Seeking Relics, Leaving Only Obsession

As Chen Chuan approached, the vines parted on their own beneath his gaze, revealing the complete inscription beneath.

The writing was small, yet swift and elegant, carrying an air of broad-minded ease. It had likely been left behind before this demon-ghost underwent mutation.

He glanced over it a few times. What was carved there was this person's own account.

The man called himself You Zhinan, a Protector of the Golden Departure Sect.

Golden Departure Sect...

After thinking it over, Chen Chuan recalled that it should have been a branch under the Xuan Sect. He remembered it because several Xuan temples in Jibei Province Central City had members of this sect.

This sect had possessed a certain degree of influence in the past; otherwise, it would not have been recorded in municipal archives. But after the New Era began, the sect declined for certain reasons. Its disciples had abandoned their fighting heritage and lived entirely by calculation and divination, with no real combat ability left.

According to You Zhinan, he had come here during the reign of Emperor Cheng Yi.

Emperor Cheng Yi...

Chen Chuan considered it. By the timeline, that should have been an emperor from more than four hundred years ago, before the End Dynasty.

He remembered because, after the Xuan Sect and Zen Sect had settled their struggle eight hundred years ago, this was one of the rare emperors who revered the Zen Sect while suppressing the Xuan Sect. During his reign, the Zen Sect flourished again for a time. Some scholars believed the later change of dynasties might also have been related to this.

After that thought passed through his mind, he continued reading.

The man explained that he was here because he had discovered this Nine Aperture Stone Lotus. The Golden Departure Sect possessed a pill