Prologue
In the beginning, heaven and earth were nothing but chaos, an expanse of utter darkness. The beings within the chaos yearned for light, and so they exhausted their very life force, forging a blade powerful enough to cleave the void—the Blade of Desolation.
Heaven and earth split, light burst forth, and thus the Nine Continents were born!
Yet the beings perished in the process, and the Blade of Desolation became shrouded in dust, its whereabouts lost to time. Still, as long as there is light in this world, there remains hope! What joy can there be in eternal life if one dwells only in chaos?
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The Nine Continents are linked by unseen passages, yet none who dwell within know where these paths lie.
All things in heaven and earth possess spiritual energy and vital force. Yaohua Continent, one of the Nine Continents, is not the largest in expanse, but it boasts the richest spiritual energy, making it the ideal land for warriors and beastfolk to cultivate.
Countless millennia have passed. Because the human body’s vital force is limited and cannot be replenished from the outside world, warriors must convert the spiritual energy of heaven and earth into true energy within themselves. This true energy then flows without end, even to the point of being released to harm enemies. True energy, also called Innate Qi, marks its cultivators as Innate Warriors.
On Yaohua Continent, warriors are divided into three realms: Mortal Warriors, Innate Warriors, and Transcendent Warriors. Each realm contains further subdivisions.
Legend has it that Transcendent Warriors can share the lifespan of heaven and earth itself, transforming the power of the world into the force of their own soul. If the soul endures, so shall they exist forever!
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Yet legends remain but legends. Across ten thousand years, not a single Transcendent Warrior has reached such heights.
Except for the unclaimed northern realm of Qingsnow, the western Wildlands, Central Plains, Eastern Liang, and Southern Waters of Yaohua all fall under the dominion of the Human Emperor.
The Central Plains and Southern Waters were once territories of the Phoenix Flame Kingdom, which also held vassal states and subordinate tribes in other regions.
Phoenix Flame boasted an ancient heritage and profound foundations. Yet its last Human Emperor, Luo Fu, favored literature over martial might, causing most warriors to flock to martial sects and noble families, leaving the royal house greatly weakened.
Seizing this opportunity, Duke Dugu Bancheng of Wuling launched a coup, usurped the throne, and established the Qianwu Dynasty, setting his capital at Yanyang.
Dugu Bancheng stands at the threshold of the Transcendent Realm, needing only a single opportunity to ascend. Still, his ambition and thirst for power far surpass his longing for immortality. His pursuit of martial mastery is not for the legendary Transcendent Body coveted by all, but rather to add weight to his quest for dominion over the continent.
Half the continent beneath his feet was not enough; seizing all of Yaohua was his ultimate goal, including the sacred domain of Qingsnow, which only Transcendent Warriors may enter!
The Qianwu Kingdom abolished the feudal system, establishing thirteen Circuits, each overseeing two or three Prefectures, with counties beneath.
The thirteen Circuits are: Dingbei, Hexi, Jiannan, Shannan, Guanyuan, Jiangbei, Huaidong, Ningyuan, Miaonan, Xiangnan, Wuling, Fadong, and Annan.
Dingbei Circuit is the closest to Qingsnow. The capital, Yanyang, lies within its borders, a clear testament to Dugu Bancheng’s boundless ambition.
Moreover, to weaken the strength of the martial world, he established the Five Elements Ranking, the Earth Ranking, and the Clear Sun Ranking, based on the warriors’ levels.
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In this way, warriors competed fiercely for higher rankings, suffering losses and even forging bitter, mortal enmities. Should a defeat instill a heart demon, their cultivation would stagnate, making progress in their realm all the more difficult.
As the martial world weakens, the court grows stronger—a pattern no continent can escape.
Yet dynasties rise and fall, but the martial world endures!
Wherever people gather, there is a martial world—steadfast and unyielding, no matter how the winds of change may blow.
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A warrior is a hero.
Once, they would ride tall steeds, mete out justice with sword and blood, and roam the land with passion and honor. But now, the warriors of Qianwu care only for seizing cultivation resources to ascend to greater realms or for trampling others to gain fame.
In the beginning, the beings of chaos exhausted their life force and abandoned eternal bodies for a single instant of blinding light that shattered the world. Yet now, warriors sacrifice everything for the sake of immortality, committing unspeakable acts.
How tragic, how lamentable! Has the world truly lost all trace of chivalry and compassion?