The Divine Eagle Sect (神鹰派 : Shen Ying Pai) stood as one of the most formidable and influential powers of the age. Its reach extended across the vast territories of the Song Dynasty, stretching unto the very edges of the frontier passes. With over thirty branches and a following of tens of thousands, its foundation had endured for nearly a century. Within the Jianghu, it was whispered that in both fame and awe-inspiring prestige, the Divine Eagle Sect was no less than the Five Great Sects of the martial world.
The founder of this illustrious clan was Lin Feirong (飛荣), known by the title "The Peerless Divine Eagle" (神鹰绝伦 : Shen Ying Jie Lun). A grandmaster of both the blade and the claw, he achieved the rare feat of formulating his own distinct styles: the "Sky-Soaring Eagle Sword Technique" and the "Thunderbolt Eagle Claw Skill" both of which brought him renown throughout the land.
Over ninety years ago, after Lin Feirong had traversed the realms to test his skills and master the martial arts, he sought a tranquil place to live in seclusion. His intent was to perfect his ultimate techniques before opening a school to instruct disciples. Yet, during his travels, he witnessed that while the Song Dynasty appeared prosperous, it was internally weak—constantly besieged and humiliated by invading tribes from beyond the passes, not to mention the lawless bandits within who plundered, murdered, and sowed chaos at will.
Driven by a youthful blood ignited by righteousness, Lin Feirong could not remain a bystander. Initially, he relied on his lone strength to uphold justice and protect those under threat. However, the villains were too numerous; the efforts of one man's hands and feet could only alleviate a fraction of the people's suffering. Thus, he made a solemn vow to create a coalition to bring peace to the common folk. He journeyed to gather gallant heroes of similar resolve and founded the Divine Eagle Sect, imparting his martial arts to guard the integrity of the land. His name became legendary, hailed as a hero who upheld justice on behalf of Heaven. But that... was the story of the Divine Eagle Sect in its earliest days...
In this present age, during the reign of the third-generation Master, the renown of the Divine Eagle Sect (神鹰派 : Shen Ying Pai) has seemingly... altered. While its power and influence grow more formidable with each passing day, it is now viewed with dread by the common folk and the Jianghu alike. No longer is it seen as the protector of righteousness.
The conduct of the sect may be described as neither purely orthodox nor entirely evil (half-righteous, half-unorthodox). Relying on ruthless violence in their every response, they compel all to bow in submission; any who dare to obstruct or defy their authority are utterly destroyed.
The grand headquarters of the sect is known as the Eagle Paradise Complex (鹰霄殿群 : Ying Xiao Dian Qun), situated along the banks of the Fen River in the district of Taiyuan, Shansi Province. Utilizing the river as its primary strategic ground, the sect commands the waterways, seizing profits from both the lawful merchants and the criminal underworld.
The ventures of the Divine Eagle Sect are indeed manifold, ranging from brothels along the riverbanks to the operations of the fish markets; from hired escorts for common cargo to the smuggling of illicit goods. Their connections are vast, spanning from itinerant merchants to high-ranking officials throughout the land. Through a mixture of mutual benefit and coercion, they compel all classes to submit to their manipulation. Thus, they act as men of immense power and influence, far removed from the protectors of virtue they once were.
The Eagle Paradise Complex is a spacious and magnificent domain composed of numerous stately buildings. Although it serves as a sanctuary for those of the Jianghu who live by the blade and sword, shedding blood like water, the headquarters itself is a vision of exquisite beauty. It possesses a refined aesthetic and boundless wealth; the grounds are adorned with grand trees, blossoming shrubs, intricate sculptures, and fine porcelain, all of the highest quality. Any visitor would be struck with awe at such a majestic sight. Yet, the tallest and most splendid among them is the Cloud-Soaring Tower (騰雲樓 : Teng Yun Lou), the preeminent structure of the complex, serving as the residence and command center of the Sect Master.
The Cloud-Soaring Tower (騰雲樓 : Teng Yun Lou) rose eight stories high, a magnificent octagonal structure crowned with vibrant red tiles. At every corner of each level stood the likeness of an eagle, wings spread as if to seize its prey, intricately carved from precious Chen Xiang wood (Agarwood)—a material as beautiful and fragrant as it was enduring. The uppermost level opened into a wide, central courtyard, sheltered by a surrounding roof. At the heart of this courtyard stood a colossal stone pillar, its capital carved from green stone into the image of a soaring eagle. To the east, beneath a roof of double-layered grandeur more exquisite than all others, sat a massive throne. Carved in the shape of an eagle with its wings outspread and resting upon a raised dais, it was occupied by an elderly man. His hair was a silver-grey, his face gaunt and his frame lean, yet his eyes burned with a piercing radiance.
This elder was Chen Shuyuan (陈舒远), known throughout the Jianghu by the title "Celestial Sword Divine Eagle" (天剑神鹰 : Tian Jian Shen Ying), the current Sect Master of the Divine Eagle Sect. To the left and right of his seat hung large crimson plaques inscribed with the black characters for "Power" and "Prestige." High above, upon the central beam, rested a grand azure board with golden calligraphy that read: "Deep Virtue and Loyal Integrity" (德厚忠誠 : De Hou Zhong Cheng). This was a sacred Imperial Plaque bestowed upon the sect by the reigning Emperor, Song Renzhong.
Before the Eagle Throne stood five individuals. Though the season was bitterly cold, they remained as still as statues, composed and solemn, as if awaiting the command of the one who held their very lives in his hands.
As the master of the Divine Eagle Sect, Chen Shuyuan indeed possessed the right to be the lord of their lives. He was a man of immense power, prestige, and boundless wealth. Yet, a mocking proverb still circulated within the Martial World:
"Upon the Eagle Throne sits a Vulture."
This was a stinging insult, a jagged thorn in the ears of the Divine Eagle Sect's followers. Yet, to any observer standing before that throne in this hour, the bitter mockery might seem... alarmingly true.
The Sect Master of the Divine Eagle possessed a countenance that was exceedingly gaunt, his flesh wan and sallow to the point of appearing ashen grey. His nose was sharp and aquiline, while his eyes, bulging and wide, burned with a piercing radiance. Combined with his preference for heavy black robes of thick fur—its breast puffed out in stark contrast to his long, thin neck—his appearance was truly that of an ancient vulture, patiently biding its time to tear into a carcass.
When a man reaches old age, his physical form inevitably withers. For Chen Shuyuan, now past his sixtieth year and having traversed the battlefields since his youth, such an emaciated state was not unusual. The relentless slaughter of men to attain such a high station is indeed a burdensome task, one capable of grinding the spirit and flesh into such a weary mold.
Yet, regardless of his appearance, this man was the master of the mighty Divine Eagle Sect [Turn 10]. He held not only absolute power over the Jianghu but also possessed great prestige throughout the land.
This was due to his former heroic exploits, where he led his sect's forces to join the armies of the Song Dynasty and successfully repelled the invading Khitan hordes of the Liao Empire.
In that conflict, the volunteer forces of the Divine Eagle Sect were renowned for their ferocity and ruthlessness. The followers led by Master Chen slaughtered the Liao soldiers in countless numbers. These martial artists displayed their skills to the fullest: slashing limbs, tearing throats with their claws, and decapitating foes with a frenzied abandon. They left behind scenes of atrocity so gruesome that it caused the Liao troops to recoil in dread. It is said that merely hearing that the Song forces included the Divine Eagle volunteers was enough to shatter their morale; some were so terrified that they lost control of their bowels and fled in a chaotic mass before the battle had even commenced. Thus, the Liao army was thrown into confusion, their formations broken, until finally they were forced to retreat from the territories of the Song.
The exploits of that day greatly pleased Emperor Song Renzhong. Beyond bestowing a lavish reward for such meritorious service, His Majesty granted a Golden Imperial Plaque inscribed with the calligraphy: "Deep Virtue and Loyal Integrity."
This Imperial Plaque served not only as a proclamation of honor for aiding the state and repelling the Liao invaders, but it also held the authority to mobilize military forces in times of war., Furthermore, it possessed the power to pardon crimes, even the penalty of death. In this regard, it was whispered that even the leaders of the most prominent sects—be it the Abbot of Shaolin Monastery or the Taoist Master of the Wudang Sect—could not hope to compare with the Celestial Sword Divine Eagle, the Master of the Divine Eagle Sect.
Beyond his immense power and prestige, Sect Master Chen Shuyuan, who bore the likeness of an ancient vulture, was renowned for his extraordinary martial prowess.
Flatterers lauded the Sect Master's wugong as "peerless and unrivaled." Though such words might seem like base sycophancy, his "Sky-Soaring Eagle Sword Technique" and "Thunderbolt Eagle Claw Skill" were truly formidable, finding few in the Jianghu who could resist them., Combined with the internal Neigong he had refined over many decades, he was undoubtedly one of the supreme masters of the age.
On one occasion, the Divine Eagle Sect overthrew the Flying Bell Sect (飛鈴 : Fei Ling). Its leader was a secular disciple of Shaolin, highly proficient in the Dragon Claw technique; yet he was defeated by the champion of the Divine Eagle Sect, barely escaping with his life. This gave rise to a rumor within the Martial World: that the Thunderbolt Eagle Claw Skill was superior even to the Dragon Claw of Shaolin!
The rumors traveled with the speed of wind and grew in volume until they reached the ears of the Venerable Abbot in charge of the Shaolin Scripture Hall. Displeased by the boastful acclaim surrounding the Thunderbolt Eagle Claw Skill, the Grand Monk journeyed to the Eagle Paradise Complex to issue a challenge to Sect Master Chen Shuyuan.
His sole intent was to prove that the Dragon Claw of Shaolin remained unmatched and preeminent within the Jianghu. Alas, the outcome was grim; the Grand Monk was utterly defeated, sustaining grievous injuries that left him a broken cripple, forced to live in permanent seclusion from the martial world.
Furthermore, many years past, there arrived a supreme swordsman from the Land of the Rising Sun named Wada Gensuke (和田 源助). Having traversed his own land until none remained to challenge him, he crossed the vast seas to the Middle Kingdom (Zhongguo) to test his blade against the warriors of the Central Plains.
Yet, the swordsmanship of this man was devoid of mercy; though termed "duels," his battles were in truth mortal combat. This diminutive samurai claimed a life with every stroke of his blade. Though his technique appeared simple and unrefined, it possessed frightful speed and violence, augmented by the razor-sharpness of a samurai blade forged through ten thousand folds. Thus, a multitude of gallant warriors met their end beneath his cold steel.
At last, when Wada Gensuke came to challenge the Master of the Divine Eagle Sect, the only thing that emerged from the site of their duel was a carcass split asunder into two halves! His viscera were gathered and wrapped in a blood-soaked shroud, then left by the roadside for all the world to behold. Two days hence, the remains were committed to a grave in a cemetery outside the city. It is whispered across the Martial World that the blade of this eastern master failed to graze even a single hair of Master Chen.
These two battles were sufficient to make the renown of Chen Shuyuan spread far and wide as the supreme master of the age, causing all within the Martial World to tremble at his divine prowess. Yet, naturally, there were those who thirsted for fame, wishing to erase his name so they might ascend in his stead.
Not long after the slaying of the Japanese grandmaster, Sect Master Chen Shuyuan was journeying to establish a new branch of his sect. Along the way, he was intercepted by a swordsman from the southern realms named Lei Muyang, who led a band of followers to block his path and issue a challenge.
Alas... this Southern Blade Master was a man of arrogant boasts and incessant chatter. Upon their meeting, he did not merely issue a challenge but indulged in a torrent of mocking insults. Sect Master Chen merely narrowed his eyes, tilted his head in appraisal, and launched an attack without uttering a single word. Lei Muyang's mouth was still agape in mid-curse when he was cleaved asunder, his carcass falling in a heap upon the ground.
The twelve other swordsmen who accompanied him were all sworn brothers, each a formidable expert of the blade no less than Lei Muyang himself. Consumed by rage and vengeance, they branded him a shameless and filthy vulture who had seized a treacherous opportunity to kill a man unawares; thus, they unsheathed their blades and swarmed forward in a chaotic mass.
Sect Master Chen waved his hand, forbidding his own followers from interfering. Relying on himself alone—one man against many—he moved with a whirling violence like a spinning wheel of blades. In but a fleeting moment, the twelve swordsmen were reduced to mere scattered viscera! Their frames were hacked into fragments of blood and flesh; hands, feet, limbs, ears, eyeballs, tongues, hearts, livers, lungs, shattered intestines, and brains were strewn across the road until none could distinguish one from another.
Once the slaughter reached its end, Chen Shuyuan merely accepted a cloth to wipe the bloodstains from his countenance and frame, then mounted his steed to resume his journey. This massacre of thirteen corpses became a legendary exploit that resounded throughout the entire Jianghu.
Another battle widely recounted for the lethal prowess of the Divine Eagle Sect Master was his duel against Dark Maitreya (弥勒黑暗 : Mile Heian), the leader of the Heavenly Harmony Sect (天和宗 : Tian He Zhong). Proclaiming himself to be a Buddha come to alleviate the world's suffering, he offered sermons and teachings; yet, in truth, he swindled the populace of their wealth and seduced women without regard for their kin. Driven by base lust, he would abduct and violate any who caught his fancy, and those who dared to show displeasure were ruthlessly slaughtered by him or his followers.
This man prided himself on his "Frenzied Bodhisattva Palm" and had refined the "Golden Bell Shield" technique, rendering his body impervious to blades and spears. He was a supreme master whom few in the Jianghu cared to provoke. Furthermore, he possessed the ability to deceive through his preaching, cultivating a following of blind devotion and establishing numerous temples throughout Shansi Province as strongholds for his power.
Naturally, his sect shared the same territory as the Divine Eagle Sect. However, as neither side wished for a confrontation that would incur heavy losses and allow a third party to seize the advantage, they had long maintained a cautious distance, avoiding direct conflict.
Yet, on one occasion, the Heavenly Harmony Sect blundered by plundering a merchant caravan belonging to the Divine Eagle Sect. Having recently emerged victorious over the masters of the Celestial Dragon Temple, the Sect Master grew arrogant and emboldened. Thinking it an opportune time to overthrow the Divine Eagle Sect and claim absolute dominion over the region, he devised a treacherous scheme to lure the Celestial Sword Divine Eagle to his death.
He arranged a parley at the Three Smiles Tavern (三笑酒肆 : San Xiao Jiu Si) under the pretense of a banquet for reconciliation, forbidding all from carrying weapons. Shortly after the feast commenced, he revealed his true colors—flinging his wine cup and ordering the doors barred. He intended to use his "Frenzied Bodhisattva Palm" to crush and eliminate Master Chen. But... in the end, the corpulent Dark Maitreya was transformed into a colossal, twisted mass of flesh, drenched in blood by the power of the Thunderbolt Eagle Claw Skill. He was hurled through the banquet hall's doors on the third story and plummeted to the brick floor below, reduced to a mangled pulp of meat and fat!
That fateful night, the Divine Eagle Sect executed a total purge of the Heavenly Harmony Sect. In but a single night, the domain of the Dark Maitreya was vanished from the face of the earth. It is whispered across the Jianghu that the Divine Eagle Sect had counter-schemed, deploying their forces in advance to lie in wait and annihilate their foes utterly.
Yet, these are matters of a bygone age. For many years now, the Sect Master has not descended into the field of battle, nor has he displayed his divine prowess in any duel. This is not because of indolence born of luxury, nor a weakened spirit, nor even a decline in internal energy due to advancing age. Rather, it is because there exists no necessity for a man of his station to personally exert himself anymore!
Beneath the banner of the Divine Eagle Sect, peerless masters are gathered in multitude. Some are nurtured from within their own ranks, while others are renowned warriors of the martial world who have bowed in submission—some through voluntary allegiance and others through coercion. Yet, those who volunteer grow in number daily. For a sect so illustrious, overflowing with power, prestige, and boundless wealth, it is only natural that men of talent should flock to its gates. Thus, whenever a crisis arises, there is never a shortage of those eager to act on behalf of the Master.
The hierarchy of power within the sect is formidable. Beneath the Sect Master stand two Vice-Masters of the Left and Right, a Chief Steward, five Hall Masters, and thirty Branch Leaders. Countless subordinate units report to these positions, commanding a following of tens of thousands. When a matter of importance arises, it is settled by these subordinates long before it requires the Master's own hand.
Most notably, the three trusted confidants of Chen Shuyuan are said to possess such monumental ability that even if the heavens were to collapse, these three alone could hold them up.
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