The mountain path leading to Ji Xia Sect had been silent for centuries.
Wind once carried only dust and fallen leaves across the abandoned stone steps. Travelers rarely came this far into the mountains, and those who did would quickly turn back after seeing the ruins of the once-forgotten sect.
But today was different.
Five figures slowly climbed the ancient path.
They wore dark blue cultivation robes embroidered with silver cloud patterns. Each carried a sword at their waist, and faint spiritual energy surrounded their bodies.
They belonged to a nearby sect.
Their leader, a tall man with a sharp jaw and narrow eyes, paused halfway up the mountain.
"This is strange."
One of the younger disciples behind him asked, "Senior Brother Han, what do you mean?"
Han Wei narrowed his eyes toward the peak.
"This mountain used to belong to Ji Xia Sect."
The youngest disciple laughed.
"That old ruined place? I heard it collapsed hundreds of years ago."
Another disciple nodded.
"Right. Our elders said the sect was wiped out by enemies and the spiritual veins here dried up."
Han Wei remained silent.
Something about the mountain felt different.
The wind carried traces of dense spiritual energy—far more than the rumors had described.
"Something has changed here," he muttered.
The group continued climbing.
Soon the mountain path opened into a wide clearing.
And then they saw it.
All five disciples froze.
Before them stood an enormous sect gate carved from radiant jade stone. Two massive pillars rose beside it, engraved with glowing golden runes that shimmered with ancient power.
Above the gate hung a large plaque.
Three elegant characters were carved into it.
Ji Xia Sect
The youngest disciple's eyes widened.
"T-this…"
Another disciple whispered,
"That's impossible…"
Han Wei stepped forward slowly.
The entire sect had been rebuilt.
Towering halls stretched across the mountain peak. Spiritual mist drifted between the buildings, and the air vibrated with powerful energy.
Above everything, a massive golden barrier covered the entire sect territory like a dome.
A Celestial Barrier.
Han Wei's heart skipped a beat.
"What kind of sect… has such a formation?"
Suddenly—
A deep growl echoed from within the gates.
The ground trembled slightly.
The five disciples stiffened.
Then the massive gates slowly opened.
Standing inside the courtyard was a gigantic black beast.
Vorath.
The ancient lion's obsidian scales glimmered beneath the sunlight as its amber eyes fixed on the visitors.
The pressure from its presence alone nearly forced the five disciples to kneel.
One of them gasped.
"A… a divine beast?!"
Vorath stepped forward slowly.
Each of its steps caused faint cracks to spread across the stone ground.
Its deep voice rumbled like distant thunder.
"State your purpose."
None of the five cultivators dared move.
Han Wei forced himself to speak.
"We… we are disciples of the Silver Cloud Sect."
He bowed slightly despite the fear gripping his body.
"We came only to investigate rumors about this mountain."
Vorath's amber eyes narrowed.
"Rumors?"
Before Han Wei could answer—
Another voice echoed across the courtyard.
Calm.
Composed.
"You have found more than rumors."
The disciples looked toward the source of the voice.
Yan Fu slowly stepped out from the main hall.
His long white robes flowed gently in the wind, and the Phoenix Crown Spear rested casually in his hand.
Li Fei walked behind him.
Han Wei's eyes widened slightly.
He could not sense Yan Fu's cultivation level at all.
It was as if the man standing before him existed beyond the limits of normal perception.
Yan Fu stopped a few meters away from the gate.
"You have entered the territory of Ji Xia Sect."
Han Wei swallowed.
"We meant no disrespect."
Yan Fu studied them briefly.
Their cultivation was weak.
None of them had even reached the higher realms of this world's power.
Yet they had climbed this mountain with courage.
"That is fortunate," Yan Fu replied calmly.
Han Wei looked around nervously.
"Senior… is this really Ji Xia Sect?"
Yan Fu nodded.
"Yes."
"But Ji Xia Sect was destroyed centuries ago," another disciple blurted.
Yan Fu lifted his gaze slightly toward the sky.
"That was the past."
At that moment—
Lightning flashed across the clouds above the sect.
The five disciples instinctively looked upward.
And their blood ran cold.
A massive azure dragon slowly moved through the clouds above Ji Xia Sect.
Tianlong's enormous body stretched across the sky like a living storm.
The youngest disciple nearly collapsed.
"A DRAGON?!"
Another disciple fell to his knees instantly.
"Divine heavens…"
Han Wei's breathing became shallow.
A sect with a divine beast guardian was already extraordinary.
But this…
This was something far beyond that.
Yan Fu noticed their reactions and simply said,
"That is Tianlong, one of our guardians."
Han Wei's legs nearly gave out.
"One of…?"
Before he could finish—
A soft glow suddenly appeared behind Yan Fu.
Aetherion stepped forward gracefully, celestial light drifting from its mane like glowing mist.
Now the five disciples were staring at three divine beings surrounding the sect master.
Their minds were completely blank.
Li Fei watched their expressions with amusement.
Just yesterday he had reacted the same way.
Yan Fu finally spoke again.
"You came here searching for rumors."
He rested the Phoenix Crown Spear against the ground.
"Now you have seen the truth."
Han Wei hesitated before asking carefully,
"Senior… what is the purpose of Ji Xia Sect's return?"
Yan Fu's eyes held quiet certainty.
"To rise again."
The wind swept across the courtyard.
Li Fei felt a strange excitement hearing those words.
Han Wei remained silent for a moment.
Then slowly…
He bowed deeply.
"If a sect like this has truly returned to the world…"
His voice carried genuine respect.
"…then perhaps history is about to change."
Yan Fu did not reply.
But his faint smile suggested the man was not wrong.
Above them, Tianlong coiled through the clouds while lightning danced across the sky.
Three divine guardians protected the mountain.
And the name Ji Xia Sect had begun spreading once again beyond the borders of the mountain.
The world simply did not know it yet.