The Immortal Ascension Episode 25 Recap
> The Immortal Ascension Recap
Weiniang desperately calling out to Liu Jing, who is enveloped in a blood cocoon and transforming into a fiend cultivator. As the danger escalates, a voice warns everyone to run. The brother of the man Han Li is fighting sacrifices himself, stating "Let me help you one last time," causing the man's spiritual power to surge rapidly.
Han Li immediately senses the immense power increase and urges Chen Qiaoqian and the others to retreat to the bamboo grove and set up an array, promising to lure the opponent there. Despite a companion's protest, Han Li insists that they cannot afford more deaths and that their plan requires time, so he will stall the powerful adversary alone.
The formidable opponent, the Black Fiend Cult Master, also known as Emperor Yue, laments underestimating Han Li but declares it's not too late to deal with him. Han Li narrowly dodges a powerful attack, recognizing he almost died. Emperor Yue expresses surprise at Han Li's profound True Essence for a Mid Foundation Establishment cultivator, finding it "intoxicating."
He demands Han Li's name, but Han Li retorts by asking if Emperor Yue ever asked for the names of the rogue cultivators he killed. Emperor Yue proudly admits to carving their names on a tower, viewing them as mere "stepping stones" for his grand ambition. Han Li prolongs the conversation to buy time for the array setup.
He questions Emperor Yue's ambition, given his status as a king, but Emperor Yue scoffs, calling mortals "worthless ants" in the eyes of cultivators. He claims that the Seven Sects preach superiority while ignoring the countless bodies they stand on, and that they set the rule preventing mortal kings from cultivating. He laments that despite having spirit roots, he and his brother were forced to practice the "demonic blood sacrifice" to avoid being puppets.
Han Li challenges his hypocrisy, pointing out that using others as stepping stones for his own immortality makes him a "vile demon" who has disgraced his family and even sacrificed his own brother. Enraged, Emperor Yue acknowledges Han Li's skill at provocation and declares the time for talk is over. Sensing enough time has passed, Han Li feigns a retreat towards the bamboo grove where Chen Qiaoqian, Weiniang, and Song Meng are ready.
Emperor Yue pursues, arrogantly believing he is safe as long as he doesn't enter the grove. However, Han Li reveals that Emperor Yue was caught in the array the moment he gave chase and activates the formation. Trapped within the Wood, Fire, Metal, Water, and Earth arrays, Emperor Yue is tormented by visions of the individuals he sacrificed, who relentlessly pursue him for vengeance. He screams for them to let go, calling them mere "shells" for his spirit pills.
A vision of his brother even appears, questioning why he had to die for the Emperor's ambition. Despite the array's power, Emperor Yue's obsession is profound. Song Meng comments on Han Li's incredible array, noting it can only hold him temporarily and that a talisman treasure is needed. Terrifyingly, Emperor Yue begins to absorb the array's rich elemental energy, planning to "regenerate with blood" and "forge a baleful core," believing his soul is immortal.
Recognizing the dire situation, Weiniang takes charge. Han Li tries to stop her, knowing the talisman treasure was a gift from Liu Jing. Weiniang confirms that the Phoenix Talismans are a matching pair, forged from the same treasure Liu Jing had acquired. She explains that since Emperor Yue can regenerate from blood, only complete incineration will stop him. She asks Han Li to open the array.
As he complies, Weiniang unleashes the Phoenix Talismans, whose flames consume Emperor Yue as he cries out in defeat. Weiniang grimly remarks on the beautiful color of the fiend's burning blood, the result of his desperate quest for the Blood Condensing Five-Element Pills. After Emperor Yue is incinerated, Han Li collects the Blood Condensing Five-Element Pills, a hidden weapon that wounded him, and other treasures that survived the intense flames, recognizing their extraordinary quality.
Song Meng approaches, informing Han Li that they found Wu Xuan's body in a hidden chamber, and he appeared to have suffered immensely before death. Song Meng then hands Han Li a book found in Emperor Yue's lair, which contains the Fiend Transformation Art, the method for the Blood Condensing Five-Element Pills, and the Avatar technique. He advises Han Li to study it for reference but warns him not to get lost in its dark path.
Han Li promises to eventually destroy the book, recalling his Master's teaching that techniques are neither good nor evil; it is the user's heart that determines their nature. Song Meng acknowledges Han Li's maturity before they prepare to part ways, noting that Chen Qiaoqian has left to report to her clan and Zhong Weiniang is escorting Liu Jing's relics home, with Song Meng accompanying her. Weiniang, still grieving Liu Jing's sudden death, is comforted by Song Meng.
She mentions that Liu Jing, an orphan, always spoke highly of Song Meng. Song Meng dismisses his status as a young master, revealing that Liu Jing once saved his life. He recounts how a dark cultivator infiltrated his family and planned to use him for experiments. Liu Jing intervened, becoming the fiend's test subject in his place. This heroic act left Liu Jing with a permanent injury that prevented him from ever reaching the Core Formation Stage.
Weiniang is shocked, realizing this explains Liu Jing's deep hatred for demonic cultivators. Song Meng explains Liu Jing kept this a secret to always show Weiniang his best side, and they agree to take him home. Reflecting on the battle, Han Li realizes the adversity led him to a breakthrough, reaching the Late Foundation Establishment Stage. He has also unraveled the secrets of the Mystic Yin Art, realizing it is a sinister technique from outside the Tiannan Continent.
He feels fortunate not to have consumed the Blood Condensing Five-Element Pills, understanding they require the blood aura of Foundation Establishment fiend cultivators to mature, making their five previous wielders mere "living incubators." He also learns that while the pills offer a 30% chance of Core Formation, the result is a "false core," preventing further breakthroughs and risking a descent into a beast-like state.
Han Li muses on the futility of such an existence but finds the Avatar technique described in the book worthy of study. An Elder sends a message, scolding Han Li for the chaos and ordering him back to Yellow Maple Valley. Han Li dismisses the messenger. Cui'er appears, revealing that Steward Wang's hidden riches were found by Mo Caihuan and distributed to the poor. She delivers artifacts from the slain rogue cultivators, which Mo Caihuan felt Han Li should handle.
Cui'er explains Mo Caihuan is busy caring for a premature baby girl, Yingning, left behind by a rescued cultivator who died in childbirth. Cui'er then asks to become Han Li's disciple. Though impressed by her sincerity, Han Li refuses to take disciples. Instead, he gives her a jade token and instructs her to find a senior named Ma in Yellow Maple Valley.
Han Li then writes a farewell letter to Mo Caihuan, leaving her a bottle of Ageless Pills and several recipes for strength-enhancing pills. He states he is embarking on a long journey and asks her to forget him. As Han Li prepares to leave, the Qin family steward, Qin Gui, rushes to him with food and wine. Qin Gui expresses his respect and begs Han Li to one day return and inherit the family business.
To end the matter, Han Li reveals his cultivator nature, causing the steward to fall to his knees in awe, recognizing him as "Immortal Han" and vowing to build a shrine in his honor. Han Li arrives in Jiayuan City, noting it remains unchanged. He decides he must find Qu Hun before returning to his sect.
In a tavern, a boastful waiter named Sun Ergou reveals that the Mo family was wiped out by the Five-Color Sect after their old master died. Han Li then notices a bell hanging in the tavern, recognizing it as one he gave to Qu Hun. The tavern owner, out of respect for Han Li's connection to the Mo family, gives him the bell for free.
In return, Han Li leaves a talisman on the counter that "repels evil" and promises that "good people are always rewarded," before vanishing instantly. Astonished, the owner realizes he has met an immortal and joyfully renames his establishment the "Immortal's Blessing" tavern.
