Yueyang.
Amid Xiaoxiang's clouds and waters lay Jun Mountain Grotto-Heaven.
Deep within the great marsh, a small bamboo raft slowly approached, emerging among the reed beds.
It startled a few gulls into flight.
An old man sat at the front of the raft, wearing a coir raincoat and bamboo hat.
Though he held no oar, watery spiritual light welled up before him, carrying the raft across the river.
At the rear of the raft stood a simple little table, with Spirit Tea brewed upon it.
A young cultivator sat cross-legged behind the table. Rather than drinking the tea, he watched the surrounding scenery with interest.
"The mountains and marsh stretch far and wide beneath this brilliant sky. Truly an immortal paradise in the mortal world..."
Jun Mountain differed somewhat from ordinary Daoist sects. The sect was centered on the largest island in Xiaoxiang Great Marsh, with its subordinate traditions scattered across the mountainous islands. The cultivation lineages, minor sects, and Daoist temples affiliated with Jun Mountain were distributed along the marsh's shores.
Jun Mountain had placed no restrictions over the great marsh, but with the mighty river separating them, the cultivators who lived along its shores traveled to Jun Mountain only by Spirit Boat, never daring to fly.
In truth, as a wandering disciple of Jun Mountain, Song Yan could simply reveal his strength as a Golden Core True Person and fly straight to the sect gates.
But this was his first visit, as a cultivator from a small place, to a great Central Region sect like Jun Mountain. Taking his time and sightseeing aboard a Spirit Boat seemed rather pleasant too.
The vast waters surged on, the mountain scenery magnificent. This bamboo-raft crossing truly refreshed the heart and lifted the spirits.
Soon, the raft entered a mountain gorge along