On a deserted lane through the countryside, Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji discover a stone tablet inscribed with "Yi City." Still pursuing clues to the cursed severed arm, they enter the abandoned town seeking additional evidence. The stone plaque's ancient script hints at a forgotten lineage tied to the arm's origin. Yet when a shadowy newcomer appears, the investigation of the demonic arm pulls them into a scheme that endangers the cultivation realm as they understand it. Their investigation uncovers a hidden network of sects vying for the arm's power. The stakes rise sharply once they realize the plot involves Jin Guangyao, the leading master of the famed Lanling Jin Sect. While piecing together pivotal conspiracies from cultivation lore, their allies grow wary of their intentions. Suspicions grow as whispers spread that the duo may be manipulating events for personal gain. With the world turned against him, Wei Wuxian must demonstrate he is not the demonic mage that rumors paint him as in order to restore faith and protect the cultivation world from the looming malevolence. To clear his name, Wei Wuxian must confront the shadows of his past and prove innocence. Their journey becomes a race against time as ancient prophecies warn that the demonic arm's awakening could unravel the very fabric of cultivation society today.
