A Plan Forged in Peril
Lu Yuan put down his charcoal pencil; intricate energy paths and rune nodes were drawn on the scrap paper. "I need to create a controlled 'gate' approach phenomenon."
Yun Youzi was stunned. "Are you crazy?"
"Simulation an energy burst, using the Source Seed and rune array to release it directionally into the upper abandoned hall." Lu Yuan pointed to a spot on the sketch, "To create the illusion that an ancient restriction has been triggered. The goal is singular: to create chaos and fear, disrupting the rhythm of those outside."
The old Soul Master stared at the diagram, his breathing becoming heavy. He didn't immediately refute it, his fingers tracing lines in the air, his lips moving. After a long while, he finally spoke, "Crazy. But... there's room for manipulation. The key is who's controlling it? This job, the slightest mistake, and you're the first to turn to ashes."
"Me and you," Lu Yuan said, "I'm familiar with the Source Seed, and you understand runes. I've calculated the success rate; it's around 30%."
Yun Youzi smiled bitterly. "You dare to gamble with only 30%?"
"Passively waiting to die, 100% risk." Lu Yuan's voice was calm. "30% is enough."
The debate continued into the early hours of the morning.
The charcoal pencil marks were revised again and again, and the energy model was scrapped and started over. Yun Youzi, with his seasoned experience, could always point out the oversights; Lu Yuan, with his rigorous logic, could often provide a better solution. Wen Yuan would occasionally chime in, adding some obscure knowledge about runes.
When the oil lamp was refilled for the third time, the draft was finally finalized.
Yun Youzi rubbed his sore eyes, his face brimming with barely suppressed excitement. "Forty percent. Perhaps we can reach forty percent."
"That's enough." Lu Yuan put away the draft.
The next morning, the core members gathered in the stone hall. Lu Yuan didn't hide anything and laid out the risks and harsh realities of the plan.
"The energy could spiral out of control, the ruins could collapse, and the manipulator could die." He glanced around at the crowd. "Or it could scare them away, buying them time. Or... it could trigger the disaster prematurely."
Lin Xiao was the first to grin. "Interesting, count me in."
Shen Moxin adjusted her glasses. "I need to participate in the theoretical verification part. The risks have been calculated, and it's worth it."
Mo Chen stared at his greasy hands, slowly clenching them. "Dry."
Su Yan didn't speak, her back ramrod straight.
Shi Jian's throat bobbed. "Mr. Lu, wherever you point, we'll attack."
Lu Qinghe looked at his son, his lips moving slightly. "Be careful."
Yun Youzi sighed. "A bunch of lunatics. Fine, I'll keep them company."
The plan has entered the execution phase. Time is like a tightly wound spring.
Shen Moxin checked the surrounding intelligence and drew the latest map of the power distribution. Mo Chen Wen Yuan buried themselves in inscribing rune arrays and laying out soul guidance circuits. Lin Xiao inventoried the combat supplies and determined the withdrawal route. Shi Jian led his men to reinforce the support and set up deceptive traces.
Lu Yuan and Yun Youzi were in the energy room. Three Source Seed Crystal were placed in the center of the base array. Lu Yuan constantly adjusted his Soul Power, sensing the subtle differences in each crystal, searching for that critical point. Yun Youzi calibrated the energy flow balance.
The work was tedious and dangerous. Frequent adjustments to his Soul Power led to mental exhaustion. Twice, the energy balance was nearly broken, and the crystal emitted a dangerous buzzing sound. It was only by Lu Yuan forcibly severing it and Yun Youzi suppressing it simultaneously that the leakage was prevented.
Two days passed quickly.
On the evening of the third day, Shen Moxin brought bad news. "On the western ridge, the Cloud Mist Sect members have reached the bottom of the cliff and are searching for the entrance. The search area in other directions is also shrinking."
Time is running out.
Inside the energy room, Lu Yuan slowly withdrew his hand. "Array debugging complete."
Yun Youzi wiped his face. "Energy flow Simulation passed, emergency cutoff circuit in place." He paused, "The illusion and residual traces at the burst point have also been set up."
The two looked at each other, their eyes filled with determination and a hint of undisguised unease.
"The timing of the operation," Lu Yuan looked at the water clock, "Is tomorrow at noon. The Soul Power of heaven and earth will be most active then, which can slightly conceal any traces."
Yun Youzi nodded. "Notify everyone. Do a final check, and get some rest—if you can still sleep."
late at night.
Most of the ruins were dark and silent, save for the faint footsteps of the patrolmen.
Lu Yuan stood alone in the energy room.
The three Source Seed Crystal lay quietly, emanating a restrained yet dangerous grayish-white luster. The soul guidance circuits extended out like Spiderweb, leading to the abandoned hall above that was about to become the "stage".
He ran his fingers across the surface of the crystal, feeling the surging, chaotic power within.
This operation must either scare away the wolves or break through the encirclement.
Either you play with fire and get burned, or you prematurely detonate your own destruction.
There is no third way.
Lu Yuan closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and suppressed all his distracting thoughts.
All that remained in his mind was the energy flow model accurate to the millisecond, the flashing timing of each rune node, and that one perilous opportunity to win that he had to seize.