Recaps

Hu Xiaotian survived Yuankong’s attempt to drain his power, then became Unenlightened’s disciple and pursued clues about the false emperor and the temple’s secrets. After using an assassin search to map the Western Courtyard, he was summoned by the Old Emperor to explain who had authorized his search of the Buddhist Sutra Pavilion.

• Yuankong attacked Hu Xiaotian and tried to drain his power, but Hu Xiaotian absorbed Yuankong’s strength before a cave’s chanting pulled Yuankong away.
• Hu Xiaotian returned to the temple, suppressed Yuankong’s foreign true qi, and was ordered by Long Xuan'en to spend seven days chanting beside the Long-Life Buddha.
• Unenlightened killed Qi Danai and two assassins, learned Hong Beimo had sent them to search for a secret chapter, and warned Hu Xiaotian that the Void Art would soon kill him.
• Unenlightened offered to teach Hu Xiaotian in exchange for the Formless Divine Skill and help killing his brother Mu Yuming, and Hu Xiaotian accepted his rules.
• After the Long-Life Buddha was destroyed, Hu Xiaotian concealed what happened, endured detention, and grew more suspicious that Long Xuan'en was an impostor.
• Hu Xiaotian learned new techniques from Unenlightened, disguised himself to investigate Samantabhadra Courtyard, and used a fight with the Heavenly Secrets Bureau guards to gain authority to search the Western Courtyard.
• Hu Xiaotian searched around the Buddhist Sutra Pavilion but was denied entry, then was allowed to search it alone on the condition that he leave the temple if he found no assassin.
• Tongyuan reported Hu Xiaotian’s search of the Buddhist Sutra Pavilion to the Old Emperor, who summoned Hu Xiaotian and demanded to know who had authorized it.

Hu Xiaotian survived the Heavenly Dragon Temple’s schemes, learned the danger of the Void Art within him, and began gathering allies against Hong Beimo. As Great Kang faced a grain shortage and conflict with the Xu Family, he proposed opening a sea route to secure supplies and protect his family.

• Hu Xiaotian exposed the Fake Emperor’s deception, survived Unenlightened’s attack on the temple, and returned to the capital with Qiqi after the Fake Emperor was killed.
• Qiqi confronted Hong Beimo and the Emperor about the temple scheme, then went to the temple to contain the fallout while Hu Xiaotian resolved to oppose Hong Beimo through the Divine Strategy Office.
• Hu Xiaotian reunited with Huo Shengnan, learned that Long Xiyue had disappeared, and collapsed from an internal injury caused by the Void Art.
• Hu Xiaotian told Huo Shengnan that his uncontrolled internal power could kill him within six months, and she stayed with him while Yang Lingqi arrived seeking refuge and proposed that Great Kang open sea routes for supplies.
• Li Yuncong explained that Hu Xiaotian needed to temper his meridians and taught him the Bodhi No-Mind Zen Method in exchange for details about the stolen temple scriptures.
• Hong Beimo admitted that he had ordered Hu Xiaotian’s assassination, while Baobao chose to remain in the bureau as Hu Xiaotian’s inside contact and warned him about Hong Beimo’s reach.
• Hu Xiaotian warned Qiqi that forced labor at the Imperial Mausoleum was stirring resentment, then reunited Xu Fengyi with Hu Buwei and learned that Old Madam Xu had offered a trade route rather than grain.
• Hu Xiaotian showed Qiqi a navigation chart tracing a sea route from the Kang Capital to Haizhou and proposed that Great Kang rely on itself for supplies.

Hu Xiaotian navigated the laborers’ revolt, Qiqi’s political schemes, and an imposed betrothal while Great Kang faced famine and threats from within and abroad. He prepared to lead a mission to Western Sichuan, determined to help Qiqi and thwart Long Xuan'en’s plans as his father set out for Luosong to seek grain.

• Hu Xiaotian rescued Murong Feiyan from the Imperial Mausoleum uprising and brought her back to the capital as Long Xuan'en ordered the rebels killed.
• Qiqi revealed Great Kang’s crises to Hu Xiaotian and kept his parents in custody while arranging for Hu Buwei to seek a grain route through Luosong.
• Hu Xiaotian reunited with his family and allies, learned Murong Zhan had warned Murong Feiyan to flee, and heard Zan Buliu propose supplying Great Kang with food from neighboring states.
• Long Xuan'en proposed marrying Qiqi to Hu Xiaotian and sent him to Western Sichuan to confer Li Tianheng’s title as king, while Hu Buwei prepared to sail for Luosong.
• Hu Xiaotian confronted Li Yuncong about his identity as Mu Yuming, and Li Yuncong abandoned his murderous intent after Hu spared him.
• Hu Xiaotian and Qiqi reopened the Divine Strategy Office with Hu in charge, but Hong Beimo’s dispute over its plaque and a crow attack disrupted the opening.
• Hu Xiaotian and Hu Buwei concluded that Long Xuan'en intended to use the Western Sichuan mission to eliminate Hu Xiaotian and Li Tianheng, and Hu vowed to help Qiqi ascend the throne.
• Hu Xiaotian asked Huo Shengnan to oversee the Divine Strategy Office and care for his mother, then chose Yang Lingqi, Liang Yinghao, Xiong Tianba, and Tang Tiexin to accompany him to Western Sichuan.

Hu Xiaotian arrived in Western Sichuan to deliver Li Tianheng’s princely title as rival kingdoms courted the warlord and rebellion stirred within his ranks. After surviving an ambush and uncovering a plot to drug Xue Lingjun, Hu reached Azure Cloud Manor, where Yan Nujiao confronted her brother about the captive women.

• Hu Xiaotian traveled to Western Prefecture with his party, met Li Honghan, and learned that Li Tianheng was away before his birthday.
• Hu Xiaotian reunited with Huo Ge, met Xue Lingjun and other foreign envoys, and fought Feng Xianlin after Xiangqin injured Yang Yuanjie.
• Xiangqin summoned Hu Xiaotian to Maple Grove Bridge, where Xi Yan attacked him and a Black-Armored Warrior ambushed him before escaping.
• Li Tianheng discovered Lin Zefeng and Zhao Yanjiang’s planned rebellion, arrested the conspirators, and pressured Long Yefang to claim the Great Kang throne.
• At Great Buddha Rock, Hu Xiaotian exposed a plot to drug him and Xue Lingjun, killed the sweeping monk, and forced Wu Ning to reveal Yan Boguang’s location.
• Hu Xiaotian carried the drugged Xue Lingjun to Azure Cloud Manor, where he found imprisoned women and persuaded his cousin Hu Jinniu to help him seek an antidote.
• Hu Xiaotian told Yan Nujiao about Xue Lingjun’s poisoning and the captive women, and Yan Nujiao questioned Yan Boguang after hiding Hu in a wardrobe.