Prologue

The Dragonback mountains have always been famous across the Golden continent. Lush forest of ancient trees and immortal herbs spread from the hills of the imaginary tail and rooted themselves along the towering chains representative of a dragon’s enormous back. 

The epic sight of this natural wonder ended at the head of a gargantuan mountain that pierced the heavens and overlooked the deep blue ocean.

Mortals spoke of an eternal city hidden above the clouds, filled with grand palaces, ethereal gardens, lonely pavilions, and monumental courtyards.

The abode of immortals.

Currently, under the twin moons of the vast night sky, this mythological city lay shrouded under blazing flames and dense smoke. Scorching fire consumed the large palaces, melting the gold and gemstone architectures. Embers rose in the wind, carrying the smell of burnt wood and bodies. Wails of anguish cut across the clashing sounds of steel.

On a large precipice overlooking the floating clouds, a young man kneeled to one knee on the barren rock while supporting himself with a hiltless sword. Heaving heavily, he spat out a mouthful of blood before forcing himself into a defensive stance. His impeccable moonlight gown with silvery threads wept with tears and patches of blood. 

Narrowing his eyes, he gazed like a cornered tiger, on the ones trying to inveigle him.

“Third brother, why must you act so righteous? Dragoncrown sect is dead. Hundred Poison Valley and Desert Giant Sect have cast an Earthbound Seal around the mountain, no one can escape. Hurry and hand over the scroll, you can still save many disciples that way.”

“Second Brother speaks the truth, stop being so stubborn. From today this sect is no more. Enough talk, since you refuse, then all that remains is death.”

The half-circle grew menacingly closer with a dozen old and young men barring various weapons like a pack of hyenas. The glimmer in their red eyes only leaked lust and an evil desire to claim the fabled treasure.

“Halt!”

The attackers paused as if regaining their senses for but a time. The crowd parted in the center, allowing a young woman of exquisite beauty to appear. Like the moon goddess descending on the wretched world of darkness, she wove herself forward at a pace which ensnared the hearts of men.

Black, silky hair cascaded down her slim shoulders and back, with the tip caressing the place of every man’s dream. Captivating oval eyes, on a gentle face crafted to overthrow an empire, blinked and offered solace. The fitted red dress interwoven with gold threads and gemstones left little to the imagination.

A fairy, this was a fairy.

“Third brother, grandfather is besieged by the patriarchs of Poison Valley, Giant Sect, and five of the greatest Sects of Golden Continent. Resistance is futile. Join us, stand by my side and become greater.”

Lowering the glowing yellow sword at her side, she deftly picked her way across the corpses littering the ground. Glancing at a burly body sprawled on the ground with open eyes and a red-bearded face she spat the word useless, before casting a virtuous face.

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Half the men on this ledge would kill themselves if she requested it, the other half would kill their own parents. When her father connived with the great sects to usurp the Patriarch, her own grandfather for the high position, she had been instrumental in gathering the young heroes of the present century. All of them, dead and alive, joined because of her. 

Except one...

Her Grandfather’s only direct disciple.

“Sister Lan. I never thought you would have betrayed the Sect. No wonder Elder Brother fought me to the death.”

The clean-shaven man spat a tooth to the left, causing the nearby assailants to unconsciously retreat a few steps. The heroes here might have lived for a century, or even more, but facing this man less than a hundred, they could only cower.

Men swept through armies, Heroes killed dragons. Yet none of them dared to attack single-handedly with honor.

“Looks like Sister Lan can only surround herself with this much. This orphan suffered alone for the first ten years of his life before Master rescued him from the darkness. Did Sister Lan really think by whittling time, she could defeat me? Most of this blood is not mine...”

For the first time this night, the young woman scowled. A viciousness never seen before, flashed across her jade-white face. 

“Kill him!”

Swords weaved casting flickering shadows, spears pierced like lightning strikes, daggers zipped across the mists of blood. When the dust settled, the young man stood at the edge of the precipice with blood flowing down his robe. Half a dozen more Heroes had joined their comrades lying stiff, forever on the rock.

Sister Lan unconsciously stepped back as those calm eyes rested on her.

“No one will ever have the secrets of my Master, just as Sister Lan will always have a flat chest.”

The young man smiled as he dropped from the cliff.

“Nooo!”

One of the wounded men rushed to the cliff, but it proved too late. Every survivor of this skirmish earned a memorial from acting on this ledge. A lost ear, a few fingers, a nose, a foot…

Immortality did not grant the ability to regrow limbs. Considering the comrades and rivals walking to the halls of death, they might be more fortunate, but they gained nothing. These scars represented devil hearts which now, could never be overcome.

Sister Lan turned from the edge of the precipice. Only death awaited those who fell from here. Below this thousand high drop lay the Everlasting Vortex in the ocean. Not even an Immortal could escape. Much less for one who couldn’t fly.

Men hunt beast,

Heroes slay dragons,

But Gods. Gods annihilated devils…

A large party of a few dozen members of the various sects stumbled towards them. Dismay and fear was written on their faces. Her eyes locked on the man clutching a shoulder missing its limb. Terror occupied the pale face of her father.

“We have to flee, the old man lied, the Council of Elders have always remained alive in meditation at the heart of the mountain. The other patriarchs are dead. The Sect will torture us for centuries, all that can save us is the Scroll to barter our lives.”

Before Sister Lan could voice her failure, the pair of silk straps on her shoulders suddenly snapped. The exquisite, long dress dropped to her feet revealing her jaded skin and hidden features. For some time the world paused.

“They, they really are small…”

“Curse that suicidal bastard for defaming me! I’ll kill him in the halls of Yama...”

When the Patriarch and Elders of the Dragoncrown Sect arrived, the insurgents stood rooted on the precipice while gazing towards the swirling whirlpool far below the clouds.