PROLOGUE

Far beyond the rays of the shining sun, lies a world of unimaginable splendor that stretches beyond the vast depths of the universe. Here, the galaxies expand endlessly, and the pulsating rhythm of exploding stars echoes through the very heart of the cosmos. In this realm, an eternal struggle for supremacy wages on between the Celestial Deva Gods and the Daityas Asura Titans. Two divine tribes, locked in an unyielding conflict, forever seeking to assert their dominance over one another

The Devas were the offspring of Aditi, the mother of Celestial gods. They are symbols of integration, unification, harmony, and order. While chaos disorder, separateness, and uncertainty represented the Asuras, children of Diti.

Aditi and Diti were two sisters and wives of the great Vedic sage Kasypapa. Together they depict the interactions between order and chaos as it occurs in nature. Neither order nor chaos can arise without dependence on each other. As chaos contains all possibilities both positive and negative. Only through order does security form to these outcomes. Just as life contains excitement through frenetic chaos, it must be controlled under the forces of order. Order and chaos do not represent the forces of good and evil but instead portray the necessary energies to bring balance. Without each other's existence, balance will be destroyed and corrupted. Just as day follows night, the Devas bring forth the rain, wind, and sunshine that touches the earth, whereas the Asuras provide the soil, mineral, and rare materials deep underground. Only then can humans till the land to sow the crops. Even within the depths of the human soul, Chaos leads to confusion and deterioration in people’s lives, whilst order defines goals, aspirations, and discipline to succeed.

However, these opposing forces are always in competition with one another. Just as 'competition' does to oppose 'cooperation'. And so, endless discord and turmoil led to a separation of the two tribes. The Devas believed it was best to maintain order among the six realms without the interference of their opposing forces. To do so, the Devas remained upon the Heavens and provided the Asuras with their own domain known as the Asura realm. Ultimately, this settlement appeared reasonable for both tribes, as each would live independently and were free to follow their own natural propensity. Unfortunately, from the eyes of the Asuras, they saw another story and from their words, they speak of another tale unlike those told by the Devas. To purge all resistance against the Heavenly Monarch. The gods deceived the celestial titans and were banished into forsaken lands. The Asura tribe was forced to survive in inhabitable environments and harsh conditions. Many had been reduced to dust as some had become starved from the divine Amrita nectar that blesses the Devas with immortality. Strangely, however, it is these lands where the Sanjivani grows — the herb to bring back the dead.

During the event of the Heavenly Ascension Banquet; a ceremony to facilitate the ascending immortals to receive the title “ Protectors of the Heavenly Palace”. Unexpectedly the Asura King, Xing- Huo, appeared unannounced at this auspicious banquet. Chaos and distraught came along with him, and together with his army, an invasive battle broke out among the heavenly districts; terrorizing the celestial residents and other immortal beings. Though as fierce as the Asura nation appeared to be, the Deva warriors were just as ferocious. Under the command of the Heavenly Sovereign ruler, Yu-Di, a multitude of the highest battalion units and generals were ordered to quickly seize the invaders. They fought with mighty strength and outstanding magic, and as the two heavenly tribes clashed, the golden clouds of the Heavenly realm became sparse and scattered, the pristine mountains crumbled to sand, and the pearl valleys split apart. Sadly for the heavenly troops, the Asuras were fueled by passion, especially that associated with wrath and dominion power. Soon enough the heavenly troops and Martial Lords were overpowered, their efforts became exhausted by the countless infiltrative onslaught, and in no time the divine and flawless Heavenly realm had become a sea of chaos that the Devas highly despised.

The hour had come for the heavenly forces to surrender as the Asuras would cherish their dominion over the divine lands. But when hope appeared to have faded into a dark abyss, the Great Manjushri Bodhisattva made his appearance at the banquet. He had come to bestow his divine wisdom of reality and freedom of trepidation to the ascending immortals. Though when he had witnessed the results of ceaseless violence between the divine tribes. Concerned of the waning balance among the Heavens, Manjushri Bodhisattva attempted to calm the Asura King’s burning anger through discourse and compromise.

The state of the Heavenly Realm brewed concern in Manjushuri Bodhisattva's mind, for he knew the magnitude of chaos would soon become irreversible. Indistinguishable anger from Xing-Huo continued to burn like an endless appetite. The fury in Xing-Huo’s blood boiled like a fiery star, yet Manjushri Bodhisattva casted an adamant spell known as the Crystalline Diamond Sutra. Impenetrable as adamant and as clear as glass; an ice-like prison manifested by Manjushri Bodhisattva's own flesh and blood, he finally managed to capture the Asura King. In a catastrophic struggle to break free from the unbreakable spell, Xing Huo descended through the heavens. The clouds blew open in gigantic domes, causing pillars and walls of the Heavenly palace to tumble and twirl into a ravaging tornado, and as the cosmic energy pervaded throughout the universe, the feared Asura King descend far from the Heavenly realm, where he finally fell into the vast ocean of the land of mortals.

At long last, the tempestuous destruction wrought by the Asura King had abated and the Heavenly troops had succeeded in reclaiming the splendor of the Heavenly Palace. In the wake of their king's defeat, the Asura warriors retreated. Yet, this defeat was but the catalyst for an eternal feud between the Asura nation and the Devas, a cycle of revenge and retaliation that persisted for 300 years. Though his corporeal form was bound, Xing-Huo's malevolent spirit refused to yield to the might of the Devas and his rebellion had yet to reach its conclusion. In addition to the ongoing conflict in the Heavenly realm, a dire disaster was stirring in the Human realm. It was there, amidst the mortal plane, that Xing-Huo's presence preyed upon the human heart, fanning the flames of hatred that would ultimately lead humanity to its own downfall. Greed, the weakness of humanity, drew them further from righteousness, while ignorance, a veil over their eyes, blinded them to the truth that would have incited their anger.

With his latent presence inhibited upon the human realm, a sinister calamity spread like a toxin of the mind. Although anger was a source of passion and strength, Xing-Huo’s malice also fueled the hatred and avarice of the world. The balancing forces of Yin and Yang disrupted and chaos grew greatly. Fear grew immensely when the presence of evil demons and aggravated spirits grew to terrorize and harm human cities and towns. Ultimately the untamed afflictions of the human heart; war and violence gave rise to an incomprehensible sickness known as Heart's Devil Illness *1.

For centuries, humanity has been plagued by the spectre of conflict and violence, be it the result of internal strife within the halls of imperial power or the consequence of battles waged between warring states. The human heart is stained with the indelible marks of hatred, violence, and greed, making it a difficult affliction to detoxify. The innocent are the ones who suffer the most in these wars, their lives shattered by the merciless hand of conflict. In times when the people cannot find solace in the protection offered by their rulers, magistrates, and ministers, they look to the heavens for guidance. Desperation and hopelessness drive them to prayer, seeking the intervention of the gods of heaven and earth. Yet, should the gods fail to answer their pleas, where would they turn?

*1.【心魔病：inner demon illness、 heart devil illness】

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