Episode Summary
Mo Xiao becomes the new sect leader of Shushan just as poisoned Immortal Sect disciples in Fengdu City suffer a relapse. Feng Lixue offers to cure them in exchange for the return of the Tianxing Seal to reopen her sect. They travel to Fengdu City, where Mo Xiao acts distant. Meanwhile, Lu Jianchuan secretly practices a forbidden curse and is blackmailed into helping demonic cultivators infiltrate the upcoming detoxification ritual. Hong Yue, still affected by feelings for Hao Tian from the Valley of Desire, is also manipulated into joining the plot. During the ritual, Hong Yue attacks, causing chaos and injuring Feng Lixue. To prevent the demonic energy from escaping the damaged formation, Feng Lixue absorbs it into herself, falling unconscious before being rescued by Poyun. Tragically, many disciples still die. Lu Jianchuan falsely blames Feng Lixue for the disaster. Unbeknownst to others, Chong Guang secretly heals the unconscious Feng Lixue with his blood. She later awakens, unaware of the deaths or that she is being framed.
Spoiler Alert
Alright, so we kick things off with Feng Lixue patiently waiting outside the Shushan sect gates. Poyun gets the scoop from a disciple: today's the big day Mo Xiao officially becomes the sect leader. When Poyun tells Feng Lixue, she just gives this calm little smile, like, "Yeah, that's his destiny."
But no sooner does Mo Xiao take the leadership mantle than trouble brews. Word arrives from Fengdu City – those Immortal Sect disciples who were poisoned before? Their demonic poison is acting up again, and no one knows how to cure them. This is Feng Lixue's cue. She steps forward, announcing she can neutralize the poison and is willing to help the Immortal Sects. Her price? She wants the Tianxing Seal back and permission to reopen her Tianxing Sect. Yuan Beichen promises to give it serious thought, and Mo Xiao promptly leads a group, including Feng Lixue, to Fengdu City.
Back wherever he hangs out, Feng Lixue's master, Chong Guang, hears about her bold move and is seriously impressed. He thinks showing up on the Immortal Sects' big day to demand the Seal is exactly the kind of gutsy play he expects from his apprentice. Plus, if she actually wins their trust, Chong Guang figures his own plans might get a whole lot easier.
So, Mo Xiao, Feng Lixue, Xie Lingyun, and Murong Jing arrive in Fengdu City. Feng Lixue and Murong Jing are chatting it up, but Mo Xiao is trailing behind, super quiet and withdrawn. Murong Jing notices he hasn't been the same since he returned, especially now that Feng Lixue is around. Xie Lingyun, however, knows exactly why Mo Xiao's acting weird – it's all about Feng Lixue.
Later, Murong Jing and Xie Lingyun visit Feng Lixue at the inn. They're curious about how she plans to tackle the poison, but Feng Lixue keeps her methods under wraps, just promising she'll be there when needed to help Mo Xiao. She also gently asks them not to visit too often, worried people might whisper about them consorting with "evil elements." Murong Jing brushes it off, saying they're friends after everything they've been through, especially since Feng Lixue has supposedly left the Demon Sect. Murong Jing also wants to tell Feng Lixue about all the sacrifices Mo Xiao has made for her, but Xie Lingyun stops her, believing Mo Xiao and Feng Lixue need to sort out their own issues.
On their way back, Xie Lingyun and Murong Jing spot a familiar, unwelcome face: the Poison Lady, Hong Yue, is also in Fengdu City. Sensing trouble, they hurry back to warn Mo Xiao. He's just learned from Hualang that the current poison flare-up isn't accidental; it was deliberately caused by the Demon Sect's Seven Caves and Nine Hells. Mo Xiao guesses the other two visited Feng Lixue and presses them about her plan. When he hears she didn't reveal her method, he gets pretty worried.
That night, Mo Xiao can't help himself and secretly goes to watch Feng Lixue through her window. He knows she's chosen an incredibly difficult path but admires her determination. He vows silently to protect her. Just as he's getting deep in his feelings, the Guardian Heart Sand on his wrist painfully reminds him of his vows (or limitations), forcing him to leave quickly. He leaves behind a small pinwheel on her windowsill. Feng Lixue hears the noise, comes out, finds the pinwheel, and knows Mo Xiao was there.
Meanwhile, Lu Jianchuan is up to no good, secretly practicing the forbidden Soul Ferrying Curse to transfer his own poison into a poor rabbit. He gets caught red-handed by Murong Changfeng. Murong Changfeng scolds him for using dark arts, but Lu Jianchuan begs him to keep quiet, promising loyalty in return. Murong Changfeng agrees, perhaps seeing his desperation, but warns him that his deception might be exposed when Mo Xiao performs the detoxification ritual.
Trouble finds Lu Jianchuan again when a qin player calling herself Ling Xiang approaches him. She wants him to sneak some of her "friends" (clearly shady types) into the ritual altar area. Lu Jianchuan refuses when he realizes they're demonic cultivators, but Ling Xiang blackmails him, threatening to expose his secret curse practice. Cornered, Lu Jianchuan agrees and gives her his waist token for access.
Remember Hong Yue, the Poison Lady? Turns out, the lingering poison effects mean she still vividly remembers falling for Hao Tian back in the Valley of Desire. She tracks him down in Fengdu City, wanting him to leave with her. But Hao Tian is engaged to Yue Yao and wants nothing to do with the Valley of Desire memories or Hong Yue. He tells her to get lost, especially when he sees other Immortal Sect members approaching. As he ditches her, a maid (who is actually Ling Xiang or one of her associates) approaches Hong Yue, claiming she can help her get what she wants. The maid leads Hong Yue to a room where Ling Xiang, the Island Lord of Biqiong, and the Elder of Longevity Valley are waiting. They also want access to the altar to get rid of their own poison issues. Hong Yue initially refuses (she has her own ways to suppress poison), but Ling Xiang uses Hao Tian as bait, convincing Hong Yue to join their plan to crash the ritual.
Finally, it's time for the detoxification ritual. Feng Lixue and Poyun arrive as promised. Feng Lixue tells Poyun to stay back and just watch, no matter what. Mo Xiao comes over and quietly tells Feng Lixue not to push herself too hard, reminding her he's there for her. She gives a slight nod.
Feng Lixue and Mo Xiao take their places at the center of the altar and activate the formation. The poisoned Immortal Sect disciples sit around them, black demonic energy starting to seep out as they writhe in pain. Lu Jianchuan struggles visibly to suppress his own poison symptoms. Suddenly, Hong Yue makes her move, trying to break the formation and grab Hao Tian. In the chaos, Feng Lixue is injured, and the contained demonic energy starts to scatter wildly. Mo Xiao quickly throws up a barrier to keep it from spreading.
Xie Lingyun and Murong Ce rush in to help contain the situation. Hong Yue desperately crawls towards Hao Tian, but just then, Yue Yao arrives. Seeing Hong Yue attacking the altar, Yue Yao runs her through with a sword, furious at the intrusion.
With the formation critically damaged and demonic energy about to break free completely, Feng Lixue makes a devastating choice: she uses her own body as a vessel, absorbing all the rampant demonic energy into herself. Far away, Chong Guang feels a wave of her intense pain. Seeing Feng Lixue collapsing in agony, Poyun can't stand by any longer; he flies in, grabs her, and escapes. Mo Xiao and the others are too busy trying to save the disciples to give chase. Tragically, despite Feng Lixue's sacrifice, many of the poisoned disciples don't make it and die. Mo Xiao is left weeping amidst the loss.
Poyun and Gu Bai watch over the unconscious Feng Lixue. Worried, they decide to go find some magical artifacts that might help purge the poison, leaving Cang Cang to watch over her. Bad timing. Chong Guang shows up, knocks Cang Cang out cold, and looks sadly at his apprentice. Pained by her condition, he slits his own wrist and lets his blood drip into Feng Lixue's mouth.
Back at the disastrous altar scene, people realize demonic cultivators infiltrated the ritual. Lu Jianchuan immediately points the finger at Feng Lixue, accusing her of pretending to help while actually orchestrating the attack that led to so many deaths. Mo Xiao wants to go straight to Feng Lixue's Tianxing Manor to investigate, but Xie Lingyun stops him, arguing that Feng Lixue is already in a position where she can't defend herself, and Mo Xiao getting involved will only make things murkier for both of them. Reluctantly, Mo Xiao agrees and leads the survivors back to Shushan.
Later, Feng Lixue wakes up, feeling completely fine thanks to Chong Guang's secret intervention. Gu Bai and Poyun return with whatever items they found, relieved to see her awake and well. Feng Lixue immediately asks about the situation at the altar. Poyun, assuming her sacrifice worked as intended, tells her that since she absorbed the demonic energy, everyone should be okay now. Hearing this, Feng Lixue manages a relieved smile, completely unaware of the devastating true cost and the blame now placed squarely on her shoulders.
