The "psychic harmonization" power flowing from Linde's fingertips was like a gentle spring rain, or a silent warm current, quietly merging into the fiercely clashing psychic field that was about to burst into sparks and screams.
In Lind's perception, the psychic energy of the Crystal Clan elders was like a burning white torch, fierce and pure, but also direct and lacking in variation.
They tried to dispel the darkness with this blazing light, but the evil god's corruption was like a viscous, living shadow that not only absorbed light and heat, but also transformed the anxiety, exhaustion, and even a trace of despair generated in the struggle into nourishment for its own growth, forming a vicious cycle that led to despair.
“A head-on collision, though brave, is clumsy, like punching water—futile.” Linde calmly assessed, while simultaneously manipulating the wondrous power originating from Iris’s core with even greater precision.
Compared to the elders' fiercely contested psionic fields, Lind's "Harmony" power seemed so insignificant, even carrying an almost languid peace.
It didn't carry any fierce momentum; it simply penetrated gently and firmly.
The air in the hall, which had been so tense from the fierce battle that it was almost about to break, seemed to be gently stroked by an invisible hand. The heart-palpitating energy hiss and the mental whispers originating from the evil god's corruption were like ripples on the surface of water after a stone was thrown in. Although they were still rippling, they had lost their piercing sharpness.
Linde was completely focused, and the [Deconstruct Halo] was operating with unprecedented precision, analyzing every microsecond of the changes in Iris's power.
He sensed that this force was not "eliminating," but rather "understanding" and "guiding."
It seems to be able to see through every discordant "note" in that chaotic energy structure, and then soothe and straighten them with its all-encompassing resonance.
“I see… Iris doesn’t seek conquest, but rather ‘harmony.’ They view chaos as a disordered symphony, not as an enemy that must be destroyed. This is a state of mind…”
Even Linde's long-frozen heart was stirred by this completely different philosophy of power, a ripple of amazement at the unknown wisdom and a reflection on his own path.
Under the gentle yet firm influence of that wave, the struggling, nauseatingly malicious shadow subsided its fierce resistance at a visible speed!
The twisting, writhing tentacles slowly relaxed and contracted as if hypnotized. The ethereal whispers that seemed to erode the soul first became intermittent, then turned into meaningless noise, and finally fell silent.
The pure, all-consuming darkness began to fade and lighten, like ink drops falling into a clear spring. Although it was not yet completely clear, it had lost its aggressive toxicity and revealed a faint, no longer aggressive, core fluctuation within, like a tamed wild beast.
"[This...this is...a miracle?]" The Grand Elder murmured in disbelief. The psionic pressure he had exerted suddenly eased, and for the first time, the heavy, weary feeling that had lasted for decades, as if he were constantly wrestling with a venomous snake and his soul was about to be frozen, brought true relaxation.
He stared in astonishment at Lind, this sudden outsider whose aura was as profound as the boundless starry sea, his eyes filled with incomprehensible shock.
The other elders and guards were also dumbfounded. The nightmare that had been the lifeblood of the city and could only be barely sealed away with the full strength of the entire clan had become... docile under the seemingly casual actions of this stranger?
The shock of this contrast plunged the entire hall into an almost frozen silence, with only the faint hum of flowing energy bearing witness to this miraculous transformation.
Linde's expression remained unchanged, but a cold, sharp glint flashed deep within his purple eyes. The feedback from [Deconstruction Halo] confirmed his guess: Iris's "Psionic Harmony" technique was essentially an application of high-level consciousness resonance.
It does not violently erase "existence," but rather subtly guides its "state" back to the balance point of the universe.
For evil spirits that are more driven by instinct and lack higher self-awareness, this method is a perfect remedy, effectively neutralizing their "activity" rather than trying to eliminate their ineradicable "essence" with great effort and no reward.
Just then, another unexpected event occurred!
Once the neutralization process was completely completed, the evil god's polluted energy, which had completely lost its activity and turned gray, did not dissipate into nothingness or be forcibly annihilated like ordinary purified energy. Instead, under the influence of some deeper cosmic law, it began a strange collapse and purification!
It seemed to be grasped and refined by an invisible hand, eventually turning into a small pinch of extremely pure, colorless and odorless "primitive energy particles" that exuded the most original and vibrant vitality, like stardust at the beginning of the universe, shimmering with a faint and pure light, slowly drifting down.
When these "primordial energy particles" came into contact with the naturally warm and smooth crystal material of the hall floor, they were like parched rain seeping into fertile soil, and were instantly and greedily absorbed!
Almost at the same moment, the entire central crystal cluster building, and even the vast energy network extending from it and covering the entire city, emitted a low and pleasant hum and trembled slightly!
A surge of spiritual energy, far more abundant, more vibrant, and brimming with new life than usual, rippled joyfully along the crisscrossing energy channels, as if injected with a stimulant. Wherever it passed, even the crystal walls seemed to become more translucent!
Inside the hall, several elders took a deep breath in unison, as if they had drunk some fine nectar.
They felt the spiritual energy surrounding them become more vibrant and approachable than ever before. The heavy dust that had accumulated in their spirits over the years due to their continuous fight against pollution seemed to be washed away by this clear spring-like energy, revealing a long-lost lightness and clarity.
In the city, countless Crystal Citizens seemed to sense something, and they all stopped what they were doing, looked up at the direction of the central building, and showed expressions that were a mixture of comfort, confusion and a little bit of inexplicable joy.
The entire city seemed to awaken from a long period of illness, radiating new brilliance.
“[The planetary energy network... has been enhanced?! This, how is this possible!]” An elder exclaimed in shock. He could clearly feel the warm and exhilarating energy pulse emanating from the ground beneath his feet, like a mother embracing her child. The feeling was so unfamiliar yet so intoxicating.
A knowing glint flashed in Linde's eyes, before returning to a deep calm.
He understood completely! The Iris civilization pursued harmony and resonance with the universe. Their power system, in its advanced applications, not only "reconciled" conflicts, but also transformed chaotic and harmful energy into the most primal, harmless "nutrients" that could be efficiently absorbed by the environment through a magical means that was almost like "alchemy" or "life cycle"!
This "primal energy" has no attributes, yet it is like a universal fertilizer, easily absorbed and transformed by the planet's own energy system (such as the psionic network of the Crystal People), becoming a source of power to strengthen itself and repair its wounds!
The impact of this discovery even surpasses the successful neutralization of the pollution itself! This is not only a new, more efficient, and more "environmentally friendly" approach to combating the pollution of evil gods, but its accompanying "energy feedback" characteristic is of immeasurable value!
"If, on the continent of Til, when fighting against the followers of the evil god or cleaning up the pollution of the abyss, we can not only eliminate the threat, but also transform it into nourishment for the continent's magic network, light vein energy, and even nutrients to repair the natural environment... that would completely change the situation of passive defense, and might even form a virtuous cycle of becoming stronger with each battle!"
This thought, like a flash of lightning, illuminated many previously vague strategic ideas in his mind. Moreover, could this characteristic also be applied to other forms of energy conflict? For example, resolving magical disturbances? Even… in the future, when facing the Arbiters of Order, could it, to some extent, alleviate the “rule rigidity” and “life-suppressing” caused by the absolute power of order?
The potential and far-reaching impact of the "third way" pursued by the Iris civilization are only now truly revealing the tip of the iceberg before him!
"[Great traveler! We, the people of the Crystal, will never forget your kindness!]"
The elder finally recovered from his extreme shock and loss of composure. His voice trembled slightly with excitement as he expressed his deepest, almost pious, gratitude to Lind on behalf of the entire surviving civilization.
"Please allow us to extend our hospitality. We are willing to share with you without reservation all the historical details of our fight against the 'Starry Night Calamity,' as well as all the knowledge we have accumulated over generations in researching and utilizing the energy of this crystal!"
Linde nodded slightly.
He truly needs these valuable, localized practical experiences, as well as this unique civilization's distinctive insights into the use of energy, to verify, supplement, and deepen his understanding of Iris's knowledge, and to transform it into specific solutions applicable to the continent of Til.
“Okay.” He agreed calmly, his voice still devoid of much emotion, but the cold sharpness in his eyes seemed to have softened slightly. “But I won’t stay for long.”
His interstellar journey has yielded far more than expected, and his return is drawing near. He needs to return to the continent of Tiel as soon as possible to bring back these invaluable knowledge, experiences, and newly acquired seeds of power, carefully nurturing them and transforming them into tangible foundations for protecting his home and exploring the future.
Upon hearing this, the Crystal People's faces shone with immense joy and reverence. They immediately led the star traveler who brought miracles and hope with even greater respect towards the depths of the city, which seemed to have been infused with new life and whose radiance was becoming increasingly dazzling. This marked the beginning of the final, brief but crucial exchange and rest in his magnificent star journey.
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