The Great Ruler Episode 25 Recap
> The Great Ruler Recap
At North Sect, Sun’er and Qingshan discuss the fortified Protection Circle. Sun’er explains that the array, strengthened by Lord Dragon Roc (Beiming Longkun), consists of seven defensive circles. Six outer circles, maintained by Li Xuantong and his companions, gather spiritual power and channel it to the central array, which Lord Dragon Roc then coordinates to ensure the entire array functions smoothly. Sun’er gently chides Qingshan for finding his guard duty boring, reminding him it’s a valuable learning opportunity.
Lord Dragon Roc, stirring from slumber, expresses hunger for meat, prompting Sun’er to offer to fetch food. Qingshan also requests some. Later, Mubai arrives to relieve Qingshan of his watch, stating he has questions about the North Cang Spirit Array for Lord Dragon Roc and suggesting Qingshan rest. Once Qingshan departs, Mubai wakes Lord Dragon Roc and reports that Evil Spirit Clan scouts have detected unusual activity, implying they may have discovered Mu Chen’s location.
Feigning concern for Mu Chen’s safety, Mubai asks for a way to leave the academy to assist him. Lord Dragon Roc initially dismisses his worries, confident in Mu Chen’s cleverness. However, Mubai presses the issue, mentioning the recent discovery of an academy traitor and the Black Dragon’s likely knowledge of Mu Chen’s movements.
Lord Dragon Roc then reveals a secret passage, unknown to the Evil Spirit Clan, hidden within Headmaster Ling Xi’s room, which Mu Chen and his group used to leave. Mubai covertly smirks upon learning this information. Subsequently, Mubai instructs Qian’er not to disclose his or Mu Chen’s departure to anyone, citing concerns about maintaining morale. Qian’er agrees, urging him to prioritize his safety. Mubai then uses the secret passage to leave North Sect.
Meanwhile, Wen Qingxuan senses Mubai’s Evil God Seal has left North Cang Spirit Academy and is moving towards the East Sea. The Black Dragon suspects Mubai is pursuing the Great Sumeru Pillar and, despite his skepticism that anyone could break the White Dragon’s seal, orders constant surveillance of Mubai. In White Horse City, Mu Chen, Luo Li, and Jiu You observe the residents, who are all strangely laughing.
Jiu You, confused, asks Bai Tong if there’s something wrong with their minds. Bai Tong explains that the residents’ joy isn’t genuine. He reveals that ever since a so-called "auspicious sign" appeared, everyone has forgotten their sadness and pain, and at sunset, they all succumb to uncontrollable, maniacal laughter. He recounts how his own mother suffered the same fate and how terrifying it is that even the deceased bear a chilling smile.
Mu Chen recalls seeing a massive, singular eye in an ancient painting of White Horse City, which closely resembled the Eye of Heaven they had destroyed, leading him to suspect it is one of the Nine Evil Eyes of the Evil God. Bai Tong confirms that a beam of light, followed by a dragon, plunged into the sea outside the city, and the eye manifested thereafter. Mu Chen immediately deduces that the dragon must have been the White Dragon Supreme.
Bai Tong explains that after the eye’s appearance, people flocked to the shore, and over time, their worries faded, leading them to call it a "heaven-sent auspicious sign." However, this marked the beginning of White Horse City’s nightmare. Each sunset, people would laughingly walk into the sea, unable to be stopped, leading to mass suicides. This horrifying trend instilled fear of the "Evil Eye in the Sea."
To halt the suicides, Mr. Bai, Bai Tong’s father, ordered the city gates closed, but it proved futile, and Bai Tong’s mother also perished. Mr. Bai had previously led the city’s most skilled practitioners into the seabed to investigate, but he was the only survivor, returning with severely damaged spiritual veins and declaring White Horse City’s situation hopeless.
Bai Tong further elaborates that he and his father devised a strategy: Bai Tong guards the city entrance to prevent outsiders from entering, while his father secretly guides unaffected citizens out. Bai Tong strongly advises Mu Chen’s group to leave, not wanting them to become another casualty. Mu Chen reveals their true mission in White Horse City: to find the White Dragon Supreme to aid their fight against the Black Dragon.
He believes the White Dragon Supreme is sealed within the Evil Eye in the Sea. He states they are committed to breaking the Evil Eye, rescuing the White Dragon Supreme, and saving White Horse City. Jiu You echoes the necessity of unity against the Evil Deity. Convinced, Bai Tong agrees to take them to his father, Mr. Bai, to learn how to access the sea.
Upon meeting Mr. Bai, he initially confronts them with his puppets, having been forewarned by Bai Tong. He expresses his suspicion and urges them to leave. Bai Tong intervenes, assuring his father that the group is there to help. Mu Chen explains they were also sent by Headmaster Ling Xi of North Cang Spirit Academy to find the White Dragon Supreme to address North Cang Spirit Academy’s predicament.
He reaffirms their commitment to destroying the Evil Eye and ending White Horse City’s suffering. Skeptical of their youth, Mr. Bai challenges them to a test of strength. During the ensuing confrontation, Jiu You skillfully injures Mr. Bai, causing his puppets to cease their attack. Bai Tong implores his father to let them proceed, emphasizing the city’s grim reality and reminding him of his mother’s fate. Moved by their resolve and power, Mr. Bai apologizes for his initial distrust.
Mr. Bai then explains that beneath the Evil Eye lies an illusionary realm. He speculates that the White Dragon Supreme is the man he encountered there years ago, whom he could not awaken due to the overwhelming evil force. He discloses that he left a spiritual array during his escape, which can help them approach the Evil Eye.
However, he warns that the closer they get, the harder it is to control their emotions, as the Evil Eye’s influence is a hundred times stronger in the seabed than in the city. He reiterates that losing all spiritual energy there results in permanent spiritual vein damage.
Mu Chen emphasizes that the Evil Eye’s immense power confirms it is one of the Nine Evil Eyes and that only by awakening the White Dragon Supreme can they hope to defeat the Evil Spirit Clan. Mr. Bai adds that the Evil Eye has absorbed vast amounts of spiritual power from the residents over the years, transforming from a half-open state to fully open, and the city cannot endure much longer.
Bai Tong offers his assistance, revealing his family heirloom, the Sunvo Seal. This spiritual artifact, split into two parts held by him and his father, not only opens teleporting formations and enables secret communication but, most critically, protects the mind from external control. Mr. Bai elaborates that he will use his half of the Sunvo Seal to maintain a teleporting formation for their descent.
Bai Tong will signal him with his half of the Sunvo Seal once their mission is complete, allowing Mr. Bai to reopen the formation for their return. He issues a strict warning: the Sunvo Seal’s power can only sustain the teleporting formation for twelve hours, after which they will be permanently trapped in the seabed. Mu Chen confidently assures Mr. Bai that they will succeed. The group, including Bai Tong, descends into the seabed through the spiritual array.
Mu Chen observes that the walls are incredibly hard. Soon, they begin to experience vivid hallucinations and their spiritual energy rapidly depletes. Luo Li and Jiu You perceive clouds and believe they are in the sky, with one cloud even appearing to be Mu Chen. Mu Chen, shielded by his Great Futu Pagoda, retains partial consciousness, recognizing the illusion as a sinister mental attack.
He attempts to rouse Luo Li and Jiu You, noting that the Evil Eye’s influence here is instantaneous, unlike the gradual decline seen in the city. Despite possessing the protective Sunvo Seal, Bai Tong fully succumbs to the illusion, envisioning White Horse City in its former peaceful state. Mu Chen realizes that the Sunvo Seal has failed due to their extreme proximity to the Evil Eye.
To counter the effect, Mu Chen suggests they hold hands and channel their spiritual energy, believing that a conscious person can help awaken others. Luo Li and Jiu You comply. Mu Chen then uses the Luo God Clan’s Purify Spell, breaking through the illusion and awakening Luo Li and Jiu You. They both recall sharing the same dream of being in class.
Bai Tong recovers, expressing his hope for White Horse City’s restoration, and Mu Chen reassures him while playfully reminding him of the promised barbecue. Discovering a cave, Luo Li attempts to use the Purify Spell on its walls, but it proves ineffective. However, she senses that the White Dragon Supreme’s consciousness is active within, suggesting a means of communication.
Mu Chen asks Jiu You if she can use the Finch Spell to send him into the White Dragon Supreme’s consciousness, as she did with him previously. Jiu You confirms it’s possible but warns that if the White Dragon Supreme’s seal is not broken, Mu Chen will be permanently trapped within his consciousness. Luo Li also cautions that the spiritual fluctuations within are abnormally strong, making the endeavor extremely dangerous.
