
by Rith
This is a story about two sisters, Jun Arai and Jun Sana, and their friends, Juni, Ling and Shu who make their living as members of the Hunter Bureau, an organisation dedicated to dealing with the terrifying flora and fauna endemic to their home Great World. When they get dragged into a grand scheme to unpick the ancient secrets entombed within one its foremost forbidden zones in their world, the Yin Eclipse Mountains, they must all try to survive the dark machinations, eldritch undercurrents and the echoes of a terrible conflict trying to re-emerge into an unsuspecting cosmos that had rather hoped it was done with that kind of thing a few eras hence. So please come join Arai, Sana, Juni, Ling, Shu and the rest of my cast as they journey through strange lands, meet all kinds of unusual beings and unravel some of the power and glory of a land time tried very hard to forget. I promise terrifying mushrooms, angry snakes, confused gods, even more confused cultivators and much, much more! Chapters slow due to complex finale editing issues (normally every two weeks), excepting special occasions (like atm ;( ).Advance material for Book 3 (totalling around 150,000 words and counting) is available to Patreons, on my discord. Genre-wise, this is a bit hard to pin down. It's technically a Xianxia (because cultivators journey!), but it also veers towards Xuanhuan and has more traditional High Fantasy elements and a bit of Gods and Monsters and All Myths Are (on some levels) Valid. It also has a fairly large, ensemble cast, so if multiple point's of view are not your thing I am sorry. It won't ever really be considered 'grimdark' by any real measure of that definition but it does go to some complicated and fairly dark places occasionally, which I will note in author pre-chapter notes when expedient!I have updated the tags to account for recent changes to the RR definitions. 'Disturbing Content' now has a much broader definition, so i have added the tag, but significant instances within the story are noted in chapter-blurbs. Also, Portal Fantasy Hyoooo~! About the Author I mainly write fiction for my own hobby, it makes a nice change from academic scribbling! I started writing this quite a number of years ago. It has grown somewhat organically out of a bunch of different interests in all kinds of Mythology, World Building, Drawing Maps, Archaeology, Anthropology, History and Epic Fantasy fiction into what it is today. So I hope you enjoy the story and thanks for reading! Other stuff The cover is made by the author, using photos taken by the author. There is a Discord Server- Please come and chat, but beware of spoilers.Reddit Rank Verification
| # | Title | Words |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Book 1: Embers in the Wind, Chapter 1 – Days We Hate (Obsolete) | 0 |
| 2 | Chapter 2 – Perspectives on Origins (Old Version) | 0 |
| 3 | Chapter 3 – Home and Hearth (Obsolete) | 0 |
| 4 | Chapter 4 – Into the Valleys We Go (Obsolete) | 0 |
| 5 | Chapter 5 – Be Careful What You Break (Obsolete) | 0 |
| 6 | Chapter 6 – What Goes Around? (Obsolete) | 0 |
| 7 | Chapter 7 – Higher and Further (Obsolete) | 0 |
| 8 | Chapter 8 – Acceleration (Obsolete) | 0 |
| 9 | Chapter 9 – Uncertainty (Obsolete) | 0 |
| 10 | Chapter 10 – Flight (Obsolete) | 0 |
| 11 | Chapter 11 – Machination (Obsolete) | 0 |
| 12 | Chapter 12 – Escalation (Obsolete) | 0 |
| 13 | Chapter 26 – These Strange Forests (Obsolete) | 0 |
| 14 | [Obsolete] Chapter 27 – Into Darkness | 0 |
| 15 | Chapter 14 – Turmoil (Obsolete) | 0 |
| 16 | [Obsolete] Chapter 28 – The Final Day | 0 |
| 17 | Chapter 29 – Crossed Paths | 0 |
| 18 | Chapter 30 – From Darkness, Descent | 0 |
| 19 | Chapter 31 – Among Mere Mortals | 0 |
| 20 | Chapter 32 – What the Heart Seeks? | 0 |
| 21 | Chapter 33 – Encroaching Darkness | 0 |
| 22 | Chapter 34 – The Hungry Dark | 0 |
| 23 | Chapter 35 – The Perilous Realm | 0 |
| 24 | Chapter 36 – Great Arrivals | 0 |
| 25 | Chapter 37 – A Day in the Midst of Carnage | 0 |
| 26 | Chapter 38 – Vestigial Remnants | 0 |
| 27 | Chapter 39 – What is the reality here!? | 0 |
| 28 | Chapter 40 – Desperation is One Hell of a Drug! | 0 |
| 29 | Chapter 41 – Three’s a Crowd | 0 |
| 30 | Chapter 42 – Broken Places | 0 |
| 31 | Chapter 43 – Waking Nightmare | 0 |
| 32 | Chapter 44 – Anomaly!?! | 0 |
| 33 | Chapter 45 – From Darkness, Ascent | 0 |
| 34 | Chapter 46 – Permutations Advance... | 0 |
| 35 | Chapter 47 – The Geometry of Chance | 0 |
| 36 | Chapter 48 – Fate Shattering the Odds. | 0 |
| 37 | Book 1 Epilogue (Chapter 49) – These Are Not the Valleys We Were Looking For! | 0 |
| 38 | Glossary & Terms (WIP) | 0 |
| 39 | Book 2 – Into the Unknown, Prologue (Chapter 50) – Out of the Ashes | 0 |
| 40 | Chapter 51 – Into Evergrove | 0 |
| 41 | Chapter 52 – City of Broken Dreams | 0 |
| 42 | Chapter 53 – St Roberta's Academy | 0 |
| 43 | Chapter 54 – Unravelling | 0 |
| 44 | Chapter 55 – The Undergrove | 0 |
| 45 | Chapter 56 – Persistent Hostilities | 0 |
| 46 | Chapter 57 – Unrelenting Pressure | 0 |
| 47 | Chapter 58 – Frenetic Pursuit | 0 |
| 48 | Chapter 59 – Eldritch Hell | 0 |
| 49 | Chapter 60 – It's Not Just the Mushrooms We Hate! | 0 |
| 50 | Chapter 61 – We Bring Destruction, Certification Guaranteed! | 0 |
| 51 | Chapter 62 – The Spear | 0 |
| 52 | Chapter 63 – Of Squirrels and Men | 0 |
| 53 | Chapter 64 – Red Dust | 0 |
| 54 | Chapter 65 – New Neighbours | 0 |
| 55 | Chapter 66 – Rats Are Also on the List! | 0 |
| 56 | Chapter 67 – Melee, Darkness, Refinement | 0 |
| 57 | Chapter 68 – Advancing, Don't Disturb You Blasted Things! | 0 |
| 58 | Chapter 71 – Remuneration | 0 |
| 59 | Chapter 69 – Esoterica Redux | 0 |
| 60 | Chapter 70 – Somehow, Circumstances Defy… | 0 |
| 61 | Chapter 72 – Onward Bound | 0 |
| 62 | Chapter 73 – Sustained Aggravation | 0 |
| 63 | Chapter 74 – Counterstrike | 0 |
| 64 | Chapter 75 – Breaking Through | 0 |
| 65 | Chapter 76 – From Shan Lai with Gifts | 0 |
| 66 | Chapter 77 – Undrenmarsh | 0 |
| 67 | Chapter 78 – Brush with Immortality | 0 |
| 68 | Chapter 79 – Serpents Here… Obstacles There… | 0 |
| 69 | Chapter 80 – Jungle Diplomacy | 0 |
| 70 | Chapter 81 – Lightning is Super Effective | 0 |
| 71 | Chapter 82 —Difficult Choices | 0 |
| 72 | Chapter 83 – Return to the Depths | 0 |
| 73 | Chapter 84 – Brush with Hell | 0 |
| 74 | Chapter 85 – The Soup of Wisdom | 0 |
| 75 | Chapter 86 – The Paths We Seek | 0 |
| 76 | Book 2 Epilogue (Chapter 87) – Shifts | 0 |
| 77 | Book 3 – Into the Perilous Realm, Prologue (Chapter 88) – The Geometry Changes | 0 |
| 78 | Chapter 89 – Ruins and Riddles | 0 |
| 79 | Chapter 90 – A Thousand Cuts | 0 |
| 80 | Chapter 91 – What Lies Beneath | 0 |
| 81 | Chapter 92 – What Lurks in Green Shadow? | 0 |
| 82 | Chapter 93 – Rampage as One | 0 |
| 83 | Chapter 94 – Through Fire and Fury | 0 |
| 84 | Chapter 95 – Breakdown | 0 |
| 85 | Chapter 96 – Thieves and Cheats | 0 |
| 86 | Chapter 97 – Shatterpoint | 0 |
| 87 | Chapter 98 – Out of the Forests | 0 |
| 88 | Chapter 99 – Symbols | 0 |
| 89 | Chapter 100 – What Ill Thing Walks amid Tall Grasses? | 0 |
| 90 | Chapter 101 – Net of Rage | 0 |
| 91 | Chapter 102 – What Terrors Stir upon the Field of War… | 0 |
| 92 | Chapter 103 – Not Least Those We Unleash for Ourselves! | 0 |
| 93 | Chapter 104 – To Dance among the Lightning Bolts | 0 |
| 94 | Chapter 105 – Battlefield Torn Asunder | 0 |
| 95 | Chapter 106 – Adjustment | 0 |
| 96 | Chapter 107 – The Epic Quest for Spicy Soup | 0 |
| 97 | Chapter 108 – Currents amid the Sea of Grass | 0 |
| 98 | Chapter 109 – Towards Udrasa | 0 |
| 99 | Chapter 110 – Geomancy of Advancement | 0 |
| 100 | Chapter 111 – Nightmare Awakened | 0 |
| 101 | Chapter 112 – Ancient Duel | 0 |
| 102 | Chapter 113 – Auriga | 0 |
| 103 | Chapter 114 – Flower of Fortune | 0 |
| 104 | Chapter 115 – Androphonos | 0 |
| 105 | Chapter 116 – Epitumbidia | 0 |
| 106 | Chapter 107e – From Salt, with Love | 0 |
| 107 | Chapter 117 – Daybreak | 0 |
| 108 | Chapter 118 – The Drift of Circumstance | 0 |
| 109 | Chapter 119 – A Question of Principle | 0 |
| 110 | Chapter 120 – Buranuna Days | 0 |
| 111 | Chapter 121 – New Day, New Problems | 0 |
| 112 | Chapter 122 – Heaven and Earth | 0 |
| 113 | The Red Pit – Book One Prologue | 0 |
| 114 | Chapter 1 – Rains on the East Wind | 0 |
| 115 | Chapter 2 – What the Day Brings | 0 |
| 116 | Chapter 3 – Difficulties Abound | 0 |
| 117 | Chapter 4 – The Days We Hate (Part 2) | 0 |
| 118 | Chapter 5 – Wrath and Ruins | 0 |
| 119 | Chapter 6 – Ripples in the Pond | 0 |
| 120 | Chapter 7 – Wind and Waves | 0 |
| 121 | Chapter 8 – Wet Season ft. Mangos | 0 |
| 122 | Chapter 9 – A New Year | 0 |
| 123 | Chapter 10 – The Queen Mother's Day | 0 |
| 124 | Chapter 11 – The Patriarch's Birthday | 0 |
| 125 | Chapter 12 – The Pictures We Paint | 0 |
| 126 | Chapter 13 – The Sovereign’s Eve (Part 1) | 0 |
| 127 | Chapter 13 – The Sovereign’s Eve (Part 2) | 0 |
| 128 | Chapter 14 – Sovereign’s Day (Part 1) | 0 |
| 129 | Chapter 14 – Sovereign’s Day (Part 2) | 0 |
| 130 | Chapter 15 – Into the Valleys We Go (Part 1) | 0 |
| 131 | Chapter 15 – Into the Valleys We Go (Part 2) | 0 |
| 132 | Chapter 16 – Be Careful What You Break (Part 1) | 0 |
| 133 | Chapter 16 – Be Careful What You Break (Part 2) | 0 |
| 134 | Chapter 4 – The Days We Hate (Part 1) | 0 |
| 135 | Chapter 17 – What Goes Around? (Part 1) | 0 |
| 136 | Chapter 17 – What Goes Around? (Part 2) | 0 |
| 137 | Chapter 18 – What Comes Around! (Part 1) | 0 |
| 138 | Chapter 18 – What Comes Around! (Part 2) | 0 |
| 139 | Chapter 19 – Misty Jasmine Days (Part 1) | 0 |
| 140 | Chapter 19 – Misty Jasmine Days (Part 2) | 0 |
| 141 | Chapter 20 – The High Valleys (Part 1) | 0 |
| 142 | Chapter 20 – The High Valleys (Part 2) | 0 |
| 143 | Chapter 21 – Turning Point (Part 1) | 0 |
| 144 | Chapter 21 – Turning Point (Part 2) | 0 |
| 145 | Chapter 22 – Flight of Circumstance (Part 1) | 0 |
| 146 | Chapter 22 – Flight of Circumstance (Part 2) | 0 |
| 147 | Chapter 23 – Machination (Part 1) | 0 |
| 148 | Chapter 23 – Machination (Part 2) | 0 |
| 149 | Chapter 24 – Jasmine and Mulberry (Part 1) | 0 |
| 150 | Chapter 24 – Jasmine and Mulberry (Part 2) | 0 |
| 151 | Chapter 24a – Unravelling Elucidation (Part 1) | 0 |
| 152 | Chapter 24a – Unravelling Elucidation (Part 2) | 0 |
| 153 | Chapter 24b – Epiphany (Part 1) | 0 |
| 154 | The Mysterious Beggar's Auction | 0 |
| 155 | Chapter 24b - Epiphany (Part 2) | 0 |
| 156 | Chapter 24b – Epiphany (Part 3) | 0 |
| 157 | Chapter 25 – Bittersweet Symphony (Part 1) | 0 |
| 158 | Chapter 25 – Bittersweet Symphony (Part 2) | 0 |
| 159 | Chapter 123 – Counterattack in Another World? (Part 1) | 0 |
| 160 | Chapter 123 – Counterattack in Another World? (Part 2) | 0 |
| 161 | Chapter 123 – Counterattack in Another World? (Part 3) | 0 |
| 162 | Chapter 25 – Bittersweet Symphony (Part 3) | 0 |
| 163 | Chapter 26 – Chrysanthemum Heart (Part 1) | 0 |
| 164 | Chapter 26 – Chrysanthemum Heart (Part 2) | 0 |
| 165 | Chapter 26 – Chrysanthemum Heart (Part 3) | 0 |
| 166 | Chapter 27 – Into Darkness... | 0 |
| 167 | Chapter 28 – Miraculous Wings (Part 1) | 0 |
| 168 | Chapter 28 – Miraculous Wings (Part 2) | 0 |
| 169 | Chapter 124 — Upon Narrow Paths | 0 |
| 170 | Chapter 125 — A Golden Path | 0 |
| 171 | Chapter 126 — Prelude on Misrule {Saturnalia. Accept. Manifest. Bestow. Enjoy!} | 0 |
| 172 | Chapter 127 — Fragrance and Honeysuckle (Part 1) | 0 |
| 173 | Chapter 127 — Fragrance and Honeysuckle (Part 2) | 0 |
| 174 | Chapter 128 — Solaneum, by Night. | 0 |
| 175 | Chapter 129 - At the Gate of Dawn | 0 |
| 176 | Chapter 130 — Immortal’s Dawn | 0 |
| 177 | Chapter 130 — Immortal’s Dawn (Part 2) | 0 |
| 178 | Chapter 131 — The New Day (Part 1) | 0 |
| 179 | Chapter 131 — The New Day (Part 2) | 0 |
| 180 | Chapter 132 — Days and Nights of Misrule (Acts 1 and 2) | 0 |
| 181 | Chapter 133 — Days and Nights of Misrule (Act 3) | 0 |
| 182 | Chapter 134 — Days and Nights of Misrule (Act 4) | 0 |
| 183 | Chapter 135 — Days and Nights of Misrule (Act 5) | 0 |
| 184 | Chapter 136 — Days and Nights of Misrule (Act 6, Part 1) | 0 |
| 185 | Chapter 136 — Days and Nights of Misrule (Act 6, Part 2) | 0 |
| 186 | Chapter 137 — Days and Nights of Misrule (Act 7); Of Memory yet to come. (Part 1) | 0 |
| 187 | Chapter 137 — Days and Nights of Misrule (Act 7); Of Memory yet to come. (Part 2) | 0 |
| 188 | Chapter 137 — Days and Nights of Misrule (Act 7); Of Memory yet to come. (Part 3) | 0 |
| 189 | Chapter 137 — Days and Nights of Misrule (Act 7); Of Memory yet to come. (Part 4) | 0 |
| 190 | Chapter 137 — Days and Nights of Misrule (Act 7); Of Memory yet to come. (Part 5) | 0 |
| 191 | Chapter 138 — Epilogues on Misrule: What is done, shapes what’s to come! | 0 |
| 192 | Chapter 139 — Yes, Chief Inspector. (Part 1) | 0 |
| 193 | Chapter 139 — Yes, Chief Inspector// A funny thing happened on the way to the river (Part 2) | 0 |
| 194 | Chapter 140 — Of Bandits and Beasts (Part 1) | 0 |
| 195 | Chapter 140 — Of Bandits and Beasts (Part 2) | 0 |
| 196 | Chapter 141 – Spectres of the Past (Part 1) | 0 |
| 197 | Chapter 141 – Spectres of the Past (Part 2) | 0 |
| 198 | Chapter 141 – Spectres of the Past (Part 3) | 0 |
| 199 | Chapter 142 — Of Banquets and Games (Part 1) | 0 |
| 200 | Chapter 142 — Of Banquets and Games (Part 2) | 0 |
| 201 | Chapter 143 — Prelude to Chaos | 0 |
| 202 | Chapter 144 – Abomination. Unleashed. (Part 1) | 0 |
| 203 | Chapter 144 — Abomination. Unleashed. (Part 2) | 0 |