Through this anchor point, strands of indescribable power...

Pure, steadfast, full of vitality and expectation.

It began to slowly and continuously permeate the invisible connection newly established between her, this land, and these living beings.

Bai Cheng slowly opened her eyes, her silver pupils swirling with a light of surprise and deep thought in the darkness.

She raised her hand and stared at her palm.

To the naked eye, there was nothing unusual; spatial energy still flowed quietly beneath her skin like a silver shimmer.

But deep within her perception, a change was taking place.

First, the deepest levels of exhaustion and the subtle spiritual damage left by successive fierce battles were being quietly nourished and smoothed over by a gentle power.

This nourishment wasn't a crude infusion of energy, but rather an acceleration of self-repair through resonance, originating from the vitality and blessings inherent in those thoughts of trust and expectation.

Secondly, her perception of the surrounding space became sharper and... more intimate.

It wasn't an expansion of range, but an increase in depth.

She could hear the wind's song and the sand's chant in the desert ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ night more clearly, and feel the steady pulse of laws deep within the ley lines beneath her feet—laws that were slowly recovering after being plundered by Atum.

Even the trickles of faith gathering toward her left faint trails in her spatial perception,

making the spatial structure of this area feel less cold and abstract to her, and more like a texture that could be understood, or even slightly guided.

This wasn't a direct increase in power intensity, but a sublimation of control precision and insight. 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

Finally, and most importantly, she felt her unique core of space-time origin, which came from the Gate, emit an extremely faint but crystal-clear hum.

This hum wasn't one of pain or resistance, but a kind of... resonance and activation.

It was as if a long-silent string had been plucked by a matching breeze. The directional nature of future, hope, and protection within the core of those gathered powers of faith,

produced a wondrous resonance with the qualities of possibility, journey, and sanctuary contained within her core.

Her origin power, under the immersion and inquiry of this pure conviction, was undergoing a slow but steady fine-tuning, becoming more refined and closer to a certain... completeness.

The Sovereign Realm was still far out of reach, as blurry as the far side of the starry sky.

The current Power of Faith, compared to what was required for that legendary realm, was but a trickle to a vast ocean.

However, this path seemed to truly exist.

This trickle could truly touch her origin and bring about positive changes.

It couldn't directly push her onto the Sovereign throne, but it might light up a small section of the path ahead, solidify her foundation, and even provide a... possibility of breaking through barriers.

Bai Cheng closed her hand, grasping that warm sensation in her palm.

She stood up, walked to the edge of the meditation area, and looked toward the oasis.

In the night, three statues stood quietly, like silent lighthouses in the dark.

Within her silver eyes, the ripples gradually subsided, replaced by an unprecedented clarity and determination.

The road had appeared beneath her feet, though it was narrow and filled with unknown obstacles, and though the destination remained shrouded in mist.

She exhaled softly, her breath turning into a faint white mist in the cool night air.

“Then... let's try it.”

For the sake of these entrusted convictions, to counter the darkness ahead that sought to use all things as fuel, and to uncover the final mystery of her own fate and power.

She was willing to accept this power, take on this responsibility, and walk down this challenging path faintly illuminated by the glimmer of faith.

Starlight fell upon her shoulders, intertwining with the warm trickles gathering invisibly.

The desert night witnessed a traveler embarking on a new journey, while the sandstone statues by the oasis seemed to glow with an introverted and eternal luster under the gaze of billions of stars.

The journey continued, but upon the beacon, there was now a bit more weight and light originating from the human heart.

After contemplating for a long time in the meditation area, Bai Cheng finally walked back to the center of the temporary camp.

Blue Bird, Zi Yuan, Leng Ningxue, Yu Nian, Lu Duo, and the others had already gathered. Even the unhealed Taurus Atum sat leaning against the rock wall, looking at her with a complex gaze.

“I've decided,” Bai Cheng said, her voice clear and calm. “We will no longer actively collect various powers of laws.”

Everyone was slightly stunned, but no one interrupted.

Bai Cheng continued, “The Leader's method of plundering different types of top-tier laws to attempt to construct a Law Universe within the body to charge for the Sovereign Realm may seem feasible, but the risk is too high, the process is long, and it requires sacrificing countless living beings.

We have no such ambition, nor are we willing to step onto a path covered in blood.”

Zi Yuan stood with her blade held close, the corners of her mouth curling slightly. “It should have been so long ago. Power built on plundering external things is never as stable as that which is tempered by oneself.”

Blue Bird nodded, lightning flickering in her eyes. “We didn't rely on plundering to get this far; we relied on breaking through in battle and gaining insight in crises.

Instead of scattering our energy to collect ethereal laws, it's better to focus on what's in front of us: repair the train, improve ourselves, and face the coming storm.”

The chill around Leng Ningxue subsided slightly as her cold voice rang out, “Giving up this method also means we don't have to make enemies everywhere like the Leader.

The current priority is to restore the train's navigation capabilities and clarify the surrounding situation.”

Lu Duo softly agreed, “That's right. Although the desert is temporarily peaceful, the threats from the Enforcement Officer and the Zodiac Leaders still remain in the shadows. We need more supplies and intelligence.”

Yu Nian stretched her arms, her eyes shining with a practical light:

“Then let's get to work! There should still be plenty of materials left behind by the Eye of the Sand on the island. Those puppet armor fragments and altar crystal remains might be useful for repairing the train.”

Atum's low voice came from the side, “The Eye of the Sand had workshops and storehouses deep within the Royal Court. Although most were destroyed in the battle, some might remain underground.

Furthermore... the Desert Kingdom is not an isolated island. To the northwest, there was once an ancient trade route leading to the Gravel Hills, where there were mines and mechanical workshops. We might find parts there.”

Bai Cheng nodded. “Then we'll split up. Blue Bird and Zi Yuan, take a team to search the ruins of the Royal Court;

Lu Duo, Yu Nian, and I will head to the settlement of the Desert Kingdom Survivors east of the oasis. They have lived here for generations and might know of more hidden resource points;

Ning Xue, you and Atum stay here. First, continue to interrogate him about his memories of other Zodiacs and the Leader's strongholds; second, guard the camp and the statues to prevent any emergencies.”

Leng Ningxue gave a faint response, and Atum also nodded in silence.

He had no way back; only by cooperating with Bai Cheng and the others could he perhaps find a slim chance of survival.