Prologue
Prologue
The Huaxia Continent is a fertile land, mainly inhabited by the Han people. Three hundred years ago, the continent was unified under a single dynasty, but it later perished due to excessive exploitation and tyranny. Afterward, the continent fell into a state of fragmentation, with various warlords controlling their own territories. In such chaotic times, the status of martial arts masters rose to unprecedented heights, and the major sects and noble families that trained these masters became dominant powers in their regions. The product of the alliance of these powers the Martial Alliance became the largest martial organization. In the minds of the people, the leader of the Martial Alliance was held in even higher esteem than the rulers of the divided territories.
Hangzhou is a city renowned throughout the land, known not only for its prosperity but also for its beautiful scenery, especially the area around West Lake, whose beauty is unforgettable. Building a home by West Lake is a dream for countless people, but only a privileged few, namely high officials and the wealthy, can enjoy such a luxury.
By the lakeside stands a sizable villa, the most prominent among all the courtyards by West Lake. Everyone in Hangzhou knows it belongs to the Lü family, the city’s most prestigious clan. When outsiders ask about the Lü family, every local will give a thumbs up, their eyes filled with envy and admiration as they recount its story. Yet, beneath the admiration, some eyes also reveal jealousy.
The Lü family rose to prominence over fifty years ago, under the leadership of Lü Zhengyang. With his mastery of the Haoran Sword Technique, he became the number one martial artist in the land and established the Heroic Chivalry Manor. Over the next thirty years, the manor became the foremost power in the martial world, so much so that even the Martial Alliance often had to rely on it.
Five years after the manor was founded, Lü Zhengyang became sworn brothers with Feng Xiaotian, the then leader of the Martial Alliance and master of the Righteous Manor, the second greatest martial artist. Together, they upheld justice in the martial world.
However, as the saying goes, "The tallest tree in the forest is the first to be felled." After more than twenty years, the Heroic Chivalry Manor became the greatest enemy of the demonic sects, leading to many fierce battles. Twenty-five years ago, a great war broke out. The Martial Alliance joined forces with the Heroic Chivalry Manor against the demonic sects, resulting in heavy casualties on both sides. Lü Zhengyang, Feng Xiaotian, the eight top experts of the manor, and the ten guardians of the Martial Alliance all perished, as did the demonic sect’s leader, dual lords, four kings, and twelve elders. After the battle, most of the top martial artists were dead or wounded. Traditional powers like Shaolin and Wudang regained prominence.
In gratitude for Lü Zhengyang and Feng Xiaotian’s contributions, the righteous martial world protected their descendants. Lü Zhengyang’s son, Lü Hao, became the new master of the Heroic Chivalry Manor, while Feng Xiaotian’s son, Feng Tianhao, inherited the Righteous Manor. However, the two heirs could not have been more different: Feng Tianhao quickly became the greatest young martial artist and, ten years ago, the new leader of the Martial Alliance; Lü Hao, on the other hand, remained extremely low-key after succeeding as master, never fighting anyone, so his strength was a matter of speculation. Although some wanted to challenge him, the heads of the major sects forbade anyone from disturbing him, so no one dared act.
Over twenty years passed, and Lü Hao aged from a young man in his twenties to someone nearing fifty, though he still looked like a man in his thirties a feat only possible with profound internal power. Even Feng Xiaotian did not appear as young as him, leading to rumors that Lü Hao was actually the number one martial artist in the world.
Three years ago, Feng Xiaotian, already the top martial artist, came to the Heroic Chivalry Manor to finally determine who was the best. No one witnessed the duel, but it was said that the sound of weapons clashing lasted three days and nights.
Two days after the duel, Feng Xiaotian left, telling those waiting that after three days of fierce fighting, he had finally won by a single move, rightfully claiming the title of number one. Lü Hao, who lost by one move, became the second greatest martial artist, and the only one who might defeat Feng Xiaotian. The third-ranked, the world’s greatest swordsman, could only withstand fifty moves from Feng Xiaotian. Many said Lü Hao lost due to lack of combat experience, and most agreed.