Dance of the Phoenix Episode 27 Recap
> Dance of the Phoenix Recap
The last Star Shard, acquired through the Wolf Girl's sacrifice, completed Feng Wu's collection and earned her the trust of her fellow students. Zuo Qingluan, emerging from a cave where she had been cultivating demonic arts, witnessed Feng Wu's triumph. She immediately reported to Holy Queen Gao at Junwu Divine Hall.
Holy Queen Gao was furious, questioning Lord Demon's decision not to eliminate Feng Wu when she was vulnerable at the Sky-reaching Terrance, despite Feng Wu having advanced to the Spiritual Zong rank. Lord Demon explained that even the heavenly lightning had failed to kill them, indicating the time was not right. He asserted that trying to force fate might lead to unnecessary consequences and added that Yu Mingye had risked his life to protect Feng Wu.
He stated that Feng Wu would die for their greater cause, but not at that moment. Holy Queen Gao was not appeased. She expressed deep concern that if Feng Wu was right about the three Star Shards waking up Mu Jiuzhou, all their years of effort would be in vain.
Lord Demon tried to reassure her, saying that the Dragon Phoenix Spirit Ring was still in their possession, making it difficult for Feng Wu to awaken Mu Jiuzhou even with all the Star Shards. He also argued that even if Mu Jiuzhou were to awaken after failing his Heavenly Tribulation and years of slumber, his spirit energy would not immediately return to its peak, and Lord Demon was confident he could defeat him.
Holy Queen Gao dismissed his overconfidence, refusing to gamble everything on his desire to win, and declared that Mu Jiuzhou must not be allowed to live. She then commanded Zuo Qingluan to apprehend Feng Wu's family as hostages to force her compliance. Zuo Qingluan hesitated, appealing to their identity as a "righteous sect" and arguing against harming innocent people. Holy Queen Gao sharply rebuked her, calling her foolish for clinging to hypocrisy.
She reminded Zuo Qingluan that her current path, involving demonic cultivation and the killing of a Junior Sister, meant she was no longer the person she once was. Holy Queen Gao emphasized that only winners could disregard others' opinions. Before Zuo Qingluan departed, Holy Queen Gao removed her Ice Bracelet, stating she would keep it to prevent it from becoming a tool for Feng Wu should Zuo Qingluan lose to her and risk the Phoenix Blood being taken.
Holy Queen Gao then instructed Gao Wei to proceed with an expedited plan, confirming he understood what needed to be done. Simultaneously, Holy Queen Gao summoned Ziyan and ordered him to gather the entire Darknight Court in the capital to await her commands, stating that if Zuo Qingluan failed to prevent Mu Jiuzhou's awakening, Ziyan was to eliminate Mu Jiuzhou and Feng Wu, even if it meant confronting the other three sects.
Ziyan expressed concern about further losses to Darknight Court, but Holy Queen Gao questioned his loyalty, reminding him of his vow to protect her. Ziyan reaffirmed his commitment, stating he would stake everything and even die with her if their plan failed. Holy Queen Gao scorned the idea of failure, asserting that the entire Qianyuan Continent would be hers. Soon after, Feng Wu and Jun Linyuan, accompanied by many students from Junwu Academy, confronted Zuo Qingluan.
Zuo Qingluan accused Feng Wu of colluding with a demon, but Zhao Ge defended Feng Wu, reminding Zuo Qingluan that it was her false claim about an old fairy on Baiding Mountain that led Feng Wu to encounter the Wolf Girl. Zhao Ge refused to let Zuo Qingluan twist the truth. Zuo Qingluan’s Junior Sister from Celestial Palace tried to intervene, but Zhao Ge was resolute.
Feng Wu demanded the return of the Dragon Phoenix Spirit Ring, calling Zuo Qingluan out for her lies and the theft of her Phoenix Blood. Zuo Qingluan mocked Feng Wu, saying she wasn't even born when Mu Jiuzhou disintegrated, and declared that Feng Wu was not the real Feng Wu. Feng Wu pressed her, asking if she meant she had killed the real Feng Wu.
In an attempt to force Feng Wu to confess her supposed true identity, Zuo Qingluan presented Feng Madam and Qiu Ling as hostages, urging them to expose Feng Wu's "deception." However, both Feng Madam and Qiu Ling fiercely stood by Feng Wu, proclaiming their unwavering loyalty. Qiu Ling, despite being threatened, declared that Feng Wu was her only Young Lady and that no threats would make her betray her.
Zhao Ge, seeing Zuo Qingluan's increasingly erratic behavior, also expressed her disbelief. Overwhelmed by jealousy and anger that everyone seemed to side with Feng Wu, Zuo Qingluan lost control. She produced the Celestial Palace's sacred artifact, the Illusion Mirror, and threw the Dragon Phoenix Spirit Ring into it, challenging Feng Wu to enter and retrieve it, stating that she would never achieve her goals.
Alarmed, the onlookers explained that the Illusion Mirror contained numerous void spaces, each a blend of truth and illusion, designed to trap individuals by showing them their deepest desires and lost loved ones. If one succumbed to these illusions, they would be forever trapped and their souls would disintegrate. Jun Linyuan, deeply concerned that Feng Wu, having endured so much, might get lost in the comforting illusions, decided to enter the mirror himself.
Despite warnings about the severe consequences of forcefully entering, Jun Linyuan declared he would never abandon Feng Wu. Zhao Ge questioned Zuo Qingluan's transformation from someone who cared for the common people to a person consumed by selfish desires. Zuo Qingluan, defiant, stated that if she couldn't have something, no one else would either, and vowed to destroy Feng Wu and the mirror.
Jun Linyuan forcefully broke through the mirror's barrier, followed by Zuo Qingluan, who intended to make Feng Wu vanish along with the Illusion Mirror. Inside the Illusion Mirror, Jun Linyuan found himself in a heart-wrenching illusion: his deceased mother, no longer a cold portrait, stood before him, lovingly calling him "Linyuan." He was momentarily lost in this fantasy but quickly regained his senses.
He acknowledged that his mother had passed away and could never truly return, but her memory would forever reside in his heart, not in this false reality. This clarity allowed him to resist the illusion's allure. He then perceived Feng Wu within her own illusion, though as mere souls, they could not directly communicate. He could only observe her experiences, unable to intervene.
Feng Wu's illusion presented a perfect world: her Master Mu Jiuzhou had never left, her parents were by her side, and their family was joyful. She was the Celestial Palace's chief disciple, not Zuo Qingluan, and the position of Goddess was hers. Her engagement to Jun Linyuan was intact and nearing fulfillment, and Holy Queen Gao adored her. Despite the apparent perfection, Feng Wu sensed something amiss.
Her family and Qiu Ling urged her to embrace this idyllic life, to spend time with Jun Linyuan who had sent an invitation, and to enjoy her status as Celestial Palace's Goddess and Master Mu's successor. But a faint voice, calling her name, eventually pierced through the illusion. It was Jun Linyuan’s desperate call, urging her to wake up from the illusion. Finally, she broke free from the deceptive happiness, understanding she was searching for the Dragon Phoenix Spirit Ring.
As Feng Wu awoke, she was transported back to the day of her fateful battle with Zuo Qingluan three years prior, the moment Zuo Qingluan stole her Phoenix Blood and nearly killed her. This time, however, the illusion diverged: Jun Linyuan appeared, blocking Zuo Qingluan's fatal blow and retaliating. The illusion shattered, releasing Feng Wu, Jun Linyuan, and Zuo Qingluan from the Illusion Mirror.
Jun Linyuan was injured but not fatally, while Zuo Qingluan was gravely wounded and on the verge of death. Zhao Ge rushed to support the weakening Zuo Qingluan, reminiscing about their shared childhood, joys, and sorrows. She acknowledged the immense pressure Zuo Qingluan had always borne, and how she, Zhao Ge, had always been there to comfort her. Zuo Qingluan thanked Zhao Ge for still calling her Senior Sister. Exhausted, Zuo Qingluan expressed her weariness, stating she was "really. .
. really. . . tired." She took her last breath in Zhao Ge's arms, finding a final release from her tumultuous life. With the Illusion Mirror shattered, the Dragon Phoenix Spirit Ring should have vanished, but Feng Wu's collection of the three Star Shards had already triggered the awakening of Master Mu Jiuzhou. A blinding light erupted, and the long-slumbering Mu Jiuzhou appeared before everyone.
Seeing Master Mu Jiuzhou recognize Feng Wu as his disciple confirmed her true identity to all present. The events unfolded rapidly, and Feng Wu found herself admitting to Zhao Ge and her friends that she was not the original Feng Wu. Overwhelmed by the recent loss of her Senior Sister Zuo Qingluan and the shock of her friend's true identity, Zhao Ge became distraught. She accused Feng Wu of deceiving them like fools, refusing to let her explain.
Jun Linyuan intervened, asking Zhao Ge to give Feng Wu time to explain, assuring her that she would eventually understand. Qiu Ling, however, remained loyal, asserting that regardless of what others said or what Feng Wu believed, she would always recognize Feng Wu as her Young Lady, recounting their years of mutual dependence. Realizing her beautiful mother, Feng Madam, must also know, Feng Wu rushed off to find her.
