Survival for All: I can deconstruct projections and synthesize everything.

In the deadwood forest on the edge of the decaying lake, Lin Xiao floated in mid-air, surrounded by a constantly flowing seven-colored halo.

His gaze fell on the holographic projection in front of him, which was the result of three hours of deduction by the omniscient rules.

The central area of ​​the Dream Realm is marked as the most likely hiding place.

"Dream Realm..."

Lin Xiao muttered to himself, quickly reviewing all the information about the Nightmare Weaver that Xingyan had given him in his mind.

The Nightmare Weaver, the most mysterious of the nine rulers, is skilled in the rules of dreams and illusions. In his domain, reality and dreams intertwine, and more than thirty beings have died mysteriously in their sleep.

If Nelly is indeed hiding here, it would explain why the Shadowmoon Wolf King's two-month pursuit has yielded no results.

In areas governed by the rules of dreams, any physical tracking methods become ineffective, and even detection at the rule level is distorted into absurd dream fragments.

However, Lin Xiao did not entirely believe this preliminary conclusion.

He knew Nelly too well, that seemingly innocent girl amidst the ruins, yet actually a shrewd and calculating one.

Since she was able to set up such an ingenious network of misinformation, she must have considered the deductive methods that her pursuers might use.

"Omniscient rule, attempting a second-level in-depth analysis."

Lin Xiao closed his eyes, and the rule of all things returning to their origin was in full operation.

This time, he took all the previously overlooked details into consideration: the microstructural differences of each red sand decoy, the energy decay curve of the spatial warp trajectory, the degree of fit between the fluctuations of the rules and the environmental background...

Time passed second by second.

The nights in the Dark Sun Forest are also devoid of stars, only an eternally dark red canopy looming high in the sky.

The skeletal water monster in the lake poked its head out three more times, its eerie green eyes gazing at Lin Xiao for a moment each time, seemingly curious about this uninvited guest who was constantly emitting fluctuations of order.

However, Lin Xiao suppressed all his aggressive aura, which ultimately prevented it from taking any offensive action.

Four hours later, Lin Xiao opened her eyes.

His pupils shimmered with a rainbow of colors, a manifestation of the omniscient rules operating at their peak.

"I see……"

Lin Xiao said softly, a knowing smile playing on her lips.

The projection in front of him began to reconstruct, with all the decoy signal points being categorized and marked, arranged in chronological order into a spiraling network of trajectories.

But this time, Lin Xiao noticed a crucial detail that he had previously overlooked:

The time intervals between the release of all the decoys reveal a subtle mathematical pattern—the Fibonacci sequence.

Release 1 site on the first day, 1 site on the second day, 2 sites on the third day, 3 sites on the fifth day, 5 sites on the eighth day...

Such patterns are almost impossible to form naturally amidst chaotic and misleading signals.

Only by doing it intentionally could such precise mathematical traces be left behind.

"Although I don't know much about mathematics, my deconstructive talent can completely analyze it..."

"And back when we were in the ruins, she witnessed some of my abilities!"

"She's leaving behind real clues in a way that only I can understand."

Lin Xiao's spirits lifted, and he began to use the Fibonacci sequence as a key to re-decode the coordinate data of all the decoy signals.

The omniscient rule, in conjunction with the computational power of the universal flow, performs mathematical transformations on thousands of signal nodes.

An hour later, a brand new trajectory map emerged.

All the false and misleading signals receded like the tide, leaving only seven genuine signal points. These points connected on the map to form a winding path, starting at the Lake of Decay and ending at…

"It's not the realm of illusions."

Lin Xiao narrowed his eyes, looking at the final coordinates on the map: "It's an unclaimed area at the border of the Wind and Thunder Domain and the Bone Tomb Domain."

This result was somewhat unexpected.

The Storm Dragon, ruler of the Wind and Thunder Realm, is upright and abhors conspiracies and tricks, while the Skeleton King of the Bone Tomb Realm is sinister and mysterious.

At the border between the two territories, a buffer zone of about three hundred miles wide was formed due to the conflict of rules.

The spatial structure there is extremely unstable, and small-scale rule storms often erupt, making it impossible for ordinary creatures to approach.

"But if it were Nelly... she might indeed choose a place like that."

Lin Xiao analyzed, "The unclaimed territory means there is no direct monitoring from the ruler. The rule storm can interfere with most detection methods, and the rule chaos at the boundary can just cover up the fluctuations generated when she mobilizes the source of the mist and her fortune talent."

"More importantly—"

Lin Xiao pulled up a detailed map of that area: "It's 8,700 miles from here to the Lake of Decay in a straight line. We need to cross... the southern border of the Wind and Thunder Domain."

He frowned; this was no short distance, and it would involve traversing the Storm Dragon's wind and thunder domain.

Although the Storm Dragons of the Wind and Thunder Realm are relatively easy to communicate with, their territory's defense system is one of the most rigorous among the nine Overlords.

This ruler advocates fair duels and despises sneak attacks and tricks, but also highly values ​​territorial sovereignty.

Crossing their territory without permission is likely to be seen as a provocation.

"What if we take a slightly longer route?"

Lin Xiao tried to plan other routes.

Detouring eastward would require passing through the battle zones of the Bloodvine Domain and the Crystal Peak Domain, which would be even riskier.

To go west, one must traverse the entire Bone Tomb domain and confront the Skeleton King's undead army.

To the north... lies the Dark Flame Domain, but to reach the target point from there, one must ultimately pass through a corner of the Wind and Thunder Domain.

"It seems there's no way to completely bypass it."

Lin Xiao finally concluded: "The southern border of the Wind and Thunder Domain is wedge-shaped, inserted between the Bone Tomb and the Dark Flame. To reach the unclaimed territory, one must cross at least forty miles of the Storm Dragon's territory."

He put away all the projections and looked towards the northwest.

Beneath the dark red sky, flashes of lightning could be faintly seen in the distance, a hallmark of the Wind and Thunder Realm.

"In that case, we have no choice but to proceed directly."

Having made up his mind, Lin Xiao transformed into a streak of light and sped off toward the Wind and Thunder Domain.

------

The border of the Wind and Thunder Realm is completely different from other areas of the Dark Sun Forest.

The sky here is no longer the eternal dark red, but is filled with rolling lead-gray thunderclouds.

Thick bolts of lightning tore through the clouds from time to time, striking the ground and blasting out charred craters.

The wind howled, whipping up sand and stones to form tornadoes that roamed freely across the wasteland.

The air was filled with the smell of ozone and ionization, and the regular fluctuations were unusually active and violent.

Lin Xiao stopped outside the border, his all-knowing rules scanning the situation ahead.

Every ten miles along the border stands a watchtower, with a rotating lightning crystal suspended atop it, emitting detection ripples.

There were regular lightning traps on the ground, and storm eagles circled in the sky.

These flying creatures, unique to the Wind and Thunder Realm, have a wingspan exceeding five meters, their feathers crackling with electricity, possess fourth-tier combat power, and can share vision with each other.

"The defense system is indeed very robust."

Lin Xiao pondered, "Forced entry will trigger an alarm. If the Storm Dragon sees us as intruders, things will get complicated."

He needs a way to get through without causing too much conflict.

After a moment of contemplation, Lin Xiao came up with a plan.

He took out a golden badge from his pocket. It was a token given by the Golden King. Although it could not represent the Golden King's identity, it contained the rule mark of an eighth-level powerhouse.

Although it cannot be used directly to intimidate the Storm Dragon, it is enough to prove that Lin Xiao's identity is extraordinary, and that he has an unfamiliar eighth-level powerhouse backing him.

Next, Lin Xiao straightened his robes, adjusted the fluctuations of the rules around him to a peaceful state, and removed all disguises and concealment methods.

He wanted to cross this territory with dignity and honor, and as a leader of a power.

"Lin Xiao, leader of the Eternal Alliance, requests an audience with His Excellency Storm Dragon, ruler of the Wind and Thunder Domain!"

Lin Xiao channeled all his energy, and his voice boomed forward like a great bell.

The sound traveled in the strong wind and quickly attracted the attention of the watchtower.

The lightning crystals of the three watchtowers simultaneously turned, focusing their detection ripples on Lin Xiao.

Stormhawks in the sky also gathered, circling overhead and emitting sharp cries.

A few minutes later, a gap appeared in the Thunder Barrier within the border line.

A lightning elemental guard, 25 meters tall and clad in silver-blue armor, stepped out.

His body was made of solidified lightning, his eyes were two pulsating balls of lightning, and he held a halberd wrapped in electric light in his hand.

"Sixth-tier expert, state your true purpose."

The voice of the lightning elemental guardian boomed like thunder: "We in the Wind and Thunder Domain do not welcome those who hide their true colors."

Lin Xiao displayed the badge of the Golden King: "I have come in search of a friend, and I need to cross the southern border of the Storm Realm to reach the No Man's Land."

"I'm just letting you know to avoid any misunderstandings!"

As Lin Xiao spoke, he subtly revealed the badge.

The lightning elemental guardian's lightning orb eyes flickered a few times, staring at the badge for a while, and also sensed the power belonging to an eighth-tier expert within the badge.

After a moment, his attitude softened slightly: "Since you are acting as an agent for an eighth-tier powerhouse, our Lord Storm Dragon will naturally grant you permission. However, you still need to personally explain your purpose to the Lord and obtain permission before you can pass."

"That's natural." Lin Xiao nodded.

"Come with me."

The lightning elemental guardian turned and led the way. Lin Xiao followed him through the lightning barrier and officially stepped into the Wind and Thunder Domain.

Upon entering the territory, Lin Xiao immediately sensed a completely different set of rules and environment.

The rules of wind and thunder are unusually active here, while the other rules are suppressed to a minimum.

The air is filled with free ions, and you can feel a slight electric current stimulation with every breath.

The ground is hard, lightning-struck rock, its surface covered with lightning-shaped patterns, occasionally punctuated by tiny sparks of electricity.

In the distance, a majestic mountain peak pierces the clouds, its summit shrouded in relentless thunderstorms—that is Thunder Peak, the lair of the Storm Dragon.

Instead of heading to Thunder Peak, the Thunder Element Guardian led Lin Xiao to a camp near the border.

In the center of the camp stands a hall entirely constructed of lightning crystals, with twelve lightning pillars standing outside the hall, their tops ablaze with blue lightning flames.

"Wait here; Lord Storm Dragon will personally receive you."

After speaking, the guard stepped aside and joined several other lightning elemental soldiers in guarding the entrance to the hall.

Lin Xiao stood in front of the hall, the Omniscient Rule silently scanning the surrounding environment.

He noticed that the hall itself was a massive creation of rules, capable of gathering thunderous energy from a radius of hundreds of miles.

Deep within the hall, a powerful aura is awakening.

That aura was like a super thunderstorm brewing, containing world-destroying power, yet also carrying a peculiar sense of order.

Unlike other rulers who are chaotic and violent, this one is orderly and majestic, as if following some ancient law.

"The peak of the seventh rank, only one step away from the eighth rank."

Lin Xiao mentally assessed, "Moreover, his control over the rules is extremely high, and his energy condensation level far surpasses that of the Dark Flame Overlord. I estimate his strength is comparable to that of the Netherworld Ferryman!"

Just then, a deep voice came from the depths of the hall, like distant thunder, yet it rang clearly in Lin Xiao's mind:

"Why is this unfamiliar eighth-tier agent crossing my territory?"

Lin Xiao bowed slightly towards the hall: "Your Excellency Storm Dragon, I have come in search of a lost friend. She may be hiding in the unclaimed area where your domain meets the Bone Tomb domain, so I need to pass through."

It's best to be cautious when dealing with a seventh-tier opponent whose attitude is unclear.

Moreover, Lin Xiao's current strength is only at the sixth level, which is not the time for him to act recklessly in front of a seventh-level opponent.

"friend?"

The voice from within the hall held a hint of interest: "To survive in unclaimed territory, one must be at least a fifth-tier being. Who are your friends?"

After a moment of silence, Lin Xiao decided to stop there: "She's been appearing near the territory lately, and she's golden."

"gold……"

The Storm Dragon paused, then continued, "Two months ago, that little wolf cub, Shadowmoon, was frantically searching the entire forest for a golden target. Was that her?"

"Exactly."

"interesting."

The Storm Dragon seemed to laugh, its voice echoing like thunder: "Shadowmoon has been chasing her for two months without success, yet you were able to pinpoint the unclaimed territory with pinpoint accuracy... It seems your relationship with her is quite special."

Lin Xiao did not deny it: "We've been through thick and thin together, you could say we have a life-or-death friendship."

There was silence in the hall for more than ten seconds.

Then, the Storm Dragon's voice rang out again: "I can allow you to pass, but on one condition."

"Please speak, sir."

"You must leave my territory within twelve hours, without lingering, without conflict with my people, and without disrupting any rules or structures within the territory."

"I agree, but if they attack me first, I won't be a coward!" Although Lin Xiao agreed, she didn't completely comply.

"That's how it should be."

The atmosphere in the hall began to subside: "Lei Ji, take him across the southern border and escort him out of the country."

The lightning elemental guard who was leading the way bowed and accepted the order: "Yes, sir."

Lin Xiao bowed again in the direction of the hall to express his gratitude, and then left the camp with Lei Ji.

Speechless all the way.

Lei Ji carried Lin Xiao across the southern region of the Wind and Thunder Domain at top speed.

The scene here is even more breathtaking, with huge thunderstorm clouds rolling in the low sky, tornadoes connecting heaven and earth moving slowly, and springs of lightning gushing from the ground from time to time, with blue plasma flowing like waterfalls.

However, all dangerous natural phenomena have fixed paths and patterns, and as long as you avoid those areas, you can pass through safely.

This is the characteristic of the Storm Dragon's territory: dangerous yet orderly.

Three hours later, the two arrived at the southern border.

Ahead lies a chaotic zone of turbulent rules, a barrier formed by the conflict between the rules of the Wind and Thunder Domain and the Bone Tomb Domain.

"Beyond this turbulent area lies unclaimed territory."

Lei Ji pointed ahead and said, "I can only take you this far. Beyond that is the border between the two major domains, and it's inconvenient for me to step into there."

"Thank you." Lin Xiao bowed in thanks.

"Remember, twelve hours," Lei Ji reminded him again, then turned and left.

Lin Xiao watched him disappear into the horizon, then turned to face the turbulent flow of rules before her.

The omniscient rules unfold, analyzing the structure of the turbulent flow within.

This place is filled with the violent rules of wind and thunder and the sinister rules of the dead. The two tear each other apart, annihilate each other, and regenerate, forming countless tiny vortexes of rules.

Any creature below the sixth rank that steps in will be instantly torn to shreds.

Even a sixth-tier expert would need to be careful.

Lin Xiao took a deep breath, and the rule of the return of all things formed a seven-colored shield around his body.

He steadied himself and stepped into the turbulent area.

The No Man's Land, one of the most chaotic areas in the Dark Sun Forest.

There is no sovereign rule here, no fixed rules, only eternal storms of rules and spatial rifts.

The ground was a charred, broken rock layer, with different types of energy surging from the cracks—sometimes lightning, sometimes necromantic mist, and sometimes eerie fragments of dreams.

The sky is distorted, with rules from different realms weaving together to create bizarre and fantastical scenes.

Lin Xiao struggled through the turbulent waters.

He needs to constantly adjust the frequency of his shields to cope with the ever-changing impact of the rules.

The omniscient rules were operating at full capacity, planning the safest path for him, avoiding those rule vortexes that could severely injure a sixth-order being.

Two hours later, Lin Xiao finally passed through the most dangerous turbulent area and entered the relatively stable unclaimed territory.

The rules here are still chaotic, but at least there are no longer any deadly vortexes.

Lin Xiao stopped and took out the coordinate graph she had analyzed earlier.

The path formed by connecting the seven real signal points eventually points to an area in the center of the no-owner zone, known as the Graveyard of Rules, a remnant area left behind after years of conflicting rules.

"Omniscient rule, scanning the entire rule graveyard."

Lin Xiao spread his senses outwards, and a seven-colored halo spread outwards from him.

The image of a graveyard of rules surfaced in my mind:

The shattered remains of an ancient building, half-buried in scorched earth, are covered with unrecognizable runes.

Scattered fragments of regular crystals emanate residual energy fluctuations.

Several enormous skeletons, belonging to some unknown powerful creature, were covered with traces of the erosion of rules.

There are also dozens of spatial distortion points, where the dimensional structure is extremely fragile and could collapse at any moment.

But amidst this chaotic scene, Lin Xiao keenly detected something unusual.

In the southeast corner of the cemetery, beneath a seemingly ordinary pile of rocks, the spatial structure is unusually stable.

Compared to the fragile dimensions around it, the space there seemed to have been carefully reinforced, and the method of reinforcement... bore the marks of familiar rules of fortune.

"Found it."

A glint flashed in Lin Xiao's eyes, and his figure transformed into a streak of light, rushing off in that direction.

Three minutes later, he stood in front of the pile of rocks.

From the outside, it is just a pile of rubble that can be found anywhere in an unclaimed area. The largest stone is no more than three meters high and the surface is covered with bluish-black moss.

However, the omniscient rule's deep scan revealed a hidden spatial interlayer beneath the rock pile.

The entrance to the mezzanine was concealed by a clever illusion, and there was even a lucky deflection effect formed by a layer of fortune rules.

Even if someone happens to come here, they will miss the entrance due to various coincidences.

"Nellie, it's me, Lin Xiao."

Lin Xiao did not forcefully break the illusion, but instead spoke softly to the pile of rocks.

The sound was faint amidst the storm of rules, but Lin Xiao believed that if Nelly was really inside, she would definitely be able to hear it.

A few seconds later, ripples appeared on the surface of the rock pile.

A two-meter-high rock rippled like water, revealing a deep passage behind it.

A soft golden light emanated from inside the passage; it was the light of pure fortune-telling principles.

Lin Xiao stepped into the passage without hesitation.

As soon as I stepped inside, the scene before me changed abruptly.

Outside is a chaotic, orderly graveyard, but inside is a quiet, clean, and vibrant cave space.

The cave is about 30 meters square and 5 meters high, with its ceiling inlaid with regular, luminous crystals that provide soft lighting.

The walls were adorned with simple decorations, and the floor was covered with soft, unidentified animal hides.

In the corner were a stone bed, a stone table, and stone chairs, with several unfinished rule runes placed on the table.

In the center of the cave, a figure stood with his back to Lin Xiao in front of a set of Crimson Sand Armor.

She was still wearing a red wide-brimmed hat and a red off-the-shoulder top, though it was unclear where she had gotten it from.

Upon seeing Nelly, Lin Xiao's expression brightened, and even Nelly turned her head to look at Lin Xiao.

Just as Lin Xiao saw her, Nelly's avatar in the Mist System's private chat interface regained its color.

"Lin Xiao? It really is you!"

Looking at the happy Nelly, Lin Xiao couldn't help but sigh.

But what Lin Xiao is most concerned about right now is that, perhaps to avoid the misty world, or perhaps because of the passage of time, Nelly is no longer as taciturn as before.

"I knew my fortune-telling talent was telling me I was in danger at the same time that someone I knew was looking for me. Turns out, it was you who came looking for me!"

However, Lin Xiao was stunned when he heard Nelly's words, and then his face darkened.

Nelly suddenly realized what she had just said.

Her grasp of fortune is infallible, which means that the danger facing Nelly has not yet arrived.

Suddenly, Nelly's fortune-controlling abilities frantically gave her warnings, and Lin Xiao's omniscient rules were also operating wildly.

Even now, Nelly never doubted whether Lin Xiao had deliberately lured the danger here.

"Awoo! Awoo!"

Outside where Nelly was hiding, a series of wolf howls echoed continuously!