Inside a spacious grand hall, the statues of the Three Pure Ones were enshrined at the highest point. Rows of chairs lined both sides, each occupied by Taoist priests—except for a few, who sat at the left and right of the Three Pure Ones. These were the Nine Dao Gate Elders.
Zachary Justice stood alone among the crowd, near the entrance, carrying a sword forged from Starshard Radiance—the Radiant Starblade. His gaze was piercing, his expression cold as he watched the Daoists deep in discussion.
The Daoists were discussing an alliance with the Buddhist sect, seeking a way to curb the growing power of the Ghost Sovereigns.
"Last month, everyone is surely aware of the incident caused by Lord Malice. Although it didn’t threaten ordinary people, every practitioner near Rockfall City was driven away, and many were injured. This is the world of the living—we cannot allow these evil ghosts to rampage unchecked any longer."
A Taoist spoke, and the others nodded in agreement, breaking into heated discussion. At this, Zachary Justice could hold back no longer—he stepped forward and shouted. Instantly, a wave of hostile eyes turned toward him.
"Please hear me out," Zachary Justice called. "The trouble caused by those mask-wearing members of the Immortality Society is far worse than anything the Ghost Sovereigns have done. The Ghost Sovereigns may be unruly, but they still have some humanity. I’ve met all seven of them, so..."
"Zachary Justice, this isn’t your place to speak. Shut up or get out!"
A squinting Taoist shouted angrily, and others quickly joined in. The hall was soon filled with voices demanding Zachary Justice leave.
"Don’t get cocky just because other sects call you Master Justice. Zachary Justice, you barely know where the Dao Gate even is! With your half-baked skills, do you really think you can overturn the heavens? Hahaha!"
Laughter erupted throughout the hall; even some of the Nine Dao Gate Elders snickered, casting contemptuous glances at Zachary Justice. But then, Zachary Justice suddenly smiled and began to hum a tune—a Taoist hymn. He sang with rich emotion and a voice full of integrity and righteousness. The laughter abruptly ceased as all eyes turned to him. His singing radiated a profound, upright energy, instantly commanding the hall and silencing the Daoists, many of whom could feel the powerful force within and fell quiet.
The faces of the Nine Dao Gate Elders darkened, sensing Zachary Justice’s formidable presence. I noticed Elder Peach, standing behind Elder Peter Pine, gazing at Zachary Justice with admiration.
"Now that everyone is quiet, please allow me a word," Zachary Justice said.
Zachary Justice bowed respectfully in all four directions.
"Speak," Elder Gray Crane said.
Zachary Justice replied with a quiet thank you.
"Those people call themselves the Immortality Society. Thirteen of them wear golden masks, each possessing unfathomable power. Have you all forgotten the disaster atop Mount Immeasurable? Master Boundless died, and Mount Immeasurable was destroyed."
As Zachary Justice spoke, he glanced around, but many still wore indifferent expressions, smiling faintly at him.
"They keep experimenting on both the living and the dead. I hope you all understand this. There are even practitioners in our community who help them, making shady deals in secret."
No sooner had Zachary Justice finished speaking than he was met with a barrage of objections. Taoists stood up one after another—after all, such accusations felt like an insult to the entire Daoist order.
Suddenly, Zachary Justice strode forward and, in an instant, seized the collar of the squinting Taoist.
"What are you doing?"
Instantly, all shouting in the hall ceased. Everyone stared as a green Golden Talisman slipped from the squinting Taoist’s robe, covered in red Daoist script—most had never seen such a talisman before. All eyes turned to it. Most Taoists recognized it as a soul-summoning talisman, the kind only used by the Mount Mason Order; other sects considered such things forbidden arts.
The squinting Taoist bowed his head, sweat pouring down his temples. Zachary Justice tore the green Golden Talisman apart and turned to walk away.
"I know family scandals shouldn’t be aired in public. My apologies, everyone. Since you all seem to have no objection to the Immortality Society, I’ll continue investigating alone. Please forget what just happened."
With those words, Zachary Justice stepped out of the hall. Inside, the Daoists wore grim expressions. Elder Peach immediately bowed, whispered to Elder Peter Pine, and chased after him.
"Master Justice, wait!"
Elder Peach finally caught up with Zachary Justice outside the Mountain Gate, running up respectfully.
"I’m sorry, Master Justice, it’s just..."
Zachary Justice smiled and shook his head.
"Forget it. The Mount Mason Order has it tough, and those people don’t accept you either. Did your master send you to deliver a message for me?"
Elder Peach shook his head, his eyes filled with emotion. He swallowed repeatedly, then suddenly bowed with both fists clasped.
"Master Justice, I hope to follow you and learn the Dao, even though..."
Zachary Justice patted Elder Peach on the shoulder.
"You already have a master, and I already have disciples."
Only then did Elder Peach notice, at the edge of the distant woods, two young Taoists in ragged robes—one older, one younger, both under twenty.
Watching Zachary Justice leave, Elder Peach felt a pang of sadness. He’d long disagreed with his own master, often clashing over their views. As his own Daoist skills improved, he found his master too rigid—like the rest of the Daoists, always clinging to tradition. And lately, with many from the Mount Mason Order using spells to profit in the living world, they’d been shunned by other sects.
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Time passed quickly—seven years in a flash. During that time, something happened that shocked the Daoist world: Elder Peter Pine, one of the Nine Dao Gate Elders, died. No one knew what had happened. Many sought Elder Peach, who had been named as a successor among the Nine Dao Gate Elders years prior. But what had happened to the main Mount Mason Order remained a mystery, fueling endless rumors.
In a damp cave somewhere, Elder Peach leaned quietly against the slick cave wall, a faint beam of light shining through a crack above. He held a toad in his mouth. Elder Peach had changed completely—his gaze now evil, the left side of his face corroded. Corpses lay all around him, dozens in number.
Elder Peach’s eyes brimmed with sorrow as he looked at the beam of light from the summit crack. His face was ashen. Suddenly, he spat out the dead toad, clutching his chest in agony and coughing up black blood. He knew he didn’t have long; death was near.
"Turns out, I still don’t want to die."
He waited until nightfall, then covered the rotting left side of his face with gauze and staggered out of the cave. Standing at the entrance, Elder Peach looked down at the brightly lit county below and sneered. A black shadow darted past him, heading for the town—it was a ghost he controlled, one he’d acquired from the demon realm.
Elder Peach knew exactly why he suffered so much, but now he wanted to live. The only way was to kill others and consume their souls, buying himself a few more days. It wasn’t a long-term solution; he needed someone who could lend him life force.
Staggering along the mountain path, Elder Peach could barely walk—his condition was worsening by the minute.
Suddenly, Elder Peach’s eyes widened. Many nighttime travelers in the county had gone missing, and some claimed to have seen ghosts. Now, no one dared walk at night, so Elder Peach couldn’t find anyone to consume. He had to go into town to seek out the living.
His face twisted in agony, burning with fever, his mind growing foggy. After devouring human souls, he had to rely on his damaged organs to slowly absorb them, which only worsened his condition.
Suddenly, Elder Peach collapsed to the ground, his eyes filled with terror.
"What’s happening?"
The ghost he’d released was killed—its spirit scattered. Struggling, Elder Peach got up and sent out a second ghost, hoping to use the ones inside him to lure people up the mountain, so he wouldn’t have to walk so far.
But after only a few dozen meters, he stopped, coughing violently. The second ghost was also slain. A figure appeared, swiftly approaching—floating toward him. With a flash, a gleaming sword was at his throat. It was Zachary Justice. Elder Peach bowed his head, and in that instant, thought of death.
"Maybe dying by your hand is something I can accept."
The sword at Elder Peach’s throat slowly lowered, and a hand rested on his shoulder. He bowed his head in fear, knowing that every time he looked into Zachary Justice’s honest eyes, it pierced his soul.
"It’s been so many years, Elder Peach."
Instantly, Elder Peach looked up, his eyes brimming with tears. Big, heavy drops rolled down his cheeks.