Great Dao Sect

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Great Dao Sect (大道教)
Alias(es)	True Great Dao Sect 158 184
Affiliation	Assembled Sages Institute; later the Great Sect Alliance 206 539
Occupation / Role	Major Daoist sect emphasizing Civilian Skill, longevity, medicine, and religious administration; regarded as the second-largest Daoist sect in Great Ling 117 183
Primary Foundation	Ze Province, where most of its reserves and strength are concentrated 337
Status	Active
First Appearance	Chapter 4

Background / History

The sect reveres the Three Pure Ones. Its founding tradition holds that its ancestor, Liu Derong, received transmitted scriptures after the Yujing Hanshi Celestial Lord manifested and passed his home while riding an ox; the account is treated as legend rather than confirmed history. Its pantheon includes the Yujing Hanshi Celestial Lord and ninety-nine Dao Gate gods. 4 109

At some point during the era of Myriad Gods, ideological and Worship God differences split the sect into Jade Void Palace and Heavenly Treasure Palace. The branches fought one another, then suffered internal turmoil that reduced the sect's power to less than a tenth of its former strength and forced it to rely on Ling Ting. They were later reunited under the Grand Master's guidance. 207 338

The sect's broad network includes hundreds of Dao Palaces and Daoist temples across Great Ling. Its local branches often present themselves as institutions devoted chiefly to health cultivation and Civilian Skill, while its true martial reserves are concentrated in Jade Void Palace and Ze Province. 117 337 338

Under Grand Master Yue Dewen, the sect expanded rapidly by promoting loyalty to the sovereign, service to the country, and Civilian Skill rather than openly competing with other sects. This approach earned imperial support, although its growing influence drew suspicion from rival religious powers. 184 338

After being expelled from Heavenly Treasure Palace by True One Sect and Western Sect forces, the sect temporarily lost its public base in the Great Capital. It later reversed its position, seized much of the religious administration of the capital, and became the central force behind the Great Sect Alliance. 365 389 539

Doctrine

The Great Dao Sect's stated principle is “tranquility and non-action,” contrasting with the True One Sect's doctrine of striving. 211

Its public teachings prioritize longevity, health, moral cultivation, and Civilian Skill over combat. Martial arts are regarded primarily as a means of self-protection and protecting the Dao. 5 6

At higher levels, Civilian Skill is also tied to Spiritization. The sect cultivates Civilian Skill partly to improve a practitioner's tier when undergoing future Worship God transformations, including the path to becoming a Spirit General. 196 197

Daoist Assessment

The sect's Asking Master selection events evaluate candidates according to three essentials:

1. Civilian Skill
2. Martial Arts
3. Moral character

Civilian Skill is considered the sect's foremost doctrine, and high-level practitioners are particularly valued by the Imperial Court. 183

Organization

Leadership

• Grand Master Yue Dewen — Led the sect through its rapid expansion, directed its political strategy, and later headed the Great Sect Alliance as National Preceptor. 184 593
• Xue Tong — Later appeared as the Great Dao Sect's Grand Master and identified himself to Zhang Rongfang as Yue Dewen, offering information in exchange for aid against the Moon God. 632 633
• Daozi — A designated heir or exceptional disciple. Zhang Ying held this position through a black “Heaven and Earth” waist token. 201 270
• Palace Masters — Heavenly Treasure Palace was administered by Palace Masters including Lin Qinghong, Fang Zhiyun, and Xie Ling. 365

Major Branches and Seats

• Heavenly Treasure Palace — Major Dao Palace and former public center of the sect in the Great Capital; it was later occupied and renamed by the True One Sect. 365
• Jade Void Palace — Formerly a separate branch of the sect; contains most of the sect's elite martial strength. 207 338
• Qinghe Temple — A local temple affiliated with the Great Dao Sect's teachings. 4
• Mingjing Palace — The sect's major Tanyang branch and one of the city's four foremost martial powers. 51
• Ze Province — The sect's true birthplace and principal foundation, housing its greatest reserves and strength. 337

Martial & Medical Traditions

Returning Spring Purifying Time Talisman Classic

The sect's signature martial system originated from Daoist talisman-drawing gestures before being adapted into combat and training methods. Its first seven talisman arts are martial techniques, while its final five are medical and healing arts. 11 25

Talisman Art	Classification
Vitality Talisman	Martial
Flame Emperor Talisman	Martial
One Yuan Talisman	Martial
Gathering Spirit Talisman	Martial
Mixed Origin Talisman	Martial
Soul Fixing Talisman	Martial
Yue Type Talisman	Martial
Three Pure Ones Talisman	Medical / healing
Returning Spirit Talisman	Medical / healing
Sandalwood Star Talisman	Medical / healing
Nine Curves Talisman	Medical / healing
Yellow Dragon Talisman	Medical / healing

The system has a maximum of seven martial ranks: breaking the limit of one of the first seven talisman arts advances the practitioner by one rank. 25 609

• Its techniques are upright, tranquil, balanced, and adaptable against unusual martial arts. 257
• The sect's martial arts are considered safe to cultivate and do not inherently harm the practitioner. 117
• Its movement techniques are a recognized weakness, focusing on short-range bursts rather than sustained mobility. 61
• The Flame Emperor Talisman is the sect's most offensively powerful talisman art and functions as an enhanced Yue Type Talisman. 77

Guanxu Skill

The Guanxu Skill is the sect's foundational Civilian Skill and a longevity method. It teaches the refinement of essence into qi, circulation through the greater and lesser heavenly cycles and twelve meridians, and the condensation of an inner core. 5

The sect later possessed the Supreme Bright Void Skill, a superior form of the Guanxu Skill capable of supporting the path toward Spirit General status. 197

Medicine and Healing

The Great Dao Sect integrates medicine with martial practice. Its healing talismans, Pill Hall, medicine gardens, and alchemical officials form a substantial part of its institutional structure. 11 184

Insignia & Oversight

• Daozi Token — A black metal waist token bearing the title “Heaven and Earth,” cloud-and-pine patterns, and locked script. It identifies a Great Dao Sect Daozi. 270
• Cultivation monitoring — The Daozi Token contains hidden silver threads and can monitor the holder's cultivation progress. 270
• Purple Extreme Lotus Crown — Symbol of the sect's highest rank; Zhang Rongfang continued wearing it after becoming Dao Ancestor. 679
• Daoist Registry — Sect members use official Daoist documentation to transfer between temples and Dao Palaces and to pursue appointments through the Daoist system. 51 75

Political Role

The Great Dao Sect and the True One Sect were installed into the Assembled Sages Institute to oversee Daoist and External Teaching affairs throughout Great Ling. The institute also controlled education, examinations, and the recommendation of talent for official positions. 206 178

The sect's relationship with Ling Ting was mutually beneficial: the sect gained official backing and protection, while its Daoist Registry and Civilian Skill system provided a route for cultivating and appointing personnel. 184 189

During its ascent, the sect joined Snow Rainbow Pavilion in the siege of the Black Ten Sect's main altar, forced the Heaven Lock Sect to cede religious territory in Gu Province, and proposed reorganizing recognized Bright Teachings around five principal sects. 402

The Great Sect Alliance eventually became the highest authority structure in Great Ling, with the Great Dao Sect at its center and Yue Dewen directing its campaign against the old order. 505 539 573

Relationships

• Jade Void Palace — Former splinter branch later reunited with the sect; retains most of its elite martial strength. 207 338
• Heavenly Treasure Palace — Major sect seat and former public center in the Great Capital. 184 365
• True One Sect — Fellow Daoist sect, institutional partner in the Assembled Sages Institute, and longstanding political rival. 206 211 365
• Western Sect — Rival religious force involved in conflicts over Heavenly Treasure Palace and Great Ling's religious order. 365 389
• Ling Ting — Historical patron and political partner; the sect relied on it after its earlier decline and later became deeply involved in imperial governance. 207 184
• Great Sect Alliance — Alliance established around the Great Dao Sect's authority to replace the former religious balance of power. 539 573
• Human Immortal Temple — Closely connected to former Daozi Zhang Ying; other factions regard its relationship with the Great Dao Sect as deep but uncertain. 531