Resumen del episodio 24 de The Great Ruler
> Resúmenes de The Great Ruler
In White Horse City, Mu Chen observes that while the city boasts ingenious puppet automatons and mechanisms, it lacks any trace of spiritual power. Bai Xuan, the City Leader, explains that ten years prior, he banned the practice of spiritual power and removed all related elements, believing it brought only misfortune and disaster. He attributes the city's current peace and prosperity to this decision. Bai Xuan then invites Luo Li inside, suggesting a historical scroll might clarify their doubts.
Bai Xuan unrolls a scroll depicting White Horse City’s past glory, once the largest and most prosperous city. However, as people grew dependent on spiritual power, they became consumed by prejudice, hatred, and conflict, leading to widespread displacement. Ten years ago, auspicious colored clouds appeared in the sky, and the waters of the East Sea gathered into a giant eye.
This celestial event brought an end to all conflicts, prompting Bai Xuan to strictly forbid the practice and use of spiritual power, expelling any who resisted. He asserts that this decision led to the city's renewed prosperity and peace. Mu Chen challenges Bai Xuan’s extreme stance, arguing that spiritual power itself is neutral, and its effect depends entirely on the user’s intentions.
Bai Xuan, however, having witnessed the city's tumultuous history, prefers to trust his own eyes over Mu Chen’s words. Luo Li warns Bai Xuan against complacency, recounting a childhood story from Beiling about a seemingly auspicious giant eye that, in reality, absorbed all surrounding spiritual energy, turning living plants into empty husks.
She suggests the East Sea eye might be similar, but Bai Xuan dismisses her concerns as nonsense, insisting the giant eye is a sign of good fortune and that White Horse City is living proof. Mu Chen then asks if a white dragon appeared during that time, but Bai Xuan denies any knowledge of it. Just then, news arrives that Jiu You was seen in the city’s suburban back mountain a few days ago.
Mu Chen is eager to leave immediately, but Bai Xuan insists on accompanying them, claiming he needs to check the city’s defenses due to recent strangers. As they walk through the city, Luo Li secretly tells Mu Chen that she discovered Bai Xuan’s spiritual pulse was damaged when he gave her his horse, suggesting he shouldn't be able to use spiritual power. Bai Xuan leads them to a desolate wilderness.
There, he abruptly activates a powerful Spiritual Binding Array, trapping them. He reveals himself as a Spiritual Array Master and declares his intent to eliminate anyone who might threaten White Horse City. Trapped, Mu Chen realizes they underestimated Bai Xuan and decides to break the formation alone to protect Luo Li, who warns that their spiritual power will deplete if they don't act quickly.
Meanwhile, back at the North Cangsheng Spiritual Academy, Mu Bai is secretly practicing the Power of Whisper when Qian'er arrives with medicine. She questions why he possesses He Yao’s dangerous Soul Erasing Spell, believing it should be burned. Mu Bai explains he is studying it to understand the immensely powerful Evil Deity, hoping to gain an advantage in their fight, and asks her to keep it secret to avoid worrying others.
After Qian'er leaves, Mu Bai tells Huo Feng that Shen Cangsheng is now suspicious of him and that they must act quickly. He plans to use this opportunity to inquire about Mu Chen and also completely clear his own name. Shen Cangsheng confronts Mu Bai about the dragon slave village Mu Bai had investigated.
Mu Bai admits he killed all the villagers, explaining they were gravely infected by the Power of Whisper, and forcefully removing it would have led to a more prolonged and cruel death. Cangsheng finds Mu Bai suspicious, noting his unsettling calm demeanor despite having committed such an extreme act. Mu Bai defends his decision, stating he understands the dangers of the Power of Whisper firsthand, as it destroyed his own family.
He witnessed his comrades suffering from it and couldn't bear to see the villagers endure the same. He accepts any punishment. Qian'er intercedes, arguing that Mu Bai's actions, while seemingly cruel, were a necessary measure against the Evil Deity and perhaps a release for the villagers. Cangsheng decides to let the matter go but cautions Mu Bai to think twice in the future. Still, wary of Mu Bai’s unusual composure, Cangsheng challenges him to a spar.
During their fight, Cangsheng uses the Lotus Spell, injuring Mu Bai. Sun'er later discusses Mu Bai’s suspicious behavior with Cangsheng, noting his lack of panic, and they agree to observe him discreetly. Back in the wilderness, Mu Chen and Luo Li wake up to find themselves still trapped in the Spiritual Binding Array, with Jiu You also held captive nearby. Mu Chen confronts Jiu You for leaving without a trace and severing their blood connection.
Jiu You unconvincingly claims the connection must have malfunctioned, making Mu Chen displeased. Soon, Bai Tong appears, revealing he is Bai Xuan’s son and the one who has been holding Jiu You captive, providing her with food. Mu Chen and Luo Li realize Bai Tong's use of spiritual power and arrays contradicts Bai Xuan's ban, suggesting the father and son share a secret.
Luo Li comes up with a plan to break the array, and they succeed in freeing themselves and Jiu You. They then decide to capture Bai Tong and take him into White Horse City to uncover the truth. Luo Li and Jiu You head off to search for Bai Tong in areas with dense shrubs, instructing Mu Chen to lie in ambush. As Mu Chen waits, Jiu You and Luo Li corner Bai Tong.
Jiu You taunts him about his barbecue skills before they overpower and capture him. They bring him back to Mu Chen, who immediately questions Bai Tong about his father's reasons for sealing White Horse City. Bai Tong declares it was to prevent "malevolent people" like them from destroying the city's "auspicious sign." Mu Chen challenges this, pointing out the city's unnatural, eerie peace, the absence of elders and children, and the residents’ vacant, almost insane smiles.
He suspects the city is not peaceful but rather full of darkness, possibly influenced by the evil sea eye he saw in the painting, and directly asks if Bai Xuan has allied with the Evil Deity. Bai Tong vehemently denies this, asserting his family’s loyalty to White Horse City, but struggles to provide further explanations. Jiu You threatens him, and seeing his reluctance to speak, Mu Chen decides to take Bai Tong into White Horse City to investigate further.
At North Cangsheng Spiritual Academy, Sun'er informs Shen Cangsheng that Mu Bai is heading to Mu Chen’s room. Cangsheng and Sun'er rush there, only to find Mu Bai locked in a staged confrontation with Huo Feng. Mu Bai accuses Huo Feng of being the academy's internal spy and asks Cangsheng to help pursue him. Cangsheng, now trusting Mu Bai, splits up with him to chase Huo Feng.
Shen Cangsheng encounters "Huo Feng," who uses the Power of Whisper to attack him. Cangsheng, recognizing the power, is quickly wounded and knocked unconscious. Mu Bai then appears, kills the real Huo Feng, and cuts himself with Huo Feng’s knife to feign an injury. When Cangsheng awakens, he sees Huo Feng dead and Mu Bai wounded, and apologizes for his earlier suspicions, crediting Mu Bai with uncovering the spy.
Severely wounded by the Power of Whisper, Cangsheng announces he will go into secluded cultivation for recovery. He entrusts Mu Bai and Sun'er with the management of the academy’s affairs, emphasizing the critical importance of their mission. Mu Bai, feigning concern, asks about Mu Chen.
Cangsheng dismisses Sun'er and, in strict confidence, reveals that Mu Chen and the others have already left the academy for White Horse City to find the White Dragon Supreme, whose aid is crucial in their fight against the Black Dragon. Mu Bai’s earlier suspicions about Mu Chen’s disappearance are confirmed, and he assures Cangsheng that everything will be fine. Later, Mu Bai attends to Huo Feng's body, noting that the Power of Whisper on him will disappear in three days. He states he will "see him off" as they are now "even," implying he will dispose of the body, having successfully used Huo Feng to clear his own name.
