82: Secret of the Ancient Pavilion 1

Before dawn, the Ancient Clan Sacred Mountain was shrouded in a faint purple mist. Xiao Yan sat cross-legged on the Star Observation Platform, his newly regenerated body absorbing the energy of heaven and earth.

After a night of recuperation, his vocal cords had fully recovered, though his voice was deeper than before, carrying a unique echo characteristic of the Flame Lord's Fire.

"Flame Brother," Xiao Bing's voice came from behind him. "Ling Xiao is awake. The Grand Elder has invited us to the Forbidden Ground's library."

Xiao Yan opened his eyes, his cyan-silver right eye gleaming with a strange light in the morning sun. "Forbidden Ground?"

"Yes, they said records concerning the seed of the plane might be there," Xiao Bing walked closer, lowering his voice. "But I feel they're more interested in studying Ling Xiao's current state."

Xiao Yan stood up and stretched his newly regenerated body. Every muscle, every Meridian, was perfectly coordinated, even more suitable for combat than his original body.

However, the unfamiliar power in his right eye occasionally made him see strange images—burning stars, shattered continents, and... a pair of giant eyes opening in the void.

"Better safe than sorry," Xiao Yan patted his brother's shoulder. "We're still not sure if the Ancient Clan's interior is entirely trustworthy."

The two arrived at the side hall where Ling Xiao was resting, finding him already dressed and sitting by the bed, listening to the Grand Elder recount something.

Seeing his two elder brothers enter, Ling Xiao immediately stood up, a hint of joy flashing in his silver eyes. "Brother! I feel much better!"

Xiao Yan carefully observed Ling Xiao's state. Compared to his ethereal state yesterday, Ling Xiao was now closer to his original self, but there was an indescribable rhythm in his every movement, as if subtly resonating with the surrounding space.

"The Grand Elder said he's taking us to the Forbidden Ground!" Ling Xiao said excitedly. "There might be clues about the seed of the plane there!"

The Grand Elder smiled and nodded. "This old man searched through ordinary texts last night and only found scattered records.

The Forbidden Ground's library preserves the Ancient Clan's oldest secrets; perhaps we can find more there." He paused, looking meaningfully at Ling Xiao. "And this old man believes that Young Master Ling Xiao's current state might be able to activate some ancient Restrictions that ordinary people cannot access."

Xiao Bing frowned slightly. "What do you mean?"

"There are many Legacies left by our ancestors in the Ancient Clan's Forbidden Ground, which only those with specific Bloodlines or Physiques can unlock," the Grand Elder explained.

"Young Master Ling Xiao, now bearing the Spirit of the Plane, is very likely the key to some of these Restrictions."

Xiao Yan and Xiao Bing exchanged a wary glance.

Xiao Yan spoke, "Since that's the case, let's go take a look. However..." He looked directly into the Grand Elder's eyes. "I hope the Ancient Clan can be honest with us.

With the Source World in crisis, any concealment could lead to irreversible consequences."

The Grand Elder's expression remained unchanged, but a complex look flashed in his eyes. "Emperor Yan, you worry too much. The Ancient Clan shares life and death with the Source World; we will naturally do our utmost."

Led by Mystic Light, the group passed through the intricate passages within the Sacred Mountain, arriving before a stone door carved with star patterns.

Mystic Light took out the Clan Chief's token and pressed it into the center of the stone door, chanting an ancient incantation.

The stone door slowly opened, revealing a deep, dark passage behind it.

"The Forbidden Ground's library is at the end of the passage," Mystic Light stepped aside, his gaze remaining on Ling Xiao. "Please follow me."

The walls on both sides of the passage were embedded with glowing crystals, casting ever-changing light and shadows.

Xiao Yan noticed that these light and shadows were not random but depicted major events in the history of the Source World—the birth of the plane, the rise of the Ancient Clan, the arrival of the Flame Lord...

The last few images, however, were blurry, as if intentionally damaged.

"These murals..." Xiao Yan was about to ask when the Grand Elder suddenly quickened his pace.

"We've arrived at the library."

At the end of the passage was a circular stone chamber, with a crystal-clear display cabinet in the center, surrounded by twelve stone platforms.

Each platform had an ancient book suspended above it, each radiating a different light.

Most striking was the wall directly opposite the entrance to the stone chamber—a massive gray stone slab embedded in it, its surface covered in cracks, seemingly having endured countless ages.

"This is the Ancient Clan's oldest prophecy stone slab," the Grand Elder bowed respectfully to the slab. "It is said to have been personally forged by the first Spirit of the Plane at the dawn of the Source World."

Ling Xiao unconsciously walked towards the stone slab, his silver eyes reflecting the patterns on its surface. "It... is calling me..."

Xiao Bing tried to pull him back but was stopped by Xiao Yan.

The three of them watched as Ling Xiao placed his hand on the stone slab.

In an instant, the entire stone slab erupted with dazzling silver light!

The cracks on its surface lit up like blood vessels, and countless ancient runes flew out from the stone slab, forming a dynamic image in the air above the stone chamber—it was the figures of Xiao Yan, Xiao Bing, and Ling Xiao!

The images of the three were surrounded by cyan, blue, and silver energies, finally converging into a brilliant light seed.

The stone slab emitted a booming sound like a great bell, and an ancient motto echoed in everyone's mind:

"Three spirits share the main, the plane becomes one;

Chaos reappears, the void is coming;

Only when the seed manifests, will the end be achieved."