The Great Ruler Episode 9 Recap
> The Great Ruler Recap
Mu Chen, disguised as a Taoist priest brewing wine, encountered Xue Shi and Luo Li. Xue Shi initially found the Taoist familiar and tried to remove his mask, but Mu Chen stopped him with a sharp rebuke. As Xue Shi prepared to leave with Luo Li, Mu Chen lamented that there was no one to share his fine wine. He then theatrically drank it, seemingly gaining immense spiritual power and invincibility.
Intrigued, Xue Shi and his men eagerly tried the "nectar." Shortly after drinking, they became dizzy and collapsed. Mu Chen then approached Luo Li, who revealed she had recognized him all along. He questioned why she lied about marrying Xue Lingzi, but explained that he wasn't there to rescue her, but to expose the truth. He revealed he had put Truth Pills, a powerful potion his father used to extract information, into the wine.
Under its influence, Xue Shi confessed that after Luo Li's marriage to Xue Lingzi, the Blood God Clan planned to massacre the Luo God Clan, completely betraying their promise of peace. Mu Chen urged Luo Li to return with him, stating that such a meaningless sacrifice was foolish and her grandfather wouldn't wish it. Luo Li admitted she couldn't leave because Xue Shi had sealed her spiritual veins, rendering her powerless.
Mu Chen, refusing to let her marry against her will, carried her and fled towards Mu Territory. Meanwhile, Qian'er, disguised as a maid, brought food to the imprisoned Mubai. Seizing an opportunity, she knocked out the guards and entered his room. Mubai, overjoyed and saddened to see her, explained that the Lake of Dragon was a decoy. His father, Liu Qingtian, intended to use it as a pretense to attack Mu Territory. He stressed the urgency of informing Mu Feng.
Mubai took Qian'er to the transmitting circle, overriding a guard's objections by asserting his authority as Young Master. As they left, a furious Xue Shi, having recovered from the Truth Pill and realizing the deception, ordered his men to pursue Mu Chen and Luo Li. Mubai and Qian'er arrived at Mu Territory, only to find that Mu Feng had already departed. Mubai quickly penned a letter for Mu Chen, entrusting it to a guard, detailing his father's plot.
He then decided to use the transmitting circle to reach Tang Territory, which was closer to the Lake of Dragon, hoping to warn Mu Feng in time. He instructed Qian'er to go to Beiling School to notify Mr. Mo and request reinforcements to converge at Lake of Dragon. Qian'er, worried for his safety, made him promise not to sacrifice himself if the situation was beyond rescue.
Luo Li, unwilling to burden Mu Chen, tried to forcibly break the seal on her spiritual veins. Just then, Xue Shi and his men caught up. Luo Li defiantly refused to go with them, engaging in a fierce fight. Mu Chen intervened, using his spiritual techniques to protect Luo Li and defeat Xue Shi, but sustained injuries in the process.
On their way to Lake of Dragon, Mu Feng's group, including General Zhou Ye, noticed the suspicious absence of Liu Territory's soldiers, raising their suspicions. They soon discovered they were ambushed, surrounded by Mo Xingtian and his forces, who were allied with the Dragon Clan. Mubai arrived, revealing that it was all a conspiracy by Liu Qingtian and the No-Face Taoist to wipe out Mu Territory's main army and seize Mu Capital.
At that critical moment, Mr. Mo and the Beiling School reinforcements, alerted by Qian'er, arrived to assist. Overwhelmed, Mo Xingtian realized he was outmatched and hastily retreated. Mu Chen and Luo Li returned to Mu Territory and received Mubai's letter, learning about the Lake of Dragon ambush and Liu Territory's imminent attack on Mu Capital. Mu Chen discovered that General Shu Zhang was currently in charge of the city's defense.
Shu Zhang reported that Mu Capital had only about three thousand guards, with fewer than two hundred possessing spiritual power, as most elites had gone with Mu Feng. Recognizing the vast disparity in strength against Liu Territory's assembled army, Mu Chen decided it was futile to engage in a direct confrontation. He instructed Shu Zhang to immediately activate the transmitting circle and evacuate all citizens and the remaining forces to a safe location.
Despite Shu Zhang's insistence on defending the city to the death, Mu Chen explained that protecting the people was paramount, and a city could be reclaimed, but lives could not. He then tasked Shu Zhang with looking after Luo Li, whom he referred to as the future Young Lady. Mu Feng, having been warned and now reunited with Mr. Mo and Mubai, confirmed Liu Qingtian's treachery and alliance with the Dragon Clan.
Recognizing the gravity of the situation, Mu Feng decided to join forces with Beiling School and divide their troops to encircle Mu Capital, confronting Liu Qingtian's army. Mu Chen resolved to stay behind and defend Mu Capital alone. He found and activated the ancient City Protection Circle, a massive spiritual array integrated into the city's structure, to create a formidable obstacle for the invading army.
He entrusted Luo Li with the care of the evacuating citizens, knowing she would ensure their safety. Luo Li, however, was adamant about staying with him, refusing to leave him alone in danger, but Mu Chen insisted she leave for her safety and the people's. Meanwhile, Liu Qingtian, with his forces assembled outside Mu Capital, confidently prepared to conquer the "leaderless" city.
When a report came that the city gates were open, he suspected a trap and decided to send a vanguard. Liu Yang, eager to avenge his father (Liu Zong, whom he believed Mu Territory killed), volunteered to lead the initial assault. Despite Liu Qingtian's initial reluctance to risk his nephew, he eventually agreed.
As Liu Yang's detachment entered, they were met by Mu Chen, who single-handedly activated the City Protection Circle's spiritual formations, trapping and injuring Liu Yang and his soldiers. Sensing a deeper stratagem, Liu Qingtian ordered his War Magicians to concentrate their power and form a Great Magic, planning to use No-Face Taoist's assistance to breach the City Protection Circle.
As the City Protection Circle strained under the immense attack, Mu Chen sought out Jiu You, explaining that he needed her spiritual power to sustain the array. Jiu You initially refused, chastising him for foolishly attempting to defend an empty city alone when everyone else had evacuated. She reminded him that they were blood-bound, and her survival was tied to his.
Mu Chen steadfastly declared that he couldn't abandon the city, as its fall would lead to the rapid conquest of other territories and immense suffering for more innocent people. He believed Mubai would succeed in alerting his father, and reinforcements would arrive. Moved by his unwavering determination, Jiu You, despite her complaints, provided her spiritual power, successfully bolstering the City Protection Circle's defenses but suffering severe injuries and collapsing unconscious.
Outside the city, Mu Feng's group discovered that the transmitting circles were now closed, preventing their direct return to Mu Capital. Shu Zhang then arrived, reporting that Luo Li, demonstrating her profound spiritual power, had managed to sneak back into the besieged city alone. Realizing Mu Chen's resolve to fight to the death, Mu Feng decided against a frontal assault that night, as Liu Qingtian's army was on high alert.
Instead, they planned to launch a stealth attack at dawn, when the defenses would be slightly relaxed due to battle preparations. Mu Feng instructed Shu Zhang to take advantage of the distraction created by his fight with Liu Qingtian to covertly infiltrate the city and capture Liu Qingtian.
