Prelude: The Eastern/Western Split
Thousands of years ago cultivation was commonplace. Cultivators were seen as leaders of the people and those that had reached a higher stage were seen as world leaders. These leaders were split into two groups. The Pro-Cultivators wished to spread cultivation though the people let everyone have a chance at growth to locate a prodigy that could reach the Peak of Cultivation. The Rulers wished to suppress the knowledge and make sure no one ever passed them so that they may rule forever.
Many battles were waged between the two factions before a deal was struck. The two factions would split the planet. The Pro-Cultivators were given the Eastern regions in what would one day be called India and China while The Rulers would be given the Western regions in what would one day be called Europe and Africa.
The Pro-Cultivators set up halls of learning. Locations where the teachings of Cultivation could and would be taught. Anyone that showed any aptitude would be welcome in their halls. These locations would be named Sects. Over the years many sects appeared. Some would grow to be tens of thousands large and last an untold number of years while some would dwindle and die. Contests would often be held between them pushing the level of cultivation higher and higher.
One such sect was known as the Golden Phoenix Sect. This sect was known for only accepting the best of the best and at its peak had the largest gathering of Peak stage cultivators on the planet. Cultivation seemed like it would rule the world. Then the Vanishing occurred. 1031 years ago every Peak stage cultivator vanished, Texts locked away in the libraries disappeared and the once great sects collapsed. With no Cultivators to lead normal people stepped up and in a bid to make sure they never rose to power again outlawed cultivation as a practice. To this day only a few Sects remain active hidden away in hidden Valleys.
The Rulers in a bid to ensure their rule also set up halls of learning to teach those who seemed to be talented in cultivation These halls though were designed to cripple anyone who might one day stand up to them. In a bid to even further hid away the source of their great power changed the name and teachings away from Qi and toward a new way, Magic. Magic was a great tool they were taught with it you could use your energy to do everything from levitate a stone to Transfigure a table. All the while their incorrect teaching set up a improper foundation for cultivation that would make it impossible to advance.
One group of Rulers set up in what is now called Egypt where they named themselves pharaohs. The strongest Ra took the position as high Pharaoh. Another group of Rulers set up in Greece where the strongest took the name Zeus and took up a position as a god of Olympus. Yet another group of Rulers set up in the North and ruled over the Germanic people as the gods of Asgard with their ruler Odin. The final group of Rulers set up in what would later be called England. They became the arch-mages where they ruled the land from the shadows the four of these rulers were named Godric Gryffindor, Helga Hufflepuff, Rowena Ravenclaw, and Salazar Slytherin. These four founded a school of magic named Hogwarts.
The Rulers held their land with an iron fist until just like the Great Sects 1031 years ago they vanished from the world. Unfortunately because of a ancient Artifact created by the founders of Hogwarts anyone with any hint of skill with cultivation is located early and forced to join the magic society blocking any chance that Cultivation may reappear in the west.
On an unnamed mountain in a exotic pavilion we find a young child with brilliant green eyes, pitch black hair and an odd lightning bolt shaped scar upon his brow looking into the distance. In front of him a tome lay open but forgotten. If you were able to see its spine you would see the title: The History of Cultivation. Upon the child's shoulder a small green snake no longer than 6 inches can be seen resting.
"I wonder..." The boy started speaking in a weird hissing language. "I wonder if they would have found me and taken me to that school if I hadn't found this Sect?"
