Chapter 356: Defense Rune

Lin Xuan stood at the center of the Core Array of the ancient Taixu Temple, surrounded by experts gathered from various major sects. Xuan Qingzi led the Taixu Temple disciples in positioning themselves around the perimeter of the array, injecting spiritual power according to Lin Xuan's instructions to reinforce the energy barriers of the Fangyu Jiedian.

"Everyone, please inject your spiritual power in sequence according to the Five Elements generation cycle." Lin Xuan's expression was grave as he formed hand seals, guiding the collective power into the array. "Mind the rhythm; do not be impatient. We require stability, not intensity."

The Qingbai Jushe circled in the air, overlooking the entire layout of the array. Its keen sensory abilities allowed it to precisely pinpoint energy leakage points and then guide the Practitioners to repair them.

"Fluctuations appearing in the southeast corner; Wood Department spiritual power reinforcement required," the Qingbai Jushe reminded.

Several Practitioners skilled in Wood Department techniques immediately adjusted their positions, strengthening the defense in that area. Lin Xuan could feel the array gradually stabilizing under everyone's efforts, but this stability was like thin ice, liable to shatter at any moment.

"With our current power, we can maintain this for ten days at most," Xuan Qingzi said softly to Lin Xuan, his eyes filled with both worry and resolve. "However, I have already sent people to contact other Daoist temples and the Buddha Sect; we should be able to buy more time."

Lin Xuan nodded in thanks, his gaze sweeping across the entire array. Suddenly, his attention was drawn to a faint glow at the northwest corner of the array. The Rune there seemed slightly different from the other parts, flickering with an extremely subtle pulsation.

"There is something abnormal over there," Lin Xuan whispered to the Qingbai Jushe, then walked toward that direction.

As he approached, the sense of abnormality became more pronounced. The Rune in the northwest corner was more ancient than the others, its lines more intricate, as if carved by different hands. Lin Xuan observed closely and discovered that the connection point of this Rune to the entire array was very ingenious, almost impossible to detect.

"This is not an ordinary Rune," Lin Xuan muttered to himself, cautiously reaching out to touch the Rune. There was no reaction.

The Qingbai Jushe swam to Lin Xuan's side, its golden pupils fixed on the Rune: "Try your Qi Luck Power."

Lin Xuan pondered for a moment, then nodded. He mobilized the unique Qi Luck Power within his body and gently injected it into the Rune. In an instant, the Rune lit up with a strange glow, gold and cyan interweaving to form an unprecedented energy fluctuation. The light expanded, condensing in the air into a line of ancient text: "Defense is not the end; collapse begins a new journey."

"This is... a message left by the Guardian?" Lin Xuan looked at the text floating in the air in surprise.

The Qingbai Jushe swam around the text, sensing the energy contained within: "This message is connected to the deep structure of the array; it must have been left by the Guardian specifically for someone."

Lin Xuan immediately summoned Xuan Qingzi and the others to study this mysterious message together. The Practitioners injected spiritual power of various attributes, attempting to activate more information, but the Rune only repeatedly displayed the same text.

"'Defense is not the end; collapse begins a new journey'..." Xuan Qingzi stroked his long beard, pondering, "This seems to imply that the collapse of the defense network is not the end of the disaster, but the beginning of something new."

Lin Xuan's brows were tightly locked: "Was the purpose of the Guardian establishing the defense network not to block the invasion from beyond the heavens?"

The Qingbai Jushe circled the Rune, a thoughtful light flickering in its golden pupils: "I feel that the energy pattern in this Rune has some kind of resonance with the structure of the entire defense network. Perhaps the defense network is not just a barrier; it has a deeper function."

"If that is the case..." Lin Xuan said thoughtfully, "then our understanding all along may have been biased."

Just as everyone was discussing, a disciple ran over in a hurry: "Senior Lin, our detection array has captured a powerful fluctuation of energy from beyond the heavens, approaching from the east!"

"Direction and intensity?" Lin Xuan asked immediately.

"Eastern Asia, intensity... even stronger than what we sensed on Saide last time!" the disciple's voice trembled, "It could be... the second envoy from beyond the heavens has descended!"

Lin Xuan's heart sank, and he made a quick decision: "Immediately notify Li Yan and Ling Bo, and tell them the situation has changed. At the same time, everyone reinforce the Defense Array and prepare for battle!"

The Practitioners immediately took action, and the energy fluctuations of the array increased sharply. Lin Xuan looked at the mysterious message again, his mind filled with thoughts.

Xuan Qingzi walked to Lin Xuan's side and said softly: "Little Friend Lin, I have been thinking about that message and have an idea I would like to share with you."

Lin Xuan turned: "Please speak."

"What if the collapse of the defense network is inevitable, or even part of the plan?" Xuan Qingzi's eyes were exceptionally sharp. "With the Guardian's wisdom, it is impossible that they did not foresee that the defense network would eventually collapse one day. Perhaps the collapse itself is part of the plan."

Lin Xuan was shocked by this thought: "Are you saying the Guardian deliberately designed this collapse process?"

Xuan Qingzi nodded: "Just like bamboo rising segment by segment, the formation of each segment requires the support of the previous one before it can break through and grow. Perhaps the collapse of the defense network is precisely to release a certain type of energy to activate a more powerful defense mechanism."

These words plunged Lin Xuan into deep thought. He returned to that special Rune and injected his Qi Luck Power again, while attempting to guide the energy flow in different ways. The Rune lit up again, but this time, the light was more intense and the text clearer: "Eight points collapse together, energy converges, Tianyuan activates, reverse the universe."

"Tianyuan..." Lin Xuan's eyes brightened, "The Tianyuan Instrument that Ling Bo has been searching for!"

The Qingbai Jushe swam to Lin Xuan's side: "The Rune is still changing."

Indeed, the light of the Rune began to shape a complex three-dimensional structure, looking like a schematic diagram of some grand device. At the center was a circular Core, with eight connection points around it, and the positions of these eight points corresponded exactly to the eight Fangyu Jiedian!

"I understand!" Lin Xuan said excitedly, "The energy released when the defense network collapses will become the power source to activate the Tianyuan Instrument! The Guardian designed the defense network not only to temporarily block the civilization from beyond the heavens, but also to provide enough energy at the critical moment to activate the true counterattack mechanism!"

Xuan Qingzi nodded: "This perfectly aligns with Daoist philosophy: when things reach an extreme, they reverse; yin reaches its limit and yang is born. It seems we should not be trying our best to maintain this node, but rather preparing for its collapse."

Just as Lin Xuan was about to respond, a loud boom came from afar, and the entire ancient temple shook. The energy fluctuation of the second envoy from beyond the heavens was already close, far faster than they had anticipated.

"It's too late!" a Practitioner exclaimed, "The energy from beyond the heavens has already begun to erode the perimeter of the array!"

Lin Xuan was calm and composed: "Senior Xuan, please take the others and evacuate, and tell Li Yan and Ling Bo about our discovery. I will try my best to hold off the enemy and buy time for everyone."