Legend of Sho

About the story

During the Tang dynasty, war rages along the borders. Li Haobai, a young man from Shu with his family, country, and the wider world at heart, sets off with his friend Hu Jian for Hangu Pass to enlist and fulfill his ambitions. Troubled times breed monsters: in Chengdu, the elderly Daoist Xiaoyaozi travels about vanquishing demons, while far away in Chang'an, the ill-intentioned Imperial Preceptor Xun deceives the emperor into pursuing immortality and uses his henchmen to capture "dragon beasts" at will to refine elixirs. By chance, Li Haobai fuses with the Lizhu pearl inside a dragon beast and immediately becomes everyone's target. Not only do Imperial Preceptor Xun's men want to capture him, but factions throughout the martial world also seek the pearl to cultivate immortality. In a moment of danger, Li Haobai is saved by Xiaoyaozi, who happens to be passing through on his demon-slaying travels. Xiaoyaozi warns him that unless the pearl is removed and returned to the dragon veins of heaven and earth, his body will explode within thirty days, while upheaval in those dragon veins will bring catastrophe upon the world. As he and Hu Jian travel toward Hangu Pass to enlist, they meet Ayimu, a wandering girl from the Western Regions. The three get along and continue toward Hangu Pass together. To protect the pearl, Xiaoyaozi has no choice but to follow them and act as circumstances require. Along the way, the four repeatedly escape pursuit by Imperial Preceptor Xun's men. Meanwhile, the pearl gradually merges with Li Haobai, who unwittingly transforms into a "black dragon." During the journey, a white dragon symbolizing yang suddenly appears and keeps hounding him. The mysterious white dragon draws Xiaoyaozi away from Li Haobai as he follows it to uncover its secrets. News of the pearl's appearance spreads across the land, and Li Haobai, who carries it within him, becomes the quarry of extraordinary figures from throughout the martial world.