In the beginning, the world was a vast and empty void, a silent expanse of nothingness. Over countless millennia, the continents shifted, and life began to emerge from the primordial soup. Among the myriad forms of life, humanity found its place. Perhaps, in those early days, there were no gods to speak of. But as humans beheld the wonders around them—lightning and thunder, raging storms, natural disasters, and man-made calamities—they started to believe in the existence of deities in the heavens above and spirits dwelling in the underworld below, with hell as their fiery abode.
Thus, the legends of gods and spirits spread throughout the world. Countless devout believers built grand temples to honor these imagined deities, offering prayers and incense in fervent hope and solemn complaint.
On this vast and boundless continent, the central regions were the most fertile and prosperous, home to nine-tenths of the population. The frontier lands, however, were a different story—perilous and untamed, with treacherous mountains and dangerous waters. These regions were plagued by beastly tribes and battling demons, inhabited by uncivilized savages who lived primitively. As a result, these areas were rarely traversed by ordinary humans.
Ancient lore whispered of arcane arts from antiquity, hidden deep within the mountains and valleys. Those who wielded these arcane arts were said to gain extraordinary power and immortality, scoffing at all worldly sorcery and artifacts. Yet, no one had ever laid eyes on these mysterious practitioners.
In the present day, the pursuit of magical cultivation and immortality had become widespread, with countless practitioners honing their skills. The vast expanse of the continent was teeming with individuals of extraordinary talent, each following diverse and intricate methods of cultivation. Though the ultimate arcane art of immortality remained undiscovered, different sects and factions had begun to take shape, with good and evil standing in stark opposition. Sectarian conflicts, intricate schemes, and even fierce battles and bloodshed had become all too common.
In this world teeming with mystical arcane arts and ancient secrets, the quest for power and eternal life drove humanity to its limits, as legends continued to be forged in the crucible of time.
Phantasmal Academy, an ancient magical institution nestled in the heart of the continent, serves as the cradle for all Arcanists. Situated against towering mountains and guarding the city of Valoria, the academy enjoys a strategic location surrounded by majestic rivers and an unbroken chain of eight peaks, each corresponding to one of its eight departments.
With a history spanning over a millennium, Phantasmal Academy stands as the premier institution of the land. Legends tell of the Witchkin, once the most formidable tribe of the continent, thriving on the abyssal borders of the southern territories. They wielded the secrets of sorcery and curses, drawing immense power from an ancient sacred tree whose roots penetrated deep into the earth, tapping into subterranean arcane energies. The Witchkin's formidable strength was further augmented by their ancient rite, the Shamasoul Rite, a potent arcane art passed down through generations, which elevated them to unparalleled heights.
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King Haruk, a cunning and powerful ruler of the Witchkin, harbored grand ambitions of unifying the continent under his dominion. For years, the Witchkin covertly amassed their strength along the abyssal borders, biding their time. Several centuries ago, Haruk deemed the moment ripe and launched an unprecedented campaign against Valoria, the largest central city of the Issis continent.
Valoria, a bustling metropolis backed by Phantasmal Academy, housed a population predominantly composed of ordinary folk, with a few Arcanists who were disciples of the academy. As war loomed, reinforcements from Pantheocrypt and Qingrun Peak arrived hastily, transforming what seemed like a one-sided battle into a protracted struggle.
The vast and formidable Witchkin army marched through the abyss, advancing towards Valoria. The ominous skies echoed with their war drums, filling the air with the scent of death and destruction. Haruk stood atop a battlefield ridge, gazing confidently at the horizon, certain that this campaign would secure the Witchkin's triumph over the other three factions and fulfill their ancient aspiration.
Within Phantasmal Academy, Headmaster Farnoth convened all elders and disciples to prepare for the Witchkin onslaught. Despite their formidable power, the academy's forces struggled against the well-prepared Witchkin army. Pantheocrypt and Qingrun Peak were steadily pushed back by relentless Witchkin assaults.
As the flames of war reached the academy's gates, Farnoth resorted to the legendary forbidden spell—Primordithunder. This ancient and powerful spell, its origins shrouded in mystery, was said to be the foundation upon which Phantasmal Academy was built. Legends spoke of its ability to tear the heavens asunder and obliterate any adversary, though none had witnessed its might firsthand.
Under the watchful eyes of all, Farnoth harnessed the collective power of the academy's Arcanists and initiated the Primordithunder ritual. The sky darkened with storm clouds, lightning crackled, and thunder roared as an immense bolt of lightning descended from the heavens, striking the Witchkin army with unparalleled fury. The Witchkin warriors fell under the devastating onslaught, and Haruk was forced to retreat, leading his surviving troops back to the abyssal borders.
Thus, the Witchkin's invasion was decisively thwarted.
In the aftermath of the great war, the Issis continent enjoyed a period of relative peace. The four major factions delineated their territories, and the Witchkin, diminished from their former glory, retreated to the fringes of the abyssal borders, struggling to survive on meager resources as a consequence of their wartime losses.
Phantasmal Academy, however, stood resilient in the continent's center, nurturing generation after generation of Arcanists. With nearly a thousand disciples and a continuous emergence of experts, the academy's renown rivaled that of Pantheocrypt and Qingrun Peak, cementing its status as one of the three great sects of the continent. The current headmaster, a prodigious talent of unparalleled skill, was recognized as one of the continent's foremost masters.
This illustrious reputation propelled Phantasmal Academy to unprecedented heights. Factions from across the land eagerly sent their members for exchange and study, while ordinary folk aspired fervently to enter the academy, mastering the arcane arts to bring honor and glory to their families.