Episode Summary
Xu Qi'an defeats the Celestial Realm Envoy's divine image by questioning the meaning of life, receiving a powerful jade knife in the process. He awakens in Yunlu Academy, learns the knife is a treasured artifact, and is immediately assigned a new mission by the wary Emperor. Princess Lin'an is confined to the palace but sneaks out to see him. Xu Qi'an reveals he sought a noble title to help his brother's marriage prospects. Finally, he meets Celestial Realm Envoys who reveal information about the being residing within him, Shen Shu.
Spoiler Alert
In episode 32 of "Guardians of the Dafeng," Xu Qi'an is brought into a dreamscape by a Celestial Realm Envoy. The Envoy repeatedly probes Xu Qi'an about the meaning of life. Initially, Xu Qi'an is a bit lost, but he quickly regains his composure, becoming clear-headed and resolute. He finds peace in the final stages of his illusory life and prepares for a counterattack. In each cycle of the illusion, he engages the Envoy in increasingly spirited discussions about life's meaning.
Xu Qi'an then turns the tables, questioning the Envoy about the significance of everyday actions like eating, breathing, and opening one's eyes. The Envoy is thrown off balance, his worldview shaken, and he begins to doubt his own actions. This allows Xu Qi'an to easily shatter the Envoy's Dharma Form (a Buddhist term referring to a manifested image or form, best translated here as "divine image").
As the divine image crumbles, Xu Qi'an receives a small jade knife. The audience erupts in celebration, cheering his victory. Xu Pingzhi, Xu Qi'an's uncle, is so overjoyed that he forgets his status and uses the Chief Minister's robe to wipe away his tears. Princess Lin'an, who had been anxious, is finally relieved and wears a proud smile, knowing Xu Qi'an has triumphed.
Xu Qi'an wakes up in the Yunlu Academy, still clutching the jade knife. Supervisor, the Supervisor, reveals that the knife is the academy's treasured artifact. It turns out that the sword Princess Lin'an previously gave to Xu Qi'an, combined with the power of the Yunlu Academy and the Si Tian Jian (Si Tian Jian), enabled him to break the divine image.
Emperor Jing receives news of Xu Qi'an's victory and is puzzled how a mere Silver Gong (Silver Gong, a rank in the Night Watchmen) could so easily defeat the divine image. His attendants explain that the knife from Yunlu Academy contained the power of a semi-sage, and Xu Qi'an, as the chosen one, awakened this ancient power. Carrying the luck of a true dragon, he effortlessly accomplished the task. The Emperor grows even more wary of Xu Qi'an, realizing he can command the power of a semi-sage.
Supervisor and the great scholar of Yunlu Academy discuss the situation. They acknowledge that Emperor Jing must have noticed Xu Qi'an's growing power, and that the Emperor won't tolerate anyone stronger than himself. Both decide to protect Xu Qi'an and help him progress further.
Emperor Jing grants Xu Qi'an's request for a noble title (Marquis), but immediately orders him to investigate the "Blood Massacre of Three Thousand Miles." The Emperor's stated reason is that Xu Qi'an possesses immense power and can easily connect with both the Si Tian Jian and Yunlu Academy, making the investigation more convenient.
Princess Lin'an, hearing that Xu Qi'an is leaving on a mission, rushes to see him off. However, her maid informs her that the Imperial Noble Consort has ordered Lin'an to be confined to the palace. Rumors have spread about Lin'an visiting Yunlu Academy for Xu Qi'an, and the Consort wants to protect her reputation. Lin'an disguises herself as a maid and sneaks out to meet Xu Qi'an.
After Xu Qi'an's success, the Xu household is showered with gifts from palace officials. Xu Qi'an questions his uncle and Xu Xinnian about why they didn't take better care of him while he was unconscious.
Xu Xinnian explains that Princess Lin'an was present during their visit and insisted on taking care of Xu Qi'an herself. She even urged Xu Xinnian and his father to leave, effectively pushing them out. Xu Xinnian remarks that Lin'an clearly cares deeply for Xu Qi'an. Xu Qi'an reveals that he requested the noble title for Xu Xinnian's sake, as Xu Xinnian and the Chief Minister's daughter are deeply in love, but their families' social disparity would prevent marriage without a title.
Xu Xinnian laments that Xu Pingzhi's embarrassing encounter with Chief Minister Wang Zhenwen (where he unknowingly bragged to him) might have ruined the marriage prospects. Xu Pingzhi is shocked to learn that the man he chatted with so enthusiastically was Wang Zhenwen.
Finally, Xu Qi'an meets two envoys from the Celestial Realm in his courtyard. One of them, Duku , awakens Shen Shu, a being residing within Xu Qi'an, by touching his forehead. Shen Shu recalls some past events but still lacks a primordial spirit and needs more time to recover within Xu Qi'an. Duku reveals that it was Witch God Sect's Spirit Medium who placed Shen Shu within Xu Qi'an. Once Shen Shu recovers, the Spirit Medium might try to take Xu Qi'an away. Duku advises that the safest place for Xu Qi'an is the city, and after giving some final instructions, the envoys vanish.
