Chapter 458 - 455: Ancient Ruins

Chapter 458: Chapter 455: Ancient Ruins

「The next morning.」

The morning sun enveloped Qingxuan Mountain, the curved eaves of the mountain palaces appearing even more majestic in the light.

A morning breeze swept by, carrying the fresh scent of grass and trees, along with the unique coolness of the mountains.

Fang Han stood in the courtyard’s open space, his Cloud Splitting Sword angled toward the ground. With his eyes closed in concentration, he prepared to begin his daily swordsmanship practice.

Although his Sky-Splitting Sword Technique had reached Minor Achievement, he couldn’t afford to slack off in his cultivation.

He took a deep breath, and just as he was about to draw his sword—

Hasty footsteps sounded from outside the courtyard gate.

"Senior Brother, a disciple from the Sect Leader’s Hall is asking to see you. He says the Sect Leader has summoned you to the Sect Leader’s Hall immediately."

Qiu Lan’s voice, tinged with a degree of solemnity, came from the courtyard gate.

"The Sect Leader is summoning me?"

Fang Han raised an eyebrow slightly.

"Understood."

He sheathed his sword, straightened his robes, and pushed the gate open.

Outside the gate, a young man in the Disciple’s Robe of the Sect Leader’s Hall stood with his head bowed. Seeing Fang Han emerge, he quickly bowed in salute.

"Senior Brother Fang, the Sect Leader requests your presence at the Sect Leader’s Hall."

Fang Han gave a slight nod. Without asking any questions, he followed the disciple toward the mountain’s peak.

Morning light spilled through the gaps in the leaves, casting mottled shadows on the mountain path.

"First Senior Brother."

The disciples he passed along the way all stepped aside to make way, bowing respectfully with gazes full of awe.

By claiming the top spot on the Overall Martial Arts Stele, Fang Han had replaced Luo Yuntian and become the Qingxuan Sect’s new First Senior Brother.

Fang Han walked on without pause, his mind racing. ’I wonder why the Sect Leader has summoned me this time.’

The silhouette of the Sect Leader’s Hall soon appeared in his field of view.

The majestic hall gleamed with a gentle luster in the morning light. The disciples on duty before the entrance saw Fang Han approaching and hurriedly bowed in salute.

Fang Han gave a slight nod and stepped into the hall.

The hall was brightly lit, and the scent of sandalwood drifted through the air.

However, when Fang Han’s gaze swept across the hall’s interior, his steps faltered slightly.

There were already several people in the hall.

At the head of the hall, Chen Tianyuan sat upon a large chair. His features were scholarly, but his brow held an air of authority accumulated from years of leading a Major Sect.

Beside him, Chen Wanjun, the Vice Hall Master of the Law Enforcement Hall, stood with his hands clasped behind his back. He had a lean, gaunt figure, but his eyes were as bright as morning stars.

He wore a deep cyan Elder Robe, its collar and cuffs embroidered with unique patterns in gold thread, highlighting his distinct status.

And on the pearwood chairs lining both sides of the hall, several people were already seated.

In the foremost chair on the left, a burly figure sat commandingly, broad-shouldered and powerfully built with a square, chiseled face. It was Kuang Tu.

Beside him, Chen Wuhen, dressed in a green robe, held the folding fan that never left his side. He had delicate features and a scholarly air, his gaze lowered to the script on his fan with a leisurely expression.

Further down, Su Yuwei wore a simple white dress. Her face was beautiful and her expression placid as she stared straight ahead, her thoughts unreadable.

In the foremost chair on the right sat Luo Yuntian. His features were handsome and his aura composed. He was resting with his eyes closed.

His aura was even more condensed than it had been a few months ago. It was clear his cultivation had improved after his secluded training.

Beside him was Mo Chen, dressed in a deep cyan True Inheritance Robe. His face was stern and his gaze tranquil.

Further down, Liu Ruyan wore a light cyan dress. Her face was beautiful and her temperament gentle. She was whispering something to Wang Miao beside her.

Wang Miao sat at the very end. Dressed in a green robe, he had an ordinary face and a steady demeanor.

Seeing Fang Han enter, he nodded slightly, a gentle smile appearing on his lips.

Fang Han’s gaze swept over them, and his heart stirred slightly.

Of the nine members of the Qingxuan Sect on the Celestial Pride List, all eight were present, with the sole exception of Yun Muyao.

"Disciple Fang Han pays his respects to the Sect Leader and to Vice Hall Master Chen."

Fang Han took a few steps forward and bowed.

"No need for formalities. Sit."

Chen Tianyuan nodded slightly, gesturing for Fang Han to take a seat.

Fang Han walked to the empty chair beside Luo Yuntian and sat down.

Luo Yuntian opened his eyes and gave Fang Han a slight nod.

Fang Han returned the gesture with a cupped-fist salute.

His gaze swept over the others in the hall, his confusion deepening.

’Summoning all of us prodigies, and with Vice Hall Master Chen Wanjun present as well... A gathering of this scale is clearly no ordinary matter.’

’But what could possibly require gathering so many of the Celestial Pride True Inheritors?’

He looked at Luo Yuntian, trying to read something from his expression.

Luo Yuntian’s expression was serene; nothing could be gleaned from his handsome face.

But Fang Han noticed that Luo Yuntian’s eyes held none of the curiosity or confusion present in the others’.

’It seems... he knows something.’

"Is everyone here?"

Chen Tianyuan’s voice echoed in the hall.

Fang Han’s gaze shifted to the hall entrance.

A slender, graceful figure was stepping inside.

Yun Muyao was dressed in a simple white long dress today, her face covered by a pristine white veil, revealing only a pair of eyes as clear as a frigid pool.

Her black hair cascaded like a waterfall, loosely tied up with a white jade hairpin. A few stray strands fell beside her cheeks, fluttering gently in the morning breeze.

She walked forward and bowed. "Disciple Yun Muyao pays her respects to the Sect Leader and to Vice Hall Master Chen."

"Sit."

Chen Tianyuan gave a slight nod.

Yun Muyao walked to the empty seat beside Liu Ruyan and sat down.

With her arrival, all nine members of the Qingxuan Sect on the Celestial Pride List were present.

Nine people, nine figures, sat erect on both sides of the hall.

Chen Tianyuan’s gaze swept over the nine of them. He nodded slightly, a trace of satisfaction in his eyes.

He didn’t speak immediately. Instead, he picked up the teacup beside him, took a shallow sip, and set it down.

The hall was silent, save for the faint sound of smoke spiraling up from the sandalwood incense burner.

"I have summoned you today to inform you of a certain matter."

Chen Tianyuan began to speak slowly, his voice calm yet carrying an unquestionable solemnity.

Fang Han and the others exchanged glances, all seeing the same curiosity and confusion in each other’s eyes.

Their hearts stirred as they waited for him to continue.

"But before that, I have a question for you all."

Chen Tianyuan’s gaze swept across the nine of them as he spoke slowly.

"Have any of you ever heard of... Ancient Ruins?"

Ancient Ruins.

As those two words fell upon his ears, Fang Han’s brow twitched slightly.

He had seen the term before in the Sect’s records, but the description had been extremely brief. It only mentioned that they were ruins left behind from ancient times, but was vague about what they were or what purpose they served.

He had only skimmed past it at the time and paid it no mind.

The others had varying expressions.

Wang Miao shook his head slightly, a hint of confusion in his eyes.

Liu Ruyan furrowed her brow, as if trying to recall something.

Mo Chen was expressionless, revealing nothing.

Su Yuwei lowered her gaze and said nothing.

Chen Wuhen waved his folding fan gently, his eyes fixed on the script on its surface as if it were more captivating than the Sect Leader’s words.

Kuang Tu scratched his head and said with a grin:

"Ancient Ruins? What’s that?"

Yun Muyao’s cool, clear eyes flickered slightly, but she also remained silent.

Fang Han noticed that Luo Yuntian’s expression was still calm.

There was no confusion, no doubt.

He just sat there quietly, gazing straight ahead, as if he had long known the Sect Leader would ask this question.

"This disciple once saw it recorded in an ancient text."

Luo Yuntian spoke slowly, his voice steady.

"It is said that the Ancient Ruins were left behind from a distant age and contain all sorts of mysterious, great powers beyond the comprehension of modern people."

"They are said to hide precious Cultivation Techniques, Elixirs, and Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures. If one can enter, they may have a chance at a great opportunity."

He paused for a moment before continuing.

"However, the records in the ancient text were also extremely brief and vague. This is all that this disciple knows."

Chen Tianyuan nodded slightly, a trace of approval in his eyes.

"What Luo Yuntian said is more or less correct."

He leaned back in his chair, his gaze sweeping over the nine of them as he spoke slowly.

"The Ancient Ruins were indeed left behind from a distant age. The mysterious powers they contain are difficult for even a Grandmaster Powerhouse to comprehend."

He paused, then continued.

"And it is true that the Ancient Ruins contain precious Cultivation Techniques, Elixirs, and Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures. If you can enter, you may have the chance to obtain these opportunities."

Fang Han’s heart stirred.

’Ancient Ruins...’

’Left behind from a distant age...’

’Mysterious great powers...’

These words combined in his mind, giving rise to a particular guess.

’Could they have been left by cultivators?’

’In the distant past of this world, could cultivators have truly existed?’

’For some reason, those cultivators vanished, leaving only a few Ancient Ruins for later generations to explore.’

He said nothing, merely listening in silence.

Chen Tianyuan’s words caused a flicker of curiosity in the eyes of the disciples in the hall.

"Sect Leader, could it be... that the Sect has discovered some Ancient Ruins?"

Yun Muyao’s cool voice rang out, tinged with a probing tone.

Chen Tianyuan glanced at her and shook his head slightly.

"The Sect has not discovered any new Ancient Ruins."

He paused, then continued.

"To be precise, a previously discovered site of Ancient Ruins is about to open soon."

The disciples in the hall had various expressions.

’A previously discovered site of Ancient Ruins is about to open?’

Fang Han’s brow twitched. ’An Ancient Ruins site is about to open, but why did the Sect summon the nine of us instead of the more powerful Sect Elders?’

"Sect Leader, is there something special about these Ancient Ruins?"

Fang Han spoke, voicing the doubt in his heart.

"Otherwise, why summon the nine of us, and not the stronger Sect Elders?"

Chen Tianyuan glanced at Fang Han and nodded slightly.

"You’ve hit on the crucial point."

He stood up, clasped his hands behind his back, and walked to the window. Gazing at the slowly rising sun, he spoke deliberately.

"Every time these Ancient Ruins open, they screen those who try to enter."

He turned around, his gaze falling upon the nine of them.

"Only those on the Celestial Pride List are able to enter."

As soon as he said this, the hall fell silent.

"Only those on the Celestial Pride List can enter? The Ancient Ruins can do something like that?"

Kuang Tu’s eyes widened, his rugged face filled with disbelief. The others were also shocked and uncertain.

...

Fang Han was shaken to his core.

’The Ancient Ruins can actually do such a thing?’

’Screening entrants, allowing only those on the Celestial Pride List to pass—’

’Such methods are truly beyond mortal comprehension.’

He was now even more convinced that the Ancient Ruins were most likely left by cultivators.

Chen Tianyuan took in everyone’s reactions and nodded slightly.

"You heard correctly. These Ancient Ruins indeed have the ability to screen people. Each time they open, only those on the Celestial Pride List may enter."

He paused, then continued.

"This is the reason I have summoned you."

He walked back to his chair, sat down, and scanned the nine of them.

"These Ancient Ruins are located in Donglu County, which neighbors Qingyang County."

"Donglu County?"

Fang Han’s heart stirred.

’The place I once visited, where I offended several factions?’

’To think the Ancient Ruins aren’t in Qingyang County, but in the neighboring Donglu County instead.’