Immortal Chapter 26 – Aftermath of the Wuxin Attack

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.

Summary

The chapter opens seconds after the battle against the Wuxin. Liyen is steadying herself after breaking the bond with Zhangwei, and Chengyin supports her. Zhangwei warns that the Wuxin will return in greater force. Chengyin tries to shield Liyen from Zhangwei, but Liyen insists she can take care of herself. Ministers Dao and Guo approach, eager to claim credit now that danger has passed. Liyen deliberately turns away and addresses Captain Li and the soldiers.

Captain Li asks how the Wuxin escaped. Zhangwei explains they are sealed in the Netherworld with Queen Caihong’s enchantment and promises to examine the gateway. Liyen reveals the truth: the skies are sealed, no immortal aid can come, and the people must protect themselves. Captain Li insists they are not victims, but strong fighters; Zhangwei cautions that magic makes the fight unfair. Liyen asks what they can do. Zhangwei agrees to craft a barrier around the palace. Liyen orders preparations: gather immortal weapons, send patrols closer to Kunlun, and offer shelter to those who wish.

Liyen thanks Zhangwei sincerely; he replies he acts not only for the pact but because it is right. He raises a crimson barrier, though it tires him. He then tells Liyen she must come with him to Kunlun to secure the realms. Chengyin wants to join but Liyen insists only she may enter Kunlun. She grants Chengyin the mandate to rule in her absence. Before leaving, Liyen kneels by a dead soldier, learns his name is Wang Pengyu, and announces a generous pension for the families of all fallen. She reflects that drawing the Wuxin away will make everyone safer, and finds a sliver of hope as she looks at Zhangwei.

Key Events

Liyen, Chengyin, and Zhangwei discuss the immediate aftermath of the Wuxin attack.
Liyen publicly declines the ministers’ posturing and instead addresses Captain Li and the soldiers.
Zhangwei reveals that the skies are sealed and no immortal reinforcements can come.
Captain Li asserts the soldiers’ competence; Zhangwei warns about magical imbalance.
Liyen asks practical questions about defence; Zhangwei agrees to create a barrier.
Liyen issues commands: collect immortal weapons, increase patrols, open palace shelter.
Liyen and Zhangwei share a moment of mutual respect; Zhangwei creates the barrier.
Zhangwei orders Liyen to accompany him to Kunlun.
Chengyin volunteers to join but is denied; Liyen appoints him acting ruler.
Liyen honours the fallen soldier Wang Pengyu and promises pensions.
Liyen decides that leaving will draw the Wuxin away, and she finds hope in the dawn.

Character Development

Liyen grows as a ruler: she chooses to talk directly to soldiers rather than flattering ministers, acknowledges the vulnerability of her people without panicking, and takes practical steps to protect them. Her decision to grant benefits to the fallen shows compassion and political wisdom. She also shows courage by agreeing to go to Kunlun, despite her fear.
Zhangwei reveals unexpected depth. He admits he is acting not just from the pact but from a sense of rightness. Creating the barrier taxes him, yet he does it anyway, indicating that mortal lives matter to him more than Liyen had assumed. He also defends Captain Li’s courage while offering honest warnings.
Chengyin is protective but respects Liyen’s authority. He tries to shield her from Zhangwei and offers to accompany her, but accepts when she gives him the mandate to rule. His concern contrasts with the ministers’ self-interest.
Captain Li embodies the resilience of Tianxia’s soldiers. She refuses to see her people as prey and asks direct, strategic questions.
Ministers Dao and Guo represent courtiers who seek credit after danger, reinforcing Liyen’s preference for honest soldiers.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Vulnerability and resilience: The chapter balances the stark reality that Tianxia has no magic and has been cut off from immortal aid with the soldiers’ determined refusal to be victims. Captain Li’s speech and Liyen’s orders underscore that strength can come from preparation and courage.
Leadership in crisis: Liyen demonstrates what real leadership looks like—she speaks to those who fought, offers transparency about the situation, and delegates authority to Chengyin. Her focus on the fallen soldier humanises her rule.
Sacrifice and duty: Zhangwei expends power to create the barrier, and Liyen honours the dead while preparing to leave her kingdom. The line “no one is safe” reinforces how both mortals and gods must bear cost.
Light and darkness: The final image of dawn after night echoes hope, even as the Wuxin threat looms. It suggests that darkness is not permanent.

Why This Chapter Matters

Chapter 26 is the turning point where the Wuxin threat escalates from a single attack to an ongoing crisis. Liyen fully takes on the burden of leadership by speaking plainly to her people and making hard choices about defence and sacrifice. The creation of the barrier and the journey to Kunlun set up the next phase of the plot. The chapter also deepens the relationship between Liyen and Zhangwei, moving from distrust toward mutual respect and hinting at romantic tension. The theme of mortals finding their own strength without waiting for gods becomes central.

Study Questions and Answers

1. How does Liyen handle the ministers’ attempt to claim credit after the attack?
She deliberately turns away from them and addresses Captain Li and the soldiers, showing that she values those who actually fought over courtiers seeking political advantage.

2. Why does Zhangwei create the barrier even though it weakens him?
He says he is doing it not just because of the pact with Liyen but because it is the right thing to do. This indicates that his concern for mortal lives is genuine, not merely transactional.

3. What does Liyen’s decision to grant pensions to the families of the fallen reveal about her character?
It shows her compassion, sense of responsibility, and understanding that leadership includes caring for those left behind. It also serves to secure loyalty and ease grief, marking her as a thoughtful ruler.