Tribes and Empires: Storm of Prophecy () is a 2017 Chinese television series adapted from the novel of the same name written by Jin Hezai, who also wrote Legend of Winged Tribe, and directed by Cao Dun. It is part of the Novoland series, a media franchise depicting the fictional universe with a known world of three continents and nine provinces divided into the prosperous Eastern Land of Zhongzhou and the nomadic Eight Tribes in Hanzhou.
It stars Huang Xuan, Shawn Dou, Zhou Yiwei, Xu Lu, Janice Man and Zhang Jianing. The series airs on iQiyi, Tencent and Youku starting November 21, 2017. The series was a hit among international fans due to its high standard of production, impressive storyline and exceptional performance. The series currently has a 6.8 rating on Douban.
Synopsis The series is set in the fictional world of Novoland and tells the story of loyalty, friendship, enmity and romance between the young descendants during the twilight years of the Duan Dynasty. The Duan Dynasty has been ruled by the royal Muyun Clan for more than 300 years, assisted by the Muru Clan and its powerful army in controlling Zhongzhou and suppressing the eight nomadic tribes in Hanzhou.
Our three young male protagonists find their lives and fates intertwined in historical intrigue, political turmoil, and the worlds of magical beings.
With the birth of the sixth prince of the Duan Dynasty, he is prophesied to "bring chaos to the world when he holds the Emperor's sword". Though a prince and son of Emperor Ming, Muyun Sheng (Zheng Hao / Huang Xuan) lived a lonely and isolated childhood accompanied only by a personal attendant Lan Yu Er. Growing up a kind-hearted young man, he is shunned by others and seen as dangerous due to the prophecy and for being half-human and half-spirit. His life changes when Muru Hanjiang is assigned as his companion in the palace and the two becomes friends. Hanjiang encourages the prince to find out about the disappearance of his mother, a beautiful Mei spirit who became Emperor Ming's Consort Yinrong (Janine Chang). With the discovery of the truth and inheritance of a magical orb, the Muyun Pearl left behind by his mother, the young prince begins his journey in the treacherous Duan court, and becomes a master painter while discovering the world of magical arts. He eventually falls in love with a Mei spirit woman residing in the orb, whom he names Pan Xi (Janice Man). He does not believe in prophecies and uses his own will to suppress his dark side to prevent calamity.
Muru Hanjiang (Shi Yunpeng / Shawn Dou), the youngest son of General Muru Shuo, is also plagued by a prophecy where he will usurp the Duan Dynasty and become future Emperor. In a display of loyalty to the Duan Dynasty, the General abandons him at a temple. He grows up as Hanjiang and becomes a resilient young man well trained in martial arts. He incidentally saves the young Su Yuning (Eleanor Lee / Xu Lu) and sends her back to the Novoland Inn, but gets mistaken as a thief and thrown in the inn's dungeon to work as a fighter slave for the entertainment of the rich and powerful. He meets and befriends a young Shuofeng Heye, who is originally from the Hanzhou nomadic tribes and sold into slavery. Without realizing the sins of the past generation, the two new friends work together to survive. Hanjiang makes it to the Muru mansion but discovers that his hero, General Muru, is the cold-hearted father that abandoned him. In despair, he willingly stabs himself in the chest at the General's request to kill himself. He survives and for his loyalty, is spared and assigned as the sixth prince's companion. He reunites and falls in love with Su Yuning, who is prophesied to be the future Empress of Duan and destined to marry a prince from the Muyun Clan. He does not care for the prophecy and eventually leaves the palace to join the army, leaving behind a dear friend and young love whom he will meet again.
Shuofeng Heye (Zheng Wei / Zhou Yiwei) was the heir to the Chieftain of the Northern Hanzhou Shuofeng Clan. Under his father's leadership, the tribe finally wins over fertile land from the Suqin tribe and looks forward to a better life, but catastrophe struck. Heye's parents and almost the entire tribe was massacred by the Muru Army for unintentionally harboring a runaway convict of Duan. The surviving children were enslaved, brought to Zhongzhou to becomes a fighter. It is here where he befriends Hanjiang and meets the woman who buys over his slave contract and eventually becomes the love of his life, Muyun Yanshuang (Zhang Jianing), Princess Jing of Duan. The three young men meets in a twist of fate to discover the sins inherited from their parents. Heye eventually returns to Hanzhou and finds new family and reunite with old ones. Driven by vengeance and a desire for a better life for the people of Hanzhou, he pursues his destiny to be the "Tie Qin" to unite the eight nomadic tribes to revolt against Duan.
The series also depicts the intertwined fates of the past generation: the love triangle in the royal Muyun Clan between Emperor Ming (Lu Fangsheng), Consort Yinrong (Janine Chang), and Empress Nanku (Jiang Qinqin); the rivalry amongst the Princes Muyun Han (Li Zifeng), Muyun Lu (Sun Jian), Muyun Hege (Peng Guanying); the hidden agendas of the Wanzhou Muyun Clan, led by the conniving father-son duo Muyun Luan (Wang Qianyuan), and Muyun De (Zhang Xiaochen) with the help of the mysterious Mo Yu Chen (Zhao Wei); the people seeking to reinstate the fallen Sheng Dynasty, Princess Ji Yuncong (Kan Qingzi), and Long Jinhuan (Du Yuming).
Pain and sorrows of past wounds now manifest in the new generation. Can they escape from the storm of prophecies?
Cast Clans in Zhongzhou The Muyun and Muru Clans signed a pact of trust 300 years ago after taking over Zhongzhou from the Sheng Dynasty. Both vowed to defend each other's status and glory as the ruling royal clan and military clan of the Duan Dynasty.
Muyun Clan Invaded Zhongzhou and overthrew the Sheng Dynasty with the Muru Clan 300 years ago. The current royal family of the Duan Dynasty who has ruled Zhongzhou and subjugated Hanzhou from the capital, Tian Qi. Infighting amongst Clan members and the Duan court led to bloodshed and two attempted coups to install Muyun Hege as the new Emperor of Duan. Actor Character Introduction The Zhongzhou Muyun Clan, current ruling family in the series Lu Fangsheng Muyun Qin Emperor Ming of Duan. He is constantly pained by the loss of his true love, Yinrong, whom he sacrificed to keep his throne. Though outwardly indifferent to Muyun Sheng, he wish to keep him safe. He endears himself to Muyun Sheng after the latter saves him from death in the first coup by the Nanku Clan. During the second coup, he is threatened by members of the Duan court to execute Muyun Sheng, but refuses.
At the end of the series, he is stabbed to death by Empress Nanku's personal attendant and dies, allowing Muyun Hege to ascend to the throne in the second coup.Jiang QinqinNanku MingyiEmpress of Duan, wife of Emperor Ming and Muyun Hege's mother. Despite her strong family background and devotion for Muyun Qin, her love for her husband was never reciprocated. Her clan was punished for treason after the first coup fails, she is spared but suffers daily being treated as Yinrong's replacement for the Emperor and has to see her son, Muyun Hege placed under house arrest.
At the end of the series, she briefly ascends as Empress Dowager in the second coup before committing suicide after Hege is killed by Yu Xinji during the coronation. Li Zifeng Muyun Han Prince Sawu of Duan, eldest prince and son of Emperor Ming. A disciple of General Muru Shuo, whom he seems as a godfather. He is upright and candid, with supreme martial arts skills. He holds an unexpressed love for Muyun Yanshuang since childhood, but when he finally proposes to Yanshuang, she has already fallen for another.
At the end of the series, he leads the Sliver Armor Guards with Muyun Yanshuang in an attempt to retake the capital after the second coup. Sun Jian Muyun Lu Prince Ruiwen of Duan, second prince and son of Emperor Ming. Elegant and kind, he is a master of strategies and tactics. He has a one-sided love for Su Yuning and once sought for the throne so he could marry her. Despite the rivalry in love with Muru Hanjiang, he befriends and helps the latter multiple times in the series. Peng Guanying Muyun Hege Prince Yuxing of Duan, third prince and son of Emperor Ming and Empress Nanku. Ambitious and talented, his greed for the throne eventually destroyed him. He resents his half-brother Muyun Sheng, whom he sees as a "monster". After the first coup fails, he is placed under house arrest and becomes dispirited. He loves Nanku Yueli, but chooses to betray her after ascending to the throne in the second coup, installing the daughter of Minister Xue as Empress instead. Killed by Yu Xinji during his coronation. Huang XuanZheng Hao (young) Muyun Sheng Prince Ningrui and later, Crown Prince of Duan, sixth prince and son of Emperor Mingle and Consort Yinrong. Trusted confidant of Muru Hanjiang. A half-human and half-spirit. He was prophesied to become the future Emperor and would destroy the world. He becomes a master painter that produces lifelike paintings. Instead of fighting for the throne, he enjoys spending his time with a magical being living in the Muyun Pearl whom he names Panxi.
Upon the death of Muyun Hege, he ascends to throne but gives it up at the end of the series in search of a way to revive Panxi.The Wanzhou Muyun Clan Wang Qianyuan Muyun Luan Prince Ye, deposed crown prince of the former emperor and Emperor Ming's older half-brother. Husband of Muru Ping and Muyun De's father. Hiding a cunning and scheming personality behind a humorous facade, he plots to usurp the throne and plays an important role in the various schemes against both the ruling Zhongzhou Muyun Clan and the Muru family. He has ambiguous feelings towards his sister-in-law, Empress Nanku and dubious relations with Nanku Yueli. Mastermind of the second coup. Guarding against his wife from the Muru Clan, he personally kills her after the success of the second coup. Zhang Yao Muru Ping General Muru Shuo's sister, Muyun Luan's wife and Muyun De's mother. Like her brother, she displays great loyalty to the dynasty and Muru Clan. She incites hatred from Muyun Luan for her loyalties and often chides her husband for his treasonous nature. Murdered by Muyun Luan. Zhang XiaochenZhou Qi (young) Muyun De Muyun Luan's second son. Disciple and godson of Mo Yu Chen. He is obsessed with the magical arts. A smooth talking and sly man who often moves with a purpose in mind, he colludes with Mo to achieve his goal of conquering the world with magical arts. He maintains ambiguous relationships with Lan Yu'er and Nanku Yueli.Other Muyun Clan Members Zhang Jianing Muyun Yanshuang Princess Jing of Duan, daughter of Prince Jing and Commander of the Sliver Armor Army. A general who is headstrong and competitive. She initially admires Muyun Han, and has a complex relationship with Shuofeng Heye, whom she bought as a slave. She eventually falls for Heye, though they could not be together being on opposing sides of the political turmoil.Wang YinanMuyun YanThe Emperor's younger sister and Muru Shuo's wife. See Muru Clan.
Muru Clan Invaded Zhongzhou and overthrew the Sheng Dynasty with the Muyun Clan 300 years ago. The aides of the current royal family and entrusted with great military power, the Muru Army commands great fear amongst the Hanzhou Tribes. The Muru Clan suffers from political machinations in the war with the Helan Tribe and subsequent second coup. Despite years of meritorious service, the clan is eliminated under the rule of Muyun Hege - the army is disbanded, men are exiled to the land of the Titans to build a new city, and women and the young are beheaded.