Chapter 2405: Chapter 2308: Illusions

During the waiting process, some members of the archaeological team contemplated other methods, such as tying ropes to themselves and entering the array to pull out the trapped members.

This method, when initially proposed, received strong approval from most members, but Huo Sining remained silent beside them. In her heart, she had already anticipated the outcome. If this method could succeed, she would concede.

Sure enough, an archaeologist bravely volunteered to tie a rope around his waist, held by the others, and gallantly ventured inside.

The plan was for the team member to pull the rope once inside if he found anyone, then the others would find a way to haul them out.

They had a good plan, but the outcome was completely beyond their expectations.

As soon as the staff member entered the array, he, too, like Director He and the others before, instantly disappeared from sight.

Then many of the archaeologists waited outside for over twenty minutes, yet there was no response from inside, nor did the rope shorten, nor was anyone pulling it. This made everyone very anxious. As time dragged on, their nervousness grew, and they hurriedly pulled the rope back.

The courageous staff member was pulled out from the array. He emerged visibly shaken, as if he had suffered quite a fright.

This situation left everyone puzzled, and they couldn’t help but ask, "Xiao Zhang, did you see Director He? Why are you so scared? Are they okay?"

Xiao Zhang took several minutes to catch his breath, finally easing the tension on his face, although he couldn’t conceal the terror still evident in his eyes.

"I didn’t see Director He. Once inside, I thought about finding him, but I found myself at my home, watching my grandfather argue with a neighbor. I ran to mediate, but unexpectedly, the neighbor grabbed a knife and hacked at my grandfather, then chased me with it. I had no choice but to flee, yet no matter how fast I ran, the neighbor stayed right behind me..."

As he spoke, Xiao Zhang’s face turned pale, clearly terrified by his recent ordeal.

"The dream felt so real. I was completely immersed, unable to escape. If you hadn’t dragged me out, I might have died of fright in there! I still remember the neighbor’s menacing appearance."

Xiao Zhang shivered uncontrollably, his lips quivering as he spoke.

A staff member familiar with Xiao Zhang interjected:

"Why would you see such a thing? Isn’t it supposed to be an array inside? How did you end up at your home, seeing your grandfather? Isn’t your grandfather long deceased?"

Xiao Zhang took a deep breath before lifting his head and nodded with difficulty, saying:

"My grandfather died when I was seven after a drunken argument with the neighbor next door led to him being hacked to death. I witnessed it back then."

Upon hearing this, Huo Sining was taken aback, glancing at the array and an idea flashed through her mind, instantly making everything clear.

Her eyes narrowed as she spoke, "It seems this array isn’t as simple as I previously thought, merely a maze inside."

"There might be a heart-disturbing Gu array in here. Entering it means facing your inner demons, confronting the shadows of your own heart."

"Everyone has mental shadows. Those untouchable places deep in one’s heart may be buried in memory, but this Gu array can bring them to the surface."

"The scenes Xiao Zhang saw were his mind’s demon conjuring up the spectacle. He found them so terrifyingly real because he had always treated this as a heart knot he couldn’t overcome."

"Without courage to face this psychological shadow, those trapped inside could be so terrified of their mental demons they suffer a psychological breakdown, potentially even resorting to extreme measures!"

Upon hearing Huo Sining’s analysis, nearly everyone gasped in surprise.

Though Huo Sining didn’t elaborate, everyone understood what reaching extremes meant.

If someone’s mental state collapses, they might opt for self-harm as the most direct method to escape from their shadowy predicament.

This is one’s instinctive choice when confronted with fear, a straightforward way to avoid reality.

If that’s the case, the longer Director He and the others stay inside this array, the more perilous their situation becomes!

This revelation left everyone restless, Zhou Shitao grew even more anxious, urging Huang Zhenlong to call higher-ups for contact, hoping to know where Bai Buzhi was.

No one wants an incident in their domain, and the director of Luofu Mountain Scenic Area rushed over anxiously upon hearing the situation.

His presence, however, added to the chaos, unable to help, left only with mounting urgency.

Huo Sining had already used the Heavenly Eye to survey the inside. She stated that Director He and the others were aimlessly running around the array without any method, completely unlike seeking an exit from a maze. It now appeared they were most likely trapped in a nightmare.

But with Zhou Shitao and several professors so flustered, Huo Sining couldn’t bear to wait. She encountered the situation again using the Heavenly Eye, confirming that those inside only have minor self-inflicted wounds and currently aren’t in mortal danger. Finally, Huo Sining breathed a sigh of relief.

After all, they were lives at stake, especially this was the archaeological project Zhou Shitao was responsible for. If something happened, Zhou Shitao would undoubtedly bear the primary responsibility. Having such a blemish in his distinguished career was something Huo Sining could not tolerate.

She understood Zhou Shitao’s character well and knew her master cherished his reputation. With such a history, even after a hundred years, someone might use it to defame him, which Huo Sining would never allow.

"Master, rest assured, they will surely be fine! Mr. Bai will arrive soon and will definitely resolve this!"

Seeing Zhou Shitao’s urgent and helpless expression, Huo Sining couldn’t help but console him.

During her encouragement, Huo Sining discreetly infused a bit of Spiritual Energy into Zhou Shitao’s body, quickly calming the old man’s heightened emotions, making him appear significantly calmer.

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