Hearing Lin Daochen say he wanted to perform a Soul Search, Wu Tiangangâs disciple Fang Jun immediately jumped out, shouting angrily.
"Master Lin, you say it lightly, but the mental damage of a Soul Search is immenseâyou know that."
"My master is a highly respected Third-level Array Master. If anything happens to his sea of consciousness, can you bear the responsibility?"
"Are you suggesting that you donât trust the Princeâs methods?" Lin Daochen calmly looked at Fang Jun and asked.
Upon hearing this, Fang Jun instinctively looked at the Spirit Severing Realm expert before him, his face turning pale.
He quickly bowed respectfully and said in a trembling voice, "Forgive me, Your Highness, I absolutely did not question your intentions; I was just worried my master couldnât handle it in a moment of urgency."
Xuanyuan Shuo waved his hand, his brows tightly knitted.
He wasnât a fool. From Lin Daochenâs clear and logical speech and the subtle anxious expressions of the two beside him,
and recalling their suspicious eagerness to highly recommend Lin Daochen when he was promoted to Third-level Array Master, he had already roughly guessed the truth of the matter.
He felt a bit agitated inside at this moment.
In the capital, various schemes and intrigues had worn him out, so he volunteered to guard the border.
He thought the people here would be straightforward and forthright, without so many twists and turns.
But he overlooked one point: as long as there are people, you canât escape such things.
But what should he do now?
Blame Su Lishan and Wu Tiangang, who had worked hard here for five years, or seek justice for Master Lin, who had been wronged?
These three were not the empireâs personnel; they were distinguished guests he had specifically invited to help.
Moreover, he didnât really care who was right or wrong. As the highest authority of the entire border, he only cared about what should be done with this unique Four-Color Array.
Then, he looked at Lin Daochen, asking seriously, "You just mentioned that the array hasnât collapsed and can be repaired within a day?"
Lin Daochen nodded slightly, "Iâm not certain. Perhaps if we work together, there might be a chance."
He didnât dare to speak too confidently, because whether Zhou Qing could successfully repair the final Spirit Pattern was still uncertain.
Moreover, after venting his anger and resentment, his heart softened again.
Just as he had thought before, Su Lishan and Wu Tiangang before him were his enlightenment mentors, guiding figures on the path of arrays in the Fourth-level Cultivation Country.
He wanted to give them another chance, for everyone to work together and overcome this crisis.
Seeing such magnanimity, Xuanyuan Shuo felt a touch of sentiment in his eyes.
He was giving them a way out.
Then, turning to Su Lishan and Wu Tiangang, he asked calmly yet with a hint of expectation, "How do you feel about it, masters?"
Wu Tiangang sensed the chaotic Spiritual Power around him, recalling his previous deductions, then bowed, with a hint of anger and resolve in his tone.
"Since Your Highness doesnât trust this old man, Iâll just leave. No need to trouble you to see me off!"
Saying this, he turned abruptly, flicking his sleeves and striding away with his disciples.
Su Lishan sighed at this sight and said, "I hope Your Highness makes preparations soon. This array has been tormented to the brink of collapse; we take our leave!"
Then he also turned and left without looking back.
Seeing this, Xuanyuan Shuo panicked inside and rushed to appease them, "Calm down, everyone. We are all here to protect the border, no need to be so impulsive..."
Witnessing this, Lin Daochen shook his head, his face full of disappointment.
As scholars, humility and the willingness to admit fault should be the most basic manners.
Yet now, these two, to maintain their pitiful reputation and face, had completely lost the humility and grace a scholar should have.
The complexity of human nature is sometimes more elusive than the runes of this Fourth-level Array.
Now, all hope could only rest on Zhou Qing.
Second Grandpa nearby sneered lightly, then slowly put away the Imaging Stone, murmuring, "Youâve caused such a big mess, and now you want to just walk away? I wonât agree."
Two beams of light quietly burrowed into the ground, chasing after those who left.
An hour later, Xuanyuan Shuo returned, face full of exhaustion, eyes filled with helplessness and disappointment.
Looking at Lin Daochen, he gave a proper salute.
This gesture was both an apology for earlier and a sign of respect.
"Theyâve left. You should leave soon too. In a few days, Iâll lure some demons to attack the border, then the mess with this Four-Color Array will be blamed on them. It wonât be your responsibility. This time, sorry for the trouble!"
Lin Daochen didnât expect those two would be so determined, leaving just like that.
They were really afraid the arrayâs collapse would implicate them.
But seeing the understanding Prince, Lin Daochen felt touched. He quickly bowed back, saying, "The Prince is truly righteous. I canât thank you enough, but about the array..."
"This array, we will not fail in our mission!"
Before Lin Daochen could finish, Zhou Qingâs voice came from behind.
The three of them turned abruptly, seeing Zhou Qing standing at the core of the array, drenched in sweat, with one hundred and eighty-six Spirit Seals around him, emitting various lights.
As he injected the last trickle of Spiritual Power into the Spirit Pattern he repaired, in an instant, all the runes of the Four-Color Array extinguished simultaneously. The roaring sound that had persisted for over three thousand years also ceased at that moment.