General Ma of Wei City asks Ning Que to escort Princess Li’s maidservant, of the Tang Empire, back to the capital. Although Ning Que doesn’t want to, he relents because an experienced cultivator, Lu Qing Chen is part of her entourage. He figures out that Princess Li is pretending to be her maidservant, who is fleeing from being murdered by her late husband’s tribe

To protect Empress Xia Tian, General Xia Hou sets a trap for Princess Li, whose entourage is attacked on their way to the capital. Qing Chen is overpowered by someone in the Demon sect, so Ning Que helps kill the attacker, while Sang Sang protects the princess and her son. Qing Shan, State Preceptor, and General Xia perceive Ning Que as an unknown variable in the struggle for power

As they head to the capital, Ning Que finds out from Qing Chen that eleven of his seventeen acupuncture points are blocked, rendering him unable to cultivate. Despite, he asks Qing Chen to teach him the cultivation levels for his own knowledge. He keeps getting recurring dreams that haunt him about the sky becoming dark. The official for the department of transport is murdered.

Ning Que and Sang Sang visit Zeng Manor upon entering the capital. After 15 years, Ning Que reunites with his sworn brother, Zhuo Er. They both have sworn revenge upon General Xia, who killed both of their families when they were young. At the time, they also found Sang Sang as a baby, among the dead. Princess Li meets with her father, Emperor Li

Ning Que and Sang Sang set up a shop so they can sell Ning Que’s handwriting, but the landlord thinks they won’t be able to stay open for long. After a day of exploring, they see a dead Zhuo Er and look for clues as to the cause of his death. Their sleuthing leads them to Zhang Yi Qi, the transport bureau official, who was previously the Imperial Censor that framed General Lin and causing his death. Prince Long Qing continues his search for the son of Hades.

Ning Que does not get a reasonable answer from Chen Zi Xian as to who is behind the killing of Lin Manor, except for a cryptic response “the child of Hades.” His new pen pal, Chen Pi Pi helps him unlock the secret of 2nd floor of Old Books Building. Hong Yu and Long Qing are promoted as the Department Head of Justice and Deputy Head, respectively, making them suspicious of the Justice Department.

Ning Que tells Sang Sang that she can’t accompany him to the wilderness, then asks Princess Li to take care of her while he’s away. Mo Shan Shan is enthralled with Ning Que’s Chicken Soup post and looks forward to meeting him in the wilderness, but her teacher reminds her she must find the Heavenly Scroll. Yan Se also tells Ning Que to retrieve the Heavenly Scroll and tells him the background story behind it

Princess Li asks the Emperor to Sang Sang but learns that Xiling will be coming to take Sang Sang to the Peach Mountains to inherit the Holy Seat of the Light as successor to Guang Ming. Despite Fu Zi’s rule that Tang Academy doesn’t get involved in court affairs, Chen Pi Pi comes to rescue Sang Sang. Princess Li invites Sang Sang to the banquet the Empress is hosting, where one of the official’s wives takes a keen interest in Sang Sang

Grand Prince Li admits his crimes to the Emperor and asks to lose his royal status as punishment. General Xia Hou admits he killed the people of Lin Manor but righteously proclaims that his misdeeds in the past should not overshadow all of his achievements as a General over the years. Ning Que challenges General Xia Hou to a battle of life and death, but the Emperor tries to prevent this by decreeing General Xia Hou is guilty. All are shocked when Ning Que reveals his true identity and doesn't back down from his challenge.