The Immortal Ascension Episode 14 Recap
> The Immortal Ascension Recap
As a newly advanced Foundation Establishment cultivator, Han Li sought a personal cultivation cavern. His spirit beast, for which he had paid a hefty price, eventually led him to a remarkable location: a secluded spot with a natural spirit spring, a rare find that significantly enhanced cultivation. Han Li was pleased with his new discovery, even planning a secret garden to cultivate spirit herbs. However, his contentment was short-lived when he discovered a rabbit freely entering his cavern.
This revealed the inadequacy of the complimentary defense array he possessed, prompting him to seek a more reliable one. Han Li traveled to a market in Yuanwu Kingdom, a place known for its arrays and crafting masters. There, he put a Millennium Golden Glow Ganoderma up for auction to fund his search for a better array. During the auction, a man pursued by a group of cultivators swiftly activated a powerful array to block his pursuers.
Han Li, observing from a distance, was impressed by its efficacy. When the pursuers inquired if he had seen the man, Han Li deliberately pointed them in the wrong direction. The man, later identified as Qi Yunxiao, approached Han Li to express his gratitude, though Han Li stated his assistance came with conditions. Qi Yunxiao, an artifact crafter who specialized in forging while another master designed his arrays, warned Han Li against trying to acquire the array master's techniques.
Han Li then surprised Qi Yunxiao by asking if he desired another Millennium Spirit Herb. Intrigued, Qi Yunxiao invited Han Li to his Yunxiao Pavilion. After Han Li expressed disinterest in the displayed high-grade treasures, Qi Yunxiao revealed the very array he had used earlier: the Five Phases Reversing Array.
He admitted it was a semi-finished product, operating at only twenty percent of its full power due to insufficient spirit gems during its activation, but assured Han Li that even in its current state, it could easily withstand attacks from a Mid Foundation Establishment cultivator. He explained that a fully restored Five Phases Reversing Array could serve as a formidable Mountain Barrier for a small sect. Han Li questioned the array's effectiveness given its earlier performance.
Qi Yunxiao explained it was purely due to his lack of spirit gems at the time, not a flaw in the array itself. He then earnestly pleaded for five years to fully restore the array. Seeing Han Li's hesitation, Qi Yunxiao offered a profound personal artifact: the Yunxiao Heart Technique, a book containing his lifelong insights into artifact crafting.
He confessed that according to his family rules, inherited from an elder in the Divine Arms Sect, this technique could not be shared. However, he desperately needed the Millennium Spirit Herb as a life-saving catalyst. Han Li surmised that this person must be Qi Yunxiao's beloved, to which Qi Yunxiao admitted it was for a woman named Ruyin.
Han Li agreed to the terms, sealing the Yunxiao Heart Technique and promising to return it unopened if Qi Yunxiao fulfilled his promise. He then proposed a further business venture, presenting Qi Yunxiao with rare materials he had acquired from a Level 2 Blackflood Drake: its outer skin, sharp horns, venomous fangs, and potent venom. Qi Yunxiao, recognizing these as top-tier materials, enthusiastically agreed to forge high-grade artifacts.
He completed the task in just half a month, impressing Han Li with his efficiency. Among the forged artifacts were the Divine Wind Boat, a swift flying artifact; the Drake Daggers, crafted from its fangs; the White Scale Shield, made from its toughest outer scales; and the Azure Fire Miasma, condensed from its venom and designed to catch enemies off guard.
Meanwhile, Ye Fei, who had faked his death years ago, was confronted by a former subordinate from his time in the Bamboo Sect. The man questioned why Ye Fei was contacting old allies and demanded the return of the stolen Volume One of the Great Deployment Art. Ye Fei, after asserting his former authority as "Young Master," refused and killed the man. Han Li, who was passing by, accidentally made a noise.
Mistaking Han Li for an accomplice of his victim, Ye Fei quickly fled the area. Left alone, Han Li was then confronted by the deceased man's primordial spirit. It pleaded with Han Li to find it a new body to possess, offering the complete Great Deployment Art in return. Han Li, stating his deep-seated hatred for body possessors, refused and promptly destroyed the spirit.
Sometime later, Mentor Wu of the Yellow Maple Valley coincidentally uncovered Ye Fei's treachery, realizing he was a demonic spy collaborating with Demonic Dao cultivators disguised as Spirit Beast Mountain disciples. Ye Fei spotted Mentor Wu and immediately attempted to silence him. Han Li, returning to his cavern, stumbled upon the scene and intervened to rescue his mentor. Severely wounded, Mentor Wu urged Han Li to get medicine from his cavern, but quickly realized his end was near.
With his last breath, he desperately instructed Han Li to deliver a critical message to Sect Leader Zhong: Ye Fei was a traitor, other sects had likely been infiltrated by demonic spies, and they had to be stopped from coordinating an attack from within. He also specifically warned Han Li to be wary of Spirit Beast Mountain. As Mentor Wu succumbed to his injuries, Ye Fei pursued Han Li, declaring that Han Li, having witnessed too much, must also die.
Han Li quickly activated his Five Phases Reversing Array. Ye Fei acknowledged the array's power, offering to spare Han Li if he handed it over. Han Li defiantly refused. Ye Fei, confident despite the array's strength, began manipulating numerous puppets, sending them in relentless waves to breach the defense. Han Li braced himself, understanding that the array, still operating at only twenty percent of its power, might not hold out for long against such a sustained assault.
