Qingyun Sect

Biodata

Power Progression

Background

Qingyun Sect stands atop Qingyun Mountain, whose seven principal peaks form the foundation of its organization. Heaven-Piercing Peak serves as the sect's central peak and houses Yuqing Hall, where the Sect Master and peak leaders convene for major decisions. 1 50 76

Its traditional inheritance was the Tai Chi Xuan Qing Dao, a Daoist method created by Qingyunzi roughly two thousand years earlier. The art draws on heaven and earth, comprehends yin and yang, and is divided into the Yuqing, Shangqing, and Taiqing Realms. 5

The sect safeguards a number of difficult and prestigious sword arts, including the Divine Sword Thunder Control True Art, Slay Ghosts and Gods, the Seven Star Sword Style, and Sword Leading Azure Dragon True Art. The Seven Star Sword Style was traditionally restricted to successive Sect Masters and carries implications of succession. 48 52 62 76

Organization

Seven Peaks

Leadership and Hierarchy

• Dao Xuan Zhenren — Sect Master; presides over Yuqing Hall, convenes the peak masters, and issues sect-wide decrees. 29 76 158
• Peak Masters — Lead their respective peaks and jointly deliberate on sect affairs, including tournaments, external threats, and disciplinary matters. 76 78 145
• Disciples — Train under individual peak lineages and represent their peaks in sect competitions and external missions. 77 90 106
• Wan Jianyi — Lives in seclusion as the sweeper of the Ancestral Hall in the back mountain; his survival is concealed because its exposure could cause a major crisis for Qingyun Sect. 53 73

Locations

• Qingyun Mountain — The sect's mountain stronghold, crowned by the seven main peaks. 1 141
• Heaven-Piercing Peak — Central peak and core of Qingyun Sect's authority. 50
• Yuqing Hall — Main council hall where the Sect Master and peak leaders conduct important meetings. 38 76
• Ancestral Hall — Back-mountain hall containing sealed inheritances, including Slay Ghosts and Gods; maintained by Wan Jianyi. 52 53 60
• Jasper Water Pool — Home of the Water Qilin, Qingyun Sect's guardian divine beast. 156
• Black Bamboo Forest of Great Bamboo Peak — Later designated a forbidden area because Ye Xuan cultivates there. 158

Cultivation and Inheritances

Tai Chi Xuan Qing Dao

The sect's original core cultivation art. It was taught as the basis of Qingyun Sect cultivation and organized its practitioners into the Yuqing, Shangqing, and Taiqing Realms. 5 42

• Spirit Induction into Body is the first step of cultivation. 5
• The Yuqing Realm establishes a cultivator's foundation and includes the Object Manipulation threshold at its fourth layer. 87
• The Shangqing Realm marks a major increase in purity, depth, and practical combat ability. 65
• The Taiqing Realm represents the highest documented realm within the sect's original system. 106

Four Great Sword Arts

• Divine Sword Thunder Control True Art — A powerful, domineering sword art that channels divine thunder. 48 109
• Slay Ghosts and Gods — A fierce supreme art sealed in the Ancestral Hall after Wan Jianyi; it demands exceptional perseverance, wisdom, and courage. 52 65
• Seven Star Sword Style — A high-level inheritance traditionally reserved for successive Sect Masters. 62
• Sword Leading Azure Dragon True Art — An obscure and difficult art that embodies a dragon and draws upon the pure energy of heaven. 76

Heavenly Cycle Qi Refinement Art

Ye Xuan later revealed the Heavenly Cycle Qi Refinement Art, a cultivation method that converts gaseous true essence into denser Magic Power. Dao Xuan tested it personally before ordering its adoption throughout Qingyun Sect. 157 158

• Conversion caused cultivators' apparent realm levels to fall, but substantially increased the quality and power of their energy. 158
• The method gave Qingyun Sect a path toward immortality beyond the limitations of its original inheritance. 157 158
• Ye Xuan divided the art into early, middle, and late sections for broader sect-wide instruction. 158

Major Arcs

• Puzhi's visit — Monk Puzhi of Tianyin Temple requested to borrow the Tai Chi Xuan Qing Dao to combine it with Great Brahma Prajna in pursuit of longevity. Qingyun Sect's leaders rejected the request. 30
• Rise of Ye Xuan — Great Bamboo Peak accepted Ye Xuan, whose Innate Dao Body and rapid advancement drew the attention of Tian Buyi and later Dao Xuan. The sect came to view him as an extraordinary opportunity and a possible future pillar of the righteous path. 3 51
• Revival of Great Bamboo Peak — Ye Xuan's guidance, pills, artifact refinement, and support helped Great Bamboo Peak's disciples advance rapidly, transforming the peak from a frequent tournament underperformer into a serious contender. 86 95
• Seven Peaks Martial Arts Tournament — The sect held its sixty-year tournament at Cloud Sea Plaza, with each peak required to send eight disciples. The top four were subsequently assigned to investigate Demonic Cult activity at Sang Mountain's Ten Thousand Bat Cave. 77 90 106
• Flowing Wave Mountain conflict — Qingyun Sect joined the righteous encampment at Flowing Wave Mountain, fought the Demonic Cult, and repelled its forces after Ye Xuan defeated You Ji and the Ghost King ordered a retreat. 132 137
• Demonic Cult invasion — The four Demonic Cult sects gathered near Qingyun Mountain to eliminate Ye Xuan, whose potential they considered a threat. Their later assault on Heaven-Piercing Peak inflicted heavy casualties before Qingyun Sect endured the crisis. 145 155 156
• Sect-wide reformation — After the invasion, Ye Xuan's healing pills saved many wounded disciples. Dao Xuan then tested and adopted the Heavenly Cycle Qi Refinement Art across the entire sect, initiating Qingyun Sect's transformation into a stronger cultivation force. 157 158
• Ye Xuan's ascension — After decades of cultivation, Ye Xuan reached the Earth Immortal Realm and ascended to the higher realm as Qingyun Sect's members gathered to see him off. 158

Relationships

• Tianyin Temple — Fellow pillar of the righteous path; relations were strained when Qingyun Sect rejected Puzhi's request to study and combine its foundational art with Buddhist cultivation. 30
• Fenxiang Valley — Fellow righteous-path pillar alongside Qingyun Sect and Tianyin Temple. 30
• Demonic Cult — Primary hostile force; its factions targeted Ye Xuan and launched a major offensive against Qingyun Mountain. 145 155
• Great Bamboo Peak — One of Qingyun Sect's seven lineages; its rapid resurgence became a major source of sect-wide attention during the Seven Peaks Martial Arts Tournament. 95 105
• Water Qilin — Qingyun Sect's guardian divine beast, which emerged from Jasper Water Pool during the battle for Heaven-Piercing Peak. 156

Notable Quotes

“From this day onward, the Qingyun Sect shall abolish the Tai Chi Xuan Qing Dao. The entire sect will instead cultivate the Heavenly Cycle Qi Refinement Art!” 158