The World of Fantasy Episode 1 Recap
> The World of Fantasy Recap
In the dark of night, a group led by Qin Lie, with Ling Ying and Ling Xin close behind, ventured through the snowfield. Qin Lie sensed the presence of a Silver Flame Spider, and soon after, they discovered the frozen body of Yao Yao's father. Qin Lie surmised that the spider was responsible for the death and other misfortunes. Seeking revenge, the group charged at the spirit beast but found themselves outmatched by its formidable power.
Only Qin Lie stood firm, unleashing powerful electric shocks that eventually brought the beast down. Meanwhile, in Icestone City, Du Shao Yang, the Young Master of Xingyun Pavilion, gazed towards Ling Borough, remarking on the beauty of its moon. Du Hai Tian, the Acting Master of Xingyun Pavilion, approached his son, urging him to marry a woman from Ling Borough. Du Shao Yang calmly agreed, showing no curiosity about the prospective bride, as if completely indifferent.
The Silver Flame Spider, however, was not defeated. It rose again, renewing its attack on Qin Lie. After several intense exchanges, Qin Lie's thunder energy began to wane. Ling Ying quickly reminded him to use his Thunder Storage Jade Plate. Qin Lie then drew the jade plate from his waist and directed its power towards the spirit beast.
The surge of energy from the plate caused the skies to darken dramatically, with thunderclouds rolling in, drawing the attention of Du Shao Yang and Du Hai Tian in Xingyun Pavilion. Elsewhere on the snowfield, Ling Yushi approached the group, holding a torch, her expression filled with sorrow.
She had come to visit her friend Yao Yao, only to learn that Yao Yao's father and brother had tragically died on the snowfield while attempting to retrieve beast cores to cure her illness. The sight of Yao Yao's father's remains lying on the icy ground left everyone in somber silence. With the Moon Ritual approaching and the spirit tide still active, they decided to return to Ling Borough with the bodies.
Qin Lie carried Ling Yushi, who was still recovering from a lingering fire poison, as they made their way through the snowy expanse. The next day, Qin Lie awoke in Ling Borough. His friend, Hua Yuxin, holding an unknown book, intently questioned Qin Lie about his persistent nightmares. Hua Yuxin suspected the dreams were connected to a Soul Suppressing Orb sealed within Qin Lie's mind, which had suppressed his memories from before the age of ten.
Qin Lie was determined to master artefact forging skill and, once his power was sufficient, use thunder power to crack open the orb and recover his memories. Hua Yuxin, however, expressed concern, explaining that each breakthrough in cultivation—from Natal Opening to Manifestation to Netherpassage—brought a thunder tribulation. He worried not only about Qin Lie's chances of surviving these tribulations but also about the risk of inadvertently striking himself dead.
As they spoke, Ling Xuanxuan burst into the room, eager to recruit Qin Lie for a hunt in Qiongying Hollow. Qin Lie and Hua Yuxin refused due to the dangers of the valley and the Feathered Beasts, but the strong-willed Ling Xuanxuan persisted. Qin Lie diverted her attention by mentioning the Moon Ritual that evening. After Ling Xuanxuan and Hua Yuxin left, Qin Lie resumed his cultivation, focusing on strengthening his thunder power.
On Ling Borough's Herb Mountain, Ling Yushi diligently ground herbs and watered plants. Inside, a delicate Qiongying fruit required six years of meticulous care to ripen; it was a guiding herb vital for the Xingyun Pavilion's Old Master. The Ling family, dependent on Xingyun Pavilion and known for generations as herb growers, naturally cared for this precious plant with utmost attention.
Ling Cheng Ye instructed Ling Ying to ensure its meticulous care, emphasizing that the Ling family's survival relied on Xingyun Pavilion, and no mistakes could be made with the fruit. Later, Ling Yushi found Qin Lie, marveling at his ability to cultivate such potent thunder power while only in the Refinement Realm. She speculated that the incantation Qin Shan had given him was remarkably effective, perhaps originating from a high-rank continent.
Ling Yushi expressed regret that her innate water spirit constitution and existing fire poison prevented her from practicing such incantations, forcing her to focus on water spirit powers to suppress her condition. As Qin Lie ate the food Ling Yushi had brought, he again spoke of his dreams and his plan to open the Soul Suppressing Orb, reiterating his ambition to advance his abilities, travel to the Artefact Forging Sect, and find his grandfather.
Watching his excitement, Ling Yushi's spirits fell. She asked if Ling Borough held anything worth staying for. Qin Lie, oblivious to her unspoken sentiment, merely reiterated his desire to cultivate and explore higher realms. The previous night's battle with the spirit beast had caused Qin Lie to use up the Yixin leaf Ling Yushi had given him. Concerned, Ling Yushi handed him another carefully cultivated Yixin leaf. They discussed the upcoming Moon Ritual, where everyone would write down a wish.
Ling Yushi was curious about Qin Lie's wish, but he stubbornly refused to reveal it and showed no curiosity when she offered to share her own. Feeling slighted, Ling Yushi abruptly gathered the dishes, leaving Qin Lie alone to continue his thunder cultivation. Ling Xuanxuan observed her sister, Ling Yushi, leaving the cave looking downcast.
She advised Ling Yushi to give up her attachment to Qin Lie, pointing out that his dangerous thunder cultivation meant he could die at any moment and was likely unburdened by attachments, including to her. Ling Yushi, however, explained that she loved Qin Lie's resolute and strong character. She recounted how ten years prior, during a spirit tide when a rare shooting star appeared, she had seen it with Qin Lie.
While she wanted to make a wish, Qin Lie believed one should achieve their desires through their own efforts, not through wishes. She declared that Qin Lie's ambitions extended far beyond Ling Borough. Whether he stayed or left, she would remain by his side, unwavering in her devotion, even if it meant following him to the snowfield of the far north or lands of gold and silver. As night fell, Ling Cheng Ye presided over the Moon Ritual.
He played a bamboo flute as white snow drifted down, and the town celebrated joyously. However, the festivities were abruptly interrupted by the arrival of the Xingyun Pavilion delegation, led by Du Shao Yang and the Ye family's Deacon Zhuo Qian. They immediately ordered Qin Lie's arrest, forcefully apprehending him and taking him to Xingyun Pavilion's premises for interrogation.
Ling Cheng Ye attempted to intercede, but Zhuo Qian sternly accused Qin Lie of using thunder power to massacre the inhabitants of thirty-three outlander villages. She asserted that Qin Lie was the only thunder practitioner in the vast snowfield of the far north. Qin Lie, facing the baseless accusations, remained silent and impassive. He understood the political game at play: the Old Master of Xingyun Pavilion was gravely ill, and the Du and Ye families were covertly vying for control.
The Du family's actions were a tactic to trouble Qin Lie, thereby coercing the Ling family into supporting them in exchange for Qin Lie's protection. Qin Lie, fully aware of this, requested that his interrogation be postponed until after the celebration, wanting the Ling Borough residents to enjoy their festival undisturbed. Unintimidated by their authority, Qin Lie rejected Zhuo Qian's implicit offer of a deal and defiantly returned to the woodshed.
Ling Cheng Ye then tried to reassure the villagers, falsely stating that Xingyun Pavilion had cleared Qin Lie of all suspicion, and it was merely a misunderstanding. Ling Xuanxuan, Hua Yuxin, and Ling Yushi observed Du Shao Yang and Zhuo Qian guarding the woodshed. Ling Xuanxuan revealed a secret tunnel hidden within the woodshed, an old passage from their childhood, intending to help Qin Lie escape.
Ling Yushi, however, was certain that Qin Lie's character would not allow him to flee. True to her word, Qin Lie did use the secret tunnel to leave the woodshed, but his intention was simply to await the rising of the full moon, not to escape his predicament. Hua Yuxin tried to force Qin Lie to leave Ling Borough, but at that moment, Du Shao Yang appeared, catching them both.
Realizing the gravity of the situation, Qin Lie whispered instructions to Hua Yuxin to relay a message to Ling Cheng Ye: the Ye family intended to use Qin Lie to gain Ling Borough's support, and he needed the Chief's advice on how to proceed. Qin Lie then urged Hua Yuxin to leave quickly. Du Shao Yang calmly approached Qin Lie, both men harboring their own thoughts.
Du Shao Yang, curious about Qin Lie's disregard for Xingyun Pavilion, inquired about his true ambitions. He attempted to forge an. However, Qin Lie saw through Du Shao Yang's manipulative nature, leading to a tense verbal exchange. Though no physical blows were exchanged, their sharp words created an immediate and palpable sense of animosity, escalating the tension between them.
Qin Lie challenged Du Shao Yang's stated purpose of being there solely to investigate, questioning why he deviated to talk about grander ambitions. Du Shao Yang responded that it was because they were not "hitting it off," then curtly ordered Qin Lie to return to the woodshed, threatening to resort to force.
