The Dragon’s Spine crumbles, and the Divine Land sinks beneath the waves! The emperor defies fate, forcibly gathering dragon energy, only for it to turn against him and scatter. The Central Plains fall into an age of spiritual decline: Taoist arts wither, and spiritual energy runs dry. More dangerous still, the great powers encircle the land, watching hungrily and waiting to carve up its fertile heartland amid this collapse! Lin Shou, a hunter from Hanya City, hones a will and strength as unyielding as stone to protect his loved ones in this desperate age. Yet fate pushes him into the heart of the maelstrom. When a crucial opportunity tied to the survival of the nation unexpectedly falls into his hands, the destiny of this humble hunter becomes bound to this shattered land!
Meanwhile, Gu Qiming, armed with ideals of modern learning and faith in the rule of law, tries to sow the sparks of change in rotten soil. He believes that the people’s strength and the light of sound institutions are the foundation for restoring the nation’s fortunes. Lin Shou’s brave defense and Gu Qiming’s rational reforms shine like twin stars in a chaotic age. And there are new forces as resilient as Lin Shou’s younger sister, Lin Xiaoman, embodying the awakening will of women as they seek their own light amid the torrents of the times...
A rotten court, a treacherous martial world, and formidable enemies from beyond the borders... All forces clash fiercely in this lawless age of spiritual decline. Lin Shou and Gu Qiming, one a man of letters and the other a warrior, one guarding and the other opening new paths, go from strangers to comrades and kindle hope amid despair. Can they unite kindred spirits, overcome every obstacle, restore order, and rebuild the Dragon’s Spine? In this age of spiritual decline, with the great powers closing in, can they defend the undying national destiny of Huaxia with mortal flesh and blood and the sparks of reason? A grand struggle for the survival of the homeland and the future of civilization has begun!
