A Young Man Moves the Pieces, Plotting Across the Heavens

Yu Qing was thirteen when his father died defending Yanhuiguan, his mother lay in bed coughing up blood, and his paternal cousin stole the compensation money. With nothing but a book of laws, he protected his mother, reclaimed the money and farmland, and gathered a group of orphaned and destitute children, planting his banner in Qingluo Village to defend their home.

No one knew that from the day he shared his food with the old beggar at the village entrance, he had been placed under the Heavenly Dao's scrutiny. The Heavenly Dao only watched, never intervening, as it observed him protect his family, save the people, and risk his life. As time passed, a jade pendant fell into his hands, and in his dreams, he received a coarse pottery bowl.

The bowl held the will of the people. The more people he protected, the fuller it grew, progressing through six stages. Yu Qing had no idea he was the one chosen by the Heavenly Dao. He thought it was all just a dream.

Through trials in the mortal world, he would temper his heart. Upon entering the spirit realm, he would come to understand the equality of all living beings. When the Great Dao was overturned, he would step forward and restore the Heavenly Dao. Secrets lay hidden in the jade pendant, and nine jade slips were scattered across the world. Gather them all, and they would form the key to a secret realm, where the source of the Great Dao was hidden. The game had long been set in motion. The young man made his move and advanced step by step.