01x02 - Episode 2

[bunniefuu]

ADAPTED FROM ZHU YAN BY CANG YUE

It seems that Cleansing Bell
requires very refined techniques.

This won't do.

I still need to practice diligently.

so that I can give this item to Mother

before her birthday.

EXTREME WIND CITY

PRINCE CRIMSON RESIDENCE

Princess, you travel
further and further away.

This time, you've been away for ten days.

We've had to hide it so well.

Fortunately, you returned in time today.

Otherwise, we wouldn't be able
to cover up for you this time.

I wonder why Mother sought me out today.

Could it be that another young master

has come to propose marriage again?

Who dares to come to Extreme Wind City
and propose marriage to you now?

You keep wanting to compete
with every suitor who comes.

They haven't even had time to recuperate.

I heard that this time,

it seems to be someone from Jialan

and they are planning
to invite you to participate

in an event called
Grand Ceremony of Worship.

Is it the grand ceremony

that takes place only once
every ten years at Jiuyi Mountain?

Well, I'm not sure though.

Princess, where are you going again?

Please have some tea.

Thank you, my lady.

I heard that the princess
has reached adulthood now,

so I made this trip specifically.

I'm sure you know that
according to ancestral customs,

the eldest daughter of the Bai family

will become the lead dancer
at the Grand Ceremony of Worship.

However, if the other
noble ladies dancing alongside

perform exceptionally well,

it can bring honor to the family as well.

The influential figures
will all be present.

It's also a good opportunity
to select a husband.

I'm afraid Yan'er

has already neglected her dancing.

I'm going.

Father.

Mother.

Ma'am.

I want to participate in the ceremony.

If your dancing skills are not up to par,

you won't be able to go.

Please give me three days.

I'll definitely sharpen my skills.

STAR-GAZING PLAZA, JIUYI MOUNTAIN

Lords and princesses,
welcome to Jiuyi Mountain.

Come on.

Slow down.

Bai.

Are these the offerings you prepared

for Star-Gazing Ceremony?

It seems that in these years,

Ye City hasn't been doing well.

Over the years, Qing Prefecture greatly
benefited from the Emperor's grace.

I can completely provide
some assistance to you.

I brought two daughters
with me on this trip.

One of them

is a candidate for Star Gazer.

A box of fine pearls from Bai Residence.

Although we brought fewer offerings,

the purpose

is to ease
the crown prince's future consort.

Qing, don't you agree?

You're mistaken.

The crown prince doesn't exist yet,

so there's no need for a consort.

Once there's a consort,

there will be a crown prince.

It has only been three days.

What impressive progress.

Let me test your skills.

Come on.

Chong Ming.

DIVINE BIRD CHONG MING, JIUYI MOUNTAIN

It has only been a few days

and you've developed a pig's habit

of crashing into trees.

What?

How dare you say that I'm a pig?

You…

Did I ruin my appearance?

Did I?

Did I?

This is bad.

It's all right.

It's not a big deal.

Do you know how difficult it is
for me to have this appearance?

I'm Chong Ming, the King of Hundred Birds.

I've cultivated for thousands of years

and have finally
transformed into a human now.

However, I haven't finished
my cultivation yet.

I haven't shown
this beautiful face to others.

I must protect this face well.

Indeed.

I indulged too much in my own beauty
and forgot about the important matter.

As they say, "Beauty brings disaster."

The ancient bird was right.

What's the matter?

Don't you know about
the ceremony at Jiuyi Mountain?

Come with me and see the excitement.

They only have this event
once every ten years.

Even the four Grand Marshals
are itching to go up the mountain.

I won't go.

Are you afraid of being seen by others?

Although you can't leave the valley

before you turn 18,

I've already prepared
the attire of a divine servant for you.

We just need to quietly go up the mountain

and take a quick look.

No one will notice.

I won't go.

You called me a pig just now

and I crashed into the tree
because you dodged.

Also, why would I hit you?

It was to distract your attention

so that you could rest well.

You didn't appreciate
my good intentions at all.

I know the reason you trained tirelessly

is that you can go out
and bring back your mother.

Because of that prophecy,

you can't see any women before you turn 18

and can only stay within
Emperor Valley of Jiuyi Mountain.

However, there's still
plenty of time left.

Don't be in a rush for results.

Take it slowly.

Return it to me.

Is…

Is that all you have to say?

If I had known you were so boring,

I wouldn't have followed you
when you saved me three years ago.

It's too late.

You little Grand Minister.

I'll go back and find a way.

I'll definitely make you go.

Chong Ming.

Thank you.

Divine official.

I have a question.

Within this Jiuyi Mountain,

who has the highest magical abilities?

There are distinctions
between officials and servants here.

I'm only a divine servant.

Only divine officials
can study magic spells.

They are divided into four ranks
according to their abilities.

They are Grand Minister, Grand General,

Grand Marshal, and Grand Preceptor.

The one with the highest magical power

is naturally the Grand Preceptor

who presides over
Grand Ceremony of Worship.

How powerful is his cultivation?

No one has ever seen it.

Rumor has it that
he can command things in Yunhuang.

Command things in Yunhuang?

That's amazing.

Then does he know
the spell to gather primordial spirit?

I've never heard of it.

How could such
a world-defying spell exist?

MANSION ON JIUYI MOUNTAIN

My lord, here's the accommodation
for you and the princess these few days.

Thank you.

Chi Song.

Tell them to move all the things in.

Yes, my lord.

Divine official.

I would like to ask you something.

Jiuyi Mountain has stood
for thousands of years without falling.

Could there be some
ancient secret techniques

that can transcend
the boundary of Yin and Yang?

You've been cultivating here.

Have you heard of it before?

As the saying goes,
"Life and death are predestined."

It says that

the life and death of humans
are predestined by fate.

Greetings, Grand Preceptor.

You may leave first.

Greetings, Grand Preceptor.

If one forcibly breaks through
the boundary of Yin and Yang,

it goes against the natural order
and is a taboo for cultivators.

How could there be anyone in the world

who has learned such a technique?

Yes, Grand Preceptor.

Why are you so sure?

How can you say so for the others
just because you don't know?

Young lady.

Can't you be a bit more modest?

Because of such questions,

I have answered them countless times.

It seems that
Princess Zhu Yan is a curious person.

Let me remind you.

Jiuyi Mountain is a dangerous place.

Apart from the places where guests reside
and the places of worship,

don't trespass elsewhere.

Especially Emperor Valley
beyond the mountain,

where the tombs of emperors and empresses
throughout history are located.

It's a forbidden area.

Empress Bai Wei's Houtu Ring

is guarding it.

Not only that, Chong Ming,
the ancient mythical creature,

is guarding the valley as well.

Those who trespass won't leave alive.

Grand Preceptor.

My lord, I came to see
how you're doing here.

-Are you getting used to it?
-Definitely.

This way, please.

Young lady.

Just forget it and give up.

Is what Grand Preceptor said
necessarily true?

No.

The cultivators
with the highest magical abilities

are always in seclusion.

Although Grand Preceptor
is known as the foremost expert in magic,

I think there may be others
who are more formidable than him.

Young lady.

Why don't you listen to what others say?

This Jiuyi Mountain

must have other extraordinary individuals.

I'll definitely find them.

I see.

Although the water is without any origin,

if I want to succeed in this technique,

I must trace it back to the source.

Please deliver this item

to Kunyuan Palace in Jialan

and hand it to Empress Bai Yan.

She only needs to consume this item

to restore her voice

that was hoarse from the fire that day

and it will become clear again.

Mother,

I really miss you.

I'll bring you back

when I turn 18.

Something terrible has happened!

Something terrible has happened.

Something terrible has happened.

I've ruined my face. Look.

Chong Ming, your face…

Is it very serious?

If we don't treat it, it will heal.

Young man.

What kind of attitude is this?

Don't you know that
for thousands of years,

how many people
have envied my youthful appearance?

Throughout history,

has any mythical creature
been written about by the Heavenly God?

Or has any mythical creature
been sung about by Yue Chan?

None at all.

That's why

this heavenly bestowed beauty
can't have any flaws.

Understood.

What should I do then?

Well, my wound
was scratched by a tree branch,

so you need to bring me
two taels of Danbai Ginseng,

one inch of Zixia Vine,
half a catty of Banhe Grass,

and half a piece of Mingchan Peel.

I'll boil and consume them
to invigorate my blood circulation.

Understood.

-I'll go--
-Hold on.

Additionally, I need three Zihan Leaves

and two Ruyi Flowers.

Then I'll just grind and apply them
to promote skin regeneration.

Zihan Leaves and Ruyi Flowers?

All of them can only be found
on Medicine God Peak.

Let's go to the top
of Medicine God Peak then.

We'll pick a few leaves,

pluck a few flowers, and come back.

Hey.

I'm not asking you out

just because it's lively
on the mountain now.

So what if they are having fun?

What does it have to do with us?

After I d*sfigured myself,

it has been two hours that I haven't
had the mood to look in the mirror.

I just want to restore
my youthful appearance.

I never want to transform back
into my true form to carry you again.

After all, this human form of mine

possesses the beauty
that can captivate a nation.

Even in my fledgling bird form,
I'm delicate and exquisite.

It's just that my original form
is big and ferocious.

It's not cute at all.

Young lady,

the Star Gazer leading this dance
is Princess Xueying from the Bai family.

You have been close since childhood.

This time, you can use
this opportunity to have a chat.

Quick, look.

There's an ancient divine bird.

It's the legendary Chong Ming.

Chong Ming?

It looks like there's also a person

on Chong Ming's back.

A person?

The person who can control Chong Ming

must be a formidable expert.

I'm going to take a closer look.

It's almost time for the performance!

That area is restricted.

You can't go there!

Young lady, come back here!

Young lady, I'll be waiting for you here.

Come back quickly.

I clearly saw it flying around here.

Where could it have gone?

Both Chong Ming and the expert
are nowhere to be seen.

It's just you, a little white bird.

Little white bird.

You're so cute.

You're injured.

Let me help you.

Don't be afraid.

I've saved

countless little white birds like you.

They can even survive
in the Western Desert.

You're now in Jiuyi Mountain.

You have to be strong.

Come on.

What are you doing
to this venerable face of mine?

Hey, come back!

Where are you going?

So you're not
a little white bird after all.

You're the divine bird, Chong Ming.

I didn't expect
someone like you to know me.

You have a good eye.

Divine Bird Chong Ming.

You must be over 9,000 years old.

According to Yunhuang Compendium,

Chong Ming has two pupils,

so it's also known as
Twin-Eyed Divine Beast.

It resembles a dancing phoenix,
yet sounds like a roaring dragon.

It can fly up to the Ninth Heaven
and descend into the Five Oceans.

It uses various herbs
to bring about a miraculous recovery.

It can fight off fierce beasts
like tigers, leopards, bears,

and even evil spirits

Among all the legendary creatures
from ancient times,

Chong Ming is at the top of the pyramid.

Lord Chong Ming,

may I ask if you have a master?

Master? I don't have a master!

Lord Chong Ming.

Please pardon my blunder.

What I meant was,

do you have an immortal friend
you cultivate with?

If you do,

may I ask if you can
introduce me to that person?

You truly have no self-awareness.

I've only given you
the slightest bit of courtesy,

yet you took an inch and asked for a mile.

How can my immortal friend

meet someone like you

just because you asked for it?

Lord Chong Ming.

You truly are straightforward.

Lord Chong Ming.

Did you just use

your noble and beautiful feathers

to whack me earlier?

According to the records
in Yunhuang Compendium,

these feathers could ward off
evil spirits and are antidotes to poisons.

Replacing it every three years,

it's considered a top-grade tribute.

I'm truly fortunate

to have come in close contact
with such wondrous feathers.

Princess.

Where are you?

Princess.

I'm here.

Princess, please come quickly.

The matron at the music house said

that if she doesn't see you
within an hour,

your qualification
as a dancer will be revoked!

If that happens,

it won't look good for His Lordship.

Lord Chong Ming.

I'll take my leave then.

I hope we can meet again next time.

Princess!

Princess!

That girl speaks so eloquently.

I've just given her a test,
yet she disappeared.

She lacks sincerity indeed.

Who are you talking about?

A naive girl
with no knowledge of the world.

By the way,

she even asked me about you.

She asked about me?

She looks really beautiful.

Exactly.

I wonder when…

BAI XUELU, PRINCESS OF WHITE CLAN

She looks like a celestial being.

She dances so well.

Impressive.

Princess Xuelu dances so well.

She should be the Star Gazer.

-Exactly.
-That's right.

-Star Gazer!
-Star Gazer!

-Star Gazer!
-Star Gazer!

-Star Gazer!
-Star Gazer!

BAI XUEYING, PRINCESS OF WHITE CLAN

Gosh, she's so beautiful.

Yes, she is.

How beautiful.

-Yes.
-Exactly.

Young lady.

Young lady.

This is a once-in-a-decade performance.

The princesses from other families
are all dressed to the nails.

They're practically dripping with jewelry,

but you…

The Star Gazer

is always
the Bai family's legitimate daughter.

Xueying is the only
legitimate daughter of the Bai family.

Why do they call Bai Xuelu the Star Gazer?

Although Princess Xuelu
is a lowborn daughter,

everyone praises her
for her exceptional dancing skills

and want her to perform
before Princess Xueying.

Now that Princess Xuelu is dancing,

everyone is amazed by her skills.

Amazed? By what?

I think

Bai Xuelu must have bribed them

and deliberately created a scene
to embarrass Xueying.

Xueying is my friend.

She shouldn't be
treated unfairly in matters like this

and be bullied by her sister.

I have to intervene.

Where is Xueying?

How beautiful.

Star Gazer.

Xueying is the Star Gazer.

Star Gazer.

-Why are you here?
-Xueying is the true Star Gazer.

Young lady.

The Star Gazer
you have been eagerly awaiting

has heard your enthusiastic cheers.

Thank you, Bai Xuelu,
for an opening for Princess Xueying.

Xueying.

-Come here.
-Zhu Yan.

Listen to me.

I can't do it.

It's all right.

Zhu Yan…

That's right.

Xueying, don't be afraid.

You can do it.

I believe in you.

Go for it.

-Princess Xueying is so beautiful.
-She's so lovely.

Nice!

The two princesses of the Bai family
have their own strengths.

The dance of the Star Gazer

is a ceremonial dance

intended to pay respects to the gods,

so one should be sincere
and humble while performing,

communicating only with
the divine forces of heaven and earth,

without excessive interaction
with other factors.

It was only with such intentions

that the dance could flow
as naturally as water.

Princess Xueying,

you truly understand
the meaning behind this dance.

The Star Gazer is Xueying!

Xueying.

That's great.

Thank you, Zhu Yan.

Xueying.

Xueying, you're the Star Gazer.

That's great.

ICE CLAN'S HALL, WESTERN SEA GLACIER

Kongsang has fallen into such a state,

yet they still extravagantly prepare

for the Star-Gazing Ceremony.

Reporting to your excellency,

the people are ready.

Very good.

Jiuyi Mountain

has the weakest security
due to the ceremony.

We must take advantage of this opportunity

and infiltrate Emperor Valley.

Find Houtu Ring for me.

Yes.

As long as I obtain
the blessing of Houtu Ring,

this will be your final ceremony.

After ten years,

there will be no more Kongsang.

Take a look.

It's so beautiful.

When my mother was still alive,

she specially hired skilled craftsmen

and spent three whole months

sewing it for me.

The purpose was that one day,

I can wear it

and become a Star Gazer.

Indeed, it's magnificent.

Finally, your mother's wish
has been fulfilled.

That's right.

Your dress alone

could easily overshadow me.

Bai Xuelu.

What are you doing?

Yan, don't be so stingy.

You can play with my sister's dress,

but I can't even touch it
even though I'm her elder sister.

Princess Xuelu,

please don't call me Yan.

We're not that close.

Fine, Zhu Yan.

You don't need to be so hostile toward me.

When I was watching Xueying's performance,

I realized I'm not as good as Xueying

in terms of background and skill.

I just wanted to see your dress

and imagine how I would look wearing it.

Is that not allowed?

I'd be happy to oblige, Xuelu.

I heard that this kind of silk

will produce a colorful haze

when it's illuminated by sunlight.

Xuelu!

-Princess Xuelu.
-Princess Xuelu.

Are you all right?

The dress.

My dress.

The dress…

What do we do now?

Zhu Yan.

What do we do now?

Bai Xuelu, you did it on purpose.

How could I do it on purpose?

I almost fell myself.

Zhu Yan.

She didn't mean to.

In the end,

it's all my fault
for not taking good care of the dress.

You…

Below the mountain
is the forbidden land of Emperor Valley.

Intruders will be k*lled.

If the dress has fallen down there,

it's lost forever.

The Star Gazer has lost her own dress.

What will she wear for the dance?

The dress can't be completed
in a short time.

She can't just randomly pick a garment.

That will only make people mock her.

Moreover,

isn't it a grave mistake

now that the Star Gazer
has lost her dress?

She can't even take care of her own dress.

How can we trust her as the lead dancer?

Princess Xueying.

Ma'am.

According to the ancestral rules,

you're indeed the Star Gazer.

However, they also have a good point.

Based on past precedents,

if the sacred dress is lost,

your qualification as the lead performer
will also be forfeited.

If you can't come up with a solution

before the ritual ceremony begins,

then the position of the lead dancer

will have to be given to someone else.

All right.

Xueying.

Mother.

I must help Xueying retrieve her dress.

The Star Gazer's position
is already within our grasp

and attracting Prince Shi Yu
is also easily achievable.

Why are you still unhappy, young lady?

Xueying is such a fool.

She really risked her life to pull me up.

Are you feeling bad for her, young lady?

Before going up the mountain,

we were determined to succeed.

She's the legitimate daughter
of the Bai family

and she's born to be the first choice
of the crown prince's consort,

but you…

Please forgive me, Princess.

I spoke out of turn.

I won't feel bad for her.

Stand up.

That person
doesn't have much time left in the palace.

The throne of Kongsang
has been empty for a long time

and Father is deeply concerned
about the future of the Bai family.

If one day,

I become the crown prince's consort

and crown as the empress,

let's see who would dare

to question my background
and point fingers at me by then.

Yufei.

Yufei.

This knockout ink is indeed useful.

She says one thing but means another

and she has a honeyed tongue,

but she just talks without any action.

She's truly despicable.

Is that so?

However, I think she's quite capable.

She managed to keep you occupied

from noon until now.

Xiaoyingzi.

Does that mean you admire her?

It's burnt.

My beauty lotion!

This is bad.

Hurry.

EMPEROR VALLEY

"Emperor Valley."

Grand Preceptor has mentioned

that Emperor Valley is where

the tombs of emperors and empresses
throughout history are located.

It's guarded
by Empress Bai Wei's Houtu Ring.

It's strictly forbidden to trespass.

Those who dare to enter won't leave alive.

I've seen Chong Ming.

It's not that scary.

Besides,

isn't the Houtu Ring
just guarding Kongsang?

How could it k*ll people?

All places in this world

that have names are accessible to all.

I don't believe

that trespassers will die.

Please…

Please, my lords.

Who's there?

You can't see me.

Such beautiful flowers.

It's said that in Emperor Valley,

there's the most brilliant
suspended lake in the world,

Starry Lake.

Could it be that

I unintentionally

came to the shore of the lake?

This place is covered in dense fog.

Where is Starry Lake?

The dress.

So…

this is Starry Lake.

Just now…

That was Wind-Manipulating Technique.

Divine official.

Do you live in Emperor Valley?

You're Chong Ming's
immortal friend, right?

I finally found you.

So she's the lady Chong Ming mentioned.

I'm Zhu Yan,
the princess of the Crimson Clan.

I'm also a practitioner of magic

and I'm honored to be
in the same field as you.

Zhu Yan?

Isn't she
the Crimson Clan's princess I met

back in Helu Garden?

I want to ask

if there's really a spell

in this world

to gather the primordial spirit.

Her passion for magic

hasn't changed a bit.

Why aren't you speaking?

Could it be that

you can't speak?

My goodness.

He can't hear me either.

What a pity.

He looks so handsome

and his aura is quite extraordinary.

But the Crown Prince is different.

They said he's favored by heaven.

A young promising man who keeps improving.

I'm sure he'll understand my feelings.

Her personality hasn't changed either.

Divine Bird Chong Ming?

You can transform into a human?

You really met a woman.

Could she be your…

What am I to him?

Why are you not k*lling her?