Chapter 133

Returning from Lianyue Lake, Qin Feng felt his Spirit state completely renewed, and the mysterious resonance with the "Heart of the Ocean" filled him with new expectations for his future path of power. However, real-world affairs would not pause for personal epiphanies—the accumulated work still loomed like a mountain.

Late at night, the top-floor office of Qin Feng Pharmaceuticals headquarters was still ablaze with lights.

Qin Feng was reviewing the latest progress report on the "Jingyuan Technology" demonstration project, as well as Su Jin's Fine-Tuning suggestions regarding Ailin's treatment plan. Although he had achieved a breakthrough in resonating with the "Heart of the Ocean," he knew deeply that steadily advancing existing projects was the Cornerstone of the Empire's stability.

Just as he was fully concentrated, the System—which had long been silent in his mind—suddenly and without warning popped up an information stream. It was neither a mission nor a reward, but a warning with a bright red exclamation mark and bolded text:

【Warning! Detected that Host's core asset (the scientific research vessel "Voyager") is under assault by unknown forces!】【Assault type: High-Dimensional Energy Interference / Rule-Level Contamination】【Assault source: Suspected to share the same origin as the "Heart of the Ocean," but with diametrically opposite nature (chaos/annihilation tendency)】【Current status: "Voyager" core propulsion system offline at 75%, life-support system efficiency reduced by 60%, detection system severely interfered, artificial intelligence "Navigator" logic core experiencing disorder……hull structural integrity continuously degrading!】【Estimated complete loss of contact/disintegration time: 71 hours 59 minutes……58 minutes……】

A string of shocking data flooded into Qin Feng's mind in an instant!

The "Voyager" under attack?! Not a physical strike, but……High-Dimensional Energy Interference? Rule-Level Contamination?! And forces sharing the same origin as the "Heart of the Ocean" but of opposite nature?

Qin Feng abruptly stood up from his seat, his expression instantly turning incomparably solemn!

The "Voyager" was not merely a priceless scientific research vessel—it was also his key platform for exploring the Deep Sea, studying the "Heart of the Ocean," and conducting certain covert operations in the future! Its importance went without saying!

Moreover, the System's mention of "forces sharing the same origin as the Heart of the Ocean but of opposite nature" set alarm bells ringing in his heart! Could it be that beneath the Deep Sea, besides the "Heart of the Ocean" representing life and creation, there also existed some opposing entity representing chaos and destruction?!

"Immediately establish the highest-authority communication link with the 'Voyager'!" Qin Feng issued the command to the System in his mind as his first action.

【Command confirmed……attempting connection……connection failed! Communication signal under intense interference, unable to establish stable link! Can only receive one-way intermittent status data……】

The System's feedback made Qin Feng's heart sink. Even the highest-authority communication assisted by the System was being interfered with? The level of this unknown assault was unimaginably high!

"Activate emergency protocol! Does the 'Voyager' have preset emergency evasion or self-destruct procedures?" Qin Feng quickly pressed.

【Attempted to activate preset emergency protocol……no response! Artificial intelligence "Navigator" logic core in disorder, unable to execute complex commands! Energy interference has penetrated to the system's deepest layer……】

It's over!

Qin Feng felt a chill rise from his spine. The "Voyager" was like a giant suddenly paralyzed in the deep sea, being slowly devoured and dismantled by an invisible, terrifying force! Yet he was ten thousand miles away, beyond reach!

Conventional means were already ineffective. Dispatch a rescue team? Setting aside the fact that there wasn't enough time, even the "High-Dimensional Energy Interference" that the "Voyager" itself couldn't handle meant ordinary rescue forces would just be delivering themselves as meals!

Could he only watch helplessly as the "Voyager"—and the clues about opposing forces that might exist aboard it—were utterly annihilated in the deep sea?

No! Absolutely not!

A fierce glint flashed in Qin Feng's eyes. He still had one last trump card—the System itself!

"System! Is there any way to resolve this crisis? What price must be paid?" he cried out in his heart.

The System light screen flickered rapidly, popping up an unprecedented option marked with a skull danger symbol:

【Detected Host facing major asset and potential opportunity loss.】【Emergency response protocol available: "Rule-Level Intervention (Beginner)"】【Protocol description: Consume System origin energy to temporarily shield/counteract part of the unknown rule assault, buying a restart time window for the "Voyager" core system (estimated maximum 30 minutes).】【Warning: This operation will greatly consume System energy, may cause partial System functions to temporarily shut down or degrade, Host's already-unlocked skill effects weakened, and requires payment of equivalent points: 50,000,000 points!】【Activate? 【Yes】/【No】】

Fifty million points?! And it also consumes System origin energy, causing function shutdowns and skill weakening?!

Qin Feng looked at the suffocatingly exorbitant price, the corner of his eye twitching uncontrollably.

This System—stingy as a miser when handing out missions normally, but when it comes to critical moments fleecing people, it's truly damn black-hearted!

Fifty million points was almost the equivalent value of all his currently available liquid funds! Not to mention the potential risks from the System functions temporarily shutting down and skills weakening!

This was practically cutting flesh from his heart!

But……

If he didn't activate it, the "Voyager" would surely be destroyed, the losses incalculable—and more importantly, he might miss the only chance to understand the opposing force in the deep sea!

If he activated it, he would have to pay a crippling price, and might even be left in a relatively weakened state himself for some time to come.

This was a dilemma.

Time was slipping away second by second, the System countdown like the death knell of the Grim Reaper, pounding against Qin Feng's heart.

71 hours……48 hours……No—before the System intervenes, this time might shorten even further!

"Damn it!"

Qin Feng slammed his fist hard onto the office desk, and spiderweb-like cracks instantly appeared on the expensive solid wood surface!

He didn't have much time to hesitate.

"Activate!" He almost gritted his teeth, squeezing out these two words from between them.

【Command confirmed. Points consumed: 50,000,000. Activating "Rule-Level Intervention (Beginner)"……】【System energy transferring……Warning! System energy level dropping sharply……】【Some non-core modules entering hibernation……Host's 【Life Enhancement】 effect temporarily reduced by 30%, 【Fortune Dominion】 ability temporarily unusable……】【Intervention successful! Unknown assault on "Voyager" temporarily shielded, core system restart window opened, countdown: 29 minutes 59 seconds……】

A string of System prompts flashed by, and Qin Feng instantly felt an indescribable wave of weakness wash over him, as if a portion of his strength had been drained from his body, and that subtle perception of fortune had vanished completely. At the same time, most icons in the System Mall had turned gray, indicating they were unavailable.

The price, immediate and visible!

But at this moment, Qin Feng couldn't spare a thought for heartache over the points or his own weakness—his entire attention was focused on the communication link with the "Voyager" that had been re-established, weak but now stable.

"Navigator! Report status! Immediately execute highest-priority self-check and system restart!" Qin Feng issued rapid orders through his mental will.

"……bzzt……command……confirmed……core system……restarting……propulsion system back online……life-support system stable……detection system……still under residual interference……" The artificial intelligence "Navigator"'s voice came in broken fragments, but its logic seemed to be recovering.

"Immediately record and transmit back all data regarding the assault source! Including energy spectrum, rule disturbance characteristics—everything!" Qin Feng issued the most critical order.

"……data……recording……transmission……interfered……attempting encrypted compressed transfer……"

Time passed second by second, Qin Feng stared fixedly at the ever-decreasing countdown, his palms sweating slightly from tension.

28 minutes……15 minutes……5 minutes……

At the very last moment before the countdown hit zero!

【Beep! Received core data packet from the "Voyager"! Transmission completeness: 87%!】【"Rule-Level Intervention" effect ended! Unknown assault force beginning to slowly recover……】【Warning! "Voyager" must immediately evacuate current sea area! Recommended coordinates……】

Success!

Qin Feng let out a long breath, his body swaying slightly from the sudden release of tension.

Although the price was devastating, he had at least preserved the "Voyager" and obtained the crucial data!

He immediately ordered the "Voyager" to evacuate at full speed according to the safe coordinates given by the System.

After completing all this, he slumped back into his chair powerlessly, feeling the weakness in his body and the dimness of most System functions, a helpless bitter smile appearing on his face.

"That damned System that screws people over……" he cursed in a low voice, but his eyes were incomparably sharp.

Although this crisis had caused enormous losses, it had also allowed him to glimpse the deeper secrets and dangers of this world.

High-dimensional energy……rule-level……forces opposing the "Heart of the Ocean"……

His journey seemed to have only just touched the tip of the iceberg of that grand narrative.

And all of this would require even greater power to handle.

He looked at the system that needed time to recover, and at his own temporarily diminished abilities, and clenched his fists.

He had to become stronger... as quickly as possible!

Otherwise, the next time he ran into such a "scam-worthy" crisis, it would probably be far from just losing points.