Grand Luo Palace

Biodata

Name	Grand Luo Palace (大罗宫)
Type	Daoist palace and cultivation sect
Affiliation	Gu Zhao and his Daoist sect
Occupation / Role	Religious center, cultivation sect, and protector of its territories
Location	Cuiluo Mountain, initially in Changping Prefecture
Status	Active
First Appearance	86

Background / History

Construction began on Cuiluo Mountain after Gu Zhao's group returned to Cuishan Village. The initial works included a three-zhang-high stone mountain gate and a stone-paved mountain road; the gate's plaque bore the words “Grand Luo Sacred Realm.” 86

Gu Zhao and Daoist Yansong designed the site around Daoist cosmology, making the Four Symbols its principal spatial pattern and placing shrines to the Twenty-Eight Mansions around its landmarks. Daoist Master Yihong later joined as an elder, while the palace's early leadership planned to eliminate nearby demonic forces, accumulate merit, and secure Changping Prefecture. 86 100

By the time the palace was fully repaired, it had become a functioning religious complex with halls, courtyards, divine statues, pilgrims, and an expanding incense-and-fire network. After the Golden Wind Sect's defeat, its former sites across Changping Prefecture were converted into Grand Luo Temples. 174 222

Appearance

Grand Luo Palace occupies a leveled area on the mountainside of Cuiluo Mountain, combining a formal Daoist complex with landscaped springs, ponds, forests, and Four Symbols landmarks. It is described as possessing a scale and atmosphere beyond ordinary local forces. 174 176

• The mountain gate is a stone archway with four pillars and three entrances, carved beams, painted rafters, and Azure Dragons coiled around its pillars. 86
• The gate displays the inscription “Grand Luo Sacred Realm.” 86 179
• A staircase of 1,296 steps rises from the gate to the first hall, the Spirit Official Hall; each step is said to represent one hundred years, symbolizing a complete Yuan cycle of 129,600 years. 175
• The Four Symbols are represented through sites including the Azure Dragon mountain gate, White Tiger Cliff, Vermilion Bird Forest, and Black Tortoise Pond. 328
• Springs running through the complex feed ponds with lotuses, koi, and turtles; flower beds and greenery remain lush even in winter. 179
• Ever-burning lamps throughout the grounds are fueled by stable incense-and-fire thought power. 328

Halls and Worship

Hall / Sacred Feature	Function or Object of Worship
Spirit Official Hall	The first hall reached from the mountain gate. 175
Four Emperors Hall	Hosts rites to the Ziwei Great Emperor, South Pole Longevity Great Emperor, Gouchen Shanggong Heavenly Emperor, and Houtu Imperial Earth Deity. 179
Wenchang Hall	Enshrines Emperor Wenchang under an extensive imperial title. 174
Four Symbols shrines	Stone shrines placed around the Four Symbols landmarks to honor Star Officials and the Twenty-Eight Mansions. 86
New Year Grand Ceremony	Worshippers pay respects through the palace's halls before the final rites honoring the Three Pure Ones. 179

Organization

Leadership and ranks

• Gu Zhao — Palace Lord and sect leader; oversees recruitment, territorial strategy, doctrine, and major defensive operations. 100 257 594
• Elders — Cultivators who have crossed the five-hundred-year cultivation threshold. 425
• Guardian Star Officials — Positions connected to the Twenty-Eight Mansions; Lou Jingou was the first appointed Guardian Star Official. 119
• Inner disciples — Cultivators and Soul-Bonded Mages formally trained within the palace. 273
• Outer disciples — Martial artists and other entrants working toward inner-disciple status. 273 425
• Kitchen Daoists — Ordinary personnel serving the palace's daily operations. 174 425

Growth of personnel

Development	Details
First Guardian Star Official	The Yellow Dog King was named Lou Jingou and appointed as the palace's first Guardian Star Official. 119
Twelve elders	Four Daoists—Shenhao, Yuzhang, Jinghong, and Jingfa—were brought into the palace, raising its elder count to twelve. 218
Forty-nine Daoist Masters	The third New Year Grand Ceremony gathered forty-nine Daoist Masters from numerous lineages. 456
Sixty top experts	The palace later possessed sixty experts with more than five hundred years of cultivation, including Gu Zhao, elders, Guardian Star Officials, Zhuo Qingyan, and Li Qingshuang. 566

Facilities and resources

• Alchemy Hall, Merit Hall, and Magic Item Hall support cultivation, contributions, and artifact distribution. 273
• A points system rewards demon-slaying, ghost-subduing, and the collection of spiritual medicines and materials. 265
• The palace warehouse accumulated large quantities of herbs, spiritual medicines, and refining materials through its disciples' contributions. 265 425
• Outer disciples may receive long swords and Golden Dipper Bracelets, while Spirit Flying Jade Talismans allow less advanced disciples to fly. 273 270

Defenses and Formations

Mountain Protecting Array

The mountain-protecting array integrates with the surrounding heaven and earth across tens of miles around Cuiluo Mountain. Even while inactive, its Daoist aura and connection to the landscape impressed visiting cultivators. 328

• It protects the palace grounds and forms the foundation of its layered defenses. 203 328
• It can hold powerful enemies at bay while the palace's cultivators organize counterattacks. 569
• Its dormitory protections release sun-and-moon-infused Gang Qi against hostile cultivation, as demonstrated when Liu Jin attempted to cultivate a sinister technique inside the palace. 273

Starry Sky Lamp of the Heavens

The Starry Sky Lamp of the Heavens was incorporated as an additional defense line for the Mountain Protecting Array. 203

• Produces Incense Star Soldiers capable of independent combat. 203
• Draws upon the palace's incense-and-fire power. 203
• Was designed to function alongside the Five Thunder Dragon Imprisonment Formation. 203

Five Thunder Dragon Imprisonment Formation

The Five Thunder Dragon Imprisonment Formation is a major containment formation used to reverse enemy encirclements. 567

• Reversed the Six Desires Demonic Array's encirclement and trapped the Desire God Hall Master, Shenxiao Holy Lord, and Earth Origin Divine King. 567
• Operates alongside the palace's mountain defenses and other multi-person formations. 203 569

Four Symbols and Nine Palaces Formations

Grand Luo Palace's elders routinely form coordinated arrays based on the Four Symbols, Nine Palaces, and Eight Trigrams. 567 583

• The Four Symbols Nine Palaces Eight Trigrams Formation countered the Six Desires Demonic Array. 567 569
• The Five Elements Nine Palaces Eight Trigrams Formation was deployed against the Heavenly Dipper Demon Formation. 594
• The palace's repeated use of four- and eight-person formations became widely known among demonic forces. 583

Expansion and Influence

Region / Event	Development
Changping Prefecture	After the Golden Wind Sect and other local demonic forces were destroyed, Grand Luo Palace established control and rebuilt former Golden Wind sites as Grand Luo Temples. 174 204 222
Black Rock Mountain	Following the Netherflame Cult's annihilation, the palace planned and established a branch temple at Black Rock Mountain. 310 311
Pingjiang and Lianshan Prefectures	Gu Zhao ordered Grand Luo Temples established in Pingjiang and Lianshan, appointing Daoist Qingyuan and Daoist Master Jinghong as abbots. 380
Jiangnan	The palace expanded across Jiangzhou, Yongzhou, and much of Yazhou, clearing demonic threats while maintaining only one branch temple per prefecture in some regions. 485 528
Jiangbei	Elders crossed the Myriad Spirits River, eliminated entrenched demonic forces, and brought the palace's reputation into the Central Plains. 528

Doctrine and Public Conduct

Grand Luo Palace publicly promises protection to those who do good, accumulate virtue, and avoid evil. It investigates worshippers' backgrounds and grants Heavenly Dipper Amulets to virtuous families. 174

Its members suppress demons, ghosts, bandits, corrupt officials, and violent local powers. In territories under its influence, it also supports vulnerable people and punishes those who exploit them. 528 534 550

The palace does not automatically treat all non-humans as enemies. Its members include Soul-Bonded Ghosts and Spirits, Spirit Lords, and Guardian Star Officials with differing origins; the principal standard is the presence of harmful malevolent conduct. 273 396 528

“As long as they perform good deeds and accumulate virtue, and do not commit evil, the Grand Luo Palace will protect them from malevolent spirits.” 174

Major Conflicts

• Golden Wind Sect and Changping forces — The palace destroyed the Golden Wind Sect, Three Peaks Mountain, Biyang Palace, and Stone King Cave, establishing itself in Changping Prefecture. 204
• Yellow Heaven Altar — Gu Zhao, Daoist Master Mingyu, Daoist Yansong, and Daoist Master Yihong defeated the Yellow Heaven Old Ancestor and Madam Huang at Grand Luo Palace. 209
• Netherflame Cult — Gu Zhao and eight old Daoists used the Nine Palaces Eight Trigrams Formation to annihilate the cult in Heyan Prefecture in half a day. 310 311
• Hall of Forgotten Souls — An infiltrating Hall Master triggered the palace's formations and was surrounded by Lou Jingou, He Feng, Li Qingshuang, and other defenders. 273 274
• Six Desires Demonic Array — The palace's defensive formations trapped the enemy leaders and enabled Gu Zhao to subdue the Shenxiao Holy Lord. 567 569
• Heavenly Dipper Demon Formation — Thirty-six demon caves encircled Cuiluo Mountain, prompting Grand Luo Palace to deploy the Five Elements Nine Palaces Eight Trigrams Formation. 594

Trivia

• Daoist Master Yihong considered the name “Primordial Grand Luo” exceptionally ambitious, noting that even highly revered figures would not casually use such a title. 100
• The palace's mountain gate, stairs, Four Symbols landmarks, and heavenly deities are deliberately arranged to convey a complete Daoist cosmological order. 86 175 328
• Visitors and rival forces frequently speculate that Grand Luo Palace possesses an inheritance connected to the Spirit Realm, though Gu Zhao does not confirm this. 325 528