Martial Universe: Season 1 Episode 33 Recap
> Martial Universe: Season 1 Recap
A Lin Clan representative, Mang Shu, located Lin Dong and attempted to persuade him to return to the clan. Mang Shu flattered Lin Dong, congratulating him on becoming the Talisman Guild President, but Lin Dong retorted that he was just a "homeless person" who had found a temporary place to settle. Mang Shu then tried to justify the clan's past actions, claiming the Clan Chief had no choice but to "temporarily make [Lin Dong] suffer" for the Lin Clan's existence.
He appealed to Lin Dong's "bigger picture" thinking and mentioned that Lin Dong's father, Lin Xiao, would surely be comforted by his current fame. Lin Dong, however, saw through the facade, mockingly stating that he no longer recognized himself due to such flattery. Mang Shu then revealed the true purpose: the Lin Clan had undergone drastic changes since Lin Dong left and now His Highness, the Prince, wished to see Lin Dong, which was an "honor [he] deserved."
Lin Dong angrily reminded Mang Shu that he was merely a "troublemaker that got expelled" and questioned the appropriateness of asking him to represent the clan. Mang Shu, dismissing Lin Dong's grievances as mere "whining" and "grudges," urged him to consider the "greater picture" because "the Lin Clan also belongs to you and your father."
He stressed that the clan was placing its hopes on Lin Dong to "make His Highness happy" and earn honor, ensuring Lin Xiao would "rest in peace." Lin Dong vehemently rejected this, stating his father "wouldn't care about that" and recalled how the clan had previously mentioned "the greater picture" when they tried to send him to the palace for punishment.
He accused the clan of constantly placing their hopes on him in exchange for something, concluding, "I'm not an item in your hands that you can just exchange for whatever you want." Mang Shu continued to press, emphasizing that even as head of the Talisman Guild, Lin Dong would need clan support, and highlighted the clan's newfound wealth from a Yang Yuan mining area. He left a Clan Tablet as an invitation.
After Mang Shu's departure, Lin Dong angrily stepped on the Clan Tablet, but Yan Shi appeared, picking it up. Yan Shi lightly teased Lin Dong about eavesdropping, then asked what he should do. Lin Dong confessed that all the Lin Clan memories were humiliating. Yan Shi advised him to "personally go and wipe them clean," comparing his predicament to a fish bone in the throat that one must "pull it out."
Later that night, Qingzhu found Lin Dong alone and upset. She noted his unusual agitation, accustomed to his calm demeanor. Lin Dong admitted he wasn't as cheerful as she thought and still carried deep emotional burdens. Qingzhu revealed she heard the Lin Clan was inviting him back. Lin Dong emphatically stated he no longer belonged to any clan. He then asked Qingzhu where she considered home.
Qingzhu shared her painful past: her mother, once a candidate for Palace Master of Ninth Heaven Taiqing Palace, fell from grace and was reduced to a servant because Qingzhu's father was deemed a traitor. As a result, most people in Taiqing Palace disliked Qingzhu, but she had trained hard to prevent them from belittling her. Hearing this, Lin Dong declared he would go to Wanxiang City to meet the prince, refusing to let the Lin Clan look down on him.
He decided to join super sects and train diligently to protect his companions. Qingzhu humbly responded that she didn't need protection and it was enough for him to prove himself. Just then, Huanhuan arrived, teasing Lin Dong about always protecting Qingzhu but never her, and pointed out that "she" (Huanhuan) was the daughter of the Dao Sect Leader, already a "true princess" who didn't need his protection.
Meanwhile, Ling Zhen discovered Lin Langtian secretly practicing a forbidden technique with Qingtan in Yuan Gate's private chamber. Ling Zhen angrily questioned Lin Langtian's right to occupy the chamber and his association with a "woman of unknown background." Lin Langtian defended Qingtan as his clan's little sister, stating that a Senior Sister was aware of her presence.
Ling Zhen then mocked Lin Langtian, suggesting he was acting arrogantly because he had "climbed up on Mu Qianqian's high branch," and doubted his importance to her since she didn't take him to catch Yi-Demons or seek him out upon her return. Lin Langtian retorted that it wasn't Ling Zhen's place to comment on Mu Qianqian's affairs. Provoked, Ling Zhen attacked, wanting to see what Lin Langtian had learned.
To Ling Zhen's shock, Lin Langtian, in a short span, had ascended to the Luck Creation Rank, easily defeating him with one punch. Lin Langtian dismissed the unconscious Ling Zhen. Qingtan, witnessing the fight, asked if he was alright, though she noticed a disturbing, cold, killer-like look in his eyes earlier.
Lin Langtian explained he only wanted to teach Ling Zhen a lesson for his arrogance and claimed he himself was surprised by his sudden ascension, attributing it to "a moment of desperation." Elsewhere, Mu Qianqian and the Sixth Prince were bickering, with Mu Qianqian criticizing him for failing to retrieve the Thunder Talisman. Upon seeing Lin Langtian approaching, Mu Qianqian intentionally feigned an injury, pretending to have been attacked by an Yi-Demon, which drew Lin Langtian to her.
Lin Langtian asked about the Yi-Demon. Mu Qianqian fabricated a story about encountering the Sixth Yi-Demon Prince while investigating the Thunder Talisman's whereabouts, cunningly shifting blame to Lin Langtian for causing the Yi-Demon's escape by interrupting her attempt to seal it. She then subtly steered the conversation to her true agenda, criticizing the Talisman Guild's "too kind" approach to containing Yi-Demons, arguing that seals would eventually weaken.
Instead, she proposed a radical plan: gathering all eight ancestral talismans to release the Yi-Demon Emperor, thereby allowing for a "root and branch elimination" to bring true peace to the world. Mu Qianqian then revealed that she had forced the Sixth Yi-Demon Prince to disclose the Ice Talisman's location, which was currently in the Clan Storage of the Great Yan Dynasty. Lin Langtian expressed doubt, feeling his lowly Lin Clan status would prevent him from accessing it.
Mu Qianqian reminded him of his status as a Yuan Gate disciple and his possession of the Dimension Talisman. She further stoked his jealousy by revealing that the young Prince of the Great Yan Dynasty intended for Lin Dong to retrieve the Ice Talisman, implying Lin Dong's growing influence in the Lin Clan surpassed his own. Appealing to Lin Langtian's "grand ambitions," Mu Qianqian offered to "sweep away all obstacles" if he agreed.
Lin Langtian, influenced by her words, agreed to help gather the ancestral talismans to destroy the Yi-Demons. However, he stipulated that he would use his own methods to prevent Lin Dong from acquiring the Ice Talisman and asked her not to interfere. Mu Qianqian readily agreed, only warning him not to "get soft-hearted when the time comes."
Qingzhu approached Lin Dong, saying she had thought carefully and from then on, would be completely devoted to her duties as a Talisman Envoy, staying by his side, protecting him wholeheartedly, and "never abandoning [him] in life or death." Lin Dong was deeply moved, almost overwhelmed, internally questioning what he truly desired. As they spoke, the lake around them suddenly began to freeze.
Lin Dong, jokingly, admitted he preferred Qingzhu being "cruel" to him, as her "constant blows" had propelled him forward. He then expressed his wish for Qingzhu to live a life "carefree and worry-free," unbound by anything, free to "wander the world." Huanhuan, overhearing Lin Dong's words to Qingzhu, felt deeply hurt and silently lamented how Lin Dong had always loved Qingzhu. Suddenly, Qingtan appeared, catching Huanhuan's attention, and Huanhuan followed her into the forest.
In the forest, Huanhuan encountered a mysterious figure who looked exactly like her. This figure, who Huanhuan identified as the Ice Master her father had spoken of, greeted her, stating, "I am you and you are me." Huanhuan vehemently rejected this, declaring she did not want to be the Ice Master and wanted to be herself. The Ice Master, seeing into Huanhuan's heart, revealed, "You have someone in your heart.
You're unable to forget him," and reminded her of her life's mission. Huanhuan defiantly refused, insisting she wanted to live her own life. The Ice Master then vanished. Immediately after, Huanhuan was struck unconscious by Qingtan. Qingtan questioned Lin Langtian about their actions. He explained that by preventing Lin Dong from obtaining the Ice Talisman, they were protecting him from becoming an Yi-Demon target. Qingtan clarified that their goal was to "delay [her] Older Brother from entering the Clan Storage."
Though she was reassured by Lin Langtian to trust him, Qingtan expressed worry that Lin Dong wouldn't be able to find Huanhuan. Lin Langtian calmly replied that Lin Dong would "surely find her." Later, Huangfu Jing, the Prince's personal bodyguard, approached Lin Dong, asking him to meet His Highness. Lin Dong, recognizing Huangfu Jing as from one of the four great clans, asked why the Prince wanted to see him, but she simply stated the Prince would explain.
Lin Dong offered to bring his Talisman Envoy, Qingzhu, but Huangfu Jing insisted the Prince would only see Lin Dong. Qingzhu encouraged Lin Dong to go, promising to inform Xiao Diao and Xiao Yan. Lin Dong met the Prince, who was practicing martial arts. The Prince straightforwardly explained that he had discovered a powerful spiritual treasure he couldn't obtain himself and needed Lin Dong's help.
Lin Dong, questioning why the Great Yan Dynasty's many strong fighters couldn't help, was surprised when the Prince revealed the treasure was the Ice Talisman, located in a nearby Clan Storage. The Prince knew Lin Dong possessed the Devour Talisman and believed retrieving the Ice Talisman would be no difficult task for him. Lin Dong, realizing his luck and confirming his destiny as an Ancestral Talisman Successor, agreed to the deal.
Returning to his companions, Lin Dong excitedly woke Xiao Diao and Xiao Yan, announcing he had found the Ice Talisman's whereabouts and that the Prince had tasked him with retrieving it. However, they soon realized Huanhuan was missing and didn't respond to their calls. As Lin Dong called out for her, Huangfu Jing reappeared, informing them that the Clan Storage had been attacked by an Yi-Demon, and that His Highness required Lin Dong's immediate assistance.
Concerned that Huanhuan was still missing, Xiao Diao expressed reluctance to leave. Huangfu Jing urged them to prioritize the "general situation." Qingzhu, understanding the gravity of the Yi-Demon's appearance, volunteered to go to the Clan Storage in Lin Dong's place so he could search for Huanhuan. She asserted her experience fighting Yi-Demons and offered to prepare for any mishaps.
Lin Dong, grateful, instructed Xiao Diao and Xiao Yan to assist Qingzhu in the Clan Storage while he searched for Huanhuan, promising to reunite once Huanhuan was found. Huangfu Jing handed Lin Dong the Nirvana Demon Flame Lock, a treasure from the Prince, for his protection. As Qingzhu, accompanied by Xiao Diao and Xiao Yan, reported to the Prince, he was pleased by her assistance but inquired about Lin Dong's absence.
At that moment, Lin Langtian arrived, stating his identity as a Yuan Gate disciple and a member of the Lin Clan, and volunteered to open the Clan Storage, claiming he was the most suitable person as he had also fought Yi-Demons before. Qingzhu, suspicious of his sudden appearance, questioned his true intentions, pointing out that he was not a citizen of their dynasty.
Lin Langtian retorted that Qingzhu lacked a legitimate reason to be there and accused her of having ulterior motives. He urged the Prince to act immediately, citing the impending Yi-Demon threat. Qingzhu, attempting to deter him, suggested he wait for Lin Dong to arrive, but Lin Langtian arrogantly dismissed this, reminding her that it was the Great Yan Dynasty's Clan Storage, not Lin Dong's. He then openly challenged Qingzhu, demanding to know who was controlling her and what their true agenda was.
