Original subtitles

♪From primal chaos to the starry sky♪

♪In the whole world, we shall hold the balance♪

♪The cauldron tempers divine blades♪

♪The furnace refines the empty void♪

♪The Way is in mystic fate♪

♪Be brave enough to split the primal chaos wide open♪

[Pull Strings]

[Adapted from the novel by Yan Gui Zheng Zhuan]

If Changgeng

could see your change today,

he'd be so happy for you.

Come to think of it,

I must thank you for this armor.

What?

Well.

You gave this armor to me.

I did?

The other day, when the maids brought clothes,

there was armor hidden inside by magic.

The maids, low in power, didn't notice.

They thought it was just an ordinary garment

and gave it to me.

I gave it to you?

As a human disciple,

you're truly thoughtful.

Thanks to your war armor.

Otherwise, the Little Prince would've been hurt.

This armor is a real treasure,

impervious to blades and spears.

You kept this fine thing hidden.

So composed.

Back then, Your Highness,

when the giant dragon pinned you down,

it was also this human disciple

who told me to shout to you

that you should transform into a dragon.

I did that?

What reached my ears

was your voice.

The formation is complete.

Tell the Little Prince to transform now.

What should I say?

Repeat what I say.

Repeat after me, loudly.

Your Highness,

Ao Jia faces you in dragon form,

already forsaking all brotherly ties.

He treats you this way,

so why go easy on him?

You could actually

pull off an advanced spell

like Voice Transmission.

The Human Clan's strength can't be underestimated.

No, no.

Well.

I've got something to take care of.

You two,

stick to the plan.

What's wrong with him?

This is just how he is.

What he loves most is giving others credit.

What he hates most is being praised.

Junior.

Junior.

Senior...

Senior.

What about the Second Prince?

Today, I...

I told you to distract everyone.

What did you do?

I...

What exactly did you do?

I just walked over there

and waved at that paper puppet,

and the next second, it exploded.

I didn't do a thing.

Exploding paper puppets.

Those are all my tricks.

Who knows me this well,

acting on my exact plans beforehand?

It's like a heart-to-heart connection.

A heart-to-heart connection.

This armor protects against any blade.

It's a rare treasure indeed.

Didn't Fairy Yunxiao come by once?

The Court's weapons and magic instruments

were all taken.

You could actually

pull off an advanced spell

like Voice Transmission.

The formation is complete. Tell the Little Prince to transform now.

I see.

It's a heart-to-heart connection.

Junior,

we share a heart-to-heart connection!

A heart-to-heart connection.

A heart-to-heart connection?

We share a heart-to-heart connection?

I don't feel it.

Is he talking about him and me?

[Episode 24]

Watch closely.

Yes.

The Sword fragment surfaced.

Ao Yi will soon seize power.

Westdawn Sect will surely lose patience.

Within three days,

they'll come for the Sword.

Be ready to fight at any moment.

Changshou, rest assured.

I've cultivated for a millennium,

yet my magic only served to arrange marriages.

Today, I can finally act like a real man

and have a real fight.

When I give the order,

you open the scroll.

Don't worry.

Just go for it.

Open it; don't aim at me.

Aim it outside.

You go ahead.

I didn't tell you to open it now.

All right.

Stay calm. Stay calm.

I'm calm. I'm calm.

I'm calm.

I'll remind you once more.

One move makes or breaks it.

The day Westdawn Sect moves,

the Dragon Palace bows to the Celestial Court,

and that's when I rise.

What's wrong, Changshou?

A powerful surge of spiritual power

is attacking my paper butterflies.

Then are your butterflies all right?

A thousand years ago,

the Celestial Court left the Sea-Calming Pillar

but took away the Primordial Sword.

The message is this:

If the Dragon Palace of the East Sea ever disobeys,

they can open the Eye of the Sea

and doom the East Sea at any time.

But what happened today?

The Celestial Court gave me a fragment of the Primordial Sword.

It shows unmatched trust and sincerity.

They believe that with me here,

the Eye of the Sea will be safe.

If I refuse, you can't take the fragment.

Your Majesty, you knew I would come.

You secretly urged my son, Ao Jia,

to claim the East Sea throne.

Then you lured Fairy Yunxiao here to seize the Sea-Calming Pillar.

Did you think your deeds in the East Sea

would escape my notice?

You noticed long ago.

So, for years, you feigned madness

to keep the First Prince from the throne.

You also led Fairy Yunxiao to Bear Island

to protect the Sea-Calming Pillar.

I've been the Dragon King for a thousand years.

Your petty tricks

are nothing to me.

Your Majesty,

you won't kill me?

If I meant to kill you,

that strike just now

would have left you doomed.

You won't kill me

only because you

need me.

What could I need from you?

The Celestial Court.

After the Deity-Demon War,

the Dragon Clan was granted the Four Seas.

You're the head of the Dragon Clan.

You've kept its place independent for a thousand years

because the Dragon Clan once pledged

to the Demon Clan.

A thousand years ago,

I was the best fighter of the Demon Emperor.

I still remember

the dread before the Demon Emperor.

So, a thousand years ago,

you turned on the Demon Emperor

and gave the Human Clan a great victory.

You wanted

to let the Dragon Clan be independent

in the world.

So, you want me

to ruin the grand wedding in three days

and drive the Celestial Court

out of the East Sea.

Good.

Very good.

Master Jin Chan,

I was right about you

after all.

Your Majesty, we are foes.

Why are you so sure

I'd agree to help you?

If the Celestial Court steps into the East Sea,

your sect can't open the Eye of the Sea.

If I agree to fight the Celestial Court to the death,

even if we barely win,

we'd still have the East Sea as our enemy.

When the Celestial Court comes,

I can simply withdraw first.

Why exhaust myself in a battle here?

I can give you a reason.

This.

If you help me drive out the Celestial Court,

this Sword fragment will be yours.

The Dragon Clan of the Four Seas

all think you've lost your mind with age.

But in my eyes,

you hide the deepest schemes

across the Four Seas.

Very well.

In three days,

I will return.

You're having second thoughts?

No.

You have shown me true sincerity.

I should offer a gift in return.

My Dragon Palace lacks no treasure.

We need no gift from you.

The Chaos Bell.

In three days, if you are defeated,

this will be your sole chance to turn the tide.

Your Majesty,

don't miss this opportunity.

The Chaos Bell.

Why hasn't Senior returned yet?

Senior?

Senior, is that you?

I'm here.

Senior?

Senior?

Senior?

It's not Senior.

What's this? Stop!

Quick, catch him!

He's escaping! Quick!

Get her!

If you don't work hard today,

the East Sea won't be vibrant tomorrow.

Their lions are not good enough,

because they haven't learned from me.

Make way!

Out of the way!

Go!

They're so odd.

They look truly overjoyed.

Maybe we

should join them?

Tomorrow?

Sure!

What's wrong?

Ascendance disciple Lan Ling'e

has been seized by Dragon Palace guards.

The Turtle Minister invites all honored guests

to the Crystal Palace for a talk.

What did you say?

You took Ling'e!

Bring the prisoner.

Senior.

Junior Ling'e.

Kneel!

Senior...

You guys are honored guests.

We shouldn't have stirred up conflict,

but this one crept into the palace depths

and shattered a glazed lantern.

I didn't shatter it.

Then who did?

And why sneak into the depths?

What are you plotting?

I didn't... I...

Senior, what do we do?

Just say the word,

and I'll go save her right now.

Don't rush in just yet.

Let's watch a bit longer.

Wait.

Father,

could this be a misunderstanding?

It's just a glazed lantern.

Yes, exactly.

How could it come to this?

Yi,

that's my favorite glazed lantern!

She's broken His Majesty's glazed lantern.

Next, she'll burn the Dragon Throne!

I...

What kind of reasoning is that?

Father.

Ascendance disciples are good people.

They would never damage

anything here.

Please trust me, Father.

Something's off.

- How can you trust humans? - It's indeed fishy.

The Dragon King owns all of Lotus Hall.

Why would he care about one glazed lantern?

Junior is the suspicious one.

Who are you talking about?

If you mean no harm,

why sneak deep into the Dragon Palace?

What's your aim?

Good question.

- There's surely something shady. - Whose side are you on?

Our side.

I'm here to catch the villain.

Catch a villain?

I saw someone

sneaking into the Dragon Palace.

Worried for Little Prince's safety,

I followed them in secret.

They're the ones who broke the glazed lantern.

It has nothing to do with me.

Describe it then.

What did the figure look like?

I only saw their back,

not their face.

Their back?

Even a back shows human or dragon.

Any dragon features?

Your Majesty,

they were a human, not a dragon.

We have only one exit.

Turtle Minister,

aside from Yi returning yesterday,

in the past half-month,

was the Water Dragon Spout opened?

No, Your Majesty. It wasn't.

Those entering the East Sea

were all brought by the Little Prince.

Last night, guards combed the Dragon Palace

but found no outsider.

So, it's clear:

This woman keeps spouting nonsense.

Your Majesty, everything I said is true.

Please believe me, Your Majesty.

Turtle Minister,

lock her up in the dungeon first.

Father.

Enough, Yi.

Tomorrow is your grand wedding.

Why let her ruin it?

Turtle Minister, take her to the dungeon.

I'll deal with this after the grand wedding.

Aunt.

Don't be impulsive.

If we don't save her now, she's done for.

No, no.

Senior, Aunt.

Junior.

Junior.

Senior.

Improve yourself.

Turn over a new leaf.

Get tortured.

Junior.

Ling'e.

Junior.

No.

I must see the Dragon King

to rescue Ling'e.

Aunt.

Aunt, you mustn't!

What are we waiting for?

We came here

to foil the Westdawn Sect's plot.

If we fight the Dragon Palace now,

we'd give Westdawn an opening.

I know, but Ling'e...

Aunt.

If Uncle Jiu Wu were here,

what would he do?

Changshou,

you're the cleverest.

What should we do then?

I'll follow your lead.

Junior said

she saw a mysterious figure.

A mysterious person broke the glazed lantern.

Junior Ling'e may be quirky,

but she's not one to make things up.

I believe she saw someone.

I believe her too.

But everyone says no one else was there.

The point isn't whether it's true

but how to make everyone believe

that this mystery person exists.

If we don't find this mystery person,

then we can

create a mysterious figure

so we can show everyone that in the Dragon Palace,

such a person really exists.

Wouldn't that solve it?

Senior,

our Skyrend's magic arts

are all righteous divine abilities.

You want me to pose as a mystery man to assassinate?

I...

I have no confidence.

Junior Xuanya,

I understand all your concerns.

After all, under normal circumstances,

this work is usually done by Junior Ling'e.

But she's not here right now,

so I can only pick you

or Aunt Jiu Jiu.

It can only be you.

You're the only one for this job.

No one else can do it.

To save Junior Ling'e,

we must make the Dragon Clan believe

there's a mysterious person in the Dragon Palace.

You pick a target.

Just make a failed attempt.

Go for it.

But the Dragon Palace is heavily guarded.

Guards patrol closely.

I...

I can't sneak in.

Leave that to me.

Lost and found!

Let me see.

You...

You'll get it when I'm done.

Hurry up then.

Success.

What success?

You little rascal, what's your scheme?

Do you still need me?

Aunt.

You'll be very useful later.

Let me out!

You thick-headed, blind dragons!

We're here to rescue you.

Why lock me up here?

Anyone there? Let me out!

Senior.

When will you come save me?

Make sure she improves herself

and turns over a new leaf.

Torture her!

Stupid Senior! Wicked Senior!

Scoundrel Senior.

Young lady,

who are you calling Senior?

I'm not your Senior.

Are you tired of shouting?

If so, come with me.

I thought the execution was after the wedding.

Don't be so hasty.

I'm still young.

So young.

Assassinating at the Dragon Palace

is surprisingly hard.

This must be a trial from Senior.

I won't disappoint him.

I'm still young and beautiful.

I'm still in the bloom of youth.

I've never been in love!

Turtle Minister.

That is indeed a pity.

Listen. Love is really fun.

Well.

You two, step outside.

Guard the door.

Yes.

No.

What's that supposed to mean?

Please.

I'll be killed after I've had my fill?

Right, it's like a buffet.

Got it.

Then I won't hold back.

Shh.

Is it good?

Your Majesty, Your Majesty.

Miss, don't be afraid.

I prepared these for you.

Eat and drink to your heart's content.

Really?

Then I'll dig in.

What are you doing?

Your Majesty, well.

Don't come any closer.

I only had a few bites of your food.

I can spit it out.

And you just told me to eat it.

Don't come closer!

Help!

What the hell is this?

It's indeed the Chaos Bell!

Where did you get this?

It's a keepsake from my mother.

You...

Who are you?

I'm Lan Ling'e,

a disciple of Jade Division, Ascendance Sect.

Lan Ling'e.

What are you laughing at?

That's the truth.

Miss, you seem unaware

of your true identity.

How could a mere Ascendance disciple

wear the Chaos Bell?

My true identity?

Do you not know your origins?

You're also

here for the assassination?

You too?

Assassination?

Exactly.

I hid you in the East Sea for half a month

for this very plan.

Changgeng's whole setup in the East Sea

revolves around Ao Yi.

If we can eliminate Ao Yi,

Changgeng will have no moves left.

Changgeng.

Relax.

Leave this to me.

Remember:

Act in secret.

Don't let the Dragon Clan

know we're behind this.

Better yet,

frame the Ascendance Sect.

How do I pull that off?

I have a plan.

You just do your best.

I knew he had a plan.

I knew

he wouldn't have me attempt this alone.

He?

Did Senior send you to meet me?

Senior?

You call him Senior?

So, you're a fellow cultivator.

My apologies. My apologies.

Since we're fellow cultivators,

there's no need for such formality.

But

how come I've never seen you before?

Your Senior

hid me in the East Sea half a month ago.

He told me to stay out of sight

and keep to the shadows.

That's why none of you have seen me.

So, Senior had this planned all along.

Truly far-sighted. Impressive.

Don't let the Dragon Clan

know we're behind this.

Better yet,

frame the Ascendance Sect.

Brilliant!

I never imagined your disguise

could be so masterful.

It's seamless, absolutely lifelike.

I can't find a single flaw.

This is but an ordinary disguise.

Ordinary?

Listen.

With this disguise, the assassination

will surely mislead the Dragon Palace.

As Senior said,

I want the Dragon Palace to mistake me for the assassin.

That is exactly the goal.

His schemes are truly brilliant.

Each plan is so meticulously arranged.

Miss,

I've already scouted the road ahead.

For this assassination,

allow me to guide you.

With you leading the way,

I'm much relieved.

Please.

Shh.

Sir,

who exactly are we assassinating?

What?

He didn't tell you?

Senior only told me to assassinate.

But he didn't say who the target was.

I see.

None of us knows the full plan.

This way, if anyone is exposed,

there's still a chance to recover.

He is

indeed cautious.

I see.

Only Senior could plan like this.

Truly unfathomable.

Listen carefully.

Our target for this assassination is

the Second Prince, Ao Yi.

Ao Yi?

I see.

Given the Little Prince's ties to Ascendance Sect,

Senior must have arranged this.

He is surely the best choice.

Exactly.

With the Second Prince's ties to Ascendance Sect,

he is the most fitting candidate.

Then let's act now.

Let's do it.

Go!

Oh, no, no!

Ling'e was wronged for trying to catch a spy

within our Dragon Palace.

How can I just abandon her?

Ling'e, I'm coming for you!

He's coming out!

This is our perfect chance to act.

This must be Senior's design.

I see.

Let's go.

The East Sea's Wasteland is vast.

Even footsteps echo here.

Not a single guard in sight.

So, the Dragon Clan's restoration

brooks no delay.

Ling'e, it's Ao Yi.

I've come to rescue you.

Miss,

now's the perfect time.

Perfect? Really?

No one's around.

Perfect to strike.

No one's around?

That's precisely why we shouldn't.

No.

What kind of logic is that?

You want to assassinate in public?

Of course.

Otherwise, why attempt this assassination?

My fellow cultivator,

I understand that as an assassin,

you have your own artistic vision.

But please respect my professionalism.

Here's the plan.

In a moment,

you keep watch here.

I'll perform the assassination, got it?

Got it. I'll go gather an audience.

Why gather an audience?

To watch you perform the assassination!

You're crazy!

Shh.

Alright, let's both calm down.

Just wait here for a moment,

and watch me perform.

But...

No buts, listen to me.

Amateur.

Ling'e.

Ling'e.

I'm Ao Yi.

I've come to rescue you.

Le'er.

Who's there?

Assassin!

Guards! Catch the assassin!

Assassin!

Completing the mission this way,

you are truly unpredictable.

Guards! Catch the assassin!

Don't run!

Stop!

Assassin!

Run!

Assassin!

Guards! Catch the assassin!

Don't run!

Oh, no.

What if that cultivator thinks Le'er is the Second Prince?

The Chaos Bell

is a primordial supreme treasure.

It can suppress the chaotic world

and bend time and space.

But after the Deity-Demon War,

it vanished without a trace.

It has not been seen for a thousand years,

until you appeared.

Isn't this just a bell?

Is it really so mystical?

Miss,

when you wear this bell,

at the brink of life and death,

have you noticed anything odd?

Anything odd?

The Chaos Bell?

The Chaos Bell can bend time and space.

But your spiritual power is too shallow.

It can only turn back a moment.

But if the Chaos Bell's original owner

activates the Chaos Bell's power,

they can travel back a thousand years.

The Chaos Bell's original owner?

I've worn this bell

since I was a child.

My mother said it was a keepsake from my father.

A resemblance...

So alike.

Resemblance in brow and eyes.

Resemble who?

The Chaos Bell's original owner.

Your birth father.

Where is he?

Le'er, watch out!

My father?

You know my father?

He's still alive?

Then can you take me to see him?

Do you really want to know?

Yes, I'd like to know.

- Alright, your father... - Your Majesty!

Your Majesty! Your Majesty!

Your Majesty! Your Majesty!

Good heavens!

Why rush in at a time like this?

Then I'll go.

No, no, Your Majesty.

An assassin has entered the palace.

Catch the assassin!

Catch the assassin!

Audacious assassin!

Warrior Eel.

Your Highness.

Your Highness?

Why is it you?

Why did you try to assassinate?

Assassinate?

Me?

Assassinate whom?

Assassinate...

Assassinate whom?

Who do you mean by that?

What? Miss.

You're so fast.

See you next time.

See you next time.

I never thought

that so many dangers lurk in the shadows.

All these years,

Senior's always stuck to this principle.

I truly admire that.

Don't praise me now.

Go.

Xuanya.

Willgate,

our Tushita Palace's newest item.

Just in time to use it today.

It seems

today's assassination was a success.

Senior's plan is flawless.

I merely acted according to plan.

Xuanya, you're too modest.

You improvised to strike the Little Prince,

snatching victory from danger.

Impressive!

Impressive!

No, no.

It all went as Senior planned.

Senior had a cultivator help.

That cultivator was thorough and convincing.

When he moved to kill the Little Prince,

he truly meant to do it.

You scared me!

In the end, he failed

with a loud wail.

It was seemingly comical,

yet he hid wisdom in folly.

I wish to meet

this cultivator again if I can.

Darn it!

If I could appear,

you'd be no match for me.

Who's there?

Fairy Yunxiao.

♪See mortal joys and sorrows♪

♪Reunions and partings, as fate unfolds♪

♪Alas, love has many twists and turns♪

♪Memories filled with sorrow♪

♪Slowly, wishes turn to regret♪

♪You've gone afar, like mist fading♪

♪Tearfully, this life's bond is not over♪

♪Past fragments vanish into night♪

♪Down a few more cups of wine♪

♪Through land and sea, I ask you to come♪

♪For honor's sake, upright and grand♪

♪Alas, our story is short♪

♪Slowly, wishes turn to regret♪

♪You've gone afar, like mist fading♪

♪Tears fall, this fate's not done♪

♪Past fragments vanish into night♪