Zhu Heng is a mortal born in a riverland plagued by floods. As a boy, all he wants is to protect the people of his city. One night, when the river bursts its banks, he uses his mortal body to hold back the flood and unexpectedly steps onto the path of cultivation. From menial work in the Water Palace to becoming a disciple of the Dao, from a lowly soldier on the Celestial River to an immortal general commanding armies, he cultivates water, body, and mind. He witnesses the suffering of mortals and the rules of the Celestial Court. When the Celestial River needs a commander who understands both life and death in the human world and can keep its waters and stellar tides in check, he finally dons his armor and ascends to heaven, becoming the illustrious Marshal Tianpeng.
