Love in the Clouds Episode 35 Recap
> Love in the Clouds Recap
Ming Yi confronted Ji Bozai, demanding to know how she could face things alone if he went to face death by himself. Ji Bozai insisted that she, as the destined one and the Warrior Goddess who had won for seven consecutive years, was capable of enduring. He reassured her that once the Sky-Swallowing Array was gone, life would return to normal, and she would have friends, family, and eventually a new lover.
He urged her to live well, believing everything would improve. However, Ming Yi firmly stated that she wouldn't find anyone else. She confessed that her initial approach to him had been purposeful, marked by mutual testing and a lack of trust. She regretted the lies and hidden truths that led to so many missed opportunities and declared that she no longer wished for regrets.
She implored him to share everything with her in the future, facing challenges together rather than alone. Her resolve was clear: she wanted to live and die with Ji Bozai. Deeply moved, Ji Bozai finally embraced her. Meanwhile, Situ Ling, identified as Chao Yuan by an inner demon, fully succumbed to its influence. The inner demon taunted him, pointing out how his family disdained him, Ji Bozai considered him unworthy, and Ming Yi utterly disregarded him.
It urged him to merge completely, offering to amplify his illusory assassination skills and make him the strongest ruler of the Six Realms by activating the Sky-Swallowing Array, in exchange for his consciousness, soul, and cultivation. Consumed by rage and a thirst for power, Situ Ling pledged his primordial soul to the gods and demons of Zhushui, invoking the power of Heju and offering all of himself to them.
Elsewhere, She Tianlin diligently searched through ancient tomes, having tirelessly examined every page. He confirmed that the Sky-Swallowing Array was profoundly mysterious with scarce documentation. He warned that Situ Ling was certain to activate the Sky-Swallowing Array at the Qingyun Tournament. With the Nine Heavens opening, all Blessed Rain would funnel into Zhushui Spiritual State, necessitating an immediate counter-plan. Moments later, Ming Yi received a message from Situ Ling.
He challenged her to meet him at the Qingyun Tournament, promising to reveal the true meaning of power there. Ming Yi and Ji Bozai then went to see Tianji, where Ming Yi revealed Situ Ling's true identity as Chao Yuan. She explained that Chao Yuan had become Zhushui Spiritual State's de facto ruler, with the Emperor of Zhushui not having appeared for days and all news approved by him.
She stressed that the Qingyun Tournament was no longer just a competition, but a matter of life and death for the Six Realms. The finals would coincide with the century-mark activation of the Sky-Swallowing Array, which, if not stopped, would allow Zhushui to claim all Blessed Rain and invade the other five realms; even Jixing Abyss's Aranya Barrier would not be spared.
Tianji acknowledged the gravity of the situation, noting that no one in the Six Realms had reached the Perfect Stage yet to counter the array. When Ji Bozai began to speak of sacrificing himself, Ming Yi interjected, vowing that she would not let him do so as long as she was there. She then requested Tianji's help to ensure both Jixing Abyss and Yaoguang Mountain qualified for the finals.
This would allow her father, She Tianlin, along with Twenty-Seven and Buxiu, to infiltrate Zhushui Palace and locate any records concerning the Sky-Swallowing Array. Tianji readily agreed, promising to find other ways to protect the Six Realms. Concurrently, Ji Bozai gathered the warriors of Yaoguang Mountain. He informed them that the activation of the Sky-Swallowing Array would lead to all Blessed Rain falling under Zhushui Spiritual State's control, enslaving Yaoguang Mountain and other realms.
He acknowledged that some had previously followed Ming Xin out of fear, but pressed them on whether they still feared the Emperor of Zhushui. He offered a choice: anyone afraid could withdraw from the warrior ranks, but to prevent leaks, they must remain until the tournament concluded. When a warrior questioned this confinement, Ji Bozai clarified it was not to trap them, but for the Six Realms' safety.
He then revealed that after the tournament, he might die, as the Sky-Swallowing Array could only be destroyed by sacrificing oneself. He urged them that though fear was natural, someone had to step forward for the Six Realms to survive. Inspired by his selfless declaration, the warriors, recalling their past cowardice under Ming Xin and wishing to atone, bravely committed to fighting for Yaoguang Mountain. The Qingyun Tournament commenced, with the first match featuring Yaoguang Mountain against Jixing Abyss.
The announcer declared that the first to reach the Totem Platform and obtain the Spiritual Key would become an Upper Realm, claiming the Blessed Rain. Outwardly, the warriors engaged in intense combat, but thanks to a Soundproof Artifact, their true intentions remained hidden. Ji Bozai and Ming Yi, acting as fierce rivals, exchanged powerful blows to deceive onlookers. Ji Bozai remarked on Ming Yi's excellent acting, to which she complimented his cooperation.
Their initial match concluded in an unprecedented tie, leading officials to declare that the two realms would compete again, postponing the scheduled Zhushui Spiritual State and Cangwu Hill match. This pattern continued through several subsequent matches, with Jixing Abyss and Yaoguang Mountain consistently drawing against each other. It was later revealed that this entire charade of constant ties and fierce rivalry was a carefully orchestrated plan to ensure both realms entered the finals, thereby avoiding suspicion.
With additional covert assistance from Zheng Tiao of Flowing Wave Gorge, the tournament officials made an exceptional ruling, allowing all four realms—Zhushui Spiritual State, Flowing Wave Gorge, Yaoguang Mountain, and Jixing Abyss—to proceed to the finals, breaking the traditional three-team format. Elsewhere, Twenty-Seven located a secret box containing records of the Sky-Swallowing Array within Zhushui Palace. However, upon retrieving it, Twenty-Seven was injured by a spiritual fire that erupted.
Despite the immense danger, She Tianlin risked the permanent loss of his right arm, pushing through the intense pain to extract the array diagram from the fiery box, even as Buxiu pleaded with him to stop. Though Ji Bozai used his spiritual power to heal She Tianlin's wounds, his arm's severed meridians could not be reconnected.
Ming Yi was deeply saddened by her father's injury, prompting Ji Bozai to promise he would find the finest materials to forge an artifact, ensuring She Tianlin could regain full use of his arm. Ming Yi then reminded Ji Bozai that her father's sacrifice to obtain the array diagram offered a new hope for finding a way to break the Sky-Swallowing Array, which was crucial to thwarting Chao Yuan's and his father's plot.
She reiterated her fear of losing him in the coming battle and pleaded with him not to abandon her, confessing she could not bear to lose another loved one. Ji Bozai, in turn, admitted his own fear of losing her, reflecting on his past willingness to sacrifice everything for a goal, but now feeling trepidation. Meanwhile, Tianji, anticipating the perilous finals, made Yan Xiao promise that he, Meng Yangqiu, Chen Xi, and Ming Yi would all return safely.
Unbeknownst to them, Situ Ling, reviewing his father's notes, realized that Yaoguang Mountain and Jixing Abyss had deliberately tied their matches to enter the finals together, aiming to prevent the Sky-Swallowing Array's activation. He vowed to his father's memory that he would not let them succeed. The Qingyun Tournament finals began inside Zhuojin Tower, featuring Zhushui Spiritual State, Flowing Wave Gorge, Jixing Abyss, and Yaoguang Mountain. Ming Yi expressed relief that they had finally reached this stage.
Ji Bozai entrusted Zheng Tiao of Flowing Wave Gorge with the critical task of guarding the exits to prevent any other Zhushui members from entering and harming innocents as Chao Yuan initiated the Sky-Swallowing Array. Zheng Tiao assured him of their unity. Ji Bozai then urged the warriors from Jixing Abyss and Yaoguang Mountain to fully commit to restraining Zhushui's fighters, preventing them from splitting up to seize the Spiritual Key.
Ming Yi, promising to protect her teammates, encouraged everyone to be cautious, protect themselves, and their allies, and wished for their victorious return. However, the battle quickly took a grim turn. Ji Bozai warned Ming Yi to be careful, as Situ Ling had completely absorbed the demonic beast's power. Situ Ling, now monstrously powerful, scorned their attempts to fight him. As darkness descended, the crowd murmured that "it's time," signifying the activation of the Sky-Swallowing Array.
Situ Ling mocked their efforts to seal the array, declaring that all magic would extinguish, Heaven and sun would fall, and only death would remain eternal. He then activated the Sky-Swallowing Array, which was now merged with him through Zhushui's secret art. This fusion meant that all spiritual power absorbed by the array would be his, making him progressively stronger.
He brushed off warnings that his body couldn't withstand the immense power, threatening primordial spirit destruction, and proclaimed his intent to become the strongest in the Six Realms, willing to drag the entire Hexu down with him if necessary. As Situ Ling unleashed the array, devouring the primordial spirits of everyone present, including Yan Xiao and others who collapsed, Ji Bozai recognized the futility of close-quarters combat against Situ Ling's overwhelming spiritual power.
Realizing time was running out, he moved to sacrifice himself. Ming Yi, however, instantly intercepted him. She reminded him of their earlier discussion, where they had agreed that if sacrificing oneself became necessary, both of them, as Transcendent Stage practitioners, would act together, offering a slim chance of survival rather than certain death for one. Ming Yi insisted that they must both survive if there was any hope at all.
With their spiritual powers intertwined, Ji Bozai and Ming Yi clasped hands and ascended into the array together. Situ Ling, horrified by their unexpected move, shouted at Ming Yi to return, but his internal demonic beast power surged uncontrollably. It taunted him, reaffirming that by absorbing everyone's primordial spirits, he would indeed ascend to become the supreme ruler of the Six Realms.
