Empty Mountain Sect

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Empty Mountain Sect (空山宗)
Affiliation	One of Chenping Continent's Five Great Sects 2 76
Occupation/Role	Major immortal cultivation sect; dominant cultivation power in the northwestern Chenping Continent
Status	Active in surviving timelines; later records place its total membership, including external postings, at over 90,000. Destroyed in an earlier reincarnation cycle. 180 664
Leadership	Governed at different times by Sect Master Yun Yichen and Ascension Realm True Person Caiyun Kong Yang; Yun Yichen resumed leadership after Kong Yang's death. Zhong Yin subsequently became Sect Master, while Yun Yichen became Supreme Law Elder. 292 607 679 700
First Appearance	1

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Second-rate sect	73 613	Li Xuanyin founded the sect on Kongyuan Mountain under Wanhua Realm oversight; its early growth could not surpass second-rate status.
Super-first-rate sect	73 613	Yan Yunhe refined the sect's cultivation system, created the Empty Mountain Kongmiao Notes, and rose from Body Tempering to Ascension in under two centuries.
One of the Five Great Sects	76	After Tian Ding Sect's destruction and the ensuing chaos, Empty Mountain Sect was among the five powers that restored order on Chenping Continent.
Ascension-led great sect	292	Following the revival of the immortal path and the Great Demon's destruction, True Person Caiyun Kong Yang returned with Ascension Realm cultivation and took direct control of sect affairs.
Immortal-artifact restoration	609	True Person Ducang Chen Yan announced that he would elevate the sect's Mountain Shaking Bell into a true immortal artifact, restoring the possibility lost when Kong Yang damaged his Dao Foundation reversing Karma.
Post-reform expansion	664	The Three Mountains, Four Peaks, and Four Supreme Courts collectively exceeded 5,300 Inner Sect disciples, while the Outer Court exceeded 23,500 disciples.
Foundational-method improvement	73	Chen Yan's Purple Mansion Empty Mountain Art substantially improved cultivation efficiency; its trial implementation began at Kongyuan Mountain's Scripture Hall.
Historical peak without an Ascension leader	497	A historical record following Kong Yang's original tenure describes three Hedao Realm cultivators, eleven Divine Ability Realm cultivators, and over one hundred Guiyi Realm cultivators. The lack of an immortal artifact prevented the sect from confidently claiming first place among the Five Great Sects.
Supreme Court reconsolidation in a later reincarnation	752	Li Haoran reclaimed the Supreme Cardinal Court's authority and brought the other three Supreme Courts fully under his command. Huo Mu submitted, restoring outward stability while Li Haoran cultivated successors against anticipated Karma backlash.

History

Li Xuanyin, a Wanhua Realm rogue cultivator, secluded himself on Kongyuan Mountain more than eighty thousand years ago. Drawing on fragmented methods he had collected and his own insights, he created the Empty Mountain Record—initially comprising the Empty Mountain Art and the Empty Mountain Formless Chapter—and founded the Empty Mountain Sect there. 73 613

The sect stagnated for roughly three thousand years until the rise of Yan Yunhe, later known as True Person Kongmiao. Yan Yunhe improved the Empty Mountain Record, authored its third volume, the Empty Mountain Kongmiao Notes, and established a cultivation system spanning the Lower and Upper Three Realms. His achievements transformed Empty Mountain Sect into a super-first-rate power. 73 433 613

Despite having the shallowest historical foundation among the Five Great Sects, Empty Mountain Sect benefited from Yan Yunhe's ability to resist Tian Ding Mountain. Even True Person Jingchen Qiu Siruo was wary of him, and her attempts to confront the sect came to nothing. The later achievements of True Persons Minghua and Caiyun rested on the foundation he established. 613

Before Chen Yan's rise, the sect's historical Ascension Realm figures numbered three: True Person Kongmiao of Kongyuan Mountain, True Person Minghua of Yuanhua Mountain, and True Person Caiyun of Qingchan Peak. True Person Minghua controlled the sect from behind the scenes for more than twenty-three thousand years, cementing Yuanhua Mountain's standing within the sect. 65 666

Following Tian Ding Sect's overnight destruction, Empty Mountain Sect became one of the Five Great Sects that re-established Chenping Continent's order. 76

During Kong Yang's original four-thousand-year tenure as Sect Master, his diligence brought the sect to exceptional prosperity. A historical record set a thousand years after his passing describes three Hedao Realm cultivators, eleven Divine Ability Realm cultivators, and more than one hundred Guiyi Realm cultivators within the Four Supreme Courts. His failure to leave behind an immortal artifact remained a limitation on the sect's standing. 497 604

Tian Ding Mountain Crisis and Outer Court Calamity

During the investigation into Qin Yue's death at Tian Ding Mountain, Kongyuan Mountain's Zhengfa Elder Wen Hongli erected a barrier sealing the mountain. Yuanhua Mountain's Dignity Elder He Furen asserted the sect's authority over the investigation with Huo Mu's backing, provoking objections from Lingxiao Temple and Mirage Palace because the blockade had been imposed without consulting the other Great Sects. 97 100

The investigation also exposed internal infiltration. Gu Qin used an Outer Court disciple's identity to enter Heavenly Peak and attempt to kill Chen Yan, indicating that he had assistance inside the sect. Chen Yan identified him as the likely killer of Song Mingde and two patrolling disciples. 106

During the Great Tribulation of Tian Ding Mountain, the sect suffered severe losses: only seventeen of its seventy-four participating cultivators survived. Its subsequent internal investigation blamed Yuanhua Mountain Elder Wei Mian for instigating He Furen; Wei Mian was killed, while Feng Wei temporarily took over Yuanhua Mountain. 151

Later accounts establish that Wei Mian had been made a scapegoat. Chen Yan told Li Haowen that Supreme Elder Song Changgeng might have been responsible for Wei Mian's death. Kong Yang subsequently hoped that Chen Yan would clear Wei Mian's name and restore the reputations of both Wei Mian and Li Haowen. 361 661 664

During a reincarnation cycle seven years after the sect's destruction, most of its spirit fields, mines, and surviving external disciples were absorbed by the other Four Great Sects. A separate record set five years after the Great Tribulation describes Qingchan Peak rebuilding most of the Outer Court and recruiting new disciples twice. 180 222

More than a dozen Attendant Elders and approximately one hundred Inner Sect disciples survived the destruction because they had been away from the sect. Many sought protection by joining the remaining Great Sects, as Empty Mountain Sect's former enemies made independent survival difficult. 180

During the rebuilding period, Liu Yantang temporarily became Kongyuan Mountain's Chief Disciple. Lin Qifeng continued to believe that Chen Yan would return and used spirit stones Chen Yan had left him to assist the sect. 222

In a later reincarnation, Li Haoran disclosed that the Outer Court calamity was a consequence of Karma rather than an accident. Huo Mu had stolen the Black Flood Dragon Remnant Soul under his guidance. When the remnant soul was completely destroyed and the expected calamity did not occur, Li Haoran feared that the sect would instead face a more severe future Karma backlash. He began reclaiming authority and cultivating potential successors, including Chen Yan and Wei Mian. 752

Kong Yang's Return and Reforms

After the destruction of the Great Demon's egg in the Falling Sword Mountain Range, True Person Caiyun Kong Yang returned to the mortal world with Ascension Realm cultivation and assumed control of the sect. He later launched cleansing campaigns against perceived enemies, elevated trusted figures from Yun Yichen's lineage, and used the resulting campaigns to select and temper new talent. 292 300 336

Kong Yang's consolidation included appointing Zhong Yin as Qingchan Peak's Sword-wielding Elder, reforming appointments below the peak-elder level, and relying more heavily on officials selected from outside the affected peak lineages. 300 384

His campaigns flattened the mountain gates of numerous northwestern sects with longstanding grievances against Empty Mountain Sect. The sect itself lost nearly twenty cultivators at or above the Spirit Passage Realm and many more below it, but Kong Yang regarded these losses as sustainable and used the fighting to promote figures such as Zhong Yin, Li Haowen, and Chu Xiyao. 336

Kong Yang retained close personal control of sect affairs even after suffering severe Dao Foundation backlash during the Chaos of Immortals. Yun Yichen's practical duties during this period resembled those of Kongyuan Mountain's Sword-wielding Elder more than those of an independent Sect Master. 604

When Chen Yan returned as True Person Ducang, fifty-one Supreme Elders assembled outside Kongyuan Hall to receive him alongside Kong Yang. Chen Yan's visit concerned borrowing manpower for Du Cang Mountain and announcing its forthcoming Dao Discussion. He also offered to elevate the Mountain Shaking Bell into an immortal artifact. 607 609

At the Du Cang Mountain gathering, Chen Yan directly selected four Empty Mountain Sect disciples—Chu Xiyao, Li Haowen, Cheng Ziying, and Lin Qifeng—for admission to its cultivation program. 625

Succession and Later Records

Kong Yang was gravely injured during the Chaos of Immortals and ultimately died on Qingchan Peak. Following his death, Supreme Zhenwu Elder He Zongzhou temporarily administered the Four Supreme Courts while Yun Yichen led the sect in implementing Kong Yang's final decree. 604 679

Later revelations identify Yan Yunhe as a karma thread of Bai Chen, the Supreme Saint of Imperial Void. Ruan Tingzhu, a later Kongyuan Mountain disciple, was the reincarnation of this Yan Yunhe karma thread. 613 682

In the subsequent century, Zhong Yin succeeded Yun Yichen as Sect Master. Yun Yichen became Supreme Law Elder and deliberated on sect affairs with He Zongzhou, while the Supreme Cardinal Elder's office remained vacant because no suitable successor to Li Haoran had emerged. 700

In a later reincarnation, Chen Yan served as Empty Mountain Sect's Dao Gate Walker for twelve years, visiting 172 cultivation sects before a junior succeeded him. Over centuries of continued cultivation, his attachment to the sect deepened, and he accepted Li Haoran's invitation to become one of his trusted successors. 741 752

Organization

Inner Sect and Outer Court

The sect is divided between the Inner Sect—the core disciples organized under the Three Mountains and Four Peaks—and the Outer Court, whose disciples handle much of the sect's routine labor and external duties. 1 726

Division	Composition / Function
Three Mountains	Kongyuan Mountain, Linwu Mountain, Yuanhua Mountain 2
Four Peaks	Qingchan Peak, Yibai Peak, Mingxiao Peak, Yunyin Peak 2
Outer Court	Handles miscellaneous duties, missions, livestock, and long-term postings; it also serves as the main route for ordinary disciples to rise into the Inner Sect. 1 7 222 726
Four Supreme Courts	Supreme Cardinal Court, Supreme Law Court, Supreme Zhenwu Court, and Supreme Supervision Court 390

Kongyuan Mountain is the sect's direct lineage and holds a status roughly half a step above the other six Inner Sect lineages. Its influence is strengthened by the fact that several of Sect Master Yun Yichen's disciples hold important Kongyuan positions. 729 730

In a later reincarnation, Yun Yichen's eldest disciple Zhong Yin served as Kongyuan Mountain's Dignity Elder, while Yue Chi continued overseeing its Pill Hall despite attaining the Wanhua Realm. His third and fourth disciples also held important posts, Lin Qifeng had been sent to the Outer Court after offending him, and Liu Yantang served as Dao Gate Walker. Initial objections to this favoritism diminished as his disciples demonstrated competence. 730

Recorded Scale

Period	Inner Sect	Outer Court	Total Scale
Early record	The Three Mountains and Four Peaks collectively held roughly one-sixth as many disciples as the Outer Court.	Over 25,000 disciples 1	—
Later record	Over 5,300 Inner Sect disciples across the seven lineages and four Supreme Courts 664	Over 23,500 disciples 664	Over 90,000 when including disciples stationed at spirit fields, mines, and other external sites 664

Period	Recorded Senior Cultivators
Historical prosperity following Kong Yang's original tenure	Three Hedao Realm, eleven Divine Ability Realm, and over one hundred Guiyi Realm cultivators within the Four Supreme Courts. 497
Chen Yan's return as True Person Ducang	Fifty-one Supreme Elders assembled outside Kongyuan Hall for his reception. 607

Recruitment

Every three years, mortal applicants climb the sect's outer mountain gate to seek admission. One recorded recruitment drew several hundred thousand candidates, but only 1,000 were accepted: 900 into the Outer Court and 100 into the Inner Sect. 6 133

Talent alone does not guarantee promotion from the Outer Court. In a later reincarnation, Lin Qifeng declined to arrange Chen Yan's immediate Inner Sect admission despite his reaching the Qi Condensation Realm in a year and a half, maintaining that advancement should be earned. 726

The sect has nevertheless experienced generational talent gaps. During one Heavenly Peak Dao Seeking, its ten-to-fourteen-year-old disciples included promising talents, but its fifteen-to-twenty-year-old cohort was considered weak enough that an early Martial Spring Realm Chen Yan was sent to compete. 115

Leadership and Administration

Office / Institution	Function and Recorded Personnel
Sect Master	Yun Yichen led the sect during the Tian Ding Mountain crisis and again directed its affairs following Kong Yang's death. Zhong Yin later succeeded him. 91 679 700
Caiyun Tower	Qingchan Peak's Caiyun Tower served as the center of Kong Yang's authority after his return; Supreme Elders assembled there for major decrees and succession matters. 292 679
Four Supreme Courts	The Supreme Cardinal Elder and Supreme Law Elder posts were vacant following Li Haoran and Huo Mu, while He Zongzhou temporarily administered all four courts. Yun Yichen later filled the Supreme Law Elder post, but the Supreme Cardinal Elder position remained vacant. 664 679 700
Dao Gate Walker	A special office recognized among the Five Great Sects, serving as the sect's spokesperson and envoy to the wider cultivation world. Recorded holders include Liu Yantang and, in a later reincarnation, Chen Yan. 103 730 741
Cross-lineage appointments	Kong Yang's reforms permitted the appointment of Guardians, Stewards, and other officials beyond their original peak lineages rather than relying solely on internal promotion. 384
Outer Court Disciplinary Hall	Investigates misconduct and illicit resource dealings. Steward Wang Rui handled a spirit-herb smuggling case involving four peak lineages and approximately 800,000 high-grade spirit stones. 489 490
External Affairs Hall	Maintains external services, including a carriage and horse station at the foot of the outer mountain where disciples can rent Spirit Horses. 7
Shang Gong Hall	Issues sect missions, including assignments intended to give younger disciples experience investigating local Yao Beast disturbances. 176 607

Yun Yichen had served as Sect Master for 150 years when Chen Yan questioned him following Kong Yang's death. He had entered the Guiyi Realm two hundred years earlier, joined the Supreme Cardinal Court, and succeeded Tu Rusong after the latter stepped down. Tu Rusong subsequently served as a Supreme Elder of the Supreme Supervision Court. 681

Kong Yang considered Yun Yichen exceptionally talented and politically capable, but observed that Huo Mu's influence had shaped many of his earlier decisions from behind the scenes. He regarded He Zongzhou as less outstanding in ability but conscientious and free of selfish motives, making him suitable to oversee the Four Supreme Courts until younger talents matured. 664

Symbols and Sites

• White crane — The sect's totem, representing freedom and leisure. 351
• Daoist robes — Standard sect robes are pure white; Kongyuan Mountain's direct lineage wears gilded cloud-crane embroidery on its sleeves. Yuanhua Mountain uses light-blue wave patterns, while Yibai Peak uses light-silver patterns. 100 504 85 729
• Kongyuan Mountain — The sect's founding mountain and orthodox center. Kongyuan Hall bears the inscription “Kongyuan Freedom.” 73 74
• Yuanhua Mountain — A somber mountain with ink-black rocks and the pitch-black Boundary Abyss at its summit. Its standing derives in part from True Person Minghua's long rule. 65
• Yibai Peak — Noted for sword cultivation; its disciples' swordsmanship is ranked immediately after that of Lingxiao Temple's disciples among the Five Great Sects. 446
• Outer mountain gate — The approach to the sect contains 10,001 steps; disciples below the Qi Sea Realm must use it when descending the mountain. A nearly ten-meter-tall boulder at the summit bears the sect's name, inscribed by Yibai Peak's founding Peak Master. 6
• Wenyuan Mountain — Associated with the sect's outer approach and mountain gate, but does not belong to the Three Mountains or Four Peaks. 489 726
• Taiyun City — The sect's bridgehead in the mortal world. Although nominally governed by a city lord, effective authority rests with Empty Mountain Sect's resident envoy. It lies five hundred li from the sect's mountain gate and is the closest city to it. 6
• Sky-Slaying Pavilion territory, Tian Ding Mountain — The sect maintains and stations Outer Court disciples in its assigned Tian Ding Mountain territory. 91
• Sect flagship — The sect's flagship bears a seventeen-zhang celestial-crane statue at its bow. Its cabin has twenty-one levels; Zhong Yin's room during one Tian Ding Mountain voyage occupied the tenth level. 734
• Du Cang Mountain compound — The sect occupied a compound at Du Cang Mountain during its Dao Discussion gathering. 620

Resources and Treasures

• Spirit fields and mines — Tens of millions of mu of spirit fields and hundreds of mines across Chenping Continent underpin the sect's cultivation resources. 157
• Mingxiao Peak ferry crossing — Used to sell low-end cultivation resources to smaller sects for spirit-stone income. 157
• Tian Ding Mountain postings — Long-term personnel receive 1.5 times normal cultivation resources and a return stipend; such postings are a common path to Outer Court official positions. Nearly one-third of Outer Court Steward and Ceremony positions in one record were held by former Tian Ding Mountain personnel. 91
• Sect ferry — The Empty Mountain Sect's ferry is valued at more than sixty million high-grade spirit stones. 495
• Spirit Horses — Ordinary horses raised on spiritual rice and medicinal herbs by Outer Court livestock workers, giving them strength, speed, and endurance far beyond normal horses. They are available for rental through the External Affairs Hall. 7
• Empty Mountain Record — The sect's foundational cultivation system. Its Empty Mountain Art is mandatory even for core and chief disciples, while the Empty Mountain Formless Chapter governs cultivation through the Middle Three Realms. 1 184
• Empty Mountain Kongmiao Notes — Yan Yunhe's third volume completed the sect's cultivation system through the Upper Three Realms, allowing later generations to cultivate a comprehensive path rather than rely on fragmented methods. 73 613
• Purple Mansion Empty Mountain Art — Chen Yan's improved form of the Empty Mountain Art, first tested in Kongyuan Mountain's Scripture Hall. It substantially improved true-qi circulation and spiritual-qi absorption and could raise the combat power of sect cultivators below the Qi Sea Realm by at least thirty percent. 73
• Purple Mansion Art — Lu Li derived this technique from the Purple Mansion Empty Mountain Art left by Chen Yan. He also perfected the Empty Mountain Record and repaired the Caiyun cultivation technique during his rise as Qingchan Peak's Sword-wielding Elder. 257
• Purple Mansion Empty Mountain Record — A manual bearing this title was later studied by Chen Yan's third disciple, Han Xiangming, in Myriad Immortal City's Scripture Repository Tower. 1254
• Kongshan Finger — A basic Qi Condensation Realm art with exceptional compatibility with the Empty Mountain Art; the Purple Mansion version greatly improves its offensive power against opponents of the same realm. 5 121
• Mountain Shaking Bell — The sect's treasured high-grade seventh-tier magic artifact. Its deterrent value protects the sect even in periods when it lacks Upper Three Realms successors. Kong Yang's failed effort to reverse Karma damaged its potential to advance, but Chen Yan later undertook to elevate it into an immortal artifact. The Supreme Elder council traditionally kept custody of it. 23 604 609
• Tian Ding Mirror fragment — Empty Mountain Sect was allotted one of the five fragments of the world's only Dao artifact after Tian Ding Mountain's fall. The fragment was later taken from Tian Ding Palace by Chen Yan, and Tian Ding Mountain's restored leadership subsequently sought the return of all fragments. 274 287 340

The sect's extensive resources also supported illicit internal dealings. Qiguan Jin falsified accounts to transfer substantial quantities of spirit stones annually to Yuanhua Mountain's Pei Qingshan for ten years. A separate historical investigation concerned spirit-herb smuggling involving four peak lineages. 157 489 490

Notable Members

Figure	Position / Significance
Li Xuanyin	Founder of Empty Mountain Sect and creator of the original Empty Mountain Record. 73 613
Yan Yunhe / True Person Kongmiao	The sect's first Ascension Realm cultivator; completed its cultivation system and created the Empty Mountain Kongmiao Notes. He was later revealed to be a karma thread of Bai Chen, the Supreme Saint of Imperial Void. 73 433 613
Ruan Tingzhu	Kongyuan Mountain Inner Sect disciple and later reincarnation of Yan Yunhe's karma thread. 682
Xie Shouzhuo / True Person Minghua	Yuanhua Mountain's Ascension Realm figure; ruled from behind the scenes for over twenty-three thousand years. 65 613
Kong Yang / True Person Caiyun / Lu Li	Qingchan Peak's Ascension Realm cultivator, reincarnated as Lu Li; later returned to lead the sect after the revival of the immortal path, reformed its internal administration, and ultimately died following injuries from the Chaos of Immortals. 257 292 353 384 679
Yun Yichen	Sect Master during the Tian Ding Mountain crisis; master of Zhong Yin, Yue Chi, Lin Qifeng, Liu Yantang, and other key Kongyuan figures. He later resumed leadership after Kong Yang's death and subsequently became Supreme Law Elder. 91 272 679 730 700
Li Haoran	Supreme Cardinal Elder and one of Chenping Continent's few Hedao Realm cultivators; regarded as the sect's ultimate authority in his era. In a later reincarnation, he reclaimed control of all four Supreme Courts and cultivated successors against future Karma backlash. 101 746 752
He Zongzhou	Supreme Zhenwu Elder who temporarily managed the Four Supreme Courts after Kong Yang's death. Later administered sect affairs alongside Supreme Law Elder Yun Yichen. 679 700
Ren Anhe	Supreme Cardinal Elder who led the Five Great Sects' deliberations during the resurgence of the Tian Ding Mountain anomaly and preserved Kong Yang's Karma-removal secret method. 584 588
Zhong Yin	Yun Yichen's eldest disciple; appointed Qingchan Peak's Sword-wielding Elder by Kong Yang and later became Sect Master after Yun Yichen's tenure. 300 700
Chen Yan / True Person Ducang	Former Outer Court disciple and Chief Disciple of Kongyuan Mountain who later rose to the Ascension Realm; he retained Karma ties to the sect and undertook to elevate its Mountain Shaking Bell. In a later reincarnation, served twelve years as Dao Gate Walker and became a confidant of Li Haoran. 90 607 609 741 752
Li Haowen	Yuanhua Mountain disciple later entrusted with difficult campaigns under Kong Yang's rule; Yue Chi subsequently arranged his transfer to Qingchan Peak's training ground, with the expectation that he would become its Martial Suppression Elder. Kong Yang regarded him as especially capable of future leadership but sought to remove the stigma surrounding his master Wei Mian. 661 604 664
Yue Chi	Yun Yichen's second disciple; held Kongyuan Mountain's Pill Hall and later Zhengfa responsibilities, participated in the Panlong campaign, and supported Li Haowen's transfer to Qingchan Peak. 91 305 604 730
Lin Qifeng	Yun Yichen's fifth disciple; served as an Outer Court Elder after his exile and as Kongyuan Mountain's Alchemy Hall Elder in another record. Chen Yan personally selected him for Du Cang Mountain despite his modest cultivation talent. 14 316 625 730
Liu Yantang	Yun Yichen's youngest disciple; temporarily became Kongyuan Mountain's Chief Disciple during the rebuilding period and served as Dao Gate Walker in a later reincarnation. 222 730
Chu Xiyao	Qingchan Peak's Chief Disciple and a leading Heavenly Peak Dao Seeking participant; later served as Qingchan Peak's Law Enforcement Hall Elder and was directly selected for Du Cang Mountain. 91 607 625
Cheng Ziying	Rose from the Outer Court to become Mingxiao Peak's Chief Disciple; directly selected by Chen Yan for Du Cang Mountain. 625
Fu Qian	Qingchan Peak's Martial Suppression Elder; competed with Bai Qiming for the Sword-wielding Elder position before Kong Yang appointed Zhong Yin. Later lost his influence under Kong Yang. 14 300 607
Bai Qiming	Qingchan Peak's Zhengfa Elder and Qin Yue's master; held a Supreme Cardinal Court appointment in another record but lost the contest for Qingchan Peak's Sword-wielding Elder position and later fell from influence. 97 252 300 607
Wen Hongli	Kongyuan Mountain's Zhengfa Elder; a Wanhua Realm cultivator dispatched to investigate Qin Yue's death, who sealed Tian Ding Mountain with a true-qi barrier. 97 100
He Furen	Yuanhua Mountain's Dignity Elder; asserted authority over the Qin Yue investigation and was later implicated in the Tian Ding Mountain crisis. 100 151
Wei Mian	Yuanhua Mountain's Sword-wielding Elder and Li Haowen's master; killed after being blamed for the Tian Ding Mountain crisis, but later identified as a scapegoat. 151 661 664
Huo Mu	Supreme Law Elder whose influence manipulated earlier sect decisions; in a later reincarnation, stole the Black Flood Dragon Remnant Soul under Li Haoran's direction and eventually submitted to his restored authority. 664 752
Tu Rusong	Yun Yichen's predecessor as Sect Master; later a Supreme Elder of the Supreme Supervision Court. 681
Sun Lu	Outer Court Elder during Chen Yan's return as True Person Ducang; suspended ordinary Outer Court operations to prepare for the visit. 607

Relationships

• Four Great Sects — Empty Mountain Sect stands alongside Lingxiao Temple, Mirage Palace, Xingtian Gate, and Fengjian Valley as one of Chenping Continent's Five Great Sects. Together, the Five Great Sects controlled over ninety percent of Chenping Continent's cultivation resources in an early record. 76 5
• Fengjian Valley — Maintains the most harmonious relationship with Empty Mountain Sect among the other Four Great Sects. Chen Yan preferred staying there during his Dao Gate Walker travels because of this relationship and its tranquil environment. 741
• Tian Ding Mountain — Shares management of Tian Ding Mountain's ferry crossing with the other Five Great Sects on a fifty-year rotation and holds the former Sky-Slaying Pavilion as its territory. Kong Yang opposed Gu Jing's plan to rewrite Tian Ding Mountain's destruction, since overturning that history would erase the Five Great Sects' era and collapse the Karma of their reincarnated Ascension Realm leaders. 91 353
• Qingque Kingdom — Exercises decisive influence through Taiyun City and its resident envoy system. In a later reincarnation, the kingdom's court and royal family were described as completely under the control of Empty Mountain Sect's Outer Court despite the cultivation world's unwritten rule against interfering in mortal affairs. 6 742
• Panlong Sect — Once a major northwestern power whose continued growth Empty Mountain Sect regarded as unacceptable; Kong Yang's post-revival cleansing campaigns brought the two into open war. An earlier campaign led by Supreme Law Elder Ying Yuanzhong cost Empty Mountain Sect three Guiyi Realm Supreme Elders, more than a dozen Wanhua Realm elders, and many lower-realm cultivators. 305 306
• White Egret Sect — Empty Mountain Sect investigated the White Egret Sect over suspected involvement in mass mortal deaths in the Wuxian Mountain Range and nearby regions. 588 591
• Du Cang Mountain — Provides personnel for Dao Discussion operations; Qingchan Peak, Yunyin Peak, Yuanhua Mountain, and the Outer Court collectively organized more than 2,000 disciples to maintain order there. Chen Yan directly selected Chu Xiyao, Li Haowen, Cheng Ziying, and Lin Qifeng for its training program. 663 625
• Mirage Palace — Relations between its Ascension Realm leadership and Kong Yang became hostile after he retained the Gui Xu Pagoda taken during the Great Demon crisis. Kong Yang refused to return the immortal artifact, citing its entanglement with Karma. 292 295 296
• Xuansheng Sect — Historically had considerable friction with Empty Mountain Sect around sixty thousand years earlier. These grievances faded as the gap between the two sects widened. Xuansheng Sect had comparable early foundations but never produced a figure like Yan Yunhe to secure a place among the Five Great Sects. 324
• Demon Slaying Sword Sect — Its founding history is tied to Kong Yang's visit to Shengyuan Mountain. He healed a wounded Qi Sea Realm sword cultivator with a Nine Revolutions Pill, bestowed the Demon Slaying Sword, and arranged for Shengyuan Mountain to be guarded after suppressing it. 371 372
• Su Hongzhen — Empty Mountain Sect was among the Four Great Sects whose senior leadership tacitly tolerated an assassination attempt against him because of his growing closeness to Mirage Palace. Chen Yan killed three of the participating Upper Three Realms cultivators while excluding Empty Mountain Sect's Supreme Elder from those deaths. 585
• Outer Dao factions — Joined Du Cang Mountain and the other Great Sects in suppressing heretical movements arising from panic over the expanding black rift, forcing them into remote, resource-poor regions. 699

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