In the chaotic Northern and Southern Dynasties, Ivory Mountain's four great families, Xie, Wang, Liu, and Zhao, each held sway over their own territory, with undercurrents gathering beneath the surface.
Xie Yongqiang, the eldest legitimate son of the Xie family, had only average talent for cultivation. While traveling to gain experience after descending the mountain, he accidentally wandered into a spirit valley and met Wang Xiaomeng, an alchemist. He fell in love at first sight. His father, Guangkun, flew into a rage and publicly humiliated the Wang family: "A small sect like yours is unworthy of entering the Xie household." Wang Laoqi swallowed the insult and left the village with his daughter. Xie Yongqiang vowed before everyone, "I will marry her."
But a summons from a great sect came first, followed by Xiangxiu, the village chief's daughter, while his maternal uncle Qi Santai promised him a career in government. Xie Yongqiang was forced to become engaged to Xiangxiu. Xiaomeng lost heart and devoted herself to alchemy. One upheaval followed another: Zhao Yutian was badly injured by a demon beast, and Liu Neng forcibly called off an engagement. Xie Yongqiang lost his chance to join the great sect, and Xiangxiu grew distant. At rock bottom, Xie Yongqiang decided to stay in Ivory Mountain, lease a barren hillside, and cultivate spirit fields. Xiaomeng secretly helped him, and their old love rekindled.
In the end, Xie Yongqiang gave up the path to immortality and stayed by his true love. Liu Neng's fortune-telling backfired, Zhao Si's spell formation went awry, Wang Dana returned as a rogue cultivator, and Xie Guangkun kept making trouble. In Ivory Mountain's martial world, what they cultivated wasn't immortality, but the human heart.
