Martial Universe: Season 1 Episode 19 Recap
> Martial Universe: Season 1 Recap
Lin Dong finished reciting the Divine Movement Record, and the Talisman Guru Tower officially rose. Mu Qianqian, observing from afar, remarked that the mutual slaughter had finally begun. Inside, the tower, the structure was formed from the annual mental energy of past leaders, with difficulty increasing on each floor. The Ancestral Stone, representing a Talisman Guru's highest identity, lay at the very top.
Teng Lei was the first to rush in, but Lin Dong, Xuan Su, and other Talisman Guild disciples quickly followed. Upon entering, Lin Dong provoked Teng Lei, suggesting he had no manners for ambushing opponents before the competition even began. Teng Sha, Teng Lei's father, retorted that Lin Dong, as an outsider, shouldn't interfere, but Lin Dong continued to taunt Teng Lei about his rushed personality.
Lin Dong then instructed Xiao Yan to keep a close watch on the Yin Puppet Sect members to prevent any dirty tricks. Inside the tower, Teng Lei immediately caused trouble for Lin Dong, and a fierce fight ensued. Lin Dong accused Teng Lei of being a sinister, petty man for using live human beings to create puppets and declared him unworthy of being a Talisman Guru. Teng Lei, unfazed, told Lin Dong to rethink his words from hell.
Teng Sha, observing from outside, commented to Yan Shi about his men but Yan Shi simply said they only listened to Lin Dong. Teng Sha then threatened to teach Yan Shi a lesson once Teng Lei returned with the Ancestral Stone. Xuan Su, feeling Lin Dong's previous words had proven true about hurried individuals stumbling, was reassured.
Yan Shi then revealed to Xuan Su their past agreement with the Yin Puppet Sect: if the Talisman Guild won this time, they would join forces to exterminate the Yi-Demons; if they lost, the Talisman Guild would merge with the Yin Puppet Sect, and Yan Shi would retire, effectively dissolving the Talisman Guild. As the fight escalated, Lin Dong and his companions were surrounded by disciples, now controlled by malevolent forces.
Lin Dong, unaware of the Yi-Demons' true involvement, believed Teng Lei was responsible for turning the living into puppets. Ying Huanhuan, desperate to help Lin Dong, tried to enter the tower but was stopped. She questioned Ling Qingzhu, who was also outside, asking why the Talisman Envoy wasn't helping Lin Dong, who was on the verge of death. Ling Qingzhu explained that she couldn't enter, nor could Ying Huanhuan, because Lin Dong "cannot lose."
Ying Huanhuan, frustrated, accused them of only caring about winning or losing, not Lin Dong's life. Yan Shi, however, reminded everyone that Lin Dong had nine lives. Ying Huanhuan, undeterred, threatened to destroy the tower piece by piece if Lin Dong died. Lin Dong utilized a sleeve arrow to reach Teng Lei and knock him down.
However, Teng Lei, using the live human puppets Mu Qianqian had provided, quickly re-engaged Lin Dong and advanced further up the tower, knocking Xuan Su down the tower in the process. At this critical moment, Ling Qingzhu rushed into the tower. Teng Sha immediately questioned her entry, citing it as a violation of rules, but Yan Shi clarified that Teng Lei had broken the rules first by injuring a Talisman Guild disciple.
He further explained that Ling Qingzhu, as the Talisman Envoy, was duty-bound to protect the ancestral talisman successor, making her entry permissible. Ying Huanhuan, witnessing Ling Qingzhu's entry, grew even more frustrated about being prevented from going in. Both Teng Lei and Lin Dong ascended to the highest floor. During their intense struggle, Teng Lei managed to knock Lin Dong's Dragon Halberd down the tower. At this point, Yan Shi announced that the Gates of Heaven were about to open.
Lin Dong swiftly subdued Teng Lei and successfully retrieved the Devour Ancestral Talisman. Just as Lin Dong had Teng Lei in his grasp, Ling Qingzhu appeared and struck Teng Lei down. Lin Dong was then prompted by Ling Qingzhu to quickly retrieve the Ancestral Stone, and he remarked that they made a good pair of hero and beautiful lady at the tower's peak.
Down below, the Talisman Guild disciples breathed a sigh of relief, but Ying Huanhuan urgently told Yan Shi that Teng Lei had re-ascended. Lin Dong, moments from grabbing the Ancestral Stone, was suddenly kicked down by Teng Lei. The Ancestral Stone fell back onto the tower's peak, and Teng Lei snatched it. Seeing Lin Dong fall, Ling Qingzhu, without hesitation, jumped down after him.
Outside the tower, everyone was disheartened by the turn of events, especially Lin Dong, who was deeply self-reproachful. He attempted to re-enter, but the Tower Guardian blocked his path. Teng Lei then descended, reporting to Teng Sha that the astral wind at the tower's peak was like blades, and he, too, had failed to secure the Ancestral Stone. Teng Sha declared the competition a draw for the year and left with the Yin Puppet Sect, vowing to return next year.
Yan Shi comforted Lin Dong, reassuring him that his safety was paramount and admitting his own hastiness. He then led the remaining disciples away, leaving Lin Dong alone to process his feelings. Back at the Marvelous Objects Building, Yan Shi lamented that the Talisman Tower would, once again, disappear without yielding the Ancestral Stone.
Xuan Su questioned if staking everything on Lin Dong was too risky, but Yan Shi countered that with the Yi-Demons nearing, taking risks was their only chance for survival. He believed that from great chaos, great order would emerge. Meanwhile, Teng Lei, stopped by his father, insisted they couldn't simply leave. He revealed that Mu Qianqian had told him there was a spiritual map at the tower's peak, showing the location of the next Ancestral Talisman.
Since he already possessed the Devour Talisman, this was their last opportunity, as the tower would sink in two days. Teng Sha reminded him of the ancestral law against re-entering, but Teng Lei argued that such laws were made by humans. Lin Dong remained desolate on the Marvelous Objects Building's rooftop. Xiao Yan tried to comfort him, but Lin Dong claimed he wasn't upset, only suffocated by his inability to fully utilize his energy in the tower.
He spoke of the emptiness that came from unfulfilled potential, even joking morbidly about why Xiao Yan didn't consider getting another brother. Ling Qingzhu, observing Lin Dong's despair, told Ying Huanhuan that he couldn't continue in such a state, or he would be ruined. She approached Lin Dong, who was crying, reflecting on the disciples who died in the tower and his powerlessness to save them.
Ling Qingzhu reassured him that the loss in the Tower Competition wasn't entirely his fault, as even Master Yan had never reached the top. However, she emphasized that Yan Shi's choice of him was akin to Fu Zu's, and only he, despite the numerous hardships and dangers, could ultimately defeat the Yi-Demons and control the situation by acquiring the Ancestral Stone, a rule set by Fu Zu.
Lin Dong, though still in pain, questioned if he truly could defeat the Yi-Demons. Just then, Ling Qingzhu sensed an intrusion at the Talisman Guru Tower. Mu Qianqian had forcibly entered the tower, killing the Tower Guardian. By the time Yan Shi and the Talisman Guild arrived, Teng Sha and the Yin Puppet Sect had also appeared, with Teng Sha falsely accusing Yan Shi of the murder.
Yan Shi, recognizing the method of death, stated that only Yi-Demons could kill in such a way, and warned that one was nearby. Teng Sha, however, dismissed his words and insisted that the two sects would settle their differences by fighting. As the battle outside intensified, Lin Dong arrived, reaffirming his desire to re-enter the tower.
Yan Shi, agreeing, sent Lin Dong and Ling Qingzhu back inside while he, Xiao Yan, and the Talisman Guild disciples held off the Yin Puppet Sect outside. Xiao Yan repeatedly repelled Teng Lei's attempts to follow them into the tower. Ying Huanhuan, awakened by the commotion, realized everyone had left for the tower and rushed to join the fray. Reaching the tower's summit, Lin Dong and Ling Qingzhu found themselves alone.
Lin Dong, recalling their shared moments, then, in a sudden move, struck Ling Qingzhu with a palm, sending her plummeting. As she fell, Ling Qingzhu grabbed Lin Dong's leg, demanding to know what he was doing.
