The emperor has many sons, one of them with many gifts to out stand the others. The greed of others' place him in danger, needing a sorceress's protection.

The imperial jade seal is used to negotiate the terms of Yuan Ling's life, however the Emperor is not a man of his word. Arise the fight between the sorcerers and the emperor.

The great mage leaves a task for Qing Chen with his dying breath. Yuan Ling overthrows the palace with the assistance of Qing Chen.

The prince and the dark sorceress's schemes are successful in unbinding the spell which holds the grand sorceress hidden. Qing Chen faces her destiny and is appointed as grand sorceress, meanwhile the Emperor makes plans to challenge his destiny.

As an empress, Qing Chen must give up her powers. In order to escape fate, Qing Chen must challenge the 6 stages of punishment and the test of death. Through death do them apart, the Emperor joins Qing Chen in the battle to defy fate.

Qing Chen trades all for the safety of her emperor and enters the circle of nine transformation. The circle resets the universe to undo what has been done. Qing Chen finds mages have been slaughtered and attempts to rescue those that are left.