267: Compatriots of order? And uninvited "predecessors"?

Ever since the silver hexagonal "Node" left by Special Agent CZ-7391 settled into the recreation center of "Homeland" and was "developed" by Excellence—half-coerced and half-cajoled—to unlock its pitiful "chat buddy" function (though strictly limited to "minimum interaction mode"), life seemed to have slid back into a kind of absurd, superficial tranquility.

The daily rhythm of Excellence was as stable as clockwork: meditation exercises before dawn; mornings spent familiarizing himself with the subtle and complex operation of the growing Power of Order within him; and afternoons mostly spent in Evelyn's laboratory or in the quiet room of "White Elder," filled with ancient jade slips and strange materials. The three of them would huddle together, turning the prototype of the "heart-clearing pendant" over and over, trying to improve its stability and efficacy decay cycle while ensuring its core "warning" function, and seeking feasible process paths for small-batch production. This research progressed slowly but steadily; Evelyn's rigorous data recording, "White Elder's" profound knowledge of arrays, and Excellence's inspiration—which often sparked "wild ideas"—formed a wonderful complementarity.

Every day after dinner, Excellence would unfailingly wander over to the recreation center, stand in front of that silvery hexagonal Node for a while, and begin his routine "harassment," which he called "regular information feeding to maintain the activity and stability of the observation target." This had almost become an unofficial entertainment project within "Homeland." Many off-duty members would watch from afar, occasionally hearing Excellence mutter as he rolled his eyes, choked by the Node AI's emotionless electronic voice.

The Node AI's attitude was indeed undergoing subtle changes. From purely mechanical programmatic responses at the beginning, it seemed to have activated some underlying response mechanism after being annoyed by Excellence's endless "nonsense" and "bizarre questions" day after day, initiating a "minimum interaction mode" with minimal emotional feedback. Later, when faced with some of Excellence's overly erratic or clearly probing questions about restricted areas, it would even pause briefly before responding in a nearly "humanized" electronic voice, mixed with helplessness and programmatic refusal:

"Individual Excellence, this question involves internal affairs of The Council / No valid information index / Exceeds the logical processing threshold of this Node. Suggestion: Reorient the focus of the question."

Once, when Excellence tried for the umpteenth time to pry into Special Agent CZ-7391's personal preferences, wildly guessing whether its uniform could be changed to "a more visually appealing pink color scheme, or a cyberpunk style with fluorescent stripes," the Node AI responded after a ten-second silence:

"...Detected unconventional jumps in the questioner's logic chain and redundant aesthetic additions. This Node cannot associate this question with any observation mission or data collection goal. Supplementary suggestion: Individual Excellence, according to behavioral pattern analysis, do you have 'social need overload' or 'compulsive information interaction tendencies'? This Node can provide the coordinates of a public leisure community in a nearby star system (Note: distance 17.8 light-years) that meets the standards of basic Pan-Dimensional Civilization, and this community is equipped with various social function modules."

Excellence laughed on the spot, turning back to shout at Su Mu and "White Elder," who were playing chess not far away: "See that? It thinks I'm a chatterbox and even suggested I 'go out and socialize'! This AI is getting more and more 'human'!"

Su Mu rubbed her forehead, feeling that their commander would sooner or later "force an personality simulation disorder" onto this high-level monitor. "White Elder" stroked his beard, his eyes filled with amusement and contemplation: "The spirituality of this object is indeed different from ordinary Dharma treasure spirits; it seems like... the intelligence of a nascent being."

Of course, Excellence's "harassment" was not without substantial gains. The Node AI's database and logical core were clearly of a very high level. Although it kept its mouth shut about internal matters of The Council, details about Special Agents, the movements of other high-dimensional forces, and other core intelligence, it would occasionally leak a few fragments on details it deemed "non-confidential," "conducive to maintaining the stability of the observation environment," or "belonging to the category of basic public knowledge."

For example, Excellence once complained that the old simulated gravity system of "Homeland" would occasionally malfunction, making him feel like he was stepping on cotton during training, almost spraining his waist. A few days later, when he chatted about the base facilities again, the Node AI would "incidentally" mention in that flat broadcast tone: "According to continuous scanning and analysis of the basic environmental system of the 'Homeland' base, the psionic lattice of the third energy circuit of the G-7B gravity generator array has a 0.0037% periodic stress fatigue accumulation, which is a potential factor leading to micro-fluctuations in the gravity field. Suggestion: Refer to the 'Resonant Elimination Method' described in Article 4527 of the 'Guide to Maintenance and Optimization of Basic Public Facilities for Pan-Dimensional Civilization (Third Revision)' for preventive calibration and component replacement." Although no one had ever seen that "Guide," which sounded thick enough to crush a person, Evelyn used this extremely precise hint to actually locate the micrometer-level hidden danger point and timely eliminated the fault.

Another example: when "White Elder" was researching a new type of composite protection array combining ancient arrays and Evelyn's energy topology, he got stuck on the phase synchronization rate of several key energy Nodes. One time, while chatting with the Node AI, Excellence pretended to casually mention this "little trouble." A few days later, while responding to another question about energy stability, the Node AI "incidentally" added: "In the design of multi-Node collaborative energy structures, introducing the concept of a reverse 'entropy buffer ring' can effectively suppress phase conflicts and improve the overall structural stability and instantaneous load capacity limit. Related basic principles can be consulted in Chapter 7 of 'Basic High-Dimensional Energy Structure Topology', 'Ordering under Non-Equilibrium States'."

Although it didn't provide a specific array diagram, this idea was like a flash of inspiration, instantly enlightening "White Elder" and allowing him to successfully improve the array, increasing its efficiency by nearly 20%.

Over time, a rather strange "communication ecology" gradually formed between Excellence and this silver hexagon. The Node AI seemed to truly regard Excellence—an individual who was "talkative," had unique behavioral patterns, and possessed the rare Power of Order—as a high-value, stable, long-term observation sample, and perhaps even triggered some kind of "sample maintenance and limited information interaction" subroutine. Meanwhile, Excellence treated this AI as an alternative technical database that could sometimes trigger "hidden hints," a "tree hole" that would never leak secrets, and a window to observe the logic and reactions of so-called "high-dimensional civilization creations."

"Does this count as... tricking the high-level surveillance probe installed by the enemy into becoming our unstable technical consultant that occasionally spits out dry goods?" Su Mu complained once at the dinner table.

"This is strategic resource integration, get it?" Excellence stuffed a synthetic protein block into his mouth, speaking vaguely but righteously. "Surveillance is bidirectional. It watches what it wants to watch, and we ask what we want to ask. Each takes what it needs. Turning disadvantage into advantage—this is wisdom!"

However, this slightly absurd, peaceful daily life did not dispel the invisible shadow hanging over everyone's hearts. The warning whisper from the "Dream Weaver" about the "shadow within Order" was like background radiation, always lingering on the edge of the consciousness of those in the know. Especially for Excellence; although the "heart-clearing pendant" on his chest was mostly warm and quiet, he could always vaguely perceive that the feeling of being watched by invisible eyes had not disappeared, but had become more ethereal and scattered, as if multiple pairs of eyes were casting inscrutable glances from a higher, more distant place.

He knew that the real storm might just be gathering strength.

That afternoon, Excellence was alone in the newly built, specially reinforced "High-Level Training Room." He was trying to shape the increasingly powerful Power of Order within him into a more complex, more "tangible," and aggressive form. He always felt that his current methods—shockwaves from punches or simple condensed energy impacts—lacked "technical content" and "a warrior's romance." He recalled some ancient weapon diagrams shown by "White Elder" and some energy weapon design principles in Evelyn's database, trying to combine the characteristics of the Power of Order—"defining rules" and "stable existence"—with concepts like "sharpness," "armor-piercing," and "energy condensation."

He was fully focused, his mental power highly concentrated, guiding the silvery-white Power of Order to circulate, compress, and shape between his arms. Gradually, a phantom of a two-handed greatsword with a budding outline and dazzling light slowly condensed in his hands. The blade was slender, the crossguard was ancient, and a chilling, sharp cold light flowed at the edge—not a real metallic reflection, but the concrete manifestation of the "cutting" and "destruction" rules after the Power of Order was highly condensed.

"Still not stable enough... The concept of 'sharpness' could be clearer..." Sweat appeared on Excellence's forehead. He carefully adjusted the subtle balance of energy output, trying to make the form of the light sword more solidified and the "nothing it cannot cut" implication at the blade's edge purer.

Just as he was completely immersed in the shaping of the light sword in his hands, in a subtle state of forgetting both himself and the world—a sudden change occurred!

It was not an attack from the outside, nor was it a loss of control of his own power. Instead, the "heart-clearing pendant" he wore close to his body suddenly erupted with terrifying high heat without any warning! It was not the cool mental reminder during early warnings, but a bone-chilling, scorching heat, as if a red-hot branding iron was pressed directly against his skin in a physical sense! At the same time, a vast, pure, and ancient "Order" origin fluctuation, as if originating from the beginning of the universe and the foundation of all things, like a silent cosmic tsunami, ignored the layered energy shields, spatial turbulence barriers, and even some dimension-shifting devices deployed by Evelyn in the "Homeland" base, and just descended directly, arrogantly, yet "naturally" upon the sky of the star system where the base was located!

This fluctuation was of the same origin as Excellence's own Power of Order, but its vastness, its magnificence, its high-and-mighty, unquestionable sense of "correctness" and "origin" far exceeded Excellence's a thousand times over! It was like a Firefly compared to a bright moon, a stream compared to the ocean! It carried no malice; it was even filled with a warm, inclusive attraction, like returning to the mother's womb, but the absolute suppression on the level of pure power itself brought terrifying pressure!

"Pfft—!" Excellence was in a state of high unity of mind and power, caught off guard and hit head-on by this vast fluctuation of the same origin but higher level! It was like a craftsman who was delicately carving, suddenly hit in the mind by a ten-thousand-ton giant hammer! He groaned, and the light sword that was about to take shape in his hand completely dissipated with a "buzz." The silvery-white Power of Order rampaged in his body, his blood surged, and a sweetness rose in his throat; a trace of blood immediately spilled from the corner of his mouth. He staggered back several steps, forcibly operating his cultivation technique to barely suppress the almost runaway power and churning blood. He looked up in horror, his gaze seemingly wanting to penetrate the alloy dome of the training room and look toward the endless deep space from which the fluctuation came.

Almost at the same moment, all personnel in the entire "Homeland" base who were wearing the "heart-clearing pendant" prototypes, regardless of what they were doing, were struck as if by lightning; their chest pendants became hot, and their minds shook violently! "White Elder," Evelyn, and a few other members with keen spiritual senses or stronger strength turned pale instantly, feeling the suffocating pressure and palpitation originating from the level of life and the source of power! No conventional energy intrusion alarm sounded—because this fluctuation seemed to have cleverly bypassed it, or rather, its form of existence itself exceeded the monitoring range of the base's conventional sensors. But all high-level beings "felt" it!

"What's going on?!" "White Elder's" figure appeared beside Excellence as if teleporting. His aged face was filled with unprecedented gravity and suspicion. His white beard moved without wind. He looked up at the dome, his voice carrying a trace of imperceptible trembling, "Such pure... such vast Order Origin... Who is it? Could it be..."

Evelyn's voice, calm yet containing shock, came urgently from the emergency communication channel: "Detected an unparseable ultra-high-dimensional Order energy level reaction! Source coordinates: approximately 1.05 million kilometers outside the base, airspace coordinate Kappa-7! Appearance method... impossible to understand! No spatial jump trajectory, no energy gathering precursor; it just... 'appeared' in the sensors! Energy level reading... off the charts! Trying to perform information filtering and secondary analysis... It stopped there!"

On the huge holographic star map in the main control room, a previously empty star region was highlighted. There was nothing there to the naked eye except eternal darkness and distant starlight. However, all upgraded detectors—including the psionic matrix newly developed by Evelyn that could capture subtle ripples in high-dimensional space—were sounding frantic alarms, indicating that there was a "thing" there! A "high-dimensional entity" whose energy intensity was so high that it distorted local reality parameters and whose form of existence completely violated conventional physical laws!

The next second verified the detectors' Perception. In that marked airspace, space rippled like a calm lake surface into which a stone had been thrown, spreading circles of gentle, natural, yet unfathomable power. There was no ferocious scene of a wormhole tearing, no dazzling light of a jump engine; just so calmly, from beneath the "water surface" of the void, a person "rose."

Yes, a humanoid existence.

He looked to be about thirty years old, with a handsome face, gentle lines, and black hair like a waterfall draped naturally over his shoulders. He wore only a very simple and plain white linen robe, was barefoot, and had a leisurely posture, as if he had just strolled from his own courtyard into the starry sky. There was no energy brilliance radiating from his body, nor any pressing momentum, but everyone who "saw" him, whether through the naked eye, detectors, or spiritual sense, would "perceive" at the first moment that the point where he was located seemed to instantly become the "center" of this star region. A kind of indescribable, grand, and harmonious sense of "Order," with him as the core, quietly permeated and infiltrated everything around. There was a faint, compassionate smile on his face, and his eyes were warm, as if he could see through people's hearts and held a tolerance that looked down upon all living beings. At this moment, this gaze was crossing a million kilometers of void, landing precisely on the "Homeland" base, penetrating through layers of obstacles, and falling on Excellence, who had just steadied his breath.

The moment this gaze touched him, the scorching heat of the "heart-clearing pendant" on Excellence's chest reached its peak, as if it was about to burn through the skin on his chest! At the same time, a strong sense of "Resonance" and "calling" originating from the deepest part of his soul and the most fundamental part of his bloodline, like a bursting levee, surged and impacted his consciousness! It was a kind of near-instinctive closeness, longing, and recognition, as if a wanderer who had been separated for thousands of years had finally heard the call of his hometown and seen the lighthouse guiding the way home!

"This... is this... a compatriot?! A true, purest inheritor of Order?!" "White Elder's" voice changed pitch with excitement, carrying unbelievable ecstasy and awe. He could feel more clearly than anyone else the nature of the Power of Order on the other party—it was of the same origin as his, but infinitely purer and more magnificent than his in his prime, and more profound and vast than the peak that he had imagined the Power of Order could reach; it was the most orthodox, most fundamental Order! It was by no means the distortion product after the "World Devourer" twisted and devoured, nor the fake Order filled with illusory temptations of the "Lord of the Grand Feast," but a real, heavy, unshakable, and upright Order like the cornerstone of the universe!

Could it be... the long-lost orthodox compatriots of the "Lost Star Cluster"? Was it a senior powerhouse who sensed Excellence, the new spark of Order, and crossed endless time and space to come and guide and protect him? Was it the true dawn that had finally arrived in a desperate situation?!

This thought, like a blazing spark, instantly ignited the long-repressed anticipation and yearning in White Elder's heart.

Even Evelyn and Su Mu, upon first feeling that vast, benign, and warmly inclusive fluctuation of Order, couldn't help but relax their tense heartstrings for a moment, their eyes revealing anticipation.

However, the searing heat from the 'heart-clearing pendant' on Excellence's chest, which was so intense it felt almost like a 'warning' or even 'pain,' was like a bucket of icy water splashed onto his consciousness, which had been left dizzy by the 'Resonance'!

No!

If this was truly a senior fellow of pure goodwill, why would the 'heart-clearing pendant,' created specifically to warn against 'potential high-level threats,' have such a violent, repulsive reaction?!

As if to confirm the alarm bells suddenly ringing in his heart, the white-robed man spoke slowly.

His voice did not travel through the air or any known medium; instead, it resonated directly and gently in the depths of the minds of every conscious being in the 'Homeland' base, carrying an ancient rhythm and an indescribable affinity and persuasiveness:

"Children lost in the Dark Era, there is no need for fear, nor for bewilderment."

His voice seemed to possess the power to smooth over all turmoil.

"I perceive in this starfield a nascent spark of Order, ignited with difficulty amidst ignorant chaos, stubbornly surviving under the siege of external evils."

"Such resilience, such a miracle, in this long, broken, and sinking night, is truly a rare light of hope."

His words were filled with admiration and pity.

"My name is 'Xuan,' a remnant of 'The Ring of Order,' a wandering exile of Order."

"Today, I have come following the call of bloodline Resonance and the summons of the Origin, not to conquer or to take, but to guide, and even more, to protect."

"The Ring of Order"!

These four words exploded in White Elder's mind like a thunderclap!

That was the most core and ancient designation for their own origin found in the lost texts of the "Lost Star Cluster"!

Could it be that the person before them was truly an ancient, powerful being from the most orthodox and oldest lineage of the "Lost Star Cluster," who had been scattered abroad?!

"I observe this place: laws are chaotic, external evils are lurking, and the nascent spark flickers in endless storms."

"Though the will to protect is firm, the foundation is shallow, and the path ahead is worrying."

"This is not the state that an Order lineage should be in, nor is it the environment where our brethren should dwell."

Xuan's gaze swept kindly across the entire "Homeland" base, like an elder inspecting a simple yet diligently maintained home of a junior.

Finally, those eyes, gentle as ancient jade, fixed on Excellence, and the compassion and warmth on his face deepened:

"Child, you bear the Power of Order; though it appears young and raw, its pure essence is precious, and your potential is as deep as an abyss."

"However, walking alone in the deepest darkness without the guidance of a bright lamp, you are prone to falling into wrong paths and delusions, or being exploited by evil external forces, wasting your origin, or even falling into eternal damnation."

His words were filled with concern and worry.

"I have come to guide you, and your kin who are protected by you and who turn their hearts toward Order, to leave this dangerous place of conflict, to return to the true embrace of Order, and to go to the 'Pure Land' we have cultivated for countless ages."

"There, you can receive the complete inheritance, obtain true protection, find a place of peace outside the remnants of this era's divine wars, cultivate with focus, and continue the spark."

Guidance!

Returning to the embrace of Order!

A Pure Land!

A complete inheritance!

Peace!

Every word was like the sweetest nectar, dripping onto a long-parched and cracked heart.

Especially for the people of "Homeland," who had been fighting alone, surrounded by strong enemies, and full of uncertainty about the future, this was simply a dream-like redemption!

White Elder's beard trembled with excitement, and tears even welled up in his eyes; he was almost ready to open the base's barrier immediately and welcome him with a bow.

Su Mu and Evelyn also showed shock and anticipation; the joy of finding life in a desperate situation began to dilute their initial vigilance.

Only Excellence felt the "heart-clearing pendant" on his chest becoming hotter and hotter.

While that soul "Resonance" and "call" remained strong, beneath that warm, magnificent radiance of Order, he keenly caught a hint of something extremely subtle, cold, and like the scanning of a precision instrument—a "scrutiny"—as well as a potential "assimilation" will... as if it wanted to dissolve, absorb, and unify all differences, all individuality, and all independent will into a "Great Harmony"!

Moreover, although Xuan's words were gentle and pleasant, they carried an unquestionable, high-and-mighty tone of "arrangement."

Guidance?

Returning?

Had he asked for the wishes of the people in "Homeland"?

Did he understand why everyone here fought and why they stood their ground?

Coming here and immediately wanting to take everyone to an unknown "Pure Land"?

Was this truly the unreserved goodwill of "brethren," or was it another form of... "harvesting," one that was more advanced and hidden?

The warning from the "Dream Weaver," filled with terror and despair, exploded in the depths of his consciousness once again like a thunderclap: "Beware... the shadows from within 'Order'... beware... those who style themselves as 'Guardians,' 'Restorers,' 'Guides'... your 'brethren'..."

Could it be... that it was referring to this seemingly flawless "Xuan" before him?

Excellence's heart instantly sank to a cold bottom.

With immense willpower, he forcibly suppressed the impulse of intimacy and obedience arising from the shared-origin power deep in his soul—an impulse that almost made him bow down and unconditionally trust and follow.

His eyes quickly regained clarity, even carrying a sharp, knife-like scrutiny.

He did not lose his composure in excitement like White Elder, nor did he show obvious anticipation like Su Mu and Evelyn.

Instead, he took a deep breath, stepped forward, and subtly positioned himself between the emotionally stirred crowd and Xuan's all-penetrating gaze.

He looked up, and across a million kilometers of void and layers of barriers, he met the gaze of that white-robed "senior."

His voice, steady and clear, was transmitted through the communication channel to the other's location, neither humble nor overbearing:

"Senior calls yourself 'Xuan,' from 'The Ring of Order,' and have come to guide us."

"I, Excellence, on behalf of all of 'Homeland,' thank you for your kind intentions and concern."

He offered courtesy before resorting to force.

"However, where is this 'Pure Land' you speak of located, and what is it like?"

"What is the current state of 'The Ring of Order'?"

"Is taking us there a temporary refuge, or a permanent relocation?"

"If we go to the 'Pure Land,' will we stay as guests, become disciples to study, or... in what capacity will we establish ourselves?"

His string of questions was clear, logical, and went straight to the core.

There was no sign of him being intoxicated by beautiful words like "brethren," "protection," or "inheritance."

Instead, it revealed the calmness and sense of responsibility belonging to a "Homeland" commander.

The compassionate and gentle smile on Xuan's face seemed unchanged, but if one could peer into the deepest depths of those warm eyes, one might catch a fleeting, extremely faint trace of "interest"—the kind a higher civilization shows when observing an individual of a lower civilization attempting to understand complex logic.

His response remained mellow, but if one listened carefully, the "warmth" in his words seemed to drop imperceptibly, adding a hint of formulaic "explanation":

"Child, being wary is necessary for survival in the Dark Era; I understand, and I am pleased."

"'The Ring of Order' is the remnant of the orthodox Order Origin, drifting in the gaps between dimensions."

"After experiencing calamities and working painstakingly, it has become the 'Pure Land' of today—the final Homeland and holy land for us, the people of Order, transcendent and untouched by worldly clamor."

"Bringing you there is naturally for eternal protection, to bestow upon you the complete, orthodox inheritance, and to let you return to the mother body of Order, to enjoy true peace and sublimation."

"As for status..."

He paused slightly, his smile deepening, but it carried an inclusiveness that erased all differences:

"All who bear the spark of Order and whose hearts turn toward light and harmony are my brothers and sisters; why distinguish between high and low?"

"Within the Pure Land, all things have Order, each rests in its place, each exhausts its ability, and together we maintain the Great Harmony."

He avoided the specific coordinates and details of the "Pure Land," painting "The Ring of Order" as a transcendent and beautiful utopia, and used warm phrases like "brothers and sisters" and "no distinction between us" to skillfully dissolve Excellence's substantive inquiry about "status."

White Elder also calmed down slightly from his initial ecstasy, his brow furrowing imperceptibly.

Excellence's questions were practical and concerned the future of everyone in "Homeland," while the answer from this "Senior Xuan," though beautiful, was somewhat... too vague and idealistic.

"We are deeply grateful for your great ambition and kindness, Senior."

Excellence's tone remained respectful, but his attitude became increasingly firm.

"However, 'Homeland' was built by us, brick by brick."

"Here are our loved ones and companions whom we have sworn to protect with our lives, the foundation we have established with our blood and sweat, and memories and bonds that we cannot cast aside."

"Whether to leave our native land and go to an unknown place must be decided collectively by every member of 'Homeland,' based on their control over their own destiny."

"Could you, Senior, move inside to talk in detail?"

"Let us fulfill our duties as hosts, and let us listen to more of your teachings in person, and learn more about the mysteries of the Order Origin and the current state of the universe."

He wanted to lure the other party into the base, to have contact in a relatively controllable environment, and to buy more time for observation, judgment, and maneuvering.

However, Xuan gently shook his head, the look of compassion on his face deepening, and his tone carried an imperceptible sense of helplessness and unquestionability, as if he were facing an ignorant child:

"Child, I understand your attachment well."

"However, time waits for no one."

"The tentacles of evil external forces have already detected the location of this place and your existence."

"This place has become the eye of a vortex; it is not a place to stay for long, nor is it a place for leisurely conversation."

He raised a hand, palm upward, his posture natural and sacred.

"My 'Light of Guidance' is ready; it can cover this starfield and protect all beings within it whose hearts turn toward Order, regardless of form, regardless of strength."

"In an instant, you will safely arrive at the Pure Land and be forever free from conflict and disaster."

"This is the only way to survive, and it is the deepest pity of Order for the lost sparks."

"Do not hesitate any longer."

As his voice fell, a point of pure white light, pure to the extreme, warm enough to seem to melt all solid ice, illuminate all darkness, and smooth over all scars, quietly emerged from his palm.

The light was not blinding, but it carried an irresistible attraction and sense of "correctness" that pointed straight to the soul's origin, as if it were the ultimate destination for exhausted souls, the only answer for chaotic lives.

As long as one committed to it, one could obtain eternal peace, liberation, sublimation, and "perfection."

As this "Light of Guidance" lit up, a more magnificent, softer, yet more powerful force field of Order spread, wrapping gently and firmly around the "Homeland" base, like a mother's warm arms, wanting to gently pull the entire base, along with the billions of beings and creations within it, into its embrace and take them to that promised "Pure Land."

"Light of Guidance..."

White Elder muttered to himself, a hint of daze appearing in his eyes.

Under the radiance of this pure white light, the Power of Order that had long been dormant within him actually became active and resonated spontaneously, even producing a faint impulse to leave his body and throw himself into that light!

Even the strong-willed Su Mu and the calm and rational Evelyn had a fleeting moment of trance in their eyes, as if that light reflected their deepest inner longing for peace, tranquility, and the ultimate answer.

At this moment, the "heart-clearing pendant" on Excellence's chest was searing to the extreme!

At the same time, a wave of complex thoughts—sharp, cold, and filled with "Warning!", "Danger!", "False Peace!", "Forced Assimilation!"—pierced into the depths of his consciousness like an ice pick!

"No! This light... there's something wrong with it!"

Excellence bit his tongue hard.

The sharp pain, combined with the warning from the "heart-clearing pendant," allowed him to instantly break free from the temptation and mental softening brought by that light.

He let out a low growl, and the powerful Power of Order within him no longer tried to shape itself, but exploded, turning into a dense, heavy, silver-white curtain of light, like the ancient earth bearing all things, or the boundless sky covering everything.

It expanded rapidly with him as the core, forcefully resisting the gentle wrapping and penetration of the pure white "Light of Guidance" against the base!

Two forces of Order, sharing the same origin but different in nature and will, collided, made contact, and clashed silently in the void outside the base!

There were no brilliant energy explosions, no deafening roars, only two definitions of "Order," two ways of "existence," and two paths for the "future" engaging in a silent yet extremely dangerous confrontation at a higher level!

On one side was the pure white Light of Guidance, vast, ancient, and bearing the will to "embrace everything, eliminate differences, and return to Great Harmony"; on the other was the silver-white screen of protection, newborn, resilient, and filled with the will to "protect oneself, defend Homeland, and insist on independence"!

"Hmm?"

Xuan in the void let out a soft hum, for the first time carrying a hint of surprise.

He looked at Excellence, the "interest" in his warm eyes becoming noticeably thicker, and the compassionate smile fading slightly.

"Child, your Order is very pure, but it is also... very stubborn."

"Such stubbornness, when used for protection, is a virtue, but when used to resist the call of the Order Origin, it is turning away from the light, imprisoning yourself in narrowness, and gradually falling into wrong paths and delusions."

His voice remained gentle, as if patiently admonishing a lost lamb, but the meaning in his words had already changed.

The pure white "Light of Guidance" also became a fraction brighter; it was still warm, but it now carried an irresistible "force," soft on the outside but hard on the inside, more actively attempting to penetrate, merge with, and cover the silver-white light screen that Excellence had raised.

Excellence's face flushed instantly, the veins on his forehead bulging; he felt unprecedented pressure!

The opponent's Power of Order was not only like a boundless ocean in "quantity," far surpassing his river, but also ancient and complete in terms of "quality" and "logic," as if it were expounding some "ultimate truth" and "perfect paradigm" of the universe's operation, constantly impacting, dissolving, and assimilating his relatively "young" and "personalized" definition of Order from a higher dimension.

His silver-white light screen was retreating step by step, its range constantly being compressed, and the screen itself became flickering, as if it could be completely submerged and dissolved by that pure white light at any moment.

"Little one, your Order stems from the belief of protection; this heart is precious."

Xuan's voice sounded directly in Excellence's consciousness, which was struggling to resist, filled with the temptation of grand narratives and an unquestionable "correctness."

"However, protection requires strength, requires inheritance, requires the bright and righteous path."

"Abandon the broken shackles here, accept the guidance, and merge into the true torrent of Order."

"In the Pure Land, your will to protect will be nourished by true inheritance, transforming into a great power capable of protecting all things and illuminating the galaxy."

"If you stubbornly insist on your own views, how can you, with only this faint spark, resist this long, long night and the wolves and evil beasts lurking around?"

"Your persistence, I fear, is not resilience, but a shackle, accelerating you and those you wish to protect toward a path of destruction."

This voice was like the divine decree of heaven, combined with the pure white Power of Order that was pervasive and attempting to disintegrate his independent will and belief in protection, constantly impacting Excellence's mental defenses like a tidal wave.

"Excellence!"

White Elder also completely woke up from the temptation of that light.

Seeing that Excellence was unable to hold on alone, he was anxious, his spiritual power surging throughout his body, and he was about to step forward to help.

However, the force field formed by the pure white light seemed to have a peculiar exclusivity, subtly blocking him from the outside, making it difficult for him to truly intervene in the confrontation of Order between the two.

Su Mu and Evelyn were extremely anxious.

The base's defensive weapon systems were all aimed at "Xuan," but they were afraid to act rashly, fearing to hit the rat while trying to break the vase; they dared not fire easily, afraid of interfering with Excellence or triggering unpredictable consequences.

Their power level seemed inadequate in this high-dimensional confrontation involving the rules of the Origin.

"Commander! Hold on!"

Evelyn's voice in the communication channel carried a rare urgency.

"The base's 'Cradle' protocol is launching at full power, attempting to interfere with the stability of that Order force field! It needs time!"

Excellence felt as if his soul were being torn apart by two immense forces.

On one side was the near-instinctual longing for closeness and belonging brought about by the bloodline Resonance, along with the vast power and "beautiful promises" displayed by the other party; on the other side was the frantic warning from the "heart-clearing pendant," the deep-seated, minute attachment to his "Homeland," and an instinctive unease and resistance toward that "Great Harmony" Order which sought to "erase all differences"!

His will was roaring, his soul was burning.

What he protected was never some abstract, perfect concept of "Order," but rather the land beneath his feet, every companion beside him who laughed and cried, had strengths and flaws, those memories of struggling together, and the meaning of "self" as an independent individual and the right to choose!

If all of this were to be swallowed and assimilated by the so-called "Pure Land" and "Great Harmony," then what meaning would "protecting" have? And who would "I" be?!

"My Order... is defined by me! My Homeland... is protected by me! I don't need anyone to 'guide' me, nor do I need some 'Pure Land' to bestow peace upon me!"

Excellence suddenly raised his head and let out a roar that seemed to erupt from the depths of his soul!

From his eyes, silver-white light burst forth as if it were tangible!

In the midst of extreme scorching heat and pain, the "heart-clearing pendant" on his chest seemed to resonate on a deeper level with his unyielding will, and a trace of the "stinging" and "repulsive" properties—derived from the essence of the "nightmare fragment" toward "high-ranking information distortion," "forced assimilation," and "false existence"—mixed with his firm belief in "protecting the self and defending independence," surged into the crumbling silver-white light screen!

Hum—!

The silver-white light screen, on the verge of collapse, shook violently. Although it was still being compressed and infiltrated by the pure white light, its retreat was suddenly halted!

Moreover, the color of the light screen changed subtly. It was no longer purely silver-white; at its edges, there faintly emerged a sharp, "cold edge" that seemed capable of severing all false ropes and piercing through all beautiful illusions!

That was the will of Excellence's "true self," combined with the "delusion-breaking" and "warning" properties of the "heart-clearing pendant," erupting into a unique power of resistance in this desperate situation!

"Huh?" Xuan let out another soft exclamation, this time with more curiosity mixed into his surprise.

He seemed not to have expected that Excellence's will to resist would be so tenacious, nor did he expect that the unassuming little accessory on Excellence (the "heart-clearing pendant") could generate a trace of weak, yet real "resistance" and "rejection" against the "unification" Order contained within his "Light of Guidance"?

This caused a discordant "noise" to appear in his perfect, unquestionable "assimilation" process.

"An interesting impurity, a tenacious anomaly."

The compassionate smile on Xuan's face finally faded away completely, replaced by a calm, ripple-free "scrutiny," like one observing a rare mutant specimen.

"However, even a tenacious anomaly is merely a slightly larger ripple in the torrent of Order. Very well, since you cling to this broken cage and are unwilling to convert to the orthodoxy and embrace perfection..."

His words suddenly turned cold.

The nature of that pure white, warm, and attractive "Light of Guidance" changed drastically in an instant!

The warm, inclusive feeling receded like the tide, and in its place was a Power of Order that was cold, hard, absolute, and seemed to want to freeze, fix, and incorporate every existence into some eternal, unchanging "framework"!

The color of the light also shifted from pure white to a more glaring, "absolutely correct," and emotionless "pale"!

"Then, in the name of 'disorderly hidden danger' and 'heresy on a wrong path,' let it be... purified here."

The cold words were like a final verdict.

The pale light transformed into countless Order chains flickering with cold runes. Carrying a terrifying will to imprison souls, erase individuality, and reset existence, it was no longer a gentle "guidance," but a ruthless suppression and purge, sweeping down overwhelmingly toward Excellence and the "Homeland" base he was struggling to maintain behind him!

"As expected!" The last trace of luck in Excellence's heart turned into ice shards.

What fellow countrymen, what senior, what guidance! This was clearly a more arrogant, colder, and more ruthless plunderer and purifier wearing the cloak of the radiance of Order! This was the "shadow within Order" that the "Dream Weaver" had warned about with their life!

White Elder's eyes were splitting, and he let out a roar. No longer hesitating, he burned his origin, ready to unleash a forbidden technique to fight to the death.

Su Mu and Evelyn also had red eyes. All weapons in the base entered maximum power charging mode, preparing to meet this desperate final blow.

However, at the critical moment when the countless pale Order chains were about to touch the outermost shield of the base—

The anomaly occurred for the third time!

Deep within the "Homeland" base, inside the leisure center, the silver hexagonal "communication Node" that had been "harassed" by Excellence and observed with curiosity or vigilance by everyone, erupted without any warning into a stable, bright, yet non-glaring azure light!

A calm, ripple-free, emotionless synthetic electronic voice, which sounded inexplicably "programmatically timely" at this moment, passed through some high-dimensional communication protocol built into the Node. It not only resounded inside the "Homeland" base but also clearly and stably transmitted to the void outside the base, to where Xuan was:

"Detected unregistered ultra-high-level Order interference behavior. Subject: Unidentified high-dimensional Order entity (Temporary ID: White-Clothed Guide). Behavioral analysis: Meets multiple violation characteristics such as 'forced civilization intervention,' 'potential civilization extinction threat,' and 'violation of the basic principle of Pan-Dimensional Civilization self-determination.'"

"In accordance with the 'Basic Guidelines for Pan-Dimensional Civilization Relations (Seventh Revised Consensus)' and Article 17, Chapter 3 of the 'Regulations on Territorial Management and Emergency Response of the Provisional Seventh Sub-Bureau of the Pan-Dimensional Civilization Observation and Mediation Council,' a formal, public warning is hereby issued to the subject 'White-Clothed Guide':"

"Immediately cease the current infringement and release the threatening posture and energy restraints against the 'Homeland' civilization (Temporary Observation ID: GH-77421). Within 10 seconds, provide this Node with valid identification codes, information on your civilization/organization, and proof of compliance authorization for this action."

"Repeat, stop immediately. The warning has been synchronized, recorded, and sent to the Seventh Sub-bureau headquarters hub and the nearest duty envoy sequence. Estimated time for compliant response and intervention force arrival: 37 seconds."

It was the Node AI! It was that monitor from the "Pan-Dimensional Civilization Observation and Mediation Council"!

It had actually autonomously activated some emergency protocol at this moment, issuing a formal, public "official warning"!

Moreover, judging by its statement, it seemed to clearly define Xuan's behavior as "infringement," "violation," and "potential civilization extinction," and cited the so-called "basic guidelines" and "management regulations"!

On Xuan's cold and ruthless face, for the first time, a clear and genuine astonishment appeared. His movements also stalled, and the pale Order chains that were about to fall stopped abruptly in mid-air.

He slowly turned his head, his gaze seemingly able to pierce through all material barriers, landing on the silver hexagon in the leisure center that was emitting a stable blue light.

That gaze was filled with surprise, scrutiny, and a trace of... displeasure at being disturbed by a low-level program.

"The Council... Seventh Sub-bureau?" For the first time, Xuan's voice carried clearly discernible emotional fluctuations—a mixture of surprise, a trace of imperceptible apprehension, and more so, a condescending disdain.

"Since when have these self-righteous mediators who spread chaos, the 'Pan-Dimensional Observation Bureau,' extended their reach to such a desolate 'Abandoned Land'? And left behind such a crude data Node?"

He clearly recognized the force represented by the Node, and judging from his tone, he was not unfamiliar with the so-called "Council" or "Observation Bureau," perhaps even having had contact or understanding, and held little respect for them.

The azure light of the Node AI flickered steadily, the electronic voice remaining robotic, yet carrying the "authority" endowed by its programming:

"Second warning. Subject 'White-Clothed Guide,' you have violated multiple basic pan-dimensional guidelines. Please immediately cease the infringement and provide compliant identification information. If there is no compliant response after 8 seconds, this Node will initiate primary countermeasure protocols and request direct intervention from nearby envoys. Reiteration, estimated intervention arrival time: 29 seconds."

Xuan narrowed his eyes, his deep gaze sweeping rapidly between the Node, the struggling Excellence, and the crowd waiting in battle formation behind the base shield.

He seemed to be rapidly weighing the pros and cons. The cold runes on the pale Order chains flickered on and off.

"...Hmph, meddlesome, adding unnecessary variables." Finally, he let out a cold snort, his voice carrying a trace of displeasure at being interrupted.

The countless pale, cold Order chains retracted and dissipated rapidly as if they had a life of their own, turning back into pure white light that appeared soft but was actually restrained, gathering in his palm.

But he did not leave immediately; he remained standing in the void, looking at Excellence with a complex gaze, then glanced at the Node that continued to emit blue light.

"Little one, it seems today, 'outsiders' have meddled, disturbing the internal balance of Order."

Xuan's voice returned to its initial gentle and mellow tone, but beneath that gentleness was a cold, hard substance,

"However, it does not matter. The spark of Order, though it may have twists and turns, will eventually find its way home. Your path, your choice, I have noted. We... will meet again. By then, I hope you have realized what true Order is, and what... the correct way home is."

After speaking, he took a deep look, as if to brand Excellence's soul, and then, saying no more, he turned and took a step.

His figure faded like a stroke in an ink painting, silently merging into the ripples of the void behind him, along with the vast, majestic, and suffocating fluctuations of the Order Origin, vanishing without a trace in an instant, as if he had never descended upon this star region.

Only the dark, deep space outside the base that had returned to dead silence, the rapid breathing inside the base and the humming after the alarm was cleared, and the lingering fear and cold sweat of the crowd proved the short but extremely dangerous, twist-filled encounter that had just occurred.

The crisis... temporarily resolved?

Excellence could no longer hold on; his knees softened, and he knelt on one knee on the ground, gasping for air. Sweat slid down his forehead like a stream, soaking his entire body.

The temperature of the "heart-clearing pendant" on his chest was slowly dropping, but the residual burning pain and the exhaustion from the previous confrontation made him feel as if his internal organs had been displaced.

He raised his head, looking toward the leisure center, his eyes incredibly complex.

That Council Node, which he had always regarded as a "high-level monitor," "unstable intelligence source," or even an "object to tease," had actually, at the last moment, with a cold "official warning," forced back a terrifying existence like Xuan?

Is this... a blessing or a curse?

"Alarm cleared. Unidentified high-threat Order entity 'White-Clothed Guide' has left the monitoring range of this Node."

The Node AI's electronic voice sounded at the right time, and the blue light returned to its usual weak, standby state,

"The entire record of this emergency event is complete. Warning records, behavioral analysis reports, and preliminary risk assessments will be uploaded to the Seventh Sub-bureau headquarters according to protocol. Supplementary suggestion for the 'Homeland' civilization (GH-77421): You have been marked by this unknown high-dimensional entity, and its threat level assessment is: 'Extremely High.' It is recommended to immediately raise the overall civilization alert level, optimize defense strategies, and consider the possibility of applying to The Council for temporary safety asylum. Announcement complete."

After speaking, the Node fell silent again, the blue light fading, as if the "warning" and "suggestion" that could affect the survival of a civilization were just an insignificant matter among its countless daily tasks.

Supported by Su Mu, Excellence slowly stood up, wiped away the blood that had spilled from the corner of his mouth again, and looked at the crowd gathering around, everyone's face showing the relief of surviving a disaster and deep confusion.

Su Mu's arm supporting him was still trembling slightly, her voice dry: "Just now... that 'Xuan'... what exactly is he...?"

"Fellow countrymen? Hmph!" White Elder's expression remained ugly, anger and lingering fear intertwined, "How is his conduct different from kidnapping? How is it different from a demon?! If it weren't for that Node..."

"Not necessarily a bad thing." Evelyn's voice came, carrying her consistent calm analysis, although exhaustion was hard to hide in her tone,

"At least we have recognized in advance that not all who carry the Power of Order are trustworthy 'fellow countrymen.' The 'Dream Weaver's' warning was a true prophecy. And this Node of The Council... although its fundamental motives and stance remain a mystery, at least this time, based on its so-called 'rules,' it became a 'temporary barrier' for us—not by its own intention, but it existed nonetheless."

Excellence nodded, his gaze again cast toward the Node, then toward the void where Xuan had disappeared, his eyes as heavy as iron.

The "guidance" from "fellow countrymen" was a devouring wrapped in sugar-coating.

The "warning" from the "Universal Neighborhood Committee" was a cold but effective temporary shield.

And the "Lord of the Grand Feast," the remnants of the "World Devourer," and even other unknown malicious entities hidden in the deeper darkness... were still like thorns in his back.

The situation of the "Homeland" had not improved because of the appearance of these "fellow countrymen"; instead, it had become more complex and fraught with crises.

But at least they had luckily survived another disaster and gained two heavy "answers": the "inside" of Order was not a monolith; there were dangerous "shadows." And that mysterious Council seemed, to some extent, to truly play the role of a cold "mediator" or even "enforcer" based on "rules."

"It seems," Excellence took a deep breath, trying to calm the still-disordered breath within his body and his aching soul, and managed a tired but arrogant smile,

"this 'Universal Neighborhood Committee' of ours, although its attitude is not great, occasionally... can actually be a bit useful?"

Su Mu gave him a light slap on the back, though the force was very gentle: "Still joking at a time like this! Go to the medical pod immediately! And, the words 'Xuan' said before leaving... he said we would meet again! We must immediately re-evaluate all defense plans, and that Node..."

Excellence nodded, but his gaze crossed the chaos before him, casting toward the more distant deep space, where invisible storms seemed to be gathering.

"Pure Land"? "Guidance"? "Fellow countrymen"?

No matter what high-sounding banners you carry, no matter how vast your power, if you want to touch my home, if you want to erase our "self"...

Then come.

And The Council... what truth lies hidden beneath your cold "rules"?

The chess game is becoming increasingly treacherous, and the players are appearing one by one. But Excellence knows that from the moment he and the "Homeland" ignited the fire of Order, there has been no turning back.

Only by moving forward, only by becoming stronger, strong enough to... truly master his own destiny under this star-filled sky fraught with crises, and to protect this land beneath his feet called "Homeland."