Martial Universe: Season 1 Episode 11 Recap
> Martial Universe: Season 1 Recap
Lin Langtian arrived outside Qiwu Tower, where Master Yan immediately confronted him, questioning his purpose. Master Yan already knew that the large hole Fire-Python Tiger made in the tower was actually caused by Lin Langtian. Lin Langtian explained that he only wished to protect his younger brother, Lin Dong, and intended to bring him back to Yuan Gate for discipline and character training, as he had been too occupied with capturing demons to guide him before.
Master Yan, however, saw through his pretense, stating that Lin Langtian’s true aim was to acquire the Devouring Ancestral Talisman from Lin Dong to eliminate the Seventh Prince, an Yi-Demon. Lin Langtian countered that Master Yan's desire for Lin Dong to join the Talismans Guild was also due to the Devouring Ancestral Talisman in Lin Dong's possession, and offered an alliance between Yuan Gate and the Talismans Guild against the Yi-Demons.
Master Yan declared that Lin Dong is a person, not an item, with his own choices. He had lured Lin Dong to Qiwu Tower simply to help him cultivate his energy, and Lin Dong's future path would be determined by his own heart and sentiments. Master Yan internally labeled Lin Langtian an "old fox." Meanwhile, Lin Dong, Xiao Diao, and Qingtan regrouped after escaping Qiwu Tower.
Xiao Diao anxiously demanded the Yin Dragon Saliva, only to discover that Fire-Python Tiger had already swallowed it. Qingtan, feeling responsible, consoled the Fire-Python Tiger. Xiao Diao, enraged, insisted on killing Fire-Python Tiger to extract the medicine from its blood. Lin Dong and Qingtan vehemently stopped him, allowing Fire-Python Tiger to escape. Elsewhere, Ying Huanhuan returned to Yan City and learned from Old Fourteenth that Lin Dong had trespassed into Qiwu Tower.
Knowing the dangers of the guild's trap mechanisms and strong enchantments, she rushed to the tower. Xuan Su informed her about the damages Lin Dong caused, to which Ying Huanhuan responded by pledging that the Dao Sect would compensate for all losses. She then left her senior disciple, Wu Dao, to handle the compensation and went to find Lin Dong. Lin Dong and Qingtan eventually found Fire-Python Tiger, who had miraculously transformed into a human.
Fire-Python Tiger, still remorseful for swallowing the "medicine," cut himself, offering his blood to Qingtan to cure her ice toxin. Qingtan, however, refused to drink it, not wanting him to harm himself. Lin Dong also rejected the title of "Master" and told Fire-Python Tiger to call him "Big Brother." Just then, Ying Huanhuan arrived, revealing that Fire-Python Tiger hadn't swallowed Yin Dragon Saliva but a form-transforming pellet.
Xiao Diao, realizing his deception was exposed, tried to flee but ran out of yuan energy and reverted to his original marten form. He confessed that he had been trapped in the stone talisman for over a hundred years and tricked Lin Dong into retrieving the pellet to regain his human form, admitting that there was likely no Yin Dragon Saliva in Qiwu Tower.
To punish Xiao Diao for his deceit, Lin Dong sold him to a profiteer for fifty yang yuan-stones, confident that the cage couldn't hold Xiao Diao, who was bound to the stone talisman and would eventually return. Lin Dong also justified his action by noting the merchant's naturally unscrupulous nature.
Lin Dong then returned the yang yuan-stones to Ying Huanhuan, explaining it was to repay his debt for the Qiwu Tower damages, and declared his intention to part ways with her. He refused to return to the Dao Sect, citing his poverty and having offended Qiwu Tower, and asked why she continued to follow him. Ying Huanhuan playfully denied following him, stating they were merely coincidentally in the same place and she was "happy" to be there.
Lin Dong, however, stated he was "not." Their conversation was interrupted by sounds from the inn, where Fire-Python Tiger, in his human form, was attempting to snatch a chicken. Wu Dao intervened, mistakenly thinking Lin Yan was attacking a person. Ying Huanhuan clarified to Wu Dao that Fire-Python Tiger, having transformed from a monster, naturally craved raw meat and was only eating a chicken. Wu Dao urged Ying Huanhuan to return to the Dao Sect, but she stubbornly refused.
Lin Dong then mockingly called her a "tigress," further irritating her. Ying Huanhuan then pointed out a peculiarity to Lin Dong: Fire-Python Tiger, whose cultivation was only at the Heavenly Yuan Rank, couldn't have broken through Qiwu Tower's enchantment, which required at least Yuan-Pellet Rank cultivation. This meant someone else had helped him. Fire-Python Tiger confirmed he smelled that person's scent before, specifically in Lin Dong's house. At that moment, Lin Langtian arrived at the inn.
Lin Dong, irritated, tried to force him to leave. Lin Langtian insisted on speaking, revealing that Master Yan had been at Qiwu Tower last night and deliberately allowed Lin Dong to destroy treasures, intending to make Lin Dong owe him a favor. Lin Dong questioned if Lin Langtian had been helping or harming him by making the hole in the tower.
Lin Langtian then tried to convince Lin Dong that the outside world was dangerous and he couldn't navigate it alone, urging him to return to Yuan Gate for Qingtan's sake. Lin Dong vehemently refused, stating he would rather die than return to Yuan Gate with him. Ying Huanhuan tried one last time to persuade Lin Dong to return to Dao Sect with her, but he declared he wouldn't say another word to her and went to find Qingtan.
Qingtan was teaching Fire-Python Tiger how to eat proper human food. Lin Dong decided to give Fire-Python Tiger a human name, calling him "Xiao Yan" (Little Flame) due to his fiery scales, and bestowed upon him the surname Lin, making his full name Lin Yan. He then expressed his hope for Lin Dong, Lin Qingtan, and Lin Yan to live well as a family. Ying Huanhuan, witnessing their familial bond, felt annoyed.
Wu Dao, still present, once again tried to persuade Ying Huanhuan to return to the Dao Sect, but she dismissed him, calling him annoying. Lin Langtian later reported to Mu Qianqian that Lin Dong refused to return to Yuan Gate. He outlined his plan to subtly help Lin Dong join the Talismans Guild to gather intelligence and locate other ancestral talismans. Mu Qianqian acknowledged his thorough thinking, noting his underlying selfish motives.
She also revealed her awareness of Qingtan's strange ability, suggesting it could be a valuable weapon against the Yi-Demons. Lin Langtian, however, asked Mu Qianqian not to interfere in his private affairs, promising to secure the ancestral talisman himself. Mu Qianqian then met with the Demon Emperor, confessing her error in underestimating humans and her surprise at Lin Langtian's protective stance towards Lin Dong.
The Demon Emperor explained that humans are fickle; to unite them, one must create a common enemy, and to sow discord, one must offer benefits. He concluded that humans, despite their complexity, were ultimately just a "flock of lambs" to be manipulated. Back at Qiwu Tower, Xuan Su assured Master Yan that Lin Dong would not return, but Master Yan remained confident that Lin Dong would, trusting his judgment.
Master Yan then penned a letter to Palace Master Shen Qing of the Ninth Heaven Taiqing Palace. He informed her that he had found the successor to the ancestral talisman, Lin Dong, but noted Lin Dong's inexperience and pure temperament. Given the urgent situation with the reappearance of Yi-Demons, Master Yan requested Taiqing Palace to swiftly select a Talisman Envoy to descend the mountain, assist the Talismans Guild, and test Lin Dong.
Reading the formal letter, Palace Master Shen Qing complained about Master Yan's impersonal nature. Su Rou, her disciple, learned that the Talismans Guild had indeed found a successor and required a Talisman Envoy from their sect. Palace Master Shen Qing explained to Su Rou that the Talisman Envoy would hold a status second only to the Palace Master herself.
The key to identifying the envoy was the Natal Spiritual Charm left by Fu Zu, currently hidden within the cyan lotus in the sacrificial altar. Whoever could most quickly break through the altar's enchantment and cause the cyan lotus to bloom would become the Talisman Envoy and immediately be sent down the mountain.
Shen Qing announced that all disciples of Heavenly Yuan Rank and above could participate in the selection in a few days, expressing her confidence that Su Rou was the best candidate for the role. Su Rou mentioned Junior Qingzhu, but Shen Qing dismissed the idea of informing her, stating that the Talisman Envoy must prioritize "guard" and that Ling Qingzhu harbored too many distracting thoughts, making her unsuitable for such a crucial duty.
Shen Qing privately mused about her plan to make full use of two talismans. Despite Shen Qing's efforts to keep her uninformed, Ling Qingzhu, having recently achieved the Yuan-Pellet Rank after arduous cultivation, learned of the Talisman Envoy selection upon leaving her secluded training. She immediately rushed to the sacrificial altar, ignoring her mother Ling Susu's attempts to stop her. By the time Ling Qingzhu arrived, many disciples had already fallen, with only Su Rou remaining persistent in the challenge.
Ling Qingzhu entered the enchantment, much to Shen Qing's disapproval, who reminded her of her confinement. Ling Qingzhu asserted her right as a disciple to participate and her duty to resist the Yi-Demons. Disciples were astonished by Ling Qingzhu's rapid advancement to the Yuan-Pellet Rank. She engaged Su Rou in a fierce competition and ultimately succeeded in blooming the cyan lotus.
Palace Master Shen Qing arrived at the scene and, with no other choice, reluctantly instructed Su Rou to prepare for the newly appointed Talisman Envoy's ceremony to descend the mountain. As Shen Qing turned to leave, a faint smile played on her lips.
