Instructor Han finished placing the stabilizing plates around the ravine.
Six markers formed a loose circle surrounding the exposed junction. Each plate emitted a faint thread of light that extended into the soil, anchoring the unstable flow beneath.
The distorted spiritual currents slowed slightly.
But they did not settle.
Instructor Han frowned.
"It's worse than expected."
Senior Qiao stood at the edge of the ravine, watching the central formation plate carefully.
"How long before it collapses?"
"Hard to say," Han replied. "If the active channel flares again, the imbalance could trigger a localized collapse."
Xu Liang crouched beside one of the stabilizing plates.
"Meaning?"
Instructor Han answered calmly.
"The surrounding spiritual veins would compress inward."
Lin Xuan understood immediately.
That kind of collapse would crush qi circulation for anyone nearby.
For a Foundation cultivator, it could be fatal.
The masked Hollow Vein cultivator stepped closer to the ravine.
He studied the ancient plate carefully but did not attempt to touch it.
"This junction was designed to distribute pressure across multiple channels," he said.
Instructor Han nodded slightly.
"Yes."
"But one of those channels was forced open incorrectly," the masked man continued.
Lin Xuan looked again at the glowing line across the metal plate.
The fragment within him pulsed.
Soft.
Steady.
It wasn't chaotic like before.
It was responding.
The pattern felt familiar.
Not because he had seen it before.
But because the fragment seemed to understand it.
Xu Liang noticed his focus.
"You can read the structure."
Lin Xuan answered honestly.
"Not fully."
"Enough?"
A short pause.
"…Maybe."
Senior Qiao looked between Instructor Han and Lin Xuan.
"This is not a task for experimentation."
Instructor Han remained silent for several seconds.
Then he spoke.
"The junction core requires a correct circulation input to reset the alignment."
Xu Liang understood immediately.
"Someone must channel qi through the plate."
"Yes."
"And if they miscalculate?"
Instructor Han did not answer.
He didn't need to.
The masked cultivator crossed his arms.
"You are considering letting him try."
His gaze rested on Lin Xuan.
Senior Qiao didn't deny it.
"You sensed the structure first."
Lin Xuan felt several pairs of eyes on him now.
He looked down at the formation plate again.
The glowing line across the metal wasn't random.
It connected to three other inactive channels.
If aligned properly, the pressure imbalance would redistribute.
But if misaligned—
The junction would break completely.
He slowly stepped down into the ravine.
Xu Liang tensed slightly but did not stop him.
"Explain what you intend to do," Xu Liang said calmly.
Lin Xuan crouched beside the plate.
"The active channel must close halfway."
Instructor Han's eyes sharpened.
"Halfway?"
"Yes."
"Why not fully close it?"
"Because the pressure needs an outlet."
Instructor Han considered the logic.
Then nodded once.
"That is correct."
Senior Qiao exhaled slowly.
"Then proceed carefully."
Lin Xuan placed his hand above the metal plate.
Not touching yet.
Just sensing.
The fragment inside his dantian vibrated in a steady rhythm.
He matched his breathing to it.
Slow.
Controlled.
Then he lowered his palm onto the ancient metal surface.
Cold.
But alive.
He sent a thin thread of qi into the formation.
Immediately the plate reacted.
The glowing channel brightened.
Spiritual energy surged through the underground network.
The stabilizing plates around the ravine flickered.
Instructor Han spoke sharply.
"Maintain control!"
Lin Xuan adjusted the flow.
Not stronger.
More precise.
He guided the qi along the glowing path—
Then slowly diverted part of the flow toward one of the dormant channels.
For a moment—
Nothing happened.
Then—
A second line on the metal plate flickered to life.
The twisted energy beneath the ravine shifted.
The distortion loosened.
Instructor Han stared in surprise.
"It's realigning."
Xu Liang's gaze sharpened slightly.
The masked cultivator said nothing.
But his attention had become very focused.
Lin Xuan exhaled slowly and reduced the qi flow.
The second channel stabilized.
The original active path dimmed to a manageable level.
The underground pressure eased.
Not perfect.
But no longer dangerous.
After several seconds, Instructor Han removed one of the stabilizing plates.
The formation held.
He removed another.
Still stable.
Senior Qiao finally relaxed his stance slightly.
"The junction is secure."
Lin Xuan withdrew his hand from the formation plate.
The fragment inside his dantian went quiet again.
But now he understood something important.
This network wasn't just old.
It was designed to be maintained.
And someone, somewhere—
Still knew how to use it.
The masked cultivator spoke quietly.
"Interesting."
Lin Xuan looked up.
"For someone who claims limited understanding," the man continued,
"You learn quickly."
The forest around them remained silent.
But the investigation had just changed.
Because now everyone here knew one thing.
Lin Xuan could interact with the ancient network.
And that made him valuable.
To both sides.