"They entered the door, but before they could take a few steps, a Mara-struck blocked their path."
"I never expected the Master Diviner's celestial domain to be infiltrated to this extent. No wonder the main gate was sealed."
[With Stelle leading a group of formidable warriors, a mere Mara-struck was like a mantis trying to stop a chariot. In just a few moves, it was beaten into oblivion, vanishing like smoke.]
[As the group pressed forward, a massive formation appeared on a distant platform. Countless intricate talismans shimmered like lively fish swimming through the mechanisms, operating ceaselessly in a dazzling display.]
["Up ahead is the grand jade divination terminal that our Divination Commission takes pride in—the Matrix of Prescience Ultima," Qingque explained to the group with a hint of pride.]
["Along the way, I've heard people mention 'jade omen' several times. Miss Qingque, what exactly is a jade omen?" Welt asked, his curiosity piqued.]
["A jade omen… well, it's a jade omen!" Qingque faltered for a moment, struggling to find the right words. "Mr. Yang, that's a great question. Let me think for a bit…"]
[Qingque lowered her head, pondering for a moment before speaking slowly, "According to The Mirror of Divination, it says, 'Engraved patterns on living jade, divining the mysteries through oracle script.' It's like carving a seal. The craftsmen of the Xianzhou's Artisanship Commission engrave trillions of microscopic talismans into the crystal lattice of jade, then embed them into various mechanisms to operate according to their designed intent."]
["Some jade omens are small enough to fit into bracelets or jewelry, while the larger ones are installed into formations for calculating variables and peering into the past and future."]
[Qingque glanced back at the formation, which resembled a sprawling palace complex. "Take this Matrix of Prescience Ultima, for example. Whether it's the shifts of celestial laws or the flux of human affairs, as long as there's enough data, it can answer any question."]
"Trillions of talismans… hand-carved?"
At Mount Ousumi, a certain woman renowned for her mastery of talismanic mechanisms stood utterly dumbfounded. She recognized each of those six words individually, but together, they formed an utterly alien concept.
Even as an adept of the immortal arts, with thousands of years of experience in talisman carving, she had to exercise extreme caution during the process. A single mistake could render an entire talisman useless, wasting all prior efforts.
In private, she had studied auxiliary mechanisms, but even with mechanical aid and immortal powers, carving "trillions" of talismans was beyond her capabilities. Such a workload was far beyond what any "immortal" could achieve.
Even the Geo Archon himself would likely be astounded by this, wouldn't he?
"Exaggerated, isn't it? How could human hands possibly carve such an immense number of talismans?" The Moon Carver furrowed his brow. As a fellow expert in talismans, he understood the weight of Qingque's words.
To be honest, if the concept of "trillions of talismans" was attributed to the feats of cosmic entities like the Aeons, he could accept it. Whether it was the Abundance, the Preservation, or the Erudition—any of those beings were absurdly powerful. But if this was the work of human hands… he found it hard to believe.
It implied that the humans of the Xianzhou had achieved something even immortals found unthinkable.
"Heh, you two, don't underestimate humans," said the Mountain Shaper, sipping tea with a chuckle. "Haven't you noticed? Just how vast is that Matrix of Prescience Ultima?"
Following his gesture, the Cloud Retainer looked toward the celestial screen, where the Matrix of Prescience Ultima was shown to be merely a corner of the formation. The array had three additional focal points, its scale so vast it nearly encompassed the entire Divination Commission.
"The entire Matrix of Prescience Ultima is composed of talismanic mechanisms. This is likely not the work of one or two generations of Xianzhou artisans but the crystallization of thousands of years of human wisdom."
The Mountain Shaper gave a wry smile. "We may live longer, but how can we compete with the collective wisdom and experience passed down through millions of people across generations? Especially when the Xianzhou people themselves live extraordinarily long lives…"
"Instead of questioning their ingenuity, shouldn't you two direct your curiosity elsewhere? For instance, how do the talismans they carve differ from ours?"
——
["It's said that the talismans and their principles were derived from the Erudition's 'All-Knowing Celestial Lord.' Their complexity is such that, within the entire Divination Commission, only the Master Diviner could claim to fully understand them," Qingque continued.]
["Isn't this just a computer?" Stelle pointed out bluntly.]
[March 7th caught on quickly. "Oh, right! But 'jade omen' sounds so much cooler. Besides, a regular computer doesn't have such a mystical origin. This is technology personally guided by the Erudition…"]
["No need to get hung up on terminology. As long as the mechanisms function effectively, what's the difference between a jade omen and a computer?"]
[Qingque's mindset was refreshingly open. "Take today, for instance. As long as someone guides you here, it doesn't matter if it's me, Qingque, or some 'White Sparrow.' It's all the same, isn't it?"]
[With that, Qingque led the group to the base of the Matrix of Prescience Ultima.]
[Fu Xuan was there, conversing with a projection of Jing Yuan.]
["Master Diviner, how's the progress?"]
[Fu Xuan let out a soft sigh. "The tides ebb and flow between Qian and Zhen. The path is marred by calamity, with no advantage to be gained."]
[Jing Yuan, seemingly used to this, responded with a wry smile. "Master Diviner, in plain words, please."]
["A great disaster looms," Fu Xuan said somberly. "The Matrix of Prescience Ultima has stalled, its talismans dimmed. A Stellaron's corruption lingers within the Commission. The Cloud Knights are preoccupied with protecting the citizens, and I lack the manpower to restore the array. In such circumstances, I must also deal with the Stellaron Hunters entrusted to me by the General. If this isn't a looming disaster, what is?"]
["To counter Stellaron Hunters capable of perceiving the future, only a prescient Master Diviner like you will suffice. As for manpower—I wouldn't come unprepared, would I?"]
[No sooner had the General spoken than Qingque arrived with the group.]
"This personnel arrangement… Truly befitting the Xianzhou General. It's as if no plan escapes his foresight."
Within the Sangonomiya Shrine, Kokomi marveled at General Jing Yuan's meticulous planning. In her eyes, it seemed that every matter, big or small, was carefully orchestrated within the depths of his mind, ready to be executed with precision.
As the Divine Priestess of Watatsumi Island, her responsibilities mirrored Jing Yuan's—overseeing both the governance of the island's people and handling military affairs.
Kokomi deeply understood why Jing Yuan always appeared as if he hadn't slept. Anyone who had experienced such duties would know it was an utterly exhausting endeavor.
"Lady Sangonomiya, doesn't General Jing Yuan carry a collection of contingency plans?" Gorou asked, puzzled. "What if an emergency or unexpected event arises…?"
As he spoke, he pulled out his meticulously revised, hundred-plus-item collection of contingency plans from his pocket.
Kokomi immediately lowered her head, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. For the first time, she felt that her painstakingly crafted contingency plans were somewhat childish.
How had she not realized before? In a true crisis, who would have the time to flip through a thick stack of plans?
Instead of letting Gorou and the others rely entirely on contingency plans, it would be better to have none at all.