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 26]

Qu Hun,

where are you?

♪Shards of dreams inside a dream♪

♪A pale moon falls into mirrored skies♪

♪Years slipped by as I lingered on♪

♪Old scenes rise again...♪

Found you.

♪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...♪

Why?

Why is spiritual power

from the Tier 5 or Tier 6 of the Qi Refining Stage radiating from him?

Zhang Tie,

is that you?

Have you come back?

Blockhead!

Blockhead!

Where have you been?

♪Time will fade♪

♪All the words ever spoken♪

♪Only this longing remains♪

♪Crossing centuries and days...♪

Is this real?

Zhang Tie,

is it really you?

Have you come back?

Father!

Father!

Come here, darling.

Good girl.

Is that medicine for your mother?

- She fell asleep after lunch. - Good girl.

Is that so?

He's not Zhang Tie.

Who is he?

You're certainly good at playing the part.

Who are you?

Who are you?

That's my question.

I don't understand what you're saying.

Is that so?

You've taken someone else's body.

That woman and child

aren't yours either.

So, I'll ask you again.

Who are you?

You know me?

To be honest with you,

I've forgotten everything

since I fell off that cliff five years ago.

I don't remember my name,

or why I'm here.

But I keep hearing a friend calling out to me.

Over and over, he calls my name,

yet I just can't remember.

There's something important I must have forgotten.

Why?

Why can't I remember?

Why?

Why can't I remember?

Why can't I remember?

I just can't seem to recall…

Zhang Tie,

don't be like this.

It's not your fault.

Zhang Tie?

My name is Zhang Tie?

You really aren't Zhang Tie.

There's no way you could be.

Though, you are very much like him.

Watching you eat,

work the forge,

even the way you talk…

I almost believed

he had come back.

But a person's eyes

never lie.

Yours are cold and calculating.

You couldn't possibly be him.

So what?

Why does it matter to you?

His life-bound artifact

is with you?

This body isn't yours.

Get out of it!

Dear,

what's going on?

Father.

Did you hear something?

There was a stray cat

sneaking up on our duckling.

We chased it away.

Dear.

And who is our guest?

He's a friend

who came looking for me.

Kept insisting I make him a new set of weapons.

I've already turned him down several times.

That's right.

I hope I didn't disturb you,

Ma'am.

Not at all.

Please, come in.

No need.

We'll just have a quick word,

then I'll be on my way.

Yue, help your mother back to her room.

Close the door. It's windy.

Go on.

- Hurry. - Go on.

Go inside.

Speak.

Who are you?

If you tell the truth,

I promise I won't harm them.

But if you lie,

well, you can try me.

I was injured

in a battle against an enemy.

I was desperate and took this body.

I had no choice.

Please forgive me.

At least that sounds reasonable.

Which sect are you from?

I'm from Spirit Beast Mountain.

Are you also

with the Seven Sects?

Oh, you're from the Spirit Beast Mountain.

How's your Senior Zhong Wu doing?

You know Senior Zhong Wu?

That's good to hear.

Looks like we're all acquainted.

Yes.

All acquaintances.

Zhong Wu cut ties with Spirit Beast Mountain a long time ago.

Still not ready to tell the truth?

I'll talk!

I'll talk.

I'm a disciple

of the Beast Taming Sect under the Tiandu Kingdom.

The Six Demonic Sects?

Yes.

Years ago,

I fought someone here

and was seriously injured.

My body was destroyed,

and in desperation,

I let my primordial spirit leave the body.

Just when I had lost all hope,

I found this empty vessel without a soul.

But

after entering this body,

my cultivation plummeted.

To avoid that powerful enemy,

I disguised myself as an ordinary man

and made a living

with a blacksmith

in the city.

Over time,

I got close to the townspeople,

and someone even tried to matchmake for me.

Eventually,

she became my wife,

and that child became my daughter.

Before I knew it,

five years had passed just like that.

You never thought

about going back?

In the demonic sects, it's all survival of the fittest.

Now that I'm weak,

if I returned,

my own fellow sect members would likely kill me.

Besides,

these hands are better suited to the forge

than the battlefield.

Life is peaceful now.

Why would I want to go back to a world of endless killing?

Peaceful?

The demonic sects have already taken over the eastern region of Yue Kingdom.

How long do you think

this peace will last?

Already?

That can't be. It's far too soon.

You're not an ordinary demonic cultivator.

Tell me.

Who are you, really?

No matter who I used to be,

that part of me is gone now.

Why press me for answers?

Take my advice.

The Seven Sects will lose.

Make your move early.

Don't lose your life in vain.

This man knows more than he's letting on.

I'll have to pry more information out of him.

Right now, the battle is at a stalemate.

The Seven Sects are united against the demonic sects,

but talk of victory or defeat

seems a little premature.

There's a long and bitter history between the Seven Sects

and the Six Demonic Sects.

Cultivators are innately selfish.

Backstabbing is nothing new.

The so-called impenetrable alliance of the Seven Sects

has already been

thoroughly infiltrated by us.

In fact,

Spirit Beast Mountain

is the Beast Taming Sect's spy here.

The Six Demonic Sects

will win this battle.

Spirit Beast Mountain pretended to defect,

then wiped out two Core Formation Stage cultivators from the demonic sects.

Everyone in the Seven Sects knows that story.

This whole "spy" thing

was just a lie to fool the ignorant.

Without those Core Formation cultivators "dying,"

would the Seven Sects have so easily trusted us?

Besides,

do you genuinely believe the ones who died

were actually Core Formation cultivators?

As far as I know,

the Six Demonic Sects have

at least three secret techniques that forcefully boost

a Foundation Establishment cultivator to appear

as a Core Formation one.

The effect doesn't last long,

but long enough to deceive your people.

Give me one reason not to kill you.

If you spare me,

I'll tell you where I've been hiding.

All the artifacts and gems there

will be yours.

They are of no use

to this body

anyway.

You expect me to believe your generosity?

You're calculating, that's for sure.

Fine.

Given how things have turned out,

I'll hand over the artifacts and gems

as well as the jade slips and letters

that detail my sect's dealings

with Spirit Beast Mountain.

If what you find

isn't enough,

go ahead and kill me right here.

I won't complain.

But please,

spare my wife and daughter.

They're mere mortals.

They've done nothing wrong.

Something about this feels off.

Better to be cautious.

Where can I find the items?

Right here.

If you're not convinced,

I'll go with you.

You seem impatient.

You'll have to wait right here until I get back.

Such a crude trap.

You think too little of me.

Go.

What's…

It's fast.

It even blocked off my escape.

[Goldenback Demon Mantis]

What kind of demon beast is this?

It even flies.

Even if it's not Level 5,

it's at least peak Level 4.

That's enough to hold its own against a Core Formation cultivator.

My Mother-Child Blades!

This loss

cuts deep.

If this keeps up,

it's only a matter of time before I get caught.

This better work.

That was too close.

I nearly lost my life back there.

This place isn't far from Jiayuan City.

A demon beast that strong

can't be wild.

It probably belongs

to that man from the Beast Taming Sect.

No Foundation Establishment cultivator

could control a creature like this.

Could that guy

have been a Core Formation cultivator?

Curses.

The pouch I risked everything to retrieve

is empty.

All right.

So you set me up.

Don't blame me for what happens next.

You're still alive.

That pill has a strange effect.

It pushed his power straight up to Mid Foundation Stage.

Blood Spirit Drill!

The Verdant Sword.

That's a Core Formation Stage artifact.

A Spirit Companion,

a Core Formation Stage artifact,

and a Golden Core.

This man was definitely

a Core Formation Stage cultivator.

Even…

Even the Goldenback Demon Mantis couldn't kill you.

Being bested by you today

is no dishonor…

You are indeed a Core Formation cultivator.

Any last words?

Father!

Dear!

What happened to you?

They…

They had nothing to do with this.

Please…

Please do not harm them…

Was I the one who harmed them?

You should know this already.

Your body is steeped in dark aura.

Just being near you

drains their life force.

They don't have much time left.

You think I don't know that?

All the cultivation I have left

is sealed inside this broken core.

Once they take it,

it will restore their vitality

and extend their lives.

You knew this day would come.

Father…

I spent half my life committing evil,

and now the last thing I do

is for two mortals…

Dear…

Father,

please don't die.

The things I promised

are on my real body

in the cave.

I wasn't lying.

The messages with Spirit Beast Mountain,

and my identity token,

will prove everything.

I leave the rest to you.

Thank you…

When you wake,

forget all of this…

Cultivator,

in your world,

what's genuine

and what's forged?

Now,

it's time to figure out how to handle that demon beast.

The Five Phases Reversing Array

has never let me down.

This has to be the remains of that Beast Taming Sect cultivator.

With wounds like those,

it's no surprise he didn't even have time to retrieve his mystic pouch.

This is a Spirit Companion Beast Egg.

These insects are unbelievably tough.

The Beast Taming Sect

does have some skill.

"Compendium of Mystical Insects."

Blood Jade Spider,

ranked 108.

Goldenback Demon Mantis, ranked 73.

Gold-devouring Bug,

ranked 12.

Seriously?

You're kidding.

That Goldenback Demon Mantis

ranks just 73?

"A Guide to Breeding and Commanding Them."

Never mind.

I'll study this when I have the time.

Found it.

Correspondence between Spirit Beast Mountain and the Beast Taming Sect.

Your master is dead.

You can rest now.

The damage you caused to my artifact

will be repaid using your materials.

Qu Hun,

I'll craft you a proper armor with this.

The matter's wrapped up.

It's time to report back.

No matter the outcome,

I have done my part.

Elder Han rose to fame in a single battle.

I'm nowhere near that level.

Even with the stalemate at Golden Drum Plains,

you still hold everything together.

I respect that.

At this point,

the Seven Sects are on the verge of destruction.

No one can afford to sit this out.

Watching our disciples storm the battlefield one after another,

how could an old man like me

just stand aside?

Even if not for myself,

I must fight

for all my disciples.

Everyone!

Look who just showed up!

No one going to give me a proper welcome?

Shameless.

You show up late

and expect a grand entrance?

I'm late?

My apologies.

Han,

when did you arrive?

Just got here myself.

See? We're about the same.

Enough.

I'm hungry

and thirsty.

Bring out

the best pastries

from Yellow Maple Valley.

No pastries,

but plenty of sand.

Want some?

Enough banter.

Let's get down to business.

Take out

your upgraded

Level 4 demon beast mahjong set.

Waging war every day

gets tedious.

We need a way to relieve some tension.

Now that's more like it.

Put that away.

Fu Yunzi,

stop turning up

just to eat and play.

We called you here for a serious matter.

That's right.

Hongfu, please speak.

Our scouts on the front lines

have observed signs that the demonic sects may launch

an offensive at the start of next month.

Huayuan and I are planning to send a group

to strike their rear lines.

Hit them where they least expect it?

Hongfu,

that's a brilliant strategy!

How about

we make a wager

on the outcome?

You want to bet on this, too?

What are you betting on, success or failure?

Success, of course.

And the rest of us?

Failure.

Get out of here!

Getting out of here…

Dear Master,

this is Han Li, your disciple,

sending my respects.

I have returned

to the valley to cultivate in seclusion.

All is well within the valley.

My thoughts are with you

and you alone.

The situation at the front remains uncertain.

On my journey back,

I uncovered evidence of collusion

between Spirit Beast Mountain

and the Beast Taming Sect.

I have submitted

this proof to the Sect Master.

For the sake of morale and caution,

the Sect Master

has chosen to keep this matter

undisclosed.

I fear it may affect

the front lines

and place you and the other mentors in danger.

Though it breaks protocol,

I felt compelled

to write.

May you remain vigilant.

I have done all I can from afar.

Master, may this message

reach you

in time

to avert disaster.

The great war approaches.

You must keep yourself safe too.

The Goldenback Demon Mantis armor…

is too small.

They've already hatched.

And they eat

so much.

I suppose

not all cultivators can afford to keep Spirit Companions.

I should find time

to visit the Herbs Garden.

Get in.

Master replied already?

Do you remember our promise

to admire the flowers

beneath Baili Mountain?

Maybe you can go on my behalf?

Senior Chen.

When I was young,

my mother often brought me here

to gather wild chrysanthemums.

To her,

no flower was more beautiful

than these wild chrysanthemums.

But after she passed away

a few years ago,

I stopped coming.

Senior,

please accept my condolences.

It's all right.

To her,

it might have been a release from the burdens she carried.

She was also married into the Chen family through a political alliance.

Before their wedding,

she and my father had never met.

After marriage, they treated each other with respect,

but I know

they never truly opened up to one another.

Do you think

it's unbecoming for me as a cultivator

to always be caught up

in matters of love?

Not at all.

Sadly, you don't understand.

For women born into noble families,

from the day we are born,

our lives

no longer belong to ourselves.

We train day after day,

bringing benefits to our clans.

Maybe, just maybe, 1 prodigy out of 10,000

might earn the trust of the Seven Sects within 100 years

and gain the right to choose their fate.

But most of them

end up like me.

You're being too modest.

Since you entered the valley,

your diligence

and calmness in all matters

have surely not gone unnoticed by anyone.

Even if you're not a prodigy,

you're well beyond

the average clan disciple.

You know that's not the answer I wanted to hear.

The reason I asked to see you today

is

that I may soon

be married.

The groom is the son of the Qi family.

We've never met,

but I've heard

he's a man of decent character.

War is raging across the land,

and no one is safe.

If the Chen family can form an alliance with them

and find shelter from the chaos,

then…

When we were in the Imperial Capital,

I saw Weiniang and Senior Liu together.

I found myself envying them.

At least they met

and fell in love.

Even if they were separated by life and death,

it was still better

than living an entire life trapped,

never free,

and dying with regrets.

Why?

Why should I be forced

to marry someone I've never met?

Why should I be passed around

like some commodity,

today to the Lu family, tomorrow to the Qi family?

Why should the fate of the entire clan

be placed on the shoulders of a single woman?

No one has ever asked what I want.

Not once.

Can I lean on you, just for a moment?

Han,

I know you're different.

Are you planning something?

Can you take me away from here?

Just take me away.

Anywhere will do,

so long…

so long as it's a place where I can be free.

I've done all of this

and yet

you still hold back.

You're making me feel quite embarrassed.

Do you

already have someone in your heart?

Senior,

please don't tease me like that.

♪Time and time again, it never changes...♪

Thank you for all the times

you've saved me.

♪Taking away my emptiness...♪

I have nothing worthy to give in return,

but I am skilled with embroidery.

I made a robe for you.

Try it on and see if it fits.

You're a Late Foundation Stage cultivator now.

You ought to look the part.

It's just a gift.

If you refuse,

I'll have to throw it away.

Thank you, Senior.

♪We promised to enter the dream together...♪

It has purification and water-repelling arrays

woven into it.

You put a lot of thought into it.

♪Let time sweep through...♪

Senior,

I have some beauty-enhancing pills here.

I made them myself.

Please,

accept them.

As long as they're not anything weird.

♪It's as if we've never left each other♪

♪Searching and searching...♪

It's getting late.

It's time for me to leave the valley.

Han,

until we meet again.

Take care,

Senior.

♪Let time sweep through♪

♪The mountains♪

♪Thoughts turn...♪

No matter what happens,

I hope you find the freedom

you seek.

♪If our heart connects♪

♪It's as if we've never left each other♪

♪Searching and searching♪

♪For your whereabouts♪

♪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♪