Dance of the Sky Empire Episode 27 Recap
> Dance of the Sky Empire Recap
Li Xuan, deeply distraught, grappled with the realization that Ziji, the man he respected most, was actually his enemy. His mind replayed vivid memories: Ziji’s stern lessons, his protective warnings to stay away from a dangerous surge of spiritual power, their squabbles over ruined wine, his tender care with medicine for a bruised face, and Li Xuan’s own question about why Ziji had chosen him, wondering if it was to atone for a past wrong.
In his grief, Li Xuan repeatedly acknowledged his Kunwu clan heritage. As he stood exposed and miserable in the rain, Su Youlian joined him, offering silent support. Meanwhile, Yu Fengmu, weakened since the loss of the Saintess Stone, was nearing his end. Before her departure for Tianqi, Su Youlian sought to bid him farewell and express her gratitude.
However, Batou, acting on Yu Fengmu’s specific instructions, intercepted her, brusquely telling her Prince Mu did not wish to see guests and urging her to leave and never meet him again. Though Su Youlian inquired if something was wrong, Batou insisted Prince Mu simply didn't want to see her. Once Batou confirmed Su Youlian had left the city, bringing relief to the ailing prince, Yu Fengmu, uttering Su Youlian’s name, closed his eyes for the last time.
As Li Xuan and Su Youlian journeyed back to Qingtian City, Li Xuan mused that with his true identity known, he no longer had any reason to prevent Su Youlian from saving the Dragon Emperor. He felt foolish for having been manipulated by Ziji into believing the Kunwu clan was evil, now understanding that Ziji was the true villain. Thirty li from the city, Long Wei'er appeared, playfully greeting Li Xuan.
She was accompanied by Cui Pianran, Feng Changqing, and Bian Lingcheng, who brought grim news. Cui Pianran warned Li Xuan away from Su Youlian, whom she blamed for their classmates' deaths, but Li Xuan defended her, revealing the true perpetrator was the Dragon Emperor's demon spirit, which was controlling Xiao Fengming as a puppet. They disclosed that the demon spirit had incited the Crown Prince to usurp the throne.
Though the Crown Prince was now called His Majesty, the demon spirit held the real power. Qingtian City had descended into chaos, with countless civilians murdered and all dissenting ministers eliminated. Moyun Academy lay in ruins, and Ziji was imprisoned there. They explained that Ziji, his power greatly depleted from sealing the Dragon Emperor, had fought the demon spirit alone but was ultimately overpowered and captured.
Before this, Ziji had foreseen the great changes and urged them to flee while he remained to defend the Academy. Back at the ruined Moyun Academy, Li Xuan found Ziji imprisoned. Supported by his companions, Li Xuan bitterly confronted him, accusing Ziji of years of lies and of erasing his memory concerning his mother to hide the truth.
Ziji, stunned that Li Xuan had recovered his memories, admitted that Li Xuan's mother had indeed died by his hand—a mistake made when she intercepted the final blow meant to seal the Dragon Emperor using Kunwu royal blood. Ziji justified his actions as being for the greater good of the Human Clan, asserting that the Human and Kunwu clans were destined for conflict.
Li Xuan vehemently refuted this, accusing Ziji of narrow-mindedness and fear of the Kunwu clan's power, which led to the deaths of countless people and the current chaos in Qingtian City. With nothing left to say, Ziji offered himself for Li Xuan's revenge. Li Xuan, his hand around Ziji's throat, recalled shared moments of care and found himself unable to strike the fatal blow.
While Su Youlian retrieved the first-place token from the sleeping quarters as instructed, the demon spirit appeared. Recognizing it wasn't Xiao Fengming, Su Youlian confronted the entity, which revealed its contempt for its host, calling him "rubbish." After insulting Su Youlian, the demon spirit snatched the Saintess Stone from her hands. Li Xuan swiftly intervened, fighting the demon spirit and reclaiming the stone.
When Cui Pianran, Feng Changqing, and Bian Lingcheng arrived to help, the demon spirit dismissed their combined strength as "over-confident." The group then joined forces, initiating a formation to combat the powerful entity. Simultaneously, a swift coup was underway at the palace. An alarmed servant reported to the Crown Prince that the Second Prince’s forces were storming the palace. The Crown Prince frantically sought Xiao Fengming, only to learn he had likely fled.
As rebel forces surrounded the palace, Long Wei'er confronted the Crown Prince. Amidst her accusations of rebellion, he desperately offered to relinquish the throne. Long Wei'er denounced his treachery for forcing their father to abdicate, refused his pleas for mercy, and ordered him to be confined permanently. Subsequently, it was reported that the original Emperor had been found, having been imprisoned in the cold palace.
