Original subtitles

♪Chasing wind, I set out afar♪

♪The road ahead lost, my voice unheard♪

♪I've tasted joy and sorrow♪

♪Laying low, I plan every move♪

♪With a mortal heart and lingering ties♪

♪I'm roaming far and wide♪

♪A twist of fate in desperate times♪

♪A bond that outlives the dust of life♪

♪Still chasing what immortality means♪

♪Even eternity flashes by in a blink♪

♪Don't mock my ordinary life♪

♪I fight alone as chaos shakes the world♪

♪Don't scorn my humble roots♪

♪Kind at heart, ruthless when I must be♪

♪Fate stirs with joy and grief beneath♪

♪I hold the tide between life and death♪

♪Faith carries me through endless dark♪

♪And I return with a heart refined♪

♪Forged by trial, I rise through three realms♪

♪Reborn in the wheel of fate♪

[The Immortal Ascension]

[Adapted from the webnovel, The Immortal Ascension by Wangyu]

[serialized in www.qidian.com under China Literature Limited]

[Episode 5]

The cold poison is acting up more frequently now.

I must get my hands on the Sunwarm Jade today.

Who's there?

Li.

Who are you?

It's me,

Mo Caihuan.

Open the door.

Just you alone?

You don't look well.

Are you very sick?

How did you find me?

Anyone can see

that tall guard of yours.

What do you want?

Here.

Sunwarm Jade.

Use it to cure yourself.

Sunwarm Jade?

Impossible.

Don't worry.

This is the real Sunwarm Jade.

I won't cause you harm.

Li!

His poison runs deep.

Li.

Li.

You're awake.

Li.

Look.

It's truly a Sunwarm Jade.

Did I fall asleep just now?

Yes, you did.

I let out your blood just now to cure you.

It was all back at the start.

But now, it's red like normal blood.

You would still be unconscious, otherwise.

Let me do it.

How did you

get the jade?

They couldn't possibly let you have it.

Actually,

my mother and sister are good people.

They are often threatened by bad guys,

so they hope you can stay to protect them.

They do not harbor malice.

They just can't see

that Jiayuan City

isn't a place my father would stay in

let alone you.

Drink this now.

It's Chinese ginseng broth.

My father gave me the jade

as my dowry.

My sisters have their own dowries too.

But I told my mother

that I'd never

marry anyone.

Therefore, I have no use for it.

And this one here.

Thrombus Pill.

You like to heal people?

I've learned some from the books my father left behind.

Your father

was a great physician.

Alas,

he didn't want to be a physician.

He wanted to be an immortal.

Before this,

I did not believe

that the Sunwarm Jade was an excellent antidote.

Me neither.

Even though your father poisoned me,

I trusted him when he told me

that only the Sunwarm Jade

could save me.

No.

He wasn't

completely right.

You saved me.

Give me the jade.

I mean

I want to place it under the sun

to see if its color can be restored.

All right.

Keep it.

It's yours now.

You should keep it.

I

have a favor to ask.

Speak.

Who do you want killed?

It's not that.

I...

I want you

to take me with you.

Sorry, I can't do that.

Okay.

Why don't you

stay with the Mo Family for now?

If someone bothers them,

you can protect them.

Once I find a place to cultivate

and settle down,

I'll come and pick you up.

What do you think?

[Mo Residence]

♪The ripples disappear into the river♪

♪My robe is soaked under the drizzle♪

♪I drink alone as the moonlight melts with the liquor♪

[To Miss Mo]

♪The current flows swiftly, the mountains weigh heavily♪

♪The setting sun shines on the returning boats...♪

Miss Mo,

may this missive find you well.

I have left.

Qu Hun is a good friend of mine,

and a great disciple of your father's.

I entrust him to your hands.

He should scare those

who wish to give you trouble.

Please keep

the vial.

Take care.

♪The wind whispers to the forest♪

♪I wander into the dream under the clear galaxy♪

♪This journey that spans across the universe♪

♪Feels both familiar and unfamiliar♪

♪Looking at the various faces of our world♪

♪Each word, each utterance♪

♪Carries the hopes of a lifetime...♪

Li!

♪Let's make the present count and strive for a legacy♪

♪Reunion and departure, searching around♪

♪No one speaks the tongue I know♪

♪Sadness follows me like a shadow♪

♪I see the sky, the cloud, the moon, and the star♪

♪I see the wind and the rain♪

♪There's no need to ask when I will return♪

[Nangong Wan, Core Formation Stage, Moonshadow Sect]

Nichang.

Wan.

It's been 20 years.

[Nichang, Leader of Moonshadow Sect] You've finally left your cultivation.

Nichang,

what's new about the world?

What else could it be?

Just feuds

and conflicts.

Our grandmasters made the wise choice

to forbid us from intervening

in the mortal's affairs.

Indeed.

Some like to whine about how short life is.

But if they are given the opportunity to live longer,

who knows

what matter of oddity they will commit?

You know this

better than all of us.

So why did you leave the mountain to meddle in those affairs?

Be it the demon sects

or the dark cultivators,

they are endless.

You should focus on your cultivation

and ignore them.

You sure are indifferent, Nichang.

But I study the Maiden Cycle Technique.

It requires me to be at peace.

I hate strife

so I must

leave to intervene.

You never listen to me.

The mortal affairs are the most potent venom.

Make sure you don't get too involved.

Don't worry, Nichang.

I'm planning

to visit the six other sects first.

Then,

I'll check if they are dark cultivators and demon sects roaming about.

I'll be back soon.

Do not forget

that we are to host

the next Immortal Ascension Trials.

Worry not, Nichang.

Cultivators

[Tainan Valley] rarely appear in crowded places.

Where do they usually go?

Are there truly cultivators in Tainan Valley?

I want to see

what they see.

The valley a hundred li south of Jiayuan City

is shrouded by mists all year round.

According to the scroll, Tainan Valley

should be here.

[Wan Xiaoshan]

I am Wan Xiaoshan.

How may I address you?

Han Li.

Your name is Han Li, I see.

You're alone here.

You must be a rogue cultivator who wishes to enter Tainan Valley.

You know what?

Let's band up.

Band up?

Are you perhaps lost?

Han,

don't underestimate me.

Even though

I'm an elementary cultivator,

I know very well

how to get to Tainan Valley.

All right, then.

Let's travel together.

Lead the way.

Follow me.

What do you mean by a rogue cultivator?

Like us,

we do not belong to those seven sects like Moonshadow Sect

or hail from a cultivator clan like the Yans.

We cultivate alone

so we are the rogue cultivators.

He seems

to know quite a lot about cultivation.

Perhaps I can get more out of him.

Wan,

do you know of a way

to dispel the mist before us?

Han,

you must have only become a cultivator recently.

This misty barrier

only opens up once every 10 years.

If we can't enter the valley,

it means it is not the right moment yet.

Come.

Have some fruit.

They say

immortals do not eat rice.

They ingest wind and pebbles and drink morning dew.

That's not true then.

Only immortals

do that.

People like us

are called cultivators.

Immortals

live as long as the universe.

They live as long as the universe?

No wonder Physician Mo did everything to become one.

But considering our current cultivation progress,

we can only live a century at most.

That's not bad already.

It's open!

Wan.

Wan?

Come in.

Check out this Glacial Sword.

- Check out this Glacial Sword. - Advanced Ice Talisman.

Three gems for one talisman.

Check this out.

Wan,

this is...

This is Tainan Bazaar.

It

lasts for three days.

We're lucky

to run into its opening.

This is a fair price already.

20 gems.

Come. Take a look.

Come.

A century-old ironcoil snake.

It took me a lot to catch it.

Glacial Sword!

Check out my Glacial Sword.

20 gems for one.

Talisman.

Do you want any?

Take a look.

- Come. - Come take a look.

My friend,

come browse my wares.

- Come. - Advanced Ice...

Advanced Ice Talisman for three gems only.

Common items like these aren't very useful.

They are common?

You need gems to buy them. Do you have any?

Besides,

it's a rip-off.

Are gems

the currency

among cultivators?

Come on, Han.

As the name

suggests,

a gem is a stone filled with spiritual aura.

A good gem

is transparent and bright.

You can use it as a source of light.

This is already a very fair price.

Mine is not as good,

but it's

good enough to provide energy

for an array or to restore your spiritual power

after a battle.

Another rogue cultivator.

How many has it been?

Grandmaster,

this is the seventh.

Grandmaster,

I found this nearby.

Yan?

[Qing, Yu]

From the Yan Clan Stronghold?

[Yan]

Those clan disciples

love to bully rogue cultivators.

Enough.

Do not jump to conclusions before we investigate thoroughly.

Yes.

The barrier has been lifted.

The valley

is now filled with rogue and clan

disciples.

Both parties are not on good terms

so anything could happen.

Yu, Qing.

Dispatch more disciples

to guard the valley.

I don't want any accidents

before the Immortal Ascension Trials.

Understood.

Keen eyes, Miss.

The emerald stones embedded on the bracelet

come from

[Yan Ruyan] the eyes of a Grade 2 Twinhead Raven.

Well,

it's a bit

expensive.

500 gems.

500?

You might as well commit robbery.

- Do you know we are... - Enough.

Scarcity brings up the price.

Father will like this.

Miss, this is...

Take it.

Thank you, Miss.

I...

Thank the maker!

Stay there.

They are the ones who killed Liu.

Nonsense.

Foundation Establishment Stage?

A Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator is her guard.

Just who exactly is that woman?

Feng,

who said you could intervene?

[Feng] Forgive me, Miss Yan.

Your safety

dictates the continuity of Yan Clan Stronghold.

Master has instructed me

to prioritize your safety.

She's Yan Ruyan?

Yan Ruyan?

Is her family very famous?

Of course!

Her family is the top cultivation family in the Yue Kingdom.

The paterfamilias, Yan Yunshan,

is her father.

He's a cultivator in the Core Formation Stage.

Wan,

you know many things.

I'm so impressed.

He is so knowledgeable.

I should listen to him more.

Look.

I know everything about the cultivation world

in the Yue Kingdom.

Just ask me anything if you have questions.

Thank you,

Wan.

Just call me Xiaoshan.

Xiaoshan.

By the authority of the seven sects,

all troublemakers

will be disqualified from the trials

and expelled from Tainan Valley.

As this is your first offense,

I'll forgive you but don't do it again.

Leave right now.

She's holding the token

of a Core Formation Stage cultivator from the Moonshadow Sect.

Miss Ruyan,

Grandmaster Nangong would like to see you.

What is the meaning of this?

Grandmaster Nangong?

Is your sect challenging Yan Clan Stronghold

for a few rogue cultivators?

Cease your impertinence, Feng.

Withdraw for now.

I will be back in a moment.

Han,

come.

What a day.

I saw a Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator serving as a guard

and also a token from a Core Formation Stage cultivator.

There is always

someone more powerful than the powerful ones.

If you see them

in the future, Han,

you run away.

Run away?

Let's go.

I'll show you around.

Thank you so much,

Xiaoshan.

No worries at all.

Rogue cultivators are like my brothers.

If you have further...

Are you all right?

Are you all right?

I'm fine.

Thank you.

Look where you're going.

Okay.

You sure are stealthy, my friend.

But

[Daoist Qingwen] I suggest

you return the pouch to its owner.

[Hu Pinggu] Didn't you promise

to stop stealing?

[Wu Jiuzhi]

Xiaoshan,

it seems like we have thieves among the cultivators too.

He took your pouch first.

I merely grabbed some interest on your behalf.

Isn't it fair?

You...

I

just wanted to borrow it.

I didn't say I wouldn't return it.

Give it back.

Give it back.

Give it back!

He took my things and won't give them back.

You two

should check if your personal effects are intact.

That's right.

This happens on the Azure Vein Society's territory.

Our leader

will intervene.

You belong to the Azure Vein Society?

Qingwen is my Dharma name.

This is my peer, Hu Pinggu.

My friend,

since you've heard of my society,

will you be so kind

as to look past what the thief did?

It feels like you're reciting lines.

Is this perhaps a premeditated ruse?

Han,

Daoist Qingwen is known for his heroic deeds

among the rogue cultivators.

We have not suffered any losses.

Let's just move on.

Everything's fine.

Everything's fine.

Let's go, Han.

Give back the pouch.

Thank you.

My friends,

Wu Jiuzhi is mischievous,

but he bears no ill intention.

If he did offend you,

I

apologize

on his behalf.

That's right.

- We crossed paths today. - These two

are either crooks...

How may I...

- or fraudsters. - address you two?

I should stay away from them.

You're too courteous, sir.

I am Wan Xiaoshan.

This is my friend, Han Li.

And he exposed my name just like that.

You look like

you're here for the trials.

Our society

has rented a venue nearby

to discuss the trials

with other rogue cultivators.

Would you like

to join us?

Of course.

Grandmaster,

Miss Ruyan from the Yan Clan Stronghold is here.

I'm Yan Ruyan of the Yan Clan Stronghold.

Greetings, Grandmaster Nangong.

I was told you brought a lot of guards

to Tainan with you.

Grandmaster Nangong,

while I can't speak for other prestigious families,

I can reassure you

that my guards have never left my side

ever since I set foot in Tainan.

My family has nothing to do

with the disappearance of rogue cultivators.

You keep yourself abreast with the goings-on.

But how do you explain this?

[Yan]

We found this

next to a dead rogue cultivator.

Grandmaster Nangong,

a female attendant of mine

had her token stolen

since we entered Tainan.

Someone is obviously trying to frame me.

Have you decided on which sect to join?

Grandfather recommended Spirit Beast Mountain many times.

But I prefer the Moonshadow Sect.

You have better taste than your grandfather.

All right. You may return.

Be prepared for the trials tomorrow.

Grandmaster,

judging from those brash rogue cultivators just now,

they were clearly manipulated by someone else.

Yet Yan Clan Stronghold

does not make enemies often.

Do you know

who is trying to frame us?

In my opinion,

Yan Clan Stronghold is not the only target.

Your behavior

does not merely represent your family,

but also other clan disciples

like you.

Someone is trying to exacerbate the divide

between the clan disciples and rogue cultivators.

I shall take my leave.

Grandmaster.

I can't let Spirit Beast Mountain

take away a smart girl like her.

My friends,

this is our base.

Welcome aboard!

We are a family of rogue cultivators.

Welcome!

Welcome!

Welcome.

Welcome.

- Welcome. - Welcome.

Welcome.

- Thank you, sir. - Thank you, sir.

[Map]

This is a map of the Yue Kingdom.

I chanced upon this map

and found it intriguing.

You can find

all seven sects on it.

That's the Moonshadow Sect.

That's the Spirit Beast Mountain.

That's the Saber-Shearing Sect.

That's the Clear Void Sect.

Skyfort Castle.

That's the Yellow Maple Valley.

That's the Giant Sword Sect.

These seven cultivating sects

are generally abbreviated as the seven sects.

They survived a fierce battle

1,000 years ago

in the Yue Kingdom.

Then,

where is Yan Clan Stronghold?

Yan Clan Stronghold.

Here.

[Yan Clan Stronghold] That's the Yan Clan Stronghold.

- Yes. - That's right.

There.

Yes.

There.

Then,

where do rogue cultivators belong?

We...

We're not on this map.

I might even say

that we won't have a place in the Yue Kingdom either.

Enough, Qingwen.

We brought them here

to discuss the trials.

Why bring this up?

I'm sorry.

Some rogue cultivators have gone missing lately.

Some are also left stranded...

Qingwen.

What are they trying to achieve?

They never finish their sentence,

and that only diverts more attention to them.

We're cultivating as well.

How come some were born

with access to so many resources,

while we

have to risk our lives

for a Foundation Pill?

Exactly.

That's unfair.

A Foundation Pill?

What is that?

You cannot not know this.

A Foundation Pill

can help a cultivator to get to the Foundation Establishment Stage

from the Qi Refining Stage.

Qi Refining Stage?

Which stage am I in?

If you're just starting out,

you're in the Qi Refining Stage.

And then?

Listen carefully.

In the world of cultivation,

all stages can be divided into

lower level, middle level,

and upper level.

The lower level stages include

the Qi Refining Stage,

the Foundation Establishment Stage,

the Core Formation Stage,

the Nascent Soul Stage,

and the Spirit Transformation Stage.

The middle level stages

are

the Void Refining Stage,

the Body Unity Stage,

and the Great Ascension Stage.

The upper level stage

only has

the Tribulation Transcendence Stage.

If you ascend from this stage,

you can

become an immortal

and live as long as the universe.

But these are just myths.

No one has seen anyone above

the Nascent Soul Stage.

Is it very difficult

to get a Foundation Pill?

It's not just difficult to get one.

The pill

determines the fate of a cultivator,

and by extension,

the future of a sect.

Therefore,

in the past, the seven sects

and the prestigious families

had a monopoly over the pills.

They have all the pills.

Until the trials came along.

Han,

at a glance, the trials

give you a chance

to enter the seven sects.

But in reality,

everyone is after the pills.

500 years ago,

a veteran rogue cultivator

gathered thousands of other rogue cultivators

to negotiate with the seven sects.

Thanks to them, we now have a chance to compete fairly

against disciples of prestigious clans

to enter the seven sects.

And as a result,

we also become their enemies.

But let's be frank.

We rogue cultivators do not have access to many things.

And those who hail from a prestigious clan

can feed their disciples with tons of elixirs.

How is this fair?

Yes, that's not fair.

Uneven distribution of resources.

No wonder

they hate

the clan disciples.

Have you found anything about the rogue cultivators?

Several men are following

the core members as we speak.

The leader is a man called Qingwen.

He has only attained Tier 11 of the Qi Refining Stage,

but he is a great speaker.

He has many followers

among the rogue cultivators.

Keep a close eye on him.

Let me know

if anything happens.

Yes.

My friends,

the seven sects will put us through two trials.

The first one

is the spirit root trial tomorrow.

The second one

is the Tianwu Arena trial tomorrow.

The Tianwu Arena trial

is very dangerous.

Therefore,

we must secure a spot

in tomorrow's trial first.

A spirit root

comes in

five elements: metal, wood, water,

fire, and earth.

You know it already.

- Metal, wood, water, fire, and earth. - Mortals do not have a spirit root

so they cannot cultivate.

The more spirit roots you have,

the worse you progress.

Those who have four or five spirit root elements

can sense the spiritual aura around us.

Yet they can only reach

Tier 3 or Tier 4 in their lives at most.

We call this

a fake spirit root.

- Fake spirit root? - Fake spirit root?

Those who have two or three spirit root elements

have

a true spirit root.

Sir,

what if the spirit root comes with only one element?

Then, it is an exceptionally rare heavenly spirit root

A cultivator with that gift

has earned the favor of the maker.

His progress

will defy comprehension.

I see. Cultivation is deeply tied to one's talent.

In that case, do I have a true spirit root

or a fake spirit root?

Physician Mo never told me.

I hope I have the heavenly spirit root.

There are only limited spots

for those who wish to enroll in the seven sects

through the spirit root trial.

People from the prestigious clan

will do what they can to take our spots

in the seven sects.

They wish to impede our cultivation.

So, power speaks the loudest

in the cultivation world.

Tier 1 to Tier 13.

It is the complete set of Longevity Art.

Interested?

Pay up.

How much?

Nine gems.

[Meng Wu]

Nine gems?

That's too expensive.

Tier 10 of the Qi Refining Stage?

Now you've seen what I can do.

Pay up.

Little girl,

I do want to buy

this book.

But nine gems is too expensive.

Can I ask for a better price?

How much are you offering?

Two?

Da.

Er.

San.

Si.

Come!

Is this the guy?

That's right.

He read our book

but refused to pay.

I'm selling it for nine gems.

But he only offered two.

[Meng Da, Meng Si]

What in the daylight robbery!

[Meng San, Meng Er]

What?

How did you know we were robbers

before we started cultivating?

- How did you know? - How did you know?

We quit many years ago.

How did you know?

Speak up.

Everyone,

this sign means two

strengthening pills

for your book.

What do you think?

Give me

the book.

Stand there.

You can't leave.

I gave you the pills.

What else do you want?

Your pills...

You overpaid.

Yes.

Yes.

You can have the Longevity Art book.

This mega mystic pouch

is a gift for you as well.

It's a gift.

The Five Mengs

are righteous!

Indeed.

Indeed.

Farewell.

No need to see me off!

No need!

The pills

are more useful than gems.

Lucky for me, I brought extra when I left

Shenshou Valley.

And now,

I also have a mystic pouch.

I no longer have to bring many bags with me.

For your fragment of a magic item,

I'll buy it for five low-grade gems.

What do you think?

No.

[Han Yunzhi] It is nonetheless

a fragment from a Core Formation Stage cultivator's magic item.

You keep promoting it.

What can it do

exactly?

It's very useful.

Look.

I...

I can use that fragment

to hide the Green Vial.

It is a fragment of a magic item, all right.

But it's

[Lu Mingyuan] too small.

You know what?

Given you also have a cute face,

I will offer

one strengthening pill.

Mister Lu,

[Chen Qiaoqian, Chen Rong] you're taking advantage of her.

I offer six gems.

Can I have it?

I offer seven gems.

Eight gems.

Okay.

Eight gems, it is.

Sorry.

I was just joking around.

[Chen Mu] Me too.

Besides, Miss.

Your fragment

truly isn't worth that much.

Miss.

Don't go.

They don't want it, but I do.

One gem.

I offer one gem.

I'm asking for seven gems.

All of you...

Is anyone else interested?

I don't think anyone else is bidding.

Anyone?

Two vials of Golden Marrow Pill

for your fragment of a magic item, please.

Please don't tell me you're joking around too.

Deal.

My friend,

why are you doing this?

You ruined my negotiation for no reason at all.

You think you can leave?

But

I bought this fragment

with a fair price.

Isn't this a fair trade?

Fine.

Let me teach you

what fairness means.

♪Shards of dreams inside a dream♪

♪A pale moon falls into mirrored skies♪

♪Years slipped by as I lingered on♪

♪Old scenes rise again♪

♪Too hard to forget♪

♪Easier just to miss♪

♪They say the past fades like smoke♪

♪But looking back still stirs the ache♪

♪This noisy world, this lonely page♪

♪Swept away by time♪

♪Eyes once looked far♪

♪Now lost in the shift♪

♪Autumn winds stir♪

♪Smoke curls once more♪

♪Like clouds on the edge of sky♪

♪Returning to my eyes♪

♪Looking back from the mountaintop♪

♪Time lost its name♪

♪Was it yesterday♪

♪Or tomorrow?♪

♪The world has changed♪

♪Beyond recall♪

♪Time will fade♪

♪All the words ever spoken♪

♪Only this longing remains♪

♪Crossing centuries and days♪

♪In a fleeting moment we call eternity♪

♪In a fleeting moment called eternity♪