Walker Of The Worlds

Chapter 2694  Finding Clues In The Jade Slip

Lin Muʼs intrigue deepened. If these Spectral Mirror Stones were this valuable for illusions, then why did this technique require them? Did it have something to do with the specters it created? The more he thought about it, the more questions arose, yet he knew one thing for certain—this was a technique he could not afford to pass up.

”Doppelganger Trial Arrays? You mean the ones that the great sects used to test their disciples?” Lin Mu recalled reading about them in ancient records. He had only ever heard of them in passing, as such formations were rare and often lost to time.

”Indeed,” Xukong affirmed. ”The Doppelganger Trial Array can replicate the form and skills of the trial taker, forcing them to fight against an exact copy of themselves. It is one of the best arrays for training, particularly for those wishing to push past their limits.”

Lin Muʼs eyes glowed with interest. Such an array sounded incredibly beneficial, especially for someone like him who was always seeking ways to improve.

”It is also incredibly expensive to set up and maintain,” Xukong continued. ”Each activation consumes tens of thousands of High-Grade Immortal Stones per minute. Because of that, very few sects or powers can afford to keep one running for long.”

”Whoa… Who still has one in the Immortal Realm?” Lin Mu asked, unable to contain his curiosity. If he had the opportunity, he would definitely want to try it out.

”The only power that currently has an active array is the Immortal Court,” Xukong revealed. ”There used to be more in the past, but maintaining the array proved too costly. Once the formations degraded, many sects found repairing them to be either impossible or not worth the effort. Instead, they turned to other, more cost-effective training arrays.”

”No wonder…” Lin Mu muttered. He understood the practicality behind their decision. Even if the array was unparalleled in pushing cultivators to their limits, the sheer amount of resources required to keep it functioning would be overwhelming for most sects.

”Looks like obtaining these stones might take a while,” he added with a sigh.

”Though there might be another way,” Xukong suddenly spoke up, a hint of intrigue in his voice.

”What is it?” Lin Muʼs ears perked up.

”If the technique was created by someone, then the creator would likely know where to find Spectral Mirror Stones. They might have even stockpiled them,” Xukong theorized.

”But thereʼs no mention of a creator in the booklet,” Lin Mu pointed out, flipping through the pages again.

”You can start by looking into where this booklet was found first,” Xukong suggested.

Lin Mu pondered for a moment before nodding. ”Hmm… Maybe the Elderʼs Jade Slip has some clues.” Without wasting any time, he picked up the jade slip that once belonged to Elder Nui and began working on removing the elderʼs imprint.

It took him several minutes to erase the Elderʼs imprint before finally gaining access. Unlike the other disciplesʼ jade slips, this one contained a wealth of information—various contacts Elder Nui had established, hundreds of reports detailing the River Bending Axe Sectʼs operations, and even a list of items the elder had collected over the years.

Lin Mu quickly realized that if this information were to be leaked, the River Bending Axe Sect could suffer significant losses.

Sifting through the data proved to be a challenge. There was too much to go through, and finding a relevant entry was like searching for a needle in a haystack. But Lin Mu was patient, and his diligence eventually paid off.

After about ten minutes of searching, he finally stumbled upon a crucial clue.

”So the Elder found it himself…” Lin Mu murmured as he read the entry.

Elder Nui had not bought or obtained the technique from someone else—it was something he had discovered within the territory of his own sect. According to the notes, the elder had accidentally stumbled upon a hidden cave while assisting in the maintenance of some of the sectʼs defensive arrays.

Curious, he had explored the cave and found a few valuable items. Among them was the Spectral Phantasm Strike technique.

From what Elder Nui had deduced, the cave likely belonged to an Immortal who had lived there a long time ago. The presence of various ancient objects suggested that it predated the River Bending Axe Sect itself.

However, Elder Nui had encountered a significant obstacle—a protective barrier within the cave prevented him from exploring further. He had been unable to break through it and was wary of alerting the rest of the sect. Since he wanted to keep the discovery to himself, he had been discreetly trying to find a way to bypass the barrier. Unfortunately, his efforts had been unsuccessful.

”This means there might be even more valuable items hidden within that cave,” Lin Mu speculated. ”And possibly more clues about the Spectral Mirror Stones.”

There was one issue, though. The location of the cave was not recorded in the jade slip. Elder Nui had been meticulous in keeping the location a secret, likely to ensure that no one else would be able to claim his discovery.

”But he still left behind information about the cave… That was his mistake,” Lin Mu mused, a small smirk forming on his lips.

However, reaching the cave would not be simple. He would have to infiltrate the sect first.

ʼHmm… Thatʼs not entirely out of the question… But that depends on how the sect reacts,ʼ Lin Mu thought to himself, his expression darkening. He had already warned them once. If they heeded his warning, he would leave them alone and look for the Spectral Mirror Stones through other means. But if they didnʼt…

He might just have to pay them a visit.

”Haha, why wait?” Lin Mo, the devilish voice in his mind, whispered with amusement. ”Just go and take it. Itʼs not like they can stop you. They offended you first, didnʼt they?”

”Not yet,” Lin Mu responded calmly, shaking off the temptation. He had learned to be patient and methodical.

”Youʼre no fun,” Lin Mo grumbled before falling silent.