The World of Fantasy Episode 14 Recap
> The World of Fantasy Recap
Xie Jingxuan led Qin Lie away, and their private conversation began. Qin Lie questioned her identity, asking if she was truly Xie Jingxuan. She acknowledged her true self but playfully remarked if he thought she was not. Qin Lie reminded her that the Xie Jingxuan he knew was the saintess of the Eight Extremes Temple, a leader of humanity against the Dark Nether Race.
Xie Jingxuan retorted that she was still a saintess, now in the hearts of all the men in the Artefact Forging Sect, and if her survival was revealed to the Eight Extremes Temple, Qin Lie’s identity as the Palace of Hell's target would put him in grave danger, not her. Qin Lie expressed his frustration that she knew so much about him while he knew nothing of her, wondering if this was another scheme with Song Tingyu.
Xie Jingxuan teased him about being unable to escape Song Tingyu's influence and offered to answer his questions if she was in a good mood. Qin Lie then asked why she faked her death. Xie Jingxuan explained she no longer wished to be the Eight Extremes Temple's saintess. Qin Lie deduced that her alias, Tang Siqi, must have been in use for a long time.
She confirmed that Tang Siqi was her identity for exploring the world even when she was still Xie Jingxuan. They then agreed to keep each other's true identities secret. Xie Jingxuan brought up Du Shao Yang, asking if Qin Lie intended to kill him after killing his father.
Qin Lie believed Du Shao Yang was an accomplice in Du Hai Tian's trap, but Xie Jingxuan vehemently denied it, revealing that Du Hai Tian had even tried to cripple his own son's cultivation. This unexpected revelation left Qin Lie in deep thought. After Lian Rou assigned rooms to Du Shao Yang and three other new initiates, she quickly left.
Pang Feng and Ouyang Qing, who also passed the assessment, invited Du Shao Yang to meet with their former Xingyun Pavilion brethren, Zhu Xin and Zhang Ying, at the training ground. Despite sensing their ill intentions, Du Shao Yang felt obligated to accept due to their shared past, a conversation secretly overheard by Yiyuan.
At the training ground, Zhu Xin and Zhang Ying revealed their long-held grievances with Du Hai Tian, which they now intended to take out on Du Shao Yang. As Du Shao Yang was cornered, Yiyuan burst into the artefact forging hall, demanding they stop. However, he was quickly overpowered.
Du Shao Yang shielded Yiyuan from an attack, prompting Yiyuan to realize the gravity of the situation and escape, calling out to a passing Qin Lie for help before rushing to alert Lian Rou and Xie Jingxuan. Qin Lie, hearing Yiyuan’s desperate plea, swiftly arrived at the artefact forging hall. Just as he prepared to intervene, Lian Rou and Xie Jingxuan appeared, bringing the altercation to a halt.
Xie Jingxuan, as Senior Tang, sternly sentenced Zhang Ying and Zhu Xin to have their inner disciple status and natal palaces revoked, then to be imprisoned by the Bloody Spear Guard in Firetop Mountain for ten years. Pang Feng and Ouyang Qing, being first-time offenders, were to receive two thousand lashes each. Lian Rou, however, corrected her, reminding everyone that she was the one known for being cold and impartial.
She commanded the guards to carry out the punishment, with a warning to kill anyone who resisted. After the commotion subsided, Master Mo Hai arrived and asked to speak privately with Qin Lie and Du Shao Yang. He acknowledged their deep-seated animosity, understanding that words alone could not resolve it. He instructed them to settle their personal grudges outside the Artefact Forging Sect before focusing on their studies within the sect.
Qin Lie and Du Shao Yang then retreated to a secluded forest. Du Shao Yang questioned why Qin Lie had saved him, arguing that his father's death for the Ling family should have also led to his demise, or that Qin Lie wanted to see him reduced to a "homeless dog." Qin Lie explained that Senior Tang had informed him of Du Shao Yang's attempt to save Ling Borough.
Du Shao Yang, in turn, expressed regret for saving the Ling family, claiming his father would still be alive if he hadn't. Qin Lie then inquired why Du Shao Yang hadn't exposed his true identity, knowing the Palace of Hell was hunting him. Du Shao Yang stated that he didn't spare Qin Lie out of mercy, but because he desired a worthy opponent.
Recognizing their shared understanding, and adhering to Master Mo Hai's directive, they agreed to postpone their inevitable confrontation until after they left the Artefact Forging Sect. Du Shao Yang later encountered Xie Jingxuan, now the revered Senior Tang of the Artefact Forging Sect. He remarked on their changed statuses—he, once the young master, now a "homeless dog," and she, once a barmaid, now a respected senior.
Xie Jingxuan, sensing his discontent, asserted that their true selves remained unchanged despite their altered circumstances. Du Shao Yang, still processing his thoughts, listened as Xie Jingxuan left him to ponder what she truly meant to him. Meanwhile, Qin Lie tended to Yiyuan's wounds, reminiscing about his late brother, Hua Yuxin, whose pure-hearted nature Yiyuan mirrored. Qin Lie asked Yiyuan about his ability to transform into a snake.
Yiyuan explained that he first encountered Lian Rou years ago when she visited Purple Mist Sea for herbs. While others looked down on him, Lian Rou treated him with kindness. Inspired by his desire to make her happy, Yiyuan had crafted a mirror from snake remains that allowed him to transform, though he admitted he didn't know how long it would take to revert to human form.
Qin Lie, moved by Yiyuan's innocence, embraced him, a gesture Yiyuan, whose heart was set on Lian Rou, gently resisted. The following day, Master Mo Hai announced the imminent opening of the Secret Realm, a place of great opportunity for young talents. He explained that a mysterious figure on the High Rank Continent had created it for cultivation, filled with spirit ingredients and beasts, offering both great rewards and dangers.
To aid their efforts, everyone would receive a Ring of Space from the storeroom. Master Mo Hai then privately summoned Du Shao Yang, who expressed his desire to join the Bloody Spear Guard. Mo Hai led Du Shao Yang to meet his wife, Yang Rong, renowned as the second most powerful member of the Bloody Spear Guard.
Yang Rong, impressed by Du Shao Yang's ambition to become a leader of the Bloody Spear Guard, offered him a special opportunity: if he could acquire the blood of the elusive Huanyu Beast from the Secret Realm, she would grant him an exceptional entry. Their discussion was interrupted by a subordinate announcing the arrival of Song Tingyu, the Saintess of the Profound Heaven Alliance, who came to deliver medicinal herbs. Qin Lie, wearing a mask, also entered the room.
Song Tingyu found his masked face familiar, but Master Mo Hai quickly introduced him by his alias, Qin Bing, an explanation Song Tingyu subtly understood without pressing for details. At the entrance to the Secret Realm, various clan disciples gathered, though the Shadow Tower members were notably absent, preferring to operate discreetly. Lian Rou arrived, followed by the Qisha Valley contingent, which included Ling Yushi.
Qin Lie felt a surge of joy upon seeing her, but as Ling Yushi began to call out to Yiyuan, Qin Lie subtly silenced her with a look. Yiyuan, noticing Lian Rou's arrival, excitedly greeted her. Ling Yushi then spoke, stating that her target was Qin Lie, not Qin Bing, indicating she knew his true identity. Just as the Secret Realm gates opened, everyone rushed in.
Yiyuan, confident in his knowledge, offered to lead the group to the most valuable spirit beast, the Huanyu Beast. Shortly after, Yuan Xiao, the young master of the Palace of Hell, arrived in his sedan, guided by Gao Yu, a guard dispatched by Di Shi Jiu. Yuan Xiao dismissed Gao Yu's safety concerns and ordered his sedan to be carried directly into the Secret Realm.
Yiyuan led Qin Lie and the others through the forest, claiming to know the Huanyu Beast's location based on the moist soil and lack of bird calls or beast tracks. Qin Lie and Lian Rou affirmed his observations. Qin Lie privately teased Yiyuan, accurately guessing that Yiyuan was merely faking his knowledge out of fear and wanted company, a fact Yiyuan bashfully admitted. As they continued, the group inadvertently entered an illusion.
The familiar forest vanished, replaced by manifestations of their deepest inner demons and regrets. Qin Lie found himself reliving the Battle of Purple Mist Sea, while Du Shao Yang encountered his father, Du Hai Tian, observing from atop a tower, seemingly unconcerned about the fate of the Ling family. Meanwhile, Yiyuan was at a dock, experiencing his first meeting with Lian Rou, which for him was a serene and colorful memory.
In Qin Lie's illusion, he found Ling Yushi at the scene of the Purple Mist Sea battle, only for Song Tingyu to appear, consumed by jealousy, attempting to kill Ling Yushi. Qin Lie struck Song Tingyu down. The illusion then shifted, bringing all those trapped in their individual inner demons back together.
Qin Lie realized the true nature of their predicament: they were inside the Huanyu Beast's belly, and the scenes they witnessed were manifestations of their deepest regrets and unresolved issues. He recalled Du Shao Yang's illusionary attack which forced him to use his thunder powers, causing the Huanyu Beast pain and temporarily breaking the illusion. Recognizing they were still trapped inside the beast, the group decided to extract its blood. The wounded Huanyu Beast then fled, releasing them all.
As Qin Lie and his companions, laden with Huanyu Beast blood, made their way out of the Secret Realm, they were intercepted by Yuan Xiao and his entourage. Yuan Xiao, intending to claim their spoils without effort, initiated an attack, plunging everyone into chaos. Qin Lie and Yuan Xiao engaged in a fierce battle, but their clash was abruptly interrupted when Gao Yu, Yuan Xiao's own guard, suddenly struck Yuan Xiao's neck with a demonic ring, killing him instantly. Qin Lie watched, stunned and shocked, as Gao Yu committed the unexpected murder.
