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Years Ago, Ying Zheng, King of Qin Kingdom, sent his armies to perish Chu, the last one of his six enemy kingdoms that stopped him from uniting China. Xiang Family, the strongest power in Chu confronted Qin's troops. Xiang's young master, Shoyu, despite his young age, fought excellently. However, because of the fierce battle machines that Gongshu Family had made for Qin, Shaoyu and Chu armies were unalbe to withstand the attack of Qin troops led by Meng Tian, and were forced to retreat. Ying Zheng finally unified China, but he knew there were still enemies watching his empire. Days ago, he sent his troops and Directionist Wei Zhuang to destroy the Machine City of Mohist School.
Years ago, the remaining Chu soldiers were caught up by Qin's troops. Shaoyu fought against Meng Tian but he was too young to win. Meng Tian told Shaoyu that he had killed Xiang Yan, Shaoyu's grandfather. When Chu's army was about to be surrounded, three Manchine White Tigers attacked Qin's troops. Gao Jianli, Xuenu, Datiechui and Daozhi came to help Shaoyu out. Hours Ago, Daozhi was trying to meet the Mohist leader to warn him about the situation in the City when he was attacked by Shaosiming(Junior Charge of Life) from Yin-yang School. The Mohist Leader and his allies were heading towards the City when they found a Mohist disciple lying on the ground. The Leader helped him up while the disciple was actually Dasiming(Senior Charge of Life) from Yin-yang School. The Leader and his friends defeated the Qin's soldiers around and Daozhi managed to meet with the Leader.
Ge Nie was stabbed from the back by Heiqilin(Black Kylin) disguising as Tianming. Though he's wounded he insists on fighting Wei Zhuang. Ge Nie and Wei Zhuang are the two students of Guigu(Ghost Valley), the Directionist School, the most mysterious school, the winner between whose two heirs has the abilities to direct the fate of every kingdom under heaven. Twelve years ago, they were put into a test in which each of them was required to somehow stop two tigers running in opposite directions and save the two men tied up at the two ends of a hallway. Wei Zhuang killed the two tigers and saved one man while the other died. Yet Ge Nie managed to save neither because he tried to save both. Master Guigu told him that he would lose again if he failed to get over his kindness and become decisive.
The delayed life-and-death battle between Wei Zhuang and Ge Nie finally begins. Ge Nie uses his highest technique, the Hundred-Step Flying Sword but fails to even injure Wei Zhuang. Surprisingly, Wei Zhuang also attacks with Flying Sword that should have only belonged to Ge Nie. Ge Nie manages to wound Wei Zhuang but Wei Zhuang breaks Rainbow Abyss with the teeth of Shark Tooth. However, Ge Nie grabs the broken blade and gets Wei Zhuang under control. Wei Zhuang asks Ge Nie to kill him, but Ge Nie recalls their brotherhood and hesitates when Wei Zhuang attacks him. Ge Nie is badly wounded and falls.
Two months ago, Tianming was very hostile to Ge Nie because he thought it was Ge Nie's fought that he was chased by killers. After Ge Nie's betrayal, Ying Zheng and his minister Li Si decided to unleash a fearful prisoner named Shengqi to kill Ge Nie. Shengqi attacked Ge Nie and Tianming. Their carriage was stuck between cliffs and about to fall, but Tianming did not trust Ge Nie and refused to get out. Shengqi chopped the carriage into pieces, Ge Nie held Tianming in his arms and jumped off the cliff. After landing safely, he protected Tianming from the falling carriage with his body and got hurt. Tianming realized he was wrong and begged for Ge Nie's forgiveness in tears. Ge Nie was deeply comforted with Tianming's trust.
Ge Nie killed a number of assassins. Tianming was fascinated by his power and wished to learn from him to kill the assassins. Ge Nie told Tianming that one should never try to become powerful just to kill the others. He wrote the character "Chivalrous" (侠 xia). He told Tianming the left part was a character "man" which meant the behavior of a man; the right was a big man carrying two small, so this character meant "the strong helping the weak". In the Machine City, Ge Nie wakes up and tells Tianming to be strong. Tianming cries grievedly, saying he can't lose his Uncle. Ge Nie thanks Tianming for his trust and understanding before he goes unconscious again. Tianming is furious with Wei Zhuang and the Mohists. Gao Jianli apologizes for misunderstanding Ge Nie before, and vows to protect Tianming and Ge Nie. Wei Zhuang catches Tianming and arranges three one-on-one battles. Only if the Mohists can win two of the three will Tianming be saved.
The first of the one-on-one battles takes place between Da Tiechui and the Unparalleled. The Unparralled had been defeated years earlier by Ge Nie using the Hundred Steps Flying Sword technique but was re-formed by The Gongshu Clan's mechanisms to have super-human strength. Da Tiechui thinks back to 12 years ago when he was an army General in the Kingdom of Yan under the command of the autocratic and cruel Yan Yi. After two of his troops were accused of insulting Prince Dan he risked his life in a trial of strength to save them from execution. Meanwhile the Qin Commander Ying Zheng threatens to attack the Kingdom to take vengeance on Prince Dan for sending Jing Ke to assassinate him.
Da Tiechui memories continue to 10 years ago when the Qin attacked the Yan with 300,000 troops Commanded by General Wang Jian. With only 50,000 troops for defence, General Da Tiechui was commanded by Yan Yi to defend the Mountain Valley border with only a small troop. As Da Tiechui's troops were about to be completely over-run, Yan Yi refused to send reinforcements dooming them to defeat while he offered to trade the Prince's life to save his own.
Da Tiechui and the Unparalleled continue their battle and although Da Tiechui is wounded, he finally defeats the Unparalleled. Snow Lady/Xuenu Zhao then challenges Crimson Snake to the second battle. Her White Snow technique is unsuccessful and during the contest she succumbs to the Fire Charm technique and is immobilised.
Snow Lady/Xuenu's mind drifts back 10 years when she gave a command performance for the rich and powerful at the Snow Princess pavilion in the Yan Nation. During the performance, a drunken General Yan Yi insults the performance and is brought before the king's uncle Yan Chunjun for punishment. Xuenu is given the decision over Yan Yi's life and spares him. Yan Chunjun then insists on Xuenu dancing for him and to drink his wine at his residence, which she is unable to refuse.
Yan Chunjun sends 2 jade bracelets to Xuenu wear for the performance at his residence. Gao Jianli, Xuenu's accompanist, intervenes to protect her from the danger of performing for Yan Chunjun, but she refuses his aid, and he is captured and chained to a post. During Xuenu's performance, Gao Jianli is about to be killed when he retaliates and kills the guards. He kills many of the guards who attack him , but is eventually confronted by Yan Chunjun's assassin.
While Xuenu's dance continues, Gao Jianli battles the assassin outside, eventually killing him, and Yan Chunjun dies at the same moment. Before escaping, Gao Jianli proposes he and Xuenu spend the rest of their lives together, but she is non-committal. Back in the present, Xuenu reveals that she was not defeated by the Fire Charm technique, but realises that she was poisoned by Crimson Snake during their battle and collapses. Gao Jianli then challenges Hidden Bat for the final battle, but White Phoenix intervenes and challenges Gao Jianli instead.
Gao Jianli pits his Cold Water Sword against the incredible speed of White Phoenix which involves quite a bit of taunting and verbal sparring. Gao Jianli uses the Chilly River of Yishui technique which leaves him open to counter-attack when White Phoenix uses the speed of his Six Phoenix Dancing Illusion and Feather Edge hidden blade. Meanwhile Gao Jianli's mind drifts back to a time when he was playing music at an inn when he was confronted by a fighter claiming to be sent by Kuang Xiu from Qin.
The Fighter allegedly sent by Kuang Xiu challenges Gao Jianli and is immediately killed, but Gao Jianli finds that all the other customers are also from Qin. As they prepare to attack him, an apparently drunken customer intervenes and defeats them all bare-handed using his Four Styles of a Drunken Immortal technique. He reveals himself to be Jing Ke of the Mohist School and that the other customers were from the Snare Assassin Group. He gives Gao Jianli the unique musical score for 'High Mountains, Flowing Waters' from the famous musician Kuang Xiu who is imprisoned in Qin. Gao Jianli travels to meet Kuang Xiu, and while they play a duet on the zither, Jing Ke defends them from the troop of soldiers at the fort.
Gao Jianli and Kuang Xiu continue to play a duet on their zithers, oblivious to Jing Ke fighting off the Qin troops who are trying to kill them. Gao Jianli then joins and Jing Ke in the battle and manage to defeat them, but Kuang Xiu is killed while playing during the battle. Gao Jianli's mind returns to the current battle with White Phoenix and is wounded. Meanwhile Xiang Shaoyu has rescued Tianming and they are outside the main conflict in Central Hall fighting off Qin troops.
Tianming returns to the Central Hall and finds Gao Jianli wounded. He challenges Hidden Bat/Yinfu, but is assisted by Dao Zhi who suddenly appears as does a stranger from the Mohist school. The stranger easily defeats Hidden Bat and challenges Wei Zhuang, who in turn convinces Tianming to fight him.
After advice from the stranger, Tianming faces Wei Zhuang with the Anti-War device he retrieved from the forbidden grounds of the Mohists. Tianming manages to evade the Wei Zhuang's challenge of Horizontal Pierces Four Directions move using his sword Shark Tooth, but Wei Zhuang still intends to kill him. The stranger then challenges and defeats Wei Zhuang with his sword Momei and reveals his identity as Prince Yan Dan (Yue-Er's father) and leader of the Mohist school. Yan Dan gives Wei Zhuang and the Quicksand group a chance to leave, stating his reason is that he doesn't want Ying Zheng, Emperor of the Qin Dynasty, to succeed.
Yan Dan confirms that he is Yue-er's father, and that he let everyone believe that he was killed by Wei Zhuang then collapses from his injuries. The Mohist people are concerned about the condition of their leader, but Xuenu calms them and reveals that Duanmu Rong is still alive, although badly wounded. Black Unicorn/Hei Qilin overhears this while hidden among the crowd. When Elder Xiaoyao Zi of the Toaist school investigates Yan Dan, he discovers that he is effected by a forbidden and incurable Yin Yang curse - Fearsome Curse of the Six Souls. While the Confucians consider the situation, the Mohist leaders emerge and all salute Tianming.
Tianming is unwillingly brought before Yan Dan who praises him for his brave and chivalrous behaviour and tells him that he will be the future leader of the Mohist school and gives him the sword Momei. As Qin troops advance on the Mohist stronghold Master Ban gives the order to start up the Azure Dragon, collapsing the mountain retreat. The Qin army, Wei Zhuang and Dragon Priestess of the Yin Yan school look on, but the Mohists evacuate via subterranean rivers. The Qin emperor Ying Zheng receives news that the 300 year old Mohist Machinery City has been destroyed by his troops.
The Qin troops who attacked the Mohist Machinery City lie devastated. It's rumoured back in Qin that the Mohists had four spirit beasts, Vermilion Bird, Black Tortoise, White Tiger and Azure Dragon which had been kept for just such an occasion. The Yin Yang priestesses surmise that the Confusians and Taoists have assisted the Mohists and decide to report it to their Eastern Emperor. The Moon Goddess/Yue Shen also warns Qin Emperor Ying Zheng of a potential threat from the east. Meanwhile the Mohist leaders all agree to become Tianming's teachers so that he can become the leader that Yan Dan predicted. Teacher Xu commences his education with a history lesson but Tianming is easily bored.
Strugging to stay awake, Tianming hears teacher Xu tell of Sun Wu (known as Xu Rulin) and his masterpiece Sun Tzu's Art of War. He then talks about the Pheasant school (farmers) while Tianming falls asleep. Meanwhile Li Si tells Ying Zheng that he should turn his attention to the Confucian school that assisted the Mohists. The Mohist leaders are now travelling to Qilu, the land of the Confucian school. When their carriage catches on fire, Tianming mistakenly extinguishes the fire with water, creating smoke that alerts the Qin troops and fueling doubts about his suitability.
The Mohists leaders use Heaven's Will to decide and take a vote on whether to continue with Tianming as their leader, but the vote is a tie, 3 to each side and so Tianming stays leader. Gao Jianli proposes that the principle learned is that they should work together and not rely on one leader. Observing them is Shengqi who has been given the Snare group to attack Qilu, but he violently rejects any assistance and Li Si's orders.
The Mohists leaders group reach the ocean in disguise and meet Pao Ding and his Mohist allies at the Youjian Inn in Shanghai. They learn of increased military activity in the area and closed shipping in and out of the port. Pao Ding suggests that they stay out of sight in a secluded village in the hills where Duanmu Rong lays in a coma. He presents them with a three clues left by Zhang Liang, leader of the Confucian school. Later, while walking through the city with Pao Ding and Xiang Shaoyu, Tianming disappears.
Xiang Shaoyu finds Tianming, but not before seeing wanted notices for the Mohist leaders. He also discovers that there are rumours of a sea monster in the harbour and elite Qin troops in Shanghai. While the two boys are watching troops and a carriage pass by, they are recognised by Gongshu Chou who orders them captured. They manage to escape during the confusion and get lost, but arrive at the Confician school surrounded by an honour guard of Qin troops. Confucian Zifang Liang rescues them by saying they are Confucian students and predicts that Tianming will owe him exactly seven favors in the future. Finally the guest of honour arrives - a masked woman.
After the masked woman (Gongsun Ling Gong), the other guests of honour at the Confucian school are revealed as Star Wraith/Han Xing, Chu Nangong and finally Li Si. Li Si explains that the reason for their visit is to see Xun Zi, his former Confucian teacher, but his old teacher refuses to see him.
The highly skilled Logician Gongsun Ling Gong challenges the Confucians to a debate , including the famous "is a white horse a horse" argument, and wins all seven rounds, beating the Confucians convincingly.
After the Confucian scholars lose seven debates to Gongsun Ling Gong, Zifang challenges her to an eighth debate, and calls in Tianming (as Ziming) as her opponent. Tianming commences by insulting her, and then by replacing her family heirloom white horse with a black horse and demolishing her argument. Having lost the debate, Li Si and his party leave, but not before reminding the Confucians that all under the wide heaven is the king's land including its people.
The Moon Goddess arrives outside Xianyang and is met by General Meng who is awaiting orders to travel east. At the Confucian school, Tianming is being taught the Confucian skills, but finds it a struggle and is teased by the other students. He defends Pao Ding's apprentice Shi Lan from the other students who they accuse of being a Yin Yang spy. Meanwhile, the Shengqi arrives in Shanghai.
At Xianyang the Moon Goddess with Yue-er encounter Star Wraith/Han Xingwho who takes an interest when he recognises her as Princess Gao Yue. In Shanghai, Dao Zhi suspects Shi Lan is more skilled in martial arts than is apparent. Pao Ding explains to Tianming that Shi Lan is highly skilled in martial Arts but has kept it secret.
Gao Jianli and Xuenu approach the Confucians for assistance to cure Duanmu Rong. Pao Ding teaches Tianming his knife slicing technique while Yan Lu, the second household manager of the Confucius School tricks apprentice uncle Xun Zi into meeting Tianming (Ziming).
It's revealed that Yan Lu and Zhang Liang (Zifang), the second and third household managers of the Confucius School, decided that they need to skills of the reclusive apprentice uncle Xun Zi to cure Duanmu Rong which involves introducing him to Tianming (Ziming). Having convinced Xun Zi that Ziming is a chess master, the household managers arrange a match in which the loser must fulfil a request. After tutoring by Zifang, but Ziming makes an initial mistake, but his playing style unsettles the old master. Zifang helps Ziming win by reflecting light onto the grid pattern of a window. Xun Zi agrees to help revive Duanmu.
While leading Xun Zi to Duanmu Rong they encounter bandits chasing a merchant. Ziming uses the Anti-War weapon to defeat them, saving them all from certain death and further impressing Xun Zi who begins to treat Duanmu Rong. Later, it's revealed that the merchant was Prince Fushu of the Qin Empire. The Moon Goddess presents Yue-er to the Eastern Emperor who reveals to her that her real name is Jiru Qianlong. Females without noble blood do not have names, only a surname until they are married. The Moon Goddess also gives him the music box taken from the Mohist Machinery City.
As evening approaches, Ziming and Ziyu head into Shanghai and follow the townspeople to see the immortal mountain in the eastern sea which appears like a mirage and then disappears. They stay too long at the port and break the curfew. On their way back, that see wanted posters for the Mohists and argue about the reward amounts. They are then confronted by Priestess of Death/Da Siming but manage to escape with assistance of an unseen ally.
Ziming and Ziyu follow their unknown saviour through Shanghai, but Ziming is captured by one of the troops in a flying machine. During their escape Ziyu discovers that it was Shi Lan who saved them, and that she is a girl. Ziming manages to overpower the pilot but crashes the flying machine and catches up with Ziyu and Shi Lan. At dawn, they see a procession led by General Meng Tian heading to the docks, where a massive ship appears that almost dwarfs the city. Master Ban believes it is the result of collaboration between the Dictatorial Mechanisms and the Yin Yang techniques. Following in the procession is The Moon Goddess with Yue-er.
