Morning came without incident.
No attacks.
No movement around the perimeter.
But the atmosphere within the group had changed.
Now there were seven people instead of six.
The masked cultivator from Hollow Vein walked near the rear of the formation, keeping a measured distance. Not close enough to be trusted, not far enough to disappear.
Senior Qiao did not try to question him further.
Information would come when it became necessary.
They moved east again.
The forest gradually grew denser, the ground uneven with exposed roots and old stone formations half-buried beneath layers of soil.
Instructor Han slowed.
"The spiritual flow is changing."
Lin Xuan felt it too.
The fragment inside his dantian vibrated slightly stronger with every step forward.
Not violently.
Just clearer.
Like approaching a signal source.
Xu Liang noticed the subtle shift in Lin Xuan's breathing.
"You're sensing the direction again."
Lin Xuan nodded once.
"It's closer."
The masked cultivator glanced briefly at him but said nothing.
After another half hour, they reached a narrow ravine.
Not deep.
But long.
A crack in the earth stretching across the forest floor like a scar.
Spiritual energy gathered unevenly above it.
Instructor Han activated a detection plate.
Lines of pale light spread across the ground.
Then the structure appeared.
This one was different.
Not broken.
Not removed.
But distorted.
The underground formation lines twisted around a central node like warped roots.
Senior Qiao frowned slightly.
"This is not natural damage."
The masked cultivator spoke calmly.
"It was triggered once already."
Instructor Han's eyes narrowed.
"Triggered?"
"A partial activation," the masked man replied. "Someone attempted to access the junction and failed."
Lin Xuan stepped closer to the edge of the ravine.
The fragment within him reacted immediately.
Stronger than any node before.
This was not just another point in the network.
This was a junction.
Several underground channels converged here.
But one channel had been forced open incorrectly.
That was the distortion.
Xu Liang studied the terrain carefully.
"If someone triggered this improperly… why didn't the formation collapse?"
Instructor Han answered.
"Because the core mechanism is still intact."
He pointed toward the center of the ravine.
Half-buried in stone was a circular plate — ancient, dark metal etched with thin geometric lines.
Most of the lines were dull.
But one faint path still glowed weakly.
Lin Xuan felt the shard align toward it.
The masked cultivator watched him closely now.
"You feel the active channel."
Not a question.
Lin Xuan remained silent.
Senior Qiao crossed his arms.
"Can it be stabilized?"
Instructor Han hesitated.
"Possibly. But someone must interact with the central plate."
Xu Liang immediately looked at the masked man.
"You triggered it before?"
"No."
"Then who did?"
The masked cultivator gave a small shake of his head.
"We arrived after the disturbance."
That meant:
A third party.
Someone else had already reached this junction before both groups.
The realization settled heavily over the team.
Senior Qiao exhaled slowly.
"Then we fix it before they return."
Instructor Han began preparing stabilizing markers around the ravine.
Four plates.
Then six.
Lin Xuan stepped closer to the metal formation plate.
The shard inside him vibrated again.
Clear.
Precise.
Almost like a key recognizing the correct slot.
He did not touch the plate.
Not yet.
But he understood something important.
Whoever had triggered the junction before—
Did not understand how the system worked.
Lin Xuan might.
And that made him the most dangerous person standing here.
Even if no one had said it yet.