"Based on the energy dissipating from the wizard formation, the probability of some form of consciousness being sealed within it is 78.9%…"
The Chip projected its conclusion before Raelin's eyes.
"Some kind of consciousness?!" A sharp light flashed in Raelin's eyes.
"Can you cross-reference it with the database to determine what kind of consciousness it is?"
"Searching… Ding! This entity does not exist in the database. Beginning comparison with stored memory data of the host…"
The Chip processed rapidly.
A few seconds later, the latest result was delivered before Raelin: "The consciousness exhibits surface energy signatures consistent with the Ganges Secret Realm. It is judged to be a unique life-form native to this realm! Compatibility with the metal gate at the realm's entrance: 67%…"
"The metal gate?!" Raelin's pupils contracted sharply. He suddenly thought of that ancient metal gate near the headquarters — the one that seemed to have existed since time immemorial — and the spiritual waves it emitted, waves that already carried an incomplete consciousness!!!
"Now that I think about it, that metal gate has probably already evolved its own unique intelligence. But its consciousness was entirely stripped away and sealed here by the wizards of the Four Seasons Garden. That's why the spiritual waves it emits gave me such a strange feeling…"
Raelin slowly pieced together the entire chain of events.
Although he didn't know why the Four Seasons Garden had chosen to seal the entrance's consciousness, it almost certainly came down to those same few reasons — and Raelin wasn't in the mood to dwell on them right now.
What he cared about was: if this consciousness were destroyed, what would happen to the realm entrance?
Because the red crystal the giant had given him was not an unsealing formula at all! It was a self-destruction incantation that would destroy the control formation together with the consciousness inside!!!
"Chip! If the consciousness of the realm entrance is annihilated, what are the predicted consequences for the entrance?"
Raelin asked quietly, though his expression had turned darkly ominous.
"Ding! Task established. Loading advanced simulation models… Data input in progress…" the Chip reported faithfully.
The results were then projected before Raelin.
"Based on experimental simulation and ruin extrapolation: once the consciousness here self-destructs, the probability of total destruction of the metal gate is 79.8%. In that case, this entrance will close permanently and never be opened again… There is a 15.2% chance of the exact opposite — this entrance will become a public gateway, open to any and all beings… Finally, a 5% chance remains for other, unknown anomalous events!"
Staring quietly at the conclusion, Raelin suddenly understood everything.
The contest over the Ganges Secret Realm ultimately hinged on control of the entrances. Of the seven entrances discovered so far, four were held directly by the White Wizards.
This control meant not only the wizard armies deployed on the periphery, but also possession of a kind of "key" — something that allowed them to open and close the gate at will!
Now it was clear — these "keys" were the core consciousnesses of each gate!!!
"If I blow this place up, the most likely outcome is that this Four Seasons Garden entrance simply vanishes! And then the number of entrances held by the Black Wizards and White Wizards will be equal again… eliminating the disadvantage in the fight over the secret realm…"
In an instant, Raelin saw through the Black Wizards' true intentions.
These Black Wizards — they wanted to destroy the secret realm entrance here!!!
Controlling an entrance didn't just represent a vast swathe of territory and abundant resources nearby — it also meant the troop capacity that could be funneled through! And most critically, the speed of transporting war materiel!!!
The White Wizards currently held four entrances. Whether in terms of the territory their influence radiated across or their war potential, they held a clear edge over the Black Wizards. Naturally, the Black Wizards had to find a way to erase that advantage!
Even if destruction was out of reach, the very least they had to do was wrench control of this place from the White Wizards' hands. Better to let it become neutral ground than leave it in White Wizard possession!
"A brilliant plan! A brilliant plan! Truly a brilliant plan!"
Having worked through the full chain of cause and effect, Raelin couldn't help but quietly applaud the mastermind behind it all.
The trouble was, as the single most critical piece on the board, his own position was deeply awkward.
If he destroyed the consciousness entity here right now, the secret realm gate would likely go haywire immediately — whether it would collapse entirely or simply lose all discriminatory function, that was anyone's guess.
And if Raelin actually pulled this off, he would have rendered an enormous service to the Black Wizard Alliance — but the White Wizards would never let him go.
He needed to think this through carefully. Was it truly worth offending the entire White Wizard Alliance over a mere handful of merit points?
"This… is that even a question?"
A sharp gleam flickered in Raelin's eyes.
"From that trigger crystal to this perfectly orchestrated arrangement — it's as if some unseen hand has been pulling strings behind the scenes. And that hand must hold a high-ranking position within the Four Seasons Garden; otherwise, pulling something like this off would be absolutely impossible… I can already roughly guess who it is. Once this deed is done, he reaps the greatest benefit — and I may even end up hunted by him, turned into a stepping stone for his advancement…"
A cold smile tugged at the corner of Raelin's lips.
Since time immemorial, the position of an undercover agent had always been deeply uncomfortable. Even after success, if the superior above them had no intention of giving credit, the outcome was rarely pleasant!
Moreover, compared to himself — a minor mole — there was someone here in the Four Seasons Garden who held a higher rank, had been embedded longer, and was far more loyal.
If the interests of those two came into conflict, who would the Hand of a Thousand Leaves choose? Did that even need asking?