Recaps

Hou Niao intervened in the Shanyin Ghost Festival, learned an ancient Body Sword Technique, and traveled to find Zhao Xintong. At the Yu Household, Zhao Xintong learned Yu Buzhuo had pursued her as part of a scheme involving her body, but an attack disrupted the plan and she struck Yu Buzhuo with her hairpin.

• Hou Niao joined the Minister of Justice Prefecture and was ordered by Li Chuping to investigate the Shanyin Ghost Festival.
• Hou Niao entered the Underworld Dimension, protected departed souls from a young cultivator, and helped Tan Xiao guide lost souls toward the gathering.
• Hou Niao attacked Netherworld officials who threatened the souls, then returned to Jade Capital and gained access to ancient Quanzhen sword arts.
• Hou Niao studied the Body Sword Technique, left Jade Capital, and learned from Daoist Xi that Zhao Xintong had joined Taihao in Wei Kingdom.
• Hou Niao found Zhao Xintong at Red Leaf Daoist Academy and tried to help her confront her past as she remained withdrawn and resisted Yu Buzhuo's advances.
• At the Autumn Appreciation Banquet, Hou Niao challenged Yu Wuxia's teachings, and Zhao Xintong later joined a demon-slaying expedition before Yu Buzhuo's demon bird brought her to Jade Wall Manor.
• Yu Wuwei revealed that the Yu Household intended for Yu Shangque to merge with Yu Buzhuo and use Zhao Xintong's Azure Nether Body to produce a child.
• A Shanmen Sword Cultivator killed Yu Wuwei, and Zhao Xintong stabbed Yu Buzhuo in the back of the head with her gold hairpin.

Hou Niao killed Yu Shangque, took charge of the Canghai Pirates, and followed the thunder across the sea until he opened his sea of consciousness. After returning to Mirage Tower City, he crossed paths with Dugu Lan and Xiao Qiang as they sought help against the Wind-Chasing Pirates and met Bai Qingqian at Gushe Cottage.

• Hou Niao resisted Yu Shangque’s Heavenly Dao lightning, and Zhao Xintong used her Azure Nether Body to bear the killing Prophecy, allowing Hou Niao to kill Yu Shangque and escape with her.
• Zhao Xintong attained the Dao, while Hou Niao accepted an assignment to return to the Lizhi Sea and manage Shanmen Quanzhen’s response to the Wu Sect through the Canghai Pirates.
• Hou Niao fought for the Canghai Pirates against the Tiger Tooth Pirates, impressed Yan Baiyi’s northern party with his Body Swordsmanship, and later took responsibility for the pirates as Duanmu Chai prepared to leave.
• After ten years, Hou Niao followed the thunder into the Blue Sea, encountered the Thunder Falcon and Quanzhen and Guo Sect cultivators, and returned to the Thunder Triangle after killing Qu Wuhui and the other pursuers.
• Hou Niao discovered that the thunder’s routes formed an ancient Thunder Talisman, used it to open his sea of consciousness, and returned to find Fang Yazi had gone seeking an opportunity to ascend.
• Dugu Lan and Xiao Qiang failed to recover a shipment stolen by pirates, found little support from the Lihai Military Governor’s Office, and sought advice from Know-It-All about the Wind-Chasing Pirates.
• Know-It-All directed Dugu Lan and Xiao Qiang to Gushe Cottage, where Bai Qingqian received them and said they were among their own because her husband belonged to the Ke Sect Quanzhen.

Hou Niao recovered the Dugu sisters’ cargo and defeated the Wind-Chasing Pirates’ challengers, then left the Li Sea and accepted a mission to kill You Chao'en. The ambush failed when a powerful Daoist repelled his attack, leaving Hou Niao to flee alive.

• Hou Niao revealed himself to the Dugu sisters and led them toward the Wind-Chasing Pirates, drawing a growing procession of cultivators and triggering a confrontation with the Canghai Pirates.
• Hou Niao and Bao Wen agreed to a twelve-fighter succession contest, and Hou Niao defeated Yu Kuohai before outlasting Bao Wen’s aspect birds and securing his retreat.
• Hou Niao defeated Shi Guangzu, Gao Tianqi, and Guo Yanzhi, forcing the Wind-Chasing Pirates to yield territory and join the Canghai Pirates against a third party.
• Hou Niao helped the Dugu sisters recover their cargo, arranged Fang Yazi’s post, and left Bai Qingqian in Mirage Tower City before returning to the Minister of Justice Prefecture.
• Judge Cheng ordered Hou Niao to kill You Chao'en, warning that the Qi Sect had captured You Chao'en and that his knowledge threatened the Quanzhen Sect’s spy network.
• Hou Niao traveled to Jianyou, hired Mountain Daoist and Daoist Lu, and used an undercover pawn’s report to plan an ambush on You Chao'en’s escort.
• Hou Niao’s companions attacked the sedan, but its leading Daoist swept aside their strikes and a seated Daoist deflected Hou Niao’s nearly spent flying sword, forcing him to escape.

Hou Niao left the Jianye affair behind and weighed his prospects for becoming a True Disciple while navigating the Jade Capital’s factions. A mission to investigate the Earth Spirit Pearl brought him into the struggle over the Yaoguang Mountains, where he helped the Winged People’s shamaness reach her tribe as cultivators fought overhead.

• Hou Niao escaped Jianye, returned the remains of his fellow disciples to the Minister of Justice Prefecture, and received special merit after the Shanmen spy network survived the Six-Eared Hall’s screening.
• Judge Wan explained the factional backing required for True Disciple status, while Hou Niao considered his limited prospects and resolved to build connections without accepting a patron’s obligations.
• Hou Niao reunited with Rao Zongzhi, declined Wu Weijiang’s implied offer of support, and entered the Tuling Grotto-Heaven with Hai Xixi to search for Flashling Beasts.
• When a Luan Bird attacked, Wu Weijiang abandoned Hou Niao and Hai Xixi, but Hou Niao restrained the beast long enough for Hai Xixi to calm and tame it.
• Judge Cheng assigned Hou Niao to investigate the Earth Spirit Pearl and possible betrayal among Minister of War Prefecture subordinates, warning him to avoid provoking the Yaoguang Natives.
• In the Yaoguang Mountains, Hou Niao learned that Luo Yewang and Daoist Ying were protecting a Winged People girl carrying the pearl while Senior Brother Tan and Buddhist cultivators confronted them.
• After Xinghuan fell from a cliff, Hou Niao carried her toward her tribe using his Magnetic Dao Body and earth escape, while she explained how her people had obtained the Earth Spirit Pearl.