Mountain Venerable and Sea Immortal

It's late spring again. Six or seven years ago, it was the gentle sea breeze at Yangkou in Laoshan; this year, it's the misty clouds swirling around the summit of Mount Tai.

Mount Tai, also known as Daizong or Daiyue in ancient times, stands majestically in the heart of Shandong Province. To the east, it overlooks the vast expanse of the Laizhou Bay of the Bohai Sea; to the west, it commands the ancient course of the Yellow River; to the south, it connects to the fertile plains of Wen and Si; and to the north, it is backed by the continuous mountain ranges of Shandong. It serves as a natural mountain and river hub straddling the Central Plains and the Shandong coast. Its main peak, Jade Emperor Peak, rises abruptly into the sky, dominating the vast plains and reigning supreme among the Five Sacred Mountains, guarding the destiny of the region.

This place is also the ancestral home of the ancient Dongyi people, and the orthodox sacred site where Emperor Shaohao performed the Fengshan ceremony to worship Heaven. The spiritual energy beneath the earth is deep and surging, connecting the realms of mountains and seas, and firmly controlling the flow of the earth's veins across the entire Qilu land. This time, the Dongyi Mountain and Sea Alliance Youth Prodigy Competition has been held at the core plateau of the imperial ruins left by the ancient Shaohao, beneath the summit of Mount Tai.

On this day, as the first light of dawn appeared on the horizon, the sea of ​​clouds over Mount Tai slowly unfolded.

The ancient pines of Mount Tai stand tall and vigorous, their ancient spiritual veins rising from the earth over millennia, their misty energy enveloping the majestic mountains. To maintain order in the Grand Prix of Prodigies and isolate it from worldly disturbances, all ordinary mountain paths have been sealed off by a thick spiritual energy barrier. Barriers stand amidst the rocks and mist, completely cutting off mortal distractions, except for three ancient imperial roads that connect heaven and earth, open wide, awaiting cultivators from all directions to watch the competition. Various undercurrents also quietly lurk with the crowds.

In the blink of an eye, countless flying swords pierced the wind and streaked across the sea of ​​clouds high in the sky; one after another, floating cloud chariots slowly drove in, with auspicious clouds swirling around the mountains; all kinds of rare and exotic birds and beasts carried cultivators from various sects, riding the wind and crossing the mountains in an endless stream.

The direct descendants of the four great families of Hao, Hao, Wang, and Mo, the masters and disciples of Laoshan, various small and medium-sized families, hidden sects, and coastal tribes all gathered in the mountains of Mount Dai.

At the foot of the mountain, a vast and surging tide of people ascended along the three ancient imperial roads, reaching the Imperial Ruins Terrace from the foot of the mountain, and then surging into the depths of the sea of ​​clouds over Mount Tai.

The once serene and desolate ancient sacred mountain was suddenly covered with the aura of immortals and a chilling sharpness.

The crowds, layer upon layer, eventually converged on the ancient imperial ruins terrace below the summit of Mount Tai.

The Imperial Ruins Terrace is not made of ordinary mountain soil and stone; it is entirely paved with ten-thousand-year-old jade rock. The terrace is vast and flat, stretching over a thousand feet in length and width, with natural and ancient patterns, all traces left by the erosion of ancient times. An ancient spiritual vein runs vertically through the terrace from the ground, with wisps of spiritual energy rising continuously, nourishing all things silently, fully demonstrating the majestic foundation of this ancestral sacred land.

At the very center of the terrace stands the central altar, its entire surface covered with ancient Dongyi sacrificial patterns, which is the core hub of the entire imperial ruins terrace.

With the central main altar as the core, the seats on the platform are arranged in accordance with the ancient ritual order of respecting the center, facing south, distinguishing between primary and secondary positions, and dividing the four regions. The layout of the four directions and eight corners is orderly, and the order of rank is clear at a glance.

The seats facing south belonged to the Hao clan. They were dressed in plain white robes adorned with jade, their ranks orderly and composed, their spirit gentle and restrained, devoid of any ostentation or power, yet possessing the profound confidence of a legitimate and prestigious family, exuding an unwavering and steadfast demeanor. All were seated on the long jade steps facing south, the procession spreading out horizontally, with the central figure directly opposite the central altar, firmly holding the most prestigious position in the entire assembly.

The Hao clan held sway in the north. Their attire was a dazzling gold, their spiritual energy surging intensely. Their ranks moved with a resounding clang, every gesture reflecting the fierce competitive spirit of martial arts cultivators. The Hao clan's long seats stretched across the north, directly opposite the Hao clan in the south, their auras sharp and imposing.

The seat facing due east, imbued with the pure and harmonious energy of the rising sun, is reserved for the literary and Taoist arts, and is exclusively for the Langya Wang clan. The Wang clan members, elegant and refined, dressed in simple, understated attire, exuding a transcendent and otherworldly air. They took their seats longitudinally along the long, jade-green staircase of the eastern region, their postures serene and composed, devoid of any hostility, creating an atmosphere of scholarly tranquility.

The western side was solemn and dignified, where the Mohist camp of Jimo was seated. The Mohist members were dressed in simple, close-fitting clothes, carrying mechanical artifacts, moving in unison, silent and taciturn, not chasing after extravagance or following the hustle and bustle, quietly guarding the western side, calm and unassuming.

The side corner, located southeast of the terrace and east of the Hao family's seat, is where the Taoist priests of Laoshan take their seats. Clad in green robes fluttering in the wind, their Taoist bearing serene and refined, their figures scattered across this picturesque corner, exuding an air of otherworldly elegance.

In the southwest, northeast, and northwest corners, and the outermost ring of the plateau, are arranged small and medium-sized families of Qi and Lu, reclusive cultivators, and cultivators from various coastal tribes.

The entire plateau is clearly hierarchical and well-defined, with no one overstepping their bounds, and no one overstepping their bounds. The major factions are clearly distinct, and the barriers between ancient families and Taoist tribes quietly unfold amidst the surging sea of ​​clouds.

Once all the forces had settled down and the clamor subsided, all eyes turned to Shaohao's sacrificial altar in the center of the Imperial Ruins.

The three-tiered jade platform is majestic and solemn, its entire surface engraved with ancient Dongyi mountain and sea patterns and divine bird totems. Four coiled dragon jade pillars stand tall and upright, connecting the heavens above and locking in the earth's veins below. Ritual vessels are neatly arranged in front of the platform, including a jade sacrificial cauldron, a pure white sacrificial animal, jade silk offerings, and clear wine, all in perfect order, adhering to ancient customs and exuding solemnity and dignity.

Only then did all the cultivators present fully understand the rules of this competition.

The Central Shaohao Main Altar is the sacred ancestral land of ancient times, eternally revered and worshipped, where killing and fighting are strictly forbidden. This place is only used for orthodox ceremonies such as alliance ceremonies, ranking and conferment of titles, and ancestral blessings, and will never be tainted by the atmosphere of contention, violence, or martial arts battles.

The entire martial arts arena of the Imperial Ruins shares the same origin and is connected to the same earth vein as the sacrificial altar.

The central altar, situated at the highest point, reigns supreme, subtly dominating the entire arena. Extending outwards from the altar, nine concentric rings of arenas gradually descend from the inside out, following the natural contours of the plateau, creating distinct and layered boundaries. Each ring of arenas is an independent zone, both orderly and seamlessly integrated with the entire Imperial Ruins Holy Land, its foundation firm and unshakeable.

All the arenas are built along ancient natural Dao traces, deeply connected to the main spiritual veins of the underground mountains and seas. The foundation of the arena is incomparably solid, enough to withstand the full force of a battle between Foundation Establishment and even Spirit Condensation cultivators. In the heat of battle, the arena remains undamaged and the spiritual energy remains undisturbed.

Each of the nine arenas has its own specific function, strictly corresponding to the stages of the competition.

The inner three rings serve as the preliminary round arena, with dozens of platforms arranged side by side, allowing multiple matches to be held simultaneously. This massive selection process quickly eliminates the weak and retains the strong, making the preliminary screening process efficient and well-organized.

The middle three rings serve as the semi-final arena, with a wide and independent platform where one battle is fought on one stage, with a one-on-one decisive battle. It completely isolates outsiders from any interference and is the core battlefield for all the prodigies to show their strength and compete for advancement.

The outer three rings form the main stage, located at the forefront of the cloud sea where the spiritual veins of the Imperial Ruins are most abundant. It boasts the highest specifications, the strongest protection, and the richest aura in the entire venue, awaiting the final eight to compete for the championship, runner-up, and third place.

The entire arena's protective barriers, air-suppressing restrictions, and stabilizing array patterns were all personally laid out by the Mo family of Jimo. Thousands of mechanical patterns are hidden beneath the jade Dao traces, formless and shapeless, yet they firmly lock down the entire arena area. They can not only isolate the aftermath of fierce battles and protect the spectator seats from all directions, but also prevent outside attacks, secret techniques, and cheating with magical artifacts, thus safeguarding the fairness of the competition with the ironclad rules of the mechanisms.

The Taoist priests of Laoshan simultaneously activated the All-Area Cleansing Array, enveloping the entire Imperial Ruins arena. The array circulated on its own, dissipating the hostile energy of battle, calming the rampaging spiritual power, and instantly repairing damage to the arena, ensuring that each round of the competition was immediately restored and could continue smoothly, with the entire process proceeding in an orderly manner.

With the rules established, the formation was complete.

The entire venue fell completely silent, utterly still, save for the mountain breeze rustling through the clouds and the gentle murmur of the spiritual veins.

The master of ceremonies stepped steadily out of the ranks, proclaiming in a loud voice that pierced through the clouds and resounded throughout the summit of Mount Tai: "The ancestral veins are secure, the order of rites is established! The Eastern Yi Mountain and Sea Alliance Gathering, the Grand Competition of Young Prodigies—officially commences!"

With a single command, the order was given.

The nine-tiered circular arena lit up with faint blue patterns, and the light from the Mo family's barrier rose layer by layer, spreading across the entire area. The vast expanse of spiritual light covered the thousand-foot-tall imperial ruins, creating a majestic and boundless atmosphere.

In late spring, Mount Tai stands tall amidst a sea of ​​clouds, its ancient ruins serving as a battleground. Prideful figures from all directions stand upright, their eyes gleaming, their spirits soaring to the heavens.