The entire chamber glowed.
Every formation line connected to the convergence circle had shifted direction.
All of them pointed toward Lin Xuan.
Instructor Han's sensing plate trembled in his hand.
"This… this is a recognition sequence."
Xu Liang immediately stepped closer to Lin Xuan.
"Meaning?"
Instructor Han kept staring at the formation.
"The core detected a compatible signature."
Yan Rui whistled quietly.
"That's faster than I expected."
Senior Qiao's voice was calm, but sharp.
"Can it be stopped?"
Instructor Han shook his head.
"Not from here."
The convergence circle pulsed once.
A deep vibration rolled through the stone chamber.
Dust fell from the ceiling.
The glowing formation lines began circulating energy more rapidly.
Not outward.
Inward.
Toward the center.
Lin Xuan felt the fragment react violently.
A surge of resonance passed through his dantian.
He instinctively took a step back.
But the pull did not weaken.
Xu Liang noticed immediately.
"It's drawing your qi."
Lin Xuan nodded.
"Yes."
Instructor Han spoke quickly.
"The system is trying to complete its calibration."
Yan Rui looked amused and concerned at the same time.
"Translation: it wants the missing piece."
Senior Qiao stepped closer to the convergence circle.
"How close must he be?"
Instructor Han studied the formation pattern.
"Within the inner ring."
Xu Liang frowned.
"That's dangerous."
Yan Rui added casually,
"Probably."
Senior Qiao turned toward Lin Xuan.
"Do you feel any hostility from the system?"
Lin Xuan focused on the fragment again.
The pulse was strong.
But not violent.
Not aggressive.
Just… demanding.
"No."
Instructor Han nodded.
"That supports the calibration theory."
Yan Rui shrugged.
"Ancient systems usually prefer completing their functions."
Before anyone could decide what to do—
The convergence circle pulsed again.
This time stronger.
Several inner formation lines suddenly lit up brighter than the others.
Instructor Han's eyes widened.
"That's a core gate!"
Xu Liang looked down.
"What does that mean?"
Han answered immediately.
"It's opening a direct channel."
Yan Rui finally stood up straight.
"Well."
Senior Qiao's voice turned firm.
"Lin Xuan."
Lin Xuan looked at him.
"You step into the inner ring."
Xu Liang looked surprised.
"You're sure?"
Senior Qiao nodded.
"If the system completes calibration, we gain control information."
Instructor Han added,
"And possibly the entire network structure."
Yan Rui smirked slightly.
"Or the system absorbs him."
Xu Liang shot him a sharp look.
"Not helping."
Yan Rui raised his hands.
"Just being realistic."
Lin Xuan stepped forward slowly.
The fragment pulsed in rhythm with the glowing formation circle.
Each step made the light brighter.
Stronger.
The air in the chamber felt dense with spiritual energy now.
When he reached the edge of the inner ring—
The formation reacted immediately.
All the lines around the circle flashed once.
Instructor Han's sensing plate almost shattered.
"The calibration sequence started!"
Lin Xuan stepped inside the ring.
The moment his foot touched the inner formation—
The entire convergence structure erupted with light.
A massive pillar of spiritual energy shot upward from the center of the circle.
Yan Rui muttered softly,
"…That's new."
Xu Liang shielded his eyes.
"Lin Xuan!"
Lin Xuan remained standing in the center of the inner ring.
The fragment inside him vibrated violently.
But something else happened.
For the first time—
The system responded back with clarity.
Information.
Patterns.
Ancient formation logic flowing through the resonance.
Instructor Han stared in disbelief.
"He's connected to the core."
Senior Qiao's eyes hardened.
"Can he control it?"
Yan Rui watched carefully.
"Maybe."
The pillar of energy continued rising through the chamber ceiling.
And far beyond the forest above—
Across the entire ancient network—
Every relay, junction, and formation channel suddenly activated.
Because the convergence point had finally completed its second phase.
And Lin Xuan had become part of the system.