellion. Xu Tianran prepared to act on his own, while Xu Lanqing returned to his palace and went to check on Ye Guyi.

• The emperor dismissed Xu Lanqing and Xu Tianran with only a warning, then ordered them to pay for the damages from the Mingyue Hotel incident.
• The emperor learned that Zhang Peng and several others had died, that two Evil Soul Masters were missing, and that losses totaled around 100 million Gold Soul Coins.
• Xu Tianran suspected the Snow Empress was establishing an alibi and inferred that the emperor planned to send soul engineer legions to Eastsea City.
• Xu Tianran ordered Xue Chen to prepare everything and await his command.
• The Ice Empress checked that Xu Lanqing was unharmed and told him Ye Guyi was recovering in a second-floor room.
• Xu Lanqing went to check on Ye Guyi.

Xu Lanqing learned that Mingdu’s defenses had been weakened and Ju Zi decided to join the Fire Phoenix Soul Engineer Legion as its deputy commander. After sharing a tender moment, Xu Lanqing helped her put on her battle armor before she prepared to leave.

• Xu Lanqing checked on the unconscious Ye Guyi and learned that Feng Ling had been captured alive.
• Ju Zi visited Xu Lanqing, confronted him about breaking his promise, and reconciled with him.
• Ju Zi told Xu Lanqing that the emperor had sent the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Legion and the Evil Monarch Soul Engineer Legion away from Mingdu.
• Ju Zi decided to become deputy commander of the Fire Phoenix Soul Engineer Legion, and Xu Lanqing agreed to send Xiao Bai with her while Zheng Zhan guarded the palace.
• Xu Lanqing helped Ju Zi put on her close-fitting battle armor, and she kissed him before leaving.

Luan Feng tested Ju Zi’s military judgment after she arrived to take up the long-delayed post of deputy commander of the Fire Phoenix Soul Engineer Legion. Impressed by Ju Zi’s analysis, Luan Feng gave her command of a hundred soldiers and left her to prove herself when the legion returned.

• After a night reviewing problems in the City Defense Army, Luan Feng received Ju Zi and Xiao Bai at her office.
• Ju Zi presented an authentic appointment letter dated six years earlier, and Luan Feng questioned her about her age, experience, and strength.
• Luan Feng gave Ju Zi a battle report and asked what she would do in command.
• Ju Zi argued that the army should abandon its allies, identifying them as a source of confusion and weakness.
• Luan Feng praised Ju Zi’s judgment, assigned her a hundred soldiers, and said she would take her to the returning Fire Phoenix Soul Engineer Legion that night.

Ju Zi learned that the Sun Moon Empire faced rebellions and political decay, and Luan Feng explained that the legions’ deployment supported a broader need for reform. Meanwhile, Xu Lanqing and Electrolux began removing Ye Xishui’s mental control from Ma Xiaotao, and Ye Xishui discovered her planted mental power had vanished.

• Ju Zi asked Luan Feng why the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Legion and the Evil Monarch Soul Engineer Legion had left Mingdu, and Luan Feng said rebels had taken Eastsea City.
• Luan Feng described the empire’s internal crises and said reform required strength and resolve, then assigned Ju Zi to lead one hundred members of the Fire Phoenix Soul Engineer Legion.
• Xu Lanqing asked Electrolux to help undo Ye Xishui’s mental control over Ma Xiaotao, who had shut herself away in her Sea of Consciousness.
• Xu Lanqing entered Ma Xiaotao’s mind while Electrolux helped drive out and devour Ye Xishui’s hostile mental power.
• Ye Xishui sensed that the mental power she had planted in Ma Xiaotao was gone.

Xu Lanqing tried to comfort Ma Xiaotao in her Sea of Consciousness, and she emerged from her despair ready to fight him. Their battle escalated until Xu Lanqing broke through to become a Five-Ring Soul King.

• Xu Lanqing entered Ma Xiaotao's Sea of Consciousness and urged her to move beyond her guilt and seek revenge.
• Ma Xiaotao described her painful past and blamed herself for the innocent people she had killed, while Xu Lanqing shared his own experience with tragedy.
• Xu Lanqing left Ma Xiaotao alone in her Sea of Consciousness, and she eventually woke and unleashed her black flames.
• Ma Xiaotao challenged Xu Lanqing to fight again, and they exchanged powerful attacks in the valley.
• As Ma Xiaotao summoned dark clouds and meteor-like energy masses, Xu Lanqing's aura surged and a fifth Soul Ring appeared, making him a Five-Ring Soul King.

Xu Lanqing learned the Golden Dragon King’s Dragon Breath Heaven Suction Art and used it against Ma Xiaotao in a fierce battle. He cut through her Black Fire Phoenix with his Snow Maiden Martial Soul, but Ma Xiaotao triggered a final explosion that engulfed the valley.

• Xu Lanqing used the Dragon Breath Heaven Suction Art to strengthen his Bloodline Power and boost his combat abilities.
• Ma Xiaotao attacked Xu Lanqing with her Phoenix Meteor Shower, and he smashed through the falling meteors with his Golden Dragon claws.
• Ma Xiaotao fused her six black Soul Rings and summoned a Black Fire Phoenix, raising her power to Ultimate Fire.
• Xu Lanqing countered the phoenix’s heat with Snow Dance Shining Sun and cut through it with the Emperor Sword.
• Ma Xiaotao clenched her fist, causing the Black Fire Phoenix to explode and melt the snow into rain.

After Ma Xiaotao exhausted herself fighting Xu Lanqing, she spoke about her painful past and her determination to help others despite the guilt she carried. Xu Lanqing listened as she questioned whether her resolve made her a hypocrite, and she remained haunted by the people she had killed.

• The Aromatic Silk Beauty used the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well to raise a barrier that extinguished Ma Xiaotao’s black flames and protected the herbs.
• Xu Lanqing emerged from the blast with his Emperor Sword and golden dragon, while Ma Xiaotao withdrew her Martial Soul and admitted she could not continue fighting.
• Ma Xiaotao introduced herself, learned Xu Lanqing’s name, and wondered about the hidden valley and its Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts.
• Ma Xiaotao told Xu Lanqing about her parents, her past thoughts of suicide, and her desire to live and help people despite the harm she had caused.
• Ma Xiaotao asked whether she was a hypocrite for seeking justice and making amends, while memories of her victims continued to torment her.

Xu Lanqing encouraged Ma Xiaotao and offered to free her from the Holy Spirit Cult’s lingering evil energy and Evil Fire. After cleansing her and feeding her Blazing Glue, he watched her phoenix power return in a golden-red blaze.

• Xu Lanqing reassured Ma Xiaotao with a story about two prisoners who saw either mud or stars, while Electrolux watched approvingly.
• Xu Lanqing explained that the Infernal Delicate Apricot’s Blazing Glue could refine Ma Xiaotao’s Evil Fire into Ultimate Fire after he purged the evil energy eroding her body.
• Ma Xiaotao teased Xu Lanqing about what he expected in return, and he said he wanted her as a capable subordinate and was already spoken for.
• Xu Lanqing used Ultimate Ice, Spiritual Power, and purifying power to cleanse Ma Xiaotao’s body and Sea of Consciousness, leaving her weakened and her Soul Power reduced.
• Xu Lanqing fed Ma Xiaotao Blazing Glue, restoring her fire power as golden-red phoenix wings spread behind her and she soared into the sky.

Ma Xiaotao thanked the valley’s plant Soul Beasts and asked Jiaojiao to teach her cultivation before Xu Lanqing brought her to his bedroom to question her about the Holy Spirit Cult. After learning of the cult’s losses and its bases in Mingdu, Xu Lanqing considered striking while Long Xiaoyao was away, but their plans paused when someone approached them at the palace entrance.

• Ma Xiaotao thanked Jiaojiao for the Blazing Glue, and Jiaojiao and Youyou introduced themselves before Jiaojiao agreed to teach her cultivation.
• Xu Lanqing took Ma Xiaotao to his bedroom, where she offered to tell him what she knew about the Holy Spirit Cult.
• Ma Xiaotao revealed that Zhongli Wu had died six years earlier, Ye Xishui controlled the cult, and four of its bases were in Mingdu.
• Xu Lanqing considered having the Ice Empress attack Nangong Wan and the Seventh Elder while Long Xiaoyao was away.
• Ma Xiaotao said she was hungry, and Xu Lanqing led her toward the palace entrance, where a lively figure came hopping toward them.

Xu Tianzhen visited Xu Lanqing and gave him a prototype detection Soul Tool that had picked up powerful auras among the people hidden in Xu Tianran’s palace. After she left, Xu Lanqing went to investigate a commotion in the kitchen and found Ma Xiaotao eating beside someone tied to a post.

• Xu Tianzhen visited Xu Lanqing, complained about palace boredom, and told him that the Mingyue Hotel collapse had been caused by him.
• Xu Tianzhen revealed that she had discovered many powerful people hidden in Xu Tianran’s palace and gave Xu Lanqing a prototype detection Soul Tool.
• Xu Lanqing used the Soul Tool and learned only that the hidden people were numerous and had strong auras.
• Xu Tianzhen said she helped Xu Lanqing because she disliked Xu Tianran, then left when she worried her mother would scold her.
• Xu Lanqing followed the noise to the kitchen and found Ma Xiaotao eating beside someone tied to a wooden post.

Xu Lanqing explained to Ye Guyi that Ma Xiaotao was no longer an Evil Soul Master and was helping him oppose the Holy Spirit Cult, though Ye Guyi remained distrustful. As Xu Lanqing left, Ye Guyi revealed that her grandfather could not leave his post guarding the Ancestral Shrine and thanked him for saving her.

• Xu Lanqing freed Ye Guyi after Ma Xiaotao and the recovering Ye Guyi nearly clashed in the kitchen.
• Xu Lanqing explained Ma Xiaotao’s changed condition and defended working with her, but Ye Guyi insisted she should face justice for her past crimes.
• Ma Xiaotao said she wanted to be a good person, while Ye Guyi remained wary that she might lose control again.
• Xu Lanqing asked Ye Guyi to help recruit her grandfather and revealed his plan to destroy the Holy Spirit Cult; Ye Guyi said she could not trust him yet.
• As Xu Lanqing left, Ye Guyi said her grandfather had to guard the Ancestral Shrine and thanked Xu Lanqing.

Xu Lanqing experimented with combining the Mysterious Heaven Skill and the Dragon Breath Heaven Absorption Technique to cultivate Soul Power and Bloodline Power together. After two failed attempts, he realized spiritual power might stabilize the fusion and decided to try again the next day.

• Xu Lanqing told Ye Guyi to have Elder Sun Yuhuan examine her while changing her medicine, then returned to his room to cultivate.
• Xu Lanqing tried circulating the Mysterious Heaven Skill and the Dragon Breath Heaven Absorption Technique together, but spat blood and stopped when the fusion failed.
• Xu Lanqing tried again and found that using spiritual power made the fusion more stable, though the effort nearly drained him.
• Xu Lanqing concluded that the fusion might require Soul Power, Bloodline Power, and spiritual power, then rested and planned to try again the next day.