Episode Summary
Xiao Qiushui confronts and defeats his brother Xiao Kaiyan, who dies after a failed attempt to master the Oblivion Scripture. [p] Just in time, Xiao Qiushui rescues Wu Zhe and turns the tide of the battle at Xianren Pass, defeating the Northern Wilderness army. [p] During the victory celebration, Xiao Qiushui succumbs to the cost of using his ultimate power and dies peacefully. [p, 6, 7] The story then reveals the entire series was a coma-dream, as Xiao Mingming wakes up in a modern-day hospital. [p]
Spoiler Alert
The Final Showdown
Xiao Qiushui vs. Xiao Kaiyan
The episode kicks off right in the middle of the action. Wu Zhe is still a prisoner in the water fortress.Xiao Kaiyan has him in a pretty nasty trap. A sand timer is slowly counting down.When it runs out, a mechanism will fire a volley of arrows.It's a classic villain move.
Xiao Qiushui isn't waiting for an invitation. He storms the fortress alone to rescue Wu Zhe.Xiao Kaiyan is waiting for him, oozing arrogance.He completely underestimates his younger brother.The two of them finally fight.It becomes clear very quickly that Xiao Qiushui has mastered the real Oblivion Scripture.His moves are fluid and powerful. He even uses his guqin as a weapon, landing a heavy blow on Xiao Kaiyan.
A Brother's Regret
This is where it gets interesting. Xiao Qiushui reveals the truth about their family's ultimate martial art.The highest level of the Oblivion Scripture isn't about emptiness. It's about having overwhelming feelings and controlling them.Xiao Kaiyan tried to learn it by just copying the moves. He never understood the philosophy. That mistake proves fatal, causing his internal energy to collapse.
As he's dying, Xiao Kaiyan starts to hallucinate.He sees his father, Xiao Xilou, proudly calling him the most dependable son.He sees his mother, Sun Huishan, wanting to cook noodles for him.He sees his siblings calling him their good brother.It's a tragic glimpse of the family he destroyed.Xiao Qiushui is heartbroken watching this.He's now the last of the Xiao family.He desperately asks his dying brother where Wu Zhe is hidden, wanting to atone for the family's sins.But Xiao Kaiyan dies before he can give a clear answer.
The Battle for the Pass
A Last-Minute Save
Things are looking bad at Xianren Pass. The Northern Wilderness army has broken through.Their leader, King Helian, is sure that the Da Xi empire is his for the taking.Liang Dou and the Shenzhou Alliance show up to help, but it's not enough.The Northern Wilderness has elite fighters, and the Alliance members are quickly defeated.
Just as the Northern army prepares for its second big push, an arrow flies out of nowhere.It pins King Helian directly to the center of the Xianren Pass wall.Then, Xiao Qiushui appears on the wall with Wu Zhe right beside him.He found him just in time. Wu Zhe immediately takes charge, rallies the demoralized soldiers, and drives the Northern army back.
A Bittersweet Victory
Toasts and Goodbyes
The Emperor finally gets a message and realizes Xiao Kaiyan played him for a fool.He had just ordered Li Chenzhou to go rescue Wu Zhe.Then another report comes in announcing the victory.The Emperor is ready to hand out rewards to Wu Zhe and Li Chenzhou.But he receives devastating news. Li Chenzhou was killed on his way to the rescue mission that was never needed. The Emperor is crushed by his mistake.
That night, the survivors celebrate around a bonfire.It's a hard-won victory. Xiao Qiushui proposes a toast. First, to the soldiers who died defending Da Xi.Second, to themselves.Everyone is smiling, finally able to relax. Tang Fang tells Xiao Qiushui that meeting him was the best thing that ever happened to her.Zuo Qiu and Qu Mushuang talk about their wedding, and everyone teases them.Watching from the side, Liu Suifeng and Song Mingzhu admit that Xiao Qiushui was right all along. The martial world he wanted, one united by righteousness, has become real.
The Ultimate Price
Xiao Qiushui sits quietly during the celebration.His wine cup slips from his fingers. We learn that he knew the cost of his power all along. To use the final chapter of the Oblivion Scripture, he had to burn through all of his life force. His energy is gone, and his life is ending. But for him, the journey is complete. He saved everyone.
Back to Reality
Then, everything changes. Xiao Mingming wakes up in a hospital bed. His college roommate, Zuo Qiu, is sitting by his side.He learns that Li Nan, his real-world rival, has been arrested for leaking state secrets.The whole epic story was a dream, or a journey into another world while he was in a coma. Xiao Mingming is still lost in that world.The final shot is him dreaming of himself as Xiao Qiushui, dressed in white, vanishing into a brilliant sunset.
