I woke up early, excited for the new day. A strange, electric energy stirred within me—perhaps from the training I was about to undergo, or the secrets I might uncover. With the help of my servant, Sima Baoxiang, I got dressed and prepared. He carefully adjusted my robes with practiced hands, his quiet presence almost comforting.
Once ready, I walked toward the dining hall inside the manor. My father, elder sister, and elder brother were already seated. As usual, my mother wasn't present—I assumed she had already left to attend to her duties. My brother and sister didn't say a word to me, their silence as cold and sharp as ever. My father, gentle as always, looked at me with concern.
"Rin, you don't need to carry the burden of martial arts," he said. "Just follow what I teach you. Be a proper man in this world."
"Yeah, yeah," I mumbled, brushing off his words.
I left for the training ground. As expected, Grandpa was already there, standing with a straight back, his aura calm but powerful.
"Ready for today's training?" he asked with a grin.
"Yes," I replied quickly, eager to begin.
But curiosity got the better of me. "Grandpa, at what stage are the members of our family in martial arts? I want to know."
He chuckled. "Well, your grandfather is a First-Class Warrior. Your mother is at the mid-Master Stage. Your father also practiced martial arts—he's a Third-Class Warrior. Your sister has reached the Second-Class Warrior level. As for your brother…" He paused, his eyes narrowing with mischief. "Why don't you find that out for yourself? Consider it a test."
I nodded slowly, absorbing the information.
"And your grandmother," he added, "is at the mid-Grandmaster Stage."
I stared at him, wide-eyed. "Isn't our clan strong? Why is the strongest warrior in our family only a mid-Grandmaster?"
Grandpa's expression turned serious. "Rin, breaking through martial walls is no easy task. Even reaching Grandmaster is a lifetime achievement for most. Very few reach that stage. But once, our ancestors did have a Transcendent Expert among them."
He walked over to a wooden bench and gestured for me to sit.
"Now," he said, "let's talk about the politics of the martial world. As a martial artist, you must know who not to offend."
He held up four fingers. "There are four key powers you must respect:
• The Ten Great Orthodox Sects
• The Five Great Clans and Five Lesser Clans
• The Five Great Evil Sects
• The Two Palaces of the mainland
And above all, never go against the Empire that rules the mainland."
He began explaining, his tone shifting into that of a storyteller.
"The mainland is ruled by the Great Lan Empire, where the Empress holds supreme authority. However, there's an ancient agreement that forbids the Empire from interfering directly in martial world affairs. Still, with the Empire embroiled in corruption and civil unrest—particularly with constant conflict against the northern tribes—it has grown unstable, like an old lady with a stick, easily swayed."
He exhaled deeply. "Let's start with the Ten Great Orthodox Sects."
The Ten Great Orthodox Sects:
• Shaolin Temple (Mount Song, Henan) – A Buddhist sect with deep roots in history, said to be the source of all martial arts. In this reversed world, Shaolin is run by warrior nuns who uphold righteous principles with unmatched discipline.
• Wudang Sect (Mount Wudang, Hubei) – The strongest Taoist sect, famous for graceful and powerful sword techniques. Known for internal energy cultivation that mimics the flow of nature and serenity.
• Southern Sword Sect (Hainan Coast) – Specialists in sea-based martial arts. Their sword techniques mimic the tides, waves, and currents. They serve as protectors of coastal cities and frequently clash with sea-bound demonic factions like the Evil Dragon Sect.
• Kunlun Sect (Kunlun Mountains, Qinghai) – A Taoist guardian sect tasked with defending the western frontiers from outer Murim threats, especially the Demonic Cult. Known for their powerful formations and cold discipline. They are located near the borders of Tibet and Xinjiang.
• Beggar Sect (Jiangnan Region, Zhejiang) – The largest sect by population, made up of roaming female martial artists who beg, gather intel, and influence politics in the shadows. They are seen as the 'ears' of orthodox Murim.
• Mount Hua Sect (Shaanxi) – A sword sect surrounded by cherry blossom trees. Their techniques emphasize elegance, poetry, and beauty in death. Considered the most 'refined' sword sect in the world.
• Qingcheng Sect (Sichuan) – A Taoist sect that excels in internal energy manipulation and quiet cultivation. Their philosophy is rooted in harmony with the body and mind.
• Emei Sect (Mount Emei, Sichuan) – An all-male Buddhist sect. Its monks are calm and scholarly, focusing on spiritual palm techniques and enlightenment. The reversed gender role world has made them protectors of inner cultivation.
• Mount Mao Sect (Jiangsu) – Known for Taoist magical arts and talismans. They often perform exorcisms, divine readings, and battle evil spirits. A mystical sect with secrets in scrolls and symbols.
• Kongtong Sect (Gansu) – A fusion of Confucian and Taoist beliefs, producing many renowned scholars and martial sages. Their cultivation emphasizes balance, wisdom, and longevity.
The Five Great Clans:
• Namgong Clan (Luoyang, Henan) – Revered for its unmatched sword techniques and righteous legacy. Known as the blade of justice in the martial world.
• Tang Clan (Dazhou, Sichuan) – Feared and respected for poison arts and hidden weapons. Their rule is: repay kindness a thousandfold—and vengeance even more.
• Jegal Clan (Mount Lu, Jiangxi) – Masters of strategy and formations. Their members are scholars, generals, and tacticians who see the battlefield as a chessboard.
• Yang Clan (Hebei) – The ultimate spear clan. From cavalry spear to formation breaking, no one rivals their reach and accuracy. They are deeply military and disciplined.
• Lei Clan (Mountain Valleys of Hubei) – A clan whose martial arts resonate like thunder. Their qi is explosive and aggressive, known for powerful fist arts that shake the ground.
The Five Lesser Clans:
• Lin Clan (Southern Guangxi) – Dual-wielding sword users who fight like a storm. They are agile and sharp, often underestimated.
• Peng Clan (Central Hubei) – Once a great clan, now fallen but still feared for their overwhelming saber techniques.
• Wei Clan (Shaanxi Desert Edge) – Fire qi users who wield flame-touched swords. Their desert roots make them relentless and hard to pin down.
• Xu Clan (Jiangsu) – Mysterious clan specializing in mind-reading, illusions, and spiritual arts. Often accused of sorcery.
• Bai Clan (Hunan Lakeside) – Rivals of the Sima Clan. Elegant palm fighters with graceful footwork. Their arts are both beautiful and deadly.
I interrupted. "Why are they called 'lesser' clans?"
Grandpa chuckled. "Because even one Great Clan could wipe out two or three of them. Their strength simply isn't on the same level."
The Two Palaces of the Mainland:
• Moon Palace – An all-male sect founded by a transcendent-level martial artist. Extremely secretive and elite, they are rumored to possess arts that manipulate moonlight qi.
• Ice Palace (Northern Sea) – Once an outer sect, it earned recognition after helping the imperial family drive out northern tribes. Known for its chilling internal techniques and elegant ice-based sword arts.
The Five Great Evil Sects:
• Hundred Weapon Sect (Wuyue Mountains) – A chaotic melting pot of rogue warriors. Members master multiple weapons and embrace diversity of combat styles.
• Lion Saber Sect (Hubei) – Brutal saber users with unmatched physical strength. Their roars in battle are as terrifying as their blades.
• Hao Sect (Unknown) – The 'unorthodox ears' of Murim. Second only to the Beggar Sect in population. Their spies are everywhere, and no one knows where their base lies.
• Evil Dragon Sect (Black Dragon Island) – Known for their massacres and sea-blood rituals. Constantly battling the Southern Sword Sect for coastal dominance.
• Evil Sound Sect (Mount Wuyi, Fujian) – Cursed melody users. Their martial arts distort perception and destroy minds with vibration and music.
Outside the Mainland – The Outer Sects:
• Demonic Cult (Xinjiang Region) – The original evil, said to be the source of all dark cultivation. Home to the Heavenly Demon legend. Their goal: to bring disaster to the mainland.
• Patola Palace (Tibet, Himalayas) – A Buddhist sect of silent, powerful nuns. They follow a different path of enlightenment, beyond mainstream doctrine.
• Beast Palace (Forbidden Jungles, Yunnan) – A primal sect that tames beasts and fuses with spirit animals. Their martial arts are raw, savage, and powerful.
Grandpa stood and stretched. "We've talked enough for today. Let's continue the training tomorrow."
We walked back to the Sima Clan manor together, my mind spinning from all I had just learned.