Death… And Me

Chapter 4338: Another Approach

Rean and Celis were actually allowed to use the Guild’s Teleport Array free of charge. Tobao had personally left orders behind stating that Rean was to be sent to Voxtu Country’s Guild immediately and without any questions being asked.

Naturally, none of the workers dared object. Instead, they simply became more curious about what kind of relationship Rean and Celis possibly had with someone like Tobao.

If the two had needed to pay the normal fee for the teleportation, they definitely wouldn’t have gone. The price was simply absurd.

Their vision blurred for a brief instant during the teleportation process. At the same time, Rean noticed something unusual. The teleportations in the Celestial Plane felt slightly different from those in the Mortal Realm.

The Spatial Pull seemed rougher somehow.

More unstable.

Still, Rean couldn’t pinpoint the exact reason behind the sensation.

Once they arrived in Voxtu Country, they were immediately escorted toward an airship already waiting for them nearby. Without wasting any time, the airship departed directly toward the Sacred Relic.

It didn’t take long for them to see it in the distance.

At first, it looked like a celestial body hanging above the horizon. Only after approaching further did Rean realize the ”star” was actually an enormous black-gold construct floating high above the mainland. Several gigantic rings revolved around it at different angles, array lines glowing across their surfaces like flowing rivers of light.

Below the Sacred Relic stretched a fortress-city so massive that even mountain ranges looked rather small beside it. Countless arrays, transport routes, floating platforms, and military structures converged toward the colossal construct dominating the heavens above.

The closer one got to the Relic, the more terrifying that suppressive force became.

Even from inside the airship, Rean could feel how unnaturally stable the environment had become. There wasn’t even the slightest trace of stray Godly Pressure near the Sacred Relic, as though its very existence refused to allow such energy to remain nearby.

”That’s quite the sight...” Celis couldn’t help but comment from the side.

Rean nodded, though his attention focused much more on the fortress-city below.

It simply didn’t match the floating structure above.

The Sacred Relic itself looked ancient beyond comprehension, while the city beneath it was clearly constructed by modern cultivators.

”It will be a good opportunity to ask about the Sacred Relic’s origins,” Rean commented.

A few minutes later, the airship finally arrived at one of the floating landing platforms connected to the Sacred Relic itself. The moment Rean and Celis stepped outside, several workers immediately guided them deeper into the ancient structure toward its central area.

Eventually, the two arrived inside an enormous open chamber.

At the very center of that place floated what looked like a miniature golden sun, silently radiating endless light and energy throughout the surroundings.

The walls of the room were full of runes, and they absorbed that golden light, most likely to create the Sacred Relic’s Influence they knew about.

Not too far beneath it stood Tobao alongside several Array Masters, all seemingly discussing something seriously amongst themselves.

However, a faint golden barrier surrounded them completely, preventing anyone outside from hearing what was being said.

Tobao quickly noticed Rean and Celis’s arrival and waved his hand toward them, signaling for the two to approach.

”So... here we are, senior,” Rean commented after entering the barrier alongside Celis. ”What exactly do you need us for?”

Once the barrier closed behind them, Tobao immediately spoke while the surrounding Array Masters silently listened.

”Rean, regarding your disguising array...” Tobao began. ”It separates Godly Pressure from Godly Energy, correct?”

Rean narrowed his eyes immediately.

He had specifically told Tobao that he didn’t want others discovering he was the creator of that array.

Yet now, with all those Array Masters present, it was obvious Tobao had already revealed that information.

”That wasn’t part of our agreement,” Rean answered calmly, though dissatisfaction was obvious in his tone.

”I know,” Tobao admitted directly without attempting excuses. ”However, the Array Masters gathered here are the only ones I informed, and every single one of them has already signed contracts preventing them from leaking this information.”

He then shook his head slightly.

”You can blame me or demand compensation later if you wish. For now, simply answer my question first.”

Rean stayed silent briefly before eventually nodding.

”Fine. Your understanding is basically correct. The array separates Godly Energy into Celestial Energy and Godly Pressure before manipulating the Godly Pressure directly. That’s the fundamental principle behind it.” He then added, ”Naturally, the actual rune structure behind the process is far more complicated than just that.”

Tobao continued immediately afterward. ”And after separating it, your runes can control and spread that Godly Pressure to make something resemble a Godly Creature.” His eyes narrowed slightly. ”So let me ask directly. Can your array be repurposed?”

Rean and Celis exchanged glances before looking back at Tobao.

”Repurposed?” Rean repeated.

”Yes,” Tobao answered seriously. ”Since your array can manipulate Godly Pressure, do you believe it could also be used to detect Godly Pressure?” He paused briefly before clarifying. ”More specifically... hidden Godly Pressure.”

At that moment, Rean understood Tobao’s true concern.

He casually walked toward the edge of the golden barrier and lightly inspected it.

There was no exit.

No one inside would be allowed to leave unless Tobao personally permitted it.

Rean’s gaze then shifted toward the surrounding Array Masters.

All of them looked visibly tense.

”I see...” Rean muttered. ”You suspect there might be another puppet here.”

Tobao nodded. ”Yes. We already confirmed that the corpse from before possessed a special device specifically created to conceal the Godly Pressure hidden within its body.”

He looked toward the Array Masters nearby. ”We already inspected everyone working around the Sacred Relic, but we found nothing similar. Even so, if my plan is going to succeed, I cannot afford carelessness. These Array Masters are the primary personnel responsible for maintaining the Sacred Relic itself. I need absolute certainty they can still be trusted.”

Truthfully, Rean had already considered such a possibility before arriving.

”Hum...” Rean pondered briefly. ”Wouldn’t using the Sacred Relic itself be a better option, then?”

Tobao and the others looked confused.

Rean continued. ”The Sacred Relic constantly erases Godly Pressure throughout the region anyway. Since we’re this close to its core, perhaps it could forcibly erase the Godly Pressure hidden inside a puppet as well.”

His eyes showed confidence. ”If that happened, the puppet would either collapse immediately or lose control altogether. In that case, was there really any need to bring me here at all?”

The moment Rean said that, Tobao and the Array Masters exchanged complicated looks. Clearly, they knew something he didn’t.

Finally, Tobao sighed. ”We can’t control it.”

That answer genuinely surprised Rean.

”What?” Rean blurted out. ”How can you possibly not control it?!”

Then, another thought crossed his mind. ”Wait... could it be that some higher power provided Besgol with the Sacred Relic, and you’re simply not authorized to touch its functions or something like that?”

”Sigh...” Tobao shook his head helplessly. ”Honestly, it would be preferable if that were the case. At least then we could attempt contacting whoever originally controlled it.”

Unfortunately, reality was far stranger. ”As far as historical records indicate, the Sacred Relic was already here before cultivators ever settled in Besgol. The region itself eventually developed around the Relic because surviving outside its influence was essentially impossible due to the Godly Creatures.”

”Ehhhh...” Rean looked stunned before turning toward Celis.

”Why are you looking at me?” Celis immediately complained. ”You’re the Array Master here, not me.”

”But...” Rean looked back toward Tobao again. ”Then how exactly did you increase the Sacred Relic’s output during the assault?”

One of the Array Masters finally stepped forward to answer. ”There isn’t much mystery behind that part. We simply provide the Sacred Relic with more energy, and its influence expands accordingly.”

He then shook his head helplessly. ”The truth is that we don’t actually control the Sacred Relic itself. Our job is merely keeping the array runes spread throughout its structure in proper conditions. In reality, we’re basically just a bunch of maintenance personnel.”

Rean scratched the back of his head awkwardly.

Turns out the legendary Sacred Relic everyone revered so much was actually something nobody truly understood at all.

Tobao quickly returned to the main topic afterward. ”Forget the Sacred Relic for now. Can you answer my earlier question? Do you believe your array can be adapted for the purpose I mentioned?”

Rean temporarily pushed aside his curiosity regarding the Sacred Relic and began thinking seriously about Tobao’s request.

”Hum...” Rean pondered for a moment. ”I don’t think I can immediately create an array capable of directly detecting hidden Godly Pressure inside someone’s body.” He then added, ”It’s not impossible. Given enough time, I believe I could eventually develop something like that. In fact, if the Array Masters use my blueprint as a base, they might come up with something as well in the future.”

However, another idea soon appeared in his mind.

”Of course, we have no such time. That said...” Rean narrowed his eyes slightly. ”There is another method we could use to achieve the same result.”