Senior sister, stop working and go home for dinner.

Chapter 368 The Boundaries of Authority

It wasn't ambiguity, it wasn't a barrier, it was a complete and sudden interruption.

The array formations that could be barely sensed just a moment ago, like a distant star map, were abruptly severed at some invisible boundary. The heavy power within his body, symbolizing authority, remained, but it seemed to have become water without a source, a tree without roots, floating empty and adrift, unable to sense even the slightest spiritual energy from the outside world, let alone mobilize it.

It's like holding a powerful key, only to suddenly discover that the lock is far out of sight, and you can't even see the door anymore.

really……

A self-deprecating smile appeared on Chen Anran's lips.

Where in the world is there truly free power? The "Soul-Severing Reverse Origin" formation, which Senior Sister Su Wan had planned for three thousand years and sacrificed herself and her two junior sisters, was fundamentally based on the blood pool inside the mountain and its deeper connection to the earth's spiritual veins. The control she gained was inseparable from this "formation eye."

The distance, or rather the distance from the core of the array, is the boundary of this authority.

It might not be exactly thirty kilometers, but the range wouldn't be too large. Once you exceed that, your strength will instantly be exposed.

During this period, under the "encirclement" of this almost infinite spiritual energy, my cultivation level rose like a rocket to the Qi Refining stage. However, the world three thousand years ago was not like this Dharma-ending Age. In the era before those old monsters had awakened, the Foundation Establishment stage was already considered the peak.

In that era, it's quite possible that Golden Core cultivators were everywhere, while Foundation Establishment cultivators were practically worthless...

The car was completely silent, save for the low rumble of the engine and the screech of the tires against the road.

Shen Zui and Lin Xiaoman both noticed Chen Anran's momentary stiffness. Lin Xiaoman turned around and asked cautiously, "Brother Chen, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"

Chen Anran slowly sat up straight, his gaze still fixed on the empty space outside the window, the connection that had just been severed. He shook his head. "Let's go back."

Shen Zui caught a glimpse of the seriousness in Chen Anran's eyes in the rearview mirror, but without asking any questions, he deftly turned the car around at the next intersection. The SUV traced an arc and sped back the way it had come.

As the vehicle moved back into the approximately 25-kilometer range, that faint, hissing sensation, like a radio receiving a bad signal, resurfaced deep within Chen Anran's mind. Approaching 30 kilometers, the connection became clear and stable, and a powerful sense of strength once again filled his body.

Sure enough, the boundary was there.

A spherical domain with a radius of about thirty kilometers, centered on the Blood Pool Array Eye. This is the absolute area he can truly "control" at present, and also the power guarantee zone that allows him to safely activate the "Time-Traces Ancient Jade" and carry out large-scale spacetime transfer.

This discovery added another invisible constraint to the already risky and unpredictable crossing plan. They could not stray too far from the "landing point," and at least initially, they had to operate within this "safe zone."

By the time we returned to the mountain, dusk had already fallen.

The light in Feng Xiaolu's room was still on—Zhao Mengmeng was helping her pack her last personal belongings, even though the owner was no longer there. Fatty Li was clattering and organizing his precious seasonings and kitchen utensils in the kitchen. Qi Lan was nowhere to be seen; perhaps she was curled up on some rooftop watching the stars again. Lu Kong and Huiming stood at the mountain gate, one still, one moving, like two guardian deities.

Chen Anran did not immediately gather everyone to announce the discovery. He needed time to process it and, more importantly, to figure out how to deal with this limitation.

He returned to the main hall alone and closed the door.

There were no lights in the hall, only the cool moonlight streaming in through the windows, casting blurry patches of light on the floor. The ancient jade with the marks of time lay quietly on the long table, its eerie light flowing in the darkness, as if breathing with life.

Chen Anran sat down at the table, closed his eyes, and completely immersed himself in his body, carefully sensing the vast and complex array network and the subtle resonance between it and himself and the ancient jade.

"I need to improve my own strength as soon as possible. I can't go to the Great Qian Dynasty and then be stuck on the mountain with nowhere to go."

As Chen Anran pondered, he remembered the gourd Zhang Nanshan had given him.

"The Heavenly Secret Hidden Edge Gourd"

"Effect: Concealing One's Aura: When held by one's side or worn, one can freely adjust, simulate, or conceal the aura fluctuations (including spiritual power attributes, cultivation level, etc.) emitted by oneself. Those whose cultivation level is more than two major realms above the holder cannot easily see through it."

"Unless absolutely necessary, do not leave the area within 30 kilometers of the Cloud Hidden Sect. If there are special circumstances that require you to leave..."

After muttering something to himself, Chen Anran went to rest.

That night, Chen Anran finally forced herself to sleep for a while. She didn't enter a meditative state, nor did she sink into the Museum of Evolution; she simply closed her eyes, emptied her mind, and allowed her tense and throbbing soul to catch its breath for a moment.

When I woke up, it was still dark, and the mountains were filled with the deepest and quietest inky blue before dawn.

Chen Anran got up, opened the window, and the outline of the distant mountains gradually became clear in the fading night, like a traditional Chinese ink painting that was awakening.

He recalled many such mornings: the eldest senior sister would get up early to cook, the second senior sister would read in her room, and the third senior sister... would probably still be lazing in bed, only to be dragged out of bed by the second senior sister.

The emptiness in my heart began to ache again, but this time, in addition to the pain, there was an almost icy focus.

He washed up, changed into a simple dark-colored cloth outfit, and went out of the room. There were already rustling sounds in the mountains—Fatty Li was starting a fire in the kitchen, and the faint clinking of pots and pans could be heard; in the distance, at the inn, the Feng or Jiang family members had probably woken up and were talking in hushed tones.

Without alerting anyone, he descended the mountain alone, heading towards the resort at the foot of the mountain.

The door to Baicao Pavilion was ajar, letting in warm yellow light and a rich aroma of herbs. Feng Changyuan was hunched over a long table, checking a long list by the light of an old-fashioned lamp, occasionally making notes. Feng Lie stood beside him, carefully placing the pre-packaged packets of herbs into different waterproof medicine pouches.

Hearing footsteps, the two looked up.

"Fellow Daoist Chen, so early?" Feng Changyuan put down his pen and rubbed his slightly sore eyes.

"I came to take a look, and also to ask a few questions." Chen Anran walked in, his gaze sweeping over the mountain of medicinal herbs piled on the table and the packed modern medical supplies beside it. "How are the preparations going?"

Feng Lie replied, "Preparations are almost complete."

Chen Anran nodded, then asked, "Where's Mo Han? Has she not woken up yet?"

Feng Lie sighed. "Yes, she's still in a deep coma. My brother and Feng Zhi are treating her. Do you want to go and see her?"

"I won't go."

As Chen Anran turned to leave, Feng Lie watched his retreating figure without trying to persuade him to stay, only saying, "We will find the little deer."

Chen Anran paused for two seconds before walking out of Baicao Pavilion.