Wei Yuan, having no concept of Immortal Silver, perceived from their expressions and tones that the tuition fees were quite expensive. As soon as the Daoist offered the lectures for free, Wei Yuan immediately paid his respects respectfully and then stood quietly waiting.
"No need to be formal, please sit," the Daoist said with a pleasant expression, growing fonder of this poor child who was well-versed in books and etiquette. However, he sighed inwardly as he thought, "He is a good child now, I fear that in a few years, he will be led astray by the Sky Blue Hall."
Sitting upright with serious demeanor, the Daoist said, "Three thousand seven hundred years ago, our ancestor started from humble beginnings, accidentally discovering a Cultivation Method, and thus stepping onto the Immortal Path. Once his Dao Foundation was initially established, he founded the Taichu Palace. At that time, Taichu Palace was nothing more than a Boundary Stone and two thatched huts. Subsequently, the ancestor expanded into the North Territory, dispelling demons and exorcising evil spirits with his sword, gradually carving out a land of clear mountains and beautiful waters from the Desolate Territory's deadly lands, saving countless lives, greatly contributing to the heaven and earth. Then, advancing his Daoist prowess like a deity, he achieved Unity and ultimately reached the pinnacle three hundred years later."
"After achieving his Daoist Skill, our ancestor took on twelve disciples, among whom three were born at the right time with great Luck on their side, entering the Immortal Path early. After these three ancestors fully developed their Daoist Skills, they led many juniors within the palace, joined forces with their peers, and bravely advanced northward. After years of bloody battles, they wrested a large tract of land from the Alien Race—the origins of Yun State. This great battle, later known as 'The Three Immortals Establish Yun State,' was considered the major event of that era in the Mortal World."
"However, the Alien Race was ferocious, and the war was brutal. Less than three years after the great battle ended, two of the Three Immortals had fallen one after another, and the only remaining, Luo Fu Immortal Monarch, often secluded himself, rarely making public appearances, serving merely as the stabilizer for our Taichu Palace. Even so, a hundred years later, Luo Fu Immortal Monarch also ascended to immortality. After the Immortal Monarch's ascension, his body transformed into a grand range of thousands of fathoms high, which remains one of the sacred lands of our Taichu Palace to this date."
"After the passing of the Three Immortals, Taichu Palace grew increasingly prosperous. Subsequent generations each established a view according to the Dao of the Three Immortals, and those who could achieve Unity divided into halls. This is the origin of Taichu Palace's initial Three Views and Seven Halls. Over time, as more disciples with timely births and exceptional talents emerged, forging new paths from nothing, five more halls were gradually added, resulting in the current Three Views and Twelve Halls. Your current Hall Master of the Sky Blue Hall, Xuan Yue True Monarch, is also the Hall Master of Water Moon Palace, uniquely distinguished among all the Hall Masters."
At this point, the Daoist paused briefly and took a sip of tea.
Wei Yuan then asked, "I've read in books that cultivation is about achieving immortality and tranquility. How come these three senior Immortals engaged in combat and struggled, only to fall one after another? What is the reason for this?"
The Daoist gravely said, "There is no separation between immortals and mortals. Which Immortal did not arise from Mortals? Since ancient times, our Human Clan has been weak, surrounded by Alien Races. Not only do they raid and kill in our territories every year but there are even Alien Races that consume humans and use them for sacrificial offerings! We cultivators, having achieved Great Divine Skills and great powers, for what purpose? Just for our own longevity and tranquil ease? There are people like that, perhaps quite a few, but they certainly are not the ancestors of Taichu Palace! From our founder, the Three Immortals, down to this day, when cultivators of Taichu Palace achieve Divine Power, it is to expand territories, transform the heaven and earth, and strive for more space for our Human Clan to thrive!"
The Daoist continued, "I didn't mention the later story of our ancestor earlier. Guess where our ancestor is now?"
Wei Yuan naturally did not know.
Pointing to the ground, the Daoist said, "Right here! The land on which we stand, this mountain gate surrounded by high cliffs, is transformed from the body of our ancestor after his demise."
Wei Yuan was greatly shocked. This mountain gate, as far as his eyesight could reach, spanned hundreds of miles, and he still couldn't see its boundary end. Could all this truly be transformed from the body of the ancestor?
The Daoist slowly said, "When our ancestor reached the pinnacle of cultivation, he was three hundred and thirty years old. At that time, this land that we now reside in was within the territory of the Wuyu Clan, filled with flowing fire pits, ubiquitous strange toxic trees and plants, and the air was laden with deadly miasmatic vapors—ordinary people would die if they stayed here for half a day. The Wuyu Clan used humans for sacrificial offerings and was overwhelmingly powerful, beyond the ability of the Human Clan at that time. Each grand sacrifice involved capturing hundreds of thousands of people. After achieving great mastery of Daoist Skills, our ancestor went west alone and fought the three Sky Witches of the Wuyu Clan for months. Despite facing three on one, he still managed to slay the first Sky Witch and severely injured the remaining two. This battle forced the Wuyu Clan to retreat eight thousand miles, and they dared not invade for thirty years."
"After our ancestor returned, he passed away in seated meditation by the Boundary Stone he personally erected, living to the age of three hundred thirty-one years."
"After the ancestral master perished, his body transformed into Treasure Soil, completely altering this realm and turning the Desolate Territory into an Immortal Mountain treasure land. The area of the Treasure Soil created by the ancestral master spans 910 miles. Nurtured by the treasure land, the surrounding 7,000 miles of desolate area gradually transformed into land where the Human Clan could survive. This is the origin of the initial four counties of Ning State. Three days later, when you are initiated, the ancestral master's statue that you will worship is built upon that very first Boundary Stone."
Wei Yuan almost held his breath as he listened. He hadn't expected that the predecessors of Taichu Palace had been so fierce; this was nothing like the Immortal Path tales he had imagined.
Just then, a figure flashed in the courtyard; Zhang Sheng appeared, placing a small bag on the table, saying, "The tuition fees are all here."
The Daoist tucked away the silver bag and asked, "Why did you take so long to return? I just finished telling him about the story of the ancestral master establishing the palace, as well as the deeds of the three senior immortals. If you hadn't returned soon, I would have finished my tea."
Zhang Sheng smiled, "With tuition fees being so expensive, how could I not take advantage of such a free teacher?"
The Daoist didn't linger. After collecting the tuition fees, he left the small courtyard.
Once the Daoist had left, Wei Yuan had the chance to look around the courtyard.
The courtyard was small, with a main house serving as both a bedroom and study, one side room used as a Cultivation Room, and another side, an empty room, whose use could be decided as needed. There was a modest kitchen in the corner of the courtyard, fully equipped. Inside the palace, there was a unified dining hall where new disciples could go to eat; this kitchen was actually for preparing special Spiritual Food and Medicine.
The supplies distributed to new disciples were all placed on the study's desk in the main house: three sets of clothing, which could clear the heart and brighten the eyes, untouched by any dust; one volume of Taichu Palace's sect rules; one volume of entry essentials; one Identity Jade Token; one bottle of Drinking Qi Pill; and three taels of Immortal Silver.
Wei Yuan was seeing Immortal Silver for the first time, and curiously picked it up to look at it. The Immortal Silver was milky white throughout, warm to the touch, and each strand was as long as a little finger, thin as incense. The Immortal Silver was quite different from the mortal silver Wei Yuan had seen before, and much heavier. The three fine strands of Immortal Silver totaled thirty taels, which was also Wei Yuan's monthly salary for the first three months as a new disciple.
Immortal Silver was made by mixing silver, gold, mica, and star sand, and then tempered by Dao Power for six months before it was ready, widely used in making Magic Artifacts and Formations, and was the most extensively useful material. According to Taichu Palace tradition, one tael of Immortal Silver could be exchanged for a hundred taels of mortal silver. However, in Taichu Palace, mortal gold and silver were of little use.
From then on, all expenses Wei Yuan would incur inside Taichu Palace, by tradition, would be paid with this sort of Immortal Silver. However, compared to the tuition fees, the monthly salary for new disciples was really too little; even if Wei Yuan did without food and drink, a month's salary would only suffice for one lesson. Therefore, tuition inevitably required a subsidy from a mentor or the hall.
The entire valley was the residence of the new disciples, while Zhang Sheng had his own cave mansion. After explaining some important points, Zhang Sheng allowed Wei Yuan to peruse the sect rules and entry essentials on his own, planning to return after dinner to formally teach him Daoist Skills. It had been seven years since Zhang Sheng had been back to the Sect, and he also had a pile of matters to sort out.
Once Zhang Sheng had left, Wei Yuan took out the two volumes and began reading intently.
Having studied diligently every day for the past three years, Wei Yuan had cultivated the ability to concentrate, and once he sat down to read, he was absorbed for the entire afternoon until he finished both volumes when evening was almost upon him.