Located dozens of kilometers eastward outside the city was Silent Mountain. It was the highest mountain within a 500-kilometer radius of the city. In the past, the mountain was once a famous tourist destination in the empire. Not only was the mountain considered one of the biggest in the empire, but the view at the peak was also extremely beautiful as well.

The mountain was originally called Mount Tian. Unlike other high mountains, Mount Tian was said to be much easier and the least dangerous mountain to climb, not to mention, one with the most beautiful scenery at the peak. Because of this, both amateur and professional hikers alike from other empires often climbed the mountain, resulting in a booming economy for the City of Genesis as the closest city to it.

But ever since 8 years ago, many people were documented to have gone missing in the mountain. Investigations were made, but everyone who went into the place to find the missing hikers disappeared as well, never to be seen again.

That wasn't the only strange thing in the mountain either. Every creature that lived on Mount Tian before had actually left their homes and moved into the forest sitting right along the edge of the mountain. Through some wildlife observations, it was noted that the creatures were staying as far away from the mountain as possible.

The once famous mountain had become infamous, and Mount Tian gradually became known as Silent Mountain. No one aside from a few daredevils ventured into the place anymore, and as for the few that did, they only became victims to the mountain's mysteriousness, disappearing from the world forever.

There were many speculations about Silent Mountain. Some believed that there was a terrifying creature in the mountain killing everyone who dared enter it. And then there were some who believed it was the work of a god.

The story goes that since the mountain was called Mount Tian which meant heaven or sky, it was a sacrilege for mere mortals to climb the mountain. As a punishment for this great offense, everyone who entered the mountain was spirited away.

No one knew for sure what the truth was. However, it was a fact that many people had gone missing in the mountain since 8 years ago.

As Zenith analyzed all the information he knew about Silent Mountain in his mind, a frown appeared on his face.

"Eight years ago, huh?"

He found it extremely suspicious that all of these issues in Silent Mountain started 8 years ago. The only significant event that happened around that time was when he challenged a god.

"Is this a coincidence? Or could it be...?"

Whether it was a coincidence or not, there was only one way to know for sure;

To go there himself.

That was why at the moment, Zenith was sitting inside a carriage headed to Silent Mountain while wearing a disguise.

"We're almost there," announced the coachman grimly as they approached the forest at the base of the notorious mountain.

Zenith paid extra attention to the mountain at the distance.

The mountain looked really ominous. Even though it should be noon, the air was unpleasantly cold. As they got closer to their destination, the sky was getting darker and darker. A cryptic feeling suddenly assaulted him. He felt that once he entered the place, it was going to swallow him alive.

He looked at the coachman and noticed that his sitting position was extremely stiff. The hands that were holding onto the horse reins were shaking a little, and his hair was standing at the back of his neck. Even the horses were showing strange behaviors as they gradually slowed down.

Judging from the eerie atmosphere alone, the place rightfully deserved its reputation.

It would seem that some of the speculations about the mountain might have some truth to them after all.

There was definitely something terrifying in there.

"Young man," the coachman suddenly called out.

Zenith raised a brow at him but didn't deign a response.

His silence should've been a cue that he didn't want to talk, but the coachman continued anyway, "Why do you want to go into that godforsaken place?"

"Is bothering your passenger with idle chatter part of your job?" asked Zenith indifferently.

The coachman flinched before bowing slightly bowing his head at him.

"Ah, I just thought you might want to talk or something. I'm sorry."

After saying that, he focused his attention on the road ahead, however, his body was even stiffer than before.

Zenith didn't miss this detail. The coachman most likely tried to talk to him to lessen his nervousness after being this close to such a scary place. He understood his behavior but he really couldn't be bothered with him.

Hence, his harsh response.

He looked at the large landform with narrowed eyes.

"To think that I'm finally here..."

It had been a year already since he came into the City of Genesis. When he first found out when all the disappearances started in Silent Mountain, he wanted to go to the mountain itself to confirm his suspicions. However, he refrained from going in the end since his strength wasn't enough. So many people had already disappeared there. He didn't want to add to the body count by being underprepared.

Aside from that, he was also concerned about the Order. If he went to Silent Mountain without any reason, they would surely start doubting his motives. Zenith wanted to avoid that as much as possible since planned on negotiating with them later. He didn't want to be put at a disadvantage at that time by giving them an opening.

All those things were preventing him from entering the mountain back then, but this time was different. He finally had a proper reason to enter the mountain, and that was all due to his preliminary test.

Quest Log

Preliminary Test:

Find the Sword Saint in the Silent Mountain and accomplish one of his tasks.

Rewards:

System Seed (E-Rank)

Tower Ascension Qualification

Although he already started negotiations with the Order, as long as he had not yet received the items he asked from them, he must never let slip any clue no matter how small it was. At the very least, not until he got what he wanted from them.

That was why this preliminary test came at just the perfect time. Too perfect in fact that it felt quite unreal.

Furthermore, he no longer had to worry about his strength as well. With his core unsealed, he could finally better protect himself with his Nu.

Suddenly, the carriage stopped.

"This is as far as I can take you," said the coachman as he turned around. The expression on his face was tense and his face was pale. Even so, he still put on a tough act in front of Zenith. "I don't know what business you have in there but that place didn't get its reputation for nothing. Hundreds of people who went there were never seen again. We should go back."

Zenith ignored his words as he took his backpack before stepping down the carriage. The coachman's warning was unnecessary. He wasn't an ignorant person who knew nothing about the mountain.

"Young man, you should value your life more. This is your last chance to turn around," the coachman warned him for the last time, but Zenith still ignored him as he slowly walked into the forest.

Seeing this, the coachman only sighed in regret.

"Too bad then."

Just as he was about to turn his carriage around, Zenith paused as he looked at the coachman plainly.

"How about you send me to the base of the mountain itself? I'll pay you ten times the fare."

How could Zenith not see through the coachman's intentions? The man wasn't warning him out of kindness. He said all of that to make him change his mind and return to the city instead. If the coachman managed to convince him, he would be able to earn more fare from him for the return trip to the city.

If the coachman was really concerned about his life, he wouldn't have agreed to send him here in the first place.

"Well?"

Facing Zenith's offer, the coachman merely shook his head.

"I still have a family to feed so I can't mindlessly risk my life. Sorry but you're on your own from here on out."

Zenith wasn't really surprised to hear that answer. He didn't even dare get his carriage too close to the forest. If he agreed, that would've been a surprise.

"Is that so?"

"Besides..." A wry smile made its way onto the coachman's face. "What's the use of money if I'm not alive to spend it?"

Zenith no longer said anything after that as he continued walking to the forest.

The coachman turned his carriage in the opposite direction and left Zenith a few sentences.

"Be careful, young man. The mountain isn't the only scary thing in there. The forest itself is haunted. There are just as many people who disappeared in the mountain that took their lives in the forest. It is a suicide forest of sorts."

With that said, the coachman drove ahead.

"A suicide forest, huh?"

He, of course, already knew that. With how thorough the research he made about Silent Mountain, would he really miss that crucial detail of the forest below it?

It was possible but that would be too careless of him.

When Zenith stepped foot into the forest, he was greeted by a sign attached to a nearby tree.

Abandon all hope ye who enter here.