In a region called Huāshì, home to many of the most prestigious families on all existential planes, the pinnacle of the Taoists, the one they titled "Celestial Princess" leaned against one of the walls of her castle.

Her gorgeous appearance and glamorous beauty were drenched in a crimson hue that descended down her neck.

"... hah... gh..."

She can barely breathe properly.

This wound is a product of the red road that brought her to this location of her palace. Somewhere along the way she had lost everything that made her a figure of respect in Huāshì.

A group of immortals like her had turned against her, and gone far enough to use weapons that were forbidden among them.

The reason? Even the princess does not know. Although she supposes it must be personal envy towards her.

After all it is normal, the princess belongs to the direct clan that owns the mantras and sutras written by Tien Kung, the deity of all Taoists.

She is the sole heir of her family, the Tiānshàng clan, and she received all the knowledge that has flowed generationally in her family tree.

Or more accurately, she was...

"The Tiānshàng clan dies today."

Promulgates a man from the shadows. She thought the last defence of her castle could take care of him, but she couldn't have been more wrong.

The princess, looking into the shadow... her vision had become blurred. Even crystalline, you might say. She was about to take her last breath, and the man knew it.

"If the river makes noise, it's because it brings stones. You should have accepted the marriage proposal, princess. It is a pity that the Tiānshàng clan should end up here with you."

The princess, Tiānshàng Gōngzhǔ, manages to focus on the approaching man. Anger takes over her eyes as the main emotion. Right now Gōngzhǔ is holding back from exploding in rage.

That man whose name he is unable to remember is the cause of the betrayal towards the Tiānshàng clan, and the one responsible for the death of all its members.

"Tiānshàng Gōngzhǔ... your name evoked the respect of all who heard it. And here you are, awaiting your passing. Heh... you are beautiful, even at the point of death...".

The man was finally able to reach her. And he bent down to face her face to face.

He reached out his hand, touching the princess's delicate jet black hair. She let a tear fall from the arrogance she felt at this moment.

Despite being considered the best Taoist of her generation, she was outclassed by this low-life man who has enough guts to humiliate her to this extent.

"Why don't you love me, Tiānshàng Gōngzhǔ? Your fate would have been different if you hadn't been so conceited."

At the dawn of his death.... Gōngzhǔ is able to utter only a few words...

"This... is not over... as the phoenix... I will come back... and burn your soul... I promise..."

Without letting her arm twist even once in her entire life, it is then that the "Heavenly Princess" breathes her last breath of life.

With the death of Tiānshàng Gōngzhǔ, it is now a fact. The Tiānshàng clan is dead as well.

Despite being frightened, Gōngzhǔ closes her eyes, and allows herself to be absorbed by the black darkness that consumes everything she has ever lived.

All over the world, it began to rain at the same time. Like a sigh of regret for the death of his favourite daughter.

The end of the river. Is only reached when it flows into the ocean.