Jushan Diocesan Altar

The two currently stood in the middle of a mountain range, flanked between two towering peaks. Night had already fallen, yet the bright moon had not yet risen. The mountain col, which should have been dark and shadowy, was currently awash with radiant rosy light. This brilliant glow did not shine on the two alone; the northern foothills of the entire mountain range, along with the vast lands to the north and the vegetation flourishing upon them, were all shrouded in its radiance, as though every living thing across the earth had been draped in a brocade robe. This was no evening glow from a setting sun; the light emanated from the direction they were gazing toward. Vast swathes of seven-colored auspicious clouds drifted along the horizon, stretching across an immense expanse with no end in sight. These auspicious clouds were not static; they churned and flowed ceaselessly, yet never drifted beyond that particular territory. Dense, heavy layers of clouds blanketed the wilderness in all directions, hiding the earth, the mountains, and all living creatures from view. Wondrous light radiated from deep within the auspicious clouds, shining through them to produce a kaleidoscopic, dazzling profusion of thousands of rays. Deep inside, there seemed to be a sun that never set, ceaselessly casting its miraculous light in all directions, day and night, eternal and unending. This area was forever cloaked in daylight. Even when the bright moon rose, under the brilliance of this radiant glow, a cultivator’s eyesight could barely discern its faint outline. The rosy light was bright to the point of being nearly blinding. Even over ten li away from the clouds, their bodies were bathed in the glow, making their silhouettes appear somewhat hazy. However, the rosy light caused no harm to the living creatures here; in fact, the surrounding flora flourished far more luxuriantly than elsewhere. Certain ferocious beasts with phototactic instincts were even drawn by the rosy glow, congregating in the vicinity. Yet at this moment, an eerie silence surrounded the two. Around the auspicious clouds, it was quiet to the point of dead silence. The reason was that not long ago, tremors had rippled incessantly from deep within the auspicious clouds, and the waves rolling outward had triggered the primal fear of living creatures, sending them fleeing in panic. The stampede of beasts that Qin Sang and his companions had encountered were precisely the spirit beasts that had fled from here. Similar occurrences were not rare. The depths of the auspicious clouds were highly unstable, shuddering at regular intervals. Once things settled down, ferocious beasts would gradually gather here once more. At present, the auspicious clouds were tranquil. The dark-skinned strange man gazed into the depths of the clouds, an unusual glint shining in his eyes as if he were channeling some sort of spirit-eye divine ability. Within the clouds, he caught glimpses of specious phantoms: what appeared to be immortal palaces and jade towers, alongside a vast sea of stars and a winding celestial river, all shifting endlessly with the rise and fall of the misty vapors. "Why would such a place exist within the Sin Plains?" The dark-skinned strange man voiced the doubt in his heart. Entering the Sin Plains yielded only one sensation: utter desolation! In the minds of ordinary people, the Sin Plains was supposed to be an uncivilized wasteland, yet here lay a sight so breathtaking and soul-stirring—and obviously not formed by nature. "Look there," the Imperial Censor of the Nine Heavens Golden Palace raised a hand, pointing toward the phantom of a palace that had just flashed into view. "Does it feel familiar?" "Familiar?" The dark-skinned strange man frowned as scene after scene flashed through his mind. He had accompanied the Imperial Censor of the Nine Heavens Golden Palace to visit several Daoist sects; some of their abbeys and temples rivaled immortal realms, yet in terms of grandeur, they fell short of this phantom. Could it be... The dark-skinned strange man could not help but be startled. "A diocesan altar?" The Imperial Censor of the Nine Heavens Golden Palace nodded gently. "Indeed! According to ancient records, this place was originally the diocesan altar of Jushan Diocese." A diocesan altar was the core of a diocese; the altars of Zhongmao Diocese and Baishi Diocese were also the command hubs of the two Daoist academies. "The altar is here? Just how vast was Jushan Diocese in the past?" The dark-skinned strange man was thoroughly shocked. Even now, Jushan Diocese was the largest among the four dioceses under heaven. The dark-skinned strange man had heard the Imperial Censor mention before that not only could a diocesan altar confer registers, but it also enshrined a sacred Daoist artifact known as the Dugong Seal. The two Daoist academies respectively held the Zhongmao Diocese Dugong Seal and the Baishi Diocese Dugong Seal. As for what other powers the diocesan altars and Dugong Seals possessed, the dark-skinned strange man had received no answer; perhaps even the Imperial Censor did not know everything. What was certain was that the diocesan altar was the foundation of a diocese, situated at its very heart. That registered cultivators could cultivate in peace was closely tied to the diocesan altars. It was said that Great Real Persons could not conceal their auras upon entering the Sin Plains precisely because they were too far from an altar. Yet this place was still so far from the northern border of Jushan Diocese. Calculating backwards, just how vast had Jushan Diocese once been? The other three dioceses combined could not have matched it. The Imperial Censor flicked his finger, releasing a streak of golden light that transformed into a golden mirror before him, revealing the scene at the periphery of the auspicious clouds. "Records of the Daoist Court state that Jushan Diocese was once the foremost among the four dioceses, until its diocesan altar was shattered in an earth-shattering battle, leading to its complete downfall. Look..." With that, the Imperial Censor shifted the perspective in the mirror toward the auspicious clouds. As the mirror reflected the scenes deep within the clouds, he tapped it casually a few times. "These reflections of mountain peaks and rivers might be illusions, or they might truly exist, but they are by no means the mountains and rivers known to ordinary mortals. Rather, they are manifestations of divine abilities and Daoist arts. Pindao has ventured deep into the Jushan Diocesan Altar multiple times and once saw two rivers of stars formed from divine abilities converging, locked in a stalemate to this day. We could only admire them from afar before retreating silently. Had we disturbed those two star rivers, Fellow Daoist Mo, I fear you would never have met Pindao." The Imperial Censor laughed self-deprecatingly. A battle of the ancients, whose divine abilities endured to this very day! The Imperial Censor of the Nine Heavens Golden Palace was in the late Dongxuan realm, merely a step away from becoming a Great Real Person, yet he openly admitted he would have had no way to preserve his life. "A battle of True Monarchs? Or perhaps... Heavenly Masters?" The dark-skinned strange man was incomparably shocked. Great Real Persons of the Daoist Court remained sequestered in their diocesan altars and rarely stepped out, making True Monarchs and Heavenly Masters seem like mere legends. Yet the scenes in Jushan Diocesan Altar proved that at least in ancient times, True Monarchs and Heavenly Masters truly existed in this world's Daoist sects. Shaking his head, the Imperial Censor said, "It is enough for Fellow Daoist Mo to know that the interior is perilous beyond measure. There are divine abilities left by ancient mighty figures, as well as folded and shattered spaces. Over countless years, every tremor in the auspicious clouds has been those forces readjusting with one another to maintain a stable yet fragile balance. Because Great Real Persons cannot restrain their own aura from triggering resonance in the environmental qi, they dare not enter the Jushan Diocesan Altar. We must be even more cautious. The periphery of the clouds is relatively safe, but venturing deep into the altar invites utter doom at every turn!" Having attained his current cultivation, the dark-skinned strange man naturally understood the necessity of prudence. His expression turned solemn, and he asked, "Are we going to enter the depths of Jushan Diocesan Altar this time?" The Imperial Censor murmured in assent. "According to your description, Fellow Daoist Mo, the sight you saw before losing consciousness bears some resemblance to the depths of Jushan Diocesan Altar. I suspect that when you shattered the boundary to cross into this world, you plummeted into the altar, only to be somehow flung back out. After all, countless eternal rifts exist within, which could potentially link directly to other realms. Furthermore, according to my investigations, before I found you, an upheaval occurred deep within the auspicious clouds—far more violent than any on record, and lasting for a long time." Having learned the origin of the auspicious clouds and listening to the Imperial Censor's words, the dark-skinned strange man could not help feeling a lingering dread. When crossing the boundary, he had suffered a terrifying impact and passed out on the spot; upon waking, he found himself rescued by this Imperial Censor. Jushan Diocesan Altar was fraught with mortal danger; while he lay unconscious, the slightest disturbance could have easily crushed him to dust. To be flung out of the altar, even with severe injuries, had to be considered tremendous fortune. Recalling this, the dark-skinned strange man let out an imperceptible sigh. "I still remember some fragments—all bizarre and grotesque scenes. If we find that place, I should be able to recall more." As long as he found the location in his memories, there was hope of finding the gate between the two realms. Not only did he wish to leave, but the Imperial Censor was also deeply interested in that place. "Regrettably, despite sending out so many letters, Pindao has found no trace of your companion, Fellow Daoist Mo. Since her condition was better than yours, perhaps she never lost consciousness and walked out of Jushan Diocesan Altar on her own... Still, there is no need to rush for quick success. Our main priority this time is investigating the Guifang Kingdom's schemes; if we have spare time, we can scout the path, and once we are fully prepared in the future, we can explore it with all our strength. Of course, killing two birds with one stone would be ideal..." Mid-sentence, the Imperial Censor paused abruptly and murmured in surprise, "Someone has arrived." The image in the mirror shifted rapidly, revealing another mountain valley. The valley was overgrown with wild weeds as tall as saplings, lush and dense, yet no figure could be seen. Seeing this, the Imperial Censor praised, "Good concealment methods! What a coincidence as well—the auspicious clouds span such a vast area, yet they just happened to pass nearby. Any farther, and my Heavenly Scenery Talisman wouldn't have been able to reveal them either." With that, the Imperial Censor pressed a finger to the center of the golden mirror. Ripples spread across the surface, followed by the appearance of four indistinct silhouettes. The four were hiding amidst the wild weeds, gazing upon the wondrous spectacle of the auspicious clouds. They remained where they were, seemingly in discussion. "Four people. That should be enough to cause some trouble for the Guifang Kingdom..." The Imperial Censor nodded with satisfaction. Inside Jushan Diocesan Altar lay treasures left behind from the ancient war, and there had even been individuals blessed with heaven-defying luck who obtained great legacies left by mighty figures before their demise. However, after countless years of exploration by the Daoist Court and the demons, very few treasures remained. Even if some had slipped through the net, they were bound to be in exceptionally perilous places, impossible for ordinary people to reach. Time after time, expeditions returned empty-handed. By now, fewer and fewer cultivators ventured into Jushan Diocesan Altar. The appearance of four Dongxuan Real Persons at this time meant they must have answered the Daoist sects' decree, serving to scout the path for them. Peeking from afar with a talisman, the Imperial Censor was also wary of being detected, so he had not pushed the talisman's power to its limit. Furthermore, he recognized Real Person Youhuang among the four. Since the other three were traveling with her, their strength was likely comparable. The Imperial Censor waved his sleeve to wipe away the golden mirror and struck out several talismans in succession, laying down a talisman formation in preparation for his next plan, completely oblivious to the abnormal reaction of the man beside him. The moment he saw the four in the mirror, the dark-skinned strange man's gaze froze, locking onto one of them. The man stood at the very front of the four. While the others conversed, he remained silent, flexing and clenching his hand as though pondering something. At that moment, the man seemed to sense something and suddenly looked up. It was also at this precise instant that the Imperial Censor withdrew the Heavenly Scenery Talisman. As the mirror surface dispersed, that indistinct face was etched firmly into the dark-skinned strange man's mind, a flicker of shock and suspicion passing through his eyes. *How could it possibly be him! A coincidence? Or...* *Could that ascension heavenly tribulation have been his doing?* A tempest raged in the dark-skinned strange man's heart, yet his expression showed not the slightest ripple. Glancing at the busy Imperial Censor, the dark-skinned strange man kept silent and stood quietly by his side. ... Within the other mountain valley. Having pushed through layers of beast stampedes, Qin Sang and his three companions reached the final mountain range near their target and concealed themselves in the deserted valley. "This is the place," Real Person Youhuang pointed toward the auspicious clouds, a nostalgic look on her face. "Back when I had just broken through to the Dongxuan realm, out of curiosity, I joined several fellow daoists to venture deep inside and explore, witnessing one breathtaking spectacle after another." "I've never heard you mention this before, Fellow Daoist," Real Person Guyun said in wonder. "You entered the depths of the auspicious clouds? Pindao only wandered around the periphery and returned empty-handed. Did you obtain any ancient cultivator relics?" Real Person Youhuang shook her head with a self-deprecating scoff. "What ancient cultivator relics could there be? With countless experts from the Daoist Court and the Guifang Kingdom, would our turn ever come? Pindao only went to broaden my horizons and inspire my pursuit of the Dao." "That's true," Real Person Guyun turned to look at Real Person Zhijian. "Will those demon marquises enter the depths of the auspicious clouds? If we encounter them inside, it will be hard to guarantee our safety." Real Person Zhijian had been observing the auspicious clouds on the horizon the entire time. The misty vapors shifted unpredictably. After watching for a while, he said, "The vapors have not settled yet; this is not the ideal time to enter. Once they stabilize, cloud paths will appear on the other three sides, excluding the north. The locations of these cloud paths differ each time, but they all lead to the same area. That place marks the boundary between the inner and outer regions, spanning a very broad expanse. The demon marquises were active around there previously. We shall start our search nearby; if we encounter a solitary demon, we strike immediately. If we find nothing, we will adjust our plan according to the situation." Real Person Youhuang nodded in agreement. "Even in the depths of the clouds, mortal danger is not lurking everywhere; rather, it intensifies gradually the deeper one goes. If we sense danger, we can stop and wait for the demons to return, catching them off guard." The few conversed back and forth, discussing their options. Qin Sang spoke little, dividing his attention between listening to their exchange and contemplating the *Seven Masters' Buddhist Seals*. In the previous battles, he had continuously unleashed the two seals, gradually gleaning some of their profound subtleties. At this moment, Qin Sang suddenly looked up, sensing that the rosy glow was growing increasingly piercing, and turbulent waves were surging deep within the auspicious clouds. "The auspicious clouds are about to shudder again. We'll seize the opportunity to enter and search for a cloud path," Real Person Zhijian said in a deep voice. The others nodded. They were barely ten-odd li from the auspicious clouds—a negligible distance for immortal cultivators—yet none of them knew whether the demons had posted sentries anywhere. Using the tremors of the clouds as cover should sever most prying eyes. *Boom!* Ripples surged across the sea of clouds, churning outward in all directions, but before expanding too far, they seemed to strike an invisible wall and began contracting back. As the vapors shifted, the rosy light became blindingly intense; a mortal would have lost their sight at a single glance! It was as though the four were standing directly before the sun, bathed in light that illuminated thousands of li! Real Person Zhijian and Real Person Youhuang each activated a concealing secret treasure, enshrouding the four, while Qin Sang and Real Person Guyun restrained their auras. The four darted out of the valley, streaking through the vegetation. In the blink of an eye, they crossed the intervening plain and entered the expanse of the auspicious clouds. Inside the auspicious clouds, the radiant glow was even more blazing. Even as everyone channeled their spiritual power to shield their eyes, their vision remained extremely limited. Qin Sang was an exception. Along the way, he commanded the Heavenly Eye Butterfly to keep watch and spotted no other figures. "I wonder if this disturbance in the clouds is a coincidence or caused by the demons. Let's wait a moment and set out once the cloud path appears," Real Person Zhijian sent via voice transmission. The four nodded silently, following Real Person Zhijian deeper into the auspicious clouds before coming to a halt shortly after to wait in place. Before long, the tremors subsided from the inside out, and the dazzling light gradually dimmed. After waiting a little longer, a cloud path happened to take shape right before them.