Golden Stone Gorge, hidden within the Yunwu Mountain near Duyun in Guizhou, was indiscernible to mortals from the ground, and even Immortals flying overhead would only see drifting clouds and mist, making it nearly impossible to find without insider knowledge.
Wei Tu, the mad monk, had been cultivating here for several years. As a child, he had been maltreated by his stepmother and, after contracting leprosy, was driven into the mountains to fend for himself. On the brink of death, he formed a bond with a highly venomous little snake, and the two became interdependent for survival. With its beautiful environment and rarity of visitors, complemented by an abundance of Spiritual Medicine, the man and serpent secluded themselves in the valley for over twenty years.
