Phantom Godslayer

On the Xuanzhou Continent, martial arts reign supreme, with combat techniques at the forefront and illusions as a complement. The continent is divided into nine provinces: Xuanzhou in the center, with Qingzhou, Yuzhou, Guzhou, Huangzhou, Fangzhou, Xizhou, Douzhou, and Liaozhou arrayed in all directions.

The protagonist, Xiang Yunxiao, is born into a fallen ancient martial arts family in Guzhou. His meridians have been blocked since childhood, and he is branded a good-for-nothing. After his clansmen bully him and leave him badly injured, his father, Xiang Feihai, sends him to the city to study and pursue an official career, hoping it will be best for him. Unwilling to settle for an ordinary life, Xiang Yunxiao hears on the way that the forbidden Xuanming Cave lies west of the city. He sneaks inside at night to learn martial arts and survives a series of near-death ordeals, gaining the counterflow meridian internal cultivation art (Profound Yellow), the chaotic shadow clone illusion art (Saint), the Flying Dragon Soaring Sky Fist (Manifesting Sainthood), and a black stone that increases martial energy.

Xiang Yunxiao cultivates three arts in Xuanming Cave: the counterflow meridian Profound Yellow technique. Once he masters martial combat and perfects his illusions, he returns to his family, just as Panxi Town's once-every-ten-years contest for the Qi Stone ore deposit is about to begin. He makes a stunning debut, defeating the two ancient martial arts families of Zhao and Ying and becoming the pride of his clan. He then represents his family in the White Mountain families' once-every-five-years ranking battle, winning them glory.

Just as his martial arts are advancing by leaps and bounds, troops from the island of Yingzhou beyond Xuanzhou invade the province. Xiang Yunxiao enlists and goes to war. During a battle against the people of Yingzhou, he makes an unexpected discovery: they are descendants of exiles sent from the Xuanyuan Continent. Every year, many people on the Xuanyuan Continent mysteriously disappear, while the Xuanzhou royal family gains an endless supply of martial arts techniques and Qi Stones. Xiang Yunxiao resolves to uncover the conspiracy behind it all.