Noble Aspirations Episode 8 Recap, Plot

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> Noble Aspirations Recap

Zhang Xiaofan heard Zeng Shushu talk about his Master's past pursuit of his Master's wife, and wanted to use giving mung bean cake as an opportunity to start pursuing Tian Ling'er. He met Lu Xueqi at the female disciples' living quarters. Lu Xueqi told Zhang Xiaofan that Tian Ling'er had already gone out to train with Qi Hao, and also reminded Zhang Xiaofan to prepare for the Seven Meridians Martial Arts Tournament.

After hearing Lu Xueqi's words, Zhang Xiaofan quickly left. In the second round of the Seven Meridians Martial Arts Tournament, Zhang Xiaofan was set to fight Chu Yuhong from Chaoyang Peak. Du Bishu and others were not optimistic about Zhang Xiaofan, believing he was bound to lose this match. Other fellow disciples either had their own matches or wanted to cheer for Tian Ling'er. For a time, Zhang Xiaofan was the only Dazhu Peak disciple left near the arena.

The spectators cheering below were all Chaoyang Peak disciples, mocking Dazhu Peak for having no one to watch the fight. Just then, Chu Yuhong leaped onto the arena. Zhang Xiaofan took out his stick, which naturally drew laughter from the Chaoyang Peak disciples—a Dazhu Peak disciple actually using a fire-poker as a weapon. Ignoring the mockery, Zhang Xiaofan held the fire-poker and fought Chu Yuhong.

Chu Yuhong saw that Zhang Xiaofan's magical abilities were weak and originally held back, but still knocked Zhang Xiaofan to the ground. Zhang Xiaofan realized Chu Yuhong was going easy on him and urged Chu Yuhong to fight with all his might. Chu Yuhong unleashed his magic, and indeed, it was extraordinary. With one strike, Zhang Xiaofan spat out a mouthful of fresh blood. The Blood-devouring Bead on the fire-poker touched the blood and immediately emitted bursts of eerie light.

Zhang Xiaofan seemed to sense something at this moment, and the fire-poker instantly unleashed immense power. No matter how much Chu Yuhong used his magic to resist the eerie light from the fire-poker, he was still struck and spat out blood. Zhang Xiaofan won! Below the arena, the Chaoyang Peak disciples all accused Zhang Xiaofan of cheating and winning unfairly. Chu Yuhong lied, claiming he was too careless and underestimated his opponent, stopping everyone from criticizing Zhang Xiaofan.

Zhang Xiaofan hurried to another arena and saw Lu Xueqi easily defeat a Fenghui Peak disciple. Just then, the victorious Zeng Shushu also came over to watch Lu Xueqi's match. He noticed a bloodstain on Zhang Xiaofan's face and quickly asked about Zhang Xiaofan's condition with concern. Zhang Xiaofan quickly said he was fine. Lu Xueqi quickly asked Zeng Shushu if he had a way to deal with last night's treasure thief.

Zeng Shushu believed that they were only focused on supervising the Seven Meridians Martial Arts Tournament and had no time to spare for this matter. Zhang Xiaofan discussed with them about staking out the Treasure Pavilion that night. In the third round of the martial arts competition, Zhang Xiaofan was up against Huang Lei from Chaoyang Peak. Song Daren and other Dazhu Peak disciples all rushed to cheer for Tian Ling'er, leaving Zhang Xiaofan to fight alone once again.

At this moment, he saw his childhood friend, Lin Jingyu, standing below the arena, and felt a slight sense of comfort in his heart. On the arena, Zhang Xiaofan activated his fire-poker, and in just one round, he knocked Huang Lei to the ground. Zhang Xiaofan was momentarily unsure what had happened. The immense power made the many surrounding disciples feel incredible, and Lin Jingyu also quietly left.

Zhang Xiaofan sat in the Black Bamboo Forest, pondering the reason for his victories. He wondered whether it was the Qingyun Sect's cultivation technique or the Dàfàn Bōrě technique passed to him by Puzhi that helped him win, or if he only achieved victory because he was controlled by the stick. Zhang Xiaofan was utterly confused. Just then, Lin Jingyu came to Zhang Xiaofan to get to the bottom of it. Zhang Xiaofan lied, claiming he won by luck.

Lin Jingyu wanted to spar with Zhang Xiaofan and test him. Facing his best friend, Zhang Xiaofan was no match for Lin Jingyu and was knocked to the ground by him. Facing Lin Jingyu's interrogation, Zhang Xiaofan could only lie, claiming he used underhanded tricks. Lin Jingyu questioned Zhang Xiaofan about what unorthodox methods he had learned and how he obtained this mysterious stick.

Zhang Xiaofan, who never lied, couldn't help but clench his fists, resolutely refusing to tell Lin Jingyu the origin of his magical weapon. After his victory, Zhang Xiaofan showed no joy. Zeng Shushu saw Zhang Xiaofan's furrowed brows and quickly asked him the reason for his win.

Seeing Zhang Xiaofan remain silent, Zeng Shushu told Zhang Xiaofan that he would be sparring with Peng Chang, a Fenghui Peak disciple, tomorrow, and Peng Chang was the most highly cultivated disciple of Fenghui Peak. He added that he would ask his senior brother Peng Chang to go easy on him then. Zhang Xiaofan, in a daze, asked Zeng Shushu if there were any Qingyun Sect disciples who practiced two different cultivation techniques simultaneously.

Zeng Shushu told Zhang Xiaofan that the Qingyun Sect's rules were very strict regarding disciples who secretly learned other techniques, and there should be no one capable of cultivating two different techniques. In the fourth round of the Seven Meridians Martial Arts Tournament, Zhang Xiaofan was up against Peng Chang from Fenghui Peak. Disciples from Chaoyang Peak also came to cheer for Peng Chang, hoping he would defeat Zhang Xiaofan to avenge Chaoyang Peak.

Only Zeng Shushu advised Peng Chang to go easy on Zhang Xiaofan. Zhang Xiaofan, fearing he might lose control and injure someone again, dared not retaliate at all against Peng Chang's fierce offensive and was cornered by Peng Chang's sword. Peng Chang noticed Zhang Xiaofan wasn't fighting back, thinking he was looking down on him, and urged Zhang Xiaofan to make a move. Zeng Shushu also shouted from below the arena, telling Zhang Xiaofan to retaliate.

Zhang Xiaofan's will moved with his heart, and the stick moved with him; for a moment, eerie light flickered on the arena. Peng Chang wielded his precious sword, and the clang of clashes on the arena was incessant. Zhang Xiaofan resisted with his stick but was still cut in several places by Peng Chang's sword. Just then, the Blood-devouring Bead within the fire-poker absorbed Zhang Xiaofan's blood.

After emitting several strands of red light, the eerie glow intensified, and Peng Chang fell to the ground, spitting out blood. Zeng Shushu saw his senior brother injured and, in a moment of urgency, leaped onto the stage to confront Zhang Xiaofan, accusing him of deceiving him by saying he couldn't use magic.

At this point, the Qingyun disciples below the stage all realized that Zhang Xiaofan was not using Qingyun cultivation techniques and rushed to jump onto the stage to beat Zhang Xiaofan. The Dazhu Peak disciples jumped up to protect Zhang Xiaofan. Just then, Zeng Shuchang and Tian Buyi flew over through the air, ordering the disciples to stop. Tian Buyi saw the cuts and bloodstains on Zhang Xiaofan's body and, feeling pained, gently touched Zhang Xiaofan's wounds.

Tian Buyi couldn't understand how Zhang Xiaofan, whom he had only taught the second level of cultivation technique incantations, had managed to bypass the third level and cultivate to the fourth level to wield a magical weapon. Tian Buyi sternly questioned Zhang Xiaofan about who had taught him the third level of the technique, warning that otherwise, for secretly learning other techniques, he would be expelled from the sect.

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