Eric supported Lin Ye as Hyper-True Force surged through his hands, 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 Superconsciousness Network had undergone a subtle change.
Those participants who had initially hesitated were beginning to let go of their doubts after seeing others take the initiative to protect him.
Trust was taking root.
"Everyone, listen." Lin Ye's mental 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 Superconsciousness Network began to reorganize.
The formerly uniform connections started 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' joys, anger, sorrow, and happiness, but your thoughts remain independent."
"The third layer: knowledge sharing. You can access memories and experiences that 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 how many layers to open. There is no coercion, no pressure."
"You can open only the first layer, enjoying the convenience of the network while retaining complete privacy."
"Or you can open all the way to the fifth layer and forge the deepest connection with like-minded people."
"This is the true form of superconsciousness—not unity, but