mijobooks Chapter 37 Stability
Chapter 37 Stability
The knowledge of the Book of Light is as vast as the ocean, but when he concentrates on asking specific questions, relevant information automatically emerges:
The Seven Star Relics are the crystallization of the wisdom of seven ancient sages, each corresponding to one of the seven basic laws: Wen Shu (knowledge), Kan Wei (defense), Li Wei (action), Dui Wei (communication), Zhen Wei (creation), Gen Wei (stability), and Kun Wei (nurturing).
• The opening of the Heavenly Gate requires the simultaneous activation of seven relics to form a "Seven Stars Alignment," breaking down the barrier between reality and the "Origin Sea."
The Source Sea is the origin of the laws and the foundation of reality. Entering the Source Sea allows one to modify the fundamental laws, but such modifications will trigger a chain reaction, affecting the entire structure of reality.
The only time in history that the Heavenly Gate opened (three thousand years ago) was to repair the cracks in the world, but that opening was "passive"—the cracks had already appeared, and the seven sages simply entered the Source Sea to find a way to repair them.
Hanshan Technology aims to "actively" initiate and forcibly modify the laws of reality. This approach is extremely dangerous and could lead to the collapse of the reality structure, or... the creation of an unstable "new reality" that devours the old one.
"Eating each other..." Li Shancheng recalled Editor-in-Chief Qin's words before he fell into a coma. It wasn't a metaphor, but the literal meaning. If two realities exist simultaneously and conflict with each other, ultimately only one can survive.
He looked out the window at the city, at the lights, the buildings, the streets, and the people sleeping... They might face an existential crisis in two days, and he might be the only one who could stop it.
The pressure was immense, but strangely, Li Shancheng felt no fear, only a profound calm. It was like standing in the calm before a storm, knowing the storm was coming, but also knowing he had to stand there.
At six o'clock in the morning, Cheng Xu finally completed the preliminary calculations.
"Theoretically feasible." His voice was hoarse, his eyes bloodshot. "According to Chen Ya's data and Elder Jiang's theory, if the Tianquan fragment is implanted when the altar's energy output reaches its peak, there's a 73% probability of triggering an energy overload. But it requires precise timing down to the second, and..."
"And what?" Su Yan asked.
"And someone needs to operate it at the core of the altar." Cheng Xu looked at Li Shancheng. "The fragments must directly contact the altar's energy center to trigger a chain reaction. This means the operator will be exposed to the center of the energy impact, and the probability of survival..."
He didn't say the numbers, but his expression said it all.
"I'll go," Li Shancheng said without hesitation.
"No," Xu Qingqing immediately objected. "You're the only one who can stand up to Su Qing. If you get injured at the core of the altar or... we'll have no hope left."
"Then who will go?" Li Shancheng asked in return. "Of everyone present, only I can withstand the energy impact of the artifact fragments, and only I can precisely control the timing of the implantation."
"I can," Su Yan stood up. "The power of the off-center array core is biased towards explosive power and impact; perhaps it can withstand..."
"But you're not familiar with the relic fragments." Li Shancheng shook his head. "The Book of Light is within me; I have the deepest understanding of the relics. Besides..."
He paused. "And this is my responsibility. The Wen Shu bloodline chose me, the Book of Light chose me, and the array's core chose me. From the moment I stepped into Qingyun Alley, this was the path I had to walk."
Silence fell over the room again. Everyone wanted to object, but everyone knew he was telling the truth.
"Then it's settled." Jiang Han finally made the decision. "Shancheng will be responsible for implanting the fragments, and the rest of us will be responsible for cover and evacuation. But before that, we need to obtain the relic fragments of the Departure and Exchange positions to increase the success rate."
"I'll go get the displaced fragments," Su Yan said. "I know the roads in Phoenix Mountain well; it'll take at most eight hours round trip."
"The guardian of the Dui position..." Jiang Han hesitated for a moment, "The guardian of the Dui position is seriously injured, and I may need to go in person. Although my current condition..."
"I'll go," Xu Qingqing volunteered. "My Golden Eye Technique can find hidden entrances, and I'm decent in combat, so I can handle most situations."
"I'll go with you," Liu Wei said. "I have the most experience with artifacts and can identify genuine fragments."
"Then let's split up," Li Shancheng decided. "Sister Su will leave her position, and Qingqing and Liu Wei will take over. Cheng Xu, Jiang Lao, and I will continue to refine the plan while also taking care of Editor-in-Chief Qin. We'll all be back here by 8 p.m. tonight, no matter the outcome."
"What if we encounter people from Hanshan Technology?" Xu Qingqing asked.
"Avoid fighting as much as possible," Li Shancheng said. "Our goal is the fragments, not the fight. But if we have to fight... remember, safety first. We can find the fragments later, but if you're gone, you're really gone."
With the plan finalized, the three set off immediately. Su Yan transformed into flames and leaped out of the window, while Xu Qingqing and Liu Wei drove to the swampy area on the outskirts of Beijing where Duiwei was located.
Only Li Shancheng, Jiang Han, Cheng Xu, and the unconscious Editor-in-Chief Qin remained in the apartment.
Cheng Xu continued to refine the calculation model, while Jiang Han guided Li Shancheng in the final training—how to protect himself during energy shocks.
"The energy density at the core of the altar will be extremely high," Jiang Han said. "You need to use the Seven Star Harmony Technique to form multiple layers of protection around your body: the outermost layer simulates the absorption characteristics of the Kan position to absorb impacts; the middle layer uses the dispersive characteristics of the Li position to direct energy to both sides; and the innermost layer uses the stabilizing characteristics of the Wen Shu to maintain your own energy circulation."
"Maintaining three layers of protection simultaneously?" Li Shancheng frowned. "I've never tried such a complicated operation before."
"So practice now." Jiang Han said firmly, "Time is limited, but every bit of proficiency you gain increases your chances of survival."
Training began. Li Shancheng first attempted to form a single layer of protection, which was relatively easy. However, when he tried to add a second layer, the two forces began to interfere with each other, making the protective structure unstable. After several attempts, he finally found the balance point—making the two layers of protection vibrate at different frequencies to avoid direct conflict.
The third level is the most difficult. The characteristic of Wen Shu's power is "stability," which is different from the "flow" of Kan and the "jumping" of Li. Li Shancheng tried more than ten times, and failed each time because of the mismatch in frequency.
"Don't think about 'controlling'," Jiang Han instructed. "Think about 'guiding'. Let the three forces naturally find a way to coexist; you are merely building the framework for them."
Li Shancheng adjusted his mindset, no longer trying to control things, but instead, like a gardener, creating a suitable "growing environment" for the three forces. Gradually, a stable three-layered protective structure formed—the outer layer was deep blue like flowing water, the middle layer was orange-red like leaping flames, and the inner layer was silver-white like turning pages of a book.
"Very good, maintain it now." Jiang Han checked the time. "One minute, two minutes, three minutes..."
By the fifth minute, Li Shancheng began to feel the pressure. Maintaining three different types of power simultaneously required immense mental concentration; sweat beaded on his forehead, and his body trembled slightly.
"Hold on," Jiang Han said. "The energy surge from the altar's core will last longer; you need to hold on for at least ten minutes."
Li Shancheng gritted his teeth and persevered. In the seventh minute, he felt his consciousness begin to blur, and cracks appeared in the three layers of protection. In the eighth minute, the cracks widened, and the outermost layer almost collapsed.
Just then, an old but warm hand rested on his shoulder. A gentle yet resilient strength flowed into his body—it was Jiang Han, using his remaining strength to help Li Shancheng stabilize his defenses.
"Don't rely on me," Jiang Han said. "Use your power to absorb my power and make it your own."
Li Shancheng did as instructed. Jiang Han's power, though weak, was extremely pure, the essence of the Kan-level cultivation accumulated over decades. He carefully guided this power into his three layers of protection, not simply layering them, but transforming them into a structural "adhesive" to enhance overall stability.
The protection has stabilized and become more robust.
"Twelve minutes." Jiang Han withdrew his hand and nodded in satisfaction. "That's enough. Remember this feeling; when you're at the core of the altar, you can also absorb the dissipated energy around you to strengthen your defenses."
"But that energy is the siphon energy of Hanshan Technology, full of negative attributes," Li Shancheng worried.
"Energy has no positive or negative, only frequency," Jiang Han said. "Your Seven Star Harmony Technique can transform energy of any frequency, as long as it is controlled properly. This is your most powerful weapon, Mountain City—not the size of the power, but the adaptability of the power."
Around noon, Su Yan was the first to return. She brought back a fiery red feather with golden patterns on its surface. It felt warm to the touch, as if it were still alive.