Middle Earth Divine Continent

Overview

The Middle Earth Divine Continent (中土神洲) is the central and most massive landmass within the Haoran Heaven. Revered as the absolute pinnacle of human civilization, its sheer territorial scale is staggering—the other eight continents of the Haoran Heaven combined are only just able to rival its immense size. Like stars clustering around the moon, the other continents surround the Middle Earth, looking toward it as the undisputed center of the world.

As the seat of the Confucian Temple (文庙), the continent dictates the academic, moral, and martial standards for the rest of humanity. It features the highest concentration of upper-tier cultivators, supreme sects, and sprawling secular dynasties. Its spiritual and geographical foundation is so critical to the stability of the universe that the Sub-Sage (亚圣) chose to merge his Dao directly with its mountains and rivers, utilizing the continent as half of the Haoran Heaven's foundational bedrock.

Geography & Notable Sites

The Middle Earth Divine Continent is characterized by its unparalleled geographical majesty and ancient relics, housing the highest peaks and the most revered spiritual sites in the world.

• Sui Mountain (穗山): The highest mountain in the world. Its sheer cliffs feature ancient inscriptions and cliff carvings from the highest sages, including the Ritual Sage's "Ancestor of the Five Mountains" (五嶽之祖) and the Most Holy Teacher's "Supreme in the World" (天下独尊). It is fiercely guarded by the golden-armored Sui Mountain God (周游).
• The Confucian Temple (文庙): The absolute center of moral and political authority in the human world, guiding the destiny, laws, and academic lineages of Haoran Heaven.
• Bai Di City (白帝城): A legendary city floating amidst colorful clouds, ruled by the enigmatic and terrifying Zheng Juzhong (郑居中). It serves as a holy land for mountain and marsh rogue cultivators.
• Longhu Mountain Heavenly Master Residence (龙虎山天师府): The ancestral and preeminent Daoist faction in the Haoran Heaven, specializing in thunder magic and talismans.
• Iron Tree Mountain (铁树山): A major orthodox sect governed by the great flying-ascendant demon Guo Outing (幽明老祖), serving as an aspirational sanctuary for benevolent mountain spirits and demons.

Ruling Factions & Demographics

The political landscape of the Middle Earth is complex, featuring massive secular empires such as the Shao Yuan Dynasty (邵元王朝) and the Da Duan Dynasty (大端王朝). These empires possess staggering military might and deep connections with mountain sects. However, all secular and cultivation powers ultimately bow to the overarching authority of the Confucian Temple and its accompanying academic lineages.

Because the continent is so vast and abundant in natural resources, competition is incredibly fierce. Cultivators and martial artists who merely rank as top-tier experts in other continents often find themselves overshadowed upon arriving in the Middle Earth. It is a common saying that if any of the other eight continents can produce just one or two individuals capable of breaking into the top ten of Middle Earth, it is considered a monumental achievement for that entire continent.

The Ten Persons of Middle Earth

Due to the overwhelming concentration of peak-level cultivators, there exists a widely circulated, albeit unofficial, ranking known as the "Ten Persons of Middle Earth" (中土十人). This list deliberately excludes the supreme sages of the Confucian Temple (who are beyond such rankings) but includes the most legendary figures in the world:

• Zheng Juzhong (郑居中): The Lord of Bai Di City.
• Yu Xuan (于玄): The grandmaster of talisman magic.
• Pei Bei (裴杯): The Female Martial God.
• The Mohist Leader (墨家巨子): A unique existence capable of single-handedly besieging entire cities.
• Zhou Shenzhi (周神芝): An ancient and powerful sword immortal.
• Huai Yin (怀荫): A prominent upper-tier cultivator known for his calculation and mercantile prowess.

(Note: The poetic sword immortal Bai Ye is considered a singular existence outside this ranking, uniquely hailed as "Most Proud in the Human World" / 人间最得意).

References

• 剑来4：草长莺飞, 第一章 — 去开山: Supports the existence and significance of Sui Mountain, detailing its status as the highest mountain in the Middle Earth Divine Continent and its numerous sage inscriptions.
• 剑来19：剑气如云出, 第三章 — 忽如远行客: Supports the sheer scale of the continent, confirming that the other eight continents combined are only equal to the Middle Earth in size.
• 剑来26：人间最得意, 第四章 — 白也去也: Supports the composition of the "Ten Persons of Middle Earth" (中土十人), listing figures like Zheng Juzhong, Yu Xuan, Pei Bei, and the Mohist Leader, while noting the deliberate exclusion of the Confucian Temple.
• 剑来26：人间最得意, 第八章 — 李花太白虎头帽: Supports the cosmological significance of the continent, revealing that the Sub-Sage merged his Dao with the mountains and rivers of the Middle Earth Divine Continent.
• 剑来29：左中皆好剑, 第六章 — 议事: Supports the presence of major factions within the Middle Earth, specifically detailing the Daoist Lord of Iron Tree Mountain, Guo Outing.