Recaps

Hu Xiaotian tried to secure Huo Xiaoru’s release while uncovering evidence in the Red Mountain Guildhall, where Wanyan Chixiong was assassinated and Huo Shengnan became the scapegoat. The arc ended with Hu preparing to leave Yong Capital with Huo Shengnan, while Xue Shengjing still refused to promise Huo Xiaoru’s release.

• Hu Xiaotian helped Huo Xiaoru resist Xue Shengjing’s questioning, and she backed his claim that they had been lovers with a child.
• Xue Shengjing demanded the Invincible Vajra Sheaths, the Ice-Spirit Soul-Calming Pearl, and an imperial pardon for Huo Xiaoru in exchange for sparing her.
• Hu Xiaotian led Dong Tianjiang, Huo Shengnan, and Zong Tang into the Red Mountain Guildhall, where they found the Soul-Calming Pearl and fought Black Corpse and White Corpse.
• Wanyan Chixiong was assassinated during the chaos at Wild Goose Tower, and the Black Hu people accused Huo Shengnan and Dong Tianjiang of taking part.
• Yuchi Chong urged Huo Shengnan to flee, while Xue Shengkang prepared to offer up an alleged murderer to ease tensions with Black Hu.
• Hu Xiaotian learned that Xue Shengkang had made Huo Shengnan the scapegoat, and he persuaded Dong Tianjiang to keep their involvement secret.
• Yuchi Chong resigned and left for the Northern Frontier as Huo Shengnan stayed disguised as Hu Xiaotian’s groom.
• Hu Xiaotian gave Xue Shengjing the Soul-Calming Pearl and Invincible Vajra Sheaths, but Xue Shengjing said the emperor’s order would not force him to release Huo Xiaoru.

Hu Xiaotian and Huo Shengnan survived the Five Extremes Hunters’ ambush, but Hu Xiaotian became paralyzed after his cultivation went awry. At Spirit Sound Temple, Master Yuanmu helped him recover, and Hu Xiaotian and Huo Shengnan prepared to continue their journey.

• Hu Xiaotian secured Huo Xiaoru’s release from Xue Shengjing, and Huo Xiaoru left for the Bohai Kingdom while Hu Xiaotian and Huo Shengnan carried Princess Anping’s ashes toward Great Kang.
• Hu Xiaotian and Huo Shengnan entered Gray Bear Valley, where the Five Extremes Hunters ambushed them, but they killed or drove off their attackers and learned that Dong Tianjiang’s man had offered bounties for their heads.
• Ji Feihua confronted Long Xuan'en at the Spirit Firmament Palace, where Long Xuan'en transformed into a giant before Hong Beimo, Li Yuncong, and Murong Zhan joined the battle.
• Ji Feihua fell into the Jade Pool after Murong Zhan stabbed him, while Hu Xiaotian and Huo Shengnan remained lost in Gray Bear Valley and buried Little Black.
• Hu Xiaotian became unable to move the right side of his body after cultivating, and Huo Shengnan carried him toward Shaoyuan City before accepting shelter at Spirit Sound Temple.
• A blue-robed elder attacked Huo Shengnan and pursued her and Hu Xiaotian, but Hu Xiaotian’s sword qi drove him back until Master Yuanmu intervened and identified him as Qi Changguang.
• Master Yuanmu explained that Hu Xiaotian needed to forget the self to reopen the blocked passage between his dantian and meridians, and Hu Xiaotian regained movement after letting go of his self-consciousness.
• Hu Xiaotian treated Huo Shengnan’s injuries, found Master Yuanmu’s message tied to Little Gray, and set out with Huo Shengnan after Juezheng brought them breakfast.

Hu Xiaotian and Huo Shengnan escaped Zhao Dengyun’s trap, crossed paths with the Falling Cherry Palace, and returned to Kang Capital. Qiqi restored Hu’s standing and appointed him deputy imperial guard commander, while his search for Murong Feiyan remained unresolved.

• Hu Xiaotian escaped Wuxing Commandery with Huo Shengnan as Qiqi poisoned Long Yelin and exposed Empress Jian’s crimes before Long Xuan'en reclaimed the throne.
• Hu Xiaotian and Huo Shengnan encountered Jin Yulin and Tang Jingyu in Peak Forest Gorge, where Liang Yinghao’s bandits rescued them from the Falling Cherry Palace.
• Hu Xiaotian learned Lin Jinyu had deceived him about the Sun-Shooting Scripture, then left the gorge with Huo Shengnan and Liang Yinghao’s men.
• Hu Xiaotian returned to Kang Capital and learned from Xiao Tianmu that Qiqi was the woman ruling as King Yongyang.
• Hu Xiaotian entered the palace secretly and gave Qiqi Xue Shengkang’s letter offering Eastern Liang Commandery, then faced her anger over his hidden ties and infiltration.
• Qiqi cleared Hu Xiaotian’s status and enlisted his help, appointing him deputy imperial guard commander and tasking him with court and Ministry of Revenue reforms.
• Quan Dean delivered Hu Xiaotian’s restoration edict, and Hu promised Shi Xuedong that he would help clear their fathers’ names.
• Murong Zhan warned Hu Xiaotian not to see Murong Feiyan and gave him two days before an assignment, while Hu visited the injured Li Yuncong with wine.

Hu Xiaotian restored his family’s home and reclaimed some of its confiscated wealth before accompanying Long Xuan'en to Heavenly Dragon Temple. There he found the injured Ji Feihua, learned the hidden history behind the court’s conflicts and his family, and was told to investigate the Xu Family of Jinling.

• Hu Xiaotian reunited with Hu Buwei, learned of the court’s plans for the Xu Family, and promised to shoulder his family’s burdens.
• Hu Xiaotian reclaimed the Hu Residence and recovered only part of its confiscated property, then forced Xu Zhengying and other officials to repay him.
• Qiqi tasked Hu Xiaotian with rebuilding the Divine Strategy Office and searching for wealth hidden by the Third Prince, while ordering him to accompany Long Xuan'en to Heavenly Dragon Temple.
• Hu Xiaotian discovered the Sun-Shooting Scripture, repelled a gray-clad attacker with Huo Shengnan, and left her to protect Hu Buwei while he traveled with the emperor.
• At Heavenly Dragon Temple, Hu Xiaotian searched for the Long-Life Buddha sponsored by Chu Fufeng and met the imprisoned monk Unenlightened, who led him to Ji Feihua.
• Ji Feihua revealed that Long Xuan'en and Hong Beimo had conspired against Chu Fufeng and explained the betrayals that had left him injured and hidden at the temple.
• Ji Feihua told Hu Xiaotian that the Long family sought the Jinling Xu Family’s wealth and trade routes, and warned him that the court would use him as a bargaining chip.
• Ji Feihua identified Hu Xiaotian’s dangerous Void Art cultivation, explained the threat posed by Black Corpse’s power, and advised him to leave secretly and focus on the Xu Family of Jinling.