One woman's quest for freedom and justice through lying, engineering, friendship and mind games. In a world of immortals and demon beasts, of spiritual energy and cultivation, where a modern empire seeks to break old blood debts and dispel superstitions, bring peace and equality among species and peoples, and resist the Heavens that smite all those who step out of line - one Qian Shanyi, a young cultivator, is drawn into the orbit of a classical xianxia protagonist, whose luck is so great it gushes out of his ears. Can she survive, thrive, and ascend into Heavens like a phoenix, with nothing more than her cunning and tenacity as tools? It starts with engineering and turns into tax evasion, but at the heart of it one question: cultivation is the ultimate freedom, but what does freedom mean when the Heavens hold all the cards? Tags: Female lead, pocket dimensions, "The Martian"-style engineering, mindgames, xianxia, philosophy, civics in a xianxia world, opposition to "might makes right" What to expect: Complex motivations and characters with varied perspectives Looking at various xianxia tropes through a different lens Rebelling against the Heavens, and what it means to be a cultivator Complex xianxia world that isn't built on "might makes right" Civics of a xianxia empire dealing with living weapons A lot of problem solving and mind games Complex and detailed magic system Engineering, politics and economics of sect building. What not to expect: Isekai, blue boxes, etc Misery porn (protagonist laughs in the face of problems) Romance