The plum blossom in Mei Nianqing’s name is a symbol of endurance in Chinese flower language, as it blooms in the depths of winter. The plum blossom is also one of the four flowers of the junzi （the ideal Confucian gentleman）。
Xianle Royal Family The king and queen of the Kingdom of Xianle, and Xie Lian’s parents. Xie Lian’s father is of the ruling Xie （谢 “to thank/to wilt”） clan, and his mother is of the Min （悯 “to feel pity for/commiserate with”） clan. Xie Lian is very close with his mother, who is a doting—if rather naive and sheltered—parent. Xie Lian has a more contentious relationship with his father and frequently squabbles with him.
When Xie Lian’s given name （怜 / lian） and his mother’s clan name （悯 / min） are written together, they form the word “compassion” （怜悯 / lianmin）。
Zhu An 祝安 “WISH”/A SURNAME, “PEACE”
A cultivator trainee in Xianle who enjoys bullying young Mu Qing.
SENTIENT WEAPONS AND SPIRITUAL OBJECTS
Eming
厄命 “TERRIBLE/WRETCHED,” “FATE”
Hua Cheng’s sentient scimitar. With a single blood-red eye that peers out from its silver hilt, it is a cursed blade that drinks the blood of its victims and is the bane of the Heavens. Just like its mysterious master, this scimitar likely has hidden depths of its own…
Fangxin
芳心 “AFFECTIONS OF A YOUNG WOMAN”
An ancient black sword with ties to Xie Lian. Xie Lian used the sword’s name as an alias while serving as the State Preceptor of Yong’an.
Ruoye
若邪 “LIKE/AS IF,” “EVIL” OR “SWORD”
Xie Lian’s sentient strip of white silk. It is an earnest and energetic sort, if a bit nervous sometimes, and will go to great lengths to protect Xie Lian—quite literally, as it can stretch out to almost limitless dimensions.
Locations
Heavenly Realm
The Heavenly Capital is a divine city built upon the clouds. Amidst flowing streams and auspicious clouds, luxurious palaces dot the landscape, serving as the personal residences and offices of the gods. The Grand Avenue of Divine Might serves as the realm’s main thoroughfare, and this road leads directly to the Palace of Divine Might—the Heavenly Emperor’s residence where court is held.
The Heavenly Court consists of two sub-courts: the Upper Court and the Middle Court. The Upper Court consists entirely of ascended gods, while the Middle Court consists of officials who—while remarkable and skilled in their own right—have not yet ascended to godhood.
Mortal Realm
The realm of living humans. Often receives visitors from the other two realms.
Kingdom of Xianle
仙乐 “HEAVEN’S DELIGHT” OR “HEAVENLY MUSIC”
A fallen kingdom, once glamorous and famed for its riches and its people’s love for the finer things in life—such as art, music, gold, and the finest thing of all, their beloved crown prince, Xie Lian. In its glory era, the royal palace is stuffed to the brim with these treasures, save for the last, since Xie Lian rarely returns home, and when he does, it is only for brief visits to his mother’s residence at Qifeng Palace.
Xianle’s largest cultivation center, the Royal Holy Temple, sprawls across the peaks of the auspicious Mount Taicang. Its qi-rich landscape nurtures the blanketing forests of fruit trees and flame-red maples. The mountain hosts the kingdom’s largest Palace of Divine Might for worship of the Heavenly Emperor. The State Preceptors of Xianle preside over the gods’ worship as well as cultivator training and reside within the Royal Holy Temple complex at Sixiang Palace. As a crown prince could hardly mingle so casually with normal disciples, Xie Lian’s parents built him his own residence and training hall—on the second-highest mountain peak—called the Palace of Xianle. Unbeknownst to all save for the Xianle royal family and State Preceptors, the Xianle Imperial Mausoleum is located far beneath Mount Taicang.
Kingdom of Yong’an
永安 “ETERNAL PEACE”
A fallen but once-prosperous kingdom. They rose out of the ashes of the Kingdom of Xianle after its collapse, but soon fell to the very same corruption and excess that doomed Xianle.
Puqi Village
菩荠村 “WATER CHESTNUT”
A tiny village in the countryside, named for the water chestnuts （puqi） that grow in abundance nearby. While small and unsophisticated, its villagers are friendly and welcoming to weary travelers who wish to stay a while. The humble Puqi Shrine （under reconstruction, welcoming donations） can be found here, as well as its resident god, Xie Lian.