Dao Origin Sect

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Background and History

Dao Origin Sect is a colossal upper sect powerful enough to contend with the imperial court. It presides over sects in more than a dozen prefecture cities and provides the larger political framework that protects subordinate sects such as the Heavenly Derivation Sect from outside predation. 175 204

Its authority includes establishing resource-distribution rules between subordinate forces. When the Heavenly Derivation Sect and Heavenly Dynasty Sect both claimed the Geocentric Cavern, Dao Origin Sect’s rules granted the first discoverer ten percent of the cavern’s annual output while recognizing the other claimant’s right to a share. 175

The sect’s founding patriarch established its four core lineages. These lineages remain the foundation of the sect’s power, while nine lesser branches became closely tied to the major aristocratic families under Dao Origin Sect’s jurisdiction. 266 315

Dao Origin Sect was among the twelve upper sects that formed a Righteous Alliance against the Demon Sect. After the alliance failed to eliminate it, the Demon Sect scattered across the Great You Dynasty, forcing the upper sects to defend their own territories. 521 523

Its standing as one of the Great You Dynasty’s twelve greatest sects is widely recognized outside its immediate territory. In Wanbang City, Lin Tian’s disclosure of his Dao Origin Sect True Disciple token shocked the Zhou Family, whose members understood both the sect’s stature and the exceptional talent represented by that rank. 569 570

Power Progression

Organization

Four Lineages

• Heavenly Steed Lineage — The oldest lineage, founded first after the sect’s establishment; it has produced most of Dao Origin Sect’s historical Sect Masters, including the current one. 313 317
• Gold Spirit Lineage — The strongest of the four in talented disciples and available resources. 315
• Mysterious Heaven Lineage — Maintains the holy pool where the founding patriarch attained enlightenment; its core arts originated from the patriarch’s remaining enlightenment intent. 289
• Cinnabar Sparrow Lineage — Holds exceptional status as the source of more than ninety percent of the sect’s medicinal pills despite its otherwise average combat strength. 344

The Heavenly Steed Pulse Master regards Lin Tian as an important talent and is monitoring the possibility of retaliation from the Gold Spirit Lineage following their dispute over the Heavenly Steed Lineage’s suppression. 523

Founding Clans

The Lei, Su, and Lin clans are internal forces rooted in the sect’s earliest generations, distinct from the external aristocratic families associated with the Nine Branches. They are among the sect’s most deeply established and influential families. 377 513

Only one person in each of these clans may hold the honorific formed from the clan name, as with Lin Lao. 513

Headquarters and Resources

The sect’s outward appearance is deliberately misleading: visitors initially see an underwhelming approach, while an immense veiled shadow and flowing rivers become visible as they near the mountain. 256 257

• White-jade-like metal steps lead into the sect; their use as ordinary flooring demonstrates the sect’s wealth. 257
• Four enormous central peaks house the Four Lineages and are normally inaccessible to disciples who have not been recruited by one of them. 278
• Earth-vein primordial energy is markedly denser on the lineage peaks than in the ordinary Inner Disciple area; Heavenly Steed Peak’s energy is described as at least twice as dense. 321
• The Myriad Treasures Pavilion exchanges cultivation resources, pills, and techniques for contribution points. 290 302
• The sect possesses several dangerous lands within its sphere of influence, which disciples can enter through registered missions to earn points. 298
• Its secret realm is one of Dao Origin Sect’s fundamental inheritances and produces Secret Realm Essence, a resource that directly improves cultivation and the quality of true qi, True Gang, or True Essence without harming one’s foundation. 340 342
• During the recent expedition, the sect gained more than one hundred Secret Realm Origin Crystals through its official resource share. These rare crystals can directly assist in producing new True Essence Realm experts. 477 486 487
• The Ten Thousand Weapons Pavilion handles weapons and Flying Boat rentals. After Flying Boats were requisitioned amid the Demon Sect threat, Lin Tian collected a boat he had reserved there for a journey north. 521 526
• Dao Origin City lies at the foot of the sect. Its aristocratic families compete for rankings that determine their future shares of resources under Dao Origin Sect. 282 492
• The sect possesses Four Great True Scriptures, whose strength-amplification capabilities far exceed the more limited combat skill Zhao Santong displayed during his duel with Lin Tian. 374
• At least thirty-five True Essence Realm elders attended the secret-realm Council Hall meeting, with Lin Tian recognizing that those present did not represent the entirety of the sect’s experts. 423
• Beyond the mountains occupied by the Four Lineages and Nine Branches, the sect controls extensive mountain ranges containing restricted special zones where powerful sect figures may reside. 602

Disciple Resources

Contribution points function as the sect’s internal currency. Disciples obtain them through missions, Dao Derivation Tower challenges, monthly ranking rewards, and the exchange of valuable materials. Tower-floor rewards are awarded only once per cleared floor. 279 298 302

Inner Disciple rankings affect both the density of Earth Vein Origin Power supplied to their residences and their purchasing benefits. A top-ten Inner Disciple receives a thirty-percent discount on cultivation resources. 278

True Disciple rank also affects the benefits provided to a disciple’s household. After Lin Tian advanced to the True Essence Realm and rose to fifth place among the True Disciples, the women in his courtyard received greatly increased points and resources, with their ordinary cultivation allocations exceeding those of Inner Disciples several times over. 524

Mountain Beyond Mountain

Mountain Beyond Mountain is an inner cultivation ground associated with talented disciples who have reached the peak of the True Essence Realm. It is described as a destination for many former True Disciples after they relinquish their positions, with entrants considered to have a strong prospect of advancing to Grandmaster. Its cultivation conditions and resources are said to surpass those available outside. 599

The Heaven and Earth Cave Heaven within Mountain Beyond Mountain is regarded as an even higher cultivation sanctuary. According to accounts within the sect, it houses the sect’s Grandmasters and accumulated foundations and possesses exceptionally concentrated spiritual energy. Mu Chunfeng identified Senior Guan’s age of less than two hundred years as the reason he had not yet entered it despite his standing as a peak Grandmaster. 599

Secret Realm

Dao Origin Sect’s secret realm has existed since the founding patriarch established the sect. It is a special space carved from an Earth Vein, and such realms can connect when separate factions’ realms open within the same main vein formed by the convergence of one hundred veins. 381

The present opening connected Dao Origin Sect’s realm with the Divine Shaman Royal Court’s realm. Because negotiations over connected realms historically fail and the sides must compete for Secret Realm Origin Power, the connection caused severe conflict and casualties. 381 477

The realm produced a large quantity of Secret Realm Origin Crystals, which were a concealed major objective of the Sword Heaven Upper Sect’s participation. 429

By the rules observed among the powers possessing mortal-world secret realms, entrants must be under one hundred years old and cannot exceed the True Essence Realm. 424

Aristocratic families ordinarily obtained benefits through Dao Origin Sect disciples whom they had supported rather than sending their own members directly. For the recent opening, the sect made an exception permitting aristocratic-family disciples to participate. Dao Origin Sect retained control over the means of collecting Secret Realm Origin Power, preserving its influence over the final distribution. 340 381 408

Following Lin Tian’s defeat of the Royal Court faction, Dao Origin Sect and the Sword Heaven Upper Sect remained as the principal forces within the contested area. Lin Tian set the resource division at seventy percent for Dao Origin Sect and thirty percent for the Sword Heaven Upper Sect, while permitting the latter to use its own method to locate Origin Crystals. 484 485

The Dao Origin Sect contingent subsequently collected the remaining resources in roughly two days and exited the realm with its largest harvest to date. 486 487

The True Essence Realm teams returned later, badly wounded after continued fighting. Sect elders assisted their injured cultivators with healing pills. 489

Hundred Veins Resources

The Hundred Veins Land is a nexus of more than one hundred Earth Veins or Spirit Veins, with exceptionally dense energy and favorable conditions for the formation of medicinal plants, earth marrow, and other natural treasures. Dao Origin Sect had not discovered the site alone; Lin Tian understood that the sect would otherwise have sought to prevent outside forces from sharing it. 575

The volcanic resource point assigned to Lin Tian produces two particularly valuable crystal types. 575 579

Dao Derivation Tower

The Dao Derivation Tower is Dao Origin Sect’s supreme treasure and a central instrument for evaluating disciples. 261

• Its trials escalate floor by floor, beginning with puppets matched to a challenger’s cultivation; higher floors increase both their number and strength. 270
• The fourth floor includes a Heart Inquiry Trial, forcing challengers to confront their fears and resolve on the martial path. 270
• During the Hundred Sects Plan, clearing the eighth floor was regarded as sufficient to enter Dao Origin Sect, though higher results brought greater recognition and resources. 271
• The tower’s rankings directly determine tangible disciple benefits and are recalibrated every six months. 279
• Reaching the thirtieth floor is associated with advancement into the ranks of True Disciple Candidates. 303
• The Sect Master’s token can grant access to the tower’s upper levels, making it an important and closely held authority. 392
• The tower was left by the founding ancestor, who alone could truly activate it. With authorization from the Sect Master, Elder Zhou could inspect challengers’ records, but not view the actual process of their trials. 315

Hundred Sects Plan

The Hundred Sects Plan was proposed to bring outstanding disciples from affiliated sects into Dao Origin Sect. Elder Wu’s proposal passed amid debate over the costs of supporting new talent and the resulting disruption to entrenched interests. 210 211

The plan’s deeper purpose was political. It served as a wager between the Old Faction and the New Faction, with the ten True Disciple positions—the positions representing Dao Origin Sect’s future—acting as the stakes. 266

The plan brought Lin Tian, Mu Qingxue, and other outside geniuses into the sect. Lin Tian ranked ninth among the Hundred Sects participants, securing Inner Disciple status and attracting attention from the sect’s upper echelons. 273 278

Chen Qingyu also chose to remain in Dao Origin Sect as an Outer Disciple rather than return with the Heavenly Derivation Sect delegation. Lin Tian later provided her with a Refined Gang Condensation Pill to support her attempt to advance to the Gang Realm and enter the Inner Sect. 277 305

The recruited disciples quickly affected the Inner Sect’s established hierarchy. Long Wukong and Gu Qingtian became True Disciple Candidates during a later Dao Derivation Tower ranking reshuffle, forcing native Inner Disciples to recognize the strength of the Hundred Sects recruits. 303

Lin Tian subsequently became a True Disciple and played a decisive role in securing the sect’s unprecedented secret-realm harvest. 423 484 486

Internal Politics

Dao Origin Sect is divided between the Old Faction, represented by the sect’s upper echelon, and the New Faction, represented by the great aristocratic families and their allied nine branches. 266

The New Faction seeks to establish a fifth branch and thereby gain formal control over part of the upper sect. The Old Faction opposes this expansion, arguing that a fifth peak lacks a core inheritance and would allow the aristocratic families to extend their influence too far. 266 276

The conflict cannot be easily resolved because the nine branches are deeply intertwined with the sect’s elders, disciples, and True Disciples. Removing them outright could severely damage—or even fracture—Dao Origin Sect itself. 266

The Hundred Sects Plan also provided an alternative to allowing the factional struggle to escalate into conflict between True Essence Realm experts. Yu Xiangtian viewed the aristocratic families’ competitive investment in disciples as a means of accelerating the growth of the entire generation. 276

The opening of the secret realm intensifies this struggle. New Faction elders learned of the disturbance quickly and acted openly around Sect Master Yu Xiangtian, prompting concern that aristocratic influence had reached even one of the sect’s most closely guarded foundations. 339 340

After outside participation in the secret-realm expedition was permitted, New Faction elders jointly petitioned to intervene in the distribution of Secret Realm Origin Power. Yu Xiangtian considered securing a sixth True Disciple position for the Old Faction through a challenge to Liang Wankuo, which would give his side a stronger basis to control the eventual distribution. 391

The Metal Spirit Pulse Master, who had previously aligned with the New Faction, volunteered to lead the secret-realm expedition in an apparent effort to regain Yu Xiangtian’s trust. The Sect Master accepted the offer as an opportunity to secure the man’s loyalty. 426

After the expedition, resource allocation became a new source of uncertainty. Lin Tian received only forty percent of the Secret Realm Origin Power allocated to him despite having expected fifty percent, and learned that the Gold Spirit Lineage had issued the official distribution. 496

Tensions between the Heavenly Steed and Gold Spirit Lineages continued after Lin Tian undermined the latter’s suppression of the former. Mu Chunfeng raised the possibility that the Metal Spirit Pulse Master might retaliate against Lin Tian; the Heavenly Steed Pulse Master said he was watching the situation and would treat an overt attack as grounds to demand the Gold Spirit Lineage’s share of sect resources. 523

True Disciples also serve as intermediaries between the sect and prominent families. An unspoken custom allows a newly promoted True Disciple to select women from such families for his household, creating personal connections through which the families can build alliances and seek negotiation with Dao Origin Sect. 412

Dao Origin Sect’s authority also limits the effects of aristocratic conflict outside its gates. During the fierce post-expedition struggles in Dao Origin City, families absorbed rivals, divided over interests, and changed rankings repeatedly, but their conflicts remained within their own circles rather than affecting ordinary residents. 494

Demon Sect Crisis

The Righteous Alliance formed by twelve upper sects failed to destroy the Demon Sect. After inflicting a serious blow that prompted two upper sects to withdraw, the Demon Sect dispersed its members throughout the Great You Dynasty. The alliance temporarily disbanded as the upper sects returned to address threats in their own territories. 521

Demonic calamities subsequently broke out across Dao Origin Sect’s jurisdiction. Caught off guard by their spread, the sect dispatched increasing numbers of cultivators to suppress them, including Inner Disciples. The danger contributed to a wave of secluded cultivation among disciples seeking to strengthen themselves before deployment. 523

At a later elders’ meeting, the sect decided to request assistance from two neighboring upper sects. The proposed three-sect cooperation was intended to confront a Demon Sect branch leader and his forces. 525 526

The crisis subsequently escalated to the point that all True Disciples were ordered to take up assigned suppression posts. The Great You Dynasty also dispatched Golden Guard forces, while Heavenly Dawn Upper Sect intervened at a location near the boundary between its territory and Dao Origin Sect’s. Although outside upper sects ordinarily could not intervene freely within its jurisdiction, Dao Origin Sect tacitly accepted Heavenly Dawn’s involvement to share the burden. 574

Hundred Veins Deployment

Lin Tian’s assignment brought him to a volcanic resource point in the Hundred Veins Land, where Dao Origin Sect, Heavenly Dawn Upper Sect, and the Golden Guard maintained separate camps. Their shared campaign against the Demon Sect was complicated by competition for the site’s natural treasures. 574 575

Before Lin Tian asserted his authority, Dao Origin Sect’s contingent occupied a weaker position in local resource distribution. Its strongest representative had undergone five true essence temperings, whereas each rival force possessed a sixth-tempering expert. The sect’s camp had previously sought only ten percent of the Sky Fire Marrow Crystals and feared receiving even less when the more valuable Skyflame Marrow Crystals appeared. 579 580

The three camps initially gathered resources collectively before distributing them, a procedure intended to prevent infighting. Dao Origin Sect’s representatives recognized that a breach could give the other two powers grounds to demand compensation at the sect’s expense. 579

Lin Tian later left Qi Tianliang to oversee distribution while he continued cultivating. Qi Tianliang announced that Dao Origin Sect would receive eighty percent of the Sky Fire Marrow Crystals and all the Skyflame Marrow Crystals, telling objectors that they would first have to defeat Lin Tian. Despite their resentment, the Golden Guard and Heavenly Dawn Upper Sect accepted the allocation under the prevailing rule that strength determined shares. 589 590

Demon Sect attacks remained a threat during resource collection. An earlier ambush seriously injured Qi Tianliang and other sect cultivators, and Lin Tian’s personal appearance subsequently reassured the disciples preparing for another expedition to the volcano. 592 593

After a later battle against the Demon Sect, Lin Tian rewarded every participating sect member with a Sky Fire Marrow Crystal, an exceptional benefit for ordinary disciples who normally received points or lesser cultivation resources. The following month passed without further Demon Sect harassment of the three factions, while Qi Tianliang recovered from most of his injuries. 597

Lin Tian subsequently returned to Dao Origin Sect with Mu Chunfeng. Their discussion revealed that Elder Zhou had deliberately assigned them resource points suited to their respective cultivation needs. Elder Zhou welcomed Lin Tian back and praised the honor his victory over Heavenly Dawn Upper Sect’s Third True Disciple had brought to the Heavenly Steed Lineage. 599

Relationships

• Heavenly Derivation Sect — Subordinate sect under Dao Origin Sect’s jurisdiction; it sends outstanding disciples through the Hundred Sects Plan. 175 204 277
• Spirit Jade Sect — Subject to Dao Origin Sect’s rules; its True Essence Realm Sect Master previously violated those rules by interfering in another prefecture city and pursuing Hua Chengming. 256
• Aristocratic families — Control or influence the nine branches and form the backbone of the New Faction’s attempt to create a fifth branch. Their rankings in Dao Origin City affect their shares of sect resources. 266 276 492
• Heavenly Steed Lineage — One of the Four Lineages and the lineage joined by Lin Tian after he became a True Disciple Candidate; Lin Tian later became a True Disciple. Its Pulse Master monitors the risk of Gold Spirit Lineage retaliation against him. 315 317 423 523
• Gold Spirit Lineage — One of the Four Lineages and the sect’s strongest lineage in disciples and resources. It issued the post-expedition allocation of Lin Tian’s Secret Realm Origin Power. Liang Wankuo later advanced to the True Essence Realm on its Golden Spirit Peak. 315 496 503 504
• Cinnabar Sparrow Lineage — Supplies the overwhelming majority of Dao Origin Sect’s pills, making it indispensable to disciples and elders alike. 344
• Hua Chengming — A former Dao Origin Sect genius and Yu Xiangtian’s former fellow disciple. After seventeen years away, he returned and sought access to the Dao Derivation Tower’s upper levels in exchange for helping Yu Xiangtian resolve a major problem. 392
• Divine Shaman Royal Court — The Jiangbei royal court whose secret realm connected with Dao Origin Sect’s. It joined the wider Royal Court faction that was ultimately expelled from the realm. 381 484 485
• Three Great Royal Courts — Divine Martial, Divine Shaman, and Divine Shepherd Royal Courts converged on the secret realm as the Royal Court faction, but their forces were driven out after Lin Tian killed their leading geniuses. 424 477 484 487
• Sword Heaven Upper Sect — An external upper sect allied against the royal courts. After the Royal Court faction’s expulsion, it accepted thirty percent of the secret-realm resources and cooperated with Dao Origin Sect in collecting them. 426 432 484 485
• Lin Tian and Mu Chunfeng — True Disciples assigned to lead Dao Origin Sect’s expedition into the secret realm, with the objectives of securing resource points, extracting Secret Realm Origin Power, and returning safely. Lin Tian’s subsequent victories secured Dao Origin Sect’s dominant share of the expedition’s resources. Both later reached the True Essence Realm; Mu Chunfeng continued to advise Lin Tian and gave him a Mu Family token for assistance during his journey north. They later returned to the sect together after their resource-point deployments. 446 484 486 487 504 526 599
• Demon Sect — Its scattered forces have caused widespread calamities within Dao Origin Sect’s territory. The sect dispatched cultivators to suppress them, sought neighboring upper sects’ help against a branch leader, and mobilized its True Disciples to assigned suppression posts. Demon Sect forces also attacked its contingent in the Hundred Veins Land. 521 523 526 574 592 597
• Heavenly Dawn Upper Sect — A neighboring upper sect whose forces joined the suppression campaign near the territorial boundary with Dao Origin Sect. It also competed for Hundred Veins resources; Lin Tian defeated its Third True Disciple and established a resource allocation strongly favoring Dao Origin Sect’s camp. 574 589 590 599
• Great You Dynasty and Golden Guard — The imperial court can be opposed by Dao Origin Sect as a hegemonic power, but its Golden Guard also participated in suppressing the demonic scourge. The Golden Guard became a competing resource claimant in the Hundred Veins Land. 175 574 589 590
• Grandmaster Guan — A renowned Spear Dao expert and one of the sect’s peak Grandmasters, still under two hundred years old. He summoned Lin Tian after the latter’s deployment; Mu Chunfeng believed he might test Lin Tian as a prospective disciple. 599