Stranded in the Badlands after fleeing for their lives from Mount Hua Outpost, Jace and his friends find themselves with unexpected gifts from the gods—the opportunity to train and get stronger at an unprecedented pace and the chance to secure their freedom from Lords Ouyang and Ngai. But in the middle of their efforts, an ancient evil surfaces that threatens to destroy them and the empire with its otherworldly power. Their newfound strength is put to the test as they battle for survival. Seared is an exciting coming-of-age, progression, and cultivation fantasy series for fans of series like Cradle, Thousand Li, and He Who Fights with Monsters. It contains light romantic elements with no harem.