Chapter One: Jade Void Peak

The vast and rugged Kunlun Mountains, awe-inspiring and magnificent, are shrouded in winter all year round, their peaks blanketed in silver, stretching endlessly towards the sky, with towering summits that pierce the clouds. To stand amidst these grand mountains is to be enveloped by a righteous aura so overwhelming that it stirs awe and reverence in the soul.

The Kunlun range extends for a thousand miles, its undulating peaks forming a myriad of strange and perilous heights. The tallest among them is called Mount Gongger, which rises so high that its summit is perpetually lost within the clouds; on ordinary days, one can only glimpse the swirling mists around its flanks, never the peak itself.

Beside it stand two sister peaks, guarding Gongger: one named Jade Void Peak, the other Jade Pearl Peak. The three summits are less than a hundred miles apart, arranged in the pattern of the character for “rank.” Though not as lofty as Gongger, Jade Void and Jade Pearl are blessed with abundant forests and vibrant life; Jade Pearl in particular teems with rare birds and exotic beasts, lending the landscape a livelier spirit than the solemn heights of Gongger.

Yet more renowned than these mountains is the sect that cultivates on Jade Void Peak—the Xuantian Sword Sect.

The sect traces its origin to the Jade Void Palace, which legend claims was the first place of enlightenment for the Supreme Primordial Sovereign. It was here that the Sovereign attained immortality and established his school upon Jade Void Mountain. The palace once flourished with disciples and wandering immortals, countless in their deep cultivation. In time, as the immortals ascended together to the heavenly realms, the palace was abandoned, left to fall into desuetude.

Across from Jade Void, on Jade Pearl Peak, a different scene unfolded. This steeper, more secluded mountain was unsuitable for human habitation, but attracted a great concentration of beasts who came to cultivate. Since the dawn of the world, when Pangu split heaven and earth, Kunlun had served as the nexus between the mortal and celestial realms; pure spiritual energy gathered here in abundance, making it an ideal place to train. Over time, many spirit beasts on Jade Pearl Peak transcended their forms and became demons. With the decline of Jade Void Peak, the beasts coveted its territory, hoping to expand their strength by seizing it.

Witnessing his sacred ground overrun by demons, the Supreme Primordial Sovereign, though now dwelling high above, was grieved. He dispatched celestial soldiers to descend and hunt the demons, but their numbers were great and they were scattered; despite repeated efforts, many escaped.

One day, a scholar passed by Jade Void Peak. Perceiving the mountain’s tranquil beauty and the abundance of spiritual energy, he decided to make his home there. He was gifted with intelligence but plagued by poverty, having failed to earn scholarly honors and been orphaned in childhood. He dwelled there for years, coming to regard the mountain as his own, spending his days wandering its streams and forests, clearing land and farming, living freely and at ease.

His peaceful existence, undisturbed by the demons, was due to the Sovereign’s secret protection—a boundary was woven around him, keeping dangerous spirits at bay. After years of quiet observation, the Sovereign was moved by the scholar’s perseverance and descended from the heavens to impart upon him the basic methods of Daoist cultivation, though he did not reveal his true identity. The scholar pledged himself as a disciple, promising to study diligently and defend Jade Void Peak from the encroaching demons.

With this stroke of fortune, the scholar devoted himself to cultivation. Twenty years passed, and he achieved modest success. He descended the mountain to test himself in the wider world, earning renown through his abilities. Remembering his master’s commission, he returned to Jade Void Peak after attaining fame.

His first act was to purge the mountain of its demonic beasts. Single-handedly, he spent three days driving them into flight; most fled back to Jade Pearl Peak, and from then on, Jade Void was free of monsters.

He then restored the Jade Void Palace, and, wishing to avoid the attention of the past, renamed the sect the Xuantian Sword Sect, opening its doors to disciples from far and wide. He styled himself the Jade Void Master, and under his leadership, Xuantian Sword Sect became famous throughout the martial world.

Given the proximity to the heavens and the abundance of pure spiritual energy, countless aspirants flocked to the sect, all hoping to one day attain immortality.

Later, the Jade Void Master led his disciples in an assault on Jade Pearl Peak, expelling the stronger demons, though he never established a temple there, leaving a hidden threat for the future. He decreed that every sixty years, the sect must ascend Jade Pearl Peak to hunt demons—both to keep Kunlun pure and to temper his disciples, selecting the most promising to pass on the sect’s greatest secrets.

The Jade Void Master lived for three hundred and fifty-two years, accepting countless disciples. He compiled the Supreme Primordial Sovereign’s teachings into a tome called the Jade Void Immortal Method, instructing his followers never to abandon Jade Void Peak, to defend it, and to persist in hunting the demons on Jade Pearl every sixty years, lest they proliferate unchecked.

His disciples faithfully adhered to his teachings, residing on Jade Void Peak. Yet, as most were of ordinary talent and could not match their founder’s prowess, the demons of Jade Pearl Peak grew stronger. Many, pressed by fierce competition, crept back to Jade Void Peak.

Fortunately, the Jade Void Master had foreseen this and laid a powerful Taiji Eight Trigrams formation around the palace. Even with lesser disciples, the array deterred all but the boldest demons from approaching.

Over time, as the strength of the Jade Pearl demons grew and many reached the feared S-class, the Xuantian Sword Sect stopped its expeditions to Jade Pearl. Instead, each year, they hunted demons in the Dark Forest of Jade Void Peak, using this as a trial to select outer disciples for promotion to the inner sect.

Now, more than two thousand years have passed since the founding of the Xuantian Sword Sect...

The ninth generation’s leader was Master Lingbao, who attained the fourth tier of the Radiant Sun Realm, grade six. In his lifetime, he took seven disciples: Master Yunfeng, Master Yuncang, Master Yunfei, Master Yun’an, Master Yunwu, Master Yunyang, and Master Yunli. Lingbao lived over two hundred and seventy years, perishing in a fierce battle during a demonic invasion at the Well of Gods and Demons—a conflict that severely weakened the sect.

The current leader of the sect, Master Yunfeng, is the tenth generation’s head, now one hundred and eighty-three years old. Though his cultivation has reached only the third grade of the fourth tier Radiant Sun Realm—less than his master—he possesses the bearing of a true immortal.

Serving under Yunfeng are three great elders: the Martial Might Elder, Master Yunfei, who oversees disciples’ training; the Discipline Elder, Master Yun’an, who maintains order; and the Mystical Doctrine Elder, Master Yunli, who instructs in Daoist arts. Other elders include Master Yunyang, who manages the alchemy halls, and Master Yunwu, who oversees the outer disciples.

It has now been twelve years since the last demonic invasion of the Well of Gods and Demons...