Shu.
Lacquer Mountain thrust into the heavens, its peaks like swords and its sheer cliffs like winnowing baskets. It was truly the foremost Immortal Mountain of the southwest, the pivotal hub of Ancient Shu's spiritual energies. Since the Grotto-Heaven shattered and Kunwei fell, the mountain had regained its former grandeur. Now, only Great Tai Mountain surpassed it.
To the south lay [Brocade Capital] Commandery, its terrain flat and largely unobstructed.
Around a million mortals lived peacefully within the commandery. Some knew nothing of gods or ghosts, others disbelieved in immortals and demons, and many had never seen a cultivator in their entire lives.
Above the clouds.
Purple fire transformed, kindling a blazing radiance, and a man appeared in the sky with a Red Jade Mallet hanging at his waist. He looked young, his eyes shone brightly, and he carried himself with the bearing of a grandmaster.
It was Wang Cheng Yan.
His cultivation had now reached the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage, and his progress had gradually slowed. Rather than stubbornly grinding away at it, he had devoted himself to artifact refining.
Behind him, spiritual fire suddenly shifted, rising and gathering into a young Daoist attendant, who stood with him above the clouds and glanced over the scenery of Brocade Capital Commandery.
"What a fall from grace."
Wen Guang sighed, firelight flickering across his face, and said quietly, "When the Emperor Lord ascended the throne and founded Great Shu, followers of every Immortal Dao came to offer congratulations. Golden Core Immortal Sects and long-lived aristocratic clans scrambled to relocate to Shu. Now, even Foundation Establishment sects are rarely seen!"
The Immortal Dao had failed to flourish in the southwest.
Purple Mansion powers in Shu were pitifully few. Excluding their own sect, there were only [Autumn Clarity] in Great Ridge and the