Biodata
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Name | Clarifying Sect (阐教) |
| Alias(es) | Pangu's orthodox lineage |
| Leader | Primordial Celestial Worthy |
| Headquarters | Jade Void Palace, Kunlun Mountain 138 |
| Affiliation | Xuanmen; allied with the Human Sect and Western Sect during the Investiture of the Gods calamity 89 |
| Occupation / Role | Sage lineage and a principal supporter of Western Qi against Great Shang and the Interception Sect 89 |
| Status | Active |
| First Appearance | Chapter 26 |
Organization
Leadership
| Position | Holder | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sect Leader | Primordial Celestial Worthy | A Sage who values hierarchy, reputation, and the Clarifying Sect's standing as an orthodox lineage. 28 82 |
| Vice Sect Leader | Daoist Randeng | A nominal vice sect leader and ancient Purple Cloud Palace guest; he later reaches the Quasi-Sage realm. 75 |
| Chief of the Twelve Golden Immortals | Guangchengzi | Leads the Twelve Golden Immortals and repeatedly confronts Jiang Yun and the Interception Sect. 74 |
Known Members
- Yuding Zhenren — One of the Twelve Golden Immortals; defeated by Jiang Yun after attempting to protect Jade Spring Mountain's honor. 28
- Taiyi Zhenren — One of the Twelve Golden Immortals; sought to take Nezha as a disciple, later participated in the ambush on Jiang Yun and was killed. 72 77
- Jiang Ziya — Ordered by Primordial Celestial Worthy to descend the mountain, assist Western Zhou, and carry out the Investiture of the Gods. 82
- White Crane Boy — Serves at Jade Void Palace and conveys Primordial Celestial Worthy's orders. 81
- Nine-Spirit Primordial Sage — An allied combatant who assists the sect's operations against Jiang Yun. 73 75
- Patriarch Panwang — A Quasi-Sage poison and gu specialist who takes refuge under the Clarifying Sect after the failed ambush on Jiang Yun. 74 82
Doctrine and Reputation
The Clarifying Sect presents itself as Pangu's orthodox lineage, emphasizing seniority, rules, and alignment with the Heavenly Dao. Its members and leader are particularly protective of the sect's dignity and public image. 28 82
This self-image becomes a political vulnerability. Jiang Yun repeatedly uses formal etiquette and the sect's claim to righteousness to deter direct retaliation, including when he enters Jade Void Palace as a guest to return the treasures of slain disciples. 81 82
- The sect considers Jiang Yun's baleful aura and killing intent a deviation from Heaven's intended course. 74 78
- Its proposed remedy is to confine him at Jade Void Palace for ten thousand years to “cleanse” his baleful aura. 74 75
- Nine Silence and Jiang Yun regard this proposal as a pretext to imprison him, damage his Dao foundation, and seize his opportunities. 74 75
Conflict with the Interception Sect
Early Hostilities
The conflict begins with Yuding Zhenren's defeat at Jiang Yun's hands. Jiang Yun humiliates him while formally framing the confrontation as an attempt to uphold his master Shi Ji's honor, turning a personal defeat into an insult to the Clarifying Sect's prestige. 28
Jade Cauldron later treats Jiang Yun as a growing threat to the Clarifying Sect and becomes involved in a demonic-tide scheme. Jiang Yun kills him, prompting Primordial Celestial Worthy to personally confront Jiang Yun before Tongtian intervenes. 37 40
Chentang Pass Ambush
The sect escalates matters by coordinating a large operation against Jiang Yun at Chentang Pass. Taiyi Zhenren, the Nine-Spirit Primordial Sage, Corpse Ancestor Jiangchen, and Daoist Randeng attack Jiang Yun's formations, while allied forces use the Two Forms Fine Dust Array to prevent Interception Sect reinforcements from arriving. 73 74 75
The operation fails after Jiang Yun reveals his direct combat strength:
| Event | Outcome |
|---|---|
| Daoist Randeng confronts Jiang Yun | Randeng retreats after Jiang Yun's Merit Golden Body and other abilities suppress him. 76 |
| Corpse Ancestor Jiangchen is restrained | Jiang Yun captures him alive with the Three Dazzling Rings and seals him within the Four Symbols Bell. 77 |
| Taiyi Zhenren is defeated | Taiyi's body and Primordial Spirit are destroyed; his True Spirit enters the Investiture of the Gods. 77 |
| Sage intervention follows | Primordial Celestial Worthy attacks Jiang Yun, but Tongtian blocks the strike with the Green Duckweed Sword. 77 |
Break with Tongtian
After the failed ambush, Primordial Celestial Worthy condemns Jiang Yun's killings and demands that Tongtian answer for him. Tongtian counters that the Clarifying Sect used overwhelming force against a third-generation disciple, then refuses to accept Sage-level retaliation for disciple-level defeats. 78
The dispute culminates in Tongtian severing the brotherly bond of the Three Pure Ones. The Heavenly Dao acknowledges the oath, ending the shared Fortune of Pangu's Three Pure Ones and turning the sectarian rivalry into open conflict. 78
Jade Void Palace Incident
Jiang Yun later travels to Jade Void Palace to return the Immortal-Slaying Sword and Nine Dragon Divine Fire Cover, formerly belonging to Yuding Zhenren and Taiyi Zhenren. The gesture publicly emphasizes that he killed their owners and is widely seen as a deliberate humiliation of the Clarifying Sect. 81
Primordial Celestial Worthy does not kill Jiang Yun despite his anger. He judges that Jiang Yun's Heavenly Court position, Underworld Merit, Interception Sect Fortune, and Sage-level backing make immediate action too dangerous. 82
Role in the Investiture of the Gods
The Clarifying Sect supports Western Qi's campaign to overthrow Great Shang. Its alliance with the Human Sect and Western Sect supplies Western Qi with elite cultivators, while Jiang Ziya oversees the mortal side of the campaign. 82 89
Jiang Yun directly obstructs this strategy by founding the Ziwei Heavenly Palace at Golden Rooster Ridge, a key route from Western Qi into Shang territory. The move forces Western Qi and its sectarian allies to treat Jiang Yun's territory as a major strategic obstacle. 89
The sect continues seeking powerful external allies against Jiang Yun:
- Patriarch Kunpeng — Allied with the Clarifying Sect in exchange for the opportunity to seize Jiang Yun's Chaos-Reversing Nebula Grand Array. 119
- Queen Mother of the West — Joins a later encirclement but withdraws after Kunpeng's defeat and Kong Xuan's intervention. 122
- Patriarch Panwang — Participates in the earlier ambush and remains under the sect's protection afterward. 74 82
Kunpeng's defeat and the Heavenly Dao's removal of his Demon Master position become another major public setback for the sect's strategy. 122
Relationships
- Interception Sect — Primary rival. The two lineages openly clash throughout the Investiture of the Gods calamity after repeated attempts to suppress Jiang Yun fail. 40 73 78
- Lord Tongtian — Primordial Celestial Worthy's former brother and Jiang Yun's protector; their conflict over Jiang Yun leads to the severance of the Three Pure Ones' bond. 77 78
- Human Sect — Allied faction. Xuandu uses the Two Forms Fine Dust Array to block Interception Sect reinforcements during the Chentang Pass operation. 74
- Western Sect — Allied faction against the Interception Sect and Great Shang; its disciples aid Western Qi's campaign. 89
- Western Qi — Mortal political ally supported by Jiang Ziya and the three-sect alliance. 89
- Jiang Yun — The sect's central adversary. Its efforts to contain, imprison, or kill him repeatedly backfire and damage its prestige. 75 77 122
Notable Setbacks
- Yuding Zhenren's defeat — Jiang Yun defeats and humiliates a member of the Twelve Golden Immortals, damaging the sect's face. 28
- Jade Cauldron's death — Jiang Yun kills Jade Cauldron after the demonic-tide incident; Primordial Celestial Worthy is forced to withdraw rather than risk Heavenly Dao backlash. 40
- Chentang Pass failure — Taiyi Zhenren is killed, Jiangchen is captured, and Randeng retreats despite a coordinated operation involving multiple Quasi-Sage-level combatants. 76 77
- Public humiliation at Jade Void Palace — Jiang Yun returns the possessions of Yuding and Taiyi in person, exploiting the Clarifying Sect's concern for righteous appearances. 81 82
- Kunpeng operation collapses — Kunpeng is badly wounded and stripped of his Demon Master position after the Clarifying Sect's later ambush fails. 122