Chapter 263.1: Rongshan Sect - Part One

Before him stood a divine mountain that towered into the clouds.

A massive mountain pass gate stood at the base of the mountain, covered in countless obscure and mystical runes. These runes were not the script of the current era, but they emitted a unique aura that was especially mysterious in its own right. On one side of the mountain pass gate, there was a large stone slab about the height of a person, bearing a few large words.

These words were also not written in the script of the current age, but they could be vaguely recognized.

Rongshan Sect.

Turns out that this ancient ruin was the location of the sect once known as the Rongshan Sect.

Chen Chao looked up, and from the mountain pass gate, a stone-paved path extended into the mountain, disappearing into the clouds and mist, vanishing without a trace.

In the distant mountains, colorful clouds enveloped the scenery, countless pavilions hidden within the mist, appearing and disappearing. One could even faintly hear the melody of Great Dao echoing in this place.

It was as if this was a true immortal realm, or even a divine kingdom.

Compared to the places surrounded by white mist he had seen earlier, the mountain pass gate of this Rongshan Sect was truly in a league of its own.

Looking at the colossal divine mountain before him, Chen Chao recalled the cemetery he had visited before, with the skeletons he had seen. If this was indeed the true mountain pass gate of the Rongshan Sect, then whether was it the cemetery earlier, or the lakes and plains he had walked through, they were all clearly a part of this sect. However, they must have been the outermost regions.

Just these areas alone were already enormous, making the Rongshan Sect's sect territory vast; even larger than any sect in the current age. This might indirectly prove that the Rongshan Sect had been a major sect of its time, perhaps producing numerous powerhouses that were renowned throughout the world.

But, since this ancient sect was so powerful, why would it be destroyed?

Judging from the mountain pass gate, it was still considered well-preserved. It did not have any connection with sudden destruction.

Chen Chao was filled with questions. He had originally thought that he was being guided here to see the young girl again, but he had not expected to arrive in front of this mountain pass gate.

This was not where the young girl was.

Chen Chao fell into silence for a moment, then exhaled a mouthful of white mist. The white mist instantly dissipated here, leaving no trace.

After drinking the spring water with large gulps, Chen Chao felt no different. He only felt a somewhat warm sensation throughout his body, and his spirit became even more vibrant.

Glancing at this ancient spring, Chen Chao noticed that water was still bubbling up at the spring's source non-stop. He furrowed his brow but realized it was not anything special. But, he was not too disappointed either. After a moment, he continued on his way toward the mountain.

As he traveled along the mountain path, it grew steeper, but the pressure on his body remained unchanged. The medicinal herbs lining the sides of the path were truly too fragrant that they made him forget his fatigue. Before long, Chen Chao arrived at the end of the stone steps.

He found himself standing in an immensely vast square. At the far end of the square, there stood a magnificent palace. The palace was tall and grand, constructed from massive stone blocks. It exuded the weight of history and antiquity. Because it was so tall, the upper half of the palace was shrouded in colorful clouds, making it look like a palace built in the heavens.

What left Chen Chao most stunned was that countless cultivators were sitting cross-legged on that plaza.

Yes, Chen Chao could tell with one glance that these people were cultivators.

Countless cultivators were seated on the square, all of them with their eyes tightly shut. There was no sign of life flowing from their bodies. They seem to have already died many years ago, yet at the same time, it seemed like they had not died. Instead, they had sunk into bitter cultivation. When a gentle breeze passed by, their hair even swayed gently, and some of their robes even moved slightly too.

But the entire square was incredibly silent, devoid of any vitality.

Chen Chao felt a very bizarre atmosphere.

Everything before his eyes seemed to convey that on some day in the distant past, these cultivators gathered here for meditation. However, as they entered meditation, they never woke up again.

What kind of existence could silently cause the deaths of so many people without them being prepared at all?

It was as if, at that time, someone merely glanced over here, waved their hand, and all the cultivators perished. That was why these structures had remained unchanged over the years.

Standing there, Chen Chao felt a bone-chilling coldness that penetrated deep into his bones.

This silent oppression was more terrifying than any Nepenthe Realm cultivator in the world. As for the powerful beings who had transcended the Nepenthe Realm, how could they be ordinary cultivators?

He recalled one of the legends from the eleventh year of Tian Jian, it was said that an immortal appeared in the Ying Prefecture. Although no one had witnessed the true appearance of the immortal afterward, the mere existence of this legend indicated the possibility.

Could it be that immortals truly existed in this world?

How else could one explain this situation?