Chapter 125: Sower's Dawn

On the seventh day after Starfire's arrival, Pure Land began to change.

It wasn't a sudden miracle—no forest sprouted overnight, no buildings repaired themselves. The change is slow, solid, and requires sweat and effort. Like true sowing: first turn the soil, then plant the seeds, then wait.

Su Yu stood atop the newly built Purification Tower, one of the first facilities constructed based on Starfire knowledge. The tower was thirty meters tall, its summit fitted with a Stardust crystal array that could convert sunlight into purifying beams, slowly but continuously erasing shadow contamination within a five‑kilometer radius.

It was dawn, and the wind was strong at the tower's peak. Su Yu tightened her coat and watched the camp below gradually awaken.

The camp had expanded fivefold compared to seven days ago. The surface residents of Pure Land and the underground shelter survivors had largely merged, though friction remained—surface dwellers were used to scarcity and vigilance, underground people to discipline and isolation—but shared survival needs outweighed the gaps.

She saw Han Qing training the newly formed defense squad. Among the members were seasoned surface veterans and engineers who had not handled weapons in seven years underground. Han Qing's teaching style was strict but not harsh; he was demonstrating how to use Stardust‑enhanced weapons against lingering shadow creatures—not merely to kill, but to purify and repel.

"The point isn't to kill," his voice floated up on the wind, "but to give them a chance to return to their original form. Remember, you're fighting a disease, not the patient."

Su Yu smiled. Han Qing was becoming a true leader, not just a warrior.

Her gaze shifted to the east side of the camp, where a newly cleared field lay. Starfire knowledge included a complete set of ecological restoration techniques: how to amend soil with Stardust, how to cultivate pollution‑resistant crops, how to establish small‑scale ecological cycles. Kaiwen and Aili were in charge of this part, and now they were planting the first season's experimental crops together with a group of children.

The little girl who had given Su Yu paper stars—her name was Xiao Yu, six years old, born underground—was carefully cradling a seedling, while Aili crouched beside her to guide. Xiao Yu placed the seedling into the dug hole, covering it with soil using her tiny hands, her motions reverent as if performing a ritual.

"Will it bear real apples?" Xiao Yu asked.

"It will," Aili patted her head, "red, sweet apples. The kind you've never tasted before."

"I want to keep one for Sister Su Yu," Xiao Yu said.

Su Yu felt a warmth spread across her chest. The scar no longer ached; it was like a perpetually gentle sun, continuously radiating energy. She could sense Starfire knowledge flowing within her, like an endless book that automatically displayed relevant passages whenever she needed them.

But knowledge is only knowledge. Application requires choices, and choices… demand consequences.

"Lost in thought?"

Su Yu turned, and Lao Zhao was climbing the spiral staircase. He had regained his memories seven days ago, but his body was still adjusting—seven years of underground malnutrition and recent severe injuries had left him gaunt, yet his eyes had regained their spark, that veteran's gaze that sees through life and death yet still endures.

"Uncle Zhao," Su Yu gave him a steadying hand, "you should rest more."

"I've rested enough," Lao Zhao waved his hand, walked to the railing, and looked at the bustling camp below. "Slept underground for seven years, that's enough. Now…" He inhaled deeply, the morning air crisp, "now I want to see the sky more."

The two were silent for a moment, watching the sunrise fully break, sunlight spilling over the Purification Tower as the crystal array began to emit a faint blue glow.

"Xiaofeng is helping design a new underground farm," Lao Zhao said, his voice carrying a father's pride, "he says we can use the old shelter's structure, add a Stardust lighting system, and create year‑round crop production. That child… has grown up."

"He's always been growing," Su Yu whispered, "you just never had the chance to see it before."

Lao Zhao nodded, a glimmer of tears at the corner of his eyes, but he quickly brushed them away: "How's the Stardust plant that Dr. Chen left behind…?"

Su Yu looked toward the Stardust Cradle at the camp's center. The plant had grown taller, its stems thickened, and its leaves no longer displayed memory images but continuously projected various technical schematics and ecological data. It had become a living repository; anyone needing Starfire technology could go there to "query"—not by reading, but by resonating consciousness when touching the leaves.

"It's adapting to a new role," Su Yu said, "just like all of us."

Lao Zhao turned to her, "How are you?"

The question was sudden. In the past seven days, everyone had asked Su Yu "How's the plan?", "How's the technology?", "How's the reconstruction?", but no one had asked "How are you?"

Su Yu paused, then smiled, her smile bearing fatigue yet more relief: "I… am learning. Learning how to be a Sower, not merely a survivor."

"That distress signal," Lao Zhao lowered his voice, "Kaiwen told me about it last night."

Su Yu's expression grew serious.

Three days earlier, Kaiwen, while calibrating the newly built Deep Space monitoring station, captured a signal. It was not a human signal, nor any known civilization's. It was a kind of… cry.

Translated through Starfire technology, it was a repeated, desperate plea:

Ecosystem collapse… massive extinction of lifeforms… requesting any listening entity… help… or at least… witness our end…

The signal originated from the direction of Orion, its distance unmeasurable precisely, but at least over five hundred light‑years away. The signal itself had been propagating for several hundred years, perhaps longer.

In other words, the civilization that sent the distress may have been extinct the moment the signal was emitted.

Yet they still called for help, like a message in a bottle cast into the sea, hoping someday someone would find it and know they once existed.

"Should we respond?" Lao Zhao asked.

Su Yu did not answer at once. She looked at her palm, the lines of her hand clear in the morning light. Starfire knowledge told her that building an interstellar communication array would require at least three years with humanity's current technology, and actually traveling to that star system would need even more advanced tech—Starfire contains the theory, but application takes time, perhaps decades.

"We haven't even healed our own world," she whispered, "what right do we have to answer others?"

"What would Dr. Chen choose?" Lao Zhao asked.

Su Yu recalled Chen Mo's final words: "Choose for the future."

She gripped the railing: "We will respond. Not now. First we must learn to sow within our own world, and then… perhaps help others sow."

Lao Zhao nodded, a satisfied smile appearing: "That's the right way. Keep your feet on the ground, step by step."

At that moment, cheers rose from below.

Su Yu and Lao Zhao looked down. In the newly cultivated field, the first Stardust‑enhanced crop—not food but a fast‑growing vine meant for soil remediation—had flowered.

The pale‑blue blossoms glowed faintly in the morning light. Children formed a circle, eyes wide open. Adults paused their tasks, gazing at the flower as if witnessing a miracle.

It was small, just a single flower.

But it was the first flower in seven years.

"Light doesn't need to be abundant," Lao Zhao whispered, echoing Chen Mo's words, "a little is enough."

The scar on Su Yu's chest pulsed warmly.

At noon, Su Yu convened a meeting in the temporary command center.

The room was tiny, originally a storage chamber of the underground shelter, now furnished with a few old tables and "holographic projection leaves" supplied by the Stardust plant. Attendees were few: Han Qing, Kaiwen, Aili, Makusi, Wang Hu, Li Yuanshan, Li Xiaofeng, and the volunteer Lao Zhao.

"First‑stage purification progress," Kaiwen projected a holographic map, "centered on Pure Land, within a ten‑kilometer radius shadow density has dropped 37%. In three months this area should be fully purified, suitable for expanded habitation and farming."

On the map, the pale‑blue ring denoting the purification zone was slowly expanding.

"But the problem is here," Han Qing pointed to several red dots at the map's edge, "the remaining shadow creatures are gathering toward more heavily polluted zones. They seem to… fear purification. After congregating, individuals begin to merge, forming a larger threat."

The screen displayed footage from the reconnaissance team: a dozen small shadow beings fused into a twisted entity five meters tall, assaulting the outer defenses of the Purification Tower.

"Stardust weapons are effective," Wang Hu said, "but we need more manpower. The defense squad now has only fifty people; protecting the tower, patrolling the perimeter, training newcomers… isn't enough."

"Among the underground survivors there are two hundred individuals with basic military training," Li Yuanshan said, "they can join. But they need equipment and acclimation training—seven years without sunlight, and never having seen so many… living plants."

When he said "living plants," his tone sounded as if speaking of mythic creatures.

"I can handle the equipment," Li Xiaofeng raised his hand, "the old shelter still has some undamaged manufacturing gear. Combined with Stardust technology, we can produce basic protective gear and upgraded weapons. But we need raw materials."

"The raw materials list is here." Kaiwen projected a long list.

The meeting lasted two hours. Each issue was raised, discussed, and then tasks were assigned. There was no arguing, no passing the buck, only pragmatic division of labor. Su Yu spent most of the time listening, speaking only at key decisions.

She noticed her role was changing. No longer the captain directing battle, but a … Seeder coordinating all sides. She had to ensure the balance of technology, resources, and manpower, ensure each step was solid, ensure hope wasn't destroyed by rushing for quick results.

As the meeting was about to end, Aili raised a question that had been avoided:

"What about the survivors still in the contaminated zone?"

On the map, beyond the Pure Land by a hundred kilometers, there were several confirmed human settlement signals. They might not know of the Pure Land's existence, or know but cannot reach it through the contaminated zone.

"We can't save everyone," Makusi said frankly, "at least not now. Expanding the purification radius takes time, and expeditionary rescue requires preparation."

"But what if they can't wait?" Aili insisted, "If they… before we're ready…"

The meeting room fell silent.

Su Yu looked at the weak signal points on the holographic map, each representing dozens or even hundreds of lives. Starfire knowledge told her that establishing a safe expedition route would take at least six months. According to signal strength analysis, the nearest settlement might only last three months.

"We'll proceed in two steps," Su Yu finally said, "First: establish communications. Stardust plants can boost our communication range. First contact them, tell them we're here, hope on the way."

"Second: form a rapid response team." She looked at Han Qing, "Small scale, highly mobile, carrying portable purification equipment and medical supplies. Not demanding full rescue, only buying time—sending them hope and basic aid so they can hold out until our main force arrives."

Han Qing pondered: "Feasible. But the risk is high. The rapid team would need to cross the heavily contaminated zone."

"I'll go," Wang Hu said first.

"Me too," Makusi followed.

"We need technical personnel," Kaiwen adjusted his glasses, "I'll join."

"Medical personnel are essential," Aili said.

Su Yu watched them, these teammates who had accompanied her through the darkest moments, now preparing to step into new darkness.

"Han Qing will lead the team," she said, "a seven‑person squad. Give you two weeks to prepare."

"And you, Su Yu?" Han Qing asked.

"I'll stay in the Pure Land to oversee the rear construction," Su Yu replied, "and… I need to learn more Seeder knowledge. That distress signal is just the first; more will come. We must be ready."

The meeting ended, and everyone dispersed to prepare their respective tasks.

Su Yu was the last to leave. She approached the Stardust Cradle, touching the plant's leaves. The leaves were warm, like the skin of a living creature.

"Chen Mo," she whispered, "tell me, am I doing this right?"

The plant gave no answer. But the light on its leaves softened, as if soothing.

She lifted her gaze to the plant's top, where a new fruit had formed—not a golden knowledge fruit, but a silvery‑white one, the color of Chen Mo's android body.

The fruit swayed gently, then detached and floated into her hand.

The fruit melted in her palm, not into knowledge but into a sensation:

Not a memory, but… companionship.

Like someone holding her hand, like someone whispering in her ear, "You did well," like the silent companionship of late‑night work.

Su Yu smiled, tears slipping down.

"Thank you," she said, "stay with me as I keep going."

At that moment, Kaiwen burst into the cradle, holding a freshly printed data report, his face pale.

"Su Yu," his voice trembling, "the second signal… has been received. It's not a distress call."

"What is it?"

"A warning signal." Kaiwen handed her the report, "from the same direction, but closer. The distance may be within a hundred light‑years."

The report contained only one line of translated text, cold and clear:

【Warning: The Seeder Covenant has been corrupted. Some Seeders have fallen into becoming 'Harvesters'. If you receive Starfire, hide immediately. Do not respond to any distress signals. Do not expose your location. Harvesters will home in on the Starfire signal, harvesting every nascent civilization.】

【Repeat: Hide immediately.】

Su Yu felt the scar on her chest suddenly turn icy.

She looked at the silvery‑white light in her hand, at the clear sky above the Pure Land, at the people striving to rebuild their homes.

The seeding has only just begun.

But the Harvesters… are already on the move.