Martial Universe: Season 1 Episode 1 Recap
> Martial Universe: Season 1 Recap
In ancient times, the Door of Planes connecting the Yi-world and the Human world was opened, allowing Yi-demons to enter and wreak havoc. A formidable warrior known as Fu Zu emerged among humans, harnessing the power of heaven and earth to forge the demon-sealing ancestral talisman, which he used to seal the Yi-demons before his passing. The Door of Planes subsequently closed.
Centuries later, the Yi-demons managed to escape their seal and began searching for the scattered ancestral talismans, intending to reopen the door. To restore peace, humanity also needed to find these talismans and the destined successor capable of controlling them, though their whereabouts remained unknown. In Qingyang Town, Lin Dong, the son of Lin Xiao, prepared for his next fight in the Lei clan's arena.
His father was gravely ill, and Lin Dong was fighting to earn money for his medicine. The arena, owned by the wealthy Lei clan, was overseen by their Second Young Master Lei Li. Entrants paid one hundred yang-yuan stones and could place bets. Lin Dong's opponent was a large, burly man. His sister, Lin Qingtan, passionately cheered him on from the sidelines.
Lin Dong, observing his opponent's "waist injury" and "weak soles," eventually exploited his flaws and defeated him, much to the dismay of many bettors who cried out that they had "all lost!" After the match, Lin Qingtan tearfully pleaded with Lin Dong to stop fighting, but he insisted that "if I win one more round, we'll get triple the reward money. Then, we can buy medicine for our father!"
Meanwhile, Lei Li inquired about Lin Dong, a newcomer who had already won five consecutive rounds. Despite his subordinate's report, Lei Li decided to manipulate the odds, instructing his men to set the payout for Lin Dong's next win at twenty-fold, betting that he would lose. To everyone's shock, Lin Dong's next opponent was a ferocious Fire-Python Tiger. Lin Dong was terrified and tried to flee the arena but was forced back by guards.
Realizing his predicament, Lin Dong shrewdly "negotiated" with the beast, promising it "fresh and delicious forest monsters" if it would pretend to lose. The Fire-Python Tiger seemingly agreed, and after a staged struggle, feigned defeat, allowing Lin Dong to win. Unnoticed by the crowd, the sky subtly displayed unusual phenomena. Furious at the unexpected outcome, Lei Li ordered his subordinates to find Lin Dong and Lin Qingtan. As the siblings headed home, Lin Dong spotted a mysterious woman, exclaiming, "Fairy?"
This woman was Ling Qingzhu of the Ninth Heaven Taiqing Palace. She soon encountered a weeping woman who recounted how her husband had been attacked by an unknown monster while hunting in the mountains, leaving behind only his bloody robes. Ling Qingzhu approached to investigate the scene, appearing to find something significant. At the Ninth Heaven Taiqing Palace, Palace Master Shen Qing received a letter from Ying Xuanzi, the Sect Leader of the Dao Sect.
The letter warned of renewed Yi-demon activity and an impending heavenly calamity, inviting her to the Dao Sect to discuss countermeasures. Shen Qing instructed her apprentice, Su Rou, to fetch Ling Qingzhu to accompany her. However, upon their arrival at the Dao Sect, Su Rou informed Shen Qing that Ling Qingzhu had already descended the mountain, much to Shen Qing's dismay.
Ying Xuanzi had intended to consult with Shen Qing and the three leaders of the Yuan Gate, but their discussion was interrupted by the arrival of Mu Qianqian, a Deacon Elder of the Yuan Gate, who sardonically remarked that the three Yuan Gate teachers "couldn't possibly come whenever you summon them." Mu Qianqian informed them that the three Yuan Gate leaders had already departed for various major dynasties to strategize.
Ying Xuanzi objected to this approach, asserting that exterminating demons was their inherent duty and that the Dao Sect, as the head of the three sects, bore inescapable responsibility. Mu Qianqian scoffed, reminding Ying Xuanzi that his own daughter, Ying Huanhuan, had suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of Ling Qingzhu during the Three Sects' Martial Arts Competition.
Shen Qing quickly interjected, explaining that the Ninth Heaven Taiqing Palace and its allies had long ago sworn an oath to Fu Zu to renounce fame and solely dedicate themselves to protecting the ancestral talisman's successor. Mu Qianqian challenged them, demanding to know the whereabouts of this supposed successor and the demon-sealing ancestral talisman, dismissing the Talismans Guild as an "empty shell" and their protective duties as merely guarding "a myth."
Ying Xuanzi, however, remained resolute, affirming his belief that "there is definitely a successor. The talismans definitely exist, too," and reasoning that "where there is a talisman, there is a demon," as the demons would seek to destroy them. Meanwhile, Ling Qingzhu encountered and drove off an Yi-demon in the barren mountains. Though asleep, Ying Huanhuan remained vexed by her prior defeat to Ling Qingzhu.
Upon waking, she overheard Shen Qing telling Su Rou that Master Yan of the Talismans Guild had gone to Qingyang Town in search of the ancestral talisman, and that Ling Qingzhu had also gone there.
Unwilling to be outdone, Ying Huanhuan impulsively snatched the "Double Ice Daggers"—a powerful treasure Ying Xuanzi had crafted for their senior disciple Wu Dao—and, defying Wu Dao's warnings about the dangers of demon-fighting, descended the mountain herself, declaring she would "never let Ling Qingzhu get ahead of me again!" Wu Dao criticized her for her impulsive actions, low cultivation, and ten years of practice only reaching the Heavenly Yuan Rank, urging her to focus on cultivation.
She even tried to bribe him with a kiss to let her go, but he refused. Ultimately, she ran off, leaving Wu Dao exasperated and helpless to stop her. Back in Qingyang Town, Lin Dong used his hard-won yang-yuan stones to purchase medicine. He had intended to buy the rare Cinnabar Coagulation Fruit for his father, but learning of its extreme rarity and the ten years of cultivation required to produce one, he settled for the best available vulnerary instead.
The pharmacy manager, recognizing the Lei Clan's distinct imprint on the yang-yuan stones, immediately dispatched a subordinate to report Lin Dong's purchase to Lei Li. Upon returning to his clan, Lin Dong was severely chastised by the Clan Chief for provoking the Lei Clan.
The Chief demanded he return the medicines, emphasizing that the Lin Clan, being much smaller, dared not offend the Lei Clan, one of the Four Great Clans of the Great Yan Dynasty, who enjoyed the backing of the Nation Ruler. Other clan members disparaged Lin Dong while praising Lin Langtian, a clan relative now with the Yuan Gate, whose cultivation was believed to be above the Yuan-Pellet Rank.
Lin Dong responded with bitter sarcasm, "The first laugh is because you don't have any guts. The second laugh is because you don't have any experience. The third one is because you don't have any morals and justice." He reminded them that his own father had once been a Yuan-Pellet Rank cultivator, respected by all, only to be scorned and abandoned after being grievously injured.
He revealed that Lin Langtian, whom his father had personally mentored, had maliciously wounded Lin Xiao with an "underhanded trick" during a competition when Lin Xiao had held back. Lin Dong accused the clan of ignoring this transgression and now fawning over Langtian's power while abandoning his father in his time of need. As the argument escalated and the Clan Chief attempted to strike Lin Dong, Lin Xiao intervened, taking responsibility for his son's actions and ushering him away.
On their way home, Lin Xiao chastised Lin Dong for fighting in underground arenas with his still-low cultivation (only 50% of the Cuiti Rank, far from the 90% needed to develop Yuan Energy). He then pressed Lin Dong, asking if he had been recognized by the Lei Clan, to which Lin Dong unconfidently replied, "I don't think they did."
