Heaven and earth are truly unkind, treating all beings—mortal and celestial—as mere straw dogs in a perpetual, indifferent cycle of creation and destruction.
The realm itself is a vast and ancient territory. While China boasts boundless expanses, the Central Plains remain the most coveted, fertile region, housing the vast majority of the world's population.
Beyond this civilized heartland lie the desolate areas—the southeast, northwest, northeast, and southwest—characterized by treacherous, mist-shrouded peaks, venomous miasma, and the lurking presence of ferocious, ancient beasts and predatory birds.
It is whispered that colossal, primeval creatures, survivors of the ancient epochs, still dwell deep within these unexplored valleys, though their sight remains a prize no living mortal has ever truly claimed.
Yet, this world is not ruled by beasts alone. It is also the domain of those who practice the Great Dao—cultivators who seize the very fortune of heaven and earth. Through rigorous training, they master profound, world-shaking strength with their mortal bodies, wielding potent secret treasures and magical instruments to summon thunder, shatter mountains, and command the forces of nature.
In the current epoch, the forces of righteousness prevail, pushing back the shadows of evil. The Central Plains are firmly held by the upright factions, spearheaded by three supreme pillars of power: the Qingyun Sect, Tianyin Temple, and Fanyin Valley. These three stand as the undeniable leaders, maintaining peace and order across the vast lands.
Towering above them all are the Qingyun Mountains. Majestic and commanding, they dominate the region, their influence radiating outward across the land. A great river, Hongchuan, wraps around the mountain's shady side, while the strategically vital Heyang City stands to the south, acting as a crucial global choke point. The range itself stretches for hundreds of miles, a spectacle of undulating peaks. The highest cluster forms Seven Peaks, soaring so high that their true summits are perpetually veiled by swirling white clouds. A tapestry of dense forests, cascading waterfalls, and oddly shaped, powerful spiritual rocks adorns the slopes, renowned across the realm for their secluded and treacherous beauty.
It is upon this sacred ground that the most famous entity resides: the cultivation sect known simply as the Qingyun Sect.
The scene unfolds on the back mountain of Dazhu Peak, a serene haven within the Qingyun complex.
Above a quiet bamboo forest, a small, vibrant red water chestnut—a magical flying implement—was swiftly navigating the air. It carried two figures: a woman in red, whose stunning beauty and vibrant, youthful energy were immediately apparent, and a man beside her. The man, looking pale and slightly dishevelled, appeared somewhat hollowed out and weak, perhaps due to overwork or a lack of spiritual cultivation. Perched nervously on his shoulder sat a tiny, grey monkey.
BUMP!
Suddenly, without warning or sound, a bolt of invisible purple light tore through the dimensional fabric. Before anyone could react, a golden object, round and compact like a densely packed cannonball, shot out and struck the flying woman with incredible force.
The impact was precise. The golden projectile struck her directly in the arms, catching her completely off-guard.
"Aaaah!"
A scream ripped from the woman's lips. The powerful, unforeseen collision caused her to lose control of the flying Hongling (red water chestnut), and she, along with her disheveled companion, plummeted from the sky.
THWACK!
They hit the ground with a loud, messy bang.
"What in the world?"
The woman lay sprawled on the damp ground, her face momentarily obscured by dust and shock. She raised her head, her beautiful eyes blazing with justified anger. She immediately felt something soft, round, and disconcertingly elastic pressed against her chest—the very object that had caused her catastrophic fall.
"Ouch, that's going to kill Grandpa Pig!"
Suddenly, a high-pitched, childish voice, laced with complaint, sounded directly from beneath her. "Who is it? Will you please get off me? I'm absolutely suffocating under the weight of these two huge, mountainous obstructions!"
Zhu Hao whined, struggling in vain. He had intended to use his Wind and Thunder Wings the moment he left Guanyin's realm, but the velocity of his dimensional jump was too great. He ended up crash-landing directly into the softest, most unforgiving obstacles he had ever encountered.
"A-ah! Monster!"
The woman—Tian Ling'er—screamed again, this time jumping up in pure, startled panic. She looked down, eyes wide with vigilance, at the source of the complaint: a small, furry, golden piglet.
Squeak!
The young man—Zhang Xiaofan—scrambled awkwardly to his feet. The grey monkey on his shoulder began furiously chattering and waving its tiny arms at Zhu Hao, its own shock giving way to territorial hostility.
"Monster? What monster, you uncultured youth? Lord Pig is majestic, divinely handsome, and unbelievably charming! How dare you call me a monster? Your aesthetic taste is atrocious!"
Zhu Hao, annoyed by the insult and the rough landing, zipped up Tian Ling'er's shoulder in a golden blur, settling there and pointing his furry little paw at the young man.
"Monster, what are you planning? Don't you dare hurt my Senior Sister!"
Zhang Xiaofan, despite his visible exhaustion and fear, gripped the axe tightly in his hand, trying to stand between the talking creature and Tian Ling'er.
"And who might you be? Does Lord Pig look like a nefarious villain?" Zhu Hao shot back, pointing his paw accusingly at Zhang Xiaofan.
The young man flinched, startled by the direct, intelligent gaze of the creature. He stumbled backward, losing his balance, and fell yet again to the ground in a clumsy heap.
Tian Ling'er, seeing that the piglet looked genuinely honest, charmingly cute, spoke in a baby voice, and—crucially—seemed to possess no ill will toward them (except maybe a touch of rudeness), started to relax. She bravely extended a white, tender hand, timidly touching Zhu Hao's back.
"Little monster, what's your name?" she asked, her curiosity rapidly overwhelming her fear.
Experience +5
Aha! Physical contact and positive attention yield experience! New strategy confirmed!
"Zhu of the Riot of Colours, Hao of the Lord of Heaven, Zhu Hao, but I answer only to Lord Pig!" Zhu Hao declared, puffing out his chubby chest with immense pride. "Now, where exactly are we? And who, might I ask, are you mortals?"
"This is the back mountain of Qingyun Sect's Dazhu Peak," Tian Ling'er explained, gaining confidence. "My name is Tian Ling'er, and he is my Junior Apprentice Brother, Zhang Xiaofan. My father is the revered head of Dazhu Peak, and he is very powerful!" She subtly brought up her formidable lineage, just in case the cute piglet turned out to be less friendly than advertised.
Experience +5
"This is the world of Zhu Xian?!" The name hit Zhu Hao's mind, and immediately, a system message flashed across his vision.
System Location: Zhu Xian World System Identity Assigned: Brother Qing Yunzi, the founder of the Qingyun Sect!
"BLAST! They gave Lord Pig a truly awe-inspiring identity!" Zhu Hao was momentarily stunned. He recalled his last trip, where he had to forge his own identity. The cost of traveling to the Zhu Xian World—a hefty 500 energy and experience—seemed to have justified the spectacular upgrade in his background.
But wait...
"Qing Yunzi has been dead for over a thousand years! You gave me this identity... but will anyone actually recognize it or grant me respect? It's magnificent, but utterly useless in the short term!" Zhu Hao inwardly complained, realizing the hilarious impracticality of being a dead founder. Still, I suppose claiming to be the ancestor is a fun place to start.
"Lord Pig, tell me, how did you suddenly fall right out of the sky?" Tian Ling'er, completely smitten by the furry object, gently scooped Zhu Hao into her arms, rubbing his chubby body against her robes. She was already mentally planning how she would brag about her new spirit beast. He's so young and speaks so intelligently; he must be a relic of the ancient times! If I can keep him, I'll be the envy of all my friends!
"Lord Pig was flying high in the heavens, minding my own business, when I happened to see a stunning, drop-dead gorgeous beauty below!" Zhu Hao leaned his head into her embrace, spreading his little paws dramatically. "I was so utterly distracted by her overwhelming beauty that I simply fell right out of the sky and directly into her arms! It was fate!"
Tian Ling'er's pretty face flushed crimson at the elaborate compliment. Her heart fluttered as if she had just ingested a pot of honey. Even Zhang Xiaofan, standing nearby, was momentarily mesmerized by the genuine happiness on his Senior Sister's face.
"Hahaha! You are genuinely interesting, and quite the silver-tongued smooth talker! Who taught you such things?" she giggled, gently rubbing the top of his head.
"Does Lord Pig need to be taught? Lord Pig is a natural genius! I learned all my charm on my own, and Lord Pig never, ever lies!" he stated, his little fat face radiating pure, innocent pride.
"Hehe, that's right, Lord Pig is truly awesome!" Tian Ling'er complimented him lavishly. She had decided he was the most perfect creature in existence.
Squeak!
The little grey monkey, perched on Zhang Xiaofan's shoulder, bared its teeth and let out an angry torrent of squeaks at the interloper who was currently occupying the prime real estate on its Senior Sister's chest.
"What are you yelling about, you hairy little peasant? Do you believe Lord Pig can't beat you up right now?" Zhu Hao raised his paw, shouting back with theatrical fury.
"SQUEAK!" The little monkey was outraged and prepared to launch itself at the golden nuisance.
Zhang Xiaofan, recovering his senses, quickly clamped down on the little monkey, holding it back. He glared at the furious creature. "A monster that can talk is bound to be more powerful than you! Are you trying to court death?" What a ridiculously stupid monkey!
"Hehe, Xiaofan, look at this! I'm so impressive—I even managed to find a talking piglet on my way home!" Tian Ling'er crowed triumphantly, holding Zhu Hao tightly and looking down her nose at the common, silent monkey in Zhang Xiaofan's arms. The comparison was clearly stacked: Zhu Hao's majestic, furry form was infinitely superior.
"Well, Senior Sister is certainly amazing!" Zhang Xiaofan mumbled, feeling utterly defeated in the spirit beast competition.
"Come on, let's go back quickly! Dad, Mom, and all the brothers will be worrying!" Tian Ling'er summoned the Amber Red Silk again, preparing to fly back to Dazhu Peak.
"Yes!" Zhang Xiaofan nodded, but just as he approached, a graceful green light rapidly approached from the horizon.
The green light dissolved, revealing a woman of astonishing, mature beauty. She was intellectual, composed, elegant, and possessed a quiet grace that commanded respect.
"Mother!"
Tian Ling'er's face lit up with joy, and she immediately flew into the woman's arms like a returning swallow, clutching Zhu Hao to her chest in the process.
The beautiful woman was Su Ru, the esteemed wife of Tian Buyi, the head of Dazhu Peak. She had grown anxious when her daughter and apprentice hadn't returned by nightfall and had come out to search for them.
"What is this?" Su Ru frowned, immediately feeling a round, distinctly fleshy thing pressed tightly against her chest, a thing that was shifting and moving like a living creature.
"You are suppressing Lord Pig!"
At that moment, Zhu Hao's baby voice sounded again, choked and utterly distressed. He felt an unbearable, crushing pressure.
How can anyone withstand this? The two mountains of Tian Ling'er were tough enough, but now they are reinforced by two more gigantic mountains of her mother! These four mountains are going to crush Lord Pig to death! I cannot breathe! Zhu Hao internally screamed, his brief moment of victory evaporating into a panic of compression.