Within Wu Balance Palace.
Brownish-yellow divine radiance brightened and dimmed like breathing. An Offering Altar built of five-colored stone stood here, its surface mottled with erosion, ancient and weathered. It looked older than the entire hall around it, as though it had been unearthed after lying buried deep underground.
The hanging scroll above the altar, however, was utterly blank. Only a few ancient seal-script characters formed from pure Wu Earth divine light were visible-[Lord of Proper Rites].
They exuded no imposing power, yet gazing at them involuntarily stirred a measure of reverence in the heart, like looking up at a lofty mountain.
Xu Xuan shifted his gaze to the white jade pillars on either side. Words formed from Wu Light had now manifested upon them as well: [Surveying the Gloomy Netherworld] on one side and [Unshifting Mountains and Rivers] on the other. Beside each, human figures formed from Wu Light knelt in worship and praise.
"A great figure of the Wu Balance Dao Lineage."
Tiantuo's voice was grave. From within the Inner Scenery, he stared at the blank portrait, sensing an aura of immense height and remoteness, as though the Great Mountain stood before him.
"To leave no true likeness in the world, he must have been at least at the Golden Core level. [Wu Balance Palace] belonged to the Immortal Dao of earth virtue and presided over the altars of land and grain. It was established in high antiquity, even before Zhou."
"In ancient times, earth virtue had three paths: [Wu Balance], of Wu and Ji; [Earth-Subduing], of Gen and subduing earth; and [Azure Goat], of nurturing earth. All five earths of the present age descended from them. Azure Goat was the weakest, yet its legacy endured the longest. Wu Balance was the strongest, but perished early. Such are