Evergreen Sect

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Evergreen Sect (长青宗)
Affiliation	One of Qingfeng Prefecture's three major sects
Occupation/Role	Righteous martial arts sect; cultivates disciples, safeguards its territory, and operates local industries
Status	Active; recovering from a prolonged decline
First Appearance	106

Background

The Evergreen Sect is the oldest of Qingfeng Prefecture's three major sects, with a heritage described as several thousand years old. A century before Lu Li's arrival, it suppressed both the Broken Mountain Sect and Vajra Gate so completely that they could not raise their heads. 106

Its position later deteriorated as new disciples became scarce and Sect Master Xiao Jinglei entered long-term seclusion. The Broken Mountain Sect, which retains resentment over its past suppression, began encroaching on Evergreen territory; the sect is regarded as the weakest of Qingfeng's three major sects despite retaining a deep foundation. 106

By the time of its recruitment assessment, the sect had begun an aggressive revival effort. It offered major ranking prizes and true-disciple positions to any sufficiently strong applicant, regardless of age or background. 108

Location and Territory

The sect occupies territory in southwestern Qingfeng Prefecture, a half-day journey from the Broken Mountain Sect's northern territory for a martial artist. 108

Its mountain is illuminated at night and filled with orderly towers and tall buildings. Its enormous mountain gate is described as majestic rather than dilapidated, reflecting that the sect remains prosperous compared with smaller local factions despite its decline. 108

Its commercial holdings include Chaoyang Street, a strategically dangerous border area shared with businesses operated by the Incense Fragrance Sect, Broken Mountain Sect, and Vajra Gate. 127

Organization

Position	Known holder	Notes
Sect Master	Xiao Jinglei	Remains in seclusion; rumors claim he is pursuing the Grandmaster Realm. 181
First Elder	Cang Baihe	Managed sect affairs during Xiao Jinglei's seclusion and leads major decisions. 112 215
Fifth Elder	Luo Bingyun	Lu Li's master; advocates strongly for his cultivation and welfare. 123 190
Fourth Elder	Bai Ding'an	Participates in high-level deliberations and seeks to guide Lu Li's martial development. 215
True Disciple	Lu Li	Champion of the sect's recruitment tournament and a central figure in its revival. 120 124

The sect's five elders retain top-tier combat strength despite the sect's weakened public standing. 161

Recruitment and Disciples

During its revival assessment, the Evergreen Sect accepted candidates based on strength rather than age or social background; even a ninety-year-old could theoretically become a true disciple. 108

The assessment drew martial artists, established talents, and hardened pugilists due to its exceptional rewards. Lu Li won the tournament, becoming a true disciple and attracting competing offers from the elders. 108 120 123

The sect traditionally expects even true disciples to struggle and establish themselves beyond the mountain rather than rely solely on their status. 119

Conduct and Discipline

• The sect identifies itself as righteous and forbids disciples from operating drug trades, brothels, or opium dens. 126
• Disciples purchase manuals with their own legitimately earned money; unusually large or unexplained funds are investigated. 127
• Severe punishment awaits disciples who misuse family resources or engage in illicit business. 127

Cultivation Heritage

Endless Life Technique

The sect's signature cultivation method produces deep, steady Inner Qi with exceptional endurance. Its energy can accumulate during prolonged combat, strengthen the user's body, and prolong life, but it is notoriously difficult to cultivate and lacks immediate lethality. 106

The technique is considered so difficult that some Evergreen elders have changed cultivation paths, and there are fears it could disappear within a century. 106

• Life-Breath Pills, an Evergreen ancestral treasure, are compatible with the Endless Life Technique and can be automatically absorbed by its Inner Qi. 123
• The Vajra Gate possesses the Endless Life Technique through an exchange arrangement, though its full mysteries remain undisclosed. 177

All-Things Creation Technique

The All-Things Creation Technique is a powerful and dangerous secret method whose details are withheld even from outstanding disciples. 180 181

A persistent rumor claims that Sect Master Xiao Jinglei suffered cultivation deviation while practicing it, though he personally appeared to refute the claim. 181

Scripture Pavilion

The sect's Scripture Pavilion has ten floors and reflects the scale of Evergreen's former prosperity. Its first three floors contain basic martial arts and miscellaneous works on geography, history, culture, and local customs. 144

• The sect's collection of classics is described as vast enough that new disciples may need over a month merely to choose a technique. 106
• Its archives include cultivation methods, movement techniques, hard-body arts, blade techniques, and unorthodox arts. 106 177
• The Evergreen Sect holds the latter half of a Vajra Gate hard-body technique, while Vajra Gate holds the Endless Life Technique. 177

Relations

• Broken Mountain Sect — Historic rival. Once suppressed by Evergreen, it later encroached on Evergreen territory and repeatedly clashed with its disciples and elders. 106 127
• Incense Fragrance Sect — Hostile neighboring sect that extorted “incense money” from businesses and pressured Evergreen's territory. Evergreen elders once razed its headquarters during a failed attempt to seek justice for a murdered deacon. 128
• Vajra Gate — Formally neutral amid the conflict with Broken Mountain and Incense Fragrance, but maintains cultivation-method exchanges with Evergreen. 137 177
• Lu Li — Tournament champion, true disciple, Luo Bingyun's personal disciple, and the sect's foremost hope for revival. 123 141 215
• Cang Baihe — First Elder and acting leader of sect affairs during Xiao Jinglei's seclusion. 112 215
• Luo Bingyun — Fifth Elder and Lu Li's master; supports his advancement while clashing with Cang Baihe over the risks of secret cultivation methods. 123 141
• Wu Ziyuanxiu — Prefect who cooperates with Lu Li in matters affecting the sect's enemies and political security. 223

Major Arcs

Revival Recruitment

Seeking to reverse its decline, the sect opened an unusually generous assessment, using major rewards and true-disciple seats to attract powerful candidates. Lu Li ultimately won the championship, giving the sect a highly visible new talent. 108 120 124

Chaoyang Street Conflict

Lu Li's appointment to garrison Chaoyang Street exposed the sect's weakened territorial position. The Incense Fragrance Sect demanded an increased profit share, while Broken Mountain Sect disciples also maintained businesses in the area. 127 131

Lu Li's retaliation against the Incense Fragrance Sect—including the destruction of a branch and the killing of Hall Master Ji Bochang—made him notorious and escalated the conflict between the factions. 133 137

Sect Alliance Crisis

The Broken Mountain Sect and Incense Fragrance Sect accused Evergreen of colluding with Blood Ghost, leading the five elders to confront their rivals directly. Cang Baihe rejected Broken Mountain's demand for territory and treasures, preserving Evergreen's position despite the threat of war. 161 162

Rise of the Disciples

Lu Li corrected disciples' cultivation paths and improved their methods, producing a rapid increase in the sect's overall standards. Cang Baihe credited him with bringing earth-shaking change to Evergreen and identified him as its “lucky star.” 216

Fall of the Broken Mountain Sect

Lu Li led Evergreen disciples in a night assault on the Broken Mountain Sect, breaking through its gate and seizing its resources. The force systematically stripped the rival sect's treasure vaults, manuals, pills, and other assets, leaving it unable to recover easily. 218 219 224

Trivia

• The sect's name reflects its exceptionally long heritage, though its current weakness contrasts sharply with its former dominance. 106
• Rumors about Lu Li's tournament victory led outsiders to accuse the sect of manipulating the result; the sect concealed details of his combat ability, partly protecting his identity and potential. 124 169
• The sect once possessed a spirit weapon, but it no longer has it. 123