The Phoenix Returned Home

A thousand years ago, Refining Yang Temple had been nothing more than an ordinary Daoist temple, with only an old Daoist and a young Daoist living inside. Now, it had become a reclusive Daoist school of the highest standing, little known to outsiders. Every disciple had to cultivate Complete Three Talents and the most perfect state of mind, then advance step by step through Primordial Prenatal Qi. Over the past thousand years, a small half of the Daoist world's most eminent cultivators had come from here.

In the world today, the Hundred Schools of Thought flourished at ease. But the name of Great True Person Ming Xin, who had once recorded the Daoist scriptures and spread them throughout the world, was exceedingly illustrious. He was vaguely revered as the Daoist world's leader. People had long known of Louguan Dao, but found it difficult to join. Though the school enjoyed great prestige, its entry requirements were extremely strict, and it had few disciples in every generation.

There were only a dozen or so Daoists at Refining Yang Temple. There was no need to expand it.

It was still the same little Daoist temple as before, perched halfway up the mountain. Each day, when one looked out, one could still see the old street and the bridge, with cooking smoke rising in wisps. The mortal world was just as it had always been. A man in a black robe and jade crown sat where he had once sat cross-legged, breathing in and out. He held a cup of tea, while Yang Jian stood at his side and told him what had happened with the Longevity Cult that day.

Then Yang Jian said gravely, "By the Emperor's command, we have spent a thousand years continually cutting off the South Pole Longevity Great Emperor's