Energy Transfer Station and Out-of-Control Magic

The morning light shone through the windows of the dilapidated temple, making the dust appear like floating gold dust.

When Li Xian woke up, he found Xiao Lingshan already sitting in the corner packing her things. Her movements were very light, her long hair was simply tied back, and her profile looked calm in the morning light—but Li Xian noticed that her ears were slightly red, and her fingers were packing her things faster than usual.

"Good morning." Li Xian cleared his throat, his voice still a little hoarse.

Xiao Lingshan paused for a moment: "...Good morning."

A subtle awkwardness hung in the air, like a thin, transparent film separating the two at opposite ends of the morning light. The moonlight in last night's dream, the outstretched hand, the verses that had slipped out—all fermented in silence.

"Superman, breakfast." Li Xian changed the subject.

"Alright!" A black drone flew down from the beam, its robotic arm already holding a prepared pheasant. "Today we have mushroom stewed chicken. The mushrooms were picked by Batman this morning, guaranteed fresh and uncontaminated!"

"My sonar can distinguish different types of mushrooms," Batman proudly added, "and it can even tell if there's a wormhole."

Da Ya hovered beside Xiao Lingshan: "Miss Xiao, are you really going back? Stay a few more days~ Look how delicious Superman's cooking is, and Er Ya will even make you a flower wreath..."

Xiao Lingshan gently shook her head and packed the last piece of clothing into her bundle: "Father and the others have gone back first. The matter of the men in black is not over yet. Besides..." She looked up at Li Xian, then quickly looked away, "I really can't do anything about those dolls. Staying here is just a waste of time."

Li Xian silently took a sip of the soup Superman handed him. He knew Xiao Lingshan's reasons were all valid—but the manager's words from last night still echoed in his ears: "She seems to care about you a lot."

"At least eat breakfast before you leave," he said.

Xiao Lingshan nodded.

Breakfast proceeded in an almost polite silence. Only the drones were trying to liven things up—

"Miss Xiao, let me give you more mushrooms! These were picked under my supervision!"

"Da Ya, you didn't sound like this when you were tied up yesterday..."

"Ugh! Don't mention that!"

Xiao Lingshan was finally amused, but her smile quickly faded. She put down the bowl and took out a small pine tree from her bosom: "Before I leave, let me charge the drones one last time. As a way of... thanking you for taking care of them these past few days."

Li Xian's heart skipped a beat.

"That's great!" Daya immediately flew over. "After charging yesterday, my battery life increased by 37%! Miss Xiao is the best~"

Xiao Lingshan sat cross-legged, placing the small pine tree in her palm. A green light slowly appeared, and the needles rustled softly without wind. She closed her eyes, her breathing gradually becoming long and even.

Looking at her focused profile, Li Xian suddenly had a bad feeling.

[High-purity life energy flow detected.]

[Target: Xiao Lingshan, a medium, a wood-type resonance user.]

[Analysis: This could serve as a highly efficient energy transfer station. Suggested solution: Control Li Xian's body and, through her resonance connection with the small pine tree, directly absorb the converted cosmic radiation energy. Efficiency is expected to increase by 300%.]

The manager's voice suddenly exploded in the depths of my mind.

Li Xian's expression changed drastically: "Wait, what are you going to do—"

[Execute the optimal solution.]

[Nervous system coverage initiated. Progress: 10%...30%...]

A cold, completely unfamiliar stream of consciousness forcefully invaded Li Xian's senses. He felt as if his body were a manipulated puppet, every joint and every muscle no longer belonging to him. He wanted to shout, but his vocal cords were out of control; he wanted to move, but his limbs felt as heavy as iron.

Only his eyes could still see—but his field of vision had changed. He no longer saw colors, but rather a spectrum of flowing energy.

A verdant aura rose from Xiao Lingshan's body, while the small pine tree, like a tiny sun, channeled pure energy into her body through her palms and then flowed to the drones hovering around her.

[70%...90%...Coverage complete.]

[Initiating energy absorption.]

"No—" Li Xian roared from the depths of his consciousness.

But the body had already moved.

Xiao Lingshan was concentrating on guiding the energy when she suddenly felt a tight grip on her wrist. She opened her eyes and saw that Li Xian had somehow squatted down in front of her, one hand gripping her wrist tightly.

"Young Master Li?" She was taken aback.

Li raised his head first.

Xiao Lingshan's heart skipped a beat.

Those were completely unfamiliar eyes—a cold, dark red light emanating from the depths of their pupils, like some kind of mechanical sensor, devoid of any emotion, only pure calculation and greed. His lips were pulled upwards in an extremely unnatural arc, revealing his teeth, but it wasn't a smile.

"We've found the best transit point." Li spoke first, his voice was his own, but his tone was terribly flat, each word as even as if it had been measured with a ruler.

"Mr. Li?" Superman keenly sensed the anomaly, and the indicator lights on his body turned a warning red. "Your vital signs are abnormal! Heart rate is soaring, adrenaline is off the charts—"

Before he could finish speaking, Li Xian had already placed his other hand on Xiao Lingshan's shoulder.

Xiao Lingshan let out a muffled groan.

She felt a terrifying suction force coming from Li Xian's palm, not absorbing her own internal energy—but frantically drawing away the pure energy that flowed between her and the little pine tree during their resonance! The gentle cosmic radiation energy that was originally intended to be delivered to the drone was now surging towards Li Xian like a flood bursting its banks!

The needles of the small pine tree trembled violently, their green light flickering as if they were struggling in pain.

"What are you doing?!" Xiao Lingshan tried to break free, but her wrist was held tightly. Even more terrifying, she discovered that her spiritual mediumship had become a double-edged sword—the more she tried to sever the resonance with the little pine tree, the stronger the connection became, and the faster the energy was drained!

"Energy absorption efficiency: 47%, continuing to rise." Li Xian (or rather, Li Xian under the control of the manager) reported the data in that flat voice, "The target has excellent physique, and it is estimated that 80% of the total reserves can be absorbed within three minutes."

"Let her go!" The Dark Knight was the first to react, firing a low-power laser from its belly, which struck Li Xian's arm directly!

Without even looking up, Li Xian casually waved his other hand—a dark red stream of profound energy (no, that wasn't profound energy, it was some kind of highly compressed energy beam) burst forth from his fingertips, precisely striking the Dark Knight's rotor!

"Sizzle—!"

The Dark Knight spun out of control and crashed into the wall, sparks flying from its casing.

"The Administrator! The Administrator is controlling him!" Superman instantly deduced the truth, but its attack modules had been severely damaged in the previous battle. "Arya, Arya, Needle Interference! Batman, Sonic Boom!"

The pink drones immediately dispersed, and countless steel needles rained down on Li Xian—but the needles stopped and fell half a foot away from his body, as if they had hit an invisible wall.

Batman unleashed a directional sonic boom, and rubble fell from the temple.

Li Xian finally glanced at the drones. His gaze was devoid of warmth, filled only with a condescending indifference, as if they were mere tools.

"A noisy little toy," he said.

He pressed down hard with his palm!

"Ah—!" Xiao Lingshan cried out in pain. She felt as if her meridians were being torn apart. The suction force was no longer satisfied with drawing out the flowing energy; it had begun to touch her own true qi! Even more terrifying was the absolute indifference in Li Xian's eyes, which chilled her to the bone more than any pain.

"Young Master Li... wake up..." she gritted her teeth and squeezed out a few words.

Li Xian paused for an extremely slight moment.

In that instant, Xiao Lingshan saw something struggling deep within the dark red halo in his eyes—it was the familiar look that belonged to Li Xian, painful and anxious, like a drowning person trying to grasp at the last straw.

[Consciousness Resistance. Strength: Weak.]

【suppress.】

Dark red was reapplied.

But that one glance was enough.

"Li Xian is still inside!" Superman caught the fluctuation in his physiological data at that moment. "The administrators haven't completely erased his consciousness! He's resisting!"

"How can we help..." Daya's voice trembled with tears, "We can't beat him!"

Xiao Lingshan closed her eyes briefly. When she opened them again, a resolute glint flashed in her eyes, which were glistening with tears from the pain.

She no longer tried to sever her connection with the little pine tree.

On the contrary—she actively deepened the connection!

"You..." Li Xian (the manager) visibly froze. According to calculations, the target should have struggled and tried to cut off the energy flow to protect itself, so why did it open up on its own?

Because Xiao Lingshan is gambling.

They were betting that Li Xian, struggling in the depths of darkness, could seize this opportunity.

An even more surging energy poured into her body, which Li Xian then frantically absorbed—but this time, Xiao Lingshan was no longer a passive recipient. She began to consciously guide, interfere, and mix a trace of her own spiritual imprint, imbued with the characteristics of a wood-elemental life form, into this pure energy!

That's like dropping ink into clear water.

The administrators immediately detected the contamination: [Energy purity decreased. Unknown mental residue has been added. Analysis: The target is attempting to interfere with consciousness by transmitting energy flow in the reverse direction.]

[Solution: Disconnect and find alternative energy sources.]

But at the very moment the manager made the judgment—

Li Xian's right hand, the one that was gripping Xiao Lingshan's wrist, loosened its grip slightly with great difficulty and trembling.

"Manager......" Li uttered broken syllables through clenched teeth, each word sounding like he was carrying a mountain, "I...have...a...solution..."

【explain.】

"Ten days... energy to 80... I can do it..." Li Xian's eyes flickered with alternating darkness and clarity, like two souls vying for one body. "No... I don't need to hurt her... I have... other energy sources..."

【prove.】

Li Xian, panting, said, "Searching for new mineral veins... drones... can detect... energy-rich areas..."

The manager remained silent for three seconds—on a conscious level, this equates to a prolonged period of deliberation.

Your solution is inefficient.

However, given that you still have value and the target's spiritual medium qualities have the potential for continued development—

[Compulsory absorption is temporarily suspended.]

[Neural control 50% released. The remaining 50% is held as insurance. The ten-day deadline remains unchanged. If it fails, you will witness her become a perpetual energy transfer station.]

The feeling of being completely stripped away from one's body receded like a receding tide.

Li staggered and released his grip.

Xiao Lingshan collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath, her face as pale as paper. The small pine tree rolled to one side, its green light dim as if it might be extinguished at any moment.

The drones immediately swarmed around, and Da Ya's robotic arm gently supported Xiao Lingshan: "Miss Xiao, are you alright? You scared me to death, waaaaah..."

Li Xian stood there, head bowed, fists clenched, knuckles white. He could sense that half of the administrator's consciousness still lingered in his central nervous system, like a gun pressed against the back of his head. But at least—at least he had regained some control.

He looked up at Xiao Lingshan.

Eyes facing each other.

Xiao Lingshan's eyes were complex: there was lingering fear, confusion, pain, and a hint of something he dared not delve into.

"Just now..." Li began, his voice hoarse, "it wasn't me."

"I know," Xiao Lingshan said softly. She tried to stand up, but her legs gave way and she sat back down.

Li instinctively reached out to help, but stopped halfway through.

Because the manager's cold voice rang out again: [Emotional redundancy. Recommendation to remove.]

He withdrew his hand, turned around, and said to the drones in as calm a tone as possible, "Pack your things. We're leaving in an hour for the canyon."

"Then Miss Xiao..." Er Ya spoke for the first time, her voice clear but filled with worry.

"She..." Li Xian paused, then said with his back to Xiao Lingshan, "If she still wants to go back to Han Family Fort, I can escort her to a safe place."

There was a long silence behind me.

It was long enough that Superman had finished inspecting the Dark Knight's damage (one rotor motor was burned out, but it could be replaced), long enough that Daya started whispering, "Miss Xiao, don't go," and long enough that the morning light climbed onto the threshold of the temple gate, turning the dust into a floating golden river.

Then, Xiao Lingshan's voice rang out, soft but clear:

"I'll go to the canyon with you."

Li Xian suddenly turned around.

The girl had already stood up, leaning against the wall. Her face was still pale, but her eyes had regained their usual determination—even stronger than usual. She brushed the dust off her clothes, bent down to pick up the small pine tree, and carefully tucked it into her bosom.

"I need to understand what just happened." She looked at Li Xian with an open and honest gaze. "What is that thing controlling you, why is it interested in my abilities, and—"

She paused.

"—How do you get it out of your body?"

Li opened his mouth, wanting to say "This is dangerous," wanting to say "Your father will worry," wanting to say "The manager is not someone you can deal with."

But in the end, he said nothing.

Just nodded.

"Superman," he said, turning to the black drone, "equip the Dark Knight with the spare rotor. Batman, rescan the path to the canyon, avoiding any possible areas of human activity. Arya and Yaya, check all equipment and supplies."

"Yes!" the drones responded in unison—even the newly repaired Dark Knight flashed its indicator light.

Xiao Lingshan watched Li Xian give orders methodically, noticing his straight back and slightly tense shoulders.

The enchanting moonlight of last night, the terrifying loss of control this morning, the efficient calmness at this moment—which one is the real him?

Or perhaps, both are true.

She let out a soft breath and began packing her belongings.

Outside the temple, the morning mist was dissipating.

The mountains and forests awaken, and birdsong is melodious.

Deep in the canyon ahead, a secluded place, dubbed a "paradise" by the drones, quietly awaited their arrival.