In the vast expanse between heaven and earth lies a realm known as Tianxu, a world where power reigns supreme and the weak are crushed beneath the heels of the strong. This chronicle, penned by the Nameless Wanderer, unveils the secrets of this unforgiving land—from the perilous path of cultivation to the mighty sects that dominate its regions, and the ruthless laws that govern its people. For those who dare to dream of immortality, know this: Tianxu is a crucible of suffering, where only the most determined—or the most ruthless—can rise to the heavens.
The Path of Cultivation: A Journey of Agony and AscensionCultivation in Tianxu is the ancient art of refining one's body, soul, and spirit, a grueling journey toward immortality and power that defies the heavens themselves. Yet, this path is not for the faint-hearted; it demands talent, resources, and an unyielding will, for failure often means death—or worse. Below are the known stages of cultivation in this realm, each a stepping stone to greater power, and each fraught with its own perils.
Lianunionqi (Soul Purification):
The first stage for all cultivators, where one opens their meridians and purifies their soul of worldly impurities. It is divided into 9 layers, from Layer 1 to Layer 9. The challenge lies in awakening the meridians—a process so painful that many without natural talent perish in agony. A poor farmer might toil for decades to reach Layer 1, while a sect disciple with talent could achieve it in mere months.
Lianqi (Energy Refinement):
After purifying the soul, cultivators absorb the energy of heaven and earth, known as Qi, to strengthen their body and spirit. This stage is divided into 3 phases: Early, Middle, and Late. The greatest hurdle is forming an energy core, the Dantian, which requires rare resources like spiritual pills or energy crystals. Without such treasures, progress is nearly impossible. A cultivator at the Late Lianqi Stage, like Huo Wuchang of Yunchuan village, can shatter stone with a single strike.
Jindan (Golden Core):
At this stage, cultivators form a golden core within their Dantian, a monumental step toward immortality. It is divided into 3 phases: Early, Middle, and Late. Forming the core requires a deep understanding of the Dao, the universal path, and surviving the Minor Lightning Tribulation—a heavenly test that can obliterate both body and soul. The leader of the Gray Stone Sect in Yunchuan, Grand Elder Wei Liang, is said to be at the Early Jindan Stage, a formidable figure in the region.
Yuanying (Nascent Soul):
Here, cultivators form a nascent soul within their golden core, allowing their spirit to survive even if their body is destroyed. This stage is also divided into 3 phases: Early, Middle, and Late. The challenge is immense, requiring perfect control of Qi and enduring the Major Lightning Tribulation, a far deadlier ordeal. The leader of the Immortal Mist Sect, Grand Elder Mo Yunshan, is rumored to be at the Middle Yuanying Stage, capable of leveling mountains with a flick of his hand.
Higher Realms (Legends of the Past):
Beyond Yuanying lie realms spoken of only in legends—Huashen (Spirit Transformation), Du Jie (Tribulation Transcendence), and Mahayana (Great Path). It is said that Mahayana cultivators can split the heavens and forge new worlds, but no one in Tianxu has reached such heights in the current era.
The Sects and Powers of TianxuTianxu is a vast continent divided into five major regions: the Northern, Southern, Eastern, Western, and Central Regions. Each region is ruled by powerful sects, with smaller sects and clans serving as their vassals, bound by tribute and loyalty. Below are the major sects that shape the fate of this world.
Immortal Mist Sect (Eastern Region):
One of the strongest sects in the Eastern Region, renowned for their deadly mist techniques, such as the Shadow Mist Technique that weaves terrifying illusions. Led by Grand Elder Mo Yunshan, a Middle Yuanying Stage cultivator, they dominate the region with an iron grip. The Gray Stone Sect, a minor branch in the small village of Yunchuan, answers to them, tasked with collecting tributes from the weak to appease their masters.
Sky Sword Sect (Central Region):
The most powerful sect in Tianxu, famed for their unmatched sword techniques, like the Heaven-Splitting Sword Technique that can cleave the sky. Their leader, Grand Elder Jian Wushuang, is said to be at the peak of the Late Yuanying Stage, on the cusp of reaching Huashen. Every fifty years, they host the Sky Sword Tournament, where young cultivators from across Tianxu vie for rare pills and spiritual weapons—a stage where legends are born.
Eternal Flame Sect (Southern Region):
Known for their mastery of fire techniques, such as the Eternal Flame that can burn the soul itself, this sect is led by Grand Elder Huo Tianlong, an Early Yuanying Stage cultivator. They are locked in a bitter conflict with the Blood Sea Sect, fighting over resources like the Eternal Flame Crystal, a treasure said to amplify fire-based cultivation.
Blood Sea Sect (Southern Region):
An infamous sect of heretics who practice blood techniques, often sacrificing human lives to fuel their cultivation. Led by Grand Elder Xue Wuya, an Early Yuanying Stage cultivator, they are feared and reviled across Tianxu. Whispers speak of their connection to the Blood Poison Crystal, a cursed artifact that can enhance cultivation at a horrific cost—a relic that may one day cross paths with a certain vengeful soul.
Minor Sects and Clans:
Each region is dotted with hundreds of smaller sects and clans, such as the Gray Stone Sect in Yunchuan, typically led by Jindan or Late Lianqi cultivators. The Ling Clan, once a prominent family in the Eastern Region, was reduced to nothing fifty years ago after a resource dispute with the Immortal Mist Sect, leaving its descendants to scrape by in poverty.
The Laws and Life in TianxuIn Tianxu, might makes right. The great sects hoard resources—energy crystals, spiritual pills, ancient techniques—while smaller sects and villages like Yunchuan are forced to pay heavy tributes, often at the cost of their livelihoods. Life in these villages is brutal; farmers and laborers, like the Ling family of Yunchuan, live in abject poverty, extorted by sects like the Gray Stone Sect, who demand "protection taxes" in the form of grain or labor. Weak cultivators, such as Huo Wuchang at the Late Lianqi Stage, exploit their power to oppress the poor, knowing no one dares to resist.
For children like those in Yunchuan, cultivation is a distant dream. Without talent, resources, or a master, most die before even reaching Lianunionqi Layer 1. Yet, whispers of forbidden paths persist—tales of demonic cultivation, a practice that promises rapid power but at the cost of one's humanity. Such cultivators are despised, hunted by sects like the Sky Sword Sect, branded as heretics lower than filth. Still, for those with nothing left to lose, the allure of such power can be irresistible, as the Blood Poison Crystal's legend suggests.
In Tianxu, life is a ceaseless struggle. Great sects wage war for dominance, smaller sects prey on the weak, and the poor can only endure, dreaming of a better life—or, for some, a vengeance that will shake the heavens. This is the world into which Ling Tianhao was born, a world that will forge him in fire and blood, whether he rises as a hero or falls as a demon.