The next day, in the morning.
The morning sun bathed Azure Profound Mountain, making the eaves of the mountain palaces appear even more majestic.
A morning breeze blows by, carrying the fragrance of grass and trees, as well as the unique coolness of the mountains.
Fang Han in the open space of the courtyard, his Cloudsplitter Sword pointing diagonally at the ground. He closed his eyes and concentrated, preparing to begin his Sword Technique practice for the day.
Although the < Void-Sundering Sword Manual > has reached Minor Accomplishment, cultivation still cannot be neglected.
He took a deep breath, about to draw his sword—
Hurried footsteps came from outside the courtyard gate.
"Senior brother, a disciple from the Sect Master's Hall requests an audience, saying that the Sect Master summons you to the Sect Master's Hall immediately."
Qui Lan's voice came from the courtyard gate, carrying a hint of solemnity.
"The sect leader summons me?"
Fang Han raised an eyebrow slightly.
"Knew."
He sheathed his sword, straightened his robes, and went out the door.
Outside the courtyard gate, a young man dressed in the robes of a disciple of the Sect Master's Hall stood with his head bowed. Upon Fang Han emerge, he immediately bowed in greeting.
"Senior Brother Fang, the Sect Master requests your presence at the Sect Master's Hall."
Fang Han nodded slightly, asked no further questions, and followed the disciple toward the mountain peak.
Morning light filters through the gaps in the branches and leaves, casting dappled shadows on the mountain path.
"Senior Brother."
The disciples they encountered along the way all stepped aside to make way for them, bowed deeply, and looked at them with awe.
With Fang Han topping the General Ranking Martial Dao Stele, he has replaced Luo Yuntian and become the new senior disciple of the Azure Profound Sect.
Fang Han kept walking, but his mind was racing, wondering what the sect leader wanted to see him about.
The outline of the Sect Master's Hall soon came into view.
The majestic palace gleamed with a warm glow in the morning light. The disciples guarding the palace gates bowed respectfully as Fang Han approached.
Fang Han nodded slightly and stepped into the hall.
The hall was brightly lit, and the air was filled with the fragrance of Sandalwood Incense.
However, when Fang Han's gaze swept across the hall, he paused slightly in his tracks.
There were already many people inside the hall.
At the head of the table, Chen Tianyuan sat upright in a large chair, his face refined and his brows bearing the majesty accumulated from years of leading a major sect.
Beside him stood Chen Wanjun, the deputy head of the Law Enforcement Hall, with his hands behind his back. He was slender with a thin face, but his eyes shone like morning stars.
He wore a dark blue Elder's robe, with unique patterns embroidered in gold thread on the lapels and cuffs, highlighting his distinguished status.
Several people were already seated on the pearwood chairs on both sides of the hall.
On the chair furthest to the left, sat Golden Saber with broad shoulders and a square, angular face—it was Mad Butcher.
Beside him, Chen Wuhen, dressed in a green robe, held the folding fan he never parted with. He had a handsome face and a refined demeanor, and was looking down at the words on the fan with a leisurely expression.
Further to the side, Su Yuwei, dressed in a simple white dress, had a beautiful face and a calm expression. Her gaze was fixed straight ahead, and it was unclear what she was thinking.
On the rightmost chair, Luo Yuntian sat upright, his face handsome and his demeanor composed, his eyes closed as he rested.
His aura was more concentrated than it had been months ago, clearly indicating that his cultivation had improved after his secluded and arduous training.
Beside him stood Mo Chen, dressed in a deep blue robe of True Disciple, his face stern and his gaze calm.
Further to the side, Liu Ruyan, dressed in a light blue dress, with a beautiful face and gentle temperament, was talking quietly with Wang Miao beside her.
Wang Miao sat at the very end, dressed in a green robe, with an ordinary face and a calm demeanor.
He nodded slightly when he Fang Han enter, a gentle smile appearing on his lips.
Fang Han's gaze swept over them, and his heart stirred slightly.
Of the nine people from the Azure Profound Sect who made it onto the Prodigy Ranking, all but Yun Muyao are listed here.
"Disciple Fang Han greets the Sect Master and Vice Hall Master Chen."
Fang Han stepped forward and bowed.
"No need for formalities, please sit."
Chen Tianyuan nodded slightly, gesturing for Fang Han to sit down.
Fang Han walked to the empty chair next to Luo Yuntian and sat down.
Luo Yuntian opened his eyes and nodded slightly to Fang Han.
Fang Han returned the greeting with clasped hands.
His gaze swept over the people in the hall, his doubts growing even stronger.
The fact that several of their most outstanding disciples were summoned, and that Vice Hall Master Chen Wanjun was also present, clearly indicated that this was no ordinary event.
But what could be the matter that requires gathering so many prodigies True Disciple?
He looked at Luo Yuntian, trying to glean something from his face.
Luo Yuntian remained calm, his handsome face revealing no emotion.
But Fang Han noticed that Luo Yuntian's eyes showed none of the curiosity and doubt that others had.
He seems to... know something.
"Is everyone here?"
Chen Tianyuan's voice rang out in the hall.
Fang Han turned his gaze to the palace gate.
A slender figure stepped inside.
Today, Yun Muyao was dressed in a plain white dress, her face covered with a white veil, revealing only a pair of clear, deep eyes.
Her long, black hair cascaded down her back, loosely tied up with a white jade hairpin, with a few stray strands falling beside her cheeks and swaying gently in the morning breeze.
She stepped forward and bowed respectfully. "Disciple Yun Muyao greets Sect Master and Vice Hall Master Chen."
"Sit."
Chen Tianyuan nodded slightly.
Yun Muyao walked to the empty seat next to Liu Ruyan and sat down.
At this point, all nine members of the Azure Profound Sect who had made it onto the Prodigy Ranking were present.
Nine people, nine figures, sat upright on either side of the hall.
Chen Tianyuan's gaze swept over the nine people, and he nodded slightly, a hint of satisfaction flashing in his eyes.
He didn't speak immediately, but instead picked up the teacup beside him, took a small sip, and put it down.
The hall was quiet, with only the faint sound of wisps of smoke rising from the Sandalwood Incense burner.
"I have summoned you here today to inform you of something."
Chen Tianyuan, his voice calm yet carrying an undeniable solemnity.
Fang Han and the others exchanged glances, all seeing curiosity and doubt in each other's eyes.
A slight stirring in my heart; I awaited the next installment.
"Before that, I have a question for you."
Chen Tianyuan's gaze swept over the nine people, and he spoke slowly.
Have you ever heard of Ancient Ruins?
Ancient Ruins.
Upon hearing these three words, Fang Han raised an eyebrow slightly.
He had seen this term in the sect's records, but the description was extremely brief, only saying that it was a relic left from ancient times, without specifying what it was or what it was used for.
He glanced at it briefly and didn't pay any attention.
The others had different expressions.
Wang Miao shook his head slightly, a hint of confusion flashing in his eyes.
Liu Ruyan frowned, as if recalling something.
Mo Chen remained expressionless, revealing nothing.
Su Yuwei lowered her eyes and remained silent.
Chen Wuhen gently waved his folding fan, his gaze fixed on the fan surface, as if the words on it were more captivating than the sect leader's words.
Mad Butcher scratched his head and grinned:
" Ancient Ruins? What are those?"
Yun Muyao's clear, cold eyes flickered slightly, but she remained silent.
Fang Han noticed that Luo Yuntian's expression remained calm.
There was no confusion, no doubt.
He simply sat there quietly, his gaze fixed straight ahead, as if he had already known that the sect leader would ask this question.
"I once saw a record of this in an ancient book."
Luo Yuntian spoke slowly, his voice steady.
"It is said that Ancient Ruins were left from ancient times and contain all sorts of mysterious and powerful forces that are beyond the comprehension of modern people."
"It contains precious cultivation techniques, Danyao, and rare and precious materials. If one can enter, one may obtain Great Opportunity."
He paused, then continued.
"However, the records in ancient books are extremely brief and vague. This is all that I know."
Chen Tianyuan nodded slightly, a hint of approval flashing in his eyes.
"What Luo Yuntian said is largely correct."
He leaned back in his chair, his gaze sweeping over the nine people, and spoke slowly.
" The Ancient Ruins are indeed relics from ancient times, and the mysterious and powerful forces they contain are difficult for even grandmasters to fathom."
He paused, then continued.
"Moreover, Ancient Ruins do indeed contain precious cultivation techniques, Danyao, and rare treasures. If one can enter them, there is a possibility of obtaining these Opportunity."
Fang Han stirred slightly.
Ancient Ruins...
Remains from ancient times...
Mysterious power...
The combination of these words led him to a guess.
Could it have been left by a cultivator?
Could it be that cultivators truly existed in this world long ago?
For some unknown reason, those cultivators disappeared, leaving behind only some Ancient Ruins for later generations to explore.
He didn't speak, he just listened quietly.
Chen Tianyuan's words aroused a hint of curiosity in the eyes of the people in the hall.
"Sect Master, could it be... that the sect has discovered some Ancient Ruins?"
Yun Muyao's cool voice rang out, carrying a hint of inquiry.
Chen Tianyuan at her and shook his head slightly.
"The sect has not discovered any new Ancient Ruins."
He paused, then continued.
"To be precise, there is an Ancient Ruins that has already been discovered and will be opened soon."
The expressions of the people inside the hall varied.
The Ancient Ruins that have already been discovered will soon be opened to the public?
Fang Han raised an eyebrow. An Ancient Ruins was about to open, but why had the sect summoned the nine of them instead of the more powerful sect Elder?
"Sect Master, is there something special about this Ancient Ruins?"
Fang Han spoke up, voicing the question that had been lingering in his mind.
"Otherwise, why summon the nine of us instead of the more powerful sect Elder?"
Chen Tianyuan at Fang Han and nodded slightly.
You've hit the nail on the head.
He stood up, walked to the window with his hands behind his back, looked at the rising sun outside, and said slowly.
"This Ancient Ruins screens those who enter each time it opens."
He turned around, his gaze falling on the nine people.
Only those Prodigy Ranking are allowed to enter.
Upon hearing this, the hall fell silent.
"Only those on the Prodigy Ranking can enter? Can Ancient Ruins really do such a thing?"
Mad Butcher stared wide-eyed, his rugged face filled with disbelief, while the others also wore expressions of surprise and uncertainty.
"..."
Fang Han was shaken.
Ancient Ruins can actually do such a thing?
Only those listed on the Prodigy Ranking are allowed to enter.
Such methods are indeed beyond human comprehension.
He increasingly felt that the Ancient Ruins were most likely left behind by cultivators.
Chen Tianyuan took in everyone's reactions and nodded slightly.
"You heard me right. This Ancient Ruins does indeed have the ability to filter people. Each time it opens, only those on the Prodigy Ranking can enter."
He paused, then continued.
"This is why I have summoned you here."
He walked back to his seat, sat down, and glanced at the nine people.
"This Ancient Ruins is located in East Foothills Prefecture, which borders Qingyang Prefecture."
" East Foothills Prefecture?"
Fang Han stirred slightly.
That place he had been to, where he had offended several powerful figures?
Unexpectedly, the Ancient Ruins were not in Qingyang Prefecture, but in East Foothills Prefecture, which is adjacent to Qingyang Prefecture.