When Destiny Brings The Demon Recap, Plot, Synopsis
When Destiny Brings The Demon Synopsis
After being sealed in the mountain for 500 years, Sima Jiao, the ancestor of the Gengchen Immortal Mansion, meets with Liao Jianyan, who accidentally arrives in the Immortal Cultivation Realm, and is subdued by her "salty fish" instincts, from which Liao begins to guide Sima Jiao towards goodness and becomes the person who changes him.
During the process, they develop a love for each other and experience a love-hate relationship across three lifetimes in the Immortal Mansion, the Devil's Realm, and the Human world, and ultimately choose to protect their lovers and safeguard the peace of the three realms.
When Destiny Brings The Demon Recap
Episode 1 Recap
For five hundred years, Sima Jiao, a unique spirit body, has been sealed away on Three Saints Mountain. As the time for his release on the night of the new moon approaches, the beings of the Three Realms are filled with trepidation, for Sima Jiao, also known as the Lord of Mercy, possesses boundless power. The mountain's perpetual bloom is a testament to his vibrant energy. Yet, it is precisely his immense power that strikes fear into their hearts.
Five centuries ago, during a time of widespread chaos and fierce battles in the Three Realms, he was the sole survivor, merely an infant. When the Demon Realm discovered a totem on his forehead, they understood he carried the purest essence of demonic energy and was the only one capable of maintaining peace across the Three Realms.
To ensure his blood and divine power would forever serve them, they collaboratively sealed Sima Jiao for five centuries, publicly stating he was merely in secluded cultivation. Now, uncertain of his current state, various realms have begun to send disciples, ostensibly to care for the Lord of Mercy, but truly to probe his situation.
From his elevated position within the mountain, Sima Jiao, who was imprisoned by the Eight Palaces and whose place as ruler of the Celestial Palace they usurped, reflects on his dire situation, trapped in this lightless prison. He, however, has forged the Spirit Fire's avatar, and on the approaching new moon, the mountain's barriers will no longer confine him. He only needs one last piece to turn the game around and alter his fate.
Meanwhile, Liao Tingyan, originally a modern-day laborer, was on her way home from an overnight shift when a sudden bolt of lightning struck her, blurring her senses and making her feel as though her soul had exited her body. When she awoke, she found herself inhabiting the body of a junior sister in Serene Vale, a branch of the Four Seasons Palace under the Gengchen Celestial Palace.
Disturbed by her unfamiliar clothes and surroundings, she rushed to a mirror and saw a strange, beautiful face. Her master, Dongyang Zhenren, entered, inquiring about her well-being. Liao Tingyan, confused by the title "Master" and her new reality, was told she had been his disciple for over three months and that a barrier on Three Saints Mountain had damaged her Soul Manor, causing her memory loss and muddled speech.
Her master then informed her that the Lord of Mercy, the highest elder and last of the Sima clan, was ending his five-hundred-year seclusion, and various sects were sending disciples to serve him. Master Dongyang Zhenren was taking her to the selection, though he assured her Serene Vale was merely there to make up the numbers. Liao Tingyan, dismayed at the prospect of more "hustle" even in this immortal world, reluctantly agreed, hoping to simply get by quietly.
They arrived at the vast Gengchen Celestial Palace, spanning thousands of miles, where a golden phoenix soared overhead, casting its light upon a select few, including Liao Tingyan. She was baffled by her selection, as she had only intended to be a mere participant. Other disciples, like Yu Rongrong, openly questioned how a "three-spiritual-root loser" like Liao Tingyan could be chosen over them, attributing her success solely to her pretty face.
Inside the Fengqi Pavilion, where Sect Master Shi Qianlv and the Eight Palace heads gathered, the selection process required disciples to meditate and activate their heavenly crown. During the selection, Sima Jiao's furious roar from within the mountain terrified the assembly. His voice, threatening to kill them all upon his release, led Liao Tingyan to wonder if he was a demonic patriarch rather than a righteous one.
Sect Master Shi, along with the Heaven Palace's head, whose disciple Mu Nisheng was seen as their palace's hope, presented the chosen disciples. As the selected disciples, including a disguised Wan Ling, proceeded further into the Three Saints Mountain, the oppressive cold and eerie atmosphere left Liao Tingyan on edge. She made several attempts to escape, feigning illness and stomach pains, but was thwarted by an invisible barrier, much to the amusement of Sima Jiao, who was watching from afar.
She observed the other disciples' bravery in following a large snake that seemed to guide them, while she calculated her chances of slipping away unnoticed. Eventually, she decided to stick with the group, fearing being alone in such a creepy place. The group ascended a towering structure with no elevator, and blood splattered ominously as they neared Sima Jiao. He dismissed the disciples as fools and demanded their presence.
Liao Tingyan, upon seeing his youthful, well-maintained feet and then his face, was surprised to find him a "pretty boy" with a volatile temper. Yu Rongrong and the imposter Wan Ling approached him, proclaiming their devotion, but Sima Jiao, seeing through their lies, rejected them. The Spirit Fire within him grew restless as he fixed his gaze on Liao Tingyan. He accused her of trickery, but she insisted on her innocence. Finally, Sima Jiao commanded everyone to leave.
Outside, the disciples expressed their fear, speculating that the "mad" Grandmaster was merely stocking up on "fresh meat" for his pet snake. Liao Tingyan, noting that the ambitious "palace schemers" like Mu Nisheng didn't seem to care for her, decided to continue her strategy of staying low-key. As she walked, her feet began to blister. Ye Ruling, a disciple of the Yin Palace, offered to help and alleviated her pain.
Liao Tingyan introduced herself, jokingly asking if Ye Ruling was also someone who preferred to do the bare minimum, which Ye Ruling misunderstood as a reference to the Demon Realm. Liao Tingyan explained her desire to avoid serving the Grandmaster, preferring a simple life. Ye Ruling, surprised by her lack of ambition, explained the immense cultivation benefits of gaining Sima Jiao's favor.
Liao Tingyan, however, remained resolute in her desire for comfortable survival and suggested finding a sunny spot to settle down. Ye Ruling declined her invitation, but offered help from the back hall if needed. Unbeknownst to Liao Tingyan, her entry into the mountain was part of a larger scheme. The Young Master of the Four Seasons Palace spoke with an unseen accomplice from the Demon Realm.
He revealed that he had cast a spell on Liao Tingyan during the selection, allowing her to secretly absorb spiritual energy and replace Yue Chuhui. Their plan was for Liao Tingyan to kill Sima Jiao, which would shatter the Immortal-Demon Barrier and free the Demon Realm from its desolate confinement. The Young Master assured his accomplice that their desires would be fulfilled once Sima Jiao was dead.
Meanwhile, the Young Sect Master of the Shi family observed that life lamps were already extinguishing, fearing for the disciples given Sima Jiao's ruthless nature. He explained that Sima Jiao's madness was a tragic consequence of his past: five hundred years ago, Sima Shi, another member of the Sima clan, went insane and incinerated White Deer Cliff, wiping out their entire family. Only the infant Sima Jiao survived, possessing a rare atavistic bloodline that fused him with the Spirit Fire.
This burdened him with the responsibility of sustaining the Spirit Fire with his own flesh and blood, an existence of endless torment, a life worse than death. To preserve this precious bloodline, the Eight Palaces had imposed seals and curses, preventing him from taking his own life, and imprisoned him on Three Saints Mountain for five centuries.
The Young Sect Master remarked that it was no wonder Sima Jiao had succumbed to madness, having been orphaned at birth and then merely exploited by the Eight Palaces. He gave Sima Jiao a bowl of soup, noting that the Grandmaster still held some regard for the Shi family, but he gravely doubted the fate of the other disciples, who harbored their own hidden agendas.
From his solitary confinement, Sima Jiao continued to ponder Liao Tingyan, mystified by her presence that made the Spirit Fire restless, wondering what she was truly plotting, and if she could be the one he needed.
Episode 2 Recap
In the Gengchen Celestial Palace, various factions meticulously planned their schemes concerning Sima Jiao. The Moon Palace discussed the recent selection process, where a disciple named Chuhui, despite her high cultivation, failed to be chosen, leading to suspicions of manipulation. They noted that Yu Rongrong, one of the chosen, possessed sufficient skill to potentially steal the Bloodseal Bloom, a valuable asset that could grant the Moon Palace millennia of cultivation.
Elsewhere, other groups celebrated their successes: Anxue and Tan Muying made the cut as planned, and even the "slave-born" Ye Ruling was selected, deemed the most talented among the Demon Realm captives, making her a crucial second bargaining chip. Mu Nisheng, the Master's sister, was also praised for her exceptional talent, expected to fulfill her mission.
Additionally, Misses Xiyue and Wanqing were selected with the explicit aim of bearing Sima Jiao's children, thereby allowing their faction to gain control of the Fengshan Spirit Fire. Their ultimate goal was to assassinate Sima Jiao and assume his dominion over the Gengchen Celestial Palace. Meanwhile, Liao Tingyan arrived on Three Saints Mountain, yearning only for a tranquil and peaceful life.
She sought an escape from the relentless cycle of past struggles, wishing to simply "lie flat" and enjoy her quiet existence. She discovered a sun-drenched courtyard, perfect for relaxation, and deemed it a luxurious space, far superior to her previous rented accommodations. She retrieved essential items from her Qiankun Pouch, recalling her master's parting advice: to avoid conflict on Three Saints Mountain, mind her own business, and never assert herself.
She lamented how close she had come to death just to get here. Unbeknownst to Liao Tingyan, Sima Jiao was observing her. He watched as she simply lay down and fell asleep, her face covered by a leaf. He wondered if Gengchen Celestial Palace had intentionally sent her to provoke him, or if they were truly so incompetent that they failed to realize she was a Demon Realm spy.
He mentally chided his loyal, but "stupid snake" companion for suggesting that his current discomfort was due to this woman, clarifying that it was his own Spirit Fire acting up. He found her ability to sleep so profoundly fascinating. Liao Tingyan awoke to find a young woman named Yu Rongrong attempting to pick one of the beautiful, yet unnervingly black-red and glowing flowers from the pond in her courtyard.
Before Liao Tingyan could speak, Yu Rongrong suddenly exploded, splattering blood into the water, leaving Liao Tingyan trembling in shock. At the Moon Palace, news spread as Yu Rongrong's life flame extinguished. Madam Yue learned that Yu Rongrong died by attempting to pick a flower at the Grandmaster's residence, possibly a Moonshade Bloom, and despite her soul not being completely scattered, she would still need to be sent for rebirth.
Whispers circulated among the other factions that two life lamps had extinguished in one day, a testament to Sima Jiao's continued ruthlessness, fueled by his ancient grievances with the Eight Palaces. They speculated that if he ever confronted them directly, his actions would be even more unrestrained. While some advocated for a pre-emptive strike, another warned against it, emphasizing Sima Jiao's immense power due to the integrated Spirit Fire.
They worried that killing him would also extinguish the Spirit Fire, depriving the entire Gengchen Celestial Palace of its spiritual energy and making cultivation impossible. However, others countered that consuming the Bloodseal Bloom, which grew from Sima Jiao's blood, or his blood itself, could still enhance their cultivation. Ye Ruling was sternly reminded that her clansmen remained under the Master's control, obligating her to participate in their dangerous plots.
Later that night, Liao Tingyan, having befriended Sima Jiao's giant python by sharing her Serene Vale Spirit Dew, was suddenly overcome by agonizing pain, realizing she had been poisoned. The giant python quickly took her to Sima Jiao's inner hall. Sima Jiao, initially vexed by the "stupid snake" bringing her to him, observed that she was suffering from demonic venom, a common "trick to control puppets."
He was astonished when she simply fell asleep after being brought to him, finding her lack of reaction unusual. He suspected her of deep cunning, believing she was a clever spy who had managed to win over his python. He used his own blood to heal her, threatening to kill her if she dared to vomit it. When Liao Tingyan recovered and found herself in Sima Jiao's hall, she feigned surprise and asked why she was there.
Sima Jiao confronted her, accusing her of deliberately using the "stupid snake" to gain entry to his Central Tower. Liao Tingyan explained that she had fainted from stomach pain the previous night, and the python must have brought her to him out of worry. She acknowledged her stomach no longer hurt, to which Sima Jiao confirmed it was because she had consumed his blood, which not only eased pain but also boosted cultivation—a power everyone in the world desired.
Liao Tingyan quickly interjected that she was "not that interested." Sima Jiao, still suspicious, then subjected her to a Truth Spell. He demanded to know why she didn't want to kill him. Liao Tingyan honestly replied that she was "just an innocent slacker" with very low cultivation and no reason to harm him. Convinced by the truth spell that she genuinely harbored no ill intentions, Sima Jiao, surprisingly, decided not to kill her.
Instead, he declared that from then on, she would be his servant. Though terrified and apprehensive of his erratic moods, Liao Tingyan cautiously accepted, her priority being to simply stay alive. Liao Tingyan began her new role, grumbling about being "back to work" and feeling like Sima Jiao's "plaything." One night, the giant python woke her and led her back to Sima Jiao's inner hall.
She found him convulsing, his body glowing red and drenched in sweat, clearly in immense pain from his Spirit Fire. Despite her initial urge to flee, she couldn't bring herself to abandon him in his suffering. She stumbled, falling forward and touching her forehead to his. The contact immediately brought Sima Jiao immense relief, the intense heat subsiding. He realized that her physical presence had an unexpected soothing effect on the burning pain caused by his Spirit Fire.
Episode 3 Recap
Late at night, after being forced into unexpected overtime, Liao Tingyan managed to escape Sima Jiao’s office, having witnessed his eyes blaze with a terrifying fire. Still trembling, she ran out and was startled to encounter the Aunt-Master whom Sima Jiao had previously waved away with a mere flick of his sleeve. Liao Tingyan was shocked, exclaiming, "You came back from the dead? You’re still alive?"
The Aunt-Master, annoyed, affirmed she was indeed alive, explaining that Grandmaster had merely given her a lesson and a warning, which she would now heed by being more prudent. The Aunt-Master then pressed Liao Tingyan for information on Sima Jiao’s current state. As a self-proclaimed "laborer" who knew not to gossip about her boss, Liao Tingyan smoothly replied, "Grandmaster is doing perfectly fine."
Unable to extract any useful details, the Aunt-Master huffed and left, reminding Liao Tingyan that serving Grandmaster was a privilege. Liao Tingyan mused that perhaps Sima Jiao was just trying to scare her earlier, and that despite being a bit slow in the head, he didn’t seem like someone who would kill over trivial matters, behaving more like a schoolkid than a revered Grandmaster.
Liao Tingyan, whose only desire was to "lie flat" and live a comfortable, peaceful life, truly didn't understand the mindset of the other cultivators. Those who hadn't been chosen to serve Sima Jiao often cast hostile glances at her, as if she had gained an immense advantage. She felt misunderstood, though she did find some solace in Ye Ruling, a girl who treated her with kindness.
Liao Tingyan appreciated that in this fantasy world, she didn't have to clock in for work and could sleep soundly. One morning, as Liao Tingyan prepared to wash up, she found her basin empty. She grabbed a wooden bucket and went out to fetch water. Along the way, she encountered a group of disciples who gave her cold looks.
They whispered that she seemed favored by Grandmaster, able to freely enter and exit the Central Tower, and wondered what made her special, suggesting perhaps only those with low cultivation could approach him. One disciple confronted Liao Tingyan directly, demanding to know why she was still alive and warning her not to harbor any vile thoughts towards Sima Jiao. Ye Ruling intervened, asking if the disciple was simply worried Liao Tingyan might gain Sima Jiao's favor before her.
The disciple scoffed, dismissing Liao Tingyan as a low-grade spiritual root who appeared out of nowhere. Ye Ruling countered, questioning if high cultivation and noble birth truly made one inherently superior, to which the disciple accused Ye Ruling of feeling connected to Liao Tingyan due to her own humble origins. Liao Tingyan, initially unwilling to argue, stepped in when they insulted Ye Ruling's background. She reprimanded the disciple for resorting to personal attacks and bullying those weaker than her.
Later, Liao Tingyan offered Ye Ruling some sweet treats as a thank-you, telling her they were now friends. In her mind, Liao Tingyan was delighted to have found a good colleague. Ye Ruling, for her part, had a hidden agenda, believing that by befriending Liao Tingyan, she could eventually gain Sima Jiao's attention and access the inner hall.
Sima Jiao, still unable to fully grasp Liao Tingyan’s true thoughts, decided to create an opportunity for any hidden "rats" to reveal themselves. He ordered his subordinates to lower the barrier around the Central Tower, using the pretense of catching a Demon Realm spy. He also instructed Liao Tingyan to water a valuable magical flower daily. Liao Tingyan, indifferent to the flower's worth, simply viewed it as a task from her boss.
While working, she commented on a faint "child's crying sound" emanating from the flower. Sima Jiao explained that when the flower thrived, he felt restless and murderous, and even encouraged her to try and extinguish its flame, saying it would be a great feat if she succeeded. The flower itself, an entity known as the Fengshan Spirit Fire, could talk and complained about Liao Tingyan's constant watering, threatening to burn her.
Liao Tingyan maintained her professionalism, explaining she was just following orders. The Spirit Fire then revealed a surprising detail: Sima Jiao's nickname was not "Jiao" (delicate), as Liao Tingyan misheard, but "Jiao" (burnt), which amused her. The Spirit Fire also revealed that its suffering didn't alleviate Sima Jiao's pain, meaning Liao Tingyan's work was ineffective. Liao Tingyan realized her "work" was pointless but decided to continue out of fear of Sima Jiao, rationalizing it as siding with the "greater evil."
Feeling overworked, she later tried to negotiate for a "shuangxiu," her modern term for a two-day weekend. Sima Jiao, completely misunderstanding it as a vulgar proposition, stormed off, leaving her utterly bewildered. Sima Jiao didn’t know that "shuāngxiū" (双休, "double rest") in modern terms meant a two-day weekend off work.
Instead, he mistakenly thought the other person was brazenly inviting him to "shuāngxiū" (双修, "dual cultivation" – a term from cultivation novels referring to intimate spiritual/martial partnership, often involving physical intimacy). Sima Jiao, observing Liao Tingyan’s genuine indifference to the potent magical flower, decided to test her. He tore off two petals from the Fengshan Bloodseal Bloom, which he said was cultivated with his own blood, and asked Liao Tingyan if she wanted them.
The Spirit Fire revealed the petals' true value: each contained a thousand years of cultivation. Wary of such immense power and the tropes of dangerous treasures in novels, Liao Tingyan initially expressed hesitation, fearing she couldn't handle it. Sima Jiao then offered more petals as "wages" if she would help him, but Liao Tingyan politely refused the offer. Despite her reluctance, Sima Jiao tossed the two petals to her as a reward.
He then stopped her from leaving, declaring her work was not done and instructing her to follow him to learn a killing spell. Liao Tingyan balked at the idea, but Sima Jiao ominously told her to comply or die. Later, Liao Tingyan directly asked Sima Jiao if he liked her, given his special treatment—feeding her his blood, keeping her by his side, and personally teaching her spells. Sima Jiao scoffed, calling her laughable and stating mortal romance was beneath him.
He clarified that he only kept her because her unique constitution could temporarily alleviate the manic energy caused by the Fengshan Spirit Fire within him, essentially treating her as a "walking air conditioner." Liao Tingyan sighed in relief, convinced Sima Jiao was truly emotionless. Sima Jiao then mused that his "piece" was now in place, and after five hundred years, his grand plan was finally nearing its end.
Meanwhile, other cultivators whispered about Liao Tingyan’s ability to freely enter the Central Tower, speculating that the unbreakable barrier had been lifted and gave them an opportunity to act. Hei Nianjiu was also revealed to be secretly colluding with the Demon Realm. In a conversation with a demon named Mingli, Hei Nianjiu, frustrated, demanded the antidote for a demon poison she had been given. Mingli refused, stating that as long as Sima Jiao was alive, he couldn't.
He reminded Hei Nianjiu that he had willingly sought their alliance to boost her cultivation. Hei Nianjiu accused them of controlling her with poison from the start, but Mingli countered that he was the one who initiated the alliance and his only choice now was to make Liao Tingyan act swiftly.
Ye Ruling pondered the difficult choice of asking Liao Tingyan for help, worrying it would expose her ulterior motives, but felt compelled as her family's fate hinged on Sima Jiao's demise. One night, Liao Tingyan's inner gu poison flared up, causing her intense pain. Mr. Snake, the giant python that frequently visited her, immediately coiled her up to take her for help. Just then, Ye Ruling arrived and, mistakenly believing Mr. Snake was eating Liao Tingyan, leaped into action.
She bravely fought Mr. Snake and managed to extract its inner core, or "serpent heart." Liao Tingyan woke up to find Ye Ruling safe and marveled at her bravery. Feeling bad for Mr. Snake, who she believed was not inherently malicious, Liao Tingyan watched as Ye Ruling decided to keep the serpent heart, threatening to make the python heartless forever if it scared people again. Liao Tingyan then lamented her hard life, trapped in the Central Tower.
Ye Ruling, still playing her part, pretended to admire Liao Tingyan's supposed favor with Sima Jiao and expressed a desire to also serve him. Genuinely concerned, Liao Tingyan warned Ye Ruling against it, calling Sima Jiao "stably crazy" and not wanting to push her friend into a "fire pit." Ye Ruling was momentarily touched by Liao Tingyan’s concern. Seeking a more reliable cure for her recurring ailment, Liao Tingyan tried to improve her working conditions.
She polished Sima Jiao’s table and cleaned the floor until it sparkled. She then attempted to flatter him, asking if he could be on call to provide his blood whenever her "old ailment" acted up, suggesting a mutually beneficial arrangement. Sima Jiao simply asked what she wanted and, guessing it was about his blood again, told her it would depend on his mood before leaving. Liao Tingyan sighed, lamenting how difficult it was to please her boss.
Separately, Sima Jiao internally acknowledged that the "Demon Realm spy" (Liao Tingyan) had helped ease his Spirit Fire’s burning pain. He contemplated forcing open the seal that bound him, despite an inner voice warning him that such a reckless action could kill him. The night of the new moon, when he planned to leave the mountain, was drawing near.
Episode 4 Recap
Sima Jiao attempted to break free from the powerful seal that confined him. He had tried numerous times, once nearly succumbing to qi deviation. The closest he came was when the divine temple's dome began to loosen, emitting countless specks of light. Liao Tingyan, witnessing this spectacle for the first time, did not understand the gravity of the situation, instead finding the colorful glow beautiful and even invited Black Serpent to enjoy the view with her.
Suddenly, the earth trembled violently. A sense of unease filled Liao Tingyan. She intuitively felt that Sima Jiao was in trouble. As the tremors intensified, the Black Serpent vehemently warned Sima Jiao that forcing the seal open was impossible.
He reminded Sima Jiao that despite Liao Tingyan alleviating his Spirit Fire pain, the seal was formed by the bloodlines of all Eight Palaces, and any reckless attempts to break it would only drive the sealing nails deeper into his body, potentially killing him. Sima Jiao, annoyed, simply told him to be silent. Observing the strange phenomenon, Liao Tingyan realized that what outsiders perceived as Sima Jiao's seclusion was, in fact, five hundred years of imprisonment by the major sects.
She understood his frustration, remarking that anyone confined like that for centuries would surely go mad. Feeling a surge of pity for her “boss,” she resolved to find a way to cheer him up. As the temple quieted and night fell, Liao Tingyan quietly went to check on Sima Jiao's condition. She inadvertently stumbled and fell into his bath. Although extremely embarrassed, Sima Jiao did not rebuke her.
As she discreetly observed him, she noticed scars on his body, leading her to believe they were remnants from when he was sealed. Liao Tingyan then offered to help him alleviate his worries. She used the cultivation Sima Jiao had recently boosted for her to conjure numerous beautiful, pure white snowflakes, asking him how he liked it and if it made him feel cooler.
Sima Jiao, however, found her efforts ridiculous, questioning why she used her enhanced cultivation for such trivial tricks. He asserted that her cultivation could be used for far more significant purposes. Liao Tingyan persisted, trying to charm him by saying he shouldn't frown with such a handsome face. Unbeknownst to them, spies planted by the major sects had infiltrated the inner hall and were eavesdropping on Sima Jiao's conversations.
Sima Jiao was heard discussing the impending new moon, revealing that it would be his weakest period after five centuries of imprisonment and daily torment. He told the Black Serpent that during this time, he would be vulnerable and in danger of losing his life if not properly guarded. The spies immediately reported this crucial information to their respective palace masters.
They convened to devise a plan, recognizing the new moon as a rare opportunity to deal with Sima Jiao, especially as he was the sole sustenance for the Fengshan Spirit Fire. Some masters expressed concern that the Grandmaster, even weakened, might still be dangerous, while others speculated their true motives were to seize the Bloodseal Bloom or eliminate him to prevent him from settling old scores.
Master Yin, whose spy, Anxue, delivered the news, proposed his palace handle the matter by sending elders to protect Sima Jiao, a thinly veiled attempt to gain an advantage. Meanwhile, two female disciples from the Star Palace of Gengchen Celestial Palace, Yun Xiyue and Hua Wanqing, were consumed by jealousy.
They learned that Liao Tingyan was moving into the inner hall and expressed resentment that she, a disciple from the Four Seasons Palace, had so quickly gained Sima Jiao’s favor and would be living with him. Believing Liao Tingyan had used tricks to win him over, they decided to eliminate her. They found Liao Tingyan sketching Black Serpent, who she affectionately called "Brother Snake," reassuring him that Ye Ruling would eventually return his inner core because of her kind nature.
The two disciples accosted Liao Tingyan, accusing her of disrespecting Sima Jiao by lounging and painting instead of serving him. They quickly resorted to violence, intending to "teach her a lesson" on Sima Jiao's behalf. Liao Tingyan, simply wanting to be a "slacker," defended herself using the snow-conjuring spell Sima Jiao had improved for her, expressing her exasperation at the constant trouble. Despite being a three-spiritual-root cultivator, she proved surprisingly resilient.
Yun Xiyue then urged Hua Wanqing to kill Liao Tingyan to eliminate the threat for good. Sima Jiao, who had been observing the events, intervened just in time. He easily defeated Yun Xiyue and Hua Wanqing, declaring that Three Saints Mountain was not a place for their reckless behavior. As they pleaded for their lives, Sima Jiao coldly remarked that they had ruined his rare moment of amusement.
He questioned Yun Xiyue about her motives, and she brazenly confessed her plan: to become his concubine and bear a child with the Sima clan's atavistic bloodline. Her ultimate goal was for the Fengshan Clan to have an heir, after which they would trap and kill Sima Jiao, seize the Spirit Fire, and allow the Star Palace to rule Gengchen Celestial Palace, with her as the next Palace Mistress.
When he questioned Hua Wanqing, she admitted she was simply there to sabotage Yun Xiyue's plans out of hatred. Sima Jiao, unimpressed, dismissed their "tired tricks" and warned them that if he died, the entire Gengchen Celestial Palace, including all palace and lineage masters, would perish with him, making it clear that an atavistic bloodline was exceedingly rare. He then mercilessly executed Yun Xiyue and Hua Wanqing and resolved that he would have to teach Liao Tingyan how to kill.
Liao Tingyan had survived the ordeal and was now recovering. Ye Ruling, who had been alerted by Black Serpent, found Liao Tingyan unconscious and cared for her. Upon awakening, Liao Tingyan asked what happened, and Ye Ruling told her she found her unconscious amidst the smell of blood, speculating that Sima Jiao might have killed someone. Liao Tingyan, however, maintained that Sima Jiao, despite his eccentricities, was not bloodthirsty.
She then recalled the attack by Yun Xiyue and Hua Wanqing but noted she had no injuries. Ye Ruling was surprised, wondering if Sima Jiao had saved her and developed feelings. Liao Tingyan quickly dismissed the idea, attributing Sima Jiao's actions to her unique ability to alleviate his Spirit Fire burns, calling herself his "walking air conditioner." Ye Ruling, in turn, pondered if Liao Tingyan possessed an "extreme-cold nature from the Demon Realm," which would explain her unusual constitution.
Liao Tingyan, grateful for Black Serpent's help, urged Ye Ruling to return the inner core, vouching for Black Serpent’s good nature. Ye Ruling, after some hesitation and acknowledging Black Serpent’s role in saving Liao Tingyan, decided to return the inner core. She approached Black Serpent with an apology for her previous misunderstanding, offering him a drink he supposedly enjoyed. As Black Serpent swallowed his inner core, he immediately transformed into a handsome human form.
Overjoyed, Black Serpent thanked Ye Ruling profusely for enabling his transformation, even though she claimed to have done nothing to the core. Black Serpent then sought out Sima Jiao to announce his transformation. Sima Jiao coldly reminded him that he had consumed enough of his blood to transform long ago. Black Serpent then swore eternal loyalty to Sima Jiao, acknowledging his life was a gift from him.
Sima Jiao advised him to learn to "be human" now that he had taken human form, to which Black Serpent replied that Liao Tingyan had also told him to practice self-respect and self-love. Black Serpent also expressed his gratitude to Liao Tingyan, calling her a true friend. Sima Jiao, observing this, commented that Liao Tingyan was skilled at winning people over. Sima Jiao then instructed Black Serpent to guard the mountain gate on the upcoming new moon night.
Liao Tingyan later conversed with a female disciple from the Heaven Palace, who perpetually waited outside Sima Jiao's residence. The disciple explained her devotion stemmed from Sima Jiao's role in sustaining the Spirit Fire, which provided endless spiritual power to Gengchen Celestial Palace, and gaining his favor was her lifelong ambition and her palace's pride.
When Liao Tingyan asked if she feared Sima Jiao might kill her due to his unpredictability, the disciple declared she would have no regrets, even in death. Liao Tingyan, in an internal monologue, pondered the cultivators' readiness to die, contrasting it with her own desire to simply live and fight for survival.
During another encounter, Liao Tingyan joked with Sima Jiao about him scaring her early in the morning, warning him not to overwork her to avoid "work-related injuries" for which he'd be responsible. Sima Jiao found her ambition amusing. Liao Tingyan then gave him a "thumbs-up" gesture, explaining it was a form of flattery. Sima Jiao dismissed it as a "petty trick." Sima Jiao then questioned Liao Tingyan about her progress with the killing spell he had taught her.
Dissatisfied with her "so-so" answer, he demonstrated by holding a sword to her, instructing her on the precise vital points to strike for a fatal blow, emphasizing the heart and throat. After the impromptu lesson, she acknowledged his teachings, then quickly excused herself to water the "little flame." Finally, on the night of the new moon, various palace masters, including Master Tian, Madam Yue, and Master Yin, gathered near Sima Jiao’s residence.
They engaged in thinly veiled accusations about each other’s true intentions—whether to protect Sima Jiao, seize the Bloodseal Bloom, gain favor, or eliminate him entirely. Master Yin proposed sending his elders in first to "guard" Sima Jiao. Inside the inner hall, Sima Jiao asked Liao Tingyan if she had consumed the precious Bloodseal Bloom petals he had given her. She admitted she hadn't, considering them too valuable.
Sima Jiao explained that the petals required his blood to be effective, otherwise they would cause an explosion, but assured her she was safe since she had consumed his blood before. Liao Tingyan, ever practical, reasoned that a single petal could boost her cultivation by a thousand years, which she feared might "kill her" from overdose. When Sima Jiao insisted, she gambled that he wouldn't kill her for refusing. Sima Jiao agreed to her terms.
He then ominously asked if she thought he was easy to deal with today, before declaring that he was indeed at his weakest, making it a "golden chance" for anyone to kill him. Yet, he asserted that even in his weakened state, his attackers were still "too weak" to challenge him, even as blood trickled from his lips, which Liao Tingyan promptly pointed out.
Sima Jiao then directly challenged Liao Tingyan, telling her that with him gravely injured, it was a good opportunity for her. When one of the invading elders urged Liao Tingyan to seize the sword and kill Sima Jiao, arguing that if he lived, more would die, Liao Tingyan hesitated, stating she didn't kill. Sima Jiao then agreed with the elder, instructed Liao Tingyan to pull out the sword, and asked her if she remembered his previous lesson on how to kill.
Episode 5 Recap
The various sect leaders gathered at the barrier, eager to discern the true state of affairs. Some, driven by a desire to immediately eliminate Sima Jiao and claim his pure blood for maximum gain, urged others to enter. However, others hesitated, fearing they might be outmatched and become sacrificial pawns. The four sect leaders who ventured in prematurely were no match for Sima Jiao. He quickly bound them to pillars and began their punishment.
During this process, Sima Jiao also suffered severe injuries, prompting Liao Tingyan to express her concern for him, even asking herself what she should do. Seizing the urgent moment to make a good impression, she carefully helped her "boss" onto a bed and covered him with a blanket. Unexpectedly, Sima Jiao produced a sword and instructed Liao Tingyan to strike him.
Despite his previous teachings on killing, Liao Tingyan had never taken a life and found herself unable to bring herself to harm anyone, especially Sima Jiao. When he repeatedly urged her to "do it," she wondered why everyone was forcing her to act and declared that she had "killed someone" after the blade went in. She then asked if Sima Jiao was trying to frame her.
Liao Tingyan contemplated fleeing, but Sima Jiao, sensing her hesitation, grasped her hand and used it to plunge the sword into his own chest. Liao Tingyan trembled, terrified by her first act of taking a life, especially that of her powerful Grandmaster. Sima Jiao, however, reassured her, stating that this act was a necessary step to break his seals. Liao Tingyan reacted by calling him a "murderer" and a "jerk."
Outside the barrier, the remaining sect leaders, observing Sima Jiao's seemingly weakened spiritual power, became emboldened. Believing it was a perfect opportunity, most of them surged into the divine hall, eager to deliver the final blow. Only Sect Master Shi and Madam Xing hesitated. When asked why she wasn't entering, Madam Xing deferred to Sect Master Shi, stating that he, as Sima Jiao's guardian and a witness to his sealing, must know his true power.
She doubted the rumor of Sima Jiao's weakness on the new moon night and believed he wouldn't easily become prey. This collective rush played right into Sima Jiao's hands, allowing him to corner and eliminate them all. As he absorbed their spiritual energy, his power surged dramatically. He effortlessly removed the eight nails impaled in his body and, with a powerful surge, broke through the barrier, finally free after five hundred years.
The surviving sect leaders realized too late that they had fallen into Sima Jiao's trap, confirming his supposed weakness on the new moon was a lie and that he had used their blood to break the seals. They desperately tried to flee but were trapped by the Spirit Fire. As they perished, some cursed Sima Jiao, believing his plan was incomplete because Xing Hecan, known for her cowardice, had not entered the hall.
Sima Jiao, however, asserted that her absence didn't doom his plan and that he had already made good use of the disciples they had sent in earlier. Liao Tingyan observed Sima Jiao after his liberation and noticed he didn't seem happy, leaving her to ponder the secrets he might still harbor. Having witnessed his confinement for five hundred years, Liao Tingyan felt a sense of pity for him.
Sima Jiao then confessed his elaborate plan, which he had been preparing for five hundred years: he had long known that connecting with the heart veins of the eight major palace heads was the key to breaking the barrier. His challenge was orchestrating a situation where they would willingly come to him since he couldn't leave the confines of the barrier himself.
To achieve this, he had cultivated the Spirit Fire's avatar to instill fear in the Eight Palaces, ensuring they would send disciples into the mountain. He explained that the initial killings were not random; those eliminated were spies or individuals with malicious intent. He specifically stated that the rumor of his spiritual power being weakened on the new moon night was a deliberate falsehood, designed to lure the palace heads in.
He couldn't stab himself, he revealed, because the Gengchen Celestial Palace's elders had placed restrictions on the sealing nails within him to prevent self-harm, fearing he would perish and take the sect's spiritual power with him. This is why he needed Liao Tingyan to stab him; as he was one with the Spirit Fire, damage to his heart would affect the connected spirit vein, making his spiritual power "appear" weakened to outsiders, thus confirming the fabricated rumor.
This act was also his final test to confirm her harmlessness. He stated that Liao Tingyan survived precisely because she had been simple-minded and naive. Despite this revelation, Liao Tingyan resolved to keep surviving, hoping to see many more sunrises. Meanwhile, the master of the Yin Palace had been killed. Ye Ruling possessed the former master's inner core, absorbed it and declared herself the successor, warning any who disagreed to challenge her.
She acknowledged Sima Jiao's role, saying, "Sima Jiao, you have actually done one good thing." Sima Jiao then led Liao Tingyan back to the ruined divine hall. Exhausted from the day's ordeal, Liao Tingyan found a small hammock and quickly fell asleep. When she awoke, she observed the devastation: the hall was a wreck, still smoldering in places, and many Bloodseal Blooms had been incinerated.
To prevent any surviving sect leaders from attempting further mischief, Sima Jiao and Liao Tingyan departed the ravaged hall. Sima Jiao took Liao Tingyan to White Deer Cliff, a serene and picturesque location meticulously prepared by the Sect Master Shi of the Gengchen Celestial Palace. Sect Master Shi, who had rebuilt the Cliff after a great fire, offered a dozen puppet servants to Sima Jiao, emphasizing their lack of consciousness or souls.
However, Sima Jiao declined them all, stating he disliked being disturbed. Sect Master Shi expressed his family's enduring loyalty to the Sima clan, stressing the importance of fulfilling their ancestral duties. Liao Tingyan, realizing she was the sole "laborer" in this vast place facing the "bloodthirsty Grandmaster," became apprehensive about her own survival. Sima Jiao noted her unusual quietness, mentioning she was usually "full of problems, nonsense, and all sorts of gibberish."
When Liao Tingyan asked if those people "really had to die" and sought an explanation, Sima Jiao, surprisingly, did not show anger. While exploring the gardens of White Deer Cliff with Sima Jiao, Liao Tingyan admired the dark, enchanting Moonshade Blooms. Sima Jiao, with a hint of sadness, explained that these flowers sprout from the bone pearls left behind after Sima clan members die; each pearl yields one bloom.
This revealed to Liao Tingyan that the beautiful garden was, in essence, a graveyard. He then offered her one of the flowers. As Liao Tingyan inhaled its fragrance, she was suddenly transported into someone's memory. She found herself in a vision of the past, at what appeared to be White Deer Cliff.
She witnessed Sima E, a Sima clan member, being forced into marriage with Sima Shi to preserve the "pure bloodline of the Fengshan line" and "nourish the Spirit Fire." Sima E vehemently resisted, proclaiming she did not love him and accusing the Eight Palaces of forcing her to marry and bear children, likening her existence to that of a "caged bird." She believed the Sima clan would only find freedom if the Fengshan Spirit Fire ceased to exist.
Despite her defiance, Sima E eventually yielded. The memory then shifted to a wedding ceremony where Sima Shi and Sima E were joined as "partners" to "continue the bloodline" and "nourish the Spirit Fire." Later, she saw Sima E cradling an infant, whom she named "Jiao." Liao Tingyan realized this baby was none other than Sima Jiao, confirming that Sima E was his mother. She observed how the Eight Palaces' greed had pushed the Sima clan to such extremes.
Episode 6 Recap
Liao Tingyan found herself in a vivid memory, witnessing a tragic past. The two individuals before her were Sima Jiao's parents. She observed as a powerful array ensnared the Sima clan, forcing them to channel their energies to nourish the Spirit Fire. The depravity escalated when she saw their Great Ancestress’s deceased body being desecrated for a feast, inciting Liao Tingyan to curse the perpetrators as monsters.
In a desperate act, Sima Shi, Sima Jiao's father, unleashed the Spirit Fire, engulfing White Deer Cliff in flames before taking his own life. The Eight Palaces, fearing the complete loss of the Sima bloodline essential for the Spirit Fire, attempted to intervene. Sima E, holding her infant son, initially considered ending their shared tragedy by killing Sima Jiao.
However, her husband's words echoed in her mind, reminding her that Sima Jiao, possessing a rare atavistic Fengshan bloodline, was their clan's sole hope for revival. Overcoming her despair, Sima E offered her "flesh, blood, and spirit bones" to the Spirit Fire, urging it to merge with her son through her sacrifice. The Spirit Fire, though lamenting the loss of her life, ultimately yielded, ensuring Sima Jiao's survival as the last living member of the Sima clan.
Distraught by the vision, Liao Tingyan abruptly woke to find herself confined within a coffin, triggering panicked screams for help. Sima Jiao quickly arrived and released her, explaining it was a punitive measure for her earlier act of picking a poisonous flower. He elaborated that flowers blooming from bone pearls reflected the deceased's state of mind: calm deaths yielded healing flowers, while deaths in pain and resentment resulted in poisonous ones.
Liao Tingyan, realizing the flower she picked came from Sima E's bone pearl, chose to conceal this painful truth from Sima Jiao, sensing he was not ready to confront it. She then probed Sima Jiao on how he distinguishes between medicinal and poisonous flowers. He revealed his inherent immunity to poisons as a Sima clan member, aided by the Spirit Fire, allowing him to discern them simply by taste.
Intrigued, Liao Tingyan suggested he sample various flowers for her, a task he readily undertook. He then declared his absolute power over her life, stating he could both kill and revive her at will. Liao Tingyan reflected on her fortunate position as Sima Jiao's seemingly trusted confidante.
Despite her desire for freedom, she decided against resigning, fearing retaliation from the various factions who might perceive her as vulnerable without Sima Jiao’s protection, and acknowledging her continued need for his ability to alleviate her pain. Meanwhile, Black Snake inquired why Sima Jiao hadn't simply eliminated the Eight Palaces upon his emergence.
Sima Jiao divulged his calculated revenge: he deemed it impractical to instantly replace the entire leadership and instead preferred to subject those who wronged him to prolonged torment, making them witness the destruction of their most cherished possessions before their ultimate demise. When asked about Shi Qianlv, Sima Jiao recalled a childhood incident where Shi Qianlv deceptively made him drink what was presented as healing soup but was, in fact, the blood of his own clan members.
Through a truth-telling spell on a servant, Sima Jiao discovered Shi Qianlv's deceit and recognized the Eight Palaces as mere "puppets" under Shi Qianlv's manipulative control. He resolved to allow Shi Qianlv to reveal his own weaknesses before enacting his meticulous vengeance. Shortly after, puppet servants delivered a lavish collection of clothes to Liao Tingyan's room. Sima Jiao then arrived and commanded her to accompany him to an arena.
At the arena, a staged "death duel" between two talented disciples from the Heaven and Sun Palaces was underway. Shi Qianlv, feigning concern, attempted to persuade Sima Jiao to spare them. However, Sima Jiao, citing the Eight Palaces' own rules that mandated life-or-death combat for cultivation advancement, insisted on the duel's rigorous continuation. When disciples and onlookers protested his "immoral" stance, Sima Jiao challenged their principles by producing a petal of the Bloodseal Bloom.
He announced that a single petal, capable of granting a millennium of cultivation, would be awarded to anyone who won 20 death duels. This immediately unleashed the disciples' inherent greed, transforming the polite duelists into a frenzied mob who mercilessly slaughtered each other for the prize. Liao Tingyan was horrified by the abrupt shift, realizing Sima Jiao's action had exposed their true, "wolf-like" nature.
Following the brutal spectacle, the Eight Palaces convened, with Master Ri expressing outrage at the loss of his disciples. Shi Qianlv, however, dismissed the deaths as a consequence of the disciples' own greed and advised the other Palace Masters to tolerate Sima Jiao's actions for the time being, so long as he didn't "go too far." This prompted Liao Tingyan to question Sima Jiao about the Bloodseal Bloom's true nature, knowing it required Fengshan clan blood to be used safely.
Sima Jiao then unveiled a chilling historical truth: the bodies of deceased Sima clan members were consumed by other cultivation families as a potent medicine. He concluded that the disciples' desperate scramble for the petal implied they had all partaken in the blood of his ancestors. This revelation solidified Liao Tingyan’s understanding of Sima Jiao’s deep-seated hatred, realizing he had grown up in a "dog-eat-dog" world.
Later that night, Sima Jiao, visibly troubled by the day's events, sought solace in a cold pool to manage his internal turmoil. Liao Tingyan, sensing his distress, attempted to comfort him. When physical touch proved insufficient, Sima Jiao lay beside her, finding an inexplicable calming of his anger and easing of the Spirit Fire’s torment. He pondered why Liao Tingyan, unlike everyone else who feared him, could sleep so peacefully in his presence.
When he woke her to ask, she simply attributed it to her "good sleep quality" before drifting back to sleep. Meanwhile, Shi Qianlv discussed his ongoing machinations with his son, aiming to maintain control over the Eight Palaces while preventing Sima Jiao from becoming "too wild." Black Snake reported that disciples were already clamoring for new death duels, driven by the insatiable craving for the Bloodseal Bloom.
He also voiced his suspicion that Tian Wuya was an inside agent for Shi Qianlv, noting Tian Wuya's suspiciously rapid cultivation to the Unity Merge stage, implying he was benefiting from the Fengshan clan's spirit veins through Shi Qianlv's illicit schemes. This sparked a memory in Sima Jiao of Tian Wuya himself proposing an additional restriction on the seals that bound him.
Learning of Tian Wuya's current cultivation level and an upcoming flower banquet at Heaven Palace, Sima Jiao decided to attend, intending to "play a little game" with Tian Wuya. Black Snake then innocently asked if Sima Jiao was waiting for Liao Tingyan to wake up out of "concern," which immediately drew Sima Jiao's ire. Liao Tingyan awoke the next morning to discover her room filled with new clothes and jewelry, provided by the helpful puppet servants.
Sima Jiao entered and demanded her presence at the flower banquet. Liao Tingyan hesitated, admitting her fear of witnessing dead bodies. Sima Jiao, using a truth spell, confirmed her fear but then issued a stark warning: if she refused to accompany him, she would be the first to die. This immediate threat prompted Liao Tingyan to quickly change her attire. As they departed, flying on Black Snake, Liao Tingyan cautiously inquired about their destination. Sima Jiao's chilling response was simply, "To kill someone."
Episode 7 Recap
Liao Tingyan, on the back of the Black Snake, asked Sima Jiao where they were going. Sima Jiao replied curtly that they were going to kill someone. Liao Tingyan, intimidated by his follow-up question, "What do you think?" , dared not object further and reluctantly followed him to a grand flower banquet. Other cultivators at the banquet noted Sima Jiao’s impressive demeanor. Upon arrival, Liao Tingyan was delighted by the array of delicious food.
She realized it was like a "team building" event and, seeing Sima Jiao’s confusion, explained that it meant eating and drinking together. Sima Jiao even offered her some food, making Liao Tingyan feel that he was not as terrifying as he seemed. She thought to herself that the Grandmaster had a thoughtful side, unlike his scary appearance. Suddenly, Liao Tingyan noticed a few figures confronting her Master from Serene Vale, who looked distressed.
Without hesitation, she stepped forward and shielded her Master. The men accused her Master of spilling their Spirit Dew and demanded compensation of three hundred gems. Liao Tingyan felt her heart tighten at the exorbitant sum. As she was about to ask if she could pay in installments, one of the men abruptly moved to attack her. Sima Jiao, enraged that someone dared touch his "beloved disciple," instantly retaliated, flinging the insolent man a great distance.
Realizing who Sima Jiao was, people around them fell to their knees in terror. Liao Tingyan’s Master, who had always been humble, was seeing the Grandmaster in action for the first time. He worried about Liao Tingyan and secretly pondered finding an excuse to separate her from the dangerous Sima Jiao.
Liao Tingyan, too, understood the perilous nature of being close to a powerful figure like Sima Jiao, constantly fearing that any misstep could lead to her demise, despite his unusual favor. Sima Jiao, overhearing their unspoken concerns, approached the Serene Vale Master with a dark expression, questioning his intentions and reminding him that many sect leaders had willingly sent their disciples to the Divine Palace.
When the Serene Vale Master admitted his fear for Liao Tingyan’s life if she were to displease Sima Jiao, Sima Jiao's expression softened. He surprised everyone by generously awarding Serene Vale four spirit veins. The onlookers were astonished, marveling at the Serene Vale Master’s luck and speculating that the small sect might soon rival the Moon Palace.
Sima Jiao, aware of their covetous thoughts, casually remarked that ordinary mortals could not cultivate with White Deer Cliff’s spirit veins without dire consequences. He explained that while it was beneficial medicine for the Sima clan, it was poison for others. For cultivators using the veins, the higher their realm, the greater the danger, with those at the Unity Merge realm facing certain death if they used their power.
This revelation sent a wave of panic through the crowd, especially those who had secretly drawn power from White Deer Cliff, leaving them pale with worry. Tian Wuya, the Master of Heaven Palace, who had been secretly cultivating with White Deer Cliff's spirit veins, was terrified as he saw several of his highly talented disciples descending into madness.
He immediately sought out Shi Qianlv, hoping Shi Qianlv could intercede with Sima Jiao on his behalf and spare him from the inevitable backlash. Sima Jiao’s subordinate, Black Snake, observed Tian Wuya’s desperation. Sima Jiao then revealed to Black Snake that the "madness" of Tian Wuya's disciples was merely an illusion he had created to provoke Tian Wuya. Sima Jiao had no interest in negotiating with Shi Qianlv and instead decided to involve Liao Tingyan.
However, Black Snake pointed out that Liao Tingyan, being a "Demon Realm spy" who couldn't stand the sight of blood, would only get in the way. Sima Jiao, mimicking Liao Tingyan, sarcastically said he was also scared of seeing corpses. Meanwhile, Tian Wuya returned to his deserted palace, where his remaining disciples had either gone mad or fled. He confronted a mad disciple, accusing him of causing their plight by stealing the White Deer Cliff vein.
The enraged disciple attacked Tian Wuya. Sima Jiao then appeared, and Tian Wuya pleaded for his life, but Sima Jiao declared it was "too late." Sima Jiao remarked that Tian Wuya, despite having stolen and cultivated with White Deer Cliff’s veins to a high realm, dared not use his spiritual power for fear of backlash, instead relying on mortal techniques. He then challenged Tian Wuya to strike himself, promising to spare him if satisfied.
Tian Wuya made a half-hearted attempt to harm himself while begging for mercy. Sima Jiao derided his self-pity, then revealed that White Deer Cliff's spirit veins were not inherently problematic by demonstrating they had no negative effect on him. He scorned Tian Wuya for his cowardice, then brutally impaled him with the eight nails that had once been driven into his own body during his childhood torture, leaving Tian Wuya dead.
Upon learning of Tian Wuya’s death, Shi Qianlv was deeply disturbed, seeing it as Sima Jiao's revenge for past grievances and fearing he would be next. He convened a meeting with the other seven palace masters. Most of them relied on Shi Qianlv's leadership and believed Sima Jiao was deliberately instigating internal conflict. Shi Qianlv suggested they should seal Sima Jiao before he could cause further harm, noting that the Grandmaster was "beyond saving."
However, some masters, including Ye Ruling, were hesitant. Ye Ruling remained silent, desiring to kill Sima Jiao herself, not to have him sealed. Yuan Che, Master of Four Seasons Palace, also voiced caution, fearing a catastrophic outcome if they hastily activated the sealing array, which would risk all their disciples.
He argued that he had not drunk Sima blood, unlike the others, and that Sima Jiao might not be so unforgiving if no one harbored ill intent, citing Tian Wuya's theft of the spirit veins as the reason for his demise. Shi Qianlv suspected Yuan Che's hesitation was due to Liao Tingyan, a disciple from Four Seasons Palace, having gained Sima Jiao's favor.
Sima Jiao, who was monitoring the meeting through his subordinate, noted that only Yuan Che had not completely agreed to Shi Qianlv's plan, and Ye Ruling had not taken a side. Sima Jiao dismissed Shi Qianlv's potential for grand ascend cultivation, deeming him unworthy of comparison. He instructed his subordinate to find Yuan Che's weakness. Meanwhile, Shi Qianlv’s son suggested their target should be Yuan Che's son, Yuan Shang, whose spirit root was damaged.
He proposed killing Yuan Shang and framing Sima Jiao, to which Shi Qianlv subtly assented. Back in her room, Liao Tingyan received a mysterious love letter written in small seal script, inviting her to White Deer Cliff at midnight by the Blue Lumina Blossoms. She wondered if it was from Sima Jiao but quickly dismissed the idea, attributing the "girly" style to a former lover of the original owner of her body.
Deciding not to go, as dealing with Sima Jiao was already enough of a headache, she felt a sudden, excruciating pain in her stomach around 3 a. m. She realized Sima Jiao was punishing her for ignoring the summons. Desperate, she stumbled to Sima Jiao's private chamber, collapsing inside. Sima Jiao, finding her, tried to revive her.
He wondered why his blood, which usually suppressed poisons, wasn't fully effective, and mused that despite being a supposed Demon Realm spy, she was repeatedly afflicted by whatever was tormenting her. He made her bite his finger to drink his blood, finding the act of saving her more difficult than killing. While Liao Tingyan was unconscious, her spirit sense wandered from her body, allowing her to see Sima Jiao's severely wounded chest.
She realized he was hurting himself to save her, and that the strange new feeling in her body, a surge of power, was a result of his sacrifice and her consumption of his Bloodseal Bloom. She noted his wounds were slow to heal due to his unique constitution, a weakness he openly admitted to her. She thought about how dangerous Sima Jiao was, a "villain" by modern standards, yet in this world, he had saved her repeatedly.
Liao Tingyan’s stomach pain subsided, and her cultivation instantly leaped to the Soulshift realm. While her spirit sense was still active, Sima Jiao warned her not to wander outside White Deer Cliff, as her current cultivation would leave her vulnerable to the many lurking dangers. Liao Tingyan was thrilled by her newfound powers, feeling a sense of reality in the cultivation world that she hadn't before.
She tried using telekinesis to summon fruit, but Sima Jiao, despite her new Soulshift realm, easily batted them away. Liao Tingyan jokingly called him a "schoolkid" for his pettiness, then tried to calm herself from frustration. Sima Jiao, seeing her efforts, offered her the fruit he had been withholding.
Episode 8 Recap
Liao Tingyan, now with enhanced spiritual power, applied a water mask to her face for hydration and comfort. She then offered one to Sima Jiao, who, experiencing a facial mask for the first time, found its coolness soothing. Having finally avenged himself, Sima Jiao felt a sense of drowsiness for the first time in 500 years, a sign of true relaxation.
He observed Liao Tingyan enjoying her mask, peaceful and content, and wondered if her presence was the cause of his newfound tranquility. Soon after, the Black Snake delivered a letter to Liao Tingyan from Ye Ruling, inviting her to witness the spectacle of the Scarlet Sky. Liao Tingyan, who considered Ye Ruling a good friend, was thrilled and immediately prepared to depart, asking the Black Snake to inform Grandmaster of her whereabouts.
Before she left, the Black Snake confided in Liao Tingyan about his recent human transformation. He explained that since Ye Ruling returned his snake heart, he frequently felt a longing for her aura, which he now believed caused his transformation. Liao Tingyan advised him that human relationships take time to nurture and suggested he take Ye Ruling as his master, assuring him that Grandmaster would approve.
The Black Snake then went to Sima Jiao, reporting Liao Tingyan's departure and requesting permission to take Ye Ruling as his master. Sima Jiao, seemingly unconcerned, granted permission, instructing the Black Snake to make such minor decisions independently now that he had taken human form. Meanwhile, Ye Ruling, harboring a secret agenda, awaited Liao Tingyan. The "Scarlet Sky" she invited Liao Tingyan to see was, in fact, the Immortal-Demon Barrier, a formidable obstacle she desperately wished to escape.
Her own cultivation was insufficient to break it, so she hoped Liao Tingyan's unique properties would help. Ye Ruling recounted how her family was enslaved by the Yin Palace in the Celestial Realm after the Immortal-Demon War, enduring humiliation despite her mother's trust in the new palace leader, Yin Liunian. She expressed the long-held hope that Sima Jiao's death would cause the barrier to vanish, allowing them to return to the Demon Realm.
She also mentioned an ancient legend of the Frost Fish from the Demon Realm, whose "extreme-cold nature" could also pierce the barrier. Unaware of Ye Ruling's true intentions, Liao Tingyan approached the barrier and was immediately struck by a painful backlash, similar to an electric shock. Ye Ruling was surprised, questioning why Liao Tingyan's extreme-cold nature didn't prevent the backlash, revealing she already suspected Liao Tingyan possessed this rare trait.
Ye Ruling explained the barrier was set by the Sima Clan with Spirit Fire to block traffic between the realms, affecting both immortal and demon inhabitants. Later, as Liao Tingyan was eating dinner, she received another peach blossom letter. It demanded she meet at a specific location, threatening to expose her true identity if she failed to comply within three days. Liao Tingyan, puzzled by this mysterious "identity," felt a vague sense of unease and decided to go, albeit reluctantly.
The sender of these messages was Yuan Shang, the sole son of Yuan Che, the Heaven Palace master. Yuan Shang, instigated by Shi Qianlv, had given Liao Tingyan the task of assassinating Sima Jiao. However, Sima Jiao had long since discerned that Liao Tingyan was not inherently malicious and did not hold her origins against her. At the rendezvous point, Yuan Shang confronted Liao Tingyan, accusing her of betrayal for ignoring his previous messages.
Liao Tingyan recognized his dramatic behavior as akin to a spurned lover. She broke off ties with him, which Yuan Shang met with a threat, reminding her that her life was in his hands due to the "Bone-Eroding Venom" he had administered, confirming he was the cause of her previous abdominal pains. Liao Tingyan condemned his manipulative tactics, even remarking that Sima Jiao, a "murderer," was more straightforward than him.
Yuan Shang then attempted to attack her, but Liao Tingyan, whose cultivation had surged to the Soulshift stage, easily repelled him. Yuan Shang was shocked by her sudden power, realizing Sima Jiao must have neutralized the poison, and therefore, must know her true identity as an assassin. Liao Tingyan countered, saying that Grandmaster was "valiant and magnanimous" and would not hold such a minor matter against her. She firmly refused to kill Sima Jiao.
Yuan Shang, desperate, suggested she must have fallen for Sima Jiao, a claim Liao Tingyan vehemently denied, wary that Sima Jiao might be eavesdropping. She advised Yuan Shang to seek help for his obsessive thoughts. Unbeknownst to Yuan Shang, Shi Qianlv had orchestrated his death at the hands of his own son, Zhenxu, to frame Sima Jiao and incite Yuan Che's wrath.
Zhenxu reported Yuan Shang's death to Shi Qianlv, confirming Sima Jiao's "Soul Search" traces were on the body, perfect for framing. However, Sima Jiao had anticipated this. He dispatched Black Snake to intervene and rescue/revive Yuan Shang. Black Snake then took Yuan Shang to Yuan Che, revealing that Shi Qianlv had plotted his son's death to manipulate Yuan Che.
Sima Jiao, through the Black Snake, offered Yuan Che a deal: if he cooperated, his son would be spared and hidden from the world; otherwise, both would perish. Seeing the truth and his son alive, Yuan Che immediately pledged his allegiance to Sima Jiao, agreeing to feign ignorance about Yuan Shang's survival and gain Shi Qianlv's trust as a double agent. Meanwhile, Ye Ruling discussed Liao Tingyan's extreme-cold nature with her kinswoman, Canglan.
Canglan, unaware of the moral implications, suggested taking Liao Tingyan's core to break the barrier. Ye Ruling refused, emphasizing that Liao Tingyan would die and they could not demand such a sacrifice. However, the conversation was overheard by Anxue, Shi Qianlv's loyal subordinate. Shi Qianlv, who already planned to use Liao Tingyan's "Frost Fish identity" against Sima Jiao, instructed Anxue to relay this information to Yuan Che.
This would solidify the false narrative that Sima Jiao killed Yuan Shang under the influence of a "Frost Fish," leaving him no room to defend himself. Yuan Che, following Sima Jiao's instructions, then relayed Shi Qianlv's discovery of Liao Tingyan's demon identity to Sima Jiao. Sima Jiao was genuinely surprised at how quickly Shi Qianlv uncovered this secret, suspecting a spy within the Demon Realm and ordering Black Snake to investigate.
Despite Black Snake's distress, Sima Jiao declared that he would "oblige" the Eight Palaces' wish for Liao Tingyan's death. He instructed Black Snake to have Yuan Che approach Shi Qianlv, feigning grief and rage over his son's "death" and proposing to re-seal Sima Jiao to gain Shi Qianlv's full trust.
Shi Qianlv readily agreed, and suggested they first target Liao Tingyan, using her as bait to lure Sima Jiao into the array, or at least using her as leverage if the sealing failed. He also proposed exploiting Liao Tingyan's relationship with her former master, Dongyang Zhenren (from Qinggu Mountain), a suggestion Yuan Che praised. Sometime later, Liao Tingyan immersed herself in reading ancient texts, her enhanced perception allowing her to understand the structure of the cultivation world.
She discovered the existence of outer sects and the Demon Realm, learning about the ancient war led by the Demon Realm leader, Centipede, and how the Sima Clan established the Immortal-Demon Barrier, depriving demon cultivators of Gengchen Celestial Palace's spiritual energy. She also read a biased account of Sima Jiao's upbringing by Lord of Slack of the Shi Clan, which portrayed Sima Jiao as "rash" and in need of an immortal to suppress his "inner demon."
Liao Tingyan dismissed these parts as fabricated nonsense. Shortly after, Liao Tingyan received a letter from her master in Qinggu Mountain, inviting her and Grandmaster to a reunion festival. Filled with joy, she eagerly asked Sima Jiao to accompany her. Sima Jiao declined. When Liao Tingyan asked if she could go alone, he replied "Of course." Unbeknownst to Liao Tingyan, this "celebratory feast" was a carefully laid trap, orchestrated by Shi Qianlv and Yuan Che, with the ultimate goal of killing her.
Episode 9 Recap
Knowing that Shi Qianlv intended to use Liao Tingyan as bait to lure him into a sealing array, Sima Jiao preemptively equipped Liao Tingyan with a powerful artifact as she prepared to attend the banquet. Liao Tingyan, unaware of the trap laid for her, innocently headed to the gathering, while Canglan, believing this was an opportune moment to obtain Liao Tingyan's inner core for her people and fearing Ye Ruling's interference, incapacitated Ye Ruling and rushed to confront Liao Tingyan.
The moment Liao Tingyan arrived, the artifact she carried, enabled by Sima Jiao's foresight, shattered the formidable arrays set by the various sect masters. Witnessing their plans foiled, the eight sect masters dropped their pretenses and immediately turned hostile towards Liao Tingyan. Sima Jiao observed the unfolding chaos and conflict from above, undisturbed.
Moon Palace Young Princess Chuhui, who had not been chosen as Sima Jiao's attendant but had built a luxurious flying pavilion nearby the Immortal Palace in hopes of encountering him, found her dwelling unexpectedly drawn towards White Deer Cliff, under Sima Jiao's influence. Upon seeing Sima Jiao arrive with Liao Tingyan, she was thrilled, believing Sima Jiao might be about to eliminate his companion.
Sima Jiao then dramatically declared the pavilion a "perfect place to kill someone," further convincing Chuhui of his brutal intent, and dismissed her, despite Liao Tingyan's protests about the impoliteness of evicting the hostess. Liao Tingyan was then left in the opulent pavilion, completely at ease and delighted by its five-star comfort.
After the apparent death of Liao Tingyan (and her life lamp extinguishing, as confirmed by Moon Palace Young Princess Chuhui), while other sect masters believed her dead and prepared to leave, Shi Qianlv expressed his lingering doubts. He pointed out that Sima Jiao had shown strong protectiveness towards Liao Tingyan in the past and urged them to verify her demise by searching for her aura at White Deer Cliff, acknowledging the danger of trespassing on Sima Jiao's territory.
Yuan Che, the Tianzhiya Sect Master, secretly loyal to Sima Jiao, volunteered to go, intending to warn the Grandmaster. However, Shi Qianlv insisted on accompanying him with a few disciples to ensure the investigation was thorough, and ordered them to capture Liao Tingyan on sight if she were found alive. Upon their arrival at White Deer Cliff, Sima Jiao confronted Shi Qianlv and his party, feigning fury at their intrusion.
He claimed to have brutally tortured Liao Tingyan, leaving no trace of her body, and commanded Shi Qianlv to clean up what appeared to be Liao Tingyan's bloody clothes. Shi Qianlv, finding only the garments retaining Liao Tingyan's aura, was finally convinced that she was dead and her soul utterly destroyed. Sima Jiao then sternly warned him against future trespasses, dismissing him and the other sect masters.
Meanwhile, Canglan, devastated by the news of Liao Tingyan's purported death and the loss of her core, lamented to Ye Ruling that their hopes of returning to the Demon Realm were dashed. Ye Ruling, still skeptical of Sima Jiao's ruthlessness towards Liao Tingyan, questioned if their bond would allow such an act.
Canglan, however, was already shifting her focus, urging Ye Ruling to target Sima Jiao instead, a suggestion Ye Ruling firmly rejected, fearing it would doom the entire Yin Palace. When Black Serpent requested an audience, Ye Ruling initially refused, but Canglan, recognizing Black Serpent's proximity to Sima Jiao, insisted that she meet with him. Hei Nianjiu, as the Black Serpent, entered and immediately inquired about Liao Tingyan.
He expressed his belief that Liao Tingyan was not truly dead, suggesting Sima Jiao had merely hidden her for protection. Ye Ruling, feigning relief, also cautioned Hei Nianjiu about the impropriety of a man visiting her so frequently. Hei Nianjiu, wanting a legitimate reason to see her, earnestly pleaded for Ye Ruling to accept him as a disciple, explaining his need to learn human ways after his recent transformation.
Though initially reluctant, Ye Ruling was persuaded by Canglan's whispered advice to utilize Hei Nianjiu's connection to Sima Jiao. Ye Ruling then revealed her true ambition: to secure a better life for her people, who were still suffering as captives from the Immortal-Demon War in the Yin Palace's Labor Camp. Deeply moved by their plight and Ye Ruling's sincerity, Hei Nianjiu pledged his unwavering support.
Recognizing his genuine heart, Ye Ruling accepted him as her disciple and bestowed upon him the name Hei Nianjiu, commemorating the day of his human transformation. To further protect Liao Tingyan from Shi Qianlv's machinations, Sima Jiao transformed her into an otter using a Form-Changing Pill, which would last for three months and turn her into the form she most vividly imagined.
Liao Tingyan was bewildered and frustrated to find herself as an otter, but Sima Jiao explained that it was necessary to make others believe she was dead and to keep her safe from Shi Qianlv, whose current respect was merely a facade. Hei Nianjiu, unaware of the otter's true identity, expressed envy at Sima Jiao's affection for the new "spirit pet."
Sima Jiao, seeking to uncover Shi Qianlv's true motives, learned that Anxue, who had previously acted as Shi Qianlv's informant, had been killed by him. Sima Jiao, using a unique spell, preserved Anxue's last wisp of spiritual energy. From her fleeting spirit, Sima Jiao discovered that Shi Qianlv and his son, Shi Zhenxu, were searching for a man with a flame-shaped birthmark on his back.
Hei Nianjiu, cleverly deducing Sima Jiao's strategy, realized that Sima Jiao had intentionally spread news of searching for Anxue, knowing Shi Qianlv's displeasure with Shi Zhenxu's involvement with her would lead him to eliminate Anxue to cover his tracks. Sima Jiao affirmed Hei Nianjiu's improved understanding. Unaware of Shi Qianlv's latest scheme involving a newly formed Spirit Fire and his son Shi Zhenxu heading to Chiyan City, Sima Jiao decided to find the man with the birthmark first.
He took Liao Tingyan, still in her otter form, to Chiyan City, the outer perimeter of the Gengchen Celestial Palace, a bustling civilian area. Liao Tingyan was thrilled by the vibrant atmosphere, finding it reminiscent of her former life. Sima Jiao assured her she could enjoy all the local delicacies. Hei Nianjiu, observing Sima Jiao doting on the otter, felt a strange stirring within him, unaware that the small creature Sima Jiao held so dear was, in fact, Liao Tingyan.
Episode 10 Recap
Upon entering the Zuihua Pleasure House, Sima Jiao felt an unusual stirring within him, pondering what it might be trying to tell him. Liao Tingyan, in otter form, wondered if Sima Jiao had flown all this way just for such a place, teasing if it was some kind of late-life scandal. Sima Jiao sternly told her to pipe down, then denied being able to read minds when she asked.
Before entering, Sima Jiao instructed Nianjiu, who had just transformed into human form, to wait outside. Liao Tingyan wanted to tag along, remarking how Nianjiu was missing such "shocking scenes." Sima Jiao explained he didn't want Nianjiu, new to the human world, to witness such things, which Liao Tingyan understood as "not kid-friendly," playfully noting she never thought Sima Jiao was "this kind of man." Sima Jiao clarified his purpose: he was there to look for someone.
Inside, they overheard patrons discussing a "Mr. Yan" who had just taken his eleventh concubine but was already back seeking pleasure, which Liao Tingyan condemned as "scum through and through." Liao Tingyan spotted their target, Yan Huan, noticing a distinctive flame-shaped birthmark on his shoulder. She confirmed with Sima Jiao that this was the man he was looking for.
After capturing Yan Huan and storing him in his Qiankun Pouch, Sima Jiao used an illusion to disguise himself as Yan Huan to avoid suspicion. Liao Tingyan remarked that Sima Jiao had only changed his clothes, yet everyone thought he was the real Yan Huan. She was surprised by his "roundabout tactics," having expected a more direct approach, and teasingly warned him to be careful when a woman tried to touch him, reminding him not to "give himself away."
As Sima Jiao, still disguised as Yan Huan, was leaving, Yan Huan's concubine, Zhou Qing'er, confronted him. Sima Jiao, embodying Yan Huan's persona, coldly asked when she would stop pestering him and ordered the house staff to take her away. Liao Tingyan felt pity for Zhou Qing'er and suggested Sima Jiao say something harsh to make the heartbroken woman give up. Sima Jiao followed her instructions precisely, declaring, "I'm not worthy of such devotion from you. I'm a jerk.
A scum. Nothing but an animal. So, miss, forget me and go find a better man." Zhou Qing'er, heartbroken, begged for an explanation for his sudden coldness, saying she didn't understand. She then revealed that their daughter had been born last month and asked him to give the child a name. Sima Jiao, still in character, dismissively replied, "What's that to me?"
Back at the Yan Residence, Sima Jiao, still disguised as Yan Huan, was informed by a servant that Yan Huan's father wanted him to rest at the sixth concubine's quarters. Sima Jiao, maintaining the ruse, declared Yan Huan would not go anywhere and would stay home to produce heirs. Liao Tingyan commented that Yan Huan was a good-for-nothing, living off his family and frequenting brothels.
Sima Jiao retorted that she was simply jealous of his easy life, though Liao Tingyan predicted Yan Huan would eventually squander his family fortune. Sima Jiao then interrogated the real Yan Huan, who, when asked about the flame-shaped birthmark on his shoulder, reacted with extreme distress, crying that he didn't know and didn't want to go back to "that place." He became so agitated that even Sima Jiao's Truth Spell failed to extract information.
Liao Tingyan explained that Yan Huan seemed to be suffering from PTSD related to the birthmark. Frustrated, Sima Jiao called Yan Huan worthless, but Liao Tingyan advised patience, suggesting they look for clues elsewhere and emphasizing the need for caution while Sima Jiao was impersonating Yan Huan. Concerned about Zhou Qing'er, Liao Tingyan requested Sima Jiao to turn her back into human form so she could go out.
She explained her desire to inform Zhou Qing'er about Yan Huan's many concubines, hoping it would make her give up. Sima Jiao questioned her sudden industriousness, noting her usual tendency to slack off. Liao Tingyan clarified she was "relaxed," not lazy, and merely wished to help Sima Jiao avoid further harassment from Zhou Qing'er. Sima Jiao agreed, adding that she should report any clues about the flame-shaped birthmark. Liao Tingyan playfully called him a "workaholic."
She found Zhou Qing'er selling embroidery and tried to convince her to abandon Yan Huan, detailing his numerous concubines. However, Zhou Qing'er remained steadfast, believing Yan Huan to be a loyal man and recalling their initial sincere connection. Liao Tingyan offered Zhou Qing'er money, claiming it was from Yan Huan, urging her to leave and start a new life with her child, but Zhou Qing'er refused, insisting she would not leave without an explanation from Yan Huan.
She recited a romantic poem Yan Huan had once written for her, expressing her disbelief that their relationship could change without reason. Liao Tingyan again asked Zhou Qing'er about the flame-shaped birthmark, but Zhou Qing'er claimed to know nothing about it. Liao Tingyan sighed, noting it was a difficult secret to uncover. Liao Tingyan, back in otter form, returned to Sima Jiao, acknowledging her lack of progress.
She reiterated that Zhou Qing'er knew only about the birthmark's existence, not its meaning, and described Zhou Qing'er as a "hopeless romantic" who refused to believe Yan Huan had betrayed her. Sima Jiao asked for a definition of "hopeless romantic," which Liao Tingyan explained as an "illness" where one cares only for romance. When asked if she suffered from it, Liao Tingyan vehemently denied it, claiming she was too busy managing her own affairs.
Sima Jiao then declared love to be the "most useless thing in this world," a sentiment Liao Tingyan disagreed with, arguing that beautiful emotions could give great strength, though Sima Jiao dismissed this as a thought only those with "poor cultivation" would entertain. Liao Tingyan reflected silently that Sima Jiao's upbringing explained his views on love.
Later, Liao Tingyan, still in otter form, repeatedly tried to convince Sima Jiao to turn her back into human form for a shopping trip, complaining about frequently being an otter. Sima Jiao simply told her she chattered too much and interrupted his rest, even remarking he already had her as a "body pillow." Meanwhile, Ye Ruling, using a soul-tracking firefly, traced Nianjiu's last whereabouts to the Yan Residence, deducing that Sima Jiao and Liao Tingyan must be there too.
She asked a servant about a beautiful young woman, but the servant only mentioned a new concubine. Liao Tingyan, still an otter, realized Ye Ruling was searching for her. When Ye Ruling mistook the otter for a "little spirit," Liao Tingyan transformed, revealing herself. Ye Ruling was stunned, confirming her identity by recalling a shared memory of enjoying fruits and scenery together.
Relieved, Ye Ruling embraced Liao Tingyan, understanding that Sima Jiao had disguised her to protect her from the Eight Palaces. She admitted her fear when Liao Tingyan's life lamp had gone out. Sima Jiao and Nianjiu then appeared. Nianjiu asked Sima Jiao and Ye Ruling why they hadn't told him Liao Tingyan was safe, to which Sima Jiao simply told him to reflect on himself. Nianjiu asked Ye Ruling to teach him human ways, calling her "Master."
He presented her with a tube whistle as a gift, explaining its ability to transmit sound over a hundred li, allowing him to come to her aid if needed. Ye Ruling began his lesson by teaching him how to politely refuse, starting with "This doesn't look right," then "It's not convenient for me," and finally "I'd rather not" for stronger refusal.
Nianjiu, delighted, linked these to Sima Jiao's blunt "Get lost," which Ye Ruling confirmed as the "ultimate form of rejection." Liao Tingyan, still investigating, overheard a woman call out the name "Yueqing." She instantly connected this to the poem Zhou Qing'er had recited, realizing "Yueqing" was the name Yan Huan had given their child, a name derived from his love poem.
Excited, Liao Tingyan, now in human form, rushed to Sima Jiao to share her discovery: Yan Huan truly loved Zhou Qing'er. Sima Jiao seemed indifferent to Yan Huan's "love story," but Liao Tingyan elaborated, questioning why Yan Huan, despite his affection, would go to such lengths to distance himself from Zhou Qing'er. She theorized that Yan Huan's secret struggle was connected to his flame-shaped birthmark.
Suddenly, a servant burst in, reporting that the eleventh concubine had attempted suicide by jumping into a well but was saved. She was desperately crying to see her child, Xian. Other concubines also demanded to see their children. Sima Jiao questioned the servant about the child's whereabouts, but the servant explained that he and the Master never allowed staff to inquire about the children. Liao Tingyan observed the suspicious absence of children in the large household, despite many concubines.
Sima Jiao noted that Zhou Qing'er was the only one with Yan Huan's child outside the household. Disguised as Yan Huan once more, Sima Jiao and Liao Tingyan went to find Zhou Qing'er. She rushed to them, distraught, revealing their child had been stolen. Sima Jiao used his magic to follow a stream of light, which led them to the housekeeper from Yan Huan's residence.
Sima Jiao confronted the housekeeper, who confessed he was stealing the child to bring her back to the Yan household for Master Yan, who had instructed him to gather any children Yan Huan had fathered outside. The housekeeper claimed he didn't know Master Yan's current whereabouts. Sima Jiao examined the rescued baby, confirming she also had a flame-shaped birthmark on her back.
Liao Tingyan speculated that all of Yan Huan's children bore the mark, and the Yan family was systematically taking them. Sima Jiao affirmed her suspicion, explaining that the Yan family made Yan Huan marry many concubines and forced him to procreate because these children were of "great use." Liao Tingyan remarked that this sounded disturbingly similar to the methods of the Eight Palaces, who had previously forced Sima Jiao's parents together and sought his bloodline to feed the Spirit Fire.
Sima Jiao dismissed these schemes as "boring" and "nothing new." Zhou Qing'er was reunited with her baby and expressed deep gratitude to Sima Jiao and Liao Tingyan. Liao Tingyan then asked why Zhou Qing'er had concealed her daughter's birthmark. Zhou Qing'er explained that Yan Huan had previously reacted with agitation when she asked about his birthmark, as if it were an "ill omen." Knowing he disliked it, she had pretended ignorance about her daughter's similar mark to avoid upsetting him.
Sima Jiao then informed Zhou Qing'er that he had named her daughter "Yueqing." Zhou Qing'er was moved, recognizing the name from Yan Huan's love poem, and felt he still cared for her. Sima Jiao, recalling a past memory where his own parents had named him "Jiao," mused internally that even with a name, a child's future could still "bring disaster."
Liao Tingyan, sensing his somber thought, urged him not to say such frightening things and reassured Zhou Qing'er that no matter what dangers lay ahead, Yueqing would have her loving mother and would never face the world alone. Zhou Qing'er thanked them again, revealing that she had realized Sima Jiao was not the real Yan Huan.
When Liao Tingyan asked how she had seen through Sima Jiao's illusion, Zhou Qing'er humbly stated she knew nothing of spells but, having spent so much time with Yan Huan, was intimately familiar with his every move. She explained that after Sima Jiao used magic to locate the baby, she was certain he was an imposter. Liao Tingyan mused that "true love can break spells."
Sima Jiao, overhearing this, declared that Zhou Qing'er could then "break the Yan family's fate with true love." Liao Tingyan promised Zhou Qing'er they would continue to investigate the Yan family's affairs. Later, Liao Tingyan asked Sima Jiao about his connection to the Yan family. Sima Jiao confirmed that he had indeed suspected a relation between the flame-shaped birthmark and The Fengshan Clan.
He revealed that upon entering the town, he had located Yan Huan using blood resonance, a power he had not realized he possessed, being the sole survivor of the Sima Clan for over five hundred years. He had used the same blood resonance to find the stolen child.
Sima Jiao explained that while The Fengshan Clan typically upheld bloodline purity, it was possible some members had defied their elders over the years, fled, and had children with outsiders, leading to the presence of Fengshan bloodline here. He concluded that Shi Qianlv's extensive efforts to gather people of the Fengshan bloodline indicated he was "playing a long game."
Episode 11 Recap
Sima Jiao discovered that Shi Qianlv’s meticulous search for the Fengshan bloodline indicated a grand scheme, one he was determined to thwart. He returned to Yan Huan's residence, wondering about their next steps. Yan Huan expressed his deep misery, feeling like a mere breeding vessel, manipulated and constantly under scrutiny, even when he pretended to be a wastrel immersed in pleasure.
He confessed to Sima Jiao that he already felt no different from the dead, living a life that was neither human nor ghost, just a walking corpse. Sima Jiao probed, asking why Yan Huan would rather live so miserably than die with dignity. Yan Huan retorted that it was easy for Sima Jiao to say, admitting he, too, wished to end it all, but taking his own life was not that simple.
He stated that Sima Jiao couldn't understand his pain as he hadn't experienced it. Sima Jiao then promised that once everything was over, he would put an end to Yan Huan's suffering. Yan Huan found this acceptable, believing it would be for the best. Liao Tingyan, hearing Sima Jiao’s plan to cause upheaval in the Yan family to force Master Yan's return, commented that Sima Jiao made the plans and she would execute them.
She remarked that this was a big project, and their leisurely days of shopping and snacking would likely be over for a while. Sima Jiao told her she was speaking in terms he didn't understand, but Liao Tingyan dismissed it, pointing out some pretty accessories. Meanwhile, members of the Shi family spotted Liao Tingyan. They had been eager to obtain an extreme-cold nature to break a barrier, but engaging in a direct confrontation offered little chance of success.
They decided to seek out Shi Qianlv’s people. Fortunately, Sima Jiao remained vigilant and swiftly transformed Liao Tingyan into an otter, preventing her detection by the Shi family. Back at the residence, Liao Tingyan thanked Sima Jiao for saving her. He asked if she was hurt, and she confirmed she was not, grateful that he had transformed her into an otter in time to avoid capture by the Shi family.
Sima Jiao noted that the incident felt strange, suggesting someone might have leaked her whereabouts. He then pressed her about who she had been with, causing her to initially claim she was alone. When he questioned her further, she reluctantly admitted Ye Ruling had been with her. Liao Tingyan explained her lie, fearing Sima Jiao would suspect Ye Ruling, given she was the Mistress of the Yin Palace and could potentially be colluding with the Shi family.
Liao Tingyan, however, vouched for Ye Ruling, stating her belief that Ruling would never betray her and that nothing serious had happened anyway, as the situation had been resolved. Sima Jiao countered that her life had been saved by him, and her blood was his, so if she got hurt, it would be his blood that was wasted. Liao Tingyan then blurted out that he was just annoyed she was wasting his blood.
Annoyed by her prevarication, Sima Jiao used a Truth Spell on Liao Tingyan, ensuring that everything she said from that moment on would be her true thoughts. The Truth Spell immediately caused problems for Liao Tingyan.
When a servant asked for a good word with "Young Master Yan" (Sima Jiao in disguise), Liao Tingyan, unable to lie, told the servant his pink outfit made him look dark and that his receding hairline made him look fifty, despite his claim of being in his early twenties. The servant was offended, while Liao Tingyan helplessly apologized, reiterating that her mouth was out of her control and her apologies were sincere.
She pleaded with Sima Jiao to remove the spell, arguing that even if the people of Chiyan City couldn't see the spell mark on her forehead, her constant blunt remarks would make them suspicious, possibly leading to her being beaten up. Sima Jiao dismissed her pleas, stating it was a punishment and that if someone beat her up, it wouldn't be a bad thing.
He added that she seemed pleased, calling him a "schoolkid," which Liao Tingyan vehemently denied, explaining it meant childish, petty, and ridiculous. Sima Jiao found her truthful expressions amusing, telling her to continue cursing him if she wished, to which she immediately refused, begging him to lift the spell and promising flattery in return. Sima Jiao found fake flattery boring and preferred the truth, prolonging the spell by another five days.
When she silently cursed him, he added another five days, noting he enjoyed watching her reactions. He further teased her by pretending not to hear her, letting her fall into a pond after she cursed him for being "heartless," claiming he had warned her about it. Liao Tingyan, soaked and exasperated, accused him of going to great lengths just to amuse himself. After more banter, she gave up on trying to outsmart him.
Meanwhile, within the Yin Palace, Cang Lan continued to take aggressive actions that threatened their broader objectives, leading to a severe reprimand from Ye Ruling. Ye Ruling warned her not to risk Sima Jiao discovering their activities. Sima Jiao, still harboring suspicions about Ye Ruling's true intentions in Chiyan City, later used a Truth Spell on her.
Under its influence, Ye Ruling confessed that her presence was due to her concern for Liao Tingyan’s safety and her disbelief that Sima Jiao would truly execute her, which prompted her to use tracking fireflies to find Liao Tingyan. Satisfied that Ye Ruling was innocent in this matter, Sima Jiao nevertheless issued a stern warning that if he ever detected any 'second thoughts' or 'dirty deeds' from her, he would personally end her.
Back at the Yan Residence, Sima Jiao, still in Yan Huan's form, proceeded with his plan. He instructed the steward to withdraw all of Master Yan's funds from the bank and announced that the servants could take whatever they desired from the treasure chests in the courtyard before leaving the residence. The steward was horrified, explaining these were Master Yan’s most prized possessions.
The news spread quickly among the servants and in the city that "Young Master Yan" had dismissed his concubines, given them large relocation fees, and even distributed the family fortune among the servants before letting them go. People wondered why he was acting so erratically. Meanwhile, Liao Tingyan noticed that the chests containing magical artifacts were the most popular.
A servant explained that Master Yan, despite the city's low magical realm, admired immortal arts and collected these items, including a Sound Channeler, a Mirror of Reversal, and Lovebond Plaques, which could make two people fall in love if their names were carved on them. This sparked an idea in Liao Tingyan. Later, Liao Tingyan found the Mirror of Reversal and attempted to use it, hoping to deflect the Truth Spell back onto Sima Jiao.
Instead, she overheard Sima Jiao's innermost thoughts. He expressed his disdain for "empty pleasantries and lies," stating he desired no one to hide anything from him. He then admitted that he cherished her and did not want her to suffer the slightest harm, explaining that he had put the Truth Spell on her because he valued her and wished for her to remain unharmed.
This revelation stunned Liao Tingyan, leading her to question if Sima Jiao, a seemingly aloof individual, had developed romantic feelings for her, though she quickly dismissed the idea as impossible. During a celebration where Liao Tingyan got drunk, she, in her otter form, hugged Sima Jiao's leg, calling him "dear Grandmaster." Sima Jiao, amused, pondered if he had developed a "hopeless romantic" mindset. He then subtly lifted the Truth Spell from her, causing her to revert to human form.
When she woke up and saw him smiling, she questioned it, but he denied it, dismissing her observation as her imagination. Sima Jiao informed Liao Tingyan of his intention to kill Yan Huan to provoke Master Yan's return. Liao Tingyan pulled Sima Jiao aside, urging him not to resort to murder, suggesting a less violent solution.
She proposed that they announce Yan Huan and Qing'er had eloped and squandered the family fortune, which would still disrupt the Yan family's plans for the Fengshan bloodline and bring Master Yan back. Sima Jiao initially deemed her efforts futile but eventually conceded to try her approach. The fabricated news of Yan Huan’s elopement with Qing'er and the squandering of the family fortune quickly reached Master Yan, who rushed back to the residence in a rage.
He confronted Sima Jiao, still disguised as Yan Huan, about the chaos and his supposed elopement. Sima Jiao used the Truth Spell on Master Yan. Under its influence, Master Yan revealed that the Yan family shared bloodline ties with the Sima clan, both belonging to the Fengshan lineage. Every few generations, a child born in the Yan family would possess the Sima bloodline, indicated by a flame-shaped birthmark. These children were immediately sent to Baifeng Mountain.
If their bloodline power was strong, they would remain there, bringing significant benefits to the Yan family, and could potentially even replace Sima Jiao. However, if their power was weaker, like Yan Huan's, they would be allowed to return home after several years. Sima Jiao decided he needed to visit Baifeng Mountain.
Master Yan explained that the emissaries from Baifeng Mountain would contact them, coming monthly to inspect for pregnancies and confirm newborns with the Fengshan bloodline, taking them directly to the mountain, with Master Yan accompanying them. Sima Jiao then ordered Nianjiu to make preparations for a child, so they could get the emissaries to visit sooner. Nianjiu, having been taught by Ye Ruling how to politely refuse, began to subtly resist Sima Jiao's commands.
Ye Ruling quickly intervened, claiming she was only teaching Nianjiu social skills. Liao Tingyan also defended Nianjiu, admitting she had asked Ye Ruling to teach him to be less compliant. Sima Jiao, annoyed, suggested Nianjiu should learn from him instead of Ye Ruling.
Sima Jiao then instructed Nianjiu and Ye Ruling to return and monitor the Shi family and the Eight Palaces, agreeing to Ye Ruling's request to accompany Nianjiu, as she hoped gaining Sima Jiao's trust would help her break the Immortal-Demon Barrier. He emphasized that they should report any unusual developments immediately. Finally, Liao Tingyan and Sima Jiao found Yan Huan, who was resigned to his fate.
He believed that the Fengshan bloodline would inevitably drag him back into tragedy, despite Liao Tingyan's assurances that Sima Jiao's actions had paved the way for him to live freely and without worry.
Episode 12 Recap
Yan Huan had lost the will to live, but Liao Tingyan encouraged him, even proposing a reunion with his wife and child. This brought a glimmer of hope to his eyes, although he doubted he could live a carefree life after his experiences, fearing the Fengshan bloodline would inevitably drag him back into tragedy. Sima Jiao conceded that Yan Huan was right, but Liao Tingyan still urged Sima Jiao to check on Zhou Qing'er.
Liao Tingyan then persuaded Yan Huan to meet his daughter, Zhou Yueqing, whom he had named himself. Zhou Qing'er expressed profound gratitude to Sima Jiao for his help, saying she would never forget his kindness, even if he claimed he hadn't done it for her. She acknowledged that what might have been a small effort for him was a lifelong blessing for her. When she mentioned Master Yan, Sima Jiao assured her he would handle it.
Zhou Qing'er confided that despite her current anxieties, this was the most at peace she had felt in years. Sima Jiao echoed her sentiment, stating that only recently had he learned what peace meant. Yan Huan finally met his daughter, Yue, holding her gently. He expressed his immediate love for her and how this tiny being had given him immense courage.
Meanwhile, Liao Tingyan reflected on how her opened Soul Manor made her feel deeply connected to the fates of others, like Zhou Qing'er and Yan Huan. She realized that Sima Jiao, having endured his fate for centuries, must suffer even more than Yan Huan. As Yan Huan held Yue, he noticed the flame-shaped birthmark on her shoulder. His expression clouded as he remembered the curse that would turn his child into a puppet, bound to a life of forced reproduction.
He decided to end the Yan family's tragic fate with his generation. He set the room ablaze, intending to die with Yue, but hearing Zhou Qing'er's desperate cries to save their child, he faltered. He threw Yue out of the burning room, choosing to sacrifice himself to break the curse. Liao Tingyan watched, tears streaming down her face.
Sima Jiao observed her, finally understanding the profound helplessness and pain his own mother must have felt when she was forced to abandon him. Sima Jiao awoke from a dream, startled. Liao Tingyan, who was nearby, noted that he rarely slept, let alone dreamed. He confided that he had dreamed of "that woman" – his mother.
He recalled how others reacted to him with fear, disgust, or flattery, but she had treated him with a detached calm, like a roadside flower. He also remembered his mother’s desperate cries of "Jiao'er!" as Gengchen Celestial Palace sought to take him, and a voice urging her to kill him to end his wretched fate. Liao Tingyan comforted him, reminding him that he was not Yan Huan, but himself, and that his destiny was his to shape.
Sima Jiao mused that all paths lead to the same end. Later, an emissary from Baifeng Mountain arrived to test Yueqing's bloodline. The emissary's son accompanied them, explaining that he needed to witness the process to prepare for inheriting the family's estate. Inside Baifeng Mountain, Sima Jiao found the imprisoned members of the Sima clan, his kin. They were chained, forced to provide blood for cultivation and to continuously reproduce.
Many begged him to end their lives, preferring death to being drained dry and eaten like livestock. One mother, still in labor, pleaded for him to kill her and her unborn child rather than let them suffer. As soon as her baby was born, it was taken away by the captors, leaving her devastated. Sima Jiao released the prisoners, urging them to flee.
However, Shi Qianlv had set up a barrier at the exit that would drain the internal energy of any Sima clan member who passed through it, killing them instantly. The desperate clan members, choosing death over their horrific existence, ran through the barrier and perished, their bodies collapsing in a bloody heap. Enraged by the massacre, Sima Jiao set out to destroy everything. He killed the guards and began to burn down Chiyan City.
Meanwhile, Shi Qianlv was informing his father that Sima Jiao had broken into Baifeng Mountain and would destroy their "master plan." Shi Qianlv then ordered his subordinate, Zhenxu, to set Chiyan City ablaze and spread the word that Sima Jiao was responsible, hoping to incite the various palace heads against him. He also began gathering the palace heads and elders, though some, like Master Yuan and Madam Ye, were absent.
Liao Tingyan, witnessing the city engulfed in flames and hearing the cries for help, realized the gravity of the situation and rushed to find Sima Jiao. She found Sima Jiao, covered in blood, cradling the body of a child. He was in despair, believing that as long as he existed, the Sima clan's fate remained unchanged.
He yearned for the Fengshan Spirit Fire to extinguish, believing that only then could his clan truly be free, even if it meant his own demise. He wished the dead child a better next life. Liao Tingyan was horrified by his state, urging him to pull himself together. He claimed he was dying, but she dismissed it as a joke, reminding him of his mother's desire for him to live.
Sima Jiao asserted that anyone who wanted his life would lose theirs, but Liao Tingyan offered her life to him if he wished, which he denied. She insisted he wouldn't die and that she would live with him, pulling him to his feet. He clung to his belief that only by thoroughly destroying the place and burning himself to ashes could the Fengshan bloodline be truly eradicated and the Gengchen Celestial Palace's lifeblood severed.
Liao Tingyan dismissed his nihilistic talk, reiterating that they needed to leave. Sima Jiao wondered why she hadn't run when he told her to, saying he looked undignified. She shot back that he looked uncool and should get a grip, to which he replied, "Does how I look really matter if I'm going to be burned to ash anyway?" Soon after, Shi Qianlv and the other palace heads arrived. They noted the presence of many Fengshan bloodline members and acknowledged that Sima Jiao, though injured by their array, must be captured alive.
Episode 13 Recap
Shi Qianlv, while the other sect leaders remained unaware of Baifeng Mountain’s true secrets, instructed his followers to capture Sima Jiao while he was wounded, emphasizing that he must be kept alive. Sima Jiao then directly confronted Shi Qianlv, accusing him of spending centuries scheming and going to great lengths to build Baifeng Mountain just to seize control of Gengchen Celestial Palace and free himself from the Sima clan's influence.
He sarcastically asked if Shi Qianlv was pleased to see his plans unraveling so close to success. Shi Qianlv, fearing the other sect leaders would discover the truth, immediately lied, calling Sima Jiao a slanderer. He feigned compassion, claiming he had always defended Sima Jiao but was shocked by his disregard for human lives.
Shi Qianlv warned the other sect masters not to be swayed by Sima Jiao’s words, stating Sima Jiao merely wanted to drag the entire Gengchen Celestial Palace down with him, emphasizing that if Sima Jiao fully extinguished the Spirit Fire, that would be the true disaster. Sima Jiao countered that they were too weak to bring him down.
As the confrontation escalated, Sima Jiao further taunted Shi Qianlv, revealing his knowledge that Shi Qianlv had reached the Grand Ascend realm and had secretly cultivated another Spirit Fire elsewhere, aiming to use the Sima clan's secrets for his own ends. Shi Qianlv, enraged, threatened to destroy everything and leave no trace of the Fengshan bloodline if Sima Jiao continued to spout lies, thereby ruining Sima Jiao’s own grand ambitions.
Sima Jiao, initially intent on sacrificing his cultivation and perishing with the sect leaders, hesitated when Liao Tingyan, who was with him in her otter form, stirred. She anxiously questioned his intentions, and Sima Jiao, though having no hope for his own life, realized Liao Tingyan was innocent and should not be dragged into his destructive plan. He decided to abandon his self-sacrificial attempt and escape with her.
Liao Tingyan, witnessing Sima Jiao weakening and his body on the verge of collapse, urged him to stop fighting if the pain was too great, arguing there was no need to prolong his suffering for their enemies. Sima Jiao mused that he might die there, but expressed contentment with the long holiday he had enjoyed, asserting that his destiny was to live a carefree life.
Liao Tingyan asked if that meant she wouldn't have to die with him, and Sima Jiao confirmed her desire to live. Though he had nothing left to cling to, Liao Tingyan's will to live made him reconsider. As he faltered, Liao Tingyan encouraged him to stand up and run, insisting that she would not leave him behind, even if it meant certain death for them both.
As Sima Jiao lost consciousness, Liao Tingyan desperately called his name, noticing a red bead glowing on his ankle. After Sima Jiao and Liao Tingyan vanished, Shi Qianlv, frustrated and despairing over the destruction of centuries of his clan's work at Baifeng Mountain, vowed to flay Sima Jiao alive and tear out his tendons. His subordinate reported that Sima Jiao had disappeared despite his injuries, prompting Shi Qianlv to order an exhaustive search.
Shi Qianlv discussed his next steps with his son, Zhenxu, emphasizing that their priority was to capitalize on Sima Jiao’s injuries to re-seal him, and that the Eight Palaces were too preoccupied with hunting Sima Jiao to investigate the Baifeng Mountain incident. He instructed Zhenxu to eliminate all witnesses. Shi Qianlv then revealed to Zhenxu that the new Spirit Fire had taken shape, and he would seek Sima Jiao’s blood to repay for the destruction of his plans.
Zhenxu assured his father that Sima Jiao could not hide forever, as the Eight Palaces had spies everywhere. Zhenxu, still consumed by love for Anxue, proposed returning to the palace to gather information on the Eight Palaces’ movements. Shi Qianlv rebuked him for being distracted by romance at such a critical time. Zhenxu pleaded, reminding his father that he had never asked for anything but Anxue.
Shi Qianlv then cruelly lied, claiming Sima Jiao had found Anxue while Zhenxu was away and brutally killed her, lamenting that he couldn't even retrieve her body for fear of exposure. Devastated, Zhenxu vehemently denied the possibility, unable to believe Anxue, usually so cautious, could have died. Fueled by grief and rage, Zhenxu swore to kill Sima Jiao to avenge Anxue.
Shi Qianlv, manipulating his son, asked Zhenxu when he planned to perform a Soul Cleanse on Anxue, reaffirming that Zhenxu must trust only him and ensure their grand plan remained flawless. Zhenxu reaffirmed his loyalty to his father and his commitment to their great undertaking, promising to avenge Anxue by killing Sima Jiao once their goal was achieved. Sima Jiao and Liao Tingyan landed in Mindscape Lake. Liao Tingyan, feeling disoriented, wondered if she had entered someone else's domain.
A white-robed immortal, fishing on the lake, greeted them, stating that fate had brought them there and they should not rush to leave. The immortal then asked Liao Tingyan if she was a demon cultivator, and after she confirmed, he reassured her that his eyes could discern good from evil and knew she was not malevolent. The immortal recognized Sima Jiao from a past encounter at Three Saints Mountain, recalling Sima Jiao’s extraordinary intelligence even as a child.
He revealed that he had given Sima Jiao the Taoist name “Cizang” (Mercy) in hopes of guiding him towards compassion and away from his destructive impulses. The immortal had foreseen Sima Jiao single-handedly destroying Gengchen Celestial Palace, overturning the cultivation world, and slaughtering countless innocents, turning fertile lands into scorched earth and the immortal realm into hell. Liao Tingyan argued that Sima Jiao, though appearing ruthless, did not kill indiscriminately.
The immortal affirmed that nothing was absolute, and even in a dead end, hope could exist. He foresaw a glimmer of life in Sima Jiao's bloody future—a turning point, a person who would change him. Liao Tingyan asked who that person was.
The immortal then explained to Liao Tingyan that the red prayer bead (also known as a "Jingxinwan" or "Calming Mind Pill") on Sima Jiao’s ankle, which others viewed as a binding seal, was placed there by him to suppress Sima Jiao’s malevolence and keep his mind clear, though it caused him unbearable pain when he harbored killing intent. He revealed it was also a divine medicine: if Liao Tingyan could remove the bead, it could save Sima Jiao's life once.
If not, it meant Sima Jiao's fate was sealed. When Liao Tingyan asked why the immortal couldn't just save Sima Jiao himself, the immortal simply urged her to try. Liao Tingyan discovered she could easily remove the bead, confirming her role as Sima Jiao’s fated turning point and a hope for all living beings. The immortal instructed her to guide Sima Jiao towards good and to handle other Spirit Fires with care, as Sima Jiao would understand his meaning.
The immortal then declared his connection with the Fengshan Clan was complete and departed, leaving Liao Tingyan to wonder about his sudden departure. Liao Tingyan gave the bead to Sima Jiao, noting his improved complexion, realizing she had finally saved him for once. The Spirit Pearl, still agitated, warned Liao Tingyan that while the bead had stabilized Sima Jiao’s body, his consciousness was still fading, and he would die if nothing more was done.
It urged Liao Tingyan to enter Sima Jiao’s Soul Manor and piece his soul back together, admitting that it needed Sima Jiao alive to survive, as it was still bound to him. Liao Tingyan expressed doubt about entering such a powerful cultivator’s Soul Manor without his cooperation, but the Spirit Pearl insisted that Sima Jiao was fond of her and she might succeed.
Liao Tingyan, though initially skeptical of Sima Jiao's feelings for her, resolved to help him, realizing it would be a waste to give up halfway. Liao Tingyan pressed her forehead against Sima Jiao's, entering his Soul Manor. She was surprised to find it ravaged and scarred, like a Mountain of Flames, realizing the immense constant suffering Sima Jiao endured.
She stumbled through his fragmented memories, feeling the overwhelming pain and despair from his past, including a memory of his birth and an old voice lamenting that Sima Jiao was destined to live in agony from the Spirit Fire. She wondered if she would die there, feeling her own identity blur as she experienced all of Sima Jiao's emotions. As his soul core began to shatter, she panicked, desperately trying to hold it together.
She embraced the crumbling core, her tears flowing onto it, and miraculously, the core stopped shattering. She then heard Sima Jiao's voice from a memory, echoing his past promise: "If I don't want you to die, you won't die." When Liao Tingyan awoke, she found herself lying next to Sima Jiao, tear marks still on her face.
The Spirit Pearl excitedly informed her that she had pulled Sima Jiao back from the brink of death and that only two more entries into his Soul Manor might be needed for a full recovery. Liao Tingyan, remembering Sima Jiao's past kindness, committed herself to the task, even though the first entry had been emotionally draining.
She internally mused about Sima Jiao's potential affection for her, quickly dismissing it as wishful thinking, given his ancient age and her lower cultivation level. Nevertheless, she determined to see her efforts through to the end. During her second entry, Sima Jiao's Soul Manor was no longer scorching, and Liao Tingyan felt a peaceful connection, indicating their spiritual energies were intertwining.
Sima Jiao, in his slumber, experienced a pleasant dream of blooming flowers, gentle breezes, and vibrant plants, finding peace resting in a tree. He even briefly sensed the serene and pleasant nature of Liao Tingyan's Soul Manor. Liao Tingyan awoke again, observing the serene and handsome sleeping Sima Jiao, a rare moment for her to truly take in his features.
She prayed for his fortune to change, reflecting on her journey with him, from their first terrifying encounter to understanding his painful past. Suddenly, Sima Jiao opened his eyes, no longer cold or violent. He then leaned in and tenderly kissed Liao Tingyan, leaving her astonished and pondering the true nature of their connection.
Episode 14 Recap
A widespread search for Sima Jiao began, with various cultivators following a significant blood trail that indicated his severe injuries. However, the trail abruptly vanished, suggesting Sima Jiao had used a powerful concealment spell to evade his pursuers. Worried about the potential for further massacres should he recover, the cultivators decided to regroup and discuss their next steps.
Meanwhile, Ye Ruling, driven by her secret ambition to break the Immortal-Demon Barrier, concluded that killing Sima Jiao was her only viable path, especially now that he was gravely wounded and isolated. She resolved to find allies to achieve this goal. Sima Jiao, having recently awakened, found himself in a shared bed with Liao Tingyan, who was visibly flustered by their proximity.
He playfully asked if she disliked their arrangement, to which she blushingly replied in the negative, noting that his severe injuries seemed to have affected his ability to use a Truth Spell. Sima Jiao, however, confidently stated that he no longer needed the spell to discern her true feelings. The intimate atmosphere left Liao Tingyan wondering if the little Spirit Fire's earlier revelation about Sima Jiao's affection for her might indeed be true.
To calm Liao Tingyan, Sima Jiao offered her a "Serene Vale specialty." He explained that they were currently in a temporary Mindscape, which accounted for the constant daylight and the absence of pursuers. Liao Tingyan then conveyed a message from the Immortal Messenger about another existing Spirit Fire, which Sima Jiao immediately identified as belonging to Shi Qianlv.
This prompted Liao Tingyan to question why Shi Qianlv would possess a Spirit Fire, given that only the Sima clan was known to cultivate them. Sima Jiao then unveiled a deeply guarded secret: the Sima clan's famed "ascension" was a tragic illusion. Instead of reaching a divine realm, their souls and bodies dissolved into pure spiritual energy, replenishing the world.
This truth, known only to their clan, was the reason other factions dared to scheme against them, seeking to merge Spirit Fire to break the curse and achieve true immortality. Shi Qianlv, having somehow learned this secret, created Baifeng Mountain to acquire Fengshan blood through rituals, hoping to achieve eternal life. Sima Jiao revealed that he had already destroyed Baifeng Mountain, but if Shi Qianlv's Spirit Fire still burned, it meant he had hidden other Fengshan bloodlines elsewhere.
When Liao Tingyan asked if he intended to kill Shi Qianlv, Sima Jiao declared that merely killing him would not suffice. He planned to plant "hidden fire" in the nine spiritual peaks that nourished the Shi family. Once he located Shi Qianlv's concealed Spirit Fire, he would ignite these fuses, utterly demolishing the Shi family's "century-old delusion."
Despite Liao Tingyan's concern for his injuries, Sima Jiao confidently asserted his resilience, stating that as long as he did not wish to die, no one could kill him. When she asked if he still harbored thoughts of death, he replied that because she had tried so hard to save him, he would choose to live. Their next destination, he informed her, was the Shi family.
Ye Ruling confronted Shi Qianlv, directly questioning his intentions regarding Sima Jiao and alluding to her knowledge of his involvement with Baifeng Mountain and the misappropriated Fengshan blood. She openly declared her primary goal was Sima Jiao's death, not out of personal vengeance, but to dismantle the Immortal-Demon Barrier. After a tense exchange where each tested the other's resolve, they agreed to an alliance.
Ye Ruling offered to keep the secrets of Baifeng Mountain confidential in exchange for his cooperation in eliminating Sima Jiao, acknowledging that their objectives aligned. Shi Qianlv, admiring her boldness, agreed to collaborate and requested timely updates. Ye Ruling reciprocated, urging him to uphold his end of the bargain. Meanwhile, Shi Qianlv’s son, Shi Zhenxu, met with his aunt, Shi Qiandu.
She reassured him that the destruction of Baifeng Mountain was not his fault and mobilized the Shi clan to intensify their search for Sima Jiao, with Shi Zhenxu leading one of the search parties. Sima Jiao, still relying on an invisibility spell despite his injuries, guided Liao Tingyan to the Luo River Immortal District, a remote area of Gengchen Celestial Palace populated mostly by mortals and low-level cultivators.
Liao Tingyan, concerned by his weakened state, suggested they maintain a low profile. Sima Jiao, however, confidently declared that with him, any place was a sanctuary for her. To further elude their pursuers and infiltrate the Shi family's network, they disguised themselves as the arrogant Mu siblings, Yong Lingchun and Yong Shiqiu.
The Mu family, connected to the Shi clan through generations of marriage, provided a convenient cover, especially since their residence was in a secluded part of the district, making them less likely to be detected by Shi Qianlv. Disguised as the Mu siblings, Sima Jiao and Liao Tingyan arrived at Chen Academy, where their "grandfather," Master Mu, urged them to study diligently and avoid shaming their families.
Liao Tingyan found the idea of attending school after transmigration absurd, but, determined not to be a burden to Sima Jiao, she began diligently learning basic spells. Sima Jiao, noticing her dedication, secretly shared advanced knowledge of elemental and derivative spells, and demonstrated how to access the private storage space within her Soul Manor.
While preparing for his mission to find Shi Qianlv's hidden Spirit Fire, Sima Jiao showed Liao Tingyan a list of clans allied with the Shi family, compiled from his observations during a previous combat tournament. He clarified that he would use these clans as a diversion rather than killing them, to buy time for his search.
As Sima Jiao departed on his mission, instructing Liao Tingyan to simply enjoy her time, she, now alone, began diligently stocking her Soul Manor space with food, daily supplies, and medicine, anticipating future challenges and reflecting on their unusual "long-distance romance." During her time at Chen Academy, Liao Tingyan, posing as Yong Lingchun, encountered Qi Letian, who attempted to befriend her, leading to him being disciplined by their young teacher.
Later, at a social gathering in Jinxiu Painting Hall, Liao Tingyan skillfully navigated confrontations with other students, including one who accused her of embarrassing Qi Letian. She used her "Liao Tingyan" personality to calmly deflect their aggressions with unexpected agreements, baffling them with the stark contrast to Yong Lingchun's notorious fiery temper.
Amidst the festivities, students gossiped about a recent major incident in the Inner Court, speculating that Sima Jiao had gone on a rampage due to a woman's influence, resulting in his current "seclusion" and a cover-up by the Sect Master. Opinions were divided, with some students fearing Sima Jiao's unpredictable nature, while others revered him as a pivotal figure in Gengchen Celestial Palace, wishing they could be his classmates.
Liao Tingyan, reflecting on these conversations, found herself missing Sima Jiao, lamenting that she could not see him whenever she wished. Sima Jiao traveled to the Shi clan's Spiritual Peaks' Spirit Pool, observing its continued abundance of spiritual energy even after 500 years. He declared that Shi Qianlv's comfortable life was due for a change, then planted "hidden fire" there, awaiting the opportune moment to ignite it.
He then instructed an informant to immediately report any detection of the Fengshan Spirit Fire. Meanwhile, in the Yin Palace, Hei Nianjiu, currently under Ye Ruling's protection, expressed concern for Liao Tingyan's safety, knowing Sima Jiao's perilous situation. Missing Ye Ruling, he ventured to her quarters, prompting her to explain her recent preoccupation with important matters and warn him of the dangers of being discovered by the searching Shi family and Eight Palaces.
Despite the risks, Hei Nianjiu expressed his reluctance to leave her, even offering to stay the night. Ye Ruling, though touched by his earnest affection and compliments about her eyes, gently but firmly redirected him to return to his room, skillfully maintaining their professional boundary while acknowledging his growing emotional attachment.
Episode 15 Recap
At a lively feast, Yong Shiqiu of Night Palace grew agitated by the noisy guests. His sister, Yong Lingchun, attempted to calm him, but Sima Jiao, who had just arrived, quickly escorted Liao Tingyan away from the boisterous crowd. Liao Tingyan expressed surprise at Sima Jiao's swift return, having expected him to be occupied for days. She admitted that while the food at the feast was good, she hadn't been able to truly enjoy it.
Sima Jiao remarked that with her current cultivation, eating was unnecessary, serving no purpose beyond sating her appetite. Liao Tingyan countered that food provided simple joy, suggesting Sima Jiao try more delicacies to maintain a cheerful mood. Understanding her unspoken desire, Sima Jiao led her to a secluded spot where a lavish "private feast" awaited. Overjoyed, Liao Tingyan praised his understanding.
As she enthusiastically sampled the dishes, Sima Jiao, without asking, took some food from her plate, stating he takes whatever he desires. While enjoying the meal, Liao Tingyan silently complained about Sima Jiao, even wishing to "dump the whole plate on his head." To her astonishment, Liao Tingyan immediately asked Sima Jiao if he had heard her thoughts.
When confronted, he admitted that although he possessed no mind-reading abilities, her "emotions running wild" occasionally allowed him to "hear what’s on your mind," specifically "only yours." Liao Tingyan, recalling her previous entry into his soul manor, speculated that their soul bond enabled him to hear her thoughts without a Truth Spell. Sima Jiao implied she should have learned such matters in her academy classes.
Liao Tingyan, embarrassed, tried to suppress her thoughts by reciting multiplication tables, fearing he could hear every mental curse. Sima Jiao confirmed he wouldn't hear "word for word" but would know if she was "cursing someone." She playfully retorted that he was the one prone to anger, then continued reciting in her mind. Sima Jiao teased that her thoughts rarely strayed beyond "eating and sleeping."
Liao Tingyan, reflecting on the "information explosion" and "crazy things" from her original world, privately vowed to maintain a calmer demeanor. She realized he must have heard all her previous mental complaints. She then wondered if his lack of angry reaction meant "true love," but he claimed not to have heard that thought. Later, Sima Jiao casually occupied her bed, declaring it his own.
The next day in class, the teacher discussed the sacred "soul manor," emphasizing its extreme privacy and the severe consequences of its invasion. He sternly warned against entering another's soul manor, even a cultivation partner's, describing it as "extremely dangerous." He explained that soul bonds, being the "most intimate bond," could lead to such a deep connection that "if one dies, the other often can’t survive," their souls too intertwined to be separated.
Liao Tingyan felt a chill, wondering if she and Sima Jiao were already in such a state and if separating would be possible. She was particularly concerned that Sima Jiao, with his vast knowledge, had allowed their soul bond to deepen, making her question if he truly considered her his other half. Later, Sima Jiao informed Liao Tingyan he would be absent that night, offering to bring her back anything she wished from his trip.
Liao Tingyan found his thoughtfulness akin to a "married couple" and gladly accepted his offer, saying anything would be fine. Sima Jiao promised not to keep her waiting long. Liao Tingyan again wondered if he truly regarded her as his cultivation partner. Meanwhile, Shi Qianlv continued his pursuit of Sima Jiao. He summoned Ye Ruling, inquiring if she had located Sima Jiao. He then revealed his surveillance of her, presenting a scale from Nianjiu found outside her hall as evidence.
Ye Ruling conceded Nianjiu was with her but insisted he knew nothing of Sima Jiao’s whereabouts. Shi Qianlv, desiring to lure Sima Jiao out, proposed testing Nianjiu’s loyalty by putting him in danger. Ye Ruling hesitated, but ultimately, as an ally dedicated to Sima Jiao’s demise, she appeared to comply. When Nianjiu arrived, summoned by Ye Ruling, he was distraught by her apparent betrayal and accused her of deceiving him about Sima Jiao.
Ye Ruling vehemently declared Sima Jiao a mass murderer deserving death, claiming her actions were "justice," not betrayal. Despite her harsh words, Ye Ruling secretly instructed Nianjiu to bite her and use a Breath-Sealing technique, promising to let him escape while faking his death to deceive an unseen observer. She publicly reported to Shi Qianlv that she had "put him down."
Shi Qianlv, though noting her "ruthless" act, accepted it, confident in his own ongoing methods, as he had already placed a tracking spell on Nianjiu. Nianjiu, having successfully escaped due to Ye Ruling's covert assistance, quickly located Sima Jiao. He revealed the tracking spell and how he had been used to find Sima Jiao. Sima Jiao confirmed they had been "tricked." As they attempted to depart, they encountered an array.
Sima Jiao, despite his recent severe injuries, easily subdued Shi Qianlv’s hidden men, transforming them into his puppets. He instructed them to report back to Shi Qianlv that Sima Jiao had evaded capture without a fight, having broken the array and tracking spell.
Sima Jiao explained to Nianjiu that these puppets would now act as his "eyes" within Shi territory, sensing the Sima bloodline to aid in the search for the Spirit Fire, and eventually ignite a "hidden fire" to complete his grand plan. He warned Nianjiu to keep this secret from Ye Ruling. Upon receiving the false report, Shi Qianlv suspected an internal spy and ordered an investigation within his own ranks.
Back at Gengchen Celestial Palace, Liao Tingyan, bored and impatient for Sima Jiao's return, experimented with drawing an emoticon on a mirror. Sima Jiao soon appeared. She tried to appear nonchalant, listing her busy schedule of classes and shopping, denying she had been waiting for him. Sima Jiao reassured her that such days would soon end and promised to spend more time in the academy.
He then presented her with a Flowing Light Mirror, explaining that with spiritual power, two such mirrors could reflect each other across vast distances. Liao Tingyan excitedly likened it to "video calls" and "cell phones" from her world, suggesting its use for "livestreaming." Sima Jiao confirmed he had heard her earlier mental suggestion and revealed he had visited Three Saints Mountain, using illusions to remain hidden while showing her a view through the mirror.
The connection suddenly broke, and Liao Tingyan, seeing his concern, asked if he was searching for the Spirit Fire. He told her not to worry and simply enjoy the scenery. Later, Sima Jiao, now rested, gently teased Liao Tingyan about her "excited" thoughts regarding a possible "date." He revealed that in a few days, Gengchen Celestial Palace would experience its "liveliest time" in millennia, though not a festival. He intended to make it an event "worth remembering."
Liao Tingyan, realizing it was a matter of "business," lamented that her romantic hopes had been "crushed." Sima Jiao then asked her what she liked to do most. She instantly replied, "Fish time," explaining it as a common desire for an "office drone." Misinterpreting her slang for "slacking off," Sima Jiao led her to Hantan (Cold Pond/Lake), famous for its abundant and delicious fish. When Liao Tingyan balked at the effort of catching fish herself, Sima Jiao, undeterred, personally waded into the cold water to retrieve them for her.
Episode 16 Recap
Sima Jiao caught an Ice Blue Fish and, finding the act uninteresting himself, handed it to Liao Tingyan. She playfully took it, attempting to explain the pun "摸鱼" (slacking off) to him. Sima Jiao informed her they were in Cloudsky Realm and that the fish was a rare Ice Blue Fish, sustained by pure spiritual energy and taking millennia to grow. Initially concerned by its preciousness, Liao Tingyan's interest piqued upon learning the fish also offered benefits for beauty.
Sima Jiao then caught more fish, leading Liao Tingyan to praise his remarkable skills, calling him "the best man ever" and "utterly handsome," though he dismissed her compliments. She affectionately wiped his brow as he requested some of the fish be made into soup. Surprised by his uncharacteristic desire to eat, Liao Tingyan prepared a large bowl of fish soup, which Sima Jiao found to be an exquisite "celestial delicacy."
Sima Jiao announced his intention to depart the next day to find spirit veins, a journey he referred to as "pursuing his career," which would take several days. He offered to bring back anything Liao Tingyan desired. She reassured him, stating she had the Qiankun Pouch her master had given her, as well as the Flowing Light Mirror he had provided, and encouraged him to focus on his mission without worry.
Meanwhile, Shi Qianlv received a report that the Ice Blue Fish in Cloudsky Realm had been extensively stolen. Seeing the remaining fish bones, he was deeply distressed. Ye Ruling, examining the scene, identified traces of Liao Tingyan's extreme-cold nature, noting her recent advancement in cultivation. While other sect officials questioned if Sima Jiao, who was still injured, would risk such an act, Shi Qianlv speculated that Sima Jiao might have done it for Liao Tingyan's sake.
Elsewhere, Yue Chuhui, the Young Mistress of the Night Palace, faced her mother's wrath. Yue Chuhui had been cultivating demonic arts that required absorbing female disciples' spiritual energy, and news of this was starting to spread. Her mother, the Palace Mistress, worried about the scandal and the other palaces' reactions. Yue Chuhui, however, defended her actions, claiming it was the only way to quickly advance her cultivation and that the "nobodies" she consumed wouldn't be missed.
To contain the potential scandal, the Palace Mistress, against Yue Chuhui's wishes, decided to send her to the remote Luo River Immortal District, where her activities would attract less attention. Feeling restless after Sima Jiao's departure, Liao Tingyan decided to go shopping for a gift for him in the Luo River Immortal District.
At the Cloud Robe Embroidery House, she customized an artifact and was then shown a silk brocade patterned with "Moonshade Bloom," a flower associated with the Sima Clan. As she admired the fabric, Yue Chuhui, who had just arrived, imperiously declared she would take all the brocade. The shopkeeper apologized, explaining that it was already reserved by Liao Tingyan. Yue Chuhui's maid then boasted about their prestigious family.
Liao Tingyan, trying to avoid conflict due to their numerical disadvantage, conceded the fabric and turned to leave. However, Yue Chuhui stopped her, claiming to loathe a familiar aura about Liao Tingyan and accusing her of feigning meekness while looking down on everyone. Despite Liao Tingyan's denial, Yue Chuhui, provoked by a perceived defiance, ordered her subordinates, Lord Han and Lord of Wind, to brutally assault Liao Tingyan.
Liao Tingyan, outmatched by Yue Chuhui's enhanced cultivation, was taken to Mount Ziliu Manor and severely beaten. Yue Chuhui cut her face with a dagger, causing blood to splash, and then Liao Tingyan was further brutally beaten. Yue Chuhui, expressing her intense dislike for Liao Tingyan's face, attempted to absorb her cultivation. In self-defense, Liao Tingyan used her extreme-cold nature, injuring Yue Chuhui and causing an unusual frostbite that resisted common remedies.
Enraged, Yue Chuhui ordered her subordinates to smash Liao Tingyan's bones but keep her alive for further torment, then left. Ye Ruling, learning of Yue Chuhui's strange frostbite, became suspicious and went to Mount Ziliu Manor. There, she discovered Liao Tingyan, severely injured and unconscious, confirming the presence of the extreme-cold energy. Recognizing Liao Tingyan's critical condition, Ye Ruling saw an opportunity to use her as bait to lure Sima Jiao.
She promptly informed all the palaces, leading to a large gathering of sect leaders. Madam Yue, distraught by her daughter Yue Chuhui being used as bait, reluctantly agreed to the plan after Shi Qianlv reassured her that Sima Jiao's weakened state would allow them to seal him and save Yue Chuhui, thereby elevating Madam Yue's status among the palaces.
Sima Jiao, having received an urgent message about Liao Tingyan's distress, swiftly traveled to Mount Ziliu Manor, accompanied by his loyal subordinate, Hei Nianjiu, who insisted on aiding his friend Liao Tingyan. At the manor, Sima Jiao found Liao Tingyan badly wounded, with injuries on her face and blood all over her body. He embraced her, transferring his internal energy to soothe her pain and heal her injuries.
Liao Tingyan, crying with tears of grievance and relief, confessed her helplessness against so many powerful cultivators. As Sima Jiao carried her, the Eight Palaces arrived, having formed a sealing array around the manor. Yue Chuhui, now facing Sima Jiao, pleaded with her mother for help. Sima Jiao then instructed Liao Tingyan to take her revenge by "stripping her face" and killing Yue Chuhui. Liao Tingyan, however, hesitated, having never taken a life.
She feigned worsening internal injuries, begging Sima Jiao to retreat with her, citing his unhealed wounds and their encirclement. Sima Jiao, seeing her reluctance, agreed not to force her but declared that Yue Chuhui "must pay the price." Ignoring Madam Yue's desperate pleas, Sima Jiao then directly killed Yue Chuhui. Enraged by her daughter's death, Madam Yue vowed revenge. Shi Qianlv taunted Sima Jiao, believing his injuries would prevent him from breaking their sealing array.
However, Sima Jiao dramatically declared that this was the moment he had been waiting for and shattered the array, escaping with Liao Tingyan. Afterward, Liao Tingyan asked how he managed to break the seal, recalling his previous words that he would need help from one of the Eight Palaces, which had led her to try to persuade Ye Ruling. Sima Jiao revealed that Ye Ruling was merely a "pretense" to mislead Shi Qianlv; his true accomplice was Yuan Che.
Liao Tingyan expressed concern about the risk he took and her surprise that he had learned to "work with others." Sima Jiao, however, dismissed it as Yuan Che's honor to aid him. Liao Tingyan then reflected on her lost friendship with Ye Ruling, feeling a persistent sense of irritability and tightness in her chest. Sima Jiao promised to heal both her physical wounds and her emotional distress.
Unbeknownst to Liao Tingyan, in a revealing flashback, Ye Ruling was seen speaking to Hei Nianjiu, apologizing to both him and Liao Tingyan. She confessed that her actions were not solely for herself but for her clan's return to their homeland, hinting at a complex web of loyalty and a betrayal of her friendships for a greater, hidden purpose.
Episode 17 Recap
Sima Jiao led Liao Tingyan through a barrier to a secluded spot where they could recover from their recent ordeal. Sima Jiao immediately produced a small bottle of healing medicine for Liao Tingyan, but its effect seemed minimal. Liao Tingyan showed her arms, still covered in scars and wounds. Seeing her injuries, Sima Jiao regretted going easy on their attackers, wishing he had made their deaths far more agonizing.
Liao Tingyan, however, was simply relieved they had escaped the siege of the eight great sects, content to merely survive. Wanting to heal Liao Tingyan’s internal injuries quickly, Sima Jiao offered a method similar to how she had previously healed him through a soul bond. Their long time together had nurtured a deep affection between them. As they drew closer, their breaths quickened, and after a passionate kiss, all the scars on Liao Tingyan's face vanished.
Liao Tingyan then felt a searing pain, as if being burned alive. Sima Jiao explained it was the same torment he endured day and night. He reassured her, telling her not to be afraid, for no one would ever hurt her again as long as he was there, and she would not feel such pain again. He urged her to tell him if the pain became unbearable, not to hold it in.
Despite his tenderness, Sima Jiao warned her that if she were ever gravely injured again, he would kill her. Liao Tingyan smiled, remarking that he would never be able to go through with it, as his thoughts already revealed how deeply he cared for her. Meanwhile, Ye Ruling informed her younger sister, Ye Canglan, that she had allied with Sect Master Shi Qianlv to eliminate Sima Jiao.
Ye Canglan, concerned that the powerful Shi family might suspect Ye Ruling, offered to covertly gather compromising information on them. Ye Ruling, however, dismissed the idea, instructing Ye Canglan to remain in the Yin Palace and leave everything to her. Elsewhere, Shi Qianlv received a report from his spies that there was no indication Ye Ruling was colluding with Sima Jiao, but he ordered them to continue surveillance, stating that she could not be fully trusted.
His subordinate also reported that Ye Canglan seemed to be seeking leverage against the Shi family, and her willful nature could jeopardize their plans. Shi Qianlv decided not to act against Ye Canglan yet, seeing Ye Ruling as a useful tool he intended to keep under his firm control. When Liao Tingyan awoke, she found herself in an unfamiliar place. Sima Jiao told her they were in Fenghua City, belonging to the Shi family.
She was now to assume the identity of Shi Yuxiang, Shi Qianlv’s niece, known for her dissolute lifestyle and lack of ambition, always seen with her male companions. Because of her bad reputation, she was not held in high regard by Shi Qianlv, making Fenghua City the safest place for them to hide. Liao Tingyan commented that Shi Yuxiang seemed to live quite a carefree life and humorously remarked that Sima Jiao had given her quite a role to play.
She pledged not to waste his efforts. Liao Tingyan, now embodying Shi Yuxiang, embraced her new persona, attracting a long line of male companions vying for her attention. This time, however, she seemed unusually devoted to a single male companion – Sima Jiao. As they selected accessories from Shi Yuxiang's treasure vault, Liao Tingyan expected Sima Jiao to shower her with precious jewels. Instead, he presented her with peculiar, unsightly trinkets like gourds, sachets, and heavy locks.
She gave him a look of disdain, finding them tasteless and unromantic. Sima Jiao chuckled, knowing that what she perceived as ordinary or useless were, in fact, exceptionally rare and powerful magical artifacts he had carefully selected for his beloved. Nianjiu, Sima Jiao’s apprentice, arrived after tracking their whereabouts and observed Sima Jiao carefully embedding various intricate artifacts into a delicate necklace.
Nianjiu inquired if Sima Jiao was crafting magical artifacts for Liao Tingyan, noting the thunder outside and deducing that Liao Tingyan was about to break through to the Void Forge stage and undergo a thunder tribulation. Sima Jiao confirmed her suspicions. Nianjiu then understood that Sima Jiao had brought Liao Tingyan to Fenghua City because Shi Qianlv, being a Void Forge cultivator, could offer certain privileges, such as the Thunder Valley, to mitigate the pain of the tribulation.
She questioned why Sima Jiao was going to such great lengths when Liao Tingyan’s cultivation, combined with his assistance, should easily allow her to pass the expected 36 thunderbolts (a Four-Nine Thunder Tribulation). Sima Jiao revealed that he would not be with Liao Tingyan during the tribulation because the Way of Heaven had always been against the Sima clan, and his presence would only put her in greater danger.
Liao Tingyan, feeling a growing unease and noticing the thunder, wondered why she felt so restless. Sima Jiao explained that she was about to break through to the Void Forge stage, which would trigger a thunder tribulation. Liao Tingyan realized that Sima Jiao had given her the defensive artifacts because he feared she might be struck by lightning. Sima Jiao reassured her that she would not die as long as he did not allow it.
Despite her nervousness, Liao Tingyan tried to avoid Sima Jiao’s touch, as she felt unready for the tribulation. However, Sima Jiao insisted, telling her she would face it now. They arrived at Thunder Valley.
Sima Jiao explained that he had chosen Shi Yuxiang’s identity because Shi Yuxiang was also a Void Forge cultivator on the verge of a breakthrough, allowing Liao Tingyan access to Thunder Valley, which once belonged to the Sima clan and aided in tribulation, but was now exclusively for the Shi clan. Liao Tingyan jested, asking if this was the protective shield he had found for her. Sima Jiao then instructed her to enter alone.
Liao Tingyan, surprised he was truly sending her in by herself, mustered her courage, reminding herself of her resilience. She believed that with her aptitude, cultivation from the Void Forge stage to Void Refinement stage, the Thunder Valley’s ability to weaken the strikes, and Sima Jiao's powerful defensive artifacts, the anticipated 36 thunderbolts would be manageable.
However, as the tribulation began, Liao Tingyan realized it was not the expected 36 thunderbolts, but the far more severe 81 thunderbolts (a Nine-Nine Heavenly Tribulation), typically reserved for Grand Ascend cultivators nearing immortality. Panicked, she felt the thunder aimed to obliterate her, wondering if she would be the first Void Forge cultivator to be killed by lightning. She decided to fight back, knowing Sima Jiao would never forgive himself if she perished.
The thunder tribulation intensified, and Liao Tingyan, unable to find Sima Jiao in the dimming light, felt afraid. The defensive necklace she wore blocked ten thunderbolts. However, as the strikes grew stronger and Liao Tingyan struggled, Sima Jiao personally stepped in, helping her block the remaining thunderbolts. With Sima Jiao shielding her and having set up a firm barrier, all the pressure seemed to fall upon him.
Bright flashes of lightning struck Sima Jiao repeatedly as he struggled to block them, helping Liao Tingyan overcome the ordeal again and again. He instructed her to sit still and assured her she would be fine, asking why she hadn't listened when he told her to sit still earlier. Liao Tingyan’s heart pounded, unsure if it was due to the terrifying tribulation or Sima Jiao's presence.
Sima Jiao explained that a tribulation within Thunder Valley would not cause any external anomalies. After the ordeal, Liao Tingyan tenderly cared for Sima Jiao, who was gravely injured and spitting blood from protecting her. She noted that his wounds would normally heal quickly for someone of his cultivation, but not for him. Sima Jiao reassured her that he would not die before her.
Liao Tingyan noticed a faint, sweet scent of Bloodseal Bloom emanating from him, as if seeping from his blood, and wondered if she was the only one who could detect it. She realized Sima Jiao had known the tribulation would be severe, which was why he had gone to such lengths to prepare her. He confirmed it, explaining that because she carried his aura, the Way of Heaven, which sought to kill him, had targeted her with 81 thunderbolts.
He had initially intended to distance himself during her tribulation, hoping she might avoid its full wrath, but even his lingering aura was not spared. Liao Tingyan lamented Heaven's cruelty, targeting his entire clan, but assured him she was not afraid of being implicated. However, she light-heartedly added that undergoing thunder tribulation was troublesome, and she preferred not to advance her cultivation too quickly.
Episode 18 Recap
Having suspected Night Ruling as a mole earlier, Shi Qianlv, after accidentally discovering Yuan Shang was still alive, began to suspect Yuan Che's loyalty. To test his suspicions and further his plans, Shi Qianlv had been manipulating Yuan Che with false information. Yuan Che then reported to Shi Qianlv that all damaged spiritual sites showed traces of Sima Jiao’s spiritual power and the Spirit Fire, suggesting Sima Jiao was still targeting him.
Shi Qianlv expressed surprise at Sima Jiao's arrogance despite his severe injuries, fearing other spiritual peaks would meet the same fate as Baifeng Mountain. He ordered a dozen elite disciples to reinforce Wufeng Mountain, where a critical Shi family item was located, and instructed Yuan Che to accompany them and report any unusual activity. Later, Shi Zhenxu, Shi Qianlv’s son, told his father that the Spirit Fire was not on Wufeng Mountain, deducing that it was a trap.
Shi Qianlv confirmed this, revealing his plan to use Yuan Che as bait to lure Sima Jiao to Wufeng Mountain, where he and his disciples would ambush him. He then tasked Shi Zhenxu with secretly guarding Taiwei Mountain, where the Spirit Fire was truly hidden, emphasizing the need to maintain the defenses there so they could acquire Sima Jiao’s blood and merge with the new Spirit Fire after his capture.
Unbeknownst to Shi Qianlv, Sima Jiao had already laid his own counter-trap, secretly placing puppets in Shi Qianlv's restricted areas and a spirit butterfly on Shi Zhenxu, ensuring that when Shi Zhenxu went to the Spirit Fire's hiding place, Sima Jiao would be alerted and could follow him.
Night Ruling then arrived, and Shi Qianlv instructed her to accompany him to Wufeng Mountain, telling her it was her chance to prove her sincerity and lead her clan back to the Demon Realm. Night Ruling asked if Sima Jiao would truly be there, and Shi Qianlv assured her that Sima Jiao would fall for his own trap. Meanwhile, Sima Jiao received a message from Yuan Che, indicating the trap was set. Liao Tingyan, concerned, asked Nianjiu for details.
Nianjiu explained Sima Jiao's strategy: he had used Yuan Che to damage the spiritual peaks with Sima Jiao’s own spiritual power, making Shi Qianlv believe Sima Jiao was still targeting Wufeng Mountain. This would prompt Shi Qianlv to send men to guard the Spirit Fire's actual location. By following these guards, Sima Jiao would find the new Spirit Fire.
Liao Tingyan astutely deduced that Sima Jiao had planted puppets on Wufeng Mountain and used a tracking spell on Shi Zhenxu, allowing them to follow Shi Zhenxu directly to the Spirit Fire without searching blindly. Sima Jiao complimented her intelligence. Sima Jiao initially told Liao Tingyan to stay behind, but she insisted on accompanying him, reasoning that even if she couldn't help much, being with him was better than worrying alone, especially given his unhealed wounds.
Sima Jiao relented, allowing her to join him. Shi Zhenxu and his confidants proceeded to Taiwei Mountain to guard the Spirit Fire, eagerly anticipating a new master for the Gengchen Celestial Palace. At Wufeng Mountain, Night Ruling reminded Shi Qianlv about their promise to spare Liao Tingyan and Hei Nianjiu. Shi Qianlv affirmed his word, contingent on Night Ruling's sincerity, and ordered an immediate encirclement once Sima Jiao appeared.
Shi Qianlv, waiting at Wufeng Mountain, became anxious when Sima Jiao didn’t appear, fearing a change in plans. He attempted to send a messenger crane to Shi Zhenxu, but Yuan Shang, hidden nearby, intercepted and garbled the message to prevent Sima Jiao’s plan from failing. Though he couldn’t make out the words, Shi Zhenxu sensed something was wrong with his father and decided to lead his men to Wufeng Mountain.
Meanwhile, Yuan Shang, hidden nearby, tried to intervene to prevent Sima Jiao’s plan from failing but was discovered by Shi Qianlv. Shi Qianlv attacked Yuan Shang, accusing him of colluding with the Demon Race. Yuan Shang retaliated, calling Shi Qianlv an "insane sinner" for harming the innocent and killing indiscriminately to achieve his goals. As they fought, Yuan Che arrived, declaring Shi Qianlv unworthy of being human and joining the battle to protect his son.
Severely wounded, Yuan Shang, feeling like a burden to his father despite his desire to make him proud, chose to self-destruct to weaken Shi Qianlv and his forces. Yuan Che watched in agony as his son vanished, then retreated under immense pain. Shi Qianlv, unfazed, immediately ordered his forces to Taiwei Mountain. Sima Jiao and Liao Tingyan had already caught up to Shi Zhenxu.
Sima Jiao demanded to know the Spirit Fire’s location, but Shi Zhenxu refused, defiantly cursing Sima Jiao and Liao Tingyan’s relationship and claiming the Celestial Palace for the Shi family. Nianjiu interjected, revealing that Anxue's death was Shi Qianlv's doing, not Sima Jiao's, which Shi Zhenxu vehemently denied. Sima Jiao then ordered Liao Tingyan to kill Shi Zhenxu. Liao Tingyan hesitated, unwilling to take a life.
Enraged by Shi Zhenxu’s continued insults towards Liao Tingyan and their bond, Sima Jiao forced her hand to deliver the fatal blow. Traumatized by her first kill, even though Sima Jiao had forced her hand, Liao Tingyan was horrified by Shi Zhenxu's blood on her hands. She broke down, vomited, and recoiled from Sima Jiao.
Sima Jiao, unable to comprehend her reaction, asked why she was so upset, explaining that Shi Zhenxu had intended to kill them and had insulted her. Liao Tingyan admitted she understood Sima Jiao’s world, where it was "kill or be killed," but she wanted to adhere to her principle of "never killing unless there’s no other way."
Sima Jiao argued that for him, there was only "want" or "don't want," never "can't," and insisted that one must know how to kill to survive. Liao Tingyan, overwhelmed, told Sima Jiao she didn't want to see him, and he, hurt, left the room. Liao Tingyan continued to be plagued by nightmares of Shi Zhenxu and her blood-soaked hands.
One day, Sima Jiao, worried after not finding Liao Tingyan in her room and Nianjiu reporting she had gone to use "silence bugs," found her by a pond, attempting to catch fish. She expressed her inability to eat due to her distress, explaining she had collected silence bugs to catch Soul Flying Fish for him. They reconciled, with Liao Tingyan telling him that he was the dearest person in her life and that their peaceful days together were precious.
She soon fell asleep in his arms. Sima Jiao, seeing her tears, felt regret for the first time and vowed never to force her to do anything against her will again. Carrying Liao Tingyan back to bed, Sima Jiao entered her Soul Manor through his spiritual connection and found the root of her nightmares. He retrieved a special jade pillow, explaining that it would bring her sweet dreams.
He also shared that he had witnessed "seas of corpses and blood" and the "horrors of hell" in his own Soul Manor, conveying his understanding of the deep trauma killing could cause. That night, Sima Jiao accompanied her in her Soul Manor. Liao Tingyan dreamed of a joyful birthday celebration with her master, fellow disciples, and Sima Jiao, sharing cake and happy memories of her family. Waking up the next morning, Liao Tingyan was visibly happier.
She greeted Sima Jiao and asked why he didn't use the magical jade pillow himself. He explained that due to his unique powers, many artifacts and elixirs were ineffective on him. She noticed a carving on the pillow, mistaking it for a wild boar. Sima Jiao corrected her, identifying it as a dream tapir, a legendary creature that consumes nightmares, and promised to take her to see real dream tapirs upon his return.
Shi Qianlv, mourning his son Zhenxu, vowed revenge against Sima Jiao. Although Sima Jiao hadn't found the Spirit Fire at Taiwei Mountain, Shi Qianlv had run out of patience. He ordered Night Ruling to meet him in a secret chamber, intending to leverage her prior success in finding Liao Tingyan. In the chamber, Night Ruling discovered her sister, Canglan, severely injured.
Shi Qianlv revealed that he knew Night Ruling had spared Hei Nianjiu previously and threatened to kill a hundred of Night Ruling’s clan members for each day she failed to capture Liao Tingyan within three days. Canglan, with her dying breath, urged Night Ruling not to let personal revenge blind her and to fulfill their mother’s last wish to lead their people home. Night Ruling, heartbroken, blamed herself for Canglan’s death.
Sima Jiao prepared to leave to find the Spirit Fire. He instructed Nianjiu to stay and protect Liao Tingyan, telling Liao Tingyan not to venture into the "Inner Court." He then presented her with a reforged Yingluo necklace, now empowered with a Thunderstone Core, making it incredibly resilient, capable of withstanding even attacks from powerful experts like Shi Qianlv for a long period.
He promised to find her before the artifact could be damaged and urged her to protect herself, as he would be worried. After a tender kiss, Sima Jiao departed. Following a puppet, he tracked another trace of Sima blood, likely from the Spirit Fire's feeder, to a location protected by a powerful barrier, confirming the Spirit Fire was within.
Episode 19 Recap
Sima Jiao, following the aura of the Fengshan Spirit Fire, navigated through a powerful barrier and a Bloodmist Array within Taiwei Mountain. He then encountered a monstrous guard dog. Remembering Liao Tingyan's earlier plea for him to protect himself from further injury, he refrained from direct hand combat, instead piercing the beast with countless swords.
Deep within the Black Jade Lotus Pond, Sima Jiao finally came face to face with his father, Sima Shi, who appeared in a state linked to a massive Bloodseal Bloom. Sima Shi expressed relief that Sima Jiao had finally arrived and acknowledged that Sima E, Sima Jiao's mother, had successfully merged the first Spirit Fire with Sima Jiao as per his wishes.
Sima Jiao wanted to take his father away, but Sima Shi refused, explaining that his broken body could not leave. He had lingered here, waiting only to reveal the truth of their clan's past and to ensure Sima Jiao became powerful enough to confront Shi Qianlv's still-numerous and influential followers. Sima Shi explained that the ascension curse had caused the Sima clan's decline, transforming them from leaders into mere tools of the Eight Palaces.
He and Sima E were forced into marriage to produce a purer Fengshan bloodline to nourish the Spirit Fire, which resulted in Sima Jiao's birth with the purest atavistic Fengshan blood. The Eight Palaces, driven by insatiable greed, sealed Sima Shi and Sima E at White Deer Cliff, treating them as prisoners.
Sima Shi had attempted to merge with the Fengshan Spirit Fire to gain power and end the Eight Palaces' scheme but found the agony unbearable, even falling into madness at one point, and eventually had to give up. He explained that Sima Jiao, with his rare and pure bloodline, was the only one capable of withstanding the Spirit Fire to break the curse.
However, they soon realized that Sima Jiao's pure blood would devour the Spirit Fire unless it was made even stronger. Therefore, Sima Shi and over a hundred Sima clansmen made a collective decision to sacrifice themselves by feeding the fire with their blood to cultivate a Spirit Fire powerful enough for Sima Jiao. This process was a bottomless pit, yet not a single clansman gave up.
To conceal their plan from the Eight Palaces, Sima Shi feigned madness and set fire to White Deer Cliff, making it seem as though he had killed the entire clan. During the White Deer Cliff fire, a spy from the Shi family, planted within the Eight Palaces, found Sima Shi barely alive and secretly took him away. His desperation to find Sima Jiao led Shi Yongyou to discover the secret of how to break the ascension curse.
Shi Yongyou and his disciple, Shi Qianlv, then stole a dying avatar of the Spirit Fire from White Deer Cliff and used Sima Shi's body as the wick to nurture it, while also building Baifeng Mountain to gather Fengshan blood for the Spirit Fire. Sima Shi urged Sima Jiao to remember their clan's extraordinary nature, destined for eternal life.
He implored Sima Jiao to consume the Spirit Fire to heal his wounds and double his internal power, acknowledging the risk of being consumed by the fire itself. Sima Shi, having fulfilled his purpose, condensed his lifelong cultivation into an inner core and sacrificed himself with blood, allowing Sima Jiao to absorb it. With two Spirit Fires raging within him, Sima Jiao felt his body burning.
In a state of weakened consciousness from newly absorbing the Spirit Fire, he unleashed his power, destroying the Black Jade Lotus Pond in a furious blaze. Shi Qianlv immediately sensed the disturbance from Taiwei Mountain, realizing his cultivated Spirit Fire (which was being nurtured using Sima Shi) was gone and the area was engulfed in fire. Enraged, he ordered Ye Ruling to capture Liao Tingyan and bring her to Taixuan Peak to lure Sima Jiao.
Meanwhile, Liao Tingyan, feeling an inexplicable unease that caused her cup to drop, worried for Sima Jiao, though she believed him to be invincible. Nianjiu tried to reach her, but Ye Ruling had already set up a barrier and captured Liao Tingyan. Ye Ruling confirmed that she had found Liao Tingyan by tracking her unique extreme-cold aura, which had intensified with her recent cultivation boost.
Liao Tingyan, noting that Ye Ruling only recognized her due to her cultivation, sarcastically thanked her for not coming sooner. At Taixuan Peak, Shi Qianlv confronted Sima Jiao, furious that his centuries-long plan had been usurped. Madam Yue attempted to harm Liao Tingyan, but an artifact Sima Jiao had crafted for her protected her with powerful defenses. Ye Ruling intervened, stating that harming Liao Tingyan would disrupt the Eight Palaces' grand plan.
Despite Madam Yue's accusations of sympathy for Liao Tingyan, other palace heads urged focus on the task, and they proceeded to form their array. Amidst the chaos of the Black Jade Lotus Pond's collapse, Ye Ruling, still unwilling to harm Liao Tingyan, quietly cut the shackles binding her and urged her to escape, almost perishing herself in the process of protecting Liao Tingyan with the artifact.
Liao Tingyan, however, insisted on staying with her clansmen, whom Shi Qianlv had forced there to manipulate her. Sima Jiao, in his destructive rampage, caused widespread explosions as the spirit veins burned throughout the Shi family's sacred lands. He warned Shi Qianlv that all of his creations—his spiritual peaks, temples, tombs, and even Taixuan Peak—would be reduced to ashes, and the grand Shi clan would cease to exist.
Shi Qianlv, in turn, gloated, revealing that Liao Tingyan was also on Taixuan Peak and would perish with them all, implying Sima Jiao would regret his actions. Upon hearing this, Sima Jiao immediately ceased his destructive rampage and rushed to find Liao Tingyan. Amidst the chaos and crumbling structures, Ye Ruling's barrier, which was meant to protect Liao Tingyan, was shattered by falling debris.
Liao Tingyan lost consciousness, her last thought being her inability to wait for Sima Jiao to return home. Sima Jiao arrived to find only the long-life lock he had given Liao Tingyan. He realized that the artifact couldn't withstand the intense heat of his Spirit Fire. Despite searching desperately with a tracing spell, he found no trace of her. Nianjiu later sadly informed him that no soul fragments of Liao Tingyan remained, making rebirth impossible.
Overwhelmed with grief, Sima Jiao refused to give up, insisting that Liao Tingyan's soul must still exist and vowing to find it. Nianjiu, concerned for Sima Jiao's own well-being as his two Spirit Fires had not yet fully merged, urged him to stop, but Sima Jiao collapsed, spitting blood. Eighteen years later, the conflict between the aristocratic clans and the Fengshan Clan continued. Nianjiu led the Fengshan Clan in resisting ongoing demon invasions.
During this time, Sima Jiao remained in seclusion, his spirit shattered by the loss of Liao Tingyan, and the Gengchen Celestial Palace faced imminent destruction from the encroaching Demon Realm forces led by You Yan, the Demon Lord, and his Preceptor, Mingli. One day, as demon forces breached the Celestial Palace, Sima Jiao finally awakened, seemingly called by an inner summons and by Liao Tingyan's name. He emerged dramatically, unleashing Spirit Fire to incinerate the invading demons.
Nianjiu, witnessing his master's immensely increased power, wept with joy and confirmed that Sima Jiao's two Spirit Fires had fully merged. Sima Jiao's first concern was Liao Tingyan, but Nianjiu sadly informed him that both Liao Tingyan and Ye Ruling had vanished, with no soul fragments of Liao Tingyan remaining, making rebirth impossible. Sima Jiao then used his power to repair the shattered Immortal-Demon Barrier. He resolved to venture into the Demon Realm to eliminate the source of the trouble.
A disciple pleaded with him to create a sanctuary for Celestial Palace citizens who had been abducted to the Demon Realm, a request Sima Jiao granted. In the White Bone Abyss of the Demon Realm, Mingli reported Sima Jiao's awakening and his successful merger of two Spirit Fires to You Yan, the Demon Lord. You Yan, enraged by Mingli's repeated failures to capture Sima Jiao or locate the "Frost Fish," struck him.
Mingli assured You Yan that the Frost Fish must still be alive, citing the extreme-cold traces left at the barrier breaches, indicating her passage into the Demon Realm eighteen years prior. However, she was likely gravely injured, which was why she had been difficult to track. You Yan, recognizing the Frost Fish as a unique weapon against Sima Jiao, tasked Mingli with finding it. He also provided Mingli with a map to locate an ancient demonic artifact, the Xingtian Chain.
You Yan's plan was to refine the Frost Fish into a froststone, embed it in the Xingtian Chain, and use it to kill Sima Jiao, draining his blood for You Yan's rebirth. Mingli vowed to find the Frost Fish, Liao Tingyan. Meanwhile, in Celestial Crane City, a demon city, an injured Shi Qianlv had Liao Tingyan, now renamed Shi Yan and introduced as his daughter. Shi Yan was tasked with errands by Shi Qianlv and was seen managing her duties and preparing for a journey to Winter City for more work.
Episode 20 Recap
In Celestial Crane City, a young woman, Liao Tingyan, lives under the name Shi Yan, serving Shi Qianlv as her adoptive father. She suffers from amnesia and daily endures Shi Qianlv's relentless reminders of their family's deep-seated hatred for Sima Jiao, constantly urging her to seek revenge. Shi Qianlv emphasizes that Sima Jiao has awakened, posing an immediate threat, and that Liao Tingyan must kill him.
He recounts Sima Jiao's alleged atrocities, painting him as a ruthless tyrant who destroyed their once-powerful Shi family in the Battle of Taiwei Mountain and used false charges to secure his position as the Immortal Mansion's overlord. Shi Qianlv also reminds her that her true brother, Zhenxu, sacrificed his life to save her, and that he himself became crippled defending her.
He attempts to force Liao Tingyan to undergo painful marrow cleansing to awaken her cold constitution, claiming it's the only way to generate the Extreme Cold Ice Spikes needed to defeat Sima Jiao. He suggests that if she refuses, she might even sacrifice himself to Sima Jiao to spare her. Despite Shi Qianlv's fervor, Liao Tingyan, while acknowledging her debt to him and Zhenxu, lacks the same burning desire for vengeance.
She tells her father that she has no hatred in her heart and wants to cherish her remaining life, suggesting that since she has forgotten the painful past, they should move on. Internally, she believes she is no match for Sima Jiao and finds the idea of revenge daunting, describing Sima Jiao as a "great devil" who is "green-faced and fanged" (grotesque/fierce), whom she's too weak to fight.
To conceal her identity from Sima Jiao, Shi Qianlv makes her wear a mask that hides her aura. Liao Tingyan's current occupation is a "corpse handler," an arduous job she undertakes to earn demon stones for their sustenance. She dreams of saving two thousand demon stones to take her father and her best friend, Hongluo, to Grain Rain Vale, a peaceful place where she hopes he might find inner peace and cease his talk of revenge.
Liao Tingyan receives a new assignment at Rouge Terrace in Winter City, where a beautiful dancer named Hongluo (whose original name was Ye Ruluo) accidentally killed a man who had harassed her. Upon arrival, Liao Tingyan meets the Madam of Rouge Terrace and Hongluo herself.
Hongluo, who has a history with Liao Tingyan as her best friend, admits she killed the man because he had previously murdered her sister at Rouge Terrace and then dared to make advances on her, even attempting to cultivate with her despite his low cultivation level. After some negotiation, Liao Tingyan agrees to a fee of fifteen demon stones (down from an initial eighteen).
She deftly stages the scene by adding two other male corpses, making it appear as if the three men had fought to the death, thus cleanly absolving Hongluo of any blame. After the successful cleanup, Hongluo, sympathizing with Liao Tingyan's hard work, suggests she join Rouge Terrace as a guard, like Feng Qi, to earn a steady income.
Hongluo also reveals that when the Madam found her, her spirit sense was damaged, leaving her with no memory of her origins or parents. Meanwhile, Sima Jiao arrives in Winter City with Nianjiu, planning to quell the growing unrest and rebels in the Demon Realm. He stops at a restaurant and finds a distinctive dagger mark on a table, which he immediately recognizes as Liao Tingyan's unique "emoticon" secret code.
Overjoyed and convinced she is alive, he attempts to sense her presence but fails, realizing her aura is concealed, likely due to Shi Qianlv's protective measures. Determined to find her, Sima Jiao orders Nianjiu to take over Winter City. Nianjiu easily defeats the city lord, Niu San, who quickly pledges loyalty, acknowledging the Demon Race's admiration for strength. Niu San, initially mistaking Nianjiu for the true leader, is quickly corrected by Sima Jiao, realizing Nianjiu is merely the Grandmaster's subordinate.
Sima Jiao instructs Nianjiu to ensure no Celestial Palace disciples are harmed in Winter City and to spread the word of their rule, believing Liao Tingyan will seek refuge there. In the Demon Palace, the current Demon Lord, You Chi, is apathetic and disinterested in ruling, preferring to indulge in leisure rather than attend to state affairs or lead battles. His subordinate, Mingli, proposes using an ancient secret artifact, the Xingtian Chain, to defeat Sima Jiao.
This chain, he explains, requires the "Frost Fish"—a being with extreme-cold nature, which You Chi himself had painstakingly transformed into human form—to be refined into a froststone and embedded in it. You Chi, however, is frustrated, lamenting the immense effort he spent on the Frost Fish and expressing his desire to simply "rot in the palace" as a descendant of the You family. The Preceptor, another influential figure, observes You Chi's incompetence.
While he considers removing You Chi, he refrains, as You Chi's body is crucial as a vessel for the return of the former Demon Lord You Yan's soul. The Preceptor, prioritizing the search for Liao Tingyan, dispatches demon soldiers to search the southeast, specifically Celestial Crane City and Winter City, where faint traces of an extreme-cold constitution have been detected, wondering if they are left by the Frost Fish.
As Sima Jiao continues his search, he encounters demon soldiers abducting Celestial Palace disciples. He interrogates a soldier, learning that they are searching both Winter City and Celestial Crane City for anyone from the Celestial Palace, ordered by higher-ups to bring them to the Demon Palace. Sima Jiao realizes that any one of these individuals could be Liao Tingyan and vows to protect her from any harm.
During this time, Zhou Qing'er's daughter, Zhou Yueqing (now named Bi'an), who has been living in the Demon Realm since the Celestial Palace fell into chaos and whose mother recently passed away, seeks to find Sima Jiao (her Grandmaster) and Liao Tingyan (Sister Yan). She encounters Sima Jiao, who protects her from demon soldiers. Recognizing her Fengshan bloodline, Sima Jiao creates a protective shield around her and instructs her to seek refuge with the Winter City Lord.
Despite conquering Winter City, Sima Jiao grows impatient as there is still no news of Liao Tingyan. He plans to conquer Celestial Crane City next, as it is a major hub and transit point in the southeast where many Celestial Palace disciples might be hiding. He decides to launch a massive, highly publicized campaign to ensure Liao Tingyan hears of his presence.
He declares that if she still doesn't appear, he will depose You Chi and mobilize the entire Demon Race to search for her. Upon hearing of the Winter City Lord and Ci Zang Daojun's (Sima Jiao's) swift conquests and their reputation for establishing peace, He Sou, the City Lord of Celestial Crane City, along with his demon soldiers, pledges loyalty to the two, recognizing Sima Jiao's power and his status as a demon dragon.
Episode 21 Recap
Sima Jiao, accompanied by Nianjiu, rapidly conquered Celestial Crane City. The city's previous lord quickly surrendered, opening the gates to welcome the new master. The citizens, aware that the Grandmaster had merged with two spirit fires, greatly enhancing his power, joyfully came out to line the streets. Among the crowd, Hongluo was captivated by the majestic black serpent, later identifying him as the Winter City Lord and desiring him.
Liao Tingyan, however, was drawn to the striking young man atop the serpent, remarking on his "pretty face" as she wondered how such a "white-faced scholar" could command a black python. She was surprised to learn from others that this imposing figure was none other than Sima Jiao, the Grandmaster himself, whose name was not to be spoken directly.
This revelation shocked Liao Tingyan, who had always envisioned Sima Jiao as a fearsome, grotesque monster, as described by her father, and now felt it impossible to ever defeat him. Meanwhile, Shi Qianlv had been discussing his plans with a relative, Qiandu. He lamented his current pathetic state, all because of Sima Jiao, who had grown stronger after fusing with the new Spirit Fire and was killing many of their clan.
Shi Qianlv revealed that Liao Tingyan was his "weapon," possessing an extreme-cold nature capable of suppressing Sima Jiao's Spirit Fire. Eighteen years prior, he had brought her to the Demon Realm and performed a Soul Cleanse Spell to erase her memories, ensuring she would be loyal to him. Her cold constitution hadn't affected Sima Jiao before because she had forgotten how to wield it, necessitating regular marrow cleansing to awaken her abilities for the sole purpose of killing Sima Jiao.
Liao Tingyan returned home, where Shi Qianlv, whom she knew as her father, introduced her to his sister, her "aunt." Shi Qianlv then informed Liao Tingyan that Sima Jiao's capture of Celestial Crane City was an opportunity for her to strike. Despite Liao Tingyan's reluctance, fearing it would be a suicide mission, Shi Qianlv insisted, telling her that her aunt was there to help with another marrow cleansing to fully awaken her extreme-cold nature. Liao Tingyan resignedly accepted.
Later, after the cleansing, Qiandu observed that Liao Tingyan's extreme-cold nature was greatly improved, and since Sima Jiao still harbored feelings for her, he would not suspect her, increasing her chances of success. However, Shi Qianlv worried Liao Tingyan might hesitate to strike, so he cast a Nightmare Spell on her to solidify her resolve for revenge. The next morning, Liao Tingyan told Shi Qianlv that her dream of Zhenxu had fueled her rage and desire to kill Sima Jiao.
She feigned excitement to go out and "stretch her bones," privately realizing that the nightmare was likely her "father's" doing, as he was consumed by thoughts of revenge. Liao Tingyan shared her desire to flee to Grain Rain Vale with her father, expressing that she felt a simple tube whistle was important to her and that her current priority was accumulating enough money.
Hongluo, her closest friend, offered all her hard-earned savings, meant for her own freedom, to help Liao Tingyan, suggesting they leave together. Hongluo confessed that while improving her cultivation was for self-protection, her poor health kept her at Rouge Terrace. She believed that if she could win the favor of the black serpent city lord, she could secure her freedom and escape Rouge Terrace. Liao Tingyan, deeply touched, promised to repay her.
Liao Tingyan returned home and attempted to discuss their departure with her father, Shi Qianlv. However, he furiously rejected the idea, reminding her of the Shi family's great vengeance and accusing her of abandoning their cause. He demanded she not forget who killed her brother, ruined him, and destroyed their family, expressing profound disappointment in her. In the midst of this confrontation, a young boy rushed in, urgently informing Liao Tingyan that Hongluo had died.
Grief-stricken, Liao Tingyan went to see Hongluo for the last time. She learned from the old madam of Rouge Terrace that Hongluo had been brutally abused and murdered by two Zhihun clan members, underlings of the black serpent lord, after fiercely resisting their advances. Liao Tingyan recalled Hongluo's poignant wish for her to provide a proper burial and their shared dream of a peaceful life in Grain Rain Vale.
Overhearing the two men casually boasting about their horrific act, Liao Tingyan was overcome with rage. Despite never having killed anyone before, she confronted them, declaring that they had taken her only source of peace. She then brutally avenged Hongluo by killing both men. Nianjiu, the black serpent lord, reproached a subordinate for not stopping him from drinking too much, then detected the scent of blood.
He quickly found his two deceased clansmen and, following the blood trail, tracked down Liao Tingyan. Recognizing her, he immediately captured her, despite her struggles and pleas for him to release her, and brought her before Sima Jiao. Seeing Liao Tingyan again, Sima Jiao's eyes welled with tears. Liao Tingyan, disoriented and suffering from amnesia, felt immense panic at the sight of her perceived archenemy.
While attempting to brace herself for a confrontation, she was perplexed by Sima Jiao's tearful and affectionate gaze. As Sima Jiao gently embraced her, Liao Tingyan unexpectedly felt an overwhelming drowsiness and fell asleep, unknowingly affected by a spell Shi Qianlv had placed on her. Liao Tingyan awoke to find Sima Jiao by her bedside. Seeing him as her enemy, she seized a dagger and attempted to strike him, wounding his hand.
Sima Jiao then used a truth-telling spell, compelling Liao Tingyan to reveal that she had been with an old man named Shi Qianlv, whom she called "Father." He had repeatedly cleansed her marrow and taught her to kill. When Sima Jiao questioned why she hadn't returned to him, Liao Tingyan reiterated their supposed enmity. Sima Jiao realized her memory had been erased, attributing it to Shi Qianlv's machinations to turn her against him.
He firmly declared that she was Liao Tingyan, his cultivation partner, and had no relation to the Shi family, who merely sought to exploit her. Though initially bewildered, Liao Tingyan was touched by his unexpected gentleness. Outside, the Zhihun clan members, angered by the deaths of their kinsmen, demanded that Sima Jiao hand over Liao Tingyan for justice.
Sima Jiao countered that the matter was also his family affair and proposed settling it by the Demon Realm's rule: the stronger decides. He then questioned Liao Tingyan about why she killed. She explained that she sought revenge for her best friend, Hongluo, who had been brutally murdered by the two Zhihun clan members. Sima Jiao acknowledged her pain, noting her changed perspective on killing compared to before.
He promised to handle the situation himself, reiterating his pledge that she would never again be forced to kill. He even offered to temporarily revive the two dead men so she could kill them again, but Liao Tingyan asked if he could revive Hongluo. Sima Jiao explained that while Hongluo's body was gone, he could use the Soul Transfer Spell to allow her to be reborn, retaining her memories and emotions, making her past death feel like a dream.
Overjoyed at the prospect of seeing Hongluo again, Liao Tingyan thanked him, emphasizing Hongluo was her only true friend in the Demon Realm. Sima Jiao, with a hint of sadness, noted that he had also once treated her sincerely, and that her presence was all that mattered. Nianjiu, the black serpent city lord, intervened, rebuking the Zhihun clan for demanding retribution when their own members were the initial culprits, and announced that Liao Tingyan was the "Grandmistress."
The clan members reluctantly acknowledged her new status. Sima Jiao then ordered Nianjiu to capture Shi Qianlv alive, intending to make him suffer for his deeds. Nianjiu noticed Sima Jiao's bleeding hand, wounded by Liao Tingyan, and offered to call Baizhu for treatment. Sima Jiao dismissed it, explaining that the fusion of the two spirit fires made his power immense but also increased backlash, making wounds harder to heal.
He then instructed Nianjiu to guard him as he prepared to perform the Soul Transfer Spell for Hongluo, despite Nianjiu's concerns about the immense toll it would take, especially after Sima Jiao had recently removed his heart-protecting bone to forge a defensive anklet for Liao Tingyan. Observing Sima Jiao's fierce protection of Liao Tingyan and allowing her to be referred to as "Grandmistress," Shi Qianlv's faction realized that "Yan" was indeed Liao Tingyan.
They were astonished by Sima Jiao's profound devotion, wondering how he could have found a "new love" so quickly, only to deduce that his "new love" was in fact Liao Tingyan herself. Realizing that Winter City was now under Sima Jiao's firm control, they strategized to lure Liao Tingyan away so they could use her to forge an artifact.
Shi Qianlv then turned to a subordinate, confirming their continued contact with the orphan of General Chang, now known as Feng Qi, who worked as a guard in Celestial Crane City and had been given minor tasks per Shi Qianlv's instructions. Shi Qianlv noted Feng Qi's close relationship with Liao Tingyan, deciding it was time to put him to use in their scheme.
Episode 22 Recap
Feng Qi, worried about Liao Tingyan's sudden disappearance, sought out Mr. Ghost. Mr. Ghost revealed that Liao Tingyan had likely been captured by Sima Jiao. He further divulged Liao Tingyan's true identity as a Frost Fish from the White Bone Abyss, a specialized assassin trained by Demon Lord You Chi with the specific mission to kill Sima Jiao.
Warning Feng Qi of Sima Jiao's merciless nature and that many sought to cultivate using a Frost Fish's physique, Mr. Ghost advised him to avoid intervention, recalling the tragic fate of Feng Qi's own father, who had suffered immensely for his loyalty to the former Demon Lord You Yan. However, Feng Qi recognized this "Frost Fish" as the very person who had saved his life years ago in the White Bone Abyss.
Resolved to rescue his benefactor, Feng Qi declared he would retrieve her, no matter the peril. Meanwhile, Shi Qianlv received news that Feng Qi had set off for Winter City. He expressed satisfaction, noting Feng Qi's enduring obsession with the Frost Fish. Shi Qianlv admitted that they had deliberately concealed from Feng Qi the fact that the Frost Fish had saved him under their orders, and that she had been emotionless at the time.
He believed Feng Qi's deep attachment would be instrumental in luring Liao Tingyan away from Sima Jiao. Shi Qianlv dismissed the notion of informing the Demon Lord about Liao Tingyan's whereabouts, convinced the Demon Lord would not care. He stressed that Feng Qi was a critical piece in their plan for the return of You Yan's soul and the activation of the blood array, requiring careful monitoring to ensure he faced no harm while serving their purpose.
Liao Tingyan, grappling with her memory loss, found herself deeply confused by Sima Jiao's actions. She questioned why he would lie to her when he had the power to simply kill her. Internally, she wondered if her "original host" had truly been involved with Sima Jiao, drawing parallels to her "father's" reluctance to restore her memories, and mused if their story was akin to star-crossed lovers.
She was also perplexed by the conflicting information about her surname, with Sima Jiao calling her Liao and her "father" insisting on Shi. Her thoughts were interrupted by Zhou Yueqing, a cheerful young woman who excitedly greeted "Ms. Yan." Zhou Yueqing introduced herself as the daughter of Zhou Qing'er and explained that both Liao Tingyan and "Grandmaster" Sima Jiao had saved her eighteen years ago, making them like family.
She then confirmed that Liao Tingyan and Sima Jiao were cultivation partners and that Liao Tingyan's original name was indeed Liao Tingyan. The consistency of these stories made Liao Tingyan suspect that Sima Jiao might be manipulating her with the help of others. When she saw servants decorating the room in a style fit for a wedding, Liao Tingyan became agitated, fearing her father's reaction to such news.
Sima Jiao attempted to comfort Liao Tingyan, bringing her fish to touch, as he recalled she once enjoyed it, though Liao Tingyan remained puzzled by this supposed hobby. He tried to persuade her to eat, reminding her of a time when she ate for pleasure, not just hunger. However, a wary Liao Tingyan simply stated that she now ate only to satisfy hunger and found little joy in life.
Later that night, Liao Tingyan was plagued by terrible nightmares, tossing and turning in her sleep, as a curse placed by Shi Qianlv would cause her nightmares if she showed any compassion. Noticing her distress, Sima Jiao entered her dream realm. There, he witnessed Shi Qianlv cruelly coercing Liao Tingyan to kill innocent people. After being forced to commit these acts, Liao Tingyan collapsed in despair. Sima Jiao swiftly embraced her, offering solace.
He then noticed a persistent scar on her face and was filled with remorse upon realizing it was the result of spiritual fire he had unleashed years ago. With his spiritual power, he gently healed the scar, restoring her skin. Liao Tingyan awoke feeling an unprecedented sense of safety and tranquility, informing Sima Jiao that she had slept soundly through the night, a rare experience for her recently. Following this, Sima Jiao presented Liao Tingyan with a handcrafted anklet.
Initially, Liao Tingyan suspected it was a device to trap her, but Sima Jiao assured her it was for protection, explaining that it made the external barrier around her unnecessary. He claimed the anklet could shield her from all harm, even his spiritual fire, and promised that the painful events of eighteen years past would never recur. While appreciating the gift, Liao Tingyan privately pondered if Sima Jiao's intense affection was actually directed at the original owner of her body.
She also noticed that his own hand wound, sustained from her earlier attack, had not yet fully healed. Liao Tingyan unexpectedly tasted familiar braised pig's trotters, reminding her of meals shared with Hongluo and Feng Qi in Celestial Crane City. Zhou Yueqing then introduced the cook, who was Feng Qi in disguise. Feng Qi, confident in his knowledge of Liao Tingyan's preferences, urged her to leave with him once Hongluo was revived.
Liao Tingyan, for her part, explained her amnesia, the scar, and Sima Jiao's assertion that she was his cultivation partner before her memory loss, adding that Sima Jiao had healed her scar. Feng Qi questioned if her decision to stay was influenced by Sima Jiao's kindness, but Liao Tingyan clarified that Sima Jiao's affection was for her past self, not her current one.
She reiterated her desire to eventually live a peaceful life with Shi Qianlv and Hongluo elsewhere, away from Sima Jiao, emphasizing the awkwardness of her current situation and proposing they go their separate ways. Suddenly, Sima Jiao appeared, demanding to know who sent Feng Qi and the nature of his relationship with Liao Tingyan. Feng Qi audaciously declared their inseparable bond, having "eaten and slept side by side, sharing life and death," and provocatively referred to himself as her "boyfriend."
Enraged, Sima Jiao moved to attack Feng Qi. Liao Tingyan immediately intervened, stepping between them and sternly warning Sima Jiao that if he harmed Feng Qi, she would truly regard him as an enemy. Faced with her ultimatum, a heartbroken Sima Jiao reluctantly left the room. Feng Qi attempted to further discredit Sima Jiao, labeling him a liar.
However, Liao Tingyan defended Sima Jiao, describing him as unexpectedly considerate and "like a little cat," a stark contrast to the ruthless figure portrayed in rumors. Feng Qi reaffirmed his unwavering devotion to his savior, but Liao Tingyan gently clarified that she did not harbor romantic feelings for him.
Episode 23 Recap
Nianjiu, concerned about Sima Jiao's restless Spirit Fire, asked if Shi Qianlv had been found. Sima Jiao was displeased to learn of Shi Qianlv's escape, asking why Nianjiu returned without him. Nianjiu then presented a portrait, revealing it was of Ye Ruling, who was actually Hongluo, the girl killed by the Zhihun clan. He shared that the people at Rouge Terrace found her by Yin-Yang Lake, still carrying the tube whistle he had given her.
Nianjiu expressed his profound sorrow at finally locating her, only to lose her again, fearing he might never see her. Sima Jiao, however, revealed that Hongluo had already been reborn, and Nianjiu himself had guarded the rite of her Soul Transfer.
Hope flickered in Nianjiu's eyes, but Sima Jiao cautioned him not to rejoice too soon, explaining that Hongluo’s soul was severely damaged during the transfer, making it unlikely for her to recover her memories as Ye Ruling or remember Nianjiu. Sima Jiao warned that she might even treat Nianjiu's devotion as nothing, causing him much pain. Though Nianjiu's heart ached at these words, he agreed with Sima Jiao that her being alive was the most important thing.
Meanwhile, Shi Qianlv and his sister, Shi Qiandu, were fleeing from pursuers from the Demon Realm and Sima Jiao's forces. Shi Qiandu worried that if Liao Tingyan didn't act soon, they would be doomed. They encountered Preceptor Mingli and a squad of ghost envoys at a checkpoint. Mingli, recognizing Shi Qianlv, let them pass.
His subordinate questioned why, to which Mingli explained that Shi Qianlv, who had manipulated Liao Tingyan into believing he was her savior for the past eighteen years, possessed valuable knowledge of her history in the Celestial Palace. Mingli intended to keep Shi Qianlv alive, hoping he could be useful in the future, especially when desperate. Shi Qianlv, aware of Mingli's high cultivation, knew he had seen through their disguise and had an ulterior motive for letting them go.
Feng Qi continued to stay at Sima Jiao's residence, diligently preparing meals for Liao Tingyan. Liao Tingyan was also training daily with Feng Qi, though she found it bothersome, as she was doing it for self-preservation and to find an opportunity to escape. Nianjiu confronted Feng Qi, urging him to leave, but Feng Qi defiantly claimed that Sima Jiao had allowed him to stay. Nianjiu warned him to show respect, given Sima Jiao's affection for Liao Tingyan.
Feng Qi retorted that Liao Tingyan loved his cooking and would be unhappy without it, implying she couldn't do without him. He believed Liao Tingyan did not currently favor Sima Jiao and vowed to stay by her side to protect her from Sima Jiao. Sima Jiao, observing this exchange, declared that he and Liao Tingyan were already partners and dismissed Feng Qi as a mere clown. Nianjiu, however, could sense Sima Jiao's underlying anger despite his composed exterior.
Sima Jiao later approached a sleeping Liao Tingyan and gently offered to take her somewhere. She instinctively took his hand, wondering why she could never refuse his requests. He led her to the Central Tower. Liao Tingyan felt a sense of déjà vu, as if she had seen the place in a dream. Sima Jiao clarified that it was not a dream but the very spot where they first met.
He recalled how difficult it was for her to climb the tower's long stairs back then, even remarking that his pet snake was a hundred times stronger than her. Although her cultivation had advanced, Sima Jiao knew she still disliked climbing, so he carried her to the tower's summit. He explained that he had moved the tower from Three Saints Mountain to its current location, even though he hated it for imprisoning him for five hundred years.
He brought it here because it held her aura, and he had adorned it with lanterns, knowing her fondness for delicate things, promising to light them for her every day if she wished. Liao Tingyan found the sight enchanting, like a sky full of stars and a meteor shower, but a pang of sadness struck her as she realized Sima Jiao's actions were likely for the "original" Liao Tingyan, making her feel like a mere substitute.
Sima Jiao then showed her a Bloodseal Bloom, which surprisingly cursed and spoke like Liao Tingyan used to. He reminded her that she had taught the flower to speak that way. He also applied a face mask to her, a practice she had taught him. Liao Tingyan questioned if the original owner had truly done all these things, feeling disconnected.
Despite Shi Qianlv's indoctrination that Sima Jiao was evil, Liao Tingyan consistently found a sense of peace and security with him, observing that he never forced her and always showed her respect and consideration. Sima Jiao insisted they had shared many real and unchanging memories there, asserting that he would never mistake her, as they had gone through life and death together. Liao Tingyan, still grappling with her amnesia, maintained she was not the Liao Tingyan he remembered.
Sima Jiao, undeterred, held her hand and reassured her that the past didn't matter, suggesting they treat today as their first encounter and create new memories. Liao Tingyan found the idea romantic. Noticing an unhealed wound on Sima Jiao's palm, she wondered why it resisted her healing efforts. Sima Jiao cryptically replied that greater gains often came with greater prices.
Liao Tingyan, feeling a sense of compassion, re-bandaged his hand, tying a familiar bow that brought a smile to Sima Jiao's face. Meanwhile, Nianjiu's men located Shi Qianlv's carriage, but it was empty. They quickly tracked Shi Qianlv, revealing that he was not crippled as he had led Liao Tingyan to believe. Shi Qiandu, Shi Qianlv's sister, helped him evade capture but was ultimately apprehended by Nianjiu.
The next morning, Liao Tingyan woke up with a blush, questioning if she was truly falling for Sima Jiao. Feng Qi entered her room, reinforcing her doubts by asserting that Sima Jiao's romantic gestures were meant for his past lover, not her. Liao Tingyan grew disheartened, feeling like an outsider. Shortly after, Sima Jiao arrived, intending to show Liao Tingyan the truth. He led her to Shi Qiandu, who was now his captive.
Shi Qiandu, upon seeing Liao Tingyan, verbally attacked her, accusing her of being a traitor who killed her own brother and demanding she slay Sima Jiao. Liao Tingyan, torn, pleaded with Sima Jiao not to harm Shi Qiandu. Sima Jiao agreed, promising to show Liao Tingyan how the Shi clan had deceived her. Using his spiritual abilities, Sima Jiao guided Liao Tingyan into Shi Qiandu's spirit sense.
Inside Shi Qiandu's memories, which had been tampered with by Shi Qianlv, Liao Tingyan witnessed scenes of herself bound, crying out Sima Jiao's name as a villain. She then saw Shi Zhenxu, her alleged father, rescuing her, which led to his demise. Following this, she saw Shi Qianlv and Shi Qiandu healing her. Based on these manipulated memories, Liao Tingyan again firmly believed Sima Jiao was the one who harmed them.
Sima Jiao immediately sensed that Shi Qiandu's memories had been tampered with. Confused, Liao Tingyan didn't know who to believe. As they exited Shi Qiandu's spirit sense, they discovered Shi Qiandu was dead. Liao Tingyan, furious, blamed Sima Jiao, accusing him of not understanding her. Sima Jiao countered, proving his knowledge of her by listing her preferences: her love for vacations, "touching fish," and her deep aversion to killing.
A wave of fragmented memories overwhelmed Liao Tingyan, causing her to faint. It was revealed that Shi Qiandu's death was a calculated sacrifice orchestrated by Shi Qianlv. Facing desperate circumstances, Shi Qiandu had volunteered to have false memories implanted in her spirit sense and then commit suicide upon their extraction. This act, she believed, would thoroughly ignite Liao Tingyan's hatred for Sima Jiao, providing a chance for the Shi clan's revenge.
Shi Qianlv, though heartbroken, had reluctantly agreed to his sister's plan. In the moments before her death, Shi Qiandu declared her intention for Sima Jiao to die at the hands of his beloved. Nianjiu confirmed that Liao Tingyan was physically stable, but the repeated forcible marrow cleansing by Shi Qianlv had severely damaged her Soul Manor, causing her to faint during emotional distress. He suggested Sima Jiao, as her cultivation partner, enter her Soul Manor to repair it.
Sima Jiao refused, fearing that a premature intrusion would harm her since she hadn't fully accepted him. Instead, he decided to use his own blood for her healing. Nianjiu warned Sima Jiao that his own wounds were increasingly difficult to heal, and a direct blood transfer could cause a backlash due to Liao Tingyan's blocked spirit veins. He proposed refining Sima Jiao's blood into a pill.
Sima Jiao agreed and ordered Nianjiu to gather all the alchemists in Winter City, emphasizing that the pill must be made and, crucially, it must not be bitter. Sima Jiao then immediately ordered the search for Shi Qianlv to begin.
Nianjiu suggested using the opportunity to conquer the three cities in the southwest of the Demon Realm, but Sima Jiao dismissed the idea, stating those cities had no intention of surrendering and he would not countenance needless sacrifice, a surprising display of concern for other lives. Before Nianjiu departed, Sima Jiao promised to send word when Hongluo was fully reborn. In her unconscious state, Liao Tingyan entered her Soul Manor, where she saw a Bloodseal Bloom similar to Sima Jiao's.
A startling vision unfolded: she saw herself killing Shi Zhenxu, not Sima Jiao. Jolted awake, she was profoundly shaken. At that moment, the reborn Ye Ruling, now appearing as a child due to rapid growth from spirit medicines, came to her. Ye Ruling remembered much of Hongluo's past and had fleeting visions involving Liao Tingyan, herself, Sima Jiao, and Nianjiu, though she couldn't grasp their relationships.
She mentioned hearing that Liao Tingyan was the one who asked Sima Jiao to perform her Soul Transfer. Ye Ruling summarized the conflicting narratives: Sima Jiao accusing Liao Tingyan's father of deception, and the father accusing Sima Jiao, culminating in Sima Jiao seemingly killing Shi Qiandu. Liao Tingyan explained that her Soul Manor vision, showing her as Shi Zhenxu's killer, contradicted Shi Qiandu's implanted memories, making her question the truth.
She further reasoned that if Sima Jiao had something to hide, he wouldn't have insisted on searching Shi Qiandu's soul. Ye Ruling concluded by asking if Liao Tingyan now suspected Shi Qianlv of lying to her all along.
Episode 24 Recap
Liao Tingyan remained in Sima Jiao's residence to recuperate, often reflecting on recent events. She pondered if her aunt's memories were fabricated, but she had personally witnessed Shi Qianlv saving her, so how could that be false? Unable to determine the truth, Liao Tingyan wanted to leave. When an opportunity arose, Feng Qi took her and Ye Ruling to escape. Inside her room, Liao Tingyan discussed her confusion, wondering why certain memories appeared in her Soul Manor.
She questioned if Sima Jiao was right about her being Liao Tingyan, who had simply lost those memories. If what she saw in her Soul Manor was real, then her aunt's memories would be false. She also noted that if Sima Jiao had something to hide, he wouldn't have insisted on searching her aunt's soul. Ye Ruling suggested that perhaps Liao Tingyan's father had been lying to her all along.
Liao Tingyan was reluctant to believe it, as her father had once saved her life, and they had lived together for eighteen years. She admitted her cultivation was too low to re-enter her Soul Manor to uncover the truth, but affirmed her resolve to find it. Just then, Sima Jiao arrived. Hongluo, newly reincarnated, opened the door and exclaimed at his handsome appearance, thanking him for transferring her soul and giving her rebirth.
Feng Qi also appeared, and Hongluo suggested the three of them gather for drinks. Liao Tingyan declined, stating Hongluo was too young to drink. Hongluo, however, sensed a tension in the room, realizing it was a rivalry between lovers. Liao Tingyan, still upset with Sima Jiao, did not look at him, which displeased him.
Hongluo remarked that one was a celestial grandmaster to whom Liao Tingyan had sworn a lifelong vow, and the other was her childhood friend of eighteen years. She wondered if the lifelong vows were gone or had never existed and pointed out that Liao Tingyan had no memory of Sima Jiao. Feng Qi agreed, but Liao Tingyan quickly changed the subject, suggesting they drink tea to celebrate Hongluo's return. Sima Jiao continued to care for Liao Tingyan's recovery.
He instructed his disciples to make cleansing pills to help her restore her cultivation. When the first batch was deemed too bitter, he ordered them remade, despite being told it would require more of his precious blood. He insisted on sweet pills. Meanwhile, Nianjiu, the Black Serpent Lord, after an unsuccessful search for Shi Qianlv, received an update from Sima Jiao that Hongluo had returned safely and was unharmed.
Nianjiu responded to "Ruling," confirming his deep connection to Hongluo's past identity. Hongluo and Liao Tingyan ate together, with Hongluo noting that Sima Jiao's food suited her taste better than anything from Celestial Crane City. Feng Qi then joined them, dressed similarly to Sima Jiao. Hongluo complimented Feng Qi, saying he was just as dashing as Sima Jiao, but immediately felt she was making things worse.
Feng Qi offered to cook anything Liao Tingyan desired, but Hongluo pointed out that he didn't truly know Liao Tingyan's tastes, unlike Sima Jiao. Feng Qi then shared that his mother had said the best cooking loses its charm if used for business, hinting at his own noble background. Liao Tingyan inquired about his mother, noting that the food he described was rare even in the Demon Realm.
They also discussed their desire for seclusion, a secret between Feng Qi and Liao Tingyan, and whether Liao Tingyan still wished to go to Grain Rain Vale. Liao Tingyan asserted that she needed to uncover the truth first. That night, Liao Tingyan prepared to leave the residence alone to find her father and the truth, but Hongluo and Feng Qi followed her. They wondered how to bypass the guards.
Sima Jiao, who had been secretly observing them, used a spell to make the guards fall asleep. Liao Tingyan and Hongluo, unaware of Sima Jiao's intervention, believed the guards were simply slacking off and quickly slipped away. Outside the residence, Liao Tingyan felt restless, wondering if Sima Jiao was sad or angry about her departure.
Meanwhile, the Preceptor of the Demon Realm had been tracking Liao Tingyan for a long time, hoping to use her Frost Fish physique to enhance his cultivation. His men reported that Feng Qi had taken the Frost Fish, along with a child, to Zhenshi Inn, believing it was an opportune time to act.
However, Sima Jiao sensed danger and swiftly intervened, rescuing Liao Tingyan from an ambush by the Preceptor's agents who had tampered with incense in her room to render her unconscious. When Sima Jiao interrogated one of the captured assailants, he learned they were sent by the Preceptor but not their exact motive for abducting her. Liao Tingyan woke up back at Sima Jiao's residence.
Bi'an brought her the sweet cleansing pills and explained what had happened, emphasizing that Sima Jiao had rescued not only Liao Tingyan but also Hongluo and Feng Qi. Bi'an expressed sorrow that Liao Tingyan couldn't reciprocate Sima Jiao's genuine feelings, given her confusion about the truth. Liao Tingyan confessed she didn't know how to face him, uncertain of what was real. Bi'an told her the pills were made with Sima Jiao's blood to boost her cultivation and strengthen her body.
Liao Tingyan realized that Sima Jiao knew that increased cultivation would allow her to enter her Soul Manor and discover the truth. She wondered why he wasn't afraid and felt deeply conflicted, questioning if her entire life of over a decade was a lie if Sima Jiao's account was true and her father's false.
The Demon Realm's Preceptor learned about the powerful defensive anklet Sima Jiao had given Liao Tingyan, which contained Sima Jiao's spiritual power and possibly his heart-protecting bone. He realized that even if Feng Qi brought Liao Tingyan to them, they couldn't overcome such a powerful artifact. They needed Liao Tingyan to remove it herself.
He also discovered that Shi Qianlv had previously attempted the Soul Cleanse on his sister, Shi Qiandu, to sow discord between her and Sima Jiao, but failed. Recognizing Shi Qianlv's expertise, the Preceptor, with the backing of the Demon Realm, invited Shi Qianlv to his residence, promising to help him rise again if he helped them kill Sima Jiao by luring Liao Tingyan out.
Shi Qianlv agreed, but insisted on needing "bait" to draw her out, to which the Preceptor stated he already had someone in mind. Sima Jiao confronted Feng Qi, who accused Sima Jiao of trying to confine Liao Tingyan for life. Sima Jiao retorted that Feng Qi only ever thought about winning Liao Tingyan's heart, which made him easily exploited. He revealed that the Zhenshi Inn was a trap, and someone intended to abduct Liao Tingyan in her sleep.
He warned that anyone who harmed her would face his wrath. Determined to uncover the truth, Liao Tingyan took the cleansing pills and successfully entered her Soul Manor. She focused on her past with the person she believed to be her brother. There, she witnessed Sima Jiao killing Shi Zhenxu, who had cursed Sima Jiao and her. Shi Zhenxu's venomous words made Liao Tingyan realize he didn't seem like family at all, but rather an enemy.
She understood that she had been manipulated, that she was not a Shi family member, and that her "father" and aunt had conspired to use her against Sima Jiao. She speculated that even Shi Qiandu's death might have been part of their scheme. Further exploring her Soul Manor, she found a hidden section filled with cherished items and delicious foods, including fried chicken, confirming it was her spiritual space.
She discovered a notebook detailing her relationship with Sima Jiao, proving that she was indeed the one who had dated him. She also found a pair of rings, realizing she had intended to propose to Sima Jiao and might have loved him more than he loved her. Sima Jiao, sensing Liao Tingyan's distracted state after taking the pills, entered her Soul Manor to ensure her safety. He saw her notebook and the rings.
Liao Tingyan, startled by his appearance, dropped the rings. Sima Jiao picked them up, curious about why she was so agitated. He put one on, and it fit perfectly, confirming it was meant for him. He asserted that she had once loved him and still did, and that she would rely on and trust him, just as he would her. He then placed the other ring on her finger.
Liao Tingyan, still a little defiant, insisted they were not wedding rings, but merely couple rings. Sima Jiao then asked if he was now her boyfriend. Liao Tingyan, blushing, conceded, acknowledging that the evidence in her Soul Manor was irrefutable, making it impossible to deny her identity as Liao Tingyan. Sima Jiao held her hand, saying that regardless of her name, he would never mistake her.
He playfully added that his certainty came from his intelligence, implying her confusion was not surprising. Liao Tingyan, feigning anger, interrupted him, threatening not to be Liao Tingyan anymore if he continued to tease her. Meanwhile, Mr. Ghost of the Demon Realm met with Feng Qi, urging him to convince Liao Tingyan to remove her defensive ankle bracelet so they could abduct her.
Feng Qi refused, unwilling to put Liao Tingyan in danger, but Mr. Ghost noted his hesitation, believing there was still a chance to sway him. Hongluo, having fully recovered her original appearance, looked at herself in a mirror, excited. Liao Tingyan, however, found the rapid shift from "enemies to lovers" too fast and wondered how to face Sima Jiao or approach their relationship. Hongluo advised her to meet Sima Jiao after bathing and dressing up.
Nianjiu, the Black Serpent Lord, then appeared, calling out to "Ruling." Hongluo, remembering nothing of him, stated she no longer knew him and wouldn't resume their past. She told him that she was no longer "Ye Ruling" and reminded him not to call her by that name, wishing him to move past the old memories. Liao Tingyan prepared for a bath. Sima Jiao, anticipating her needs, had already warmed the cold pond water to a comfortable temperature, leaving Liao Tingyan surprised by its warmth.
Episode 25 Recap
Liao Tingyan tested the water in the cold pond, surprised to find its temperature perfectly warm, akin to a hot spring. A sense of profound relaxation washed over her, a feeling she hadn't experienced in a long time, especially after eighteen years of living under Shi Qianlu's oppression and being constantly incited to seek revenge. With Sima Jiao, she could finally cast aside hatred and embrace a carefree existence. Sima Jiao watched over her silently.
Thanks to the pill she had taken, refined with Sima Jiao's blood, her cultivation had advanced significantly. As she drifted into sleep in the pond, her spirit sense left her body, soaring freely. She playfully observed Hongluo meticulously grooming herself in her courtyard, remarking on her vanity. However, when Liao Tingyan tried to venture into the Demon Realm, an invisible barrier blocked her path.
Sima Jiao's voice then echoed, warning her that the Demon Realm was far more perilous than the Celestial Palace, and he had erected the protective barrier around her spirit sense for her safety. He explained that this sensation was familiar; she had experienced her spirit sense wandering in a similar way before when she drank his blood and took a Bloodseal Bloom to purge demonic poison, which had propelled her into Soulshift.
Liao Tingyan recalled finding a Bloodseal Bloom in her Soul Manor and questioned Sima Jiao about it, which seemed to unnerve him. He told her he could sometimes hear her thoughts when she was agitated, noting that even if she tried to distance herself, she instinctively drew close to and relied on him because a flower of his was still blooming in her Soul Manor.
Liao Tingyan, now curious about their past, asked Sima Jiao about the nature of their relationship before her memory loss, which he implied was intimate. She then explicitly asked if he had frequently entered her Soul Manor, to which he replied, "Very often." This admission triggered vivid images in her mind, and she quickly realized he could likely hear her thoughts.
She pressed him, asking why he hadn't used his powers to quickly restore her memories, which would achieve his desired outcome faster. Sima Jiao responded that he respected her pace, even if it meant waiting patiently for her memories to return naturally, stating they had plenty of time to "start anew." As Sima Jiao moved closer to her in the water, Liao Tingyan's heart pounded, and she tried to calm herself. He then gently kissed her, overwhelming her senses.
Unbeknownst to them, Feng Qi witnessed the kiss, his eyes wide with disbelief and pain. He had been told that Liao Tingyan, having lost her memories as the Frost Fish, couldn't recognize him, and Sima Jiao had brazenly declared her his cultivation partner, dismissing Feng Qi as a "clown." Feng Qi painfully recalled that it was Liao Tingyan who had saved his life, and now she had forgotten him.
Fueled by a desperate desire for her to remember him and believing he was the one she should recall, he sought out the Demon Realm Preceptor. The Preceptor, who had previously offered to help restore Liao Tingyan's memories, confirmed Feng Qi's willingness to cooperate. Feng Qi inquired about the Preceptor's true motivations. The Preceptor revealed a sinister plan: they intended to use Liao Tingyan to kill Sima Jiao and extract his pure Fengshan bloodline for a "blood sacrifice."
This ritual, to be performed in the blood pool at White Bone Abyss, was essential to unseal and revive the former Demon Lord You Yan, who had been destroyed by Spirit Fire. The ritual also required a body of You family descent as a vessel and a member of the Chang family to initiate it.
Feng Qi, a descendant of the Chang family, readily agreed, affirming his unwavering loyalty to the Demon Race, despite his clan being wiped out by You Chi. He believed his reunion with Liao Tingyan was a matter of fate and eagerly awaited the Preceptor's instructions. Meanwhile, Sima Jiao, resting in the cold pond, engaged in a silent internal struggle with a mysterious voice, likely one of his two Spirit Fires.
The voice warned him about the immense strain his combined Spirit Fires placed on his body and the severe weakening caused by constantly refining pills for Liao Tingyan, cautioning that a grave injury could be fatal. Sima Jiao silenced the voice, forbidding it from revealing the presence of the two Spirit Fires to Liao Tingyan. Shortly after, Heng Lin, whom Liao Tingyan had encountered at the black market, arrived at her residence.
Hongluo informed Liao Tingyan, who recognized Heng Lin as the one who knew the way to Grain Rain Vale, the secluded place she longed for. Heng Lin explained that he had found her in Dongcheng and extended an invitation from Dongyang Zhenren, revealing that Liao Tingyan's master had settled there. Sima Jiao confirmed that Dongyang Zhenren had always been benevolent towards Liao Tingyan.
Delighted by the prospect of a "vacation," Liao Tingyan agreed to go, with Sima Jiao accompanying her for her safety. Upon their arrival at Grain Rain Vale, Sima Jiao used a truth-telling technique on Dongyang Zhenren and the other main figures, confirming that their invitation for Liao Tingyan to reunite with her master and fellow disciple Changqing was genuine and they harbored no ill intentions, putting Sima Jiao at ease about her staying there.
Liao Tingyan was overjoyed, finding Grain Rain Vale to be a peaceful "paradise in the Demon Realm," a stark contrast to the usual chaos. Sima Jiao told her he could transform both the Immortal and Demon Realms into her desired paradise, but she was content with her current tranquil "vacation," embracing her carefree life. He observed that she was increasingly resembling her old self, enjoying food and sleep, which he attributed to her newfound contentment.
That evening, everyone gathered for a lively barbecue. Liao Tingyan reveled in the festive atmosphere. Sima Jiao, watching her, eventually broke his usual habit of abstaining from human food and tried a lamb skewer, remarking on its delicious taste. He noted how much she had reverted to her old self.
During the feast, Liao Tingyan tasted various local delights, from "Sweet Qingling Melon" and "Crisp Qingling Melon" to "beef of the celestial ox" and "braised duck," all paired with the local wine. The constant drain on Sima Jiao's energy from making pills for Liao Tingyan caused him a moment of weakness, which his attendant noticed, worried Liao Tingyan might discover his fragile condition. The mysterious voice within Sima Jiao reiterated the dangers of his Spirit Fires.
Meanwhile, Feng Qi continued his attempts to gain Liao Tingyan's favor, much to the annoyance of Sima Jiao's attendant, who advised Feng Qi to remain just friends, noting Liao Tingyan's growing affection for Sima Jiao. Feng Qi, however, maintained that the outcome of their rivalry was yet to be decided. As the celebration wound down, a slightly tipsy Liao Tingyan confided in Dongyang Zhenren that she hadn't felt so relaxed in a long time.
Later, she encountered Feng Qi again, who tried to prompt her memories and offer assistance. Liao Tingyan politely, but firmly, declined, stating she was too intoxicated to converse and needed to clear her head. She wandered off to the cold pond, where she found Sima Jiao.
Playfully, she put a flower in his hair and plucked a petal with her lips as she asked why he always smiled when he looked at her, wondering if he had done so in the past. Sima Jiao reassured her that even if her soul were reborn, he would recognize her. Liao Tingyan reciprocated, confident that she, too, would recognize him if he maintained his confident demeanor. She had believed that eighteen years in the Demon Realm had fundamentally changed her, but Sima Jiao assured her that she remained the same person at heart.
Episode 26 Recap
The night began peacefully, with Liao Tingyan and Sima Jiao in the water, though Liao Tingyan felt unusually cold. Sima Jiao noticed her discomfort and a strange pulse, concerning him about the strong cold energy within her. Elsewhere in the garden, Nianjiu tried to win over Ye Ruling, who, due to her lost memories, repeatedly told him, "forcing a melon off the vine never tastes sweet."
Nianjiu playfully offered her a fruit he had "forcibly picked," claiming its sweetness, which Ye Ruling conceded but still refused his advances. During this time, Nianjiu and Ye Ruling observed a disciple preparing flowers for Liao Tingyan, and Liao Tingyan's senior brother, Su Changqing, scolding the disciple for not tidying them properly according to protocol. Nianjiu, accustomed to Liao Tingyan's unpretentious nature, found this insistence on meticulous flower arrangement suspicious.
The next morning, Liao Tingyan still felt cold and mentioned to Sima Jiao that Feng Qi had spoken strange things, hinting she had been to this place before. Sima Jiao, already wary of Liao Tingyan’s escalating coldness, which he suspected was not accidental, wanted to use a Truth Spell on Feng Qi. However, Liao Tingyan urged him not to, fearing another conflict between them, and offered to question Feng Qi herself.
Instead, Sima Jiao tasked Nianjiu with discreetly investigating the flowers, explaining that while a Truth Spell reveals what people know, it is not without flaws. Nianjiu returned to the garden and discovered that the seemingly ordinary flowers were, in fact, miasma maintained by spiritual power. This confirmed his earlier suspicion that something was wrong with the plants. Meanwhile, Feng Qi led Liao Tingyan to a waterfall. He earnestly asked if she remembered saving him when she was a Frost Fish.
Liao Tingyan, unable to recall such memories, insisted he had mistaken her for someone else and urged him not to be so fixated. Heartbroken, Feng Qi questioned why she desired to recover memories with Sima Jiao but not those with him. Liao Tingyan clarified that the person he sought had likely vanished long ago, allowing her to be who she was now, and those specific memories would never be hers.
Nianjiu reported his findings about the miasma to Sima Jiao, while Liao Tingyan simultaneously recounted Feng Qi’s perplexing claims. Sima Jiao instantly grew alert. He realized they were not in the true Grain Rain Vale, but an elaborate illusion created by Shi Qianlv. The lush greenery and vibrant flowers were nothing but transformed miasma. Their true location was the White Bone Abyss, the treacherous heart of the Demon Realm, surrounded by piercing cold.
Sima Jiao recalled sensing the coldness from Liao Tingyan after the banquet food, and his own increasing discomfort since arriving, realizing the cold energy from Liao Tingyan was being channeled through the protective anklet he had given her, diminishing his powers. Taking advantage of Sima Jiao's conversation with Nianjiu, Feng Qi pulled Liao Tingyan aside. He deceptively told her that Sima Jiao’s worsening condition was due to the anklet, which was made from Sima Jiao's heart-protecting bone.
Feng Qi claimed that while the anklet protected her from damage, her extreme cold energy, intensified by the White Bone Abyss, was clashing with Sima Jiao’s essence through the artifact, causing him harm. He explained that removing it would stop the backlash. Concerned for Sima Jiao, Liao Tingyan, without hesitation, removed the anklet. The moment the anklet was off, Shi Qianlv appeared and knocked Liao Tingyan unconscious.
Feng Qi, who believed their goal was merely to restore Liao Tingyan’s memories, reminded Shi Qianlv not to harm her. However, Shi Qianlv coldly stated that he and the Preceptor intended to use her to defeat Sima Jiao and began the process of refining her into a froststone. He had originally plotted with the Preceptor to lure Sima Jiao and Liao Tingyan to the White Bone Abyss.
Shi Qianlv, having used his Soul Cleanse on the inhabitants, had created the illusion of Grain Rain Vale, knowing Liao Tingyan’s longing for the place would draw her there, and that Sima Jiao would follow. Sima Jiao, sensing Liao Tingyan's peril, rushed to her aid. However, he was ambushed by Shi Qianlv and Preceptor Mingli and bound to a pillar, suffering intense fiery torture.
Liao Tingyan, though unconscious, was being subjected to the extreme cold of the Guiyuan Chamber, awakening her Frost Fish instincts. Sima Jiao desperately tried to break free to help Liao Tingyan, but the combined assault of Shi Qianlv and Preceptor Mingli, who taunted him about the inevitable blood sacrifice to revive the former Demon Lord You Chi, made it difficult. Despite his injuries, Sima Jiao managed to break the seal on Liao Tingyan.
Preceptor Mingli watched, telling Sima Jiao that the extreme cold would awaken Liao Tingyan’s Frost Fish nature, making her body betray her will. He challenged Sima Jiao, asking if her inherent nature could overcome her feelings for him. Under the influence of the marrow cleansing and the overwhelming cold, Liao Tingyan's body, now reawakened to her Frost Fish instincts, tragically perceived Sima Jiao as an enemy. She plunged a sword into his chest.
As Sima Jiao collapsed, his blood core detached and merged into a nearby blood pool, signifying the readiness for the blood sacrifice. Liao Tingyan, regaining her senses, was horrified to see Sima Jiao bleeding profusely. She cried out his name, apologizing for what she had unknowingly done. Sima Jiao, understanding, simply closed his eyes, leaving Liao Tingyan in anguish.
Episode 27 Recap
Liao Tingyan regained her senses to find Sima Jiao lying in a pool of his own blood. Distraught, she rushed to him, trying to staunch his wound. Sima Jiao gazed at her serenely, assuring her that he did not blame her. Overcome with grief that the one she loved most had been so gravely injured by her own hand, Liao Tingyan unleashed her fury, freezing everything around her.
Shi Qianlv met his end, his last words a cruel taunt to Liao Tingyan, thanking her for seeing him off in death. The overwhelming events flooded Liao Tingyan's mind, driving her to despair. She leaped from a cliff in an attempt to end her life. Feng Qi tried to follow but was repelled by a Yin-Yang barrier below. Liao Tingyan found herself in her Soul Manor, where her lost memories awaited.
Her past self explained that together, they formed the complete memory of their time in the cultivation world. Liao Tingyan recalled her carefree life, her deep affection for Sima Jiao, and his unwavering protection. Horrified to learn Sima Jiao was injured, her past self admitted that the cold energy in the Bone Pool had awakened her Frost Fish assassin instincts, causing her to lose control and stab him.
Both resolved to find a way out of the bottomless Bone Pool to save him. Meanwhile, in the Demon Realm, the demon forces celebrated Sima Jiao's apparent demise, but the true Demon Lord was enraged, discovering that Sima Jiao was still alive because the Yin-Yang Lake barrier persisted. He berated his subordinates for their incompetence and commanded Feng Qi to proceed with a blood sacrifice using the Preceptor's body as a vessel.
Just as Feng Qi prepared to execute the Preceptor on the Execution Platform, Liao Tingyan intervened. She fiercely confronted the Demon Lord, who taunted her for being the assassin he created. Defying him, Liao Tingyan refused to let him have his way. Recognizing Liao Tingyan's unique constitution as a Frost Fish and the chosen inheritor of the You Chi clan, the Preceptor forcibly infused his inner core into her, surprising everyone.
With the Preceptor's core now within her, Liao Tingyan became the new Demon Mistress, much to her own protest. Sima Jiao remained in a critical state, his spiritual power severely depleted and his life hanging by a thread. His disciples worried that Liao Tingyan, with her extreme-cold nature, had merely suppressed his Spirit Fire and could kill him at any moment, reminding everyone that as a Frost Fish and a Spirit Fire host, they were natural enemies.
Bi'an, sensing the urgency, offered to use Blood Infusion to stabilize Sima Jiao, despite the risks to herself, insisting her death would be worth it if it saved the Grandmaster and brought peace. Her selfless act managed to somewhat stabilize Sima Jiao, and she prayed for his and Liao Tingyan's safe return. To buy Sima Jiao more time, Liao Tingyan reluctantly accepted her role as the new Demon Mistress.
She cleverly deflected the demons' demands to attack Sima Jiao, instead offering to go alone to kill him and destroy the Spirit Fire, thus protecting him from their collective assault. She entered Sima Jiao's Soul Manor, where she was met by his distressed disciples, who urged her to save him. Inside, she found Sima Jiao reduced to a vulnerable infant.
His mother's spirit appeared, revealing that Sima Jiao's fire seed was dimming, and the only way to save him was with the Fengshan Spirit Fire, which was most abundant in Thunder Valley. Without hesitation, Liao Tingyan brought Sima Jiao to Thunder Valley. Although Sima Jiao had once brought her there for her ascension, it was now Liao Tingyan's turn to defy the heavens to save her beloved.
She provoked the heavenly powers, enduring multiple thunderbolts to channel Spirit Fire into Sima Jiao, reigniting his inner energy. After withstanding strike after strike, Sima Jiao finally awakened. Upon Sima Jiao's recovery, Liao Tingyan expressed her deep regret for insisting on going to Grain Rain Vale, acknowledging her naivety and how it almost cost him his life. Sima Jiao, in turn, vowed to purify the Immortal and Demon Realms, promising that wherever she went would be a paradise.
They discussed their vision for the realms, with Liao Tingyan suggesting a "great integration" of immortals and demons to prevent endless wars. They identified the root cause as the Demon Realm's lack of spirit veins for cultivation, which led them to seize human inner cores. Sima Jiao agreed to her proposal, stating he would resolve the issue of spirit veins for the Demon Realm, allowing them to cultivate peacefully.
They announced a new era of coexistence: as long as demons refrained from conflict, they could cultivate with spirit veins. Unbeknownst to them, the original Demon Lord, You Chi, had successfully possessed Bi'an, whose Fengshan bloodline was a suitable vessel for his recovery. Baizhu, searching for Bi'an, eventually found her but was brutally killed by the possessed Bi'an. Sima Jiao deduced that You Chi's lingering soul had used Bi'an's body for rebirth and was responsible for Baizhu's death.
He instructed Nianjiu to find You Chi's confidant, Mingli, as a lead, and to seek out strategic cultivators from the Immortal Palace to assist Liao Tingyan in governing the Demon Realm. Meanwhile, the possessed Bi'an, speaking as You Chi, revealed his plan to enter seclusion to fully restore his primordial spirit. He intended to eventually open the Nine Nether Purgatory and unleash the sealed Demonic Army, believing Liao Tingyan's position as Demon Mistress would not last.
Feng Qi later sought out the Preceptor, questioning how Liao Tingyan, an outsider, could merge with the demon core, as only the You clan should be capable. The Preceptor confirmed that Liao Tingyan could not have done it without external aid, hinting at the Chang clan's secret technique, but warned Feng Qi that using it would deplete his cultivation and only benefit Sima Jiao, as Liao Tingyan was now firmly aligned with him.
As peace settled between the realms, Sima Jiao grandly presented Liao Tingyan with Yan City, a sprawling domain from Mount Daiying to the Lone Peaks, to facilitate their meetings. Touched by his gesture, Liao Tingyan secretly began preparing a dowry, planning to propose marriage to him. She also suggested that her clever friend become the Demon Realm's Preceptor, teasing her that this would ensure Nianjiu, who was currently fawning over General Mu Nisheng, would stay close to her.
Separately, Nianjiu offered Hongluo Qiling nectar from Serene Vale, hoping it would help her recover her lost memories. He expressed deep regret for not realizing how much pain she had secretly endured, vowing to give her a sweet and happy life. Finally, Liao Tingyan and Sima Jiao wandered through Yan City, a place built from all their shared memories. Liao Tingyan then suggested they mark the newfound peace with a grand celebration, perhaps a marriage between an immortal and a demon, effectively proposing to Sima Jiao.
Episode 28 Recap
Liao Tingyan initiated the discussion of marriage, and Sima Jiao readily agreed, wanting the wedding date to be as early as possible. In the days leading up to the grand ceremony, they frequently visited Yan City to procure wedding items. On one such outing, they encountered Feng Qi. Recalling how Feng Qi had previously deceived Liao Tingyan into removing her protective anklet, Sima Jiao harbored no goodwill towards him.
He immediately grabbed Feng Qi by the neck, demanding to know his intentions. Feng Qi revealed that Liao Tingyan's body contained the Demon Lord's inner core, and because her bloodline clashed with it, her life would be in danger if the situation persisted. He claimed that his Chang family possessed a secret technique to stabilize the Demon Lord's inner core and offered to try it. Desperate to save Liao Tingyan, Sima Jiao reluctantly allowed Feng Qi to begin treating her.
After the first session, Feng Qi reported that while there was no immediate discomfort, the Demon Lord's core was too powerful for a complete fusion to happen quickly, and it would require more time. Liao Tingyan felt a sense of dread, but Sima Jiao reassured her that there was hope. Liao Tingyan asked Feng Qi if he was truly willing to help, to which he sincerely apologized for his past deception, stating his desire to make amends.
Liao Tingyan, believing Feng Qi was merely used and could not lie under Sima Jiao's Truth Spell, pleaded with Sima Jiao to give him another chance, which he did. Later, Liao Tingyan inwardly observed that the two cores were already beginning to merge, leading her to believe she had misunderstood Feng Qi. Sima Jiao, however, remained cautious, feeling that the positive development was "too good to be true."
Meanwhile, the Celestial and Demon Realms, though now able to traverse between worlds, remained at odds. The Gengchen Celestial Palace often openly mocked the Demon Realm. During one banquet in Yan City, Chi Anhe from the Celestial Realm publicly insulted the Demon Realm, claiming that all their fine wines and spiritual foods originated from the Celestial Palace. This ignited a heated argument between Chi Anhe and Niu San, a demon general.
Their altercation was eventually halted by others present, who reminded them that the banquet was meant to celebrate peace and going against the Grandmaster's and Demon Mistress's wishes would be a grave mistake. Although Niu San later acknowledged his impulsiveness and urged his fellow demons to strive for worth, he was found mysteriously dead after the banquet. The wound on his body bore the mark of General Chi's technique, but an underlying demonic aura matched Liao Tingyan's own.
This suspicious death reignited tensions, pushing the two realms back into daily skirmishes. Liao Tingyan observed the growing resentment among the demon folk, which, according to her master, would fuel the demon core within her. She realized that despite Feng Qi's daily treatments, the Demon Lord's core inside her was growing significantly larger and was not her own, threatening to completely devour her original core and make her lose control of her mind.
She noted instances of memory loss and unexplained shifts in location. Fearing Sima Jiao would worry, she decided to keep this from him, a decision her trusted companion Hongluo was not comfortable with, especially after learning Feng Qi had unexpectedly left for Ghost City. Liao Tingyan concluded that Niu San's death was part of a larger plot, and she was the true target.
Sima Jiao, sensing the deeper conspiracy behind Niu San's death, suspected Mingli, a subordinate loyal to the former Demon Lord You Yan, held crucial information. Tracking the demonic trace on Niu San's wound, Sima Jiao found Mingli at the entrance to the Demon Realm forest. Using a Truth Spell, Sima Jiao compelled Mingli to confess that he had infused Feng Qi with demonic energy, using his obsession to control him.
Mingli revealed that Feng Qi's assistance in merging Liao Tingyan's inner cores was part of his scheme. While the Chang family's secret art could merge cores, the Demon Lord's core was so powerful that it would ultimately consume Liao Tingyan's own, effectively turning her into the former Demon Lord You Yan's puppet. Realizing Liao Tingyan was in grave danger, Sima Jiao immediately returned to her.
He found Feng Qi attempting to infuse her with a forbidden demonic technique, causing her immense pain. Sima Jiao quickly intervened to stabilize her mind, bringing her back to her senses. To expose the truth, Sima Jiao then used his Truth Spell on Feng Qi in front of the assembled demon generals.
Possessed by the former Demon Lord You Yan, Feng Qi confessed that he orchestrated Niu San's death to stir up chaos and resentment, which would strengthen the Demon Lord's core within Liao Tingyan. His ultimate goal was to use the fully controlled Liao Tingyan to kill Sima Jiao, removing the only obstacle between him and Liao Tingyan. He brazenly declared that when chaos engulfed both realms, Liao Tingyan would become his puppet.
The demon generals, outraged by You Yan's treachery, cried for his death. You Yan taunted Sima Jiao, stating that while he might suppress Liao Tingyan's demon energy for a time, he could never do so indefinitely, and ordered Liao Tingyan to kill Sima Jiao. Sima Jiao then used his powers to fully break You Yan's control over Liao Tingyan. Afterward, Sima Jiao confronted Feng Qi, who, filled with remorse, apologized to Liao Tingyan.
Having sacrificed his cultivation, Feng Qi faced imminent death as a heavy price for his actions. With the truth revealed, the Demon Realm understood the Celestial Realm was innocent, and the pursuit of Chi Anhe's responsibility ceased. Despite resolving the immediate crisis, Sima Jiao's frequent use of spiritual energy, coupled with his previous, not fully healed injuries, had severely depleted his vitality. The demon core within Liao Tingyan also remained restless.
Sima Jiao gently informed Liao Tingyan that he needed to enter seclusion for a month, assuring her that upon his return, peace would reign, and they could finally marry. Liao Tingyan, puzzled, asked why they couldn't marry first, worried that his injuries had relapsed or her demonic energy was more difficult to purge than he let on. Unbeknownst to Liao Tingyan, Nianjiu overheard a conversation between Spirit Fire and Sima Jiao.
Spirit Fire vehemently warned Sima Jiao against his plan, indicating it was suicidal. Nianjiu, deeply disturbed, confronted Sima Jiao, asking for clarification. Spirit Fire confirmed that the "Thunder Valley" healing only temporarily slowed the drain on Sima Jiao's life force, and that he was actively choosing self-sacrifice. Nianjiu was distraught, questioning if purifying Liao Tingyan's demon core truly required Sima Jiao's life.
Sima Jiao, seemingly unconcerned, explained his intention: by allowing the false narrative to spread that Liao Tingyan had slain him and seized his Spirit Fire, her authority as the Immortal-Demon Ruler would be firmly established, securing the realms' stability. " If she lives," Sima Jiao concluded, "then I live." He strictly instructed Nianjiu not to reveal any of this to Liao Tingyan. A while later, Liao Tingyan visited Sima Jiao during his "seclusion," finding him resting peacefully.
She jokingly remarked on his "lazy" method of seclusion. After asking about "the little flame," which Sima Jiao had "locked away" for being noisy, they engaged in spiritual cultivation. Liao Tingyan entered Sima Jiao's spiritual abode, surprised to find it transformed, now adorned with countless flowers and refreshing breezes, much like her own. Sima Jiao attributed this change to the Grandmistress's intervention, a facade to conceal his true weakened state and his impending self-sacrifice, all to comfort Liao Tingyan.
Episode 29 Recap
Sima Jiao had prepared a beautiful Flower Sea as a garden in Yan City for Liao Tingyan and immediately took her to see it. Liao Tingyan was still playfully upset that he had used his seclusion as an excuse to delay their wedding, but once they arrived, she was enchanted by the beauty. Sima Jiao explained that the entire garden was built to resemble her Soul Manor, as he had been captivated by its serene atmosphere during his first visit.
He told her that if she ever felt restless, she could come here to sleep, and all her unease would vanish. Liao Tingyan admired the scent of the rare wood, which Sima Jiao said would calm her heart and suppress the turmoil within. She then remarked on how sleepy the peaceful place made her feel, and Sima Jiao told her to rest, promising to stay by her side.
As Liao Tingyan drifted off, Sima Jiao began transferring his cultivation to her. She jolted awake, horrified, questioning why he was giving her all his power. Sima Jiao calmly stated that it was about to begin, revealing that he had fused the Fengshan Spirit Fire into his blood and soul, and it would soon all belong to her.
He explained that he was never meant to last long, noting the conflicting Spirit Fires within him had caused his body to collapse. He confirmed that the Sima clan was destined to fall, and he, too, would die. He refused to let his Spirit Fire extinguish with him, expressing his wish to leave it to her, as he only loved her in this world.
He also revealed that the demon core in her body had fused with her inner core and could not be removed, and only this Spirit Fire could suppress it. With his soul as a guide, she would become "the second him," possessing power above all living things, without suffering the Spirit Fire's torment. Liao Tingyan vehemently refused, threatening to find hundreds of men if he died, but Sima Jiao insisted she would never forget him.
He urged her to live well, promising to return to her across any distance, even as a gentle breeze, to stay with her for millennia. Liao Tingyan wept, begging him not to leave. With a final "live well," Sima Jiao passed away, leaving behind his wedding ring, which Liao Tingyan put on, vowing he must live. Nineteen years later, Liao Tingyan had transformed, diligently managing the affairs of both the immortal and demon realms.
She had united the two realms, which were previously separated by Yin-Yang Lake, and, by merging with the Spirit Fire, gained boundless power, ushering in an era of peace and prosperity. However, rumors persisted that she had ruthlessly killed her fiancé, Sima Jiao (referred to as Lord of Mercy), to gain the Spirit Fire, a notion that instilled fear in some, but also ensured no one dared challenge her authority.
Despite her formidable reputation, Liao Tingyan was seen as a caring ruler who implemented policies like an eight-hour workday for officials and subsidies for the common folk, fostering harmonious relations between immortals and demons. However, in private, she continued to suffer the burning pain from the Spirit Fire and often visited the Flower Sea Sima Jiao had built, reminiscing about him and often weeping.
She scoffed at the "rare wood's" calming properties, feeling it only made her miss Sima Jiao more, realizing he must have endured similar pain while feigning strength. Her Preceptor, Hongluo, offered her calming medicine for the pain and inner turmoil caused by the demon core. Hongluo explained that Sima Jiao, as Grandmaster, had sacrificed his very being to cleanse Liao Tingyan's demon core, losing his cultivation and soul.
To give him a chance at survival, Liao Tingyan had saved a wisp of his soul, but without a complete vessel, it had to be released into the world to find its own path, leaving Liao Tingyan still tormented and unaware of his whereabouts. Despite the peace she had created, Liao Tingyan longed for Sima Jiao.
Hongluo expressed her frustration to Liao Tingyan about Nianjiu, who had become secretive and kept missing their dates, leading her to suspect him of infidelity. Liao Tingyan, knowing Nianjiu's character, confronted him. She demanded to know his recent activities and, sensing Sima Jiao's distinct aura on him, accused him of knowing Sima Jiao's whereabouts all along.
Nianjiu confessed that 19 years prior, Sima Jiao had instructed him on where he might be found if Liao Tingyan preserved his soul, though Sima Jiao had kept his full plans secret. Nianjiu explained that Sima Jiao, due to not receiving the Soul-Restoring Pill, had lost his memories, making it impossible to follow his original plans or be convinced by others of his past. However, Nianjiu believed Sima Jiao had his own methods.
He revealed that Sima Jiao had been reborn as a prince in the mortal Hu Kingdom, ascending to the throne as a child and facing numerous assassination attempts. Nianjiu admitted he had been secretly traveling to the mortal realm to protect him, which was why he had been neglecting Hongluo. Liao Tingyan mused that Sima Jiao always ended up in a position of authority, wondering if being an emperor was part of his unfinished business.
Nianjiu also warned that the demon lord You Yan might have returned using Bi An's body, and his location was unknown. He cautioned Liao Tingyan that in the mortal realm, especially in Hu Kingdom, her immense powers would be severely restricted, and using high-level spells could cause her immense pain or backlash. Liao Tingyan, accustomed to being mortal, was unfazed, but Nianjiu stressed the importance of concealing their true identities to prevent chaos and the danger of encountering You Yan.
Hongluo agreed to accompany Liao Tingyan. Hongluo gathered information during their journey to the mortal realm, informing Liao Tingyan that Sima Jiao, as the Hu Kingdom's ruler, was rumored to be cruel, lustful, and surrounded by many concubines, suggesting he might be a foolish emperor. Liao Tingyan, however, maintained that Sima Jiao's perceived brutality in his past life was superficial, and his current marital alliances were likely politically motivated to stabilize his precarious throne.
She declared that she would accept him in any form, as long as he was alive. Meanwhile, Sima Jiao, now the ruler of the Hu Kingdom, had arranged a public "execution" for Governor Wei Xianyu, whom he suspected of plotting rebellion under the instruction of the ambitious Marquis of Nanyan. This was a ploy to draw out the Marquis's conspirators. Liao Tingyan, unaware of the ruler's true motives and seeing an injustice, attempted to save Wei Xianyu.
Though Hongluo warned her about the backlash of using powerful immortal magic in the mortal realm, Liao Tingyan reflexively used her powers, briefly suffering the pain of the backlash, but succeeded in rescuing Wei Xianyu. Sima Jiao's eunuch later reported that Wei Xianyu had been rescued by an unknown individual, prompting the ruler to order an investigation. Unbeknownst to Sima Jiao, Wei Xianyu was visited by Yi Huo, who delivered a message from the Marquis of Nanyan.
Yi Huo pressed Wei Xianyu to act swiftly and kill Sima Jiao, as the previous bandit attack had failed and returning to the palace would strengthen the ruler's position. Wei Xianyu, feeling no restraint after Sima Jiao's apparent ruthlessness, vowed to "strike at the root" and ensure Sima Jiao's death for the Marquis. Later, Sima Jiao looked out a window from a tavern and saw Liao Tingyan, dressed in orange, instantly captivated.
He immediately sent his guards to bring her to him. The guards approached Liao Tingyan and Hongluo, explaining their lord wished to invite her to the Songbird Pavilion. Realizing the implications, Liao Tingyan angrily asked if their lord was Sima Jiao. The guards, shocked that she used his name, confirmed it.
Enraged that Sima Jiao was not only a womanizer with many consorts but now also "snatching girls," Liao Tingyan’s earlier promise to accept him wavered, her standards having "shot up." Seeing her temper, Hongluo decided to return to Yan City, telling Liao Tingyan to report that she was in seclusion and the Preceptor would handle state affairs. Liao Tingyan, however, signaled the guards to lead the way to the Songbird Pavilion.
Elsewhere, a cloaked figure, implied to be You Yan in Bi An's body, sensed the powerful aura of the demon core and Spirit Fire in the mortal realm. He was surprised that Liao Tingyan had merged with the Spirit Fire and descended to the mortal world. Believing the timing to be perfect, having recuperated for over a decade, he decided it was time to "meet some folks."
Episode 30 Recap
Liao Tingyan’s eyes reddened the moment she saw Sima Jiao, a living presence before her after nineteen years of seeing him only in dreams. Sima Jiao felt a strange familiarity with the girl, having seen her numerous times in his dreams, and was deeply moved by her tearful gaze, as if she was cherishing a rare treasure. He wondered why she had entered his dreams and captured his heart, and noted her appearance was truly strange.
Sima Jiao, testing her, asked for her name and deliberately mentioned his reputation as a ruthless killer. Liao Tingyan, however, simply smiled, unconcerned by his dark words. She showed her deep familiarity by recalling his past cruelties, such as wiping out clans or destroying immortal abodes, and found his current youthful self "cute." She expressed her joy at finally reuniting with him in this lifetime.
As she approached, not wanting him to say irrelevant things, she calmly touched an acupuncture point on his body, causing him to lean against her shoulder. She wished for time to stand still, allowing their moment to last longer. That night, Liao Tingyan stayed by Sima Jiao’s side. She observed that he indeed possessed no trace of his divine power, though his complexion had improved, losing its former pallor and gaining a human vitality, returning him to a robust youth.
She also noted his body was fine. The next morning, Sima Jiao received a report from his palace staff: the girl who rescued Wei Xianyu the previous day was none other than Liao Tingyan. Unable to uncover her true background, Sima Jiao explicitly concluded that she was "definitely not mortal." He suspected she might be a spy sent by the Marquis of Nanyan, considering her presence in his dreams a potential conspiracy if she were an enemy.
Believing it safer to confront open threats than hidden dangers, he decided to bring Liao Tingyan back to the palace to observe the Marquis’s next moves, pretending to go along with her intentions. They shared a carriage ride back to the capital, Yan City. Liao Tingyan seemed in high spirits, commenting on how delicious mortal food was. Sima Jiao was puzzled by her talk of the "mortal realm," openly wondering if she was claiming to be non-human.
Liao Tingyan, unfazed, suggested he could think of her as a fairy, adding that she knew he would be suspicious of her motives, especially without his Truth Spell. She then teasingly asked how she might "entice" him. Sima Jiao, intrigued yet cautious, declared, "From now on, you shall be my Lady Yan," a move he believed would allow him to gradually understand her intentions.
Liao Tingyan, in her thoughts, found his youthful charm endearing, remarking that she wouldn't even be angry at his absurd words given his tender face. During their journey, Liao Tingyan noticed Sima Jiao experiencing a headache. Revealing her master was a healer, she immediately offered to massage his head, a gesture he initially resisted, citing his imperial physicians' inability to cure him.
As she massaged him, Sima Jiao internally wrestled with his fast-beating heart, questioning if he was falling for her or if it was her enchantment. Liao Tingyan, aware of his discomfort, soothed him and offered him a pill from Serene Vale, which she considered an ordinary medicine in the immortal realm but more than sufficient for a mortal.
He wondered if she was attempting to poison him, to which she humorously called him a "silly boy" for his lack of appreciation. She also noticed that his soul was still damaged from years past and hadn't fully merged with his current body, causing his frequent headaches. The journey was suddenly interrupted by an ambush of assassins. Sima Jiao had deliberately chosen the forest path to lure them out, stating "They really came!"
He swiftly engaged them, displaying his formidable martial arts. Liao Tingyan, whose powers were suppressed in the mortal realm, observed his prowess, noting that without her spells, she might not be able to defeat him. She realized he had been feigning weakness all along, admiring him as her valiant husband.
From afar, the Demon Lord, who was observing the events, remarked on Sima Jiao's reincarnation as the Hu Kingdom's emperor, believing he intended to thwart his plans of opening the Nine Nether Purgatory and releasing his demonic soldiers. As one assassin lunged at Sima Jiao from behind, Liao Tingyan instinctively shielded him, taking the blade directly to her chest, which bled profusely.
Sima Jiao’s guards quickly subdued all the attackers, capturing Wei Xianyu among them, and took them back to the capital, Yan City. The Demon Lord, noting Liao Tingyan's quick actions, found her protection of Sima Jiao had made his problem "tricky." Liao Tingyan’s selfless act deeply moved Sima Jiao, convincing him that she was not a spy of the Marquis of Nanyan. He immediately summoned imperial physicians for her.
Liao Tingyan remained composed, knowing her extraordinary constitution meant such a wound was not truly life-threatening. The imperial physician, after examining her, also noted her unusual resilience and the astonishingly quick cessation of her bleeding, a fact Sima Jiao pointed out, recalling the profuse bleeding he had witnessed. Liao Tingyan downplayed the injury, calling it merely a scratch, to avoid raising more suspicion about her non-mortal nature.
After their return to the palace, Minister of Justice Chen Tang reported to Sima Jiao the findings of the investigation into Liao Tingyan. The assassins claimed no knowledge of her, and she had no recorded presence in Liyang County or any other region, seemingly appearing out of nowhere, leading Chen Tang to conclude that her rescue of Wei Xianyu was likely coincidental.
Sima Jiao acknowledged her non-mortal nature, but despite the minister's implicit advice against keeping such a mysterious person close, Sima Jiao showed a special fondness for Liao Tingyan and remained perplexed by her presence and true intentions. Meanwhile, the Demon Lord, frustrated by Sima Jiao's existence which hindered his cultivation and required him to use others' blood, sought an alliance with the Marquis of Nanyan. The Demon Lord, appearing before the Marquis, offered to help him seize the empire.
He revealed that Mount Hu, once called Mount Feng thousands of years ago, held something he desired, accessible by an imperial seal after the Emperor's worship ritual. He explained that both Sima Jiao and the Marquis possessed the True Dragon Aura, the divine right to the throne, but deemed Sima Jiao incompetent and useless. The Demon Lord proposed to help the Marquis eliminate Sima Jiao and ascend to power.
The Marquis, cautious, worried about public criticism if Sima Jiao died prematurely before the mountain worship ritual, prompting the Demon Lord to agree to act according to mortal methods but warning that relying solely on such tactics would lead to defeat. The Demon Lord also informed the Marquis that Liao Tingyan, whom Sima Jiao brought back from Liyang, was a powerful demoness who could jeopardize their plans.
The Marquis, concerned for his daughter, Noble Consort Si Xian, agreed that eliminating Liao Tingyan was paramount, seeing an opportunity in the upcoming palace banquet. At the grand palace banquet, Sima Jiao instructed his subjects to enjoy themselves, setting aside state affairs. He publicly reprimanded his Minister of the Ministry of Personnel for allowing "outsiders" into Chengming Hall, a thinly veiled reference to the Marquis of Nanyan and his daughter, Noble Consort Si Xian, who were conspicuously absent, claiming illness.
The Empress Dowager arrived, chiding Sima Jiao for his childish displays. She took an immediate interest in Liao Tingyan, noticing her graceful demeanor and finding her strikingly similar to a goddess from her hometown temple, commenting that it was no wonder Sima Jiao liked her. Liao Tingyan explained her humble origins in Shu, her journey to Liyang after her mother’s death from melancholy during a great drought, and how she made a living by raising silkworms with her neighbor's sister.
The Empress Dowager, touched by her story, assured her of a life free from hardship within the palace. Later, a consort, Beauty Tong, attempted to poison Sima Jiao's wine. Liao Tingyan subtly used her abilities to neutralize the poison, transforming it into fine liquor, playfully thinking how lucky Sima Jiao was to have her. Suddenly, Sima Jiao sensed a surge of "demonic energy" and identified it as "You Yan," ordering her immediate arrest as the banquet descended into chaos.
After the commotion, the Empress Dowager brought Sima Jiao his favorite Poria chicken soup, prepared by her own hands, after having observed that he barely ate during the banquet. She commented on Liao Tingyan's cheerful disposition and great appetite, noting her profound wisdom.
She then broached the topic of Sima Jiao's marriage, wondering why he, who usually rejected women, had actively brought Liao Tingyan into the palace and suggested he make her Empress, especially before the ancestral mountain worship ritual required an Empress to be established. Sima Jiao denied fancying her, but his mother saw through him.
He confessed his initial suspicion of Liao Tingyan being a spy, which was dispelled by her repeated sacrifices, yet an unsolved mystery remained: she had appeared in his dreams since childhood. The Empress Dowager took this as a sign of fate, but Sima Jiao, who never believed in fate, remained wary.
That night, Sima Jiao was plagued by a disturbing dream, reliving a past where he was forced to kill, resisting fiercely but urged by voices to act, lest more lives be lost. He woke up, still haunted by the dream and by Liao Tingyan's image within it. He confronted Liao Tingyan, asking about her wound again and why it hadn't healed as quickly as before. She replied, "Fairies aren't omnipotent, you know?"
Sima Jiao, perplexed, then pressed her, "In tales of the supernatural, fairies always love all living beings. But you're only devoted to me, focused on one person. Who exactly are you? What are your intentions?"
Episode 31 Recap
In the evening, Sima Jiao sought out Liao Tingyan. Observing her shoulder wound healing at an astonishing pace, he directly questioned her. If she truly were a celestial fairy, he wondered, why would she reserve her kindness solely for him? He asked if she was an agent sent by his enemies. Liao Tingyan, realizing Sima Jiao had forgotten their past, replied that many years ago, they were a pair of demon lovers.
Due to certain circumstances, misunderstandings had arisen between them, but given time, Sima Jiao would surely remember her once more. Sima Jiao found her answer deeply satisfying. Though he maintained a composed exterior, his mother had once hinted that Liao Tingyan might be his destined match, and now it seemed to be true. Meanwhile, the Marquis of Nanyan, having learned of Wei Xianyu's capture by the emperor, feared that the investigation would lead back to him.
He covertly sent a message to the Centipede, who then attacked Wei Xianyu in prison that very night, leading the Marquis to believe Wei Xianyu had been eliminated. Upon hearing this, the Marquis was pleased, finally recognizing the Centipede's power and trusting her even more. The Centipede also revealed she had planted a trace of her aura within Liao Tingyan's demon core.
This aura, she explained, would gradually activate and, when fed by the grievances of the mortal realm, would cause the demon core to swell and become uncontrollable, ultimately compelling Liao Tingyan to kill Sima Jiao for them. Sima Jiao's attendant reported that Liao Tingyan's wound was healing rapidly, and she was using her own secret remedies, which Sima Jiao allowed.
Later, a trusted minister, Jiang Cha, apologized for failing to uncover the Marquis of Nanyan's plot at a recent banquet, which had endangered Sima Jiao. Sima Jiao, however, reassured him, affirming that saving his parents, the emperor's subjects, was no special favor, and the minister had performed well by not raising the Marquis's suspicions. However, Liao Tingyan, aware of the Marquis's intent to eliminate Wei Xianyu, had secretly intervened.
She enlisted Nianjiu to impersonate Wei Xianyu, staging an attack in the prison. The real Wei Xianyu, having been rescued and witnessing the Marquis's clear intent to eliminate him, revealed all the Marquis's past transgressions against Sima Jiao. Liao Tingyan diligently recorded Wei Xianyu's confession and presented it to the emperor. Around this time, a minister reported that Wei Xianyu had mysteriously vanished from prison, as if into thin air.
Sima Jiao immediately ordered that Wei Xianyu be declared dead in prison, hinting that his disappearance was by design, likely to protect him given the new confession. Sima Jiao, seeing this firsthand account, was astonished and recognized Liao Tingyan's sincere desire to help him. Suspecting Liao Tingyan knew Wei Xianyu's true whereabouts, he went to her chambers but found them empty. He instructed his maid, Liangchen, not to reveal Liao Tingyan's absence to anyone.
Liao Tingyan, determined to eliminate all threats to Sima Jiao, took Hongluo on a tour of Hu Kingdom's defenses. They discovered a peculiar mansion that, despite being in the mortal realm, was protected by a spiritual barrier. This suggested it was the very place the Centipede clan had targeted. Soon, Sima Jiao was scheduled to hold an Ancestral Ceremony there, which Liao Tingyan believed was the crucial event the Centipede sought to exploit.
She tasked Hongluo with finding all relevant information to uncover the Centipede's plan before the ceremony. Hongluo and Chi Anhe had already learned from the Pavilion of Destiny that the "worship ritual" was what You Yan coveted most from the Hu Kingdom emperor. Liao Tingyan tried to break the barrier with Spirit Fire but failed, reinforcing her belief that Sima Jiao was hiding critical information and rushed to prevent something.
She decided to focus on helping Sima Jiao secure his throne and use the Marquis of Nanyan as a lead to expose the Centipede. Sima Jiao spent the entire night in Liao Tingyan's room, unsure of her whereabouts. After morning court, still concerned, he returned to Ziquan Palace. There, he encountered Noble Consort Si Xian, daughter of the Marquis of Nanyan, who, with her usual arrogance, slapped one of Liao Tingyan's maids.
Sima Jiao immediately intervened, admonishing Noble Consort Si Xian. Just then, Liao Tingyan arrived. Upon seeing her, Sima Jiao deliberately took Noble Consort Si Xian's hand and feigned affection to provoke Liao Tingyan. Liao Tingyan later presented Sima Jiao with a special tea for his headache, teasing him about his dual roles of combating the Marquis in court and appeasing his daughter in the harem. Sima Jiao, in turn, pressed her about her overnight absence.
After some playful deflection, Liao Tingyan confessed that all her actions were for him alone, not for anyone else. Sima Jiao, in a moment of tender honesty, apologized for using Noble Consort Si Xian to make her jealous. He explained that while the women in his harem represented various scheming factions, he had never touched any of them. Liao Tingyan was different; she was the one who asked nothing of him, and the one who visited him in his dreams.
He then cancelled his dinner plans with Noble Consort Si Xian, considering it his "reply" to the Marquis of Nanyan. The Hu Kingdom's former king had recently passed, and the northwest region was plagued by constant floods. To further destabilize the political situation, the Marquis of Nanyan, during court, raised the matter of constructing a new canal. Loyal ministers vehemently opposed the proposal, but the Marquis's allies were numerous, making debate futile.
Liao Tingyan, understanding the Marquis's true intentions, decided to turn the proposal to their advantage. In court, Sima Jiao, seeing the futility of debate, publicly agreed to the canal's construction. Knowing the canal's construction by ordinary means would demand immense resources and labor, Liao Tingyan immediately summoned Hongluo and Chi Anhe, instructing them to complete the canal overnight.
The next morning, Sima Jiao received reports from his subordinates: the canal was entirely finished in a single night, as if built by celestial beings. Sima Jiao recalled Liao Tingyan's earlier claim of being a fairy and her promise to "pluck stars" for him, realizing she had indeed "plucked a star for him" by completing the monumental task overnight. In court, Sima Jiao seized the opportunity of this recent "blessing" to propose making Liao Tingyan his empress.
The Marquis of Nanyan initially attempted to object, but with so many ministers now revering Sima Jiao, he reluctantly retreated. With his daughter out of favor in the palace and Sima Jiao growing increasingly wary of him, the Marquis grew restless. He promptly summoned the Centipede to devise a new strategy. The Centipede, requiring a continuous supply of blood to sustain her power, demanded one hundred young boys and girls from the Marquis.
She claimed these children could be used to conjure a devastating drought. Skeptical, the Marquis hesitated. The Centipede then decided to use Liao Tingyan as a weapon, a scheme of borrowed power. Early the next morning, dead birds were discovered littering Liao Tingyan's courtyard, and one of her maids was found brutally murdered. Awakened to find her hands covered in fresh blood, Liao Tingyan gasped in horror, wondering if the demonic energy within her had caused her to kill. The Centipede, having sensed the Marquis's wavering resolve, had taken matters into her own hands to force his compliance.
Episode 32 Recap
Liao Tingyan, wondering if her demon core had driven her to kill, especially after her maid, Liangchen, informed her that all the birds in the palace had died overnight, sought out her Master. Her Master confirmed that the demonic energy in her demon core was indeed stirring.
To thwart the Centipede's scheme, her Master presented two options: either dissipate all her cultivation, rendering the demon core inert but leaving her powerless to protect Sima Jiao, or strengthen her Spirit Fire using her own blood. The latter, however, was a perilous path, akin to "drinking poison to quench thirst," with complete suppression ultimately demanding the sacrifice of her life.
Liao Tingyan realized the Centipede's cruel dilemma: either she becomes useless to Sima Jiao or an unwitting weapon against him. Desperate to gain time and protect Sima Jiao, Liao Tingyan accompanied the Empress Dowager in the garden. She assured the Empress Dowager that she and Sima Jiao were mother and son in a previous life and that his current rebirth was a quest to reunite with her.
The Empress Dowager, pleased, spoke of Sima Jiao's intention to make Liao Tingyan Empress after his coming-of-age ceremony, which would grant her access to Hushan Hall for the traditional worship ritual, a privilege shared by the Emperor and Empress. This revelation sparked a new urgency in Liao Tingyan, as she knew Sima Jiao had placed a barrier around Hushan Hall nineteen years ago. Becoming Empress would allow her to bypass it and safeguard him.
She promptly asked Sima Jiao if she could be crowned Empress immediately after his upcoming ceremony, citing her contributions to the canal project. While Sima Jiao agreed it was "hers sooner or later," he was intrigued by her unusual haste. Later, Sima Jiao noticed Liao Tingyan's feverish state and confided in her about a recurring dream of an internal fire, similar to her current condition.
He asked how he had once found solace from such pain, to which Liao Tingyan responded with a kiss. She then reminisced about bringing snow for him in the past, and they promised to watch the next snowfall together. Liao Tingyan suggested they abandon formal titles and use "you" and "I" when alone, a proposal Sima Jiao readily accepted. As they lay together, Sima Jiao initiated intimacy, but Liao Tingyan playfully accused him of cheating.
When he pressed for her reluctance, she stated it was "not yet time." Unable to provide a definitive answer to "when," she cryptically asked if he knew what a Soul Manor was, and upon his negative reply, advised him to sleep, assuring him he would understand everything after the worship ritual. Meanwhile, Noble Consort Si Xian, having been warned by her father, the Marquis of Nanyan, to stay away from Liao Tingyan, was determined to undermine her influence.
Equipped with a demon-revealing mirror from her father, she sent a note to Liao Tingyan, inviting her to a late-night meeting in a pavilion to expose her. Separately, Noble Consort Si Xian herself received a threatening note, instructing her to meet alone at the Ziquan Palace lakeside at the Chou hour or face severe consequences for her clan. Armed with the demon-revealing mirror, she ventured out, instructing her maid to raise an alarm if she didn't return within two hours.
Liao Tingyan, upon receiving the note (which was deceptively signed by Nianjiu), initially dismissed it as a clumsy fake, but then wondered if Nianjiu had indeed found traces of the Centipede. She was ambushed by the Demon Lord and fell unconscious. She awoke to a horrifying scene: her maid, Liangchen, was terrified, Noble Consort Si Xian lay dead in a pool of blood, and Liao Tingyan herself was covered in it, making her appear to be the culprit.
Officials reported Noble Consort Si Xian's body found in Liao Tingyan's palace, drained of blood and partially consumed, with the death time matching the Chou hour. Minister Chen Tang presented this as irrefutable evidence against Liao Tingyan. Sima Jiao, however, suspected a frame-up, pointing out the suspicious handwriting on the notes. Chen Tang countered by questioning the blood on Liao Tingyan's clothing. Despite Sima Jiao's anger and threats, Liao Tingyan voluntarily requested imprisonment.
She explained to Hongluo and Nianjiu in her cell that this would protect Sima Jiao from political backlash and keep her away from him, safeguarding him should her demon core truly lose control. Sima Jiao later visited her alone in prison, expressing his unwavering belief in her innocence and attempting to secure her release.
However, Liao Tingyan refused, fearing that his protection would only escalate the court's accusations and provide the Marquis of Nanyan with further opportunities to destabilize his rule. Unbeknownst to Sima Jiao, the Marquis of Nanyan was meeting with the Centipede, now a female "Madam" figure. The Marquis, enraged by his daughter's death, vowed vengeance against Liao Tingyan.
The Centipede promised him limitless boys and girls, predicting a great chaos in the Hu Kingdom that would pave the way for him to become the new sovereign and destroy Sima Jiao and Liao Tingyan. As the Centipede's power swelled from the continued sacrifice of children, Dushan County plunged into a severe drought and famine, fueling widespread resentment. Liao Tingyan, in her prison cell, felt her demon core violently surge, overriding the medicine she had taken.
She realized the calamity was orchestrated by the Centipede, not only to empower her demon core but also to undermine Sima Jiao's throne. Remembering her Master's dire warning about using her blood to ignite the Spirit Fire as a final resort, even at the cost of her own life, she resolved to act. Enduring immense pain, she used her own blood to fuel her Spirit Fire, successfully suppressing the demon core's malevolent influence.
In court, ministers reported on Dushan's devastation and the discovery of mutilated children's bodies in the fields. A General highlighted that the children had vanished before the drought and their deaths mirrored Noble Consort Si Xian's, pointing to demonic involvement. The astrologer declared a "demonic star" above the palace, warning of national collapse and urging Sima Jiao to burn Liao Tingyan.
Sima Jiao fiercely defended Liao Tingyan, questioning if the "demonic star" couldn't represent himself and sarcastically implying his "foolishness" made the Marquis of Nanyan seem wiser. He reminded the ministers of their past praise for Liao Tingyan and chastised them for blaming a single woman for the kingdom's woes. He ordered the General to distribute grain and reinforce Dushan's borders.
To Chen Tang, he assigned the investigation of the children's deaths, specifically directing him to thoroughly investigate the Marquis of Nanyan. He then dismissed the Marquis of Nanyan from court for a few days, ostensibly for grieving.
Still in prison, Liao Tingyan, appearing pale, tasked Hongluo with a three-pronged mission: ensure Sima Jiao's safety during his upcoming coming-of-age ceremony, find demon sorcerers to bring rain to Dushan County, and investigate the Centipede by tracing the residual aura on the dead children's bodies. Despite Liao Tingyan's decision to remain imprisoned for his coming-of-age ceremony, the event proceeded. As the royal crown was placed on Sima Jiao's head, his past memories, long suppressed, fully returned.
He relived moments of his tormented past, his unwavering commitment to Liao Tingyan, and their first encounter in a previous life where he promised to forge new memories with her and always find his way back. He also recalled Liao Tingyan's query about his immense sacrifice, to which he had replied that what he gave was hers to command, and that her happiness was his only concern. With his memories and full awareness restored, Sima Jiao immediately summoned Nianjiu.
Acknowledging Nianjiu's surprise at his regained knowledge and power, Sima Jiao, though still largely in his mortal form, instructed Nianjiu to conjure a heavy snowfall. Liao Tingyan, having been plagued by strange dreams since igniting her Spirit Fire, was finally released from prison by Minister Chen Tang, who informed her that the true killer of Noble Consort Si Xian had been apprehended by the Emperor himself.
Stepping outside, Liao Tingyan saw the falling snow and instantly understood that Sima Jiao's memories had returned. They reunited, and she tearfully confronted him, expressing the profound pain his secrecy had caused her and questioning why he had given her his Spirit Fire without fear of her leaving him to scatter into nothingness.
Sima Jiao gently explained that it was his choice to give it, and it was hers to do with as she pleased; he would have become a guiding light for her soul if she had chosen to depart. Softened by his words, Liao Tingyan recognized the depth of his sacrifices and his tendency to conceal his suffering.
She then expressed her understanding that if the past brought him pain, she wouldn't force him to remember it, instead suggesting he live this life as an ordinary man, finding peace and joy. Sima Jiao replied that compared to the pain of losing her, all past suffering was insignificant.
Episode 33 (Ending) Recap
Sima Jiao explained to Liao Tingyan that Mount Hu contained an entrance to the Nine Nether Purgatory, which You Yan intended to use to release his demonic soldiers, enabling him to rise and conquer the cultivation world. Liao Tingyan expressed concern that Sima Jiao had kept her in the dark, noting that if his memories hadn't returned, their plans would have been jeopardized.
Sima Jiao reassured her, revealing that he had secretly enchanted the royal crown passed down through emperors, ensuring his soul would become complete upon his coming-of-age ceremony, allowing him to recover his past memories. Liao Tingyan remarked on his meticulous planning but questioned why he also intended to open the Nine Nether Purgatory if his goal was to destroy You Yan.
Sima Jiao clarified that You Yan was difficult to eliminate directly, and the only solution was to seal him within the Nine Nether Purgatory, preventing his return to the three realms. Liao Tingyan understood that Sima Jiao planned to turn You Yan’s scheme against him. She wondered about the mountain’s unusual power in such a small country. Sima Jiao revealed that a thousand years ago, the Hu Kingdom was known as Mount Feng, the birthplace of the Fengshan clan.
After sealing You Yan, the clan's ancestors fused the key to open the mountain into the bloodline of the Hu Kingdom's emperors. Liao Tingyan worried about Sima Jiao, a mortal, fighting You Yan, but Sima Jiao dismissed it as a concern for later. Sima Jiao informed Liao Tingyan that since You Yan intended to aid the Marquis of Nanyan, they could use the Marquis to lure You Yan out.
He recounted how Chen Tang and Nianjiu had discovered many corpses of young boys and girls in the Marquis's dungeon and how You Yan was responsible for the death of Noble Consort Si Xian. Sima Jiao also accused the Marquis of causing chaos at the canal, bringing drought, and killing innocent people in his ambition to usurp the throne.
He noted that the Marquis, having lost his daughter and been stripped of his post, was eager for revenge, and an "opening" would expose his rebellious intentions. Liao Tingyan offered to create that opening for him. Liao Tingyan suggested they proceed with their wedding sooner rather than later, which Sima Jiao agreed to.
Privately, Liao Tingyan reflected that using their wedding in such a manner felt like a waste, yet she acknowledged that a marriage was necessary for both the worship ritual and to draw out You Yan. She was concerned about the demon core within her, which was growing increasingly unstable despite her efforts to suppress it with spirit fire. She feared that if the demon core fully took control, she would have to perish with it.
She had also been experiencing strange dreams, mostly set in modern times, where she seemed to be recovering from a car accident. Upon waking, she felt a profound sadness, worried that her departure was drawing near, and that her spiritual power might vanish completely when You Yan was finally sealed. She resolved to keep this secret from Sima Jiao to avoid disrupting his plan to eliminate You Yan, hoping instead to leave him with many cherished memories.
Sima Jiao, sensing her thoughts, asked what was on her mind. Liao Tingyan, looking at him, confessed that she had waited too long for this moment and wished for them to truly become husband and wife. Sima Jiao readily agreed. Internally, Liao Tingyan apologized for her dishonesty, but felt it was the only way to leave him with beautiful memories before her inevitable departure.
The imperial court issued a decree to open granaries and reduce taxes for the people and announced Liao Tingyan's conferment as Empress. Court officials protested the decision, arguing that Liao Tingyan's innocence in Noble Consort Si Xian's death had not been fully proven. Sima Jiao, however, declared that he had uncovered the true culprit, asserting it was not Liao Tingyan, and promised to reveal the truth after the worship ritual.
Meanwhile, the Marquis of Nanyan was furious that Sima Jiao was rushing to crown Liao Tingyan while his daughter's body was still unburied. Yi Huo, an imperial physician secretly allied with You Yan, reported to the Marquis that Liao Tingyan appeared weaker, her pulse thin and frail, indicating a decline in her power. You Yan, in her human disguise, affirmed that Liao Tingyan had indeed lost much of her cultivation and could no longer pose a threat.
Yi Huo urged the Marquis to act quickly, before Sima Jiao completed the worship ritual and became the true emperor by inheriting the imperial seal, warning that further hesitation would cost him his chance. Emboldened, the Marquis vowed to show no mercy to Sima Jiao and requested You Yan's aid. You Yan agreed to help him seize the throne, asking only for the imperial seal in return.
Later, Chen Tang reported to Sima Jiao that the Marquis and You Yan (the demoness by his side) believed Liao Tingyan’s powers had waned, and everything was unfolding according to Sima Jiao’s plan. Sima Jiao confirmed they would now await the worship ritual following the wedding. Liao Tingyan oversaw the lively wedding preparations, insisting on a grand ceremony. Late into the night, she continued crafting gifts, refusing to rest.
She confided to herself that she must leave Sima Jiao with many keepsakes, fearing that when You Yan was finally sealed, the demon core within her would lose control, forcing her to sacrifice herself to ensure You Yan's destruction. These gifts, she hoped, would lessen his loneliness after she was gone. The wedding day arrived, and with it, the barrier to Mount Hu disappeared. Sima Jiao noted that such a grand event would undoubtedly provoke the Marquis of Nanyan.
He presented Liao Tingyan with gifts, remarking that this was the wedding he had always wished to give her. Liao Tingyan, in turn, produced a pair of rings, declaring that they must exchange them. She called them "wedding rings," explaining that in her world, they symbolized two people becoming one, bound forever, a bond that even death could not break. Sima Jiao, gazing at her, pledged that they would be together for all lifetimes.
Later that night, Sima Jiao asked what she was thinking. Liao Tingyan, with a smile, suggested that the night was too short, and they should simply enjoy their time together. During the worship ritual, the Marquis of Nanyan launched his coup. Outnumbered, Sima Jiao feigned surrender, offering the throne to the Marquis. He presented a decree of abdication and handed over the imperial seal. Upon receiving the seal, the Marquis, reneging on his earlier promise, ordered Sima Jiao's death.
However, Sima Jiao, revealing his own prior preparations, immediately ordered the Marquis's arrest. He publicly accused the Marquis of colluding with the Demon Race, slaughtering children, causing drought, and framing the Empress, declaring his crimes deserving of death. The Grand General stepped forward, confirming that the Marquis had indeed killed his entire family despite years of loyalty and cover-ups. Sima Jiao, acknowledging the Marquis's long-standing treachery, reiterated the order for his arrest.
Desperate, the Marquis appealed to You Yan for help to defeat the "traitors" and ascend the throne. You Yan, however, discarded her disguise, revealing her true form and stating that with the imperial seal in her possession, she no longer needed the Marquis. Sima Jiao then exposed You Yan to the Marquis, revealing that the "immortal" he had served was the true killer of his daughter and the massacred children.
The Marquis initially dismissed this, believing You Yan to be an immortal, but Sima Jiao pointed out her monstrous appearance, exposing her demonic nature. You Yan then turned her attention to Liao Tingyan, surprised that she still retained her cultivation. Liao Tingyan acknowledged that there was no turning back now. Just as You Yan prepared to attack, Sima Jiao intervened. The Marquis, in a final act of desperation, stabbed Sima Jiao from behind.
Enraged, Liao Tingyan quickly struck down the Marquis. As Sima Jiao collapsed, Liao Tingyan frantically cradled him, desperately trying to revive him, exclaiming that she had already lost him once. A subordinate reported that Sima Jiao had no pulse, and Liao Tingyan continued to call his name in despair, realizing that this 'death' was part of a 'Life and Death Thunder Tribulation' which was his method of revival.
You Yan, now alone, began to unleash her true plan, declaring her intent to free her demonic soldiers and turn the Demon, Immortal, and Mortal Realms into her personal hunting grounds. Sima Jiao, miraculously revived and now standing, directly confronted You Yan. As they fought near the Nine Nether Purgatory, You Yan attempted to absorb Liao Tingyan’s power, planning to turn her into a puppet, boasting that the Purgatory held the strongest demonic energy.
Liao Tingyan fiercely resisted, vowing to kill You Yan even if it meant becoming a demon herself to uphold justice. You Yan was astonished to find Liao Tingyan sacrificing her own life force, burning her body to fight, and questioned how she, who was supposed to be dead, still possessed Spirit Fire.
Sima Jiao explained that he had rekindled a Spirit Fire at Mount Feng, the origin of the Fengshan clan, the same fire You Yan had once helped him ignite. You Yan, confused about her demonic soldiers, was then mocked by Sima Jiao, who revealed that her dream of assembling a demonic army was a delusion.
He explained that You Yan mistakenly believed the imperial seal was the key to opening the mountain, but Sima Jiao, as the Hu Kingdom's emperor who had completed the worship ritual, was the true key to opening Mount Hu and entering the Nine Nether Purgatory. Realizing Sima Jiao had deliberately lured her, You Yan furiously tried to drag him into the Nine Nether Purgatory.
During this fierce struggle, Sima Jiao urged Liao Tingyan to press on against You Yan, while others presumably supported him in the final stages of their sealing strategy. Liao Tingyan, despite her dwindling life force, assisted Sima Jiao in finally sealing You Yan. As You Yan was sealed, Liao Tingyan felt her vitality rapidly diminish. You Yan was vanquished. After their victory, Liao Tingyan, severely weakened from overexertion, collapsed into Sima Jiao’s arms.
Sima Jiao, surprised by her sudden decline, immediately grew alarmed. Liao Tingyan explained that she was being consumed by the Spirit Fire, a consequence of her sacrifice to ensure You Yan's destruction. Sima Jiao then explained that they had wagered on a difficult plan, involving a new Spirit Fire from Taiwei Mountain, reforged with the blood of the last Sima clan descendant and rekindled by the Spirit Fire within Liao Tingyan.
This fire, if it survived another Life and Death Thunder Tribulation (like the one he had just endured), would become a new, ever-growing Spirit Fire. Liao Tingyan, worried, asked Sima Jiao if he was confident he could survive this tribulation, given he had already 'died' once. Sima Jiao admitted he was only gambling. With You Yan sealed, Liao Tingyan realized her time was coming to an end. Sima Jiao, deeply concerned, asked what was wrong.
Tearfully, Liao Tingyan explained that her mission in this world was fulfilled, and it was time for her to depart, confirming her earlier premonitions. Sima Jiao refused to accept it, insisting they had just begun and he would never let her leave, vowing to find her wherever she went within the three realms. Liao Tingyan, however, spoke of other worlds beyond the three realms, implying that was where she was going.
She reflected on their three intertwined lifetimes, stating she was content with the years they had spent together. Sima Jiao desperately sought a solution. Liao Tingyan asked him to hold her close. She confessed her profound love for him, saying that without him, she could find happiness nowhere, no matter where she went. She asked him to live fully, to see beautiful things and taste delicious foods for her in the future.
As she spoke, her body began to dissipate into shimmering light. Sima Jiao, heartbroken, begged her not to leave, repeatedly calling her name as she vanished completely. Time then shifted to the modern world. Liao Tingyan woke up in a hospital bed, tubes attached to her, after what was described as a mild concussion. Disoriented, she wondered if everything she had experienced was merely a dream. After her recovery, she returned to work.
Her boss, Ms. Lily, gave her one last chance to salvage the "Serene Mountain" project, instructing her to attend a proposal meeting before 6:30 PM. Stuck in traffic, Liao Tingyan (identified as Zou Yan for this project in the English subtitles) jumped out of her taxi and rode an e-bike, but she still arrived late. Finding the meeting room empty, she sat dejectedly on the steps, longing for a cup of "Qingling Bamboo Dew."
She pondered if she could still distinguish between dream and reality. Suddenly, she heard familiar footsteps. Looking up, she saw a man who looked exactly like Sima Jiao. With tears in her eyes, Liao Tingyan stood to face him, exclaiming that she had found him again. The modern Sima Jiao smiled, asking if they had met before, stating it was their first encounter in this life.
