The rise of the Four Great Powers and the royal family.

In the current martial world, there are four great powers: the Imperial Family, the Daoist Alliance, the Evil Sect, and the Taiji Society. These are divided into two main conflicts: the first between the Imperial Family, representing the court, and the rebellious Taiji Society; the second between the Daoist Alliance and the Evil Sect.

The current strength hierarchy is classified into ten ranks: Jia, Yi, Bing, Ding, Wu, Ji, Geng, Xin, Ren, and Kui. Presently, the emperor, the Daoist Alliance leader Zhang Tianshi, the Evil Sect’s head, and the Taiji Society’s leader are all masters of the Jia rank. Above Jia lies the legendary “Yuan” rank. Upon reaching Yuan level, one instantly ascends to the Celestial Realm beyond the heavens, severing all ties with the mortal world. However, descendants have developed special methods to allow these Yuan-level Celestial beings to descend through divine incarnations into the mortal realm. Such a descent requires a vessel; the stronger the vessel, the more powerful the divine incarnation. For example, if an expert of Yi rank uses their own body as the vessel, the divine incarnation gains the strength of a Jia master, though this causes great harm to the vessel itself. Moreover, the descent is bound by the laws of Heaven and may only last the duration of an incense stick’s burning.

That said, being Jia rank does not mean invincibility. There is a saying in the martial world: three equals one. Three masters of the same rank can match one master of the rank above. For instance, three Yi-level experts could contend with a single Jia-level master. However, this depends on high coordination and tacit understanding among the trio; if three individuals are temporarily grouped without synergy, the Jia master can defeat them one by one.

The Daoist Alliance consists of twelve sects, each named after one of the twelve zodiac animals: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, and so on.

The Evil Sect is composed of eight major factions, named after the Eight Gates of Qimen Dunjia: Life, Death, Scenery, Rest, Injury, Startle, Open, and Halt.

Within the Taiji Society there are four ranks: Taiji, Two Forms, Four Symbols, and Eight Trigrams. The highest leaders bear the Taiji rank; the elders’ council holds the Two Forms; the Four Symbols are managers and branch leaders; and the Eight Trigrams are ordinary disciples.

The currency circulating in the martial world is called “Spirit Jade,” which comes in seven grades: Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, and Purple. Beyond these, the supreme grade is the “Yin-Yang Jade.” According to calculations by a great sage of the former dynasty, there can be no more than twelve Yin-Yang Jades in the mortal world. Their energy is inexhaustible and unlike other jades, which are lifeless, the Yin-Yang Jade possesses consciousness. It selects its host for symbiosis harmlessly, though the host remains unaware. When danger arises, the Yin-Yang Jade protects its host and reveals itself, often triggering a bloody storm thereafter.

Of course, Spirit Jade is a high-level currency; the common people still primarily use silver coins.

The current Sovereign is a ruthless iron-blooded ruler. To resolve the Taiji Society’s rebellion and the coastal Wokou (Japanese pirate) menace, he implemented sweeping reforms that strengthened central authority and boosted the Imperial Family’s power beyond the other three great factions. This emperor is Gongsun Hanjian. Upon ascending the throne, he appointed Wang Shian to carry out reforms, renaming the nation “Great Xuan” and the era “Kai Xuan.”

In the first year of Kai Xuan, Wang Shian thoroughly reformed the imperial examination system, instituting a universal civil service exam open to all. Previously, advancement required passing successive exams to become a scholar, a candidate, and so forth. Now, all talents could participate once yearly, with two stages: preliminary and secondary exams. The exams were divided into four disciplines: “Governance,” “Divine Machinery,” “Gunpowder,” and “Military Affairs.” Candidates registered according to their specialties; those who passed the second exam received official appointments.

By the second year of Kai Xuan, top scholars emerged in each discipline: Zhuge Ming in Governance, Laiter in Divine Machinery, Locke Bell in Gunpowder, and Du Yuming in Military Affairs.

In the fourth year, Divine Machinery improved the matchlock gun from the previous dynasty, which could only fire single shots. The new weapon, called the “Kai-4 Rapid-Fire Matchlock,” enabled continuous fire.

By the ninth year, the second-generation Divine Machinery top scholar, Ba Leit, enhanced the matchlock’s single-shot power and precision, creating the “Kai-9 Precision Matchlock.”

In the fifteenth year, under Du Yuming’s theory of “Air Control,” a revolutionary invention was realized by Laiter of Divine Machinery: the flying boat. Inspired by kites, he first developed a vehicle capable of carrying ordinary people aloft and then equipped it with Kai-4 matchlocks to provide combat capabilities. This was known as Kai-15. By the twentieth year, it was further improved as Kai-20.

In the twenty-fifth year, a similar craft—the “Wind Boat”—emerged. Unlike the flying boat, the Wind Boat lacked direct attack power but could carry newly developed powder bombs from the Gunpowder discipline. Flying over ground targets, it would drop these bombs for large-scale strikes to support ground troops.

In the twenty-sixth year, a rebellion in Dongguang Province was crushed in just six days through the combined use of Wind Boats and Flying Boats, shaking the entire court and nation. The emperor rejoiced: “Such divine weapons truly exist!”

By the thirtieth year, Jiangzhe and Jianfu provinces undertook military reforms. Du Yuming personally supervised, with full imperial support. By the thirty-fifth year, the first armored official river patrol ship, officially named the “Kai-35 Armored River Patrol,” was launched in Jiangzhe Province.

In the fortieth year, Jianfu Province launched its first “Riverborne Carrier,” which removed all deck structures, widened the hull longitudinally, and built a runway for flying boats and wind boats to take off and land. This epoch-making vessel finally extinguished the century-long Wokou threat.

However, the reforms had a major flaw. Although the military and technological advancements accelerated rapidly, economic reforms stalled because they struck at the interests of large landlords and the bourgeoisie. Given that imperial military campaigns relied heavily on funding from both the treasury and these wealthy merchants, the emperor and Wang Shian clashed fiercely. The emperor instructed Wang Shian to seek other means and avoid targeting these merchants. Consequently, the Great Xuan Dynasty displayed a façade of prosperity: military might expanding outward, but internal economic and social contradictions intensifying.

In the first year of Kai Xuan, the court funded the establishment of two academies—one civilian, one military. The civilian school was Qingbei Academy, while the military school was Huang Pu Military Academy, named in honor of the great general Huang Pu. Huang Pu Military Academy was open to society at large, including members of the Evil Sect and the Taiji Society, though graduates were barred from holding any court positions. Initially, the idea of admitting rebels from the Evil Sect and Taiji Society met fierce opposition from ministers. Yet Chancellor Wang Shian argued:

“Why do the Taiji rebels and Evil Sect pose threats? It is because of your shortsightedness. Allowing their geniuses to study here will inspire a sense of urgency among our court’s talents. If we confine ourselves to old ways, we will only doom future generations.”

Thus, these two academies swiftly became the nation’s premier institutions. Naturally, members from Taiji Society and the Evil Sect concealed their true identities upon enrollment.

The rise of the Imperial Family alarmed the other three powers, sparking a fierce contest over the Yin-Yang Jade. The martial world also maintains two rankings: the Blade and Sword List and the Masters’ List, both measuring strength.

Currently, the Blade and Sword List’s top rank is held by the Seven Imperial Swords, the emperor’s personal blades.

The Masters’ List is topped by Zhang Xuanyuan, the Daoist Alliance leader and contemporary Celestial Master. In his possession is the fourth-ranked blade on the Blade and Sword List—the Celestial Master’s Seal.