Prologue
Time: Unknown, but likely from the very, very distant past.
Location: The Vast Land of Asia
Since ancient times, humanity has witnessed countless strange phenomena in the world around us: lightning strikes, torrential rains, natural disasters, and man-made calamities, causing countless deaths and profound suffering—all beyond human control and resistance. Therefore, people believed that gods resided above the nine heavens, and beneath the nine realms of the underworld lay the dwelling place of wandering souls, the palace of Yama, the King of Hell.
Thus, legends of gods and immortals spread throughout the world. Countless people devoutly worshipped the gods they had created, bowing in prayer, offering blessings and charity, pouring out their sorrows, and burning incense in sacrifice.
Since ancient times, all mortals have been destined to die. But people universally fear death and cherish life, and the existence of the underworld and Yama only added to their anxieties and fears. In this context, the concept of immortality arose.
Compared to other creatures, humans may be slightly inferior in physical strength, but their wisdom is undeniable. Driven by the pursuit of immortality, generations of outstanding individuals have dedicated their lives to arduous and painstaking research.
Even today, true immortality remains elusive, but some cultivators have glimpsed the laws of nature, wielding immense power within mortal bodies. They utilize various secret treasures and magical artifacts, enough to shake heaven and earth, possessing the power of thunder.
It is said that some accomplished predecessors have even lived for over a thousand years. The yearning for immortality drives even more people onto the path of cultivation.
China is vast, but only the Central Plains are truly rich and fertile, home to eight to nine tenths of the world's population. The remote border regions of the southeast and northwest are fraught with danger, teeming with ferocious beasts, poisonous miasma, and barbarian tribes that subsist on hunting and gathering, thus their populations are sparse. Ancient legends speak of relics from the distant past, hidden deep in the mountains and forests, existing for millennia, yet never seen by humankind.
Even today, those who seek immortality are as numerous as carp crossing a river. Due to the vastness of the land and the abundance of extraordinary talents, cultivation methods are diverse. The path to eternal life has not yet been fully revealed, and sectarian conflicts and distinctions between good and evil have gradually formed, ultimately leading to sectarian strife, intrigue, and even bloodshed.
As immortality seems increasingly unattainable, the power gained through cultivation has gradually become the goal pursued by many.
In this era, the path of justice flourishes, and the winds of evil recede. The Central Plains, with its beautiful mountains and rivers, dense population, and abundant resources, is firmly occupied by various righteous sects. Among them, the "Qingyun Sect," "Tianyin Temple," and "Fenxiang Valley" are considered the three pillars, leading the tide of justice throughout the Central Plains.
The story begins with the "Qingyun Sect."
