Ken En Ken: Aoki Kagayaki

Traveling entertainers Yin and Ning are very close sisters. Yin cares for her armless sister as they travel between villages, putting on performances of swordplay and dancing. When they arrive in the ruins of a village, they find a mysterious bamboo writing strip. The strip glows, and from within it a strange girl and a single sword appear. Meanwhile, in the Taibai Empire bent on conquering the Shenzhou region, a boy name Zhao is working as a slave. Zhou, who has been teaching himself engineering, meets a young girl one night.

Three years ago, Yin, and Zhao lived together in a nomad settlement. The three of them were close childhood friends. The sisters loved Zhao like a brother, but that eventually turned into romantic love. While playing in the field as usual, they discover a broken construct. Zhao is drawn to the workings of the strange machine. Meanwhile, in the Taibai Empire, Chief Engineer Mo Heng is working on Zhengtian, the ultimate weapon.

The girl that appeared out of the tianshu bamboo writing strip is Yun, a doll made using Mujia. Yun calls the sword that appeared out of the tianshu the legendary Xuan Yuan Sword. Through Yun, Yin and Ning acquire new power. Meanwhile, with a single word from Empress Cheng, Zhao is made chief engineer. He now works on developing constructs. Mo Heng, who betrayed the empire and joined the rebel army, is also working on a new weapon he calls black fire armor.

Yin and Ning meet Tuoba Yuan and Can Lang during their travels. They are members of the rebel forces fighting against the Taibai Empire and invite the sisters to join them. They claim it is the duty of one who possesses the tianshu and the Xuan Yuan Sword. Meanwhile, in the Taibai Empire, the recently promoted Zhao struggles with the development of new constructs. In order to give him a chance of pace, the empress Long Cheng assigns Zhao to command a unit of constructs and travel the empire.

Yin and Ning run into a Taibai transport unit while traveling. They follow the unit to a farming village with bountiful fields. However, the Taibai official at the village grows fat while making the villagers suffer under heavy taxes. Ning wishes to fight against the soldiers in order to save the villagers, while Yin is concerned, and a mysterious woman appears before Yin. Meanwhile, Zhao, the commander of the construct unit, visits the official's mansion. The official welcomes him but worries that his corruption will be exposed

Sisters Yin and Ning are joined by rebel forces Yuezhi and Rou. When they are invited to join the rebel army, Ning enthusiastically agrees, but worried for her younger sister, Yin is opposed to the idea. Ning resists her sister's concern for her. Meanwhile, Zhao reveals his concerns to Empress Cheng. Since the day of the tragedy three years ago, he has been unable to sleep. Furthermore, he is unable to forget what he's seen. During the night, Zhao struggles with his memories of the tragedy, so Cheng begins showing him around the secret passages of the palace.

Yin and Ning begin traveling towards the rebel base in order to meet Mo Heng, the man developing a new weapon. Meanwhile, in the Taibai Empire, Construct Commander Meng Ji makes the decision to begin mass-producing the new model of construct. Zhao insists the new model is still a prototype and opposes its mass-production, but Commander Meng Ji claims they must hurry in order to conquer the world. Upon hearing their arguments, Empress Cheng also orders the mass-production of constructs. Zhao leaves his underlings to look after matters at the Construct Palace while he departs with the mobile unit in search of the magic-using rebels he fought previously.

Zhao begins seeking even more power; the power to acquire anything. He throws himself into researching black fire, the infinite power source discovered in the ancient Kuican ruins. The oblivious Chen promises she'll promote Zhao. Meanwhile, Yin is worried about Ning. Concerned for Yin, the rebels suggest she become their sworn sister so that they may become family and fight together. However, their father Xiang Chu doesn't think it's a good idea.

The rebels are impressed by the combat power of the black fire armor, but the armor is incomplete and still has some problems. When Yin awakes, she has no memory of the fight due to the black fire's influence. Mo Heng begins making adjustments to the black fire armor in order to finish it. Meanwhile, in the Taibai Empire, Commander Meng Ji is demoted due to the destruction of the strike force. He is furious with Empress Cheng and Zhao. Zhao continues to research the black fire. Ning, who is saddened by his absence, lashes out at his servant Li Xiang. Suddenly, a mysterious enemy appears.

Mo Heng completes the black fire armor in preparation for the battle against the Taibai Empire. Yin dons her armor and practices using magic. Ning is captured by the Taibai Empire and Zhao is arrested for sheltering a rebel. They meet with Empress Cheng and have a conversation in which they realize they are at cross purposes. Both Ning and Zhao receive unthinkable punishments. Meanwhile, Commander Meng Ji, who seeks Zhao's downfall, and Lady Pang, who covets the imperial throne, have been meeting. An army is dispatched to the conquer the rebel base.

Excited by the power of the black fire armor, the rebels form a plan to attack the Taibai Empire. Yin resolves to rescue Ning. Meanwhile, construction on the zhengtian has begun in the Taibai Empire. Concerned for Ning, Zhao hurries the completion of the zhengtian in order to receive Empress Cheng's forgiveness, even performing manual labor alongside the slaves. However, Ning has lost her mind. Cheng also suffers emotional wounds and hides in her room alone. Commander Meng Ji and Lady Pang use this opportunity to strike.