Episode Summary
Han Li navigates a complex web of relationships and dangers. He makes a pact with Qi Yunxiao and Xin Ruyin, agrees to protect the powerful Qin family in the capital, and becomes entangled in the kidnapping of a mysterious cultivator. His path once again crosses with Mo Caihuan, leading to a direct confrontation with the master of the Five-Color Sect.
Spoiler Alert
In the latest episode of "The Immortal Ascension," Han Li's journey takes him deep into the heart of the Yuanwu country, where new alliances are forged and old vendettas resurface, pulling him into a complex web of courtly intrigue and hidden dangers.
The episode opens with an awkward, unspoken encounter between Han Li and Nangong Wan. Seeing her from a distance, Han Li senses she doesn't wish to be recognized and refrains from greeting her. This perceived slight leaves Nangong Wan deeply frustrated, believing he has forgotten her. Before departing for the State of Yuanwu, Han Li arranges for a disciple to deliver a "Wang Yan Dan" (a pill to alter one's appearance, literally "Forgetful Face Pill") to her, a gesture she accepts, somewhat soothing her irritation.
Han Li's true purpose in Yuanwu is to find Qi Yunxiao. His search leads him to an auction house where he is surprised to see a thousand-year-old Yellow Essence Fungus for sale—the very one he had given away, sparking suspicion about the auction master's identity. He finds Qi Yunxiao attempting to trade two powerful formation arrays for the fungus, but Qi is unceremoniously thrown out and immediately ambushed. Han Li intervenes, saving him from his pursuers.
Qi Yunxiao gratefully leads Han Li to his home, where he is introduced to the brilliant but frail Xin Ruyin. She is a master of formations, and Han Li presents her with a damaged array capable of teleporting a user a thousand li in an instant. Xin Ruyin confirms its power but notes that repairing its broken corner will require a wealth of high-level materials. Han Li readily offers to provide them, but Xin Ruyin hesitates, lamenting that she doesn't have long to live. To bolster her spirits, Han Li produces another Yellow Essence Fungus and makes a solemn promise: if the day comes when they must flee, he will take them with him.
Arriving in the capital, Han Li's path crosses with a mysterious old man and his granddaughter. Though the man appears to be only in the Qi Refining stage, Han Li senses a deeply concealed power. Wary of Han Li's ability to see through his facade, the grandfather quickly apologizes for his granddaughter's boisterousness. Intrigued, Han Li marks the man's aura, vowing to find him again after his own business is concluded.
That business is with the prestigious Qin family, headed by the nation's prime minister. The patriarch reveals that his late father foretold an immortal would come to their aid in a time of crisis. Han Li confirms he is that immortal and agrees to stay with the family, posing as an uncle to maintain a low profile and protect them. However, his arrival is met with suspicion from the lady of the house and her son, who see him as just another freeloader.
The plot thickens when the mysterious old man is abducted in the middle of the night, an event his granddaughter witnesses but is powerless to stop. Han Li tracks the man's aura to the point where it vanishes and finds the distraught girl. She blames Han Li for the kidnapping, believing his interest in her grandfather's Breath Concealing Technique is what drew unwanted attention. Desperate, she offers to teach him the technique if he will rescue her grandfather.
Before Han Li can decide, the Qin family butler arrives to summon him to a banquet at the Prince's mansion. Han Li quickly renders the girl invisible. At the lavish event, he immediately senses a performer exuding a demonic aura.
Later, he intercepts Mo Caihuan, who is preparing to assassinate the performer. She reveals the man is the master of the Five-Color Sect, the one responsible for her family's ruin.Han Li convinces her that a direct attack would be suicide and that a better opportunity will arise. Taking control of the situation, he leads Mo Caihuan directly to the performer's private room. The sect master, recognizing Han Li's formidable power, respectfully awaits his command, setting the stage for a tense confrontation.
