Chapter 1443: New Problems
Ma Ling was somewhat bewildered when she learned that something had happened to Yang Haoran and that he urgently needed the large-scale Cross-Continent Teleportation Array she was setting up. Although she knew Yang Haoran hoped the array would be completed as quickly as possible, she never expected him to need to use it so soon.
Because the process of setting up the Cross-Continent Teleportation Array had been remarkably smooth, it was certainly going to be finished earlier than anticipated. Ma Ling had initially felt a secret delight, planning to complete the task ahead of schedule to give Yang Haoran a pleasant surprise. But she had never, ever imagined he would be in such desperate need of the array.
Ma Ling didn't know what kind of immense trouble Yang Haoran had encountered at the time. However, the mere fact that Old Master Wu, rather than Yang Haoran himself, had contacted her allowed her to guess that the problem Yang Haoran faced was undoubtedly far more troublesome than she could have imagined. Otherwise, Old Master Wu wouldn't have been the one to reach out.
Precisely because she deduced that the problem Yang Haoran was facing at the moment was extremely tricky, she had no time for shock, no time for lament, and certainly no time for complaint. She immediately snapped to full attention, accelerating the speed of the array's construction.
Accelerating the array's setup meant a significantly higher risk of error. A single mistake could lead to many detours, waste even more time, and even risk complete failure. Therefore, throughout this process, Ma Ling had to maintain absolute focus, exercising extreme caution, and ultimately succeeded in completing the Cross-Continent Teleportation Array on Half-Moon Island in the shortest possible time.
The Cross-Continent Teleportation Array could only function once both ends were successfully established; otherwise, no teleportation would be possible. The array in the Cloud Haze Mountain Range had already been completed by Ma Ling when she first journeyed to the Eastern Sunrise Ocean. Thus, with the successful construction of the array on Half-Moon Island, it meant that this massive long-distance teleportation array was finally ready for use.
Ma Ling initially prevented Old Master Wu from bringing people to the Cloud Haze Mountain Range because, at the time, she couldn't be certain how much more time it would take to successfully set up the array on Half-Moon Island. To avoid prematurely exposing the already completed array in the Cloud Haze Mountain Range, and to prevent it from being deliberately damaged, she had not instructed Old Master Wu to bring the personnel needing transfer there. It was only after the Half-Moon Island array was also complete, and after a thorough discussion with Old Master Wu, that she decided to move all personnel to the Cloud Haze Mountain Range.
Upon arriving at the Cloud Haze Mountain Range, Old Master Wu did not immediately activate the Cross-Continent Teleportation Array. One reason was that some of the personnel needing transfer had not yet arrived, but this was merely a secondary factor. The primary reason was that Yang Haoran had not appeared, and Old Master Wu was waiting for him.
At that time, Yang Haoran and his trusted subordinates were the last to be teleported. This was because he wished to ensure the safety of the other personnel as much as possible, allowing more people to move far away from Jingling Continent via the teleportation array. As the array's activation caused no small commotion, he worried it might attract demons or monsters, and thus remained on-site with his close associates to oversee the operation.
Not a single demon or monster appeared even as Yang Haoran and his subordinates stepped into the Cross-Continent Teleportation Array. This wasn't to say that no such entities existed in the Cloud Haze Mountain Range; it was highly probable that these demons and monsters had long since fled far away, daring not to show themselves.
After Yang Haoran and his subordinates stepped into the Cross-Continent Teleportation Array, he waved his hand, leaving a scattering of talismans around its perimeter. As he and his trusted companions vanished within the array, these talismans erupted in a deafening blast, unleashing immense destructive power that utterly annihilated the entire teleportation array. Not only could it no longer be used, but even its original form was completely obliterated.
Of course, Yang Haoran did this to prevent anyone else from using this Cross-Continent Teleportation Array to pursue them to Half-Moon Island. Otherwise, it would be useless for him to flee with his subordinates to the ends of the earth; their enemies could still track them down via this very array. Destroying the teleportation array was, therefore, absolutely necessary.
Before deciding to destroy the Cross-Continent Teleportation Array, Yang Haoran had used a Communication Talisman to ask Ma Ling, and only after confirming that doing so would not affect the already teleported personnel in the slightest did he resolve to destroy the Cloud Haze Mountain Range array upon their departure. This way, even if their enemies rushed to the Cloud Haze Mountain Range immediately, they would have no hope of catching up.
And indeed, that's precisely what happened. Not only were their enemies unable to pursue them, but they couldn't even discern their hiding place. This was a good thing for Yang Haoran, and precisely the outcome he desired. However, while the old problems had been solved, new ones had emerged, and there was more than just one or two.
Pioneering the wilderness was one of these new problems. Half-Moon Island had once been uninhabited, thus lacking any buildings or fertile land. Now, with Yang Haoran having led all personnel from the Ninth District in their escape to this place, the issue of housing and feeding everyone was a problem that absolutely had to be solved.
Inside a crude stone house, Yang Haoran sat in the main seat, while his trusted subordinates were seated below him. There had originally been no buildings here; the stone house was a temporary construction. "Lord Guardian," Lu Wu said respectfully to Yang Haoran, his expression serious. "Although we've brought a fair amount of food, it is, after all, limited and won't last long. For so many people, the daily demand for food is no small figure."
Lu Wu's face was stern as he spoke respectfully to Yang Haoran, appearing to take this matter very seriously. However, the others present showed little reaction, seemingly unconcerned by the problem Lu Wu had raised.
"Haha, Half-Moon Island is rich in resources; our people won't starve," Yang Haoran replied with a chuckle. "If there isn't enough to eat, we'll go fishing for seafood. If ordinary people aren't efficient enough, we'll send in those who aren't ordinary. Once we have a proper plan, we'll mobilize everyone to cultivate the wasteland. And with the assistance of the Pharmacists from the Medicine God Society, I believe we'll soon have our own food production."
Yang Haoran smiled as he replied, and Lu Wu, realizing the truth of the matter, nodded in agreement, then immediately posed another question.
"Then what about housing? " Lu Wu asked. "I think that issue should be resolved as soon as possible."
Yang Haoran nodded in agreement, then replied with a faint smile.
"Haha, I summoned you all here for this meeting today precisely to arrange this matter and assign your tasks. We must rebuild our new home in the shortest time possible."
With Yang Haoran's words, Lu Wu knew his worries had been superfluous. Yang Haoran had not only not overlooked the issue but held it in high regard, so Lu Wu said nothing further.
Seeing that Lu Wu had no intention of speaking further, Old Master Wu respectfully bowed to Yang Haoran and spoke.
"Boss, while the issue of feeding and housing our personnel is indeed important, your subordinate believes there is something even more critical: the shift in our personnel's stance, and their faith in the Death God."
As Old Master Wu's words left his mouth, they immediately drew the gaze of everyone present. Some even subtly furrowed their brows.
Yang Haoran was no exception; his gaze fell upon Old Master Wu. He didn't frown, but the smile on his face receded somewhat.
The reason for the change in Yang Haoran's expression was that he knew Old Master Wu had hit the nail on the head. The greatest problem he currently faced was indeed the shift in his personnel's stance, and their faith in the Death God.
Previously, all personnel in his Ninth District, with the exception of the Medicine God Society and the Flock of Demons Society, were believers in the Death God. Whether Night Watchers or Underworld Officials, they were all members of the Underworld Office, including himself; he too was a member of the Underworld Office.
However, now he had defected from the Underworld Office, no longer a member of it. His subordinates, because of him, had also defected from the Underworld Office, becoming targets of the Underworld Office's pursuit. He personally didn't care, but he couldn't guarantee that all of his subordinates could accept this change in allegiance.
As for faith in the Death God, he himself had once possessed an immensely devout belief in the Death God. But he didn't know when it started, his faith in the Death God had vanished. How could he, someone who wholeheartedly desired to become a god himself, possibly cultivate faith in other deities? Yet, many of his subordinates were devout believers in the Death God, and making them change their faith would be no easy task!
Comments