146: Breaking the deadlock and the return of the "seed"

Although the crisis of the deep scan had been temporarily averted, the atmosphere within the Shelter did not lighten much.

That invisible tightening hoop remained around their heads, reminding everyone that the enemy had never given up the search.

The "Invisibility Cloak" strategy was only for emergencies and was by no means a long-term solution.

Passive hiding would eventually lead to being discovered one day.

A way to break the deadlock must be found!

Wen Youyi gathered everyone to the altar once again.

Under the starlight, everyone's expression was heavy.

"We cannot remain passive like this forever."

Wen Youyi spoke directly, "The enemy's net is tightening, and our 'star chain' and 'dandelion' plans have been greatly restricted. We must find a new Breakthrough."

"But going out now is just asking for death!"

Zhao Iron Pillar scratched his head, "There are eyes everywhere outside."

"Charging in blindly definitely won't work."

Senior Brother Zhang pushed up his glasses, "What we need is... a way to bypass their monitoring net."

"Bypass?"

Ying said thoughtfully, "Although the 'spirit net' monitoring is dense, it is not without blind spots."

"For example... certain areas they consider 'purified' or 'valueless'?"

"Or, utilizing the information gaps and time delays within their System?"

Wen Youyi nodded: "The line of thinking is correct."

"But we lack sufficient external intelligence; we don't know which are true blind spots, nor do we understand their specific internal operational processes."

"We are now like mice hiding in a hole, completely ignorant of the cat's patrol routes outside."

Intelligence! What they lacked most right now was timely and accurate external intelligence!

The previous "dandelion" plan had awakened some scattered sparks, but most of them did not have high status, the information they could provide was limited, and the risk of contact was very high.

Just as everyone was deep in thought, the star core fragment in Wen Youyi's arms suddenly transmitted an extremely faint, yet familiar rhythmic fluctuation of "Star Language"!

This fluctuation... did not come from those awakened strangers, but from... Wang Wu!

It was one of the leaders of the "Seed" team that had dispersed and evacuated earlier!

[Starfire... Starfire... please respond if received... we... have found a relatively safe path... are attempting to approach... coordinates...]

The message was intermittent; it seemed the sender was also extremely carefully controlling the energy fluctuations, but the identification code contained within was confirmed to be correct—it was precisely the exclusive frequency of Wang Wu's team!

Wen Youyi's spirits lifted! He immediately responded in the most cautious manner:

[Starfire received. Coordinates confirmed. Maintain silence, leave 'starlight waypoints' along the way (a faint mark that only star core holders can perceive), and we will provide support.]

Companions had found a relatively safe path and were attempting to return! This was undoubtedly help arriving in the nick of time!

"It's Senior Brother Wang! They are almost back!"

Wen Youyi shared the news with everyone, and everyone was very excited.

The reunion of companions who had been separated for so long was in itself a great encouragement.

More importantly, Wang Wu's team had been active outside for so long; what they were bringing back was not just people, but valuable external intelligence and survival experience!

"Prepare to provide support immediately!"

Wen Youyi ordered, "Iron Pillar, you take a 'Purifier' Fellow Daoist, follow the coordinates given by Senior Brother Wang, use the star core jump to go and support them, and be sure to be careful!"

"Understood!"

Zhao Iron Pillar rubbed his hands, immediately selecting a 'Purifier' skilled in stealth to prepare for departure.

A few days later, with the support of Zhao Iron Pillar and the others, Wang Wu and his two team members, after experiencing many hardships, finally arrived safely at the Starlight Sanctuary!

When Wang Wu and the three others passed through that layer of invisible barrier and saw this space, orderly under the starlight and even growing strange blue-purple moss, they were all too shocked to speak.

They had imagined what the Shelter looked like, but they hadn't expected such a scene full of vitality and hope!

"Youyi! Iron Pillar! Senior Brother Zhang! You... you actually really did it!"

Wang Wu excitedly grabbed Wen Youyi's arm, his voice choked with emotion.

The two team members behind him also had red eyes, as if wanderers who had been drifting outside had finally returned home.

After the brief excitement, Wang Wu immediately reported their experiences during these days and the intelligence they brought back.

Their team had been operating in the outer areas of the Qinglan Mountain Range, disguised as herb collectors, carefully avoiding searches.

They confirmed the strictness of the external monitoring, but also discovered some patterns—for example, at the borders of some large Sect territories, and in some places deemed "resource-depleted areas," the monitoring intensity would be relatively weaker.

More importantly, they brought back a key piece of information: inside the Qingxuan Sect, it did not seem to be a monolith.

The Discipline Hall and Elder Xuan Shi's faction were exceptionally enthusiastic about the "investigation," but some peaks, represented by Danxia Peak, to which Senior Sister Mu of the Hundred Herbs Pavilion belonged, had an ambiguous attitude toward this matter, even faintly resisting it, believing that large-scale investigations affected the normal operation of the Sect and how Disciples Cultivate.

"Senior Sister Mu..."

Wen Youyi's heart stirred as he thought of that elegant figure who had secretly given them help many times.

Wang Wu's intelligence was like lighting a lamp in the dark, allowing Wen Youyi to see the hope of breaking the deadlock.

Perhaps they didn't need to rely entirely on themselves to face them head-on.

Perhaps, they could try... utilizing the contradictions within the enemy?

(End of Chapter)