The Great Ruler Episode 36 Recap
> The Great Ruler Recap
Five thousand years ago, Qing Yanjing, the Goddess of Futu Clan, sought aid from the Luo God Clan, warning that her clan's divine power alone was insufficient to combat the Evil Deity. She believed that only by uniting the power of three divine bloodlines could they assist the Heavenly Emperor in defeating the Evil Deity, and implored the Luo God Clan for their help.
However, the Luo God Clan leader of that era, fearing the Evil Deity might invade them after their spiritual power was expended, refused to lend their assistance, prioritizing self-preservation. This forced Qing Yanjing to seal the Evil Deity by sacrificing half of her primordial spirit. Afterward, the Futu Clan vowed to sever all ties with the Luo God Clan, and their relationship became strained.
Luo Qingya explained to Luo Li that it was due to this loss of half her primordial spirit that Qing Yanjing was powerless to resist Futu Xuan, the Futu Clan leader, when her love for a human was discovered. Consequently, she was imprisoned in the Ancestral Tower of Futu Clan, which was then hidden by a barrier, isolating it from the outside world, its location unknown to others.
Luo Qingya warned Luo Li that while Mu Chen was a kind and righteous person, any desire for revenge on his mother's behalf would severely threaten the Luo God Clan. He reminded her that as the leader of the Luo God Clan, she was inherently the leader of Mu Chen's perceived enemies, a destiny that could not be altered.
Luo Li later confided in Mu Chen, admitting she had considered concealing the past but felt he deserved to know the truth. Mu Chen was visibly distraught, asking what they should do now. He angrily questioned if his mother would have met such a fate if the Luo God Clan hadn't been so weak, and pointed out that Luo Li was now their leader. Luo Li apologized.
Mu Chen then sought out Mu Feng and recounted how the Luo God Clan's inaction five millennia prior had led to his mother losing half her primordial spirit and being imprisoned. He explained that her diminished power from sealing the Evil Deity made her vulnerable to the Futu Clan. Mu Feng, though sharing Mu Chen's sorrow and anger, reminded him that these events transpired long before Luo Li's birth, leaving her no part in those decisions.
He believed Luo Li was likely suffering even more deeply than Mu Chen at that moment. Determined to assist Mu Chen, Luo Li summoned the Spirit of Luo to inquire about the precise location of the Futu Ancient Clan. The Spirit of Luo revealed that the Futu Ancient Clan had used a secret method to conceal their whereabouts, and finding them would require Luo Li to channel her spiritual energy as a guide.
However, her cultivation was still nascent, and such a significant expenditure of spiritual power could lead to exhaustion. Despite the warning, Luo Li insisted on knowing, and the Spirit of Luo provided the guidance, leaving Luo Li severely weakened. Xuantong arrived, observed Luo Li’s fragile state, and immediately channeled spiritual energy to her. He admonished her for risking her well-being, but Luo Li explained that she simply wished to do one last thing for Mu Chen.
Later, Xuantong approached Jiu You, interrupting her and Mu Chen who were reminiscing about a past memory. He informed her of Luo Li's immense spiritual sacrifice to locate the Futu Clan for Mu Chen, anticipating that the two would travel there together. Recognizing the perilous nature of their journey, Xuantong requested Jiu You to accompany them and safeguard Luo Li. Jiu You promptly agreed, affirming her friendship with Luo Li.
Luo Li then convened with Mu Feng and Mu Chen to share the Futu Clan's location. She apologized to Mu Chen for the historical misdeeds of her clan, explaining that she discovered the information in the Luo God Clan's legacy, where her grandfather had mentioned the Futu Clan's migration route. Upon hearing this, Mu Feng hastily prepared to depart. Mu Chen intervened, reminding his father that the Grand Thousand Demon-Subduing Array was incomplete.
He argued that rushing to the Futu Ancient Clan would not only delay the crucial formation but also provoke hostility with the Futu Clan. Mu Feng was resolute in his desire to rescue Qing Yanjing, but Mu Chen persuaded him to return to Mu Territory to continue the construction of the formation, promising to retrieve his mother himself. Mu Feng reluctantly consented.
Luo Li then discussed her intention to travel to the Futu Clan with Xuantong and Luo Qingya, aiming to resolve the long-standing animosity between their clans, especially with the Evil Deity becoming active again. Luo Qingya vehemently opposed her plan, citing her recent ascension to leadership, the Luo God Clan’s need for recovery, and the constant threat of the Evil Deity’s return. He questioned what would happen if the Futu Clan sought vengeance by harming her.
Luo Li countered that inaction would only lead to destruction by the Evil Deity, asserting that it was more strategic to seek their understanding and forge an alliance. Luo Qingya also questioned if her journey was solely for Mu Chen, but Luo Li asserted that as clan leader, she would uphold clan rules.
At this point, Jiu You arrived and announced that she and Luo Li had already agreed to travel to the Futu Clan together, which eased Luo Qingya’s concerns. Luo Li clarified that she had invited Jiu You to provide mutual support on the perilous journey, and Luo Qingya, though still wary, eventually gave his consent. Mu Chen soon encountered Luo Li and Jiu You on his path toward the Futu Clan.
Luo Li reiterated her objective: to mend the rift between their clans and unite against the Evil Deity. Jiu You noted the irony that despite their different motivations—Mu Chen to save his mother and Luo Li to resolve historical grievances—they shared the same destination. To facilitate their mission, Luo Li suggested that Mu Chen adopt the guise of a Luo God Clan guard general, enabling him to gather information discreetly without alarming the Futu Clan. Mu Chen agreed.
Meanwhile, Xuantong received an urgent message via Jade Slip from Cangsheng and Qingshan. They reported successfully locating Venerable Master Xiao Yan and Venerable Master Lin Dong, and assisting them in dismantling the Eye of Expectation and the Eye of Cruelty. Furthermore, they had earned the respect of both masters, significantly enhancing their own cultivation, and were currently en route back to Luohe City, expected to arrive later that day.
Upon hearing this positive news, Mu Feng expressed his satisfaction and promptly stated his return to Mu Territory to finalize the Grand Thousand Demon-Subduing Array before departing and thanking Xuantong. Unbeknownst to them, Liu Mubai had overheard Luo Qingya discussing Luo Li, Mu Chen, and Jiu You's journey to the Futu Clan. He later reported to the Evil Deity about Mu Chen and the others heading towards the Futu Clan, requesting permission to lead the Demon-Slaying Guards to capture them.
The Evil Deity, however, dismissed his plea, stating he had his own plans. Undeterred, Liu Mubai proactively gathered the power from the Eye of Quicksand and the Eye of Whisper, presenting them to the Evil Deity. He explained that with the Eye of Expectation and Eye of Cruelty already destroyed, and humans targeting the remaining Eyes, it was better to secure their power for the Evil Deity rather than risk their destruction.
Pleased with Liu Mubai's initiative, the Evil Deity bestowed upon him immense power, elevating him to the Sovereign Realm. During their journey, Mu Chen dreamt of Qing Yanjing, but as he reached out, she vanished. He awoke with a renewed vow to rescue his mother, reunite their family, and include Luo Li in their future.
As Mu Chen, Luo Li, and Jiu You continued their arduous journey through the perilous, snow-covered mountains, Luo Li's earlier spiritual exertion left her visibly weak. Jiu You noticed her condition and provided spiritual energy to help her recover. Mu Chen, concerned, questioned if Luo Li was undertaking this dangerous journey specifically for him. Luo Li denied it, asserting that they merely shared a common path and assured him she was fine.
Upon arriving at the Futu Ancient Clan, they found its entrance to be highly concealed, marked by distinctive stone pillars that served as keys. They were immediately confronted by Futu Clan guards who recognized Luo Li's affiliation with the Luo God Clan and aggressively refused them entry, declaring them unwelcome and ordering their capture. Luo Li calmly stated her peaceful intent to resolve the historical animosity and requested to meet their leader.
Despite her explanation, they were taken into the Futu Ancient Clan territory. Luo Li decided to face Futu Xuan alone, instructing Mu Chen and Jiu You to remain outside. Futu Xuan immediately confronted Luo Li, recalling the Luo God Clan’s refusal to help 5000 years prior, which led to Qing Yanjing's sacrifice and severe losses for the Futu Clan. He dismissed her proposal of an alliance against the Evil Deity, blaming Luo God Clan for the current predicament.
Luo Li acknowledged her clan’s past mistakes and expressed their genuine desire for atonement. She stressed the imminent threat of the Evil Deity's revival, arguing that the survival of the Great Thousand World depended on their joint efforts, as neither clan could withstand the Evil Deity alone. She warned that failure to act would plunge the entire world into darkness.
Futu Xuan, acknowledging her insight and echoing Qing Yanjing's foresight, agreed to convene with the clan elders to discuss the matter and offered Luo Li a place to rest. Meanwhile, Jiu You and Mu Chen explored the Futu Clan, eventually pinpointing the location of the Ancestral Tower. However, their path was blocked by the Futu Clan's formidable Protective Formation, guarded by a greater number of soldiers than even the clan's border.
Mu Chen explained that this ancient formation, painstakingly reinforced by generations of Futu Clan elders, each adding their unique understanding, made it unbreakable without specific knowledge of each elder's particular spell.
