The story unfolds in the world of xianxia—a setting of medieval China where cultivators harness Qi, battle malevolent spirits, and strive for immortality. This world is divided among five great clans: the bellicose Qishan Wen clan, driven by a thirst for total dominion; the disciplined Gusu Lan clan, famous for their impeccable reputation and adherence to thousands of precepts; the wealthy and influential Lanling Jin clan, which maintains its status through gold, connections, and political intrigue, though its glittering facade hides deep-seated rot; the stern Qinghe Nie clan, whose cultivators constantly balance on the brink of madness due to their cursed sabers; and the free-spirited Yunmeng Jiang clan, symbolized by the lotus, which prizes family bonds and a sense of ease. The clans oscillate between fierce rivalry and fragile alliances, but in this world, there is only one law: survival of the fittest. Meanwhile, ordinary people are terrorized by creatures ranging from resentful spirits denied peace to risen corpses that cultivators are sworn to subdue. Yet, evil takes many forms—sometimes, darkness is born not from the shadows, but from human cruelty.
