“Forgive me for making you both go through this. I shouldn’t have forced you to search for Master. It would’ve been better if we had stayed home, training or waiting for Master to return. Because of me, you had to endure this bitter experience.”

“Don’t blame yourself, Senior Sister. Besides, back then, Miss Linglu and I agreed to join you in searching for Master. You should know that all of this happened because we underestimated the journey, and now we’re facing the consequences.”

“But, Junior Sister, this still happened because I was the one who—”

“In that case, I’m also at fault for persuading Miss Linglu to use her scent-tracking ability to search for Master. Senior Sister, you should remember that Miss Linglu initially disagreed with the plan, but my persuasion changed her mind,” Luo Xianxiu interjected.

Even though Ruan Xiaoyue knew her junior sister said this to ease her guilt, she still couldn’t shake off the uneasiness in her heart. As a form of atonement, she resolved to take full responsibility by ensuring her two companions could escape this death pit safely.

“…Even if you say that, as your Senior Sister, it’s still my duty to take responsibility. Therefore, to guarantee your safety, I’ll sacrifice myself so Master’s robe will activate, allowing me to get you both out of this damned pit,” Ruan Xiaoyue said, raising her right hand with her fingers clenched, ready to pierce her heart.

However, before her right hand could reach her chest, Long Linglu—her body still glowing—rushed over in a panic and grabbed her hand.

"Are you insane?! W-what are you thinking? Why would you suddenly try to kill yourself, Ruan Xiaoyue?!"

"S-senior sister, this is way too extreme! Don’t just decide to sacrifice yourself to get us out of here! At least let’s try finding another way before you resort to something so drastic!"

"What else can we do? You both know there's no other way except for me to reactivate the master's robe to get us out of here! Besides, there's nothing here to help us escape, considering the abundance of deadly poison scattered all over the floor. What possible solution can we find?"

"I refuse to accept your choice to take your own life! There’s no way I’d let you, my dearest friend, die like this! It would break my heart to watch you lose your life! Instead of sacrificing yourself, let’s keep pushing forward and continue searching for Master!"

Hearing Long Linglu call her a "dearest friend" deeply moved Ruan Xiaoyue. Although Long Linglu often claimed they were close friends—and Ruan Xiaoyue felt the same—it still warmed her heart to hear such an earnest declaration, paired with genuine concern.

"...Even if you try to convince me, you know full well that if we continue, who knows what other dangers await us."

"No, this time, we won’t go anywhere. While you were talking with Xianxiu earlier, I caught the scent of Master’s trail. And luckily, her scent isn’t scattered anymore. It’s concentrated here, in these ruins. I’m certain Master is nearby, very close to us."

"Master is here? Thank goodness! We’ve finally found her... let’s go meet her right away so we can get out of this cursed place!"

"Of course."

Following the faint trace of Master’s scent left in the ruins, the group walked for a short while. Finally, Long Linglu, who was leading them, stopped when they reached an area where the floor was marked with an enormous, ancient array etched into the ruins.

"We’re here. This is the spot where I caught the last trace of Master’s scent."

"Here? Then where is Master? I don’t see her anywhere," Ruan Xiaoyue said, scanning the area in confusion.

"Senior Sister, look below you," Long Linglu replied.

"Below me? What’s below? Other than these strange scribbles on the floor, what else is there? Are you suggesting Master is beneath us, Junior Sister?"

"Oh, Xiaoyue… What have you even learned from Master? Don’t you realize those ‘scribbles’ you’re talking about are actually an array?" Long Linglu said, looking at her with a mix of disbelief and exasperation.

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"Hey, don’t look at me like that! I haven’t been Master’s disciple for very long, so of course, I wouldn’t know those are arrays. Since you do, why don’t you tell me what this array is for?"

"Well, uh… It’s hard for me to explain since I’ve never studied them in detail. I only know that arrays are a collection of symbols or inscriptions used to protect a sect, a mountain, or anything else—and they can also be used offensively."

"Symbols or inscriptions for protection or attack? Hmm, I see… So, is it possible that this array on the floor was created by Master? If that’s the case, where is she now?"

"Uh… I don’t know..."

Long Linglu’s silence and her hesitant explanation about the array, which seemed only half-right, left the group at a standstill. Luo Xianxiu, who had been quietly listening, finally spoke up.

"Senior Sister, let me explain what an array is. Simply put, an array is a set of symbols or inscriptions created by a cultivator to produce a desired effect. That said, not all cultivators can create arrays. To do so, they must first understand the elements involved in the desired effect, study the movements of the stars, gain enlightenment, or learn directly from an array master."

"Hmm… I finally understand arrays, thanks to your explanation, Junior Sister. But more importantly, where is Master now? And with Master’s scent lingering near this array, do you think it’s connected to her?"

"Well…" Luo Xianxiu hesitated briefly before kneeling to examine the array beneath them. After carefully inspecting it for several moments, she stood and shared her findings with Ruan Xiaoyue.

"Given how massive and intricate this array is, I’m fairly certain no one from this continent could have created it. My guess is that it was either made by the powerful, mysterious cultivator who built these ruins—hidden at the bottom of this abyss guarded by fearsome monsters—or it was Master herself who created this array in such an inaccessible location."

"Moreover, considering we weren’t attacked or stopped by any protective measures when we entered the ruins, I can confidently say that this is neither a defensive array nor an offensive one. Based on the knowledge I’ve gained from studying under an array master and reading books from the royal library, I believe this might be a legendary teleportation array—one coveted by every array master on this continent."

"The reason I say this is because none of the effects of this array match the usual defensive or offensive arrays. And given that Master’s scent vanishes completely at this spot, I’m convinced she used this teleportation array to move somewhere else."

"Even though I’ve never studied arrays myself, since my family possesses the divine ancient dragon bloodline and doesn’t rely on them, I must say your explanation makes perfect sense, Xianxiu. Especially since we haven’t found Master despite the trail ending here—it’s highly likely she used this teleportation array, just as you described."

"If that’s the case, wouldn’t using this array ourselves to follow Master only lead us into more trouble? We’d be going to an unknown place that could be even more dangerous, with monsters far worse than those guarding this abyss! I knew it—it's better for me to sacrifice myself to get the two of you out of here safely than to risk venturing into another perilous, unknown location in search of Master," Ruan Xiaoyue declared, her resolve firm.

"Don’t do it, Senior Sister! I’m convinced it’s the opposite—if we use this array, we’ll be transported directly to Master. Besides, I think the reason we’ve suffered so much is because of our own insistence on searching for her. Master probably never expected us, her disciples, to find the teleportation array she deliberately placed in such a dangerous location to keep other cultivators away."

"That makes sense. If that’s the case, Junior Sister, since you’re the one who understands arrays, can you activate it so we can leave this cursed place and find Master?"

"I can, but there’s a problem—the array is out of power and can’t be used as it is."

"W-what? Then we can’t use the array at all?"

"Don’t jump to conclusions, Senior Sister. Fortunately, I made the right choice in bringing the monster core I took from that damn kid we defeated earlier. I can use it as a power source to activate the array. The issue is that this array is so complex, I’ll need time to figure out where the inscriptions or symbols for the energy input are located. Please give me some time to study it."

"Of course. But can you estimate how long you’ll need to understand it?"

"I’m not sure… it could take a week, maybe even a month. This array is massive and incredibly intricate, and I don’t even know if it has layered structures or not."

"I see... Well, that’s fine. With the abundance of divine fruits stored in your storage ring and Linglu’s, we should have enough food to last while we wait. Besides, we’ll help you if you encounter difficulties."

"Alright then."

And so, Ruan Xiaoyue joined Luo Xianxiu in studying the teleportation array, unsure of how long it would take to unravel its secrets. Long Linglu, meanwhile, contributed by standing still, using her glowing body to illuminate the dark ruins.

While the three were engrossed in deciphering the array in the depths of the death pit, Xue Lanting, whom they had left behind at their Master’s residence, grew increasingly anxious and worried about their sudden disappearance.

"It’s already night, and the dinner I prepared has gone cold… Where are Little Ruan, Miss Linglu, and Miss Xianxiu? I clearly saw them in the backyard earlier today—why did they vanish all of a sudden? Could those loud, earth-shaking noises earlier have something to do with them? …This is so worrying. If they don’t return by morning, I’ll have to go look for them. I hope I’m just overthinking things…"

Muttering to herself, Xue Lanting sat restlessly in the dining room, surrounded by untouched, cold food, her unease evident as she anxiously awaited their return.