Martial Universe: Season 1 Episode 9 Recap
> Martial Universe: Season 1 Recap
Su Rou implored Shen Qing on Ling Qingzhu's behalf, explaining that Ling Qingzhu was only trying to uncover the truth about her father. However, Shen Qing remained unyielding, declaring that the Ninth Heaven Taiqing Palace could not tolerate disobedient disciples. She formally removed Ling Qingzhu's name from the palace roll, telling her to find her own path, especially as the daughter of a traitor who allied with the Yi-Demons.
Ling Qingzhu, in defiance, cried out that she only wanted answers about her father, regardless of whether he was human or demon, before running off. Su Rou tried to intercede again, but Shen Qing angrily cut her off. Just then, a report came that Ling Susu, Ling Qingzhu's mother, was kneeling outside the main hall. Ling Susu pleaded with Shen Qing to lighten Ling Qingzhu's punishment, asserting that her daughter's unauthorized departure was driven by a desire to fight demons.
Shen Qing dismissed her plea, stating that the palace rules could not be broken by an "irrelevant person" like a maid without undermining Taiqing Palace's dignity. Ling Qingzhu insisted she had done nothing wrong, but her mother urged her to apologize. Reluctantly, Ling Qingzhu knelt, admitting her wrongdoing and asking for punishment. Shen Qing, ignoring Ling Susu’s continued pleas, decreed that Ling Qingzhu would be confined to the Water Curtain of Tianhua, permitted to seek forgiveness only after genuine repentance.
Ling Susu protested, explaining that the Water Curtain of Tianhua was meant for Yuan-Pellet Rank disciples, its extreme Yin energy and biting cold dangerous for Ling Qingzhu, who was only at Heavenly Yuan Rank and injured. Shen Qing turned away without listening. Ling Qingzhu then told her mother not to humiliate herself further and rushed into the confinement.
Inside, Ling Qingzhu overheard other disciples gossiping, saying that Ling Susu almost became the Palace Master but was relegated to a maid because her husband had colluded with the Yi-Demons. Some criticized Ling Qingzhu for her defiant behavior, comparing her to her father. Ling Susu later found her daughter and advised her to let go of her resentment and focus on her cultivation, as she was at a critical period for solidifying her pellet.
Ling Qingzhu, however, couldn’t accept her father being branded a traitor, especially as she carried "a traitor's blood." She demanded to know why her father had hidden for so many years, never helping or even speaking to them. Ling Susu tearfully admitted that she sometimes wished to hear he was dead so that all their suffering could end, suggesting Ling Qingzhu pretend he was.
Ling Qingzhu declared she would find her father and clear his name, refusing to let her mother endure further contempt. Ling Susu reiterated that more explanations would only lead to more gossip and urged her daughter to train harder. Ling Susu then had a private conversation with Shen Qing, who addressed her as "Senior." Ling Susu acknowledged Shen Qing's strict measures, understanding they were for Ling Qingzhu's benefit.
She knew that Ling Qingzhu's current obsession could become a powerful motivation to break through to the Yuan-Pellet Rank, and the Water Curtain of Tianhua could aid her. Ling Susu recognized that the position of Palace Master had originally been hers, but Shen Qing had preserved Taiqing Palace's reputation while secretly protecting her and Ling Qingzhu after her husband's grave sin.
Shen Qing commented on Ling Susu's continued hope for her husband, but Ling Susu stated that if her husband was innocent and she took the blame for him, it was the best way to protect him. Shen Qing concluded that with the Yi-Demons now appearing, the truth about his alleged treachery might soon be revealed.
Meanwhile, Mu Qianqian extracted the Yi-Demon from Lin Langtian, observing an overbearing Yuan energy within him which she deduced had suppressed the Seventh Prince and allowed Lin Langtian to return safely. She questioned Lin Langtian about any strange encounters on his journey, particularly with a woman, but he couldn't recall anyone specific due to numerous battles. Mu Qianqian then revealed that the Devour Talisman had reappeared, criticizing Lin Langtian for not recognizing its significance.
She emphasized that while the Seventh Prince was now a mere fallen spirit, only an Ancestral Talisman could fully eliminate it. She dismissed Ling Zhen as brave but strategically lacking, predicting he would be no match for Lin Langtian in a few years, but Lin Langtian insisted he couldn't wait that long. Mu Qianqian, revealed to be a manifestation of the Yi-Demon Sky King Hall, confined the Seventh Prince's fallen spirit, ordering him to obey her.
She reported to the Demon Emperor's shadow that the Yuan energy gathered from the Lei Clan had clarified the map to his sealed body. The Demon Emperor, however, was impatient, lamenting his continued suppression by humans. Mu Qianqian assured him that humans were conflicted creatures, easily manipulated by greed and selfishness, providing the Yi-Demons with unending power. She then stated her commitment to gather all eight Ancestral Talismans to break the Demon Emperor's seal.
The Seventh Prince, still imprisoned, warned her not to trust humans, mentioning Qingtan's demon-killing ice energy that even he had to avoid. Mu Qianqian identified this as dark power from the Dark Palace, but prioritized the Demon Emperor’s instruction to acquire the Ancestral Talismans, particularly the Devour Talisman from Lin Dong, whose name she now knew. Lin Dong and Qingtan arrived in Yan City, finding it sparsely populated and fearful due to recent Yi-Demon activity.
Lin Dong felt someone was following them and instructed Qingtan not to mention Lin Langtian or the Yi-Demons. They met Old Fourteenth, the brother of Forty-Eighth Little Sister, who introduced himself as the city's guide for travelers and revealed that someone had reserved a room for them at an inn. Lin Dong paid him for directions to Qiwu Tower instead.
As they left, Ying Huanhuan appeared, confirming to Old Fourteenth that she was the one who booked the room and intended to take Lin Dong back to the Dao Sect if Master Yan refused to take him in. Inside Qiwu Tower, Lin Dong and Qingtan were captivated by the array of treasures. Lin Dong presented Master Yan’s token to a shop assistant.
Xuan Su then appeared, confiscating the token, and coldly informed Lin Dong that Master Yan was absent and ordered him to leave, accusing him and Qingtan of touching expensive items and demanding payment. Lin Dong protested, explaining that Master Yan had told him to seek him there if he ever had nowhere else to go. Xuan Su remained unmoved, refusing to reveal Master Yan's whereabouts. Frustrated, Lin Dong stormed out, calling Master Yan and Xuan Su "con men" and "liars."
Meanwhile, Master Yan visited the Yin Puppet Sect. Sect Leader Teng Sha initially dismissed him but then instructed his disciples to line up and showcase his powerful Talisman Puppet Art, implying that the legitimacy of the Talismans Guild should now belong to his sect. Master Yan stated his purpose was to discuss a united front against the Yi-Demons, reminding Teng Sha that there were multiple Yi-Demons, not just the one already captured.
Teng Sha proposed taking the Ancestral Stone from the Talisman Guru Tower to command all talisman masters. However, Master Yan explained that the Ancestral Master's decree forbade anyone but the Ancestral Talisman's successor from retrieving it, warning that misuse of its power could lead to greater disaster. He further revealed that clues to this successor were now emerging.
Teng Sha scoffed at the Talismans Guild's seemingly ordinary disciples and declared that his Yin Puppet Sect would win the upcoming annual Talisman Guru Tower Competition and claim the Ancestral Stone, regardless. Master Yan later found himself in Great Puppet City, where he confronted the Yi-Demon Sky King Hall in a brief battle before the demon escaped. Soon after, Xuan Su informed Master Yan that Lin Dong had arrived at Qiwu Tower.
Master Yan, expecting Lin Dong, wryly commented that the "little fish" had nowhere else to go and would naturally seek out food. The Sky King Hall, disguised as Mu Qianqian, met with Sect Leader Teng Sha and his son, Teng Lei. Teng Lei proudly demonstrated his improved Talisman Puppet Spell, attributing his progress to a Yuan Gate master's guidance. Mu Qianqian smoothly took credit for this, impressing Teng Lei while subtly mocking his father's caution.
Despite Teng Sha's suspicion, Mu Qianqian offered an alliance with the Yin Puppet Sect. She then deliberately informed them that Master Yan had found the Devour Talisman, sowing discord by suggesting Master Yan was deceiving the public about fighting demons. Teng Lei, ambitious to establish the Yin Puppet Sect as the true legitimate talisman sect, was easily swayed by Mu Qianqian's arguments that the old rules needed to be broken and that the Yuan Gate's help was essential.
He eagerly convinced his father to ally with Yuan Gate to seize power in the new world order. To seal the alliance, Mu Qianqian offered the Yin Puppet Sect a method to greatly enhance their magical power, revealing that true spiritual control did not lie in controlling wooden puppets, but in controlling humans.
