Yue Land, Peaceful Mountain.
It was autumn, and cool winds rustled.
Peaceful Mountain stood at the center of Yue Province, ruling over the three commanderies of [Kuaiji], [Wuhui], and [Eastern Yang]. To its northwest, Heavenly Eye Mountain formed a screen where its territory met Yin Thunder; to its southeast, Green Reed Mountain served as a barrier, keeping Dust-Sweeping at bay.
Upstream along the Huai River lay the Wu Household of Wu Province, which also counted as a protective screen.
Farther north lay Jianghuai and Li Province. Although war had often raged there when Great Li was founded, those lands were a hundred and eight thousand li from Peaceful Mountain, and the fighting could never reach it.
Thus, the mountain rather lived up to its name of Peaceful. Apart from the battle River Yue and Great Li had fought here back then, it had seen no warfare in recent antiquity.
At the foot of the mountain lay Azure Court Lake.
The lake stretched boundlessly, broad as a sea. Its nature mingled Water and Ren, and it connected to the Huai River.
In the Ancient Era, many Flood Dragons had come ashore from the sea, passed through Azure Court and then Cloud Dream, and finally entered Shu. Later, several Sword Immortals had slaughtered them until they grew afraid, and the water route had fallen into disuse.
Hills dotted the lakeshore, bearing seventeen Daoist temples, all branches of Peaceful Mountain. Selected Foundation Establishment cultivators presided over them and handled scattered, trivial affairs. These were generally people unable to enter the main branch, with little prospect of reaching Purple Mansion.
Today, many cultivators walked or rode the wind along the lakeside, and an uneasy atmosphere hung in the air. Several Foundation Establishment cultivators who had spent years in seclusion had also taken the opportunity