The City Lord’s mansion was surrounded by chaos. Those who once revered Bai Xun as their protector now stood outside, cursing and accusing him. When Bai Shuo awoke in a carriage, she realized she had been sent away. She called for Wang Bo, the driver, to stop, but under Bai Xun’s orders, he refused to let her return to the city. Feigning compliance, Bai Shuo knocked Wang Bo unconscious at an opportune moment and, with Fan Yue’s help, quickly returned to Ning’an City. Along the way, she encountered the Lanling Five Immortals and Chong Zhao, who had arrived to provide aid.
Jin Yao, the leader of the immortals, attempted to take Bai Shuo away, but Fan Yue told her to leave while he stayed behind to confront the immortals alone. Chong Zhao pursued Bai Shuo, urging her to return to Lanling with him, but she refused. Fortunately, Tian Huo and Cang Shan appeared in time to block Chong Zhao’s path.
Meanwhile, Fu Ling set a barrier on the road to the City Lord’s mansion, preventing Bai Shuo from approaching. She could only watch helplessly as her father faced the angry mob. The citizens, enraged and influenced by Fu Ling’s demon magic, attacked Bai Xun, throwing insults and even striking him until his forehead bled. The gratitude and respect they once held for their city lord had completely vanished, replaced by hatred and violence.
Under Fu Ling’s manipulation, Bai Xun began to lose his sanity, terrifying the citizens further. They clamored to kill him, swarming to beat him mercilessly. Watching the scene, Fu Ling sneered at Bai Xun’s ungrateful citizens and urged Bai Shuo to join the Demon Clan and serve the Cold Spring Palace under Tian Yu’s favor.
Grief-stricken, Bai Shuo begged Fu Ling to lift the Nether Poison, but Fu Ling coldly replied that the poison was incurable and would not cease until someone died. As Fu Ling unleashed more magic, Bai Xun succumbed to madness and attempted to kill. A young girl’s desperate cries for him not to harm her father awakened Bai Xun’s clarity.
Kneeling on the ground, Bai Xun prayed to the heavens, offering his life to ensure peace for Ning’an City. He then drew his sword and ended his own life. Bai Shuo, who had been watching from the sidelines, was overwhelmed with despair. As the barrier dissolved, she ran to her father, cradling him in her arms, her sorrow turning into hatred for those around her.
In his final moments, Bai Xun held onto his daughter, his death giving rise to the “Virtuous Thought.” The Wu Nian Stone absorbed this virtue, unleashing divine light that enveloped Ning’an City, curing the citizens of the Nether Poison.
Fan Yue immediately leapt to catch the falling Bai Shuo, holding her tightly. Meanwhile, Tian Yu attempted to harm Chong Zhao, but Fu Ling intervened once again, further irritating Tian Yu. The Lanling immortals arrived to restore order, and the citizens, oblivious to the true events, thanked the immortals, ignorant of Bai Xun’s sacrifice.
Fan Yue intended to take the unconscious Bai Shuo away, but Jin Yao reminded him to let her bid farewell to her father. In her unconscious state, Bai Shuo’s consciousness entered the Moon Hidden Sea, where she finally met her long-searched benefactor. She pleaded with him to revive her father, but he revealed that she alone had the power to influence life and death. He reminded her to gather the desires and reactivate the Wu Nian Stone’s power, emphasizing that her purpose was not to repay anyone or live for others—the Wu Nian Stone’s presence in her body was both destiny and consequence.
Returning to reality, Bai Shuo rushed to the funeral hall, crying beside her father’s coffin. She personally oversaw his burial. While the city gradually returned to normal, Jin Yao reflected on the events, lamenting the failure of both the Immortal and Hao Yue Palaces. He hoped that Fan Yue would allow Bai Shuo to choose whether to join the Immortal Sect or the Demon Clan.
At the Cold Spring Palace, Tian Yu harshly punished Fu Ling for showing mercy to Chong Zhao, which deviated from her usual behavior. Fu Ling denied any personal feelings, insisting she only sought to recruit him for the palace. Tian Yu warned her that if she failed to win Chong Zhao over within a month, he would eliminate him personally.
Back at the City Lord’s mansion, Bai Shuo, having buried her father, realized she could no longer view immortals and demons in the same light, nor could she return to her past relationship with Chong Zhao. Jin Yao used immortal magic to erase the townspeople’s memories of Bai Xun’s sacrifice, leaving only Bai Shuo, Fan Yue, and a few others with the truth. On the day of the funeral, the citizens lined the streets in mourning, unaware they had once driven their city lord to his death.
Kneeling at her father’s grave, Bai Shuo vowed to rely on herself instead of others. She swore to grow stronger and avenge her father by confronting the Cold Spring Palace. Fan Yue appeared, ready to take her away. Fueled by grief and anger, Bai Shuo pulled a hairpin and stabbed it into his chest. Chong Zhao arrived, intending to take Bai Shuo with him, but she ultimately chose to leave with Fan Yue. However, Bai Shuo rejected Fan Yue’s help, prompting him to coldly remind her that, in his eyes, she was merely the Wu Nian Stone’s vessel.
