The Great Ruler Episode 13 Recap
> The Great Ruler Recap
Mubai, reflecting on past events and Qian’er's words, attempts suicide, believing his life is meaningless. His father's spirit warns him not to repeat his mistakes. Mu Feng intervenes, revealing that Mubai survived the destruction of the Eye of Source because Liu Qingtian sacrificed his primal spirit to protect him, proving his love as a father. Mu Feng scolds Mubai, reminding him of his father's ultimate sacrifice.
Mubai expresses his desire to return to Liu Territory, and Mu Feng agrees, arranging an escort. Jiu You confronts Mu Chen about his near-fatal fight with No-Face Taoist, but Mu Chen, now blind, expresses despair. He laments losing the ability to see his father, Luo Li, and his mother, and worries he cannot attend the North Sect or fulfill his father's aspirations, feeling weaker than before.
He mentions Mr. Mo's assessment that he suffers from an ancient, lost secret technique, leading him to believe Luo Li will eventually leave him. Jiu You attempts to comfort him, pointing out that Mr. Mo said the cure was "hard to find," not "impossible," drawing a parallel to her own improbable survival within his body. Mu Chen, however, remains unconvinced that anyone truly believes he can recover his sight.
Mu Feng dispatches an escort team for Mubai, who declines their assistance. Qian’er volunteers to accompany him, asserting her superior spiritual power would ensure his safety, and the guards acquiesce. Upon returning to Liu Territory, Mubai is heartbroken to find the steward dead and learns his two sons perished in battle, their bodies disfigured. Overcome with grief, he vows to avenge them and restore the Liu Territory.
Qian’er expresses her sorrow, explaining her father's actions were for the people of Tang Territory. Mubai, however, dismisses blame, attributing Liu Territory's ruin to his own father's poor judgment, and acknowledges that Lord Tang made the right decision. Despite Qian’er's pledge to stay by his side, Mubai asks for solitude. Mubai informs Qian’er of his intention to attend the North Sect to fulfill his promise to Mu Chen for a rematch.
He believes that the concentration of powerful experts at the Five Sects will be instrumental in his efforts to restore the Liu Territory, a path he feels his father would have wanted. Although Qian'er, also admitted to the North Sect, offers to accompany him, Mubai insists she return to Tang Territory first to allay her father’s concerns, suggesting they will reunite when school begins.
Luo Li brings Mu Chen medicine, and he expresses his determination to adapt to his blindness so as not to burden her. While serving him, Luo Li reflects on the Dark Blood Spell, speculating its origin in the Xue God Clan and solidifying her true purpose to find a cure. She informs Mu Chen that she intends to return to the Luo God Clan to address her people's suffering, thanking him and their friends for their care.
Mu Chen, despite his blindness and weakened state, takes her to a special place where he conjures a beautiful Rosemary Circle. He then earnestly warns her to be cautious outside Mu Territory, advising her not to trust strangers and to speak sparingly, contradicting his previous advice and explaining it's because he can no longer protect her. Luo Li, moved by his concern, expresses her affection for his voice and promises to return quickly.
As the illusion fades, she tearfully bids him farewell, while Mu Chen laments no longer being able to see her smile. After Luo Li's departure, Mu Chen becomes withdrawn, refusing food and isolating himself in his spiritual consciousness. Jiu You confronts him there, accusing him of hiding due to his fear of blindness rather than truly practicing. She aggressively pushes him to face the outside world, dismissing his complaints about her lack of humanity by stating she is a bird.
Defeated, Mu Chen agrees to leave. Observing Mu Chen's despair and refusal to eat, Mu Feng decides to teach him the "Heart Formation." He explains that unlike visible spiritual arrays, Heart Formations are conceptualized and constructed entirely within the mind, making them usable even without sight, though they demand intense focus and the elimination of all distractions. Mu Feng, having practiced for years, admits he can only manage the most basic forms.
Mu Chen, seeing this as a lifeline, eagerly agrees to learn, accepting Mu Feng’s condition that he must eat. As Mu Chen practices, he frequently retreats into his spiritual consciousness, struggling with the complexity. Jiu You, exasperated, taunts him, accusing him of lacking focus and of being "useless," even suggesting Luo Li left because of his condition. This provocation unexpectedly spurs Mu Chen's progress, causing a "fourth level" of the Heart Formation to illuminate.
Mu Chen expresses gratitude to Jiu You for her unconventional motivation. Luo Li seeks out the Dead Crone to inquire about a cure for the Dark Blood Spell. Coincidentally, Xue Lingzi, the leader of the Xue God Clan, arrives at the same location, demanding to know Luo Li's whereabouts. The Dead Crone shrewdly misleads him, stating that the person he seeks is "right here." Xue Lingzi, failing to see Luo Li, scoffs at the claim and departs.
Luo Li then emerges and asks the Dead Crone how to break the Dark Blood Spell. The Dead Crone reveals that the rare "Herbal Jade Knot" is necessary, a treasure so scarce it no longer exists within the Xue God or Luo God Clans. She informs Luo Li that only a few isolated specimens might be found in the Lei Territory, a forbidden area within the Five Sects.
Luo Li further inquires of the Dead Crone whether gods and humans can fall in love and what the consequences might be. The Dead Crone explains she can only share historical accounts of such unions, which had diverse outcomes, but cannot predict the future, emphasizing that "anything is possible." As Luo Li departs, Xue Lingzi ambushes her, demanding her return.
Li Xuantong, a guard from the Luo God Clan who had been tracking Xue Lingzi, arrives just in time to rescue her. Luo Li instructs Li Xuantong to convey a message to her grandfather: the Xue God Clan is treacherous, and even a marriage alliance would not prevent their attack on the Luo God Clan. With Li Xuantong covering her escape, Luo Li flees, and Xue Lingzi, enraged by her evasion, slays the Dead Crone.
Li Xuantong reports back to Luo Li's grandfather, conveying her message about the Xue God Clan's inherent treachery and their plans to attack the Luo God Clan regardless of any marriage alliance. The grandfather expresses his anger at Luo Li's recklessness but acknowledges the gravity of her warning.
Concerned for Luo Li's safety, especially given her involvement in the recent Mu-Liu battle and the potential wrath of the Black Dragon, he decides to assign Li Xuantong to accompany and protect Luo Li during her time at the North Sect. Tan Qingshan informs Mu Chen that Luo Li has returned, sparking Mu Chen's excitement despite his blindness. Luo Li, meeting with Mu Feng, reveals her discovery of the Herbal Jade Knot and its potential to cure Mu Chen's eyes.
Mu Feng expresses concern about the dangers of Lei Territory and Mu Chen's condition. Luo Li reassures him, declaring she will accompany Mu Chen to the Five Sects and remain there until his sight is restored, suggesting other healing methods might also be found there. Overhearing this conversation, Mu Chen excitedly proclaims his willingness to go to the Five Sects, asserting he will go anywhere Luo Li goes.
The Evil Deity admonishes Black Dragon for allowing his "Evil Eye" to be destroyed by mere humans. Black Dragon humbly explains that humans, led by Mu Feng, developed the "Grand Thousand Devil-Dissipating Array" over ten years, a powerful formation specifically designed to counter the Power of Whisper, which resulted in the destruction of the Eye of Source.
The Evil Deity then heals Black Dragon's old wounds and fully restores his power, giving him a final opportunity to prove himself by eliminating Mu Chen. Wen Qingxuan questions the Evil Deity's decision, given Black Dragon's past failures. The Evil Deity reveals that he intentionally kept Black Dragon's old wound unhealed to ensure his focus on guarding the Eye of Source, but Mu Chen emerged as an unforeseen threat.
He now plans to use Black Dragon as a "pawn" to get rid of Mu Chen, instructing Wen Qingxuan to both cooperate with and secretly monitor him. The Evil Deity anticipates that news of his return will prompt other clans to form alliances, but advises Wen Qingxuan against hastily deploying their other recruits for now.
Xue Shi reports to Xue Lingzi about the destruction of two "Evil Eyes" in Beiling—the Eye of Source by a human array and the Eye of Heaven by an ancient secret method. He also mentions seeing Wen Qingxuan’s subordinates and that Luo Li is en route to the North Sect. Upon learning Luo Li is in Beiling, Xue Lingzi orders immediate preparations for departure. Xue Shi expresses doubt about breaching the heavily fortified Five Sects and the North Sect's lockdown.
Xue Lingzi clarifies that he intends not to launch a frontal assault but to "infiltrate alone" into Beiling to locate the core of its formidable Protection Circle from within, with Xue Shi and his men providing external support and awaiting his signal. He asserts that if they cannot breach it from the outside, they must find its weakness from within.
