Ziwei Shan led Zhou Xinqiu into the headmaster's manor, which was a giant, elegant structure in the middle of the academy campus, atop which sat a magnificent dome lined with painted pictures that gave off a feeling of rich history and mystery, or rather a feeling of which one could almost touch but not quite grasp.
"Welcome to Ziwei, Zhou Xinqiu," Ziwei Shan opened the door with a wave of his hand and revealed the spectacle of art inside the building as he officially greeted her. As she entered the manor, a scent of what can only be described as intense empowerment swept past her. "Ahaha, I assume that reaction is from the incense, hmm?"
"Ah yes, it smells quite nice," Zhou Xinqiu smiled.
"I am actually an avid collector of fragrances and incenses. This one in particular is known as 'knowledge from beyond the stars' from the Valley of Kings in the neighboring Qingluan Empire." Ziwei Shan became abnormally excited while explaining the smell. As they arrived at the area underneath the picture-filled dome, a throne and nicely cushioned chair materialized opposite each other in front of them.
"Please, take a seat," Ziwei Shan motioned to her as he sat on the throne.
"Thank you, this is a very nice manor you have, headmaster." She sat down while looking around.
"Ahaha, enough with the formalities, your tone has shifted significantly from when you didn't know of my identity. With that being said, I'd like to share with you a story. Mmm yes, a story of the past."
Zhou Xinqiu nodded as Ziwei Shan pinched and grabbed a stick of incense from thin air. "Relax, and let my words guide you." He lit the incense as smoke carried from its tip to Zhou Xinqiu's nose. The pictures above her in the dome appeared to come alive and fly around her until they abruptly stopped before dashing straight into her glabella as her eyes shut and all went black.
- - -
"Many a year ago, a great empire far, far away by the name of the Great Ziwei Empire sent a group of pilgrims led by Ziwei Zhengfu, the conqueror, to a new land where they would set camp and eventually create a vassal nation of their own under the great empire known as the Neo Ziwei Nation. This nation thrived on its extensive knowledge, which was accessible to all scholars of the land. From this knowledge, an organization of scholars was born, the royal Ziwei Academy of Martial Arts and Scholarly Studies, or otherwise known as the Ziwei Academy."
A great city appeared in the eyes of Zhou Xinqiu, walls lined with jade and giant libraries scattered throughout its many buildings. A bustling city filled with not only scholars in white robes but also many martial artists and ordinary citizens shopping at local stalls.
"Ziwei Zhengfu was crowned as the first king of the Neo Ziwei Nation and led the nation to a great golden era in which its borders spanned the entire current hundred-nation region, which is almost fifty times greater than the Yan Empire. This great expansion of the nation also resulted in an even greater stress put upon the shoulders of the king. Due to this, a civil service program was initiated in which citizens and cultivators alike could take different tests to be given jobs in the government to help ease the stress of management. One such cultivator by the name of Huo Yaoyan rose up the ranks as a result of his ingenuity and soon enough became Ziwei Zhengfu's second-in-command. In the king's eyes, Huo Yaoyan not only became his partner in this ambitious project, which was the Neo Ziwei Nation, but also became his sworn brother."
In the very building Zhou Xinqiu was currently in, Ziwei Zhengfu and Huo Yaoyan sat side by side on dragon thrones, clinking wine jugs and laughing heartily. Crowds filled the streets in celebration to congratulate the king on his achievements and appointment of Huo Yaoyan.
"While it looked like this golden age would only continue to shine brighter and brighter, what brewed deep within was a cocktail of strife and gluttony. As the state continued to expand its territory through Ziwei Zhengfu's strategic power, the nation began to get too large for the two twin lords. Against all recommendations of the elders of the state, Ziwei Zhengfu transformed the nation into that of a federation with several states rather than a centrally organized authority with Huo Yaoyan gaining the most benefits and increases in power from the transition."
The Neo Ziwei Nation's geographic boundaries only continued to expand in all directions and even began to gain a significant presence in maritime exploration. With an abundance of resources, the Neo Ziwei Nation prospered and reached a state which even the great serpent tribe and the far-away large commanding martial sects had to acknowledge.
"However, what must go up must eventually return down to the earth and it is no surprise how this story ends. At the five hundredth inaugural anniversary of King Ziwei Zhengfu, as the gate opened to his palace with the crowds waiting in awe, Huo Yaoyan thrusted the blade gifted to him by Ziwei Zhengfu into that very own man's back. What was revealed by the gate's opening was a scene of betrayal and treachery free to witness by all. Huo Yaoyan, with all the previous power vested in him through the federation, commanded his own army to overthrow the Ziwei army in almost every region of the nation."
The Ziwei army was at a loss in every single battle nigh for one which was deemed the battle for knowledge at the campus of the Ziwei Academy led by Ziwei Zhengfu's own son, Ziwei Guanfu. The battle resulted in a short-lived victory of two weeks when the nearby cities had been captured by the Huo army and reinforcements had arrived at the campus.
"The time for the final battle had arrived and the fate of Ziwei was reaching its final thread when rain began to fall on the battlefield. This rain was not ordinary rain, however, but rain of pure gold. As the rain descended on the land, so too did a bringer of peace."