A Literary Heart Illuminates the Nine Provinces

Jiuzhou is sealed off by a mysterious force set in place by demons from beyond the realm, turning it into a prison where civilization withers and monstrous beings run rampant. Qin Ping'an, a teacher at Wenyuan Primary School in Nanning Town, witnesses humanity trapped in ignorance and self-destruction as savage beasts roam unchecked. Taking words as his bones and the classics as his soul, he founds the Way of Letters. When students recite the classics, their courage grows; when they write the character for “guard,” it forms a barrier. The spark of “understanding principles and knowing one's responsibilities” first catches fire in the school, making Nanning Town the first place to find peace. To discover the source of the seal, Qin Ping'an ventures deep into the mountains and comprehends the principle that “the Way follows nature.” He cultivates by drawing on the mountains' and rivers' spiritual energy through the spirit of the Way of Letters, strengthening himself to repel enemies while uncovering the truth behind the seal. He guides the mountain sprite Shi Gandang, who can speak human language, and the deer maiden Lingxi to become members of the spirit race, then puts forward the idea that “humans and spirits share the same origin.” Together, they form an allied army to break through the seal's nodes and reconnect Jiuzhou. The Way of Letters becomes the guiding principle of civilization, while the Way's arts become the means of survival. The spirit race contributes its unique skills, and Jiuzhou enters a golden age. Yet fractures lie beneath the prosperity: human cultivators become obsessed with power and plunder the spirit race, while some spirits collude with the demons and rebel. Qin Ping'an is framed, and the crisis of trust deepens. At last, the demons tear through the barrier, and Jiuzhou sinks beneath the waves. Qin Ping'an dissipates all his cultivation and takes up the Sword of the Literary Heart to stand alone against the demons. He cries out the sage's teaching, “As Heaven's movement is ever vigorous, so must a gentleman ceaselessly strive for self-improvement,” using his own flesh and blood as a shield to protect the survivors as they flee with the classics. After enduring their struggles, his disciples Mo Sheng and Lingxi of the spirit race take on the duties of passing down the classics and protecting the spiritual ley lines. The spark of civilization endures among the ruins.