Once Upon a Time in Lingjian Mountain Episode 13 Recap
> Once Upon a Time in Lingjian Mountain Recap
Master Zhifeng, having shattered Wang Wu's bamboo sword with his Gengjin Sword, boasted that she was now weaponless and urged her to surrender to avoid further humiliation for Lingjian Sect. Wang Lu, observing the duel, initially expressed concern about Wang Wu's predicament, even speculating on her potential defeat. He then calculated the high odds of her losing and quickly adjusted his betting strategy, betting heavily on her defeat, anticipating a substantial payout.
Meanwhile, Wang Wu, seemingly unfazed, casually explained that her bamboo swords were easily crafted from Lingjian Mountain's abundant bamboo, making them cheap, versatile, and durable. She then mentioned that she had been holding back to avoid damaging the valuable Yaotian Sword (Zhifeng's treasure sword) with too much force. Master Zhifeng then attempted a war of attrition, but Wang Wu effortlessly parried his attacks, remaining completely composed.
She mocked his Qianyuan Kungfu, calling it a "life-sucking" evil skill that produced "fake Nascent Soul" cultivators, unlike the pure Dao Heart cultivated at Lingjian Sect. Master Zhifeng vehemently defended his methods, arguing they could help less talented cultivators achieve breakthroughs and lead to a new golden age for the cultivation world, but Wang Wu dismissed his vision as a delusion.
She asserted that true cultivation requires perseverance and a strong Dao Heart, not shortcuts, and declared that Master Zhifeng, having lost his Dao Heart, was destined to fail. Defeated and humiliated, Master Zhifeng finally conceded. As a gesture of defeat, Master Zhifeng handed over his century-old sword to Wang Wu, imploring her to care for it. Wang Wu, however, lightheartedly announced her intention to sell it for wine.
He then confessed that his previous boasts of being a Shengjing Sect elder were false; he was merely distantly related to Master Shuiyue, Shengjing Sect's acting leader. He also revealed that his Qianyuan Kungfu was obtained by trading his blood with the Holy Girls of the Qianling Cult and pleaded with Wang Wu to keep his secret from Shengjing Sect before swiftly departing. Wang Lu, whose lucrative betting scheme before the duel had paid off handsomely, approached Wang Wu.
He offered his winnings as a token of filial respect, subtly leading into his request for her to take Hai Yunfan as a disciple and remove the debilitating Restriction placed on him by Hai Tiankuo. Wang Wu did not explicitly refuse, simply stating that "that can wait" and that she was going for a drink, which Wang Lu optimistically took as a positive sign.
Excited to share the news, Wang Lu rushed back to Hai Yunfan, only to find Wen Bao asleep and Hai Yunfan missing. Hai Yunfan, desperate to quickly learn powerful spells to defeat his brother, had secretly ventured into the forbidden Scripture Library. There, he encountered Liu Li xian, who was also illicitly snacking. Just as the strict Elder Fang He approached, sensing intruders, Wang Lu arrived and pulled both Hai Yunfan and Liu Li xian out of hiding.
Though caught, Liu Li xian, in her innocent confusion, claimed she had accidentally fallen into the library while searching for food and that Wang Lu and Hai Yunfan had helped her. While suspicious, Elder Fang He spared them from immediate punishment but sternly warned them against future transgressions. Meanwhile, Master Zhifeng's escape from Lingjian Sect was short-lived. He encountered his granduncle, Master Shuiyue, the acting leader of Shengjing Sect.
Disgusted by Master Zhifeng's shameful defeat by a mere Gold Core cultivator and his fraudulent claims of Shengjing affiliation, Master Shuiyue ruthlessly executed him. Master Zhifeng's humiliating loss against Lingjian Sect piqued Master Shuiyue's interest, making him ponder the old rumors of the "Golden Generation's vast legacies" hidden within Lingjian Mountain. He resolved to find a justifiable pretext to investigate.
Later, Wang Wu, enjoying a quiet drink, mused about her senior brother, lamenting his absence despite her Wuxiang Kungfu having made a minor breakthrough. Wang Lu then brought Hai Yunfan to Wang Wu again to press the matter of his mentorship. Wang Wu, considering Hai Yunfan's background as the brother of the Junhuang Mountain General, declined to take him as a direct disciple immediately.
However, she presented an alternative path: if Hai Yunfan could achieve first place in Lingjian Sect's Field Test, held every five years (with the next one being in just over two and a half years), he would be promoted to a Successor Disciple, and she would then accept him. Despite the long wait, Hai Yunfan remained resolute, determined to improve himself and ultimately defeat Hai Tiankuo.
Wang Lu, reflecting on Wang Wu's demonstration of Dao Heart against Master Zhifeng, realized his own true aspiration: to become powerful, even surpassing his master. He and Hai Yunfan then made a pact, vowing to forge their own era in the cultivation world. Concurrently, the Lingjian Sect Leader summoned Wang Wu to the Star Hall. It was revealed that Elder Liu Xian and Elder Fang He wished to apologize to her for their previous doubts and misjudgments.
During their discussion, a flying sword message arrived from Master Shuiyue, containing a valuable Crystal, a letter, and a grotesque "donkey burger." The elders quickly deduced that Shengjing Sect had ruthlessly executed Master Zhifeng and sent his remains as a chilling message. The accompanying letter from the Immortals Union Leader announced a martial arts competition between Shengjing Sect and Lingjian Sect, to be hosted by Lingjian Sect in one year's time.
Recognizing the profound implications, the Lingjian Sect Leader decided that the immediate priority was to send their younger disciples down the mountain for vital practical experience. This experience, he explained, would not only aid in combating the rising threat of evil cults and protecting the local populace but also deepen their understanding of the world, allowing their cultivation and spiritual enlightenment to progress in tandem. Elders Liu Xian, Fang He, and Wang Wu were then appointed to lead this crucial expedition.
