Peaceful Sect

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Peaceful Sect (太平宗)
Alias(es)	Peaceful Immortal Sect; Peaceful Church
Predecessor	River-Sweeping Bandits
Founder / Sect Master	Jiang Chen
Headquarters	Wooden Fish Island, centered on Wooden Fish Summit and Pureheart Retreat
Affiliation	Peaceful Dao Alliance
Occupation / Role	Orthodox cultivation sect; later the state church of the Peaceful Dao Alliance
Status	Reformed into the Peaceful Church and remains active in the Southern Wilderness, where its influence continues to support regional stability. 374 400 691 853
First Appearance	Chapter 76

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Court-recognized orthodox sect	76 78	Formed from the remnants of the River-Sweeping Bandits after their destruction; surviving members received legitimate identities through the Lu Family.
Open-gate Qinghe County power	79 84	Officially opened on Wooden Fish Island and gathered more than 1,000 disciples, including five first-rate martial artists, within two months.
Fortified local sect	201	Established the Azurewave Verdantwood Formation, combining defense and attack; Taoyao served as the formation anchor.
Foremost power of Clear Source Commandery	261	Jiang Chen's strength compelled local factions to recognize the sect as the commandery's leading force; it also received mining rights to a spirit-sand mine.
Imperial Immortal Sect of the Southern Four Prefectures	320	Officially granted the title of Immortal Sect by the royal court and installed as the successor to the Azurewood Clan in the south.
State church of the Peaceful Dao Alliance	374	Reformed into the Peaceful Church after the creation of the Peaceful Dao Alliance; Wooden Fish Island became its sacred land.
Governing church of the restored realm	375	Expanded rapidly through disaster relief as the Peaceful Dao Alliance replaced the Nanjing Kingdom as the region's ruling authority.
Deified faith center	400	The widespread veneration of Peaceful Daoist caused his statue in Golden Sun Hall to develop divine characteristics; the church began deliberately gathering incense offerings.
Major regional church	691	Grew to hundreds of thousands of followers, expanded into neighboring nations, and received support from southern Purple Mansion forces aware of Jiang Chen's standing.
Stabilizing force in the Southern Wilderness	853	Its influence, supplemented by Lu Xuanping's covert interventions, helped preserve peace in the Southern Wilderness amid wider turmoil.

History

Founding

The Peaceful Sect arose after the River Governor's Office destroyed the River-Sweeping Bandits at Soul-Lost Bay. With the Lu Family's assistance, the surviving bandits received lawful identities within the Nanjing Kingdom, allowing the former outlaw organization to become a recognized sect based on Wooden Fish Island. 76 78

When Lu Xuanping asked for the new sect's name, Jiang Chen chose “Peaceful” and discarded his former name, Jiang Wang, alongside the River-Sweeping Bandits. The Lu Family and the newly established sect became practical allies, though their connection was apparent to outside observers. 76

Establishing Qinghe County

The sect formally opened its gates on the sixth day of the sixth month. Jiang Chen publicly presented it as a path that valued both martial and immortal arts, while Wooden Fish Island was rebuilt to project the bearing of an immortal sect. 79

Its early growth relied on broad recruitment, commercial ties, demon-hunting, and the conversion of former bandit networks into legitimate local influence. Within two months, it had recruited more than a thousand disciples, though many joined primarily for martial inheritances and demon hides rather than loyalty to the sect. 80 84

The Peaceful Sect suppressed criminal groups in Qinghe County, assumed responsibility for demon suppression, and organized treasure-hunting teams to search rivers and mountains for spiritual materials. 78 86

Through the Qinghe merchants' guild, it also coordinated relief grain and work-for-aid during local disorder, helping rebuild Qinghe County while curbing unrest. 109

Expansion and Consolidation

The sect cultivated influence through the Qinghe merchants' guild, which consolidated commercial resources, protected trade, and linked participating families to the sect as lay disciples. 83 86

After Jiang Chen defeated Luo Qiao, the Peaceful Sect's reputation grew substantially. It eliminated Fisher Spirit Sect adherents in Qinghe County and took possession of that sect's surviving inheritances and resources, including the Surging Waves Formula, Spirit Clam Breeding Manual, and Tideborn Fan. 92

It later recruited the Black-and-White Elders as Guardian Elders, using them as a foundation for attracting additional martial arts grandmasters. 96 97

The sect gradually extended its influence into Qingxi County while consolidating Qinghe County. By this period, its territory encompassed the two counties of Clear River and Clear Creek. 216 235

As Jiang Chen's power increased, the Peaceful Sect became the dominant force in Clear Source Commandery. It mobilized defenses, secured spirit-sand mining rights, and began recruiting Rogue Cultivators to address its shortage of orthodox Qi Refinement cultivators. 261

Hermit Fuling's admission as Grand Elder strengthened the sect's talisman arts and helped accelerate its growth through his connections among Clear Source Commandery's Rogue Cultivators. 270 271

Rule of the Southern Four Prefectures

Following the Azurewood Clan's collapse, the Peaceful Sect established a secondary residence at Thousand Vine Mountain and positioned itself to replace the clan as a southern pillar of the Nanjing Kingdom. 318 319

The royal court subsequently recognized it as the Peaceful Immortal Sect, granting it authority over the Southern Four Prefectures. Its prestige expanded, while its rule reduced open threats and drew broader submission from local forces. 320

During the Nanjing Kingdom's civil conflict, the sect avoided direct involvement and instead consolidated the Southern Four Prefectures into a stable stronghold. 363

Reformation into the Peaceful Church

Jiang Chen later convened the realm's remaining major powers and founded the Peaceful Dao Alliance. The Peaceful Sect was reformed into the Peaceful Church, which became the alliance's state church and spread the Peaceful Way among the common people. 374

Jiang Chen remained the Alliance Leader in name while the Elders Council handled major affairs. Hermit Fuling was prepared to lead the Peaceful Church after Jiang Chen's departure and later became the active leader of the Peaceful Dao Alliance. 374 400

As the alliance restored order and provided relief during ongoing calamities, the Peaceful Church expanded rapidly. The Peaceful Dao Alliance ultimately supplanted the Nanjing Kingdom as the ruling power in its lands. 375

Later Church Development

Although the Peaceful Way did not originally mandate direct deity worship, popular reverence for Peaceful Daoist grew as the alliance restored livelihoods, lowered taxes, and reduced corvée labor. His longevity tablets became widespread, and the statue in Golden Sun Hall gradually manifested divine characteristics. Hermit Fuling responded by establishing an incense altar to gather further offerings. 400

Over the following years, the Peaceful Church developed into a major church with hundreds of thousands of followers and expanded beyond its original southeastern territory into neighboring nations. Jiang Chen continued to provide methods and resources from afar, while southern Purple Mansion forces, particularly those associated with the Ge Clan, permitted and sheltered the church's growth because of his reputation. 691

Its influence helped the Southern Wilderness remain comparatively peaceful during broader unrest. Lu Xuanping also conducted covert interventions to preserve this stability, though the emergence of a blessed land introduced a potential new source of conflict. 853

Teachings and Recruitment

Peaceful Way

The sect's stated principles are:

• Preserve or guard the One and nurture the spirit.
• Do good and accumulate virtue.
• Cultivate the Great Dao together.
• Build peace together. 79 374

Its public mission includes suppressing demons, protecting common people, and linking the sect's prosperity to that of Qinghe County and its surrounding territory. 78 83

After its reformation, these principles became the Peaceful Church's formal code of conduct. Officials of the Peaceful Dao Alliance were required to join the church, while the Peaceful Way was spread broadly among the population. 374

Admission System

• Examinations and service — Applicants may enter through examinations or by serving as sect guardians. 80
• Contribution system — Disciples earn sect contributions through missions and exchange them for martial arts, immortal arts, and other resources. 80
• Demon-hide rewards — A disciple may earn a refined demon hide by hunting three demon beasts of the same rank for the sect. Those approved for an advance may owe six same-rank demon beasts or equivalent contributions. 80
• Household disciples — Wealthy or well-connected applicants may join through substantial donations, receiving martial-training support in return. 80
• Resource-based recruitment — The sect deliberately welcomed applicants who brought wealth, martial arts, or other resources, rather than following the stricter admissions standards of orthodox immortal sects. 81

Transmitted Arts

• Green Grain Formula — The principal low-threshold inheritance for spiritual farmers; includes the Little Cloud Rain Technique. 84 85
• Earth-Lung True Flame Scripture — Taught externally, but requires greater aptitude than the Green Grain Formula. 84
• Surging Waves Formula — A water-aligned Qi Refinement inheritance shared with the Black-and-White Elders. 92 97
• Tortoise-Serpent Profound Art — Grandmaster-level martial inheritance contributed by the Black-and-White Elders. 97
• Talisman arts inheritance — Expanded after Hermit Fuling joined and established the Talisman Hall. 270 271
• Scripture Transmission Pavilion — Holds numerous Qi Refinement inheritances collected by Jiang Chen, though no Dao Foundation inheritance is recorded there. 280

Holdings and Defenses

Holding / Asset	Details
Wooden Fish Island	Original sect grounds in Soul-Lost Bay; rebuilt into an island residence with spirit fields, pavilions, waterways, and dense spiritual qi. It later became the sacred land of the Peaceful Church. 79 303 374 691
Pureheart Retreat	Jiang Chen's residence and a central site for sect affairs. 117 304
Golden Sun Hall	Major church hall on Wooden Fish Summit containing the statue of Peaceful Daoist, which began displaying divine features as faith and incense offerings accumulated. 400
Spirit fields	Produce White Dew Rice and Red Flame Rice; Wolf-Poison Vine is cultivated using medicinal soil and dedicated cave space. 78 99
Spirit-sand mine	Mining rights were granted to the sect after its rise in Clear Source Commandery. 261
Thousand Vine Mountain	Secondary residence established after the Azurewood Clan's fall; retained developed spirit plants and infrastructure. 318
Mist barrier	The Mist-Chasing Banner was used to form a wall of mist around Soul-Lost Bay, concealing the sect grounds and supporting Froststar Clam cultivation. 95
Azurewave Verdantwood Formation	Composite defensive and offensive formation combining water and wood principles, with Taoyao as its anchor. 201
Azurewood Mystic Light Formation	Second-rank spiritual formation that substantially strengthened the security of Wooden Fish Island. 353

Notable Members and Allies

• Jiang Chen — Founder and Sect Master; later nominal Alliance Leader of the Peaceful Dao Alliance and the deified Peaceful Daoist revered by the church's followers. 76 374 400
• Wang Yuan — Senior subordinate who handled external affairs during the sect's founding and later managed internal affairs. 78 84
• Cao Banshan — External-affairs representative who promoted the Qinghe merchants' guild. 83 84
• Skinny Monkey / Li Buqi — Combatant responsible for guarding the sect and training recruits; received and refined the Blue-Armed Ape demon hide. 79 84
• Red Jade — Spirit-field manager, instructor of spiritual-farmer disciples, and later a Qi Refinement cultivator. 78 84 235
• Black-and-White Elders — Martial arts grandmasters recruited as Guardian Elders; patrolled Qinghe County, helped suppress bandit cultivators, and later received Demon King hides enhanced by Jiang Chen. 96 97 158 691
• Hermit Fuling — Accepted as Grand Elder and founder of the Talisman Hall; later led the Peaceful Church and Peaceful Dao Alliance, directing the church's collection of incense offerings. 270 374 400 691
• Taoyao — Peach-tree demon and formation anchor whose roots, spiritual control, and innate formation talent became integral to Wooden Fish Island's defenses. It later used the Hundred Flowers Edict to promote the growth of the island's spirit plants. 158 201 320
• Azure Flower Empress — Dao Foundation cultivator affiliated with the Peaceful Sect and one of its representatives during the founding of the Peaceful Dao Alliance. 318 374
• Ruthless Nun — Dao Foundation cultivator who joined the Peaceful Sect after Chen Jingshu's departure and represented the sect during the alliance's founding. 304 374
• Lu Family — Early ally that helped legitimize the former River-Sweeping Bandits and establish the sect. Lu Xuanping later covertly assisted in maintaining stability in the Southern Wilderness. 76 78 853
• Four major demon clans of Five Immortal Mountains — Became vassals of the Peaceful Sect after the snake demon clan was purged. 308

Notable Quotes

“Peaceful. Better be a dog in peaceful times than a man in troubled times. May my heart remain clear and tranquil, and may all under heaven be at peace.” — Jiang Chen, naming the sect 76

“The Peaceful Sect seeks to preserve the One and nurture the spirit, do good and accumulate virtue, cultivate the Great Dao together, and build peace together.” 79

“During this time, I have traveled in all directions and seen ruined lands and rivers, with the people left without a livelihood. I intend to establish the Peaceful Dao Alliance and restore the realm. Are you all willing to join?” — Jiang Chen 374