The sect remained unaware of the approaching investigation.
At least most of it did.
Disciples continued their routines as usual.
Morning training sessions filled the courtyards with the sound of wooden swords and circulating spiritual energy.
Meditation halls were occupied by cultivators trying to push their limits.
Nothing seemed unusual on the surface.
But beneath the calm—
The ancient network continued adjusting itself.
Lin Xuan had begun paying closer attention to every small change he felt during cultivation.
That night, he sat cross-legged in his courtyard once again.
The moon hung quietly above the mountain peaks.
A faint wind moved through the leaves.
He closed his eyes and slowly circulated spiritual energy through his meridians.
At first, everything felt normal.
Smooth.
Balanced.
But after several minutes—
The familiar sensation appeared again.
The network.
This time it felt clearer.
Not stronger, but more structured.
Like several currents moving beneath the earth and slowly aligning with one another.
Lin Xuan remained still.
Carefully observing the pattern.
"Another adjustment," he murmured quietly.
The direction was similar to before.
East.
But the change was smaller this time.
Almost like the system was stabilizing after the earlier reaction.
The next morning, Lin Xuan was summoned again.
The small hall had become their regular meeting place.
When he entered, Instructor Han was already examining the sensing plates.
Senior Qiao stood near the doorway.
Xu Liang and Yan Rui were present as well.
Han looked up immediately.
"You sensed something."
Lin Xuan nodded.
"A small shift last night."
Xu Liang leaned forward slightly.
"Direction?"
"East again."
Yan Rui sighed softly.
"So it's stabilizing."
Instructor Han adjusted one of the sensing plates.
Lines of light moved slowly across its surface.
The eastern mark on the map flickered faintly.
"Your observation matches our readings," he said.
Senior Qiao folded his arms.
"That node is not activating fully."
"No," Han replied.
"But it's responding to the main convergence point."
Xu Liang looked thoughtful.
"So the system is synchronizing its nodes."
Yan Rui nodded.
"That would make sense."
"Large formation networks usually require balance between multiple points."
Instructor Han tapped the map again.
"If that's true…"
He paused briefly.
"…then more nodes may begin reacting soon."
Senior Qiao spoke calmly.
"Which means we have limited time."
Xu Liang glanced at him.
"Time for what?"
Qiao answered simply.
"To understand the system before others find it."
Lin Xuan remained silent, but the words made sense.
The ancient network had already drawn attention.
If other sects discovered the nodes first, the situation could become far more complicated.
Later that afternoon, Lin Xuan returned to the outer sect training field.
Several disciples were discussing cultivation progress again.
"I broke through yesterday," one of them said excitedly.
"Seriously?"
"Yeah. My spiritual flow suddenly became stable during meditation."
Another disciple nodded.
"I've noticed that too."
"The energy around the mountains feels more balanced lately."
Lin Xuan listened quietly.
The changes were small, but they were spreading.
Even ordinary disciples were benefiting from the improved circulation.
But if the effect continued growing—
It would eventually attract even more attention.
Far away in the eastern mountains—
A group of cultivators moved silently through a narrow valley path.
The scouting team had already begun its journey.
Their leader walked at the front, his expression calm but focused.
Behind him, several disciples carried formation instruments used for tracking spiritual fluctuations.
One of them spoke quietly.
"The direction hasn't changed."
Another nodded.
"The energy flow is still moving west."
The leader slowed his steps slightly.
"How far are we now?"
The disciple checked the instrument.
"Still several days away."
The leader looked toward the distant mountains.
Hidden somewhere in that direction—
A system from the ancient era had begun moving again.
And whoever had activated it—
Would soon become the focus of many powerful forces across the region.