The sect remained calm.
At least on the surface.
Disciples continued their daily training in the courtyards. Elders moved between halls as they always did. Nothing seemed different to most people.
But for those who were sensitive to spiritual energy—
Something had clearly changed.
Lin Xuan sat quietly inside the outer disciple courtyard.
His eyes were closed as he circulated spiritual energy through his meridians.
The flow felt… smoother.
Not stronger.
Just more stable.
Almost as if the surrounding spiritual energy had become more balanced.
After several minutes, he slowly opened his eyes.
"So it's already affecting the environment," he murmured quietly.
Nearby, several outer disciples were also cultivating.
One of them suddenly stopped.
"Did you feel that?"
Another frowned.
"Feel what?"
"The spiritual energy… it feels easier to circulate today."
A third disciple nodded.
"I thought it was just me."
Lin Xuan listened silently.
So the effect had already begun spreading.
Even ordinary disciples could sense the difference.
That meant the network beneath the mountains was already influencing the region.
Faster than expected.
Later that day, Lin Xuan was summoned to a small hall near the inner courtyard.
When he arrived, several familiar figures were already there.
Senior Qiao.
Instructor Han.
Xu Liang.
And Yan Rui.
The atmosphere inside the hall was serious.
Senior Qiao spoke first.
"Sit."
Lin Xuan obeyed without hesitation.
Instructor Han placed several sensing plates across the table.
Each one displayed a faint pattern of flowing lines.
Xu Liang leaned forward slightly.
"These readings were taken across the sect territory."
Lin Xuan studied the plates.
The patterns looked similar to the network structure he had sensed underground.
Instructor Han tapped one of the plates.
"The circulation density increased across the entire region."
Yan Rui added calmly,
"And not just here."
Lin Xuan looked up.
"What do you mean?"
Yan Rui answered simply.
"Other observation formations are reacting as well."
Senior Qiao folded his arms.
"That means nearby sects will notice soon."
Xu Liang nodded.
"They already might have."
Instructor Han looked at Lin Xuan carefully.
"Tell us something honestly."
Lin Xuan remained calm.
"What is it?"
Han asked the most important question.
"Can you still interact with the network?"
The hall became silent.
Everyone was watching him.
Lin Xuan thought for a moment.
Then answered truthfully.
"I can feel it."
Yan Rui leaned back slightly.
"And?"
"It's distant," Lin Xuan continued.
"But the connection is still there."
Instructor Han exhaled slowly.
"That confirms it."
Xu Liang looked serious.
"You are now linked to the system."
Senior Qiao finally spoke again.
"From this moment onward, this information remains restricted."
His gaze moved across the room.
"No one outside this hall will know the truth."
Yan Rui shrugged lightly.
"Good luck hiding it forever."
Senior Qiao ignored the comment.
"For now, we observe."
Lin Xuan remained silent.
But deep beneath the mountains—
The ancient network continued circulating.
Steadily.
Quietly.
And far beyond the sect territory—
Inside a distant mountain valley—
An old sensing formation suddenly lit up.
A cultivator watching the device narrowed his eyes.
"The regional energy flow just changed."
Another cultivator looked over.
"Cause?"
The first man answered slowly.
"…unknown."
But both of them understood one thing.
Something ancient had begun to move again.
And the entire region would soon feel its presence.