The Great Ruler Episode 14 Recap
> The Great Ruler Recap
Mu Feng escorted Mu Chen, Luo Li, and Qingshan out of Mu Territory. He advised Mu Chen to be extra cautious on their journey to North Sect, particularly regarding his eyes, and urged him to care for Mubai, who had suffered a great loss. Qingshan and Luo Li quickly affirmed their commitment to being Mu Chen's "eyes" and watching over him.
Mu Chen expressed concern for Mubai, and Mu Feng recalled Mubai looking unwell after their last encounter, urging Mu Chen to care for his friend, to which Mu Chen agreed. Mu Feng also cautioned Luo Li about the Lei Territory within North Sect, mentioning that senior students who ventured there never returned, but Luo Li assured him she knew how to handle herself.
Using a transmitting circle, Mu Chen, Luo Li, and Qingshan arrived in the deserted Liu Territory, hoping to find Mubai. Mu Chen, still recovering from injuries, found the teleportation exhausting and grew weak. They searched the empty Liu Mansion, where Mu Chen observed a tidy interior, concluding that Mubai and Qian'er had likely stayed there briefly but had since left and wouldn't return soon.
Seeing Mu Chen's poor state as night fell, Luo Li suggested they rest for the night and continue their journey the next day. Luo Li grew concerned about Mu Chen's constant consumption of dry rations, which she felt was detrimental to his health. She decided to try making him some roasted meat, but her first attempt was thoroughly burnt. Despite the awful taste, Mu Chen declared it delicious, though Qingshan, after a reluctant bite, claimed he wasn't hungry.
Luo Li, tasting it herself, quickly realized how bad it was and stopped Mu Chen from eating more. Later that night, Qingshan and Mu Chen were awakened by the smell of burning once again, only to find Luo Li still trying to master roasting. Deeply moved by her efforts to prepare nutritious food for him, Mu Chen decided to personally teach her.
Attracted by the delicious aroma of Mu Chen's perfectly roasted meat, Qingshan soon joined them, making it a cheerful shared meal. Meanwhile, from within the Great Futu Pagoda, Nine Nether complained about being unable to partake in the feast and urged Mu Chen to heal his eyes and grow stronger, promising to free her when the time came, a promise Mu Chen readily made. The group eventually arrived at North Sect, built deep within the mountains.
Qingshan grumbled about the remote location, prompting Zhu Tian, a North Sect teacher, to reprimand him, stating that those who couldn't endure the journey were unfit for cultivation. Ye Sun'er, a senior student, warmly welcomed them. She explained that everything in the academy required "power points" for exchange and provided each freshman with 50 points as a welcome gift. She added that additional points could be earned through various trials, including class assignments and sparring.
Mu Chen immediately sensed a powerful spiritual energy within the academy. Ye Sun'er then led them to the Dragon Roc List, which ranked students by their power points. She pointed out Shen Cangsheng, the top-ranked master, who had special clearance to travel freely during the current lockdown. She also mentioned that Liu Mubai had arrived days earlier and had been constantly sparring in the arena.
As if on cue, they spotted Mubai engaged in a fierce fight, winning despite visible injuries. Upon seeing Mu Chen, Mubai abruptly turned and left without a word. Qian'er explained that Mubai had been withdrawn and distant since his arrival, focusing solely on relentless sparring. Qian'er took Mu Chen, Luo Li, and Qingshan to a deluxe suite she had rented, paid for by pawning her family's treasures. Qingshan was amazed by the luxurious accommodations.
Qian'er had hoped Mubai would join them, but he had spent all his power points on spiritual formation diagrams and cultivation scrolls, leaving him only enough for the cheapest dormitory. He had refused her invitation to live with them. Mu Chen insisted on speaking with Mubai, despite Qian'er's warning that Mubai wanted nothing to do with him. Mu Chen found Mubai training alone and offered him the food Qian'er had prepared.
He questioned Mubai's cold treatment of Qian'er, knowing Mubai harbored feelings for her. Mu Chen expressed his regret over Mubai's father's death and even offered himself for revenge if Mubai desired it, adding that Mubai's father had been corrupted by the Evil Deity's power. Mubai, however, rejected the idea of revenge, stating that the Liu Territory's downfall was deserved and that his focus was solely on its rejuvenation.
He was deeply conflicted, resenting Mu Chen for his father's death yet bound by their childhood brotherhood. When Mu Chen offered his help, Mubai angrily accused him of pitying him, contrasting Mu Chen's status as a respected hero of the Mu-Liu war with his own as a "loser." Mubai vehemently refused any assistance and ordered Mu Chen to leave.
As he departed, Mu Chen reiterated their lifelong brotherhood and urged Mubai to be kinder to Qian'er, whose pain was as profound as his own. The next day, Ye Sun'er guided the freshmen through course selection. She explained the five main courses: spiritual power, spiritual spells, spiritual formations, martial arts, and alchemy.
Luo Li chose the Spiritual Spell class, taught by Vice Headmaster Mu Ling, and Qian'er accompanied her, as Mu Chen had suggested that Mubai might be in that class and hoped Qian'er could help him. Mu Ling demonstrated various spells, including defensive ones, emphasizing how Luo God Sword and Luo God Spell could be integrated with one's body for maximum power.
Qingshan, confident in his abilities, opted for the Martial Arts class, despite Ye Sun'er's warnings about the difficult teacher, Ye Qingling, and the physically imposing senior students. Mu Chen, intrigued by the versatile nature of spiritual formations, chose the Spiritual Formation class. The eccentric teacher, He Yao, seemed particularly interested in Luo Li. In the Martial Arts class, Qingshan introduced himself but was immediately mocked by other students for his relatively smaller physique.
Ye Qingling, the class teacher and Ye Sun'er's sister, intervened. Discovering Qingshan hadn't brought a "welcome gift," she instructed the students to "take care of him." Ye Sun'er arrived to protest, but Ye Qingling insisted on the class rule that all new students must undergo a sparring match. She pitted Qingshan against another new student, Li Xuantong. After a fierce battle that left both injured, Ye Qingling declared them both accepted into her class.
In the Spiritual Formation class, Mu Chen demonstrated an Out-Cast Spiritual Formation. The eccentric teacher, He Yao, appeared and scoffed at Mu Chen's "simple" formation. He then demonstrated advanced formations that could change from lines to points, displaying their varied and potent effects. Mu Chen was deeply impressed, eager to learn more. He later sought out He Yao, asking for advice on his own Out-Cast Spiritual Formation.
He Yao pointed out that while Mu Chen's formation was powerful, its lack of adaptability was a flaw. He stressed that formations required flexibility and modification according to real-world battle situations. He also mentioned his extensive collection of formation diagrams from his travels and invited Mu Chen to view them another day. Meanwhile, Mu Feng convened a meeting with the headmasters and teachers of the Five Sects to discuss strategies against the returning Evil Deity.
Mu Ling represented North Sect's Headmaster, who was in seclusion. Mu Feng explained that with the Nine Eyes not yet manifested, the Evil Deity couldn't fully emerge. The immediate threat was Black Dragon, who had joined the Evil Deity. He warned that a direct confrontation with Black Dragon would be mutually destructive.
Recalling how Qing Yanjing of the Futu Ancient Clan had sealed the Evil Deity in the past, he proposed seeking assistance from the three ancient clans (Tailing, Futu, and Luo God) to defeat both the Evil Deity and Black Dragon. However, the Futu Ancient Clan was missing, the Tailing Clan was preoccupied with guarding the Firmament Rank, and the Luo God Clan was embroiled in a war with the Xue God Clan, needing rescue themselves.
Furthermore, Lord White Dragon, the only one capable of matching Black Dragon, was also missing. They decided to wait for Headmaster Ling Xi, who had prior contact with Lord White Dragon, to emerge from seclusion before jointly searching for him. Mu Feng regretfully admitted he had no information on the Futu Ancient Clan's whereabouts, expressing his hope for Mu Chen's rapid growth and safety.
That night, Li Xuantong, a guard from the Luo God Clan, found Luo Li at North Sect. He revealed he had enrolled as a student on the patriarch's orders to protect her. He informed her that the Xue God Clan was still aggressively pursuing their goals and that Xue Lingzi was heading towards the Five Sects, which was why he was sent.
Luo Li initially doubted Xue Lingzi would dare attack North Sect, given its formidable masters and defensive formations, but Li Xuantong urged caution, reminding her it was human territory. Luo Li then requested that he address her as Luo Li, not "Goddess," as she wished to be treated as an ordinary student and an elder brother. She told him that if he needed to find her, she would be practicing spells in that spot every night.
Later, Ye Sun'er informed the students that after selecting their courses, they would need to use power points to acquire cultivation books and scrolls. She also introduced the "Trial Land," North Sect's hunting ground, where students could improve their cultivation, earn power points, and receive rewards by defeating prey. She explained that access to these Trial Lands required power points, with higher-level areas demanding more. It was then that Luo Li noticed the Lei Territory on the map.
