Bai Cheng nodded and shared the star chart data with everyone. The targets had been marked by priority.

“We will split into four groups: Lu Duo, Yu Nian, and I will continue deeper into the core of the Silent Quadrant;”

“Chi Yan will lead a group to handle the peripheral solidified structures;”

“Leng Ningxue will remotely guide the second group to deal with small-scale chaotic products;”

“Zi Yuan and Qing Niaoo will act as mobile support once they rejoin the team.”

She paused for a moment, her voice solemn. “Remember, our primary mission is to seal the lesions, slow their growth, and rescue trapped echoes whenever possible.”

“If you encounter extreme situations that cannot be purified, prioritize safety and do not take unnecessary risks.”

Everyone responded in unison.

Over the next seventy-two hours, the power of the Starfire Archives was like four spreading streams of light, seeping into different corners of the Silent Quadrant.

Lu Duo and Yu Nian followed Bai Cheng, relying on the unique resonance of light points to locate and seal three chaotic products in succession.

The process became more difficult each time; those lesions seemed to possess a learning ability, developing resistance to similar purification methods.

However, under the constant adjustments of the oath of starlight and the resilient support of the Emerald Network, they were eventually enveloped layer by layer in fields of tranquility, their violent consumption temporarily turned into a slow slumber.

Chi Yan's squad handled seven solidified structures with efficient execution.

They did not forcibly break the cycles, but instead established resonance bridges on the periphery, allowing the faint consciousnesses within to perceive the existence of the external river of light.

After sensing new possibilities, three of the structures actually showed signs of loosening spontaneously.

The other squad guided by Leng Ningxue demonstrated the precision of mirror technology.

Using refraction and isolation, they temporarily cut off two small chaotic products from their surroundings, halting their spread and successfully extracting echo remnants that had not yet been fully digested.

Once Zi Yuan and Qing Niaoo rejoined the team, they became the sharpest spears.

They were responsible for clearing the aggressive rule-derivatives that emerged alongside the lesions, sweeping away obstacles for the other groups' purification work.

Qing Niaoo's lightning and Zi Yuan's blade intent tore open one path after another toward hope amidst the silence.

The work was not all smooth sailing. While sealing the fifth lesion, Lu Duo's Emerald Network developed cracks due to overload, and Yu Nian's pure heart vine grew dim for a time after absorbing too many painful memories.

Bai Cheng had to order a pause, allowing them to rest and reorganize within the dawn.

Chi Yan's squad also encountered an accident.

A seemingly stable solidified structure suddenly erupted with a backlash of energy flow, injuring two team members.

Thanks to Lan Xiaoyu's timely remote medical support, more serious consequences were averted.

But with every step forward, there were gains.

Every sealed lesion lightened a heavy burden for this star sector. Every rescued echo, no matter how broken, found a temporary sanctuary in the Archives and slowly recovered through resonance.

On the book of commonality, the records were constantly updated. The map of the Silent Quadrant was being lit up bit by bit; beside those crimson and gray markers, blue marks representing 'processed' were gradually added.

At the seventy-eighth hour, the four groups of forces reconverged at the predetermined coordinates.

Everyone gathered on the bridge of the dawn, their faces weary but their eyes still shining with light.

Chi Yan was the first to report: all twelve peripheral solidified structures had completed the construction of resonance bridges.

Five of them had confirmed signs of reviving consciousness.

Leng Ningxue pulled up the data; four small chaotic products had been successfully isolated.

A total of thirty-seven extracted echo remnants had all been transferred to the Archives.

Zi Yuan stood with her arms crossed. “Derivatives cleared. No new aggressive rule-entities have been found for the time being.”

Qing Niaoo let out a yawn. “I'm exhausted. But that felt pretty good.”

Bai Cheng looked at Lu Duo and Yu Nian. Both had mostly recovered their status.

Lu Duo reported, “We sealed six chaotic products on our end.”

“But there are still three marker points in the deepest part with very abnormal frequencies that the Emerald Network is finding hard to penetrate.”

Yu Nian added, “What's coming from there isn't pain, but a deep sadness.”

“It's very ancient, and very heavy.”

Bai Cheng pulled up the star chart.

Those three marker points were located at the very core of the Silent Quadrant, arranged in a triangular distribution with energy flows connecting them, as if forming a stable system.

She pondered for a moment. “This might be the key. The Old Observers placed the most troublesome problems in the deepest part.”

“We need a complete plan.”

She looked at everyone. “Rest for twelve hours. After that, we will concentrate all our forces and head to the triangular core.”

“This time, we won't split up.”

The crowd dispersed to rest. Only Bai Cheng and the book of commonality remained on the bridge.

The pages turned automatically to the latest chapter, the title not yet written. The light of the oath of starlight flowed at her fingertips as she slowly wrote:

A Single Spark Starts a Prairie Fire

As the characters were finished, they glowed faintly.

She looked [N O V E L I G H T] up out of the viewport at the Silent Quadrant being gradually illuminated by the starlight.

The road was still long.

But the light had already been kindled.

The interior of the dawn was silent.

Lu Duo and Yu Nian were meditating in their respective rest areas, the light of the Emerald Network and the pure heart vine flowing slowly.

Chi Yan sat on the alloy steps next to the engine room, gently wiping his sword hilt. Huang Yu and Lan Xiaoyu were in the medical bay checking equipment, discussing the next supply plan in low voices.

Zi Yuan leaned against the window in the corridor, her long blade resting across her knees, her gaze fixed on those three dim points of starlight in the distance.

Qing Niaoo lay prone in front of the observation console, her fingertips unconsciously twirling the lightning at the tips of her hair, an occasional spark of electricity flashing.

Bai Cheng stood alone in the center of the bridge.

The book of commonality hovered before her, its pages resting on the chapter titled 'A Single Spark Starts a Prairie Fire'. Her oath of starlight earrings emitted a soft glow, and the coordinates of the triangular core were reflected deep within her silver eyes.

Those three points were linked together like an ancient lock, or like a door that had never been pushed open.

The twelve-hour rest was about to end. She pressed her palm against the page, feeling the resonance flowing within.

The current stability of the Archives, the veins extended by the river of light, the steady breathing of her companions, and the throbbing of those rescued echoes gradually reviving in peace.

All of this was the keystone. And next, they were going to call upon the silence of the deepest depths.

The notification tone for the end of the rest period sounded softly. Everyone returned to the bridge without a word, taking their positions.

No one spoke, but a tacit solemnity settled in the air. The dawn's main engine began to preheat, and a deep blue flame gradually brightened at the stern.

“Course set for the triangular core,” Bai Cheng's voice was clear and calm.

“All hands to Condition One. Lu Duo, expand the resonance network to its maximum range, but do not go deep.”

“Yu Nian, prepare the Pure Heart Barrier. Leng Ningxue, I need you to establish three layers of mirror refraction protection to prevent counters from the core area.”

“Chi Yan, Zi Yuan, Qing Niaoo, be ready to respond to conflicts on the physical or rule levels at any time.”

The orders were executed swiftly. The dawn slowly turned, sailing toward the region that no river of light had ever touched.