Recaps

Xu Qi'an decoded Zhou Min’s evidence and helped Governor Zhang arrest Yang Chuannan, but the investigation revealed a deeper scheme involving Liang Youping and Song Changfu. After Song Changfu was found dead, Xu Qi'an realized the group had been led into a trap.

• Xu Qi'an uncovered that Zhou Min’s code pointed to a black-market shop, then retrieved the ledger documenting missing military supplies.
• Xu Qi'an and Governor Zhang arrested Yang Chuannan, while Li Miaozhen argued that Yang was not the mastermind and identified a missing official linked to the case.
• Xu Qi'an recognized the missing official as Liang Youping, the shopkeeper who had handed over the ledger, and learned that the Shaman God Cult had been probing for him through dream interrogations.
• Li Miaozhen and Xu Qi'an reasoned that the hidden conspirators might believe Liang had fallen into Nightwatcher custody, while officials who visited Governor Zhang were found to be concealing the truth.
• Xu Qi'an and Li Miaozhen stalled Xu Huchen’s Guard Commission troops until Governor Zhang promised a fair investigation, then Governor Zhang secretly ordered Jiang Lyuzhong to kill the guard officers.
• Zhao Rui delivered Liang Youping to Governor Zhang, and Liang confessed that Song Changfu had recruited him to falsify accounts and divert military supplies while framing Yang Chuannan.
• Governor Zhang ordered Song Changfu’s arrest, but the guards found him dead, and Xu Qi'an concluded that the apparent suicide was part of a trap.

Xu Qi'an exposed the Yunzhou conspiracy, died defending Governor Zhang’s party, and returned to life before reaching the capital. There he investigated Consort Fu’s death, uncovered evidence of a plot against the crown prince, and survived an assassination attempt as Emperor Yuanjing moved to intervene.

• Xu Qi'an warned the Nightwatchers that Song Changfu’s death was faked, then urged Li Miaozhen to move against the danger in White Emperor City.
• The prefect admitted to poisoning Governor Zhang and Jiang Lyuzhong and revealed that Song Changfu planned to take over Yunzhou as rebels prepared to rise.
• Xu Qi'an defended the governor’s hall and died from exhaustion after killing two hundred rebels, then awoke in a temple after Monk Shenshu preserved his life.
• Xu Qi'an returned to life aboard the official ship and later shocked his family by sitting up in his coffin after Daoist Jinlian restored his control of his body.
• Emperor Yuanjing assigned Xu Qi'an to investigate Consort Fu’s death, and Xu Qi'an found evidence that she had been pushed and that her personal maid was involved.
• Xu Qi'an questioned palace servants and investigated Huang Xiaorou’s death, linking her survival from a chest wound to medicine obtained outside the Imperial Pharmacy.
• Xu Qi'an suspected the empress had arranged the plot against the crown prince, while Noble Consort Chen urged Emperor Yuanjing to investigate the empress.
• Three assassins attacked Xu Qi'an after he left the palace, but he killed them before collapsing, and Emperor Yuanjing summoned a sudden court assembly.

Xu Qi'an exposed the plots against the empress, earned a noble title and promotion, and returned to the capital’s conflicts as new arrivals and rivalries gathered around him. After dealing with the examination, the Heaven and Human disciples, and a public challenge, he discovered that Miss Rongrong had stolen his Earth Book Fragment.

• Xu Qi'an uncovered that Shangguan Ming had abused Huang Xiaorou and that Noble Consort Chen had framed the empress, while Wei Yuan helped bring the case to a close.
• Emperor Yuanjing executed Shangguan Ming, confined the empress and crown prince, and demoted Noble Consort Chen, while Xu Qi'an received a viscount title and Monk Shenshu warned that the Buddhist Order was coming.
• Xu Qi'an met Zhong Li, learned of her dangerous prophetic misfortune, and was told by the Supervisor that he would not need to leave the capital.
• Li Miaozhen and Lina set out for the capital as Xu Qi'an earned promotion to Silver Gong and learned that Chu Yuanzhen, the Human Sect’s foremost swordsman, had returned.
• Xu Qi'an met Chu Yuanzhen, demonstrated his Heart Sword and saber skills, and learned more about the Gu God and other peoples descended from Gods and Devils.
• Xu Xinnian used Xu Qi'an’s predicted examination prompt and adapted poem in the metropolitan examination, earning praise from the examiners.
• Xu Qi'an escorted Lin'an away from Huaiqing’s guards, then patrolled the southern city and confronted a woman whose purse he had picked up.
• Xu Qi'an defeated a sixth-rank martial artist in the arena, then discovered that Miss Rongrong had stolen his Earth Book Fragment.

Xu Qi'an recovered his Earth Book Fragment, helped Xu Xinnian celebrate his examination triumph, and uncovered the Buddhist Order’s history and plans. He defeated the monks’ trials with the support of Great Feng’s people and the Sage’s Carving Knife, then received a Vermilion-Written Iron Certificate as questions about his Fate remained unresolved.

• Xu Qi'an exposed Ge Xiaojing’s impersonation of Rongrong, recovered his Earth Book Fragment, and imprisoned the thief before releasing Rongrong and replacing her companions’ lost artifact.
• Xu Xinnian became metropolitan champion, and Xu Qi'an comforted Lin'an, gave her a storybook, and visited Huaiqing with another romance.
• Buddhist monks arrived in the capital, and Xu Qi'an learned that Monk Shenshu was the traitor sealed beneath Mulberry Lake through an old agreement between Emperor Wuzong and the Buddhist Order.
• Master Du'e challenged the Chief Astrologer to a contest for the Heavenly Secrets Disc, and Xu Qi'an represented the Directorate of Astronomy against the Buddhist monks.
• Xu Qi'an broke the Eight Sufferings Formation, defeated Jingsi, and persuaded the old monk and Du'e to understand Mahayana Dharma during the third trial.
• Xu Qi'an resisted the Buddha’s manifestation as Great Feng’s people supported him, and the Sage’s Carving Knife flew to him and shattered the Buddhist realm.
• After the capital celebrated Xu Qi'an’s victory, Luo Yuheng learned he had wielded the carving knife, and Zhao Shou told Xu Qi'an it had awakened because its wielder needed great Fate.
• Xu Qi'an obtained a Vermilion-Written Iron Certificate from Emperor Yuanjing, returned home for dinner, and followed Xu Erlang to the study to hear what he had to say.