In the Jiajing era of the Ming dynasty, as spiritual energy waned and gods and demons watched from the shadows, Jiang Heng looked around in bewilderment. The northern Mongols and southern Japanese pirates threatened the realm, Yan Song’s faction seized power, and life was hard.
At first, orphaned and born into a military household, with no guarantee he would see tomorrow, all he wanted was enough to eat and a chance to survive in this wretched world.
Then, deep within his sea of consciousness, a damaged ancient stele quietly awakened:
[Primordial Dao Stele]
Borrow in advance, and attain perfection. The only price is hard work.
Reverse cause and effect, and comprehend all laws in an instant.
And so:
[Borrow in advance the Heaven-Piercing Sun-Shooting Divine Bow Art...] His arrows fly like dragons, capable of shooting down the golden crows in the highest heavens.
[Borrow in advance the Indestructible Prison-Subduing Scripture of Myriad Tribulations...] His body becomes a saint’s, untouched by countless calamities and trials.
[Borrow in advance the Great Circumference Mystic Star Atlas...] His acupoints shine like stars, and his martial meridians can reach the heavens.
From Liaodong to eastern Zhejiang, from military household to guardian of the realm.
He slays Japanese pirates, crushes the Tatars, commands the court, and rises to the highest heavens.
Years later, the peerless geniuses bow their heads, the demons submit, and the sword immortals lower their brows.
The world says only that his divine powers are unrivaled and that he reigns supreme over the four seas.
Jiang Heng merely sighs:
“They have no idea... how hard I’ve worked all my life.”
That realm is so confusingly written.