Martial Universe: Season 1 Episode 17 Recap
> Martial Universe: Season 1 Recap
Ying Huanhuan observed Lin Dong's training, grumbling about Ling Qingzhu's absence despite her role as a Talisman Envoy. She soon found Ling Qingzhu cultivating alone, noting her yuan energy was extremely unstable, a surprising condition for someone already at the Yuan-Pellet Rank.
Su Rou appeared as an ethereal form to check on Ling Qingzhu, who confessed that while she had instilled the Natal Spiritual Charm into the ancestral talisman successor as Master Yan commanded, she worried Lin Dong might not be capable of bearing such a heavy responsibility. Su Rou detected Ling Qingzhu's fragility. Ling Qingzhu then revealed that her pellet had shattered, and her rank decreased while protecting the successor.
Su Rou scolded her for such carelessness, warning that once a rank is demoted, it could be impossible to recover. Ling Qingzhu's immediate concern was her mother's fate if she were to lose her standing in Taiqing Palace. She implored Su Rou to keep her condition a secret for a while longer while she sought a solution.
Su Rou reassured her, advising her not to worry too much and reminding her that some who suffered a rank demotion had managed to recongeal their yuan-pellets. She promised to look after Ling Qingzhu's mother. Later, Su Rou encountered Shen Qing and disclosed Ling Qingzhu's critical state to the Palace Master. Shen Qing, regardless of whether the successor was useless, declared that a Talisman Envoy's duty was to protect the successor with all their might.
Since Ling Qingzhu had failed in this, she must relinquish her position as Talisman Envoy. Ling Qingzhu fainted while trying to cultivate. Ying Huanhuan, who had been observing, tended to her injuries. She urged Ling Qingzhu to stop pushing herself and return to Taiqing Palace to devise a plan. Ling Qingzhu, however, insisted on upholding her duty, stating she could not leave Lin Dong vulnerable.
Huanhuan, having already cleared Ling Qingzhu's obstructed vital channels, advised her to get medicine from Master Yan and to not dwell on the shattered yuan-pellet, as it could be reformed. Ling Qingzhu thanked her, but Huanhuan clarified she was primarily helping Lin Dong, her "friend in tribulations," and didn't want to see Ling Qingzhu become useless. Meanwhile, Lin Langtian continued to spar with Lin Dong, always emerging victorious.
Xiao Yan then announced the arrival of "Tigress," which turned out to be Palace Master Shen Qing at the Oddity Tower. Shen Qing sternly chastised Ling Qingzhu for her diminished cultivation and ordered her immediate return to Taiqing Palace. Lin Dong tried to intercede, but Shen Qing silenced him, asserting that Ling Qingzhu had no valid reason to remain. Ying Huanhuan confronted Shen Qing, accusing her of being unreasonable by scolding her injured disciple instead of treating her.
Shen Qing countered that Taiqing Palace disciples are committed to protecting the ancestral talisman successor, and if Ling Qingzhu remained, she couldn't guarantee Lin Dong's safety. Ying Huanhuan boldly declared she would take responsibility, unafraid. Ling Qingzhu intervened, telling Huanhuan to stop interfering. Yan Shi then tried to persuade Ling Qingzhu to return with her Master due to the seriousness of a shattered pellet.
But Ling Qingzhu adamantly refused, instead asking Shen Qing for three days to attempt to fix her yuan-pellet, promising to accept any punishment if she failed. Yan Shi angrily berated Shen Qing for her unchanged "horrible temper," to which Shen Qing retorted he was no different. Noticing the rain, Lin Dong rushed to the rooftop to console Ling Qingzhu and apologize.
Ling Qingzhu, however, told him she would no longer be able to protect him and that their journey together had reached its end, then swiftly departed, leaving Lin Dong alone. Ying Huanhuan found Lin Dong sitting forlornly on the rooftop. Lin Dong complained that she had known about Ling Qingzhu's situation but kept it from him. Huanhuan admitted to her deliberate secrecy, fearing Lin Dong would give Ling Qingzhu the Nirvana Heart if he knew.
Lin Dong then asked to borrow Huanhuan's Heart Wrapping Mirror, explaining he needed to prove to Ling Qingzhu that their journey wasn't truly over. Huanhuan initially resisted, questioning his blind faith in Ling Qingzhu's intentions, but eventually gave him the mirror, warning him it could only show reflections of him and her. Lin Dong was left feeling rather foolish. Shen Qing visited Yan Shi, feigning concern for his old injury.
Yan Shi, claiming he had mostly recovered, dismissed her concern about his wound, attributing it to minor skirmishes. Shen Qing offered the full support of the Ninth Heaven Taiqing Palace if he needed it. Yan Shi, however, urged her to focus on Ling Qingzhu's recuperation. Shen Qing argued that Ling Qingzhu was no longer capable of protecting Lin Dong.
Yan Shi countered that a Talisman Envoy sometimes protects the heart, not just the body, and stressed the importance of the older generation learning to let go. Xuan Su entered, briefly interrupting the conversation. Shen Qing then asked Xuan Su to care for Yan Shi before she left. Xuan Su, witnessing the lingering intimacy, questioned their interaction, to which Yan Shi cryptically replied about their respective responsibilities to Taiqing Palace and the Talisman Guild, then claimed he was tired.
Xiao Diao, having finally escaped the Devour Talisman and returned, found Lin Dong still unhappy and correctly deduced that Ling Qingzhu was avoiding him. Lin Dong recounted Ling Qingzhu's words about no longer protecting him. Xiao Diao, recalling Shen Qing's strict definition of a Talisman Envoy's duty, then joked about his own demotion in rank.
Lin Dong admitted his guilt over Ling Qingzhu's suffering for him, but Xiao Diao reminded him that as the current Talisman Guild Chief, he must find a way to help her, unlike his father who struggled for decades after his own rank demotion. Lin Dong, looking at the Nirvana Heart, resolved to give it to Ling Qingzhu. Meanwhile, Ling Qingzhu continued her solitary practice in the forest.
Shen Qing and Su Rou watched from afar, with Shen Qing stating that this was Ling Qingzhu's destiny, and if she was truly a Talisman Envoy, a turning point would appear. Su Rou worried about Ling Qingzhu harming herself, but Shen Qing remained unmoved, noting it was "just three days." Lin Dong, embracing his "rascal" persona, found Ling Qingzhu in the forest and, despite her protests, transported her to the Oddity Tower rooftop.
When Ling Qingzhu questioned his intentions, he cheekily replied, "What else can we do?" and then asserted that as the successor, she must obey him, the Talisman Envoy. He presented her with the Nirvana Heart. Ling Qingzhu vehemently refused, knowing its importance for his success in the Tower Competition and stating she didn't want his sympathy. Lin Dong threatened to orally administer it if she didn't comply, even referencing Elder Nirvana's "Duo Cultivation."
Ling Qingzhu exclaimed for him to stop fooling around. Lin Dong then forcefully injected the Nirvana Heart into her body and helped her cultivate, restoring her yuan-pellet. However, Ling Qingzhu accused Lin Dong of causing her immense trouble, declaring she would rather die than accept such "kindness," and that his actions disrespected both the Talisman Guild and Taiqing Palace.
Lin Dong, however, insisted his only desire was for her to live, as she was among the family and friends he vowed to protect through martial arts. He warned her that further protest would lead to more "foolish" acts, asserting his stubbornness. He then used the Heart Wrapping Mirror, claiming it showed they were "destined to be together" and would "accompany each other in the future," adding that he was afraid she would die.
Ling Qingzhu, in turn, told him, "If you're afraid of me dying, then just protect me forever." Shortly after, Yan Shi arrived on the rooftop, confirming that Ling Qingzhu's cultivation had surpassed her previous level, acknowledging the Nirvana Heart's power. Ying Huanhuan scolded Lin Dong for carelessly giving away the Nirvana Heart, questioning how he would now manage the Tower Competition without it, as advancing in rank would normally take years.
Lin Dong, unfazed, claimed he would rely on his wits and even resort to a fistfight, confidently asserting that Yan Shi would have a plan. Yan Shi, however, angrily retorted that he had no more ideas. Shen Qing also ascended, accusing Ling Qingzhu of excessive selfishness for accepting the successor's treasure.
As Ling Qingzhu began to defend herself, Lin Dong interrupted, stating he had forced the Nirvana Heart upon her because he wanted her, and only her, as his Talisman Envoy, even threatening to quit as successor if she were replaced. Shen Qing, exasperated, questioned Yan Shi about the kind of disciple he had raised. Yan Shi then asked Shen Qing to leave, promising the Talisman Guild would handle the situation, as Ling Qingzhu had recovered and Lin Dong had erred.
He then sternly instructed Ling Qingzhu to obey his commands, warning that if she lost the Tower Competition, she should not expect to return to Taiqing Palace. Turning to Lin Dong, Yan Shi furiously declared him too willful, lacking foresight, and disregarding the lives of the Talisman Guild members. He stripped Lin Dong of his position as Guild Chief and ordered him to leave Yan City immediately. Lin Dong desperately pleaded with Yan Shi, but his pleas were ignored.
Xiao Diao, observing the dramatic scene, mused that while the Talisman Guild obtained the Heart of Nirvana, becoming like a tiger with wings, and Lin Dong's cultivation would surely greatly improve and be a threat, he pondered how Lin Dong would ever gain the Devour Talisman's recognition now. He concluded that the inevitable Tower Competition must be faced with an unwavering spirit.
