Episode Summary
The episode centers on an elaborate deception orchestrated by Li Qingyue and Bai Jiusi to expose a hidden traitor. Announcing a plan to "slaughter the gods," Li Qingyue leads his sect to the Ninth Heaven, where Bai Jiusi stages his own death by impaling himself on Li Qingyue's sword. The chaos allows the real traitor, Zhang Suan, to reveal himself by attacking the wounded Li Qingyue and attempting to destroy the Immeasurable Stele. The ruse is then revealed: Li Qingyue and Bai Jiusi were working together all along to force the true villain, Xiao Jingshan, out of hiding.
Spoiler Alert
Feud Episode 26 Recap & Spoilers: The Grand Deception
This week, the long-awaited war between the Jingyun Sect and the Ninth Heaven finally arrives, but it unfolds in a way no one could have predicted. Episode 26 is a masterclass in misdirection, weaving a complex play of feigned death and betrayal to unmask a traitor hiding in plain sight.
The Eve of War
The episode opens with Li Qingyue's return to the Jingyun Sect. The mountain is abuzz with excitement after the disciples' trip to the Ninth Heaven, but a heavy atmosphere hangs in the air. Li Qingyue finds only the ever-loyal Zhang Suan guarding the gate and urges him to rest before the "vicious battle" to come.
Their quiet moment is interrupted by Lingshu, a divine scribe, who arrives to congratulate the sect on achieving immortality. But when he asks for a list of names to record, Li Qingyue delivers the first shock of the episode: he didn't bring his people to the Ninth Heaven to become gods, but to slaughter them. The scribe flees in terror, leaving the disciples stunned and confused. The declaration immediately casts suspicion on Long Yuan, with many believing he must have killed Li Qingyue's master. As tensions flare, Long Yuan denies the accusation, ready to fight Li Qingyue to the death.
Meanwhile, a family drama unfolds. Fan Jiao Jiao arrives to take her daughter, Fan Ling'er, away. Knowing he can't treat her at the sect, Li Qingyue reluctantly agrees. In a cruel act, Fan Jiao Jiao forcibly removes Fan Ling'er's celestial pill, stripping her of 200 years of cultivation.
Elsewhere, Bai Jiusi returns to the Ninth Heaven, but he is not the triumphant leader his followers expect. He is sullen and despondent. Hearing that Li Qingyue plans to attack, he gives a bizarre order: open the realm's protective barrier and welcome them in.
A Battle of Theatrics
The day of the great battle arrives, and Li Qingyue leads his followers to the Ninth Heaven. But instead of a fight, they are met by Cang Tu with a phoenix chariot, ready to escort Li Qingyue to the Cang Lei Hall (Palace of Hidden Thunder) like an honored guest. Along the way, Li Qingyue swiftly deals with the three brothers who once stood in his way, trapping them with ease.
The true spectacle begins at the Cang Lei Hall. Bai Jiusi awaits, dressed not for war, but in celebratory red robes. He announces that he is there to host a wedding for Li Qingyue. Utterly bewildered but unwavering in his mission, Li Qingyue ignores the proposal and demands his revenge, vowing to kill Long Yuan.
A Shocking Death and a Deeper Betrayal
In a move that seems to confirm everyone's suspicions, Bai Jiusi steps forward to protect Long Yuan, making him swear an oath never to harm the Jingyun Sect again. Believing Bai Jiusi is shielding his master's true killer, Li Qingyue draws his sword.
Then, the unthinkable happens. As Li Qingyue lunges, Bai Jiusi throws himself onto the blade, his body dissipating into nothingness before a horrified audience. The disciples of the Ninth Heaven cry out for vengeance, and the hall descends into chaos. As Li Qingyue stands frozen in shock, Zhang Suan seizes the opportunity, stabbing him from behind. With their leader gravely wounded, the Jingyun Sect loses all will to fight, and Xuanwei orders them to find the traitor, Zhang Suan.
The Final Act and the Truth Revealed
Wielding two swords, Zhang Suan rushes to the Immeasurable Stele, intending to destroy the sacred monument. As he gloats over his victory, he is interrupted. Li Qingyue and Bai Jiusi appear before him, completely unharmed, and magically recall their swords.
It was all an elaborate act. A flashback reveals that Bai Jiusi had visited Li Qingyue earlier, where Li Qingyue confided his suspicions that Zhang Suan was connected to the true mastermind, Xiao Jingshan. Together, they orchestrated the entire "battle"—the slaughter declaration, the wedding proposal, the faked death, and the staged betrayal—to force the real villain out of hiding. Even the Celestial Emissary was aware of the ruse and allowed it to proceed.
With his pawn exposed and his plan in ruins, Xiao Jingshan has nowhere left to hide. He finally drops his disguise, revealing his true face and setting the stage for the real confrontation.
