Resonance Experiment
Two days later, at the core energy chamber of the ruins.
"The buffer zone is complete." Yun Youzi, sweat beading on his forehead as he held the runic stone slab.
Lu Yuan nodded, walked to the center of the array, took out the "Source Seed" crystal with the most cracks, and carefully placed it into the groove.
At the entrance to the energy room, Shen Moxin, Lin Xiao, and the others stood holding their breath.
Lu Yuan closed his eyes, and his Soul Power surged from his fingertips, condensing into dozens of pale blue threads thinner than a hair, which he gently placed on the surface of the crystal.
Buzz--
The halo inside the crystal suddenly pulsated, like a sleeping heart being awakened. Milky white energy flowed into his body along the threads, and Lu Yuan's body trembled slightly. The illusory image of Blue Silver Grass appeared uncontrollably in his palm, the grass leaves unfurling, and the edges shimmering with a faint silver luster.
"Record it," he said with his eyes closed, "Energy pulsation, baseline value 1.7 hertz."
Shen Moxin quickly made a mark.
The runes on the stone slab in front of Yun Youzi shone brightly, and a dark blue force field rose, enveloping Lu Yuan and the crystal. On the inner wall of the force field, pale golden light paths began to appear—originating from the Source Seed " and extending outwards.
Most of the light path dissipates quickly.
But several lines were exceptionally bright, winding and turning, eventually leading deep into the eastern passage.
The direction perpendicular to the crack.
"The direction is clear." Yun Youzi's voice tightened. "Stay calm, we need to analyze—"
Lu Yuan didn't stop.
He stared at the paths of light, his heart pounding. Just a little more. He wondered if a stronger resonance would provide more specific coordinate information.
The will urged it on again.
Soul Power threads are output, breaking through the critical point.
The air in the energy chamber condenses.
The crystal trembled violently, and all the cracks burst forth with blinding light! The white light instantly engulfed the eerie blue force field, illuminating the entire room in a ghastly white light!
"Not good!" Yun Youzi roared, pressing his hands hard against the stone slab and pouring his Soul Power into it without reservation!
Lu Yuan was the first to be affected.
A violent and chaotic torrent of energy slammed into his body along the threads! The illusory Blue Silver Grass trembled violently, and its silvery-white luster instantly dimmed!
What's even more terrifying is the psychological impact.
A deafening boom echoed in my head, as if an invisible hand was grabbing my consciousness and pulling it outwards! My vision shattered, and countless fragmented images flashed wildly before my eyes—
In the endless void, dark gold chains as thick as mountains crisscrossed...
Deep within the chains, the outline of a massive stone gate slowly emerged. The gate was tightly shut, and a chaotic color, neither light nor darkness, emanated from its cracks...
The image flashed by in an instant.
Lu Yuan groaned, his face deathly pale, and gritted his teeth to sever the threads of Soul Power!
The force of the snapping thread sent him staggering backward, a sweet taste rising in his throat that he swallowed hard. Cold sweat beaded on his forehead, and his back was soaked through.
The bright light dissipated.
The crystal lay in the groove, its light much dimmer, but the surface cracks... had mostly healed. The entire crystal was more complete and whole, exuding a restrained yet dangerous aura.
Yun Youzi, panting heavily, leaned against the stone slab.
silence.
Lin Xiao clenched his fists, his vertical pupils fixed on Lu Yuan. Shen Moxin gripped the edge of the leather book, her knuckles turning white.
Lu Yuan wiped away his sweat, his fingers trembling slightly. He stared at the crystal, then looked towards the depths of the passage to the east.
"I saw chains," he said hoarsely, "And a stone door."
Yun Youzi suddenly looked up.
"And," Lu Yuan paused, a lingering unease in his eyes, "When the connection was severed... I felt something 'look' at me from deep within the rift."
It wasn't a fluctuation of Soul Power. It was a more subtle, yet more direct gaze. It flashed by, yet was so clear it sent chills down one's spine.
Yun Youzi remained silent for a long time.
"If that's the case," he began, each word heavy as a stone, "That 'door,' or what's behind it, might not be entirely 'inanimate.' It might have a minimum level of perception."
He looked at Lu Yuan, his expression more serious than ever before.
"We may have already attracted 'its' attention. Every step from now on must be taken with extreme caution."
Lu Yuan nodded.
Just as he was about to speak, hurried footsteps came from the entrance. The young Soul Master in charge of perimeter surveillance rushed in, his face pale.
"Teacher Shen! Large-scale Soul Power activity has been detected in the outer mountainous area! At least three teams are moving towards the depths of the Black Stone Mountain Range!"
Shen Moxin's expression changed. "Identity?"
"Too far to see faces clearly," the young Soul Master swallowed hard, "But one group is carrying the Cloud Mist Sect's cloud-patterned flag. The others are dressed like people from the Stone-Splitting Sect and Blood Saber Stronghold!"
The air in the energy room suddenly cooled down.
Internal threats remain unresolved, while external enemies have already arrived.