Whispers of Fate Episode 40 (Ending) Recap
> Whispers of Fate Recap
Tang Lici, consumed by grief after the recent and rapid loss of his three closest friends—Liu Yan, Shao Jianzhu, and Chi Yun—sat in the Celestial Realm, meticulously carving their memorial tablets. Overwhelmed by sorrow, he hurled a wine bottle at the Celestial Realm's gate, questioning his own existence and pondering whether his never having arrived in Zhongyuan (Central Plains) might have averted the cascade of tragedies.
Remembering an "inverted dream" device within the Celestial Realm capable of reversing time, Tang Lici resolved to master it, believing he could restore time to its initial state, and thus began his arduous, ceaseless practice and cultivation. Concurrently, Zhong Chunji, upon entering her adoptive father's (Shao Jianzhu, her master) room, discovered a notebook detailing cherished childhood memories and anecdotes.
This revelation enlightened her to the fact that she was not lonely and helpless as she had always felt, but had been a beloved "little princess" to her adoptive father. This realization, reinforced by the profound words of Tang Lici and Gu Xi Tan, imbued her with new strength and the determination to abandon her false identity. She resolved to confess her true status as a fake princess to the Empress.
Tang Lici, anticipating her decision, had already sent a letter to the Empress, advocating for leniency should Zhong Chunji come to acknowledge her past errors. Consequently, when Zhong Chunji bravely revealed the truth in the palace, the Empress not only pardoned her but also bestowed upon her the title of Ningguo Princess, entrusting her with the authority to manage the Zhongyuan Sword Assembly's affairs, rectify its wrongs, and become the "First Female Knight-errant of Zhongyuan."
Empowered by the imperial decree, Princess Ningguo (Zhong Chunji) returned to the Sword Assembly, implementing sweeping reforms and publicly exposing Xi Fangtao's wicked deeds. Righteous heroes and sect leaders from across the martial arts world rallied to her cause, pledging their assistance to eradicate Gui Mudan's remaining forces.
Zhong Chunji also received the antidote developed by Liu Yan, promptly ordering its mass production and distribution to heal those afflicted by the evil pills, thereby reassuring the populace and eliminating rumors of tragic deaths caused by the potent poisons. Meanwhile, Gui Mudan had successfully restored the Tongtian Pillar (Heaven-Reaching Pillar), intending to revive Yi Que Yin Yang.
He aimed to recruit the "fake princess" (Zhong Chunji) to augment his evil power, unaware that the Emperor had shrewdly utilized Zhong Chunji's deception by granting her a title to quell internal strife, thus making Gui Mudan the unwitting pawn. Enraged, Gui Mudan furiously activated the Tongtian Pillar. He had also secretly planted Qingtong (Bronze Trees) on the seabed to absorb vital essence, channeling it to the Tongtian Pillar to fulfill his nefarious goal.
Gui Mudan brought Xi Fangtao to one such Bronze Tree. Despite her enhanced martial arts, Xi Fangtao remembered Tang Lici's earlier warning that the "Wang Sheng Jue" (Rebirth Art) would ultimately consume its master. As Gui Mudan bound her to the Bronze Tree, she recognized her impending doom, recalling Pu Zhu's earnest words and his valiant efforts to save her.
Trapped by the Tongtian Pillar's powerful suction and realizing Gui Mudan had merely exploited her, Xi Fangtao, filled with remorse, chose self-sacrifice. She employed a self-destructive technique, transforming her internal blood into a potent poison, which she then infused into the Bronze Tree. Gui Mudan, who had been absorbing essence through the tree, ingested the poison and died instantly.
This act of "jade-and-stone-burned-together" also saw her use her "Yi Tao San Se Yu Shi Ju Fen" move, breaking one ring of the Tongtian Pillar and critically disrupting Gui Mudan's plan. Reflecting on recent events, Tang Lici grew suspicious of Xiao Shi's identity, ultimately deducing that Xiao Shi was none other than Gui Mudan (or Ye Mo Bian) in disguise.
This revelation clarified how Liu Yan had sustained a fatal injury from Xiao Shi during his rescue and Xiao Shi's repeated acts of leaking crucial information. With his true identity exposed, Gui Mudan shed his disguise, revealing his ferocious form, and sought to claim Tang Lici's life as a vessel.
The two engaged in a fierce final battle that culminated in their boat plunging into the sea, where Tang Lici had already surmised Gui Mudan's hidden Qingtong (Bronze Trees) on the seabed, intended to power the Tongtian Pillar. At this critical juncture, Liu Yan, in his dying moments, had transferred his heart's essence to Tang Lici, boosting Tang Lici's "Wang Sheng Pu" (Rebirth Manual) to its full potential.
Tang Lici delivered a decisive blow, leading to Gui Mudan's collapse and the shattering of the Tongtian Pillar. Gui Mudan's death triggered a catastrophic, "volcanic" eruption across the Divine Land, causing widespread displacement and suffering among the populace. Remembering Fang Zhou's teachings, Tang Lici then performed the ultimate sacrifice, using his own life force to activate the "inverted dream" device, successfully reversing time and averting the immense crisis facing the Divine Land.
Time subsequently rewound, and the Divine Land gradually returned to its former state of peace. In this altered timeline, Fang Zhou leisurely napped under a tree before happily reuniting with his sister A Shui. Chi Yun, enamored, courted his fiancée Bai Suche in the bustling market. Shen Langhun strolled through the streets with his beloved wife, Hui Niang.
Pu Zhu, still the esteemed former Crown Prince, encountered Xi Fangtao—a young woman wearing a peach-colored hat—in a temple; though strangers, they exchanged glances, sensing a profound familiarity, and Pu Zhu felt an inexplicable surge of excitement. Liu Yan rested peacefully beneath a tree, and Zhong Chunji, after a busy day, eagerly headed to the Sword Assembly to find her master. Everything had returned to a tranquil past, seemingly free from any memory of Tang Lici's immense sacrifices, as if his harrowing journey had never transpired.
