Love and Destiny Episode 17 Recap, Plot

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During the Queen Mother of the West's Immortal Peach Fellowship, Jiuchen arrived, explaining he was merely passing by to observe the refinement of the Heaven-Devouring Beast. Yuli, who was also present, seemed pleased to see Jiuchen. However, when Kaiyang subtly tried to impress Yuli, she ignored him. Soon after, an immortal envoy approached Jiuchen. A small Bai Ze, named Wuwan, suddenly darted from the immortal's sleeve and leaped into Jiuchen's arms.

Jiuchen explained that Wuwan was the mount of an immortal maid under his command and inquired about its discovery and owner's well-being. The immortal confirmed he had found the beast after rescuing two female immortals from the Hanshan Tribe in the lower realm, and the two female immortals had since returned home. The Queen Mother of the West was charmed by the snow-white Wuwan and asked Jiuchen to give it to her.

Jiuchen, however, refused, stating he was not its owner and suggested she approach Wuwan's master at Fuyun Hall. The Queen Mother of the West was displeased, and other immortals at the banquet whispered about Jiuchen's arrogance. To regain face, she announced the primary purpose of the banquet: to witness the final stage of the Heaven-Devouring Beast's refinement, which had been soaking in the Tissue-Transforming Pool for forty-nine days.

Its bone marrow and blood would be given to the doctors of Yaowang Cave to be made into a powerful medicinal pellet. Meanwhile, at the Tissue-Transforming Pool, Lingxi desperately tried to free the Heaven-Devouring Beast. She explained to the beast that she was trying to get it out. Although the Heaven-Devouring Beast was once the Demon Lord's mount, it had shown her no malice, and she felt compelled to save it. Her attempts to break its chains were futile.

Suddenly, Zhonghao arrived with his men. Lingxi quickly hid. Zhonghao, ecstatic to find the Heaven-Devouring Beast, declared his intention to use its blood and bones to reform the Demon Blade, allowing the Demon Lord to "see the light of day again and rule over the Six Realms." Lingxi emerged, shouting for him to stop and not touch the beast, which was already injured. Zhonghao, recognizing her as an "immortal maid of Kunlun Mountain," ordered his men to kill her.

Lingxi, outmatched, was repeatedly pushed back, nearly falling into the pool. Seeing her in danger, the Heaven-Devouring Beast roared in fury. It used its horn to fling Lingxi onto its back, and fueled by the divine and demonic power within her, it struggled fiercely, finally breaking free from its restraints. It then flew out of the pool, carrying Lingxi, and burst into the Queen Mother of the West's main hall.

The Heaven-Devouring Beast unleashed a powerful burst of demonic energy towards the Queen Mother of the West, but Jiuchen swiftly intercepted and repelled it. Outmatched by Jiuchen, the Heaven-Devouring Beast turned and flew away with Lingxi on its back, Jiuchen in close pursuit. Soon after, a report reached the Queen Mother of the West that the guards at the back gate had been killed, presumably by the "evil woman" who rescued the Heaven-Devouring Beast.

Enraged, she demanded to know the identity of this "evil woman." Yuli, recognizing Lingxi and holding a long-standing grudge, attempted to expose her. However, Qingyao, standing beside her, quickly made Yuli appear to faint, silencing her. The Queen Mother, unaware of Qingyao's actions, ordered her forces to search the Six Realms to capture "those two demons," vowing to find them even "at the end of the sky." The Heaven-Devouring Beast carried Lingxi far beyond the Kunlun territory before landing, exhausted.

Lingxi dismounted, asking if it was in pain. Just then, Zhonghao caught up. He taunted Lingxi, stating that the Heaven-Devouring Beast had been soaking in the Tissue-Transforming Pool for forty-nine days and that "today. . . is the day it will die," asserting that it was fated to die with her and that to be "sacrificed to the Demon Blade was its great fortune." He raised his Demon Blade to strike.

Lingxi fought back but was quickly overwhelmed and knocked to the ground. As Zhonghao hurled the Demon Blade directly at Lingxi, the Heaven-Devouring Beast, with its last ounce of strength, lunged forward, shielding Lingxi and sacrificing itself to block the blade. It died instantly, its form and soul utterly annihilated. Witnessing this tragic scene, Lingxi's immense grief ignited the dormant demonic aura within her.

She clenched her fists, channeling the demonic energy, and unleashed a powerful attack against Zhonghao before collapsing under the suppression of her divine power. Zhonghao was knocked back, and it was then that he fully realized Lingxi was the infant girl the Demon Lord had been searching for—the one possessing both divine and demonic power. As he rose to attack Lingxi again, Jiuchen arrived.

He quickly moved to protect Lingxi but was momentarily distracted, sustaining a shoulder injury from the Demon Blade. After repelling Zhonghao, Jiuchen swiftly took the unconscious Lingxi back to Polar Abyss. While Lingxi's internal demonic power surged, a crystal pendant on her chest emitted a protective white light, seemingly in response to the chaos. The corresponding crystal pendant in the Peach Forest also vibrated violently.

Previously, when the pendant had alerted him, Le Bo had been too drunk to notice, so he had since placed his wine gourd atop the box containing the pendant while sleeping. This time, as the pendant pulsed, the wine gourd was knocked to the ground, waking Le Bo instantly. Realizing Lingxi was in trouble, he immediately rushed out. Chengyan, who was kneeling as punishment for not watching Lingxi, asked where he was going.

Le Bo, furious, kicked him and ordered him to continue his punishment. Believing Lingxi had returned to Fuyun Hall, Le Bo headed straight for the Heavenly Palace. Outside Fuyun Hall, he loudly demanded to see his daughter. Shisan and Huayan repeatedly insisted that neither Lingxi nor Jiuchen were in the hall. Le Bo refused to believe them and tried to force his way in. Shisan, frustrated, threatened to fight. Seeing their sincerity, Le Bo finally accepted they weren't lying.

He left a message, demanding that Jiuchen return his daughter to him, and stormed off. Back at Polar Abyss, Jiuchen instructed the immortal servants guarding the entrance to keep watch, then immediately focused on Lingxi. Despite his own injury, he began to use his power to forcibly suppress the surging demonic aura within her. After a strenuous effort, he managed to push it back down, but Lingxi remained unconscious.

To prevent further alerts that might worry Le Bo, Jiuchen carefully removed the jade pendant from Lingxi's neck. When Lingxi finally awoke, she found herself in Polar Abyss. She quickly rose and sought out Jiuchen. Upon seeing him, she embraced him, but then noticed the wound on his shoulder. Without hesitation, she tried to heal him with her magic, but to her horror, the wound worsened instead of healing.

Lingxi immediately stopped, intending to find her Senior Sister Qingyao, but Jiuchen held her back. He explained that it was a wound from the Demon Blade, and ordinary immortal power could not heal it; it would only recover through his own slow cultivation. Lingxi, angered by this, declared her intention to confront whoever had injured him. Jiuchen playfully flicked her nose, calling her silly. Lingxi felt immense self-reproach, believing that anyone who encountered her seemed to suffer.

She reflected that the Heaven-Devouring Beast died saving her, and Jiuchen was injured protecting her, which made her understand why he had wanted to send her back to Peach Forest. Jiuchen, sensing her sadness, comforted her. He explained that the Heaven-Devouring Beast's death was not her fault; it had been soaking for forty-nine days, and that day was its predestined end.

He added that before being good to her, it had been the Demon Lord's mount and had killed countless people, including many women her age. Lingxi acknowledged that she had caused a great deal of trouble. Jiuchen then asked if she wished to return to Peach Forest or remain in Polar Abyss, despite its lack of amenities, friends, or family.

Lingxi joyfully interrupted him, declaring her willingness to stay as long as he was there, even if there was nothing else. She leaned on him affectionately, pleading with him not to drive her away again. Jiuchen, unable to resist her earnestness, chuckled and promised never to make her leave. Concerned for her junior sister, Qingyao first took the unconscious Yuli back to the Heavenly Palace before hurrying to Peach Forest.

Upon seeing Chengyan, she immediately chastised him and tied him to a tree. Qingyao then spoke to Le Bo, inquiring about Lingxi. Given the recent events, she had long suspected that her junior sister was extraordinary. Le Bo, realizing there was no longer any point in concealing the truth, revealed Lingxi's true identity, explaining her origins and the divine and demonic power she possessed.

Qingyao was alarmed and immediately wanted to retrieve Lingxi from Jiuchen's side, fearing for her safety if Jiuchen were to discover her secret. However, Le Bo quickly reassured her, explaining that Jiuchen already knew everything and had promised to protect Lingxi, which finally eased Qingyao's worries. After being returned to Yaowang Cave, Yuli remained unconscious for a full day and night.

Upon waking, she recalled the events at the Queen Mother of the West's banquet and developed an intense hatred for Qingyao. Having finally grasped such a significant piece of information regarding Lingxi, she was unwilling to let the opportunity pass. Yuli went directly to the Lingxiao Treasure Hall and, in the presence of various deities, informed the Heavenly Emperor about Lingxi's involvement.

Yunfeng, overhearing this, quickly stepped forward to defend Lingxi, describing her as simple, lively, and adorable, with low magic and shallow cultivation, unlikely to be involved with demons. However, Tianlei seized the opportunity to add fuel to the fire, arguing that low cultivation did not preclude demonic involvement, citing the example of Yuanzheng who, despite his achievements, had become demonized. He expressed his suspicion of Lingxi since her appearance.

The Heavenly Emperor, growing weary of their argument, stopped them and instructed Yunfeng to bring Lingxi back for questioning. Ziguang, still resentful of Jiuchen for being stripped of his guard duty, quickly volunteered to go in Yunfeng's stead, but Yunfeng rebuffed him. At that moment, Jiuchen arrived to report an urgent matter: remnants of the Demon Tribe had been sighted near Dark Capital Mountain, requiring immediate preparations. The Heavenly Emperor was greatly alarmed by this news.

Yunfeng suspected that Jiuchen's report about the Demon Tribe remnants, appearing at such a critical juncture, was a deliberate attempt to divert attention from Lingxi. Yunfeng reflected that Jiuchen, as evidenced by his preference for straightforward individuals like Kaiyang, Hanzhang, Zhuxie, and Shisan, favored simple characters. Lingxi, being lively, simple, direct, clever, and interesting, had indeed brightened Fuyun Hall since her arrival.

However, Yunfeng expressed to Jiuchen that he would never allow Lingxi to put Jiuchen at odds with the Six Realms and all living creatures. Jiuchen simply assured Yunfeng that he had his own plans and that nothing bad would happen. Yunfeng, knowing Jiuchen never embarked on a battle unprepared, felt at ease. Jiuchen informed Yunfeng and Hanzhang that Zhonghao had repaired the Demon Blade and now possessed the strength to fight even Jiuchen himself, emphasizing the need for caution.

He then outlined his plan: to swiftly eliminate the Demon Tribe at Dark Capital Mountain. He instructed Yunfeng to attack from the northeast and Hanzhang from the northwest, cornering Zhonghao. Yunfeng, now serious and resolute, affirmed his commitment to success, surprising Kaiyang with his newfound determination. Yuantong, having learned of Jiuchen's impending expedition against the demons, sought to join him. As she arrived outside Fuyun Hall, she spotted Jiuchen carrying Wuwan.

She then followed him all the way to Polar Abyss. Lingxi, having been woken by Wuwan, was overjoyed and began searching for Jiuchen, holding the Bai Ze. When Lingxi opened the door, Yuantong, hidden in the shadows, observed her. Yuantong then realized that Jiuchen had hidden Lingxi there and had even brought Wuwan specifically for her, igniting a fierce surge of jealousy and rekindled hatred.

The significant deployment of Heavenly soldiers around Dark Capital Mountain did not go unnoticed by the neighboring Shanling Territory. Chibi quickly relayed this information to Jing Xiu. Jing Xiu, intending to use Zhonghao to open the Spirit-Binding Abyss and eliminate Yuandu, knew he could not allow Zhonghao to die at Jiuchen's hands. Thus, he and Chibi positioned themselves on the summit of Dark Capital Mountain, closely monitoring the unfolding events below.

Yunfeng and Hanzhang led the Heavenly forces, successfully cornering Zhonghao at a remote section of Dark Capital Mountain. During their confrontation, Zhonghao was injured by Yunfeng and attempted to flee, only to encounter Jiuchen. Zhonghao, like a cornered beast, lashed out at Jiuchen, accusing him of pursuing him solely for Lingxi's sake, claiming that as long as she lived, the Demon Lord would have no trouble being resurrected. Unbeknownst to them, Yuantong was observing this exchange from the shadows.

As the God of War, Jiuchen held the responsibility of eradicating demons. He confronted the demonized Zhonghao without mercy, asserting that Zhonghao's choice to become a "pawn of demons" was self-destruction. Already wounded, Zhonghao could not withstand Jiuchen's might and was quickly gravely injured again. As Jiuchen prepared to deliver the final blow, Jing Xiu, who had been watching from the mountaintop, suddenly intervened with a powerful burst of magic, obstructing Jiuchen's attack. Seizing the opportunity, Zhonghao transformed into a bird and made his escape.

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