Thunder booms, the sky trembles, and Xie Lian steps forward with a rueful grin—once more! Yet his presence feels like a whisper against the roaring storm. Eight centuries ago he was revered as the martial deity known as Xianle"s Crown Prince. Today he climbs to the celestial plane for the third time, yet arrives merely as a forlorn scrap‑gatherer without any disciples.
During his inaugural task, Xie Lian is left alone beneath a moon‑lit gloom. The path is littered with ancient runes that pulse faintly. A kind figure clad in crimson leads him through the woods, only to vanish instantly into a cloud of silver butterflies.
Later he discovers that this enigmatic guide was Hua Cheng, the Crimson Rain‑Sought Flower, a Ghost King feared by demons and deities alike. His heart trembles, yet curiosity fuels his resolve. Before Xie Lian can grasp why Hua Cheng would aid a Heavenly Official, he encounters San Lang. The youthful scholar, well‑versed in both the Ghost King and the forgotten Crown Prince, chooses to join Xie Lian on his quest to unravel bygone mysteries.
