Martial Universe: Season 1 Episode 22 Recap
> Martial Universe: Season 1 Recap
Having seemingly revived from his "death," Yan Shi playfully chided Lin Dong for his earlier attempts to cremate him, stating that this day marked both Yan Shi's funeral and Lin Dong's official succession. He formally entrusted Lin Dong with the future of the Talisman Guild. Lin Dong, in turn, solemnly pledged to uphold the morals of a Talisman Guru, seek ancestral talismans, and eliminate the Yi-Demons, vowing to protect their land.
Li Qingzhu, as Talisman Envoy, also committed to following Lin Dong until her last day. Simultaneously, members of the Dao Sect observed an unusual phenomenon in the sky, prompting Ying Xuanzi to confirm the Yi-Demons' reappearance and declare that the successors of this generation must now assume their destined roles. Back at Qiwu Tower, Xuan Su noted its restoration. Lin Dong, accompanied by the Fire Python Tiger (Lin Yan), announced his intention to find the spiritual map and locate Qingtan.
Yan Shi then revealed the true spiritual map, confessing that the one previously stolen by the Yi-Demons was a mere fabrication he had "randomly drawn" to deceive them. Lin Dong, despite now possessing the genuine map, could not decipher it. Yan Shi instructed him to journey to Dakui City to find an expert—a former Talisman Guild disciple specializing in map deciphering who also possessed knowledge of the Yin Puppet Sect.
Lin Dong planned to use this opportunity to retrieve the Devour Talisman. Yan Shi admitted he had never met this individual, communicating only through talisman scripts. To aid Lin Dong in his quest, Yan Shi bestowed upon him a talisman seal, symbolizing a First-Level Talisman Guru's identity, and urged him to repair the Ancient Earth Scales Halberd. Lin Dong inquired if Li Qingzhu would accompany him.
After Lin Dong's departure, Xuan Su brought medicine for Yan Shi, who initially refused it, claiming he was "dead, not sick," and preferred alcohol. Xuan Su expressed her constant worry for him, and Yan Shi, while pretending to agree, secretly poured the medicine away. Xuan Su then confessed her loneliness at being left behind and wished to accompany him.
Yan Shi assured her that the Talisman Guild needed her more than him and that once all ancestral talismans were gathered and the Yi-Demons eradicated, all matters could be discussed. Trusting his promise, Xuan Su lovingly fed him the medicine, and they shared a heartfelt conversation. Lin Dong later found Li Qingzhu and offered her wine, stating his desire to simply drink with her. Qingzhu questioned how he could be in the mood for drinks with Qingtan missing.
Lin Dong explained that wine could also relieve worries, and despite his own concerns about Qingtan, as the new Guild President and seeker of ancestral talismans, he could not appear troubled all the time. He expressed his belief that Qingtan was safer with Lin Langtian, suggesting that Lin Langtian might be helping her remove her ice toxin. Qingzhu, however, voiced her suspicion that Lin Langtian had found Qingtan but failed to inform Lin Dong.
As they spoke, Lin Yan unexpectedly appeared, declared his intent to have a "heart-to-heart talk" with "Miss Fairy" (Qingzhu), snatched the wine, and promptly became inebriated. Before setting out for Dakui City, Lin Dong asked Li Qingzhu to join him. She, however, stated that she needed to return to Taiqing Palace for some matters but promised to meet him later in Dakui City, implying a secret plan to confront the Yi-Demons.
Lin Dong, after a surprise kiss, feigned drunkenness and departed, leaving Li Qingzhu to smile faintly. Xuan Su then presented Lin Dong with the Cosmic Bag, an ancient magical item of the Talisman Guild filled with Qiwu Tower's assets, emphasizing its importance and Yan Shi's dedication in creating it. She also relayed Yan Shi's warning about the Yi-Demons' shapeshifting abilities.
As Lin Dong and Lin Yan proceeded, they heard Qingtan's voice message, assuring them she was safe with "Brother Lang" (Lin Langtian) and would return after fulfilling her own goals. Lin Dong reassured Lin Yan that Lin Langtian would take good care of Qingtan. Unbeknownst to them, Li Qingzhu had been following, and she later revealed herself to Xuan Su, explaining her secret plan to head to the fake map's location to confront the Yi-Demons.
Xuan Su questioned why she hadn't shared her suspicions about Lin Langtian with Lin Dong, and Li Qingzhu replied that she didn't want to hurt him after their recent reconciliation. Before Li Qingzhu departed, Xuan Su provided her with a protective item, acknowledging the dangers ahead. Confined by her father, Ying Huanhuan protested vigorously, smashing items in her room and threatening Wu Dao, claiming that being locked up was akin to death.
She insisted on wanting to fight Yi-Demons and highlighted her past contributions despite troubles. She broke a mirror, and as she gazed into it, Lin Dong's face appeared, captivating her. She lamented that Lin Dong was with Li Qingzhu. Ying Xuanzi later visited, revealing that Huanhuan was destined to inherit the mission of the Ice Talisman Master, the smartest disciple of Fu Zu, and had been chosen at birth as the Ice Talisman's successor.
Huanhuan was thrilled to be an ancestral talisman successor like Lin Dong, but her father explained that this cultivation required forgetting her past, severing all emotional attachments, especially her burgeoning feelings for Lin Dong, as they were "destined to bear no fruit." Although her father empathized, he stated that Ying Xuanzi insisted on this path. The restriction on her was then removed.
Struggling with the idea of forgetting Lin Dong, Huanhuan recalled their shared experiences and found herself unable to sever her feelings. She sent a message to Yan Shi, asking for his guidance on whether she should remain in Dao Sect or be allowed to go down the mountain.
Yan Shi, discussing the romantic entanglement with Xuan Su, acknowledged the situation and decided to "stir the waters," intending to guide Huanhuan in a way that would ultimately secure the support of both Dao Sect and Taiqing Palace for Lin Dong's future. Meanwhile, Mu Qianqian discussed human emotions and cunning with the Demon Emperor, complaining that Lin Langtian's growing bond with Lin Dong and his help to Qingtan were disrupting her plans.
She then revealed that she had given a fake map to Lin Langtian with the strategic aim of sowing discord and suspicion among humans, while also admitting a personal motive of "envy" for his perceived infidelity, hoping to make him suffer. The Demon Emperor, in turn, elucidated the complex nature of human relationships, noting that stirring doubt and conflict, especially among those with deep emotional ties, was key to their overall strategy.
As Lin Dong and Lin Yan camped for the night, Lin Yan expressed concern for Qingtan, and Lin Dong reassured him that Qingtan was safer with Lin Langtian during their dangerous journey, and he planned to rescue Xiao Diao, the Dimension Talisman spirit, once they reached Dakui City. Lin Dong explicitly stated his affection for "Miss Fairy" (Li Qingzhu), dismissing Huanhuan as "rude, impetuous, and not lady-like."
In Dakui City, Teng Sha attempted to forcefully refine the Devour Talisman but was severely backlashed, nearly having his Yuan Energy completely drained until Teng Lei intervened. Teng Sha revealed that the ancestral talisman still had two unopened seals, preventing its full utilization. Teng Lei assured his father that he would capture Lin Dong upon his arrival in Dakui City and compel him to reveal the ancestral talisman's secrets. Teng Sha, however, warned his son not to underestimate Lin Dong and ordered increased city defenses and immediate reporting of any sighting of Lin Dong.
