31: Starlight Tempering Spirit and Ancient Cultivation Inscriptions

After successfully shaking off Chen Jian's pursuit, The core five people found a more secluded underground crevice to hide in. The entrance to the crevice was covered by dense, vine-like dried plants, and the interior space was narrow but dry, making it an ideal place for healing and refuge.

Zhao Iron Pillar's left shoulder wound, after careful cleaning and medication, was no longer serious, though it would take time to heal. He grimaced, leaning against the rock wall, muttering, "Once my injury heals, I'll definitely settle the score with that Chen Jian!"

Wen Youyi ignored his harsh words. The most pressing matter was to make full use of the newly acquired starlight moss to enhance the team's strength. He took out the jade box, and the soft starlight immediately dispelled the dimness of the cave, invigorating everyone's spirits.

"This starlight moss can nourish the Divine Soul, which is greatly beneficial for us in maintaining the 'Inner Network' and resisting Heart Demons," Wen Youyi explained. "But its medicinal properties are mild, and direct consumption yields the best results. Each of us will eat a small amount and immediately circulate Qi to absorb it."

He carefully divided the small piece of starlight moss into five portions. Although each portion was only the size of a fingernail, the pure Star Power contained within captivated everyone.

The core five people each consumed their share of the starlight moss.

The moss melted upon entering their mouths, as if they had swallowed a small sip of cool starlight. A gentle yet vast power did not flow through their limbs and bones, but instead surged directly into their Sea of Consciousness in their brows!

Wen Youyi felt a 'buzz' in his mind, as if cool spring water had washed over him. The Mental Energy fatigue from maintaining the 'Inner Network' and the previous battle instantly vanished! His Divine Sense became clearer and more acute than ever before, and his thinking speed seemed to quicken by a few points. He could even 'see' more clearly the faint trajectory of the 'Inner Network' circulating within him, as well as the invisible barrier between it and the external 'the net'.

Zhao Iron Pillar and the others also showed surprise, feeling the benefits brought by the strengthening of their Divine Souls. Wang Wu even felt that his control over spiritual energy had become a touch more refined.

"Good stuff! Truly good stuff!" Zhao Iron Pillar smacked his lips, still wanting more.

"The medicinal power needs to be absorbed slowly, everyone, seize the time to consolidate it," Wen Youyi reminded.

For the next two days, The core five people quietly rested in this underground crevice. Zhao Iron Pillar's injuries healed quickly with Medicinal Pills and his own recovery ability. The others fully refined the medicinal power of the starlight moss and continuously practiced and optimized 'Inner Network 2.0'.

The effect was significant. Their Mental Energy had all made great progress, making it easier and more sustainable to maintain the 'Inner Network'. Their tacit understanding also grew due to the strengthening of their Divine Souls, allowing them to even conduct some more complex, simple mental exchanges (like the nascent form of in-team voice chat).

During this time, Senior Brother Zhang, who was on alert, accidentally discovered some anomalies deep within the crevice. There was a relatively smooth rock wall with some blurry patterns and unidentifiable ancient characters carved on it.

"Junior Brother Wen, come take a look at this," Senior Brother Zhang called out.

Wen Youyi approached, and with the faint residual light from the starlight moss (and his enhanced Divine Sense), he carefully distinguished the carvings on the rock wall.

The patterns were very abstract, like twisted lines and symbols, with what appeared to be a shattered sphere in the middle. He didn't recognize any of the characters, but their structure subtly gave him a strange sense of familiarity.

He reached out and gently touched the carvings.

The moment his fingertip made contact, a sharp pain suddenly shot through his mind, and an extremely blurry, fragmented image flashed by!

It was a vast starry sky, with countless stars shining. Suddenly, an indescribable, colossal 'the net' phantom, spanning across the galaxy, appeared and enveloped everything! The starlight dimmed, as if being drained by the giant net. This was followed by a violent explosion, stars shattering, and a burning fragment (star core?) trailing a tail flame as it plummeted towards the unknown... Finally, there was a scene of countless beings struggling in wails, filled with despair and unwillingness... The image abruptly ended.

Wen Youyi abruptly withdrew his hand, his face pale, cold sweat trickling down.

"Little Wen, what's wrong?" Zhao Iron Pillar asked with concern.

"No... nothing," Wen Youyi panted, but a tumultuous wave surged in his heart. This fragmented memory image seemed to confirm the existence of the 'star core fragment' and 'the net' that Yun Zhi had mentioned! This rock wall was very likely a warning or perhaps... a dying message left by an Ancient Cultivator who knew the inside story?

He looked again at the unrecognizable ancient characters, and that strange sense of familiarity grew stronger. Suddenly, inspiration struck him, and he tried not to 'see' with his eyes, but to 'perceive' the 'form' and 'connotation' of the characters with his enhanced Divine Sense.

Gradually, those twisted symbols began to change in his 'eyes', no longer concrete characters, but a direct transmission of spirit, a residual Dao rhyme!

He 'read' the several core ideas that repeatedly appeared:

"Cage," "Theft," "Resistance," "Spark," "Origin lost, order collapsed"... and a peculiar symbol repeatedly sketched, representing "Concealment" and "Inner Seeking"!

This symbol subtly echoed some concepts in Turtle Breath Qi Concealment Art and Crude Talk on Spirit Thread Traction, but it was much deeper and more complete!

Wen Youyi was immersed in this peculiar 'reading' as if enchanted, communicating across time and space with an ancient prophet. This unknown Ancient Cultivator was clearly also exploring methods to resist 'the net' and had pointed out the direction of 'Inner Seeking' and 'Concealment'!

This rock wall, its value even surpassed the starlight moss! It was a roadmap, a confirmation and guidance from ancient times!

When Wen Youyi shared his discoveries and insights with everyone, they were all astonished.

"My goodness... this Ancient Ruins actually hides such a big secret!" Zhao Iron Pillar's mouth hung open.

Wang Wu excitedly said, "Junior Brother Wen, so, the path of the 'Inner Network' we've been exploring is correct?!"

"That's right!" Wen Youyi's eyes gleamed. "Although the Legacy on this rock wall is incomplete, it points us in the right direction! Conceal ourselves, seek development internally, and build our own 'order'! This is far more sophisticated and safer than that crude tablet that simply advocated disconnecting from the net!"

He had everyone come to the rock wall and try to perceive the symbol representing 'Concealment' and 'Inner Seeking' with their Divine Sense. Although their gains were far less than his, everyone subtly gained something, deepening their understanding of the 'Inner Network's' operation and the Turtle Breath Qi Concealment Art.

The rest period ended, injuries healed, Divine Souls strengthened, and they even gained guidance from the ancient engravings.

The D-7 Courtyard team, as if having undergone a thorough tempering and forging, became more resilient and more focused on their goals.

Wen Youyi stood at the entrance of the crevice, looking towards the depths of the Ancient Ruins.

"It's time to meet that so-called 'star core fragment'!"

(End of this chapter)