The Immortal Ascension Episode 15 Recap
> The Immortal Ascension Recap
Upon arriving back at Yellow Maple Valley, Han Li found the rogue disciple Ye brazenly attacking the sect's defensive formation. Before Ye could break through, Hongfu, alerted by the commotion, intervened. Ye, who had been practicing dark arts and harming fellow disciples, proved no match for her. Han Li then recounted the full story: he had stumbled upon Ye attempting to silence Mentor Wu, who had discovered Ye meeting with members of the demonic sects.
Before succumbing to his injuries, Mentor Wu entrusted Han Li with a final message for the Sect Master, warning that the demonic sects had infiltrated the Seven Sects and that Spirit Beast Mountain was particularly suspicious. Hongfu acknowledged the gravity of the situation, assuring Han Li that the matter was beyond a Foundation Establishment disciple's purview and would be investigated. She also praised Han Li's cultivation progress, reminding him that the path of cultivation requires constant effort.
Later, Han Li respectfully buried Mentor Wu near his own cavern, reflecting on the man's genuine kindness, past guidance, and recalling how Wu had saved his life by telling him to switch a formation during a critical battle. Meanwhile, at the Yan Clan Stronghold, the elders convened to discuss their future.
They argued that the stronghold served as the Yue Kingdom's primary defense against the demonic sects and that defecting would leave the entire kingdom vulnerable, especially since their clan had only freed themselves from the grip of the Six Demonic Sects three centuries prior. Their debate was interrupted by the arrival of Wang Chan, representing his father, Sect Leader Wang Tiangu of the Ghost Spirit Sect. He dismissed the Seven Sects as former rebels who now hypocritically claimed righteousness.
He challenged their inaction regarding Young Lady Yan Ruyan's severe illness and their failure to provide the promised Blood Spirit Flower, suggesting their true motive was fear of the Yan Clan gaining a Nascent Soul cultivator. Wang Chan promised that if the Yan Clan returned to the Six Demonic Sects, they would be treated as equals, sharing cultivation resources and supreme techniques.
To quell the elders' skepticism, Wang Chan revealed he had sworn a Truedeath Oath with the Lord of the Yan Clan, staking his life on his promise to cure Yan Ruyan. This profound commitment swayed the elders, and Wang Chan sealed the new alliance by emphasizing their future as one family, sharing glory and ruin. Later, Hongfu engaged in a game of mahjong with fellow sect leaders, including Spirit Beast Mountain's Master Floating Clouds and her junior, Li Huayuan.
The conversation turned to the recent infiltration. Floating Clouds admitted a Qi Refining disciple named Zhong Wu was identified as the spy who led the demonic sects into the Bloody Trial Ground. However, Zhong Wu had mysteriously escaped before he could be interrogated, prompting Floating Clouds to issue a wanted notice. Hongfu expressed disbelief that a mere Qi Refining disciple could elude capture so easily.
She then revealed that a Foundation Establishment cultivator from her sect, the same Ye Han Li had encountered, had gone missing after being seen with suspicious individuals dressed like Spirit Beast Mountain disciples, raising her suspicions about Zhong Wu's involvement. She clarified her intent was not to cause trouble but to foster cooperation among the sects against their common enemy. Floating Clouds assured her that Spirit Beast Mountain would never fall under the control of demonic forces.
News of Yan Ruyan's impending marriage soon arrived. Nangong Wan found the announcement surprisingly sudden, given Yan Ruyan's previous disinterest in such matters. Li Huayuan summoned his disciples—Han Li, Song Meng, Weiniang, Jing, and Wu Xuan—to select a representative for the wedding. Hongfu had already designated Dong Xuan'er to attend from her side. When asked who would accompany her, all the disciples except Han Li and Wu Xuan discreetly recoiled.
Han Li also tried to step back, but Li Huayuan called him forward. Feigning humility, Han Li suggested Wu Xuan was far more suitable, citing his own low cultivation and lack of social grace, adding the burden of looking after Senior Dong Xuan'er. Li Huayuan promptly corrected him, reminding Han Li that Dong Xuan'er, having reached Foundation Establishment later, was his junior.
He then deferred to Hongfu, who chose Han Li after observing that he and Dong Xuan'er were uniquely able to converse normally, unlike others affected by her innate enchantment, and remarking on his steady and unremarkable appearance. Li Huayuan agreed, seeing a reflection of his younger self in Han Li. Upset at the prospect of funding his own wedding gift, Han Li sought an audience with Li Huayuan to request a benefit.
Honoring a previous promise, Li Huayuan presented him with a selection of cultivation techniques. Han Li dismissed the common "Restoration Technique" and "Phantom Technique," as his existing "Cyan Sword Technique" already included similar abilities. His attention was drawn to a mysterious silver page, strikingly similar to a golden page he had acquired from the Bloody Trial Ground. Intrigued, Han Li chose it, much to Li Huayuan's surprise.
Upon returning to his cavern, Han Li poured spiritual energy into the silver page, and it merged with his golden page, revealing the complete "Cyan Sword Technique." He also discovered instructions for crafting the "Qingzhu Swarm Sword," a powerful Core Formation Stage treasure, and an auxiliary art called "Triple Cycle Core Rebirth."
This daunting technique required a practitioner to disperse their cultivation and repeat the Foundation Establishment process three times to guarantee success in reaching the Core Formation stage, a brilliant but arduous method. Back in his cavern, Han Li contemplated his gift for the wedding. His senior disciples had earlier visited, suggesting either cultivation-aiding pills or nourishing beauty creams.
Reluctant to part with his valuable elixirs, Han Li decided to offer century-old spirit herbs, confident he could quickly cultivate more using his mysterious vial. Suddenly, Dong Xuan'er startled him by appearing inside his cavern, having used her enchantment to persuade Han Li's Twin-pupil Mouse to open his protective barrier. She playfully requested a spirit herb, which Han Li firmly refused.
During their journey, Dong Xuan'er explained she chose him as her companion because he was the only one unaffected by her innate charm. Han Li bluntly pointed out that others were merely reacting to her power, not acting of their own free will, causing her to feel misunderstood and lonely. He warned her that her careless use of the enchantment could lead to trouble, but she retorted that it was an inherent part of her, not a choice.
They agreed to a set of ground rules for their trip: to mind their own business and not bother each other. Upon their arrival at the Yan Clan Stronghold, a welcoming disciple named Feng Jun informed them that only rooms in the Lower City were available due to an unexpected number of guests. Dong Xuan'er subtly employed her enchantment on him. Immediately, his demeanor changed, and he swiftly provided them with the last available room in the Upper City.
Han Li, observing this, was visibly displeased. Unbeknownst to them, Wang Chan witnessed the exchange from a distance, musing on Dong Xuan'er's "innate enchantment" and wondering if she was connected to "that old monster," hinting at a sinister plan. Later, at their assigned inn, the innkeeper informed them that only one room remained. Han Li suggested they stay separately, offering to find lodging elsewhere to avoid her. Frustrated, Dong Xuan'er insisted they adhere to their agreed-upon rules of non-interference.
Han Li relented, reasoning that the inn should be safe enough given the presence of many Seven Sects disciples and regular patrols. While Han Li was settling in, two cultivators, Wuyouzi from Clear Void Sect and Ba Chushui from Giant Sword Sect, approached him.
After jokingly mistaking Dong Xuan'er for his companion, a fact Han Li quickly corrected, they shared a disturbing rumor: an evil spirit was preying on mortals and low-level cultivators, taking pleasure in their deaths, with nightly fatalities reported for the past three months. They noted that despite a Core Formation cultivator's presence, the Lord of the Yan Clan seemed preoccupied with the wedding, though he had supposedly activated a powerful protective array for the ceremony.
Wuyouzi and Ba Chushui revealed their true purpose in attending was to hunt this evil spirit, inviting Han Li to join them. Han Li politely declined, citing the need to rest, but internally resolved to investigate the unsettling rumors himself.
