In the kingdoms of the Central Plains, power and prestige are fleeting; today's friend may become tomorrow's most bitter foe. Following a daring rescue amid a coup that marks the end of a dynasty, the virtuous Daoist Shen Qiao gets word of another power struggle that calls him home to Xuandu Mountain. But before he even reaches his destination, a whisper upon the wind cuts into Shen Qiao's heart: Yan Wushi has challenged Hulugu to a battle to the death. The ever-shrewd Shen Qiao will need to make the most of his martial training to survive the calamity that surrounds him. There's just one question that lingers in Shen Qiao's heart: when the dust settles, will that which he holds dearest still remain?