While the Warring Lands had been in conflict with each other for over five hundred years, it only took twenty for the Heavenly Emperor to bring them all to heel. Starting from the small empire of Fei, a once small state on the verge of being consumed by its neighbors in the never-ending exchange of power that plagued the Warring Lands, it was only by the Heavenly Emperor's boundless wit and charisma did they the state of Fei from destruction. Allying themselves with what were once mortal enemies, the Heavenly Emperor proved that they were first and foremost a unifier of men. From there, the Heavenly Emperor's vision of a unified nation spread outward, folding in those who were wise enough to follow the Heavenly Emperor. Those who weren't were brought to heel first through fire and iron, and then later on through steel and powder.

While there have been recent attempts in bringing equality between the genders, it is a slow process. For centuries, it has been accepted that men are fierce and conquer, while women are wise while they take care of home and hearth. Men would be soldier, hunters, and go out to be foreign merchants and diplomats. Women would be scribes, accountants, or handling the intricacies of internal trade and diplomacy. Those that do not fit this binary must be exceptional, such as the Heavenly Emperor, or face heavy discrimination and scrutiny. That, or they're dirty elves.

Powerful warriors, reclusive scholars, wielders of awesome and terrifying power, magicians have always influenced the history of the world. However, during the Heavenly Emperor's rise a brutal system had been implemented to limit the wrath and destruction of these powerful individuals, a system which has now spread to all of Beinan.

All magical citizenry in Beinan must submit to receiving an Imperial Mark which tracks them at all times. An Imperial Mark can only be given after passing an Imperial Magical Exam conducted all throughout the land. Most are forced to attend and study in one of several Imperial Circles of Magi set up and maintained by the new Beinan government, though there have been tales of hermits and enlightened cultivators passing through their own study. However, there is an inherent risk in doing so as the citizenry in recent years have become frightened and fearful of these rogue individuals, and apostates are hunted down with impunity if they do not comply with these new Imperial mandates.

The Warring Lands had seen both eras of Bronze and Iron, but under the Heavenly Emperor's divine direction, the Great Unification had signaled a new age of warfare of Gunpowder and Steel. At first arming only their most trusted cohorts, the secrets of steel-making has slowly started to disseminate throughout the population, and the deadly effectiveness displayed by the simple muskets the Heavenly Emperor's legions had made use of ensured its rapid research and adoption. Beyond that, the rice-cement has still proven to be the most steadfast ally of the growing nation, as it had been for its many forbearers, but the new proliferation of trade and ideas has seen a renaissance of melding the many disparate styles spread across Beinan into something unique and new.

While there has always been an interest in far-off lands, the instability of the Warring Lands had made it difficult for any sort of reliable trade or exchange of ideas to flourish. Now however, under Beinan and the Heavenly Emperor's infinite wisdom, concerted effort has been made to court dignitaries and trade from all across the world to come and be awed by the beauty of a unified Beinan.