The Great Ruler Episode 4 Recap
> The Great Ruler Recap
Mu Chen declared his intention to participate in the selection for the Five Sects, expressing his desire to become stronger. He explained to his father, Mu Feng, that this was not merely to save his mother or be with Luo Li, but to protect his loved ones from any future harm.
Mu Feng, though pleased with his son's growth, cautioned Mu Chen about the perilous nature of the assessment, stating that even surviving would be a challenge, let alone joining the Five Sects. Mu Chen acknowledged his father's words, accepting that he must bear all risks and consequences of his decision. Meanwhile, Liu Mubai observed Tang Qian'er practicing her Dragon Elephant Formation Diagram.
While he praised her perfect combination of spiritual power and magic circles, he pointed out a slight flaw in her diagram, advising more practice. Tang Qian'er complimented Liu Mubai's teaching style, even saying he taught better than Mr. Xi. She then inquired about his future plans, to which Liu Mubai replied that after graduating from the Five Sects, he would return to Liu Territory to become its ruler, marry, and have children. Tang Qian'er, blushing, quickly departed.
Luo Li later found Mu Chen diligently preparing for the Five Sects selection. Mu Chen explained that these were the most powerful spiritual academies in Beiling and that entering them would allow him to learn more potent magic circles, a necessity since he believed he lacked spiritual power. Luo Li, recalling the selection's dangers and past casualties, questioned his resolve. Mu Chen insisted he must go, deeming it more important than his life.
He revealed that his mother had risked her life to protect him and his father years ago, and her whereabouts remained unknown. He aimed to become strong enough to bring her back, reunite his family, and protect them. Luo Li, touched by his sincerity, declared that she now also had people to protect and offered to help him, promising to protect him during the assessment.
When Mu Chen playfully asked if this meant she would become his disciple, Luo Li refused. Mu Feng prepared to depart for the Lake of Dragon. His subordinate informed him that Liu Qingtian was already waiting there. Mu Feng confided that, despite his subordinate's doubts, he had no choice but to trust Liu Qingtian.
Before Mu Feng left, Mu Chen and Luo Li bid him farewell, with Luo Li reassuring Mu Feng that she would assist Mu Chen in the upcoming assessment. Mu Chen then added that Luo Li was a master of the Spirit-Soul Realm, just like Mu Feng, making passing the assessment no problem, to which Mu Feng entrusted Mu Chen to Luo Li's care.
At the same time, the Evil Deity bestowed the Eye of Heaven upon his adopted daughter, Wen Qingxuan, commanding her to eliminate any troublesome humans. He noted that the Eye of Heaven absorbed spiritual energy several times faster than the Eye of Source, but was also more easily detected. He tasked Wen Qingxuan, known for her caution, not to disappoint him, assuring him she would seize the timing and strike decisively.
Upon reaching the Lake of Dragon, Mu Feng met Liu Qingtian, who inquired about the investigation. Mu Feng explained he would amplify Mu Chen's Power-detecting Formation by dozens of times to reveal the flow of spiritual energy. Liu Qingtian urged haste, warning that Black Dragon discovering their actions would bring severe danger to both their territories. The Five Sects selection began with Mr. Mo outlining the rules.
There would be three tests in a trial realm, with students distributed to different locations and challenges. The first ten to complete all three tests would qualify. He announced good news: due to low pass rates in previous years, the North Cāng Spiritual Academy, the most powerful of the Five Sects, had increased its recruitment quota from one to five.
Mr. Mo cautioned everyone about the inherent dangers of the trial realm, where many students got injured or even died, urging them to consider carefully. Despite these warnings, Mu Chen remained confident, having made thorough preparations. As students entered the Transmitting Circle, Luo Li used her spiritual power to bind her wrist to Mu Chen's with a red rope, symbolizing her promise to find him no matter where he was sent.
Tang Qian'er and Tan Qingshan were surprised by Mu Chen and Luo Li's close bond, with Tang Qian'er jokingly suggesting she and Qingshan try the same, only for Liu Mubai to pull her away to the assessment. Meanwhile, Black Dragon, still suffering from old wounds inflicted by the White Dragon a decade ago, confronted the Evil Deity, questioning why the Eye of Heaven's absorbed spiritual energy was not granted to him.
The Evil Deity explained that the energy was needed to eliminate obstacles to his resurrection and chastised Black Dragon for his impatience, reminding him that what was meant for him would be given, but what was not, he could not take by force. Black Dragon quickly begged for mercy. At Beiling School, Mr. Mo and Mr. Xi sensed an unprecedented and alarming fluctuation in spiritual energy.
They both felt their own spiritual power being pulled, prompting them to investigate the anomaly. Mu Chen and Luo Li found themselves separated within an illusionary space. Luo Li saw an illusion of Xue Lingzi, her sworn enemy, while Mu Chen saw an illusion of himself. Mu Chen realized he was in an illusion and identified Luo Li by the red string they shared.
Unable to communicate verbally, Mu Chen used gestures to instruct Luo Li to strike the magic circles with her spiritual power, successfully breaking them out of the illusion. They reunited, acknowledging the trial's terrifying nature and the many students who might be trapped. They then moved to the second challenge, confronting a Beiming Golden Eagle, which Luo Li identified as the creature that had stolen Mu Chen's Jiezi Coin.
After failing to defeat it with Luo Li's Luo God Sword and magic spells due to its incredibly tough body (from eating metals), Luo Li devised a plan: she asked Mu Chen to create a Rosemary Circle while she lured the eagle away with spiritual stones. Their plan worked, and they successfully retrieved the Jiezi Coin. However, it was now inert.
Luo Li reassured a disheartened Mu Chen that they would find another solution, reminding him of his promise to search the world, including Beiling, the Five Sects, and the Great Thousand World, with her. Mu Chen reaffirmed his commitment, and they proceeded to the final test. At the final assessment stage, Mu Chen and Luo Li found themselves among eleven finalists, although only ten spots were initially announced.
Another student accused them of cheating, but Liu Mubai defended them, stating that the academy had no rules against cooperation, and their ability to work together in crisis demonstrated their courage and tacit understanding. The examiner clarified that while all eleven would compete, only five would ultimately be admitted to the North Cāng Spiritual Academy. The final test involved one-on-one duels, with losers eliminated and winners advancing.
Weapons, magic tools, and props were forbidden; combat was to be empty-handed, and casualties were permitted. Liu Mubai, having the best performance over three years, was granted direct advancement. While the duels commenced, Mr. Mo and Mr. Xi observed a strange phenomenon in the sky, a force actively draining spiritual energy from everyone. As students began to collapse, Mr. Mo and Mr. Xi combined their powers to erect a protective barrier, but they knew it wouldn't last long.
Mr. Mo urgently dispatched subordinates to seek help from other territories. Mu Chen expressed his worry about the upcoming duel, fearing his perceived lack of power would lead to defeat, but Luo Li offered to help him. Mu Chen appreciated her support but affirmed his need to overcome challenges on his own to achieve his goals. In one of the duels, Liu Yang, Liu Mubai's cousin, faced Tan Qingshan.
Liu Yang was confident in his victory, boasting of his superior spiritual energy within the Spirit Wheel Realm and insulting Qingshan. During the fight, Liu Yang dealt a severe blow to Qingshan. Mu Chen and Tang Qian'er rallied around Qingshan, while Liu Mubai confidently predicted Liu Yang's win due to his speed, power, and superior spiritual energy. As Liu Yang seemed to dominate, Mu Chen noticed a Spirit-breaking Bead fall from Liu Yang's hand. Mu Chen exposed Liu Yang's cheating.
Despite Liu Yang's attempt to justify his actions, the examiner disqualified him and declared Tan Qingshan the winner. Immediately after, both Liu Yang and Qingshan collapsed, their bodies entirely devoid of spiritual energy, as the general spiritual energy drainage had begun. Ruler Tang Shan of Tang Territory, having received Mr. Mo's distress call, quickly arrived via a Transmitting Circle.
Mr. Mo explained the dire situation: the barrier could only hold for a short time, and without a solution, everyone in the school would be drained of spiritual energy and their spiritual veins severed, leading to death within half a day. He urged the assembled rulers to find a way to save the students.
Liu Qingtian inquired about Liu Mubai and the other students who had entered the trial realm before the crisis, but Mr. Mo had no information on their status, and Mr. Xi added that the Transmitting Circle was sealed and only he, with a special key, could open it. Mu Feng, upon witnessing the crisis, immediately offered his assistance to Mr. Mo.
Earlier, Mu Feng had brought Liu Qingtian to a secluded cave, a weak point in the barrier near the Lake of Dragon, which Mu Chen had discovered. Mu Feng showed Liu Qingtian the energy flow, confirming that the Eye of Source was indeed draining Beiling. Liu Qingtian initially hesitated, fearing that breaking Black Dragon's barrier would alert him, but Mu Feng argued that they could not wait for all of Beiling's spiritual energy to be depleted.
Receiving Mr. Mo's urgent call, Mu Feng and Liu Qingtian rushed to Beiling School. Mu Feng revealed to Liu Qingtian that the appearance of the Nine Eyes signaled the imminent revival of the Evil Deity. The various territory rulers worked together to reinforce the weakening barrier, temporarily staving off the spiritual energy drainage.
