The Immortal Ascension Episode 27 Recap
> The Immortal Ascension Recap
At the Clear Void Sect, a disciple was preparing to deliver a missive addressed to Li Huayuan of Yellow Maple Valley when Elder Han of Spirit Beast Mountain abruptly halted him. She chastised him for abandoning his post, warning that a demonic sect raid would leave their defenses vulnerable. When the disciple explained that all other cultivators were occupied with battle preparations, Elder Han stated she had business with Li Huayuan anyway and would deliver the missive herself. Despite the disciple's apprehension, he handed over the sealed message. Once the disciple departed, Elder Han callously destroyed the missive, revealing her true allegiance. Shortly after, the Grandmaster of the demonic sects was congratulated, having received intelligence from Spirit Beast Mountain about the Seven Sects' battle plans, indicating their impending surprise attack.
Han Li then arrived at Mentor Ma’s residence, where Mentor Ma and Cui'er were packing. Cui'er excitedly greeted Han Li, who, as her new Martial Uncle, presented her with pills to strengthen her Qi Refining Stage foundation. Mentor Ma welcomed Han Li. Han Li expressed his gratitude to Mentor Ma for taking him in and giving him pills when he first joined the sect. Mentor Ma shared his concerns about the Yellow Maple Valley, revealing that many aged spirit herbs had been collected by Baiji Hall in the past two months, suggesting a dire situation on the front lines. He admitted he was preparing to leave, having cultivated the medicinal garden for years and refusing to watch it be drained dry. He advised Han Li that this war was pointless, fought for land and resources, with Nascent Soul cultivators remaining aloof while lower-ranked disciples sacrificed their lives. He urged Han Li to always have an escape route and prioritize his own life. Han Li was deeply moved by Mentor Ma's honesty and generosity, especially when Mentor Ma offered him all the remaining spirit herbs they had painstakingly cultivated. As Mentor Ma departed, Han Li wondered if he would ever see his senior again, contemplating the bleak future for peaceful cultivation if the Seven Sects were defeated.
Meanwhile, Li Huayuan and Hongfu discussed the impending battle. Hongfu expressed a premonition of something bad, but Li Huayuan confidently reassured her that with the Seven Sects going all out, they had at least a 50% chance of winning. He then led his disciples, including Song Meng and Weiniang, into the fray. Simultaneously, Han Li was packing his cavern, regretting that he couldn't take the spirit spring or his cultivation cave with him, but meticulously gathering every spirit herb he had grown for the Core Formation Stage, understanding their irreplaceable value.
On the chaotic battlefield, Song Meng and Weiniang became separated from their allies. They encountered Elder Han of Spirit Beast Mountain, who was joined by two formidable demonic cultivators, colloquially known as Hongfen and Skull. Song Meng accused Elder Han of betraying the Seven Sects. Elder Han then offered Song Meng and Weiniang a chance to surrender, citing her friendship with their master. Song Meng defiantly refused to betray the Yellow Maple Valley, proclaiming himself the fourth disciple of Li Huayuan and prepared to die. Weiniang, heartbroken by the loss of her beloved Jing, chose to fight alongside Song Meng, stating she had no reason to live without him. Just as the demonic cultivators prepared to deliver the final blow, Fu Yunzi intervened, swiftly rescuing Song Meng and Weiniang. He then mockingly challenged Elder Han and the demonic couple, accusing them of ganging up on two youngsters. The demonic couple, particularly the female, were enraged by Fu Yunzi's interference, ordering him to be killed. Fu Yunzi, however, displayed his formidable skills, evading their attacks and engaging them in battle.
Back at Yellow Maple Valley, the Dragonfell Bell tolled 81 times, signaling a catastrophic defeat and impending invasion. The Sect Master gathered the remaining disciples, announcing that Spirit Beast Mountain and Skyfort Castle had defected, leading to the collapse of the allied forces and devastating casualties among Foundation Establishment cultivators. The demonic sects were now rapidly advancing. The disciples were in despair, some accusing the Sect Master of not believing Han Li's earlier warnings. Han Li himself silently lamented that despite his efforts to warn the Sect Master and send a missive to Li Huayuan about Spirit Beast Mountain's treachery, the warnings seemingly went unheeded. The Sect Master then urged everyone to beseech Grand Elder Linghu, the sect's revered Nascent Soul Grandmaster, for help. As everyone knelt and pleaded, Grandmaster Linghu appeared, mocking their prostration. She sternly refused to fight for them, claiming she was no match for the demonic Nascent Soul cultivators and valued her peaceful cultivation. She declared Yellow Maple Valley's imminent downfall and urged them to disperse. Disappointed, the Sect Master begged her to save the sect's centuries-old legacy, but Grandmaster Linghu scornfully dismissed their pleas, stating she would not risk her life for those who were weaker than their enemies just because they knelt and called her "Grandmaster." Panic ensued among the disciples, but Sect Master Zhong managed to rally some of them, reminding them of the Mountain Barrier and urging them to fight together. Amidst the chaos, Han Li received a secret telepathic message: those who wished to live were to gather at Qianji Hall in 15 minutes, with no exceptions for tardiness. He realized this was a separate, secret plan.
Han Li soon met Li Huayuan. Han Li was relieved to see his master alive and well, having worried about him during the battle. He apologized for the deaths of Senior Wu and Senior Liu during the Black Fiend Cult incident, blaming himself for their demise. Li Huayuan reassured him, revealing that Song Meng and Weiniang had already informed him about the cult's deep infiltration into the mortal world and the double threat posed by the invading demonic sects. He expressed his relief that Han Li had returned safely. Han Li inquired about Song Meng and Weiniang, learning that they had become separated and their situation was uncertain. Li Huayuan then emphasized the importance of the upcoming meeting, revealing he had personally begged to secure Han Li a coveted spot.
Later, Han Li arrived at Qianji Hall, observing that everyone present was at least a Mid Foundation Establishment cultivator, realizing these were the remaining elites of the Yellow Maple Valley. Grandmaster Linghu was already there. She confirmed the front line's collapse and the demonic sects' imminent arrival with threats of total annihilation. Hongfu then stepped forward, explaining that Grandmaster Linghu's earlier dismissive performance was a deliberate ruse to weed out cowards, ensuring only the loyal and capable remained for the true evacuation. She announced that Grandmaster Linghu had contacted the Nine Kingdoms Alliance, a powerful faction in Tiannan, who had agreed to provide refuge. Hongfu, along with Li Huayuan, would lead the disciples in batches to this safe haven. Grandmaster Linghu then elaborated on the Soul-Burning Spell, explaining she had enhanced it with a telepathic function, allowing communication and tracking within a 100-li radius as long as the spell's light remained. She cautioned them that the journey as refugees would be difficult and urged them to proceed with utmost caution.
As Han Li prepared for his departure, he bid a silent farewell to his hard-won cultivation cave, acknowledging the perilous, possibly fatal, journey ahead. He brought Qu Hun along, confident that his attendant's cultivation would make him a capable companion. Unbeknownst to them, Wang Chan, accompanied by his subordinate, had arrived in Yellow Maple Valley. He was searching for "Li Feiyu" but learned from a Yellow Maple Valley disciple roster, which his subordinate had acquired, that his true name was Han Li. Enraged by the deception, the Young Master immediately ordered a full assault on Yellow Maple Valley, offering a substantial reward for Han Li's capture.
Hongfu soon led the first group of evacuating disciples, including Han Li and Qu Hun, explaining that Li Huayuan and Sect Master Zhong would lead a later group to avoid drawing too much attention from such a large party. Hongfu expressed her personal disappointment at their inability to reverse the tide of the war, despite her and Li Huayuan's presence. Han Li then revealed that he had, in fact, accidentally learned of Spirit Beast Mountain's betrayal earlier and had warned Sect Master Zhong, even sending a missive to Li Huayuan. Hongfu was surprised, noting that she and Li Huayuan had never received such a message, but she praised Han Li's composure and revealed that Grandmaster Linghu had specifically instructed her to ensure Han Li's evacuation, regretting that another favored disciple, Xuan'er, did not share Han Li's good fortune.
As they neared a potentially compromised area, Han Li asked Hongfu about their plan if they encountered demonic forces. Hongfu produced an artifact called the Wind Cloud Banner, explaining it would conceal their tracks and prevent them from being discovered. Shortly after their departure, Li Huayuan arrived at the rendezvous point. He inquired about Hongfu's group, and a disciple confirmed that Hongfu had already departed with a portion of the disciples, following Grandmaster Linghu's specific orders. Li Huayuan, still troubled by something, decided to stay behind to verify a matter, instructing the others to proceed without him.
