Jade Sovereign Sect is located in the southeast of the Mystic Sun Domain, bordering the Sky-Sun Region.
It’s said to be the most resource-rich area in the entire Mystic Sun Domain.
Because of this, martial artists in this region are generally stronger than those elsewhere.
As the absolute overlord of this region, Jade Sovereign Sect possesses both deep foundations and formidable power.
At the same time—
Among the thirteen super sects, Jade Sovereign Sect is also the most prosperous, and is vaguely trending toward becoming the number one sect in the Mystic Sun Domain. Jade Sovereign Sect has as many as three Law-Phase Realm experts.
Jade Sovereign Sect’s Imperial-Grade technique is said to be the ‘Jade Sovereign Canon,’ adapted by the sect’s founding ancestor from a broken Sovereign-Grade technique.
This technique also comes with a particularly powerful divine ability—Jade Sovereign Golden Body.
Once the Jade Sovereign Golden Body is cultivated to perfection, the user is said to be invincible among those of the same realm.
That’s why Jade Sovereign Sect’s sect master, Zhang Taichu—who has perfected the Jade Sovereign Golden Body—is ranked first on the Legends Ranking, revered as the strongest existence below the Saint Sea Realm.
As for Saint Sea Realm martial artists, it seems the Mystic Sun Domain hasn’t seen one in years.
After all, the Mystic Sun Domain is the weakest among the ten domains of the Human Race. Take the Sky-Sun Region, for example—they’re rumored to have at least three Saint Sea Realm experts.
The Jade Sovereign Sect is built atop Goddess Peak, deep within the Jade Sovereign mountain range.
Goddess Peak is the tallest and most majestic peak of the Jade Sovereign mountain range. Legend says it rises over thirty-eight hundred zhang, nearly touching the sky, and is shrouded in clouds and mist all year round—like a fairyland.
When Ian arrived at the Jade Sovereign mountain range, night had already fallen.
So he found an inn in a nearby city, settled in, and took out the Myriad-Star Divine Art he’d gotten from Starfield Martial Sect to study.
Among the ten great human domains, there’s one called the Starfield Domain.
Rumor has it Starfield Martial Sect migrated here from the Starfield Domain. Supposedly, they were once a super sect in their original domain, but after a disaster, they relocated to the Mystic Sun Domain.
Inside the Divine Temple, Ian spent just two hours and fully mastered the Myriad-Star Divine Art. Compared to the Imperial-Grade Technique he got from Neron Vale, this art is stronger—but still a bit weaker than the Solar Divine Art.
Still, this technique has its own unique advantages.
With time sped up a thousandfold, Ian began cultivating the Myriad-Star Divine Art.
The next morning.
Ian stepped out of the Divine Temple, having successfully mastered the Myriad-Star Divine Art and pushed his Sigilforge Realm cultivation to the late-stage peak, giving his martial strength another big boost.
After breakfast, Ian went straight to the base of the Jade Sovereign mountain range. Staring up at Goddess Peak, which pierced the clouds overhead, he started climbing toward the summit.
The mountain was steep, but the road itself was surprisingly broad and smooth—clearly the result of years of work by the Jade Sovereign Sect.
When he reached five hundred zhang up, a building blocked the path.
Inside, disciples of the Jade Sovereign Sect stood guard.
"I am Evan Chu, here to visit your sect master Zhang Taichu. I’d appreciate your help in letting me through."
Ian handed over his visiting card.
At first, the Jade Sovereign Sect disciples didn’t think much of Ian, but as soon as they heard his name, they were instantly shocked.
"Not at all, not at all!"
Feeling Ian's smile, the girl felt her heart melt. Her cheeks turned a little red.
She was quite young, maybe sixteen or seventeen, with a baby face and a lively personality—like the girl next door.
All the way up the mountain, the girl skipped along, clearly excited and chattering nonstop. But somehow, it was impossible to dislike her.
Her cheerful name was Lily Lake.
There were nine checkpoints leading to the summit of Goddess Peak, each guarded by disciples. Lily seemed familiar with everyone at each checkpoint, so with her guiding the way, Ian saved a lot of time.
After a little over an hour,
the two of them finally reached the summit of Goddess Peak. The entire mountaintop had been leveled, with rows of elegant and majestic buildings rising up from the ground.
"Brother Chu, wait here for a bit. I’ll go report for you."
After spending an hour together, the two seemed much closer. Lily had even started calling him Brother Chu.
"Thank you, Lily!" Ian smiled and nodded.
"No problem, it’s what I should do!"
Once Lily left, Ian stood there, taking in the view from Goddess Peak.
About fifteen minutes later,
Lily returned, leading an elderly man who was at the early stage of the Sigilforge Realm.
"Grandpa Nathan, this is Brother Chu—the famous Evan Chu from Mystic Sun Domain!" Lily introduced Ian to the old man.
"I am Nathan Noble. Greetings, Young Master Chu!"
The elder’s heart skipped a beat, and he bowed politely to Ian.
"Brother Chu, Grandpa Nathan is an Outer Sect elder of Jade Sovereign Sect." Lily explained.
"Nice to meet you, Elder Nathan!" Ian replied politely.
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Elder Nathan led Ian to the guest hall. Oddly enough, Lily didn’t return to her checkpoint but tagged along with Ian, and Elder Nathan seemed not to mind at all.
Clearly, this Lily Lake must have some unusual status within Jade Sovereign Sect.
Half an hour later,
Ian was settled into a separate courtyard atop Goddess Peak.
When Ian requested to meet Zhang Taichu, Elder Nathan apologized, "Young Master Chu, our sect master is still in seclusion and won’t be out for some time. If you’re not in a hurry, please stay here for now. Once the sect master emerges, I’ll inform you right away!"
Ian frowned slightly at the news, but still nodded in agreement.
He ended up staying for a whole week.
During that time, aside from Lily visiting Ian several times and Elder Nathan coming by once, no one else showed up.
One day, Lily came again, bringing Ian some rare spirit fruits.
"By the way, Lily, do you know when Sect Master Zhang will come out of seclusion?" Ian asked.
"No idea," Lily shook her head. "Sect Master Grandpa loves going into seclusion—he spends most of the year closed off."
Ian nodded and didn’t ask further.