The legendary Nian, once sealed away, has descended upon the mortal realm once more, wreaking havoc across the land and brewing a sinister plot—to plunge the world into eternal darkness under its rule. At the same time, the only one capable of defeating Nian, the "Purple Kui Star," has been reincarnated in a small fishing village by the East Sea. This is our protagonist—Xiao Hai. Nian's rampage destroys the fishing village, devouring Xiao Hai's parents and the Kitchen God who protected him. To defeat Nian, Xiao Hai must seek out the legendary "Twelve Sacred Beasts" and master their martial arts. Thus, Xiao Hai embarks on a long journey with the first sacred beast—a little mouse named "Duolaimi" who once served the Kitchen God. After encountering masters such as the Tiger, Pig, Horse, and Ox, Xiao Hai gradually transforms from an ordinary boy with no skills into a martial arts expert. However, during a battle with Nian at the Ox Master's Flaming Mountain, Xiao Hai realizes the vast gap between his abilities and Nian's, plunging him into despair. After falling off a cliff, Xiao Hai is rescued by the Goat Master. While recovering from his injuries, with the help of the Goat Master and Duolaimi, Xiao Hai rebuilds his confidence. Having matured, Xiao Hai no longer blindly seeks revenge against Nian. Instead, he focuses on finding the remaining masters to further hone his skills, eventually meeting masters such as the Rabbit, Dog, Rooster, Monkey, and Snake. After encountering the Monkey Master, Zhikong, and undergoing training at the Buddhist sacred mountain, Chaozong, Xiao Hai truly understands that the battle against Nian is not for personal vengeance but to save all living beings. As Nian's plot draws nearer, and with the Dragon Master still missing, Xiao Hai decides to confront Nian alone. In a fierce battle, Xiao Hai is knocked into the deep sea, where he unexpectedly encounters the Dragon, who had long been imprisoned by Nian. Xiao Hai rescues the Dragon, who then summons the other eleven sacred beasts to help Xiao Hai become the true Purple Kui Star. However, they are too late—Nian's plot succeeds, darkness envelops the land, and Xiao Hai is swallowed by Nian. As Nian rampages across the continent, Xiao Hai wreaks havoc inside its belly. In agony, Nian is forced to spit Xiao Hai out. The final battle between Xiao Hai and Nian begins. With the combined power of the Twelve Sacred Beasts and the fireworks of the people, Xiao Hai finally defeats Nian. Darkness dissipates, and peace is restored to the land. From that day on, this day is named "Nian," and to commemorate the Twelve Sacred Beasts, each year is assigned a zodiac animal, a tradition passed down through generations.