Entering the great hall of the Central Valley Daoist stronghold, Li Fan bowed respectfully to the five venerable Daoist masters of the place, exchanged a few polite courtesies, and familiarized himself with their faces.
Aside from the guardian Yellow Zhenren of Qiu Mountain, the other four were Wang Zhenren, the guardian of Guanxiang Mountain, Ding Zhenren, the guardian of Fashuang Mountain, Chen Zhenren, the guardian of Mu Mountain, and Cai Zhenren, the guardian of Yuga Mountain.
Adding the guardians Zhou and Tian Zhenren of Yangjia Mountain and Guanxiang Mountain respectively, these seven guardians who had overseen the vast Bamboo Mountain for many years, were now the core elders with the longest tenure in the sect.
Some of them were outer disciples from the previous sect leader's era, some had served as alchemists' apprentices, some were descendants of Elder Master Liang and other senior disciples, and some were mere laborers who joined the sect for a living.