Recaps

Kang Dabao led the Chongming Sect through the prefecture court’s campaign against the Clear Cloud Alliance, suffering heavy losses before escaping. After the court judged his actions and rewarded him, he set out for the Chongming Sect with new authority and resources.

• Daoist Black Shoes and Kang Dabao killed the Green-Skinned Vermilion Toad, discovered a Spirit Vein beneath its pool, and arranged for the Xue Household to move.
• Kang Dabao warned the Chongming Sect that the Earl of Nan'an planned to retake Cloud Horn Prefecture, then prepared its forces for the campaign.
• At Jia-Xu Hill, Kang Dabao’s defenders fought the Clear Cloud Alliance until their formation broke and the Chongming Sect retreated under pursuit.
• Kang Dabao, Jiang Qing, and Ye Zhengwen defeated the Lin Household pursuer, but Fire Dragon Daoist attacked them, and Kang Dabao later turned back to help him fight the red-faced cultivator.
• Han Yundao killed Ninth Uncle with a Flame Sword Net, but an old swordsman recognized his technique and killed him.
• Kang Dabao learned that Han Yundao had died and that Jiang Qing’s severed arm could not be restored, while Daoist Black Shoes urged him to continue as sect leader.
• Kuang Liuting heard Kang Dabao’s account of the campaign, judged his merit greater than his fault, and ordered aid for the Chongming Sect.
• Sima Fei delivered Kuang Liuting’s decree awarding Kang Dabao treasures, artifacts, cultivation methods, a spirit mine, and the magistrate post in Pingrong County, then Kang Dabao departed for the Chongming Sect.

Kang Dabao guided the Chongming Sect through Han Yundao’s death, Jiang Qing’s Foundation Establishment, and the sect’s growing influence before achieving Foundation Establishment himself. The arc left the sect preparing to pacify Mi Household Stockade and sending Duan Anle and Ming Zhe toward Changyun County, while Pei Yi withdrew under the weight of his resentment.

• Jiang Qing awakened and mourned Han Yundao’s death with Kang Dabao and Pei Yi, while the sect began rebuilding and honoring Han Yundao’s legacy.
• Kang Dabao accepted a replacement spirit vein, took in Ming Zhe after Second Master Ming entrusted him with the boy’s future, and traveled to Han City seeking resources to help Jiang Qing.
• Jiang Qing entered seclusion and successfully established an Ice Leaf Dao Foundation, becoming the Chongming Sect’s first Foundation Establishment cultivator in 206 years.
• At Jiang Qing’s ceremony, he refused Li Yun’s offer to become his disciple, and Commander Tie agreed to spare the Ming Household from its ties to the Huo Household’s remnants.
• Kang Dabao studied Wood techniques with Lang Yi for two years, returned to the sect, and later achieved Foundation Establishment after forming a jade Dao lotus.
• Kang Dabao ordered Mi Household Stockade’s messengers to return with their leader for a personal apology, then reviewed the sect’s recruitment and replaced Niu Kuang with He Yuanbing as Chongming City’s guardian.
• Kang Dabao, Jiang Qing, and Shan Sheng enlisted Ma Wenhan’s help to pacify Mi Household Stockade, while the Mi chief prepared to resist and negotiate.
• Duan Anle and Ming Zhe prepared to leave for Changyun County, and Pei Yi withdrew to meditate after learning that Madam Huo was pregnant and that the sect had arranged a protective spirit pill for her.

Kang Dabao strengthened the Chongming Sect and the New Cloud Alliance as conflict with the Changning Sect drew near. Infiltrators reached the Cold Crow Mountain Range, and Kang Dabao mobilized border defenses while arranging punishment for the captured attackers.

• Kang Dabao led the Chongming Sect’s assault on Mi Household Stockade, defeated its defenders, secured supplies, and rejected a marriage alliance with the Ma Household.
• Kang Dabao returned to the sect, where He Wanying came back after decades away, and learned that the Changning Sect planned to weaken the Chongming Sect.
• Kang Dabao negotiated the New Cloud Alliance’s Spirit Stone mine shares, then helped the alliance expose Chen Ye as Shen Baiyue’s killer and strike a Changning Sect party.
• Kang Dabao prepared the Chongming Sect for war by organizing resources, fortifications, recruits, and support from the Fei Household, while the Changning Sect agreed to attack within three months.
• Jiang Qing rescued Gun Yuyao from bandits, while Kang Dabao learned from Lord Yin Shan that Chen Ye’s evil foundation method threatened cultivators and ordinary people.
• Kang Dabao investigated starving conditions in Pingrong County as Changning Sect forces with refined corpses advanced toward Old Ox Mountain.
• Sun Fu and Li Bing encountered Changning Sect attackers, and Chu Huer, Niu Kuang, and Kang Rongquan arrived in time to capture one of them after the others fled.
• Kang Dabao approved Sun Fu’s execution of the captive to avenge Li Bing, sent other prisoners to the prefectural army, and ordered Mo Wen to reinforce the border stockades with Enlisted Army Talismans.

Kang Dabao helped the New Cloud Alliance break the Changning Sect’s defenses, then negotiated the aftermath and took charge of governing Pingrong County. After two years of cultivation, he returned to find Fei Shuhe enforcing discipline and soon reconciled with her.

• Kang Dabao and the New Cloud Alliance fought the Changning Sect across several fronts, and Kang Dabao killed a Foundation Establishment opponent with the Ink Abyss Flag and Lion Insects.
• The alliance used two Formation-Breaking Pearls to collapse the Eight Desolations Fire Dragon Formation and capture Old Ox Mountain, but the False Core cultivator Yuan Buwen intervened to challenge the alliance and protect the Jingnan Yuan Household’s interests.
• Yuan Buwen and Yue Lin agreed that the Changning Sect would withdraw from Old Ox Mountain and the Jingnan Yuan Household would leave White Sand County, while Daoist Black Shoes killed Chen Ye.
• Kang Dabao mourned Chu Huer, clashed with Ye Zhen over prisoners and the cost of the pearls, then divided spoils and county revenues after Yue Feng secured a reward for the alliance.
• Kang Dabao learned that the Yue Household wanted Daoist Black Shoes to marry into the family, but Black Shoes refused and chose to test Kang Dabao for a dangerous journey ahead.
• Kang Dabao took responsibility for Pingrong County, ordered bandit suppression and household registration, executed more than twenty cultivators, redistributed their property, and established rules for local households.
• After two years studying the Northern Night Palace Primordial Ancient Body True Explanation, Kang Dabao returned to find Fei Shuhe had punished the Green Lotus Courtyard guards and arranged the exile of the Illusory Sword Alliance grand elder.
• Fei Shuhe confronted Kang Dabao over visiting Lady Huo, but accepted his explanation and made up with him.