Starting with the creation of the Immortal Clan through the compilation of the family genealogy.

Chapter 112 Yunmeng Great Swamp, Opening Ceremony

Tianyan Sect, back mountain.

After Meng Xihong settled everyone from Weiyuan Escort Agency, the framework of the Foreign Affairs Hall was established.

Zhao Tieshan and Fang Henwan, two seasoned veterans who had spent half their lives on the edge of a knife, immediately demonstrated astonishing efficiency, quickly integrating the hundred or so people, familiarizing them with the sect's rules, and starting to sort through the various intelligence reports sent by Huimin Pharmacy.

Looking at the nascent "sharp knife," Meng Xihong felt reassured. He then found Yun Songzi, who was teasing the treasure-hunting mouse "Golden Bean."

"Senior, Weiyuan Escort Agency is on the right track. It's time to go to Yunmeng Marsh."

Yun Songzi tossed out a spiritual fruit, which Jin Douzi caught nimbly, stuffed into his cheek, and squinted his eyes in satisfaction.

The old Taoist priest lazily raised his head: "Alright, you decide. But that place is over a thousand miles away from here. Even if we travel at full speed, it will take us two or three days. Are you sure you want to open up a mountain in such a godforsaken place?"

"It is precisely because it is far away that it suits my taste."

Three days later, the two quietly left the mountain and headed straight for the Yunmeng Marsh.

……

On the edge of the Yunmeng Great Marsh lies a huge circular valley.

Surrounded by mountains on three sides with only one narrow entrance, this place is strategically important, easy to defend and difficult to attack. The valley is rich in moisture and shrouded in mist year-round, making it a natural hiding place.

"The place is nice, but the spiritual energy is too thin and the humidity is too high. If an ordinary cultivator stayed here for a long time, their muscles and bones would rust." Yun Songzi strolled around the valley with his hands behind his back, stroking his beard as he commented.

Meng Xihong laughed: "Senior, the spiritual energy is scarce, which suits me just fine. My Tianyan Sect is newly established and its foundation is not yet stable. If we choose a place with abundant spiritual veins, it would be like a three-year-old child carrying gold through the market, which would only attract wolves."

Surrounded by mountains on three sides, with a narrow entrance and shrouded in the natural mist of a vast marsh, this place is a natural fortress. Safety is more important than spiritual energy.

He paused, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes: "This place will be a smokescreen laid by my Heavenly Evolution Sect. The true core will always be the inner sect, a thousand miles away, with its secret realm and spiritual veins."

This place is a banner raised for all ordinary people, a millstone for selecting talent, and the first line of defense against foreign enemies.

All eyes, whether benevolent or malevolent, will be drawn here, and our foundations can grow and thrive safely.

Yun Songzi was taken aback upon hearing this, then clapped his hands and laughed: "Good lad, your plan is even more shrewd than mine! A combination of deception and reality, you've hidden it well! Alright, since you have such a sharp eye, I'll give you a hand!"

He chuckled, making no big move, but pulled out a palm-sized, rusty bronze compass and a dozen or so array flags of different colors from his tattered Taoist robe.

"Watch closely, kid. Today I'll show you what the true way of formations is, so you won't get confused by a mere mortal-level illusion formation and embarrass me in the future." The old Taoist priest said smugly.

"The art of array formations is profound and extensive, and can be divided into four major levels: mortal, spiritual, earth, and heaven. Each level is further divided into three grades: upper, middle, and lower. Mortal-level array formations are nothing more than illusions and deceptive formations. They may fool ordinary people, but in front of cultivators, they are no different from paper."

"What I, this old Daoist, am about to set up today is a low-grade Earth-rank composite array. This is the array that our Haoran Academy used to select disciples back in the day. You're lucky to have it today!"

As Yun Songzi spoke, he planted the array flags in his hand in various corners of the valley according to some mysterious orientation.

Each time a formation flag is lowered, he casts a spell, and the flag flashes with a faint light before quietly disappearing into the ground.

"This formation contains three transformations. The first transformation is 'Defense.' I have modified the formation so that it can draw upon the vast water vapor of the Yunmeng Marsh to form an invisible barrier that cannot be broken by anyone other than a Golden Core cultivator using their full strength!"

"The second transformation is the 'heart,' which is the Heart-Refining Illusion Array you requested, called 'Myriad Phenomena of the Mortal World.' It can stir up the seven emotions and six desires in people's hearts, testing their character in the most direct way."

"The third transformation is 'Slaughter'! Once activated, it can draw upon the earth's malevolent energy, combined with the power of water, to transform into thousands of water dragons that can strangle and kill even those with golden cores!"

Meng Xihong listened with great admiration; this was truly the work of immortals!
……

A month goes by in a blink of an eye.

On this day, in the vast Yunmeng Marshland, the first rays of dawn broke.

The thick fog that had shrouded the Great Swamp for hundreds of years seemed to be slowly parted by an invisible hand, revealing its hidden true form.

In the center of the great swamp, a huge, isolated island stood silently on the water's surface, like a sleeping behemoth.

On the island, a newly erected, massive stone gate, ten zhang high, stands majestically.

Above the stone gate, three ancient characters are carved in a vigorous and elegant style: Tianyan Sect!

Beyond the stone gate lies a vast white jade plaza. At the end of the plaza, atop ninety-nine steps, stands an ancient and solemn hall.

Beyond the isolated island, the waters stretching for dozens of miles are densely packed with all sorts of small boats.

The ship was packed with people.

There were martial arts practitioners carrying swords and exuding a fierce aura; there were farmers and hunters dressed simply, their faces weathered and worn; there were wealthy men in fine clothes, accompanied by servants; and there were also some rogue cultivators from the lower classes, their auras mixed and their eyes gleaming...

Tens of thousands, even hundreds of thousands of people, gathered from all directions of Qingzhou, crowding this vast swamp that had been silent for thousands of years.

Their faces all wore the same expression—excitement, longing, and a hint of trepidation.

They all came for the "Tianyan Sect" and the "Honglu Jing"!

"Boom--!"

A melodious bell rang out from the main hall on the island, echoing throughout the entire Yunmeng Marshland.

All the noise vanished in an instant. Tens of thousands of eyes turned to the massive stone gate.

The stone gate slowly opened.

Meng Xihong, dressed in a dark black sect leader's robe and wearing a purple-gold crown, walked out from behind the door with a calm expression and unhurried steps.

Behind him were the Supreme Elder Yun Songzi, as well as Ji Beichuan and Zhang Xianghua, the leaders of the Body Refining Hall, He Wu and He Wen, the leaders of the Qi Refining Hall, Zhao Tieshan, the leader of the Foreign Affairs Hall, and a group of core members including Meng Yanqing, Meng Yanwei, and Meng Yanning.

They descended the steps and finally stood at the highest point in front of the stone gate, looking down at the sea of ​​people below.

"I know why you have come. Some of you are here for the legendary 'Furnace Sutra,' which is said to enable mortals to defy fate."
Some people want to see just who my Tianyan Sect is, that it dares to make such a boast.
Some people even harbor ulterior motives, wanting to see when we will fall.

His words were direct and frank, which startled many people.

"But whatever your purpose may be, now that you have come, my Tianyan Sect will give you an answer."

Meng Xihong paused, then his voice suddenly rose, booming like a great bell, shaking the soul!

"In this world, there are always people who say that there is a difference between immortals and mortals, and that it is all ordained by the will of Heaven. Without spiritual roots, one is nothing but an ant, destined to struggle in the mortal world, looking up at the backs of us immortal masters, and ultimately turning into a handful of dust!"

"I, Meng Xihong, will tell you today."

"Shit!"

These two words, like two thunderclaps, exploded in everyone's minds!
Countless ordinary martial artists widened their eyes instantly, and their breathing became rapid.

They never imagined that a high and mighty "immortal master" would use such vulgar yet so poignant words to deny the "destiny" that had weighed on them for thousands of years!
"We are all born with mortal bones, who says that immortals cannot be reached!"

"If Heaven is unjust, we will not seek its help! If the gates to immortality are closed, we will not worship them!"

"The very foundation of my Tianyan Sect is to pave a new path to heaven for all the mortals in the world who are unwilling to be ordinary!"

With my body as firewood; with my blood as the furnace; with my will as the fire! To forge an indestructible body, to forge an undying soul!

"This path is called—Body Refinement!"

Meng Xihong's voice was incredibly infectious; with his spirit of "literary integrity and moral character," he conveyed his beliefs to everyone present.

"boom!"

The crowd below erupted in cheers!
Countless people were so excited that their faces turned red, and they raised their arms and shouted!
"The sovereign is mighty!"

"We are all born with mortal bones, who says that immortals cannot be reached!"

"Tianyan Sect! Tianyan Sect!"

The roaring sound, like a mountain collapsing and a tsunami crashing, converged into a massive, scorching force that soared into the sky, even stirring up the clouds above the valley!
Some spies from other sects mixed in with the crowd changed their expressions. They could clearly sense that the Tianyan Sect had already planted a seed called "faith" in the hearts of tens of thousands of people.

This is far more terrifying than any cultivation technique or magical treasure!
Meng Xihong raised his hand and made a slight pressure.

The entire venue fell silent once again.

“However,” he changed the subject, his voice becoming serious.

"Let me make this clear from the start. The path of body tempering is far more painful than ordinary people can imagine. Without great perseverance and determination, giving up halfway will only make you a laughing stock."

"Furthermore, although our Tianyan Sect has many gates, its rules are strict. All those who enter must remember that they must not bully the weak, prey on the local people, or kill each other! Those who violate these rules will have their cultivation abolished, be expelled from the sect, and never be employed again!"

His words were powerful and resounding, making those who had been hoping to take advantage of the situation feel a chill.

"Now, I declare the founding ceremony of the Tianyan Sect officially open!"

"Those who wish to join my sect, please ascend the island in turn and embark on this 'Path of Self-Examination'!"

As he spoke, he pointed.

Suddenly, a flash of light appeared on the ninety-nine steps that stretched from the stone gate all the way to the water's edge.

The originally ordinary steps were suddenly shrouded in mist, making them indistinct, as if leading to another world.

"This path is an illusion array personally set up by the Supreme Elder of our sect. There is no danger within it, but it will reflect the deepest desires and fears in your hearts."

"Anyone who can remain steadfast in their resolve and complete the ascent of these ninety-nine steps will be a disciple of my Heavenly Evolution Sect!"

The crowd erupted in cheers once again!

Just an illusion array test? That's way too easy!

Countless people jumped off the small boats and swam towards the isolated island, eager to be the first to reach it. The scene was somewhat chaotic.

Just then, a cold snort, like a thunderclap, rang in everyone's ears.

"Hmph! Pretending to be a ghost!"

(End of this chapter)