No Boundary Season 1 Episode 21 Recap
> No Boundary Season 1 Recap
When Wengu arrived, Zhan Yan informed him that Duanmu Cui had been captured by Yue Long Men. Meanwhile, Duanmu Cui was trapped inside Yue Long Men’s magic tool, the Pagoda Glass Lamp. Yue Long Men transformed into Zhan Yan, attempting to trick Duanmu Cui into revealing the Penglai Drawing fragment. However, Duanmu Cui quickly realized it was an impostor, noting, "Zhan Yan doesn't call me Cui'er."
She further remarked that the fake Zhan Yan had used the same trick twice and should improve. Yue Long Men revealed his true form, admitting Duanmu Cui's cleverness but threatening Hong Luan's life if Duanmu Cui refused to surrender the Penglai Drawing. He warned that in his magic tool, he was the law and could find anything on her. After finding no fragment, he threatened to kill Duanmu Cui by turning her into lamp oil within six hours.
Elsewhere, Hong Luan, imprisoned in Yue Long Men’s private jail, spoke with other captives. They had been there for so long they couldn't remember, having given up hope due to Yue Long Men's control over Ninth Hell. Hong Luan countered, revealing that the true Dragon Clan's royal bloodline, Princes Wen and Tai Ao, were still alive in the mortal world and would not treat them like Yue Long Men.
She rallied the disheartened prisoners, offering to lead them to welcome the prince and overthrow Yue Long Men. Zhan Yan led Wengu to the spot where Duanmu Cui disappeared. Wengu angrily accused Zhan Yan of losing Duanmu Cui, reminding him that bad things happen when he's with her. Just then, a figure resembling Duanmu Cui appeared, claiming to have escaped from the formidable Yue Long Men.
Zhan Yan immediately suspected it was Yue Long Men in disguise, noting that the real Duanmu Cui would never "belittle herself and laud others" or ask about an "elixir." The impostor revealed himself as Yue Long Men, gloating that Duanmu Cui was in an "inaccessible place" and would be a "pool of oil" within hours, her soul dissipated. He demanded the Penglai Drawing in exchange for her life.
Despite Wengu’s protests, Zhan Yan agreed to the exchange, arranging to meet Yue Long Men at an abandoned house on East Street. Unaware of her distress, Duanmu Cui, trapped inside the Pagoda Glass Lamp, heard the sounds of insects, triggering a distant memory of being confined with her mother in a coffin. Meanwhile, Jiang Wenqing learned of Duanmu Cui's disappearance and quickly set off for Wenshui County with his subordinates, entrusting Qifeng Prefecture to Shangguan Ce.
Zhan Yan arrived at the abandoned house as agreed. Yue Long Men snatched a Qiankun bag from him, but then declared his intention to let Duanmu Cui die before Zhan Yan's eyes, to avenge his repeated deceptions. However, he discovered the bag was empty—a trick by Zhan Yan. Wengu intercepted Yue Long Men, revealing that Yue Long Men sought the Penglai Drawing not to unseal Ninth Hell, but for his own ascension.
Yue Long Men boasted he was not inferior to the Dragon Clan and would prove he could ascend to High Immortal status. After a brief struggle, Yue Long Men managed to escape. Zhan Yan successfully located the Pagoda Glass Lamp where Duanmu Cui was trapped. Wengu used his magic to temporarily halt Duanmu Cui's accelerated melting.
Wengu explained that the lamp was a revered magic tool of the former Demon King, and Yue Long Men, having served the late king, now controlled it. He suspected Yue Long Men had formed a "death pact" with the lamp: if Yue Long Men died, the lamp would destroy itself, taking Duanmu Cui with it. Only Yue Long Men could willingly open it.
To pressure them, Yue Long Men, disguised as Zhan Yan, began a rampage in Wenshui County, threatening to devour everyone if the Penglai Drawing fragment was not surrendered. Zhan Yan proposed a plan: since Wengu could manipulate the lamp's mechanics, they would put the Penglai Drawing fragment into the lamp. This would force Yue Long Men to open it to retrieve the valuable fragment.
Zhan Yan also deduced Wengu's true identity, reasoning that if Yue Long Men could control the royal magic tool, and Wengu could manipulate it even more effectively, Wengu must be the Demon King's true bloodline. Wengu confirmed this, stating he had no intention of hiding it from Zhan Yan. Wengu met Yue Long Men and, as planned, deposited the last fragment of the Penglai Drawing into the lamp.
With his prized possession now inside and vulnerable, Yue Long Men reluctantly opened the Pagoda Glass Lamp, releasing Duanmu Cui. He quickly seized the complete Penglai Drawing and fled. Duanmu Cui, recovering from her ordeal, was dismayed that they had given up the drawing, but Zhan Yan assured her they had a plan to stop Yue Long Men.
To gain the temporary divine power needed to confront Yue Long Men, Zhan Yan took a potent pill, knowing it would cause damage to his mortal body’s heart meridian. Yue Long Men, now possessing the complete Penglai Drawing, began his ascension, summoning the heavenly stairway. On Penglai, immortals observed the phenomenon.
Some were excited, others cautious, while one Star Lord expressed frustration at the inaction of his peers and longed for Duanmu Cui, who "struck them down" before he even got angry. Suddenly, the Nine Heavens Tribulation descended – a powerful thunderous force specifically for Demon Clan royalty.
Wengu revealed his long-held secret: a thousand years ago, to follow Duanmu Cui, he had removed and buried his dragon horns, the symbol of his Dragon Clan bloodline, to gain the Penglai Drawing's approval for his own ascension. He then destroyed the drawing to hide his identity. Now, he re-extracted his dragon horns and placed them on Yue Long Men. He explained that the Penglai Drawing would "strangle" anyone bearing dragon horns who attempted ascension with it.
Yue Long Men, betrayed, was struck down and killed by the Nine Heavens Tribulation. However, Wengu's Dragon Clan identity was now fully exposed, and he too began to suffer the devastating lightning strikes. Duanmu Cui, without hesitation, stepped forward to shield Wengu, taking the brunt of the tribulation. Zhan Yan, despite his weakened state, used the Ju Que Sword to temporarily resist the immense power of the Nine Heavens Tribulation.
As Wengu's dragon horns were restored, he manifested his true Dragon Clan form. At this critical moment, Yang Jian arrived with Heavenly Soldiers and Generals, intent on capturing Wengu. Duanmu Cui pleaded with her "Big Brother" (Yang Jian) not to harm Wengu, arguing that he was innocent of his father's sins and had no malicious intent. She asserted that Wengu was her friend and that he had concealed his identity for good reason.
She fiercely declared that Wengu was now "her person" and anyone who dared to bully him would face her wrath. Ignoring her impassioned pleas, Yang Jian prepared to strike Wengu down with the God Slaying Sword. Duanmu Cui once again stepped between them, taking the sword's blow to protect Wengu, leaving Zhan Yan distraught.
