At the summit of Mount Song, known in ancient times as Junji, Junji Monastery had originally been a great Buddhist Sect temple. Yet over the past century, it had become the residence of the Songshan Sect.
Though Zuo Lengchan had the character "Chan" in his name, he was not a disciple of the Buddhist Sect. The Songshan Sect's martial arts leaned closer to Daoism.
Ancient cypresses stood thickly throughout the courtyard, and there were no Buddha statues in the hall. The main hall was enormous; yet even with all the members of the Five Mountain Sword Sects gathered, there were barely a hundred people, seated sparsely in the chairs that had been arranged.
Zuo Lengchan led several of his martial brothers to the seat of honor and said loudly, "The Five Mountain Sword Sects have gathered at Mount Song today. I thank you all for coming from afar. Our provisions have been lacking in many ways, and our hospitality has been inadequate. I hope you will forgive us." With that, he cupped his hands in salute.
Once the heads of the various sects had returned the salute, the Five Mountain alliance assembly began.
"Our Five Mountain Sword Sects have always been united in spirit. We have joined hands in alliance for more than a century and have long become as one family. I, your brother, have also served as the alliance leader of the five sects for many years.
"Yet in recent years, the Demonic Cult has grown ever more aggressive. Fellow martial artists, such as Old Master Yu of Jiangxi and Sect Leader Zhao of the Dragon-Phoenix Saber in Jinan Prefecture, have all fallen victim to their attacks.
"I have pondered this again and again. If the Five Mountain Sword Sects remain a disorganized rabble, then when great calamity