The group moved quickly through the forest.
No one spoke for a long time.
The night air was cool, and the mountains had already fallen into darkness. Only the faint glow of distant stars illuminated the path.
But the silence was not peaceful.
Everyone was thinking about the same thing.
The network had awakened.
And that would not remain hidden for long.
Instructor Han stopped briefly beside a large rock and placed one of his sensing plates on the ground.
The device lit up immediately.
The lines of light on its surface formed a complex pattern.
Denser than before.
Xu Liang looked down.
"It's already spreading."
Instructor Han nodded slowly.
"Yes."
Yan Rui leaned slightly closer to the plate.
"The circulation speed increased again."
Senior Qiao's expression grew more serious.
"That fast?"
Instructor Han adjusted the plate and studied the readings carefully.
"The core we activated is pushing energy through the outer channels."
Lin Xuan could feel it too.
Not clearly.
But faintly.
Like a current moving beneath the earth.
Still distant, but definitely present.
They continued moving through the forest.
After another hour, the mountains began to descend into a lower valley.
The terrain became easier to travel.
Xu Liang finally spoke again.
"If the spiritual density rises across the region, the sect will notice."
Yan Rui nodded.
"Not just our sect."
Instructor Han added quietly,
"Nearby sects as well."
Senior Qiao said nothing.
But his gaze remained fixed ahead.
Lin Xuan walked quietly behind them.
The fragment inside him had calmed.
The violent pulses from earlier were gone.
But the connection remained.
Stable.
Almost like the system had accepted him.
Xu Liang glanced back briefly.
"You're still sensing it."
Lin Xuan answered honestly.
"Yes."
"How far?"
Lin Xuan paused for a moment.
Then said,
"Hard to tell."
"But it's there."
Instructor Han exhaled slowly.
"That means the system connection remains active."
Yan Rui muttered,
"That could become a problem."
By the time the first light of dawn appeared, the familiar outline of the sect mountain finally came into view.
Tall cliffs surrounded the valley.
Ancient stone paths climbed along the slopes.
The outer sect gates stood quietly beneath the rising sunlight.
Xu Liang relaxed slightly.
"We're back."
Senior Qiao nodded.
"For now."
Several outer disciples guarding the gate immediately straightened when they saw the group approaching.
"Senior Qiao."
They bowed respectfully.
Senior Qiao acknowledged them with a slight nod and continued walking.
No explanations.
No delays.
Instructor Han carried the sensing plates carefully as they entered the sect grounds.
Yan Rui looked around the valley.
Everything seemed normal.
Disciples training.
Elders walking between halls.
Nothing unusual.
Yet.
But Lin Xuan noticed something else.
The spiritual energy in the air felt slightly different.
Not stronger.
Just… smoother.
Like the flow had become more balanced.
Instructor Han noticed it too.
"You feel it."
Lin Xuan nodded.
"Yes."
Han spoke quietly.
"The network is already affecting the surrounding region."
Yan Rui sighed.
"That was fast."
Senior Qiao finally stopped walking when they reached the central courtyard.
He turned toward the group.
"This matter does not leave this room."
His voice carried absolute authority.
"Until the elders decide what to do."
Xu Liang nodded immediately.
"Understood."
Instructor Han agreed.
Yan Rui simply shrugged.
Lin Xuan remained silent.
But deep beneath the mountains surrounding the sect—
The ancient network continued circulating.
Quietly.
Steadily.
And far beyond the sect's territory—
Several hidden sensing formations across the region had already begun reacting.
Something ancient had awakened.
And it would not remain secret for long.