Original subtitles

[A Moment But Forever]

[Episode 2]

Just you wait.

This is just the beginning.

Yuanzhong,

we'll be back!

Could this be the War Demons'

possessing technique?

Go to Tianqu Peak and find Elder Dingxu now!

-Got it. -Got it.

Yuanzhong,

my name is Ji Tanyin,

the God of Craft in the Divine Realm.

Your Divine Left Hand

was forged by me.

Deity Taihe fell into a long slumber

due to the loss of his Divine Hand.

Yet you use the power of the Divine Hand

to harm living beings.

You don't deserve to be the host of the Divine Hand.

Today,

I shall reclaim the Divine Left Hand.

You will die for this.

But don't hold a grudge.

This is the so-called karma.

What goes around comes around.

You deserve it.

Let's begin.

[Hall of Elders]

[Dingxu, Grand Elder of the Youhu Clan]

[Xinyao, Elder of the Youhu Clan]

[Lv Chengshi, Elder of the Youhu Clan]

[Lord Wenying, Elder of the Youhu Clan]

Long time no see.

Good morning, guys.

Morning? More like late!

The meeting was scheduled for around 8 AM.

But it's already 2 PM now.

I even deliberately

set off two hours late,

but when I got here,

I was surprisingly the first to arrive!

Lord Wenying, you're always punctual.

I really respect that.

[Baili Xiang, Elder of the Youhu Clan]

Oh, Senior Cheng

is sleeping soundly.

Have you had enough sleep?

Dingxu,

it's already so late!

The no-shows are probably not coming.

If you have something to say, just say it.

Yeah, Grand Elder.

The Elder Council hasn't convened for years.

I was surprised to receive

the news last night.

What exactly could be so important

to gather all of us here?

Grand Elder,

please just tell us.

You usually live far apart.

It's inconvenient for you to travel here.

Were it not for an urgent issue,

I wouldn't have bothered you.

However, today's case

is indeed pretty weird.

What exactly is it?

Go get Tanghua here.

Yes.

[Divine Realm]

Tanyin, why are you back?

Something's confusing me.

So I'd like to ask Hannv about it.

Your body is still in the mortal realm,

yet your soul is here.

That's not safe, I'm afraid.

Don't worry.

Is she inside?

Hannv has been in the Luofu Sea all along.

That place is the realm of Supreme Yin.

Guarding there for too long

is not good for her health.

Please go and try to persuade her.

[Luofu Sea]

[Hannv, Goddess of Embroidery, Immortal Race]

[Taihe, Primordial God, Immortal Race]

Hannv.

Tanyin!

Welcome back.

How is it?

Not good.

Taihe's taking a turn for the worse.

His primordial power

is gradually dissipating.

The Supreme Yin power of the Luofu Sea

can't sustain him for much longer.

What brings you back all of a sudden?

Is that High Priest of the Youhu Clan

a hard nut to crack?

There's something I can't figure out.

What is it?

I wanna ask you

if the High Priest of the Youhu Clan

is really a brutal man.

Why would you ask this?

I saw him.

And he seems different

from what everyone says.

Besides,

he's always wearing a golden hoop.

That's a sealing artifact.

I don't understand.

Isn't he the High Priest of the Youhu Clan

and the ruler of the mortal realm?

Why is he wearing a shackle?

Why do you care about this?

Of course I care.

If my guess is right,

then what we know

might all be false.

Maybe he's a weak man,

or maybe he's a good guy.

Is a weak person necessarily good?

Does wearing shackles prevent one from doing evil?

Perhaps just because

he committed too many evil deeds,

he was put under a seal

and bound with a restraining artifact.

You have a point, but...

But what?

Even if he is a good person,

so what?

The Divine Left Hand doesn't belong to him.

His taking possession of the divine artifact is a sin.

Deity Taihe is the Primordial God,

the law of heaven

chosen by the primordial power.

He's the guardian of all realms,

yet fell into a long slumber due to demon slaying.

Therefore,

whether that High Priest of the Youhu Clan

is good or evil,

righteous or wicked,

you have only one choice.

Tanyin,

Taihe has waited for too long.

Please help us.

That's not the way it works, Hannv.

The gods protect all living beings

with compassion for them.

Deliver them from torment.

All beings are equal.

All things are equal.

But maybe you're right.

The weak are not necessarily good.

Even those in shackles

may not be incapable of evil.

So I will get to the bottom of it.

What are you doing?

Just taking a break.

Early spring is the time

when animals in the mountains like snakes

are awakening.

You need to be careful.

What's wrong?

I've been poisoned, I guess.

It's alright.

I'm an immortal.

A snake bite won't kill me.

I'm here for you.

Greetings, Elders.

Tanghua,

it was your subordinate who got killed.

You've been investigating all night.

Did you find out anything?

Before Chiyi died, his eyes were blood-red,

his strength was immense,

and it seemed as if blood snakes were crawling under his skin

with faint incantations appearing on it.

More importantly,

he completely lost his mind,

like he had become a whole different person.

All of these signs

remind me of a possibility.

I suspect

he was affected by the possessing technique.

What?

Nonsense.

The possessing technique is a secret skill

of the War Demons,

Yet the War Demons have long since died out.

How could anyone fall victim to it nowadays?

I remember back then

we studied the possessing technique.

The possession

always happened on the target's birthday.

At that time, we analyzed

that this kind of unnatural evil technique

must have some limitations.

Blood and birth information

could all be

significant factors.

If it's true as you say

that Chiyi was hit by the possessing technique,

then yesterday

should be Chiyi's birthday.

Elder Xinyao's words make sense.

I've thought about this too.

But since the emergence of the evil possessing technique,

our people

have no longer celebrated birthdays.

One's birth information

has become everyone's personal secret.

Chiyi has no family.

Neither do I know

his exact date and time of birth.

The incident happened in the Liujiao Palace.

What did the High Priest say about it?

The High Priest was frightened last night

and rested early.

He didn't say much to me.

Frightened?

The High Priest is someone

who could even break through Pinghu Xianzhou with one blow.

Could this small case

possibly frighten him?

In this world,

no one

knows the War Demons better than him.

Then let's invite the High Priest here.

Yes.

What is this?

It knocked me out yesterday.

I-It didn't knock you out.

It's because

it contains a strong alcoholic scent.

So it makes people intoxicated.

A good sleep

is the first step to welcoming good fortune.

Aren't you maids

supposed to be training at Xiaoxiang Peak?

How did you end up here?

There was a big dog over there,

chasing after people.

I got scared and took a wrong turn.

There are no dogs on Fangwai Mountain.

How could there be

no dogs on such a huge mountain？

Perhaps it ran here from somewhere else.

You just don't know that.

Let me apply some medicine for you.

Where is it?

I remember I've got some.

Found it.

That's it. This medicine is super effective.

What's that?

It's a portable cosmic bag.

A portable cosmic bag?

Isn't that the personal artifact

of Goddess Wushuang, the God of Craft?

They say the crafting method has long been lost.

How do you have one?

Lost?

Actually, it's quite simple.

This is just an ordinary artifact.

Don't you immortals also have

spells for telekinesis?

It's the same principle.

-But... -Yuanzhong!

Yuanzhong.

The Council of Elders sent a messenger here,

asking you to go over.

What's wrong?

Nothing.

I just got bitten by a snake.

You're Ji Tanyin, right?

How do you know that?

Of course I know.

Don't you know who I am?

No, I don't.

Then you're stupid.

Grand Elder,

the High Priest said

he hasn't finished his studies for today,

so he can't come.

He asked me to pass on a message to you.

He said

all the War Demons were wiped out in Pinghu

with no survivors.

Anyone who doubts this

for any reason

must be up to something

and should be thoroughly investigated.

Go investigate Ji Tanyin.

Like her birth details,

background,

life experiences,

hobbies, and interests.

I wanna know everything.

Why? Does she work for Dingxu?

Doesn't seem like it.

Then is she a spy sent by the human race?

Not sure yet.

She couldn't be

sent by the War Demons, right?

The Elders' meeting should be over.

Tanghua must be furious.

No way...

He's a petty simpleton.

That's true.

Tanyin, you're back.

We need to go to the Teaching Hall after dinner.

Tomorrow is the day for the immortal elders

of each peak to select their maids.

We need to draw lots in advance

to determine the order.

Select maids?

Tomorrow?

I know I'm asking for too much.

This is my own affair.

I should handle it myself.

God,

please bless me.

[Youhu Clan's Xiaoxiang Peak]

Remember the rules

of the grand selection.

You will go in

and wait for instructions.

Whether you stay or leave

depends on your fate.

Madam, aren't coming in with us?

It's about time. You may go in.

-Yes, Madam. -Yes, Madam.

Well, Lord Wenying,

how weird.

You don't indulge in women,

nor do you accept female disciples.

Why are you here today

to select maids?

The old cook has aged,

and the new one is clumsy,

making food like swill.

It is a top priority.

I heard that these human maids

are proficient in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting.

Not to mention their top-class needlework and cooking.

Hope you choose a good one for yourself.

Baili, Lord Wenying,

Elder Xinyao.

Tanghua, you are now

one of the Elders.

No need to be so formal.

Have you finished arranging Chiyi's funeral?

You seem to have quite some free time.

Tanghua, take a seat.

It's about to begin.

The High Priest has arrived!

No wonder you're here.

-High Priest. -High Priest.

What a rare sight.

Even you have joined us today.

Seems like these maid candidates

are quite fortunate.

You're late, High Priest.

I suppose you must have been held up

by some fair maid.

Indeed.

These human women

mostly don't cultivate the Dao.

They just pursue beauty.

Lord Wenying, you're getting on in years

with a dignified appearance.

You surely don't know my troubles.

High Priest,

Elder Dingxu is swamped with work.

So he's asked me to preside over this year's

maid selection ceremony.

Therefore, today's main examination

will follow the old rules.

We will test the four arts—music, chess, calligraphy, and painting.

You wanna be a maid in the Liujiao Palace?

Can you really pass

the maid assessment?

Though calligraphy and painting are not my forte,

I think I should be able to pass.

I know little about music.

But I can cheat a little.

I only don't know what to do with chess.

You've come to the right person.

In all six realms, when it comes to chess,

if I rank second,

no one dares to claim they're first.

Then

I'll be counting on you, Mr. Loong.

This round of assessment

will test your chess skills.

You'll play against each other in pairs.

The losers will be eliminated.

Let's begin.

Please give me a minute to think.

The same old opening moves

in chess.

A thousand years have passed,

yet the human chess players

haven't improved much.

Just for this one move,

is it necessary to think for so long?

You...

What a brilliant move!

With such amazing chess skills,

she could have

ended this game quickly.

Why is she putting on a show

and dragging it out like this?

Perhaps she wants to attract

our attention.

Although we're the ones selecting,

they also have their preferences

for which immortal elder to serve and follow.

I lost.

Good game.

High Priest,

do you know her?

I've met her a few times.

No wonder you graced us with your presence.

Turns out you've got

someone in mind.

The first round is over.

Winners, go prepare

for the next test,

music skills.

That is a smooth

and lingering melody.

Excellent.

Next.

Ji Tanyin.

We've prepared an instrument here.

I'm used to playing my own instrument.

Sheng Xiang,

all music masters

prefer to use their own instruments.

Let her use it.

I need to tune it.

Those of you who have made it this far

are all exceptionally skilled

and outstanding candidates.

I want to congratulate you in advance

on your stay.

Thank you, Immortal Elder.

For this final round,

you can choose

to showcase your best talents.

If you're fortunate enough to be picked by an immortal elder,

you'll have the chance to cultivate under their guidance.

This is a great opportunity.

Cherish it well.

-Yes, sir. -Yes, sir.

[Forbidden Land] [Into the land, into the doom.]

There's an intruder! Stay alert!

What's your talent?

I am a craftsman.

Craftsman?

What does a craftsman do?

A concept from the human realm.

Just an artisan.

They're good at making things like carriages,

tables, chairs,

household items, and decorations.

What kind of talent is that?

Don't tell me you're going to

build a carriage right here, huh?

I can, actually.

But the space here

doesn't seem big enough.

Besides, building a carriage

doesn't require much skill.

So what are you going to demonstrate?

I can unlock this.

Lord Wenying,

if I remember correctly,

it was you who made this batch

of Two-Form Immobilizing Bracelets.

That's true.

I made them.

Young lady,

are you serious?

The Two-Form Immobilizing Bracelet

is made of immortal gold,

containing a binding formation.

They are divine artifacts of our clan.

How could a mere craftsman like you

unlock them so easily?

Are you...

How did you do that?

Everything in nature has strengths and weaknesses.

There's no such thing

as an indestructible object.

Although immortal gold is tough,

it also has vulnerabilities.

Moreover, human craftsmanship

isn't limited to making

household items and decorations only.

What do you think, High Priest?

What are you trying to say?

This Two-Form Immobilizing Bracelet

is just a minor artifact

with simple craftsmanship.

Why not let me try something else?

What else do you want to unlock?

The shackle around your neck, High Priest.

I'd like to give it a try.

What did you just say?

I said I want to try

if I can open that shackle.

How dare you!

This golden hoop

was finely forged with the combined efforts

of our entire clan

and specially presented to the High Priest.

Don't speak nonsense!

Restraint and confinement make a lock.

Binding and imprisonment make shackles.

It's just a tool to restrict freedom

and curb power!

You make it sound so nice,

but why don't you wear it yourself?

You...

You're not wrong.

This was indeed forged for me

by the Elders of my clan.

But you only see a shackle

without seeing the deeper meaning.

Haven't you heard of that?

"Throwing one into a deadly place of no return

will make him or her stronger."

This is from your human military strategy.

I find it quite reasonable.

The Tao Te Ching also says,

"Reduce again and again until you reach non-action.

Through non-action, you can achieve everything.

Those who know and outdo themselves

are enlightened and strong."

You see it as a shackle,

but I see it

as a ladder of greatness and success

to climb.

If it's not a shackle,

do you dare to let me unlock it?

Sure.

High Priest!

Do you really think

a mere human girl

can open this golden hoop?

Well...

Come on,

give it a try.

Yuanzhong!

How is it?

This is no ordinary craftsmanship.

I can't unlock it for now.

Recognizing your shortcomings

is also a kind of gain.

This girl is so bold

that she's even hurt you, High Priest.

I'll take her away for punishment.

Don't bother.

It's nothing but a minor injury.

I like this girl.

Let her join my Liujiao Palace.

No way...

Why not?

Isn't she the one you selected?

Tell me, Ji Tanyin.

Would you like to join my Liujiao Palace

as a maid

to follow and serve me?

Yes, I'd like to.

Yuanzhong, you brat.

Go to hell.

Stop!

There you are.

The end draws near; desperation haunts.

The end draws near; desperation haunts.

The end draws near; desperation haunts.

The end draws near; desperation haunts.

The end draws near; desperation haunts.

The end draws near; desperation haunts.

The end draws near; desperation haunts.

Xiazhi!

Zi Fei, what did you do?

He's gone mad,

trying to kill the High Priest!

Shouldn't I kill him?

Xiazhi...

Xiazhi...

What did his last words mean?

Did anyone understand?

The end draws near;

desperation haunts.

High Priest.

You're here.

You look upset.

Is it because General Xiazhi

was possessed today?

Do you know what possession is?

I've heard about it.

It's a method that the War Demons use

to control others.

As long as they know the person's name

and date of birth,

they can use sorcery to manipulate them,

making them live

or die at will.

That's an extremely vicious mean.

You seem to know quite a bit.

Are there just the two of us

on Yuquan Peak?

Zi Fei's usually here too,

but not tonight.

They've got me

a new one.

Can you still remove it?

They've changed the restriction slightly.

I need to work on it a bit more.

Your craftsmanship is impressive.

What a pity I couldn't remove yours.

Mine?

Mine isn't so easy to remove.

It looks a bit heavy.

It's actually way heavier than it looks.

Then why do you always wear it?

Too many onlookers during the day.

But now you can tell the truth.

Because it looks good.

Don't you feel uncomfortable with it?

Not at all.

But it has already

cut your neck.

For the sake of beauty,

a little sacrifice

is inevitable.

It's getting late. You may leave now.

My method is not feasible for my dad.

But the Youhu Clan also has a secret way to longevity.

The elixir of immortality

concocted by Grand Elder Dingxu

has miraculous effects on our clan.

Can we

ask the Youhu Clan for it directly?

They won't give it to us.

We need to find a way

to remove this thing.

There's someone

who might be able to help us.

The end draws near; desperation haunts.

Is this the phrase you heard?

I'm sure.

Have the War Demons really come back?

Nonsense!

Everyone can say a few mottos of the War Demons!

What does that prove?

Exactly.

In that battle at Pinghu,

the War Demons all died right before us.

We all witnessed it ourselves.

If you don't believe others,

you should at least trust your own eyes!

The War Demons at Pinghu did die out.

But who can guarantee

that they don't have other clan members

who hid elsewhere and survived?

If they're still alive,

why have they been silent for years?

Our clan and the humans

have searched everywhere

yet found nothing.

The world is vast.

Are you sure you haven't missed anything?

Tanghua,

it's a man of your troops who died again.

Do you have anything to say?

I have no idea.

It's the War Demons.

That's right.

It's them.

Lord Wenying,

what did you say? Speak up.

I said it's the War Demons!

It must be them!

I saw the possessing technique

on the battlefield with my own eyes.

It's exactly the same as what happened to Xiazhi!

They've returned.

The War Demons have come back!

Clam down, Lord Wenying.

This hasn't been confirmed yet.

It'll be too late if we wait for confirmation!

The High Priest...

Dingxu,

you should remove the High Priest's...

Silence!

Everything's just speculation at this point.

We shouldn't lose our composure, right?

This matter requires further investigation.

Since two men of the troops lost their minds,

all soldiers shall disarm

and submit to questioning.

Baili Xiang,

I'm entrusting this to you.

Understood.

No one is allowed to disturb

the High Priest's cultivation

until we find out the truth.

Do you understand?

-Yes. -Yes.

Are you Elder Lv Chengshi of Quantan Mountain?

Yes, it's me.

I have something important to ask you.

You must tell me everything you know.

Yes.

Isn't the High Priest of the Youhu Clan

the hero of your people?

He defeated the War Demons.

Why did you still put

the restraining golden hoop on him?

What exactly happened?

Tell me the truth.

That incident happened 60 years ago,

right after the Battle of Pinghu.

[60 years ago]

What is this?

This golden hoop can seal

the Divine Left Hand,

depriving you of the divine power,

and you'll become mortal again.

Yuanzhong,

you are the hero who wiped out the War Demons,

the savior who rescued countless people

from suffering.

You are our High Priest.

We admire and love you.

This won't change

whether you have divine power or not.

Besides,

the Divine Left Hand is a divine artifact

feeding on life force.

You're nurturing it with a mortal body.

You may be able to endure it for a while,

but over time,

it might backfire on you.

I can already control it.

Please rest assured on this, Grand Elder.

You don't understand.

There's another reason.

You were blessed to hold a divine artifact,

saving all living beings from disaster

and accumulating immense merit.

With such a rare encounter,

have you ever thought about transcending mortality

and ascending to deity?

Ascending to deity?

The celestial ladder has been destroyed.

The Gate of Heaven is closed.

In this world,

no one can ascend to heaven and become a god anymore.

Is that so?

But he doesn't know.

He hasn't thought about it.

He really hasn't thought about it.

That's true...

He really didn't.

As expected.

Yes, you didn't think about it.

Even though you were

just one step away from the deity,

you couldn't make it.

Grand Elder,

I don't understand.

You think I could become a god?

Of course.

You are the host of the Divine Left Hand,

possessing power comparable to that of gods.

You've also completely annihilated the War Demons,

achieving numerous accomplishments.

Who in history

could be compared to you?

Why couldn't you become a god?

But I haven't...

It's because you can't get rid of the Five Sins.

You're deeply stuck in worldly desires,

unable to transcend.

The Five Sins?

That's right.

Hypocrisy,

obsession,

ignorance,

jealousy,

and cruelty.

All evil in the world

stems from these.

All people are stuck in these,

and you are no exception.

You've made great achievements at such a young age,

but unfortunately, your mind is too simple.

You haven't experienced the trials of the mortal world,

without a firm resolve.

How can you ascend?

Only by sealing the divine artifact,

comprehending the world with a mortal body,

and solving the Five Sins thoroughly,

will you have the chance to obtain deity.

I don't understand.

He's your High Priest!

Why are you treating him like this?