The Immortal Ascension Episode 20 Recap
> The Immortal Ascension Recap
Nangong Wan expressed her desire to lead disciples into battle, but Nichang strongly advised against it, explaining that the Six Demonic Sects were far too powerful for the Seven Sects to defeat. She urged Nangong Wan to preserve their strength rather than engaging in a losing battle. Nangong Wan, however, worried about the demonic sects capturing spirit-rooted mortals if they occupied the Yue Kingdom, insisting that they could not stand by idly.
Nichang then revealed a crucial secret: the Seven Sects' Nascent Soul elders had previously confronted Grandmaster Yunlu of the Six Demonic Sects and suffered a defeat. To prevent the war from escalating further, both sides had agreed that no Nascent Soul cultivators would participate in the current conflict. This revelation stunned Nangong Wan, who realized the war's outcome was predetermined, leading her to question the meaning behind the sacrifices of the low-level disciples.
Recognizing Nangong Wan's unwavering resolve, Nichang granted her one year to act as she wished—be it slaying demons or saving mortals—promising not to interfere, though support from the sect would be limited due to it being a Grand Elder's decision. Nangong Wan gratefully accepted, stating that if the war's end was already set, her mission was to save as many people as possible within that year.
One year later, the conflict had evolved into a prolonged stalemate, with large-scale attacks giving way to constant skirmishes. Han Li, now a Mid Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator, observed that the demonic sects were primarily sending low-level cultivators. He viewed these ongoing battles as a valuable opportunity to consolidate his cultivation, sharpen his skills, and acquire resources.
Meanwhile, Nangong Wan, burdened by the secret knowledge of the war's predetermined outcome, pondered her arrangements to secure safe passage for the royal heirs of the Jiang and Cheqi Kingdoms to the Nine Kingdoms Alliance, a route she had prepared for her Moonshadow Sect. She expressed her continued feeling of being a helpless observer, unable to change anything or save everyone, lamenting the unfair sacrifice of low-level disciples fighting a battle with a known, tragic end.
At the Golden Drum Plains, Elder Chen praised Han Li's impressive recent achievements: having vanquished five Qi Refining cultivators and one Foundation Establishment cultivator from the formidable Demonic Flame Sect in just three days. Elder Chen noted it was Han Li's seventeenth Foundation Establishment-level kill, and presented him with a merit jade slip to exchange his war credits, which Han Li intended to use for ancient texts. Chen Qiaoqian greeted Han Li, congratulating him on his rapid cultivation progress.
However, other Chen family cultivators, who had only managed two Foundation Establishment kills as a trio, expressed resentment, feeling Han Li was looking down on them. Despite their complaints, Elder Chen, recognizing Han Li's immense potential, advised Chen Qiaoqian to recruit him. Chen Qiaoqian then approached Han Li, inviting him to serve as a Chen family guest elder, offering a deposit and annual tribute.
Han Li, citing his modest cultivation and talent, politely declined, expressing concern that he might hinder the clan, and refused the spiritual stones. Nangong Wan was seen observing this exchange from a distance. Nearby, Wang Chan's subordinate reported a failure to locate a specific individual. Wang Chan then spotted Dong Xuan'er and approached her, identifying her by the unique jade pendant she wore, which she stated her master gave her.
He recognized the pendant and claimed it signified that Fairy Hongfu, Dong Xuan'er's master, still held memories of "him"—implied to be Wang Chan's father or a close relative. He asserted his kinship, declaring that Dong Xuan'er should call him "cousin," and intended to take her to meet their family. Dong Xuan'er vehemently resisted, calling him a "demon" and proudly stating that her master was Fairy Hongfu, the top Core Formation cultivator of Yellow Maple Valley.
Despite her protests, Wang Chan forcibly took her away, remarking that the Joyful Union Sect now owed the Ghost Spirit Sect a significant favor. Han Li then met his seniors, Wu Xuan and Weiniang. Wu Xuan jokingly suggested that if Han Li had no romantic interest in Dong Xuan'er, he should "give" her to him, a notion Weiniang quickly dismissed.
Weiniang informed Han Li that Dong Xuan'er, who had been confined by Mentor Hongfu for a long time, had recently arrived at the Golden Drum Plains. They also conveyed that their master, Li Huayuan, a Core Formation cultivator, was present and seeking Han Li for an important discussion, leading Han Li to deduce that the increased presence of Core Formation cultivators indicated a worsening war situation.
Han Li found Li Huayuan and Hongfu engaged in a heated dispute with Wangyu, the shopkeeper of Treasure House. Li Huayuan and Hongfu accused Wangyu of being a "rip-off" for exploiting wartime shortages by selling supplies at exorbitant prices. They reminded him of their past support, including funding his Treasure House and Hongfu providing him with Foundation Pills.
Wangyu defended his prices, citing the high costs of wartime operations and supply acquisition, and argued that as Core Formation cultivators, they could not understand the struggles of low-level cultivators like him, despite his evident wealth. Li Huayuan then proposed a mahjong game with a wager: if he and Hongfu won, Wangyu would have to sell the supplies at half price. Wangyu initially tried to decline, claiming it wasn't his lucky day, but was eventually persuaded.
Han Li was then pulled into the game by Li Huayuan, who secretly instructed him via telepathy. During the mahjong game, Hongfu expressed admiration for Han Li's rapid cultivation progress to the Mid Foundation Establishment Stage within a year. Li Huayuan boasted about Han Li's good luck. Wangyu consistently won rounds, much to the frustration of Li Huayuan and Hongfu, who accused him of cheating by passing tiles too obviously.
Ultimately, Wangyu conceded and agreed to sell the supplies at half price. As the game concluded, Li Huayuan subtly teased Wangyu about his apparent feelings for Hongfu, advising him to pursue her. After the game, Han Li saw Wangyu off. Wangyu acknowledged Han Li's cultivation progress since their last encounter, advised him against rushing his cultivation, and assured him that he respected Han Li's secrets.
Wangyu then presented Han Li with a VIP token for Treasure House, entitling him to a ten percent discount on all items, which Li Huayuan light-heartedly deemed stingy. Meanwhile, Wu Xuan and Weiniang reported to Li Huayuan and Hongfu that they had discovered Dong Xuan'er's hair ribbon on the battlefield. Xuan'er had left alone that morning and had not returned.
Hongfu was distraught, fearing Dong Xuan'er had fallen into the hands of demonic cultivators, and insisted on immediately going to search for her. Li Huayuan stopped her, instructing her to remain to hold the line, while dispatching others to assist Hongfu in her search. Li Huayuan then summoned Han Li and assigned him a confidential personal mission: to travel to the capital of the Yue Kingdom.
He revealed that a senior brother, who had once saved his life, tragically perished during a trial, leaving behind a mortal son. Li Huayuan had sworn an oath to ensure the prosperity of this family line, who were now in their fourth generation and resided in the capital. He explained that although cultivation conflicts typically did not involve mortals, the demonic sects had recently attacked mortal kingdoms like Jiang and Cheqi, raising concerns for the safety of this particular family.
Li Huayuan provided Han Li with the Qin family genealogy and instructed him to discreetly protect them, emphasizing that this was a private request, as the sect strictly forbade interference in mortal affairs. Han Li, while acknowledging that a journey to the capital would remove him from the perilous battlefield, expressed reluctance to depart the Golden Drum Plains, citing the accumulated war merits he would forfeit.
Li Huayuan, seeing through Han Li's subtle bargaining, assured him that the mission would be officially recognized as a sect duty, guaranteeing that his war merits would remain secure. He praised Han Li's cautious nature, stating that it was precisely why he trusted him with such a crucial task. Li Huayuan wrote a letter for Han Li to deliver to the current head of the Qin family and provided him with a Telepathy Talisman for communication.
To ensure discretion, he arranged for Han Li to travel with Nangong Wan of the Moonshadow Sect aboard her Celestial Moon Ark, as she was passing through the area, a surprising arrangement for Han Li.
