Chapter 271: The First Sect Master

The Great Xia officials named the ruins the Immortal Ruins.

The Immortal Ruins are located in a small mountain near Dayan Commandery. Locals call this mountain Barren Mountain, as its resources are scarce and its scenery unremarkable. Locals rarely visit Barren Mountain. Preliminary exploration suggests it is a ruin from the late ancient era.

Before going to the ruins, Yunzhi briefly introduced the situation of the ruins to Lu Yang and the Immortal Fairy. Currently, seventy percent of what the world knows about the ancient era comes from ancestral records, and thirty percent from excavating ruins of the Great Qian Dynasty. Due to the Ancient Nameless One refining the stars, ruins from the ancient era are exceedingly rare, and most are badly damaged, providing little useful information. Lu Yang, however, was different; his understanding of the ancient era relied entirely on the Immortal Fairy.

After listening to his senior sister's introduction, Lu Yang opened his mouth, looking very hesitant.“What is it?” Yunzhi asked.“Do we really need to discuss the ruins while eating hotpot?” Lu Yang questioned.

The hotpot in front of Lu Yang was bubbling, and plates of beef were laid out on the table. According to the proprietor, these included hanging tenderloin, spoon handle, three-flower tendon, five-flower tendon, assorted offal... Lu Yang had never imagined that a cow's various parts could be distinguished so meticulously. Across the hotpot, the ethereal beauty of a female cultivator watched Lu Yang eat with a poker face, putting a lot of pressure on him. This felt like an execution; they might as well just go directly to the Immortal Ruins.

Beef hotpot was famous throughout the land, and diners here came specifically for it. However, his senior sister's transcendent, otherworldly aura clashed sharply with the hotpot restaurant's atmosphere. Many people couldn't help but glance at Lu Yang and Yunzhi, curious about their identities. A keen observer would notice that although the man and woman were speaking, not a single word could be clearly heard. This wasn't due to a simple sound-insulating formation, but a deeper, illusion-like spell.

Yunzhi picked up a piece of beef from the pot, dipped it in satay sauce, and gracefully brought it to her slightly parted lips. Her movements were so elegant that it looked less like eating hotpot and more like consuming an incredibly rare heavenly treasure.“Beef hotpot is a specialty of Dayan Commandery. Since you rarely visit here, you should taste the local delicacies to broaden your experience. Your lively personality means you are destined for worldly cultivation, and this is part of your training,” Yunzhi explained. She paused, then continued, “And also to celebrate your successful promotion to the Golden Core stage.” With that, Yunzhi raised her teacup and clinked it with Lu Yang's. Lu Yang was flattered and carefully picked up his teacup.

After the meal, the two left the restaurant. Lu Yang savored the lingering taste, admitting it was indeed delicious. Just as Lu Yang was about to ask where they were going next, he felt his collar being pulled by his senior sister. His senior sister took a step forward; space twisted, the scenery shifted, and they were instantly transported from the restaurant entrance to the desolate Barren Mountain.

“Now *that's* true spatial shrinkage!” the Immortal Fairy exclaimed excitedly. Having been with Lu Yang for so long, she had almost forgotten that true spatial shrinkage was a spatial spell, not burrowing through the earth.

On Barren Mountain, imperial soldiers were encamped, standing by in full readiness. These were the elite troops of the Great Xia imperial court, all cultivators capable of forming a military soul array to engage enemies. The Immortal Ruins were the birthplace of the Immortal Sect, so the imperial court had no choice but to take them seriously.

“Is Daoist Yunzhi present?” An old general, clad in heavy armor, his brows exuding resolve, approached. With each step, his heavy armor clanked loudly. The old general had long received news that the Dao Inquiring Sect would send someone to explore the Immortal Ruins here. He commanded this elite army, capable of fighting even Tribulation Transcendence cultivators, and held a considerable position in the imperial court. However, he dared not act arrogant in front of Yunzhi, despite his authority. The reason was simple: he had been fortunate enough to witness Yunzhi in action. At the same time, he wondered if the imperial court had invited Yunzhi to explore the Immortal Ruins, or perhaps to dismantle them.

Yunzhi nodded, saying nothing more. The old general's gaze lingered on Lu Yang, a young cultivator who had just formed his Golden Core. He didn't understand why Daoist Yunzhi had brought him along. The old general didn't inquire further. Since Daoist Yunzhi had brought him, there was no need to question it. Could he really stop Yunzhi?

“This way, please.” The old general gestured, inviting Yunzhi to enter the Immortal Ruins. Soldiers witnessing this scene secretly wondered about the identity of the newcomer, who commanded such solemn respect from their general. Was it the Eldest Princess? A Grand Princess? A great Tribulation Transcendence cultivator? The soldiers were highly disciplined; even with questions in their hearts, they showed no outward sign, instead focusing on their duties and practicing battlefield combat techniques.

The old general led them to a deep, pitch-black cave. “This is the place,” he said. “According to the Immortal Sect members, over ten thousand years ago, the First Sect Master was inspired by the Immortal Sage. In a dream, he came here and saw two old men playing chess. One sage was the Immortal Sage, and the other was the Ancient Nameless One. The First Sect Master was captivated by the game. When the match ended, the two old men and the chessboard vanished. The First Sect Master awoke from his dream to find himself unknowingly in the mountains, at the entrance to the Immortal Ruins.”

“However, our investigation shows that the above experience was fabricated to elevate the origins of the Immortal Sect. The only part that aligns with reality is that the protagonist was the First Sect Master. In reality, the First Sect Master was illegally felling timber here for sale. He was later discovered by the imperial court and imprisoned for fifty years. After his release, he reviewed his criminal past, summarized his experiences, and actively improved. He then specifically learned the 'Tree Planting Art,' simultaneously planting and uprooting trees, quickly mastering the art.”

“When he uprooted one ancient tree, he discovered a bottomless cave beneath it. Greatly astonished, he purchased personal accident insurance and went to explore the cave. Afterward, he discovered the Immortal Ruins, learned of the Immortal Sage’s existence, and obtained several immortal treasures. Greatly inspired, he realized that establishing a cult earned spirit stones faster than chopping trees. This is also reflected in the penal code: the former carries the death penalty, while the latter carries a fixed-term imprisonment.”

“When establishing the Immortal Sect, he also faced numerous difficulties, such as insufficient funds and manpower. If funds were insufficient, he took out loans; if manpower was lacking, he sought out fellow criminals in prison. The First Sect Master overcame many challenges and finally established the Immortal Sect.”

“...How did you investigate such detailed experiences?” Lu Yang thought the First Sect Master’s experiences were truly rich, enough to fill a book. “The imperial court is impressive, to investigate in such detail.”

“Oh, investigating this wasn't difficult,” the old general said, pulling a book from his embrace. “After all, he wrote a memoir. It’s this one. I’ve been reading it recently; it’s quite entertaining.”Lu Yang: “...”*So you think you've made a name for yourself, huh?*

The old general added, “Later, the Second Sect Master usurped power, eliminated the First Sect Master, and fraudulently claimed his insurance payout.”