Shangqing Palace

Biodata

Background / History

Shangqing Palace was founded after its Founding Grandmaster returned from warfare against Outer Domain cultivators. The Grandmaster established the sect, accepted disciples, and taught them, but his accumulated injuries eventually proved fatal. His direct disciple, later known as the Second Grandmaster, departed after reaching the Ancestor Realm and took the Yuqing Sword Technique with him; the loss of this inheritance contributed to the sect's long decline. 42

Three hundred years before the main story, Shangqing Palace's greatest hope was Li Tianxian, a prodigy with an Innate Sword Body. She created the Grass and Wood Sword Technique, but Emperor Wu of Zhou killed her while she explored a secret realm. Her final strike severed his Ancestor Realm foundation, leaving a lasting enmity between Shangqing Palace and Luochuan Sect. 1 4 12

The sect's decline culminated when Zhang Wudao, Emperor Wu of Zhou's disciple, murdered its former Sect Master and demanded its Blessed Land as his master's Daoist sanctuary. Li Qingshan accepted the Sect Master position and killed Zhang Wudao with the restored Grass and Wood Sword Technique, preventing the seizure of Shangqing Palace. 3 4 8

During Li Qingshan's enthronement ceremony, a sword strike originating from Shangqing Palace traveled ninety thousand li toward Luochuan Sect. Observers concluded that the sect concealed an Ancestor Realm cultivator, a rumor Li Qingshan used to strengthen its diplomatic position while Luochuan Sect was weakened. 15 16 18

After an Earth Pulse Impact exposed a Grandmaster Pure Land near its territory, Shangqing Palace protected itself with the Dragon Turtle Diagram and warned other major powers rather than attempting to monopolize the ruin. The site nevertheless attracted Venerables, Grandmasters, Ancestors, and hostile factions. 28 29

Shangqing Palace later sealed its mountain while Li Qingshan cultivated toward the Ancestor Realm. It survived repeated assassination attempts by the Human World, then reopened after Li Qingshan's breakthrough, restoring much of its former influence. 40 41 45 48

Appearance

Shangqing Palace occupies a mountainous Daoist site of snowy peaks, green-brick buildings, blue tiles, carved beams, painted rafters, flying eaves, and arched brackets. Its structures have endured for more than a thousand years. 7

• Majestic peaks, valleys, temples, and pavilions give the sect the appearance of a renowned Daoist mountain. 43 48 72
• The Golden Summit Hall serves as the Sect Master's seat and a focal point for sect-wide commands. 28 40
• The Scripture Repository Pavilion preserves tens of thousands of books and is Li Jiusheng's residence and cultivation site. 22 40
• Reflection Cliff is used for internal discipline; Yu Chaoyang was ordered to face it for half a year. 72
• The sect's territory includes a Blessed Land coveted by Zhang Wudao as a potential Daoist sanctuary for Emperor Wu of Zhou. 3 4

Sect Assets

• Dragon Turtle Diagram — A Grandmaster-level sect-protecting formation left by a Grandmaster. It manifests a Black Tortoise to stabilize the earth veins and an Azure Dragon to reinforce the defense. Activating it below the Ancestor Realm drains the sect's collective power and cannot be sustained for long. 28 29
• Scripture Repository Pavilion — The sect's major library, containing tens of thousands of texts. Its lax security allowed multiple intrusions, including searches for the Anomaly Diagram. 21 22
• Grass and Wood Sword Technique — Li Tianxian's lost sword art, restored through Li Jiusheng and passed to Li Qingshan. Its use against Zhang Wudao publicly revived Shangqing Palace's name. 4 8
• Heaven-Slaying Sword Drawing Technique — A sword technique of the Thousand-Year Sword God of the Old Land, imparted by Li Jiusheng to Li Qingshan and used against Human World assassins. 18 41
• Nine Sea-Supporting Purple Gold Beams — Former Shangqing Palace assets whose control method was seized by the Heavenly Dao Sect after the Second Grandmaster's departure; they remain unreturned more than nine hundred years later. 46

Relationships

• Li Qingshan — Current Sect Master, Sword Cultivator, and Shangqing Palace's leading public protector; his rise to the Ancestor Realm restored the sect's prestige. 3 45 48
• Li Jiusheng — Senior Brother to Li Qingshan and keeper of the Scripture Repository Pavilion. He treats the sect as his home and repeatedly protects it from assassins and Venerable-level invaders. 5 40 45
• Li Tianxian — Former peerless disciple and revival hope. Her death at Emperor Wu of Zhou's hands remains central to the sect's conflict with Luochuan Sect. 1 8
• Luochuan Sect — Principal enemy faction led by Emperor Wu of Zhou; its disciple murdered Shangqing Palace's former Sect Master and attempted to seize the sect's Blessed Land. 3 4
• Wang Family of Old Dragon City — Historically descended from a guardian beast subdued by Shangqing Palace's Grandmaster. The family later broke away, founded its own power, and became an opportunistic, hostile neighbor. 30 31
• Heavenly Dao Sect — Rival sect that retains control of Shangqing Palace's nine Sea-Supporting Purple Gold Beams; conflict escalated after Li Qingshan severely injured Dao Taichu. 46 71 73
• Human World — Assassin organization hired against Shangqing Palace by Luochuan Sect. After losing more than a dozen Great Grandmasters and six Venerables, it sought peace with three Grandmaster cultivation methods. 40 41 47
• Jin Family — Allied first-rate force that pursued closer relations with Shangqing Palace after Li Jiusheng and Li Qingshan's displays of strength. 71 73

Major Arcs

Defense Against Zhang Wudao

After Zhang Wudao threatened to enslave any residents who refused to abandon Shangqing Palace's Blessed Land, Li Qingshan faced him at the mountain gate. Li Qingshan killed him with a single Grass and Wood Sword Technique strike, ending the immediate threat and making the sect famous throughout the cultivation world. 4 7 8

Sect Master's Grand Ceremony

Li Qingshan's enthronement attracted guests from numerous forces. During the ceremony, the Thousand-Year Sword God's remnant soul used Li Jiusheng's body to launch a ninety-thousand-li sword strike from Shangqing Palace toward Luochuan Sect, severing Emperor Wu of Zhou's foundation again. 14 15 16

Grandmaster Pure Land Crisis

The emergence of a Grandmaster Pure Land near Shangqing Palace endangered the sect through Earth Pulse aftershocks and drew powerful cultivators to its borders. Li Qingshan activated the Dragon Turtle Diagram, prohibited disciples from recklessly entering the ruin, and notified other major powers to avoid making Shangqing Palace the ruin's sole target. 28 29

Mountain-Sealing and Assassin Attacks

To protect Li Qingshan's seclusion, Shangqing Palace sealed its mountain, barred entry and exit, and activated its defensive formation. Human World assassins nevertheless infiltrated twice: Li Jiusheng eliminated the Great Grandmaster group, while Li Qingshan ambushed and killed six Venerable assassins. 40 41

Return to Prominence

Li Qingshan's Ancestor Realm breakthrough caused factions to send congratulations and prospective disciples to Shangqing Palace. The sect's renewed standing grew further after Li Jiusheng fought Dao Taichu across realms and Li Qingshan wounded the Heavenly Dao Sect Grandmaster. 48 70 73