While the Catholic Church wages its hidden war against vampires in Europe, far east in Ming Dynasty China, a secretive branch of the Jǐnyīwèi has been safeguarding the empire from supernatural threats for centuries. These elite agents fight not only vampires but also dark cultivators wielding forbidden qi arts, and occult cultists aiming to destabilize the realm.
The series reveals a parallel ancient war, weaving Chinese mysticism, imperial politics, and secret societies into the Sanctum Noctis universe, ultimately converging with the Church's global battle.
Book 1: Veil of the Black Lotus
A young Jǐnyīwèi recruit discovers a vampire sect hiding within the imperial city.
He uncovers a plot to assassinate the emperor using dark qi magic, initiating his induction into the supernatural division.
The book introduces the tension between tradition and emerging dark forces.
Book 2: Whispers of the Red Fang
The Jǐnyīwèi pursue a rogue dark cultivator wielding forbidden alchemy threatening to unleash a plague across the empire.
Intrigue unfolds as cultist factions vie for power within the emperor's court.
The protagonist confronts moral dilemmas between loyalty to the throne and the greater good.
Book 3: The Jade Serpent's Curse
A vampire lord allied with foreign invaders infiltrates the southern provinces.
The Jǐnyīwèi race against time to prevent a coup powered by dark magic and vampiric armies.
Ancient artifacts tied to Chinese mythology play a key role.
Book 4: The Crimson Lantern
The supernatural Jǐnyīwèi investigate a secret cult worshipping a forgotten demon god.
Rituals threaten to open a portal to a dark realm.
The division employs Daoist sorcerers and Buddhist monks in a delicate alliance.
Book 5: Echoes of the Forbidden City
The heart of the empire becomes a battleground as dark cultivators corrupt members of the imperial guard.
The Jǐnyīwèi uncover a conspiracy reaching into the highest echelons of power.
Themes of betrayal and sacrifice come to the forefront.
Book 6: Moonshadow Assassins
An elite vampire assassin squad attacks key Jǐnyīwèi leaders.
The protagonist leads a covert operation into the vampire underworld beneath Beijing.
Ancient prophecies hint at a coming war between realms.
Book 7: The Iron Lotus
A legendary weapon forged by celestial smiths resurfaces, capable of severing dark qi and destroying vampires.
Rival factions seek control of the Iron Lotus, sparking violent conflicts.
The Jǐnyīwèi must protect the weapon to prevent catastrophe.
Book 8: Shadow of the Red Emperor
A resurrected dark emperor seeks to reclaim the throne with vampiric and demonic allies.
The Jǐnyīwèi confront a nightmare from history, fighting battles in both the mortal and spirit worlds.
Themes of destiny and divine mandate dominate.
Book 9: Celestial Convergence
The supernatural battles escalate as forces from the Ming Empire and the Catholic Church's Sacred Sentinels unknowingly prepare for collision.
The protagonist discovers ancient records linking the vampire threat across continents.
Alliances form amid escalating chaos.
Book 10: The Eternal Night
The final confrontation unites the Jǐnyīwèi and the Sacred Sentinels against a transcendent vampiric god threatening all humanity.
Battles rage across earth and spirit realms.
The series concludes with a bittersweet victory and lasting changes for the supernatural world.
1. "The Jade Merchant's Curse"
A prosperous jade merchant returns from a trade expedition with a mysterious artifact. Soon, his ships are haunted by ghostly apparitions, and his crew vanishes one by one. The merchant must bargain with a sea spirit to save his legacy.
2. "Blood Tide at Wuzhou"
Pirates raid a coastal town, unaware they've provoked a monstrous kraken awakened by ancient rituals. As the creature drags ships to watery graves, surviving pirates seek a forbidden Daoist talisman rumored to control sea monsters.
3. "Silk and Shadows"
A caravan transporting precious silk is ambushed in a mountain pass by cultists who worship a dark dragon spirit. The merchant's youngest son, secretly trained in qi arts, must fend off both cultists and the dragon's shadowy minions.
4. "The Black Lotus Smugglers"
A pirate crew smuggling rare herbs stumbles upon a hidden island where a monstrous plant entity controls the locals. The crew's captain must negotiate with the entity or risk becoming part of its endless garden.
5. "The Phantom Ship of the South China Sea"
Merchants sailing to Manila hear rumors of a ghost ship cursed by a vampire captain. When their own ship is shadowed by this spectral menace, they must unravel its dark past or face eternal damnation.
6. "The Whispering Market"
A bustling market in Guangzhou falls under a curse causing people to disappear nightly. A clever merchant teams up with a Jǐnyīwèi agent to uncover a hidden cult using the market to harvest souls for dark rituals.
7. "Bones of the Sea King"
A pirate crew discovers an ancient underwater tomb, accidentally unleashing the vengeful spirit of a drowned warlord. To survive, they must perform a forbidden burial rite that risks their own lives.
8. "The Crimson Caravan"
A caravan transporting rare blood-red silk is stalked by a vampiric assassin targeting the emperor's supply line. The merchant's bodyguard is forced to reveal his own secret training in the Jǐnyīwèi's supernatural arts.
9. "The Lantern Festival Horror"
During a coastal lantern festival, a monstrous shadow terrorizes the celebrations. A merchant's daughter, gifted with spiritual insight, seeks help from wandering monks to banish the entity before it destroys the town.
10. "Pirate's Pact"
A pirate lord strikes a dangerous bargain with a dark cultivator, gaining unnatural strength but losing part of his soul. His crew must decide whether to break the pact or become monsters themselves.