"Inheritance Hall."
Chen Ming stood at the foot of the mountain, gazing up at those three ancient characters as an indescribable emotion welled up within him.
After setting out from Divine Wind Island, braving the dangers of the Fallen Star Sea, fighting a bloody battle on Setting Sun Island, exploring the Undersea Cave Abode, and spending days searching and trekking through this hidden realm, he had finally reached the entrance to this hall of inheritance.
The mountain rose steep and majestic, with a winding flight of stone steps leading from its foot to a cave entrance halfway up.
The steps were roughly three feet wide, paved with solid slabs of blue stone. Their surfaces bore the scars of time, and moss and weeds filled the cracks.
Dense shrubs and jagged rocks lined both sides of the steps, beyond which lay sheer cliffs. A single misstep could send someone plunging down; even a Golden Core Stage cultivator would probably suffer severe injuries.
"These steps look pretty old."
Wan Yao'er came over to Chen Ming, crouched down, and tapped the surface of a step with her finger. It gave a dull thud. After a moment's thought, she spoke.
"The stone is hard, but its surface has been worn very smooth. Clearly, a lot of people once walked this path."
Liu Qingqing also stepped forward to examine it, then offered an assessment based on her experience.
"A lot of people?"
"Wasn't this supposed to be a hidden realm left behind by an Ancient Loose Immortal? Did people come in here before us?"
Zhao Tie Zhu scratched his head and asked in bewilderment.
"Not necessarily living people."
Liu Qingqing hastened to explain. Her gaze then fell on some faint marks along the sides of the steps. Pointing ahead, she continued, "Look at these marks.