For centuries, an ancient legend has been told—
Hundreds of years ago, a race from another world succeeded in breaching this continent, launching a full-scale invasion.
It was the first time mankind had ever seen such beings: creatures with curved horns upon their heads, their forms varied—some even born with four arms—and each possessed strength several times that of a normal man, driven by savage, bloodthirsty instincts.
They came to be known as the Demons,
and the world they came from—the Demon Realm.
Their invasion plunged the continent into a long, bloody catastrophe.
That was, until a man named Xuan Yao appeared.
He united humankind, rallying an allied army with other intelligent races, and together they repelled the Demons, sealing away the gateway to their realm.
People hailed him as the Hero of Mankind,
and the nation he founded became the mighty Empire that stands to this day.
Yet, the glory of that war did not belong to him alone.
Alongside Xuan Yao, nine other humans achieved unparalleled feats in the battle to seal the Demon Realm.
When Xuan Yao invited them to join his Empire, every one of them refused.
Perhaps, they had seen through his ambition.
Or perhaps… they simply no longer wished to kneel before any king.
From then on, the Empire stood as the strongest nation in the world,
and the only force capable of matching it—
was the legacy left behind by those nine heroes:
the Nine Great Houses.
As time flowed, another power quietly emerged.
People who shared ideals and dreams gathered together to form free associations—
the Guilds.
Naturally, the Empire would never allow such uncontrolled forces to exist.
However, by the time it took notice of their rise,
the Guilds had already spread across the continent,
too numerous and powerful to eradicate.
In the end, the Empire signed the Pact of Coexistence with the Guilds.
The Empire acknowledged their autonomy and operations,
while the Guilds swore not to rebel—
and to lend aid whenever the Empire faced disaster.
In return, the Guilds gained independence.
They could take on missions and requests freely,
without being dragged into the Empire's wars.
The Nine Great Houses:The Archmage Clan
The Sword Saint Clan
The Fist Emperor Clan
The Gun Deity Clan
The Shadow Assassin Clan
The Beast King Clan
The Bow God Clan
The Axe Emperor Clan
The Crimson Lotus Clan
Imperial Year 362
Within a grand, bustling building, laughter and chatter echoed endlessly.
Above the entrance hung a wooden plaque bearing three gilded characters—
Azure Mist Pavilion.
The hall was filled with warmth and light, the air thick with the scent of wine and mirth.
A short, broad-shouldered man with a flushed grin raised his mug high and shouted:
"Mu Qing! The barrel's empty—bring another one! Put it on my tab—drinks are on me tonight!"
From behind the counter, the woman laughed.
"Alright~ Coming right up!"
Another man, tall and rugged with a wild aura, smirked.
"Just one barrel? That's not enough! Mu Qing, make it two more—I'll pay this time!"
The crowd roared in approval, clapping and cheering.
The drunken man slung his arm around a young man beside him—
a youth with pale-blue hair—and grinned slyly.
"Come on, kid! Tell us—how did you manage to trick those two young masters into coming here with you?
What kind of magic did you use, eh?"
Mu Qing laughed from the counter, teasingly joining in.
"Yeah, yeah, tell us~ We all want to know!"
The whole hall burst into chants:
"Tell us! Tell us!"
The blue-haired youth sighed helplessly, swirling the drink in his cup.
"Well… I suppose it all started two years ago—
at the Nine Suns Martial Festival."
Imperial Year 359
Once every four years, the long-awaited Nine Suns Martial Festival commenced.
Jointly hosted by the Nine Great Houses, the grand event was held in Yao Hui City.
The entry rules were simple:
anyone between sixteen and twenty years old could participate—
noble or commoner, bloodline or none.
On the surface, it was a competition to select heirs and disciples.
But in truth… far deeper motives lay beneath.
Each House offered lavish rewards and accommodations,
turning the two-month-long tournament into a spectacle that drew countless young talents—
and with them, nobles, royals, and merchants from every nation.
Some sought partners.
Some sought guards.
And some… sought assassins.
Though the Nine Great Houses refrained from meddling in national wars,
they already held sway over half the continent's true power.
A week before the festival began—
a lone man stood before the gates of Yao Hui City.
He looked up at the banners fluttering in the wind and murmured:
"Finally… I'm here."
A gust swept past, scattering countless flyers through the air.
One landed in his hand.
On it were the words—
"Nine Suns Martial Festival —
Show your strength.
Win glory and rewards.
Meals and lodging included!"