Episode Summary
In a climactic showdown, Mu Xian confronts Xian Wang. Despite Jin Xiu, Lu Jiu, and a rescued Kun Lun joining the fight, Xian Wang proves too powerful. To save everyone, Jin Xiu absorbs Xian Wang's immense negative energy, forcing Mu Xian to kill him in a heartbreaking sacrifice. Grieving, Mu Xian crosses the perilous Ye Huo Bridge and, due to her past deeds in saving Wu Zhang Country, is granted immortality by the Heavenly Dao. Meanwhile, Bai Cha defeats the Black Snake. As a new immortal, Mu Xian is assigned by the Empress to manage the Can Hua Yuan, with a warning about the consequences of insufficient cultivation.
Spoiler Alert
So, the episode kicks off with Jin Xiu waiting outside Mu Xian's room. When Mu Xian emerges, she's resolved to leave, feeling responsible for the whole mess and determined to fix it. Jin Xiu, bless his heart, doesn't stop her. Duty calls, I guess? But then, bam! News drops that the Xian Wang has dragged Kun Lun off to the outskirts. Jin Xiu immediately rallies his people and speeds off.
Meanwhile, poor Kun Lun is tied up but isn't one to just sit tight. He's struggling with his ropes, and there's this grim silver lining moment where he thinks being a living puppet at least means he can't feel pain. Talk about looking on the bright side of a terrible situation! Just then, Lu Yao swoops in for the rescue! And get this, Kun Lun, clearly feeling like he's on borrowed time, plants a kiss on Lu Yao, saying he's gotten everything he ever wanted. My heart!
The action then cuts to Mu Xian, who has found Xian Wang. The villainous Xian Wang has a lightbulb moment, realizing Bai Cha dumped all that resentment onto him specifically so Mu Xian could absorb it. But he’s like, "Joke's on you, I can absorb yours too!" And just like that, it’s on! They start fighting, and who should appear but Jin Xiu. Mu Xian, ever the dramatic one (and we love her for it), tells Jin Xiu she knows he’s there ready to die. Then she drops this bomb: if he wins, he better ascend to the heavens and marry her! Talk about raising the stakes!
But guys, Xian Wang is seriously overpowered at this point. Mu Xian and Jin Xiu are clearly struggling. Lu Jiu jumps into the fray, unleashing his Samadhi Fire, but even he, along with the others, gets taken down. Kun Lun rushes in, only to be defeated too. Lu Yao arrives, but the situation looks bleak – no one seems to be a match for Xian Wang.
Mu Xian then voices a desperate, horrifying plan: the only way out is for her to absorb all of Xian Wang's resentment and then… kill herself. Jin Xiu is NOT having it.
Mu Xian, however, tries to go through with absorbing Xian Wang's toxic energy. Jin Xiu, in a selfless move, intercepts and takes the hit, getting injured in the process. He then starts absorbing Xian Wang's resentment himself! Lu Jiu quickly backs him up, blasting Xian Wang with the Samadhi Fire, and Kun Lun, despite his injuries, jumps in to help too. Our heroes take a severe beating, but Jin Xiu successfully absorbs the resentment, leaving Xian Wang critically weakened.
Then comes the part that ripped everyone’s hearts out. Jin Xiu, knowing his time is short with all that dark energy inside him, urges Mu Xian to kill him before it’s too late. He even reminds her of her past vow to find and kill him. Ouch.
Mu Xian, heartbroken, asks Jin Xiu why he forgot her. Jin Xiu, in his final moments, realizes his love wasn't unrequited – she does have feelings for him! He presses her to strike. Mu Xian draws her sword, but it's Jin Xiu who grabs it and pulls it into himself. It's devastating. Mu Xian cries out, questioning why he saved her on Bai Zhou Mountain all those years ago if he was just going to be responsible for her parents' deaths (a callback to some deep, painful history there). Jin Xiu, ever thinking of her, tells her that crossing the Ye Huo Bridge (that's the Bridge of Fiery Karma, for those keeping score) is incredibly painful. He asks her to carry him this time and to find him again in their next life. I'm not crying, you are!
We then see Mu Xian at the Ye Huo Bridge. Meng Po, the guardian of the bridge, has no idea where Jin Xiu is. Mu Xian declares she'll wait right there for him. Meng Po gives her a sad reality check, saying many make that promise, but few actually reunite. Mu Xian even asks some folks from Wu Zhang Country if they've seen Jin Xiu, but no luck. Meng Po then suggests that crossing the bridge might offer a sliver of hope. So, Mu Xian takes a deep breath and crosses the Ye Huo Bridge – and man, it looks agonizing. But here’s the twist: the Heavenly Dao (basically, the cosmic order) announces that because Mu Xian saved the people of Wu Zhang Country, she's earned the right to become an immortal!
Elsewhere, Bai Cha pops up at the Qi Lin Cave. He’s there to take the Black Snake's cultivation. The Black Snake is all smug, like, "This is ancient power, you think you can just take it?" Bai Cha then coldly informs him that his brother, the Green Snake, is already dead by his hand. The Black Snake is in disbelief, but Bai Cha isn't playing; he strips him of his powers. Savage.
Finally, Mu Xian is summoned by the Emperor (Di Jun). He tells her she's accrued great merit and can officially become an immortal. But hold up, the Empress (Shen Hou) chimes in, declaring Mu Xian is that Hong Cha Camellia they've been talking about. Mu Xian stands her ground, insisting she's a mortal and definitely not a flower. The Empress even does a little test and is shocked to find Mu Xian truly doesn't have an original form (like a spirit's true essence). The peanut gallery of officials starts whispering, wondering if merit alone isn't enough for godhood. The Emperor smooths things over, saying the Empress is mistaken, and grants Mu Xian her immortal status.
As her first gig, the Empress assigns Mu Xian to manage the Can Hua Yuan (the Withered Garden). Mu Xian accepts gracefully, saying becoming an immortal is an honor and she'll do her best. But the Empress leaves her with a warning: even immortals need to keep up with their cultivation. If her practice isn't up to snuff, she'll be tossed into the Hua Xian Chi (Immortal Transformation Pond) to get "re-cultivated." Yikes, sounds intense!
In a climactic showdown, Mu Xian confronts Xian Wang. Despite Jin Xiu, Lu Jiu, and a rescued Kun Lun joining the fight, Xian Wang proves too powerful. To save everyone, Jin Xiu absorbs Xian Wang's immense negative energy, forcing Mu Xian to kill him in a heartbreaking sacrifice. Grieving, Mu Xian crosses the perilous Ye Huo Bridge and, due to her past deeds in saving Wu Zhang Country, is granted immortality by the Heavenly Dao. Meanwhile, Bai Cha defeats the Black Snake. As a new immortal, Mu Xian is assigned by the Empress to manage the Can Hua Yuan, with a warning about the consequences of insufficient cultivation.
