Taoism was one of the earliest religions to preach among the Human Race and put down roots.
Within the mortal world of the Human Race in the Southern Domain, it was fairly well-known.
It ranked among the top faith-based religions of the Southern Domain.
Yet Taoism had troubles of its own. High renown did not mean its faith had spread far and wide.
In the past, within the Southern Domain—especially after the Fire Ancestor Cult declined and vanished—Taoism had ranked only below the Luo Cult.
But ever since Buddhism settled its internal turmoil and established itself upon the vast foundations of faith in the Western Region, Buddhism had unexpectedly begun to develop at breakneck speed among the mortal Human Race of the Southern Domain, rapidly catching up, with every sign of overtaking Taoism.
This was quite awkward.
If things continued like this, it was only a matter of time before Taoism was surpassed by Buddhism.
This left the Taoist gods restless and anxious.
If Taoism lost to Buddhism in the Southern Domain, would that not leave the three Sages utterly disgraced?
Not to mention that Taoism's own foundation had suffered repeated incursions from heretical cults over the years.
Above, Buddhism competed with them; below, heretical cults gnawed away at them.
A sense of crisis had unexpectedly begun to hang over Taoism.
This gave the disciples of the Interpretation Sect and Interception Sect, who presided over Taoism, quite a headache.
Of course, Taoism's greatest flaw still lay in its internal discord.
For Taoism worshipped the Three Pure Ones, the three Sages.
The surviving disciples and followers of the Interception Sect had naturally been absorbed into the Taoist fold.
The Human Sect need not be mentioned for now. With so few disciples, it was like a transparent ghost within Taoism.
But the