Episode Summary
Han Li's group confronts a series of demonized Blood Attendants, leading to significant sacrifices, including Liu Jing using his "Source Blood" and a Chen disciple tragically killing his own brother. The appearance of Qing Wen with a demonized Wu Jiuzhi reveals a deeper plot. After finding the Emperor, the group learns the truth about Liu Jing's stalled cultivation. The episode culminates in a cliffhanger as the final Blood Attendant reveals his plan and captures Liu Jing, threatening his life.
Spoiler Alert
As the group prepares for their next move, Han Li outlines a strategy against the formidable Blood Attendants. He notes their key weaknesses: the demonized state they enter is temporary, and it renders them mindless. The plan is for some of the group to engage and distract these powerful foes, creating an opening for the two "Senior Sisters" to proceed with their mission.
The confrontation begins as they face an Elder guarding the path. He is quickly overwhelmed and desperately calls for backup. A demonized Tie Luo arrives, holding off the attackers and urging the Elder to also undergo the transformation. By absorbing the spiritual power of several nearby disciples, the Elder becomes a demonized being himself. Seeing this, a confident Song Meng steps forward, claiming the newly transformed Elder as his own opponent and warning the others not to interfere.
During the chaotic battle, Liu Jing makes a grave sacrifice, using his own "Source Blood" to ignite a powerful "True Treasure," a move that startles Han Li with its immense cost. The fight takes a tragic turn when a Chen family disciple engages the Elder, only for the Elder to cruelly use the disciple's own brother as a human shield, causing the disciple to land a fatal blow. As the disciple grieves, Tie Luo observes that Song Meng fights like a true martial artist. Song Meng confirms this, stating his family entered the world of cultivation through martial arts. This prompts a bitter remark from Tie Luo, who accuses cultivators of hypocrisy, claiming they preach non-interference in mortal affairs while their conflicts bring immense suffering to ordinary people.
Suddenly, Qing Wen appears, and with her is a demonized Wu Jiuzhi. Han Li realizes with a shock that this was her goal all along when she was recruiting rogue cultivators at the Tainan Small Meeting. Qing Wen squarely blames Han Li for Wu Jiuzhi's current state. Meanwhile, Liu Jing manages to defeat Tie Luo's faction, but the power of the True Treasure was so absolute that it even incinerated their Storage Pouches.
Devastated, the Chen disciple cremates his brother, vowing to take him home. He asks the others to keep the news from Chen Qiaoqian, wanting to tell her himself when the time is right.
Proceeding further, the group discovers the Emperor, who explains he was brought there and has been kept awake amidst a sleep-inducing mist by a pill given to him by Chen Qiaoqian. Han Li advises the Emperor to stay with them for safety.
In a quiet moment, Liu Jing confronts Song Meng, asking if he has been intentionally holding back his own cultivation progress for Liu Jing's sake. Liu Jing reveals that an old injury from a demon has made it impossible for him to ever reach the Core Formation stage, and he urges Song Meng and Wei Niang not to let him hinder their potential.
Their path is blocked by a final man in black, who thanks them for bringing him the "Blood Coagulating Five Elements Pill." Han Li finally understands the full scope of the plot: the various Elders they fought represented the five elements, and this man is the final, crucial Blood Attendant, not the cult's leader. In a swift move, the man captures Liu Jing. As a frantic Wei Niang tries to rush forward, Song Meng restrains her, warning that her impulsiveness will only endanger Liu Jing further. The man in black coldly agrees, stating that Liu Jing is about to die anyway.
