Shall we begin with the obvious? We shall. Let's clear out the classic journalism fundamentals: Where, Who, What, When, Why, and How.
First up, the Where. My world goes by the name Planet Shouyuan, and it's absolutely fucking massive. When I say massive, I mean Jupiter-sized massive. That's right, our entire solar system could probably fit inside this beast, and the Wanshou Dynasty? It's nothing more than a microscopic speck on this cosmic canvas.
Who rules such an impossibly vast world, you wonder? Simple answer: anyone with enough raw power to back up their claims. Sure, the Government of Cultivators exists, but we both know how this game really works. Only the genuinely powerful get to call the shots.
The world operates under two distinct power structures. There's the official government, naturally, and then there are the powerful cultivators who wouldn't piss on the government if it were burning. Currently, seven such individuals exist across all of Shouyuan, earning them the title of Supreme Beings.
What exactly do these Supreme Beings do with their time? According to Longwei's elegant phrasing, "whatever the fuck they want." You might assume Longwei ranks among these seven, but that assumption would irritate the hell out of him. He insists he transcends their level entirely, though the government stubbornly refers to him as the Eighth Supreme Being purely to get under his skin.
When did this elaborate power struggle begin? Since the dawn of consciousness, obviously. I mean, show me someone who isn't scrambling for dominance from the moment they draw breath. But that's the philosophical answer. The practical answer traces back centuries to an extraordinarily powerful cultivator named Bai Xu. Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if the man was literally God walking among mortals. His mere breath could breathe life into entire civilizations. A casual finger flick could erase nations from existence. Some trembled before him, others worshipped him as divine, but absolutely nobody could challenge him.
Then one day, witnessed by a few observers, he performed the impossible. Bai Xu converted his entire cultivation base, his qi, his essence, his very existence, into a physical manifestation of pure energy. He concealed this artifact somewhere in the world and simply vanished without explanation. People call it the Primordial Core, and its location remains one of the universe's greatest mysteries. Nobody understands his motivations either. Why abandon such overwhelming power? Why hide it away?
Theories abound, naturally. Some believe the crushing loneliness of absolute supremacy drove him to suicide. Others claim he left his power as a gift to the world before ascending to higher planes of existence. The most tantalizing theory suggests that whoever discovers the Primordial Core can absorb its accumulated energy and achieve literal godhood.
You're probably thinking Longwei must have found this legendary artifact. But I know, absolutely know, that he hasn't. Whatever power he's flaunting around, he's definitely concealing some kind of elaborate trick or deception.
Now we reach the Why. You're undoubtedly wondering, 'Why this obsession with destroying Longwei, Ziyang? You've encountered the man exactly once. How can you harbor such intense resentment based on a single meeting? Surely this isn't just some noble sense of duty driving you. There's something else, something you're deliberately withholding from us.' And you know what? Your suspicions are completely justified. I am hiding crucial information from you, because the Why represents a question that demands answering at the proper time.
For now, let's focus on the How. How exactly do I plan to bring down this seemingly invincible opponent? Well, that's precisely what we're here to discover.
It was a beautiful morning in Longyao when I finished my emotional farewells with my parents and rendezvoused with my companions. We'd arranged to meet at the nearby harbor to secure passage by boat. I arrived to find Qinyue in the middle of heated negotiations with our potential helmsman, while Jian and Liangyu attempted damage control and pretended not to exist.
"Fifty coins?! From Longyao to Ironbell Town? The competing vessel charges forty!" she declared indignantly, hands flapping like a fishmonger rejecting yesterday's trout.
"Then perhaps you should patronize that other vessel," the helmsman replied with indifference, the kind that suggested decades of ignoring wives, children, and particularly unreasonable parrots.
"I don't know man, people told me you provided superior service. Apparently, you're not particularly fond of customers then. I'm leaving." She turned away with theatrical dismissal, though the helmsman clearly recognized her negotiating tactics, and looked two seconds away from charging us fifty-five coins purely out of spite.
"Just pay the poor bastard his fee, Qinyue. It's not worth the drama," I interjected, approaching their little standoff. "Here, take sixty." I handed over the coins.
"Oh look, Mr. Charitable finally graces us with his presence," she said sarcastically.
"Ready to conquer the world?" I asked with a grin.
"You're damn right we are," Jian responded enthusiastically.
"So what exactly awaits us in Ironbell Town?" Liangyu asked.
"Our sect shows solid offensive capabilities currently, but our defensive options are severely lacking," I explained. "Liangyu and Jian provide excellent Earth Cultivation, while Qinyue handles Fire Cultivation beautifully, but we're completely vulnerable without proper healing support. We desperately need a dedicated healer, and I've heard some fascinating things about a master healer named Mei Lian in Ironbell Town. From what I understand, she hasn't committed to any sect yet, so maybe we can convince her to join our cause."
We boarded our transport and began the lengthy journey ahead. Seven full days of travel stretched before us. Throughout the journey, I couldn't help but think if I'm making the right decision by doing this. You know, the kind of nervousness you have when you're starting something risky? I already made up my mind, there was no changing that ofcourse, but still, maybe it was my youth that made me feel that way.
Regardless of my internal struggles, I knew with absolute certainty that whatever we were about to attempt would etch our names permanently in history. Whether as heroes or cautionary tales remained to be seen, but mediocrity was definitely off the table. The thought both terrified and thrilled me in equal measure.
The die was cast and our legendary fuckin' adventure had officially begun.