The First Immortal of Destiny

Various organizations directly under the sect, such as the Affairs Hall, Enforcement Hall, Immortal Welcoming Hall, Evil Punishing Hall, Deacon Hall, Magic Tower, and the hall of elixir, talisman, artifact, and array, did not undergo significant changes. A new addition was the Preaching Hall, where Golden Core Realm cultivators and Spirit Sea Realm cultivators skilled in cultivation methods would expound doctrines and resolve doubts for inner and outer disciples.

Originally, the Riverside Sect had its own preaching hall under the Deacon Hall’s jurisdiction, responsible for similar tasks. Preachers were mostly elders from various peaks or inner and outer Deacons. However, due to differences in individual Talent and cultivation methods, it was difficult to cater to all disciples; only basic cultivation methods and magic and martial arts could be taught broadly. Disciples from wealthy immortal clans or those with a master-student lineage would consult their patriarchs or Masters when facing cultivation difficulties. Elite Disciples from the three main peaks could also seek guidance from their Senior Brothers, Senior Sisters, or peak Elders. In contrast, outer disciples and inner disciples not belonging to a main peak had to rely on self-exploration or pay cultivation resources to learn from higher-Realm cultivators. While not perfect, this system was sufficient for most situations.

Now, with the Riverside Sect at its core, most of the Red Flame Zone’s cultivation world had reformed into the Red Flame Sect. The number of sect cultivators had multiplied severalfold, and many new cultivation methods from other sects were incorporated. Whether it concerned the disciples or the magic and martial arts, it was a motley assortment of varying quality. Consequently, the importance of preaching and disseminating doctrines became prominent. The Preaching Hall was established independently, with numerous additional preaching halls added to the nine peaks and one lake, as well as for the inner and outer doors, all under the Preaching Hall’s jurisdiction. This would, on one hand, allow disciples from outside the original Five Great Sects to quickly master more advanced cultivation methods and magic. On the other hand, it would also minimize severe conflicts arising from Red Flame Sect cultivators practicing entirely new cultivation methods alongside their existing ones.

The position that underwent the most significant changes was that of Elder. Although the title remained the same, its nature was now completely different, demarcated into five grades: Purple Robe, Red Robe, Yellow Robe, Green Robe, and Blue Robe.

Purple Robed Elders were equivalent to the pre-restructuring Supreme Elders; only Golden Core Realm cultivators or Spirit Sea Realm disciples with profound experience and outstanding contributions could hold this role. After Yuan Qingshi resigned as Sect Master, he was appointed a Purple Robed Elder. Additionally, Golden Core Realm cultivators from the original Four Great Sects who had no interest in sect affairs, along with Marine Race Demon Kings like the Spirit Turtle and Flood Dragon, were all granted this title.

Red Robed Elders were staffed by late-stage and peak Spirit Sea Realm cultivators. Both Purple and Red Robed Elders, like core disciples, had the right to participate in sect decision-making and received a relatively generous monthly sect allowance.

After a large number of cultivation forces combined to form the Red Flame Sect, the sect masters, upper echelons, and powerful experts from various sects lost their original status and power. Since the Red Flame Sect did not have many high-ranking positions available, they were all incorporated into the Elder ranks. Spirit Sea Realm cultivators who hadn’t reached the late stage could only become Yellow, Green, or Blue Robed Elders. Similar to the elders of the Five Great Sects, these were active-duty positions, requiring them to serve in the nine peaks and one lake, and in various halls and departments, handling sect affairs with no leisure time.

Furthermore, all Qi Gathering Deacons were also divided into five ranks. However, these ranks were not distinguished by robe color but by one to five auspicious clouds embroidered on the chest of their robes. The more auspicious clouds, the higher their status and the greater their authority. If a Five Cloud Deacon continually failed to step into the Spirit Sea Realm but had sufficient experience and contributions, they could also be granted the status of a Blue Robed Elder.

The remaining core disciples, inner disciples, and outer disciples followed the old customs of the Riverside Sect. Their positions and assignments were to be reorganized by the three Deputy Sect Masters—Yuan Heming, Situ Huo, and Ming Cang—along with the various halls, peaks, Elders, and Deacons. After all, with various forces merging into the Red Flame Sect, the total number of Sect Disciples had swelled to over a million. Even with Shen Mo’s immensely powerful soul and rapid thoughts, he couldn’t personally decide every single case.

It is worth mentioning that Ascending Lake, one of the nine peaks and one lake, was originally a Marine Race territory, populated by demonic beasts of the sea, not human immortals or mortals. Therefore, only those Marine Race members who had refined their horizontal bone and could speak human language were eligible to become Red Flame Sect disciples. The rest, no matter how powerful, could only serve as protectors. Consequently, the number of Marine Race members who could join the Red Flame Sect was reduced to just over tens of thousands. Furthermore, the Red Flame Sect stipulated that all Marine Race members about to cultivate to Class IV or who had already advanced to Class IV must transform into human form. Otherwise, they would not be eligible for important positions, let alone the title of Purple Robed Elder.

Six Class IV Demon Kings were willing to forsake their own demon kingdoms and follow Shen Mo to ”ascend to the Immortal Realm.” They were Clam Girl Ming Cang, Clam Girl Ming Yu, Spirit Turtle Gui Wannian, Flood Dragon Shen Jun, Fish Demon Jing Fuhai, and Fish Demon Zhang Jiujiu.

Since Ming Cang and her daughter Ming Yu were born in human form and had a close relationship with Shen Mo, Ming Cang was appointed Deputy Sect Master of the Red Flame Sect, and Ming Yu was made Lake Master of Ascending Lake, a position equivalent to the Peak Masters of the nine main peaks. The remaining four Demon Kings were all granted the status of Purple Robed Elder.

However, this was temporary. Shen Mo gave them three years; if they could not cultivate into human form within that time, they would be stripped of all their titles and responsibilities and would have to serve as Sect Enforcers. Even Ming Cang and Ming Yu were no exceptions. Although their Dao Bodies closely resembled human females, they were boneless and had clam shells on their backs, marking them as demonic beings rather than true humans. Three years should be sufficient for these six Demon Kings to transform back into human form.

After these changes, the Red Flame Sect had twenty-three Golden Core Realm experts, including the six Marine Race Demon Kings. The number of Spirit Sea Realm disciples (Class III, third-level Realm) exceeded two thousand, and Qi Gathering Realm disciples (Class II, second-level Realm) reached a staggering thirty thousand. The remaining nearly one million disciples were all in the Body Tempering Realm (Class I, first-level Realm), each possessing some level of cultivation.

In addition to these cultivators, several billion mortals from the Red Flame Country and over a hundred million Marine Race members who had developed gnosis migrated into the Green Cloud Cave.

After the invasion of the Heavenly Demons and the ravages of other Demons, only forty percent of the human immortals, mortals, and near-shore Marine Race in the Red Flame Zone survived. Of these survivors, about seventy percent, with the help of Red Flame Sect Members, gathered from all directions at Chong’a Mountain and entered Shen Mo’s cave paradise. The remainder either stayed under the protection—or captivity—of forbidden lands that had not yet departed, were unwilling to leave their homeland, or had converted to the Western Buddhist Zone.

There were also some stubborn individuals—from the Five Great Sects, various powers, and among the powerful Marine Race—who, for various reasons, had no intention of leaving the Primordial Realm. Shen Mo did not force them. Their presence in the Red Flame Zone could still offer some protection to the remaining mortals and Marine Race, preventing them from all becoming cultivation fodder for evil cultivators.

Speaking of which, the evil cultivators who had survived the great Immortal-Demon war at Golden Light Ridge had been living under the protection of forbidden lands controlled by Demonic forces, even establishing several evil factions. They originally thought they had secured powerful patronage. Yet, as the demons from the Outer Zone departed one after another, these evil cultivators met a terrible fate: they were either slaughtered completely or kept as fodder and taken away from the Primordial Realm. It was truly pitiful and laughable.