Mei Ran then turned completely to Kyrian.
"Let’s go inside." She said as she walked ahead, entering the hall.
"I found something earlier and thought it would be better to show you," Kyrian said, taking out the five books and placing them on the stone table.
Mei Ran immediately frowned. She picked up one of the books, flipped through it, and then looked at him, surprised.
"These markings, you found the books in the cave of the Linha Country, didn’t you?"
Kyrian nodded.
"Interesting. Then there were more of them. I found three similar books lost in the same place," she said, taking other volumes out of her pouch.
When she placed the three on the table, they noticed the material was identical.
The symbols on the pages were parts of the same writing.
"I asked the elder of the Technique Pavilion when I returned to the sect," Mei Ran said.
"He’s in charge of all the sect’s ancient records and techniques. But even he couldn’t identify this language."
Kyrian stared at the eight books, thoughtful.
"So, no one knows what’s written in them."
"Not yet. But the sect leader might know, if not him, then someone outside the sect. For now, leave them with me. As soon as I find something out, I’ll let you know."
"Alright," Kyrian nodded.
In the next instant, a sharp sound cut through the air.
A roar coming from the sky.
Both frowned and looked up.
Two more roars followed, echoing over the central area.
They were flying beasts.
Mei Ran turned to Kyrian.
"Who dares fly up here on beasts?"
They quickly left the hall. The strong wind carried dust and leaves across the courtyard, and on the horizon, two large silhouettes with others on their backs were approaching.
They were recognized immediately as sect flying beasts, with the core disciples descending at high speed.
When they landed, Kyrian saw Mo Tianhai in front, followed by Mo Xia and Long Xue, who immediately looked at Kyrian with a smile.
Wu Jian and Shen Yu were still mounted on the other beast, wearing serious expressions.
Mei Ran took a step forward.
"What happened?"
Mo Tianhai dismounted, his face serious.
"Elder Mei Ran," he began firmly, bowing slightly.
"While completing our mission, we passed near the City of the Three Forces."
"And then?" Mei Ran narrowed her eyes.
"A light appeared on the plains near the city and rose to the skies like a beam. It seemed stable and was constantly releasing a flow of Qi."
"We believe it’s a treasure... or perhaps an inheritance."
Kyrian listened silently, observing Tianhai and the others behind him.
But after hearing his words, his interest was immediately piqued.
"We returned right away to report," Mo Tianhai continued.
"But it’s likely that the Scarlet Sun Sect and the Six Poisons Sect have already seen it too. They won’t take long to send people there."
After listening, Mei Ran kept her gaze fixed on the horizon for a few seconds, then took a jade slip from her pouch and spoke immediately.
"Come to the central hall. There’s a matter of utmost importance." Her voice was firm.
Mei Ran then looked again at Mo Tianhai, her expression hardening.
"If it truly is a inheritance, we can’t waste time and let the other domains take it. The sect leader hasn’t returned yet, so I’ll go with you. Prepare yourselves. All of you will come."
Mo Tianhai simply nodded and, without further questions, turned to the others.
The rest exchanged glances and, one by one, began moving, returning to their courtyards to prepare.
Kyrian watched everything silently as two elders quickly appeared beside Mei Ran. One of them, after Mei Ran spoke a few words, nodded in understanding and entered the central hall.
The last one, a man with long white hair, Kyrian recognized, and he understood why Mei Ran had called him. He was the oldest elder of the sect, Kyrian had only seen him when all the elders gathered.
"If something is truly appearing near the City of the Three Forces, it’ll be a direct conflict between domains. It’ll be dangerous for the younger ones. I’ll go with you," the old man said, his voice hoarse but steady.
"Better to leave before the chaos begins."
Mei Ran agreed with a nod.
"The other sects must already be on their way. We can’t stay behind."
In less than half an hour, everyone was ready.
The wind howled atop the mountain as three large flying beasts appeared in front of the central hall.
Their wings spread wide, sending gusts of wind across the stone ground.
On the first beast were Mei Ran and the oldest elder, leading the way.
On the second, Mo Tianhai, Shen Yu, and Wu Jian, all with serious, focused expressions.
Kyrian noticed that after Long Xue’s recovery, Wu Jian was gradually returning to how he used to be.
On the third and last beast were Kyrian, Mo Xia, and Long Xue.
As the beasts took flight, the sharp screeches and heavy flapping of wings echoed across the central area.
The three shadows quickly disappeared into the clouds, leaving only silence behind.
The cold wind hit Kyrian’s face as he watched the sect vanish behind him, the mountains below passing in blurs.
’Looks like the days of rest in the sect will have to wait again,’ Kyrian thought.
He then looked to the side, where Long Xue was observing the landscape with a faint smile.
"What is this City of the Three Forces?" Kyrian asked.
Long Xue turned, surprised that he didn’t know.
"Oh, you’ve never heard of it? It’s a neutral city," she said, lively. Long Xue herself had only learned that a few days earlier.
"It sits right at the meeting point of three borders, the Verdant Sword Domain, the Scarlet Domain, and the Six Poisons Domain."
"None of the three powers completely control the place, so it’s become a point of balance between them."
"Neutral..." Kyrian murmured, thoughtful.
Mo Xia, sitting a bit ahead, added.
"It’s also one of the largest trading centers between domains. Merchants, rogue cultivators, and smaller forces live there."
Kyrian nodded slightly, understanding.
"And about that blue light you saw, do you really think it’s a inheritance?"
Mo Xia tilted her head.
"From what Tianhai said, it seemed stable, and a flow of Qi kept coming out of it. It didn’t dissipate as quickly as it should have. It looked like something was slowly emerging."
"For it to stay suspended in the air like that for so long, it could very well be a heritage."
Kyrian closed his eyes for a moment.
He already knew about places like that, sites where ancient cultivators left behind their legacies and techniques, waiting for someone to inherit them.
But he also knew what that meant.
Heritage sites always came with competition and danger. Usually, only one person succeeded.
Depending on who had built the place, there was a good chance that many of those who entered would never return.
The three beasts continued their flight, cutting through dense clouds and heavy winds at high altitude.
The journey would still take several days.