The Jiajing Emperor of the Great Ming

At court, civil officials and eunuchs vie for power in a struggle fought both openly and behind the scenes. The Grand Secretaries of the Grand Secretariat each have their own designs, jostling one another for power and profit. Yan Song and his son wield immense influence, building factions, lining their pockets with bribes, and persecuting their rivals. They control important government offices and manipulate appointments and promotions, leaving officialdom hopelessly corrupt. Upright ministers such as Hai Rui, however, stand firm and attempt to impeach Yan Song and his son and set the court to rights, only to face obstacle after obstacle. Across the martial world, schools and sects abound. Wudang and Shaolin, the two great pillars of the righteous martial world, uphold justice and chivalry and maintain order. Yet there are also sinister forces, such as the Sun Moon Holy Cult, whose members act in secret and show no mercy, often clashing with the righteous schools. The martial world is also rife with tales of mysterious manuals and hidden treasures, driving countless martial artists to fight over them in a frenzy.