Although Thousand Leaf Sect could no longer compare to a true top-tier sect, relying on the many legacies left behind tens of thousands of years ago, it still cut an impressive figure. As Yang Kai traveled through, he found the sights quite interesting.
However, he could sense that the ambient spiritual energy here wasn't particularly rich. Such a magnificent mountain and treasured land, yet without the corresponding spiritual energy swirling about—that meant the earth veins here were nothing special. A territory like this would normally never be chosen as a place to establish a sect, yet the founding ancestor of Thousand Leaf Sect had chosen to take root here, clearly because of that Secret Realm.
Just as Wen Zishan had established the Green Yang Divine Temple in the Green Yang Mountain Range, the existence of the Spirit Scryer Mirror had been the deciding factor.
The mountain path was rugged, and the group flew through the air, with seas of clouds and mist swirling below them, the scenery breathtaking.
"Hmm… that small mountain over there—it looks like a demon beast." Chi Yue suddenly remarked, as if she had spotted something, pointing at a small peak roughly fifty zhang tall not far away.
"The one beside it is interesting too—it looks like a person standing tall with a sword!" Gu Cangyun gazed at another peak with burning interest, clearly intrigued.
Everyone turned to look and quickly discovered that there were more than just these two interesting peaks. Inside Thousand Leaf Mountain, there were at least a dozen or more small peaks shaped like various living creatures. Without exception, none were particularly tall—ranging from a few dozen to a hundred zhang—some crouching, some standing, making them look as though those creatures had been magnified countless times over.
Yang Kai found it interesting too and couldn't help taking a few extra glances. But soon, his expression shifted as his spiritual sense extended from his body, enveloping those strangely shaped peaks.
A moment later, his face subtly changed, and he exclaimed in alarm, "Sect Master Ye, these small peaks… they're not as simple as they appear on the surface, are they?"
Ye Hen smiled and said, "Young Master Yang truly has sharp eyes to be able to discern this. I am impressed."
"Is it really what I think it is?" Yang Kai's face turned serious at once.
Ye Hen nodded. "Indeed. It is exactly as Young Master Yang suspects."
"Father, what are you two talking about?" Ye Jinghan stared at her father with a confused look, not understanding the riddles they were exchanging.
Chi Yue and the others were also thoroughly confused but felt it wasn't their place to ask.
Yang Kai couldn't help feeling a renewed sense of respect. He praised, "The ancestors of your Sect were truly remarkable people. I originally thought Miss Ye had somewhat exaggerated Thousand Leaf Sect's former glory, but seeing it now, she didn't exaggerate in the slightest."
Ye Hen sighed. "Though our foundations remain, our inheritance has fallen into decline. I am ashamed."
Ye Jinghan said, "This is not Father's fault. If the ancestors of that generation hadn't lost the inheritance, we wouldn't have ended up like this."
"Insolent!" Ye Hen glared at Ye Jinghan. "How dare you casually criticize the actions of our ancestors."
Ye Jinghan pouted, looking thoroughly displeased.
Seeing that Ye Hen was in low spirits, Yang Kai didn't press the matter further, but his impression of Thousand Leaf Sect rose considerably. He felt that if the sect could truly recover those lost inheritances, within a hundred years it might well ascend to the level of a top-tier sect. Just those unremarkable-looking yet peculiar small peaks alone would be enough to achieve that.
Shortly after, the group arrived at Thousand Leaf Peak, the main peak of Thousand Leaf Mountain. Like other sects, the summit was adorned with pavilions, towers, and halls built on a grand scale—clearly a place of great importance to Thousand Leaf Sect.
At the very top of the peak stood an ancient great hall, standing tall and unyielding, its aura of desolate ages washing over them.
The group descended and landed before the great hall.
The other members of Thousand Leaf Sect had apparently received word beforehand and had been waiting there. Upon seeing Ye Hen and Yang Kai's group, they bowed one after another. However, Shi Cangying's figure was nowhere to be seen.
Ye Hen introduced the senior members of Thousand Leaf Sect to Yang Kai one by one.
After exchanging pleasantries, Ye Hen led Yang Kai and the others into the great hall to hold a welcoming banquet for them.
Outside the great hall, warriors clad in black armor and wielding long halberds stood guard on both sides. Not only that, but there were also demon beasts of various forms lying prostrate on the ground, perfectly still.
As Yang Kai and the others passed by these guards, they noticed that the guards were utterly motionless—not even blinking, nor did they make any move to bow in greeting.
This made Yang Kai feel something was off. After studying the guards a few more times, his body jolted and he suddenly stopped in his tracks, sending out a surprised sweep of spiritual sense over the guards.
Ye Hen also stopped upon seeing this, watching Yang Kai with a smile.
"Sect Master Yang, what's wrong?" Gu Cangyun, not knowing what Yang Kai had discovered, asked with confusion.
Yang Kai looked left and right for a moment before taking a deep breath and turning to Ye Hen. "Sect Master Ye… these guards—are they all puppets?"
"What?!" Chi Yue and the others' eyes went wide as they stared at the guards standing on either side in disbelief, each releasing their spiritual sense to investigate.
A moment later, all of them had gone wide-eyed, wearing expressions of utter disbelief.
They hadn't paid much attention at first, only feeling that the guards gave off a somewhat strange vibe. But after Yang Kai's warning, they realized that these guards clad in black armor and wielding weapons were not living beings at all—they were each and every one incredibly lifelike puppets.
They looked no different from real people whatsoever—even the skin exposed beyond their armor had the normal complexion of human flesh.