At this moment, a soldier from the Great Wall garrison lifted the tent flap and said, "Lord Bai, a dispatch from Chang'an has arrived. Lord Mulan requests your presence."
Bai Ye snapped back to attention and nodded. To the soldier's astonishment, he then put away the gacha machine.
Mulan's tent was next door. As Bai Ye entered, Mulan held a letter and said, "It's confirmed. Those automaton figures are missing from Wan Xiang Tian Gong."
Bai Ye said, "Oh?"
Mulan continued, "About a month ago, a batch of automaton figures went missing from Chang'an. Lord Di of the Dali Temple has been investigating, but without any leads. I never expected those figures to appear at the Great Wall."
Bai Ye asked, "What should we do now?"
Mulan replied, "Chang'an has asked us to handle it ourselves."
Bai Ye was speechless, "That's too perfunctory, isn't it?"
Mulan sighed, "It's not that Lord Di is being perfunctory. Chang'an is going through a turbulent period. Many things have happened there recently, and the Dali Temple is overwhelmed. They simply can't spare any personnel."
Bai Ye asked curiously, "Many things have happened in Chang'an too?"
Mulan nodded and gestured to a pile of documents on the side. "Yes, to investigate the automaton figures, I also gathered some intelligence from Chang'an. Look, it's all piled up there."
Bai Ye looked at the files that resembled a small mountain and said, "It seems like they have no less going on than we do."
Mulan replied, "Indeed. So, it's understandable that Lord Di can't spare hands and wants us to handle it ourselves."
Bai Ye nodded and casually picked up a document, flipping through it. He frowned.
"Hmm?" Bai Ye mumbled, "The Heart of Dawn was stolen?"
Mulan nodded, "Yes, that's what's causing the most headaches for Chang'an."
"Just a moment." Bai Ye's eyes lit up. "Let me think. I think I might know something."
Bai Ye didn't know much about the stories in the Heroic Region because there were simply too many small areas within it.
In his previous life, Bai Ye had only visited Chang'an, the Land of Fallen Gods, and...
The Primordial Domain!
The Primordial Domain was a forbidden zone. Its origin was the shattering of an item called the Heart of Dawn, which led to the opening of a passage to another world. A large amount of primordial energy poured out from this interdimensional passage, forming the Primordial Domain forbidden zone, filled with illusions known as the Dark Heart Worlds.
Thinking about it this way, things started to make sense!
When Bai Ye went to the Primordial Domain in his previous life, it was roughly in the middle of the World Battlefield's progression. The Primordial Domain was already open, and one could simply enter.
However, at present...
Bai Ye pondered. With the current strength of the chosen ones, it would be almost impossible to enter or leave the Primordial Domain.
After all, measuring with his current strength, entering the Primordial Domain would be a sure death, and that's even with the advantage of his past life memories.
Therefore, the Primordial Domain forbidden zone must not be open yet. But since the Heart of Dawn was related to the opening of the Primordial Domain forbidden zone, it meant...
"This hidden quest is actually a prelude to the opening of the Primordial Domain forbidden zone?"
Bai Ye felt he had discovered the key.
It was important to note that the Primordial Domain forbidden zone was not located within Chang'an City, but in a place called the Valley of Glory.
While thinking, Bai Ye took out some documents to look at and said, "Give me the map of the Great Wall."
Mulan, not understanding why, handed him a sheepskin map.
Bai Ye quickly scanned the map and took a deep breath. "I see. Their objective is to transport the Heart of Dawn out of Chang'an."
Mulan asked, "Hmm?"
Bai Ye said, "Give me a map of Chang'an as well."
Mulan produced a new sheepskin map and handed it to Bai Ye.
Bai Ye circled Chang'an on the map, then cross-referenced it with the documents, drawing circles on the map.
Next, Bai Ye had someone fetch the documents related to the Great Wall from his tent. He continually compared them with the incident areas marked on the map, drawing more circles.
"Their strategy is to wear us down with constant disturbances, forcing us to rush around, and then they can smuggle the Heart of Dawn out of Chang'an," Bai Ye said as he drew circles. "Is the Dali Temple so overwhelmed that no one is dealing with the matter of the Heart of Dawn?"
Mulan replied, "It's not that no one is dealing with it. I heard Lord Li Bai is investigating..."
After saying that, Mulan paused and considered.
"Your speculation is possible. Only Lord Li Bai is investigating the Heart of Dawn, and the Dali Temple completely lacks personnel." Mulan continued, "But what does this have to do with us?"
"That depends on where they intend to take the Heart of Dawn," Bai Ye said, continuing to draw circles on the map. "We'll have the answer soon."
A moment later, Bai Ye picked up both maps, compared them, and smiled.
He had guessed correctly!
Bai Ye pointed at the map and said, "Look, this is their target."
Mulan glanced at it. "The Valley of Glory?"
Bai Ye nodded. "Look at the Chang'an map. Apart from incidents within the city, there are almost no incidents in the southwest."
Mulan nodded. "Mm."
Bai Ye continued, "Now look at the Great Wall. Recently, bandits, barbarians, and demon races have appeared frequently, attacking merchant caravans and the Great Wall, especially the market at Jade City Pass. There have been over a dozen incidents of merchant caravans being robbed. However, in the opposite direction of Jade City Pass, to the northeast, there have been almost no incidents. Why do you think that is?"
Mulan narrowed his eyes. "East of the Great Wall, towards the northeast, is the Valley of Glory."
"Exactly." Bai Ye said, "It's very simple. They are causing trouble in Chang'an to transport the Heart of Dawn out, with the destination being the Valley of Glory. And they are causing trouble at the Great Wall to prevent their plan from being discovered. The Great Wall can quickly dispatch reinforcements."
Mulan nodded. "So, the recent frequent incidents are all in areas far from the northeast. In particular, Jade City, being in the opposite direction, has a lot of activity. This way, even if they receive news, it would be difficult to gather personnel."
Bai Ye said, "Correct answer!"
Mulan picked up the map and said, "I'll go see Commander Li Xin immediately."
With Mulan's decisive nature, map in hand, he ran off, leaving Bai Ye behind.
Meanwhile, Bai Ye...
"You have helped the Great Wall garrison uncover the secret of the automaton figures, receiving a quest reward: Shadow Axe x1"
Bai Ye's hidden quest was complete!
The next second, a black battle axe appeared in Bai Ye's hand.
...