Spoiler Alert
"The Immortal Ascension" Episode 2 : The Doctor's Dark Secret
The story picks up with Zhang Tie's growing resentment towards Han Li. He believes the traitor Wu Yan got what he deserved and is jealous that their master, Physician Mo, favors Han Li with precious resources. Han Li, in turn, begins to question if he has misjudged the entire situation. Physician Mo, concerned that Han Li's cultivation progress has stalled due to a lack of quality ingredients, decides to leave the mountain to search for better herbs. He tasks Zhang Tie with supervising Han Li, ordering Han Li to remain and focus on his training.
Four years pass. Han Li discovers an unconscious Li Feiyu by a stream. Upon examining him, Han Li finds his pulse to be alarmingly strange. He uses silver needles to temporarily seal Li Feiyu's acupoints and asks what kind of medicine he normally takes. Li Feiyu directs him to a pouch containing "Marrow Extraction Pills." Han Li recognizes the devastating nature of the drug: it boosts a cultivator's potential by burning through their life force. Judging by Li Feiyu's condition, he has, at most, ten years left to live. Despite the consequences, Li Feiyu insists on taking the pill, and Han Li obliges.
Fearing his secret is exposed, Li Feiyu moves to kill Han Li. Han Li quickly swears an oath of secrecy, but Li Feiyu is unmoved by words. Han Li then reminds him that not only did he just save his life, but he is also a disciple of Physician Mo. Li Feiyu scoffs, mentioning that Physician Mo has had many disciples—a comment that piques Han Li's suspicion, as he has never seen any others. Seeing an opportunity, Han Li offers to use his medical skills to alleviate Li Feiyu's pain, even if he can't cure him. Li Feiyu agrees to trust him and arranges to meet again in three days for the medicine.
Soon after, Physician Mo returns, thrilled to find that Han Li has successfully broken through to the third layer of his cultivation technique. Han Li later meets with Li Feiyu, providing him with the promised medicine. Unable to pay, Li Feiyu offers a future favor as payment. He confesses that he resorted to the life-draining pills to stand out amongst the many talented individuals in the sect.
That evening, Physician Mo prepares a celebratory meal. During the dinner, Zhang Tie suddenly faints, and the doctor instructs Han Li to carry him back to his room. Sensing something is wrong, Han Li leaves a note for Zhang Tie, warning him to flee the mountain immediately if Han Li doesn't return by morning.
When Han Li rejoins his master, Physician Mo asks a peculiar question: "How old do you think I am?" Han Li guesses he is in his sixties or seventies. The doctor reveals his shocking truth: he is only thirty-seven years old. His real name is Mo Juren. He was once a renowned physician, but he was poisoned by a rival, which caused his body to age prematurely. The only cure is to master their shared cultivation technique to the fourth layer. He explains that he has tested many others, but only Han Li possesses the aptitude to succeed. However, his time is running out—he only has one year left.
Shaken but resolute, Han Li returns to his room and burns the note he left for Zhang Tie. He vows to save his master within the year, dreaming that they will then leave the mountain together to open a medical clinic.
The next day, however, Zhang Tie disappears. While delivering charcoal to the doctor's room, he had overheard a conversation between Mo Juren and a shadowy figure. The master declared he could wait no longer and intended to proceed with his plan. The shadow warned him against "forceful possession," cautioning that it could lead to a terrible fate. Alerted by a noise, Physician Mo stepped outside, and Zhang Tie was never seen again. When Han Li confronts him, Physician Mo coldly claims Zhang Tie became homesick and left.
Han Li doesn't believe him. That night, he makes a startling discovery: his small, mysterious green bottle absorbs moonlight, producing drops of a potent green liquid. He attempts to test it but stops when he notices one of the doctor's birds spying on him. Later, a rabbit drinks some spilled liquid and dies instantly, but the surrounding plants it touched grow at an incredible rate. Realizing the liquid can rapidly mature medicinal herbs, Han Li devises a plan. He carves a wooden dummy to act as a decoy, making it seem like he is meditating while he secretly uses the bottle's liquid to cultivate a massive supply of herbs in a secluded forest.
With an abundance of powerful pills, Han Li not only creates medicine for Li Feiyu but also asks him for manuals on hidden weapons and techniques that don't require internal energy. His cultivation soars, and he quickly breaks through to the fourth layer.
Now fully aware of his master's sinister intentions, Han Li understands that reaching the fourth layer will not guarantee his safety. He begins preparing for the inevitable confrontation, secretly refining poisons and practicing with deadly hidden weapons.
In this episode, Han Li uncovers the dark truth about his master, Mo Juren, who is secretly dying and needs Han Li to reach the fourth cultivation layer as a cure. After his friend Zhang Tie mysteriously disappears, Han Li discovers a magical green bottle that allows him to rapidly grow herbs, accelerating his own cultivation. Realizing his master likely plans to betray him, Han Li reaches the fourth layer and begins preparing poisons and weapons for a final, desperate struggle for survival.
