Recaps

Li Xuancang led the surviving soldiers out of the encircled valley, carrying Zhou Xiong’s corpse as they fought their way into the western forest. A Blood Condensation Realm Barbarian commander caught up with them, and Li Xuancang ordered the others to flee while he held the enemy back.

• Li Xuancang gathered the surviving soldiers and led them toward a weak point in the western defenses after the Human Race army was surrounded.
• He caught Zhou Xiong’s body, tied it to his back, and continued fighting to bring it back for burial.
• Li Xuancang led the soldiers through the enemy blockade and into the forest, covering their retreat from the rear.
• After the pursuers fell behind, a Blood Condensation Realm Barbarian commander ambushed the group and killed several soldiers.
• Li Xuancang handed Zhou Xiong’s body to Wang Xiaoniu and ordered the survivors to flee while he confronted the commander.

Li Xuancang stayed behind to face a Blood Condensation Realm Barbarian general, defeated him through a fierce battle, and survived despite being wounded. Wang Xiaoniu returned to collect Li Xuancang’s body and found him alive, but remained confused about the general’s whereabouts.

• Wang Xiaoniu and the others fled as Li Xuancang stayed behind to block the Barbarian general.
• Li Xuancang matched the Barbarian general in combat and proved his strength exceeded the general’s expectations.
• Li Xuancang took a saber wound to his shoulder and pierced the Barbarian general’s chest in a trade of injuries.
• The wounded Barbarian general threw his saber at Li Xuancang and fled into the forest, while Li Xuancang chose not to pursue him.
• Li Xuancang bandaged his wound, and Wang Xiaoniu returned, thinking Li Xuancang might have died and hoping to collect his body.

Li Xuancang survived the Barbarian attack and reunited with the remaining soldiers as news of the Imperial Court’s retreat plunged Profound Sun Commandery into panic. As Nangong Zhan escorted the Li Family toward the commandery city through a crush of refugees, a group of reckless servants rammed their carriage.

• Li Xuancang told Wang Xiaoniu that the Barbarians had withdrawn after seeing the army’s signal, then hurried away with him to rejoin the others.
• Li Xuancang and the surviving soldiers headed for the commandery city after more than half of their three thousand Battle Soldiers were killed or injured.
• News of the retreat spread across Profound Sun Commandery, sending the people into panic; Azure Creek Village decided to flee together, while its residents blamed the Li Family for not warning them.
• Nangong Zhan told the Li Family that Li Xuancang had arranged for their early departure, and the family looked forward to seeing him again in the commandery city.
• Nangong Zhan escorted Father Li, Mother Li, and Li Xiu’s family through the refugee-packed road as several servants forced their carriages forward and crashed into the Li Family’s carriage.

Nangong Zhan confronted Zhang Lingfeng and his servants after they blocked the Li Family’s carriage, refusing to let Father Li apologize. He revealed Li Xuancang’s Military Merit Medal, forcing Zhang Lingfeng to back down and clear the road.

• Zhang Lingfeng ordered his servants to attack Nangong Zhan after Nangong challenged their behavior, while Wang Xing'er watched in anger and Uncle Fu restrained her.
• Nangong Zhan warned the servants that the carriage held a Hundred-Man Commander’s family, making them hesitate to attack.
• Zhang Lingfeng demanded an apology, but Nangong Zhan refused to let Father Li give one.
• Nangong Zhan displayed Li Xuancang’s Military Merit Medal and declared that he was escorting the general’s family under orders.
• Zhang Lingfeng recognized the medal’s authority, apologized, and cleared the road; Nangong Zhan ignored him and returned to the carriage.

Nangong Zhan escorted the Li Family into the prefectural city, where their Military Merit Medal let them bypass the refugee line. After they settled in, news of the imperial army’s devastating ambush at Half-Moon Gorge left the city fearing it could no longer defend itself.

• The Military Merit Medal drew attention to the Li Family, while Zhang Lingfeng seethed over Nangong Zhan’s departure.
• Nangong Zhan escorted the Li Family to the prefectural city, where refugees faced harsh inspections and a limit of five hundred admissions per day as wealthy families entered freely.
• Nangong Zhan showed the frontier Military Merit Medal, and the constables escorted the Li Family through the gates without making them queue.
• After the Li Family settled in, news arrived that the imperial army had suffered devastating losses in an ambush at Half-Moon Gorge, terrifying the people in the city.

Li Xuancang returned safely to the commandery city after surviving the ambush at Half-Moon Gorge and brought Zhou Xiong’s body back to the camp. After resting, he reunited with his relieved family, who had feared he was dead.

• Li Xuancang and several dozen survivors entered the city, where Nangong Zhan joyfully welcomed him at the military camp.
• Li Xuancang gave Zhou Xiong’s body to Zhou Xingzhan, who thanked him for bringing it back and told him to rest.
• Li Xuancang learned that his parents were safe but had been grieving over his disappearance, then ate, bathed, and slept for five shichen.
• After waking, Li Xuancang went with Nangong Zhan to the Li Family’s courtyard to see his family.
• Mother Li embraced Li Xuancang through tears, and Father Li, Li Xiu, and Li Ling'er welcomed him home.

After reuniting with his family, Li Xuancang was promoted to Battalion Commander for his battlefield achievements and given command of five hundred elite Battle Soldiers. Seven days later, he took charge of his troops and promoted his veteran followers.

• Li Xuancang stayed with his family and Nangong Zhan after returning to the prefectural city.
• Zhou Xingzhan promoted Li Xuancang to Battalion Commander, citing his victories and military merit.
• Li Xuancang received a commander's residence, increased pay and privileges, and authority over five hundred Battle Soldiers.
• Seven days later, Li Xuancang took command of his newly assembled five hundred soldiers.
• Li Xuancang promoted Wang Xiaoniu and other veteran followers to leadership positions before ordering the troops to train.

After moving his family into a protected residence in the commandery city, Li Xuancang arranged servants and a yamen position for Zhang Erzhu. When Barbarians and Demons invaded Azure County and threatened the grain supply, Li Xuancang volunteered to escort it, leaving Zhou Xingzhan impressed and the other commanders relieved they would not have to go.

• Li Xuancang moved his family into the court-assigned residence, where Li Xiu, Yang Cuihua, Zhang Erzhu, and Zhang Cuier celebrated his new rank.
• Li Xuancang planned to hire servants, then warned Zhang Erzhu to obey his superiors after securing him a yamen position.
• The Barbarians and Demons invaded Azure County, slaughtering civilians as their forces advanced through Profound Sun Commandery.
• Zhou Xingzhan asked the Battalion Commanders to escort grain from Azure Origin County, but they remained silent.
• Li Xuancang volunteered for the escort mission, drawing mockery from the other commanders and admiration from Zhou Xingzhan.

Li Xuancang led more than five hundred soldiers from Profound Sun Commandery City to escort grain from Azure Origin County, while the Barbarians dispatched Huyan Zhuo and over a thousand men to intercept them. After Li Xuancang’s scouts spotted the ambush, he organized the convoy into a defensive formation and calmed the civilians.

• Zhou Xingzhan ordered Li Xuancang to bring the grain back swiftly, and Li Xuancang led his troops out of Profound Sun Commandery City.
• Wu Xiaotian and the Barbarian generals debated whether the grain mission was a trap, then sent Huyan Zhuo with more than a thousand Barbarians to intercept the convoy.
• Li Xuancang arrived in Azure Origin County, refused the magistrate’s welcome banquet, and had Yang Tiangang inspect the grain before the convoy departed.
• Li Xuancang arranged his soldiers around the grain carts and sent scouts ahead as the convoy traveled toward Profound Sun Commandery City.
• Li Xuancang’s scouts spotted the approaching Barbarians, and he ordered the civilians to shelter inside a defensive perimeter around the grain carts.

Li Xuancang’s disciplined army met Huyan Zhuo’s Barbarian forces, and Li Xuancang’s overwhelming strength shattered the enemy’s charge. As Wang Xiaoniu and his men rushed to support him, Li Xuancang gained the upper hand against Huyan Zhuo and left the Blood Condensation Realm warrior fighting desperately to survive.

• Li Xuancang ordered his soldiers into formation, and the archers fired several volleys that killed or wounded more than a hundred charging Barbarians.
• Li Xuancang charged into the Barbarian army and slaughtered dozens, causing the survivors to retreat in terror.
• Huyan Zhuo attacked Li Xuancang, while Wang Xiaoniu and his old subordinates charged forward to support their lord.
• Li Xuancang’s heavy strike overwhelmed Huyan Zhuo, breaking his grip and injuring him despite his higher cultivation.
• Li Xuancang continued his relentless assault, leaving Huyan Zhuo badly wounded and struggling to escape.

Li Xuancang defeated and killed the Barbarian chief Huyan Zhuo, turning the battle into a crushing Human Race victory. Two days later, he returned to Profound Sun Commandery City with the grain convoy and encountered starving villagers from Azure Creek Village outside the closed gates.

• Li Xuancang defeated Huyan Zhuo, then slaughtered the Barbarians who tried to protect their chief.
• Li Xuancang caught the fleeing Huyan Zhuo and killed him, causing the Barbarians to flee and the Human Race soldiers to win the battle.
• Li Xuancang ended the pursuit, ordered the soldiers to tend the wounded and clear the battlefield, and preserved Huyan Zhuo's corpse as merit.
• Li Xuancang and the convoy returned to Profound Sun Commandery City two days later, where tens of thousands of civilians remained outside the closed gates.
• Villagers from Azure Creek Village recognized Li Xuancang and pushed toward him, hoping he could save them from starvation.

Li Xuancang returned to the military camp with the grain from Azure Origin County and reported that his men had repelled an attack by over a thousand Barbarians. The soldiers and officers mocked him as a fraud until he revealed the Barbarian heads his men had brought back, leaving the crowd horrified and speechless.

• Azure Creek Village residents failed to reach Li Xuancang before he entered the city, while soldiers who had avoided the grain mission praised his apparent luck.
• Li Xuancang arrived at the camp with his men and reported to Zhou Xingzhan that they had brought back all the grain from Azure Origin County.
• Li Xuancang told Zhou Xingzhan that over a thousand Barbarians had ambushed them, prompting Zhou Xingzhan and the officers to suspect he had killed civilians to claim merit.
• Zhang Tianhai and the others mocked Li Xuancang and challenged his account, but Li Xuancang calmly denied needing to flee and asked them for evidence of their accusations.
• Li Xuancang's soldiers unwrapped and piled hundreds of Barbarian heads before the crowd, proving his account and shocking everyone.

Li Xuancang returned from defeating the Barbarians with Huyan Zhuo’s corpse, earning praise, rewards, and public acclaim. He then warned Zhou Xingzhan that Barbarian agents had likely leaked the grain convoy’s movements, and Zhou confided his suspicions of a deeper conspiracy.

• Li Xuancang presented Huyan Zhuo’s corpse and the heads of several hundred Barbarians, shocking the soldiers and prompting Zhou Xingzhan to ask how he had won.
• Li Xuancang recounted killing Huyan Zhuo, and Zhou Xingzhan praised his feat and promised to report his merit to the Garrison Commander.
• Li Xuancang received silver, medicinal pills, and supplies, then shared most of his rewards with his men.
• Huyan Zhuo’s corpse and the Barbarian heads were displayed in Profound Sun Commandery City, raising the citizens’ spirits as news spread.
• Wu Xiaotian raged at the Barbarians’ defeat and ordered his forces to advance faster toward Profound Sun Commandery City.
• Li Xuancang told Zhou Xingzhan that someone had leaked the grain convoy’s movements, and Zhou revealed he suspected high-ranking agents within the army and possibly the government offices.

Li Xuancang took charge of security in Profound Sun Commandery City as Demons terrorized its residents, while arranging guards for his family. When a patrol team encountered a Demon in the western city, he rushed to lead the response.

• Zhou Xingzhan ordered Li Xuancang to stabilize the city and warned him about powerful local factions that kept Demons.
• Li Xuancang took command of city security and assigned Nangong Zhan, Yang Tiangang, and Wang Xiaoniu's patrol squad to protect the Li residence.
• Li Xiu refused to ask her younger brother for help, but Nangong Zhan and Wang Xiaoniu arrived under Li Xuancang's orders, reassuring the household.
• Li Xuancang coordinated fifty patrol teams from the government office as civilians feared the Demons prowling the city at night.
• A scarlet signal flare rose from the western city, and Li Xuancang ordered nearby patrol teams to encircle the Demon before racing toward the scene.

Li Xuancang arrived as a Demon attacked a patrol, drove it back with his Blood Qi Force, and saved the wounded soldiers and constables. The Demon escaped through a wall, leaving the citizens frightened and uncertain whether it would return.

• Li Xuancang reached the battlefield and threw his spear to stop the Demon from killing the Squad Leader.
• Li Xuancang forced the Demon back, but it dissolved into black mist, restrained him, and struck his chest.
• Li Xuancang discovered that his Blood Qi Force harmed the black mist and drove the Demon into retreat.
• The Demon escaped through a wall and vanished before Li Xuancang could catch it.
• Li Xuancang dispelled the black energy from the injured constables and Battle Soldiers, gave them healing pills, and ordered the three children taken to the county yamen.
• Li Xuancang returned to the county yamen with the patrol while frightened citizens worried that the Demon might attack again.

After Li Xuancang’s forces rescued children stolen by Demons, Song Wen urged the people of Mystic Sun City to report suspicious activity. When a night patrol discovered three Bloodthirsty Zombie Demons feeding on a family, the soldiers raised an alarm and summoned help.

• Song Wen returned three rescued children to their families and credited Li Xuancang with driving off the Soul-Seizing Demon.
• Song Wen announced Li Xuancang was stationed at the government office and asked residents to report signs of Demons.
• Li Xuancang kept patrols active during several quiet days and waited at the government office, expecting the Demons to strike again.
• A patrol squad entered a bloodstained eastern-district residence and found a dead family and three Bloodthirsty Zombie Demons.
• The Squad Leader ordered his soldiers to retreat and send a signal flare for help.

Li Xuancang arrived as three powerful Zombies tried to break through the patrol and held them off until the soldiers covered them in oil and burned them. The Zombies were reduced to ashes, but their hidden controller escaped into the night, and Li Xuancang ordered the victims’ bodies burned and the wounded treated.

• Patrol soldiers surrounded three Zombies, but the hidden controller ordered them to charge through the weakest point and scatter the men.
• Li Xuancang arrived and used his spear to stop the Zombies from escaping while soldiers fetched oil.
• Li Xuancang ordered the soldiers to douse the Zombies in oil and set them alight; their hidden controller fled unseen.
• After half an hour, the Zombies burned to ash, and the Squad Leader reported that a nearby family of three had been killed.
• Li Xuancang ordered the family’s bodies burned and sent the wounded soldiers for antidote pills.

After Li Xuancang cleared the commandery city of its Demons, an invading army of Barbarians and the Demon Race threatened the city. At the war council, Li Xuancang volunteered to defend the perilous north gate with his five hundred troops.

• Li Xuancang's crackdown drove the Demons into hiding, and the commandery city returned to peaceful daily life.
• An urgent report announced that tens of thousands of Barbarians allied with the Demon Race would reach the city within three days, spreading panic among its people.
• Zhou Xingzhan ordered Li Xuancang to return to camp and muster his five hundred troops for the city's defense.
• At the military council, Zhou Xingzhan identified the north gate as the enemy's likely target, but the other Battalion Commanders made excuses to avoid defending it.
• Li Xuancang volunteered to lead his five hundred troops at the north gate and vowed to hold the line.

Li Xuancang took command of Mystic Sun City’s north gate as the city’s leaders refused entry to more than a hundred thousand civilians, who left to seek safety elsewhere. When the Barbarian army and its Demonic Beasts arrived, the defenders faced overwhelming odds, and Zhou Xingzhan hoped the Peace Prefecture Army’s reinforcements would come in time.

• Zhou Xingzhan praised Li Xuancang and placed the north gate’s defenses, equipment, provisions, and reinforcements under his command.
• Li Xuancang questioned why the civilians were barred from the city, and Zhou Xingzhan explained that the leaders feared unrest and intended to use them to weaken the enemy.
• A burly man urged the civilians to leave, and Zhou Xingzhan and the faction leaders let them depart without obstruction.
• A messenger reported that the Barbarian army was fifty li away, and Zhou Xingzhan ordered another scout report.
• The Barbarian army arrived with more than a thousand Demonic Beasts, terrifying the defenders as Zhou Xingzhan secretly hoped for Peace Prefecture Army reinforcements.

Barbarian and Demon Race forces attacked the city using bound civilians as human shields, then breached the walls and plunged the defenders into a bloody melee. Li Xuancang held the northern wall and slaughtered powerful enemies, prompting Wu Xiaotian to order the main Barbarian force to break through the north gate and kill him.

• The Barbarians drove bound civilians toward the walls as human shields, and the defenders fired arrows despite some soldiers objecting.
• Demon Race experts scaled the walls while the Barbarians raised ladders, throwing the defenders into chaos.
• Li Xuancang led his five hundred elite soldiers against the invaders and defended the northern wall.
• Li Xuancang killed a wolf demon, more than ten Barbarian cultivators, and five Demonic Beasts, drawing the attention of Wu Xiaotian and other experts.
• Wu Xiaotian ordered the Barbarian army to break through the north gate and kill Li Xuancang.

As the Human Race Defense Line neared collapse, Li Xuancang killed a Blood Condensation Realm Barbarian and a Tiger Demon with overwhelming strength. His victories stunned both armies and made the enemy resolve to kill him.

• As Barbarians and Demon Race fighters charged the city walls, Li Xuancang faced a Blood Condensation Realm Barbarian while the Human Race was badly outnumbered.
• Li Xuancang overpowered and killed Hu Feng with his spear in a dozen breaths, shocking both sides.
• Wu Xiaotian and the other enemy leaders recognized Li Xuancang as a threat and decided that he must die.
• A Tiger Demon attacked Li Xuancang from behind and broke his spear, but he dodged its pounce and mounted its head.
• Li Xuancang beat the Tiger Demon to death with his bare fists, frightening the enemy Blood Condensation Realm fighters.

Li Xuancang charged into the Blood Condensation Realm battle and survived the combined attacks of five Barbarians without injury. He tore one Barbarian in half and advanced on the terrified enemy forces.

• Li Xuancang joined the Blood Condensation Realm battle, prompting the Barbarians and Human Race experts to unite against each other.
• Five Barbarians attacked Li Xuancang together, but he took their strikes without being injured.
• Li Xuancang struck two of the five Barbarians, heavily wounding them, while the remaining three tried to flee.
• Li Xuancang seized one fleeing Barbarian and tore him in half as the battlefield fell silent.
• Li Xuancang dropped the corpse and advanced toward the enemy, covered in blood.

Li Xuancang held off the Barbarian and Demon Race forces while Mystic Sun City’s defenders fought an increasingly hopeless battle. With the Human Race losing ground and its strongest fighters nearing defeat, Zhou Xingzhan kept the Astral Qi Realm experts fighting by promising that the Peace Prefecture Army would arrive within days.

• Li Xuancang’s surprise attacks drove the enemy back, but Wu Xiaotian ordered the nine Barbarian and Demon Race Astral Qi Realm experts to attack the city.
• Zhou Xingzhan and the other Human Race Astral Qi Realm experts fought the stronger enemy while Blood Condensation Realm fighters, including Li Xuancang, were surrounded and worn down.
• After hours of fighting, the Human Race was overwhelmed, and the government forcibly sent civilians to the battlefield as defenders fell.
• Wu Xiaotian struck Zhou Xingzhan, and Zhao Jianhai considered retreating until Zhou promised the Peace Prefecture Army would arrive within days.
• Zhao Jianhai and the other Astral Qi Realm experts chose to stay and fight, while the enemy continued rotating attackers against Li Xuancang, who showed no sign of tiring.

Li Xuancang endured the fall of Mystic Sun City, waiting for Zhou Xingzhan’s hidden plan until Peace Prefecture’s army arrived and revealed the city had been used as bait. The Human Race forces encircled the retreating Barbarian-Demon coalition and launched a counterattack, while Mystic Sun City’s exhausted defenders could not join in.

• Li Xuancang chose to keep fighting because he suspected Zhou Xingzhan had a way to turn the battle around, and the defenders retreated from the fallen walls into the city.
• The Barbarians and Demon Race surrounded Li Xuancang, but Peace Prefecture’s army arrived with overwhelming force and halted their attack.
• Wu Xiaotian ordered the Barbarians to withdraw and leave the Demon Race to cover them, but both sides fled in disorder.
• Peace Prefecture’s main force and the administration’s experts surrounded the coalition outside Mystic Sun City, and the commander revealed Profound Sun Commandery had been used as bait to draw out the enemy’s main army.
• Du Tianfeng led the Human Race counterattack as the iron cavalry and Peace Prefecture’s experts attacked the trapped coalition, while Mystic Sun City’s exhausted defenders remained unable to fight.

After the Peace Prefecture Army annihilated the Barbarian and Demon Race forces, Li Xuancang received extraordinary recognition for his battlefield achievements. He was promoted to Thousand-Man Commander and placed under Du Tianfeng, leaving Zhou Xingzhan bitter over losing his capable subordinate.

• The Peace Prefecture Army returned to Mystic Sun City after pursuing the fleeing enemy, and Du Tianfeng praised Zhou Xingzhan for his role in the victory.
• Zhou Xingzhan recounted Li Xuancang’s battle achievements to Du Tianfeng, who decided to reward him handsomely.
• Du Tianfeng announced the army’s rewards and promoted Li Xuancang to Thousand-Man Commander, assigning him one thousand elite soldiers under Du Tianfeng’s command.
• Li Xuancang received generous pay, supplies, privileges, and a gilded general’s robe, while Zhou Xingzhan resented the transfer of his strongest subordinate.