Chapter 1: Master of the Cave Heaven

In the Xuanzhen Temple, a branch of the Taihao Immortal Sect, deep within the Hundred Thousand Mountains.

"This Xuanzhen Temple... is at least a branch under the Zhengyang Dharma Vein, one of our Taihao Immortal Sect's Twelve Dharma Veins.

"Even though I heard Xuanzhen Temple suffered a great calamity over twenty years ago and took heavy losses, it's been so long. Why does it feel like this place... hasn't recovered a single bit of its Primordial Energy?"

A middle-aged Cultivator wearing a Brown-Black Daoist Robe stood in the dilapidated Daoist Temple, utterly dumbfounded.

Nothing he saw held any immortal grandeur. Out of the dozen or so buildings in the temple, more than half had collapsed. The rest were teetering on the verge of ruin, with only three or four remaining intact.

The main hall in the center still managed to maintain an air of impressiveness, but upon closer inspection, it was mottled all over. A few glaringly bright red spots stood out on the crimson pillars—this Daoist Temple didn't even have the money to completely repaint the main hall's pillars. They could only patch up the damaged spots individually.

Furthermore, if his Divine Sense was correct, a vegetable patch had been cultivated in the empty clearing behind the Daoist Temple. The vegetables growing inside were even quite... bountiful.

"A dignified authentic Mystic Sect, reduced to such a state. It's no wonder the Zhengyang Dharma Vein wants to disband Xuanzhen Temple and reclaim this Xuanzhen Peak under a different name," the middle-aged Cultivator said, unable to help but shake his head and sigh. "With such vibrant vitality and abundant Spirit Charm, the Spirit Vein within this mountain could likely rank in the top five among the forty-eight peaks under the Zhengyang Dharma Vein.

"It truly is a pity that it's been wasted on such a desolate Daoist Temple for nearly thirty years. If only our Tingyun Temple had such an abundant Spirit Vein..."

"Senior, I am still standing right here. Could you be a little more tactful with your words?" a handsome young man standing to the side said, his eye twitching. "I am the Deputy Temple Master of Xuanzhen Temple, after all."

The middle-aged Cultivator blinked and looked over awkwardly, giving a Daoist bow. "You must be Junior Li... er, Junior Li Yinsheng, right?

"Don't blame me for speaking bluntly. After all, word has already spread throughout the entire Zhengyang Dharma Vein that Xuanzhen Temple has been destitute for so long it will be disbanded and have its peak reclaimed next year. Even if I pretended not to know, wouldn't that be a bit hypocritical?"

Li Yinsheng was left speechless. The man wasn't wrong. Ever since news spread that his Daoist Temple would be disbanded next year, this was already the eighth person from another Daoist Temple to come "visit."

The reason wasn't hard to understand. A small minority of peaks naturally birthed a "Spirit Vein."

A "Spirit Vein" would passively radiate Spirit Charm. Basking in this Spirit Charm provided massive benefits to a Cultivator, whether for Qi Refining, Refining Body, Nourishing Spirit and Cultivating Soul, or even Medicine Planting and Pill Refining. Therefore, the more Spirit Veins and Spirit Charm one had, the better.

However, mountains capable of birthing Spirit Charm were few and far between, and all the ones within the Zhengyang Dharma Vein already had owners. Once Xuanzhen Temple was disbanded, the other Daoist Temples under the Zhengyang Dharma Vein would have the opportunity to occupy this Xuanzhen Peak and its Spirit Vein, change its name, and claim it for their own use.

It was just that the people who visited from other Daoist Temples before had at least put on a show, claiming they were here out of concern for a fellow Daoist Temple under the same Dharma Vein. They would spout a few hypocritical words of care and even knew to bring some cheap fruits and medicinal herbs as visiting gifts, keeping their mouths completely shut about who the Xuanzhen Peak would belong to—of course, their eyes and Divine Sense never once strayed from Xuanzhen Peak's Spirit Vein. It was as if they already considered this mountain their own property.

Over the past few months, Li Yinsheng, as the Deputy Temple Master, had gone from initial humiliation and anger to basically being numb to it all.

But the man in front of him was truly going a bit too far. After arriving, he didn't even utter a greeting before looking around and launching straight into personal attacks.

"How should I address you? Do you also have your eyes set on this mountain beneath my Xuanzhen Temple?" Li Yinsheng asked expressionlessly.

He originally thought the other party was a straightforward person who would admit it immediately, but unexpectedly, the man shook his head.

"My name is Zhang, from Tingyun Temple. I have not come for Xuanzhen Peak this time," Cultivator Zhang said with a sincere expression; he didn't seem to be faking it. "Junior Li, haven't you heard? At the end of last month, Shouyi Temple already put the word out, saying they have too many disciples and their own Spirit Vein is overwhelmed, so they are in dire need of Xuanzhen Peak.

"Shouyi Temple 'hopes' that after Xuanzhen Temple is disbanded and Xuanzhen Peak is vacated, the other Daoist Temples under the Zhengyang Dharma Vein won't fight them for it. They promised to express their gratitude in the future.

"Shouyi Temple is the largest Daoist Temple under our Zhengyang Dharma Vein, after all. Since they are determined to get it, the other Daoist Temples naturally don't dare to compete."

Hearing this news, Li Yinsheng didn't feel much emotional turbulence. After all, he was already numb to this. But another doubt arose in his heart, and he asked, "Since it's not for Xuanzhen Peak, then Zhang, what exactly did you come here for?"

"It's actually for you, Junior Li!" Cultivator Zhang rubbed his hands together, looking exactly like a sketchy recruiter trying to scam a fresh university graduate into a sweatshop.

"Once Xuanzhen Temple is disbanded, won't you be left with nowhere to go? I wonder if Junior Li would be willing to join my Tingyun Temple when the time comes?" Cultivator Zhang chuckled. "My Tingyun Temple is at least in the top ten of the Zhengyang Dharma Vein. We have hundreds of disciples, thriving incense offerings, and a long-standing inheritance. Joining our temple wouldn't be an insult to you, right?"

Li Yinsheng shook his head with a bitter smile. "I appreciate your kind intentions, Zhang.

"You might think that because I can be the Deputy Temple Master of Xuanzhen Temple, I must have some extraordinary qualities in terms of talent and Cultivation. But in truth, my Cultivation is mediocre, and my aptitude is very ordinary..."

"Sigh, what are you saying, Junior Li! Do you think I'm trying to recruit you into the temple because I value your aptitude?" Cultivator Zhang shook his head repeatedly.