300: Purification Protocol and the Mystery of Starfall

Deacon Qian from Starfall Pavilion requesting an audience at such a critical moment, with words hinting at 'offering assistance,' caused alarm bells to ring among the high-ranking officials of Zhenbei City. Was this an act of preying on their misfortune, or was there an ulterior motive? However, the Spirit Web crisis was imminent, and no possibility could be ignored.

'Invite him in, quickly!' Lin Shanhe suppressed the doubts in his heart and replied in a deep voice.

Qian Wanguan strode into the main control chamber, still wearing his amiable, wealth-seeking expression, but his eyes grew notably grave as they swept over the flickering Spirit Web Formation Plate. He did not engage in small talk and went straight to the point: 'City Lord Lin, Fellow Daoists, I sensed abnormal fluctuations in your city's exquisite Formation, as if it were being eroded and interfered with by some highly sophisticated spiritual energy. Starfall Pavilion travels through many realms, and we know a thing or two about such situations. Perhaps I have some humble insights that could be of reference.'

'Please speak, Deacon Qian.' Peak Master Tianshu cupped his hands, his gaze sharp.

Qian Wanguan walked to the Formation Plate, carefully observing the flickering spiritual threads and the chaotic data streams. After a moment, he spoke slowly: 'This erosive energy is cold, sinister, and possesses strong parasitic and mimetic characteristics. It is not ordinary Devilish Qi; rather, it resembles... something evolved from an ancient forbidden technique. Its goal is clear: to target the core spiritual threads of the Formation, intending to paralyze communication and perception. Your city's Formation relies on the spiritual energy of the Spiritual Vein. While the Foundation is solid, if you cannot suppress this erosion in terms of the "quality" of spiritual energy, I fear it will be difficult to sustain.'

His words coincided with Elder Mo's analysis, even pointing out the possibility of an 'ancient forbidden technique.' His knowledge was indeed extraordinary.

'In Deacon Qian's opinion, how should we respond?' Lin Shanhe pressed.

Qian Wanguan stroked his short beard and pondered: 'There are two approaches. First, use brute force to break finesse: find a higher-grade purification-type Magic Treasure or energy to forcefully wash away and disperse it. Second, draw the firewood from under the cauldron: find the source of the interference and destroy it. Given the current situation, the former is perhaps more practical. Your city's Spiritual Vein energy is abundant. If you can instantly improve its "quality" or stimulate some latent characteristic, you might be able to force back the erosion temporarily and stabilize the situation.'

As he spoke, his gaze swept over the ground as if unintentionally, as if he could pierce through layers of obstacles to see the jade marrow heart underground. Lin Shanhe and the others felt a chill in their hearts; this Qian Wanguan had indeed seen through some clues.

'Improving the quality of spiritual energy is easier said than done.' Elder Jiang sighed. 'The Spiritual Vein energy is generated by heaven and earth and cannot be easily changed by human effort.'

Qian Wanguan smiled slightly: 'Ordinary Spiritual Veins are indeed extremely difficult. But this place in your city... seems to have some mysteries. When I entered the city just now, I felt that the spiritual energy here was abundant and orderly, far exceeding ordinary Spiritual Veins. It must have been nourished by some kind of heaven-and-earth spiritual object, right? If you can borrow the power of this spiritual object, there might be a glimmer of hope.'

The cat was out of the bag! He really had set his sights on the jade marrow heart!

The atmosphere in the secret chamber instantly became subtle and tense. Admitting it might expose Zhenbei City's greatest secret; denying it might mean missing an Opportunity to resolve the crisis, or even offending the deep-rooted Starfall Pavilion.

Lin Shanhe's thoughts raced, but he remained calm on the surface: 'To be honest with Deacon Qian, our city did indeed obtain the legacy of a Spiritual Vein object by chance, which is why we are able to establish ourselves here. However, this object is fundamental to the city, and its state is unstable. Forcing it to activate might risk damaging it.'

This was the truth, but also a test. Pointing out the importance and fragility of the jade marrow heart was both a form of protection and a way to see how the other party would respond.

A flash of understanding crossed Qian Wanguan's eyes, and his smile grew wider: 'City Lord Lin, rest assured. I am not coveting your city's treasure. In Starfall Pavilion, we conduct business based on mutual benefit and win-win outcomes. I happen to have a "Spirit Rhyme Purification Protocol" obtained from an ancient ruin. It is not a Cultivation Technique, but a method for constructing rune arrays to guide and harmonize spiritual energy, allowing it to briefly erupt with stronger purification characteristics. It might help your city's spiritual object release its power safely and resolve this crisis.'

As he spoke, he took out a cyan Jade Slip that was neither gold nor jade, inscribed with ancient and profound runes. 'This protocol can be used three times. As a testament to the friendship between our Pavilion and your city, I am willing to gift it to you for free. I only hope that in the future, if your city has specialties like warm sun jade marrow spiritual milk, you will prioritize trading with Starfall Pavilion.'

The conditions were laid out. He didn't want void-emptiness stones, he didn't want core technology, only a future trade priority. It seemed generous, but his foresight was long-term. He had determined that Zhenbei City had huge potential and was investing early.

Lin Shanhe exchanged quick glances with Peak Master Tianshu, Elder Jiang, and the others. This 'Spirit Rhyme Purification Protocol' came at the perfect time; they could not refuse. Moreover, Qian Wanguan's move, while calculated, showed no malice for the time being.

'In that case, on behalf of all of Zhenbei City, I thank Deacon Qian for your generosity!' Lin Shanhe solemnly took the Jade Slip. 'In the future, our city's specialties will definitely be prioritized for negotiation with Starfall Pavilion!'

'Good! City Lord Lin is a straightforward person!' Qian Wanguan clapped his hands and laughed. 'There is no time to lose. Please have your city's Formation experts study this method quickly. I will await the good news here.'

Elder Mo immediately took the Jade Slip, and his Divine Sense sank into it. A moment later, a look of pleasant surprise erupted in his eyes: 'Wonderful! Absolutely wonderful! This protocol does not forcefully boost spiritual energy but constructs a special resonance field to guide the spiritual energy to self-purify and surge, thereby temporarily possessing stronger permeability and purification power! It puts minimal burden on the jade marrow heart and happens to restrain the parasitic characteristics of that erosive energy!'

'Can it be deployed quickly?' Lin Shanhe asked urgently.

'Yes! We have all the necessary Materials! We only need to set up micro-arrays at the core nodes of the Spirit Web and the entrance of the Jade Marrow Heart Well simultaneously! Half an hour will suffice!'

'Act immediately!'

The entire Zhenbei City began to operate efficiently. Elder Mo led the elites of the Formation Hall to the core nodes and the Jade Marrow Heart Well entrance, carefully engraving runes and setting up arrays according to the records in the Jade Slip. Shi Lei fully communicated with the jade marrow heart, soothing its anxiety caused by external interference and guiding it to cooperate with the upcoming energy surge.

Qian Wanguan was arranged to rest in a quiet room, but everyone knew he was surely watching everything closely.

Half an hour later, both micro-arrays were completed.

'Activate!' Following Elder Mo's order, the rune arrays at the core nodes and the Jade Marrow Heart Well entrance lit up with a soft white light simultaneously. A peculiar resonance wave was generated between the two.

Below the well, the jade marrow heart seemed to feel the guidance of this resonance. Its spiritual energy, previously turbulent due to anger and discomfort, began to vibrate and purify itself with a mysterious rhythm! Within the milky white spiritual light, those wisps of silver space ripples became increasingly obvious, and the nature of the entire spiritual energy became more condensed and penetrating!

Hum—!

A torrent of spiritual energy, far purer and more majestic than usual and carrying a strong sense of purification, was guided into the main spiritual threads of the Spirit Web!

Like sweet rain falling on scorched earth, like the bright sun shining through the fog!

On the main control Formation Plate, the spiritual threads that were originally dim, flickering, and entangled by the gray erosive energy suddenly lit up with brilliant silver-white light! Wherever it passed, those strange, cold erosive energies, like snow meeting the sun, made faint but harsh 'hissing' sounds and quickly melted and retreated!

The signal indicator lights for the interrupted nodes No. 3 and No. 7 in the west tenaciously lit up again! Although weak, they stabilized. The fluctuations of the entire Spirit Web calmed down at a speed visible to the naked eye, and stability was rapidly restored!

'Success! The erosion has been forced back!' The Disciples of the Formation Hall cheered.

Elder Mo let out a long sigh and wiped the sweat from his forehead: 'The protocol is highly effective! But this is a stopgap measure. The source of the erosion has not been eliminated and may return.'

Lin Shanhe nodded, but a heavy stone in his heart was lifted. At least their eyes and ears were preserved.

He personally went to thank Qian Wanguan. Upon hearing the success, Qian Wanguan's smile grew even wider, repeatedly saying it was 'a mere trifle, just doing my duty,' keeping his posture extremely low.

However, before taking his leave, Qian Wanguan seemed to mention casually: 'Your city's spiritual object is indeed wondrous. Its spiritual energy is pure and abundant, and it even carries a hint of a rare ethereal quality, as if it has been nourished by some kind of space-related wonder? Haha, I am being too talkative, City Lord Lin, please do not mind.'

After speaking, he left with a chuckle.

Lin Shanhe stood where he was, the smile on his face gradually fading, and his gaze became incomparably deep.

Qian Wanguan's last sentence was definitely not unintentional! He not only saw the existence of the jade marrow heart, but even vaguely pointed out the void-emptiness stone! Starfall Pavilion's insight far exceeded their estimates. This 'generous' assistance was a show of goodwill, an investment, and even more so, a calm probe and deterrent.

The secrets of Zhenbei City were being revealed layer by layer in front of such a behemoth.

The Spirit Web crisis was temporarily resolved, but the deeper scrutiny from Starfall Pavilion had just begun. And in the depths of the western Demonic Land, what kind of terrifying existence could drive such strange erosive energy?

Zhenbei City's path to entrepreneurship and wealth, after repelling a wave of open attacks, had to start dealing with more and more dangerous hidden arrows. Whether the evolution of the jade marrow heart was a blessing or a curse was becoming increasingly unpredictable.