For the exam, the candidates are to travel up the mountain, where the first person to reach the mountaintop and retrieve the gourd from the tree will win. Things are not as simple as they seem when the candidates are suddenly beset with challenges throughout their climb. Yan Se’s and Qing Shan’s interest in Qing Nue is renewed when they hear stories of him cultivating when they had previously assessed that his acupoints were blocked, preventing cultivation.

Yan Se rushes to the two-story building exam, hoping he can get to Ning Que before the winner of the exam is decided. Meanwhile, State Preceptor Qing Shan informs the Emperor that Ning Que is the calligrapher he’s been searching for. Up in the mountain, Ning Que and Long Qing battle internal demons to find their way to the mountaintop.

Ning Que meets the other disciples of Fu Zi, except for Lee Man Man, who is out with Fu Zi. He receives the amber tablet, symbolizing the embodiment of Fu Zi and solidifying his status as a disciple. He gets his first talisman lesson from Yan Se, and his calligraphy has become a hot commodity in the capital.

The Grand Priest of Light tells Long Qing he lost to Ning Que because of his fear of the Eternal Night, then he suddenly breaks out of prison to search for the Child of Hades. A tired Ning Que gets inspiration from Chen Pi Pi. The State Preceptor is worried Yan Se is pushing Ning Que too fast and too hard, to the point of breaking him. Ning Que begins learning the Awe-Inspiring Sword technique from Jun Mo.

While practicing the Awe-Inspiring Sword technique, Ning Que wreaks havoc with his disciple brethren. Given his low cultivation power, they decide to help him out. Due to Ning Que’s innate abilities suitable for talismans, Fu Zi allows him to spend more time with Yan Se to learn. Yan Se reveals to Ning Que that he was chosen to be the protector of the God Startled Formation, just as Yan Se was

Ning Que begins to look at Yan Se as the father he lost at a young age, and out of the blue while appreciating the rain, he writes his first talisman. As a result, his name appears in the Character Ri Scroll of the Heavenly Scrolls, quickly becoming the target of the Justice Department. As the Eternal Night spreads, barbarians from the wilderness begin moving out of the south and into the north, led by Tang of the Demon Sect.

Juan Da Jia’s old friend taught Jun Mo the Awe-Inspiring Sword technique and also happens to be Ning Que’s Little Junior Uncle Ke Haoran. Given Xiling is sending the Justice Department and various Southern Jin states to the wilderness to suppress the Demon Sect, the Emperor decides to send Ning Que to lead the Tang Academy students to the wilderness to practice.

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

At the Justice Department, the handkerchief from Mu You reminds Hong Yu of Ning Que. Ning Que spends his days giving Shan Shan tours of the capital, while Sang Sang wonders if it will be the three of them eating dinner henceforth. Guan Hai from the Heavenly Pillar Sect challenges Ning Que, who is anxious about not revealing his demonic cultivation. Sang Sang sees the affection between Ning Que and Shan Shan growing

Sang Sang believes Shan Shan is better than her in many ways, so she decides to live with her parents in Zeng Manor without telling Ning Que. Ning Que knows something is wrong when Sang Sang goes missing, so he desperately searches for her. They argue about Sang Sang coming back with him or staying at Zeng Manor. Fu Zi’s disciples are also split on who Ning Que should marry.

The disciples pick sides on who Ning Que should marry, but in the end, they agree it is his decision. Ning Que is again challenged to a duel, but this time, it is against Qu Ni’s son. The demon in Ning Que comes out, and the battle doesn’t end well, though it suddenly dawns on him that Sang Sang has been in his heart all along. He makes things clear with Shan Shan, then unexpectedly meets Fu Zi while drinking away his sorrows.

Sang Sang hears Ning Que is severely injured, so hurries home to care for him. Things seem to have gone back to normal between them as Shan Shan heads back to Grand River State. Xiling uses the death of Dao Shi to send Liu Yi Qing to challenge Ning Que. Fu Zi punishes Ning Que by locking him up at the Repenting Cliff to reflect on himself and not allowing him to leave until he has thought everything through

Tang Xiao Tang not only makes a good impression on Chen Pi Pi, but she also becomes a student of Yu Lian. All of Ning Que’s brothers and sisters help him control the Awe-Inspiring Energy and pass the time in the Repenting Cliff. After 3 months, the Xiling envoy arrives to take Sang Sang. Ning Que springs into action and not only stops them but also conquers Liu Yi Qing

Chen Mou helps Long Qing recover his hope and faith in the light, allowing him to go to the Monastery of Knowledge and Obeisance. After leaving the Repenting Cliffs, Ning Que is officially acknowledged by Fu Zi as his student, then sends him back to the Repenting Cliffs. Ning Que and Sang Sang meet with the Grand Priest of Revelation to discuss when Sang Sang goes to Xiling. Chao Xiao awakens in a remote village, while Liu Bao forsakes the Justice Department

The Empress tries to find out what is causing the feud between Ning Que and her brother, Xia Hou. Ning Que and Sang Sang go to great lengths to purchase Yanming Lake for their future planning. Long Qing is getting impatient with his weak cultivation and chances upon the Heavenly Channeling Pills. Hong Yu has regained her cultivation strength thanks to Liu Bai and teaches General Luo a lesson

Ning Que’s brothers and sisters help him prepare Yanming Lake for his showdown with General Xia. The sage that Long Qing encounters in a cave gives him ideas about making his own Heavenly Channeling Pill. General Xia meets with the Shrine Leader before heading back to the capital and is surprised by what is told to him. Ning Que meets General Xu Shi who warns him not to fight against General Xia

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.

After Sang Sang used her Heavenly Luminescence to take down Xia Hou, her chilling disease relapsed with greater intensity. To help her, Fu Zi recommends Ning Que take her to see Qi Shan, who is the only person who can save her. Hong Yu defeats the Grand Priest of Justice to take over his position. In search of Ning Que, Long Qing finally finds him and exacts his revenge.