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"However, their power won't last forever." note
— Lan Xichen reassuring Lan Wangji that, with the help of other clans, the Wen Clan will eventually falter
Two events simultaneously play out, both of which will be marked in history. Firstly, the Four Great Clans sunite to form the Sunshot Campaign. And second, unbeknownst to everyone at the time, is the founding of demonic cultivation.
- Adaptation Expansion: The novel only mentioned the Four Great Clans officially declaring war against the Wen Clan. This episode shows how that plays out.
- Bystander Syndrome: Attempted by Jin Guangshan, who really doesn't want to get involved in the war against the Wen Clan and would rather sit back and let them do as they please. He only relents when all the other clans are convinced to join.
- The Corruption: Resentful energy once again attempts to overcome Wei Wuxian and give him power when he falls into the Burial Mounds. He resists at first, but eventually gives in after remembering the fall of Lotus Pier.
- Defiant to the End: Even when at Wen Chao's mercy, Wei Wuxian refuses to surrender or beg.Wei Wuxian: Wen Chao, stop wasting time. Do what you've come to do! Torture me if you dare. Give me your worst! After I die, I'll turn as a fierce ghost and haunt you dogs forever.
- Downer Beginning: The episode begins with Wei Wuxian getting ambushed by Wen Chao and later thrown into the depths of the Burial Mounds.
- Evil Laugh: Wen Chao gives a cruel laugh as he pushes Wei Wuxian off the cliff.
- Foregone Conclusion: As stated in the beginning, the Burial Mounds became known in history as where Wei Wuxian became the Yiling Patriarch. Thus, it's a given that he doesn't die in this episode.
- Foreshadowing:
- A weakened Wei Wuxian gets ambushed by the Wens and is struck by Wen Zhuliu's Core-Melting Hand. The latter seems puzzled after hitting him, however.
- While Wei Wuxian is once again hit with resentful energy after falling into the Burial Mounds, this time he doesn't fight it off with his spiritual energy.
- He's Back!: When Jiang Cheng reveals his presence during the meeting, the audience sees that he's like his old self again, driven with newfound determination to bring the Wen Clan's reign to an end now that he has his Golden Core back.
- I Will Find You: A worried Lan Wangji continues his search for the missing Wei Wuxian, but to no avail.
- Living Is More than Surviving: Both Nie Mingjue and Jiang Cheng argue to the reluctant clan elders that even if they choose to not stand up to the Wens and simply avoid getting killed by them, they'll still be condemning their people to a lifetime of slavery and subjugation.
- Missed Him by That Much: Downplayed. It's implied that not much time has passed since Wei Wuxian's ambush when Lan Wangji reaches the same spot on the mountain, with the former's Clarity Bell still left where it was dropped.
- Mordor: The Burial Mounds was once the sight of a great battle and was used as a graveyard afterwards. The resentful energy infected the entire area, leaving it dead and lifeless and killing anyone that enters.
- My Life Flashed Before My Eyes: As the ghosts in the Burial Mounds attempt to corrupt him, Wei Wuxian revisits memories of his life, including growing up with the Jiangs and meeting Lan Wangji at the Cloud Recesses.
- Not So Stoic: Downplayed. Lan Wangji shows more emotion than usual whenever news (or lack thereof) regarding Wei Wuxian's whereabouts is involved, revealing how concerned he's become for someone who's supposedly not his friend.
- Spiteful Spit: Wei Wuxian expresses disgust at Wen Chao by spitting blood at him when the latter has him bloodied and pinned down.
