Episode Summary
Han Li escapes danger and successfully joins the Huangfeng Valley sect using an Immortal Ascension Token. This grants him automatic entry and a coveted Foundation Establishment Pill, causing resentment among other disciples. During his initial training, Han Li displays a profound lack of natural talent for cultivation but makes up for it with sheer determination.
Spoiler Alert
The episode kicks off with Nangong Wan's timely arrival, forcing a mysterious man in black to tell his associate, Qing Wen, that they must flee immediately. Having narrowly escaped death yet again, Han Li realizes he can't continue on his own and resolves to join a cultivator sect for safety.
He finally makes his way to the Huangfeng Valley. Just as he arrives, the Immortal Ascension Token in his possession suddenly flies out. As Han Li scrambles after it, he trips and falls. At that moment, Song Meng and his fellow disciples appear, spot the legendary token, and rush to report it.
Meanwhile, a senior member of the sect, Li Huayuan, is in the middle of a bet with his peers over whether the number of new disciples this year will be odd or even. With sixteen disciples, it seemed Li Huayuan was about to lose. However, the arrival of Han Li with the token brings the total to seventeen, turning the tables and winning Li Huayuan his bet. He is overjoyed by this timely turn of events and demands his winnings.
The Sect Leader convenes a meeting with the elders, including Li Huayuan, to discuss the matter of the Immortal Ascension Token. According to ancient rules, not only must the bearer of the token be accepted into the sect, but they must also be given a Foundation Establishment Pill. This creates a dilemma, as the pill was already promised to the winner of the Sky Mist Platform competition. Li Huayuan argues forcefully that the rules are absolute and cannot be changed. He suggests compensating the competition winner with Spirit Stones, noting that the winner will have another chance next year. The Sect Leader finds this reasoning sound and agrees to the decision.
Han Li's arrival is not met with enthusiasm by the other new disciples, who look down on him and gossip that he only got in due to some great deed by an ancestor, all of which Han Li overhears. Soon after, an Uncle-Master approaches Han Li to inquire about the rare token. Han Li explains it was an heirloom passed down through his family. Satisfied, the Uncle-Master accepts that Han Li's discovery of the token was a matter of fate.
The Uncle-Master officially welcomes an emotional Han Li as a disciple of Huangfeng Valley. He explains the valley's customs, including the fact that necessities like food and lodging must be purchased with Spirit Stones, which can be earned by completing tasks like caring for spirit beasts. Han Li is then taken to Uncle-Master Ye to receive his uniform, a sword, and other basic equipment.
Later, the first Uncle-Master gives Han Li the promised Foundation Establishment Pill, warning him to guard it well as many people covet it. When Han Li asks when he might be ready to attempt Foundation Establishment, the Uncle-Master vaguely tells him to focus on his training, a clear sign that he doesn't believe Han Li has what it takes to succeed.
This lack of innate talent becomes apparent when a female elder, Hong Fu, begins training the new disciples. She teaches them to fly using enchanted leaves, a necessary skill in the vast valley. Han Li struggles immensely, barely managing to get onto the flying leaf after great effort. Observing from a distance, Li Huayuan and Hong Fu comment on the situation. Hong Fu feels the pill was wasted on him, but also notes that Han Li's awareness of his own shortcomings seems to have blessed him with incredible perseverance and resilience.
Elsewhere, Lu Mingyuan, the competition winner who was supposed to receive the pill, is dejected about only getting Spirit Stones as compensation. His peers try to console him, reminding him that it was the sect's rule and that he can try again for the pill next year.
As time passes, the Sect Leader begins instructing the new disciples on various cultivation principles, including the practice of Bigu, or abstaining from worldly food.
