In the vast Eastern reaches of the Immortal Soaring Continent lay the celestial isle of Tianshiu, a land set apart and shrouded in the embrace of countless mountain peaks. From the heavens above, Tianshiu appeared as a tapestry woven almost entirely of mountainous terrain.

Ancient whispers spoke of Tianshiu’s origin: a fearsome beast from beyond the stars, slain by the Immortal Ancestor, its remains transformed into this very land. Others claimed that the seventy-two isles of the Immortal Soaring Continent were, in truth, a colossal array designed to suppress seventy-two such celestial horrors.

Even within the thirty-six counties of the ancient kingdom, similar legends persisted. Yet, the truth had faded with the passage of ages, known perhaps only to the exalted ones like the Nine Suns, or the royal bloodlines of the Immortal and Ancient clans.

For ordinary cultivators, the question of suppression held little import. They could not perceive the existence, real or imagined, of these imprisoned beasts.

The rumors of Tianshiu were as old as the land itself. It was said that each of its myriad mountains was a bone of the fallen beast.

Upon Tianshiu thrived two renowned sects: the Returning Unity Sect and the Grand Soul Sect.

These mighty orders dominated Tianshiu, earning them a place among the Nine Sects and Thirteen Houses of the Eastern Reaches. Their disciples were legion, but the vastness of Tianshiu, akin to dozens of Domains combined, meant encounters were rare, and conflicts, though present, were few.

The Grand Soul Sect was especially enigmatic, its practices a bewildering array, focused above all on the manipulation of souls and the weaving of illusions.

Fan Shanmeng, a disciple of the Grand Soul Sect, showcased the sect’s mastery of illusion with her own formidable skill. Legends spoke of the sect’s illusion arts reaching a ninth level, culminating in the ultimate form of illusory reality, a power both terrifying and profound.

The Returning Unity Sect, in contrast, emphasized the mastery of the Five Elements, as well as a unique and lauded art of crafting enchanted armor.

Beneath the two great sects, smaller factions dotted Tianshiu, subservient to the Returning Unity and Grand Soul Sects. Like vassals offering tribute, they were compelled to provide offerings at regular intervals.

The Seven Paths Sect, once led by the Seven-Colored Immortal, was such a sect. Protected by the Grand Soul Sect due to a marriage between a disciple and a cultivator from the larger sect, they also were being watched for other reasons–talent.

In recent decades, the Returning Unity Sect had risen to prominence, producing a core disciple of exceptional talent: Yun Yifeng. Emerging from a long seclusion, his skill was undeniable. He challenged and vanquished all the core disciples of the Grand Soul Sect, and even elders struggled to oppose him.

Yun Yifeng’s reputation soared. He was hailed as the foremost among the younger generation of Tianshiu, and some even dared to place him alongside the Four Prodigies of the Eastern Reaches, dubbing them the Five Peaks.

Yet Yun Yifeng remained humble, dismissing comparisons to the Four Prodigies, not out of self-deprecation, but out of disdain.

Years past, at a tournament, Yun Yifeng unleashed a devastating strike, injuring nine disciples and three elders of the Grand Soul Sect.

When he was once more compared to the Four Prodigies, he uttered words that shook every sect on Tianshiu:

“This sword of mine can wound many. I would gladly face any of the Four Prodigies in battle. The outcome may be uncertain, but I would not falter.

“But there is one cultivator in this world, with but two thousand years of cultivation, before whom I… I dare not draw my sword!

“Not just I, but even the Four Prodigies, are they worthy to be called prodigies before him? In my eyes, among the new generation, none can match him!”

His words sent ripples of shock and speculation through the ranks of cultivators. Who was this mysterious figure?

Who could inspire such awe in Yun Yifeng, to the point of paralyzing his will to fight?

And how could someone, with only two thousand years of cultivation, achieve such heights? If it were true, then the vaunted Four Prodigies of the Eastern Reaches were indeed unworthy to stand in his shadow.

Amidst the uproar, an intriguing detail emerged: no voice of dissent came from the Grand Soul Sect. It seemed they knew this individual well!

The sect’s silence fueled the fires of speculation. What did they know?

Who was he?

The one who could silence Yun Yifeng’s blade, render the Four Prodigies insignificant, and elicit a knowing silence from the Grand Soul Sect, as if they acknowledged his existence? The Returning Unity Sect too, remained silent, as if they, too, knew who he was!

Who was he?

“He will appear,” Yun Yifeng finally said, in the most recent comment made about the mysterious man. “When he does, you will know.”

Though years had passed, the legend of this mysterious figure had not faded from Tianshiu. On the contrary, the whispered tales had only grown more elaborate.

Yet, it remained a question without an answer. Those who knew the truth remained silent.

In time, the fervor subsided, the legend settling into the hearts of those who had heard it. Perhaps one day, they would learn the identity of this enigmatic being.

The Azure Dragon Sect, a mid-tier sect on Tianshiu, controlled a territory comparable to half the Kunxu Starfield. To cultivators from the Domain Worlds, it was a behemoth, dwarfing even the Thunder Immortal Palace or the old Alliance of Cultivators. But in the Immortal Soaring Continent, it was merely commonplace.
Upon the Celestial Continent, whispers claimed the existence of thirty thousand immortal sects and arcane lineages. Whether truth or mere fancy, none could say with certainty. Yet, it was undeniably so that each sect differed vastly from the last. The Azure Dragon Sect, despite its draconic name, held no true connection to the noble beasts, for its disciples trod a different path altogether.

The disciples of the Azure Dragon Sect were masters of automatons and cunning clockwork constructs. These marvels served as extensions of their own being, weaving intricate spells and unlocking formidable powers. A fledgling novice, upon entering the sect, was tasked with crafting a personal golem, a simulacrum to accompany them upon their journeys. These constructs, like the disciples themselves, were varied in strength and quality, ranked according to their craftsmanship and composition.

The finest of these golems were crafted not only from enchanted wood and intricate gears but also from the remains of formidable beasts or even the fallen bodies of rival cultivators. While the art of crafting such constructs was known to some degree amongst other sects, the Azure Dragon Sect held a unique mastery. They had uncovered the secret of transferring their very souls into these constructs, achieving a form of immortality, an eternal existence within the unyielding frame of their artificial bodies.

Rumor held that the sect’s most venerable elder, Du Qing, a master of the Void Tribulation stage, was in truth a being of wood. Though he appeared as a man, when invoking his formidable powers, the tell-tale grain of his wooden form was plainly visible.

Throughout the Heavenly Bull Continent, the Azure Dragon Sect held a fearsome reputation. Its disciples, and even its elders, were known to acquire their desires through any means necessary, with robbery and murder being commonplace.

Yet, due to the deep ties between the elder Du Qing and the Soul Stealers’ Gate, few dared to challenge the sect’s reign of terror within the Heavenly Bull Continent.

The Azure Dragon Sect was selective in its depredations, avoiding those who posed too great a risk. Their primary targets were often foreigners, unsuspecting cultivators who dared to traverse the Heavenly Bull Continent.

The disciples of the sect spent much of the year wandering abroad, gathering information for their masters. Should they encounter an opponent too strong to face alone, they would summon their brethren, descending upon their prey in a fearsome pack.

One such disciple was Kang Ren, a third-generation scion of the Azure Dragon Sect. Possessing a cunning mind and a ruthless heart, he had earned a wicked reputation amongst his peers and was favored by the elders. His sharp eye could discern weakness, ensuring that the sect avoided unnecessary troubles.

Despite his handsome features and charming demeanor, few, even amongst the second-generation disciples, dared to cross him, for beneath the surface lurked a venomous nature.

On this day, Kang Ren soared through the heavens, his eyes narrowed, journeying towards the borders of the Heavenly Bull Continent. He hoped to prey on some hapless traveler from a distant land. As he flew, a sudden disturbance erupted in the skies before him!

The very fabric of the sky tore asunder, revealing a shimmering rift of ethereal light. From this rent in reality, a lone figure was ejected, a coffin strapped to his back, plummeting towards the earth below.

The event unfolded in an instant, the rift vanishing as quickly as it had appeared, leaving no trace of its existence.

Kang Ren stared in stunned disbelief, rubbing his eyes. Never had he witnessed such a spectacle. He gazed at the spot where the rift had opened, wondering if it had been a mere illusion.

But soon, a thrill coursed through him, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. He turned and sped towards the falling figure, his heart pounding.

“An anomaly! A problem! Treasure!” Kang Ren muttered to himself. These three words were the first lines of the sect’s founder, Du Qing’s, teachings.

Through the years, every disciple of the Azure Dragon Sect had taken these words to heart.

An anomaly suggests a problem, and problems often lead to treasure. Kang Ren pushed his body to its limits, summoning a protective magical artifact that shimmered around him like a second skin. He streaked through the air like a comet, soon hearing a deep rumble in the distance.

Ahead, amidst a range of mountains, the figure bearing the coffin had crashed, smashing into a mountain peak. The impact had shattered the mountain, revealing the form of a white-haired youth, lying motionless among the rubble.

“Such resilience of the flesh!” Kang Ren thought, his eyes burning with avarice, as he cautiously approached his fallen prey.