47: Rising Fame and the Visit of the Night

Wen Youyi's meticulously packaged Jade Slip, "A Preliminary Study of the Youyi Collaboration Method," was like a stone thrown into a lake, quickly rippling through the Qingxuan Sect's Outer Sect and even parts of the Inner Sect.

Initially, most people scoffed at it.

"Something cooked up by those guys from Ding Zi Courtyard? What good could it be?"

"Team synchronization? Easier said than done, it's not that simple!"

"That miniature Formation Plate, just the description makes it sound horribly complicated, and the effect is poor. Who would bother with that?"

However, there were always some small groups unwilling to accept their current situation, or struggling at the bottom, who, with a 'desperate times, desperate measures' mentality, tried practicing the simplified 'Synchronized Breathing Technique,' and even gritted their teeth to gather resources to refine the crude 'Environmental Stabilization Formation Plate.'

The effect... surprisingly, there was a little bit!

Although far from what Wen Youyi and the others described (it was actually a Censored version, 'castrated version'), and unable to form a Heaven-Defying effect like the Star Domain, some Disciples found that when three to five of them truly developed a bit of tacit understanding, synchronizing their breathing and spiritual energy circulation according to the method in the Jade Slip, they did feel a slight ease and smoother coordination when dealing with certain menial tasks or low-intensity battles.

And that infuriating Formation Plate, though it failed nine out of ten times to refine, and even when successful, could only last for a short incense stick's time, with an embarrassingly small range, it actually proved useful in certain specific situations, such as briefly passing through a poisonous gas area!

This small 'sweet taste' was like rain after a long drought for the bottom-level Disciples who had long lacked effective means!

"It seems... a bit useful!"

"Those few people from Ding Zi Courtyard really did figure something out!"

"Although it's hard to practice, and the Formation is a pain, it's better than nothing!"

Word of mouth began to spread. More and more struggling Outer Sect Disciples began to privately study and practice this Youyi Collaboration Method. Although the success rate was not high and the process was painful, it at least gave them hope, a direction to improve their situation through their own efforts and teamwork.

Wen Youyi and the D-7 Courtyard's reputation, for the first time, was no longer based on 'luck' or 'strangeness,' but began to spread as a positive image of 'technical pioneers' and 'team Great Masters.'

Even several well-off Inner Sect Disciples, after studying the Jade Slip, while not impressed by the crude technique itself, expressed limited praise for the 'team synergy' and 'environmental adaptation' ideas it embodied. Through the Old Deacon's message, they no longer insisted on the 'method,' but implicitly expressed the possibility of future cooperation.

The crisis was temporarily resolved. It even unexpectedly opened up a new situation.

"Little Wen, that was a brilliant move!" Zhao Iron Pillar looked at the Disciples outside discussing the 'Collaboration Method,' feeling honored, "Now many people are saying good things about us!"

Wang Wu also smiled: "And we haven't leaked any of our core secrets."

Wen Youyi nodded but did not relax. He knew this was only a temporary measure. Those who truly paid attention to them would never be completely fooled by such a small trick. They needed to improve faster.

He devoted more energy to studying the star core fragment, trying to find a way to expand the range of the Star Domain or enhance its effects.

Late that night, all was silent.

Wen Youyi was meditating in his room, his mind immersed in the star core fragment, trying to guide a wisp of Star Power within it to expand the boundaries of the Domain.

Suddenly, the cloud pattern token from Yun Zhi in his embrace unexpectedly became scorching hot again!

At the same time, a cold yet familiar voice, as if directly in his mind, rang out:

"Don't be alarmed, it's me."

It was Yun Zhi's voice!

Wen Youyi's heart jolted, and he suddenly opened his eyes. He saw that at some point, a hazy, illusory figure, like moonlight condensed, had appeared in the room. It was Yun Zhi! She was clearly not her true body, but a Divine Thought projection.

"Senior Sister Yun?" Wen Youyi suppressed the shock in his heart and quickly rose to salute.

Yun Zhi's phantom seemed a bit more solid than before, but there was a hint of imperceptible fatigue between her brows. Her gaze swept over Wen Youyi, and she nodded slightly: "Qi Refining Fourth Layer, stable Foundation, not bad. It seems your trip to the Ancient Ruins brought you considerable gains."

She paused, then went straight to the point: "I saw your Jade Slip for the 'Collaboration Method.' The idea is clever, and the response is appropriate; it can temporarily resolve the immediate difficulties."

Wen Youyi's heart stirred; Yun Zhi had indeed been paying attention to them!

"But this method is ultimately a minor Dao; it can hide for a while but not forever." Yun Zhi's tone turned cold, "Do you know that Chen Jian's master, 'Elder Heisha,' has emerged from seclusion and is investigating his death. Behind the Five Elements Courtyard, there are also Golden Core Elders who have taken an interest in your 'unreasonable' growth rate."

A layer of cold sweat instantly broke out on Wen Youyi's back. Elder Heisha! Golden Core Elders! These names were like towering mountains to him!

"Senior Sister..." His voice was hoarse.

"Afraid?" Yun Zhi's phantom looked at him, "If you are, hand over the star core fragment now, and I can guarantee that you and the others leave the Sect, live anonymously, and have an ordinary life."

Wen Youyi was silent for a moment, then raised his head, his eyes once again firm: "Disciple... does not want an ordinary life. And even more, does not want to live forever under that 'net.'"

A faint hint of appreciation flashed in Yun Zhi's eyes: "Since that is the case, you need to grow faster. The star core fragment is of great importance; you must never easily use its Domain power again, at least not before you reach Foundation Establishment."

She flicked a finger, and a spark of spiritual light merged into Wen Youyi's glabella.

"This is a remnant of an ancient Qi concealment technique, the Hibernating Dragon Art. Although incomplete, it is enough to help you better hide the fragment's aura and your own cultivation. Practice diligently; unless it's a matter of life and death, do not reveal your sharpness again."

Wen Youyi felt a profound stream of information flow into his mind; it was the method of the Hibernating Dragon Art, far more profound than the Sect's Turtle Breath Technique!

"Thank you, Senior Sister!" He expressed his sincere gratitude.

Yun Zhi's phantom began to blur: "Take care of yourself. Clues to the Primal Array might be hidden in the old archives of the Sect's Myriad Phenomena Tower... Be careful... Five Elements..."

Before she finished speaking, her figure dissipated like blue smoke, as if she had never appeared.

Silence returned to the room, with only the lingering warmth of the token in his embrace and the Hibernating Dragon Art in his mind proving that everything just now was not an illusion.

Wen Youyi clenched his fist, his gaze sharp.

Elder Heisha, Five Elements Courtyard, Golden Core attention... pressure descended like a mountain.

But Yun Zhi also pointed him in the next direction—Myriad Phenomena Tower!

There, perhaps, lay the key fragments to piece together a complete blueprint for resistance!

(End of Chapter)