Alchemy of Souls (환혼) is a 2022 Korean fantasy drama that is set in the imaginary world of Daeho. The story revolves around young magicians who are to carry the burden of the past. Starring Lee Jae-wook, Jung So-min, and Hwang Min-hyun, the show premiered on tvN on Jun 18, 2022. The show will have 20 episodes and it takes over tvN’s Saturday-Sunday 9 PM KST timeslot previously occupied by Our Blues. Alchemy of Souls episode 7 has a runtime of 75 minutes.

Netflix describes the series as:

A POWERFUL SORCERESS IN A BLIND WOMAN’S BODY ENCOUNTERS A MAN FROM A PRESTIGIOUS FAMILY, WHO WANTS HER HELP TO CHANGE HIS DESTINY.

-Alchemy of Souls Episode 7 Recap contains spoilers-

Alchemy of Souls pisode 7 starts off with the history of Daeho. The cruel past of Daeho which was connected to an ice stone that produced a cursed black powder came to an end with the help of the founder of Songrim Seo Gyeong who is the teacher of Master Lee. As this story is told by master Lee to some kids on his journey, he finds a relic (cursed object) with them and destroys it while telling them that there are many such relics in Jinyowon which are made from the cursed black powder.

In the palace, the crown prince is still frustrated because of Mu-deok’s rejection to him. Suddenly, the atmosphere turn eerie as Mu-deok appears before him. The crown prince notices that there is something strange with the Mu-deok in front of him and soon his suspicion is confirmed. He asks her who she is but she escapes leaving a crack in the mirror near the two. The crown prince tells the servants to search for the evil being, while he leaves for the Jin family house. There he gets to know about Mu-deok’s disappearance.

Also Read: Doctor Lawyer Episode 12 Recap and Review: A Bonk on the Head

Jin Cho-yeong informs the crown prince that Mu-deok has run away with the yin-and-yang jade. Soon, Seo Yul and Park Dong-gu arrive at the scene where the former says that he is here for Mu-deok. Seo Yul tells the crown prince that he had seen the same illusion of Mu-deok as him. He recalls the illusion of Mu-deok that told him about his time in Danhyanggok, but Seo Yul soon realised that she is not a human. He attacks her but she goes into a mirror-like world, once again leaving a broken mirror. Soon, Jang Uk also arrives at the Jin family house.

Elsewhere, Pak Jin and Heo Yeom are talking about the ice stone that was sealed by Seo Gyeong because he knows that the only way to shift souls without mastering Hwansu is by using that stone. He is sure that someone has unsealed the ice stone while worrying about the war that happened due to the stone. At Cheonbugwan, Jin Mu has received some stones as he tells his subordinate Kil Joo to choose a body to get his soul shifted into. But Kil Joo has other intentions which involve Naksu.

Jang Uk apologises for Mu-deok’s deeds and asks to stay back to look for Mu-deok. He then asks the doors to Jinyowon to be opened and is led to the place. Jang Uk, Seo Yul and the crown prince enter Jinyowon and start their search for Mu-deok, while she is trapped inside the mirror facing numerous mirrors. It is revealed that Mu-deok confronted Jin Cho-yeong that she had broken the jade after which she tried to escape. However, she ended up entering Jinyowon which can only be opened by Jin family members and got trapped inside by Jin Cho-yeong, and this led to her entering the mirror relic.

Also Read: Aoashi Episode 14 Review: Can The Drastic Step Unlock The Hidden Potential?

Jang Uk, Seo Yul and the crown prince are unable to find Mu-deok and try to get clues through the illusion that the two saw. They soon find the mirror which has Mu-deok trapped. Seo Yul and the crown prince tell this to Jin Ho-kyung who explains that it is the Mirror of Longing. Th two ask her to let them take the mirror out but she rejects their request. Inside Jinyowon, Jang Uk tries to break the mirror but in unable to do so, while the illusion inside the mirror provokes him and asks him for his energy.

Jang Uk gets annoyed and covers the mirror which makes the illusions around Mu-deok disappear and the two are soon able to hear each other. However, she is still stuck inside the mirror and the two share their feelings while remembering their journey to this moment. Mu-deok touches the mirror and it suddenly starts to crack while the relics around call the blind girl the ice stone. There is a bright light which shines through Jinyowon’s doors which open and have Jang Uk carrying Mu-deok out.

Later, Jin Cho-yeong confesses about breaking the jade and locking Mu-deok inside. While at the Jang family house, Mu-deok tells housekeeper Kim that she has been unable to open her eyes since the bright light she saw in the mirror. She is told to cover her eyes, while Park Dong-gu, Seo Yul, and the crown prince come to take her for treatment. She thanks them for the offer but leaves with Jang Uk. Elsewhere, Park Jin and housekeeper Kim share a warm moment.

Also Read: Taapsee Pannu on Shabaash Mithu and Her Excitement to Work With Shah Rukh Khan in Dunki

Later, Park Jin and Jang Uk have a discussion where Jang Uk shows his determination to Park Jin. The next day, Mu-deok tells Jang Uk that she felt her powers the same way she felt in the lake and that maybe it was her who broke the mirror with her powers. At the Jin family house, Jin Mu has come to Jin Ho-kyung and offers her a marriage to the crown prince on the pretext that she breaks of the marriage with Jang Uk. He promises to help her find her eldest daughter who will later become the head of Jinyowon while Jing ho-yeong would become the queen.

Elsewhere, Seo Yul sees Mu-deok playing a tune which has attracted a bird which helps him make the connection between Mu-deok and Naksu. But soon Mu-deok is caught by Kil Joo who calls her Naksu, later telling her to bring Jang Uk to a place. On the way, Jang Uk gives Mu-deok the now egg-shaped yin-and-yang jade but she tells him that she is going back to Danju. At Cheonbugwan, Park Jin asks Jin Mu about a mage named Cho Chung from 20 years ago as Heo Yeom had told him that the mage who is Nakshu’s father was a soul shifter. It was also Cho Chung who had killed his family as he had gotten out of control and because the four families had to stop him, Naksu had misunderstood the incident.

Park Jin confronts Jin Mu who in turn tells him about a constellation plate that disappeared from Cheonbugwan on the day Jang Uk was born. Jin Mu reveals that he knows about the King’s star and that he was the one who turned Cho Chung into a soul shifter. He also warns Park Jin to not delve into these things if he wants to keep Seongrim safe. Park Jin later goes to housekeeper Kim and asks her if Jang Kang had mastered the alchemy of souls before the birth of Jang Uk.

Alchemy Of Souls Episode 7 Ending

Alchemy Of Souls episode 7 ends with Kil Joo waiting for Jang Uk with a stone that can shift his soul into Jang Uk’s body, when Mu-deok arrives telling him that Jang Uk is on the way. Kil Joo soon understands that she is trying to stall him and attacks her, but is blocked by Jang Uk. It is revealed that Mu-deok couldn’t hide Kil Joo’s scheme from him because of the egg-shaped jade and decided to not let Jang Uk die. But because of this reveal that Jang Uk could not let her go while she decides to put their life on the line depending on the rain.

Also Read: Black Bird Episode 1-2 Review: The Beginning of a Challenging Mission

Back in the present, Jang Uk and Kil Joo fight during which they make their way out in the rain. Jang Uk trusts Mu-deok and removes the binds on his wrist while he gets ready to perform Tansu. He remembers her instructions from earlier and successfully performs Tansu. But Kil Joo soon gets up and begins to perform the alchemy of souls bringing an end to the episode.

Alchemy of Souls Episode 7 Review

Alchemy of Souls episode 7 gave us more insight into the imaginary world of Daeho by sharing a history that may be the future that they are moving towards. This episode has thrown quite some clues for the future when the relics in Jinyowon call Mu-deok the ice stone which tells us that while history tells us the ice stone is a stone, it may not be true. Another thing I want to point out is how cute Seo Yul is, the way he reacts to getting startled and the way he finds out that Mu-deok is Naksu. I really love his character.

This episode has left me eager for the next episode because it was left at such an intriguing cliffhanger that is going to poke me till episode 8. I love the chemistry between various characters (especially Park Jin and housekeeper Kim). The show is really picking up pace and I really love how it keeps getting better with each week.

Alchemy of Souls is now streaming on Netflix.

Also Read: BTS Drops a Special ‘Yet to Come’ Video to Celebrates Their ARMY’s Birthday