She flew into the valley and landed on a flat patch of grass by the lake.
With a thought, the "stone" carrying the Heavenly Maiden Temple appeared in her hand.
"System, release the mountain peak and connect it with the ley lines of this place."
[Instruction received. Commencing release of migration unit... Adjusting spatial parameters... Connecting to local Spiritual Vein...]
Gu Han tossed the "stone" in her hand into the air.
The pebble grew as it met the wind, rapidly restoring itself to the original size of the mountain.
Then it slowly descended, settling precisely onto an empty patch of ground in the furthest corner, merging perfectly with the surroundings as if it had always grown there.
Atop the peak, the Heavenly Maiden Temple still stood, but its surroundings were no longer desolate; instead, it was a beautiful landscape shrouded in mist.
From today onward, this would be her new starting point.
"Alright, System, it's time to use the 'holy land construction card'."
Gu Han took a deep breath of the air filled with Spiritual Qi and issued the command.
[holy land construction card activated! Scanning ley line environment... Planning Sect layout... Generating architectural modules... Injecting Laws and dao rhyme...]
Following the System's prompt, Gu Han felt a power far more magnificent than any she could summon herself being drawn from the Void Realm, descending upon the valley.
Rumble—!
The earth let out a low roar, as if a giant Dragon was turning over underground.
With Heavenly Maiden Peak and the lake as the center, the surrounding terrain began to undergo earth-shaking changes.
First, at the outermost perimeter, walls of jade reaching a hundred feet high and shimmering with runic light rose from the ground.
They quickly closed along the edges of the valley, forming a grand and sturdy Sect wall.
Above the wall, faint phantoms of Dragons and Phoenixes circled, emitting a powerful defensive Aura.
Inside the walls, the ground was leveled and compacted, paved with white jade tiles as smooth as mirrors.
Grand palaces and pavilions appeared out of thin air like bamboo shoots after rain, distributed in an orderly and aesthetic fashion.
A towering nine-story Main Hall was the first to take shape.
With a glazed gold roof and carved beams, the lintel above the door was empty, waiting for her to name it.
On both sides of the Main Hall were functional buildings such as the Cultivation Hall, Scripture Pavilion, Pill Refining Pavilion, Artifact Refining Pavilion, Law Enforcement Hall, and Mission Hall, all fully equipped.
Although the interiors were currently empty, the buildings themselves flowed with dao rhyme, clearly no ordinary structures.
Disciple living quarters, twelve mountain peaks of different styles, a Martial Arts Field, a Spirit Medicine Garden, a Spirit Beast Park... all kinds of supporting facilities were present, planned with meticulous order.
Even more miraculous, the lake was expanded, and a small island appeared in its center, featuring an exquisite pavilion.
Streams condensed from Spiritual Qi wound through the valley, nourishing the newly born spiritual plants.
The entire architectural complex was ancient and grand in style, yet exquisitely detailed.
It merged perfectly with the surrounding natural environment, appearing as if it had existed here for ten million years.
In less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, a fully functional and well-defended Sect prototype stood prominently in this once-secluded valley!
Gu Han hovered in mid-air, looking down at her brand-new "home," a sense of indescribable pride welling up in her heart.
This was her Foundation!
From today on, she was no longer a beast of burden struggling to survive, but the Master of a Sect with its own blessed land!
[Ding! Basic construction complete! Please, Host, name the Sect!]
The System prompt sounded again.
Naming?
She thought of the old man who had tricked her into coming here and the blurred statue of the Heavenly Maiden.
"Heavenly Maiden Temple... Heavenly Maiden Sect? Heavenly Maiden Holy Land?"
"No, no... too cliché... not high-end enough..."
She muttered a few names to herself, then, thinking of something, a slight curve appeared at the corner of her mouth.
"Since I've become a woman, let's call it—'Yaochi Immortal Palace'!"
As her voice fell, thousands of rays of rosy light gathered on the empty lintel of the Main Hall.
Four golden characters containing supreme dao rhyme slowly emerged—Yaochi Immortal Palace!
At the same time, a grand intent centered on the Yaochi Immortal Palace spread out in all directions.
It proclaimed to this world that a new power had officially established its Foundation on this day, at this very moment!
Almost the instant the Sect naming was complete, Gu Han felt a deeper connection between herself, this world, and the Sect beneath her feet.
She was the Dominator here; the rules were set by her will.
[Sect: Yaochi Immortal Palace]
[Rank: 1 (Newly Established)]
[Sect Master: Gu Han]
[Disciple: 0]
[Elder: 0]
[Buildings: Complete (Basic Version)]
[Spiritual Qi Concentration: High (Thanks to Spiritual Vein and System enhancement)]
[Sect Protection Array: Nine Heavens Dragon Control Array (Activated)]
[Reputation: 0 (Unknown)]
The System interface updated, displaying the current status of the Yaochi Immortal Palace.
"The Sect is built, but it's empty; I'm just a commander without an army."
Gu Han descended from the air and stood before the grand Main Hall, scratching her head.
Recruiting Disciples, finding staff, acquiring resources... there were a thousand things to do.
However, she was in no hurry.
With the cultivation of the Ascension Realm and the System by her side, time was no longer an issue for her.
She had plenty of time to slowly manage this "home" of her own.
She first walked toward the still-shabby Heavenly Maiden Temple.
This was her starting point and would serve as her private cultivation retreat within the Yaochi Immortal Palace.
Pushing open the creaking wooden door, the furnishings inside remained the same, filled with the traces of ten years of life.
She walked up to the statue of the Heavenly Maiden with blurred features and gazed at it quietly.
"Whoever you are, thank you for giving me a place to stay for ten years."
She spoke softly, then shook her head and laughed at herself.
"What am I doing talking to a stone, really..."
She turned around, preparing to familiarize herself with the newly built halls.
Suddenly, the System prompt sounded again.