This novel follows the story of Di Renjie, the imperial censor of the Tang Dynasty, who possesses the "Power of Five Virtues", investigates changes in water transportation, and becomes involved in a shocking conspiracy that subverts the world. The story begins with the strange "Star Death Epidemic" in Heishuiwa Village. Di Renjie followed the clues and discovered that the falling meteor was not a natural disaster, but a fuse projecting the power of the extraterrestrial evil god "Jiuyou Fujun". At the Yeguipo Star Death Altar, he witnessed the evil formation that used human sacrifices to transform star power. Although he tried hard to destroy it, he got a glimpse of the terrifying existence imprisoned in the abyss.
The investigation points to the Luoyang water transport hub. Di Renjie fought to the death in the "Mechanical Mind Realm" constructed by the machine master Shui Jing, revealing the tragedy of his paranoid pursuit of absolute order due to the murder of his brother, and his eventual surrender to the Black Lotus Sect. Shui Jing was silenced by the mastermind behind the scenes, indicating a greater shadow. At the same time, Mr. Wenyuan, the leader of Qingliu, awakened the court with bloody remonstrances, King Yuanlu of Hucao struggled painfully between his conscience and his beloved son, and the old waterworker Chen Lao felt the undercurrent in his difficult livelihood. The multiple perspectives of scholars, officials, and people jointly outlined the ukiyo-e of the human world under the conspiracy.
In the end, Di Renjie realized that the Black Lotus Sect was trying to use the opportunity of the new moon to twist the earth's veins and lead the "Nine Nether Mansion Lord" to come. The core battlefield points to the secret realm of Yunmengze. He and his partners must face the threat of annihilation from the dark star sea in the ruins of King Yu, and protect the final balance of the world with the Five Virtues. This is not only a battle between good and evil, but also a profound interrogation of the origin of order, the boundaries of power and human nature.
