Once we pass through the entrance into the outer court section, all the shapes and creatures in the area swim away into the darkness. And I get a better look at the surrounding area.

Like the previous area, there is a long pathway leading to the silo from where we are emerging from and on the other side are ruins of a variety of cultures.

Similar styles of architecture still litter the area, but with a much greater difference in levels of decay. Some appear millennia old, while others only decades.

But one thing I’m noticing with some structures here is that a minority of them appear to be built for underwater traversal. Almost as if someone had built them to help ease in pathing. A different style of architecture entirely, seeming to be primarily structured around parabolic shapes and adjacent styles.

Hmm… I don’t think my earlier assumption was right. This isn’t a snapshot in time.

No, I think this is more of a maintenance thing. The books have a protection on them that seems to protect them from the effects of time and obviously the water/pressure.

The difference here is that it seems some structures have had a similar, but weaker, version placed on them as well.

However, that this level is being maintained with these formations and that there is a progression, still speaks that there is something going on. Adding that there are certainly more creatures here might mean there’s a deeper secret.

Does each of these areas have something special about them? The more I look around here, the more curious I get.

The cart is just getting across the bridge when I can see a massive structure in the background of the nearby ruins and buildings. Something that looks like a palace of sorts.

Before I can look further at it, I notice something that arrests my attention.

I can see Ai, Lin, and Mei Lin’s cart cruise around the bend of a ruin. There seems to be another person with them in the cart. Likely the librarian assisting them.

As we move closer, Ai is the first to catch sight of us and touches her sister to draw her attention. We wave at each other and it just becomes a wait until the carts get close enough so we can talk.

The carts seem to slow down a bit in this area, so it takes a bit, but once they get closer, the bubble around each of our vehicles moves toward each other and merges into one large one.

Immediately after, Mei Lin moves close and grabs my hand.

“Hey! How did everything go? Is everything…”

She practically squeaks out several questions, but I quickly stop.

“Woah, woah, woah, no need to say it all out here. Everything’s good and worked well. I’ll have to run around a bit, so I’ll be returning later than you guys… but all is good.”

I grip her hand and smile, hoping to convey the positivity of the situation.

There are certainly some worrisome things, but overall, everything is still on schedule and okay.

All of their faces relax from a slight bit of tension. After all, the last time they saw me, I was being pulled away into a different dimension to meet the Patriarch of the sect.

Obviously, this could mean both good or bad news. And it certainly was a mixed bag.

A thought comes to mind after I say this.

“Hey, did you guys get everything you were looking for?”

They all nod quickly and look at the librarian.

Ai is the one that speaks up.

“Yeah, Librarian Tian over here was a big help in finding amorphous body cultivation methods. Without his help, there’s no way we would have been able to find a decent method. There are so many variations on the same methods here.

“I can see why you requested their help.”

The brown-haired, thin man next to them doesn’t say much. Just gives a nod and looks over at the twins.

They nod back, giving him the sign that we made an agreement between us.

Lin is the last one to speak.

“Well, we’ll meet you back at the tower, then. I’m sure you have a few things to check out, since you were with the Patriarch.”

The way she says it makes me wonder if she’s pushing me away, but it’s easy to realize they likely discussed it with each other and assumed I wouldn’t be able to join them on the way back.

There’ are certainly a few more steps before I can head back.

And it also seems like they don’t want to say much in front of the three librarians here.

I wonder if something happened or if they are just being cautious around them…

I guess I’ll have to find out when I see them next.

“Okay then. I’ll see you guys later. Be safe on the way back and, if possible, go together as a larger group.”

“Got it. See you then.”

They all wave as the carts move again. Separating the bubble, as they move back to where we came from.

My eyes drift back over to the structure that I was distracted from earlier.

Yeah. There’s no way I’m not taking a peek at this. Just because there are sudden distractions, doesn’t change that there are obvious clues out here.

Man, I love having an improved memory and attention span.

I direct the cart closer to the palace area, soon realizing that it’s not exactly a palace. Instead seeming more like an administration building, like a document storage.

… or a library.

I wonder what a library within a library might look like.

But of course, there’s a change in the situation.

The cart lets me know that at one waypoint we were planning on going to, the final group of team members in the library are now moving away and back towards the entrance.

As I’ve made it a goal to check with the people here, and in all technicality, I can always come back here. I choose to head over to them.

Well, before I’m interrupted by Ling.

“Umm… Young Master James? Will you need any assistance with finding something in particular? We’ve seen that you’ve shown others what they should get, with quite a bit of accuracy. But you also already have a method of your own.

“If you have time beforehand, would you like to move to another location, to talk with us about the additional information on the Pearls of Antiquity? Once we get there, we can talk to you about many of the rewards we can give you in exchange. Of course, helping sect members is part of our job, so we already have something planned to give you for what you’ve already told us.”

Hmm… looks like they may have something for me, but are definitely wanting the rest of the information. I also have some additional stuff, if that will get me what I’m looking for. I guess we’ll see how much I’ll need to tell them.

“Sounds good then. First, though, I would like to check on my last group. Then we can head over to discuss things.”

They look at each other and nod.

And while they may show interest and attraction in me, they still have a job.

Looks like I’ll need to be cautious.