He Yu dreams of becoming an immortal cultivator like a hero out of legend. The problem is, he's stuck in the sleepy town of Shulin where no one dreams of becoming more than a local blacksmith. Worse still, the local expert thinks He Yu's spirit is too weak and refuses to teach him.

All that changes when an immortal from the nearby Shrouded Peaks Sect wanders into town and extends an invitation to He Yu. As an outer disciple, He Yu enters the world of immortals. He quickly learns that the stories don't tell everything. A rival from back home looms over him, and competition for resources within the sect is fierce. He Yu has only a small window of peace to gather allies, cultivate, and grow stronger before his rival comes to settle things with him once and for all.

Worse still, a secret lurks at the heart of the sect--an ancient conflict that nobody dares speak of. While the outer disciples of the Shrouded Peaks Sect compete for position and advantage, forces not seen for a thousand years are moving in the wider world. He Yu must ascend the realms of cultivation if there's any hope that he'll be ready, and even then it still may not be enough.