EPISODE CONTEXT

Sitting at Episode 25, "Leverage" occupies a critical transitional space in Xian Ni's narrative — deep enough into the series that political and supernatural stakes have escalated well beyond early cultivation arcs. It follows "Headmaster" (Episode 24), which introduced or elevated authority-driven conflict, and directly precedes "Demons" (Episode 26), suggesting that the strategic groundwork laid here will collide with darker, more threatening forces. This is a setup episode in the best sense — the calm, calculating breath before the storm.