The Tale of the Azure Heavens [Prequel to The Record of a Heart’s Inquiries Without Trace]

He was once the famed “Elegant Thief” of the martial world, carefree and charming, lifting treasures without a trace with a casual flick of his jade fan. He was also once “A Thousand Shadows of Bilu,” the left envoy of the dreaded Demon Cult, with blood on his hands and trapped in endless darkness. Gu Qingxian: a name that straddles the line between righteousness and evil. A misguided choice in his past turned him from a dashing thief into a towering figure of the demonic path. Through the redemption offered by his closest friend and the woman he loved, he struggled to reclaim the heart he had lost. He first met Xue Yuntian, the future leader of the martial world, through a painting called Snowy Brook. They fought before becoming friends, and were both rivals and companions, until their different ideals drove them apart. An act of mercy indirectly brought about the rise of his nemesis, while a piece of information he shared without a second thought changed the outcome of the battle between good and evil. As the Netherworld Cult’s shadow falls over the martial world, can the healers of the Suwen Palace use their benevolence to cleanse corrupted souls? What storm of bloodshed will follow the return of the lost No-Form Heart Sutra? From the demonic art Netherworld Codex to his own Carefree Fan Technique, from the uncanny Thousand Shadows of the Netherworld to the transcendent A Feather in the Eternal Clouds, Gu Qingxian’s martial journey bears witness to his transformation of heart. This is a story of redemption and growth, betrayal and steadfastness. See how Xue Yuntian, once a pillar of the righteous path, faces the turmoil of the martial world and the complicated bonds of his closest friend; how the aloof and proud Yue Qingchen gives her heart to a wanderer; and how the gentle, compassionate Su Xiaoyue uses her medical skills to help the world. The Elegant Thief of yesterday: where will he go today? From the blue sky to the Yellow Springs, a thousand shadows become one. The Legend of Bilu and Yuntian invites you into this sweeping tale of the martial world, to witness a legend forged through love and hate, personal ties, and devotion to the nation.