The Great Ruler Episode 21 Recap
> The Great Ruler Recap
Ling Xi convened a meeting where He Yao vehemently accused Liu Mubai of being a mole, demanding his immediate execution for framing him, building a transmitting formation, and murdering Zhu Tian. Liu Mubai remained silent when questioned. Ling Xi, however, stated that killing was a bad omen before a major war, and that the matter would be handled later. She ordered Liu Mubai to be taken into custody for further review.
Ling Xi also noticed irregularities in the transmitting formation, specifically that the formation eye and spiritual stones were positioned differently. He Yao feigned volunteering to try and destroy the formation eye. Later, He Yao mused that Ling Xi was merely protecting Liu Mubai by postponing his execution, intending to investigate after the war. He believed his plan to frame Liu Mubai would only succeed if Liu Mubai were silenced permanently.
However, with Liu Mubai now guarded in prison, killing him would be challenging. He resolved to wait for the right moment. Meanwhile, Tang Qian'er visited Liu Mubai in his cell, distressed by the accusations against him. She pleaded with him to explain what happened, expressing her belief in his innocence, especially regarding Zhu Tian's death, the theft of the Space Stone, and the transmitting formation.
Liu Mubai, however, felt that no one would believe the words of a disgraced heir, refusing to explain further and urging Qian'er to leave. Cangsheng, still convinced of Liu Mubai's innocence, spoke with Ling Xi. He reminded her of Liu Mubai's past actions during the Mu-Liu Battle, where he prioritized justice over family interests, proving he was not a morally corrupt individual.
Cangsheng also pointed out that Liu Mubai’s disclosure about the transmitting formation being rebuildable seemed contradictory for a mole. Ling Xi acknowledged that she had given Liu Mubai a chance to explain, but he offered no defense. Cangsheng suggested Liu Mubai might have a hidden reason for his silence. Ling Xi admitted Cangsheng once told her Liu Mubai acts strangely, but stressed that an enemy was at their doorstep.
To maintain morale, she needed to present a clear resolution to the public, regardless of Liu Mubai's true guilt. She promised a thorough investigation after the war and instructed Cangsheng, as the sect's strongest fighter, to prepare for battle. Cangsheng accepted and promised to guard the sect with his life. That night, Liu Mubai was tormented by a nightmare. His father, Liu Qingtian, appeared, urging him to destroy Mu Territory for the sake of the Liu Territory's future.
Then, Mu Chen materialized, ridiculing Liu Mubai's ambitions to restore his territory and declaring himself the ultimate power, with Liu Mubai destined to be beneath him. Liu Mubai woke up in a cold sweat. Soon after, He Yao entered Liu Mubai's cell. Liu Mubai immediately accused He Yao of framing him. He Yao calmly explained that the entire North Sect now believed him to be a traitor, and even if he escaped execution, he faced life imprisonment.
Liu Mubai vowed to drag He Yao down with him if he were to die. He Yao then provocatively questioned why Cangsheng, who also had free access to the sect, was not suspected, while all evidence pointed to Liu Mubai. He suggested they were "of the same kind" and offered Liu Mubai a way out: serve the Evil Deity alongside him. He pitched this as Liu Mubai's only opportunity to restore the Liu Territory.
Meanwhile, Black Dragon ordered Mo Xingtian to assemble his troops and attack the North Sect, explicitly demanding Mu Chen’s head. After Mo Xingtian left, Wen Qingxuan arrived and revealed her plan. She had an inside contact who helped her establish a teleporting formation within the North Sect. This formation could only transport a small unit, requiring a coordinated external assault to breach the North Sect’s formidable Protection Circle.
Black Dragon expressed suspicion over her secrecy, but Wen Qingxuan assured him that all credit for success would be his. Back at the North Sect, Ling Xi received news that Mo Xingtian’s army had reached Mount Beicang and dragon slaves were forming an array outside the sect. She quickly mobilized her students, assigning them positions within the sect's defensive formation. Learning that five other sects were already under attack, Ling Xi dispatched a student to help with the general defense.
Cangsheng, recognizing the imminent danger, volunteered to confront the dragon slaves alone, asking Ling Xi to immediately seal the main gate behind him to prevent further intrusion. He fiercely fought the encroaching forces, challenging Black Dragon to appear himself. His powerful resistance inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy, forcing Mo Xingtian's forces to temporarily retreat. Black Dragon received news that his vanguard suffered heavy losses and the North Sect remained unbreachable.
Wen Qingxuan then instructed Mo Xingtian to withdraw his main forces and prepare to be teleported inside the North Sect with her designated unit. Despite Mo Xingtian's temporary retreat and a pause in attacks on the other four sects, Ling Xi urged caution, knowing Black Dragon himself had not yet appeared. Unbeknownst to her, He Yao secretly activated the transmitting circle.
Around this time, Mu Chen, having fully recovered his eyesight from the Jade Fruit, sensed a disturbance at the North Sect, realizing Black Dragon must have initiated an attack. Inside the North Sect, chaos erupted. He Yao attacked Mu Ling and then openly joined Mo Xingtian's forces, revealing his true identity as the mole. Fierce fighting broke out within the sect. Ling Xi, single-handedly maintaining the North Sect's main defensive formation, instructed Tang Qian'er to release Liu Mubai.
Qian'er rushed to Liu Mubai's cell, where she managed to confirm He Yao was the mole before being knocked unconscious by He Yao. He Yao then poisoned Liu Mubai with the Power of Whisper. With his last reserves of strength, Liu Mubai retaliated and killed He Yao. Elsewhere in the battle, Xue Shi, from the Xue God Clan, attempted to abduct Ye Sun'er, openly declaring his intent to make her his wife. Tan Qingshan intervened, fiercely defending her.
Qian'er eventually brought the severely poisoned Liu Mubai to Ling Xi. Recognizing the symptoms were identical to those that killed Zhu Tian, Ling Xi realized Liu Mubai had been framed. She used her spiritual power to temporarily suppress the poison’s spread but stressed the urgent need for an antidote. Qian'er confronted Xue Shi for the antidote, but he denied having it. Just then, Xue Lingzi arrived, holding hostages from the North Sect.
He offered a trade: release Xue Shi and he would release the hostages. After Xue Shi was freed, Xue Lingzi demanded Luo Li and Mu Chen. Ling Xi staunchly refused, declaring them students of the North Sect. Enraged, Xue Lingzi attacked Ling Xi, gravely wounding her and severely weakening the North Sect's Protection Circle, which she had been tirelessly maintaining.
Upon learning of Ling Xi's injury and the weakened barrier, Black Dragon ordered his full army to launch a devastating assault on the North Sect. Simultaneously, in a desperate counter-measure, Mu Chen's group initiated their secret plan: to attack the Dragon Palace directly to seize the Dragon Egg, knowing it was Black Dragon’s greatest weakness and would force him to withdraw from the North Sect. Mo Shi was instructed to guard the entrance to the Dragon Palace and prepare a teleporting formation for their escape if they did not return within a specified time.
