At the far western edge of the Eastern Fence World, yellow sand filled the sky as far as the eye could see. Vegetation was scarce, rainfall was scarce, and sandstorms occasionally erupted. Conditions were harsh, with few places suitable for human habitation. Golden Moon Lake was one of the Western Desert's few desert oases where humans could live.
Golden Moon Lake spanned a hundred thousand li, with lush water and grass. Beside it stood a towering, majestic city. Above its gates hung a golden plaque bearing the three large characters "Golden Moon City." Under the sun's reflection, the golden plaque gleamed with waves of dazzling golden light.
Golden Moon City was five hundred li long and two hundred li wide, its walls a hundred zhang high. This was the stronghold of the Jin Family, a great cultivation clan, home to a million mortals and several thousand cultivators.
The Jin Family had endured for over a thousand years. Their ancestor had been a lay disciple of Ten Thousand Buddha Temple.
At the center of Golden Moon City stood a benevolent-looking golden Buddha statue over thirty zhang tall, its hands pressed together in prayer. Before it stood a golden incense burner more than ten zhang high, filled with burning sandalwood incense.
A million mortals gathered around the Buddha statue, kneeling and worshipping it as they murmured words such as "May Buddha bless us" and "Buddha is merciful." Every face was incomparably devout.
Over a thousand cultivators gathered atop the city walls, their expressions tense as they surrounded a thin gold-robed elder with white hair and a youthful face. The gold-robed elder's eyes shone brightly, and every gesture carried the bearing of one long accustomed to command.
The gold-robed elder was Jin Decheng, Clan Leader of the Jin Family, at Core Formation Layer