Love in the Clouds Episode 16 Recap
> Love in the Clouds Recap
Ming Yi brought Ji Bozai back to her room to tend to his wounds, but Ji Bozai was overwhelmed with remorse. He felt deep regret, believing that if he hadn't insisted on exposing Mu Qibai's crimes, the Sunken Abyss would not have been thoroughly investigated, and the innocent criminals and Ruo Shui would not have been recaptured and offered as food for the netherbeast army.
Ji Bozai lamented that he had used Ruo Shui to free himself from his own hatred, and then only thought about getting rid of her, never truly caring about her life or death. Ming Yi reminded him that the true source of the evil came from Mu Qibai's cruelty and greed.
She emphasized that the people Mu Qibai used to nurture the netherbeast army, including the old, women, children, and those even younger than them, were all innocent but unjustly branded as criminals before becoming netherbeast fodder. With the netherbeast army on the verge of completion and danger imminent, Ming Yi, after much consideration, decided to help Ji Bozai.
She told Twenty-Seven that despite finding the Golden Millet Dream, the most important task was to destroy the netherbeast army and confront Mu Qibai. When Twenty-Seven suggested they first steal the Golden Millet Dream to cure Ming Yi's poison, Ming Yi posed a dilemma: choose a living bad person or a dead good person. Twenty-Seven, though worried about Ming Yi's safety, ultimately chose to support her, wishing for her to live a long life.
Meanwhile, Chao Yu, the First Prince of Zhushui Spiritual State, personally visited Jixing Abyss to inspect the progress of the netherbeast army. Since Jixing Abyss relied on Zhushui Spiritual State, Chao Yu's words to Mu Qibai were laced with mockery. He rebuked Mu Qibai for losing control of the Sunken Abyss, dismissing his assurances that the Soul-Consuming Tree's connection would allow success in ten days.
Chao Yu reminded Mu Qibai that without the Sunken Abyss's suitability for hatching netherbeasts, he would have no opportunity. Chao Yu also suspected Mu Qibai of trying to protect Ji Bozai, hoping he would win the Qingyun Tournament and free Jixing Abyss from Zhushui Spiritual State's control, a notion Mu Qibai vehemently denied, proclaiming his loyalty. Chao Yu pressed Mu Qibai about the Golden Millet Dream, which he believed Ji Bozai possessed, but Mu Qibai claimed ignorance.
Chao Yu also questioned if Ji Bozai knew about the netherbeast army, to which Mu Qibai replied, "Not yet." Ji Bozai, resolute in his decision to become a netherbeast vessel, sought Ming Yi for the method.
Ming Yi explained the three dangerous steps: first, cultivate spiritual power to strengthen one's core; second, remotely absorb netherbeasts into the core, forming a netherbeast core within; and finally, use one's body as the vessel to coexist and refine the netherbeast core until it is fully assimilated. She noted that the initial stage would deplete all spiritual power, leaving the body extremely weak, and Ji Bozai must not leave Wugui Sea.
Ming Yi offered to be the vessel, but Ji Bozai insisted he must do it himself, as he was the stronger fighter, and her spiritual power was limited. She then promised to prepare tonic to help him maintain his spiritual power. That night, Chao Yu visited his younger brother, Situ Ling (who was formerly Chao Yuan), in the Judgement Hall. Feigning concern, Chao Yu subtly probed for the whereabouts of the Golden Millet Dream.
After confirming Situ Ling still hadn't cultivated his spiritual veins, Chao Yu unapologetically lashed out with his whip, openly showing his disdain. He remarked on Situ Ling's continued weakness, despite becoming more resistant to his whips. After Chao Yu left, Fu Yue attended to Situ Ling's wounds, her heart aching.
She tearfully confessed her long-held feelings, revealing that in the past, when she was a small wild fox captured and tortured by Chao Yu, it was Chao Yuan who shielded her from the brutal whipping. From that moment, she vowed to follow him, treasuring him above all else, hoping he would one day achieve spiritual veins and no longer suffer under his brother's bullying. Situ Ling, now aware of Fu Yue's true feelings, was deeply moved.
Fu Yue, suppressing her tears, vowed to help him find the Golden Millet Dream, believing Ji Bozai might have created a real Spirit Well, only accessible to himself, where he hid the Golden Millet Dream. She worried about Situ Ling's exposed presence in the divine capital without spiritual veins, and urged him to hide his tracks, insisting his life was more important than Ming Yi's, even if it meant defying his wishes to save Ming Yi.
Later, Ming Yi brought the tonic to Ji Bozai's residence. Seeing him seemingly asleep, she turned to leave. Unexpectedly, Ji Bozai, who had only been pretending to sleep, followed her to the corridor and drank the tonic from her hand. Then, with Ming Yi's guidance, Ji Bozai initiated the second step of the refinement. He used a teleportation array to send his core deep into the Sunken Abyss, completely absorbing the primordial spirits of the netherbeasts.
Ming Yi cautioned him to retrieve his core quickly to avoid exposure. Coincidentally, Chao Yu was inspecting the Sunken Abyss and witnessed this shocking event. Enraged, he commanded Mu Qibai to find Ji Bozai at once, declaring Jixing Abyss a "barren place that only produces trash." As Ji Bozai entered seclusion for his cultivation, Mu Qibai instructed Sun Liao to incite discontent among the warriors.
Sun Liao publicly complained about Ji Bozai's absence from training, questioning his dedication to Shouhua Academy and claiming he only sought to escape his criminal status. Tianji, seemingly swayed by the public's opinion, shrewdly declared Ji Bozai's warrior status revoked and appointed Sun Liao as the new chief warrior.
Sun Liao, flattered by this sudden promotion, failed to realize that Tianji's actions were a deliberate tactic to elevate him as a new target, fulfilling her goals through "deceit, lies, and empty promises." Meanwhile, Mu Qibai summoned Meng Yangqiu, feigning concern for Tianji's safety. He subtly cast doubt on Ji Bozai, highlighting his mysterious past as a criminal with spiritual veins, linking his rise to power to recent unrest and the appearance of netherbeasts in Jixing Abyss.
He asked Meng Yangqiu to help clear all obstacles for Tianji. Soon, the refinement reached its most perilous stage: Ji Bozai had to assimilate thousands of netherbeast primordial spirits into his body, enduring seven days of agony to completely subdue them. This process was a fierce battle of wills, a struggle of mutual devouring, where a single mistake could lead to the netherbeasts taking over his body.
Countless netherbeast souls shrieked and roared within Ji Bozai's spiritual platform, attempting to shatter his mind, but he remained steadfast, his eyes closed in deep meditation, holding firm to his original intent.
