No Boundary Season 1 Episode 23 Recap
> No Boundary Season 1 Recap
Zhan Yan and Duanmu Cui successfully met through the God of Matchmaking. Zhan Yan was visibly distressed upon seeing Duanmu Cui in chains. Duanmu Cui attempted to reassure him, claiming the chains were for her healing, but Zhan Yan, noticing her suffering, immediately discerned her lie. He pressed her, asking why she appeared to be in pain if the chains were for healing, and questioned if she was being held captive.
Duanmu Cui, worried about Zhan Yan's reaction, struggled to break free from her bonds. The God of Matchmaking warned her against it, implying that recalling certain memories would be detrimental, but Duanmu Cui demanded to know what he was withholding. He deflected, advising her to remain in Guixu for another century until her divine soul stabilized. Duanmu Cui expressed her impatience, stating that while she could endure a century, Zhan Yan could not, and insisted on being released.
Yang Jian arrived and prevented Duanmu Cui from breaking free. He explained that her "love lock" needed mending, and only then would she be released. Duanmu Cui vehemently argued, insisting she had to find Zhan Yan, but Yang Jian asserted that their fates were not intertwined, and she would regret further entanglement. She countered that her only regret would be not seeing him.
Yang Jian, unwilling to debate, cast a spell that put her into a deep sleep, promising to wake her in a century, claiming she would then understand his true intentions. An attendant inadvertently revealed that Yang Jian had offended other deities for Duanmu Cui's sake and was due to receive punishment in the lightning jail. Duanmu Cui heard the name Wengu mentioned as the cause of recent troubles before Yang Jian silenced the attendant and put her to sleep.
Meanwhile, Wengu Weiyu returned to the Ninth Hell and released Hong Luan from her confinement. Hong Luan was taken aback by his changed demeanor, asking about his divinity. Wengu Weiyu revealed he had destroyed it, declaring, "The aloof and noble High Immortal Wengu is long gone. From now on, I shall be called Demon King Wengu." Hong Luan pledged her unwavering loyalty to him.
With Hong Luan's assistance and the power of the Penglai Drawing, Wengu Weiyu broke the seal of the Ninth Hell, releasing the long-imprisoned demons. He then addressed the demons, proclaiming himself their new Demon King and exposing Yue Long Men's deception regarding the Penglai Drawing. He promised to lead them out of the Ninth Hell and back to Chong City with the Penglai Drawing now in his possession, earning their enthusiastic support.
The released demons then poured into Qifeng City, causing widespread chaos. Wengu Weiyu and Hong Luan journeyed to the ancient site of Chong City. Wengu Weiyu mused on returning to a place he once despised, now his sanctuary. Hong Luan, however, found it significant as their meeting place. Wengu Weiyu, asserting his actions weren't for her, asked if she still wished to remain by his side. Hong Luan reaffirmed her loyalty, even unto a miserable death.
Later, as Wengu Weiyu sat upon a throne, Hong Luan observed his unhappiness, suggesting his joy was solely tied to Duanmu Cui. When Hong Luan cautiously implied Duanmu Cui was dead, Wengu Weiyu reacted with furious denial. Seeing his tears, Hong Luan confessed her own sorrow, recounting Duanmu Cui's kindness to her. Wengu Weiyu then revealed his plan to use the Life-sucking Spell, a dark art obtained from Yue Long Men, to resurrect Duanmu Cui by sacrificing innocent lives.
Hong Luan voiced her concern, warning that such an act defied heavenly laws and would invite damnation. Wengu Weiyu dismissed her fears, stating he was already in "hell" and unafraid of any consequences, even his soul dispersing, as long as he could save Duanmu Cui. He added that if his soul were to scatter, he would only desire to rest eternally beside Duanmu Cui.
Back in the mortal world, Zhan Yan learned from his godfather, Jiang Wenqing, that Wengu Weiyu's destruction of the Penglai Drawing and the breaking of the Ninth Hell's seal had caused the demonic unrest. Jiang Wenqing believed only the deities of Penglai could resolve the crisis, but they were too preoccupied. Zhan Yan, concerned for Duanmu Cui's safety, described her imprisonment.
Jiang Wenqing deduced that Duanmu Cui was held by a "love lock," which had sealed her memories after her ascension to prevent her from opening the Abyss out of guilt for fallen soldiers. He theorized that breaking the love lock would restore her memories, enabling her to reopen the Abyss, possibly resetting events and allowing him to regain his divinity.
Jiang Wenqing informed Zhan Yan that mortals could now reach Penglai, but attempting to do so in a mortal body would result in instant shattering of the body and dispersal of the soul. Undeterred, Zhan Yan declared his willingness to endure any pain to rescue Duanmu Cui. Jiang Wenqing then presented Ju Que, an ancient divine weapon containing a protective sword spirit, which would safeguard Zhan Yan's body during his ascent, though he would still suffer immense pain.
Zhan Yan remained resolute, stating he disregarded life and death. Jiang Wenqing cautioned him that restoring Duanmu Cui's memories might mean she no longer loved him, but Zhan Yan was firm in his decision to end her suffering and grant her freedom, regardless of their future. Jiang Wenqing then taught him the method to ascend to Penglai. In Penglai, Yang Jian was enduring his punishment in the lightning jail, playfully taunting the God of Thunder to use his full power.
Meanwhile, he received updates: Duanmu Cui was still in a deep slumber, and it was hoped that after a century, she would awaken free of her love debts. However, he was alarmed to learn that Zhan Yan had invaded Penglai and assaulted the guards. Zhan Yan successfully reached Guixu, defeated the guards, and used Ju Que to sever Duanmu Cui's love locks. Her sealed memories of the past flooded back.
She remembered dying in the Battle of Chong City and her foster father, Jiang Yi, sacrificing his divinity to ensure her ascension. As an immortal, she then learned of her identity as a descendant of the Heavenly Maiden and her power to open the Abyss, which she had once intended to use to bring back her fallen comrades from the Chong City battle.
She also recalled Yang Jian stopping her, citing the Heavenly Maiden's prophecy that opening the Abyss would bring ruin to the Three Realms. Duanmu Cui had insisted on bearing all consequences, leading Yang Jian to seal her memories within the love locks and cast them into Guixu, hoping she would never suffer from love debt again if she never fell in love. As her memories fully returned, Duanmu Cui cried out Gu Chang's name and then recognized Zhan Yan.
Simultaneously, Wengu Weiyu arrived at the God of Pestilence Temple. After Hong Luan was briefly incapacitated by the pestilential aura, Wengu Weiyu confronted the God of Pestilence. He scornfully noted the deity's forgotten status despite his millennia of diligent service in suppressing the Aura of death to prevent pestilence. Wengu Weiyu offered to grant him lasting fame in exchange for his life. Wengu Weiyu then killed the God of Pestilence, unleashing the suppressed Aura of death.
Hong Luan expressed concern about the poisonous nature of the Aura of death and the risks to Wengu Weiyu. He dismissed her worries, affirming his willingness to face any consequences as long as it meant saving Duanmu Cui. Back in Guixu, Yang Jian, now aware of Zhan Yan's intrusion, rushed to confront him, but it was too late; Duanmu Cui had regained all her memories.
Yang Jian chastised Zhan Yan for trespassing and severing the love locks, claiming he had harmed Duanmu Cui and the Three Realms. Zhan Yan countered that Duanmu Cui deserved freedom from her torment and declared his intention to take her away. The two then engaged in a fierce battle. Despite Zhan Yan's clever use of Ju Que's power, he was no match for Yang Jian, the God of Justice from Penglai, and was gravely injured.
