Recaps

Zeng Anmin uncovered Zhu Wanjun’s betrayal, learned more about Master Xu’s plans, and expanded his influence while preparing for the Metropolitan examination. The arc ended as Emperor Jianhong arrived at Vermilion Bird Gate to watch Zeng Anmin take the examination.

• The Crown Prince warned Zeng Anmin that the Fourth Prince planned trouble at Prince Nan’s welcome celebration, while Zeng Shilin urged his son to avoid choosing a political side.
• Zeng Anmin connected Dean Qin to the historical Qin Li and suspected that Dean Qin had faked his death, while keeping the possibility from Qin Wanyue.
• At the victory banquet, Zeng Anmin recited “Guan Shan Yue,” naming Bi Xuan Valley Qinghai Bay, and later joined Sai Chuxue to investigate an evil entity.
• Zhu Wanjun attacked Zeng Anmin in the forest, but Zeng used the Prismatic Spirit Stone to kill him and then concealed the circumstances from Sai Chuxue and Liu Shishi.
• Master Xu revealed Zeng Anmin’s rare Confucian-Martial Dual Cultivation, his own knowledge of Zeng Shilin’s plans, and a request that Zeng kill someone after returning in a year.
• Zeng Anmin told Zeng Shilin about Zhu Wanjun’s betrayal, and his father urged him to study for the Metropolitan examination.
• Liu Shishi escorted Shen Jun’s caravan to Qinghai Bay, where Shen secured development rights to the Spirit Mine mountain for Zeng Anmin, and Liu Shishi resolved to seek a place beside him.
• Zeng Anmin studied the golden brush technique, received Liu Shishi’s Jade Talisman, and prepared for the examination as Emperor Jianhong arrived at Vermilion Bird Gate with Zeng Shilin, Concubine Lin, and Huzi.

Zeng Anmin survived a sabotaged examination, uncovered Duke Ning Li Jian’s conspiracy, and helped defeat his palace coup. After exposing the Fourth Prince’s identity and finding hidden talismans and letters in Li Jian’s manor, he prepared to travel to Jiangnan to seek a remedy for the Bizarre Qi.

• Zeng Anmin entered the Kindling Illusion Array, resisted its implanted memories, and completed its trial by sacrificing himself in the illusion to help defeat the invading Empress.
• Zeng Anmin earned First Class honors, then survived the Hat Guest’s attack and learned that Zhu Wanjun and Li Jian had conspired against him.
• Zeng Anmin joined Bai Ziqing’s investigation, traced the Hat Guest to an evil corpse empowered by an Earthly Lotus, and reported his suspicions about Li Jian to Emperor Jianhong.
• Duke Ning Li Jian and Wang Yuanhao launched a palace coup, but Zeng Shilin, Wu Qianfeng, Princess Ning'an, and the palace’s defenders resisted them.
• Wang Dong destroyed Li Jian’s Daoist Evil Corpse, Si Zhongxiao killed Li Jian, and the Fourth Prince’s birth identity was exposed before Wang Yuanhao killed himself.
• Emperor Jianhong rewarded Zeng Anmin with a county title, and Zeng Anmin decided to travel to Jiangnan to investigate the Bizarre Qi and pursue cultivation breakthroughs.
• Zeng Anmin and Wuxin discovered a hidden underground complex beneath Duke Ning’s manor and recovered secret letters and seven talismans.
• Xu Mingxin explained the talismans’ powers, Sai Chuxue gave Zeng Anmin a protective compass, and Zeng Anmin’s Mysterious Necklace warmed as he tried to reveal the secret letters.

Zeng Anmin uncovered ties between Li Jian, Consort Meiyu, and the Fu Sect, then impersonated Prince Nan to enter Jiang’s capital and arrange his disappearance. While investigating the Empress and Pan Shiba, he learned that Bai Ziqing was in danger.

• Zeng Anmin found the Heavenly Lotus, learned it halted the Bizarre Qi’s spread, and joined Bai Ziqing’s envoy delegation under the alias Zheng Nabeian.
• Black-clad attackers struck the delegation, but Zeng Anmin and Bai Ziqing killed Prince Nan and Wu Wei after Wu Wei revealed his connection to Consort Meiyu and the Fu Sect.
• Zeng Anmin impersonated Prince Nan and entered Jiang’s capital with Bai Ziqing, convincing the Eastern Cult and Empress Gu Xiangnan of his identity.
• Zeng Anmin secretly contacted Gu Xiangnan as Bei and agreed to make Prince Nan disappear in exchange for the Moon God Jade Pendant.
• Zeng Anmin knocked out Ji Hongli, impersonated him to escape Jianjun Prefecture, and then went to the Jiaofang Division to investigate a young man linked to Meiyu Tower.
• Gu Xiangnan followed Zeng Anmin to the Jiaofang Division, where they both observed Pan Shiba meet a short black-robed figure he called Master.
• Zeng Anmin fled with Gu Xiangnan from the Black Guards and reached a courtyard, where Die'er helped resolve a routine inspection without revealing their identities.
• Zeng Anmin and Gu Xiangnan exchanged messages as Bei and Nan, and Bai Ziqing’s jade pendant sent a broken plea for help before going silent.

Zeng Anmin rescued Bai Ziqing and the Empress, then uncovered a conspiracy involving Gu Yuqing, Duke Cao, and Ling Xuzi. After defeating Bi Fang, he learned the Xiangliu Demon Emperor planned to infiltrate the Great Sage capital, while Gu Yuqing turned on Princess Wencheng.

• Zeng Anmin rescued the Empress and Bai Ziqing from Ji Hongli, killed Mr. Xin and Ji Hongli, and helped break the Empress’s Yin Fire Talisman.
• Zeng Anmin and the Empress investigated the stolen Void Necklace and Wencheng’s disappearance, eventually suspecting that Gu Yuqing was possessed by the Fu Sect Master and had stolen the necklace.
• At the Blood Moon Grand Ceremony, Jiang Chengxi rebelled against the Empress, while Bi Fang and Pan Shiba joined the attack.
• Dongfang Cang appeared, but Pan Shiba weakened the City Protection Formation, and Ling Xuzi arrived demanding the necklace.
• Ling Xuzi discovered that the necklace was fake, sacrificed Jiang Chengxi to restore Dongfang Cang, and had Gu Yuqing teleport the Empress, Zeng Anmin, Bai Ziqing, and Bi Fang to the Back Mountain.
• Zeng Anmin revealed himself as a Confucian Cultivator, summoned his Confucian Dharma Aspect, and destroyed Bi Fang.
• Before dying, Bi Fang warned Zeng Anmin that the Xiangliu Demon Emperor had the Dragon Survey Map and planned to infiltrate the Great Sage capital.
• While Ling Xuzi suppressed Dongfang Cang, Gu Yuqing used the Spring's Return talisman and threatened Wencheng, revealing a wooden figure made through his Puppet Technique.