The Great Ruler Episode 23 Recap
> The Great Ruler Recap
Luo Li tells Jiu You that she will find a way to obtain her essence blood without harming her, and even if the sacrifice for the Luo God Clan fails, she will not take it if it means risking Jiu You's life. This assurance brings joy to Jiu You, and they affirm their friendship. Jiu You admires a beautiful bracelet Luo Li has, and Luo Li gives it to her.
Mu Chen is a little disheartened by this, but Luo Li explains that Jiu You's happiness is essential for their journey. Mu Chen then gives Luo Li a new bracelet that he wove himself, instructing her not to give this one away to anyone else. Witnessing this gesture, Jiu You sighs sadly to herself. Later, after Mu Chen returns with apples, he discovers Jiu You has disappeared.
Luo Li finds the bracelet Jiu You left behind and realizes that Jiu You has intentionally gone ahead to White Horse City. Mu Chen attempts to use their bloodline connection to find her, but the connection is severed. Concerned for her safety, Mu Chen and Luo Li immediately set off for White Horse City. Meanwhile, Liu Mubai, still recovering from his injuries, asks Qian'er about Mu Chen's condition.
She informs him that Mu Chen is in closed-door training and that only Shen Cangsheng is permitted to visit him nightly. Shortly after, Shen Cangsheng arrives to check on Liu Mubai, expressing gratitude for his role in defeating He Yao and avenging their teacher, Zhu Tian. Shen Cangsheng questions how Liu Mubai knew He Yao was responsible for constructing the Transmitting Circle.
Liu Mubai explains that he secretly followed He Yao into the library the day before the North Cangling Academy lockdown, observing him install the spiritual stone materials for the Transmitting Circle. Liu Mubai admits he initially dismissed it as He Yao's research, but later realized he had been lured into a trap and framed. He suggests there must be another internal spy within the North Cangling Academy.
Later, while secretly practicing the Power of Whisper, Liu Mubai is interrupted by Qian'er bringing him more medicine. He quickly composes himself and sends her away on an errand to fetch food and a map of North Cangling Academy. Elsewhere, Shen Cangsheng observes Liu Mubai standing outside Mu Chen's closed-door training room. When questioned, Liu Mubai claims he was merely bored and wished to chat with Mu Chen, whom he hadn't seen since his return.
Shen Cangsheng informs him that Mu Chen is inaccessible and that he himself placed the spiritual array around the room for Mu Chen's protection. Liu Mubai then leaves, but Shen Cangsheng remains suspicious of his behavior. Shen Cangsheng later consults Qingshan and Sun'er about any unusual occurrences in the academy or regarding Liu Mubai.
He points out two inconsistencies: Zhu Tian's mysterious dual fatal wounds, and Liu Mubai's disappearance after the battle while poisoned by He Yao, only to return cured, claiming he forced an antidote from the Evil Spirit Clan, even though He Yao's poison is widely known to be incurable. Qingshan and Sun'er, however, defend Liu Mubai, emphasizing his courageous acts against He Yao and the Dragon Palace Transmitting Circle as proof of his loyalty.
Shen Cangsheng concedes he might be overthinking but instructs them to remain vigilant and report any anomalies. Beiming Dragon Roc explains that the North Cangling Spiritual Array was severely damaged in the recent battle and must be repaired to withstand Black Dragon's attacks. He recruits Qingshan and Xuantong to assist with the central main array. Shen Cangsheng encourages them to go, noting that with others injured, they are the best candidates.
Continuing their journey to White Horse City, Mu Chen and Luo Li inquire about the city from a passerby. They learn that White Horse City, once a vibrant hub for trade and information ten years ago, has been completely sealed off. No one knows why, but tales abound of those who entered never returning. The passerby warns them that it is a dangerous place and urges them to turn back.
However, concerned for Jiu You's safety, Mu Chen and Luo Li decide to press on, knowing she might already be inside. Approaching White Horse City, Jiu You observes a troupe of acrobats who are determined to enter the sealed city, hoping to strike it rich and gain fame. She decides to discreetly follow them.
However, their plans are disrupted by the sudden appearance of Bai Tong, the young master of White Horse City, who, wearing a mask, startles the acrobats into fleeing. Bai Tong confronts Jiu You, warning her to leave the area. Jiu You misinterprets his warning as an attempt to guard his own potential gains, assuring him she has no interest in wealth. Unmoved, Bai Tong activates a spiritual array, trapping Jiu You and preventing her from entering the city.
Despite her protests, she remains confined. Bai Tong later brings her roasted meat, which she initially refuses but eventually consumes out of hunger. She then demands more food or her release, prompting Bai Tong to leave again to search for more provisions. Mu Chen and Luo Li encounter Bai Tong, who attempts to prevent their entry into White Horse City, using a peculiar spiritual array. Recognizing the strangeness of the array, Mu Chen and Luo Li decide to retreat.
They soon stumble upon a group of people attempting to tunnel their way into White Horse City's "Road of Peace and Joy." These individuals confirm that the city has been sealed for a decade and describe it as a paradise of endless joy. They invite Mu Chen and Luo Li to join their endeavor, mentioning a previous tunnel attempt that was blocked by a large rock.
Luo Li, with a powerful swing of her sword, shatters the rock that had obstructed their path, creating an opening into White Horse City, and they proceed to enter. Meanwhile, Shen Cangsheng investigates He Yao's former room, where he discovers a collection of suspicious letters. These letters are all from Dragon Slave Village, the very place he had previously tasked Liu Mubai to investigate. This discovery raises Shen Cangsheng's suspicions about Liu Mubai.
He travels to the human village, Dragon Slave Village, only to find it utterly decimated. The sole survivor is a young child, who is suffering from the effects of the Power of Whisper. After Shen Cangsheng helps the child recover somewhat, the child recounts how an "Immortal Master" wielding a fan was responsible for killing everyone in the village, repeatedly mentioning the "Divine Lord" punishing them.
This chilling account confirms Shen Cangsheng's fears: the "Immortal Master with a fan" points directly to Liu Mubai, solidifying the grim reality of his betrayal. Overwhelmed by the tragedy and the clear signs of the Heavenly Evil God's influence, Shen Cangsheng solemnly vows to exact revenge for the innocent lives lost. Inside White Horse City, Mu Chen and Luo Li discover it to be a city of mechanisms. The city appears bustling and lively, yet an unsettling strangeness permeates everything.
The residents all wear unnaturally wide, joyful smiles, seemingly devoid of any worries or negative emotions. Mu Chen and Luo Li also notice a peculiar demographic: there are no elderly or children, only young adults. For a brief moment, they too are overcome by an inexplicable feeling of intense happiness, recalling vivid memories of their childhood. However, they soon snap out of this trance-like state, realizing that something is influencing them and that they are being watched.
Suddenly, Bai Xuan, the Lord of White Horse City, appears and confronts them, demanding to know their identities and how they managed to enter the sealed city. Despite the tense situation, Bai Xuan invites Mu Chen to his mansion for further discussion. Mu Chen instructs Luo Li to remain outside as a precaution.
Inside the mansion, Mu Chen explains to Bai Xuan that he did not intend to trespass but was searching for a friend, Jiu You, who went missing near White Horse City. Bai Xuan expresses skepticism, noting the city has been sealed for a decade, but Mu Chen insists that they will not leave without finding her. He proposes that if Bai Xuan assists in the search and Jiu You is indeed not found within the city, they will depart immediately. Bai Xuan then orders his subordinates to begin the search for Jiu You.
