87: Lure and "Technical Exchange"

Wen Youyi's "open scheme" and "bait" strategy began to be implemented.

Lijian Valley instantly transformed from a dead silence into a scene of bustling activity. The War Hall Disciples shouted cadences as they sweated profusely on the designated Martial Arts Arena; although they still avoided using high-power Spells, that fist-to-flesh combat and high morale could be felt from far away. The Agricultural and Labor Hall Disciples reclaimed spiritual fields and channeled water for irrigation, working with great fervor. The Research Hall Disciples tinkered with some odd-looking but seemingly "reasonable" gadgets, such as improved hoes and rune devices that could automatically water plants.

The entire valley was filled with a vigorous spirit; anyone who saw it would think this was a group of diligent and hopeful Outer Sect Disciples.

And news that "the Mutual Aid Society is developing a new type of Spirit Gathering Formation that can improve the Cultivation efficiency of low-level Disciples, but has encountered a technical Bottleneck" was also vaguely spread through the External Liaison Hall. Like a small pebble thrown into a lake, it didn't cause much of a ripple, but those who needed to hear it had presumably already heard it.

A few days later, the effects began to show.

Envoy Mu Feng still lived in the Main Peak Guest Welcome Hall, but the frequency of his "strolls" in the Outer Sect had clearly increased, and the number of times he "accidentally" passed near Lijian Valley also grew. He no longer performed those penetrating scans, acting more like a true Observer, watching the activities within the valley from a distance.

On this day, Mu Feng even came to the entrance of Lijian Valley alone, without the company of Elder Xuan Shi.

The War Hall Disciples responsible for guard duty immediately spotted him. Following Wen Youyi's prior instructions, they did not block him but instead respectfully bowed and reported his arrival.

Upon receiving the news, Wen Youyi straightened his faded blue Daoist robe, put on that harmless and slightly weary smile, and came out personally to welcome him.

"Disciple Wen Youyi greets Envoy Mu Feng." He bowed, keeping his posture very low.

Mu Feng remained his gentle and indifferent self, giving a slight gesture of support: "Junior Martial Nephew Wen, there is no need for such formality. I was just wandering around with nothing to do. Seeing this valley so full of life, quite different from the rumors, I was curious and came to take a look. It seems Junior Martial Nephew Wen has quite some insights into this way of management."

"The Envoy overpraises me." Wen Youyi revealed an embarrassed smile. "It's just that my companions and I didn't want to waste our time, so we thought about clearing this wasteland to plant some spiritual grain to supplement our Cultivation expenses. It's all just clumsy hard work, not worth the Envoy's praise."

He led Mu Feng into the valley, introducing things along the way: "Over here are the War Hall Disciples practicing to strengthen their bodies; over there is the Agricultural and Labor Hall reclaiming spiritual fields; in that cave over there, several Senior Brothers from the Research Hall are tinkering with some gadgets to see if they can make the work a bit easier..."

He introduced everything openly and honestly, without the slightest concealment, laying bare the structure and daily activities of the Mutual Aid Society.

Mu Feng's gaze calmly swept over everything, nodding slightly, his emotions unreadable. When they approached the cave where the Research Hall was located, he asked seemingly casually: "I heard your society is researching a new type of Spirit Gathering Formation? I wonder how the progress is? I have also dabbled a bit in the Dao of Formations."

Here it comes! He really took the bait!

Wen Youyi was secretly delighted, but his face timely showed a trace of "embarrassment" and "shame": "The Envoy makes me blush. It's just some of my wild imaginings. I felt that traditional Spirit Gathering Formations weren't efficient enough, especially for Disciples with ordinary Aptitude like us, so I thought about making one that's a bit more... accessible. Unfortunately, my knowledge is shallow. I've tested it many times, but the results are not ideal. The gathered Spiritual Qi is thin and unstable, sometimes working and sometimes not. It's truly not fit for a refined setting."

As he spoke, he led Mu Feng into the Research Hall cave. The cave was quite cluttered, with various Materials, semi-finished Magical Artifacts, and scrap paper covered in runes piled everywhere. Senior Brother Zhang and several Research Hall Disciples were gathered around an incredibly crude-looking Formation base, arguing incessantly. A few low-quality jades were embedded in the base, and the lines were drawn crookedly. At this moment, it was emitting an extremely faint and flickering pale white glow.

This was exactly the weakened demonstration version of "ark 1.0" that Wen Youyi and Senior Brother Zhang had meticulously disguised—a "failure" that looked like it was trying hard to be good but was incredibly clumsy due to limited technology and resources.

Mu Feng's gaze landed on the crude Formation base. Deep in his eyes, a light like a data stream flashed once more as he sensed it carefully.

The energy reaction was extremely weak, the structure was coarse, the stability was poor, and the Spiritual Qi gathering efficiency was low... By any standard, this was a failed, insignificant experimental product.

But... Mu Feng keenly noticed that although the Spiritual Qi gathered by this Formation was weak, it was exceptionally "clean." It seemed... to be missing something. Was it missing that invisible mark stamped by the "spirit net" protocol? Moreover, the core principle of its operation seemed different from all the Spirit Gathering Formations he knew, carrying a kind of... unorthodox, self-contained, and clumsy vitality.

"The idea... is quite novel." Mu Feng spoke slowly, his tone peaceful. "Abandoning the traditional approach of Spirit Gathering Formations that draw from external spirit net nodes, and instead attempting to construct a miniature, independent Spiritual Qi cycle? Although the effect is poor, this courage to find a new path is worth encouraging."

His words sounded like praise, but Wen Youyi's heart skipped a beat. As expected, he couldn't hide it from this guy! He saw at a glance that the core of this Formation was an "independent cycle"!

Wen Youyi's face showed the shyness of "having his thoughts seen through" and the excitement of "meeting a kindred spirit": "The Envoy has a Wisdom Eye! That is indeed what I was thinking! It's just... alas, I know the 'what' but not the 'why.' I've made a fool of myself before the Envoy."

Mu Feng looked at Wen Youyi's "pure" and "distressed" expression, then at the crude Formation, and fell silent for a moment.

This Wen Youyi had many secrets, and this Formation was also strange. But on the surface, all his actions seemed to fit the image of an ordinary Outer Sect Disciple who was "striving upward, a bit clever, but struggling due to limited Aptitude and resources." His "abnormalities" seemed more like the result of some "accident" and "luck" rather than organized, intentional resistance.

Perhaps... he could observe a bit more? To see what this "Seed" could eventually grow into? Would he be assimilated in the end, or could he bring about some... unexpected "variables"?

Thinking of this, Mu Feng smiled slightly and flicked his finger, sending a soft white light into the crude Formation base.

Suddenly, the originally flickering pale white glow stabilized significantly. Although it was still weak, it no longer flickered in and out.

"A small trick with stabilizing runes, consider it a meeting gift," Mu Feng said calmly. "The path of Cultivation is long; it is better to keep your feet on the ground and not aim too high."

These words were both guidance and a warning.

Wen Youyi felt a sense of relief, knowing that he had temporarily passed this first test. He quickly bowed, his tone "grateful": "Thank you for the guidance, Envoy! I will certainly keep it in mind!"

Mu Feng nodded, said no more, and turned to float away.

Watching his disappearing back, the "gratitude" and "shyness" on Wen Youyi's face vanished instantly, replaced by a touch of solemnity.

"He saw through it, but he didn't expose us. Instead, he helped us 'stabilize' the Formation..." Wen Youyi muttered. "What exactly is he trying to do?"

Senior Brother Zhang came over, looking at the stabilized glow and clicking his tongue: "This guy's methods are truly high. With a casual flick, he solved several of our difficulties. Is he... encouraging us to keep going?"

"I'm afraid it's not that simple." Wen Youyi shook his head. "It's like he's... feeding us? To see what we grow into after eating this bit of 'bait'."

He felt as if he had become a lab rat in the other party's petri dish.

However, since the other party was willing to "feed" them, they might as well take it!

"Record the stabilizing runes 'bestowed' by the Envoy and study them well!" Wen Youyi instructed. "Also, our 'ark 1.0' can use the name of this 'improved Spirit Gathering Formation' to speed up the construction a bit."

The crisis seemed temporarily resolved.

But Wen Youyi knew that the "Observer's" gaze had never truly left.

And he, too, had to grow faster under the watch of that gaze.

(End of Chapter)