Eric supported Lin Ye as the Power of the Ultrareal surged through his hand, forming a barrier.
"Withdraw your consciousness core," he said softly. "At this rate, you'll dissipate."
Lin Ye shook his head, his voice weak but resolute. "Not yet."
He could sense that amid the chaos just now, the Hyperconscious Network had undergone a subtle change.
Those participants who had initially hesitated were beginning to shed their doubts after seeing others voluntarily protect him.
Trust was taking shape.
"Everyone, listen." Lin Ye's consciousness waves spread throughout the Neutral Domain. "I understand your fear."
"Opening your consciousness means exposing your weaknesses. It means placing yourselves in danger."
"But it doesn't have to be that way."
He raised a hand, and the structure of the Hyperconscious Network began to reorganize.
The previously uniform connections began to differentiate, forming distinct layers.
"Look," Lin Ye said. "This is the Layered Openness Mechanism."
"The first layer: basic resonance. You can sense the existence of others, but you cannot read any specific information."
"The second layer: emotional synchronization. You can experience others' joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness, but your thoughts remain independent."
"The third layer: knowledge sharing. You can access memories and experiences others are willing to share."
"The fourth layer: conceptual interconnection. You can understand how others perceive the world."
"The fifth layer: complete fusion. There is no distinction between you and me; consciousness resonates completely."
His voice turned solemn. "Everyone can freely choose which layer to open to. There is no coercion, no pressure."
"You can open only the first layer, enjoying the network's conveniences while retaining complete privacy."
"Or you can open the fifth layer and form the deepest connection with like-minded people."
"This is the true form of Superconsciousness—not unity, but harmony."
As his words fell, the entire network began