Two centuries ago, Patriarch Bei Chen died sealing demons, leading to the formation of the Six Sects. Fifteen years ago, Demon Sect leader Nie Heng Cheng was killed when Cai Ping Shu sacrificed herself, restoring peace. Her niece Cai Zhao, unruly by nature, is sent to Qingque Sect to train. On the journey, she survives the Chang family massacre and saves the poisoned boy Chang Ning. At Qingque, Cai Zhao grows suspicious of Chang Ning’s strange behavior. Though respected due to her aunt’s legacy, she repeatedly clashes with the sect leader’s spoiled daughter Qi Ling Bo, while her skills attract Song Yu Zhi’s attention. Cai Zhao secretly investigates Chang Ning and senses hidden suffering behind his restraint. One night, assassins attack, and the two are incapacitated by smoke, falling into danger.

Cai Zhao and Chang Ning are ambushed on a chain bridge and trapped over a cliff. Cai Zhao nearly dies saving him and is rescued by Song Yu Zhi. Chang Ning’s poison flares up, revealing an older toxin. He publicly exposes Madam Su Lian’s hypocrisy, causing unrest. Seeking protection, Chang Ning moves closer to Cai Zhao. She later uncovers his self-harm poisoning tactic but is shocked by his true appearance. Under Truth Incense, he mutters about “protecting father", deepening her doubts. He hints that Yin Dai framed Cai Ping Shu, prompting Cai Zhao to investigate the library. Together, they discover Yin Dai’s notebook is missing, just as enemies approach and the secret chamber seals shut.

Chang Ning reveals the notebook records the forbidden Heavenly Demon Disintegration Technique, used by Cai Ping Shu to kill Nie Heng Cheng at the cost of her life. During Mid-Autumn chaos, they retrieve the notebook and confirm Yin Dai forced her to learn the technique to protect the Six Sects. Qi Yun Ke destroys the notebook to prevent turmoil, but Chang Ning secretly memorizes the method for revenge. Cai Zhao, haunted by her aunt’s suffering, makes him swear never to use it. Their bond deepens, and they dream of leaving together. Suddenly, another youth claiming to be “Chang Ning” appears, bearing a striking resemblance to Chang Hao Sheng.

Chang Ning’s identity is publicly challenged using the newcomer Jiang Ning. He calmly answers family secrets and turns the interrogation against his accusers. A forced test triggers his poison, ending the trial. That night, Chang Ning escapes with Cai Zhao, but they are pursued and surrounded in Qingque Town. Chang Ning accuses Pei Yuan Feng, linking him to the Chang family massacre. The truth emerges: the Demon Sect slaughtered the Chang clan, and Jiang Ning admits he swapped identities to protect Chang Ning. Though temporarily sheltered, suspicion remains. Cai Zhao later follows Chang Ning and witnesses him secretly meeting a mysterious old woman in the wine cellar.

Before the ancestral ceremony, Cai Zhao notices missing wine jars and grows wary. During the ceremony, she exposes the old woman as Luo Yuan Rong, a long-missing Taichu Sect disciple. Luo reveals that Pei Yuan Feng framed his senior brother Wu Yuan Ying with the help of the demon sect and presents the crippled Wu as proof. When Pei denies it, Luo kills him and leaps to her death with Wu Yuan Ying. The revelation shakes the Six Sects. Cai Zhao confronts Chang Ning for hiding the truth, and their beliefs clash. As suspicion tightens, Chang Ning leaves the sect and disappears after a brutal demon sect ambush. Cai Zhao, recalling her aunt’s teachings, resolves to face the brutal truths of the jianghu.

After the night raid on Qingque Sect, Cai Zhao and Chang Ning uncover that demon cult assassins have infiltrated the sect from within. The Wu brothers reveal themselves as traitors during a staged memorial, severely injuring Qi Yun Kuo and crippling Song Yu Zhi with Nether Cold Qi. Before dying, Wu Gang accuses Yin Dai of causing Cai Ping Shu’s death, only to be silenced, leaving Cai Zhao suspicious. Tracing the clues, Cai Zhao learns the demon cult used advanced disguise techniques to impersonate sect members, including Fan Xing Jia. The real Fan is rescued in Qingque Town, but the infiltrator escapes. Back at the sect, Cai Zhao senses her master acting strangely and suspects a replacement. With unrest growing, she realizes the cult is plotting to bring down Qingque from within and begins a deeper investigation.

In snow-covered Qingque Town, Cai Zhao encounters Qian Xue Shen and Mu Qing Yan. Mu sparks chaos at an inn by revealing a Snow Dragon Scale, exposing hidden dangers among the crowd. The group later enters the mountains and is trapped in a deadly illusion array, where Qian Xue Shen manipulates the terrain and disappears after faking her death. A frozen corpse exposes long-hidden conspiracies, including Duan Jiu Xiu’s ambition and his faked death years earlier. Qian Xue Shen reveals how her family was massacred after saving him. As disaster strikes, Duan is dragged into the abyss by a giant serpent, with Qinuo following. An avalanche engulfs the area, and Mu Qing Yan shields Cai Zhao as she falls from a cliff.

The trio is rescued from a hot spring cave by Xue Gu and Old Ning, who reveals himself as Cai Zhao’s reclusive uncle. Xue Gu unveils a portrait of Gu Qing Kong, the Luoying Valley Witch who vanished with her spirit beast centuries ago. Qian Xue Shen recalls witnessing his family’s massacre as a child and surviving in silence before being taken in by Qian Mian Sou. To break the forbidden technique, they try hatching a dragon beast egg using Cai Zhao’s blood. When enemies close in, Qian Xue Shen summons an ice crystal python with his jade flute, declaring years of vengeance. After the mountain collapses again, he vows to guard the snow mountains forever and entrusts the dragon beast to Cai Zhao before vanishing into the storm.

Mu Qing Yan admits his infiltration was for the Ziwei Heart Manual, with the saliva as its catalyst, leaving Cai Zhao questioning their mutual use of each other. He departs after giving her the saliva and an Extreme Bliss Palace token to settle old grudges. Cai Zhao disguises herself as Demon Sect deputy Qi Nong to infiltrate a coffin shop, while Fan Xing Jia exposes the fake sect master. The real Qi Yun Kuo is rescued, and the supposedly dead Li Wen Xun is revealed as the hidden mastermind. As bells ring across the mountain, the impostor’s plot finally collapses.

Cai Zhao disguises herself as the demon sect’s deputy envoy and infiltrates the cellar to rescue the poisoned Qi Yun Ke, only to be intercepted by Li Wen Xun, a disguised enemy strategist. As they fight back together, the Qingque Sect hall descends into chaos when the fake sect leader is exposed as Yu Hui Yin, a close aide of Nie Zhe, who triggers traps and causes the hall to collapse, seriously injuring Dai Feng Chi. In Bliss Palace, Mu Qing Yan confronts Nie Zhe and discovers his mother died after years of secret imprisonment. Overwhelmed by grief, he unleashes forbidden power and slaughters the Nether Hall. Among the ruins of Qingque Sect, Qi Yun Ke reveals Nie Zhe’s plan before passing out, while Cai Zhao looks north at the blood-red sky, sensing an approaching storm of vengeance.

Cai Zhao strikes at Yu Hui Yin but is repelled until Qi Yun Ke steps in, allowing Qingque disciples to force the demon sect to retreat. Cai Zhao breaks a body-swapping technique, exposing hidden infiltrators and plunging the sect into disorder. In Muwei Palace, the impostor Qiu Ren Jie is unmasked and admits to past betrayals before taking his own life. Afterward, Song Yu Zhi is weighed down by shame, but Cai Zhao urges him to separate right from wrong. Meanwhile, Mu Qing Yan gathers his former followers, controls them with poison, and announces his return to reclaim the demon sect. Learning of the growing turmoil, Cai Zhao grows uneasy, especially when news hints that a cure for Nether Cold Aura may lie within the demon sect’s treasury.

Qi Ling Bo catches Song Yu Zhi and Cai Zhao in a private discussion and, in a jealous outburst, accidentally injures Song Shi Jun. Sensing his son’s feelings for Cai Zhao, Song Shi Jun hints at calling off the engagement, but Song Yu Zhi deflects, citing the sect’s instability. Madam Su Lian tries to pressure Song Shi Jun during a tea gathering, which backfires and ignites a bitter mother-daughter clash, ending with Qi Ling Bo storming off. At the same time, Mu Qing Yan secretly brings Qingong Altar Master You Guan Yue under his control using poison and spreads rumors to turn the demon sect against Nie Zhe. His trap frames Yu Hui Yin as colluding with him, forcing Nie Zhe and Hu Feng Ge to plot a response. Back at Qingque Sect, Cai Zhao learns Mu Qing Yan’s remaining poison is incurable, leaving her shaken. Though she flawlessly breaks the Beidou Formation during training, her worry grows, and that night she quietly decides to act on her feelings.

After confirming Mu Qing Yan’s poison is fatal, Cai Zhao immediately leaves the mountain to seek help, with Song Yu Zhi insisting on accompanying her. Disguised, they slip away as misunderstandings erupt back at the sect. Their journey turns dangerous in the Hanhai Mountains when their guide abandons them, Song Yu Zhi nearly drowns, and both are trapped by illusion-inducing butterflies until a protective charm saves them. Meanwhile, Mu Qing Yan is hunted down but escapes with help, then sends You Guan Yue back undercover and releases his golden roc to search for Cai Zhao. At Qingque Sect, Qi Yun Ke exposes Cai Zhao’s disguise and learns of her departure. Deep in the forest, Cai Zhao and Song Yu Zhi press on, only for Song Yu Zhi to trigger a trap while protecting her, sending them both plunging into a hidden pit.

After escaping the Li Sect, Cai Zhao and Song Yu return with the villagers, who learn that the sect has been secretly creating corpse puppets. Seeking a way to stop them, the group goes to the Jiuzhou Archive, where they encounter Yan Xu, a former Li Sect elder imprisoned and forced to falsify history. Yan Xu reveals that the corpse puppets can be temporarily neutralized with a rare herb. As the Li Sect moves to strengthen its forces, Mu Qing Yan leads an attack, and You Guan Yue fights desperately to save Xing Er, only to face her after she is turned into a corpse puppet. Cai Zhao arrives in time with the herb, disabling the puppets and turning the battle, but Mu Qing Yan collapses from poison. It is later revealed that Cai Zhao is also infected, and a new lead points the group toward a mysterious herb garden.

Tensions flare between Mu Qing Yan and Song Yu Zhi over Cai Zhao, while Xing Er reunites with You Guan Yue. Rumors about Cai Zhao’s ties to Cai Ping Shu spread, but Mu Qing Yan publicly defends her, forcing Yan Xu to back down as the situation grows increasingly volatile. Cai Zhao soon discovers that Sun Ruo Shui has deliberately destroyed the herb garden needed to treat the corpse poison. Although an alternative herb eases Cai Zhao’s condition, Mu Qing Yan refuses to use it himself. As Song Yu Zhi openly challenges him and Sun Ruo Shui deepens her schemes, hidden conflicts begin to surface.

Cai Zhao learns the truth about Mu Qing Yan’s past and Sun Ruo Shui’s deception, including how she manipulated rumors and claimed the role of his “mother”. When Sun Ruo Shui appears again and attempts to poison Cai Zhao, Cai Zhao turns the tables, only for Mu Qing Yan to suddenly fall ill. Sun Ruo Shui accuses Cai Zhao, but the situation is revealed to be part of a deliberate trap set by Cai Zhao and Mu Qing Yan to expose a larger scheme. Mu Qing Yan later brings Cai Zhao to the hut where he was imprisoned as a child, recounting the five years he spent crippled and abandoned after Nie Zhe severed his tendons. While Sun Ruo Shui falsely believes Mu Qing Yan is dying, he and Cai Zhao infiltrate Bliss Palace to confront Nie Zhe. The plan unravels when Mu Qing Yan is poisoned with Suzi Incense, and both are captured in a trap, leaving them imprisoned as the power struggle reaches a dangerous turning point.

Cai Zhao and Mu Qing Yan are trapped in an iron cage and attacked by poisonous insects, revealing Han Yi Su’s involvement. Although Mu Qing Yan kills him in time, the mechanism is triggered, sealing them inside the underground palace. While allies seize Bliss Palace above ground, Cai Zhao and Mu Qing Yan explore the ruins below and uncover traces of the Li Sect’s hidden history, including memorials linked to Mu Qing Yan’s lineage. Following secret markings left behind, they piece together the tragic past of Luo Shi Yun and Sect Leader Mu Dong Lie and discover a hidden escape route. After fighting off an ambush at the exit, Cai Zhao and Mu Qing Yan track down Nie Zhe. Sun Ruo Shui attempts to shift blame and beg for mercy, but Nie Zhe exposes her crimes, turning the two against each other as deeper conspiracies continue to unfold.

Sun Ruo Shui recalls witnessing Nie Zhe secretly taking orders from a mysterious masked figure years ago. After Nie Zhe is imprisoned, Cai Zhao waits for the hidden mastermind to make a move, but the Purple Jade Golden Sunflower is discovered missing from the treasury. With no clear suspect, Mu Qing Yan gives Song Yu Zhi a substitute treasure to ease his condition, while insisting Cai Zhao remain at the Li Sect for her safety. As Mu Qing Yan’s illness worsens, Cai Zhao stays behind to care for him, only to discover he has been faking his condition to draw out the masked figure. When the real culprit rescues Nie Zhe and kills Sun Ruo Shui during the chaos, Cai Zhao is forced to leave with Song Yu Zhi. Back at Qingque Sect, she is torn between her loyalty to her master and her unresolved feelings for Mu Qing Yan, determined to uncover the truth behind the masked figure while protecting him from afar.

Back at Qingque Sect, Cai Zhao and Mu Qing Yan are both weighed down by longing. While You Guan Yue awkwardly tries to cheer Mu Qing Yan up, Cai Zhao clashes with Song Yu Zhi for speaking ill of the Li Sect. Sect leader Qi Yun Que warns her about the terrifying legend of the Skin-Walker Demon, hinting that appearances can be deceiving and urging her not to repeat past mistakes. Seeking answers, Cai Zhao investigates the Skin-Walker Demon’s past and learns it was once connected to Cai Ping Shu. Meanwhile, marriage tensions intensify as proposals, rumors, and jealousy swirl around her. Cai Zhao proves her resolve by silencing gossip through action, even as Zhou Yu Qi openly pushes for marriage. As alliances shift and hidden feelings surface, emotional and political pressures continue to tighten around her.

At Qingque Sect, marriage tensions resurface, while Mu Qing Yan fails to suppress the poison in his body and begins searching for the missing Purple Jade Golden Sunflower. From Ru Xin, he learns that Lu Cheng Nan disappeared after his master’s death. A secret note soon points Cai Zhao and Song Yu Zhi toward the Chang family, possibly linking Lu Cheng Nan to an old massacre. Under the pretense of paying respects, the group travels to the Chang residence. Mu Qing Yan arrives separately and narrowly avoids confrontation with Cai Zhao’s help. That night, he secretly meets her to share his suspicions. As emotions shift, Cai Zhao puts her engagement on hold, while Song Yu Zhi moves to end his own, leaving relationships increasingly strained.

After Song Yu Zhi abruptly cancels his engagement to Qi Ling Bo, tensions rise within the group. While searching the Chang family tomb for the missing Ziyu Jin Kui, Cai Zhao, Mu Qing Yan, and Song Yu Zhi discover hidden passages but fail to find the treasure. Outside, Nie Zhe ambushes them, forcing Cai Zhao to trick him with a fake explosive disguised as the artifact so everyone can escape. Humiliated by the broken engagement, Qi Ling Bo lashes out at Cai Zhao, accusing her of entangling both Mu Qing Yan and Song Yu Zhi. Meanwhile, Mu Qing Yan secretly reveals that Cai Zhao’s aunt’s lover may have been someone within the Li Sect, and possibly the mysterious “Painted Skin Demon.”

Mu Qing Yan secretly manipulates events to break off Cai Zhao’s arranged marriage to Zhou Yu Qi. Under the influence of a trap set by fortune-tellers and rumors, Zhou Yu Qi finally delivers a divorce letter, cutting ties with Cai Zhao and declaring they will go their separate ways. Suspecting Mu Qing Yan’s involvement, Cai Zhao confronts him in anger. Though tension grows between them, the two are forced to cooperate again when Nie Zhe’s men attack, leading to another dangerous escape while the mystery of the hidden enemy deepens.

After escaping pursuit, Cai Zhao realizes Mu Qing Yan may have orchestrated recent events to obtain the Ziyu Jin Kui needed for his cultivation. Their argument is interrupted by Nie Zhe’s pursuers, but they are rescued by Shi Tie Qiao, one of the Shi brothers. Shi Tie Qiao reveals the past of Cai Ping Zhu and the secret surrounding the treasure. As they learn more about the tragedy that destroyed the Chang family, Mu Qing Yan’s illness worsens, and Cai Zhao begins to see how much he has been hiding about his condition.

Following Guo Zi Gui’s funeral, Cai Zhao pieces together clues about the mysterious black-clothed figure. She begins to suspect that the legendary “Painted Skin Demon” may be the true mastermind behind many past tragedies. Returning to Qingque Sect, Cai Zhao and Mu Qing Yan expose Wang Yuan Jing’s crimes connected to the massacre of Chang Family Fortress. Before revealing the identity of the black-clothed figure, Wang Yuan Jing is assassinated, plunging the sect into chaos and leaving Cai Zhao entangled in growing suspicion and rumors.

Cai Zhao’s parents fear she may repeat Cai Ping Zhu’s tragic fate if she trusts Mu Qing Yan, believing he could deceive her like the mysterious Painted Skin Demon once did. Though Cai Zhao admits she likes Mu Qing Yan, she refuses to meet him after receiving his letter about a new clue regarding the black-clothed figure. Meanwhile, Song Yu Zhi prepares a romantic lakeside proposal and asks Cai Zhao to marry him. She gratefully acknowledges his support after her broken engagement but gently refuses his confession. That night, Mu Qing Yan secretly visits her room and promises to abandon everything to be with her, but Qi Yun Ke discovers him. Seeing a wrist guard connected to the Painted Skin Demon, Qi Yun Ke suspects Mu Qing Yan’s father and confronts him, forcing Mu Qing Yan to escape.

Determined to clear his father’s name, Mu Qing Yan secretly enters Qingque Sect and presents evidence revealing that Cai Ping Zhu was once engaged to his uncle Mu Zheng Yang. Although the evidence weakens the accusation against his father, the sect leaders still distrust Mu Qing Yan because of his identity as a member of Li Sect. He is imprisoned, and Qi Yun Ke decides to cripple his martial arts and keep him locked away for life. Unwilling to accept this, Cai Zhao secretly plans a rescue with the help of friends and sneaks into the prison, only to discover Mu Qing Yan has already been transferred elsewhere.

When the sects prepare to carry out Mu Qing Yan’s punishment, Cai Zhao intervenes and threatens to die with him if they proceed. Taking advantage of the chaos, she secretly drugs the crowd and escapes with him. The pair is chased and seriously injured during their escape. While hiding, Cai Zhao struggles to treat Mu Qing Yan’s wounds and searches desperately for medicine, even pawning her cherished necklace to buy healing herbs.

While hiding in a remote village, Cai Zhao and Mu Qing Yan hear stories about the past relationship between Mu Zheng Yang and Cai Ping Zhu, revealing more about the tragic history connecting their families. However, Cai Zhao later discovers that Mu Qing Yan secretly captured the families of the six sects to force them into allowing their escape. Shocked by his ruthless methods and feeling used as part of his plan, she becomes deeply hurt and decides to leave him.

Before leaving, Cai Zhao paints a picture of her childhood and shares it with Mu Qing Yan, encouraging him to move forward with his life. She then returns to Qingque Sect to take responsibility for helping him escape. Accused of colluding with Li Sect, Cai Zhao willingly accepts severe punishment. She is publicly whipped and then confined to the back mountain for a year as penance.

During Cai Zhao’s confinement, Song Yu Zhi regularly visits to bring her food and quietly care for her. Meanwhile, Mu Qing Yan forbids his followers from mentioning Cai Zhao, though he still secretly thinks about her. At the same time, rumors begin spreading about corpse puppets appearing again, creating suspicion among the martial sects and hinting at a deeper conspiracy.

Chaos erupts when Song Shi Jun loses control and attacks those around him. In the conflict that follows, he is killed, and Song Yu Zhi is poisoned. Cai Zhao and her companions flee into Blood Marsh Forest in search of a cure. Mu Qing Yan arrives just in time to save them from pursuers. Together they search for the rare herb Night Orchid, the only medicine capable of saving Song Yu Zhi’s life.

With Cai Zhao’s help, Song Yu Zhi is finally cured using the Night Orchid. However, she realizes the herb is also essential for Mu Qing Yan’s dangerous cultivation technique. To prevent further harm, she burns the remaining plants, and Mu Qing Yan ultimately decides to abandon the technique. Meanwhile, the conspiracy involving Yang He Ying is gradually exposed, causing turmoil within Guangtian Gate. As tensions rise and the Song brothers compete for leadership, Mu Qing Yan unexpectedly appears in Luo Ying Valley and publicly proposes marriage to Cai Zhao.

Mu Qing Yan arrives in Luoying Valley with lavish betrothal gifts, proposing to Cai Zhao. While Song Yu Zhi worries his identity will bring trouble, Mu Qing Yan reveals his true plan, using the Purple Jade Golden Sunflower as bait to lure out the mysterious black-clothed enemies. As they track the artifact to a Daoist temple, they recover it, but are soon ambushed. Forced to hand it over, Cai Zhao and Mu Qing Yan barely escape, gravely injured, deepening both the danger and their bond.

Mu Qing Yan uncovers records revealing Mu Zheng Yang’s past, his role in manipulating Nie Hengcheng and the tragic chain of events that led to Cai Ping Zhu’s downfall. The truth shakes Cai Zhao, especially as suspicion begins to fall on Qi Yun Ke. When they return, they discover Qi Yun Ke’s dark secret: he is the true mastermind and plans to use his own daughter’s blood to complete the forbidden technique. The sect falls into chaos as Cai Zhao attempts to intervene.

Qi Yun Ke’s madness escalates as he sacrifices everything, even his family, for power. After killing Yin Su Lian, he hunts down Cai Zhao and Qi Ling Bo. Cai Zhao protects Ling Bo and escapes while severely injured. With help from Lei Xiu Ming, she learns the full scope of Qi Yun Ke’s plan and sets out to save the imprisoned disciples and stop him.

The six sects unite and storm Qingque Sect to stop Qi Yun Ke. As battles erupt across the mountain, multiple conflicts unfold, Song Yu Zhi defeats Song Xiu Zhi, Yang Xiao Lan kills her father, and allies turn against each other. At the climax, Cai Zhao confronts Qi Yun Ke. As he loses control, she delivers the final blow, and in his last moment of clarity, he accepts his fate, bringing the chaos to an end.

With Qi Yun Ke dead, peace gradually returns. Believed to be dying, Mu Qing Yan entrusts his legacy to others and appears to pass away in Cai Zhao’s arms, leaving her heartbroken. However, it is later revealed that he faked his death to escape his past identity. Months later, he returns, and the two prepare for a new life together. As friends gather and old wounds begin to heal, Cai Zhao and Mu Qing Yan finally move toward a peaceful future.