Martial Universe: Season 1 Episode 32 Recap
> Martial Universe: Season 1 Recap
Lin Dong ventured into the depths of the Thunder Lake, finding it odd that his clothes remained dry. He discovered that the "water" was actually light produced by the Thunder Talisman. The area was filled with what appeared to be sculptures, but Lin Dong realized they were real people, members of the Thunder Clan who had formed a protective enchantment with their own flesh and lives to guard the Talisman.
He speculated they had resolutely jumped into the lake to resist enemy attacks, hiding the Talisman within their bodies. Lin Dong sought a way to free them and allow them to see daylight again, believing the enchantment could be broken by severing the shackles binding them. However, his attempts to cut the chains proved ineffective. Qingzhu, consumed by self-blame, recalled a fragrance sachet her mother had given her, containing a trace of her father's yuan energy.
He had instructed her to use it when needed. With deep remorse, Qingzhu used this yuan energy to apologize on her father's behalf to the trapped Thunder Clan elders, reaffirming her unwavering resolve to eliminate demons and protect the righteous path. As she did so, the yuan energy activated, breaking the enchantment and revealing the Thunder Talisman. Meanwhile, Xiao Yan and Xiao Diao remained captives.
Xiao Diao lamented their situation, wondering if Lin Dong would abandon them to be cooked by the Yi-Demon, while Xiao Yan optimistically believed Lin Dong would come to their rescue. Mu Qianqian arrived, remarking on the Sixth Yi-Demon Prince's appetite. He, still in his 'Mountain God' guise, recognized Mu Qianqian, who in turn chided him for his ugly human form and gluttony.
She pressed him on when he had escaped, and he explained his recent release and his knowledge of the Thunder Talisman's proximity. Mu Qianqian then revealed that Lin Dong had already obtained the Talisman, much to the Sixth Prince's fury. She instructed him not to harm Xiao Yan and Xiao Diao, as they would serve as valuable leverage against Lin Dong, who was known for his loyalty.
Mu Qianqian then tasked the Sixth Prince with putting on a convincing act for Lin Dong. After retrieving the Thunder Talisman, Lin Dong expressed that the Thunder Clan members could now rest in peace. He decided they would rest for the night and search for Xiao Diao and Xiao Yan at daybreak. Qingzhu thanked Lin Dong for his help. Later, Lin Dong revealed he had found a deciphered spiritual map at the bottom of the Thunder Lake.
The map clearly marked the legendary Monster Domain, indicating that someone, likely Master Yan who had previously mentioned going there, had used it to travel to the Monster Domain. However, the Ninth Heaven Taiqing Palace area on the map was blurred and worn, suggesting someone—perhaps Qingzhu's father—had frequently rubbed that section, perhaps out of longing. Lin Dong theorized that Qingzhu's father might have had untold difficulties or reasons for joining forces with the Fifth Prince.
Qingzhu, determined to seek answers, decided to go to the Monster Domain, though Lin Dong cautioned her that its gates were not easily opened. He also pondered the yuan energy her father left behind, noting that it had been used to destroy the enchantment, which seemed contradictory if her father truly intended harm to the Thunder Clan. This led him to believe her father's past was more complex than it seemed, and they should question Master Yan.
Despite his newly acquired Talisman, Lin Dong found he couldn't immediately activate its full power. An Yi-Demon lured him to the location where Xiao Yan and Xiao Diao were held. The Sixth Yi-Demon Prince ambushed Lin Dong, who bravely fought back. Xiao Diao, fearing for his life, desperately called for Lin Dong's help. The Sixth Prince demanded the Thunder Talisman, threatening to burn Xiao Yan and Xiao Diao.
Lin Dong, feigning indifference towards Xiao Diao, even suggested the Sixth Prince cook him. This prompted Xiao Diao to frantically plead with Lin Dong to surrender the Talisman. Lin Dong relented, tossing the Thunder Talisman into the air. Xiao Diao caught it but was immediately struck down by the Sixth Prince. Suddenly, the sky darkened, and Xiao Diao, still clutching the Talisman, was engulfed by powerful lightning. The Sixth Prince, startled by the unexpected surge of power, fled.
Xiao Diao fell, unconscious but crackling with electricity, having scared off the Yi-Demon. He later explained that despite his new appearance, he was still too weak to engage in a full fight. Lin Dong deduced that the Yi-Demon who lured him was the same one from Dakui City, an accomplice to the "fatty" Sixth Prince. Xiao Diao, now transformed and confident with the Thunder Talisman, boasted that he would soon be invincible against Yi-Demons once he completed its refinement.
Lin Dong playfully chased and caught Xiao Diao in his Qiankun Bag. Xiao Diao, proclaiming himself the Thunder Talisman's successor, argued against Lin Dong's capture, calling it disrespectful to Fu Zu. Lin Dong acknowledged Xiao Diao's past troubles but declared that leading them to the Sixth Yi-Demon Prince and the Thunder Talisman was a merit that compensated for his mistakes. He forgave Xiao Diao, believing the ordeal had taught him a lesson.
Xiao Diao, touched that Lin Dong had been willing to sacrifice the Ancestral Talisman to save him—fulfilling his greatest wish to transform into a human after nearing his thousand-year-old spirit monster limit—vowed to call Lin Dong "Big Brother" and obey his every instruction. Huanhuan and Qingzhu soon arrived. Huanhuan teasingly remarked on Lin Dong gaining another brother. Lin Dong called Xiao Diao "troublesome" but admitted he was willing to accept him.
Xiao Diao then cheekily asked if Qingzhu (Miss Fairy) would become his Talisman Envoy. Qingzhu firmly rejected the idea, explaining that a Talisman Envoy only followed their Natal Spiritual Charm. Xiao Diao, joined by Huanhuan, questioned why there was only one Natal Spiritual Charm for eight ancestral talisman successors, a question no one could answer. Huanhuan then confronted Lin Dong, accusing him of abandoning them.
Lin Dong defended his actions as an urgent strategic necessity, but Huanhuan refused to believe him. Lin Dong, growing exasperated, complained that Huanhuan was more troublesome than brothers and called her a "tigress." Suddenly, Huanhuan exclaimed, remembering they had completely forgotten about Xiao Yan. Just then, Qingzhu sensed someone approaching, who turned out to be Senior Xuan Su. Meanwhile, at the Demon Emperor's lair, the Sixth Prince and Mu Qianqian groveled, blaming each other for their recent failures.
The Sixth Prince, seeking to redeem himself, reported the discovery of the Ice Talisman on the outskirts of Wanxiang City. He explained that the Prince of the Great Yan Dynasty had found it, but due to its explosive power, only an extraordinary individual, specifically Lin Dong, who possessed the Devour Talisman, could retrieve it.
The Demon Emperor then instructed Mu Qianqian, implying she knew how to proceed, and she confidently stated she had her own methods, implying she would not rely solely on Lin Dong. Separately, in the Lin Clan, a letter arrived from the Prince of the Great Yan Dynasty, expressing a desire to meet Lin Dong, whose fame had recently risen after destroying the Yin Puppet Sect and becoming the Talisman Guild President.
The Lin Clan Chief, despite the family's improved status among the Four Great Clans, still held reservations about Lin Dong. He acknowledged that the Lin Clan needed martial arts experts to secure its position in the martial-arts-centric Great Yan Dynasty. He worried about Lin Dong's likely resentment over past injustices, especially how he was made a scapegoat in the conflict with the Lei Clan.
An elder suggested consulting Lin Langtian, but the Chief dismissed him, deciding instead to leverage Lin Dong's father, Lin Xiao's, reputation to persuade Lin Dong to return to the clan. He offered to personally write a letter, and another elder volunteered to deliver it, also suggesting they prepare valuable spiritual treasures to impress the Prince.
Back with Lin Dong and his companions, Xiao Diao was dramatically recounting his fight with the Sixth Prince to Master Yan and Xuan Su, exaggerating Lin Dong's injuries and claiming he had saved him. Xiao Yan tried to correct Xiao Diao's embellished story. Lin Dong then showed Master Yan the Thunder Talisman and Xiao Diao, who proudly reiterated his new status as the Talisman's successor.
Lin Dong then pressed Master Yan for more details about Qingzhu's father's past, sympathizing with Qingzhu's inability to defend her condemned father. Master Yan eventually revealed that Qing Zhi, Qingzhu's father, had once been the most outstanding talisman guru of the Talisman Guild. Master Yan then playfully deflected Lin Dong's questions by teasing Huanhuan about being her father's "missing" daughter, much to her annoyance.
