A Ya suddenly pulled out a crystal core fragment from her pouch. " Liya said that crystal core fragments can 'attract' energy. We can place the fragment on the darkened Echo Stone and connect them with Symbiotic Fiber, like building a 'temporary channel' for the energy!" But the elder shook his head. "No, the turbulent energy is too agitated; directly attracting it will shatter the Echo Stone. We need to use 'sound energy' to 'calm' the energy first—our tribe's Echo Ritual can soften energy through specific sounds."
The group immediately devised a plan: A Yin and the tribespeople were responsible for holding the Echo Ritual, striking the Main Echo Stone with Echo Staff to produce a low-frequency "hum" to soothe the turbulent energy; A Shi, based on the animal skin scroll and on-site observations, marked the three key nodes of the blockage on the diagram and guided everyone in placing the crystal core fragments; A Ya used Symbiotic Fiber and tender leaves from the Lightleaf Tree to weave a " Resonance Band " that could conduct sound energy and crystal energy, connecting the Main Echo Stone to the Echo Stone at each node; A Mu used the power of ice and fire to regulate the energy intensity, preventing the energy released by the crystal core fragments from becoming too strong.
As the ceremony began, the Main Echo Stone, struck by the Echo Staff, emitted a sound like the low frequencies of the deep sea. The sound waves spread along the energy patterns on the ground—the previously agitated energy orbs gradually softened, and the rotating energy vortex slowed down. A Ya quickly tied the Resonance Band to the Main Echo Stone, pulling the other end to the Echo Stone next to the first blocked node. A Mu carefully placed the Star Core Fragments on the Echo Stone. Upon contact with the sound energy, the Star Core Fragments immediately emitted a pale blue light, flowing along the Resonance Band the Main Echo Stone. The energy patterns at the node slowly lit up.
"Works!" A Shi quickly marked on the diagram, "The first node is open, energy is flowing to the second node!" But just then, the energy at the second node suddenly became restless again— the Lightleaf Tree there were too dense, their branches and leaves blocking the energy patterns. The Icefield Wolf suddenly darted over and gently pried open the thickest branch with its claws. As the branch fell, it revealed the energy patterns hidden underneath. A Yin seized the opportunity to place the Forest Heart Crystal Fragments on the Echo Stone, Resonance Band instantly lit up with green light, allowing the energy to pass through smoothly.
The third node was the most difficult, with the largest energy vortex, almost overwhelming even the sonic energy of the Echo Ritual. A Mu took a deep breath, transforming his ice and fire power into two threads of light, one cold and one hot, which he gently wrapped around the Resonance Band. The flame thread made the crystal energy more active, while the icy mist thread stabilized the sonic energy. The combination of these two forces created a small "energy funnel" at the center of the vortex, drawing the turbulent energy into the Resonance Band little by little. A Ya quickly placed the Molten Fire Crystal Fragments on the Echo Stone. The red light of the Molten Fire Crystal Fragments intertwined with the sonic energy and the ice and fire power, and the energy patterns of the third node finally lit up.
When all three nodes were cleared, the Main Echo Stone suddenly burst forth with a dazzling white light, which spread along all the energy patterns, covering the entire valley. The overgrown Lightleaf Tree slowly returned to their normal size, revealing the once-open valley passages between their branches and leaves; the chirping Singing Insect resumed their clear songs, their voices intertwining with the hum of the Echo Stone to create a harmonious melody; and all the energy patterns on the ground lit up with a pale gold, like a glowing net, transmitting gentle energy to every part of the valley.
The tribespeople cheered and surrounded him. The elder grasped A Mu's hand. "Thank you! The Main Echo Stone has finally returned to normal!" A Ya took out her paintbrush and quickly sketched the scene—glowing energy patterns, the tribespeople striking the Echo Stone, and the chirping Singing Insect. She also added a note next to the drawing, "Energy hub of Resonance Valley, the resonance frequency of the crystal nucleus needs to be monitored regularly." A Shi handed the completed energy flow diagram to the elder. "The node locations are marked on this; we can check it periodically from now on."
Just as everyone was about to leave, the Main Echo Stone suddenly emitted a new light—the light condensed into a map on the stone's surface. In the center of the map was a glowing dot, surrounded by symbols representing all the previously activated crystal cores. Below was a line of ancient patterns. A Yin translated, "This is the location of the ' Mother Crystal Core,' in the ' Permafrost Icefield ' of the Far North! The elders said that the Mother Crystal Core can stabilize the resonance of all the Child Crystal Core, preventing energy from flowing erratically."
Loran gazed at the map thoughtfully, "So the previous crystal cores were all Child Crystal Core; the Mother Crystal Core is the root of the continent's energy." A Mu gripped his sword sheath tightly, its silver light echoing the light of the Main Echo Stone, "Then our next step is to go to the Permafrost Icefield to find the Mother Crystal Core!"
On their return journey, the Icefield Wolf carried a small fragment of the Echo Stone in its mouth. The stone gleamed with a pale golden light, like a souvenir left in the valley. The laughter of the boys echoed through the valley, mingling with the songs of Singing Insect and the buzzing of the Echo Stone, creating a particularly melodious sound.
As night deepened, A Mu placed the Valley Log into the "Guardian Bookshelf"—the title page of which depicted an energy flow diagram of the Resonance Valley, with a small fragment of Echo Stone attached beside it. The sixteen logs on the shelf, ranging from the protection of a single creature to the repair of an energy system, recorded not only the footprints of the young people but also their exploration of the deep-seated laws governing the vitality of the continent. Moonlight shone through the gaps in the tent onto the logs, reflecting off the crystal core fragments and Resonance Band beside the bookshelf, as if telling a story: protection is not about repeated remedies, but about understanding the interconnected nature of all things, allowing every energy and every life form to thrive in balance.
The story of " The Qilin of Falling Maple " continues to grow amidst the sound energy of the valley, the light of the hub, and the laughter of the young boy. There are no thrilling battles, only energy diagrams drawn with the tip of a pen, Resonance Band woven by hands, and the collaborative sound energy transmitted beside the stone house—these ordinary acts of protection, like the Echo Stone Resonance Valley, are quiet yet powerful, slowly converging into a long river connecting the continent and balancing life, flowing gently towards the Permafrost Icefield of the Far North and its more core ecological mission.