In the middle period of the fictional dynasty of Dayin, imperial power is waning, regional warlords hold sway, and tensions between the great clans and common-born families are escalating. A mysterious sect known as the Way of Great Peace has risen along the southwestern frontier, attracting refugees with the promise of equal land and tax exemptions while secretly building its military strength. Meanwhile, the power struggle between the capital’s ministers and the imperial family has reached a fever pitch.
Shen Yan, an illegitimate son of a great clan, is demoted and sent to the southwest. He is unexpectedly caught up in a conflict between the Way of Great Peace and the local authorities, and discovers that the sect is hiding a plot to overthrow the dynasty, one that also reaches back to a royal secret from twenty years ago. Torn between three paths, defending the emperor, supporting the sect, or carving out a realm of his own, he ultimately uncovers the ultimate truth behind the game of power.
