Chapter 591: Questions

Chapter 591: Chapter 591: Questions

If it were someone else who had just advanced their cultivation by a small realm, wouldn’t they be cheerfully closing up for a few days to stabilize? After leaving seclusion, there would definitely be a big feast and celebration. And in the mundane world, no matter how prestigious the family, if another member reached the Gathering Spirit Realm Ninth Layer, the whole household would be grinning from ear to ear.

For most cultivators in the secular world, the Gathering Spirit Realm Ninth Layer is already a realm that can only be dreamed of.

But Shen Hao didn’t have the time, mood, or circumstances for any kind of banquet, let alone the luxury of it. Even the joy of his breakthrough only lingered briefly in his heart.

If you could make a breakthrough every month or two, you’d be this calm too.

There’s actually quite a few in the Inspector ranks at the post-God-Gathering Realm, and there are even some at the Primordial Pill Realm—like Shen Hao’s current deputy, Li Jiang, who’s a powerhouse at the Primordial Pill Realm Second Layer. So although Shen Hao’s breakthrough was quiet, it was still noticed afterward. But aside from a few congratulations, there wasn’t really any spectacle to be had right now.

"Sir, urgent order from the Daoxing Chief’s Office— all Central Army units in the border forces are to prepare to move out immediately. Once the order arrives, everyone is to follow commands and move south!"

The day after Shen Hao’s breakthrough, he received an order from the Military Affairs Department of the Daoxing Chief’s Office. It was a widely issued order, and it was clear that the border Inspectors were part of the "central structure," required to ready all supply gear as soon as possible.

Day-to-day tasks were handled by Zhang Ye. Before receiving the order, Zhang Ye was already puzzled why Shen Hao had him gather as much supply as possible— weapons, consumables, and medicinal supplies— all prepared for the frontlines. At the time, Zhang Ye actually didn’t agree with this approach. But now, the orders had really come.

What can you say? Just that Lord Shen is farsighted and a master of foresight!

"Sir, as you instructed, Breaking Arrows and all kinds of attack and defense talismans have been prepared to the maximum carrying capacity. The storage bags are all filled as per your requirements with medicines, elixirs, and array discs. But we didn’t get much general spirit stone— our stock has already been emptied by the army supply battalion, and the Inspector only got a small allocation, and has to come after the army in the supply line."

"What about personnel?"

"No issues on personnel. Excluding those we’ve already sent out, this mission’s team totals three hundred and eighteen people, including your fifty personal guards. All have been fully prepared and can set out at any time."

Don’t think that’s a lot— actually, the combined Inspector manpower in the border forces is less than a thousand. Those deployed outside are the more outstanding ones, and the rest are either deputies like Li Jiang and Zhang Ye, or personal guards and ordinary staff members handling daily affairs.

"Have you made contact with the Daoxing Chief’s Office? What arrangements do they have for us?"

"Sir, as per protocol we’ve sent a message to the Daoxing Chief’s Office asking which army we’re to accompany, but there’s been no reply yet. Still, by army regulations, we Inspectors will move with the Central Army, and encamp within the Central Army’s main camp."

Shen Hao nodded, then asked: "Did you handle the brothers’ equipment as I asked?"

"All done, sir. Each person, as per your request, is equipped with a Yanji Saber, a short crossbow, Breaking Arrows, and six talismans— three attack and three defense." With that kind of kit, Zhang Ye could confidently say that even Zuo Yuliang’s personal guards weren’t this well equipped.

The reason Shen Hao wanted such lavish gear for his subordinates was, first, the numbers were small and Xuanqing Guard had the wealth and means; second, the Inspectors here were unlike Xuanqing Guards elsewhere— after all, combat wasn’t their daily business, so battle array and combined attack skills were rusty among Inspectors. For these people, in any unexpected situation, smashing it with Breaking Arrows and talismans was a lot more reliable.

"Alright. Pass the word— tonight everyone sleeps in their clothes and stands by to head out at any time."

"Yes, sir! Then, your subordinate will take his leave!"

Zhang Ye hurried off. The entire Inspector Chief Officer’s residence was a hive of activity. And soon, Shen Hao received another copper rod, this time a handwritten note from Jiang Cheng, the Jingxi Governor far away in the Imperial City.

Unfolding it, it was just like Jiang Cheng’s usual tone— not much rhetoric, straightforward and simple. First a few words of praise for Shen Hao’s actions in the Southern Border Army, then a warning: no matter how southern affairs evolve, just follow Zuo Yuliang, talk less, observe more, listen more, learn more, mind your place, and don’t make trouble, etc.

If the copper rod stopped there, it would simply be a routine message. But the end was more like a private note— Jiang Cheng was answering Shen Hao’s questions in the capacity of a teacher.

The answer wasn’t about worldly affairs or cultivation puzzles, but the question Shen Hao had attached to the end of a prior report— about the Teleportation Array.

Why can’t the Dynasty set up Teleportation Arrays in Barbarian Territory?

Jiang Cheng’s answer was all written on this copper rod, making Shen Hao’s eyelids twitch as he read.

The content was as concise and businesslike as before. To summarize: it’s not that the Dynasty doesn’t want to, but that it can’t.

This matched Chen Hao’s previous reasoning. But Jiang Cheng’s detailed explanation made Shen Hao’s brows knit together.

"The construction and structure of Teleportation Arrays, even the engraving of the array patterns, are still the biggest challenge for Array Masters to this day. As far as I know, there is no Array Master in the Dynasty capable of establishing a Teleportation Array."

This was Jiang Cheng’s exact words. It also amazed Shen Hao: if no Array Master in the entire Jingjiu Dynasty could build a Teleportation Array, then where did all the Teleportation Arrays in the major cities come from? And what about all those small Teleportation Arrays in the army?

Jiang Cheng then gave a surprising answer in the private note: all Teleportation Arrays are based on something called the "Array Stone." Whether a large Teleportation Array in a major city or a small army array— all are like this. While they look like they’re built from ordinary array patterns and technical details, in the end, they’re more like a giant Array Disc— just much bigger in size.

As for these Array Stones, Jiang Cheng confessed he only knew that much and didn’t know the reason behind it. He even admitted, these things were only included in the materials he could consult after becoming Governor— they’re state secrets. As for where Array Stones come from, that too is unknown— only that they aren’t crafted by Array Masters, and it’s a mystery.

And here’s the most critical part: these Array Stones can only be activated by mana and enable long-distance teleportation within a certain range. Beyond that range, they’re just ordinary stones.

Thus, these extremely convenient and powerful Teleportation Arrays simply can’t be used in Barbarian Territory.

So Shen Hao got his answer. But now new questions arose, and continued to swirl in his mind.

"Where exactly do those Array Stones come from?"

...

PS: There’ll be another Chapter this afternoon. Haven’t been feeling right these last two days. Should be back to normal tomorrow. Salute.