35: Chapter 35 Dual-track approach

In the quiet room, the leyline energy wrapped around Lin Yuan like a gentle spring.

He sat cross-legged, but a wisp of his consciousness branched off, connecting to the virtual collaboration space of the "Cross-border Selection" team via the encrypted spirit message talisman specially made by Dr. Li.

This was a pale blue spiritual projection space built upon the Power of Faith and data streams.

The virtual shadows of Boss Zhao and his twelve core backbone members scattered across the globe appeared one by one.

Their faces still carried the exhaustion of working across time zones, but the impatience and detachment in their eyes had diminished.

"Everyone, over the past three days, we have implemented the first phase of 'Energy Field Collaborative Optimization'."

Lin Yuan's virtual shadow appeared in the center of the space, his voice calm and persuasive.

"Data shows that the team's average non-essential communication time has dropped by 37%, the daily effective interaction in the 'Inspiration Rant Channel' has increased by 215%, and the delay rate for key project nodes has dropped from 42% to 18%."

He called up a set of dynamic data charts, analyzing the "energy flow" principles behind each change in concise language—transforming dry KPIs into metaphors full of mystical color yet striking at the heart, such as "Trust Energy Repair," "Anxiety Entropy Reduction," and "Collaborative Frequency Resonance."

"Manager Zhang of the Shanghai team, the proposal you submitted at dawn London time received immediate modification suggestions from Director Li of the San Francisco team, and a consensus was reached within two hours."

Lin Yuan pointed out a specific case.

"Before the Optimization, this would usually require at least three cross-time zone meetings and dozens of emails."

The two people named looked at each other's virtual shadows, both showing expressions of surprise.

They hadn't even realized themselves that this kind of efficient collaboration had become the norm.

"But this is just the beginning."

Lin Yuan changed the subject.

"Monitoring shows that the 'Energy Barrier Layer' between the Berlin and Tokyo teams still exists, rooted in implicit misunderstandings caused by cultural context differences. Over the next week, we need to introduce the 'Cultural Imagery Translation Protocol'..."

He spoke eloquently, packaging cross-cultural management, cognitive psychology, and even simple empathy training into sets of "Energy Guidance Techniques" and "Intent Calibration Rituals."

The team members listened intently—these terms were both fresh and substantive, with each suggestion corresponding to specific, actionable fine-tuning of work habits.

At the end of the meeting, Boss Zhao took the initiative to speak: "Consultant Lin, the results exceeded expectations. As agreed, the second phase payment will be made today. Also..."

He hesitated for a moment, "Our European branch has a tricky local team management problem. I wonder if you are willing to take on cross-border consulting?"

New business! And it was high-value business that extended naturally through customer word-of-mouth!

Lin Yuan's heart stirred, but his expression remained calm: "I can provide a preliminary diagnosis. For specific details, please have Boss Zhao arrange the connection."

Exiting the virtual space, Lin Yuan returned to his physical body in the quiet room.

Almost simultaneously, he felt his godhood tremble slightly—the more solid and directional "recognition," "gratitude," and "expectation" aspiration power from the "Cross-border Selection" team flowed in like a trickling stream.

Although each strand was weak, the superposition of twelve people, plus the "value recognition" of the decision-maker, Boss Zhao, caused his faith reserve to struggle upward from 0.001 to 0.018.

More importantly, he clearly felt that a "faith connection" closer than that with the residents of "Xiangyang New Village" had been established between him and these thirteen people.

This connection was based on deep service and problem-solving, producing higher-quality aspiration power that was sustainable—as long as the Optimization effect continued, the aspiration power would continue to be generated.

"The commercial Optimization path is feasible."

Lin Yuan opened his eyes, a flash of calculating light in his pupils.

This path could not only bring worldly money (used to purchase resources and maintain survival) but also stably acquire high-quality aspiration power, and even gradually build his own "customer network" and influence.

Although slow, it was steady and highly compatible with his "Optimization" divine profession.

He brought up the system interface:

[faith reserve: 0.018]

[divine breath countdown: 21 days 15 hours 22 minutes]

[Void God Spark (embryonic form): Steady burning (weak), trait in effect]

[Faith connection: Stable connection + 13 (Cross-border Selection team), weak connection + 15 (others)]

[Negative status: Curse Soul Seal (activity suppressed by about 55%, continuing to weaken slowly)]

The faith reserve was still pitifully small, but at least it was no longer a candle flame that could go out at any time.

The suppression effect of the soul seal was weakening, which was a hidden danger.

Time was still his greatest enemy.

"Knock, knock."

The stone door of the quiet room was knocked.

Dr. Li came in with medicinal food.

Seeing that Lin Yuan had finished his meditation, she nodded slightly: "Your complexion is much better. Were you busy with your 'Optimization' business just now?"

"Yes. Preliminary results have been achieved, and there is a new business opportunity."

Lin Yuan took the medicinal food and briefly explained the situation.

Dr. Li pondered upon hearing this: "Supporting the path with commerce, and aiding commerce with the path—it is indeed a steady method."

"However, you must remember that relying too much on the aspiration power of a single client is like tying your lifeline to someone else's hands."

"You need to diversify your business as soon as possible and establish your own 'core believers'—those who deeply identify with your 'Optimization' philosophy and are even willing to actively spread and practice it."

"The junior understands."

Lin Yuan nodded.

This was exactly his plan—to establish a reputation and obtain high-quality aspiration power by serving high-end clients (like Boss Zhao), while simultaneously spreading the philosophy widely through inclusive content (like his previous online articles) to screen and cultivate potential "core adherents."

Eventually, perhaps a pyramid-style faith supply structure could be formed.

"In addition," Dr. Li took out a palm-sized, warm-colored cyan jade slip from her sleeve, "this is the basic Earth Vein Arts you wanted, as well as methods on how to use earth energy to cover your tracks and set up simple warning and interference arrays."

"I have already engraved the content with divine sense; you can read it by touching it with your spiritual sense."

"Remember, these are all the most superficial applications with limited power, but they excel in concealment and compatibility with the leyline environment."

Lin Yuan solemnly took the jade slip: "Many thanks, Senior."

"Don't thank me just yet."

Dr. Li's expression turned serious.

"I observed your soul seal with the 'Qi Gazing Technique' yesterday and found that its activity is weakening faster than expected."

"Old Ghost Mo has likely sensed that the soul seal is being suppressed and may be secretly exerting influence, or... there is some action on his side that has intensified the connection between the soul seal and the main body."

"You must be careful in the near future and try to avoid intense emotional fluctuations or excessive consumption of soul power, as that will accelerate the erosion of the soul seal."

Lin Yuan felt a chill in his heart.

This was not good news.

He had thought that with Dr. Li's medicinal pills and leyline nourishment, he could drag it out for a while longer.

"There is one more thing," Dr. Li lowered her voice, "about that 'Summer Palace'."

"I asked around through a few old friends. That piece of land was auctioned off seven or eight years ago by an offshore company registered in the Virgin Islands."

"The legal representative is a puppet, and the true controller is extremely secretive."

"The park has never officially opened since it was built, but special vehicles often enter and exit at night."

"Three years ago, the Municipal Planning Bureau wanted to requisition the land to expand a new district, but the deputy director in charge and two handling personnel had 'accidents' one after another, and the project was left unsettled."

"Being able to mobilize this kind of energy to cover up secrets... is definitely not an ordinary businessman."

The background was indeed not clean!

And the energy was so great that it could stall an official project!

"The flow of earth energy in that area is also very strange."

Dr. Li continued, "I 'looked' from a distance at the high point of Luoxia Mountain last night."

"The leyline phenomenon at the location of the 'Summer Palace' presents a strange pattern of 'withered outside but flourishing inside'—the surrounding earth energy is barren and decaying, as if drained dry, but the core area faintly has pure yet cold energy gathering, like a... carefully disguised 'energy furnace'."

Withered outside but flourishing inside, energy furnace...

Lin Yuan immediately associated this with the flow of leyline vitality extracted by the "vein-locking nail".

"Could that be the final gathering and conversion place for the vitality plundered by the 'vein-locking nail'?"

"It is very likely."

Dr. Li nodded.

"If that is indeed the case, then the 'Summer Palace' is not only Old Ghost Mo's supply station, but may also be the core site for one of his important experiments or rituals."

"If you want to target that place, you must be fully prepared. As you are now, you might be detected just by getting close."

The pressure struck again.

First, the hidden danger of the soul seal, then the mysterious enemy nest.

But a colder flame ignited in Lin Yuan's eyes—crises often also meant opportunities and intelligence.

"I will proceed with caution. The top priority is to recover my strength as soon as possible and advance the preliminary restoration plan for the 'Heartbroken Land'," Lin Yuan said. "Only with a stronghold will I have room to maneuver."

"That is exactly right." Dr. Li stood up. "You should first study the arts in the jade slip. In three days, I will take you to Luoxia Mountain to teach you in person how to utilize the residual spirituality of that cave to set up the first concealment node."

After Dr. Li left, Lin Yuan immediately probed the cyan jade slip with his spiritual sense.

A vast amount of information flooded his mind: how to sense and guide the weak energy of "tributary" level leylines; how to draw simple "Earth Qi Maze Patterns" to interfere with low-level energy detection; how to use specific minerals or plants to set up early warning arrays; and even several rudimentary methods to use Earth Qi to accelerate wound healing and replenish physical strength.

These arts were indeed basic, not even qualifying as "divine abilities," but they had the advantage of being practical, covert, and consuming very little energy, and they fit perfectly with his newly acquired "Leyline Affinity" trait. Lin Yuan absorbed, understood, and deduced them with insatiable hunger, combining them with his own insights into "Optimization" and "Order," thinking about how to improve and combine these arts to form an application system better suited for himself.

Over the next three days, Lin Yuan entered a state of semi-seclusion in the quiet room. During the day, he studied the Earth Vein Arts and attempted to set up mini-warning arrays and energy shielding fields within the quiet room (the effects were weak but successful). At night, he continued to regulate his breath to heal his injuries and took time to process the daily data feedback and queries from the "Cross-border Selection" team via the Spirit Message Talisman. His faith reserve grew slowly and steadily to 0.025.

At the same time, he continuously attempted to deepen his communication with the Void God Spark and applied the newly comprehended concept of "guiding by the flow" to "soothe" and "comb through" the relatively mild grievances in the containment field within his godhood. Progress remained slow, but he could feel that the overall level of "restlessness" in the containment field had decreased by an imperceptible fraction, while his "sense of control" and "level of understanding" over it were improving.

On the evening of the third day, Dr. Li arrived as scheduled.

"Are you ready? The moonlight is dim tonight, which is suitable for sneaking," Dr. Li said, handing over a set of dark gray clothing that seemed to be woven from some special plant fiber. "This is 'Earth Garment.' It can confuse thermal imaging and conventional vision to a certain extent in a mountain forest environment. Put it on, and we will depart at the Hour of the Rat."

Lin Yuan put on the "Earth Garment" and immediately felt a faint fluctuation echoing with the surrounding Earth Qi where the clothing touched his skin. He shouldered his backpack containing basic tools and some dry rations, followed Dr. Li, and once again passed through the secret drainage tunnel to reach the desolate mountains outside the city.

This time, with Dr. Li, an expert who was clearly proficient in this, leading the way, the journey went much more smoothly. Dr. Li's pace seemed unhurried, yet he could always precisely avoid potential surveillance points and energy-sensitive areas. Occasionally, he would stop to signal Lin Yuan to observe abnormalities in certain terrain or vegetation, explaining how to utilize these natural environmental features to hide their tracks.

Two hours later, the two arrived once again at the edge of the "Heartbroken Land" on the southern foothills of Luoxia Mountain. The mountain hollow under the night sky was even more deathly silent, with only the wind moaning.

"Look there," Dr. Li pointed to the center of the herb garden, the spot where Lin Yuan had previously sat cross-legged.

By the faint starlight, Lin Yuan focused his gaze. He saw that around the small circle of soil where a needle-tip of green had once sprouted, it seemed... there was an extremely faint, almost invisible milky-white glimmer slowly flowing? It looked like the spiritual light naturally emitted after the Earth Qi had been weakly activated!

"Your 'guiding' last time really awakened a trace of the original spirituality of this place," Dr. Li said with approval in his eyes. "Although weak, it's like digging a small puddle in a dried-up riverbed. Now, what we need to do is to use this 'puddle' as the core to set up a 'miniature Land Nourishing Array' that can collect and condense the residual spirituality here and isolate it from external detection to a certain extent."

He led Lin Yuan to the circle of shimmering soil and began teaching on the spot: "The core of the array lies in 'following the trend.' The leylines here have been 'nailed' down, and the energy flow is like stagnant water. We cannot forcefully agitate it, as that would alert the 'nail.' Instead, we must use the bit of spirituality you awakened as a 'guide' to draw array patterns that can resonate with it and lead it to naturally 'breathe'."

Dr. Li took out a small packet of specially prepared "array sand," mixed with various mineral powders and his own mana, and began to outline extremely complex and ancient patterns on the ground. As he drew, he explained in detail the function of each line, the principle of energy conduction, and how to make fine adjustments based on the local Earth Qi.

Lin Yuan watched, memorized, and understood with full concentration. He discovered that the principles of these array patterns were surprisingly similar to his "Optimization" concept of "building a virtuous micro-circulation" and "reducing system internal friction"! It was just that one acted on organizational energy fields, while the other acted on leyline spirituality.

"You try this last part, the 'Qi-collecting pattern'." After finishing the main body, Dr. Li handed the remaining array sand to Lin Yuan. "Pay attention to sensing the 'pulse' of the spirituality here, and let the undulations of the array patterns synchronize with it."

Lin Yuan took a deep breath, crouched down, and dipped his fingertips into the array sand. He closed his eyes, fully activating his "Leyline Affinity," and sensed the weak yet tenacious spiritual fluctuation beneath his feet. Then, his wrist moved with extreme stability, sprinkling the array sand bit by bit, outlining patterns on the ground that were consistent with what Dr. Li had drawn, yet faintly possessed an extra touch of "sense of order" and "rhythm of Optimization."

The final stroke was made. Hum... The array patterns on the ground simultaneously lit up with an extremely dim, earthy yellow light, and then the light retracted, as if it had merged into the earth. Lin Yuan clearly felt that centered on that circle of shimmering soil, an extremely weak "field" with a diameter of about three zhang had quietly formed. This field slowly gathered and nurtured the wisps of residual spirituality here, and at the same time, like an extremely thin "veil," it merged the aura of this area more naturally with the surrounding environment, further reducing the possibility of being detected.

"Not bad!" Dr. Li revealed a rare smile. "To grasp the essence of 'following the trend' on your first attempt, and even incorporate your own understanding—this 'miniature Land Nourishing Array' may be small, but it is the first step in your control of this place. Every time you come in the future, you can use similar methods to gradually expand the scope of the array, deepen your connection with the Earth Spirit, and try to use your 'Ruins Fire' and 'Optimization' powers to further dredge the imprisoned leylines."

He looked up at the sky: "It's getting late; we should head back. Remember, this array is currently extremely fragile; it can only barely provide concealment and nourishment, and cannot defend against any active attacks or powerful detection. When you come next time, remember to bring these materials..." He listed several not-so-rare but specific minerals and herbs. "They can reinforce the array and add simple early warning functions."

The two quietly withdrew. On the way back, Lin Yuan's heart was filled with a rare sense of groundedness. Although the road ahead was still treacherous, at least he had personally planted the first "seed" that belonged to him and could grow quietly.

Upon returning to the quiet room in the abandoned tomb, dawn was approaching.

Just as Lin Yuan was preparing to regulate his breath to recover from the night's exhaustion, the multi-encrypted Spirit Message Talisman in his pocket, used for emergency contact with Boss Qian, suddenly transmitted a weak but continuous vibration.

His heart skipped a beat, and he immediately activated the talisman.

Boss Qian's voice, slightly weary and anxious, sounded directly in his consciousness, with only two brief sentences: "The people from the 'Crimson Feast' have entered the city. Last night, they conducted a blood sacrifice at the old North District wharf, using... a pregnant female beast." "Old Ghost Mo might be planning to act ahead of schedule. Be careful."

The spirit message cut off.

Lin Yuan held the slightly hot Spirit Message Talisman, standing in the dim halo of the quiet room, only feeling a chill slowly crawling up his spine.

A blood sacrifice using a pregnant female beast... this usually meant that the ritual was beginning to involve the extreme opposing concepts of "gestation," "new life," and "sacrifice," which were key preparatory steps for many evil summoning or descent rituals.

Mr. Mo... as expected, did not give him much time.

He looked up at the coldly ticking countdown on the system interface. 21 days, 09 hours, 44 minutes. The dormancy period, it seemed, was about to end early.