Original subtitles

[Respect Copyright, Everyone's Responsibility]

[The Eternal Fragrance]

[Adapted from Shisilang's novel, The Eternal Fragrance]

[Episode 5]

It's not that I don't want to help you.

But a cultivation vessel is something you're born with.

There's no artifact

that can make one.

But I've heard

the academy's herb garden is second to none.

Maybe they've got

some rare treasure that can reshape your meridians.

You're right.

- I'll go find it... - Hold on.

I heard

Elder Zhu, who runs the garden, is strict and fair.

He won't just

give it to you.

Unless

you're someone he really values.

Like him.

A top-tier Metal Spirit Root.

There's stagnant energy around your heart meridians.

Have you been injured lately?

Injured?

Could it be

Hu Jiaping's doing back then?

Good thing you came in time.

Or that stagnant energy would've damaged your heart meridians.

No worries. I'll clear it with some acupuncture.

Could you step out for a bit?

Mr. Zhu,

do you have any elixir

that can heal internal injuries,

boost cultivation,

and fix a cultivation vessel?

What are you up to?

Give this top-tier Metal Spirit Root a little boost.

Look.

Go check... that cabinet...

- over there. - Okay.

This looks like a treasure.

It...

My Divine Tree 1000!

Look what you've done!

I just touched it.

Really.

It...

Is it really rare?

Want me

to find you a new one?

Can't find another.

The Divine Tree is the most mystical tree in the world.

Born from chaos,

it gathers all living vitality.

It bears a single fruit every five hundred years.

I failed again.

I got scammed

999 times

before I got this Divine Tree 1000!

This one's fake too.

Shanhua once told me

the Divine Tree is an immortal, nature-born tree.

Even if struck by heavenly lightning,

it will revive.

It never rots.

I got scammed again.

Is the Divine Tree so powerful?

What's its story?

Five hundred years ago, when the Sea Calamity struck,

the Yecha demon clan appeared with the Divine Tree,

trying to overthrow the Central Plains.

Fortunately, a master from Wuyue Court defeated the Demon Lord

and saved the world from ruin.

That master sounds incredible.

He also created many cultivation techniques.

Each one with power beyond imagination.

♪I trade all the mortal world's splendor♪

♪For a fleeting moment with you♪

♪Our fates intertwined, embracing yet fighting♪

♪The hardest bond to balance♪

What's happening to me?

Whose memories are these?

♪Obsessed and struggling, a thousand thoughts arise♪

♪Love sprouts again in this lifetime♪

♪No calamity can rival♪

♪The lingering thread of a fragrance♪

This is your reward for helping me find the medicine.

Now we're even.

Relax.

This pill stabilizes your core and heals injuries.

It won't poison you.

But

after this, we go our separate ways.

Stay away from me.

What's wrong with you?

Your Highness?

Did Elder Zhu mess up the needles?

He can barely stand.

I'll go back to take some medicine and recover.

I'll leave Xiuyuan to you.

It's been four hours.

They could've at least sent word.

Alright. We'll stop waiting.

Let's go.

Your Ladyship.

Your Ladyship.

Your Ladyship!

- Who? - Lanya.

It's a formation!

This batch of disciples is so clueless.

It took them this long to realize they were trapped.

In a real fight,

they'd be dead a hundred times over.

Ms. Lin is so harsh.

A formation is about alignment.

It maps the cosmic and earthly veins

through numerical variations.

By channeling spirit energy, it strikes unseen.

Focus on guiding your spirit energy,

and you'll see the way out.

Hurry.

I'll wait for you.

Wait... for me?

Why?

To watch me fail? Just go.

Xiaobangchui, drawing talismans is actually simple.

Let your hand follow

what your mind sees.

She actually altered the formation.

Is she connected to the master who set the formation in Gaolu?

♪With you, we climb bleak cliffs beneath endless gloom♪

♪Bow our heads and endure bitter gales♪

♪Ambition surges; we hold new feasts amid thorns♪

♪Climb high, lone sword sings, dance beneath autumn moon♪

Lifei, you did it!

♪Rough the road, yet my steps shall never cease to move♪

♪Banners wave, war drums thunder across the sky♪

Using runes to channel spirit power.

Very clever.

Not at all.

It's just cheap tricks.

Tongzhou, why praise her and not me?

♪Let frost, snow and rain block the long stone steps♪

♪I tread fleeting mist beneath my feet♪

Great.

♪At last I see, life's end lies boundless wild free♪

♪Don't idle away time. We shall meet atop the peak♪

Can't catch a break, can we?

Bees?

Help!

Xiuyuan!

Hold on to me.

♪I trade all the mortal world's splendor♪

♪For a fleeting moment with you♪

Are these bees crazy?

♪Our fates intertwined, embracing yet fighting♪

Could it be...?

It wasn't me!

♪The hardest bond to balance♪

♪Obsessed and struggling, a thousand thoughts arise♪

♪Love sprouts again in this lifetime♪

♪No calamity can rival♪

♪The lingering thread of a fragrance♪

Where are we?

This is the kitchen of Qiaoshan Hall.

So I made it to the cafeteria.

Too bad.

Missed mealtime.

If you're hungry,

I'll go find you something to eat.

Here.

Um,

you don't have to be so nice to me.

I should repay you for saving my life.

You don't have to.

I didn't even mean to save you.

There's a restriction spell.

Who's playing tricks here?

By the power of the spirits,

break!

By the power of the spirits, break!

What's wrong with you?

Are you okay?

What's happening?

What are you doing?

Have you lost your mind?

Are you alright?

Talk.

Who sent you?

Why are you trying to kill us?

Staying silent, huh?

Keep it up,

and I'll toss you into a hotpot.

Mr. Hu,

this coriander spirit...

That's no coriander spirit.

This is my pet, Xiangxiang.

Xiangxiang...?

I was wondering where it went.

So you two caught it.

What?

The grilled fish wasn't enough,

and you wanted a side dish?

No.

It just suddenly...

It was suddenly interrupted during its cultivation.

Since it's your first offense,

I'll let it slide.

Mr. Hu, we're just letting it go?

What else?

You two broke into the kitchen.

Still here? Waiting to be punished?

Get going.

Xiangxiang,

you naughty thing.

Good thing I got here in time.

One more step late

and you'd have been...

I told you to place a seal on them.

Look at you,

getting captured instead.

I did cast the spell just as you told me.

But suddenly I smelled

something so tempting.

And I don't remember anything after that.

By the time I was caught,

demonic energy had already invaded my body.

Mr. Hu, Lei Xiuyuan

is so scary.

Demonic energy?

Looks like our plan backfired.

Our good days are coming to an end.

We need to eliminate them first.

Coincidences don't just happen.

Someone must be behind that bee incident.

Hu Jiaping showed up at the exact perfect moment.

Definitely suspicious.

Why did you pull me just now?

You're acting weird.

What are you thinking?

I knew something was off with you.

Did he notice

Riyan hidden in my hair?

Probably not.

You're pretty good-looking.

But why are you always trying to bite people?

What's wrong with you?

Fine. I'm magnanimous.

I won't hold it against you.

Quiet down, everyone!

Chufeng Academy has been around for a hundred years.

It's where

elite disciples are chosen for the great sects.

It's no place for those who don't measure up.

Those with poor aptitude

or those who slipped in by luck

will be exposed in the monthly exam.

Mr. Hu,

am I right?

Absolutely right.

If that's the case,

then some people who don't belong here

will definitely be leaving.

Never heard anyone admit that about themselves.

Youran,

is the monthly exam every month?

Of course not.

That'd be such a hassle.

This one was Mr. Hu's idea.

Ten days left until the monthly exam.

Hope you'll all work hard

and not disappoint the masters.

Mr. Hu,

what happens if someone fails the monthly exam?

If you fail,

of course you have to

leave the academy.

I don't know if it was that coriander spirit,

but last night I felt dizzy and restless. Couldn't control myself.

Sorry.

Forget it.

Anyway, I know why you approached me now.

It's for Riyan, isn't it?

Someone's using Shanhua's life to force you?

He was Shanhua's master.

But I never expected...

I caused Shanhua's suffering.

I feel sorry for you,

but

I won't help you.

Everyone's busy.

We handle our own problems.

I know.

We have to rely on ourselves.

My cultivation is still weak.

Only by staying here and learning techniques

can I save Shanhua.

It's good that you figured that out.

But now, with powerful enemies around,

if we want to stay,

we need to work together.

Work together?

How?

Whenever I went on a mission with my master,

we'd always track and scout first

to know our enemy.

You mean swindling people?

It's called thorough planning and problem-solving.

This is Ms. Mu's place?

You know,

whether it's a hero or a fool,

they all fall for a pretty face.

Focus on the mission.

Mu.

Mu!

Mu!

Let me go!

Don't come to me again!

Catch him red-handed.

Go inform the headmaster.

When you see him, just say

Hu Jiaping tried to force himself on Mu after being rejected.

He's vile. This is an emergency.

Hurry!

You creep!

You again?

Die!

By the power of the spirits,

break!

Cheap tricks.

Which old scumbag taught you that?

Old scumbag?

You're the old scumbag!

I'll slam you down!

I'll throw you down!

I'll slam...

I...

Lifei.

Lifei.

Ms. Mu,

don't be afraid.

The headmaster is on his way.

This monster won't get his way.

Put her down now!

Mu!

Mu.

Are you okay, Mu?

Mu!

Are you alright, Mu?

Are you hurt?

Easy.

Here.

You're still doing that?

Stop!

Mr. Zuo.

Lifei,

you've all misunderstood.

Jiaping was just healing Mu's injuries.

Mr. Zuo.

How are you?

I'm fine.

Sorry to make you worry.

You two, come with me.

Mu was originally a sword called Lifeng,

of Immortal Guangwei of Wuyue Court.

She and Jiaping grew up together.

They were deeply in love.

Sadly,

when they went to Kongsang to fight monsters,

Mu's blade broke, and her primordial spirit

was severely damaged while saving Jiaping.

Guangwei sent Mu to the academy to recover.

But

Jiaping defied

his master's orders for Mu,

abandoned the righteous path of cultivation,

and left Wuyue Court.

That madman...

Mr. Hu is quite the romantic.

For all these years,

he's been searching for a way to reforge Lifeng,

but never found one.

Since humans and spirits are different,

Mu refused to drag Jiaping down.

She's been avoiding him.

That's why you saw what happened earlier.

If you ask me,

the academy's rules need to change.

How so?

On our first day here, you said

cultivation

means letting go of worldly ties.

My master also said

cultivation is about transcending worldly conventions.

These two are clearly in love.

They end up like a miserable couple.

What does that show?

It shows our academy has failed in its teaching.

Are your sunflower seeds tasty?

It shows Mr. Hu

is narrow-minded

and cowardly.

He can't let go of gossip or prejudice.

How can he even cultivate like this?

So rigid.

How can he teach disciples?

If you ask me, he should be

expelled.

Let him reflect on himself.

If Hu Jiaping gets kicked out,

everyone will be thrilled.

You don't hold prejudice against other races.

That's good.

But in this world,

it's hard for different races to accept each other.

Public opinion can destroy a person.

If public opinion can break you,

it just means your will isn't strong enough.

If it were me,

I wouldn't care if he's human or a demon.

If we truly loved each other,

I'd tear down every obstacle

and never back down.

Lifei,

you haven't yet experienced the world's suffering.

You can't understand others' pain.

The mortals have their laws and conventions.

And we immortals have our rules and order.

It's a long story.

You'll understand

in time.

It's getting late.

I should rest.

Mr. Zuo.

Do you also think

it's not worth

doing things you shouldn't

for personal feelings?

Whether it's worth it

comes down to your own heart.

Every encounter

has its own karma.

We cultivators

are already going against heaven.

Staying true to our hearts

is our only path.

Hu Jiaping

must have noticed by now.

What do we do now?

You're the old scumbag!

I'll slam you down!

I...

Stay true to our hearts

and sneak into the Script Tower.

You actually got the key.

Fine. I'll go in with you.

Legend says the Futu Tower in the academy

holds many advanced cultivation techniques from across the realms.

There must be secret manuals on cultivating

spirit power and enhancing cultivation.

Brown is earth.

Red is fire.

Blue is water.

Green is wood.

Yellow is metal.

It's the Five Elements Formation.

- This... - Let's go.

Already...?

So many books.

How are we supposed to find it?

Let's do this.

I'll search this side.

You search that side.

We'll each get what we need.

I never expected so many fire-element texts.

Been searching for ages.

Nothing on cultivating spirit energy at all.

The Xuanhua Sacred Fire Record?

But Uncle said

this book has been lost for thousands of years.

Xuanhua Sacred Fire, Netherworld Dark Flame.

Among the 3,900 ways to control spirits in the world,

the cultivation vessel is one of them.

[The Record of Spirit Release]

Found it.

I'll try this.

See if it works.

The Spirit-Releasing Immortal-Slaying Formation?

Gather the spirit and condense it into the vessel.

Nourish it with blood.

Channel it through the meridians.

Release it all in one instant strike

to take down the enemy with you.

This killing formation isn't about survival.

It's a mutual destruction spell.

Shanhua is barely hanging on.

Don't delay any longer!

This is bad.

Did I practice it wrong?

What are you trying to do?

Don't do anything reckless.

Don't speak.

Calm your mind, regulate your breath, and clear your meridians.

Observe outward form, discern inward heart.

Thanks.

Focus.

I need to find Riyan

before she notices.

[Zong Quan, Longming Sanctuary]

Divine Tree?

[Cuixuan, Wuyue Court]

Head to Chufeng Academy now.

Find out where the Divine Tree is.

[Qin Yangling, Wuyue Court] Yes.

The aura of the Divine Tree!

♪I trade all the mortal world's splendor♪

♪For a fleeting moment with you♪

♪Our fates intertwined, embracing yet fighting♪

♪The hardest bond to balance♪

♪Obsessed and struggling, a thousand thoughts arise♪

♪Love sprouts again in this lifetime♪

♪No calamity can rival♪

♪The lingering thread of a fragrance♪

♪If the seal can't be broken, then let it go♪

♪Where the heart finds peace, there is home♪

♪Side by side, we fly through seas of clouds and break through the waves♪

♪The heart's ocean knows no shore♪

♪Always, at the very end of fate♪

♪Comes that one moment of defiance♪

♪In the human world or above, like flowing water♪

♪And falling petals♪

♪Let this fleeting life be whatever it may♪

[The Eternal Fragrance]

[Adapted from Shisilang's novel, The Eternal Fragrance]

♪I trade all the mortal world's splendor♪

♪For a fleeting moment with you♪

♪Our fates intertwined, embracing yet fighting♪

♪The hardest bond to balance♪

♪Obsessed and struggling, a thousand thoughts arise♪

♪Love sprouts again in this lifetime♪

♪No calamity can rival the lingering thread of a fragrance♪

♪With you, through mountains falling and seas turning to sand♪

♪Withered branches burst into bloom♪

♪Hand in hand on the Naihe Bridge♪

♪Past the pagoda, in fine robes on galloping horses♪

♪Always, at the very end of obsession♪

♪Comes that one moment of softness♪

♪Betrayed by all, I still reign supreme♪

♪With you, we melt into mist and haze♪

♪I trade the highest heaven and endless clouds♪

♪For a fleeting moment with you♪

♪Pierced by countless arrows, pain and illness pile on♪

♪Yet I remain silent♪

♪Deep love and long yearning, a kiss falls into a dream♪

♪In the distant night, bitterness blooms♪

♪The grand chapter is rewritten, startling the whole world♪

♪With you, through mountains falling and seas turning to sand♪

♪Withered branches burst into bloom♪

♪Hand in hand on the Naihe Bridge♪

♪Past the pagoda, in fine robes on galloping horses♪

♪Always, at the very end of obsession♪

♪Comes that one moment of softness♪

♪Betrayed by all, I still reign supreme♪

♪If the seal can't be broken, then let it go♪

♪Where the heart finds peace, there is home♪

♪Side by side, we fly through seas of clouds♪

♪Break through the waves, the heart's ocean knows no shore♪

♪Always, at the very end of fate♪

♪Comes that one moment of defiance♪

♪In the human world or above, like flowing water and falling petals♪

♪Let this fleeting life be whatever it may♪