The Grand Gathering of Cultivators

Mount Sanqing, also known as Mount Shaohua, lies in the northeast of Jiangxi. It is a famed Daoist mountain, named for its three peaks—Jade Capital, Jade Void, and Jade Glory—which resemble the three pure venerables of Daoism, Jade Pure, Upper Pure, and Grand Pure, seated atop the summit. It has long been hailed as "the world's finest immortal peak, an unmatched blessed land on earth."

Mount Sanqing is lush with trees and pleasant in environment. Beyond its most famous Three Pure Peaks, there are ten other renowned scenic peaks: 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.

The Daoist sects under heaven are numerous, with dozens or even hundreds of various schools, which can be divided into two lineages. In the north is Quanzhen Dao, and in the south, the Zhengyi Sect. Within the southern Zhengyi Dao, the three leading branches are Shangqing, Lingbao, and Tianshi Dao, which venerate the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning, the Celestial Worthy of Numinous Treasure, and the Celestial Worthy of the Way and Virtue, respectively.

Legend has it that during the Eastern Jin dynasty, Ge Hong and Li Shangshu built a thatched hut to refine alchemy and cultivate the Dao on Mount Sanqing. This brilliant and extraordinary figure had a profound influence on later generations and shared deep ties with the various branches of Zhengyi Dao, serving as the leader of the Daoist community at the time.

As Ge Hong's place of seclusion, Mount Sanqing has been renowned ever since, honored as one of the sacred sites of Daoism, and successive dynasties bestowed imperial recognition upon it.

"Three Pure Palace—this is the place, the shared sanctuary of the three branches of Zhengyi Dao."

At the southern Nine Dragons Pass of the Sanqing Blessed Land, Yan Kuan, disguised as a dwarf, gazed into the distance at the faintly visible ancient Daoist palace. Standing there, taking in the surrounding mountains, he vaguely sensed a Daoist rhythm of returning to simplicity.

Yan Kuan couldn't help but step forward. Figures were already gathered before the Three Pure Palace, some old, some young. Among them were several young men and women in Daoist robes, quite handsome and graceful, with no ordinary spiritual aura about them.

"Alas, we were born in this age of scarce Dao. If the world's spiritual energy hadn't dried up, cultivation wouldn't be so difficult."

"The senior brother has no ordinary talent. Even in this age of scarce Dao, he can open a Spring of Life. In ancient times, he would have already become a sect leader."

Yan Kuan quietly blended into the crowd, casually drawing near these men and women who seemed extraordinary in bearing. He had thought they might be discussing some secret matters, but instead he overheard nostalgic sighs lamenting the past and wishing they could turn back time.

Among these men and women, a young man who appeared to be in his early twenties was surrounded by others. The rest flattered him and looked to him as their leader, as if he possessed remarkable divine abilities.

But after carefully sensing them, Yan Kuan thought, Good heavens, these people really know how to boast. A mere Life Spring realm cultivator, yet they talked him up as if he were more formidable than a mighty sect leader at the Immortal Platform second level. Though, to be fair, being able to cultivate to the Life Spring realm in this End of Dharma era was indeed something to be proud of.

"This grand gathering of the three branches of Zhengyi Dao is said to bring many great figures from various sects to lecture on the Dao. The elders have passed down word that the ancestral sect's sacred grounds will select a few disciples for true inheritance. Fellow disciples, do not slack off."

This senior brother spoke with a sway of his head, seemingly deliberately raising his voice. The young men and women gathered around him looked excited, while others farther away mostly showed envy upon hearing the news.

In this day and age, only the sacred grounds of various sects within famous mountains still possessed relatively abundant spiritual energy. These cave heavens and blessed lands were the sanctuaries that many cultivators yearned for.

Yet even within these sacred grounds, spiritual energy was insufficient. Major sects had to select their own talents for true inheritance before they could enter these lands to cultivate. As for wild foxes and unaffiliated practitioners, they could only listen to the news and envy from afar—they could hardly dream of entering such places.

"So many people!"

Yan Kuan lingered among these young people for a while longer, then followed the crowd into the Three Pure Palace.

Along the way, he saw many cultivators. Some wore ancient-style Daoist robes, others modern attire, but all had a distinct aura unlike ordinary people, with a spirit energy swirling around them.

"Have you heard? The current Celestial Master of Tianshi Manor is said to have little time left. The selection for the next Celestial Master is about to begin."

"The clan leader of the Great Xia Dragon Sparrow is also said to be changing. The strong of this era are all entering their twilight years."

"In this age of scarce Dao, our lifespans as cultivators are only slightly longer than ordinary mortals. The world's spiritual energy has dried up, and who knows when a turning point will come..."

Outside the Three Pure Palace, many cultivators gathered and discussed recent events in the cultivation world. Many mentioned that numerous old-generation great figures were entering their twilight years.

Yan Kuan blended into the crowd, inconspicuous. From the cultivators' discussions, he learned much about the cultivation world.

The cultivation world of the Ancestral Star was at its lowest point. Since ancient times, the world's spiritual energy had grown thinner, until in recent times it had almost completely dissipated.

In the past hundred years, technology had developed rapidly. Whether this had affected the environment and caused spiritual energy to become even scarcer was unclear. Now, even the earth vein essence of famous mountains was extremely thin. Cultivation grew ever more difficult, and many were praying for the return of spiritual energy.

"Spiritual energy won't recover for at least another twenty years."

Listening to their discussions, Yan Kuan silently gave an answer in his heart. According to the information he knew, the Ancestral Star's spiritual energy would not return until after the Nine Dragons Pulling a Coffin event in 2008, still more than twenty years away. Most of those present could hope to see it.

But he wasn't optimistic about their futures. Twenty years from now, most of those here would be past fifty or even entering old age. And the spiritual energy recovery would come gradually. Most people wouldn't live to see the arrival of the Golden Age—they had little future ahead.

"Fellow Daoists, please."

At the rear mountain of the Three Pure Palace, cultivators were guided by Daoist acolytes through a stone gate, disappearing from sight. The Three Pure Palace still had some foundation, preserving ancient formations that only cultivators could enter.

This was a world of fragrant flowers and birdsong. The Three Pure Peaks, previously only visible from afar, now stood right before his eyes. Gazing into the distance, three majestic peaks rose high, exuding a sense of grandeur and might, magnificent yet graceful.

Peaks layered upon peaks, mist and clouds winding around the mountains. Many green peaks stood side by side, not towering but shrouded in clouds. Some Daoist temples sat atop misty peaks, steam rising like clouds.

This was the Sanqing Peak Blessed Land of the Zhengyi Sect, also the venue for this cultivator gathering. Of course, it was not the secret grounds of Zhengyi Dao—such ancestral lands would never be opened to outsiders.

The spiritual energy in this Sanqing Peak Blessed Land was not abundant. Those who cultivated here were mostly outer disciples of Zhengyi Dao. Yet even such an environment was enough to make most wild foxes envious.

Yan Kuan was wrapped entirely in a black robe, his face stiff with a disguise. His eyes curiously surveyed the surroundings as he quietly listened to the words of some cultivators, learning many things. He even unexpectedly discovered that this time, hidden Daoist masters might come to take on disciples.