The Yiluan World was vast—an ancient realm shaped not by land, but by water.
Unlike typical cultivation worlds dominated by sprawling landmasses, the Yiluan World was, at its core, a boundless sea. Three mighty continents rose from the ocean's embrace, each isolated by leagues of storm-churned waves and the wrath of aquatic spirit beasts that dwelled beneath the surface. The seas between these continents were not merely vast, but perilous. Only cultivators at the Soul Aperture Realm and above could traverse them with the aid of treasured boats imbued with powerful formations. Flying over the sea? That was even riskier. Even Dao Will Realm experts—known as Dao Beings—risked death from ambushes by monstrous marine beasts that had preyed on travelers since time immemorial.
The three continents—Xuanlong Continent, Shenhai Continent, and Yanxue Continent—each held their own cultures, powers, and ancient secrets. But of the three, Xuanlong Continent reigned supreme.
It was here that the majority of the Yiluan World's Overlord Lineages resided—those supreme sects whose names could shake the heavens and whose histories were written in blood, brilliance, and eternity.
To even be considered an Overlord Lineage, a sect needed two things:
At least ten Dao Will Realm Ancestors—beings who had stepped into the Dao and grasped a portion of its truth.
And at least one Heaven Ascension Realm Monarch who had left behind a legacy before ascending to the Immortal Realm.
These qualifications were not symbolic. Without the collective will and foundation of multiple Dao Beings, and without the celestial guidance of a Heaven Ascension ancestor, no sect could anchor its roots deeply enough to survive the chaos of this world.
Among these overlords, five stood at the pinnacle. Their names were whispered with reverence and fear across every continent:
Ethereal Dao Sect — Dominant in prestige and power, it was located at the very heart of the Xuanlong Continent. Over its long history, ten Heaven Ascension Monarchs had risen from its ranks and successfully transcended, leaving behind sacred inheritances and laws that still guided the sect's rise. Its foundation was deep, unshakable, and its reach extended far beyond its borders.
Heavenly Sword Abyss — A solitary sword sect with a ruthless path of cultivation. Its disciples sought the sword and nothing else. Throughout history, it had produced nine Heaven Ascension Monarchs, each of whom forged their own immortal sword laws. The sect's sword qi split mountains and oceans, and their killing intent alone could suppress lesser sects.
Thousand Blood Cult — A fearsome demonic sect rooted in the Shenhai Continent, where the laws of men mattered little. Their cultivation centered around blood sacrifice, curse arts, and dark pacts. Brutal, but powerful, they had birthed seven Heaven Ascension Monarchs, each one more dreadful than the last. Their foundation was stained with blood, no one dared to underestimate them.
Jade Moon Union — Based in the Yanxue Continent, this was a dual cultivation sect, infamous and controversial in equal measure. Cultivators advanced through the harmony of yin and yang—through the merging of bodies and cultivation with partners. While many mocked them as weak, their lineage boasted five Heaven Ascension Monarchs. Their power came not just from cultivation, but from influence—marriage alliances and ties to dozens of powerful factions kept their roots strong.
Golden Furnace Alchemy Pavilion — The one overlord sect that had never known war. Based in Xuanlong, this alchemist sect was arrogant, reclusive, and irreplaceable. Pills were the foundation of cultivation for all realms—and the Pavilion held a near monopoly on the highest grades. Even sects who despised them relied on their supply. With six Heaven Ascension Monarchs in its history, the Pavilion's alchemical knowledge was feared as much as respected.
While wars between sects had come and gone across millions of years, only one sect had remained untouched: the Golden Furnace Alchemy Pavilion. Even the Thousand Blood Cult, known for slaughtering entire sects, had never dared raise its hand against them. No matter how one cultivated—through sword, slaughter, sex, or serenity—pills were still essential. And the Pavilion had long mastered the art of making others depend on them.
These five overlords, each with legacies of ascended Monarchs and Dao Beings beyond count, stood above all others. They had shaped the Yiluan World's political landscape, and their shadows loomed over every promising genius.
For young cultivators like Chen Chao, rising in the heart of the Ethereal Dao Sect, it was among these titans that his fate would unfold.
And perhaps—one day—be rewritten entirely.