Setting Out From The Snowy Peak

Introduction

The Illusory Realm of China—an ancient land celebrated for millennia—is a place where mountains and waters harmonize like a living painting set between heaven and earth. Layer upon layer of mountains roll like waves, white clouds wreathe jade-like peaks, and long rivers meander like silver ribbons draped across the landscape. The realm spans hundreds of provinces and thousands of counties; each province possesses a unique character, while every county harbors a legend that has never faded with the passage of time.

Legend has it that in the primordial era—before the realm's boundaries were clearly defined, when heaven and earth were in chaos, spiritual energy ran wild, and demonic calamities ravaged the land—four great clans of the Spirit-Beast Kin stepped forward to guard the cardinal directions and restore cosmic order.

In the East, the Azure Sea Black Dragon clan plunged into the abyss, using their spiritual power to suppress the "Sea Eye" and prevent tidal surges from swallowing the coastal settlements.

In the West, the Mount Tai Giant Ape clan—possessing bodies as massive as mountains—guarded the dragon veins, crushing earthquakes that threatened to tear the continent apart.

In the South, the Deep Forest Nine-Tailed Fox clan wielded illusions to shield living beings from malevolent forces, guiding humanity toward survival amidst the chaotic spiritual energies of the deep woods.

In the North, the Snow Mountain Spirit Leopard clan sealed the frozen wastes, halting the spread of frigid tides into the central lands and saving crops from being frozen solid forever.

In those days, there was no hierarchy distinguishing humans from the Spirit-Beast Kin.

Together, they built cities and cultivated the land; together, they withstood natural disasters and demonic scourges. In many places, humans erected altars and carved the names of these clans onto stone monuments, honoring them as the "Guardian Spirit Clans of the Realm." Children grew up hearing tales of the Flood Dragons leaving the sea, the Giant Apes lifting mountains, the Lake Clans guiding the way, and the Snow Leopards standing guard—revering them as guardian deities living among humankind.

It was an era when power commanded respect rather than fear; a time when differences were not barriers, but sources of mutual complement.

Yet, as the heavens and earth stabilized and the scourge of monsters waned, humanity no longer faced the existential threats of the past.

Consequently, that reverence began to fade, replaced by wariness and fear.

But everything truly changed with the cataclysm known as the "Tidal Chaos."

It occurred during the twilight of the primordial age, shortly after the world had found stability. In the East—the domain guarded by the Profound Flood Dragon Clan—an ancient "Sea Eye" suddenly convulsed. Spiritual energy surged violently from the ocean depths, sending mountain-sized waves crashing against the shore and submerging countless coastal villages.

As always, the Profound Flood Dragon Clan moved swiftly to quell the disturbance. But this time, something went terribly wrong.

Amidst the chaos, a powerful warrior of the clan lost control after forcibly channeling excessive spiritual energy, transforming into a half-beast form right on the battlefield. His power skyrocketed, yet he descended into a frenzied state. The raging waves ceased to distinguish between friend and foe; villages were obliterated, humans were swept away by the torrents, and even his own kin were injured.

Although the clan eventually joined forces to seal him away and stabilize the Sea Eye, the cost was devastating. Thousands of human lives were lost in a single night.

News of the disaster spread rapidly across the continent.

For the first time, humanity realized a chilling truth: the power of the beast-kin, if left unchecked, was no different from a natural disaster. Following the Hai Trieu Rebellion, the human imperial court began issuing the first regulations aimed at controlling the beast-kin. Initially, these measures were limited to registration, surveillance, and restrictions on large gatherings.

Then, another incident occurred.

In the West, during a battle against demonic beasts, a group from the Giant Ape clan—provoked into a frenzy—razed an entire town, causing significant loss of life among the populace. Although the tragedy stemmed from a misunderstanding amidst the chaos of war, to the human race, it served as further proof of the terrifying power possessed by the beast-kin.

Fear took root; fear bred control, and control gradually hardened into oppression.

Regulations grew increasingly draconian: beast-kin were barred from holding military command, excluded from state affairs, and f*******n from leaving their designated territories without authorization. Titles such as "Guardian Spirit Clan" vanished from historical records, replaced by colder, harsher terms: "aberrations," "threats," and "subjects requiring containment."

Not all humans harbored hatred toward the beast-kin, yet from that point on, no one ever fully trusted them again.