Chapter 39: Chapter 39: The Stone Monument

“Do you know about Taotian Palace?”

Seeing Jiang Churan’s expression, Ye Qingchen couldn’t help but ask.

Jiang Churan nodded and said, “It is said that Taotian Palace, hundreds of years ago, was the largest sect in Celestial Peak Country, and even in the whole Qing Province! Even if you combined the eight major sects of today, they wouldn’t compare to even a tenth of it! But for certain reasons, it was destroyed overnight!”

The largest sect in Qing Province!

Even combined, the eight major sects couldn’t compare to a tenth of it!

Such an existence was actually destroyed overnight?

“I didn’t expect that someone still remembers the existence of Taotian Palace!” Qin Wentian took a deep look at Jiang Churan, meeting the surprised and curious gazes of the crowd, “The girl is right!”

“May I ask Elder Qin, what was the reason for the destruction of Taotian Palace?” Ye Qingchen couldn’t hold back his curiosity.

Jiang Churan, standing nearby, also asked, “Elder Qin, are you from Taotian Palace…?”

“As for the reason for Taotian Palace’s destruction, you don’t need to know it now. It won’t do you any good! As for me…” Qin Wentian took a couple of gulps of wine, his gaze becoming deep again, “You can just think of me as a wandering ghost of Taotian Palace!”

The crowd suddenly fell silent.

No one expected that they had joined a sect that had been destroyed hundreds of years ago.

Moments later.

They had already climbed the mountain and soon saw a scene of ruins.

Just by looking at the walls, several dozen feet high, and the continuous palace halls, one could guess how prosperous it must have been here in the past. But now it had become a wasteland, overgrown with weeds, appearing endlessly desolate.

At the most prominent place.

They saw a massive stone monument standing there.

On it were inscribed three large characters, unmistakably:

“Taotian Palace!”

This monument was over ten feet tall, forged from some unknown material, with runes flashing all over it, emanating an extraordinary air. Even after enduring hundreds of years of weathering, it remained as new as ever.

But on this monument, there was a palm print several feet deep, with countless cracks densely spreading out from the palm print.

Qin Wentian, seeing Ye Qingchen staring at the palm print, casually remarked, “This was left by those people back then!”

“Let me try!” Hong Man’s eyes lit up, and he strode forward to the monument.

“Zha!”

He let out a loud shout.

The sound was like thunder, supremely resounding around, sending countless birds into a panic, flying off, covering the sky like a cloud, deafening.

As this sound reached its peak, Hong Man had already raised the giant staff in his hand, striking down fiercely, smashing towards the monument with a boom. Such power left the crowd pale.

This strike, not to mention a stone monument, could easily shatter even a solid iron block!

“Dong!”

A huge echo like a grand bell.

It was as if a Yellow Turban Warrior had wielded a Thousand-Pound Hammer, pounding on a bronze bell.

A visible sound wave, with Hong Man at its center, spread wildly in all directions.

“What happened?”

The crowd quickly looked over.

They saw Hong Man’s iron staff break, and he staggered back several steps, his hands trembling uncontrollably, the skin at the base of his thumb shattered, bleeding profusely. But as for the monument, not even a single mark was left.

“Let me try too!”

Ye Qingchen was secretly shocked.

He stepped forward to the monument and directly used his strongest move, Thunder Shock Pointing!

“Bang!”

A sound even larger than before erupted.

Ye Qingchen retreated several steps, his eyes widening.

His previous strike felt like hitting an unseen mountain peak or an overwhelming wave, not only ineffective but causing a rebound that left his fingers aching.

“No need to try again, even if you reach the highest realm of the Spiritual Sea Realm, you won’t be able to leave any trace on this monument!” Qin Wentian waved his hand, “I’ll take you to find a place to stay!”

Not even the highest realm of the Spiritual Sea Realm could leave a mark?

Ye Qingchen felt deeply shaken.

What kind of existence had destroyed Taotian Palace back then?

Following Qin Wentian, they reached the innermost area, where they saw a huge palace standing, slightly better than the ruins outside but still dilapidated, appearing ready to collapse at any moment, and inside the main hall was a mess.

“This main hall is the council hall of Taotian Palace, where only elders were qualified to stay, and now it’s yours.” Qin Wentian pointed behind the council hall, “There are still many rooms there, choose one for yourselves!”

Ye Qing couldn’t hold back any longer, “Elder Qin, how many disciples does this Taotian Palace have?”

“Not a single one before! Now, there’s you guys!” Qin Wentian’s gaze swept over them with a grin, “Taotian Palace hasn’t been this lively for a long time…”

Ye Qing: “…”

“Sorry, I got you involved!” Ye Qingchen apologized, glancing at Hong Man and Jiang Churan.

“If you say that again, I’ll be mad!” Jiang Churan pretended to be displeased, but her eyes were like a spring pool.

Hong Man also spoke, “Brother Ye, this is our own choice. We saw what happened to you, and if one day we lose our usefulness, perhaps the eight major sects would also stand by coldly. I don’t want to join such emotionless sects!”

Ye Qingchen nodded heavily.

The days of continuous travel had left everyone a bit tired.

Each found a room and rested.

A silent night passed.

Early the next morning, Ye Qingchen got up early to hunt. In such a Taotian Palace, not to mention guiding their cultivation, even eating would be a problem.

Luckily, Taotian Palace had been abandoned for a long time, and this place had already become a haven for wild beasts.

Before long, Ye Qingchen returned carrying a wild boar. After processing it a bit, he started roasting it. Soon, the boar’s skin turned golden and fragrant.

“Smells so good!”

At this point, Hong Man and Jiang Churan also smelled the aroma and rushed over.

“Let’s eat first, then we’ll discuss how to cultivate later!” Ye Qingchen tore off two pig legs, handed them over, and then carefully sliced the tenderest meat, handing it to Ye Qing, whose eyes curved like crescent moons with a smile.

“Cultivation…” Hong Man, munching with oil dripping from his mouth, “When the time comes, can’t we just cultivate with the other disciples?”

“Didn’t Elder Qin say? The entire Taotian Palace consists of just us! Who can we follow to cultivate?” Jiang Churan couldn’t help rolling her eyes at Hong Man, then tore off a piece of meat and stuffed it into her mouth, her eyes lighting up. Clearly, the roast meat was to her liking.

“You can’t be serious?” Hong Man’s eyes widened, “I thought that old man was joking with us!”

Ye Qingchen shook his head, “I’ve already explored most of Taotian Palace. Although I haven’t finished exploring every part, I’m sure there are only the four of us here! As for Elder Qin, who knows where he’s gone!”

The group was left speechless.

Hong Man couldn’t help but shout, “That strange old man, he tricked us into Taotian Palace and then ran off himself?”

“Who said that?” Just as he finished speaking, a cold snort came from outside the hall. Qin Wentian strode in, glancing at them with a half-smile, “Over the years, you are the only group who hasn’t run off in the night after seeing the state of Taotian Palace! At least I didn’t waste a whole night fetching things for you!”

“After breakfast, put these on and come out to train!”

Qin Wentian tossed out something with a casual motion, and there was a series of loud thuds as dozens of heavy objects hit the floor, shattering it with spreading cracks.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep