Noble Aspirations Episode 1 Recap, Plot

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In the vast and boundless world, the righteous and the evil have been locked in ceaseless conflict for thousands of years. More than a century ago, the Evil Sect launched a major invasion of the central plain, but the Qingyun Sect, leading the righteous forces, unsealed the ancient divine weapon, the Immortal Slaying Sword, and achieved a resounding victory, utterly defeating the Evil Sect.

Despite their defeat, the Evil Sect never abandoned their ambition to dominate the central plain, and their desire for revenge remained strong as time passed. In Caomiao Village, where villagers lived simple lives, a young boy named Zhang Xiaofan spent his days playing with his friends. One day, while playing hide-and-seek, Zhang Xiaofan and Lin Jingyu ran into an old temple. Suddenly, Lin Jingyu's behavior became erratic, and he started choking Zhang Xiaofan.

A mysterious man with an injured hand appeared, observing Lin Jingyu's aggressive aura and noting the boy's young age. Zhang Xiaofan noticed the man's injured hand, but he and Lin Jingyu decided to leave, unsure if the stranger was a good person. Unbeknownst to them, the mysterious man was Pu Zhi of the Heavenly Sound Pavilion, gravely wounded and poisoned by a sneak attack from the Blood Refining Hall, and was meditating in the dilapidated temple.

Later, at home, Zhang Xiaofan's family enjoyed a meal together, and his father noticed a red mark on Xiaofan's neck. Xiaofan explained he was just playing with Lin Jingyu. That night, Zhang Xiaofan went to Lin Jingyu's house and saw someone carrying Lin Jingyu away. He stealthily followed them back to the old temple. There, Pu Zhi discovered that Lin Jingyu had been poisoned by the highly toxic seven-tail centipede and began to treat him.

As Pu Zhi expended some of his energy on the treatment, a skilled practitioner from the Blood Refining Hall appeared, demanding the Bloodthirsty Orb from Pu Zhi. The attacker threatened to harm the entire village, stating that all its inhabitants were mere mortals. Pu Zhi warned Zhang Xiaofan, who had secretly returned to the temple, to stay hidden no matter what transpired outside.

A fierce battle erupted in the courtyard between Pu Zhi and the Blood Refining Hall expert, creating a storm of sand and stones. Worried for Pu Zhi, Zhang Xiaofan emerged from his hiding place. Pu Zhi, utilizing the Bloodthirsty Orb, managed to repel the attacker but suffered severe injuries himself. The shockwave from the clash knocked Zhang Xiaofan unconscious.

Realizing he was dying and that the Blood Refining Hall would return to eliminate witnesses, Pu Zhi decided the only way to save Zhang Xiaofan and Lin Jingyu was to send them to Mount Qingyun. He considered his lifelong ambition and pondered which boy to teach the Heavenly Sound Magic. Lin Jingyu, though highly talented, was too vigilant and might reveal the secret. Zhang Xiaofan, despite his lack of talent, was kind-hearted and thus more suitable.

Before his death, Pu Zhi bestowed his lifetime of cultivation and the Heavenly Sound Magic upon Zhang Xiaofan, also entrusting him with the Bloodthirsty Orb, an artifact responsible for much misfortune. He formally accepted Zhang Xiaofan as his disciple, instructing him to never reveal the night's events to anyone, especially his loved ones, and to only use the acquired skills in life-or-death situations, as doing otherwise would bring great disaster.

He then knocked Zhang Xiaofan unconscious and staggered away from Caomiao Village. Shortly after, the Blood Refining Hall expert returned and massacred everyone in Caomiao Village. When Zhang Xiaofan and Lin Jingyu awoke, they discovered the horrifying scene, embracing the bodies of their parents and weeping uncontrollably. Tian Buyi from the Big Bamboo Peak of the Qingyun Sect arrived at Caomiao Village and brought Zhang Xiaofan and Lin Jingyu to Mount Qingyun.

On Skyreach Peak, the Qingyun Sect leader instructed his head disciple, Xiao Yicai, to bring the boys before the masters. They passed through the peak's entrance and over the Rainbow Bridge, then obtained permission from the Water Kylin, the guardian beast also known as the Spirit Lord, before finally meeting the revered masters of the Qingyun Sect. During this meeting, Zhang Xiaofan's traumatized second uncle suddenly rushed in, screaming about ghosts.

While Zhang Xiaofan could only weep, Lin Jingyu pulled him, repeatedly kowtowing and pleading with the masters to bring justice for them. When asked about the events, Zhang Xiaofan, recalling Pu Zhi's warnings, claimed he did not know much. The Qingyun Sect leader speculated that the Evil Sect was responsible for the massacre, noting that the Ghost King had been increasingly active.

Master Cang Song, recognizing Lin Jingyu's exceptional talent, wished to take him as a disciple, sparking a debate among the masters about who should accept him. To prevent the boys from being in the same branch and constantly recalling their shared tragedy, it was decided that Lin Jingyu would become a disciple under Master Cang Song. For Zhang Xiaofan, whose talents were not apparent, the masters hesitated.

Ultimately, it was decided that Zhang Xiaofan would join Tian Buyi's Big Bamboo Peak. Zhang Xiaofan followed Tian Buyi to Big Bamboo Peak, where his senior sister, Tian Ling'er, introduced him to his senior brothers: Song Daren, Wu Dayi, Zheng Dali, He Dazhi, Lyu Daxin, and Du Bishu. Tian Buyi, still displeased with taking on a less talented disciple, was mollified by his wife, Madam Su Ru, who instructed Song Daren to help Zhang Xiaofan settle into his room.

Zhang Xiaofan later asked Song Daren if their master truly did not want him as a disciple. Song Daren advised Zhang Xiaofan that he could try to win over their master by using his skill in cooking. That night, tormented by the thought of his master's reluctance to accept him, Zhang Xiaofan tossed and turned. He considered discreetly disposing of the Bloodthirsty Orb Pu Zhi had given him by throwing it into a valley.

However, he encountered Lin Jingyu, and at that moment, the skilled practitioner from the Blood Refining Hall reappeared. Lin Jingyu quickly shielded Zhang Xiaofan but was severely wounded. In a moment of crisis, Tian Buyi arrived and confronted the man in black. The assailant's martial arts were formidable, and Tian Buyi struggled until Master Cang Song intervened, helping to drive away the man in black and avert the danger.

Tian Buyi was already unhappy with Zhang Xiaofan as his disciple, and finding out that Xiaofan had secretly left the mountain only worsened his mood. However, after tasting Zhang Xiaofan's cooking, he devoured it, finding it far superior to his sixth disciple's meals. Tian Buyi's attitude towards Zhang Xiaofan began to soften. He asked Zhang Xiaofan why he wished to join the Qingyun Sect, to which Zhang Xiaofan replied that he sought revenge for his parents.

Tian Buyi, however, sternly told Zhang Xiaofan that such a strong desire for vengeance, filled with an aggressive aura, made him no different from the ruthless murderers who had slaughtered his village, and initially refused to accept him as a true disciple.

Episode 2 Recap