01x01 - Episode 1

[bunniefuu]

Legend has it

that the immortals k*lled the ancient demon god,

the Mortal-Demon Lord,

but couldn't destroy its spiritual power.

So they had to seal the Spirit Spring

that formed from its power

in the netherworld.

The Spirit Spring gathers evil intentions of the heaven and earth,

with enough power to destroy the universe.

Only the chosen Demon's child

can release the Spirit Spring.

Eighteen years ago,

Mu Qingge stole the Spirit Spring,

causing chaos to the mortal world.

Alerted, the four other Heavenly Sects

joined hands against her

but still were no match for her.

[Legend]

Heavenly disciples!

k*ll Mu Qingge!

[Immortal Kaiyuan, Sovereign of Eternal Sect]

Yes!

[Mu Qingge, Wester Sect]

Good one, disciple.

I thought you asked me here

to reminisce about the past.

[Su Yishui, Wester Sect]

To think you'd be so heartless

as to collude with others to harm me!

You demon!

You forced me to be your disciple

and practice black magic!

How's there

anything real between us?

Want to k*ll your master?

Let's see if you're up to it!

Formation!

Trying to k*ll me with my blood?

Su Yishui.

Do you hate me this much?

Yishui...

Your face...

Even if I die,

Wester Sect will perish with me.

Wester Sect never forgives traitors.

Su Yishui.

You'll never be able to hold your head up high again!

Mu Qingge!

[Love of the Divine Tree]

[Episode 1]

[18 years later]
[Xue Village near Mount Absolute]

They say that right before her death,

this demoness even cursed her disciple,

Su Yishui,

with the Face-and-Heart Burning Curse.

It was utterly humiliating.

Her cruelty didn't end here.

Mu Qingge

merged her fate

with the sovereign order

of Wester Sect.

If she dies,

the disciples of Wester Sect will die!

What a vicious demon!

So Su Yishui had no choice

but to find a Reincarnation Tree

and a trace of her remaining soul.

With half of his Golden Core,

he helped her be reborn,

in hopes that with her return,

her curse on Wester Sect would be broken

and she'd help him

locate the missing Spirit Spring.

Sovereign Su

is such an upright and honorable man,

yet he had to extend a demon's life.

What an abominable pity!

So how long

does it take to

resurrect that demoness?

Eighteen years.

Mu Qingge

is coming back soon!

Dear audience,

the tales of Mount Wester

will end here today!

If you're worried that the demoness

will harm the mortal world,

why don't you get prepared?

I have portraits

of the righteous demon-slaying sovereign,

Su Yishui, available for purchase.

One cash for one.

It'll subdue evil

and keep your home safe.

Anyone interested?

Grab one while you can.

Old Li.

Who'd want to buy that?

In my opinion,

that man's so heartless

for k*lling his master.

He's no saint.

-What are you talking about?
-Watch your words!

k*lling your master for justice is noble.

Su Yishui

will attain ascension sooner or later.

Slandering him will bring you bad luck!

You're the unlucky one!

Ranran!

Why are you in an argument again?

Let's go.

We need to get back to work.

-I want one.
-I want one.

-Give me one.
-Give me one.

-Me too.
-Me too.

Ranran!

Ranran.

Smells good.

Serve the dishes.

Okay.

I'm Xue Ranran.

I'm an orphan.

According to the man who found me when I was little,

I floated along the river

to Xue Village.

I grew up

eating my neighbors' food.

They all say I might be

a glutton in my previous life

for me to be so gifted

in this life.

As long as I've smelled it,

I can cook it.

I like the world in a dish,

but I yearn to see the outside world even more.

I hope I'll get to taste

the world's delicacies

with my friend someday.

This is my friend,

Ling Xiao.

I don't know where it came from,

but we've relied

on each other since I was little.

Step aside!

But as I grew up,

Ling Xiao became less and less energetic.

It's as if it has

a serious illness.

I also want to leave the village sooner

to find a way to save it.

Throughout my life,

you've been the only one by my side.

You're my only companion.

You will be fine.

I promise I'll find a way

to save you.

[Wei Jiu, Sovereign of Scarlet Sect]

Greetings, My Lord.

[Grand Hall, Scarlet Sect]

Thank you, My Lord.

Congratulations, My Lord.

The Creator Barrier

set by Su Yishui was impregnable.

After 18 years of effort,

you've found the barrier-breaking compass

[Da Wu, Elder of Scarlet Sect]

made with the Dragon Bone.

With this compass,

all barriers

can be broken.

[Seclusion Cave, Mount Wester]

[Reincarnation Tree, Mount Absolute]

My Lord.

We'll douse this Reincarnation Tree

with the liquid refined with resentment,

and its Fruits will absorb it.

After Mu Qingge is born,

you can control her.

Mu Qingge's born with the Five Spirit Roots.

If you acquire her Spirit Roots,

they'll aid you to reach

the peak of Nascent Soul cultivation.

Mu Qingge.

Your Spirit Roots will be mine.

This is...

Another Reincarnation Fruit

fell off first!

There are two reincarnators

on this mountain?

When Mu Qingge was k*lled,

her ordinary sister was also

by her side.

That unlucky girl must've been

dragged into

this Empyrean Bone Sacrifice Curse

and then reborn

through Su Yishui's help

by some stroke of luck.

Is Mu Qingge

the one that fell off

or the one on the Tree?

It fell before it was ripe,

[Tu Jiuyuan, Elder of Scarlet Sect]

so it must be someone inept.

Mu Qingge is extraordinarily gifted,

so she must be the one on the Tree.

Not necessarily.

[Su Yishui, Sovereign of Wester Sect]

Su Yishui.

You sealed your five senses

and cultivated the Unfeeling Mantra for 18 years.

It's near completion.

You used half of the Ice Lotus to rebuild your Golden Core

and just entered the Transcendence Realm.

You'll be stable in about a month.

Why did you forcefully stop it now?

-Congrats on your completion, Guardian.
-Congrats on your completion, Guardian.

Rise.

[Yu Tong] [Yu Chen]

[Trusted servants of Su Yishui]

-Yes.
-Yes.

Mount Absolute's in trouble.

No matter who's the one that fell,

find her.

How could a Reincarnation Fruit fall prematurely?

That demoness is impossibly evil.

She didn't even spare her own sister

and squeezed her down the Tree?

If Wei Jiu catches her...

It's not her.

Ranran!

Ranran, you know what?

The customer at Table A

is really hard to serve.

But he's full of praise

for your cooking.

What's wrong?

Still worrying about Ling Xiao?

Have you saved up enough money

and plan on bringing

Ling Xiao to see a doctor?

None of the villagers

have ever seen any Heavenly Ones.

I bet

there's someone

who has the answer I want.

Someone?

Don't you mean Young Master Yu?

Let's see...

It’s about time

he arrives for some wine.

Every time he comes,

he'd just order this wine.

He said it tastes similar

to a wine his old friend likes.

But every batch I made

missed the mark just a bit.

I've tweaked the recipe endlessly this year.

I hope he'll like it.

Young Master Yu.

Every time you're here,

you look at the mountain far away.

What is on that mountain?

Someone who doesn't return.

Is it the friend

you mentioned who likes drinking?

[Su Yu, Crown Prince]

By the way,

in this year's batch of wine,

I added some bamboo leaves and smoked plums.

See if it

tastes like

the Mistaken Divine your friend loves.

There are eight villages and three towns down Mount Absolute.

This is the last village.

Keep it down.

Don't alarm the Heavenly Ones nearby.

He was born in the Year of Qinggeng.

Seize him.

Young Master!

Demons?

Someone was caught by demons!

Demons!

Someone was caught by demons!

Someone was caught by demons!

Someone was caught by demons!

Cui!

Cui!

Ling Xiao.

Is this a demon

the storyteller talks about?

Cui!

Cui!

Cui!

Could it be...

You don't need power

to use these talismans that Feng

infused with power.

In danger,

they might help you.

This should be the Tracking Talisman.

Track this wine's smell

and find Cui.

Track this wine's smell—

One of you

can

help our sovereign cultivate.

If we can't find her,

you'll all become

the ashes of the Scarlet Sect!

None of them are?

I'm confused.

Every one born in the Year of Qinggeng

in the village chief's records

are here.

Who's the village chief?

It... It's me.

Where are the other Year-of-Qinggeng births?

T-There's no one else.

That's all?

Do you know how many steps it takes for a demon

to cultivate a Mortal Core?

You'll be tempered in fire,

marinated in demonic herbs,

frozen when plump,

and then have your Spirit Roots removed.

Finally,

you'll be thrown into the furnace

and tempered into a Tonic Core.

I know!

There's one more.

I know who

you're looking for.

Who?

She's an orphan.

She even has

a moving vine.

You must be looking for her.

I can take you to her.

L-Let me go.

Are you teaching me what to do?

No.

I've to go to town

to find Mr. Yu’s immortal master

to save them.

Who's there?

Leave! Leave!

I'm afraid premature Fruits

are neither fully in the Yin or Yang Realms

and have unstable souls.

I won’t let you escape.

What's going on?

Go.

Get her back here.

Yes.

Shoo, evil spirit!

Are you afraid of me?

Oh no.

This evil spirit is so powerful.

Every injustice has its perpetrator.

Go look for the one who made you die

beyond recognition.

It's not my fault.

You don't remember anything?

Su Yishui of Wester Sect?

You treacherous loser.

How dare you

steal for someone with us

with a face full of shameful marks?

Since you recognized me,

-you must die.
-Scarlet Sect?

Su Yishui?

Is he the heartless one

in the storyteller's story

who even k*lled

his own master?

Isn't that scarier than evil spirits?

Well...

Sorry for offending you.

I need to find an immortal master to save the people.

Goodbye.

The demonic energy invaded her bones?

Ling Xiao, come back!

It hurts...

What are you doing?

It hurts...

She actually has a broken heart.

Guardian, she's lucky you disguised her appearance

[Ranran's home, Xue Village]

so the Scarlet Sect didn't get her.

I thought you

sacrificing half of your Golden Core

to revive that demoness

would lift

the curses on you and Wester Sect.

I never imagined

that she'd be reborn

with an Incomplete Spirit Root

who can't even withstand

this little demonic energy from a secondary beast.

She fell off the Tree

before being fully

nourished,

so her heart's broken.

It's a sign of premature aging.

She is lucky that she's lived

until now.

If she dies,

who can lift your curse?

How about infusing her with power?

I tried.

I can't access her heart.

Could it be that

since she was your master in her previous life

and your master-disciple pact

was carried on to her next life,

so you're not allowed access

into her heart?

The master-disciple pact is a blood pact.

It can only be suppressed with another

blood pact.

Of the six pacts, the master-disciple pact is superior

and never to be broken.

In this world,

what other blood pact

could override it?

There's one.

Another master-disciple pact.

Wait.

You want to...

Take her as my disciple

to nullify the original pact.

Guardian.

Becoming the master of your master?

It's such a bold

and creative...

and deviant method.

Guardian.

Why don't you reconsider it?

There hasn't been such a precedent

in the cultivation world.

You've to endure the pressure of the laws of nature.

I doubt you'd even be

able to defy her.

Besides,

a lot goes into

being a master.

You've never been a master.

Can you do it?

Is it that hard?

Since you've decided,

let's return to Mount Wester

and make it happen.

Not yet.

Her Fruit fell prematurely.

She'll die instantly

when she's too far from the Tree.

She has never left Mount Absolute.

Go to Mount Absolute

and break off a branch from the Tree.

One more thing.

I can't confront Wei Jiu directly.

Inform the Four Sects.

Got it.

Xue Ranran's Spirit Root is incomplete,

but it's actually formless.

She's like

an Immortal Fruit.

We mustn't let the Scarlet Sect get her.

Formless Spirit Root?

Immortal Fruit?

She must stay in Mount Wester.

Go on.

Yes.

So he didn't save me by accident.

He's been targeting me.

Just like the demonic cultivators,

the Westers want to eat me!

You're awake.

Why are his face tattoos

gone?

What's wrong?

Do I look very scary?

No, no.

Your profile is

so gorgeous that I can't take my eyes off you.

It's far from being scary.

Really?

It's rare that someone's not afraid

of my true face.

It must be fate.

I'll take you as my disciple.

No, no.

I have something urgent to attend to.

You must've got the wrong person.

It's definitely you.

Born on September 9 in the Year of Qinggeng.

You had a plum blossom mole on your face,

which disappeared when you were five.

You're destined with the Wester Sect.

You're great at reading fortunes, huh?

But the immortal path is too elusive.

It's not the life I want.

If you don't go up the mountain with me,

you'll die of heart failure soon.

Trying to scare me, huh?

That's my fate then.

You don't have to worry about it.

Your life is mine.

If I don't let you die,

you can't die.

Why are you forcing me?

It's a Wester tradition to force apprenticeship.

Back in the days,

my master did the same.

Is it that odd?

Aren't you a righteous sect?

Who said Mount Wester is a righteous sect?

The Westers only follow their own way.

Whether it's righteous or evil,

we do as we will.

This is the jade tablet of Wester disciples.

You have to drop your blood into it

and perform

an apprenticeship ceremony.

No thanks...

The fortune teller

said I'm born a jinx to my family

and teachers.

It's for your own good.

Kneel and take me as your master.

What's wrong with you?

How can you get others to kneel?

Will you kneel if I ask you to?

Sov... Sovereign Su.

Why are you really on your knees?

I wasn't serious.

The jade tablet is the Westers' sacred object.

Are there still

remnants of Mu Qingge's authority?

Go out!

My Lord!

We have help.

Okay.

Let's see how long you can hide.

Her authority is really hard to overcome.

The jade tablet

is really something.

It's like it can control Su Yishui.

Right!

Maybe it could

command him to save the people.

Su Yishui.

Go and save the people—

You can leave.

But I guess

that within 15 minutes,

Wei Jiu will turn your friends

into a pillar of smoke.

Immortal Master.

Please save them.

Then first,

take me as your master.

Immortal Master.

You look like a righteous man.

You won't just let them die.

Come to think of it,

the Wester Sect is better than Scarlet Sect.

As long as

you save my friends,

I could become your disciple.

Right, Master?

You have no parents

and no one to rely on,

yet you bother to stand up for them?

I'm indebted

to every family here.

I can't ignore them.

It's a deal.

It's a promise:

I'll be your disciple,

and you'll save them.

Master.

Put your hand on it

and make a soul oath.

As long as you

personally save my friends,

I'll be willing to be your disciple.

If I break my promise,

my mortal body

will disintegrate.

Pour me some tea

and then get registered at Mount Wester,

and we'll be done.

Help!

Thank goodness for

the talisman from Mr. Yu.

Trying to trick me?

Since you want to be a coward,

I'll provoke you to battle.

Using your brainpower

on such trifling tricks?

A talisman from the Imperial Exotic Pavilion?

Su Yu must also be nearby.

Why would he…

Chase him!

Wei Jiu,

trespassing the Crown Prince's bedchamber?

You've got some nerve.

Are you intent

[Feng, immortal master]

on going against Exotic Pavilion?

Exotic Pavilion?

I have zero regard

for it.

However,

someone lured disaster to the east.

I don’t want to be made a fool.

My Lord, bad news.

The sovereigns of the Four Sects are here.

These old foxes

sure are easily alerted.

Retreat.

Ling Xiao!

Ling Xiao!

Ling Xiao!

Ling Xiao!

Ling Xiao!

S-Sovereign Su.

You're so fast.

I didn't want to

miss out on the tea

from my dear disciple.

Am I right?

Although you distracted the demons away...

you didn't save the people personally.

Is that so?

You left in a hurry

and forgot about this.

Ling Xiao.

Give it back!

Move aside!

The Blood Chalcedony

[Blood Chalcedony drawing]

is great for nourishing the soul.

That Blood Chalcedony can save Ling Xiao.

If I save it,

does it count as

me personally saving your friend?

Yes.

Don't hurt it.

To save Ling Xiao,

even if

Mount Wester is perilous,

I've to give it a try.

You are so powerful.

I won't run away.

I'll be your disciple.

[Mount Wester]

[Mu Qingge, founder of Wester Sect]

This is my Mount Wester.

Remember the route.

Once I get it,

I'll flee.

What's on your mind?

Master, you told me

Mount Wester is beautiful

with a pleasant climate.

Since I can cultivate here,

I feel carefree, jubilant,

truly blessed,

and content.

Your blood is in the jade tablet.

No matter where you go, I'll be able to find you.

Don't think about fleeing.

You'll die if you leave Mount Wester.

Threatening me, huh?

Guardian.

Yu Chen told me in a letter

that you personally took in a disciple.

This is that

Xue Ranran?

Settle her in.

[Grand Hall]

This spirit stone can identify your Spirit Roots.

Your elemental Roots determine your cultivation gift.

The more you have,

the more gifted you are.

Test it out.

I'll go prepare the apprenticeship ceremony.

I'm Bai Baishan

from a family of immortal cultivators.

[Bai Baishan]

I've already been tested.

Gold and Water;

two Spirit Roots.

I'm Gao Cang

[Gao Cang]

with an Earth Root.

My family's acquainted with Master,

so despite my low qualifications,

he still took me in.

[Qiu Xi'er]

I have a Fire Spirit Root.

I'm Qiu Xi'er.

You must be Ranran.

I heard about another lady

joining

upon entering.

Were you all

taken here by force too?

What?

By force?

It's the first time Master is taking disciples.

Everyone was

busy vying for a spot.

What?

Could it be...

you are extraordinary

and have all Five Spirit Roots,

so Master was desperate for you?

Incomplete Spirit Root?

Not even one?

A loser who's born incompetent

and won't amount to much even with hard work.

How in the world

did you get

Master to take you in?

Are you curious?

Why don't you ask Master yourself?

It's time for the apprenticeship ceremony.

Let's go. Come on.

Yeah, come on.

Look.

The rules are here.

You should always dress up

and look good...

to please...

the Master?

Don't be promiscuous,

but more importantly,

don't be indifferent?

You should study more about playing.

Don't stay in the cave—

Don't stay in the cave cultivating?

I've only heard the Heavenly Sects advocate

detachment.

These rules are quite interesting.

Can you do it?

Such rules

made my eyes light up

and spoke to my heart.

I'll try my best to adhere to them.

How about

I wear a beautiful dress tomorrow

to look good to please you?

Every rule is illogical and absurd.

Can't you tell?

These rules

were left by Mu Qingge in the past.

Don't abide by any of them.

Drop your blood into the jade tablet,

serve Master tea,

and get registered in the sect's records.

Then it'll be official.

Let's start with the most powerful,

according to

your Spirit Roots.

Greet your master and serve tea.

Master.

The ceremony is completed.

Xue Ranran.

It's your turn to serve tea.

Greet your master

and serve tea.

I...

I think my legs are numb.

I can't kneel down.

Su Yishui.

You're plotting to use me to cultivate your Core.

Even the heavens can't stand it.

Guardian.

Why don't you reconsider it?

You've to endure the pressure of the laws of nature.

I doubt you'd even be

able to defy her.

Serve the tea.

Sor... Sorry, Master.

As they say, spilled water can't be gathered up.

Could it be that the heavens

are hinting that

we shouldn't be master and disciple?

Spilled water

can't be gathered up?

I don't believe in that logic.

I must drink the tea you serve.

The ceremony is completed.

You're now a Wester disciple

and my disciple.

Now that I'm your disciple,

you'll have more control over me.

[Westerly Valley, Mount Wester]

Master, this is...

You've lived in the mortal world for 18 years.

You're full of mortal dust.

Get thoroughly refined here

to cleanse your meridians

before all else.

I thought we'll get to

settle the score when we meet again

and I'll get closure from you.

It's been 18 years.

I'm still waiting for your answer.

But you forgot everything.

I'll wait for you to remember that day.

A grudge can't be left unresolved.