1 1. A History of Cultivation

I write this with regret after looking at a line of lanterns extending for thousands of Li. If not for the actions of the past few years, perhaps we would never have been forced into this predicament.

The Boxer Uprising began towards the end of the 19th century. Angered by the actions of foreign nations to forcibly open up China for international trade, commoners and the disciples of seclusive sects and young masters of notable families rallied under the common cry to exterminate the foreigners.

However, the elders of every major power declined to take part in the conflict, worried that any mishap would cause a change in the current power structure. Furthermore, they saw the revolution as a means for the younger generation to temper themselves, as well as establish themselves in China.

Due to the gradual lessening of Qi as time passed, the younger generation was much weaker than previous ones. It was considered extraordinary for individuals to be at the Foundation Building Realm at the twilight of their teenaged years. Unaware of the strength of foreign guns, the younger generation of mostly Qi-refining and Foundation building realm cultivators rushed into warfare over the next two years.

What happened next could only be described as a massacre.

China's major powerhouses rushed to stop the uprising, however, over 95% of the younger generation were already buried within the dirt. Due to their arrogance, countless geniuses fell, as they were the ones who usually rushed into the battle first. What remained in the younger generations were cultivators of lacking talent.

Knowing that their future was bleak, the major powers had to make concessions to the Eight Nation Alliance. Nearly half a decade later, the deaths of powerhouses in the major powers facilitated the Chinese Revolution of 1949.

Most among the major powers desperately fled China, taking with them their strongest skills, treasures, and rare herbs, burning the rest of their possessions such as common qi-gathering techniques and body-refining techniques. Bandits, wanting these possessions, ambushed the people fleeing towards the coast of China.

Just after a few months, the absence of these common techniques already haunted the major powers, as without qi-gathering and body-refining techniques, their strongest skills are useless.

The powers that had chosen to remain in China were not much better off. Investigated by the new government of China, many famed sects and notable families were forced to burn many of their precious skills linked to the previous government, limiting their future power.

Regardless of the treasures that were lost, the most precious thing lost to us is our home. During the journey, several seclusive masters, having long claimed to have thrown away their secular attachments, still broke down from the idea that they would never be able to return to the land they considered home. From the ashes of the old government, a new tiger rises.

- Journal of a Nameless Cultivator

In a dimly lit room filled with books in every corner, an old man sighed after rereading the journal of one of his ancestors.

Whenever he read this journal, he would always feel a mixture of feelings ranging from regret to anger. As described in the journal, in the room with him were some of the strongest skills known to man, yet the number of qi-gathering techniques numbered few.

Regardless of his feelings, the old man quietly got up and went to sleep. He needed to be ready.

After all, his youngest grandson would attend school for the first day tomorrow.