The Ancestors' Benevolence, Part Two

Wei Yuan had no concept of Immortal Silver, but he could tell from the man's expression that the tuition fees were quite expensive. Since the Daoist Priest was willing to teach for free, Wei Yuan immediately bowed respectfully and then stood quietly, waiting.

"No need to be so formal, have a seat," the Daoist Priest said kindly, his good impression of the child from a poor background but who was knowledgeable and polite growing. However, he then sighed inwardly, thinking, He's a good child now, but I'm afraid he'll be corrupted by Azure Hall in a few years.

The Daoist Priest sat up straight and said, "Seven thousand three hundred years ago, our Patriarch rose from humble beginnings. He chanced upon a cultivation method and embarked on the path of immortality. After his Dao Foundation was initially established, he founded Taichu Palace. At that time, Taichu Palace was merely a Boundary Stone and two thatched huts. Afterward, the Patriarch carved out territory in the northern region, slaying demons and eradicating evil with his sword, one by one, slowly creating a land of clear waters and lush mountains from a desolate and deadly place. He saved countless lives and made great contributions to heaven and earth, after which his cultivation advanced miraculously. Three hundred years later, he achieved Return to One and finally reached the pinnacle."

"After our Patriarch's Dao methods were perfected, he successively took in twelve disciples. Three of them were born at opportune moments, possessing innate fortune, and entered the immortal path early. After these three predecessors' Dao methods reached great accomplishment, they, along with many juniors from the palace and fellow cultivators, gathered and boldly advanced north. After years of bloody battles, they finally seized a large swathe of land from the alien races. This is how Yunzhou came to be. This great war was later known as 'Three Immortals Stabilize Yunzhou,' the most significant event in the human world at the time."

"However, the alien races were brutal, and the war was fierce. Less than three years after the great war ended, two of the Three Immortals perished one after another. The sole survivor, Immortal Lord Luofu, also remained in seclusion for years, rarely appearing. He existed only as the stabilizing force of our Taichu Palace. Yet, even so, after a hundred years, Immortal Lord Luofu also ascended to immortality. After his ascension, his body transformed into ten thousand jagged peaks, which remain one of the sacred lands of our Taichu Palace to this day."

"After the Three Immortals passed away, Taichu Palace flourished. Later generations established views based on the Daoist traditions of the Three Immortals, while other Daoist traditions that could cultivate to Return to One were established as halls. This is the origin of Taichu Palace's initial Three Views and Seven Halls. Later, our Taichu Palace continuously produced disciples born at opportune moments, with extraordinary talent, surpassing their predecessors. They opened up new Daoist paths from scratch, gradually adding five more halls, resulting in the current Three Views and Twelve Halls. The Hall Master of Azure Hall, where you are now, True Monarch Xuan Yue, has divine Dao methods and also serves as the Hall Master of Water Moon Hall, a unique position among all the hall masters."

The Daoist Priest paused here and took a sip of tea.

Wei Yuan then asked, "I read in books that cultivation is about pursuing longevity and tranquility. Why did the three senior immortal ancestors fight and kill, leading to their eventual demise? What is the reason for this?"

The Daoist Priest said gravely, "Immortals and mortals are not separate. Which immortal did not come from the mortal realm? Since ancient times, our human race has been weak, surrounded by alien races. Not only do they raid and burn our territory year after year, but some alien races even use humans as food and sacrifices! We cultivators, who have achieved great divine abilities and vast magic power, what are we doing it for? Is it solely for our own longevity and peaceful freedom? There are such people, perhaps many, but they are certainly not the ancestors of our Taichu Palace! From our Patriarch and the Three Immortals down to the present day, the cultivators of Taichu Palace who achieve divine abilities and magic power do so to expand our territory, nurture the world, and fight for more land for our human race to prosper!"

The Daoist Priest then added, "I didn't tell you the story of our Patriarch's later life. Guess where our Patriarch is now?"

Wei Yuan naturally did not know.

The Daoist Priest pointed to the ground and said, "He is right here! The land we stand on, this mountain gate with its hanging green peaks, is what our Patriarch transformed into after his death."

Wei Yuan was greatly shocked. This mountain gate, as far as his eyes could see, spanned hundreds of miles, and he hadn't even seen its boundary. Could this all be the transformation of the Patriarch's body?

The Daoist Priest said slowly, "When our Patriarch reached the peak of his cultivation, he was three hundred and thirty years old. At that time, the land we are now in was within the territory of the Wu Yu Tribe. It was filled with fiery chasms, poisonous plants, and deadly miasma in the air. Ordinary people would die within half a day of entering. The Wu Yu Tribe, who used humans as sacrifices and possessed formidable strength, was far beyond the human race's ability to contend with at that time. Each grand sacrifice involved capturing hundreds of thousands of people to offer to heaven and earth. After his Dao methods reached great accomplishment, the Patriarch went west alone and battled the three Heavenly Witches of the Wu Yu Tribe for several months. The Patriarch fought one against three, yet he still killed the foremost Heavenly Witch and severely wounded the other two. This battle forced the Wu Yu Tribe to retreat eight thousand miles, and they did not dare to invade for thirty years."

"After the Patriarch returned, he sat in meditation and passed away beside the Boundary Stone he had personally erected, at the age of three hundred and thirty-one."

"After the Patriarch's death, his body transformed into precious soil, completely changing this land and turning a desolate region into an Immortal Mountain and a treasure land. The precious soil formed by the Patriarch's body spanned a total of nine hundred and ten li. Nourished by this precious land, another seven thousand li of desolate region gradually transformed into land that humans could survive on. This is the origin of the initial four commanderies of Ningzhou. When you enter the sect in three days, the statue of the Patriarch you will worship is built upon that original Boundary Stone."

Wei Yuan listened, almost holding his breath. He never expected the ancestors of Taichu Palace to be so resolute. This was completely different from the stories of the immortal path he had imagined.

At this moment, a figure flashed in the courtyard, and Zhang Sheng appeared. He placed a small pouch on the table and said, "The tuition fees are all here."

The Daoist Priest took the silver pouch and said, "Why did you take so long to return? I was just telling him the story of our Patriarch founding the palace and the deeds of the Three Immortals. If you hadn't come back soon, I would have finished all my tea."

Zhang Sheng chuckled, "The tuition fees are so expensive. It's rare to have a free teacher like you. How can I not explain more?"

The Daoist Priest did not linger. After receiving the tuition fees, he left the small courtyard.

After the Daoist Priest left, Wei Yuan was finally able to look around the courtyard.

The small courtyard was not large. The main house served as a bedroom and study. The side room on one side was a cultivation room, and the room on the other side was empty, its future use depending on needs. In the corner of the courtyard was a small kitchen with complete equipment. There was a communal dining hall within the palace where new disciples could eat. This kitchen was actually used for preparing special spiritual foods and medicinal meals.

The supplies distributed to the new disciples were placed on the desk in the main house. They included three sets of clothes that could clear the mind and brighten the eyes, remaining unstained by dust; a copy of the Taichu Palace sect rules; a copy of the newcomer's guide; an identity jade token; a bottle of Qi Nourishing Pills; and three strands of Immortal Silver.

This was Wei Yuan's first time seeing Immortal Silver. He picked it up curiously to examine it. The Immortal Silver was milky white throughout, warm to the touch, each strand about the length of a little finger and as thin as incense. The Immortal Silver was very different from the mortal silver Wei Yuan had seen before and was much heavier. Three thin strands of Immortal Silver were worth thirty taels, which was Wei Yuan's monthly salary for the first three months as a new disciple.

Immortal Silver was refined by mixing silver, gold, mica, star sand, and other materials, then nurtured with Dao Power for six months before completion. It was widely used in the manufacturing of magical artifacts and formations and was the most versatile material. According to Taichu Palace custom, one tael of Immortal Silver could be exchanged for one hundred taels of mortal silver. However, within Taichu Palace, mortal gold and silver were of little use.

From then on, Wei Yuan's daily living expenses within Taichu Palace would require payment, using this type of Immortal Silver. However, compared to the tuition fees, the monthly salary for new disciples was truly too little. Even if Wei Yuan didn't eat or drink, a month's salary would only be enough for one class. Therefore, tuition fees would inevitably be subsidized by teachers or the hall.

The entire valley was the residence for new disciples, while Zhang Sheng had his own cave dwelling. After giving some instructions, Zhang Sheng told Wei Yuan to read the sect rules and newcomer's guide on his own. He would return after dinner to formally teach him Dao methods. Having not returned to the sect for seven years, Zhang Sheng also had a pile of personal matters to attend to.

After Zhang Sheng left, Wei Yuan took out the two booklets and read them carefully.

Wei Yuan had studied diligently every day for the past three years and had long since developed the ability to concentrate. He sat there for an entire afternoon. By the time he finished reading both books, it was close to dusk.