135: Undercurrents of Theft and a First Experience as a "Miner"

Relying on her understanding of the "spirit net" structure, Ying finally selected the first "mining point" at a location about 300 li away from the Shelter.

That was an area known as the "Nirvana Swamp". According to the "Purifiers" records, it was once a Trial Grounds for an ancient Sect, but later the Sect was extinguished, the landscape changed, and large swaths of swamps were formed.

Because of the harsh environment, thin Spiritual Qi, and the mixture of poisonous miasma, very few Cultivators went there.

More importantly, a secondary energy tributary of the "spirit net" happened to pass through there, responsible for transporting meager energy to more remote and barren areas, belonging to the "capillaries" that were not highly valued in the "spirit net" System.

"The energy flow here is stable and the intensity is not high. Even if there is a tiny loss, it can easily be attributed to the natural consumption of the swamp environment," Ying analyzed, pointing to the gray area on the map. "Besides, the environment is complex, which is convenient for us to hide and set up."

The target was selected; the next step was execution.

This operation carried extremely high risks, so the number of people should not be too large. It was finally decided that Wen Youyi and Ying would go, while Zhao Iron Pillar, Senior Brother Zhang, and two other "Purifiers" would remain at the Shelter to maintain the "star chain" and monitor the Shelter's safety.

Before leaving, Wen Youyi repeatedly confirmed the complex "spirit net extraction Formation" blueprint and tied the trigger authority of the core "starlight flow-breaking barrier" closely to his own Star Core. Once the situation went wrong, he could instantly trigger self-destruction.

The two did not use any spiritual power, but relied on the more proficient Star Core short-range jump technique that Wen Youyi had recently comprehended, shuttling through barren mountains and forests and boundary areas with chaotic rules. Although this method consumed a lot, it left almost no traces.

Several hours later, they arrived at the outskirts of the Nirvana Swamp.

The air was filled with the scent of humus and faint poisonous miasma. Muddy bubbles rose from the muddy ground, and dead trees stood like twisted skeletons in the gray mist. It was indeed as desolate and dead as recorded.

Ying sensed carefully for a moment and pointed in a direction deep in the swamp: "The energy tributary is over there, and the flow is very stable."

The two snuck into the swamp like ghosts, avoiding the mud pits that exuded dangerous auras and the lurking poisonous insects. Soon, they arrived at a relatively dry clearing surrounded by several huge, strange black stones.

Here, Wen Youyi could clearly feel an invisible, intangible, yet continuously flowing energy. It was not as lively as Spiritual Qi, but rather carried a kind of programmatic, cold sense of order, which was exactly the energy characteristic of the "spirit net"!

"This is it," Ying whispered.

Wen Youyi nodded and hesitated no longer. He took out the Formation Base and rune units he had prepared in advance, made of special inert Materials, and began to carefully set up the "spirit net extraction Formation" according to the blueprint.

Throughout the whole process, he dared not use a shred of his own spiritual power, relying entirely on Mental Energy guidance and Star Core Power to perform micro-manipulations, ensuring that the Formation perfectly achieved Fusion with the surrounding environment, especially with that energy tributary.

The "resonance rune" designed by Senior Brother Zhang was indeed exquisite. When the last node of the Formation was completed, the entire extraction Formation, like a drop of water merging into the sea, silently "attached" to the invisible energy tributary without causing the slightest ripple.

Immediately after, Ying activated the purification unit she was responsible for. Several special crystals embedded with star core fragments lit up with a faint glow, forming a tiny vortex, and began to "scoop" an insignificant amount of energy from the surging energy tributary at an imperceptible rate.

The extracted energy was immediately guided into the purification unit. The star core fragments vibrated at high frequency, acting like the most precise sieve, forcibly stripping and shaking off the marks and rules belonging to the "spirit net". This process was silent. The stripped Impurities dissipated like dust into the poisonous miasma of the swamp, and what remained was a wisp of extremely pure, pale white Origin energy.

This wisp of energy was as thin as a gossamer thread, but it made both Wen Youyi and Ying feel refreshed!

Success! They had really managed to pull a strand of wool from the "spirit net"!

This wisp of pure energy flowed slowly toward the Shelter 300 li away through an extremely hidden micro-channel constructed from Star Power.

"The energy flow is stable, the purification efficiency meets expectations, and no alarms have been triggered." Ying carefully sensed the operation of the Formation and reported in a low voice, her tone filled with suppressed excitement.

Wen Youyi also breathed a sigh of relief, but he dared not be careless in the slightest. His spirit remained tense, ready at any moment to activate the "safety valve".

Time passed second by second. The extraction Formation, like the most patient thief, continuously stole insignificant amounts of energy from this inconspicuous tributary of the "spirit net".

One hour, two hours... everything was normal.

It seemed that the "mining point" they chose was indeed remote and secondary enough that this tiny loss would not attract the attention of the "spirit net" System at all.

"It's a success!" Wen Youyi and Ying looked at each other, both seeing the relief and joy in each other's eyes.

This marked a milestone success for the "operation poaching" plan! They had found a relatively safe and secret path that could continuously provide energy for the Shelter!

Although the efficiency was very low at the moment, many little things make a big thing, and more importantly—they had proven the feasibility of this matter!

The two did not stay long. After confirming that the Formation was operating stably, they quietly withdrew and returned to the Shelter along the original path.

When Wen Youyi and Ying returned safely and brought back the news of success, Zhao Iron Pillar, Senior Brother Zhang, and the others who remained behind all cheered!

"Great! Now we have stable 'electricity' to use!" Zhao Iron Pillar grinned, as if he had already seen the rapidly developing future of the Shelter.

Senior Brother Zhang was even more excited and began to calculate: "According to the current extraction efficiency, in about a month, we will be able to meet the energy needed for the basic maintenance of the Shelter, and there will be a small surplus that can be used for slow expansion..."

Hope, like that wisp of pure energy continuously pouring in, was a long, steady stream, yet it was firmly nourishing this land of hope under the starlight.

(End of chapter)