The Hundred Clans Compete
The history of the Yilan Continent stretches back thousands of years, home to countless ancient tribes, each embodying unique cultural characteristics and distinct philosophies. The profound differences in ideologies led to mutual animosity among these tribes. As various civilizations clashed violently, the continent descended into chaotic warfare.
The Four Pillars Stand Firm
The chaos persisted for a millennium, with one tribe or civilization vanishing entirely every so often. The strong survived while the weak were eliminated, gradually clarifying the continent's landscape. Ultimately, four great nations emerged: the Ling Tian Empire, the Loulan Ancient Kingdom, the Green Kingdom, and the Icebound Nation, which collectively expelled the other tribes, establishing a quadripartite balance of power.
The Ling Tian Empire, located in the northern part of the continent, features complex geography dominated by mountains and hills, representing traditional Huaxia culture.
The Green Kingdom in the south is characterized by diverse terrains, including forests and swamps, exuding a distinct Western fantasy atmosphere.
The Icebound Nation in the east consists of vast snowfields and glaciers, epitomizing a culture deeply connected to ice and snow.
Finally, the Loulan Ancient Kingdom in the west boasts vast deserts, famously known as the Sea of Death, symbolizing desert culture.
The Rise of a New Force
Not long after the establishment of this quadripartite balance, friction and conflict among the nations intensified, leading to an almost immediate return to a prolonged era of competition among the four powers.
Continuous warfare engulfed the continent, with civilians suffering immensely amid the strife, living in fear and displacement.
Due to the relatively equal strength of the four nations and their mutual constraints, the long-standing state of four-way balance persisted even in the face of ongoing conflict.
However, one day, the overburdened populace finally revolted, forming a formidable army of commoners, thus becoming the fifth great power of the Yilan Continent.
The rulers of the four nations, wary of the overwhelming strength of this civilian army, were compelled to cede one-tenth of their territories to them. These lands collectively formed the ancient battlefield at the heart of the Yilan Continent.
On this land, the commoners constructed a grand city, yearning for freedom, and named it the City of Freedom. In this city, there were no royal families or nobles, no class oppression, and no brutal wars—this was the last bastion of peace on the continent.
The Duel of Powers
The rulers of the four nations, all ambitious and cunning, did not cease their hostilities following the establishment of the City of Freedom. Instead, their conflicts escalated even further. However, with the City of Freedom situated at the center of the continent, none dared to cross into its territory. Instead, they began warring with neighboring nations: the Ling Tian Empire of the north against the Loulan Kingdom of the west, and the Icebound Nation of the east against the Green Kingdom of the south.
With the balance of power disrupted, nations threw caution to the wind, engaging in life-and-death struggles against their foes without reservation.
As two tigers contend, one will surely be injured. Within mere decades, the tide of war began to shift, and the tragedy of national annihilation became inevitable.
The Decree of the God
Just as a nation was on the brink of exiting the stage of history, the sole god of the continent, the God of Sovereignty, suddenly issued a divine decree, commanding all nations to cease hostilities immediately and significantly limiting the power of their rulers.
The Yilan Continent welcomed a long-awaited dawn of peace, as if everything had been decided.
Shortly thereafter, a group of mysterious adventurers emerged on the continent, destined to rewrite history and carve their own paths. They would become the true protagonists of the Yilan Continent.