For the overwhelming majority of martial artists in the Nine Countries, talk of Long-lived Ones and Immortal Champions is no different from myths and legends, out of reach and sublime beyond measure.
Most martial artists strive for strength, and pills are a crucial part of this endeavor.
Every sect, every family, even independent martial artists require the support of pills to train to higher realms and harness greater power.
The Pill Alliance, a collective of pill refiners, provides a large volume of pills to all corners of the Nine Countries, profiting from this trade.
But now, due to various conflicts, the Pill Alliance has fallen out with Qing Nation. The nation cracks down on and ostracizes pill refiners from the Pill Alliance, which in a fury, ceases providing pills to Qing Nation entirely, no matter how high a price the sects and families of Qing Nation are willing to pay.
This has thrown Qing Nation into chaos.