131: Energy Siphon and the "Starlink" Concept

The resonance between the Star Core and the altar's groove pointed research in a new direction—energy.

How to find sufficient and sustainable "rations" for this hungry ancient Shelter became the most pressing issue facing the six of them.

"Remotely guiding the power of star core fragments..." Wen Youyi chewed over Ying's proposal repeatedly, the light in his eyes growing brighter. "Theoretically, it's feasible! Star Cores naturally possess a sense of induction between them, just like magnets. The 'Star Language' communication we established earlier essentially uses this induction to transmit information. If we can transmit information, why can't we transmit energy?"

This idea stunned even Senior Brother Zhang. "Transmitting energy? This... this is far more difficult than transmitting information! Energy is formless and intangible, violent and difficult to tame. How can it be precisely guided over a vast distance? One slight mistake could trigger an energy turbulence and even harm the fragment holders!"

"So we can't act recklessly." Wen Youyi walked to the altar and stroked the runes that were glowing faintly because of the Star Core. "We need a 'relay station,' an 'amplifier,' or rather... an 'Energy Siphon Formation'!"

Combining his understanding of the altar's runes and his previous experience studying the "Spirit Disturbance Array," he proposed a bold concept:

Using the altar itself as the core and leveraging its natural resonance with the Star Core, they would construct a special Guiding Array. This array wouldn't directly extract fragment energy; instead, it would be like setting up "beacons" in the Universe, emitting specific "invitation" waves.

Upon receiving this "invitation," the scattered star core fragments would spontaneously and gently leak a faint trace of Origin Star Power. This Star Power would follow the natural induction "channels" between the fragments and the altar's core, being guided to the altar like trickling streams flowing into the sea.

"This process must be voluntary, gentle, and cumulative!" Wen Youyi emphasized. "We cannot forcibly plunder; that would destroy the fragments and might expose our location. What we need to do is establish a 'Star Power Network,' letting the scattered sparks of starlight voluntarily contribute a glimmer of light to our common Shelter!"

He named this concept the "Star Chain" Project!

The plan was whimsical, but upon closer thought, it possessed startling feasibility! It perfectly utilized the characteristics of the Star Core, avoided the risk of forced extraction, and collected energy for the Shelter in a way akin to "crowdfunding"!

"Brilliant!" Ying couldn't help but praise. "This way, we don't even need to know the specific locations of the fragments. As long as they are still in this world and can sense the call of the altar's core, they might provide us with assistance! This is much safer and more efficient than searching for fragments everywhere!"

Senior Brother Zhang also grew excited and immediately began theoretical deductions and Formation design. This required extremely exquisite energy-sensing runes and spatial resonance structures; the difficulty was immense, but the direction was undoubtedly correct.

In the following days, the Shelter became even busier.

Senior Brother Zhang and Ying devoted themselves fully to the design of the "star chain" Guiding Array, constantly deducing, modifying, and optimizing.

Meanwhile, Wen Youyi assisted them while starting to use the power of the altar and the complete Star Core, combined with his increasingly profound mastery of "Star Language," to weave that special "invitation" wave. This required extremely high mental control and an understanding of the most fundamental nature of Star Power.

Zhao Iron Pillar and the other two "Purifiers" were not idle either; they were responsible for monitoring the stability of the altar and the entire Shelter, using existing resources to reinforce this small safe zone as much as possible.

Time passed day by day.

Through everyone's sleepless efforts, the first simplified version of the "star chain" Guiding Array was finally inscribed around the perimeter of the altar. Though the structure was simple and its functions limited, it represented a Breakthrough from zero to one!

"Are you ready?" Wen Youyi looked at everyone and took a deep breath.

Senior Brother Zhang, Ying, and the others nodded solemnly, their eyes filled with expectation and nervousness.

Wen Youyi pressed his palm against the Star Core at the center of the altar, closed his eyes, and fully circulated his Cultivation Technique. He fused his Mental Energy with the Star Core Power and, following the designed rhythm, slowly injected it into the newly completed Guiding Array.

*Buzz...*

The runes on the Formation lit up one by one, emitting a soft and steady starlight. A peculiar wave with a calling quality radiated from the altar as its core, penetrating the barriers of the Shelter and silently merging into the chaotic ruins of rules outside, spreading toward even more distant and unknowable regions... This wave was extremely faint, like a speck of dust cast into the vast Universe.

Who could receive it? Would any star core fragments respond?

No one knew.

Everyone waited with bated breath, waiting for that first glimmer of responding starlight that might come from a distant place.

Hope, like a candle in the wind, flickered unsteadily but remained stubbornly unextinguished.

(End of Chapter)