Mount Sanqing, also known as Mount Shaohua, lay in northeastern Jiangxi and was a famous Daoist mountain. It was named for its three peaks—Jade Capital Peak, Jade Void Peak, and Jade Glory Peak—which resembled the three Daoist supreme deities of Yuqing, Shangqing, and Taiqing seated atop the mountain. It was renowned as "the world's finest immortal peak, an unparalleled blessed land beneath heaven."
Mount Sanqing was lush with forests and pleasant scenery. Aside from the most famous Three Pure Peaks, it also boasted ten celebrated sights: Penglai Three Peaks, Brocade Screen Peak, Celestial Pillar Peak, Jade Bamboo Shoot Pavilion, Twin Swords Peak, Laozi Peak, Heaven's Gate Peak, Spirit Turtle Peak, Five Gates Peak, and Goddess Peak.
Daoist sects throughout the world stood in great numbers, with dozens or even hundreds of different Daoist sects. Broadly speaking, they could be divided into two branches: Quanzhen Dao in the north and Zhengyi Sect in the south. The southern Orthodox Unity Dao revered the Shangqing, Numinous Treasure, and Tianshi Dao sects above all others, respectively worshipping the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning, the Celestial Worthy of Numinous Treasure, and the Celestial Worthy of the Way and Virtue.
Legend had it that during the Eastern Jin Dynasty, Ge Hong and Li Shangshu had built huts on Mount Sanqing to refine pills and cultivate the Dao. This exceptionally gifted historical figure had exerted an immense influence on later generations and shared deep ties with the various Orthodox Unity Dao sects, serving as a leader of the Daoist Sect in his time.
As Ge Hong's secluded retreat, Mount Sanqing had become famous throughout the world from then on. It was honored as one of the sacred lands of the Daoist Sect, and successive dynasties had bestowed imperial titles upon it.
"Three Pure Palace. This is the place jointly revered by the three Orthodox Unity Dao sects."
At Nine Dragons Pass on the southern side of the Three Pure blessed land, Yan Kuan, disguised as a dwarf, gazed into the distance at the ancient Daoist palace that flickered in and out of view. Standing there and taking in the surrounding mountains, he vaguely sensed a Daoist charm of returning to simplicity.
Yan Kuan could not help walking forward. Figures had already gathered before Three Pure Palace, both old and young. Among them were several handsome young men and women in Daoist Robes, their spiritual aura quite extraordinary.
"Alas! We were born into this Age of Dao Hardship. If the spiritual energy of heaven and earth had not dried up, how could cultivation be so difficult?"
"Eldest Senior Brother's talent is remarkable. Even in the Age of Dao Hardship, he opened up a Spring of Life. Had he lived in ancient times, he would likely have become the leader of a sect long ago."
Without drawing attention to himself, Yan Kuan blended into the crowd and casually moved closer to these unusually refined young men and women. He had thought they were discussing some secret matter, but what he heard instead was merely wistful lamentations about the ancient era, as though they wished time itself could turn back.
Among the group was a young man who appeared to be in his early twenties, surrounded by the others. Everyone else flattered him and followed his lead, as though he possessed some extraordinary divine ability.
Yet after Yan Kuan carefully sensed their cultivation, he was speechless. These people really knew how to boast. A mere Life Spring was being praised as though it surpassed even a Great Ability sect leader at the second level of the Immortal Platform. Still, in this End of Dharma era, reaching the Life Spring realm did indeed give one cause for pride.
"At this grand gathering of the three Orthodox Unity Dao sects, I hear that many important figures from various sects will come to expound the Dao. Our elders have passed down word that the ancestral sect's spiritual land will admit several disciples into the true lineage. Fellow disciples, you must not slack off."
This Eldest Senior Brother spoke while swaying his head, seemingly deliberately raising his voice. The young men and women gathered around him all looked excited, while most of those farther away revealed envious expressions upon hearing the news.
In the present day, only the spiritual lands of certain famous mountains and great rivers still possessed relatively abundant spiritual energy. These grotto-heavens and blessed lands were sacred places yearned for by countless Daoist cultivators.
Yet even within these spiritual lands, spiritual energy was insufficient. Even the renowned sects had to select talented members for their true lineages before they could cultivate within those lands. As for independent cultivators, they could only listen to the news and feel envious. They should not even dream of entering such spiritual lands.
"So many people!"
Yan Kuan wandered around these young people for a while longer, then followed the crowd into Three Pure Palace.
Along the way, he saw quite a few Daoist cultivators. Some wore ancient-style Daoist Robes, while others wore modern clothing. Their bearing was clearly different from ordinary people, with an essence-like aura surrounding their bodies.
"Have you heard? The Tianshi Manor's Heavenly Master of this generation is said not to have much time left. The selection for the next Heavenly Master is about to begin."
"I hear the clan leader of the Great Xia Dragon Sparrow Clan is about to be replaced as well. The powerhouses of this era have basically all entered their twilight years."
"In this Age of Dao Hardship, we cultivators live only slightly longer than ordinary mortals. The spiritual energy of heaven and earth has dried up. Who knows when a turning point will come?"
Outside Three Pure Palace, many Daoist cultivators gathered together and discussed recent matters in the cultivation world. Quite a few mentioned how many major figures of the older generation had entered their twilight years.
Yan Kuan was inconspicuous amid the crowd, but from the cultivators' discussions, he learned much about the cultivation world.
The cultivation world of the Ancestral Star was currently at its lowest point. Since ancient times, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth had steadily thinned, until it had almost completely vanished in modern times.
Over the past century, technology had developed rapidly. No one knew whether this had affected the environment and caused spiritual energy to become even scarcer. Now, even the terrestrial essence of famous mountains and great rivers was incredibly thin. Cultivation had become increasingly difficult, and many people longed for the return of spiritual energy.
"Spiritual energy will not recover for at least another twenty years."
Listening to their discussion, Yan Kuan silently arrived at an answer. According to the information he knew, the Ancestral Star's spiritual energy would not return until after the Nine Dragons Pulling a Coffin incident in 2008—more than twenty years from now. Most of those present had some hope of living to see it.
But he did not think highly of their prospects. More than twenty years later, most of them would be past fifty or even in their twilight years. Furthermore, the revival of spiritual energy would come step by step. Most would grow old before the Golden Age arrived, leaving them with little Future.
"Fellow Daoists, this way, please."
Behind Three Pure Palace, Daoist cultivators entered a Stone Gate one after another under the guidance of Daoist attendants, vanishing from sight. Three Pure Palace truly had some foundation, possessing an Ancient Formation that only Daoist cultivators could enter.
This was a world filled with fragrant flowers and birdsong. The Three Pure Peaks, which they could previously only view from afar, now stood close at hand. Looking into the distance, three majestic peaks towered high, grand and imposing without losing their beauty.
Layer upon layer of mountains rose amid mist and rosy clouds. Many verdant peaks stood side by side; though not particularly high, clouds blanketed them. Daoist temples sat atop peaks wreathed in mist, where clouds and glowing haze intermingled.
This was the Three Pure Peaks blessed land of the Orthodox Unity Dao, as well as the location of this cultivators' gathering. Of course, it was not Orthodox Unity Dao's secret territory; such ancestral lands would never be opened to outsiders.
The spiritual energy in this Three Pure Peaks blessed land was not particularly abundant. Those cultivating here were mostly outer disciples of Orthodox Unity Dao, but even such an environment was enough to make most independent cultivators green with envy.
Yan Kuan was wrapped entirely in a black robe, his expression stiff beneath his disguise. His eyes curiously surveyed his surroundings as he quietly listened to the conversations of several Daoist cultivators. He learned quite a few things and, more surprisingly, discovered that reclusive masters of the Daoist Sect might come to accept disciples this time.
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