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Above the "Material Plane" lie scores of higher-dimensional Planes that draw power from the World Tree to maintain the stability of this system, holding the reins of order. As these planes gradually developed their own sapience, they gave birth to the gods, hence why the "Upper Planes" are also known as the "Domains of the Gods" or the "Divine Realm." In contrast, there are spaces located beneath the Material Plane. They too originate from higher dimensions but instead cause fluctuations and chaos within the system. They extract energy from the chaotic realms, transforming it into the vital source of power for the World Tree. These planes have also given rise to sapient forces akin to gods, called Demon Gods. However, their inherent chaos leads to constant decline and replacement, resulting in no Demon God possessing the strength of the deities of the Upper Planes. These "Lower Planes" are also referred to as the "Abyssal Demiplanes" or the "Demon Realm."

Scattered fragments of other spaces surround the Material Plane, known as the "Outer Planes" or the "Astral Sea." The now-empty chaotic spaces still harbor vast amounts of energy, which is the "Sea of Astral Shadows."

From the cosmos, this galaxy appears no different from any normal space. However, upon closer inspection, one would notice subtle differences in its energy structures and physical laws.

In the beginning, life first emerged not in the Material Plane but in other planes. When angels from the Divine Realm, demons from the Demon Realm, elemental titans from the Elven Realm, and dragons from the Astral Plane entered the Material Plane, war erupted. No records exist of the conflict; only that divine wrath eventually descended, forcing angels and demons to leave the Material Plane permanently. Only a few dragons and giants remained. Later, the great demon king Baator, who invaded the Material Plane, was not an actual member of the demonic race in opposition to the angels but rather a mutant among the lower demons of the Abyssal Demiplanes. Though powerful, he was a solitary being without a race. Additionally, the Abyssal Dragon King was a descendant of dragons captured by the demon race during the great battle and brought into the Demon Realm. It served as both the mount and chief warrior of Demon King Baator, and its willingness to work for lower demons brought shame to the dragons, earning the favor of the "Dragon Sealing Emperor" who eventually slew it.

After the great war, native life on the Material Plane flourished. The first sentient civilization to rise on the continent, however, was the goblin alchemical civilization. While orcs were still prey to frost giants, merfolk were hunted at will by dragons, and elves were mere barbarous tribes in the forests, humans had yet to even discover stone tools. Goblins had already built an unprecedentedly colossal empire, with countless fantastical creations born from alchemy—massive cities, flying ships, and numerous automatons bore witness to their intellect. Yet, their arrogance led them to delve into domains beyond their control, specifically the forbidden research of—"Artificial Deities."

Goblins believed that gods drew power from the World Tree to shape the world's order, so they sought to bypass the gods and directly extract energy from the World Tree, forging a new world order favorable to goblins. The Golden Tree, hailed as a branch of the World Tree, was the first fruit of this research. Naturally, such tampering with the foundation of the world enraged the gods, and divine wrath struck the world again. Yet, the goblins were not weak, constantly developing new weapons and technologies in warfare. The "Divine Sword—Divine Retribution" was a weapon created in the final days of the goblin civilization, sealing the "Divine Lightning of Retribution." Combined with the nascent success of the "Artificial Deity," after a three-year brutal war, the gods eradicated the goblin civilization, and the Earth Mother Goddess herself wiped out their intelligence, reducing them to the lowest form of life on the continent.

Nonetheless, the war's impact was profound. The existence of Artificial Deities left vulnerabilities in the World Tree's functioning, which eventually led to the creation of "Forbidden Spells." The elves inherited some of the goblin civilization's achievements, ultimately becoming the rulers of the continent for a hundred thousand years. The Golden Tree, altered by the gods, was bestowed upon the elves at the cost of their eternal inability to wield magic surpassing the safety threshold of the world. Dwarves, distant kin of the goblins, inherited some of their manufacturing techniques, forming another vast clan. The goblin creations continued to influence the world for ages to come, and the audacious wisdom of those ancient alchemists continues to fascinate future generations.

Chapter 1: A Path of Confusion and Vanity

My name is Xuanfeng Blizzwolf Wolfe, a werewolf. I was born in Snow Wolf Lake, located in the southeastern region of the Orcish Alliance, as a member of the Snow Wolf Clan of the Wolf Tribe. However, beneath this identity lies another, one that remains preserved in my memories from my previous life.

In my past life, I was called Chen Xuanfeng, a martial arts master renowned across the land as the "Black Wind Twin Scourges," the Iron Corpse with impenetrable Golden Bell Shield cultivation and the unstoppable Nine Yin White Bone Claws. Apart from the Five Supreme Masters, no one was my match.

Yet, I perished, killed by a sniveling brat no older than six or seven with not an ounce of martial prowess. I was careless, overwhelmed by fury when ambushed by Ke Zhen'e and his accomplices, and upon learning that the woman I loved had been blinded. My anger led to my downfall; a razor-sharp dagger pierced my vital spot, and I felt my essence and blood reverse, my life draining away like receding tides.

I wondered about the fate of that deceitful woman. Ke Zhen'e held an irreconcilable grudge against her. Could she escape unscathed? With her sight gone, how would she manage to survive? She couldn't even cook for herself. Who would take care of her? I had etched the secret of the lower volume of the Nine Yin Manual onto my chest. Would she be able to find it? Endless questions, yet no answers came, for I had already been reincarnated.

Yes, reincarnation - something I once ridiculed, now became a reality in my own life.

At first, as I saw a few gigantic (relative to my current form) "monsters" surrounding me, I thought I had descended into the deepest depths of the Eighth Hell, for I knew I had taken too many lives in my previous existence. It would have been strange if I hadn't been cast down to the lowest level of hell to suffer eternal damnation.