Episode Summary
Xie Xuechen battles Fa Jian, who threatens to self-destruct. Mu Xuanling, controlled by Sang Qi, holds Gao Qiumin hostage, demanding the Chaos Pearl and revealing a past recording of Xie Xuechen killing Gao Qiumin's father. Xie Xuechen claims he was possessed. Mu Xuanling breaks free from Sang Qi's control. Xie Xuechen contains Fa Jian. Mu Xuanling is imprisoned, and Xie Xuechen vows to save her. Su Ningzhen reveals Sang Qi killed Gao Qiumin's mother, but Mu Xuanling denies it, revealing her past connection to Gao Qiumin.
Spoiler Alert
The episode opens with Xie Xuechen locked in a desperate battle with Fa Jian, who threatens to self-destruct, taking everyone with him. Xie Xuechen rallies everyone to stop the impending explosion, but a new crisis emerges: Mu Xuanling, under the control of Sang Qi's dark magic, seizes Gao Qiumin, holding her hostage. Mu Xuanling demands the Chaos Pearl in exchange for Gao Qiumin’s life. She then drops a bombshell, claiming Fa Jian has ties to the Dark Clan and insinuates that Xie Xuechen might have similar connections. After all, he was the one who brought her back.
The tension escalates as Mu Xuanling produces a recording stone, revealing a shocking event from a decade prior: Xie Xuechen murdering Gao Qiumin's father. Controlled by Sang Qi, Mu Xuanling elaborates, stating that after Xie Xuechen killed Gao Fengxu, his father confined him to seclusion for over seven years. This revelation fuels Gao Qiumin's immediate hatred for Xie Xuechen, who defends himself, claiming he was possessed by the Dark Clan at the time. Despite some support for Xie Xuechen, doubts linger, especially since the recording stone's authenticity is vouched for by Fu Yuanting.
Amidst this turmoil, the disciples of Yong Xue City unite in a protective formation against Fa Jian, calling for Mu Xuanling to join them. Witnessing the familiar faces of Elder Cang, her junior sister, and other disciples, Mu Xuanling breaks free from Sang Qi's control. Xie Xuechen manages to drag Fa Jian into a tower, and Mu Xuanling, screaming his name, rushes after him.
With the immediate threat of the Dark Clan invasion resolved, the focus shifts to Mu Xuanling's status as the Holy Maiden of the Dark Abyss. Su Ningzhen attempts to kill her, but Xie Xuechen intervenes, arguing that Mu Xuanling hasn't harmed anyone and doesn't deserve death. He orders her imprisonment in an ice cell, postponing further discussion. Xie Xuechen's decision is final, and he leaves, only to collapse, coughing up blood in his chambers. He instructs Nan Xuyue to keep his injury secret, fearing Sang Qi might exploit his weakness, but Nan Xuyue sees through the pretense, recognizing Xie Xuechen's primary concern is protecting Mu Xuanling.
Inside the ice cell, Mu Xuanling reaches for a sliver of sunlight, only to be burned. Determined not to live in the shadows, she steps into the sunlight, but Xie Xuechen pulls her back. She confesses her time is running out and pleads with him to kill her, believing it's the only way for him to solidify his position and return to being a man of clear morals. Xie Xuechen embraces her, vowing to save her life.
Meanwhile, Su Ningzhen fuels Gao Qiumin's hatred towards Sang Qi, revealing that he killed Gao Qiumin's mother. This contradicts Su Ningzhen's previous claim of her mother dying in childbirth, raising Gao Qiumin's suspicions.
Gao Qiumin confronts Mu Xuanling, questioning her about her mother's death. Mu Xuanling states that Sang Qi, having lost an arm and been in seclusion for three years at the time, couldn't have been the killer. She also reveals her past as the Spirit Clan member who was sacrificed in Gao Qiumin's place, explaining her initial hostility. Their confrontation is interrupted by Nan Xuyue, who tends to Mu Xuanling's wounds and offers to help her escape, but Mu Xuanling remains resolute in her chosen path.
