New Kung Fu Cult Master 2

Abbess Miejue forces Zhou Zhiruo to swear the blood oath because she wants to prevent any romantic feelings between Zhou Zhiruo and Zhang Wuji. This is driven by political concerns, Miejue fears that personal attachments could compromise Zhou Zhiruo's judgment as the new leader of the Emei Sect. After passing leadership to Zhou Zhiruo and teaching her the secrets of the Heavenly Sword and Dragon Saber, Miejue wants to ensure Zhou Zhiruo remains focused on the sect's interests rather than her personal emotions.

The blood oath sets up the tragic irony of Zhou Zhiruo's eventual feelings for Zhang Wuji and her ultimate fate.

Zhao Min drugs Zhou Zhiruo because she needs to keep her close for strategic purposes. With Zhou Zhiruo being the new leader of the Emei Sect and knowing the secrets of the Heavenly Sword and Dragon Saber, Zhao Min views her as a valuable asset. By bringing Zhou Zhiruo along on the journey to Ice Fire Island, Zhao Min can monitor her and potentially use her knowledge to further her own plans to obtain the Dragon Saber.

This drugging incident foreshadows the later revelations about Zhou Zhiruo's own deceptions.

Zhang Wuji learns the Grand Diversion skill from rock carvings left by the Ming Guardians' weapons. When Zhao Min reads aloud the details about the Grand Diversion technique that are burned into a rock from the Guardians' weapons, Zhang Wuji absorbs the technique. He then uses this newly learned skill to fight off the Ming Guardians and land safely when attacked on the island.

This skill later proves crucial during the pagoda escape scene.

Zhou Zhiruo pretends to be asleep while Zhao Min steals the Dragon Saber and sails away with her. However, she jumps off the boat mid-voyage and floats back to the island to warn Zhang Wuji about what happened. This act shows her shifting loyalty, she had been coerced by Zhao Min but chooses to return to Zhang Wuji, telling him that she feels they will end up together.

Her return signals her genuine feelings for Zhang Wuji despite the blood oath.

Zhang Wuji leaves with Zhao Min because she reveals that Zhou Zhiruo was the one who drugged him and stole the two swords to obtain the Nine Yin Manual, and that she used Song Qingshu as a scapegoat to rise to leadership of the Emei Sect. Zhao Min also shows Zhang Wuji a piece of hair from his godfather Xie Xun, proving Zhou Zhiruo's schemes. When Zhou Zhiruo attacks Zhao Min, Zhang Wuji protects Zhao Min and chooses to leave with her.

This moment completes Zhou Zhiruo's transformation from love interest to antagonist.

Zhou Zhiruo dies because she is mortally wounded during the final duel at Xie Xun's execution. When Cheng Kun invades the back hall and kills disciples to steal the two swords, Zhou Zhiruo tries to stop him using the Indestructible Vajra skill, but Cheng Kun resists her attack. Zhang Wuji defeats Cheng Kun using skills learned from the Ming Guardians, but Zhou Zhiruo is already fatally wounded in the process. Before dying, she makes Zhang Wuji promise to never fail Zhao Min.

Her death fulfills the tragic arc established by the blood oath early in the film.

Zhao Min drugs Zhang Wuji, Zhou Zhiruo, and Xiaozhao, then steals the Dragon Saber and sails off during the night because her primary goal has always been to obtain the Dragon Saber for her father, the Prince of Ruyang. Despite traveling with Zhang Wuji and developing feelings for him, she remains committed to her family's political agenda. Taking the Dragon Saber and Zhou Zhiruo (who knows its secrets) allows her to fulfill her mission while keeping potential leverage.

This betrayal sets up the wedding-day confrontation and reveals Zhao Min's conflicted loyalties.

Xiaozhao becomes the leader of the Ming Cult because her mother, the Purple Dress Dragon King, is burned alive for losing her virginity, a crime in the Persian Ming Cult's traditions. As the daughter, Xiaozhao is compelled to take leadership of the cult. This role carries obligations that separate her from Zhang Wuji forever, making their reunion impossible.

This explains why Xiaozhao never returns with Zhang Wuji and Zhou Zhiruo to Bright Peak.

Zhou Zhiruo attacks Zhao Min because she is enraged by Zhao Min's interference in her marriage to Zhang Wuji. When Zhao Min forbids the wedding and reveals Zhou Zhiruo's crimes, the drugging, the theft of the swords to obtain the Nine Yin Manual, and the frame-up of Xie Xun, Zhou Zhiruo lashes out in anger and attempts to kill Zhao Min. Zhang Wuji then intervenes to protect Zhao Min.

This violent outburst confirms Zhou Zhiruo's transformation into an antagonist.

Abbess Miejue dies because she is struck by a cold touch attack from a member of the Xuanming Duo during the pagoda escape. While the other sect leaders use Zhang Wuji's Grand Diversion skill to land safely from the burning pagoda, Miejue is fatally wounded by the cold touch attack. She refuses Zhang Wuji's assistance and ultimately dies from her injuries.

Her death paves the way for Zhou Zhiruo to become the new Emei Sect leader.

The Nine Yin Manual is a powerful martial arts manual that Zhou Zhiruo seeks to obtain. She drugs Zhang Wuji and steals the two swords, the Heavenly Sword and the Dragon Saber, which she interlocks together to unlock the hidden Nine Yin Manual. She then uses this manual's knowledge to strengthen her position as leader of the Emei Sect.

The manual's secrets give Zhou Zhiruo the power to challenge Zhang Wuji in the final duel.

Zhao Min reveals Zhou Zhiruo's schemes because she wants Zhang Wuji for herself and needs to destroy his trust in Zhou Zhiruo. By exposing that Zhou Zhiruo drugged him, stole the swords for the Nine Yin Manual, used Song Qingshu as a scapegoat to rise to power, and framed Xie Xun, Zhao Min undermines Zhou Zhiruo's credibility and shifts Zhang Wuji's loyalty to her.

This revelation leads directly to Zhang Wuji choosing Zhao Min over Zhou Zhiruo.