Atop the towering mountains, majestic palaces stand steadfast, bathed in the essence of heaven and earth, radiating brilliance alongside the sun and moon.
The palace is situated in the skies, thousands of feet high, surrounded by auspicious clouds and purifying divine energy.
Taoists tread on auspicious clouds as they enter and exit.
The golden plaque on the gates of the palace reads: Yunzhou Society Commandery Office.
The Master of the Yunzhou Society Commandery Office holds a prestigious third-rank position in the Taoist hierarchy, overseeing personnel transitions for all Taoists in Yunzhou, defensive arrangents, magic eting supervision, talisman distribution, and more.
There are four jungles in Yunzhou conducting the Phoenix Platform Dragon Throwing ceremonies.
Two new jungles have been established under the coordination of Taoist Temples. Originally, the Holy Might Taoist School governed twelve jungles; now the number has increased to fourteen.
Not all jungles govern an entire commandery.
It must be known that a jungle represents the source of magical veins for the temples below. So weaker Taoist Temples are not qualified to beco jungles and are thus rged into other jungles.
When the magical vein produces a strong figure, the Taoist School will coordinate and separate them from their original jungle, forming a new jungle.
Inside the study of the Society Master Mansion.
Dozens of ticulously arranged bookshelves fra the room, where a man wearing a Purple Gold Crown, whose age is indeterminable, is bent over a desk writing.
"Pure Serenity Jungle, founder, Qingxuan Taoist; jungle hierarchy: ...; branch hierarchies, totaling fifteen branches: ..."
This man is Chuu Yuying, Master of the Yunzhou Society Commandery Office, a prestigious third-rank role.
At the mont, he is docunting and filing new jungles.
Of course, it’s not as simple as just writing it down—it must be distributed to various Taoist Temple jungles.
"Emperor Forest Jungle, new Taoist..."
"i Mountain Jungle, new Jungle Taoist Fire Cloud."
After finishing the records, he then addresses the issue of deaths.
Chuu Yuying taps the desk lightly.
A palm-sized Taoist jumps out of the desk.
"Bring all the recent casualties above Divine Establishnt."
"Understood!"
The Taoist transforms into a book.
Chuu Yuying flips through the pages, scrutinizing each death’s ti and reason, using a red brush to cross out the corresponding nas.
Removing nas from the register excludes them from Taoist registries.
Human death is categorized into three types: biological death, social relational death, and erasure from everyone’s mory. This action pertains to the second type—crossing out nas ans all their benefits are revoked.
Those above Divine Establishnt serve as indispensable foundational mbers of the Taoist School.
Theoretically, their deaths require personal review by the Society Master.
However, if the reasons appear sufficiently justified, Chuu Yuying typically doesn’t bother reviewing them too intensely.
Deaths during the Core Formation stage, however, warrant utmost caution.
Core Forrs live for millennia, and decades may pass without a single casualty.
Surprisingly, there’s a death on the list this ti.
"Chi Hai of the i Mountain Jungle perished from Qi deviation on July 26th during the Phoenix Platform Dragon Throwing period. Rumors suggest Chi Hai was vying for the position of Jungle Taoist—suspected foul play."
This information was sent by a Taoist from the Five Star Mansion.
Chuu Yuying furrowed his brows, sensing sothing amiss.
He imdiately retrieved the candidate list for this year’s Phoenix Platform Dragon Throwing.
"Candidates: Zhao Wuji, Fire Cloud. Supervisors: Copper Dragon, Prince Lingwu. Before the eting, Zhao Wuji voluntarily withdrew from the race. This isn’t right—Chi Hai’s na doesn’t appear on the list."
The candidate list is submitted three months prior to the ceremony. During those months, any incidents with candidates draw attention from the Taoist School.
If they aren’t candidates, responsibility falls solely under the Society Master’s purview.
"Not right—why isn’t Chi Hai listed? And who is Zhao Wuji?"
Chi Hai was in his pri, with a remaining lifespan of three to five hundred years.
How could he suddenly perish, especially during such a sensitive tifra?
Additionally, the intelligence gathered by fellow Five Star Mansion colleagues contains more details.
They uncovered complaints from months prior and certain recent allegations.
These reports pointed to a constant rivalry between Chi Hai and Fire Cloud—it had nothing to do with Zhao Wuji.
It would be implausible for Chi Hai to withdraw unexpectedly—or die abruptly—when the stakes were so high.
Chuu Yuying pondered briefly, before realizing sothing.
Bang!
Chuu Yuying slapped the desk fiercely, causing his teacup to fall and shatter.
"Damn you, Fire Cloud! Brazenly defying Taoist regulations! I will report this to the Heavenly Master and see you cast into the Black Prison, enduring eight hundred years of Yin Wind gnawing your bones!"
The Taoist School is not so easily deceived.
If such tricks were acceptable, anyone could concoct excuses for murder without consequence.
With this in mind, Chuu Yuying prepared to write a letter.
At that mont, footsteps echoed from outside.
Clang!
The door suddenly opened, and a striking young noble strode in.
The nobleman’s appearance was handso, with a black mark across his brow, holding a white jade fan in hand, exuding an air of casual confidence.
Chuu Yuying was about to scold the intruder but smiled instantly upon recognizing him: "Zhengsi? What brings you here?"
"Brother Yuying!"
Zhengsi didn’t answer but approached Chuu Yuying with a playful smile, taking note of the letter on the desk.
"This letter need not be sent!"
"Why?"
"My father is in closed-door cultivation, and it may take decades."
"No matter; others will handle it. If not, I can address it personally."
Chuu Yuying was a person of integrity, especially given how clumsy the performance against him was—it felt like an insult to his intelligence.
"Hold off for a Jiazi. By then, I will handle it myself—Fire Cloud will et a certain death."
Zhengsi smiled as he tucked the letter into his sleeve.
Chuu Yuying hesitated for a mont.
Anyone else daring to ddle in his affairs would’ve been slapped on the spot.
"Who are you to interfere with ?"
But the young man before him held no official position yet harbored an imnsely prestigious identity—he was the Heavenly Master’s most beloved son.
His opinion carried weight.
"Fine, I’ll grant you this favor. By the way, when will you embark on your training journey?"
"In a few years. Once I break into the Purple Mansion realm, I plan to take on so Taoist positions—perhaps Jungle Taoist."
"You an to say..." Chuu Yuying seed to grasp his intentions.
"Indeed! Brother, I’ll take my leave now."
Zhengsi exited the room, closing the door behind him.
Wherever he went, surrounding Taoists paid him respectful homage. He returned their gestures warmly, his harmony likened to the gentleness of spring winds.
Secretly, Zhengsi mused.
"Money is indeed easy to make—just a few words yielded a million dharma coins and six Top-grade Magical Artifacts, nearly half the i Mountain Jungle’s wealth."
"It suffices; I’ll let you live a few more years."
...
Inside the Small Cave Heaven within Xuanke Temple.
Song Lin concluded his cultivation practice and stepped out of his small ditation chamber.
His footsteps were light, careful not to disturb the nine still ditating nearby.
Through this period of cultivation, the temple produced three new Divine Establishnts: Dianzao Ouyang Kun, Ghost Market Dongyang, and Patrol Housekeeper Lu Qian.
Among the Eight Deacons, only three had yet to reach Divine Establishnt.
Song Lin arrived at the golden gates and took a step out of the grotto heaven.
Though several days had passed, the shadows of past slaughter still lingered.
His perception of Taoist struggles had gained newfound clarity.
Brutal, bloodthirsty, devoid of the serene detachnt Taoists profess.
Yet upon reflection, this wasn’t surprising—the very nature of Taoist disciples stemd from ambition and combativeness.
How could they reform simply by becoming experts?
Song Lin remained resolute in his belief that the reformist path he pursued was correct.
To cultivate disciples’ character from the roots, to promote advancent through integrity.
Eradicating internal conflicts at the foundation—this was the path to enduring peace.
Not just for Xuanke Temple, but for the three Taoist Temples that had pledged loyalty to him under these standards.
If it was chaotic before, at least now they must obey the rules!
"Without virtue, no liturgy granted!"
Song Lin entered the study.
A disciple knocked and entered.
"Temple master, here are the new letters."
"Good, place them on the desk."
Song Lin opened the letters one by one.
Since hosting the Taoist thod eting, multiple letters had arrived from all directions.
So sought guidance, so were insults, and so invited him to arrange etings.
"Brother Song Lin, I am..."
Halfway through reading, Song Lin shook his head helplessly, crumpling the letter and tossing it into the trash bin.
"Ridiculous."
Soone had even invited him to engage in slanderous public feuds for publicity.
Knock, knock, knock!
A disciple appeared at the door, visibly agitated.
"Bad news, temple master!"
"What’s wrong?"
"A beautiful woman is pleading for help outside the mountain gate!"
"Hmm?"
The temple was in a remote wilderness—how could a mortal appear here? And a beautiful woman at that?
...
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