223: Chen Laogua joins the group and the "Purifying Elixir" is initially completed.

Mo Chen returned safely to the base, bringing back news of a successful contact with Old Diviner Chen. That "Signal Stone" was like a pebble thrown into a lake; though small, it heralded the official opening of the "Starfire" external communication channel. Next was patient waiting—waiting for Old Diviner Chen to make his final decision.

Work at the base did not stall due to the waiting. The Liaison Group began screening the list for the next suitable target, while the Technical Group and the Alchemy Workshop continued their respective Breakthroughs.

One late night a few days later, Wang Wu, who was responsible for monitoring the "Signal Stone" reception point, sent exciting news via the "star chain"—Old Diviner Chen had activated the Signal Stone! He had arrived at the crooked-neck tree at the foot of Black Wind Mountain!

Wen Youyi immediately dispatched Zhao Iron Pillar to lead a small team, traveling in a camouflaged small flying shuttle to meet him. The entire process was silent, like ghosts in the night.

When Old Diviner Chen was brought into "Bedrock Base" and saw with his own eyes the floating "ark of hope," felt the dense and pure Star Power, and witnessed the orderly and vibrant scene inside the base, this old Loose Cultivator, who had struggled at the bottom and endured for many years, was moved to tears.

"Found it... finally found it... the Legacy of my ancestors, there is hope!" He stroked the cold metal walls of the industrial zone as if caressing a rare treasure.

Wen Youyi personally received Old Diviner Chen and explained in detail the philosophy, goals, and currently mastered resources and power of "Starfire." Old Diviner Chen listened with surging emotions, especially when Wen Youyi mentioned the "spirit purifying pill" currently under development, which could weaken the influence of the "spirit net"—he was so excited he could hardly contain himself.

"This old man... Chen Yuanshan, is willing to join 'Starfire' and contribute these meager skills; I will have no regrets even if I die!" Old Diviner Chen—no, Chen Yuanshan—solemnly performed an ancient etiquette toward Wen Youyi.

Chen Yuanshan's joining not only brought his ancestral, unique insights and incomplete Legacy regarding Talisman and energy shielding, but more importantly, as a Loose Cultivator who had struggled at the bottom for many years, he possessed extremely rich experience in intelligence gathering and camouflage, which was a tremendous supplement to the future external activities of "Starfire."

He was assigned to the Liaison Group, directly led by Mo Chen, and began to systematically learn the base's rules and regulations, as well as some basic application techniques of Star Power.

Meanwhile, good news also came from the Alchemy Workshop!

Under Mu Wanqing's unremitting efforts and the secret assistance of those meritorious "Flowing Silver," using the "Spirit Calming Bead" that had naturally bred a "purification core" as the main ingredient, supplemented by several other Star Spirit Medicines produced by the base, the trial production of the first batch of "spirit purifying pill" had finally reached the critical moment of pill formation!

The atmosphere in the entire workshop was tense to the extreme. Mu Wanqing was fully focused, precisely controlling the temperature of the "Star True Fire." Under her exquisite control, the Pill Furnace vibrated slightly. From the gaps in the lid, pure starlight faintly escaped, carrying a strange medicinal fragrance that made one's mind feel peaceful.

Wen Youyi, Senior Brother Zhang, and others were all guarding outside the workshop, watching nervously through the observation window. Even those "Flowing Silver" were quietly lying in the corner, their silver liquid surfaces slightly fluctuating, seemingly also anticipating the results.

Finally, after going through a long process of warming and pill condensing, Mu Wanqing changed her hand techniques and cast a Pill Collection Spell!

"Hum—"

The Pill Furnace emitted a clear hum, and the lid slowly opened.

In an instant, soft and pure starlight gushed out from the furnace, illuminating the entire workshop like daylight! Three pills, the size of dragon eyes, perfectly round, presenting a deep starry-sky blue color, with natural star patterns on the surface, floated quietly in the center of the Pill Furnace, slowly rotating, emitting a continuous and gentle purification fluctuation!

Success! The first version of the "spirit purifying pill" was successfully refined!

Mu Wanqing carefully took out the three pills and placed them on a jade plate that had been prepared long ago. She carefully inspected the quality, medicinal properties, and internal energy structure of the pills, and a smile of relief and immense joy finally appeared on her face.

"It's done! Although it's only the lowest grade, the internal 'purification core' is stable, the energy release is gentle, and it is expected that after consumption, it can continuously purify about ten percent of the 'spirit net' marked spiritual power within twelve hours, and it has a significant soothing effect on the mind! Most importantly, its medicinal properties are mild, with almost no side effects!"

Inside and outside the workshop, a burst of suppressed cheers suddenly erupted!

Wen Youyi took the jade plate, feeling the purification power contained in the three pills—which was of the same source as Star Power but even more gentle and pleasant—and his heart was filled with excitement. These were not just three pills; this was the first strategic weapon mastered by "Starfire" that could directly and safely counter the harvesting of the "spirit net"!

"Conduct live effect tests immediately!" Wen Youyi suppressed his excitement and ordered.

The test subjects were several low-level spirit rabbits raised in the base's ecological zone, which also had weak "spirit net" markings in their bodies. After feeding a small amount of "spirit purifying pill" powder to one of them, it could be clearly seen through the precise energy monitoring array that the spiritual power marking in its body, which was originally faintly connected to the "spirit net," was being slowly washed away and diluted by a gentle force of Star Power, and its mental state also became more tranquil.

Effect confirmed! Although for a Cultivator, purifying ten percent of the spiritual power marking might not seem significant, it was undoubtedly a huge Breakthrough from 0 to 1! It proved the feasibility of this technical route!

"Great!" Senior Brother Zhang said excitedly, "With this, we can gradually purify ourselves, and even more so, use it to win over more sympathizers and supporters!"

Mu Wanqing's confidence also doubled: "This is just the beginning! As the 'Star Spirit Medicine Garden' cultivates more and higher-quality natural core-condensing medicinal materials, we will definitely be able to refine 'spirit purifying pill' with even stronger effects!"

Chen Yuanshan looked at the pills emitting starlight, trembling with excitement: "Heaven-Defying fate change... this is truly the real Heaven-Defying pill to change fate!"

The completion of the "spirit purifying pill" and the successful joining of Chen Yuanshan were like adding two powerful engines to the rapidly developing "Starfire."

Wen Youyi looked at everything before him, his heart filled with hope. The list contact was steadily advancing, the counter-weapon was taking initial shape, and the base's talent pool was continuously expanding... "Starfire" was growing at an astonishing speed from a shelter for survival into a resistance spark that possessed its own philosophy, technology, and armaments!

He believed that when this spark accumulated enough strength, it would surely burn down the invisible net covering the world with the momentum of a prairie fire!

(End of this chapter)