Dance of the Sky Empire Episode 20 Recap
> Dance of the Sky Empire Recap
Li Xuan awoke in the wine shop, startled to find he was holding the waiter’s hand, and quickly realized his encounter with Su Youlian the previous night might have been a dream. Meanwhile, Su Youlian struggled with her conscience, reminding herself that her Kunwu clan's mission was too important to let her feelings for Li Xuan interfere.
To ensure he could act undisturbed, Li Xuan arranged for a messenger to falsely report to Lord Zi that he was in danger, luring his master away from the academy. He then proceeded to the desolate Dragon Secret Realm, believing that pulling the nation-protecting master's sword would reveal the truth about his mother. Long Wei'er, who had followed him, warned him that he was being manipulated and suspected Su Youlian had bribed the informant Bai Xiaosheng.
However, Li Xuan dismissed her concerns, asserting his unwavering trust in Su Youlian. After he pulled the sword, Su Youlian appeared, revealing her identity as the 20th Saintess of the Kunwu clan. She confessed to orchestrating the entire deception, confirming there was no information about his mother. As Li Xuan reeled from the betrayal, Long Wei'er berated Su Youlian for using him to break the seal. Pained, Su Youlian claimed she had no choice.
Suddenly, the sword spirit, imbued with its own hatred, acted against Su Youlian’s will and impaled Li Xuan. As he fell, Long Wei'er revealed to a horrified Su Youlian that Li Xuan had previously traded his self-healing ability to save her from the Bloody Icebound Ward. Ziji arrived to the chaotic scene and immediately engaged Su Youlian in combat.
As Su Youlian used her Saintess Stone to fully unseal the Dragon Emperor, Li Xuan used his remaining strength to shatter the stone, destroying the Kunwu's last hope. Distraught and distracted, Su Youlian was struck down by Ziji. Li Xuan pleaded with his master not to kill her. Just as Ziji prepared for a final blow, Prince Yu Fengmu intervened and rescued Su Youlian.
With the Dragon Emperor's seal dangerously loosened, Ziji used Li Xuan’s blood to temporarily reinforce the Moon-fall Formation. Elsewhere, the Dragon Emperor's Demon Spirit awakened inside Xiao Fengming. Now in control, it brutally killed two students. Princess Yunshan witnessed the murders and screamed in horror. The Demon Spirit intended to kill her as well but was thwarted by Xiao Fengming's residual consciousness, which was still driven by his love for her.
The spirit then fully suppressed Xiao Fengming's mind, declaring his body its own. A terrified Yunshan fled and ran into Bian Lingcheng, muttering about murder but unable to implicate the boy she believed innocent. Yu Fengmu escorted Su Youlian away from the academy, urging her to flee. Meanwhile, a Mentor-in-Chief examined the bodies and concluded the wounds pointed to a Kunwu attacker, while Cui Pianran publicly accused Su Youlian of the massacre.
Consumed by guilt, Li Xuan blamed himself for the deaths, and his heartbreak turned to bitter resentment over Su Youlian's ruthless betrayal. Lord Zi, learning of the tragedy, ordered the city gates locked and a full-scale search for Su Youlian. He was also informed that Princess Yunshan, Prince Yu Fengmu, and Xiao Fengming were missing. While confident the royals could protect themselves, Lord Zi expressed grave concern for the vulnerable Xiao Fengming and dispatched search parties.
