Once Upon a Time in Lingjian Mountain Episode 32 Recap
> Once Upon a Time in Lingjian Mountain Recap
Feng Yin, the leader of Lingjian sect, observed the recent events through a vision. He was inadvertently injured by a hidden weapon left behind by the black-clad man. Despite his injury, Feng Yin urged Wang Wu and Wang Lu to rescue Feng Ling, giving them a drop of his blood which could sense Feng Ling's location. Meanwhile, Feng Ling, taken by the black-clad man, awakened to find herself immobilized within a formation.
Under the black-clad man's control, Feng Ling revealed her true form as a Nine-tail fox. The black-clad man revealed his intention to restore Feng Ling to her former self. Wang Lu and Wang Wu followed the blood's guidance and arrived at Niu Village, the place where the Gold Generation had met its demise. Seeing the village evoked a memory full of regret for Wang Wu, and she paused, lost in thought.
Liang Qiu, Wang Wu's sword, appeared and was immediately chided by Wang Wu for showing Wang Lu the painful past. Liang Qiu retorted that Wang Wu had been lying to herself for a hundred years, pretending not to care, always getting emotional when Ouyang Shang was mentioned. Wang Wu then snapped back, accusing Liang Qiu of not recognizing Wang Lu as its master due to its attachment to Ouyang Shang. Liang Qiu dismissed Wang Wu's comments.
Wang Lu, sensing Wang Wu’s emotional distress, consoled her, reminding her that Ouyang Shang was a hero who kept his promises and would return. He urged her not to suffer in silence or force a smile, assuring her that he would always be there for her. Wang Wu dismissed his sentimental words, then questioned why he was suddenly defending Ouyang Shang, whom he used to dislike.
Wang Lu admitted Ouyang Shang was handsome in the vision, but still not as good-looking as himself. Liang Qiu then explained that Niu Village was the origin of the Black Tide. A hundred years ago, during the war between humans and demons, the King of Demons, facing defeat, attempted to use the Heavenly Demon Disintegration Magic to unseal the Black Tide's origin to bring about widespread destruction, aiming for mutual annihilation.
Liang Qiu showed Wang Lu a vision of the past battle, illustrating how Ouyang Shang, to prevent Wang Wu from perishing with him, sacrificed himself to stop the King of Demons and save the world. He restrained Wang Wu, who wanted to join him, and dragged the King of Demons into a fractured dimension alone.
Following this emotional moment, Wang Wu explained that the drop of blood given by Feng Yin was an amulet placed within Feng Ling, which would take time for even a powerful person to break. Wang Lu and Wang Wu continued their pursuit towards Feng Ling. The black-clad man, having sensed their approach, decided to stall them as his formation still needed more time. He withdrew from the formation to confront them directly.
They were navigating the area around Niu Village, which was fraught with numerous subspaces created by the influence of charms from the ancient Black Tide seal. Wang Wu warned Wang Lu not to touch the charms that served as gates to these dangerous subspaces. However, during a moment of carelessness, they inadvertently touched a charm and were pulled into an unknown subspace. Inside the subspace, Wang Lu and Wang Wu realized they needed to break the space’s rules to escape.
The rule here was to defeat the guardian. Wang Lu, however, found the guardian was already dead, making the task seem impossible. Wang Wu suggested they needed to bring the guardian to life, even partially, to make him capable of "struggling" before they could defeat him. She began injecting magic into the corpse. Wang Lu cautioned her not to infuse too much magic at once, fearing she might create a monster that would turn on them.
Despite his warning, Wang Wu accidentally infused an excessive amount of magic. The guardian reanimated and immediately attacked them fiercely, injuring Wang Wu, and possessing ninety percent of her magic. With Wang Wu injured, Wang Lu was left to face the guardian alone. Liang Qiu warned him that the guardian possessed ninety percent of Wang Wu's power, making him an impossible opponent.
She offered the only solution: Wang Lu must make a Heart Swear, vowing never to actively attack anyone again. This would instantly elevate his Wuxiang Sword spirit to its pinnacle. Without hesitation, Wang Lu agreed, prioritizing Wang Wu’s safety. He then rushed forward, intercepting a sword strike aimed at Wang Wu, who, having recovered, swiftly defeated the guardian. Wang Lu concealed the true reason behind his sudden defensive power.
With Feng Ling running out of time, Wang Wu couldn't press him for details, focusing instead on rescuing Feng Ling. Back at Feng Ling’s location, the black-clad man discovered a final protective barrier left by Feng Yin inside Feng Ling, but he noted it was only a temporary reprieve. By the time Wang Lu and Wang Wu arrived, it was too late.
The black-clad man had completed his ritual and escaped using the powerful Chǎzǐ Yānhóng spell, leaving Feng Ling unconscious and harmed. Wang Wu recognized the magic, confirming it was the same that injured Feng Yin, and suspected Shengjing Sect was behind the attack.
Wang Lu, furious, wanted immediate revenge, but Wang Wu cautioned him, reminding him of Shengjing Sect's immense power and their current inability to confront them directly without evidence, warning that any rash action could lead to their sect's downfall. After rescuing Feng Ling, Wang Wu revisited the question of how Wang Lu had blocked the guardian's attack. Wang Lu finally confessed that he had made the Heart Swear.
Wang Wu was furious, explaining the severe consequences of breaking such a vow—complete spiritual annihilation. However, Wang Lu justified his actions by stating the urgency of the situation and his sole desire to protect her, leaving Wang Wu internally conflicted. They decided to return to Lingjian sect. However, Hai Yunfan was nowhere to be found. Lihua had previously mentioned seeing Hai Yunfan with someone dressed in a robe that seemed to belong to Shengjing Sect, infuriating Wang Lu even further.
Feng Yin, still severely injured from the black-clad man's attack and having previously self-inflicted spiritual harm, was unable to confront Shengjing Sect. In this critical situation, Wang Wu seriously proposed becoming the acting leader. She stated that Shengjing Sect's aggressive actions against the Wanfa Immortal Gate and the Demon Clan were undoubtedly linked to the upcoming Five Sects Championships.
She requested full authority to design the competition's rules and events, promising to use the opportunity to expose Shengjing Sect's true nature. Feng Yin, recognizing her unique perspective, reluctantly agreed but warned her against recklessness, reminding her of Feng Ling's recent ordeal. Meanwhile, at Shengjing Sect, Du Songzi had imprisoned Hai Yunfan in the Trial Prison, intending to use him as a pawn against Lingjian sect and Junhuang Mountain in the upcoming Five Sects Championships.
He gloated about his scheme to his disciple. One year swiftly passed. The Five Sects Championships was about to begin at Lingjian sect, with Wang Wu serving as its acting leader and host. During a discussion about the competition's design, a fellow master commented that her plans seemed overtly aimed at Shengjing Sect.
Wang Wu, however, confidently declared that she could make them even more obvious if needed, asserting that exposing the true nature of the corrupt was the essence of fairness. With the golden seal of leadership in her possession, she dismissed the concerns, ready to face the challenges ahead as the Five Sects Championships commenced.
