ADAPTED FROM BAI LU CHENG SHUANG'S LOVE IN THE CLOUDS
Princess Tianji sent a missive
saying that Mu Qibai had been incarcerated.
It is a great thing,
but I don't feel reassured.
If there's a mastermind behind Mu Qibai,
he won't live to see another day.
Yet he still lives now.
Perhaps he has a backup plan?
Your Lordship, all the guards have been taken down.
Please come with me.
Ji Bozai has eliminated the netherbeasts.
Lord Jingxi also died in Jixing Abyss.
My Lord, what should we do now?
Let it be.
I never intend to work for Zhushui Spiritual State anyway.
I just wanted to convince them
to entrust the task of raising netherbeasts to me
so that
I can enact my own plan.
Shao Qun.
You're my only confidant now.
In this desperate time,
we must raise another netherbeast as soon as possible.
Rest assured, My Lord.
The most dangerous place is the safest place.
I shall raise it with my soul and flesh.
No one will find out.
My Lord, your ambition will come to fruition.
One last step now.
Shao Qun.
I didn't expect today to come.
My Lord, if you hadn't saved me,
I would have been eaten alive by the hounds.
It is my honor to die for your legacy, My Lord.
Shao Qun. When you're gone,
no one will protect me like you do.
Worry not, My Lord.
I will always protect you.
Take care, My Lord.
Something happened in the Sunken Abyss.
It must be the netherbeast army.
How come? Didn't we eliminate all of them?
It's Mu Qibai.
Mu Qibai somehow raised new netherbeasts.
It's too late to stop him now.
So he does have a contingency plan.
TIANJI: MU QIBAI FLED WITH THE HELP OF THE NETHERBEAST ARMY.
Mu Qibai escaped with the netherbeast army,
and he will be hiding.
The Prayer Night is around the corner.
The power of the stars will be at its strongest,
but so will the power of the netherbeasts.
That is the best moment for Mu Qibai to invade Jixing Palace.
I have a solution.
Ming Xian once invented a demon-repelling parasol.
Yaoguang Mountain dislikes artifacts,
so the Emperor of Yaoguang Mountain destroyed it before he even inspected it.
But I saw how he made it,
so I can replicate it.
Are you serious about making the demon-repelling parasol?
Has it ever crossed your mind that if someone from Jixing Palace
recognized your work,
your identity would be exposed?
The netherbeast army threatens all Six Realms.
If we do not seal it, many more innocent people will die.
Master also told us about the calamity
a century ago by the Spiritual Veins Fairy who raised netherbeasts.
-Have you forgotten? -But…
But what if they find out you're Ming Xian?
They will kill you, even if you save them. You know it.
But that hasn't happened.
The netherbeast army is the current threat.
If I can help, I mustn't stand by and do nothing.
How very characteristic of you,
Ming Xian.
Princess Tianji, Immortal Ji, and Fairy Ming Yi.
I planted the Netherbeast-Luring Caltrop inside Immortal Ji.
My act is inexcusable.
LETTER OF REPENTANCE
I was misled.
Why would I fall for it, though?
It is inexcusable nonetheless.
TO PRINCESS TIANJI, IMMORTAL JI AND FAIRY MING YI
I wonder if Tianji will forgive me
once I give her this letter of repentance.
Why have you summoned me today,
Your Highness?
Immortal Yan.
After my uncle raised the netherbeast army,
where did he go?
His Majesty has made a full recovery.
You have many ways to locate him.
Why consult a physician like me?
Because you will indulge me,
won't you?
Actually, I can also give you what Lord Hanfeng
promised you.
You can't.
Lord Hanfeng may not inherit Jixing Abyss,
but it still needs a leader.
Your Highness, do you still wish to marry Ji Bozai
so that he can run Jixing Abyss as the prince consort?
Or do you wish to run Jixing Abyss
as an empress?
Surprised?
You did not hide your ambition well.
You even doubt if you can make it.
That's why you play it safe and look for a suitor,
so that you can be the de facto leader
of Jixing Abyss behind your husband.
But Tianji,
you're not the only one
who is ambitious in this world.
I am too.
Since you're so unsure of yourself,
why not marry me
and let me run Jixing Abyss instead?
What? You can't do it?
If you can't let go of your self-interest,
how can you convince me to betray Lord Hanfeng?
Xiao, tell me.
What is my uncle going to do next?
I can give you anything you want.
Why would you put
something like this on the line?
Isn't this what you want, Yan Xiao?
To become more powerful,
you serve someone who raised a netherbeast army.
So, let's go with your plan then.
I'll marry you,
and we'll work together.
What do you think?
Mu Tianji.
First, it was Ji Bozai.
Now, it's me.
Anyone can be your husband, is that so?
Yan Xiao!
Of course not.
After all, you weren't even in my consideration in the past.
Your Highness, think it through.
Meng Yangqiu
is the best candidate to be the prince consort.
After all, he worships
every word you say
and every line you speak.
Besides,
-he is incapable of betraying you. -Yan Xiao, you jerk!
Do you think everyone is like you?
I…
Tianji.
I'm fine.
DEMON-REPELLING PARASOL BLUEPRINT
-Like this. Yes. -Thank you.
-No worries. -Take a parasol.
-Thank you.
-Use it. Take a parasol. -Thank you.
You're welcome.
-Come take your demon-repelling parasol. -Sure.
-Thank you. -Come and have a taste.
Take it.
-Thank you. -You're welcome.
Here.
Sure.
-Take a parasol. -Thank you.
You're welcome.
Here. Take a parasol.
-Come. -Thank you.
-Take a parasol.
I have some good tea inside.
-Try it. -No, thanks.
-We need to hand out the parasols. -Thank you. Come inside.
All right.
-Okay. -Here.
Thank you.
Great timing.
Will you try the demon-repelling parasol for me?
The artisans crafted them using the blueprint given by Ming Yi.
Tianji.
Is the parasol broken?
This parasol is amazing!
Spin it and its power will be activated
to create a defensive barrier.
Meng Yangqiu.
You'll have to train harder.
Perhaps
you can learn from Chen Xi.
Chen Xi.
Teach me how to do it.
Call me Master then.
I'll buy you candies.
Deal!
DEMON-REPELLING PARASOL BLUEPRINT
Is this for Zhang Tai?
She just learned to use her spiritual veins.
I want to make her an artifact that she can use.
Did you design that fan as well?
The demon-repelling parasols
can protect the vulnerable ones.
But to seal more netherbeasts,
we'll have to reinforce the power contained in the artifact.
Once you're done,
I'll inject my power into it.
Your master is already head over heels.
Your master fell in love first.
As if she doesn't know she already has a fiancé.
-You… -Yes?
Your master did it first.
Look at him.
He developed feelings first.
No, your master couldn't control herself.
That's why they're stuck in this situation.
She couldn't control herself?
Your master is way too shameless.
That's why they are stuck.
Stop it, you two.
Actually,
I do have a request, Immortal Ji.
The fan used by Ming Xian is called Embers.
It is very powerful
and can be used to subdue netherbeasts.
Embers?
So, its name is Embers.
What a great name.
You want it back?
Can I?
Sure.
But I destroyed it already.
What?
Embers is my…
Ming Xian's most treasured artifact.
Do you have any idea how many netherbeasts it can defeat?
What does it have to do with me?
Ming Yi.
We are spouses who share a heart imprint
and had our names carved on the Marriage Stone.
You're impossible.
What did I say?
Look at your master.
Look. Open your eyes.
Hey.
Are you upset now?
Granny Xun. Quick. Help him.
Let me massage your dragon horns
-and save you. -Go away.
Brush your cat whiskers instead.
You sure you don't want to see how smitten your master is?
Are you sure?
My master couldn't control herself, you said.
We don't know what will happen
when we fight Mu Qibai,
but I will protect you.
However,
you must be prepared.
If I survive,
you will not be able to escape from me.
What if I say,
instead of you protecting me,
why don't we protect each other?
Xun Ming mentioned Heartbond Array in the Illusory Realm.
Ancient tomes also said
that it could seal netherbeasts.
During the netherbeast calamity a century ago,
it was the Heartbond Array that sealed them.
To use the array, the spellcasters must be of one mind and one heart.
If not,
they will be caught in self-immolation.
And it's precisely due to this high risk
that no one has practiced it since then.
If that's what we have to do,
then it's not that complicated.
After all,
we are of the same mind.
Aren't you in love with my niece?
What's love compared to power?
Princess Tianji is incapable of leading Jixing Abyss.
Even if I side with her,
we will only become fodder to the netherbeast army.
After I ascend the throne,
the position of Lord Hanfeng will be vacant.
In my opinion,
you are good enough to carry that title.
I promise you
that you will be a non-relative vassal,
the next Lord Hanfeng.
Thank you, Lord Hanfeng.
No.
Thank you, Your Majesty.
At ease.
Don't worry, Your Majesty.
Even though Tianji can wake her father up,
the divine enfeebling powder will still take effect.
Your Majesty can nonetheless accede legitimately.
Now that my brother has taken enough enfeebling powder,
fighting him during the Prayer Night is the best option.
Then, we'll declare that Jixing Abyss has a new emperor.
What do you think?
Wise choice, Your Majesty.
Lord Chengyun, you were gravely injured in Jixing Abyss.
Now that you have recovered slightly,
you came to my state in private.
Your emperor might just hold you accountable for your actions here.
I came
to negotiate with you, Your Majesty.
Negotiate?
How arrogant.
Your Majesty, surely you are aware…
THE TAMED TIDES, THE CLARIFIED FLOW
…that Jixing Abyss is in turmoil lately.
First, Your Majesty was misled
into underestimating
Ji Bozai's power in the Qingyun Tournament.
That already ruined your plan.
Then came Mu Qibai,
who sabotaged your years of effort in raising netherbeasts
and even caused the death of Lord Jingxi.
Jixing Abyss
is digging its own grave.
I am offering my help
to get rid of Jixing Abyss.
In exchange, I pray Your Majesty can aid me
in becoming the Crown Prince of Yaoguang Mountain.
My son, Chao Yu, died in Jixing Abyss.
Not only did Mu Qibai fail to disclose this to me,
but he even harbored the netherbeast core
in an attempt to go against me.
I confer this important item to you.
We'll see
if you can make good use of it.
It is my honor to serve you, Your Majesty.
You will not be disappointed,
for Jixing Abyss will be no more.
THE VERMILION ELYSIUM
The Prayer Night is upon Jixing Abyss.
In these three long nights, all plants will wilt.
After the Prayer Night, the cycle begins anew.
Everything shall be reborn.
The emperor uses his spiritual power as the foundation
to borrow the power of the stars before praying for all beings.
May the benevolent stars strengthen our power.
May the ones present live a long life.
May the light in Jixing Abyss shine for an eternity.
I pray to you, the benevolent stars.
I pray to you, the auspicious emperor.
-Excuse me. -This one is good.
-These ones are so pretty. -What about this one?
-Let me see the one on your wrist. -Look, lanterns.
Check this out.
-It's so pretty. -Let me see.
I love the color.
Look.
What is happening?
What is this?
Blessings to all beings!
Ming Yi.
Father,
are you all right?
Surprised?
Yuanfeng, you held the Prayer Night
so that you could fool everyone
into thinking that Jixing Abyss is as prosperous as always.
But you should know
that the superficial prosperity is meaningless.
What Jixing Abyss needs is real power.
Father!
Yuanfeng, you are poisoned.
When you invoked your poisoned power to pray,
you incurred a great curse.
Even the strongest warrior you have is powerless.
Lord Hanfeng is revolting.
Split into two teams.
One team to protect the subjects of Jixing Abyss.
One team to head to Jixing Palace with me.
-Noted. -Noted.
Yuanfeng,
sign on this Abdication Decree
with your blood
so that I can run Jixing Abyss.
Then, I'll end everything. What do you say?
You will be relieved of your heavy burden.
And I, as the only person in the Six Realms
who can command the netherbeasts,
will lead the netherbeast army
to conquer Zhushui Spiritual State.
Jixing Abyss will be one of the Upper Realms forever in the future.
Resist no more, Yuanfeng.
The divine enfeebling powder Yan Xiao gave you
is not an ordinary poison.
I did not wish to do this.
But your cowardice and risk aversion
turned what was strong into weak.
And the fitting ending for the weak
is death.
ABDICATION DECREE, HAND OVER THE CROWN TO LORD HANFENG, MU QIBAI
You said you're doing this for Jixing Abyss,
but the first thing you do is to sacrifice our people.
They are our subjects!
You will be feared momentarily
and hated for life.
Yuanfeng,
it doesn't seem like we'll ever reach a consensus.
Mu Qibai.
Sorry for the long wait.
Aren't you supposed to be…
Father, are you all right?
All of you are supposed to be poisoned.
One must deliberately fall for the trap
before one can catch the ringleader.
Mu Qibai asked me to add
the divine enfeebling powder to the emperor's medicine.
His Majesty will have a damaged constitution within two weeks.
And as His Majesty
uses his poisoned power to pray for everyone during the Prayer Night,
all beings will be poisoned.
Your decision to side with me seems final.
I thought it was just another part of your plan.
Mu Qibai commands the netherbeast army.
He is more likely to win. I did waver.
But rest assured, Ji.
I crave power, but I do have a principle.
I know
right from wrong.
I'm curious.
Why me, Yan?
Why not work with your childhood friend, Princess Tianji?
Mu Qibai
might be more terrifying than we imagined.
I must deceive Tianji too.
Otherwise, I won't be able to earn Mu Qibai's trust.
Ji,
if things do not turn out the way we anticipated,
please
do your best to protect Her Highness.
I suppose
there's no running away from the poison
Mu Qibai instructed you to put in us.
Uncle,
give up already.
Even if your plan works today,
your illegitimate coup d'état
will not convince everyone to follow you.
Yuanfeng has been ill for a long time.
His days are numbered,
but there is no clear heir in sight.
Jixing Abyss will have a leader.
I will carry this burden as long as I still live.
I run the Shouhua Academy.
I can make sure Jixing Abyss
rises to the Upper Realms without killing anyone.
I won't let Jixing Abyss return
to the days when it had to kowtow to others.
Preposterous.
How naive of you to think
that faith alone can make the other Five Realms submit to you.
Her Highness has her way.
She merely used faith to tell you
that one must lead a realm with principles.
Do not twist her words.
Why? Do you think she should learn from you,
who first colluded with Outer Realm
and now relies on a wild and volatile power?
You will only meet your own demise.
You know nothing.
Don't lose it.
Get in formation!
EMBRACE ALL SUMMITS AND SEAS emise.