Yanzhou was vast, stretching beyond sight.
It held countless famous mountains and mighty rivers, and hundreds upon thousands of Dao Palaces and immortal sects.
Anyuan Town was unremarkable by Yanzhou's standards. No one knew how many towns of roughly ten thousand people dotted the land. But three hundred and fifty thousand li east of Anyuan Town lay a marsh called White Wave Marsh.
White Wave Marsh covered five hundred thousand li. It was hardly a great marsh, but its position was crucial: one of the Qiankun Dao Sect's Dao Palaces stood upon it.
Inside White Wave Dao Palace, disciples hurried to and fro, dispatching edicts to towns and cities throughout its territory.
"By decree of the True Lord, Seeking Immortal City's tribute of immortal herbs and spirit pills shall increase by another thirty percent this year."
"By decree of the True Lord, in addition to mining three hundred thousand Spirit Stones this year, East Flatland Town shall offer a thousand measures of Eastern Jade Flowstone. The same shall apply every year henceforth!"
"By decree of the True Lord, beginning this year, West River Commandery shall send three thousand cultivators annually for the Dao Palace's use, in addition to its yearly tribute of Spirit Stones and magical artifacts."
As edict after edict came from the main hall, a Qiankun Dao Sect disciple stepped forward to receive each one, then hurried away.
Still more cultivators returned with resources to report the completion of their orders. They had to deliver their edicts to the Merit Hall in a side building, where the resources would be counted.
All of White Wave Dao Palace was extraordinarily busy. Yet amid the hurried figures, one man remained strikingly calm. Unlike the others, with their tense expressions and rapid steps, this young cultivator walked at an unhurried pace.