244: The Prelude to the Storm and the "Nail"

The successful deployment of the external "starnet" nodes was like lighting a few faint campfires in a dark forest; while they could not illuminate the entire forest, they at least ensured that "Starfire" was no longer moving forward completely in the dark.

The three nodes—from the Black Wind Mountain Range, the edge of the Endless Swamp, and the abandoned teleportation Formation near the Qingxuan Sect—intermittently transmitted scattered yet valuable intelligence.

Combined with the information gathered by Chen Yuanshan through "underground lines," a blurry picture of the Qingxuan Sect, especially the recent movements of the Discipline Hall, gradually became clear on the map in the base's intelligence analysis room.

"It can be confirmed that the Discipline Hall's activities around Falling Star Lake are by no means accidental," Wang Wu said, pointing to several red dots marked on the map. "They have established at least three temporary outposts, dispatched over a hundred Disciples to be stationed there long-term, and... there are traces of Formation Master activity."

"Formation Master?" Wen Youyi frowned. "Are they setting up a Formation? What kind of Formation?"

"The specific type is not yet clear; our 'hummingbird' dare not get too close," Mo Chen shook his head. "But based on the analysis of the energy fluctuation characteristics transmitted back from the nodes, it seems to be a large-scale stability and detection type of Formation, not an offensive one."

"Stability and detection..." Wen Youyi mused. "It seems Black Sha really wants to make a move at Falling Star Lake. He either wants to stabilize that unstable spatial passage, or he wants to probe the situation on the other side of the passage, or even... both."

"Is he crazy?" Zhao Iron Pillar couldn't help but say. "Behind that passage is the Starry Sky Debris, and that hellish place, the 'Misty Ghost Domain'! Is he not afraid of releasing something even more terrifying?"

"Perhaps, in his eyes, we are more terrifying than those unknown things," Mu Wanqing said softly. "Or perhaps, the order from the 'Creation Heavenly Court' behind him is to eliminate us at all costs."

This speculation made the atmosphere in the council chamber even heavier.

"There is one more situation," Wang Wu added, pointing toward the direction of the Qingxuan Sect's mountain gate on the map. "According to the fuzzy information transmitted back from the abandoned teleportation Formation node, there seems to be a large-scale resource mobilization within the Qingxuan Sect recently. A large amount of Spirit Stones, Ore, and rare Materials are being transported to several warehouses controlled by the Discipline Hall. This does not look like a normal Sect reserve."

Large-scale resource mobilization? Alarm bells rang in Wen Youyi's heart. What exactly does Black Sha want to do? Is such a massive amount of resources really needed just to reinforce the Formation at Falling Star Lake? Or is it that... he has other ulterior motives?

"We cannot sit and wait for death," Wen Youyi stood up, his gaze sweeping over everyone. "Since Black Sha has placed his focus on Falling Star Lake, for us, this is both a crisis and an opportunity!"

"Opportunity?" Zhao Iron Pillar didn't react in time.

"That's right!" A sharp glint flashed in Wen Youyi's eyes. "He has invested a large amount of manpower and material resources into Falling Star Lake, so the defense and surveillance within the Sect, especially regarding other factions dissatisfied with Black Sha, will inevitably weaken! This is an excellent opportunity for us to transmit information outward, or even to incite internal personnel to defect!"

He looked at Mo Chen: "Brother Mo Chen, those targets on the list with sensitive identities that we dared not easily contact before, perhaps we can now attempt to make initial contact! Focus on those Inner Sect Disciples and deacons who are dissatisfied with Black Sha's overbearing actions and have a certain level of influence! They don't need to commit immediately; we just need them to know that they are not the only ones resisting Black Sha and the 'spirit net'!"

"Understood!" Mo Chen nodded solemnly. "I will select the most suitable targets and use the most covert methods to test the waters."

"Additionally," Wen Youyi said to Wang Wu, "let us increase the monitoring intensity at our external nodes, especially the one near the Qingxuan Sect. Focus on the public opinion trends within the Sect, especially discussions regarding resource mobilization and Black Sha's policies. We need to know that Black Sha's large-scale actions cannot possibly be without ripples within the Sect!"

"Yes!"

Orders were issued one after another, and "Starfire," this precise machine, began to operate efficiently once again. Mo Chen began to cautiously screen the targets on the list and design contact plans; Wang Wu adjusted the monitoring strategy of the external nodes; Senior Brother Li continued to reinforce the defense of the Falling Star Lake passage; and Zhao Iron Pillar's combat team increased the intensity of patrols and drills simulating real combat environments around the base, ready at any time to respond to potential surprise attacks from the direction of the passage.

Inside the base, an atmosphere of outward relaxation and inward tension permeated. On the surface, everyone continued to perform their duties, with research, production, and Cultivate proceeding in an orderly manner. But secretly, everyone knew that a storm was approaching. Everyone was preparing in their own way for the impending collision.

A few days later, a short, encrypted message from the abandoned teleportation Formation node was transmitted back to the base. The content of the message made Wen Youyi perk up.

[Within the Qingxuan Sect, anonymous rumors have arisen, questioning Elder Black Sha for misusing Sect resources and harboring ulterior motives. The source of the rumors is unknown, and they are spreading very quickly.]

The "nail" has been driven in.

Wen Youyi looked at this message, the corners of his mouth curling up slightly. Black Sha, you are busy making arrangements at Falling Star Lake, but have you ever thought that your backyard has already started to smoke?

This contest has only just begun.

(End of chapter)