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The mountain mist was not too dense and easily pierced by sunlight, sharp as swords.

More than one hundred fifteen-year-old youths had gathered before the Family Head Pavilion.

Located at the very center of the Mountain Stronghold, this five-story pavilion towered high with its eaves curving upwards like wings. It was heavily guarded. The square in front served as a gathering place, while inside were tablets honoring ancestors from generations past. Each successive family head lived here, and during major ceremonies or unexpected events, the house elders convened within to discuss matters. This was the power center of the entire Mountain Stronghold.

"Good, everyone arrived on time. Today is the Enlightenment Ceremony, a critical turning point in your lives. Let's skip the small talk; follow me." In charge of this event was a school elder, his hair and beard pure white but his spirit vigorous. He led the youths towards the Family Head Pavilion.

However, instead of going upstairs, they entered through the main hall and descended downwards.

Following stone steps carved into the ground, they ventured into a subterranean cavern.

The youths gasped in amazement. The underground cavern was breathtakingly beautiful, filled with stalactites glowing with vibrant colors—red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet. These hues reflected onto the faces of the youths, creating a dazzling, rainbow-like spectacle.

Fang Yuan blended with the crowd, quietly observing everything around him and pondering to himself:

"Hundreds of years ago, the Guyue Clan migrated from the Central Plains to the southern border and settled here on Qingmao Mountain. They were drawn by this subterranean cave's spirit spring, which produces vast quantities of origin stones. This resource can be considered the foundation of Guyue Stronghold."

After walking several hundred steps, it grew increasingly dark, yet faint sounds of water became audible.

Around a corner, a wide underground river more than nine meters across came into view for all present.

The colorful glow emitted by the stalactites had completely vanished.

But amidst the darkness, the river itself shimmered with a soft blue light, resembling a galaxy in the night sky.

The crystal-clear waters flowed from deep within the shadows of the cavern, allowing one to see fish swimming, aquatic plants swaying, as well as sand and pebbles at the bottom.

The sun rose, its rays brilliant. The mountain fog wasn't very thick that allowed the penetrating rays to easily pass through.

Over a hundred 15 year-old youths gathered in front of the clan pavilion. The clan pavilion was in the middle of the village, reaching five storeys and having sharp tilted roofs; it was heavily guarded. Before the pavilion was the square, and in the pavilion was the shrine of the Gu Yue ancestor memorial tablets. Every generation of clan head had lived in the pavilion. With every major ceremony or big incident, the clan elders would gather and discuss meetings here as well. This was the entire village's authority central.

"Good, all of you are punctual. Today is the Awakening Ceremony; it is your life's great turning point. I won't say much, just come with me." The one responsible at the moment was the elder of the academy. His beard and hair were white and he was in high spirits as he led the young teenagers into the pavilion. However they did not go up, but were led downstairs after going through the entrance of a great hall. Following down a constructed stone ladder, they went into an underground cave.

The group of youths made surprised and amazed noises. The underground cave was beautiful, stalactites sparkling with the colors of the rainbow. This light shone on the youth's faces, the neon hues gorgeous.

Fang Yuan was mixed into the crowd, quietly observing everything that was happening. In his heart, he thought: Hundreds of years ago, the Gu Yue clan came to Qing Mao Mountain and settled down after migrating from the central lands to the South Border. It was when they found a spirit spring in this underground cave. This spirit spring produces a large number of primeval stones—It could be said that this was the foundation of the Gu Yue village.

They walked several hundred steps. It got darker and the sounds of water were faintly heard. After turning around a corner, a 30 feet wide underground river greeted them. By now the colorful lights of the stalactites had disappeared completely, yet in the darkness the river emitted a faint blue light. It was like a star river of the night sky.

The river flowed from the dark depths of the cave. Inside the crystal clear waters, one could see fish, aquatic plants and even the sand beneath the river.