Sword Dynasty Episode 30 Recap
> Sword Dynasty Recap
The Teacher of the Nation, Zhan Mohe, took Wu Lianzi's palm blood and, using it as a guide and a sword as the key, inserted it into a stone table to remove the sanctuary's barrier. He commented that Wu Lianzi was like a daughter to him, and he couldn't enjoy such a sacred moment alone. Later, he killed his subordinate, Tong'er, explaining that he couldn't let anyone else know the whereabouts of himself and the relic, despite her unwavering loyalty.
Meanwhile, the King of Heng and Huang Zhenwei found the body of Marquis Liang and surmised that Ding Ning and his companions were likely still in Wuchou Town, as the King had deduced that the secret of the Lone Mountain Sword Scroll was located there. Ding Ning's group tracked down Zhan Mohe, but their cultivation proved inferior, and they were severely injured.
They realized Wu Lianzi was in grave danger, concluding that Zhan Mohe's next target would be the Great Torture Sword itself. Zhan Mohe confronted Wu Lianzi, demanding to know the relic's location, specifically the Great Torture Sword. As Zhan Mohe advanced, Xie Rou valiantly stepped forward to resist, declaring that no one would harm Ding Ning as long as she was there.
Zhan Mohe, cunningly seizing an opportunity, ruthlessly stabbed her with a long blade, and she collapsed into Ding Ning's arms. In her dying breaths, Xie Rou reaffirmed her previous engagement to Ding Ning, insisting she never took it lightly. Ding Ning was heartbroken and expressed his lifelong gratitude for her sacrifice. Zhan Mohe then threatened Ding Ning, holding Wu Lianzi captive.
Unwilling to endanger anyone further, Wu Lianzi attempted to take her own life by stabbing herself with a long blade. As she lay wounded, vines erupted from a nearby ancient tree, wildly growing and engulfing Zhan Mohe, dragging him into the tangled roots. Just then, Tuoba Wuchou appeared, drawing the long blade from Wu Lianzi and using his cultivation to heal her, quickly stabilizing her condition.
Yelü Canglang was distraught, urging Wu Lianzi to live for the people of Fengwu and for her own sake, as she had come to rescue him, making him very happy. Tuoba Wuchou explained that he had sealed the Great Torture Sword in the Giant Ziyu Tree because people had once killed many innocents to obtain it. He had used his own body as an intermediary for this sealing.
Now that the sword was separated from the tree, his remaining days were few. He intended to find a new master for the Great Torture Sword, which was extremely proud and could only be wielded by a true king. Ding Ning stepped forward to try and grasp the sword, but at that very moment, the King of Heng also arrived, seeking the Great Torture Sword for himself. Both men simultaneously reached for its hilt.
The scene transformed, and Ding Ning appeared as Liang Jingmeng, confronting the King of Heng, Yuan Wu. Liang Jingmeng accused Yuan Wu of straying from the righteous path, betraying their shared kingly ideals, and failing the common people. Yuan Wu, however, dismissed their past agreements as naïve ideals, asserting that only war could bring stability to the realm, and that sacrificing thousands of lives was a trivial cost for the prosperity and long-term peace of the Kingdom of Heng.
Liang Jingmeng condemned Yuan Wu's tyrannical rule, which had caused widespread suffering and led to the demise of many, including the Bashan Sword Field. Yuan Wu remained unyielding, declaring that the world was his, and that the Bashan Sword Field had to perish for the Kingdom of Heng to thrive. Liang Jingmeng vowed to use his sword to end Yuan Wu's reign, as Yuan Wu had been blinded by hegemony and was no longer the man he once knew.
The King of Heng attacked first, but Ding Ning successfully drew the Great Torture Sword, though he suffered an internal injury. The King of Heng was left in a furious rage, shouting for Liang Jingmeng and Ding Ning. Huang Zhenwei tried to calm his king, but to no avail. Tuoba Wuchou explained that the confrontation was a magical illusion created by the Great Torture Sword, capable of creating space and confusing minds.
Ding Ning realized that he and Yuan Wu had both seen each other's true selves. Tuoba Wuchou further revealed that the Great Torture Sword could gather immense spiritual energy, potentially enabling a practitioner to reach the ninth realm of immortality, but also capable of causing them to explode if the energy could not be controlled. He confessed his past indecision had led to the massacre of the Wu clan and the death of his beloved, A-zi.
Zhan Mohe's ancestors were responsible for that tragedy. Tuoba Wuchou had later used all his cultivation to revive A-zi, then merged with the Great Torture Sword and the Giant Ziyu Tree, transforming into a protective array for the Wu clan, creating the two Wuchou Towns. Now, with the Great Torture Sword having chosen a new master and Wu Lianzi providing a home for the revived A-zi, Tuoba Wuchou felt his purpose fulfilled.
Before his departure, he advised Ding Ning to wield the sword wisely, cherish those around him, and live without regrets. Meanwhile, Chen Xuan returned to Ye Zhen, presenting the Life-sustaining Magic Art in exchange for the position of Central Punishment Director. Ye Zhen initially doubted him, but Chen Xuan proved his knowledge by reciting portions of the ancient text. Ye Zhen, eager for the art, promised him the promotion by the next day.
Unknown to Ye Zhen, Chen Xuan had a sinister plan. He had earlier confided in Ding Ning in Fengwu, revealing that Ye Zhen had sent him to kill Ding Ning for the art. However, driven by a desire for revenge for Ye Celeng's death, Chen Xuan had secretly collaborated with Ding Ning.
His plan was to give Ye Zhen a reversed version of the Life-sustaining Magic Art—an authentic-looking but fundamentally flawed copy that would cause her meridian circulation to reverse, destroy her own cultivation, and ultimately lead to vital blood flowing backward and her death. He declared that he cared little for the fate of the world, only for Ye Celeng's vindication. Ding Ning expressed his admiration for Chen Xuan's insidious scheme.
After his encounter with Tuoba Wuchou, Ding Ning revealed his true identity to his companions, admitting his deception and apologizing for not being able to tell them sooner. Jiang Li affirmed his unwavering loyalty, stating that they had followed Ding Ning of Baiyang Cave and would continue to do so. Yuan Zichu, while acknowledging that Ding Ning had used him and had reservations, couldn't abandon their past friendship.
He decided to return to his father, the King of Heng, despite Ding Ning's warning about the King's temperament, arguing that his coming there was due to his royal brother, and that sometimes a former friend was better than a brother. Yuan Zichu warned Ding Ning that Fengming was no longer safe for them and that their paths had diverged, promising no mercy if they met as enemies again.
When the King of Heng found Yuan Zichu, he questioned him about Ding Ning's whereabouts. Yuan Zichu falsely claimed he had seen nothing and had only hidden in the fog to escape the rebels after Marquis Liang's death. Separately, Ye Xinhe questioned Queen Ye Zhen's insistence on practicing the Life-sustaining Magic Art, especially since Ye Zhen wanted to use it to repair a hidden illness in the heir of Xiaozhong Prefecture, who had been chosen through the Gu-cultivation selection.
Ye Xinhe argued that with the King of Heng absent, they should seize more substantial power for their clan, the Xiaozhong Prefecture. Ye Zhen rebuked her, asserting that the Xiaozhong Prefecture had already achieved more than expected. She added that the King of Heng had been kind to her for a decade, and she had no desire to betray him or fight for power, advising Ye Xinhe to learn patience instead of indulging greed.
