26: The Cost of Losing Control and the "Intranet" Blueprint

Exiting the range of the damaged stele's influence and once again enveloped by the invisible "spirit net," The core five people felt as if they had just climbed back into a small boat after being tossed by stormy seas. They were grateful to have survived, yet still harbored lingering fear from that brief "freedom" and the terror that followed.

"Damn it, that broken rock is too evil!" Zhao Iron Pillar plopped onto the ground, panting. "One moment it was so light I felt like I was floating, the next I was nearly torn apart by those colorful winds!"

Wang Wu's face was pale, and being more observant, he noticed something else: "Junior Brother Wen, just now... did the feeling of that 'big net' disappear?"

Wen Youyi nodded gravely: "That's right, the power of that stone stele can temporarily sever our connection with that 'net.'"

"This is good!" Zhao Iron Pillar's eyes lit up. "If we could move this stone, wouldn't that mean..."

"Good?" Wen Youyi interrupted him, pointing with a bitter smile at the deep gully carved out by the Spiritual Qi turbulence. "Look at that. Without the 'net,' the Spiritual Qi outside went completely wild. We are too weak now, like someone who just learned to swim being thrown directly into a tsunami. The result would only be utter destruction."

Everyone looked at the terrifying traces and fell silent. Indeed, if Wen Youyi hadn't reacted quickly just now, they might have already become lingering spirits in the Ancient Ruins.

"Then... what should we do?" Senior Brother Li asked blankly. "Is there no way to get rid of that cursed thing?"

"There is, but definitely not by such a crude 'disconnection.'" Wen Youyi's gaze became firm and sharp again as he looked at the silent damaged stele, as if he were looking at a flawed, failed product. "What we need is... a stable, safe 'small home' of our own."

He gestured with his hands, trying to describe the grand concept in his mind with the simplest language.

"Just like the small cycle we created by linking hands before. But that was too small, too fragile, like a tiny soap bubble that bursts at a touch. What we need to do is make this 'soap bubble' bigger and stronger! Make it capable of enveloping our whole bodies, and even... in the future, an entire courtyard, an entire mountain!"

"Within this 'small home,' we can have our own rules, Spiritual Power can circulate smoothly, we won't have to worry about our power being stolen, nor will we fear the wind and rain (chaotic Spiritual Qi) outside. That 'big net' is like bad weather outside; we can close our doors and live our own small lives!"

This analogy was easy to understand, and Zhao Iron Pillar immediately got it, excitedly slapping his thigh: "I get it! It's like in our village, when it rains or snows, I just stay on my own heated bed, it's warm! Little Wen, are you saying we're going to build a 'Spiritual Power Hut'?"

"Exactly! That's what I mean!" Wen Youyi praised. "We can call it the 'Inner Network'! And the one outside is the 'Public Network' or 'Outer Network.'" He subconsciously used terms from his previous life but immediately explained, "It means the public big network."

Wang Wu pondered: "So, that stone stele is like a hammer that can smash the 'Public Network' lines, but smashing it also collapses the house. And Junior Brother Wen, what you're thinking is for us to lay our own 'private line,' connect it to our own 'small switch,' and use it safely and securely?"

"Brilliant!" Wen Youyi hadn't expected Wang Wu's ability to infer so much. "Our current method of linking hands is the most primitive 'private line,' but it's too crude. We need to find a more stable and efficient way to build and maintain this 'Inner Network.'"

He once again turned his gaze to the half-broken stele. Although dangerous, this object proved that "shielding the Outer Network" was possible. The ancient patterns on it might contain some mystery of "shielding" or "independence."

"This stone stele is a treasure, and also a warning," Wen Youyi said solemnly. "We don't have the ability to study it now, but we can remember this location. When we are stronger, perhaps we can find inspiration here to perfect the 'Inner Network.'"

He carefully committed the location to memory and made sure everyone remembered the surrounding landmarks.

"Our top priority is to continue exploring, searching for Opportunities that can upgrade our 'Inner Network,' and at the same time... try to avoid other dangers and people."

The core five people set off again, this time even more cautiously. They maintained their fragile "Spiritual Power Linkage," and although its effect was weak, it was like holding a small lantern in the dark, both illuminating their path (resisting chaotic Spiritual Qi interference to some extent) and allowing them to sense each other, preventing them from getting separated.

As they delved deeper, they encountered some peculiar Ancient Ruins plants. Some emitted alluring scents, but Wen Youyi strictly forbade them from approaching—who knew what strange effects these things might have when nourished by chaotic Spiritual Qi. They also saw figures of other Cultivators from afar, some fiercely contending, others cautiously exploring, but they chose to avoid them all.

During this time, they found a relatively stable area with a small patch of moss emitting a soft white glow, where the surrounding chaotic Spiritual Qi seemed much calmer. They rested there briefly, taking Medicinal Pills to recover.

Wen Youyi seized the Opportunity to continuously try and optimize the "Spiritual Power Linkage." He had everyone try different positions, different Spiritual Power output rhythms, and even attempted to integrate some superficial concepts from the Elementary Explication of the Minor Five Elements Formation into it.

The effect was minimal, but not entirely without progress. He discovered that when the breathing, heartbeats, and even mental fluctuations of The core five people tended towards a certain synchronization, the "Inner Network" connection would stabilize slightly, and the Spiritual Power they could share increased by a hair's breadth.

This showed him the direction—tacit understanding, a deeper, mind-body unified tacit understanding, was the cornerstone for building a stable "Inner Network"!

Just as they finished resting and were about to set off again, the cloud pattern token in Wen Youyi's embrace, which had been quiet all this time, suddenly became scorching hot without warning!

At the same time, a faint but clear pulling sensation came from a certain direction in the Ancient Ruins!

Wen Youyi abruptly stopped, pulling out the token. The cloud pattern was emitting a faint, continuous glow, pointing towards the continuous mountain range shrouded in gray mist to their left front.

The token left by Fairy Yun Zhi actually reacted in the Ancient Ruins?

Was the pulling sensation pointing to the corresponding location of the Bamboo Garden, West Foothill of Danxia Peak in the Ancient Ruins? Or... something else?

Countless thoughts flashed through Wen Youyi's mind instantly. An Opportunity? A trap? Or had Yun Zhi anticipated they would come to the Ancient Ruins and left a guide?

He looked in the direction the token was pointing, then at his trusted companions beside him.

"Brothers," he took a deep breath and made a decision, "we're changing direction."

"Let's go check over there!"

(End of Chapter)