The Immortal Ascension Episode 5 Recap
> The Immortal Ascension Recap
Suffering from increasingly frequent bouts of cold poison, Han Li urgently needed the Sunwarm Jade. Mo Caihuan appeared at his door, explaining that his conspicuous guard, Qu Hun, made him easy to find. Expressing concern over his poor health, she presented him with the Sunwarm Jade, a family heirloom, insisting it was real. Han Li used it immediately and found it effective, as the blood he let out returned to a normal color, signaling his recovery.
When Han Li questioned how she obtained the jade, knowing her family would not part with it easily, Mo Caihuan explained that her mother and sisters, fearful of aggressors, wished for him to stay for protection. She also revealed the jade was her dowry, but having decided not to marry, she had no use for it. She offered him healing powders and pills, mentioning she had learned some healing from her father's books.
Han Li admitted that while he had been poisoned by her father, he had always trusted his words that the jade was the only cure. Mo Caihuan corrected him, stating Han Li had saved himself. She then briefly borrowed the jade to expose it to sunlight, hoping to restore its original white color, which Han Li agreed to. Before his departure, Han Li told Mo Caihuan that he could not take her with him.
Instead, he offered to leave Qu Hun behind to protect the Mo family until he found a suitable place for cultivation and could return for him. After Han Li left, Mo Caihuan discovered his farewell letter and was saddened by his departure, with Qu Hun now her protector. Meanwhile, Nangong Wan of the Moonshadow Sect emerged from a twenty-year cultivation session. She asked her senior, Nichang, about recent worldly affairs.
Despite Nichang's warnings about the dangers of mortal entanglement, Nangong Wan, whose cultivation of the Maiden Cycle Technique required her to follow her heart, felt compelled to intervene in injustices. She stated her intent to visit the six other sects and investigate the presence of dark cultivators before returning to host the upcoming Immortal Ascension Trials. Following a map, Han Li arrived at the mist-shrouded Tainan Valley, where he encountered Wan Xiaoshan.
Recognizing Han Li as a fellow rogue cultivator, Wan Xiaoshan suggested they travel together and explained that the valley's misty barrier opened only once every ten years. He clarified that independent cultivators like them are called "rogue cultivators," and that spirit stones serve as the universal currency in the cultivation world. Just as he finished his explanation, the barrier opened, and they entered the Tainan Bazaar, a three-day event.
As Han Li and Wan Xiaoshan explored the bazaar, Nangong Wan’s disciples reported that seven rogue cultivators had gone missing, with a Yan Clan Stronghold token found near a body. Concerned about rising tensions between rogue and clan disciples, Nangong Wan ordered her disciples to increase patrols. Soon after, Yan Ruyan, a prominent young woman from the Yan Clan Stronghold, arrived, escorted by a Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator.
Wan Xiaoshan explained to Han Li that her father, Yan Yunshan, was a powerful Core Formation Stage cultivator. Nangong Wan summoned Yan Ruyan and presented the token, implying her family's involvement in the killings. Yan Ruyan vehemently denied this, asserting that a servant's token had been stolen to frame her family. Acknowledging the manipulation, Nangong Wan advised her that the true culprits were trying to escalate the conflict between clan disciples and rogue cultivators, warning her to be cautious.
While exploring, a thief named Wu Jiuzhi stole Wan Xiaoshan’s money pouch. Han Li swiftly intervened, not only recovering the pouch but also taking Wu Jiuzhi's. Daoist Qingwen, a leader from the Azure Vein Society, stepped in to mediate, dismissing the theft as mischief. Though Han Li was suspicious, Wan Xiaoshan, aware of Daoist Qingwen’s reputation among rogue cultivators, agreed to return the pouch. Daoist Qingwen then invited them to a gathering of rogue cultivators to discuss the upcoming trials.
There, he displayed a map of the Yue Kingdom, pointing out the seven major sects: Moonshadow Sect, Spirit Beast Mountain, Saber-Shearing Sect, Clear Void Sect, Skyfort Castle, Yellow Maple Valley, and Giant Sword Sect. He lamented the precarious position of rogue cultivators, sparking a discussion about their struggle against the privileged clan disciples, who receive abundant resources.
They expressed resentment over having to risk their lives for a Foundation Pill, an elixir needed to advance from the Qi Refining Stage to the Foundation Establishment Stage. Wan Xiaoshan elaborated on the cultivation hierarchy, noting that while stages like Nascent Soul and Spirit Transformation exist, anything beyond is largely mythical.
He explained that 500 years ago, a rogue cultivator elder negotiated the Immortal Ascension Trials to give them a chance to enter the sects, but this also made them targets. Unbeknownst to the group, Nangong Wan had Daoist Qingwen under surveillance due to his growing influence. Qingwen then detailed the two upcoming trials: the Spirit Root Trial and the perilous Tianwu Arena Trial, urging everyone to secure a spot in the first.
He explained the five elements of spirit roots, noting that cultivators with four or five are "fake spirit roots" with limited potential, two or three are "true spirit roots," and a single-element "heavenly spirit root" is exceptionally rare. Han Li, who was unaware of his own, realized its importance. At the bazaar, Han Li discovered a complete set of his "Longevity Art" manual for sale by a sister and her four brothers, known as the "Five Mengs."
After some haggling and a show of intimidation from her brothers, who admitted to being former robbers, Han Li offered two strengthening pills instead of spirit stones. Impressed by the pills' value, the siblings accepted the trade and gifted him a tenfold storage pouch. Later, Han Li spotted a small fragment of a magic item that could hide spiritual aura, perfect for concealing his mysterious vial.
A young master named Lu attempted to acquire it cheaply, colluding with his friends to bid and then retract their offers as a "joke." When the seller was left frustrated, Han Li stepped in and offered two vials of high-grade Golden Marrow Pills, immediately sealing the deal. However, Lu confronted Han Li, accusing him of ruining his trade. Han Li retorted that he had simply made a fair offer, preparing for a confrontation.
