35: Chapter 35 The Initial Formation of the Energy Cycle

"System," he said in his heart, "this energy cycle is done, and Origin Star feels like it's running much more 'smoothly' on its own."

"But... it seems like just one line? Can the efficiency be increased further?"

[Correct analysis.]

[Currently, only one basic energy chain has been established. The energy flow path is single, the coverage is limited, and there is still huge room for optimization of the overall cycle efficiency.]

[Long-term ecological task-related sub-task updated.]

[Task Name: Optimize Energy Cycle Network.]

[Task Requirements: Establish at least three different paths, stable operating energy flow closed loops, and achieve initial network interlacing.]

[Task Reward: Feedback Efficiency increased to 5%, unlock subsequent Advanced ecological construction guidance.]

[Failure Penalty: None.]

[Hint: Upgraded Ecological Perception ability is the core to completing this task.]

[Host's current points balance: 427 points.]

"Three closed loops? Network interlacing?" Lin Muchen pondered, "Meaning I can't just rely on the volcanic ash path."

"Need to open a few more 'bus express lines' and make them allow transfers?"

[Appropriate metaphor.]

[Please begin planning, Host.]

Lin Muchen sank his consciousness back into his Dantian.

Upgraded Ecological Perception fully active, everything within a thousand meters (on the Origin Star scale) was under control.

He "watched" those Spiritual Qi light flows.

The red heat flow from the crater was still erupting, part of it carried away by Iron-toothed Ants and sent to the forest as fertilizer for Moonlight Grass.

The green life Spiritual Qi of the forest was slowly rising.

The blue water Spiritual Qi of the ocean rippled with the waves.

In the Stream, the newly released fish fry were swimming, stirring the water and bringing up traces of extremely faint, active water Spiritual Qi.

On the hillside, the Rock Sheep lambs were nibbling grass, their droppings falling into the soil, with weak earth Qi slowly seeping out.

"Three lines..." Lin Muchen's mind whirled, "volcanic ash to Moonlight Grass counts as one, that's already connected."

"Need to find two more."

His consciousness locked onto that small Stream.

The Stream wasn't wide, and there weren't many fish fry, but the water Spiritual Qi generated by stirring the water mostly dissipated and wasn't utilized.

"System, is Wind Chime Grass sensitive to the Spiritual Qi generated by 'living water'?" He remembered the resonance between Moonlight Grass and Wind Chime Grass before.

[Yes.]

[Wind Chime Grass likes breezes and flowing water vapor; its Natural Rhythm can weakly resonate with pure, active water Spiritual Qi, enhancing Spiritual Qi quality.]

"Got it." Lin Muchen had an idea, "Then let's make a 'living water-Wind Chime Grass resonance line'."

He concentrated his mind and began to "broadcast."

Target: The fish fry in the Stream.

"Brothers and sisters fish, don't just focus on swimming for fitness. Be more diligent, splash around more, liven up the water, especially towards the area with Wind Chime Grass."

Meanwhile, the target shifted to those clumps of Wind Chime Grass by the Stream.

"Brothers and sisters grass, perk up. When the water flow becomes lively later, absorb more of the 'living water Spiritual Qi' it brings. After absorbing..."

"Just like before, emit some comfortable 'Natural Rhythm'."

The intent was sent out.

The schools of fish fry in the Stream seemed to significantly speed up their swimming, tails splashing loudly, specifically surfing towards the direction of the Wind Chime Grass on the bank.

The water flow was stirred more vigorously, and traces of light blue water Spiritual Qi, clearer and 'livelier' than before, were carried to the bank.

The leaves of the Wind Chime Grass moved without wind, swaying gently, emitting 'emotions' of joy, and began to absorb those special living water Spiritual Qi.

A few seconds later, a trace of unique Spiritual Qi mixed with the agility of water and the fragrance of plants emerged, much purer than what it usually emitted.

[Detected the establishment of the second energy flow path!]

[Path: Active water body (stirred by Stream Fish Fry) → Special water Spiritual Qi → Absorber/Converter (Wind Chime Grass) → Spiritual Qi feedback (Natural Rhythm Spiritual Qi) → Integration into the environment (Forest/Stream side).]

[Energy utilization rate estimate: Increased from nearly zero to about 15%!]

"Second one done!" Lin Muchen's spirits lifted, "One more to go."

His gaze swept over those Rock Sheep on the hillside.

The Rock Sheep were nibbling on low shrubs and moss, droppings falling to the ground.

Those droppings contained undigested plant essence and the Rock Sheep's own weak earth-attribute essence.

After falling to the ground, they were being slowly decomposed by soil microorganisms, releasing extremely thin earth Qi.

But this process was too slow, and the earth Qi was too scattered.

"Need to process this 'organic fertilizer' a bit, speed up conversion, and guide the earth Qi out," Lin Muchen pondered.

He thought of the Earthworm.

"System, can Earthworms accelerate the decomposition of Rock Sheep droppings and 'turn up' the earth Qi inside more effectively?"

[Yes.]

[Earthworms consume organic matter (including droppings); their intestinal microorganisms and activity processes can significantly accelerate decomposition.]

[Releasing mineral elements and earth Qi to the shallow soil layers makes it easier for plant roots to absorb or for it to dissipate into the air.]

"That's the one!" Lin Muchen locked onto that hillside and the Earthworm colony in the soil.

"Earthworm buddies, time to work! See those sheep droppings on the hillside?"

"High-quality organic fertilizer, go feast! Feast more, move around more after eating, and 'turn up' the earth Qi for me!"

"Rock Sheep brothers, cooperate a bit. When pooping... uh, discharging organic matter, try to lean towards the areas with more Earthworm brothers."

Intent sent.

The Rock Sheep on the hillside seemed to pause, then their grazing path shifted slightly.

They leaned more towards areas with soft soil and more Earthworms to move and feed.

In the soil, those Earthworms seemed to have received a dinner bell, wriggling towards the fresh sheep droppings and starting to eat.

The decomposition process visibly accelerated.

Traces of pale yellow 'earth Qi,' much richer and more concentrated than before, seeped out from the soil turned by the Earthworms, slowly rising and mixing with the plant Spiritual Qi on the hillside.

[Detected the establishment of the third energy flow path!]

[Path: Primary consumer (Rock Sheep) → Organic matter (droppings) → Decomposer (Earthworm) → Accelerated conversion → earth Qi feedback → Nourishing soil/Integrating into mountain Spiritual Qi.]

[Energy utilization rate estimate: Increased from less than 5% to about 22%!]

"Three lines!" Lin Muchen said excitedly, "System, check quickly, is the network interlaced?"

His perception firmly locked onto the three energy flows.

The red purifying Spiritual Qi brought by volcanic ash permeated the lower forest air.

The blue-green Natural Rhythm Spiritual Qi emitted by the Wind Chime Grass by the Stream drifted among the trees.

The pale yellow earth Qi rising from the hillside slowly sank, merging into the soil, with a portion carried up by the breeze.

At first, the three airflows went their separate ways.

But soon, at the edge of the forest and the upstream area of the Stream near the hillside, the three Spiritual Qi flows of different colors and attributes inevitably touched and converged.

No conflict.

Under the microscopic view of Ecological Perception, Lin Muchen clearly 'saw' it.

The red purifying Spiritual Qi seemed to 'soothe' the slightly restless fire Qi, the blue Natural Rhythm Spiritual Qi made the airflow more stable, and the pale yellow earth Qi provided a certain 'base'.

The moment the three airflows touched, a wonderful harmony and complementarity occurred.

They didn't simply mix; they slightly interlaced, forming a more stable, heavier, and more balanced composite Spiritual Qi flow.

Then it slowly dispersed, nourishing a wider range of forest and land.

The entire Origin Star, with the volcano, Stream, and hillside as three energy nodes and the forest as the main convergence field.

Formed an extremely simple but indeed existing Elementary energy cycle network!

[Detected multiple energy flows converging!]

[Energy harmony phenomenon occurring!]

[Composite Spiritual Qi quality improved!]

[Energy cycle network stability significantly increased!]

[Judging...]

[Congratulations Host for completing the sub-task: "Optimize Energy Cycle Network"!]

[Rewards distributed:]

[Feedback Efficiency increased: 4.5% → 5.0%!]

[Unlocked information: Subsequent Advanced ecological construction will focus on "Energy Node Strengthening" and "Cycle Network Expansion."]

[Hint: The Origin Star world will seedling produces a strong resonance with the establishment of a stable energy network!]

Almost as the System prompt sounded, Lin Muchen's whole body shook.

An indescribable, extremely pure Spiritual Qi surged from the deepest part of his Dantian without warning!

This Spiritual Qi didn't come from the forest, the ocean, the volcano, or any known biological feedback.

It carried a primitive, all-encompassing, yet vibrant meaning, instantly merging into his four limbs and hundred bones.

His Meridians were gently washed, his spiritual power became solid at a visible speed, and every cell of his Physical Body sent out a joyful palpitation.

"This... this is?" Lin Muchen was shocked.

[Feedback from the Origin Star world will seedling.]

[A stable and efficient energy cycle network is the cornerstone for a planet to mature and life to flourish.]

[This action conforms to the deep inclination of the world will, so it provides a wisp of Origin Spiritual Qi.]

[As a... reward and encouragement.]

"The world will... gave me a bonus?" Lin Muchen felt the surging power in his body and was delighted, "This feeling is even better than getting a perfect attendance bonus!"

5% Feedback Efficiency!

Plus the baptism of this wisp of Origin Spiritual Qi.

He felt that currently, meditating for an hour could probably equal several days of bitter cultivation for others!

"System, with my current cultivation speed, what level is it in the Qinglan Sect Outer Sect?" he couldn't help but ask.

[Calculating...]

[Considering 5% Feedback Efficiency, the effect of Origin Spiritual Qi baptism, and the Host's existing Foundation.]

[Host's current effective cultivation speed is about eight to ten times that of an ordinary Outer Sect Disciple of the same stage (Qi Refinement Stage seventh level).]

[Warning: This data is only a theoretical estimate. Please continue to keep a low profile to avoid unnecessary attention.]

"Eight to ten times..." Lin Muchen licked his lips, "This isn't riding a rocket; this is riding a warp engine ship."

"Don't worry, I understand. Make a fortune in silence, develop steadily, and don't be reckless."

He exited internal vision and exhaled a long breath of turbid air.

That breath carried a sense of clear spirit.

The miniature world in his Dantian now not only had mountains, water, and forests, a volcano and an ocean, but also an energy network that could run on its own.

And this network was generating power for him, the 'power grid boss,' at a terrifying efficiency of 5%.

"It's stable."