Sea of Stars

Smoke rose from the mountain kitchens, but before it could drift far, the passing mountain wind scattered it into the surrounding forests.

A rich medicinal fragrance instantly spread, greedily drawn into the lungs of mountain beasts and birds lurking in the shadows.

The source of that medicinal smoke was a mountain amid the ranges, shaped like a pill furnace.

A dozen or so buildings stood scattered across the mountain, and at its foot stood a stone stele engraved with the words "Mountain Furnace Sect."

At the highest point of Mountain Furnace Sect, within an old, weathered pavilion, sat a strange gathering: an old man, a youth, and a child.

The old man wore a long beard, his hair entirely gray, though his complexion remained rosy. In an unhurried voice, he quietly explained to the youth before him, "The great thousand worlds are vast beyond measure. Among them are realms rich in spiritual vitality, and naturally, realms where spiritual vitality is scarce."

"Based on the differing concentrations of spiritual vitality, the ancients divided them into ranks—upper, middle, and lower realms."

"Those that can be called upper realms are few and far between. Looking back through history, only realms where immortals have appeared in legend, or which possess blessed grotto-heavens, may be called upper realms."

"Upper realms are blessed by heaven and earth, so Zao Xuan True Persons naturally emerge more easily there."

"Middle realms are inferior to upper realms. Though they can still produce Zao Xuan cultivators, without the unique spiritual vitality of upper realms, the emergence of every Zao Xuan True Person is extraordinarily rare."

"Last come the lowest of all—the lower realms."

"Spiritual vitality in lower realms is meager. Life Dominion is one thing, but there is simply no chance for an existence beyond Zao Xuan to emerge. Thus,