While Xi Ju Hai and the disciple of the Zhen Yan Sect continued to work, the other group finally came over and nodded toward Zhi Guan, explaining to him what they had found.
Just as expected, their findings overlapped with their own to a large degree and had otherwise looked into the places the arrays would transport to. While they couldn’t make any exact predictions, they had noted down at least a general direction for all of the ones that they had come across, adding a few details to what they already knew.
Zhi Guan nodded slowly while they explained, feeling that while this wasn’t information that had such a high priority that it needed to be sent back immediately, it was still valuable to them. "Not bad. Can you make a copy of what you found so the disciples of the Zhen Yan Sect can take it back to their sect later?"
The disciple in charge of that group immediately nodded and they got to work. By the time they finished and handed the notes they had made over to the leading disciple of the Zhen Yan Sect, the other two had also finished their work.
They got up and walked over to Zhi Guan and the others, taking a look at the notes. They didn’t say anything about it though and instead reported their own findings.
Xi Ju Hai’s expression looked grim when she explained. "This is indeed the place we were looking for. It can bundle up spiritual energy that is transported there from elsewhere and will then distribute it into the tunnels that are below this place, activating the other transportation arrays."
The other disciple jumped in to add more details so they would understand how grave the situation really was. "Further than that, the amount of energy that is being transported can be adjusted easily. If a small amount is used, then only the arrays that will be sufficiently powered by this amount will be activated and really transport the people on top. The other arrays won’t be activated in these circumstances so no energy will be lost there. If more energy is used, then all the arrays will be activated and able to transport people at once. I hate to say this but the concept is ingenious."
Xi Ju Hai nodded, clearly being of the same opinion.
Zhi Guan thought for a moment and then questioned further. "Can it be destroyed?"
The two of them exchanged a glance in response and then simultaneously shook their heads.
"We could destroy it but that wouldn’t make much of a difference. They could just recreate it. The time needed for that alone wouldn’t be that long. We would need to destroy both this centerpiece, as well as all the arrays and the tunnels, to make even a bit of a difference. And even then, if they have a detailed map of everything and have noted down how exactly each array was crafted, they should be able to make it work again. We would need to raze the whole place to the ground to be able to really set them back."
Zhi Guan furrowed his brows. He had already feared something like this but had still hoped that the two would give him a different answer. Now, it seemed that he had hoped for too much. There really wasn’t much that they could do here.
Shen Lei couldn’t help but speak up. "Maybe we should gather the other disciples and return for now. Let’s inform the Elders and see what they think. If we don’t touch anything here, it might also be good in so far that the demonic practitioners won’t know that we found out about this place. We could use that advantage in the future and maybe destroy it when whatever they are trying to do gets to the critical stage.
"Also, aren’t there still quite a few things to figure out? We have the direction of a few of the arrays but we don’t know where exactly they lead. We should probably figure that out first. We could get clues as to what their final goal is from that."
Zhi Guan immediately nodded. He felt that each word of what Shen Lei said made sense. This really seemed to be the smartest way to deal with the matter for the time being. "Very well. Let’s do it that way. We should split up to gather the other groups. When you find somebody, sent them back to the array we came from so we can meet up." He looked at Mei Chao Bing and the disciple that had led the group they just encountered and both nodded in return.
"Very well. Let’s go then." Zhi Guan waved at the disciples that had been accompanying him and then chose one of the paths, leaving the others to decide for themselves which way they wanted to go.
Xi Ju Hai returned to the side of Mei Chao Bing and Song Mu, looking from one person to the other as if she didn’t want to be the one who decided.
Mei Chao Bing glanced at the other group. "Senior martial sister Xi, should we also provide them with a map? That would probably make things easier for them." After all, this place was quite big and the lines of an array were seldom straight. Without a map, it would be more difficult to move.
Xi Ju Hai raised her brows and then nodded. So far, she really didn’t have anything negative to say about Mei Chao Bing. The suggestion just now hadn’t been absolutely necessary but somebody who looked out for their fellow martial brothers and sisters would definitely say so. She couldn’t help but feel that maybe Liu Bao Ru hadn’t been wrong. Maybe this person was indeed different from her fiance.
She really didn’t know how to think about that.
