Recaps

Zhang Xiaohua escaped Envoy Ying and Lord Qin more than once, but was captured after midnight and later made another break for freedom. Lord Qin caught up with him and demanded to know why he had gone to West Cui Mountain, leaving Zhang Xiaohua denying that he killed the bandits.

• Zhang Xiaohua used a yuanstone to replenish his true qi while fleeing Envoy Ying through the forest, but a firework summoned Lord Qin as reinforcements.
• Zhang Xiaohua ran into denser woods and lost consciousness at midnight; Lord Qin and Ying Fei found him sleeping beneath a tree and carried him away.
• Zhang Xiaohua awoke on Ying Fei's horse and jumped free at a three-way fork, then tried unsuccessfully to outrun Lord Qin.
• Lord Qin stopped Zhang Xiaohua and questioned his claim to be a lay disciple of Great Forest Temple and a disciple of the Misty Sect.
• Lord Qin asked why Zhang Xiaohua had visited West Cui Mountain and killed the bandit chief and six others, and Zhang Xiaohua insisted he had killed only the chief.

Zhang Xiaohua denied knowing where the missing cauldron was, while Lord Qin tried to break his resistance and uncover his origins. After confronting his own feelings about killing, Zhang Xiaohua’s resolve strengthened, but Lord Qin captured him and prepared to continue questioning him.

• Lord Qin accused Zhang Xiaohua of killing the bandits and demanded to know where the cauldron from the Secret Chamber had gone.
• Zhang Xiaohua claimed he was a Misty Sect disciple and said the Secret Chamber had been empty except for strange Weapons, but Lord Qin did not believe him.
• As Lord Qin challenged him about killing seven people, Zhang Xiaohua feared his own ruthlessness before his resolve to protect his family renewed and strengthened his state of mind.
• Lord Qin used the Soul Searching Hand on Zhang Xiaohua, inflicting intense pain, but Zhang Xiaohua continued to insist he had never seen the cauldron.
• Lord Qin immobilized Zhang Xiaohua and told Ying Fei that they had to explain the missing cauldron to the Cult Leader.

Zhang Xiaohua was carried west by Lord Qin and Ying Fei, who discussed the Divine Cult’s plans and its suspicions about the Misty Sect. They met Situ Liang, who handed over a bundle of ancient objects, but Zhang Xiaohua’s attempted escape failed, leaving him paralyzed again.

• Lord Qin and Ying Fei planned to use Zhang Xiaohua as bait to draw out someone they believed was connected to him.
• As they traveled west, Lord Qin and Ying Fei discussed Situ Liang’s intelligence about Ten Thousand Sword Peak and the Misty Sect.
• Lord Qin and Ying Fei reached a ruined temple, where Situ Liang gave them a bundle of antique jade objects he had collected for the Divine Cult.
• Lord Qin praised Situ Liang’s efforts and promised he would speak well of him to the Cult Master.
• Zhang Xiaohua suddenly flipped off the horse and tried to escape, but Lord Qin caught him and struck him with a Finger Technique, leaving him curled on the ground in pain.
• Situ Liang asked about Zhang Xiaohua, then said he still had not discovered why Ten Thousand Sword Peak had come to the area and needed to return before its people became suspicious.

Lord Qin and Ying Fei escorted Zhang Xiaohua, who had given his name as Ren Xiaoyao, toward Xinji Town while questioning him about the missing furnace. At a crowded tea shed, they learned that the Ma family was hosting Old Master Ma’s sixty-eighth birthday celebration, where Kong Rang asked Lord Qin for help.

• Lord Qin told Situ Liang to report any developments about Ten Thousand Sword Peak and explained that the cult wanted the Fierce Tiger Gang investigated because of the missing furnace.
• Lord Qin refused Ying Fei’s suggestion to cripple Zhang Xiaohua, explaining that he intended to let the youth struggle and eventually submit.
• Over two days on the road to Xinji Town, Zhang Xiaohua repeatedly tried to escape, failed, and secretly absorbed energy from his Essence Stones.
• Lord Qin, Ying Fei, and Zhang Xiaohua stopped at a crowded roadside tea shed near Xinji Town, where Lord Qin listened for local news.
• The people at the tea shed discussed Old Master Ma’s birthday and the Ma family’s ties to the Heavenly Dao Alliance.
• Kong Rang introduced himself to Lord Qin and asked him to help with a difficulty on the way to Ma Manor.

Zhang Xiaohua realized the Art of Earth Evasion might offer a way to escape and pondered its verses while Lord Qin and Ying Fei traveled toward Ma Manor. On the road, Lord Qin stopped a haughty youth from striking Zhang Xiaohua, and the youth arrived at Ma Rulong’s birthday celebration with gifts from Qiu Xidao of the Righteous Path Alliance.

• A field mouse startled the horses, prompting Zhang Xiaohua to realize that the Art of Earth Evasion might let him escape underground.
• Kong Rang asked Lord Qin for suitable birthday gifts to offer Ma Rulong, but Lord Qin said they were not going to the celebration to pay their respects.
• Lord Qin, Ying Fei, and Zhang Xiaohua rode into Xinji Town, where a haughty youth tried to whip Zhang Xiaohua and Lord Qin seized and threw away the youth’s whip.
• The elderly man with the youth urged him to postpone seeking revenge so they would not offend Ma Rulong’s guests.
• The youth greeted Ma Rulong as his grandfather-in-law and presented a gift list announcing that Qiu Xidao of the Righteous Path Alliance had sent birthday gifts.

At Old Master Ma’s birthday celebration, Qiu Xidao grew impatient and mocked Qin Shiyue, Ying Fei, and Ren Xiaoyao for arriving without gifts or invitations. Zhang Xiaohua tried to smooth things over, but Qiu Xidao invoked his ties to the Righteous Path Alliance, leaving the confrontation unresolved.

• The master of ceremonies announced the Righteous Path Alliance’s rare hundred-year medicinal gifts, making Old Master Ma uneasy about the favor behind them.
• Qiu Xidao noticed Qin Shiyue, Ying Fei, and Zhang Xiaohua watching him, then followed Ma Rulong inside and waited impatiently for their arrival.
• Qin Shiyue and Ying Fei reached Ma Manor with Zhang Xiaohua, and the master of ceremonies recorded their names after they arrived without gifts or invitations.
• Qiu Xidao rushed out and ridiculed the three visitors for coming empty-handed and questioned Qin Shiyue’s standing.
• Zhang Xiaohua defended Qin Shiyue and promised to make up the proper courtesies, while Ying Fei challenged Qiu Xidao’s authority.
• Qiu Xidao identified himself as Ma Rulong’s grandson-in-law and Nan Fengyun’s disciple, expecting the visitors to be intimidated.

Ying Fei challenged Qiu Xidao at the gates of Ma Manor, and Qiu Xidao mistook Qin Shiyue and Ying Fei for government officials. Ma Rulong hurriedly removed Qiu Xidao from the confrontation while trying to conceal his ties to the Righteous Path Alliance and the Heavenly Dragon Divine Cult.

• Ying Fei pointed out that Nan Fengyun was only a Deputy Alliance Leader, embarrassing Qiu Xidao and prompting him to argue that the Righteous Path Alliance had a right to speak at Ma Manor.
• Qiu Xidao criticized Ying Fei for having no birthday gift as Ma Rulong arrived and recognized Qin Shiyue from Ying Fei's descriptions.
• Ma Rulong introduced Qin Shiyue respectfully, but Qiu Xidao assumed Qin Shiyue and his companions were government officials and offered to settle their dispute through his connections.
• Qiu Xidao boasted that the Righteous Path Alliance could call on powerful officials, while Ma Rulong struggled to hide his conflicting ties to the two factions.
• Ma Rulong had servants escort Qiu Xidao into the manor, then apologized to Qin Shiyue and Ying Fei; Ying Fei remarked on Ma Rulong's good fortune in gaining a Righteous Path Alliance grandson-in-law.

At Ma Rulong’s birthday gathering, Qin Shiyue demanded the ancient items the Heavenly Dragon Divine Cult had ordered him to collect, but Ma Rulong offered only a few shabby artifacts and Qiu Xidao arrived to challenge the Cult’s claim. Ying Fei attacked Qiu Xidao, who retreated with Ma Rulong as a sudden change erupted in the inner hall.

• Ma Rulong welcomed Qin Shiyue and Ying Fei, while Zhang Xiaohua followed them into the manor as their prisoner and was summoned to join them for tea.
• After Ma Rulong left to receive guests, Ying Fei accused him of having ties to the Righteous Path Alliance, but Qin Shiyue chose to wait and see what Ma Rulong would do.
• Qin Shiyue demanded the items Ma Rulong had been instructed to find, and Ma Rulong presented only a few shabby jade artifacts, insisting he had done his best.
• Qiu Xidao entered and condemned the Heavenly Dragon Divine Cult for bullying Ma Rulong, then confirmed he represented the Righteous Path Alliance.
• Ying Fei lunged at Qiu Xidao, and their exchanged blows sent Qiu staggering toward the doorway; Qiu called for Ma Rulong and left with him as Ying Fei tried to pursue and a sudden change erupted.

The Auspicious Three Treasures trapped Zhang Xiaohua, Ying Fei, and Qin Shiyue in the Three Talents Flag Gate Formation, which blocked divine sense and showed each captive a different illusion. Zhang Xiaohua recognized the formation’s hand seal and sat down to cultivate, while Qin Shiyue killed the tiger in his illusion and searched for a way out.

• The Auspicious Three Treasures entered Ma Manor’s inner hall and set up the Three Talents Flag Gate Formation with three flags and pieces of jade.
• Zhang Xiaohua recognized the formation’s hand seal from the Art of Earth Evasion and used his divine sense to observe how the flags formed a barrier.
• The formation blocked Zhang Xiaohua’s divine sense and made him see an endless snowy plain, but he reached the barrier and sat down to cultivate.
• Ying Fei saw the assassin who had hunted him years earlier and ran and fought within his illusion.
• Qin Shiyue saw the mountain forest from his childhood, killed the tiger that attacked him, and began looking for a way to break the formation.

Qin Shiyue discovered a flaw in the Three Talents Flag Gate Formation when its source stone ran out of energy, allowing him and Ying Fei to escape. After Qin Shiyue killed the Auspicious Three Treasures, Zhang Xiaohua left the blood-soaked inner hall and entered the main hall, where he encountered an even more brutal scene.

• Qin Shiyue raced through the formation and glimpsed the inner hall, exposing a flaw as one of the formation’s source stones ran out of energy.
• The source stone crumbled, the formation’s illusion failed, and Qin Shiyue killed Second Treasure while the weakened hand seal damaged him.
• Qin Shiyue and Ying Fei fought the remaining two Treasures, and Qin Shiyue killed both of them.
• Ying Fei collected the formation flags and remaining source stones, while Zhang Xiaohua took Ma Rulong’s jade artifacts and left the inner hall.
• Zhang Xiaohua entered the main hall and saw what he considered an even more brutal scene.

Zhang Xiaohua witnessed Qin Shiyue’s bloody pursuit of Ma Rulong and Qiu Xidao through Ma Manor. Qin Shiyue killed Qiu Xidao but failed to find Ma Rulong, then joined Ying Fei in cutting down the fleeing servants.

• Zhang Xiaohua entered the reception hall and saw Qin Shiyue killing his way through guests as Ma Rulong and Qiu Xidao used the crowd to escape.
• Qin Shiyue pursued Ma Rulong and Qiu Xidao into a corridor, where Qiu Xidao’s ambush failed and they fought.
• Qiu Xidao offered to reveal the location of ancient jade artifacts, but Qin Shiyue refused his bargain and beheaded him.
• Qin Shiyue searched the courtyard but found that Ma Rulong had escaped, then returned to the reception hall.
• Qin Shiyue and Ying Fei killed many of the servants who had attacked Ying Fei, while a few escaped.

Qin Shiyue pursued Ma Rulong through Ma Manor with Ying Fei and Zhang Xiaohua, using a maid’s directions to find a secret passage beneath a rockery. A poisoned-arrow trap wounded Ying Fei, and after Qin Shiyue gave him a Poison-Dispelling Pill, Ying Fei warned that Ma Rulong had likely escaped far away.

• Qin Shiyue threatened the servants and maids until one maid agreed to lead him to a hidden entrance Ma Rulong had used.
• The maid pointed out a mechanism in the pond’s rockery, and Qin Shiyue took Ying Fei and Zhang Xiaohua into the secret passage.
• Ying Fei opened a half-shut door and triggered a trap that fired three iron arrows; Qin Shiyue kicked him aside, but one arrow pierced Ying Fei’s arm.
• Zhang Xiaohua used his divine sense and Misty Steps to avoid the arrow aimed at him, though Qin Shiyue thought he had frozen in fear.
• Qin Shiyue gave Ying Fei a Poison-Dispelling Pill, and Ying Fei’s wound began bleeding bright red before Qin Shiyue stopped the bleeding.
• Ying Fei told Qin Shiyue that Ma Rulong had probably gotten far away while they were delayed.

Qin Shiyue pursued Ma Rulong with Zhang Xiaohua and confronted him at a strange patch of mist. Ma Rulong revealed why he had betrayed the Divine Cult and began explaining the secret behind the Ma family’s valuable dowry.

• Qin Shiyue led Zhang Xiaohua through a dry well’s passage and raced with him toward the mountain, where they caught up to Ma Rulong.
• Ma Rulong stood before a pale, qi-filled mist and told Qin Shiyue that his trap had failed because Qin had arrived too soon.
• Ma Rulong explained that he joined the Righteous Path Alliance because the Divine Cult had exploited his family and denied his descendants the status and respect they wanted.
• Qin Shiyue agreed not to hunt down the Ma family disciples in exchange for Ma Rulong revealing his secret.
• Ma Rulong said his granddaughter had pursued Qiu Xidao, and that her lavish dowry had persuaded Zhang San and the Righteous Path Alliance to force Qiu Xidao to marry her.

Ma Rulong revealed the ancient origins and uses of divine stones, explaining how the Immortal Path preceded the Martial Way and how its remnants related to the present martial world. He left Qin Shiyue questioning how Ma Rulong knew Primordial Qi was increasing.

• Ma Rulong explained that the Righteous Path Alliance sought his divine stone, also called a primordial stone, and obtained Qin Shiyue’s oath not to attack Ma family disciples unless they provoked him first.
• Ma Rulong told Qin Shiyue that divine stones powered formations and had once served as the foundation and currency of Immortal Path cultivation.
• Ma Rulong described how the Immortal Path ended ten thousand years earlier and said his Ma family descended from a minor branch of an ancient immortal cultivation sect.
• Ma Rulong explained that jade slips held cultivation knowledge, Immortal Path artifacts could take many forms, and the Heavenly Dao Alliance had collected ancient jade artifacts in response to rising Primordial Qi.
• Zhang Xiaohua recognized that his Carefree Heart Sutra belonged to the Immortal Path and wondered whether his jade rings were artifacts.
• Ma Rulong distinguished forbidden grounds from places protected by Immortal Path restrictions, and Qin Shiyue challenged him to explain how a Martial Way practitioner could sense Primordial Qi.

Ma Rulong explained to Qin Shiyue and Zhang Xiaohua that his family’s forbidden ground was protected by a restriction, then fled into its white mist as Qin attacked him. Qin returned with Zhang Xiaohua and Ying Fei, left the deserted Ma Manor, and rode toward town while Qiu Xidao’s steward watched them.

• Ma Rulong told Qin Shiyue that strengthening restrictions indicated Primordial Qi was recovering and revealed that the Ma family’s forbidden ground lay within the white mist behind him.
• Ma Rulong explained that he had come to the forbidden ground to fulfill his lifelong wish, then tried to retreat into the mist as Qin Shiyue attacked him with his flexible sword.
• Qin Shiyue refused to enter the mist and warned Zhang Xiaohua that he would report him and the missing cauldron to Di Shitian.
• Qin Shiyue and Zhang Xiaohua returned through the secret passage and found Ying Fei recovering from his arrow wound.
• Qin Shiyue, Zhang Xiaohua, and Ying Fei found Ma Manor deserted, took their horses, and left for town as Qiu Xidao’s old steward watched them from a teahouse.

Zhang Xiaohua found renewed resolve to pursue the Immortal Path while traveling as Qin Shiyue’s captive. The three arrived at a village inn where an unknown host had arranged a lavish dinner for them, and the innkeeper came to ask whether they had enjoyed it.

• Zhang Xiaohua reflected on the Immortal Path and his uncertain future, then regained his fighting spirit and advanced his cultivation.
• Qin Shiyue, Ying Fei, and Zhang Xiaohua heard riders galloping ahead but found no ambush as they continued toward a village town.
• The innkeeper of Four Seas Inn told Qin Shiyue that a lord had reserved a banquet and rooms for the three travelers.
• Qin Shiyue inspected the tea, recognized that the rare refreshments had been prepared in advance, and told Ying Fei and Zhang Xiaohua to eat.
• Qin Shiyue, Ying Fei, and Zhang Xiaohua enjoyed the lavish feast and wine until the moon rose.
• The innkeeper asked Qin Shiyue, Ying Fei, and Zhang Xiaohua whether they had liked the meal.

At the inn, Zhang Xiaohua practiced the first hand seal of the Art of Earth Evasion and finally succeeded, though he lost much of the true qi he used. Qin Shiyue prepared to send the collected ancient jade artifacts to the Cult Master while discussing Zhang Xiaohua and the unknown force behind him.

• The innkeeper told Qin Shiyue that an unnamed old acquaintance had arranged their meal and lodging before leaving town.
• Zhang Xiaohua practiced the Art of Earth Evasion’s first hand seal until it drew out all his true qi, then failed to form the second seal and recovered nearly sixty percent of the scattered qi.
• Zhang Xiaohua absorbed qi from two spirit stones as he slept, replenishing his lost true qi.
• Qin Shiyue ordered Ying Fei to deliver the collected ancient jade artifacts to the Cult Master, despite Ying Fei’s concern about the day’s unusual events.
• Qin Shiyue and Ying Fei discussed whether Zhang Xiaohua was connected to the force behind the cauldron and decided to leave that judgment to the Cult Master.

As Qin Shiyue, Ying Fei, and Zhang Xiaohua traveled onward, they received another lavish meal arranged by an unknown benefactor. A huge man recognized Qin Shiyue and revealed that rumors falsely credited him with massacring Ma Manor, leaving Qin and Zhang Xiaohua astonished.

• Zhang Xiaohua wondered why the Righteous Path Alliance had not retaliated, while Qin Shiyue and Ying Fei also remained wary of an attack.
• At Shangezhuang Town, a Four Seas Inn manager led Qin Shiyue, Ying Fei, and Zhang Xiaohua to a restaurant reserved for their meal.
• The three ate the elaborate dishes, and Qin Shiyue reprimanded Ying Fei for copying Zhang Xiaohua's greedy table manners.
• A burly man forced his way into the restaurant, then recognized Qin Shiyue and hurried to serve him wine.
• The man told Qin Shiyue that jianghu rumors claimed he had killed all 305 members of the Ma family, surprising Qin and Zhang Xiaohua.

Qin Shiyue and Zhang Xiaohua continued toward Jingyue City after hearing the latest jianghu reports, and Qin Shiyue showed both his capricious mercy and his fearsome reputation. Near the city, Xu Jiaotong arrived to welcome Qin on behalf of the Dragon Kings and Seven Waters, and Qin began to thank him.

• A wandering man told Qin Shiyue that the Righteous Path Alliance had protested the Ma family massacre while the Heavenly Dragon Divine Cult denied responsibility and mourned Qiu Xidao.
• Qin Shiyue stopped the man from cutting off his hand and demanded only his little finger; the man obeyed and left the inn.
• Qin Shiyue, Ying Fei, and Zhang Xiaohua resumed their journey, receiving food and lodging as they passed through towns before approaching Jingyue City.
• Ying Fei explained that Jingyue City was a famous city, and Qin Shiyue recalled visiting during the Divine Cult's campaign to subdue the Three Seas and Seven Waters.
• Xu Jiaotong rode up to welcome Qin Shiyue on behalf of his royal father, the other Dragon Kings, and the Seven Waters leaders, and Qin Shiyue began to thank him.

Qin Shiyue arrived at Jingyue City with Xu Jiaotong and met the Three Seas Dragon Kings and Seven Waters gang leaders at the gate. Their entrance was interrupted by Commander Murong, who abused his authority and pressed Xu Jiaotong about marrying him.

• Xu Jiaotong explained why her father had sent her to receive Qin Shiyue, and Zhang Xiaohua realized she was a woman.
• The Three Seas Dragon Kings and Seven Waters gang leaders welcomed Qin Shiyue and exchanged greetings with him and Ying Fei.
• Qin Shiyue and the others entered Jingyue City, with Ying Fei inviting Zhang Xiaohua to walk beside him.
• Commander Murong rode up claiming to carry urgent military intelligence, then admitted he had made it up and bragged about his uncle commanding the city defense.
• Commander Murong asked Xu Jiaotong whether her father had agreed to their marriage, and she put him off by citing her father's busy affairs.

Qin Shiyue reunited with the Three Seas and Seven Waters in Jingyue City, where he learned Xu Jiaotong had secretly arranged his safe passage and gathered everyone to hand over their prepared items. The items were still being transported by water, and Qin Shiyue expected them to arrive within one to three days.

• Dragon King Xu led Qin Shiyue and the others through his grand lakeside residence to a banquet hall, where Dragon King Sui’s crude jokes embarrassed Xu Jiaotong and confused Zhang Xiaohua.
• Dragon King Xu explained that Xu Jiaotong had scouted Qin Shiyue’s route and secretly arranged his food, lodging, and safety while the Three Seas and Seven Waters gathered to meet him.
• Qin Shiyue thanked the assembled groups and toasted them for coming to welcome him.
• Qin Shiyue praised Xu Jiaotong’s efforts and invited her to call him Xiao Yue, while she asked to be called A Jiao.
• Dragon King Xu told Qin Shiyue that the prepared items were being sent by water and would arrive within one to three days.

Qin Shiyue learned why Commander Murong had been pursuing Xu Jiaotong and promised that the Divine Cult would protect her if necessary. When Murong appeared outside the manor shouting his love for Jiaotong, Qin Shiyue and Dragon King Xu went to meet him, while Zhang Xiaohua watched from the banquet.

• Qin Shiyue toasted the Three Seas Dragon Kings and Seven Waters Gang Leader and won their favor at the banquet.
• Dragon King Xu explained that Commander Murong had persistently pursued Xu Jiaotong, despite her attempts to avoid him.
• Qin Shiyue offered the Divine Cult's support if Murong's pursuit caused trouble, reassuring Xu Jiaotong.
• Commander Murong shouted for Xu Jiaotong from outside the hall, and Qin Shiyue and Dragon King Xu went to receive him.
• Zhang Xiaohua privately judged Murong's pursuit hopeless and speculated that Xu Jiaotong liked Qin Shiyue because he had white hair.

Commander Murong visited Dragon King Xu and proposed to marry Xu Jiaotong as his secondary wife, but Dragon King Xu refused because she was already promised. Qin Shiyue hinted that her intended was nearby, and Murong Jian wrongly suspected Zhang Xiaohua and Ying Fei before asking who it was.

• Commander Murong arrived at Dragon King Xu’s residence with a gift box and entered the banquet hall, where he mistook Qin Shiyue for an honored relative and invited him to the seat of honor.
• Murong Jian told Dragon King Xu he wanted to marry Xu Jiaotong and presented one thousand taels in gold notes as a betrothal gift.
• Dragon King Xu rejected the proposal, saying Xu Jiaotong had already been promised to someone.
• Murong Jian insisted he could have the match broken off and offered to enlist the Lord Commandant’s help.
• Qin Shiyue said Xu Jiaotong’s intended was far away yet close at hand, prompting Murong Jian to accuse Zhang Xiaohua and Ying Fei of being unsuitable suitors.
• Qin Shiyue denied that Murong Jian had guessed correctly, leaving him asking who Xu Jiaotong’s intended was.

Murong Jian challenged Qin Shiyue to a duel over Xu Jiaotong, setting his guard against him. Qin Shiyue discovered the guard had poisoned him and concealed his true skill, leaving Qin Shiyue trapped in a fierce fight with the poison spreading through his body.

• Qin Shiyue told Murong Jian that Xu Jiaotong would follow him, and Xu Jiaotong publicly asked Murong Jian to let her go.
• Murong Jian demanded a contest and chose his guard as Qin Shiyue's opponent, promising to accept the outcome if Qin Shiyue defeated him.
• Qin Shiyue agreed to the contest and offered to yield the guard three moves, but the guard attacked with three ordinary saber strikes.
• The guard suddenly changed his saber's path, cut Qin Shiyue beneath the arm, and poisoned the wound.
• The guard revealed his true skill and pressed Qin Shiyue with powerful saber strikes, leaving him no chance to expel the poison or take an antidote.

Zhang Xiaohua was moved by Xu Jiaotong’s desperate gaze and intervened as the poisoned Qin Shiyue faced a fatal blow. He saved Qin Shiyue from the soldier’s saber, but the clash sent him flying through the air.

• The nameless soldier used poison and relentless attacks to gain the upper hand against Qin Shiyue, while Murong Jian pressured Dragon King Xu to accept the betrothal if Qin Shiyue surrendered.
• Xu Jiaotong remained composed, resolved to die rather than marry Murong Jian, as Dragon King Xu and Ying Fei watched anxiously.
• Qin Shiyue weakened and collapsed, and he and Xu Jiaotong exchanged a look as the soldier raised his curved saber for a final strike.
• Zhang Xiaohua’s memories of Meng stirred when he saw Xu Jiaotong’s eyes, and he decided to act.
• Zhang Xiaohua swooped into the arena and forced the soldier to block his sword, but the impact sent Zhang Xiaohua flying upward.