Defying Heaven’s Path: The Firmament

Lu Chen is a boy born with a crippled constitution. On the day he awakens, he receives three fateful pronouncements:

“Your battle constitution is a crippled one. Your beloved is doomed to leave you in sorrow. You will never defy the heavens in this life.”

But he refuses to believe in fate.

With mortal blood, he battles immortal bones; to protect his childhood sweetheart, one sword strike shakes the Nine Domains.

With his beloved by his side, he storms forbidden lands; to break the curse, he stands alone and challenges the firmament.

When the truth behind the Dust Realm’s ascension is revealed, the so-called Upper Realm turns out to be a cage for raising all living beings.

When the ancient reapers arrive, the so-called Heavenly Dao proves to be nothing but parasites greedily stealing from the world.

Lu Chen tightens his grip on his sword.

Before him stands a host of gods and buddhas who regard all living beings as grass.

Behind him are his beloved, frozen in ice; his sword companion, fast asleep; and all those who have risked their lives to walk beside him.

“They say those who defy the heavens will die.”

He smiles and points his sword at the sky.

“Then let this ‘crippled body’ teach heaven and earth

what it means to defy heaven and change one’s fate!”