Scanning Books

Su Ming then walked into the other side of the magic array ruins area. Several members of the "Final Bone Mad Machines" were also busy among the researchers. According to the arrangement, they would stay here for a long time. On the one hand, they would follow Chloe to carry out the research work on the magic array, and on the other hand, they would also serve as Su Ming's representatives stationed in Northern Ice Island to supervise the implementation of the transaction terms reached with the Feather Race.

Su Ming remembered something, beckoned them over, and handed them a portable scanner.

"I've already reached an agreement with the Feather Race's higher-ups." He instructed the task, "The entire Feather Race library collection, including all branches and treasure rooms, will be open to you. Scan down every single book, scroll, and manuscript you can access, without missing a single one."

"Okay!" The group took the scanner and the accompanying solar charging panel and put them away.

Chloe, who had overheard their conversation, approached and said softly, "You may also scan and catalog all the items in my personal library." She then took a gray feather from her small pouch and handed it to the student representatives. "This is my personal authorization token; with this, you may freely enter and exit my library."

"Thank you!" Su Ming sincerely thanked Chloe.

"Sharing and disseminating knowledge is a matter of course," Chloe replied. "Many of the precious books in my library were originally part of Professor Beckmann's legacy."

Beckmann, the Scholar Albatross — Su Ming was no stranger to this name. Many of the books he had seen at Zijin's place, especially those on the study of dark magic and necromancy, were signed by this master.

Moreover, the idea that "Conceptual Magic Power" is used in Undead Summoning was proposed by Beckmann.

"If I remember correctly," Su Ming asked with a hint of confirmation, "You are Master Beckmann's personal disciple?"

"Actually... strictly speaking, it's not entirely true." Chloe shook her head slightly, a hint of reverie in her eyes. "Initially, it was just a nominal identity my teacher arranged for me to facilitate my activities in the human world... Of course, later he allowed me to officially call him 'teacher.' It's just a pity that not long after, my teacher passed away."

Upon hearing this, Su Ming immediately frowned—another deceased Titled Scholar?

"Professor Beckmann, how did he die?" Su Ming immediately pressed. "Were there any unusual circumstances?"

"My teacher passed away from illness," Chloe replied. "When I met him, he was already quite old and suffered from a very serious illness. Although Master White Pheasant tried his best to help him, he could only prolong his life... In the end, it reached a point beyond human control."

****

On the other side, Zijin waved to them.

It was a newly discovered mural covering an entire wall. Although the mural had been damaged and collapsed during the battle between Yinfei and Lanmo, it was restored using Zijin's "Reverse Object Reversion" spell, and the patterns and text on it were copied.

"Come and see what these murals mean!" Zijin handed Chloe the rubbings of the murals.

These murals differ greatly from the magnificent murals in the main hall, having been painted after the major event that led to the destruction of the magic circle. Both in terms of the fineness of the carving and the overall scale and grandeur, they are far inferior to those seen in the main hall.

They appear to have a style that leans towards simple documentation and narrative.

Chloe took the copied scroll and quickly deciphered its core content. "According to the records, after the dragon's destruction, the Rift Tribe attempted to rebuild the teleportation array, but... they failed."

She carefully examined the rubbings, "In the process, they gradually realized one thing: the destination connected by the magic circle was not somewhere in the Taya Plane, but another unknown world, which they named -- Eden."

Eden —a paradise where food and blessings are inexhaustible—is a fitting name indeed.

"The remaining Rift Tribe members are doing their utmost to investigate the reason for the failure of the teleportation array's reconstruction," Chloe continued, "One of their key conclusions is that the Dragon of the Apocalypse's enormous size caused a severe overload during its passage, leading to the collapse of the teleportation channel."

"So," Su Ming immediately grasped the key point, "Even if they later successfully restored some of the magic array's functionality, they still wouldn't be able to obtain food resources from Eden as continuously as before the disaster?"

"Yes." Chloe nodded in confirmation. "The Rift Tribe believes this is divine punishment, that the gods have banished them from the Eden." She turned to the last part of the rubbing scroll. "So the rest of the content is basically all devout repentance and prayers to the gods."

"Ah, the Rift Tribe's version of the Adam Eve story," Su Ming couldn't help but sigh.

Chloe's gaze suddenly froze on a detail on the scroll, a look of confusion on her face. "Wait a minute! Look, this core symbol later used to represent the gods... how did its main image become a snake?!"

Upon hearing this, Su Ming immediately moved closer to examine the object more closely.

In the early murals, the Rift Tribe clearly used the radiant sun to symbolize their worshipped deity. For a people living in the harsh Northern Lands, choosing the sun as a totem was the most natural and reasonable thing to do!

However, in these newly discovered rubbings, the sun motif, which symbolizes divine grace, has been replaced by a ring-shaped ouroboros totem with its head and tail connected.

Chloe immediately turned around and strode towards the other remaining fragments of the mural, trying to find clues about this core totem and the reasons for the dramatic change.

****

Su Ming and Zijin continued their stroll through the empty and ancient cave ruins.

"Su Ming," Zijin said as they walked, "Based on current findings and analysis, the prototype of the dimensional teleportation array used by Galio is very likely derived from this ancient array left behind by the Rift Tribe."

Upon hearing this, Su Ming felt a surge of joy. "You mean, we've essentially obtained the most original and fundamental teaching material template?"

"Strictly speaking, it can't be considered a textbook, much less a model," Zijin corrected. "This Rift Tribe magic array has a single function, only one-way teleportation, and its energy intensity is far from sufficient to break through the powerful dimensional barrier between the Taya Plane and Earth."

"But in any case, this is a well-structured real-world case study that can be studied in depth," Su Ming said.

"That's right!" Zijin looked around at this ruin that embodied ancient wisdom, her tone filled with heartfelt admiration. "These Old Humanity were truly great. With only mortal bodies lacking magical perception, they understood, designed, and manipulated a power that even we Magic Power users have never been able to achieve."

"Why do I feel like you're praising us Earthlings?" Su Ming joked with a smile. "The power of technology isn't necessarily inferior to that of magic."

"Your situation is far more than just 'not bad'," said Zijin.