In the ancient and misty reaches of Shaanxi Province, the granite peaks of Mount Hua rise like jagged teeth against the sky. This mountain, known as the Western Great Mountain of the Five Great Mountains of China, has long been a place of profound spiritual significance, where the veil between the mortal world and the celestial realm is thin. It was here, amidst the sheer cliffs and ancient pines, that the goddess San Sheng Mu, the Third Holy Mother, resided. She was the sister of the powerful warrior-god Erlang Shen and the guardian of the Baolian Deng, or the Lotus Lantern, a magical artifact of immense purity and light. Despite her divine status, San Sheng Mu found herself moved by the sincerity and kindness of a mortal scholar named Liu Yanchang, who had lost his way near her temple on the mountain. Their meeting was fated, and against the strict laws of the Heavenly Court which forbade the union of immortals and mortals, they fell in love and were married in secret.
For a time, they lived in a hidden sanctuary on the slopes of Mount Hua, away from the prying eyes of the Jade Emperor's scouts. From their union was born a son, whom they named Chen Xiang. However, the light of the Lotus Lantern, while a source of protection, could not forever hide their transgression from the celestial authorities. Erlang Shen, known for his unyielding commitment to heavenly discipline and his three-eyed gaze that saw through all deceptions, eventually discovered his sister's secret. Enraged by what he perceived as a betrayal of their divine lineage and a violation of cosmic order, Erlang Shen descended upon Mount Hua with his celestial hound and a host of heavenly soldiers. A fierce battle ensued between the siblings. Though San Sheng Mu fought valiantly with the power of the Lotus Lantern, she was ultimately overwhelmed by her brother's superior martial skill and the weight of the laws she had broken. As punishment, Erlang Shen used his magical powers to imprison her beneath the massive granite slab of the West Peak of Mount Hua, sealing her away from the mortal world forever.
Liu Yanchang was forced to flee with the infant Chen Xiang, raising the boy in the mortal world while keeping the secret of his divine heritage. As Chen Xiang grew, he displayed remarkable strength and a spirit that seemed to glow with an inner light. On his sixteenth birthday, Liu Yanchang finally revealed the truth: that his mother was a goddess trapped beneath the very mountain that loomed on the horizon. Overcome with grief and a burning sense of duty, Chen Xiang swore that he would not rest until his mother was free. He journeyed back to the foothills of Mount Hua, seeking out the wisdom of immortals and the strength required to challenge the gods. He eventually encountered a Taoist master who recognized the boy's potential and the purity of his heart. For several years, Chen Xiang underwent grueling training, mastering the arts of internal alchemy, celestial combat, and the manipulation of qi. He learned to endure the biting cold of the mountain peaks and the scorching heat of the sun, tempering his body like a blade in a forge.
During his training, Chen Xiang learned that no ordinary weapon could pierce the granite of Mount Hua, which had been reinforced by Erlang Shen’s divine seals. He was told of a legendary Magical Axe, a weapon forged from celestial iron and imbued with the power of the earth itself. The journey to claim the axe led him through treacherous ravines and over the 'Thousand-Foot Precipice,' a path so narrow and steep that a single misstep meant certain death. He faced trials of character, proving that his desire to save his mother was not born of ego, but of the deepest filial piety. When he finally reached the hidden cavern where the axe was kept, the weapon vibrated with his touch, recognizing its true master. With the heavy, glowing axe in hand, Chen Xiang felt the strength of the mountains flowing through his veins. He was no longer just a boy; he was a force of nature, ready to confront the heavens themselves.