Sword Dynasty Episode 18 Recap
> Sword Dynasty Recap
During the Lushan Alliance Meeting, Chancellor Lian Ying of Mo activated the formidable Qianshan Token, intending to sacrifice himself. His disciples, understanding the token's power consumed vast vitality and that Lian Ying was making himself the sacrifice, cried out in protest, offering themselves instead. However, King of Mo silenced them, declaring this Lian Ying's final, honorable battle. Lian Ying used the Qianshan Token to create an illusion, assailing Marquis Fang's mind with dark energy and spectral soldiers.
Marquis Fang, though affected, continued to fight, his stamina slowly waning. King of Mo urged Lian Ying to strike Fang Xiang down, but before Lian Ying could get close, Marquis Fang's Dragon Scale Sword pierced him through the chest, ending his life. King of Heng, observing the battle, concealed his true satisfaction, knowing that Lian Ying's death meant the inevitable downfall of Mo.
King of Xian, however, stood and saluted Lian Ying's fallen body, acknowledging his sacrifice as a blow against King of Heng's power. News then arrived that Heng's army, led by Liang Lian, had raided and captured Liangshan County. Enraged by this blatant breach of the alliance covenant, King of Xian confronted King of Heng, accusing him of treachery. King of Heng, unfazed, claimed Liangshan County was merely being 'borrowed' and was originally Heng territory, denying any wrongdoing.
King of Xian, calling King of Heng shameless and despicable, challenged him to a duel. Before their confrontation, Li Cai Tian, the Sect Leader of Li's Xianfu Sect, grief-stricken by Lian Ying's death, passionately requested to fight for Li. King of Li refused, explaining that Li could not afford to lose its only Sect Leader, especially since Li was a strategic buffer against Heng.
King of Li dismissed Li Cai Tian’s talk of kindness, stating that among states, only benefits truly mattered. When Li Cai Tian's senior disciple, Li Rui, volunteered to fight, Crown Prince Yuan Zihan scoffed at his mere fifth-realm cultivation. King of Heng, seizing the opportunity, declared that if Li could only offer a fifth-realm opponent for mere entertainment, he would send one of his own. He then called upon Ding Ning.
Ding Ning, feigning humility, expressed concern about letting King of Heng down since he was only at the third realm against a fifth-realm opponent. King of Heng encouraged him, pointing out that winning would bring great honor. Ding Ning accepted, inwardly acknowledging that King of Heng was already suspicious and he needed to hide his true cultivation.
During the fight, Li Rui, a master of charms, mocked Ding Ning's seemingly low cultivation and minor sect, promising to concede if Ding Ning could withstand three of his charms. Ding Ning skillfully parried Li Rui's attacks, deliberately holding back his inner energy to avoid revealing his true strength to King of Heng. King of Xian, observing Ding Ning's restrained power, speculated that Ding Ning was either acting under King of Heng's orders or concealing a deeper secret.
Li Rui, noticing Ding Ning's 'broken sword' and less-than-full power, intensified his attacks, eventually unleashing a powerful blood charm that observers believed would kill or gravely wound Ding Ning. Just as the devastating charm was about to strike, King of Heng threw a wine cup, shattering Li Rui's sword and saving Ding Ning's life, stating that Ding Ning had previously saved the Crown Prince of Heng and thus deserved protection.
King of Xian, now facing King of Heng in their duel, scorned his opponent's ambition. He revealed that more than a decade ago, after Hui was destroyed by Heng, its remnants had created the powerful Destiny-stealing Pellet and entrusted it to Xian, hoping for revenge. This pellet, when consumed, would exhaust all true essence but grant a temporary transcendent cultivation, ultimately leading to the user's death.
King of Xian, who had taken the pellet, proclaimed his unwavering commitment to protect Xian, even at the cost of his own life. He transformed the sacred Heaven-questioning Stone into his natal object, creating a "Heaven and Earth Furnace." King of Heng recognized that King of Xian was deliberately using the swordsmanship of Liang Jingmeng, a legendary figure whose name King of Heng had forbidden to be mentioned.
King of Xian accused King of Heng of tyranny, causing widespread suffering through endless wars. King of Heng argued that he fought to bring peace, while King of Xian insisted true leadership lay in benevolent rule. The two agreed to a final, decisive strike. King of Heng, displaying his recently achieved eighth-realm cultivation, unleashed the Pohuang Sword Scripture, striking King of Xian's heart and decisively winning the battle.
King of Xian, in his final moments, acknowledged his defeat to the Bashan Sword Field's technique, but questioned King of Heng's right to wield it. King of Heng arrogantly declared that Heng was his, the world was his, and he would soon lead his armies to conquer the three remaining states, unifying the world.
As King of Xian lay dying, he entrusted Fragrant Concubine Zhao with the crucial task of guarding Xian and guiding Prince Liling, emphasizing that a true ruler prioritizes the state and should avoid reckless actions. He instructed her to keep his death a secret until the new king ascended, to prevent internal chaos.
He also secretly dispatched a subordinate to Heng with the Renwang Jade, instructing them to deliver it to Ding Ning with utmost secrecy, explaining that Ding Ning, despite being by King of Heng's side, harbored other intentions. King of Xian then asked Fragrant Concubine Zhao if she resented him, before asking her to sing for him one last time. She sang a short, poignant song, reminiscing about their shared path and his grand ambitions, affirming her love for him.
Meanwhile, King of Heng's Chancellor Li confirmed that the good news of the victory at Lushan had been sent. Examining King of Heng's wound, Chancellor Li discovered that the Heaven-questioning Stone, charged with the Destiny-stealing Pellet's energy, was clashing with King of Heng's eighth-realm cultivation, causing his vitality to reverse and meridians to disorder. Chancellor Li advised King of Heng to enter seclusion to expel the stone.
King of Heng agreed, but strictly ordered Chancellor Li to keep his injury a complete secret from everyone, especially Queen Ye Zhen and Crown Prince Yuan Zihan. Back in Fengming, Yuan Zichu returned and immediately sought an audience with Queen Ye Zhen to apologize for leaving without permission and to report on his journey.
He relayed King of Heng's instructions that Yuan Zihan would fight on the front lines while Yuan Zichu and the Queen would secure the rear, ultimately to conquer the three states and found an empire. Yuan Zichu also recounted how Ding Ning had saved him from Zhou Rongmo, destroyed the old King of Xian's immortality plan, and was now with King of Heng at Lushan.
Ye Zhen expressed her unease upon hearing that King of Heng was keeping Ding Ning by his side. Shortly after, Liang Lian requested an audience. Ye Zhen, having lost trust in him, curtly dismissed him to the study before sending Yuan Zichu to rest. Liang Lian, deeply dissatisfied with Queen Ye Zhen's treatment and feeling his contributions unappreciated, declared to his subordinate that he no longer trusted her and would achieve his ambitions through his own means.
Separately, Chen Xuan went to the Jiantian Bureau, where he confronted Ye Celeng about missing their agreed meeting. Ye Celeng explained that Liang Lian's suspicions against her had intensified after the fish market incident, making it dangerous for them to meet, and that she worried Chen Xuan was also drawing unwanted attention. Chen Xuan insisted he was only concerned for her safety.
He reminded her that she had already risked much for him by delaying her meeting with the Queen and allowing Bai Shanshui to escape during the fish market incident, making her position precarious. Ye Celeng then advised him that while the blame for the fish market had been shifted, he remained in grave danger if he continued to associate with "rebels." As they spoke, Chen Xuan suddenly silenced Ye Celeng, realizing someone was eavesdropping outside the door.
