40: Hibernation and the prototype of the "communicator"

Returning to D-7 Courtyard with the Discipline Hall's "one-month confinement" punishment order, Wen Youyi instead let out a sigh of relief.

"Confinement? This isn't a punishment, it's clearly giving us time for closed-door cultivation!" Zhao Iron Pillar grinned, waving his thick arms carelessly; he felt like he could punch through the courtyard wall right now.

Wang Wu and the others shared similar thoughts. Now that their cultivation had increased significantly, they needed time to consolidate it and fully transform their gains from the Ancient Ruins into actual strength. This punishment from the Sect was like having a pillow delivered just as they were getting sleepy.

"Don't get happy too early," Wen Youyi threw a bucket of cold water on everyone's excitement. "This month is our golden window, and we must utilize it to the extreme. There's no telling how many eyes are watching us from the outside. If we haven't made enough progress in a month, there will only be more trouble."

He quickly formulated a detailed "closed-door cultivation" plan:

First, consolidate cultivation. Use the remaining Spirit Stones and Medicinal Pills to thoroughly solidify the Qi Refining Third Layer and Fourth Layer Realms, and attempt to break through to higher levels. Zhao Iron Pillar would focus on strength and defense, while Wang Wu and the others would focus on agility and Spell manipulation.

Second, deepen the application of the "Star Domain." This was their core trump card, and they had to be able to use it as easily as their own limbs. Practice the instant expansion and contraction of the Domain, try more complex team coordination drills within it, and even explore if the Domain could have other variations.

Finally, and what Wen Youyi valued most—studying the star core fragments!

He locked himself in his room, holding the dark fragment, his mind sinking into it. This time, he didn't try to trigger its power, but instead patiently "read" and "parsed" the vast and broken stellar meaning within the fragment, like studying a piece of complex source code.

The process was slow and difficult, his Mental Energy groping as if in a thick fog. But the rewards were also immense.

He discovered an extremely subtle, almost instinctive "fluctuation" inside the fragment. This fluctuation wasn't spiritual energy, but more like a... carrier for information transmission? Like radio waves?

An inspiration flashed through his mind like lightning!

Since this fragment could block "the net" to a certain extent, could its own special fluctuation be used to... transmit information?!

The thought made him tremble with excitement!

If it worked, they could establish an independent, secure communication System under the surveillance of "the net"! This would be of extraordinary significance for team coordination and potential large-scale operations in the future!

He immediately called Zhao Iron Pillar and the other four over to share this idea.

"Setting up our own 'little hotline' under the 'big net'?" Zhao Iron Pillar listened, stunned. Although he didn't quite understand, it sounded very impressive.

"You could put it that way!" Wen Youyi said excitedly. "We need to find a way to 'encode' our thoughts into the fragment's fluctuations, and then have another person 'decode' them through their fragment!"

This was undoubtedly a massive challenge, involving fine control of Mental Energy and the establishment of a "protocol" in a sense.

In the following days, besides necessary cultivation and Domain practice, The core five people poured all their energy into the development of this "communicator."

Failure, failure, and more failure.

Their thoughts either couldn't merge into the fragment's fluctuations, or what was transmitted was just a bunch of meaningless noise. Their Mental Energy consumption was enormous, leaving everyone exhausted.

"Little Wen, this thing is more tiring than fighting a White Jade Python," Zhao Iron Pillar complained, rubbing his throbbing temples.

"Don't give up!" Wen Youyi encouraged. "Think about it, in the future we'll be able to whisper to each other from far away. When we fight, we won't have to shout; a single thought and our teammates will understand. How cool would that be!"

This prospect motivated everyone. They kept trying, adjusting the frequency and intensity of their Mental Energy, mimicking the rhythm of the fragment's fluctuations.

Heaven does not betray those who try.

On the fifteenth day of their seclusion, when Wen Youyi held the fragment, concentrating fully on the thought of "attack" and trying to merge it into the fragment's fluctuations, Zhao Iron Pillar—who was sitting opposite him holding another (simulated, as it didn't exist) fragment—suddenly "heard" a blurry noise with a strong intent to attack in his mind!

"There's a reaction!" Zhao Iron Pillar jumped up. "I... I think I heard you wanting to hit someone!"

Although it was blurry and unclear, it was indeed the transmission of a thought!

The first step was a success!

Everyone cheered! This proved the approach was feasible!

Over the remaining time, they continued to refine the process. They went from single, blurry transmissions of intent to being able to transmit relatively clear, simple words like "left," "right," "forward," "retreat," and "careful."

They even established a simple "communication protocol": different patterns of Mental Energy vibration represented different commands.

When the one-month confinement period was about to end, although they still couldn't hold complex conversations, they were already able to transmit basic tactical commands through the star core fragments without making any sound or causing any spiritual energy fluctuations!

This could be called a revolutionary Breakthrough!

This meant their team coordination would enter a whole new dimension—silent communication!

Besides the communication research, their individual cultivation also improved steadily. Zhao Iron Pillar stabilized at the Qi Refining Third Layer, with strength even greater than before; Wang Wu and the others reached the Peak of the Qi Refining Third Layer, just one step away from the fourth layer; Wen Youyi thoroughly consolidated his Qi Refining Fourth Layer Realm, and his spiritual energy became even more pure.

Their control over the "Star Domain" also became increasingly proficient, with faster expansion speeds and longer maintenance times.

After a month of lying low, the D-7 Courtyard had undergone a complete transformation.

When the bell signaling the end of the confinement order rang, Wen Youyi pushed open the courtyard gate and looked at the familiar yet strange world outside, his eyes sharp and confident.

"Brothers, it's time to let certain people know that today's D-7 Courtyard is different."

(End of Chapter)