Recaps

Zi Shou tried to appear foolish while strengthening his authority, but his schemes around Su Hu and Daji unsettled the court and drew vassals into conflict. The arc ended with Zi Qi plotting to overthrow him as Daji began falling for the king.

• Zi Shou discovered the Foolish Emperor System and tried to violate court protocol, but Shang Rong interpreted his actions as signs of growing authority.
• At Nuwa Palace, Zi Shou wrote a poem that the officials praised as wise, prompting Nuwa to summon the Three Demons of Xuanyuan Tomb to guide him toward righteousness.
• Zi Shou recalled Grand Tutor Wen from the North Sea and sent Fei Lian in his place, where Kong Xuan helped defeat Yuan Futong’s rebellion.
• Zi Shou rewarded Fei Lian and Kong Xuan, reassigned Huang Feihu to Chaoge’s southern gate, and ordered the lords to bring tribute and palace candidates early.
• When Zi Shou’s attempt to abduct a woman led to Daji being injured, he took public responsibility, while Su Hu and Chong Houhu mistook his actions for a plan to expose disloyal vassals.
• Su Hu refused Zi Shou’s demand for Daji and denounced him, but Zi Shou pardoned him and later arranged for Daji to enter the palace as Su Hu escaped and declared rebellion.
• Zi Shou welcomed Daji with an elaborate ceremony and accepted her advice to build beacon towers, while Zi Qi showed Zi Yan Di Yi’s edict and began gathering allies to take the throne.

Zi Shou challenged Heaven’s mandate as Yun Zhongzi investigated the palace demon and rebellion erupted in Chaoge. After defeating the rebels, Zi Shou spared conspirators, rejected human sacrifices, and ordered prisoners to build a Great Wall against northern raids.

• Huang Feihu, Fei Lian, and Kong Xuan chose to address the North Sea’s food shortage by competing with the Gui Fang in strength and prosperity, while Su Hu prepared to send troops to protect Zi Shou.
• Yun Zhongzi investigated Chaoge, met Yang Ren, and accused a demon in the palace of bewitching Zi Shou, but Zi Shou rejected his warning and declared himself the embodiment of Heaven’s mandate.
• As rumors and rebellion spread, Zi Shou lit the beacon fires to lure out traitors, while Su Hu marched to defend him and Chong Heihu joined the rebels.
• Huang Feiying led Chaoge’s defense against the rebels, and Zi Shou escaped through the palace before reaching the Beacon Tower with Daji.
• Daji revealed that she was a Nine-Tailed White Fox, but Zi Shou refused to let her fight, and townspeople, Royal Guards, Huang Feiying, and Su Hu’s forces arrived to support him.
• Zi Shou joined the battle against Deng Zhong’s forces, and a blast incapacitated thousands of rebels as the Tai'a Sword flew into his hand.
• Zi Qi sacrificed himself to protect Zi Yan, while Mai Yun presented Zi Qi’s head and the Bloodstained Belt Edict before attacking Zi Shou, who captured him and spared Bi Gan.
• Bi Gan’s wound healed after he bought Heartless Vegetables, and Zi Shou rejected human sacrifices before ordering prisoners sent north to build a Great Wall against raids by the Gui Fang and Tu Fang.

Zi Shou pursued imperial authority through the Fengshan Sacrifice and traveled to Chentang Pass, where he confronted public anger, the Dragon Kings, and Nezha’s crimes. He left with the Dragon Tribe pledged to Great Shang, while the Tu Fang prepared to march south and attacked a frontier fort.

• Zi Shou ordered the Great Wall built, appointed Su Quanzhong and Chong Yingbiao to new posts, and sent Royal Guards to proclaim his edicts.
• Zi Shou traveled to Guanjiangkou, offered himself in a rain-prayer sacrifice, and gained the people’s gratitude when rain fell.
• Zi Shou completed the Fengshan Sacrifice, declared himself the First Emperor, and married Long Ji, who had summoned the rain to test him.
• Zi Shou reached Chentang Pass, praised Li Jing’s work to improve farming, and took the injured Ao Bing into his service as Li Bing.
• Ao Guang confronted Nezha over his crimes, and Zi Shou killed Nezha when he tried to sacrifice himself to stop the Dragon Kings from flooding Chentang Pass.
• Ao Guang learned that Ao Bing had survived and joined Great Shang, pledged the Four Seas Dragon Tribe to Zi Shou, and helped make him an Imperial Robe.
• Ji Xian persuaded Wuti Marquis and the Tu Fang leaders to prepare an attack, and Tu Fang soldiers killed Xiao Yi and the other Shang guards at a frontier fort.

Zi Shou defeated Tu Fang, outlawed human burial sacrifices, and staged extravagant feasts while turning their excesses toward new customs and practical reforms. The arc left the Great Wall secured, the court preparing to absorb Gui Fang, and Tongtian and Zhao Gongming heading to see Jin Ling and her new disciple.

• Zi Shou slipped out of Chaoge with Long Ji, routed Wu Li’s sleeping cavalry, then personally killed Wuti Marquis after rejecting Tu Fang’s demands.
• Wen Zhong and Zi Shou broke Tu Fang’s assault, and the Seven Monsters of Mount Mei joined Great Shang after helping stop the retreating army.
• Zi Shou welcomed the people’s praise, appointed new commanders, and spared Mai Zhi and Mai Yun from execution by exiling them instead.
• Zi Shou outlawed human burial sacrifices and buried soldiers with pottery figurines and straw figures, prompting Shang Rong to recognize the decree’s wider benefits.
• Zi Shou staged a wine-pool and meat-forest banquet, showcased Wan Nian’s grape wine, and introduced new dishes while Yang Ren repeatedly warned him about extravagance.
• Hu Ximei investigated chicken husbandry, and Yang Xian persuaded the Seven Monsters to raise livestock and other useful animals for the people.
• Wen Zhong and Su Quanzhong helped trap Tu Fang against the Great Wall, forcing its starving people to flee and abandon tens of thousands of horses.
• Zi Shou ordered a racecourse built and prepared to bring Gui Fang into Great Shang, while Tongtian and Zhao Gongming visited Chaoge and lost their bets on Zi Shou’s deliberately slow horse.