Recaps

Zhang Xiaohu defended his claim as the Misty Sect’s rightful leader by displaying his inherited sword arts, but Hu Yunyi remained convinced he was an impostor. As Hu Yunyi hesitated over whether to leave with two thousand disciples, Zhang Xiaohu learned Shui Yupeng was using a Righteous Path Alliance token to approach other halls, and Zhang Xiaohua proposed a plan.

• Hu Yunyi accused Zhang Xiaohu of stealing the Misty Sect’s inheritance, but Zhang Xiaohu demonstrated the Misty Seven Swords with the Azure Water Sword and declared himself the sect’s rightful orthodoxy.
• The disciples accepted Zhang Xiaohu’s authority, while Hu Yunyi remained unconvinced and kept the two thousand disciples he had brought apart from the others.
• Over ten days, Zhang Xiaohu worried that Hu Yunyi might leave with those disciples, but refused to use Soul-Snaring Pills to control them.
• Wang Lun and Liu Bin reported that Shui Yupeng had shown them a Righteous Path Alliance token and ordered them to obey him, though they had learned of no specific plan.
• Zhang Xiaohua whispered a plan to Zhang Xiaohu, who agreed that it might work.

Misty Sect disciples Liu and Luan discussed their loyalty to Great Sect Leader Zhang and questioned whether Hu Yunyi could divide the sect. After secretly listening, Shui Yupeng met Deputy Alliance Leader Jiang, who asked about their plan to make Shui the sect leader.

• Liu reassured Luan that many Misty Sect disciples would stay with Great Sect Leader Zhang if Hu Yunyi left, and said Zhang had restored his martial arts.
• A masked listener left Misty Manor and traveled to an earthen temple, where Shui Yupeng met Deputy Alliance Leader Jiang.
• Jiang asked whether Hu Yunyi's setback had obstructed the plan to make Shui the Great Sect Leader of the Misty Sect.
• Shui told Jiang that over five thousand members of two Righteous Path Alliance halls had agreed to follow his orders.

Zhang Xiaohu and the Misty Sect leaders exposed Shui Yupeng’s plot to poison the sect’s leaders for the Righteous Path Alliance. After explaining that he had acted to protect Shui Tiantian, Shui Yupeng killed himself, while Hu Yunyi lay unconscious and gravely ill.

• Shui Yupeng accepted potent poison from the blue-robed Jiang Yan and discussed using it to kill Li Jian, Hu Yunyi, Zhang Xiaohu, and others.
• Zhang Xiaohu and the Misty Sect leaders surrounded Shui Yupeng, and Shui Tiantian recognized his father and confronted him over the plot.
• Hu Yunyi condemned Shui Yupeng, then collapsed after coughing up black blood, while Shui Tiantian smashed the jade bottle he had been carrying.
• Shui Yupeng explained that the Righteous Path Alliance had forced him to cooperate by threatening Shui Tiantian, and Zhang Xiaohu stopped Liu Qingyang from attacking him.
• Shui Yupeng swallowed pills from a jade bottle, told Shui Tiantian to follow Zhang Xiaohu and become a true Misty Sect disciple, then struck himself dead.
• Shui Tiantian wept over Shui Yupeng’s body as Hu Yunyi continued bleeding and barely breathing.

Zhang Xiaohu brought the dying Hu Yunyi to the Council Hall and summoned the immortal-path master he believed could save him. Zhang Xiaohua emerged from the Secret Chamber, revealed himself as Zhang Xiaohu’s younger brother and the Misty Sect’s mysterious immortal-path master, and revived Hu Yunyi with an antidote pill.

• Zhang Xiaohu rushed Hu Yunyi to the Council Hall and ordered Wen Wenhai to bring Shui Tiantian and Shui Yupeng’s bodies there while keeping the incident secret.
• Zhang Xiaohu entered the Secret Chamber to seek help, while Li Jian and the others waited anxiously with Hu Yunyi and Shui Tiantian mourned his father.
• Zhang Xiaohua emerged from the Secret Chamber, and Wen Wenhai mistook him for Ren Xiaoyao, an Incense-Passing Cult disciple.
• Zhang Xiaohu revealed that Zhang Xiaohua was his younger brother, the immortal-path master who had restored the Misty Sect’s martial arts and killed Ban Fugui and the other Righteous Path Alliance retainers.
• Zhang Xiaohua gave Zhang Xiaohu an antidote pill, which Zhang Xiaohu fed to Hu Yunyi; Hu Yunyi soon woke and cursed Shui Yupeng.

Zhang Xiaohua arranged for Hu Yunyi to be treated and comforted Shui Tiantian over his guilt about poisoning his Martial Ancestor. After agreeing that Shui Yupeng would receive a proper burial, Zhang Xiaohua refused to take back the fist manual Zhang Chengyue had left Tiantian as a keepsake.

• Zhang Xiaohu took the poisoned Hu Yunyi away with Wen Wenhai, while Zhang Xiaohua assured Li Jian that Hu Yunyi could be cured.
• Shui Tiantian asked Li Jian to expel him from the Misty Sect, but Zhang Xiaohua reassured him and asked him to perform the Big Dipper Divine Fist.
• Zhang Xiaohua explained that he had created the Big Dipper Divine Fist and asked to buy back its manual for his planned Big Dipper Sect.
• Shui Tiantian offered to reveal the manual's location if Shui Yupeng received a proper burial, and Zhang Xiaohua and Li Jian agreed.
• Shui Tiantian handed Zhang Xiaohua the manual, but Zhang Xiaohua refused it because it was Zhang Chengyue's keepsake.

Zhang Xiaohua accepted Shui Tiantian as his disciple and explained to Hu Yunyi how he had helped the Misty Sect through its recent crises. After Hu Yunyi released Shui Tiantian from the sect with his blessing, Zhang Xiaohua vanished, leaving a pill for Hu Yunyi’s recovery.

• Zhang Xiaohua asked Shui Tiantian about the Big Dipper Divine Fist and offered to take him into the Big Dipper Sect as his disciple.
• Hu Yunyi recovered from the poison, learned that Zhang Xiaohua had aided the Misty Sect, and bowed to thank him for preserving the sect.
• Zhang Xiaohua explained that he had been overseas when the Misty Sect was destroyed and had not yet been able to prevent the disaster.
• Hu Yunyi reassured Shui Tiantian that he did not blame him for his father’s actions and granted him permission to leave and cultivate under Zhang Xiaohua.
• Zhang Xiaohua suddenly vanished after giving Zhang Xiaohu a pill for Hu Yunyi, who was told it could restore his internal injuries and damaged meridians.

Hu Yunyi took the Meridian Nourishing Pill after Zhang Xiaohu expelled Shui Tiantian from the Misty Sect. Shui Tiantian joined Zhang Xiaohua’s Big Dipper Sect, where he and Ji Xiaohua competed for their master’s attention before reconciling as brothers; Zhang Xiaohua’s thoughts then turned uneasily to Qu Jing’er.

• Zhang Xiaohu expelled Shui Tiantian from the Misty Sect, and Hu Yunyi swallowed the Meridian Nourishing Pill.
• Shui Tiantian arrived at Zhang Xiaohua’s door to serve him, where he and Ji Xiaohua both tried to attend to their master.
• Zhang Xiaohua introduced Shui Tiantian as his new disciple and reminded him and Ji Xiaohua to treat each other as brothers rather than rivals.
• Zhang Xiaohua began teaching the two disciples the Big Dipper Divine Fist and told Shui Tiantian to teach its moves to Ji Xiaohua.
• Shui Tiantian met his three martial aunts and paid respects to Zhang Bairen as the Big Dipper Sect’s eldest senior brother.
• Zhang Xiaohua felt satisfied with his disciples and junior sisters, but his heart leapt when he thought of Qu Jing’er.

Hu Yunyi and the Misty Sect elders thanked Zhang Xiaohua for his help, learned that Ou Yan had joined the Big Dipper Sect, and heard that Shui Yupeng would receive a grand burial. The chapter ended with Zhang Xiaohu and Zhang Xiaohua confirming that the Misty Sect's Immortal Path inheritance had been restored and that Zhang Xiaohu had entered the Dao through the Founding Ancestor's portrait.

• Hu Yunyi arrived with gifts to thank Zhang Xiaohua, who accepted his calligraphy and paintings.
• Ou Yan revealed that Zhang Xiaohua had accepted her as a Big Dipper Sect disciple, delighting Hu Yunyi and Li Jian.
• Ding Chao and Du Feng apologized for their past misunderstandings and vowed to serve the Misty Sect loyally.
• Hu Yunyi reported that his poison was gone, his meridians were healing, and Shui Yupeng would receive a grand burial; Shui Tiantian thanked Hu Yunyi, Zhang Xiaohu, and Zhang Xiaohua.
• Hu Yunyi and Li Jian asked Zhang Xiaohua to restore the Misty Sect's Immortal Path inheritance, and Zhang Xiaohu revealed that Zhang Xiaohua had already given it to him.
• Zhang Xiaohua said he had left the Misty Sect's inheritance untouched, and Zhang Xiaohu confirmed that he had entered the Dao through Yang Haoya's portrait.

Zhang Xiaohua and Zhang Xiaohu discussed the Misty Sect’s Immortal Path inheritance and the danger of pursuing the Yao Mountain Immortal Mansion, while the Misty Sect chose to focus on rebuilding. Zhang Xiaohua reconsidered his plans for founding the Big Dipper Sect and set out for Qiu Long Mountain to find the missing Qu Jing'er.

• Zhang Xiaohu told Hu Yunyi and Li Jian about receiving the Misty Sect’s Immortal Path inheritance and promised to preserve it in secret until the time was right.
• Zhang Xiaohua introduced his Big Dipper Sect disciples, including the young Zhang Bairen, and learned that Qu Jing'er had not yet arrived from Qiu Long Mountain.
• Zhang Xiaohu explained that many powerful sects were converging on Yao Mountain, and Hu Yunyi and Li Jian agreed that the Misty Sect should avoid competing for the Immortal Mansion and concentrate on rebuilding.
• The Misty Sect members left Huanxi Mountain Villa with Shui Tiantian to handle Shui Yupeng’s funeral.
• Zhang Xiaohua asked Ou Yan to look for a suitable place to establish the Big Dipper Sect, then admitted the Immortal Mansion might be beyond his strength and agreed to prepare other options.
• Zhang Xiaohua set out for Qiu Long Mountain after fearing that something had happened to Qu Jing'er.

Zhang Xiaohua left home to search for the last disciple of the Big Dipper Sect, while Xiaohei and Xiaohuang stayed behind to guard his family and sect. At Yao Mountain, Bai Yanqiu learned that major rivals had arrived, including three powerful masters from Great Forest Temple, and relied on Shuiyunjian’s three True Persons to face them.

• Zhang Xiaohua persuaded Xiaohei and Xiaohuang to remain at home and protect his family and the Big Dipper Sect, then flew away.
• Martial-world sects gathered around Yao Mountain after rumors spread that an immortal estate or passage to the immortal realm would appear there.
• Bai Yanqiu questioned Li Xu about how news of the immortal estate had spread, and Li Xu denied leaking it while explaining Shuiyunjian’s cover story.
• Liang Cangxu suggested an immortal-path expert might have spread the news, but Bai Yanqiu dismissed the idea and asked whether their rivals had arrived.
• A Shuiyunjian True Person revealed that Changsheng, Changgeng, Changxing, Yuandao, Yuanming, and Yuanwu had come, and Bai Yanqiu expressed confidence in True Person Haoyun, True Person Haoyue, and True Person Haofeng.

Bai Yanqiu learned why the reclusive Immortal Path masters had emerged to seek the immortal estate and discussed the rival factions gathering near Yao Mountain. After an unknown, powerful divine sense swept through her camp, Zhang Xiaohua turned back toward the crowded mountain, unable to abandon the estate.

• True Person Haoyun and the other elders explained that they wanted the immortal estate’s ancient pills to break through cultivation bottlenecks and extend their lives.
• Bai Yanqiu questioned Li Xu about the Righteous Path Alliance, the Incense-Passing Cult, and Misty Sect, and learned that the Alliance had camped near Yao Mountain while Misty Sect remained at Misty Manor.
• A powerful divine sense swept through Bai Yanqiu’s tent, and the elders suspected an unknown Immortal Path master after Bai Yanqiu said it was stronger than Di Shitian’s.
• Zhang Xiaohua reconsidered his journey south to find Qu Jing’er and turned west toward Yao Mountain, where his divine sense revealed towns packed with martial artists.

Zhang Xiaohua surveyed the camps around Yao Mountain and discovered powerful Immortal cultivators at Shuiyunjian, then fled before they could identify him. As he reconsidered his chances of competing for the immortal estate, another divine sense from the south found him.

• Zhang Xiaohua inspected the Incense-Passing Cult, Great Forest Temple, and Righteous Path Alliance camps while wondering whether the Heavenly Dragon Sect had come and whether he could see Meng.
• Zhang Xiaohua swept his divine sense over Shuiyunjian's central tent and detected three powerful Immortal cultivators.
• Bai Yanqiu and True Persons Haoyun, Haoyue, and Haofeng flew out to investigate, but Zhang Xiaohua concealed himself and fled south.
• True Person Haoyun and the others mistook the unknown cultivator for an Incense-Passing Cult Grand Elder and discussed preparing for the sect's arrival.
• Zhang Xiaohua stopped after fleeing and doubted his ability to contend for the immortal estate, but a divine sense from the south found him.

Zhang Xiaohua escaped after Abbess Shuqing and Abbess Shujie detected his concealed presence and mistook him for Di Shitian. The Incense-Passing Cult leaders discussed the Misty Sect and the Immortal Mansion at Yao Mountain, unaware that Ren Xiaoyao was hiding nearby.

• Abbess Shuqing sensed Zhang Xiaohua, and he used the Flying Technique to flee before she and Abbess Shujie could catch him.
• Abbess Jingyi and the Grand Elders debated whether the hidden cultivator was Di Shitian, Daoist Pan An, or a senior of the Divine Blade Sect.
• Peacock reported that Hu Yunyi had returned to Misty Manor with Shui Yupeng and Shui Tiantian, while the manor’s defenses prevented their spies from sending messages.
• Abbess Jingyi explained that the Incense-Passing Cult expected Zhang Xiaohu to be distracted by Hu Yunyi or constrained by Ming Qing and Gao Kunheng, leaving Misty Sect out of the contest for the Immortal Mansion.
• Chen Chen and Peacock discussed whether the Heavenly Dragon Sect Saintess and Ren Xiaoyao would come to Yao Mountain, while Ren Xiaoyao hid in a mountain hollow nearby.

After realizing that powerful Immortal Dao masters could threaten him, Zhang Xiaohua traveled toward Qiu Long Mountain to find Qu Zhigao and the Misty Sect disciples, but discovered Qu Zhigao was likely in Poyang Town. His search for the village where Madam Aya had lived also failed, leaving him to wonder about its mysterious formation and to renew his resolve to investigate Master Jingxuan’s murder.

• Zhang Xiaohua replenished his qi and flew toward Qiu Long Mountain, resolving to be more cautious around Immortal Dao masters.
• At Qiu Long Mountain, Zhang Xiaohua found no trace of Qu Zhigao’s family or the Misty Sect disciples and concluded Qu Zhigao had likely gone to Poyang Town.
• On the way, Zhang Xiaohua recognized the mountain range near the village where he had once searched with Meng and diverted there to help its villagers.
• Zhang Xiaohua found that the village’s former homes and Madam Aya’s grave were gone, and he wondered whether the place was connected to a hidden formation.
• Zhang Xiaohua examined the cave where he had found a money pouch and jade slip, then reflected on the distant causes behind his discovery.
• Zhang Xiaohua remembered his oath to avenge Master Jingxuan and considered returning to the Incense-Passing Cult after establishing the Big Dipper Sect.

Zhang Xiaohua rescued Li Jinfeng and Mei Qinglian from men hunting the Mei family’s treasure, then learned that Mei Qinglian’s father had been held at West Cui Mountain. He told her he had already wiped out the bandits, and she asked whether her father had survived.

• Zhang Xiaohua sensed that Mei Qinglian and Li Jinfeng were cornered in the Mountain God Temple and attacked their pursuers with Dream Chaser.
• Mei Laomo, Shopkeeper Liu, Zhao Hong, and Wu Yuantong demanded the Mei family treasure map and tortured Li Jinfeng when he refused to reveal its location.
• Zhang Xiaohua killed the four men with flying swords, then relieved Li Jinfeng’s pain and sent true qi into Mei Qinglian to stabilize her.
• Mei Qinglian asked Zhang Xiaohua to rescue her father and punish the bandits at West Cui Mountain.
• Zhang Xiaohua told Mei Qinglian that he had already killed every bandit at West Cui Mountain, and she asked whether her father was safe.

Zhang Xiaohua and Li Jinfeng buried Mei Qinglian after she died, and Zhang revealed that Steward Mei had not survived the attack on West Cui Mountain. As they traveled toward Poyang Town, Li told Zhang how he had met Mei and helped her flee, leaving the story of their journey unfinished.

• Mei Qinglian died after giving Li Jinfeng her silk handkerchief as a wedding gift, and Zhang Xiaohua killed the surviving attackers.
• Zhang explained that Steward Mei had died before reaching West Cui Mountain, then brought a coffin so he and Li could bury Mei Qinglian on the mountain.
• Li mourned Mei Qinglian and agreed to travel with Zhang, who was headed to Poyang Town before returning to Hui Lu Town.
• Li told Zhang that he had met Mei Qinglian while visiting Nanzhao Town and helped her escape after West Cui Mountain attacked her family.
• After learning her family had been captured, Mei Qinglian planned to use the Mei family treasure to rescue them, and she and Li decided to seek help from the Tan Family.

Zhang Xiaohua told Li Jinfeng that Qiutong was alive and unmarried, but Li remained hesitant to pursue her. After finding Qu Zhigao in Poyang Town, Zhang accepted Qu Jing'er as his seventh and final disciple and left Li with Qu Zhigao’s family while he handled other business.

• Zhang Xiaohua heard how Li Jinfeng had risked his life to protect Mei Qinglian and praised his sense of justice.
• Zhang told Li that Qiutong had returned to Huanxi Mountain Villa and was still unmarried, but Li feared he was unworthy of her.
• Zhang searched Poyang Town for Qu Zhigao and found him fetching water near his secluded home.
• Qu Jing'er greeted Zhang as her master, and Zhang formally accepted her as his seventh and final disciple.
• Zhang asked Qu Zhigao’s family to prepare to travel to Pingyang City and entrusted Li Jinfeng to their care while he attended to other business.

Zhang Xiaohua left Poyang Town to investigate the Righteous Path Alliance’s Carriage and Horse Service in Mochou City, then visited Xiao Juzi at Hui Chun Valley. He promised to find a place for her in the Big Dipper Sect once she recovered and departed to continue his business.

• Zhang Xiaohua told Li Jinfeng and Qu Zhigao that he was heading to Mochou City to uproot the Righteous Path Alliance’s connections there.
• Zhang Xiaohua revealed his flying ability to Qu Zhigao’s family and left Poyang Town for Mochou City.
• Zhang Xiaohua found that the Carriage and Horse Service clerk had been replaced and learned the former clerk was still somewhere in the city.
• Zhang Xiaohua visited the injured Xiao Juzi, who had guessed his identity as an immortal elder from clues shared by Little Fish.
• Zhang Xiaohua told Xiao Juzi to recover before seeking out the Big Dipper Sect and promised she could join them later.
• Zhang Xiaohua asked about Valley Master Nie, then flew away after Xiao Juzi had no message for Little Fish.

Zhang Xiaohua rescued a Swift Carriage and Horse Service clerk fleeing Yi Xiang Manor, learned the estate secretly served as an Incense-Passing Cult base, and destroyed an Azure Flame Token outpost. He returned to Yi Xiang Manor to investigate its hidden garden and embroidered tower, where he found a portrait and incense burners but no apparent restrictions.

• Zhang Xiaohua spotted the clerk fleeing Yi Xiang Manor and saved him from two guards pursuing him.
• The clerk recognized Zhang Xiaohua, revealed that Yi Xiang Manor was the Incense-Passing Cult's secret base, and explained that his Banner Master had sent him to scout it.
• Zhang Xiaohua killed the clerk after questioning him, then attacked a hidden Righteous Path Alliance outpost and killed its members.
• Zhang Xiaohua returned to Yi Xiang Manor and learned that Incense-Passing Cult inner disciples visited a garden there to pay respects, while others were forbidden to enter.
• Zhang Xiaohua entered the embroidered tower without triggering any restrictions and found a portrait above an ancient table holding three incense burners.

Zhang Xiaohua investigated Yue Mingxin’s embroidered chamber and discovered a wooden Purple Phoenix Hairpin that triggered a Primordial Spirit projection of Yue Mingxin. The projection questioned him about his cultivation and the hairpins, but the chapter ended before Zhang Xiaohua could respond to her.

• Zhang Xiaohua saw a portrait he identified as Yue Mingxin and discovered a Buddhist restriction beneath Frowning Tower that threatened to draw in his divine sense.
• Zhang Xiaohua bowed to Yue Mingxin’s portrait and searched the second floor, where he found a wooden hairpin identical in shape to the Purple Phoenix Hairpins.
• Zhang Xiaohua compared the wooden hairpin with his three matching items, and the wooden hairpin released a powerful suction that drew on his divine sense and true qi.
• Zhang Xiaohua’s meridians suddenly neutralized the suction, and a glowing Primordial Spirit projection of Yue Mingxin emerged from the wooden hairpin.
• Yue Mingxin asked Zhang Xiaohua why he possessed her Cult’s Purple Phoenix Hairpin without cultivating its inheritance technique, then introduced herself as the Incense-Passing Cult’s Founding Ancestor.

Yue Mingxin told Zhang Xiaohua how she and Yang Haoya obtained the Purple Phoenix Hairpins, fell in love while recovering from their injuries, and built Mochou City together. She recounted Yang Haoya leaving her to seek Buddhist cultivation at Great Forest Temple, and the chapter ended as she began describing her return to Mochou City.

• Yue Mingxin explained that she, Yang Haoya, and Huan Wuxin captured three ancient treasures, including two Purple Phoenix Hairpins and the Demon Refining Pot.
• Yue Mingxin said she and Yang Haoya recovered together on Yi Xiang Peak, fell in love, and exchanged their Purple Phoenix Hairpins as tokens.
• Yue Mingxin recalled that she and Yang Haoya built Mochou City beside Nameless Lake, where he called himself Night Wind and named her Mo Chou Nu.
• Yue Mingxin said Yang Haoya left for Great Forest Temple to learn Wisdom Sword Severing Love Strands, refusing to return when she confronted him there.
• Yue Mingxin took back the Purple Phoenix Hairpin she had given Yang Haoya, returned to Yi Xiang Peak, and named its palace Mocu Palace.
• Yue Mingxin said she left both Purple Phoenix Hairpins in Mocu Palace and returned alone to Mochou City.

Yue Mingxin’s fading Primordial Spirit told Zhang Xiaohua of her love for Yang Lang, left him a wooden hairpin, and warned that something was wrong with Great Master Xuan Kong. Her story made Zhang Xiaohua fear that his relationship with Meng faced a similar conflict, and he left Mochou City troubled before returning to Poyang Town.

• Yue Mingxin mourned Yang Lang, explained the meaning of Yi Xiang, and revealed that Great Master Xuan Kong had summoned her to settle their grievances at Nameless Lake.
• Before her Primordial Spirit projection vanished, Yue Mingxin gave Zhang Xiaohua her wooden hairpin and began warning him about Great Forest Temple and Xuan Kong.
• Zhang Xiaohua reflected on Yue Mingxin’s tragic love and worried that his differences with Meng could force him to choose between love and the Immortal Path.
• Zhang Xiaohua returned to Poyang Town, where Li Jinfeng and Qu Zhigao prepared carriages for their journey home.
• When the carriage driver pleaded to keep his job to support his family, Zhang Xiaohua let him drive and promised to pay him double.

Zhang Xiaohua arranged for Mei Qinglian’s coffin to be taken back to Nanzhao Town, then discussed Yue Mingxin’s tragic love with Li Jinfeng as they traveled. Their conversation ended with Zhang Xiaohua claiming that Li Jinfeng would need his approval for Qiutong’s marriage because she was connected to the Big Dipper Sect.

• Li Jinfeng asked Zhang Xiaohua to arrange for Mei Qinglian’s coffin to be returned to her family’s burial grounds in Nanzhao Town, and Zhang Xiaohua agreed to pay for the journey and preserve her remains.
• Zhang Xiaohua and Li Jinfeng departed Poyang Town with the coffin in a third carriage, driven by Qu Zhigao and two hired drivers.
• Li Jinfeng asked why Zhang Xiaohua looked gloomy after finding the people he had sought, and Zhang Xiaohua admitted that killing them had troubled him.
• Zhang Xiaohua recounted Yue Mingxin’s story, and Li Jinfeng reasoned that she had understood and forgiven Yang despite his pursuit of the Immortal Path.
• Li Jinfeng suggested Zhang Xiaohua might understand heartbreak, so Zhang Xiaohua claimed that Qiutong could not marry without the approval of her Big Dipper Sect senior brother, leaving Li Jinfeng stunned.

Zhang Xiaohua travels with Li Jinfeng and Qu Zhigao toward Pingyang City, then flies ahead to intervene when the Lotus Escort Agency is confronted by road bandits. He defeats their leaders and stops the remaining bandits, leaving them begging for mercy.

• Li Jinfeng explains why he would not ask Zhang Xiaohua to persuade Ou Yan on his behalf, and Zhang Xiaohua refuses to share what is troubling him.
• Qu Zhigao offers to let Zhang Xiaohua travel ahead, but Zhang Xiaohua stays with the vulnerable travelers until he senses a commotion nearby.
• Zhang Xiaohua flies ahead and finds the Lotus Escort Agency facing Chieftain Bian and more than a hundred bandits over an increased road toll.
• After the Lotus Escort Agency wins two duels, Chieftain Bian demands an additional toll, and Zhang Xiaohua challenges him.
• Zhang Xiaohua defeats Chieftain Bian and the other chieftains, then orders the remaining bandits to stop fleeing.
• The bandits drop their weapons and beg Zhang Xiaohua to spare them.

Zhang Xiaohua rescued Yuan Changqing’s escort from bandits and learned that two Misty Sect disciples had failed to find Qu Zhigao on a secret mission. The group waited for the missing travelers while Zhang Xiaohua questioned the disciples about their search.

• Zhang Xiaohua defeated the bandits who had attacked Yuan Changqing’s escort, and Yuan Changqing arranged for them to leave without taking payment.
• Chieftain Bian honored his promise to let the escort pass freely and led his men away after Zhang Xiaohua warned him off.
• Yuan Changqing introduced Zhang Xiaohua to Lu Da and Ke Nanli, who recognized his connection to Great Sect Leader Zhang.
• Lu Da and Ke Nanli revealed that Great Sect Leader Zhang had secretly sent them to find Qu Zhigao, but they had searched Qiu Long Mountain and nearby towns without success.
• Zhang Xiaohua told Lu Da and Ke Nanli that he had asked his second brother to arrange the mission and questioned why they had not found Qu Zhigao.