217: Qingchi Mountain

Shen Li had just arrived outside the mountain gate.

He was sucked in by a vast surge of Spiritual Qi.

When he reacted and felt the familiar aura, he didn't struggle too much.

He just looked at Grand Master Shenqian in front of him with a strange expression.

Grand Master Shenqian glared at him.

"Why are you so late?"

"It's not easy to return home... you should rest well first."

"Rest... If it weren't for this old man, your head would have almost ended up on your butt..."

Shen Li's mouth twitched.

'What Great True Person says is truly vulgar beyond compare...'

"Forget it, I won't waste words with you..."

Shen Li asked curiously.

'Great True Person, is this matter just going to be lightly brushed aside like this?'

"Of course not, if everyone could get away with it so easily, Qingchi Mountain would have become a bandit's den long ago, let alone something like whitewashing."

"Then I am..."

"Your situation is different from others; that Yuanlei came to provoke you in your clan's territory... this matter can be smoothed over."

"However, running away is not an option; some punishment... I assume you can handle it."

Shen Qian pointed to the cushion opposite him in the immortal palace and said slowly.

"Sit."

His tone was quite gentle, as if he didn't take the Disciplinary Hall seriously, and his words were filled with... appreciation for this Junior?

Then Shen Qian slowly said.

"Looking at you... have you met Shen Qianqiu?"

Shen Li nodded... just as he was about to ask something, Shen Qian waved his hand.

"This matter will be decided at the end. You won't come to Qingchi Mountain too often in the future, so you need to carefully understand the structure of Qingchi Mountain, lest you be thoughtless in the future and offend someone you shouldn't."

Shen Li asked curiously.

"Are there any special organizations in the mountain? Aren't ordinary immortal sects all more or less the same?"

Shen Qian shook his head and said.

"Naturally, there are some differences. Ordinary immortal sects are nothing more than sect masters, Elders, enshrined, true disciples, and so on."

"However, Qingchi Mountain is different, and it is precisely because of this difference that Qingchi Mountain has been able to enter the hall."

A hint of thought appeared in Shen Li's eyes. Perhaps what Grand Master Shenqian was about to say was the Gu nurturing mentioned by his Great Ancestor?

Then Shen Qian organized his words and slowly began to speak.

"Qingchi Mountain, though called an immortal sect... but in the final analysis, according to reality, it is more appropriate to call it an Alliance."

"There are naturally positions like Elder and Enshrined in the mountain... but most of these positions are not appointed by collective effort or by influential figures."

Upon hearing this, Shen Li's eyes narrowed tightly.

Grand Master Shenqian waved his hand, and an image slowly formed.

"In the mountain, the highest-ranking person is the Qingchi Sect Master, Dao name [Qingchi Taixu Jiuge True Monarch]."

...The Sect Master's power alone suppresses the twenty-three immortal clans of Qingchi Mountain, making them submit.

Within Qing State, he is deeply respected by many high-ranking dukes and the imperial family.

"Qingchi Mountain's rapid rise to fame in just a few hundred years is largely due to our Sect Master."

At this point, Grand Master Shenqian's eyes revealed a hint of reverence.

Although he was a Purple Mansion... although he was a Senior and Great True Person in the mouths of many Foundation Establishment True Persons.

But to a True Monarch, he was merely a speck of dust at his feet.

As for Shen Li...

Hmm... he couldn't even be considered floating dust, at most a microorganism floating in the True Monarch's eyes?

A True Monarch escapes birth, old age, sickness, and death, attains the Golden Nature, and exists forever.

As long as the Golden Nature is not destroyed, even if the Dao is interrupted, he will Reincarnate and cultivate again, returning to his fruit status after a hundred or a thousand years.

Not to mention the mystique of his various methods... it would not be an exaggeration to say he can overturn rivers and seas, and penetrate all nine continents.

Even just uttering a True Monarch's name will be perceived by him.

If one often recites it... they might even be influenced by the True Monarch's Dao lineage and unconsciously lean towards it.

Extremely terrifying.

And the countless figures of peerless grace, the powerful and heroic individuals in novels and storybooks... none of them can compare to even a fraction of this True Monarch's demeanor.

How could such an existence not inspire admiration? How could one not feel respect?

And Shen Li also showed a hint of longing.

It was only natural for Qingchi Mountain to have a True Monarch.

However, this True Monarch was not often in the mountain, but rather in the heavens and in the imperial court.

Of course, these things were too distant for Shen Li.

Then Shen Qian continued to speak.

"And then, there are two Vice Sect Masters. One is named Lu Chen, Dao name Qingzhu. Half-step Golden Nature."

"One is named Zhu Qiliu, Dao name Cangshan, Purple Mansion Great Perfection."

"Both Vice Sect Masters rose together with the True Monarch... now their status and power in the mountain are among the top.

They are the True Monarch's arms and the mountain's eyes and ears."

"They are the two Great True Persons closest to the True Monarch, and their status in the mountain is lofty and extraordinary."

Shen Li nodded. These two Great True Persons were the True Monarch's left and right arms... they were the True Monarch's means of governing Qingchi Mountain, as the True Monarch's exalted status... he didn't need to put all his thoughts into the mountain.

Continuing to climb higher was what those in their position needed to do.

The rest could be cast aside.

"And then... there are the twenty-three immortal clans. In the mountain, we refer to them as the twenty-three immortal families."

"The seats of the immortal families are determined by the number of Immortal Masters within the immortal clan, the number of Purple Mansion Immortal Masters, and accumulated merits."

"The strong remain strong, holding significant influence, while the weak become weaker, their voices unheard... and may even be replaced by latecomers, falling out of Qingchi Mountain's core power."

Seeing this, Shen Li asked.

"What is the use of a seat?"

Grand Master Shenqian slowly said.

"Originally, your Great Ancestor was not qualified to participate in this Yellow Sand Ceremony. He is a Dao Foundation Perfection who is old and frail, and the risk is too great; for Qingchi Mountain, it's no different from wasting resources."

"However, he allied with the Wang Family and the Helian Family, who hold the fifth seat, and together with five immortal families, they jointly voted, thus obtaining this Opportunity."

"The original recipient of this... should have been the Zhao Family, who holds the ninth seat. The Zhao Family's Immortal Master was quite troubled by this."

Shen Qian paused here and said meaningfully.

"The Zhao Family is precisely the one that oversees the various immortal family affairs in Qingyang County, controls the Qingyang County Patrol Hall, and is responsible for the immortal laws of Qingyang County."

"Do you know the importance of this seat now?"

Shen Li's heart trembled, and he slowly nodded.

"Shen Li understands... but how is this seat determined?"

"The number of Immortal Masters, the number of Purple Mansions, and merits in the mountain... Your Great Ancestor is a genuine cultivator who provided strategies for Qingchi Mountain, which is why the Shen Family, with two Dao Foundations, entered the hall and is ranked fifteenth."

Seeing that Shen Li had nothing to say, Shen Qian continued.

"And besides these twenty-three immortal families, there are many smaller families. Though small, they should not be underestimated."

"For example, Qi Sect, Gongshu Family, Tianji Pavilion, and many other immortal families. Although the immortal families are small, their Spiritual Roots are special, and they are involved in various arts of cultivation, and many immortal families are respectful towards them... do not underestimate them."

"And then there are the Dan Hall, Fulu Hall, Shang Gong Hall, Patrol Hall.... All these, you will naturally come into contact with them when you need them in the future."

"As for some special places at the end, you must treat them with caution."

"Law Enforcement Hall."

"Black Emperor Division."

"Demon Slaying Platform."

"Locking Madness Cave."