The Great Ruler Episode 45 Recap
> The Great Ruler Recap
Grand Master Tailing initially refused Mu Chen's request to see Luo Li, stating she would not want to meet him. However, Mu Chen remained steadfast, declaring he would not leave until he saw her. Xuantong intervened, advising Grand Master Tailing that only Luo Li could truly make Mu Chen give up, prompting the elder to reluctantly agree to the meeting.
On their way, Xuantong tried to persuade Mu Chen to let go of Luo Li, but Mu Chen insisted he could not. Upon meeting Luo Li, Mu Chen explained he came for an old friend, but she coldly replied that she had no friends there. He then asked if she had ever been to the Dragon Palace, and despite her denial, he began to recount their first meeting there, describing the battle between the White and Black Dragon Lords.
He confessed it was the first time he had truly loved someone, and though she disappeared the next day, he was overjoyed to meet her again ten years later. He spoke of her quiet and outwardly cold nature, concealing a gentle heart, and how she had endured countless hardships by his side. He yearned to watch fireworks with her again. Luo Li acknowledged his story as "touching" but claimed she had no time for such tales.
Changing tactics, Mu Chen then explained the real purpose of his visit: Evil Deity intended to inscribe his name on the Firmament Rank, which would lead to his return to Tailing Ancient Clan. They needed to strategize together to resist him. Luo Li acknowledged the information and promised to discuss it with Grand Master Tailing, then dismissed Mu Chen. Before leaving, Mu Chen introduced himself as Mu Chen and expressed his happiness at seeing her.
Afterward, Jiu You pondered whether it was better for Luo Li to remember or forget. Grand Master Tailing then pleaded with Mu Chen to leave Luo Li and Tailing Ancient Clan in peace. He shared how he had guarded the clan for centuries and had witnessed the decline of the goddess lineage a thousand years prior, with no successor until Luo Li's arrival.
Mu Chen, in turn, assured Grand Master Tailing that he would ask Shen Cangsheng to send forces to protect the Firmament Rank and prevent Evil Deity's resurgence. Back at North Cangling Academy, Mu Chen desperately searched ancient texts for a way to restore Luo Li's memory, but his efforts were fruitless. Overcome with frustration and sorrow, an Evil Eye began to manifest on the back of his neck, indicating his growing internal struggle.
When Jiu You visited him, Mu Chen confided that Luo Li had completely forgotten him and their shared past. Despite this, he saw simply meeting her as a positive first step and vowed to help her regain her memories. Jiu You, however, noticed his increasing agitation and tried to protect him, but he was losing control to the encroaching inner demons.
Meanwhile, Evil Deity watched Mu Chen through a distant vision, reveling in the irony that the Ninth Eye, which Mu Chen had sought so diligently, was now hidden within Mu Chen himself. Evil Deity mocked Mu Chen as an "ordinary person" chosen by the God of Heaven, deeming him too weak to stop his plans to inscribe his name on the Firmament Rank.
At Tailing Ancient Clan, Luo Li was inspecting the All-embracing Circle, concerned that despite successfully repelling Evil Deity, the array might suffer backlash damage. She discovered that its power had indeed weakened. Her spirit vein, damaged during her battle with Evil Deity, caused her to collapse while trying to reinforce the array. Grand Master Tailing urged her to rest and recover, suggesting she bathe in the Sacred Water, a rare essence of heaven and earth, to accelerate her healing.
Luo Li initially hesitated, noting the water's immense value and its five-hundred-year regeneration cycle, considering it the very source of Tailing's spiritual energy and too precious for personal use. However, Grand Master Tailing insisted, and indeed, bathing in the Sacred Water significantly aided her recovery. Evil Deity dispatched a spy to infiltrate Tailing Ancient Clan. The spy reported that the Firmament Rank was protected by the All-embracing Circle, guarded by the Goddess, and impermeable to anyone with evil intentions.
Evil Deity then instructed the spy to ensure Luo Li came into contact with a sinister liquid from a bottle. Later, as Luo Li prepared for her nightly bath in the Sacred Water, the spy, disguised as a maid, secretly poured the liquid into the water. Earlier, Luo Li had observed fireworks, finding the scene strangely familiar, though she couldn't recall why.
She mentioned to a maid that Young Master Mu had been setting off fireworks often, but she was not interested. She also inquired if the clan's Goddess had ever been engaged, to which the maid confirmed she had not, given her dedication to protecting the Firmament Rank. Mu Chen gathered his allies to discuss their strategy against Evil Deity. He argued that Evil Deity, still injured, was vulnerable, making it the opportune moment to strike.
His plan involved Shen Cangsheng leading a group to guard the Firmament Rank, while Mu Chen and Jiu You would seek out Evil Deity. Shen Cangsheng expressed concern that dividing their forces might expose them to Evil Deity's advantage. At this point, the Evil Eye on Mu Chen's neck flared up, causing him to behave erratically and dismiss Shen Cangsheng's sound advice.
He then attempted to demonstrate a new "Rosemary Circle" array, prompting Shen Cangsheng to leave in frustration, urging his companions, Tan Qingshan and Sun'er, to prioritize their defense duties. Tan Qingshan tried to talk sense into Mu Chen, whose inner demons were clearly taking hold. The Evil Deity's influence extended to both Luo Li and Mu Chen, distorting their minds and memories.
Luo Li suffered nightmares where Mu Chen was attempting to kill her, and Xue Lingzi sacrificed himself to protect her, solidifying her belief that Mu Chen was his murderer. In her altered state, she declared her intention to deactivate the All-embracing Circle. She confronted Xuantong, accusing Mu Chen of preventing her marriage to Xue Lingzi and asking if Xue Lingzi was truly dead. Xuantong initially rejoiced, thinking her memories were returning, but her distorted questions alarmed him.
Simultaneously, Mu Chen, consumed by his longing for Luo Li, began to hallucinate Jiu You as Luo Li while cultivating. Seeing his increasingly disturbed state, Jiu You attempted to guard him, fearing he would become possessed. However, under the powerful influence of Evil Deity, Mu Chen attacked her. During their struggle, Jiu You discovered the Eye of Void, Evil Deity's ninth eye, on Mu Chen's neck. This eye was known to capture souls and amplify obsessions.
Jiu You managed to temporarily seal Mu Chen with a barrier and immediately informed Shen Cangsheng. Shen Cangsheng confirmed that the Eye of Void could only be destroyed by eliminating Mu Chen's physical body, a solution Jiu You vehemently rejected. Shen Cangsheng then proposed finding Mu Chen's deepest obsession. Jiu You instantly named Luo Li, deciding she must go to Tailing Ancient Clan to persuade her.
Shen Cangsheng and Tan Qingshan went to the back hill to try and stabilize Mu Chen's mind and prevent him from breaking free. Xuantong, noticing Luo Li's increasingly strange behavior, sought out Grand Master Tailing to ask about the possibility of her memory returning. Grand Master Tailing explained that Luo Li had not truly lost her memories; rather, they had been sealed by an ancient Tailing secret art, a seal that no one had ever managed to break.
He warned that forcefully breaking the seal or using forbidden arts to alter her memories would only destabilize her mind, leading to delirium and ultimately causing her great harm. Xuantong, dismayed by this revelation, departed. Later, under the full control of Evil Deity's power, Luo Li went to the All-embracing Circle. Ignoring the desperate pleas and attempts of the clan guards, she brutally killed them and proceeded to deactivate the spiritual array.
When Xuantong arrived, she defiantly declared that with the All-embracing Circle now broken, Evil Deity could inscribe his name on the Firmament Rank, allowing her to finally avenge her "husband," Xue Lingzi. Xuantong desperately tried to tell her that Xue Lingzi was not her husband, but Luo Li, completely consumed by her delusion, immediately attacked him. Evil Deity watched from afar, celebrating the closure of the All-embracing Circle, effectively challenging the God of Heaven's ability to protect the Firmament Rank any longer.
