When the poor boy Ling Jun was nine, he accidentally trespassed into the forbidden grounds of the immortal mountain of Jiuyi Sect and was punished with ten years of mountain sweeping.
While others held immortals in lofty regard, he found joy in hardship as a little sweeper. While others rode swords through the skies, chasing stars and the moon, he swept up leaves with a bamboo pole and counted steamed buns. While others said, "An immortal is simply an immortal," he crouched by a cliff, pondering: if you split the character for immortal in two, isn't it just a person and a mountain?
Then a golden-furred Howler Beast that had stolen some fruit brought him a Jiuyi spirit fruit in its mouth, changing his fate.
From a little sweeper to Lord of the Clouds' personal disciple, from an ordinary mortal mocked by others to a rare "Poet Immortal Swordbone" unseen for countless ages, from a small stone tablet on Qilin Peak to the battle between good and evil on the Miluo River, he recites Li Sao to grasp the true scriptures, turns his poetry brush into an immortal sword, and fights demons with the spirit of Chu. Along the way, there is a pheasant spirit who mangles idioms, a chubby senior brother who makes horrifying food, the local earth god who tattles, and a golden-furred Howler Beast that steals spirit fruit. It's chaotic and hilarious, yet full of passion.
Blood stains Yunmeng in a sword debate over the Nine Songs. On a journey inspired by Heavenly Questions, he searches for herbs to save lives. In Li Sao, he questions Heaven and battles the Murky Dragon. When Qu Yuan's poetic spirit appears on the Miluo River, and a rendition of Li Sao resounds throughout heaven and earth, Ling Jun finally understands:
An immortal is not someone who stands high above all and receives the worship of thousands. An immortal is someone who protects the people they wish to protect, the mountain they wish to protect, and the everyday life they hold dear.
This is a Chu Ci-inspired cultivation story that begins with a "little sweeper." It has laughter, tears, passion, poetry, wine, and beautiful companions.
