"Our clan emerged from Heavenwater and entered the river plains, taking [Yuan-Source] as a name; Li is the fire of the great sun, and Song inherited Ancient Xia's enterprise. For this enterprise beneath the sun, we chose [Xian-Manifest]." The Great Void.
Amid the radiance of Li Fire, a man opened his eyes.
Beneath his feet lay endless mountains of corpses and seas of blood: elders, descendants, wives and concubines, generals and soldiers... The flames of Li Fire in the distance shone with utmost brilliance, yet he felt terribly cold.
The [Battle of Double Radiance] in years past had laid the foundation for the Song Clan's grand undertaking of unifying the world, but it had also erased nearly eighty percent of the clan. His father, the Emperor Lord's own younger brother, had died on the mountain summit as well.
He still remembered the sensation of his father's blood splashing across his face, and how the clansmen behind him had one by one undergone Dormant Transformation into wood.
"Song Yuanxian!"
Unending cries rose, like curses, like pleas. Those who had already fallen into hell reappeared within Li Fire, blood and flame spreading before his eyes, threatening to drown him.
A violent headache struck, almost unbearable. He raised his battle-axe of Li Fire and split open his own skull, only then quieting the surrounding voices a little. "Enough."
Song Yuanxian drew a deep breath, but half his face had already become that of a jackal wolf. Blood dripped from his vermilion-yellow pupils, which brimmed with fury and hatred. "He who bears the nation's disgrace is called the lord of its altars; he who bears the nation's misfortunes is called the king of all beneath heaven. Beneath the Emperor's throne, there is no morality, no kinship-only blades and swords, blood and fire! Of all