Chapter 640 - 137: End of the Initial Turmoil

Zhang Deming said with a tight frown, "But when we sent our message earlier, we received an initial reply. We only lost contact with the Sect after that, right?"

"Alas..." Gan Zili began, "the Guan Family is an old, established family in the Inner Sect. They’ve always kept to themselves and never vied for power, and they’re from a major family lineage."

"This background and their conduct made them quite popular among the disciples. Coupled with the fact that some Inner Sect families wanted to win them over, the Guan Family’s disciples have spread throughout all corners of the Inner Sect over the years."

"Especially in the Array Department’s newly improved Communication Department. A good portion of the entire Communication Control Room is staffed by members of the Guan Family."

"If that weren’t the case, how could they possibly have destroyed the Communication Control Room and even implicated the Sect Protection Array?" Gan Zili said with a sigh.

"So, what’s the specific situation at the Sect now?" Zhang Deming asked.

Gan Zili replied, "It’s mostly under control. The chaos was considerable, but it only looks bad on the surface. After all, it was just some Low-Tier Disciples."

After speaking, Gan Zili paused for a moment, then stood up. "Come on, take a trip to the Celestial Spirit Hall with me."

Zhang Deming shook his head. "Senior Brother Gan, you should go ahead and arrange for the rescue team first. We can discuss the details when you get back. This is a special Summoning Object of mine; it can’t stray too far from the Flying Spring Waterfall Tower."

"Alright. I’ll notify the Sect Leader and a few of the Masters immediately," Gan Zili said.

Zhang Deming nodded and added a reminder, "Get a few who are highly skilled—Elixir Dao disciples."

"Understood!" Gan Zili replied.

As he spoke, he waved his hand, and a fist-sized bubble appeared in his palm. He spoke a few words to it, but no sound came out.

When he finished speaking, he tapped the bubble, which then shot off in the direction of Celestial Spirit Peak.

Seeing this, Zhang Deming said, "Alright, Senior Brother Gan, I’ll let you get to it. I’m going to head back and keep watch. We can discuss this in detail after I return to the Sect."

Gan Zili nodded. "Be careful. Several Supreme Elders were alerted today. Even the guardian of the Scripture Pavilion has taken action."

"Therefore, the person coming for you will probably be one of the Masters, so it shouldn’t be long before they arrive."

Zhang Deming nodded. "Got it."

After speaking, Zhang Deming’s palm-sized body transformed into a single Spirit Species and dispersed into the wind.

...

Aboard the Cyan Feather Green Ship, Zhang Deming opened his eyes to find Song Huidong standing guard beside him. When he saw Zhang Deming’s eyes open, Song Huidong, despite his suspicions, simply watched him without asking any questions.

Seeing this, Zhang Deming paused for a moment before saying, "There’s been some trouble in the Sect. The Communication Control Room was destroyed, but I’ve already notified them. A rescue team is on its way."

"The Guan Family?" Song Huidong asked.

Zhang Deming nodded. "Yes."

With that, both of them fell silent.

As for the Bai Family, it was unclear what means they had used, but they too had apparently learned that their sect was in trouble. The situation was similar to that of the Celestial Spirit Sect; their communication control room had also been destroyed.

The Hongmeng information network was built on array-based communication—essentially quantum communication—so it didn’t require satellites or ubiquitous signal towers.

However, communication within the scope of each sect still required a central control room. This was a fundamental necessity. For communication to work, there had to be a central hub to manage all the interactions.

Whether one called it quantum or array-based made no difference. The core was the same; only the name and the outward form were different.

After learning that the Bai Shu Sect’s control room had also been destroyed, Zhang Deming and Song Huidong exchanged a look. They realized the situation was far more complex than it appeared.

Since the enemy had been plotting for so long, it was unlikely their only goal was to paralyze the communications of a few major Upper Sects. After all, even without the advanced array communication network, Cultivators could still use other methods to interact. The only ones truly restricted were the Low-Tier Cultivators.

...

The Sect’s rescue team arrived even later than Zhang Deming had anticipated.

It was led by Dang Xiangjun, who had even brought along the Pavilion Master of the Elixir Pavilion and head of the Elixir Department, Wei Jikang.

From a distance, Zhang Deming could see that no one in the group looked happy. Dang Xiangjun’s expression was particularly grim.

Zhang Deming and Song Huidong immediately went forward and bowed respectfully.

"Greetings, Master Dang!"

"Greetings, Ancestor Dang!"

As he offered his greeting, Song Huidong paused, startled, and shot a glance at Zhang Deming from the corner of his eye.

Dang Xiangjun gave a slight nod. Without needing to be told, the Elixir Department disciples behind him fanned out. Guided by the resident disciples, they headed toward the wounded. Wei Jikang was no exception.

In an instant, only Zhang Deming and the others remained. Looking at Dang Xiangjun’s grim face, Zhang Deming hesitated before suggesting, "Master Dang, perhaps we should wait in the Cyan Feather Green Boat Hall?"

"No need," Dang Xiangjun said, his expression dark. "Let’s get this done quickly. Once their injuries are stabilized, we’ll take everyone back to the Sect."

Zhang Deming paused. "Shouldn’t we wait for the people from the Bai Shu Sect first?"

Dang Xiangjun shook his head. "We’ll take our people back first. If they want to retrieve their disciples, they can come to our Sect to get them. We’re in a hurry, and I doubt the Bai Shu Sect has any time to spare right now anyway."

Zhang Deming was taken aback again. "But didn’t Senior Brother Gan say the situation in the Sect was already under control?" he asked, confused.

Dang Xiangjun’s face was grim. "The Sect is fine, but outside the Sect... If I wasn’t here to pick you all up, I would’ve gladly started a massacre on the way over."

Zhang Deming was confused for a moment, then the pieces of information began to flash through his mind.

’Tribulation Dao... Martial Artists... Karma... the Celestial Heart Altar... the disabled communications of both the Celestial Spirit and Bai Shu Sects...’

As the many pieces of information came together, a bolt of understanding struck him. Zhang Deming asked in astonishment, "Master Dang... are you saying there’s been chaos all along the route here?"