Martial Universe: Season 1 Episode 25 Recap
> Martial Universe: Season 1 Recap
Ying Huanhuan reflected on her father's teachings for cultivating to become the Ice Master, which required her to forget everything, have no desires or wants, and be devoid of affection or feelings. However, she found it impossible to achieve, lamenting, "This world has him in it. How can I forget him?" A disguised individual, posing as Lin Dong, then appeared, claiming he had come to apologize for neglecting her while tending to Miss Fairy's injuries.
He romantically offered to take her for a night stroll under the full moon as an apology. As they interacted, the impostor pressed her against a wall, showering her with affection and attempting to kiss her. He professed to like her more than Ling Qingzhu now, and after Huanhuan asked if he would remember her if she were to forget him one day, he responded, "Not only will I remember you, I even know. . .
that I want to kiss you right now." He then explained that they couldn't be together yet because he hadn't fulfilled his mission of finding all eight ancestral talismans, having only located one. Seizing the opportunity, he tried to extract information about the ancestral talismans, asking if her father had mentioned anything about the Three Super Sects keeping them. Before she could reveal any information, Huanhuan noticed something amiss about "Lin Dong's" hands—they lacked the calluses he usually had.
The impostor's demeanor immediately changed, and he knocked her unconscious, leaving her in the desert. Meanwhile, Mu Qianqian, reverting to her true form, expressed frustration that she couldn't kill Ying Huanhuan, speculating that Huanhuan might possess a formidable hidden power or that her own yuan energy was depleted from using too many disguising techniques. She vowed that Huanhuan would eventually die, believing that love would be her downfall. Later, Mu Qianqian, now disguised as Ying Huanhuan, appeared.
Xia One Hammer excitedly informed Lin Dong that the ancient mirror he had found earlier was indeed the Spiritual Revolving Mirror. He explained its power to decipher the spiritual map but cautioned that its activation required extreme care and a dependable person to protect them from potential harm. When "Huanhuan" offered to operate it, Lin Dong immediately dismissed her, citing her boisterous nature as unsuitable for such a delicate task.
He then decided to seek out Ling Qingzhu for the role. Lin Dong explained to Ling Qingzhu that he and Xia One Hammer needed to activate their spiritual domains to decipher the map, and the Spiritual Revolving Mirror was essential for congealing spiritual power during this precise process. He emphasized the danger of incorrect usage, which could trap him within the spiritual domain, making it crucial to have the most suitable person handle it.
He openly stated that Huanhuan's fiery temper, forgetfulness, and lack of meticulousness made her unfit for the task. He reminded Ling Qingzhu that as his Talisman Envoy, this was her duty. Ling Qingzhu, after playfully accusing him of simply not wanting to tire Huanhuan, agreed, adding that she would have something important to discuss with him once he succeeded.
Before beginning, Xia One Hammer meticulously instructed Ling Qingzhu on how to use the Spiritual Revolving Mirror, stressing the importance of stopping its use precisely when the map disappeared from their minds—approximately two hours later—to avoid waking them too early or too late. He then departed with Lin Dong to begin the deciphering process, leaving Xiao Yan and Xiao Diao to guard them. Shortly after, the impostor "Huanhuan" engaged Ling Qingzhu in conversation.
Ling Qingzhu confided her suspicion that something was amiss with Lin Langtian, having seen him with a fake map. " Huanhuan" immediately dismissed her concerns due to lack of evidence and instead questioned Ling Qingzhu's motives for not bringing Qingtan back when she had seen her. The impostor then harshly attacked Ling Qingzhu's character, bringing up her father's alleged betrayal and her "unclean background," implying she had manipulated her way into becoming the Talisman Envoy.
She argued that accusing Lin Langtian, one of Lin Dong's few remaining family members, without proof would only harm Lin Dong's reputation. Ultimately, "Huanhuan" suggested Ling Qingzhu should leave Lin Dong to avoid causing him trouble and demanded the Spiritual Revolving Mirror, claiming she would guard it for Lin Dong. Manipulated by these accusations and fearing for Lin Dong's reputation, Ling Qingzhu reluctantly handed over the Spiritual Revolving Mirror.
Within their shared spiritual domain, Lin Dong and Xia One Hammer discovered the Great Wilderness Ancient Tomb, realizing it was real. They deduced that the Dimension Talisman, which controlled this tomb, was likely hidden near its offering altar. However, their domain suddenly plunged into chaos. Lin Dong exclaimed, "Someone must have activated the Spiritual Revolving Mirror in advance. Then is Miss Fairy in trouble?"
Xia One Hammer, in great pain, stated, "It seems like we can't get out anymore," urging Lin Dong not to get distracted as they were both severely affected by the premature activation. In the desert, the real Ying Huanhuan regained consciousness, parched and desperate, crying out for help. When the Beidou Bird appeared, she urgently instructed it to find Lin Dong, resolutely declaring, "I can't die here. I must go save Lin Dong!"
Ling Qingzhu, having been plagued by thoughts about her complex feelings for Lin Dong, suddenly recalled a warning that Yi-Demons were adept at disguising themselves as humans. Rushing back to the room, she found Lin Dong and Xia One Hammer bleeding. Lin Dong, now awake, explained that someone had attempted to invade their spiritual domains, severely injuring Xia One Hammer in the process of protecting him.
He sternly questioned Ling Qingzhu about why she had used the Spiritual Revolving Mirror prematurely. Overwhelmed with regret, Ling Qingzhu tearfully confessed, "It's my fault. I was too careless!" Just then, Beidou Bird arrived. Realizing it was Huanhuan's bird, Lin Dong immediately suspected Huanhuan was in trouble. He instructed Xiao Yan to care for the injured Xia One Hammer, then, accompanied by Ling Qingzhu and Xiao Diao, followed Beidou Bird to find Huanhuan.
Following the bird, they located the unconscious Huanhuan in the desert. Upon waking, Huanhuan, still disoriented, recounted her experience, angrily confronting Lin Dong about his strange behavior and the assault. Lin Dong, confused, denied her accusations, claiming "she" was the one who had tried to kiss him and asserting he had been with Ling Qingzhu the previous night, not with Huanhuan.
Ling Qingzhu intervened, explaining that the "Huanhuan" who tried to kiss Lin Dong was not the real Huanhuan, and similarly, the "Lin Dong" who Huanhuan encountered was not the real Lin Dong. She further deduced that the "Huanhuan" she had spoken to earlier that day was also an impostor, concluding that they had likely all been tricked by a Yi-Demon. True to Ling Qingzhu's suspicion, at the Chamber of Commerce, Mu Qianqian, disguised as Qingtan, lured Xiao Yan.
She then shed her disguise, revealing herself as an Yi-Demon, and engaged Xiao Yan in a fierce fight, causing him to become over-stimulated and faint. Mu Qianqian then confronted Xia One Hammer, demanding the secret of the spiritual map. Xia One Hammer defiantly refused, stating the map was now in his mind and she could not covet it.
Despite Mu Qianqian's attempts to extract the map, Xia One Hammer, proclaiming that evil would never triumph over good, chose to destroy his own spiritual domain, sacrificing his lifetime of Talisman Guru cultivation to prevent the Yi-Demon from obtaining the map. Frustrated, Mu Qianqian then seized the unconscious Xiao Yan, intending to use him as leverage to coerce Lin Dong into surrendering the map.
Upon returning to the Chamber of Commerce, Lin Dong, Ling Qingzhu, Xiao Diao, and Huanhuan found Xia One Hammer severely wounded. He informed them that an Yi-Demon had attacked, and he had deliberately destroyed his spiritual domain to prevent her from gaining any advantage or clues from the spiritual map. Ling Qingzhu, distraught, blamed herself for her carelessness, but Xia One Hammer, sensing his end, dismissed her apologies.
He instructed Lin Dong to retrieve 400,000 Yang Yuan Stones he had saved for him, revealing his past struggles and how he had almost forgotten his identity as a Talisman Guru in his pursuit of wealth, grateful for Lin Dong's arrival that rekindled his true purpose. He warned Lin Dong that the Yi-Demon would now undoubtedly target him for the spiritual map.
As Lin Dong desperately tried to save him, Xia One Hammer stopped him, explaining his internal organs were shattered beyond cure. He concluded his life's "last business deal" by fighting the Yi-Demon, satisfied that he had neither gained nor lost in the grand scheme, having preserved his integrity. With a final, content sigh, he passed away. A heartbroken Lin Dong solemnly thanked Xia One Hammer for his contributions to the Talisman Guild and the fight against the Yi-Demons.
Seeing Lin Dong's grief, Huanhuan urged Ling Qingzhu to console him, believing her own words would be dismissed as "a heartless wild girl." Ling Qingzhu approached Lin Dong, reassuring him not to blame himself, for the Yi-Demons were too cunning, and the dead could not be brought back. Lin Dong, hardened by loss, declared he would fight the Yi-Demons to the very end.
Ling Qingzhu then revealed the true circumstances of her injury: she had seen Qingtan with Lin Langtian, who was holding Master Yan's fake map. Lin Dong was confused, having believed the map to be genuine, and noted that Mu Qianqian was Lin Langtian's senior at Yuan Gate. He asked why Ling Qingzhu hadn't informed him earlier.
She explained she had wanted to find concrete evidence and was hesitant to create unsupported suspicions that might trouble him, especially after Lin Langtian inexplicably sent her back instead of harming her when she was injured. Lin Dong, relieved that Qingtan was safe, decided to address Lin Langtian personally later, prioritizing the urgent task of demon extermination. Ling Qingzhu remarked that Lin Dong had matured, now resembling a true guild president.
Lin Dong, embracing this new resolve, proposed using the spiritual map he had already memorized as bait in an auction at the Wanjin Chamber of Commerce to lure the Yi-Demon and reclaim the Spiritual Revolving Mirror, confident he could "catch it" with the right bait.
