Alchemy Spirit Child dismissed the disciples, then led everyone to a large hall inside the ship. Only after arranging for them all to sit down did he begin recounting the story.
In a valley spanning several hundred li within the Ten Thousand Green Forest of the Ling Kingdom stood enormous wooden buildings. These structures were quite unusual: all had been built upon towering Giant Trees, and some wooden houses even sprouted glistening green leaves or blossomed with flowers. The houses blended harmoniously with the forest throughout the valley, making for a truly lovely landscape. Overhead, an enormous green light barrier constantly shed specks of green light, an especially enchanting sight. A stream ran along the valley floor, and numerous cultivators strolled back and forth at a leisurely pace, as though the entire valley stood apart from the strife of the world. This was Spring Renewal Valley, home of the Spring Returning Church.
Countless long, chimney-like pipes protruded from the mountain wall on one side of the valley, pouring out waves of enticing medicinal fragrance. In the center of the valley stood a colossal tree nearly a thousand zhang tall. Beneath it lay medicinal fields enclosed by five-colored light barriers, where cultivators carrying jade spades and baskets on their backs were harvesting spirit herbs.
The Spring Returning Church could not really be counted among either the Righteous Path or the Demonic Path. It was merely a neutral sect, for it kept itself far too removed from worldly strife. Its disciples rarely traveled across the continent, while its alchemy was renowned throughout the world, naturally drawing large numbers of cultivators seeking medicine. The Spring Returning Church also had its own market district. Whether they belonged to the Demonic Path or the Righteous Path, cultivators could obtain the spirit herbs they wanted there