Chapter 73: Ancient Secrets

After a journey of a little more than ten minutes, Tianming and his two companions swiftly arrived at the Celestial Pavilion. This pavilion was located at the central point between the Heavenly Abode area and the Elders’ Court, making it easy to find. Although Tianming had no prior knowledge of its precise location, he was confident in his ability to feign familiarity—perhaps not as skilled as Chu Qingchen, but competent enough.

“So this is the Celestial Pavilion within the Celestial Evolution Sect?” Tianming’s eyes sparkled as he whispered to himself.

He had to admit, never before had he seen such a magnificent structure. It could easily rival the Elders’ Court, perhaps even surpassing it in opulence. Before him stretched an immense building, so vast it seemed to blot out the sky and sun. The entire edifice gleamed with the brilliance of gold, as if it were constructed wholly from that precious metal. Its roof, made of crystal-clear glazed tiles, reflected dazzling beams of light, giving the whole structure an air of supreme luxury and regal grandeur.

Above the main entrance hung a golden plaque, inscribed with bold characters reading “Celestial Pavilion.” The calligraphy swept downward in a single, powerful stroke, its sharpness like a dragon unbound, soaring through the heavens, transcending the mundane, weaving and shifting high above. The vitality contained within this nearly frenzied, primal script seemed to pulse with the primordial energy of the laws of the universe.

Though the inscription was brief, it was vivid and lifelike, majestic yet ever-changing. Each stroke, though following tradition, conjured the image of a legendary dragon soaring through the nine heavens—sometimes clear, sometimes hidden, its roar echoing, its form flickering in and out of sight. Ink seemed to dissolve into clouds, transforming into landscapes; water into mist, vanishing into nothingness. The artistry was truly wondrous.

Confronted with such a spectacle, both Tianming and Hengcheng, unlike Sikong Shi who was accustomed to it, stood rooted to the spot in utter astonishment.

In that moment, Tianming felt as though he had entered another realm—a hazy, ethereal world, where dragons roared in all directions. Just as confusion began to take hold, the illusory scene seemed to gain substance: mighty dragons ascended to the skies, their bodies bound by colossal chains. Behind them, within the endless void, shadows danced. As Tianming strained to see more clearly, the vision suddenly shattered, and from the distant past, a voice seemed to echo forth: “Fated one, at last you have arrived!”

Such a majestic vision, an endless void—what were these celestial dragons pulling? Why had he been drawn into such a strange vision? None of it made sense to Tianming.

“What… is this?” he muttered under his breath.

At that instant, Tianming felt as if something new had been imprinted upon his memory.

But recalling where he was, Tianming quickly opened his eyes, only to find two pairs of eyes fixed upon him.

“Sikong, what just happened to me?” Seeing Sikong Shi and Hengcheng watching him, Tianming couldn’t help but ask curiously.

Noting Tianming’s keen curiosity, both Sikong Shi and Hengcheng exchanged surprised glances.

“It seems this is indeed your first time inside the Celestial Pavilion,” Sikong Shi replied after a moment’s thought.

What shocked Sikong Shi even more, however, was that Tianming had stood there motionless for nearly half an hour. What on earth had transpired within that time?

“Oh? And how did you deduce that, Sikong?” Tianming nodded, not denying the observation.

“Because anyone visiting the Celestial Pavilion for the first time reacts as you did. But I must say, I’m amazed you lingered in your trance for so long!” Sikong Shi marveled, smiling.

Hengcheng nodded in agreement. “Elder Brother Tianming, you stood there for almost half an hour just now!”

Half an hour?

“…There’s something unusual about that plaque!” Tianming said, frowning as he looked at Sikong Shi.

If Sikong Shi was surprised, Tianming was even more so, for it had seemed only seconds had passed. Had time itself accelerated for him? What immense power could have caused that—surely only a god himself.

“That’s right! But we don’t know much about it. We only know that this plaque dates back to ancient times, said to have been carved by the Sect’s founding patriarch, Xunzi. It has survived for over ten thousand years, completely unscathed,” Sikong Shi explained.

At these words, Tianming’s mouth dropped open in disbelief. Over ten thousand years? The sheer enormity of it was staggering. After all, the civilization of Earthstar had existed only five or six thousand years. Could it be that the ultimate pursuit of science was truly cultivation, to seek the way of immortality?

“Incredible!”

But if the founder was so powerful, why had he perished? The thought puzzled Tianming, though he did not voice it; such secrets could only be known by Xunzi himself. Tianming could only shake his head in silent awe.

Sikong Shi was not surprised by Tianming’s reaction, for he had felt the same when he first heard this ancient secret.

“There’s no need to be astonished, Brother Tianming. By the way, did you gain anything just now?” Sikong Shi suddenly asked, as if recalling something.

He had noticed no obvious change in Tianming, yet by all rights, anyone who entered the Celestial Pavilion for the first time would receive a blessing and advance by one grade. Even though it was only a single grade, it was still a rare gift.

“Er… it seems I didn’t gain anything,” Tianming replied after a moment’s thought.

Though he had indeed obtained a mysterious primordial technique, he knew better than to reveal it. After all, one should never flaunt one’s wealth, and although Sikong Shi bore him no ill will, Tianming preferred caution—there might be listening ears nearby.

“Huh! Hengcheng, you’re… at the second grade?” Tianming exclaimed in surprise, glancing at Hengcheng.

As his gaze swept over, Tianming paused in disbelief—Hengcheng’s aura had clearly grown stronger.

“Elder Brother Tianming, I was only able to advance to the second grade of Spirit Void thanks to that plaque!” Hengcheng said with a broad smile, his excitement evident, though he spoke without a trace of boastfulness.

Impressive!

“No wonder this is one of the four great sects of the continent!” Tianming nodded in admiration.

Seeing this, Sikong Shi walked over to Hengcheng. “Brother Tianming, now do you understand why I was so puzzled?”

He nodded.

“In that case, Sikong, shall we head inside?” Tianming asked solemnly, his gaze turning to Sikong Shi.

“Tianming, I won’t be going in. I’ve already used up my own chance to select, and with you accompanying Hengcheng, I can rest easy,” Sikong Shi said, quickly shaking his head as if reminded of something crucial.

Apparently, a pressing matter had just come to mind for Sikong Shi.

“Is that so? Very well, it will be just Hengcheng and I, then.” Tianming nodded towards Sikong Shi, sounding a touch regretful.

Though slightly puzzled by Sikong Shi’s refusal, Tianming did not press the issue.

Watching Sikong Shi stay behind, Hengcheng looked back a few times with some reluctance before hurrying after Tianming.

“I must notify the Elders at once…” Sikong Shi muttered to himself, watching the two figures recede into the distance.

After the founding patriarch had inscribed the plaque, a prophecy had also been passed down—one that could determine the fate of the entire sect. Sikong Shi had learned of it by chance from an elder, never expecting to witness it with his own eyes.