What fascinated Lin Mu most were the interconnected layers that reacted to environmental changes. He realized that the formations were not static; they evolved in subtle ways, adapting to circumstances.

It was almost as if the sphere had been given a kind of living awareness, a reflection of the cultivators who had maintained it for tens of thousands of year. Studying it would take years, perhaps decades, but Lin Mu was patient.

For him, knowledge gained here would echo across generations.

Even as he studied, he was aware that the war outside was far from over.

The elimination of the Hidden Cave Sect’s core was only the beginning. The Ancestor still lingered somewhere in the shadows, and the Ephemera Sect remained silent, a silence that Lin Mu knew could not be trusted.

But for now, within the Lesser Void sphere, he could focus on the work before him, secure in the knowledge that his allies were dismantling the enemy’s network piece by piece.

The sphere had become more than just a battlefield trophy.

It was a treasure house of knowledge, a training ground, and perhaps one day, a stronghold for the sects themselves. Lin Mu felt no guilt in taking what the Hidden Cave Sect had left behind. They had used it for darkness, but he would turn it into a foundation for growth and strength.

For now, he continued to study, his hands tracing invisible lines of power, recording all that he had learned so far and what he could not understand, his mind weaving connections, and his heart steady in the pursuit of understanding.

.

.

.

More than three months had passed since the end of the operation that saw the Hidden Cave Sect brought to ruin. During this time, Lin Mu remained inside the sphere, devoting himself almost entirely to the study of its arrays.

The days blurred into one another as he examined the interlocking layers of symbols and scripts, tracing how each strand of energy wove into the next. While he had not yet mastered everything, he had reached a point where he could at least record the complex web of formations.

He had copied them piece by piece into jade slips, each one holding fragments of the enormous puzzle. Beyond that, he engraved many sections into his memory directly, making sure that even if the jade slips were destroyed, the essence of the work would still remain with him.

It was a monumental task, one that very few cultivators in the world could have accomplished. The formations were not simple lines drawn on stone, but rather systems that crossed into the very fabric of space itself.

Only someone with his unique perception of space could hope to observe the entire construct as a whole. He could see the hidden nodes that held the arrays together, feel the subtle harmonies between the layers, and trace the links that other eyes would miss.

This gift allowed him to succeed where others would not even know where to begin.

Lin Mu had done this because he knew he would not be able to stay here forever. Eventually the time would come when they had to move forward, and the sphere would no longer be his place of residence. Having the blueprints in his possession meant that he could continue his studies no matter where he went, perhaps even recreate certain aspects of the work for his own projects.

That day came sooner than expected.

"A summon?" Lin Mu checked his communication jade slip.

He was called by Grand Elder Huo for an update, and Lin Mu left his study chamber to descend through the halls of the central pavilion.

The pavilion had changed much over the last three months.

What was once the nerve center of the Hidden Cave Sect had been adapted into a base of operations for the Xian Sword Sect and the Silent Lotus Temple. The aura of secrecy that once clung to these halls had been replaced with the steady discipline of their own people.

New structures had been added, chief among them a teleportation array that linked the sphere directly with both the Xian Sword Sect and the Silent Lotus Temple. This had been no small feat, as the connection had to pierce through the veils of the Lesser Void, but with the combined expertise of their formation masters, the task had been completed.

Now members of both powers could arrive within the sphere instantly, without the arduous journey across the coast and into the Lesser Void. The change had sped up their operations greatly.

Prisoners were being handled with efficiency.

Those with higher cultivation levels, or those directly involved in the workings of the Hidden Cave Sect, were kept in the sphere itself. Its security was unparalleled, and none of them could escape.

Those of lesser cultivation or minor involvement were transferred to standard prisons on the continent, while individuals who had been unknowingly tied to the sect were treated more delicately.

They received reprimands, and the portions of their businesses or goods that were tied to the Hidden Cave Sect were seized. This approach balanced justice with practicality, making sure the innocent were not destroyed while the guilty were properly punished.

As Lin Mu walked into the hall, he saw Grand Elder Huo standing over a large table, several jade slips spread before him. The elder looked up, giving Lin Mu a nod.

"You called for me," Lin Mu said, approaching.

"Yes," Grand Elder Huo replied. "There has been progress. After many months of back and forth, we have finally obtained the permission of the Darkhan Dynasty."

Lin Mu raised his brows slightly. "Permission to do what?"

"To enter their territory," the elder answered, his tone calm but carrying a weight of importance. "We are now authorized to investigate within their lands. It took significant discussion and negotiation, but the matter has finally been settled."

Lin Mu stood silently for a moment, considering the implications.

The Darkhan Dynasty was a major power, and their land was vast taking nearly forty precent of the entire continent. To move forces into their territory without permission would have been seen as an act of provocation, perhaps even an act of war.