Episode Summary
In this episode, Han Li engages in multiple rescues, saving his junior sister, Chen Qiaoqian, and forming an alliance with Han Yunzhi to find a life-saving flower. This partnership leads to a tense confrontation and a subsequent betrayal by Senior Brother Zhong. After securing the flower for Han Yunzhi against the odds, Han Li's search for cultivation materials traps him in a cave with Nangong Wan, forcing them into a desperate battle against a powerful, newly-molted demonic beast.
Spoiler Alert
The episode kicks off with Han Li rushing to the aid of his junior sister, who is in peril. He engages her attacker, only for another man to join the fray. The junior sister identifies this newcomer as the notorious madman, Feng Yue. In the ensuing struggle, Han Li uses a powerful magical artifact to defeat Feng Yue. Spotting a pair of unburnt boots on his vanquished foe, Han Li senses they are a treasure and promptly claims them for himself.
Meanwhile, Han Yunzhi is elated to find a rare Demon Monkey Flower. As she goes to pick it, her senior sister calls over two fellow sect members. To Han Yunzhi's horror, the two men murder her senior sister. Thinking fast, Han Yunzhi uses an invisibility artifact to conceal herself just as the killers look for her. Unable to find her, they eventually leave.
In another part of the trial grounds, Han Li discovers Chen Qiaoqian, who has been wounded by a demonic beast, and saves her. She recognizes the artifact he used as one belonging to Lu Mingyuan and questions if Han Li was the one who had saved her previously.Caught by surprise, Han Li denies it, claiming the artifact is merely similar. Unconvinced, Chen Qiaoqian presses him, but Han Li points out that she is poisoned and offers her a pill he claims is an antidote, promising to answer all her questions once she's recovered. The pill is, in fact, a "Forgetting Dust Pill," which causes her to fall into a deep sleep.Realizing he cannot let his identity be known, Han Li resolves to find a safe place for her to recover.
Later, Han Li crosses paths with Han Yunzhi. Just as his pursuers catch up to him, she uses her invisibility artifact to hide them both, allowing the enemies to pass by. Grateful, Han Li thanks her. Han Yunzhi confesses her initial fear but explains her new resolve: she must find the Lieyang Flower to save her dying brother. She also recounts her earlier traumatic experience, noting that the two murderers were not from her sect. Seeing that their paths align, Han Li offers to escort her to the central area where the flower might be found, much to her delight.
They reach the central area but the flower is nowhere in sight. Suddenly, a giant python attacks. After Han Li deals with it, Han Yunzhi speculates that it's not a wild beast but a pet belonging to their Senior Brother Zhong. Though she suggests a detour, Han Li insists they don't have time and they press forward.
They soon encounter Senior Brother Zhong himself, who immediately notices Han Li is wearing Feng Yue’s boots. Han Li coolly implies how he acquired them while eyeing Zhong's own valuable belt. A nervous Zhong offers to trade maps, but Han Li initially scoffs, stating Han Yunzhi already has one. Zhong sweetens the deal by offering maps from two other rival sects, and Han Li agrees. However, immediately after the exchange, Zhong betrays them. He informs his own companions about their quest for the Lieyang Flower and instructs them to set up an ambush.
Han Li and Han Yunzhi finally locate the Lieyang Flower, only to walk straight into the trap. The ambusher, unable to defeat Han Li, spitefully burns the precious flowers. Han Yunzhi is heartbroken, but Han Li discovers one surviving bloom, reigniting her hope. When she asks how she can ever repay him, Han Li, thinking of his own sister, simply tells her to make him some flatbread when they get out.
Continuing his own quest for herbs to create a Foundation Establishment Pill, Han Li enters a cave.He is not alone for long; Nangong Wan arrives with her own group, seeking the same prize.Han Li quickly hides. Before anyone can act, the cave entrance is sealed from the outside, trapping them all. To make matters worse, they discover the demonic beast inside has already molted, transforming into a much more powerful second-level creature.
Nangong Wan calls out to the hidden Han Li, warning him that they will all perish if he doesn't help.Han Li emerges, but their combined attacks prove useless against the beast. He reveals he has a formidable sect-guarding artifact, but it requires a long time to activate. Nangong Wan bravely decides to distract the beast, buying Han Li the precious moments he needs.He successfully charges the artifact and unleashes its power, finally destroying their monstrous foe.
